From Engadget · 40 stories
Alienware Releases 39-inch 5K Ultrawide OLED Gaming Monitor with High Vertical Resolution
Alienware has released the AW3926QW, a 39-inch ultrawide OLED gaming monitor. It features a 5120x2160 (5K) resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 2,160 vertical pixels, providing more vertical screen space than typical 34-inch ultrawides. This monitor is noted for its visual clarity and immersive gaming experience.
Federal Appeals Court Rules Kalshi Sports Bets Are Gambling, Not Swaps
A federal appeals court ruled that Kalshi's sports-related event contracts are gambling and subject to state laws, not federally regulated swaps. This decision allows Nevada to enforce its gaming laws against Kalshi, conflicting with a prior 3rd Circuit ruling and increasing the likelihood of Supreme Court review.
Circular Launches Ring 3 Series with Contactless Payments and Vibrating Alerts
Circular has introduced its Ring 3 Series, featuring Pro and Slim models, which integrate NFC for contactless payments and vibrating alerts. The Pro model includes FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation detection and up to 12 days of battery life, while the Slim offers core health tracking in a lighter design. This release expands Circular's offerings in the competitive smart ring market.
Lenovo Unveils Yoga Pro 9n and Yoga 9n 2-in-1 Laptops with NVIDIA RTX Spark
Lenovo introduced two new Yoga laptops, the Yoga Pro 9n and Yoga 9n 2-in-1, featuring NVIDIA's RTX Spark chip. These devices, announced at IFA, are designed for AI workloads, creative tasks, and general productivity, with configurations offering up to 128GB of unified memory and up to 4TB of SSD storage. The RTX Spark chip integrates NVIDIA's Grace CPU with a Blackwell RTX GPU, providing on-device AI processing capabilities.
Google Rolls Out AI Voice Features for Gmail, Docs, and Keep
Google has released new AI-powered voice capabilities, dubbed Docs Live, Gmail Live, and Keep Live, for its productivity suite. These features allow users to interact with their emails, documents, and notes using natural language queries and dictation, and are available to Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers on iOS and Android.
Belkin Introduces New Power Banks with Semi-Solid-State Battery Technology
Belkin announced new power banks at IFA 2026, including models featuring semi-solid-state battery technology, which the company states will last up to three times longer than traditional power banks. This technology, called "BoostSolid Cell," incorporates a gel-like layer to improve longevity, reduce overheating risks, and maintain consistent power delivery.
Rockstar Games Debuts Extended Grand Theft Auto VI Preview
Rockstar Games released a 26-minute preview of Grand Theft Auto VI, showcasing gameplay, graphics, and protagonist interactions. The preview provided details on the game's scale, dual protagonists, and various activities, indicating a large and detailed open-world experience.
Roku Launches First OLED TVs, Starting at $999
Roku has introduced its first OLED televisions, the Pro Series and Pro Series LX, entering the midrange OLED market. These new TVs offer features like 120Hz or 144Hz panels, HDMI 2.1 ports, and Dolby Vision, with prices starting at $999 for the Pro Series and $1,299 for the Pro Series LX, making them competitive with existing options from LG, Samsung, and Sony.
EU Designates ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms Under DSA
The European Commission has classified OpenAI's ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as "Very Large Online Platforms" or "Very Large Online Search Engines" under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This designation subjects them to stricter regulations, including obligations to mitigate risks related to minors, user mental health, and illegal content, and increases transparency requirements for their recommendation algorithms. The platforms must comply within four months, with potential fines up to 6% of global revenue for non-compliance.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered Launches September 29 with Free Upgrade
CD Projekt Red will release "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered" on September 29, offering visual and combat improvements, a redesigned skill tree, and both expansions. This update is a free upgrade for existing owners across multiple platforms and marks the game's debut on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Google AI Mode Integrates Flight Price Tracking, Points/Miles Display, and Hotel Booking
Google has updated AI Mode in Search with new travel planning features, including flight price tracking, the ability to view flight and hotel costs in points or miles, and direct hotel booking capabilities. These additions allow users to manage travel logistics within the AI chat interface, expanding its utility beyond information retrieval.
Adobe Photoshop Introduces AI Assisted Editor and New AI Features
Adobe Photoshop is rolling out an update that includes an optional "AI Assisted Editor" interface, centralizing AI tools for image editing. New AI refinement capabilities, such as a "markup" feature for drawing changes directly on images and an enhanced "Instruct Edit with Masks" feature using the Firefly Image 5 model, are also being added. Additionally, Photoshop now includes Lightroom-style lighting controls, allowing for RAW-quality edits within the application.
Microsoft Investigates August Windows Updates Causing Gaming Issues on Windows 11
Microsoft is investigating reports that the August 2026 Windows updates (KB5121003) are preventing some games from launching or causing crashes on Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2. This issue affects titles like ARC Raiders and MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, leading to freezes, unexpected closures, and errors for affected users.
Ring Introduces New TAKE Encryption as Default for All Cameras
Ring, an Amazon-owned company, has implemented a new encryption method called TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) that will become the default for all Ring cameras starting in September. This change limits Ring's ability to provide video footage to law enforcement while still supporting smart features like AI-powered alerts and video search.
Waymo to Launch Robotaxi Service in Munich, Germany by End of 2027
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, announced plans to launch its robotaxi service in Munich, Germany, by the end of 2027. This marks Waymo's first commercial operation in the European Union and its third international market. The company will begin phased testing in Munich in the coming weeks, including mapping streets and testing with safety drivers, to adapt its technology to local conditions and secure necessary regulatory approvals.
Uber Introduces Live Video Streaming for Teen Accounts Using Driver's Selfie Camera
Uber is rolling out a new live video streaming feature for teen accounts across the U.S. in the coming weeks, allowing parents to monitor their children's rides using the driver's selfie camera. This feature provides parents with real-time visibility during trips and expands on the teen account service launched in 2023.
Zillow settles FTC antitrust lawsuit over Redfin rental listings agreement
Zillow has settled an antitrust lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding a 2025 agreement with Redfin concerning internet listing services for apartment rentals. The settlement requires Redfin to re-enter the ILS market with more listings and allows Redfin to continue syndicating listings from Zillow. This resolution aims to restore competition in the ILS market, potentially benefiting renters and property management companies.
Uber fined nearly $1 billion by Dutch regulator for automated driver deactivations
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has fined Uber 824.9 million euros ($966 million) for violating GDPR by automatically deactivating driver accounts without human intervention between 2018 and 2022. This fine is the largest imposed on Uber by the AP and addresses concerns about automated decisions impacting driver income.
HoverAir Unveils Versa, a Hybrid Gimbal Camera and Self-Flying Drone
HoverAir introduced Versa, a new device that combines a three-axis gimbal camera with a drone. The Versa functions as a stabilized pocket camera and can magnetically attach to a foldable drone body for autonomous aerial footage, aiming to simplify content creation for vloggers and filmmakers.
LG Display Unveils FLiPP OLED Manufacturing Method for Brighter, Longer-Lasting Panels
LG Display introduced FLiPP, a new OLED manufacturing method that eliminates the need for fine metal masks, resulting in panels that are brighter, more efficient, and have extended lifespans. This technology could enable OLED displays of various sizes, from small wearables to large TVs, and will first be applied to IT products.
Senators Question TikTok Over Experiment Disabling Safety Features for 15 Million Users
Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have demanded answers from TikTok regarding an experiment that disabled an algorithmic safety feature for 15 million U.S. users, including minors. This safeguard, designed to prevent exposure to harmful content, was reportedly withheld to assess its impact on user engagement, raising concerns about user protection.
Sony to Re-release WH-1000XM4 Headphones as Cheaper WH-1000XM4C; WH-1000XM6 Gets New Color
Sony is reportedly preparing to re-release its 2020 WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones as the WH-1000XM4C, priced around $250, offering a more affordable option with slightly reduced battery life. Concurrently, the current flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones are now available in a new "Olive Gray" color variant for $459, with no hardware changes.
Amazon Makes Alexa Plus Free for All Fire TV Devices in the US
Amazon has made its Alexa Plus AI assistant available for free to all compatible Fire TV device owners in the US. Previously, access to Alexa Plus cost $19.99 per month for non-Prime members, or was included with a Prime subscription. This change expands access to conversational AI features, smart home controls, and AI-powered recommendations on Fire TV devices.
Google Plans to Move All Pixel Production Out of China by 2027
Google reportedly plans to shift all Pixel phone, watch, and earbud production out of China by 2027, moving manufacturing to Vietnam and India. This move aims to diversify its supply chain and capitalize on existing manufacturing ecosystems in other regions.
ABC Sues FCC Over Alleged Retaliatory Campaign Against Broadcast Licenses
ABC and its parent company Disney have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging the agency is conducting a "retaliatory campaign" by threatening its broadcast licenses due to content. This legal action seeks to halt the FCC's review of its broadcast licenses, which ABC claims is an attempt to coerce and retaliate against the network for its speech.
Uber Eats Partners with Zipline for Drone Deliveries, Targets One Million Daily by 2029
Uber is partnering with and investing in Zipline to integrate drone deliveries into the Uber Eats platform, with initial deliveries starting by the end of 2024. The collaboration aims for one million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, expanding Uber's delivery capabilities.
Apple Releases Emergency Fix for macOS Screen Sharing Vulnerability
Apple has issued an urgent software update for macOS to patch a critical vulnerability in the Screen Sharing feature. This flaw could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access and control over a Mac without needing valid credentials, posing a significant security risk.
Nine PBS Regains Access to 50TB Archive After Cloud Vendor Ceases Operations
Nine PBS, a St. Louis public television station, lost access to 50TB of archival data after its cloud storage vendor, Open Source Storage (OSS), ceased operations. A judge has since ordered Iron Mountain, the data center physically housing the data, to provide Nine PBS access to the physical devices containing its 70-year archive, which includes irreplaceable historical content.
Samsung Galaxy Buds to gain FDA-cleared hearing aid feature; new over-ear headphones in development
Samsung will release an FDA-cleared hearing aid feature and a five-minute hearing test for Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro later this year in the US and other markets. This feature provides an over-the-counter solution for individuals aged 18 and over with mild to moderate hearing loss. Additionally, Samsung is developing new over-ear headphones, codenamed "Galaxy H1," which could launch as early as 2027.
Google Allows Users to Remove Visible Watermarks from AI-Generated Content
Google has introduced an option for users to remove visible watermarks from AI-generated images, videos, and songs created with its models, including Nano Banana, Omni, and Lyria. This change, announced by Josh Woodward, VP for Gemini, will be available in Gemini and Flow, with Search integration planned, allowing for greater creative control while maintaining invisible SynthID watermarks and C2PA metadata for content identification.
Heart Aerospace X1 Completes First Flight, Largest Battery-Electric Aircraft to Fly
Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator aircraft, the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown, completed its first flight on August 12, 2026. The piloted mission lasted 27 minutes, reached 1,100 feet AGL, and consumed approximately $5 worth of electricity, demonstrating the feasibility of electric propulsion for commercial airline operations.
New York Sues Kalshi for Illegal Gambling, CFTC Orders Continued Operation
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging it operates an illegal gambling business by accepting wagers without a state license. This action follows similar lawsuits in other states, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an emergency order for Kalshi to continue operating, citing a "market emergency" and asserting federal oversight.
Google Updates Android Backup Policy to Include All Data Types in Storage Limit
Starting July 7, Google will include all Android backup data types, such as SMS and device settings, in its Google Account storage calculations, impacting new and existing users. This change, which may increase backup sizes by 40MB on average, gives users more control over backup data and aligns with broader storage policy adjustments.
Apple Reportedly Negotiating Publisher Deals for Siri AI Content
Apple is reportedly in discussions with publishers to secure multi-year content deals for its upcoming Siri AI, expected to launch later this year. The company has proposed a variable compensation model, paying publishers when their content is used, and has considered a nine-figure budget for these payments. This initiative aims to enhance Siri AI's access to current news and information.
MacBook Air Faces Significant Supply Shortages Due to AI-Driven Memory Demand
Apple's MacBook Air is experiencing significant supply shortages, with delivery estimates extending into late August or September, attributed to a global memory crisis driven by high demand from AI data centers. This shortage has led Apple to prioritize MacBook Pro production and encourage customers to consider the Pro model, despite recent price increases for the MacBook Air.
Apple develops 'Reference Image' feature in iOS 27 to authenticate iPhone photos
Apple is developing a "Reference Image" feature, referenced in iOS 27 beta 5, to authenticate photos taken with an iPhone camera. This system aims to verify that an image originated from specific iPhone hardware and has not been altered, addressing concerns about AI-generated and manipulated media.
Kids Online Safety Act Advances in Senate, Faces House Disagreement on 'Duty of Care'
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) advanced through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, moving it closer to a full Senate vote. The bill, which has 76 cosponsors, aims to establish protections for children online through parental controls and by requiring social media platforms to exercise a "duty of care" to prevent harm to minors. However, a key disagreement with the House version of the bill, specifically regarding the "duty of care" provision, may hinder its passage this session.
OpenAI Expands Daybreak Cybersecurity Initiative with New Tiers and GPT-5.6-Cyber Model
OpenAI has expanded its Daybreak cybersecurity initiative, introducing Daybreak Blue and Daybreak Red tiers to provide specialized access to its AI models for defensive security work. The expansion includes a new AI model, GPT-5.6-Cyber, designed for advanced security testing and vulnerability research, addressing evolving AI-driven cyber threats.
53% of Americans Oppose AI Data Centers in Their Neighborhoods
A recent Redfin survey reveals that 53% of U.S. residents are opposed to building AI data centers in their local areas, citing concerns over resource strain and community disruption. This opposition arises despite potential benefits, such as increased local tax revenue and education spending in areas with established data centers.
X Replaces Revenue Sharing with New Original Content Rewards Program
X has launched a new Original Content Rewards Program, replacing its previous revenue-sharing model, which ceased accepting applications and will fully shut down after September 7. The new program, effective September 8, will compensate creators for original content based on qualified impressions, shifting focus to unique contributions rather than general engagement.