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13 Aug 2025

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Musk threatens Apple and calls OpenAI boss a liar as feud deepens
Relations between the two tech bosses have soured amid a slew of lawsuits and social media digs.

OT cyber incidents could cost USD $329.5b, report warns
A new report warns OT cyber incidents could cost USD $329.5 billion, urging firms to boost security controls and improve risk management practices.

Google tests ‘script blocking’ in Chrome Incognito to boost privacy
If you care about privacy, you probably shouldn’t be using Chrome given that it’s owned and developed by Google, one of the most data-hungry corporations on the planet. But if you have to use Chrome, then you should be employing as many browser privacy tweaks as you can, like blocking third-party cookies and trackers. And, of course, using Incognito mode when you don’t want your browsing history to be saved. But Incognito mode isn’t perfectly private—at least in the form it’s in right now—and Google is working on that. According to a Chrome feature document (spotted by Windows Latest), Google is currently testing a new feature that blocks third-party scripts while in Incognito mode; specifically, third-party scripts that misuse browser APIs to track you and your activity without consent. A similar feature is already available in Edge, Firefox, and Safari. It’s not yet clear when this new feature will be rolled out to the public, but sometime later this year wouldn’t be a bad bet. Further reading: These privacy-obsessed apps will set you free

HMRC using AI to scour suspected tax cheats' social media
It said the tech would not replace "human decision-making" and was subject to legal oversight.

The Asus-Noctua RTX 5080 teamup is big, modest, and probably pricey
It’s been a year since we saw a new graphics card festooned in Noctua’s iconic shades of brown. But for those who’ve been waiting for an RTX 50-series upgrade, it’s almost here. The official “Noctua Edition” of the Asus GeForce RTX 5080 has been exhaustively detailed in a new video. There are only two details missing: a price and a date. The new RTX 5080 version of the Asus-Noctua teamup, now entering its third generation, is a little more buttoned-down than the previous ones. The oversized triple-fan cooler has just a bit of extra adornment with one chevron and some ever-so-slight ring decorations on either side. (It’s giving me owl vibes, obviously.) If you’re wondering, those fans are Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans, 25mm wide each. That means a—ahem—robust size of 385mm long and 80mm wide, requiring four open PCIe slots on your motherboard and case. In the words of Harry Harrison, “Make Room! Make Room!” All that cooling power needs a minimum of 850 watts from your power supply, resulting in a boost clock of 2700MHz (or 2730MHz at an absolute maximum overclock), a modest bump over the stock RTX 5080’s 2620MHz boost. But the mega cooling power of triple Noctua fans does give some extra options, including just turning them off at under 50°C for silent operation at low loads. Exactly how much all this will cost isn’t precisely known, though “a lot” is a safe bet, since Asus Noctua Edition cards already command a hefty premium even over other inflated “custom” cards. Tom’s Hardware spotted an August 15th pre-order at one UK shop for Ł1,499.99, pretty much exactly 50 percent over the retail price of the standard RTX 5080.

'We had too much drama' - meet the Real Housewives of London
The Real Housewives franchise has spread around the world but there hadn't been a series in London until now.

Wow! Snag a pair of Anker fast-charging USB-C cables for just $9
What’s one thing you can never have enough of? USB-C cables. If you’re like me, your charging cables vanish unexpectedly all the time—and that’s why I like to stock up when they’re cheap. Today, you can score a 2-pack of fast-charging Anker USB-C cables for only $9 on Amazon! With a max throughput of 100W, these cables can handle pretty much any wall plug or power bank you have, delivering enough charging power to restore your phone by 50% in about half an hour. It’s widely compatible across devices, including Samsung and Apple phones, laptops, tablets, headphones, earbuds, handheld gaming devices, and more. Not only are these cables fast, but they’re a great length at 6 feet. That’s long enough to plug into your wall and still be able to relax on your bed, doomscrolling on your phone as you fall asleep. They’re also covered in double-braided nylon for longevity, able to survive up to 5,000 bends, so you can toss them into your backpack without worrying. This is a great price for something you’ll always need. Grab two Anker USB-C cables for $9 while this 44% discount is still available! $9 for two fast-charging USB-C cables is a total bargainBuy now at Amazon

Office 365 gets new ‘companion apps’ that live in the Windows taskbar
There are a lot of basic functions in complex apps that don’t require you to open them fully. In the last decade or so, dynamic notifications have been a solution to this, both on desktops and smartphones. But what about stuff in the middle ground, stuff that’s a little too complex for a notification, but still not crying out for a full app launch? Microsoft thinks it has the answer with some new Office tools. “Microsoft 365 companions” is the official name for these tools, continuing the company’s long-running tradition of horrible branding. But these mini-apps that live in the taskbar might be a lot more appealing than their nomenclature, at least to the right kind of user. During the beta, these mini-apps are only available for Microsoft 365 People, File Search, and Calendar, and unsurprisingly reserved for Windows 11 users. Furthermore, you can only use them if your organization’s administrator has opted into beta features. But I think they’re legitimately cool, especially if your full screen space is reserved for other tools. The People companion can show you your favorite contacts and search through your full list. The File Search companion can search across cloud files and preview them or share them without fully opening them. The Calendar companion can let you join a Teams call without needing to get into the full app. They’re sort of like widgets, except widgets are in something of a limbo for Windows 11. Mobile versions may be coming, but the official Microsoft support page (spotted by The Verge) hasn’t committed to it.