A new roundup evaluates Windows uninstaller tools that go beyond the operating system's built-in removal features, useful for broken uninstall processes, bulk app removal, or clearing leftover files and registry entries. IObit Uninstaller is highlighted as a standout freemium option, offering batch removal, forced uninstall, bundleware detection, and an Install Monitor that tracks setup changes for more accurate future cleanup.
Meta is reportedly encouraging other major platforms like YouTube and TikTok to share in settling claims over harm to young users' mental health, but Snapchat appears to be left out of that outreach. The move would spread liability and costs across multiple companies rather than Meta alone, even though bringing in more parties could theoretically raise Meta's own settlement obligations.
Meta has agreed to roll out new safety restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook within six months, as part of an $18 billion settlement reached with 48 states. The agreement follows scrutiny over how the platforms have handled minors' safety and mental health concerns.
An unidentified free model called Ox Alpha appeared on OpenRouter and quickly drew massive usage from developers who couldn't determine its origin, sparking days of speculation about which lab built it. Z.ai revealed the model was actually its own GLM-5.3-Flash, running entirely on Chinese chips, and priced at 15 cents per million input tokens and 50 cents per million output tokens, with a launch discount cutting that in half through September 9.
A tech roundup recommends external displays for buyers of Apple's newly released Mac mini and Mac Studio, highlighting Apple's own Studio Display and the newer Studio Display XDR as standout choices. The Studio Display offers a 27-inch 5K panel, a 12MP Center Stage webcam, True Tone technology, and Thunderbolt 5 ports, while the XDR variant adds mini-LED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate.
LM Studio has integrated Z.ai's newly released GLM-5.3-Flash model into its Bionic agent platform, adding multimodal image input and a 1 million-token context window. The company says the model outperforms its predecessor, GLM-5.2, while costing roughly 9-10 times less to run, and it's served from US-based servers with zero-data-retention enabled by default.
Proton confirmed a major outage affecting Proton Mail, VPN, Calendar, Drive, Pass, SimpleLogin, Wallet and its Lumo AI assistant, first detected around 6:09 p.m. ET as Downdetector reports surged. The company said user data remained safe and later reported a fix had been implemented, restoring service for most users while recovery continued for others.
Poland's Wolsztyn steam-hauled passenger service, billed as Europe's last regular standard-gauge steam train, will temporarily use a diesel locomotive, the SM42 6D, from August 20 to 28, 2026, while its Pt47-65 steam engine undergoes periodic maintenance. Regular steam service runs Monday to Friday between Wolsztyn and Zbąszynek, and on Saturdays to Poznań, with no scheduled steam or diesel substitute service on Sundays and holidays. Tickets remain available through Koleje Wielkopolskie's website, station ticket counters, or the train conductor.
Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson is developing a concert film after attending a Carnegie Hall performance by singer-songwriter Cameron Winter late in 2025, shortly before winning the Best Director Oscar for One Battle After Another. The project is drawing attention for its lineup of well-known indie music and film figures.
Ukraine has granted Elon Musk its highest state honor in recognition of Starlink's role supporting the country's military and communications. The move comes as Ukrainian officials continue pressing Musk to extend Starlink coverage into Russian territory.
Anthropic has agreed to a six-year, roughly $45 billion deal with British infrastructure firm Nscale to secure AI compute capacity, according to a source familiar with the matter. The capacity will run on Nvidia's new Vera Rubin chip system and come from Nscale's data center in West Virginia, with power expected online in late 2027.
With 2026 primaries mostly wrapped up, Democrats are eyeing several paths to retake the Senate majority beyond their original four-state plan targeting Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio and Maine. Strategists point to President Trump's approval rating dropping below 40 percent—and even near 30 percent in one poll—amid an unpopular Iran conflict and rising gas and grocery costs. In Alaska, former Rep. Mary Peltola leads incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan by over 5 points, while a same-named candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, also made the general-election ballot, potentially confusing voters.
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