Business & Technology
Why Amazon Alexa Devices Are Always 'Listening' and How to Improve Privacy
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant constantly listens only for the acoustic pattern of its wake word and begins recording after detecting it. Users can mute the microphone or limit how long recordings are kept.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 17:31
Microsoft pulls out of AI datacentre project in Essex over power supply concerns
Microsoft has withdrawn from British firm Nscale's AI datacentre project at Loughton, Essex, citing power supply concerns. The UK government had promoted the site as the country's largest AI datacentre.
The Guardian World · 18 Oct, 16:33
How to Make and Receive Phone Calls on a Windows PC
The Phone Link app in Windows 11 lets users place and answer calls from a computer using an iPhone or Android phone. Android users get a wider set of features than iPhone owners.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 16:32
Trump claims Google now bows to him after ignoring his calls in first term
US President Donald Trump said at a rally that Google changed place names on its maps after he called the company. Google says it simply follows official government sources.
The Verge · 18 Oct, 16:31
US cities tighten their grip on robotaxis
With Congress having failed for years to pass federal rules for autonomous vehicles, US cities and states are writing their own restrictions on robotaxis. Companies seeking to expand face an increasingly complex patchwork of regulations.
The Verge · 18 Oct, 15:33
Smart glasses developed that are powered by blinking
Engineers at Northwestern University have created smart glasses with health-monitoring functions that need no battery. They draw electricity from the wearer's blinking.
Kursors.lv · 18 Oct, 13:33
Wired Reviews Valerion VisionMaster Max: 4K Projector With Excellent Picture but Average Sound
Wired's review finds the Valerion VisionMaster Max 4K projector very capable for home theater use, though its built-in audio does not match the picture quality. The projector costs $3,999.
Wired · 18 Oct, 13:32
Ledger unveils smartphone-like crypto wallet while dealing with a supply chain attack
Hardware crypto wallet maker Ledger has announced a new device, Ledger Atom, that resembles a smartphone with enhanced security. The announcement comes as the company is dealing with a supply chain attack.
Kursors.lv · 18 Oct, 12:33
Japan to launch world-first mission to bring back samples from Martian moon Phobos
Japan's space agency Jaxa plans to launch a spacecraft on Tuesday to return samples from Mars's moon Phobos to Earth for the first time. The roughly five-year mission could help explain where the Martian moons came from.
The Guardian Science · 18 Oct, 11:33
Condé Nast's UK profits fall by more than a third
Pre-tax profit at the UK arm of Condé Nast, publisher of Vogue and GQ, fell 36% last year to nearly £18m. The owning family recently ruled out selling the company.
The Guardian World · 18 Oct, 10:33
Tesla Roadster lifts off at unveiling using SpaceX technology
At an unveiling in Texas, US electric carmaker Tesla showed its new Roadster briefly rising into the air using SpaceX-developed gas thrusters. Series production is planned to start in 2028.
iAuto.lv · 18 Oct, 10:32
Scientists use synthesized recordings to try to bring back a lost sparrow song
Researchers at the University of Buenos Aires used computer-synthesized audio to try to restore a local sparrow song that has been absent from the region since the 1960s. The aim is to help young birds learn songs they cannot pick up on their own.
Kursors.lv · 18 Oct, 09:34
How to keep a smart home working when the internet goes down
Tech site Engadget explains how to build a smart home that keeps working during internet outages. The key is choosing devices that use a local hub and have their own backup power.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 07:33
Timber Industry Boss: Company Still Cannot Do Without Guest Workers
Andris Ramoliņš, owner of the Latvian wood industry group Stiga RM, said on the show "Kāpēc" that labour shortages mean the company still needs foreign workers. It is also trying scholarships and building housing for staff.
Delfi · 18 Oct, 07:33
Tunisia's economic crisis deepens as joblessness and rising costs add to hardship
In the North African country of Tunisia, unemployment, failing services and rising costs are deepening hardship for residents. The promise of a better life is becoming harder for people to believe.
Al Jazeera · 18 Oct, 07:31
Why Wi-Fi Speeds Drop in the Evening and What to Do About It
Evening slowdowns on home Wi-Fi are most often caused by congestion as many users go online at once. Tech site Engadget outlines several fixes, including restarting equipment, separating network bands and changing usage habits.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 06:33
OpenAI is building a humanoid robot, but the "brain" is the real challenge
US artificial intelligence company OpenAI is developing a humanoid robot, CEO Sam Altman has confirmed. A first demo is expected in 2027, with robots on the streets some years after that.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 05:32
What to Check if Your Nintendo Switch 2 Won't Connect to the TV
If the Nintendo Switch 2 game console shows no picture on a TV, start by checking the power supply, HDMI cable and settings. If that fails, contact Nintendo support.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 04:32
Ford recalls nearly 97,000 Mustang Mach-E electric cars over rear axle defect
US carmaker Ford is recalling 96,840 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles worldwide because a rear differential defect can cause loss of drive or unintended rolling in Park. The replacement parts are expected only in the fourth quarter of 2026.
iAuto.lv · 18 Oct, 04:31
OpenCode Announces Breach: User Credentials Leaked
The OpenCode project has announced on X that it was hacked and that user credentials were leaked. The news drew attention on the Hacker News tech community site.
Hacker News (≥150 p.) · 18 Oct, 03:33
You can swap a phone's SIM card while it's on, but switching off is safer
Most modern smartphones let you change a SIM card without powering down. Tech site Engadget notes that a brief shutdown or airplane mode lowers the chance of software glitches.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 03:31
Several Samsung Galaxy Tab Models Are Nearing the End of Major Android Updates
Samsung will deliver the last major Android update for its Galaxy Tab S9 series this year. Newer models are promised seven years of updates.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 02:31
EU Packaging Rules: Small Hotel Shampoo Bottles and Ketchup Sachets to Be Phased Out
The European Union has begun applying its new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which from 2030 will restrict single-use packaging in hotels and food outlets. The rules also apply to Latvia.
Jauns.lv · 18 Oct, 01:33
Meta removes terms that raised concerns over content scraping and AI training
Meta has deleted wording from its commercial terms of use that appeared to let it use content from business accounts' websites to develop and train its products. The company says the terms only applied to its ads and business products.
TechCrunch · 18 Oct, 01:31
Instead of Binning an Old PlayStation, Here Are Ways to Give It a New Purpose
Tech site Engadget offers tips on what to do with an unused Sony PlayStation console: turn it into a media center, reuse its parts, sell it, donate it or recycle it.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 01:31
Tesla Roadster is not the first car to use fans for downforce
After Tesla showed its next-generation Roadster with a fan system that lets it hold on upside down, Engadget recalls earlier examples: the Chaparral 2J, Brabham BT46 and McMurtry Spéirling.
Engadget · 18 Oct, 00:31
Android Auto can be used outside the car, on an old tablet at home
With a second Android device, a USB cable and a third-party app, Android Auto can run on a spare tablet on a desk or kitchen counter. It is not an official Google feature and comes with several limitations.
Engadget · 17 Oct, 23:34
TikTok Permanently Bans Account of Elon Musk Documentary
TikTok has banned the official social media account of Alex Gibney's documentary about Elon Musk just before the film's wider release. The platform had already refused to run ads for the film.
The Verge · 17 Oct, 23:33
Anthropic says its workforce has become less junior and spends more time in meetings
AI company Anthropic reports that the share of junior staff in its technical departments has fallen, while meeting time per employee is up 20%. The company says its experience may point to how AI will reshape work organization and hiring.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Oct, 23:31
Leaked footage appears to show canceled Assassin's Creed Destiny, set in ancient China
Leaked gameplay footage reportedly shows Assassin's Creed Destiny, a canceled video game set in ancient China. Ubisoft is still working on the mobile title Assassin's Creed Jade, which shares the setting.
Engadget · 17 Oct, 22:31
Musk settles lawsuits over $1 million voter giveaway
Elon Musk has agreed to settle two US lawsuits in which two Arizona residents called his voter lottery a fraud. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
The Verge · 17 Oct, 21:33
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo shipping estimates already slip to 2027
Demand for preorders of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has pushed some US shipping estimates as late as January 2027. Apple called the demand "nothing short of extraordinary."
Engadget · 17 Oct, 21:32
What the yellow light on an Amazon Alexa device means and how to clear it
A flashing yellow ring on an Amazon Echo smart speaker means Alexa has a message or notification for you. You can clear it by asking Alexa about your notifications or messages.
Engadget · 17 Oct, 20:33
Mercedes-AMG Unveils Its First Ground-Up Electric SUV With 1,153 Horsepower
Mercedes-Benz's performance division AMG has revealed the AMG GT SUV, an electric vehicle and the first full-size SUV it has developed entirely in-house. The top version makes 1,153hp, and the car is due in the US next summer.
The Verge · 17 Oct, 20:33
Survey: Half of Latvia's workers would switch industries if they lost their jobs
About 51% of employed people in Latvia say they would be ready to move to a different industry if they lost their job. The survey results were released by recruitment company Alma Career Latvia.
Apollo.lv · 17 Oct, 20:32
What a Car's Colour May Say About Its Driver's Personality
On 17 October, the Latvian newspaper Latvijas Avīze published a piece on how a choice of car colour is often linked to personality. It stresses that colour is not just a matter of taste, but that character cannot be judged by colour alone.
Latvijas Avīze · 17 Oct, 20:32