The Morning After: Apple’s big week starts with the iPhone 17e

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We’re at the start of another one of those weeks where Apple announces one or two of its lesser products each day. The first pair to break cover is the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4, with more due to drop as the calendar rolls forward. The iPhone 17e is by far the more interesting gadget, especially as the price remained the same as for the iPhone 16e. Apple is charging $599 for the 17e, even though the base model storage has doubled to a very welcome 256GB.

The 17e also gains several features that were held back from the equivalent budget handset last year. The most notable is perhaps the addition of MagSafe at Qi2 speeds, enabling users to wirelessly charge their device at 15W. Keen-eyed spec-list nerds will also spot Apple’s C1X proprietary wireless chip, which offers comparable speed to the Qualcomm models it will eventually replace, but with far better power efficiency.

The iPad Air, by comparison, is the very model of a modern major iterative spec revision to keep it up to date. The M3 has been upgraded to an M4, and it’ll get the same home grown wireless chips (N1 and C1X), blessing it with Wi-Fi 7 compatibility. Apple is also adding some more RAM to the iPad Air, boosting it from 8GB to 12GB, but without adding any more digits to the price.

As someone who’s still clinging on to an iPhone 14, the generous storage and low cost of the iPhone 17e is intriguing. And it’s a far more attractive package than whatever Apple was trying to offer with the iPhone Air.

— Dan Cooper

Image of the components of Lenovo's modular AI PC on a table.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Lenovo rocked up to MWC to show off a concept laptop with hot-swappable components, letting users push around their keyboard and displays at will. The company says you can set up the hardware on your desk to suit your needs at any given time. So, if you need a standard laptop, you can do that, or you can put a second display where your keyboard should go and use your keyboard wirelessly. Sadly, it’s a concept, so while you can purr at Lenovo’s engineering prowess you can’t hand it any of your cash to properly own this thing.

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Image of Honor's Robot Phone
Mat Smith for Engadget

Honor made its usual full-court press at MWC, but the star of its own show was the Robot Phone, due to launch later this year. It’s a smartphone with its own articulating camera gimbal which can move around in response to its user’s commands. The Morning After’s own Mat Smith says it’s able to shake and nod its, uh, “head,” and can even dance along to music. And that’s before you get to its real function to, you know, take photos and stuff.

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Paramount Sky CEO David Ellison has outlined his vision for his latest toy, Warner Brothers Discovery. He told investors both companies would merge their streaming services, giving it a global audience of around 200 million subscribers. Ellison also pledged to give HBO operational independence, hopefully meaning it won’t be staffed entirely by patronage appointees.

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Image of the Leitzphone held in a hand
Mat Smith for Engadget

MWC is such a big show it would be impossible to cover everything we’ve reported on in a single newsletter. But, thankfully, we’ve built a roundup of the most important things for you to peruse, especially all of the biggest phones that you aren’t as likely to see on store shelves in the US.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121540093.html?src=rss

How to Use Claude Code to Draw Amazing Diagrams With Excalidraw

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How to Use Claude Code to Draw Amazing Diagrams With Excalidraw Side-by-side renders of an Excalidraw diagram before and after iterative fixes to connectors and text placement.

Creating diagrams with coding agents like Claude Code can be a nuanced process, as these systems are primarily designed for text-based tasks. Cole Medin demonstrates how to address this challenge by combining Claude Code with Excalidraw, a platform that uses JSON file formats for diagram creation. One key step involves cloning the Excalidraw skill repository […]

The post How to Use Claude Code to Draw Amazing Diagrams With Excalidraw appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Meta starts testing its AI shopping assistant

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Meta has started rolling out an experimental AI shopping tool to some users in the US, according to Bloomberg. At the moment, it’s reportedly only showing up on desktop browsers when select users visit Meta AI on the web. They’ll know if they have access to the feature if they see the “Shopping research” button inside the query text box. The company has confirmed that it was testing the feature, Bloomberg said, but it didn’t say when a wider release will happen.

When users ask for product suggestions, the chatbot will show them a carousel with product images and their pricing, along with a link to the e-commerce website and information about the brand. Meta AI will also include a short explanation why it recommended the item. If Meta AI can see a user’s information, such as their gender and location data, it can tailor responses for them. Bloomberg said it replied with a selection of women’s puffer jackets from shops that ship to New York, based on the tester’s profile. Users cannot check out from within the Meta AI interface, but they can click on the links it provides to shop online.

Mark Zuckerberg previously told investors that Meta is launching agentic shopping tools during an earnings call earlier this year. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the company is working on them, when rival AI companies already offer the same tools. OpenAI rolled out a dedicated shopping assistant for ChatGPT just before Black Friday last year, shortly after Google launched its own shopping tools for Gemini. Perplexity also released an AI shopping assistant at the same time.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-starts-testing-its-ai-shopping-assistant-120148124.html?src=rss

Best Apple AirTag 2 Alternatives: Comparing the Competition

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Best Apple AirTag 2 Alternatives: Comparing the Competition AirTag 2 and Samsung SmartTag 2 side-by-side comparison for 2026

The smart tracker market in 2026 has evolved significantly, offering a wide variety of devices designed to meet diverse user needs. From Apple’s AirTag 2 to Samsung’s SmartTag 2, and alternatives like Tile and UG Green Fine Track, each tracker brings unique features to the table. This article explores the current landscape of smart trackers, […]

The post Best Apple AirTag 2 Alternatives: Comparing the Competition appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Design Process Shifts as AI Cuts Mockup Work to 30–40%

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Design Process Shifts as AI Cuts Mockup Work to 30–40% Claude Code shown generating prototype code, supporting quick ideation and early implementation checks.

The design process is shifting away from traditional, linear workflows toward more adaptive and collaborative methods. According to Lenny’s Podcast, designers now dedicate only 30-40% of their time to creating static deliverables like polished prototypes. Instead, they are focusing on iterative work with engineers to implement ideas more quickly. This change aligns with the increasing […]

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Should You Upgrade from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the S26 Ultra? Full Comparison

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Should You Upgrade from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the S26 Ultra? Full Comparison Comparison of S26 Ultra and S25 Ultra highlighting key features

The S26 Ultra builds upon the foundation of the S25 Ultra, introducing refinements in artificial intelligence (AI), low-light photography, and charging capabilities. While these updates enhance the overall experience, they may not be fantastic enough for every user to justify an upgrade. The video below from Nick Ackerman explores the key features of the S26 […]

The post Should You Upgrade from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the S26 Ultra? Full Comparison appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Google Home’s latest feature is Gemini-powered ‘Live Search’ for cameras

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Google Home has some significant new quality-of-life updates and a new AI-powered feature, the division's head honcho Anish Katturkan announced on X. Many of them, including a function called "Live Search," are powered by the company's Gemini for Home service launched in October 2025 as the official replacement for Google Assistant on smart devices. 

"We launched Gemini for Home in Early Access specifically to learn from real-world usage," Katturkaran said. "With millions of you now testing and shaping this experience every day, we're pushing regular voice improvements to address your feedback."

The Live Search feature does just what it says, letting you query Gemini about the current state of your home based on what the cameras see. For instance, you can ask things like "Hey Google, is there a car in the driveway?" However, the feature is only available for Google Home Premium advanced subscribers who pay a $20 per month ($200 per year) fee. 

Gemini for Home now uses updated models to improve the quality and accuracy of answers too and will more reliably play newly-released songs. Other key updates include better targeting for smart home devices by room, house and device, reduced instances of cutting off a speaker prematurely, better reliability for user-created automations by voice and more. Too see all those changes, check out Google Home's latest changelog,

Finally, Google Home announced "enhanced support" for the Nest x Yale lock, including comprehensive passcode management (including for guests), a more robust activity history, real-time notifications for lock events and enhanced lock settings like single touch locking. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/googles-homes-latest-feature-is-gemini-powered-live-search-for-cameras-112216551.html?src=rss

Learn To Think On Paper : Writing by Hand Slows Thinking for Clearer Ideas and Longer Recall

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Learn To Think On Paper : Writing by Hand Slows Thinking for Clearer Ideas and Longer Recall Hand-drawn Eisenhower Matrix on paper with four squares, sorting tasks by urgency and importance.

Writing by hand offers a unique way to engage your mind, fostering creativity and clarity in ways that digital methods often cannot. As Koi explains, thinking on paper allows you to explore ideas nonlinearly, mirroring how your brain naturally processes information. For instance, creating a mind map on paper can help you visualize connections between […]

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Why Corporate Wellness Apps Are the Ultimate Workplace OS Upgrade

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Why Corporate Wellness Apps Are the Ultimate Workplace OS Upgrade Corporate Wellness Apps

If you still think the ultimate corporate perk is a next-gen console in the breakroom, a ping-pong table, or free Friday pizza, it is time to update your workplace operating system. As the shift to remote and hybrid work has rewritten the rules of the office, traditional “culture” hardware has become obsolete. In its place, […]

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This Card Wallet Replaces Sticky Notes With a Reusable Board

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The sticky note has outlasted every productivity trend that was supposed to replace it, and there’s a reason for that. Writing something down by hand, right when it occurs to you, is still the fastest way to keep an idea from slipping away. Digital apps, meanwhile, have the opposite problem: the moment you unlock your phone to jot something down, you’re one notification away from forgetting why you opened it.

New Things Lab, a design studio from the Netherlands, built a direct answer to that problem. The MEMO Whiteboard Wallet is a precision-machined aluminum card holder with a dry-erase surface built directly into its face, giving you a pocket-sized board that’s always ready when a thought strikes. The concept earned quite a following from people who immediately understood what it was for.

Designer: New Things Lab

The whiteboard spans 6 inches diagonally, just over A7 in size, and it’s coated with a smooth, heat-cured paint that cleans up without ghosting. It’s large enough to be genuinely useful but slim enough not to add awkward bulk. On a given day, you might use it to jot down a measurement, scribble a password for a guest, or keep a short list of things you’d otherwise forget by lunch.

Writing on the surface is handled by an included 0.8mm fine-point pen that stores in a dedicated slot built right into the wallet’s frame, so it’s always within reach when you need it. Flip the pen around, and there’s an eraser on the other end, making the MEMO genuinely self-contained. You’re not hunting for something to wipe the board with, and there’s no spare piece you’d misplace in a bag.

On the other side of the MEMO is the actual card-carrying section, with room for up to six standard cards and a magnetic closure that keeps everything neatly shut. The body is milled from 6063 aluminum, giving it a solid, premium feel without adding unnecessary weight or thickness. That same metal shell also blocks RFID signals, protecting your card data from electronic skimming without needing any additional sleeve or pouch.

The MEMO comes in Charcoal Black, Slate Gray, and Gilded Rose as the standard colorways, with Revision Red and Airmail Blue available as limited editions. All five options lean toward the restrained end of the color spectrum, which suits the product well. There’s also an environmental case to be made here. Every note wiped from the MEMO’s surface is a sticky note that didn’t find its way into the trash, and those savings do compound over time.

The post This Card Wallet Replaces Sticky Notes With a Reusable Board first appeared on Yanko Design.