4 Raspberry Pi projects that are actually useful (and not just a novelty)

xda-developers.com Aug 7, 2026

4 Raspberry Pi projects that are actually useful (and not just a novelty)

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 7, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

XDA author Abhishek Kumar Mishra’s August 6, 2026 article outlines four practical Raspberry Pi builds that go beyond novelty. He begins by noting the Pi’s range—from low‑power microcontroller models to the high‑performance Pi 5—and its suitability for DIY solutions that require inexpensive, energy‑efficient computing. The piece then details a network‑attached storage server that repurposes an old hard drive, a smart home hub integrating Zigbee and MQTT, a portable media center using a touchscreen display, and an automated garden‑monitoring system with soil‑moisture sensors and solar charging. Mishra emphasizes each project’s real‑world utility, step‑by‑step setup, and open‑source software stack, while warning readers that flashy, aesthetic builds often waste time without solving genuine problems. All designs rely on available libraries and be assembled for $100.

💡 Why It Matters

· By showing how a $35 board can replace multiple proprietary gadgets, the guide empowers hobbyists to cut costs and reduce e‑waste.

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Read full article on xda-developers.com

“There’s a huge amount to be learned” – how the pioneering years…

At Kingston University, the Archive of Retro Computing (ARC) showcases 70‑80 vintage computers and consoles, ranging from the 1970s ZX Spectrum to early 3D systems like the PlayStation 1 and Dreamcast. Curated by Paul Neve, a former Atari 2600 enthusiast, the collection originated after a 2004 auction and has grown through acquisitions of rare “unicorns” such as the Fairchild Channel F and Vectrex. The exhibit, free to the public, highlights the evolution of personal computing and gaming over three decades.

💡 The ARC preserves a tangible record of the industry’s formative years, offering researchers and enthusiasts a rare, hands‑on archive that illustrates technological progression and cultural impact.

appleinsider.com · Aug 7

AirPods Pro 3 plunge to $189 at Amazon, 30-day best price

Amazon reduced the price of AirPods Pro 3 to $189.99, a $60 discount and the lowest since Prime Day 2026. The sale also includes AirPods 4 without ANC for $99 and with ANC for $148.99, and the AirPods Max 2 at $449 after a $100 cut. The deals are available on Amazon and Walmart, with a continuously updated price guide. The promotion highlights a significant price drop across Apple’s wireless earbud lineup.

💡 The steep discounts make premium Apple audio more accessible, potentially shifting consumer expectations for pricing in the high‑end earbud market.

ign.com · Aug 7

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Drop to $189.99 at Amazon and Best Buy

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are now available for $189.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, a $60 discount from the $249.99 MSRP. The earbuds, released in September, feature upgraded active noise cancellation, improved battery life, an IP57 dust‑water rating, built‑in heart‑rate monitoring, and Apple Live Translation. They remain the top choice for iPhone users seeking premium audio and seamless ecosystem integration. The price drop offers a rare year‑long deal for the model.

💡 The discount makes high‑end Apple audio more accessible, potentially shifting consumer preference toward Apple’s ecosystem over competing brands. It also signals Apple’s willingness to price competitively outside major sales events.

9to5mac.com · Aug 7

iOS 27 basically turns your iPhone and AirPods into an Apple Watch…

Apple’s iOS 27 introduces GymKit for iPhone and AirPods Pro 3, extending the Apple Watch’s gym‑tracking capability to other devices. Users tap their iPhone to a compatible treadmill, select a workout, and the phone receives distance, pace, incline, and calorie data while AirPods provide heart‑rate readings. The data is stored privately on the iPhone and removed from the equipment. This feature offers a reliable backup when the Apple Watch is unavailable and brings the full GymKit experience to a broader user base.

💡 By enabling accurate treadmill tracking on iPhone and AirPods, Apple removes the need for a watch during workouts, expanding fitness accessibility and reinforcing its ecosystem’s versatility.

9to5google.com · Aug 7

I hope Galaxy Z Flip 8 isn’t the last of its kind,…

Rumors suggest the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be Samsung’s final flip‑style foldable, and after hands‑on testing the device feels like a polished culmination of the line. It inherits the Fold 8’s refined chassis, a slimmer folded profile—about a millimeter thinner—and an improved anti‑reflective inner display, while retaining a 4,300 mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor that delivers snappy performance and adequate heat management. The silicon‑carbon construction adds durability without sacrificing capacity, and One UI 9 runs smoothly, though camera upgrades are minimal. The most notable software addition is an AI‑enhanced FlexWindow cover screen that offers contextual notifications and a limited app drawer, now expandable via Good Lock’s MultiStar. Despite these tweaks, the Flip’s form factor still forces users to unfold for many tasks, and Samsung’s own data show a shift of Flip owners toward the more versatile Fold 8, raising doubts about the flip’s future relevance.

💡 Samsung’s potential exit from the flip market underscores a consumer pivot toward devices that combine compactness with full‑screen functionality, a shift that could reshape foldable‑phone strategies across the industry.

businessworld.in · Aug 7

The Max Gambit: How The Motorola Edge 70 Max Sweeps The House

Motorola’s Edge 70 Max attempts to reposition the brand as a gaming‑focused flagship. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 built on a 3 nm process, featuring a 3.8 GHz prime core, six performance cores, and an Adreno 829 GPU with hardware‑accelerated ray tracing. To manage heat, Motorola installed a 5,500 mm² vapor‑chamber with liquid‑metal “ArcticMesh” cooling. The device sports a 6.8‑inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED panel capable of 144 Hz refresh and up to 7,000 nits brightness, protected by Gorilla Glass 7. Internally it offers 8 GB or 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM with 256 GB UFS 4.1 storage, a 7,100 mAh silicon‑carbon battery with 90 W wired and 25 W magnetic wireless charging, and a 50 MP Sony main camera. The flat aluminium frame, IP‑rated durability and MIL‑STD‑810H certification aim at power users, while the price in India starts at Rs 54,999.

💡 By bundling top‑tier gaming hardware with a subdued design, Motorola challenges the notion that high‑performance phones must look aggressive, potentially expanding the premium market to users who value performance without flashy aesthetics.