The everyday tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
A redesigned beta sign-up banner hints Samsung is preparing its next One UI update, which could bring new features to Galaxy phones sooner than expected.
Read more: Samsung's next big phone software update may arrive sooner than expectedA Vanity Fair report says Dutch spies saw Jared Kushner's iPhone screen in 2018, a reminder that even a new, well-reviewed phone can be a target.
Read more: Dutch spies reportedly watched Kushner's iPhone screen in 2018Singapore's OKA Technology unveiled Mori, a lamp-like robot that reacts like a pet. It has a camera and mics, and its long-term subscription cost is unknown.
Read more: Mori is a small lamp-like robot that reacts to you like a petSpotify says it will work inside ChatGPT, Claude and Meta's Muse, but keep control of your data. It may also learn more about your tastes.
Read more: Spotify wants your AI assistant to play its music, on its termsA How-To Geek writer let AI agents tidy a Downloads folder, build meme games and browse stores. The results show where they help and where to be careful.
Read more: AI helpers can now clean your files, build games and shop onlineiOS 27 adds Call Context, which puts your booking info on screen when you phone a business, so you can stop digging through email while on hold.
Read more: Your iPhone will show your booking details while you call a businessDelta 2.0 adds Sega Genesis support, achievements and a new look to the free iPhone retro game app, which now has 20 million downloads.
Read more: Delta, the free retro game app for iPhone, adds Sega Genesis gamesA bug made some Google Home speakers download the same update over and over. Checking your router could show if a device is eating your data cap.
Read more: A Google Home speaker used 487 GB of Wi-Fi data in ten daysRhode Island is the first state to sue Meta over scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, a reminder that fake deals in your feed can look real.
Read more: Rhode Island sues Meta over scam ads on Facebook and InstagramMotorola's Razr Ultra 2025 flip phone is now getting Android 17, so owners should expect an update notice and prepare before installing.
Read more: Motorola's Razr Ultra 2025 foldable phone is getting Android 17Some Galaxy S24 and S25 owners say Samsung's One UI 9 update cut their battery life sharply. Reports are limited so far, but a few checks are worth doing.
Read more: Samsung's newest update is draining battery on some Galaxy phonesGoogle cleared forest in Finland for AI data centers, drew an order to pause work, and apologized. The cost of AI includes land and local communities.
Read more: Google cleared forest in Finland for AI data centers, then apologizedGoogle's Gemini app can now look at your Maps searches and saved places to plan your day, if you allow it. A separate notice hints a reasoning mode may go away.
Read more: Gemini can now use your Google Maps searches and saved placesGoogle says some Android phones in Canada may show the wrong time after British Columbia and Manitoba stop turning clocks back on November 1st.
Read more: Google says Android phones in Canada may show the wrong timeA tech writer traced months of poor Pixel Watch battery life to three everyday apps, not the hardware. Here is what each one was doing and how to check yours.
Read more: Three everyday apps were quietly draining one Pixel Watch's batteryCalifornia's health department says scammers are posing as its staff by phone, using fake prescription claims and fake police to pull out your personal details.
Read more: Scammers pose as California health officials to steal your detailsLeaked paperwork points to battery details for Samsung's rumored Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra, but nothing is official, so upgraders may want to wait.
Read more: Samsung's next top phones show battery details ahead of launchGarmin often builds heart rate zones from a guess based on your age. Lifehacker says a quick reset can keep your easy days easy and your hard days useful.
Read more: Your Garmin Watch May Be Using the Wrong Heart Rate ZonesA security guide lists 14 scams that borrow Amazon's name. Most try to rush you into a fake link, a call or a payment, and the fix is to check inside Amazon.
Read more: 14 Amazon scams to know, and how to spot each oneA Tesla using Full Self-Driving hit and killed a 71-year-old man crossing I-80 in California. Police say the system is not fully autonomous and drivers stay responsible.
Read more: Tesla on Full Self-Driving kills man crossing California highwayTom's Guide asks if a touchscreen laptop is worth it and points to the Dell XPS 13, which Dell says has touch on every model at no extra cost.
Read more: Why a touchscreen can make a slim laptop easier to useT-Mobile customers in New York who were hit by price hikes they did not expect may get money back. People in other states are not covered for now.
Read more: Some T-Mobile customers in New York may get money back for price hikesScam texts claim your voter registration is missing and push a link to a fake page that collects personal details. Check your status yourself instead.
Read more: Text says you're not registered to vote? It may be a scamOrangetheory members can now connect their own Apple Watch to in-class tracking for a one-time $99 fee, with no extra hardware needed.
Read more: Orangetheory now lets members use their own Apple Watch for $99
