Apple has introduced new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 chip. The new iPad Air can be pre-ordered starting Tuesday, and will launch on March 12. The device starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. It comes in four colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray,…
Category: Hardware
Climate, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, moonwatt, sodium-ion, solar storage, Startups
Moonwatt secures $8.3M to dial up solar’s staying power with sodium-ion storage
The drive to decarbonize our economies through electrification and clean energy continues to generate momentum around battery technologies, as storage has a key role to play in enabling the green transition. While renewables are clean sources of energy compared to burning fossil fuels, their power output isn’t always consistent. In the case of solar —…
AI, Asia Pacific, china, chips, Global Security News, Hardware, nvidia
Singapore arrests alleged Nvidia chip smugglers
Singapore just arrested 3 men for allegedly smuggling Nvidia chips. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, TSMC
TSMC pledges to spend $100B on US chip facilities
Chipmaker TSMC said that it aims to invest “at least” $100 billion in chip manufacturing plants in the U.S. over the next four years as part of an effort to expand the company’s network of semiconductor factories. President Donald Trump announced the news during a press conference Monday. TSMC’s cash infusion will fund the construction…
AI, data centers, Enterprise, export controls, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, nvidia, semiconductors
Chinese buyers are getting Nvidia Blackwell chips despite U.S. export controls
Upholding export controls on semiconductor chips made in the U.S. may be harder than Washington D.C. thinks. Chinese buyers are getting their hands on computing systems with Nvidia’s Blackwell chips through third-party traders located in other regions, the Wall Street Journal reported. Buyers in Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam are buying these resources for their own…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, jolla ai assistant, mindy, mwc, privacy
Jolla founders take the wraps off an AI assistant to power up their push for privacy-friendly GenAI
Jolla, the erstwhile mobile maker turned privacy-centric AI business — via sister startup, Venho.ai — has taken the wraps off an AI assistant it says is a “fully private” alternative to data-mining cloud giants crawling all over your personal information. The AI assistant is designed to integrate with apps like email, calendar and social…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Treadmill
Aviron’s $2,499 gamified treadmill will keep you on your toes
Aviron’s home fitness equipment operates on a simple principle: People hate working out. But many of those same people love playing video games. Perhaps the only thing standing between them and a more active lifestyle is some health competition and well-timed distraction. It’s the same gamification concept that made Nintendo’s Wii and VR games like…
chips, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief, Intel
Intel delays its Ohio chip factory to 2030
Intel’s first chip fabrication plant in Ohio may not open until 2030 at the earliest. According to a report in The Columbus Dispatch, Intel has slowed the building of its promised $28 billion semiconductor project in central Ohio for the second time this year. Construction won’t be completed until 2030, the chipmaker told the publication,…
Global Security News, Hardware, Security
New Vo1d botnet variant infects 1.6 million Android TVs worldwide
A new variant of the Vo1d malware botnet has infected 1,590,299 Android TV devices across 226 countries, recruiting devices as part of anonymous proxy server networks. […]
Global Security News, Hardware, Security
Vo1d malware botnet grows to 1.6 million Android TVs worldwide
A new variant of the Vo1d malware botnet has grown to 1,590,299 infected Android TV devices across 226 countries, recruiting devices as part of anonymous proxy server networks. […]
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief, Meta, project aria
Meta’s new AR glasses for research can measure heart rate
Meta has unveiled the next generation of its Project Aria augmented reality glasses for research: Aria Gen 2. Aria Gen 2, which arrives roughly five years after the first-generation Aria device, adds new capabilities to the platform, including an upgraded sensor suite and Meta’s custom silicon. Aria Gen 2 has a PPG sensor for measuring…
AI, Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iPhone, iPhone 16e, review
Apple iPhone 16e review: An A18 chip and Apple Intelligence for $599
Apple delivered its latest budget handset, the $599 iPhone 16e, without pomp. There was no big event in person, nor was there one online. No journalists scrambled through hoards of colleagues to snap photos of the phone. Instead, CEO Tim Cook tweeted out that new hardware was on the way, days before Apple announced the…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, data center, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Space, SpaceX
Lonestar and Phison’s data center infrastructure is headed to the moon
Data storage and resilience company Lonestar and semiconductor and storage company Phison launched a data center infrastructure on a SpaceX rocket on Wednesday that’s headed to the moon. The companies are sending Phison’s Pascari storage — solid state drives (SSDs) built for data centers —packed with Lonestar’s clients’ data on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, pixel watch, pixel watch 3
Pixel Watch 3 is getting ‘Loss of Pulse Detection’ in the US in March
Google announced on Wednesday that it has received FDA clearance for the Pixel Watch 3’s “Loss of Pulse Detection” feature and will be launching it in the U.S. at the end of March. The feature can detect when a user’s heart stops beating due to an event like primary cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure,…
AI, Alexa, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
Amazon unveils a new and improved Alexa, Alexa+
At an event in NYC on Wednesday, Amazon announced an upgraded Alexa experience — Alexa+ — powered by generative AI technologies. Onstage, Amazon’s devices and services chief Panos Panay called it a “complete re-architecture” of the AI assistant. “[W]hile the vision of Alexa has been ambitious and remains incredibly compelling, until right this moment —…
Climate, Fusion, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
German startup wins accolade for its fusion reactor design
Proxima Fusion, a two-year-old, German nuclear fusion startup, has published plans for a working fusion power plant in a peer-reviewed journal, in what is being touted as a step-change in the race to generate limitless energy. Today’s nuclear fission reactors create radioactive waste, whereas nuclear fusion releases vast amounts of energy, with zero carbon emissions and…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
What to expect from Amazon’s Alexa event on Wednesday
Amazon is hosting an Alexa-focused press event in NYC on Wednesday. Considering the company hasn’t held a major device presser in nearly two years — the last one was September 2023 — we’re expecting some splashy announcements. The event will not be live streamed. However, TechCrunch will be reporting on the ground. The festivities, emceed…
Apple, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, India
Apple Watch shipments surge in India
Apple Watch shipments in India grew 141% in 2024, while the country’s overall smartwatch market dipped 30% year-on-year. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Apple, Enterprise, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, Houston, manufacturing
Apple commits $500B to US manufacturing, including a new AI server facility in Houston
The U.S. government is leaning hard on tech companies to make more commitments to building their businesses in the country, and Big Tech is falling in line. On Monday, Apple laid out its own plans in that area: it will spend $500 billion over the next four years in areas like high-end manufacturing, engineering, and…
AI, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, vision pro
The Vision Pro is getting Apple Intelligence in April
Apple Intelligence is heading to the Vision Pro, as part of an upcoming operating system update. Apple confirmed on Friday that its generative AI platform will arrive on the extended reality headset as part of VisionOS 2.4. A beta version of the software is currently available for developers. The public version is set for an…
AI, Apple, Emerging Tech, Gadgets, Global Security News, Hardware, India, iPhone 16e, iPhone SE
In India, Apple’s iPhone 16e faces stiff competition from older models
Apple has brought the iPhone 16e to offer a more affordable option within the iPhone 16 lineup, targeting emerging markets including India. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, HP, Humane
Inside the Humane acquisition: HP offers big raises to some, others immediately laid off
Hours after the acquisition was announced, several Humane employees received job offers. Others were not so lucky. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iPhone, iPhone SE
Apple’s $599 iPhone 16e adds AI, ditches the fingerprint scanner
As anticipated, Apple revealed the long-awaited iPhone SE refresh Tuesday. The fourth generation device arrives three years after the last major update to the budget-minded smartphone. This one arrives with a twist, however. The SE branding has been dropped to keep the device more inline with the company’s flagships. The new iPhone 6e starts at…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, chips, data centers, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, semiconductor
Hyperlume wants to make chip-to-chip communication faster and more efficient
Data centers consumed 4.4% of U.S. electricity in 2023 and are estimated to use up to 12% by 2028. The majority of the energy data centers suck up is used to help transfer data from chip to chip. A company called Hyperlume is looking to make that process more energy-efficient while also speeding it up.…
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Murena, murena pixel tablet, privacy
Murena now sells a ‘deGoogled’ Pixel Tablet
Murena, the French privacy firm that’s forked Android to deliver so-called deGoogled smartphones, has repeated the trick with a tablet. So if you’re keen to get your hands on a shiny Pixel Tablet — but without the usual bundle of Google apps and services — Murena has you covered. The Murena Pixel Tablet runs the…
AI, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Humane
Humane’s AI Pin is dead
Humane announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by HP for $116 million. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pins. Humane told customers who had already purchased an AI Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month, at 12 PM PST on February 28,…
AI, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Humane
Humane’s AI Pin is dead, as HP buys startup for $116M
Humane announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by HP for $116 million. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pins. Humane alerted customers who have already purchased the Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month — at 12 PM PST on February 28,…
AI, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Humane
Humane’s AI Pin is dead, as HP buys startup’s assets for $116M
Humane announced on Tuesday that most of its assets have been acquired by HP for $116 million. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pins. Humane alerted customers who have already purchased the Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month — at 12 PM PST…
Biotech & Health, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, hormone testing, Level Zero Health, Startups
Level Zero Health banks $6.9M to prove wearable medtech can take the strain out of hormone testing
Level Zero Health, a female-founded medical device startup that’s aiming to break new ground by developing a device for continuous hormone monitoring, has closed an oversubscribed $6.9 million pre-seed funding round despite being only a little over a year old. The startup wants to do away with the need for invasive blood draws and support…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, Intel, TSMC
Broadcom, TSMC reportedly exploring deals that would split up Intel
Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are separately exploring deals to take over parts of Intel, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Broadcom is reportedly considering an acquisition of Intel’s chip-design and marketing business, and would want a partner for the company’s manufacturing business, while TSMC is reportedly looking at controlling…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief, Meta, report, robotics, rumor
Meta’s next big bet may be humanoid robotics
Meta is forming a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division to build robots that can assist with physical tasks, Bloomberg reported. The team will be responsible for developing humanoid robotics hardware, potentially including hardware that can perform household chores. Meta’s new robotics group, which will be led by Marc Whitten, driverless car startup…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, chips, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief, Meta, semiconductors, Softbank
Arm is launching its own chip this year with Meta as a customer
Public semiconductor company Arm will start making its own chips this year after landing a high-profile enterprise customer. Arm, which is majorly owned by SoftBank, will start making its own chips now that Meta has signed on as a customer, according to the Financial Times. The chip is expected to be a CPU for servers…
AI, Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iPhone, Tim Cook
Tim Cook teases Apple product news for February 19 — likely the iPhone SE
Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X Thursday to tease “the newest member of the family,” set to arrive February 19. The safe money is on a fourth generation iPhone SE. The budget-minded handset had previously been tipped for a potential release a week prior, but we got new Beats headphones instead. It’s been three…
acquisition, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, hamr, hard drive disk, Hardware, HDD, Intevac, Merger, Seagate
Seagate acquires Intevac, which makes equipment for hard disk drives, for $119M
Seagate, the data storage company, has announced its intent to acquire Intevac, a hard drive equipment producer, in an all-cash deal worth $119 million. Seagate said on Thursday that it’ll pay $4 per share in a tender offer for Intevac, which is publicly traded. Seagate will initially purchase a minimum of “at least one share…
AI, alibaba, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Asia Pacific, china, Gadgets, Global Security News, Hardware
Alibaba confirms Apple deal bringing AI features to iPhones in China
Alibaba on Thursday confirmed recent reports of a partnership with Apple that’s set to bring AI features to iPhones sold in China. The deal is an important one for Apple, as iPhone sales have dropped precipitously in the world’s largest smartphone market. The handset experienced an 11% year-over-year drop in China, according to Apple’s most…
defense tech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, helsing, Startups
Germany’s Helsing doubles down on drones for Ukraine, scales up manufacturing
Helsing, the German defense tech startup backed by Spotify’s Daniel Ek and others, is producing 6,000 HX-2 strike drones in addition to the 4,000 HF-1 strike drones financed by Germany that are currently being delivered to Ukraine. “We are scaling up production of HX-2 in response to additional orders from Ukraine,” Helsing co-founder Gundbert Scherf…
AI, Apple, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, home robot, robot, robotics
Apple is reportedly exploring humanoid robots
Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robotics form factors, according to a new scoop from longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The intel comes on the heels of a research paper from the iPhone-maker that explores human interactions with “non-anthropomorphic” robots – specifically a Pixar-style lamp. While Apple’s research paper highlights elements that could inform…
acquisition, AI, Funding, FuriosaAI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief, Meta, report, rumor
Report: Meta in talks to acquire AI chip firm FuriosaAI
Meta is reportedly in talks to acquire a South Korean chip firm as the social media giant looks to bolster its AI hardware infrastructure. Meta may announce its intent to purchase FuriosaAI, a chip startup founded by former Samsung and AMD employees, as soon as this month, per Forbes. FuriosaAI develops chips that speed up…
Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, heart rate, powerbeats, powerbeats pro 2
Apple brings heart rate monitoring to Powerbeats Pro 2
Apple Tuesday announced the long-awaited debut of Powerbeats Pro 2. The new headphones arrive nearly six years after the original Powerbeats hit the market. The new model maintains the familiar ear hook for workouts, while delivering upgraded sound, better battery life, and a wireless charging case. The earbuds also mark a major next step in…
AI, alibaba, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Asia Pacific, deepseek, Global Security News, Hardware
Apple reportedly partners with Alibaba after rejecting DeepSeek for China AI launch
According to a report published Tuesday by The Information, Apple is partnering Alibaba to bring its Apple Intelligence platform to China. The deal is said to arrive after the iPhone maker reportedly explored – but ultimately rejected – a potential partnership with uber-buzzy AI startup, DeepSeek, as well as with Bytedance. Apple initially selected Baidu…
Apple, Biotech & Health, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, heart rate monitoring
TikTok influencers are wearing Apple Watches on their ankles
A report from The New York Times over the weekend highlights the small – but apparently growing – trend of users wearing their Apple Watches on their ankles. What’s becoming something of a viral sensation on social platforms like TikTok is the result of a pragmatic decision. Some Apple Watch owners’ wrists are simply too…
AI, Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iPhone, iPhone SE, powerbeats pro, powerbeats pro 2
Apple could launch a new iPhone SE and PowerBeats Pro 2 on February 11
Apple could launch a new iPhone SE and PowerBeats Pro headphones as early as February 11, according to reporting from Bloomberg. The announcement is likely to be on the smaller side, given that the company has not yet issued invites for either an in-person or virtual event. A new iPhone SE would mark the fourth…
AI, Apple, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, home robot, Lamp, Pixar, robotics
Apple’s new research robot takes a page from Pixar’s playbook
Last month, Apple offered up more insight into its consumer robotics work via a research paper that argues that traits like expressive movements are key to optimizing human-robot interaction. “Like most animals,” starts the report, “humans are highly sensitive to motion and subtle changes in movement.” To illustrate its point, Apple pays homage to Pixar,…
Apple, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, lawsuits, leaks
Ex-Apple engineer issues apology after lawsuit over Journal app, Vision Pro leaks is dismissed
A former iOS engineer, who was sued by Apple for leaking confidential information to journalists, has issued an apology after the lawsuit against him was dismissed. The lawsuit, which was filed last year, alleged that Andrew Aude sent thousands of messages to journalists at The Wall Street Journal and The Information about more than a…
AI, Facebook, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, home robots, Meta, robotics
Meta is studying how humans and robots can collaborate on housework
Meta Friday announced PARTNR, a new program designed to study human-robot interaction (HRI). The research is specifically focused on how humans and robots might collaborate in the home environment. That includes mundane tasks like cleaning, cooking, and picking up food deliveries. Automated housework is a decades-old dream, most prominently captured by The Jetsons’ Rosie. The…
AI, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google Photos, Hardware, Magic editor, synthid, watermarking
Google is adding digital watermarks to images edited with Magic Editor AI
Google on Thursday announced that effective this week, it will begin adding a digital watermark to images in Photos that are edited with generative AI. The watermark applies specifically to images that are altered using the Reimagine feature found in Magic Editor on Pixel 9 devices. Announced in 2024, Reimagine utilizes generative AI to alter…
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, Keyboard, mechanical keyboard, qwertykeys, Tariffs
Keyboard maker suspends U.S. shipments over Trump tariffs on Chinese goods
The mechanical keyboard maker Qwertykeys announced Wednesday that it has suspended all U.S. product shipments owing to new tariffs levied by the Trump administration. The Guangdong-based outfit cites a February 1 announcement of 10% tariffs on imported Chinese goods as the motivating factor. “This new policy replaces all previous tariff exemptions, including the exemption for…
Apple, Global Security News, Hardware, iOS, iPad, iPhone, locking apps, mobile apps, mobile operating systems, Mobility, Security, Software
How to Lock Apps on iPad
Set your iPad into kiosk mode and pass it around without worrying about someone opening other apps or accessing unwanted content through an accessibility feature called Guided Access. Learning how to apps on iPad using the Guided Access ensures better security and control over device usage.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, humanoid robots, humanoids, hyundai, rai institute, reinforcement learning, robotics
Boston Dynamics joins forces with its former CEO to speed the learning of its Atlas humanoid robot
Boston Dynamics Wednesday announced a partnership designed to bring improved reinforcement learning to its electric Atlas humanoid robot. The tie-up is with the Robotics & AI Institute (RAI Institute), earlier known as The Boston Dynamics AI Institute. Both organizations were founded by Marc Raibert, a former MIT professor who served as Boston Dynamics’ CEO for…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, semiconductor chips, Softbank, TC
Softbank could soon buy Renee James’ Ampere chip company for about $6.5B
And it’s the latest in an ongoing saga over the company’s future ownership. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
Sonos lays off 200 ahead of rumored set-top box release
Sonos announced that it has laid off 200 people in a letter posted to its site Wednesday. The news follows a 100-person layoff in August. Both rounds arrive in the wake of a disastrously botched update to the Sonos app that alienated broad swaths of the premium audio hardware firm’s extremely loyal fanbase. The new…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Gadgets, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief
Amazon reportedly gears up to release next-gen Alexa
Amazon may be gearing up to release a next-gen, AI-powered Alexa experience, according to Reuters. Per the outlet’s report, Amazon plans to preview an upgraded version of Alexa, the company’s smart home assistant that runs on a number of first- and third-party devices, at an event on February 26. The revamped Alexa is said to…
giraffe, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, inventory, robotics, warehouse, warehouse robotics
Brightpick’s new warehouse robot can reach 20-foot-high shelves
Brightpick, a maker of autonomous mobile robots, on Tuesday announced a lofty addition to its current line. The appropriately named Giraffe system is notable for its large, retractable platform capable of reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters) in height to pick items from warehouse shelves. It’s a novel approach to warehouses with ceilings well…
Exploits, Global Security News, Hardware, Security
Zyxel won’t patch newly exploited flaws in end-of-life routers
Zyxel has issued a security advisory about actively exploited flaws in CPE Series devices, warning that it has no plans to issue fixing patches and urging users to move to actively supported models. […]
AI, Gadgets, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, new products, openai, startup, Trademark, trademark application, trademark filing, uspto
OpenAI’s new trademark application hints at humanoid robots, smart jewelry, and more
Last Friday, AI startup OpenAI filed a new application to trademark products associated with its brand — “OpenAI” — with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Normally, this wouldn’t be newsworthy. Companies file for trademarks all the time. But in the application, OpenAI hints at new product lines both nearer-term and of a more…
Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, lawsuit
Apple will pay $20M to settle Watch battery swelling suit, ‘denies wrongdoing’
Apple has agreed to pay $20 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit over battery swelling on the Apple Watch. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2019, the suit alleges that the problem affected the first four Apple Watch models. Battery swelling is pretty much what it sounds like:…
Climate, Europe, Global Security News, Hardware, solar
WeDoSolar pivots to B2B, after stake acquired by Chinese solar giant
Last year Wind and solar energy overtook fossil fuels to provide 30% of the EU’s electricity. With that in the background, startups in the solar space have been riding a generational change in how we get our power. In 2022 we covered how a small B2C European startup planned to bring solar to homes via…
Biotech & Health, employee wellness, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Nutrix, Startups, stress
Backed by Mayo Clinic, Nutrix’s hardware monitors worker stress
Stress isn’t just bad for you — it’s also bad for your employer. Factoring in absenteeism, diminished productivity, turnover, medical costs, and accidents, the non-profit American Institute of Stress estimates that workplace stress costs U.S. businesses over $300 billion annually. One way to measure stress is by monitoring cortisol levels. Even influencers know this, with…
AI, Apple, Apps, china, earnings, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Tim Cook
Apple quarterly revenue increases, even as China sales decline 11%
Apple’s latest earnings were a mixed bag filled with slipping iPhone sales and countered by rising revenue. Reporting after the bell Thursday, the iPhone maker’s overall revenue in the first quarter of 2025 beat Wall Street expectations, with a 4% bump to $124.3 billion over the same time last year. Apple reported net income of…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, Layoffs, rick osterloh
Google issues ‘voluntary exit’ program for Android, Chrome, and Pixel employees
Google SVP Rick Osterloh issued an internal memo to the Pixel/Android/Chrome team Thursday, announcing a “voluntary exit program.” TechCrunch has confirmed the letter’s existence with the company, after it was first reported by 9 to 5 Google. In a statement to TechCrunch, a spokesperson notes, The Platforms & Devices team is offering a voluntary exit…
AI, Copilot, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Microsoft, snapdragon x, Surface, surface laptop, surface pro
Microsoft’s Copilot-focused Surface Pro and Laptop PCs ship with Snapdragon and Intel options
At an event in New York City on Thursday, Microsoft unveiled two additions to the Surface line of PCs. The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop both arrive with Copilot+ PC certification. Announced in May 2024, the program aims to identify business-focused devices that are designed specifically for the company’s AI platform, Copilot. It’s a…
AI, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Asia Pacific, china, deepseek, deepseek-r1, generative ai, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, Hardware, Trump
What DeepSeek, China, and Trump mean for Apple ahead of its Q1 earnings
These days, nothing is certain about the tech market or the world at large. Even NVIDIA’s seemingly bulletproof stock took a hammering on Monday, enduring a $589 billion market cap decline after China-based DeepSeek raised questions for investors about more efficient AI models. But Apple’s stock has remained steady ahead of its first quarter earnings…
AI, figure, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, humanoid, OSHA, robotics, Safety
Figure AI details plan to improve humanoid robot safety in the workplace
Safety is often overlooked in the rush to bring humanoid robots to the workplace. As high-profile corporations ranging from retailers like Amazon to carmakers such as Mercedes and BMW have announced humanoid pilots for factories and warehouses, conversations around worker safety are regularly buried beneath industry hype. One Bay Area-robotics firm is hoping to correct…
fulfillment, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, robotics, warehouse
Ambi Robotics built a clever solution to automate pallet packing
U.C. Berkeley spinout Ambi Robotics announced Tuesday the arrival of AmbiStack, a novel system that automates pallet packing. The system features an industrial robotic arm mounted above a conveyer belt that moves along the X and Y axes and lifts boxes up via suction cups mounted to a gripper. Once lifted from the conveyer belt,…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Prime Air, robotics, Transportation, U.K.
Amazon’s Prime Air drone service is headed to this UK town
Amazon announced Monday it has picked the north England town of Darlington as the first site for its planned U.K. drone delivery expansion. Amazon was expected to expand Prime Air to the U.K. and Italy in 2024. After missing that initial target, the company opted to not share a timeline for this latest launch. Instead,…
Apple, Global Security News, Hardware, Security
New Apple CPU side-channel attacks steals data from browsers
A team of security researchers has disclosed new side-channel vulnerabilities in modern Apple processors that could steal sensitive information from web browsers. […]
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Jellyfish, robotics, robots
Cornell’s robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid battery
Researchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox flow battery (RFB) also mimics biological functions, as it releases electrolytic fluids, which dissolve to create energy through chemical reaction. The first two robots on display are a modular worm and a jellyfish, designed by…
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, Kickstarter, Pebble, smartwatch
Smartwatch pioneer and Kickstarter darling Pebble is returning in a new form
Four years after launching the (then) most lucrative crowdfunding campaign in Kickstarter’s history, Pebble abruptly ended. The hardware startup closed 2016 by filing for insolvency, before being sold off to Fitbit. The fitness-tracking giant built much of the Ionic smartwatch with help from former Pebblers, along with the company’s pioneering software stack. The first Apple…
Apple, Apple Intelligence, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iOS, ios 18, iPad
iOS 18 hits 68% adoption across iPhones, per new Apple figures
Apple released new figures Friday, highlighting user adoption of iOS 18. Released in public form back in September 2024, the mobile operating system is now installed on 68% of compatible devices. That number jumps to 78% on iPhones released in the last four years. As for the remaining iPhones out there, 19% are running iOS…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Startups
French e-bike startup Angell nears bankruptcy
Angell, a French smart electric bike startup, has announced in an email to customers that the company is declaring insolvency and approaching a court to ask for judicial liquidation. “It’s over for Angell,” said company co-founder and CEO Marc Simoncini on Instagram. (He also happens to be a judge on the French version of “Shark…
fitbit, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, Hardware, ionic
Fitbit fined $12M over Ionic smartwatch burns
Fitbit has settled with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) over a longstanding defeat that caused some wearers to sustain burns. The deal finds the Google-owned fitness company paying a $12.25 million penalty for the issues surround its Ionic smartwatch. The issue dates back to 2018, continuing on into 2020. Fitbit agreed to recall…
AI, Gadgets, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, piano, ROLI, roli piano
Roli releases a 49-key educational keyboard and generative AI play
Roli on Thursday announced its latest educational product at the NAAM audio show in Anaheim. The simply named Roli Piano builds on products like the Roli Airwave and Piano M, more than doubling the latter’s key count to 49. The Piano is much like its predecessor in most ways, with MIDI keys that light up…
galaxy s25 edge, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung galaxy s25 edge
Samsung Unpacked: Samsung teased an extra-thin S25 model at Unpacked
Samsung Unpacked’s “one more thing” was a bit of a weird one. After the presentation ended, the company rolled a brief pre-packaged video of the Galaxy Edge — not to be confused with the “Star Wars” theme park of the same name. Though limited, the reveal was confirmation of earlier rumors that the hardware giant…
Biotech & Health, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, smartglasses, wearables
Researchers develop a way to power wearables through human skin
The dream of battery-free devices has taken an unlikely turn, as Carnegie Mellon researchers debuted Power-Over-Skin. The technology allows for electrical currents to travel through human skin in a bid to power things like blood sugar monitors, pacemakers, and even consumer wearables like smartglasses fitness trackers. Researchers note the tech is still in “early stages.”…
AI, Gadgets, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung unpacked
Samsung Unpacked: Samsung’s Galaxy S25 will support Content Credentials to identify AI-generated images
Another tidbit just dropped following Wednesday’s Samsung Unpacked event. This one comes courtesy of Adobe, which notes that the new Galaxy S25 line will be the first handsets to support the Content Credentials standard, aimed at labeling AI-generated content as such. The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) group — of which Samsung is…
Android, Biotech & Health, gemini, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, hearing aid, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung unpacked
Samsung Unpacked 2025: Google is bringing improved hearing aid features
Alongside a slew of announcements tied to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 launch at Samsung Unpacked 2025 on Wednesday, Google announced a pair of accessibility improvements for Android. This includes improvements to the screen reader, along with hearing aid functionality. The hearing aid updates arrive after Google expanded the offering as part of its Android 15 rollout.…
gemini, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google gemini, Hardware, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung unpacked
The Samsung Galaxy S25’s side button fires up Google Gemini
A new day has dawned for the Samsung side button. At Samsung Unpacked 2025 on Wednesday, the company announced a small — but meaningful — tweak arriving on the Galaxy S25 line. As it continues to focus more efforts on mobile AI, Samsung is offering up easier access to Google Gemini, by way of the…
AI, Gadgets, gemini, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung unpacked
Samsung’s AI-focused Galaxy S25 Ultra ships February 7 for $1,300
Samsung on Wednesday announced the latest additions to its Galaxy S flagship smartphone line at the company’s annual Samsung Unpacked 2025. As suspected, the defining characteristic of the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra is the company’s continued focus on mobile AI — a fact that hardly distinguishes the consumer electronics giant from the rest…
AI, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, samasung galaxy s25, Samsung, samsung unpacked
Samsung Galaxy S25 line compared
Samsung revealed three new additions to its Galaxy smartphone line at Samsung Unpacked 2025 on Wednesday. The news didn’t bring too many surprises, as the line maintains its usual tiered system with the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The news finds the hardware in line with the rest of the mobile industry…
AI, gemini, Global IT News, Global Security News, google gemini, Hardware, Samsung, samsung galaxy s25, samsung unpacked
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 arrives with a better Google Gemini
At Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday, the company unveiled the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Google marked the occasion with a slew of Android updates, including key updates to its AI assistant, Gemini. Starting today, users can access an improved Gemini, which integrates into apps and services across a device. In…
AI, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, samsung unpacked
Google makes Circle to Search more helpful
At Samsung Unpacked 2025 on Wednesday, Google announced that it’s updating Circle to Search to make it easier for users to find information and get things done. The feature, which launched last year, allows people to search from anywhere on their phone by using gestures like circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping. Now Google is expanding…
Gadgets, Galaxy AI, galaxy s25, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, s25, Samsung, samsung unpacked
Samsung Unpacked 2025: Here’s how to watch and what we expect
The biggest reveal from CES press conference may well have been another press conference. The hardware giant closed out the main event by teasing the company’s upcoming show. The next Samsung Unpacked event is set for today at 10 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. ET. As with all recent Unpacked events, the big show will be…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Meta, Oakley, ray-ban meta, SMART Glasses, TC
Meta is building Oakley smart glasses for athletes: report
Meta’s Reality Labs is expanding its lineup of AI smart glasses with a new pair of Oakley-branded spectacles targeted at athletes, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Bloomberg reports the new smart glasses, with which Meta seeks to capitalize on the Ray-Ban Meta’s success, will be based on Oakley’s Sphaera glasses, and will shift the camera…
Gadgets, Galaxy AI, galaxy s25, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, s25, Samsung, samsung unpacked
Samsung Unpacked 2025: Here’s how to watch and what we expect
The biggest reveal from last week’s Samsung CES press conference may well have been another press conference. The hardware giant closed out the main event by teasing the company’s upcoming show. The next Samsung Unpacked event is set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT. As with all recent Unpacked events, next week’s big show will…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, symbotic, Walmart
Symbotic set to take over Walmart’s robotics business
Walmart and Symbotic announced a deal Tuesday that would find the Massachusetts robotics firm taking control of the mega-retailer’s automation business. Symbotic is paying $200 million in cash for the program, plus up to $350 million in “additional contingent consideration,” depending on how the deal shakes out. The relationship is more partnership than straight acquisition,…
Gaming, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Nintendo
Nintendo teases Mario Kart as first Switch 2 title
A console is only as good as its games. While Nintendo didn’t reveal anything in the way of specs for the forthcoming Switch 2 platform, the gaming giant showed off what appears to be the first game confirmed for the hybrid platform: a new take on the racing classic, Mario Kart. After all, it wouldn’t…
Gaming, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, nintendo switch 2
Nintendo unveils the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo shared the first images of the Nintendo Switch 2 in a video posted on YouTube. The successor to the widely popular game console will be simply called the Switch 2. As the name suggests, it shares the same design philosophy with a modular form factor. Right out of the gate, the video shows the…
Gadgets, Galaxy AI, galaxy s25, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, s25, Samsung, samsung unpacked
Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S25 on January 22 — here’s what we expect
The biggest reveal from last week’s Samsung CES press conference may well have been another press conference. The hardware giant closed out the main event by teasing the company’s upcoming show. The next Samsung Unpacked event is set for January 22 at 10 a.m. PT. As with all recent Unpackeds, next week’s big show will…
china, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, Huawei, Trump, TSMC
Biden administration adds 14 additional Chinese firms to trade blacklist
Days after pushing for sweeping AI chip export restriction, the Biden administration has added an additional 14 Chinese companies to its restricted trade list. This brings the full list up to 25 names, according to reporting from The Associate Press. Sophgo is, perhaps, the highest profile addition. An entity of Bitmain, the firm sparked international…
Gaming, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Switch, switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 could be announced this week: The rumors (and facts) so far
With CES 2025 finally in the rearview, it’s time to move on to the next round of big hardware announcements. Rumors have emerged over the last few weeks, pointing to an imminent announcement for the next-generation of Nintendo’s wildly successful hybrid Switch console. In particular, word from industry stalwart Eurogamer (among others) pegs a January…
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, robotics
DJI Flip is a $439, fully foldable camera drone
Four short months after introducing the truly palm-size Neo, DJI is back with another pint-sized consumer drone. The Flip continues the drone giant’s interest in foldable form factors, with a quartet of propeller guards that essentially stack up, for maximum portability. The new Flip continues to blur the lines in DJI’s existing consumer portfolio, combing…
Artificial Intelligence, Asia Pacific, Cybersecurity, generative ai, Global Security News, GPUS, Hardware, nvidia, Security, sustainability, Tech Industry, us government
US Chip Export Rule Proposes Limits to Thwart Chinese GPUs
The Biden administration states the rule will prevent U.S. chips from passing to China through countries loosely allied or not politically allied with the U.S.
AI, chips, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, nvidia
Biden administration proposes sweeping new restrictions on exporting AI chips
With a week left in office, President Joe Biden introduced a new set of guidelines and restrictions for exporting U.S.-made AI chips. On Monday the administration announced its Interim Final Rule on AI diffusion. This ruling is meant to “provide clarity to allied and partner nations about how they can benefit from AI” and streamline…
Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Patrick spence, Sonos, tom conrad
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is leaving following app update disaster
Some changes at Sonos. Patrick Spence, the company’s chief executive officer (pictured above), is leaving the company after eight years in the job. Tom Conrad, the co-founder of Pandora and a Sonos board member, is stepping in as interim CEO starting today. 2024 has been a complicated year for the speaker manufacturer. The company released…
Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, iPhone
Apple may add an iPhone Air to its lineup
Apple’s next major iPhone upgrade will include a new model called the iPhone 17 Air, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This seems like an obvious way to expand the lineup, given Apple’s success with the Air moniker for thinner MacBooks and iPads (I’m currently typing these words on my MacBook Air), and could be more…
Biotech & Health, CES, glidance, Glide, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, visually impaired
These startups are making smarter canes for people with visual impairments
The white cane for the 21st century. While many tech companies have increasingly worked to make technology more accessible for the blind and visually impaired, canes haven’t benefitted much from these advances. London-born WeWalk takes a more traditional approach to the white cane. Beyond the bulkier handle, not much sets the company’s product apart visually…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, job listings, openai, robotic system, robotics
New OpenAI job listings reveal its robotics plans
OpenAI disbanded its robotics department. Then, it brought it back. Now, through a social media post from its hardware director and newly published job descriptions, OpenAI is revealing more about its plans for the revived team. In a post on X on Friday, Caitlin Kalinowski, who joined OpenAI to lead hardware last November from Meta’s…
CES, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, lenovo
Lenovo’s latest form factors prove PCs can still be fun
Large corporations aren’t known for taking risks. This is as true in the world of consumer hardware as anywhere. Annual updates are largely incremental, with small changes to things like screen resolution or image quality. It’s a phenomenon that Lenovo is more than happy to buck when it showcases the latest updates to its PC…
CES, Gadgets, Gaming, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, my arcade
The new Atari handheld knows its market
CES isn’t much of a gaming show. Every year, however, a few notable products slip through the news deluge. Created in collaboration with My Arcade, Gamestation Go fits the bill. The handheld sports a 7-inch display and comes preloaded with north of 200 titles from various Atari generations. Of course, simply being portable game emulator…
CES, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, paintcam, paintcam eve, security system
This security system shoots paintballs at intruders
Doorbell cameras are standard fare these days. More and more people have invested in connected security systemss, as the technology has become both cheaper and more user friendly. There’s one important thing these system won’t do, however: shoot people and animals with paintballs. That is, however, pretty much the Eve PaintCam’s whole M.O. Carrying the…