Tom Whitfield

About the author

Tom covers gadgets, apps and software, explained in plain English.

Apple Tightens App Store Rules to Block “Nudify” Apps That Hide Their Real Purpose

Apple’s updated guidelines ban hidden features and bait-and-switch tactics aimed at AI “nudify” apps. Here’s what changed and what it means for iPhone users.

Driverless Trucks Can Use Warning Beacons Instead of Triangles, Regulators Decide

The FMCSA granted a five-year exemption letting self-driving semis use cab-mounted beacons instead of the warning triangles a human driver would set out. Independent truckers object.

Cloudflare Takes On the Deno Team. Deno Deploy Will Shut Down in Six Months

Ryan Dahl and the Deno team are joining Cloudflare. The Deno runtime gets one more year of fixes, and Deno Deploy users have six months to move.

Google’s New Gemini Agent Gives AI Coworkers Their Own Email, Calendar and Directory Listing

Google Cloud’s new Gemini agent can create AI “coworkers” with their own Workspace accounts that work across Gmail, Docs and even Slack. Pricing and a release date weren’t announced.

Apple Sets an Oct. 13 “Welcome Home” Launch. Here’s What to Expect, Plus What Could Come Oct. 27

Apple confirmed an Oct. 13 launch teased with “Welcome home,” with a smart home hub, HomePod mini and Apple TV expected. Reports point to touchscreen MacBook Pros and an OLED iPad mini around Oct. 27.

Amazon’s New Alexa Tablets Run Android With Google Play, Starting at $230

Amazon’s new Alexa Tablet 8, 11 and 12 Pro run Android with the Google Play Store and Alexa+, start at $229.99 and ship Oct. 14.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra Starts at $2,599 and Ships Oct. 16

Microsoft’s first Surface with Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip is up for preorder, with up to 128GB of memory and a breakaway USB-C charging port. Here is what you get, and the fine print.

A Free Tool Can Strip Apple Intelligence From Your Mac and Free Up About 12GB. Should You Use It?

RemoveMacAI, an open-source tool for macOS 27, disables Apple’s AI features and deletes their models to free up storage. Here’s what it does and what to weigh first.

Windows 10’s October 13 Deadline Has Moved: What PC Owners Need to Know

Microsoft quietly extended free Windows 10 security updates for home users to October 2027. Here’s who’s covered, how to enroll and what it doesn’t include.

Prime Big Deal Days Is Here, and So Are the Amazon Scams. How to Shop Without Getting Hooked

Amazon’s October sale runs Oct. 6–7, and security researchers say fake Amazon messages and lookalike websites have surged. Here’s what the scams look like and how to avoid them.

Apple Is Tightening Mac “Full Disk Access” as AI Agents Ask for More of Your Data

Apple says it will add new controls to the powerful Full Disk Access permission on macOS, warning that AI agents raise the stakes. Here’s what the setting does and how to check it now.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Four Habits That Make You a Harder Target

This year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is “Don’t Make It Easy for Them.” Here are the four everyday habits organizers want everyone to adopt.

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