When an electric car battery becomes too worn to power a vehicle safely, it can be given a second life storing energy for homes or businesses instead of being thrown away. This matters because recycling old batteries reduces waste, creates new jobs, and helps us get more value from the expensive materials inside them. Ask your car dealer or local recycling center what happens to EV batteries in your area, since programs are growing rapidly and you might be curious how your future car's battery will be handled.
Rear-mounted cameras on cars serve two different purposes: a rearview camera helps you see what's directly behind your vehicle when backing up, while a backup camera specifically shows you the area immediately behind the car to help avoid hitting objects or people. For drivers aged 50 and over, these cameras reduce the blind spots that come with aging eyesight and make parking in tight spaces much safer and less stressful. Worth knowing: check your car's manual or ask your dealer which type you have, since some vehicles have just one camera while others have multiple angles, and understanding what you're looking at on the screen can prevent accidents.
Apple's new AirPods 5 offer noise cancelling that matches more expensive earbuds, but keep the comfortable open design without rubber tips that many people prefer. If you find traditional earbuds uncomfortable or keep losing the small silicone tips, these provide solid sound quality at a reasonable price and work well for phone calls and everyday listening. Worth knowing: they last four to five hours on a single charge, so you'll want to pop them back in their case for top-ups during a full day out.
Google has released a new fitness watch called the Fitbit Edge, priced at $179.99, that sits between their cheaper and fancier models with a sharp screen and attractive design. For people tracking daily steps, heart rate, or sleep, this middle-priced option offers solid features without the premium cost of their higher-end watch. Worth knowing: if you already use other Google services like Gmail or Maps, this watch integrates nicely with your existing digital life.
Your car's adaptive cruise control uses simple cameras and radar to watch the road ahead and automatically adjust your speed to match traffic, much like having a co-pilot who gently taps the brakes when someone slows down in front of you. This technology is changing how people drive, making long highway trips less tiring and helping reduce accidents caused by drivers following too closely or getting distracted. Worth knowing: if you have this feature, it's worth spending ten minutes learning how to use it properly—check your owner's manual or ask your dealer about its limits, such as how it handles heavy rain or when it needs you to take over.
Amazon officially supports Kindles for about seven years after purchase, though the devices themselves often work fine for ten years or more if you treat them well. Knowing this matters because it helps you decide whether to invest in a Kindle now or wait, and it tells you roughly when you might need a replacement. You can extend your Kindle's life significantly by keeping it away from extreme heat and moisture, and by not leaving it sitting in direct sunlight for long periods.
Google has launched the Fitbit Edge, a new fitness tracker that sits between their cheaper Fitbit Air and their fancier Pixel Watch 5, offering more health sensors than the Air in a sleeker design that lasts about a week on a single charge. For someone who wants to track their daily steps, heart rate, and sleep without paying smartwatch prices or dealing with constant charging, this gives you a solid middle option that works with both Android phones and iPhones. Worth knowing: the battery drops from seven days to just two days if you use the always-on display feature, so think about whether you really need to see the screen constantly glowing on your wrist.
Google has released a new Fitbit watch called the Edge that costs about $180 and includes useful health tracking features, plus a battery you can swap out yourself instead of needing to replace the whole device. For people who want to keep tabs on their fitness and heart health without spending a fortune, this watch offers good value, and the replaceable battery means it could last you many years with basic maintenance. You can visit a local electronics retailer on October 27 or check online to see the full list of health features before deciding if it's right for your needs.
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you write a message now and tell it to send automatically at a specific time later, something rival messaging app Telegram has offered for years. This is handy if you want to send birthday greetings at midnight, remind someone about plans tomorrow, or message friends in different time zones without waking them up. Worth knowing: the feature is still being tested, so keep an eye on WhatsApp's updates over the coming months to see when it becomes available on your phone.
Apple is developing a new smart home device called HomeView, which appears to be a wall-mounted screen designed to control lights, thermostats, cameras, and other connected devices in your home. For people who already use Apple products, this could make managing your home simpler—imagine controlling everything from one central touchscreen rather than fumbling with multiple apps on your phone. Worth knowing: if you're considering this device, wait to see real reviews after launch, as Apple's previous attempts at smart home products haven't always lived up to the hype.
Backup cameras use a small lens mounted on the rear of your car to send a live video feed to a screen on your dashboard, showing you what's directly behind you when you put the car in reverse. For older drivers especially, this extra set of eyes can prevent accidents in parking lots and driveways by eliminating blind spots that mirrors can't cover. You can ask your mechanic about adding an aftermarket backup camera to an older vehicle—they're relatively affordable and can make reversing much safer and less stressful.
Google's AI assistant Gemini appears to be interfering with phone calls when people use Android Auto in their foldable phones. This matters because it means you could miss important calls or have trouble taking them while driving or using your phone's navigation system. Worth knowing: if you own a foldable phone and notice Android Auto acting strangely during calls, try disabling Gemini temporarily to see if that helps restore normal calling.
