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Tech News
Google has raised the price of its 4K Google TV Streamer to $149, a $50 jump from its original $99 launch price. The change is already reflected on the Google Store and at Best Buy, though Amazon still lists the device at its older price. The streaming box, which launched in 2024 and also functions as a smart home hub, joins a wave of price hikes across Google's product lineup, including the recently released Pixel 11 phones.
Gizmodo is providing rolling coverage of IFA 2026, the annual consumer electronics trade show held in Berlin, reporting on hardware and gadget announcements as they emerge from exhibitors. The live updates format compiles news from across the show floor into a single continuously updated feed.
A journalist filed over 100 California Consumer Privacy Act data-access requests to major companies, including McDonald's, which returned a 515-page report detailing app behavior and predictive profiling. Many companies mishandled the process—some deleted data instead of disclosing it despite explicit instructions otherwise, while others ignored the contact methods listed in their own privacy policies.
A new Linux distribution called stillOS has debuted with a strong focus on simplifying onboarding for people who have never used Linux before. It uses atomic updates so the operating system and apps update automatically in the background without risking system stability, and it lets users customize their desktop without needing any technical Linux knowledge.
A former Uber and Uber Eats employee who spent a decade eliminating friction from everyday consumer experiences describes now personally paying to reintroduce it into their own life. The reflection contrasts the seamless, one-tap conveniences built by companies like Uber with a deliberate choice to seek out slower, more effortful alternatives.
A tech commentator reports extensive hands-on testing of GPT-5.6-Luna, a fast small AI model that processes complex tasks—like scanning thousands of emails—for only tens of cents per query. The author also notes GLM 5.3 as another efficient option now competing at the frontier of cost-versus-capability, arguing that these smaller models have quietly closed much of the gap with premium models like Fable 5.
Politico reports the Trump administration is considering expanding semiconductor tariffs to cover finished consumer electronics like laptops and gaming consoles, and potentially smartphones and accessories, rather than just standalone chip imports. Companies investing in US-based chip manufacturing could be granted exemptions, but building such facilities typically takes years and billions of dollars, meaning near-term relief is unlikely.
An opinion piece suggests communities resisting new data center construction could be won over by receiving actual financial stakes in the projects, modeled after the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan structure. Instead of only offering tax breaks or jobs, developers would share ownership benefits directly with residents near the facilities.
A Harvard Business School analysis led by Professor Mark Egan finds that interchange fees baked into retail prices generate about $9.2 billion annually in net rewards for affluent credit card users, while cash and debit customers pay the same higher prices but receive little or none of that money back. Across the broader economy, the researchers estimate roughly $30 billion moves each year from cash and debit users to credit card users at the same stores.
New EU regulations now require manufacturers to repair certain household and electronic products, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, mobile phones and tablets, even after the standard warranty expires. The rules mandate reasonable pricing and timeframes for repairs, access to spare parts, and the creation of national repair directories like Ireland's RepairMyStuff.ie to help consumers find services.
Robotic exoskeleton devices designed to assist walking, running and jumping are transitioning quickly from research prototypes into commercially available consumer products. Unlike bulky sci-fi mech suits, these newer devices are lightweight and increasingly aimed at everyday users, including hikers, rather than industrial or medical specialists alone.