Tech Boys

When Apple introduces its more capable version of Siri in 2026, it increasingly sounds like it'll have Google to thank. Bloomberg reports that Apple is finalizing plans to use a custom version of Gemini to power the new Siri and plans to pay Google handsomely for the privilege. The new Siri will still use some of Apple's homegrown models, but will also rely on a version of Gemini running on the company's Private Cloud Compute servers to "handle Siri's summarizer and planner functions," Bloomberg writes. Those functions "help the voice assistant synthesize information and decide how to execute complex tasks." Since using apps on people's behalf is core to Apple's pitch for its updated assistant, Gemini appears to be playing a critical role. Apple will reportedly pay $1 billion annually to use Google's technology, a fraction of what Google has reportedly paid the company to make Google Search the default search option on Apple's ...

Google is rolling out new Gemini-powered features in Maps that aim to make navigation more conversational and intuitive, according to a blog post from the company on Wednesday. The update introduces the first hands-free, voice-driven navigation experience in Maps, built with Gemini and Google’s "comprehensive information about the real world." Users can now ask complex, multi-step questions such as, "Is there a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route?" or "What’s parking like there?" Gemini can also handle personal tasks, like adding a calendar event for later in the day. SEE ALSO: Google Maps will soon tell you when you need to switch lanes Another addition is landmark-based navigation. Instead of generic cues like "turn right in 500 feet," Gemini will reference real-world markers, offering directions such as "turn right after the Thai Siam Restaurant." Google says it analyzed information from over 250 ...

Reddit won't escape Australia's child social media ban. The Guardian reports that Communications Minister Anika Wells announced Reddit's addition on Wednesday. The nation's law, which blocks children under 16 from major social media sites , is scheduled to go into effect on December 10. Alongside Reddit, Wells said Australian streaming site Kick would also be included. They join the previously announced Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Australia considers the list to be a starting point for the ban and won't rule out adding more. Other companies under consideration are Discord, Twitch, GitHub and Roblox. YouTube was initially excluded because it was considered an educational tool. But after protests from other companies on the list, Australia ultimately added it . The ban passed in late 2024. The legislation puts the onus on the platforms, rather than parents, to police underage use. Companies that don't take reasonable steps to preven...

Every year for as long as I can remember, my mother has gifted me a wall calendar featuring photos of my hometown. It’s a lovely thing, and I use it often to keep a note of all the concerts I have coming up. For 2026, though, I’m going to need something different: a Balatro wall calendar that features actor Ben Starr as the game’s mascot, Jimbo, in a variety of scenarios . You’ll see Jimbo as Santa Claus and a vampire. There’s a photo of him in baseball garb and another of him eating ice cream. There’s even a shot of Jimbo with carefully placed bananas (a nod to the game’s handy banana cards) akin to that one shot of Mena Suvari in American Beauty . Starr is a logical pick for this as he previously dressed up as Jimbo to promote the game and accept a BAFTA on behalf of developer LocalThunk. A new year is coming... time to shuffle off and try again! The Balatro 2026 Wall Calendar is available now: https://t.co/EHlzJDOIIm pic.twitter.com/ugnooDdLoW — Fangamer (@Fangamer) Novemb...

Dolby unveiled Dolby Vision 2 in September, and Samsung has already fired back with its own upgrades to its image quality format. The company is a key player in the consortium behind the HDR10 and HDR10+ standards, and this week it announced that the group is developing a version called HDR10+ Advanced. Amazon Prime Video has already signed on to support this format when it becomes available. Forbes reported on the six upgrades that are in the works with HDR10+ Advanced. The revised standard is expected to have an increased brightness range, genre-based options for tone mapping and picture processing, intelligent motion-smoothing options, a mode for cloud gaming, more zones for local tone mapping, and more advanced and accurate color performance. According to the publication, HDR10+ Advanced will likely debut on Samsung's 2026 TV lineup. If that is the case, we can expect to hear more about HDR10+ Advanced in January at CES 2026 when the company usually unveils the year’s TV mo...

Spam and scam calls are some of the most annoying things we all have to deal with when it comes to our phones. Apple’s iOS 26 update takes a firm step toward solving this problem with Call Screening, a new feature designed to filter unknown numbers before you ever pick up the phone. Once it’s activated, your iPhone can automatically answer calls from numbers not saved in your contacts, ask the caller to identify themselves and display a real-time transcription of their response on your screen. You can then decide whether the call is worth taking, effectively cutting off spam before it reaches you. This feature blends convenience and privacy by keeping all processing on the device rather than sending data to the cloud. It’s a logical evolution from earlier tools like Silence Unknown Callers, but this time it allows for a more conversational gatekeeping system that mirrors the experience of live voicemail. Here’s how to turn on Call Screening on your iPhone. Checking compatibility a...

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a light sleeper. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 Where did Wordle come from? Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble , music identification game Heardle , and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once .  Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New Yor...

TL;DR : Give your PC a big upgrade for just $9.97 (reg. $199) with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license . Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97 $199 Save $189.03   Get Deal Don’t underestimate how much a new operating system can do for an old computer. If you have a PC, upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro can make it feel like a brand-new machine. And right now, you can make the switch for just $9.97 (reg. $199). Give your dusty old PC a serious makeover with a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license. It ushers in a whole new way to use your computer. Enjoy a seamless interface and brand-new features to streamline your workflow, including a more powerful search experience, improved voice typing, snap layouts , and seamless redocking. SEE ALSO: Make your year-end workload easier with this $20 Microsoft Office license If you’re paying a subscription for an AI model, you can cancel it with this upgrade. Windows 11 ...

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You may soon be able to give posts the thumbs-down on Bluesky . The Twitter dupe recently announced it would be testing a "dislike" button, aimed at improving the personalization of users' feeds. The idea is that thumbs-downing posts you don't like will directly affect the posts you see in your feed. Wrote Bluesky about the test feature in a blog post : "Soon, we’ll start testing a 'dislike' option as a new feedback signal to improve personalization in Discover and other feeds. Dislikes help the system understand what kinds of posts you’d prefer to see less of. They may also lightly inform reply ranking, reducing the visibility of low-quality replies. Dislikes are private and the signal isn’t global — it mainly affects your own experience and, to an extent, others in your social neighborhood." So, to be clear, dislikes won't be visible to the public — meaning people won't see what you dislike or how many dislikes any given post might ...