Voicemod has released the Key Pocket, a USB-C hardware dongle that lets Android and iOS users apply real-time voice changing and sound effects during calls, streaming, or mobile gaming. It works as an external audio bridge, routing microphone input through Voicemod's app before passing it to other apps like Fortnite, Discord, or calling apps, sidestepping mobile OS restrictions on altering live mic audio. It costs $99.90 alone or $129.90 bundled with a lifetime Voicemod Pro license.
Microsoft confirmed that its September 8 security update, KB5124008, is causing audio failures on legacy USB Audio Class 1.0 hardware such as older speakers, headsets, and microphones. Affected users may see no sound, unresponsive volume controls, or a 'Code 10' error in Device Manager. The company noted a temporary workaround: switching the audio mode to Stereo restores sound until an official fix arrives.
Yoto's Mini, a screen-free portable audio player for children, has been named winner of the Best Design Europe, Middle East, and Africa category at the 2026 Innovation by Design Awards. The device lets kids listen to stories and music without a screen or algorithm-driven recommendations, relying instead on physical cards to select content.
A new project called cpak introduces an OCI-compliant application package format aimed at Linux desktops, servers and devices. It packages software with a legible manifest and traceable origin, supports Dockerfile-style builds with layer caching but no container daemon, and lets apps bind directly to host GPU drivers rather than bundling their own.
Roku streaming devices include an auto power saving setting that puts the device into low power mode and attempts to turn off the connected TV after 20 minutes of inactivity. Users experiencing unexpected shutdowns can wake the device via the TV, remote, mobile app, or casting tools, or disable the setting entirely to prevent it from happening again.
Amazon now offers five distinct personality styles for Alexa—Brief, Chill, Sweet, Sassy and Original—that change the tone of responses without altering Alexa's functionality. Users can switch styles by voice command or through the Alexa app's device settings menu, with the Sassy option requiring an age confirmation due to its cheekier, more colorful responses. Each Echo device must be configured separately, since the personality setting is not shared across a household's devices.
Bradley Chambers argues that traditional software update cycles, like quarterly patches or annual macOS releases, are becoming obsolete as AI tools help attackers discover vulnerabilities faster. He outlines that IT teams now need a three-part strategy for patch management, starting with retraining end users to accept more frequent, less optional updates.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch inner display and 5.4-inch outer display, priced at $1,999. CNET compares this to buying a separate iPhone and iPad, finding the combined cost of those devices can be close to or even exceed the Duo's price depending on the models chosen.
Yoto has announced a fourth-generation Yoto Player and a refreshed Yoto Mini, both aimed at kids' audio listening without needing a smartphone. The new Player adds a green dial for quick access to up to 20 favorite tracks or stories without inserting a Yoto Card, plus 64GB storage, faster downloads and simplified routine settings. The redesigned Mini is now rugged and water/dust-resistant, holds up to 1,000 hours of audio, and also supports card-free playback via the same green button.
A survey of 1,517 US adults by data removal service Incogni found that people who say they have 'nothing to hide' are more likely to spy on others' phone or laptop screens in public than those who admit to having something to hide. The survey also found generational differences, with Gen Z most likely to peek at others' screens, and revealed that many respondents who dismiss their own privacy concerns still snoop through partners' or family members' devices without permission.
An investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, working with independent security researchers and Level1Techs, found that LG smart TVs scan local Wi-Fi networks to catalog connected devices and nearby network names, even while offline or in standby mode. The TVs also use automatic content recognition to track viewing habits and have microphones capable of capturing and transcribing nearby conversations, with the collected data reportedly funneled to LG's advertising arm.
The piece revisits CSS tools built for foldable devices, prompted by Google's Pixel Fold launch. It details media queries like horizontal-viewport-segments and vertical-viewport-segments, plus environment variables that report each screen segment's width, height and position so layouts can adapt automatically to different hinge geometries.