Alex Blake

Comcast has begun offering WiFi Motion to Xfinity customers, using changes in Wi-Fi signals from routers and smart-home devices to detect people inside a home and send alerts through the Xfinity app. Although the feature is opt-in and does not use video, the piece argues that deploying presence detection across millions of routers creates substantial privacy and security risks, including uncertain data retention, third-party disclosure, hacking, and possible future changes to consent through firmware updates. It recommends replacing a Comcast router or using purpose-built home security cameras instead.

Researchers have developed a modular wearable patch that detects six types of environmental hazards, including heavy metals, particulate matter, temperature extremes, humidity, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxide gases. Instead of relying on a smartphone, the patch uses distinct haptic vibration patterns to identify detected hazards directly to the wearer. It is rechargeable with a solar-powered battery, and a related piezoelectric e-skin version can be attached to robots to warn them of toxins. The technology could provide a more immediate way for workers and machines to respond to dangerous conditions.

Mozilla is gradually rolling out an experimental EasyList-based ad blocker in Firefox for iOS. It blocks many third-party ads, trackers, pop-ups and overlays, although sponsored content on Firefox pages, search ads and some ads that evade the filter remain unaffected. The feature is disabled by default but can be enabled in Firefox's settings. The author argues that Firefox's native blocking and privacy focus could finally persuade long-time Safari users to switch, despite Safari's established tab collection and familiarity.

An iFixit teardown and dust test found that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8’s IP48 protection does not prevent fine sand from reaching its hinge. After exposure to particles as small as 0.16mm, the hinge reportedly produced grinding noises and stopped opening normally, although the phone’s internal seals protected its batteries and main electronics. The results raise concerns for Apple’s expected iPhone Ultra foldable, which will need a stronger solution to dust ingress when it reportedly launches in September.

Twitch has introduced a setting allowing users to opt out of having streams, chats, VODs, clips, highlights, and channel text or images used to train Amazon’s generative AI models. The setting is enabled by default and must be disabled under Settings > Security and Privacy. Opting out does not prevent Twitch from using data for operational AI features such as captioning and AutoMod, and users’ chats on other channels remain subject to those channels’ preferences. Twitch users have reacted angrily, while executives Mike Minton and Mary Kish acknowledged the community’s opposition; Minton said an opt-in system would attract virtually no participants.

A developer has created Virtual Mac on iPad, a project that runs macOS on jailbroken iPads using iPadOS 16 through 16.3.1. The setup is highly complicated, requires an older vulnerable operating-system version, and prevents Apple Account login and access to services such as iCloud and Find My. Although it provides access to Mac-only applications such as Xcode and Terminal, the article argues that macOS is poorly suited to an iPad's touch-focused hardware and that the limited benefits do not justify the effort. The experiment is presented as evidence that Apple is right to keep iPadOS and macOS separate.

MacBook Air availability is reportedly constrained by an ongoing memory crisis, even after Apple raised prices. Apple’s official refurbished store offers M5 MacBook Air models with savings of $200 to $230 in the US and comparable discounts in the UK, while a refurbished M5 Pro MacBook Pro is discounted by $380/£380. The refurbished devices are tested, fitted with genuine replacement parts, cleaned, repackaged with standard accessories and presented as a reliable, cheaper alternative to buying new.