From OLED TVs to smartphones, Best Buyâs Upgrade Sale has slashed prices on all kinds of tech, including a wide range of Apple devices. Weâve rounded up the best deals from the sale here, but one of the most notable is the AirPods Pro 3, which are down to $199.99 ($50 off) at Best Buy, […]
The company says Claude Design is intended to help people like founders and product managers without a design background share their ideas more easily.Â
The new returns feature is the company’s latest effort to become an everything app.
class action lawsuit regarding the utilization of this tactic to promote its newest Fire TV Sticks, a series of streaming media devices that users connect directly to their televisions. Initiated in a Los Angeles Superior Court, the allegation asserts that the tech titan restricted essential software updates for its Fire TV Sticks, making them “almost unusable.” The two versions implicated in the lawsuit encompass the first- and second-generation devices, launched in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Coincidentally, the lawsuit was filed approximately two weeks prior to Amazon’s announcement of a new generation of Fire TV Sticks.
The allegation highlights a contentious tactic termed “software tethering,” where companies utilize updates as a means to manipulate or restrict device performance. In recent years, consumer advocacy organizations such as Consumer Reports and the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) have urged the Federal Trade Commission to curtail this practice. As Lucas Rockett Gutterman, an initiative director at the PIRG, remarked in a 2024 press release on the matter, “manufacturers are increasingly employing software to confine us to utilizing our technology in ways that conveniently maximize their profits. If we aim to prevent the tech industry from compelling us to replace products that are still functional, we must advocate for consumers’ rights to receive what they have paid for in this era of connected devices.”
<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap " data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2150567/why-amazon-sued-over-old-fire-sticks/" data-post-title="Your Old Amazon Fire Stick Might Be Involved In This New Lawsuit – Here's Why
major music streaming services available, Spotify provides its app across multiple platforms. You can get the Spotify app on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, as well as on gaming consoles, smart TVs, tablets, and car infotainment systems. If Spotify is your primary choice for music listening, you should reasonably expect a consistent experience no matter what device you’re using. Recently, this may not have been true for tablet users, but the company has just revealed a new design that will soon be ready for download to remedy that situation.
In a press statement published on its website, Spotify declares that it has redesigned the tablet layout for both Android and iOS in a bid “to make listening, watching, and discovering feel more organic on larger displays.” The company states that the updated layout is intended to provide a cohesive experience that matches its app on other platforms, though it arrives a few years after Spotify revamped the user interface (UI) of its mobile app. The redesigned layout has been tailored specifically for the larger screens of tablets, utilizing that space fully, unlike the previous interface, which provided merely enlarged versions of UI components from Spotify’s mobile applications.
Although it retains the same navigation as before along with the recognizable Spotify aesthetic, the new interface brings several noticeable enhancements to the app. The first major feature introduced with Spotify’s new UI is Parallel browsing. This function allows you to explore Spotify’s catalog and view other content within the app while the player view is present on the right side of the screen. With this feature, you’ll be able to watch videos or see the lyrics of a song displayed alongside your browsing experience. Additionally, if you prefer the player view (or another item you are viewing, such as an album or artist page) to fill the entire app screen, the new interface includes a collapsible sidebar that can be concealed to achieve that.
The company has also adjusted the app’s interface to respond to the orientation of the screen when
### AI Chatbot Applications on iPhone CarPlay: A New Chapter with iOS 26.4
With the introduction of iOS 26.4, Apple has enabled the use of AI chatbot apps on iPhones through CarPlay. This major update permits users to engage with AI chatbots while driving, improving the in-car experience with voice-activated technology.
#### The Launch of ChatGPT and Perplexity
After the rollout of iOS 26.4, ChatGPT was the pioneering AI chatbot to be accessible on CarPlay, quickly followed by Perplexity. These applications aim to enable voice interactions, creating a safer and more convenient way for drivers to communicate with AI on the go.
#### Perplexity’s Voice Mode Requirement
Similar to ChatGPT, Perplexity’s CarPlay app mainly centers around voice interaction. However, it possesses a key difference: it generally necessitates a Pro subscription, which costs $20 monthly, for full access to its voice chat capabilities. For those without a subscription, the app notifies users that they have reached their voice mode limit, restricting functionality for non-paying users. This subscription model indicates that the app is currently more advantageous for paying subscribers.
Despite this restriction, Perplexity’s quick uptake of CarPlay support underscores the increasing integration of AI technologies into regular applications.
#### Future Developments for AI Chatbots in CarPlay
At this moment, the realm of AI chatbot applications for CarPlay is still in development. Other notable AI chatbots, like Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini, have not yet declared CarPlay support. Additionally, xAI’s Grok is also missing from the CarPlay environment. The excitement for these applications to become part of the platform continues to rise among users.
For subscribers, Perplexity has also introduced its Personal Computer AI assistant feature for Mac, broadening its functionalities. Furthermore, the company has rolled out its AI browser, Comet, for iPhone and iPad, demonstrating its dedication to improving user experiences across various devices.
#### The Significance of Voice-Based Conversational Apps
Apple has established specific regulations regarding which app categories are permitted on CarPlay, mainly to maintain safety while driving. AI chatbot applications belong to the voice-based conversational apps category. Notably, these applications are not restricted to AI chatbots; for example, NewOrleans.Football has crafted a conversational CarPlay app focused on a simulated NFL draft for the New Orleans Saints, showcasing the adaptability of the CarPlay platform.
#### Conclusion
The incorporation of AI chatbot applications such as ChatGPT and Perplexity into CarPlay signifies a pivotal leap in how users can connect with technology while driving. As more AI applications aim to integrate into the CarPlay ecosystem, the opportunities for enhanced voice-based interactions in vehicles will keep expanding, leading to a more interconnected and intelligent driving experience.
Apple has introduced three new Macs this year already, but there are still four additional Macs expected to make their debut in the coming months. Here’s what’s on the horizon.
## Mac Studio featuring M5 Max, M5 Ultra
The Mac Studio received an update just over a year ago, with the latest model equipped with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. There are speculations that a new Mac Studio will be unveiled soon, featuring M5 Max and an all-new M5 Ultra chip. While no design alterations are anticipated, the increasing demand for computing power due to AI advancements could make the M5 Ultra version of the Mac Studio particularly appealing.
## M5 iMac in New Color Options
Apple’s iMac, the all-in-one desktop, is scheduled for an M5 upgrade later this year. The M4 model was released 18 months ago, and an M5 variant is expected to debut before reaching the two-year milestone. In addition to enhanced performance, the M5 iMac is rumored to present at least one other significant modification: a new selection of colors. The M4 iMac also featured new colors, making it surprising that there would be yet another fresh color range arriving so soon. Possibly, the M5 model will take inspiration from some of the color choices available in the MacBook Neo.
## Mac mini with M5, M5 Pro Options
While the MacBook Neo has garnered acclaim for its affordability, the Mac mini remains the cheapest Mac on the market—at least prior to factoring in a display, keyboard, and mouse or trackpad. An update for the Mac mini is anticipated this year, offering two chip variants: M5 and M5 Pro. Similar to the new Mac Studio, no visible design changes are expected. However, as the Mac mini gains traction as a choice for OpenClaw and Perplexity’s ‘Personal Computer,’ a straightforward chip upgrade should be well-received.
## M6 MacBook Pro with A Completely New Design
Having just released the MacBook Pro featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max, another MacBook Pro is on the way this year. The M6 MacBook Pro is expected to mark a significant advancement for the Mac. Rumored new features include:
– A completely new industrial design that’s both thinner and lighter
– An OLED display
– A touchscreen, the first ever on a Mac
– Dynamic Island replacing the current notch
– Possibly even a C2 cellular modem from Apple
While the MacBook Neo has ignited excitement among new Mac users, the M6 MacBook Pro could capture the interest of seasoned Mac enthusiasts.
Are you considering upgrading to one of the M5 or M6 models mentioned above? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. The camera zooms in on two well-formed cheeks clad in white shorts. These buns of steel belong to […]
“This is no different from Comfort Women or the Holocaust,” wrote South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on X last week, quoting a post with a video of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers throwing a body off a rooftop in Gaza. The president’s post kicked off an internet firestorm for a thousand different reasons, not least because […]
Vacuum cleaners, personal massagers, electronic baby rockers, and walking pads: These are the secondhand machines Rachel Youn sources to create their kinetic sculptures. Made with artificial flowers, metal hardware, and these used electronic components, each one possesses a humanlike presence. Slow Burn is made from an artificial orchid, a neck massager, bits of metal that […]
