All articles tagged with #smart devices
Apple’s new AirPods 5 offer significantly improved noise cancellation and sound quality for open-ear users, but the $249 AirPods Pro 3 retain advantages in battery life, health tracking, and passive isolation. The choice depends on whether the user prioritizes comfort and lower cost or maximum performance and fitness features.
Norway’s government is proposing a temporary ban on AI-enabled smart glasses in specific public areas to address privacy risks. The measure targets locations where privacy is critical, such as schools, healthcare facilities, and changing rooms, while allowing private use. This move follows global concerns about covert surveillance and precedes potential permanent regulation after a period of public debate.
Apple's new AirPods 5 offer improved open-ear noise cancellation at a lower price, but the AirPods Pro 3 remains superior for those needing in-ear fit, heart rate monitoring, and clinical hearing aid features.
iOS 27 introduces significant updates to the Apple Wallet app, including a dedicated hub for tracking recurring Apple Card transactions, a new feature to split restaurant bills via receipt scanning, and the ability to digitize physical cards into custom digital passes.
Meta has introduced the Muse Charm, a small, keychain-style device that runs its new Muse AI agent without needing a smartphone. The gadget features a 2-inch screen displaying customizable avatars, a fingerprint sensor for activation, a 5G modem, and a camera. Announced at Meta Connect 2026, the device is designed for hands-free interaction and is set to launch before the Christmas holidays. It is part of a broader strategy to integrate AI across multiple hardware platforms, including new VR glasses and smart eyewear.
Fortune reports growing privacy concerns around Meta's Ray‑Ban Meta Glasses, which embed cameras and AI for streaming and recording in public. The piece notes legal questions about consent, the potential for ambient surveillance, and the real-world impact on bystanders, while detailing countermeasures like signals that indicate recording, apps that alert users to nearby glasses, and debates over how copyright or privacy claims apply to covert footage.
OpenAI president Greg Brockman says the company is developing a “family of devices” for interacting with its AI models, but gave no release dates and did not confirm rumors about a smart speaker or wearables; he envisions most tasks being done by talking to computers, and OpenAI is pursuing verifiable, auditable privacy guarantees to address trust in its AI.
A Pew Research Center survey of 5,119 U.S. adults (Feb 17–23, 2026) finds about half now use AI chatbots (roughly 25% daily), and about one in three own AI-enabled smart speakers, with others having AI-capable doorbells or thermostats; ChatGPT remains the dominant chatbot. Use is higher among under-50s. People say chatbots boost productivity and information, but are less convinced they enhance creativity, while many worry AI will threaten personal data security and that it’s advancing too quickly. Confidence in government to regulate AI and in companies to develop it responsibly is low, with Democrats more skeptical about regulation than Republicans.
CES 2026 in Las Vegas is showcasing the latest in tech, including AI, robots, new smartphones, and health devices, with CNET providing live coverage and awards for the top innovations of the event.
The article discusses the potential development of a Fitbit Ring and a new Pixel Tablet by Google, highlighting market trends, device capabilities, and strategic considerations. It suggests that a Fitbit Inspire 4 might be released in 2026, possibly running Fitbit OS or Wear OS, and explores the features and market positioning of Fitbit trackers and smartwatches. Regarding the Pixel Tablet, Google seems to favor a device focused on content consumption with smart display features, rather than a new content-centric tablet, emphasizing affordability and simplicity. The article also touches on the importance of device integration and user experience enhancements.
Clicks has introduced the Power Keyboard, a magnetic power bank with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that can charge phones via MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging and connect to devices over Bluetooth, offering a versatile accessory for multitasking and portable use, available this spring for $109 with preorders starting at $79.23.
Amazon's head of devices, Panay, predicts a shift away from screen-based social media towards ambient intelligence, where technology seamlessly integrates into daily life through new hardware and improved AI like the updated Alexa Plus, emphasizing security and a cultural move away from doom scrolling.
Google is extending the timeline for replacing Assistant with its new AI, Gemini, on Android devices to ensure a smooth transition, with updates continuing into 2025 or possibly beyond, as the company integrates Gemini across its products and devices.
The rollout of Google's Gemini for Home smart device service has faced issues, including bugs, incorrect task responses, and features being locked behind a subscription paywall, leading to user frustration and a less than ideal experience compared to the mobile app, with Google needing to address these problems quickly.
This article lists 14 affordable tech gifts under $50 that are practical and can make life easier, including items like AirTags, smart speakers, smart notebooks, waterproof speakers, and multi-device chargers, perfect for various recipients such as travelers, students, and tech enthusiasts.