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Tech News
Proton VPN is promoting its free plan as offering unlimited data and speeds with no ads, no activity logging, and protection under Swiss privacy law. The free tier is limited to one device and lacks streaming-optimized servers and the Stealth protocol, which remain reserved for paid subscribers.
As part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over children's online safety, Meta agreed to major restrictions on how teens use Instagram and Facebook. The changes include a cumulative two-hour daily time limit across both apps, a default midnight-to-6 a.m. usage block, options for a non-algorithmic default feed, and usage-break prompts every 15 minutes, with most measures required to stay in place for a decade pending court approval.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to block an FCC Media Bureau notice that would have let political parties and joint fundraising committees, not just individual candidates, claim the discounted 'lowest unit charge' broadcast ad rate ahead of the election. Four Democratic candidates had sued, arguing federal law reserves that discount for candidates alone, while national Republican committees backed the FCC's broader interpretation.
Apple TV announced a new heist thriller titled '12 12 12,' premiering November 13 with its first two episodes, followed by weekly releases through December 25. The series stars Anthony Mackie as a disgraced FBI agent and Jamie Dornan as a career criminal, structured around three timelines—12 months of planning, 12 hours of the heist, and the 12 days after—centered on a vault robbery beneath Zurich.
SpaceX is pursuing exemptions from federal environmental rules to speed construction of what would become the largest spaceport in the world. Wildlife advocacy organizations are pushing back, arguing the waivers would bypass protections meant to safeguard sensitive habitats and species near the site.
Android Auto users had been hit by a bug that showed a 'Spotify isn't responding' error message when trying to launch the app, with only exiting or waiting offered as options. Some drivers found workarounds like leaving the Android Auto beta or clearing the app's cache, but the issue kept recurring for others. Google confirmed to Android Authority that a fix started rolling out today.
An Entrepreneur contributor argues that as AI makes content production cheaper and more abundant, companies that clearly define and own a market category will stand out faster than those competing purely on content volume. The piece contends that vague, broad positioning makes brands forgettable, while firms that establish a distinct category shape how buyers evaluate the entire market and gain first-mover advantage.
Amazon is applying a $150 discount to the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL when shoppers use code PIXEL11 at checkout, though the Pixel Pro Fold is excluded. This discount stacks with a separate promotion running through August 27th that offers gift cards up to $200 or credit toward a Pixel Watch 5, bringing the base Pixel 11 down to $749 from $899.
Volvo has confirmed a software update bringing Spatial Audio support through Apple CarPlay to the EX90, following earlier plans to add the feature to the EX60 and ES90. The immersive sound experience relies on Dolby Atmos and requires the optional Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 25 speakers.
AurionMail Suite is a new open-source project that links CryptPad, Stalwart Mail Server, Bulwark Webmail, Ory Hydra, and OpenPGP so users can access encrypted email and encrypted documents with just one password per session. It aims to replicate the smooth zero-knowledge experience of commercial suites like Proton while remaining fully self-hosted and standards-based. The project also includes a refreshed CryptPad interface for a more unified look across the suite.
Meta has reached a proposed settlement with dozens of states over allegations that it built Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to minors and improperly collected children's data. The deal, still pending court approval and involving no admission of wrongdoing, requires Meta to impose default two-hour daily time limits for under-18 users, overnight app blackouts, and periodic screen-time reminders, while paying up to $18 billion over a decade to fund youth online safety programs.
Seattle-based Interlune is developing technology to extract helium-3, a rare isotope embedded in lunar soil by billions of years of solar wind bombardment, with the goal of eventually mining it from the Moon and returning it to Earth. The company has been working on methods to simulate and accelerate the natural process that deposits helium-3 into lunar regolith, testing extraction techniques ahead of any full-scale mining mission.