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WhatsApp adds parent-managed privacy settings for teenage accounts
WhatsApp has introduced optional parental controls for teenage accounts, as technology companies face increasing pressure to make their services safer for children. Parents can receive alerts when a teen joins or leaves a group and manage some privacy settings, while messages and calls remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption. A parent-set PIN is needed…
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Amazon’s latest 4K Fire TV Stick draws power from a TV’s USB port
Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K can draw power directly from a television’s USB port, removing the need for a separate adapter and making setup simpler. Available for $59.99, it runs Amazon’s refreshed TV OS and includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Low Energy. The launch leaves Amazon with four streaming devices: the Fire…
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Amazon brings upgraded Alexa+ entertainment features to Fire TV and app
Amazon is adding an upgraded Alexa+ experience to Fire TV and its mobile app, with US users due to get access from November. The assistant will use reasoning to handle more complex entertainment queries, drawing on users’ subscriptions and viewing history, as well as current affairs. On Fire TV, Alexa+ will offer personalised prompt suggestions…
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Shure updates MV6 microphone with adjustable audio processing controls
Shure has released the MV6 Gen 2, an updated USB microphone designed to give creators and gamers more control over their audio based on user feedback. The new model introduces significantly enhanced software features alongside aesthetic and practical design improvements, including a new white finish, longer cable and better vibration reduction. The microphone is available…
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Charter Space secures $5m seed funding to expand space insurance business
Charter Space, a finalist in TechCrunch’s previous Startup Battlefield competition, has secured $5 million in seed funding to expand its space insurance business. The El Segundo-based startup already serves over 50 companies across the U.S. space and defence industrial base following the launch of its nationally-licensed insurance brokerage in May. This funding round, led by…
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The Sonos Ace Ultra are the headphones Sonos should have made the first time
Sonos has released the Ace Ultra headphones at the same $449 price point as the original Sonos Ace, which launched with significant limitations in system integration. The original Ace had a glitchy TV audio swap feature that only worked with the Arc soundbar and a single pair of headphones, and could not connect to the…
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Gartner says 70 per cent of firms may drop vendor-built AI agents by 2028
Gartner predicts that by 2028, 70 per cent of enterprises will abandon agentic AI systems built with vendor assistance. It says forward-deployed engineering, where a vendor’s engineers work with a customer to build and deploy tailored software, can produce quick initial progress but leave the customer reliant on costly external expertise. Gartner says projects are…
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AirPods 5 earn iFixit’s first non-zero repairability score for Apple earbuds
Apple’s AirPods 5 have achieved a repairability score of two out of ten from iFixit, marking the first time the company’s earbuds have scored above zero. This modest improvement reflects Apple’s incorporation of removable batteries with pronged connections rather than soldered leads, which can be extracted without destroying the earbuds using commonly available tools such…
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Five emerging composers shortlisted for World Soundtrack Awards discovery prize
The World Soundtrack Awards’ Discovery of the Year prize has consistently identified emerging talent who reshape modern film scoring, with past winners including Gustavo Santaolalla, Michael Giacchino and Nicholas Britell. The 2026 shortlist features several innovative composers with diverse backgrounds and compositional philosophies: – Mari Fukuhara, trained in classical music at Tokyo’s Toho Gakuen School…
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra review: The apex Android tablet
Samsung has released the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, a premium Android tablet priced at $1,400 that stands as one of the few true high-end options in the Android market, as most major manufacturers have largely abandoned the category. The device combines an expansive 14.6-inch OLED display with an impressively thin and light design, making it…