Category: Gadgets

Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light. Unlike infrared night vision goggles, the contact lenses, described in the journal Cell, do not require a power source—and they enable the wearer to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths. Because they’re transparent, Read more about Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed[…]

Garmin CEO Hints More Paywalls And Enshittification Are Coming, Falsely Claims Users Love It after paywalling existing features and pissing off actual users

Posted on by Robin Edgar

We recently noted how device maker Garmin had decided to follow in the footsteps of Google’s Fitbit, and begin putting basic features behind an annoying subscription paywall to goose revenues. Garmin’s new “premium” Garmin+ tier takes several features users already enjoyed for free, put them behind a $7 per month paywall, and called it innovation. Users Read more about Garmin CEO Hints More Paywalls And Enshittification Are Coming, Falsely Claims Users Love It after paywalling existing features and pissing off actual users[…]

The Not-Pebble Core Devices Watch is something different in that area

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…]The regular slate of smartwatches from the likes of Google, Samsung, and Apple hasn’t left us truly excited. Samsung and Apple are in a race to add as many health sensors to the back of their devices, and still the most we can hope for on the impending Apple Watch Series 11 is a slimmer Read more about The Not-Pebble Core Devices Watch is something different in that area[…]

Google turns early Nest Thermostats into dumb thermostats

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google has just announced that it’s ending software updates for the first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, released in 2011, and the second-gen model that came a year later. This decision also affects the European Nest Learning Thermostat from 2014. “You will no longer be able to control them remotely from your phone or with Google Assistant, Read more about Google turns early Nest Thermostats into dumb thermostats[…]

e-taste allows you to send flavours in VR

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] This work reports a bio-integrated gustatory interface, “e-Taste,” to address the underrepresented chemical dimension in current VR/AR technologies. This system facilitates remote perception and replication of taste sensations through the coupling of physically separated sensors and actuators with wireless communication modules. By using chemicals representing five basic tastes […] Gustation, an essential component of Read more about e-taste allows you to send flavours in VR[…]

DIY Open-Source Star Tracker Gets You Those Great Night Shots can also be bought

Posted on by Robin Edgar

What does one do when frustrated at the lack of affordable, open source portable trackers? If you’re [OG-star-tech], you design your own and give it modular features that rival commercial offerings while you’re at it. What’s a star tracker? It’s a method of determining position based on visible stars, but when it comes to astrophotography the Read more about DIY Open-Source Star Tracker Gets You Those Great Night Shots can also be bought[…]

Sonos finally CEO steps down after app upgrade debacle

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Smart speaker outfit Sonos has parted ways with CEO Patrick Spence, who oversaw the release of an app that was billed as an upgrade but instead made the company’s products worse and riled customers. Sonos teased the software in an April 2024 announcement headlined “Sonos Unveils Completely Reimagined Sonos App, Bringing Services, Content and System Read more about Sonos finally CEO steps down after app upgrade debacle[…]

Google Pixel 4a’s update kills its battery life on purpose

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google’s Pixel 4a has long been considered a great smartphone for those on a budget, but it just received a software update that calls that into question. The update lowers the reported battery life. This isn’t a side-effect of some new software. This is the actual intent of the refresh. Wait, what? Google says the Read more about Google Pixel 4a’s update kills its battery life on purpose[…]

Neural Lab’s AirTouch brings gesture control to Windows and Android devices with just a webcam. Unfortunately charges huge subscription, dooming it to failure.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Some of the best tech we see at CES feels pulled straight from sci-fi. Yesterday at CES 2025, I tested out Neural Lab’s AirTouch technology, which lets you interact with a display using hand gestures alone, exactly what movies like Minority Report and Iron Man promised. […] Neural Lab’s software is compatible with tablets, computers Read more about Neural Lab’s AirTouch brings gesture control to Windows and Android devices with just a webcam. Unfortunately charges huge subscription, dooming it to failure.[…]

hearing aid

All U.S. Smartphones Must Be Compatible With Hearing Aids, FCC Says

Posted on by Robin Edgar

I’m a loud proponent for accessibility in tech, though, sadly, I don’t get to celebrate it often. This week, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission delivered a rare win by mandating that all mobile phones be hearing aid compatible. The new mandate, announced Thursday, also discouraged phone manufacturers from incorporating proprietary Bluetooth standards on their products Read more about All U.S. Smartphones Must Be Compatible With Hearing Aids, FCC Says[…]

Finaly people urge FTC to ban hardware tethering – downgrades, transferral costs, sudden bricking, unexpected subscriptions

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Consumer and digital rights activists are calling on the US Federal Trade Commission to stop device-makers using software to reduce product functionality, bricking unloved kit, or adding surprise fees post-purchase. In an eight-page letter [PDF] to the Commission (FTC), the activists mentioned the Google/Levis collaboration on a denim jacket that contained sensors enabling it to Read more about Finaly people urge FTC to ban hardware tethering – downgrades, transferral costs, sudden bricking, unexpected subscriptions[…]

AI helps find simple charging trick to boost li-ion battery lifespan

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A simple change in how new lithium-ion batteries are charged can boost their total lifespans by 50 per cent on average – and battery manufacturers everywhere can immediately put the discovery into action. Extended battery lifespans could prove especially crucial for improving electric vehicles and energy storage for electricity grids. “The cool thing is that Read more about AI helps find simple charging trick to boost li-ion battery lifespan[…]

WaveCore beams gigabit network bridge link through concrete wall

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Airvine Scientific has a product that could make life easier for IT staff. WaveCore is designed to beam a network signal through thick concrete walls, eliminating the need to drill holes or route your cabling via a circuitous course. The Silicon Valley wireless company says its newly introduced kit is quick to deploy and can Read more about WaveCore beams gigabit network bridge link through concrete wall[…]

PLAUD NotePin: A Wearable AI Memory Capsule that just might work

Posted on by Robin Edgar

So this is a pin a bit larger than an AA battery which does one thing: it transcribes your musings and makes notes. Where does the AI come in? Speech and speaker recognition, audio trimming, summarisation and mind-maps. You see a lot of doubtful reviews on this thing out there, mostly on the basis of Read more about PLAUD NotePin: A Wearable AI Memory Capsule that just might work[…]

Anova Smart sous vide cooker to start charging $2/month for 10-year-old companion app, stop Bluetooth functionality

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Anova, a company that sells smart sous vide cookers, is getting backlash from customers after announcing that it will soon charge a subscription fee for the device’s companion app. […] In a blog post on Thursday, Anova CEO and cofounder Stephen Svajian announced that starting on August 21, people who sign up to use the Read more about Anova Smart sous vide cooker to start charging $2/month for 10-year-old companion app, stop Bluetooth functionality[…]

Googles Enshittification hits Fitbit: You Won’t Be Able to Access Your Fitbit Web Dashboard Any More

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Today is the last day you can interact with your Fitbit health data on a big screen. Last month, Fitbit announced in a blog post that consumers will no longer have access to the tracker’s web dashboard after July 8, 2024. Fitbit describes the move as “consolidating the dashboard into the Fitbit app.” However, the Read more about Googles Enshittification hits Fitbit: You Won’t Be Able to Access Your Fitbit Web Dashboard Any More[…]

Spotify Says It Will Refund Car Thing Purchases with a valid receipt

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you contact Spotify’s customer service with a valid receipt, the company will refund your Car Thing purchase. That’s the latest development reported by Engadget. When Spotify first announced that it would brick every Car Thing device on December 9, 2024, it said that it wouldn’t offer owners any subscription credit or automatic refund. From Read more about Spotify Says It Will Refund Car Thing Purchases with a valid receipt[…]

Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People and destroy phones Using Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any Read more about Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People and destroy phones Using Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows[…]

Spotify to brick every Car Thing gadget it ever sold only 2 – 3 years ago

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spotify’s brief attempt at being a hardware company wasn’t all that successful: the company stopped producing its Car Thing dashboard accessory less than a year after it went on sale to the public. And now, two years later, the device is about to be rendered completely inoperable. Customers who bought the Car Thing are receiving Read more about Spotify to brick every Car Thing gadget it ever sold only 2 – 3 years ago[…]

Reggaeton Be Gone – use a Raspberry Pi to jam bluetooth speakers when reggaeton music comes on

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Consider this scenario: Your wall-to-wall neighbor loves to blast Reggaeton music at full volume through a Bluetooth speaker every morning at 9 am. You have two options: A. Knock on their door and politely ask them to lower the volume. B. Build an AI device that can handle the situation more creatively. Reggaeton Be Read more about Reggaeton Be Gone – use a Raspberry Pi to jam bluetooth speakers when reggaeton music comes on[…]

Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[Kagen Sound] is a woodworker and artist who gives a great behind-the-scenes look at his amazingly high-quality puzzle boxes (video). Not only do his varied puzzle box designs show his math background, but they are all made entirely of wood. There are no nails or fasteners; just intricately-fitted wood and some glue. There’s a lot Read more about Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes[…]

Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Samsung just announced that its self-repair program will now include certain home entertainment devices. The company has developed a range of step-by-step repair guides for various products in the category, in addition to providing genuine replacement parts and repair tools. This program covers Samsung 2023 TVs, along with their remotes, and monitors released throughout the Read more about Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices[…]

Swarovski’s smart binoculars identify the birds, butterflies, mammals, you’re looking at and mark something to share with whoever you give the binocs to next

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Swarovski has turned up at CES 2024 in Las Vegas with its first ever pair of smart binoculars that will identify the bird you’re looking at. All you have to do is point the gear at a bird and make sure the view is in focus, and then press down an action button. Within a Read more about Swarovski’s smart binoculars identify the birds, butterflies, mammals, you’re looking at and mark something to share with whoever you give the binocs to next[…]

Augmental Mouthpad – bluetooth tongue operated trackpad for your phone, PC, fits like a mouth roof retainer

Posted on by Robin Edgar

  The MouthPad^ is a tongue-driven interface that controls your computer, smartphone, or tablet via Bluetooth. Virtually invisible to the world, but always available to you, it is positioned across the roof of your mouth to put all of the power of a conventional touchpad at the tip of your tongue   Source: Augmental – Read more about Augmental Mouthpad – bluetooth tongue operated trackpad for your phone, PC, fits like a mouth roof retainer[…]