Weekend Reads: 25 October 2026

This weekend’s reads cover how much Ukraine depends on Starlink, two open source software updates and the iPod’s unexpected comeback. We finish with how the BBC is handling the AI question in its latest nature series.

Local

Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink exposes a gap in Europe

NU.nl reports that Ukraine’s armed forces could barely use drones in the war against Russia last week, because their connection to the Starlink satellite network was restricted. The article says that any interference with that connection puts Ukraine in trouble, and that Europe does not yet have an equivalent alternative. For anyone following European security from the Netherlands, it shows how much depends on one network that Europe does not control.

Source: NU.nl

Home energy manager evcc reaches version 0.318.0

evcc is open source software that runs your charging point, solar panels and electricity use locally, with no reliance on cloud services. It supports a large number of chargers, vehicles and energy meters, and it can time your charging around solar output or dynamic tariffs, which helps if you are on a dynamic energy contract. Version 0.318.0 includes breaking changes, so read the release notes before you update. It runs on a Raspberry Pi, Docker, Linux, macOS or Windows, although Windows is not really recommended.

Source: Tweakers

The iPod turns 25 and is fashionable again

In Schermtijd, his weekly column for NU.nl, tech reporter Rutger Otto marks 25 years of the iPod. Apple stopped making the music player some time ago, but it has become popular again. If you have an old one in a drawer, this is a good time to charge it.

Source: NU.nl

OBS Studio 33.0.0 is out

OBS Studio, the open source and cross-platform tool for recording and streaming video, has reached version 33.0.0. It can combine several sources at once, such as a webcam, microphone, media files and your desktop, and it runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. Tweakers lists new features in this release, so it is worth a look if you stream, record tutorials or present remotely.

Source: Tweakers

Also in Europe

Starlink appears to be back to normal in Ukraine

TechCrunch reports that Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine, after Elon Musk reportedly ordered SpaceX to throttle the country’s access. Read alongside the NU.nl piece above, it shows how quickly a service this important can be limited and then restored.

Source: TechCrunch

Blue Planet III keeps its imperfect shots

The BBC’s Blue Planet III is leaving in some less-than-perfect footage to show that it is authentic. Earlier series were known for crystal-clear images that seemed almost too good to be real, and very polished, seamless visuals are now one of the clearest signs of AI. The Verge looks at how the production is responding to that.

Source: The Verge

Weekend Reads is a curated weekend digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.