7 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Thomas Ricker

Thomas Ricker

Deputy Editor

Deputy Editor

    More From Thomas Ricker

    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Here’s the real Trump Phone.

    It’s a customized Cisco and you can’t have it. Nobody tell Dom.

    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Nextdoor is taking on Yelp.

    The social media app for neighborhoods is doubling-down on local business discovery with a new “Local Faves” hub that promotes verified neighbor recommendations to combat fake online reviews. “Local businesses have always grown through word of mouth. Online, though, reviews can be bought, manipulated, or faked,” says Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia. “Nextdoor’s approach mirrors the value of real word of mouth: a real neighbor, in a real neighborhood, sharing a business they’ve actually used.”

    Nextdoor says it can provide an honest discovery platform to businesses “that can’t be bought.”
    Nextdoor says it can provide an honest discovery platform to businesses “that can’t be bought.”
    Image: Nextdoor
    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Roland launches its first piano with built-in Wi-Fi.

    The $749 FP-40 connects to the company’s Piano Sphere app for “personalized learning, feedback, and motivation.”

    John Ternus is now the CEO of AppleJohn Ternus is now the CEO of Apple
    Richard Lawler and Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Google wants Disney, Universal, and other studios to license characters and films for its AI tools.

    Google is pitching its AI tools as a way to streamline production and visual effects, but the effort faces pushback from union workers and creators concerned about copyright, job displacement, and artistic control.

    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Reddit, Roblox, and ChatGPT now targets of EU regulators.

    Reddit and Roblox have been designated “Very Large Online Platforms” under the Digital Services Act (DSA), while ChatGPT has been named a “Very Large Online Search Engine.” Those designations bring strict obligations to protect user safety, ensure transparency, and curb illegal content in the bloc. The companies now have four months to get their houses in order.

    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    LG’s smart home is getting a terribly named chatbot.

    Its conversational AI agent is called ThinQ Claw (a riff on OpenClaw) and builds on its acquisition of Homey. LG says it can “understand user intent and context and help complete tasks by connecting and coordinating relevant services and devices,” be they LG appliances or third-party products. It’s being demoed for the first time at the big IFA tech show kicking off later this week.

    Now with AI.
    Now with AI.
    Image: LG
    Thomas Ricker
    Thomas Ricker
    Jackery’s little workhorse power station looks great in white.

    The $619 HomePower 1000 Plus V2 solar generator is now available in white or gray. It’s built around a 1kWh LFP battery that can be expanded to an impressive 11kWh of capacity. Its diminutive size, 1800W of sustained AC output, and up to 400W of solar (or car’s alternator) input makes it suitable for vanlifers, creator job sites, and even home backup to keep devices like the fridge and CPAP machine running during the next outage.

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    <em>Easy to handle at 23.8 pounds and 12.4 × 7.9 × 9.2 inches.</em>
    <em>I’s also available in traditional Jackery gray.</em>
    <em>A maxed out system using expansion batteries.</em>
    <em>Enough I/O for all your gadgets in the field.</em>
    <em>I see a 140W USB-C output. Nice.</em>
    1/5
    Easy to handle at 23.8 pounds and 12.4 × 7.9 × 9.2 inches.
    Image: Jackery