A buildup of dust and debris inside your game controller can cause the joystick to register movement even when you're not touching it—a problem called stick drift. Keeping your controllers clean and dry helps prevent this annoying issue from ruining your gaming sessions and saves you the cost of replacing them. Worth knowing: a gentle cleaning with a soft, dry cloth around the joystick area, or occasionally using a can of compressed air, can keep your controllers working smoothly for years.
Apple is working on a new tool that will let you prove your iPhone photos are genuine and haven't been artificially created or manipulated. As deepfake technology becomes more convincing, having proof that a photo really came from your camera—like a digital fingerprint—could protect you from being fooled or accused of sharing fake images. You can watch for this feature to appear in your iPhone settings under Camera options in the coming months, though Apple hasn't officially announced it yet.
A passenger on a Delta flight created a fake Wi-Fi network while the plane was in the air, mimicking the airline's real one to potentially trick people into connecting to it. This matters because scammers use this trick to steal passwords and personal information from unsuspecting travelers—something you're especially vulnerable to when you're tired or distracted during a flight. Worth knowing: before connecting to any Wi-Fi on a plane or in a public place, ask the flight attendant or staff to confirm the exact network name, and avoid logging into banking or email accounts on public networks.
Researchers found a serious security weakness in Zoom where someone could take control of your computer during a meeting—and they discovered it using just a handful of commands fed to artificial intelligence. If left unfixed, a bad actor could spy on you through your camera, listen through your microphone, or steal your personal information without you knowing anything happened. Worth knowing: Zoom has already released a patch to fix this, so update your Zoom app right away if you haven't done so recently, and avoid joining meetings from people you don't trust.
# Connecting Bluetooth Headphones to Your PS5
The PS5 doesn't connect to Bluetooth headphones the way your phone or tablet does—instead, you'll need to use a USB adapter or plug your headphones into the controller. This matters because many of us have invested in wireless headphones we love, and it's frustrating when they won't work with our gaming console right away. Worth knowing: a simple USB Bluetooth adapter (usually under £15) will solve the problem, or you can check if your headphone manufacturer makes a PS5-compatible version.
Samsung's wireless earbuds will soon help people with mild hearing loss by working like hearing aids—the FDA has given the company permission to offer this feature later in 2024. If you struggle to hear conversations or the television, this could mean better sound without needing a separate, expensive hearing aid device. Worth knowing: when the feature launches, you'll be able to test your hearing right through the buds and adjust them to match your needs, so ask your doctor whether this might suit you before investing in the earbuds.
Spotify is putting warning labels on songs made by artificial intelligence so you'll know they're not created by real musicians. This matters because it protects actual artists from being drowned out by cheap, computer-generated music, and it keeps your playlists filled with human creativity rather than algorithm output. Worth knowing: when you're browsing new music on Spotify, you'll soon be able to spot these "AI persona" labels and choose whether you want to listen to them or stick with real performers.
# Garmin Cirqa vs Fitbit Air
Garmin's new Cirqa fitness tracker costs about $100 more than the Fitbit Air, but it offers longer battery life and more detailed sports tracking features, while the Fitbit Air focuses on simplicity and heart health monitoring at a lower price. If you're mainly interested in keeping tabs on your daily steps and heart rate without fuss, the Fitbit Air gives you the essentials at a gentler price point—but if you're an active person who likes detailed information about different types of exercise, Garmin's extra features might be worth the investment. You can visit both companies' websites to check the specific features that matter most to your lifestyle before deciding which fits your routine and budget better.
Amazon recently changed their order confirmation emails so they show only product categories like "Beauty item" or "Hardware" instead of telling you exactly what you ordered. This means you can't quickly glance at your email to remember what's arriving—you have to log into Amazon's website every time to see the details. Worth knowing: if you're ordering gifts or managing multiple deliveries, keep those order receipts or check Amazon's app right away, because the emails alone won't help you track what's coming.
Police and security companies are now using technology that tracks your phone's wireless signals alongside license plate readers, building a hidden map of where you travel and who you travel with. For anyone concerned about privacy, this matters because authorities could potentially identify you or track your movements without a warrant, simply by following the electronic "fingerprint" your phone naturally broadcasts. Worth knowing: if you're worried about this type of tracking, keeping your phone's location and Bluetooth settings turned off when you're not actively using them limits what signals your device sends out into the world.
Motorola's new smartwatch has a traditional, attractive design that makes it look like a simple watch, but it's actually quite limited in what it can really do. If you're thinking about getting a smartwatch to track your health, get notifications, or stay connected, this one falls short compared to others at the same price—it's more style than substance. Worth knowing: before buying any smartwatch, check what specific features matter most to you (like fitness tracking or heart rate monitoring) and compare what this Moto Watch actually offers against competitors like Apple Watch or Wear OS devices.
Spotify is now marking artist profiles that are entirely AI-created rather than real people, and it's automatically hiding their music from most playlists and recommendations unless you specifically search for them. This helps ensure that when you discover new music through Spotify's suggestions, you're more likely hearing from actual human artists who depend on music for their livelihood. Worth knowing: if you enjoy experimental or instrumental AI music, you can still find and listen to it by searching directly, but it won't pop up uninvited in your recommendations.
