Your 2026 Smartphone Upgrade Plan Just Got Worse
Planning to buy a new phone in 2026? You might want to reconsider. A new report forecasts higher prices and lower specs for next year’s models, turning the usual upgrade cycle on its head.
Month: December 2025
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic director says it’s coming before 2030
Following rumors of a 2030 release, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic director Casey Hudson has stepped in to reassure fans. The game, in early development at his new studio Arcanaut, is targeting a launch before the end of the decade.
That AMD-Intel Foundry Rumor? It’s Probably Nothing
A rumor spread that an AMD job listing seeking engineers with “Knowledge of PowerVia” was proof of a future Intel foundry partnership. According to the source, that’s a huge leap. The listing is almost certainly about 3D chip stacking concepts in general.
Samsung’s Big Bet: Chips, Cars, and a Tesla Meeting
Samsung is making a multi-pronged push for growth, from high-level meetings with Tesla’s Elon Musk to offering its new chip-cooling tech to rivals. This aggressive strategy aims to lock in future business but comes with significant competitive risks.
Parents Push Back as NY Governor Tries to Gut AI Safety Bill
A coalition of over 150 parents is urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the RAISE Act, a bill imposing safety rules on big AI developers. But Hochul is proposing a major rewrite, aligning with tech industry opposition led by groups like the AI Alliance.
Google’s Health Connect Gets a Simpler, Slightly Dumber Redesign
Google is quietly redesigning the Health Connect hub in Android. The update prioritizes showing your connected apps but removes icons and buries some menus, which might not be an upgrade for everyone.
Google Translate Just Got a Real-Time Voice Upgrade
Google is upgrading Translate with a powerful new live speech-to-speech feature powered by Gemini AI. It offers real-time translation through headphones, complete with voice “style transfer” to sound more natural. The beta is available now on Android in the US, Mexico, and India.
Oracle’s AI Data Center Push Hits a One-Year Delay
Oracle has reportedly pushed back the completion of some data centers for OpenAI from 2027 to 2028. The delay, attributed to labor and material shortages, comes amid a massive $300 billion cloud contract between the two companies.
Surfshark’s Rotating IPs Are a Smart VPN Upgrade
Surfshark is pushing VPN privacy further with automatic IP rotation. Its feature changes your IP address every five minutes to disrupt tracking, and a new “Multi IP” mode is coming for Mac users. It’s a simple but effective twist on the standard VPN formula.
Apple Loses Big in Court, But Still Gets to Charge a “Reasonable Fee”
Apple’s appeal of a major contempt ruling has been rejected. The court found Apple acted in “bad faith” by trying to charge a 27% fee on outside payments, violating a 2021 order.