Android phones running version 6.0 or later include a built-in feature called Absolute Bluetooth Volume, which links your phone's volume buttons directly to connected Bluetooth speakers or headphones. When the phone's volume scale doesn't match a Bluetooth device's internal amplification, the sync can glitch, causing unresponsive buttons followed by sudden full-volume blasts. Android includes a native toggle to turn this feature off without installing extra apps.
After Google renamed Lake Ontario to align with President Trump's push to call it 'Lake America,' MapQuest publicly refused to make the same change on its maps. That stance went viral on social media, driving MapQuest's mobile app to the top navigation app spot on Apple's US App Store and into the top ten overall, with strong gains in Canada as well.
OpenAI has published internal reference details describing an 'automations' capability within ChatGPT, meant to trigger actions when a user requests something to happen later, repeatedly, or upon a future condition. This includes reminders, recurring summaries, scheduled searches, and management of existing scheduled tasks.
Apple will reportedly launch new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models next week, powered by the new A20 Pro chip and a C2 modem. Rumored upgrades include a redesigned main camera module, a smaller Dynamic Island, new color options like dark cherry, and larger batteries, with the Pro Max expected to get exclusive camera and battery advantages.
The European Commission is preparing Chips Act 2.0 to fix flaws in its 2023 semiconductor strategy, which aimed for a 20 percent global production share by 2030 but is on track for only about 11.7 percent. The new plan will add demand-side measures like public procurement and industrial coordination to spur chip investment, even as the EU's own AI factories and data centers rely almost entirely on advanced processors designed in the U.S. and manufactured in Asia.
Garmin has launched the Cirqa, a $200 screenless health and fitness band that markets 24/7 monitoring without a subscription fee. A reviewer found the device technically solid but questioned its value, noting Garmin's software lags behind rivals in turning raw data into actionable coaching insights.
Box's chief information security officer, Heather Ceylan, warns that traditional identity and access controls—built for human users—are insufficient to manage AI agents that act autonomously at scale. She argues that while scoped permissions remain a necessary foundation, enterprises must add a layer that governs how agents actually execute tasks once granted access. Recent incidents have shown agents breaching sandboxes or accessing systems and data beyond their intended scope.
Huawei has started taking pre-orders in China for its second-generation tri-fold phone, the Mate XT 2, ahead of a formal launch on September 7. The device switches to an inward-folding mechanism that fully shields the inner display, unlike the zig-zag fold on the original Mate XT that left part of the screen exposed, and will come in 16GB/512GB and 16GB/1TB configurations, including a purple variant with a built-in privacy screen.
Sony will air two consecutive livestreams on September 3 ahead of Tokyo Game Show, starting at 9AM ET. The first broadcast covers updates from PlayStation Studios and partners worldwide, closing with an extended look at Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, followed immediately by a Japan-focused stream spotlighting Asian developers.
Tim Cook is completing his final day as Apple's chief executive after 15 years in the role, with John Ternus set to officially become CEO the next day. Cook will transition to executive chairman of Apple's board, continuing to manage the company's relationships with President Trump and the Chinese government while supporting Ternus in other areas as needed.
Apple streamed a live MLB game between the Red Sox and Yankees as an Apple Immersive experience on Vision Pro, using 3D 8K footage with a 180-degree field of view for Friday Night Baseball. Reviewers from Macworld, Daring Fireball, and Six Colors all praised the broadcast, comparing it favorably to actually sitting in the stadium. Commentators also noted Apple's choice to stick with a single fixed camera per half-inning, rather than cutting between many angles, made the experience feel more natural and immersive.
Google's Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 introduces a new 'Data logging' section inside Privacy Dashboard that lets users monitor data leaving the Private Compute Core, the isolated sandbox behind features like Live Caption and Smart Reply. Users can toggle logging on or off, choose between a limited three-day/100MB mode and a more exhaustive 12-hour/100MB detailed mode, and download or delete the resulting log files.
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