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Latest by P. Mehrotra

Gemini app macOS dictation featured

Gemini on Mac can now type what you say and act on what it sees

Google is upgrading the Gemini app for Mac with system-wide dictation triggered by the Fn key, plus an opt-in mode that lets Gemini pull context from what's on screen for more complex tasks.
Capuchin interacting with CapuchinAI device

AI isn’t just being forced on us. Even forest monkeys are now a test audience in the name of science

AI has already made its way into almost every aspect of our lives. Now it's showing up in the rainforest, where wild capuchin monkeys are using an AI-powered touchscreen to earn banana rewards as part of a unique scientific study.
USB webcam mode on Galaxy Z Fold 8 featured

The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 let you ditch your laptop’s grainy webcam

Samsung's newest foldables support USB webcam mode, a feature that the company debuted on the Galaxy S26 series earlier this year.
An Apple HomePod 2023 on a media stand.

Apple’s long-delayed smart home plans may finally start to take shape this fall

Apple's long-rumored smart home push may finally be nearing launch, with Bloomberg reporting that a new home hub, refreshed Apple TV, and updated HomePod mini could roll out over the coming months.
Apple Upgrade site on a MacBook Neo

Apple’s new Upgrade program lets you lease an iPhone, Mac, Watch, and iPad

Apple's new Apple Upgrade leasing program is officially live, letting you pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch through Klarna instead of buying outright.
BYD Racco

BYD’s new Racco is Japan’s first electric kei car with over 300 km range

BYD has launched the Racco, its first electric kei car for Japan, offering up to 320 km of range and a starting price below the Nissan Sakura.
Google Pixel Watch 4 in black in the hand

Google could soon let you unlock your Pixel Watch with your phone

Google is reportedly working on a way to unlock your Pixel Watch with your phone, essentially flipping the existing Watch Unlock feature.
God of War: Laufey

God of War Laufey finally has a release date, and there’s some good news for Kratos fans too

Santa Monica Studio has confirmed God of War Laufey will launch on February 16, 2027, and revealed that a new Kratos-led title is already in the works.
Person carrying a Herschel Heritage backpack.

From freshman year to graduation, these are the three backpacks I’d trust with a laptop

Heading back to school but your backpack's a tattered mess? Pick one of these three options and you won't have to think about buying another one until you graduate.
Satechi ChargeView

Stop fighting with your roomie over outlets and get one of these multi-port chargers before you head back to school

Your room has one outlet and too many devices fighting over it. I've picked out five multi-port chargers worth adding to your back to school shopping list, from a pocket-sized option to a six-port station that can power all the devices you own at the same time.
A person wearing the Whoop 5.0.

Slacked off all summer? Here are 3 fitness trackers that’ll help you stay accountable as you head back to school

Summer break did a number on your fitness goals? These three fitness trackers take very different approaches to keeping you accountable this semester.
Galaxy A17 in all colors on gradient background

Back-to-school phone shopping on a tight budget? Here’s the one phone I’d recommend without hesitation

Back to school shopping usually means picking from a handful of solid budget options. This year, however, there aren't many options, with one solid pick I'd recommend for the school year ahead, plus a strong alternative with a catch.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

5 mid-range phones I’d recommend you spend your Back-to-School budget on

Shopping for a new phone before the school year starts? Here are five mid-range picks that deliver the flagship-feel without the flagship price tag.
A person using the Amazon Kindle Scribe and its stylus.

Stop losing your notes and start the school year with one of these e-readers that double as notebooks

Your notes are scattered across notebooks, your PDFs are buried in folders you'll never find again, and your backpack is heavier than it needs to be. These e-readers with pen support fix that by doing it all on one device: reading, writing, and staying organized.
The Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses and case.

Instagram is finally going after Ray-Ban Meta-wearing creeps

Instagram has started banning accounts that post footage captured secretly using Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Gemini Spark mac app

Gemini Spark is no longer restricted to Google’s priciest Ultra tier

Google is rolling out Gemini Spark to users on the $20 Pro plan in the US. The AI agent will roll out to Pro users in more countries soon.
Car, Transportation, Vehicle

Ford’s UEV platform will feature Apple Maps built in

Ford's upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle platform will run Apple Maps as its built-in navigation system.
LG UltraGear 45gx950b

LG agrees to kill McAfee pop-up on Windows PCs after Microsoft steps in

LG has agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up ad in its Monitor App Installer after weeks of user complaints and a direct nudge from Microsoft chief Pavan Davuluri.
Google account selfie sign in tutorial featured

How to set up selfie video sign-in for your Google account

Google now lets you use your face to log into your Google account. Here's how you can set up the new selfie video sign-in feature.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue

Apple could cut off app access on financed iPhones over missed payments

Code spotted in iOS 27 beta suggests Apple has built a system that can lock a financed iPhone down to nine apps if payments fall behind.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

The best Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 diving features will reportedly cost you extra

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is finally built for diving, but a new report suggests the app that unlocks advanced diving features will come with a subscription.
Augmental MouthPad and Vox featured

You can now buy a computer mouse controlled entirely by your tongue

Augmental has opened public US sales of its tongue-controlled MouthPad and released a beta of Vox, a new device built to handle hands-free dictation.
WhatsApp new CarPlay experience featured

WhatsApp’s new in-car experience is built around hands-free control

WhatsApp has revamped its in-car experience to offer CarPlay and Android Auto users better hands-free controls.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in hand

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra lands with a sharper display, bigger battery, and a $100 price hike

Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99 and brings a sharper display, bigger battery, and upgraded ultrawide camera, all in a slightly slimmer body.
Video playing on Substack.

Substack now lets you check if a post was written by AI

Substack is rolling out a Pangram-powered scanner that lets readers check posts, notes, and replies for AI-written text. Writers get their own tools too, including a pre-publish scan and a "How I make this" disclosure.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Apple is reportedly teaming up with Klarna to let you pay off new devices over time

Apple reportedly plans to introduce a new financing program, called Apple Upgrade, in partnership with Klarna later this month.
Apple App Store homepage on an iPhone

Vibecoded apps are flooding Apple’s App Store, and users are getting sick of them

App Store submissions have doubled this year as AI tools make development easier than ever, but downloads haven't kept pace, as users are growing tired of sorting through low-effort, AI-built apps.
Adobe Project Indigo AI Playground featured

Adobe’s Project Indigo camera app can now edit and critique your photos with AI

Adobe is testing AI Playground, a new feature in its Project Indigo camera app that brings AI editing tools and a photo critic. Access is free for now, but limited to a small group of users for a few weeks.
People pointing cameras at a person in a club

Camera anxiety is changing how young adults party

Students say they can't fully relax on a night out anymore, caught between camera-happy promoters and glasses that look nothing like a recording device.
A person wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 marketing images leak, backing up battery, display, and chip rumors

Leaked marketing images of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 corroborate weeks of rumors about the battery, display, and chip upgrades.
Xbox logo

Xbox execs say the console exclusives comeback is just getting started

Xbox executives have confirmed the company's return to console exclusives is only getting started, with more titles already in the works.
A person using Google Gemini on the Google Pixel 9a.

Google has to play fair with AI rivals on Android, and that could be good news for your wallet

The EU has ordered Google to open Gemini's exclusive Android access to rival AI apps by 2027. For Android users, the real payoff might not be more choices, but cheaper ones.
Person holding OnePlus 15.

Your OnePlus phone is switching to ColorOS, whether you like it or not

OnePlus has confirmed that OxygenOS is being retired in favor of ColorOS, with eligible devices worldwide set to receive the option to update once ColorOS 17 rolls out.
Gemini Notebook branding on a MacBook

NotebookLM just got a new name and a serious upgrade for Google AI Pro subscribers

Google has rechristened NotebookLM as Gemini Notebook, and the rebrand comes with an expansion of the upgrades that debuted on the Ultra tier last month.
Rear shell view of the 2024 iPad mini.

Apple is reportedly refreshing its entire iPad lineup, and the first new model could land this fall

Apple is reportedly preparing a sweeping refresh of its iPad lineup, with the first new model set to arrive this fall.
Apple Back to School 2026 featured

Apple’s 2026 Back to School promo saves you up to $150 on a new Mac or iPad

Apple's 2026 Back to School promotion brings back gift cards worth up to $150, but its cheapest Mac and iPad aren't part of the deal.
The rear of the OnePlus 15R, propped up on a wooden table.

OnePlus’ North America and Europe chapter has officially come to an end

OnePlus has confirmed what it spent months denying. The brand is stepping away from North America and Europe, though current owners will keep software updates and warranty support.
Girl using a black phone while lying down

The UK just proposed a midnight social media curfew for teens that they can bypass in seconds

The UK government has proposed a midnight curfew that would lock 16 and 17-year-olds out of apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, but the restriction can be switched off with just a few taps.