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Tech News
Samsung has begun pushing its redesigned SmartThings interface to Android phones days after the update first appeared on iOS. The new version introduces a floating navigation bar, denser device and routine cards, and quick on/off toggles directly from the home screen. It also refreshes the built-in TV remote with a light mode and resizable, repositionable controls.
Amazon has introduced a new Fire TV Stick 4K alongside a redesigned Fire TV Remote featuring differently shaped, indented buttons meant to be identifiable by touch. The company says the device is 20-40% faster at powering on and loading content than a similarly priced competitor, and it also outperformed three top-selling 4K smart TVs in Amazon's own testing. The updated stick has a slimmer design, supports Direct Power via a TV's USB port, and runs Amazon's Vega operating system with Alexa Plus built in.
Amazon's new $59.99 Fire TV Stick 4K, available now, can be powered directly from a television's USB port instead of requiring a separate adapter. It runs Amazon's refreshed TV OS with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and replaces the previous 4K 'Select' and 'Plus' sticks, trimming the streaming lineup to four devices. Amazon also unveiled a redesigned Fire TV Remote for $14.99, shipping late October, plus Alexa Plus integrations across the Fire TV app and a new Amazon Music app.
Code found in iOS 27 shows Apple is rebuilding the Apple TV Remote into a full standalone app for iPhone and iPad, moving it beyond its current Control Center tile format. Hidden feature flags uncovered by a developer reveal plans for an app launcher to open Apple TV apps directly and a Top Shelf content preview, functions currently unavailable in the released version.
A troubleshooting guide outlines how to diagnose and fix a non-responsive Apple TV remote, starting with checking battery levels and restarting the Apple TV system. If those steps fail, users on tvOS 18 or later can check Bluetooth signal strength through settings, and as a last resort perform a full factory reset or use an iPhone/iPad as a substitute remote via Control Center.
YouTube has rolled out a companion feature that syncs its mobile app with whatever video is playing on a TV, as long as both devices are signed into the same account. Users can comment, subscribe, search, or browse Shorts on their phone without interrupting the video on screen, and can send videos to the TV directly. The two devices don't even need to share the same Wi-Fi network.
Roku TVs can freeze, stop responding to remotes, drop Wi-Fi connections or fail after software updates, prompting the need for either a simple restart or a full factory reset. A restart is quick and preserves settings, while a factory reset wipes all personal data, accounts and apps, returning the TV to its original state. Users are advised to have their Roku account credentials, Wi-Fi details and any PINs ready before attempting either fix.