Author: alex

UK CMA designates Google as Strategic Market Status for Search — What it means The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially designated Google with Strategic Market Status (SMS) under the UK's new digital markets competition regime (in force 1 Jan 2025). The designation applies to Google's general Search and search advertising services and allows the CMA to propose interventions to promote competition and protect UK users and businesses. Key points The CMA found Google has "substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance" for general Search and search ads. More than 90% of UK searches happen on Google's platform, per the CMA. The designation includes Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode features, but not (for now) the Gemini AI assistant. The CMA may consult on…

Apple updates VO2max (Cardio Fitness) estimates in iOS 26 / watchOS 26 With the release of iOS 26 and watchOS 26, Apple’s Health app on iPhone can refresh and update past Cardio Fitness (VO2max) estimates. VO2max — the estimated maximum oxygen uptake during exercise — is used as an indicator of cardiovascular fitness and long-term health trends. What changed The Health app can now recalculate historical VO2max estimates using available workout and sensor data. This may change previously reported values for some users after the update. How to trigger an update Open the Health app on your iPhone. Tap Browse > Heart > Cardio Fitness (or search for "Cardio Fitness"). Scroll to the Cardio Fitness section and tap Update if the option appears — the app will use your available…

Long‑lost Ratchet & Clank mobile game “Clone Home” found and archived After years of searching, a dedicated group of fans has extracted and archived a complete, playable build of the canceled mobile game Ratchet & Clank: Clone Home. The recovery — and the broader history of the title — is documented in a new video by YouTuber The Golden Bolt. Background Clone Home was a planned J2ME (Java) follow-up to the 2005 mobile title Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile. It was reportedly finished around 2006 but quietly canceled before release. The game was long considered lost, rising to near-mythical status among preservationists and R&C fans. The Recovery Researchers traced a complete build to a Sony Ericsson W880i device owned by a private collector. After years of attempts, the team managed…

Bose to end SoundTouch cloud support on Feb 18, 2026 Bose has announced it will discontinue cloud support for all SoundTouch products effective February 18, 2026. This change was communicated to users and is reflected on Bose's regional trade-in pages. What stops working Built-in streaming services (e.g., Spotify, TuneIn) Cloud-based app control and features Multi-room playback that relies on Bose cloud services What will still work Local audio playback via Bluetooth, AUX (line-in), or HDMI (if available on the model) Any connected source using local inputs will continue to play Options for owners Check Bose's trade-in/offers in your region: Bose trade-in page Consider replacing with a current Bose product or another smart speaker Keep using your SoundTouch speaker as a Bluetooth/aux device if that meets your needs For product browsing,…

China probes Qualcomm’s acquisition of Autotalks China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm’s acquisition of Israeli V2X (vehicle-to-everything) chipmaker Autotalks, alleging Qualcomm may have failed to disclose certain deal details under China’s anti-monopoly laws. Key points Qualcomm agreed to buy Autotalks in 2023 to expand its Snapdragon automotive portfolio into V2X safety and communication technologies. The acquisition was previously scrutinized by US and UK regulators and the deal was temporarily paused in early 2024 amid antitrust reviews. SAMR’s probe follows a broader pattern of China tightening oversight of foreign tech acquisitions amid ongoing US–China trade and technology negotiations. China recently also flagged Nvidia’s Mellanox deal for regulatory breaches — analysts say such actions may be intertwined with wider trade leverage strategies. Timeline 2023…

AirPods 4 Deal — $89 (non‑ANC) / $120 (ANC) Apple's AirPods 4 are on sale: the standard (non‑ANC) model is available for about $89 and the ANC model for around $120. These are some of the lowest prices we've seen recently and a solid buy if you prefer open‑ear AirPods or want the Pro‑like features without the Pro price. Why consider the AirPods 4? H2 chip — brings Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio and improved processing. Call quality — Voice Isolation for clearer voice on calls; FaceTime supports 48kHz audio. Sound — Better low end and wider sound stage vs AirPods 3; Dolby Atmos & non‑spatial content both improved. Battery — ~5 hours per charge (non‑ANC); ~4 hours with ANC on. Charging case extends total to ~30 hours.…

Control: Ultimate Edition coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro — early 2026 Remedy Entertainment has announced that Control: Ultimate Edition will be available on the iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro in early 2026. Players can use touch controls (including hand-tracking/gestures on Vision Pro) or controllers. The Ultimate Edition bundles the base game with both major expansions: The Foundation and AWE (Altered World Events), the latter linking Control to Remedy’s Alan Wake universe. Quick facts: Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro (early 2026 — no firm date yet) Controls: touch/hand-tracking or controllers Includes: Base game + The Foundation + AWE expansions Current availability: Control: Ultimate Edition is already listed on the Apple/Mac App Store (macOS release launched earlier) Remedy originally released Control in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox…

Apple AirTag 4‑Pack — Now $65 (34% off)Good Apple deals can be rare — right now a 4‑pack of Apple AirTags is available for $65 (about $16.25 each), a 34% discount from its usual price. These compact Bluetooth trackers are ideal for keys, wallets, backpacks and luggage.Why AirTags?Works with the Find My network of iPhones, iPads and Macs to help locate lost items.Built‑in speaker can play a tone to help you find nearby items.Ultra Wideband (UWB) precision finding on iPhone 11 and newer shows directional guidance on compatible iPhones.Lots of accessories (loops, holders, keyrings) make them easy to attach to almost anything.LimitationsAirTags rely on being near other Apple devices to update their location. They do not have a built‑in GPS and require proximity to participating devices to be located.BuySearch or…

Minecraft Movie sequel set for July 23, 2027Warner Bros. has scheduled a sequel to The Minecraft Movie for July 23, 2027. Jared Hess is returning to direct and co-write. Details on plot and cast are limited so far.ContextThe first Minecraft Movie was a commercial success.The sequel's production reflects the studio's confidence in the franchise's box-office potential.More: AJC coverage

Project Amethyst: Sony and AMD tease future GPU techSony and AMD unveiled early research called Project Amethyst, showcasing machine learning-based rendering (Neural Arrays), Radiance Cores for ray tracing, and Universal Compression to improve memory bandwidth and efficiency. The work is still at the simulation/research stage.Why it mattersThese techniques could cut memory bandwidth needs and improve ray tracing/upscaling in future consoles.Project Amethyst suggests the next PlayStation may rely heavily on ML-driven rendering and compression.Read more: GameSpot coverage