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Emacs 31.1 has shipped without one dominant flagship feature, instead delivering a batch of quality-of-life improvements. Notable changes include broader tree-sitter support with a long-requested automatic grammar installer, and the formal deprecation of the decades-old unexec memory-dumping mechanism used to speed up startup. A planned new garbage collector was left out and pushed to the next major release, Emacs 32.
Lectronz, a marketplace for open-source hardware and DIY electronics makers, warns that the EU's incoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), effective August 2026, will force even the smallest sellers to register and comply with separate Extended Producer Responsibility rules in every EU member state where their packaging ends up. While the underlying goal of making producers responsible for packaging waste is reasonable, the law's fragmented, country-by-country implementation creates a compliance burden that large companies can absorb but micro-entrepreneurs cannot.
Android Authority polled over 4,200 readers on the best alternative to Google's new Pixel 11, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 won with roughly 26% of the vote. The budget-friendly Motorola Edge (2026) finished a close second, trailing by just 54 votes, while the pricier Pixel 11 Pro came in third with about 18.5% support.
The FTC reached a settlement with Zillow ending its antitrust lawsuit over a 2025 rental listings arrangement with Redfin, which regulators said involved Zillow paying Redfin to syndicate listings while Redfin agreed to drop its own advertising business and avoid competing on multifamily listings. Under the settlement, Redfin can keep syndicating Zillow's rental listings without the restrictive terms, but must rebuild the rental advertising operation it had shut down. Several state attorneys general joined the FTC in approving the deal.
Asus has released its first ROG-branded soundbar, the Gjallar, a 2.1.2 system that pairs a wireless 65W 6.5-inch subwoofer with an audio control hub featuring built-in beam-forming microphones. Priced at $600, the compact under-monitor unit delivers solid sound quality but comes wrapped in a boxy, heavily branded black design that reviewers found unremarkable.
Pizza Hut is temporarily dropping 'Pizza' from its branding for 25 weeks to coincide with the 2026 NFL season, covering signage and swapping social media logos to display just 'Hut.' The chain confirmed the name will revert after football season ends, framing it as a marketing stunt rather than a permanent change.
After confirming each speaker in a Dolby Atmos system works individually, the recommended next step is testing with real content mixed for the format. Netflix's five-minute anime short Sol Levante is highlighted as an ideal benchmark since its extensive spatial audio mix stresses positional accuracy without requiring a full movie's runtime.
Anthropic revised Claude Tag, its Slack-based agent, so it now analyzes entire conversation threads instead of assessing messages individually. The company says this context upgrade makes the agent about 30% more accurate at judging when to jump into a discussion unprompted—and when to stay silent. Executive Scott White frames this as part of a broader push toward 'multiplayer AI,' where Claude operates as a shared organizational resource rather than a private chatbot.
The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii has produced the most detailed video and simulations ever recorded of swirling plasma on the sun's surface. The footage shows turbulent motion resembling hurricanes or mixing ocean currents, offering visual support for a long-theorized process occurring where plasma of differing densities interacts.
Google is reportedly launching a new premium laptop line called Googlebook, developed with partners including HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, and Asus, expected around September. The devices will run a new Linux-based operating system called Aluminum OS that merges Android and ChromeOS, centering Gemini AI as a core feature and enabling closer integration between phones and laptops.
As robotaxi fleets grow in cities like New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco, local officials and lawmakers are moving to impose new restrictions, including vehicle caps, per-mile fees, and stricter citation powers. Governor Hochul shelved a plan to expand driverless taxis beyond NYC after union and legislative opposition, while San Francisco's mayor now backs tougher rules following traffic disruptions caused by Waymo vehicles. Federal regulators have also warned AV makers about safety risks when interacting with emergency responders.
CNBC reported that the U.S. Treasury Department is considering tapping its roughly $950 billion General Account to help finance its bond buyback program. Senior Treasury officials did not specify how much of that fund would be used but confirmed it remains an option after Secretary Scott Bessent unexpectedly expanded the buyback effort last week. Treasury yields fell following the report.