Software engineer Kenton Varda and entrepreneur Jade Wang designed and built a house in Austin, Texas from an empty lot, purchased in 2019 with construction beginning in 2021 and finishing in late 2023. The project was led architecturally by Kenton's father Richard Varda alongside RSP Architects, with Kenton personally designing gaming and technical features like the game station cabinetry and conduit routing, while Blue Horse Building & Design served as general contractor.
At a New York launch event, Insta360 unveiled the X6, its latest 360-degree camera, and used the occasion to showcase a decade of product evolution since its original Nano device. The company framed the X6 not just as a standalone gadget but as the centerpiece of a broader ecosystem meant to simplify capturing and editing immersive footage.
xAI-affiliated SpaceXAI is giving Memphis and Southaven, Mississippi residents 50% off Starlink internet plans and waiving the upfront cost of its new V5 hardware kit, following criticism over unpermitted gas generators powering its AI data centers. About 2,000 households have signed up since the July launch, a small fraction of the roughly 250,000 households in the Memphis area. A similar promotion is running in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers, has formally asked Congress to permanently ban the sale, import and manufacture of Chinese-made cars, parts and software. CEO John Bozzella cited concerns over unfair trade practices, subsidies, IP theft and surveillance, urging lawmakers to act before the current session ends. The request aligns with existing bipartisan legislation, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, targeting vehicle tech tied to China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
The Tetris Company publicly denied any involvement in Build the Wall, an immigration-themed browser game released by the White House that closely mimics Tetris's falling-block mechanics. Instead of clearing lines, players stack bricks to grow a wall meant to block a 'zombie horde' near the Southern Border, evoking Trump's long-standing border wall policy. The company said it never licensed its brand for the game and is reviewing possible copyright infringement.
Director Na Hong-jin, known for 'The Wailing,' is releasing a new science-fiction action film titled 'Hope' in theaters on September 9. The cast includes 'Squid Game' star Hoyeon alongside Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. Na has described wanting to approach the alien-themed story from a cosmic, wide-lens perspective rather than a conventional genre angle.
Code found in Google's Cross-Device Services app reveals an in-development 'Cast trackpad' tool that would let Android phones act as a remote touchpad for other devices. Given the timing, this feature appears aimed at Google's forthcoming Googlebook laptops, an Android-based alternative to Chromebooks. The tool reportedly supports gesture-based inputs similar to a standard trackpad.
ULTRALOQ has released the Bolt Fingerprint smart lock, which the company describes as its first model fully integrated with Apple Home. The device supports fingerprint unlock for up to 50 fingers, 50 passcodes, auto-unlock, physical keys, and voice control via Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, and connects directly over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi without needing a separate hub bridge.
OpenAI unveiled its newest model, GPT-6 Astra, and simultaneously declared that the industry has entered what it calls 'the AGI era.' The claim was discussed on this week's Vergecast alongside other tech news, including Nvidia's acquisition of Hugging Face and Apple's leadership changes ahead of its upcoming keynote.
Ecovacs has unveiled the Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, an updated robot vacuum designed to dig deeper into carpet fibers to remove dust mites and allergens. Independent testing by SGS Testing & Control Services Singapore found it eliminated an average of 97.44% of dust mite allergens and 95.45% of dust mites from carpet. The model also boosts suction to 53 air watts, a 60% increase over its predecessor, and retains a self-cleaning roller and stain-spray feature from the previous X12 generation.
Court filings reveal Homeland Security Investigations agents subpoenaed REI in March, seeking purchase records for anyone in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who bought a particular dark green beanie since 2024. The request is one of 92 subpoenas issued as part of a federal lawsuit against 39 people, including protesters and journalists, connected to a demonstration at an ICE-linked church. Other subpoenas reportedly sought data from social media firms, airlines, telecom companies, and a car rental agency, with one airline allegedly asked to flag a defendant's future travel.
Aqara, known mainly for security sensors, revealed a broad new smart lighting range at IFA 2026 covering indoor lamps, LED strips, and outdoor lighting. The lineup includes a multicolor standing lamp with 18 controllable zones, a table lamp, a low-ceiling downlight, a dense LED strip, and both string and permanent weatherproof outdoor lights. Pricing and release dates were not disclosed.
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