Today's Consumer Tech Pulse
Apple integrates distilled Gemini AI into Siri, boosting on-device processing
Apple is embedding a distilled version of Google’s Gemini model into Siri, enabling the iPhone’s Neural Engine and custom silicon to handle simpler queries locally while offloading heavier AI workloads to the cloud. The initiative also brings Nvidia’s Confidential Computing platform to encrypt user data during cloud processing.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in travel startup WeRoad
This Ultra Rare Razer Gaming Mouse Costs $1337, but Is It Any Good?
Razer unveiled the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition, a limited‑run collector’s mouse priced at $1,337, with all 1,337 units sold out at DreamHack UK. The mouse revives the original Boomslang silhouette in a translucent green chassis, featuring ambidextrous side buttons and a faux‑leather grip. Inside, it houses Razer’s Focus Pro 45K Gen‑2 optical sensor, fourth‑gen switches, 8 kHz polling, 145‑hour battery life, and weighs 110 g. While the design feels unconventional, the tech matches current flagship standards, positioning it as a premium nostalgia piece rather than a mainstream esports tool.
This Capable Logitech G703 Lightspeed Is Down to £53/$60 in a Handy Amazon Discount
Logitech’s G703 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse is now on Amazon for $60 in the United States and £53 (about $68) in the United Kingdom, its lowest price of 2026. The mouse packs a 25,600‑DPI Hero sensor, Lightspeed 2.4 GHz zero‑latency wireless,...
Refurbed and GoPro Announce Exclusive Partnership in Ireland
Refurbed has sealed an exclusive partnership with GoPro to sell refurbished HERO9‑11 cameras in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden. The collaboration follows a pilot that saw GoPro sales on the platform jump 195%, and reflects a 329% year‑on‑year increase in camera...
Google’s Pixel Launcher Could Take the Hard Work Out of Setting up Your Home Screen
Google is testing a new Pixel Launcher feature in Android 17 Beta 3 that can automatically populate a home‑screen page with apps and widgets based on selected Play Store categories. The early UI shows placeholder content and layout options such as...
Deals – Big Spring Sale Day 3: Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 40% Off, TCL 60 NXTPAPER $180, Snapdragon X Elite...
Day 3 of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale delivers deep discounts across tablets, smartphones, laptops and accessories. Lenovo’s 12.7‑inch Idea Tab Pro falls to $237.50, a 40% cut, while TCL’s 60 XE NXTPAPER phone starts at $180, 30% off. Microsoft’s Snapdragon X Elite Surface Laptop is...
Gigabyte BRIX Mini PC with AMD Ryzen AI 400 “Gorgon Point” Coming Soon
Gigabyte announced the upcoming BRIX GB‑BRR7‑450 mini PC, powered by AMD's new Ryzen AI 400 “Gorgon Point” processor. The compact device measures 119 × 113 × 34 mm and supports up to 96 GB of DDR5‑5600 memory, dual M.2 slots (PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0), and a range of...
Google’s Gemini AI and Pixel Phones Are Going to Show up a Lot During the 2026 World Cup
Google has sealed sponsorship deals with France and Argentina for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, positioning its Gemini AI model and Pixel smartphones at the tournament’s forefront. Gemini will power special AI features for the teams, including enhanced communication tools...
Android 17 Adds ‘Location Button’ for Apps and More Private ‘Approximate’ Algorithm
Android 17’s third beta introduces a new “location button” that grants one‑time precise location access, eliminating the need for permanent background permission. The runtime permission dialog now separates Precise and Approximate choices into distinct checkboxes, and a persistent blue dot...
Apple's Active Devices Grow Steadily Amid Fierce Competition
Active Apple devices have been growing linearly for years, quarter after quarter, a remarkable feat considering the fierce competition.
![Android 17’s Logo Has Been Changing with Each New Beta [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/android-17-logo-easter-egg-beta-3.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1){kind=logo}
Android 17’s Logo Has Been Changing with Each New Beta [Video]
Google is subtly updating the Android 17 Easter‑egg logo with each beta, shifting the central planet motif from a simple circle to a spiraling shape. The changes are showcased in the Android Developers blog rather than the OS itself, suggesting a...
Apple Still Plans to Sell iPhones When It Turns 100
Apple executives told WIRED that the iPhone will remain a core product well beyond the company’s 50th anniversary, with plans to continue selling new models when Apple reaches its centennial. The strategy emphasizes relentless innovation, especially in artificial intelligence, rather...
PS5 Console and PlayStation Portal Prices Go Up Again
Sony announced a global price hike for every PlayStation 5 model and the PlayStation Portal, effective April 2, 2026, with increases ranging from $50 to $100. The Digital Edition will rise to $599, the standard PS5 to $649, the PS5 Pro to $899, and...
Yes, You Need a Smart Bird Feeder in Your Life - and This One's on Sale
The Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder, an AI‑powered device that records and identifies over 6,000 bird species, is now $60 off (about 30% discount) during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale ending March 31. It streams 1080p video with 8× digital zoom and full‑color...
‘Can’t Innovate Anymore, My Ass’
Apple’s Mac Pro celebrates two decades of evolution, from its 2006 Intel‑Xeon launch to the 2019 modular redesign and the recent M2 Ultra‑powered models. The original “cheese‑grater” chassis set a benchmark for workstation performance, while the 2013 cylindrical version sparked...
Apple’s Next Device Might Not Have a Screen at All
Apple is reportedly developing an AI‑powered pin, roughly the size of an AirTag, that could launch as early as 2027. The device would attach to clothing or accessories and act as an ambient sensor hub, feeding camera and microphone data...
An Introduction to Obsidian for the Busy Astronomer
The article introduces Obsidian, a free, local‑first note‑taking app that stores research notes as plain‑text Markdown files. It emphasizes bidirectional linking and a Graph View that turn scattered files into a navigable knowledge network. The author highlights the ability to...
The 6 Best to Do List Apps for Mac in 2026
The Zapier roundup identifies the six best to‑do list apps for macOS, highlighting Things, OmniFocus, Apple Reminders, GoodTask, 2Do and TickTick. Each app is evaluated on native macOS experience, task organization, quick entry, reminders and cross‑device sync. Pricing ranges from...
From AI Devices to Ecosystems: Inside Asia’s Largest Consumer Electronics Expo
At the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2026, Chinese technology leaders highlighted a shift from standalone AI gadgets to fully integrated ecosystems that span wearables, home appliances, and mobility solutions. The showcase demonstrated coordinated AI platforms that enable devices...
The World’s First Eye-Tracking Smart Glasses Are Here : Fully Tested
Smart eyewear company launched Maverick AI and AI Pro glasses, the first consumer devices with built‑in eye‑tracking. Weighing 47 grams and priced at $359 for the AI Pro model, they feature a full‑color in‑lens display, a 28° field of view, and...
We Can’t Deny This AI Note-Taking Pin Is Incredibly Useful
The Plaud NotePin S is a pocket‑sized AI‑powered note‑taking device that records audio, generates real‑time transcriptions, outlines, summaries and action items. Users activate recordings with a single button or via a companion app, and can flag moments for quick reference. The...
Dispatch Set for Xbox Summer Release Amid Wave of New Titles
Microsoft confirmed that Dispatch will launch on Xbox Series X/S this summer, adding to a slate of new titles revealed at the Xbox Partner Preview. The announcement comes as the company lines up releases like Wuthering Waves in July and...
Motorola Razr Ultra Images Leak – and There's One Peculiar Design Choice
Motorola’s upcoming Razr 70 Ultra was spotted in leaked renders shared by XpertPick and leaker OnLeaks. The new clamshell folding phone is slightly thicker than its predecessor, measuring 7.8 mm when open and 15.8 mm when folded. The added bulk likely accommodates a larger...
Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone Faces Major Design Hurdle
Apple is targeting a radical all‑screen iPhone to celebrate the device’s 20th anniversary in 2027, aiming to hide the front‑facing camera and Face ID sensors beneath the display. Conflicting leaks, however, suggest the technology may not be ready, and a smaller...
Corsair's Scimitar RGB Elite Gaming Mouse Hits an All-Time Low of $49 — 17 Programmable Buttons Built for MMO Gaming
Corsair's Scimitar RGB Elite gaming mouse has hit an all‑time low of $49.99 on Amazon, a $40 discount from its usual $89.99 price. The mouse offers 17 programmable buttons, including a sliding 12‑button side panel that can be adjusted for...
As the Nintendo 3DS Turns 15, I Feel Really Old, and Reminisce on What I Think Is the Company's Greatest...
The Nintendo 3DS celebrates its 15‑year anniversary, marking a milestone since its 2011 launch. Over its lifespan it shipped more than 75 million units and built a library that includes flagship titles such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Zelda: A Link...
Philips Debuts Evnia 32M2N8900X 4K 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor
Philips has launched the Evnia 32M2N8900X, a 31.5‑inch QD‑OLED gaming monitor that delivers 4K resolution at a blistering 240 Hz refresh rate and a quoted 0.03 ms response time. The panel is VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 certified, reaching 515 nits typical brightness and up...
YouTube AI Replaces Titles with Synopses, Users Upset
Oh boy, and it replaces titles in some cases. And we know how people feel about that... :) -> YouTube is testing more AI on the home screen, and we hate it already "In two examples shared by Redditors, the titles...
World's Best Laptop Battery Life per Weight
If independent testing is on the money, this is effectively the most battery stamina ever seen with a laptop, pound-for-pound. https://t.co/cYhYCpiyjB
IOS 26.4 + Firmware 8B39: The Update That Finally Fixes AirPods Pro Connection Lag
Apple has released AirPods Pro firmware version 8B39, unifying the software across AirPods Pro 2 (USB‑C and Lightning), AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 while leaving the original Pro 1 on its legacy code. The update resolves several bugs for Pro 2 users, including faster...
Last Chance to Buy PS Portal Before Price Hike
This might be your last chance to pick up a PS Portal ahead of the price hike. https://t.co/TrKlAO8oqj
Fitbit Inspire 3: Full Fitness Features Under $70
For less than $70 you can score the Fitbit Inspire 3 and make the most of its wide range of fitness features without having to splurge on an Apple Watch. https://t.co/CAF7DUZlG1
Apple Says Customers Should ‘Update iOS to Protect Your iPhone From Web Attacks
Apple has issued an urgent advisory urging iPhone owners to update to the latest iOS version after identifying sophisticated web‑based attacks targeting older software. The company is rolling out critical background security patches that can be applied automatically on supported...
Self‑Cleaning Sunglasses: A Glimpse Into Future Tech
#WhatsNext? Sunglasses that clean themselves? #Innovation that gives us a clearer view of the future. (Cheddar Gadgets) https://t.co/MOSn5oqoE4
Apple’s Lockdown Mode Remains Unbreached Spyware Shield
Apple’s Lockdown Mode feature is the best defense we have against spyware on iOS, macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS. Apple launched the feature four years ago and has not yet seen a device with Lockdown Mode on be compromised. https://t.co/0lF1BbEWZE
My Favorite Bluetooth Speaker Just Got a Gold-Plated Edition, and It's Not as Expensive as You Might Think
The Minirig 4 gold‑plated edition adds a polished gold finish to the compact, mono Bluetooth speaker while keeping its core specs intact. It houses a 2.75‑inch driver that produces deeper bass than many multi‑driver rivals and offers up to 100 hours of...
Google Adds Auto‑populate Home Screens to Pixel
First look: Google's working to make managing Pixel home screens easier The feature would let users create home screens that automatically populate with apps of a specified type, as well as rearrange and delete individual home screens ✅ Details and more screenshots...
No Mario 3D, but GTA 6 Lands on Switch 2
No 3D Mario game this year but GTA 6 will be available on the Switch 2
CODM X Infinix NOTE 60 Series
Infinix has teamed up with Call of Duty: Mobile to turn its newly launched NOTE Edge and NOTE 60 series into optimized gaming devices for emerging markets such as Latin America, Brazil, India, and Africa. The partnership delivers 120 FPS performance, JBL‑tuned...
Gaming Giants' Marketing Spirals Into Absurdity
Xbox: partner showcase is a bust PlayStation: where else you gonna play give us $600 Nintendo: what if Glenn powell was a fox that where's a Saiyan scouter and flies a space ship? https://t.co/uKtqXopYZs
One UI 9 Adds Raise‑to‑Talk and Bixby File Sharing
Samsung’s One UI 9 Leak Reveals 'Raise to Talk' Gesture and File Attachments for Bixby on Galaxy Devices No need to use hotword or buttons. ✅ Details - https://t.co/m9ZRQSzULw
Amazon's Big Spring Sale Slashes iPad Air Price by $84.50, Sparking Tablet Frenzy
Amazon's third‑annual Big Spring Sale (Mar 25‑31) offers the 13‑inch M4 iPad Air for $714.50, $84.50 off its list price. The deep discount joins a wave of Apple markdowns that are reshaping spring‑season ecommerce traffic.
Sony Hikes PS5 Prices, Digital Edition up $200
Sony is raising the price of its PS5 consoles: • PlayStation 5 – $549.99 to $649.99 • PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – $499.99 to $599.99 • PlayStation 5 Pro – $749.99 to $899.99 PS5 Digital has now increased by $200 since its launch price...
Rising Console Prices Signal Switch 2 Could Hit $500
A new PS5 now starts at $600. A new PS Portal is now $250. This is absolutely unprecedented. There's no way we don't see the Switch 2 going up to $500. https://t.co/MJEFtycBBr https://t.co/D5peLfrfXe
Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics, Enters Humanoid Robot Market
Amazon has bought Fauna Robotics, the maker of the $50,000 Sprout humanoid robot, adding a kid‑size, developer‑friendly bot to its growing robotics lineup. The deal, announced on March 24, positions Amazon against Tesla and expands its reach beyond warehouse automation...
One UI 9 Introduces Built‑in Repair Support Hub
🛠️ One UI 9 could simplify Galaxy phone repairs with a new built-in support hub We spotted a new Warranty & care app in One UI 9, that could unify all elements of repairs and support ✅ More details with screenshots -...
Samsung Browser to Auto‑Apply Discounts at Checkout
🛍️ Samsung Browser could soon save you some money while shopping Upcoming "Smart shopping" feature could automatically find and apply discount codes at checkout for you. ✅ Details - https://t.co/ytAqjxp4HW https://t.co/uoS5snu2cl
Leak of Coruna and DarkSword Toolkits Threatens Hundreds of Millions of iPhones
Security researchers say the online leak of the Coruna and DarkSword iPhone hacking toolkits puts hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads at risk. The tools, originally linked to U.S. defense contractor L3Harris and foreign espionage operations, can compromise devices...
The Pros and Cons of Tracking Nearly Everything
Health wearables now reach roughly one‑third of Americans, and a new wave of devices is extending tracking to intimate domains such as orgasms, menstrual flow, and stool analysis. Proponents argue that granular data can personalize wellness, especially for women and...
All the iPhone Lock Screen Changes You Might Have Missed in iOS 26
Apple’s iOS 26, released in September, adds several lock‑screen customization options beyond the earlier iOS 18 controls. Users can now enlarge the clock to cover up to a third of the display, reposition the widget dock to the bottom, and apply a...
AI Glasses Are Catching on in China, From Shopping to Cheating
AI‑powered smart glasses are moving beyond novelty in China, with domestic players such as Xiaomi, Alibaba and Li Auto launching models priced $270‑$1,000. In 2025 the market shipped 2.5 million units, representing 16.7 % of global volume, and the government added a...