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Today β€” 13 September 2026Tech

Your mesh Wi-Fi's backhaul is destroying your NAS performance

13 September 2026 at 15:00

If you've ever used a mesh Wi-Fi system, you've probably noticed that the satellite nodes usually have a spare Ethernet port. It is tempting to use that port to attach a NAS. After all, it seems like a good way to get your NAS connected without running a cable across the floor or through a wall.

The replacement for 4K Blu-ray is already here, and you're not going to like it

13 September 2026 at 14:30

Physical media has been dying quietly for years, and most people didn't fight it because streaming was just easier. Buying a digital copy felt like the same thing, just without the disc. The problem is that it isn't the same thing at all, and it's not just about ownership; it's about the quality that we're all losing out on.

Source: Anthropic has selected the Nasdaq for its potential IPO (Katie Roof/Business Insider)

13 September 2026 at 12:40

Katie Roof / Business Insider:
Source: Anthropic has selected the Nasdaq for its potential IPOΒ  β€”Β  - Anthropic has chosen Nasdaq for its upcoming IPO, following SpaceX's recent listing on the exchangeΒ  β€” Nasdaq's tech IPO success continues, challenging NYSE's historical dominance in large listings.

A 386 PC For Your RP2350

13 September 2026 at 13:00

We’re at a fortunate moment: microcontrollers available at modest prices are edging into the capability level previously reserved for full-fat systems and can, through emulation, run software beyond classic 8-bit home computers, consoles, or old arcade games. A project we’ve been watching for a while is tiny386, an emulator for ESP32 boards that provides a 386 PC with just enough 486 and 586 instructions enabled to run a modern Linux kernel. Now we’re pleased to note that this platform is making it to the RP2350, with ports for both the FRANK emulation platform and the Waveshare Pi Zero boards. You can now have a 32-bit PC with all the peripherals, including VGA and DVI/HDMI, for the cost of an inexpensive development board.

Having seen tiny386 run on its minimum-spec ESP32 platform, we’ll concede that while it’s usable, it’s not the fastest experience, but the RP2350 port promises better performance. It’s not for a modern full-fat Linux distro, but should work well for running older operating systems such as DOS, or Windows 3.1 and 95, or even a lean Linux setup. This has fascinating potential: while these systems are old, they still have an enormous software library. The idea of useful general-purpose computing, 1990s style, in the palm of the hand, is interesting.

If you’re curious, you can find tiny386 here and the FRANK boards here. Maybe they’re a better route to ’90s fun and games than a 386 laptop.

How to clean your Ryobi tools so they look new and last longer

13 September 2026 at 12:30

By a show of hands, how many of you clean your power tools? I didn't think so. Those Ryobi tools in the garage are built to handle life's daily wear and tear, tackle DIY projects, and more, but when they get covered in dirt, sawdust, and other grime, a proper cleaning is more important than you think.

LG officially denies reports that its smart TVs are secretly recording users

13 September 2026 at 12:44
Boxes with LG televisions seen at the store

Electronics giant LG has been under fire over the past few days after a viral two-hour video report by Gamers Nexus warned that LG's TVs surreptitiously record users' audio, even when the screen is turned off, as well as collecting details about networked devices, location data, and wireless network information.

Since the video's release, dozens of reaction videos have followed, with titles like "How to Stop Smart TV Spying" and "LG Isn't the Only TV Company Spying on You," from reputable channels such as Linus Tech Tips and RTINGS, respectively.Β 

In the wake of the video, LG has formally denied the claims on various news networksΒ and in aΒ statement on its website. Titled "Understanding Privacy on LG Smart TVs," LG unambiguously denies the central accusations of the Gamers Nexus video.Β 

"LG smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit users’ conversations. Speech-to-text processing begins only if a user activates a voice interaction through a supported wake-word feature or by pressing the voice (or AI) button on the remote control. Audio used for wake-word detection is processed locally on the TV and, if no wake word is detected, audio is not converted to text, stored, or transmitted. Voice-recognition results and related technical logs may be generated as part of processing a voice command. These records are associated with specific voice interactions and do not indicate continuous recording of conversations occurring outside an active voice recognition session."

LG claims that, "Speech-recognition results may be used to support voice-related features but are not uploaded later when the TV is offline or when connectivity is restored."

The company also pointed out that some of the most invasive features, like their Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) feature designed to learn from your viewing habits to offer better content recommendations, are optional.

But questions about LG's integrity, as well as the wording of their statement, still remain. If they contend that "LG smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit users’ conversations," does that mean they do so sporadically?

Ultimately, this controversy is another in a long-running series highlighting the need for a more honest conversation about the balance between consumer convenience and consumer privacy. It's definitely a conversation worth having, but in the future, it would be nice if it didn't happenΒ afterΒ a major violation of consumer trust.

California's Gig Drivers Just Secured Collective Bargaining Power with Newly Certified Union

13 September 2026 at 13:34
A union representing Uber and Lyft drivers was just certified by California's Public Employment Relations Board, officially recognizing them as the drivers' bargaining organization. The Sacramento Bee reports that this new bargaining structure : The move will allow the California Gig Workers Union to help drivers negotiate issues affecting working conditions and benefits. It comes as at least 30% of active drivers expressed support of the union... [California] Assembly Bill 1340 helped bring the union to fruition by allowing the independent contractor drivers to engage in collective bargaining. "The next step for the union is to negotiate a contract with Uber and Lyft that meets drivers' demands," reports the Los Angeles Times, "including health insurance, support for high gas prices and more transparency around pay: California is the third state to allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize, following Washington in 2022 and Massachusetts in 2024... The California Gig Workers Union was formed with the support of the Service Employees International Union... "Gig drivers shouldn't have to face the future alone," said SEIU 521 official Riko Mendez in a statement. "As autonomous vehicles rapidly expand, having a union gives the drivers the power to negotiate for fair pay and meaningful say in how new technology shapes their work and our communities' futures."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Sept. 6, 2026

By: GeekWire
13 September 2026 at 11:01

Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Sept. 6, 2026.

Sign up to receive these updates every Sunday in your inbox by subscribing to our GeekWire Weekly email newsletter.

Most popular stories on GeekWire

With a headcount topping 800, Helion opens Seattle office in pursuit of fusion energy

Helion Energy has opened a downtown Seattle office as its headcount hits 800 employees, adding to its five-building Everett headquarters and its Malaga, Wash., site, where the fusion startup is building its Orion generator facility. The company, which has raised more than $1.5 billion, is racing to get Orion operational within two years to meet a contract to supply fusion energy to a Microsoft data center. Read More … Read More

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