Spotify adds verified podcast badges so you know you’re listening to the real host, and not an AI clone

Spotify is rolling out verified badges for podcasts and tightening its rules around AI voice cloning to make sure the podcasts you love are actually made by the people you think they are.

YouTube gets Gemini Omni for free, but its best AI search features stay behind a paywall

Google announced two big YouTube features at I/O 2026: Omni for Shorts and Ask YouTube for Premium subscribers in the US.

Plex wants to force its users into a subscription trap, and honestly, I’m a little mad

Plex is raising its Lifetime Plex Pass price from $249.99 to $749.99 on July 1, 2026. It’s dressed up as good news, but I’m not buying it, figuratively or literally.

Google and Xreal’s Project Aura smart glasses will ship later this year

Xreal’s Project Aura smart glasses throw built-in display units into the mix with a wide field of view,

Google shows off Android audio glasses designed by Gentle Monster and Warby Parker

Google has finally given us first look at Android XR audio glasses, powered by Gemini and coming out later this year.

Sony launches 1000X Collexion headphones, and they keep it classy at a sweet price tag

Sony’s new 1000X THE COLLEXION noise-cancelling headphones inherit the same audio DNA as the WH-1000XM6 headphones, but in a more stylish package and an eye-watering asking price.

Edifier’s new budget headphones put song lyrics on the earcups and I’m confused

Edifier has launched the Auro Ace budget headphones with a customizable dot-matrix display that can show synced lyrics and animations in real time.

The HomePod mini still makes sense in 2026 if you are already in Apple’s ecosystem

The HomePod mini has barely changed over the years, but it still offers solid sound, seamless Apple integration, and a surprisingly good experience with the Apple TV 4K. The catch is that most of its best features only shine inside Apple’s ecosystem.

JBL’s new Live 4 earbuds come in three styles and a smarter case with a built-in display

JBL has updated its Live earbuds with three fit choices, improved ANC, Hi-Res Audio, and a smarter touchscreen case that can handle more controls directly from the case.

At $4,499, the Sony A7R VI undercuts the A1 II by $2,000, and still matches it at 30fps

Sony’s A7R VI does something no camera at this price has done before. It pairs 66.8 megapixels with 30fps burst speed using a new stacked sensor and BIONZ XR2 processor.