WhatsApp upgrades group chats with member tags and text stickers

WhatsApp just rolled out some upgrades to group chats. Perhaps the most interesting is the addition of member tags, which lets users give themselves a tag that's customized for a specific group.

Meta gives examples of a user assigning themself the role of a dad in one chat and a soccer goalkeeper in another. This could actually be pretty useful to people who use WhatsApp group chats to role play as characters, organize fantasy sports leagues and other stuff like that.

The platform is also rolling out text stickers to group chats. This lets users turn just about any word into a sticker via an integrated search engine. Folks can gather their most-used stickers together for easy access.

Finally, there are event reminders. This is fairly self-explanatory. The tool lets people create early reminders for upcoming events. Meta says that "this helps everyone remember to commute to the party you're hosting or hop on the call at the right time."

This is just the latest WhatsApp update. The platform recently rolled out AI-powered chat summaries and re-introduced away messages.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-upgrades-group-chats-with-member-tags-and-text-stickers-161420141.html?src=rss

Lenovo just revealed a concept for AI-powered smartglasses at CES

Lenovo just revealed a new smartglasses concept design at CES 2026. The appropriately-named Lenovo AI Glasses Concept promises to transform "how users interact with their surroundings and unifies their workflow."

They look like a standard pair of specs and not all that different from something like Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses. A pair weighs just 45 grams and the battery lasts eight hours, which is just enough time to get through a standard workday.

The glasses are wirelessly tethered to a smart device, which is what does most of the computational heavy lifting. They do include Lenovo and Motorola's proprietary AI platform called Qira, which delivers "sub-millisecond live translation and intelligent image recognition." There's also something called the Catch Me Up feature, which is an AI-generated recap of various notifications from various devices.

The hardware allows for touch and voice control and includes teleprompter software. The concept glasses include speakers, as Lenovo is advertising music playback as a feature.

We don't know when or if these smart glasses will ever hit store shelves. Lenovo tends to drop several intriguing concept designs each year at CES and not all of them make it to market.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/lenovo-just-revealed-a-concept-for-ai-powered-smartglasses-at-ces-010057822.html?src=rss

Motorola just announced a foldable phone to rival Samsung and Google at CES

Samsung and Google have new competition in the foldable space. At CES 2026, Motorola unveiled its first side-foldable smartphone: the Razr Fold. The handheld sports an impressive 6.6-inch external screen and an 8.1-inch flexible main display. Motorola hasn’t provided dimensions yet, so we don’t know how thick it is yet or how it compares to other foldables in that respect.

We do know, however, that it'll include support for the Moto Pen Ultra stylus. This is actually a fairly big deal, as Samsung dropped the feature for the Z Fold 7. Modern foldables basically double as tablets, so a stylus is always appreciated.

A phone.
A phone.
Motorola

There's a robust camera system here, with a 50MP Sony sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide/macro, a 50MP telephoto, a 32MP external selfie lens and a 20MP internal camera. It also offers the ability to record in Dolby Vision.

The Razr Fold will be available in blue and white. We don't have any information regarding internal specs, pricing or availability. Motorola says that "more specifications will be shared in the coming months."

It's worth noting that while this is the company's first side-folding camera, Motorola has always made top-folding phones. After all, that's what a flip phone is. The company continues to refine this basic idea with its standard Razr line of midrange top-folding smartphones.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/motorola-just-announced-a-foldable-phone-to-rival-samsung-and-google-at-ces-010015323.html?src=rss

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds are on sale for $165

It's hard to find better wireless earbuds than Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 if you're an Android user. The statement is even more true if you have a Pixel phone. If you're on the market for a new pair, you can grab the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for $165 in the hazel colorway, which is $54 off their usual price. Other color options are also discounted, just not as steeply. 

The device made our list of the best wireless earbuds, and this is particularly true for those tied into the Pixel ecosystem. These earbuds are on the smaller side and, more importantly, comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They also manage to deliver pristine audio, as we were fans of the punchy bass, full mids and crisp highs on offer.

The battery lasts for 30 hours when you include return trips to the charging case, at around eight hours a pop. They offer multipoint Bluetooth that switches between audio sources with just a single button press. There's an app for keeping an eye on battery levels and ANC levels.

The primary downside when these were first released was the high price tag, which has been alleviated by this sale. Beyond that, there's really just one nitpick. Smaller earbuds translate to a smaller touch panel, which requires precision to operate.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-earbuds-are-on-sale-for-165-193444985.html?src=rss

The PC version of 007 First Light requires lots of expensive RAM and VRAM to run at recommended settings

IO Interactive just revealed minimum and recommended specs for the PC build of 007 First Light. The company recommends 32GB of RAM and 12GB of VRAM. In a normal world, this wouldn't be news, as modern NVIDIA GPUs certainly have more than enough VRAM. However, we live in a world where AI companies gobble up lots of memory.

This has caused newer cards to tick up in price, with more hikes to come. Older cards like the RTX 3070 just won't cut it, as that one ships with 8GB of VRAM. Standard RAM is also getting much more expensive, putting that 32GB out of reach for many gamers. In other words, playing the James Bond sim at max settings will likely cost a pretty Moneypenny.

Specs.
IO Interactive

IO also recommends an Intel Core i5 13500 or an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU, along with 80GB of storage space. Rumors have been swirling that NVIDIA is set to relaunch the RTX 3060 from 2021 to help offset increased demand caused by the hungry hippo that is AI. That one does ship with enough VRAM to run the game at recommended settings.

However, mostly everyone will be able to play the game at minimum settings. It requires just an NVIDIA GTX 1660 or AMD RX 5700 and an Intel Core i5 9500K or AMD Ryzen 5 3500. Players must have 16GB of traditional RAM and 8GB of VRAM.

It's worth noting that both the recommended and minimum specs are for running the game in 1080p. The company hasn't announced anything for 4K settings, so it must be pretty bad on the VRAM front.

IO has also revealed a partnership with NVIDIA on the game. 007 First Light will include DLSS 3 with Multi Frame Generation for "an even deeper sense of immersion and improved performance."

007 First Light is a nifty-looking action title that chronicles the early years of everyone's favorite lothario spy. Patrick Gibson from The OA and Dexter: Original Sin plays Bond and Lenny Kravitz, the guy who sings stuff, voices the villain. The game will be available on May 27 on multiple platforms.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-pc-version-of-007-first-light-requires-lots-of-expensive-ram-and-vram-to-run-at-recommended-settings-184339040.html?src=rss

Corsair made a keyboard with a built-in Stream Deck

Corsair just revealed a gaming keyboard with a built-in Stream Deck controller at CES 2026. The Galleon 100 SD is a mechanical keyboard with a 5-inch screen, two rotary encoders and a full complement of Stream Deck buttons.

For the uninitiated, the Stream Deck is basically a collection of hot keys that execute various commands. It's been incredibly popular for streamers and the like, but it's also become a boon for PC gamers.

Corsair is advertising the Galleon 100 SD directly to gamers, so it boasts of hot keys being used to "access abilities, call in airstrikes and manage inventory without diving through menus." The Elgato Marketplace offers profiles for specific games, eliminating the need to manually program the buttons. The included screen can display relevant stats while playing.

However, this is a real Stream Deck. It has 12 big buttons, which can be programmed to do all kinds of things beyond gaming. People use it to stream, yes, but also to control smart home devices, assist with creative tasks and a lot more.

A keyboard thing.
A keyboard thing.
Corsair

It's also a true mechanical gaming keyboard with hyper-polling rates up to 8,000Hz, which the company says "transmits your keystrokes up to eight times faster" than standard releases. It features MLX Pulse keyswitches that have been "tuned for fast actuation and smooth yet tactile feedback."

Everything is housed in a durable aluminum frame with gasket housing and six layers of sound dampening. There's a cushioned palm rest and configurable RGB lighting.

The Galleon 100 SD is available right now, but there's a catch. It costs $350, which is a lot of dough for a gaming keyboard. For that amount of money you could buy an actual Stream Deck XL and a decent keyboard and still have plenty to spare.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/corsair-made-a-keyboard-with-a-built-in-stream-deck-163158296.html?src=rss

This speaker by Victrola sits underneath turntables and streams audio via Bluetooth

Noted turntable manufacturer Victrola just announced the Soundstage speaker at CES. This thin little doodad actually sits underneath turntables, removing the need for a full stereo set-up. The Soundstage isn't the first speaker that offers this functionality, but this one has tech-forward features.

It offers multiple connection options, including Bluetooth. Many newer Victrola turntables can do Bluetooth streaming, so adding this speaker to a setup would be extremely simple. Otherwise, companies offer Bluetooth receivers for turntables.

It also allows for traditional wired connections, and there's an option for USB-C. In other words, the Soundstage should easily connect to other audio sources like smartphones and computers. It even integrates with Auracast for multi-speaker setups.

A speaker.
Victrola

As for sound, Victrola promises superior audio thanks to a "vibration-isolated design." There's a specialized woofer for bass response and balanced mode radiators (a type of driver) for stereo separation. It likely won't sound as good as a full sound system but, again, think of all of those annoying wires.

The Soundstage will be available this summer and costs $350. There will be multiple colorways, including walnut and black.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/this-speaker-by-victrola-sits-underneath-turntables-and-streams-audio-via-bluetooth-100021991.html?src=rss

Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 16S AI laptop can be outfitted with Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 386H CPU

Acer just announced the Predator Helios 16S AI gaming laptop at CES 2026. This computer is filled with both bells and whistles, making it a decent choice for modern gamers.

To that end, the laptop can be equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor. This is Intel's upcoming flagship mobile processor that has previously been known as Panther Lake. The Helios 16S AI can also be outfitted with up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU.

A computer.
Acer

It comes with a 16-inch WQXGA OLED display that offers true HDR imaging support. The laptop can be loaded with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. The connectivity here is on point, with support for Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth. Everything is housed in an 18.9mm slim metal chassis. It looks pretty solid.

We don't have any pricing, and the company might still be calculating that, given that ongoing RAM shortage. Acer says they'll disclose that closer to launch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/acers-predator-helios-neo-16s-ai-laptop-can-be-outfitted-with-intels-new-core-ultra-9-386h-cpu-230048825.html?src=rss

NVIDIA is reportedly bringing back 2021’s RTX 3060 GPU because AI is eating all of the newer cards

A reputable leaker has indicated that NVIDIA plans on bringing the RTX 3060 back to market, according to reports by Kotaku and WFCCTech. It first released the GPU at the beginning of 2021. The leaker Hongxing2020 indicates that NVIDIA will resume production of the 3060 sometime in the next few months.

Why is the world's most valuable company reportedly bringing back such an antiquated graphics card? You know the answer. It's the endless gaping maw known as AI. Tech companies have been hoovering up PC parts for AI applications with reckless abandon. It has become a legitimate challenge for a regular person to buy RAM and graphics cards, which has led to price increases across the board and companies like Crucial closing up shop.

It's particularly difficult to get ahold of GDDR7 RAM, which is needed for the newer RTX 5060 cards. So NVIDIA's solution looks to be a hop in the time machine to 2021. Gamers will need something, after all, and the 3060 technically gets the job done. Any downgrade in graphics and performance will be worth it once you watch an AI-generated video of Kurt Cobain singing in heaven with Albert Einstein, am I right? It's hilarious because they never got to meet in real life.

The RTX 3060 is still pretty popular, despite NVIDIA phasing out the card back in 2024. We don't know how much the company plans on charging for this trip down memory lane. The GPU originally cost around $329.

One would think that five-year-old technology could easily hit a much lower price point, but NVIDIA has us in a chokehold here and it can pretty much charge whatever it wants. Again, no price is too high when considering the magical wonders of generative AI. You can watch Tupac hang out with Mr. Rogers for five seconds.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidia-is-reportedly-bringing-back-2021s-rtx-3060-gpu-because-ai-is-eating-all-of-the-newer-cards-194241706.html?src=rss

A Stranger Things making-of documentary hits Netflix next week

Netflix just announced the pending release of a Stranger Things documentary, hot on the heels of the series finale. It premieres on January 12. One Last Adventure focuses on the making of season five, so it's not a full series retrospective. This seems similar to what Disney+ does a few weeks after a popular Star Wars or Marvel show drops.

Still, it's a documentary about the very last season of the show, so there's likely to be some tearful goodbyes and all of that jazz. As a matter of fact, the trailer shows plenty of hugs along with sit-down interviews.

It'll shine a light on how some of the stunts and set pieces came together, which is cool. Stranger Things, after all, is primarily a show about spectacle and season five had plenty to spare. The Duffer Brothers will also discuss how they came to write some of those final character arcs (no spoilers here.)

If you're grieving the loss of Steve Harrington, Delightful Derrick, Eleven and the rest, this should make for a nice watch. It's worth noting that while Stranger Things has doled out its last needle drop, the franchise itself is still going. 

The animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres later this year. There's also a live-action spinoff coming at some point. This will likely be another story in the same universe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a-stranger-things-making-of-documentary-hits-netflix-next-week-175539720.html?src=rss