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Dedicated streaming sticks from various manufacturers can add smart-TV capabilities to an existing, non-smart television rather than requiring a full replacement. These devices plug into a TV's HDMI port and provide access to streaming apps and content without the cost of buying a new smart TV.
Amazon is selling the Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring in Ceramic Midnight for $279, down from its $399 list price, a 30% discount that matches the lowest price it has ever hit. The ring tracks sleep, recovery, activity, heart rate, temperature and stress without a screen, using Oura's Smart Sensing technology, and the ceramic version is built from scratch-resistant zirconia ceramic with a battery life of roughly 5 to 8 days.
A developer with over 15 years of experience in large C++ codebases describes replacing raw and smart pointers with 'index-handles' as a technique for dynamic memory management. The post, updated in November 2018, adds a method using a per-slot generation counter to prevent 'handle collisions', building on an earlier discussion of pointer- and allocation-free programming.
Anthropic has introduced a feature called Smart Reports that lets managers generate summaries of how their teams use Claude at work, including cost and output data. The company says employee sessions will be anonymized, though it previously faced criticism after anonymized data from another product was reportedly de-anonymized using large language models.
Northeastern University researchers tested 12 smart TVs across 10 brands and found Vizio's SmartCast continued sending the same volume of traffic to an Amazon Kinesis server linked to automatic content recognition even after users opted out, in all 30 test runs. Samsung's own streaming service showed similar behavior, while LG, Fire TV, VIDAA and Sony's Google TV stopped sending data once users opted out. Vizio's free WatchFree+ service also sends unencrypted show and channel names via DNS lookups to partner Amagi, with no option to disable it.
According to Korean outlet Chosun Biz, Samsung's first Android XR smart glasses, reportedly dubbed 'Intelligent Eyewear,' will launch in South Korea and the US by mid-December. The report says the glasses will initially skip China, Japan, and Europe, with wider availability possibly coming in 2027. Earlier reports had pointed to a late-November debut in South Korea.
A Northeastern University study ran 5,943 experiments across twelve smart TV platforms and found that automatic content recognition (ACR) tracking often continues even after viewers disable it. Vizio's SmartCast devices sent data to an Amazon Kinesis endpoint in 100% of opted-out test scenarios, while Samsung Tizen devices showed ACR-like traffic in over 60% of cases; only four operating systems fully honored opt-out requests.
European supermarkets suffered a suspected cyber-attack in November that affected refrigeration systems, prompting fresh scrutiny of internet-connected devices. UK researchers at UK Cyber Defence have found more than 800 refrigeration and building-control interfaces tied to British retailers that are accessible via the public internet, though this doesn't confirm they're hackable. The NCSC says it has no evidence of UK impact but is working with international partners to investigate the incidents.
CNET is running a two-minute survey throughout November asking readers to rate wearable devices—fitness trackers, smartwatches and smart glasses—on battery life, accuracy, comfort, app experience and overall satisfaction. Responses will be tallied and the top-rated devices will be featured in an upcoming People's Picks roundup.
A troubleshooting guide explains why smart home devices frequently drop off Wi-Fi networks, pointing to router connection limits, band compatibility issues, and signal range as common culprits. It recommends upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 or 7 routers, separating 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSIDs for older accessories, and using multiple Apple home hubs to reduce HomeKit's 'No Response' errors.
Birdfy has released its Rookie smart bird feeder and Birdbuddy its Nook model, both priced under $100, undercutting previous premium smart feeders that often cost $200 or more. A reviewer tested each for four weeks in their backyard, comparing hardware quality, camera performance, and which features require a paid subscription.
Apple has delayed its smart home robot, reportedly codenamed J595, until at least 2027 or possibly 2028, according to The Information. The report says the device's hardware has been ready for about two years, but software delays have held up its release, with the software team reportedly scaling back planned features to focus on FaceTime and basic home automation like controlling lights. The device is expected to carry a roughly $1,000 price tag and feature a 9-inch display mounted on a swiveling robotic arm.