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 hidden costs of running a Home Assistant smart home (and why they're worse than you'd expect)
Home Assistant is free software that lets you control smart home devices without a monthly fee, but the hidden costs, including hardware, time, and troubleshooting, add up fast. Many users find they spend hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours before things run smoothly. For Portage County: If you're thinking about a smart home setup, ask Bill first so you know the real cost before you start.
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Here’s the Tesla Semi… again
Tesla has started making its long-delayed Semi truck in volume, nearly a decade after the company first showed it off. The electric heavy-duty truck is now being delivered to fleet customers after years of production delays. For Portage County: This one is mostly industry news, but it's a sign that electric big rigs are becoming real, which could eventually affect shipping costs and delivery services you use.
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How to Check Your Mac's Manufacture Date in macOS 27
Apple quietly brought back the ability to see your Mac's manufacture date, which had been hidden since 2021 when Apple switched to randomized serial numbers. If you have macOS 27 installed, you can find the date under System Settings, then General, then About, then Regulatory Certification. For Portage County: If you ever need to know how old your Mac is for a warranty question or repair estimate, this is now the easiest way to find out.
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Microsoft is killing off the ‘Copilot Plus PC’ brand
Microsoft is dropping the "Copilot Plus PC" label it had been putting on certain Windows computers with built-in AI features. The brand never caught on with most buyers, and Microsoft appears to be moving away from it quietly. For Portage County: If a salesperson mentions "Copilot Plus" when you're shopping for a new computer, don't let the label drive your decision, just ask Bill what specs actually matter for your needs.
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Nearly a Decade Later, the Electric Tesla Semi Is Here
Tesla has started making its long-delayed Semi truck in volume, nearly a decade after the company first showed it off. The electric heavy-duty truck is now being delivered to fleet customers after years of production delays. For Portage County: This is mostly industry news, but it signals that electric freight trucks are becoming real, which could eventually affect delivery services and shipping costs in our area.
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Cloudflare Fixes Flaw That Let One Container Read Another Customer's Leftover Disk Data
Cloudflare, a company that powers security and speed for millions of websites, fixed a flaw that let one paying customer accidentally read leftover data from another customer's server space. Cloudflare says no live accounts were actively breached, and the exposed data came only from disk space that had already been released. For Portage County: You don't need to do anything, but this is a good reminder that even big tech companies find and fix security holes, which is why keeping your own software updated matters.
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WSO2 and Adobe Commerce Flaws Exploited in Attacks, Added to CISA KEV
The U.S. government's cybersecurity agency added two serious software flaws to its official watch list after finding they are being actively used in real attacks. The flaws affect WSO2 and Adobe Commerce software, which businesses use to run websites and online stores. For Portage County: You likely don't run this software yourself, but if you shop on smaller online stores, be cautious about entering payment information on sites that look outdated or poorly maintained.
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Qualcomm’s new ‘Elite’ sound chip might finally deliver the Wi-Fi earbud dream
Qualcomm announced a new audio chip that puts low-power Wi-Fi 6E directly inside wireless earbuds, meaning earbuds could stream high-quality audio from across your home without needing your phone nearby. This is still in the chip stage, so earbuds using it aren't on store shelves yet. For Portage County: Nothing to buy right now, but if you've ever had your earbuds cut out when your phone is in another room, this technology is aimed at fixing exactly that.
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