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An unreleased feature discovered in Google Photos version 7.90 lets users long-press albums, folders, or people to pin them as shortcuts in a new horizontal bar at the top of the Collections tab. Android Authority manually activated the hidden option and found it largely functional, including a dedicated Edit menu for reordering pinned items and browsing library categories.
Google's newly announced Pixel Tag Bluetooth tracker won't ship until November, leaving buyers without an option for months. Android Authority points to five trackers already available, with Motorola's Moto Tag 2 standing out at $20 (or $99 for four), offering UWB support, a replaceable CR2032 battery, IP68 water resistance, and roughly 600 days of battery life, all while working with Google's Find Hub network.
London startup Relay, founded by former Nothing staffers Cookie Xu and Raymond Zhu, has released voice dictation software for macOS ahead of a companion hardware device called the Relay Q, due in early 2027. The founders say existing software tools like Wispr Flow struggled with inconsistent microphone pickup in office settings, prompting them to build purpose-made hardware for accurate speech capture.
Tipster Tarun Vats found a new internal test build ending in "ZZHK" on Samsung's servers, suggesting a seventh One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series may still be coming despite six betas already released. A separate internal build ending in "BZHI" was also spotted, which Vats speculates could instead be the first stable release candidate.
Meta has settled with 47 US states over youth safety harms, agreeing to pay at least $12 billion regardless of outcome, with an additional $5.3 billion contingent on TikTok, YouTube and Snap adopting similar protections like default usage limits and nighttime notification blocks. Meta publicized the deal through an 'Open Letter' and full-page newspaper ads urging its rivals to match its new standards, while TikTok, YouTube and Snap have not yet commented.
Apple has confirmed a product event for September 9 at the Steve Jobs Theater, with invitations carrying the tagline 'Surprise and shine.' The showcase is expected to include updated iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, and possibly Apple's first foldable iPhone, reportedly using a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8.
A worldwide shortage of memory chips, driven largely by demand for AI infrastructure, is squeezing hardware manufacturers just as major companies prepare new product launches. Apple has already unveiled Mac minis and Mac Studios with new M6 chips, with an iPhone event expected in September featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, a foldable iPhone, and new Apple Watches. Makers are responding to rising component costs by either raising prices on devices or reducing memory and storage specifications to keep costs down.
Actor and producer Reese Witherspoon faced online criticism after saying women need to be involved in AI because 'the change is here.' Critics pushed back, with one widely liked response warning that framing AI adoption as inevitable discourages critical thinking about its risks.
Taco Bell has rolled out a new pink beverage tied to a marketing partnership with pop star Olivia Rodrigo, timed around her third studio album. The tie-in follows Rodrigo's comments about visiting Taco Bell locations to listen to new music with friends.
Europe's largest annual tech convention, IFA, returns to the Berlin Messe from September 4 through 8, 2026, with adult tickets starting at €21.50 in advance. Acer has already confirmed a 'Next @ Acer' event on September 2 promising AI PCs, gaming hardware and new display technology, while companies such as DJI, HONOR, Lenovo, Samsung, TCL, TECNO and Xiaomi are expected to attend as usual. Last year's show drew around 220,000 visitors, still below the 238,700 who attended in 2019.
An Android Authority writer asked ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to name the best Google Pixel phone for most buyers in 2026, factoring in the newly released Pixel 11 lineup. The three AI models gave conflicting recommendations, with ChatGPT notably sticking with the older Pixel 10 rather than favoring Google's latest flagship.
ESET's Director of Threat Research, Jean-Ian Boutin, explained how his team's intelligence work integrates into ESET's Managed Detection and Response (MDR) offering. He outlined how combining automated detection technology with human analyst expertise gives small and midsize businesses access to proactive threat hunting capabilities they couldn't otherwise afford to build in-house.