TechCapsules

Google has confirmed the discontinuation of its Nest Mini and Nest Audio smart speakers, citing the introduction of the Google Home speaker as the replacement. The Nest Mini, launched in 2019, offered a budget-friendly option for Google Assistant, while the Nest Audio, released in 2021, provided improved audio quality. Existing devices will continue to receive software updates and support, but new hardware production has ended. The move leaves Google's ecosystem without a cheaper entry point, with the [...]

Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned that the company's products, including the iPhone, may become more expensive due to a global shortage of memory chips caused by AI's insatiable demand for hardware. Cook described the situation as "unsustainable" and stated that price increases are "unavoidable," despite efforts to absorb the fourfold increase in chip costs since last year. The company is expected to launch its next iPhone in September, potentially allowing it to announce increased prices.

Snap has announced its new Specs smart glasses, a wearable computer with augmented reality capabilities, available for preorder at $2,195. The device is expected to ship this fall in the US, UK, and France. Specs aim to move computing beyond phones and computers, with a fully standalone device featuring a 51-degree field of view, hand tracking, and contextual AI assistance. The high price point makes it unlikely to become a mass-market gadget, but it showcases Snap's determination [...]

A Mac can update an iPad using the same iPadOS software Apple delivers through Software Update, helping recover failed installs and fix update problems. Updating through Settings is the easiest way, but Finder offers a reliable recovery path when software failures occur. To use Finder, a Mac running macOS Catalina or later and a data transfer cable are required. It's also recommended to back up the iPad before installing a major software update. Finder can reinstall iPadOS [...]

The Samsung Galaxy XR is now available for pre-order in the UK, with a July 8 release date. The headset, which has received updates to enhance its standalone experience, features a Snapdragon XR+ Gen 2 chip, 4K micro-OLED screen, and up to 2.5 hours of battery life. The device will be priced at £1,699 and will be available at various Samsung experience events across the UK. The Galaxy XR is a tethered experience, designed to work in [...]

Apple Music has released a massive playlist inspired by the Apple TV+ series "Widow's Bay." The "Patricia's Sunset Cocktails Playlist" features 811 songs with a total runtime of 60 hours and 32 minutes, making it nearly 10 times longer than the show's first season. The playlist spans decades of music, including pop, rock, dance, and new wave, and is available on the US version of Apple Music.

Microsoft has released updated Surface devices, including the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8, featuring Snapdragon X2 chips. However, these new devices come with increased prices, with the Surface Pro 12 starting at $1,499 and the Surface Laptop 8 at $1,599, a $500 and $600 increase from their predecessors. This is part of a broader trend of laptop manufacturers raising prices due to the ongoing component shortage. As a result, affordable laptops with good build quality [...]

Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform, a significant upgrade to its lineup of dedicated SoCs for mixed reality and spatial computing devices. The new platform, designed for premium Android XR devices, boasts improved performance, power efficiency, and on-device AI capabilities. Key features include up to 48 TOPS of AI performance, 60% higher GPU performance, and up to 20% longer battery life. The Snapdragon Reality Elite will power the next wave of Android XR devices, offering [...]