Xbox testing disc-to-digital feature that digitizes a physical game collection
Xbox testing disc-to-digital feature that digitizes a physical game collection

Microsoft will likely soon follow Sony and stop the production of physical discs for Xbox games. But instead of leaving physical discs behind entirely, sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell me the company has quietly been working on a disc-to-digital feature that will allow Xbox owners to digitize their existing physical game collections. Xbox employees […]

My favorite Kindle alternative is $30 off after a recent price increase
My favorite Kindle alternative is $30 off after a recent price increase

Kobo recently raised the price of its Libra Colour e-reader to $259.99, but today’s deal effectively erases that hike. The company, Best Buy, and Target, are all selling it for its old $229.99 price as part of broader sales, making now one of the best times to grab my favorite alternative to Amazon’s Kindle. If […]

Base44 launches Base1, its own AI model for vibe coding
Base44 launches Base1, its own AI model for vibe coding

Base44 spent its first year building apps on other companies’ AI models. Now it has built its own. It is betting that owning the model is the only way to survive the vibe-coding gold rush. The Tel Aviv startup lets anyone build a working app by describ…

OpenAI’s first hardware is a macro pad for Codex coders
OpenAI’s first hardware is a macro pad for Codex coders

OpenAI’s first piece of hardware is not the mysterious gadget everyone is waiting for. It is a small keyboard for people who talk to an AI all day. On Monday, the OpenAI Developers account posted a short video on X. It showed a small square device with…

Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs
Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs

Sony has announced that from January 2028 it will entirely stop the production of physical discs for new PlayStation games. From that point onwards, new releases will only be available in digital versions from the PlayStation Store and other retailers. Games released before January 2028 will still be available on disc. “This is a natural […]

Google built a great smart speaker, but Gemini isn’t ready for it
Google built a great smart speaker, but Gemini isn’t ready for it

Smart speakers have spent the past few years searching for a compelling second act. Beyond music, timers, and controlling your lights, they’ve struggled to justify taking up space on the kitchen counter. AI promised to change that. Amazon debuted its new hardware powered by a revamped Alexa last fall, and now it’s finally Google’s turn. […]

The cube was a lie: up close with our Dbrand Companion Cube before it gets destroyed
The cube was a lie: up close with our Dbrand Companion Cube before it gets destroyed

Dbrand is the company that shipped a product that told Nintendo’s legal team to “go fuck yourself,” and the company that had a second set of lawyer-dodging PS5 plates ready when Sony threatened to sue over the originals. But on June 29th, the company finally ate some serious humble pie, canceling its Portal-themed Companion Cube […]

Fujifilm launches two new QuickSnap cameras because Gen Z can’t get enough
Fujifilm launches two new QuickSnap cameras because Gen Z can’t get enough

Fujifilm is expanding its QuickSnap lineup with a new disposable camera focused on taking monochrome photos and another built to survive harsh outdoor environments. The $22.90 QuickSnap Black and White and the $24.75 QuickSnap Active are expected to launch sometime later this fall, to the delight of Gen Z snappers driving the current resurgence in […]

Cleared by the US, derailed by the UK: Getty’s Shutterstock merger falls apart
Cleared by the US, derailed by the UK: Getty’s Shutterstock merger falls apart

Getty is planning to axe its $3.7 billion merger agreement with Shutterstock after a UK regulator imposed restrictions that would prevent part of Shutterstock’s business from being included in the deal. The move comes despite the US Department of Justice granting the deal “unconditional antitrust clearance” in February. In an SEC filing published on Tuesday […]

Meta is adding ridiculous ‘rate limits’ and a soft paywall to its smart glasses
Meta is adding ridiculous ‘rate limits’ and a soft paywall to its smart glasses

Would you pay $20 a month for access to AI hardware you already own? That appears to be one of Meta’s next bets. This week, it quietly announced that your glasses’ Conversation Focus feature will soon be limited to three hours of use per month, unless you pay for a $19.99 Meta One Premium subscription. […]