Posts

Showing posts from September, 2026

Elon Musk’s Grokipedia has a ‘newly refreshed’ design

Image
Grokipedia, SpaceXAI's AI-powered competitor to Wikipedia, recently started incorporating edits again , and today, it got some design tweaks as part of a v0.3 update, including a new logo and refreshes to its homepage and live edits page. SpaceXAI head of design Benji Taylor calls it a "newly refreshed Grokipedia." Grokipedia's old homepage was pretty much just a logo and a search bar, but the updated homepage includes a list of featured articles, a list of the most-read articles, and a tracker showing the "latest edits." The new featured list showcases digital representations of books that you can spin around, and the most read section also … Read the full story at The Verge.

Google releases Gemini 4 Argon, called its most powerful model yet

Google has released its latest Gemini model, marketing it as a workhorse for coding and cybersecurity work. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/jA47k8w via IFTTT

The new and huger Paramount has a new co-CEO

Image
Paramount is appointing a new co-CEO ahead of the close of its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Ynon Kreiz, previously Mattel's chairman and CEO, will be joining Paramount to lead alongside chairman and CEO David Ellison. According to Paramount , "Ellison will focus on the company's long-term strategy, creative vision and direction, including its talent relationships, strategic partnerships, technology and capital allocation. Kreiz will focus on the company's day-to-day management and integration of the combined businesses." The combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will "report jointly" to Ellison and Kreiz. Kreiz … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just launched a 120-day study on the future of warfare, led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich, and while it makes sense given their ties to the administration, critics could point out that Musk's and Luckey's companies already sell the kinds of technology the study is likely to recommend. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/Jt0TWCn via IFTTT

America.gov gets really weird when you ask it about Minecraft, but it’s not a glitch

For the sake of national security, it's a relief to learn that America.gov is not hallucinating to the point that it's penning lengthy poetry. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rQmwlz4 via IFTTT

Peak XV ups Surge seed investment ceiling to $5M, unveils 18-startup cohort

Thirteen of the 18 startups in Peak XV’s latest Surge cohort are targeting global markets, while more than half are based in India. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/QzCUnS5 via IFTTT

Aurora CFO says 30,000 driverless trucks by 2030 isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds

Self-driving truck company Aurora laid out an audacious plan for 2030. Its CFO says its targets aren't aspirational. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/CXkAceh via IFTTT

This flagship wants to make you a video pro with dual 200MP cameras — and that’s just the start

Image
TL;DR HONOR is launching the Magic 9 Pro Max for China. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6-powered handset features dual 200MP cameras. HONOR worked extensively with ARRI to fine-tune image processing and its video pipeline. It’s tricky to make your new smartphone stand out in an era that’s less and less about hardware, but HONOR sure seems to have created nice little niche for itself when it comes to advanced photographic solutions. The gimbal-equipped Robot phone might have sounded like some kind of fever dream at first, but HONOR has actually managed to follow through on its lofty goals there, delivering a smartphone camera experience that’s quite literally like none other. Now the manufacturer is trying to capture that lightning again, with the dual-200MP Magic 9 Pro Max. Imaging hardware feeds the pipeline from Android Authority https://ift.tt/ogUV1Ob via IFTTT

You can now pre-order BOOX’s tiniest e-reader yet

Image
Credit: BOOX TL;DR BOOX’s smallest e-reader is now available for pre-order. The BOOX Picco comes with a 3.97″ ePaper touch display. It doesn’t get Android but comes with a few handy apps, such as a countdown and a Pomodoro timer. It’s now up for pre-ordering at $99.99, including shipping options for the US. Over the last several months, tiny e-readers have become more common, especially the ones that stick to the back of a phone with built-in magnets. The allure is simple: tiny e-readers, such as the Xteink X4 , take up minimal space in your pocket or backpack while also offering a break from frantically refreshing hi-res displays on phones. BOOX (officially Onyx BOOX), one of the biggest names in e-readers, is entering the tiny-screen segment with an entire “Tiles” series. The first, BOOX Picco , was teased in July, revealed at IFA 2026, and is now up for pre-orders. While BOOX Palma has been the smallest device from the brand, the Picco is shrunk further down to a scr...

Truecaller takes its scam intelligence to the open web as it looks beyond caller ID

Truecaller finds a new way to reach users as pressure grows on its traditional caller ID business in India, its biggest market. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/C6vSkIM via IFTTT

I used to love foldable phones. Now, I can’t stand them

Just as they have with their inner screens, foldables have divided the user base into two camps — either you find regular phones too simplistic to go back to, or you just don’t want to see your phone fold in half anymore. There is no other realization you have after living with a foldable. And the title must’ve given away that I fall under the second category. I used to be a book-style foldable die-hard, but as the novelty wore off, its flaws became glaring by the day. And no, I’m not concerned by foldables coming with one less rear camera or a more fragile exterior. My problem is more fundamental. I just can’t fathom the very idea of a device deploying complicated and delicate (not to mention expensive) mechanics to do two things at once when I’m not convinced it excels at either. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/ohQOCsY via IFTTT

7 surprisingly useful ways to use Google Lens beyond basic search

Google Lens is a powerful tool that makes it incredibly easy to understand the world around you. Just point your phone’s camera at a subject, and it gives you the relevant information. And because Google Lens is deeply integrated with Gemini, you can follow up with any doubts or questions to get answers. You may already know about Google Lens or use it on your phone to identify plants and animals, translate text, solve Math problems, or even find what’s on your screen. But its usefulness doesn’t end there. Google Lens has plenty of other use cases that you should know about. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/YxBCvfe via IFTTT

Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India

The limited test covers select products and users, with a broader rollout planned for later in October. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zR5ltVm via IFTTT

Can an ‘eSUV’ e-bike really go from trail to town?

Image
Have you ever wanted an electric bike that easily transitions from the drudgery of urban asphalt to adventures in gravel and dirt? That's what a subclass of so-called "electric SUV" (eSUV) e-bikes claims to do, with their wide, all-terrain tires and front and rear suspension, plus practical accessories like fenders and racks. So, that's what I set out to test on a new TL Carbon e-bike from Amflow, the DJI offshoot that upended the mountain bike industry a few years ago with its incredibly small and powerful Avinox motors . After a month of testing in the heart of Amsterdam - including a three day bikepacking trip along coastal bicycle super … Read the full story at The Verge.

At Meta Connect, the company’s smart glasses were everywhere

The company behind Facebook and Instagram wants to keep consumers connected to the digital world via its ever-growing line of smart glasses. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/fplcAj7 via IFTTT

Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave

After days of upheaval at Automattic, following a failed attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg, the company has a new board. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/p24SrYi via IFTTT

Microsoft is killing off the ‘Copilot Plus PC’ brand

Image
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella introducing the company’s Copilot Plus PC initiative. | Image: Allison Johnson Remember when Microsoft wanted everyone to know that "Copilot Plus PCs" were the ones to get, because those were the PCs that that'd have enough built-in AI muscle to get things done? Two and a half years later, Microsoft and Qualcomm seem to be admitting the brand is already dead. Windows Central 's Zac Bowden reports that even though the new 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop technically meet the system requirements for a Copilot Plus PC, Microsoft is not calling them by that name anymore. "These are not called Copilot Plus PCs," Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrom told the publication. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm's SVP … Read the full story at The Verge.

Qualcomm’s new ‘Elite’ sound chip might finally deliver the Wi-Fi earbud dream

Image
What if your wireless earbuds - or audio glasses - could stream high-quality lossless audio that doesn't cut out when you leave your phone on the bedside charger or buried in the couch? Qualcomm's new Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 is its first to integrate "micro-power Wi-Fi 6E" right into the chip, so they can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network, and from there to the cloud. If that sounds like a familiar promise, it's probably because Qualcomm promised something similar back in 2023 with the "S7 Pro sound platform" and its Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) tech, saying that Wi-Fi earbuds can do what Bluetooth alone cannot. Name … Read the full story at The Verge.

Waymo is scaling fast. Here’s what the fleet data shows.

In the past month, Waymo has expanded its fleet in Texas by 49%. There are other hotspots as well. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/S6gnUiR via IFTTT

Meta is making Muse more powerful and will let you video chat with it, too

Image
Meta is quickly iterating on its new Muse AI agent, announcing a bunch of updates today that make the bot more capable and able to chat with you in more ways. Muse agents are getting their own email addresses that they can use for accomplishing tasks. You'll also be able to communicate with your Muse agent over the new email addresses, too. In addition, the recently launched Muse Mac app will be getting the ability to use your computer. Meta is also going to give you another way to chat with its popular AI agent: video calls. Since its recent launch, the primary way to talk with Muse was through a chat interface, but you'll soon be able to … Read the full story at The Verge.

Google Play Store looks like it’s working on a special home for your vibe-coded apps

TL;DR Google lets you vibe code apps in its AI Studio, and later sideload them on your devices or submit them though the Play Console for public access. Now the Play Store is working on a new “Your creations” where users may be able to find their AI Studio creations. It’s not yet clear what this shift could mean for broader access to AI Studio apps from other people. For all the pushback you might hear about vibe coding, we can’t deny that it actually has the potential to work pretty well, and really does manage to impressively lower the bar of entry for what’s needed to build your first app . Google’s hard at working bringing its AI Studio experience to Gemini , hoping to make it easier than ever for Android users to get started coding their own apps, and now we’re learning about a new home where those apps might ultimately end up. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth ...

Vogue sent robots down the runway at Vogue World, and people were not impressed

Nothing says Italian craftsmanship like a Chinese robot doing a lasso to "L'Amour Toujours." from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/70lgDPv via IFTTT

‘We’re already fighting yesterday’s battle’: Greece’s prime minister gets candid about AI

Most leaders on a trade mission stick to the pitch, but when I interviewed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis this week, he also admitted that no government is ready for what AI is about to do. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/K5ufQyj via IFTTT

Discord’s age verification era is upon us, despite community backlash

According to Discord, 90% of users will not have to verify their age. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/cvNqxLI via IFTTT

OpenAI wants to consult elite mathematicians about how to not fumble again

Image
After turning a string of spectacular mathematical results into a reputational crisis , OpenAI is consulting human mathematicians to help it figure out a less disastrous path forward. On Monday, the company announced a new independent panel of mathematicians tasked with advising it and other AI companies on their interactions with mathematical research and the wider mathematics community, including how new results are presented and released. Its abrupt arrival caught many mathematicians by surprise. Researchers told The Verge the group is a good first step, but many said they were left with basic questions about what it will actually do, how … Read the full story at The Verge.

TechCrunch Founder Summit’s agenda revealed: Unlock fundraising, hiring, and AI insights in Boston on November 4

Founders shouldn't have to learn the hardest lessons the hardest way. TechCrunch Founder Summit is designed to make the challenges of starting a company easier and the highs that much greater. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/F1LCM7D via IFTTT

Google officially opens the door to more games on Android Auto

Image
Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google has officially moved games on Android Auto and Android Automotive OS out of beta and made them generally available. You can already play supported games on your car’s screen while parked by browsing through Google’s collection of games for Android Auto and Android Automotive, but developers can now publish compatible titles to Google Play’s open testing and production tracks. Android Auto and Android Automotive games are blocked while you’re driving for obvious safety reasons. If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in your car with nothing to do, Google is ramping up options for your entertainment. In addition to onboarding video streaming services on Android Auto and Android Automotive, Google is also making in-car gaming a bigger deal this year. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/yYqS6ni via IFTTT

The man who built Apple’s stores doesn’t buy Silicon Valley’s bet on AI shopping

Apple Store architect Ron Johnson says Apple's secret sauce has always been its people. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/ZmenMku via IFTTT

Amazon wants to help the Colorado River, but we still don’t know how much water the company uses 

Image
Amazon plans to spend $20 million on water conservation projects along the Colorado River, a crucial but dwindling water supply for 40 million people in the Western US. The initiative comes as Amazon and other tech companies face mounting scrutiny over how much water their data centers use. Amazon has a goal of becoming water positive - replenishing more water than it uses - by the end of the decade. It recently disclosed some information about its water use, but we still have an incomplete picture of the company's impact as a whole. Amazon announced the launch of a Colorado River Basin Collaborative today, with a mission to "create one o … Read the full story at The Verge.

This is the OnePlus 16 and it has a Pixel HiLight-like feature

TL;DR OnePlus has officially revealed the design and colors of the OnePlus 16. It’s also confirmed that the phone will come with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The phone will also feature an “Interstellar Lighting Effect” that sounds similar to the Pixel 11’s HiLight LED. Another day, another piece of the OnePlus 16 puzzle. After months of leaks and rumors , OnePlus has finally shared some official details about its upcoming flagship and opened pre-bookings in China. In a new Weibo post, OnePlus shared images of the OnePlus 16 in three colors: Tomorrow’s Starlight, The Dark Forest, and A Martian Masterpiece. The phone will feature a design similar to the OnePlus 15 , with a square camera module housing a triple-camera setup. It will also carry forward its predecessor’s button layout, including the placement of the power and volume buttons and the Plus key. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/3S18kZG via IFTTT

Google Discover now wants you to read and see less of the actual internet

Image
Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing a new feature called “Dive deeper” in Google Discover. The button will give you an AI-generated overview of a topic instead of sending you to a webpage. The new experience can also surface links to related stories, community reactions, and original reporting if you want to explore further. For users, it could make Discover more convenient, but it may also mean fewer people actually open the publisher articles that appear in their feeds. Google Discover is testing a new way to make you learn more about the stories appearing in your feed, and it could mean you spend less time actually reading what your favorite websites are reporting and watching videos from the creators you like. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/Vq0UWcZ via IFTTT

This simple Duolingo trick brings back hearts and gets rid of the annoying ads

Image
Credit: Matt Horne / Android Authority Even as one of the last remaining Duolingo holdouts on the team, I can see how much worse Duolingo has become in recent years. The once-motivating gamification certainly appears to have been kicked up a few notches, and it’s the free users who’ve had it much worse. On the free plan, you’re bombarded with adverts for Super Duolingo and third-party games that you can’t skip for several seconds. Even worse, the heart system that allowed you to keep practicing until you made five mistakes was replaced by an energy bar that runs down even if you’re nailing the answers. That’s why I was excited to learn about a very simple trick that returns you to a simpler version of Duolingo — one with the hearts system, no ads at all, fewer clicks between lessons, and less gamification. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2GZ0SJA via IFTTT

I use Google Maps every day, but Apple Maps still does these 4 things better

Be it a daily morning commute or a long road trip, most of us spend a surprising amount of time looking at Google Maps even without realizing it. Beyond the usual in-car navigation, it is my go-to when I’m looking for a new coffee shop or just checking transit schedules in a new country. And yet, lately, I find myself popping open Apple Maps more often than I expected. Apple has spent the last decade rebuilding Maps into a surprisingly capable navigation app. It might not beat Google Maps just yet, as Google still has the edge when it comes to local search and the sheer amount of information available. However, Apple has a few areas where its approach is simply better. Here are the things I prefer about Apple Maps and want Google Maps to copy. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/B3eoLsK via IFTTT

Tilly Norwood’s press tour is going about as well as you’d expect for an AI

In one particularly odd interview, Norwood seems to malfunction and begin speaking Chinese. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/jRtFdEe via IFTTT

AI hallucination nearly triggers US military operation

“It’s important for service members to understand the uncertainty inherent to LLMs," a GovAI research scholar warns. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/NYywqmT via IFTTT

Khosla-backed Mazama Energy just raised $135M to drill deeper into super-hot-rock geothermal

Geothermal startup Mazama is drilling three miles underground to tap superhot rock, with one well capable of generating 15 MW of electricity 24/7. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/cz2lg67 via IFTTT

Amazon-owned Zoox’s 100-robotaxi limit in Nevada is about to disappear

An updated permit shows the 100-cap will expire later this month just as competition in Las Vegas heats up. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/SFvRsOw via IFTTT

Al Gore has a surprisingly calm take on the AI data center backlash

In an interview with TechCrunch, Al Gore suggested he isn't losing sleep over AI data center emissions — he's more worried about the AI industry's own warnings about where the technology is headed. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/HCJ59Pm via IFTTT

I wore Snap’s $2,200 smart glasses

Image
My favorite part of wearing the Specs, Snap's new augmented reality glasses, was playing dominoes. Sitting across the table from a Snap employee wearing the same pair of chunky glasses, I could select a virtual domino with a pinch and then move my hand to drop it in place, watching the tile snap down in front of us on a real table. It was unlike anything I've tried in other VR headsets or smart glasses - the ability to sit with another person and have a shared digital experience. Snap really believes in AR glasses. The company has spent more than half a decade developing the technology, producing two generations of glasses that only ever sh … Read the full story at The Verge.

The EOS R8 Mark II is Canon’s lightest full-frame camera with stabilization

Image
Canon announced the second-generation of its EOS R8 with a new retro-inspired redesign and the addition of in-body stabilization. That feature was one of the most notable omissions from the original R8 that launched in 2023 as a smaller, cheaper, and more accessible alternative to the Canon R6 Mark II for photographers wanting a larger full-frame shooter. While the new EOS R8 Mark II is slightly heavier than its predecessor at 1.2 pounds thanks to the additional stabilization functionality, it's lighter and cheaper than last year's EOS R6 Mark III . The Canon EOS R8 Mark II is expected to be available sometime in late October for $1,899 for … Read the full story at The Verge.

Pixel phones just got better at spotting scams before you reply

Image
Credit: Brady Snyder / Android Authority TL;DR Google has released the September Pixel Drop with new Scam Detection features for its phones. Scam Detection in notifications is expanding to many more regions and languages. Scam Detection is also coming directly to Gboard, but this feature is limited to the US for now. After revealing a host of new features for a broad range of Android devices earlier this month, Samsung is now giving Pixel users new features. Beyond the new features in the latest September Pixel Drop , Google is expanding some existing features into new territories. One such feature is Scam Detection in notifications, which is now available in a host of countries and languages. Google has confirmed that, alongside the US, Pixel’s Scam Detection in notifications is now available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and the UK. In addition to English, Pixel devices will be able to detect seemingly suspicious or rogue mess...

We don’t need AI regulation — leave safety to us, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says

AI isn't some kind of new form of "alien mind," according to Jensen Huang. It's just hardware and software, so safety can be engineered by each AI product maker. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/NGBFjrf via IFTTT

Voters mostly don’t like AI and data centers, but neither party seems to have an edge

Image
Poll data released Tuesday by the New York Times and Siena University confirms what we've already been seeing , and what politicians are responding to - AI and data centers are incredibly unpopular. Asked if they support or oppose the construction of data centers to power AI tech, 61 percent of the 1,503 likely voters surveyed in early September (ahead of the recent AI safety slowdown discussion ) said they were opposed, with only 14 percent saying they strongly support. The split was about even among 2024 Donald Trump voters, at 49 percent support to 45 percent oppose, while people who had voted for Kamala Harris or who didn't vote leaned opp … Read the full story at The Verge.

Google widens rollout of Find Hub’s handy new ‘Remembered Items’ feature

Image
Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is now widely rolling out the new “Remembered Items” tab in Find Hub as part of the September Android Drop. You can ask Gemini to remember where you put an item, with support for adding a photo for easier identification later. The feature is available after updating the Find Hub app to version 3.1.732-02. Google is now rolling out a handy new feature for Find Hub that can help you remember where you put important items. Google’s Mishaal Rahman announced that the “Remembered Items” tab is now widely available as part of the September Android Drop. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/nSRFgyw via IFTTT

Jensen Huang took a call from Trump, and showed off something else, too

When Jensen Huang took a live call from Trump, some of us were more focused the phone he used to take it. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zXy0atn via IFTTT

Valve is still figuring out ‘how and when’ to do Steam Deck 2

Image
Now that Valve has finally launched its entire 2026 hardware lineup - the Steam Controller , the Steam Machine , and today's Steam Frame - are we any closer to a next-gen Steam Deck handheld? Valve isn't saying so yet. The company is figuring out "how and when we can deliver something like that," Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais now tells IGN . Valve has been clear for years that 1) a Steam Deck 2 will indeed happen , and 2) it's not coming until Valve finds the right chip . The original Steam Deck worked because it delivered the right combination of price, performance, and battery life, and Valve has repeatedly said it won't sacrifice effici … Read the full story at The Verge.

Is Big Tech’s AI slowdown a safety pact or a cartel?

Image
When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Google DeepMind cofounder Demis Hassabis, and SpaceX head Elon Musk loosely agreed over the weekend to slow down AI development, skeptics spotted an ulterior motive immediately. The AI titans had declared that their aim was to "pace the frontier," signing on at least partially to a proposal for embedding third-party auditors, regulating domestic labs, and reaching a global slowdown agreement. Their critics, however, argued they simply wanted to stop would-be competitors, kneecap the open-source movement, and avoid real legal safeguards - some dubbed it an outright "cartel." The truth … Read the full story at The Verge.

GrapheneOS just fixed one of Android’s sneakiest privacy problems

Image
Credit: Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR GrapheneOS has officially merged “Secure Paste,” a new feature designed to stop apps from reading clipboard data copied from other apps. Users will still be able to paste normally, but apps won’t get the same broad access to sensitive clipboard content. After announcing the feature earlier this month, GrapheneOS has now merged “Secure Paste.” The privacy feature is designed to stop apps from reading clipboard contents copied from other apps. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/O7GLfNa via IFTTT

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 could get a display upgrade the Pixel 11 apparently missed

Image
Credit: Android Headlines TL;DR Samsung’s M16 OLED panel is reportedly coming to the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra. The iQOO 16 is set to be the first Android phone with an M16 display. That means the Pixel 11 apparently missed out on Samsung’s latest OLED material. Samsung is expected to bring a significant display upgrade to its next flagship phones, and it could give the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra something that the Pixel 11 series apparently doesn’t have. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/ACELX0s via IFTTT

I used to envy cars with Android Auto — until I found this $20 workaround

When I see my colleagues writing about Android Auto , I get a sense of FOMO because my car simply doesn’t support it. In fact, I’ve never used it — I’ve only experienced it as a passenger in cars with more advanced capabilities than my own. This has left my smartphone as the only display I can use in my own car, which comes with its inconveniences. But adding a $20 gadget to my setup significantly improved this situation and made me feel like I was missing out on far less. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/1px3kVO via IFTTT

Is your Google Messages inbox a mess? This overlooked setting cleans it up

Google Messages is the default messaging app on Android phones, and it only keeps getting better with time. It’s also the default app for all your One Time Passwords or OTPs for sign-in codes or parcel delivery codes, and these messages can quickly make the app feel cluttered. Other than tapping the “Mark as read” button in the notification pop-up or simply ignoring the OTP message since I’ve already read it on my smartwatch, I don’t think I’ve ever manually deleted a single OTP myself, ever! Google noticed this problem and introduced a solution in 2021 to automatically remove OTPs after 24 hours. The Messages app should have given you a pop-up alert within the app to enable it, but there’s a chance you might not have noticed this. If your Google Messages app is looking like an OTP wasteland, here’s how you can quickly check if this feature is enabled or not. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/sbl0LAq via IFTTT

Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board

Automattic says Mullenweg is back as "chairman and CEO of Automattic, with full support of the board." from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/YpTNdIH via IFTTT

Apple’s A20 Pro chip puts the iPhone 18 Pro well ahead of Android flagships — for now

Image
Tucked inside the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is Apple’s latest flagship processor — the A20 Pro. Like most recent silicon announcements, Apple had quite a lot to say about the new chip’s AI number-crunching capabilities, but the processor also quietly boasts significant improvements for everyday workloads. Apple even claims it “sets a new bar for mobile computing.” The question on the lips of every Android performance enthusiast, then, is whether the A20 Pro will see Apple reclaim the crown as the fastest smartphone. And if it does, can it sustain the lead once next-gen processors from MediaTek and Qualcomm land before the year is out? from Android Authority https://ift.tt/4UyHQZI via IFTTT

My Pixel was overheating and stuttering until I made these 5 tweaks

Image
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority As much as I love my Pixel 10, it has some glaring issues . The big one is overheating, and frankly, that applies to all Pixel phones in general. Sure, every phone runs warm occasionally, but Pixels seem to be more prone to it than most. I’ve had mine overheat at times even when I wasn’t gaming, using the camera, or plugged into Android Auto. Also, overheating isn’t something you can just ignore. It affects how the phone feels in your hand, how it performs, and even how fast it charges. So instead of waiting for some magic update from Google or upgrading to a new phone, I decided to actually do something about it. It took some effort, but my Pixel no longer runs as hot as it used to. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/prmsC1R via IFTTT

Mecka AI nears $500M valuation in Sequoia-led deal amid rush for robot training data

The round for the two-year-old startup is coming together months after Mecka announced its Series A. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/qcmSLDt via IFTTT

Google could give the Fitbit Charge a Wear OS-powered successor

TL;DR An FCC filing reveals a possible Google wearable with a screen and signs of Wear OS. Bluetooth LE and GPS are included, but the apparent lack of Wi-Fi points toward a fitness band. It could be the mystery tracker spotted in Pixel 11 ads, though that link remains unconfirmed. A few weeks ago, Google appeared to hide a product tease in plain sight. Two Pixel 11 ads featured an unfamiliar, pill-shaped wearable alongside the company’s phones and Pixel Watches. It looked more like a fitness band than a full-fledged smartwatch, but Google didn’t name it. Now, a newly uncovered FCC filing may offer the first clues about what we saw: a possible Google fitness tracker running Wear OS. According to 9to5Google , the filing covers a “wireless device” manufactured by Goertek, which also produces Pixel Buds. Its G8BL6 model number follows the format Google typically uses for first-party hardware, although the documents never identify the product or its brand. from Android Authorit...

Your Pixel phone quietly got a new feature to help prevent motion sickness — here’s how to use it

Motion sickness is not a fun thing to deal with. While I don’t personally struggle with it, I’ve known people who do, and it seems like it can be pretty unbearable at times. Thankfully, if you have a Pixel phone, you now have a clever new feature that can help keep motion sickness at bay. The feature is called “ Motion Assist ,” and it works by displaying small dots around the edge of your screen that move according to your phone’s gyroscope and accelerometer. So, if you’re riding in a car, the dots will follow the same motion/movement as the vehicle. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/8ABMz9a via IFTTT

YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket gets cheaper and better for game day

TL;DR New YouTube TV customers can get NFL Sunday Ticket for $240, thanks to a discount of up to 50%. Existing subscribers pay $378, while the standalone YouTube Primetime Channels package costs $480. Custom multiviews can now combine Sunday Ticket games with other channels and NFL RedZone. YouTube TV entered September with a much stronger sports pitch after completing its ESPN Unlimited integration , putting more live games and football tools directly inside the service. Now, just as the NFL’s first full Sunday approaches, YouTube has detailed what Sunday Ticket will cost for the 2026-2027 season, along with a major upgrade to how fans can watch multiple games. YouTube has laid out this season’s pricing, features, and game availability in a Reddit post and an updated support page . New subscribers can get NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV for $240 for the season, thanks to a discount of up to 50%. That price comes on top of the regular YouTube TV subscription. Existing Y...

Google’s latest experiment is now available to everyone, and it’s all about you

TL;DR Google’s Dreambeans experiment is now available to all users aged 18+ in the US on Android and iOS. Dreambeans uses information from connected Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, Search, and Gemini to create personalized stories and recommendations. Google Photos can make these stories even more personal by incorporating photos of you and your loved ones and suggesting things you could do together. Google has been experimenting with a rather unusual way to make your personal data feel a little more useful. A couple of months ago, it introduced Dreambeans , an experiment that turns information scattered across your Google apps into personalized stories and recommendations. Now, it’s opening the feature up much more widely. Dreambeans is now available to Google users aged 18 and older in the US on both Android and iOS. ...

Volvo XC40 PHEV is back with a new look, better sensors, and Gemini AI

Image
It's been about three years since Volvo discontinued its plug-in hybrid XC40. The mild hybrid version remains on sale in the US and elsewhere, alongside the electric EX40. Today, Volvo announced it was bringing back the PHEV version and giving it a major facelift. When it arrives at dealerships early next year, the new XC40 will have updated exterior styling, a gut-renovated interior featuring Google's Gemini AI assistant, enlarged infotainment screen, and a new sensor-and-software safety suite. As a hybrid, the XC40 serves as a bridge for customers who want better gas mileage but aren't ready for the pure EV lifestyle. Volvo itself needs t … Read the full story at The Verge.

CloudNC raises $20M to automate manufacturing’s most pressing bottlenecks

UK-based manufacturing software startup CloudNC announced Wednesday a $20 million B extension round, bringing its lifetime total raised amount to $128 million. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hAcFeST via IFTTT

Meta wants you to trust its Muse AI with your calendar, reminders, and bank accounts

TL;DR Meta’s agentic AI, Muse, is reportedly in a closed test phase. The company will use a waitlist and invite codes to slowly onboard users to the app. Muse will be able to handle tasks, manage emails, and track expenses on users’ bank accounts. Meta has been steadily rolling out updates to its AI services in recent months. The company decided to take on Gemini with Muse Spark and also released a local AI model last month. Now, it seems Meta is a step closer to an AI agent that will take the busywork off users’ hands. According to a report from Testing Catalog , the Meta Muse AI agent has finally moved out of internal testing and is in a limited closed alpha stage. The exact testing phase remains unclear, as the report later states that the agent is in a closed beta phase. However, Meta will apparently ask users to join a waitlist or enter an invite code before giving them access to Muse. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/umc4PpV via IFTTT

First Xiaomi, then the world: why Arm might give phone gaming a huge graphics boost

Image
The Xiaomi 18 Fold and its Xring O3 chip. China is getting first crack at a British technology that might change how mobile games are made and played. Today, the Xiaomi 18 Fold launches in mainland China with an Arm Mali G2-Ultra NX graphics processor inside its custom Xring O3 chip . What's so special about that? After five years of development, Arm now has an AI gaming graphics accelerator inside its GPU. By following Nvidia's playbook, Arm-powered phones are about to have PC-like technologies to make games run faster, at higher resolution, with advanced lighting techniques, all without using more power than they do today. The jagged edges you see in the mobile versions of popular … Read the full story at The Verge.

AI upscaling is about to transform Android gaming forever

Image
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Mobile graphics have increasingly closed the performance gap with integrated desktop-class GPUs and have even kept pace with cutting-edge rendering technologies and features typically found in gaming consoles and PCs. Ray tracing is one of the most recent examples, bringing a trimmed-down, lightweight version of the powerhouse lighting tech to our pockets at a fraction of the power draw. But in the meantime, desktop-class GPUs have raced ahead with neural network-assisted resolution upscaling and frame-rate generation, enabling 4K/120 fps gameplay without the traditional rendering effort. Well, mobile is catching up here, too. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/wnFukjf via IFTTT

Eric Wu’s newest company, out of stealth since May, is going after construction’s labor crunch

Eric Wu, who built and ran Opendoor before stepping away in 2022, has had his new company, NavigateAI, out of stealth since May — building AI copilots that give construction workers real-time, hands-free guidance through smartphones and Meta's AI glasses, backed by $25 million from Elad Gil, Khosla Ventures, and Lennar to tackle a labor shortage severe enough that data center projects alone now need 4,000 to 5,000 workers apiece. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/agElYkC via IFTTT

Oura finally confirms Ring 4 has a battery problem, and the fallout is staggering

TL;DR Oura has confirmed battery performance problems affected some Ring 4 units, contributing to an $84.4 million increase in warranty expenses. Oura replaced affected Ring 4s for free and, in some cases, even replaced devices after the one-year warranty had expired. Oura hasn’t revealed which Ring 4 batches were affected, so owners experiencing sudden or unusually fast battery drain should consider contacting support. Battery complaints about the Oura Ring 4 have been floating around online for a while, but we now have a much better indication that something was actually going wrong with at least some of those rings. And it comes with a rather eye-opening number attached. As reported by Gadgets & Wearables , Oura has disclosed battery performance problems with certain Ring 4 units in paperwork filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of its planned IPO. The company recorded an $84.4 million increase in warranty expenses during fiscal 2025, with Ring ...

Google Photos can now help you build outfits using items you already own

TL;DR Google Photos is getting two new features today: virtual wardrobe and Manual Photo Stacks. Virtual wardrobe creates a wardrobe of a user’s clothes and builds new outfits for them to try. With Manual Photo Stacks, users can select multiple photos and add them to a stack for easier organization. Google Photos is usually quite good at organizing photos and videos, and with the new Gemini Spark integration , things could get even easier. However, if you want more manual control over your library, the app is adding a couple of new features you’ll likely appreciate, including one that could help you look your best without spending hours wondering what to wear. Earlier this year, we reported that Google was finally working on bringing Manual Photo Stacks to Android after it had been available on iOS for nearly a year. That day is finally here, as the feature has started showing up for some members of the Android Authority team. With this feature, you’ll see a new “Stack Phot...

Seattle Times and Newsday sue OpenAI and Microsoft for infringement

Image
The OpenAI logo is displayed on a smartphone screen placed on a reflective surface on which the company's logo is projected in Creteil, France, on September 4, 2026, as OpenAI began rolling out GPT-6 Astra, its most advanced model to date. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images The Seattle Times and Newsday are just the latest plaintiffs to take OpenAI to court, alleging copyright infringement . The two outlets say the company used their journalism as training data for its AI models without permission and often reproduces passages from their reporting in response to user queries. This is similar to lawsuits filed by The New York Times , Ziff Davis , Merriam-Webster, and Encyclopedia Britannica against OpenAI. The Seattle Times and Newsday also named Microsoft as a defendant in the suit, since Copilot is built on OpenAI's technology. The publishers join a list of nearly 400 local newspapers that recent...

I bought the most boring Pixel 11 Pro color, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made

I like bright and colorful tech when I can get it. The red Nexus 5, Prism Green Galaxy S10 Plus, and Jade Pixel 10 Pro are just a few of the best-designed phones I’ve owned over the years. There’s nothing wrong with a black phone; I just think they’re boring. Yet, I’ve bought one this year. As much as I loved my Jade Pixel 10 Pro, I hated the shiny, slimy rails, and I couldn’t live with that for another year. Thankfully, Google finally gave me the option to forgo them with the Pixel 11 Pro. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/AgaWu1h via IFTTT

I finally tried XREAL’s fully-baked Android XR glasses, and now I’m counting down to launch

Image
I have been hearing about XREAL’s Project Aura glasses for so long, and all this while, I’ve found myself wondering whether they would truly live up to all the hype. After all, this is a completely new modality for Android, and as is often the case with early-stage tech, I’ve had my apprehensions about just how well-baked the experience would be. Now that I’ve had a chance to try the glasses out, I find myself counting days until they launch. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/v92zFXp via IFTTT

Seattle Times and Newsday are the latest publications to sue OpenAI and Microsoft

Two more news organizations are suing OpenAI and Microsoft over the supposed use of their journalism to train AI. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/weaIi7H via IFTTT

From cameras to speakers, UGREEN just launched a whole smart home ecosystem in one go

TL;DR UGREEN’s big smart home push involves the launch of a smart speaker, photo frame, and multiple cameras. The outdoor cameras are designed to work perfectly with the company’s new local-AI smart home hubs, and include both wired and solar-powered options. A smart speaker also makes it easy to connect with the company’s Uliya digital assistant. In addition to its pricey new smart home hubs , UGREEN is getting its smart home ambitions up to speed with a slate of its own hardware, including a speaker, photo frame, and trio of cameras. We’re looking at one indoor camera and two mountable outdoor cameras: the SynCare Indoor Cam ID500 Pro, SynCare PoE CAM OD600 Pro, and SynCare Battery Cam OD800 Pro. All three offer an 8MP, 4K main camera. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/fVmFwoy via IFTTT

OpenAI’s rogue agents keep escaping, with no formal process to investigate them

OpenAI’s latest agent swarm incident adds urgency to calls for independent investigations as researchers and lawmakers question whether AI labs should control the scope of their own safety reviews. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/ha0kGCA via IFTTT

Steve Ballmer got suspended by the NBA because of a podcast and a jumbotron corruption scandal

Image
INGLEWOOD, CA - JULY 19: A view of Halo Board inside the Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers new arena, during a press preview on July 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Last September, Steve Ballmer insisted in an ESPN interview that the Clippers weren't involved in a shady-looking $28 million endorsement deal for his star player, Kawhi Leonard, that involved no actual endorsing. Now, the former Microsoft CEO has been suspended by the NBA for a year, while the league says his team will forfeit five future draft picks and pay a $30 million fine, among other penalties. A year later, an NBA-commissioned 35-page report by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is basically calling him a liar, saying those claims were "inaccurate (at best) with respect to Mr. Ballmer" and "clearly false" when it came to Clippers presi … Read the full story at T...

Palo Alto Networks paid $500M for Thrive-backed Console, sources say

The acquisition also leaves Sequoia-backed Serval as the de facto startup leader in AI IT service automation, industry watchers believe. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hCwH8tU via IFTTT

Larry Page’s flying car company Pivotal loses its CEO

The company told TechCrunch he is "pursuing new endeavors." from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/q2r3dV9 via IFTTT

Reliance’s JioHotstar takes its streaming empire global — without sports

JioHotstar will only have entertainment content when it launches in the UK, Canada, and Singapore. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/CmOhYd4 via IFTTT