Claude Code 2 introduces several updates aimed at enhancing automation and workflow management. One notable feature is the /loop command, which allows users to automate repetitive tasks within an active session. For instance, you can configure a loop to process data or check for file updates at regular intervals, such as every 30 minutes. According […]
Apple's new family of laptops might have a cringeworthy name, but don't let it fool you. Despite the MacBook Neo running on a built-for-iPhone A-series processor and being limited to 8GB of RAM, it delivers on what Macs do best. It has a capable screen, keyboardand trackpadand its overall build quality should embarrass other laptop-making rivals that have compromised on those areas with their $600 laptops.
Don't expect a gaming rig – it struggled predictably to run Lies of P, but for most of the things you need a laptop for – especially for students and desk workers – it handles them with aplomb. Yeah, I said aplomb.
Check out our full Neo review by Devindra Hardawar – surely you're intrigued by the idea of a $600 MacBook?
Project Cyberdeck is Rabbit's attempt to make a PC tailored for vibe coding. The company began working on Project Cyberdeck after its CEO, Jesse Lyu, saw how extensively his software engineers were using Claude Code. Unfortunately, existing cheap, lightweight machines had bad keyboards and other limitations. So Rabbit is making its ownand it's taking a big serving of inspiration from the tiny, almost pocket-sized laptops that VAIO made back in the late '00s and early 2010s.
In a bid to distract from corporate reshuffles, fears of generative AI game slop and a pretty poor showing against the PS5, Microsoft is getting ahead of its rival. At GDC 2026, the company said that it planned to get Project Helix dev consoles in the hands of game devs as soon as 2027.
Jason Ronald, vice-president of next generation for Xbox, reiterated that the new system would be capable of playing both Xbox console games and PC games. (Sony's decision to halt porting its games across to PC makes more sense. ) Ronald said it would incorporate a custom AMD-made system-on-a-chip, offering "a magnitude leap in ray tracing performance and capability".
The owners of Facebook are buying Moltbook, the hyped Reddit-like social network for AI agents that has only been around since January. The company hasn't disclosed the terms of the deal, but Moltbook and its creators will be joining Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) when the deal closes.
And that definitely doesn't sound like a cabal of comic book villains that fights the Justice League.
Apple has apparently made a strategic delay in the release of its next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini, prioritizing the integration of a significantly upgraded Siri. While the hardware for these devices is complete, the launch has been postponed to align with the debut of a revamped, AI-powered Siri. This updated version, expected to […]
Uber’s and Motional's Hyundai Ioniq 5 autonomous EVs will start appearing as an option for riders in Las Vegas. Passengers requesting for an UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric ride may be matched with a Motional robotaxi. They will not be forced to take it, though, and will be notified and given the option to decline and choose a regular ride instead. But if they want to try it, they can boost their chances of getting matched with a robotaxi ride by opting in via the Ride Preferences section under Settings.
Riders who get on autonomous rides will be able to unlock the vehicle through the Uber app. Inside, they’ll hear audio cues reminding them to close the door and fasten their seatbelt. They’ll also be able to access human support through the Uber app in case they need help. The companies started piloting the robotaxi service in Las Vegas in 2022 after establishing a 10-year partnership. Motional’s Hyundai AVs were also tested by Uber Eats for autonomous deliveries in the same year.
The first autonomous rides under the partnership will still have safety drivers behind the wheel to monitor the roads. They will also be only available, for now, at designated locations along Las Vegas Boulevard, “including rideshare zones at the Resorts World Las Vegas and Encore at the Wynn Las Vegas — plus Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and curbside in Downtown Las Vegas and throughout the Town Square shopping district near the airport.” By the end of the year, the companies expect to start offering fully autonomous rides with no human operators. They have plans to expand the rides’ availability throughout the city, as well.
Uber has also just announced that it’s piloting a robotaxi service in Tokyo in late 2026 in partnership with UK self-driving car startup Wayve and Nissan. In addition, the Uber-backed Nuro will test its own autonomous vehicles in the Japanese metropolis soon.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-robotaxi-rides-are-now-available-for-passengers-in-las-vegas-120030395.html?src=rss
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost four years since Apple gave the MacBook Air a serious glow-up. The 2022 model was a total redesign that bumped its performance with the M2 chip and also improved a number of key components. It was also the first MacBook Air to drop the signature tapered design, and Apple added a 15-inch model one year later to boot. Since then, Apple’s primarily focused on making sure it has a new chip every year — we’re already up to the M5, if you can believe it.
As such, the latest MacBook Air is an expected update that doesn’t change the game. Not that it needed changing: it’s been our favorite ultraportable laptop for years now. But the Air’s place in Apple’s lineup has changed with the simultaneous introduction of the $599 MacBook Neo. And unfortunately, Apple didn’t keep the $999 price that last year’s M4 MacBook Air hit; it’s back up to $1,099, the same price as the M2 and M3 models. Now that there’s the new, inexpensive MacBook Neo out there, who is the MacBook Air for? While I haven’t used the Neo yet, I’m pretty comfortable answering that question: it’s still for almost anyone.
The essentials haven’t changed
While the latest MacBook Air is physically unchanged from its 2022 revision, I don’t have a problem with that. I find the Air to be the Platonic ideal of a laptop that most people will be hard-pressed to find issues with. The 13.6-inch (or 15.3-inch, if you opt for the bigger size) display isn’t the most cutting edge screen out there, but it’s still sharp, bright and colorful. It’s stuck at a 60Hz refresh rate at a time when many PC manufacturers are using faster screens, but for the Air’s audience I don’t think that’s a problem. I may be miffed that the iPad Air similarly only has a pedestrian 60Hz refresh rate — but I think it’s less crucial on a Mac, where you’re not literally touching the screen (at least for now).
Other minor quibbles include the fact that Apple still hasn’t put a USB-C port on the right side of the computer in addition to those on the left, and the screen notch is still weird if you focus on it too much. But other than that, I can’t really come up with any issues here. At 2.7 pounds, the Air isn’t the lightest laptop out there, but I’ll take the extremely solid feel of the unibody aluminum case over a lighter and possibly flimsier plastic.
MacBook Air M5
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
The keyboard and trackpad remain delightful, as well. My main laptop is a 14-inch MacBook Pro, and I can perceive the Air’s comparatively thinner case when typing on it. It’s not bad at all, it just feels slightly different. But after a short adjustment period, I really didn’t think about it and typed away without a care in the world. It’s baffling to me that a company that made a keyboard this good also made the horrific butterfly keyboards of yore, but fortunately that era is far in the past. The haptic-powered trackpad is huge, smooth and responsive, just like the ones on all other recent Mac laptops. Altogether, the input experience is great, and I rarely find myself really feeling like I need an external keyboard or mouse. I know people have strong feelings about that, so do as you wish, but it’s not really something I think about anymore.
The MacBook Air’s speakers and webcam are also still excellent. Last year, Apple upgraded the 1080p webcam in the Air to a 12-megapixel Center Stage model that can follow your movements to keep you in frame or switch to a “desk view” that shows a top-down viewpoint of the area in front of the laptop. The old 1080p webcam was already pretty solid, and while this one doesn’t magically repair your wrinkles, it’s definitely more versatile and detailed. The speakers, meanwhile, remain one of those things that Apple has absolutely nailed with this generation of its laptops. They’re relatively loud and well-balanced, providing far better sound than I’d expect from such a thin enclosure.
MacBook Air M5
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Enough power to last for years
All of this is well-known, though. The big change this year is the M5 chip, which has been available for a while already in the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. So, we have a good idea of what to expect here as well. I’m testing the 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage that costs $1,299. It’s hard to perceive a difference between the M5 and last year’s M4 in my normal routine (dozens of tabs, Slack, Lightroom, Apple Music streaming and a bunch of lightweight apps like Bear notes, Todoist and so on). And based on my history with Apple’s M-series chips, the M5 will be a great performer for years to come. My work-issued MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro chip still runs like a champ almost five years after it was released, for example.
That said, users who do more than the basics with their laptop and have one with a chip older than 2022’s M2 will likely find the M5 Air to be a nice upgrade. Geekbench 6 benchmarks show the M5 is 11 percent and 17 percent faster than the M4 Air in single-core and multi-core tests (both with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSDs). There were bigger GPU gains this year, with the M5 scoring 31 percent higher than the M4.
Few people out there are likely looking to upgrade from an M4 Air. But the M5 could be a noteworthy upgrade from the M3, depending of course on your workload. The M5 is 31 percent and 43 percent faster than the M3 in single- and multi-core testing. And the GPU is a whopping 56 percent faster as well. If you’re interested in doing things like video editing, music creation, gaming or AI tasks, you’ll definitely appreciate these performance gains.
MacBook Air M5
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Finally, these benchmarks illustrate the gap between the MacBook Neo and the Air. The M5 is about 24 percent faster than the A18 Pro in the single-core test, but it demolishes the Neo’s chip in multi-core (105 percent) and GPU (144 percent) performance. This just reiterates what we already know — the Neo is best-suited for basic tasks, while the Air should have more than enough power until you get into more specialized use cases.
And while no one will mistake the MacBook Air for a gaming laptop, Apple has had increasing success at getting developers to bring big titles to the Mac. Games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Cyberpunk 2077, Lies of P, Control and Resident Evil Village, along with indies like Neva, Stray and Balatro, are available here. That’s not to mention the many quality games worth checking out on Apple Arcade. All this is to say that Macs may still not be the premiere gaming platform, but people who don’t have access to a PlayStation, Xbox or more powerful gaming PC can still try a lot of great games on the platform.
Thanks to the M5, these games play pretty well to boot. I tried Cyberpunk 2077, one of the more notoriously demanding games out there, and had a stutter-free experience. Most graphically intense Mac games default to a “for this Mac” setting so you don’t really need to worry about optimizing settings. Cyberpunk 2077 stayed pretty well locked at 30 fps in my experience — obviously not as good as what you’ll get on a high-end PC or PlayStation 5, but I never felt like I was having a degraded experience. It was smooth, responsive and looked gorgeous. Getting that kind of performance from an ultraportable like the MacBook Air is hard to complain about.
Finally, battery life was close to Apple’s expectations. The company promises 18 hours of streaming video playback or 15 hours of web browsing. In my test, I looped a locally-stored 4K video file with my screen at half brightness and got… exactly 18 hours of playback before the laptop died. I’m sure it would have been less if I was streaming the video, but still. Under my usual working conditions running a variety of apps, I got more in the 10-hour range, which is more than good enough for me.
MacBook Air M5
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Wrap-up
Even with the MacBook Neo showing its chops despite its relatively humble hardware, I think the MacBook Air is by far the best Apple laptop for most people. Sure, Apple’s continued insistence on limiting screens with higher refresh rates to its most expensive hardware is increasingly frustrating. But other than that, the MacBook Air punches above its weight in just about every aspect — particularly when it comes to performance. The M5 is extremely powerful now and should make this year’s Air a useful computer for five years or even longer, depending on what you do with it. The MacBook Air is so mature and well-engineered at this point that it’s not the most exciting thing to review. But if you use one for a bit, it’s easy to appreciate just how good of a laptop it is.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/macbook-air-m5-review-same-but-faster-120000685.html?src=rss
NotebookLM can be adapted into a conversational AI agent, allowing the creation of interactive applications without coding. According to Charles Harper, the process begins with using NotebookLM’s content organization features to structure information effectively. By integrating curated notebooks with Opal’s platform, users can create AI-driven interfaces that respond dynamically to inputs. For example, controlled access […]
March has a habit of delivering the products that January only promised. CES demos become preorders, concept renders start circulating with real specs attached, and the gadgets worth paying attention to separate themselves from the ones that were only ever meant to look good on a stage. This month’s picks share a common thread: each one challenges an assumption about how a familiar product category should behave, look, or fit into daily life.
What makes these five stand out from the usual parade of iterative upgrades is their willingness to subtract. Less screen time, less bulk, less noise, less compromise between form and function. They are not chasing specs for the sake of benchmarks or piling on features to pad a marketing sheet. From a handheld PC that refuses to apologize for its ambition to a concept camera that wants nothing more than for its user to look up from a screen, these gadgets are worth your time and attention this month.
1. GPD Win 5
The PSP’s body plan endures, and the GPD Win 5 is its most ambitious descendant yet. Packed with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, up to 4TB SSD storage, and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, this handheld runs a 7-inch 1080p display at 120Hz with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics. Starting at $1,400, this is not a portable console pretending to be a PC. It is a full PC compressed into two hands.
GPD removed the internal battery entirely, replacing it with a detachable 80 Wh pack that clips to the back. A quad heat pipe cooling system handles thermal loads across a TDP range from 28W to 85W on mains power. Hall effect triggers and capacitive joysticks eliminate drift and deadzone, while a proprietary Mini SSD slot pushes transfer speeds beyond microSD limits. Every design choice solves a problem created by one stubborn, central ambition: desktop-class performance in a handheld shell.
What we like
The external battery swaps in seconds, and plugging into the 180W adapter unlocks full 85W TDP performance that rivals many desktop setups.
Hall effect triggers and capacitive joysticks eliminate the drift issues that plague most handheld PCs after months of heavy use.
What we dislike
The external battery makes the device awkward to hold when attached, and the proprietary charger adds bulk to an already heavy travel kit.
Pricing starts at $1,400 and climbs past $2,000 for the top configuration, placing it deep into enthusiast-only territory.
2. NanoPhone Pro
Smartphones have spent a decade getting bigger. The NanoPhone Pro walks in the opposite direction with a credit-card-sized body measuring 0.4 x 3.8 x 1.8 inches and weighing just 2.8 ounces. Running Android 12 with Google Play certification, this 4G device handles calls, messages, navigation, and basic apps without demanding pocket real estate. At $99, it is built for minimalists, travelers, and anyone tired of their phone being the loudest object in the room.
The spec sheet is an exercise in deliberate restraint. A 4-inch edge-to-edge IPS touchscreen, dual SIM support, 2MP front and 5MP rear cameras, a 2000mAh battery, and expandable storage via microSD. Face ID handles unlocking. The NanoPhone Pro does not pretend to compete with flagships, and that restraint is the entire point. It is a quiet, pocketable alternative that runs WhatsApp, Google Maps, and everything else that matters without the attention-hungry weight of a modern slab phone.
What we like
The credit-card form factor disappears into wallets and running shorts, making it ideal for situations where a full-sized phone feels like overkill.
Google Play certification means the app ecosystem works without sideloading, so daily essentials like navigation and messaging run without friction.
What we dislike
The 5MP rear camera produces images that are functional at best, making this a poor choice for anyone who photographs anything beyond the occasional note or receipt.
Android 12 on a 4-inch screen feels cramped, and typing requires patience and smaller-than-average fingers.
3. Camera (1)
Photography migrated into phones and got buried under notifications. Camera (1), a concept posted on the Nothing Community forum by designer Rishikesh Puthukudy, imagines shooting as a tactile act again. The compact metal body fits a pocket but fills a hand, with all controls on a single edge: a shutter, a circular mode dial with a glyph display, and a D-pad reachable without shifting grip. The design draws from Nothing’s hardware-forward language with circuit-like relief and bead-blasted metal.
A curved light strip around the lens pulses for self-timers, confirms focus, or signals active recording. The engraved lens ring invites twisting rather than pinching. A rear display exists but stays deliberately out of the way, letting physical controls carry most of the interaction. Camera (1) is a student concept, not an official Nothing product, but the question it asks is worth sitting with: in a world where every screen demands something, what would a camera look like if it just wanted its user to notice what was in front of them?
What we like
The single-edge control layout keeps eyes on the scene rather than buried in menus, restoring a tactile shooting workflow that phone cameras abandoned years ago.
Nothing’s glyph design language translates well to a camera body, delivering mode feedback through simple icons rather than nested software screens.
What we dislike
As a concept, Camera (1) exists only as rendered images and community discussion, with no confirmed path to production or a working prototype.
The absence of a sensor, lens, and video specs makes it impossible to judge whether it could compete with even entry-level dedicated cameras.
4. Samsung Slac
Earbuds have looked like earbuds for too long. Samsung’s Slac concept, developed within the company’s design incubation programs, reimagines wearable audio as jewelry. Three components make up the system: an open ear ring for audio output, a wrist-worn ring that tracks listening data and doubles as a magnetic dock, and a home charging station. The circular form wraps around the ear without entering the canal, maintaining awareness of surrounding sound while layering music on top.
When listening ends, the ear ring snaps magnetically onto the wrist component, transforming into something that reads as a chunky bracelet rather than stowed tech. AI tracks a full 24-hour audio cycle, building preference profiles from sound intensity, pitch variation, and tonal characteristics. The design team behind Slak understands that Gen Z treats audio devices as expressions of taste, not utilitarian tools. Whether Slac reaches production is an open question, but the proposition that wearable tech should earn its place on the body through aesthetics feels like a direction the entire industry needs to follow.
What we like
The open-ear design preserves environmental awareness while delivering audio, solving the isolation problem that makes traditional earbuds socially awkward in many settings.
Magnetic docking between ear ring and the wrist component eliminates the pocket-case fumble and turns storage into a wearable moment.
What we dislike
Concept status means no confirmed specs on audio quality, battery life, or connectivity, making it impossible to evaluate whether the sound matches the visual ambition.
Open-ear audio struggles in noisy environments, and without active noise cancellation, Slac may underwhelm on busy streets or public transit.
5. DAP-1
Vinyl got its comeback, and dedicated digital audio players have been staging a quieter return. The DAP-1 concept by Frankfurt-based 3D artist Florent Porta is one of the most compelling arguments for why that return matters. The device carries a slim rectangular body with an OLED touchscreen, a perforated front-facing speaker grille, and an aesthetic sitting between Teenage Engineering and Nothing’s CMF line. It looks like it arrived from a timeline where iPods evolved into something more considered.
The standout decision is the built-in speaker, a feature most high-end DAPs skip entirely. Porta’s inclusion acknowledges that music is sometimes shared, not just private. The DAP-1 is built around FLAC playback, preserving audio quality without streaming compression artifacts. A USB-C port, 3.5mm AUX output, and illuminated power switch line the top edge, while rubberized feet and torx screws on the rear give the device a repairable, tool-like quality. As a concept, it exists only in renders, but the conversation it starts outweighs most finished products on the market.
What we like
The built-in speaker turns a solitary listening device into something social, removing the need for external hardware to share a track with someone next to you.
FLAC-first design philosophy treats audio fidelity as the primary feature rather than an afterthought buried in a settings menu.
What we dislike
Concept-only status means no production timeline, no pricing, and no way to evaluate real-world audio performance beyond what renders suggest.
Dedicated music players occupy a narrow niche, and carrying a separate device for audio requires commitment most listeners will not make.
Where March leaves us
Three of this month’s five picks are concepts. That ratio says something about where consumer tech sits in early 2026: the most exciting ideas are still in render engines, while the products that actually ship tend to iterate rather than invent. The GPD Win 5 and NanoPhone Pro prove that real, purchasable hardware can still surprise, but Camera (1), Slac, and DAP-1 suggest the most interesting design thinking is happening outside production timelines and quarterly earnings calls.
What connects all five is a shared instinct to push back against the default. Against bigger screens, against feature bloat, against the assumption that technology should demand attention rather than earn it. March’s best gadgets respect the space they occupy, whether that space is a pocket, an ear, or the palm of a hand. If even a fraction of these concepts make the jump to production, the rest of 2026 could be far more interesting than the usual upgrade cycle suggests.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s S Pen is far more than a simple stylus; it’s a versatile tool designed to elevate productivity, creativity, and personalization. Whether you’re a professional managing complex tasks, a student juggling assignments, or a creative enthusiast exploring new ideas, the S Pen offers a range of features that extend well beyond […]
As artificial intelligence systems grow more advanced, their failures are becoming increasingly unpredictable and chaotic. Recent research, highlighted by Claudius Papirus, introduces the concept of “incoherence” to describe errors caused by random variance rather than systematic bias. Unlike predictable failures that follow clear patterns, incoherence manifests as erratic and nonsensical outputs, particularly in complex, multi-step […]
Apple's exclusive deal for US broadcast rights of Formula 1 was a big shift to streaming from ESPN's cable coverage of the past, but after the first race (the Australian Grand Prix), it seems to be going well. "The 2026 Formula 1 season on Apple TV is off to a strong start, with fans responding positively and viewership up year over year for the first weekend, exceeding both F1 and Apple expectations," Apple VP Eddy Cue told The Hollywood Reporter.
Apple didn't give any ratings or other details, but we can glean some clues from previous data. Last year, ESPN said the Australian GP averaged 1.1 million viewers, way up from the previous record of 659,000 in 2019. If Cue's comments were accurate, that means Apple TV's audience was above that, which would be impressive considering that it's a streaming-only service.
When Apple's Formula streaming deal was first announced, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was bullish on the deal. "It will allow us to enter in the houses of other people in a different way, in great quality that is very important for us," he told Racer. Indeed, Apple is pouring resources into it in a way that ESPN never did. That includes advanced tech that offers multiple ways for fans to watch, including Multiview, Podium Viewer, driver cams and 4K Dolby Vision coverage, Cue noted.
Apple has jumped into Formula 1 racing in other other ways as well, taking advantage of a surge in the sport's popularity aided by Netflix's series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The streaming service's F1 movie starring Brad Pitt did huge box office numbers and is likely to see a sequel. Apple also struck a deal with Netflix on the aforementioned Drive to Survive series to share streaming of the current season eight (which details the F1 2025 championship). That agreement will also allow Netflix to stream the F1 Canadian Grand Prix live, along with Apple TV.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-says-f1-streaming-already-exceeds-everyones-expectations-111028328.html?src=rss