iFixit's teardown of the AirPods 5 found that the batteries in each earbud can be removed and replaced without destroying the device, provided the repair is done carefully by a skilled technician. This earned the earbuds a repairability score of 2 out of 10, the first time any AirPods model has scored above zero since the original launched in 2016. iFixit noted the left and right batteries aren't interchangeable due to reversed polarity and different contact placement, and that everything else inside the earbuds and case remains sealed and unrepairable.
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A QR code hides its destination until you have already opened it. susQR is a free web tool that checks the link first, and it is worth keeping one tap away.
Apple began rolling out iOS 27.0.1 on Monday, targeting several bugs found in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The update addresses random restarts tied to failed Face ID authentication, a color artifact in photos shot at 2x zoom, and a freeze triggered when Notification Center and Control Center were opened simultaneously.
Quishing works because a QR code gives you nothing to judge before you commit. Here is what the scams look like in practice and the habits that defuse them.
Researchers used the historically documented date of Mount Vesuvius's eruption, recorded by Pliny the Younger as August 24, 79 CE, as a real-world check on a mineral dating technique. By comparing the known eruption date to results produced by the method, scientists were able to identify and correct discrepancies in how the technique measures time.
Passkeys replace a secret you know with a key your device holds. That single change removes most of what makes phishing work, and it changes how account recovery should be set up.
Google announced a partnership with actor Henry Cavill, who has been using one of the company's new Googlebook laptops for personal projects ahead of their public launch. Starting this November, Google says it will work with Cavill to develop a video game built using the device, and has set up a landing page for updates on the project.
Three copies, two kinds of media, one off-site. The rule is old because it keeps surviving the specific ways people actually lose files.
Security researchers at Malwarebytes have identified a fraudulent advertisement claiming Apple's unreleased iPhone Duo foldable can be preordered now for a $500 discount, even though Apple has said preorders start October 16 and sales begin October 23. The scam relies on the DarkSword exploit chain, which can steal data from vulnerable iPhones running iOS 18.4 to 18.6.2 simply by loading the malicious page, without requiring any clicks or typed input.
Most laptops that feel slow are not short of processing power. They are held back by a hard drive, a lack of memory, a clogged fan, or a browser doing too much.
Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has asked the FCC and FTC to force broadcasters to stop airing government-funded ads featuring President Trump, arguing they violate anti-propaganda laws and restrictions on political activity by federal employees. The complaint cites 'The Final Battle,' a Department of Homeland Security-funded ad that reuses footage and audio from a 2024 Trump campaign ad, now labeled 'Paid for by the US government.' The ad aired during Saturday Night Live, Fox News Sunday, and football broadcasts, according to Public Citizen's letter and a Wall Street Journal report saying Trump personally pushed for its creation.
OpenAI unveiled Dots at DevDay 2026, always-on personal AI agents that keep working in the background after a chat ends. Each Dot runs on GPT-6 Astra with its own cloud computer and browser, connects to over 4,000 apps, and can be reached consistently through ChatGPT, Slack, or Microsoft Teams, with texting support coming soon. The feature is rolling out gradually to Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise subscribers in select markets.
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