Samsung Hikes Prices before Prime Day; Getty Images Makes Deal with OpenAI, Polymarket Allegedly Paid Creators to Post Bets They Didn’t Make; Valve-Steam Machine Starts at $1049

Posted: June 22, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

The price pressure due to AI data enters gobbling up memory like Pac Man is now getting to consumers. Apple has warned that they will have to raise prices and can’t absorb the increased cost of memory any longer. Now, Samsung has announced that it will bump prices on its Galaxy line. Androidpolice.com reports that most Galaxy smartphones will get an $80 price hike just ahead of Prime Day. The entry level phones will be hiked by $40.  Tablets will get bumped up from $100 to $280 depending on memory configuration. Your old phone as a trade in can ease the pain. Samsung is offering up to a $720 credit towards a Galaxy S26 ultra. Some carriers are doing even better…Verizon is offering up to $1300 in promotional billing credits for customers trading in a qualified tier-one phone and signing up for a new unlimited plan…though you will be locked in for 36 months. 

After fighting AI firms in court vigorously over the use of its stock photos, Getty Images has now inked an agreement with OpenAI to allow its pictures inside ChatGPT. Getty’s licensed content libraries will appear across the search and discovery features of ChatGPT, so that when a user asks the chatbot something that calls for an image, the visual it gets back can be a licensed Getty photograph rather than a synthetic approximation. Interestingly, neither side disclosed financial terms, a revenue split, and nothing about whether or not Getty’s images can be used to train future OpenAI models. Getty is still fighting with other AI firms over the use of its copyrighted stock photo library. 

There has been plenty of controversy about Polymarket, and now we have more. Techcrunch.com says that Polymarket has been paying online creators to post deceptive videos that show them making lucrative bets on the prediction market. The Wall Street Journal analyzed over 1000 videos about Polymarket, and uh, oh. Many of those videos were reportedly filmed on “near-perfect copies” of the Polymarket website, while featuring trades and winnings that were not real. The creator videos were then amplified by a “social-media army” deployed by a marketing contractor. Polymarket said it is “committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets” and plans to conduct an audit of its promotional content.

Valve has finally announced that the long-awaited Steam Machine..its living room PC gaming box…will go on sale June 29th starting at $1049. Theverge.com reports that you can put your name in to register, and get on the wait list. The Steam Machine will have 4 configurations, running from the base model at $1049 up to the most tricked-out version with a bundled Steam Controller for $1428. The two higher priced models come with 2 swappable faceplates…’red fabric’ and ‘solid walnut.’ The Steam Machine is a pricy device compared with the Microsoft Xbox or Sony PS5. The big selling point over the gaming platforms is that the Steam Machine is also a powerful Linux computer, too. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Consumers Iffy About AI in Brand Messaging; New Google Smart Speaker with Gemini; Android 17 Rolls Out to Pixel Phones & Watches; White House App Will Auto-Install on Homeland Security Devices

Posted: June 17, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Techcrunch.com notes that a new report out from WordPress VIP indicates that 60% of consumers say that brands that use “AI” in their messaging are a turnoff, and 86% don’t fully trust AI and still want to explore original sources. Notably, 42% of consumers said that AI-generated answers without clear attribution are trusted less than airline fees, confusing privacy policies, and medical bills. Almost 3/4 of those surveyed said the internet feels ‘less human’ than it did 10 years ago. The report is based on a survey of 2,000 respondents conducted in April, comprising 800 enterprise decision-makers and CMOs and 1,200 U.S. adults.

Google is about to release the first new Google Home Speaker in years. The launch for the new $100 speaker is June 25th. According to mashable.com, Google is bragging that this will be the first smart speaker in its stable that was made with Gemini AI commands in mind. The new little speaker is available in Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry. Google claims that with Gemini, the speaker will be able to respond to natural language commands and complex commands. Sounds like a great deal for $99, right? Oh, but there’s a catch. If you want to take advantage of all the new tricks the Google speaker can do, you have to drop $10 a month for a Google Home Premium subscription. If you already subscribe to Google AI Pro or Ultra, you will automatically get access at no additional cost. 

Android 17 is starting to roll out to Pixel phones, and Wear OS for Pixel Watches is being pushed out, too. Arstechnica.com notes that Google no longer uses an unmodified version of Android on its phones—the Pixel build includes numerous features that are distinct from Android 17 itself. Other device makers will include versions of some of these features when they eventually update their phones, but for now, Google’s Pixel phones are the only way to experience Android 17. A notable feature is the Bubbles system. You can long press on any app icon to open the apps a floating window. When minimized, the bubbles stay on top of otters apps. Google says this interface is ideal for quick multitasking or chatting with Gemini while looking at other content. Other smartphones will get it besides Pixels later. It is worth point out that Samsung has had a floating app framework for years and Google itself has had a similar feature for a while now. 

In a truly Trump intrusive fashion, the White House app will now be installed on all devices managed by the Department of Homeland Security…whether the user likes it or not. Engadget.com reports that the installations may be extended to all federal agencies’ phones in the future. The app is described as  “a convenient way to access official White House communications, including announcements, executive actions, speeches, livestreams, videos and other updates.” In other words, it is pretty much a propaganda app.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.  

Snap Bows AR Glasses; OpenAI Losing Billions; Apple 20th Anniversary iPhones-2 Sizes; Qualcomm Rolls Out Snapdragon Reality Elite for MR Headsets

Posted: June 16, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Snap has revealed Specs, its long-promised consumer smart glasses. TechCrunch.com reports that they will be available today for preorder, with a $200 refundable deposit, and are expected to ship this fall in the US, UK, and France. So you think they will be priced around the cost of a pair of Meta’s Ray-Bans? Good luck with that. They are $2195! While that is a far cry from Apple Vision Pro, the headset with f breathtaking price of $3500, it’s still quite a leap from $350 or $600 to $2195! Specs look pretty much like a fattened up regular pair of glasses. They may look a bit dorky, but here’s the deal…all the computing takes place on device, there’s no tethered puck to have to keep in a pocket or in hand. Specs run two Snapdragon processors, and they claim 4 hours of continuous battery life. You can pop them back into a case, and with case-recharging, you can get a total of 20 hours of use. Right now, they work for multiplayer games between two players with Specs, and they have a 51 degree field of view. You can surf the web with them, and they do have contextual AI. You can look at an object and asked about it, and the glasses will pull up info about what you are looking at. Specs will ship in two sizes…a 47 mm model and a 52 mm model. At 4.6 ounces and 4.7 ounces respectively, they are noticeably heavier than Meta’s Ray-Bans…the first generation Wayfarers weigh less than an ounce. Still, the almost 5 ounce weight is way less than an Apple headset that is a chonky 26.4 ounces.

Up to now, we have known that OpenAI was only taking in a relatively minuscule amount of revenue compared to operating expenses or capitalization. Now, leaked figures show expenses really do dwarf revenues. According to arstechnica.com, OpenAI’s revenue went from $3.7 billion in 2024 to a hair over $13 billion in 2025. Research and development expenses in 2024 were $7.81 billion, and in 2025 ballooned to $19.18 billion. In the ramp up to going public, OpenAI’s operating loss is shrinking as a percentage of revenue, but they are quite a ways from actually generating a profit. It is worth noting that many tech startups operate in the red for several years before turning a profit. OpenAI continues to raise money…another $122 billion in a round in March. They are presently valued at $852 billion. 

For the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple will sell two sizes of the devices…similar to the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max that are due out in just about 90 days. That would make them around 6.3 and 6.9 inches. Macrumors.com notes that most rumors point to and edge-to-edge display with curved glass on all sides, giving the visual effect of practical no borders. There should also be a 2nd generation foldable iPhone. All will be powered by a 2 nanometer A21 chip. 

Qualcomm has bowed Reality Elite,  a mixed reality chip platform with substantially improved AI processing for headsets and tethered glasses. In addition, they announced START, a white-label toolkit that gives eyewear makers a nearly complete smart glasses design that they can brand, customize, and ship without building the tech stack themselves. Thenextweb.com reports that Qualcomm is working on over 40 different wearable devices from jewelry to earbuds with cams, to pins and watches. CEO Christiano Amon in fact told CNBC that the single unifying principle is “something that you wear, something that is with you all the time, something that can see the world around you.” Back to Reality Elite. It is built to power two categories of gadgets. The first is standalone video-see-through headsets that overlay digital content on a camera feed of the real world, the approach used by devices like the Meta Quest. The second is lightweight, tethered optical-see-through glasses that blend digital imagery directly into the wearer’s field of view. It would seem a lot of tech companies are working hard on making an everyday carry device that is not a smartphone. Apple, Samsung, and Google certainly are!

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Apple WWDC Keynote 2026 Recap

Posted: June 8, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

MacOS-the next version…MacOS 27 is called Golden Gate

Adjust Liquid glass from clear to tinted with slider. Sidebars now expand to left edge of window. App Icons are sharper and better defined.

Under the hood, a lot of tweaks have speeded up loading of apps and pictures on Macs and iPhones.

For WiFi when you are moving around, you won’t have to manually switch to cellular and back to disconnect from like an airport or coffee shop WiFi or the pestering Xfinity general WiFi that always tries to auto-connect

Index has been improved…which it desperately needed….so search will work better. Email search is also improved. 

This is kinda cool…you can share photo albums with Android and Windows, and they can contribute to an album for say…a group or family trip. 

Trust and Safety features- Child safety features have been expanded. Apple says they have conferred with a number of groups who specialize in child development. 

Making the kid a Child Account blocks certain adult sites and enables parental controls. The kid can’t download an app without parental approval. Also, a new addition is ‘ask to browse,’ which works for kids under 13. 

You can limit a child’s screen time. Apple calls this Time Allowances. They are based on the child’s age. Social medial is not allowed by default, but the parents can override this (you know kids will figure a work around instantly for this.) 

Apple is launching a new website for parents to use the kid tools.

===============

AI and Apple

The real meat and potatoes of today’s keynote was all about the new, improved SiriAI. It was promised 2 years ago, but it is now here…at least for developers. The rest of us will have to wait until fall when the new operating systems are released. Apple’s Tim Cook says truly helpful AI must be centered around the user not just for its own sake. 

Apple Claims the new Siri AI will be much more responsive and deeply integrated. Apple is being clear they have partnered with Google and their Gemini. They are trying to do as much as possible on device for privacy. 

Higher accuracy dictation, and better language understanding are a welcome addition. I have gotten some pretty hilarious messages that Apple’s dictation mangled.

Personal context understanding…you can find items just by asking for them. Naturally, it can search the web, then boil down the info into an overview for you. 

Privacy first…Apple is emphasizing how AI privacy is on by default…data is either on device or on Apple private cloud, where even Apple can’t see it.

The improved Siri includes personal context understanding and understands what’s on your screen. There is a new dedicated Siri App. It appears in the little bubble Apple calls the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen… which expands to present the answer. 

You can have a picture on your screen, and ask Siri what and where it is and it will tell you. 

The Dedicated Siri App lets you sync chats with different Apple devices. You can start a conversation on iPhone and continue on iPad or your Mac. 

Camera gets a Siri mode…so you can aim cam at something and ask Siri what you are seeing…like foods, or use it on a restaurant ticket to split the bill. 

You can ask Siri to generate a document, then go into that document and type. It automatically proofreads and will do so systemwide in real time no matter what app you are using. 

A useful AI feature for Safari-it can organize your tabs into topics to make it easier to stay organized. Notify Me will monitor a site and bring that tab back when say, a product is back in stock. 

The clean up feature in photos can let you shift perspective and move people around…like if you didn’t get the person or people centered in a pic. The item remove feature has been improved, too.

Siri AI will be launched later this year in Beta. It won’t be available in the EU or China at first, until Apple works things out with those governments. 

I’m Clark Reid And you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Prime Day (Week) in June; User-Replaceable Batteries; Microsoft Surface Ultra-Their 1st MacBook Pro Competitor; Florida Sues OpenAI & Sam Altman

Posted: June 2, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazon has moved summer Prime Day up a month to June…June 23rd, specifically. Now, zd.com notes that Prime ‘Day’ has ballooned to 4 days…up from two the last few years. Amazon has Prime Big Deal Days in October, and Big Spring Sales in March…but the summer sale is their biggest. They will offer Big Deal Drops at 12 am, 8 am, and 1 pm Pacific…with generally up to 50% off on brands like LG, Ninja, and Stanley…as well as others. Amazon will also have 60% off on Alexa devices, and up to 65% off on Kindle, Echo, Ring, Fire TV, Blink, and eero devices. 

The US government has been very hands-off on this, but the Europeans have been steaming right along, passing regulations on electronic devices that benefit consumers. Think of USB charging ports..which even made Apple give up their proprietary charging ports. Now, Theverge.com says the EU is stepping things up on reparability. New rules go into effect on February 18th, 2027. Users have to be able to remove and replace batteries with basic tools, or specialized tools that are provided with the product for free, and compatible spare batteries must be sold for at least five years. The tool requirement means swapping the battery doesn’t need to be as simple as popping off a clip-on cover, but can’t be much more complicated than removing a few standard screws. The regulation applies to headphones, e-readers, portable game consoles, laptops, and more. If it’s got a battery, it’s probably covered. There are two huge exceptions. Smartphones and tablets. They are covered by other laws. As a lot of phones are water resistant or even waterproof, the requirements only mandate that batteries must be replaceable by professional repair shops…but the batteries must be available to them to do the repairs. This is a real win against the ‘planned obsolescence’ the tech gadget manufacturers have borrowed from auto makers.

With the New Nvidia RTX Spark we just reported on, the upcoming Microsoft Laptop Ultra, which bows later this year, is expected to be Redmond’s first laptops that will really be able to compete with Apple’s MacBook Pro line. According to arstechnica.com, the new Ultra will be priced above the other laptops Microsoft sells, and will have plenty of accessory slots…USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and also an SD card slot and headphone jack. For comparison, the MacBook Pro I write these reports on is several years old. It has Apple silicon, and besides a charging port, it rocks 3 USB-C ports, headphone jack, HDMI port, and and SD card slot. I use 3-4 of these slots regularly, so I think Microsoft has something here…all the slots you need, and a very powerful processing system that will run AI apps right on the machine. For those that are in the PC world and don’t love Macs, but need the power…the Ultra may be just the thing. 

Florida is suing OpenAI and Sam Altman personally over the safety of ChatGPT. Thenextweb.com reports that there will likely be other states that will be suing OpenAI and Altman. This suit accuses OpenAI of violating product liability laws, engaging in deceptive trade practices, and releasing ChatGPT while knowing it was harmful to users. The state is seeking civil penalties and a court order blocking the company from collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. This is the first government action that names Altman personally…seeking to hold him liable for what Florida calls “reckless and willful conduct” and “utter disregard for the risk to human life.”  Stay tuned, there will be more of these filed by other states. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Amazon-Class Action Over No Tariff Refunds; Upgraded Siri May Launch in Beta; Next Wearable May Be Hairclip; Meta-Virtual Writing Coming to Meta-Ray Bans

Posted: May 18, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A class action suit is going after Amazon, demanding that the online giant refund money to users that was collected under the now held illegal Trump tariffs. Engadget.com reports that the suit…which was filed Friday in Seattle, accuses Amazon of profiting from “hundreds of millions of dollars in unlawful tariff costs.” Amazon is legally entitled to recover the costs after the Supreme Court decision ruling the taxes illegal. As of last week, companies started to receive money back from the US government. The suit says Amazon hasn’t engaged in this refund process, since it’s looking to “curry favor with Trump by allowing the federal government to retain the funds.” The suit continues, saying “Amazon has not returned any portion of those costs it passed on to consumers, and it has no intention of doing so. It has, in short, generated and retained a windfall from unlawful government action, and consumers — not Amazon — are the ones left paying for it.” Shipping companies such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL have already stated the process of getting refunds, and will pass the proceeds on to affected users. 

After a couple years’ delay, the new, improved Siri may just launch in beta. Apple’s WWDC is coming up very soon, and the new Siri will certainly be an important component. According to appleinsider.com, the beta version will be able to be switched off, so you can use good old…make that bad old…regular Siri. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the on-off button will be part of the iOS 27 release initially. Earlier this year, we reported that Apple was partnering with Google to use Gemini to bulk up the sorry Siri. Apparently, it is taking more time to get this done. I have ranted enough here about how terrible Siri is compared to Google, Alexa, and other assistants…so I suppose I will turn new Siri on…even in beta, it can’t be worse than what Apple has now. 

It’s just sometimes fun to cover some of the hairbrained ideas that turn into improbable devices. This is one of those. Androidpolice.com says that a startup called Computer Angel has a prototype of a new wearable. It’s less obtrusive at capturing video than Meta’s Ray-Bans or the defunct Google Glass. Are you ready? It’s the DC Mini hair clip camera. While this looks to be a way to bring tech to more women…which is great…it is a long way from being anything but dorky. The hair clip camera is about a half inch thick, and 3 inches long. It not only looks silly, but with that size, it probably will be sliding down the hair constantly, and will need to be moved back in place. It is being sold as a ’stylish alternative to smart glasses.’ Well, no. It’s a dorky alternative. The startup is touting is as a storytelling device, to document your life…so-called personal vlogging. We’ll let you know if this thing makes it out of development. Computer Angel feels like it will be a big hit in China. 

New features are rolling out to all users of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.They have been available in a developer preview. Theverge.com reports that you will now be able to write messages with just hand gestures. You do need to use the included so-called ‘neural’ wist band. Another feature being dropped is what Meta calls ‘Display Recording. With that, you’ll be able to capture a video that combines what you’re seeing in the lens display, what you see in the real world, and the audio around you. Walking directions are now available “throughout the entire US” and in “major international cities like London, Paris, Rome, and more.” And live captions will be available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and with voice messages in Instagram DMs.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

WhatsApp Gets ‘Incognito’ Chat; Googlebook Will Replace Chromebook-Some Chromebooks Updatable Though; Apple-Many Changes for Next iPhone Camera; Heat Pump Startup from Former Tesla Exec

Posted: May 13, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WhatsApp is getting an AI chat function dubbed Incognito Chat, which will allow users to converse privately with Meta AI…Meta itself won’t be able to access the questions or answers. Wired.com reports that the new feature is based on WhatsApp’s Private Processing scheme that already undergirds WhatsApp’s present AI features. Meta says the intent of Incognito Chat is to offer AI integration that does not conflict with the communication platform’s commitment to end-to-end encryption, the privacy scheme in which only direct participants in a conversation can read messages or hear a call. Incognito chats are ephemeral by default and will disappear once your conversation is over. With more than 3 billion users around the world, Incognito Chat may offer many people their first opportunity to interact with an AI chatbot. So the fact that it is built to be privacy preserving is significant.

During The Android Show today, Google clarified that the Googlebook will essentially replace Chromebooks. According to 9to5google.com, Google has confirmed that Chromebooks will continue to be updated throughout their lifespans, while some machines will be eligible to move to the experience found on Googlebooks. It’s always good to find out that your old machine won’t become a boat anchor right away. While not giving specifics about models, Google said ‘many’ Chromebooks will be eligible to get the Googlebook experience. The Googlebook will apparently be positioned as a more premium line of hardware. Of course, the first ones to be released will be the ‘super premium’ models.

It looks like iOS 27 may completely overhaul Apple’s Camera app. engadget.com notes that well-known analyst Mark Gurman from Bloomberg says the updated app would make it more customizable and offer pro and hobbyist users more control over the image output of Apple’s phones. Apple is also adding new grid and level features while you’re capturing images and moving the toggle that lets you see all your available controls from the top right of the Camera app to the right of the shutter button. Siri’s changes are equally massive. Besides being smarter, the AI assistant’s glowing animation is moving from the border of iPhones, to a new home in the Dynamic Island as part of Apple’s planned updates. Users will also be able to type requests or searches through a new ”Search or Ask” interface that’s replacing iOS’ existing Spotlight Search.

A former exec from Tesla has started a heat pump startup. TechCrunch.com reports that the firm is called Sadi Thermal Machines and it actually started in stealth in the summer of 2025 in Scotts Valley, Ca. Drew Baglino is the CEO. He holds patents for a thermal management system that operates two coolant loops for cars…one cools the battery and another the drivetrain. The auto system is about the size of a suitcase. Baglino notes that making a heat pump for homes is easier than for a car because the vehicle “Is so constrained on mass and volume and energy.” A heat pump that can handle both HVAC and water heating in one unit is anticipated from the startup. Baglino said “We have learned a lot about how to make capable and reliable heat pumps that work in all environmental conditions and are excited about the idea of working on that problem one day. Let me put it that way, it’s definitely aligned with our mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.”

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Google Announces Gemini-Powered Googlebooks; Amazon Begins 30 Minute Delivery; Sony Wearable AC Takes it Up a Notch; eBay Rejects Gamestop $58 Billion Offer

Posted: May 12, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

It wasn’t long ago that Apple surprised us with the Neo, their new laptop in the mid priced segment. Now, at I/O, Google has dropped Googlebooks. 9to5google.com notes that the new laptops are a new category which Google claims will take the best of Android and ChromeOS. The GoogleBooks are packed with Gemini AI features. Google said they are intended to give users “personal and proactive help when and where you need it.”

Magic Pointer lets you “Select anything to ask Gemini.” After wiggling the cursor, pointing at something will show “quick, contextual suggestions.” It also lets you add anything on your screen to a Gemini prompt. There is also Create My Widget. Also coming to phones, this generative UI capability lets you place custom pieces of information on your desktop. It draws from the web and your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google apps. There’s a guided creation process or the ability to enter a prompt. Besides these features, Google showed off how GoogleBooks with fit with your Android Phone. Cast my apps lets you access any application on your phone on the laptop’s bigger screen. Quick Access enables you to retrieve files no matter where they are stored. The file browser on Googlebooks lets you browse the files on your phone and insert from your laptop. Look for the first GoogleBooks to be out this fall. More details and pricing will be available then. 

Amazon has rolled out 30 minute delivery. TechCrunch.com says the service is called ‘Amazon Now,’ and it is initially available in dozens of US cities. For starters, thousands of items including fresh groceries, household supplies, and other items will be yours in about 30 minutes in  Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, and Seattle, and is expanding to Austin, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix. By year-end, Amazon expects to bring the service to tens of millions of customers in these and other cities, as the rollout continues across the U.S. Eligible items will be marked ’30 minute delivery’ on Amazon’s website and in the app. 

Don’t sweat it…literally. Sony has improved its wearable Reon personal cooling device that first came out in 2017 in Asia. According to engadget.com, the upgraded unit is not just a wearable fan attached to your neck. Sony claims the Reon works via the Peltier effect.  The device sits at the base of your neck, with an electrically cooled metal plate delivering lower temperatures at the ideal place for your circulatory system, like a tiny ice pack with a USB-C port. The new version offers more comfort and better battery life, and now gives you a 3.6 degree increase in cooling. It will run for up to 10 yours on the second highest cooling setting. The Reon Pocket Pro Plus comes with its own accessory, too, a second-gen Pocket Tag that’s smaller than its predecessor and monitors ambient temperature and humidity. It isn’t available in the US yet, but runs  £199 in the UK and €220 elsewhere in Europe. It should be out in the US before it gets really hot this summer. 

eBay has rejected GameStop’s $56 billion dollar offer. Arstechnica.com reports that eBay said in a letter quote ‘Your proposal is neither credible nor attractive.’ GameStop made the surprising offer last week. eBay’s rejection “could lead to a hostile bid” because GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has “said he was willing to take the offer directly to eBay shareholders, possibly by calling a special meeting.” 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Google, Microsoft, & xAI Will Give US Government Early Model Access; Walmart Gemini-Powered Smart Speaker; Apple Looks to Intel & Samsung for US Processor Manufacturing; iOS 26.5—End to End Encryption for iPhone to Android Texts 

Posted: May 5, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just as the White House was making noise about tightening oversight on the AI companies, several have signed agreements to provide the US government with advance access to their AI systems. Engadget.com reports that the Commerce Department Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) will evaluate new models the companies develop. CAISI director Chris Fall said in a statement that “Independent, rigorous measurement science is essential to understanding frontier AI and its national security implications.” It continued “These expanded industry collaborations help us scale our work in the public interest at a critical moment.” The deal reportedly calls for Google, Microsoft and xAI to provide their models to CAISI with reduced or even disabled safeguards in order for the organization to probe them for national security-related capabilities and risks. Let’s hope the government folks are on top of large language models enough to be up to the job!

 It’s a little funkier looking that Google’s own, but Walmart is coming out with a Gemini powered smart speaker. It’s charcoal and somewhat cone shaped, with fabric sides and physical buttons on top. According to androidpolice.com, there isn’t a release date yet, or a price…but it is a safe guess that it will be cheaper than Google’s own Home Speaker, which sells for $99.99, or the hapless Apple HomePod Mini with Siri at $99. The little Walmart speaker has WiFi and bluetooth, and a 10 watt amp. It may be a bit less flashy than the Google speaker, which comes in 4 colors…but with the same Gemini power, it should be a big hit for Walmart.

Apple is apparently in early talks with Intel about using its chip-making services, and Apple brass has also visited a Samsung chip plant being built in Texas. Macrumors.com notes that up to now, main processors have been built for Apple by Taiwan Semiconductor…TSMC. Apple is said to be seeking potential additional suppliers beyond TSMC as a way to avoid recent shortages almost entirely driven by the current build-out of AI data centers. Neither Intel nor Samsung can reliably provide the kind of production and scale that TSMC offers, so it’s not clear how much, if anything, will come out of the discussions. Apple has already worked with TSMC to help expand its plant in Phoenix, which is now producing a limited number of chips for Apple and expects to make 100 million chips for the company in 2026.

In other Apple news, iOs 26.5 is getting end-to-end encryption from iPhones to Android RCS messages…FINALLY…Macrumors.com reports. The feature is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time, and for conversations to be encrypted, both the receiver and the sender must use a carrier that supports the latest version of ‌RCS‌. End-to-end encryption is on by default, and there is a toggle for it in the Messages section of the Settings app. Encrypted messages are denoted with a small lock symbol like on you browser. This is some good news, and not to beat a dead horse, but it’s about time, Apple!

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technifiedl’ for now. 

Apple-Two New ‘Ultra’ Products This Year; Google Tests AI Chatbot Search for YouTube; OpenAI Working on AI Agent Smartphone; Taylor Swift Files to Trademark Voice and Likeness

Posted: April 28, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple’s first folding phone will drop this fall, and it will be branded the ‘iPhone Ultra’ according to macrumors.com. That has been rumored already, but apparently now Apple plans a MacBook Ultra as well. It’s possible that device will slip to an early 2027 date, though. The MacBook Ultra will have an OLED panel and a touchscreen. It will be positioned above the present MacBook Pro series. Naturally, it will be more expensive…reportedly significantly more expensive. With an iPhone Ultra, MacBook Ultra, and Watch Ultra…will we also get AirPods Ultra as well? Stay tuned.

Google is testing out an AI mode search experience on YouTube. Theverge.com reports that Google has designed it to feel ‘more like a conversation.’ The search results will get you long form videos, YouTube Shorts, and text for things you are searching for. The “experiment” is now available if you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber in the US who is 18 or older. YouTube says it’s already “working on” expanding this experiment to users who don’t have Premium. Just as it’s continued to iterate on AI Mode and brought AI Mode to Gmail, it seems likely that “Ask YouTube” is something Google sees a big future for.

There is a virtual graveyard with devices that were going to replace the current smartphones we all use. Now, OpenAI is going into that arena. Thenextweb.com says they are working on an a smartphone where the AI agent is the interface, and there are NO apps…apps are ‘obsolete.’ Well known analyst Ming Chi Kuo notes that simpler tasks will be handled on the phone directly, while more involved ones will hit up the cloud. With the OpenAI phone, you will just tell the agent to order you an Uber or Lyft, or to book reservations at a restaurant. It will manage your email, do research, and write messages for you (oh, I see some funny and terrible results from that one!) It will continuously capturing a user’s location, activity, communication, and environmental context to feed the agents. OpenAI thinks that the AI agent will replace the operating system and apps completely. I’m not sure people are ready to just talk to their phones. This has failed with couple of pin type devices. Remember Humane or the Rabbit R1? Yeah…now in the device graveyard. Here’s the keeper…OpenAI thinks they will be able to sell 400 million of these phones a year. To put that in perspective, Apple ships about 230 million phones a year and Samsung ships about 220 million Galaxy phones. You can say one thing…Sam Altman and OpenAI are thinking big!

There are already a couple of laws in California protecting a person’s voice and likeness. Also, SAG-AFTRA has language about this in a number of their contracts. Congress has even considered this, although no laws have gotten passed. Now, taking no chances, Taylor Swift has filed to trademark her voice and likeness. For Swift and others, this is intended to give some protection against AI misuse. Variety.com notes that Swift has filed three trademark applications…two for sound and another for a visual trademark. Trademarks aren’t generally used to protect voices or general likenesses, but Swift’s legal team thinks this will give them another way to protect the artist from being cloned and used in AI fakes. Several other artists have taken this action. It hasn’t been tested in court yet…but if you have the money then it is a way to fight off clones doing or saying things the artist would never do or say.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

← Older Entries