Oura is rolling out two new cardiovascular features for its smart ring: Cardio Effort, which rates weekly exercise strain from Light to Reaching based on a personalized baseline, and automatic VO2 Max, a beta feature that estimates aerobic capacity without requiring a manual six-minute walking test. VO2 Max activates automatically after a user completes five qualifying GPS-tracked walks, runs, or hikes, with results shown in the app's Heart Hub alongside trend data and personalized insights.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 27.2 next week with updates to six built-in apps. Highlights include a revived 'Suggested Actions' feature in Messages, a new user-profile selector for the Apple TV app on iPhone and iPad, Group FaceTime support for Dual Capture's simultaneous front-and-rear camera feeds, and new smart-lock controls in the Home app including a 'Lock After Closing' option.
Apple released the iOS 27.2 release candidate on Oct. 19, over a month after iOS 27 launched. The build expands Siri AI beyond English into French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, adds a FaceTime feature letting users run front and rear cameras simultaneously, and introduces a new Apple Music color scheme. Apple previously said the foldable iPhone Duo will launch Oct. 23 on iOS 27.1, with other devices able to update to 27.2 afterward.
Apple's upcoming tvOS 27.2 update introduces a 'Shuffle' option that cycles through all screen saver categories instead of restricting users to one. It also adds ASL and BSL sign language toggles in the Apple TV app's player controls for select titles, plus the ability to manually curate which Photos library content appears in Memories, Slideshows, or Portraits screen savers.
Google One's paid plans extend well beyond cloud storage, with higher tiers unlocking tiered access to Gemini AI features across Gmail, Docs, Slides and other Google apps. The AI Plus tier doubles Gemini usage and adds Flash model access, while AI Pro offers four times the free usage limit, the Gemini 4 Argon model, a larger context window, and Deep Research capabilities. The top-tier 30TB AI Ultra plan provides 20 times the Gemini usage of the Pro tier along with the most capable models in Google Flow and Gemini Notebook.
OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT browser extension with two new modes, Chat and Work, that let the AI read open tabs, compare information across sites, and perform browser actions like downloading files, grouping tabs, and filling out forms using local documents. The update also adds a dedicated ChatGPT tab for chat history, an @Chrome tagging shortcut, and site-specific permission controls, and is free on Chromium-based browsers including Chrome, Edge and Brave.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is currently on sale for 29% off, bringing it back to its all-time low price, a $350 reduction from its list price. The device features Google's Tensor G5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and built-in AI capabilities.
An independent developer built Nordwand Mono, a monospace typeface generated with Python code rather than traditional font design tools. The font blends proportions from JetBrains Mono with stylistic influences from Univers, SF Mono, Alpes Mono, and Ubuntu Mono, and includes alternate glyph styles plus two ligatures for arrow symbols. Users can customize metrics like x-height via a config file and regenerate the font themselves using the provided Python scripts.
Apple's iOS 27 update adds CarPlay support for video apps, letting drivers watch content on their vehicle's screen once parked; playback switches to audio-only automatically when the car starts moving. The update also redesigns the Now Playing screen with album art, controls and a progress bar, and Apple says it improves wireless connection stability and GPS accuracy. New wallpapers and the ability for apps to share route data, including EV charging stops, are also included.
UGREEN has released the MagFlow, a Qi2.2 25W 10000mAh MagSafe battery pack that uses visible liquid cooling to reduce heat buildup, claiming it runs about 18 degrees cooler than typical units. It also includes a built-in USB-C cable and a small display showing battery percentage and charging speed. The battery is priced at $149 but is currently discounted to $95 on Amazon.
Apple announced a free software update bringing three new features to the existing HomePod (2nd generation), alongside this week's launch of HomePod mini 2, HomeView and a new Apple TV 4K. The update adds Sound Glow lighting effects synced to music, the ability to set HomePod as the default Mac speaker, and support for four-HomePod surround sound when paired with the new Apple TV 4K.
A tech writer who has used the iPhone 18 Pro for a month reports strong satisfaction with three features: battery life that often leaves 60% charge at day's end, a variable-aperture Main camera that consistently produces sharp Auto-mode photos, and a new vapor chamber cooling system that keeps the phone responsive in hot, sunny conditions. The reviewer contrasts this year's Main camera upgrade with recent years, when Apple focused more on Telephoto, Ultra Wide, and Front camera improvements.
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