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.
Hackers broke into the computer systems controlling refrigerators at hundreds of French supermarkets and deliberately turned up the temperature, causing thousands of pounds worth of fresh food and frozen goods to spoil overnight. For shoppers who rely on these stores for their weekly groceries, this kind of attack means empty shelves, higher prices, and the disruption of supply chains that many of us depend on for affordable food. Worth knowing: if you notice unusual shortages or price spikes at your regular supermarket, it's worth asking staff whether there's been a technical issue, as cyber-attacks on food supply are becoming a real concern.
When someone passes away, their Google and Apple accounts don't automatically disappear—the companies hold onto emails, photos, documents, and other personal information stored in the cloud, which can leave families uncertain about what happens next. For people over 50 who have years of memories, financial records, or important documents in these accounts, knowing the rules beforehand means your loved ones won't be locked out or left confused during a difficult time. Worth knowing: both Google and Apple have processes for memorializing or accessing deceased accounts, but you'll want to check their websites now and consider naming a trusted person who can help manage your digital life if something happens to you.
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.
Ultrahuman, a company that makes smart rings to track your health, is teaming up with Abu Dhabi to develop a ring that measures your "biological age"—essentially how old your body actually is, rather than just counting calendar years. This matters because knowing your true biological age could help you understand whether your lifestyle choices are keeping you younger or aging you faster than normal. Worth knowing: when this technology becomes available, you'll be able to track daily habits like sleep and exercise to see if they're genuinely helping you stay biologically younger.
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.
Google is adding a new health feature called Health Guardian to its Fitbit watches, which will help monitor your heart rhythm and alert you to any unusual patterns that might need medical attention. This matters because detecting heart problems early can be lifesaving, especially as we get older and heart health becomes more important. Worth knowing: if you own a Fitbit Air or Edge watch, check your device settings to enable these monitoring features once the update arrives on your device.
Amazon now operates over 1 million robots in its warehouses to speed up package delivery, and plans to build even more of these machines in the years ahead. The company says robots handle the heaviest, most dangerous tasks to protect workers from injury, but some researchers worry that working alongside robots—which can set the pace and rhythm of the job—may create new physical and mental stress for human employees. Worth knowing: if you work in warehouse or manufacturing roles, or have family members who do, it's worth paying attention to how automation is changing those workplaces, since the experience of working with robots is quite different from traditional factory work.
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.
