Browsing: Consumer & Gadgets

Robotic vacuum cleaners have spent years proving that automation can handle household chores with minimal human involvement. Now, Roborock is extending that philosophy beyond the front door and into the backyard with the RockNeo Q110H. At the heart of the mower is a sophisticated navigation system that blends RTK positioning with visual mapping technology. Rather than relying solely on satellite guidance, the Q110H continuously interprets its surroundings, allowing it to maintain accurate routes even in environments where traditional GPS-based mowers often struggle. This hybrid approach enables the machine to operate beneath dense tree canopies, maneuver through tight garden layouts, and…

Smart lighting pioneer Nanoleaf is entering a new chapter after being acquired by OneRobotics, the parent company of SwitchBot. Rather than positioning the deal as a simple merger of smart-home brands, both sides describe it as a strategic move toward a larger vision centered on AI-powered home automation. According to public filings, OneRobotics will pay roughly $40 million over a two-year period to acquire Nanoleaf outright. The same documents indicate that Nanoleaf generates approximately $30 million in annual revenue, though the company has posted net losses over the last two years. Those figures help explain why Nanoleaf CEO Gimmy Chu…

Keeping houseplants alive often requires equal parts patience, observation, and guesswork. The new Senso plant sensor aims to change that by blending smart monitoring technology with game-inspired mechanics, transforming routine plant care into a more interactive experience. Unveiled at Beyond Expo 2026, Senso combines real-time environmental tracking with AI-powered plant diagnostics. The device continuously monitors soil moisture, temperature, and sunlight exposure while displaying a pixel-style virtual creature whose behavior mirrors the condition of the plant it represents. Rather than presenting data through charts alone, Senso turns plant health into a living visual companion. As conditions improve, the on-screen character thrives;…

Researchers at Cornell University have raised concerns about the implications of augmented reality (AR) glasses, which allow wearers to search for information, manipulate images, or even record conversations. They emphasize that this technology creates a significant power imbalance between the wearer and the person being observed. While most current research on AR glasses focuses on enhancing the user experience, a team from the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science and Brown University investigated the effects of this technology on interpersonal interactions. Their findings revealed that although wearers felt less anxious using the devices, the experience was…

Chinese tech giant Huawei unveiled the world’s first triple-folding phone on Tuesday, priced at over three times that of the latest iPhone, just hours after its US competitor launched its own AI-focused handset. The Mate XT was introduced during a keynote presentation by Huawei executive Richard Yu at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen. Originally intended as a premium device for a niche market, the Mate XT attracted significant interest, with more than three million registrations ahead of its launch. The phone is set to hit the market on September 20, starting at a staggering $2,800—more than three times the price…

On Wednesday, Meta showcased updates to its virtual reality headset and Ray-Ban smart glasses, highlighting its advancements in artificial intelligence and the evolution of computing platforms beyond traditional smartphones and computers. CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Orion, which he described as “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.” He acknowledged the significant technical challenges involved in creating these holographic augmented reality glasses, emphasizing that they needed to be lightweight and wire-free, weighing under 100 grams (3.5 ounces). Besides standard interaction methods like voice and hand gestures, Orion features a “wrist-based neural interface,” enabling users to send signals from their…

If you’re a paid subscriber to ChatGPT, you might have noticed that the artificial intelligence (AI) model has recently begun to sound more human during audio interactions. This change is due to OpenAI’s limited pilot of a new feature called “advanced voice mode.” According to OpenAI, this mode “features more natural, real-time conversations that pick up on and respond to emotion and non-verbal cues.” The company plans to roll out this advanced voice mode to all paid ChatGPT subscribers in the coming months. The advanced voice mode delivers a strikingly human-like experience, eliminating the awkward pauses typical of voice assistants.…

Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone is on the verge of a significant transformation as it shifts toward artificial intelligence, enhancing its often lackluster Siri assistant and enabling real-time custom emoji creation. This new era is set to launch on Monday with the highly anticipated unveiling of the iPhone 16 in an auditorium named after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who first showcased the original iPhone in 2007, predicting its societal impact. Since then, Apple has sold billions of iPhones, generating approximately $3 trillion in shareholder wealth. However, the past decade has seen mostly incremental upgrades between models, prompting many consumers to delay purchasing…