WD 8TB My Book External Hard Drive Is Now Cheaper Than the 6TB Model After a 25% Price Cut on Amazon

gizmodo.com Aug 25, 2026

WD 8TB My Book External Hard Drive Is Now Cheaper Than the 6TB Model After a 25% Price Cut on Amazon

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Western Digital’s 8TB My Book desktop external hard drive is now priced at $298 on Amazon, a $102 reduction from its regular $400 list price, representing a 26% discount. The drive offers 8 TB of storage, USB 3.0 connectivity, and requires an external power adapter. It features hardware‑based 256‑bit AES encryption and password protection via the WD Security app, ensuring data remains unreadable if the unit is stolen. Included software includes WD Backup for scheduled local and optional Dropbox cloud backups, and WD Drive Utilities for diagnostics and secure erasure. The device ships pre‑formatted for Windows (NTFS) and can be reformatted for macOS in minutes, supporting Time Machine backups. A three‑year limited warranty is provided, and the My Book line scales up to 44 TB for larger needs.

💡 Why It Matters

· The steep price cut makes high‑capacity, encrypted backup more accessible to consumers who previously faced a barrier to robust offline storage.

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Apple May Release Surprise Run of New Mac Minis with M5 and…

Apple is reportedly preparing a surprise release of updated Mac Minis featuring the new M5 and M6 chips, potentially before its major September event. The current lineup uses M4 processors, so the new models would mark the first appearance of the M6 architecture. Sources say the units are in testing and could hit stores in the coming days, offering a compact, low‑profile machine ideal for running AI workloads. The move is seen as a strategy to balance supply and demand while providing a dedicated platform for emerging AI applications.

💡 The early launch positions Apple to capture the growing AI‑hardware market, giving developers a ready‑made, energy‑efficient workstation that could accelerate adoption of machine‑learning tools.

appleinsider.com · Aug 25

Apple Maps ads are finally showing up on iPhone

Apple has begun displaying advertisements in Apple Maps on iPhone, fulfilling a March announcement that the feature would launch in Summer 2026. Ads appear when users tap the search bar before entering a query and within search results, but only when relevant. The rollout is gradual, currently covering parts of the United States and Canada. Apple emphasizes a privacy‑first model, imposing stricter ad rules than Google Maps, banning categories such as bail bonding, cryptocurrency ATMs, and home services, while medical ads require case‑by‑case review.

💡 Apple’s move introduces a new revenue stream while tightening ad content, reshaping the competitive landscape of mobile mapping services.

9to5mac.com · Aug 25

Here are all the Apple devices with full Wi-Fi 7 support

Apple announced that its latest Mac mini and Mac Studio models now include full Wi‑Fi 7 support, marking the first time these product lines can utilize the new standard’s complete feature set. In a support document released today, the company listed all devices that fully implement Wi‑Fi 7, distinguishing them from models that merely retain backward‑compatible connectivity via Wi‑Fi 6E. Full Wi‑Fi 7 capability encompasses 320 MHz channels, 4096‑QAM modulation, and Multi‑Link Operation, which together boost throughput, efficiency and lower latency. Apple noted that 6 GHz operation depends on regional regulatory approval; without it, devices fall back to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The updated list reflects Apple’s hardware roadmap as of August 2026.

💡 Full Wi‑Fi 7 adoption enables Apple’s desktops to deliver next‑generation wireless performance, giving users a tangible speed and latency advantage over competing systems still on older standards.

androidcentral.com · Aug 25

Yep, One UI 9 Beta 6 is rolling out now on the…

Samsung began rolling out the One UI 9 Beta 6 update to enrolled Galaxy S26 users in South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland on August 25, 2026. The 851 MB package addresses a handful of display glitches affecting the Now Brief widget, the Home screen and the camera widget, and resolves an issue where Expert RAW 24 MP photos were saved incorrectly at certain focal lengths. No new features are introduced. The beta follows the larger Beta 5 release, which also bundled the August 2026 security patch. While the rollout is expanding, U.S. testers are expected to receive the update later in the week. Rumors of a One UI 9.5 build continue to circulate despite the current UI still being in beta.

💡 The fix restores reliable camera and widget performance for early adopters, keeping Samsung’s flagship experience competitive ahead of the anticipated stable One UI 9 launch.

blogs.windows.com · Aug 25

Windows on Arm app ecosystem expands across key workloads

Microsoft and NVIDIA announced NVIDIA RTX Spark, introducing the most powerful and efficient thin-and-light Windows PCs built on Arm architecture. Devices from Microsoft Surface, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI will launch in fall 2026, joining Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series. This expansion signals growing customer demand for powerful, efficient Windows devices. The Windows on Arm app ecosystem is rapidly growing, with over 7,000 verified apps and games now available. Microsoft’s App Assure program and Arm Advisory Service continue working with developers to ensure compatibility across key workloads. Notable recent additions include STEM, education, and security applications. Major vendors like Norton, CrowdStrike, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks now support Windows on Arm, providing robust endpoint protection, management, and Zero Trust solutions. This broad hardware support and deepening app catalog establish Windows on Arm as a first-class platform for diverse professional and educational needs, driven by a virtuous cycle of hardware adoption and developer investment.

💡 NVIDIA’s entry into the Windows on Arm silicon market breaks Qualcomm’s previous dominance, validating the architecture’s viability for high-performance professional workloads. This multi-vendor hardware landscape forces software developers to prioritize native Arm optimization, accelerating the platform's maturity beyond basic consumer use cases.

surinenglish.com · Aug 25

Benalmádena unveils its new ‘innovative’ tourist information office

Benalmádena officially opened its new tourist information office at the historic El Bil-Bil castle on Monday, 24 August 2026. This facility is part of a comprehensive refurbishment of the iconic seafront landmark. The modernized center integrates cutting-edge technology to enhance destination promotion, featuring digital screens with dynamic interactive content and virtual reality experiences. Tourism councillor Presi Aguilera stated that these innovations provide visitors with immediate access to information regarding the municipality’s cultural, gastronomic, and leisure offerings. By situating the service within a representative building, the council aims to merge heritage with modern tourism support. The office operates Monday through Friday from 9 am to 8 pm, and weekends from 9 am to 3 pm during the summer season. Aguilera emphasized that this initiative reflects Benalmádena’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible services that reinforce its status as a leading Costa del Sol destination.

💡 Integrating virtual reality into a historic castle transforms passive sightseeing into an immersive pre-trip engagement tool. This strategy positions Benalmádena as a tech-forward destination, differentiating it from traditional coastal competitors.