Los Angeles law enforcement will stop using Flock cameras
EngadgetThe Los Angeles police department did not renew its contract with Flock due to data privacy concerns.
A ransomware negotiator who colluded with attackers to scam victims was sentenced to 70 months in prison
EngadgetAngelo Martino helped scam ransomware victims out of over $75 million, officials said.
California creates $3,500 rebate for new electric vehicle buyers
Ars TechnicaThere’s a separate $1,750 rebate for used EVs, but both rebates have a price cap.
Apple sues OpenAI after ex-engineer allegedly used bug to steal trade secrets
Ars TechnicaOpenAI accused of conspiring with former Apple employees to steal trade secrets.
Solution to Feynman’s reverse sprinkler puzzle also applies to “silly sprinklers”
Ars TechnicaNew study confirms 2024 “momentum flux theory” on how angular momentum of water flows drives rotation.
OpenAI Is Showing Kalshi’s World Cup Odds in ChatGPT
NYT TechnologyThe partnership, a first of its kind for the artificial intelligence company, will use the prediction market’s data to power some search results about the soccer tournament.
SpaceX is gearing up for Starship’s 13th test flight later this week
Ars TechnicaThis flight will put Starship under higher pressure and test out new Starlink satellites in orbit.
Is tracking your food purchases good for your health?
BBC TechnologyFood tracking apps are popular, but are they a good way to make us eat a healthier diet?
US continues to shun Ebola-infected citizens; second American sent to Germany
Ars TechnicaThe man is said to be doing well in a Frankfurt hospital.
Microsoft is making the Windows Search Box more streamlined and useful
EngadgetBit by bit, Windows 11 is healing.
The US government warns that Russia state hackers are coming after your router
Ars TechnicaWith residential proxies all the rage, CISA urges router users to be vigilant.
Public betas for iOS 27, macOS 27 and more Apple platforms are now available
EngadgetTry the new Siri AI and system-wide performance improvements.
Ukrainian drone strikes forced Russia to stop shipping in vital sea corridor
Ars TechnicaUkraine’s drone blitz halted Russia’s Sea of Azov shipping in under a week.
States sue to block Paramount/WBD merger that was approved by Trump admin
Ars TechnicaAG: Deal will bring “higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and TV.”
iCloud+ vs. Apple One: Which is worth it for you?
EngadgetThe two subscription services offer more than just extra storage, but getting the right one can save you money.
TV-logging app TV Time is functionally relaunching as parent company pivots to AI
EngadgetBingers is expected to launch by the end of July as a replacement for TV Time.
Tom Cruise is utterly transformed in Digger trailer
Ars Technica“If we can’t control the force of nature, at least we can control the narrative.”
Apple and Samsung benefit as memory shortage pushes smartphone shipments to historic lows
Ars TechnicaThe biggest smartphone makers keep on trucking in the face of component shortages and economic uncertainty.
Cybersecurity
The eBay Scandal Gets a Thriller-Like Documentary
NYT TechnologyA newly available documentary, ‘Whatever It Takes,’ examines eBay workers’ plot to cyberstalk journalists and critics.
Artificial Intelligence
Apple Sues OpenAI, Accusing It of Stealing Company Secrets
NYT TechnologyThe two companies struck a deal in 2024 to offer A.I. services on Apple devices, but their partnership has soured.
Meta pulls new AI image feature after days of backlash
BBC TechnologyMeta’s release this week of an AI feature that let people alter Instagram content drew swift blowback.
Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets
BBC TechnologyApple said in a Friday lawsuit that OpenAI’s nascent hardware business is “rotten to its core.”
Top 10 AI Tools That Will Transform Your Content Creation in 2025
TechCrunchLooking to level up your content creation game in 2025? You’re in the right place! The digital landscape has evolved dramatically, and AI tools have become essential for creators who want to stay ahead of the curve.
LimeWire AI Studio Review 2023: Details, Pricing & Features
TechCrunchIn the rapidly advancing landscape of AI technology and innovation, LimeWire emerges as a unique platform in the realm of generative AI tools. This platform not only stands out from the multitude of existing AI tools but also brings a fresh approach to content generation. LimeWire not only…
Hardware
CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter: Betting on Shenzhen over Silicon Valley
CNBC TechnologyThe coastal Chinese city of Shenzhen has become a hub for tech hardware that U.S. firms can’t ignore.
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reports 68% surge in June revenue
CNBC TechnologyAhead of its second-quarter earnings, TSMC reported its June and first-half revenue for 2026.
Computers
Microsoft tests Windows Search without all the ads and fluff
The VergeMicrosoft is testing a cleaner version of the Windows 11 search menu that strips it of recommended content and ads. In a blog post on Monday, Microsoft announced that it’s rolling out the decluttered Search Box to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel as the company looks to regain trust w…
OnePlus is reportedly bailing on the US
The VergeOnePlus and its parent company, Oppo, plan to announce in the coming days that OnePlus brand will be leaving the US and European markets, according to a machine translation of a WinFuture report. Should the exit actually happen, it will mark a conclusion to months of rumors about the future of On…
The macOS 27 public beta is worth it just for the Liquid Glass tweaks
The VergeThe macOS 27 Golden Gate public beta is here, and anyone with an M-series Mac now has easier access to test-drive Apple’s latest changes – including a more subdued Liquid Glass aesthetic. That’s reason enough to be at least a little excited for macOS 27 (particularly if you’re on Tahoe and dislik…
Mobile
You can easily scan QR codes that are already on your phone
EngadgetAndroid and iOS both have built-in tools to easily open QR codes from screenshots.
10 years of Pokémon Go and the millions still trying to catch ’em all
BBC TechnologyMichael Steranka, vice president at the mobile game’s owner Scopely, says it has always been about bringing people together.
A two-pack of DJI’s most capable wireless mics just got its first price cut
The VergeSmartphones these days have incredible cameras that are capable of taking smooth, sharp video, but the microphones are often lacking, to say the least. A wireless lavalier microphone can dramatically improve the audio quality of your videos, whether you’re the only one talking, or if you’re getti…
The Pixel colors might rule this year
The VergeThis year’s Google Pixel 11 lineup might come in a bunch of funky colors. A series of now-deleted Amazon listings spotted by 9to5Google show what appear to be placeholders for Google’s upcoming Pixel 11 in hot pink Fuchsia (Hibiscus), vibrant green Moss (Pistachio), and Midnight (Obsidian) black….
Apple’s public betas for iOS 27 and more are out now
The VergeApple has just released public betas for iOS 27 and other major OS updates that are set to publicly launch this fall. The big new feature this year is Siri AI, the delayed AI-powered revamp to Siri. It actually works – which is big praise!
Green Tech
How a Teacher Revived Backyard Baseball
NYT TechnologyBackyard Baseball, a favorite game for 1990s kids, had been off the market for years. But Lindsay Barnett was determined.
U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales are Down but E.V. Chargers are Booming
NYT TechnologyElectric vehicle chargers are proliferating in Southern states as fast food restaurants, stores and other businesses try to lure customers.
Do Social Media Bans Work? + A Conversation About A.I. Consciousness + Tool Time
NYT Technology“If the net result is that all the teens in Australia are still using social media, even after they’re technically banned from doing it, why are we doing any of this?”
‘Cool in 90 seconds’ – the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet
BBC TechnologyThe ASA says adverts claiming small devices can rapidly cool rooms were too good to be true.
Porn site company fined £630,000 over failed age checks
BBC TechnologyOfcom has fined a slew of sites it says are failing to prevent children accessing their adult content.
Gaming
Games Done Quick abruptly canceled SNK stream due to ties with Saudi Arabia
EngadgetGames Done Quick said it would not accept funds from or work with SNK in the future.
Is the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake worth the 13 year wait?
BBC TechnologyThe BBC’s Tom Gerken plays the much-anticipated pirate game which has been remade from the ground up.
General Tech
State AGs sue to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger
EngadgetA dozen state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit to stop the Paramount / Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Europe Takes Step Toward Possible Social Media Ban for Children
NYT TechnologyAfter the release of a new report, the European Commission is considering changing the rules across the 27-nation bloc.
Meta Ordered by E.U. to Alter ‘Addictive Design’ of Instagram and Facebook
NYT TechnologyEuropean Union authorities said the company’s use of “addictive design” violated a digital safety law.
How Terrorist Groups Are Using A.I. to Gain an Edge in Battle
NYT TechnologyA.I. chatbots are not just a propaganda tool for violent extremists but are aiding in bomb construction and attack planning, new research finds.
EU threatens Meta with fines over ‘addictive’ Facebook and Instagram
BBC TechnologyRegulators say features such as infinite scroll contribute to “compulsive use” and “unhealthy habits”.