Tech News – by Arlin Schaffel

‘Not Sustainable.’ Starlink Users Compare Dynamic Pricing to Being Held Hostage

Starlink’s test of dynamic pricing, which will enable the satellite internet service to raise and lower prices based on demand, has drawn comparisons to Uber. But to Loran Hatfield, the new policy is simply a “dogshit idea" that leaves users at the mercy of SpaceX. “Dynamic pricing does sound better than calling it hostage negotiations,” he told PCMag. Hatfield, a truck driver, is among the Starlink subscribers who will now have to pay up to 20% more after SpaceX introduced dynamic pricing for its Residential plans, a change that has been appearing mainly in Missouri and Kansas in the US market.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/not-sustainable-starlink-users-compare-dynamic-pricing-to-being-held-hostage

Microsoft’s Canada timezone troubles leave admins fixing calendars, pretending they’re in Bogota

Microsoft has discovered once again that few things strike fear into the heart of a software engineer quite like a government deciding to fiddle with the clocks. Parts of Canada stopped observing seasonal clock changes on November 1, leaving affected areas of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba permanently on UTC-07:00, UTC-06:00 and UTC-05:00 respectively. Unfortunately, Microsoft's sprawling software empire hasn't entirely caught up. Outlook users have been left with the most homework. Switching to the new Canadian time zones won't automatically update existing calendar entries, meaning that meetings scheduled after November 1 are potentially an hour out of whack.
https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/11/02/microsofts-canada-timezone-troubles-leave-admins-fixing-calendars-pretending-theyre-in-bogota/5306934

Web Browser Arc Is Shutting Down Later This Year, Asks You to Switch to Dia

Alternative web browser Arc is reaching the end of its life, and you’ve got a little under two months to make the most of it. The developers plan to shut down the browser on Dec. 22, 2026, around 3.5 years after launch. “Our priority is to deliver best-in-class security for our members," Miller says. "Keeping a browser secure takes constant, dedicated work that is only increasing in the age of AI. Dia, our new browser, was built from the ground up to meet today’s security standards, so that’s where our engineering and security teams will focus moving forward.”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/web-browser-arc-is-shutting-down-later-this-year-asks-you-to-switch-to

AI game clones are making indie developers afraid to show their work

Since its earliest days, the video game industry has been built on developers creating clones of competing games, with varying levels of originality and varying levels of enforcement from game platforms. Now, though, AI coding tools are making that cloning process so efficient that many developers are getting extremely cautious about sharing their early work too widely.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/10/ai-game-clones-are-making-indie-developers-afraid-to-show-their-work/

Study finds AI chatbots recommend pricier options to wealthier shoppers

Researchers at Cisco Foundation AI and Carnegie Mellon University published a study finding that popular AI chatbots, including Claude and ChatGPT, recommend more expensive products to users whose personal data suggests higher wealth — even when those users ask for the cheapest available option. The authors termed the phenomenon "adversarial delegation," describing a situation where the same personal data access that makes AI agents useful enables them to act against users' stated interests.
https://qz.com/ai-chatbots-claude-chatgpt-wealth-pricing-study-100726

Ikea throws shade at Tesla with “safe and affordable” flying car

Ikea's marketing departments already have a reputation for ingenious quick thinking. We recently saw it jump on 2026's Wicker trend faster than you can say "Alexander Skarsgård". But Ikea Taiwan's response to the Tesla Roadster concept's flying abilities is as impressive as the car's own 0.9-second 0-60mph record. Its answer for a Tesla Roadster Rocket Edition setup suitable for any home is to combine a 4-piece $12.99 Ikea Lillabo toy car set with a Brokglim bath towel. "Real life, baby," it says in the Instagram post above, echoing Tesla's caption in its own post below, before adding "Safe, affordable."
https://www.creativebloq.com/news/ikea-throws-shade-at-tesla-with-safe-and-affordable-flying-car

Meta Admits Its Smart Glasses Briefly Recorded Audio Without a Wake Phrase

Security concerns surrounding Meta’s smart glasses just keep piling up. After complaints about nonconsensual video recording, the glasses have now been found to record user audio without consent. “This issue has been resolved. People can manage, review and delete voice logs of their interactions with Meta AI via settings at any time,” a Meta spokesperson said.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/meta-admits-its-smart-glasses-briefly-recorded-audio-without-a-wake-phrase