News and Updates from Gadget Hacks

While competitors chase flashy AI announcements and cloud-based solutions, Apple continues to dominate the global brand landscape through a fundamentally different approach. The company maintains its position as the world's most valuable brand at $574.5 billion, with some valuations reaching $1.299 trillion according to Kantar's 2025 assessment. That staying power does not come from hopping every trend, it comes from Apple's methodical focus on privacy-first, ecosystem-integrated AI that...

When Apple sets its sights on a major market expansion, tax rules can make or break the plan. Right now, the tech giant is lobbying Indian officials over a 1961 tax law. Obscure on paper, high stakes in practice. Apple is pushing India's government to modify income tax rules so the high-end iPhone manufacturing equipment it provides to contract manufacturers is not taxed, according to recent reports. The company is worried the current framework could trigger billions in additional tax liability...

Twitch is making another run at live commerce, and this time they've got Amazon's full advertising arsenal backing the play. The gaming-focused streaming platform has rolled out fresh live-shopping capabilities powered by Amazon Ads, marking a significant shift in how streamers might monetize their content. This isn't Twitch's first rodeo with shopping features, they experimented with similar functionality back in 2017 before pulling the plug, according to StreamsCharts. With live commerce...

Google's Play Store just hit a legal roadblock that could reshape the entire Android ecosystem. The Supreme Court recently turned down the tech giant's last-ditch effort to delay sweeping changes to its app marketplace, according to multiple reports. The decision stems from a years-long fight with Epic Games. Google now has to roll out major operational changes by October 22, 2025, a shift that could open the door to competing app stores and alternative payment systems on Android devices.

Microsoft's latest moves signal a massive shift in how we interact with our computers. The company has officially terminated free security updates for Windows 10 this week, according to the Economic Times, while simultaneously rolling out compelling AI-powered features for Windows 11 that could fundamentally change computing. What we are witnessing is not just another update cycle. It is Microsoft’s boldest bet on the future of personal computing, strategically designed to accelerate the...

The Google Pixel 9a has been making waves in the budget smartphone arena, and for good reason. The timing couldn't be better for a significant discount on what many consider the standout budget device of 2025. Google managed to capture a notable 3% US market share in Q2 2025, shipping 800,000 units with a solid 13% year-over-year increase, according to Accio. This growth trajectory positioned the Pixel brand as the fourth-largest US smartphone brand, outpacing competitors like TCL, which saw a...

Tim Cook's recent commitment to deepen Apple's China investment lands at a delicate intersection of geopolitics and corporate calculus. His pledge during a Beijing visit is more than routine. It is a bet on managing one of tech's most tangled relationships. How high are the stakes? China generates roughly $360 billion a year from its Apple partnership, roughly the GDP of South Africa, Apple Gadget Hacks reports. And about seven out of every ten iPhones worldwide are produced or assembled there,...

There is renewed public interest following the recent passing of pioneering scientist Jane Goodall; her episode on Netflix docu series Famous Last Words is getting a posthumous release.

You know what? For weeks, I've been watching people rave about this mysterious AI image tool called "nano banana" that was absolutely crushing the competition on LMArena. The name alone was enough to make you do a double-take, but the results? They were legitimately impressive. Then Google dropped the bombshell: they finally revealed it was behind this viral sensation, and they're not keeping it locked away in Gemini anymore.

You've probably heard about ultra-thin smartphones becoming the next big thing in mobile tech, but Samsung's latest strategic reversal shows how tricky that niche really is. What began as an ambitious swing at redefining flagship design with the Galaxy S25 Edge ended with the Galaxy S26 Edge getting cancelled, before it even launched. Not a minor hiccup; a loud warning about what happens when engineering flair drifts away from what buyers actually want.

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Apple's ambitious expansion into India has built an impressive manufacturing ecosystem, but a financial storm is forming. As the tech giant accelerates its shift away from Chinese production, the specialized assembly equipment needed for future iPhone lines could trigger billions in unexpected taxes. This is not just moving factories, it is rebuilding a technological infrastructure inside a very different regulatory maze.

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Reviewed by Meg Flores

When artificial intelligence meets the smartphone market, the battle lines are drawn between two tech giants with very different approaches. Samsung leverages its massive global reach and comprehensive device ecosystem, while Honor focuses on innovative features and accessible pricing. Let’s break down how these brands stack up in the ultimate AI showdown.

When you upgrade from Apple's free 5GB iCloud storage to a paid plan, you get more than a bigger locker in the sky. You get perks. Real ones. Apple bundles these storage upgrades under the iCloud+ umbrella, turning a plain storage subscription into a privacy and productivity toolkit. Paying customers are automatically enrolled in extras many folks do not even realize they have access to.

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak sent shockwaves through the tech community today with a cryptic social media post declaring that "something powerful is coming," according to MacRumors. The accompanying animation flashes a MacBook Pro silhouette and the words "coming soon." Then the wink. The laptop outline forms a Roman numeral V, and Joswiak's caption spells out "Mmmmm" with exactly five M's, as reported by MacRumors. Subtle? Not really. It reads like Apple teeing up the M5.

You're looking at the next big evolution in Android security, and it's happening right now. Curious which apps on your phone actually lean on Google's most powerful protection? You can finally tell. Recent work makes it possible to spot which apps tap Android's strongest security feature, and the ripple effects are bigger than most people expect. Google's Android Protected Confirmation (APC) represents a sophisticated authentication system that operates through the Trusted Execution...

In the streaming world's constant game of chess, some moves are so strategic they reshape the entire board. That is exactly what is happening as Spotify and Netflix announce their groundbreaking partnership, the first time Netflix has ever opened its doors to video podcasts. This is not just another content licensing deal. It is a calculated response to how we consume media right now, where the lines between podcasts, TV shows, and streaming content keep blurring.

The wireless earbuds landscape is crowded, with manufacturers racing to pack premium features into cheaper packages. Enter the Google Pixel Buds 2a, a compelling middle ground that brings active noise cancellation and flagship-level performance to the $129 price point. What makes these earbuds particularly significant is that they represent Google's first foray back into budget ANC territory in four years, according to Android Central, powered by the same Tensor A1 chip that drives their...

WhatsApp is finally addressing one of its biggest privacy limitations with the upcoming introduction of usernames, allowing users to connect without revealing their personal phone numbers. The messaging platform is reportedly gearing up to launch this long-awaited feature, which has been spotted in recent beta versions and represents a major shift from the app's traditional phone number-based identity system. Even more interesting, WhatsApp's beta builds show a username reservation feature that...

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

The smartphone world just got a lot more interesting. Motorola's latest challenger to Samsung's premium Galaxy S25 Edge popped up in a leaked promo, giving us a first real look at a potential flagship contender. The leaks suggest Edge 70 will depart from the design of recent Edge smartphones like the Edge 60 Pro, a sign Motorola is ready to shake things up when design has felt stuck in place.

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Reviewed by Meg Flores

Apple's Services revenue keeps surging, setting fresh records quarter after quarter. The numbers tell a story investors should not ignore. In the third quarter, services generated $27.4 billion in sales, marking a 13% year-over-year increase. This segment has shown remarkable growth, with revenue climbing 108% higher than the same period five years ago, that is a much faster pace than Apple's products division.

Let's face it, seeing ads when you're trying to search for something can be frustrating. You're looking for actual answers, not promotional content competing for your attention. Google seems to have heard these complaints, because they've just introduced a feature that promises to give users more control over sponsored results. But the reality might not be as user-friendly as it first sounds.

Google's latest move just made AI image editing way more accessible. The tech giant has quietly integrated its viral Nano Banana AI model across multiple products, putting powerful image generation right under your thumb. With Google already generating over 5 billion images through this technology, the expansion feels like a line in the sand. A shift in how we create and manipulate visual content online.

The Android world loves a good cat-and-mouse chase, and this latest chapter between Google and the developer community delivers exactly that kind of drama. Google's October 2025 update took direct aim at a popular workaround that enabled VoLTE and VoWiFi features on Pixel phones in unsupported regions, according to Android Authority (https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-ims-update-fix-3606811/). But here’s the thing about determined developers, they don’t give up easily. The resourceful...

Apple has been quietly laying the groundwork for what might be its most compelling product reveal in years. The Vision Pro grabbed headlines for its technical bravado, yet recent strategic shifts reveal Apple has redirected its focus from high-end mixed reality headsets to AI-powered smart glasses. It has halted development of a more affordable Vision Pro variant to accelerate work on lightweight wearables that could launch as early as 2027. With the wearable AI market projected to explode from...

Apple just made a move that perfectly captures everything wrong with its entertainment branding strategy. The tech giant is dropping the "plus" sign from Apple TV+, trimming the name to plain "Apple TV." Sounds tidy, right? It is the platform's first name change in its six-year history. Instead of fixing the mess, it turns a muddle into a minor crisis.

OnePlus is talking a big game about its next flagship, pitching the OnePlus 15's display as a straight upgrade. Peek under the hood of leaks and official teasers, and the story gets more layered. The company's president Li Jie Louis has been teasing an "ultra-high" refresh rate display, according to NotebookCheck, and leaks point to 165Hz, the highest the brand has tried.

Looking at Apple's latest leaks feels like watching a perfectly orchestrated symphony of speculation come together, only this time, we are dealing with more than just rumors. Between FCC documents accidentally revealing hardware identifiers and YouTubers unboxing devices that are not supposed to exist yet, we are getting an unprecedented peek behind Apple's curtain. Cue the popcorn.

The streaming wars have morphed into something unexpected: a collaboration race. For years, services fought for your attention and your wallet. Now they have discovered a twist: team up, keep you subscribed longer, and help you spend less.