Microsoft Is Fixing Windows' Oldest Audio Problem and You Probably Didn't Notice
Microsoft has begun rolling out Windows MIDI Services, a new MIDI stack for Windows 11 that modernizes the legacy MIDI 1.0 architecture. The service introduces native MIDI 2.0 support, multi‑client endpoints, and dramatically lower latency, while preserving compatibility with existing APIs and devices. Delivered through Windows Update, the rollout will span roughly 30 days for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 builds. The open‑source suite also adds developer tools such as a console, GUI, and PowerShell cmdlets.
Google Pixel ‘Project Toscana’ Reportedly Upgrades Face Unlock Hardware, Compares to iPhone Face ID
Google is developing "Project Toscana," a hardware‑based face‑unlock system for upcoming Pixel phones and Chromebooks. The solution reportedly uses an infrared sensor hidden behind a single hole‑punch camera and aims to match iPhone Face ID’s speed. Early reports claim it...
Samsung Reportedly Can’t Even Buy Its Own Exynos Chips for Less, Adding to Galaxy S26 Price Hike
Samsung is reportedly forced to raise the Galaxy S26’s launch price as soaring RAM and memory costs strain its margins. Even its in‑house Exynos processors can no longer be sourced cheaper than competing chips, limiting Samsung’s ability to absorb expenses. The...
Thermaltake Launches 49-Inch Dual QHD 32:9 Monitor With USB-C 90 W
Thermaltake unveiled the TGM‑V49CDQ, a 49‑inch super‑ultrawide 32:9 gaming monitor featuring a Dual QHD 5120×1440 VA panel. The display delivers a 240 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms GTG response, and supports both G‑Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium for tear‑free gameplay. Connectivity is...
Phison Warns 2026 DRAM and NAND Crunch Could Wipe Out Budget Brands
Phison CEO Khein‑Seng Pua warned that the ongoing DRAM and NAND flash shortage will disproportionately affect low‑cost consumer devices, where razor‑thin margins leave little room for price spikes. He highlighted an 8 GB eMMC component whose price surged from roughly $1.32...
This BIOS Setting Is Limiting Your AMD CPU's Performance
AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) is a BIOS toggle that lifts the power‑delivery limits of Ryzen CPUs, allowing them to sustain higher boost clocks for longer periods. Enabling PBO on a Ryzen 7 7700 delivered consistent 7‑10% multi‑core gains on rendering, compiling...
NZXT Launches Small Desktop Case and Power Supply for Prebuilt PC Gaming Rigs
NZXT unveiled two new compact components—the H2 Flow Mini‑ITX case and the C850 SFX 850‑watt power supply—aimed at its pre‑built gaming rigs. Both products promise high‑performance builds in a smaller footprint, matching the capabilities of larger tower systems. The case...
Gozney’s New Arc Pizza Oven Is More Compact than Before – and You Won’t Believe the Price
Gozney has introduced the Arc Lite, a compact gas‑powered pizza oven that fits balconies and small gardens while cooking 12‑inch pizzas at up to 500 °C. The new model retains the brand’s insulated body and signature lateral rolling flame, but weighs...
Dell XPS 14 (2026) Review: Two Steps Forward
Dell revives the XPS 14 with a lighter chassis, restored function‑row keyboard, and two display options—a 1080p panel with over 20 hours of battery life and a high‑resolution OLED screen. Powered by Intel's 13th‑gen Core Ultra processors, the top‑end X7 358H delivers strong...
This Extension Automatically Says 'No' To Those Annoying Pop-Ups
Consent‑O‑Matic, a free browser extension from Aarhus University, automatically rejects unwanted cookie‑consent banners on Chrome, Firefox and Safari. It groups pop‑ups into five categories, lets users set preferences once, and then applies them silently across sites. The open‑source rule generator...
Shark Beauty Unveils First-Ever Air Straightener – and I Got to Try It Before Anyone Else
Shark Beauty introduced the SilkiPro Straight, a wet‑to‑dry air straightener that combines drying, straightening and waving in a single device. The tool uses HeatSense ceramic plates with a sensor that adjusts temperature 1,000 times per second, and comes with three...
We’re Measuring Data Center Sustainability Wrong
Google claims its data centers are 1.5× more energy‑efficient than the industry average and Microsoft is investing billions in nuclear power for AI workloads, yet these metrics capture only about 30% of IT‑sector emissions. The bulk of carbon comes from...
Monetisation, Player Retention and Communities on Discord: Top Tips Incoming at PGC San Francisco
Discord will showcase its Social SDK at Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco on March 9, 2026, where senior developer Anthony Tešija will present strategies for acquiring, retaining, and monetising mobile gamers via Discord. He will outline how the platform’s community...
US Video Game Consumer Spending Predicted to Reach $62.8bn in 2026
U.S. video game consumer spending is projected to hit $62.8 billion in 2026, a 3% rise from the previous year, according to market‑research firm Circana. The growth is anchored by strong hardware demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the launch of...
This Corsair RAM and Gigabyte AM5 Motherboard Bundle Is Just $67 More than Buying the RAM Alone – 32GB of...
Newegg is offering a bundle that pairs the Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite Wi‑Fi 7 motherboard with 32 GB of Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5‑6400 RAM for just under $505, a 20% or $133 discount versus buying the components separately. The motherboard features 12...
Apple Music’s iOS 26.4 Beta Introduces AI-Powered Playlist Tool
Apple Music is testing an AI‑powered playlist generator called Playlist Playground in the iOS 26.4 beta. The tool lets users type natural‑language prompts—such as “morning coffee music” or “disco songs that defined the 1970s”—to create 25‑track playlists with custom titles and...
The Razer Viper V3 Pro's Price Just Dropped $45, Hinting at Impending Viper V4 Pro
Razer has slashed the Viper V3 Pro’s price by $45, with Amazon listing it at $114.99 and Razer’s own store offering it for $129.99 after a $30 discount. The mouse, launched at $159.99 in May 2024, is praised for its lightweight...
New Keenadu Backdoor Found in Android Firmware, Google Play Apps
Kaspersky has uncovered a sophisticated Android backdoor named Keenadu, embedded in firmware of multiple device brands and distributed through compromised OTA updates, system apps, and even Google Play applications. The malware can infiltrate every installed app, grant attackers unrestricted control,...
Microsoft Quietly Increases Rewards Points Price for Xbox Gift Cards
Microsoft has quietly raised the points cost for Xbox gift cards in its Rewards program, roughly a 5.3% increase in the US and UK. The change affects all denominations and varies by region, with users reporting higher point requirements for...
PS6 Report Suggests Next-Gen Consoles Could Still Be a Long Way Off
AI‑driven demand for memory is inflating chip prices, tightening supply for console makers. Sony is reportedly considering pushing the PS6 launch to 2028 or 2029, while Microsoft’s best‑case target for its next‑gen Xbox is 2027 but may also slip. Both...
Galaxy Buds 4 Leak Leaves Little to the Imagination — and I’m Okay with the Safe Upgrades
Samsung’s leaked Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro show a return to a brushed‑metal aesthetic, abandoning the sharp blade design of the Buds 3. Both models keep the stem for improved microphones and pinch controls, but the standard Buds 4 adopt an open‑fit design...
Gboard's Allegedly Got a 'Cursor Mode' In the Oven That's Giving Me Laptop Vibes
A tipster claims Google is developing a “cursor mode” for Gboard that transforms part of the keyboard into a virtual trackpad. Users would activate the mode by holding the space bar, gaining fine‑grained control to slide the cursor for precise...
King and Yahoo Games: Filling a Bite-Sized "Appetite" With Candy Crush Crushable
King has launched Candy Crush Crushable, a daily bite‑sized puzzle exclusive to Yahoo Games in the United States, while international players can access it via a dedicated website. The game is designed around a single‑puzzle‑per‑day format that emphasizes clarity, fairness...
More Rode Mics Can Now Connect Directly to iPhones and iPads
Rode is rolling out a firmware update that adds Direct Connect to its Wireless Pro and third‑generation Wireless Go microphones, enabling Bluetooth pairing with iPhones and iPads via the Rode Capture app. The update eliminates the need for a separate...
More than 10 Million Duolingo Users Have a 365-Day Streak
Duolingo disclosed that more than 10 million users have logged into the app every day for a full year, representing roughly 20 % of its 50 million daily active base. The language‑learning platform posted a record $88.9 million in gross user spending in January...
What Your Bluetooth Devices Reveal
A developer released Bluehood, an open‑source Bluetooth scanner that passively logs nearby devices and visualises their appearance patterns. The tool runs on a Raspberry Pi or laptop and can identify phones, wearables, vehicles and IoT gadgets without ever connecting. Its release...
These New iOS 27 Tweaks Could Make iPhone Gaming Smoother for Apple Fanatics
Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 is rumored to strip out legacy code, delivering a leaner operating system that feels more responsive. The cleanup is expected to improve battery efficiency, giving gamers longer playtime on titles like Destiny Rising and Zenless Zone Zero....
Intellivision Sprint Is a Surprising Blast From the Past | Impressions
Atari has revived the Intellivision brand with the new Intellivision Sprint, a dedicated retro console that bundles 45 classic titles. The device connects via HDMI, includes two wireless controllers, and uses physical overlays to accommodate each game’s unique control scheme....
This New York Bar Hosted an AI Dating Pop-Up Where Singles Matched with Chatbots for Valentine’s Day
EVA AI organized a two‑day pop‑up at Manhattan’s Same Same Wine Bar where singles dined alone with headphones, chatting with AI companions on their phones. Attendees could bring personal AI partners or speed‑date among the app’s 100 pre‑built characters. The...
Cyberintelligence Institute Launches CYROS App to Warn Against Cyber Threats
The Cyberintelligence Institute (CII) has released CYROS, a free smartphone app that warns users of emerging cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, and digital sabotage. The platform aggregates alerts from Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, consumer‑protection groups, and security...
Valve Just Made Steam User Reviews Infinitely More Useful with the Option to Add Your Gaming PC Specs
Valve is rolling out a new beta feature that lets Steam reviewers attach their PC hardware specifications to each review. The specs are automatically gathered from Steam’s existing hardware survey, making it easy for users to provide context without manual...
The Scoop: Ring Pulls Flock Safety Partnership After Super Bowl Ad Backlash
Ring announced it is canceling its planned partnership with Flock Safety after a Super Bowl ad sparked privacy concerns. The collaboration, which would have integrated Flock’s AI‑driven “Search Party” tool into Ring cameras, never went live and no footage was...
Confirmed: Switch’s Virtual Boy Headset Can Play VR-Supported Switch Games Including Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey
Nintendo confirmed that its new Virtual Boy headset, available in full‑size and cardboard versions, can run the four Switch titles that feature VR modes – Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,...
Feral Interactive’s Tomb Raider Invites You to Relive Lara Croft’s Origin Story as It Finally Arrives on Android and iOS
Feral Interactive has released the full‑console Tomb Raider on Android and iOS at $19.99, marking the first time the franchise’s complete experience is available on mobile. The port brings the Yamatai island adventure, complete with survival mechanics, crafting, and puzzle‑platforming, to...
Meet 'BABS': The AI-Powered Assistant Enhancing the Airport Experience at Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport has launched BABS, an AI‑powered virtual assistant developed with Hello Lamp Post, as part of its Connected Personal Experiences (CPE) rollout. Passengers can access BABS via smartphones or digital kiosks for instant answers on check‑in, gate locations, dining...
What Homeowners Need to Know About Smart Home Cameras
A Super Bowl ad introduced Ring’s AI‑driven “Search Party” feature, sparking backlash over neighborhood camera activation and potential ICE collaboration. The ad follows Ring’s partnership with license‑plate scanner Flock Safety, heightening privacy concerns. Meanwhile, Google Nest released delayed footage of...
Ray-Ban Maker EssilorLuxottica Says It More than Tripled Meta AI Glasses Sales in 2025
EssilorLuxottica reported that it sold more than 7 million Meta‑powered AI glasses in 2025, more than tripling the combined 2023‑24 volume of 2 million units. The sales surge spans its flagship Ray‑Ban line and the newer Oakley smart‑glasses, driven by a $799...
Mobile‑first Shoppers Make Stores Digital by Default, New Research Shows
A new Insider Trend and Fern Insights survey of 1,000 consumers in the UK, France and Germany finds that 53% of European shoppers aged 18‑75 use their mobile phones while in store, making the physical shop digital by default. Shoppers...
Virtuix Expands Omni One VR Sales to Europe After IPO
Virtuix, the maker of full‑body VR treadmill systems, announced that its Omni One hardware will now be sold across Europe following its recent initial public offering. European customers in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other EU nations can place...
Beats Powerbeats Fit Review: Apple’s Compact Workout Earbuds Revamped
Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Fit, the refreshed successor to the 2022 Beats Fit Pro, launch at £199.95, offering a slimmer, silicone‑wing design that sits inside the concha for a more discreet, comfortable fit, especially with glasses. The earbuds deliver six hours of playback...