GoKawiil
Tech News
Xiaomi's new $500 Redmi Note 17 Pro Max includes full-resolution 50MP photo capture and a manual/pro camera mode, features absent from Google's $900 Pixel 11. Google reserves these tools for its pricier Pixel 11 Pro lineup, even though the base Pixel has hardware capable of supporting them.
Blurams used IFA 2026 in Berlin to introduce a broad home security ecosystem covering outdoor solar-powered cameras, indoor dome cameras, a local storage hub, and an AI companion toy for children. The lineup includes three F-series outdoor cameras ranging from a 4MP model to a 4K Ultra HD version, each featuring solar charging, motion detection, night vision, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. All devices support free cloud playback and local microSD storage without requiring a subscription.
Following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's move to remove Flock license plate readers from state roads, sheriff's offices in several Florida counties followed suit. Dallas police shut down over 300 Flock cameras after Governor Greg Abbott cut state funding, while a dozen Wisconsin agencies suspended their contracts, joining cities like Appleton, Oshkosh and Kenosha that had already dropped Flock.
Candidates across parties are campaigning against Flock Safety's AI-powered license-plate camera network, which operates in thousands of U.S. communities and lets police search shared vehicle data. Politicians in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida have called for bans, funding cuts, warrant requirements, or campaigned directly against the surveillance system. Flock defends the technology, citing its role in solving roughly a million crimes and reuniting thousands of missing people with families.
GoPro published an open letter addressing customer concerns that its planned merger with Starman could shift focus away from consumer and professional cameras. The company said the deal will strengthen its finances and enable continued investment in new cameras, accessories and software, pointing to its history of over 2,500 patents as evidence of ongoing innovation.
WIRED obtained and analyzed Flock Safety's police surveillance software, revealing tools that let officers set up automated, ongoing searches across camera networks for people matching a written description, not just vehicle plates. The company added safeguards in August—shorter data retention, mandatory case codes, and automated audits—after facing canceled contracts, congressional scrutiny, and a finding that Illinois camera data reached federal immigration agents in violation of state law.
Anker's Eufy brand unveiled a lineup of new security devices at IFA 2026, including the multi-camera NVR Security System E50, the Video Doorbell S4, the Window Camera E10, and a radar-based Fall Detection Sensor. The E50 kits are already available in the US, Canada and Australia starting at $999, while the doorbell, window camera and fall sensor arrive later this year at prices ranging from $70 to $299.
At IFA, Anker introduced MindBase, a local smart-home hub that doubles as a network storage device with a 64GB SSD and two bays for 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives. Paired with Eufy cameras and sensors like the Video Doorbell S4 and Fall Detection Sensor, its onboard AI can analyze events in real time and respond to threats through lighting changes, verbal warnings, or vague 'active deterrence' measures. Anker has not disclosed pricing or a release date.
Dallas has fitted 50 bulk-waste collection trucks with 100 AI-powered cameras that photograph properties along their routes and assign each one a 'blight score' from 1 to 4 based on detected issues like overgrown grass, litter and structural damage. Since testing began in April, the system has flagged possible violations at more than 21,000 properties, with some homeowners receiving code enforcement notices that could lead to fines. The cameras are run by a company called City Detect, which says it blurs faces and license plates but has no control over how the city enforces the data.
As communities destroy Flock's automatic license plate readers over privacy concerns, some police departments switching to Axon are worried its similar-looking cameras will become the next target. In a leaked webinar, Axon CEO Rick Smith confirmed the company is exploring shape changes to its ALPRs after customer requests, alongside plans to mount cameras on streetlights and add explanatory signage.
Miele unveiled the Diamond G8 dishwasher at IFA Berlin, featuring a small camera mounted inside the door that identifies items like pots, straws and flatware to automatically choose the right wash cycle and detergent dose. The camera also tracks how full the machine is, letting it start a cycle once it reaches a preset capacity, and the dishwasher can be scheduled to run during cheaper electricity periods.
Florida's Department of Transportation issued a memo revoking permits for all automated license plate readers, including those made by Flock, installed on state highways. The agency says operators have 30 days to remove the devices, and it will no longer approve new placement requests on state roadways.