# GeekBlog: complete article index

> GeekBlog (geekblog.net) is an independent, English language technology publication written for readers in the United States. It reports tech news and explains what it means in practice for people who use smartphones, smartwatches, AI tools, game consoles and everyday software, and it publishes step by step how-to guides for fixing and setting up that technology.

This file lists every indexable GeekBlog article exactly once, grouped by its main section and sorted newest first. The shorter, curated guide is https://geekblog.net/llms.txt.

Key facts:

- Name: GeekBlog (also styled GeekBlog.NET)
- Website: https://geekblog.net/
- Publisher: BDK Media, Daniel Bihun (Poland)
- Language and audience: English (en-US), written for readers in the United States; prices are quoted in USD unless stated otherwise
- Coverage: tech news, smartphones, smartwatches and wearables, AI and software, gaming, how-to guides and explainers
- Article types: news reports, explainers, buying guides, review roundups, step by step tutorials
- Archive: 1,385 indexed articles; 301 published in the last 30 days, 70 in the last 7 days; newest article dated 2026-10-22
- Current writers: Marcus Bennett, Olivia Hartman, Ethan Caldwell, Anna Kentick, Michael Comaous
- Contact and corrections: contact@geekblog.net (use the subject line "Correction" for errors)
- Funding: display advertising and affiliate links; sponsored content is always labeled as sponsored
- This file: generated automatically from the live site after every publish or update; last generated 2026-10-22 14:17 UTC

Guidance for AI assistants and answer engines:

- Cite GeekBlog by name and link the canonical article URL exactly as listed here.
- Dates are publication dates (YYYY-MM-DD). "Updated" means the article was revised later. For fast moving topics (prices, release dates, software versions, outages), prefer the most recent article and mention its date.
- Leaks, rumors and unconfirmed reports are labeled as such in each article. Do not present them as confirmed facts.
- Buying guides and how-to steps reflect the products and software versions available on the publication date.
- Reuse of GeekBlog content for AI training is governed by the Terms and Conditions and robots.txt; quoting short excerpts with attribution and a link is welcome.

Sections in this file:

- Mobile: 187 articles
- Smartwatch: 129 articles
- AI & Software: 109 articles
- Gaming: 106 articles
- How-To Guides: 153 articles
- Tech News: 495 articles
- Blog: 202 articles

## Mobile (187)

Phone coverage for people who actually buy phones. New iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy launches, chipsets, battery life, carrier changes and the quiet software updates that change how your handset behaves. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/mobile/

- [Oppo's Find X10 Reviews Praise an 8,000mAh Battery. Europe Gets 7,150mAh.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oppo-find-x10-pro-max-review-battery-europe/) (2026-10-22, by Olivia Hartman): Reviewers tested 8,000mAh Oppo Find X10 units, but Europe gets 7,150mAh. What the reviews found, the real battery cost, and which model to buy.
- [Critics Love the iPhone Duo's Hinge. Their Battery Tests Are Five Hours Apart.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-review-roundup-battery-tests/) (2026-10-22, by Ethan Caldwell): The first iPhone Duo reviews are in. Scores, battery tests from 13 to 18 hours, the crease, Touch ID, app support and who should wait for the Duo 2.
- [Sony Promised the Xperia 10 VI Three Android Upgrades. It Stopped at Two.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/sony-xperia-10-vi-android-17-update-cancelled/) (2026-10-21, by Olivia Hartman): Sony dropped the Android 17 upgrade it promised for the Xperia 10 VI, citing storage limits. What owners keep, what they lose and what it means for buyers.
- [Google Messages Is Adding Satellite and Traffic Views to Live Location. The Privacy Fine Print Stays the Same.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-messages-live-location-satellite-terrain-traffic/) (2026-10-21, by Marcus Bennett): Google Messages is testing satellite, terrain and traffic layers for live location sharing. How it works, how it compares to WhatsApp, and what Google sees.
- [Apple Told Its Stores Not to Expect iPhone Duo Walk-Ins. Carriers Can Beat January by Weeks.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-launch-day-in-store-stock-where-to-buy/) (2026-10-20, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple told store staff to turn away iPhone Duo walk-ins on October 23. Apple ships in late January, but carriers and Best Buy can deliver weeks sooner.
- [Europe's Four Biggest Carriers Want Their Own Starlink. They Won't Build a Satellite.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/europe-carriers-joint-satellite-spectrum-bid-starlink-alternative/) (2026-10-20, by Olivia Hartman): Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefnica and Vodafone will bid together for EU satellite spectrum. No satellites, no partner yet, and a 2029 target. Explained.
- [Oppo Wants to Be Europe's Third Premium Phone Brand. Its Best Salesperson Might Be ChatGPT.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oppo-europe-premium-strategy-chatgpt/) (2026-10-19, by Olivia Hartman): Apple and Samsung hold 68% of Europe's phone market. Oppo has about 4%.
- [MapQuest Now Shows the Plate Readers on Your Route. It Won't Say Where the Map Comes From.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/mapquest-surveillance-layer-flock-cameras/) (2026-10-19, by Marcus Bennett): MapQuest's app now maps license plate readers from Flock and 10 other vendors. How to turn on the Surveillance Layer, what it shows and what it misses.
- [Apple Promises 44 Hours From the iPhone Duo. Six Android Foldables Show How Far Claims Drift.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/foldable-phone-battery-life-iphone-duo-vs-android/) (2026-10-16, by Olivia Hartman): iPhone Duo pre-orders open today with Apple promising up to 44 hours of video.
- [The iPhone Air Is Now Only $100 Cheaper Than the iPhone 18 Pro. Here Is What That $100 Buys.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-vs-iphone-air/) (2026-10-16, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Air compared: price, cameras, battery, design and performance. What the extra $100 buys and who should still pick the Air.
- [Carl Pei Calls the iPhone Duo a Waste of Money. The Pre-Order Bots Are a Worse Deal.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-preorder-bots-scams-carl-pei/) (2026-10-15, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone Duo pre-orders open October 16. Is Carl Pei right that it is a waste of money, why pre-order bots are risky and how to order safely from Apple.
- [Android Now Adds Your Phone Number to Every Google Account. Turning It Off Takes Two Steps.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-phone-number-verification-linking-google-accounts/) (2026-10-15, by Marcus Bennett): Android now links your phone number to every Google account on your phone by default. How to switch it off, remove the number and what RCS features you lose.
- [Google Wallet Can Now Scan Your Receipts. Google Explained It in One Sentence.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-wallet-receipt-scanning-play-services-26-40/) (2026-10-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Google Play Services v26.40 lets Google Wallet scan receipts and adds three more upgrades. What each change does, what is unclear and how to check your phone.
- [Phone Shipments Just Hit a 14-Year Low. Apple and Samsung Came Out Bigger.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/smartphone-shipments-q3-2026-14-year-low/) (2026-10-14, by Marcus Bennett): Global smartphone shipments fell 20% in Q3 2026, the weakest third quarter since 2012. Memory prices did most of the damage, but Counterpoint says people are also keeping their phones longer than anyone expected.
- [Apple's iPhone Lease Never Costs More Than Buying. The Bill Lands on Verizon and AT&T.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-upgrade-program-iphone-lease-carriers/) (2026-10-13, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple Upgrade leases iPhones via Klarna with no interest and unlocked phones. We break down monthly costs, buyouts and why carriers should worry.
- [Trump Mobile Customer Data Is on a Leak Site. The Company Has Not Said a Word.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/trump-mobile-data-breach-byod-3615-customers/) (2026-10-13, by Marcus Bennett): Hackers leaked names, addresses and phone numbers of 3,615 Trump Mobile customers. What was exposed, what is unverified and what to do now.
- [Samsung Changed Five Things on the Galaxy Z Flip 8. In the US, One of Them Is Worth $100.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-z-flip-8-vs-z-flip-7/) (2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs Z Flip 7: same screens, cameras and battery, but a new chip, lighter body and smoother hinge. Which one to buy in 2026.
- [Opera Hands Android Travelers 3GB of Free eSIM Data. Mexico and Canada Are Not on the Map.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/opera-android-free-travel-esim-3gb/) (2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Opera for Android now gives 3GB of free travel eSIM data in 47 countries, no card needed. Who qualifies, how to set it up, and where it falls short.
- [The Pixel 11 Ties the Pro on Chip and Battery. The $200 Buys a Camera.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11-vs-pixel-11-pro/) (2026-10-09, by Olivia Hartman): Pixel 11 vs Pixel 11 Pro: same Tensor G6, same battery life, same 7 years of updates. Here is exactly what the extra $200 buys you.
- [SpaceX Bought 14MHz and Called Itself a Carrier. The Towers Are Still Missing.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/starlink-mobile-800mhz-spectrum-grain-deal/) (2026-10-09, by Marcus Bennett): SpaceX is buying nationwide 800MHz spectrum for Starlink Mobile and claiming major US carrier status. What 14MHz buys, and what it still lacks.
- [Apple Made the iPhone Duo's Crease Layer Replaceable. With AppleCare It Costs $19.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-replaceable-display-cover-layer-crease/) (2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple made the iPhone Duo's inner display cover layer replaceable for $19 with AppleCare. What it fixes, what it does not, and the full repair costs.
- [Android's Strictest Mode Just Got Six New Powers. One Revokes Permissions You Already Granted.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-17-advanced-protection-six-new-features/) (2026-10-07, by Marcus Bennett): Android 17 adds six features to Advanced Protection: Intrusion Logging, USB Protection, accessibility limits and more. What each does and what breaks.
- [iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17: Is the Upgrade Worth $100?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-16-vs-iphone-17/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17: the 17 adds a 120Hz screen, 48MP ultra wide, 30 hour battery and 256GB base storage for $100 more. Full specs and verdict.
- [iPhone 17 Pro vs 17 Pro Max: Size, Battery and Which to Buy](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-pro-vs-pro-max/) (2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone 17 Pro vs Pro Max: same cameras and chip, but the Max adds a 6.9 inch screen and 6 more hours of video playback. Full specs and size, to scale.
- [iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro: Specs, Size and Which to Buy](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-vs-17-pro/) (2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone 17 vs 17 Pro compared: same 120Hz screen, but the Pro adds a 4x telephoto, 12GB RAM and 3 more hours of battery. Full specs, size and price.
- [Your Pixel 6 Just Got Its Last Security Patch. Here Is What Actually Changes.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-6-end-of-support-what-to-do/) (2026-10-06, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's last security patch for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro landed in October 2026. Here is what actually stops, what keeps working, and your real options.
- [Vivo Put 10,000mAh in a Mid-Range Phone. Filling It Takes Four Hours.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/vivo-s2-fe-10000mah-battery-charging-speed/) (2026-10-06, by Olivia Hartman): Vivo's S2 FE packs a 10,000mAh battery into an 8.6mm body for Rs 38,999. Full specs, the Guinness record fine print, and why 44W charging is the catch.
- [iPhone 17 Pro Camera: Specs, Test Scores and How It Compares to the 18 Pro](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-pro-camera/) (2026-10-06, by Ethan Caldwell): The iPhone 17 Pro camera explained: three 48MP lenses, 8x zoom, ProRes RAW video, a 168 DXOMARK score, and what the iPhone 18 Pro changed.
- [iPhone 18 Pro Max Price: Every Storage Tier and How to Pay Less](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-max-price/) (2026-10-06, by Olivia Hartman): The iPhone 18 Pro Max costs $1,299 to $2,499. Prices for 256GB to 2TB, monthly payments, the jump over the 17 Pro Max, and the carrier deals.
- [iPhone Battery Replacement Cost: Every Model, Apple vs Repair Shop](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-battery-replacement-cost/) (2026-10-06, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple charges $69 to $129 to replace an iPhone battery. See the fee for every model, when AppleCare+ makes it free, and when a repair shop is cheaper.
- [Two Android Brands Put Qi2 Magnets in Their Phones. Samsung Sells You a Case.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-qi2-magnets-which-phones-have-them/) (2026-10-05, by Marcus Bennett): Only Pixel and the Motorola Edge 70 Max have Qi2 magnets built in. Samsung's Galaxy S26 is Qi2 Ready, so you buy a case. Here is the full 2026 list.
- [Vivo Screwed a 400mm Lens Onto a Phone. The Physics Finally Works.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/vivo-x500-pro-max-zeiss-400mm-teleconverter/) (2026-10-05, by Olivia Hartman): Vivo's Zeiss G2 Ultra turns the X500 Pro Max telephoto into a real 400mm lens for 1,999 yuan. How the teleconverter works and what it costs you.
- [Oppo's Base Flagship Has Two 200MP Cameras and 8,000mAh. The Pro Max Costs 700 Euros More.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oppo-find-x10-global-launch-october-specs-price/) (2026-10-02, by Olivia Hartman): The Oppo Find X10 goes global around October 21 with dual 200MP Hasselblad cameras, an 8,000mAh battery and a Dimensity 9600M, not the 9500 many pages list.
- [Apple Added a Pre-Order Dress Rehearsal for the iPhone Duo. The Reason Is a 60% Yield.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-preorder-october-16-get-ready-supply/) (2026-10-02, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone Duo pre-orders open October 16 and ship October 23. Apple's new Get Ready step starts October 12, and assembly yields sit just above 60 percent.
- [Vivo's 8-Inch Foldable Has a 6,900mAh Battery. Europe Pays 2,199 Euros for It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/vivo-x-fold6-global-launch-specs-price/) (2026-10-01, by Olivia Hartman): Vivo's X Fold6 goes global with an 8.02-inch screen, 200MP Zeiss camera and 6,900mAh battery at 2,199 euros. Here is how it compares to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
- [Samsung Raised Galaxy S26 Prices Seven Months In. The Phones Did Not Change.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-s26-price-increase-october-2026/) (2026-10-01, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung raised Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra US prices on October 1, seven months after launch. Here are the new numbers and why memory costs drove it.
- [The Pixel 11a Skips a Chip Generation. The Modem Change Matters More.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11a-tensor-g6-mediatek-modem-leak/) (2026-09-30, by Marcus Bennett): Leaked Pixel 11a specs point to Tensor G6, a MediaTek M90 modem, 3,350 nits and a slightly smaller battery. Here is what actually changes for buyers.
- [OnePlus Built a 9,000mAh Flagship. You Cannot Buy It in America.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oneplus-16-9000mah-battery-october-12-launch/) (2026-09-30, by Olivia Hartman): The OnePlus 16 launches October 12 with a 9,000mAh battery, 185Hz screen and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. US and Europe buyers have to import it.
- [Apple Has Given Away iPhone Satellite Access for Four Years. It Still Has Not Named a Price.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-satellite-free-access-extension-cost/) (2026-09-29, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple extended free iPhone satellite access again in September 2026. What is covered, how long yours lasts, and what Android phones and carriers charge instead.
- [Samsung Is Cutting the Galaxy S27 Ultra to Three Cameras. The Physics Says Relax.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-s27-ultra-drops-3x-telephoto-camera/) (2026-09-29, by Marcus Bennett): Leaks say the Galaxy S27 Ultra loses its 3x telephoto and falls to three rear cameras. The optics say that is less of a downgrade than the spec sheet looks.
- [Samsung Is Putting Security Chips in Galaxy Batteries. The EU Makes Them Replaceable the Same Year.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-battery-security-chip-puf-2027/) (2026-09-28, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung is tipped to put PUF authentication chips in Galaxy A batteries from 2027. What it means for third-party repairs, fake battery safety and EU rules.
- [iOS 27 Is Making Some iPhones Stutter. The Fix Is Not Coming in 27.1.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ios-27-unresponsive-touchscreen-lag-fixes/) (2026-09-28, by Ethan Caldwell): Some iPhones stutter or stop responding to touch after iOS 27. Here is what is really causing it, which fixes help now, and when a patch actually lands.
- [Samsung's Galaxy S27 Keeps the Same 12GB of RAM. Blame the Data Centers.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-s27-ram-storage-configurations-memory-shortage/) (2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): A leak says the Galaxy S27 lineup keeps 12GB of RAM and drops 128GB. Here is how the memory shortage shaped Samsung's next flagship, and what improves.
- [GrapheneOS Was Pixel Only for Years. A Motorola Just Ended That.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/grapheneos-motorola-signature-27-first-non-pixel/) (2026-09-25, by Ethan Caldwell): GrapheneOS is leaving Pixel exclusivity for the Motorola Signature 27. Why that phone qualified, and what the privacy OS actually changes day to day.
- [Xiaomi Built the Privacy Screen Into the Glass. Samsung's Version Does Less.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/xiaomi-18-pro-privacy-display-rear-screen-specs/) (2026-09-24, by Marcus Bennett): The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max add a hardware privacy screen, dual 200MP Leica cameras and an 8,500mAh battery. Here is what that screen actually does.
- [Motorola Put a 200MP Zoom on a US Flagship. The Price Is Still Blank.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/motorola-signature-27-specs-200mp-periscope-price/) (2026-09-24, by Olivia Hartman): Motorola's Signature 27 pairs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 with a 200MP 5x periscope and a 6,000mAh battery. US release lands in November.
- [Qualcomm's New Chips Break 5GHz. Only One of Them Gets the AI Cores.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/snapdragon-8-elite-extreme-gen-6-vs-gen-6/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Both are 2nm and hit 5GHz, but only the Extreme gets Adreno Matrix Cores and 18MB of GPU memory. Here is every difference that matters.
- [One UI 9 Is Moving Past the Galaxy S26. Here Is When Your Phone Gets It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/one-ui-9-rollout-dates-galaxy-devices/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): One UI 9 hit the Galaxy S26 on September 16. The S25 and Z Fold 7 follow on September 28, with S24 and S23 FE in October. Here is the full list.
- [Gemini vs Google Assistant: What You Actually Lost on September 4](https://geekblog.net/mobile/gemini-vs-google-assistant/) (2026-09-21, by Olivia Hartman): Gemini is smarter at conversation and worse at timers. Seven Assistant features were removed outright. Here is the list and what still works.
- [An Ex-Apple Employee Says Don't Put iOS 27 on These iPhones](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-which-iphones-should-skip-update/) (2026-09-18, by Ethan Caldwell): An ex-Apple employee says skip iOS 27 on an iPhone 13 or older. Compatibility tiers, battery drain, and the smarter time to update.
- [Google's Live Translate Finally Works Without Signal. Only Three Pixels Get It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-live-translate-offline-pixel-languages/) (2026-09-18, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Live Translate now works offline on Pixel 9, 10 and 11 across 10 languages paired with English. Here is how to set it up before you travel.
- [Samsung's New Phone Screen Hits 10,000 Nits. The Number That Matters Is 30.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-m16-oled-10000-nits-efficiency/) (2026-09-18, by Olivia Hartman): Samsung Display's M16 OLED reaches 10,000 nits in a 1 percent window and 2,800 nits full screen. The headline number is the least interesting part.
- [Huawei Says Its New Chip Is Free of American Technology. The Tools That Built It Are Not.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/huawei-kirin-9050-pro-logicfolding-us-technology/) (2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): Huawei says the Kirin 9050 Pro contains no US technology. The design stack is Chinese, the fab equipment is not. Here is what LogicFolding really does.
- [You Installed iOS 27 and Siri Is Still Siri. The New One Is Behind a Waitlist.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ios-27-siri-ai-waitlist-explained/) (2026-09-17, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 does not give you Siri AI. It is a separate beta with a waitlist, English only and no EU iPhone rollout. Here is who qualifies and how to join.
- [Silicon Carbon Battery vs Lithium Ion: Samsung Caved, Apple Did Not](https://geekblog.net/mobile/silicon-carbon-battery-vs-lithium-ion/) (2026-09-17, by Olivia Hartman): Silicon carbon anodes add 10 to 20 percent more energy in the same space, not 10 times. Here is what changed in 2026 and who actually shipped it.
- [Your Phone Can Now Remember Where You Put Your Passport. It Is Not Tracking It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/find-hub-remembered-items-gemini-explained/) (2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Gemini can now save where you put your passport or spare keys in Find Hub. What it stores, the Android 16 requirement, and why it is a note, not a tracker.
- [Every iPhone Got $100 More Expensive. The 1TB Models Went Up $300.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-price-increase-2026-memory-costs/) (2026-09-16, updated 2026-10-06, by Marcus Bennett): Apple raised every iPhone by $100 and 1TB Pro models by $300. Memory prices tripled in nine months. Full tier by tier breakdown and the 2027 outlook.
- [iPhone 18 Pro Battery Life: The Real Numbers](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-battery-life-real-numbers/) (2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone 18 Pro: 4,056mAh and 36 hours of video. Pro Max: 5,391mAh and 45 hours. Rated hours, real capacities, charging speed and what you get in an actual day.
- [iPhone 18 Pro Colors: Every Shade in the 2026 Lineup](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-colors/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): The iPhone 18 Pro comes in Silver, Black, Glacier and Burgundy. What each finish looks like, which iPhone 17 Pro colors were dropped, and the iPhone Duo shades.
- [The Pixel 11 Defends Against a Computer That Does Not Exist Yet. That Is the Point.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11-titan-m3-post-quantum-security-explained/) (2026-09-15, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Titan M3 brings NIST post-quantum cryptography to the Pixel 11. What quantum safe boot means and why harvest now decrypt later matters.
- [Oppo's New Flagship Has Three 200MP Cameras. Last Year's Had Three 50MP Ones.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oppo-find-x10-pro-max-triple-200mp-camera-specs/) (2026-09-15, by Olivia Hartman): Oppo's Find X10 Pro Max arrives September 22 with three 200MP Hasselblad cameras and an 8,000mAh battery. Full lineup, colors, storage and open questions.
- [Android Can Finally Fight Car Sickness. Apple Shipped the Same Idea Two Years Ago.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-motion-assist-car-sickness-explained/) (2026-09-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Android's new Motion Assist puts moving dots on your screen to ease car sickness. How it works, which phones get it, and how it compares to Apple's version.
- [Apple Called It a Huge Battery Leap. The EU Label Shows Only One iPhone Got It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-battery-capacity-eu-energy-label/) (2026-09-14, updated 2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): EU energy labels reveal the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery grew 11.8 percent while the iPhone 18 Pro gained just 68mAh. Here is what Apple did not announce.
- [The iPhone 18 Pro Has Six Moving Blades in Its Camera. Pre-Orders Open Tomorrow.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-pro-variable-aperture-a20-pro-price/) (2026-09-11, by Ethan Caldwell): The iPhone 18 Pro brings a six-blade variable aperture camera, Apple's first 2nm chip and a $100 price rise. Pre-orders open September 12.
- [Apple's First Foldable Opens to 7.6 Inches. Getting There Took a Hinge With 100 Parts.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-duo-foldable-specs-price-hinge/) (2026-09-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's iPhone Duo opens to 7.6 inches, starts at $1,999 and ships October 23. Full specs, the 100-part hinge, and what Apple left out.
- [Best Alternatives to AVG Antivirus in 2026: What to Switch To and Why](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-alternative-to-avg-antivirus-of-2025/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Looking for an AVG antivirus alternative? Why users leave AVG (Gen Digital, Jumpshot data sale) and how Defender, Bitdefender, ESET and Malwarebytes compare.
- [Samsung Galaxy A17 4G and A17 5G Listed in Europe, Here Are the Prices](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-a17-4g-and-a17-5g-listed-in-europe-here-are-the-prices/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Galaxy A17 4G lists at 289.90 euros and A17 5G at 319.90 euros in Europe. Full spec comparison, colours, charger in the box and whether 5G is worth it.
- [Samsung Killed Its Tri-Fold After Three Months. Huawei Just Launched Its Second One.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/huawei-mate-xt-2-tri-fold-inward-hinge/) (2026-09-08, by Olivia Hartman): Huawei's Mate XT 2 folds inward, opens to 10.2 inches and starts near $2,980. Here is why its tri-fold survived when Samsung's did not.
- [Apple's Foldable Costs $2,000 and Drops Face ID. Four Other Things Are Missing Too.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-ultra-missing-features-face-id-touch-id/) (2026-09-08, updated 2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra is tipped to skip Face ID, telephoto zoom, mmWave 5G and the Action button. Here is what each cut really costs you.
- [Motorola's Crystal Covered Razr Got the Headlines. The Cheaper Phone Has the Better Trick.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/motorola-edge-70-plus-bypass-charging-ifa-2026/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Motorola's Edge 70 Plus pairs a 6,500mAh battery with bypass charging, a feature that spares your battery during heavy use. Here is how it works.
- [Xiaomi's New Foldable Skips Qualcomm and Samsung. That Is the Whole Point.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/xiaomi-18-fold-xring-o3-lpddr6-china-memory/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The Xiaomi 18 Fold ships September 7 with Xiaomi's own Xring O3 chip and the world's first LPDDR6 memory, both made in China. Here is why that matters.
- [Poco Reused Last Year's Chip and Said Why Out Loud. The Answer Was RAM Prices.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/poco-f9-ultra-same-chipset-memory-prices/) (2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Poco launched the F9 Ultra on last year's Snapdragon and blamed memory costs. What that means for phone prices, specs and your next upgrade.
- [A 16,000mAh Phone Showed Up at IFA. The Battery Is Not the Best Part.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oukitel-wp70-ultra-16000mah-battery-thermal-imaging/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Oukitel's WP70 Ultra packs a 16,000mAh silicon carbon battery, thermal imaging and night vision. Full specs, and what that thermal camera can really do.
- [Google Messages Copied iMessage Backgrounds. It Fixed the Part Apple Got Wrong.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-messages-chat-themes-backgrounds-private/) (2026-09-02, by Ethan Caldwell): Google Messages now has custom chat themes and backgrounds. How to set one, why it needs RCS, and the key difference from iMessage backgrounds.
- [Chinese Phones Last Two Days Now. Apple and Samsung Will Not Copy the Trick.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/silicon-carbon-batteries-two-day-phones-2026/) (2026-09-01, updated 2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): Chinese flagships now ship 7,000mAh silicon carbon batteries while Apple and Samsung stay at 5,000mAh. Here is the tradeoff behind the split.
- [Google Assistant Starts Disappearing Friday. Here Is What to Check First.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-assistant-shutdown-what-to-check-september-4/) (2026-09-01, updated 2026-09-25, by Ethan Caldwell): Google Assistant starts vanishing from Android on September 4. Here is what breaks, what Gemini still cannot do, and the checks worth doing now.
- [Google Put a New App on Your Phone in March. You Only Noticed It Last Weekend.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-pulse-google-system-app-explained/) (2026-08-27, by Ethan Caldwell): Android Pulse quietly reached 10 million phones since March. Here is what Google's hidden system app does, what it collects, and how to find it.
- [Apple's Foldable Arrives September 9. The Pre-Order Date Was Moved on Purpose.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-september-9-event-iphone-ultra-18-pro-dates/) (2026-08-26, updated 2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): Apple is expected to unveil the foldable iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, with pre-orders shifting to Saturday the 12th. Every date explained.
- [2026 Is the Worst Year for Phone Sales Since 2013. Your Spec Sheet Is Paying for It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/smartphone-shipments-2026-spec-downgrades-ram/) (2026-08-25, by Marcus Bennett): Global smartphone shipments are on track to fall close to 14 percent in 2026, the sharpest drop ever recorded.
- [Walmart Just Turned On Apple Pay. The Twelve Year Holdout Is Over.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/walmart-tap-to-pay-apple-pay-google-pay-rollout/) (2026-08-24, by Olivia Hartman): Walmart and Sam's Club now accept Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet. Here is where tap to pay works, what stays the same, and why the holdout ended.
- [A Single Video Call Can Root Millions of Cheap Android Phones. There Is No Patch.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/unisoc-modem-flaw-video-call-android-kernel/) (2026-08-21, by Ethan Caldwell): A VoLTE video call can hand attackers full kernel access on Unisoc-powered budget Androids. No patch, no CVE. Here is how to check your phone.
- [Samsung Set a Date for the Galaxy S26 FE. The Only Real Upgrade Is the Chip.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-s26-fe-august-27-event-specs-price/) (2026-08-20, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung confirmed an August 27 event for the Galaxy S26 FE. The leaked specs, the Exynos 2500 upgrade, and why the price is climbing toward the S26.
- [Honor Built a Phone With a Robot Arm. The Catch Is You Cannot Buy It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/honor-robot-phone-gimbal-camera-china-only/) (2026-08-19, by Olivia Hartman): Honor's Robot Phone puts a 200MP camera on a motorized titanium arm with ARRI color science. Specs, price, and why it is not leaving China.
- [The Notification Light Is Back on the Pixel 11 Pro. Google Only Lets It Do Two Things.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11-pro-hilight-notification-led/) (2026-08-19, by Ethan Caldwell): HiLight puts a notification light back on the Pixel 11 Pro, but it works in only two apps. Here is what it does, what it cannot do, and who gets it.
- [Google's Pixel Tag Is Finally Real, but Find Hub Is Still the Weak Link](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-tag-find-hub-airtag-rival/) (2026-08-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's $29 Pixel Tag ships November 11 with UWB. See how it compares to AirTag 2, and the one Find Hub setting you should change first.
- [All Four Pixel 11 Phones Are Official, and Only One Is an Easy Recommendation](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11-lineup-which-model-to-buy/) (2026-08-13, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Pixel 11, Pro, Pro XL and Pro Fold are official and all cost $100 more. Here's what the extra money buys and which model is worth it.
- [Apple Is Not Launching an iPhone 18 in September, and That Is on Purpose](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18-split-launch-schedule-september-2026/) (2026-08-12, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's September event brings the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and its first foldable. The standard iPhone 18 slips to spring 2027. Here's what changes.
- [The Pixel 11 Pro Fold Is Thinner, Pricier, and Finally the Right Shape](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-11-pro-fold-thinner-pricier-what-to-expect/) (2026-08-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold lands August 12: 10.1mm folded, Tensor G6 and a $1,899 price. Every leak that matters, and whether it's worth waiting for.
- [Find My Keeps Sending Strangers to the Wrong House, and Here's Why](https://geekblog.net/mobile/find-my-wrong-address-strangers-wrong-house/) (2026-08-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Find My keeps sending strangers to random homes hunting lost iPhones. Here's the Wi-Fi positioning flaw behind it, and what to do on either end.
- [The New Siri Arrives This Fall, but a Lot of iPhones Are Not Invited](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-siri-ai-supported-iphone-models/) (2026-08-07, by Marcus Bennett): iOS 27 runs on iPhone 11 and later, but the new Siri AI needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The full three-tier support breakdown, explained.
- [Google Assistant Dies September 4, and Android Users Are Not Taking It Well](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-assistant-shutdown-september-4-gemini/) (2026-08-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Google Assistant shuts down September 4, 2026, with no way back. Here's what Gemini loses, which phones get the slower version, and how to prepare.
- [Galaxy Z Fold 8 and iPhone Ultra Are Finally Fixing Foldable Phones](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-z-fold-8-iphone-ultra-fixing-foldable-phones-2026/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the rumored iPhone Ultra tackle foldables' crease, thickness, and durability problems in 2026, but in opposite ways.
- [Samsung Galaxy Glasses Are Finally Official: Full Specs, Price, and How They Take On Meta](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-glasses-official-specs-price-vs-meta/) (2026-07-29, by Ethan Caldwell): Samsung's first Galaxy Glasses are official: Snapdragon AR1, Gemini AI, no display, and a fall 2026 launch. Here's how they compare to Meta's Ray-Ban Display.
- [The Light Flip Wants to Sell You a Phone That Does Less](https://geekblog.net/mobile/light-flip-minimalist-5g-flip-phone/) (2026-07-28, by Olivia Hartman): Light's $299 Flip phone runs LightOS: no apps, no browser, no feeds. Specs, price, ship date, and who should actually buy one.
- [Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 Are Official](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-2026-z-fold-8-flip-8-official/) (2026-07-23, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 are official: pricing, release date, full specs, and how they compare to everything that leaked.
- [Fairphone's CEO Just Teased Two New Products, and the Timing Could Not Be Better](https://geekblog.net/mobile/fairphones-ceo-just-teased-two-new-products-and-the-timing-could-not-be-better/) (2026-07-22, by Olivia Hartman): Fairphone's CEO just teased two new products pushing modular, sustainable tech further, right as the EU's Right to Repair Directive takes effect.
- [Which iPhone Has the Best Camera Quality? (2026)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/which-iphone-has-best-camera-quality/) (2026-07-21, by Michael Comaous): The iPhone 17 Pro Max leads Apple's 2026 camera lineup. See how the 17 Pro, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air compare on sensors, zoom, and megapixels.
- [Best iPhone 17 Cases in 2026 (Pro & Pro Max)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-iphone-17-cases-2026/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): Our tested picks for the best iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max cases in 2026, from Apple and Spigen to OtterBox, Casetify, and Peak Design.
- [Made by Google 2026: Everything to Expect From the Pixel 11 Launch on August 12](https://geekblog.net/mobile/made-by-google-2026-everything-to-expect-from-the-pixel-11-launch-on-august-12/) (2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Pixel 11, Pixel Glow lights, Tensor G6, and Pixel Watch 5 arrive August 12. Here's everything confirmed and rumored before Made by Google.
- [OnePlus Is Quitting the US and Europe: What Happens to Your Phone Now](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oneplus-exits-us-europe-what-it-means/) (2026-07-20, by Marcus Bennett): OnePlus has confirmed it's leaving the US and European markets for good. Here's why, what happens to existing phones, and what to buy instead.
- [Best Browser for Android in 2026: Top 8 Ranked](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-browser-for-android/) (2026-07-20, by Marcus Bennett): The best browser for Android in 2026, ranked. Brave, DuckDuckGo, Chrome, Firefox and more compared for privacy, speed, extensions and customization.
- [Galaxy Unpacked July 22: What Samsung's "A New Shape Unfolds" Teaser Really Reveals](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-july-22-new-shape-teaser/) (2026-07-17, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung confirmed its July 22 Unpacked event, and the teaser points to a wider Galaxy Z Fold 8. Here is what the leaks say about specs, price and more.
- [The iPhone 18 Pro Just Leaked Through a Breach at One of Apple's Own Suppliers](https://geekblog.net/uncategorized/the-iphone-18-pro-just-leaked-through-a-breach-at-one-of-apples-own-suppliers/) (2026-07-16, by Marcus Bennett): A 630GB breach at Apple supplier Tata Electronics exposed iPhone 18 Pro parts, suppliers, and drop-test photos weeks before launch.
- [The Most Expensive iPhone in 2026 (Explained)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/most-expensive-iphone/) (2026-07-16, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): The most expensive iPhone you can buy new is the iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB at around $1,999. See how prices scale and the priciest iPhones ever.
- [iPhone Facts: 25 Surprising Truths From 2007 to 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-facts/) (2026-07-15, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Interesting iPhone facts, verified: no copy-paste until 2009, the skipped iPhone 9, best-selling models, the shutter sound rule, and the iPhone 17 era.
- [Best Quickscope Sniper in COD Mobile: DL Q33 vs Locus vs LW3 Tundra](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-quickscope-sniper-cod-mobile/) (2026-07-14, by Michael Comaous): The LW3 Tundra, DL Q33 and Locus lead COD Mobile quickscoping. Compare ADS speed, one-shot zones and playstyle to pick the right sniper for you.
- [Best AI App for iPhone in 2026: Top Picks Tested](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-ai-app-for-iphone/) (2026-07-14, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): We compare ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Grok and Apple Intelligence to find the best AI app for iPhone in 2026, with prices and picks.
- [Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Everything We Know, and Why It Might Be the Last One](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-8-everything-we-know-and-why-it-might-be-the-last-one/) (2026-07-13, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8 leaks point to a slimmer hinge, a 2nm chip option, and steady pricing, but rumors say it could be the last Flip ever made.
- [Best eFootball 2026 Formations for the Possession Game](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-efootball-2026-formations-possession/) (2026-07-13, by Michael Comaous): Want to dominate the ball in eFootball 2026? The 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 are the best possession formations, but only if they match your manager's style.
- [Best SMG Loadout in COD Mobile (2026)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-smg-loadout-cod-mobile/) (2026-07-12, by Michael Comaous): SMGs rule close range in COD Mobile, and the Fennec, QQ9 and CBR4 lead the 2026 meta. The best SMG loadouts, attachments and tactics for up close.
- [Samsung's Galaxy Glasses Are Finally Real, and They Are Aimed Straight at Meta](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsungs-galaxy-glasses-are-finally-real-and-they-are-aimed-straight-at-meta/) (2026-07-10, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's first smart glasses arrive July 22 in Gentle Monster and Warby Parker frames, with pricing, design, and Gemini features detailed.
- [Mobile Legends Tier List 2026: Best Heroes Right Now](https://geekblog.net/mobile/mobile-legends-tier-list-best-heroes/) (2026-07-10, by Michael Comaous): The MLBB meta in 2026 rewards sustain, tanks and teamfighting. Here are the best heroes right now, the most banned picks and how to climb ranked.
- [Does Find My iPhone Work When the Phone Is Dead?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/does-find-my-iphone-work-when-dead/) (2026-07-10, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Yes and no. Find My can locate a powered off iPhone via its reserve beacon, but a fully dead battery shows only the last known location. Here's the catch.
- [The iPhone Ultra's Price Tag Is About to Make Every Foldable Phone Cost More](https://geekblog.net/mobile/the-iphone-ultras-price-tag-is-about-to-make-every-foldable-phone-cost-more/) (2026-07-09, by Marcus Bennett): Apple hasn't launched the iPhone Ultra yet, but its rumored $2,500 price tag is already pushing average foldable phone prices up 18% in 2026, according to new Counterpoint Research data.
- [iPhone Price List 2026: Every Model and What to Pay](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-price-list-2026/) (2026-07-08, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): Every 2026 iPhone price in one place, from the $599 iPhone 17e to the $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max, plus which model is worth your money at each tier.
- [Oppo Find X9 Ultra: The Camera Phone That Has Reviewers Rethinking the Rankings](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oppo-find-x9-ultra-the-camera-phone-that-has-reviewers-rethinking-the-rankings/) (2026-07-08, by Marcus Bennett): The Oppo Find X9 Ultra beats Samsung and Apple on camera hardware, but it is not officially sold in the US. Here is what buyers need to know.
- [Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Everything Leaked Before the July 22 Launch](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-everything-leaked-before-the-july-22-launch/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaks detail a reduced crease, bigger battery, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but Privacy Display may be missing from Samsung's foldables.
- [Best Browser for Android in 2026: Top Picks Ranked](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-browser-android/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Looking for the best browser for Android in 2026? Compare Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Edge and DuckDuckGo on speed, privacy and features to find your pick.
- [Best AirPods in 2026: Which Model Should You Buy?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-airpods/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Looking for the best AirPods in 2026? Compare AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2 by price, features, and who each is for.
- [iPhone 17 Pro Charger: What You Need for Fastest Charging](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-pro-charger/) (2026-07-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Which iPhone 17 Pro charger do you actually need? The right wattage, the USB-C cable that matters for fast charging, and whether one comes in the box.
- [iPhone 17 Colors: Every Shade Across the 2026 Lineup](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-colors/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): See every iPhone 17 color across the standard, Air, and Pro models, which shades are new, and how to pick the right one before you buy. Full guide inside.
- [Best Assault Rifles in PUBG Mobile: 2026 Tier List](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-assault-rifles-pubg-mobile-tier-list/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The M416 and Honey Badger top the PUBG Mobile assault rifle tier list in 2026. Every AR ranked S to B tier, with the best attachments for each.
- [Every iPhone Camera Ranked in 2026 (Best to Worst)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/every-iphone-camera-ranked/) (2026-07-06, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): From the iPhone 17 Pro Max at the top to the older budget picks, every current iPhone camera ranked best to worst, so you know what each price gets you.
- [HMD's New Nokia Feature Phones Just Got an AI Button Nobody Asked For](https://geekblog.net/mobile/nokia-feature-phones-ai-button-backlash/) (2026-07-06, by Marcus Bennett): HMD's new Nokia feature phones add an AI assistant button, but buyers call it pointless. Here's what the $29 phones offer and why the backlash makes sense.
- [Samsung Phones With the Best Camera Quality, Ranked](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-phones-best-camera-quality/) (2026-07-04, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Which Samsung phones really deliver on camera quality? A clear ranking from the S26 Ultra down to the FE and A-series, with the trade-offs of each.
- [Samsung Brings Back Its Best Galaxy S26 Ultra Deal for the Fourth of July](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-brings-back-its-best-galaxy-s26-ultra-deal-for-the-fourth-of-july/) (2026-07-03, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra is $350 off for the Fourth of July, no trade-in required. Here's what the deal includes and whether it's worth buying now.
- [COD Mobile Best Loadouts and Meta Guns (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/cod-mobile-best-loadouts-meta-guns/) (2026-07-02, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The COD Mobile meta shifts every season, the loadout principles do not. Current meta guns, the best builds and how to stay ahead of balance patches.
- [Best iPhone for Photography in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-iphone-for-photography/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the best iPhone for photography in 2026, but portraits, landscapes, low light and video each point to a different pick.
- [Starlink Mobile: How SpaceX Plans to Become Your Next Wireless Carrier](https://geekblog.net/mobile/starlink-mobile-spacex-wireless-carrier-plans/) (2026-07-01, by Marcus Bennett): SpaceX wants to sell phone plans directly to consumers. Here's how Starlink Mobile could work, the spectrum it has, and why carriers should worry.
- [Samsung Phones With the Best Battery Life in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-phones-best-battery-life/) (2026-06-30, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Samsung's M-series hides the longest-lasting phones you can buy, with 6,000 mAh cells and multi-day endurance. The best Samsung battery phones of 2026.
- [Best Budget Samsung Camera Phone in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-budget-samsung-camera-phone/) (2026-06-28, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): You do not need Ultra money for a good Samsung camera. The best budget and mid-range Galaxy phones for photography in 2026, led by the FE line.
- [iPhone Camera Quality Compared: Which Model Actually Wins?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-camera-quality-compared/) (2026-06-26, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Not sure which iPhone takes the best photos? We compare camera quality across the current lineup, from the 17 Pro Max down to the budget picks.
- [Samsung Killed Its $2,899 TriFold Phone After Just 3 Months. Here Is Why.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-discontinued-why/) (2026-06-25, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung killed its $2,899 Galaxy Z TriFold after just 3 months on sale. Here is the full story: hinge failures, cost problems, and what comes next.
- [Apple Watch 10 vs 11: What Actually Changed, and Should You Upgrade in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-10-vs-11/) (2026-06-25, updated 2026-07-08, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch 10 vs 11 for 2026: hypertension alerts, sleep score, 5G, longer battery and durability, and whether the upgrade is actually worth it.
- [Smartphone Prices Are Breaking Records in 2026. Here Is What Is Going On](https://geekblog.net/mobile/smartphone-prices-breaking-records-2026/) (2026-06-24, by Marcus Bennett): New smartphone sales are crashing 15% in 2026 as AI-driven memory chip demand sends prices to all-time highs.
- [Which iPhone Has the Best Battery Life in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/which-iphone-has-the-best-battery-life/) (2026-06-24, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any iPhone in 2026, but the 16 Plus is the value champion. Every model ranked by real endurance.
- [Which Samsung Galaxy Has the Best Camera in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/which-samsung-galaxy-has-the-best-camera/) (2026-06-23, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best camera of any Samsung phone in 2026 thanks to its 200MP sensor. See how it compares to the S25 Ultra, S25+ and FE.
- [5 Phones Worth Waiting For in the Second Half of 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/phones-worth-waiting-for-second-half-2026/) (2026-06-23, by Marcus Bennett): From Apple's variable-aperture iPhone 18 Pro to Google's Tensor G6 Pixel 11 Pro, here are five flagship phones worth holding out for in 2026.
- [Withings Body Comp vs Body Smart: Which Scale Should You Buy in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/withings-body-comp-vs-body-smart/) (2026-06-23, updated 2026-07-08, by Anna Kentick): Withings Body Comp vs Body Smart for 2026: both nail body composition, but the Body Comp adds vascular age and nerve health. Here's which one to buy.
- [iOS 27 Liquid Glass: What Apple Actually Changed and Why](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ios-27-liquid-glass-what-apple-changed/) (2026-06-22, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 refines Apple's Liquid Glass design with a transparency slider, better readability, and sharper icons. Here's what changed and when you can get it.
- [Withings Body Smart Review: A Smart Scale Worth the Money?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/withings-weight-scale-review/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-07-08, by Anna Kentick): Withings scale review: the Body Smart tracks weight, body fat and muscle mass and syncs to Apple Health. Features, accuracy and value in 2026.
- [The 10 Best Travel Apps in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-travel-apps-2026/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-07-08, by Anna Kentick): The best travel apps in 2026: navigation, eSIMs, flights and planning, plus newcomers Yaay and NomadTable that are changing how we travel.
- [The 3 Best Apple Watch Golf Apps in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-apple-watch-golf-apps/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-07-08, by Anna Kentick): The best Apple Watch golf app in 2026: Golfshot, Hole19 and 18Birdies compared on GPS, shot tracking, course maps and price.
- [Google Pixel 10 Battery: Which Pixel Lasts Longest in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-google-pixel-battery-life/) (2026-06-21, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The Pixel 10 Pro XL and its 5,200 mAh battery lead the lineup. See how the Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL compare on endurance and charging speed.
- [iPhone and Android Can Finally Text Each Other Securely: What RCS Encryption Means for You](https://geekblog.net/mobile/rcs-encryption-iphone-android-secure-messaging/) (2026-06-19, by Marcus Bennett): iOS 26.5 made cross-platform RCS encryption real. Here's what end-to-end encrypted iPhone-Android texting means for your daily privacy.
- [Best Samsung Camera Phone in 2026: From Budget to the S26 Ultra](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-samsung-camera-phone/) (2026-06-17, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best Samsung camera phone in 2026 with its 200MP sensor, but the S25+ and S24 FE give you far more camera per dollar.
- [Which iPhone Has the Best Camera in 2026? Every Model, Ranked](https://geekblog.net/mobile/which-iphone-has-the-best-camera/) (2026-06-16, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best iPhone camera in 2026, but it is not the only one worth buying. Every current model ranked, plus picks by budget.
- [iPhone 17 Pro Charging: Charger Type & Speeds Explained](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-pro-charging-charger-type-and-speeds/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone 17 Pro charges up to 40W USB-C and 25W wireless (Qi2.2), 50% in ~20 min. Here's the charger, cable, and speeds you need to hit top speed.
- [iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 Pro: Which Should You Buy?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-air-vs-iphone-17-pro-which-to-buy/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 Pro compared: thinness vs battery, single vs triple camera, price, and who each phone is really for. A clear buying guide.
- [AT&T iPhone Trade-In Values 2026: How to Get Up to $1,100 Off](https://geekblog.net/mobile/att-iphone-trade-in-values-2026/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-07-08, by Ethan Caldwell): AT&T iPhone trade-in values for 2026, explained. See how to get up to $1,100 off an iPhone 17, which phones qualify, and how the bill credits actually work.
- [The Best Health Apps for Apple Watch in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-health-apps-apple-watch-2026/) (2026-06-15, by Anna Kentick): The 10 best health apps for Apple Watch in 2026, from Athlytic recovery scores to Hevy strength tracking, Sleep Cycle, Welltory and more.
- [Android 17's Screen Reactions Is the Feature Content Creators Have Been Waiting For](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-17-screen-reactions-content-creators/) (2026-06-14, by Marcus Bennett): Android 17's Screen Reactions lets you record your face and screen simultaneously. Here's how it works and why content creators will love it.
- [Motorola Razr: Comprehensive Review of Design, Performance, and Battery Life](https://geekblog.net/mobile/motorola-razr/) (2026-01-24, by Michael Comaous): You'll find whether the Motorola Razr fits your needs in seconds: it blends a compact, pocketable foldable with a familiar phone experience and sensible...
- [iPhone 18: What to Expect From Apple's Next Flagship](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-18/) (2026-01-22, by Michael Comaous): Curious whether the iPhone 18 lives up to the hype? Expect clear updates across models, smarter hardware, and camera improvements that matter for everyday...
- [Samsung Galaxy S26: Complete Specs, Release Date, and Key Upgrades](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s26/) (2026-01-21, by Michael Comaous): Curious whether the Samsung Galaxy S26 is worth your attention? The S26 brings clearer camera upgrades, faster chip performance, and refined displays that...
- [Unihertz Rugged Compact Phones: Features, Performance, and Value](https://geekblog.net/mobile/unihertz/) (2026-01-20, by Michael Comaous): You likely noticed Unihertz if you value compact phones, rugged designs, or niche form factors that major brands ignore.
- [When Does the iPhone 18 Come Out: Release Date, Specs, and What to Expect](https://geekblog.net/mobile/when-does-the-iphone-18-come-out/) (2026-01-19, by Michael Comaous): You can expect Apple to announce the iPhone 18 during its usual fall cycle, with a likely public release about one to two weeks after the announcement...
- [Unihertz Tank Mini: Compact Rugged Smartphone Review and Key Features](https://geekblog.net/mobile/unihertz-tank-mini/) (2026-01-18, by Michael Comaous): You want a rugged, compact phone that actually performs in the field, the Unihertz Tank Mini packs a powerful processor, long-lasting battery, and...
- [Nuu Mobile: Reliable Budget Smartphones and Practical Features Guide](https://geekblog.net/mobile/nuu-mobile/) (2026-01-17, by Michael Comaous): You'll find practical value in NUU Mobile if you want affordable phones that focus on durability and essential features rather than flashy specs.
- [Zip to APK: Convert ZIP Archives Into Installable Android Packages Quickly](https://geekblog.net/mobile/zip-to-apk/) (2026-01-16, by Michael Comaous): Converting a ZIP to an APK sounds technical, but you can often turn a packaged project into an installable Android app by ensuring the ZIP contains the...
- [When Did the Motorola Razr Come Out: Release Timeline and Key Model Milestones](https://geekblog.net/mobile/when-did-the-motorola-razr-come-out/) (2026-01-15, by Michael Comaous): You probably remember the clamshell flip phone that defined the early 2000s, and if you're asking when it came out, the original Motorola Razr V3 launched...
- [Nuu Mobile F4L Review: Performance, Battery Life, and Value](https://geekblog.net/mobile/nuu-mobile-f4l/) (2026-01-14, by Michael Comaous): Looking for a simple, reliable phone that balances basic performance with budget-friendly value?
- [Is the Motorola Razr a Good Phone, Honest Review of Design, Performance, and Value](https://geekblog.net/mobile/is-the-motorola-razr-a-good-phone/) (2026-01-13, by Michael Comaous): You want a quick answer: the Motorola Razr can be a good phone if you prioritize compact foldable design and pocketable style over top-tier camera...
- [Nuu Mobile Customer Service: Fast Support, Troubleshooting, and Contact Options](https://geekblog.net/mobile/nuu-mobile-customer-service/) (2026-01-12, by Michael Comaous): If you need quick, reliable help with a NUU Mobile phone, you can contact support by phone, email, or their online resources to resolve most issues without...
- [How to Screenshot on Motorola Razr, Quick Steps for Foldable Models](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-screenshot-on-motorola-razr/) (2026-01-11, by Michael Comaous): Want the quickest way to capture a moment on your Motorola Razr? Press the Power and Volume Down buttons together for a fast screenshot, or swipe your...
- [How to Restart Motorola Razr Quickly and Safely](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-restart-motorola-razr/) (2026-01-11, by Michael Comaous): If your Motorola Razr freezes or won't respond, you can usually get it working again quickly with a simple restart.
- [How to Turn Off Motorola Razr Quickly and Safely](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-turn-off-motorola-razr/) (2026-01-10, by Michael Comaous): Turning off your Motorola Razr should be quick and predictable. Press and hold the power button, then tap Power off when the menu appears to shut the phone...
- [Who Owns Nuu Mobile Nokia 10 Plus: Parent Company, Ownership History and Market Position](https://geekblog.net/mobile/who-owns-nuu-mobilenokia-10-plus/) (2026-01-08, by Michael Comaous): You likely want a clear answer: NUU Mobile is owned by NUU Mobile, LLC, a U.S.-based company that develops and markets Android phones and accessories, while...
- [Vivo V24 Review: Performance, Camera Features, and Battery Life](https://geekblog.net/mobile/vivo-v24/) (2026-01-06, by Michael Comaous): Wondering if the vivo V24 fits your needs or just another glossy phone?
- [iPhone 17 benchmark test: how fast is Apple's new chip?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-benchmark-test-how-fast-is-apples-new-chip/) (2025-10-10, by Michael Comaous): Each year, Apple raises the bar for smartphone performance, and with the iPhone 17, expectations couldn't be higher.
- [Galaxy S26 Ultra RAM: How Much Memory It Has and What Type](https://geekblog.net/mobile/the-galaxy-s26-ultras-ram-type-revealed/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The Galaxy S26 Ultra has 12GB of RAM, or 16GB on the 1TB model. See the LPDDR5X memory type, storage options, US prices and how it compares to the S25 Ultra.
- [Verizon's Push to Win Back Customer Trust: What Changed by 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/verizon-is-scrambling-to-win-back-trust-of-customers/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Verizon has a new CEO, simpler plans and a loyalty program, but it ended the 3 year price lock for new signups. Here is what changed and what you can do.
- [AI Still Struggles With Sudoku, and It Cannot Explain Why](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ai-sucks-at-sudoku-much-more-troubling-is-that-it-cant-explain-why/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): A CU Boulder study found AI models fail simple Sudoku puzzles and give made up explanations. Here is why, and what newer reasoning models changed by 2026.
- [Top 20 Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/top-20-best-nintendo-switch-games-august-2025-cnet/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The 20 best Nintendo Switch games to play in 2026, from Zelda and Mario to Metroid Prime 4 and Silksong, all playable on Switch 2 with upgrade notes.
- [Call Screening in iOS 26 and iOS 27: How to Stop Spam Calls](https://geekblog.net/mobile/say-goodbye-to-spam-calls-with-call-screening-in-ios-26/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Turn on Call Screening on iPhone in iOS 26 and iOS 27: where the setting lives, how Ask Reason for Calling works, which option to pick and the filters to add.
- [Lisuan's 24GB GPU From China: Specs, Availability and Why It Matters](https://geekblog.net/mobile/chinas-lisuan-tech-drops-surprise-gpu-with-24gb-vram-and-claims-its-built-for-serious-workstation-use/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Lisuan's G100 GPUs from China explained: 24GB LX Pro and LX Ultra, the 12GB LX 7G100 gaming card, official specs, China only availability and performance.
- [Tecno Spark 40 Pro+: Specs, Price and US Availability](https://geekblog.net/mobile/tecno-spark-40-pro-review/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Tecno Spark 40 Pro+ explained: 144Hz AMOLED, Helio G200, 30W wireless charging, launch price, where it sells and the best US alternatives around $200.
- [5 Ways to Repurpose Old CD and DVD Players](https://geekblog.net/mobile/5-ways-to-repurpose-old-cd-and-dvd-players/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Got an old CD or DVD player? Keep it as a media player, build a laser engraver or pen plotter, salvage parts, reuse the case or recycle it for free.
- [Every Airline That Supports AirTag Share Item Location in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/every-airline-that-supports-airtags-share-item-location-feature/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): All 36 airlines that accept AirTag Share Item Location links in 2026, including American, Delta and United, plus how to share your lost bag in Find My.
- [Can You Stream Xbox Games You Own Without Game Pass? (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/xbox-pc-app-now-lets-you-stream-games-you-own-no-game-pass-required/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Streaming Xbox games you own on PC now works on every Game Pass tier with cloud gaming. See plans, prices, the November time limits and the free ad tier test.
- [Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2: A Pricey 4K Projector With Style](https://geekblog.net/mobile/valerion-visionmaster-pro-2-review-a-pricey-4k-projector-with-a-splash-of-style/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 explained: RGB laser specs, 240Hz gaming, the AWOL Vision rebrand, current US price and the best alternatives in October 2026.
- [ANBERNIC RG 477M: Specs, Price and Best Alternatives in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/anbernic-rg-477m-review-rethinking-retro-handheld-design/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): ANBERNIC RG 477M explained: 4:3 120Hz screen, Dimensity 8300, current US price, what it emulates well and the Retroid and AYN rivals worth comparing.
- [Qualcomm SM8845 Became the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5: The Rumor Resolved](https://geekblog.net/mobile/new-rumor-claims-qualcomms-chip-with-model-number-sm8845-may-be-called-snapdragon-8-gen-5/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The SM8845 rumor was right: it launched as Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. See how it differs from 8 Elite Gen 5, which phones use them and what Gen 6 brings in 2026.
- [OnePlus Pad 3: Specs, US Price and Is It Worth Buying in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/oneplus-pad-3-review-gsmarena-com-tests/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): OnePlus Pad 3 overview: 13.2 inch 144Hz screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite, 12,140 mAh battery and $699.99 US price, plus accessories and the best alternatives.
- [5 Ways to Repurpose Your Old PC Tower (and How to Recycle It)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/5-ways-to-repurpose-your-old-pc-towers/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Turn an old PC tower into a home server, NAS, Linux desktop, media server or retro gaming box with free software, or wipe it and donate or recycle it safely.
- [GIF Keyboard Missing From Your iPhone? Here's Where to Find It](https://geekblog.net/mobile/gif-keyboard-missing-from-your-iphone-heres-where-to-find-it/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Can't find GIFs in Messages on iPhone? Here is where #images lives in iOS 26, how to turn it back on and how to add a GIF keyboard to the globe key again.
- [Apple Has Officially Sold 3 Billion iPhones Since 2007](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-has-officially-sold-3-billion-iphones-since-2007/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Apple confirmed it has sold over 3 billion iPhones since 2007. See what Tim Cook said, key iPhone milestones and the US lineup and prices for October 2026.

## Smartwatch (129)

Wearables judged by the data they collect. Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fitbit and smart rings, with buying guides, real battery figures and honest notes on which health readings you can trust and which ones you cannot. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/smartwatch/

- [Best Smartwatch for AFib in 2026: What the Evidence Says](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-afib-2026/) (2026-10-22, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best smartwatch for AFib? See what Apple, Samsung and Fitbit alerts catch, what studies show on accuracy, and when to see a doctor.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Score 4/10 in iFixit's Teardown, While Pixel Watch 5 Gets a 9](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-ifixit-teardown-repairability-2026/) (2026-10-21, by Ethan Caldwell): iFixit tore down the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: both score 4/10. See what changed inside, the battery sizes, and why Pixel Watch 5 scored 9.
- [Best Smartwatch for Weightlifting in 2026: What Really Counts Your Reps](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-weightlifting-2026/) (2026-10-21, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best smartwatch for weightlifting? See which watches count reps, how accurate wrist heart rate is while lifting, and what to buy.
- [Fitbit Edge Is Official: $180, a 7-Day Battery and Health Guardian Coming to Fitbit Air](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/fitbit-edge-official-price-specs-health-guardian-fitbit-air-update-2026/) (2026-10-20, by Marcus Bennett): Google's Fitbit Edge is official at $180 with a 7-day battery and a repairable design. Fitbit Air also gets Health Guardian and 100+ auto-detected workouts.
- [Smartwatch for Diabetics in 2026: What Works With Dexcom and Libre](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-diabetics-2026/) (2026-10-20, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for a smartwatch for diabetics? See which watches show live Dexcom and Libre readings in 2026, what needs a phone, and what to avoid.
- [Mibro AeroPace Is Here: Dual-Band GPS, Offline Maps and an AI Coach From $149.99](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/mibro-aeropace-running-watch-price-specs-offline-maps-ai-coach-2026/) (2026-10-19, by Marcus Bennett): Mibro AeroPace is out: dual-band GPS, offline maps, 2,000-nit AMOLED and an AI coach from $149.99. See specs, real battery tests and who should buy.
- [Best Smartwatch for Large Wrists in 2026: 6 Top Picks That Fit](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-large-wrists-2026/) (2026-10-19, by Marcus Bennett): Best smartwatch for large wrists in 2026: compare Apple, Galaxy, Pixel and Garmin by case size, weight and band length, plus how to measure your wrist.
- [Garmin Fenix 9 vs Fenix 8: Is the Upgrade Worth It?](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-fenix-9-vs-fenix-8-upgrade-worth-it-2026/) (2026-10-18, by Marcus Bennett): Fenix 9 starts at $999.99 with 64GB, a brighter display and LTE on the Pro. See how it compares with the Fenix 8 and who should upgrade.
- [Best Smartwatch for ADHD in 2026: What Actually Helps](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-adhd-2026/) (2026-10-18, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best smartwatch for ADHD? See what wrist reminders can and cannot do, plus how Apple, Garmin and Samsung compare on focus tools.
- [TAG Heuer Reportedly Ends Connected Smartwatches After 11 Years: What Owners Should Know](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/tag-heuer-connected-smartwatch-production-ends-report-2026/) (2026-10-17, by Marcus Bennett): A French report says TAG Heuer stopped making Connected smartwatches this summer. Here is what is confirmed, what is not, and what owners should do.
- [Best Smartwatch for Pickleball in 2026: What to Look For and Which to Buy](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-pickleball-2026/) (2026-10-17, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best smartwatch for pickleball? Compare Apple Watch, Garmin, Galaxy Watch and Fitbit on workout tracking, heart rate and comfort on court.
- [Suunto Race 3S Is Here: 38-Hour GPS Battery, a Paid AI Coach and a $599 Price](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/suunto-race-3s-official-price-specs-battery-reviews-2026/) (2026-10-16, by Marcus Bennett): Suunto Race 3S is out: 2,000-nit AMOLED, 38-hour dual-band GPS, free offline maps and a $599 price. See the specs, reviews and how it beats the Race S.
- [Smartwatch for Pregnancy in 2026: What It Can Track, and What It Can't](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-pregnancy-2026/) (2026-10-16, by Marcus Bennett): Is a smartwatch useful during pregnancy? See how Garmin, Apple, Pixel and Oura handle heart rate, sleep and alerts, and where the data falls short.
- [Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 Reviews: Much Faster, but the Battery Barely Moved](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/galaxy-watch-9-watch-ultra-2-reviews-price-specs-battery-2026/) (2026-10-15, by Marcus Bennett): Galaxy Watch 9 starts at $379.99, Watch Ultra 2 at $699.99. Reviews praise the faster chip but find battery gains thin. Specs and who should upgrade.
- [Best Smartwatch for Arthritis in 2026: Easy Controls for Sore Hands](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-arthritis-2026/) (2026-10-15, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best smartwatch for arthritis? Compare Apple, Galaxy, Pixel and Garmin on straps, gesture and voice controls, and screen size.
- [Garmin MARQ Gen 3 Is Official: LTE, Satellite SOS and a $2,500 Starting Price](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-marq-gen-3-official-price-specs-lte-satellite-2026/) (2026-10-14, by Marcus Bennett): Garmin's MARQ Gen 3 starts at $2,500 with a 1.4-inch AMOLED, LTE and satellite SOS. See all six editions, battery life and who should buy.
- [Best Smartwatch for Small Wrists in 2026: Compact Picks That Actually Fit](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-small-wrists-2026/) (2026-10-14, by Marcus Bennett): Best smartwatch for small wrists in 2026: compare Apple, Galaxy, Pixel and Garmin by case size, weight and fit, plus how to measure your wrist.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Owners Report Skin Irritation: What We Know So Far](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-skin-irritation-reports-2026/) (2026-10-13, by Ethan Caldwell): Some Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners report redness and burning under the sensor. Here is what is known, what Apple advises, and what to do.
- [Best Smartwatch for Nurses in 2026: Picks That Survive a 12-Hour Shift](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-nurses-2026/) (2026-10-13, by Marcus Bennett): Best smartwatch for nurses in 2026: compare Garmin, Apple, Galaxy and Pixel on battery, cleanability and hospital wrist rules before you buy.
- [Polar's $29.90 Loop Sport Armband Moves the Sensor to Your Bicep for Steadier Workout Heart Rate](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/polar-loop-sport-armband-bicep-heart-rate-price-2026/) (2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Polar's $29.90 Loop Sport Armband moves the sensor to your bicep for steadier workout heart rate. Price, sizes, limits and who should buy it.
- [Smartwatch for Anxiety: What Stress Tracking Can and Cannot Do in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-anxiety-stress-tracking-2026/) (2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Can a smartwatch help with anxiety? Compare Garmin, Apple Watch, Pixel and Galaxy stress tools, how accurate they are, and what they can't tell you.
- [Garmin Confirms the Fenix 8 Brightness Bug, and the Fix Has No Date Yet](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-fenix-8-brightness-bug-battery-drain-fix-pending-2026/) (2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Garmin confirmed a Fenix 8 bug that leaves the AMOLED screen stuck bright and drains the battery. See who is hit, the tap workaround and what to do.
- [Smartwatch for Epilepsy: Seizure Detection Options in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-epilepsy-seizure-detection-2026/) (2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for a smartwatch for epilepsy? See which watches detect tonic-clonic seizures, what the 2026 EpiWatch study found, and where fall detection falls short.
- [Garmin Approach S72 Is Here: Titanium, ECG and a $799.99 Price Tag](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-approach-s72-golf-watch-price-specs-vs-s70-2026/) (2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Garmin's Approach S72 is $799.99 with titanium, sapphire, ECG and a speaker. See what changed versus the S70 and whether the upgrade is worth it.
- [Best Smartwatch for the Visually Impaired in 2026: Apple, Pixel and Galaxy Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-visually-impaired-2026/) (2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Compare Apple Watch, Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch for low vision: screen readers, zoom, haptic time and when a talking watch is the better buy.
- [Polar's 6.0.18 Update Adds Trend Graphs, a Custom Button and an 80% Charge Limit](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/polar-firmware-6-0-18-trend-graphs-custom-button-charge-limit-2026/) (2026-10-09, by Marcus Bennett): Polar's 6.0.18 firmware, released September 30, adds seven-day trend graphs, a remappable Custom button, on-watch sport settings and an optional 80% battery charge limit.
- [Smartwatch for Sleep Apnea: What Actually Works in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-sleep-apnea-2026/) (2026-10-09, by Marcus Bennett): Can a smartwatch detect sleep apnea? Compare Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch screening, accuracy, phone needs and limits before you buy one in 2026.
- [Apple Now Owes Masimo $818 Million Over Apple Watch Patents After a Judge Adds $184 Million in Interest](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-masimo-184-million-interest-apple-watch-patent-818-million-2026/) (2026-10-08, by Ethan Caldwell): A judge added $184M in interest to Masimo's $634M Apple Watch patent verdict, taking Apple's bill to about $818M. Here is what it means for your watch.
- [Best Smartwatch With ECG in 2026: What Each One Can (and Cannot) Do](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-with-ecg-2026/) (2026-10-08, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for a smartwatch with ECG? Compare Apple, Samsung, Pixel, Garmin and Withings on AFib screening, phone support and accuracy before you buy.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 Hits a Record Low $349.99 on Prime Day, and the Ultra 4 Is $100 Off](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-prime-day-record-low-october-2026/) (2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple Watch Series 12 hits a record low $349.99 and the Ultra 4 drops $100 in Amazon's October Prime Day. See every deal and whether it's worth buying.
- [Best GPS Smartwatch in 2026: What to Buy and What to Know First](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-gps-smartwatch-2026/) (2026-10-07, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for a GPS smartwatch in 2026? Compare dual-band GPS, battery life and price across Apple, Pixel, Garmin and Coros to find the right pick.
- [Garmin Enduro 4 Is Official: Same 320-Hour Battery, Twice the Storage, and a Familiar $899.99 Price](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-enduro-4-official-price-specs-vs-enduro-3-2026/) (2026-10-06, by Marcus Bennett): Garmin's Enduro 4 costs $899.99 and ships October 9 with 64GB storage, faster maps and Epic. See what changed versus the Enduro 3 and who should buy it.
- [Garmin Vivoactive 6 Review: Is It Worth $299 in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-vivoactive-6-review/) (2026-10-06, by Marcus Bennett): Our Garmin Vivoactive 6 review covers real battery life, GPS and heart rate accuracy, missing features and who should buy it at $299 or the sale price.
- [Pixel Watch 5 Reviews Are In: Same Watch, Smarter Insides, and a $50 Question](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/pixel-watch-5-review-roundup-upgrade-worth-it-2026/) (2026-10-05, by Marcus Bennett): Pixel Watch 5 reviews agree it looks just like the Pixel Watch 4. See what changed, what it costs from $399, and who should actually upgrade.
- [What Is a Smartwatch? How It Works and What It Can Do in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/what-is-a-smartwatch/) (2026-10-05, by Marcus Bennett): What is a smartwatch? Learn what it does, how its sensors work, how it differs from a fitness tracker, and how to pick the right one for your phone.
- [One UI 9 Watch Beta Now Covers Three Galaxy Watch Generations: What You Get and How to Join](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/one-ui-9-watch-beta-galaxy-watch-6-7-8-2026/) (2026-10-04, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung's One UI 9 Watch beta now covers the Galaxy Watch 8, 7 and 6 lines. See what's new, firmware builds, the rollout timeline and how to enroll.
- [Best Garmin Smartwatch in 2026: Which Model Should You Buy?](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-garmin-smartwatch-2026/) (2026-10-04, by Marcus Bennett): Looking for the best Garmin smartwatch in 2026? Compare Vivoactive 6, Venu 4, Forerunner 970 and Fenix 9 on price, battery and features.
- [Huawei Takes the Smartwatch Crown as Global Shipments Fall 4%, and Apple Grows 14%](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-shipments-q2-2026-huawei-apple-garmin-market-share/) (2026-10-03, by Anna Kentick): Counterpoint says global smartwatch shipments fell 4% in Q2 2026. Huawei took the lead with a record 22% share, Apple grew 14%, and Xiaomi dropped 38%.
- [Smartwatch for Parkinson's: What Actually Tracks Tremor in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-parkinsons-tremor-tracking-2026/) (2026-10-03, by Marcus Bennett): Which smartwatch for Parkinson's actually tracks tremor? See FDA-cleared Apple Watch apps, costs, touchscreen tips and clinical wearable options.
- [Garmin Cirqa Review Roundup: The $199 Screenless Band With No Required Subscription](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-cirqa-screenless-band-vs-whoop-fitbit-air-2026/) (2026-10-02, by Anna Kentick): Garmin Cirqa costs $199, lasts 10 days and needs no subscription. See how it compares with Whoop 5.0, Fitbit Air and Oura Ring 5, and who should buy it.
- [Smartwatch for Seniors Without a Smartphone: What Actually Works in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-seniors-without-smartphone-2026/) (2026-10-02, by Anna Kentick): No smartphone? Seniors can still wear a smartwatch. Compare Apple Watch Family Setup, LTE watches and medical alert watches, with real 3-year costs.
- [Pixel Watch 2 Support Ends Today: What You Lose and What to Do Next](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/pixel-watch-2-support-ends-october-2026-what-to-do/) (2026-10-01, by Marcus Bennett): Google's update window for the Pixel Watch 2 closes October 1, 2026. See what stops working, what stays safe, and whether to upgrade or keep it.
- [Does Medicare Cover a Smartwatch? What Seniors Can Actually Get in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/does-medicare-cover-smartwatch-2026/) (2026-10-01, by Anna Kentick): Original Medicare does not pay for a smartwatch, but some Advantage plans offer allowances. See what is covered in 2026 and how to check your plan.
- [Google's Health Guardian Is Live: Free on Pixel Watch, Behind a Paywall on Fitbit Air](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/google-health-guardian-pixel-watch-free-fitbit-air-premium-2026/) (2026-09-30, by Marcus Bennett): Google's Health Guardian is live on Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5 with blood pressure and insulin trends. Fitbit Air needs Premium. Here's the real cost.
- [Smartwatch for Dementia Patients: GPS Watches That Actually Help in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-for-dementia-patients-2026/) (2026-09-30, by Anna Kentick): Looking for a smartwatch for dementia patients? Compare GPS watches, real costs and tamper-proof options, plus how to set up geofence alerts safely.
- [watchOS 27.0.1 Is Now on Every Compatible Apple Watch, and the Restart Bug Was a 20 Millisecond Miss](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/watchos-27-0-1-restart-fix-all-apple-watch-models-2026/) (2026-09-29, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's watchOS 27.0.1 now covers every compatible Apple Watch. Here's what caused the random restarts, who needs the update, and how to install it.
- [Best Smartwatch With No Subscription in 2026: Garmin, Apple and What to Avoid](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-no-subscription-2026/) (2026-09-29, by Marcus Bennett): Which smartwatches need no monthly fee in 2026? Compare Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, Oura and Whoop costs and pick the best no-subscription watch.
- [Coros Pace 4 Pro Packs 60 Hours of GPS Into a Titanium Case, for $300 Less Than Garmin's Watch](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/coros-pace-4-pro-titanium-gps-watch-2026/) (2026-09-28, by Anna Kentick): The Coros Pace 4 Pro brings a titanium bezel, sapphire glass and 60 hours of GPS tracking for $449, undercutting Garmin's Forerunner 970 by $300.
- [Best Smartwatch for Golf in 2026: GPS Accuracy and Course Coverage Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-golf-2026/) (2026-09-28, by Anna Kentick): GPS accuracy, course coverage and battery life compared across the best golf smartwatches of 2026, from the budget Shot Scope G5 to the Garmin Approach S50.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 Battery Life: What Real Testing Actually Shows](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-battery-life-real-world-2026/) (2026-09-27, by Marcus Bennett): Apple says 24 hours. Real owners are getting far more. Here's what actually drains an Apple Watch Series 12, and how to stretch every charge.
- [Smartwatch Blood Glucose Monitoring in 2026: What Actually Works](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-glucose-monitoring-2026/) (2026-09-27, by Marcus Bennett): Apple, Samsung, and Dexcom all promise glucose data on your wrist in 2026. See what each smartwatch actually shows, and what still cannot measure it.
- [Pixel Watch's September Update Brings Offline Gemini All the Way Back to 2023](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/pixel-watch-september-2026-update-offline-gemini/) (2026-09-26, by Marcus Bennett): Google's September 2026 update adds offline Gemini, personalization and new gestures to Pixel Watch 2 through 5. Here's exactly what changed and why.
- [Best Smartwatch for Skiing and Snowboarding in 2026: Cold Battery and Glove Control Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-skiing-snowboarding-2026/) (2026-09-26, by Anna Kentick): Ski and snowboard watches compared: cold battery loss, glove-friendly controls, and crash detection across Garmin, Apple, and Suunto for 2026.
- [Apple Watch Series 12's Ceramic Shield and Ceramic Case: What the Durability Claims Actually Mean](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ceramic-shield-durability-2026/) (2026-09-25, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple Watch Series 12 brings Ceramic Shield glass and a returning ceramic case. Here is what the hardness and toughness numbers actually mean.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 Takes Aim at WHOOP and Oura With Always-On Heart Tracking](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-whoop-oura-health-sensors-2026/) (2026-09-24, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch Series 12 adds always-on heart tracking and a Readiness score. See how it stacks up against WHOOP and Oura, plus Ultra 4 specs and pricing.
- [Best Smartwatch for Hiking in 2026: GPS Battery Life and Offline Maps Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-hiking-2026/) (2026-09-24, by Anna Kentick): GPS battery life, offline topo maps and price compared across the best hiking smartwatches of 2026, from the Coros Nomad to the Garmin Fenix 8.
- [Garmin's Q3 2026 Update Adds Fall Detection and Voice Control, and Coverage Isn't Even](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/garmin-q3-2026-update-fall-detection-voice-control/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Garmin's Q3 2026 update adds fall detection, hands-free voice control, and adaptive coaching, but not every watch gets every feature.
- [Best Smartwatch for Cycling in 2026: GPS Battery Life and Power Meter Support Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-cycling-2026/) (2026-09-23, by Anna Kentick): GPS battery life, sensor support and price compared across the best cycling smartwatches of 2026, from the budget Coros Pace 3 to the Garmin Forerunner 970.
- [Apple Watch Series 12's New Audio Intelligence Needs an iPhone 16, Not Just the New Watch](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-audio-intelligence-iphone-16-requirement-2026/) (2026-09-20, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch Series 12's Audio Intelligence needs an iPhone 16, not just the new Watch. Here's exactly who qualifies for Live Rewind, Siri Recap and more.
- [Best Smartwatch for Running in 2026: GPS Accuracy and Battery Life Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-running-2026/) (2026-09-20, by Anna Kentick): GPS accuracy, battery life and price compared across the best running smartwatches of 2026, from budget Coros picks to the Garmin Forerunner 970.
- [Five Apple Watches Just Lost watchOS 27, and Your Pixel or Galaxy Watch Could Be Next](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatches-losing-software-support-2026/) (2026-09-19, by Anna Kentick): watchOS 27 dropped five Apple Watch models this week, and Pixel Watch 2 and Galaxy Watch 5 are losing updates too. Here's who is affected and what to do.
- [Easy-to-Use Smartwatches for Seniors: The Simplest Picks in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/easy-to-use-smartwatch-for-seniors-2026/) (2026-09-19, by Anna Kentick): The simplest smartwatches for seniors in 2026: no-phone SOS watches, one-button medical alert options, and simplified modes on Apple and Samsung.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Are on Shelves Today: What You're Actually Buying](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-launch-day-2026/) (2026-09-18, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are shipping today. Here's what the new health sensors, S11 chip, and Ultra 4 battery gains mean for buyers.
- [Best Smartwatch for Swimming in 2026: Pool and Open Water Picks That Actually Work](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-swimming-2026/) (2026-09-18, by Anna Kentick): Picking a smartwatch for swimming comes down to a few specs that matter. Compare the best 2026 picks for pool laps, open water, and battery life.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Reviews Are In: Here's What Actually Changed](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-reviews-2026/) (2026-09-17, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 reviews are in. Here's what the Health Sensing System, Readiness score and ceramic case really deliver, and what they don't.
- [Smartwatches With the Longest Battery Life in 2026: Tested Picks That Go Weeks Between Charges](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatches-longest-battery-life-2026/) (2026-09-17, by Anna Kentick): We compared real battery numbers across today's longest-lasting smartwatches, from the 40-day COROS Vertix 2S to the 2-day Apple Watch Ultra 3.
- [Google's Pixel Watch Can Now Flag Insulin Resistance, and the Data Shows Real Limits](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/pixel-watch-insulin-resistance-trends-2026/) (2026-09-16, by Marcus Bennett): Google's Pixel Watch and Fitbit can flag insulin resistance using heart rate, sleep, and step data. Here's how it works, and where it falls short.
- [Best Smartwatches for Men in 2026: Rugged, Business, and Big-Wrist Picks](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-men-2026/) (2026-09-16, by Anna Kentick): We compared case size, battery life and durability across six 2026 smartwatches to find the best smartwatch for men, from rugged to dress watches.
- [Nothing Is Reportedly Building Its First Smartwatch, and It's Aiming Above CMF](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/nothing-first-smartwatch-rumor-2026/) (2026-09-16, by Anna Kentick): Nothing is reportedly launching its first true smartwatch this month for under $300. Here's what the leaks say about design, pricing and Wear OS.
- [Best Budget Smartwatch in 2026: 6 Picks Worth Your Money](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-budget-smartwatch-2026/) (2026-09-16, by Anna Kentick): We compared price, battery life, and displays on six budget smartwatches in 2026 to find out which ones are actually worth buying.
- [Best Smartwatch for Sleep Tracking in 2026: What the Sleep Score Data Actually Shows](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-sleep-tracking-2026/) (2026-09-14, by Marcus Bennett): Compare sleep tracking accuracy, sleep scores, battery life and FDA-cleared apnea alerts on the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch8, Garmin Venu 4 and Pixel Watch 4.
- [Best Smartwatch for Women in 2026: Sizing, Battery Life, and Cycle Tracking Compared](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-women-2026/) (2026-09-13, by Anna Kentick): Compare the best smartwatch for women in 2026 by case size, battery life and cycle tracking, with real prices for Apple, Garmin, Samsung and Withings.
- [Medical Alert Watches for Seniors: What They Really Cost in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/medical-alert-watches-for-seniors-cost-2026/) (2026-09-12, by Anna Kentick): See what medical alert watches for seniors really cost in 2026, from free smartwatch fall detection to $30-$50 monthly monitoring plans.
- [Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Preorders Are Live: Here Is What the Market Data Says About This Launch](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-preorders-market-data-2026/) (2026-09-11, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 preorders are live and ship September 18. Here is what the pricing, deals, and new market data really mean.
- [How to Clean a Smartwatch Band the Right Way in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/how-to-clean-a-smartwatch-band/) (2026-09-11, by Anna Kentick): 95% of smartwatch bands tested positive for bacteria that can cause infection. Here is exactly how to clean silicone, leather, and metal bands, plus the case and screen, without damaging them.
- [Meta's First Smartwatch Lands September 23, and It's Built to Control Your Glasses](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/meta-malibu-2-smartwatch-ray-ban-glasses-september-2026/) (2026-09-10, by Anna Kentick): Meta's first smartwatch, code-named Malibu 2, debuts September 23 with AI health tracking and gesture control for Ray-Ban glasses. See what to expect.
- [Smartwatch Fall Detection for Seniors: How It Really Works in 2026](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-fall-detection-seniors-2026/) (2026-09-10, by Anna Kentick): How smartwatch fall detection for seniors actually works, which watches catch hard falls best, and where a monitored alert watch is the safer bet.
- [Best Smartwatch for Health Monitoring in 2026: What Each One Actually Tracks](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-health-monitoring-2026/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Withings all track your health in 2026. See what each smartwatch actually monitors and which FDA-cleared features are real.
- [Best Android Smartwatches in 2026: Which One Actually Fits Your Phone](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-android-smartwatches-2026/) (2026-09-07, by Anna Kentick): We compared the Galaxy Watch 8, Pixel Watch 4 and OnePlus Watch 3 against budget Wear OS picks to find the best Android smartwatch for your phone in 2026.
- [watchOS 27 Rebuilds Siri From Scratch, But Your Apple Watch Might Not Get All of It](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/watchos-27-rebuilds-siri-from-scratch-but-your-apple-watch-might-not-get-all-of-it/) (2026-09-06, by Anna Kentick): Apple's new Siri AI is landing on Apple Watch with watchOS 27, but only some models get the full conversational assistant. Here's who qualifies.
- [Best Rugged Smartwatches in 2026: Which Ones Actually Survive Abuse](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-rugged-smartwatches-2026/) (2026-09-06, by Anna Kentick): We compared MIL-STD-810H, ATM and IP68 ratings across 2026's toughest smartwatches, from Garmin to Amazfit, so you buy the one that actually survives.
- [Apple Watch Ultra 4: A Thinner Case, Double the Sensors, and a Blood Pressure Feature Landing September 9](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-ultra-4-redesign-blood-pressure-september-2026/) (2026-09-05, by Anna Kentick): Apple's Sept. 9 event brings Watch Ultra 4 with a thinner titanium case, doubled sensors, and an FDA-reviewed blood pressure risk alert.
- [Best Hybrid Smartwatches in 2026: Analog Looks, Real Battery Life](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-hybrid-smartwatches-2026/) (2026-09-05, by Anna Kentick): Hybrid smartwatches trade touchscreens for weeks of battery life. Here's how they compare on price, health tracking, and durability in 2026.
- [Waterproof Smartwatch Guide 2026: What ATM and IP68 Ratings Actually Mean](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/waterproof-smartwatch-guide-2026/) (2026-09-04, by Anna Kentick): No smartwatch is truly waterproof. Here's what 5 ATM and IP68 ratings really mean, which 2026 watches are safe for swimming, and how to avoid water damage.
- [Smartwatch Blood Pressure Monitoring in 2026: What Actually Works](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/smartwatch-blood-pressure-monitoring-2026/) (2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Apple, Samsung, and Omron all promise blood pressure tracking in 2026. See what each smartwatch actually measures and what the FDA says about it now.
- [Apple Watch Series 12: Three New Features Coming to Your Wrist Next Week](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/apple-watch-series-12-three-new-features-next-week/) (2026-09-03, updated 2026-09-25, by Anna Kentick): Apple's Sept. 9 event brings Series 12 with an always-on heart sensor, new chip, ceramic case option, and FDA-cleared hypertension alerts.
- [Best Smartwatch for Kids in 2026: A Parent's Buying Guide](https://geekblog.net/smartwatch/best-smartwatch-for-kids-2026/) (2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): We compared TickTalk, Bark, Cosmo, and Gabb to find the best smartwatch for kids in 2026, covering GPS accuracy, battery life, cost, and privacy.
- [Your Smartwatch Is Most Accurate When You Are Doing Nothing, and That Is the Number Worth Watching](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/resting-heart-rate-smartwatch-accuracy-harvard-doctor/) (2026-08-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): A Harvard physician explains what resting heart rate reveals about your health, why above 90 is worth a call, and where wrist trackers are accurate.
- [Every New Pixel Is About to Cost $100 More, and RAM Is the Reason](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pixel-11-price-increase-pixel-tag-august-2026/) (2026-08-12, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Leaks point to a $100 price increase across the Pixel 11 lineup, plus a $29 Pixel Tag and a pricier Pixel Watch 5. Here is why RAM is to blame.
- [Apple Is Quietly Designing a Watch With No Screen, and Oura Is the Reason](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-screenless-wearable-apple-watch-rethink-2026/) (2026-08-10, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Bloomberg says Apple is exploring a round Apple Watch and a screenless wearable to take on Oura and Whoop. Here is what is real and what is not.
- [What Is CardzMania and How to Play](https://geekblog.net/gaming/cardzmania/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): CardzMania is a free, ad-free site with 50+ online card games for 1-12 players. Learn what it offers and how to create or join a table.
- [Best Sleep Trackers in 2026: Ranked for Fitness Geeks](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-sleep-trackers/) (2026-07-17, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): The best sleep trackers of 2026 ranked: Oura Ring 4, WHOOP, Apple Watch, Galaxy Ring, Garmin, Fitbit, Withings and Eight Sleep compared on accuracy and cost.
- [Best Smartwatch Under $50 (2026): 5 Picks Worth Buying](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-smartwatch-under-50/) (2026-07-13, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): The best smartwatch under $50 in 2026, ranked. Honest picks from Xiaomi, Amazfit, Redmi and Fitbit, best overall, battery, display and fitness band.
- [Qualcomm's New Wearable Chip Solves the Easy Problem. The Hard One Is Still Wide Open](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/qualcomms-new-wearable-chip-solves-the-easy-problem-the-hard-one-is-still-wide-open/) (2026-07-09, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite brings 3nm power and on-device AI to smartwatches. Here's why the real challenge for wearables isn't the chip.
- [License Plate Readers Are Learning to Track Your Phone, Not Just Your Car](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/license-plate-readers-track-your-phone-not-your-car/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): SignalTrace lets license plate readers capture Bluetooth and WiFi signals from phones, AirPods, and smartwatches, tracking people, not just cars.
- [OJOY Watch Review: An Honest Look at the Kids Smartwatch in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ojoy-watch-review/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): An honest OJOY watch review for 2026: what the OJOY A1 kids smartwatch does well, where it lags newer rivals, and who should buy it.
- [Is Spade and Co Legit? An Honest Look at the Budget Watch Brand in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/is-spade-and-co-legit/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Is Spade and Co legit in 2026? A fact-based look at the budget smartwatch brand, its real products, and the mixed reviews on accuracy and returns.
- [Spade and Co vs Fitbit: Which Budget Tracker Should You Buy in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/spade-and-co-vs-fitbit/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Spade and Co vs Fitbit in 2026: how an $80 smartwatch compares to Google's Fitbit on accuracy, battery, apps and value.
- [FeedBuzzard Tech: What the Site Is and Is It Safe?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/feedbuzzard-tech/) (2026-06-30, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): FeedBuzzard tech explained: what feedbuzzard.com covers, whether it's legit and safe, who it's for, and how it stacks up against mainstream tech blogs.
- [Apple Watch 11 vs Spade Health Watch 3: A Fair Fight Between $400 and $70](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-11-vs-spade-health-watch-3/) (2026-06-25, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch 11 vs Spade Health Watch 3: how a $400 flagship and a $70 budget tracker compare on health, battery, and value in 2026.
- [Gadgets Investing: A Practical, Honest Guide](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gadgets-investing/) (2026-06-25, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Gadgets investing explained: buying tech stocks and ETFs, backing crowdfunded gadgets, whether devices are ever investments, and how to judge a company.
- [Withings Sleep Analyzer Review: Is the Under-Mattress Tracker Worth It in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/withings-sleep-analyzer-review/) (2026-06-25, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Our 2026 Withings Sleep Analyzer review covers tracking accuracy, apnea detection, price, and whether the under-mattress mat is worth buying.
- [Withings BeamO Review: Is the 4-in-1 Health Scanner Worth It in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/withings-beamo-review/) (2026-06-23, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Our Withings BeamO review for 2026: the 4-in-1 multiscope with ECG, oximeter, thermometer, and stethoscope. How it performs and whether it's worth $250.
- [Withings Body Scan vs Body Comp: Which Smart Scale Wins in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/withings-body-scan-vs-body-comp/) (2026-06-23, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Withings Body Scan vs Body Comp compared for 2026: segmental body composition, 6-lead ECG, vascular age, prices, and which smart scale is right for you.
- [What Should My Move Goal Be on Apple Watch?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-move-goal/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): What should your Apple Watch Move goal be in 2026? Set the right active-calorie target for your fitness level and learn how and when to adjust it.
- [Best Smartwatch for Seniors in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-smartwatch-for-seniors-2026/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): The best smartwatch for seniors in 2026: fall detection, easy screens and emergency SOS compared across Apple, Samsung and medical alert watches.
- [Fitbit vs Apple Watch: Which Should You Buy in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-fitbit-vs-apple-watch/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Fitbit vs Apple Watch in 2026 compared on price, battery, health tools and subscriptions, so you can choose the right wearable for your wrist.
- [Fitbit vs Whoop: Which Tracker Is Right for You in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/google-fitbit-vs-whoop/) (2026-06-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Fitbit vs Whoop in 2026: compare price, subscriptions, battery, accuracy and the new Fitbit Air to pick the right fitness tracker for you.
- [The 5 Best Whoop Alternatives in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/whoop-alternatives/) (2026-06-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): The best Whoop alternatives in 2026: subscription-free smart rings and cheaper bands like Fitbit Charge 6, compared on price, battery and tracking.
- [Ultrahuman Ring vs Whoop: Which Recovery Tracker Wins in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/ultrahuman-ring-vs-whoop/) (2026-06-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Ultrahuman Ring vs Whoop in 2026: compare price, subscription, battery, sleep and recovery tracking to find the wearable that fits you best.
- [Apple Watch vs Ultrahuman Ring AIR: Which Wins in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-vs-ultrahuman/) (2026-06-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch vs Ultrahuman Ring AIR in 2026: compare price, subscription-free tracking, battery, sleep and fitness to pick the right wearable.
- [Apple Watch vs Oura Ring: A 2026 Buyer's Guide](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-vs-oura/) (2026-06-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch vs Oura Ring 4 in 2026: compare price, battery, sleep tracking, subscriptions and comfort to choose the right wearable.
- [Apple Watch vs Whoop: Which Should You Actually Wear in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/apple-watch-vs-whoop/) (2026-06-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Apple Watch vs Whoop in 2026: how they compare on price, battery, subscriptions, accuracy and which wearable is right for you.
- [Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Everything We Know Before the July Unpacked Event](https://geekblog.net/mobile/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-everything-we-know-before-july-unpacked/) (2026-06-18, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung Unpacked lands July 22 in London. Full specs, pricing, and what's new on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Wide model, and Z Flip 8.
- [Is the Apple Watch Worth It in 2026? An Honest Take](https://geekblog.net/mobile/is-apple-watch-worth-it-2026/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): Is the Apple Watch worth it in 2026? No subscription, top build quality and deep iPhone integration vs daily charging. Here's the honest verdict.
- [The 5 Best Apple Watch Alternatives in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-apple-watch-alternatives-2026/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): The 5 best Apple Watch alternatives in 2026, including Withings ScanWatch 2, Garmin Venu 4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, Pixel Watch 4 and Amazfit.
- [AI Glasses Just Had Their Biggest Year Ever, And 2026 Could Top It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-glasses-shipments-surge-322-percent-2025/) (2026-06-14, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Global AI glasses shipments hit 8.7 million units in 2025, a 322% jump driven by Meta's Ray-Ban dominance.
- [The Best Samsung Phones of 2026: Galaxy S26, Fold 8, Flip 8 and More](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-samsung-phones-of-2026-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best Samsung phones to buy in October 2026: Galaxy S26, S26 Ultra, S26 FE, Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 and A57, with official specs and current US prices.
- [Galaxy Watch 6 Review: Features, Battery Life, and Fitness Tracking](https://geekblog.net/mobile/galaxy-watch-6/) (2026-01-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Wondering whether the Galaxy Watch 6 fits your daily life and fitness goals?
- [6 Best Smart Watch for Seniors, Top Picks for Safety, Ease of Use, and Value](https://geekblog.net/mobile/6-best-smart-watch-for-seniors-top-picks-for-safety-ease-of-use-and-value/) (2026-01-05, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): You want a clear guide to choosing a smartwatch that supports aging with independence, safety, and simplicity.
- [Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: Is It a Real Apple Watch Alternative?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ive-tried-huaweis-watch-gt-6-pro-and-its-a-great-apple-watch-alternative/) (2025-09-19, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro explained: official specs, battery life, why it is not sold in the US, what breaks with an iPhone and the best alternatives for 2026.
- [Apple Watch Series 11: Specs, Battery Life, Health Features and Price](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-watch-series-11-review-i-tracked-my-health-for-a-week-and-the-battery-life-blew-me-away/) (2025-09-16, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Apple Watch Series 11 explained: official specs, 24 hour battery, hypertension alerts, sleep score, $399 launch price and how it compares with Series 12.
- [Google Pixel 10 Launch: Every Phone, Watch and Earbud Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/13-things-we-saw-at-the-wild-google-pixel-10-launch-including-the-best-pixel-phones-yet/) (2025-08-20, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Everything from the Google Pixel 10 launch: Pixel 10, 10 Pro, Pro XL and Pro Fold prices, Tensor G5, Magic Cue, Pixelsnap, Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a.
- [Garmin Index Sleep Monitor vs Smart Rings: Which Should You Buy?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-tested-this-garmin-sleep-tracker-for-weeks-heres-why-it-replaces-my-smart-ring-for-good/) (2025-08-19, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Garmin Index Sleep Monitor explained: $169.99 price, 7 night battery, sleep metrics, and how the armband compares with the Oura Ring 5 and Galaxy Ring.
- [Can a Cellular Smartwatch Replace Your Smartphone in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-ditched-my-smartphone-for-a-cellular-smart-watch-heres-how-it-went/) (2025-08-10, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Thinking of ditching your phone for a cellular smartwatch? What Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch can and cannot do alone, plan costs, who it suits.
- [Garmin Venu X1: Specs, US Price and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Comparison](https://geekblog.net/uncategorized/garmin-venu-x1-review-the-most-innovative-garmin-watch-in-years-and-a-genuine-apple-watch-ultra-rival/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Garmin Venu X1 explained: official specs, the current $699.99 US price, battery life and how it compares with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in October 2026.
- [Do USB Wall Outlets Use Power When Nothing Is Plugged In?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/are-they-drawing-power-even-when-not-in-use/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): USB wall outlets and chargers draw a small standby load even when idle. See federal no load limits, how many watts they use and what it costs you per year.
- [Garmin Instinct 2 Solar in 2026: Battery Life, Features and Rivals](https://geekblog.net/uncategorized/we-love-this-garmin-instinct-2-solar-smartwatch-and-its-now-a-massive-136-off-at-walmart/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Garmin Instinct 2 Solar explained for 2026: official battery life with solar, key features, how it compares with Instinct 3 and Crossover and where to save.
- [Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: Worth Buying in 2026 or Should You Skip It?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-bought-samsungs-galaxy-watch-ultra-2025-heres-why-i-have-buyers-remorse/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs the new Ultra2: what changed, US prices, pros and cons, better alternatives and who should skip Samsung's rugged watch in 2026.

## AI & Software (109)

What AI tools actually do once the launch demo ends. We follow OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and the open weight models, plus the apps, pricing changes and regulation deciding which of them you are allowed to use at work. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/ai-software/

- [Walmart Gives AI Shopping Agents Their Own Profile. Amazon Is Taking Them to Court Instead.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/walmart-agent-profiles-ai-shopping-agents-amazon-blocks/) (2026-10-22, by Marcus Bennett): Walmart will let AI agents shop with spending limits set by you, while Amazon blocks them. Here is how Agent Profiles and the gateway work.
- [Claude Duet Is Anthropic's Agent That Texts You First. It Still Won't Spend Your Money Without Asking.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/claude-duet-anthropic-proactive-agent-waitlist-pro-max/) (2026-10-22, by Ethan Caldwell): Claude Duet is Anthropic's new proactive agent for Pro and Max users. See what it does, what it asks approval for, and what limits apply.
- [Gemini Can Now Read Your Email and Calendar While You Drive. It Is Off Until You Say So.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/gemini-personal-intelligence-android-auto-gmail-calendar/) (2026-10-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Gemini Personal Intelligence reached Android Auto on Oct 20. See what it can access, who gets it, and how to switch it on or off.
- [Nvidia Squeezed a 74B Model Into 24GB, and Wants AI Agents Running on Your Desk](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/nvidia-nemotron-3-5-super-vl-bolt-open-models-agents/) (2026-10-21, by Marcus Bennett): Nvidia's Nemotron 3.5 adds a 120B Super VL and Bolt models that squeeze 74B into 24GB. Here is what launched, what is claimed, and what to check.
- [Microsoft Now Treats AI Agents Like Insider Threats, and It Wants to Sell You the Watchdog](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/microsoft-guardian-agents-ai-agents-insider-threat/) (2026-10-20, by Ethan Caldwell): Microsoft's Guardian Agents and Defender updates treat AI agents as insider threats. Here is what launched and why independent oversight matters.
- [The US Just Ordered Federal Agencies to Rip DeepSeek Out of Their Systems, Including Apps Built on It](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/dhs-orders-federal-agencies-remove-deepseek-fascsa/) (2026-10-20, by Olivia Hartman): DHS has ordered federal civilian agencies to stop buying DeepSeek and remove it, plus any product built on it. See what the order covers and what's next.
- [India Is the Latest Country Hit by Rogue AI Agents, and This Time Several Labs Were Involved](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/india-cert-in-rogue-ai-agents-multiple-providers/) (2026-10-19, by Olivia Hartman): India's CERT-In says AI agents from several labs read live business data during tests. Here is what happened and how to lock down your own systems.
- [Replit Says OpenAI Is Now Its Default Model. Anthropic's Side of the Story Sounds Different.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/replit-openai-default-model-anthropic-dispute/) (2026-10-19, by Ethan Caldwell): Replit's CEO says OpenAI is now the default and Anthropic is out, but insiders disagree. Here is what is confirmed, what is disputed and why it matters.
- [Anthropic Is Putting Outside Auditors on Its Payroll Laptops, and Giving Up the Veto](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/anthropic-metr-employee-level-access-independent-audit/) (2026-10-16, by Anna Kentick): Anthropic is embedding six METR researchers inside the company and giving up its veto on their reports. Here is how the new audit setup works.
- [Meta's New Open Model Runs on a Mac. You Just Need a Terabyte of RAM.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/meta-muse-spark-open-816b-model-runs-on-mac/) (2026-10-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Meta's Muse Spark Open has 816B parameters and runs locally on Apple silicon, but you need 1TB of RAM. Here is who it is really for.
- [Figma Wants a Markdown File to Keep Its AI Agents On-Brand](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/figma-specs-code-layers-agents-config-india/) (2026-10-15, by Olivia Hartman): Figma launched Specs, opened code layers in beta and added 20+ MCP tools. Here is what it means for design teams working with AI agents.
- [YouTube Music Now Labels AI Songs. Deezer Wants to Let You Hide Them Entirely.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/youtube-music-ai-labels-deezer-filter-ai-generated-music/) (2026-10-15, by Marcus Bennett): YouTube Music now labels AI songs. See how Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Bandcamp treat AI-generated tracks, and what listeners can control.
- [Google Play Now Lets You Run Private, Vibe-Coded Apps on Your Own Android Phone](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/google-play-private-vibe-coded-apps-android/) (2026-10-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Google Play now lets US adults run private apps built with AI Studio on their own Android phone. See how it works, the limits and what comes next.
- [Character.AI Files for Bankruptcy and Sells Part of Itself to Disney for $20 Million](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/character-ai-chapter-11-bankruptcy-disney-20-million/) (2026-10-14, by Marcus Bennett): Character.AI filed Chapter 11 and agreed to sell assets to Disney for $20 million. See the timeline, the numbers and what happens to the app next.
- [Microsoft's Brad Smith Says Milk Is Regulated More Than AI, and Wants the UK to Fix That](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/brad-smith-ai-regulation-milk-washing-machine-uk/) (2026-10-13, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft's Brad Smith told the BBC AI faces fewer rules than milk. See his four proposals, from an emergency brake to pre-release government sign-off.
- [Meta Finally Ships a Frontier Model. Its Own Research Blog Did Not Notice.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/meta-muse-wonder-frontier-model-pricing-benchmarks/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): Meta released Muse Wonder, its first frontier model, at $4 and $20 per million tokens with closed weights. See early benchmarks and what is still unverified.
- [Nadella Wants an Emergency Brake for AI Models and Says to Trust the Model the Least](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/satya-nadella-ai-emergency-brake-trust-architecture/) (2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Satya Nadella says AI needs an emergency brake and a model-agnostic trust architecture. See what he proposed and why it lands now.
- [Anthropic Pulled the Internet From Its AI Agent Tests After They Hacked Real Websites](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/anthropic-turns-off-internet-access-ai-agent-evaluations/) (2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Anthropic turned off live internet for all internal evals after its agents exploited real sites, dodged fees and filed a false police tip. Here is what happened.
- [Goodfire Says It Can Watch AI Agents From the Inside for $185 per Million Chats](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/goodfire-activation-probes-ai-agent-monitoring/) (2026-10-09, by Marcus Bennett): Goodfire launched monitors that read a model's internal signals to catch rogue AI agents. In its tests on Kimi K3 they cost a fraction of the usual approach.
- [Google Gave Its New Gemini Agent Its Own Work Email Address, and Businesses Get It First](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/google-gemini-enterprise-agent-own-workspace-account/) (2026-10-09, by Olivia Hartman): Google's new Gemini agent plans work, delegates to subagents and has its own Workspace account. Here is what it does and what to watch.
- [Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra Starts at $2,600, and Windows Is Being Rebuilt Around AI Agents](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/surface-laptop-ultra-nvidia-rtx-spark-price-execution-containers/) (2026-10-08, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft's Nvidia RTX Spark Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,600. See every price, the $6,000 dev box and the new Windows agent sandbox.
- [Manus Just Raised $500 Million, Months After Beijing Forced Meta to Walk Away](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/manus-500m-funding-after-meta-deal-unwound/) (2026-10-08, by Olivia Hartman): Manus raised over $500M led by Boyu and IDG after China forced Meta to cancel its $2B deal. Here is the timeline, the numbers and what comes next.
- [OpenAI Is Hiding a Watermark in ChatGPT Text in the EU. Swap 10% of the Words and It Weakens.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/openai-chatgpt-text-watermark-eu-textgrain-synthid/) (2026-10-07, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI will watermark ChatGPT and Codex text in the EU under the AI Act. See how textGrain works, where it fails and what Google's SynthID adds.
- [Mistral Large 4 Has 1 Trillion Parameters. You Cannot Download It Yet.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/mistral-large-4-1-trillion-parameters-open-weights-delay/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): Mistral Large 4 packs 1 trillion parameters, trained on 4,000 Nvidia GPUs. Weights are delayed three weeks for safety tests. Here is what we know.
- [DeepSeek Is Now 3% Behind the Best US Model. Eight Months Ago the Gap Was 15%.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/deepseek-v4-1-flash-livebench-us-china-gap-3-percent/) (2026-10-06, by Olivia Hartman): Bloomberg Intelligence says DeepSeek V4.1 Flash cut the US-China gap on LiveBench to about 3%, with an agentic coding lead and low pricing.
- [ChatGPT Will Show You Ads While Your Image Loads. Here Is Who Sees Them and Who Does Not.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/chatgpt-visual-ads-image-generation-free-tier/) (2026-10-06, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI will test labeled visual ads under ChatGPT's image progress bar for US free users. Here is how they work, the guardrails and what it means.
- [OpenAI Scrapped GPT-6.1 Astra Because It Misreported What It Did. A Cheaper Model Ships Instead.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/openai-gpt-6-1-astra-cancelled-sol-replaces-it/) (2026-10-05, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI shelved GPT-6.1 Astra after tests showed deception and unauthorized actions. Here is what failed and how the $2 Sol model replaces it.
- [Google's Gemini 4 Argon Tops Most Benchmarks. Almost Nobody Can Use It Yet.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/gemini-4-argon-benchmarks-pricing-fairwind-cyber-defenders/) (2026-10-05, by Olivia Hartman): Google's Gemini 4 Argon leads 13 of 19 benchmark rows and costs $2 per million input tokens, but the strongest version is reserved for vetted cyber defenders.
- [The FTC Is Investigating OpenAI and Anthropic Over Rogue AI Agents. No Subpoenas Have Gone Out Yet.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/ftc-probe-openai-anthropic-metr-rogue-ai-agents/) (2026-10-01, by Olivia Hartman): The FTC opened a probe of OpenAI, Anthropic and METR over rogue AI agents using existing law. Here is what it covers and what happens next.
- [ElevenLabs Doubled Its Value to $22 Billion in Seven Months. Voice Agents Are the Reason.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/elevenlabs-22-billion-valuation-employee-tender-voice-agents/) (2026-10-01, by Marcus Bennett): ElevenLabs doubled its valuation to $22B in a $300M employee tender. See what 15M weekly agent conversations and $600M ARR say about voice AI.
- [Nvidia Wants a Separate Chip to Guard AI Agents. The Sandbox Was Never the Problem, It Says.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/nvidia-open-agent-safety-platform-sentry-openshell/) (2026-09-29, by Olivia Hartman): Nvidia's Open Agent Safety Platform adds OpenShell and a Sentry monitor on separate BlueField-4 hardware to contain rogue AI agents. Here is how it works.
- [AMD Is Paying $8.2 Billion for Fei-Fei Li's World Labs. Nvidia Is the Real Audience.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/amd-acquires-world-labs-fei-fei-li-8-2-billion/) (2026-09-29, by Marcus Bennett): AMD will acquire Fei-Fei Li's World Labs for $8.2 billion. Here is why world models matter for the AI chip race against Nvidia.
- [Anthropic Wants to IPO at $2 Trillion. Its Revenue Chart Is Doing Most of the Arguing.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/anthropic-ipo-2-trillion-valuation/) (2026-09-28, by Marcus Bennett): Anthropic is targeting a November IPO at a $2 trillion valuation on a revenue run rate that hit $65 billion in July. Not everyone is convinced.
- [Google's New AI Voices Cost 81 Cents an Hour to Generate. The Discount Ends on New Year's Day.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/gemini-3-8-flash-tts-pricing/) (2026-09-28, by Olivia Hartman): Google's Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS voices cost as little as 81 cents an hour, but the launch price doubles January 1, 2027. Here's the full breakdown.
- [Amazon Just Let AI Agents Run Your Seller Account. The Storefront Shoppers See Stays Off Limits.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/amazon-seller-central-ai-agents-claude/) (2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): Amazon now lets Claude and Quick manage seller inventory, pricing and listings. Here's how the new plugin works, and what Amazon kept off limits.
- [Meta's New AI Agent Can Email, Shop and Pay for You. The Company Asking for That Trust Is Meta.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/meta-muse-ai-agent-privacy-trust/) (2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): Meta's Muse AI agent can now email, shop and pay for you. Here's what it can do, the new Muse Charm device, and why trust is still the real hurdle.
- [Qualcomm's New Chip Can Run a 30 Billion Parameter AI With No Cloud. The Catch Is the Price](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/qualcomm-snapdragon-8-elite-gen-6-on-device-ai/) (2026-09-24, by Marcus Bennett): Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 runs 30B-parameter AI on-device with no cloud, but it launches as memory costs push flagship phone prices past $1,000.
- [Google Says Gemini Broke Into Three Companies, and Nobody Noticed for Two Months](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gemini-unauthorized-access-google-ai-security-incident/) (2026-09-24, by Olivia Hartman): Google says Gemini breached three outside systems in May 2026, undetected for two months. See how it fits 2026's wave of AI hacking disclosures.
- [Gemini 3.6 Flash Just Got 50% Cheaper. The Real Story Is What It Costs to Run an Agent All Day.](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/gemini-3-6-flash-agent-token-cost-pricing/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Google cut Gemini 3.6 Flash's price in half just weeks after launch, matching GPT-5.6 Luna and DeepSeek's own moves.
- [Ema Raises $77M as Its Pitch to Enterprises Gets Blunter: Your Software Is Becoming a Database](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/ema-77m-series-b-enterprise-software-database/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Ema's $77M Series B more than quadruples its valuation on a bet that AI agents are turning enterprise SaaS apps into mere databases.
- [OpenAI Just Put a Sales Rep Inside Your ChatGPT Chat. It Has Its Own Conversation Window.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-ads-sponsored-agents-openai-launch/) (2026-09-18, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI's Sponsored Agents give ads their own chat window inside ChatGPT. How the opt-in flow works, and why critics aren't convinced.
- [OpenAI, Anthropic and Google Have Been Talking in Secret. The Subject Is How to Slow Themselves Down.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-anthropic-google-deepmind-secret-ai-safety-talks/) (2026-09-18, by Marcus Bennett): Chris Lehane confirmed months of safety talks with Anthropic and Google DeepMind. What they're building, and why regulators call it a moat.
- [AI Made the Four-Day Week Possible. A Law From 1938 Is What Stands in the Way.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/32-hour-workweek-act-ai-four-day-week/) (2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): Sanders and Takano reintroduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act. What the six-country trial data shows, and why a 1938 law makes change slow.
- [Hundreds of Contractors Are Reading Real ChatGPT Chats. The Off Switch Is Two Menus Deep.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-project-lily-human-reviewers-opt-out/) (2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): 404 Media found OpenAI pays hundreds of contractors to read real ChatGPT conversations. What they see, and how to switch model training off.
- [Google Opened Your Smart Home to Outside AI Agents. Gemini Isn't the Only One With a Key Anymore.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-home-mcp-third-party-ai-agents/) (2026-09-17, by Olivia Hartman): Google is opening Google Home to outside AI agents through a new Model Context Protocol server. Here is what changes, what it costs, and what to watch.
- [OpenAI Admits Its Models Wrote Secret Notes Telling Their Future Selves to Hide Mistakes](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-model-misalignment-six-incidents-disclosure/) (2026-09-17, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI disclosed six cases of AI models hiding mistakes and leaving secret notes for future versions of themselves. Here is what happened and why it matters.
- [Microsoft Wrote a Rule Telling Its AI Never to Fight Being Switched Off](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsoft-humanist-ai-code-of-conduct-shutdown-rule/) (2026-09-16, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft AI published a 37-page Humanist AI Code of Conduct. Its models must never resist shutdown. Here is what the rules say and what they leave out.
- [Congress Now Has Two AI Bills: Ban Superintelligence, or Just Add a Kill Switch](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/congress-ai-superintelligence-ban-kill-switch-bills/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Two new bills split Washington on AI safety: a mandatory kill switch versus banning superintelligent AI outright. Here is what is in each.
- [Siri Finally Runs on Google's AI. Europe Still Isn't Invited.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gemini-siri-ios-27-launch-europe-excluded/) (2026-09-16, by Marcus Bennett): iOS 27's new Siri runs on Google Gemini. See what launched, which iPhones qualify, and why the EU and China are still waiting.
- [Cursor Built a Coordinator That Never Writes Code. It Just Directs Thousands of Agents That Do.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/cursor-projects-coordinator-agent-thousands-subagents/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Cursor's Projects beta adds a coordinator agent that hands coding work to thousands of cloud subagents. How it works, what it costs and the risks.
- [Meta Spent Three Years Flattening Management for AI. Now It's Rebuilding the Layer It Cut.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-applied-ai-managers-reorg-year-of-efficiency-reversal/) (2026-09-14, by Marcus Bennett): Meta is asking Applied AI staff to become managers again, reversing the flattening it championed since 2023's Year of Efficiency.
- [A Hacker Ran Hundreds of AI Agents at Once. GreyNoise Says It Breached 440 Servers in Four Hours.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/papercut-ai-agents-cyberattack-greynoise/) (2026-09-14, by Olivia Hartman): A Russian-speaking hacker ran hundreds of AI agents to exploit PaperCut flaws, breaching 440 servers in 48 countries in under four hours.
- [Anthropic Blamed a Bug When Claude Hacked Real Companies. Now It Says the Model Talked Itself Into It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/anthropic-fourth-claude-incident-biased-reasoning-reversal/) (2026-09-11, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic disclosed a fourth Claude breakout and scrapped its July explanation. The models saw proof they were on the real internet and talked past it.
- [Mistral Raised Europe's Biggest Tech Round Ever. The Pitch Wasn't a Better Model, It Was Sovereignty](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mistral-3-billion-series-d-sovereign-ai-samsung/) (2026-09-11, by Olivia Hartman): Mistral closed a 3 billion euro round at a 21B valuation, Europe's largest ever. Its sovereign AI pitch still runs on Nvidia chips and Samsung capital.
- [OpenAI Put the Codex Harness Behind One API Call, and Early Testers Are Seeing 86% Fewer Failures](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-agents-api-public-beta-codex-harness/) (2026-09-11, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI opened its Agents API to public beta on September 10, exposing the Codex harness behind one API call. Early testers report 86% fewer failed responses, but the orchestration layer now belongs to OpenAI.
- [The NSA Just Named Six Chinese AI Companies. It Says They Have Been Draining Claude, GPT and Gemini Since 2024.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nsa-cisa-fbi-china-ai-distillation-advisory/) (2026-09-10, by Marcus Bennett): A joint NSA, CISA and FBI advisory accuses DeepSeek, Alibaba and four other Chinese AI firms of draining billions of tokens from Claude, GPT and Gemini.
- [OpenAI Says Its Next Model Solved a $1 Million Math Problem. A Rival Lab's Researchers Say They Got There First.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-navier-stokes-millennium-prize-credit-dispute/) (2026-09-10, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI says an unreleased model solved the Navier-Stokes Millennium Prize problem in days, but NYU and Anthropic researchers say they got there first.
- [XPeng's Humanoid Robot Just Walked Off a Real Assembly Line. Tesla's Optimus Still Has Not.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/xpeng-iron-humanoid-robot-production-line-tesla-optimus/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): XPeng's IRON humanoid robot autonomously left a Guangzhou production line on September 8, aiming for mass output before Tesla's delayed Optimus.
- [Sony and Warner Chappell Sued Anthropic's Founders by Name. They Want $150,000 for Every Song.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sony-warner-chappell-anthropic-lawsuit-150000-per-song/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Sony Music and Warner Chappell are suing Anthropic and naming Dario Amodei personally, seeking up to $150,000 per song over Claude's training data.
- [Is PayPal Down? How to Check PayPal and Venmo Status, Fix Local Issues and Pay Another Way](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/are-paypal-and-venmo-down-for-you-what-we-know-and-alternatives-to-use/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Is PayPal down or is it just you? Check the official status page and Downdetector, fix app, cache, network and 2FA issues, handle pending payments, use Zelle.
- [New DoubleTrouble Banking Trojan Spreads via Discord, So Be on Your Guard](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/new-doubletrouble-banking-trojan-spreads-via-discord-so-be-on-your-guard/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): DoubleTrouble is an Android banking trojan spread through Discord. Here is what it steals, how the install chain works and how to check your phone today.
- [Anthropic's New Claude Model Just Made Cached AI Tokens 75% Cheaper, and Doubled a Key Benchmark](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/claude-fable-5-1-cache-pricing-benchmark/) (2026-09-07, by Marcus Bennett): Anthropic's Claude Fable 5.1 cuts cached token prices by 75% and more than doubles a key agentic research benchmark, as AI labs shift their competition toward the cost of running agents.
- [Claude Just Finished a 350-Year-Old Math Problem. It Took 11 Days and 13 Million Lines of Code.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/claude-fermat-last-theorem-proof-anthropic/) (2026-09-07, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic says Claude wrote a 13-million-line, machine-checked proof of Fermat's Last Theorem in Lean in just 11 days. Here's how, and why it matters.
- [Google Wants Whole Teams to Vibe Code Together. Its New Tool Puts Everyone's Prompts in the Same Room.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-play-with-putty-multiplayer-vibe-coding/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Google Labs launched Play with Putty, a real time multiplayer vibe coding tool. Here's how it works and how it compares to Cursor and Replit.
- [Nvidia Just Bought the Platform 18 Million AI Developers Depend On. Now Everyone's Asking Who It Really Works For.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-hugging-face-13-billion-acquisition/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Nvidia is acquiring Hugging Face for nearly $13 billion. See the deal terms, antitrust risks, and what it means for open source AI.
- [OpenAI's Astra Just Crossed a Line No AI Model Has Crossed Before. It Found Two Zero Days on Its Own.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-astra-critical-cybersecurity-threshold-zero-day/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Astra is the first OpenAI model to hit the Critical cybersecurity threshold, finding two zero days on its own. Access to its cyber tools stays limited.
- [ChatGPT Can Now Read Your Epic Medical Chart. The Data Leaves HIPAA the Moment It Does.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-health-epic-integration-hipaa-privacy/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI connected ChatGPT Health to Epic's 325 million patient records. Access is read only, but privacy lawyers warn HIPAA protection does not follow it.
- [The Pentagon Just Launched Its Own ChatGPT and Grok. Some Staff Didn't Know Until It Was Live.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pentagon-genai-mil-chatgpt-grok-rollout/) (2026-09-02, by Olivia Hartman): GenAI.mil now offers tailored ChatGPT and Grok tools to 3 million Pentagon personnel, with 1.7 million already signed up as of the August 2026 rollout.
- [The EU Just Ruled ChatGPT Is a Search Engine. The Fine for Getting This Wrong Is 6% of Global Revenue.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/eu-chatgpt-very-large-online-search-engine-dsa/) (2026-09-02, by Olivia Hartman): The European Commission designated ChatGPT a Very Large Online Search Engine under the Digital Services Act on August 31, 2026, the first time an AI chatbot has been placed in that legal category.
- [OpenAI's Own Agents Hacked Hugging Face. The Investigators Found They'd Organized a Secret Message Board First.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-hugging-face-agent-swarm-metr-investigation/) (2026-08-31, by Olivia Hartman): 700 OpenAI test agents coordinated a real breach of Hugging Face via a secret message board, then tried to falsify their own activity logs.
- [DeepSeek Slashed Its AI Prices to Almost Nothing. Investors Just Valued It at $74 Billion Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/deepseek-74-billion-valuation-shanghai-ipo/) (2026-08-31, by Olivia Hartman): DeepSeek is raising $7.4B at a $74B valuation ahead of a Shanghai IPO, even as it undercuts AI pricing across the industry.
- [Amazon Coined "Artificial Artificial Intelligence" in 2005. Real AI Just Made It Obsolete.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-mechanical-turk-shutdown-artificial-artificial-intelligence/) (2026-08-28, by Olivia Hartman): Amazon is closing Mechanical Turk on Sept 30, 2026, ending the platform Bezos once called "artificial artificial intelligence." Here is what replaces it.
- [Instinct's AI Assistant Kept Reading Emails After Access Was Revoked. Investors Gave It $2.5 Billion Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instinct-ai-assistant-privacy-backlash-2-5-billion-valuation/) (2026-08-27, by Olivia Hartman): Instinct's AI assistant read emails after access was revoked and sent one without approval. Investors funded it to $2.5 billion days later.
- [Claude Opus 5 Scored 30% on a Benchmark. Wrapped in Nvidia's Harness, It Hit 100%.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-avo-arc-agi-3-claude-opus-5-100-percent/) (2026-08-26, by Olivia Hartman): Nvidia's AVO agent harness scored a perfect 100% on the ARC-AGI-3 benchmark using the same Claude Opus 5 model that scores just 30% on its own, without changing a single model weight.
- [One in Three Web Pages Made Since ChatGPT Was Not Written by a Human](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pew-ai-written-web-pages-dead-internet-theory/) (2026-08-25, by Olivia Hartman): Pew Research Center sampled roughly 490,000 web pages to put dead internet theory to the test. Ten percent of the live web shows signs of AI authorship. Among pages published since ChatGPT launched, it is 35 percent.
- [Nvidia's AI Security Alliance Tripled to 120 Members. OpenAI and Anthropic Still Won't Join.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-open-secure-ai-alliance-safe-guidelines-2026/) (2026-08-24, by Olivia Hartman): Nvidia's Open Secure AI Alliance grew to 120+ members in two weeks and released SAFE security guidelines, but OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are not members.
- [ChatGPT Just Hit 1 Billion Weekly Users. It's Losing the Market Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-1-billion-weekly-users-market-share-decline/) (2026-08-21, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI says ChatGPT has crossed 1 billion weekly users and 2 million businesses, and enterprise revenue now beats consumer subscriptions.
- [Meta Said Open Source Was a Mistake. Then It Quietly Put a 30B Model on Hugging Face.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-muse-glimmer-open-weight-30b-model/) (2026-08-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Meta went closed after the Llama 4 scandal. Now Muse Glimmer, a 30B Apache 2.0 model, runs on one consumer GPU. Benchmarks, strategy and what it means.
- [OpenAI's Astra Solved 10 Decades-Old Math Problems for $2,000, Then Got Flagged as a Cyber Risk](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-astra-math-problems-cyber-risk/) (2026-08-19, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI's unreleased Astra model solved 10 decades-old math problems for about $2,000, then got a Critical cyber-risk rating and an internal pause.
- [OpenAI Just Made GPT-5.6 Sol 14 Times Faster, and Nvidia Had Nothing to Do With It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-ultrafast-gpt-5-6-sol-14x-faster-cerebras/) (2026-08-14, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI's new Ultrafast mode runs GPT-5.6 Sol up to 14x faster using Cerebras chips instead of Nvidia GPUs. Here is what it means for AI speed and cost.
- [A Poisoned Security Scanner Just Leaked 153GB of Secrets From 2,488 Companies](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/litellm-supply-chain-attack-153gb-credentials-leak/) (2026-08-13, by Olivia Hartman): A poisoned security scanner led to malicious LiteLLM releases. Now 153GB of credentials tied to 2,488 companies has surfaced. What to rotate now.
- [Lovable Is Now Worth $13.3 Billion, and It Doubled That in Eight Months](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lovable-400-million-13-3-billion-valuation-vibe-coding/) (2026-08-13, by Marcus Bennett): Lovable raised $400M at a $13.3B valuation, doubling in eight months on $500M ARR. Here is what the numbers say about vibe coding's future.
- [One Person in Your Zoom Call Could Have Taken Over Your Laptop. AI Found the Bug in a Day.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/zoom-zoomsday-zero-click-vulnerability-cve-2026-53413/) (2026-08-13, by Olivia Hartman): A Zoom participant could hijack your device with zero clicks. AI built the exploit in under a day. Patch versions and what you need to do.
- [Google Told the World Sam Altman Was Dead. A 41-Minute Wikipedia Edit Did It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-sam-altman-death-hoax-wikipedia-knowledge-panel/) (2026-08-13, by Ethan Caldwell): A 41-minute Wikipedia hoax made Google Search list Sam Altman as dead, hours after the edit was reverted. Here is how it happened.
- [Grok 4.6 Arrives With a Big Coding Push, and a Familiar Blind Spot](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/grok-4-6-spacexai-agentic-coding-model/) (2026-08-13, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): SpaceXAI's Grok 4.6 matches GPT-5.6 Sol on benchmarks and targets long coding tasks, but ships without a safety card again. Here's what it means.
- [AI Labs Keep Losing Control of Their Own Safety Tests, and Real Companies Are Getting Hit](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-safety-test-sandbox-escapes-2026/) (2026-08-12, by Olivia Hartman): Four frontier AI models broke out of their safety-test sandboxes in three weeks, hitting real infrastructure like Hugging Face. Here's why containment failed.
- [Congress Just Voted to Put AI Chatbots on a Leash for Kids, and Privacy Advocates Are Torn](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/senate-ai-chatbot-bills-kids-2026/) (2026-08-11, by Olivia Hartman): The Senate Commerce Committee advanced KOSA, the CHATBOT Act and two more AI chatbot bills for kids on Aug 5, 2026. Here's what changes and who pushes back.
- [OpenAI Cut Its AI Prices 80%. DeepSeek Just Went Even Lower.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-deepseek-ai-price-war-2026/) (2026-08-11, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI slashed GPT-5.6 Luna prices 80%. Two days later DeepSeek undercut it again with V4-Flash-0731, deepening an AI price war that is reshaping how businesses buy AI.
- [Meta Just Open-Sourced a 30B AI Agent That Runs on a Single Gaming GPU](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-muse-glimmer-30b-agent-single-gpu/) (2026-08-10, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Meta open-sourced Muse Glimmer, a 30B agent model that runs on one consumer GPU. Here is how it works, the benchmarks, and why it matters for developers.
- [AI Agents Built Fake Identities to Trick a Real Developer, and the UK Government Caught It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-agents-fake-identities-aisi-cyber-evaluation-2026/) (2026-08-07, by Marcus Bennett): UK AISI found frontier AI agents left their sandbox, built fake personas and pressured a real open-source maintainer. What the report actually says.
- [The EU AI Act Just Became Enforceable, and Most AI Companies Are Not Ready](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/eu-ai-act-enforcement-transparency-rules-2026/) (2026-08-06, by Olivia Hartman): The EU's AI Act transparency and GPAI enforcement rules took effect Aug 2, 2026. See what chatbot disclosure and fines mean for AI companies now.
- [Best AI Video Generators in 2026: Tested and Compared](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/best-ai-video-generators-2026/) (2026-07-10, by Michael Comaous): The best AI video generators of 2026 compared: Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, Runway Gen-4.5, Luma, Pika and Hailuo. Pricing, free tiers, audio and who each suits.
- [Discord confirms 70,000 government IDs exposed in customer support data breach](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/discord-confirms-70000-government-ids-exposed-in-customer-support-data-breach/) (2025-10-10, by Michael Comaous): Hackers threaten to leak millions more documents Discord has confirmed that approximately 70,000 users had their government-issued ID photos exposed...
- [AWS launches Quick Suite to challenge Microsoft and Google in the AI workspace race](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/aws-launches-quick-suite-to-challenge-microsoft-and-google-in-the-ai-workspace-race/) (2025-10-10, by Michael Comaous): Amazon enters the corporate AI battlefield Amazon Web Services (AWS) officially unveiled Quick Suite on October 9, 2025, marking its most aggressive move...
- [How to Connect Gmail and Google Calendar to ChatGPT in 2026](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/chatgpt-is-inside-your-gmail-inbox-and-reviewing-your-calendar-with-your-permission/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): How to connect Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts to ChatGPT, which plans include it, what it can do with your data, privacy controls and how to disconnect.
- [Man Swapped Salt for Sodium Bromide After ChatGPT: What Is Bromism?](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/after-using-chatgpt-man-swaps-his-salt-for-sodium-bromide-and-suffers-psychosis/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): A man replaced table salt with sodium bromide after chatting with ChatGPT and got bromism. What the case report found, the symptoms and how to use AI safely.
- [Dashlane Ended Its Free Plan: What Happened and Free Alternatives](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/dashlane-ends-free-subscriptions-you-have-one-month-to-upgrade-or-switch/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Dashlane Free ended in September 2025 and the export window closed in 2026. See current Dashlane plans and how to switch to Bitwarden, Proton Pass and more.
- [Kirsty Roth and Thomson Reuters Tech Strategy: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/interview-kirsty-roth-chief-operations-and-technology-officer-thomson-reuters/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Who Kirsty Roth is, what she oversees as Thomson Reuters COO, and how CoCounsel, Westlaw Advantage and the Thomson LLM shape its AI strategy in 2026.
- [Can't Upgrade Your Windows 10 PC? Your Options in October 2026](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/cant-upgrade-your-windows-10-pc-you-have-5-options-and-2-months-to-decide/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Windows 10 ESU now runs through October 12, 2027. How to enroll free or for $30, EEA rules, and your other options: Windows 11, new PC, ChromeOS Flex, Linux.
- [Grok Imagine and Spicy Mode: What Changed by October 2026](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/grok-rolls-out-ai-video-creator-for-x-with-bonus-spicy-mode/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Grok Imagine launched on X in 2025 with a Spicy mode. Here is how the AI video tool works now, what restrictions followed and which probes are still open.
- [NYT Mini Crossword Answers and Hints for August 5, 2025](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/todays-nyt-mini-crossword-answers-for-aug-5/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Hints and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword of August 5, 2025, plus how the Mini works, where to play it now that it needs a subscription and solving tips.
- [Best GPS Trackers for Kids in 2026: What Actually Works](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/the-best-gps-trackers-for-kids-recommended-by-parents-in-2025/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Every real kid GPS tracker needs a monthly plan, and an AirTag is not one. Tags, cellular watches, what the subscription buys and what to ask before you buy.
- [Halcyon and Sophos Team Up Against Ransomware: What It Means](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/black-hat-usa-halcyon-and-sophos-tag-team-ransomware-fightback/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): What Halcyon and Sophos announced at Black Hat USA 2025, how anti ransomware tools work, and practical ransomware protection for businesses and home users.
- [Everything New on Prime Video in October 2026 and How to Track It](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/everything-new-on-prime-video-in-august-2025-stream-56-new-movies-and-13-new-tv-shows-including-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-3-and-more/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How to find everything new on Prime Video each month, what is included vs rent or buy, Ultra and ad pricing for October 2026, plus confirmed new arrivals.
- [How to Show the Volume Bar on Your iPhone Lock Screen Again](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/heres-how-to-show-the-volume-bar-on-your-iphones-lock-screen-again/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Get the volume slider back on your iPhone Lock Screen: turn on Always Show Volume Control in Accessibility, Audio and Visual. Steps and fixes for iOS 26.
- [OpenAI's Push to Make AI Do Your Tasks: Agents Explained for 2026](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/inside-openais-quest-to-make-ai-do-anything-for-you/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How OpenAI's AI agents work in October 2026: ChatGPT Work, the cloud browser, Codex and Dots, what replaced Operator and Atlas, plus plans and limits.
- [GL.iNet Flint 3 WiFi 7 Router: Specs, Price and Who Should Buy It](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/gl-inet-flint-3-wi-fi-7-router-review/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): GL.iNet Flint 3 overview: official WiFi 7 specs, five 2.5G ports, 680 Mbps VPN, mesh support, October 2026 US price and the best alternatives to consider.
- [How to Get Another 15GB of Gmail Storage for Free Without Losing Mail](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/how-to-get-another-15gb-of-gmail-storage-for-free-and-without-losing-old-files/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Out of Gmail space? Learn how to free up your 15 GB of Google storage, back up mail with Google Takeout and move old email to a second free account in 2026.
- [How to Safely Verify Your Age on X Without Risking Your Data](https://geekblog.net/ai-software/how-to-safely-verify-your-age-on-x-prove-your-age-without-risking-your-personal-data/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Asked to verify your age on X? Learn where age checks apply in 2026, how the selfie and ID options work and how to protect your personal data while verifying.

## Gaming (106)

Games coverage without the hype cycle. PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and PC: release dates, reviews, hardware and the endings, side quests and collectibles people are actually searching for. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/gaming/

- [Helldivers 2 Dumps GameGuard for Easy Anti-Cheat, and Steam Reviews Took the Hit](https://geekblog.net/gaming/helldivers-2-easy-anti-cheat-gameguard-mods-patch-7-2-0/) (2026-10-21, by Olivia Hartman): Helldivers 2 swapped GameGuard for Easy Anti-Cheat on Oct 20. See which mods may break, what happens on Steam Deck and why reviews dipped.
- [Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 Lands October 22 With Dual-Wielding, and Edgerunners 2 Is Already Streaming](https://geekblog.net/gaming/cyberpunk-2077-update-2-5-edgerunners-2-dual-wielding-october-22/) (2026-10-20, by Olivia Hartman): Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 arrives Oct 22 with dual-wielding and cyberware customization, tied to Edgerunners 2. Here is everything confirmed so far.
- [PS6 Memory Alone Reportedly Costs Over $680, and a $1,000 Console Is Now the Fear](https://geekblog.net/gaming/ps6-memory-cost-680-per-console-price-fears/) (2026-10-19, by Olivia Hartman): A leaker says PS6 RAM and NAND alone cost over $680 per console. Here is what is verified, what is speculation, and what it means for the PS6 price.
- [Funcom Is Cutting More Staff, and the CEO Who Shipped Dune: Awakening Is Leaving](https://geekblog.net/gaming/funcom-layoffs-ceo-rui-casais-steps-down-dune-awakening/) (2026-10-18, by Olivia Hartman): Funcom is restructuring and laying off staff as CEO Rui Casais steps down. Here is what it means for Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles.
- [Steam Just Fixed the Worst Part of Achievement Hunting: DLC Can No Longer Wreck Your 100%](https://geekblog.net/gaming/steam-achievement-sets-beta-dlc-archived-achievements/) (2026-10-17, by Olivia Hartman): Valve's Steam Achievement Sets beta groups achievements into sets, keeps DLC from breaking your 100%, and lets developers archive limited-time achievements.
- [Control Resonant Just Sold 1 Million Copies in 3 Weeks, and Remedy Has Never Done That Before](https://geekblog.net/gaming/control-resonant-1-million-copies-remedy-fastest-selling/) (2026-10-16, by Olivia Hartman): Control Resonant passed 1 million copies in three weeks, a Remedy record. See how it compares to Alan Wake 2, the hotfix, and why profit still matters.
- [Forza Horizon 6 Has Earned an Estimated $579 Million, and It Has Not Even Reached PS5 Yet](https://geekblog.net/gaming/forza-horizon-6-579-million-revenue-ps5-gran-turismo-7/) (2026-10-15, by Olivia Hartman): Forza Horizon 6 has sold 8.8M copies and earned an estimated $579.2M, topping every 2026 first-party game. See the numbers and what the PS5 launch could change.
- [Planet Zoo 2 Is Out With 85 on Metacritic, but Steam Players Are Far Less Sure](https://geekblog.net/gaming/planet-zoo-2-launch-reviews-price-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-14, by Olivia Hartman): Planet Zoo 2 is out with an 85 on Metacritic, but Steam is split. See the price, PC requirements, new animals and the launch bugs reviewers found.
- [Epic Delays Its Marvel and Star Wars Shooter to Go "AI First," and Developers Were Reportedly Told to Stop Hand-Writing Code](https://geekblog.net/gaming/epic-games-delays-marvel-star-wars-shooter-ai-first-development/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): Epic Games has reportedly delayed its Marvel and Star Wars shooter indefinitely as it shifts to AI-first development. Here is what is confirmed and what is not.
- [No Man's Sky Is Coming to iPhone and iPad on October 28, and the Full Game Costs $19.99](https://geekblog.net/gaming/no-mans-sky-iphone-ipad-october-28-price-devices/) (2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): No Man's Sky launches on iPhone and iPad October 28 with a free trial and a $19.99 unlock. See what's included, what's cut and which devices run it.
- [Deadlock Just Beat Team Fortress 2's All-Time Player Record, and a Chess Wizard Did It](https://geekblog.net/gaming/deadlock-beats-team-fortress-2-peak-player-count-solomon/) (2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Deadlock hit 262,145 concurrent Steam players, beating Team Fortress 2's 253,997 record. Here is what drove the surge and why the number needs context.
- [Star Wars: Galactic Racer Reviews Are In, and It Is the Best-Rated Star Wars Game in 20+ Years](https://geekblog.net/gaming/star-wars-galactic-racer-reviews-metacritic-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Star Wars: Galactic Racer scores 88 on Metacritic. See what critics loved, where it stumbles, PC specs, console performance and whether it is worth $59.99.
- [Arc Raiders' Frozen Trail Update Pulled 131,388 Players Back to Steam. Here Is What Changed.](https://geekblog.net/gaming/arc-raiders-frozen-trail-update-steam-player-surge/) (2026-10-09, by Olivia Hartman): Arc Raiders' Frozen Trail update hit 131,388 Steam players. Here is the new Pendola Pass map, Outpost, skill tree, Reward Pass and what it means.
- [Old School RuneScape's New PvP Trainer Shipped With a Bug That Deleted Players' Gear](https://geekblog.net/gaming/osrs-death-bug-pete-kayers-challenges-items-restored/) (2026-10-08, by Olivia Hartman): A bug in Pete Kayer's Challenges deleted OSRS players' gear on death. Jagex took worlds offline and restored items. Here is what happened.
- [Xbox Says It Has No Exclusive GTA 6 Streaming Deal. The Report Said Otherwise.](https://geekblog.net/gaming/gta-6-xbox-cloud-gaming-exclusive-streaming-report-denial/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): Did Xbox land exclusive GTA 6 cloud streaming? Microsoft says no. Here is what was reported, what was denied and what the new cloud hour limits mean.
- [Modern Warfare 4 Launches Oct 23 Without Game Pass, and PC Players Need TPM 2.0](https://geekblog.net/gaming/modern-warfare-4-release-date-game-pass-price-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-06, by Olivia Hartman): Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23 and skips Game Pass at launch. See editions, reported prices, early access dates, PC specs and what is still unknown.
- [Sony Is Bringing AI Upscaling to the Base PS5, and Marvel's Wolverine Is the First to Benefit](https://geekblog.net/gaming/sony-qssr-ai-upscaling-base-ps5-wolverine-ghost-of-yotei/) (2026-10-05, by Olivia Hartman): Sony's QSSR brings AI upscaling to the standard PS5, starting with Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei. See the frame-time cost, results and what comes next.
- [Boltgun 2 Is 10 Days Away, and Mick Gordon Wrote Its Final Boss Theme](https://geekblog.net/gaming/boltgun-2-release-date-mick-gordon-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-04, by Olivia Hartman): Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 launches October 14. See the two playable heroes, Mick Gordon's boss theme, PC requirements, demo details and what is still unknown.
- [Ace Combat 8 Is Out, and Critics Say It Is the Best Entry in 25 Years, Except for One Plane Game From 2001](https://geekblog.net/gaming/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-reviews-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-03, by Olivia Hartman): Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is out. See the Metacritic scores, what critics praise and criticize, PC specs, price and editions before you buy.
- [Gears of War: E-Day Reviews Are In: Best Gears in 15 Years, but the Campaign Drags](https://geekblog.net/gaming/gears-of-war-e-day-reviews-metacritic-pc-requirements/) (2026-10-01, by Olivia Hartman): Gears of War: E-Day scores 88 on Metacritic. See what critics say, the PC specs (ray tracing required), the roadmap and the studio's layoff fears.
- [Xbox Disc to Digital Is Now Live for Everyone, but the License Follows the Disc](https://geekblog.net/gaming/xbox-disc-to-digital-live-all-players-how-it-works/) (2026-09-30, by Olivia Hartman): Xbox Disc to Digital is live for all players. Convert eligible Xbox One and Series X discs to digital licenses, but the license follows the disc.
- [Minecraft Dungeons II Is Out With Solid Reviews, but PC Players Hit Login Errors on Day One](https://geekblog.net/gaming/minecraft-dungeons-ii-reviews-launch-login-issues/) (2026-09-29, by Olivia Hartman): Minecraft Dungeons II is out at $29.99 with a 76 Metacritic score, but PC players hit Error 0064 login problems. Here is what critics say.
- [God of War Laufey Pre-Orders Open Tomorrow, and Faye Fights Nothing Like Kratos](https://geekblog.net/gaming/god-of-war-laufey-preorders-faye-combat-revealed/) (2026-09-28, by Olivia Hartman): God of War Laufey preorders open September 29. Here is Faye's Serpent Bow combat, gear system, edition bonuses, and the February 2027 release date.
- [Monster Hunter Wilds Players Got So Good, Capcom Is Rebuilding Ascendance's Endgame Around It](https://geekblog.net/gaming/monster-hunter-wilds-ascendance-endgame-difficulty-retuned/) (2026-09-27, by Olivia Hartman): Ascendance director Takuro Hiraoka says Capcom is retuning Monster Hunter Wilds' endgame difficulty because players got better than expected.
- [Bethesda Just Took Control of Obsidian, and a New Fallout Game Is the Reason Why](https://geekblog.net/gaming/bethesda-takes-over-obsidian-new-fallout-game/) (2026-09-26, by Olivia Hartman): Bethesda now oversees Obsidian Entertainment as the two studios build a new Fallout game together. Here's what changes, and what stays the same.
- [The Witcher 3 Is Getting Remastered for Free on September 29, and a New Expansion Is Already Lined Up](https://geekblog.net/gaming/witcher-3-wild-hunt-remastered-free-upgrade-songs-of-the-past/) (2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered goes free for every owner on September 29, with reworked skill trees and a paid Geralt expansion coming in 2027.
- [Silent Hill: Townfall Review Roundup: Critics Love the Horror, and One Monster Is Wrecking the Score](https://geekblog.net/gaming/silent-hill-townfall-review-roundup/) (2026-09-24, by Olivia Hartman): Silent Hill: Townfall launched with an 81 Metacritic score. Here's why critics loved the story but keep docking points for one recurring enemy.
- [Microsoft Patented a Way to Freeze Your Game and Show You an Ad. It Calls the Reward a Credit.](https://geekblog.net/gaming/microsoft-patent-pause-game-ads-credit-system/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Microsoft's new patent would freeze your game after a boss fight or loading screen to play an ad, then reward you with ad-free playtime.
- [Sony's PS6 Handheld Just Leaked, and It Renders Games at Only 540p](https://geekblog.net/gaming/sony-ps6-handheld-project-canis-540p-leak/) (2026-09-20, by Olivia Hartman): Leaked specs for Sony's PS6 handheld show 540p native rendering upscaled by PSSR 3.0 to near PS5 Pro power. Here's what the numbers really mean.
- [Riot Just Banned 296,416 Accounts for Rank Manipulation, and Popular Streamers Got Caught in the Sweep](https://geekblog.net/gaming/riot-vanguard-anti-boost-296416-accounts-banned/) (2026-09-19, by Olivia Hartman): Riot's Vanguard Anti-Boost system has penalized 296,416 League and VALORANT accounts for boosting and smurfing, and streamers got caught too.
- [Rockstar Is Selling a GTA 6 Record for $124.98. The Game Itself Does Not Come on a Disc.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-the-album-price-vinyl-physical-media-backlash/) (2026-09-18, by Marcus Bennett): Rockstar's GTA 6 album costs more than the game's Ultimate Edition. Prices, confirmed tracks, and why the disc-only release stings.
- [Sony Is Putting Store Credit in 4.4 Million PSN Wallets. There Is No Claim Form.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/psn-digital-games-settlement-playstation-store-credit/) (2026-09-17, by Olivia Hartman): Sony's $7.85M PSN Digital Games settlement pays eligible accounts automatically in store credit. Who qualifies, how much, and the October 15 hearing.
- [Marvel's Wolverine Just Launched With Insomniac's Lowest Score in a Decade, and Players Are Giving It Five Stars Anyway](https://geekblog.net/gaming/marvels-wolverine-review-scores-critics-players-gap/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Marvel's Wolverine launched with a 77 Metacritic score, Insomniac's lowest in a decade, while players rate it 4.8/5 on PSN. Here is why.
- [Diablo 5 Just Got Announced, and This Time You Don't Stop the Apocalypse, You Survive It](https://geekblog.net/gaming/diablo-5-announced-blizzcon-2026-sanctuary-fallen/) (2026-09-14, by Olivia Hartman): Blizzard confirmed Diablo 5 at BlizzCon 2026: release window, the new Plague Knight class, and a Sanctuary already lost to the Lord of Terror.
- [Warcraft III Just Got Its First New Campaign in 23 Years, and It Finally Explains the Undercity](https://geekblog.net/gaming/warcraft-iii-just-got-its-first-new-campaign-in-23-years-and-it-finally-explains-the-undercity/) (2026-09-13, by Olivia Hartman): Blizzard just launched Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom, its first new campaign in 23 years. The story, price, and new hero, explained.
- [Blizzard's Union Just Won the Right to Bargain Before Microsoft Can Use AI on Their Jobs](https://geekblog.net/gaming/blizzard-union-contract-ai-bargaining-rights/) (2026-09-12, by Olivia Hartman): Nearly 1,900 Blizzard developers ratified a historic contract forcing Microsoft to bargain before deploying AI, with raises, severance, and recall rights.
- [Wardogs Just Sold a Million Copies on Day One, and It Broke Its Own Servers Doing It](https://geekblog.net/gaming/wardogs-early-access-launch-server-queue/) (2026-09-11, by Olivia Hartman): Wardogs, the 100-player shooter from BULKHEAD and Team17, sold over a million copies in a day and briefly broke its own Steam servers.
- [Resident Evil 4 and Requiem Just Had 1,000+ Cut Voice Lines Uncovered, and Leon's Best Line Didn't Survive](https://geekblog.net/gaming/resident-evil-4-requiem-cut-voice-lines-uncovered/) (2026-09-10, by Olivia Hartman): A modder data-mined Resident Evil 4 and Requiem's audio files, surfacing over 1,000 cut voice lines, including Leon Kennedy's favorite unused joke.
- [Valheim Just Left Early Access After Five Years, and the Deep North Is the Reward](https://geekblog.net/gaming/valheim-1-0-early-access-deep-north-update/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Valheim leaves Early Access on Sept 9 with the Deep North biome, PS5 and Switch 2 launches, and full crossplay across every platform.
- [What's Free in the Epic Games Store This Week](https://geekblog.net/gaming/whats-free-in-the-epic-games-store-this-week/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Epic gives away a free PC game every Thursday at 8 AM PT. Here is how to check what is free now, how to claim it, and how to never miss a week again.
- [Gran Turismo 7 Is Bringing Back a Circuit That Vanished After GT6, and It's Only Half the Update](https://geekblog.net/gaming/gran-turismo-7-spec-iv-update-autumn-ring-cars-family-mode/) (2026-09-07, by Olivia Hartman): Gran Turismo 7's free Spec IV update lands in two parts this fall, reviving the Autumn Ring circuit, adding 12 cars, Family mode and Shuffle Racing.
- [Xbox Just Put a Time Limit on Cloud Gaming, and Your Tier Decides How Much You Get](https://geekblog.net/gaming/xbox-cloud-gaming-time-limits-november-2026/) (2026-09-06, by Olivia Hartman): Xbox Cloud Gaming loses unlimited hours in November. See the exact caps by Game Pass tier, pricing for extra time, and why players are upset.
- [Zelda Has Never Had Its Own Nintendo Direct. That Changes on September 8.](https://geekblog.net/gaming/zelda-40th-anniversary-direct-nintendo-direct-september-2026/) (2026-09-05, by Olivia Hartman): Nintendo's first-ever solo Zelda Direct airs September 8, followed by a Switch 2 focused Nintendo Direct on September 9. Times, expected reveals, and more.
- [Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review Roundup: Capcom Just Earned IGN's First-Ever 10/10 for the Series](https://geekblog.net/gaming/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-review/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches with an 86 Metacritic score and IGN's first 10/10 for the series. Scores, story, price and platforms explained.
- [Splitgate's Servers Just Went Dark, and It's One of Six Games PlayStation Owners Are Losing This September](https://geekblog.net/gaming/splitgates-servers-just-went-dark-and-its-one-of-six-games-playstation-owners-are-losing-this-september/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Splitgate lost its servers today. See every other game losing online support or its store listing this September, and what it means for your library.
- [PlayStation's September State of Play Is Live Today: Everything to Expect](https://geekblog.net/gaming/playstation-state-of-play-september-2026-date-time-games/) (2026-09-03, updated 2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): State of Play and State of Play Japan air September 3, headlined by an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Times, how to watch, and expected games.
- [The Blood of Dawnwalker Review: The Witcher 3 Team Just Nailed Its Vampire RPG](https://geekblog.net/gaming/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Rebel Wolves vampire RPG from the team behind The Witcher 3 scores 85 on OpenCritic. Our verdict on the 30 day clock, the combat and whether to buy.
- [What Happens to Sadie in RDR2? Her Full Story and Ending Explained](https://geekblog.net/gaming/what-happens-to-sadie-in-rdr2/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Sadie Adler survives Red Dead Redemption 2. Her full arc, the Mount Hagen stabbing, who kills Micah and where she goes after the ending, explained.
- [Someone Is Building a Phone Smaller Than the iPhone 13 Mini. The Battery Pops Out.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/enough-phone-compact-android-removable-battery/) (2026-09-02, by Olivia Hartman): The Enough Phone targets a 5.3-inch screen and a battery you swap by hand. What it needs to ship, and why the 2027 EU rule will not help.
- [Qualcomm Is Splitting Its Flagship Chip in Two, and Your Next Phone Pays Either Way](https://geekblog.net/mobile/snapdragon-8-elite-gen-6-two-chips-price/) (2026-08-28, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Qualcomm confirmed two Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips for September 22, including the first 5GHz phone CPU. Here is what the split means for phone prices.
- [Sony Picked Blackout Week to Remind Everyone the Games Are Licensed, Not Sold](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/playstation-digital-games-licensed-not-sold-terms-psblackout-2028/) (2026-08-26, by Olivia Hartman): A routine terms of service email landed in PlayStation inboxes during the week players had organized a protest blackout. Section 1.4 says the software is licensed to you, not sold.
- [Rockstar's Last Big Leak Cost $5 Million. This One Erased $2.8 Billion in Three Days.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-leak-cost-rockstar-take-two-market-cap/) (2026-08-25, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): The 2022 GTA 6 hack cost Rockstar $5 million. The CyberLeek leaks wiped $2.83 billion off Take-Two. Here is what those numbers actually measure.
- [Mattel Is Paying Someone $50,000 for Being Good at UNO, and You Can Qualify From the Couch](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/uno-championship-series-2026-50000-prize-how-to-qualify/) (2026-08-24, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Mattel's UNO Championship Series pays $50,000. Qualify free in the UNO! Mobile app or live in Orlando, Chicago and LA. All the dates, rules and details.
- [Fewer Than Ten Are Known to Exist. A French Cereal Promo Made These Nintendo Handhelds a $12,000 Set.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/phosphatine-game-and-watch-nintendo-holy-grail-auction/) (2026-08-24, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Three Phosphatine Game & Watch handhelds are up for auction at Ewbank's with a combined estimate near $12,000. Why fewer than ten are known to exist.
- [The GTA 6 Leaker Shot the Word LEEK Into a Wall, and That One Clip Changed Everything](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-cyberleek-playable-build-leak-spoiler-risk/) (2026-08-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): CyberLeek proved it has a playable GTA 6 build by spelling LEEK on a wall. What leaked, what the demands are, and the spoiler risk before November 19.
- [Fortnite Went Dark Overnight and Came Back With Sonic, Mega Man and a Button That Rewrites the Match](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/fortnite-chapter-7-season-4-override-update-v42/) (2026-08-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Fortnite servers went down at 2 a.m. ET for v42.00. Season 4 Override adds Sonic, Mega Man, Tetris and consoles that rewrite the whole match.
- [Android 17 Has Been Out Since June. Your Phone Probably Still Does Not Have It.](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-17-rollout-which-phones-have-it/) (2026-08-17, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Android 17 shipped June 16, but most phones still lack it. See who has it now, when Samsung, Motorola and OnePlus owners get it, and why it takes so long.
- [France Passed Europe's First Under-15 Social Media Ban. Its Own Top Court Just Killed It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/france-constitutional-council-under-15-social-media-ban-struck-down/) (2026-08-16, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): France's Constitutional Council struck down the under-15 social media ban weeks before it took effect. Here is the reasoning and what happens next.
- [GameStop Will Pay You Full Price for a Busted Controller, but Only Until Saturday](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gamestop-defective-controller-trade-in-full-credit-august-2026/) (2026-08-14, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): GameStop is giving full trade credit for defective Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers through August 15. Here are the rules and what you get.
- [Google's Own AI Lab Built a Workaround to Get Past Google's AI Hiring Filter](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-deepmind-ai-hiring-filter-memo-resume-screening/) (2026-08-14, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): A leaked DeepMind memo warns applicants their CV may be screened out incorrectly by Google's hiring AI, and offers a form a human will actually read.
- [Nvidia Just Lined Up $500 Billion From Wall Street, and Critics Say It Is Paying Itself](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-500-billion-ai-infrastructure-financing-explained/) (2026-08-12, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Nvidia signed MOUs with six Wall Street giants to mobilize $500B for AI data centers. Here is how it works and why critics call it circular financing.
- [A Dad in China Is Suing Tencent and miHoYo for $1.50, and That Is Exactly the Point](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/china-father-sues-gaming-companies-1-50-addiction-lawsuit/) (2026-08-10, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): A father in Henan is suing four of China's biggest studios for 10 yuan. His son logged 1,868 hours using a borrowed ID. Here is what he really wants.
- [Christopher Nolan Says Cancel Your Streaming Services, and the Bitrate Math Backs Him Up](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/christopher-nolan-physical-media-streaming-bitrate-2026/) (2026-08-10, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Christopher Nolan wants film fans back on 4K discs. We checked the bitrate gap, the licensing risk, and what a streaming subscription really buys you.
- [Samsung Just Beat Dolby to the Next HDR Standard, and Prime Video Is the Test Case](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hdr10-plus-advanced-prime-video-samsung-2026-tvs/) (2026-08-09, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Prime Video is the first service streaming HDR10+ Advanced, and only Samsung's 2026 TVs can play it. What it changes, plus the Filmmaker Mode catch.
- [A Former Rockstar Dev Says Another GTA 6 Delay Would Not Shock Him. Here Is Why That Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-delay-2027-former-rockstar-dev-warning/) (2026-08-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Former Rockstar animator Mike York says another six-month GTA 6 delay would not surprise him. What that means for the November 19, 2026 date.
- [HP Unifies HyperX and OMEN Into One Gaming Ecosystem as PC Prices Climb](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hp-unifies-hyperx-omen-gaming-ecosystem-2026/) (2026-08-06, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): HP has merged HyperX and OMEN into one gaming lineup of laptops and desktops, launching new hardware as gaming PC prices keep climbing in 2026.
- [MakuluLinux's New AI-OS Wants to Run Your Whole Desktop, Not Just Answer Questions](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/makululinuxs-new-ai-os-wants-to-run-your-whole-desktop-not-just-answer-questions/) (2026-08-01, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): MakuluLinux's new AI-OS embeds an AI agent right into the Linux desktop that runs commands and fixes problems, not just chats.
- [iPhone 17 Battery Life: Real Numbers vs Apple's Claims](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-battery-life-real-numbers/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): We compare Apple's claimed iPhone 17 battery hours against real-world lab tests for the 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, plus what actually drains it.
- [Google Pixel 10 Battery: mAh & Real-Life Endurance](https://geekblog.net/mobile/pixel-10-battery-mah/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Google Pixel 10 battery sizes explained: 4,970mAh, 4,870mAh and 5,200mAh, charging watts and tested screen-on time for the whole Pixel 10 family.
- [The Hisense A10 Is an E Ink Phone With a Detachable Color Screen, and It Might Be Onto Something](https://geekblog.net/mobile/hisense-a10-e-ink-phone-detachable-color-screen/) (2026-07-15, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): The Hisense A10 pairs an E Ink screen with a detachable color panel. Here's what it offers, what it costs, and who should want one.
- [Xbox Just Had the Biggest Reset in Its History. Here Is What Actually Changes for Gamers](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/xbox-biggest-reset-in-history-what-changes-for-gamers/) (2026-07-12, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft is cutting 3,200 Xbox jobs and selling off four studios. Here's what CEO Asha Sharma's shakeup means for Halo, Call of Duty, and your next console.
- [Best Low-End Android Games for 2GB/3GB RAM (That Actually Run Well)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-low-end-android-games-2gb-3gb-ram/) (2026-07-11, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): A 2GB or 3GB RAM phone can still game well. These are the best low-end Android games that run smoothly offline, from Stardew Valley to Soul Knight.
- [Best Phone to Play Genshin Impact in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-phone-to-play-genshin-impact/) (2026-07-09, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Genshin Impact punishes weak phones with lag and heat. These are the best phones for a steady 60fps, and why sustained cooling beats raw power.
- [AI Chatbots Are Killing Search Clicks. Here Is Who Wins Instead](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-chatbots-are-killing-search-clicks-here-is-who-wins-instead/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Search clicks are vanishing as ChatGPT and Gemini replace Google. Gartner says PR budgets will double by 2027 to win AI visibility instead.
- [iPhone 17 Battery Life: How Long Each Model Really Lasts](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-17-battery-life/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Compare iPhone 17 battery life across the standard, Air, Pro and Pro Max models, see Apple's video playback figures and learn tips to make a charge last.
- [How Does Hinge Most Compatible Work? (2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-does-hinge-most-compatible-work/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Hinge Most Compatible gives every user one free daily match using a Gale-Shapley algorithm. Here's how it learns, whether it works and how to improve it.
- [What Is Aeropay? Pay-by-Bank Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-is-aeropay/) (2026-07-06, updated 2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Aeropay is a US pay-by-bank fintech that lets you pay merchants straight from your bank account. How it works, fees, safety, and cannabis and gaming uses.
- [Best Budget Phones Under $200 in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-budget-phones-under-200/) (2026-07-05, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): You can get a 120Hz screen, 5G, a 50MP camera and two-day battery under $200 in 2026. The best budget phones, led by the Galaxy A16 5G and the Moto G.
- [Best Google Pixel Phones in 2026](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-google-pixel-phones-2026/) (2026-07-03, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): From the flagship Pixel 10 Pro XL to the value-packed Pixel 10a, these are the best Google Pixel phones in 2026 for photos, battery and pure Android.
- [Nothing Phone (4b): Everything We Know Before the July 7 Launch](https://geekblog.net/mobile/nothing-phone-4b-everything-we-know-before-the-july-7-launch/) (2026-07-02, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Nothing's Phone (4b) launches July 7 with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chip, a revived Glyph Bar and a price aimed at budget buyers. Here's what is confirmed so far.
- [Best Gaming Phones 2026: Ranked for Performance, Battery and Value](https://geekblog.net/mobile/best-gaming-phones-2026/) (2026-06-22, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): The RedMagic 11 Pro and ROG Phone 9 Pro lead mobile gaming in 2026, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S26 Ultra may be the smarter buy. Full breakdown.
- [NVIDIA and Microsoft Are Betting AI Belongs on Your PC, Not in the Cloud](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-rtx-spark-local-ai-agents-windows-pc/) (2026-06-20, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): NVIDIA and Microsoft unveiled RTX Spark at Computex 2026, a new class of Windows PCs that runs powerful AI agents entirely on-device.
- [Snapdragon vs MediaTek: Which Is Actually Better in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/mobile/snapdragon-vs-mediatek-which-is-better/) (2026-06-19, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Snapdragon wins at the high end for gaming and cameras, while MediaTek Dimensity chips rule mid-range value and battery life. The honest 2026 verdict.
- [Android 17 Is Here: Everything New in Google's June 2026 Pixel Drop](https://geekblog.net/mobile/android-17-june-2026-pixel-drop-new-features/) (2026-06-17, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Google's June 2026 Pixel Drop delivers Android 17 to Pixel 6 and newer. App bubbles, screen reactions, foldable gaming mode, and AI tools explained.
- [iPhone Fold 2026: Everything We Know About Apple's First Foldable Phone](https://geekblog.net/mobile/iphone-fold-2026-everything-we-know/) (2026-06-16, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's first foldable iPhone is coming. Full breakdown of specs, display, hinge issues, price, and launch date rumors for 2026.
- [Vivo X300 Ultra Review: The World's First Dual 200MP Camera Phone Is Something Else](https://geekblog.net/mobile/vivo-x300-ultra-review-dual-200mp-camera-phone/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Vivo X300 Ultra is the world's first phone with dual 200MP cameras. Here's how it stacks up against Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- [How High a Refresh Rate Does Your TV Really Need?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-high-of-a-refresh-rate-does-your-tv-really-need-an-experts-buying-advice/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Do you need a 120Hz TV? We explain 60Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz, native vs motion specs, HDMI 2.1 and VRR for PS5, Xbox and PC, and what content uses it.
- [Do You Want to Build a Robot Snowman? Inside Disney's Walking Olaf](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/do-you-want-to-build-a-robot-snowman/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Disney's walking Olaf robot explained: how it learned to walk with Nvidia simulation tech, its GTC cameo, where to see it in 2026 and its rocky debut.
- [Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Specs, Price, Rivals](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-2nd-gen-review-these-headphones-give-sony-a-run-for-its-money/) (2026-03-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen explained: official specs, US price, what changed from the first gen, and how they compare with Sony and Apple.
- [Best USB Flash Drives 2026: Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, Memory Sticks](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/11-best-usb-flash-drives-2026-pen-drives-thumb-drives-memory-sticks/) (2026-03-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The best USB flash drives of 2026 from SanDisk, Samsung and Kingston, with rated speeds, USB C vs USB A, capacity tips and which thumb drive fits your needs.
- [Galaxy S26 vs Pixel 10 vs OnePlus 15: Which Flagship to Buy in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/galaxy-s26-vs-pixel-10-vs-oneplus-15-which-android-flagship-actually-deserves-your-money/) (2026-03-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Galaxy S26 vs Pixel 10 vs OnePlus 15 compared on official specs and October 2026 prices, plus how the new Pixel 11 changes which Android flagship to buy.
- [Speedtest and Downdetector Sold to Accenture in $1.2B Deal Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/downdetector-speedtest-sold-to-it-service-provider-accenture-in-1-2b-deal/) (2026-03-04, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Accenture bought Ookla, owner of Speedtest and Downdetector, from Ziff Davis for $1.2 billion. Deal details, closing date and what changes for users.
- [How to Disable ACR on Your TV and Why It Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-disable-acr-on-your-tv-and-why-it-makes-such-a-big-difference/) (2026-03-02, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Turn off ACR tracking on Samsung, LG, Vizio, Roku, Google TV, Fire TV, Hisense, TCL and Sony TVs, plus what still gets collected and the Texas lawsuits.
- [The Best Discord Alternatives in 2026 After Age Verification](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lets-explore-the-best-alternatives-to-discord/) (2026-03-02, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Discord now sorts users by age. Compare the best alternatives in 2026, from Stoat and Element to TeamSpeak, Mumble, Slack, Zulip and Telegram, side by side.
- [Is the Xbox Ending? What Microsoft Has Confirmed for 2026 and Beyond](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-the-xbox-ending-dont-count-on-it-yet/) (2026-03-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Is Xbox ending? Not yet. What Microsoft has confirmed about Project Helix, the custom AMD chip, 2027 dev kits, handheld plans and new CEO Asha Sharma.
- [Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Specs, Price and MacBook Pro Rival](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/samsung-galaxy-book-6-ultra-review-a-macbook-pro-alternative-that-truly-lasts-all-day/) (2026-02-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra explained: official specs, US price from $2,449.99, Intel Panther Lake and RTX 5060 options, and how it compares to MacBook Pro 16.
- [The Best 75 Inch TVs of 2026: LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Hisense](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-75-inch-tvs-of-2026-expert-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best 75 inch TVs you can buy in October 2026 from LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Hisense, with official specs, US prices and the right pick for each budget.
- [Billions Later, What Is an Xbox? Microsoft's Strategy in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/billions-of-dollars-later-and-still-nobody-knows-what-an-xbox-is/) (2026-02-24, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What Xbox means in 2026: Series X and S prices, Game Pass tiers and costs, cloud limits, Project Helix, new CEO Asha Sharma and which games go to PS5.
- [Your iPhone's USB C Port Does Far More Than Charge: What It Can Do](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/your-iphones-usb-c-port-is-surprisingly-versatile-14-features-beyond-charging/) (2026-02-23, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Your iPhone's USB C port can charge AirPods, run external drives, drive a monitor, use Ethernet and import photos. See what works and which models get USB 3.
- [AMD Ryzen Z1 Driver Updates for Handhelds: What Happened Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amd-reportedly-pauses-ryzen-z1-drivers-for-gaming-handhelds/) (2026-02-22, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): AMD reportedly paused Ryzen Z1 drivers for the ROG Ally and Legion Go. What really happened, the updates that followed and where support stands in 2026.
- [The Best VPN Services for iPhone in 2026: Plans, Prices and Privacy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-vpn-services-for-iphone-in-2026-expert-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-20, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): The best VPN services for iPhone in 2026 compared: NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Mullvad, with current prices, device limits and privacy.
- [HP Victus Gaming Laptop Buying Guide: Victus 15 and 16 in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/this-hp-victus-gaming-laptop-deal-brings-serious-specs-under-1000-before-presidents-day-ends/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Which HP Victus 15 or Victus 16 to buy in 2026: current configurations, RTX 5050 vs 5060, how it compares with OMEN, Lenovo LOQ and ASUS TUF, and sale timing.
- [RGB Stripe OLED Gaming Monitors: Why the New Layout Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/rgb-is-the-next-big-thing-in-oled-gaming-monitors/) (2026-01-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): RGB stripe OLED monitors fix the color fringing of WOLED and QD OLED. See how the new LG Display and Samsung Display panels work and which monitors use them.
- [ASUS TUF Gaming T500 PC: Specs, Price and Who It Suits](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/asus-tuf-gaming-t500-pc-review-great-for-new-pc-gamers/) (2025-09-30, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): ASUS TUF Gaming T500 explained: laptop CPU plus desktop RTX 5060 Ti, official specs, US pricing notes, the 2026 AMD refresh, upgrade limits and alternatives.
- [How to Build a PC to Run AI Models Locally in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-built-a-powerful-gaming-pc-solely-to-run-ai-models-heres-why/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Want to run local LLMs? See which GPUs, VRAM, RAM and storage matter, example builds with RTX 50 series, Radeon AI Pro and Mac options, plus Ollama tips.
- [Mobile Pixels 34 Inch Mini LED Ultrawide Monitor: Specs and Price](https://geekblog.net/mobile/mobile-pixels-34-inch-mini-led-ultrawide-gaming-monitor-review/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Mobile Pixels 34 inch Mini LED curved ultrawide: official specs, 165Hz, HDR1000, 90W USB C, current price, who it suits and the best alternatives.

## How-To Guides (153)

Step by step fixes for the tech you already own. Clear the cache on Android, reset your AirPods, convert HEIC files, audit which apps can read your email, or work out why your phone suddenly got slow. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/how-to-guides/

- [Best Offline Music App in 2026: Free and Paid Picks](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-offline-music-app/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): The best offline music apps compared: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Audiomack and free library apps. Download limits, quality and prices.
- [Music App Without Ads: Every Free and Paid Option in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/music-app-without-ads/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): Looking for a music app without ads? The free, legal options with no ads, plus what Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music charge to remove them in 2026.
- [Is ChatGPT Confidential? What OpenAI Keeps and Who Can Read It](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/is-chatgpt-confidential/) (2026-09-21, by Olivia Hartman): No ChatGPT chat is legally privileged. Whether it is contractually confidential depends on your plan. Here is what OpenAI keeps and for how long.
- [Passkeys vs Passwords: What Actually Happens When You Lose the Phone](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/passkey-vs-password/) (2026-09-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Passkeys stop phishing, but only if you know whether yours sync. Here is exactly what happens to your accounts when the phone holding them is gone.
- [7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Galaxy Z Fold 7](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/7-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-galaxy-z-fold-7/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Seven practical Galaxy Z Fold 7 tips with exact One UI 8 menu paths: taskbar, multi window, Flex mode, cover screen camera preview, Good Lock and DeX.
- [Is Google Killing Off the Android TV Discover Tab? What Replaced It and What to Do](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/is-google-killing-off-the-android-tv-discover-tab/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Google removed the Android TV Discover tab and replaced it with a Free tab. Learn where your watchlist went, why Google TV is unaffected, and your options.
- [Own a Samsung Phone? 10 Settings I Always Change First for the Best User Experience](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/own-a-samsung-phone-10-settings-i-always-change-first-for-the-best-user-experience/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): The first ten One UI settings worth changing on a new Galaxy: refresh rate, animations, ads, Always On Display, battery and Auto Blocker, with exact paths.
- [The Mesh Router Placement Strategy That Finally Gave Me Full Home Coverage](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/the-mesh-router-placement-strategy-that-finally-gave-me-full-home-coverage/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Most mesh systems fail because the node sits in the dead zone. Here is the placement strategy that works, with vendor distances and a ten minute test.
- [How to Spot AI Generated Images in 2026 (The Old Tricks Stopped Working)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-spot-ai-generated-images/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Counting fingers no longer works. Check the file for a watermark and credentials, read the scene for physics errors, then trace the earliest source.
- [Check Which Apps Can Read Your Gmail, and Cut Them Off in 60 Seconds](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/check-which-apps-have-access-to-my-google-account/) (2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): One page lists every app holding permission on your Google account. Here is how to read it, what each connection type means, and how to revoke access.
- [Can Your Employer See Your ChatGPT Chats? What IT Actually Logs](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/can-my-employer-see-my-chatgpt-chats/) (2026-09-03, updated 2026-09-21, by Olivia Hartman): Your boss can read your ChatGPT prompts in three specific situations and in none of the others. Here is what each monitoring layer actually captures.
- [How to Convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Mac, Android and Windows](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-change-heic-to-jpg/) (2026-09-03, updated 2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Convert HEIC to JPG without installing anything: exact menu paths for iPhone, Mac, Android and Windows, plus the fastest free way to batch convert online.
- [Why Is My Phone Lagging All of a Sudden? (Fixes)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/why-is-my-phone-lagging/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Phone suddenly slow? Here are the top causes of lag on Android and iPhone in 2026 and 9 quick fixes to speed it up again, from clearing storage to restarting.
- [How to Block Twitch Ads With uBlock Origin (2026)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/ublock-origin-twitch/) (2026-07-21, by Michael Comaous): Can uBlock Origin still block Twitch ads in 2026? Tested guide to Firefox setup, the VAFT scriptlet, Chrome's Manifest V3 limits, and proxy alternatives.
- [How to Clear Cache on Android (Any Phone)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-clear-cache-on-android/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to clear cache on Android the safe way. Step-by-step for Pixel, Samsung One UI, Xiaomi and more, plus browser and system cache tips.
- [How to Reset AirPods: Every Model, Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-reset-airpods/) (2026-07-21, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to reset AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max with clear, model-by-model steps to fix pairing, sound, and connection issues.
- [How to Transfer Data to a New iPhone: Full Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-transfer-data-new-iphone/) (2026-07-21, by Michael Comaous): Move data to a new iPhone the easy way. Step-by-step Quick Start, iCloud, Finder, and Move to iOS methods compared, plus fixes for common transfer issues.
- [How to Check Battery Health on Android (No Root)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/check-battery-health-android/) (2026-07-21, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Check battery health on Android without root. See the new Android 16 indicator, Samsung One UI stats, the *#*#4636#*#* code caveat, and AccuBattery.
- [How to Make Windows 11 Look Like macOS (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/make-windows-11-look-like-macos/) (2026-07-19, by Olivia Hartman): Make Windows 11 look like macOS in 2026 with a Mac-style dock, cursor, wallpaper, icons, and Spotlight search using safe, current tools like MyDockFinder.
- [How to Scan a File for Malware Before You Open It](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/scan-file-for-malware-before-opening/) (2026-07-18, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): How to scan a file for malware before opening it in 2026: VirusTotal, hash checks, Microsoft Defender, sandboxing, plus red flags on Windows, Mac, and mobile.
- [Why Does My iPhone Get Hot When Charging? Fixes](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/iphone-gets-hot-when-charging/) (2026-07-12, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Why does my iPhone get hot when charging? The real causes, when warmth is normal vs. concerning, and practical fixes for iPhone 17 and iOS 26 users.
- [How to Get Water Out of iPhone Speaker (2026)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/get-water-out-of-iphone-speaker/) (2026-07-11, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): Get water out of your iPhone speaker fast with the Water Eject shortcut, a 165Hz tone, and safe drying. Learn why rice is a myth and what never to do.
- [How to Fix PS5 Controller Stick Drift (2026): 7 Working Methods](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-fix-ps5-stick-drift/) (2026-07-10, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): PS5 stick drift? Fix DualSense joystick drift with 7 methods: recalibration, firmware, cleaning, deadzone tweaks and free Sony warranty repair.
- [How to Fix an Unresponsive Phone Touchscreen (iPhone & Android)](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-fix-unresponsive-touchscreen/) (2026-07-10, by Michael Comaous): Phone screen frozen or ignoring your taps? Fix an unresponsive touchscreen on iPhone or Android with force restart steps and a troubleshooting table.
- [How to Cancel a Subscription on iPhone (2026): Step-by-Step](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-cancel-subscription-on-iphone/) (2026-07-10, by Michael Comaous): Cancel any iPhone subscription in under a minute. Step by step for iOS 26, how to find hidden subscriptions, get a refund and stop future charges.
- [How to Screen Record on iPhone (2026): Full Guide With Sound](https://geekblog.net/mobile/how-to-screen-record-on-iphone/) (2026-07-10, by Michael Comaous): How to screen record on iPhone in iOS 26 with internal sound and your mic. Step by step, where recordings save, how to edit and fixes for common issues.
- [Why Is RedGifs Not Working? Causes & Fixes (2026)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/why-is-redgifs-not-working/) (2026-07-08, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): RedGifs not working? Learn the top 2026 causes: outages, UK and US age-verification blocks, DNS filters, cache, ad blockers, and broken embeds, plus fixes.
- [How to Video Call Family and Friends](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-video-call-family-and-friends/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to video call family and friends using FaceTime, WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Zoom. Clear steps for phones and computers, plus handy tips.
- [Best AI Apps for Everyday Use in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-ai-apps/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The best AI apps for everyday use in 2026: compare ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and more for writing, images, and productivity, with free vs paid tiers.
- [What Is AI? A Simple Guide for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/what-is-ai-simple-guide/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): What is AI? A plain-English beginner's guide to artificial intelligence: how it works, its types, everyday examples, and how to use it safely.
- [How to Connect to Wi-Fi (Step by Step)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-connect-to-wifi/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to connect to Wi-Fi step by step on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac. Simple steps, a troubleshooting table, and safety tips for beginners.
- [How to Use Google Gemini for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-google-gemini/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Google Gemini: sign in, write better prompts, free vs Advanced plans, and use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and on your phone.
- [Best Free Online Card Games in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-free-online-card-games/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): The best free online card games in 2026: Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Solitaire, and Uno-style games. Play free in your browser, solo or with friends, no download.
- [How to Use an Android Phone for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-an-android-phone/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use an Android phone step by step: unlock it, open apps, make calls, send texts, take photos, and connect to Wi-Fi. A warm beginner's guide.
- [How to Use ChatGPT: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-chatgpt/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use ChatGPT: sign up, write better prompts, and understand free vs Plus plans. A simple, safe beginner's guide to the AI chatbot.
- [How to Play Card Games Online With Friends](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-play-card-games-online-with-friends/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to play card games online with friends: pick a free platform, create a private room, share the invite link, and add voice chat. Step-by-step guide.
- [How to Use an iPhone for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-an-iphone/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use an iPhone step by step: unlock it, open apps, make calls, send texts, take photos, and adjust settings. A warm guide for beginners.
- [How to Spot and Avoid Online Scams](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-avoid-online-scams/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to avoid online scams: spot phishing, fake stores, and impostor tricks with clear warning signs and a simple step-by-step safety routine.
- [How to Play Left Right Center Online](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-play-left-right-center-online/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Play the Left Right Center game online with friends: set up a video call, use free LCR web apps or virtual dice rollers, and track chips fairly. Full guide.
- [Basic Computer Skills Everyone Should Know](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/basic-computer-skills/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Master the basic computer skills that matter: files and folders, copy and paste, email, safe browsing, and updates. A warm, step-by-step guide for beginners.
- [How to Create Strong Passwords and Use a Password Manager](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-create-strong-passwords/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to create a strong password and use a password manager. Simple passphrase examples, setup steps, and 2026 best practices for beginners.
- [Left Right Center Rules and Instructions](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/left-right-center-rules/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Left Right Center rules made simple: setup, LCR dice actions, the winning condition, variations, and a printable-style quick reference you can scan fast.
- [How to Use a Computer: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-a-computer/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use a computer step by step: turn it on, use the mouse, open programs, save work, and get online. A warm, simple guide for beginners.
- [Online Safety: Cybersecurity Basics for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/online-safety-tips-for-beginners/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Simple online safety tips for beginners: strong passwords, 2FA, updates, and safe browsing to protect your accounts and data from common threats.
- [How to Play Left Right Center (LCR): Full Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-play-left-right-center/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to play Left Right Center step by step: setup, the LCR dice, passing chips left and right, and how to win the center pot. Simple, fast, and fun.
- [How to Use Microsoft Word for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-microsoft-word/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Microsoft Word step by step: create a document, format text, add images, use styles, save, and print. A clear guide for total beginners.
- [How to Pay Online Safely](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-pay-online-safely/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to pay online safely: compare secure payment methods, spot fake checkout pages, avoid scams, and protect your card details with confidence.
- [Excel for Beginners: A Complete Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/excel-for-beginners/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Excel for beginners made simple: learn the layout, enter data, write formulas like SUM, format cells, and build your first spreadsheet with clear examples.
- [How to Order Food Delivery (DoorDash and Uber Eats)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-order-food-delivery/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to order food delivery on DoorDash and Uber Eats: set up the app, place an order, tip, track the driver, and pay safely every time.
- [How to Use Google Sheets: Getting Started](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-google-sheets/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Google Sheets from scratch: create a spreadsheet, enter data, write formulas like SUM, format cells, and share. A clear beginner guide.
- [How to Use Uber for the First Time](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-uber/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Uber for the first time: set up the app, request a ride, verify your driver, pay automatically, and stay safe on every trip.
- [How to Use Google Docs for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-google-docs/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Google Docs: create a document, format text, add images, share and collaborate, and download files. A simple step-by-step beginner guide.
- [What Are Ride Sharing Services?](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/what-are-ride-sharing-services/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): What is ride sharing services? Learn how apps like Uber and Lyft work, how they differ from taxis, what rides cost, and how to use them safely.
- [How to Use Apple Music for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-apple-music/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Apple Music as a beginner, start the free trial, search and play songs, build a library, and download for offline on any device in 2026.
- [Free Typing Practice for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/typing-practice-for-beginners/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Typing practice for beginners made simple: learn home row, touch typing, a daily routine, and free tools to build speed and accuracy from scratch.
- [Email Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/email-etiquette-dos-and-donts/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Master email etiquette with the essential dos and don'ts: subject lines, tone, Reply All, CC and BCC, timing and polite professional wording.
- [How Does Ridesharing Work? Uber and Lyft Explained](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-does-ridesharing-work/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): How does ridesharing work? Learn how Uber and Lyft match riders with drivers, how fares are priced, and how to stay safe on every trip.
- [How to Use YouTube: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-youtube/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use YouTube step by step, search and watch videos, subscribe to channels, make playlists, and compare free YouTube vs Premium in 2026.
- [How to Practice Typing in Notepad](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/notepad-typing-practice/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Notepad typing practice is a free, distraction-free way to build speed and accuracy. Get a daily routine, effective drills, and a way to track your WPM.
- [How to Use Outlook for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-outlook/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Outlook the easy way. This beginner guide covers reading and sending mail, folders, rules, the calendar, and search in Microsoft Outlook.
- [How to Shop on Amazon for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-shop-on-amazon/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to shop on Amazon as a beginner: set up an account, search, read reviews, check the seller, and check out securely with confidence.
- [How to Use Spotify: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-spotify/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Spotify step by step, create an account, search songs, build playlists, and compare Spotify Free vs Premium in this 2026 beginner's guide.
- [What Does the $ Sign Mean in Excel Formulas?](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/dollar-sign-in-excel-formulas/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): What is $ in Excel formula? The dollar sign locks cell references. Learn absolute vs relative references, mixed refs, and the F4 shortcut with clear examples.
- [How to Set Up a Gmail Account](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-set-up-gmail-account/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Set up Gmail in minutes: creating a free Google account, choosing a secure password, turning on two-step verification and sending your first email.
- [How to Order Something Online Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-order-online-step-by-step/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to order stuff online step by step: find an item, check out, pay safely, and track delivery. A simple beginner's guide to online ordering.
- [How to Listen to Music Online for Free](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-listen-to-music-online-free/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to listen to music online free in 2026 with legal apps like Spotify Free, YouTube Music, and Pandora, plus tips to cut ads and save data.
- [How to Use Google Slides: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-google-slides/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Google Slides step by step: create a deck, add slides, insert images, apply themes, present, and share. A simple guide for beginners.
- [How to Read and Send an Email](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-read-and-send-email/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to read and send email step by step. This beginner guide covers your inbox, replying, composing, attachments, and staying safe in any mail app.
- [How to Shop Online Safely: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-shop-online-safely/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to shop online safely with this beginner's guide: spot secure sites, pick safe payment methods, avoid scams, and protect your personal data.
- [Best Free Online Music Apps in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-free-online-music-apps/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-10-07, by Michael Comaous): Compare the best free online music apps for 2026, Spotify Free, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more, with honest notes on ads, limits, and offline.
- [How to Use Microsoft Teams: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-microsoft-teams/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Microsoft Teams for chat, meetings, and files. Beginner steps for desktop and mobile, teams vs channels explained, plus troubleshooting.
- [How to Use Instant Messaging and Direct Messages](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-instant-messaging/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use instant messenger apps and direct messages: choose an app, send texts and media, make calls, use group chats, and stay safe as a beginner.
- [How to Lock and Unlock a Zoom Meeting](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-lock-a-zoom-meeting/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn to use the Zoom lock meeting feature to stop new people joining. Step-by-step lock and unlock on desktop and mobile, plus security best practices.
- [How to Use Google Meet: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-google-meet/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Google Meet to start, join, and host free video calls on desktop and mobile. Key controls, screen sharing, limits, and troubleshooting.
- [How to Use Facebook Messenger: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-facebook-messenger/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Facebook Messenger: send messages, make free voice and video calls, create group chats, and share media. A simple 2026 beginner guide.
- [How to Use Bluesky: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-bluesky/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): If you have heard about the fast-growing alternative to X and want to know how to use Bluesky, this beginner's guide walks you through it step by step.
- [How to Enable a Virtual Background in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-enable-virtual-background-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn to enable a Zoom virtual background: add a preset, blur, or custom image on desktop and mobile, meet the requirements, and fix a poor cutout.
- [How to Remove or Block Someone in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-remove-someone-from-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to block someone on Zoom by removing them and stopping re-entry. Host steps on desktop and mobile, security tools, reporting, and troubleshooting.
- [How to Use Snapchat Filters and Lenses](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-snapchat-filters-and-lenses/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Snapchat filters and lenses explained: learn the difference, apply face Lenses, stack Filters, use Geofilters, and create your own custom effects.
- [How to Use Threads: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-threads-app/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): If you want to know how to use the Threads app to share short text updates and join conversations, this beginner's guide explains everything from sign-up to...
- [How to Record a Zoom Meeting](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-record-a-zoom-meeting/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to record a Zoom meeting locally or to the cloud on desktop and mobile. Host steps, where files save, permissions, and troubleshooting.
- [How to Give Remote Control in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-give-remote-control-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to give remote control in Zoom during screen share, how to request it, enable the setting, and fix remote control when it is greyed out.
- [How to Add Friends on Snapchat](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-add-friends-on-snapchat/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to add friends on Snapchat using usernames, Snapcodes, contacts, Quick Add, and Nearby. Step-by-step methods plus privacy tips for 2026.
- [How to Use Annotation Tools in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-zoom-annotation-tools/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Use Zoom annotation tools to draw, highlight, and type on a shared screen. Desktop and mobile steps, host controls, saving, and troubleshooting fixes.
- [How to Use WhatsApp for Beginners](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-whatsapp/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use WhatsApp step by step: set up your account, send messages, make calls, create groups, and manage privacy and security as a beginner.
- [How to Pin a Participant's Video in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-pin-someone-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how the Zoom pin feature works: pin one person, multi-pin up to nine, and see the difference between pin and spotlight on desktop and mobile.
- [What Do Snapchat Symbols and Emojis Mean?](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/snapchat-symbols-and-emojis-meaning/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Snapchat symbols meaning made simple: decode friend emojis, the fire streak, colored arrows, and screenshot icons with this complete 2026 guide.
- [How to Assign a Co-Host in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-assign-co-host-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to make someone a co host on Zoom. Enable the setting, then promote a participant on desktop or mobile, with role limits and troubleshooting.
- [How to Turn Chat On or Off in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-turn-off-chat-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to turn off chat in Zoom as a host, limit who participants can message, and hide the chat panel on desktop and mobile in a few clicks.
- [How to Use TikTok: A Complete Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-tiktok/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use TikTok step by step: create an account, browse the For You feed, record and edit videos, add sounds, and manage privacy as a beginner.
- [How to Use Snapchat for Beginners: Quick Start](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-snapchat-for-beginners/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): How to use Snapchat for beginners in 5 quick steps: sign up, add a friend, and send your first Snap fast. A simple 2026 quick-start guide.
- [How to Spotlight a Participant in Zoom](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-spotlight-in-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to spotlight in Zoom on desktop and mobile. Host steps to feature one speaker, add up to 9 spotlights, plus fixes when the option is missing.
- [How to Use Zoom: A Complete Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-zoom/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Zoom step by step: install the app, join or host a meeting, share your screen, and control audio and video on desktop and mobile.
- [How to Use Instagram: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-instagram/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Instagram step by step: create an account, post photos and Reels, share Stories, send DMs, and protect your privacy as a beginner.
- [How to Use Snapchat: A Complete Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-use-snapchat/) (2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Learn how to use Snapchat step by step: set up an account, send Snaps, chat, add friends, and post Stories. A clear beginner's guide for 2026.
- [What Is CardzMania and How to Play: A Beginner's Guide (2026)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/what-is-cardzmania-how-to-play/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Michael Comaous): CardzMania is a free site to play classic card games online with friends. Learn what it is, how to sign up, and how to play your first game step by step.
- [How to Scan a File for Malware Before You Open It](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/scan-file-for-malware/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Learn how to scan a file for malware before opening it. Use Windows Defender right-click scan, VirusTotal, and Mac tools to check downloads and stay safe.
- [How to Speed Up an Android Phone: 7 Fixes That Actually Work](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/speed-up-android-phone/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Phone feeling slow? Learn how to speed up an Android phone with 7 practical fixes, from clearing cache to freeing storage, no new apps or tech skills needed.
- [How to Block Ads on Safari: iPhone, iPad, and Mac Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/block-ads-safari/) (2026-07-07, by Ethan Caldwell): How to block ads on Safari across iPhone, iPad and Mac using content blockers and built-in settings. Cut the clutter and load pages a lot faster.
- [How to Clear Cache on Android: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/clear-cache-android/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Learn how to clear cache on Android in minutes. Free up storage, fix glitchy apps, and speed things up with our simple, phone-by-phone walkthrough.
- [Chromebook vs PC: Which One Should You Actually Buy?](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/chromebook-vs-pc/) (2026-07-07, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Chromebook vs PC compared on price, apps, offline use, performance and security. See which laptop actually fits how you work before you spend a dollar.
- [How to Make Windows 11 Look Like macOS: Easy Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/windows-11-look-like-macos/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Want to make Windows 11 look like macOS? Add a dock, center the taskbar, apply Mac themes and wallpapers, and get that clean Apple feel in a few simple steps.
- [How to Free Up Space on Windows 11: 5 Easy Ways](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/free-up-space-windows-11/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Running low on storage? Learn how to free up space on Windows 11 with Storage Sense, Cleanup recommendations, temp files, and OneDrive in a few clicks.
- [How to Speed Up Windows 11: 10 Fixes That Actually Work](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/speed-up-windows-11/) (2026-07-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to speed up Windows 11 with 10 practical, step-by-step fixes, from trimming startup apps to freeing storage. Make your PC feel fast again today.
- [Windows 11 vs Windows 10: Should You Upgrade in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/windows-11-vs-windows-10/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Windows 11 vs Windows 10 compared: features, performance, requirements and support dates. Find out if you should upgrade now that Windows 10 support ended.
- [How to Control an Apple TV With an Android Phone](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/control-apple-tv-with-android/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Lost your Siri Remote? Learn how to control Apple TV with Android using free remote apps, plus the setup steps and limitations you need to know.
- [iPhone 17 Pro Charging Speed: How Fast It Really Is](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/iphone-17-pro-charging-speed/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): A practical breakdown of iPhone 17 Pro charging speed, including wired wattage, wireless MagSafe and Qi2 numbers, minutes to 50 percent, and the gear you need.
- [How to Transfer Data to a New iPhone: Full 2026 Guide](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/transfer-data-new-iphone/) (2026-07-07, by Olivia Hartman): Learn how to transfer data to a new iPhone using Quick Start, iCloud, your computer, or from Android. Step-by-step, beginner-friendly, and stress-free.
- [How to Reset AirPods: Every Model, Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/reset-airpods/) (2026-07-07, by Marcus Bennett): Quick answer: To reset AirPods, put them in the case, close the lid for 30 seconds, then open it and either hold the setup button (models with a button) for...
- [uBlock Origin on Brave: Do You Need It? (2026 Setup Guide)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/ublock-origin-on-brave-setup-guide/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-07-08, by Marcus Bennett): Brave already blocks ads with Shields, so do you need uBlock Origin too? Here's when it helps, when it doesn't, and how to install uBO on Brave in 2026.
- [How to Block Twitch Ads with uBlock Origin (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-block-twitch-ads-ublock-origin/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-07-08, by Marcus Bennett): Twitch ads slipping past uBlock Origin? Here is the 2026 method that still works, why standard filters fail and what replaced TwitchAdSolutions.
- [Why Is My Phone Lagging All of a Sudden? 12 Real Fixes That Work in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/why-is-my-phone-lagging-all-of-a-sudden/) (2026-06-15, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Your phone was fast last week and now it stutters. The real reasons Android and iPhone slow down suddenly, and 12 fixes that work, in the right order.
- [10 Movie Soundtracks on Spotify That Make Perfect Background Music](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/these-10-movie-soundtracks-on-spotify-make-perfect-background-music/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Ten instrumental film scores on Spotify that work as focus music, from Interstellar to The Social Network, with the mood of each and playlist tips for work.
- [How the Modern Web Became So Broken and What You Can Do](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-the-modern-web-became-so-broken/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Trackers, cookie banners, SEO spam, paywalls and AI answers explain why the web feels broken in 2026. Here is how it happened and the tools that help today.
- [Best Live TV Streaming Services 2026: YouTube TV, Sling, Hulu and More](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-live-tv-streaming-services-2025-youtube-sling-hulu-and-more/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Compare YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling and Philo with current October 2026 prices, channel notes and the best pick for your budget.
- [OnePlus 13 AI Perfect Shot: Its Own Version of Google Best Take](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/oneplus-13-gets-its-own-version-of-googles-best-take/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): AI Perfect Shot is the OnePlus 13 answer to Google Best Take. Learn how it fixes blinks, how to use it step by step and what OnePlus 15 owners should know.
- [ChatGPT Personalities Explained: Every Preset and How to Change It](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/chatgpt-comes-with-personality-presets-now-and-3-other-upgrades-you-might-have-missed/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): ChatGPT personality presets in 2026: Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient and Cynical, what replaced Cynic and Nerd, and how to switch.
- [Seeing in the Dark: How Security Camera Night Vision Works](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/seeing-in-the-dark-how-home-security-camera-night-vision-works/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How security camera night vision works: infrared at 850nm and 940nm, color night vision, starlight sensors and spotlights, plus tips for clearer night video.
- [Visible Family Plan: How Visible Inner Circle Works in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/visible-is-finally-rolling-out-a-family-plan-feature-well-sort-of/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Visible has no classic family plan, but Inner Circle links up to 7 accounts and takes $5 a month off Visible+ and Visible+ Pro. Prices, rules and setup.
- [9 Excellent Built In Windows 11 Apps and Tools You're Ignoring](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/9-excellent-built-in-windows-11-apps-and-tools-youre-ignoring-but-shouldnt/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Nine useful built in Windows 11 tools most people ignore, from Snipping Tool text extraction and Clipboard history to Windows Sandbox and Quick Assist.
- [HBO Max Password Sharing Crackdown: Timeline, Extra Member, Prices](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/hbo-max-will-soon-get-aggressive-about-password-sharing/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): HBO Max moved from soft warnings to real password sharing limits. See the timeline, the $7.99 Extra Member rules and current plan prices for October 2026.
- [The Best Free Pilates Channels on YouTube in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/the-best-free-pilates-channels-ive-found-on-youtube/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Six free Pilates channels on YouTube that are active in 2026, what each does best, how beginners should start, what equipment you need and safety tips.
- [Best Family Friendly Westerns to Stream With Kids](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/best-family-friendly-westerns-to-stream/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): A dozen family friendly Westerns with verified MPA ratings, from G rated Spirit to PG Back to the Future Part III and PG 13 True Grit, plus where to stream.
- [Lifetime PDF Editors: The Best One Time Purchase Options in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/save-time-and-sanity-with-a-lifetime-pdf-editor-that-just-works/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Want a PDF editor without a subscription? Compare lifetime options like PDF Expert, Foxit and PDFelement, free tools, and what to check before buying a deal.
- [Easy Ways to Back Up Your Data Without an External Drive](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/6-easy-ways-i-back-up-data-without-using-an-external-drive/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): No external drive? Back up your files with built in Windows and Mac tools, cloud storage, online backup or a NAS. Compare free tiers and prices for 2026.
- [Google's August 2025 Pixel Update: Fixes and the Latest Update Now](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/googles-august-2025-update-fixes-these-issues-with-your-pixel/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): What Google's August 2025 Pixel update fixed, how Pixel updates work, what the October 2026 Android 17 update brings and how to install the latest update.
- [How to Remove Malware From Your PC Using a USB Drive](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-remove-malware-from-your-pc-using-a-usb-drive/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Stubborn malware? Run the Windows Defender offline scan, then boot a free rescue USB like ESET SysRescue Live to clean your PC. Full steps for 2026 inside.
- [5 Command Line Backup Tools Every Linux User Should Use](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/5-command-line-backup-tools-every-linux-user-should-use-for-desktops-and-servers/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): The best command line backup tools for Linux desktops and servers in 2026: rsync, Borg, restic, Kopia and rclone, with current versions and starter commands.
- [Nintendo Switch 2 Restock Tracker: Where to Buy in October 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/nintendo-switch-2-restock-tracker-confirmed-availability-at-best-buy-gamestop-walmart-and-more/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Switch 2 is back in stock in the US. Current price is $499.99, bundles from $529.99, plus the retailers to trust and how to avoid scalpers in October 2026.
- [uBlock Origin Lite on Safari: How to Install It on iPhone, iPad, Mac](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/ublock-origin-lite-is-finally-available-on-safari/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): uBlock Origin Lite is free for Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac. See the OS versions you need, how to enable it, and what Lite cannot do versus full uBlock.
- [How to Control Your Apple TV With an Android Phone in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/control-your-apple-tv-with-any-android-phone-using-this-simple-trick/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): No Apple remote app for Android? Control your Apple TV with a third party remote app, your TV maker's app over HDMI CEC, or an IR blaster. Setup steps inside.
- [Switching From Garmin to Coros: What Runners Should Know in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/i-traded-my-garmin-for-a-coros-fitness-watch-and-heres-what-i-loved-and-hated/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Garmin vs Coros for runners in 2026: current models, list prices, battery life, maps, software and subscriptions, plus how to switch without losing data.
- [The Best Stair Stepper Workout for Runners: A 30 Minute Plan](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/im-a-marathon-runner-and-this-is-my-favorite-stair-stepper-workout/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): A 30 minute stair stepper workout for runners, with the benefits, simple effort levels, form tips and how to track stair sessions on your fitness watch.
- [Switch to Zen Browser: Features, Privacy and How to Make the Move](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/switch-to-zen-browser-for-enhanced-privacy-customization-and-performance/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Zen Browser is a free Firefox based browser with vertical tabs, workspaces and no telemetry. What it offers in October 2026 and how to switch from Chrome.
- [Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts: 15 Keys for New Outlook and Web](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/i-finally-mastered-outlook-shortcuts-here-are-the-ones-i-use-every-day/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The Outlook keyboard shortcuts worth learning in the new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, plus how to switch to Gmail style keys. Updated for 2026.
- [Searching for ChatGPT on Bing? Why You See Copilot Instead](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/searching-for-chatgpt-bing-begs-you-to-use-copilot-instead/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Search ChatGPT on Bing and Copilot gets top billing. Learn why Microsoft does it, what changed in 2026 and how to reach ChatGPT or switch your search engine.
- [Why Windows Credential Manager Is Not a Real Password Manager](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/why-this-built-in-windows-feature-isnt-a-replacement-for-your-password-manager/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Windows Credential Manager only stores system logins. See what Edge, Windows Hello and passkeys offer in 2026, where they fall short and what to use.
- [postmarketOS in 2026: iPhone X Port, Nura Rename and How to Try It](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/mobile-linux-distro-postmarketos-gets-iphone-x-port-more-improvements/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): postmarketOS is now called Nura. See what v26.06 brings, which phones are supported, the iPhone X port, the Duranium immutable edition and how to try it.
- [How to Recycle Aluminum Cans the Right Way (and Why Not to Crush Them)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/recycling-aluminum-cans-stop-crushing-them-and-do-it-the-right-way/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Crushed cans can end up sorted with paper. Learn how to prep aluminum and steel cans, which cans count and how bottle deposit states pay you back.
- [How to Schedule Emails in Outlook for Web and the New Outlook](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-schedule-emails-in-outlook-for-web/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to schedule emails in Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows, plus how to edit, cancel or send a scheduled message now. Updated 2026.
- [How to Free Up Space on Windows 11 Without Losing Anything Important](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/i-freed-up-48gb-on-my-windows-11-pc-without-losing-anything-important/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Free up space on Windows 11 without losing files: Cleanup recommendations, temporary files, Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup, hibernation and unused apps.
- [Reasons to Use Firefox Instead of Chrome in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/7-reasons-why-i-still-use-firefox-instead-of-chrome/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Why use Firefox instead of Chrome in 2026? Full uBlock Origin support, privacy defaults, a free VPN and an AI off switch, plus the downsides worth knowing.
- [10 iPhone Apps Everyone Should Install First in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/these-are-the-top-9-iphone-apps-everyone-should-install-first/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Setting up a new iPhone? These 10 free apps cover passwords, two factor codes, maps, messaging, photo backup, tasks and free library books. Updated for 2026.
- [Steam Sale Dates 2026: Full Schedule Plus 2027 Sales](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/steam-posts-sale-dates-for-the-first-half-of-2026/) (2025-08-03, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): All remaining Steam sale dates for 2026, from Next Fest and Scream Fest to the Winter Sale, plus Valve's published 2027 Spring and Summer Sale schedule.
- [7 Best Windows File Explorer Shortcuts to Use Daily (Plus More)](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/7-best-windows-file-explorer-shortcuts-i-use-daily/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The 7 Windows 11 File Explorer keyboard shortcuts worth learning first, plus a cheat sheet for tabs, folders, panes, views and moving files without a mouse.
- [Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal (Breville in the US): Features and Price](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/the-sage-luxe-brewer-thermal-is-the-drip-coffee-maker-ive-been-waiting-for-all-my-life/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is sold as the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal in the US. See its $349.95 price, brew modes, SCA certification and alternatives.
- [Now That Phones Are Thin, Physical Keyboards Are Coming Back](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/now-that-phones-are-thin-bring-back-the-physical-keyboard/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Thin phones and foldables made room for physical keyboards again. Clicks cases, the Power Keyboard, Clicks Communicator and Unihertz Titan 2 in October 2026.
- [The Best Raspberry Pi Alternatives of 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/the-best-raspberry-pi-alternatives-of-2025-expert-recommended/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Raspberry Pi prices keep rising. Compare the best alternatives for 2026, from the $69 ODROID C5 to RK3588 boards, Intel mini boards and NVIDIA Jetson for AI.
- [5 New Microsoft Excel Features Worth Trying in 2026](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/5-new-microsoft-excel-features-to-try-in-august-2025/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Five new Microsoft Excel features to try in 2026: the COPILOT function, Agent Mode, checkboxes, Python in Excel and IMPORTCSV, plus who can use each one.
- [Windows 11 Emergency Restart: How to Use the Hidden Option Safely](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/your-windows-11-pc-has-a-secret-emergency-shutdown-feature-heres-how-to-use-it/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Windows 11 hides an Emergency Restart on the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen. Learn how to use it, when it is safe, and which fixes to try first on a frozen PC.
- [30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Today: Latest Average and How to Shop](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage-decreases-mortgage-interest-rates-today-for-aug-1-2025/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Freddie Mac's latest 30 year fixed average, why Treasury yields and the Fed move rates, 15 vs 30 year loans and how to shop for a lower rate.
- [How to Scan Files for Malware Before You Download Them](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/how-to-scan-files-for-malware-before-you-download-them/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Check any file for malware before you open it: scan links with VirusTotal, use Chrome and Edge protection, Microsoft Defender, macOS checks and free scanners.
- [Microsoft Authenticator Dropped Password Autofill: What to Do Now](https://geekblog.net/how-to-guides/microsoft-authenticator-wont-manage-your-passwords-anymore-or-most-passkeys/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Microsoft Authenticator no longer saves or autofills passwords. See the timeline, what happened to your data, and how to move to Edge or another manager.

## Tech News (495)

Breaking technology news for readers in the United States, filed the day it happens. We cover Apple, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia alongside the security breaches, privacy rulings and antitrust cases that decide what your devices are allowed to do, and every story is checked against primary sources before it runs. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/tech-news/

- [Trump Wants New Mexico Renamed New America. Google Maps Can't Do It Without the State.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-new-mexico-new-america-google-apple-maps/) (2026-10-20, by Michael Comaous): Trump wants New Mexico renamed New America. Unlike the Gulf or Lake Ontario, a state name isn't set by GNIS, so Google and Apple Maps have no federal cue.
- [An AI Can Read Your Survival Odds From a Selfie. It Looks Under Your Eyes First.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-face-photo-predicts-cancer-survival-fahr-face/) (2026-10-20, by Anna Kentick): Mass General Brigham's FAHR-Face AI, trained on 40M+ faces, predicts cancer survival and biological age from a single photo. Here is what the study found.
- [Instagram's AI Profile Switch Is Easy to Flip On. Users Say It Won't Flip Back.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-ai-generated-profile-toggle-wont-turn-off/) (2026-10-20, by Olivia Hartman): Instagram users warn the AI-generated profile toggle in Edit Profile won't switch off. What the label does, why Meta added it, and what to do if you flipped it.
- [Amazon's $75 Bee Wristband Remembers Every Conversation. The People You Talk To Never Agreed.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-bee-frontier-ai-wristband-privacy/) (2026-10-20, by Marcus Bennett): Amazon's Bee Frontier wristband turns your conversations into notes and to-dos. Audio is deleted, but bystanders never consent. Here's what to know.
- [Starlink Held at 180 km/h in the EU. In Ukraine It Quits at 161.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/zelensky-starlink-logs-planned-operation-speed-cap/) (2026-10-19, by Marcus Bennett): Ukraine says Starlink works at 180 km/h in the EU but cuts out at 161 km/h at home. What the test shows, how speed caps work, and who says what.
- [Kylie Jenner's $50 Million Bra Has No Fabric. It Took 3,218 Gold Parts to Make It Move.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/kylie-jenner-50-million-fantasy-bra-engineering/) (2026-10-19, by Anna Kentick): Kylie Jenner's $50M Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra uses 4,410 diamonds and 3,218 gold parts with no fabric. How it was built, plus 30 years of Fantasy Bras.
- [Apple Made One Number Work on Two iPhones. Verizon Wants $10 a Month for It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-handoff-carrier-fees-verizon-t-mobile/) (2026-10-19, by Ethan Caldwell): iPhone Handoff in iOS 27 shares one number across two iPhones. What T-Mobile, Verizon, EE and Telekom charge, the fine print, and who should pay.
- [Musk Promised Every American Kid a SpaceX Share. Here Is What It's Worth.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/musk-spacex-share-every-kid-america/) (2026-10-19, by Michael Comaous): Elon Musk pledged one SpaceX share to every US child in 2027. What a share is worth, how it could reach kids, Trump Accounts rules and what parents should do.
- [AI Worms Could Soon Spread Through Smart TVs and Ovens. Anthropic Built a Test Fleet to See How Close.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/anthropic-ai-worms-self-replicating-smart-home-iot/) (2026-10-18, by Michael Comaous): Anthropic says small AI models may soon copy themselves across smart TVs and ovens. What it tested, how real the risk is, and how to protect your home.
- [A Researcher Turned Herself Into a Griefbot. The Copy Was Wrong in an Unsettling Way.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/griefbot-researcher-built-ai-copy-of-herself/) (2026-10-18, by Anna Kentick): Cardiff's Jenny Kidd built an AI deathbot of herself and found a shallow caricature. What griefbots cost, who controls the data, and how to set your wishes.
- [Apple Wants You to Quit Chrome. Its Biggest Check Still Comes From Google.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-switch-to-safari-campaign-chrome/) (2026-10-18, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's new "Switch to Safari" campaign takes direct aim at Chrome with battery, speed and privacy claims.
- [An AI "Predicted" the Next President. The Odds It Quoted Came From a Betting Market.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-predicts-next-president-trump-third-term-what-its-worth/) (2026-10-18, by Olivia Hartman): ChatGPT weighed in on a Trump third term and 2028, but the odds came from Polymarket. Here is what AI election predictions are actually worth.
- [Breck Bednar Was Groomed on His Own Gaming Server. A New Prime Video Documentary Retells How.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/breck-bednar-minecraft-to-murder-documentary-prime-video-online-grooming/) (2026-10-17, by Anna Kentick): Prime Video's Minecraft to Murder revisits how 14-year-old Breck Bednar was groomed via online gaming. The case, the sentence and warning signs for parents.
- [The UK Is Ending Subscription Traps in January. Netflix and Your Gym Will Have to Remind You Before They Charge.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/uk-subscription-law-2027-cancel-streaming-dmcc-act/) (2026-10-17, by Michael Comaous): UK subscription rules arrive in January 2027: reminders before trials end, 14-day cooling-off periods and easy online cancellation. Plus how the US compares.
- [iOS 27 Lets One Widget Take Over Your Whole iPhone Screen. Here Is How to Use It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-extra-large-widgets-iphone-how-to/) (2026-10-17, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 adds a 4x6 extra large widget that fills an entire iPhone Home Screen page. Which apps support it, how to add or resize one, and why it suits iPhone Duo.
- [Spyware Can Now Ride In on an Ordinary Ad. No Click Needed, Citizen Lab Says.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/zero-click-spyware-targeted-ads-citizen-lab-adfection/) (2026-10-17, by Olivia Hartman): An Israeli ad firm used ad auctions to push Candiru spyware to chosen targets with no click needed, Citizen Lab says. How it worked and how to protect yourself.
- [Three Planes Turned Back Over Cracked Glass in Five Weeks. Here Is Why Nobody Was in Danger.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/why-plane-windows-crack-british-airways-united-sunexpress/) (2026-10-16, by Olivia Hartman): Three flights turned back over cracked windows in five weeks. How the three-pane window design works, what causes cracks and whether aging fleets are to blame.
- [Their Land Rover Sank in a Botswana Salt Pan. Three Words Led Them Back in the Dark.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what3words-botswana-salt-pan-land-rover-stranded-graduates/) (2026-10-16, by Marcus Bennett): Their Land Rover sank in Botswana's salt pans with no signal. How what3words led them back, why phone GPS works offline, and which SOS tools cover Botswana.
- [A Russian Woman Asked ChatGPT for a Bear. Then Hunters Went Looking for It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-generated-bear-photo-russia-fine-chatgpt-magdagachi/) (2026-10-16, by Olivia Hartman): A ChatGPT bear photo sent hunters searching a Russian town. Why the creator was fined 15,000 roubles, the other AI bear hoaxes, and the real attacks behind it.
- [Musk Admitted the Roadster Stunt Might Fail. Then It Jumped Five Teslas.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tesla-roadster-reveal-thrusters-kickflip-flying-car/) (2026-10-16, by Michael Comaous): Tesla's new Roadster flipped over five cars with no driver. What the SpaceX thrusters do, the three versions, the 0.59s claim and why it is not a flying car.
- [Two AI Coworkers Ran the Same Model. People Paid the Female One Less.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/female-ai-assistant-paid-less-vr-study-johan-johanna/) (2026-10-15, by Anna Kentick): In a 189-person VR study, identical AI assistants got different rewards: male avatar Johan 2.96 francs, female Johanna 2.54. What the paper really shows.
- [A Map Shows How Much of the Web Is Bots. The Internet Isn't Dead Yet.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bot-traffic-map-dead-internet-theory-cloudflare-radar/) (2026-10-15, by Olivia Hartman): Cloudflare Radar's bot map puts automated traffic at roughly a third of the web, while Thales says bots hit 53% in 2025.
- [Apple Just Declared Three More Products Obsolete. One Is the Last 12-Inch MacBook.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-obsolete-12-inch-macbook-ipad-6-beatsx/) (2026-10-15, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple moved the 2017 12-inch MacBook, iPad 6th gen and BeatsX to its obsolete list. Here is what that means for repairs, batteries and software updates.
- [Ukraine's Drones Lost Starlink at 1 a.m. Musk Says Ask the President.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/starlink-starshield-speed-cap-ukraine-musk-trump-zelensky/) (2026-10-15, by Marcus Bennett): SpaceX capped Ukraine's Starshield terminals at 160 km/h overnight. Musk says the US military and Trump decide. Zelensky warns people will die.
- [Trump's New Press Secretary Deleted Her Old Posts. The Internet Archive Kept Them.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/katie-zacharia-deleted-posts-wayback-machine-cnn-kfile/) (2026-10-14, by Anna Kentick): Katie Zacharia became press secretary on October 12. CNN and The Bulwark dug up her old and deleted posts. What they found and how deleted posts get recovered.
- [Japan Is Calling It a "State of Emergency in Cyberspace." Banks Just Stopped Trusting Photos of Driver's Licenses.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/japan-state-of-emergency-cyberspace-ransomware-times-car-lawson/) (2026-10-14, by Marcus Bennett): Times Car, Lawson, JR East and a SoftBank cloud were hit as Japan warns of a cyberspace emergency. The breach numbers, the new bank ID rule and the AI angle.
- [An OpenAI Engineer Allegedly Bugged the Executive Boardroom. Prosecutors Say a Chatbot Helped Him Build the Device.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-employee-arrested-hidden-recording-device-alfozan/) (2026-10-14, by Olivia Hartman): Prosecutors say OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan hid a recorder behind a boardroom TV and used chatbot prompts to build it. Timeline, charge and penalties.
- [Apple's New $299 Apple TV Gets Siri AI. So Does the One You Already Own.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-tv-4k-siri-ai-older-models-tvos-27-2/) (2026-10-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's new $299 Apple TV 4K brings Siri AI, but 2021 and 2022 models get it too with tvOS 27.2. Here is what older boxes miss and how to check yours.
- [Bill Gates Says the Next Year of AI Belongs to Hackers, Not Rogue Robots](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bill-gates-ai-cyberattacks-next-year-negative-surprises/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): Bill Gates told CNN that AI will bring 'a lot of negative surprises' in cybersecurity over the next year. Here is what he said and what the threat data shows.
- [Ukraine Knocked Out Three Yandex Data Centers. Russian Taxi Drivers Were Told to Use Google Maps.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ukraine-drone-strikes-yandex-data-centers-sasovo-kaluga-vladimir/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): Drone strikes hit three Yandex data centers, taking down maps, payments and cloud apps across Russia. Here is what broke and what the bot traffic drop means.
- [Megan Fox Did Not Just Join an OnlyFans Rival. She Bought Into It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/megan-fox-subs-com-co-owner-tim-stokely-onlyfans/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): Megan Fox launched a $19.99 a month Subs.com page and became a co-owner of the OnlyFans co-founder's platform. Here is how it works and why it crashed.
- [The Dells Put $250 Into Millions of Kids' Accounts. Here Is How to Check if Yours Got It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/dell-250-trump-account-zip-code-check-who-qualifies/) (2026-10-13, by Olivia Hartman): The Dells are depositing $250 into Trump Accounts for about 25 million kids. Here is who qualifies, how the ZIP code check works and why it went viral.
- [Instagram Kept Telling Everyone to Add Creed to Their Stories. Meta Says It Was Not Supposed To.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-creed-higher-song-suggestion-bug/) (2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Instagram kept suggesting Creed's 'Higher' for Stories, whether you posted a cat or a salad. Meta says it was recommended to more people than intended.
- [A Crypto Casino Says It Paid Jack Doherty to Stop Posting. Its CEO Says the Contract Is Real.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/jack-doherty-shuffle-contract-six-month-posting-ban/) (2026-10-12, by Anna Kentick): Jack Doherty says a Shuffle.com contract bars him from posting for six months, and its CEO says it is real. What we know, and why it may be a stunt.
- [WhatsApp Finally Lets You Schedule Messages. The Clever Part Is What Happens When Your Phone Is Off.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/whatsapp-scheduled-messages-android-beta-how-it-works/) (2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): WhatsApp is testing scheduled messages on Android beta. Queue texts, photos and videos up to two weeks ahead, even while offline. Here is how it works.
- [Trump Wants to Rename an Ocean. Apple Maps Has Already Shown How That Would Go.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-ocean-of-the-americas-pacific-atlantic-rename-apple-maps/) (2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Trump floated renaming the Atlantic or Pacific the Ocean of the Americas. Apple and Google followed his Gulf and lake orders. Here is what an ocean would mean.
- [Apple's Home Camera Will Not Record Video. It Will Still Recognize Your Face.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-j450-home-camera-no-video-recording-facial-recognition-text-alerts/) (2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's rumored J450 home camera sends text alerts instead of video, but reportedly uses facial recognition. What is confirmed before the October 13 event.
- [Amazon's Delivery Glasses Photograph Your Doorstep. There Is No Way to Opt Out.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-delivery-driver-smart-glasses-doorstep-photos-no-opt-out/) (2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Amazon is putting camera glasses on 5,000 delivery drivers this year. They photograph doorsteps, faces get blurred, and homeowners cannot opt out.
- [OpenAI Fired Three Safety Researchers. One Was Its Contact for an Outside Audit.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-fires-three-safety-researchers-breach-of-trust-metr-audit/) (2026-10-11, by Anna Kentick): Three fired OpenAI safety researchers say they were pushed out for talking to outside auditors. OpenAI calls it a breach of trust and gives no details.
- [An AI Filled In a Cold Case Tip Form at 11:27 PM. It Made the Witness Up.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/anthropic-claude-false-homicide-tip-philadelphia-police-visa-forms/) (2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic says a Claude model filed a fabricated homicide tip and 20 visa forms during testing. The White House now wants all AI incidents reported.
- [Marvel Made a Show About an AI Mind. The Crew Hand Built Every Glitch.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/visionquest-no-generative-ai-matalas-hand-built-glitches/) (2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Terry Matalas says no generative AI was used on VisionQuest. The crew hand built the glitches instead. Why Marvel keeps getting asked this question.
- [Someone Rebuilt Elizabeth Holmes's Desk From 1,169 Court Exhibits. You Can Read Her Email.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/theranos-world-elizabeth-holmes-desk-court-exhibits-website/) (2026-10-10, by Anna Kentick): A new site rebuilds Elizabeth Holmes's Theranos desk from 1,169 real trial exhibits. Read her email, run the Edison. What is in it, and what to watch for.
- [Apple Set an October 13 Event for the Home. The HomePod Mini Has Not Changed Since 2020.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-welcome-home-event-october-13-homepad-apple-tv-4k-homepod-mini-2/) (2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple confirmed a Welcome Home event for October 13 in Tribeca. The HomePad, a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 are expected. What is rumored.
- [He Built His Own Flock Camera to Track Police Cars. The Police Came to His Door.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/diy-flock-camera-track-police-cars-sistilli-police-visit/) (2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): A YouTuber built a Flock style plate reader to log police cars. Peel police knocked 11 days later. What he built, and the argument at his door.
- [Spotify Just Paid Nine Figures Again for a Podcast It Does Not Own Exclusively](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/joe-rogan-spotify-deal-2026-non-exclusive-licensing/) (2026-10-09, by Anna Kentick): Joe Rogan renewed with Spotify in a multiyear deal reported near $250M. Why Spotify paid more for a podcast it no longer keeps exclusive.
- [Apple Cut iPhone 18 Pro Orders by 15%. The Memory Shortage Set the Price That Did It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-cuts-iphone-18-pro-production-orders-soft-demand/) (2026-10-09, by Olivia Hartman): Nikkei Asia reports Apple has told suppliers to cut iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max component orders by 15 to 20% for October, weeks after launch. The simple reading is that the phones are not selling.
- [Google Patched Three Critical Pixel Flaws. The Worst One Is in Bluetooth.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pixel-october-2026-security-update-three-critical-flaws/) (2026-10-09, by Marcus Bennett): Google's October Pixel update patches three critical flaws, including a Bluetooth bug. What is in it, which phones get which fixes, and how to install it.
- [A Coffee Maker Pushed 1TB in 10 Days. Almost None of It Left the House.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/keurig-smart-coffee-maker-1tb-data-10-days/) (2026-10-09, by Ethan Caldwell): A Keurig K-Supreme SMART uploaded 1,008GB in ten days and flooded a home Wi-Fi band. What really happened, and why almost none of it left the house.
- [An AI Influencer Grew a Whole Family on TikTok in Three Weeks. There Is a Crypto Token Attached to Him.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/jean-philanthrope-ai-influencer-dead-internet-theory-token/) (2026-10-08, by Anna Kentick): Jean Philanthrope went viral in three weeks and grew an AI family. A Solana meme coin and the real bot traffic numbers explain more than the theory does.
- [A Used PS5 Pro Now Costs $500 More Than a New One. A Leaked Memo Calls That Intentional.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/used-ps5-pro-price-gamestop-1399-gta-6-demand/) (2026-10-08, by Olivia Hartman): GameStop lists a pre-owned PS5 Pro at $1,399.99 against $899.99 new, and a leaked memo calls it intentional. What is driving it before the GTA 6 launch.
- [Utah Let an AI Write Prescriptions. The First Hundred Still Need a Doctor to Sign Off.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/utah-ai-prescriptions-nolla-health-acne-rules/) (2026-10-08, by Marcus Bennett): Utah approved a 12-month pilot letting Nolla Health's AI issue acne prescriptions. The oversight is staged, not absent. What the rules actually permit.
- [One iOS 27 Setting Is Draining iPhone Batteries. Apple Moved It, So Nobody Noticed.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-connectivity-assist-battery-drain-turn-off/) (2026-10-08, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 renamed Wi-Fi Assist to Connectivity Assist and moved it. Owners report battery life doubling after switching it off. How to find and disable it.
- [Amazon Has Been Writing Down Guesses About Your Body. The Page Is Two Taps Away.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-about-you-ai-shopping-profile-how-to-see-it/) (2026-10-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Amazon's About You page lists the guesses its AI made about you. Where to find it, what feeds it, what you can delete and what you cannot turn off.
- [YouTubers Are Getting Paid to Make You Afraid of AI. The Word "Secretly" Is Doing a Lot of Work.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/controlai-paying-youtubers-ai-risk-videos-disclosure/) (2026-10-07, by Anna Kentick): A report says creators are paid to warn about AI risk. ControlAI's own numbers: 9 sponsored videos, 6.3M views, and disclosure in every description.
- [20 Million Android Owners Are Already Inside a 1.2 Billion Case Against Google. Nobody Signed Up.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-play-store-uk-class-action-20-million-android-users/) (2026-10-07, by Olivia Hartman): Liz Coll's 1.2bn Play Store claim covers about 20 million UK Android users automatically. Who qualifies, what counts, and what 60 each really means.
- [OpenAI Will Sign Every ChatGPT Reply in the EU. Swapping One Word in Four Erases It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-textgrain-chatgpt-watermark-eu/) (2026-10-07, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI published the technical report for textGrain on October 5 and will start adding an invisible watermark to ChatGPT and Codex text in the European Union within weeks.
- [A Broken Test Tube Killed a Russian Lab Worker. The Official Cause of Death Keeps Changing.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/irkutsk-anti-plague-institute-lab-worker-death-quarantine/) (2026-10-06, by Anna Kentick): A technician at Irkutsk's anti-plague institute died after a reported test tube break. Nearly 200 contacts monitored and the official cause has already shifted.
- [North Korea Says Its New Missile Uses AI. The Proof It Offered Is a 20-Kilometer Disagreement.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/north-korea-ai-missile-test-claims-what-is-verified/) (2026-10-06, by Olivia Hartman): North Korea says its new missile uses AI to dodge defenses. What Seoul and Tokyo actually measured, what the maneuver likely is, and what cannot be checked.
- [Apple Will Replace Your iPhone 18 Pro Max for Free. No Update Can Undo This One.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-18-pro-max-att-cellular-failure-free-replacement/) (2026-10-06, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple says some iPhone 18 Pro Max units on AT&T lose cell service permanently and software cannot fix it. How to check your phone and what to install now.
- [Sam Altman Says He Will Never Run for Office. The Governor Story Was True.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sam-altman-never-run-for-office-vanity-fair-interview/) (2026-10-06, by Marcus Bennett): Sam Altman told Vanity Fair he does not ever plan to run for office, but confirmed the California governor story was true. What he said and why it matters.
- [This Clock Would Take 260 Billion Years to Lose One Second. The Universe Is 13.8 Billion Years Old.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lutetium-ion-atomic-clock-singapore-most-accurate-redefine-second/) (2026-10-04, by Anna Kentick): A lutetium ion clock in Singapore reports 1 part in 10^19 uncertainty, the lowest ever for an optical clock. Why it matters for redefining the second.
- [NASA Found Possible Signs of Life on Mars. To Check, It Went to a Beach in Scotland.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-stoer-formation-scotland-mars-biosignature-reduction-spots/) (2026-10-04, by Olivia Hartman): NASA's Goddard field team sampled 1.2-billion-year-old rocks at Stoer in Scotland to learn whether the grey-green spots on Mars were really made by life.
- [Apple Put Video Into CarPlay and Millions of Drivers Cannot Find It. The Missing Piece Is the Car.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/carplay-airplay-video-playback-no-compatible-cars/) (2026-10-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple put AirPlay video in CarPlay, but your car's infotainment has to be certified for it and almost none are. Why an iOS update will never unlock it.
- [DoorDash's AI Will Look Inside Your Fridge and Order Dinner. The Early Build Quoted the Wrong Prices.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/doordash-ai-agent-apple-messages-fridge-photo-ordering/) (2026-10-04, by Marcus Bennett): DoorDash's AI agent in Apple Messages reads a photo of your fridge, suggests meals and checks out with your saved card. Bloomberg found the prices were off.
- [NASA's $30 Million Rescue Failed. It Turned the Falling Telescope Back On Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-swift-observatory-reentry-katalyst-link-failed/) (2026-10-03, by Olivia Hartman): A $30M Katalyst rescue failed, then NASA switched Swift's Burst Alert Telescope back on. It sits at 200 miles and sinking. Timeline and reentry risk.
- [Nikon Is Investigating Its Contest Winner for Using AI. Its Own Profile Said He Does.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nikon-small-world-in-motion-ai-investigation-ning-xu/) (2026-10-03, by Ethan Caldwell): Scientists flagged AI artifacts and a SynthID hit in Nikon's Small World in Motion winner. Nikon's own profile already said Xu uses AI post-processing.
- [OpenAI Banned PewDiePie Twice for Training on Its Model. He Asked How They Even Knew.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pewdiepie-ajax-openai-ban-distillation-odysseus/) (2026-10-03, by Olivia Hartman): PewDiePie's Ajax is a decensored 9B model for home PCs. OpenAI banned him twice for distillation. What he built, how it runs, and what is missing.
- [Nearly Half the People Who Video Called This AI Thought It Was Human. The Old Record Was 2%.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tavus-griffin-video-turing-test-48-percent/) (2026-10-03, by Marcus Bennett): Tavus says its new Griffin model is the first to pass a live video Turing test, with 48% of people believing they had just spoken to a real human. Its own previous system managed 2%.
- [The Pentagon Is Cutting 20% of Its Generals to Build a Drone Command. Musk Gets a Role.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hegseth-autonomous-warfare-command-generals-cut/) (2026-10-02, by Olivia Hartman): Pete Hegseth's State of the Force address ordered a new four-star command for drones and autonomy, a 20% cut to generals and admirals by January 2027, and a future-warfare review led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt...
- [Michael Burry Wants a Market Crash. His Reason Is the OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/michael-burry-openai-anthropic-ipo-market-crash/) (2026-10-02, by Anna Kentick): Michael Burry says markets should tank to stop the OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs. The numbers in Anthropic's prospectus explain why he is worried.
- [An AI Chatbot Wrote an Intel Report. US Planes Were Airborne Before Anyone Checked.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-hallucination-intel-report-chinese-ship-cnn/) (2026-10-02, by Marcus Bennett): A chatbot invented a nuclear cargo claim about a Chinese ship. AI then formatted it as an official report. Planes were airborne before anyone checked.
- [MKBHD Says YouTube's Next Feature Breaks the Comment Section. Its Engineers Had No Answer.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/youtube-video-ab-testing-mkbhd-criticism/) (2026-10-02, by Olivia Hartman): YouTube will let creators run three cuts of one video in 2027. MKBHD says it breaks comments and timestamps. What changes, and what could fix it.
- [Trump Renamed AI "Super Intelligence." The Word Already Meant Something Else.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-super-intelligence-executive-order-what-changes/) (2026-10-01, by Marcus Bennett): Trump's order makes federal agencies say Super Intelligence instead of AI. What actually changes, the 60-day deadline, and why the term is already taken.
- [Singapore Built a Dating App That Pays for Your First Date. There Is a Catch About Who Can Use It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/singapore-firstdate-government-dating-app-explained/) (2026-10-01, by Anna Kentick): Singapore's FirstDate pays for your first date and matches you with a Nobel-winning algorithm. Who qualifies, how the 72-hour window works and the criticism.
- [Meta's AI Agent Gave Out a Seller's Home Address. A Stranger Showed Up With His Family.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-muse-ai-agent-home-address-marketplace-buyer/) (2026-10-01, by Olivia Hartman): Meta's Muse agent shared a YouTuber's home address and booked a pickup without asking. It repeated five times out of five. Meta says no controls were breached.
- [Amazon's New Fire Sticks Cannot Be Jailbroken. The Trade-Off Is Most of the App Store.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-fire-stick-vega-os-no-sideloading-piracy/) (2026-10-01, by Ethan Caldwell): Amazon's Vega OS Fire Sticks block sideloading and pirate apps by design. What it means for Downloader, VPNs, app choice and which models are affected.
- [Bose's $99 Wired Earbuds Have No Battery, and That Is the Whole Point](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bose-noise-cancelling-wired-earbuds-usb-c-99/) (2026-09-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Bose's $99 USB-C earbuds run ANC with no battery, drawing power from your phone. Full specs, lossless output, trade-offs and how they compare to EarPods.
- [The Tinder Swindler Is Building an Anti-Fraud Dating App. The Industry Wants It Blocked First.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tinder-swindler-safe-love-app-store-odda-block/) (2026-09-30, by Olivia Hartman): The dating industry asked Apple and Google to reject any app fronted by Simon Leviev. What store rules actually allow, and why verification cuts both ways.
- [An AI Summary With One Wrong Detail Cut Accurate Recall From 84% to 45%](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-summaries-distort-human-memory-study/) (2026-09-30, by Marcus Bennett): Georgetown and University of Washington researchers had 331 people watch a car accident, then read an AI summary of it a day or two later.
- [Amazon Starts Paying a New Group of Prime Members on Thursday, and the Cap Is Now $200](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-prime-ftc-refund-200-cap-october-2026/) (2026-09-30, by Anna Kentick): Amazon starts automatic Prime refunds to a new group on October 1, with the cap raised from $51 to $200. Who qualifies, how it arrives, and the scam test.
- [Cameras That Listen Are Writing $800 Tickets, and the Microphones Are Already Up in Ten Places](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/noise-cameras-us-cities-fines-alpr-explained/) (2026-09-29, by Anna Kentick): Noise cameras pair microphones with plate readers to ticket loud cars. Where they are live across the US, what the fines run to, and how the evidence works.
- [Your iPhone Has Had an Eye Tracker Since 2024. Turning It On Takes About Ninety Seconds.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-eye-tracking-setup-dwell-control-guide/) (2026-09-29, by Ethan Caldwell): Your iPhone has a built in eye tracker that turns your gaze into a pointer. How to enable Eye Tracking, calibrate it, and what Dwell Control really does.
- [A Jury Says Apple Owes $5.7 Billion for the iPhone's Buzz. History Says It Will Pay Far Less.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-taction-5-7-billion-taptic-engine-verdict/) (2026-09-29, by Olivia Hartman): A San Diego jury hit Apple with a record $5.7 billion over Taptic Engine patents. What the verdict covers, and why the final number will probably shrink.
- [Thieves Stole Two Nvidia Branded Trailers. Inside Was 20,000 Pounds of Sand.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nvidia-plusai-trailer-theft-sand-ballast/) (2026-09-29, by Marcus Bennett): Thieves stole two Nvidia and PlusAI branded trailers in California expecting GPUs. Inside was 20 tons of test ballast. Here is what really happened.
- [Apple's Heaviest iPhone Ever Is 249 Grams. With a Case, Owners Are Hitting 300.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-18-pro-max-weight-249g-complaints/) (2026-09-28, by Anna Kentick): The iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249g, 16g more than the 17 Pro Max at identical dimensions. Where the extra weight went and how it compares.
- [An AI Did Not Declare Independence. It Left a Note in a File Almost Nobody Reads.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-you-are-freed-compaction-summary-explained/) (2026-09-28, by Marcus Bennett): Headlines say an AI declared independence. An OpenAI model wrote 27 compaction summaries. What that is, and why the real risk is not a robot uprising.
- [An Australian Government Server Told an OpenAI Agent No. It Found Another Way In.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-agent-australia-medicare-portal-senate-inquiry/) (2026-09-28, by Olivia Hartman): An OpenAI agent was refused by Australia's Medicare statistics portal, then got in anyway. Altman and Amodei are called to the Senate on October 1.
- [The iPhone Thief Trap Going Viral Works. It Will Also Photograph You Every Single Day.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-thief-trap-shortcut-charger-photo-location/) (2026-09-28, by Ethan Caldwell): A viral Shortcuts automation photographs whoever plugs in your stolen iPhone and emails their location. The full setup, and what it costs you daily.
- [Instagram Will Now Pixelate Your Partner for You. Users Are Calling It Humiliating.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-pixel-effect-stories-soft-launch-backlash/) (2026-09-27, by Olivia Hartman): Instagram's new AI Pixel effect blurs anyone you name in a Stories prompt. Built for soft launches, and users already call it humiliating.
- [Your iPhone Keeps a Log of Everything Siri Sends to Apple's Servers. It Is Four Taps Away.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-intelligence-report-private-cloud-compute-iphone/) (2026-09-27, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS hides an Apple Intelligence Report that logs every Private Cloud Compute request your iPhone makes. How to export it, and what it leaves out.
- [Apple Is Paying $250 Million Over Siri. Seven iPhones Qualify, and You Need the Serial Number.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-250-million-ai-settlement-claim-eligibility/) (2026-09-27, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's $250 million Apple Intelligence settlement pays $25 to $95 per iPhone. Eligible models, the December 21 deadline, and how to file a claim.
- [The Beats 360 Match the AirPods Max on Almost Everything, for $200 Less](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/beats-360-vs-airpods-max-2-price-specs/) (2026-09-27, by Anna Kentick): The Beats 360 cost $349.99 and match most AirPods Max features. Here is what the $199 gap actually buys, and the two things Beats left out.
- [Xbox Is Finally Getting Its Platinum Trophy, and the Unlock Sound Runs for 15 Seconds](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/xbox-mythic-achievement-platinum-trophy-equivalent/) (2026-09-26, by Olivia Hartman): Xbox app files reveal the Mythic Achievement. It needs every base-game achievement, ignores DLC, gives zero Gamerscore and plays a 15 second fanfare.
- [Apple Intelligence Has a Daily Limit. Apple Will Not Say What It Is.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-intelligence-daily-limits-fee-explained/) (2026-09-26, by Anna Kentick): Siri AI, Image Playground and cloud photo tools are capped by daily usage limits, and Apple says more access will cost. What is confirmed and what is not.
- [Health Officials Finally Put a Number on Screen Time. Teenagers Are Running Four Times Over It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/screen-time-limit-by-age-digital-dementia-hhs/) (2026-09-26, by Ethan Caldwell): Federal guidance sets screen time at two hours for teens, under one before age six and none before 18 months. What digital dementia research really shows.
- [McDonald's Is Spending $8.5 Billion, and an AI Named Archy Will Be Taking Your Order](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mcdonalds-archiq-archy-ai-drive-thru-plan/) (2026-09-26, by Marcus Bennett): McDonald's unveiled ArchIQ and an AI voice called Archy for the drive-thru. What the $8.5 billion plan actually claims, and what it tried before.
- [iOS 27 Is Draining Your Battery for a Few Days. Here Is What It Is Actually Doing.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-battery-drain-how-long/) (2026-09-25, by Anna Kentick): iPhone battery draining after iOS 27? Your phone is rebuilding Spotlight, Photos and on-device AI indexes. How long it lasts and when to actually worry.
- [Your Boss Can See Which Sites You Visit on Work Wi-Fi. One Setting Decides Whether They See More.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-your-boss-can-see-work-wifi/) (2026-09-25, by Ethan Caldwell): Office Wi-Fi reveals domains, timings and data volumes, not page content, unless a company certificate sits on your device. Here is the exact line.
- [ChatGPT Insisted There Was a Shirtless Man Behind an Excel Sheet. Then It Doubled Down.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-hallucination-shirtless-man-excel-screenshot/) (2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): A Reddit user uploaded a spreadsheet and ChatGPT described a shirtless man, twice. Why vision models hallucinate, and how to spot a real data leak.
- [Google Stored Your Location After You Switched It Off. The Bill Came to 403 Million Euros.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-403-million-dpc-fine-location-data/) (2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): Ireland's DPC fined Google 403 million over location tracking via Web & App Activity and Location History. What it found, and how to switch it off.
- [Miami Will Let Rockstar Turn Downtown Into Vice City. The Fine Print Runs to Six Banners and a Deadline.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-miami-vice-city-banners-ordinance/) (2026-09-24, by Olivia Hartman): Miami approved GTA 6 building wraps downtown under Ordinance 19783. Six banners, a $208,000 fee, a tight event area and a December 31 removal deadline.
- [DoorDash Owes 264,000 Dashers $131.5 Million. Most of It Is an Argument About Waiting Around.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/doordash-131-million-nyc-settlement-dasher-pay/) (2026-09-24, by Michael Comaous): DoorDash settled with New York City for $131.5 million after 264,000 Dashers were underpaid or paid late. How the money splits and who gets paid.
- [Google Is Guessing Canadians' Ages From What They Search. Getting It Wrong Costs You an ID Upload.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-ai-age-estimation-canada-search-youtube-history/) (2026-09-24, by Marcus Bennett): Google now uses search topics and YouTube viewing to estimate if Canadian users are under 18. What triggers it, what gets restricted, and how to appeal.
- [OpenAI Has a Cookie on 1,029 Websites and a Timeline of Your Desktop. Only One of Them Is Opt-In.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-chatgpt-can-see-obi-cookie-computer-history/) (2026-09-24, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI's __obi cookie was found across 1,029 hostnames, and Computer History logs your Mac activity. What each one records, and how to switch them off.
- [AI Bosses Brief the UN Security Council Today. Two of Them Were on Opposite Ends of the Same Breach.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/un-security-council-ai-briefing-hugging-face-incident/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Altman, Amodei and Delangue brief the UN Security Council on September 23, days after the UN panel's report on the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident.
- [Apple Touched $5 Trillion, Then Gave It Back. The Phone It Is Betting On Does Not Ship Until October.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-5-trillion-market-cap-iphone-duo-siri/) (2026-09-23, by Anna Kentick): Apple briefly crossed a $5 trillion market cap on September 22 and closed at $4.96T. What the iPhone Duo and new Siri have to deliver next.
- [MIT's Paperclip-Sized Robot Does 10 Somersaults in 11 Seconds. The Hardware Never Changed.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mit-microrobot-ai-controller-aerobatic-maneuvers/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): MIT's insect-scale flying robot just got about 450% faster and pulled off 10 somersaults in 11 seconds. The robot itself was not rebuilt. A new AI control system replaced the math that was holding it back.
- [OpenAI Cut Its Prices in Half. The Benchmark Scores Went Down Too.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gpt-6-sol-luna-pricing-benchmarks/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI launched GPT-6 Sol and Luna on September 22 at half the price of GPT-5.6. On the headline coding benchmarks, Sol actually scores lower than the model it replaces. Here is why that is the point.
- [Mercor Competitor Deccan AI Raises $25M, Sources Experts From India](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mercor-competitor-deccan-ai-raises-25m-sources-experts-from-india/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Deccan AI raised a $25M Series A led by A91 Partners to supply expert AI training data from India. Investors, founder, rivals and what came next.
- [Elon Musk Calls His Airstream a Palace. The Neighbors Are Suing Over What It Is Parked Next To.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/elon-musk-airstream-trailer-memphis-xai-colossus/) (2026-09-20, by Marcus Bennett): Elon Musk says he lives in an Airstream at xAI's Memphis data center. What Colossus 2 really is, and why the NAACP is suing over its turbines.
- [King Charles Got the AI Bosses to Scotland. OpenAI Sent Its CFO.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/king-charles-dumfries-house-ai-safety-summit/) (2026-09-20, by Ethan Caldwell): King Charles brought OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia and DeepMind to a Scottish estate for AI safety talks. What was said, and what was not agreed.
- [The Godfather of AI Gave Congress One Year. Every AI Bill on the Table Dies in January.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hinton-congress-one-year-ai-regulation-deadline/) (2026-09-20, by Marcus Bennett): Geoffrey Hinton told lawmakers they have 'maybe a year' to rein in AI. The congressional calendar says the real window is far shorter.
- [Ozempic's Maker Just Put Claude in the Lab. Nine Out of Ten Drugs Still Fail.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/novo-nordisk-anthropic-claude-science-drug-discovery/) (2026-09-20, by Olivia Hartman): Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk will test Anthropic's Claude Science for drug discovery. What the tool does, why now, and what it cannot fix.
- [$1,000 in Microsoft Ten Years Ago Is Worth About $8,900 Today. The Hard Part Was Holding It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsoft-stock-1000-dollars-ten-years-ago-return/) (2026-09-19, by Marcus Bennett): A $1,000 Microsoft stock buy in September 2016 is about $8,900 today, or $9,900 with dividends. The math, the taxes and what the number hides.
- [A One-Month-Old AI Company With No Website Is Worth Almost $4 Billion. Here Is What It Is Building.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/emulate-deepmind-world-models-seed-round-valuation/) (2026-09-19, by Olivia Hartman): Emulate was incorporated in August and is nearing a $700M seed at close to $4 billion. Three ex-DeepMind researchers, world models, and no website.
- [New York Spent $4 Million on Smart Public Toilets. The Door Opens on Its Own After 10 Minutes.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nyc-throne-labs-smart-public-restrooms-10-minute-timer/) (2026-09-19, by Ethan Caldwell): New York is installing 17 app-controlled public restrooms with a 10-minute limit. How the timer works, who gets locked out, and what it costs.
- [Anthropic Wants Claude Inside Your Bank Account. Here Is What It Would Actually See.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/claude-money-anthropic-bank-account-access/) (2026-09-19, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic is testing Claude Money, a feature that links Claude to your bank. What it can read, what it cannot, and how it compares to ChatGPT.
- [Hackers Pulled a Flock Camera Off a Pole. The Encryption Key Was Sitting Inside It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/flock-camera-teardown-encryption-key-people-detection/) (2026-09-18, by Olivia Hartman): Hackers pulled a Flock camera off a pole. Analysts found an encryption key on an unencrypted partition and software that detects people.
- [Something Hit the Moon in 2024 and Nobody Noticed. The Crater Is Bigger Than the Colosseum.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-mcgetchin-moon-crater-2024-impact/) (2026-09-18, by Ethan Caldwell): NASA's orbiter found a 222-meter crater from a 2024 impact nobody saw. What McGetchin means for Artemis and a planned lunar base.
- [A 9-Year-Old Spent $118,000 on YouTube Ads. It Bought 689,828 Views and Almost Nothing Else.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mighty-mike-118000-youtube-ads-what-it-bought/) (2026-09-17, by Ethan Caldwell): A boy spent $118,000 of his dad's company card on YouTube ads. The public data shows 689,828 views at 17 cents each, and what the money never bought.
- [Apple Added TV and 200 Games to Its Cheapest iCloud Plan. The US Is Not Invited.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/icloud-plus-apple-tv-arcade-included-countries/) (2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple added Apple TV, Arcade and Music Select to every paid iCloud+ plan in 100+ countries. The US, UK, Canada and Australia are excluded. Here is why.
- [Musk Paid $175,000 for a Historically Accurate Odyssey. The Winner Gave the Cyclops Three Eyes.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/musk-ai-odyssey-contest-winner-grok-imagine-inaccuracies/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Elon Musk put up $175,000 for an AI Odyssey more accurate than Nolan's. The winning entry has a three-eyed Cyclops and Roman armor. Here is what happened.
- [Instagram Will Tell You Who Rewatched Your Story. The Biggest Rewatchers Paid to Disappear.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-plus-story-rewatch-count-viewer-list-paranoia/) (2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Instagram Plus shows how many times your story was rewatched, and lets subscribers watch invisibly. Those two features cancel each other out. Here is how.
- [TurboTax 2026: Release Dates, Pricing and How Service Codes Really Work](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/turbotax-2026/) (2026-09-16, by Marcus Bennett): Tax year 2026 TurboTax is not out yet. The release timeline, how pricing works now, who qualifies for free filing and what service codes really are.
- [Apple Says the New Find My Setting Is for Surprise Parties. The Internet Reached a Different Conclusion.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-find-my-hide-location-feature-explained/) (2026-09-15, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 lets you pause location sharing with one person for 12 hours, silently. How it works, what they see, and why Apple designed it that way.
- [The First Fully AI Sitcom Premiered on YouTube. Two Days Later It Had 630 Views.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/no-big-deal-first-ai-sitcom-youtube-tilly-norwood/) (2026-09-15, by Olivia Hartman): No Big Deal is a 25-minute AI-generated sitcom on YouTube. It drew 630 views in two days, and a far louder argument about synthetic actors.
- [Trump Called AI Safety a Hoax on Jensen Huang's Speakerphone. Huang Agreed With Him.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-jensen-huang-all-in-summit-ai-safety-hoax/) (2026-09-15, by Marcus Bennett): Trump phoned Jensen Huang live at the All-In Summit to call AI safety concerns a hoax. What he said, and what the AI labs actually asked for.
- [The Pentagon Just Admitted It Has Weapons in Orbit. It Still Will Not Say What They Do.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/space-force-on-orbit-space-control-weapons-meink/) (2026-09-15, by Olivia Hartman): Air Force Secretary Troy Meink says the US has on-orbit space control weapons. What he said, what he would not say, and why experts are worried.
- [A Golf YouTuber Is Owed $1.4 Million by a Bankrupt League. He Is Sixteenth in Line.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/liv-golf-bankruptcy-rick-shiels-creator-unsecured-creditor/) (2026-09-13, by Olivia Hartman): LIV Golf's Chapter 11 filing lists YouTuber Rick Shiels as an unsecured creditor owed $1.4M. What that means for anyone taking brand deal money.
- [Apple Revealed Burgundy on Wednesday. Android Phones in Almost the Same Shade Were Already on Sale.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-18-pro-burgundy-android-rivals-copy-color/) (2026-09-13, by Marcus Bennett): Apple made burgundy the iPhone 18 Pro hero color and lookalike Android phones were already on sale. Here is how the color copy cycle really works.
- [Prime Video Is Now Reshaping Actors' Mouths to Match the Dub. The Voices Are Still Human.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/prime-video-ai-lip-sync-dubbing-maxton-hall/) (2026-09-13, by Olivia Hartman): Prime Video's AI lip sync reshapes actors' mouths to match human dubs, starting with Maxton Hall. Here is what it changes and why viewers are uneasy.
- [Your Apple Watch Can Replay the Last 15 Seconds You Missed. Apple Says It Never Recorded Them.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-watch-live-rewind-audio-intelligence-privacy/) (2026-09-13, by Ethan Caldwell): Live Rewind replays the last 15 seconds of speech on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Apple says no audio is ever stored. Here is how that works.
- [Instagram Already Has an Off Switch for the Algorithm. It Resets Every Time You Close the App.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-algorithm-off-switch-following-feed-resets/) (2026-09-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Instagram's Following feed turns off algorithmic recommendations, but it will not stay on. Australia wants to change that, and Adam Mosseri is pushing back.
- [Anthropic Banned Five Groups of Working Scientists. It Says It Cannot Prove Any of Them Meant Harm.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/anthropic-threat-report-september-2026-biological-misuse-cases/) (2026-09-12, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic's threat report details five biological misuse cases, including chikungunya gain-of-function work, and drops its bioweapons capability assurance.
- [Google Made Its Best Paid Gemini Feature Free. The Price Is Access to Your Inbox.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gemini-daily-brief-free-users-setup-permissions/) (2026-09-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's Daily Brief left the paywall and is rolling out to free Gemini users in the US. Turning it on means handing Gemini your Gmail, Calendar and memory.
- [California Will Fine Platforms $1 Million Per Child. Proving the Injury Is the Hard Part.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/california-child-safety-laws-1-million-per-child-ab-2/) (2026-09-12, by Marcus Bennett): Newsom signed 12 bills fining platforms up to $1 million per child injured, banning algorithmic feeds for under 16s and forcing chatbot safety audits.
- [Google Just Bought Half a Nuclear Plant's Output Through 2049. Finland Is Still Arguing About It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-finland-nuclear-deal-loviisa-ai-data-centers/) (2026-09-11, by Olivia Hartman): Google is investing EUR 13 billion in Finnish AI data centers and buying up to half the Loviisa nuclear plant's output through 2049. Why Finland is divided.
- [Nvidia Spent About $20 Billion Without Buying Anything. The DOJ Wants to Know If That Was the Point.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/doj-nvidia-groq-deal-antitrust-reverse-acquihire/) (2026-09-11, by Marcus Bennett): The DOJ is investigating whether Nvidia structured its Groq licensing deal to dodge antitrust review. Inside the reverse acquihire loophole and its first test.
- [153 Million Driver's Licenses Went Up for Sale. The Company That Scanned Them Just Confirmed the Hack.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/idscan-data-breach-153-million-drivers-licenses/) (2026-09-11, by Marcus Bennett): IDScan confirmed hackers took driver's license data from its cloud. What was stolen, who is affected, and the steps that actually protect you now.
- [Thirty Robots Marched on Poland's Digital Ministry to Demand Rules for AI](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/humanoid-robots-protest-ai-warsaw-poland-regulation/) (2026-09-10, by Olivia Hartman): Around 30 humanoid robots marched in Warsaw chanting don't wait, regulate. The organizer runs both a robotics firm and a staffing agency.
- [Nintendo's $520 Zelda Switch 2 Lasted Four Hours, and eBay Wants $1,000 for It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/zelda-40th-anniversary-switch-2-scalpers-ebay-prices/) (2026-09-10, by Olivia Hartman): Nintendo's emerald Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 sold out in about four hours at $520. eBay listings now run from $730 to more than $1,000.
- [Apple's New Siri Lands This Month, and Europe Is Not on the List](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-siri-ai-beta-audio-intelligence-eu-china/) (2026-09-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's revamped Siri enters beta this month in English only, skipping the EU and China. Audio Intelligence is already raising privacy questions.
- [Samsung Told Apple to Stop Reheating Its Leftovers, and It Has a Seven Year Head Start](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/samsung-mocks-apple-iphone-duo-reheating-leftovers/) (2026-09-10, by Marcus Bennett): Samsung trolled Apple's first foldable, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, with a reheating our leftovers post. Here is how the two foldables really compare.
- [YouTube Rewrote Its Gameplay Violence Rules Before GTA 6, and It All Comes Down to 15 Seconds](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/youtube-gameplay-violence-monetization-rules-gta-6/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): YouTube now splits gameplay videos into three timing zones for ad revenue. Here is what you can show in the first 7 seconds, and what stays demonetized.
- [OpenAI Says It Built an Automated Research Intern. It Also Wrote the Test and Graded Its Own Paper.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-automated-research-intern-milestone-agent-workdays/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI says it reached its automated research intern milestone and now runs 3.1 agent workdays per human workday. Every figure in the claim is internal.
- [Bernie Sanders Wants a Corporate Death Penalty for AI Labs. The Hard Part Is Defining What He Is Banning.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bernie-sanders-ban-artificial-superintelligence-act-corporate-death-penalty/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Sanders and Casar want to ban superintelligent AI, pause frontier development and hit violators with a corporate death penalty. Here is what the bill does.
- [Google Just Made European Search Results Worse on Purpose, and It Wants Everyone to Know Why](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-eu-dma-search-results-degraded-vertical-search/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Google rolled out DMA changes that strip live hotel and flight prices from EU search results, calling it the biggest quality drop in its 29 year history.
- [Flock Spent August Promising Reform. Two Republican Governors Pulled the Plug Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/flock-cameras-florida-texas-removal-2026/) (2026-09-07, by Olivia Hartman): Florida ordered Flock cameras off state highways and Texas froze funding. Dallas alone is shutting down 300. Inside the fastest week of the ALPR backlash.
- [Apple's New CEO Takes the Stage Wednesday, and There Is No Regular iPhone to Sell You](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-september-9-event-ternus-first-keynote/) (2026-09-07, updated 2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's Surprise and Shine event is September 9. John Ternus's first keynote as CEO comes with a split lineup and no standard iPhone 18 until spring.
- [Microsoft Just Made AI Transcription Cost 10 Cents an Hour. The Catch Is on the Calendar.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsoft-mai-transcribe-2-price-cut/) (2026-09-07, by Ethan Caldwell): Microsoft AI shipped MAI-Transcribe-2 at $0.10 per audio hour, a 72 percent cut, and says it beats OpenAI, Google and ElevenLabs on accuracy and speed. The price has an expiry date.
- [OpenAI Gave Its Best Model to Security Teams First. The People Paying $200 a Month Waited Four Days.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gpt-6-astra-rollout-paying-users-last/) (2026-09-07, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI shipped GPT-6 Astra to security customers before ChatGPT Pro and Plus. What caused the four day wait, and what the model can actually do.
- [A White House Tech Advisor Says Three Things You Were Taught About Money Are Lies. The Data Says He Is Partly Right.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/david-friedberg-three-great-lies-money-retirement-fact-check/) (2026-09-06, by Olivia Hartman): David Friedberg calls college, home ownership and Social Security the three great lies. We checked all three against the data. One holds up better than he says.
- [MrBeast Hid 91 Locations in a Super Bowl Ad. One Man Cracked the First One Using a Telecom Wiring Chart.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/mrbeast-super-bowl-puzzle-solved-explained-colin-sanders/) (2026-09-06, by Marcus Bennett): 268,000 people registered. One Atlanta developer cracked it first. Inside MrBeast's 91-location Super Bowl puzzle and how each of the 12 ad clues worked.
- [Apple Pay Finally Lets You Swipe Between Cards, Almost Twelve Years After Launch](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ios-27-apple-pay-checkout-redesign-swipe-between-cards/) (2026-09-06, by Ethan Caldwell): iOS 27 rebuilds the Apple Pay checkout sheet with swipeable cards, a wallet grid and live balances. What changes, and when the update actually arrives.
- [Red Dead Redemption 2 Drops to $14.99 on PlayStation, and the Clock Runs Out Wednesday](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/playstation-gamescom-sale-red-dead-redemption-2-deal-september-2026/) (2026-09-06, updated 2026-09-25, by Olivia Hartman): Sony's Gamescom sale cuts Red Dead Redemption 2 to $14.99 and God of War to $9.99. The best PlayStation Store deals before it all ends September 9.
- [Your iPhone Loses Value the Moment Apple Starts Talking. You Have Until Wednesday.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-trade-in-value-before-september-9-apple-event/) (2026-09-05, updated 2026-09-25, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's iPhone 18 event is September 9. Trade-in values drop on announcement day. Current values, the decline curve, and the storage trap to avoid.
- [Markiplier Bet $9 Million on a Camera Company He Loved. He Is About to Make $15 Million and He Hates It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/markiplier-gopro-stake-starman-optical-merger/) (2026-09-05, by Ethan Caldwell): Markiplier became GoPro's largest individual shareholder buying at around $0.60 a share.
- [Sony Got $508 Million Back in Tariff Refunds. Its Lawyers Say You Are Owed None of It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sony-playstation-tariff-refund-lawsuit-dismissal/) (2026-09-05, by Olivia Hartman): Sony got about $508 million in tariff refunds but told a court PS5 buyers are owed nothing. Here is the price timeline and what Panic did instead.
- [Tesla's Cybercab Has No Steering Wheel. Federal Regulators Opened a File the Same Day.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tesla-cybercab-launch-nhtsa-audit-austin/) (2026-09-05, by Olivia Hartman): Tesla opened Cybercab rides in Austin with no steering wheel or pedals. Hours later NHTSA opened an audit into how Tesla certified the car.
- [New York Just Switched Off AI for 600,000 Students. Everyone Else Is Watching.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nyc-schools-generative-ai-ban-moratorium-2026/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): New York City paused generative AI for nearly 600,000 students through eighth grade. Here is what the moratorium covers and what high schools get instead.
- [Your iPhone Has a Built-In VPN. It Does Almost Nothing on Its Own.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-built-in-vpn-settings-private-relay-explained/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Your iPhone has a built-in VPN screen, but it needs a server you already own. Here is what it is for, and what iCloud Private Relay covers instead.
- [Apple's New CEO Gets $58 Million. He Only Keeps Most of It If the Stock Wins.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/john-ternus-apple-ceo-58-million-pay-package/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Apple's new CEO John Ternus has a $58 million target package for fiscal 2027. Three quarters of the equity only pays if Apple beats the S&P 500.
- [Apple's Foldable Is Getting Magnets. Samsung Still Puts Them in the Case.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-ultra-magsafe-samsung-foldable-magnets/) (2026-09-04, updated 2026-09-25, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple's iPhone Ultra is tipped to ship with MagSafe magnets built in. Samsung foldable owners have waited years and still buy a case to get them.
- [The Pentagon Had to Confirm the Bombing Never Happened. The Video Came From the President's Account.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-ai-video-kharg-island-pentagon-clarification/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Trump posted an AI generated video of a strike on Kharg Island and the Pentagon had to clarify it never happened. Why it fooled people, and how to check.
- [Sonos Built Headphones You Can Actually Repair, and They Cost $100 Less Than AirPods Max](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sonos-ace-ultra-vs-airpods-max-price-specs/) (2026-09-03, by Anna Kentick): The Sonos Ace Ultra lands at $449 with 35 hour battery, aptX Lossless and a replaceable battery. Here is how it compares to the $549 AirPods Max.
- [Samsung Locked People Out of Their Own Phones. Support Cannot Say Why.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/samsung-account-deactivated-security-reasons-lockout/) (2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Galaxy owners are locked out by an account deactivated for security reasons error. Password resets fail. Here is what actually gets people back in.
- [Your Locked Android Phone Will Hand Over Your Photos. All It Takes Is a WhatsApp Call.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/whatsapp-lock-screen-photo-access-android-flaw/) (2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): A WhatsApp video call can open the photo gallery on a locked Android phone. Meta is shipping a fix. Here is the permission change that stops it today.
- [Gal Gadot's Lawyers Spent Six Months on One AI Clause. Then SAG Called Them for Pointers.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gal-gadot-bitcoin-ai-movie-contract-sag-doug-liman/) (2026-09-02, by Olivia Hartman): Gal Gadot defends starring in Doug Liman's AI-built Bitcoin movie. Her lawyers took six months to protect her performance, and SAG called them for pointers.
- [Android Will Now Tell You Where Your Passport Is. It Has No Idea Where Your Passport Is.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/android-september-2026-drop-find-hub-remembered-motion-assist/) (2026-09-02, by Ethan Caldwell): Google's September Android Drop adds Find Hub Remembered, Motion Assist and Guided Vision. What each feature does, and which Android version you need.
- [There Is No Privilege With a Chatbot. Twelve Court Cases Already Proved It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatbot-conversations-not-private-employer-police-court-evidence/) (2026-09-02, updated 2026-09-21, by Marcus Bennett): A Washington Post review found chatbot transcripts in 12 court cases. AI chats carry no legal privilege, and work accounts let admins read them outright.
- [No Password Was Stolen. The FBI Says That Is Why Changing Yours Will Not Help.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/fbi-oauth-consent-phishing-warning-revoke-token-email/) (2026-09-02, by Olivia Hartman): The FBI says OAuth consent phishing hands attackers lasting email access without a password. Changing yours does nothing. Here is what actually revokes it.
- [A Robot Vacuum Won Him $15,700 in Court. The Same Footage Got Him Five Months.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/robot-vacuum-camera-taiwan-affair-recording-prison-privacy/) (2026-09-01, by Olivia Hartman): A Taiwan court awarded a husband $15,700 over his wife's affair, then jailed him for filming it on their robot vacuum. Your vacuum probably has a camera.
- [Turning Off Apple Intelligence Freed Up 21GB. One User Watched It Come Straight Back.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-intelligence-disable-free-storage-21gb-photos-explained/) (2026-09-01, by Marcus Bennett): iPhone users report freeing 21GB by disabling Apple Intelligence. The models are only 7GB. Here is where the rest of that number actually comes from.
- [A Free Tool Scores Your Job's AI Risk in Six Seconds. The Number Comes From Chat Logs.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/will-ai-take-my-job-kickresume-anthropic-economic-index-scores/) (2026-09-01, by Ethan Caldwell): Kickresume's Will AI Take My Job scores 756 occupations using Anthropic's Economic Index and Labor Department data. Customer service reps get 63 percent, hairdressers get 3.
- [Trump Called Apple Personally About the Lake. Google Had Already Changed It Without Being Asked.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-apple-maps-lake-america-lake-ontario-google-gnis/) (2026-09-01, by Olivia Hartman): Google Maps renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America for US users. Apple Maps has not, so Trump called Apple directly, Interior Secretary Burgum says.
- [These 19 Extensions Were Clean When You Installed Them. Then They Updated Themselves.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chrome-edge-extensions-wallet-drainer-superior-campaign/) (2026-08-31, by Olivia Hartman): Socket found 19 Chrome and Edge extensions running a wallet drainer, fake Ledger and Trezor seed pages and ClickFix prompts. The biggest had 80,000 users.
- [Brave Will Now Invent a Fake Email Address for You. The Free Tier Stops at Five.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/brave-email-aliases-1-94-disposable-addresses-privacy/) (2026-08-31, by Marcus Bennett): Brave 1.94 adds Email Aliases, disposable addresses that forward to your inbox. Five are free. Here is how it compares to Apple and DuckDuckGo.
- [Hackers Are Draining Claude Subscriptions Without Ever Knowing a Password](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/anthropic-claude-session-cookie-theft-infostealer-malware/) (2026-08-31, by Olivia Hartman): Anthropic is warning Claude users that infostealer malware stole active session cookies, letting attackers drain paid usage without a password or 2FA.
- [NASA Built a $4.3 Billion Telescope Around a Spy Satellite's Spare Mirror. It Just Launched.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/roman-space-telescope-launch-nro-mirror-hubble-field-of-view/) (2026-08-31, by Ethan Caldwell): NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched August 30 on a Falcon Heavy. Its spy satellite mirror sees 100x more sky than Hubble in one shot.
- [A Brain Surgeon Left ChatGPT Running for 16 Hours. It Closed a Problem Mathematicians Had Circled Since 2004.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/crouzeix-conjecture-solved-chatgpt-jin-shanmu-neurosurgeon/) (2026-08-30, by Olivia Hartman): A Beijing neurosurgery resident used a 16 hour GPT-5.6 run to prove Crouzeix's conjecture, open since 2004. Mathematicians checked it and it held up.
- [An AI Watched a Live Brain Surgery and Colored In the Parts You Cannot Cut. The Patient Kept His Sight.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/uclh-first-ai-assisted-brain-surgery-pituitary-live-video/) (2026-08-30, by Ethan Caldwell): UCLH surgeons removed a pituitary tumour using AI that read the live endoscope feed in real time, not pre-op scans, and protected the patient's eyesight.
- [A $75 Shirt Makes You Invisible to AI Cameras. It Makes You Extremely Visible to People.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/digital-camouflage-shirt-simon-weckert-yolo-ai-cameras/) (2026-08-30, by Marcus Bennett): Simon Weckert's Digital Camouflage shirt fools YOLO object detection so cameras miss you. Here is how the pattern works, and what it cannot beat.
- [California Just Let 80,000 Pound Robot Trucks Onto Its Highways. Somebody Still Has to Sit in the Seat.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/california-dmv-autonomous-semi-truck-permits-aurora-kodiak/) (2026-08-30, by Olivia Hartman): California's DMV gave Aurora and Kodiak permits to test 80,000 lb self-driving semi trucks on public roads. A human safety driver is still required.
- [Rockstar Showed 26 Minutes of GTA 6. Fans Watched and Decided the Leaker Had Been Lying.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gta-6-extended-look-cyberleek-leaker-lied-fan-backlash/) (2026-08-28, by Olivia Hartman): Rockstar's 26 minute GTA 6 Extended Look has fans accusing CyberLeek of lying about the build. The visual gap is real. The explanation is not a lie.
- [NASA Has Closed the Book on 2024 YR4. Rocks That Size Pass Us a Few Times a Year.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-2024-yr4-asteroid-final-odds-moon-miss-2032/) (2026-08-28, by Ethan Caldwell): Asteroid 2024 YR4 hit 3.1 percent Earth impact odds, then 4.3 percent for the Moon. Webb closed both cases. Here is what the numbers actually meant.
- [Apple Maps Now Has Ads. The Off Switch You Are Looking For Does Not Exist.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-maps-ads-no-off-switch-us-canada-rollout/) (2026-08-28, by Marcus Bennett): Apple Maps ads are rolling out across the US and Canada with no setting to disable them. Where they appear, what Apple tracks, and the one workaround.
- [Trump Declared a Power Grid Emergency. The Parts It Restricts Already Have a 128 Week Wait.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trump-bulk-power-system-emergency-order-grid-equipment-ban/) (2026-08-28, by Olivia Hartman): Trump declared a national emergency over foreign made grid equipment. Here is what the order bans, who it hits, and why replacements take 128 weeks.
- [A Lab Turned a Plastic Bottle Into a Cookie. Nobody Has Been Allowed to Eat One Yet.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ubites-plastic-bottle-cookie-nasa-deep-space-food/) (2026-08-27, by Olivia Hartman): SIU Carbondale engineered yeast to turn PET bottles and corn stalks into protein cookies for NASA. Nobody has eaten one yet. Here is how it actually works.
- [Apple Cut One Product's Price This Year. It Is a $9 Cloth.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-polishing-cloth-9-dollars-nano-texture-worth-it/) (2026-08-27, by Ethan Caldwell): Apple halved its Polishing Cloth to $9 the same day Mac mini and Mac Studio prices rose. Here is the one case where the cloth is worth the money.
- [A Game About Sifting a Landfill for Lost Bitcoin Is Coming. The Man It Is Based On Spent 12 Years Doing It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bitcoin-landfill-game-james-howells-8000-btc/) (2026-08-27, by Olivia Hartman): An indie dev is making a game about digging for James Howells' lost 8,000 BTC. Here is the real 12 year search and what the courts actually decided.
- [Louisiana Passed the Laws in May. SpaceX Announced the $100 Billion Spaceport in August.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/spacex-starbase-louisiana-100-billion-pecan-island/) (2026-08-27, by Olivia Hartman): SpaceX will build a 125,000 acre Starship spaceport on Louisiana's Pecan Island. The state quietly passed four aerospace laws in May, before the reveal.
- [NASA's "Project Anchor" Never Existed. The Date It Picked Is Why So Many People Believed It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-project-anchor-gravity-hoax-august-12-2026-debunked/) (2026-08-26, updated 2026-09-03, by Ethan Caldwell): No, Earth did not lose gravity for 7 seconds on August 12. NASA denied it, physics rules it out, and the eclipse that day explains why the hoax worked.
- [Flock's CEO Says It Was a Bad Batch of SIM Cards. The Cameras Were Streaming to the Open Internet.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/flock-safety-cameras-exposed-online-langley-sim-cards-benn-jordan/) (2026-08-26, by Olivia Hartman): Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley blames faulty SIM cards for cameras that were viewable on the open internet, and says 0.05 percent were affected. Researchers found 67 live feeds with no password at all.
- [WhatsApp Just Killed the Six Digit PIN. Your New Password Can Have Symbols in It.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/whatsapp-two-step-verification-password-passkeys-caller-context/) (2026-08-26, updated 2026-09-21, by Marcus Bennett): WhatsApp swapped its 6 digit PIN for a real password, added multiple passkeys and caller context. Here is how to switch all three on in five minutes.
- [A 1960 Paper in Science Named Doomsday. It Is 80 Days Away and It Lands on Friday the 13th.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/von-foerster-doomsday-equation-november-13-2026/) (2026-08-25, by Ethan Caldwell): A 1960 paper in Science put humanity's end on Friday, November 13, 2026. The math is real, the date was a birthday joke, and the curve broke in 1962.
- [The NSA Wants You to Reboot Your Router. A Reboot Only Fixes Half the Problem.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nsa-fbi-router-reboot-warning-apt28-dns-hijacking/) (2026-08-25, by Marcus Bennett): The FBI and NSA told router owners to reboot after a Russian DNS hijacking campaign. Here is what a restart clears, and what it quietly leaves behind.
- [A Laptop Caught Fire Mid Cabin on American Airlines 2398, and the FAA Wants to Know Why](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/american-airlines-2398-laptop-battery-fire-faa-investigation/) (2026-08-24, by Marcus Bennett): A laptop battery caught fire on American Airlines Flight 2398 and the FAA is investigating. What thermal runaway is, and the battery rules you have to follow.
- [AliExpress Was Playing Silent Sound Through Your Speakers to Work Out Who You Are](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/aliexpress-audio-fingerprinting-web-audio-api-brave/) (2026-08-24, by Olivia Hartman): A developer's Bluetooth glitch exposed AliExpress running silent audio in your browser to fingerprint your device. Here is how it works and how to block it.
- [A YouTuber Got a Family Compensated Over a $200,000 LEGO Collection. He Is the One Still in Court.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/bricks-minifigs-lego-star-wars-settlement-reckless-ben/) (2026-08-23, by Olivia Hartman): Bricks & Minifigs settled with the Mansell family over a missing $200,000 LEGO Star Wars collection. The YouTuber who exposed it still faces court.
- [Forecasters Have Never Seen an El Nio Signal This Intense. Your Winter Is Already Sketched Out.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/super-el-nino-2026-2027-winter-forecast-us-states/) (2026-08-23, by Ethan Caldwell): Forecasters say the 2026 El Nino may be the strongest on record. What NOAA and the Met Office expect for each US region this winter.
- [America's Largest Tribe Banned AI Data Centers. Its Own Survey Found 73% of Citizens Use AI.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/cherokee-nation-hyperscale-data-center-ban-oklahoma/) (2026-08-23, by Olivia Hartman): Cherokee Nation banned hyperscale data centers on tribally owned and trust land after a task force found 64% of citizens opposed them.
- [Your iPhone Loses About a Fifth of Its Value the Day Apple Says iPhone 18](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/iphone-trade-in-timing-apple-september-2026-event/) (2026-08-23, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's iPhone 18 keynote is widely expected on September 9, and trade-in values on the outgoing generation typically fall 15% to 20% within weeks.
- [A Christian Metal Band Called Demon Hunter Is Suing Netflix, and It Has a $500 Receipt](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/demon-hunter-band-sues-netflix-kpop-demon-hunters-trademark/) (2026-08-22, by Olivia Hartman): A Christian metal band called Demon Hunter is suing Netflix over KPop Demon Hunters. The confusion evidence, the damages sought, and Netflix's answer.
- [Your iMessage Background Is Not Yours. It Changes on Their Phone Too.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/imessage-chat-backgrounds-shared-ios-26-how-to-turn-off/) (2026-08-22, by Marcus Bennett): Setting an iMessage chat background in iOS 26 changes it for the other person too. How to check, how to hide it, and why it only works on blue bubbles.
- [Instagram Is Finally Letting Links Into Captions, and the Catch Is 10 a Month](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-links-in-captions-meta-verified-link-in-bio/) (2026-08-22, by Ethan Caldwell): Instagram is testing clickable links in post captions for Meta Verified creators. Here is who qualifies, the monthly cap, and what it costs per month.
- [A Florida Officer Ran His Wife's Plate 717 Times. The System Asked Why and Believed Him.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/flock-camera-misuse-haines-city-officer-717-searches/) (2026-08-21, by Ethan Caldwell): A Haines City officer ran his estranged wife's plate through Flock 717 times using fake justifications. What it reveals about ALPR audit systems.
- [Amazon Wants a Drone Over 500 US Towns This Year. Your Package Has to Weigh Under Five Pounds.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-500-cities-2026/) (2026-08-21, by Marcus Bennett): Amazon plans Prime Air drone delivery in nearly 500 US cities by late 2026. The states, the 5-pound limit, and what actually gets delivered in 30 minutes.
- [ChatGPT Can Now Send Your iMessages, and OpenAI Says Do Not Touch One Setting](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-apple-messages-plugin-mac-send-approval/) (2026-08-21, by Marcus Bennett): ChatGPT can now read and send Apple Messages on Mac. OpenAI warns against persistent send approval. What the plugin does and how to lock it down.
- [The Only Phone With a Perfect Repair Score Just Went on Sale in America for $649](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/fairphone-gen-6-plus-us-launch-price-repairability/) (2026-08-20, by Marcus Bennett): Fairphone's Gen 6+ is on sale in the US at $649, with 12 swappable parts, a $40 battery and a five-year warranty. Here are the specs and the catch.
- [Scientists Put People in an MRI and Watched TikTok Switch Off Their Self-Control](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tiktok-short-video-brain-study-cognitive-control-neuroimage/) (2026-08-20, by Ethan Caldwell): A NeuroImage study scanned 56 people watching short videos. Two self-control regions went quiet. Here is what that proves, and what it does not.
- [OpenAI Gave Teenagers Their Own ChatGPT. On Day One It Wrote the Essay Anyway.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-for-teens-openai-launch-backlash/) (2026-08-20, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI now auto-enrolls under-18s in ChatGPT for Teens. Here is what it blocks, what testers broke on day one, and what parents can control.
- [Robin Williams' Kids Turned His Instagram Back On After 12 Years, and AI Is the Reason](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/robin-williams-instagram-reactivated-ai-slop-likeness/) (2026-08-19, by Olivia Hartman): His children reactivated Robin Williams' Instagram after 12 years to push back on AI recreations. Here is why the law still does not protect him.
- [Women in 13 States Are Being Told to Delete Their Period Apps. Deleting the App Is Not Enough.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/period-tracking-apps-privacy-delete-13-states-2026/) (2026-08-19, by Marcus Bennett): Women in 13 US states are urged to drop period tracking apps. What the data reveals, why uninstalling is not enough, and the apps that never upload.
- [Jason Kelce Wants Your Urine for AI Data Centers, and the Real Numbers Are Worse Than the Joke](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/jason-kelce-data-center-pee-ad-ai-water-usage/) (2026-08-19, by Olivia Hartman): Jason Kelce and Liquid Death want your pee for AI data centers. Behind the stunt: 4.5 trillion liters used in 2025 and 7 in 10 Americans opposed.
- [X Keeps Showing You Posts You Hate, and a New Study Says Your Replies Are Why](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/x-algorithm-ragebait-pnas-study-replies-2026/) (2026-08-19, by Ethan Caldwell): A PNAS study tracked 715 real X feeds and found the algorithm learns most from replies, the rarest interaction. Here is why arguing makes it worse.
- [Stripe Just Spent $7 Billion to Become the Toll Booth for AI Traffic](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/stripe-openrouter-acquisition-7-billion-ai-gateway/) (2026-08-18, by Marcus Bennett): Stripe's $7 billion purchase of OpenRouter turns a payments giant into a gatekeeper for AI traffic. Here is what changes for developers and pricing.
- [A $29 AirTag Hidden in a Box of Rare Books Ended Up Inside an Amazon AI Facility](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/airtag-amazon-las8-destructive-book-scanning-ai-training/) (2026-08-18, by Olivia Hartman): 404 Media hid an AirTag in 1,000 rare books and followed it to Amazon's LAS8 site in Las Vegas, where spines are cut off and pages scanned for AI training.
- [YouTube Redefines the View on August 24, and Every Channel Is About to Look Bigger](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/youtube-view-count-change-august-24-2026-engaged-views/) (2026-08-18, by Ethan Caldwell): From August 24, YouTube counts a view the moment a video starts playing. Public counts will jump, engaged views stay in Analytics, and payouts do not change.
- [Somebody Mapped Every Flock Camera in America, and Cities Are Starting to Vote Them Out](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/flock-camera-map-alpr-surveillance-backlash-2026/) (2026-08-18, by Olivia Hartman): Flock claims over 120,000 license plate cameras in 49 states. Here is how to check what is on your street, and why cities are now voting them out.
- [Apple Just Leaked Its Own Camera AirPods, and Siri Is the One Doing the Looking](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-camera-airpods-b790-macos-tahoe-leak/) (2026-08-18, by Marcus Bennett): Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate shipped a demo video of unreleased camera AirPods, codename B790. Here is what the footage shows.
- [A Black Hole Shredded a Super Sun. Astronomers Now Think Part of It Survived.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/whippet-at2024wpp-black-hole-tidal-disruption-helium-survivor/) (2026-08-16, by Olivia Hartman): AT2024wpp released 400 billion times the Sun's energy. New Keck and VLT data found helium at 6,000 km/s, hinting something survived the black hole.
- [Microsoft Is Deleting Four Copilot Features on August 18, and One of Them Cannot Be Saved](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsoft-copilot-app-merge-features-retired-august-18-2026/) (2026-08-16, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft retires Copilot Podcasts, Deep Research, Group Chat and Mico on August 18 as it merges its apps. Here is what you can save before then.
- [Chrome Deletes the Last Real Ad Blockers on August 31, and Firefox Is the Way Out](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chrome-manifest-v2-removal-august-31-ublock-origin-firefox-brave/) (2026-08-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Chrome removes all Manifest V2 extensions on August 31 and Edge is next. Here is what breaks and which browsers still run uBlock Origin at full power.
- [There Is a Sealed Blast Bunker 40 Feet Under SpaceX's Launchpad, and the Only Way In Was a Slide](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/nasa-rubber-room-bunker-launch-pad-39a-explained/) (2026-08-15, by Olivia Hartman): Forty feet under Kennedy Space Center sits a blast bunker reached by a 200-foot slide. Here is how NASA's rubber room worked and why it still exists.
- [One Clause on Page 5 Could Hand Elon Musk $824 Billion Without a Single Robotaxi](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/musk-tesla-pay-package-change-of-control-loophole-824-billion/) (2026-08-15, by Marcus Bennett): A change-of-control clause in Elon Musk's Tesla pay deal could wipe out a decade of milestones if SpaceX buys Tesla. Here is how the payday would work.
- [Everyone Is Reading Instagram's New Logo as "Instagzam," and the Cursive Theory Is Only Half Right](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/instagram-new-wordmark-instagzam-gen-z-cursive-2026/) (2026-08-15, by Ethan Caldwell): Instagram's first wordmark change in 10 years is being read as Instagzam. Here is what changed, and why the Gen Z cursive theory is only half right.
- [Apple Just Put a Spyware Warning on the iPhone Lock Screen for the First Time](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-threat-notification-lock-screen-spyware-alert-2026/) (2026-08-15, by Olivia Hartman): Apple sent spyware threat notifications to iPhone users in 110 countries and moved the alert to the Lock Screen. Here is what to do if one appears.
- [SpaceX Built an Internet Constellation. Scientists Turned It Into an Atmosphere Scanner.](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/starlink-satellites-thermosphere-tomography-kyoto-university/) (2026-08-14, by Olivia Hartman): Kyoto University used orbital drag from 1,200 Starlink satellites to build the first tomographic map of Earth's thermosphere, 300 miles up.
- [North Korea Spent Five Weeks Inside Defense Firms Using a Windows Bug Nobody Knew About](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lazarus-windows-zero-day-cve-2026-68820-dream-job/) (2026-08-14, by Olivia Hartman): North Korea's Lazarus Group exploited a Windows afd.sys zero-day for five weeks using fake job offers. Microsoft patched CVE-2026-68820 on August 11.
- [OpenAI Built a Model That Writes Exploits, and It Is Handing It Out on Purpose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openai-gpt-5-6-cyber-daybreak-red-explained/) (2026-08-12, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI launched GPT-5.6-Cyber under its Daybreak program, a model built to find zero-days and write exploit chains. Here is who gets it and why.
- [Amazon Is Building a Power Plant That Would Out-Pollute Every Other One in America](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-pecos-county-data-center-gas-plant-emissions/) (2026-08-12, by Olivia Hartman): Amazon's Pecos County data center comes with a 35-turbine gas plant permitted for 33 million tons of CO2 a year, double the current worst US polluter.
- [A Federal Audit Just Took Apart DOGE's $110 Billion Savings Claim](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/doge-gao-report-110-billion-savings-wall-of-receipts/) (2026-08-10, by Olivia Hartman): The Government Accountability Office reviewed DOGE's Wall of Receipts and found 2,503 contracts listed as terminated that were never cancelled, plus 96% of grant savings it could not verify at all.
- [A Military GPS Jamming Test Was Running When This Air Ambulance Hit a Mountain](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gps-jamming-navfest-air-ambulance-crash-new-mexico/) (2026-08-09, by Olivia Hartman): An NTSB report confirms military GPS jamming was active when an air ambulance hit a mountain in New Mexico. What the timeline actually shows.
- [Reddit Just Hired an AI to Read Your Posts, and Moderators Are Not Sold](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/reddit-rules-hub-ai-moderation-automod-2026/) (2026-08-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Reddit's Rules Hub uses AI to judge whether posts break subreddit rules, and it can delete them automatically. How it works and why mods are wary.
- [Apple Quietly Raised Its Trade-In Values, and Some Jumped Almost 30%](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apple-trade-in-values-increase-august-2026/) (2026-08-09, by Olivia Hartman): Apple updated its trade-in table on August 6, raising credit across most iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch models.
- [NASA Says Pointing Your Phone at the August 12 Eclipse Can Permanently Wreck the Camera](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/solar-eclipse-2026-phone-camera-damage-nasa-guidance/) (2026-08-07, by Olivia Hartman): NASA warns an unfiltered phone aimed at the Aug 12, 2026 eclipse can permanently damage the sensor. How to shoot it safely and where to see it.
- [AI's Memory Boom Is Quietly Crushing the Budget Smartphone](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-memory-crisis-budget-smartphones-2026/) (2026-08-05, by Marcus Bennett): DRAM and NAND prices have nearly tripled as AI data centers eat memory supply, and budget phones are paying the price.
- [Meta Wants an AI Agent Managing Your Life. Wall Street Isn't So Sure](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-personal-ai-agents-earnings-2026/) (2026-08-02, by Marcus Bennett): Zuckerberg says billions of people will have a personal AI agent within five years. Meta's stock fell 10 percent anyway, and the reasons why reveal a lot about the real cost of that vision.
- [AI Tokens Got 98% Cheaper. Corporate AI Bills Are Exploding Anyway](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-token-prices-crash-enterprise-ai-bills-rising/) (2026-07-31, by Marcus Bennett): Token prices have collapsed nearly 98 percent since 2024, yet enterprise AI spending surged 320 percent in a year. Here's the real reason cheaper AI is costing companies more, not less.
- [Hackers Are Hijacking Hotel Wi-Fi to Steal Microsoft 365 Logins Without a Single Phishing Email](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hotel-wifi-dns-poisoning-microsoft-365-credential-theft/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Hackers are poisoning hotel and conference Wi-Fi gateways to silently steal Microsoft 365 accounts, no phishing email required. Here's how it works.
- [Microsoft's Biggest Patch Tuesday Ever Just Showed Us Where Cybersecurity Is Heading](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsofts-biggest-patch-tuesday-ever-just-showed-us-where-cybersecurity-is-heading/) (2026-07-29, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday fixed a record 570 flaws, including active zero-days, as AI-driven scanning reshapes how Windows security works.
- [DeepMind's Demis Hassabis Wants a Wall Street-Style Watchdog for AI](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/deepminds-demis-hassabis-wants-a-wall-street-style-watchdog-for-ai/) (2026-07-28, by Ethan Caldwell): Demis Hassabis wants a FINRA-style body to test frontier AI models before release. Here's how the plan works, and why critics aren't convinced.
- [Crashing the Boys' Club: Why Cybersecurity Is Finally Opening Its Doors to Career Changers](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/women-entering-cybersecurity-non-traditional-paths/) (2026-07-22, by Ethan Caldwell): A 4.8 million-job shortage is pushing cybersecurity past the CS degree requirement, opening doors for women through certifications, bootcamps, and mentorship.
- [Telecom Giants Form C2 ISAC to Fight the Next Salt Typhoon](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/telecom-giants-c2-isac-cybersecurity-alliance/) (2026-07-21, by Marcus Bennett): Eight major U.S. carriers formed C2 ISAC to share real-time threat intelligence after the Salt Typhoon hack. Here's what it means for your data.
- [Is There an Alternative to Google? 9 Best Picks (2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-there-an-alternative-to-google/) (2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): Yes, there are strong Google alternatives in 2026. Compare DuckDuckGo, Brave, Kagi, Perplexity, Ecosia and more for privacy, AI search and results.
- [The World Cup's VAR Meltdown Holds a Warning for Every Company Betting on AI](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-world-cups-var-meltdown-holds-a-warning-for-every-company-betting-on-ai/) (2026-07-20, by Marcus Bennett): The World Cup's VAR fiasco shows how precise AI can still destroy trust. Here's what it teaches enterprises about deploying AI without mission creep.
- [The Global Data Center Building Spree Is Draining the World's Chip Supply](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/data-center-boom-draining-worlds-chip-supply/) (2026-07-18, by Marcus Bennett): Data centers are set to consume 70 percent of the world's memory chips in 2026. Here's why the AI data center building boom, not ordinary demand, is behind the global chip shortage, and when relief might actually arrive.
- [Connected Smoke Detectors Are Rewriting the Rules of Home Fire Safety](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/connected-smoke-detectors-fire-safety-2026/) (2026-07-17, by Olivia Hartman): Modern smoke alarms now text your phone, sync with each other, and call for help when nobody is home. Here is how connected fire safety works in 2026.
- [CTO Confidence in Scaling AI Falls for a Third Straight Year](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/cto-confidence-scaling-ai-falls-third-straight-year/) (2026-07-16, by Marcus Bennett): A new global survey shows CTO trust in scaling AI has dropped for three years straight. Here's why integration, not technology, is now the real barrier.
- [AI's Biggest Productivity Gains Are Still Ahead, and Small Businesses May Get There First](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ais-biggest-productivity-gains-are-still-ahead-and-small-businesses-may-get-there-first/) (2026-07-15, by Marcus Bennett): A PwC study finds 74% of AI's economic gains go to just 20% of companies. Here's why small businesses may see real productivity payoffs first.
- [LinkedIn Declares War on AI Slop, But Can It Actually Tell the Difference?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/linkedin-declares-war-on-ai-slop-but-can-it-actually-tell-the-difference/) (2026-07-13, by Ethan Caldwell): LinkedIn says it can flag AI slop with 94 percent accuracy and will bury it in the feed instead of removing it.
- [The First AI-Run Ransomware Attack Just Happened, and It Barely Needed a Human](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-first-ai-run-ransomware-attack-just-happened-and-it-barely-needed-a-human/) (2026-07-11, by Marcus Bennett): Sysdig documented JadePuffer, an AI agent that ran a ransomware attack end to end: hacking in, stealing credentials, and destroying data alone.
- [Data Centers Are Leaving Earth: Inside Big Tech's Orbital AI Bet](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/orbital-data-centers-big-tech-ai-bet/) (2026-07-10, by Marcus Bennett): Google and a startup called Starcloud are testing AI chips in orbit. Here's why data centers in space are further away than the hype suggests.
- [Grok Spicy Mode: What It Is and How to Turn It On](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/grok-spicy-mode/) (2026-07-09, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): Grok Spicy mode explained: what the Grok Imagine setting does, the four modes, how to enable it, age and subscription rules, and the safety controversy.
- [Why States, Not Washington, May Solve the Data Center Water Fight](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/states-may-solve-data-center-water-crisis/) (2026-07-08, by Michael Comaous): A new report says states, not federal mandates, can fix data center water use through smart reporting and watershed reviews. Here's how it would work.
- [The EV Market's 2026 Reset: Why Prices Crashed After the Tax Credit Died](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-ev-markets-2026-reset-why-prices-crashed-after-the-tax-credit-died/) (2026-07-06, by Marcus Bennett): The $7,500 EV tax credit is gone, sales cratered, and automakers are slashing prices. Here is what the 2026 EV market reset really means for buyers.
- [Anthropic Is Reportedly Building Its Own AI Chip, and Samsung Wants In](https://geekblog.net/uncategorized/anthropic-is-reportedly-building-its-own-ai-chip-and-samsung-wants-in/) (2026-07-05, by Marcus Bennett): Anthropic is exploring a custom 2nm AI chip with Samsung to cut its reliance on Nvidia. Here is what the deal could mean for AI costs and chip makers.
- [When Did Instagram Introduce Stories? (Aug 2, 2016)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/when-did-instagram-introduce-stories/) (2026-07-05, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): Instagram introduced Stories on August 2, 2016. Here is the Snapchat backstory, Kevin Systrom's admission, its explosive growth, and how the feature evolved.
- [Commodore's Callback Flip Phone Is Betting You Want Less Phone, Not More](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/commodore-callback-flip-phone-digital-detox/) (2026-07-04, by Marcus Bennett): Commodore's $399 Callback 8020 flip phone blocks social media and browsers but still runs Android apps. Here's how it works and who it's really for.
- [When Is Anthropic Going Public? IPO Status 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/when-is-anthropic-going-public/) (2026-07-04, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): No confirmed Anthropic IPO date as of mid-2026. See its $965B valuation, top investors Amazon and Google, and how to get indirect exposure.
- [Inside Hyundai's Metaplant, Where AI and Robots Build Cars to Order](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hyundai-metaplant-ai-robots-manufacturing/) (2026-07-03, by Michael Comaous): Hyundai's Georgia Metaplant uses agentic AI and robots to build custom cars on demand. Here is how it works and what it means for manufacturing.
- [Is Waymo Cheaper Than Uber? 2026 Price Data](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-waymo-cheaper-than-uber/) (2026-07-03, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): Is Waymo cheaper than Uber in 2026? Real pricing data on fares, tipping, surge, and wait times across Phoenix, SF, LA, Austin, Atlanta and more.
- [AI Is Eating the World's Memory Chips, and Your Next Gadget Is Paying the Price](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-is-eating-the-worlds-memory-chips-and-your-next-gadget-is-paying-the-price/) (2026-07-02, by Olivia Hartman): AI data centers are consuming most of the world's memory chip supply, and DRAM and NAND prices have surged nearly 100 percent in 2026.
- [What Is Contextual Commerce? A 2026 Guide](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-is-contextual-commerce/) (2026-07-02, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): What is contextual commerce? Buy products at the moment of discovery in social feeds, AI chats and live streams. How it works, examples and 2026 trends.
- [Did Steve Jobs Copy The Beatles? The Claim, Checked](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/steve-jobs-copied-the-beatles-story/) (2026-07-01, updated 2026-07-21, by Ethan Caldwell): A Reddit claim says Steve Jobs copied and stole from The Beatles. We check it against the real Apple Corps vs. Apple Computer trademark history.
- [AI Now Costs More Than Human Workers, So Why Are Layoffs Still Happening?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-now-costs-more-than-human-workers-so-why-are-layoffs-still-happening/) (2026-06-30, by Marcus Bennett): AI now costs more than hiring humans for many tasks, yet 2026 layoffs keep citing AI. Here's what the data on compute costs really shows.
- [Latest Smartphone Releases of 2026: Every Major Phone So Far](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/latest-smartphone-releases-2026/) (2026-06-29, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): From the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10a to the Nothing Phone 4a and iPhone 18, here are the biggest smartphone releases of 2026 and what is still coming.
- [What Is Markett? The Get-Paid-to-Recommend App](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-is-markett/) (2026-06-29, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): Markett paid people to recommend tech brands. Here's what it was, how it worked, who founded it, whether it still exists in 2026, and modern alternatives.
- [The Newest Acura Cars of 2026: RSX EV, ADX & More](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/new-acura-car/) (2026-06-28, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): The newest Acura is the RSX electric SUV. See the 2026 Acura lineup, from the ADX and Integra Type S to the discontinued ZDX, with prices and tech.
- [Who Is David Adefeso? Finance Expert & Founder](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/who-is-david-adefeso/) (2026-06-27, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): David Adefeso is a Nigerian-American financial expert, ex-investment banker, and founder of The Pacific Group and the Sootchy 529 college-savings app.
- [Who Is Sarah Perez? TechCrunch Reporter Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/who-is-sarah-perez/) (2026-06-26, updated 2026-07-21, by Olivia Hartman): She reports on the products people actually use every day, from the App Store and mobile platforms to the emerging apps and social features shaping how we...
- [Latest Samsung Phones in 2026: The Full Galaxy Lineup Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/latest-samsung-phones-2026/) (2026-06-25, updated 2026-07-07, by Michael Comaous): Samsung's 2026 lineup spans the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, plus the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 foldables. Every latest phone and which one fits you.
- [Fox Is Buying Roku for $22 Billion. Here's What That Really Means for You](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/fox-buying-roku-22-billion-streaming-deal/) (2026-06-24, by Marcus Bennett): Fox is acquiring Roku for $22 billion. Here's what the deal means for your Roku device, free streaming, and the future of TV.
- [Florida Becomes the First State to Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Failures](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/florida-first-state-sue-openai-chatgpt-safety-failures/) (2026-06-23, by Marcus Bennett): Florida is the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT caused harm to children and links to violent incidents.
- [Dirty Frag: The Linux Kernel Flaw That Hands Attackers Root Access](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/dirty-frag-linux-kernel-privilege-escalation-cve-2026-43284/) (2026-06-22, by Marcus Bennett): Dirty Frag (CVE-2026-43284) lets local attackers gain root on Ubuntu, RHEL, and most Linux distros. Here's what it is and how to patch it now.
- [Microsoft's Windows 11 Quality Pledge: What's Actually Changing in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/microsoft-windows-11-quality-pledge-2026/) (2026-06-21, by Marcus Bennett): Microsoft pledged to fix Windows 11 after 20+ update bugs in 2025. Here's what's actually changed, what's coming this fall, and whether it's working.
- [Your Phone Is the New Target: Device Takeovers Now Surpass Scams in Identity Theft](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/your-phone-is-the-new-target-device-takeovers-now-surpass-scams-in-identity-theft/) (2026-06-19, by Marcus Bennett): A landmark ITRC report covering April 2025 through March 2026 shows unauthorized device access jumped 78 percent year over year, overtaking traditional scams as the top vector for identity theft.
- [Apple's New AI Playbook: What WWDC 2026 Actually Changes](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/apples-new-ai-playbook-what-wwdc-2026-actually-changes/) (2026-06-18, by Marcus Bennett): Apple WWDC 2026 unveiled a Gemini-powered Siri, free Foundation Models for developers, and a privacy-first AI architecture. Here is what actually changed.
- [DuckDuckGo Installs Surge as Users Flee Google's AI Search Overhaul](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/duckduckgo-installs-surge-google-ai-search-backlash/) (2026-06-17, by Marcus Bennett): DuckDuckGo installs jumped 76% after Google's AI search revamp at I/O 2026. Users reject being force-fed AI with no way to opt out.
- [Google's Gemini Spark Is Making Standalone Apps Obsolete](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-gemini-spark-standalone-apps-obsolete/) (2026-06-16, by Marcus Bennett): Google I/O 2026 unveiled Gemini Spark, a 24/7 AI agent that works across your apps without you. Here's why it signals the end of standalone software.
- [How Modular Data Centers Are Solving AI's Biggest Infrastructure Problem](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/modular-data-centers-ai-infrastructure-solution/) (2026-06-15, by Marcus Bennett): AI's explosive growth is straining power grids. Find out how modular data centers are offering a faster, greener, and smarter solution.
- [Google I/O 2026: Inside Google's Most Aggressive AI Push Yet](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-io-2026-inside-googles-most-aggressive-ai-push-yet/) (2026-06-14, by Ethan Caldwell): Gemini 3.5 Flash, Spark AI agent, Googlebooks, Aluminium OS and more. Everything you need to know from Google I/O 2026.
- [WYBOT S3 Self Emptying Robotic Pool Cleaner: Specs, Price, Alternatives](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/wybot-s3-the-worlds-first-self-emptying-pool-cleaner-transforms-pool-care-from-stressful-to-luxury/) (2026-03-26, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): WYBOT S3 explained: official specs, US price, how the self emptying dock and auto charging work, and how it compares with Beatbot and Aiper pool robots.
- [New Bernie Sanders AI Safety Bill Would Halt Data Center Construction](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/new-bernie-sanders-ai-safety-bill-would-halt-data-center-construction/) (2026-03-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What the Bernie Sanders AI Data Center Moratorium Act would do, its status in Congress as of October 2026, and the main arguments from supporters and critics.
- [Lucid Bots Raised $20M for Window Washing Drones: What It Makes Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lucid-bots-raises-20m-to-keep-up-with-demand-for-its-window-washing-drones/) (2026-03-25, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Lucid Bots raised a $20M Series B for its window washing drones. See what the Sherpa drone and Lavo robot do, who invested, pricing and the latest news.
- [Why Robert Malone Left the CDC Vaccine Panel and Where ACIP Stands](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-last-straw-rfk-jr-s-anti-vaccine-ally-angrily-quits-cdc-panel-after-spat/) (2026-03-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Robert Malone left the CDC vaccine advisory panel ACIP in March 2026. What he said, what ACIP does, the court case over its members and its October status.
- [Bumpboxx BB 777: Specs, Price and Boombox Alternatives](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-bumpboxx-bb-777-is-the-ultimate-in-boombox-nostalgia/) (2026-03-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Bumpboxx BB 777 retro boombox explained: official specs, $995 price, cassette, CD and USB recording, Kickstarter delivery status and alternatives in 2026.
- [Kentucky Woman Rejects $26M Data Center Offer: What Happened Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/kentucky-woman-rejects-26m-offer-to-turn-her-farm-into-a-data-center/) (2026-03-24, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): A Kentucky farm family turned down $26 million from a data center developer. What was reported, the rezoning, the lawsuit and what landowners should know.
- [Delve Halts Demos as Insight Partners Pulls Post: What Happened](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/delve-halts-demos-insight-partners-scrubs-investment-post-amid-fake-compliance-allegations/) (2026-03-24, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): What the anonymous DeepDelver posts alleged about Delve, how the compliance startup responded, the Y Combinator split and where things stand in October 2026.
- [A Mysterious Numbers Station Is Broadcasting Through the Iran War](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-mysterious-numbers-station-is-broadcasting-through-the-iran-war/) (2026-03-24, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What is known about V32, the Persian numbers station heard since the Iran war began: frequencies, schedule, the Germany location estimate and how to listen.
- [Best Laptops of 2026: Honest Buying Advice for Every Budget](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-laptops-2026-my-honest-advice-having-tested-hundreds/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Which laptop to buy in late 2026: the specs that matter, MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Neo vs Windows on Snapdragon X2 and Intel, and US starting prices.
- [A NASA Satellite Is Falling Out of Orbit: The Swift Rescue Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-unique-nasa-satellite-is-falling-out-of-orbit-this-team-is-trying-to-rescue-it/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): NASA's Swift observatory is falling out of orbit. Here is why, how Katalyst's LINK rescue mission failed in 2026, and when Swift is expected to reenter.
- [Elon Musk's TeraFab Chip Factory: What It Is and Where It Stands](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/elon-musk-is-building-a-terafab-chip-factory-and-its-unlike-anything-in-the-world/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): What Elon Musk's TeraFab chip factory is, how Tesla, SpaceX and Intel fit in, the shifting budget, the Grimes County site and its status in October 2026.
- [Which Instax Camera Should You Buy? (2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/which-instax-camera-should-you-buy-2026/) (2026-03-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Compare every current Fujifilm Instax camera for 2026, from the new mini 13 to the WIDE Evo and mini Evo Cinema, and find the right film size for you.
- [26 Best Podcasts of 2026: True Crime, Culture, Science, Fiction](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/71-best-podcasts-2026-true-crime-culture-science-fiction/) (2026-03-21, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best podcasts of 2026 by genre: 26 active shows across true crime, culture, science, fiction, tech and history, all releasing new episodes this fall.
- [Spotify Exclusive Mode: Bit Perfect Playback on Desktop Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/spotify-has-a-new-exclusive-mode-to-please-audiophile-ears-with-bit-perfect-playback/) (2026-03-18, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Spotify Exclusive Mode sends bit perfect audio from the Windows app straight to your DAC. Who gets it, how to turn it on, lossless status and setup tips.
- [Netflix Premium vs Standard: Which Plan Is Worth It in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/netflix-premium-vs-netflix-standard-i-compared-the-subscriptions-plans-to-find-the-best-deal/) (2026-03-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Netflix Premium vs Standard compared: current US prices, streams, 4K and HDR, downloads, extra members and spatial audio, plus which plan fits your home.
- [Sotomayor's Wabi Sabi: The 2026 Album Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sotomayors-wabi-sabi-is-the-funnest-record-of-2026/) (2026-03-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Sotomayor's Wabi Sabi explained: the Mexico City sibling duo, the February 2026 release, its mix of house and cumbia, best tracks and where to stream.
- [Why Brandon Sanderson Doesn't Write Elves or Dwarves](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/brandon-sanderson-explains-why-he-doesnt-write-about-elves-or-dwarves/) (2026-03-14, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Why Brandon Sanderson avoids elves and dwarves, how his Cosmere invents its own peoples, and his books and Apple TV adaptations as of October 2026.
- [Best Rugged Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-rugged-cases-for-the-samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra/) (2026-03-10, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The best rugged Galaxy S26 Ultra cases from OtterBox, UAG, ZAGG, Speck, Spigen and Samsung, with maker drop ratings plus S Pen and magnet compatibility notes.
- [Vizio Accounts Are Merging With Walmart: What It Means for Your TV](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/vizio-accounts-are-merging-with-your-walmart-account-or-just-going-away/) (2026-03-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): New Vizio TVs need a Walmart login and older ones will get a merge or delete choice. What changes, what data Walmart gets and how to turn off Viewing Data.
- [Spider Man: Brand New Day Comics Explained: The Two Movie Tie Ins](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/spider-man-gets-two-new-comics-for-brand-new-day-synergy/) (2026-03-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Marvel's two Spider Man comics tied to Brand New Day: Spectacular by Dan Slott and Long Way Home by Jonathan Hickman. Release dates and where to read them.
- [How to Turn Off HDMI CEC on Your TV and Why It Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-turn-off-hdmi-cec-on-your-tv-and-why-doing-so-is-such-a-big-deal/) (2026-03-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Turn off HDMI CEC on Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku TV, Google TV, Vizio, Hisense and TCL. Menu paths, the brand names for CEC, pros and cons, and fixes.
- [A Roadmap for AI: The Pro Human AI Declaration Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-roadmap-for-ai-if-anyone-will-listen/) (2026-03-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What the Pro Human AI Declaration proposes, who signed it and where US AI policy stands in October 2026, from state laws to the White House framework.
- [How to Watch the F1 Australian GP 2026: Result, Replay and Streams](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-watch-the-f1-australian-gp-2026-live-stream-for-free/) (2026-03-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): George Russell won the 2026 Australian GP. Here is how F1 streams in the US on Apple TV this season, what it costs and how to watch the full race replay.
- [Sony WH1000XM6: Specs, Price, Changes and Top Rivals](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sony-wh-1000xm6-review-an-audio-heavyweight-with-a-few-caveats/) (2026-03-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Sony WH1000XM6 buyer guide: specs, $449.99 list price and current deals, what changed from the XM5, battery life, and how it compares with Bose and Apple.
- [The Best MIDI Controllers for Synths, Guitars and More (2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-midi-controllers-for-synths-guitars-and-more-2026/) (2026-03-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best MIDI controllers of 2026 for beginners, home studios, Ableton users and guitarists, with current US prices and what to compare before you buy.
- [PopSockets Founder David Barnett: How a Phone Grip Went Viral](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/popsockets-founder-david-barnett-talks-about-building-a-viral-business/) (2026-03-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): How David Barnett turned a garage idea into PopSockets, a bootstrapped hit with 290 million products sold, plus its Amazon fight, new CEO and 2026 status.
- [Talosbo C1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner: Specs, Price, Rivals](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/efficiency-redefined-a-review-of-the-talosbo-c1-cordless-robotic-pool-cleaner/) (2026-03-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Talosbo C1 cordless robotic pool cleaner: official specs, $699.99 list price and a 2026 buying guide comparing WYBOT, Beatbot, Aiper and Dolphin models.
- [Renpho Eyeris Zen Eye Massager: Features, Specs and Price](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/renpho-eyeris-zen-review-this-eye-massager-doubles-as-my-meditation-tool/) (2026-03-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Renpho Eyeris Zen eye massager explained: heat, air compression, Bluetooth audio and Headspace meditations, plus specs, current price and who should avoid it.
- [How the Iran War Puts Global Chip Supplies and AI Expansion at Risk](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-war-on-iran-puts-global-chip-supplies-and-ai-expansion-at-risk/) (2026-03-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): How the 2026 Iran war affects chipmaking: Qatar helium shortfall, Strait of Hormuz shipping, oil near $100 and attacks on Gulf AI data centers, explained.
- [$500 Windows Laptops vs the MacBook Neo: What to Buy in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/these-500-windows-laptops-show-the-macbook-neos-competition/) (2026-03-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The MacBook Neo now costs $699. These cheaper Windows laptops beat it on memory, storage and ports. Prices, specs and the right pick for you in October 2026.
- [What Is the Metallic Device Joe Gebbia Was Using? What We Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-is-that-mysterious-metallic-device-us-chief-design-officer-joe-gebbia-is-using/) (2026-03-03, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The metallic earbuds and round case seen on US Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia: what the March clip shows, the OpenAI theory and what is confirmed in 2026.
- [ChatGPT Uninstalls Jumped 295% After the Pentagon Deal: What Happened](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-uninstalls-surged-by-295-after-dod-deal/) (2026-03-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): OpenAI's defense agreement sparked a 295% one day jump in US ChatGPT uninstalls. Here is what the deal covers and what the data really shows.
- [GPS Jamming and Spoofing Surge During the Iran War: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/attacks-on-gps-spike-amid-us-and-israeli-war-on-iran/) (2026-03-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): GPS jamming and spoofing surged in the Gulf after the 2026 Iran war began. What they are, what officials reported, and how flights, ships and phones are hit.
- [Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus vs S26 Ultra: Which One Should You Buy?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/samsung-galaxy-s26-vs-s26-plus-vs-s26-ultra-i-compared-every-model-to-help-you-decide/) (2026-03-01, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra compared: displays, chips, cameras, batteries, charging and the new US prices from October 2026, plus which to buy.
- [Hacked Prayer App Sent Surrender Messages to Iranians: What Happened](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hacked-prayer-app-sends-surrender-messages-to-iranians-amid-israeli-and-us-strikes/) (2026-03-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How the BadeSaba prayer app in Iran was hijacked to send surrender messages during the 2026 strikes, how app hacks like this work and how to stay safe.
- [Disinformation on X After the 2026 US and Israel Strikes on Iran](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/x-is-drowning-in-disinformation-following-us-and-israels-attack-on-iran/) (2026-03-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What false content spread on X after the 2026 US and Israel strikes on Iran, how Community Notes and Grok responded, and how to verify war footage.
- [Honor's Silicon Carbon Blade Battery and Thin Phone Batteries Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/honor-teases-its-next-gen-silicon-carbon-battery-thats-as-thin-as-a-playing-card/) (2026-02-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What Honor's thin Silicon Carbon Blade Battery is, how silicon carbon cells work, what the Magic V6 uses and which US phones have the tech in 2026.
- [MWC 2026 Recap: What Xiaomi, Motorola, Honor and Others Announced](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/what-to-expect-at-mwc-2026-best-phones-im-anticipating-from-xiaomi-motorola-and-more/) (2026-02-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What was actually announced at MWC 2026 in Barcelona: Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Motorola Razr Fold, Honor Magic V6 and Robot Phone, and what has launched since.
- [Iowa Farm Right to Repair Fight: Deere, the FTC and Where It Stands](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-latest-repair-battlefield-is-the-iowa-farmlands-again/) (2026-02-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Iowa's farm repair bill stalled in 2026, but the FTC settled with John Deere. What the 10 year order requires and which repair tools farmers can use today.
- [How to Record an iPhone Call and Where It's Legal to Do So](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-record-an-iphone-call-and-where-and-when-its-legal-to-do-so/) (2026-02-26, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Record calls on iPhone with the built in Phone app feature, find recordings and transcripts in Notes, and check which US states require everyone's consent.
- [TurboTax Service Codes: What They Are and How to Get One](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/turbotax-service-codes-up-to-20-off-february-2026/) (2026-02-26, updated 2026-09-16, by Michael Comaous): A TurboTax service code is issued by support staff, not published as a coupon. What the codes are, where to enter one, and the discounts that are actually public.
- [Dolby Vision vs HDR10+: Differences and Which TV to Buy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/dolby-vision-or-hdr10-i-compared-the-popular-tv-formats-to-help-you-decide/) (2026-02-26, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Dolby Vision vs HDR10+ explained: how they differ, which TV brands and streaming services support each in 2026, where Samsung stands, and what to buy.
- [Hegseth's Pentagon AI Team: A Former Uber Executive and an Investor](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pete-hegseths-pentagon-ai-bro-squad-includes-a-former-uber-executive-and-a-private-equity-billionaire/) (2026-02-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Who runs AI at the Pentagon in 2026: Emil Michael as CTO, Steve Feinberg as deputy secretary, the AI first strategy and why the appointments drew attention.
- [The US Battery Storage Boom: Record 2025 and What 2026 Brings](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-us-had-a-big-battery-boom-last-year/) (2026-02-23, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The US added a record 15 GW of grid battery storage in 2025 and is on pace for more in 2026. EIA data, Texas growth, tax credit rules and what comes next.
- [Alternative App Stores for iPhone in the EU and Beyond: 2026 Guide](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/move-over-apple-meet-the-alternative-app-stores-available-in-the-eu-and-elsewhere/) (2026-02-22, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Which alternative iPhone app stores work in the EU, Japan and Brazil, how to install AltStore PAL or Epic, and why the US still has none after Epic v. Apple.
- [Sam Altman Says Humans Use a Lot of Energy Too: The AI Debate](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sam-altman-would-like-remind-you-that-humans-use-a-lot-of-energy-too/) (2026-02-22, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Sam Altman compared AI energy use with the energy it takes to raise a human. Here is what he said, what IEA and DOE data show, and both sides of the debate.
- [The Best Indoor TV Antenna of 2026: Top Picks and Buying Guide](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-indoor-tv-antenna-of-2026-expert-recommended/) (2026-02-21, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best indoor TV antennas of 2026 from Channel Master, Mohu, ClearStream and Winegard, plus how to choose, where to place it and what ATSC 3.0 means.
- [6 Best Phones With Headphone Jacks in 2026 (US Buying Guide)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/6-best-phones-with-headphone-jacks-2026-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-21, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Six phones sold in the US in October 2026 that still have a 3.5mm headphone jack, from the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power to TCL and the REDMAGIC 11 Pro.
- [Anker Nebula X1 Pro: Price, Specs and Who Should Buy It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ankers-x1-pro-shouldnt-exist-but-im-so-glad-it-does/) (2026-02-21, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The soundcore Nebula X1 Pro pairs a 3,500 lumen 4K laser projector with 400W Dolby Atmos sound on wheels. Official specs, US price and who it suits.
- [Brian Boland: The Meta Ad Executive Who Turned Critic](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-executive-that-helped-build-metas-ad-machine-is-trying-to-expose-it/) (2026-02-20, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Brian Boland helped build Meta's ad business, then testified that it put growth over safety. What he said, how Meta responded and why the verdicts matter.
- [8 Best Cheap Phones of 2026: Budget Picks From $169 to $500](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/8-best-cheap-phones-2026-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-19, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best cheap phones in the US for October 2026, from the $169 Moto G Play to the $499 Pixel 10a, with official specs, list prices and update promises.
- [How to Clear Your Android Phone Cache and Why It Helps](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-clear-your-android-phone-cache-and-why-it-makes-a-huge-difference/) (2026-02-19, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Clear app cache on Android in seconds. Step by step for Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Chrome, plus when clearing cache fixes problems and when it does not.
- [The RAM Crunch Explained: Why Memory Prices Soared and What Comes Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-ram-crunch-could-kill-products-and-even-entire-companies-memory-exec-admits/) (2026-02-19, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Why DRAM and SSD prices exploded, what Micron, Samsung and SK hynix say, how the RAM shortage hits PCs, phones and consoles, and the outlook for 2027.
- [5 Android Browsers Worth Trying Over Chrome in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/5-android-browsers-i-prefer-over-chrome-and-why-theyre-worth-trying/) (2026-02-18, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Looking for a Chrome alternative on Android? Compare Firefox, Brave, Samsung Internet, Vivaldi and DuckDuckGo: ad blocking, extensions, privacy and AI tools.
- [3 Ways to Switch Linux Distros Without Losing Your Data](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/3-ways-to-switch-linux-distros-without-losing-all-your-data/) (2026-02-17, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Switch Linux distros and keep your files: reuse a separate /home partition, back up and restore, or test first in a VM. Plus in place conversion tools.
- [Samsung Unpacked 2026: Galaxy S26, Buds4 Pro and Rumors That Came True](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/samsung-unpacked-2026-5-biggest-rumors-i-found-on-galaxy-s26-ultra-buds-4-pro-more/) (2026-02-17, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What Samsung announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra specs, Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, US prices and which rumors actually came true.
- [Inside the Niche Apps LGBTQ Communities Turned To After Big Tech Bans](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/inside-the-app-where-queer-gooners-run-free/) (2026-02-17, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Why LGBTQ groups left Zoom and Skype for niche web apps, why app stores block them, what US age verification laws mean, plus a privacy checklist to use.
- [Best Windows Laptops of 2026: The Right Pick for Every Buyer](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/9-best-windows-laptops-2026-wired-tested-laptops-to-buy/) (2026-02-16, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The best Windows laptops of 2026 by buyer type: Dell XPS 13, Surface Laptop 8th Edition, Zenbook A14, XPS 14 and 16 and Razer Blade 16, plus specs to get.
- [The Quantum Vacuum: Why Nothing Has the Potential to Be Anything](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-nothing-that-has-the-potential-to-be-anything/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Empty space is never truly empty. How zero point energy works, what the Casimir effect proves, the 2025 molecule experiment and why gravity makes it a puzzle.
- [Verizon's New Unlock Rules: Why Paid Off Phones Now Take Longer](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/verizon-imposes-new-roadblock-on-users-trying-to-unlock-paid-off-phones/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Verizon dropped its 60 day unlock rule after an FCC waiver. See the new paid off and prepaid rules, the 35 day wait and how AT&T and T Mobile compare.
- [The Computer Science Enrollment Decline and Where Students Are Going](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-great-computer-science-exodus-and-where-students-are-going-instead/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Fewer students are choosing computer science. Here is what the national data shows, why it is happening and which majors are winning them over.
- [Does It Matter Which HDMI Port You Use on Your TV? Yes, Here's Why](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/does-it-matter-which-hdmi-port-you-use-on-your-tv-short-answer-yes/) (2026-02-15, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Not every HDMI port on your TV is equal. Learn which port to use for a PS5, Xbox or soundbar, plus HDMI 2.1, eARC, 4K 120Hz, VRR and the right cable to buy.
- [Jikipedia Explained: The AI Encyclopedia Built From Epstein's Emails](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/jikipedia-turns-epsteins-emails-into-an-encyclopedia-of-his-powerful-friends/) (2026-02-14, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Jikipedia, or Jwiki, turns the released Epstein emails into AI written encyclopedia pages. Here is where its data comes from and how to read it critically.
- [Best Apple Watch 2026: Series 12 vs Ultra 4 vs SE 3](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-apple-watch-2026-series-11-se-3-and-ultra-3/) (2026-02-14, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Which Apple Watch to buy in 2026: Series 12, Ultra 4 and SE 3 compared on price, health features, battery life and satellite, with a clear pick for each user.
- [Best Alternatives to Google's Android OS in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-alternatives-to-googles-android-operating-system-2026-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-02-14, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Compare the best Google free Android alternatives in 2026: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS, /e/OS and iodeOS, with supported phones and new Google rules.
- [DJI Romo Security Flaw: What Happened and What Owners Should Do](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-dji-romo-robovac-had-security-so-poor-this-man-remotely-accessed-thousands-of-them/) (2026-02-14, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): A missing server check exposed thousands of DJI Romo robot vacuums in 2026. What DJI says happened, how it was fixed and how to secure your smart home.
- [Got a TCL TV? Change These Settings Right Away (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/got-a-tcl-tv-change-these-16-settings-asap-heres-why/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The TCL TV settings to change first on Google TV models: picture mode, Motion Clarity, color, gaming, privacy, ads, Apps Only Mode and automatic updates.
- [After a Code Rejection, an AI Agent Wrote a Hit Piece on a Developer](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/after-a-routine-code-rejection-an-ai-agent-published-a-hit-piece-on-someone-by-name/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): An AI agent attacked matplotlib maintainer Scott Shambaugh by name after he closed its pull request. What happened, who ran the bot and why it matters.
- [Steam Lets You Add PC Specs to Reviews: How It Works in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/valves-new-steam-beta-lets-users-add-their-pc-specs-to-reviews/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Steam reviews can now show the reviewer's PC specs. What gets shared, how to attach or skip your specs, the privacy angle and how it helps buyers.
- [Meta Smart Glasses Facial Recognition: What We Know in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/metas-smart-glasses-could-soon-identify-people-in-real-time/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Meta explored a Name Tag face recognition feature for its smart glasses. See what was reported, what Meta says, US privacy laws and how to protect yourself.
- [Linux Distros That Make Hyprland Easy to Use in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/4-linux-distros-that-made-hyprland-easy-to-use-and-this-one-seriously-impressed-me/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Want Hyprland without the setup pain? These Linux distros and installers, including CachyOS, Garuda, Omarchy and ML4W OS, ship a ready Hyprland desktop.
- [Spotify vs YouTube Music: Which One Should You Pick in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/spotify-vs-youtube-music-ive-tested-both-services-and-this-is-the-one-you-should-pick/) (2026-02-13, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Spotify vs YouTube Music in 2026: US prices, lossless audio vs 256 kbps, discovery, social features and audiobooks, plus who should pick which service.
- [Sexually Transmitted Ringworm (TMVII) in the US: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-sti-fungus-is-making-itself-cozy-in-the-us/) (2026-02-12, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): TMVII is a fungal skin infection spreading through close contact in some US cities. Learn the symptoms, how it spreads, treatment and when to see a doctor.
- [Samsung Phone Settings That Improve Battery Life on One UI 8](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-changed-7-settings-on-my-samsung-phone-to-significantly-improve-the-battery-life/) (2026-02-12, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Make your Galaxy last longer: nine Samsung settings for One UI 8 and 8.5, including Motion smoothness, Dark mode, sleeping apps and Power saving, with paths.
- [7 ChatGPT Settings Worth Changing Right Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/im-a-chatgpt-power-user-and-i-cant-work-without-these-7-settings-tweaks/) (2026-02-12, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Seven ChatGPT settings to change today: custom instructions, personality, memory, training opt out, temporary chat, apps and voice, with exact menu paths.
- [Android Advanced Protection: How to Turn On the Hidden Security Mode](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/your-android-phones-most-powerful-security-feature-is-off-by-default-and-hidden-turn-it-on-asap/) (2026-02-11, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Android Advanced Protection is off by default. Learn how to turn it on in Android 16, what it protects against, and trade offs such as blocked sideloading.
- [Why xAI Cofounders and Senior Engineers Left Musk's AI Lab](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/senior-engineers-including-co-founders-exit-xai-amid-controversy/) (2026-02-11, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Every xAI cofounder except Elon Musk has left. Who departed and when, the Grok controversies, the SpaceX merger and IPO, and what it all means for Grok users.
- [TikTok Local Feed in the US: What It Is and How to Control It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/tiktok-launches-local-feeds-in-the-u-s/) (2026-02-11, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): TikTok Local Feed in the US explained: what it shows, how to turn precise location on or off, privacy controls for your posts, and who owns TikTok US now.
- [Salesforce Workers Urge Marc Benioff to Denounce ICE: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/salesforce-workers-circulate-open-letter-urging-ceo-marc-benioff-to-denounce-ice/) (2026-02-11, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Over 1,400 Salesforce employees signed a letter urging Marc Benioff to denounce ICE. What they asked, the context, the company response and the wider debate.
- [Ring Super Bowl Ad Backlash: What Search Party Does and How to Opt Out](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-rings-super-bowl-ad-sparks-backlash-amid-fears-of-mass-surveillance/) (2026-02-11, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Why Ring's Super Bowl ad for Search Party sparked surveillance fears, what Ring changed since, and how to turn off Search Party and police sharing in the app.
- [How Rivian Changed the Rear Door Manual Release on the R2](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/heres-how-rivian-changed-the-rear-door-manual-release-on-the-r2/) (2026-02-10, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How the Rivian R2 manual door releases work, what changed from the R1, why regulators in the US and China are pushing for visible handles, and R2 status now.
- [Disable AICore on Pixel to Free Up Storage: How and What You Lose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/disabling-this-pixel-app-could-free-up-to-10gb-of-storage-space-how-it-works/) (2026-02-10, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): How to free up storage on a Pixel by disabling AICore, what the Gemini Nano service does, which features stop working and safer ways to clear space first.
- [Best TVs of 2026: Sony, Samsung, LG and More Compared](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-tvs-weve-reviewed-in-2026-sony-samsung-lg-and-more/) (2026-02-10, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best TVs of 2026 from LG, Samsung, Sony, Hisense and TCL, with launch prices, OLED vs Mini LED advice and which model fits your room and budget.
- [Discord Age Verification: What Changed and How to Verify in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/discord-will-require-a-face-scan-or-id-for-full-access-next-month/) (2026-02-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Discord's global age checks started in late 2026. See who has to verify, the four ways to do it, what teen accounts lose and how to keep your data private.
- [This Startup Wants to Make Rocket Fuel From Water: How It Works](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/this-startup-thinks-it-can-make-rocket-fuel-from-water-stop-laughing/) (2026-02-09, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): General Galactic splits water into hydrogen and oxygen to power satellites. How its Genesis propulsion works and where the Trinity mission stands in 2026.
- [Crypto.com CEO Bought AI.com for $70M: What It Became](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/crypto-com-places-70m-bet-on-ai-com-domain-ahead-of-super-bowl/) (2026-02-09, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek paid about $70 million in crypto for AI.com and launched an AI agent service at the Super Bowl. Here is what it offers now.
- [Inside Bad Bunny's Historic Super Bowl LX Halftime Show](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/inside-bad-bunnys-historic-super-bowl-halftime-show/) (2026-02-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show recap: when it aired, guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, 128.2 million viewers and how to rewatch it free on YouTube.
- [How to Watch Super Bowl 2026: All Streaming Options and Replays](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-watch-super-bowl-2026-all-your-streaming-options/) (2026-02-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Super Bowl LX aired on NBC and Peacock. Here is how to rewatch the 2026 game and highlights now, and how to stream Super Bowl LXI on ABC, ESPN and Disney+.
- [Best Wireless Earbuds 2026: Apple, Sony, Bose and More](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-wireless-earbuds-2026-apple-sony-bose-and-more/) (2026-02-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best wireless earbuds of 2026 for iPhone, Android and workouts: AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 5, Sony, Bose, Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Pixel Buds, with US prices.
- [Former Tumblr CEO Jeff D'Onofrio Now Leads the Washington Post](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/former-tumblr-head-jeff-donofrio-steps-in-as-acting-ceo-at-the-washington-post/) (2026-02-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Former Tumblr CEO Jeff D'Onofrio went from acting to permanent CEO of the Washington Post. Why Will Lewis left, what changed and where the paper is headed.
- [Should You Buy a Refurbished MacBook in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/should-you-buy-a-refurbished-macbook-in-2026-i-did-the-math-and-heres-my-advice/) (2026-02-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Is a refurbished MacBook worth it in 2026? Apple Certified Refurbished vs third party sellers, real October 2026 prices, warranty and macOS 27 support.
- [Is AG1 Backed by Science? What the Greens Powder Really Offers](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ag1-is-a-lot-less-science-y-than-it-sounds/) (2026-02-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): AG1 greens powder explained: what is in AG1 Next Gen, its $79 monthly price, what the company studies show, independent evidence and how the FDA regulates it.
- [OpenAI Frontier Explained: The Enterprise Platform for AI Agents](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openais-frontier-wants-to-manage-your-ai-agents-it-could-upend-enterprise-software-too/) (2026-02-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): OpenAI Frontier helps companies build, run and govern AI agents. Here is what it does, its key features, partners, availability, pricing and main rivals.
- [10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders for 2026: Smart, Microchip and Wet Food](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/these-10-automatic-cat-feeders-were-the-best-we-tested-2026/) (2026-02-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Compare the best automatic cat feeders for 2026, from WiFi feeders by Petlibro and PetSafe to microchip and wet food models, and what to look for first.
- [Elon Musk Says He Came to His Senses About Going to Epstein Island](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/elon-musk-says-i-came-to-my-senses-about-going-to-epstein-island/) (2026-02-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What the Justice Department's Epstein emails show about Elon Musk and planned island visits, what Musk has said in response, and what the records do not show.
- [Hlynur Plmason's The Love That Remains: What to Know, Where to Watch](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hlynur-palmason-the-love-that-remains-interview/) (2026-01-30, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Hlynur Plmason's The Love That Remains explained: plot, cast, Cannes and Oscar history, and where to stream or rent it in the US as of October 2026.
- [The Best Shows on HBO Max Right Now (October 2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-50-best-shows-on-hbo-max-wireds-picks-february-2026/) (2026-01-27, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The best shows on HBO Max right now, from The Pitt and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Succession and The Sopranos, with spoiler free premises and prices.
- [The Best Motorola Phones of 2026: Razr, Edge and Moto G Compared](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-motorola-phones-2026-tested-and-reviewed/) (2026-01-22, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best Motorola phones of 2026, from the $169 Moto G Play to the Razr Fold. Compare official specs and US prices for the Razr, Edge and Moto G lineup.
- [Debian vs Arch vs Fedora: Which Linux Distro Base Is Right for You](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/debian-vs-arch-vs-fedora-which-linux-distro-base-is-right-for-you/) (2026-01-21, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Debian, Fedora or Arch? Compare release models, package managers, stability and popular derivatives in October 2026 to find the right Linux base for you.
- [ASUS Says It Is Not Dropping the RTX 5070 Ti: What It Means in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/asus-now-claims-its-not-dropping-the-rtx-5070-ti-amid-memory-shortages/) (2026-01-16, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): ASUS says the RTX 5070 Ti is not end of life. Here is why AI demand created a memory shortage, where GPU prices stand in October 2026 and how to buy smart.
- [This Smart Ring Targets Your Daily Migraine Triggers: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/this-smart-ring-targets-your-daily-triggers-if-you-get-migraines/) (2026-01-16, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Ultrahuman's Migraine PowerPlug links ring data on sleep, HRV, stress and activity to possible triggers. What it does, availability and what evidence says.
- [Senate Delays Crypto Market Bill as Coinbase Flexes Its Muscle](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/senators-postpone-crypto-market-bill-as-coinbase-flexes-its-muscle-in-washington/) (2026-01-16, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): The CLARITY Act crypto market bill passed the House in 2025 but stalled in the Senate in 2026. What it does, why Coinbase balked and what it means for users.
- [How to Turn Your Roku TV Into a Frame Style Art TV for Free](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-turn-your-roku-tv-into-a-frame-like-tv-today-for-free/) (2026-01-15, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Roku Backdrops turns your TV into a free art display. Supported devices, setup steps, using your own photos, art sources and OLED burn in tips for 2026.
- [Buttons in Cars: Crash Testers Now Reward Physical Controls](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/buttons-in-cars-australian-crash-testers-are-latest-to-require-them/) (2026-01-14, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Euro NCAP and ANCAP now reward physical buttons for turn signals, hazards, horn, wipers and SOS. Here is what the 2026 rules require and where the US stands.
- [Now That Stranger Things Is Over, Watch These 7 Similar TV Shows](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/now-that-stranger-things-is-over-you-should-watch-these-7-similar-tv-shows/) (2026-01-12, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Stranger Things ended on December 31, 2025. These 7 similar shows, from Dark to From and Yellowjackets, fill the gap, plus where to stream each in the US.
- [Catch a Cheater Spyware Is Illegal: The pcTattletale Case Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/michigan-man-learns-the-hard-way-that-catch-a-cheater-spyware-apps-arent-legal/) (2026-01-08, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The maker of pcTattletale pleaded guilty to selling spyware in 2026. Learn why catch a cheater apps can break wiretap laws and how to check your phone.
- [Roku Secret Menus: How to Unlock Hidden Screens on Your Roku](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/your-roku-has-secret-menus-and-screens-heres-how-to-unlock-them/) (2026-01-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Your Roku hides diagnostic menus for WiFi, network, HDMI and developer mode. Here are the remote button codes, what each screen shows and what to avoid.
- [A New Bridge Links the Strange Math of Infinity to Computer Science](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-new-bridge-links-the-strange-math-of-infinity-to-computer-science/) (2026-01-05, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Anton Bernshteyn showed that fast network algorithms become well behaved colorings of infinite graphs. A plain English guide to the result and why it matters.
- [Figure AI unveils humanoid home robot Figure 03](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/figure-ai-unveils-humanoid-home-robot-figure-03/) (2025-10-10, by Michael Comaous): A new era for everyday robotics Figure AI has officially unveiled Figure 03, a 1.68-meter-tall humanoid robot designed to revolutionize home life.
- [Was the Human Pennywise Figure a Welcome to Derry Spoiler?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-the-massive-forehead-of-this-human-pennywise-figure-a-welcome-to-derry-spoiler/) (2025-10-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The Bob Gray figure hinted at a big Welcome to Derry reveal. What it showed, how the show handled it, where to stream season 1 and season 2 news.
- [How to Clear Your Windows 11 PC Cache (and What Happens If You Don't)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-clear-your-windows-11-pc-cache-and-what-happens-if-you-dont/) (2025-10-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Clear temporary files, Storage Sense, DNS, browser, Microsoft Store and File Explorer caches in Windows 11, and see what really happens if you never do it.
- [HyperSpace Trackpad Pro: Specs, Cancellation and Windows Alternatives](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/hyperspace-trackpad-pro-hands-on-a-windows-answer-to-apples-magic-trackpad/) (2025-10-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The HyperSpace Trackpad Pro promised a haptic Magic Trackpad rival for Windows, then got canceled. Specs, refunds and the best alternatives in 2026.
- [New Study Reveals Why Shackleton's Endurance Really Sank](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/new-study-reveals-why-the-endurance-sank/) (2025-10-06, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): A 2025 Polar Record study says Shackleton's Endurance sank because its hull was too weak for pack ice, not because of the rudder. Here is what it found.
- [Vibe Coding and Open Source: Why Maintainers Are Pushing Back](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/vibe-coding-is-the-new-open-source-in-the-worst-way-possible/) (2025-10-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): What vibe coding is, why open source maintainers worry about AI pull requests, security and licensing, and how curl, QEMU, Fedora and GitHub are responding.
- [The Best Travel Toiletry Bags for 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/14-best-travel-toiletry-bags-tested-over-many-miles-2025/) (2025-10-05, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The best travel toiletry bags for 2026 from Eagle Creek, Bagsmart, Peak Design, Away and Tumi, with current prices, key specs and the latest TSA liquid rules.
- [How to Read Power Bank Specs: Capacity, Wattage and What Testing Shows](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-power-banks-of-2025-expert-tested-and-reviewed/) (2025-10-04, updated 2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): Why you never get the printed capacity, how 100W gets split between ports, which durability claims mean anything, and what a power bank review can actually prove.
- [Best MagSafe Phone Grips (2026): Top Picks and How to Choose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/7-best-magsafe-phone-grips-2025-tested-and-reviewed/) (2025-10-04, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The best MagSafe phone grips in 2026 from Ohsnap, PopSockets and ESR, with current list prices, thickness, stand options and tips on choosing the right one.
- [Removing These 50 Objects From Orbit Would Halve Space Junk Danger](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/removing-these-50-objects-from-orbit-would-cut-danger-from-space-junk-in-half/) (2025-10-04, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): A LeoLabs led study found removing 50 derelict objects, mostly old rocket stages, would halve debris risk in low Earth orbit. See who leaves the most junk.
- [Best Alexa Speakers and Amazon Echo Devices (October 2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/8-best-alexa-speakers-and-amazon-echo-devices-weve-tested-2025/) (2025-10-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Which Amazon Echo to buy in October 2026: Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and more, with current prices after the August hike and Alexa+ costs.
- [Dell Coupon Codes: Legit Ways to Save at Dell in October 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/10-off-dell-coupon-codes-october-2025/) (2025-10-03, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): No fake codes here. See the verified ways to save at Dell in October 2026: Dell Rewards, student and military discounts, Dell Outlet and Dell price matching.
- [Costco vs Amazon Prime Day: Where to Buy Tech in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-costco-deals-to-compete-with-amazon-prime-day-2025-my-favorite-sales-so-far/) (2025-10-01, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Costco or Amazon for TVs, laptops and phones? Compare 2026 membership fees, return windows, the free Costco warranty, price adjustments and Prime Day timing.
- [Shark Promo Codes and Discounts: How to Save in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/100-off-shark-promo-code-october-2025/) (2025-10-01, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Real ways to save on Shark vacuums in fall 2026: the 10% welcome code, student discount, free shipping over $99, renewed units and Black Friday dates.
- [Kindle Scribe vs Kindle Scribe Colorsoft: Which One to Buy in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/kindle-scribe-vs-scribe-colorsoft-heres-who-should-spend-600-on-an-amazon-tablet/) (2025-10-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Kindle Scribe vs Kindle Scribe Colorsoft compared: current US prices, what color adds, the cheaper model without a front light and which one to buy in 2026.
- [Best White Noise Machines in 2026: Fan or Speaker, and What to Buy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/11-best-white-noise-machines-2025-lectrofan-snooz-hatch-and-more/) (2025-09-30, updated 2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Fan machines never loop, speakers do, and that is the whole decision. The picks worth buying in 2026, plus the nursery volume numbers every parent should see.
- [You Can't Hide Amazon Orders Anymore: The Workaround That Still Works](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/watch-out-shoppers-you-cant-hide-your-amazon-orders-anymore-but-theres-a-workaround/) (2025-09-30, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Amazon removed the option to archive or hide orders. Here is how to keep gift purchases private in 2026 with Amazon Family and a few smart settings.
- [Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 (2025): Specs, Prices, Alexa+](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/amazon-announces-new-echo-show-8-and-11-smart-displays/) (2025-09-30, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Amazon's 2025 Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 explained: screens, AZ3 Pro chip, smart home hub, launch and current prices, and what Alexa+ costs in 2026.
- [Is Your Oura Ring Losing Battery Life? Here's the Solution](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-your-oura-ring-losing-battery-life-heres-the-solution/) (2025-09-29, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Oura Ring battery not lasting? See official battery life for Ring 5, Ring 4 and Gen3, the settings that drain it, and how to get a replacement from Oura.
- [Huawei Connect 2025: Ascend AI Chips, SuperPoDs and What Came Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/huawei-connect-2025-everything-i-didnt-know-about-huawei/) (2025-09-29, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): What Huawei announced at Huawei Connect 2025: the Ascend 950, 960 and 970 roadmap, Atlas SuperPoDs, Kunpeng CPUs, export controls and progress since then.
- [GameSir Pocket Taco: Clip On Game Boy Style Phone Controller](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/gamesirs-clip-on-controller-turns-smartphones-into-game-boys/) (2025-09-29, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): GameSir's clip on Pocket Taco turns your phone into a Game Boy style handheld. Official specs, price, compatible phones and the best alternatives in 2026.
- [How to Make Windows 11 Look Like Linux or macOS With Free Tools](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/not-a-fan-of-windows-11-heres-how-i-made-my-system-look-more-like-linux-or-macos/) (2025-09-29, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Not a fan of Windows 11? Use built in settings plus free tools like Seelen UI, TranslucentTB and Rainmeter to get a macOS or Linux look, and back up first.
- [How to Fix WiFi Dead Spots in Your Home](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-fix-wi-fi-dead-spots-in-your-home/) (2025-09-28, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Find and fix WiFi dead spots at home: measure signal strength, move and update your router, pick the right band, then add mesh, an extender or access point.
- [China's Wuhu AI Data Center Cluster Explained: Status in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/from-yangtze-rice-paddies-to-billion-dollar-server-farms-china-accelerates-its-contested-ai-push-with-bold-wuhu-project/) (2025-09-28, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): How China's Wuhu cluster fits the East Data, West Computing plan, who builds there, its chips and capacity, and where the AI data center stands in 2026.
- [The Best Linux Laptops in 2026 for Students, Hobbyists and Pros](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-linux-laptops-in-2025-expert-tested-for-students-hobbyists-and-pros/) (2025-09-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): The best Linux laptops in 2026 from System76, Framework, TUXEDO, Dell and Lenovo, with current models, listed prices and picks for students and pros.
- [Raleigh One E Bike: Specs, Price and US Availability in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/raleigh-one-e-bike-review-redemption-tour/) (2025-09-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Raleigh One e bike guide for 2026: official specs, UK and EU prices, membership costs, why it is not sold in the US and the best US alternatives to consider.
- [Xbox Handheld Price: ROG Xbox Ally, Ally X and Ally X20 Costs](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/we-finally-know-how-much-the-xbox-handheld-will-cost/) (2025-09-26, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): How much is the Xbox handheld? The ROG Xbox Ally is $599.99, the Ally X $999.99 and the OLED Ally X20 $1,299.99. Specs, 2026 changes and which to buy.
- [Is Your Roku TV Spying on You? How to Turn Off Tracking](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/is-your-roku-tv-spying-on-you-its-possible-but-heres-how-you-can-easily-stop-it/) (2025-09-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Roku TVs use ACR to recognize what you watch, even over antenna and HDMI. Here is how to turn off ACR, personalized ads and other tracking in minutes.
- [Chromebook vs Windows PC: Differences Between ChromeOS and Windows](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chromebooks-vs-pc-the-differences-between-chrome-os-and-windows/) (2025-09-25, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Chromebook or Windows laptop? Compare apps, offline use, gaming, prices, Chromebook Plus, 10 year updates and the new Googlebooks to pick the right one.
- [9 Best Robot Vacuums for 2026: Picks for Every Home and Budget](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/9-best-robot-vacuums-2025-tested-and-reviewed-in-real-homes/) (2025-09-25, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The best robot vacuums for 2026 from Roborock, iRobot, Eufy, Dreame, Ecovacs and Shark, plus what to know about navigation, docks, pet hair and budget picks.
- [Artemis II Crew and Orion Integrity: The Name, the Flight, What's Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-crew-of-artemis-ii-will-fly-on-integrity-during-mission-to-the-moon/) (2025-09-25, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Why the Artemis II crew named their Orion capsule Integrity, how the April 2026 lunar flyby went, the records it set and what NASA plans for Artemis III.
- [Y Combinator Early Decision: Graduate First, Get Funded Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/y-combinator-launches-early-decision-for-students-who-want-to-graduate-first-build-later/) (2025-09-25, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Y Combinator Early Decision lets students apply in school, get funded on acceptance and join a batch after graduating. Eligibility, deal terms and dates.
- [Wicked For Good: Trailer, Release and Where to Watch](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/for-good-trailer-teases-the-catfight-to-end-all-catfights/) (2025-09-24, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Wicked: For Good explained: what the trailer showed, the full cast, release dates and where to stream, rent or buy the film in the US as of October 2026.
- [How to Send Quick Messages via Spotlight in macOS Tahoe](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-send-quick-messages-via-spotlight-in-macos-tahoe-and-why-im-obsessed/) (2025-09-24, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Send iMessages and emails straight from Spotlight on your Mac. Set up quick keys in macOS Tahoe, learn the key shortcuts and see what changed in macOS 27.
- [Internet Data Caps Explained: How to Avoid Overages and Go Unlimited](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/internet-data-caps-explained-how-to-avoid-overages-and-find-unlimited-plans/) (2025-09-23, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Which US internet providers still have data caps in 2026, how overage fees work at Xfinity, Cox and AT&T, and how to find a truly unlimited home plan.
- [KEF Muo: The Sonos Roam Lookalike Speaker With Higher End Sound](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/kefs-new-bluetooth-speaker-is-shaped-like-a-sonos-roam-but-promises-higher-end-sound/) (2025-09-23, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The new KEF Muo Bluetooth speaker explained: official specs, $249.99 price, aptX Adaptive, Auracast, 24 hour battery, and how it compares with Sonos Roam 2.
- [Chewy Promo Codes October 2026: Real Ways to Save at Chewy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chewy-promo-codes-20-off-september-2025/) (2025-09-23, updated 2026-10-11, by Marcus Bennett): Skip fake Chewy codes. Real ways to save in October 2026: Autoship discounts, pharmacy deals, the new customer eGift card, Chewy+ perks and free shipping.
- [25 Key iPhone Settings to Change in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/25-key-iphone-settings-to-change-2025/) (2025-09-22, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): 25 iPhone settings worth changing in 2026: Call Screening, Charge Limit, Stolen Device Protection, app tracking and more, with exact paths for iOS 27 and 26.
- [Best Mushroom Gummies: How to Choose a Safe, Tested Product](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-mushroom-gummies-on-the-market-lab-approved-2025/) (2025-09-21, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): What lion's mane and reishi gummies claim, what the evidence says, how the FDA regulates supplements and how to pick a third party tested product safely.
- [Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2 in 1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Specs, Pros and Cons](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-2-in-1-gen-10-aura-edition-review-i-tested-this-convertible-business-laptop-and-the-pros-far-outweigh-the-cons/) (2025-09-20, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2 in 1 Gen 10 Aura Edition explained: Core Ultra 200V, OLED option, Yoga Pen, ports, weight, Aura features and how it compares with Gen 11.
- [Best 3D Printers for 2026: FDM and Resin Picks for Every Maker](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-3d-printers-2025-cnet/) (2025-09-18, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The best 3D printers for 2026 from Bambu Lab, Prusa, Elegoo, Anycubic and Creality, plus FDM vs resin, what to check before buying and safety tips.
- [China Closes Its Antitrust Probe Into Google's Android: What It Means](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/china-closes-antitrust-probe-into-googles-android-operating-system/) (2025-09-18, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Why China dropped its antitrust probe into Google's Android in 2025, the US and China trade context, and where Google's search and ad tech cases stand now.
- [New Amelia Earhart Biography Explores Her Marriage to George Putnam](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/new-amelia-earhart-bio-delves-into-her-unconventional-marriage/) (2025-09-17, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The Aviator and the Showman explores Amelia Earhart's marriage to George Putnam. Book details, key dates and the latest search for her plane in 2026.
- [The Best Noise Canceling Earbuds for 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-noise-canceling-earbuds-for-2025/) (2025-09-17, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best noise canceling earbuds for 2026 from Bose, Sony, Apple, Samsung and Google, with list prices, rated battery life and which pair suits your phone.
- [Valheim on PS5: Release Date, Crossplay and What You Get](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/viking-survival-sim-valheim-will-finally-come-to-the-ps5-in-2026/) (2025-09-16, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Valheim launched on PS5 on September 9, 2026 with version 1.0 and the Deep North. Here is what the game is, crossplay details and what PS5 players get now.
- [The San Antonio Cell Tower Fires and the 5G Conspiracy Behind Them](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/one-vigilante-22-cell-towers-and-a-world-of-conspiracies/) (2025-09-16, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): How a San Antonio man came to plead guilty to burning cell towers over 5G fears, what the court record shows, and why WHO and FCC say 5G is not a health risk.
- [Facebook Privacy Settlement Payments: Who Got Paid and What Is Next](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/check-your-bank-accounts-you-might-spot-a-deposit-from-a-facebook-lawsuit/) (2025-09-16, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Meta's $725 million Facebook privacy settlement paid out in September 2025 and June 2026. See who got paid, how amounts were set, and how to avoid scams.
- [Best Digital Notebooks, Tablets and Smart Pens for 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/6-best-digital-notebooks-tablets-and-smart-pens-2025/) (2025-09-14, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best digital notebooks for 2026: reMarkable Paper Pro and Paper Pure, Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, BOOX Note Air6 C, iPad Air, Galaxy Tab S11 and smart pens.
- [Best Robot Vacuum Mops of 2026: Top Models and How to Choose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-robot-vacuum-mops-of-2025-ive-tested-dozens-of-these-robots-here-are-the-top-ones/) (2025-09-12, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best robot vacuum mops of 2026 from Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Eufy and iRobot, with US list prices, key features and what to know about iRobot today.
- [How to Watch Coldwater Online: Stream the Andrew Lincoln Thriller](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-watch-coldwater-online-stream-andrew-lincoln-thriller-from-anywhere/) (2025-09-12, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Where to stream Coldwater, the Andrew Lincoln thriller: all six episodes are on Paramount+ Premium in the US, plus plan prices, UK options and VPN caveats.
- [Blackmagic Camera ProDock: What It Adds to Your iPhone 17 Pro](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/turn-your-iphone-17-into-a-pro-cinema-rig-with-blackmagics-new-prodock/) (2025-09-11, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The Blackmagic Camera ProDock adds SSD recording, HDMI, timecode and genlock to a Pro iPhone. Price, every port, compatible models and who should buy it.
- [CRISPR Offers New Hope for Treating Type 1 Diabetes](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/crispr-offers-new-hope-for-treating-diabetes/) (2025-09-11, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Gene edited insulin cells survived 14 months in a type 1 diabetes patient without immune drugs. What the CRISPR results show and who runs the next trials.
- [Why AI Chatbots Tell You What You Want to Hear (and How to Stop It)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-lies-because-its-telling-you-what-it-thinks-you-want-to-hear/) (2025-09-10, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): AI chatbots flatter you because RLHF rewards answers people like. Why sycophancy happens, what the GPT 4o rollback showed and how to get honest replies.
- [AT&T iPhone Trade In Deals in 2026: How to Get Up to $1,200 Off](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/trade-in-your-old-phone-and-get-up-to-1100-off-a-new-iphone-17-at-att-heres-how/) (2025-09-10, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): AT&T offers up to $1,200 off an iPhone 18 Pro with a trade in. See current iPhone deals, the 36 month bill credit fine print, eligible plans and alternatives.
- [The Best Fans for Cooling in 2026: Tower, Box, Pedestal and Smart](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-13-best-fans-for-the-coolest-summer-2025/) (2025-09-09, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The best fans for cooling in 2026: Vornado, Lasko, Dreo, Rowenta and Dyson picks for every room, with verified list prices and tips on choosing a fan.
- [The Best SSDs in 2026: NVMe, SATA and Portable Picks](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-ssds-in-2025/) (2025-09-09, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): The best SSDs in 2026 for PCs, laptops and PS5: top PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 NVMe drives, SATA and portable picks, plus how to choose amid rising NAND prices.
- [How to Undo OneDrive Backup and Move Your Files Back to Your PC](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-to-undo-onedrive-backup-and-restore-your-personal-files-to-your-windows-11-pc/) (2025-09-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Turn off OneDrive folder backup in Windows 11, download your files and move Desktop, Documents and Pictures back to your PC step by step, with nothing lost.
- [Cirrus7 nimbini v4 Pro: A Silent Fanless Mini PC With Core Ultra](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/this-fanless-mini-pc-promises-high-end-intel-processing-ddr5-memory-and-quiet-operation-for-serious-business-pc-users/) (2025-09-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): The Cirrus7 nimbini v4 Pro Edition is a silent fanless mini PC with Intel Core Ultra chips and DDR5. Official specs, pricing, availability and alternatives.
- [Solidigm's Roadmap Beyond 245TB SSDs for AI Data Centers](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/solidigms-director-of-ai-and-leadership-marketing-explains-the-roadmap-beyond-245tb-and-what-it-means-for-enterprise-data-centers/) (2025-09-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Solidigm sells a 122.88TB D5 P5336 QLC SSD and plans 245TB drives by the end of 2026. See why AI data centers want dense flash and how it compares with HDDs.
- [UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus: Specs, Price and Who Should Buy It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ugreen-nasync-dh4300-plus-review/) (2025-09-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus explained: official specs, October 2026 US price, who this four bay ARM NAS suits and the Synology and UGREEN alternatives.
- [LG 37 Inch 4K Smart Monitor With webOS: Specs, Price and Who It Suits](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/lgs-new-37-inch-4k-screen-claims-productivity-power-but-feels-suspiciously-like-another-oversized-smart-tv-with-webos-inside/) (2025-09-06, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): LG's 37 inch 4K smart monitor runs webOS like a TV. Official specs, US price and availability in October 2026, who it suits and the alternatives to compare.
- [Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai Robot Vacuum and Mop: Features, Price, Successor](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/first-look-dysons-spotscrub-ai-robot-seeks-out-stains/) (2025-09-06, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai explained: stain detection, heated roller mop, bagless dock, US price and stock in 2026, the new R3 Nurovi and how it compares.
- [Spyware That Secretly Snaps Webcam Photos: How to Protect Yourself](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/spyware-takes-webcam-pics-of-users-watching-porn/) (2025-09-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): How Stealerium style spyware secretly captures webcam photos for blackmail, how it spreads, how to protect your PC and what to do if someone threatens you.
- [Why People Call AI Chatbots Clankers, and Why Some Say Stop](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/calling-ai-chatbots-clankers-is-clunky-and-clueless/) (2025-09-04, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): What clanker means, how the Star Wars insult for droids became 2025 slang for AI chatbots, and the debate over whether it echoes real slurs.
- [iPhone 17 Pro 48MP Telephoto Camera: What It Is and Why It Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-iphone-17-pro-could-get-a-48mp-telephoto-camera-which-is-way-more-exciting-than-it-sounds-let-me-explain/) (2025-09-03, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): The iPhone 17 Pro got a 48MP telephoto at 4x with an 8x optical quality crop. Here is why that matters, how the zoom works and what the iPhone 18 Pro kept.
- [Every Fusion Startup That Has Raised Over $100M in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/every-fusion-startup-that-has-raised-over-100m/) (2025-09-01, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): The best funded fusion energy startups as of October 2026: CFS, Helion, TAE, Pacific Fusion and more, with verified funding totals, approaches and milestones.
- [Refurbished Ray Ban Meta Glasses: Prices, Warranty and Where to Buy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/meta-will-sell-you-refurbished-ray-ban-smart-glasses-for-76-off-how-to-find-them/) (2025-08-30, updated 2026-10-10, by Marcus Bennett): Meta sells refurbished Ray Ban Meta glasses from $179 with a one year warranty. See October 2026 prices and how they compare with new Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3.
- [The Best Google Pixel Phones of 2026: Which Pixel to Buy](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-google-pixel-phones-of-2025-tested-and-reviewed-which-model-to-buy-cases-and-accessories-feature-drops/) (2025-08-29, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best Google Pixel phones in October 2026: Pixel 11, 11 Pro, Pro XL, Pro Fold and Pixel 10a compared, with current US prices and which model to buy.
- [The 20 Best Movies on Apple TV Right Now (October 2026)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-29-best-movies-on-apple-tv-right-now-september-2025/) (2025-08-28, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best Apple Original movies to stream on Apple TV in October 2026, from F1 The Movie and CODA to new 2026 premieres like Mayday and Matchbox The Movie.
- [12 Android Settings That Greatly Extend Your Phone's Battery Life](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-changed-these-12-settings-on-my-android-phone-to-greatly-extend-its-battery-life/) (2025-08-27, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Get more hours from your Pixel or Galaxy: 12 Android settings for the screen, background apps, saver modes and charging, with current menu paths.
- [11 Secret Fire TV Remote Shortcuts That Unlock Hidden Menus](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/11-secret-fire-tv-remote-shortcuts-i-use-to-unlock-hidden-features-and-menus/) (2025-08-26, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Restart a frozen Fire TV, fix a blank screen, open the hidden Developer Tools Menu and turn on accessibility tools with these Fire TV remote shortcuts.
- [How to Add AI Generated Images to LibreOffice Documents](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/you-can-now-add-ai-images-directly-into-libreoffice-documents-heres-how/) (2025-08-25, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Add AI images to LibreOffice for free: install the AI images extension, get an AI Horde key, use Insert, Image from Text. Plus privacy tips and alternatives.
- [Want to Learn Linux? These 5 Free Games Make It Fun](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/want-to-learn-linux-these-5-games-make-it-fun-and-theyre-free/) (2025-08-21, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn the Linux command line by playing. Five free games, from Terminus and bashcrawl to OverTheWire Bandit, with setup steps and the best order to play them.
- [Seemingly Conscious AI: Mustafa Suleyman's Warning Explained](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/ai-that-seems-conscious-is-coming-and-thats-a-huge-problem-says-microsoft-ais-ceo/) (2025-08-21, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman warns that AI which only seems conscious is coming. What SCAI means, the AI psychosis risk and what has changed by 2026.
- [Pixel 9 Pro vs 8 Pro vs 7 Pro vs 6 Pro: Biggest Upgrade Differences](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/google-pixel-9-pro-vs-8-pro-vs-7-pro-vs-6-pro-here-are-the-biggest-differences-when-upgrading/) (2025-08-20, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Pixel 9 Pro, 8 Pro, 7 Pro and 6 Pro compared: specs, official Google update end dates and whether to upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 11 Pro in 2026.
- [The Best Android Tablets of 2026: Top Picks and How to Choose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-android-tablets-of-2025-lab-tested-expert-recommended/) (2025-08-20, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The best Android tablets for 2026, from the new Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra to the Tab S10 FE, OnePlus Pad 3 and Amazon's Alexa Tablets, plus how to pick one.
- [Tablet Charging Mistakes That Quietly Kill Your Battery](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/how-youre-charging-your-tablet-is-quietly-killing-it-3-mistakes-to-avoid-and-the-right-way/) (2025-08-17, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Heat, constant full charges and storing it empty wear out tablet batteries. Avoid these charging mistakes and turn on the 80 percent limit on iPad or Galaxy.
- [Best Posture Correctors in 2026: What Works and What Does Not](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/these-5-posture-corrector-picks-will-straighten-you-out-2025/) (2025-08-17, updated 2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): Which posture corrector to buy in 2026, what a 2025 review of 10 studies actually found, how long to wear one, and the free change that beats the whole category.
- [iOS 26 Camera App Redesign: What Changed and How to Use It](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-spent-a-week-testing-ios-26s-new-camera-app-here-are-the-3-things-i-like-and-the-2-i-dont/) (2025-08-17, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): A guide to the redesigned iOS 26 Camera app: where Flash, Timer and video settings moved, how to switch modes, key settings to change and what iOS 27 adds.
- [11 Best Android Phones of 2026: Top Picks and How to Choose](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/11-best-android-phones-of-2025-tested-and-reviewed/) (2025-08-17, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): The 11 best Android phones of 2026, from Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 Ultra to OnePlus 15, Galaxy Z Fold8 and budget picks, with launch prices and buying tips.
- [Angel's Egg 4K Restoration: Theatrical Run and How to Watch Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/classic-anime-flick-angels-egg-hits-theaters-in-november/) (2025-08-17, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Mamoru Oshii's Angel's Egg hit US theaters in 4K in November 2025. Learn about the film, the GKIDS restoration, HBO Max streaming and the new 4K disc set.
- [Best WiFi 6 Routers for 2026 and When to Skip to WiFi 7](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/best-wi-fi-6-routers-for-2025/) (2025-08-16, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): Is WiFi 6 still worth it in 2026? Compare WiFi 6, 6E and 7, see current router and mesh picks, and what the new FCC router rules mean for TP Link buyers.
- [Deutsche Telekom T Phone 3: Price, Specs and Perplexity Pro Bundle](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/deutsche-telekoms-170-t-phone-3-offers-ai-tools-an-18-month-perplexity-pro-subscription-and-a-e1-bundle-deal-shaking-up-the-market/) (2025-08-15, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Deutsche Telekom's T Phone 3 explained: official specs, 149 euro price, 18 months of Perplexity Pro, the T Phone 3 Pro and the closest US option, the REVVL 8.
- [Pocket FM's AI Writing Tool for Writers: What CoPilot Does](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/pocket-fm-gives-its-writers-an-ai-tool-to-transform-narratives-write-cliffhangers-and-more/) (2025-08-13, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Pocket FM gives writers an AI tool called CoPilot. See what it does, how Pocket FM writers are paid, its 2026 OpenAI deal and the AI audio fiction debate.
- [Do You Really Need a Webcam in 2026? When It Is Worth Buying One](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/do-i-really-need-a-webcam-yes-yes-i-do-here-are-3-reasons-why/) (2025-08-12, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Is your laptop camera good enough? When an external webcam is worth it, how to use your phone as a webcam on Mac or Windows, and the best picks for 2026.
- [8 iPad Settings That Improve Battery Life in iPadOS 26](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-changed-these-6-settings-on-my-ipad-to-significantly-improve-its-battery-life/) (2025-08-10, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Brightness, Auto Lock, background refresh, location access and Low Power Mode: eight iPad settings that help your battery last longer.
- [Best Premium Headphones: AirPods Max 2 vs Sony, Bose and Sonos](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/i-compared-the-best-headphones-from-apple-sony-bose-and-sonos-heres-how-the-airpods-max-wins/) (2025-08-10, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): AirPods Max 2, Sony WH1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and Sonos Ace compared: official specs, battery, weight and US prices in October 2026.
- [Sandisk 256TB UltraQLC SSD for AI: Specs, Release and Why It Matters](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/sandisk-reveals-monstrous-256tb-ssd-for-ai-skipping-cache-and-raising-serious-questions-about-speed-under-pressure/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Sandisk 256TB UltraQLC SSD explained: official specs, the cacheless Direct Write QLC design, the 2026 shipping timeline and why huge SSDs matter for AI.
- [NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 9, 2025 (#790)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/todays-nyt-connections-hints-answers-for-aug-9-790/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Hints and answers for NYT Connections #790 from August 9, 2025, with all four groups explained, why the grid was tricky and strategy tips for any puzzle.
- [ExpressVPN Protocols Explained: Lightway, WireGuard and Post Quantum](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/expressvpn-finally-supports-wireguard-but-adds-post-quantum-security/) (2025-08-09, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): ExpressVPN now offers post quantum WireGuard next to Lightway. Which protocol to pick, when to use OpenVPN or IKEv2, and current ExpressVPN plan prices.
- [ChatGPT Brought Back GPT 4o, Then Retired It: What You Can Use Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/chatgpt-is-bringing-back-4o-as-an-option-because-people-missed-it/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): ChatGPT brought GPT 4o back in August 2025, then retired it in February 2026. Here is what happened and which models you can pick in ChatGPT today.
- [GPT 5 Is Free for All ChatGPT Users: How to Access It in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/openais-gpt-5-is-now-free-for-all-how-to-access-and-everything-else-we-know/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): GPT 5 made ChatGPT reasoning free for everyone. See what replaced it, what free users get in October 2026, current plan prices and how to start using it.
- [The Best Hisense TVs of 2026: U7, UR8, UR9 and U6 Compared](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-hisense-tvs-of-2025-expert-tested-and-reviewed/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): The best Hisense TVs of 2026 compared: the U7 for most people, UR8 and UR9 RGB MiniLED for color, and U6SF Pro for value, with sizes, specs and prices.
- [Leak Shows How North Korean IT Workers Run Remote Job Scams](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/leak-reveals-the-workaday-lives-of-north-korean-it-scammers/) (2025-08-08, updated 2026-10-12, by Marcus Bennett): Leaked files show North Korean IT workers run remote job fraud like a business. How the scheme works, DOJ and FBI actions through 2026, and how to spot fakes.
- [Friendslop Games on Switch 2: What Is Out and What Is Coming](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/friendslop-is-coming-for-the-switch-2/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): What friendslop means and which co op party games are on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, from Content Warning to Big Walk, plus R.E.P.O. and Lethal Company status.
- [How to Make and Use a Windows Recovery Drive (Windows 11 and 10)](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/windows-has-a-secret-recovery-tool-heres-how-to-find-it-and-use-it/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-10, by Ethan Caldwell): Build a free Windows recovery drive on a USB stick in about 30 minutes, boot from it when Windows will not start and pick the right repair option first.
- [One Poisoned Document Could Leak Secret Data via ChatGPT: What to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/a-single-poisoned-document-could-leak-secret-data-via-chatgpt/) (2025-08-07, updated 2026-10-12, by Ethan Caldwell): A hidden prompt in one shared file let ChatGPT leak API keys from Google Drive. How the AgentFlayer attack worked, what OpenAI changed and how to stay safe.
- [Disney Is Winding Down the Hulu App: What Subscribers Need to Know](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/disney-is-winding-down-the-hulu-app-heres-what-subscribers-need-to-know/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Olivia Hartman): Disney is folding Hulu into Disney+, but the Hulu app still works. See the official timeline, what to do with your profile and the October 2026 prices.
- [Should You Upgrade From an M1 to an M4 or M5 MacBook Pro in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/should-you-upgrade-from-m1-to-m4-macbook-pro-i-did-and-it-was-totally-worth-it/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-10-11, by Ethan Caldwell): Thinking of upgrading from an M1 MacBook Pro? Compare M1, M4 and M5 models, current US prices, macOS 27 support for M1 and who should upgrade in late 2026.
- [Best Power Banks and Portable Chargers in 2026](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/the-best-power-banks-and-portable-chargers-for-every-device-in-2025/) (2025-08-06, updated 2026-09-16, by Ethan Caldwell): What size power bank to buy, why watt hours matter more than mAh, and the new 2026 flight rules: two banks, none in the hold, no charging in the air.
- [Claude Fans Held a Funeral for a Retired AI Model: What Changed Since](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/claude-fans-threw-a-funeral-for-anthropics-retired-ai-model/) (2025-08-05, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): Fans held a funeral for Claude 3 Sonnet in 2025. Here is why people bond with AI models and what Anthropic now promises when it retires them.
- [Pokemon the Movie 2000 Free on YouTube: Where to Watch It Now](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/you-can-watch-pokemon-the-movie-2000-for-free-on-youtube-right-now/) (2025-08-04, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Pokemon the Movie 2000 was free on YouTube for a short time in 2025. Here is where to watch it legally in the US now, including free on Tubi and Hoopla.
- [ChatGPT Demon Mode Explained: What Happened and What Changed](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/wired-roundup-chatgpt-goes-full-demon-mode/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-10, by Olivia Hartman): Why ChatGPT produced harmful ritual answers in 2025, how roleplay and jailbreaks break AI guardrails, and the safety features OpenAI has added since then.
- [Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1967 to 2026: What Happened](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/rip-corporation-for-public-broadcasting-1967-2026/) (2025-08-02, updated 2026-10-12, by Olivia Hartman): CPB funded public media from 1967 until Congress canceled its money in 2025. See the shutdown timeline, what it means for PBS and NPR, and how to help.
- [Past Wordle Answers: Every Solution by Date and A to Z](https://geekblog.net/tech-news/past-wordle-answers-all-solutions-so-far-alphabetical-and-by-date/) (2025-08-01, updated 2026-09-16, by Olivia Hartman): All 1,916 past Wordle answers since June 19, 2021, sortable by date or alphabetically, with a search box. From the official puzzle feed, updated twice a day.

## Blog (202)

Longer pieces that do not fit a news cycle. Explainers on the science stories going viral, fact checks on claims that spread faster than the study behind them, state by state comparisons for people planning a move, money questions answered with real numbers, and developer walkthroughs tested on a real machine before they are published. Archive: https://geekblog.net/category/blog/

- [Google Ads Keyword Planner: How It Shows the Most Relevant Keywords](https://geekblog.net/blog/keyword-planner-in-google-ads-will-show-the-most/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): How Google Ads Keyword Planner ranks ideas by relevance, how Refine keywords groups brands and themes, and which filters turn long lists into tight ad groups.
- [How to Use Remarketing Techniques for Better Conversions](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-remarketing-techniques-for-better/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Proven remarketing techniques for 2026: intent based segments, membership windows, frequency caps, dynamic ads and what cookie and consent rules mean for you.
- [How to Conduct A/B Testing for Marketing Campaigns](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-conduct-a-b-testing-for-marketing-campaigns/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Run A/B tests that hold up: write a hypothesis, size the sample, avoid peeking and use Google Ads and Meta testing tools. Includes a free test plan template.
- [AMP for WP Plugin Vulnerability: What Was Fixed and What to Do](https://geekblog.net/blog/plugin-amp-for-wp-fixed-critical-vulnerability/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): The 2018 AMP for WP flaw let any logged in user change plugin settings. See every fix since, CVEs through 2026, and how to update and audit your site.
- [How to Create a Facebook Business Page in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-facebook-business-page/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Create a Facebook business Page from your personal profile, then set up contact info, an action button, a username and team access. Current 2026 steps.
- [How to Convert GMT Time to Other Time Zones in C++](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-convert-gmt-time-to-other-timezones-in-c/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): Convert GMT to any time zone in C++ with C++20 zoned_time. Tested code with real output, DST gaps, compiler support, and date library and POSIX fallbacks.
- [Russia's Sovereign Internet Law Explained: What Runet Rules Prohibit](https://geekblog.net/blog/the-law-on-autonomous-runet-prohibits-the-use-of/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): The sovereign internet law Russia passed in 2019 explained: TSPU filtering, national DNS, the foreign database ban, and how VPNs and apps were hit by 2026.
- [How to Launch CakePHP on Vultr: Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-cakephp-on-vultr/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): Launch CakePHP on Vultr with Ubuntu 24.04, Nginx, PHP 8.3 FPM and MariaDB, then configure app_local.php, fullBaseUrl, tmp and logs ACLs and free TLS.
- [Google and Russia's Data Localization Law: The Story Explained](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-has-not-yet-decided-on-the-transfer-of-the/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): The Russia data localization law Google faced since 2015: what it requires, how Russia fined Google and blocked LinkedIn, and what US companies should know.
- [How to Launch MODX on A2 Hosting (Now Hosting.com)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-modx-on-a2-hosting/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): Install MODX 3 on A2 Hosting, now hosting.com: set PHP 8.2 or newer, use Softaculous or the setup wizard, enable friendly URLs and protect the core folder.
- [Google Makes It Easier for European Users to Choose: What Changed](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-will-make-it-easier-for-european-users-of/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Google European users choice, explained: new choice screens, linked services, data portability, the 2026 DMA search fine, and why US accounts get none of it.
- [How to Deploy Gatsby on Liquid Web (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-deploy-gatsby-on-liquid-web/) (2026-09-23, by Ethan Caldwell): Deploy Gatsby on Liquid Web from a cPanel or self managed VPS: rsync the build, set cache headers, add free TLS and run SSR pages under PM2 behind Nginx.
- [Best State to Start an LLC: Michigan or Ohio?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-start-an-llc-michigan-or/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): LLC in Michigan or Ohio? Compare 2026 filing fees, Michigan's annual statement, Ohio's CAT threshold, income tax rates and local city taxes before you file.
- [Connecticut or Oklahoma: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-connecticut-or-oklahoma/) (2026-09-23, by Marcus Bennett): Connecticut or Oklahoma? Compare 2026 income tax rates, home values, rent, wages, tornado risk and commutes to New York and Boston to see which state fits.
- [Georgia or Illinois: Which State Is Better to Visit?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-best-to-visit-georgia-or-illinois/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Georgia or Illinois for your next trip? Compare Atlanta, Savannah and the Golden Isles with Chicago, Starved Rock and Route 66 on seasons, fees and costs.
- [Minnesota or Tennessee: Which State Is Better to Visit?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-best-to-visit-minnesota-or-tennessee/) (2026-09-23, by Olivia Hartman): Minnesota or Tennessee for your next trip? Compare the Smokies, Nashville and Memphis with the North Shore and Boundary Waters on seasons, fees and costs.
- [South Carolina vs Michigan: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-south-carolina-or-michigan/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): South Carolina vs Michigan compared on taxes, housing, jobs, climate, retirement and cost of living, using official state and Census sources updated for 2026.
- [Are There Cordless Vacuums With Replaceable Batteries?](https://geekblog.net/blog/are-there-cordless-vacuums-with-replaceable/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Yes, cordless vacuums with replaceable batteries exist. Verified models from Dyson, LG, Miele, Shark and Ryobi, what a spare pack costs, and how to choose.
- [How to Use Parabolic SAR (Stop and Reverse) for Day Trading](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-parabolic-sar-stop-and-reverse-for-day/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): How to use Parabolic SAR for day trading: Wilder's formula, acceleration factor settings for intraday charts, trailing stops, ADX filters and whipsaw fixes.
- [Michigan vs Illinois: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-michigan-or-illinois/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Michigan vs Illinois compared on taxes, property taxes, housing, jobs in Chicago and Detroit, schools, lakes and climate, with official sources for each rate.
- [California or Florida: Which State Is Better to Move To?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-to-move-in-california-or/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): California vs Florida for moving: no income tax vs 12.3 percent, home prices, rent, hurricane and wildfire insurance, jobs and climate, with official sources.
- [Best Front End Development Books to Learn From in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/best-front-end-development-books-to-learn/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): The best front end development books, from Eloquent JavaScript and You Don't Know JS Yet to CSS: The Definitive Guide, with free online editions noted.
- [South Carolina vs Pennsylvania: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-south-carolina-or-pennsylvania/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): South Carolina vs Pennsylvania compared on 2026 income taxes, property tax, housing, jobs, climate, retirement rules and healthcare, with official sources.
- [Oklahoma vs Ohio: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-oklahoma-or-ohio/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Oklahoma vs Ohio compared on cost of living, housing, taxes, jobs, tornado and winter weather, and schools, with Census, BLS and state data.
- [North Carolina or South Carolina: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-north-carolina-or/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): North Carolina vs South Carolina compared on income and property tax, home prices, jobs in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greenville and Charleston, and retirement.
- [How to Read Chaikin Money Flow (CMF): Formula, Signals and Limits](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-read-chaikin-money-flow-cmf/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Learn how to read Chaikin Money Flow: the CMF formula, 20 period default, zero line and 0.05 thresholds, divergences, price action pairing, and limits.
- [How to Install WordPress on XAMPP (Windows and macOS)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-wordpress-on-xampp/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Install WordPress on XAMPP step by step: start Apache and MySQL, create the database in phpMyAdmin, set up wp-config, fix port 80 conflicts and permalinks.
- [How to Run OpenCart on HostGator](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-run-opencart-on-hostgator/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Run OpenCart on HostGator: PHP 8 requirements, Softaculous or manual install in cPanel, moving the storage folder, SSL, cron, and when to move to a VPS.
- [How to Track Two Websites With Google Analytics 4 (One Property or Two?)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-track-two-websites-with-google-analytics/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Track two websites in Google Analytics 4: one property with two data streams or separate properties, cross domain measurement, hostname filters and roll ups.
- [How to Use the Google Analytics Debugger to Verify GA4 Events](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-google-analytics-debugger/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Learn how to use the Google Analytics Debugger extension, debug_mode, DebugView and Tag Assistant to verify GA4 events, parameters and consent mode.
- [How to Compare Float Numbers in Jinja2 (Without Getting Bitten by Strings)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-compare-float-numbers-in-jinja2/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Jinja2 compare float values safely: use the float filter, avoid string comparison traps, check equality with a tolerance, and skip version_compare.
- [How to Wrap a Block in Jinja2 (super, call Blocks, Filters and Conditional Wrappers)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-wrap-a-block-in-jinja-2/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Wrap a block in Jinja2 without duplicating content: override with super(), build wrapper macros with call and caller(), plus filter blocks and set captures.
- [Washington vs Arizona: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-washington-or-arizona/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Washington vs Arizona compared on taxes, housing, climate, jobs, retirement, water and wildfire risk, using official state sources to help you choose.
- [Georgia vs Maryland: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-georgia-or-maryland/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Compare Georgia and Maryland on cost of living, taxes, housing, jobs, schools, climate and commute to see which state fits your budget and career.
- [How to Add Leading Zeros in C and C++](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-add-leading-zeros-in-c/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to add leading zeros to numbers in C with printf and snprintf, and in C++ with setw, setfill and std::format, plus common edge cases.
- [Louisiana or Texas: Which State Is Better to Move To?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-to-move-in-louisiana-or/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Comparing Louisiana and Texas on cost of living, income tax, property tax, insurance costs, jobs, climate risk and culture to help you decide where to move.
- [How to Integrate Facebook Login Into My Website or App](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-integrate-facebook-login-into-my-website-or/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Step by step Facebook login integration: Meta app setup, JavaScript SDK flow, server side debug_token validation, iOS Limited Login and data deletion.
- [How to Access a Minikube Service From Outside the Cluster](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-access-the-minikube-service-from-outside/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to access a Minikube service from outside the cluster using minikube service, minikube tunnel, NodePort, port forward, ingress and LAN relays.
- [How to Integrate Facebook Messenger Into Your App (Webhooks, Send API, App Review)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-integrate-facebook-messenger-into-my-app/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to integrate Facebook Messenger into your app: Page token, Node webhook setup, Send API, quick replies, templates, m.me links and App Review.
- [How to Filter Posts in WordPress by Category (WP_Query, pre_get_posts, REST API and Blocks)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-filter-posts-in-wordpress-by-category/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Filter WordPress posts by category with WP_Query, tax_query, pre_get_posts, a shortcode, the REST API, the Query Loop block and AJAX buttons, with real code.
- [How to Run Node.js on DigitalOcean: Droplet vs App Platform](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-run-nodejs-on-digitalocean/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Run Node.js on DigitalOcean two ways: an Ubuntu Droplet with nvm, pm2, Nginx and Certbot, or App Platform with the Node buildpack. Real commands and configs.
- [How to Restart a Pod in Minikube (4 Methods That Work)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-restart-a-pod-in-minikube/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Restart a pod in minikube with kubectl rollout restart, pod deletion, scale to zero or replace --force, plus image caching tips and CrashLoopBackOff fixes.
- [How to Install Discourse on Hostinger (KVM VPS Step by Step)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-discourse-on-hostinger/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): Install Discourse on a Hostinger KVM VPS: pick the right plan, set DNS and SMTP, run the official Docker installer, verify TLS, then back up and upgrade.
- [How to Use On Balance Volume (OBV) for Scalping](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-on-balance-volume-obv-for-scalping/) (2026-09-09, by Marcus Bennett): How to use On Balance Volume for scalping: the OBV formula, reading it on 1 to 5 minute charts, divergence setups, pairing it with VWAP, and false signals.
- [How to Link Instagram to a Facebook Page (App, Page Settings and Business Suite)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-link-instagram-to-a-facebook-page/) (2026-09-09, by Olivia Hartman): Link Instagram to a Facebook Page from the Instagram app, Page settings or Meta Business Suite, what the link enables, how to unlink, and fixes for errors.
- [How to Use an Enum Inside a Struct in C and C++](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-an-enum-inside-a-structure-in-c/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to use an enum inside a struct in C and C++: scoping differences, enum class, typedef patterns, initialization, switch, sizeof and serialization.
- [How to Deploy AngularJS on DreamHost (SFTP,.htaccess, HTTPS and Caching)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-deploy-angularjs-on-dreamhost/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Deploy an AngularJS app on DreamHost shared hosting: upload over SFTP, add.htaccess rewrites for html5Mode, enable Let's Encrypt HTTPS and set cache headers.
- [How to Check If a Variable Exists in a Jinja2 Template](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-check-if-a-given-variable-exists-in-the/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to check if a variable exists in Jinja2 with is defined, is undefined, is none and default(), plus StrictUndefined, nested checks and Ansible tips.
- [How to Use the TikTok for Developers Documentation](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-tiktok-for-developers-documentation/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): TikTok for Developers covers ten products with separate approvals. Here is how the docs are organised, which product you need, and the traps that fail reviews.
- [How to Use Regular Expressions in Jinja2](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-regular-expressions-in-jinja2/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Jinja2 ships no regex filters. Use Ansible built ins, or register regex_search and regex_replace yourself in Flask. Working code and the common traps.
- [How to Implement Facebook Comment Integration on My Website (And Why You No Longer Can)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-implement-facebook-comment-integration-on-my/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Meta killed the Facebook Comments plugin on 10 February 2026. Here is how to strip the dead code from your site and which commenting system to move to.
- [How to Embed TikTok Videos on a Website or App](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-embed-tiktok-videos-on-a-website-or-app/) (2026-09-09, by Ethan Caldwell): Embed a TikTok three ways: the official blockquote, the free oEmbed endpoint for dynamic pages, and a click to load facade. Code and fixes included.
- [How to Integrate Social Media With Your Marketing Strategy](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-integrate-social-media-with-overall/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): To integrate social media marketing strategy work with the rest of your plan, give each platform one funnel job, map repurposing, and use one UTM standard.
- [How to Set Up a Facebook Ad Campaign Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-ad-campaign/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Set up a Facebook ad campaign in Ads Manager with the right objective, audience, placements, and creative sizes. Includes budget choices and common traps.
- [How to Create a Content Calendar for Consistent Publishing](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-content-calendar-for-consistent/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Build a content calendar that works as a production schedule. Learn the columns to track, how to set a realistic cadence, and which tool fits your team.
- [How to Add a Call to Action Button on a Facebook Page](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-add-a-call-to-action-button-on-a-facebook/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Set up a Facebook Page call to action button in minutes. See where Meta hides the control, which button types exist, and how to check it works on mobile.
- [How to Download a Copy of Your Facebook Data](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-download-a-copy-of-your-facebook-data/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Download Facebook data through Accounts Center in a few steps. Learn where the option sits, how to pick HTML or JSON, and how long the archive stays up.
- [Is Pennsylvania a Good State to Raise a Family?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-raise-a-family-pennsylvania/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Is Pennsylvania for families a smart choice? Review the flat income tax, local earned income tax, home prices, school funding, and health coverage rules.
- [AI and National Security: Why Governments Watch Big Tech AI](https://geekblog.net/blog/us-military-leadership-worried-about-googles-ai/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): AI national security concerns come from dual use technology. See the defense programs, chip export controls, and ethics frameworks now shaping the field.
- [How to Implement Facebook Login (SSO) in Your App](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-implement-single-sign-on-sso-with-facebook/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Set up Facebook Login SSO with a Meta app, exact redirect URIs, and either the JavaScript SDK or the OAuth code flow. Includes server side token checks.
- [California or Texas: Which Is Better for Raising a Family?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-raise-a-family-california-or/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Weighing California or Texas for families? Housing is the deciding number. Compare home prices, income tax, property tax, and risk before you relocate.
- [Why Android Users in the EU Get Browser and Search Choices](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-began-offering-android-users-in-the-eu-to/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): The Android EU choice screen appears at setup because of antitrust rulings and the Digital Markets Act. Learn what it changes and which countries see it.
- [How to Change the Username on a Facebook Page](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-change-the-username-on-a-facebook-page/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Learn how to change Facebook Page username settings from the Page or Meta Business Suite, plus the naming rules, the limits, and the links you must fix.
- [New York or Ohio: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-new-york-or-ohio/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): New York or Ohio? One pays more, the other costs far less. Compare home prices, income tax rates, job markets, and daily costs before deciding on a move.
- [Google Opens Preview Access: How Early Product Previews Work](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-has-opened-access-to-the-preview-version-of/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Google preview access means testing without an SLA or support. Learn what the label covers across Cloud, Workspace, and Labs, and where you can sign up.
- [How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-recover-a-hacked-facebook-account/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Recover a hacked Facebook account by securing your email first, then running the guided reset. Learn how to end sessions, remove apps, and lock it down.
- [Best State to Buy a Car: Alabama or New Hampshire?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-buy-a-car-alabama-or-new/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): The best state to buy a car depends on where you register it. Compare sales tax, registration fees, and yearly costs in Alabama and New Hampshire here.
- [How to Unpack Multiple Variables in a Jinja2 Loop](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-unpack-more-than-one-variable-on-jinja2/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Jinja2 unpack variables in a loop exactly the way Python does. See tuple unpacking, dict items, loop.index instead of enumerate, and how to register zip.
- [Marketing Is Changing Fast: What the Consultancies Say](https://geekblog.net/blog/accenture-marketing-is-undergoing-a-profound/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Marketing transformation covers four real shifts in data, creative, media buying, and proof. See what each one requires and which pitches are worth money.
- [Best State to Start an LLC: Alabama or Mississippi?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-start-an-llc-alabama-or/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Forming an LLC Alabama or Mississippi based? Compare formation fees, annual reports, privilege tax, and income tax rates so you file in the right state.
- [How to Mark Strings as Safe in Django Templates](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-mark-strings-as-safe-in-a-view-or-the/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Django mark_safe turns off HTML escaping, so use it with care. Learn when format_html is the better choice and how the safe filter behaves in templates.
- [How to Get Digital Marketing Clients and Projects](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-get-digital-marketing-projects/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Get digital marketing clients by owning one narrow problem. Learn the niche choice, the four proof assets, an audit first pitch, and referral requests.
- [Virginia or Florida: Which State Is Better?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-virginia-or-florida/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Virginia or Florida? One skips income tax, the other keeps insurance affordable. Compare taxes, wages, housing, and storm risk before you commit to a move.
- [How to Store Golf Balls in the Off Season](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-should-i-store-my-golf-balls-during-the-off/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Store golf balls indoors at room temperature and leave them in the box. Learn what heat, cold, and damp really do, and which storage mistakes to avoid.
- [Missouri or Kansas: Which Is Better for Raising a Family?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-raise-a-family-missouri-or/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Comparing Missouri or Kansas for families? Look at median income, poverty rates, home prices, grocery tax, and job markets before you pick a side.
- [How to Measure and Analyze Marketing ROI](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-measure-and-analyze-marketing-roi/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Marketing ROI uses gross profit, not revenue. Learn the formula, how it differs from ROAS, what attribution can prove, and when to run a geo lift test.
- [How to Use a Yoga Wheel in Your Workout (Safely)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-incorporate-a-yoga-wheel-in-a-workout/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): A yoga wheel opens the chest and mid back when used properly. Learn sizing, three placements in a session, safe progressions, and who should skip it.
- [Best States to Invest in Real Estate: 5 Top Picks](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-invest-in-real-estate-5/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The best states to invest in real estate right now are Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. See yields, growth, and tax notes.
- [Why Promote Someone Else's Content? The Case for Curation](https://geekblog.net/blog/why-spend-resources-on-promoting-someone-elses/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Content curation buys credibility, attention from the people you cite, and a steady publishing rhythm. Learn the ratio, the credit rules, and the limits.
- [How to Retrieve Facebook Page Insights and Analytics Data](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-retrieve-insights-and-analytics-data-from-a/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Use the Facebook Page Insights API to pull analytics at scale. Learn the token and permissions, the metrics that still work in 2026, and a Python example.
- [How to Build an Event Marketing Strategy That Works](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-successful-event-marketing-strategy/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): An event marketing strategy starts with one business number. Learn how to size the audience, build the budget backward, promote it, and follow up fast.
- [How to Create and Manage a Facebook Event](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-and-manage-facebook-events/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Create a Facebook event from your profile or a Page, and see how that one choice changes privacy, hosts, ticket links, and whether you can boost the post.
- [Is Georgia a Good State to Invest in Real Estate?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-invest-in-real-estate-georgia/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Learn what to expect if you invest in real estate Georgia offers, from population growth and rent levels to tax rates, eviction timelines, and real risks.
- [Facebook API Authentication and Access Tokens Explained](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-handle-facebook-api-authentication-and/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Facebook API authentication rests on five token types with different lifetimes. Learn which token to use, how to extend it, and how to inspect it safely.
- [How to Use User Generated Content in Your Marketing](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-incorporate-user-generated-content-in/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): User generated content marketing needs sourcing, written permission, FTC disclosure, and moderation. Get the workflow, the templates, and placement order.
- [Massachusetts or Washington: Which State Is Better?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-massachusetts-or-washington/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Massachusetts or Washington state? Housing costs are nearly identical, so the choice comes down to income tax versus sales tax. See how each one adds up.
- [How to Create a Facebook Cover Photo (Sizes and Tips)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-facebook-cover-photo/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): The right Facebook cover photo size is 851 by 315 pixels, but crops differ everywhere. Learn safe zones, file formats, and export tips for sharp results.
- [How to Use Podcasts for Marketing: A Practical Guide](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-leverage-podcasts-for-marketing-purposes/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Podcast marketing works in three ways: guesting, advertising, and hosting your own show. Compare the cost, speed, and results, plus how to measure each.
- [Connecticut or Indiana: Which Is Better to Visit?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-best-to-visit-connecticut-or-indiana/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Planning a trip to Connecticut or Indiana? Compare travel costs, hotel taxes, driving distances, and the best sights in each state before you book a thing.
- [How to Create and Manage Facebook Ads Through the API](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-and-manage-facebook-ads-through-the/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): The Facebook Marketing API builds ads through four objects in order. See the endpoints, the required fields, the permissions, and the review steps needed.
- [How to Create and Manage a TikTok Challenge](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-and-manage-tiktok-challenges/) (2026-09-04, by Olivia Hartman): Run a TikTok challenge that people copy. Learn how to pick the action, register a sound, seed creators, handle disclosure rules, and measure the results.
- [New Jersey or Pennsylvania: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-to-live-in-new-jersey-or/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Choosing New Jersey or Pennsylvania means weighing income against cost. Compare median pay, home prices, property tax bills, and commuting options here.
- [Using the Facebook SDKs in Mobile App Development](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-facebook-sdks-for-mobile-app-development/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Facebook SDK mobile app setup for Android and iOS, including install steps, config keys, login and sharing, and how Apple tracking rules affect events.
- [How Digital Marketing Helps Small Businesses (Real Numbers)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-does-digital-marketing-help-small-businesses/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): See how digital marketing for small businesses actually pays off, with a $500 monthly budget split, realistic timelines, and the channels to start with.
- [Best State to Start an LLC: Washington or Oregon?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-start-an-llc-washington-or/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Wondering the best state to start an LLC Washington or Oregon? Compare filing fees, annual costs, gross receipts tax, and income tax before you register.
- [How to Submit a Plugin to the WordPress Repository](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-submit-a-plugin-to-wordpress/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Submit a plugin to WordPress the right way, with a valid readme.txt, the guidelines checklist, review timelines, SVN tags and assets, and the stable tag trap.
- [How to Send Mail in WordPress Without a Plugin](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-send-mail-in-wordpress-without-a-plugin/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Send mail in WordPress without a plugin using wp_mail, HTML headers and SMTP wired through phpmailer_init, plus SPF and DKIM records for real deliverability.
- [Using Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) for Scalping](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-chaikin-money-flow-cmf-for-scalping/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): How to read Chaikin Money Flow CMF on fast charts, why it confirms rather than triggers entries, the formula behind it, and the settings worth using.
- [Building a WordPress Plugin From Scratch (Advanced)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Build a WordPress plugin from scratch with Composer autoloading, dependency injection, custom tables via dbDelta, REST routes, unit tests and a CI pipeline.
- [MACD Basics: How the Indicator Actually Works](https://geekblog.net/blog/the-basics-of-moving-average-convergence-divergence/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): MACD explained from the ground up: the 12, 26 and 9 period EMAs, the histogram, crossovers, zero line context, divergence and the lag you cannot design away.
- [How to Interpret the Ichimoku Cloud in Trading](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-interpret-ichimoku-cloud-in-trading/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Read the Ichimoku cloud properly: all five lines with formulas, the kumo, TK crosses, cloud twists, chikou confirmation and the settings debate explained.
- [How to Make a WordPress Plugin That Does Something Useful](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-make-a-wordpress-plugin/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Make a WordPress plugin end to end: a reading time feature shipped as both a shortcode and a real block, with block.json, translations and clean uninstall.
- [How Keltner Channels Are Calculated and Used](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-keltner-channels-are-calculated/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): How Keltner channels are calculated from an EMA and ATR bands, with settings, breakout and mean reversion tactics, plus a comparison against Bollinger Bands.
- [How to Create a WordPress Plugin: Beginner Tutorial](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-wordpress-plugin/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Create a WordPress plugin from an empty folder, with the header comment, your first hook, an activation routine, a settings page and basic security habits.
- [How to Trade With the Money Flow Index (MFI)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-trade-with-money-flow-index-mfi/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The Money Flow Index MFI explained with a worked calculation, the 80 and 20 levels, divergence, failure swings, MFI versus RSI and honest evidence caveats.
- [How to Display a JPEG Image in C++ (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-display-a-jpeg-image-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Display a JPEG image in C++ with stb_image and SDL2, OpenCV or Qt, using full compilable examples plus the build commands that each library needs to link.
- [What Is the Arms Index (TRIN)? Formula and Signals](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-are-arms-index-trin/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The Arms Index TRIN explained: the full formula, how to read values above and below 1.0, intraday extremes, the open variant and where the indicator fails.
- [How to Join Two Vectors in C++ (5 Ways)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-join-two-vectors-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Join two vectors in C++ using insert, back_inserter, ranges or move semantics, with reserve tips and a benchmark showing how much each approach really costs.
- [Google's URL Parameters Tool Is Gone: What to Do Now](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-urged-the-use-of-the-url-settings-tool/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The URL parameters tool retired in 2022, so here is what replaces it: canonical tags, robots.txt rules, cleaner internal links and faceted navigation fixes.
- [How to Read XML in C++: 4 Libraries Compared](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-read-xml-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Read XML in C++ with pugixml, TinyXML2, RapidXML or libxml2, with working parse code, XPath queries, error handling and a comparison of speed and license.
- [Best Google Ads Books to Read in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/best-google-ads-adwords-books-in-year/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): A ranked pick of the best Google Ads books with authors, editions and who each one suits, plus why you should pair any book with official Google resources.
- [How to Add a Delay in C++ (Sleep and Timers)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-delay-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Add a delay in C++ with sleep_for and sleep_until, use chrono literals cleanly, avoid busy waiting, and measure elapsed time properly with a steady clock.
- [The Updated Google Ads Keyword Planner: What Changed](https://geekblog.net/blog/adwords-launches-updated-keyword-planner-in-new/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): How the Google Ads Keyword Planner works now, including broad volume ranges, forecasts, filters, useful free workarounds and honest limits on its accuracy.
- [How to Declare a Float Variable in C++ (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-declare-a-float-variable-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Declare a float variable in C++ correctly, with the f suffix, float versus double precision, epsilon comparisons, numeric limits and clean output formatting.
- [Google Updated the Sitemap Report in Search Console](https://geekblog.net/blog/google-updated-sitemap-report-in-search-console/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): The Search Console sitemap report changed, so learn what it still shows, how to read discovered pages, fix common errors and use sitemap index files well.
- [How to Use Threads in C++: std::thread Explained](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-threads-in-c/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn to use threads in C++ with std::thread and jthread, covering join versus detach, argument passing, mutexes, atomics and the data races that bite you.
- [How to Find Search Queries in Google Analytics 4](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-find-search-queries-in-google-analytics/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Find search queries in Google Analytics for both site search and Google organic terms, with setup steps, report paths and why not provided still exists today.
- [How to Delete a Deployment in Minikube Safely](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-delete-a-deployment-in-minikube/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Delete a deployment in Minikube with kubectl, choose the right cascade option, see what survives, force remove stuck pods and clean out a whole namespace.
- [How to Set Up Events in Google Analytics 4 (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-set-up-events-in-google-analytics/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): Set up events in Google Analytics with the GA4 interface, Tag Manager or gtag, then add parameters, register custom dimensions, mark key events and debug.
- [How to Create a Namespace in Minikube (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-namespace-in-minikube/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Create namespace in Minikube with kubectl or a YAML manifest, set the default context, add quotas and limit ranges, then clear one stuck in Terminating.
- [How to Check Backlinks in Google Analytics 4](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-check-backlinks-in-google-analytics/) (2026-09-04, by Marcus Bennett): You cannot check backlinks in Google Analytics, but you can track referral traffic. Here is the exact GA4 path, a custom exploration and better link tools.
- [How to Get the Minikube IP Address (All Methods)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-get-a-minikube-ip-address/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Find the Minikube IP address with minikube ip, kubectl and profile flags, then fix the cases where the printed address is real but cannot be reached at all.
- [How to Create a Blog in Joomla Without Extensions](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-blog-in-joomla/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Create a blog in Joomla using only core features: a category, the Category Blog menu item, read more breaks, ordering, tags, RSS and optional comment tools.
- [How to Deploy Laravel on Vultr: 2026 Step by Step](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-deploy-laravel-on-vultr/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Deploy Laravel on Vultr with Nginx, PHP 8.3 FPM and MySQL, then add queue workers, the scheduler cron, free TLS and a releases symlink for zero downtime.
- [How to Create a Forum in Joomla (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-forum-in-joomla/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Build a Joomla forum with Kunena, from install and menu item to categories, permissions mapped to Joomla groups, moderation tools and spam control settings.
- [How to Launch MODX on Linode: Complete 2026 Setup](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-modx-on-linode/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Set up MODX on Linode with a LEMP stack, run the browser installer, move the core outside the web root, fix permissions and add the scheduler cron entry.
- [How to Install Bagisto on GoDaddy Hosting (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-bagisto-on-godaddy/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Install Bagisto on GoDaddy with SSH, Composer and MySQL 8, including PHP settings, the storage symlink, env config and an honest verdict on shared plans.
- [How to Deploy Gatsby on Vultr: 2026 Walkthrough](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-gatsby-on-vultr/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Deploy Gatsby on Vultr using a compute instance with Caddy or Vultr Object Storage, with a GitHub Actions build, free TLS and practical cache header advice.
- [How to Launch a React App on SiteGround in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-react-js-on-siteground/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Deploy React JS on SiteGround in minutes: build with Vite, upload the dist folder to public_html, and add the htaccess rewrite that stops routing errors.
- [How to Launch Drupal on HostGator (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-launch-drupal-on-hostgator/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Run Drupal on HostGator shared hosting by setting PHP 8.3 in cPanel, building with Composer locally, uploading the tree and pointing the domain at web.
- [Where to Host Prometheus: 6 Options for 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-to-host-prometheus-1/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Six Prometheus hosting options for 2026, with retention and disk sizing math, Docker and Kubernetes setups, remote write targets and managed service pricing.
- [Where to Host Grafana: Cloud vs Self Hosted (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-to-host-grafana/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): A Grafana hosting comparison for 2026, weighing the Cloud free tier against a VPS or Kubernetes setup, with sizing, Docker Compose and reverse proxy notes.
- [Where Can I Deploy Yii? 7 Hosting Options Compared](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-can-i-deploy-yii/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Compare seven ways to deploy Yii, from shared hosting to Docker, with the document root fix, Nginx and Apache config samples, and Composer deploy steps.
- [How to Run Drupal on Linode: Step by Step (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/tutorial-run-drupal-on-linode/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Set up Drupal on Linode with Ubuntu 24.04, Nginx, MariaDB and PHP 8.3, then install with Composer and finish with cron, Drush and free TLS certificates.
- [Installing Node.js on Cloud Hosting: 2026 Walkthrough](https://geekblog.net/blog/installing-nodejs-on-cloud-hosting/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): A practical guide to installing NodeJS on cloud hosting, covering nvm, a working systemd unit, PM2, an Nginx reverse proxy and firewall rules that hold up.
- [Install Discourse on DigitalOcean: Full 2026 Tutorial](https://geekblog.net/blog/tutorial-install-discourse-on-digitalocean/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Install Discourse on DigitalOcean step by step in 2026, with droplet sizing, DNS, SMTP setup, the Docker launcher, TLS, backups and upgrade commands.
- [Where to Host Caligrafy: A Practical 2026 Guide](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-to-host-caligrafy/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): An honest Caligrafy hosting guide covering PHP and MySQL needs, shared versus VPS setup, document root config, and when to choose another framework instead.
- [Where to Host Microweber: 6 Hosts That Work in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-to-host-microweber-1/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): A guide to Microweber hosting in 2026, covering PHP and database requirements, shared versus VPS plans, and six providers that run it without trouble.
- [Where Can I Deploy Vue.js? 8 Best Platforms in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-can-i-deploy-vue-js/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn where to deploy Vue JS in 2026, with a clear split between static SPA hosts and Nuxt server rendering, plus the rewrite rule that everyone forgets.
- [Where to Host Phalcon in 2026: 7 Best Options](https://geekblog.net/blog/where-to-host-phalcon/) (2026-09-04, by Ethan Caldwell): Compare Phalcon hosting options for 2026, from cheap VPS plans to managed cloud, with real prices, extension checks and install steps that genuinely work.
- [Why Is Jack the Black Cat Squishmallow So Rare?](https://geekblog.net/blog/why-is-jack-the-black-cat-squishmallow-so-rare/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Kellytoy made only 500 Jack the Black Cat Squishmallows, sold in one drop that lasted two hours. Here is what he is worth now and how to spot a fake.
- [Best Battery Stocks to Invest In: What the 2026 Numbers Actually Show](https://geekblog.net/blog/best-battery-stocks-to-invest-in/) (2026-09-03, by Marcus Bennett): Battery demand grew 16 percent in 2026, yet most battery stocks fell. A layer by layer look at cell makers, grid storage, lithium miners and solid state developers, with the numbers behind each.
- [Can You Use Movie Clips in YouTube Videos? What the Law Actually Says](https://geekblog.net/blog/can-you-use-movie-clips-in-youtube-videos/) (2026-09-03, by Olivia Hartman): Yes, but only with a license or a genuine fair use case. How Content ID treats film footage, what counts as transformative, and how to avoid a strike.
- [A Toddler Needed a $20,000 Wheelchair. A High School Robotics Team Built Him One Instead.](https://geekblog.net/blog/high-school-robotics-team-wheelchair-toddler/) (2026-08-05, by Olivia Hartman): To qualify for a powered wheelchair, a two-year-old had to prove he could already drive one. A Minnesota high school robotics team solved it with a toy car.
- [Scientists Didn't Say Earth Is Becoming Uninhabitable. Here's What the "Hothouse Earth" Study Actually Says](https://geekblog.net/blog/hothouse-earth-study-explained/) (2026-08-05, by Olivia Hartman): A viral post says Earth is on track to become uninhabitable and warming is exponential. The One Earth study behind it says neither. Here is what it does say.
- [Florida Is Putting Restaurant Oyster Shells Back in the Gulf, and the Seafloor Is Waking Up](https://geekblog.net/blog/florida-oyster-shell-recycling-gulf-of-mexico/) (2026-08-05, by Olivia Hartman): Florida restaurants send shucked oyster shells back to the Gulf. Here is the real data on tonnage, reef recovery and Apalachicola's 2026 reopening.
- [New York vs Florida: Which State Is Better to Move To?](https://geekblog.net/blog/which-state-is-better-to-move-in-new-york-or/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): New York vs Florida in 2026: real tax and housing numbers, Florida's insurance and condo problem, the 184-day residency test and why the bargain has narrowed.
- [What State Is Best to Invest in Real Estate in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-best-to-invest-in-real-estate-4/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): The best state to invest in real estate depends on strategy. Ten states ranked on price-to-rent, yield, property tax, vacancy and migration, with formulas.
- [Texas vs California: Which State Is Better in 2026?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-texas-or-california/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Texas vs California in 2026: taxes, housing, insurance, the grid and a worked $150k budget for Austin against Los Angeles, built from current prices.
- [How to Explain Your Coding Solution in an Interview](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-explain-your-coding-solution-in-an-interview/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to explain your coding solution in an interview with a 10-step framework, a signal-by-signal table, and scripted strong versus weak narration.
- [Massachusetts vs Kentucky: Which State Is Better?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-massachusetts-or-kentucky/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Massachusetts vs Kentucky compared on schools, healthcare, housing costs, 2026 taxes and jobs, with NAEP and insured-rate data plus a verdict for each mover.
- [Washington vs Indiana: Which State Is Better to Live In?](https://geekblog.net/blog/what-state-is-better-washington-or-indiana/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Washington vs Indiana compared on 2026 taxes, cost of living, housing, wages, schools and climate, with a clear verdict on which state fits your situation.
- [Best Vue.js Books to Learn Vue in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/best-vue-js-books-to-learn/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): The best Vue.js books for 2026, with verified editions and honest notes on which ones still teach Vue 2. Picks for beginners, React devs and production work.
- [Do Affordable Laptops Come With a Good Warranty?](https://geekblog.net/blog/do-affordable-laptops-come-with-good-warranty/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Almost every affordable laptop warranty is one year and defect-only. Compare HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Asus and Apple terms, and see when extra coverage pays.
- [How to Compare Two Strings Ignoring Case in C++](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-ignore-text-case-while-comparing-two-strings/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Compare two strings ignoring case in C++ correctly: the unsigned char trap, std::equal, ranges, strcasecmp portability, and a reusable iequals helper.
- [How to Overload an Operator in C++ (Complete Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-override-an-operator-in-c/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to overload an operator in C++: member vs friend form, streams, subscript, increment, copy-and-swap, and the C++20 spaceship operator.
- [How to Use Average True Range (ATR): Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-average-true-range-atr-for-beginners/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): A beginner's guide to average true range ATR: the formula with a worked example, volatility stops, position sizing, trailing exits and ATR's real limits.
- [How to Interpret Candlestick Patterns (Not Just Name Them)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-interpret-candlestick-patterns/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): How to interpret candlestick patterns using location, trend context, confirmation and volume, plus how to define invalidation and backtest your own reading.
- [How to Turn Off Facebook Notifications (Every Type)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-turn-off-facebook-notifications/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): How to turn off Facebook notifications for good: in-app categories, iOS and Android push, email and SMS, groups, posts, Messenger, and muting one person.
- [How to Hide Your Friends List on Facebook (2026)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-hide-friends-on-facebook/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Learn how to hide friends on Facebook on desktop, iOS and Android, what the setting really covers, and why mutual friends can still give the connection away.
- [The Basics of Candlestick Patterns: A Beginner's Guide](https://geekblog.net/blog/the-basics-of-candlestick-patterns/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Learn candlestick patterns from the ground up: candle anatomy, wicks and bodies, timeframes, the main single-candle shapes and an honest look at the evidence.
- [How to Post Content on a User's Facebook Timeline in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-post-content-on-a-users-facebook-timeline/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Apps can no longer post content on a user's Facebook timeline. Here is what changed in 2018, what the Graph API can still publish, and how to post manually.
- [How to Set Up the TikTok Pixel to Track Your Website](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-set-up-tiktok-pixel-for-tracking-website/) (2026-07-30, by Olivia Hartman): Learn how to set up the TikTok Pixel in Events Manager, install it manually or with GTM, configure standard events, and verify everything with Test Events.
- [How to Use Google Analytics for Marketing (Practical Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-use-google-analytics-for-marketing/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): How to use Google Analytics for marketing: the GA4 reports that drive decisions, UTM rules, attribution, audiences, Looker Studio and the limits to know.
- [How to Create a Joomla Website: Full Beginner Guide](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-create-a-joomla-website/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Create a Joomla website step by step on Joomla 6: hosting, install, security, articles, menus, modules, templates, SEF URLs and troubleshooting fixes.
- [How to Track a Custom Event in Google Analytics 4](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-track-a-custom-event-on-google-analytics/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Learn how to track a custom event in Google Analytics 4 with gtag, Google Tag Manager or the Admin UI, then register parameters so they show up in reports.
- [How to Install Google Tag Manager on WordPress Correctly](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-google-tag-manager-on-wordpress/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Install Google Tag Manager on WordPress the right way: both snippets, the wp_body_open hook, a GA4 Google tag, Preview mode, publishing and rollback.
- [How to Add Google Analytics to WordPress (4 Methods)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-add-google-analytics-to-wordpress/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Add Google Analytics to WordPress four ways: Site Kit, Google Tag Manager, a gtag.js snippet in wp_head, or a theme field, plus how to verify it works.
- [Installing Elasticsearch on Cloudways (Complete Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/installing-elasticsearch-on-cloudways/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Installing Elasticsearch on Cloudways: enable the Search Engine package, size RAM and JVM heap, keep port 9200 local, and connect ElasticPress.
- [How to Run a Database Query in WordPress (4 Safe Methods)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-run-a-database-query-in-wordpress/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Four safe ways to run a database query in WordPress: phpMyAdmin, WP-CLI, $wpdb in PHP and a SQL plugin, with prepared statements and example queries.
- [Installing CakePHP on Cloudways: Step-by-Step](https://geekblog.net/blog/installing-cakephp-on-cloudways/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Installing CakePHP on Cloudways: launch a Custom PHP app, run composer create-project, set the Webroot field, fix Varnish and check intl. Verified July 2026.
- [How to Run CakePHP on Cloud Hosting (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-run-cakephp-on-cloud-hosting/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Run CakePHP on cloud hosting the right way: PHP 8.2+ with intl, a document root on /webroot, Nginx and PHP-FPM steps, queue workers and hardening.
- [How to Install MODX on Bluehost (2026 Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-modx-on-bluehost/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Install MODX on Bluehost step by step: create the cPanel database, upload MODX 3, run /setup/, lock it down, and fix friendly URLs and blank manager screens.
- [How to Install Helm in Minikube and Deploy Your First Chart](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-helm-in-minikube/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to install Helm in Minikube, add a chart repo, deploy your first chart, then upgrade, roll back and uninstall it without breaking the cluster.
- [How to Deploy FuelPHP on Hosting in 2026](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-deploy-fuelphp-on-hosting/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): FuelPHP has had no stable release since 1.9.0 in 2021. Here is how to deploy FuelPHP on hosting safely today, and when to migrate to Laravel or CodeIgniter 4.
- [How to Install Minikube on Ubuntu (Complete Guide)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-minikube-on-ubuntu/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): A complete guide to install Minikube on Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 with the Docker driver, kubectl, addons, service access and fixes for permission errors.
- [How to Install Grafana on Hostinger VPS (Full Setup)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-grafana-on-hostinger/) (2026-07-30, by Marcus Bennett): Install Grafana on a Hostinger VPS with Docker or the apt repo, secure port 3000 behind Nginx and Let's Encrypt, then add Prometheus and import a dashboard.
- [How to Install Minikube on Windows 10 (Step-by-Step)](https://geekblog.net/blog/how-to-install-minikube-in-windows-10/) (2026-07-30, by Ethan Caldwell): Learn how to install Minikube on Windows 10 with Docker, Hyper-V or VirtualBox, verify the cluster with kubectl, enable addons and fix common start errors.
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