Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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How to keep your router running during a blackout with a Ryobi battery
A Ryobi battery pack can be wired to keep your home router and modem running for a few hours when the power goes out. The setup requires a small inverter and some basic cable connections that most handy homeowners can manage. For Portage County: If your area loses power during storms and you rely on internet for health monitoring or staying in touch with family, this is worth asking Bill about at your next visit.
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Gurman: iPhone Duo 2 prototypes with Face ID are already being tested inside Apple
Apple is already testing prototypes of a second-generation foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Duo 2, with Face ID built under the screen. The current iPhone Duo just launched, but Apple's engineers are already working on what comes next. For Portage County: Nothing to do yet, but if you are curious about foldable phones, wait and see how the first model holds up before spending the money.
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Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
Apple's new foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is selling far better than expected, with pre-orders so strong that Apple has asked factories to make 44 percent more units, jumping from 9.7 million to 14 million phones. Apple called the demand extraordinary, and early buyers saw shipping dates slip within 30 minutes of pre-orders opening. For Portage County: If you were thinking about ordering one, expect wait times, and remember this is a first-generation product with a premium price.
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Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
An Australian court has ordered Apple to allow competing app stores and alternative payment options on iPhones for users in Australia, starting March 1, 2027. Apple plans to appeal the ruling, which follows a court finding that Apple misused its market power. For Portage County: This does not affect you directly yet, but similar legal pressure is building in the U.S. and Europe, which could eventually mean more choices for where you buy iPhone apps.
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Tesla plans to start selling Cybercabs by the end of the year
Tesla says it plans to start selling its Cybercab robotaxi vehicles to other transportation companies before the end of this year. The Cybercab is a driverless electric vehicle designed to carry passengers without a human driver. For Portage County: This is early-stage news and unlikely to affect Portage County soon, but it is worth knowing that self-driving taxis are moving from concept to commercial sales.
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Google Chrome Will Notify You If You’re on a Scam Website
Google Chrome now warns you when it thinks you have landed on a scam or fake website, but you have to turn on a setting called Enhanced Protection to get the alerts. The feature uses Google's databases to check sites in real time as you browse. For Portage County: Open Chrome, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Safe Browsing, and choose Enhanced Protection to turn this on, it is a simple step that can help catch scam sites before they cause harm.
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PHP: The three letters that shut down sites all over the internet today
Two serious security bugs were found in PHP, a programming language that powers a huge portion of websites including anything built on WordPress. The flaws caused outages today at major sites including Wikipedia and others, and patches are being released. For Portage County: You do not need to do anything, but if a website you use regularly seems broken today, this is likely why, and it should be fixed within a day or two.
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LiteLLM Suspects GitHub Token Leak in AI Gateway Logs Behind Malicious Package Release
A popular software tool used by developers to build AI applications, called LiteLLM, was hacked on October 21, and attackers pushed out a poisoned version that could steal passwords and create a back door on affected systems. The attack appears to have started with a leaked security token from GitHub. For Portage County: This affects software developers, not everyday users, but it is a reminder that even the tools professionals use can be compromised.
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Node.js Brotli Decoder Bug Could Allow Remote Code Execution in All Supported Versions
A security flaw in a widely used programming tool called Node.js could allow an attacker to run harmful code on a computer or server without needing a password or login. Updates fixing the bug were released on October 21 for all supported versions. For Portage County: This affects websites and servers, not your home computer directly, but if you use any web-based services, the companies behind them should be applying this fix now.
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Apple must open iPhone to alternative app stores in Australia after Epic Games ruling
An Australian court has ordered Apple to open the iPhone to competing app stores and payment options following a legal battle with Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. Apple confirmed it plans to appeal the decision. For Portage County: No change is coming to your iPhone yet, but if Apple loses its appeal, it could eventually mean more options for where you download apps, similar to how Android works 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