News and Updates from Gadget Hacks

YouTube's AI age verification system is back with a vengeance, and this time it's not messing around. After launching in the US this past summer, the platform's automated age-guessing tech has rolled into a more aggressive second wave of restrictions. Adult users who thought they were in the clear are getting flagged as minors all over again, sparking a fresh round of groans across the site.

Apple's decision to eliminate the MLS Season Pass paywall is a sharp pivot in its streaming playbook, one that could reshape how we think about premium sports. Starting in 2026, every Major League Soccer match will stream inside the standard Apple TV subscription at no extra cost (Mac Daily News). That ends the dual-subscription era, the $14.99 per month or $99 per season add-on fans have paid on top of Apple TV for the past three years.

Apple's mini app program is more than a commission tweak, it is a strategic pivot that could reshape how we use mobile software. The tech giant just announced its "Mini Apps Partner Program," offering developers a 15% commission instead of the usual 30% for lightweight experiences inside larger platforms, according to TipRanks. Big cut, bigger plan.

Apple's sports streaming play just swerved. All MLS playoff matches will stream at no additional charge for Apple TV subscribers, no MLS Season Pass required, according to MacRumors. And starting in 2026, MLS games fold into Apple TV at no extra cost, as reported by SportsPro.

Apple just made headlines again for removing apps from its Chinese App Store, and this one hits close to home for millions. The tech giant pulled two of China's most popular gay dating platforms after direct orders from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). Another flashpoint in the long tug-of-war between global tech and local rules. Who loses out this time? Users.

If you're planning to upgrade to the iPhone 18 next year, you might want to start saving more than usual. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the powerhouse behind Apple's cutting-edge processors, just dropped news that could hit your wallet hard. According to industry reports (DigiTimes / TrendForce), TSMC has begun informing major clients of planned price increases for sub-5nm nodes.

With streaming costs spiraling out of control, savvy cord-cutters are constantly hunting for ways to slash monthly bills without sacrificing favorite content. Here is a clever workaround that can put serious money back in your pocket: leverage Walmart’s membership discount to score a full year of Peacock Premium for just $49. Not a typical promo, more like a stack of perks that line up in your favor. New Walmart+ subscribers can access this discounted membership at half the regular price...

Looking at Apple's Invites app, you might think it's just another digital invitation tool. Then you poke around and realize there is more going on under the hood.

Tesla's relationship with Apple CarPlay has been one of the most talked-about omissions in the automotive tech world. While nearly every other automaker has embraced smartphone integration, Tesla has consistently resisted adding CarPlay support to its vehicles. The electric vehicle pioneer stuck with its proprietary infotainment system despite growing consumer demand for seamless iPhone integration. That may be changing, with Tesla now reportedly working on bringing Apple's CarPlay system to...

Google's transformation of NotebookLM from a straightforward note-taking app into an autonomous research platform is a real pivot for AI productivity. The latest update brings Deep Research functionality alongside expanded file support, changing what the platform can do for researchers and knowledge workers.

Apple just made a move that could reshape how developers approach the iOS ecosystem, and it is all about giving them new ways to reach users without the traditional app download friction. The company has introduced its Mini Apps Partner Program, opening doors for lightweight applications that work within existing apps or directly from the home screen. Not just another developer tool. It could be Apple’s answer to the growing demand for more flexible, instant access mobile experiences.

Picture this: you have just updated your iPhone's password, then later the new credentials do not work and you are locked out of an important account. Apple's latest iOS 26 release introduces comprehensive version history tracking for every login stored in the Passwords app, according to 9to5Mac.

Your Pixel phone just got a major security upgrade, one that reshapes how you deal with sketchy messages. Google is taking its scam detection beyond old-school calls and texts.

Reviewed by: Ysa Garcia

Apple's latest business maneuver in China might be its smartest move yet. The iPhone maker has struck a partnership with Tencent that opens a new, multibillion dollar revenue stream. Not just another corporate handshake, a strategic pivot. Apple is showing it will bend its walled garden when the market makes that the winning move.

Apple has just struck what could be its most significant business arrangement in China, and it may reshape how the company approaches one of its most crucial markets. The tech giant recently completed a landmark partnership with Tencent that opens up billions in previously untapped revenue (https://inews.zoombangla.com/apple-secures-billions-in-neasdfas/). It follows more than a year of complex negotiations (according to industry sources)...

Apple's legal troubles just escalated dramatically. The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal delivered what might be the most consequential blow yet to Apple's App Store empire, denying the company's request to appeal a damning ruling that found its commission structure fundamentally unlawful. We are talking about a potential £1.5 billion ($2 billion) hit that could reshape how every major tech platform does business.

Apple's latest legal setback in the UK is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The tech giant tried to appeal a billion-dollar lawsuit loss, and the Competition Appeal Tribunal said no. This is not just another corporate dispute, it is a landmark case that could reshape how we think about app store monopolies and what people pay for digital content.

The mobile security landscape just got a lot more interesting, and Google's throwing some serious shade at Apple's scam protection game. That age-old debate about which smartphone is safer? The latest data says we might need to flip the script. Android devices are significantly outperforming iPhones at blocking fraudulent communications, according to Digital Trends.

Google's announcement about blocking over 10 billion malicious communications monthly through artificial intelligence marks a real milestone in the fight against mobile fraud. Instead of simply filtering obvious threats, Google built a defense ecosystem where multiple AI systems work together, each studying a different communication layer and attack vector. According to Google's Security Blog, this integrated approach delivers something rare: a proactive system that can identify and neutralize...

When you first heard Google was planning to crack down on Android's sideloading capabilities, you might have felt that familiar sinking feeling. Here we go again, another tech giant tightening its grip on what users can do with their own devices. But here's the thing: Google's recent announcement about preserving sideloading for "experienced users" suggests the company is listening to feedback and trying to strike a more nuanced balance.

When Apple's technical consultant for China confirmed that Apple and Tencent are actively working toward a revenue-sharing agreement, they acknowledged one of tech's most intriguing power plays. This is not just another app store spat. It is a potential billion-dollar chess match that could reshape how super-apps operate inside Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem.

The television industry was ripe for disruption ten years ago. Consumers were fed up with pricey cable bundles and clunky boxes, streaming was catching fire, and Apple was hunting for its next big category. Apple has spent over three decades flirting with the television business, and 2015 felt like the moment to finally crack it. The company had already reinvented phones and tablets, surely the living room was next, right?

Reviewed by: Ysa Garcia

Apple just announced their latest AirPods Pro 3 at this week’s event, and while they are impressive with enhanced noise cancellation and heart rate monitoring features, the real story is what comes next. The current AirPods ecosystem has stretched into a full lineup at multiple price points, according to 9to5Mac. It looks like Apple is setting the stage for its most ambitious expansion to date.

Apple just posted numbers that snapped heads on Wall Street, and the story behind them says more about Apple’s strategy than the headlines alone. Quarterly revenue hit $102.5 billion, an 8% year-over-year jump that set a September quarter record and an all-time annual revenue record of $416 billion, according to Apple's Q4 2025 earnings call transcript. What really popped, they topped expectations across several metrics, with earnings per share at $1.85 versus the $1.77 estimate, as reported by...

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.

Black Friday is just around the corner, and Google's latest streaming device is already hitting record-low prices. The TV Streamer (4K) is down to $74.99, marking its lowest price to date. That is a 25% drop from the usual $99.99 price tag, according to multiple retailers. Google rarely cuts prices on its streaming hardware, so this early Black Friday discount is one to jump on.

Apple's stock hit a new all-time high on 2025-10-20 was not just another line on a ticker, it was a statement. After months of lukewarm iPhone sales and delays in AI integration, the iPhone 17 launch delivered what even the optimists did not quite see coming. Research from Counterpoint shows the iPhone 17 series outsold the iPhone 16 by 14% during the first ten days across both the U.S. and China. That is not incremental. That is the kind of momentum that can change a company’s trajectory.

So you're telling me a modular, repairable smartphone is finally hitting American shores for $899, and instead of rolling my eyes at another "premium" price tag, I'm genuinely excited? Same here. The Fairphone 6's arrival in the US through Murena feels bigger than another Android drop. It is a phone built around a different philosophy, one where sustainability and repairability actually take priority over the upgrade-every-two-years treadmill we've all been running.

When you open the Google Play Store today, it does not feel like the marketplace from a few months ago. Google has been quietly changing how we find and judge apps, and the biggest shift is the one that saves time: AI-powered review summaries that are now rolling out broadly across the platform.

You know how you used to spend way too much time scrolling through dozens of app reviews, trying to figure out if that new productivity app or game is actually worth downloading? Google just rolled out something that could save you from that endless scroll. The Play Store now features AI-generated review summaries that do the heavy lifting for you, appearing right in the "Ratings and reviews" section under a handy "Users are saying" heading. No more sifting through noise. Just the gist.

Apple's latest AirPods innovations might seem impressive, but they're just warming up for what's coming next. The leap could arrive as soon as 2026, representing the biggest shift in Apple's premium earbuds since their debut. The current AirPods Pro 2 earned recognition as the most popular headphones ever according to Apple, yet the company clearly is not settling for past success.

Apple's latest Q4 FY2025 earnings tell a compelling story about a company hitting its stride at just the right time. Surpassing Wall Street expectations, the company posted quarterly revenue of $102.5 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.85. Tim Cook called it a "September quarter revenue record." All this while navigating trade tensions and supply constraints that would challenge any tech giant.

T-Mobile just dropped one of their most aggressive promotions yet, and it's the kind of deal that makes you do a double-take. Four phone lines, four brand-new devices, $25 per line. Too good to be true? The hook is simple, no trade-in requirement, which eliminates the usual device condition checks and compatibility wrangling that bog down carrier promos. And the timing lands cleanly if you're eyeing flagships like the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25.

Apple fans have been waiting all year for refreshed versions of the HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag, but as 2025 winds down, these anticipated updates remain mysteriously absent. The rumor mill has been churning with promises of imminent launches. Still nothing. Here we are in late November with nothing concrete to show for it. What is behind the delay, and should we hold out hope for these ecosystem upgrades before the year ends?

The tech world is buzzing, and for once it feels like we are watching the shift happen live. Remember when Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips started turning heads in Windows laptops? Those same powerhouse processors are now headed for Android-powered machines. Qualcomm has been working behind the scenes to adapt its successful Snapdragon X Elite processors for Android PCs, and it is not just speculation anymore, we are seeing real evidence.

The tech world is buzzing with an intriguing development that could reshape how we think about laptop computing. Qualcomm is reportedly preparing to bring Android 16 support to its powerful Snapdragon X Elite processors, according to NotebookCheck. Android on X Elite. For real. The same chip architecture that has proven itself in Windows machines like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is now being tuned for a very different operating system experience.

Valve's latest move might reshape how we think about gaming platforms. The company is actively encouraging developers to bring their Android applications directly to Steam, a step beyond traditional PC gaming. This push centers on Valve's new Steam Frame technology, which according to The Verge, can use the same Android APKs developers already ship to phones and Android-based VR headsets like the Meta Quest. To make that real, Valve is launching a Steam Frame developer kit program to get...

Getting through airport security just got a whole lot smoother thanks to Apple's newest Wallet feature. The company has officially launched Digital ID nationwide, allowing you to store your U.S. passport as a secure digital credential right on your iPhone or Apple Watch. You can now breeze through TSA checkpoints at more than 250 U.S. airports for domestic flights without fumbling around for your physical documents. No more pocket pat-downs at the podium.