RTP

A Northeastern University project examines how modern cars, packed with microphones, sensors and internet connections, collect data about drivers and passengers and who has access to it. The reporting frames the connected car as a smartphone on wheels, raising questions about in-car privacy, data sharing with insurers and manufacturers, and how little control drivers have over what their vehicles transmit.

A Guardian money article asks why bus passengers who do not use smartphones have to pay more for their tickets than those using mobile apps. With contactless and app-based payment becoming the default on public transport, cash or paper-ticket users can face higher prices or extra hassle. Readers are debating whether digital-first ticketing unfairly penalises older or less tech-savvy travellers.

Ahead of Flipkart's Big Billion Days sale, a buyer's guide is circulating recommending the top five smartphones available under ₹20,000. The list is drawing heavy attention from budget-conscious shoppers looking to time their purchase with the sale's discounts. Interest reflects the broader rush each year to find the best value phone deals during India's biggest festive shopping events.

Engadget explains that despite modern smartphone operating systems being designed to update apps automatically, users should still check for updates manually from time to time. The piece walks through the reasons automatic updates may not always be enough and why giving your apps a periodic manual refresh is worth the small effort.

The Dutch government is moving to impose a complete ban on smartphones in schools, according to NL Times. The decision follows earlier efforts to restrict phone use in classrooms and reflects growing European concern over mobile devices' impact on pupils' concentration and wellbeing. Reactions online are mixed, with some welcoming stricter rules and others questioning enforcement.

Portugal are taking on Norway, with the match drawing search interest in multiple countries, ranking first in Canada and high in France, Spain, Mexico and elsewhere. Portuguese broadcaster RTP quotes the coach saying he would not set up a team 'to draw' as he names an eleven built to win, and fans are debating his line-up choices ahead of kick-off.

A concept called the iPhone Duo is drawing attention for reimagining what Apple's smartphone could become. Reports suggest the design points to possible future directions for smartphones generally, not just Apple's next model. Details about the concept remain limited, with discussion centring on whether such a dual-device or foldable-style approach could shape upcoming industry trends.

The Dutch government is proposing a ban on smartphones in schools, covering not only lessons but also break times. The policy is part of a broader European debate over mobile phone use by children and its effects on concentration, wellbeing and social interaction at school. Reactions online are mixed, with supporters welcoming stricter limits and others questioning enforcement and the need for a national rule rather than school-level decisions.

A Guardian money article asks why bus passengers who do not use smartphones should have to pay more for their tickets. It highlights how cheaper digital fares and app-based ticketing leave passengers without mobile phones facing higher prices. Readers are debating the fairness of smartphone-only discounts and what it means for older or low-income travellers who rely on cash and paper tickets.

A widely shared observation argues that young people raised on social media, AI, smartphones and other products of information capitalism — so-called digital natives — hold the most negative views of these technologies' social impact. The point being circulated is that their first-hand experience gives their concerns weight, and that society perhaps ought to listen more closely to what they are saying about the tools shaping their lives.

Photographer Zolachrome has released a new piece titled 'In the Waiting Room', an abstract work shared with links to their portfolio. The image is tagged under original photography and art photography, and is drawing small but positive attention from the art community.

Rest of World reports that the artificial intelligence boom is pushing the world's cheapest smartphones toward disappearance, as manufacturers and component suppliers shift resources toward AI-capable devices. The reporting suggests budget handset buyers, particularly in emerging markets, are being squeezed out as the industry reorients its supply chains and product lines around AI features.

Huawei has increased the prices of its flagship smartphones by as much as US$200, attributing the hike to rising memory procurement costs that have pushed per-unit manufacturing expenses up by roughly the same amount. The move, reported by DigiTimes Asia, highlights how surging memory chip prices are being passed on to consumers, and it fuels broader discussion about component costs squeezing smartphone makers.

A newly released book about North Carolina's Research Triangle Park claims IBM came close to siting a major facility in Manassas, Virginia, before ultimately choosing RTP. The revelation has drawn attention in both Virginia and North Carolina, with local readers reflecting on how different the region's economic history might have been had the computing giant landed in Manassas instead.

A Forbes article argues that constant smartphone use, social media and now artificial intelligence are chemically changing how human brains function, reshaping attention, reward systems and behaviour. The piece adds AI to a long-running debate about technology's neurological effects, suggesting the newest wave of digital tools may compound changes already linked to screens and feeds.

A German-language guide explains how to charge smartphones in a battery-friendly way so the battery lasts longer over the years. It notes that battery capacity declines noticeably with time and use, and shares personal tips drawn from years of experience with different devices.

Actor Paul Rudd has said smartphones are 'facilitating our own destruction', adding his voice to growing concerns about phone dependence and its effects on attention, relationships and mental health. His comments have drawn attention because they come from a mainstream Hollywood star rather than a health expert, prompting debate online about whether celebrities should weigh in on technology use.

ArtPrize visitors in Grand Rapids have their last chance to view this year's artworks before the competition's awards are announced. The event, known for turning venues across the city into exhibition spaces, is closing its viewing period as judging concludes and jury and public-vote winners prepare to be revealed.