Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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I just tried this privacy-focused version of Android for Pixel phones — and I'm very impressed
A privacy-focused version of Android called GrapheneOS is getting attention for blocking apps from tracking your location and personal data. It only works on Google Pixel phones and takes some setup, but reviewers say it runs smoothly. For Portage County: If you or a family member worries about apps spying on your phone, ask Bill whether a Pixel phone with GrapheneOS might be worth considering.
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Amazon Can Use Your Twitch Content to Train Its AI—Unless You Opt Out
Amazon is using videos streamed on Twitch to train its artificial intelligence, and Twitch quietly added an opt-out option after users pushed back. If you or a grandchild streams on Twitch, your content may already be in Amazon's AI training data. For Portage County: Log into your Twitch account, go to Settings, find the Privacy section, and turn off the option that allows your content to be used for AI training.
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Microsoft Is Combining Its Two 'Copilot' Apps (and Ditching These Three Features)
Microsoft is merging its two Copilot apps into one and removing three features in the process. The change rolls out automatically, so users who relied on those features will find them gone without much warning. For Portage County: If you use Copilot on your Windows PC and something suddenly disappears, that is likely why, and Bill can help you find a replacement tool.
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Why Wi-Fi 7 routers are still bad at the thing most people actually need from them
Wi-Fi 7 routers advertise much faster speeds, but they still struggle with the same problem older routers have: walls, floors, and distance block the signal just as badly. Buying a new Wi-Fi 7 router will not fix a dead zone in your bedroom or garage. For Portage County: If you have weak Wi-Fi in parts of your home, a mesh network system is a better fix than a faster router, and Bill can set one up for you.
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Commerce Secretary says US opposes Apple buying Chinese memory chips
The U.S. Commerce Secretary has told Apple not to buy memory chips made in China as Apple looks for ways to deal with a global chip shortage. This could affect the cost and availability of future iPhones if Apple has to find other suppliers. For Portage County: No action needed now, but if iPhone prices rise this fall, this is part of the reason why.
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I stopped using my Fire TV Stick just for streaming after finding these apps
An Amazon Fire TV Stick can do more than stream Netflix or Prime Video. With a few free apps, it can also browse the web and manage files, turning a cheap device into a more useful tool. For Portage County: If you already own a Fire TV Stick, ask Bill which apps are worth adding to get more out of what you already paid for.
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ChatGPT subscribers can now open and edit Google Drive files from inside the chat
ChatGPT now lets paying subscribers open and edit files stored in Google Drive without leaving the chat window. This makes it easier to use AI to help draft or revise documents you already have saved online. For Portage County: If you pay for ChatGPT and store documents in Google Drive, this new connection could save you time when writing letters or editing files.
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Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?
Apple will not release a standard iPhone 18 this fall. Only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new foldable iPhone Ultra are coming in September, with prices expected to be higher. For Portage County: If you have been thinking about upgrading your iPhone, buying an iPhone 17 now may be smarter than waiting, since the affordable model will not arrive until spring 2027.
This digest is auto-generated daily at 6 AM ET from leading tech news sources.
Notice something off? Reply or text Bill at (330) 200-8042.
— Bill's Home Tech, Atwater, OH