Photography News: 3 November 2025

November 19, 2025, 4:46 AM EST. Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence results show Apple's N1 networking chip - integrating Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread radios - delivering a real-world boost for the iPhone 17 family over the iPhone 16 Broadcom modem. While on paper the N1 matches the Broadcom spec, in practice it yields up to 40% faster median download and upload speeds globally, with 10th-percentile gains up to 60% in tougher conditions. In North America, the iPhone 17 outperformed flagship Androids for Wi-Fi downloads, delivering a median of about 416.14 Mbps and a 90th-percentile of 976.39 Mbps. Note the N1 doesn't fully exploit 320 MHz channels yet, but it offers more consistent performance as Wi-Fi 7 routers proliferate.

November 19, 2025, 4:42 AM EST. An AWS outage disrupted apps and websites worldwide, highlighting how the internet relies on a small number of providers. The glitch hit Snapchat, Roblox, Signal, Duolingo and Amazon-owned services including the main retail site and Ring, with more than 2,000 companies affected and 8.1 million user reports. While most services recovered within hours, some faced lingering issues as AWS limited requests to aid recovery. UK impacts included Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and HMRC access problems; Ring users reported doorbell outages. Experts warn this dependence on cloud computing firms creates systemic risk, urging diversification of infrastructure. Think tanks and academics argue the crisis threatens critical infrastructure and democratic discourse, emphasizing the need for resilient, multi-provider strategies beyond the US tech giants.

November 19, 2025, 4:36 AM EST. Cambridge Dictionary has named parasocial as its 2025 word of the year, describing the one-sided bonds people form with celebrities, influencers, or even AI chatbots. The term, coined in 1956 by Horton and Wohl, now reflects a modern fandom phenomenon amplified by social media. Examples include fans reacting to Taylor Swift and Lily Allen, and growing concerns about connections with AI. Lexicographer Colin McIntosh says the word captures the 2025 zeitgeist and the shift of language as technology, society and culture mutate. The dictionary also highlights other impactful words this year.

November 19, 2025, 4:34 AM EST. Cambridge Dictionary has crowned parasocial as its 2025 word of the year, a term for the one-way bonds people form with famous figures they don't know. The rise coincides with the AI era, where chatbots and influencers shape online fandom and everyday life. The concept dates to 1956, when researchers described viewers' attachments to on-screen personalities, but the internet era has amplified these ties, turning celebrities like Taylor Swift into quasi-friends for some fans. Experts warn that such parasocial relationships can skew trust and fuel intense, sometimes unhealthy, dynamics. The dictionary also notes other AI-related terms like slop (nonsensical AI images) and memeify (turning images into memes).

November 19, 2025, 4:32 AM EST. Tesla's upcoming Holiday Update is generating buzz as owners push for a broader feature set. The wishlist packs practical and playful items-from adding more streaming platforms (HBOMax, Paramount+, YouTube TV) to a Summon for Cybertruck and easier Navigation adjustments. In recent years, updates delivered Custom Lock Sound, Light Shows, and High Fidelity Park Assist, but 2025 expectations run higher. A major hurdle remains Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Europe, where regulators' approvals lag behind Tesla's testing. On the software side, fans want deeper Grok integration (in-car requests like climate control and routing) and a true Learn Mode for FSD arrival options. The piece notes that European deployment may still be stalled despite capability.