Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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Warning: Two Unpatched Citrix NetScaler RCE Zero-Days Under Active Exploitation
A serious security flaw in Citrix networking equipment, used by businesses and hospitals, is being attacked right now and there is no fix available yet. Some companies have shut down the affected equipment entirely rather than leave it exposed. For Portage County: This likely affects your doctor's office or local business networks more than your home, but if any organization you deal with reports a data breach in the coming weeks, this could be why.
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Why your iPhone hates printer cables
Your iPhone cannot print using a USB cable connected directly to a printer, and Apple has no plans to change that. The easiest way to print from an iPhone is to use AirPrint, which works over your home Wi-Fi without any cables or extra apps. For Portage County: If your printer supports AirPrint, make sure your iPhone and printer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and printing should work automatically.
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Nicotine Is Mounting a Comeback in the Wellness Movement
Some corners of the internet are promoting nicotine as a wellness supplement for mood and longer life, but doctors say those claims have no solid science behind them. Nicotine is still addictive and carries real health risks regardless of how it is packaged or marketed. For Portage County: If you see ads or social media posts pushing nicotine patches or gummies as health boosters, treat them with the same skepticism you would any too-good-to-be-true remedy.
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Some Pancreatic Cells Are Just One Genetic Tweak Away From Treating Diabetes
Researchers found that turning off a single gene caused cells in the pancreatic ducts to start producing insulin, which is the hormone that controls blood sugar. This early-stage discovery could eventually point toward new treatments for diabetes. For Portage County: Nothing to act on yet, but if you or a family member manages diabetes, this is the kind of research worth watching in the years ahead.
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Your Android phone is checking location 500+ times daily—here's how to stop it
Many Android phones quietly allow apps to check your location hundreds of times every day, draining your battery and sharing your whereabouts far more than necessary. You can review and limit which apps have location access by going into your phone's Settings, then Privacy, then Permission Manager. For Portage County: Cutting back on location permissions for apps that do not truly need it can noticeably extend how long your phone's battery lasts each day.
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Why we won't know how visible the iPhone Duo's crease is for a long time
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo has a crease where the screen folds, and reviewers say it looks minimal when the phone is new. The real question is how visible that crease becomes after months of daily use, and nobody knows that answer yet. For Portage County: If you are curious about this phone, it is worth waiting for reviews from people who have used it for several months before spending the money.
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How to factory reset your Google Home Mini
If you have a Google Home Mini speaker sitting in a drawer or want to give it away, resetting it wipes your personal account and settings off the device. You can reset it by holding the small button on the bottom of the speaker for about 15 seconds until it chimes. For Portage County: Always reset any smart speaker before passing it on to someone else, so your Google account and voice history do not go with it.
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iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro: What's new?
The iPhone 18 Pro makes some improvements over the iPhone 17 Pro, but the changes are described as minor rather than a major overhaul. Apple has not released full details on every difference between the two models. For Portage County: If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro and it is working well, there is likely no urgent reason to upgrade to the 18 Pro based on what is known so far.
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I almost bought a smart home hub before realizing my Echo already had one
Many Amazon Echo devices can already act as a central hub for smart home gadgets like lights and door locks, without buying any extra equipment. This built-in feature works with many popular smart home brands and is turned on through the Alexa app. For Portage County: Before spending money on a separate smart home hub, open your Alexa app and check whether your Echo already supports the devices you want to connect.
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How powerful of a power bank do you need to safely charge a laptop?
A power bank needs to deliver power fast enough to actually charge your laptop, not just stay connected while the battery drains anyway. The key number to look for is wattage output, and most laptops need at least 45 watts, with many needing 65 watts or more. For Portage County: Before buying a power bank to charge a laptop, check your laptop's charger for its wattage and make sure the power bank matches or exceeds that number.
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