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Wispr Flow raises $30M from Menlo Ventures for its AI-powered dictation app

Startups developing voice AI technology and applications are having their moment. Model builders like ElevenLabs and Cartesia have raised millions of dollars in the last few months. Applications such as AI-powered notetaker Granola and meeting tools Read AI and Fireflies AI have also received investor attention and backing. Continuing the trend, dictation app Wispr Flow announced today that it is raising $30 million in Series A funding from Menlo Ventures with participation from NEA, 8VC, Opal

watchOS 26 makes Control Center more powerful than ever on Apple Watch

watchOS 26 is the next major software update for Apple Watch, bringing Apple Notes to your wrist, updates to the Workout app, and more. Another big watchOS 26 highlight: upgrades to Control Center. Here’s what’s coming. Third-party controls and more coming to watchOS 26’s Control Center Last year, Apple upgraded Control Center on iPhone and iPad to make it more powerful and customizable than ever. Third-party controls debuted, and Apple even continued adding its own new controls through softwa

Deals: 24GB Mac mini $150 off, M3 MacBook Air $450+ off, iPad Air, Twelve South MagSafe stand $60, more

Today’s Apple deals are now ready to roll starting off with another shot at saving $150 off the sticker price on Apple’s latest 24GB M4 Mac mini with the 512GB SSD. Next we move over to some clearance pricing on the M3 MacBook Air lineup – M4 models are still $150 off, but you’ll now find 24GB M3 variants at $450 off the list. The same goes for iPad Air – current M3 configs are $100 off but we have up to $400 off M2 variants right now. All of that and more awaits below. Apple’s 24GB M4 Mac mini

Topics: air apple m3 m4 price

Malware on Google Play, Apple App Store stole your photos—and crypto

A new mobile crypto-stealing malware called SparkKitty was found in apps on Google Play and the Apple App Store, targeting Android and iOS devices. The malware is a possible evolution of SparkCat, which Kaspersky discovered in January. SparkCat used optical character recognition (OCR) to steal cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases from images saved on infected devices. When installing crypto wallets, the installation process tells users to write down the wallet's recovery phrase and store it

My favorite AirTag wallet alternative also works with Android phones - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways KeySmart's SmartCard is available on Amazon for $40 (3-pack for $90). It's super thin, works with both Android and Apple iOS, has a wireless rechargeable battery, and is IPX7-rated. It needs to be recharged every 5 months or so. View now at Amazon Amazon is selling the KeySmart SmartCard for 20% off when you check out with the promo code 'KSPRIME20'. Apple AirTags have changed my life, saving me countless hours looking for keys and other items that I absent-mindedly mis

Don't make the same Apple Watch mistake as me - this is the band I'm buying instead

The weak link! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET My Apple Watch Ultra 2 is, as of today, 626 days old, and apart from charging, it has been on my wrist pretty much continuously. It's accompanied me on many an adventure, been in several countries, found itself deep inside loads of car engine bays, been covered in dirt and mud, and it still looks like new. Regular readers will have seen it in countless photos here on ZDNET. Also: Why I replaced my Whoop band with this fitness strap (hint: there's no

How to clear your TV cache (and why it makes such a big difference to performance)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET In the age of smart TVs, convenience is king. With just a few clicks, we can dive into endless entertainment -- but that ease comes with a downside: the buildup of cache data. Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing so makes such a big difference) Just like on your phone or computer, a cluttered TV cache can lead to sluggish performance, app crashes, and even hinder new content from loading properly. That's why it's important to clear all that extra cache and make y

This smart fitness product could be the perfect companion for Apple Watch

Update: Avelo Running is closer to arriving with an already funded Kickstarter campaign that doubled its goal within hours of launching. Learn much more about the project and pledge your support to join the race. Avelo Running is a fitness-focused startup that recently came out of stealth to unveil their first product. What the company is building has the potential to be the perfect running companion for Apple Watch. Any runner with a smartphone can benefit, though, without bringing a phone or

A brief history of hardware epidemics

Living creatures aren’t the only things to be ravaged by epidemics. Computers, even Macs, can die prematurely when there are widespread manufacturing failures. I’d like to unearth a couple of mass graves from the past that have surely contributed to landfill around the world: capacitor plague and lead-free solder, and a recent problem with butterflies. Capacitor plague 1999-2007 Capacitors or ‘caps’ have a chequered history. Acting as temporary stores of electric charge, they’re used extensive

Creative clash pauses McConaughey & Harrelson Apple TV+ comedy series

Apple TV+ has halted production for its upcoming untitled “brothers” comedy starring Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, The Lost Bus) and Woody Harrelson (True Detective, Natural Born Killers). Here’s what happened. Creative differences on season conclusion halt production According to an exclusive report by Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, filming on the project was suspended late last week, with the cast sent home. The production hiccup is due to the departure of showrunner David West Read (Schi

US House bans WhatsApp on staff devices over security concerns

The U.S. House of Representatives has banned the installation and use of WhatsApp on government-issued devices belonging to congressional staff, citing concerns over how the app encrypts and secures data. The ban covers mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and any web browsers used on those devices. Congressional staff are still free to use WhatsApp on their personal devices, which existing policies dictate are not allowed in sensitive areas such as classified briefings or secure facilit

Why I replaced my Whoop band with this fitness strap (hint: there's no subscription)

ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazfit Helio Strap is available now for $99. As a smartwatch alternative, the strap offers virtually all the same health tracking features via the robust Zepp app, with over a week of battery life. The fabric strap isn't made of exceedingly high quality materials, but luckily can be easily replaced. View now at Amazfit Amazfit, makers of such smartwatches as the Bip 5 and the new Balance 2, just released its new Helio Strap, a fitness tracker that has all the core f

Your Android phone just got a major upgrade for free - including these Pixel models

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Android 16 is officially here, and Google has some big upgrades on the way. Instead of releasing a new OS and a new phone lineup at the same time, Google is making the same move it did with Android 15 and giving both software and hardware their time to shine. Also: How to turn on Android's Private DNS mode - and why it's an absolute must for security This is the earliest Google has launched a major Android release in a while (for comparison, Android 15 was released on Oct. 15

Rocket Money Review 2025: CNET's Editor's Choice Winner for Best Budgeting App

If you're looking for a budgeting app, Rocket Money should be at the top of your consideration list. Easy to use, affordable and chock-full of features, Rocket Money is a great fit for the average budgeter looking to get a handle on their finances. That's why it won CNET's 2024 Editors' Choice award for best overall budgeting app. Here's a look at what you'll get with Rocket Money. 9.4 Rocket Money Buy at Rocket Money Like Affordable Affordable Easy to use Easy to use Savings goals Savings

Monarch Money Review 2025: Best Budgeting App for Couples

Managing your money can be hard enough, but managing money as a couple can be especially tricky. Fortunately, a budgeting app can make things easier. Monarch Money is designed for joint budgeters, with features like shared goal tracking and monthly reports to help you stay on the same page. The app gets great ratings with Apple and Android users, with 4.9 stars out of 5 on the App Store and 4.7 stars on Google Play. I tested it out to see if these scores were warranted, and I was impressed. Her

What a set of knockoff headphones taught me about headphones — and knockoffs

As a rule, you should never believe anything you see on social media. And you should really never believe anything someone says in a video with a TikTok Shop link, because they are nakedly trying to sell you something. From candy to headphones to supplements to power tools, TikTok has built a remarkable system: creators post videos promoting or reviewing products, TikTok blasts them onto For You pages everywhere, and when viewers click the link and buy the product, both the creators and TikTok g

US House bans WhatsApp from staff devices

In Brief The U.S. House of Representatives’ top official has banned WhatsApp from government-issued devices used by its staff, saying the app poses potential security risks, Reuters reported, citing a memo sent to House staff. “The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use,” Reuters reported the memo as saying. The memo inst

Uber Launches Waymo Driverless Rides in Atlanta. Here's How to Hail a Robotaxi

Table of Contents Uber Launches Waymo Driverless Rides in Atlanta. Here's How to Hail a Robotaxi Starting Tuesday, Uber riders in Atlanta can hail a Waymo robotaxi to get around town. Now, when you book a ride via UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric, you could be paired with a fully electric, autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicle operated by Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving company, at no additional cost. You'll have the option to accept or decline the driverless ride each time. Passengers c

Your Android phone could soon buzz when your Fitbit is charged (APK teardown)

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR An Android Authority teardown has revealed that your Android phone could soon get a notification when your Fitbit is fully charged. This would come years after Android owners first requested this feature, while iPhone owners have had this option for a long time. This would still be a great addition to the Fitbit app, as you don’t have to constantly check to see if your tracker is charged. Google recently updated the Fitbit app with an overhauled Device

Apple @ Work Podcast: How Kagi is building a better search for teams

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WhatsApp security concerns see app banned in Congress; iMessage recommended

Congressional staffers working in the House of Representatives have been told that WhatsApp security risks means they must no longer use the app on government devices. The ban was imposed by the Office of Cybersecurity, which has previously barred the use of TikTok and a number of AI apps … Axios first reported the ban. The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high-risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and poten

I Wanted to Switch to Pixel 10, but This iOS 26 Feature Might Keep Me on iPhone

I switched from a Google Pixel 3 XL to Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2021, and in the years since, I've dearly missed Google's Hold For Me. This feature is so useful that I'm shocked it hasn't been brought to the iPhone or even other Android phones in the years since. Hold For Me saves me from the misery of listening to awful hold music whenever I needed to call up a business, my health insurance provider, my cellphone carrier or any of the other myriad adulting tasks that still require speaking

Windows 11’s indicators for volume and brightness can soon be moved out of the way

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 that will let you move hardware indicators pop-ups like volume and screen brightness to the top-left and top-center positions of a display. The customization feature is part of a new Dev Channel build of Windows 11 that also includes a new Recall homepage that lists the top three apps and websites you’ve used in a 24-hour period.

Waymo’s robotaxis are now available on the Uber app in Atlanta

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Uber customers in Atlanta now have the option of hailing a driverless Waymo robotaxi, the company announced today. Atlanta is the second market, after Austin, to play host to Uber and Waymo’s burgeoning autonomous ridehail partnership. At launch, Waymo’s vehicles will be available exclusively on the Uber app in Atlanta. Th

US bans WhatsApp from House of Representatives staff devices

The U.S. government has banned WhatsApp from devices used by U.S. House of Representatives staff, saying the app poses potential security risks, Reuters reported, citing a memo sent to House staff. “The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use,” Reuters reported the memo as saying. The memo instead recommends staff use apps

Xbox app now lets Windows Insiders launch games from Steam, Epic, and more

Something to look forward to: Xbox Insiders can now test a new feature that enables launching games from different storefronts directly in the Xbox PC app. The functionality first leaked in March and is slated to roll out alongside the ROG Ally X handhelds later this year, allowing users to start games with a controller and bypass the traditional Windows desktop entirely. Juggling games across Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG, the Xbox app, and other clients has long frustrated users. Some laun

Apple heard your complaints about the Liquid Glass Control Center

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. My biggest complaint with Liquid Glass in the first iOS 26 developer beta was that it sometimes made Control Center nearly unreadable, but Apple has seemingly fixed that with the second beta, which is out now. In the first beta, the glassiness of everything meant that you could still see a fair amount of what was under Control Center, making it all look really cluttered. With

VSCO to launch ‘Capture,’ a standalone iPhone camera app with film-style filters

Visual Supply Co. is about to enter the increasingly competitive iPhone third-party camera app market. The company best known for VSCO: Photo Editor is launching a standalone camera app called Capture. Here’s what to expect. With Capture, VSCO joins an increasingly crowded space of third-party camera apps trying to rethink the iPhone shooting experience. Just last week, we covered Adobe’s release of Project Indigo, and how that added to great App Store options like Halide, all catering to user

Apple read your mean tweets about Liquid Glass and Finder

The more things change, the more they stay the same. After unveiling some new visual elements to the next generation of its operating systems during WWDC 2025, Apple has already walked back some of the proposed design revisions. 9to5Mac noticed that the most recent developer betas included changes to the new Liquid Glass operating system appearance and to the Finder app icon. Liquid Glass was divisive from the start . The idea of layering transparency in the user interface appealed to some, whi

Phew: Apple fixed the Finder icon in macOS Tahoe 26

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. Apple’s first macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta introduced a big change to the Finder icon that I really didn’t like, but thankfully, the company has reversed it with the second beta released today. A big feature of macOS 26 is Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, which it has applied across the operating system to give it a new look. But for some reason, for the initial ver