Apple appears poised to make a significant change to its long-standing product launch strategy. Reports indicate that the company might release the iPhone 18 as early as spring 2026, deviating from its traditional September launch schedule. While the standard iPhone 18 could arrive months earlier, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to retain […]
The post iPhone 18 Pro Max Early Leaks: Everything is Changing! appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
One of the many concerns about artificial intelligence these days is how the rush to build data centers is impacting local communities. Data centers can create a drain on resources, and some utility companies have already said customers can expect to see their electricity bills growing as these facilities increase demand. There have been some discussions of what other power sources could support the AI engine, and wind power specialist Airloom is one company that's looking to address the problem. Ahead of the business' upcoming appearance at CES, we've learned a bit about what Airloom has accomplished this year and what it is aiming for next.
Rather than the very tall towers typically used for this approach, Airloom's structures are 20 to 30 meters high. They are comprised of a loop of adjustable wings that move along a track, a design that’s akin to a roller coaster. As the wings move, they generate power just like the blades on a regular wind turbine do. Airloom claims that its structures require 40 percent less mass than a traditional one while delivering the same output. It also says the Airloom's towers require 42 percent fewer parts and 96 percent fewer unique parts. In combination, the company says its approach is 85 percent faster to deploy and 47 percent less expensive than horizontal axis wind turbines. Airloom broke ground on a pilot site in June for testing out its approach and confirming how those figures work in practice.
It’s not feasible to bring a wind farm, even a small one, into CES, but Airloom will have a booth at the event with materials about its technology and engineering. While the business isn't in a consumer-facing field, the impact of Airloom's work could have a future positive impact on people if the data center boom continues.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/airloom-will-showcase-its-new-approach-to-wind-power-at-ces-160000063.html?src=rssWhat happens when a tech giant refuses to back down after a high-profile failure? In 2015, Valve’s ambitious Steam Machines stumbled out of the gate, leaving a trail of fragmented hardware, limited game compatibility, and confused consumers in its wake. Many wrote off the project as a cautionary tale of overreach. But Valve, known for […]
The post Valve’s Compact Steam Machine Console Blends PC Flexibility with Sharp 4K at 60 FPS appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
You know that moment when you open your fridge and discover that beautiful container of berries you bought three days ago has turned into a science experiment? We’ve all been there. But what if I told you there’s a clever piece of design that could help solve this perpetual kitchen problem, and it looks pretty fantastic while doing it?
Meet SmartLid, a reusable jar lid created by designers Hakan Gürsu and Sezin Hasgüler that’s basically giving your ordinary glass jars a serious tech upgrade. Instead of just sitting there looking cute (though these lids definitely do that with their array of fun colors), SmartLid actively works to keep your food fresh using UV-C light technology.
Designers: Hakan Gürsu, Sezin Hasgüler
The concept is surprisingly simple yet brilliant. Inside each lid sits a 254 nm UV-C LED that emits light known for its bacteria-fighting powers. When you pop this smart lid onto your jar, it creates a chemical-free preservation system that inhibits mold and bacteria growth. No weird sprays, no mysterious additives, just clean ultraviolet light doing what it does naturally. And here’s the kicker: it uses less than 1 watt of energy, so you’re not exactly running up your electricity bill for fresher strawberries.
What really caught my attention is how SmartLid tackles the sustainability angle from multiple directions. First, there’s the obvious benefit of reducing food waste. When your food stays fresh longer, you’re throwing away less, which means fewer trips to the grocery store and less strain on your wallet. But the designers went deeper than that. The lid itself is made from recycled ABS plastic and bio-based silicone, so even the product’s materials align with circular design principles.
The modular design is particularly smart. That geometric cutout sleeve you see wrapping around the jars isn’t just for looks (though those organic shapes definitely give off modern design vibes). It’s functional, allowing you to see your food while protecting the jar and creating a cohesive system. The lids come in a gorgeous palette of colors, from soft lavender and mint to bolder oranges and teals, making them equally at home in a minimalist Scandinavian kitchen or a more eclectic space.
Looking at the technical side, SmartLid is waterproof and sensor-controlled, which means it’s actually thinking about when and how to deploy its UV powers. This isn’t some primitive gadget that just blasts light constantly. The intelligence built into the system helps optimize the preservation process while being energy efficient. For anyone who loves tech-forward solutions to everyday problems, this is pretty exciting stuff.
The best part? SmartLid transforms containers you probably already own into active preservation systems. You don’t need to buy a whole new set of specialty containers or invest in some bulky appliance. Just screw one of these lids onto a standard glass jar, and suddenly you’ve upgraded your food storage game. This approach feels particularly relevant right now when we’re all trying to be more conscious about consumption and waste.
From a design perspective, SmartLid hits that sweet spot where form meets function. The product feels approachable rather than overly technical or intimidating. You could see it fitting seamlessly into contemporary kitchen aesthetics that celebrate both style and substance. There’s something refreshing about a product that doesn’t hide its technology but instead makes it part of its visual identity, with that purple glow visible when the UV light is active.
The designers made sure to connect SmartLid to broader global sustainability goals too. It aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production. That might sound like corporate speak, but it actually matters. Design that considers its impact beyond the individual user and thinks about systemic change is design that can genuinely make a difference.
Kitchen gadgets often feel gimmicky or solve problems nobody actually has but SmartLid addresses something universally relatable: the frustration of wasted food and money. It does so with thoughtful design, legitimate technology, and a sustainability mindset that goes beyond surface-level greenwashing. Whether you’re a design enthusiast who appreciates clever problem-solving, a tech lover excited about practical UV applications, or simply someone tired of moldy leftovers, this little lid deserves your attention.
The post This Smart Jar Lid Uses UV Light to Keep Your Food Fresh Longer first appeared on Yanko Design.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra represents a significant evolution in smartphone technology, combining innovative advancements with user-centric design refinements. With improvements spanning performance, design, and functionality, this flagship device redefines expectations for the Galaxy Ultra series. Below, we explore the most noteworthy upgrades that make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a standout in the competitive smartphone […]
The post 10 Massive Upgrades Coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
For a tech writer, being very offline is sort of like being a marathon coach who doesn’t run. So in 2025, I tried to reverse years of studied avoidance towards the most ubiquitous technological phenomenon on earth — I got back on social media. The change was short-lived.
My first exodus from the feeds took some work — disabling notifications, removing apps from my homescreen and then deleting accounts entirely. This time, the phone put itself down. The whole thing has simply lost its luster.
I started with Instagram. Every experience went like this: I’d see a single post from one of the rare family members or IRL friends who are active on the platform. Next, I was fed a sponsored post, followed by suggestions to follow randos. After that, a series of influencer videos that, admittedly, appeal to my taste (funny/absurdist women and dissertations on urban planning). That was followed up with more sponsored posts, mostly from brands I’d looked up for work. Then it’d circle back to the influencers. My eyes glazed over and I tossed the phone aside.
Years back, the platform gave off a jolt of quasi-social connection that I’d spend hours sucking up. I fed on pointless thoughts from an ex-coworker, vacation reels from a college roommate, a half-baked loaf of bread that an old friend dropped on the floor but took a picture of anyway. Now it’s a bare sliver of that stuff, shoehorned between towers of sponsored content and posts from people who make or promote their living on Instagram. The real people have left. The connection is gone. The FOMO is no more.
I experienced some variation of the same disappointment on every platform I rejoined. When I got back on TikTok a few months after the ban, it felt like a frenzied shopping mall. Every video seems to be about four seconds long and most are promotional and/or shoppable. YouTube Shorts is drowning in AI-generated videos, and I don’t hit up social media to watch fake footage of desperate wild animal babies clambering onto the boats of helpful humans. My life has no need for simulated toddlers admonishing their pets. Occasionally, I’d hit on something compelling: a clip from late night TV, a stupidly decadent dessert recipe, people from other countries explaining cultural subtleties.
But for me, these social media platforms are no longer velcro for the eyes. I remember losing focus, spending long hours on YouTube Shorts and IG. I’d look up bleary-eyed and shame-faced after hours scrolling TikTok’s For You Page. Now, after a few minutes, a bored ickiness sets in. I feel like I’m trapped in a carnival of bots hawking shampoo at me and I just want to go home.
It’s not a mystery how or why things feel different; The answer is always money. These billion- and trillion-dollar companies have shareholders who prize year-over-year performance over anything else. So we get more sponsored posts on Instagram. TikTok purposefully, enthusiastically overloads itself with shoppable content (which isn’t going to change no matter who owns it). YouTube is obsessed with engagement so it ends up rewarding people who flood the platform with AI slop. These platforms aren’t about human connections and the spread of creativity — the stuff that used to draw me in — they’re thinly varnished ecommerce sites sprinkled with brute-forced AI oddities.
I’d be sadder about the whole thing if I thought it could be any different. These companies are among the most valuable in the world. The fact that I can’t connect with my fellow common people using their services is not surprising. The change isn’t even driving everyone away. Instagram reported more users than ever this year, to the tune of 35 percent of the planet. Billions of users still scroll TikTok and watch YouTube Shorts. So maybe it’s just a me thing.
And I have options. Over-monetization may have made me not want to engage with a few social media behemoths, but things aren’t so dire everywhere. Bluesky reminds me of Twitter before X. I take comfort in seeing posts that prove most people are as dismayed as I am over a government and wider economic system that are nakedly uninterested in serving the public. The hot takes aren’t quite as funny as they were on Twitter years back — maybe it’s just all been said before or perhaps things have gotten too dire for levity. I still don’t end up spending a lot of time on the platform, however. It’s not as weird as it was before the defection and I get tired of the stream of news headlines contextualized with tut-tutting and handwringing — I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.
It’d be easy to say that social media just isn’t my thing, but that’s not true because I can’t quit Reddit — the shining exception to my social media ennui. It feels filled with actual people. Ads exist, but in a subdued, manageable way. And every contributor, commenter and moderator I’ve come across on the app is militantly vigilant against the onslaught of artificially generated content. I also like the organizational structure. I know my Home tab will only expose me to my chosen subs and I derive great joy from happy cows, greeble-chasing cats, enigmatic night feelings and freaky abandoned spaces. I use my local subreddit r/Albuquerque daily to answer questions and keep tabs on the world (directly) around me.
Sadly, Reddit is an outlier, a misfit exception to the rule, and now that it’s gone public, it may follow a similar monetization push. Bluesky is tiny, new and not yet profitable, so who knows where its financial journey will lead it (though the “world without Caesars” shirt gives us some hope).
There’s something lamentable about the loss of the connections we gleaned from platforms that were once compelling, engrossing and rife with the creativity of our fellow humans. Ultimately, any public-facing company that prioritizes profits over everything else has no incentive to look out for its users. So I don’t expect any of the larger social platforms to pull back on their monetization marches. For now, I’ve decided I’m comfortable with my admittedly narrow interaction with the world of social media. As a Gen-Xer, online-first wasn’t how my relationship to the world started out. And I’m pretty confident I know enough about other tech-related stuff to be useful to my editors and readers without a black belt in social. (Ed. note: She is.) Besides, Karissa’s got us covered.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/in-2025-quitting-social-media-felt-easier-than-ever-140000374.html?src=rssWhat if you could create a fully functional app, complete with data storage, file hosting, forms, and sharing, without ever needing a backend? In this overview, Your AI Workflow explores how Google AI Studio turns this concept into reality. By harnessing browser-based technologies like IndexedDB and integrating advanced APIs, developers can build dynamic, feature-rich applications […]
The post How to Make Google AI Studio Apps Work Offline, Store Files, Submit Forms & Share Links appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
You might think of Bosch as the modern European equivalent to what the GE brand once was in America. It's a home appliance name (thanks to its partnership with Siemens), but the German multinational brand's core business is really about providing the underlying technology and engineering that powers cars, homes and factories around the world. That focus is reflected at CES 2026, where much of what Bosch is unveiling is intended to be licensed to other companies rather than sold as Bosch-branded products on store shelves.
Case in point is Bosch's automotive plans at CES. The company is showcasing what it calls "AI in the car," or more specifically, in the cockpit of the car. "Bosch's AI-powered cockpit makes driving more comfortable, intuitive, and safer for all occupants," Bosch board member Markus Heyn said in a press release. We'll get into all the details below, as well as how to tune in to the press conference on Monday.
You can livestream the event on Monday, January 5 at 12PM ET via the Bosch press page or YouTube. (We've embedded the stream link below.)
We'll also be highlighting any relevant info from Bosch's presentation in the main Engadget CES 2026 liveblog.
Bosch will be setting up shop in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (booth 16203), where the company will be focusing on its three big themes — mobility, smart home integrations and manufacturing — all of which will include hardware, software and AI solutions.
Like many other CES 2026 exhibitors, look for Bosch to emphasize its partnerships with the big dogs of the AI space at the show. For instance, that AI-powered car cockpit mentioned above will feature integrations with both Microsoft and NVIDIA. Bosch is touting the ability to use voice commands to join a Teams call, while the car's system will automatically activate adaptive cruise control. And it's noting that NVIDIA's software suites will help manage "real-time sensor processing and vision-language models."
Here's a glimpse of what the booth will look like:
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/how-to-watch-todays-bosch-ces-2026-press-conference-live-130020554.html?src=rssThe start of a new year always feels like a reset button. Everyone’s talking about moving more, eating better, sleeping longer or finally taming their digital chaos. But resolutions rarely survive on willpower alone. The right tools or piece of tech can make those goals easier to keep by turning motivation into a habit. Whether you’re trying to close your rings, track your progress or just build better routines, these smart picks make self-improvement feel a little more achievable, and a lot more enjoyable.