Wear OS is also getting an upgrade from its widget-like Tiles for glanceable information. With the new update, Google is adding “Wear Widgets” to the platform, which look more like Android widgets and can appear in small or large layouts that “align perfectly” with Android’s 2×1 and 2×2 widget formats. There are some AI-powered features coming to Wear OS 7 as well, including the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, Google’s catch-all branding for personalized and proactive Gemini features, on “select watches” launching “later this year.”
Google is also promising an “up to” 10 percent improvement in battery life for average users if you’re upgrading from Wear OS 6 to Wear OS 7. The company says that it’s investing in “power optimizations” so that users can “do more with their favorite apps,” but we’ll have to wait and see how battery life actually shakes out when Wear OS 7 is actually available.
Wear OS is also getting an upgrade from its widget-like Tiles for glanceable information. With the new update, Google is adding “Wear Widgets” to the platform, which look more like Android widgets and can appear in small or large layouts that “align perfectly” with Android’s 2×1 and 2×2 widget formats. There are some AI-powered features coming to Wear OS 7 as well, including the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, Google’s catch-all branding for personalized and proactive Gemini features, on “select watches” launching “later this year.”
Google is also promising an “up to” 10 percent improvement in battery life for average users if you’re upgrading from Wear OS 6 to Wear OS 7. The company says that it’s investing in “power optimizations” so that users can “do more with their favorite apps,” but we’ll have to wait and see how battery life actually shakes out when Wear OS 7 is actually available.
#Wear #track #deliveries #sports #scores #wristGadgets,Google,Google I/O 2026,News,Smartwatch,Tech,Wearable">Wear OS 7 will keep track of deliveries and sports scores on your wrist
Among the flurry of today’s Google I/O announcements, Google shared details about Wear OS 7, the next major update to its smartwatch platform. To help you keep track of things like deliveries and sports scores, Wear OS 7 will get the iPhone-style Live Updates that were introduced on Android last year — which can appear on your watch or your smartphone — and you’ll also be able to track automated tasks that an AI is working on right from your watch.
Wear OS is also getting an upgrade from its widget-like Tiles for glanceable information. With the new update, Google is adding “Wear Widgets” to the platform, which look more like Android widgets and can appear in small or large layouts that “align perfectly” with Android’s 2×1 and 2×2 widget formats. There are some AI-powered features coming to Wear OS 7 as well, including the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, Google’s catch-all branding for personalized and proactive Gemini features, on “select watches” launching “later this year.”
Google is also promising an “up to” 10 percent improvement in battery life for average users if you’re upgrading from Wear OS 6 to Wear OS 7. The company says that it’s investing in “power optimizations” so that users can “do more with their favorite apps,” but we’ll have to wait and see how battery life actually shakes out when Wear OS 7 is actually available.
Among the flurry of today’s Google I/O announcements, Google shared details about Wear OS 7,…
Make no mistake, the Bastl Kalimba is a synthesizer, you just play it like a kalimba. Its tines don’t really make much sound. There is an internal mic that you can blend in for a little acoustic spice, but it’s mostly driven by the synth engine that combines physical modeling and FM. The tines are actually touch and velocity-sensitive triggers. And, while it can sound somewhat like a real kalimba, it’s a lot more sonically versatile and offers features you can only find on a synth.
Beyond the synth sounds that range from pluck to pads, there are also built-in effects covering basic spatial effects like delay and reverb, as well as distortion, bit crushing, and even tape emulation. There’s also a multi-mode high- and low-pass filter, a simple arpeggiator.
More interesting, though, are the looper and touch points that add unique effects. The looper has time-stretching features, can be reversed, and rerecorded through the effects for destructive processing. A series of touchpads on the front enable note glides and alter the timbre using effects that Bastl calls Soil and Wind. Those effects unlock the Kalimba’s accelerometer for further timbral manipulation. There are also two programmable touch points on the top that can be assigned to almost any parameter, from simple pitch bends to the size of the reverb.
Bastl is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the first batch of Kalimbas. Normally, this is where you get the caveats about crowdfunded products. But Bastl Instruments is a well-established company with a long track record of delivering oddball music gear at scale. The company called it “one of the most challenging” products it has ever created, and it spent more than three years in development, so it’s possible that Bastl is gauging interest before committing to mass production. We’ve reached out to Bastl for comment and will update if we hear back.
Make no mistake, the Bastl Kalimba is a synthesizer, you just play it like a kalimba. Its tines don’t really make much sound. There is an internal mic that you can blend in for a little acoustic spice, but it’s mostly driven by the synth engine that combines physical modeling and FM. The tines are actually touch and velocity-sensitive triggers. And, while it can sound somewhat like a real kalimba, it’s a lot more sonically versatile and offers features you can only find on a synth.
Beyond the synth sounds that range from pluck to pads, there are also built-in effects covering basic spatial effects like delay and reverb, as well as distortion, bit crushing, and even tape emulation. There’s also a multi-mode high- and low-pass filter, a simple arpeggiator.
More interesting, though, are the looper and touch points that add unique effects. The looper has time-stretching features, can be reversed, and rerecorded through the effects for destructive processing. A series of touchpads on the front enable note glides and alter the timbre using effects that Bastl calls Soil and Wind. Those effects unlock the Kalimba’s accelerometer for further timbral manipulation. There are also two programmable touch points on the top that can be assigned to almost any parameter, from simple pitch bends to the size of the reverb.
Bastl is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the first batch of Kalimbas. Normally, this is where you get the caveats about crowdfunded products. But Bastl Instruments is a well-established company with a long track record of delivering oddball music gear at scale. The company called it “one of the most challenging” products it has ever created, and it spent more than three years in development, so it’s possible that Bastl is gauging interest before committing to mass production. We’ve reached out to Bastl for comment and will update if we hear back.
#Bastl #Kalimba #wild #synth #thinks #thumb #pianoEntertainment,Gadgets,Music,News,Tech">The Bastl Kalimba is a wild synth that thinks it’s a thumb piano
Make no mistake, the Bastl Kalimba is a synthesizer, you just play it like a kalimba. Its tines don’t really make much sound. There is an internal mic that you can blend in for a little acoustic spice, but it’s mostly driven by the synth engine that combines physical modeling and FM. The tines are actually touch and velocity-sensitive triggers. And, while it can sound somewhat like a real kalimba, it’s a lot more sonically versatile and offers features you can only find on a synth.
Beyond the synth sounds that range from pluck to pads, there are also built-in effects covering basic spatial effects like delay and reverb, as well as distortion, bit crushing, and even tape emulation. There’s also a multi-mode high- and low-pass filter, a simple arpeggiator.
More interesting, though, are the looper and touch points that add unique effects. The looper has time-stretching features, can be reversed, and rerecorded through the effects for destructive processing. A series of touchpads on the front enable note glides and alter the timbre using effects that Bastl calls Soil and Wind. Those effects unlock the Kalimba’s accelerometer for further timbral manipulation. There are also two programmable touch points on the top that can be assigned to almost any parameter, from simple pitch bends to the size of the reverb.
Bastl is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the first batch of Kalimbas. Normally, this is where you get the caveats about crowdfunded products. But Bastl Instruments is a well-established company with a long track record of delivering oddball music gear at scale. The company called it “one of the most challenging” products it has ever created, and it spent more than three years in development, so it’s possible that Bastl is gauging interest before committing to mass production. We’ve reached out to Bastl for comment and will update if we hear back.
The last-gen 360 Vis Nav offers a whopping 65 air watts of suction, allowing it to pull dirt, dust, and pet hair from carpets impressively well. In her brief time testing the robovac, my colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said the Dyson “demolished a pile of dry oatmeal in seconds,” adding that she briefly worried it might even suck up the tassels on her large rug (it didn’t). By comparison, many robot vacuums — including Dyson’s new $1,200 Spot + Scrub AI — require multiple passes to fully eradicate the same kind of mess on your floor.
What’s more, the robovac’s small, D-shaped design and the location of its ultra-fluffy brush allow it to dig into edges and corners more effectively than many of the more roundish robot vacuums, while its lower profile lets it easily get under most beds and sofas. The roomy 500ml dustbin also means you likely won’t need to empty it too often, while Dyson’s built-in handle and terrific quick-release button make removing said bin a relatively simple task when it’s time to do so.
While it is undeniably powerful, it’s worth noting that the 360 Vis Nav lacks a few features found on some of its more modern rivals. Although its navigation worked well enough during our testing, it lacks AI-powered obstacle avoidance and doesn’t come with a self-emptying dock. Battery life is also relatively short at around 65 minutes per charge. Nonetheless, if your top priority is quickly removing dust, dirt, and pet hair from carpets without multiple passes, the Dyson remains an option worth considering, especially at this discounted price.
The last-gen 360 Vis Nav offers a whopping 65 air watts of suction, allowing it to pull dirt, dust, and pet hair from carpets impressively well. In her brief time testing the robovac, my colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said the Dyson “demolished a pile of dry oatmeal in seconds,” adding that she briefly worried it might even suck up the tassels on her large rug (it didn’t). By comparison, many robot vacuums — including Dyson’s new $1,200 Spot + Scrub AI — require multiple passes to fully eradicate the same kind of mess on your floor.
What’s more, the robovac’s small, D-shaped design and the location of its ultra-fluffy brush allow it to dig into edges and corners more effectively than many of the more roundish robot vacuums, while its lower profile lets it easily get under most beds and sofas. The roomy 500ml dustbin also means you likely won’t need to empty it too often, while Dyson’s built-in handle and terrific quick-release button make removing said bin a relatively simple task when it’s time to do so.
While it is undeniably powerful, it’s worth noting that the 360 Vis Nav lacks a few features found on some of its more modern rivals. Although its navigation worked well enough during our testing, it lacks AI-powered obstacle avoidance and doesn’t come with a self-emptying dock. Battery life is also relatively short at around 65 minutes per charge. Nonetheless, if your top priority is quickly removing dust, dirt, and pet hair from carpets without multiple passes, the Dyson remains an option worth considering, especially at this discounted price.
#Dysons #powerful #Vis #Nav #robovac #limited #timeDeals,Gadgets,Smart Home,Tech,Verge Shopping">Dyson’s powerful 360 Vis Nav robovac is down to $279.99 for a limited time
If you’re tired of running your vacuum multiple times just to get the dirt and debris out of the carpets in your living room, Dyson’s 360 Vis Nav is worth a look. It’s one of the more powerful robot vacuums currently available, and now through May 11th (or while supplies last), it’s on sale at Woot for an all-time low of $279.99 ($919 off) with a full two-year warranty.
The last-gen 360 Vis Nav offers a whopping 65 air watts of suction, allowing it to pull dirt, dust, and pet hair from carpets impressively well. In her brief time testing the robovac, my colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said the Dyson “demolished a pile of dry oatmeal in seconds,” adding that she briefly worried it might even suck up the tassels on her large rug (it didn’t). By comparison, many robot vacuums — including Dyson’s new $1,200 Spot + Scrub AI — require multiple passes to fully eradicate the same kind of mess on your floor.
What’s more, the robovac’s small, D-shaped design and the location of its ultra-fluffy brush allow it to dig into edges and corners more effectively than many of the more roundish robot vacuums, while its lower profile lets it easily get under most beds and sofas. The roomy 500ml dustbin also means you likely won’t need to empty it too often, while Dyson’s built-in handle and terrific quick-release button make removing said bin a relatively simple task when it’s time to do so.
While it is undeniably powerful, it’s worth noting that the 360 Vis Nav lacks a few features found on some of its more modern rivals. Although its navigation worked well enough during our testing, it lacks AI-powered obstacle avoidance and doesn’t come with a self-emptying dock. Battery life is also relatively short at around 65 minutes per charge. Nonetheless, if your top priority is quickly removing dust, dirt, and pet hair from carpets without multiple passes, the Dyson remains an option worth considering, especially at this discounted price.
If you’re tired of running your vacuum multiple times just to get the dirt and…
L’Atitude 52°N’s glasses is called Goya, named after Francisco Goya, the famous Spanish artist who painted renowned masterpieces of romanticism.
CEO and founder Gary Chen, who has worked on wearable devices for companies like Oppo, OnePlus, and HTC, says his company’s glasses are focused on travelers, with AI features that act like a tour guide and talk about all the paintings in famous museums.
“Basically, you can say, ‘Hey, Goya, what is the story about Mona Lisa?’” Chen says. “You can ask anything and, with your permission, they will take a photo to analyze what’s in front of you.”
I ask if you could quiz it about perhaps the most famous Goya painting, the terrifying, Gothic horror-esque image of Saturn devouring his own son.
“Yes, yes,” Chen says, “It can also give you some recommendations about restaurants.”
Berlin-based L’Atitude 52°N is a new player in the smart glasses space, selling its first pairs on Kickstarter in September 2025, where the campaign surpassed its funding goal and raised more than $400,000. There have been some bumps since then, as shipments were delayed from an originally announced release date in February 2026, and one model in development was scrapped outright. Now, L’Atitude 52°N has announced an official release date for its smart glasses.
Preorders for one model, called Berlin, start on May 19. The glasses actually go on sale on May 26. This might be a disappointment for Kickstarter backers, as the most recent official update from the campaign came in March and said shipping would begin on April 15 for Berlin units and June 7 for the second model, called Milan. L’Atitude 52°N still hasn’t set an official launch date for the Milan, except to say that it will be “arriving in the second quarter of 2026.”
The Berlin glasses cost $399. Add another $50 for the photochromatic lenses. There is one very big catch: The AI features enabled on the device will only work for 12 months, which L’Atitude 52°N calls an “AI feature trial.” After that, customers have to pay for a subscription service, or will be limited to the base features, like playing music and capturing media.
How much will that subscription service cost? Chen says he doesn’t know.
L’Atitude 52°N’s glasses is called Goya, named after Francisco Goya, the famous Spanish artist who painted renowned masterpieces of romanticism.
CEO and founder Gary Chen, who has worked on wearable devices for companies like Oppo, OnePlus, and HTC, says his company’s glasses are focused on travelers, with AI features that act like a tour guide and talk about all the paintings in famous museums.
“Basically, you can say, ‘Hey, Goya, what is the story about Mona Lisa?’” Chen says. “You can ask anything and, with your permission, they will take a photo to analyze what’s in front of you.”
I ask if you could quiz it about perhaps the most famous Goya painting, the terrifying, Gothic horror-esque image of Saturn devouring his own son.
“Yes, yes,” Chen says, “It can also give you some recommendations about restaurants.”
Berlin-based L’Atitude 52°N is a new player in the smart glasses space, selling its first pairs on Kickstarter in September 2025, where the campaign surpassed its funding goal and raised more than $400,000. There have been some bumps since then, as shipments were delayed from an originally announced release date in February 2026, and one model in development was scrapped outright. Now, L’Atitude 52°N has announced an official release date for its smart glasses.
Preorders for one model, called Berlin, start on May 19. The glasses actually go on sale on May 26. This might be a disappointment for Kickstarter backers, as the most recent official update from the campaign came in March and said shipping would begin on April 15 for Berlin units and June 7 for the second model, called Milan. L’Atitude 52°N still hasn’t set an official launch date for the Milan, except to say that it will be “arriving in the second quarter of 2026.”
The Berlin glasses cost $399. Add another $50 for the photochromatic lenses. There is one very big catch: The AI features enabled on the device will only work for 12 months, which L’Atitude 52°N calls an “AI feature trial.” After that, customers have to pay for a subscription service, or will be limited to the base features, like playing music and capturing media.
How much will that subscription service cost? Chen says he doesn’t know.
#Smart #Glasses #ExOnePlus #Engineers #Hidden #Costsmart glasses,wearables,design,gadgets">These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost
Lots of smart glasses have AI bots inside them now. The one in L’Atitude 52°N’s glasses is called Goya, named after Francisco Goya, the famous Spanish artist who painted renowned masterpieces of romanticism.
CEO and founder Gary Chen, who has worked on wearable devices for companies like Oppo, OnePlus, and HTC, says his company’s glasses are focused on travelers, with AI features that act like a tour guide and talk about all the paintings in famous museums.
“Basically, you can say, ‘Hey, Goya, what is the story about Mona Lisa?’” Chen says. “You can ask anything and, with your permission, they will take a photo to analyze what’s in front of you.”
I ask if you could quiz it about perhaps the most famous Goya painting, the terrifying, Gothic horror-esque image of Saturn devouring his own son.
“Yes, yes,” Chen says, “It can also give you some recommendations about restaurants.”
Berlin-based L’Atitude 52°N is a new player in the smart glasses space, selling its first pairs on Kickstarter in September 2025, where the campaign surpassed its funding goal and raised more than $400,000. There have been some bumps since then, as shipments were delayed from an originally announced release date in February 2026, and one model in development was scrapped outright. Now, L’Atitude 52°N has announced an official release date for its smart glasses.
Preorders for one model, called Berlin, start on May 19. The glasses actually go on sale on May 26. This might be a disappointment for Kickstarter backers, as the most recent official update from the campaign came in March and said shipping would begin on April 15 for Berlin units and June 7 for the second model, called Milan. L’Atitude 52°N still hasn’t set an official launch date for the Milan, except to say that it will be “arriving in the second quarter of 2026.”
The Berlin glasses cost $399. Add another $50 for the photochromatic lenses. There is one very big catch: The AI features enabled on the device will only work for 12 months, which L’Atitude 52°N calls an “AI feature trial.” After that, customers have to pay for a subscription service, or will be limited to the base features, like playing music and capturing media.
How much will that subscription service cost? Chen says he doesn’t know.
As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)
Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.
Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.
Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.
As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)
Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.
Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.
Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.
#Dysons #travelsize #Supersonic #hairdryerGadgets,News,Tech">Dyson’s back with a travel-size Supersonic hairdryer
Ten years ago, Dyson kicked off the hair gadget arms race with its $400 Supersonic hairdryer. Today, it’s back with a slightly smaller and cheaper travel-size version.
As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)
Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.
Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.
Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.
