Summary As I expected, WWDC 25 was mostly a disappointment. The biggest news was that a new design was coming to Apple devices that makes every OS look like Windows Aero from 20 years ago. Another disappointment was the reveal of a new Apple Watch feature called Workout Buddy. I had high hopes of an impressive AI-powered personalized workout feature, but sadly, the reality is much, much worse. I Thought Workout Buddy Might Solve My Workout Problems There are two major problems I’ve found with every workout app I’ve ever used....

IKEA is introducing three new Zigbee smart home sensors that cost less than $10 apiece. The PARASOLL door and window sensor, VALLHORN wireless motion sensor, and BADRING water leakage detector will launch globally in early 2024. As with most smart home sensors, these new IKEA devices are battery powered and easy to install. The PARASOLL sensor attaches near the opening of any door or window. You’ll receive a notification when the door or window is opened, and if you own a compatible Zigbee hub, you can use the PARASOLL to trigger smart home automations or security equipment....

This was a big week for tech news, with Apple’s WWDC event, Microsoft’s ongoing Recall problems, and everything in between. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed. The Big News Jabra Is Done Making Elite and Talk Wireless Earbuds Jabra won’t make any more wireless earbuds and headsets under its consumer Elite and Talk brands, and instead will go back to focusing on business customers. The news was announced the same day as theJabra Elite 10 Gen 2and Elite Active Gen 2 were released....

Summary The problem isn’t that there aren’t good 3-in-1 iPhone and Apple Watch chargers, it’s that they’re largely all the same. Uniformity has taken over. TheJourney Nova 3-in-1 Charging Stationhas great new ways of looking at bedside charging, even if all aspects aren’t home runs. Journey Nova 3-in-1 Charging Station Designed to fast charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, the Journey Nova blends seamlessly into any space with its unique, stylish design....

Summary If you’re a sucker for ultra-portable gadgets, ones great for travel, then theLogitech Keys-To-Go 2keyboard has your name all over it. I’m one of these people and I couldn’t resist its minimal frame with generous-sized responsive keys. Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 Keys-To-Go 2 is Logitech’s most portable keyboard, designed to type on tablets, smartphones, and laptops across any OS. Flip open Keys-To-Go 2 and take your productivity to new heights....

Ford is bringing several new features to its electric vehicles (EVs), including EV routing for Google Maps and suggested charging stops with support for the Tesla Supercharger network. A new software began rolling out today to owners of Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E electric models. It adds new EV routing in Google Maps, which finds EV charging stations along your route while monitoring battery usage, so you never get stuck somehwere with no charge left....

Never ask a Samsung phone owner how long it takes to install an update. Most Android smartphones install system updates in the background, but Samsung devices still perform updates the old-fashioned way. Fortunately, this appears to be changing, at least in some new and upcoming Galaxy phones. The newGalaxy A55 5Gutilizes Android’s Seamless Updates feature. Instead of replacing your firmware from the ground up, Seamless Updates reserves a bit of storage space for new updates and leaves your old firmware intact....

Summary So you have a “smart” home, but if the internet goes out it becomes as dumb as a sack of rocks. That’s because the “brains” of the operation live somewhere in a data center, but recent hardware trends and improved processing power means you might have smart home brains in your actual home, where they belong. Most “Smart” Home Tech Needs the Internet If you have smart speakers, smart cameras, or any variety of smart devices in your home, you probably control them using a smart home assistant like Alexa or Siri....

Quick Links Summary Priority Bicycles’ e-Coast cruiser is an exceptional ebike. With its large seat, wide handlebar, and fat tires, the ride is incredibly comfortable. You don’t have to exert too much effort while riding because of the bike’s cadence sensor and powerful throttle. This ebike has a max speed, when unlocked, of 28 mph. The battery life is great, but you need to make sure the ebike’s charged at all times because pedaling without power is pretty tough....

Quick Links Remember when you could long-press the home button or tap the Google search widget microphone to launch Google Assistant and complete various tasks, like setting a reminder or an alarm? That’s still an option; it’s just hidden behind a swipe-up gesture. Where Did Google Assistant Go? Thanks to AI, the way our Android phones work is rapidly changing, for better or worse. Gemini has largelyreplaced the Google Assistant, even though it’s an optional change (for now), but it’s also more difficult to invoke the Assistant to complete tasks....

After several years of delays, the first Tesla Cybertruck deliveries are now scheduled for November 30th. It’s quite an achievement—the Cybertruck is unique from top to bottom, meaning that its components and manufacturing process had to be built largely from scratch. Unfortunately, the challenges of Cybertruck’s development will continue to plague Tesla. In an October 18th earnings call, Elon Musk asked customers and shareholders to “temper your expectations.” The Cybertruck is Tesla’s “best product ever,” but it will require immense work to reach volume production and be cash flow positive at a price that people can afford....

Quick Links Summary Those three dots you see when someone is typing? They do not always mean someone is typing. The signal often arrives late, lags too long, or disappears before a message ever comes through. Why Typing Indicators Exist in the First Place Typing indicators started as a small design decision in early instant messaging platforms likeAIMandMSN Messenger. They were meant to simulate body language. When someone typed, you saw it....

Hero shooters have become a mainstay of modern gaming. Everything’s a hero shooter now!Call of Duty, Battlefield,even Bungie’s upcoming revival of an old franchise, Marathon, will have a cast of heroes with different abilities and play styles, something fans arenot happy about. Needless to say: hero shooters are everywhere. But, this growing number of games in the genre has left a lot of people exhausted. Many gamers wince at the sound of “hero shooter”....