Lockly has released the Lyro Lasta, a smart lock priced under $170 that targets landlords, short-term rental hosts and vacation property owners rather than chasing high-end features like solar charging or ultrawideband sensors. It combines a fingerprint reader, touchscreen keypad, included RFID cards, weatherproof housing and an extra-large battery rated for up to three years, alongside app-based access management and activity logs. A CNET reviewer tested it by simulating both an owner setup and a guest arriving on vacation to evaluate the various entry methods.
OnPay's analysis of search trends finds small-business owners collectively run over 91,000 searches a year on how to process payroll manually, while employees log 35,000 more searches looking for ways to cash paper checks. The company points to case studies like Max Farnsworth of Farnsworth Industries, who cut hours of monthly manual payroll work down dramatically after switching to an automated platform.
A Galaxy S25 FE owner reported overheating and rapid battery drain and initially assumed Samsung's One UI software was to blame. Investigation revealed the actual cause was a third-party app running on the device, not the operating system itself.
Apple has launched the Watch Series 12, a modest refresh of last year's Series 11 that keeps the same $399 starting price but adds a new ceramic case option alongside aluminum and titanium. Alongside it, Apple introduced the cheaper Watch SE 3, starting at $249, which trades some display and material upgrades for a lower cost.
Smartphones pick up significant grime through constant handling, with studies showing they can carry far more bacteria than a toilet seat. Despite this, cleaning experts caution against using Windex, compressed air, hydrogen peroxide or bleach on phone screens, since these substances can permanently damage the display's protective coating.
A longtime Oura Ring wearer has stopped using smart rings after about a year, citing fit issues caused by weight loss and temperature swings, the need to remove the ring for weightlifting, and damage from frequent hand washing. The user says two devices broke over the period, partly due to inconsistent removal for water exposure and physical activity.
LG issued a detailed statement pushing back on a Gamers Nexus investigation alleging its smart TVs capture audio and network data even while asleep or offline. The company said voice processing only activates via a wake word or remote button press, and that features like Automatic Content Recognition and ad targeting are opt-in, not default.
LG issued a statement rebutting claims that its smart TVs spy on users, asserting that wake-word audio is processed locally and only converted to text if a wake word is detected. The company said Automatic Content Recognition, voice recognition, and interest-based advertising are optional and disabled by default, and that speech data isn't stored or transmitted once the TV goes offline.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable phone launching October 23 starting at $1,999, whose hardware resembles rivals like Samsung's Z Fold 8. What sets it apart is a version of iOS and apps specifically reworked for the folding screen, including repositioned app icons and smoother transitions between the cover and inner displays.
A veteran smart-home tester outlines ten practical adjustments homeowners can make to limit data collection from cameras, speakers and displays, including physically closing camera shutters and muting microphones when not in use. The piece also cites cybersecurity attorney Laurie Selkowitz, who warns that many users fail to disable opt-in data-sharing settings on devices like Ring cameras.
LG issued a statement responding to findings from Gamers Nexus, Level1Techs and independent researchers that its smart TVs log and upload user data, including ambient audio. LG says its TVs don't continuously record or transmit conversations, that wake-word detection happens locally, and that features like Automatic Content Recognition and voice recognition are optional and off by default.
In the latest episode of 9to5Mac Overtime, hosts Jeff Benjamin and Fernando Silva shared their initial reactions to the iPhone Duo, described as Apple's first foldable smartphone. The podcast episode is sponsored by Bitwarden, which is promoting a free virtual security summit on September 17.
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