Gadget Hacks: Page 5

Microsoft has been making headlines with a wave of price increases across its Xbox ecosystem, and the latest move lands squarely on developers. Xbox console development kits are jumping by 33 percent, from $1,500 to $2,000, as reported by The Verge. The change applies globally, with pricing adjustments hitting Europe and other regions. Microsoft cites broader economic pressures, saying the changes reflect macroeconomic developments.

Google is quietly shaking up product testing. The company plans to pick a small group of dedicated enthusiasts to try unreleased hardware before it hits the market, a move that tilts the process from purely internal trials to community input, as reported by Bloomberg.

The tech world has been buzzing about Apple's latest quarterly results, and for good reason. Record revenue of $102.5 billion and 8% year-over-year growth (Saxo reports). You'd expect a simple victory lap. Instead, while competitors pour money into AI data centers, Apple bought back about $20 billion in shares during the quarter (according to Saxo).

Apple just turned in a quarter that has Wall Street buzzing. The headline: crossing the $100 billion revenue threshold for the first time in a single quarter, with $102.5 billion for the July to September period. That is an 8% year over year jump, a September quarter record, and it capped an all time annual revenue mark of $416 billion. Earnings per share hit $1.85 versus the $1.77 estimate, a clean beat in a choppy market.

Apple just posted numbers that snapped heads on Wall Street, and the story behind them says more about Apple’s strategy than the headlines alone. Quarterly revenue hit $102.5 billion, an 8% year-over-year jump that set a September quarter record and an all-time annual revenue record of $416 billion, according to Apple's Q4 2025 earnings call transcript. What really popped, they topped expectations across several metrics, with earnings per share at $1.85 versus the $1.77 estimate, as reported by...

When you think about Apple's incredible business transformation over the past decade, it's hard not to be impressed by the numbers. The company has quietly built what might be the most successful services business in tech history, and now that it's reached the $100 billion annual milestone, we're seeing just how powerful this shift really is.

The streaming landscape seemed relatively stable until October 31st rolled around, and suddenly millions of YouTube TV subscribers found themselves staring at blank screens where ESPN and ABC used to be. This wasn't just another minor hiccup in the cord-cutting revolution. It was a full-scale blackout, the kind that shows how the business side of streaming can crash right into your weekend plans.

Samsung just pulled back the curtain on its most ambitious foldable project yet, and the timing could not be more strategic. The company's tri-fold smartphone prototype made its public debut at the K-Tech Showcase in South Korea, the first time we have seen Samsung officially acknowledge what industry watchers have been anticipating for months (Lowyat). The device sat behind protective glass, sure, but this was the clearest look yet at what could be called either the Galaxy G Fold or Galaxy Z...

Apple's latest M5 chip is already making waves in the tech world, but what about its more powerful siblings? The M5 Pro and M5 Max are the chips everyone's really waiting for, and based on what we know about the base M5's performance gains, these upcoming variants could be absolute powerhouses.

Apple's latest iOS 26.1 update is shaping up to be one of the most significant iPhone customization releases in recent memory. While iOS 26 brought the revolutionary Liquid Glass design that transformed the entire visual experience, the upcoming 26.1 release focuses on giving users unprecedented control over their device's appearance and functionality. Currently in beta testing, this update addresses user feedback while introducing four major new customization options that could change how we...

When two industry giants feel the squeeze from their biggest customer, sometimes the best defense is a strong offense. That is exactly what is playing out in the semiconductor world, where two major Apple suppliers are reportedly exploring a blockbuster merger that could reshape the iPhone supply chain.

The story unfolding around Apple's M5 chip launch says a lot about how the company handles invention. Not quite what you expect. The M5 iPad Pro continues to showcase cutting-edge innovations that its MacBook Pro counterpart does not have yet, creating a dynamic where iPad Pro plays the role of proving ground and MacBook Pro stays the refined, mature platform.

Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter numbers tell a sharper story than a simple beat. Record Q4 revenue of $102.5 billion, according to Sherwood News, up 8% year over year and above estimates. Yet iPhone revenue missed by a hair, as Seeking Alpha notes, a reminder that China remains tricky and that diversification is earning its keep.

After years of anticipation and several iterations that showed promise but fell short, Google has finally delivered a smartwatch that lives up to expectations. Google just revealed its newest wearable, and early reviews suggest it tackles the persistent issues that plagued previous generations (Phone Arena). The device features a significantly brighter display reaching 3,000 nits compared to earlier models (Stuff), and Google has dramatically reduced the bezels that once dominated the watch...

The television industry was ripe for disruption ten years ago. Consumers were fed up with pricey cable bundles and clunky boxes, streaming was catching fire, and Apple was hunting for its next big category. Apple has spent over three decades flirting with the television business, and 2015 felt like the moment to finally crack it. The company had already reinvented phones and tablets, surely the living room was next, right?

Apple's latest beta release adds a feature many iPhone users have been quietly hoping for. The fourth beta of iOS 26.1 was released today, according to 9to5Mac, and it includes a new toggle that prevents accidental Camera app launches from the Lock Screen. It targets a long-standing frustration where an unintended swipe could pop the camera open. MacRumors reports that previously, there was no way to disable Lock Screen camera activation without completely disabling the camera app itself.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup is shaping up to be the company's most dramatic flagship overhaul in years. What started as whispers about a potential "Pro" model has ballooned into a full rethink of how Samsung positions its premium phones. The most surprising twist? The rumored Galaxy S26 Pro may replace the standard Galaxy S26, according to current leaks.

iOS 26 delivers some flashy Messages tricks, but let's talk about what is still missing. The update feels like a mixed bag. Useful upgrades are here, yet several cross-platform pieces are still MIA.

The streaming landscape is hitting a crossroads no one wanted to admit was coming, except maybe everyone who is tired of juggling five different apps just to watch TV. The great cable-cutting revolution looped us back to the problem we tried to escape: too many bills, too much hassle, and way too much time spent figuring out what to watch where.

Google's Search Live is about to get a lot more conversation friendly. About time. The latest beta reveals thoughtful upgrades aimed at one of voice AI's biggest annoyances: responses getting chopped off mid-sentence. New features in development include an "Interrupt Live responses" toggle and live captions, according to Android Authority (APK teardown, Oct 30, 2025). There's also a potential new way to add AI Mode to your search, plus tweaks to Gemini's image markup tools, as discovered in the...