Games
Key Takeaways: * Xbox’s Developer_Direct returns January 22 with new gameplay and studio-led segments for Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation. * Playground Games will show an extended look at Fable and the first gameplay for Forza Horizon 6, set in Japan. * Game Freak will present an in-depth
AI
* Key Takeaways: * Google is testing an “AI Inbox” tab in Gmail that reads messages and suggests action items and topics using the Gemini model. * Each suggested to‑do or topic links back to the original email for verification; users can opt out and Google says inbox data won’t train
Gadgets
* LEGO introduced the Smart Brick as part of a new Smart Play system that adds sound, light and motion to physical bricks. * Play experts and commentators say the tech risks undermining open-ended, imagination-driven play. * LEGO says Smart Bricks are a complementary, screen-free evolution and it will not abandon traditional bricks.
Games
* Key Takeaways: * GTA 6 (Rockstar/Take-Two) is expected in 2026 with a $1bn+ budget and near-photorealistic Florida-inspired world. * Recent releases (Death Stranding 2, Alan Wake 2) and upcoming titles (Unrecord, Forza Horizon 6) blur the line between games and reality. * Experts say realism increases immersion but doesn't equal
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * Apple is reportedly evaluating multispectral imaging components in the iPhone supply chain, per Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. * Multispectral imaging captures light across multiple wavelength bands (beyond RGB), enabling material detection and improved scene analysis. * The technology could enhance Visual Intelligence, on-device machine learning, portrait and depth performance,
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * ASUS unveiled a fully redesigned Zenbook Duo at CES 2026 with a new "hideaway" hinge and much narrower bezel gap (8.28 mm) between two 3K 144Hz Lumina Pro OLEDs. * The second‑gen Duo packs a larger 99Whr battery in a chassis that's 5%
Gadgets
* Asus previewed the ROG NeoCore, a proof-of-concept Wi‑Fi 8 router, at CES 2026. * NeoCore is an experimental design from Asus’ ROG (Republic of Gamers) line aimed at addressing congestion, latency, and device density. * The unit shown at CES is a concept, not a shipping product, and signals Asus’ direction
Gadgets
* Key Takeaway 1: Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station says Apple is evaluating multispectral camera sensors for future iPhones. * Key Takeaway 2: Multispectral sensors detect visible, infrared and ultraviolet light, used today in military, satellite and industrial imaging. * Key Takeaway 3: Commercial benefits could include better color accuracy and low-light performance,
AI
• Gemini will power "visually rich" answers on Google TV, surfacing images, videos and live sports updates. • New features include narrated "Deep Dives," on-TV image and video generation (Nano Banana, Veo), and natural-language TV tuning. • TCL devices get Gemini first; broader Google TV rollout follows in months
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * Bose published SoundTouch API documentation so developers can build compatible tools. * AirPlay, AirPlay 2 multiroom, and Spotify Connect will continue working after cloud shutdown. * The SoundTouch app will be trimmed but will auto-update on May 6, 2026 to local-only features. * Bose’s move gives owners and the community
Gadgets
* Key takeaways: * Dell says consumers aren’t purchasing PCs because of AI claims and that AI messaging can confuse buyers. * Kevin Terwilliger, Dell’s head of product, told PC Gamer that AI “probably confuses them more than it helps.” * Dell is not abandoning AI development, but it is dialing back
Gadgets
Key Takeaways: * Many Logitech mice lost functionality on macOS when Logitech’s Apple developer certificate expired. * Companion apps (Options+ and G HUB) entered boot loops and could not auto-update. * Logitech admitted the error and published manual patch installers and a support page. * Users must download and run the Options+ or
