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
Meta Hikes Quest 3 and Quest 3S Prices as RAM Shortage Squeezes VR Costs
Meta announced a price increase for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S VR headsets effective April 19, citing a global shortage of DRAM that has driven component costs higher. The move underscores mounting supply‑chain pressures on consumer‑tech hardware and could slow the already tentative adoption of standalone virtual‑reality devices.
Google Agrees to $135 Million Android Data‑harvesting Settlement
Google has agreed to pay $135 million to resolve a class‑action lawsuit accusing it of harvesting data from Android devices without consent. The settlement, pending final court approval on June 23, also forces Google to revise its Play Store terms and give...
Apple’s Age Checks for iPhone and iPad Users Mandatory in the UK
Apple will require UK iPhone and iPad users to verify they are over 18 via a mandatory age check introduced in the iOS 26.4 update. Unverified users will encounter browsing limits, blurred images and restricted content. Verification can be completed with...
Picsart Launches AI Playground to End Creator Subscription Fatigue
Picsart introduced AI Playground, a single‑prompt interface that bundles over 100 AI models from more than 24 providers. The tool replaces multiple subscriptions with a pay‑for‑use model, targeting the growing cost burden on independent creators.
SJCAM Launches SJ30 8K Dual-Lens Action Camera with Day-to-Night Recording
Chinese camera maker SJCAM has launched the SJ30, an 8K dual‑lens action camera priced at $264 (≈ $248 for the £195 version and $244 for the €224 version). The device pairs a 1/2.0‑inch daylight sensor with a larger 1/1.8‑inch starlight sensor...
Samsung’s New Kids Tablet Adds $100 for Parental Controls and a Bouncy Case
Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab A11+ Kids Edition, a mid‑range tablet priced at $350—$100 more than the standard A11+ model. The device mirrors the regular tablet’s hardware but adds built‑in parental controls, a colorful protective case, stickers and a crayon‑shaped...
Now Brief for Your Samsung TV Is a Reality with This SmartThings Update
Samsung announced that its AI-powered Now Brief will roll out to SmartThings‑enabled TVs from 2024 onward, delivering a nightly recap of home activity on the television screen. The feature links with smart locks, appliances, energy monitoring, pet care and the...
APAC PC Market Up Nearly 12% in 2025
The Asia‑Pacific PC market expanded 11.6% in 2025, reaching 106.6 million units across desktops, notebooks and workstations, driven by refresh cycles, Windows 10 end‑of‑support and large education rollouts in India, Indonesia and Japan. Consumer shipments rose 6.4% while commercial devices surged 16.7%,...
OnePlus' Europe Exit Isn't Official yet, but the Signs Aren't Great
OnePlus Europe appears to be scaling back after a senior manager posted a LinkedIn update hinting at a regional review. The note suggests a possible gradual pull‑back, though the company has not officially confirmed any exit. This follows a recent...
Teen Boys Are Dating Their AI Chatbots—And Experts Warn Opting Out of Real Relationships Could Hurt Their Careers in the...
Teen boys aged 12‑16 are increasingly forming “relationships” with AI chatbots, with 20% reporting a peer who is dating a bot and 85% having spoken to one. The appeal lies in total control, zero rejection, and constant responsiveness, making AI...
£1m Longitude Prize Awarded to “Revolutionary” AI Smart Glasses Companion for People Living with Dementia
The Longitude Prize on Dementia awarded a £1 million (~$1.25 million) grand prize to CrossSense for its AI‑powered smart‑glasses companion, Wispy. The device uses computer‑vision and voice prompts to identify objects and guide early‑stage dementia patients through daily routines, learning each user’s...
Windows 11 Pro From $24 At CDKeyoffer – Future-Ready AI Performance Upgrade (17-4-26)
Microsoft’s Windows 11 Pro is now offered by CDKeyOffer starting at $24, with a 30% discount code GURU3D. The OS includes native neural‑processing‑unit (NPU) support and AI‑focused optimizations that deliver 43‑46% faster performance on AI workloads compared with Windows 10. While Windows 10 remains...
Android 17 Beta 4 Arrives with Post-Quantum Cryptography and New Memory Limits
Google released Android 17 Beta 4 on April 16, the final pre‑release build before the stable launch. The update focuses on app compatibility testing, introducing strict large‑screen resizability rules, read‑only requirements for native libraries, default Certificate Transparency, and new local‑network permissions. It also adds...
Component Shortages, Price Hikes Weigh Down India Smartphone Shipments to 6-Year Low in 1Q26: Counterpoint
India’s smartphone shipments slipped 3% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, marking the weakest quarter in six years. Tight supplies of RAM and storage for AI data centers forced OEMs to raise prices, with average hikes exceeding ₹1,500 (about $18). The sub‑₹15,000 segment...
Apple AirTag Tracking Can Be Misled by Replayed Bluetooth Signals
Apple’s Find My network uses Bluetooth Low Energy signals from AirTags to report locations via nearby Apple devices. Security researchers demonstrated a relay attack that captures an AirTag’s BLE advertisements, replays them from a different location, and injects false location data...
The Intel Arc Pro B65 Is Launching, and Intel Is Deliberately Positioning the Workstation Graphics Card Closer to the Gaming...
Intel introduced the Arc Pro B65 workstation GPU, a 32 GB GDDR6 card that blurs the line between professional and gaming graphics. The card ships with 20 Xe cores, 160 XMX engines, 608 GB/s bandwidth, a 200‑W TDP and PCIe 5.0 ×16 support. A WHQL driver...
‘How Do I End a Call?’: The Elderly Japanese People Determined to Master Smartphones
Tokyo’s Nerima district is running beginner smartphone classes for seniors, many in their 70s, to help them transition from legacy flip phones after Japan’s 3G networks were shut down. Retired programmer Yasushi Nishioka guides participants through basic functions, cashless payments,...
13 iPhone Automation Ideas—And How to Set Them Up
The article walks iOS users through the Automation feature inside Apple’s Shortcuts app, showing how to create trigger‑based workflows on iPhone models running iOS 14 or later. It provides a step‑by‑step guide for a monthly Venmo payment and lists 13 ready‑to‑use...
The 5 Fashion Rules for Wearable Tech
Wearable tech is gaining traction as Meta signs a 10‑year Manhattan lease to sell Ray‑Ban glasses, while Apple and Google prepare competing smart‑glasses. Industry insiders identify five rules for success: stylish design, clear utility, fashion brand partnerships, organic influencer adoption,...
ASUS Debuts Snapdragon X All-in-One and Ryzen AI Desktop Lineup
ASUS unveiled three AI‑accelerated desktop models at Best Buy, including the V400 all‑in‑one built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X ARM platform, the larger V600 AiO powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, and the ExpertCenter P700 Mini Tower aimed at small‑business users. All systems feature...
Opera Adds Browser Connector Feature to Integrate AI Chatbots Into Browsers
Opera unveiled Browser Connector, a free add‑on for Opera One and Opera GX that lets users embed AI chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude directly into browsing sessions. The feature relies on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an...
I Traded My Sonos Era 300 for Denon's New Home Speaker - and See No Reason to Go Back
Denon’s Home 400 enters the premium smart‑speaker arena as a direct challenger to Sonos’s Era 300, offering true Dolby Atmos playback, six dedicated drivers, and HEOS multi‑room integration. The speaker supports major streaming services, AirPlay 2, and native 24‑bit/192 kHz hi‑res audio via USB....
I Found the Apps Slowing Down My PC - How to Kill the Biggest Memory Hogs
ZDNet outlines a step‑by‑step approach to reclaiming RAM on Windows PCs by targeting the biggest memory hogs. It advises users to inspect the Task Manager, close high‑usage browser tabs, disable the SysMain (Superfetch) service, and prune unnecessary startup programs. The...
Amazon Will Reportedly Never Release Another New Android-Based Fire TV Stick — It’s Vega OS only From This Point On
Amazon is ending the production of Android‑based Fire TV Sticks, moving all future stick models to its proprietary Vega operating system. The latest Fire TV Stick HD, the second device powered by Vega, confirms the shift despite Amazon’s silence in official...
Voice Agents Soon Feel Like Movie Her
I was trying out my voice agent re smart scheduling and the STARLUX flight attendant in Taipei immediately asked what is that and can I have it yet? She is a fan of the movie Her. The future becomes obvious with...
Pixel 11 Could Add RGB Back‑lit Notification Lights
The Google Pixel 11 series might feature RGB lights on the back to alert you of notifications. https://t.co/Ii39uEzKlY
Nix Biosensors Teams with Baylor Athletics for Campus‑Wide Real‑Time Hydration Monitoring
Nix Biosensors has signed a two‑year agreement with Baylor University to equip all 19 Division‑I programs and roughly 450 student‑athletes with its Nix Pro wearable, delivering individualized, real‑time sweat and electrolyte data. The partnership aims to transform hydration protocols, reduce...
Mint vs Visible: Best Galaxy S26 Deal
Both Mint Mobile and Visible Wireless have fantastic deals on the new Galaxy S26 series - but which should you go for? https://t.co/jbP67W8Cio
Lenovo Neo 50q QC: Ideal Office Mini, Not a Supercomputer
The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC is a mini Windows PC that's ideal office or home office machine, but it won't fit the bill for those who need a supercomputer. https://t.co/2jPXt00jqI
Apple Launches $599 MacBook Neo, Expands Entry‑level Laptop Lineup
Apple unveiled the MacBook Neo, a $599 laptop powered by the A18 Pro chip, marking the company's first sub‑$600 Mac. The device aims to undercut budget Windows notebooks while delivering premium build quality, and it arrives as the PC market...
AR App Enables Real-Time Conversations with Books
Developer Creates #AR App That Lets You Literally Talk to a Book via @NathieVR #AugmentedReality #VR #VirtualReality #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/3ADXt9C1d6
Handcrafted Hoverboard Gives You Real‑Life Hero Feel
Ride a Handmade Pseudo-Hoverboard and Feel Like a Real-Life Hero via @ZappyZappy7 #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/9CV5IImhAF
Freecash Was More Like Scamcash
Freecash, a rewards app marketed on TikTok as a way to earn money by scrolling, surged to the No. 2 spot in the U.S. App Store before Apple removed it following TechCrunch’s investigation. In reality, the app redirects users to mobile...
Dear Google, Fix Google Home, Now
Google’s push to embed its Gemini AI into the Google Home ecosystem has unintentionally degraded the platform’s reliability. Users now encounter slower response times, voice‑recognition glitches, and frequent disconnections. The problems stem from an aggressive software overhaul that prioritized AI...
LEGO Coffee Factory Automates Your Morning Brew
Someone built a LEGO Coffee Factory that takes your order on a smartphone app, brews it through a Keurig, disposes of the pod, and puts the lid on. Mornings just got an upgrade. https://t.co/ltZi3Ddh0T
The Best iPhone 17 Cases for 2026
CNET’s roundup of the best iPhone 17 cases highlights a crowded market where protection, style, and MagSafe compatibility compete for consumer attention. Drop‑test ratings range from modest 6‑foot protection on budget silicone shells to rugged 25‑foot claims from premium brands like...
Palm‑Sized Ryzen 5 Mini PC Delivers Full‑Size Performance
The PELADN WO4 AMD Ryzen 5 Mini PC is an amazing little device: It'll fit in the palm of your hand, but offers impressive performance and Windows 11 Pro. I got my hands on one and ran it through...
Grand Slams Embrace Whoop; Australian Open Faces Extra Challenge
Wimbledon, French Open, and U.S. Open all coming out in favor of whoop being worn during matches. Looks like Australian Open will need a second serve
Google Working on Pixel ‘Laptop’ and ‘Pixel Glow’ Lights that Are Also Coming to Phones
Google is prototyping a new Pixel laptop that will incorporate a hardware feature called Pixel Glow, which uses subtle back‑panel lighting to signal events. The feature appears in Android 17 Beta 4 and the Android Canary 2604 build, where it is labeled as light_animations. Pixel Glow...
Tapo Releases Ultrapowerful Dual-Lens Camera Kit for Complete Yard Coverage
Tapo has launched the C675D dual‑lens camera kit at $230, delivering full 4K resolution on both lenses with a 169‑degree top view and a 360‑degree bottom view. Integrated AI detection identifies humans, zooms in, and tracks them day or night...
Android 17 Beta 4 Hints at Pixel Glow Notifications
Android 17 Beta 4 makes internal reference to an in-development notification tool called Pixel Glow. Pixel Glow uses “subtle light and color” when your phone is face-down to let you know when things happen. ✅ Details - https://t.co/bguT9Z4C8M https://t.co/CxPHrkdgaC
Claude Windows App Fails, Users Threaten Switch to ChatGPT
The latest iteration of @anthrropic's Claude desktop app for Window is so bad. Truly shIte. Better to roll it back. Yet, the company has no obvious window for product feedback. Get it together @anthropic or you'll losemore folks to @OpenAI's @ChatGPTapp
Android 17 Brings a Bit of Pixel Watch Whimsy to Your Notification Shade
Google’s Android 17 update, now in Beta 4, brings the Pixel Watch’s “You’re all caught up!” message to Pixel phones, replacing the long‑standing “No notifications” placeholder. The new UI includes a trophy icon that, when tapped, opens the notification‑history shortcut. This subtle...
Android 17 Beta 4 Unveils Google's Hidden Easter Egg
Android 17 Beta 4 finally reveals Google's new Easter Egg Low-key the best part of every new Android release ✅ Details/Demo - https://t.co/hV15MnDqdn https://t.co/U3IU4Jv3m9
Earbuds with Cameras Let AI See Your World
Tiny cameras in earbuds let users talk with #AI about what they see by Stefan Milne @TechXplore_com Learn more: https://t.co/CPoubUQApt #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/Ih6hAH3R3A
Spectrum Launches Free App for Google TV, Android TV Devices
Charter Communications has released a free Spectrum TV app for Google TV and Android TV platforms, extending its streaming service to smart TVs running these operating systems. The launch follows a similar rollout on Amazon Fire TV and adds to...
![Here’s Everything New in Android 17 Beta 4 [Gallery]](/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-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1){kind=logo}
Here’s Everything New in Android 17 Beta 4 [Gallery]
Google has rolled out Android 17 Beta 4 to every supported Pixel device, marking the final scheduled preview before the OS’s public launch. The update brings a new “You’re all caught up” easter egg, a refreshed system icon, and a host of...
Meta Raises the Price of Its Quest VR Headsets
Meta announced price hikes for its Quest VR headsets, raising the Quest 3 from $500 to $599 and the Quest 3S 128 GB model to $349, with the 256 GB version now $449.99. The company attributes the increases to soaring memory‑chip costs and broader...
Amazon Launches Ember Artline TV, a $900 Rival to Samsung’s Frame
Amazon has opened pre‑orders for the Ember Artline, a 4K QLED TV priced at $899 for the 55‑inch model and $1,099 for the 65‑inch version. The TV, billed as a lifestyle product, offers a matte screen, free access to 2,000...
Sony and Fnatic Launch 720 Hz OLED Inzone M10S II Gaming Monitor
Sony, together with esports organization Fnatic, announced the Inzone M10S II, a 27‑inch OLED gaming monitor that can run at 540 Hz in QHD or jump to 720 Hz at 720p. Priced at $1,099.99 and slated for release later this year, the display...