Latest stories · Page 2

A drawn phone with a simple house symbol connects through a Wi-Fi hub to a lamp and purifier, with a separate crossed cloud beneath Local control limits; no app controls appear.

Explainer5 min read

Samsung SmartThings Now: what the October update changes at home

SmartThings Now puts contextual cards on the Home tab, while local control has a narrower set of requirements: a supported Android or iOS phone, a named Samsung hub, and the same Wi-Fi network. Samsung's speed comparison is a controlled manufacturer test, not a household guarantee.

Software & Systems

A generic watch beside a phone showing an abstract week of sleep bars and a short checklist.

Explainer5 min read

Samsung Sleep Coaching now starts with three nights. What does it use?

Samsung lowered the setup threshold to three tracked days within two weeks and added weekly adaptive guidance. The feature still needs a recent Samsung phone, a current Health app, and a supported wearable; Samsung describes it as wellness support, not medical care.

Software & Systems

A generic two-transmitter wireless microphone kit beside a camera shoe and a USB-C adapter, with separate recording paths shown.

Explainer6 min read

Sony’s ECM-W5 records 32-bit float in camera—but only with the right setup

The $399.99 wireless kit can put 32-bit float audio directly into a compatible Sony camera’s video file. A phone or another camera can still use the mic, but the connections and workflow are different.

Smart Devices

Drawn generic camera-free audio glasses and sound waves connect to a blank phone beneath Audio, no camera; there is no second comparison frame.

Explainer5 min read

Ray-Ban Meta Audio skips the camera. What stays useful?

Meta's audio-only glasses began shipping October 13 from $349 in the U.S. They keep open-ear audio, calls, messages, navigation, translation, and Meta AI voice access, but cannot take photos or answer visual questions; setup still depends on a phone, app, account, and supported features.

Smart Devices

A flat drawn display, detached wall bracket and blank phone stand separately beneath the words Screen, phone, mount.

Explainer5 min read

Apple HomeView costs $299. The full setup can cost more.

Apple's new home display is scheduled for November 13, but setup, Personal Context, video analysis, language support, and wall mounting each have separate requirements. The European Union is excluded from the launch plan.

Smart Devices

A generic smartphone beside three simple task cards for travel planning, photo sorting, and document assembly.

Explainer6 min read

OPPO's Manus phone agent: what Find X10 buyers can verify

OPPO announced a Manus-powered Agent Mode for AI Mind Pilot on the Find X10 series, with ColorOS 17. The live product page now lists supported-use and account limits, while privacy and task-completion claims remain company descriptions rather than independent tests.

Software & Systems

Explainer5 min read

ColorOS 17 has a rollout plan. That is not a delivery date.

OPPO's schedule groups devices into October, November, December, and Q1 2027, while warning that carrier and regional updates can differ. Some AI features may arrive later than the operating system itself.

Software & Systems

A drawn hand turns a generic door dial beside separate circular-arrow power, fingerprint and keypad-dot symbols under Turn to enter; no wall plug or battery charging is shown.

Explainer5 min read

Ring’s first smart lock uses a hand-cranked backup. Here is what it changes.

A few turns of the built-in dial are designed to power the lock long enough to regain entry when its battery is dead. The $249.99 U.S. listing is still a pre-launch product, and Sidewalk coverage and door fit matter.

Smart Devices

Two drawn blank tablets and a generic pen sit in front of separate landscape calendar cards beneath Choose by use; no measurements or model labels appear.

Explainer6 min read

Galaxy Tab S12: the Ultra's screen costs more, but the S Pen is included

Samsung's October 7 launch offers two Android tablets, not a small base model: the 12.6-inch S12+ and 14.6-inch S12 Ultra. Their regional prices, separately sold keyboards, software offers, and manufacturer battery claims need to be compared on their own terms.

Phones & Tablets

A generic tracking tag sits between a Galaxy-shaped phone outline and an iPhone-shaped phone outline, with different feature markers on each side.

Explainer6 min read

SmartTag3 works with iPhone. Which tracking features disappear?

Samsung scheduled the tracker's South Korea launch for October 7, with U.S. availability planned for early November. Cross-platform support covers core finding and sharing, while precision tools and alerts still depend on the phone, network, and surroundings.

Smart Devices

A generic phone settings screen points to an October calendar marked 5, illustrating a Pixel patch and rollout.

Explainer5 min read

Pixel's October update has different fixes for different phones

Google's October 6 release sets a 2026-10-05 security patch level for supported Pixel devices, but the published functional fixes target newer models. Pixel 6 owners are also near Google's stated five-year update window.

Software & Systems

A generic multi-antenna router beside a home floor plan and a wired 10Gb connection icon.

Explainer6 min read

ASUS ships a Wi-Fi 8 router. Who can use it today?

The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 began shipping October 6, but an independent test used Wi-Fi 7 clients because its Wi-Fi 8 features could not be exercised in that setup. The review measured a short-range 6GHz gain and high power use, making the buyer's broadband and floor plan more important than the label.

Computing & Hardware

The week, made clear.