Paulo Vargas

News Writer

Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to technology. He got his start covering consumer tech as a journalist, writing about gadgets, apps, and the rise of Android when flashing custom ROMs was still a badge of honor. Over the years, his work has ranged from gadget reviews and magazine features to film criticism, small-press zines, and in-depth documentation for global software companies. Today, Paulo focuses on making complex tools easier to use, whether that means turning technical features into clear guides or cutting through marketing fluff to show readers what really matters. Outside of writing, he spends his time playing modern pixel RPGs, but steers clear of first-person shooters since they make him nauseous. Besides, he’s always been more at home with words than crosshairs.

iPhone 17’s N1 chip makes your bad Wi-Fi feel faster

Apple’s iPhone 17 is hiding a big upgrade in its new N1 Wi-Fi chip. Fresh Speedtest data shows it lifting the worst connections by more than 60 percent, making bad home networks feel a lot less painful.

Phones         November 18

Your AirPods can act like AirPods again on Android, but there’s a catch

LibrePods is a free Android app that tricks your AirPods into thinking they are talking to an iPhone, unlocking noise control, gestures, and battery stats, as long as you are willing to root.

News         November 18

Apple’s new ring light trick is already on Windows 11, thanks to Microsoft VP

Apple’s new Edge Light feature for macOS is already on Windows, thanks to Microsoft VP Scott Hanselman’s free Windows Edge Light app that turns your whole display into a virtual ring light for sharper, more flattering video calls.

News         November 18

New Windows 11 toggle lets AI agents work in your background

Microsoft is testing a new "Experimental agentic features" toggle in Windows 11 that gives AI helpers their own hidden workspace, limited access to your files, and a clear off switch if you do not like it.

News         November 18

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro want you to control audio with your head

Leaked One UI 8.5 animations give us our clearest look yet at Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, including new head-based controls, softer hardware, and a flatter case that looks built for everyday use.

News         November 17

Galaxy Z TriFold moves closer to your pocket with fresh US firmware tests

Samsung has reportedly started testing firmware for the unlocked Galaxy Z TriFold in the US, hinting that its first tri-fold phone might be edging toward shelves, even if the launch date and markets are not confirmed.

Phones         November 17

Your Apple Watch could face a new US import ban over $634m fight

Apple’s latest courtroom clash with Masimo now includes a $634 million verdict and a fresh US trade review, putting the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen feature and future stock of newer models under real pressure.

News         November 17

YouTube Music is testing playlist search so you can stop endless scrolling

YouTube Music is finally testing playlist search, with a new Find in playlist button appearing for a tiny group of iOS users. It fixes one of the app’s most obvious pain points, but almost no one has it yet.

News         November 17

Your Radeon RX 9000 gets FSR Redstone first in Black Ops 7

AMD says FSR Redstone lands in Black Ops 7 tomorrow on Radeon RX 9000, pairing ray regeneration with machine learning frame generation. It’s a high-profile testbed for smoother motion and sharper visuals in live matches.

News         November 14

LinkedIn turns search into a targeted AI chat to grow your network

LinkedIn is rolling out AI powered people search for US Premium members, letting you type plain language requests and find experts, mentors, or hires who have already done the thing you are aiming for.

News         November 14

Netflix puts Red Dead Redemption in your pocket with Undead Nightmare

What’s happened? Red Dead Redemption is coming to mobile as part of the Netflix Games catalog, giving subscribers a console-era classic on their phones. The 2010 Western and its Undead Nightmare expansion are both bundled in. This is important because: Netflix is not just padding its games tab, it is dropping one of Rockstar’s most […]

News         November 14

NotebookLM now speaks Sheets, Word, PDFs, and images for your research

NotebookLM’s latest update adds Deep Research and support for Sheets, Word, PDFs, and images, turning Google’s AI notebook into more of a real study hub where your files, sources, and summaries actually live together.

News         November 14

iPhone Air and iPhone 16e supposedly have something in common, but it’s not good

Apple's iPhone Air and iPhone 16e were supposed to make the iPhone lineup more affordable. A leaker now claims both are struggling to sell, while demand surges for the regular iPhone 17 models instead.

Phones         November 13

Edge Light in macOS 26 Tahoe is Apple’s trick for making your dark-room calls watchable

macOS Tahoe 26.2 adds Edge Light, a new screen-border glow that turns your Mac into a built-in ring light, brightening your face in dark rooms and working across FaceTime, Zoom, Studio Display, and more.

News         November 13

Google Maps finally shows if a Tesla Supercharger is worth the detour

Google Maps now shows live Tesla Supercharger availability right inside your route. You can see open stalls, charger speed, and ETA on one screen, cutting a lot of guesswork from EV road trips.

Cars         November 13

Gemini Live’s new voice tricks make your AI chats sound more human

Google is rolling out new model updates for Gemini Live on Android and iOS, giving its voice assistant more natural speech, flexible pacing and playful accents so it can help with studying, language practice, role play and storytelling.

News         November 13

Google Drive’s new feature transforms lengthy PDFs into a clever summary for your ears

Google is adding Gemini-powered audio overviews to Drive, turning long PDFs into short spoken recaps you can play from your files. It is fast, tidy, and built for days when reading has to wait.

News         November 12

Your next Android PC from Google is the new Copilot+ challenger

Android 16 code tied to "purwa" is turning up in repo screenshots, and a follow-up "mahua" chip gets a mention. If it sticks, Android on Snapdragon X laptops could be closer than you think.

News         November 12

PlayStation brings PS5 to your desk with its first 27-inch monitor

Sony’s making a 27-inch PlayStation monitor for PS5-at-a-desk gaming. Expect 120 Hz on console, up to 240 Hz on PC, VRR, HDR tone mapping, and a built-in controller hook, launching in 2026.

News         November 12

You can finally customize Windows 11’s Start menu, update now

Windows 11’s November update is now rolling out, moving the redesigned Start menu out of preview and adding a clearer battery readout. It also fixes a background Task Manager issue and improves low-power behavior on handhelds.

News         November 12

Skynet jokes aside, experts say Gemini and ChatGPT are too risky on humanoid robots

Robots using popular AI failed basic safety and fairness tests, even approving harmful tasks. Until there is independent certification and layered controls, treat "AI-powered" as a claim to verify, not a reason to trust.

News         November 11

Galaxy S26 will reportedly speed up wireless charging, and your wait times drop

Samsung is reportedly bumping wireless charging on the Galaxy S26 to 25W on Ultra and 20W on the rest, a first in six years, cutting time on the pad and lining up closer to rivals.

Phones         November 11

Xbox dev becoming more Windows-like, prepping devs for the future of the console

Microsoft’s new Xbox dev kit leans into Windows-style tools so games line up across console, PC, and handhelds. The payoff for players, cleaner co-op, quicker patches, and saves that follow you wherever you play.

News         November 11

Apple’s anniversary iPhone aims to put your selfie camera under the display

Apple is lining up a real all-screen iPhone. Under-screen Face ID is tipped for 2026, then the selfie camera hides in 2027. If image quality holds, the notch era finally ends.

Phones         November 11

You can finally add expiry dates to shared drive files and folders

Google Drive now lets you set expiration dates for files and folders in shared drives, right from the share menu. Access drops back cleanly when time is up, with web and Android support at launch.

News         November 7

Qualcomm expects to power the Galaxy S26 series, putting Exynos rumors in an awkward spot

Qualcomm says it expects to power about 75% of future Samsung Galaxy phones, a direct counter to reports of an Exynos-led S26. If that holds, Snapdragon likely sets the default Galaxy experience next year.

Phones         November 7

YouTube’s AI age checks hit more users, and your selfie may decide

YouTube is hitting more accounts with AI age checks. Accept stricter defaults or verify with ID, selfie, or card to keep full access, a privacy trade-off that also affects creators and monetization.

News         November 7

Android Auto gets Gemini today, here’s what you gain and lose

Google is rolling out Gemini on Android Auto for some users today. The assistant replaces Google Assistant, keeps the "Hey Google" hotword, adds Live for back and forth, and drops contact nicknames. Message translation is included.

Computing         November 7

Android backups are getting pickier for you, in a good way

Google is testing per-app controls for Android backups. A Play Services beta shows size-sorted lists and individual switches, letting you skip noisy or sensitive apps so backups get smaller, faster, and less demanding on storage.

Phones         November 6

Your next iPhone Air might finally get a second lens

A new leak hints that iPhone 18 Air could add a second rear camera while staying thin and light. Apple is said to be testing a 48MP main plus 48MP ultrawide, with its horizontal bar design intact.

Phones         November 6

Galaxy S26 Ultra camera looks familiar, your upgrade might feel minor

What’s happened? A new firmware leak points to a quieter year for Samsung’s camera hardware. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to reuse most of the S25 Ultra’s rear sensors, with a lone swap on the 3x telephoto. Take the leak with a grain of salt though, This is important because: For many buyers, the […]

Phones         November 6

Galaxy XR to expand internationally in 2026, report claims

Samsung’s first XR headset is set to go wider in 2026. Galaxy XR will reportedly expand to the UK, Germany, France, and Canada, with more markets possible as production and content grow.

News         November 6

Make voice notes feel normal with an AI ring that runs your music

Sandbar’s Stream ring turns whispers into editable notes and runs your music with a thumb swipe. The mic stays off until you press, privacy is baked in, and preorders start at $249 today.

News         November 5

Preload Black Ops 7 on PC today, check your specs, play at midnight

Preload hits November 10 and the PC build unlocks the evening of November 13 on the West Coast. With storage, drivers, and security handled now, you are set to dial in frames and jump straight into a match.

News         November 5