TikTok is trialling a new paid subscription service for people who do not want to see adverts on the video-sharing platform. The social media giant is offering the service as part of a limited test in one market outside of the US. It did not specify exactly where it is.

Some users of the app have been offered the ad-free subscription plan for a monthly fee of 4.99 US dollars (£4.13), as first reported by Android Authority. It is currently free to use TikTok and people are shown personalised adverts based on their activity on the platform and data from third parties, if tracking is enabled on their device.

Brands or creators can pay for adverts to appear alongside regular content on users’ feeds. Introducing a paid subscription would follow in the footsteps of rival social media platforms such as X, formerly Twitter, and YouTube which offer fewer or no adverts for a monthly fee.

WalesOnline

Apple is working on a software fix following reports that some of its new iPhone 15 models are overheating.

The company told CNN the current overheating issues are not a safety risk and will not affect the long-term performance of impacted iPhone models. It also emphasized that iPhones have internal protections for components to help regulate the temperature if it gets too high.

Apple also told CNN there are several circumstances that are causing its next-generation lineup to heat up. User complaints started to circulate after the latest iPhones hit stores on September 22.

“We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple told CNN in a statement.

To start, overheating can occur with some recently updated third-party apps, causing them to “overload the system,” the company said. Those apps include Instagram, Uber and arcade racing game Asphalt 9.

“We’re working with these app developers on fixes that are in the process of rolling out,” Apple said in a statement.

It also said it discovered a bug in iOS 17 impacting some users, and plans to roll out a software update to address the issue. It did not comment on when the fix will be made available.

In addition, Apple said the device may feel warmer during the first few days after setting up or restoring the device because of “increased background activity.”

Apple’s support page warns users that a device can get hotter when restoring it from a backup, using graphic-intensive apps, streaming high-quality video, and charging it wirelessly.

“These conditions are normal, and your device will return to a regular temperature when the process is complete or when you finish your activity,” the company states on the website. “If your device doesn’t display a temperature warning, you can keep using your device.”

CNN

Network specialist Netgear has announced in a support document that Windows 10 will not support the new, faster Wi-Fi 7 standard, confirming previous reports.

The Netgear support document in question is about Wi-Fi over the 6 GHz band. This was introduced with the Wi-Fi 6E standard and is also mandatory for Wi-Fi 7. According to Netgear, in order to use the 6 GHz band, a PC must have a compatible network adapter with the latest drivers and also use the latest version of Windows 11.

In this context, Netgear stresses that Microsoft has indicated that it will not backport 6 GHz support to Windows 10. So even if you have a 6 GHz-capable network adapter installed in your computer, if your PC is using Windows 10, you will not be able to use 6 GHz Wi-Fi until you upgrade to Windows 11.

In other words, since Windows 10 doesn’t support the 6 GHz frequency band, but 6 GHz is mandatory for Wi-Fi 7, Windows 10 can’t handle Wi-Fi 7.

Wi-Fi 7 (officially referred to as “802.11be Extremely High Throughput EHT”) promises significantly more bandwidth than Wi-Fi 6E, theoretically up to 46 Gbit/s instead of the 9.6 Gbit/s. The main innovation that Wi-Fi 6E brought was the use of the 6 GHz band for WLAN communication as a supplement to the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands previously used.

PCWorld

When Windows 10 first launched back in 2015, Microsoft also made the OS a free upgrade for all Windows 7 and Windows 8 users who did so within the first year of its release. After July 29, 2016, that offer expired, and Windows 10 was no longer a free upgrade... except, it was.

Even though Microsoft said the upgrade offer had expired, users found that they could still upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8 to Windows 10 without needing to buy a new product key. In fact, Windows 10 would accept Windows 7 and 8 keys with no question asked.

When Windows 11 rolled around in 2021, those older Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys continued to work, likely because under the hood, Windows 11 was just Windows 10 with a fresh coat of paint. But now, as we move into the next era of Windows, Microsoft is closing that loophole.

Announced today, older Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys will no longer activate Windows 10 or Windows 11. This change is already in effect with the latest Windows Canary preview builds, which are testing the next major version of the Windows client due out next year.

As of right now, these older keys still activate the production builds of Windows 11, but it's unclear how long that will remain. Microsoft says Windows 10 product keys will still be able to activate Windows 11, as long as you're using Windows 11 on an eligible PC that officially supports the newer OS.

Windows Central

Amazon's Prime "Day" is now officially a bi-annual event. The company today confirmed that it will host a second deals event for Prime members on Oct. 10-11.

Between Prime Day 1.0 and this year's other major shopping holiday—Black Friday—Amazon will hold Prime Big Deal Days next month, beginning at 3 a.m. ET on Oct. 10 and running through Oct. 11. The name seems to be a nod to the fact that these sales are no longer one-day events, but multi-day deal extravaganzas looking to entice those eager to get a head start on their holiday shopping.

As usual, you'll need to be a Prime member in one of 19 countries to save: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the US, and the UK.

Last year was the first time Amazon expanded Prime Day savings to a second event in the fall, which it called the Prime Early Access Sale.

PC Magazine

Apple on Tuesday announced iOS 17 will be available for users to download for free on Sept. 18.

The company first announced the software update at its WWDC event in June, but it was initially only available in beta for users who were willing to deal with bugs. For iPhone users, iOS 17 will bring changes to major apps such as Phone, FaceTime and Messages. For iPad users, the update will add the Health app, expanded functionality for widgets and new ways to customize the lock screen.

In the new update for iPhones, voicemails are coming to FaceTime, meaning users will be able to leave video messages for their friends and family. There will be a more powerful search function in Messages, as well as a catch-up feature in group chats. Apple also introduced a new experience called Standby, which will function like a bedside clock when users turn their phone sideways and place it on a table or nightstand.

At its annual launch event Tuesday, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 lineup featuring new titanium exteriors and USB-C charging, plus the brand-new Apple Watch, with 72 hours of battery life.

There are four new phone models, ranging from the entry-level iPhone 15 at $799 to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which costs at least $1,199. Consumers can preorder the phones as early as Friday, and they will be available Sept. 22.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be priced at $799, the Series 9 will be priced at $399 and the second-generation SE will cost $249, the company said. Customers can preorder the watches now and they will also be available Sept. 22.

CNBC