Thomas Pockrandt

Thomas Pockrandt

@tho.bsky.social

Passionate Rower 🚣 & Mountain Biker 🚵‍♂️ Tech Advisor & Digital Enthusiast 🦾 Opinions are my own.

9K followers29 following269 posts

Dropbox let a rogue Lenovo SSO silently hijack accounts. No password check, no step-up, no consent. Classic broken-trust federation: never auto-link identity based on an unverified email claim from a third-party Identity Provider. Zero-trust the trust broker too.

9to5mac.comDropbox breach seemingly caused by egregious authentication failure - 9to5MacMultiple Dropbox users have been emailed by the cloud storage company to advise them that a security breach saw unauthorised...

Free Wi-Fi motion sensing in every router sounds great… until you read the fine print: those logs can be shared with law enforcement, no notice to you required. Bang goes the data privacy. 🧨

The Verge@theverge.com

Comcast is activating free Wi-Fi motion sensing on Xfinity gateways, allowing its routers to detect movement at home. www.theverge.com/news/981381/...

Amazon started as a bookstore. Now it's a book burner. Slicing spines off rare, irreplaceable books just to scan them into AI training data. Once a book is gone, it's gone forever, and no chatbot answer is worth that. 📚

inc.comAmazon Is Buying Up Older Books and Destroying Them After Scanning. The Orders Go Back to 2024An AirTag traced a roughly 1,000-book order to an Amazon scanning operation. Inc. found unusual shipments were reaching the same Las Vegas warehouse back in 2024.

Never wanted to be around camera-equipped smart glasses? A new app alerts you when they may be nearby. - Detects signals from Meta & Snap - Shows proximity on a radar - Top 3 on paid App Store - Can’t confirm active recording Knowing when a camera is nearby is a basic form of consent. 👓

digitaltrends.comA smart glasses detector is now among the top paid apps on Apple’s App StoreA $2.99 app that scans for nearby smart glasses has become one of the App Store’s top paid downloads amid growing camera anxiety.

Have you seen 413,793 F1-shaped KitKats? In a GTA-like scenario, thieves posing as cops hijacked a truck in Italy and vanished with the lot. Not cash. Not guns. Limited-edition Chocolate. Somewhere in Europe, a crime lord is stress-eating a miniature Ferrari. 🍫🏎️ Check your snack here: nes.tl/566fb2

forbes.comThe Great KitKat Heist—Truckload Of Formula 1 KitKats HijackedA truck loaded with around 12 tons of Formula 1 car-shaped KitKat bars just vanished in Italy. This is not a movie plot. It really happened! But how?

A new nasal‑spray vaccine trial protects lungs against many viruses, bacteria, and allergens in one shot. - Developed by Stanford Medicine - Effective for months - Boosts innate & adaptive immunity - First trials in mice Simple to use and long‑lasting - this is how prevention should feel. 🌿

med.stanford.eduOne vaccine may provide broad protection against many respiratory infections and allergensStanford Medicine researchers and their colleagues invented a new vaccine that protects mice from respiratory viruses, bacteria and allergens — the closest yet to a universal vaccine.

Tailwind CSS explodes in use, but AI crushes revenue, team slashed. • Docs traffic -40%, sales -80% • 75% layoffs (3/4 engineers gone) • Google AI sponsors survival Harsh reality: AI skips page visits and kills ad funnels. Time to adapt - or build AI-native from day one with your next project. 🦾

the-decoder.comTailwind's shattered business model is a grim warning for every business relying on site visits in the AI eraTailwind CSS is one of the most successful open-source projects in web development. But while the framework is booming, revenue at the company behind it has dropped 80 percent. Founder Adam Wathan bla...

Ever heard of a dumb phone? They’re back - but who actually uses them? - seniors who want simple calls - kids' as their first phones - adults chasing a digital detox Fewer apps, longer battery, zero doom-scrolling.📱 Not for me, but from a tech perspective, “dumb” is starting to look pretty smart.

bgr.comWhat Is A Dumb Phone And Who Buys Them? - BGRTired of constant notifications? Discover what a dumb phone is, why they are making a comeback, and who is trading in their smartphone for a simpler life.

Apple finally brings a Digital ID for U.S. passports to Wallet. How it works: - Needs iPhone 11+ / Apple Watch 6+ - Scan passport, read chip, selfie for setup - Present at 250+ TSA checkpoints in U.S. airports! Cool step for travel, but not for international trips yet. 🛫

fastcompany.comApple lets you upload your passport to your iPhone. Here’s how to do itYes, you can store your U.S. passport in your Wallet app now. But don’t leave that hard copy at home just yet.

AirPods aren’t just for music or calls—now they can be game controllers too. 🎮 The game RidePods uses head tracking so you steer a motorcycle by simply tilting your head. It’s a playful, hands-free twist on iPhone gaming, supported on most recent AirPods models. 🏍️

9to5mac.comNew iPhone game RidePods uses clever AirPods trick for steering - 9to5MacRidePods is a new iPhone racing game on the App Store that lets you steer hands-free thanks to the motion tracking capabilities of AirPods.

NYC just got a quirky new EV charger—mounted 10ft up on a lamppost. How it’s done: - Retractable cable avoids clutter + damage - Works on wood or metal poles - Level 2 charging, up to 9.6 kW - Pay by tap or app Feels very NYC: Even the EV chargers dream of being skyscrapers. 🏙️⚡️

electrek.coNYC’s newest EV charger hangs 10 feet high on a lamppostThe Voltpost Air, a 10-foot-high lamppost EV charger, was launched in Brooklyn, offering faster installs and more reliable urban charging.

California man sues Microsoft over “forced” Windows 11 switch. He wants free Win10 updates until less than 10% use it. He claims: - His laptops can’t run Win11 - Win10 support ends too soon - Upgrade is about AI + profit If you don’t go with the times, Microsoft will make you go with the times. 🤦‍♂️

theregister.comCalifornia man sues Microsoft over Windows 11 upgrades: He wants Microsoft to keep supporting Windows 10 until its market share drops below 10%

Kind of addicted to my daily coffee—and turns out science is finally on my side 😅 Caffeine does more than wake you up: - Activates ancient enzyme AMPK ⚡️ - Boosts DNA repair & stress resistance 🛠️ - May slow aging at the cellular level ⏳ In that case, time for another one ☕️

scitechdaily.comCaffeine Flip-Flops a 500-Million-Year-Old Switch to Slow AgingScientists have discovered that caffeine doesn’t just perk up your brain—it energizes your cells in a way that could slow aging. By flipping on an ancient fuel-sensing enzyme called AMPK, caffeine ind...

Same showerhead: one made in Asia for $129, one made in the USA for $239. 25,650 people looked — nobody bought the U.S. version. According to this A/B test by brand Afina, price still matters more than good intentions.

afina.comEveryone Says They’ll Pay More for “Made in the USA.” So We Ran an A/BWhen we priced a U.S.-made version of our flagship product 85% higher than our Chinese-made one, 25,650 customers had the chance to vote with their wallets. Here’s what happened. As small business own...

Paris cut air pollution by 50%—just by making it easier to bike. 🚲 - 100+ car-free streets - 100,000+ parking spots removed - Hundreds of miles of bike lanes Now it feels more like Copenhagen: clean air, quieter streets, and a city made for people, not traffic. 🌳

fastcompany.comParis air pollution is down 50% after its radical bike-friendly transformationCars have been banned from more than 100 streets. Tens of thousands of parking spots have been eliminated. Hundreds of miles of bike lanes have been added. And air pollution is plummeting.

Amazon’s vans might save lives, not just deliver packages. Amazon tested defibrillators in delivery vans—drivers often reach heart attack victims faster than EMTs. - Piloted in 3 European cities - 100+ trained drivers - Often beat emergency services Looking forward to a global rollout. 🚨

ttnews.comAmazon Equips Some Drivers in Europe With Defibrillators - TTAmazon.com Inc. equipped some delivery vans in Europe with defibrillators to see if drivers crisscrossing residential areas could speed up aid to heart attack victims.

Want to see something spectacular? Look up! The Northern Lights might be visible TONIGHT! You might see them in MT, ND, MN, MI, WI, NY, VT & ME Best time: 10pm-2am Go somewhere dark, look up, and enjoy the show! Use night mode for pics & share if you see them! 🌌

forbes.comUpdated Northern Lights Forecast: These 15 States May See Aurora Borealis Tonight Amid Geomagnetic StormWinds from a spot on the sun’s surface may affect Earth’s magnetic field, forecasters said.

Nearly 1.6M Android TV devices have been infected by the Vo1d malware, peaking on Jan 14. While North America isn’t hit hard yet, it’s a wake-up call: update your TV’s firmware, enable auto-updates, and stick to trusted app stores. Your smart TV is just as vulnerable as your phone or PC.

digitaltrends.comNearly 1.6 million Android TV devices have been infected by Vo1d malwareWhile Vo1D hasn't reached the US in any sizable numbers, it's a reminder to keep all your connected devices secure, including TVs.

I’ve always loved how Xcode makes building iPhone and iPad apps possible. With GitHub Copilot, coding feels smoother—less repetition, more focus on real problem-solving. It’s amazing to see how AI is opening the door for more people to create, making programming more accessible, intuitive, and fun.📱

github.blogCode completion in GitHub Copilot for Xcode is now generally available · GitHub ChangelogCode completion in GitHub Copilot for Xcode is now generally available

Even disruptors can make basic security mistakes. DeepSeek left its database wide open, exposing sensitive data. Key lessons: - AI security isn’t just about future threats—basics matter - Simple misconfigurations cause major risks - Rapid growth needs strong security - Innovation needs protection 🔐

wiz.ioWiz Research Uncovers Exposed DeepSeek Database Leaking Sensitive Information, Including Chat History | Wiz BlogA publicly accessible database belonging to DeepSeek allowed full control over database operations, including the ability to access internal data. The exposure includes over a million lines of log str...

Turning traffic cams into a giant public selfie machine is such a creative idea. Morry Kolman turned surveillance tech into interactive art, making it feel absurd and playful while making a statement. Now NYC wants him to stop. 📸

uk.pcmag.comNYC Wants You to Stop Taking Traffic Cam Selfies, But Here's How to Do It AnywayThe Traffic Cam Photobooth website from artist Morry Kolman lets you snap a pic as you pass a public camera. New York officials responded with a cease-and-desist, but Kolman is undeterred.

Rumor has it: Valve’s gearing up to take on Sony, Xbox, and even Meta—living room consoles, wireless VR, SteamOS devices, and more. Imagine playing anywhere with hardware made for gamers, by gamers. Maybe Steam Deck was just the start... 🔥

This answers a question I had for some time: Does closing apps save battery? Not really. Apple says apps in the background don’t drain power, and reopening them uses more. Better tips: - Only close frozen apps - Use Low Power Mode to save battery - Keep iOS updated No need to force quit apps. 🔋

techradar.comDoes closing apps on your iPhone save battery life? The surprising answer is no – here's whyMythbuster: It's satisfying, but not particularly effective

California’s EV future? Still on track. If Trump ends the $7,500 tax credit, here is the Governors plan: - Bring back state EV rebates - Fund them with polluters’ dollars - Help more Californians go electric Clean cars, affordable options, and zero turning back. ⚡

techcrunch.comCalifornia will offer EV rebates if Trump kills federal tax credits | TechCrunchCalifornia is committed to zero-emission vehicles, even if the federal mood shifts.  The state's governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Monday that

UK mobile provider o2 introduced Daisy, the AI granny scammers can’t escape. Here’s how: - Detects and answers scam calls - Acts like a charming old lady - Keeps fraudsters talking for hours - Chats endlessly about cats, knitting, and more She’s got plenty of time—but zero payment info to share! 📞

forbes.comIntroducing Daisy, The ‘AI Granny’ Outwitting ScammersBritish telecom company O2 adds to its fraud team a human-like chatbot that fools scammers into thinking they’ve found a perfect senior target, then wastes their time.

Bluesky keeps shaping the future of social media: - 20M+ users now, growing rapidly - Users pick tailored feeds: popular posts, quiet voices, or niche topics - Escape algorithmic echo chambers and X’s chaos This is what social media should be. Proud to be part of—well written @stokel.bsky.social

newscientist.comBluesky is ushering in a pick-your-own algorithm era of social mediaMore than 20 million people have joined Bluesky, a social network that gives you fine-grained control over what you see and who you interact with. I think it is the future of social media, says Chris ...

Just saw Back to the Future: The Musical in London—mind officially blown. I’m not a musicals person, but for BTTF, it’s something else entirely. Grew up loving the movies, and this brought the nostalgia and energy to 1.21 gigawatts. Great Scott, it’s worth it.

Apples iOS 18.1 update tightens privacy security: - iPhones auto-restart after 3 days of no use - Restarts lock data in the most secure state - Police tools struggle to access locked phones With that, investigators now have just 72 hours to extract data before it’s nearly impossible. 🔐

techcrunch.comNew Apple security feature reboots iPhones after 3 days, researchers confirm | TechCrunch“Inactivity reboot" effectively puts iPhones in a more secure state by locking the user's encryption keys in the iPhone's secure enclave chip.

Apple’s upcoming iOS update makes dealing with lost baggage easier—here’s how: - Share AirTag location data directly with airlines - Soon available with Delta, United & 15+ airlines - Find lost bags faster, skip the refund fight Now airlines can actually know where they lost it. 🧳

cnn.comAirline lost your bag? Tracking it might be about to get easier | CNNWith airlines still losing nearly seven bags per 1,000 passengers, travelers are turning to tracking devices to keep an eye on their checked luggage. Apple’s new update looks set to make the process e...

Germany’s 49-euro ticket has shifted travel from cars to trains—here’s how: - More travelers are choosing trains over cars - 30% increase in train use - Lower car traffic and CO₂ emissions - Price hikes could change this trend Let’s see if these benefits stick around. 🚆

mcc-berlin.netGermany’s 49-euro ticket resulted in significant modal shift from road to railMCC analysis for the Ariadne energy transition project shows 30 percent more rail journeys. The announced increase in price to 58 euros per month undoes half of this.

Just got back from the Everglades—seeing alligators in the wild was surreal. There’s something about being surrounded by raw nature that reminds you how small you are in the grand scheme of things.