Author | Lightnews

Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · 27d

From July 2026, streaming ads on Netflix, YouTube, and more won’t be louder than its shows anymore. No more sudden volume jumps ruining the vibe. Finally, some peace for tired ears! 🔉

California bans noisy ads on Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services

The end to volume jumpscares is in sight.

www.theverge.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Sep 29

AirPods aren’t just for music or calls—now they can be game controllers too. 🎮

The game RidePods uses head tracking so you steer a motorcycle by simply tilting your head.

It’s a playful, hands-free twist on iPhone gaming, supported on most recent AirPods models. 🏍️

New iPhone game RidePods uses clever AirPods trick for steering - 9to5Mac

RidePods is a new iPhone racing game on the App Store that lets you steer hands-free thanks to the motion tracking capabilities of AirPods.

9to5mac.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Sep 24

NYC just got a quirky new EV charger—mounted 10ft up on a lamppost.

How it’s done:
- Retractable cable avoids clutter + damage
- Works on wood or metal poles
- Level 2 charging, up to 9.6 kW
- Pay by tap or app

Feels very NYC: Even the EV chargers dream of being skyscrapers. 🏙️⚡️

NYC’s newest EV charger hangs 10 feet high on a lamppost

The Voltpost Air, a 10-foot-high lamppost EV charger, was launched in Brooklyn, offering faster installs and more reliable urban charging.

electrek.co

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Sep 6

Amazon is ending Prime Invitee Oct 1. No more sharing free shipping outside your household — you’ll need your own $15/mo Prime. The “Amazon Family” plan only works if you live together. 📦

Chance to rethink: is Prime really worth it to subscribe on your own?

Major Amazon Prime Benefit Faces Crackdown Next Month

Amazon plans to end its Prime Invitee program soon. Here's how this could affect your deliveries.

www.cnet.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Aug 12

California man sues Microsoft over “forced” Windows 11 switch. He wants free Win10 updates until less than 10% use it.

He claims:
- His laptops can’t run Win11
- Win10 support ends too soon
- Upgrade is about AI + profit

If you don’t go with the times, Microsoft will make you go with the times. 🤦‍♂️

California man sues Microsoft over Windows 11 upgrades

: He wants Microsoft to keep supporting Windows 10 until its market share drops below 10%

www.theregister.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jun 26

Kind of addicted to my daily coffee—and turns out science is finally on my side 😅

Caffeine does more than wake you up:

- Activates ancient enzyme AMPK ⚡️
- Boosts DNA repair & stress resistance 🛠️
- May slow aging at the cellular level ⏳

In that case, time for another one ☕️

Caffeine Flip-Flops a 500-Million-Year-Old Switch to Slow Aging

Scientists have discovered that caffeine doesn’t just perk up your brain—it energizes your cells in a way that could slow aging. By flipping on an ancient fuel-sensing enzyme called AMPK, caffeine ind...

scitechdaily.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jun 18

Apple’s new haptic trailer for the F1 movie syncs iPhone vibrations with engine revs, curbs, and gear shifts. It adds a tactile edge that suits a sport built on feel. More a tech demo than a game-changer, but still a smart use case. 🏎️

Watch Haptic Trailer - Apple TV+

tv.apple.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jun 9

Apple’s WWDC keynote is almost here—a first look at the future of iPhone, Macbook, and maybe much more Apple gadgets. Whether you’re a dev or just curious, this is where big things get revealed. Looking forward to it. 🍎👀

WWDC 2025 — June 9 | Apple

YouTube video by Apple

www.youtube.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · May 12

Keep losing or breaking your trimmer parts? Philips now lets you 3D print your own at home—starting with the OneBlade comb. It’s free, easy, and helps cut down on waste. ♻️

Philips will let you fix your trimmer with 3D printable parts and accessories

Fix it, don’t toss it.

www.theverge.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Apr 26

Same showerhead: one made in Asia for $129, one made in the USA for $239. 25,650 people looked — nobody bought the U.S. version. According to this A/B test by brand Afina, price still matters more than good intentions.

Everyone Says They’ll Pay More for “Made in the USA.” So We Ran an A/B

When we priced a U.S.-made version of our flagship product 85% higher than our Chinese-made one, 25,650 customers had the chance to vote with their wallets. Here’s what happened. As small business own...

afina.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Apr 21

Paris cut air pollution by 50%—just by making it easier to bike. 🚲

- 100+ car-free streets
- 100,000+ parking spots removed
- Hundreds of miles of bike lanes

Now it feels more like Copenhagen: clean air, quieter streets, and a city made for people, not traffic. 🌳

Paris air pollution is down 50% after its radical bike-friendly transformation

Cars have been banned from more than 100 streets. Tens of thousands of parking spots have been eliminated. Hundreds of miles of bike lanes have been added. And air pollution is plummeting.

www.fastcompany.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Apr 12

Amazon’s vans might save lives, not just deliver packages. Amazon tested defibrillators in delivery vans—drivers often reach heart attack victims faster than EMTs.

- Piloted in 3 European cities
- 100+ trained drivers
- Often beat emergency services

Looking forward to a global rollout. 🚨

Amazon Equips Some Drivers in Europe With Defibrillators - TT

Amazon.com Inc. equipped some delivery vans in Europe with defibrillators to see if drivers crisscrossing residential areas could speed up aid to heart attack victims.

www.ttnews.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Mar 25

Want to see something spectacular? Look up!
The Northern Lights might be visible TONIGHT!

You might see them in MT, ND, MN, MI, WI, NY, VT & ME
Best time: 10pm-2am

Go somewhere dark, look up, and enjoy the show!
Use night mode for pics & share if you see them! 🌌

Updated Northern Lights Forecast: These 15 States May See Aurora Borealis Tonight Amid Geomagnetic Storm

Winds from a spot on the sun’s surface may affect Earth’s magnetic field, forecasters said.

www.forbes.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Feb 28

Nearly 1.6M Android TV devices have been infected by the Vo1d malware, peaking on Jan 14. While North America isn’t hit hard yet, it’s a wake-up call: update your TV’s firmware, enable auto-updates, and stick to trusted app stores. Your smart TV is just as vulnerable as your phone or PC.

Nearly 1.6 million Android TV devices have been infected by Vo1d malware

While Vo1D hasn't reached the US in any sizable numbers, it's a reminder to keep all your connected devices secure, including TVs.

www.digitaltrends.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Feb 15

I’ve always loved how Xcode makes building iPhone and iPad apps possible. With GitHub Copilot, coding feels smoother—less repetition, more focus on real problem-solving. It’s amazing to see how AI is opening the door for more people to create, making programming more accessible, intuitive, and fun.📱

Code completion in GitHub Copilot for Xcode is now generally available · GitHub Changelog

Code completion in GitHub Copilot for Xcode is now generally available

github.blog

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Feb 10

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out is a legendary game that's tested players for years. After 75,000 attempts over 5 years, Summoning Salt has finally defeated Tyson in under 2 minutes for the first time. A perfect mix of skill and luck made it happen, marking history in gaming! 🥊💥

Mike Tyson in 1:59.97 (World Record)

YouTube video by Summoning Alt

www.youtube.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jan 30

Even disruptors can make basic security mistakes. DeepSeek left its database wide open, exposing sensitive data.

Key lessons:
- AI security isn’t just about future threats—basics matter
- Simple misconfigurations cause major risks
- Rapid growth needs strong security
- Innovation needs protection 🔐

Wiz Research Uncovers Exposed DeepSeek Database Leaking Sensitive Information, Including Chat History | Wiz Blog

A publicly accessible database belonging to DeepSeek allowed full control over database operations, including the ability to access internal data. The exposure includes over a million lines of log str...

www.wiz.io

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jan 13

Social media shouldn’t belong to billionaires. @freeourfeeds.com is working to keep Bluesky’s tech open and fair for everyone. Imagine apps like Instagram or TikTok, but no one owns the roads we all use. A better internet, built for the people.

'Free Our Feeds' campaign aims to billionaire-proof Bluesky’s tech | TechCrunch

The initiative, Free Our Feeds, aims to protect Bluesky’s underlying technology, the AT Protocol, and leverage it to create an open social media ecosystem that can’t be controlled by a single company ...

techcrunch.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Jan 2

In 1995, Tomorrow’s World imagined life in 2025.

Here’s how it went:
- Robots doing surgery? Check!
- Holograms everywhere? Not quite—think smart speakers.
- Mining asteroids? Still a dream.

Big ideas, some progress, and plenty to look forward to. 🚀
Nice read.

30 years ago Tomorrow's World predicted 2025 - how did it do?

From space junk gel to hologram surgery, the team had lots of intriguing predictions. Which, if any, came true?

www.bbc.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Dec 14

Turning traffic cams into a giant public selfie machine is such a creative idea. Morry Kolman turned surveillance tech into interactive art, making it feel absurd and playful while making a statement. Now NYC wants him to stop. 📸

NYC Wants You to Stop Taking Traffic Cam Selfies, But Here's How to Do It Anyway

The Traffic Cam Photobooth website from artist Morry Kolman lets you snap a pic as you pass a public camera. New York officials responded with a cease-and-desist, but Kolman is undeterred.

uk.pcmag.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Dec 6

Rumor has it: Valve’s gearing up to take on Sony, Xbox, and even Meta—living room consoles, wireless VR, SteamOS devices, and more. Imagine playing anywhere with hardware made for gamers, by gamers. Maybe Steam Deck was just the start... 🔥

The Verge @theverge.com · Dec 6

Valve’s master plan for Steam Machines is finally coming into focus

Deckard, Roy, Ibex and Fremont could be just the start.

buff.ly

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Nov 29

This answers a question I had for some time: Does closing apps save battery? Not really. Apple says apps in the background don’t drain power, and reopening them uses more.

Better tips:
- Only close frozen apps
- Use Low Power Mode to save battery
- Keep iOS updated

No need to force quit apps. 🔋

Does closing apps on your iPhone save battery life? The surprising answer is no – here's why

Mythbuster: It's satisfying, but not particularly effective

www.techradar.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Nov 25

California’s EV future? Still on track. If Trump ends the $7,500 tax credit, here is the Governors plan:

- Bring back state EV rebates
- Fund them with polluters’ dollars
- Help more Californians go electric

Clean cars, affordable options, and zero turning back. ⚡

California will offer EV rebates if Trump kills federal tax credits | TechCrunch

California is committed to zero-emission vehicles, even if the federal mood shifts. The state's governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Monday that

techcrunch.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Nov 23

Coca-Cola’s new AI generated Christmas ads are getting roasted online:
- Fans say the magic feels lost
- Glitches, weird vibes and proportions in the footage
- Critics call it a cheap move to cut costs

Some say it’s playful, what do you think? 🎄

Read more: www.forbes.com/sites/danidi...

The Holiday Magic is coming.

YouTube video by Coca-Cola

www.youtube.com

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Thomas Pockrandt @tho.bsky.social · Nov 22

UK mobile provider o2 introduced Daisy, the AI granny scammers can’t escape. Here’s how:

- Detects and answers scam calls
- Acts like a charming old lady
- Keeps fraudsters talking for hours
- Chats endlessly about cats, knitting, and more

She’s got plenty of time—but zero payment info to share! 📞

Introducing Daisy, The ‘AI Granny’ Outwitting Scammers

British telecom company O2 adds to its fraud team a human-like chatbot that fools scammers into thinking they’ve found a perfect senior target, then wastes their time.

www.forbes.com

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