Samsung Galaxy XR preorders are live: $1,800, Android XR, big freebies — and pricey accessories Samsung’s Galaxy XR mixed reality headset is now available to order for $1,800, arriving as the first device on Google’s new Android XR platform (built with Qualcomm). Priced at just over half of Apple’s Vision Pro, Galaxy XR pairs dual 4K micro‑OLED displays with a lighter chassis and a broad Android app ecosystem. Price and availability Price: $1,800 for the headset Where to buy: Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores Optional accessories: Galaxy XR Controller — $250; Galaxy XR Travel Case — $250 Financing: 24‑month plan (~$75.01/mo) online; stores offer 12‑month (~$149/mo) and 24‑month options What you get with early orders Google and Samsung are stacking launch perks for early adopters. If you purchase before the…

Samsung Galaxy XR: Android XR-powered Vision Pro rival launches at $1,800 Samsung’s new Galaxy XR is a high-end mixed reality headset that aims squarely at Apple’s Vision Pro—at roughly half the price. Built with Qualcomm and Google, it runs the new Android XR platform with Gemini-based voice controls, and pairs premium optics with a lighter, more comfortable design. Key specs and hardware Price: $1,800 (available now on Samsung.com) Display: Dual micro‑OLED panels delivering 4K per eye (3,552 × 3,840) up to 90Hz Chipset: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Weight: ~545g (about 1.2 lb), lighter than the original Vision Pro Tracking: 13 exterior sensors + interior eye/face tracking for hand and gaze input Audio: Built‑in speakers with spatial audio Power: External clip‑on battery; ~2–2.5 hours typical use; can charge while in use…

Daily AI Brief: ChatGPT Atlas, YouTube deepfake defenses, Google Fi AI audio, and OpenAI misuse takedowns Here are the most notable AI updates from the last day or so, spanning new products, safety tools and policy actions. Each item includes a key detail and a source link for deeper reading. OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas (macOS first) What’s new: OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Atlas, a browser that bakes ChatGPT directly into the browsing UI. It’s available now on macOS, with Windows/Android/iOS promised soon. The idea is to let you summarize, ask and draft beside the page—no tab juggling. Why it matters: Several browsers bolt AI into sidebars, but Atlas makes chat a core browsing primitive, potentially speeding up research and reading flows. Coverage: Atlas launches on macOS YouTube rolls out likeness detection…

DIY ‘2 Billion FPS’ Camera Captures Light’s Motion — One Pixel at a Time YouTuber and engineer Brian Haidet (aka AlphaPhoenix) built a camera rig that can visualize a laser beam moving at the speed of light by effectively recording at around 2 billion frames per second. The catch: it captures one pixel at a time and then stitches those samples into a full video, trading spatial capture for extreme temporal resolution. How it works One-pixel scanning: The system records a single pixel sequentially across the scene, then tiles those pixel “videos” to reconstruct a full frame. Garage-friendly hardware: A gimbal-mounted mirror, two tubes, a simple lens, a light sensor, and Python code orchestrate the scan and capture. Frame scale: In the demo, light advances roughly ~6 inches (15 cm)…

Zuckerberg, Mosseri, and Spiegel Ordered to Testify in January Trial on Social Media Addiction and Youth Safety A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel must testify in a trial set to begin in January. The case focuses on social media safety, alleged addictive design, and potential harms to young users. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl wrote that a CEO’s testimony can be “uniquely relevant,” noting that knowledge of harms—and failures to mitigate them—could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct. Lawyers for Meta and Snap had argued the executives should be spared; the court rejected those arguments. Key points Who must testify: Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Adam Mosseri (Instagram), Evan Spiegel (Snap). When/where: Trial begins in January in Los…

Zuckerberg, Mosseri, and Spiegel ordered to testify in January trial on social media addiction and youth safety A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel must testify in a trial set to begin in January. The closely watched case centers on social media safety, alleged addictive design features, and harms to young users. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl wrote that a CEO’s testimony can be “uniquely relevant,” noting that knowledge of harms—and failures to mitigate them—could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct. Lawyers for Meta and Snap argued the executives should be spared from testifying, but the court disagreed. Key points Who must testify: Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Adam Mosseri (Instagram), Evan Spiegel (Snap). When/where: Trial begins in January…

Court orders Zuckerberg, Mosseri, and Spiegel to testify in January social media addiction trial A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel must testify in a trial set to begin in January. The case centers on social media safety, alleged addictive design, and potential harms to young users. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl wrote that a CEO’s testimony can be “uniquely relevant,” noting that knowledge of harms — and failures to mitigate them — could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct. Lawyers for Meta and Snap had argued the executives should be spared, warning it could set a precedent for future cases. Key points Who must testify: Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Adam Mosseri (Instagram), Evan Spiegel (Snap). When/where: Trial…

Zuckerberg, Mosseri, and Spiegel Ordered to Testify in January Trial on Social Media Addiction and Safety A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel must testify in a trial set for January. The case centers on social media safety and whether the platforms are addictive, with a focus on alleged harms to young users. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl wrote that “the testimony of a CEO is uniquely relevant, as that officer’s knowledge of harms, and failure to take available steps to avoid such harms could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct.” The January proceeding is expected to be closely watched as one of the first major trials among many lawsuits alleging youth harms from social platforms. Key…

Microsoft raises Xbox dev kit price to $2,000 (+33%) amid broader Xbox price hikes Microsoft has increased the price of the Xbox Development Kit from $1,500 to $2,000, a 33 percent jump that takes effect immediately. In an email to developers, the company cited “macroeconomic developments” for the change. Reports note this appears to be a blanket adjustment that will impact developers beyond the US as well. What’s changing New price: $2,000 per Xbox Development Kit (up from $1,500). Effective: Immediately, per communications to Xbox developers. Rationale: Microsoft points to macroeconomic developments; observers cite import tariffs and cost pressures. Context: a trend of rising costs in the Xbox ecosystem Game Pass: Recent increases pushed Ultimate to $30/month in some markets. Hardware: Microsoft reportedly raised Xbox console prices twice in 2025…

Netflix is adapting Catan into TV shows and films Netflix is partnering with game publisher Asmodee to develop multiple screen adaptations of the hit board game Catan. Projects include both animated and live-action formats, with several concepts already in development. The move broadens Netflix’s push beyond video game IP to well-known tabletop franchises. What’s being planned Multiple projects: Netflix says animated and live-action adaptations are on the table; formats could range from narrative series/films to competition-style concepts. Producers attached: Darren Kyman (Asmodee), Pete Fenlon (Catan Studio), and Guido and Benjamin Teuber, sons of Catan creator Klaus Teuber. Status: Early development; no release dates announced. Why Catan? Catan (originally Settlers of Catan) tasks players with gathering resources, building settlements and roads, and negotiating with rivals to dominate a remote island. Its…