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
Android 17 Stops Apps From Demanding Access to All Your Contacts
Google announced that all apps targeting Android 17 must use a new Google‑provided contact picker and a dedicated location button, restricting one‑time access to contacts and precise location data. Developers who need always‑on access must submit a Play Store declaration justifying the request. Automated checks will begin flagging non‑compliant apps on October 27, before the standard review process. The measures are designed to curb permission abuse and strengthen user privacy across the Play ecosystem.
![Android Phones Aren’t at Risk of Long-Standing iPhone Tap-to-Pay Vulnerability [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/iphone-tap-to-pay-vulnerability-veritasium.webp?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Android Phones Aren’t at Risk of Long-Standing iPhone Tap-to-Pay Vulnerability [Video]
A five‑year‑old tap‑to‑pay flaw in iPhone’s Express mode lets large transit purchases bypass the lock screen, a vulnerability highlighted in a recent Veritasium video. Apple and Visa have been aware of the issue since 2021, but claim it falls under...
Rumored Feature Coming to Steam that Will Help You Track Prices, and Microsoft Should Copy It Immediately for Xbox and...
Valve is reportedly rolling out a broader 30‑day price‑history tracker on Steam, extending beyond the limited EU pilot launched in 2023. The feature would let gamers see recent price fluctuations directly in the store, reducing reliance on external tools. Xbox...
This Open-Source App Made Every Download Manager I Used Before Feel Unnecessary
Gopeed, an open‑source download manager, has quickly displaced legacy tools like Internet Download Manager, qBittorrent, and niche YouTube downloaders for many users. Its minimalist interface presents only essential controls while a hidden advanced panel unlocks proxy settings, custom headers, and...
DJI Unveils Lito Drone, Likely Its Final US Model Amid FCC Ban
DJI posted a teaser for the Lito drone, slated for an April 23 launch, and filed FCC paperwork that could let the device be sold in the United States despite a 2025 ban on foreign‑made drones. The move positions Lito...
(Podcast) Clockwise 652: I Don’t Like the Way That Things Are
The Clockwise 652 podcast dissected four hot tech topics: the high‑priced AirPods Max and whether its audio quality justifies the cost, Backblaze’s quiet move to stop backing up cloud‑synced folders, Amazon’s purchase of Apple’s satellite broadband unit, and the contrasting...
I Changed 3 Settings on My Samsung Galaxy, and It Feels Surprisingly Fresh Again
Tech writer Kanika Gogia discovered that three built‑in Samsung settings can dramatically refresh a Galaxy phone’s feel. By disabling system animations, turning off the RAM Plus virtual‑memory feature, and switching the display to its native QHD+ resolution, her device became...
Samsung Hikes Galaxy Book 6 Prices by up to $600 as Base Model Goes on Sale
Samsung has launched the base Galaxy Book 6 in the United States, but with a $200 price increase to $1,249, higher than the originally announced $1,049. The company also raised prices across the entire Galaxy Book 6 lineup, with Pro models climbing...
The Nothing Phone 4a Pro Is Nearly Unbreakable, Except for One Design Flaw
Nothing’s Phone 4a Pro, priced at $499, features a CNC‑milled aluminum unibody that survived bend, scratch and flame tests, proving it is one of the toughest mid‑range phones. The device’s 6.8‑inch AMOLED panel uses Gorilla Glass 7i and delivers up to 5,000 nit brightness. However,...
We're All Building a Single Digital Assistant
Daniel Miessler argues that the future of personal AI converges on a single, unified digital assistant—an AI with a consistent identity, memory, and personality that acts as the sole interface for all tasks. He highlights emerging trends such as OpenAI's...
This Uncommon Port Turns Weak Mini PCs Into Sleeper Gaming Rigs
Mini PCs can become viable gaming machines by pairing them with an external GPU via the OCuLink port, which taps directly into PCIe lanes. OCuLink delivers up to 64 Gbps of PCIe 4.0 ×4 bandwidth—roughly double Thunderbolt 4 and often outpacing Thunderbolt 5 in real‑world...
Microsoft's Windows 11 Laptop Deal for Students Comes with a $500 Bonus - What's Included
Microsoft is offering U.S. college students a free bundle worth over $500 when they purchase a qualifying Windows 11 laptop from major retailers. The package includes a year of Microsoft 365 Premium with AI‑driven Co‑Pilot, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a customizable...
Today’s Android App Deals and Freebies: Armed Emeth RPG, Poker Ya Joker, Dragon Spira, More
9to5Toys’ afternoon lineup spotlights a wave of Android app discounts, featuring premium titles such as Armed Emeth, Dragon Spira, and This Aint Even Poker. The roundup also highlights deep hardware cuts, including $250 off Pixel 10 models, 25% off Sony’s Glass...
New Fire TV Stick HD Announced with the Much-Hated Vega OS — A Downgrade in so Many Ways
Amazon unveiled a new Fire TV Stick HD that runs its proprietary Vega OS, replacing the long‑standing Android‑based HD stick. The device is marketed as the slimmest streaming stick and adds Wi‑Fi 6 and a USB‑C port, but retains the same...
I Use This Android Feature Every Day and No One Ever Talks About
Samsung’s One UI 6.1 update introduced Circle to Search, an on‑screen AI tool that lets users highlight any visual element and instantly receive product details, translations, or generative answers without leaving the current app. The feature, built on Google Lens and...
Speculating Apple’s Next Device: IPod Photo or Touch
@gruber iPod Photo? iPod touch? (I don’t think it’ll be called iPhone Fold either, fwiw)
Mac‑First AI Strategy Calls for Standalone Gemini
Mac users are a high-signal audience for AI tools, so a dedicated @GeminiApp here makes sense. @AnthropicAI has been running a Mac-first playbook for the same reason. Early adopters skew Apple, and that's where the feedback loops that actually shape...
One of the World's Most Powerful Flip Phones Is Now 46% OFF at Amazon — That's Not a Typo
Amazon is offering a 46% discount on the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025), slashing the price from $1,299.99 to $699.99. The 512 GB foldable features Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16 GB RAM, dual 165 Hz pOLED displays, and IP48 resistance. The deal makes the Razr Ultra cheaper...
Struggling With This Early Heatwave? Shark’s New ChillPill Delivers 3 Ways to Cool Down Fast
Shark and Dyson have each introduced new portable cooling devices as an early East Coast heatwave drives demand for personal temperature control. Shark’s ChillPill combines a bladeless fan, dry‑touch mist and a cryotherapy‑inspired cooling plate that can lower skin temperature...
Motorola Razr Fold Release Date Might by May 6 as Pre-Orders Open in UK, Europe
Motorola has opened pre‑orders for its first book‑style foldable, the Razr Fold, in the United Kingdom and Europe, promising shipment on May 6. The device carries a pre‑order price of £1,579.99 (about $1,950) in the UK and €1,749.99 (roughly $1,900) in Europe,...
Sony to Strip Antenna and Set‑Top Box Features From Bravia TVs in May
Sony announced that, starting in late May 2026, its Bravia smart‑TV lineup will lose key over‑the‑air (OTA) guide functions for antenna and set‑top‑box users. The change affects 2023‑2025 models and removes channel logos, thumbnails, and a dedicated set‑top‑box menu, prompting...
Samsung Leaks New Wide-Screen Galaxy Z Fold, Targeting July 2026 Launch
Samsung is reportedly preparing a wider, book‑style Galaxy Z Fold that uses a 4:3 inner panel, based on leaked One UI 9 assets and artwork. The leaks point to a London unveiling on July 22, 2026, positioning the device as...
Roblox Debuts Native PS5 App with Up to 30% Faster Load Times
Roblox rolled out a native PlayStation 5 app on April 14, 2026, delivering smoother performance and load times up to 30% faster. The launch opens new creative possibilities for developers and signals a deeper push into console gaming.
The Trump Mobile T1 Has Been Redesigned as a New Website Launches
The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone has been given a visual redesign alongside a refreshed website, aligning the device with a new brand aesthetic. Updated specifications now list a 6.78‑inch 120 Hz AMOLED display, a triple‑camera array and a 5000 mAh battery, while...
Moto Edge 70 Pro Chipset Details Leaked After Geekbench Listing
Motorola’s upcoming Edge 70 Pro 5G for India was spotted on a Flipkart microsite, and a Geekbench listing has revealed its internals. The handset is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8500 SoC, featuring a 4‑core 2.20 GHz cluster, three 3.20 GHz cores and a 3.40 GHz prime...
Forget Apple Intelligence, Google Just Stealth Upgraded Your Mac
Google has released a native macOS version of its Gemini AI assistant, available for download from gemini.google/mac. The app integrates directly into the Mac desktop, launching via the Option + Space shortcut and offering context‑aware responses by reading the screen. Gemini can...
The Gemini App Is Now on Mac
Google announced that the Gemini app is now available as a native macOS experience for users running macOS 15 and later. The free desktop client lets users invoke AI with the Option + Space shortcut and share any on‑screen window for context‑aware...
★ David Pierce Tried a Bunch of Android Phones and Then Bought an iPhone Again
David Pierce, a longtime tech writer, tested numerous Android phones and concluded that the Android operating system feels superior to iOS. However, he returned to the iPhone because the App Store offers a richer selection of high‑quality, design‑focused apps that...
Amazon Debuts First Art‑Style TV for Design‑Focused Homes
Amazon is about to ship its first art-style TV, the latest entrant in a flourishing category for people who care more about style than picture quality — and refuse to put a boring black rectangle on their wall. I spoke with...
Someone Finally Got an RTX 5090 Running on a Mac – No Hacks Required
Apple’s long‑standing removal of Nvidia support has finally been challenged by Tiny Corp, which released TinyGPU—an open‑source macOS kernel extension that lets a native Nvidia RTX 5090 run via Thunderbolt on Apple Silicon. The driver required only standard extension approval, avoiding...
Smartphone Vendor Strategies Shift in Q1-2026 as Cost Pressures Force Pricing, Portfolio and Market Realignment
The global smartphone market edged up 1% YoY in Q1 2026, but shipments fell 4.1% to 289.7 million units as memory component costs surged. Vendors are reshaping pricing, trimming portfolios and targeting premium segments to protect margins, with Apple holding stable prices...
Memory Cards and Flash Drives Prices Rocket 124%, some Products Peak at 261% Jump — Increases From 2025 Driven by...
The 2025‑2026 AI‑driven chip shortage has pushed NAND supply toward high‑performance SSDs, leaving USB flash drives and memory cards with soaring prices. PCWorld’s price tracking shows a median increase of 123% across formats, with some items jumping over 260%. Manufacturers...
Sony Enters the Esports OLED Monitor Race with a Fnatic Collaboration
Sony has entered the high‑end esports monitor market with the Inzone M10S II, a 27‑inch OLED display co‑developed with esports powerhouse Fnatic. The monitor offers a dual‑mode panel—native 1440p at 540 Hz or 1080p at 720 Hz—targeting ultra‑fast competitive play. Priced at $1,099.99,...
Screen Zooming on iOS and iPadOS
Apple’s iOS and iPadOS include a built‑in Zoom accessibility setting that can be toggled in Settings → Accessibility → Zoom. Users can choose between a draggable window magnifier or a full‑screen zoom that behaves like macOS, and the feature can be driven by touch,...
WhatsApp New Update Lets You Chat Without Sharing Your Phone Number
WhatsApp is introducing usernames, letting users start chats without sharing their phone numbers. The feature is currently in a limited beta rollout and will expand to more Android and iOS users over the coming months. While a phone number remains...
All of a Sudden, Everyone Is Doomed Except Apple
Horace Dediu predicts the upcoming MacBook Neo could double Apple’s Mac user base within a decade, sparking talk that the PC market may be on the brink of a shift toward macOS. The commentary, published on Asymco, mixes satire with...
Turn Off Unwanted AI Summaries in Evernote
Same with Evernote. You used to be able to search for a word in your notes and it would work like anything else. Now you need to wait for AI to generate a useless summary you didn't ask for. Thankfully,...
Discovering iOS Prescreener: Should You Use It?
Ive just been told by someone important and who I value that my iphone has a prescreener? Embarrasingly, I had no idea iOS had that. Do people use it? Shoukd I use it?
HYROX and Amazfit Strengthen Alliance With Global Three-Year Partnership
Amazfit, the wearable brand of Zepp Health, announced a three‑year global partnership with HYROX, expanding a prior regional collaboration. The deal adds smart rings, glasses, cameras, and straps to HYROX’s athlete toolkit, alongside dedicated training modes and data integrations. HYROX...
Google Personalization Pushes Live Sports to iPhone Lockscreen
Are you seeing live sports match updates on your iPhone lockscreen? Blame Google's search personalization. Here's the scoop (and how to turn it off if you don't want any spoilers): https://t.co/ogGXkedJAL #sports #iphone #google #updates https://t.co/acWYWxjoJN
Carrier Launches Voice‑cloning AI for Autonomous Calls
"REALLY, the wireless carrier that operates on T-Mobile's network, today announced a first-of-its-kind technology that allows subscribers to clone their voices and have their phone make and answer calls and take autonomous action on their behalf" https://t.co/FAF7lQNVQx ...really
IOS 26.3 Beta Adds New Live Weather Wallpapers
Apple keeps enhancing and expanding the live weather wallpaper and lock screen options in iOS 26. Here are some of the latest options in iOS 26.3 [release candidate beta] and how to try them... https://t.co/iwvpGclM5d #iphone #ios26 #weather https://t.co/5AnPIQD02v
A1Laboratory Introduces Free, Private Voice Transcription Keyboard
The @A1Laboratory team is working to add a custom keyboard in @A1Echos for quick voice transcription. Local models, private, free, open-source, and no need to KYC. AI must be free in every way.
Microsoft Offers Free 365, Game Pass with Student Laptops
Microsoft's response to the MacBook Neo is free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. A bunch of discounted Windows laptops are going live today for students, with free subscriptions. All the details 👇 https://t.co/rx59ceJBQr
Flip 7 FE: Stylish Yet Overpriced for Its Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE looks the part, but it struggles to justify its price tag in several key areas. https://t.co/dX5UWurn1D
Apple Execs Hint at Upcoming Spatial Computing Glasses
Two of Apple's biggest execs have talked about the future of spatial computing in a new interview —and it sounds like there's something in those smart glasses rumors. https://t.co/9TDRSphbI3
Asus TUF F16 Gaming Laptop Now Cheaper on Amazon
The Asus TUF F16 Gaming Laptop is a very appealing budget gaming laptop and it just got even cheaper thanks to this Amazon deal. https://t.co/5zB6MHJfp4
Amazon Slashes Pixel 10 Prices to Record Lows
Amazon's current discounts on the Pixel 10 series return the devices to the previous record-lows from Black Friday. https://t.co/J3wMXUkO5v
Anker 737 PowerCore 24K: Fast Charge, Smart Screen
Is this the perfect power bank? What do you think? https://t.co/E82UCCsxF2 The battery pack that I’m talking about is the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K and while I really like the functionality of the screen, the max charging speed was important to me....
FCC Exempts Netgear, Permitting Foreign-Made Router Sales
"The FCC says it will exempt Netgear, allowing it to sell new Wi-Fi routers and mesh models to consumers, even though they’re manufactured outside the US." via @Michael_Kan Netgear has about 9.6% of the US market, according to @Speedtest https://t.co/UBgJUHkCIu