Sep 20, 2026 · 9 min listen · Last updated September 20, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Quick one from Theo — five tech stories from overnight, ordered by how much they made me sit up. Let's get into it. First, from Mashable Tech. Give your coding workflow an AI-powered upgrade for $30.
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Daily Tech Brief · September 20th
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Microsoft just pushed the AI bits deeper into Visual Studio 2026, so the editor now suggests whole lines, ranks them, and even surfaces recent changes right where you type. That means you spend less time hunting for the right snippet and more time actually building.
The IDE is now a full 64‑bit beast, handling massive solutions without the usual slowdowns, and it talks straight to Azure, GitHub, and container tools. You can flip between .NET, C++, and cross‑platform mobile projects without swapping windows.
IntelliCode’s suggestions feel like a quiet partner, nudging you toward patterns that have worked before, while CodeLens keeps test results and author info hovering in the margin. It’s the kind of context that keeps you in the flow.
And the kicker: you can grab the whole package for $29.97 until September 20, a steep cut from the regular price. If you’ve been waiting to try the AI‑enhanced workflow, now’s a solid moment to jump in.
So, there’s this interesting story about a guy who tackled a malfunctioning water timer instead of just sending it back. These timers are pretty simple, with three solenoids that control the water flow and a control board for settings. When his timer stopped working, he opened it up and, surprisingly, found no visible damage. The solenoids were fine, but the board was only sending out about 2 volts instead of the necessary 6 volts.
After some digging, he discovered that the control board was potted in epoxy, which made it tricky to access the components. He eventually uncovered the control ICs and H-bridges, but the real issue was a failing electrolytic capacitor that leaked after just four months. It’s frustrating when something so small can cause a big problem, but at least replacing it was straightforward. It makes you wonder if anyone has ever thought of using a water clock for these timers to avoid battery changes altogether.
Convey is a GTK4/libadwaita fork of Linux email app Geary
What's really interesting is that they've also added support for Microsoft 365 accounts, which is a pretty significant feature for a lot of people. It’s not just a little tweak; they're calling it a "hard fork," meaning they're taking the existing Geary code and really pushing it forward with these modernizations. It’s kind of like giving it a whole new engine and a fresh coat of paint, while keeping the core functionality that made Geary popular.
It's funny because I just read about another Geary-inspired client, Postcard, and now this one. But Convey feels more like a direct continuation, just an unofficial one. The developers are upfront about that, so it's not trying to be something it's not. It’s just a way to keep the spirit of Geary alive and updated with the latest tech. If you're looking for a more current-feeling email app on Linux, this might be one to keep an eye on.
Someone turned a 60s Grundig Musikgerät radio into a networked speaker with an ESP32
You know how some old tech just has that charm? Well, someone found a 1968 Grundig Musikgerät RF116 radio that wasn’t working anymore and decided to give it a fresh start. Instead of letting it gather dust, they used an ESP32, which is this cool little microcontroller that connects to Wi-Fi, to turn it into a networked speaker.
It’s fascinating how they kept the original aesthetics of the radio while adding modern functionality. So now, instead of just sitting there as a relic, it can stream music from the internet. It’s like giving a vintage piece a second life, merging nostalgia with today’s tech. The blend of old and new is just so satisfying, don’t you think?
You, too, can turn your spare Raspberry Pi 5 into a Proxmox virtualization host
If you’ve got a Raspberry Pi 5 sitting around, there’s a neat way to repurpose it as a Proxmox virtualization host. This setup can help you run multiple virtual machines, making your Pi a lot more useful. The process is outlined by a Reddit user who shares insights on how to get everything up and running.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are some limitations to keep in mind, like performance issues since the Pi isn’t as powerful as traditional servers. You might find that running heavy workloads can be a bit of a stretch. Still, if you’re looking to experiment or learn more about virtualization, this could be a fun project. Just be prepared for some trial and error as you navigate the setup.
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Sept. 20, #727
Hey! So, I was just messing around with the NYT Connections: Sports Edition, and there's this one category that really got me thinking. It's the purple one, and the words are golf, uniform, victor, and bravo. Turns out, they're all sports terms that also happen to be part of the NATO phonetic alphabet. How cool is that? Like, "golf" for 'G', "uniform" for 'U', "victor" for 'V', and "bravo" for 'B'. It's a neat little twist, right?
Then there's the blue category, which is all about NFL rookie wide receivers. The words there are Boston, Lemon, Tate, and Tyson. Pretty straightforward once you connect them to that specific group of athletes.
The green category is a bit of a historical one, focusing on cities that used to have NHL teams. You've got Atlanta, Hartford, Phoenix, and Quebec City. It's a reminder of how teams move around, you know?
And finally, the yellow category is all about teams from Maryland. The words are Midshipmen, Orioles, Ravens, and Terrapins. It's a nice nod to that region's sports scene. It was a fun one today, definitely made me pause and think about those connections.
Before I get into this topic, I want to tell you this: I believe we chose our parents before we came into this reality. Yes, for whatever reason, we have chosen our parents, and with that, the lessons that we wanted to be taught. Human relationships are complicated and hard to understand if you haven’t been human yourself at some point. As humans, we argue about details, the tip of a mountain, while the mountain under the water is growing. One of the most challenging relationships is probably the parent—kid relationship.
Meta’s new Muse delivers, Siri gets smart & Apple Store secrets (192, September 19, 2026)
Meta has rolled out its new AI assistant, Muse, which is designed to be more personal and intuitive. Unlike previous iterations, Muse can integrate with your email and calendar, making it easier to manage tasks and stay organized. Users are finding it surprisingly adept at understanding context, which is a significant leap from standard virtual assistants.
On the Apple side, Siri is getting smarter too. Apple has been refining its AI capabilities, allowing Siri to handle more complex queries and engage in more natural conversations. This shift is making Siri feel less robotic and more like a helpful companion, which is a welcome change for many users.
In a heartwarming story, a woman named Bonnie in Charleston shared how she used ChatGPT to process her grief after losing her dog. It’s fascinating to see how AI can provide emotional support and help people navigate tough times, highlighting its potential beyond just practical tasks.
Lastly, there are some intriguing insights about Apple Stores. It turns out that the layout and design are meticulously crafted to enhance customer experience, making shopping feel more personal and engaging. The combination of technology and thoughtful design is really shaping how we interact with these spaces.
Customer-Losing Flock Now Offers Buyouts to Avoid Laying Off Employees
Flock Safety is in a tough spot right now, offering voluntary buyouts to its employees to avoid layoffs. With around 1,500 staff members, the company is facing a significant loss of customers, as many local governments have cut ties this year. This drop in contracts, combined with unexpected expenses from vandalism targeting their cameras, has put pressure on their revenue goals.
Interestingly, Flock has been expanding its product line beyond just license plate readers, developing AI tools for investigative purposes and potential integrations with drones. However, this financial instability has led to some concerning incidents, like unauthorized access to license plate data in Syracuse, raising questions about data privacy and contractual obligations.
On top of that, regulatory challenges are mounting; Texas has halted permits for Flock’s cameras, and Florida's governor is pushing to remove them from state roads entirely. It’s a complex situation that highlights the struggles of a company trying to adapt while facing increasing scrutiny and operational hurdles.
The RP2350 chip is designed with robust security features like secure boot and ARMv8’s TrustZone, which keeps secure and non-secure tasks separate. It even has a mechanism to permanently disable debugging and built-in glitch detection to prevent tampering. But the Ledger Donjon security team took on the challenge of accessing the chip’s debug functions in a rather dramatic fashion, using a laser to target a specific register. They first decapsulated the chip and examined it with advanced imaging techniques to pinpoint the exact spot for the laser. After some trial and error, they managed to flip the necessary bits, which restored access to the secure zone.
Once they reset the chip, they successfully extracted a hidden 128-bit secret, showcasing the lengths to which security researchers will go to test hardware defenses. This incident highlights how, even with advanced security measures, determined attackers can find ways to breach systems, reminding us that once someone has physical access to hardware, the game changes significantly. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing battle between security and hacking, especially with the clever use of technology like laser fault injection.