OPPO Reno15 Series Compared Across Four Models
OPPO Reno15 Series adds ultra-wide selfies, AI portrait tools, long battery life, and four distinct models built for creators and everyday users.
Google built a flash-flood prediction tool using Gemini and old news reports
Flash floods are notoriously difficult to predict, but Google might have a novel solution. The company just revealed Groundsource, a prediction tool for flash floods that uses Gemini to source data from old news reports. This is the first time it has used a language model for this type of work.
Flash flood prediction models need historical data and model training that often doesn't exist. Our solution: Groundsource, a new AI-powered methodology that uses Gemini to transform 5M+ global reports into a precise dataset of 2.6M+ flood events.
— Google Research (@GoogleResearch) March 12, 2026
This provides a massive,…
Google tasked Gemini with sorting through 5 million news articles from around the world and isolating flood reports. It transformed this data into a geo-tagged series of chronological events. Next, researchers trained a model to ingest current weather forecasts and leverage the Groundsource data to determine the likelihood of a flash flood in a given area.
We don't have any concrete information as to how accurate Google's forecast model is, though that should come over time. One trial user did say it helped his organization respond quicker to localized weather events. For now, the company is highlighting risks for urban areas in 150 countries via its Flood Hub platform. Google is also sharing its data with emergency response agencies in these locations.
Google
There are some limitations here. The model can only identify risk across a 20-square-kilometer area. It's also not quite as precise as the US National Weather Service's flood alert system, because Google's model doesn't integrate local radar data. This data typically enables real-time tracking of precipitation. However, the platform's been designed to work in areas that don't typically have access to that kind of weather-sensing infrastructure.
Juliet Rothenberg, a program manager on Google's Resilience team, hopes that this technology can eventually be used to predict other tricky phenomena. This includes stuff like heat waves and mudslides.
"We’re aggregating millions of reports,” she told reporters this week. "It enables us to extrapolate to other regions where there isn’t as much information."
This is Google's first use of a language model for weather forecasts, but not its first time it has relied on AI for this type of thing. The company's DeepMind WeatherNext 2 forecasting model has proven to be extremely accurate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-built-a-flash-flood-prediction-tool-using-gemini-and-old-news-reports-154542963.html?src=rssThis Sideboard Has Lapis Lazuli and Green Onyx Hand-Set Into Marble
Black Marquina marble tends to command a room before anything else in it does. The material has a particular gravity, that deep, carbonized base cut through with white veining, which makes most furniture around it feel like an afterthought. Designer Himanshu Kumar Gupta leans into that authority completely with the Midnight Inlay Sideboard, then quietly subverts it the moment someone opens a door.
The exterior runs on strict formal logic. Vertical fluting covers the door panels from edge to edge, each ridge precisely cut into the stone so the surface ripples with shadow even under flat ambient light. On plain marble, this treatment would read as architectural severity, which is exactly the point. The fluting establishes a rhythm, almost like a grid, that makes what comes next feel genuinely disruptive.
Designer: Himanshu Gupta
Scattered across those ridged panels are rectangular inlays in Lapis Lazuli, Red Fire marble, Alikanta, and Green Onyx, appearing at irregular intervals and orientations like signals caught mid-transmission. Each inlay sits flush within the fluting, which means the stone was routed and fitted with zero tolerance for error. A slightly proud or recessed block would break the silhouette entirely. That constraint alone separates this from surface-applied decoration.
The interior is where the piece earns its sharpest contrast. Behind the cool, textured stone exterior is a cavity lined in red velvet over solid wood, a warm, almost theatrical shift in material register. Opening the doors feels less like accessing storage and more like discovering that a severe stone cabinet had a completely different personality waiting inside, the kind of detail that does not photograph well and cannot be fully appreciated without direct interaction.
Cylindrical handles in a warm copper-toned metallic finish sit vertically in the fluting, restrained enough to avoid competing with the inlays. The base is a solid slab, no tapered legs, no gap between cabinet and floor, keeping the profile ground-hugging and monolithic. The overall silhouette is low and horizontal, which helps it read as furniture rather than architecture, even with the stone’s commanding presence working against that reading.
Combining five different natural stones into a single fluted facade is a nontrivial production problem. Stone inlay of this precision typically requires hand-fitting each piece individually, since natural stone does not behave with the consistency of milled engineered material. The designer frames this as a contemporary take on traditional inlay craft, creating a beautiful tension between order and spontaneity, old and new.
The post This Sideboard Has Lapis Lazuli and Green Onyx Hand-Set Into Marble first appeared on Yanko Design.
Microsoft’s Copilot Health can use AI to turn your fitness data and medical records ‘into a coherent story’
Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Health, an AI-powered tool it claims can help make sense of your medical records, health history and fitness data from wearables, should you grant it access to that information. The company said it will be in a "separate, secure space" in the Copilot app and that the idea is to help provide you with more context and insights so you can ask your doctor the right questions when you see them.
Copilot Health is designed to help you better understand your medical information as a whole, Microsoft says. It is not "intended to diagnose, treat or prevent diseases or other conditions and is not a substitute for professional medical advice," the company pointed out in a blog post.
The tool can pull in activity, fitness and sleep data from more than 50 devices, including Apple Watch, Oura and Fitbit. Through HealthEx, it can access health records that include visit summaries, medication details and test results from more than 50,000 hospitals and provider organizations in the US. It can tap into lab test results from Function, should you allow it to do so.
Copilot Health can take all those details and apply "intelligence to turn them into a coherent story," such as helping you pinpoint the reasons why you don't sleep too well, the company suggested. It can access real-time provider directories in the US to help users find clinicians based on factors like location, specialty, spoken languages and insurance coverage.
Microsoft says that, across AI-powered consumer products like Copilot and Bing, users ask more than 50 million health-related questions every day. "We’ve improved the quality and reliability of answers by elevating information from credible health organizations across 50 countries, as verified by our clinical team using principles independently established by the National Academy of Medicine," the blog post states. "Responses include clear citations with easy links to source material, alongside expert‑written answer cards from Harvard Health."
As far as privacy is concerned, Microsoft says Copilot Health data and conversations are siloed from the broader Copilot app and there are extra access and safety controls in place, including "encryption at rest and in transit." You can delete your information and cut off the app's access to health records and wearable data at any time. Microsoft also notes that it won't use your Copilot Health information to train its models.
The company explained that Copilot Health was informed by its responsible AI principles. Microsoft built the tool in collaboration with its own clinical team and with the expertise and feedback of more than 230 physicians from dozens of countries. "Copilot Health has achieved ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the world’s first standard for AI management systems, meaning an independent third party has verified how we build, govern and continuously improve the AI behind this service," it noted.
Microsoft has opened up a waitlist for those interested in trying Copilot Health. The tool will initially be available in English in the US for those aged 18 and over. The company is working on adding support for more language and voice options and it will announce availability for those and other territories down the line.
While users will be able to try Copilot Health for free at first, Microsoft plans to charge for access via a subscription, according to The New York Times. The company has not yet disclosed pricing details.
The Copilot Health announcement comes just a couple of days after Amazon expanded its Health AI tool beyond One Medical. It's now available on the Amazon website and app. Prime members in the US have the option to chat about certain conditions with a One Medical provider via direct message at no extra cost. Earlier this year, OpenAI announced that it was testing ChatGPT Health. Anthropic has healthcare tools as well.
Given how tough it is for many folks to access affordable healthcare and the fact their data and health records are often spread across a number of providers, some might believe there are benefits of using such tools from AI companies.
However, there's a big difference between tracking your sleep or calling your doctor after an Apple Watch detects signs of atrial fibrillation and entrusting all of your medical information to a chatbot. There are also issues like AI hallucinations and chatbots providing users with straight-up bad advice, as well as the possibility that an LLM-based tool might downplay or exaggerate potential risks.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsofts-copilot-health-can-use-ai-to-turn-your-fitness-data-and-medical-records-into-a-coherent-story-152000621.html?src=rssUber is shooting for even more upscale clientele with Uber Elite
Uber has launched a new invite-only luxury ride experience called Uber Elite. Aimed at "executives, frequent travelers, and riders looking for a more elevated experience," it sounds like an upgraded version of Uber Black for the, well, uber-rich.
A ride booked through Uber Elite will be operated by a professional chauffeur driving a new-model luxury vehicle less than three years old. An Elite-only "Meet and Greet" feature allows riders to pre-arrange to be picked up in the airport terminal they arrive at from a flight, with their chauffeur dutifully awaiting them at baggage claim.
Uber says all Elite rides include chargers, bottled water, mints and premium hand wipes. If those perks are deemed too basic by the customer, they can also request sparkling water or champagne in the app ahead of their ride, and Uber says it’ll work with its partners to accommodate them "where feasible." Once an Uber Elite trip is booked, the rider can also take advantage of round-the-clock phone support.
The new luxury service is available through the Uber app, as well as via Uber Reserve and Uber for Business. Rides can be booked one hour in advance or up to 90 days ahead.
Uber Elite is launching first in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with New York to follow soon, and then other cities in the US and internationally. Invitations will first be extended to frequent Uber Black and Uber for Business users, before the service is eventually made available to all riders. If you think you’re important enough, you can join a waitlist right now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-is-shooting-for-even-more-upscale-clientele-with-uber-elite-150620441.html?src=rssGalaxy Buds 4 Pro vs AirPods Pro 3: Stop and Read This Before You Tap ‘Buy’
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 4 represent the pinnacle of premium wireless earbuds in 2026. Both models are priced at $249 and come equipped with advanced features, but their differences cater to distinct user needs and preferences. This comparison explores their design, features, performance, and ecosystem integration to help you […]
The post Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs AirPods Pro 3: Stop and Read This Before You Tap ‘Buy’ appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Rivian’s R2 EV arrives this spring with a $58,000 price tag
Ahead of its official release later this spring, today Rivan is announcing full pricing and trim levels for its long-awaited R2 electric SUV.
The rollout for the company's first mid-size (two-row) offering will be similar to its previous vehicles, with more expensive premium models hitting the road first this spring, followed by more affordable configurations becoming available later this year and into 2027. This timeline is especially important for anyone hoping to snag the $45,000 base model of the R2, which isn't expected to go on sale until sometime in late 2027. The R2 Performance with Launch Package and R2 Premium trims will arrive initially as model year 2027 vehicles, followed by the R2 Standard (MY 2028) next year.
Rivian
Some features that will be standard on every R2 are a native NACS charging port and Autonomy+ hardware. However, for the latter, while new vehicles will come with a free 60-day trial of Autonomy+, once that expires, owners will need to choose between a one-time fee or a monthly subscription to continue using Rivian's enhanced hands-free driving tech.
Regardless of which trim or performance package you prefer, the arrival of the R2 is a huge deal for Rivian as it represents the company's first true mass-market vehicle that looks to bring a lot of the tech and engineering used in the R1T and R1S to a more affordable price point.
For a closer look at the R2's trim levels and pricing, see the breakdown below.
R2 Performance with Launch Package
Available Spring 2026 starting at $57,990
Features a dual-motor AWD setup with 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque
EPA-estimated range of up to 330 miles
0 to 60 time of up to 3.6 seconds
Notably, the Launch Package will include a free lifetime subscription to Autonomy+, along with 20-inch Black Sand all-terrain wheels, a limited Rivian Green anodized key fob, exclusive Launch Green exterior paint option (which will be a paid upgrade) and a tow package that supports up to 4,440 pounds of towing capacity.
Other inclusions on the Performance trim include an Esker Silver exterior, semi-active suspension, Compass Yellow brake calipers and rear drop glass. This config also features Rivian's Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beams, integrated tow hooks, a flashlight that can be stowed inside the driver door and 21-inch tungsten all-season wheels.
The interior features birch wood accents with a Black Crater color scheme along with heated and ventilated front readers, heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats and 12-way adjustment with lumbar support for the driver and front passenger.
R2 Premium
Available late 2026 starting at $53,990
Features a dual-motor AWD setup with 450 horsepower and 537 lb-ft of torque
EPA-estimated range of up to 330 miles
0 to 60 time of up to 4.6 seconds
The premium trim includes many of the same features as the Performance model, but with smaller 20-inch bicolor carbon all-season wheels and fewer drive modes (there's no option for rally, soft sand and launch).
R2 Standard (aka the RWD Long Range configuration)
Available first half of 2027 starting at $48,490
Features a single motor RWD setup with 350 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque
Rivian-estimated range of up to 345 miles
0 to 60 time of 5.9 seconds
Finally, the R2 Standard variant features a slightly more spartan kit consisting of heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, 12-way seats (but only for the driver) and 19-inch machine graphite wheels.
R2 Standard (aka the base model)
Available late 2027 starting at $45,000
Rivian-estimated range of 265+ miles
More detailed info will be released closer to launch
These Shell-Inspired Lamps Cast Wing-Like Shadows on Your Walls
Most lamps are designed to disappear into a room. The fixture is an afterthought, a delivery mechanism for the bulb, and anything drawing attention to itself risks becoming a problem rather than a solution. Mostafa Arvandbarmchi and Lampart Lighting Solution took the opposite position with the Pelk collection, designing lamps that treat the fixture as the point, with light almost secondary to the form holding it.
The starting reference is the black sea shell, specifically the way its structure balances curvature, layering, and quiet rhythm without any of it feeling constructed. Each Pelk module translates that logic into a pair of curved metal arcs, split open at the front, wrapping a frosted spherical globe without fully enclosing it. The arcs have a brushed, darkened finish and a visible surface texture that reads as geological up close, smooth from a distance, but clearly worked.
Designer: Mostafa Arvandbarmchi
What the shell geometry does for the light is more interesting than what it does for the form. The arcs cup the globe rather than enclose it, so light spills forward and sideways while the back of the shell stays dark. Brass-toned cylindrical connectors catch just enough ambient glow to register as a material contrast. On the wall behind, the arcs throw wide, wing-like shadows that shift with viewing angle, extending the fixture’s presence well beyond its physical footprint.
Pelk comes in two configurations. The floor lamp mounts two modules on a slender black rod above a flat circular base, staggered in height and rotated so the pair reads as a branching structure rather than a stack. The pendant version runs a thin cable from a ceiling mount down to a cylindrical floor counterweight, with four modules spiraling the full length, each rotated slightly from the last for a slow, unwinding rhythm.
That pendant version is the more spatially demanding of the two, occupying a full ceiling-to-floor span and working best against tall, uninterrupted walls where the vertical composition has room to resolve. A low ceiling or a cluttered corner fights it. The floor lamp is more forgiving, but it still performs better with clear wall space behind it, where the shadow work has somewhere to register, and the arcs read as architecture rather than decoration.
Arvandbarmchi frames Pelk as a spatial object that brings rhythm and proportion into a room, not just illumination. That ambition holds up in the pendant version especially, where the spiraling modules do something genuinely unusual with vertical space. That said, the lamp’s strong visual identity could either make it a collaborator in a room’s composition or a fixture that quietly competes with everything around it.
The post These Shell-Inspired Lamps Cast Wing-Like Shadows on Your Walls first appeared on Yanko Design.
RAG vs Long Context for LLMs : When Each Approach Works Best
Large Language Models (LLMs) have transformed natural language processing, but their limitations, such as fixed training data and lack of real-time updates, pose challenges for certain applications. IBM Technology explores two prominent strategies for addressing these gaps: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and long context. RAG integrates external data through embedding models and vector databases, making it […]
The post RAG vs Long Context for LLMs : When Each Approach Works Best appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
The $2,000 Game Changer: Why Apple Waited Until 2026 for the iPhone Fold
Apple is poised to make its debut in the foldable smartphone market with its first-ever foldable iPhone, rumored to launch in 2026. Tentatively named the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, this device is expected to combine advanced technology, a sleek design, and a premium price tag of approximately $2,000. With its anticipated features and innovations, […]
The post The $2,000 Game Changer: Why Apple Waited Until 2026 for the iPhone Fold appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.