News and Updates from Gadget Hacks

Apple's AirPods are about to become your personal translator, but if you're living in Europe, you'll have to wait a bit longer to join the conversation. The company recently announced that its highly anticipated Live Translation feature will finally make its way to EU users in December 2025, after months of regulatory hurdles that kept European customers on the sidelines. Apple's real-time translation capability was originally introduced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September 2024, but EU...

Microsoft's latest Xbox Game Pass announcement packs serious firepower for subscribers this November. The news dropped via Xbox Wire on Tuesday, and it might be the service's biggest value play yet. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 leads eleven new titles. And here is the kicker, this is just wave one. Microsoft's already teasing a second wave coming later in the month, a clear signal that November is designed as a can't miss month to prove out its premium content strategy.

Apple's been known for premium pricing across its product lineup, but the latest industry intelligence points to the company's most dramatic pricing shift in laptop history. Multiple sources confirm Apple is developing its first genuinely affordable MacBook. This is not just another modest price reduction.

Apple's been playing the premium game for years, but whispers from the supply chain suggest the company is finally ready to shake things up. The Cupertino giant appears to be developing its first truly affordable Mac laptop, a significant departure from its traditional high-margin strategy. This is not just another incremental update, it is a fundamental shift that could reshape how Apple competes in the broader laptop market. Big claim, sure. The signs are there.

Looking at the current Apple deal landscape, the timing feels spot on. The M4 Mac mini has dropped to what might be its sweetest pricing yet at just $499, according to 9to5Mac. That is for a machine already turning heads with its first major redesign in over a decade. MacBook Air pricing keeps sliding too, especially on those higher-memory configurations that used to sting.

The wait is finally over. After a decade of Apple Watch users making do with basic WhatsApp notifications, Meta has delivered something many thought would never come: a full-featured WhatsApp app for Apple Watch. This is not just another notification mirror. It is a standalone experience that changes how you use WhatsApp from your wrist.

You know what's wild? Spotify now hosts half a million video podcasts, and nearly 400 million users have already watched them. Put that in perspective for a second. That is more than the entire population of the United States consuming video podcast content on a single platform. The fascinating part is not just the size of the numbers, it is the shape of the change. Podcasting itself is getting rewritten, and it is happening faster than anyone predicted.

When you think about the "most powerful phone on the planet," what pops into your head? Raw processing muscle? Fancy AI tricks? Or something more basic, like keeping all that silicon from frying when you push it hard. Recent teardowns of flagship smartphones have pulled back the curtain on how manufacturers are taming heat, leaning on liquid cooling tech that would make desktop PC modders grin.

If you've lived with Google Assistant for the past decade, brace for a big switch. The trusty voice helper is getting the boot, and its replacement aims higher. Google has officially confirmed the shift, calling it "Gemini for Home", a complete platform replacement that will reshape how you use your phone, smart home, and digital life.

Let me be clear: if you own an iPhone and you have been waiting for Siri to actually get smart, Amazon just handed you a lifeline. Alexa+ has arrived on iOS, and it is not just another voice assistant trying to squeeze into Apple’s ecosystem. It is Amazon’s boldest play to show iPhone users what modern AI assistance feels like while Apple’s promises stay just out of reach.

You probably don't think much about the invisible engineering marvel that protects your smartphone screen, until that heart-stopping moment when your phone takes a tumble onto concrete. What transforms simple sand into the ultra-tough glass that stands between your device and disaster? The answer lives in a manufacturing process that pushes materials science to its limits, combining furnace temperatures hotter than magma itself with systematic testing that feels like high-tech torture.

The smartphone camera race is heating up, and the next leap looks wild. Dual 200MP camera systems, a setup that felt sci‑fi a few years ago, are now in active development across multiple brands. The most promising candidate is the Vivo X300 Ultra, which industry sources suggest could become the world's first smartphone to pack two separate 200MP sensors when it launches in early 2026. And Vivo is not alone, rumors indicate that other major Chinese manufacturers are also experimenting with...

If you've ever jerked the wheel at the last second because Google Maps chirped "turn right in 200 feet" while you were camped in the far left lane, take a breath. Relief just arrived. Google Maps rolled out an update that changes how the app steers you through everyday drives.

Google's Pixel 10 looks like it is rewriting the smartphone playbook. After years of struggling in the premium tier, Google finally hit a milestone: September marked their highest-ever monthly smartphone sales in the US, and US Pixel sales jumped 28% year over year. Not a blip, a shift in how people see Google hardware. Remember when Pixel felt niche? Not anymore.

Here's the thing about streaming services — just when you think you've got your monthly budget figured out, another price hike lands in your inbox. Warner Bros. Discovery has just announced that HBO Max is bumping up its subscription costs for the third consecutive year, marking another milestone in the streaming industry's relentless march toward higher prices. The platform's price adjustments take effect immediately for new subscribers, according to Reuters, while existing monthly users will...

When Hulu first launched its Live TV service back in 2017, cord-cutters were celebrating what seemed like the answer to expensive cable bills. At just $39.99 a month, it felt like streaming had finally cracked the code on affordable live television. Fast forward to today, and that same service will now cost you $89.99 monthly — a reality check that has many wondering if we simply traded one expensive TV habit for another.

When you look at Apple's financial picture today, you see a masterclass in cash generation. It is also one of the trickier valuation puzzles in modern tech investing. The company just established all-time quarterly and annual revenue records for fiscal 2025, driven by double-digit services growth and continued iPhone strength. Yet multiple financial models suggest investors might be paying tomorrow's prices for today's stock.

When you're trying to switch to speakerphone during an important call, the last thing you want is a button that won't respond. Yet that's exactly what thousands of Pixel 9 and 10 owners are dealing with right now. The speakerphone toggle in Google's Phone app experiences significant delays or completely fails to respond when tapped, according to Android Authority. What makes this particularly frustrating is that the issue stems from the app's newer interface rather than the hardware, as...

MagSafe charging has changed how we power our iPhones, and the latest Anker Zolo Wireless Charger nudges that shift forward. It is Qi2 certified, it layers in safety, and it aims for the kind of efficiency iPhone owners keep asking for. Magnetic wireless charging keeps maturing, bringing us closer to a cable-free routine that does not surrender speed or reliability.

The toy industry just got a serious shake-up, and I'm genuinely excited about what Netflix has cooking. The streaming giant recently announced something that caught my attention in a big way. Partnerships with both Hasbro and Mattel to create merchandise based on their breakout animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters." Before you roll your eyes at what might seem like another licensing cash grab, hear me out. This feels different, and it could reshape Netflix's entire business model.

Google's Chrome browser just made filling out online forms a whole lot easier, and potentially a bit more controversial. The search giant has quietly rolled out an expansion to its autofill capabilities that now handles some of your most sensitive personal information, including driver's licenses, passport numbers, and vehicle details. Not another ho-hum update. Chrome is stepping into territory that makes both convenience fans and privacy hawks sit up.

When streaming services suddenly lose major channels, subscribers often find themselves caught in the middle of corporate disputes. Blink, and a favorite channel vanishes. YouTube TV users felt that whiplash when Disney pulled over 20 popular channels from the platform on October 30, 2025, according to Android Central. ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic disappeared, leaving millions without the programming they rely on.

Apple just flipped a big switch in its entertainment strategy, and it's more significant than it looks. The company has officially transformed its streaming service from Apple TV+ to simply "Apple TV," according to MacRumors. This is not just cosmetic. It arrives with a full visual makeover, a custom sound experience, and rainbow-colored branding that signals Apple's growing confidence and its readiness to go toe to toe with Netflix and Disney+.

When Mint Mobile drops the price of Google's flagship phone by $600 just weeks before Black Friday, you know something special is happening. This isn't your typical pre-holiday discount. It's a deal that makes the premium Pixel 10 Pro XL more accessible than ever before. Mint Mobile is currently offering a massive $600 discount on the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, according to Android Authority. The timing couldn't be more strategic, as TechRadar reports the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is priced to move...

Samsung's dominance in the foldable market is about to face its biggest test yet. The company controls a significant portion of the US market largely due to limited competition, and Samsung has officially confirmed development of what could be its most ambitious device to date, the Galaxy Z TriFold. This isn't just another incremental update, the TriFold represents a tablet-sized 10-inch display that folds down to phone dimensions, opening up possibilities we simply haven't seen before in the...

Samsung's revolutionary tri-fold smartphone is finally here. The Galaxy Z TriFold feels like a leap for foldables, the kind that turns a compact 6.5-inch phone into a 10-inch, tablet-like canvas, according to Forbes. It also took an unconventional path to market.

Let me be honest right up front, this is the kind of tech news that makes you do a double take. Apple, the company that has built its entire identity around doing everything in-house, is about to hand over the keys to Siri's future to its biggest competitor. That's right: Apple is preparing to launch a completely redesigned Siri in early 2026, and this time, it won't be powered by Apple's own technology alone, it will lean heavily on Google's Gemini AI model.

Apple's ecosystem is buzzing with signals pointing toward something significant happening this November. Apple retail staff have received instructions to prepare for overnight store changes on November 11, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with new products potentially hitting shelves by November 12. What is driving this sudden activity? All signs point to refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini models making their quiet debut.

Apple just dropped the M5 MacBook Pro, and the tech world has good reason to be buzzing. The first M5 Mac, that sleek 14-inch MacBook Pro, made its debut last month, officially kicking off what looks to be Apple's most ambitious silicon rollout yet. But here's the thing: this is just the opening act.

When Jay Gibson opened his iPhone earlier this year, the last thing he expected was Apple's warning that his device had been targeted by sophisticated government spyware. The twist is not just the advanced attack. It is that Gibson is a veteran iOS exploit developer who once built surveillance tools for a private contractor, Trenchant, developing offensive capabilities for Western governments.

Samsung's mixed reality headset finally breaks cover today, and it is bringing serious firepower to challenge Apple's Vision Pro. After months of teasing and prototype demos, Samsung is officially revealing Project Moohan, its Vision Pro competitor, at its Galaxy Event, and early hands-on writeups say the device might deliver on its big promises. Samsung let tech writers try prototypes while keeping key details under wraps, according to reports. The twist, Samsung is framing it as an...

Microsoft has been making headlines with a wave of price increases across its Xbox ecosystem, and the latest move lands squarely on developers. Xbox console development kits are jumping by 33 percent, from $1,500 to $2,000, as reported by The Verge. The change applies globally, with pricing adjustments hitting Europe and other regions. Microsoft cites broader economic pressures, saying the changes reflect macroeconomic developments.

Samsung's making bold moves with the Galaxy S26, and the tech world is buzzing about what could be their biggest chipset comeback story yet. Recent reports suggest the entire Galaxy S26 lineup might ditch Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors in favor of Samsung's own Exynos 2600 chip, according to Tech Advisor.

Google is quietly shaking up product testing. The company plans to pick a small group of dedicated enthusiasts to try unreleased hardware before it hits the market, a move that tilts the process from purely internal trials to community input, as reported by Bloomberg.

Disney just learned the hard way that subscriber loyalty hangs by a thread. When the entertainment giant suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show for a week in September, it saw roughly 1.7 million cancellations across its streaming platforms. A stark reminder of how fast a single corporate call can turn into real money on the line.

The tech world has been buzzing about Apple's latest quarterly results, and for good reason. Record revenue of $102.5 billion and 8% year-over-year growth (Saxo reports). You'd expect a simple victory lap. Instead, while competitors pour money into AI data centers, Apple bought back about $20 billion in shares during the quarter (according to Saxo).

Here's the thing about Apple's latest financial results. They're not just impressive, they're downright historic. Apple just achieved something no company has done before, crossing the $100 billion revenue mark in a single quarter for the first time ever. How big is that? We're talking about $102.5 billion in total quarterly revenue, an 8% year-over-year increase driven by the newly launched iPhone 17 lineup and robust Services growth.

Apple just turned in a quarter that has Wall Street buzzing. The headline: crossing the $100 billion revenue threshold for the first time in a single quarter, with $102.5 billion for the July to September period. That is an 8% year over year jump, a September quarter record, and it capped an all time annual revenue mark of $416 billion. Earnings per share hit $1.85 versus the $1.77 estimate, a clean beat in a choppy market.

Mobile scams are getting frighteningly sophisticated. With fraudsters stealing over $400 billion globally each year through increasingly clever schemes, it feels like whack-a-mole against fake job offers, romance scams, and investment pitches that target billions of users. So, a twist. Google just shared data suggesting Android users might finally be edging ahead in this digital arms race.

The streaming landscape just experienced a major earthquake. When Disney pulled its entire content portfolio from YouTube TV after Thursday's midnight deadline, it was not just another corporate disagreement; it was a seismic shift that is leaving millions scrambling for alternatives and revealing deep fractures in how we watch TV right now.