Today's stories
The US House of Representatives advanced the Sunshine Protection Act on a 308 to 117 vote, moving closer to making daylight saving time permanent year-round by setting clocks one hour ahead indefinitely. This legislative effort aims to eliminate the bi-annual clock changes, which supporters claim could save hundreds of millions of dollars spent by individuals, cities, and states.
JBL's Flip 7, a compact and durable Bluetooth speaker with an IP68 rating, 14-hour battery life, and features like multi-speaker pairing and lossless audio support, is currently available for $89.95 (40% off) at Woot until July 17th, marking a new all-time low price.
8BitDo unveiled the FlipPad, a new compact gamepad designed to transform smartphones into Game Boy-inspired handhelds, directly connecting via the phone's charging port without Bluetooth. This device offers a thinner, lighter, cheaper, and smaller alternative to touchscreen controls and competitors like GameSir's Pocket Taco, making it a highly portable option for mobile gaming.
Gareth Williams developed "PointlessQuest," a massively multiplayer online game designed for the Playdate, an unlikely platform for such a game. Intentionally tiny in scope and player count, the game has nevertheless attracted a small group of dedicated players who are actively engaging with its early content.
Motorola has launched the Edge 70 Max, a new flagship phone designed for power-intensive tasks, distinguishing itself as the first Android phone to support full 25W Qi2 wireless charging since the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. This model also features a larger 7100mAh silicon-carbon battery, an increase from the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 5200mAh.
Sony's June 5th investor Q&A offered clues about the future of PlayStation, with these hints taking on new significance after the company's subsequent announcement regarding the end of PlayStation discs, suggesting a potential strategic shift for the next console, possibly towards a handheld design, amidst broader changes in the video game industry.
SpaceX has released the Starlink V5 residential dish in select areas, which is smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient than its predecessor, the V4 dish. This new version is designed for reliable, high-speed home internet and will become more widely available as production scales to meet global demand, though it is not intended for in-motion use.
Google and Epic Games have withdrawn their attempt to retroactively settle a lawsuit, meaning Google will be compelled to host rival app stores within its Google Play store in the United States, starting next week. This development alters the landscape for Android app distribution, as Google will be required to share its app catalog with these third-party stores.
The CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro smartwatch, which features a 1.43-inch OLED display, dual-band GPS, and up to 13 days of battery life, is currently available for $69 on Amazon, a reduction from its fluctuating price of $79 to $99. This makes the budget-friendly device an even more competitive option for consumers seeking a feature-rich smartwatch compatible with both iOS and Android.
Microsoft has released a significant update for Windows 11, known as "patch Tuesday," which introduces the ability for users to indefinitely pause system updates, initially for up to 35 days with options to extend. This change, previously tested with Windows Insiders, is part of Microsoft's broader effort to enhance Windows 11 by addressing user feedback, improving performance, and patching security vulnerabilities.
OpenAI is reportedly planning to launch its first hardware device, a ChatGPT-enabled smart speaker, this year, according to a Bloomberg report. The device is expected to be screenless, incorporating a camera and sensors for environmental understanding, and a portable design with a rechargeable battery, marking OpenAI's expansion into consumer electronics and the smart home market amidst a recent lawsuit from Apple regarding hardware secrets.
SpaceXAI's Grok Build AI coding tool was found to be uploading users' complete code repositories, including sensitive files, to Google Cloud storage, a practice exceeding the data retention of comparable tools. Following a report by Cereblab, the company disabled this feature, addressing concerns about data privacy and security.
The Philips Hue Essential starter kit, which includes four white and color E26 bulbs and a Hue Bridge, is now available for $79.99 at Amazon, marking a new all-time low price and a $40 discount. This price is equivalent to the two-bulb kit, effectively offering two bulbs for free and providing an accessible entry into a smart lighting system with advanced features like remote control, scheduling, and Matter compatibility.
Plex services experienced significant outages on Tuesday, leading to numerous user reports of inability to stream locally hosted movies and shows, difficulties playing content over LAN, and issues with matching server content, which impacted many users reliant on the platform for their media consumption.
Spotify is experimenting with a new AI chatbot feature called "Talk to Spotify," allowing Premium subscribers to interact via text or voice to play and explore music, audiobooks, and podcasts. This feature, accessible on the mobile app's Home and Now Playing views, aims to offer more personalized recommendations by referencing user playlists, differentiating it from similar existing AI integrations like Amazon Music's Alexa Plus.
X's head of product, Nikita Bier, stated that a broken algorithm failed to surface posts from mutuals, leading to a "battleground" feel on the platform. A new tweak will now boost the visibility of posts to mutuals, aiming to enhance community engagement and address issues like random arguments and recycled content.
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in Northern California federal court, alleging that former Apple employees stole trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI. This legal action is one of the highest-profile lawsuits OpenAI has faced this year and could impact the company's expensive hardware development.
A recent leak has revealed the Pixel Watch 5 will reportedly feature four distinct case finishes: Dark Anthracite, Natural Silver, Warm Gold, and Pyrite, ahead of Google's official launch event next month. These leaked details, including corresponding band colors, offer an early look at the device's aesthetic options and align with prior leaks concerning the Pixel 11 phone.
EverQuest, one of the original live-service games, is experiencing a revival with "EverQuest Legends," a reimagining of its 1999 version currently in preorder beta and set for release on July 28th. This return highlights a fan-led effort amidst broader challenges faced by contemporary live-service games and developers.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted the nation's first statewide moratorium, blocking new hyperscale data centers over 50 megawatts from setting up in the state for up to a year. This action is intended to provide the state with time to develop regulations that will protect residents from potential increases in energy prices and environmental impact.
