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New tool 'Local Wikipedia' filters Wikipedia entries by walking distance

A new website called Local Wikipedia displays only geocoded Wikipedia pages located within roughly a half-hour walk of the user's location. If fewer than 25 entries exist nearby, it expands the radius to about 6 miles to reach 25 results, capping the list at 500 entries. The site states it keeps location data in the user's browser and is not affiliated with Wikipedia.

Anthropic launches Claude Duet, an agentic assistant app for professionals

Anthropic has released Claude Duet, a new app built on Opus 5.5 that connects to work tools like Gmail, calendar and Slack to proactively manage tasks for professionals. The app flags priorities, surfaces what needs attention, and indicates what can wait, while including safeguards that block or confirm before sharing sensitive data. Duet is currently in research preview, limited to Pro and Max subscribers, with a waitlist open for others.

Brick launches bedroom device that auto-blocks phone apps via Bluetooth

Brick, maker of the phone-blocking device Brick, released a new product called Brick Night that automatically blocks selected apps once a phone enters a user-defined bedroom space, using Bluetooth signal strength to detect proximity. Users set custom app-blocking modes and time windows in the Brick app, and apps unblock automatically when the phone leaves the space. The device is battery-powered with batteries lasting at least two years, works with both iOS and Android, and can be shared by multiple users in one bedroom.

Apple marks early iPhone Duo pre-orders as 'shipped' ahead of Oct 23 launch

Apple has begun updating order statuses in the Apple Store app to 'shipped' for customers who pre-ordered the iPhone Duo with an October 23 delivery estimate, the device's official launch day in stores. Order tracking moves through stages including Processing, Preparing to Ship, Shipped, and Delivered, visible under the For You tab.

Apple touts developer support for iPhone Duo ahead of Friday launch

Apple says third-party developers are rapidly updating apps to take advantage of the iPhone Duo's folding design and larger inner display, which it says is 50 percent bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple VP Susan Prescott cited 'incredible' developer response, with apps for streaming, gaming and multitasking being adapted, including Netflix adding a seamless Clips-to-viewing transition across the device's displays. Apple plans to spotlight top iPhone Duo apps on the App Store when the device launches this Friday.

Atari VCS software store to close February 1, 2027

Atari announced it will shut down the official software store for its 2021 VCS console-PC hybrid on February 1, 2027, with purchases allowed until January 31, 2027. The company plans to release an OS update letting owners migrate functionality to local storage, removing dependence on Atari's servers for authentication and software, and will roll out an Atari Homebrew App so users can keep building and installing games afterward.

Apple introduces 'Made for iPhone Duo' badge in App Store

Apple will mark apps optimized for its new foldable iPhone Duo with a 'Made for iPhone Duo' badge in the App Store. Apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Zoom will use the device's dual screens for features such as split-screen viewing and desktop-style layouts. Apple says editorial collections highlighting these apps will launch alongside the device on Friday, with more updates throughout the year.

Birdbuddy renames and launches Nook and Home smart bird feeders

Birdbuddy has released two smart bird feeders first shown at CES 2026, now renamed the Birdbuddy Nook (formerly Birdbuddy 2 Mini) and Birdbuddy Home (formerly Birdbuddy 2). The Nook starts at $99 with a 2K HDR camera and 135-degree field of view, with solar and extended-perch versions priced at $159 and $199, while the $219 Home adds dual solar panels and a larger reservoir. Both are available now on Birdbuddy's site, with wider retail availability later this month.

Fortnite returns to Apple's Australian App Store after court orders iOS opened up

An Australian federal court has ruled against Apple, ordering it to allow third-party app stores, direct downloads, and alternative payment systems on iOS without imposing restrictive conditions or fees. Following the ruling, Epic Games announced Fortnite will return to the Australian App Store, ending its absence there since Apple had continued contested restrictions after the game relaunched elsewhere. Apple must comply by March 1, 2027, pay 85 percent of Epic's legal costs, and has said it disagrees with the findings and intends to challenge them.

Pennsylvania woman jailed, faces prison over fraudulent Cash App account in her name

Amanda Smith was arrested in Pennsylvania on a warrant from Arkansas and jailed for three nights after a scammer used a Cash App account opened in her name, with her Social Security number and birth date, to swindle someone out of $1,000. She was extradited, fingerprinted, and hit with $70,000 in combined bail, and now faces up to six years in prison on charges including computer fraud, despite saying she has never used Cash App. Cash App initially would not share account details with her because she could not prove ownership of an account she says was never hers; she eventually obtained records through court discovery.

Australian court orders Apple to allow third-party iOS app stores by March 2027

A Federal Court of Australia judge ruled that Apple must let iPhone users with Australian Apple Accounts download apps from alternative app stores and websites starting March 1, 2027, with a possible extension to May 3, 2027. The 235-page decision follows an earlier finding that Apple breached Australian competition law through App Store restrictions, in a case brought by Epic Games. Apple has said it will appeal.

iOS 27.2 code hints at option to exclude muted chats from Messages badge count

Code found in the iOS 27.2 release candidate suggests Apple is developing a feature that would let muted Messages conversations be excluded from the app's unread badge count. The discovery was shared by Aaron Perris on X, and the feature does not appear to be shipping with iOS 27.2 itself.