US District Judge Donovan Frank has again ruled against Elon Musk's xAI in its effort to halt Minnesota's law banning AI tools that create non-consensual sexualized images. The judge denied xAI's preliminary injunction request, finding the company failed to prove it would suffer irreparable harm while its First Amendment lawsuit against the state proceeds. Minnesota's law, effective since August 1, imposes fines of $500,000 per unlawful image access, penalties xAI argues could total billions of dollars.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-07
A developer has launched Cloud in a Bottle, an open-source personal cloud platform that packages containerized apps with unified authentication and a simplified interface, aiming to let anyone run their own private cloud without sysadmin expertise. The creator argues existing self-hosting tools like Sandstorm, Nextcloud, YunoHost, and Coolify all fall short due to abandonment, poor security isolation, or fragmented app management. Cloud in a Bottle is positioned as an alternative that treats self-hosting like using a smartphone rather than managing a server.
cloudinabottle.org
· 2026-09-06
Windows includes a native Storage panel under Settings > System > Storage that breaks down disk usage by category, including installed apps, temporary files, downloads and the recycle bin. Users can sort installed apps by size to find and uninstall large unused programs, run a system file cleanup for extra clutter, and check storage on additional drives through the Advanced storage settings section.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-04
Writer Ploum recounts telling businesses he has no smartphone to avoid being pressured into installing apps or scanning QR codes for basic services. He says he had to push back against 18 separate app installation demands in the past year, including for kitchen appliances, a car, and even a toilet with separate apps for its seat, flush, and ventilation.
ploum.net
· 2026-09-02
PeopleFinders has introduced a new service called Stud or Dud that lets users run background checks on people they're dating or considering dating. The tool aims to automate the online research many people already do informally, pulling together public records and digital footprints into a single report.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-02
Apple's Settings > General > iPhone Storage screen reveals lesser-known space hogs beyond obvious apps and media, such as forgotten downloads, cached data, and message attachments. Users are advised to review this breakdown to identify items they may have overlooked when clearing space.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
Many Windows programs quietly add themselves to the startup sequence, often because users miss an installer's checkbox or software enrolls itself without notice. Over time this can leave dozens of unnecessary apps launching every time a PC boots, slowing startup and consuming memory and CPU. Windows scatters these entries across several different settings areas, so users need to check multiple locations to find them all.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
A developer has published an extensive personal account of using Tcl/Tk, a decades-old scripting language and GUI toolkit, to build console and graphical applications that run natively on Windows, Linux and macOS. The piece walks through the toolkit's threading model, small footprint, ability to produce compact single-file executables, and its BSD licensing, based on the author's hands-on experience after moving past initial enthusiasm.
cgicoffee.com
· 2026-08-31
An analysis of moving from Windows to macOS notes that while web apps have made the transition smoother, Macs still differ in fundamental ways, starting with the absence of a native right-click and unfamiliar app installation steps outside the App Store. The piece traces the single-button mouse legacy to Steve Jobs, who reportedly resisted multi-button designs to keep interfaces simple.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-31
According to reports, Apple is working on improvements to the Apple Watch's heart-rate monitoring technology alongside a redesign of its Fitness and Health apps, expected to arrive with the Series 12 model. These changes aim to fix long-standing accuracy issues that have affected the device's health-tracking capabilities.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-08-31
Google's latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 introduces a new way to manage the 'Install unknown apps' permission, letting users choose between permanently allowing an app to sideload APKs or requiring approval each time. This replaces the old all-or-nothing toggle that previously granted permanent installation rights until manually revoked through a buried settings menu.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
An Android Authority writer tested two third-party Android weather apps, Gradient Weather and Breezy Weather, after years of relying on Samsung Weather, Pixel Weather and AccuWeather. Both apps offered strong customization and usability, but the reviewer ultimately favored one over the other after weighing their strengths and drawbacks.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
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