Category: Consumer Tech

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the upcoming launch of HBO Max in the UK and Ireland on March 26th, marking a significant expansion for the streaming service. Previously, HBO content was primarily accessible in the UK through Sky or Now TV.

The UK pricing tiers for HBO Max include Basic with Ads at £4.99 per month, Standard with Ads at £5.99, Standard without ads at £9.99, and Premium at £14.99. Additionally, TNT Sports customers will transition to accessing sports content through HBO Max starting March 26.

This strategic move by Warner Bros. Discovery involves splitting into two separate entities later this year, with the entertainment segment, including HBO Max, potentially being acquired by Netflix, pending finalization of the deal.

Source: The Verge

Automobile and smartphone manufacturers recently convened at the 16th annual ‘Plugfest’ in Palo Alto, California, organized by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to explore the latest advancements in digital key technology. Digital keys, enabling car owners to manage vehicle access via smartphones or digital devices, are gaining traction in the automotive industry. The Plugfest event served as a platform for CCC members, including automakers, smart device manufacturers, cloud providers, and chip makers, to assess interoperability and performance across various vehicles, devices, and wireless technologies.

The collaborative nature of Plugfest facilitates cooperation among companies, ensuring seamless digital key functionality across different devices and car brands. As vehicles become more software-defined, capable of receiving remote updates and enhancing functionality over time, the need for robust digital key solutions intensifies.

Wassym Bensaid, Chief Software Officer at Rivian, highlighted the technological complexities involved in aligning wireless access across diverse hardware and software ecosystems. The event underscored the industry’s collective effort to address these challenges and enhance digital key capabilities amidst evolving automotive and smartphone innovations.

Source: The Verge

Amazon has made its Alexa Plus, a generative AI-powered digital assistant, available to all Prime members in the US across various platforms. The assistant can now be accessed via Alexa-enabled devices, Alexa.com, and the Alexa mobile app. Additionally, Amazon has introduced a new free tier for non-Prime members, providing access to Alexa Plus through a chatbot experience on the web and in the app. Alternatively, users can subscribe for $20 per month for unlimited usage of Alexa Plus without a Prime membership.

Initially launched in March 2025 as an Early Access program, Alexa Plus has gradually been rolled out to millions of users over the past year. According to Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Echo, the assistant has now transitioned out of Early Access and is officially available to all US residents. Alexa Plus has also recently been introduced in Canada and Mexico, with plans for a closed Beta program in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

The new Alexa Plus tiers in the US include Alexa Plus for Prime membership at $14.99 per month or $139 per year, Alexa Plus standalone subscription at $19.99 per month, and Alexa Plus Chat, a free option for non-Prime members to explore the assistant through a chatbot experience.

Source: The Verge

Google Home users can now take advantage of a new feature that allows them to control their smart home devices using buttons. The recent update on February 2 introduces support for smart buttons, physical and programmable switches, enabling users to trigger automations or control various devices with the press of a button.

This new functionality expands the options for managing smart home tasks, such as adjusting lights, operating shades, activating scenes, or initiating a robot vacuum. Unlike relying solely on voice commands or app interfaces, smart buttons offer a convenient hands-on approach with options for single press, double press, and long press actions.

The introduction of this feature fills a notable gap in the Google Home platform’s capabilities, as major smart home platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant have long supported button controls for connected devices. The integration of the Matter interoperability standard further streamlines the process of managing devices with buttons across different ecosystems.

Users can now leverage the ‘Switch or button is pressed’ function within the Google Home app, enhancing their control over smart devices through various press actions.

Source: The Verge

Crunchyroll, the popular streaming service for anime enthusiasts, has announced adjustments to its subscription pricing in the US and select international markets. The price changes will affect all tiers of Crunchyroll subscriptions, marking the first increase to the lowest-priced tier since 2019.

According to Crunchyroll, the Fan Tier will see a raise from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month. The Mega Fan Tier will increase from $11.99 per month to $13.99 per month, while the Ultimate Fan Tier will now cost $17.99 per month, up from $15.99.

Subscribers with existing monthly plans will experience the updated pricing on their next billing cycle after March 4th. Despite the cost adjustments, Crunchyroll is enhancing the Fan Tier by introducing the ability to download content for offline viewing on one device, a feature previously exclusive to the Mega Fan Tier.

Crunchyroll’s pricing modifications align with a broader trend of price increases across various streaming platforms like HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and Disney Plus. These adjustments follow previous hikes in 2024 for the higher-tier subscriptions on Crunchyroll.

As streaming services continue to evolve and expand their offerings, these changes reflect the competitive landscape of the industry, with companies adapting to meet shifting consumer demands and market conditions.

Source: The Verge

Ring, known for its smart doorbells, is expanding its Search Party pet finder service to non-Ring owners by integrating it into the free Ring Neighbors app. The service, which has facilitated the reunion of owners with more than one lost pet per day since its inception, allows anyone in the US to share a photo of their missing pet after downloading and registering on the app.

Through AI-enabled Ring cameras belonging to neighbors, if a lost animal is detected, the pet’s owner can receive an alert. Additionally, Ring is investing $1 million to equip animal shelters nationwide with camera systems to aid in pet recovery efforts.

Despite initial concerns about the service being opt-out by default and issues related to privacy and law enforcement collaboration, Ring is expanding the availability of the Search Party feature, which launched last September.

Source: The Verge

Fitbit users who have not yet transferred their data to a Google account now have until May 19th, 2026, to complete the migration process. Originally set for February 2nd, the deadline extension was announced on Google’s help page for Fitbit account migration.

The updated post clarifies that users can download or delete their data before data deletions begin on July 15, 2026. After the specified date, Fitbit users risk losing access to their accounts and associated historical data unless they take action to retain or migrate it to a Google account.

This latest deadline shift follows previous delays by Google, with the original migration deadline slated for 2025 and later moved to February 2nd before the current extension to May 19th.

For those who have not initiated the migration process yet, this extension provides additional time to safeguard their Fitbit data and ensure uninterrupted access to their accounts in the future.

Source: The Verge

Belkin’s Wemo smart home devices will lose access to cloud services starting this Saturday, affecting remote control and integrations with Google Home and Alexa. The company also plans to cease app updates for the Wemo app from January 31st onwards.

The planned shutdown, initially disclosed in July, primarily impacts a wide range of Wemo devices, such as smart plugs and a coffee maker, excluding specific Thread-based models like the 3-way smart light switch, stage smart scene controller, smart plug with Thread, and smart video doorbell camera. Devices configured via Apple’s HomeKit will remain functional after Saturday, but users must complete the setup within HomeKit before January 31st for continued usage.

Following the cloud services disconnection, affected devices will only operate manually. Users with devices under warranty may qualify for a partial refund after the shutdown of cloud services.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft is considering introducing a customizable top menu bar for Windows 11, reminiscent of user interfaces found in Linux, macOS, and older Windows versions. Dubbed the “Command Palette Dock” by Microsoft, this optional UI feature aims to offer users quick access to tools, system resource monitoring, and more.

According to Niels Laute, a senior product manager at Microsoft, the dock would be highly customizable, allowing users to position it on the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen. Additionally, extensions can be pinned to three distinct regions of the dock: start, center, and end.

If implemented, the dock will provide easy access to system resources, tools, and other functionalities. Users will have the flexibility to alter the background, styling, theme, and rearrange extensions across different dock regions as needed.

This potential addition complements Microsoft’s existing Command Palette launcher, which resembles Apple’s Spotlight in macOS. The Command Palette enables swift access to commands, applications, and development tools.

Microsoft is currently seeking feedback on this proposal, and developers have the opportunity to experiment with an early version by importing a project from Microsoft’s PowerToys GitHub repository into Visual Studio.

Source: The Verge

Waymo has announced the launch of its robotaxi service for travelers at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This move marks a significant step in Waymo’s expansion plans within the Bay Area.

After prolonged negotiations with the airport’s management, Waymo secured a ‘Testing and Operations Pilot Permit’ with SFO in September 2025. This permit outlines a phased approach for the deployment of Waymo’s airport service, starting with vehicle testing with a human driver, progressing to driverless testing, and ultimately the initiation of commercial operations.

Currently, Waymo’s access to SFO terminals is restricted, and pickups and drop-offs are designated at the airport’s Rental Car Center, connected to the terminals via the AirTrain. SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel emphasized the importance of starting at the rental car lot to ‘isolate’ Waymo’s robotaxis from the bustling passenger terminals, drawing similarities to the initial rollout at Phoenix’s airport. SFO may mandate adjustments based on Waymo’s performance during this phase of the pilot program.

Waymo plans to gradually scale up the number of riders until anyone can hail a Waymo at the airport, a milestone anticipated to be achieved ‘in the coming months.’

Source: The Verge

Casio introduced the SX-C1, a prototype sampler that pays homage to retro gaming aesthetics, at the NAMM show. The device features a directional pad, four buttons akin to a game controller, and a 1.3-inch OLED screen. At the bottom, users can find 16 rubberized pads for triggering samples, each labeled with pixelated numbers.

The final version of the SX-C1 is expected to offer 16-voice polyphony, 16-bit / 48kHz sample recording, and 64GB of internal storage across 10 sample banks. The device will come preloaded with samples from classic Casio equipment, offering a nostalgic touch.

Equipped with two effects slots and a grid-style step sequencer, the SX-C1 promises proper sample trimming capabilities with a visible waveform display. Featuring a built-in mic and speaker, the sampler can operate independently with AAAs or connect to external devices through various jacks and dual USB-C ports.

Marking Casio’s return to the sampler market, the SX-C1 blends retro design with modern functionality, catering to both music enthusiasts and tech-savvy individuals. The tech community eagerly anticipates further details on the device’s release and pricing.

Source: The Verge

Nintendo has announced details about its upcoming interactive toy, the Talking Flower, set to release on March 12th. The Talking Flower, showcased during a Nintendo Direct event, offers random phrases and music every hour, along with the ability to trigger thoughts on demand. Users can set it to speak at specific times, comment on room temperature, and notify when batteries are low. The toy, designed as a companion for Super Mario Bros. Wonder fans, supports multiple languages and unique phrases tied to specific times of the day. Additionally, Nintendo announced a new power-up called the ‘bellabel flower’ for the Switch 2 update of Mario Wonder, scheduled for release on March 26th.

Source: The Verge

Sony has announced its latest offerings in the turntable market, marking the company’s return to the scene after several years. The PS-LX3BT, priced at $399.99, and the PS-LX5BT, priced at $499.99, are designed to cater to audiophiles seeking a seamless listening experience with both wired and Bluetooth hi-res audio capabilities.

One key feature of these turntables is the one-button automatic playback function, which simplifies the process of starting the turntable, moving the tonearm onto the vinyl, and returning it to rest once the record concludes. Additionally, users can enjoy a transparent dust cover that allows visibility of colored vinyl prints during playback, along with a built-in switchable EQ for selecting between phono and line-level output.

For those looking to digitize their vinyl collection, the USB output enables conversion to digital files, while the turntables support 96kHz/24-bit wireless aptX Adaptive hi-res Bluetooth audio. The LX3BT features a moving magnet cartridge with 3.5g stylus pressure, while the 5BT model boasts a high-precision moving magnet cartridge with 2g stylus pressure.

With Sony’s announcement of a potential joint venture with TCL in the home entertainment sector, these new turntables could be the final releases from Sony’s current home entertainment division, signaling a potential shift in the company’s future product offerings.

Source: The Verge