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
Cyberpunk DIY Watch Uses Flexible PCB and Wraparound Displays
Sahko unveiled a cyber‑punk‑styled DIY smartwatch at the Open Sauce event, featuring a flexible printed circuit board and wrap‑around high‑brightness displays. The watch uses salvaged disposable vape batteries and an STM32 microcontroller to deliver custom animations and menus while keeping costs low. Engineering challenges such as heat‑sensitive displays, power‑supply instability, and PCB flex were mitigated with low‑temperature solder and a stiffener layer. Although not commercially viable due to component cost and fragility, the project is fully open source, encouraging further experimentation.
3 Ways the Windows Task Manager Is Lying to You
Windows Task Manager is a convenient, built‑in diagnostic tool, but its percentages simplify complex system behavior. CPU usage is shown as an averaged figure across all cores, masking single‑core spikes. Memory usage includes cached and standby data that can be...
Pokémon Pokopia Review – Collectible Creatures Create Their Own Perfect World
Pokémon Pokopia, a new Switch spin‑off from Game Freak and Omega Force, casts players as Ditto, a shapeshifting blob tasked with rebuilding a deserted town alongside Pokémon. The game replaces traditional battling with environmental restoration, letting players learn abilities like...
I Gained 10% More FPS by Turning Off This Windows Security Feature
Memory Integrity, a component of Windows’ Virtualization‑Based Security, isolates core processes to block malicious drivers. Disabling the feature in Windows Security raised frame rates by roughly 10%, with the author’s benchmark jumping from 125 FPS to 140 FPS. While the setting adds...
Perplexity AI Introduces Voice Mode in Perplexity Computer
Perplexity AI has launched Voice Mode within its Perplexity Computer platform, enabling users to ask questions aloud and receive near‑instant answers. The feature supports continuous, multi‑turn conversations, allowing follow‑up queries without re‑activating the assistant. By integrating speech input directly into...
IPad Today View Guide 2026 : Widgets for Improved Daily Productivity
The iPad Today View guide walks users through accessing the swipe‑right panel that aggregates widgets such as calendars, weather, and reminders. It explains how to add, remove, rearrange, and resize widgets, as well as edit their content to match personal...
M4 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM Plunges to Lowest-Ever Price Following M5 Announcement — $300 Off Is a Steal...
Apple’s 15‑inch M4 MacBook Air with 24 GB RAM has hit a historic low of $1,299 on Amazon, the cheapest price recorded by price‑tracking tools. The deal arrives just after Apple unveiled the newer M5‑based Air, which offers modest performance gains...
Nintendo Switch 2 Users Buying Fewer Games because of AI Storage Crisis, Report Claims — Game Demand Under Threat as...
Nintendo’s Switch 2 is confronting an AI‑driven NAND shortage that has driven storage prices sharply higher. The handheld’s 256 GB internal capacity is quickly consumed by modern titles—Final Fantasy VII Rebirth alone occupies roughly 102.5 GB—forcing gamers to consider costly microSD Express cards. As...
Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights Review: High-End Smart Lights Designed for Outdoor Ambience
Philips introduced the Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights at IFA 2025, offering 7‑metre and 14‑metre base kits plus 21‑metre extensions. Priced at £139.99/£249.99 in the UK, the lights feature full‑colour, IP65‑rated globes that integrate with the Hue Bridge for app‑based...
Samsung Is Trying Really Hard to Prove that Its Foldable Displays Are More Durable than You Think
Samsung Display showcased a golf‑ball impact simulator at MWC 2026 to prove the durability of its latest foldable OLED panels. The new screens feature a thicker ultra‑thin glass layer and a titanium backplate, boosting shock resistance. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 now boasts a...
The Latest Windows 11 Update Is Actually Good — if You Use These 4 Tricks
The Windows 11 24H2/25H2 update introduces several consumer‑focused features. A built‑in internet speed test now lives in the taskbar, while Cross‑Device Resume expands to Spotify, Office apps and browsers. Windows Hello gains support for external biometric devices with Enhanced Sign‑in Security,...
ŌURA Acquires Doublepoint to Expand AI-Driven Interaction Capabilities
Oura announced the acquisition of Doublepoint, a Helsinki‑based AI gesture‑recognition startup, to embed natural, biometric interactions into its wearable platform. The deal brings Doublepoint’s four founders and AI architects into Oura’s R&D, reinforcing a roadmap that blends voice and gesture...
Ultion Nuki 2025 Review – Smart Lock Pro 5th Gen with Ultion Door Handle and 3-Star PLUS Ultion Lock
The Ultion Nuki 2025 bundles the Nuki Smart Lock Pro 5th Gen with an integrated Ultion handle and a BSI‑certified 3‑star PLUS cylinder, delivering a polished, high‑security solution for UK UPVC doors. Priced at £339, the package adds roughly £100 over a...
Ultion Nuki 2025 Review – Smart Lock Pro 5th Gen with Ultion Door Handle and 3-Star PLUS Ultion Lock
Ultion’s new Nuki 2025 bundles the Nuki Smart Lock Pro 5th Gen with a purpose‑built Ultion handle and a BSI‑certified 3‑star PLUS cylinder for £339. The lock features brushless motor speeds, built‑in Wi‑Fi, Thread (Matter‑compatible) and a rechargeable magnetic battery lasting up to 12 months...
Galaxy S26 Seems to Have an Extra NFC Antenna That'll Make Me Fly in and Out of Stores
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series now includes a second NFC antenna positioned higher on the device, enabling users to complete contactless payments by tapping the top edge as well as the traditional rear center. Independent testing confirmed the top‑edge tap works on...
Google Is Still Fixing the Pixel 10's Graphics Issues in Its March Security Update
Google rolled out its March 2026 security update, version vCP1A.260305.016, aimed at the Pixel 6 through Pixel 10a devices, with a focus on lingering graphics problems in the Pixel 10 series. The patch addresses screen freezes, fuzzy displays, background blur,...
The Best LED Face Masks in the UK, Tested: 11 Light Therapy Devices that Are Worth the Hype
LED face masks are gaining traction as a high‑cost at‑home beauty tool, with experts confirming that red and infrared wavelengths can stimulate collagen and improve skin elasticity. The Guardian tested eleven models, ranking CurrentBody Series 2 as the best overall and...
I've Researched and Tested the Best Smart Hubs to Simplify Your Home Automation – These Are My Top 6 Recommendations
The article evaluates six leading smart‑home hubs, ranking the Homey Pro as the overall winner and highlighting the Apple HomePod for Apple ecosystems, IKEA Dirigera for app design, Philips Hue Bridge Pro for mid‑range lighting, Samsung SmartThings for budget‑conscious users,...
5 Viral 'Do-It-All' Tools Users Say Are Actually Useful
A roundup of five viral "do‑it‑all" tools—Wallet Ninja, Gordon 20‑in‑1, RAK Multi‑tool Pen, Hori‑Hori knife, and Leatherman Skeletool—highlights their functionality, pricing and user reception. The Wallet Ninja packs 19 functions for about $15 and passes TSA checks, while the Gordon...
Your Phone Hoards Apps You Never Use
How many apps do you have on your phone that you think you haven’t opened in a year or more?
Benchmark Exceeds Expectations, Eager to Test Further
Honestly I was not expecting the benchmark to be THIS good. I’m excited to test this thing. #macbook #apple
GoPro Inc (GPRO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
GoPro reported Q4 2024 revenue of $201 million, matching guidance, while posting a GAAP loss of $0.24 per share and a non‑GAAP loss of $0.09 per share. Subscription revenue rose 9% year‑over‑year, driven by an 8% increase in ARPU and...
8GB MacBook Air Handles Creative Work Daily
fun fact: up untill a few months ago I daily drove an 8gb ram MacBook Air as a creative professional. Never had a single issue
Google Adds Android UI for Scheduling Gemini Actions
Google is working on a new way for users to create scheduled actions in Gemini on Android This includes a UI that allows users to name, describe, and schedule these actions — just like on the web. ✅ Details and screenshots -...
MacBook Neo Will Warn You if You Plug a Display Into the Wrong USB-C Port
Apple’s new MacBook Neo ships with two visually identical USB‑C ports that serve different functions. The rear port offers USB 3 speeds and native DisplayPort output, while the front port is limited to USB 2 and cannot drive an external monitor. macOS now...
Gemini Projects Rebranded as Notebooks, Integrated with NotebookLM
Gemini "Projects" may get a new name and a powerful NotebookLM tie-in Leaked strings reveal "Notebooks" will let users group chats by topic and share sources between Gemini and NotebookLM ✅ More details - https://t.co/48rQwIdXWM https://t.co/yLmaIQWa2i
Apple Wins Best Smartphone; Honor Recognized for Silicon‑Carbon Battery
Always fun to present the Glomo award for best smartphone and disruptive mobile tech. Apple took the best smartphone for its iPhone Pro family and Honor took the disruptive tech for the commercialization of silicon carbon battery technology https://t.co/MdkDSxPOzR
AirDrop over Android Quick Share Support Will Roll Out This Month, Oppo Says
Oppo announced that its Find X9 series will receive AirDrop‑over‑Quick Share support, allowing native file transfers between Android, iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices. The feature will roll out as a software update later in March, built in partnership with MediaTek and Google....
AI-Driven Oven Turns Toast Into Morning Magic
Matt made my June oven that automatically makes my toast in the morning. Has one of the first NVIDIA Jetson cards inside. My wife considers it magic. And he is at it again.
Glad Apple Skipped These Unnecessary Mac Features
Can you believe they left ALL of these features out? (I sure can, and I’m glad they did) #apple #mac #tech
Study: Phone-Based Connections Lead Car Audio Listening
Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Tech Lifestyles 2025 survey of 10,000 car‑traveling consumers shows phone‑based connections now dominate in‑car audio, with 51% using Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as their primary source. Radio’s share has slipped to roughly 25% overall, though...
Walmart Will Continue Selling Macs After Proving Market for MacBook Neo
Walmart announced it will continue selling Apple Macs, adding the $599 MacBook Neo to its lineup. The retailer previously used the M1 MacBook Air as a low‑cost entry point, pricing it as low as $599 before inventory ran thin. The new...
Chill MWC Sparks Questions on 6G Funding and LEO Impact
Back home. Came back a day early. I’ve been to at least 14 MWCs. This one has to be the chillest I’ve attended. Optimism was tempered. My biggest question is where will the CAPEX come from to build out...
Just Fun Tech: Analogue 3D Review
Analogue 3D, the FPGA‑based Nintendo 64 recreation, launched in November 2024 at $269.99, delivering original cartridge compatibility and native 4K HDMI output. The console’s premium design, tight cartridge slot, and support for both legacy and wireless 8BitDo controllers aim to replace traditional...
Apple's $599 Neo Delivers Premium Build, Limited Specs
The MacBook Neo is the Apple netbook I always wanted. At $599, is it perfect? No. No backlit keyboard, an older-style mechanical trackpad and it tops out at 8GB of RAM. But the build quality feels like an Apple $1K...
Home Assistant 2026.3 Has Arrived: Here’s What’s New
Home Assistant 2026.3 has rolled out, bringing a suite of automation refinements, new wake‑word support for Android, and expanded device integrations. The release adds "Continue on error" in the automation editor and lets robot vacuums clean specific mapped areas via...
Apple’s New Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Have Two Different Chips
Apple announced that its new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR are powered by two distinct A19‑family chips. The standard Studio Display uses a baseline A19, while the higher‑end XDR model incorporates an A19 Pro variant. Both chips replace the older A13 Bionic...
Nuance Audio Glasses Help Understand Speech in Noisy Settings
A study published in the Journal of Otolaryngology‑ENT Research found that Nuance Audio Glasses, an over‑the‑counter hearing solution from EssilorLuxottica, improve speech‑reception thresholds by an average of 3.48 dB in noisy environments. Twenty adults with mild‑to‑moderate hearing loss achieved 50 % word...
MacBook Neo Delivers Premium Feel at Unmatched Value
New MacBook Neo is CRAZY value for how high quality it feels to use #appleevent
Hiboy Launches 100-Mile EX11 Full Suspension E-Bike at $1,300, Bluetti 128Wh to 3,840Wh Elite Power Stations From a $113 Low,...
Hiboy unveiled its EX11 full‑suspension electric bike at a launch price of $1,299, a 35% discount from the $2,000 MSRP. The bike offers up to 100 miles of pedal‑assist range, a 750 W rear hub motor with 28 mph top speed, and rugged...
How Vulnerable Are Computers to an 80-Year-Old Spy Technique? Congress Wants Answers
Senators Ron Wyden and Rep. Shontel Brown have asked the GAO to study how vulnerable modern computers are to TEMPERST‑style side‑channel attacks, which capture data from electromagnetic, acoustic or vibrational emissions. The request follows a new Congressional Research Service report...
MacOS 26.3.1 Is Now Available for Mac, Here’s What’s New
Apple today released macOS 26.3.1, the latest version of its Tahoe operating system, alongside iOS 26.3.1. The update expands external display compatibility to include the newly announced Studio Display (2026) and Studio Display XDR, and it contains a series of...
All-Caps Alerts Signal Kids' Serious Distress
My 8th grader has a SyncKids watch. It's a smart-ish device which allows for them to call selected people and vice versa. For texting, they can send canned messages like, "Where are you?" as well as voice memos. It has...
Apple Unveils Game‑Changing MacBook Neo at Event
It’s not every day that a whole new MacBook comes along. Today’s Apple event + MacBook Neo. 📸 by me. Read our full coverage at Bloomberg.
March Makeover: Save Up to 85% on Monoprice’s Streaming & Tech Essentials
Monoprice is running a March promotion offering up to 85% off a broad selection of streaming and tech accessories, including TV mounts, cables, and audio devices. Shoppers can also receive an extra 20% discount on select items using promo code...
MacBook Neo: 2026’s Game‑Changing, Mass‑Market Apple Hit
'Apple's gonna sell these by the boatload': why the new MacBook Neo is already the most important product of 2026 https://www.techradar.com/computing/macbooks/apples-gonna-sell-these-by-the-boatload-why-the-new-macbook-neo-is-already-the-most-important-product-of-2026
Nvidia Hotfix Fixes GPU Voltage Caps and RE Bug
Nvidia has fixed the GPU voltage caps that were accidentally introduced with its latest WHQL driver. The hotfix also resolves Resident Evil Requiem driver bugs
Nvidia’s Compute‑Revenue Model Proven by Platform Economics
I'm glad Jensen is doubling down on the compute=revenues point. I dove into the full economics of why in this full report on how $NVDA platforms enable those economics. https://t.co/wrL7SktAYA
Zero‑latency, Dual XLR/USB‑C: True GoXLR Replacement
a true GoXLR replacement, especially with the zero latency and dual XLR inputs / dual USB-C
NVIDIA's Pixel-Friendly Architecture Also Excels at Token Processing
I wrote a report on this a while ago that the key thing that moved in NVIDIA's favor is the same architecture that is perfect for processing pixels is the same that is perfect to process tokens. This is from...