Gadgets

Singapore's National Library Board is offering micropayments to encourage people to put down their phones and pick up books. The scheme rewards readers with small financial incentives, and the story is drawing attention as an unusual government-backed attempt to rebuild reading habits and pull attention away from screens.

Meta has introduced a new lineup of artificial intelligence products, according to Bloomberg. The company is positioning the offering as an attempt to succeed where competitors have struggled to gain traction with AI. The announcement is drawing attention as tech giants race to convert AI investments into widely adopted consumer and business products.

Meta's Muse Charm, an AI wearable shaped like a keychain from Mark Zuckerberg's company, is drawing attention for its range of features. Reports highlight five capabilities beyond simple accessories, suggesting the device functions as a compact AI assistant. It signals Meta's continued push to bring artificial intelligence into small, everyday hardware.

Alibaba has launched Qwen Intelligence as a full-stack agentic AI platform designed for smartphones. The platform is positioned to let phone makers deploy AI agents that can carry out tasks on users' behalf, building on Alibaba's Qwen model family. Details on partner manufacturers and rollout timelines have not yet been widely reported, but the move puts Alibaba in direct competition with other AI platform providers targeting the mobile device market.

A leak suggests Apple is preparing a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with a new model expected to arrive soon. The report has tech watchers speculating about what upgrades the streaming box could bring, including possible performance improvements and new hardware features. Enthusiasts are discussing what the refresh might mean for Apple's living-room lineup.

Xiaomi has announced that its Android smartphones can now pair with the Apple Watch, a notable break from Apple's restriction of the wearable to iPhones. The move means users can keep an Apple Watch while switching to a Xiaomi Android device. It is drawing attention as an unusual example of cross-ecosystem compatibility between two rival tech companies.

Meta's high-end VR glasses are reportedly set to launch in spring 2027 at a price of around $1,300. The reported timeframe suggests the device is still well over a year away from shelves, and the premium pricing positions it as a flagship product rather than a mass-market headset. Details on features and specifications have not been confirmed by the company.

New reporting highlights that smartwatches are less reliable at measuring calories burned as a user's body fat percentage rises. The finding suggests wearable fitness devices may systematically miscalculate energy expenditure for some users, raising concerns about relying on them for diet and exercise decisions. Commenters and health writers are discussing the accuracy limits of consumer fitness trackers and what this means for people using them to manage weight.

Zeekr Malaysia has announced a partnership with EON to expand its dealership network in the Klang Valley, adding new showrooms to the region. The move is aimed at widening the electric vehicle brand's retail presence in Malaysia's most populous market, giving buyers more locations to view and purchase Zeekr models.

Xiaomi has introduced a new gadget called the Pocket Guitar, designed to attach to smartphones and let users practice guitar chords on the go. The compact accessory is aimed at beginners or players who want a portable way to keep their fingers trained when a real guitar is not available. Details on price and availability remain limited as coverage spreads across tech news outlets.

Xiaomi has launched a new 10,000mAh power bank worldwide, featuring an integrated cable and 22.5W charging output. The company is highlighting safety improvements as a key selling point of the accessory. The built-in cable removes the need to carry a separate charger, positioning it as a convenient everyday backup battery for smartphones and other portable devices.

A new wave of AI-powered devices is hitting the consumer market, ranging from small wearable "charms" to reimagined smart speakers. The products aim to embed artificial intelligence assistants into everyday objects, moving beyond smartphones. Coverage highlights both the ambition of these designs and questions over whether consumers are actually ready to adopt dedicated AI hardware.

Apple is expected to announce additional hardware before the end of the year, following this month's debut of the iPhone 18 Pro and the folding iPhone Duo. Reported upcoming products include a new version of the HomePod mini, the iPad mini 8, and an updated Apple TV 4K, signaling an unusually packed late-year release schedule for the company.

Accessory maker PeakDo has teased a new power bank designed for the Starlink Mini satellite dish, built around a semi-solid-state battery. The announcement suggests longer runtime and safer, more temperature-tolerant cells than conventional lithium-ion packs, aimed at users running portable satellite internet off-grid. Details on capacity, pricing and availability have not yet been disclosed.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI laboratories that cannot control the systems they build should be shut down. The remarks, reported by Gadget Review, add a prominent industry voice to the ongoing debate over AI safety and accountability. Huang's position suggests that the ability to manage and contain advanced AI models should be a baseline requirement for any lab developing them.

A coalition of 23 US states is pushing for federal regulation of artificial intelligence following a series of alarming incidents involving AI systems. The states argue that state-level rules alone cannot address risks that cross borders, and are calling on Congress to set nationwide standards covering safety, accountability and oversight of AI technologies.

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a black hole hidden inside a dense cocoon of gas, according to a report by Gadget Review. The finding offers a rare glimpse of an object normally obscured from view and could shed light on how black holes grow in the early universe. Astronomers and space enthusiasts are sharing the discovery widely.

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to give developers an early preview of GPT-6 Cyber at its upcoming DevDay conference. If confirmed, the unveiling would mark the next step in the company's model lineup and signal a focus on security-oriented capabilities. Details remain sparse, with the report offering no official confirmation from OpenAI on timing or features.

Meta has introduced a small, Tamagotchi-like AI wearable that users can talk to, positioning it as a friendlier alternative to screenless AI pendants. The gadget pairs a cute, pocketable design with conversational assistant features, and reaction so far focuses on whether charm and novelty can make the AI wearable category appealing to mainstream buyers.