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TP-Link has opened preorders for its Archer 8 Ultra, the company's first Wi-Fi 8 router, in the UK, Germany, Australia and other markets. The US is not included, as TP-Link lacks FCC Conditional Approval needed to sell new wireless hardware there, unlike rivals Netgear, Asus and Amazon. Existing FCC-certified TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 products can still be sold in the US, but new Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 8 devices cannot.
A longtime construction worker argues that the popular claim that trades like electrical work pay more than college degrees and offer an AI-proof escape from poverty oversimplifies reality. He notes that advocates for trades careers, including Mike Rowe, often hold college degrees themselves, and that older tradespeople historically warned apprentices away from the physical toll and uncertain rewards of the work. Data cited shows college graduates still earn more on average than those without degrees.
Amazon has priced the 512GB Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,163.50, down from its $1,499.99 list price, a $336.49 discount. The model includes 12GB RAM, a 6.9-inch display with Privacy Display tech, a titanium frame, a 200MP main camera with dual telephoto lenses, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 26H2 to the stable channel as a 174 KB 'enablement package' that activates features already delivered through prior monthly updates rather than introducing new code. It shares the same underlying build as 25H2 and 24H2, part of the Germanium release, and adds no new functionality on its own but switches on dormant tools across the Start menu, Taskbar, File Explorer, Search, Task Manager, AI settings, and more.
Parrot is a free, open-source meeting recorder for Mac that captures audio your computer already plays, rather than joining calls as a bot. It works with Zoom, Meet, Teams or any audio source, offers searchable transcripts via a local command palette, and can integrate with tools like Claude Desktop, Cursor and Codex. Users can run it fully offline using Whisper and Ollama, or opt into cloud AI providers like Groq or Deepgram for transcription, paying those providers directly.
Insta360's Luna Pro gimbal camera matches DJI's Osmo Pocket 4 with a 1-inch sensor, a 20mm f/1.8 lens, 10-bit log capture, subject tracking, detachable display, and up to four hours of battery life. It undercuts the Pocket 4 in some specs, like 4K vertical video versus 3K, but trails in dynamic range and internal storage, with recent testing noting weaknesses in its log footage.
Dartmouth College is investigating provost Santiago Schnell after its student newspaper, The Dartmouth, found signs of AI-generated text in writing published under his name. Schnell said he used AI for editing and clarity, but when the newspaper ran his own explanatory statement through an AI detector, it also flagged that text as AI-generated. The controversy began after Semafor reported on AI detection tool Pangram finding AI use across opinion pages at major outlets.
Amazon is offering unlocked, Renewed Premium iPhone 17 Pro Max units starting at $1,385.78 for the 1TB model, over $500 less than Apple's 1TB iPhone 18 Pro Max. The retailer's early fall Prime Day event also includes a $500 cut on an M5 Pro MacBook Pro, ecobee HomeKit discounts up to $210 off, Apple Watch Solo Loop bands from $7, a $100 discount on Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio, and 40% off the MagSafe Battery Pack.
FedEx has placed an order for 2,000 electric medium-duty trucks from startup Harbinger, a deal valued at $300 million, with delivery expected by the end of next year. Harbinger confirmed the order to TechCrunch after Bloomberg News first reported it. This follows FedEx's earlier $160 million Series C investment in Harbinger and an initial order of 53 trucks already delivered.
Nintendo has officially ended service for Mario Kart Tour, the free-to-play mobile racer launched in 2019, with servers going offline on Sept. 29. The app will remain installable but will only display player stats, and unlike Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, it is not being converted into an offline title.
Amazon has cut the price of Samsung's 27-inch ViewFinity S7 4K monitor to $170.99, down from its $249.99 list price, as part of an early Prime Day promotion. The retailer says this is the lowest price the monitor has reached since its release, undercutting the previous 2025 low of $219.99. The display is a 60Hz IPS panel with HDR10 support, HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and VESA mount compatibility, and the deal requires an active Amazon Prime membership.
Utilities disconnected electricity to more than 173,000 households across 10 states in July, a month that ranked as the hottest on record in the United States. The shutoffs occurred as many customers faced rising energy bills alongside dangerous heat conditions.