Business & Technology
8K TVs never became the new standard as makers pull back
After years of promotion, most major manufacturers have left the 8K TV market, with only about 1.6 million sets sold since 2015. Scarce content, high prices and limited visible benefit are the main reasons.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 19:09
New autonomous vehicle boom outpaces 2016 as startup pitches hit record
Early-stage venture firm Trucks VC has received pitches from 81 new autonomous vehicle startups this year, more than during the 2016–2017 boom. The firm attributes the surge to AI foundation models.
TechCrunch · 1 Nov, 19:09
Malta Plans Sharp Tourist Tax Increase; Opposition Objects
Malta's 2027 budget would raise the nightly tourist tax in hotels from €1.50 to €8. Opposition leader Alex Borg says the higher rate should apply only during the peak season.
Jauns.lv · 1 Nov, 18:09
OpenAI tightens limits on weapons-related answers for teens
AI company OpenAI will restrict practical information about weapons and security systems for teenagers using its ChatGPT chatbot. Stricter boundaries will also apply to all users asking about past mass attacks.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 18:08
Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: a sturdy foldable with modest upgrades
Google's new Pixel 11 Pro Fold foldable smartphone is a lightly updated version of last year's model, with a lighter body, brighter display and a new main camera sensor. It costs $1,899 in the US and faces strong competition.
TechCrunch · 1 Nov, 17:09
Five Spotify Settings Worth Changing: Sound Quality, Shuffle and Privacy
Spotify's default settings can limit the listening experience, but several can be changed to improve sound, tailor recommendations and hide listening activity. Most are available only to Premium subscribers.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 17:09
State Police Buy Three Portable Vehicle Weighing Kits for €119,790
Latvia's State Police have procured three portable vehicle scale sets to strengthen freight transport checks across the country. The force says the main goal is preventive: reducing the number of overloaded vehicles on state roads.
iAuto.lv · 1 Nov, 17:08
HomePod Mini 2 first look: faster Siri and quieter responses, but the Mac feature fails
A Verge reviewer spent two days with Apple's new $149 HomePod Mini 2 smart speaker. It is much faster than the first generation, but the feature that makes it a Mac's default speaker did not work for her.
The Verge · 1 Nov, 16:11
Renoa, a washable cashmere-like fiber, wins first new US fiber classification in 25 years
New York startup Everbloom has developed renoa, a cashmere-like fiber that can be washed. The US Federal Trade Commission has approved it as the first new fiber classification in 25 years.
TechCrunch · 1 Nov, 16:10
How to set up your PlayStation 5 before GTA 6 launches
Ahead of the release of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI, tech site Engadget recommends changing several picture and sound settings on the PlayStation 5 console. They cover variable refresh rate, 120Hz output, HDR calibration and 3D Audio.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 16:09
Zelda and GTA: Two Highly Anticipated November Games Amid a Troubled Industry
Grand Theft Auto VI and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are due out weeks apart in November 2026. Both stand out against an industry marked this year by layoffs and studio closures.
The Verge · 1 Nov, 15:09
Free Video Editor Google Vids Is Built Into Google Drive
Google Vids, the online video editor in the Google Workspace suite, is now available to individuals at no cost. It runs in a web browser and suits basic editing rather than professional work.
Wired · 1 Nov, 14:10
Latvia Introduces €2 Handling Fee Per Item Position on Online Orders From Outside the EU
From 1 November 2026, goods imported into Latvia from non-EU countries are subject to an extra €2 handling fee for each item position in the customs declaration. The fee is added on top of customs duty and also applies to consignments worth more than €150.
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Nov, 13:09
Twelve South Launches Foldable ButterFly SE Wireless Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch Users
Accessory maker Twelve South is offering the ButterFly SE 25W, a pocket-sized foldable wireless charger. It charges a smartphone and a smartwatch at once through a single USB-C connection.
Kursors.lv · 1 Nov, 13:09
German firm creates SOOOT Box device controlled by paper punch cards
Three-2-one GmbH, a company based in Krefeld, Germany, has developed the SOOOT Box, a device that runs on paper punch cards instead of a touchscreen, voice control or a smartphone app.
Kursors.lv · 1 Nov, 12:09
ETV+ show "Своя правда" asks whether Estonia's e-state is convenient but complicated
The 2 November episode of "Своя правда" on ETV+, the Russian-language channel of Estonia's public broadcaster, will discuss the e-state and why digital services often feel complicated.
ERR (rus) · 1 Nov, 11:11
Kärcher CEO warns Europe faces a 'perfect storm' and urges economic reforms
Hartmut Jenner, head of German cleaning equipment maker Kärcher, warns in a Euronews opinion piece of deindustrialisation in Germany and calls for less bureaucracy and a tougher EU trade policy.
Euronews Business · 1 Nov, 11:10
Discord to make public server content searchable on Google and other search engines
The messaging platform Discord is changing how public content is reached: material from discoverable servers will be indexed and appear in Google and other search engines. Until now, discussions could only be accessed after joining a specific server.
Kursors.lv · 1 Nov, 11:09
Vivo Announces Y600 5G Smartphone With 10,000 mAh Battery and Wins a Guinness Record
Chinese tech company Vivo has confirmed the Y600 5G smartphone for its home market. Its main feature is a 10,000 mAh battery, and according to the source headline the company has earned a Guinness record with it.
Kursors.lv · 1 Nov, 10:10
Latvia to host AlliedTechLabs, a dual-use communications technology centre backed by the US
On 30 October the Cabinet of Ministers in Latvia launched AlliedTechLabs, an initiative to build an international validation centre for civil and military communications technologies. It is supported by the FutureG office, which operates under the US War Department, and by NestAI, a European defence AI laboratory.
Kursors.lv · 1 Nov, 09:09
EU introduces €2 handling fee per item on parcels from non-EU countries
From 1 November, the European Union charges €2 for each item listed in the customs declaration on parcels from third countries. Together with the €3 customs duty introduced in July, goods from outside the EU become more expensive.
ERR (rus) · 1 Nov, 08:08
Latvian company Strops Technologies' video surveillance units are now used in 19 European countries
Mobile video surveillance units made by the Latvian company Strops Technologies have been sold in 19 European countries over ten years. In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, there are more than a hundred of its units on the streets.
LSM · 1 Nov, 07:11
Saturated Irish fields hamper farmers' field work
Farmers in Ireland have struggled to carry out field work in recent weeks because soils are saturated and waterlogged. Met Éireann, the national meteorological service, said that on Friday, October 30, all well and moderately drained soils were saturated.
AgriLand (Īrija) · 1 Nov, 07:09
Big year expected for barley blending in Australian feed market
Contrasting season finishes in New South Wales and Queensland are pushing lightweight barley into the feed market. Growers and buyers can use it as a blending option.
Grain Central (graudi) · 1 Nov, 07:08
EU milk prices fall almost 20% despite increased production
European Commission figures show EU milk deliveries rising this year, while the price farmers receive for milk has dropped by almost 20%. The August average was 42.8 cents per kilogram.
AgriLand (Īrija) · 1 Nov, 07:08
China's Clean-Tech Exports Could Avert 450 Million Tonnes of CO₂ a Year
An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that China's 2026 exports of solar, wind, battery and electric vehicle technology could prevent about 450 million tonnes of CO₂ a year abroad. That is comparable to Brazil's annual fossil fuel emissions.
NRA · 1 Nov, 06:11
Four Microsoft Teams features that can make everyday work easier
Microsoft Teams, which the company says has over 320 million monthly active users, offers a meeting timer, voice isolation, live transcription and easier draft retrieval. Many users may not know about them.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 06:10
Neocloud AI computing firms' shares slide, feeding fears of an AI bubble
Shares of so-called neocloud companies, which rent out computing power for artificial intelligence, have lost a quarter of their value or more in a month. Analysts point to heavy debt and dependence on Big Tech spending.
BBC World · 1 Nov, 06:10
Potash Development Association issues new nutrient guidance for potato crops
The UK's Potash Development Association (PDA) has published new nutrient considerations for growing potatoes. They cover the roles of potassium, calcium and magnesium in yield and tuber quality.
Agriland UK · 1 Nov, 06:08
Eastern Australia's harvest off to a stop-start beginning as rain proves a mixed blessing
The harvest in eastern Australia has begun in fits and starts. Queensland farmer Brendan Taylor describes the rain as a mixed blessing.
Grain Central (graudi) · 1 Nov, 06:08
Irish Aubrac breed sets new records at Tullamore show and sale
The Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society held its annual pedigree show and sale at Tullamore mart on Saturday, October 24. The society described it as a record-breaking sale, with record prices for bulls.
AgriLand (Īrija) · 1 Nov, 06:08
Why Apple AirPods batteries drain fast and how to make them last longer
Tech site Engadget explains why the battery in Apple's AirPods wireless earbuds can run down quickly and lists steps that may extend it. These include cleaning contacts, resetting the earbuds and using optimized charging.
Engadget · 1 Nov, 05:11
A single careless mistake can make a smartphone lose its water resistance, experts warn
Modern smartphones, especially higher-end models, are water-resistant. Experts warn that a careless mistake can strip a phone of this feature.
TVNET · 1 Nov, 05:10
Data centers become a midterm election issue, even in Brooklyn, five days before US vote
At a Brooklyn event ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3, nearly every conversation turned to AI and data centers. The founder of media company Newsreel says AI has become an election issue for ordinary voters.
TechCrunch · 1 Nov, 05:10
Bugatti Rimac chief's Chiron stolen in Croatia with key inside; thief caught in Austria
A Bugatti Chiron hypercar belonging to Bugatti Rimac head Mate Rimac was stolen from company premises in Croatia after its key was left inside. Austrian police intercepted the thief after a chase across several countries.
iAuto.lv · 1 Nov, 05:09
Binance says 90% of $6.3bn hack losses replaced as FBI blames North Korea
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance says it has replaced 90% of the funds taken in a record hack. The FBI confirmed that a North Korea-linked group called TraderTraitor was responsible.
The Guardian World · 1 Nov, 05:09