Author: News Room
Google’s AI search results are about to get even more ads. On May 21st, the company announced that it’s going to start testing ads in AI Mode, the new AI-powered search feature that just rolled out to everyone in the US.AI Mode is the new tab in Google Search that opens an AI chatbot-like interface, where you can get a rundown of what you’re searching for, along with links to relevant websites. But these answers could soon have product recommendations and other ads.As an example, Google says if a user asks AI Mode for tips on how to build a…
The newest fitness tracker craze seems to be smart rings. They’ve been around for a while now, with Oura arguably the most popular option. I’ve used one, and while it’s great – it isn’t perfect. My biggest problem has been with the Automatic Activity Detection feature, or (in my experience) lack thereof. But this free update for all users fixes this problem, along with plenty of other improvements across the board. The update includes a reworked step-counting algorithm that ditches estimated steps in favour of actual pedometer-style tracking. I don’t know why this wasn’t here to begin with, but at least…
Google is working with Samsung to bring a desktop mode to Android. During Google I/O’s developer keynote, engineering manager Florina Muntenescu said the company is “building on the foundation” of Samsung’s DeX platform “to bring enhanced windowing capabilities in Android 16,” as spotted earlier by 9to5Google.Samsung first launched DeX in 2017, a feature that automatically adjusts your phone’s interface and apps when connected to a larger display, allowing you to use your phone like a desktop device.A demo during the presentation revealed a Samsung DeX-like layout, with apps like Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and Google Photos centered in the taskbar at…
If rumours are to be believed Apple has had a HomePod with a screen in the works for a couple of years now, and at first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking this is it – but the WiiM Sound is more of a Sonos rival than a smart speaker. With its HomePod-esque chassis and 1.8in touchscreen, the WiiM Sound could certainly pass for a new version of Apple’s original smart speaker, but the only microphone you’ll find is built into the remote (although you can use Alexa or Google Assistant via your phone). Inside there’s a 4in woofer and…
If you ask me, there’s always space in my games catalog for a fun third-person shooter that I can play with my buds online. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 delivers some of the best blood-gushing, bug-crushing action, filling a Gears of War void that I didn’t know needed filling. You can jump into the fray while saving some money, as Space Marine 2 has hit its lowest price yet at Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy. Normally $69.99, it costs $39.99 for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.Other deals worth checking out Read the full article here
These days, there are plenty of lightweight laptops to pick from. We’re talking backpack-friendly, travel-ready, actually-use-on-your-lap-without-going-numb light. Apple’s MacBook Air is one of our favourites, and Acer’s latest is even lighter. But what about the next generation of featherweight computers? Samsung’s newest display tech has given us an early look at a big upgrade that’s in store. Samsung’s UT One is a new prototype OLED panel. The “UT” stands for ultra-thin, which is exactly what Samsung’s cooked up here by swapping the usual top glass substrate for ultra-thin organic and inorganic films. UT One is 30% thinner and 30% lighter than…
Google’s AI models have a secret ingredient that’s giving the company a leg up on competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. That ingredient is your data, and it’s only just scratched the surface in terms of how it can use your information to “personalize” Gemini’s responses.Google first started letting users opt in to its “Gemini with personalization” feature earlier this year, which lets the AI model tap into your search history “to provide responses that are uniquely insightful and directly address your needs.” But now, Google is taking things a step further by unlocking access to even more of your information…
There’s nothing like switching from a desktop PC to a gaming laptop to remind you just how many peripherals and accessories need plugging in. That’s where docks come in. And Asus’ ROG Bulwark Dock might just be one of the best I’ve seen. The Bulwark Dock is screaming out to be paired with a Steam Deck or ROG Ally. If you’re running one of these port-starved handhelds and still trying to make do with a rat’s nest of adapters, these new docks might be your long-overdue ticket out. Asus’ ROG Bulwark Dock is a compact slab of connectivity bliss. We’re talking HDMI…
According to filmmaker James Cameron, “More people have walked on the moon than have been to some of the places Jill Heinerth has gone right here on earth.” Indeed, as one of the world’s best underwater explorers, Jill regularly goes to places where no one has gone before and is constantly pushing herself in the extreme world of underwater cave exploration. In this interview she talks about what motivates her, managing the risks, her love of technology and more… More people have been to the moon than some of the places I’ve dived. There’s a lot of times when I’m exploring a…
Google CEO Sundar Pichai at Google I/O 2025. Google I/O was, as predicted, an AI show. But now that the keynote is over, we can see that the company’s vision is to use AI to eventually do a lot of Googling for you. A lot of that vision rests on AI Mode in Google Search, which Google is starting to roll out to everyone in the US. AI Mode offers a more chatbot-like interface right inside Search, and behind the scenes, Google is doing a lot of work to pull in information instead of making you scroll through a list…
Take a look at my PSN library, and you’ll find a litany of unfinished games: Dave the Diver, FF7: Rebirth, Guardians of the Galaxy, God of War: Ragnarok, all with a story completion percentage well under that credit-rolling 100%. I feel a small sense of shame at not breaching their finales, and it’s not a stretch to imagine all these acclaimed titles silently judging me from my console’s SSD. This phenomenon isn’t just a me problem. According to recent data, only 30% of PlayStation users finished Cyberpunk 2077, while a paltry 17% of players finished Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Sure, gamers…
The original Wheel vertical turntable was a bust, the Wheel 2 redemption, and now the small mom and pop team at Miniot is back for a victory lap with the Wheel 3. It can play your record collection upright on its stand, laid flat on a table, or hung on a wall. Inside the handmade Wheel 3 turntable you’ll find a new optical stylus that the company says “blows away anything you’ve heard before!” It also features a new “bespoke, high-end” amplifier and redesigned linear tonearm that moves up-and-down the spinning record instead of side-to-side like the Wheel 2 I…