News

Sure, watchOS 26 is bringing Apple’s Liquid Glass looks to your wrist, a ‘Workout Buddy’ to give you a vote of confidence or a nudge to hit a personal best during a workout, and a bunch of new Messages features. All that is cool, but it's one of the more basic updates has me the most jazzed, and I’ve had a chance to try it out already.If you’re anything like me, when a barrage of Slack alerts comes through, or really any notifications that aren't super urgent, I’ll feel the buzz on my wrist and ignore it or place my other hand’s palm over the Apple Watch to dismiss them. So far that’s worked well, but Apple’s latest gesture is taking things to the next level.‘Wrist Flick’ is precisely what it sounds like – when a notification comes through, you’ll just flick your wrist backwards to dismiss it. You can also use it to go one step back anywhere within the Apple Watch’s interface, or to close out or silence incoming calls, whether they’re cellular or FaceTime ones.So, say you’re checking the Weather app for the forecast but need to go back, just flick your wrist twice. Once takes you back to the launcher, and another brings you back to your watch face.(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)It’ll join the likes of Double Tap when it arrives with watchOS 26, which is set to arrive this fall (likely in September or October). Although it’s available in developer beta now, it'll ship with the public beta, expected this month, July 2025.To be clear, the developer beta is very much what the name implies – it's an early version of the software and is not recommended for installation on your primary device, as you can expect bugs, slowdowns, speedups, and instability. Simply, it's not final software, but rather an early look.In my quick demo at Apple Park in a briefing after the WWDC keynote, I quickly got the hang of using ‘Wrist Flick’, and I suspect once it arrives on your wrist, it’ll become a daily habit. It’s simply pairing something you’d expect with a gesture, making it easier to navigate the Apple Watch without needing to touch the screen or dismiss a notification or two.You will need a relatively new Apple Watch to see ‘Wrist Flick' appear with the watchOS 26 update: it will work on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Interestingly, there is no support for either the Apple Watch SE or the original Apple Watch Ultra, as the feature requires the S9 or S10 chip inside. For some, that could be a reason to upgrade to a newer Apple Watch.Further featuresI'm excited about 'Wrist Flick', but in Apple's eyes it's probably not one of the flagship additions for watchOS 26. There’s also ‘Workout Buddy’, which I got to see in action – this upgrade only requires the Apple Watch to be paired with an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone.In a demo, I saw the AI-powered trainer speak in a style similar to some of the best Fitness+ Trainers (shout out to Jessica Skye), who were used to train the model. They interject at key moments during the workout: at the beginning to set the stage, in the middle at various milestones, and at the end.(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)The feature is there to provide a nudge at times, but more so a dose of encouragement. The trainer I heard was very peppy; she knew the day and time, noting we were going for a Monday evening workout, and at the end told me I brought it all the way home. It's a nice upgrade, which, for me, I think will get me working out more.There’s also the Liquid Glass interface and smart hints – subtle icons that’ll appear on the bottom of your watch face or at the top of the interface, suggesting actions. So if you’re using the camera app on your iPhone, a notification on your wrist might remind you that you can control the shutter that way.It all comes together for a pretty compelling software upgrade for Apple’s chief wearable, but I think you’ll find Wrist Flick to be a standout. And if you’re keen to have an Apple Watch capable of this feature, thanks to Amazon Prime Day 2025 on the horizon, there’s a deal to be had: the Apple Watch Series 10 is back down to the lowest price we’ve seen.The top-selling Apple Watch Series 10 is currently down to a record-low price of $299. This smartwatch features upgrades such as Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, a depth gauge, and a new design with the most advanced display. View DealYou might also likewatchOS 26: these are the 6 big updates coming to your Apple Watch soon – including an AI Workout Buddy and a Notes appDisneyland turns 70, and it's celebrating with MagicBand+, LED spectacles, and next-gen showswatchOS 26 could help protect your privacy with this secret new Apple Watch settingI went on an AI-powered vacation, and it's changed how I use my smartphone for good

Marshall has launched its latest compact Bluetooth speaker, the Middleton II. A direct replacement for the first-generation Middleton from 2023, the new speaker promises room-filling 360-degree sound from a device that sits comfortably in the palm of your hand and won’t demand too much space in your backpack for trips.

The original Middleton offered bright clear sound that belied its diminutive proportions, and with its successor Marshall says it has engineered deeper bass and "more refined performance at maximum volume." Powering the beefed up sound are two 30-watt woofers and a pair 10-watt tweeters, with the drivers positioned so that you hear music clearly from wherever you’re standing.

Battery life is rated at more than 30 hours, which is an improvement on the 20 hours offered by its predecessor. A 20-minute charge will be enough to resurrect a fading Middleton II and avoid the wrath of your guests, and like the speaker it’s replacing, it doubles as a power bank if it’s your phone that requires life support.

A multi-directional control knob handles play/pause and song selection, as well as answering calls and volume control. There’s also a built-in microphone for taking calls hands-free. And as you’d hope from a Bluetooth speaker designed to be a road warrior, the Middleton II has an IP67 rating for dust and water exposure, so no need to be precious with it around the pool this summer.

The Marshall Middleton II is available to buy now for $330.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/marshalls-new-middleton-ii-bluetooth-speaker-lasts-30-hours-between-charges-164354372.html?src=rss

Chalk one up for prison telecoms — and against inmates' family members — courtesy of Trump's FCC. On Monday, the agency said (via The Verge) it would delay enforcement of a 2024 action aimed at capping prison phone call fees. The rules are now scheduled to take effect in April 2027.

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez criticized the agency's move in a statement. "Today, the FCC made the indefensible decision to ignore both the law and the will of Congress," she wrote.

Prison phone call fees vary dramatically by state. Last year, the FCC said rates for large jails could reach as high as $11.35 for a 15-minute audio call. Meanwhile, family members calling smaller jails could pay as much as $12.10 for the same period. The rates in other states are much lower, and some have passed laws capping fees.

The fees collected from the families and friends of inmates often include kickbacks to jails and local governments. In 2021, Business Insider reported (via The Verge) that the prison phone call industry raked in $1.4 billion annually. And it's a system that disproportionately affects women and people of color.

Brendan Carr with Donald Trump in 2024.Brandon Bell via Getty Images

The FCC's history of regulating those rates is… all over the place. In 2013, the agency capped state-to-state fees. It later tried to limit within-state rates, but a federal court blocked the move. Former FCC Chair Ajit Pai, Trump's first-term appointee, chose not to appeal that decision.

Then, a new administration brought about another shift. Under Jessica Rosenworcel's leadership, the FCC again moved toward capping the fees. In 2023, former President Biden signed legislation clarifying that the FCC indeed has the authority to regulate them. Last year, the FCC adopted the order establishing the details of those rate caps. It looked like the book was about to be closed.

And then, Donald Trump returned to office. That brings us back to today, with current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issuing the two-year delay. He cited "negative, unintended consequences" from the 2024 order. He claimed that the rate caps were too low to cover the cost of safety measures. Carr said the delay would allow local and state governments to explore alternative funding sources.

FCC Commissioner Gomez painted her colleagues' decision as a flagrant attempt to evade the law. "Rather than enforce the law, the Commission is now stalling, shielding a broken system that inflates costs and rewards kickbacks to correctional facilities at the expense of incarcerated individuals and their loved ones," she wrote. "Instead of taking targeted action to address specific concerns, the FCC issued a blanket two-year waiver that undercuts the law's intent and postpones meaningful relief for millions of families. This is a blatant attempt to sidestep the law, and it will not go unchallenged in court."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-fcc-delays-enforcement-of-prison-call-rate-caps-165452257.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching, with deals starting July 8 and ending July 11. Here at TechRadar, we'll be rounding up all the best offers on laptops, TVs, cameras, and more. However, personally, there's only one product I'm really hoping will receive a price cut: the Ecovacs WinBot W2 Pro Omni robot window cleaner.I've been lucky enough to test some seriously cool gadgets during my 15 years as a tech journalist, but the Winbot stands out as the one that's impressed me the most, and one I'd recommend to anyone who wants to take some of the sweat out of one of life's most tedious chores.I had my doubts at first. Would it attach firmly enough? Could it really remove dirt, or would it just move it around? Would using it be a chore in itself? Thankfully, the Winbot proved me wrong on all counts.The Winbot attaches to your window using suction from a powerful fan and roams around the surface using a pair of treads. It can be used on windows with frames or frameless glass panels. Once it's in place, it works by spraying the glass with cleaner (stored in a small reservoir on the machine), then scooting over your window to wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth.The windows in my apartment were embarrassingly dirty (a result of nearby construction work and my own laziness), and presented the little bot with a genuine challenge. Incredibly, though, its 'thorough' cleaning program effectively removed every trace of grime without leaving streaks.I think the image below speaks for itself. All I had to do was hold the bot against the glass and press a button, leave the machine to do its work, then hold the same button to detach it once it was done.The view isn't spectacular, but you can't argue with the results (Image credit: Future)It's very effective, and never showed any signs of losing suction – even when I tried it on my mirrors and shower doors. If it was flat and made of glass, I tried it, and it never failed.This particular model comes with a cooler-sized case containing a high-capacity rechargeable battery, which means you can carry the bot around your home, inside and out, without needing to keep it plugged in. In the unlikely event that it does lose its grip, the cable attaching the bot to the case is reinforced and serves as a tether to prevent it falling from a height. You can also attach the base station to something sturdy using a carabiner clip for added peace of mind.(Image credit: Future)Maintenance is minimal, too; The only tasks that need to be done regularly are washing the removable cloth (which is why you get two) and cleaning the spherical sensor at each corner of the bot, which lets it detect if it's reached the edge of a frameless pane of glass.You can use the Winbot by itself straight out of the box, or install the Ecovacs app, which lets you access a menu of different cleaning options, including spot cleaning, light cleaning, and thorough cleaning. There's even a manual mode so you can 'drive' the bot around the glass yourself.The only real negative is the price. It's an excellent device, and can genuinely replace a regular window-cleaning service, but at $699.99 / AU$999 (about £500) it's a significant investment. With the right Prime Day discount, however, I think it'll be one of the smartest purchases you can make.You might also like6 settings you should be changing on your robovac (but probably aren't)I've been testing new robovacs for a year – this is my one key tip that could save you money when you buyI test robot vacuums for a living, and this new bot has the best mopping system I've seen

Amazon announced a fresh batch of games that it's giving away for free or nearly free in July. The company's cloud gaming platform, Amazon Luna, has a few notable standouts on its lineup of free titles this month for Prime members in regions where the service is available. However, you'll want to play quick. Resident Evil 2 is available on Amazon Luna now through 11:59PM PT on July 12. Need for Speed Unbound is only free for July 5-6, while EA Sports FC 25 is getting two free weekends on July 19-20 and July 26-27. The director's cut of Death Stranding and the excellent metroidvania Hollow Knight are also on the July roster for Luna, alongside mainstay titles such as Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege and a few Fallout games.

Amazon also gives away game codes outside of Luna to Prime members each month. The big standout in the July batch is Venba, a lovely bite-sized game about cooking, family and the immigrant experience. Here's the full rundown of free games available through Amazon this month:

Boxes: Lost Fragments (Epic Games Store)

Paquerette Down the Bunburrows (Epic Games Store)

ENDLESS Space 2 Definitive Edition (Amazon Games App)

Besiege: The Splintered Sea DLC (Amazon Games App)

Venba (GOG)

I Love Finding Wild Friends Collector's Edition (Legacy Games)

Heroes of Loot (GOG)

July is shaping up to be a busy month for gaming at Amazon, with the retailer's Prime Day 2025 kicking off in about a week. Amazon has already made a handful of extra game codes available for free ahead of the big deals spree, and if it continues the trend from last year, expect to see a couple more freebies given out once Prime Day begins.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazon-unveils-its-prime-gaming-freebies-for-july-2025-170050197.html?src=rss