This week's tech news from cables that cost more than dinner to targets in the US tariff war and trackers that speak twice - technology in 2025 is anything but boring.
If you've been living with your phone in airplane mode this week – not because you were traveling, but because you had enough notifications – don't worry. Here's a carefully selected dose of the most bizarre, useful and slightly absurd tech stories of the past week – the tech news of the week #16 / 2025. From cables that are a fashion accessory, to smart trackers that speak both languages – Apple and Google – and all the way to customs shenanigans that read like an economical version of pet satire.
Let's start with the classics - when the Beats brand discovered that it also knows how to sell... cables.
Technology News of the Week #16
Beats cables: the fashion accessory that no one wanted
The Beats brand, once synonymous with bass-heavy headphones and a logo that covered half of your head, has now entered the world of cables. And not just any cables—but strikingly named USB-C cables like “Bolt Black,” “Surge Stone,” “Rapid Red,” and “Nitro Navy.” The names sound like energy drinks or a new line of torpedoes, but they’re actually 5 feet long, braided cables that support 60W of charging.
The problem? They're three times more expensive than Anker's. And they don't support high-speed data transfer (USB 2.0). So they're the kind of cable you buy at the airport when your phone is dying and you're willing to pay anything.
iPhone cleared through customs – but the story is just beginning
The United States announced new tariffs this week, targeting China and its semiconductor industry. Apple, whose products are still mostly assembled in China, was on the verge of becoming a victim of the trade war. But Tim Cook is apparently not just a CEO, but also a graduate of Hogwarts School of Supply Chain Management.
The result? iPhones are (for now) exempt from higher tariffs, meaning we won't be facing a shocking price hike in September. However, many analysts warn that this is only a temporary solution. Tariffs can change more than oil prices in a few days. Probably the most high-profile tech news of the week.
OnePlus Watch 3: How a typo in the description raises the price by $170
OnePlus initially launched its Watch 3 smartwatch at a very competitive price of $329. Everything indicated that it was the best WearOS watch on the market. Until someone noticed that the back of the watch said "meta in China" instead of "made in China."
The result? The watch disappeared from stores. When it returned a few weeks later, it cost a whopping $499. OnePlus offered no explanation. Whether it was a manufacturing defect, a customs tax, or business opportunism, the watch's price rose by more than $50 overnight.
And if you bought it in the first round, you now have a rarity with a defect and (ironically) a higher collector's value.
Chipolo Pop: when a small Slovenian idea surpasses Apple
Slovenian Chipolo decided it was time for a new generation of tracking devices. They introduced the Chipolo Pop – a tracker that, for the first time, simultaneously supports Google’s “Find My Device” and Apple’s “Find My”. Yes, that’s right – one device, two of the largest ecosystem networks. But not at the same time. Once you connect the Pop to one system, the other can no longer be used unless you reset it.
In practice, this means you need to know in advance whether you'll lose your keys in the Android world or in the Apple bubble.
However, the Pop brings a greater range (up to 100 meters), a longer battery life (up to 1 year), IP55 protection, and even the ability to trigger the camera with it. Maybe Apple should finally admit: Slovenian trackers are better than AirTags.
TikTok introduces “footnotes” – because algorithms need notes too
In the fight against misinformation, TikTok is introducing a community annotation system called “Footnotes.” It is a system where users can comment on content with verified facts and references – of course, if the majority of users mark it as useful.
In practice, this means that under a viral video where someone claims that 3 lemons a day cure cancer, you might see a note: "This is not true. Source: World Health Organization."
The only question is whether most users will even click on these notes, or whether they will stick to comments like: “facts 100” as usual.
Nintendo Switch 2: will pre-orders be available next week?
After numerous delays, which many attributed to customs changes, it appears that the new console will be Nintendo Switch 2 available for pre-order next week – first in Canada, then in the US. According to rumors from forums, the price will remain the same, which means Nintendo will not pass on any potential tariffs to buyers – at least in the first wave.
Which makes sense – most of the first stock is expected to be manufactured in Vietnam, where tariffs have remained unchanged. But the bottom line is: if you miss the first wave, you'll be waiting for your console like you did for the Game Boy after a sale in the 90s.
Courtroom Meta: Zuckerberg Defends Himself Against Monopoly Charges
Meta (or still Facebook at heart) is in court again. The FTC is suing it for alleged monopolistic behavior, primarily due to its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp, which – as internal emails reveal – were allegedly made with the aim of “neutralizing competition.”
Mark Zuckerberg is testifying in person, and the defense is based on the classic thesis: “we’re not a monopoly, we’re just successful.” In the best case scenario, Meta will have to sell one of its key services – which would be the technological shift of the decade.
OpenAI is developing its own social network
As if the world wasn't already saturated enough with algorithms that serve you posts you never wanted, now OpenAI is developing a social network modeled after X (Twitter), focused on sharing content generated by artificial intelligence - primarily images made with ChatGPT or DALL·E.
The goal? More data to train their models. And what if someone steals the content to train their own model? Well, then OpenAI will finally get its own cure—which is ironic, if not deserved.
Conclusion: When cables become a luxury and artificial intelligence becomes social
This week wasn't revolutionary, but it did deliver a series of bizarre updates to everyday tech. Cables were given names like sports energy drinks. Smartwatches became more expensive because of a typo. And Meta is still pretending not to know what "monopoly" means.
But the main message is clear: in 2025, technology is no longer just a tool – it is fashion, it is politics, it is a daily drama.
See you again next week.
📌 Technology news of the week are published every Sunday at citymagazine.si. If you have a suggestion for a column or want to be part of the next episode – write to our official email (info(at)citymagazine.si)
