News and Updates from Gadget Hacks

When Google's newest AI breakthrough becomes too popular for its own good, this is what happens. Just days after launching Gemini 3 Pro on November 18, the company quietly started scaling back free access as user demand completely overwhelmed their server capacity. What started as a generous five prompts per day has transformed into something Google calls "basic access"—a dynamic rationing system that represents a fundamental shift in how AI companies balance innovation with infrastructure...

Apple's latest charitable initiative represents more than just corporate goodwill—it's a strategic blend of technology, social impact, and customer engagement that showcases how modern tech companies can leverage their platforms for meaningful change. The tech giant recently completed a limited-time partnership with (RED) that generated substantial donations through Apple Pay transactions, demonstrating the power of integrating payment technology with humanitarian causes. This campaign raised a...

Let's face it – nobody enjoys that moment when your phone screen cracks or your battery starts draining faster than your patience. But here's the thing: you don't have to fork over $100+ to some repair shop every time your device throws a tantrum. With Black Friday rolling around, there's never been a better opportunity to build your own arsenal of professional-grade repair tools.

OnePlus has been riding high with the global launch of their latest flagship, but US customers have been left waiting at the digital doorstep. What started as a routine regulatory approval process turned into an unexpected bottleneck—one that had nothing to do with the device itself, but everything to do with Washington politics. The frustration for consumers is understandable: when delays stem from bureaucratic gridlock rather than product issues, it feels particularly maddening.

Intel might be making a surprising comeback into Apple's chip manufacturing plans, marking a potential shift in the company's silicon strategy. Recent reports from renowned supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest that Intel could begin producing Apple's entry-level M-series processors as early as mid-2027, according to MacRumors. This development represents a fascinating turn of events, considering Apple moved away from Intel processors in 2020 to develop its own custom silicon. What makes...

The sleek iPhone in your pocket tells a story that Apple doesn't want you to hear—one of 75-hour workweeks, wage withholding, and systematic discrimination. While the tech giant rapidly expands production in India to reduce its dependence on China, troubling conditions persist at the heart of its supply chain. At Foxconn's massive Zhengzhou facility, often called "iPhone City," over half of the 150,000 to 200,000 workers are classified as temporary dispatch workers—a practice that exceeds...

Looking at this massive regulatory shake-up, it's clear that Apple's European operations are about to get a lot more complicated. The European Union has just dropped a bombshell on two of Apple's key services—Apple Maps and Apple Ads—claiming they've grown big enough to warrant the same strict oversight that already covers the App Store and iOS platforms.

When software updates go sideways, it's never fun—and that's exactly what Pixel 10 owners experienced with the October 2025 update. But here's what makes this situation interesting: while Google was fixing widespread app crashes behind the scenes, they were also quietly rolling out one of the most significant cross-platform breakthroughs we've seen in years.

US Pixel users have been watching from the sidelines as their international counterparts enjoyed faster hotspot speeds, but that's finally changing. American Pixel 9 Pro XL owners are now discovering that 6GHz hotspot functionality has quietly become available on their devices, delivering the enhanced connectivity that regulatory hurdles had previously kept locked away, according to Android Authority. The timing couldn't be better, as flagship Android devices in North America are showing over...

We're witnessing something pretty remarkable here. Microsoft is fundamentally rethinking what an operating system should be. Windows is shifting from a place you launch apps to what the company calls an "agentic OS," where AI agents sit inside the system and work alongside you.

Apple's recent success in China reads like a comeback. With the iPhone 17 series launch, the company captured 25% of all smartphone sales in China, its highest market share in the region since 2022. Not just another launch milestone. A lesson in taking a hit, fixing the miss, and giving a demanding market what it asked for.

iPhone 17 Shatters Records in China Despite Market Headwinds

Reviewed by: Y. Garcia

When you see that familiar "We'll be right back" message on Apple's website, you know something big is brewing. Apple's online store went dark earlier today, signaling the imminent arrival of iPhone 17 pre-orders—and if you've been following Apple's playbook for any length of time, this controlled blackout is as predictable as it is strategic. According to Economic Times, the company plans to begin accepting orders for their latest smartphone lineup starting at 5:30 pm, marking another...

If you had told me just a year ago that Apple would become the sole driving force behind smartphone growth during China's biggest shopping event, I probably would have raised an eyebrow. But that's exactly what happened during this year's Singles' Day festival, and the numbers tell a remarkable turnaround story.

Google is pushing the boundaries of visual search once again, but this time they're doing it behind closed doors. While millions of Android users rely on Circle to Search daily, Google is secretly testing a feature that could fundamentally change how we interact with visual content on our devices. The tech giant is integrating follow-up capabilities into their popular visual search tool, creating a more conversational and intelligent search experience that goes far beyond simple identification.

You know that feeling when you unlock your phone and suddenly Apple Podcasts is open, showing you some random spirituality podcast from 2018 that you definitely didn't tap on? Well, turns out that's not just a quirky glitch—it's actually someone trying to hack you.

Google's latest Pixel 10 devices just received a significant upgrade that could change how we think about navigation and battery life. The company has begun a comprehensive rollout of a new Power Saving Mode feature for Google Maps, introduced as part of the November Pixel Drop. This isn't just another minor update—it's a targeted solution to one of the most persistent issues plaguing smartphone users: battery drain during navigation. Google claims this feature can extend navigation time by up...

When Dell COO Jeffrey Clarke told investors that approximately 500 million computers are avoiding the Windows 11 transition, he wasn't just sharing quarterly numbers—he was documenting what might be the most significant operating system adoption crisis Microsoft has faced in decades. With Windows 10 support ending in less than a year and roughly half the PC market still resistant to change, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how enterprises and users respond to forced technology...

Google's latest improvements to Android device setup represent years of focused effort to solve one of the platform's most persistent pain points. Anyone who's switched phones in the past knows the drill: hours of waiting for data to transfer, manually logging back into countless apps, and that sinking feeling when something inevitably doesn't make it over properly.

You know what caught my attention this Black Friday season? T-Mobile just dropped what might be the most aggressive smartphone deal I've seen in my decade of covering mobile carriers. Starting November 6th and running through December 3rd, T-Mobile is offering four iPhone 17 devices absolutely free when you switch four lines to their Essentials plan—and here's what makes this unprecedented: no trade-in required.

Finding the perfect tech gift for someone who seems to have everything can feel impossible, especially with Black Friday deals flooding every retailer. But here's the thing: even the most tech-savvy person in your life probably hasn't explored every corner of the Android ecosystem's latest innovations. The holiday shopping season has officially begun, and electronics prices are dropping to yearly lows (PC Mag). Black Friday officially lands on November 28 (PC Mag), but many retailers already...

Looking at the latest developments in iPadOS, there is good news for iPad users who have been wrestling with the multitasking changes that came with iPadOS 26. The newest beta, iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, restores crucial drag-and-drop functionality that makes working with Slide Over and Split View feel more intuitive than it has in months.

Apple's latest iOS 26.2 beta is quietly setting the stage for the biggest shake-up to iPhone voice control since Siri showed up. Experts say that buried in the code are hints that EU users could soon ditch Siri for Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Not a routine tweak, more like a line in the sand that could change how voice works on Apple devices.

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra is getting the Black Friday treatment early. If you're hunting a flagship Android, this might be the moment to pull the trigger. Retailers are jumping the gun, and Samsung is leaning in with aggressive promos, so the Ultra is seeing some of its steepest cuts since launch.

It's been a whirlwind two weeks for sports fans, and the streaming saga is finally over. YouTube TV subscribers have their favorite channels back. Better yet, the deal comes with perks that might make the blackout feel almost worth it.

Two months into using macOS Tahoe, I can honestly say this update has shifted how I work on my Mac. The initial buzz around Apple's biggest macOS overhaul in years settled into muscle memory. Some features stuck and turned into habits. Others faded without a fight.

Reviewed by: Y. Garcia

Samsung's leap into Super Fast Charging 3.0 represents more than just a numbers upgrade—it signals the company's recognition that charging speed has become a crucial battleground in the flagship smartphone market. Recent firmware discoveries have revealed that the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature 60W charging capabilities, marking Samsung's most significant charging advancement in years (Android Authority).

If you're a Spotify subscriber, brace yourself for another hit to your wallet. The streaming giant is gearing up to implement its third price increase in just three years, with reports indicating US users will face higher subscription fees in early 2026. This latest move continues a concerning trend where music streaming services are repeatedly asking customers to pay more while the industry landscape becomes increasingly competitive.

OnePlus is making waves in the smartphone world by confirming that its upcoming device will be the first to launch with Qualcomm's newest processor. The OnePlus 15R will debut the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset on December 17, marking a significant milestone in the company's partnership with the chip giant. This collaboration between OnePlus and Qualcomm began back in 2023, according to Android Authority, demonstrating the strategic planning behind this launch. The device will be known as the...

Reviewed by: Y. Garcia

OnePlus is making some serious noise in the smartphone world right now, and honestly, it's about time. The company has officially dropped the news that tech enthusiasts have been waiting for: the OnePlus 15R will launch globally on December 17, 2025 (Android Central). But here's what makes this launch particularly exciting—the OnePlus 15R will be the first Android smartphone powered by the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset (Android Central).

We're witnessing something pretty remarkable happening in the voice AI space right now. ChatGPT just dropped what might be the most important interface update in conversational AI history, and it's giving us a crystal-clear preview of what Apple's future Siri should look like. OpenAI has successfully merged voice and text modes into a single interface, eliminating the jarring transitions that previously disrupted user interactions. The timing here is fascinating—while Apple continues working on...

Looking at the Apple Card through the lens of someone who has covered tech products for years, I can tell you this is not just another piece of Apple hardware. You judge it by its specs. It is a financial product that lives inside the Apple ecosystem, and whether it makes sense for you depends on how deeply you are already invested in that world.

The moment you connect your iPhone to a compatible vehicle this fall, you'll notice something different about CarPlay. Apple's iOS 26 represents the platform's most significant leap forward yet, delivering a comprehensive redesign and powerful new capabilities that Apple describes as its biggest in-car upgrade to date. This is not another incremental update. It is a reimagining of the in-car experience that resets expectations for how mobile technology should integrate with our vehicles.

Looking at the Android flagship landscape in 2025, we are seeing a fascinating battle between two phones that embody very different ideas of what a premium smartphone should be.

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.

Holiday shopping just got a major AI upgrade. Google has unveiled a comprehensive suite of artificial intelligence features designed to transform how we discover, compare, and purchase products during the busy holiday season. These new tools promise to eliminate common shopping frustrations while introducing capabilities that feel almost futuristic, from AI assistants that call stores on your behalf to automated checkout systems that complete purchases when prices drop.

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.