The US Army's Joint Task Force Southern Border used a high-energy laser weapon to destroy three drones near the Rio Grande Valley overnight on August 25-26, after officials said the drones threatened military and Customs and Border Patrol personnel. The weapon involved is the Locust Laser Weapon System, built on AeroVironment's AMP-HEL technology and delivered to the Army starting September 2025, with additional units following in December.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-02
iRobot unveiled two new robot vacuums at IFA 2026 in Berlin: the $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo and the $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo, both paired with an AutoWash Dock. The flagship Max model introduces SealForce Vacuuming Technology, which seals against carpet fibers to hit 35,000 Pascals of suction, plus a heated ThermaMist mopping system with a spinning roller mop that can detect and avoid wetting rugs. Both units ship within two weeks online and hit North American retail stores later this month.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-02
With the Google Pixel 11 series now available in bold colors and featuring a new HiLight LED on Pro models, reviewers have rounded up recommended protective cases for the phones. Options highlighted include the slim, protective Spigen Liquid Air and the grip-focused dBrand Grip Case, among several others covering different price points and styles.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-02
iRobot has unveiled the Roomba Max 875 Combo, a robot vacuum that lowers a skirt to seal its chassis against carpet fibers, concentrating airflow instead of letting it escape around the edges. The company says this SealForce technology lets the device reach 35,000 pascals of suction and clean three times deeper into carpets than prior models. iRobot is showcasing the device at IFA Berlin 2026.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-02
At the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, the Trump administration pushed back against AI regulation, with OSTP director Michael Kratsios warning that outdated rules could stifle innovation and cause countries to fall behind. The US is promoting the 'Carolina Principles,' a pro-innovation framework favoring industry-led standards over government oversight, while AI czar David Sacks argued that creating an 'FDA for AI' or 'DMV for AI' would be disastrous for the sector.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-01
Display makers use terms like QHD, WQHD, 4K and 5K to describe how many pixels a screen contains, but these labels can be inconsistent and sometimes overlap across TVs, monitors and phones. A breakdown of these terms clarifies what each resolution actually means and how they differ in pixel count and aspect ratio.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
Reports ahead of Apple's Sept. 9 event suggest the iPhone 18 Pro's main camera could gain a variable aperture, letting the lens opening physically adjust rather than stay fixed like on the iPhone 17 Pro. Samsung and Xiaomi both tried similar variable-aperture designs in past flagships but later dropped the feature.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-01
WIRED's latest sleep tracker roundup highlights the Google Pixel Watch 4 as a budget-friendly option when discounted, the screenless Whoop MG for detailed sleep coaching, the Apple Watch Series 11 for those already in Apple's ecosystem, and Garmin's pricier Epix Pro for advanced biometric sleep data. Each device varies in accuracy and price, with testers noting some trackers overestimate actual sleep duration.
wired.com
· 2026-09-01
Pollen Robotics, Hugging Face's French subsidiary, launched a $399 programmable robot called Microduck that sold more than 10,000 units since Thursday, generating over $4 million and pushing delivery timelines past the original Christmas 2026 target. The device relies on Rockchip's RK3566 chip, a Shanghai-listed processor built using licensed technology from Britain's ARM.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-01
JD Power surveyed over 68,000 owners of 2026 model-year vehicles about 40 different automotive technologies and found that features requiring the least driver attention, such as smart ignition and AI-controlled HVAC systems, earned the highest satisfaction scores. Passenger-facing dashboard screens, often found in luxury brands like Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche, ranked among the least liked features.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-31
Researchers have developed a plasma technology approach aimed at reducing the heavy carbon footprint associated with cement production, one of the most emissions-intensive industrial sectors globally. The method targets the chemical and energy-intensive steps in making cement, offering a potential pathway to lower greenhouse gas output from an industry long considered difficult to decarbonize.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-08-31
Luffu, a health app built for families and caregivers, has introduced a new wearable device created by Fitbit's founders. The device aims to reimagine wearable tech by focusing on caregiving and family health monitoring rather than individual fitness tracking, drawing inspiration from older concepts like Life Alert's emergency pendant.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-31
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