Amazon has increased prices by $20 to $100 across several of its hardware lines, including Kindle e-readers, Echo speakers, Eero routers and Fire TV devices, with the steepest hikes hitting its cheaper, best-selling models. An Amazon spokesperson told CNET the increases stem from rising memory and storage component costs, though Amazon would not comment directly to WIRED. Notably, the pricier Kindle Scribe lineup was left untouched despite using similar components.
As communities destroy Flock's automatic license plate readers over privacy concerns, some police departments switching to Axon are worried its similar-looking cameras will become the next target. In a leaked webinar, Axon CEO Rick Smith confirmed the company is exploring shape changes to its ALPRs after customer requests, alongside plans to mount cameras on streetlights and add explanatory signage.
A hobbyist electronics resource describes a low-cost, COM-port based AVR programmer used to flash ATmega and other AVR microcontrollers, alongside comparison notes on image sensors for the CHC5 open camera system. The programmer can function both as a dongle for standalone chip programming and as an in-circuit tool for programming AVR chips already installed in a target device.
Despite rapid advances in AI for knowledge work like chatbots, physical AI embodied in humanoid robots remains largely confined to test labs and curated demo videos rather than real-world deployment. Unlike ChatGPT, there is no widely accessible robot product, and demo footage is often edited or cherry-picked, making it hard to gauge true progress. Even public showcases like the World Humanoid Robot Games reveal a mix of impressive feats and notable failures.
Miele previewed its new HX3 and HX3 Plus Aqua cordless vacuums at its Manhattan Experience Center ahead of IFA 2026 in Berlin, following criticism of last year's HX2 model for weak carpet performance and awkward handling. The updated design shifts weight distribution toward the base, lets users reposition the motor and bin, and adds push-button controls, easier bin emptying, automatic floor detection, and up to 70 minutes of runtime covering roughly 1,700 square feet per charge.
A Reddit user reported that their Google Home assistant began calling them 'Fish Lemon' after a casual conversation about cooking fish weeks earlier. The nickname has persisted across reminders, smart display labels, and direct queries about their name, resisting attempts to correct it despite their Google Account showing their real name.
A group of technology CEOs joined Trump administration officials in urging G-20 nations to favor light-touch, pro-innovation policies for artificial intelligence rather than strict regulatory frameworks. They argued that heavy-handed rules risk stifling an industry they believe could drive major economic expansion and medical breakthroughs.
A Pew Research Center survey of nearly 10,000 US adults found that 53% believe they use their smartphones too much, while 36% say their usage is about right. Younger adults reported the highest rates of overuse, with 70% of 18-to-29-year-olds and 64% of those aged 30-49 saying they're on their devices excessively. Separately, Semrush data shows people worldwide spend over four and a half hours daily on their phones, checking them roughly 58 times a day.
Uber has ceased operations in both Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect, ending its ride-hailing services in the two African markets. In Uganda, the shutdown removes a widely used transport option for commuters in Kampala.
Google has rolled out a Google Home app update that lets Gemini for Home handle voice requests that mix media playback and smart device controls in a single command, such as turning off lights while stopping music. The update also fixes previously reported bugs with setting alarms and adding items to Google Keep, and it now alphabetizes automation options while enforcing privacy settings on third-party routines.
Federal judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google will not be forced to sell off its advertising technology business, despite an earlier finding that the unit constituted an illegal monopoly. Instead, Google must change certain business practices to give competitors fairer access, though the ruling did not specify exactly what those changes will look like. The detailed written order remains sealed for two weeks while parties prepare redactions.
Meta Superintelligence Labs has released Muse Voice Transcribe, a real-time speech-to-text model that streams transcription, detects sentence endpoints, and identifies more than 20 distinct speakers without a separate processing step. Trained on over 70 languages (25 thoroughly validated), the model handles long recordings beyond an hour and supports code-switching between languages, all offered via API at $0.18 per hour of audio.
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