FlashFeed

Full text

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work!

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

A planned metro system in Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, has moved a step closer after the authorities launched a 188 million zloty (€43 million) tender for “pre-design” of the project.

City authorities say the plans – which will include a feasibility study, environmental report, geological research, and assessment of the project’s impact on existing buildings – are a major milestone in the development of what would be only Poland’s second underground railway network.

#Krakow #metro #projektowanie #przetargi

🚇Kraków ogłasza przetarg na opracowanie dokumentacji przedprojektowej dla budowy metra. W ramach uruchomionego postępowania powstaną m. in. dokumenty, analizy i decyzje, które pozwolą przygotować dokumentację niezbędną do finalnego… pic.twitter.com/0jcYL4HGRq

— Kraków (@krakow_pl) July 13, 2026

The idea of building a metro in Kraków has been discussed for decades and, in 2014, 55% of residents who took part in a referendum voted in favour of the project. However, only in 2024 did the city’s then-mayor, Aleksander Miszalski, announce plans to build a system.

In September last year, the city unveiled the metro’s planned route , with two lines travelling through the city’s historic centre from its southwestern and southeastern suburbs to its eastern outskirts.

In May this year, Miszalski, who had made developing the metro part of his election campaign in 2023, was removed as mayor in a recall referendum. But the project has nevertheless continued, with the municipal authorities last week announcing a tender for pre-design of the metro.

Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads

The work will include confirmation of the planned structure of the system as well as the location of stations, tunnels and other infrastructure. The city has allocated 188 million zloty for the pre-design in its budget for 2026 to 2031.

Studies of feasibility and impact are particularly important given that the planned route of the metro envisages it skirting around Kraków’s Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site that contains many historical structures.

The tender follows months of preparatory work, initial market consultations, analyses and discussions with experts, said Maria Wojtacha, director of Kraków’s public works department.

“Although this process doesn’t yet mean that construction has begun, it is one of the most important steps that the city can take individually,” Wojtacha added. “Our goal is to prepare Kraków for the next stage – the ‘design and build’ phase.”

The planned route of the two metro lines, unveiled in September 2025 .

The experiences of other recent major infrastructure projects in Poland, such as a major new airport and transport hub and Warsaw’s second metro line , show that environmental and tender procedures need not slow investments down, said Marek Grochowicz of the city’s strategy and European funds department.

However, it is clear that the earlier timeline for Kraków’s metro outlined is slipping. Last September, the city said that it hoped construction would begin in 2030 and that the system would be finished by 2035.

However, the current acting mayor, Stanisław Kracik, announced last month that construction is unlikely to start until between 2040 and 2045. Even the current tender for “pre-design” work envisages a timeline of up to 50 months for that work alone.

Warsaw has announced 56m zloty for “pre-design” work on a fourth metro line.

The mayor says improving public transport is an "absolute priority". But his rival in next month's elections says the mayor is digging up forgotten plans as part of the campaign https://t.co/lg3zkNeW2E

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 15, 2024

Rafał Solecki, head of Kraków’s department of strategy and European funds, also made clear last week that “construction of the metro exceeds the financial capabilities of the local authorities”, and that therefore financial support from the national government and the EU will be necessary.

“The metro should be treated as a national strategic investment, similar to large railway, road, aviation and metropolitan projects implemented in other parts of the country with state participation,” he added.

The city also announced that it has received a proposal for a consortium of seven local universities and research institutions to provide scientific and expert support for the metro project throughout its preparation and implementation.

“Building a metro in a historic city is an extremely complex undertaking, requiring special attention to the protection of cultural heritage,” said Andrzej Szarata, rector of Cracow University of Technology. “Therefore, the support of the scientific community…is of paramount importance.”

Kraków has been named Europe's best city break destination by members of @WhichUK .

The city's food and drink was rated as better than in Paris and Rome, while it also scored top marks for accommodation, ease of getting around and value for money https://t.co/U1P1QkQCm4

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 19, 2025

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Full text

Philips is rumored to be launching a new camera-based Hue Sync device for its TV backlights

It removes the need for a pricey Hue Play HDMI Sync Box

The 'Sync Screen' would be the first camera for the Philips Hue Play system

Philips Hue could be working on a new device for syncing your TV’s color palette to your backlights, giving you another option for illuminating your entertainment setup

Fabian of Hue Blog attended an online presentation hosted by Philips, and spotted a new Hue Sync device with an integrated camera that looks strikingly similar to rival devices like the Nanoleaf 4D .

The new gadget could be called ‘Sync Screen’, and may be unveiled at IFA 2026 in September. We don't know how much it will cost yet, but considering Philips Hue is a premium brand, it's likely the new device will sit in a higher price bracket than its competitors.

Just like other camera-operated TV LED lights, Philips’ version mounts to the top of a TV or monitor, and captures the color movements of the movie, show, or game on the screen. This movement is then processed and synced with backlights mounted behind the display.

From the image shared by Hue Blog, it seems that the Philips Sync Screen camera will only have one lens, but will likely be a fish-eye one to capture your entire TV screen — just like those used by rival devices.

You will almost certainly still need a Philips Hue Bridge to link the lights and camera to one another, but because the system camera-operated, you won't need a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box or Hue Sync TV app subscription , which could make it a more tempting proposition.

The Nanoleaf 4D TV is just one of the Philips rivals that use cameras to sync TV content with smart backlights (Image credit: Nanoleaf) As mentioned, Philips isn’t the first smart home giant to offer TV lighting gadgets like this, which aim to make your TV and gaming experiences more immersive by extending the colors from the screen onto the surrounding walls.

In addition to the Nanoleaf 4D light strips, the Govee StarPal Pro and the more recent Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro models are all camera-operated — the latter having a dual-camera system to capture more of your TV screen or monitor.

Philips has had quite an eventful 2026 already. In March the company unveiled its new OLED TVs , which are also the first native models for Dolby Vision 2, as well as its beautiful yet expensive ceiling light that mimics natural daylight . We’re just a mere two months away from IFA 2026, and I think the best is yet to come.

Full text

Volkswagen secretly built an Amarok SUV prototype years ago, executives recalled.

Project stalled repeatedly because expected sales volumes didn’t justify development.

Third-generation Amarok plans could revive SUV idea through future partnerships.

Volkswagen has spent years watching rivals cash in on rugged, ladder-frame pickup-based SUVs without offering one of its own. But behind the scenes, some Wolfsburg bosses have been pushing hard to green light just such a project, and it sounds like they haven’t given up on the idea of getting it to the showroom.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f");

}

});

We previously reported how Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles developed a one-off seven-seat SUV based on the Amarok pickup , the body-on-frame midsize truck that’s sold in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America, but not the US. The vehicle never made it beyond the prototype stage, but it apparently still survives somewhere within Volkswagen’s internal collection, quietly reminding executives of what might have been.

Related: VW’s Performance Amarok W600 Got Everything But The Performance

The concept itself isn’t hard to understand. Take a rugged body-on-frame pickup, replace the cargo bed with an enclosed passenger cabin, add a third row, and suddenly you’ve got a rival for vehicles like the Ford Everest , Toyota’s 4Runner and Land Cruiser Prado, and Isuzu MU-X.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform === "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("ea4d4b5a-f8e5-4d5d-9d9a-53a3b956b6cd");

} else{

adpushup.triggerAd("44c0a4dc-e25b-4ba5-ac64-2c510461b92a");

}

});

Why It Kept Stalling

The current VW Amarok pickup truck.

The problem wasn’t engineering it. VW reportedly advanced the project far enough to establish its overall shape and proportions, VWCV head of design Albert Kirzinger even sharing an image of the creation on LinkedIn in 2024 years after it was nixed. The real hurdle was money. Building a dedicated SUV derivative only makes sense if enough buyers show up, and Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg chiefs couldn’t make the numbers work.

That’s especially true when a vehicle is aimed at a limited number of markets. While ladder-frame, pickup-based SUVs are hugely popular in places like Australia, Thailand, South Africa, and parts of South America, they aren’t necessarily volume sellers everywhere else. Without broader global demand, the business case kept falling apart. Now, though, the idea could be back under consideration.

“To extend the model range is a long-desired wish,” Mecha told Australia’s Go Auto . “In particular, this rugged or closed pickup, for instance, as we would call it, where you have the same platform as the pickup.”

New Amarok Under Development

Volkswagen has already confirmed that a third-generation Amarok is coming to replace the gen-two launched in 2022, and discussions are underway regarding who will help develop and build it.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751");

}

});

One obvious route would be continuing the company’s relationship with Ford. The current Amarok shares much of its DNA with the Ranger, which already has the Everest SUV (shown below) as a close relative. Creating a VW-branded counterpart would seem like a straightforward solution, though VW must also be considering leveraging its Chinese operations – it’s already working on an all-new hybrid Amarok for South America based on Chinese tech .

For American buyers, this is mostly an interesting what-if since the current Amarok isn’t sold in the US, in large part because the chicken tax makes it too expensive to import. But given the success of body-on-frame trucks like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma in America, maybe VW would consider US production.

Regardless of whether that happens, the thought of a Volkswagen alternative to the Everest, Prado, and other rugged SUV s is intriguing. The prototype may have spent years gathering dust, but it sounds like the dream isn’t dead just yet.

var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};

adpushup.que.push(function() {

if (adpushup.config.platform !== "DESKTOP"){

adpushup.triggerAd("bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c");

} else {

adpushup.triggerAd("9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751");

}

});

Ford’s Everest is based on the Ranger pickup.

Full text

The first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has finally arrived, and it's made one thing clear already – beloved robot HERBIE has had a redesign.

In Fantastic Four , HERBIE has a retro yet futuristic design, matching the stylized aesthetic of the movie. But, it seems that, for Doomsday, he'll look a little bit more ordinary.

H.E.R.B.I.E. has been redesigned for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ pic.twitter.com/LaDTuk5lHZ July 20, 2026

Naturally, fans aren't best pleased. "They took away his cool design for a more 'modern' boring look," says one person .

"Not them downgrading herbie," says another . "The weird need to redesign everything because they’ve got more money than they know what to do with is so fucking stupid. Fantastic Four was so good, unique and hard its own sense of style, now H.E.R.B.I.E is just another Eva looking futuristic droid," argues someone else .

"I fell to the ground in despair, in tears," says another fan . "Cancel the whole fucking movie. right now. I'm serious," is another person's thoughts .

Along with the Fantastic Four, the rest of the supersized Avengers: Doomsday cast includes the Thunderbolts , the Fox-era X-Men, and the likes of Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Chris Evans's Steve Rogers. Robert Downey Jr. plays Doctor Doom, and the trailer teased the voice he's using for the villain .

Doom's motivation might have been teased by a new poster, too – in the trailer, he seems to be trying to warn someone about something.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives this December 18. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

Full text

TL;DR

The latest One UI 9 beta improves the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display.

Privacy Display now plays well with videos playing in picture-in-picture (PiP) mode.

It leaves the rest of the screen unobscured by the Privacy Display tech, so the phone can be used normally.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display feature has its pros and cons. It might not be as effective as dedicated privacy screen guards, but it’s also more flexible. It can be set up to hide notifications only or work with specific apps. Now, Samsung is making it even better with the latest One UI 9 update for the S26 Ultra.

According to an X post from leaker Ice Universe, the latest One UI 9 Beta 4 update improves the Privacy Display’s integration with picture-in-picture (PiP) mode. So, if you’ve enabled Privacy Display for YouTube and you play a video in PiP mode, only the PiP window is obscured by Samsung’s display tech. The rest of your phone’s display will remain perfectly bright and normal.