GoKawiil
Tech News
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, priced at $1,399.99, features a 14.6-inch display and aims to excel in screen size and battery life. Apple’s iPad Pro, with a starting price of $1,499 for the 13-inch model, emphasizes processing power and display precision. Both devices target professional and creative users but differ significantly in design philosophy and ecosystem integration.
Approximately 1,000 New York City households participated in a program by startup Every Electric, receiving free batteries to run window air conditioners during extreme heat. The batteries allowed residents to maintain cooling while earning money through demand response payments from Con Edison, even during a record-breaking heat dome event. The initiative aims to demonstrate how residential energy storage can support grid stability during peak demand periods.
Rivian has issued a recall affecting roughly 14 R2 SUVs after discovering that fasteners on the high-voltage battery pack were not properly tightened, a defect that can cause loss of power while driving. The company will repair or replace affected components as needed, and says it has reprogrammed the assembly-line station at its Normal, Illinois plant that caused the under-torqued fasteners. Rivian told NHTSA it knows of no accidents, injuries or fatalities tied to the issue, though some owners reported problems on Reddit and the blog RivianTrackr.
Researchers are developing AI tools that can reconstruct images and mental content from brain activity, with hopes of aiding locked-in patients and studying dreams. Separately, startups are deploying small, distributed batteries in devices like induction stovetops and food carts as an alternative to large utility-scale installations facing community pushback over fire risks.
OnePlus executive Li Jie Louis announced via Weibo that the upcoming OnePlus 16 will pack a 9,000mAh battery, up 1,700mAh from the OnePlus 15. The company also confirmed 50W wireless charging with bypass support, alongside previously revealed specs including a 185Hz display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip, a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP 3x telephoto lens. The phone launches in China on October 12 but won't reach Europe or the US.
An Android Authority writer describes keeping a four-year-old Nothing Phone 1 running after it reached the end of official software support. The fixes included a third-party battery replacement, switching to a slower 18W charger and thinner case to reduce heat, and moving to lighter, open-source apps to cut battery drain and improve speed.
At a New York Climate Week event, companies including PopWheels, Copper, Every Electric and David Energy described distributed battery systems as a response to public pushback against large centralized storage sites. PopWheels operates about 50 battery-swap cabinets with 2,500 batteries for e-bike delivery riders and is expanding to food carts, while Copper builds induction stoves with integrated batteries and Every Electric and David Energy sell plug-in batteries for homes and businesses.
Android Authority highlights a two-year-old Pixel setting, Charging Optimization's 'Limit to 80%' option, found under Battery and Charging settings. Enabling it stops the phone from charging past 80% most of the time, though it occasionally charges fully to keep battery capacity estimates accurate. The outlet notes the feature can also reduce heat buildup when people use their phone while it's plugged in.
German e-bike maker Lemmo has released the Lemmo 3, a step-through longtail cargo bike that is among the first e-bikes to use a semi-solid state battery. The bike carries a 960Wh battery rated for up to 180km of range, which Lemmo says is 20 percent smaller and lighter than a comparable lithium-ion pack while lasting 30 percent longer. The removable battery can also output power for AC appliances and USB-C devices, and the bike uses the MIK HD accessory mount standard, weighing 39kg including battery.
Amazon is offering unlocked, Renewed Premium iPhone 17 Pro Max units starting at $1,385.78 for the 1TB model, over $500 less than Apple's 1TB iPhone 18 Pro Max. The retailer's early fall Prime Day event also includes a $500 cut on an M5 Pro MacBook Pro, ecobee HomeKit discounts up to $210 off, Apple Watch Solo Loop bands from $7, a $100 discount on Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio, and 40% off the MagSafe Battery Pack.
Leaker Ice Universe claims Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra will weigh 218 grams, about 4 grams more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while keeping the same 7.9mm thickness. The extra weight follows earlier reports that the phone will carry a larger 5,700mAh battery, up from 5,000mAh in the current model.
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking how often people upgrade their smartwatch, offering options ranging from yearly upgrades to waiting until the device stops working. With seven votes recorded so far, 57% said they upgrade only when their smartwatch malfunctions, while 43% said they replace it every three to five years; no respondents chose annual, biennial upgrades, or not using a smartwatch at all.