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How do non-Apple apps like Spotify work on HomeView? It’s complicated
As you'll probably have seen, there are a bunch of Apple's own apps on the incoming HomeView smart display, but how do third-party apps work?
Quoting Addy Osmani, Morgan Westlee Lunt, and Qing Wang
We think "did a human read the code?" is an imprecise proxy for "what could go wrong with this change, and which check—automated or human—is the right one to catch it?"
Windows 11 October patches blamed for Xbox error 0x87DD0005
Players say Solitaire, Mahjong and Gears of War 4 fail Xbox sign-in with error 0x87DD0005 after KB5127648 and KB5127694. Microsoft has confirmed no cause yet.
Google moves inline links higher in AI Mode and AI Overviews
Google is moving inline links higher in AI Mode and AI Overviews and testing official page links, but Search Console still shows no click data for AI results.
Eight states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT safety claims
Iowa, Kansas, Arizona and five other states sued OpenAI in state courts, alleging ChatGPT misled users on safety and seeking curbs on self-improving AI models.
Microsoft brings Defender protections to Linux
Acknowledging the rising use of Linux in various sectors, Microsoft has announced that it is bringing its Defender security protections to the open-source operating system. The arrival of Microsoft Defender on Linux systems means that users can benefit from the company’s antivirus protection, device isolation and more. Fast facts: Microsoft says that the increasing use of Linux across various industries means that workstations running the operating system are attractive targets for hackers and attackers.
Analogue revives the 16-bit era with cute SNES and Mega Drive consoles – now where are my cartridges?
The Super Nt+ and Mega Sg+ FPGA systems and will play cartridges region free.
UK to propose ‘YouTube tax’ as extension of BBC license fee and it could apply to all streaming platforms
Watching any content, anywhere, anyhow? Then you may be paying the license fee currently reserved for live TV and iPlayer content from BBC.
Can Apple really dominate the smart home after arriving so late?
Apple’s new Home Collection promises one-tap setup and no extra apps, but is that enough to take on Alexa?
If you pre-order an iPhone Duo now, here’s when you might actually get one delivered – hint: it’s not this year
Delivery estimates are already into the new year for Apple's first foldable phone – the iPhone Duo is a hot ticket
2026.42: Home At Last
The best Stratechery content from the week of October 12, 2026, including what Apple is doing, SpaceX's appetite, and the title, takes, and the Washington Wizards.
Your smart home could be doing more boring jobs for you – these 6 shortcuts are a good place to start
From lights that know when you’ve gone out, to a quicker kitchen clean, these simple setups make everyday life a little easier
- 404 Media Read
Behind the Blog: Doing Whatever
This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss a new pod setup, video games, and Elon's spending habits.
Rivian CEO: Robotics Is Progressing Much Faster Than You Think
On a ride through Manhattan, the Rivian CEO says the world is unprepared for just how fast robotics will advance.
- 404 Media Read
Podcast: Cops Can Use AI to Pinpoint Your Home with Just One Photo
We start this week with Joseph’s article about Raven, previously known as Geospy. This is an AI tool that can geolocate photos, and now says it can pinpoint a specific house based just on one photo taken inside. After the break, Jason explains why a judge ruled a particular Flock search as unconstitutional. In the subscribers-only section, we talk about the wild AI video that has derailed a manslaughter case. Listen to the weekly podcast on Apple Podcasts,
The Lawful Access Act’s threats to Canada’s national security
“The assumption by government officials that technology companies can find “safe ways” to weaken critical cybersecurity protections badly misreads the current threat landscape,” argues the Citizen Lab’s Kate Robertson in a new piece for The Globe & Mail.
- 404 Media Read
Here’s What Telegram Giving Data to the U.S. Government Looks Like
This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records. Subscribe to them here. Newly filed court records show exactly what happens when messaging app Telegram provides data to U.S. authorities. A letter written by Telegram, and providing a specific user’s phone number, user ID, and IP address, reads: Dear Sir or Madam, For this particular case, the following information was available: User #7149269705 : +201155664529 [Mahmoud Almohtadi]
- 404 Media Read
Cops Used AI Generated Photos of a Child to Lure Out a Suspected Predator
Christopher Thomas Mertens, a high school maintenance worker, was arrested after attempting to meet up with an AI persona that he thought was a 15 year old boy.
LibreOffice adds support for Microsoft Publisher files
Microsoft is no stranger to ending support for products it feels have reached the end of their life, and the company very recently ended support for the much-loved Microsoft Publisher. With the company dropping the desktop publishing program, users have been left with no way to open their existing .pub files – until now. LibreOffice has just added support for the .pub format. Fast facts: LibreOffice, the free alternative to Microsoft Office, has long been a proponent of document portability.
Microsoft warns October's KB5127648 Windows update can break Smart App Control
Microsoft has issued a warning that the recently released October Update for Windows 11 can break Smart App Control. Some users who have installed the KB5127648 update have found that they are unable to turn on the security feature. Having acknowledged the issue, Microsoft says that it is working on a fix and has provided details of a workarounfin the meantime. Fast facts: The problem, according to Microsoft, only affected people who have not yet enabled Smart App Control and then try to do so.
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