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A viral TikTok trend called 'pheromone-maxxing' encourages men to forgo showering and deodorant before dates, with proponents claiming their natural body scent boosts attractiveness to women. The trend has sparked debate online, with users sharing personal anecdotes rather than scientific evidence to support the claims.
Lenovo introduced the ThinkCentre X Ultra ahead of IFA, a compact mini workstation built around AMD's previously unannounced Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 processor with an integrated Radeon 8065S GPU and up to 128GB of soldered LPDDR5x memory. The machine, measuring roughly 7.2 by 7.2 by 2 inches, supports dual 4TB Gen5 SSDs, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and an NPU rated at 55 TOPS, and is expected to launch in November 2026 starting around $3,669.
At IFA, SwitchBot introduced the Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo, a retrofit smart lock bundle for European doors priced at €339.99/£339.99. The package bundles the Keypad Vision Pro, Hub Mini Matter, and the new Lock Ultra Max, offering entry via fingerprint, passcode, NFC card, facial or palm vein recognition, plus remote, voice, smartwatch, and app widget controls. SwitchBot says the hardware fits roughly 99 percent of European lock types, including EU profile, knob, Swiss round, and UK oval cylinders, with adapters for rarer setups.
Pangram co-founder and CEO Max Spero appeared on TechCrunch's Equity podcast to discuss the complexities of detecting AI-generated content. The startup recently raised $9 million, partnered with Substack to flag AI-written newsletters, and launched a new tool for detecting AI-generated images.
iRobot unveiled two new robot vacuums at IFA 2026 in Berlin: the $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo and the $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo, both paired with an AutoWash Dock. The flagship Max model introduces SealForce Vacuuming Technology, which seals against carpet fibers to hit 35,000 Pascals of suction, plus a heated ThermaMist mopping system with a spinning roller mop that can detect and avoid wetting rugs. Both units ship within two weeks online and hit North American retail stores later this month.
iRobot has unveiled the Roomba Max 875 Combo, a robot vacuum that lowers a skirt to seal its chassis against carpet fibers, concentrating airflow instead of letting it escape around the edges. The company says this SealForce technology lets the device reach 35,000 pascals of suction and clean three times deeper into carpets than prior models. iRobot is showcasing the device at IFA Berlin 2026.
Razer introduced the Prio, a $100 USB-C mobile game controller that weighs about 101 grams and folds down to roughly wallet size, unlike its bulkier Kishi line. When unfolded, it attaches to large phones such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra, offering dual thumbsticks, a D-pad, face buttons and shoulder triggers for both iPhone and Android devices.
Razer has released the Prio, a compact USB-C gamepad for iOS and Android phones that folds flat for portability. It fits phones up to seven inches with slim-to-medium cases, includes a D-pad, face buttons, bumpers, triggers and anti-drift analog thumbsticks, and works with cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, PS Remote Play and Steam Link. It's available now for $100.
Sony has added three models to its ULT Power Sound lineup: the flagship ULT Tower Max at $1,500, plus the ULT Tower 7 and ULT Tower 5, both priced at $650. The Tower Max weighs 121 pounds and packs three woofers, four tweeters and midrange drivers, while all three units feature redesigned drivers, built-in handles, and XLR, RCA and USB-C ports for DJ or karaoke use.
Whoop has removed the membership requirement for its Advanced Labs blood-testing screenings, letting non-subscribers access them for roughly $70 per test. However, the Whoop band itself remains functionally locked without an active subscription, requiring at least $149 a year for basic features like recovery insights, sleep tracking, and VO2 max data.
JMGO has released its Iris Ultra Max Google TV projector outside China, featuring a dual-iris optical design that the company says delivers a 10,000:1 native contrast ratio. The device combines a triple-laser engine rated at 6,500 ISO lumens with 4K resolution at 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Dolby Vision HDR support, plus a motorized gimbal, optical zoom, and extensive lens shift for flexible placement. Preorders start today at $2,999, with a full retail price of $3,499 and shipping set for October 19th.
A group of electronic musicians, including 26-year-old producer Max 'H4RRIS' Harris, are publicly calling out peers they suspect of passing off AI-generated music as their own work. Harris argues that such material lacks genuine artistic intent and amounts to a way of profiting off stolen creative labor rather than true expression.