The Latest from Gadget Hacks: Page 25

Samsung's latest flagship series packs a camera surprise that most users will never discover. The company has built an entirely new 24MP shooting mode into the Galaxy S26 lineup, but instead of making it readily available, Samsung has hidden this feature behind an additional download. This middle-ground resolution approach represents Samsung's attempt to balance image quality with practical everyday use, leveraging AI Fusion processing to extract details from higher-resolution sensor data. The...

NVIDIA just delivered on a key promise to Shield TV owners, rolling out firmware update 9.2.4 that reinforces the company's commitment to long-term device support. This latest update brings essential security patches and bug fixes to what many consider the gold standard of Android TV streaming devices. For streaming enthusiasts and cord-cutters who've invested in NVIDIA's premium set-top box, this development signals more than just routine maintenance—it's a clear indication of how...

Mac gamers have been used to waiting—sometimes for months, sometimes forever—for AAA titles to make their way to Apple's platform. But here's something that might actually surprise you: Pearl Abyss just confirmed that Crimson Desert, their massive upcoming open-world action RPG, is launching on macOS simultaneously with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in late 2025, according to RPG Site.

The Galaxy S26 series marks a pivotal moment for Samsung, introducing significant changes that could reshape the Android flagship landscape. With higher prices reflecting enhanced AI capabilities, the return of Exynos processors, and new AI agent functionality, Samsung is making bold strategic moves that demand closer examination. These developments represent more than typical annual upgrades—they signal Samsung's commitment to AI-driven experiences and renewed confidence in their in-house...

Gaming industry watchers just witnessed another chapter in Amazon's turbulent relationship with AAA game development. The tech giant has terminated its publishing agreement with Maverick Games, according to The Game Business, leaving the UK studio scrambling to find new backing for what looked like one of Amazon's most promising gaming ventures yet.

The latest iOS 26.4 beta 2 has arrived, and while it might seem like a minor point release, seasoned Apple watchers know that beta updates often contain the most intriguing hints about what's coming next. This particular beta is packed with subtle but significant changes that deserve a closer look—from user interface refinements to under-the-hood developer tools that could reshape how we interact with our devices.

Wall Street has a new thesis on Apple, and it's not about the next iPhone. Bernstein recently reaffirmed its Outperform rating with a $325 share price target while Goldman Sachs maintained its Buy rating at $330. What's driving this bullish sentiment? A changing perspective among analysts, with increasing weight given to the company's recurring revenue business in addition to its hardware performance.

You've got boxes of old family photos gathering dust in the attic, and every time you dig them out, you worry about fading, water damage, or just losing them forever. The good news? Digitizing those precious memories is more accessible than ever, and you don't need to be a tech wizard or break the bank to do it right.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup is generating buzz months before its official unveiling, and retailers are already dangling pre-order opportunities in front of eager upgraders. But here's the thing: locking in a purchase today—before Samsung has even announced specs, pricing, or launch incentives—is a gamble that rarely pays off for consumers. The smartphone upgrade cycle has evolved into a predictable rhythm of incremental improvements, aggressive launch-day promotions, and post-release price...

YouTube Music is quietly rolling out a new feature that might make you think twice about your recent listening habits—or at least give you a good laugh about them. The platform is testing a personalized weekly recap called "Your week," and early reports from users on social media and tech forums suggest it's not just summarizing what you've played; it's actually offering commentary on your music taste. Let's break it down and see what this means for users who've grown accustomed to Spotify...

Apple's Under-Screen Touch ID Patent: What It Means for Future iPhones

Apple's Super Bowl Presence: The Marketing Strategy That Lets Others Do the Heavy Lifting

Streaming platforms have spent years perfecting the algorithm-driven playlist—songs chosen for mood, tempo, or genre—but they've largely ignored the stories that make those songs resonate in the first place. Spotify is now testing a feature that brings narrative back into the listening experience. Launched in beta this week, "About the Song" introduces swipeable story cards directly into the Now Playing view. These cards pull background details, creative intent, and behind-the-scenes context...

Astronauts have relied on specialized, mission-hardened hardware for decades—bulky laptops, ruggedized tablets, and purpose-built communication devices designed to withstand the extreme environment of space. But that paradigm is shifting. NASA is now permitting crew members to carry personal iPhones and other commercial smartphones aboard the International Space Station and future deep-space missions, marking a significant departure from traditional spaceflight IT protocols. This policy change...

HomePod 2 at Two Years: What Apple's Silence Means for Your Smart Home Investment

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max just claimed a title that matters more to users than any spec sheet bragging rights: best battery life of any smartphone tested. In a comprehensive evaluation spanning 35 different devices, CNET crowned the 17 Pro Max as the endurance champion, marking a significant achievement for a company that's historically relied on smaller batteries and tight hardware-software integration rather than raw capacity.

Apple's smart-home ecosystem is about to undergo a major change, and if you're still running older iOS or macOS versions, you're on borrowed time. Apple has set a firm deadline of February 10, 2026, after which devices not updated to at least iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 will lose access to the updated Home app features and critical security updates.

Foldable phones have long wrestled with a fundamental tension: how do you make a device thin and light enough for everyday carry while ensuring it can survive the constant stress of opening and closing? Honor's upcoming Magic V6, set to debut at Mobile World Congress on March 1, appears ready to challenge conventional thinking on this front. The device will be unveiled a day before MWC 2026 officially begins, positioning it as a headline launch. Early glimpses show a striking red variant with a...

The Steve Jobs Archive just dropped something unexpected: two volumes of letters addressed to young creators, featuring insights from the people who knew him best. Released on what would have been his 71st birthday, according to Business Insider, this collection brings together wisdom from Tim Cook, Jony Ive, Bob Iger, Pixar's Pete Docter, filmmaker Jon Chu, venture capitalist Arthur Rock, and other luminaries who worked alongside the Apple cofounder.

If you've tried to use voice commands on Android Auto lately and been met with total silence or error messages, you're far from alone. Drivers across the board are discovering that their hands-free assistant has suddenly stopped listening—and given that voice control is one of the core safety features of Android Auto, this isn't just annoying. It's a genuine problem that affects how safely you can navigate, communicate, and control your car's infotainment system while keeping your eyes on the...

The smartphone market in 2025 offers an overwhelming array of choices, each promising to be the perfect device for your needs. Among these options, Google's A-series phones have carved out a unique space: delivering flagship-quality features—particularly in photography and software—at substantially lower prices than premium devices.

The Verdict Is In: Android Fans Don't Want to Lose OnePlus

We've all been there—you fire off a message, spot the typo a second too late, and cringe as the "Edited" label appears. But what if that label suddenly vanished, taking with it any record of what you originally said? That's exactly what happened to Google Messages users when a recent redesign quietly stripped away edit history visibility. The feature that allowed you to tap on an edited message and see its previous versions simply disappeared.

Helping non-tech-savvy users navigate modern smartphones can feel like teaching someone to fly a spaceship when all they want to do is make a phone call. If you've ever watched a parent or grandparent squint at their Pixel phone, tapping icons with the precision of someone defusing a bomb, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The good news? Google built a feature specifically for this scenario, and it's hiding in plain sight within your Pixel's settings.

The Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal Will Transform Your TV Remote (And Everything Else About How You Watch)

When you think about music streaming on Android, Apple Music probably isn't the first service that springs to mind. Yet this platform has quietly evolved into a surprisingly formidable option for Android users, bringing features and polish that rival—and in some cases surpass—the native alternatives.

Nothing's Phone 4a Pivot: Why the Android Underdog Is Ditching Flagship Dreams

Breathing new life into aging smart displays isn't just a fun weekend project—it's a statement about device ownership and the untapped potential hiding in our tech drawers. The Amazon Echo Show, once a promising smart home hub, has become a poster child for the limitations of locked-down ecosystems. But what if you could transform that underutilized display into a fully functional Android tablet?

Doomscrolling has become one of those habits we all know we should quit but somehow can't. You pick up your phone to check one notification, and suddenly 45 minutes have vanished into an endless stream of social media posts. The good news? Your Pixel phone already has a built-in solution that most people overlook entirely.

Apple's recent iOS 26 adoption numbers tell a fascinating story about how users respond to major operating system updates—and how quickly narratives can shift when the data gets messy. The company has confirmed that iOS 26 now sits at roughly 50% adoption among compatible devices, marking a notable milestone just months after launch. But here's where it gets interesting: that figure initially appeared far lower in third-party analytics, sparking a wave of speculation about whether users were...

Google's $135 Million Android Data Transfer Settlement: What You Need to Know

Nintendo 3DS emulation on Android has always been a bit of a wild west—scattered forks, confusing version numbers, and constant debates about which build actually works best. If you've been following the space, you know that finding a stable, actively maintained emulator has been trickier than it should be. That changed with Azahar's Release 2124, which arrived in mid-January 2026 as the emulator's most significant update in months. This isn't just another incremental patch; it's a focused...

Google's latest experiment with AI-generated headlines in Discover has caught the attention of publishers and tech observers alike. What we're seeing isn't just another minor UI tweak—it's potentially a fundamental shift in how one of the world's largest content distribution platforms presents news to users. The platform that serves over 800 million monthly users is now testing AI systems that rewrite publisher headlines, often with concerning results.

If you've been using Gmail to manage multiple email accounts in one place, I've got some news that might shake up your digital routine. Google has quietly announced that two of Gmail's most useful—yet surprisingly underused—features are getting the axe in January 2026. We're talking about Gmailify and POP3 email fetching, tools that have been helping users consolidate their email chaos for years.

Apple's AI Leadership Crisis: Why Top Talent Is Abandoning Cupertino

Planning to trade in your old Galaxy Z Fold or Flip when Samsung's rumored tri-fold device finally arrives? You might want to rethink that upgrade strategy. Early whispers suggest Samsung's most ambitious foldable yet—the Galaxy Z TriFold—could break from the company's usual trade-in playbook, potentially leaving loyal foldable fans without their go-to discount path. For a device that's almost certain to command Samsung's highest-ever smartphone price, the absence of trade-in incentives would...

Apple's lightweight MacBook lineup has been in flux for years—ever since the 12-inch MacBook disappeared in 2019, users have debated what should fill that ultra-portable niche. Recent reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests Apple is preparing to bring back the "MacBook" branding, this time without the compromises that plagued its predecessor. The original 12-inch model was discontinued after struggling with thermal limitations and its controversial butterfly keyboard, leaving a gap in...

Fubo and NBCUniversal's carriage agreement expired, and NBCU pulled its channels from Fubo on November 21, 2025, leaving millions of cord-cutters scrambling for alternatives just as the 2026 Winter Olympics approach. If you've been relying on Fubo for your NBC fix, you're probably wondering what your options are now—and trust me, there are several solid alternatives worth considering. The good news? You don't need to panic or rush back to traditional cable. Let's break down exactly how you can...

If you've ever been stuck fast-forwarding through a DVR recording just to find that one segment you actually wanted to watch, you know the frustration. YouTube TV subscribers now have a solution that addresses this exact problem. The streaming service has introduced segment navigation for certain DVR recordings, allowing viewers to skip directly to specific parts of recorded programs without scrubbing through entire episodes.

Spotify has been steadily evolving beyond its roots as a pure music streaming service, and the latest addition to its social toolkit makes that crystal clear. The platform now supports group conversations with up to 10 participants total, building on the one-on-one messaging capability that first arrived back in August.