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Latest by V. Vivek

Motorola Razr Fold vs Honor Magic V6 Featured

I don’t care how thin the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is, and these two foldables show exactly why

The latest foldables are becoming remarkably thin, but after using Motorola, Honor, and Samsung’s newest models, I care far more about batteries and hinges that improve daily use.
YouTube

YouTube just doubled the grind before creators can start making ad money

YouTube is doubling its watch-time and Shorts-view requirements for new creators seeking ad revenue, making entry into its Partner Program considerably tougher from 2027.
Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Apple may make fake photos harder to pass off as iPhone shots

Apple is reportedly developing Reference Image for iOS 27, a camera authentication system that could help prove whether a photo originated from an iPhone’s camera hardware.
The Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS installed.

Valve keeps widening the SteamOS net, and more handhelds are finally getting caught

Valve’s latest SteamOS beta adds gamepad support for handhelds from MSI, Ayaneo, and Konkr while improving compatibility across several OneXPlayer and MSI devices.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Rollable

Lenovo’s next ThinkBook could stretch sideways into a portable ultrawide setup

A newly surfaced Lenovo design points to a ThinkBook with a horizontally expanding screen, potentially bringing the company’s ultrawide rollable experiments to its productivity-focused laptop family.
Apple HomePod 2023

I’m already surrounded by AI. I don’t need ChatGPT living beside my bed

OpenAI’s rumored AI companion could use cameras, microphones, and environmental awareness around the home, and that level of access deserves serious privacy safeguards.
The Galaxy S25 FE propped up against a grey plant pot, with the rear of the phone facing the camera.

The Galaxy S26 FE has leaked in every color, and at least one has some personality

Fresh Galaxy S26 FE renders reveal Samsung’s upcoming Fan Edition phone in all three expected finishes, while giving us another clear look at its S26-inspired camera redesign.
Google Wallet for Kids with supervised balance

Google is putting pocket money inside Wallet, and parents control every tap

Google Wallet’s new balance lets supervised children tap to pay from their own funds while parents set daily limits, track purchases, and remotely freeze spending.
Copilot

Microsoft is teaching AI to find the bottlenecks buried inside Windows 11

Microsoft is connecting AI assistants to Windows’ advanced performance-analysis tools, helping engineers investigate CPU spikes, memory pressure, driver problems, and other causes of sluggish PCs.
The Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses and case.

Pubs and restaurants are treating Meta’s smart glasses like hidden cameras, and I’m completely on board

Restaurants, pubs, private clubs, and theatres are restricting Meta’s camera-equipped glasses, reviving the privacy backlash that helped make Google Glass socially radioactive.
Minecraft

Minecraft is coming to Switch 2, and even the Creepers are getting prettier

Minecraft arrives natively on Nintendo Switch 2 this October with upgraded lighting, enhanced shadows, a refreshed Mario pack, and an upgrade path for existing Switch owners.
Viture Pro 2 XR Glasses with its Mobile Dock Mini

Viture’s lightest smart glasses yet still put a massive 146-inch screen in front of your eyes

The Viture Pro 2 trims weight and thickness while adding brighter displays, improved eye adjustments, and a wider field of view, alongside a smaller Switch 2-ready dock.
ChatGPT Atlas browser on a MacBook.

ChatGPT Atlas is shutting down and it has some homework left before you migrate

OpenAI will shut down ChatGPT Atlas on August 9, and users must manually rescue bookmarks, tabs, browsing history, and other important data before migrating.
The Thunderbolts stand in a line and look up.

Disney will let TikTokers create short videos by remixing Marvel, Star Wars, and more iconic franchises

TikTok creators will gain licensed access to material from hundreds of Disney movies and shows, with selected fan-made videos also heading directly to Disney+.
Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Design being used with the M3-Pen

Huawei made its giant folding laptop faster and tougher, but the pen is the real upgrade

Huawei’s refreshed MateBook Fold retains its enormous 18-inch OLED and remarkably light chassis while adding a faster Kirin processor, tougher glass, and proper stylus support.
Xbox 25th anniversary console

Xbox is celebrating 25 years by dressing your console in nostalgia

Xbox players can now claim free community-designed profile artwork, a dynamic console background, and a commemorative badge as Microsoft prepares for the brand’s 25th anniversary.
Netflix-voice-search

Chrome can finally stream Netflix in 4K, and Edge just lost bragging rights

Netflix now supports 4K playback through Chrome on compatible Windows 11 computers, although the service’s demanding display, hardware, codec, and subscription requirements still apply.
Researchers at Fraunhofer SIT are fighting against deepfake meeting video calls

Deepfake bosses are crashing video calls, and researchers are trying to expose them

Fraunhofer researchers are developing a real-time warning system for deepfake video meetings, targeting scams where AI-generated bosses and coworkers pressure employees into costly decisions.
RISION Magic Pro in action

RISION’s new pocket-sized cameras turns your phone into a nitfty thermal imaging tool

RISION’s new 24-gram USB-C cameras turn supported phones, tablets, and computers into thermal inspection tools, with prices beginning at $119 during the preorder period.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4's screen crease.

Samsung may finally kill the foldable crease next year, and make the screen stronger while it’s at it

Samsung Display is developing a new glass structure that thins only the folding area, potentially reducing creases while making the rest of the screen thicker and stronger.
Apple Universal Clipboard feature

Apple will finally stop making iPhone-to-Windows copy-paste such a chore

Apple has agreed to build a developer framework that could finally enable seamless iPhone-to-Windows clipboard syncing, though its first beta will arrive sometime after fall 2027.
google-lawsuite-AI-Scams

Passkeys were pushed as a safer future. Hackers have figured out ways to break those synced to Google

Researchers found three ways malware on an already compromised Windows PC can hijack Google-synced passkeys, bypass user checks, and extract every private key in the vault.
OpenAI

Apple’s OpenAI lawsuit just tripped over an embarrassing wrong-recipient email

OpenAI has published emails and messages challenging Apple’s trade-secret allegations, including an awkward exchange in which Apple’s outside lawyer contacted the wrong person.
Book, Publication, Comics

Xbox may have a surprisingly smart plan for keeping physical games alive

A leaked Microsoft roadmap details an August Disc-to-Digital rollout, a larger original Xbox catalog for PC in October, and Xbox 360 support beginning in 2027.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Inside Screen View

Samsung’s risky move with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is paying off threefold

Samsung’s passport-shaped Galaxy Z Fold 8 is reportedly selling three times faster than the Fold 7, leaving the company racing to produce enough units for buyers.
Lenovo Google Book 15 from the front

New Lenovo leak just gave us our best look at Google’s post-Chromebook gamble

A full set of Lenovo Googlebook 15 renders reveals Google’s Android-powered desktop interface, dedicated Gemini controls, generous ports, and an unusually serious productivity pitch.
Apple iPhone 17e on gradient background

Apple may give the iPhone 18e one extra gigabyte and call it an AI upgrade

A second analyst says Apple’s iPhone 18e will jump from 8GB to an unusual 9GB of RAM, giving on-device Apple Intelligence some additional breathing room.
Skynomad

Xiaomi just launched an SUV with seven seats and a bedroom upstairs

The Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 Max combines seven seats, a transforming cabin, an optional rooftop bedroom, and 1,705km of claimed range for around $44,400.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 in Black and White variants

Samsung’s next tracker may look better while becoming harder to actually attach

Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 3 could adopt a new squircle design and central button, though losing the SmartTag 2’s built-in attachment loop may require another accessory.
Book, Publication, Adult

PlayStation discs are dying in 2028, and fan backlash isn’t changing Sony’s mind

Sony says it understands the backlash surrounding its decision to abandon physical PlayStation releases in 2028, though even organized fan protests are not changing its plans.
Windows 11 laptop on a desk

Microsoft finally has a Windows 11 upgrade everyone can get behind

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says the company is investing in Windows 11 quality and fundamentals, continuing a push toward better performance, reliability, and everyday usability.
The cast of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time poses in promotional art.

GTA 6 owns November, unless the Ocarina of Time Remake has something to say about it

New Nintendo amiibo listings have sparked speculation that Ocarina of Time Remake could arrive just one week before GTA 6, setting up an extraordinary November showdown.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Apple’s new Upgrade plan looks cheap until you remember who owns the device

Apple Upgrade can shrink the monthly cost of an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Watch, but its convenience comes with ownership and resale compromises.
Running mode on Spotify

Spotify’s new Running Mode knows exactly when your playlist should speed up

Spotify’s new Running Mode creates personalized workout soundtracks around your training style, duration, preferred genres, and tempo, with optional coaching cues along the way.
Dell 16S on display

I went hands-on with Dell’s new slim laptops, and the new 14S hits a sweet spot below XPS prices

Dell’s new 14S and 16S combine slim aluminum designs, large batteries, OLED display options, and faster Intel chips at prices below the premium XPS 14.
Google Pay using Gemini to help users understand their finances

Gemini is moving into Google Play, and it has front-row seat to your spending habits

Ask Google Pay uses Gemini to analyze spending and explain financial topics, while a new SBI partnership expands Google’s app-based Flex credit card in India.
Rear shell of Google Pixel 10 Pro.

Google’s priciest Pixel 11 may bring a smaller battery and a bigger bill

A new leak points to smaller batteries inside both Pixel 11 Pro models, while the Pro XL could cost £80 more than last year’s equivalent.
Face, Head, Person

AI turned a disgraced President under house arrest into a live avatar for another election campaign

An AI-generated Jair Bolsonaro endorsed his son’s presidential campaign despite the former Brazilian leader’s house arrest, election ban, and restrictions on public communication.