A passenger riding in a Tesla robotaxi in the Bay Area recorded the vehicle repeatedly emitting flatulent sounds through its novelty 'emissions testing' feature, unable to be turned off. The human safety driver on board, required since Tesla's robotaxis aren't yet licensed in California, told the passenger he had been adjusting settings and lost control of the function, including the volume.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-16
Multiple owners of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, including 2nd- and 3rd-generation models, told Android Authority and Reddit that the devices captured audio without being activated by the required 'Hey Meta' command. Meta told Android Authority the issue 'has been resolved' and pointed users to settings where voice logs can be reviewed or deleted.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-15
Google announced updates to its AI search features that place inline links higher and more frequently in responses, add link carousels for timely articles, and make end-of-query links more visually prominent with thumbnails. It's also testing clickable publisher profile links in AI Mode and says over 400 publishers now participate in its News AI licensing pilot, with Axios, CNN, and the Financial Times newly joining.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-15
Google has rolled out new shopping tools, including Universal Cart, which lets users save products from multiple retailers in one place via AI Mode in Search or the Gemini app, and a When to Buy Guide that advises on discount timing. The cart draws on over 60 billion listings from Google's Shopping Graph to track price drops and restocks, and integrates with Google Wallet and Google Pay to surface card perks and promo codes.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-15
Xreal has released its One Pro Plus display glasses for $599, upgrading brightness to 1,200 nits from 700 nits on the earlier One Pro model. The new version adds extra visual settings, including a 'Reading' mode, and a smoother AI-driven 3D conversion feature for 2D content, but otherwise keeps the same design, USB-C tethering and onboard chip as its predecessor.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-15
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin posted a video Oct. 1 showing off a sprawling Minecraft city he has built over 12 years, featuring stadiums, high-rises and apartments. The project began as a bonding activity with his children in the game's creative mode and continued solo after they lost interest. The video has drawn more than 3 million views in under two weeks.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-14
Google has broadened availability of its Gemini 4 Argon AI model beyond the Fairwind Program to developers via the Gemini API and Antigravity platform, and to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers through the Gemini app and AI Mode in Search. Introductory pricing is $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through November 30, after which costs double. Google says Argon handles complex tasks in finance, coding, creative writing and cybersecurity, and VP Josh Woodward noted it responds faster with fewer hedges and can surface answers while still processing longer queries.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
A photography guide explains several ways iPhone users can reduce blurry photos, including raising video/photo resolution in Settings > Camera, using tap-and-hold AE/AF Lock to fix focus, and enabling Night Mode on iPhone 11 and later for low-light shots. It also recommends third-party apps like Camera+ for manual shutter speed and ISO control, plus using a tripod to minimize camera shake.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-12
Apple's iOS includes a Low Data Mode, found under Settings > Cellular > Data Mode, that reduces streaming quality, pauses automatic updates and backups, and limits background refresh to conserve mobile data. Users can also disable Background App Refresh selectively through Settings > General, or block individual apps from using cellular data entirely via the Cellular settings menu.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-10
A tech guide explains how preset picture modes on 4K TVs—such as vivid, gaming, and sports—affect image quality, and recommends switching to Movie or Filmmaker Mode for the most accurate picture. It also advises manually disabling motion smoothing and similar post-processing features, and checking that connected devices like consoles or streaming boxes are outputting in full 4K.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-10
Users on Reddit report that Amazon's latest base-model Kindles, which feature a flush bezel design, show shadows or visible LED strips around the screen edges, especially in dark mode with brightness turned up. The issue reportedly affects both plastic and aluminum models across all color options. Good e-Reader reports Amazon has acknowledged a manufacturing issue may have caused defects in the current batch, though Amazon declined to give The Verge an on-the-record statement.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-09
Amazon has unveiled a new line of Android tablets equipped with advanced Alexa capabilities, including live conversations and visual recognition. These features, previously unavailable, aim to enhance user interaction with the assistant for tasks like shopping, information retrieval, and object identification. Amazon's VP of devices indicated these innovations address previous product limitations, but declined to comment on potential smartphone development.
wired.com
· 2026-10-08