News and Updates from Gadget Hacks: Page 3

Looking at Apple's latest iPhone lineup, I am in an unusual spot. After years of camping out on livestreams, testing every new toggle, and chasing tiny year‑over‑year gains, I am sitting this one out. The iPhone 17 series looks strong, yet it still is not enough to pull me from my current phone.

Samsung just dropped some serious tablet upgrades, and if you're eyeing the new Galaxy Tab S11 or S11 Ultra, you're probably wondering which one deserves your hard-earned cash. Samsung announced both models on September 4, 2025, and they're already hitting shelves. The Tab S11 costs $799 while the Tab S11 Ultra is priced at $1,199. But price is only half the story. The rest is how you plan to use it.

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup feels like the biggest generational leap in years. After going hands-on with all four models, I can say this is not another incremental update. Apple brought its best new features to the iPhone 17 this year, including a 120Hz display and Center Stage.

Nothing's OS 4.0 is a real step up, and Android Central confirms it is not just another incremental bump. Nothing unveiled OS 4.0 in mid-September 2025, a platform based on Android 16 with enhancements aimed at everyday use. The company promises a "sharper, more thoughtful design" that stays true to its minimalist streak while adding genuinely useful AI features. The twist, AI transparency, is front and center, something most manufacturers gloss over. Android 16's baseline perks, better...

Apple's bold move with iOS 26 is reshaping mobile development in ways we haven't seen since the introduction of the App Store. Now, developers are getting unprecedented access to the company's on-device AI capabilities.

Microsoft's CEO is not just playing defense in the AI revolution, he's haunted by the idea that Microsoft could slide into irrelevance. Satya Nadella is haunted at the prospect of Microsoft not surviving the AI era, and that fear is fueling some of the boldest moves out of Redmond in decades. Nadella gathered his lieutenants to assess the out-of-nowhere competition when DeepSeek's R1 model jolted the strategy built around OpenAI. The gut punch: computer processing that would cost $1,000 through...

When you step inside Apple's audio testing facility, you encounter the Fantasia Lab, a name that perfectly captures the almost magical work happening behind closed doors. Just beyond reception sits a massive vintage stereo setup, a gift from Steve Jobs to the engineering team that serves as both inspiration and reminder of how crucial sound quality is to everything Apple builds. This rare glimpse into Apple's secretive world reveals the meticulous process behind creating AirPods that have...

Google's finally stepping up to tackle one of the internet's most harmful problems: nonconsensual intimate images. TechCrunch reports that Google is partnering with UK nonprofit StopNCII to bolster its efforts at combating revenge porn. The search giant will begin using StopNCII's hashes, digital fingerprints of images and videos, to proactively identify and remove nonconsensual intimate imagery on Search. What makes this significant is that Google has been slow to adopt StopNCII's system....

When Apple announced the iPhone Air at just 5.6mm thick, one question dominated tech forums and coffee shop conversations: would this ultra-thin device bend? The ghost of "Bendgate" from the iPhone 6 Plus days still haunts Apple's design decisions, and with the iPhone Air being Apple's thinnest phone ever, durability concerns were inevitable. Here is what our testing revealed: this is not your typical fragile flagship. The iPhone Air weighs only 165 grams and features a Grade 5 titanium frame...

Apple's latest iPhone 17 finally brings real change to the standard model. After time with it, this is not another small step. The Independent calls it "one of the biggest upgrades for the regular iPhone in years," and that tracks across the board. With ProMotion on the base model, 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, and Apple's new A19 chip, it feels like the most compelling entry-level flagship Apple has made in a while.

When Apple announced the iPhone Air at just 5.6mm thick, the tech world immediately questioned one thing: how could something that thin possibly have decent battery life? Not by cutting corners, but by changing the playbook. The iPhone Air weighs only 165 grams and keeps a 6.5-inch OLED display. And yet, tucked inside is a battery rethink that rewrites the thinness versus power story.

Looking at Trump Mobile's original promises, you could be forgiven for getting excited about an American-made smartphone that could compete with the big players and support domestic manufacturing. The Trump Organization's T1 Phone launched with bold claims about being "MADE IN THE USA" and bringing smartphone production back to American soil. Then the messaging shifted, the big talk faded from the website, and the reality of smartphone manufacturing caught up.

Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro is officially on track for late 2026, and the implications for professional users could be game-changing. According to Samsung Display, test production of OLED panels has already begun, with the company investing approximately $3 billion in dedicated production facilities. This is more than another incremental update. Bloomberg reports it will be the first major redesign of the MacBook Pro lineup since 2021, pairing cutting-edge display tech with Apple's thinnest...

Apple's latest iOS 26 introduces what they call a new "digital meta-substance" called Liquid Glass, marking what the company describes as "an entirely new visual era." But here's the thing. This is not just another visual refresh. Liquid Glass behaves like a material that lives, breathes, and responds alongside the system, which makes the interface mesmerizing for some users and genuinely disorienting for others.

Microsoft Paint has come a long way from the simple drawing program we all remember from childhood. Microsoft has been steadily improving its Paint app for Windows 11 in recent years with a dark mode, transparency and layers, and AI-powered image creation. Now the company is taking another significant leap forward by adding two new Photoshop-like features to Paint. This is not just keeping up with the times, it is a shift toward a basic tool that can actually keep pace with more sophisticated...

When Apple introduced Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025, it was supposed to be a game-changer. The company's Vice President of Human Interface Design Alan Dye called it "our broadest software design update ever," rolling out this translucent, dynamic design language across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. Here's the rub: what looked stunning in Apple's demos has turned into an accessibility mess. It highlights how narrowly Apple still designs for people.

The streaming landscape in 2025 is not just about picking a service and calling it a day. From Netflix and Disney+ to Max, Prime Video, and Hulu, the real story in 2025 is how crowded and expensive streaming has become. Video streaming technology has moved from basic content delivery to AI-powered systems that study what you watch and tweak quality in real time. With hundreds of niche services jockeying for attention, catalogs shift constantly, and price changes pop up alongside password...

When early reviews started dropping, one thing became crystal clear: Apple's latest flagship duo is the most ambitious design transformation from Cupertino in years. Launching on Friday, September 19, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max push past the usual yearly polish. Not a tune-up, a rethink of what a Pro iPhone can be.

Apple's latest flagship phones are finally here, and they're bringing some serious heat to the premium smartphone game. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max's availability began on September 19, 2025, representing what many are calling Apple's most significant design overhaul in years. These are not just incremental updates. We're looking at a complete reimagining of what a Pro iPhone can be, from the aluminum unibody construction to the vapor chamber cooling system that finally makes its debut. If...

When you send a photo to a friend via WhatsApp on your Samsung phone, you probably don't think twice about the complex image processing happening behind the scenes. You hit send, the thumbnail pops up, end of story. Right? In August, Meta's security team discovered something far uglier hiding in that moment, that innocent image sharing was being weaponized by attackers to take complete control of Samsung devices. The vulnerability they uncovered, now patched by Samsung, shows how sophisticated...

Google's latest Windows desktop app launch lands at a curious crossroads in search. While Apple has been tuning Spotlight since 2005 with Command + Space and four specialized modes, Google is now bringing its AI-powered search to Windows desktops. The timing is no accident. Microsoft is still wrestling with Windows 11's sluggish search — leaving a gap wide enough for Google to walk through.

Google Maps recently rolled out a feature that caught my attention: HOV-specific routing and ETAs. I have spent years tracking how navigation apps evolve. This is not just another incremental update. The engineering behind this feature, detailed in Google Research's recent publication, reveals a sophisticated classification system that goes far beyond simple lane detection. It is about understanding which drivers are actually using these lanes, and when it makes a meaningful difference.

The flagship smartphone battle is heating up again, and if you’re torn between Apple’s latest iPhone 17 Pro and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro, you’re not alone. Apple has done a thing with this release, stepping past the routine cycle to give the Pro line a new sense of direction. Meanwhile, Google launched the Pixel 10 Series with new features powered by the Google Tensor G5 processor. Both phones push forward, but they chase flagship greatness in different ways.

Apple's Home app is getting a major upgrade with iOS 26. Not a point release. The tech giant is rolling out its largest OS revision in years, with expanded AI features and a full interface overhaul that changes how you run your home.

Google's 2024 research year has been nothing short of remarkable. What makes it exciting is simple, the advances are not stuck in labs, they are landing in products that millions touch every day. From quantum computing milestones to AI models that help predict natural disasters, Google's research in 2024 represents a fascinating blend of cutting-edge science and practical application. Research cycles that once took years now compress into months. Real progress, fast.

When Google announced the Pixel Watch 3 last summer, I'll be honest, the Loss of Pulse Detection feature sounded like another flashy tech gimmick to me. One of those throw-ins to spice up a press release. Then I dug into the research, including Google's study in Nature, and my view flipped. This isn't fluff. It could actually save lives.

Sports fans have been waiting for this moment since Apple Sports launched in February 2024. The app finally adds customizable widgets, cutting out the open, refresh, scroll routine that has frustrated users for months. Not a tiny patch. A real shift in how we glance at live scores on our devices. Sports fans have been desperate for Apple to add widgets since day one, and now they are here across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The timing lands as the sports app market alone is worth $3.6 billion, with...

The flagship smartphone battle is heating up again, and this time it’s personal. With Apple rolling out the iPhone 17 and Google preparing the Pixel 10, we are looking at what could be the most compelling entry-level flagship showdown in years. Both phones are expected to launch at the same $800 price point. Less premium posturing, more real value for people who want flagship features without the Pro tax.

Nothing's latest widget creation feature is making waves in the Android community, and for good reason. Nothing Phones now let you make your own widgets, and here's the kicker, you can use them not just on Nothing Phones, but on any Android device. The timing is interesting. Google has announced plans to bring back lock screen widgets in Android 16, reviving a feature that disappeared over a decade ago. That sets the stage nicely.

Adobe's making a major play in the mobile video editing space, and it's about time. Adobe launched Premiere for iPhone and iPad, bringing its flagship video editing software to mobile devices for the first time. This isn't just another lightweight mobile editor. We are talking about the real deal, packed with professional features that could genuinely change how we think about editing on the go.

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

Here's the funny thing about Liquid Glass, Apple's boldest interface redesign since iOS 7: it's been everywhere and nowhere at the same time. When Apple unveiled it at WWDC 2025 on June 9, the tech world collectively held its breath. This wasn't another incremental update with a few visual tweaks. It was Apple saying, "We're completely rethinking how you interact with your devices," then making everything look like actual glass.

Breaking my iPhone upgrade ritual for the first time in years wasn't easy. As someone who's built a career analyzing the latest tech trends, I've always been among the first to get my hands on Apple's newest offerings. But here's the thing: recent data shows I'm not alone in this shift. A Morgan Stanley survey found that 51% of iPhone owners are "extremely likely" to upgrade in the next 12 months, an all-time high that's 18 percentage points higher than any prior survey in the last decade. Yet...

Apple's highly anticipated iOS 26 officially launched today, bringing what the company calls the biggest redesign since iOS 7. Millions of iPhone users can download it right now. The mood among developers, though, is mixed. The new Liquid Glass design has proved almost as controversial as that minimalist iOS 7 overhaul back in 2013. Compatibility extends to iPhone 11 and newer (plus iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation), so the update touches a huge crowd. The real question is: should you install...

Google's making some serious moves in the wearable weather space, and honestly, it's about time. Google is phasing out its Weather app for Pixel smartwatches and replacing it with a new Pixel Weather app, and this is not just your typical app shuffle that leaves users frustrated. The key change is blunt: Google says its Weather app will not be available for download on non-Pixel watches running Wear OS 6+; Pixel devices will instead ship Pixel Weather, and devices that already had Google's...

Microsoft's launching a new Windows AI Labs program, and this is not just another beta test. It reads like the company's boldest swing yet at changing how we interact with our computers. There is always a little buzz when Microsoft rolls out something new, and Windows AI Labs has that charge. Microsoft is being deliberately selective, treating it like a curated research collaboration, not a mass rollout. Users are positioned as co-creators, not box-tickers. That alone changes the vibe.

The mobile industry is shifting in a way that could change how we think about phone service forever. We used to walk into carrier stores or dial customer support to set up plans. Now apps can activate mobile service on the spot, no carrier visit required. Carrier billing and e-wallets will be worth $60 billion globally in 2025, and superapps are multifunctional platforms that integrate messaging, payments, e-commerce, and more. Put those together and you get a new ecosystem where your next...

When Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985, who guessed his next venture would become the tech that later saved the company he co-founded? After a boardroom power struggle, he walked out, then invested $12 million of his own money to create NeXT, Inc. The paradox that followed is hard to beat: a company that would struggle to gain traction in the market yet ultimately become the startup that brought Jobs back to Apple and powered its biggest breakthroughs.

The iPhone 17 series is making waves among Android enthusiasts, and for good reason. After years of watching Android phones pioneer features that Apple later adopted, the pattern is still alive with the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. The twist is that Apple’s silicon advantage still matters, with chips topping efficiency tests year after year, according to recent benchmarks (PassMark, Geekbench, and independent reviews of the A19/A19 Pro). The platforms are also loosening frictions between...

So you've got your eye on Apple's latest wearables, but you're wondering if the Series 11 is worth the upgrade from the Series 10? Let me break it down. Apple updated its entire Apple Watch lineup at its September event, with the Series 11 leading the pack. Here's the twist, visually, the Series 11 looks a lot like the Series 10, the same thin profile and edge-to-edge display. So the real question is simple, do the under-the-hood tweaks move the needle?