Pixel Buds 2a debut with active noise cancellation and Gemini AI
The final new launch from Google today, following the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4, is Pixel Buds 2a. These new A-series earbuds bring Active Noise Cancellation, immersive audio, longer battery life and Gemini AI at a more affordable price. Preorders start today, with general availability on October 9.
Google says the Pixel Buds 2a have been redesigned for comfort and stability. They are smaller and lighter than the previous A-series and take inspiration from the Pixel Buds Pro 2 design.
Pixel Watch 4 debuts with longer battery life, and new AI health coach
Google today launched the Pixel Watch 4 alongside its new Pixel 10 series of smartphones and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The new wearable is, naturally, described as the most advanced Pixel Watch yet, with a redesigned look, longer battery life, new health features and AI tools powered by Gemini. Preorders start today, with general availability on October 9.
Pixel Watch 4 maintains the familiar circular design but introduces a new domed Actua 360 display, offering a 10 percent larger active area, slimmer bezels and brightness up to 3000 nits for visibility in sunlight.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold launches as Google's most durable foldable yet
Alongside its range of 10th generation Pixel smartphones, Google has today introduced the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which it describes as its most durable foldable phone yet.
The device features a new gearless hinge, upgraded displays, a bigger battery, IP68 water and dust resistance and a suite of AI tools powered by the Tensor G5 processor. Preorders begin today, with general availability on October 9.
Google unveils Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL smartphones with new AI powered features
Google has taken the wraps off its 10th generation of smartphones, the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. The new lineup introduces a refined design, the Tensor G5 processor, and AI features designed to make the phones more proactive and helpful. Preorders begin today, with general availability on August 28.
Pixel 10 sports a satin metal frame, polished glass back and four colour choices: Obsidian, Frost, Indigo and Lemongrass. Its 6.3-inch Actua display now reaches 3000 nits for easier outdoor use, and upgraded speakers bring deeper bass for a better multimedia experience.
Consumers say losing a smartphone is more upsetting than a car crash
New (tongue-in-cheek) research from D3O suggests that many people will go to extreme lengths to protect their smartphones, even at the cost of safety, money, or comfort.
The global impact protection company surveyed consumers in the US and UK and found that phones have become so central to daily life that some people would skip meals, miss flights, or even risk dangerous situations to save them.
Microsoft extends NFL partnership to bring AI to the sidelines and beyond
The National Football League and Microsoft announced today that their strategic partnership will run for at least several more years, with the goal of expanding the use of artificial intelligence across the sport
The collaboration brings Microsoft Copilot and Azure AI into areas that affect game day decisions, scouting, and stadium operations. With the league hosting hundreds of events each year, the aim is to improve both performance and the fan experience.
IObit releases Uninstaller 15 with faster, cleaner program removal
IObit has announced the launch of Uninstaller 15, the latest version of its popular software removal tool for Windows.
The new release offers an upgraded uninstall engine, expanded database of stubborn programs, and improved automation features for faster, cleaner and easier removal of unwanted software.
Thunderbird Pro is moving closer to launch with new productivity tools: Thundermail, Appointment, and Send
Thunderbird has revealed more about Thunderbird Pro, its optional paid subscription service, and the new productivity tools it currently has in development.
First announced in April, Thunderbird Pro includes three main services: Thundermail, Appointment, and Send. Each of these tool are open source, available for community review, and can be self-hosted for users who prefer to run their own infrastructure.
Mountain Duck 5 released with faster performance and new features for remote file access
Mountain Duck is a handy desktop tool that lets users mount server and cloud storage accounts as local drives in Finder on macOS and File Explorer on Windows. This allows remote files to be opened, edited, and saved directly in applications as if they were stored on the computer itself.
Iterate GmbH, which also makes one-stop cloud storage client Cyberduck, has released Mountain Duck 5, a major upgrade and the first since version 4 arrived in June 2020. This update introduces new features, faster performance, and improved compatibility across platforms.
OWC's latest portable SSD offers up to 8TB in a palm-sized design
Other World Computing has launched the OWC Express 1M2 80G, a portable SSD that brings USB4 80Gb/s performance to creators, mobile professionals, and gamers. The drive delivers real-world peak speeds of over 6000MB/s in a compact fanless design, making it one of the fastest palm-sized storage solutions available today.
The new device offers users two options: a do-it-yourself enclosure that supports standard NVMe drives, or ready-to-run configurations with capacities up to 8TB. Both options are upgradeable, allowing buyers to replace the drive later with larger or faster SSDs.
Nearly half of Americans still reuse passwords despite phishing risks
Nearly half of Americans admit to reusing passwords across accounts, even as phishing attacks continue to rise. A new survey by Yubico and Talker Research shows that while many people feel confident in their ability to stay secure online, their actual habits reveal a different story.
The study asked consumers in 10 major US metro areas about their digital security practices. Forty eight percent said they use the same password for multiple accounts, a behavior that leaves them exposed if one login is compromised.
AI in-car assistant market set to more than double by 2031
The global AI in-car assistant market is set to take off massively in the coming years according to Valuates Reports, which forecasts an increase from $6.9 billion in 2024 to $15.8 billion by 2031. The company says this represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8 percent, reflecting the increasing role of voice-driven and connected systems in vehicles.
AI in-car assistants are becoming integral to modern automotive design, combining voice recognition, infotainment, navigation, and predictive maintenance, in addition to providing drivers with hands-free control.
LibreOffice users can now generate AI art inside Writer and Impress
LibreOffice doesn’t ship with artificial intelligence features by default, but a new extension gives the office suite AI-powered features thanks to a community effort.
While Microsoft Office has started to integrate AI directly into its products, often tied to cloud subscriptions and proprietary tools, LibreOffice follows a different path where volunteers and independent developers can add optional capabilities through open-source extensions.
Lenovo's Lena AI chatbot had weakness that let attackers hijack sessions
Lenovo’s customer service AI chatbot Lena was recently found to contain a critical vulnerability that could allow attackers to steal session cookies and run malicious code.
Cybernews researchers discovered that with just one maliciously crafted prompt, the AI could be manipulated into exposing sensitive data. Lenovo has since fixed the issue, but the case shows how chatbots can create fresh risks when not properly secured.
New AI-powered Operator X streamlines offline defensive cyber missions
Sealing Technologies has launched Operator X, an AI Hunt Kit Assistant built for defensive cyber operations at the edge.
Operator X is designed for situations where you can’t rely on the internet or external cloud services. Many cyber defense teams work in places where security rules are very strict, so sending sensitive data to a cloud provider is not allowed. In those cases, everything has to run locally, inside the secure environment.
Wayne's Bio
Wayne Williams has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for over 30 years now. He’s written for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a fair few of them in his time also. If you like what you read, you can Buy Me a Coffee!
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