Consumer & Gadgets news

Consumer & Gadgets

Study shows AI could lead to inconsistent outcomes in home surveillance

A new study from researchers at MIT and Penn State University reveals that if large language models were to be used in home surveillance, they could recommend calling the police even when surveillance videos show no criminal ...

Consumer & Gadgets

E-scooter riders flouting rules, blocking footpaths and causing accidents? We need to use smart solutions

Recent decisions by several Australian and New Zealand cities to discontinue shared e‑scooter services have again thrust misperceptions and moral panic into the limelight.

Consumer & Gadgets

Instagram has announced it will be removing beauty filters—but the damage is done

Meta has announced third-party augmented reality (AR) filters will no longer be available on its apps as of January 2025. This means more than 2 million user-made filters offered across WhatsApp, Facebook and, most notably, ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Report: New smoke alarms are better at detecting fires, but still beep for bacon

Armored with safety glasses, hearing protection, and a fire-retardant lab coat, fire researcher Emma Veley carefully cradled a frying pan of raw bacon into a laboratory surrounded by wires and sensors. Mounted on the ceiling ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Meta, Ray-Ban maker extend smart glasses partnership

Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica said Tuesday that it extended a partnership with Facebook and Instagram owner Meta to develop smart-eyewear products after producing glasses that let users make calls, capture images and listen ...

Consumer & Gadgets

US says new Apple AirPods can be hearing aids

Apple on Thursday got a green light from US regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market.

Consumer & Gadgets

The five biggest-selling gaming consoles

Since video game consoles first emerged in the early 1970s, hundreds of millions have been sold to players eager to immerse themselves in their favorite franchises, from Assassin's Creed to Zelda.

Consumer & Gadgets

Sony to release PlayStation 5 Pro on November 7

Sony said Tuesday it would launch an upgraded version of its flagship games console with better graphics and AI capabilities on November 7, calling it PlayStation 5 Pro.

Consumer & Gadgets

China's Huawei unveils triple-folding phone with hefty price tag

Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its US competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Apple unveils new iPhone built for AI

Apple on Monday unveiled new iPhones built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and show it is keeping up in the technology race.

Consumer & Gadgets

Apple AI expected to star as new iPhones are unveiled

Apple is expected to release its latest line of iPhones on Monday that will feature generative AI capabilities as the tech behemoth looks to bolster sales of its iconic device.

Consumer & Gadgets

How the iPhone 16 is different from Apple's recent releases

Apple's ubiquitous iPhone is about to break new ground with a shift into artificial intelligence that will do everything from smartening up its frequently dim-witted assistant Siri to creating customized emojis on the fly.

Consumer & Gadgets

What are 'metacrimes?'—and how can we stop them?

The Apple Vision Pro is the newest tool for Australians to access three-dimensional, immersive online environments, also known as the metaverse. Released in Australia earlier this month, it allows users to take a (virtual) ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Navigating digital financial inclusion in Africa

As the presence of mobile phones becomes increasingly widespread in Africa, digital services have allowed for more financial inclusion among low- and middle-income countries within the continent. Through a system known as ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Wearable sensors help athletes achieve greater performance

Today's athletes are always on the lookout for new techniques and equipment to help them train more effectively. Modern coaches and sports trainers use intelligent data monitoring through videos and wearable sensors to help ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Open-TeleVision allows VR-type control of remote robot

A combined team of roboticists from MIT and the University of California, San Diego, has developed a new type of remote control for robots called Open-TeleVision that allows for VR-type control. The team has posted a paper ...