GoKawiil
Tech News
Amazon has launched new tablets built around its Alexa assistant, following up on the failed Fire Phone experiment from 2014. The devices reportedly reflect lessons Amazon learned about why the Fire Phone did not succeed, according to the commentary.
QuEra has implemented an AI system that automatically restores and fine-tunes laser locks on its quantum computing hardware, a process that previously required on-call human experts, sometimes called in overnight. Built using the Model Hardware Standard developed with Anthropic and HHMI Janelia Research Campus, the AI agent operates within human-set safety limits on roughly $0.7 million of precision equipment, restoring locks within seconds and tuning them to a verifiable quality threshold, including on a second laser wavelength during the same test run.
The newsletter Not-Ship reports that Amazon's combined fees—referral commissions, fulfillment charges and advertising costs—can take nearly half of a seller's sale price, even though its base commission of about 15% matches eBay and Walmart. It notes these fee structures are central to the US Federal Trade Commission's pending antitrust case against Amazon.
Amazon has introduced four new Alexa Tablet models, ranging from a $229.99 8-inch version to a $679.99 12 Pro model. The flagship 12-inch, 2800x1840 display uses a new Corning-partnered 'Nanomatte' coating designed to cut glare while preserving sharpness, and the tablets run full Android with Play Store access alongside Amazon's own apps.
Apple introduced the HomeView smart display, a new Apple TV 4K with an A19 chip, and an updated Siri Remote, all now available for pre-order on Amazon ahead of their November 13 release. HomeView is a 7-inch touchscreen with facial recognition, Siri AI, and a Center Stage camera, priced at $299, matching the new Apple TV 4K's price, while the redesigned Siri Remote sells separately for $59.
Amazon is selling Hisense's 2026 75-inch E7 Mini-LED TV for $675, matching a price first offered during its Prime Day promotion. The set includes Fire TV smart platform integration, 144Hz refresh rate for gaming, and Dolby Atmos audio support.
Apple has begun taking preorders for HomeView, a 7-inch smart display and speaker meant to serve as a shared hub for up to six household members. The device uses voice control via Siri to manage smart home gear like locks and blinds, can show up to nine camera feeds at once, and recognizes individual users via its built-in camera to show personalized profiles. With an iCloud+ subscription and a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, it can also surface Messages, Calendar, Reminders, FaceTime, and Apple Music content.
Apple announced HomeView, a $299 smart display, on October 13. The device arrives roughly nine years after Amazon's Echo Show and eight years after Google's Home Hub introduced similar wall- or countertop-mounted screens for homes.
Amazon is offering a 33 percent discount when buyers add the Nothing Headphone A, in black or white, together with the CD edition of Charli XCX's album Music, Fashion, Film to their cart. The combined price comes to $97.52, undercutting the headphones' usual $199 retail price even before factoring in the included album. Other color options qualify for the same discount but start at a higher price point, resulting in a higher final total.
Apple unveiled the HomeView, a $299 smart home hub with a touchscreen, speaker, Siri AI, and security camera dashboard, set to go on sale November 13 with preorders starting October 13. The device can recognize up to six individual users via facial recognition and presence sensors, switching to personalized home screens, and supports FaceTime and shared photo albums.
Samsung's launch promotion for the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus remains active, giving buyers a free $200 Amazon gift card. The offer is limited to customers who hold an Amazon Prime membership.
Amazon's About You page, a personalization feature introduced in May, is drawing renewed attention online as users share screenshots of oddly specific inferences the system has made about them. Examples shared on Threads and Reddit include descriptions like having 'flat buttocks,' 'mismatched trash bins,' and 'owns a tiny funnel.' The page lets users view and edit the attributes Amazon has inferred to tailor shopping recommendations.