GD Tech Nerds.

If you're anything like me, you're probably sick to your back teeth of how Big Tech social media platforms are run. It's just garbage. Literal garbage. And it keeps getting worse, more annoying, and more commercial.

But we still go back to see if it'll be any better. Last month, I finally gave up, deleted all social media accounts from my phone and went all-in on the Fediverse.

What is the Fediverse? It's social media, just without all the surveillance capitalism.

Kind of like how social media networks SHOULD work – or might work on other planets in far away galaxies where the people are more enlightened.

Either way, it's a lot different. There's no adverts, no tracking, no bros and gurus popping up every 10 seconds to sell you bullshit.

Read on for the biggest stories and updates from the past seven days...

iPhone 17 Updates & Leaks

⚪ iPhone 17’s Futuristic “Liquid Glass” Finish?

Apple might be taking design cues from sci-fi with a new “Liquid Glass” color for the iPhone 17 Pro. Rumors suggest a shimmering, light-bending finish that blurs the line between hardware and interface. Gimmick or genius? Depends how good it looks under a fingerprint.

Read more about it →

🔋 iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Leak: We’re Finally Talking 5000mAh

For the first time, Apple might stop nickel-and-diming your battery life. A leak claims the iPhone 17 Pro Max will pack a 5,000mAh cell—up from last year’s 4,676mAh. It’s a win for power users, especially those running AI features and 120Hz displays.

See the full breakdown →

💸 iPhone 17 Price Hike Incoming (Surprised?)

The iPhone 17 series will cost more. Bloomberg, WSJ, and leaker regulars Gurman and Majin Bu are all saying the same thing: prices are going up across the board. Blame inflation, upgraded components, or Tim Cook’s yacht fuel bill.

See how much more you’ll pay →

🔥 ICYMI: AI & Big Tech

Apple’s “Steve Jobs Vacuum” Is Finally Impossible to Ignore: Is Apple still innovating or just iterating? We argue the latter.
DuckDuckGo Now Lets You Block AI-Generated Images: Sick of fake faces and weird hands in your image search? DuckDuckGo feels you.
Big Tech Doesn’t Care If You Hate AI: AI fatigue is real. But Silicon Valley’s marching on, with or without your blessing.
86% of Users Don’t Trust AI, But Only 8% Fact-Check It: We trust nothing and verify even less.

🔒 VPNs: What To Know Before You Buy

Need to protect your privacy online? A VPN is a solid first step—but not all are created equal. Our updated guide breaks down what to look for and the biggest mistakes people make when choosing one.

Read the VPN Guide →

F*ck Big Carrier Fees, Get Your Data For Less

How much less? Well, if you're paying $80 to $100+ for unlimited data with a mainline carrier, you could switch to an MVNO and get the same deal for anywhere between $20 to $45 (at the top end).

Check out all the options here.