Software
• Android Auto leverages Google Maps’ data and features for more accurate routing and local search. • Gemini AI on Android Auto offers superior voice control, message summarization and third‑party integrations. • Android Auto provides richer notifications, broader third‑party app support and active speeding alerts. Google Maps gives Android Auto an
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * Modern smartphones can replace many household tools: tape measures, spirit levels, metal detectors, and infrared remotes. * Built-in sensors (lidar, magnetometer, microphone) and apps (Measure, FilmBox, Google Translate) enable practical features from 3D scanning to live translation. * Health and safety tools—like basic stethoscope functions and SpO2 estimates—are
Games
* Nintendo fans reacted strongly to a surprise Switch shadow drop of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. * Aspyr says that passionate fan response could influence bringing the full Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy to Nintendo platforms. * The studio added it "can't announce anything at the moment," leaving the possibility
Research
• Key takeaways: * Virginia Tech researchers developed eQMARL, an entangled quantum multi-agent reinforcement learning framework that links drones via quantum entanglement without relying on conventional networks. * eQMARL showed performance gains over classical and non-entangled quantum baselines in simulations; research is published as an arXiv preprint (DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.17486)
Software
* Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" beta is now available for testing, built on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. * Cinnamon 6.6 introduces a redesigned application menu, improved input support, and file-manager refinements. * XApps Timeshift can now pause/resume snapshots; Warpinator adds IPv6 support; Linux 6.14 kernel retained. What’
Research
* Key Takeaways: * Researchers led by Dr. Christina Giarmatzi (Macquarie University) reconstructed how quantum errors evolve and link across multiple times. * Experiments used superconducting processors (University of Queensland lab and IBM cloud); data and code are openly available and published in Quantum (DOI: 10.22331/q-2025-12-02-1582). * The team showed errors can
Gadgets
• Key takeaways: * Valve has stopped producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model; the US store listing shows it out of stock. * The former $399 entry-level Deck is effectively gone; the lowest-priced model now is the $549 512GB OLED. * Valve hasn’t commented publicly; industry reporting points to rising component costs
Games
• Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, Heretic + Hexen and Arc Raiders top Metacritic in 2025 with Metascores around the mid-80s. • 2025's shooter slate blended genres: indie roguelikes, remasters, VR and tactical sims all earned strong reviews. • Big franchises returned in force — Battlefield 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Borderlands 4 and
Games
• Larian will hold an Ask Me Anything session in early 2026 to explain its generative AI practices and answer questions about the new Divinity. • CEO Swen Vincke says the studio uses genAI “to explore ideas, flesh out PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art and write placeholder text.” • The AMA is a
AI
* Key Takeaways: * Google is extending the timeline to replace Google Assistant with Gemini on many Android devices beyond 2025. * The company says the adjustment aims to "make sure [it delivers] a seamless transition." * Gemini is already the default on Pixel 9 phones, but device upgrades require Android 10
Games
Key Takeaways: * Battlefield 6 led 2025’s new releases with ~26M players; base game sold 20M+ copies. * Free-to-play Skate reached 23M players and sustains 750K+ daily active users. * Top new indies on Steam generated over $500M combined (about 3% of Steam’s ~$18B yearly revenue). * R.E.P.O, PEAK,
Games
* Key takeaways: * Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive) won Game of the Year, Best Debut and the fan-voted Community Pick for Best RPG at the Indie Game Awards. * The title has already swept major awards this season, including The Game Awards and Golden Joystick Awards. * Debate continues over whether Expedition
