High-end audio brands are ditching CD players because nobody makes disc drives anymore
This is the end for CDs
Electronics
The latest consumer electronics, from smart home devices to cool gadgets that are bound to be industry-changing.
A KLM flight turned around after a power bank caught fire, and it belonged to the airline's ex-CEO
The fire broke out nearly six hours into the flight
Joby just flew a plane 3,199 miles across the US with no pilot at the controls
The plane handled taxiing, takeoffs, landings, weather diversions, and route changes
iPhone 18 Pro teardown highlights mechanical camera aperture and a major thermal redesign
For most, it's best to leave major repair jobs to the experts
Researchers found a way to eavesdrop on headphones from 30 meters away, and encryption can't stop it
The InjectEave attack was tested on 11 devices, including headphones from Sony, Apple, HP, and Philips
An AI hallucination nearly started a war between the US and China
The US military nearly attacked a Chinese vessel after a chatbot falsely claimed it carried nuclear weapons materials
The takeaway: Warnings from AI developers have sparked widespread debate over whether, and how, the technology might cause human extinction. While much of that discussion has centered on rogue AI incidents, events in the Middle East suggest that military action driven by hallucinating AI tools may be the more immediate danger.
Scientists develop a way to restore aging EV batteries without breaking them down into raw materials
Cornell's DEER process removes performance-robbing buildup
A California county wants businesses to pay a fee when robots take someone's job
San Mateo County's proposed robot permits would require equal-pay job offers, severance, or retraining fees
Razer's new $100 Kraken headset adds physical haptic feedback to over 100 supported games
Two haptics modes let players feel scripted in-game events or background audio cues, depending on the title
Nokia 3310 & 5110: The Indestructible Phones Before the Internet
Before phones went online, Nokia made two that didn't need to. The 5110 and 3310 gave us Snake, swappable covers, and a durability myth that outlived the company that built them.
Boox Palma 3 launches at $340 with Android 16 and handwriting support
The pocketable E Ink reader keeps its 6.13-inch, 300ppi display, adds an aluminum frame and fiberglass
Solar panel costs have plummeted from $6 per watt in 2000 to just 12 cents today
Cheap solar panels are quietly breaking how power grids are supposed to work
Records show police justified Flock license plate searches with answers like "LMAO" and "idk"
The database allows warrantless searches, unlike requests for cell phone location data
Apple AirPods 5 first reviews are in: stronger ANC and swipe volume controls
The new AirPods 5 refine the company's less expensive earbuds. ANC now comes standard, while the $149 version adds a wireless charging case, swipe volume controls, and longer battery life. Reviewers praise their surprisingly effective noise cancellation for an open-ear design.
Steam Frame reviews: Great VR hardware at a tough price
Valve's Steam Frame is earning praise for its comfortable design, standalone gaming, and excellent wireless PC streaming. Reviewers like its versatility and overall experience, but the high price, short battery life, and software issues make cheaper competing VR headsets hard to ignore.
Unlucky PC user finds AMD's cheaper 8-pin GPU connectors can melt, too
Even a power monitor couldn't fully protect a Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Valve's Steam Frame launches at $1,059, and Half-Life: Alyx comes free
That's twice as much as the Quest 3
Asus routers escape US router ban, but TP-Link is still waiting
The exemption clears the way for Asus' upcoming Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US
Norway spent 40 minutes convincing a helicopter's GPS it was flying into the sea
GPS spoofing is getting harder to ignore, so Norway is testing what happens when satellite navigation lies to you
Modders show RTX 5090 works flawlessly with 8-pin connectors instead of 16 without overheating
Nvidia still can't fix what a couple of YouTubers can?
Google appears to be done with tablets, again
The Pixel Tablet disappears from the store, Google previously "paused" development of the Pixel Tablet 2
Apple's new AirPods 5 get Active Noise Cancellation and Siri AI, starting at $129
The premium $149 model adds a wireless charging case with a Find My speaker and stem volume control
Tesla's Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, but a hidden touchscreen joystick may let humans drive it
Tesla's own chair has said the car could get real controls "if we have to" – this joystick may be the compromise
LG accused of tracking its smart TV users, scanning home networks, and recording conversations
LG strongly denies claims that its smart TVs record ambient audio or secretly harvest user data
WTF?! An investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus has found that LG's smart OLED TVs track users' viewing patterns across streaming platforms, cable, and local media. The televisions also reportedly scan users' home Wi-Fi network, collect information about connected devices without permission, and transmit the data to LG Ad Solutions to push targeted advertising.
Dell Alienware AW3926QW Review: The 39-Inch OLED to Buy
The Alienware AW3926QW pairs a 39-inch 5K2K OLED with RGB stripe clarity, strong HDR, and a price that makes LG's rival look far less appealing.
