Thursday, October 5, 2023

Talking Tech: Pick the right charging cable, protect your privacy when purchasing

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Talking Tech

Thu Oct 5 2023

How to find the best charger for your new phone, protecting your privacy when dealing with retailers, and more. Here's the week's latest tech news:

Careful with charging cables. Apple's recent update from a lightning connector to USB-C for the iPhone 15 is a welcome change for many.

After years of needing a separate cord just for iPhones, the same charger we use for most headphones, laptops, and gaming consoles now works for the newest iPhone. But it also means we have to be careful what we use. Steer clear of super cheap chargers or Marketplace knock-off cords and bricks that might fry your brand-new phone.

Tricky tracking. Companies want all the details on what you're buying — or thinking of buying — and it's getting harder to tell where they're getting all that info.

Retailers can now track what customers purchase to influence their buying patterns. Here's what USA TODAY consumer reporter Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria found about her own data when she requested it from retailers.

Tracking is unavoidable, but there are ways to protect your privacy better. Use these tips to feel less watched when you shop.

Heating up. Apple blamed a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle.

The company said last week that it was working on an update to the iOS17 system that powers the iPhone 15 lineup to prevent the devices from becoming uncomfortably hot and is working with apps that are running in ways "causing them to overload the system."

In its acknowledgment, Apple stressed that the trouble isn't related to the sleek titanium casing that houses the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the stainless steel used on older smartphones.

Read on for more of the tech news this week.