Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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The network settings I changed after realizing my printer can see everything in my house
Your printer connects to your home Wi-Fi like any other device, which means it can potentially expose passwords and personal files to other devices on the network. Changing a setting called network isolation, or putting the printer on a guest network, keeps it separate from your computers and phones. For Portage County: Ask Bill to check your printer's network settings the next time he visits, especially if your printer is more than a few years old.
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Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Owners Report Unexpected Reboots
Some owners of the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are reporting that their watches restart on their own, often while using Siri, opening apps, or recording a workout. Apple has not yet released a fix, but the crashes appear tied to the watch's AI processing chip. For Portage County: If your new Apple Watch keeps restarting, note what you were doing when it happened and check for a software update under the Watch app on your iPhone.
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AT&T amiGO Jr. Tab 2 review: This kids tablet surprised me in the best way
AT&T sells a tablet called the amiGO Jr. Tab 2 designed for children, and a reviewer found it performed better than expected for the price. It includes parental controls and is available through AT&T. For Portage County: If you are looking for a safe, affordable tablet for a grandchild, this is worth a look at your local AT&T store before the holidays.
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Amazon doesn’t trust Meta’s Muse AI agent
Amazon blocked Meta's new AI assistant, called Muse, from shopping on Amazon on behalf of users, saying it violated Amazon's rules. A message now pops up telling Muse users that an unauthorized AI agent cannot access Amazon. For Portage County: This is a reminder that AI tools acting on your behalf online may not be welcome everywhere, so always know what any new app is doing in your name before you set it up.
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ClickFix Lures Deploy ChainScript RAT Using Polygon to Rotate C2 Infrastructure
Scammers are disguising harmful software as familiar programs like Spotify, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams to trick people into installing it. Once installed, the software gives criminals remote access to your computer. For Portage County: Only download Zoom, Spotify, or Teams from the official website or your device's app store, never from a link in an email or pop-up.
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I changed these 3 Samsung settings and finally fixed my Galaxy's battery life
If your Samsung Galaxy phone's battery drains too fast, three settings changes, including adjusting the screen refresh rate, limiting background app activity, and tweaking display brightness, can make a real difference. The original article walks through each setting step by step. For Portage County: If your Galaxy phone barely makes it through the day on a charge, search 'Samsung battery settings' on How-To Geek for the exact steps, or call Bill for a quick walkthrough.
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How to join a FaceTime call with your Android phone or Windows PC
You can join a FaceTime video call from an Android phone or a Windows computer, even though FaceTime is made by Apple. The person with an iPhone sends you a link, and you open it in a web browser. For Portage County: If a family member wants to FaceTime but you use an Android phone or a Windows laptop, ask them to send you the link and open it in Chrome or Edge.
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iFixit Shares iPhone 18 Pro Teardown With Inside Look at New Features
Repair experts at iFixit took apart the new iPhone 18 Pro and found that the Pro Max model has a noticeably larger battery than last year, about 9 percent bigger. Both models sold in the United States use only an electronic SIM and do not have a physical SIM card slot. For Portage County: If you are thinking about upgrading to an iPhone 18 Pro Max, the bigger battery is a real improvement, but confirm with your carrier that your account supports eSIM before you buy.
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Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners
Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a lawsuit over Siri, and iPhone owners who had a qualifying device may be able to claim around $25. The claims website is now open, and you have until December 21 to submit a claim. For Portage County: If you owned an iPhone between 2014 and 2024, visit the official Siri settlement website to check if you qualify and file a claim before the deadline.
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7 ways to get free movies and TV channels on your smart TV
Many smart TVs come with free apps that offer movies and TV channels at no cost, including services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and Peacock's free tier. You do not need a subscription or a credit card to use them. For Portage County: Press the app store button on your TV remote and search for Tubi or Pluto TV to start watching free movies and news channels today.
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