Googles Enshittification hits Fitbit: You Won’t Be Able to Access Your Fitbit Web Dashboard Any More

Today is the last day you can interact with your Fitbit health data on a big screen. Last month, Fitbit announced in a blog post that consumers will no longer have access to the tracker’s web dashboard after July 8, 2024. Fitbit describes the move as “consolidating the dashboard into the Fitbit app.” However, the Read more about Googles Enshittification hits Fitbit: You Won’t Be Able to Access Your Fitbit Web Dashboard Any More[…]

Spotify Says It Will Refund Car Thing Purchases with a valid receipt

If you contact Spotify’s customer service with a valid receipt, the company will refund your Car Thing purchase. That’s the latest development reported by Engadget. When Spotify first announced that it would brick every Car Thing device on December 9, 2024, it said that it wouldn’t offer owners any subscription credit or automatic refund. From Read more about Spotify Says It Will Refund Car Thing Purchases with a valid receipt[…]

Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People and destroy phones Using Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows

In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any Read more about Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People and destroy phones Using Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows[…]

Spotify to brick every Car Thing gadget it ever sold only 2 – 3 years ago

Spotify’s brief attempt at being a hardware company wasn’t all that successful: the company stopped producing its Car Thing dashboard accessory less than a year after it went on sale to the public. And now, two years later, the device is about to be rendered completely inoperable. Customers who bought the Car Thing are receiving Read more about Spotify to brick every Car Thing gadget it ever sold only 2 – 3 years ago[…]

Reggaeton Be Gone – use a Raspberry Pi to jam bluetooth speakers when reggaeton music comes on

[…] Consider this scenario: Your wall-to-wall neighbor loves to blast Reggaeton music at full volume through a Bluetooth speaker every morning at 9 am. You have two options: A. Knock on their door and politely ask them to lower the volume. B. Build an AI device that can handle the situation more creatively. Reggaeton Be Read more about Reggaeton Be Gone – use a Raspberry Pi to jam bluetooth speakers when reggaeton music comes on[…]

Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes

[Kagen Sound] is a woodworker and artist who gives a great behind-the-scenes look at his amazingly high-quality puzzle boxes (video). Not only do his varied puzzle box designs show his math background, but they are all made entirely of wood. There are no nails or fasteners; just intricately-fitted wood and some glue. There’s a lot Read more about Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes[…]

Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices

Samsung just announced that its self-repair program will now include certain home entertainment devices. The company has developed a range of step-by-step repair guides for various products in the category, in addition to providing genuine replacement parts and repair tools. This program covers Samsung 2023 TVs, along with their remotes, and monitors released throughout the Read more about Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices[…]

Swarovski’s smart binoculars identify the birds, butterflies, mammals, you’re looking at and mark something to share with whoever you give the binocs to next

Swarovski has turned up at CES 2024 in Las Vegas with its first ever pair of smart binoculars that will identify the bird you’re looking at. All you have to do is point the gear at a bird and make sure the view is in focus, and then press down an action button. Within a Read more about Swarovski’s smart binoculars identify the birds, butterflies, mammals, you’re looking at and mark something to share with whoever you give the binocs to next[…]

Augmental Mouthpad – bluetooth tongue operated trackpad for your phone, PC, fits like a mouth roof retainer

  The MouthPad^ is a tongue-driven interface that controls your computer, smartphone, or tablet via Bluetooth. Virtually invisible to the world, but always available to you, it is positioned across the roof of your mouth to put all of the power of a conventional touchpad at the tip of your tongue   Source: Augmental – Read more about Augmental Mouthpad – bluetooth tongue operated trackpad for your phone, PC, fits like a mouth roof retainer[…]

HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen

It’s rare, but now and then a company will go out on a limb and create a truly cutting-edge device, even if its books take a hit. That’s exactly what HP has done with the Spectre Fold. Despite having the same processor as last year’s ASUS Zenbook 17 OLED, HP’s take on a flexible-screen laptop Read more about HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen[…]

Google turned ANC earbuds into heart rate sensor

Google today detailed its research into audioplethysmography (APG) that adds heart rate sensing capabilities to active noise canceling (ANC) headphones and earbuds “with a simple software upgrade.” Google says the “ear canal [is] an ideal location for health sensing” given that the deep ear artery “forms an intricate network of smaller vessels that extensively permeate Read more about Google turned ANC earbuds into heart rate sensor[…]

Motorola’s concept slap bracelet smartphone looks convenient

Forget foldable phones, the next big trend could be gadgets that bend. Lenovo, which is currently holding its ninth Tech World event in Austin, Texas, showed off its new collaboration with its subsidiary Motorola: a smartphone that can wrap around your wrist like a watch band. It’s admittedly quite fascinating to see the tech in Read more about Motorola’s concept slap bracelet smartphone looks convenient[…]

Philips Hue / Signify Ecosystem: ‘Collapsing Into Stupidity’

The Philips Hue ecosystem of home automation devices is “collapsing into stupidity,” writes Rachel Kroll, veteran sysadmin and former production engineer at Facebook. “Unfortunately, the idiot C-suite phenomenon has happened here too, and they have been slowly walking down the road to full-on enshittification.” From her blog post: I figured something was up a few Read more about Philips Hue / Signify Ecosystem: ‘Collapsing Into Stupidity’[…]

These Live Translation Earbuds Are $157

These Mymanu CLIK S are a pair of bluetooth earbuds that pair with an app on your phone to offer live translations of over 37 languages, including Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Finnish, Thai, Korean, and Japanese. The earbuds cost $157, and the app is included. Obviously, these earbuds can be ideal for international Read more about These Live Translation Earbuds Are $157[…]

Kokoon / Philips Sleep Headphones (Designed for Ultimate Comfort)

Philips and sleep specialists Kokoon have partnered to create an unparalleled sleep headphone. The Philips Sleep Headphones, powered by Kokoon, blends sleep science and ergonomic know-how with Philips’ century-long reputation for crafting top-notch products. […] Experience a comfort revolution. After numerous nights of testing, our team has crafted an earbud that flawlessly conforms to the Read more about Kokoon / Philips Sleep Headphones (Designed for Ultimate Comfort)[…]

Watch Oscilloscope Kickstarter rewards sent – 10 years after backing

It may have taken ten years to come through on this particular Kickstarter, but a promise is a promise. In late August 2023, backers who had since likely forgotten all about the project started receiving their oscilloscope watches from creator [Gabriel Anzziani]. Whatever the reason(s) for the delay, the watch looks great, and is miles Read more about Watch Oscilloscope Kickstarter rewards sent – 10 years after backing[…]

VanMoof ebike should be bricked if servers go down – fortunately security is so bad a rival has an app to allow you to unlock it

[…] an app is required to use many of the smart features of its bikes – and that app relies on communication with VanMoof servers. If the company goes under, and the servers go offline, that could leave ebike owners unable to even unlock their bikes […] While unlocking is activated by Bluetooth when your Read more about VanMoof ebike should be bricked if servers go down – fortunately security is so bad a rival has an app to allow you to unlock it[…]

BMW’s Heads-Up Display Glasses Could Make You Feel Like a Motorcycle-Riding Cyborg

f you’ve ever been riding your motorcycle and thought it’d be cool to have a Terminator-like head-up display, giving you vehicle and navigation data, BMW has just the thing for you. They’re called the BMW ConnectedRide Smartglasses—smart sunglasses with a head-up display (HUD) built into the right lens. For a smart pair of glasses, with Read more about BMW’s Heads-Up Display Glasses Could Make You Feel Like a Motorcycle-Riding Cyborg[…]

Phone cam array – An open-source, modular photogrammetry system made of Android phones

Photogrammetry is a 3D reconstruction technique using photographs of the target from multiple angles. Taking pictures around a static object with a single camera can yield high-quality models, but if the subject moves between images, 3D reconstruction might fail. One way to mitigate this is to use multiple cameras. This project aimed to develop a Read more about Phone cam array – An open-source, modular photogrammetry system made of Android phones[…]

EU votes on battery reform – including being able to replace them in your mobile

With 587 votes in favour, nine against and 20 abstentions, MEPs endorsed a deal reached with the Council to overhaul EU rules on batteries and waste batteries. The new law takes into account technological developments and future challenges in the sector and will cover the entire battery life cycle, from design to end-of-life. Key measures Read more about EU votes on battery reform – including being able to replace them in your mobile[…]

Mitsubishi 3000GT Car Phone Modded To Work Like an iPhone, link to full 3 year journey included

Software engineer Jeff Lau, posting under the username UselessPickles, showed off the restored car phone in a video uploaded to YouTube. The Mitsubishi came from the factory with an optional “DiamondTel” handset and hands-free system, which was rendered inoperable by the discontinuation of analog “AMPS” cell service in the U.S. in 2008. (The 3G shutdown Read more about Mitsubishi 3000GT Car Phone Modded To Work Like an iPhone, link to full 3 year journey included[…]

Researchers built sonar glasses that track facial movements for silent communication

A Cornell University researcher has developed sonar glasses that “hear” you without speaking. The eyeglass attachment uses tiny microphones and speakers to read the words you mouth as you silently command it to pause or skip a music track, enter a passcode without touching your phone or work on CAD models without a keyboard. Cornell Read more about Researchers built sonar glasses that track facial movements for silent communication[…]