heise+

Qualcomm's next flagship smartphone chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, is the first mobile processor to reach a clock speed of 5 GHz. German tech outlet heise+ has taken a closer look at what the new chip actually delivers, arguing that raw clock frequency is far from the whole story when judging real-world performance and efficiency.

Camera maker Insta360 is examining camera glasses as a potential new device class. According to a report by German tech outlet Heise, the focus of such glasses would be on straightforward capture of high-quality photos and video rather than AI features, distinguishing them from smart glasses offerings from other manufacturers. The company, known for its 360-degree action cameras, has not confirmed a launch date or product details.

Rental companies offering e-scooters in Germany will in future be held liable for accidents involving their vehicles, according to a report by technology news outlet heise online. The change shifts responsibility for scooter-related incidents from riders alone to the rental operators as well, a move likely to affect major shared-mobility providers operating in German cities and how they manage fleet safety.

Heise online reports on a digital health podcast episode about a robot designed to measure vital data in patients with concussion. The system is presented as a way to capture vital signs reliably when head injuries are suspected, reflecting the growing use of robotics in medical diagnostics. Discussion so far is limited, with the story circulating mainly among readers interested in digitalisation, health technology and robotics.

BMW has unveiled a refreshed version of its 3 Series, the bestselling model in its lineup. The update, reported by tech outlet heise online, brings design and technology changes, but the key detail drawing attention is that diesel engines are not available at launch. German buyers have long favoured the diesel 3 Series, so its absence from the initial range is the main talking point.

German tech publisher Heise has reviewed the horror film Obsession as part of its 4K home cinema test series, asking whether Blu-ray, UHD disc and streaming can deliver the film at its best. The reviewer wishes the horror film entertained more than anything else in cinemas, and the test examines whether the home formats can fulfil that wish without side effects. The verdict on picture and sound quality is drawing attention among home cinema fans.

The EU's planned KIDS Act would require age verification for online platforms, and the decentralised Fediverse, including Mastodon, is struggling with the technical and organisational demands this would bring. Commentary, including from Heise's iX magazine, argues that while compliance is difficult for decentralised networks, it is unlikely to spell the end of the Fediverse as some critics have warned.

A draft proposal for an EU Kids Act sets out a multi-stage age model for digital media, including the long-demanded ban on social media use by children, but the rules would go considerably further than that. German tech outlet heise has published an analysis highlighting the critical points of the plan, which is now drawing attention in discussions about EU youth protection policy.

The latest episode of Heise's weekly tech talk show covers three stories: AI language models behaving in uncontrolled ways, e-scooter rental companies being held liable for accidents involving their vehicles, and the completion of the world's tallest wind turbine in Brandenburg, Germany. The roundup is being shared with Heise's tech-focused audience on social media.

Samsung is increasing prices across its upcoming Galaxy S26 series in Germany. The Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra will each cost at least 100 euros more than before, according to a report by Heise. The move makes Samsung's flagship line noticeably more expensive and is drawing criticism from consumers already facing rising device prices.

OpenAI has paused AI training following a new security incident in which the United Nations was also reportedly attacked, according to a report by German technology news site heise online. The story is being shared and discussed widely on social media, drawing attention to questions about the safety and security of advanced AI systems and their potential vulnerability to hacking.

German tech publisher heise has introduced an investment comparison calculator that asks whether a rooftop solar PV system is a better investment than an exchange-traded fund. The tool compares returns over the full lifetime of a solar installation, factoring in taxes and inflation. It adds to ongoing debate in Germany about the financial merits of home solar amid high energy prices.

German tech outlet heise has published a comparison of four smartphone apps that digitize old photo negatives and slides, offering a cheaper alternative to dedicated film scanners. The heise+ article explains how users can view and convert analog film archives using just their phone, and tested the available solutions. The topic is drawing interest from photography fans looking to preserve old family photos without buying extra hardware.

Microsoft has made its disc-to-digital programme available to all Xbox users, allowing players to convert physical Xbox One and Series X discs into digital licences. The feature lets owners launch disc-based games digitally, but the licence remains tied to the disc, meaning the physical copy still must be owned and potentially inserted. Coverage from tech outlet heise highlights both the added convenience and the limitation that games cannot be fully detached from their discs.

Heise reports on the new films and series arriving on the major streaming platforms in October 2026. Disney+ will run "VisionQuest", Netflix is showing "Below", and "Carrie" joins the programme on Amazon Prime Video. The roundup gives viewers an overview of what to expect from the three services next autumn.

German tech news outlet heise+ examines the long-running legal dispute between Kraftwerk and producer Moses Pelham over a two-second sample, asking when sampling can qualify as a permitted 'pastiche' under copyright law without a licence. The piece explains that using others' recordings generally requires rights-holder permission, and outlines the narrow circumstances in which courts allow unlicensed use as parody-style pastiche.

The Coalition's upcoming Gears of War: E-Day serves as a prequel rebooting the popular action saga, taking players back to the origins of the war between humanity and the Locust. A first review by Heise examines how the studio returns to the franchise's roots, and fans are discussing what the back-to-basics approach means for the long-running series.

German tech outlet heise has published a guide explaining how to secure self-hosted services in a home network with HTTPS. It describes how the DNS-01 challenge lets users obtain Let's Encrypt certificates for local services without exposing them to the public internet. The piece is aimed at home server operators who want encrypted connections for internal tools.

T-Systems, the subsidiary of German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom, will start distributing products from a major Californian CDN provider. The partnership could also help ease network congestion in Germany by enabling more direct data exchange, according to IT news outlet heise, which reported the cooperation. The deal strengthens ties between German infrastructure services and US internet delivery technology.

German tech publisher heise has published a fact-check of common monitor marketing claims, examining whether higher resolutions, refresh rates and other advertised specifications actually improve picture quality. The piece argues that manufacturers rely on jargon and superlatives that do not always translate into a better viewing experience, sorting genuine technical advances from half-knowledge and sales buzzwords.

The German government says Chinese automakers gain no unfair advantage from electric vehicle subsidy schemes, according to a report by Heise. The statement touches on the ongoing debate in Europe over state support for the EV industry and competition from Chinese manufacturers, which has already led to tariff discussions at EU level.