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If you are looking to buy one of the new iPhones (or you already got one), you can’t have missed reports that the two Pro models are prone to scratching – apparently, it has something to do with how their aluminum chassis was anodized. And while the vanilla iPhone 17 is harder to scratch, it’s not immune either. The iPhone Air turned out to be pretty tough (it’s the only new model to use titanium), you still may want to protect your investment. That means picking out a case for your new iPhone – we picked out some of the…

Ever since Apple Intelligence was shown off at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) in 2024, iPhone users have been eagerly awaiting a better Siri digital assistant. After so many delays, the new Siri is slated to come out early next year, barring unforeseen complications, but it might not be that good.Concerns about the new SiriIn his newsletter Power On, industry insider Mark Gurman delivers some grave news: there are already concerns inside Apple about the performance of the new Siri. That is not something any of us wanted to hear, as rivals like the Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 10 are…

Silicon Valley’s rule? It’s not cool to be cautious. As OpenAI removes guardrails and VCs criticize companies like Anthropic for supporting AI safety regulations, it’s becoming clearer who the industry thinks should shape AI development.  On this episode of Equity, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Max Zeff discuss how the line between innovation and responsibility is getting blurrier, plus what happens when pranks go from digital to physical.  Watch to the full episode for more about:  Why advocating for AI safety has become “uncool” in Silicon Valley from Anthropic facing backlash to California’s SB 243 regulation of AI companion chatbots…

Summarize This Article:ChatGPTPerplexityGrokGoogle AISamsung has been actively releasing the stable One UI 8 update to its devices since a few weeks ago, despite some initial delays. One UI 8 is the latest release for Galaxy devices based on Android 16. It is now rolling out for Galaxy Tab S9 devices, including the Tab S9, Tab S9+, and Tab S9 Ultra.The One UI 8 update for the Galaxy Tab S9 is gradually rolling out in multiple regions, including Asia, Europe, and North America. In Korea, the update is available with build version DYI5, while it is available in other regions with…

A cat jumped up on my couch. Wait a minute. I don’t have a cat.The alert about the leaping feline is something my Google Home app sent me when I was out at a party. Turns out it was my dog. This notification came through a day after I turned on Google’s Gemini for Home capability in the Google Home app. It brings the power of large language models to the smart home ecosystem, and one of the most useful features is more descriptive alerts from my Nest security cameras. So, instead of “Person seen,” it can tell me FedEx…

The Department of Energy said Thursday that it had finalized a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to upgrade around 5,000 miles of transmission lines. The grid upgrades would ease the flow of electricity in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. The project, which will address lines owned by American Electric Power (AEP), won’t add any new routes, but it will help existing ones carry more power. AEP is one of the largest utilities and transmission line owners in the U.S., with operations spanning 11 states. The 5,000 miles that will be upgraded represent around 13% of the company’s total network.…

vivo held a big Chinese event this week, announcing the new OriginOS 6 and the X300 series in the X300 and the X300 Pro. OriginOS 6 is redesigned with a similar visual style to iOS 26 with transparent elements and a multi-layered look. OriginOS 6 is here to replace FunTouch OS and will get its global rollout later this month. The vivo X300 and X300 Pro are official for China, too. The Pro is your typical big-sized flagship phone, while the X300 is a 6.31-inch flagship. Both feature the Dimensity 9500 SoC and big batteries. Both phones could also become…

The AI era is giving fracking a second act, a surprising twist for an industry that, even during its early 2010s boom years, was blamed by climate advocates for poisoned water tables, man-made earthquakes, and the stubborn persistence of fossil fuels. AI companies are building massive data centers near major gas-production sites, often generating their own power by tapping directly into fossil fuels. It’s a trend that’s been overshadowed by headlines about the intersection of AI and healthcare (and solving climate change), but it’s one that could reshape — and raise difficult questions for — the communities that host these…

Senate Republicans shared a deepfake video of Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, designed to make it seem like Democrats are celebrating the ongoing government shutdown, which has lasted 16 days.   In the deepfake, an AI-generated Schumer repeats the phrase “every day gets better for us,” an actual quote taken out of context from a Punchbowl News article. In the original story, Schumer discussed the Democrats’ healthcare-focused shutdown strategy, and said they were not going to back away from Republicans’ playbook of threats and “bambooz[ling].”  The shutdown is happening because Democrats and Republicans cannot agree to pass a bill…

Vivo introduced the X300 series this week and this year the family is smaller – there’s no mid-sized vanilla model and no “Pro mini”, just the small X300 and the big X300 Pro. Okay, there is likely an Ultra model and an FE model in the pipeline, but there’s no denying that vivo streamlined its flagship product line. vivo X300 and X300 Pro highlights Let’s start with the vivo X300 Pro – it’s very much an “X200, part 2”, if we can put it that way. Dimensity 9400 gets swapped for 9500, UFS 4.0 for 4.1, 1/1.28”…