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Flock Testing New AI Tool: No License Plate Needed to Track People by Driving Habits
The in-testing OS Investigate can search for people within a map-drawn area based on appearance descriptions, then cross-reference case records with commercial identity databases. A former police officer calls it "completely insane," while an ACLU lawyer worries the prompts have no restrictions whatsoever.
FDA Approves Aletta, the Robot That Draws Your Blood — One Tech Can Now Oversee Three at Once
The FDA has approved Aletta, the first automated blood-draw device for outpatient use. Using near-infrared light and Doppler ultrasound to locate veins, it can handle the entire draw process on its own — though a certified phlebotomist still has to be on hand, watching over up to three machines at a time.
Google Teams Up With UK Government to Use AI for Tweaking Flight Paths to Fight Contrails
Google and the UK government have launched Operation Blue Skies, an experiment testing AI-predicted flight altitude adjustments in the North Atlantic's Shanwick airspace to reduce contrail formation—with only 1% to 5% of flights fine-tuned over the 30-month trial.
Amazon Drone Delivery Set to Hit 500 Cities, Chicago and Atlanta Join Expansion by Year's End
Amazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. towns and cities by the end of the year, a sixfold increase from current coverage, with Chicago, Atlanta, and other locations set to join the rollout.
IKEA Teams Up with Xbox — Teaser Drops Controller-Shaped Furniture and Green Throw Pillow
IKEA's official Instagram dropped a short teaser showing what looks like controller-shaped furniture alongside a green throw pillow embroidered with the Xbox logo, hinting at a crossover collab with Microsoft's Xbox division. Full details are expected to drop at Gamescom.
Meta AI Launches Mac Desktop App, Screen Sharing Feature Targets Small Business Owners
Meta AI has launched a standalone Mac desktop app with new screen sharing and Google Workspace integration features, targeting creators and businesses that run their operations on Facebook and Instagram.
Valve accidentally reveals Steam Frame tutorial videos: log in by scanning the lens, hilarious wear demo included
While updating the ARM version of the Steam Client, Valve accidentally leaked eight Steam Frame tutorial videos, revealing how to wear it, the IPD adjustment dial, and magnetic accessory details. Logging in even requires scanning a QR code on the lens with your phone—only the price remains a mystery.
Spotify's Running Mode Arrives on Android, AI Pace-Matched Playlists Close the Three-Week Gap
Running Mode, which landed on iOS in late July, is now available to Android users in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Sweden, letting users build custom running playlists by pace and duration through the Fitness Hub.
macOS 26.7 Beta Hides Clues: What the Legendary Touchscreen HomePod Interface Might Look Like
Apple accidentally left behind clues about several unreleased products in the macOS 26.7 beta code, including a screen-equipped HomePod codenamed "HomeAccessory," featuring a customizable "Faces" interface similar to the Apple Watch.
Apple's New EU Fee Structure Kicks In: Same App, Commission Can Jump from 5% to 26%
Apple has announced updated business terms for EU apps, effective October 1. The old Core Technology Fee will be replaced by a new Core Technology Commission, with rates varying based on payment method and whether developers join a partner program—creating a gap of up to 21 percentage points.
GeForce Now Finally Adds Firefox Support, Completing Its Cloud Gaming Browser Lineup
NVIDIA has added Windows Firefox support to GeForce Now, letting Ultimate subscribers stream games in Mozilla's browser at 1440p and 120fps.
X's Algorithm Loves "Replies" to Angry Posts: Stanford Study Says Democratic-Leaning Users Get Provoked More Often
A study published in PNAS tracked 715 US X users and found the platform's algorithm favors content that triggers angry replies—with users who identify as Democratic supporters being noticeably more affected. The reason behind this remains unclear.
Google Lets Political Campaign Emails Bypass Gmail's Spam Filter, New Verification System Launches September 8
The Gmail Verified Sender Program launches September 8. As long as political committees send from a verified domain and keep their spam-flag rate below 0.3%, their emails can skip Gmail's spam filter entirely — timed right before the 2026 US midterm elections.
Claude Code adds /design command, turning design mockups straight into code in the terminal
Anthropic updated Claude Code on August 18, 2026, adding a /design command that generates multiple editable artboards directly in the terminal and syncs them into code, skipping the export-and-paste step. The feature is still in research preview.
Phone Dead, Charger Nowhere in Sight? What the Numbers Say About Power Banks and Backup Plans
From the lipstick-sized Anker Nano to the 20,000mAh Belkin BoostCharge 20K, a few real-world test numbers to help you decide which power bank to bring when your phone's about to die—and what to do when you've brought nothing at all.
Whoop Drops Subscription Requirement for Advanced Labs, But Blood Tests Still Start at $150
Whoop has announced that its health screening service, Advanced Labs, no longer requires an additional subscription and is now available to all users. However, the blood tests themselves, conducted by Quest Diagnostics, still come at a cost, starting at around $150.
Garage Full of Old Electronics? Heat and Humidity Are Quietly Turning Them Into Scrap
A garage without AC can run 10 to 18 degrees hotter than outside, and humidity corrodes contacts too. From MacBooks to old game consoles, electronics left sitting in garages for the long haul are actually exposed to real risk.
Sony Pulse Elevate Desktop Speakers Launch November 12, Planar Magnetic Drivers Promise to Reproduce Developers' Original Sound
The PlayStation desktop speaker Pulse Elevate will launch on November 12 for $220, with preorders opening September 1. It features planar magnetic drivers and Tempest 3D AudioTech spatial audio.
Can Passkeys Really Replace Passwords? Understand What They Fix — and What New Headaches They Bring
Password managers can stop weak or reused passwords, but they can't block phishing sites. Passkeys flip the logic, shifting security responsibility from "what you remember" to "what device you have" — but that also brings new limitations around cross-device use and sharing.
ABC Formally Sues FCC, Alleging Early License Renewal Order Is Retaliation for Kimmel Remarks
Citing the First Amendment, ABC has filed suit against the FCC, questioning the agency's demand that eight of its owned TV stations undergo early license renewal — a move that came right on the heels of the Kimmel backlash, sparking a free speech controversy.
Ditching the Mirror: DSLR vs. Mirrorless, How to Choose in 2026
Breaking down the mechanical differences between DSLR and mirrorless cameras — and pointing out that the real dilemma isn't for beginners, but for longtime shooters who already own a full lens collection.
Vine Revival Divine Goes Fully Open: No Invite Code Needed, 2 Million Archived Videos Lead the Way
Divine, the Vine revival app led by early Twitter employees, has officially ditched its invite-only system and opened up to everyone. Over 2 million original Vine videos have already been restored inside the app, built on a decentralized architecture designed to keep AI content out.
8BitDo FlipPad – G Classic Edition Lands in Europe, 31.5g Clip-On Controller Revives Retro Feel
After debuting at CES 2026, 8BitDo is officially bringing the FlipPad – G Classic Edition to the European market. With burgundy buttons paired with a grey-white shell, it clips straight onto your phone via USB-C, starting at €29.99.
Comcast Turns Your Wi-Fi Router Into a Camera-Free Home Security System
Comcast has launched Xfinity Shield, a platform featuring Wi-Fi Motion — a tool that detects movement in your home by reading changes in Wi-Fi signals, with no recording or photos involved. It comes with the free Wi-Fi Shield service, while the paid Shield Select tier runs $15 a month.