Three billion users will soon navigate WhatsApp without exposing their personal phone numbers. The platform is rolling out a username system designed to enhance privacy, allowing individuals to connect with others through unique handles rather than the digits tied to their SIM cards, starting with early reservations this week.
Political appointees could soon hold veto power over $1 trillion in federal research funding. A sweeping 412-page regulatory proposal from the Office of Management and Budget, currently open for public comment, risks dismantling the existing scientific infrastructure by subjecting academic grants to direct, non-expert oversight across 42 federal agencies.
When police targeted a 2019 bank robbery suspect in Virginia, they did not look for a specific individual; they cast a digital net over everyone within 300 meters of the scene. Now, the Supreme Court is deciding whether these geofence warrants violate the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches.
Xgimi is betting that privacy-conscious users want a heads-up display without the baggage of integrated cameras. The MemoMind One, launching via Kickstarter today, ditches optical sensors for a lightweight design that projects a monochrome green interface directly into the wearer's line of sight, though the experience remains a work in progress.
After launching Blackstone from a napkin sketch in 2008 and riding a pandemic-era TikTok wave, CEO Roger Dahle has completed a high-stakes merger with legacy brand Weber. Now at the helm of both, Dahle is navigating antitrust scrutiny, supply chain shifts, and the challenge of blending two vastly different corporate cultures.
“You’re saying, ‘Look, if you guys get invested, we promise we’re going to take you somewhere worth going,’” says creator John Griffin. This contract defines the modern mystery series, where the burden of satisfying an audience’s curiosity often outweighs the initial thrill of building an incomprehensible puzzle.
A year after its initial announcement, the Busy Bar is finally hitting the market on July 14. Developed by the team behind the Flipper Zero, this desktop device uses a 72 x 16 pixelated LED screen to signal availability, aiming to curb unwanted interruptions for remote workers and office professionals alike.
Faced with a rapidly shifting media landscape and the relentless pressure of streaming competition, Comcast is carving itself in two. The conglomerate will separate its core broadband and wireless operations from its sprawling entertainment portfolio, housing NBCUniversal and Sky within a distinct, independent entity by late 2025.
Prosecutors built their case against Jonathan Rinderknecht on a digital trail of iPhone location data, security footage, and his own ChatGPT history. Yet, when presented with the defendant’s AI-generated fire imagery and erratic chatbot rants, jurors remained unconvinced, ultimately deadlocking 10-2 in favor of the defense.
The release of Zhipu AI’s GLM-5.2 has ignited a debate over national security, as researchers suggest the Chinese model rivals the performance of Anthropic’s Mythos in identifying software vulnerabilities. This development underscores a shrinking gap in AI capabilities between Beijing and Washington’s top-tier developers.
Streaming was once the promised land of television: a reprieve from the endless, five-minute commercial breaks of cable, bundled with a modest monthly price tag. In 2010, Netflix offered a standalone service for just $7.99, establishing a standard that prioritized viewer experience over the relentless pursuit of ad revenue.
Surpassing the American-built El Capitan, China’s new LineShine supercomputer has claimed the top spot on the TOP500 list. The machine marks the first time a Chinese system has led the global ranking since 2018, effectively bypassing heavy US trade restrictions on high-end chip exports and specialized GPU hardware.
Peabody Award-winning journalist Kai Wright has chronicled the AIDS epidemic and dissected the American experience, yet his most stubborn stance concerns a device he refuses to buy new. Between hosting Stateside and digging in his garden, Wright remains a vocal critic of the planned obsolescence defining modern smartphone culture.
Tony Fadell stepped away from the Apple spotlight following his pivotal role in the iPhone’s creation, only to find himself lured back into the product game by the sheer frustration of an outdated home thermostat. This pivot sparked a mission to overhaul domestic climate control, ultimately shaping the modern smart home.
At $280, the new TMD Chain Lock demands a premium that dwarfs the cost of traditional security hardware. Developed by a company that specializes in securing bank ATMs, the device replaces physical master keys with a digital, proximity-based system, attempting to justify its price through high-end materials and insurance-certified durability.
When Nintendo leaves a beloved franchise to gather dust, independent creators often step in to fill the void. With Star Fox absent from the release calendar since the Wii U era, a new wave of developers is betting that the rail shooter genre isn't dead, but simply waiting for a modern evolution.
With the release of OS 2.5, Teenage Engineering is transforming the EP-133 KO II from a capable sampler into a robust production powerhouse. The update introduces long-requested features including audio-over-USB functionality, an arpeggiator, and creative sample rate manipulation that injects distinct lo-fi character into the device’s workflow.
Following two weeks of stalled negotiations, the Trump administration has granted Anthropic permission to restore Mythos 5 access for a restricted group of cyber defenders and infrastructure providers. While this marks a breakthrough, the public-facing Fable 5 model remains grounded, with no clear timeline for a wider release.
Facing mounting pressure from rising component costs, Apple is lobbying the U.S. administration for permission to source RAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies. The supplier, currently flagged by the Pentagon for alleged ties to the Chinese military, presents a high-stakes reputational gamble for the tech giant’s supply chain strategy.
When Tim Cook recently labeled Apple’s pricing strategy as unsustainable, he shifted the burden of the industry’s AI obsession directly onto the consumer. With the 16-inch MacBook Pro and 11-inch iPad Air seeing significant price hikes, the company is blaming the surging cost of essential hardware components on the AI boom.
After scouring thousands of discounts over four days of Prime Day coverage, the most significant purchase wasn't a high-tech gadget or a luxury upgrade. Instead, it was a specialized pair of Japanese-made Vampliers, a utilitarian tool specifically engineered to salvage stripped screws that have long plagued home repair projects.
Four years after the Connectivity Standards Alliance promised to dismantle walled gardens in Amsterdam, the smart home industry remains locked in a battle against fragmentation. While the initial rollout of the Matter standard faltered under technical friction and ecosystem silos, the industry is now pivoting to salvage its original vision.
Amid a crowded market of voice-controlled hardware, a new smart speaker has emerged as a standout contender for those seeking high-fidelity audio performance. While consumer tech often relies on iterative updates, this particular device manages to distinguish itself through both its refined build quality and its intuitive integration into the home ecosystem.
One day after reports surfaced that the Trump administration would restrict its rollout, OpenAI has debuted the GPT-5.6 model suite. The release features three distinct tiers—Sol, Terra, and Luna—arriving amidst heightened scrutiny over security risks and a government-mandated approval process for early access customers.
With discounts reaching up to 40 percent, Govee’s latest Prime Day sale brings its lineup of smart lighting to the lowest prices ever recorded. The promotion covers a range of fixtures, from compact desk units to high-output floor lamps, offering a budget-conscious alternative to premium smart home lighting ecosystems.
Prime Day often turns a routine search for USB cables into an impulsive shopping spree for the delightfully unnecessary. While these items rarely qualify as essential, they represent the kind of quirky, clever tech that transforms a workspace or home library into something far more interesting for less than $100.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is bringing his hardware expertise to OpenAI through the acquisition of his firm, io. While Ive will remain independent through his LoveFrom studio, the deal integrates 55 specialists into the AI giant to develop a new category of screen-free, contextually aware consumer devices.
Apple is preparing to challenge established eyewear brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley by positioning its future smart glasses as a direct substitute for standard spectacles. Rather than limiting its scope to tech rivals, the company aims to capture a portion of the $200 billion global eyewear market through mainstream appeal.
A tactile, screen-free device that invites users to interact without hesitation is currently in development. Sam Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive confirmed at the Emerson Collective’s 2025 Demo Day that their joint project has moved into the prototyping phase, with a release window set for under two years.
Apple is actively developing custom silicon for a new line of smart glasses, aiming to challenge the growing footprint of Meta’s Ray-Ban wearables. By leveraging modified Apple Watch architecture, the company intends to support complex multi-camera arrays, setting a production target for these devices between late 2026 and 2027.
