Latest news, developments and reporting on Products & Applications.
Engadget has published steps for factory resetting the Google Home Mini, Nest Mini and Nest Hub. The process takes minutes, cannot be started from the Google Home app or by voice, and erases Wi-Fi credentials and linked accounts.
TechRadar released hint and answer guides for Quordle #1707, NYT Connections #1204 and NYT Strands #938 on September 27, 2026, with solutions and daily gameplay notes.
Engadget says front speakers should sit at seated ear level; surrounds and subwoofers have more flexible height rules.
Engadget says Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are incremental upgrades over the iPhone 17 Pro line, led by a variable-aperture 48-megapixel main camera. The phones keep core design and display specs, add weight, new colors and video and photo tools, while the Pro Max gets a bigger battery boost and a heavier body.
Engadget warns that shower steam wears down the seals and ports behind IP-rated water resistance, and that Apple and Google both tell users to keep phones out of hot, humid rooms.
TechRadar finds Venom's PlayStation Portal case durable and affordable at $25.99, but bulky with some cheap parts.
Sarvam AI launches Saaras V4, covering 22 Indian languages plus global English via API and claiming top accuracy.
Fujifilm's LTO-10 Ultrium cartridge is on sale for $494, holding 40TB natively and up to 100TB compressed for long-term enterprise archives.
Producer Decap's Drums That Knock packs have appeared on tracks by Kendrick Lamar, BTS and others.
Panasonic's Let's Note SC7 is a 919-gram business notebook with a circular wheel pad, 12.4-inch 3:2 display, Intel Core Ultra 5 325, and a removable 56Wh battery rated for nearly 23 hours of everyday use. It meets MIL-STD-810H and is listed at 298,100 yen in Japan, with no indication of sales elsewhere.
A new iOS app called QuillCue uses a custom keyboard to store and insert prewritten prompts into Siri AI, aiming to save repetition.
WiCi is taking preorders for the WiCi One, an external GPU that links to laptops over Wi-Fi 7 instead of a cable, starting at $1,999 and rising to a $2,599 list price, with first shipments expected in the fourth quarter.
Supersonic Labs released Julia 1, a 144.3M-parameter open decision model that runs on CPU and picks among 2-20 options.
TechRadar writer details seven failed Baldur’s Gate 3 act-one attempts and an eighth run built on accepting consequences.
PS5 uses an IEC320 C7 figure-8 cord rated 100-240V at 50/60Hz, Engadget says; older PS4 or PS3 Slim cables may work.
Microsoft is adding single-cell lists and nested arrays to Excel, along with new HAS functions, Slashdot reports.
Engadget's Sept. 26 guide explains how a retired laptop can run the open-source Home Assistant platform as a local smart home hub, covering hardware, storage, networking and battery safety.
Engadget explains safe laptop fan cleaning, from routine compressed-air care to repair-level chassis work.
TechRadar tested Sony's flagship Bravia 9 II against Samsung's R95H RGB mini-LED TV. It found both deliver strong color and backlight control, with Sony offering richer color and deeper blacks and Samsung higher perceived brightness, though OLED still leads in dynamic contrast.
Middle schoolers used a Spotify comment section under an NPR podcast as a group chat, according to The Verge.
TechRadar's first week in World of Warcraft: Forever's closed beta finds Classic-style friction and social play intact, though some changes divide players.
Mojang announced at Minecraft Live that The Sift, Minecraft's first new dimension in more than 15 years, will reach Java and Bedrock Editions in 2027 after debuting in the Dungeons 2 spinoff on September 29.
Levoit launched the $189.99 Vital Pet Pro Air Purifier, designed to capture pet hair, dander and odors, TechCrunch says.
9to5Mac review: Apple Watch Series 12 battery, speed, step counter and Readiness app stand out beyond Siri Recap.