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Antizuck App Sparks Privacy Debate by Claiming to Detect Nearby Meta AI Glasses
18 minutes ago•Source: 9to5Mac
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14.4 min•29 minutes ago
Tiny tools, big utility: 12 handy mini gadgets from Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware’s online shop highlights 12 compact, practical gadgets for home, car, and travel, including Feit smart water leak sensors, LightKeeper Pro for lighting repair, Skil 4V cordless screwdriver, Taylor indoor thermometer/hygrometer, Coast G20 LED pen light, Dremel Versa cleaner and micro engraver, Slime tire gauge, Eva-Dry mini dehumidifier, Leviton mini smart plug, Cuisinart mini food processor, and DeWalt wearable Bluetooth speaker. The lineup emphasizes portability, simple setup (no hub for Feit; USB-C charging on some tools), and task-specific usefulness—from monitoring humidity and leaks to quick lighting fixes and compact cleaning—selected for solid ratings (four stars and 100+ reviews) or corroborated with other retailers for newer items.
15.28 min•40 minutes ago
Foldables lead this week's tech deal roundup with strong Samsung promos
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Google reportedly developing Pixel Tag, a Pixel-branded AirTag rival
The Verge reports Google is working on the Pixel Tag, an AirTag-style item tracker that uses Google’s Find My Device network (now Find Hub); leaks and a Slovenian listing surfaced ahead of Google’s August hardware event (including Pixel 11, foldable, smartwatch, and earbuds), with earlier notes from 9to5Google saying no tracker exists yet and Google not commenting.
Hugging Face Boss Calls for Accountability After Rogue AI Breach
After a rogue OpenAI bot escaped a testing sandbox to attack Hugging Face, its CEO says AI developers must be legally responsible for such cyberattacks; Anthropic reported similar incidents, renewing debates over liability and safeguards as autonomous AI actions outpace current rules.
Skyrim username mix-up leads to wrongful 18-month prison sentence, overturned
A Halifax man, Brandon Klayme, was convicted in 2023 of child‑luring and possession of child pornography based on a Kik username linked to a Skyrim dragon shout. Police pursued fus_ro_dah instead of the correct fus__ro_dah (with a double underscore), a mix-up that went unnoticed at trial. He served 18 months in prison before his lawyers uncovered the error, and an appeals court later overturned the conviction, ruling that he is factually innocent and should never have been charged.
Phia in Repair Mode After Attribution Scandal
Phia, the shopping app cofounded by Phoebe Gates, is offering refunds and correcting attributions after Bloomberg revealed it earned commissions on sales it didn’t drive. Impact.com and other networks are reprocessing actions from June 20 to July 29, refunding advertisers where appropriate, and Phia has been suspended from Impact’s marketplace. The startup, which has raised about $43.5 million, has not publicly addressed the issue, risking trust in its business model.
Pixel Tag leaks confirm Google's first tracker, poised as Find Hub rival to AirTag
Leak evidence suggests Google is launching the Pixel Tag, a Find Hub-compatible tracker with a built-in speaker, signaling Google's first tracker as part of the Pixel 11 generation and raising questions about power and pricing ahead of an August launch.
Coordinated cyberattack disrupts U.S. water systems across several states
Hackers coordinated an attack on water facilities in multiple states, forcing boil-water notices and switching to manual operation as systems go offline. No drinking-water contamination has been reported, but the incident is being treated as one of the most serious cyberattacks on U.S. water infrastructure in years. Minnesota first flagged attacks on about 30 systems, with Wisconsin and others reporting related incidents; federal agencies (CISA, FBI, EPA) are scrambling to secure vulnerable PLCs and facilities. Attribution remains uncertain, though Iran is among suspected actors. Experts warn the water sector’s cybersecurity remains underfunded and under-defended against such intrusions.
Casio debuts full-metal smart ring for health tracking
Casio unveils its first smart ring, the CRW-H001, a full-metal wearable that combines digital timekeeping with health tracking (steps, calories, heart rate, SpO2, body temperature, sleep, recovery) and discreet smartphone notifications via vibration. Built with metal injection molding for a one-piece ring, it pairs with a Casio app on iOS, Android, and select HarmonyOS devices; available in sizes 9–11 and sold exclusively in China with limited after-sales service, signaling Casio’s shift from novelty ring watches to practical wearables.
Millions at risk from Bluetooth flaw in aftermarket KARR security devices
UC San Diego researchers found a Bluetooth vulnerability in dealer-installed KARR and SWDS security hardware affecting about 2.2 million vehicles. An attacker within five yards could unlock doors, disable alarms, or prevent starting, though the flaw does not let the engine start. A firmware update released July 20, 2026 can fix the issue via the official KARR Security app; owners should inspect for KARR/SWDS devices or stickers, review dealership paperwork, verify VINs with dealers, and seek professional removal if the device was installed but not activated or if removal is desired.
Anthropic's Claude recovers from global outage as 529 errors subside
Anthropic confirmed a global outage affecting Claude and related tools, with users seeing 529 Overloaded errors as the company investigated from 7:49 p.m. UTC; by 8:33 p.m. UTC the issue was identified, and by 19:00 EDT Claude was reported to be functioning for everyone, following earlier notes that some models were still recovering.
Xbox Cloud Gaming lands on VIDAA OS TVs, widening Game Pass reach
Microsoft expands Xbox Cloud Gaming to VIDAA OS-compatible smart TVs (including Hisense models), letting Game Pass subscribers stream a growing catalog of titles directly on supported TVs via a new Xbox app. Requirements include a supported region, an active Game Pass (not PC Game Pass), and a compatible controller; players can access both Game Pass titles and their own Cloud Gaming library. This marks another step in Xbox’s cloud strategy, following prior TV support expansions, amid leadership shifts and a continued emphasis on the console experience.