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
NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 Takes the Lead at Mindfactory, AMD Remains Ahead Overall
Mindfactory’s latest sales data shows NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5080 has become the top‑selling card within the RTX 50 lineup, outpacing the RTX 5070 Ti and other 16 GB variants. AMD retains overall market leadership at the retailer, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT leading the combined rankings. NVIDIA’s deliberate allocation of larger inventory to the 5080 reflects a strategy aimed at the sweet spot between mid‑range and high‑end performance. Intel’s Arc B580 also registers notable entry‑level sales, underscoring a diversified GPU market in Germany.
This Nuclear-Powered Battery Could Last 50 Years Without A Single Recharge
BetaVolt unveiled the BV100, a coin‑sized nuclear battery that leverages nickel‑63 beta decay to generate 100 microwatts at 3 volts and promises a 50‑year lifespan without recharging. The company claims mass production began in 2025 and a higher‑output 1‑watt version is slated...
NVDA Secures Memory Supply Through 2027
$NVDA buying up all the memory. This makes more sense now that we realize they have secured most, if not all, they need for 2026 and some of 2027. https://t.co/Ll2W3Fcc35
Motorola Teases ‘Every Detail’ About Razr Fold Is Coming Next Week
Motorola unveiled a preview of its upcoming Razr Fold at CES 2026, showcasing a surprisingly thin, book‑style foldable that sits between the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold in design. The company hinted that full specifications and a potential launch timeline will...
Google Releases ‘Gemini Enterprise’ Mobile App, Adds @Google Chat for Workspace
Google has released Gemini Enterprise mobile applications for Android and iOS, extending its AI work‑assistant platform to enterprise users. The apps are offered in early‑access by invitation only and are packaged as a standalone 33 MB Android app. Gemini Enterprise now...
This Free App Made Me Quit Google Docs for Good
Craft, a freemium productivity app, consolidates document creation, scheduling, and note‑taking into a single workspace, challenging Google’s suite of separate tools. The free version provides 1,500 blocks, 1 GB storage, AI assistance and cross‑device sync, while the paid Craft Plus plan...
S26 Ultra Shows Significant Multicore and GPU Gains
Benchmarks support that while the chip isn’t completely different than the last Qualcomm CPU, it is faster, especially on multicore. S26Ultra on right, S25 Ultra on left. The difference is even more pronounced on the GPU side. #GalaxyUnpacked
This Free File Explorer Lets Me See Four Folders at Once and I’m Hooked
Q‑Dir (Quad‑Directory Explorer) is a free Windows file manager that displays four folder panes simultaneously, eliminating the need to juggle multiple Explorer windows. Users can switch between quad, column, row, or three‑pane layouts, resize panes, and assign individual tabs to...
Google Teases ‘Amazing Things’ in Android 17
Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat announced that Android 17, currently in beta, will shift the platform from a traditional OS to an AI‑powered intelligent system. The upcoming release, slated for finalization by May and stable launch in June, will embed...
![Samsung’s Audio Eraser Now Works with YouTube and Other Apps, and It’s Impressive [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/galaxy-s26-audio-eraser-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Samsung’s Audio Eraser Now Works with YouTube and Other Apps, and It’s Impressive [Video]
Samsung has upgraded its Audio Eraser tool on the Galaxy S26, enabling real‑time voice isolation across popular streaming and social apps. Integrated into One UI 8.5, users can toggle the feature, adjust its strength, and enable a Voice Focus mode. Demonstrations show...
Samsung Taps Gracenote for AI-Powered Discovery
Samsung has partnered with Gracenote, Nielsen’s content‑data unit, to embed its extensive entertainment metadata into Samsung Smart TV’s AI stack. The collaboration will power large‑language‑model (LLM) driven search, enabling conversational queries that surface TV shows, movies and sports more intuitively....
Oh, Finally: Report Claims Samsung Care Plus Will Offer Device Replacements, Galaxy S26 Is First
Samsung Care Plus will start offering full device replacements within 48 hours for the Galaxy S26 series, initially limited to the U.K. The program recently added unlimited battery repairs and unlimited free screen repairs for theft‑and‑loss cases. Existing Care Plus members...
I only Look for This One Feature in a VPN Now
Choosing a VPN today means sifting through countless features, but the author argues that multi‑hop capability is the single most critical attribute. Multi‑hop routes traffic through multiple servers, preventing any one node from seeing both the user’s IP and the...
This Is the Best Way to Reuse an Old Phone — and It's Ridiculously Simple
The article shows how to transform an outdated Android phone into a functional e‑reader with a few simple tweaks. By swapping the stock launcher for a minimalist alternative, enabling a blue‑light filter, and loading reading‑focused apps, the device mimics the...
Samsung's S26 Ultra Introduces Dynamic, App‑Specific Privacy Display
Hands-down the most interesting feature of the S26 Ultra: the new Privacy Display. Samsung spent five years developing a screen that could do the same job as the stick-on privacy protectors that prevent "shoulder surfing" ... but this one can be...
Turbine Noise and Head Crashes: The Physical Limits that Killed the 15,000 RPM Hard Drive
The article explains why 15,000 RPM hard‑disk drives never achieved mainstream adoption. Extreme rotational speeds caused heat, power draw, vibration‑induced head crashes, and intolerable acoustic noise. These mechanical barriers made the drives costly and unreliable, especially compared with emerging solid‑state technology....
Let Gemini Handle Your Multi-Step Daily Tasks on Android.
Google is previewing Gemini’s new beta feature that lets Android users delegate multi-step daily tasks to the AI. The functionality, rolling out on Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 devices, will initially support food, grocery and rideshare apps in the United...
Can I Play ARC Raiders on Steam Deck?
Embark Studios' extraction shooter ARC Raiders is now officially Steam Deck verified, allowing handheld play alongside its PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC releases. Early builds strained portable hardware, but recent Server Slam optimizations have lifted performance to a playable...
Here's What's Included In The Xbox February 2026 Update
Microsoft’s February 2026 Xbox update rolls out 1440p, high‑bitrate cloud streaming for Game Pass Ultimate members on Series X|S, One X and One S consoles, expanding the service beyond PC and TV devices. The Xbox PC app receives subtle navigation sounds that enhance controller‑based...
China to Increase Leading-Edge Chip Output by 5x in Two Years, Report Claims — Aims to Lift 7nm and 5nm...
China plans to quintuple its leading‑edge chip output within two years, raising 7 nm and 5 nm wafer starts from under 20,000 to about 100,000 per month. The long‑term goal is to reach 500,000 advanced‑node wafers monthly by 2030. SMIC, the only...
7 Reasons the Virtual Boy on Switch Online Works
Nintendo revived its notorious Virtual Boy by adding seven titles to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack on Feb 17 2026. The lineup includes the Japan‑only horror game *Mansion of Innsmouth*, a full‑featured *Wario Land* platformer, and other experimental titles like *Red Alarm* and...
$300 a Month Android Malware ‘Oblivion’ Uses Fake Updates to Hijack Phones
A new Android Remote Access Trojan called Oblivion is being sold on the public web for $300 a month, with longer‑term plans up to $2,200. The malware disguises itself as a legitimate Google Play update, hijacking the Accessibility Service to...
Dell, Lenovo to Launch Thin‑And‑Light Gaming Laptops Early 2024
Dell and Lenovo laptops with Nvidia CPUs 'could come in the first half of this year' — so get ready for some thin-and-light gaming powerhouses (hopefully) https://www.techradar.com/computing/cpu/dell-and-lenovo-laptops-with-nvidia-cpus-could-come-in-the-first-half-of-this-year-so-get-ready-for-some-thin-and-light-gaming-powerhouses-hopefully
Nvidia’s HBM Grab Mirrors Apple’s iPod Storage Monopoly
Been hearing via supply chain friendlies, NVIDIA has secured most of the HBM, making it scarce for competitors. Reminds me of iPod days when Apple secured all the storage as others were trying to compete with them in MP3 players.
$10,000 Bounty Offered if You Can Hack Ring Cameras to Stop Them Sharing Your Data with Amazon
Ring’s new “Search Party” AI feature sparked privacy outrage after a Super Bowl ad, prompting a backlash against the company’s data‑sharing practices. In response, the nonprofit Fulu Foundation announced a $10,000 bounty for anyone who can modify Ring doorbells to...
Samsung's Narrow-Pixel Display Adds App‑Level Privacy
this is cool as hell. new Samsung display tech uses narrow pixels to give privacy screen to certain apps and even smaller elements like notifications, making it so people around you can't see private info https://t.co/IpQYd5od6I
Ocean Mode Evolves From Reef Research to Camera Tool
Great way to demonstrate how a sustainability feature called Ocean Mode used to research the coral reef now becomes part of the raw camera features https://t.co/ySm6JUR2c2
MSI SPATIUM M571 DLP Targets Gen5 Peak Speeds with Phison
MSI has added the SPATIUM M571 DLP to its Gen5 SSD portfolio, featuring Phison’s 6 nm PS5028‑E28 controller and LPDDR4 DRAM cache. The drive ships in 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB capacities, delivering up to 14,500 MB/s sequential reads and 11,000 MB/s writes, with...
AI Now Lets You Add, Not Just Erase, in Photos
You used to be able to erase anything you did not want in a pic and now you can add whatever you want https://t.co/E7BgD1IPDs
Gemini App Preview Launches Exclusively on Galaxy S26
On stage @ssamat talking about the partnership with @SamsungMobile and the launch of the preview of the new @GeminiApp exclusively on Galaxy S26 - glad to see this collaboration remains strong https://t.co/MfnSHXuxif
MSI Refreshes AM4 Budget Lineup with Two DDR4 B550 microATX Boards
MSI announced two new B550 micro‑ATX motherboards for the AM4 socket, extending DDR4 support for Ryzen 5000 builds. The PRO B550M‑B retails at $78.96 and offers dual M.2 slots, while the B550M‑A PRO costs $67.66 with a single M.2 slot and a simplified...
Samsung's Keep Secures Data for Galaxy AI
I love this directness: “in order to be useful Galaxy AI needs data” which is why @SamsungMobile created “keep” to make sure the user’s info is kept safe https://t.co/EK7ZvUFZTr
Gemini Gains App-Control on Galaxy S26, Pixel 10
Gemini on Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 can finally control other apps Available only for beta users in US and Korea only with certain apps https://t.co/0xRzUFhuhv https://t.co/prrlMEwnUo
MWC 2026 | Ericsson to Showcase 6G Capabilities with Apple, MediaTek
Ericsson announced at MWC 2026 that it will showcase live 6G demonstrations in partnership with Apple and MediaTek. The Apple demo will feature Multi‑RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS) to illustrate seamless 5G‑to‑6G coexistence, while MediaTek will present a 6G centimeter‑wave data‑call prototype...
Samsung Aims to Bring AI to All, Privacy Assured
Kicking off Galaxy Unpacked with CEO TM Roh talking about @SamsungMobile drive to make AI reach everybody with the confidence that privacy is assured https://t.co/wluLL9EVjO
Google to Power Street View with Nano Banana AI
Google is working to integrate its Nano Banana AI image generation model into Google Maps’ Street View ✅ Details - https://t.co/JMv9WRuUbC https://t.co/ngPaRkBYOG
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition "Switch 2 Vs. PS5 Vs. PS4" Graphics and Framerate Comparison
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition arrived digitally on Nintendo Switch 2, delivering the complete base game, six official expansions, and over 150 Creation Club items. The launch coincides with a side‑by‑side video that pits the Switch 2 version against PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in graphics...
Touchless TSA Cuts Wait to Under a Minute
I was expecting a mess at the airport with TSA but with touchless I got through in 1 minute with 3 people ahead of me. Nice job @TSA.
5 Gadgets Samsung Makes That Apple Doesn't
Samsung’s product lineup now spans five categories Apple doesn’t offer: foldable smartphones, a smart ring, stylus‑enabled phones, AI‑powered refrigerators, and AI‑driven vacuum cleaners. The Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and the three‑paneled Z TriFold illustrate Samsung’s early lead in foldable...
First‑Party Studio Drives Early Hardware Collaboration with Microsoft
the most interesting part of this: "Our studio system is fully built around being first-party. We're not built to just be a publisher," Matt Booty explained. "It is core to our partnership with the Microsoft platform, being involved in early hardware...
AI Accelerator Market Needs Diverse Solutions; Intel Takes Step
The AI accelerator/compute market is not a one-size-fits-all market. There will be a host of solutions and a variety of workloads. While Intel has yet to show an AI accelerator solution, this is a step in the right...
From Our Conversations with Xbox Leadership: A Firm Stand Against AI‑generated Junk — "We're Committed to Art Made by People"
Microsoft announced that longtime Xbox leader Phil Spencer is stepping down, with Asha Sharma—formerly head of Microsoft CoreAI—taking the helm. Sharma publicly pledged that Xbox will not tolerate AI‑generated junk, emphasizing human‑crafted art as the core of its games. She...
Discord Delays Age Verification Measures as It Admits What It Got 'Wrong'
Discord announced it will postpone the global rollout of its "teen‑by‑default" age verification system until the second half of 2026, after user backlash and privacy concerns. The company will still enforce verification in jurisdictions with legal mandates such as Australia,...
Exclusive: Talking to New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty — "This Team Has Brought It Back Before,...
Microsoft announced Asha Sharma as Xbox's new CEO on February 23, 2026, alongside Chief Commercial Officer Matt Booty. Sharma pledged a "return to Xbox," emphasizing renewed focus on the console platform and the long‑standing fan community. She also signaled a...
Dual Screen Laptops Stopped Being a Gimmick
ASUS unveiled the 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, the first dual‑screen gaming laptop designed for practical use rather than a novelty. It features two 16‑inch 3K OLED panels with 120 Hz refresh, an RTX 5090 GPU running at 135 W, and a five‑mode hinge...
Touchscreen MacBook Pro: Handy for Photo Editing
"We don't need a touchscreen MacBook Pro" takes are genuinely silly. Foolish. If nothing else, as a frequent photographer, I can't wait to more directly edit images and move sliders around. Doing that is already better on an iPad than...
GPS Vs. Real-Life Experience: Do Navigation Apps Really Know the Fastest Route?
Modern GPS can locate a vehicle within a few feet, enabling navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze to calculate routes in real time. These apps combine historical traffic patterns, road characteristics, weather conditions, and crowdsourced pings...
4 Unexpected Uses For Your Old Nintendo Wii Remotes
The article outlines four DIY ways to repurpose old Nintendo Wii Remotes: as a PC/TV air mouse, a PowerPoint clicker, a retro light‑gun controller, and a Home Assistant smart‑home interface. Each project relies on Bluetooth connectivity and software such as...
Everyone Says You Need a NAS for Plex—You Don't
The article debunks the common belief that a NAS is required for Plex, showing that any computer running Windows, macOS or Linux can host the media server. It cites real‑world tests on an old MacBook and a low‑end Core i3 mini‑PC...
1Password’s Annual Subscription Plans Are Getting a Price Hike Next Month
1Password announced a price increase for its annual plans effective March 27 2026. Individual subscriptions will rise to $47.88 per month and family plans to $71.88 per month, representing a $12 yearly bump. The company attributes the hike to added value and...