At IFA 2026, Soundcore unveiled the Space 2 Pro headphones alongside AeroClip 2, AeroClip 2 Pro, and Liberty Buds 2, all built around its Thus audio processing chip first launched in April. The Space 2 Pro uses a 6-microphone array for voice isolation and eight microphones for adaptive noise cancellation claimed to be 1.5 times stronger than its predecessor, while offering up to 60 hours of battery life and high-res LDAC audio support. The headphones launch September 22 for $200 in the US, EU, and UK, with the AeroClip 2 arriving the same day at $170.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-03
Nintendo released Version 4.0.0 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding an eight-player split-screen mode exclusive to the Switch 2, up from the previous four-player cap. The update also brings CameraPlay support for USB webcams during multiplayer, compatibility with higher-resolution TVs, and faster loading times on the newer console.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-02
Russian startup Mostik has developed a method allowing AI models to exchange information through their internal weight values rather than generated text, effectively letting a smaller model absorb capabilities from a larger one. The team demonstrated this by linking a 753-billion-parameter GLM-5.2 model with a 4-billion-parameter Qwen-3.5 model, producing a hybrid system that runs at one-twentieth the cost of the full-size model while performing roughly midway between the two in capability. Mostik also used a related technique to build a model that has topped the ARC-AGI 3 benchmark, though details remain undisclosed while the contest is ongoing.
wired.com
· 2026-09-02
Florida International University researchers tested the Apple Watch Series 8, Fitbit Sense 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Garmin Forerunner 955 against a Cosmed K5 metabolic device and ECG chest strap during controlled workouts with 58 participants. All four smartwatches overstated calorie burn, with margins of error ranging from 15% to 25%, meaning a reported 200-calorie burn could really be closer to 160-174 calories. Apple Watch was the most accurate, while Samsung and Garmin overestimated more, and Fitbit had enough tracking glitches that some of its data had to be excluded.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-02
Nintendo has released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tailored to Switch 2 hardware, enabling local split-screen play for up to eight people using original or Switch 2 controllers. The update also brings CameraPlay support for seeing friends via camera during races, shorter loading times, and improved visuals in docked mode.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-02
Amazon's 2026 Labor Day sale is now live with steep discounts across Apple products, including AirPods Pro 3 back down to $199, AirTag 2 as low as $20, and Apple Watch SE 3 hitting a $200 all-time low. Renewed iPhone 17 Pro units are discounted up to $290, while the newly launched M6 Mac mini and refurbished M5 MacBook Air configurations also see modest price cuts.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-02
Belkin's SoundForm Mini 2 wireless on-ear headphones, designed for children ages 3 and up, are currently discounted 25 percent using the code VERGE25OFF. The base model drops from $29.99 to $22.49, while the version with a zip-up carrying case falls from $39.99 to $29.99 after the code is applied.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-02
Nintendo released a free update for Mario Kart 8 on Switch 2 that enables local split-screen racing for up to eight players, alongside higher resolutions, faster loading, a slight speed boost, and CameraPlay support. The 12-year-old title has sold roughly 80 million copies and is using the Switch 2's extra power to push far beyond the series' usual four-player split-screen limit.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-02
Dell has announced the 14S, a mainstream 14-inch laptop offered in four colors with a 61.2 Whr battery for all-day use. It comes with up to an Intel Core 7 processor, choice of FHD or 2.8K displays, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and weighs just over 2.5 pounds. Pricing hasn't been announced yet; Dell says details will come closer to its fall launch.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-02
Apple emailed developers announcing that universal macOS apps requiring macOS 13 or later can now be built as arm64-only, removing Intel compatibility. Developers must update build settings to arm64 and resubmit; Intel Mac users can still use the last compatible version of an app they already have.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-02
Scientists are accelerating efforts to understand why some infections trigger lasting illnesses such as long COVID and ME/CFS. A 2024 estimate put the global number of long COVID cases at 400 million, costing roughly $1 trillion annually, spurring governments including the US and Germany to commit over $1.7 billion combined toward research into post-infection diseases.
nature.com
· 2026-09-02
HDMI cables are now standardized into three official bandwidth tiers: Premium High Speed (18Gbps), Ultra High Speed (48Gbps) and the new Ultra96 (up to 96Gbps), per rules from the HDMI Licensing Administrator that ban using version numbers alone in marketing. Most 4K streaming only needs the 18Gbps tier, while 4K/120Hz gaming requires Ultra High Speed, and Ultra96 is reserved for extreme formats like uncompressed 4K/240Hz or 8K/60Hz. Buyers are advised to check the certification label and QR code on packaging rather than relying on price or brand name.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
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