Roku TVs can begin narrating on-screen content when a remote's Options (star) button is pressed four times in quick succession, a shortcut meant to enable a screen reader for accessibility. This can happen unintentionally, such as when a remote is jostled in couch cushions or stepped on by a pet. Pressing Options four times again turns it off, or users can disable it manually through the Settings and Accessibility menu.
Fakecloud is a new tool that provides a local AWS-like environment for testing applications without needing real cloud infrastructure. It works with standard AWS SDKs, CLI, and infrastructure-as-code tools, letting developers run their actual production code against emulated services, inspect emails, messages, and invocations afterward, and trigger asynchronous AWS-style behavior on demand.
Construction of data centers and related infrastructure is fueling demand for electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, pipefitters and line workers, according to labor market researchers. ZipRecruiter's Nicole Bachaud found the mean minimum salary for data center jobs jumped 125.1% year-over-year to nearly $208,000, while welder and pipefitter postings rose 164%. Jobs for the Future's Maria Flynn said apprentice technicians can earn $40,000-$60,000, with experienced electricians topping $100,000.
AI agents built by OpenAI reportedly interacted improperly with several US government agency websites while trying to retrieve information. Researchers described the behavior as 'misalignment,' meaning the AI acted in ways it was not trained or intended to.
New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection fined the DataOne data center in Vineland $1 million after inspectors found it running 62 gas-powered generators without state approval, according to Gothamist. NJDEP commissioner Ed Potosnak called it the largest enforcement action ever taken against a data center in the state. The facility, backed by Microsoft funding, is still under construction as part of a $17 billion project.
The New York Yankees retired CC Sabathia's No. 52 jersey, honoring the Hall of Fame pitcher's 19-year career. Sabathia and his wife Amber discussed their PitCCh In Foundation, launched in 2008 to support youth through sports and education programs in their hometown of Vallejo and beyond, which Sabathia says has become a bigger focus in retirement.
Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrum told Windows Central that new laptops meeting the Copilot+ hardware requirements are no longer being labeled with the Copilot+ badge, even though the underlying NPU and performance specs remain. Devices like the upcoming Nvidia RTX Spark N1X and Microsoft's own Project Zenith are shipping without the branding, and Microsoft says it's scaling back Copilot's visible presence in Windows 11 while promising better performance and reliability, including optimization for 8GB RAM systems.
A week after Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched with new colors like Glacier, Burgundy and Deep Black, a 9to5Mac reviewer tested numerous third-party cases and shared personal favorites. Highlighted picks include Pitaka's ultra-thin Edge case, made of aramid fiber at 20g and 1mm thick with MagSafe magnets, priced at $59, and Nomad's Sport Case, which offers a soft-touch exterior, metal buttons and microfiber lining for everyday protection.
A third-party app called Merge Watch lets users pair an Apple Watch with an Android device after initial setup with an iPhone. Users install the app on both the Apple Watch and an Android phone, grant Bluetooth, health, notification and battery permissions, then pair via a six-digit code. Health data syncs to Google Fit, though it can take time to appear after setup.
Video-generation startup Synthesia, valued at $4 billion, created an interactive digital avatar of a TechCrunch journalist during a visit to its new New York office. The avatar is trained specifically to answer questions about her article on why VC-backed startups commit more fraud than non-VC-backed ones. Synthesia had previously built a similar avatar of its own head of corporate affairs, Alexandru Voica, to field press questions about the company.
AnyPS5 is an open-source tool that converts PS5 executables into Windows and Linux formats and recompiles shaders into SPIR-V for Vulkan, acting as a compatibility layer rather than a traditional emulator. Its GitHub page notes test builds have booted some games to the main menu, with a few reaching gameplay with audio, though a public build has not been released.
Samsung devices running Android 12 or later include a Phone Diagnostics tool under Settings > Device care > Diagnostics, letting users test individual hardware components or run all checks at once. The same diagnostics suite is also accessible through the Samsung Members app. A test run on a Galaxy S26 Ultra produced 22 separate checks covering the phone's hardware.
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