Gadgets
* Samsung positions AI as a unifying platform across TVs, appliances, wearables and services. * Vision AI Companion (VAC) powers entertainment and lifestyle features across Micro RGB, Micro LED, OLED, Neo QLED and more. * SmartThings now serves 430 million users; Family Hub refrigerators gain Google Gemini-powered AI Vision for food tracking and
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * Clicks' new Communicator phone, announced ahead of CES 2026, supports Qi2 wireless charging. * The device is a BlackBerry-style Android handset with a physical keyboard and swappable backplates. * Clicks confirmed to 9to5Google that Qi2 will work despite the interchangeable backplates. * With Clicks, only a handful of Android phones
How-Tos
* You can reprogram the Apple TV Siri remote’s mute button to command your TV’s input selector. * Set this up in Settings > Remotes and Devices > Volume Control > Learn New Device and use your TV remote’s input button when prompted. * This sacrifices the dedicated mute function
Gadgets
• Key Takeaways: * A DIY “Steam Machine Micro” packs AMD Ryzen 7840U, Radeon 780M, 32GB LPDDR5 and a 1TB M.2 SSD into a sub‑6×6‑inch cube. * Targeted for 1080p gaming with select 1440p capability, it runs at a 30W TDP to avoid thermal throttling. * SteamOS 3.7.17
Gadgets
• Key Takeaways: * Subtle launched $199 wireless earbuds that prioritize noise isolation and accurate transcriptions. * The buds include a year of the iOS and Mac app, on-device voice processing and a custom chip that can wake an iPhone while locked. * Company claims the earbuds produce five times fewer transcription errors than
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * LG previewed its 2026 Gram laptops, highlighting a newly developed ultra-light build material. * The next-gen Gram lineup pairs updated hardware with brighter, more vivid displays. * LG positions Gram as a portable alternative to Apple's MacBook Air, emphasizing weight and screen quality. Overview LG has previewed its
Gadgets
• Plaud released the NotePin S, a compact AI notetaker with a physical record/highlight button and Apple Find My support. • NotePin S ships with clip, lanyard, magnetic pin and wristband; it offers 64GB storage, 20 hours continuous recording and two MEMS mics with ~9.8 ft range. • Plaud also launched
Security
* Key takeaways: * A Massachusetts DIYer built a PoE-powered 16 ft driveway gate with four cameras and a 24V strobe to deter turnarounds. * The system uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) and a Ubiquiti AI turret with license-plate recognition for monitoring. * To avoid $27,000 of trenching, the builder ran sprinkler pipe
Gadgets
• 27" class (26.5") 4th‑Gen Tandem WOLED panel from LG Display with RGB‑stripe sub‑pixels and 3840×2160 4K resolution (~166 PPI). • 240Hz native refresh (dual‑mode to 480Hz at 1080p), 0.03ms G2G response, 99% DCI‑P3, 10‑bit colour and factory calibration (dE <
Gadgets
• Key Takeaways: • Android Auto does more than navigation and streaming — productivity, parking, EV charging, and podcasts are all supported. • Messaging apps (WhatsApp), audiobooks (Audible), podcast players, parking/EV apps, and voice-driven note options bring real convenience. • Install apps from Google Play, enable Android Auto on your phone, and use Google
Games
* Key Takeaways: * Billie’s Wheelie, a 2025 indie PC game from M4Doom, is free on Steam until January 10, 2026. * The arcade-style, Super Monkey Ball–inspired platformer supports up to eight players in co-op and PvP modes and has high user approval on Steam. * Steam Deck compatibility is listed as
Startups
Key Takeaways: * Aircela’s system captures CO2 from ambient air and combines it with hydrogen to produce synthetic gasoline. * The process uses a KOH water solution for direct-air capture, electrolysis for hydrogen, and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) catalysis. * Current prototype makes roughly one gallon of gasoline per day and can run in
