New HomePod versus old HomePod in blind tests: It’s almost a draw, and depends on your tastes
I was surprised when none of the HomePod 2 reviews I saw included blind tests of the new HomePod versus the old HomePod. That’s now been corrected. The most notable thing about Apple’s 1,550-word press release announcing the new model is that no.....»»
Turning the HomePod mini into a portable AirPlay speaker
When I reviewed the new Beats Pill last month, I lamented its lack of AirPlay support. After all, AirPlay offers some nice benefits and better stability compared to Bluetooth. Instead of waiting on Beats to make good on its promise from 2017 to ma.....»»
A walking balloon could one day explore Titan—or Earth"s sea floor
Novel ways to move on other celestial bodies always draw the attention of the space exploration community. Here at UT, we've reported on everything from robots that suspend themselves from the walls of Martian caves to robots that hop using jets of l.....»»
Weather satellite passes bake and shake tests with flying colors
As climate change drives more frequent and severe weather events, the need for accurate and timely forecasting has never been more critical. And now, the next Meteosat Third Generation weather satellite has passed its environmental test campaign with.....»»
Apple releases new midnight color for HomePod mini, replacing space gray
In a bizarre mid-July announcement, Apple has today updated the HomePod mini. Not with any new features or upgrades, however, but with a new (or more precisely, different) choice of color. You can now order the HomePod mini in a new Midnight color.....»»
9to5Mac Daily: July 15, 2024 – iPhone emulators, ‘new’ HomePod mini
On today’s episode of 9to5Mac Daily, we discuss Apple’s approval of the first PC emulator for iPhone and iPad. We also cover a report suggesting that Apple’s confidence in AI is leading Android makers to prioritize AI features. Lastly, we talk.....»»
HomePod mini ditches space gray in favor of new midnight color
Apple has suddenly replaced the HomePod mini in space gray with a new midnight color option, but the price and features are identical.HomePod mini released with a space gray optionThe second-generation HomePod was announced in January 2023 to replace.....»»
Report: Alphabet close to $23 billion deal for cybersecurity startup Wiz
Deal of this size would draw scrutiny from antitrust regulators around the world. Enlarge (credit: Timon Schneider/Dreamstime) Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is in talks to buy cybersecurity start-up Wiz for about.....»»
DNA tests confirm shark that bit California swimmer was juvenile white shark
A shark that bit a swimmer in Del Mar last month, leaving the man hospitalized with significant wounds, was a juvenile white shark, likely around 9 feet long and 6 to 8 years old......»»
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 preorder deals today
You can already preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, but where you should do so depends on your carrier......»»
Why saline lakes are the canary in the coalmine for the world"s water resources
When it comes to inland surface water bodies, saline lakes are unique. They make up 44% of all lakes worldwide and are found on every continent including Antarctica. These lakes' existence depends on a delicate balance between a river basin's water i.....»»
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 pre-order deals today
You can already pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, but where you should do so depends on your carrier......»»
Can you do better than top-level AI models on these basic vision tests?
Abstract analysis that is trivial for humans often stymies GPT-4o, Gemini, and Sonnet. Enlarge / Whatever you do, don't ask the AI how many horizontal lines are in this image. (credit: Getty Images) In the last couple of.....»»
Pupil Dilation Reveals Better Working Memory
People whose eyes dilated more performed better on tests of working memory.....»»
The Mystery of Consciousness Is Deeper Than We Thought
Despite great progress, we lack even the beginning of an explanation of how the brain produces our inner world of colors, sounds, smells and tastes. A thought experiment with “pain-pleasure” zombies illustrates that the mystery is deeper.....»»
Blind mystic Baba Vanga says the end times will commence in 2025
Blind mystic Baba Vanga says the end times will commence in 2025.....»»
HomePod with display corroborated by references to a new Apple ‘HomeAccessory’
It’s been a while since rumors and evidence have pointed to a new HomePod with a display that would allow users to interact with the product through a graphical interface. To add fuel to the fire, code references have revealed a new Apple product i.....»»
Microsoft Surface ARM laptops mostly beat MacBook Air, but not MacBook Pro
Microsoft Surface ARM laptops powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 chip claim to match or beat Apple Silicon machines. Tests show that they (mostly) beat the MacBook Air, but not last year’s MacBook Pro models. Comparativ.....»»
Family credits HomePod with alerting them to a kitchen fire started by their dog
We hear a lot of stories about Apple Watch saving lives, but what about HomePod? A new story out of Colorado this month details how a family’s HomePod alerted them to an overnight fire in their kitchen … more….....»»
Gurman: Table-top robot will be Apple’s first home device with Apple Intelligence features
When Apple Intelligence launches later this year, it will be exclusive to these iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Even features like the new Siri won’t be coming to modern products like the HomePod, Watch, or Vision Pro. The upgraded Siri’s absence fr.....»»
Touchscreen-ready interface hidden in tvOS beta amid rumors of HomePod with display
We’ve seen a lot of evidence pointing to a new Apple home accessory (like a HomePod with a display) in recent months. And to corroborate all these rumors, the latest beta version of tvOS 18 available to developers has a new hidden interface that is.....»»