Thrustmaster HOTAS WARTHOG MKII review: The most authentic hardware for hardcore military flight sim fans

windowscentral.com Sep 19, 2026

Thrustmaster HOTAS WARTHOG MKII review: The most authentic hardware for hardcore military flight sim fans

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 19, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Thrustmaster released the HOTAS Warthog Mk. II on September 16, 2026, priced at $599.99 (US), £449.99 (UK), and €549.99 (EU). The set features a heavy‑duty A‑10C flight stick and throttle, weighing 16.5 lb (7.5 kg) overall, and uses a 6‑pin connector for broader grip compatibility. The design omits a Z‑axis twist grip, requiring external rudder pedals or a replacement. The bundle targets hardcore flight‑sim enthusiasts, offering a robust, authentic experience at a premium price.

💡 Why It Matters

· The Mk. II’s expanded connector and heavier build set a new standard for realism in military flight simulation, appealing to a niche but dedicated market that values precision hardware over casual play.

Read full article on windowscentral.com

Meta Could Demo Phoenix Headset At Connect With Full-Body Codec Avatars

Meta is poised to showcase its Project Phoenix headset at the upcoming Connect 2026 keynote, pairing the device with a full‑body, photorealistic hologram call experience powered by Codec Avatars. Phoenix, an ultralight, open‑periphery glasses‑like VR headset with a tethered compute puck, is positioned as a premium, productivity‑focused product similar to the Quest Pro but with a sleeker form factor. The demo will feature CTO Andrew Bosworth appearing as a hologram, highlighting Meta’s advances in spatial telepresence and mixed‑reality hardware.

💡 The live hologram demo signals Meta’s push toward immersive, photorealistic communication, potentially redefining virtual collaboration and entertainment.

9to5mac.com · Sep 19

Apple Watch Series 12 might finally convince me to switch away from…

Apple’s latest wearable, the Watch Series 12, adds several health‑tracking upgrades that aim to win back users who migrated to WHOOP. The new device samples heart rate every five seconds, a ten‑fold increase over previous Apple models, narrowing the gap with WHOOP’s one‑second cadence. Coupled with iOS 27’s revamped Health app, which presents metrics in a cleaner, more digestible format, the watch now offers a Readiness score—rated 1 to 10—derived from HRV and other recovery indicators, mirroring WHOOP’s recovery metric. While the Series 12 still trails WHOOP in raw sampling frequency, the author argues the improvements are sufficient for non‑athlete users. The reviewer, a longtime Apple Watch owner, says the combined hardware and software changes make switching back to Apple’s ecosystem compelling today.

💡 By closing the data‑frequency gap and integrating recovery scoring into the native Health suite, Apple turns the Watch into a comprehensive health hub, eliminating the need for a separate WHOOP device.

9to5google.com · Sep 19

Gmail adds ‘Copy code’ shortcut for 2FA on Android & iOS

Gmail introduced a “Copy code” shortcut for two‑factor authentication (2FA) codes on its Android and iOS apps, following recent updates that added Live search and chat. The pill‑shaped button appears beneath the email subject line and displays the numeric code, allowing users to tap it and automatically copy the code to the clipboard. This eliminates the need to open the message, select the code, and manually copy it before pasting it into the authentication field. The feature is currently available in Gmail version 2026.09.07.x for Android and version 6.0.260907 for iOS, but it is not yet supported in the web client. Early testing confirmed it works with typical store and banking verification emails, offering a streamlined user experience.

💡 By reducing steps in the 2FA workflow, the shortcut speeds up secure logins on mobile, addressing a common friction point for users handling time‑sensitive codes.

appleinsider.com · Sep 19

Amazon cuts Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 prices upon release

Amazon is offering limited‑time discounts on Apple’s newly released Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 models. The Series 12, which launched at a base price of $399, is available with $10 reductions on several configurations, including 42 mm and 46 mm aluminum cases paired with sport bands. The Ultra 4, priced at $799, receives a $20 markdown on select 49 mm titanium cases and specific ocean or Alpine Loop bands, with inventory and size options shifting rapidly. Amazon’s rotating promotions apply to both GPS‑only and GPS + Cellular variants, and shoppers can reference the retailer’s dedicated price guides for the latest deals. The discounts are limited to the weekend of the launch.

💡 The price cuts give budget‑conscious buyers a rare chance to acquire Apple’s premium wearables at near‑entry‑level costs, potentially expanding the user base beyond early adopters.

techcrunch.com · Sep 19

Petlibro’s new AI-powered feeder is a game changer for multi-cat homes

Petlibro has expanded its Granary line with the Granary 2 series, AI‑enabled feeders for households with cats. The entry‑level Granary 2 provides app‑controlled scheduling, precise portioning and a built‑in scale that measures remaining food to calculate actual intake. The $189.99 Granary 2 Vision adds a 1080p camera that can recognize up to ten cats, linking each meal to an individual profile and reporting eating speed, duration and frequency through the app. Higher‑priced models – Vision Duo with dual chutes and Granary 2 X with AI‑driven individualized portioning – target families with specific dietary needs. Features include Smart Refill and Scheduled modes, night‑vision video, two‑way audio, instant alerts for low battery or jams, and a rechargeable backup battery. Some health analytics require a paid Petlibro Care subscription.

💡 Turning feeding into a continuous data stream lets owners detect subtle appetite changes early, effectively using the feeder as a preventive health monitor.

9to5google.com · Sep 19

Valve’s open-source ‘Lepton’ brings Android games to the $1,059 Steam Frame

Valve has released Lepton, an open‑source tool that enables Android‑native games to run on Linux, specifically targeting the new Steam Frame. The repository is hosted on GitHub, and Valve notes that developers can use Lepton to port Android VR titles, such as Meta Quest games, to the Steam Frame. The Steam Frame, a Snapdragon‑powered headset priced at $1,059, debuted earlier this week, and a waitlist is now open for interested buyers.

💡 By opening Lepton, Valve lowers the barrier for Android developers to reach a Linux audience, expanding the Steam ecosystem beyond traditional PC titles.