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Gemini adds live 3D modeling and simulations for explanations
1 day ago•Source: The Verge
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65.87 min•2 days ago
The Neo Effect: How Apple's budget Mac is forcing Windows to level up
Tom Warren argues that Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo is pressuring Microsoft to overhaul Windows 11, with planned memory-efficiency gains, faster Start/search, and a lighter, less distracting UX for low‑RAM devices, driven by a new Windows leadership team aiming to counter the Neo and keep Windows competitive.
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Meta launches Muse Spark to power AI across its apps and devices
The Verge•2 days ago
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Nvidia’s DLSS 4.5 expands AI frame generation with 6x mode and auto tuning
The Verge•10 days ago
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Apple at 50: a photo-driven history of half a century
The Verge marks Apple’s 50th anniversary with a photo-driven tour of its history, from Apple II and Macintosh roots through iMacs, iPhone, and flagship stores, showing how a rebellious startup grew into a global tech titan.
RCS 4.0 could bridge iPhone and Android video chats, but rollout remains uncertain
GSMA’s final RCS Universal Profile 4.0 introduces Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC), enabling interoperable video calls from chats across devices and networks; however, Apple and Google have not yet announced support, and there’s no announced rollout timeline. The update also adds text formatting and higher‑quality media sharing.
Laser-sealed paper packaging could make glue obsolete
German researchers from Fraunhofer institutes have developed Papure, a laser-based process that seals paper packaging without glue or plastic by irradiating paper with a CO laser to convert lignin, cellulose, and other components into fusible cleavage products that act as a natural adhesive. The system analyzes paper chemistry to identify sealable types, then tunes laser intensity and seam design; in tests, a 2 cm seal is strong enough to support 44 pounds, and a lab-scale unit is being built to reach about 10 packages per minute by September.
Vivo X300 Ultra launches as camera-first flagship in China
Vivo today unveiled the X300 Ultra in China as a flagship cameraphone designed for professional photography, featuring a 3+2 ZEISS Master Lenses Collection (14mm ultra-wide with Sony LYTIA 818, 35mm Documentary Camera, 85mm gimbal-grade telephoto with a 200MP Samsung HP0 sensor) and optical stabilization across focal lengths; it supports Multi-Focal 4K 120fps 10-bit video for ACES workflows, quad-mic audio, and is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with a 6600 mAh battery and 12–16GB RAM plus 256GB–1TB storage in black, silver, and green. Pricing hasn’t been announced and Vivo says it will roll out to global markets later this year (first Ultra outside China).
Pixel 11 leak hints at slimmer bezels and a solid black camera bar
Leaked renders suggest the Pixel 11 will feature slimmer bezels and a solid black rear camera bar, with rumored specs including a Tensor G6, a 6.3-inch OLED display, and dimensions nearly identical to the Pixel 10; a launch is expected in August.
MacBook Air: The ultraportable that redefined the PC industry
Joanna Stern traces the MacBook Air’s journey from the 2008 envelope reveal to Apple’s Silicon era, showing how its slender, port-scarce design and vertical integration sparked industry-wide imitation and reshaped what a laptop could be.
Sony halts most memory-card orders amid global memory shortage
Sony Japan has temporarily stopped accepting orders for CFexpress and SD memory cards from dealers and consumers due to an ongoing memory shortage and other factors; a few low-end SD cards may still be produced and stocked until inventory runs out, with a resume date to be announced as supply improves, the same day Sony also announced a PS5 price increase.
Apple opens Siri to third‑party AI chatbots with Extensions in iOS 27
Apple’s iOS 27 will let users link third‑party AI chatbots to Siri via a new Extensions system, enabling App Store–downloaded rivals like Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude to fetch Siri replies and work with a forthcoming standalone Siri app.
Dell XPS 16 Sets a New Battery-Life Benchmark With 1Hz/1–120Hz LG Panel
Notebookcheck’s test of a Dell XPS 16 with an LG Display 1–120Hz panel and Intel Panther Lake suggests it’s the most power-efficient laptop yet, idling at about 1.5W and delivering nearly 27 hours of Wi‑Fi web browsing on a 70Wh pack, potentially beating MacBooks; LG Display is mass-producing a 1Hz laptop panel (Oxide 1Hz) with an OLED version planned for 2027, and Intel is collaborating with BOE on 1Hz systems.
Apple Watch slashed in Spring Sale: up to 57% off across the lineup
The Amazon Spring Sale is slashing prices across the entire Apple Watch range by as much as 57%, with a standout lightning deal on the Series 9 (41mm GPS + Cellular) at $299 and discounts on Series 11 ($299), SE3 ($268) and Ultra 3 ($868), plus promos at UK retailers like Argos and EE. It’s a timed sale that brings near-record-low prices on Apple’s wearable lineup, though availability can change quickly.