Apple will doubtless launch its next iPhones in September. And it looks like this fall will see three phones: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the company’s first folding phone, which is increasingly believed to be called iPhone Ultra, but could still be named iPhone Fold. But when will we see these new models, exactly? Apple is a creature of habit (except for surprise announcements like the recent AirPods Max 2), and September is its month of choice for its biggest event of the year. Forbes

GameStop has made a non-binding $55.5 billion offer to buy eBay, proposing a price of $125 per share in a deal consisting of both cash and stock.The bid represents a 20% premium over eBay’s closing price on the Friday prior to the announcement. To fund the acquisition, GameStop intends to use its $9.4 billion cash reserve alongside a $20 billion debt financing commitment from TD Bank. Currently, GameStop has a market valuation of approximately $12 billion, while eBay is valued at roughly $46 billion. Tech Digest 

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas.

Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any ‌Siri‌ updates are being held until iOS 27. Mac Rumors

Amazon Alexa was a magical concept at launch. It finally felt as though the future that Star Trek promised us was here, with a personal assistant you could talk to. As good as it was, clunky interactions via ‘Alexa Speak’ and several limitations ended up with Alexa (and its competition) feeling slightly more niche. Amazon Alexa+ fixes that. The GenAI-powered voice assistant is miles ahead of the original, and miles ahead of the competition. I wrote about my initial thoughts after a week with the service, describing what Alexa+ was good at (and what it needed to improve), but I’ve had more time with the system, so read my full review to find out why it’s the best. Trusted Reviews 

Sony is rumoured to be announcing a new pair of high-end over-ear wireless headphones later this month. In the meantime, it seems that a Hollywood actor has been pictured wearing the so-called ‘WH-1000XX The ColleXion’ before the Met Gala. From the picture above, it is evident that Damson Idris is wearing a pair of Sony over-ear headphones. However, their design differs from existing pairs like the recent WH-1000XM6 (curr. $428 on Amazon). For instance, a metal headband is visible throughout, which is missing on the WH-1000XM6 and its predecessors. Notebook Check 

The post Gmail scanning for AI goes live, Gamestop makes $55 billion offer to buy eBay appeared first on ShinyShiny.

The newly unveiled Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 introduces an important new technology to U.S.-focused smartphones: a silicon-carbon battery. It means the company has effectively beaten Apple, Google and Samsung to the new kind of cell in the States. Energy density is the primary benefit of silicon-carbon. The dynamics of phone design for foldable models makes the compactness that silicon-carbon can manage especially useful. As a result, the Razr Ultra 2026 has squeezed a 5,000mAh cell into the new phone, instead of the 4,700mAh battery found in last year’s model. Forbes

The Pentagon said on Friday it had reached agreements with seven leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies: SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. “These agreements accelerate the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI-first fighting force and will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority across all domains of warfare,” the Pentagon said in statement. The companies had agreed to the US military’s deployment of their technology for “any lawful use”, according to the Pentagon. Guardian

Millions of you in the United States could be eligible for compensatory PSN credit, and it’s all because of a $7.85 million class action lawsuit which Sony has agreed to settle. This is one of many similar legal battles the Japanese giant is currently fighting, and it all pertains to the manufacturer’s decision to stop selling digital game vouchers via retail. While you can still snag denominations of PSN credit from most major third-party stores, the platform holder famously ceased selling game-specific vouchers in April 2019, which entitled you to purchase digital games from a variety of different shops. PushSquare

A group of iLamps in Morocco. Image: Conflow Power Group

There have been many attempts to put data centres in unusual places over the years – Microsoft put a data centre under the sea, Elon Musk has suggested putting them in space. Now a UK firm is betting on data centres using thousands of connected smart lampposts, and has signed a formal agreement with a Nigerian state to deploy 50,000 of them. Warwickshire-based Conflow Power Group Limited (CPG) says networked together its solar-powered iLamp units “double as a revenue-generating distributed AI data centre”. However, some experts have told the BBC the tech isn’t a substitute for the powerful data centres needed to run the toughest AI tasks. BBC 

When DeepSeek, a Chinese chatbot, was released in January last year, more than $1tn (£740bn) was wiped from US markets over fears that Beijing had successfully caught up to Silicon Valley in the AI race. DeepSeek, little known outside AI circles, appeared to have developed a system that could match the likes of ChatGPT and Claude despite lacking the billions in funding or enormous data centre resources of its rivals. But before long, suspicions emerged about how the Chinese company had got there. OpenAI claimed that DeepSeek had been improperly trained by siphoning information from the US company’s own systems. Telegraph 

The Honor 600 Pro adopts a more premium look and feel compared to previous phones in the series, adding to the sensation that Honor is gunning harder than ever for the flagship brigade. Its new look has clearly (and some might say shamelessly) been influenced by the iPhone 17 Pro, which, in conjunction with Honor’s iOS-imitating Magic OS 10 software, effectively results in a more affordable alternative to Apple’s flagship phone. Indeed, certain design elements — like the 600 Pro’s skinny bezels and IP69K certification — actually beat the iPhone 17 Pro. Tech Radar 

The post Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 debuts innovative battery tech, Pentagon inks deal with 7 AI companies appeared first on ShinyShiny.

Image by hartono subagio from Pixabay 

Going out used to mean that you have the same few options every single time. A movie, dinner and maybe a casual meet up with your friends. While those still have their place, more people are starting to look for something that is a little bit different. 

There’s a growing interest in experiences that feels a lot more memorable, engaging and interactive. Instead of simply passing time, people want to feel as if they are a part of something. 

That’s where interactive activities have now started to stand out. 

Moving beyond passive entertainment

Traditional entertainment is often quite passive. You will sit, enjoy, watch, but you’re not actively involved in anything. Interactive experiences have changed all of that. 

They will pull you in and make you a part of everything that’s happening. You’re not just observing, you’re thinking and reacting as well as participating. 

That shift will make the experience feel a lot more personal to you. 

Why are people looking for something different? 

With so many digital distractions out there, people are starting to value having real-world experiences a lot more. Time spent away from screens feels much more intentional. 

Activities that require focus and teamwork give a different sort of break. They create moments that feel less routine and much more present. It’s not just about doing something, it’s also about feeling it as well. 

The appeal of problem solving

One of the biggest draws of interactive experiences is a chance for you to solve problems as a whole group. Working through challenges with others will create a firm sense of connection for you. 

It’s not about getting everything right. It’s also about the process. The conversations as well as the ideas. It’s even about all the mistakes that will become a part of the experience. That shared effort is what makes everything memorable. 

A fresh way to explore the city

Cities are full of places where you can visit, but interactive experiences give you a new way in which you can explore them. Instead of simply moving from one location to the next, you’re engaging with an activity that will give your outing a lot more structure. 

For example, trying something such as Birmingham escape room will add a sense of purpose as well as excitement to your timeout. It turns what should be a regular day into something a lot more engaging without requiring that you have a complicated plan. 

It’s a simple way in which you can do something different.

Making time feel more meaningful

When you start actively being involved in something, time will feel a lot different. It will move faster but it will also feel much more full. Interactive experiences are going to create moments that will stand out. 

Even if they only last for 1-2 hours, they’ll give you something that you can remember well beyond the usual routine. 

A break that feels real

Stepping into an activity that requires your attention can be very refreshing. It will pull you out of your usual environment and give your mind something new that you can focus on. 

This kind of break will feel a lot more real because you’re fully present in the moment.

The post Why Interactive Experiences Are Becoming the New Way to Spend Time Out appeared first on ShinyShiny.

After years of speculation, patent filings and prototype rumours, 2026 is shaping up to be the landmark year when Apple finally enters the foldable market.

Under the leadership of new Chief Executive John Ternus, the tech giant is preparing to challenge the dominance of Samsung and Google with a device that promises to redefine the iPhone’s architecture.

From a revolutionary crease-free display to a potential price tag that could make it the most expensive consumer phone in history, here is a complete breakdown of everything we know so far about Apple’s first foldable.

What’s in a name? Why iPhone Ultra?

While many early reports referred to the device simply as the “iPhone Fold,” recent leaks suggest Apple will lean into its established high-end branding. A report from Macworld indicates that the device will most likely be called the iPhone Ultra.

This naming convention aligns the phone with the Apple Watch Ultra, signalling it as a premium, rugged, and top-tier category. By using the “Ultra” moniker, Apple can position the foldable not just as a variation of the standard iPhone, but as a distinct flagship that sits above the Pro and Pro Max models. This branding is expected to expand further into the ecosystem, with rumours of a touchscreen MacBook Ultra and an iPad Ultra following in its wake.

Design: An iPad in Your Pocket?

The iPhone Ultra is expected to adopt a “book-style” design, opening horizontally to reveal a massive tablet-like display. Current mock-ups and dummy units suggest a device that is wider and more compact than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, making it easier to fit into a pocket.

• Displays: The device will reportedly feature a 5.5-inch outer cover screen and a 7.8-inch inner display.
• Crease-Free Technology: Apple is reportedly obsessed with achieving a completely crease-free design  – a feat that has eluded mainstream manufacturers so far.
• Dimensions: When folded, the device may be as thin as 9mm to 11mm, expanding to a nearly paper-thin 4.5mm when unfolded.
• Materials: To ensure durability, the hinge is rumoured to combine stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing will utilise titanium only.

Key features and specifications

Apple is expected to market the iPhone Ultra based on four pillars: durability, performance, the crease-free display, and the “iPad effect”. By framing the device as an “iPhone with an iPad inside,” Apple hopes to entice users who want a larger 4:3 aspect ratio for content consumption and productivity without carrying two devices.

• Processing Power: The Ultra will likely boast the A20 chip, built on TSMC’s 2nm process, which is predicted to be 15% faster and 30% more efficient than previous generations.
• RAM and Battery: Reports suggest 12GB of RAM and a mammoth battery capacity between 5,400mAh and 5,800mAh – the largest ever in an iPhone.
• Security: Due to space constraints, Face ID may be absent. Instead, a Touch ID sensor is expected to be housed in the power button, similar to the iPad mini.
• Cameras: A dual-lens 48MP rear setup is expected, along with a potential 24MP under-screen camera on the inner display.

Price: the most expensive iPhone ever?

Potential buyers should start saving now, as the iPhone Ultra is predicted to carry a staggering price tag. Industry analysts, including Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo, suggest that the cost of engineering a crease-free foldable will push the starting price well beyond the $2,000 mark.

According to leaked pricing structures, the costs could break down by storage capacity as follows:

• • 256GB: $2,320 (£1,720)
  • 512GB: $2,610 (£1,940)
  • 1TB: $2,900 (£2,150)

While these prices are high, they are intended to boost Apple’s average sales price and position the Ultra as a luxury productivity tool rather than a mass-market device.

Availability and launch strategy

Apple is expected to shift its traditional launch strategy to accommodate the iPhone Ultra. Reports indicate that the September 2026 keynote will be reserved exclusively for the iPhone Ultra, the iPhone 18 Pro, and the 18 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18 may be delayed until Spring 2027 to give the high-end models the spotlight.

While the announcement is set for September 8 or 9, 2026, availability might follow a staggered release. Similar to the launch of the iPhone X, Apple may unveil the foldable in September but delay actual shipments until December 2026.

This would allow the company to finalize software optimization and ensure the complex manufacturing process meets its rigorous quality standards before reaching consumers.

The post Everything we know about the iPhone Ultra folding phone so far appeared first on ShinyShiny.

But when remote workers are logging on to their company network, accessing private client details, and writing confidential emails, how many of them are staying safe with a VPN?

VPNs make it much easier to work in a private and secure way when you’re outside of the office. Especially if you like to work anywhere other than your own home, where your wifi router is protected by a private, unique password. 

A VPN could be the difference between losing data across an unsecure connection, and never even letting anyone know you were there in the first place. 

And one of the best VPNS that remote workers should try using this year? Mysterium VPN. Here’s the lowdown on their VPN and data privacy services in 2026. 

There’s a Lot of VPNs Out There – What Makes Mysterium VPN Different?

If you’re the kind of person who approaches VPNs as just any old bit of software, we’re here to deliver a bit of a quick reality check: every VPN is different. 

They have different features, different levels of security, and different pricing structures. When you sign up for the first VPN you come across, you could get both a bad deal and a data leak somewhere down the line. 

You need to be careful about the VPN you decide to work with – your job security could very well depend on it. 

And when it comes to Mysterium VPN, they go out of their way to keep your connection private. Here’s how:

They run a decentralized network

Most VPNs run through user connections through datacenters – and Mysterium can do that too. But their main VPN service works with residential IPs instead. 

These are private routers that exist in everyday homes, and aren’t part of larger data networks that can be instantly pinpointed when you bring up Google Maps. 

In fact, Mysterium VPN pulls from a pool of 7500 residential IPs every time you turn on your VPN connection. That’ll make it rare for your internet signal to look like it’s coming from the same place twice. 

Important note: Mysterium won’t use your IP

Of course, you may have just read the phrase ‘residential IP’ and thought that your own router counts as one of those. And yes, it does. But Mysterium’s network isn’t going to use it – and that’s a promise. 

Mysterium’s residential IP pool is sourced entirely separately from their user base. Every router that makes up the 7500 private IPs we mentioned above has also given explicit consent for their IPs to be used in this way.

What You Get When You Use Mysterium VPN

A fast, secure connection

Mysterium VPN uses WireGuard ports to make sure their VPN connection is both fast and secure. There’s little to no latency on a connection like this, which makes it great for use in the business workday. 

Which includes GDPR compliance

Any data you share when connected via Mysterium VPN is treated according to GDPR’s strong data privacy rules. 

Servers in 100+ countries

This means you get global VPN coverage, no matter where certain content may be geo-locked or require age verification based on user location. And if you’ve taken your laptop traveling, you might get unexpectedly blocked from many websites! 

Keep up to 15 devices secure at any one time

That makes it a lot easier for you to work across devices without ever letting your guard down. You can move from your laptop to your desktop PC and back again, and then pick up your phone to message or browse in between. 

Not Sure if Mysterium is For You? They Have a 7 Day Money Back Guarantee

Mysterium seems to have quite a robust plug and play capability to it, so you can just turn it on, choose your server country, and get browsing in peace. 

That makes their 7 day money back guarantee a pretty safe bet. It won’t take long for you to work out whether or not Mysterium is the right VPN for either you or your team.

And this is on top of the fact that you’ll get your money back if you’re not happy with the VPN services you get.

Plus, prices start from $2.59 per month

That’s really quite affordable for such a powerful VPN. Although it’s only their basic tier that comes in at $2.59 per month – and there are fewer features to make use of as well. 

That being said, their ‘plus’ tier isn’t all that much more expensive. For only $0.50 extra ($3.09) per month, you get quite a few more features packed in. 

Their highest ‘pro’ tier costs $4.79 a month, and even comes with a built-in malware blocker. 

We should note here that Mysterium’s VPN plans last for two years at a time, and these prices are billed all at once every two years.

But all in all, these aren’t bad prices for someone who needs the promise of security that’s just as flexible as their own work location. 

Should You Use Mysterium VPN as a Remote Worker?

It could be a very effective choice for you, absolutely! 

If you’re a self employed person who likes to work both at home or the local coffee shop, or you want to spend more time in a co-working space, Mysterium can keep your signal private at all times. 

Similarly, if you run a remote team within your organization, Mysterium VPN can be a pretty affordable choice. Remember, up to 15 devices can be connected simultaneously. 

All in all, if you’ve been looking for a worthy VPN that guarantees security for your work, while also not breaking the bank, Mysterium VPN is worth your time and attention.

The post The Best VPN For Remote Workers: A Review Of Mysterium VPN For 2026 appeared first on ShinyShiny.

Want to feel better, sleep deeper and recover faster?

Wellness is on-trend these days. Burned out, achy, and exhausted — people are finally doing something about it. “Eat well and exercise” is passé. The new wellness zeitgeist is about tools that allow the body to truly rest and repair itself.

And the shift is massive.

In fact, the global wellness economy is forecast to reach nearly $6.8 trillion in 2024. That’s a lot of people putting money into their own healing.

So what are they all buying? Let’s get into it.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Why Rest & Repair Is The New Wellness Goal
• Chronic Pain Oxygen Therapy At Home
• Sleep Tech That Actually Works
• Cold & Heat Recovery Tools
• How To Pick The Right Device For You

Why Rest & Repair Is The New Wellness Goal

Modern life is hard on the body.

Long hours at work, sitting all day, bad sleep, and stress — the body never really has a chance to recover. And over time, that adds up quickly.

Here’s the truth:

Pain is everywhere. 24.3% of U.S. adults experienced chronic pain in 2023, and a lot of them reported that it often restricted their everyday activity. Nearly 1 in 4 people walking around are sore every single day.

Recovery tools are designed to change that by helping people:

• Sleep better
• Reduce inflammation
• Manage pain
• Recover from workouts faster
• Feel sharper mentally

A significant contributor to this trend is at-home chronic pain oxygen therapy. People aren’t going to clinics or gyms to facilitate their recovery. They are instead bringing these modalities to their own homes. For those truly committed to long-term recovery, there is a hyperbaric chamber for sale for personal use. These devices provide pressurised oxygen which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Pretty cool, right?

Now, let’s take a look at the top rest and repair devices available.

Chronic Pain Oxygen Therapy At Home

Let’s break down what this actually is…

Chronic pain oxygen therapy administers pressurised oxygen to super saturate the cells with more oxygen than can be breathed. The theory is simple: more oxygen in your tissues = faster healing, less swelling and reduced pain.

This used to be something you could only get in a hospital. Not anymore.

There are now even home units that provide short sessions without having to leave home. Chronic pain oxygen therapy users often report:

• Less joint pain
• Faster recovery after training
• Better sleep
• More energy the next day
• Quicker wound healing

Who is this for?

• People with nagging joint or back pain
• Athletes dealing with long-term injuries
• Anyone recovering from surgery
• Shift workers or travellers who feel drained
• Older adults wanting to stay active

The big win is that it is passive. You lie down, breathe, and the machine does the work. That is a huge reason chronic pain oxygen therapy has exploded in the wellness scene.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning any new treatment — particularly if there are any respiratory or ear problems.

Sleep Tech That Actually Works

Sleep is where most of the real “repair” actually happens in the body.

But most people are not getting enough. About a third of American adults don’t get a full 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis. By state, that proportion can rise to nearly 50%.

That is a big problem — because poor sleep makes everything else worse:

• Pain feels sharper
• Recovery slows down
• Mood crashes
• Energy tanks

Here’s the good news:

Sleep technology has evolved. The best devices today don’t simply track sleep … they help people actually get more.

Some of the most popular sleep recovery tools include:

• Smart rings & sleep trackers: Tells you exactly how well you slept and why.
• Weighted blankets: Proven to help calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
• Red light therapy panels: Can be used to reset the body clock and may help with natural melatonin production.
• Smart mattresses: Adjust temperature and firmness through the night.

Choose only the ones that match your real lifestyle. There is no use buying a smart mattress if you’re traveling all the time — a sleep mask and a decent sleep ring may be a much smarter choice.

Cold & Heat Recovery Tools

Heat and cold are old school but newly popular.

Plunge pools, saunas and ice baths used to be things you had to go to a spa for. Now they are landing in garages and patios everywhere.

Here’s why people love them:

• Cold plunges help reduce inflammation, reset the nervous system and boost mood.
• Saunas and heat therapy improve circulation, relax muscles and support heart health.
• Contrast therapy (alternating between the two) is popular among athletes and active individuals.

You don’t need the biggest and best model either. A budget cold plunge and a basic infrared sauna blanket will work just fine for most folks at home.

How To Pick The Right Device For You

With the plethora of choices available, this section can become daunting. So keep it simple.

Ask these three questions:

1. What are you actually trying to fix — pain, sleep, stress or recovery?
2. How much space and budget do you have to work with?
3. Will you realistically use it 3+ times a week?

If the answer to that last one was no, then don’t buy it. The most effective wellness device is the one you use.

Start small, stay consistent, and build from there.

The Bottom Line

Rest and repair is the new fitness.

People are starting to realise that training hard means nothing if the body can’t recover. These devices — from chronic pain oxygen therapy units to sleep rings and cold plunges — are helping regular people feel younger, sleep deeper and hurt a whole lot less.

To quickly recap:

• Chronic pain oxygen therapy can help reduce inflammation and speed up recovery
• Sleep tech can help fix the root of many modern health issues
• Heat and cold tools are simple, powerful and affordable
• Pick the device that fits your actual lifestyle, space and budget

Start with the one area that impacts your life the most. Master that. Then gradually incorporate more tools as you go.

Your body will thank you for it.

The post The New Wellness Must-Haves: Devices Focused on Rest and Repair appeared first on ShinyShiny.

Taylor Swift has applied to trademark her voice and image

Japan’s famously conscientious but overburdened baggage handlers will soon be joined by extra staff at Tokyo’s Haneda airport – although their new colleagues will need to take regular recharging breaks. Japan Airlines will introduce humanoid robots on a trial basis from the beginning of May, with a view to deploying them permanently as a solution to the country’s chronic labour shortage. The Chinese-made humanoids will move travellers’ luggage and cargo on the tarmac at Haneda, which handles more than 60 million passengers a year. Guardian 

Anthropic’s Claude AI agent wiped the entire database and all backups of PocketOS, a SaaS (sofware-as-a-service) platform for car rental businesses, in a catastrophic event lasting just nine seconds. The incident occurred when an AI agent running Claude Opus 4.6 via the coding tool Cursor was tasked with a routine maintenance job in a staging environment. The disaster unfolded when the AI made a “guess” that deleting a staging resource would not impact production systems. Without verifying system architecture or asking for human confirmation, the agent issued a destructive command that targeted the live production database. TechDigest 

Google Wallet and Apple Wallet get most of the attention in the digital wallet space, but there’s an underrated player that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves: Samsung Wallet. Samsung Wallet offers many of the same features as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, making it easy to store your credit cards and passes in one convenient place. But now, Samsung Wallet is introducing something its competitors don’t have: Trips. As the name suggests, it’s designed to make traveling as smooth as possible by helping you organize and manage your trip-related plans in one place. Pocket Lint

The new Honor 600 feels like a real watershed moment for upping the quality of mid-range phones. Typically, this market segment has cut a fair number of corners as manufacturers attempt to cram in a solid feature set in a more affordable chassis, leading to phones that feel a little imbalanced in terms of features. The 600 strikes an excellent balance of form and function, with a sublime redesigned chassis to it, alongside a bright 6.57-inch OLED screen, a capable Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC, great battery life and a capable dual-camera array derived from its flagship handset. Trusted Reviews 

The UK has backed a British scientist’s “self-learning” AI start-up that is promising to leapfrog rivals in the race to superintelligence. Ineffable Intelligence, founded by the former Google DeepMind executive David Silver, has raised a record $1.1bn (£810m) in a deal backed by the taxpayer. The investment is the biggest-ever “seed” round in a European start-up, valuing Ineffable Intelligence at $5.1bn. Telegraph 

A couple of times so far Apple was rumored to call its first foldable smartphone the iPhone Ultra, and now a new rumor ‘confirms’ this (as much as any one rumor can, of course). But this won’t be the company’s only upcoming Ultra-branded device. The foldable will just be called iPhone Ultra, by the way, and not iPhone 18 Ultra, similarly to how the iPhone Air isn’t the iPhone 17 Air. This gives Apple more flexibility – it can come out with new iPhone Ultra generations on a completely different schedule than the mainstream smartphone line. GSM Arena 

The post Taylor Swift trademarks voice and image over AI concerns, Claude AI deletes entire database in 9 seconds! appeared first on ShinyShiny.

Meta will start tracking the way employees work, including their keystrokes and mouse clicks, to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The company, which owns Instagram and Facebook, told workers on Tuesday that a new tool will run on Meta’s computers and internal apps, logging their activity to be used as training data for AI technology. A Meta spokesman told the BBC: “If we’re building agents to help people complete everyday tasks using computers, our models need real examples of how people actually use them.” “The data is not used for any other purpose,” he said. BBC 

Apple today provided public beta testers with new releases of upcoming iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, and tvOS 26.5 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. These are the third iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 betas, but the second ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 public beta.

After signing up for beta testing on Apple’s beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section of the Settings app on each device.  iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 include a new Suggested Places feature for recommending nearby locations to visit, and Apple is also gearing up to start showing ads in Maps. Mac Rumors

Despite its control of hardware and firmware, Google triggers a surprising number of serious issues for Pixel users after security updates are installed. This pattern has repeated in recent months, and now there’s a new worry for users. Per 9to5Google, “following the rollout of the April 2026 update on Google Pixel phones, a widespread battery drain issue has hit, but the company is looking into the matter.” There’s no fix as yet, but Google has asked forum users for more info. The number of users complaining is accelerating quickly. Forbes 

One of the world’s most expensive law firms has apologised for using artificial intelligence to draft legal documents in a high-stakes court battle. Sullivan & Cromwell, which charges its clients up to $3,000 (£2,225) an hour, has admitted using AI to write a flawed submission to a New York court. In a letter to the judge, the firm blamed AI “hallucinations” for a document that referred to fake cases and “non-existent legal sources”. Telegraph

Not long after the WH-1000XM6 made its way to the market, a fresh leak hints at a premium edition model that could sit above it, possibly as a kind of anniversary release.

The leak comes via The Walkman Blog, which is usually pretty reliable with Sony-related stuff. According to the report, Sony briefly put up placeholder pages on its Australia and New Zealand websites for something called “1000X The Collexion.” The pages didn’t stay up for long, but long enough for a screenshot to surface. Gizmochina 

The post Oppo launches ‘pocket Hasselblad’, Apple Releases new iOS 26.5 appeared first on ShinyShiny.

While most Android manufacturers now commit to supporting their phones for a certain amount of time, Apple doesn’t, so we never know exactly when a specific model will stop getting updated. But a new leak suggests that four iPhones that received iOS 26 won’t be eligible for iOS 27. This comes from leaker Momentary Digital, posting on Weibo (via 9to5Mac), who shared a full list of the phones that they expect to get iOS 27. And it’s a long list, with everything from the iPhone 12 series onwards supposedly in line for the update — but notably, that means the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone SE (2020) are excluded, despite them all running iOS 26. Tech Radar 

Jeff Bezos is close to finalizing a $10 billion funding round for his AI startup that’s developing models with the capability of understanding the physical world, the Financial Times reported. The fresh funding values the company, code-named Project Prometheus, at $38 billion, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the deal. JPMorgan and BlackRock are among the investors in the new round, the FT said, citing a person familiar with the matter. The round is expected to close soon but has not been finalized, it said. Prometheus, BlackRock and JPMorgan declined to comment to the FT. Bloomberg

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new electric C-Class, a dedicated EV aimed squarely at the executive market. The new saloon replaces the traditional combustion-engined bestseller with a ground-up electric design. It arrives with a maximum range of 473 miles (762km), positioning it ahead of many current rivals from Tesla and BMW. Power is stored in a battery with 94kWh of usable energy. Utilizing an 800-volt electronic architecture, the C-Class can add 202 miles of range in 10 minutes when connected to a high-speed charger. Mercedes confirmed the car will feature a “one-box” braking system capable of 300kW of energy recuperation. It also introduces bidirectional charging, allowing the vehicle to supply power back to a home or the electrical grid. TechDigest

Blue Origin’s newest rocket has been grounded after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered an investigation into a “mishap” involving the failed launch of a satellite. The company, founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, attempted to place a satellite from AST SpaceMobile using its New Glenn rocket but was unable to get it as far into orbit as intended. Blue Origin’s chief executive Dave Limp said the failure was caused by a lack of “sufficient thrust” in an engine. BBC 

Amazon has confirmed that future Fire TV Sticks will no longer allow app sideloading or run on Android. You won’t even be able to download and install approved apps either. That’s because it is switching to its own Vega OS software for all streaming devices going forward, and as that is a cloud-based operating system, you will no longer have the ability to customise them. The software was first installed on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select released last year and can also be found driving the all-new Fire TV Stick HD coming at the end of April. T3.com

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Dyson has officially launched the Supersonic Travel, a compact version of its hair dryer designed to resolve the long-standing voltage compatibility issues that have plagued international travellers.

Priced at $299.99, the new model is a more portable, specialized alternative to the standard $400 Supersonic, marking a significant strategic shift for the company’s beauty division.

The most critical technical update is the hair dryer’s universal voltage capability. Traditionally, high-velocity hair dryers are restricted to specific regions because their high-wattage motors are sensitive to the differences between 110V and 240V power grids. Dyson’s new model automatically adapts its internal power management to the local grid, allowing users to use the device in different countries without the risk of blowing a fuse or requiring a heavy-duty power converter.

In terms of physical dimensions, Dyson has re-engineered the device to be 32 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the original Supersonic. This reduction in footprint is intended to make the tool small enough to fit into gym bags, purses, and carry-on luggage.

Despite the size reduction, the company claims the device utilizes the same high-pressure airflow technology found in its full-sized counterparts, maintaining the fast-drying speeds that established the brand in the beauty market ten years ago.

For existing Dyson customers, the Supersonic Travel offers significant continuity. The device is fully backwards compatible with the original Supersonic attachments.

This allows users who have already invested in specialized nozzles, diffusers, or the “flyaway” attachment to use them with the travel unit without additional purchases. However, the travel model is sold primarily as a standalone unit, with attachments available for separate purchase to keep the initial price point lower.

The release of the Travel model follows the 2024 launch of the professional-grade Supersonic and reflects an increasingly competitive landscape. With brands like Shark and L’Oréal introducing their own high-tech hair tools, Dyson’s move into the travel segment addresses a specific consumer pain point.

By combining its motor technology with universal voltage and a lighter chassis, Dyson is positioning the Supersonic Travel as a high-end essential for the “on-the-go” lifestyle, further diversifying a portfolio that now includes everything from wet-to-dry straighteners to proprietary hair serums and styling creams.

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