The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 represents a significant step forward in the smartwatch market, combining personalization, practicality, and advanced technology to cater to a wide range of users. Designed with versatility in mind, this wearable device offers tools that enhance convenience, improve safety, and support fitness goals. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a fitness devotee, […]
Microsoft could launch the next-generation Xbox console sometime in 2027, AMD CEO Lisa Su has revealed during the semiconductor company’s latest earnings call. Valve is on track to start shipping its AMD-powered Steam Machine early this year, she said, while Microsoft’s development of an Xbox with a semi-custom SOC from AMD is “progressing well to support a launch in 2027.” While it doesn’t necessarily mean Microsoft is releasing a new Xbox console next year, that seems to be the company’s current goal.
Xbox president Sarah Bond announced Microsoft’s multi-year partnership with AMD for its consoles in mid-2025. Based on Bond’s statement back then, Microsoft is embracing the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in future Xbox games. She also said that the companies are going to “co-engineer silicon” across devices, “in your living room and in your hands,” implying the development of future handheld consoles.
Leaked documents from the FTC vs. Microsoft court battle revealed in the past that Microsoft was planning to make the next Xbox a “hybrid game platform,” which combines local hardware and cloud computing. The documents also said that Microsoft was planning to release the next Xbox in 2028. Whether the company has chosen to launch the new Xbox early remains to be seen, but it is possible when the Xbox X and S were released in 2020, and they haven’t sold as well as the Xbox One.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/amd-suggests-the-next-gen-xbox-will-arrive-in-2027-052707822.html?src=rss
The Pockitrod multitool is a compelling take on this idea, using its pen-like form as the foundation for a deeply modular system. Its main body, machined from 6061-T4 aluminum, has a hex shape for better grip when used as a driver, a subtle but practical detail. The tool is organized around a central driver assembly housed within the handle, while additional modules such as , a box opener with interchangeable 20CV steel tips, an inkless writing implement and a magnetic-base LED flashlight can be threaded on as extensions. In doing so, it respects the classic pen form factor while fundamentally expanding its purpose. Subtle etched measurement markings along the body function as a built-in ruler, with a zero-reference aligned to the edge for more practical, real-world measuring.
What really makes this system work is the execution of the modular connections. Each component threads together, secured by precision-fitted O-rings that provide a smooth, friction-based fit. This is a critical detail because it prevents the tool from feeling like a wobbly collection of parts in use, maintaining a cohesive and solid feel in hand.. The anodized finish on the aluminum body adds wear and corrosion resistance, so it should hold up to being tossed in a pocket with keys. At 170mm long and weighing just 50 grams, it maintains that pen-like portability while feeling substantial enough for actual work.
Designer: Clinton Brassington (Converge Multi-Tools)
What really makes this system work is the execution of the modular connections. Each component threads together, secured by precision-fitted O-rings that provide a smooth, friction-based fit. This is a critical detail because it prevents the tool from feeling like a wobbly collection of parts in use, maintaining a cohesive and solid feel in hand.. The anodized finish on the aluminum body adds wear and corrosion resistance, so it should hold up to being tossed in a pocket with keys. At 170mm long and weighing just 50 grams, it maintains that pen-like portability while feeling substantial enough for actual work.
At its core, the Pockitrod is built around a solid driver system, with an integrated stylus and a concealed precision screwdriver tip for working with small fasteners. The main 1/4″ hex driver features a spring-loaded locking mechanism to keep the bit holder firmly engaged with the handle, eliminating the play that plagues many compact multitools, and comes fitted with a 6150 CRV PH2 bit. The Pockitrod also includes a mini 1/4″ driver for reaching into tight spaces. Both drivers accept standard ¼” bits, with the mini driver housing an internal spare, a long-shank SL3 bit for accessing deep recessed or hard-to-reach fasteners. It’s a thoughtful detail for anyone who frequently switches between tasks without wanting to carry extra loose bits.
Beyond the drivers, the tool selection is pure EDC perfection. The inkless writing tip, made from a graphite compound, is a practical choice that will never dry out or leak, and it’s paired with a conductive fiber stylus tip for touchscreen use. For cutting tasks, the box opener module uses replaceable tips made from 20CV steel, a high-end choice known for excellent edge retention. Converge offers several tip styles, including a bladeless version for safety, a standard utility tip, and a scraper, which adds a layer of compliance for different workplace regulations.
The utility is further expanded by a detachable LED flashlight module. It’s a compact LED light intended for close-range task lighting, ideal for quick inspections or low-light work. The clever part is its magnetic base, which allows it to be used independently as a small work light. It can also be mounted to the main tool’s pocket clip for a 90-degree beam or attached to the magnetic tip and clipped to a hat brim for a makeshift headlamp. This kind of multi-use design shows a deep understanding of how people actually use their tools in the field.
Speaking of magnetism, the N52 grade magnetic tip is surprisingly strong, with a lift capacity of up to 1kg under ideal conditions. That’s more than enough to retrieve a dropped set of keys or hold a handful of screws at the ready while you work. The whole system is designed to be reconfigured on the fly. Modules can be rearranged, swapped, or left behind depending on the task or environment, with shared compatibility across the main tool and the included Keychain Companion. This companion is a compact, threaded extension of the system, featuring a quick-disconnect loop and allowing select components to be carried, combined, or repurposed independently for more minimalist setups.
This entire package comes from Converge Multi-Tools, an outfit based in Australia.Launch pricing is expected to start around $99 USD for a complete system, which includes the main tool, the keychain companion, and a set of alternative tips. Worldwide shipping is included, starting around June 2026.
Sounds radical, doesn’t it? The Touch Bar was such a waste of space on the MacBook Pro when it was first introduced exactly a decade ago in 2016. It shipped with a lot of potential but barely any real-world use, and Apple even considered swapping it out for a slot that housed the Apple Pencil back in 2021. While that feature never really came to pass, something else happened in 2021 that blew everyone’s minds – OpenAI’s Dall-E. For a lot of people, this was the first time you could just ‘tell’ an AI to make an image for you and it would. It was the birth of generative AI, and only a year later, OpenAI would break the internet with ChatGPT.
This is also around the time that Apple quietly killed the Touch Bar, but here’s my opinion… bring it back. Maybe not on the MacBook, but the Touch Bar definitely deserves a place on any independent wireless keyboard. With AI LLMs, progressive web apps, widgets, and vibe-coding going mainstream, a Touch Bar on a keyboard finally makes sense. It’s a place for your AI agent to live, alongside tasks, shortcuts, toolbars, and widgets. Apple pioneered the Touch Bar, but one could argue they were way too early to realize its potential. Now, a concept keyboard by Eslam Mohammed and Ahmed Yassen shows how the Touch Bar should be resurrected.
Designers: Eslam Mohammed & Ahmed Yassen
Mohammed and Yassen’s LUMO x700 keyboard comes with a few tricks up its sleeve. Sure, it sports a sleek, metal-forward Magic Keyboard-inspired design, but the thing also packs an end-to-end Touch Bar that’s about as tall as your standard key, making it a lot more usable than the actual Touch Bar, which was just as slim as the function key row. However, that isn’t all there is to this. A snap-on module turns the keyboard into a music player so you aren’t listening to tunes on your iMac or laptop’s fairly tinny speakers. All in all, this turns your keyboard into something a little more versatile than just ‘something you type on’. It now has an identity of its own, and can channel a level of productivity you’d only get with an Elgato-style accessory.
But wait! That modular soundbar isn’t just keyboard-dependent! It works independently too, allowing you to place it underneath the monitor or anywhere else on your desk for a wireless sound experience. The dual speakers fire stereo audio, buttons and a knob help tweak volume and playback, and the part that attaches to the LUMO x700 keyboard, well, there’s a hidden light-bar there to give your desk some ambient lighting. It’s all cleverly designed to ensure the module isn’t useless on its own. However, that Touch Bar is my predominant focus.
Why does a Touch Bar matter now more than ever? Well, we’re all multitasking, we’re all looking for extra real estate for displays, and almost all of us are running agents of some kind to automate tasks. That’s what this Touch Bar is for. Shortcuts to apps live in the center, widgets on the left, and maybe an AI chatbot on the right that you can deploy to talk to, ask questions to, or delegate tasks to. Claude just debuted a desktop-controlling agent called Claude Cowork that can run tasks and perform duties on your desktop on your command, and the infamous OpenClaw’s been taking the internet by storm for doing pretty much the same thing too. Obviously, such an AI will need to be vetted, and probably contained by a set of restrictions so it doesn’t go around leaking your data on a ‘Reddit for AI Agents’ or spending your cash (as OpenClaw has done in a few instances).
The rest of the Touch Bar experience goes on as originally intended. Active programs can reside within the bar, like a recorder interface, the player for music or video apps, allowing you to seek to different parts of a song/video, or even the emoji keyboard that lets you easily cycle through emojis before pasting them. The potential is endless, and while independent Touch Bars like this one exist, we need to design one for an era of AI agents, applets, shortcuts, and widgets. It really is about time.
Dragon Tiny Homes has unveiled the Sora 20′, an expanded version of their popular compact dwelling that responds directly to customer feedback. This spacious tiny home marks a significant evolution from the original 16-foot Sora model, offering more room while maintaining the bright, practical design philosophy that made its predecessor a success. The Sora 20′ represents a thoughtful approach to full-time tiny living, balancing increased square footage with the efficiency that defines the tiny house movement.
The design prioritizes natural light and openness, featuring large windows that flood the interior with brightness throughout the day. The layout flows seamlessly from one area to the next, creating a sense of spaciousness that belies the home’s compact footprint. Dragon Tiny Homes has crafted a well-balanced interior where every element serves a purpose, from the strategically placed windows to the carefully considered traffic patterns that make daily routines feel effortless and intuitive.
At 20 feet in length, the Sora 20′ offers significantly more living space than the original 16-foot model. This extra footage translates into practical improvements throughout the home, allowing for more comfortable accommodations without sacrificing the cozy feel that draws people to tiny living. The additional space has been thoughtfully distributed to enhance functionality in key areas, making the home suitable for extended stays or permanent residence rather than just weekend getaways.
The Sora 20′ includes purpose-built features that acknowledge modern living realities. A built-in floating desk provides a dedicated workspace for remote workers, reflecting the growing need for home offices in compact spaces. The design incorporates a sleeping loft that maximizes vertical space while keeping the main floor open for living and working. Each feature demonstrates a function-forward approach, where comfort meets practicality in ways that support contemporary lifestyles.
The base price for the Sora 20′ is typically set at $61,030, positioning it as an accessible entry point into quality tiny home living. Dragon Tiny Homes occasionally offers inventory homes at discounted rates, with some units available for $52,950, representing savings of $8,070. These move-in-ready options provide an opportunity for buyers to skip the wait time associated with custom builds and transition into tiny living more quickly.
The Sora 20′ suits solo dwellers seeking a minimalist lifestyle or couples ready to embrace downsizing without compromising on comfort. Its design accommodates full-time living with amenities that support daily routines, from cooking to working to relaxing. Dragon Tiny Homes has created a model that proves tiny living can be spacious, practical, and genuinely livable for the long term, making it a compelling option for anyone reconsidering traditional housing.
Google might have been officially ruled to have a monopoly, but we're still a long way from figuring out exactly what that determination will change at the tech company. Today, the US Department of Justice filed notice of a plan to cross-appeal the decision last fall that Google would not be required to sell off the its Chrome browser. The agency's Antitrust Division posted about the action on X. According to Bloomberg, a group of states is also joining the appeal filing.
At the time of the 2025 ruling, the Justice Department had pushed for a Chrome sale to be part of the outcome. Judge Amit Mehta denied the request from the agency. "Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divesture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints," Mehta's decision stated. However, he did set other restrictions on Google's business activities, such as an end to exclusive deals for distributing some services and a requirement to share select search data with competitors.
Google has already filed its own appeal over this part of its ongoing antitrust battle. Of course, the tech giant is hoping to get off the hook with fewer penalties rather than the heavier ones the DOJ is seeking.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/doj-and-states-appeal-google-monopoly-ruling-to-push-for-harsher-penalties-against-the-company-235115249.html?src=rss
There’s something beautifully nostalgic about the radiogram. You know, those elegant wooden cabinets from the mid-century that housed radio, turntable, and speakers all in one piece of furniture that looked good enough to anchor your living room. Ruark Audio clearly remembers, and they’re marking their 40th anniversary by bringing that concept into 2026 with the R810 MiE (Made in England edition), a stunning collaboration with Storm Furniture that proves technology can be just as much art as function.
This isn’t just a speaker in a nice box. The R810 MiE is part of Ruark’s Made in England project, which focuses on limited production, hand-built products using traditional craftsmanship. Only 100 units will ever exist, split evenly between two exquisite finishes: Penta-Chord Walnut with ebony detailing and Leaf-Line Oak with sycamore accents. Each piece is truly unique, bearing patterns that resemble fingerprints, no two exactly alike.
What makes these so special is the centuries-old art of marquetry that decorates the cabinet tops. If you’re not familiar, marquetry involves meticulously cutting selected veneers and arranging them into intricate patterns before bonding them to the cabinet. It demands precision and patience, the kind that only artisan makers possess. Storm Furniture, based in Norfolk and a proud member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, hand-builds each cabinet and grille component before carefully transporting them to Ruark’s headquarters in Southend, where each R810 MiE is individually assembled, tested, and signed off.
The patterns themselves are designed to reflect modern life while honoring traditional techniques. Multiple layers of lacquer are then applied to create that lustrous finish that makes you want to run your hand across the surface (though you’ll probably resist once you see the price tag). Combined with precision-formed trims and a polished chrome stand, the result radiates the kind of sophistication you’d expect from fine furniture.
But let’s talk about what this thing actually does, because looks alone don’t justify nearly $9,000. The R810 MiE packs the same technological prowess as its standard R810 sibling, which retails for around $5,000. You get a 4.1 speaker system powered by 180 watts of Class A/B amplification, with a frequency response that dips down to 30Hz. It supports hi-res music files up to 32-bit/192kHz, has built-in Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz Connect, works with Apple Music and BBC Sounds, and includes AirPlay and Google Cast.
There’s also HDMI ARC/eARC connection for your TV, plus Internet, DAB, DAB+, and FM tuners because sometimes you just want to flip through actual radio stations. It’s essentially a complete home audio hub disguised as an heirloom-quality piece of furniture. Like the iconic radiograms it takes inspiration from, the R810 is designed to be seen, to be a focal point rather than something you hide in a cabinet or tuck into a corner.
What strikes me most about this release is the timing. We’re living through an era where so much technology feels disposable, designed to be replaced in a few years when the next model drops. The R810 MiE pushes back against that entire philosophy. This is a piece you’re meant to keep, to pass down, to let age gracefully in your home. That marquetry top isn’t going out of style, and that hand-built cabinet isn’t falling apart after a couple of years.
Each unit comes with an engraved plaque as proof of authenticity, which feels appropriate for something this exclusive. At £6,495 (roughly $8,955), it’s absolutely a luxury item. But when you consider that only 50 of each finish will ever be produced, and that each one is genuinely handcrafted using techniques that have been around for centuries, that price starts to make sense for collectors and audiophiles who want something genuinely special.
The R810 MiE represents what happens when a 40-year-old British audio company decides to celebrate not by churning out another limited colorway, but by going all-in on craftsmanship and exclusivity. It’s a statement piece that happens to deliver exceptional sound, or maybe it’s an exceptional sound system that happens to be a statement piece. Either way, it’s proof that furniture really can sound this good.
The Netherlands has mastered the art of the catalogue home, a residential model where architectural types are as standardized as automobile makes. Buyers browse familiar options, and the barnhouse, with its sweeping gable roof and prominent timber structure, consistently tops the list. It promises the romance of rural living packaged for suburban plots. But what happens when site conditions refuse to cooperate with this template?
In Werkhoven, RV Architecture proved that starting with a recognizable type need not end with a predictable house. The architects faced a triangular plot that defied conventional positioning, so they embraced the irregularity. The barnhouse angles across its lot, turning its glazed facades toward an expansive backyard rather than the street. Inside, the soaring gable height floods the open plan with daylight, while three sculptural wooden columns support the roof and frame carefully composed views. A curved wall conceals service spaces and guides movement from entry to kitchen. Standard catalogue, custom execution.
Designers: Ruud Visser and Fumi Hoshino
Most architects would look at that triangular plot and either complain about constraints or try to force a rectangular box onto it anyway. Ruud Visser and Fumi Hoshino did the opposite. They rotated the entire house to prioritize the view, which sounds simple until you realize how rare that move actually is in suburban contexts. The front of most houses faces the street because that’s what we do. Convention masquerading as inevitability. This project says forget the street, the good stuff is in the back, and commits fully to that logic with floor-to-ceiling glazing on three sides.
Four primary wooden beams sit on top of the side walls and the internal walls between bedrooms. Smaller purlins span between these beams to stiffen the roof plane. Standard timber frame logic so far. Then in the open living area, where you can’t have walls interrupting the space, three angled wooden columns rise up to support the roof structure. These aren’t decorative. They’re load-bearing elements positioned specifically to frame views while maintaining structural integrity. The angle aligns with the roof pitch and creates a visual rhythm that reinforces the gable geometry. You can see exactly how the building stands up, which is increasingly rare in residential work where structure usually hides behind drywall.
That curved wooden wall running from entrance to kitchen conceals the laundry room, toilet, cloakroom, and storage. All the unglamorous necessities that usually get shoved into awkward corners or announced with clunky door frames. Instead, this single sculptural gesture handles circulation and service spaces while adding warmth to what could otherwise read as a cold modernist box. Vertical wood cladding wrapping around itself, creating both physical separation and spatial continuity. You move through the house following this element, which is exactly what good circulation design should do without announcing itself. It’s the kind of detail that separates competent projects from memorable ones.
Dark roof tiles, white horizontal wood siding, natural timber for structural elements, polished concrete floors, and glass. That’s essentially the entire material vocabulary. This kind of limitation forces clarity because every element has to justify its presence. There’s nowhere to hide behind decorative excess. The concrete floors make practical sense for Dutch climate conditions too. Thermal mass for passive heating, durability for high-traffic areas, and a neutral base that lets the wood structure read clearly against it. Material choices that work on multiple levels simultaneously, which is always a sign that someone actually thought through the consequences of their decisions.
Catalogue barnhouses typically give you a recognizable formal language that buyers and builders understand, which has real value when you’re trying to get something built and financed. Visser and Hoshino used that familiarity as permission to experiment with everything else: siting, structure, circulation, materiality. The result reads as both familiar and unexpected, which is a difficult balance to strike. You recognize it as a barnhouse immediately, but the spatial experience inside bears little resemblance to the typical catalogue version with its subdivided rooms and predictable layouts. Standardized building types can serve as starting points rather than endpoints, and this project proves it without being precious about the concept.
2K owner Take-Two has paused development on Borderlands 4 for the Nintendo Switch 2, the company shared during its Q3 2026 earnings presentation. The Switch 2 port was originally planned to be released on October 3, 2025, a few weeks after the game's September 12 launch on all other platforms, but was indefinitely delayed on September 23.
"We made the difficult decision to pause development on that SKU," Take-Two told Variety. "Our focus continues to be delivering quality post-launch content for players on the ongoing improvements to optimize the game. We’re continuing to collaborate closely with our friends at Nintendo. We have PGA Tour 2K25 coming out and WWE 2K26, and we're incredibly excited about bringing more of our titles to that platform in the future."
When the Borderlands 4 Switch 2 port was originally delayed, the game's developer Gearbox shared that the port needed "additional development and polish time" and that it hoped to "better align this release with the addition of cross saves." In Take-Two's Q2 earnings presentation on November 6, 2025, the Switch 2 port was still listed as having a "TBA" release date. The lack of mention in the company's Q3 presentation and Take-Two's comment to Variety pretty much confirm that if a Switch 2 version happens, it won't be anytime soon. The official Borderlands 4 post-release content roadmap currently lists plans for paid and free story DLC and raid bosses, but nothing related to additional ports of the game.
Grand Theft Auto VI's planned November 19 release date is still on the books, however. Rockstar Games' next blockbuster title was originally supposed to be released in fall 2025, before it was delayed to May 2026 last May. The game was delayed a second and final time — at least for now — in November 2025, to its current November 2026 release date.
There's still room for another delay, but in the earnings statement Take-Two projected confidence, sharing that Rockstar would start marketing the game this summer. The franchise remains a cash cow, so it’s only natural the company would want to get the rollout of Grand Theft Auto VI right. As part of its earnings presentation, Take-Two shared that Grand Theft Auto V, which was originally released all the way back in 2013, has sold 225 million units.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/take-two-hit-pause-on-the-switch-2-port-of-borderlands-4-222546776.html?src=rss
Mercedes-Benz Unimog has served as the base for many rugged expedition motorhomes in the past, and this is yet another instance where the multi-purpose, all-wheel-drive truck is part of an extreme off-roading RV called The Pucchino. Based on a Unimog U418, it is a compact, custom-built wooden cabin that features a steel frame and an electronically operated pop-up roof.
Choosing the ideal expedition RV for your requirements is a personal decision, generally made out of passion, consideration, and understanding. While there are many robust 4×4 trucks suitable for this purpose, the Unimog is by far a league apart. Sitting atop the Unimog U418, therefore, the Pucchino flaunts a robust wooden body and makes a bold statement. It is the brainchild of 4Wheel24 and arrives on a modest green colored truck, the color which extends down to the green wheel caps and matches with the pop-up roof shell and the interesting natural wooden body of the cabin.
The truck-bed-sized cabin is an interesting creation, not just for its unique beer barrel-like form factor, but because of the various components it manages to stuff inside the very petite body. The roof-top tent definitely pops up to open the living space inside, but even without that, 4Wheel24 has pulled off a decent job with the Pucchino, designed to wade through Mother Earth’s most demanding roads.
The custom-built motorhome module for the 315-hp 4.2-liter turbo-diesel Mercedes-Benz Unimog U418 comes with a fully-integrated electric pop-up roof and a compact but fully functional living space inside. The roof opens up to a full conversion length of 2.7 m, and it comprises materials that make it a capable expedition companion with comfort and protection in all-weather conditions.
To ensure a low drive height for stability and minimize drag, the cabin’s interior height is kept to 1.20 meters. The entry into the rooftop tent is managed via a pull-out staircase. The chief living area in the cabin, measuring 2.6 x 2m, features a cooking area complete with a Wallas diesel hob, countertop, 60-L fridge, and sink, a double bed, and a washroom area furnished with a LooSeal Evo Sealed Toilet and shower.
The power needs onboard are handled by a 480-watt solar panel backing up energy in a 6.3 kWh lithium battery from Bluetti, and it also comes with an inverter. The cabin is provided with a 250L water tank, and in addition to the customization of the interior here, 4Wheel24 has also given the Unimog cab area an upgrade. The cab’s provided with heated seats and upgraded upholstery to match the wooden cabin. The ultra-compact, lightweight, and stable Pucchino is priced roughly around €189,000 (approx. $223,000).