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Smart TVs running WebOS, Google TV, Fire TV OS or Roku OS use standby mode to install software and app updates in the background rather than forcing users to wait through updates at power-on. OLED TVs specifically rely on standby to run pixel-refresh routines that prevent image retention and burn-in, a process that gets interrupted if the set is shut down or unplugged too soon after use.
With Switch 2 now offering Handheld Mode Boost and free or paid upgrades for older titles, the original Switch is increasingly being outpaced as more major games go Switch 2-exclusive, including Splatoon Raiders and upcoming titles like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Metroid Ravenous. The original Switch OLED still holds advantages in battery life and screen contrast, but its $399.99 price looks weak next to the base Switch 2 model for anyone who mostly docks the console.
Monitors with built-in USB hubs use two types of ports: an upstream port that links the monitor to a computer, and downstream ports where peripherals like keyboards or drives connect. If a monitor's video signal runs over HDMI or DisplayPort, those cables don't carry USB data, so a separate USB upstream cable is required for the hub's downstream ports to function. USB-C can eliminate that extra cable when the monitor and cable support DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery.
Acer's new Nitro XV273U F5 is a 27-inch IPS gaming monitor capable of 540Hz refresh rate at its native 2560x1440 resolution, and can push to a 1,000Hz mode when running at 1280x720. It also supports Adaptive-Sync, HDR 600 brightness, and wide-gamut color, positioning it as an IPS alternative to OLED for competitive gamers.
Apple's iOS 27 update brings changes to Focus mode, the feature that lets iPhone users control which notifications they receive during specific activities like work or sleep. Users can still activate modes via Control Center or customize settings under the Focus menu in Settings, but the update introduces refinements to how these modes function.
Apple's iOS 27 update brings five notable changes to Apple Music: a landscape layout that pairs artwork with lyrics, an improved AutoMix feature with smoother transitions now also coming to tvOS and HomePod, redesigned artist pages with fullscreen color backgrounds, and a new weekly 'Friends' playlist that surfaces what people in your network are streaming.
Mophie's MagSafe 3-in-1 Charging Stand, which charges an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously, is now on sale at roughly 49 percent off its usual price. The stand's standout feature is a telescoping pole that lets the iPhone pad extend from 7.5 to 16 inches and tilt, and the charger is both MFi and Qi certified, delivering up to 15 watts to the phone and 5 watts each to the watch and earbuds. It ships with a 36-watt power supply and a 5-foot USB-C cable.
Code strings found in version 17.59.17.sa.arm64 of the Google app reveal a feature called 'Ephemeral Video Mode' tied to Gemini's internal codename Robin. The strings describe enabling an ephemeral mode specifically for video input during Gemini Live sessions, suggesting Google is testing a way to keep certain video interactions from being saved.
Bose is releasing two open-ear earbud models on October 1: the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), an update to its 2024 flagship, and the all-new Bose Sport Open Earbuds. The Ultra model keeps its cuff-clip design but adds a beveled finish, wireless charging case, improved bass driver, Cinema Mode spatial audio, and up to nine hours of battery life. The Sport model reuses the OpenAudio tech from the Ultra line but is a distinct product from Bose's discontinued 2021 earbuds of the same name.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new 'Siri' mode in the Camera app that uses AI to identify and act on what the camera sees, such as translating text or adding event details to a calendar. The update also lets users customize which controls appear in each camera mode, while iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners get exclusive tools including manual aperture, shutter speed, white balance, a histogram viewer, and upgraded Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments.
A developer has revived Startup Name Generator-style satire with a project called 'Restarted,' updating the original 2015 gag site that spat out absurd startup jargon. The tool mimics the buzzword-laden branding language of tech pitches, offering a free tier for up to three projects without requiring a credit card.
A viral clip shows ChatGPT's Voice feature confidently miscounting the letter 'e' in 'seventeen,' claiming there are three when there are actually four. When the user, a content creator called Husk, corrected it, the chatbot repeatedly refused to concede the point even after spelling out the word itself. An OpenAI employee later clarified the voice assistant was running on an older model, GPT-Live-1, not GPT-6 as the bot itself claimed, and that it failed to delegate the query to a more capable model.