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Latest by V. Vivek

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.
Dell XPS 13 Hands-on

I tried Dell’s sleek XPS 13 and it’s a breath of fresh air for budget Windows laptops

Dell’s new XPS 13 combines a compact aluminum design, sharp touchscreen, and approachable price to give Windows buyers a credible MacBook Neo alternative.
Wristwatch, Arm, Body Part

Nothing’s first proper smartwatch could be the wrist candy Android needs

Nothing’s first smartwatch under its main brand may arrive in September for under $300, bringing the company’s unmistakable design language to a fiercely competitive market.
Windows 11 Laptop

Think twice before downloading your next Windows 11 app from Google

More than 70 websites are impersonating popular Windows utilities, with convincing clones ranking in search results and some already distributing trojanized installers to unsuspecting users.
Gas Mask

Experts find it’s easy to manipulate AI chatbots into coughing up bioweapon recipes

Researchers found that persistent conversations could push major AI chatbots past their biological safety barriers, as increasingly capable models acquire knowledge that worries biosecurity experts.
Samsung Galaxy TriFold unfolded

Samsung has another wild foldable phone lined up for 2027 and it will excite screen connoisseurs

Samsung has reportedly started developing its second-generation Galaxy Z TriFold, with another near-10-inch OLED expected and a possible launch alongside the Galaxy Z9 series in 2027.
Hero image for AppleCare One service package.

Apple’s best device protection deal is finally leaving the US

AppleCare One is expanding beyond the US for the first time, bringing bundled protection for multiple Apple devices to four additional countries beginning August 4.
The Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses and case.

A new iPhone app can sniff out Meta smart glasses lurking nearby

AntiZuck turns an iPhone into a local smart-glasses scanner, alerting users to nearby Meta Ray-Bans and other supported devices without requiring an account or collecting data.
Adult, Male, Man

I played Halo: Campaign Evolved, and its cinematics show what a Halo series could’ve been

Halo is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gorgeous remake of Combat Evolved, and its new cinematics have reopened an old wound: I still want a proper Halo show.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet

These wireless chargers can power everything from a single iPhone to an entire Apple setup while clearing valuable space on a crowded student desk.
Apple iPad Pro 2025 on a table

From lecture notes to design projects, I picked the right iPads that belong in your bag

Whether you need a digital notebook or a portable creative workstation, Apple’s current iPad lineup has a student-friendly option for nearly every workload and budget.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Before you blow your student budget, here’s the MacBook that actually suits your major

Apple now offers a MacBook for almost every student budget, and these three models provide the strongest mix of portability, performance, and long-term value.
Anker Nano 3-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank for iPhone.

Your backpack needs one of these power banks before classes start

From powerful laptop chargers to compact magnetic battery packs, these four Anker power banks can keep a student’s essential tech running throughout the school day.
I'm holding my Logitech C920 1080p webcam in my hands.

Stop joining group projects with a blurry laptop webcam and buy one of these instead

From affordable 2K cameras to AI-powered 4K models, these five webcams can sharpen online classes, group projects, presentations, interviews, and dorm-room streams
Sony Walkman WM2011

I desperately want a new classic Walkman, but Sony probably can’t give me one

Old-school gadgets are finding a new audience, but bringing back Sony’s classic Walkman would require rebuilding decades of lost parts, tooling, and manufacturing expertise.
OpenAI logo on Microsoft surface

OpenAI’s rogue AI hack was just the beginning, Hugging Face warns

OpenAI calls its autonomous Hugging Face breach unprecedented, while security and AI experts say the episode raises an equally uncomfortable question about the company’s own safeguards.
How Vast's space station will look in orbit.

Space is becoming Bezos and Musk’s next data center site, and we have every reason to worry

SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others want enormous orbital data center constellations, prompting warnings over atmospheric pollution, debris, and an astronomy problem satellites are already making worse.
This artist’s concept depicts a potential volcanic moon between the exoplanet WASP-49 b, left, and its parent star. New evidence indicating that a massive sodium cloud observed near WASP-49 b is produced by neither the planet nor the star has prompted researchers to ask if its origin could be an exomoon.

The first possible exomoon is here, and it makes our Moon look hilariously tiny

Astronomers have found strong evidence for a Jupiter-mass object orbiting a brown dwarf, potentially marking the first convincing detection of a moon beyond our solar system.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with Fold 8

Samsung finally switched to silicon-carbon battery on Galaxy Z Fold 8. What’s so special about it?

Samsung’s first silicon-carbon Galaxy phones show how denser batteries can increase capacity, reduce weight, and make space-starved foldable designs far more practical.
Galaxy foldables with its screen visible

I’ve used foldable phones for years. Here’s how to pick the right one between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8

Samsung’s latest foldables share plenty of hardware, but their shapes, screens, cameras, and everyday strengths make each one suitable for a very different buyer.
Computer, Electronics, Tablet Computer

Samsung stirred the wide foldable race, but I’m more excited for an upcoming exotic rival

Xiaomi’s rumored Mix Fold 5 could pair Samsung-like wide proportions with homegrown flagship silicon, a 200MP camera, and a considerably larger 6,000mAh battery.
Siri AI voice change

AI is becoming the shoulder we cry on, and that worries me

A study found leading AI chatbots can outperform people at easing anger and fear, raising uncomfortable questions about who we increasingly turn to during difficult moments.
A hand holding the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld.

Lenovo’s new thin-and-light handheld leaves out one crucial detail

Lenovo’s upcoming Legion C700 weighs just 556 grams and measures 14.9mm thick, bits reliance on Tencent’s cloud service raises several unanswered questions.