Googlebook Glowbar doesn’t have the ‘knock-knock’ Chromebook Pixel battery gesture

9to5google.com Oct 8, 2026

Googlebook Glowbar doesn’t have the ‘knock-knock’ Chromebook Pixel battery gesture

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 8, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Googlebook’s Glowbar revives the Chromebook Pixel’s iconic light bar but omits the original “knock‑knock” battery‑status gesture. The Pixel’s light bar, introduced in 2013, displayed battery level and, when tapped, revealed charge status without opening the lid. Glowbar retains the plug‑in illumination and a more detailed battery display, plus an animation when closing the lid and a Gemini interaction, yet it lacks the tactile feedback that made the Pixel memorable. The feature’s removal signals a shift in Google’s laptop design priorities.

💡 Why It Matters

· The gesture’s absence underscores a broader move away from playful hardware cues toward streamlined functionality, reshaping user expectations for laptop interactivity.

Read full article on 9to5google.com

Best AI Smartphones Under Rs. 30,000 in India: Top Picks for 2026

In 2026, several sub‑₹30,000 smartphones bring AI features traditionally reserved for flagships. Motorola’s Edge 70 Fusion, Edge 60 Pro, and Edge 70, along with realme P4 Pro, P4 Power, GT 7T, and OnePlus Nord CE6, offer Snapdragon or MediaTek chipsets, high‑refresh AMOLED displays, and 50‑MP camera arrays. They include Moto AI suites—Image Studio, Playlist Studio, Remember This, AI Notes, and Update Me—plus Google Gemini and Circle to Search. Battery capacities range from 6,000 mAh to 7,000 mAh, with fast wired charging up to 90 W. Each device promises multiple Android updates and long‑term security support.

💡 These budget models demonstrate that AI‑powered photography, productivity, and voice tools are now accessible to mainstream consumers, reshaping expectations for mid‑tier smartphones.

financialcontent.com · Oct 8

Vadzo Imaging Validates Innova-662CRE: 2MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX662 1080p HDR GigE…

Vadzo Imaging announced the validation of its Innova-662CRE camera, a 2‑megapixel GigE vision device built around Sony’s STARVIS 2 IMX662 sensor. The camera delivers 1080p HDR video while simultaneously supporting low‑light and near‑infrared (NIR) imaging, enabling continuous day‑and‑night surveillance without auxiliary lighting. It connects via Gigabit Ethernet with Power over Ethernet and complies with ONVIF Profiles S, T and G, allowing seamless integration into existing video‑management and streaming systems. Designed for OEMs and system integrators, the Innova‑662CRE targets security, intelligent transportation and smart‑traffic monitoring markets where reliable imaging across variable lighting is critical. By combining HDR, NIR and PoE in a single 2 MP module, the product promises a unified solution that replaces the need for multiple specialized cameras.

💡 It gives operators a single‑camera architecture that eliminates blind spots during dusk or darkness, tightening security and reducing hardware complexity.

windowscentral.com · Oct 8

Surface Laptop Ultra price, release date, and special USB-C port finally revealed

Microsoft announced that the Surface Laptop Ultra will ship on October 16, with pre‑orders beginning today at $2,599. The entry‑level model features a 15‑inch mini‑LED display, a large haptic trackpad, three USB‑C ports—including the first breakaway USB‑C port—and an 18‑core RTX Spark GPU with 24 GB of RAM. The laptop is positioned for video editing, photo creation, data crunching, light gaming, and 3D modeling, while higher‑end configurations target AI development workloads.

💡 The breakaway USB‑C port represents a first for a universal standard, potentially redefining laptop cable safety and user experience. The Ultra’s high‑performance specs signal Microsoft’s push into the premium, AI‑centric workstation market.

appleinsider.com · Oct 8

Cameras come into focus in another Apple-LG smart home leak

Leaked images reveal several Apple‑LG smart‑home security cameras, including the LG Video Doorbell Wired, Floodlight Cam, Outdoor Cam Plug‑In, and Indoor Cam Plug‑In. The doorbell features dual cameras and dual‑band Wi‑Fi with WPA2/3 and Thread support. The outdoor and floodlight units offer infrared LEDs, microphones, speakers, and NFC, while the indoor model mounts on an arm with a motorized tilt. The leaks suggest a 2027 launch under the LG brand, amid rumors of Apple’s independent camera line.

💡 The leaks expose the technical depth of the Apple‑LG partnership, hinting at a competitive edge in the privacy‑focused smart‑home market. They also clarify the timeline for consumer rollout, influencing expectations for Apple’s upcoming product announcements.

ign.com · Oct 8

Last Chance to Pick up a Pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3…

Amazon’s October Prime Day Sale ends tonight, offering Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds at $179, down from $249 at Apple’s retail price. The new generation, released late last year, adds heart‑rate sensing, improved audio, noise cancellation, longer battery life, and an IP57 weather‑proof shell. The earbuds also support Apple’s Live Translation feature. Availability is limited, and the deal includes free shipping. Missing the sale may mean waiting for Black Friday discounts.

💡 The price cut makes the latest high‑performance Apple earbuds accessible to a broader audience, potentially accelerating adoption of Apple’s health‑tracking ecosystem.

windowslatest.com · Oct 8

“Up to 6.2x faster”: Microsoft says it’s beating Apple, as Surface Laptop…

At its October 7 Windows event, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra powered by Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip, touting it as a local‑AI powerhouse. The company claimed the Ultra delivers up to 6.2× faster AI video generation, 4.3× faster image generation, and 2.1× faster time‑to‑first‑token compared to a 16‑inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro and 64 GB of memory. Microsoft emphasized the device’s 64‑GB memory, petaflop AI compute, and 99 % battery efficiency, positioning it as the preferred choice for creators and builders.

💡 By spotlighting AI performance, Microsoft signals a strategic pivot to attract developers and creatives who demand rapid, on‑device inference, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape between Windows and Apple in the emerging local‑AI market.