The ChatGPT browser is already dead
OpenAI is already shutting down ChatGPT Atlas, its browser that could do tasks for you on your behalf, less than a year after launching it. Atlas was announced in October, but as part of its wave of news about ChatGPT Work today, the company confirmed that it will be "sunsetting" Atlas and is targeting an August 9th date for deprecation.
In recent months, OpenAI has also shut down the video generation app Sora and paused plans for a ChatGPT "adult mode" as it works to reduce "side quests" and catch up with Anthropic on productivity features.
In a thread about the ChatGPT Work announcements, which includes an updated browser in the desktop …
The floatable, powerful Soundcore Boom 2 speaker is over half off
Bluetooth speakers with big sound and great features are hard to find for under $100, with most offerings being some variation of the same basic (and often small) design. Thankfully, through July 10th Woot has the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 on sale for $69.99, which is $20 cheaper than the discounted price at other retailers like Amazon, and about half its original $129.99 price. The waterproof Bluetooth speaker can run for up to 24 hours on a single charge, with big, bass-forward sound that’s great for a day by the water or just hanging out in the yard.
While size isn’t everything when it comes to Bluetooth speakers, the Soundcore Boom 2’s 50W subwoofer and pair of 15W tweeters should deliver louder, clearer sound than other speakers around the same price (which are often smaller). The IPX7 rating means it’s fully waterproof and submersible, and its design will let it pump out the tunes, or take calls with its built-in microphone, while it floats in water.
The Boom 2 has a robust set of features for a speaker at this price point. You can adjust the equalizer and the built-in lighting behavior from the Anker app, plus the speaker charges your other devices at up to 5W from its built-in USB-A port. Its support for Anker PartyCast 2.0 lets the Boom 2 sync with other Anker speakers for larger audio. There’s no 3.5mm aux input, which isn’t irregular for waterproof speakers, so it’s Bluetooth only for playback.
Google will now tell you if an ad was made with AI
You can see if ads on Google Search, Google Discover, and YouTube were made or edited using AI from a new section in Google's "My Ad Center," as reported earlier by TechCrunch. The update, announced on Thursday, adds a "created or edited with AI" label under the "how this ad was made" tab. Users can find it by tapping the three dots or info button on ads, which pulls up the same panel where you can also block or report ads.
Google says it will automatically apply the AI label to any ads made with its own generative AI advertising tools, but AI ads made elsewhere will need to have the label applied manually. In some regions, Google's new AI …
Google’s Nest Thermostat has hit its best price of the year
If you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to cut down on cooling costs, Google’s Nest Thermostat can help. It’s packed with smart controls and energy-saving features, and right now it’s on sale in white for $79 ($50 off), which is its best price of the year, at Amazon.
The smart thermostat is quick to install and makes it easy to adjust your home’s temperature whether you’re relaxing in bed or on your way home thanks to the Google Home app. You can also create schedules and control it with your voice using Google Assistant, Alexa, or another Matter-compatible voice assistant.
Once it’s set up, the Nest Thermostat can automatically turn the temperature down when you’re away to help reduce unnecessary energy use, while Google’s Savings Finder feature suggests additional ways to save over time. It also monitors your HVAC system and can alert you if something doesn’t seem right, making it easier to stay on top of maintenance before small issues become bigger, more expensive ones. If you’re eligible, Nest Renew can also automatically shift some of your heating and cooling to times when electricity is cleaner or cheaper.
That said, this is Google’s entry-level model from 2020, so you do miss out on some of the premium features found on the latest Nest Learning Thermostat. Unlike the flagship version, it won’t learn your schedule automatically over time, for example, and lacks support for Nest Temperature Sensors that let you prioritize the temperature in a specific room. Even so, if all you want is an easy way to adjust your home’s temperature remotely and potentially lower your energy bills, the Nest Thermostat is still a solid investment at this price.
Read our Google Nest Thermostat review.
Microsoft’s patch Tuesdays are about to get bigger
Windows 11 updates could soon include fixes for more security issues at once. Microsoft said in a blog post on Thursday that it's now using AI to "identify potential issues earlier," which means "customers will see a higher volume of security updates included in each security release."
Hackers, even amateurs, have increasingly been using AI to quickly exploit security weaknesses over the past several months. Security researchers are also using AI to find issues faster, leading to more frequent high-severity vulnerabilities, like the "Copy Fail" exploit that impacted nearly every Linux distribution in May. Similarly, when Anthropic announce …
OpenAI rolls out GPT-5.6 after government greenlight — and announces ‘ChatGPT Work’
About two weeks after OpenAI's GPT-5.6 was caught up in regulatory drama - rolled out only to government-approved organizations during a "limited preview" period - the company has received the Trump administration's greenlight for a public rollout of the model. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called it "the best model we have ever produced."
To celebrate, OpenAI also unveiled a new AI agent on the same day: ChatGPT Work. It's billed as a combination of ChatGPT and Codex, allowing the everyday non-technical user to take advantage of Codex's capabilities for non-coding tasks, and it's powered by the GPT-5.6 model suite (Sol, Terra, and Luna). "It can g …
Schlage’s Sense Pro unlocks the door so I don’t have to
The Schlage Sense Pro is a beautiful smart lock. Sleek, discreet, and simple to use, it's Schlage's smartest lock to date. Thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB), it unlocks as I walk up to my front door; I don't need to enter a code or tap my phone or press my finger against it. I've tested several hands-free unlocking systems that rely on geofencing and other radio technologies, and UWB is faster and more reliable. It's the first one I actually trust.
The $399 Sense Pro is Schlage's first smart lock with ultra-wideband auto-unlock, its first to support Matter-over-Thread, and its first without a physical keyhole. It works with Apple Home Key for …
Sonos Ace wireless headphones are steeply discounted
If you’re looking for a discount on a great pair of active noise-canceling headphones for your summer adventures (even if they’re indoors), you’re in luck. The Sonos Ace headphones in black are currently on sale for $279 (usually $399) at a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and directly from Sonos. Weirdly, the white version is discounted at all.
The Ace are as comfortable as they are attractive, with an expansive soundstage and balanced sound profile that’s less bass-forward than some competitors released around the same time like the Sony WH-1000XM5. Some people might like that. Their active noise cancellation effect is one of the best we’ve tested yet, with an impressive transparency mode to match, and they can run for up to 30 hours on a single charge.
Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace are the company’s first set of wireless headphones. They feature a premium, comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars.
Where to Buy:
Those who have a Sonos soundbar can switch the audio over to the Ace headphones with a single button press. You’ll then get spatial audio support with head tracking for watching your movies, TV shows, or playing games. They also support multipoint Bluetooth pairing, with aptX Lossless and AAC codec support, depending on the mobile device you connect it to. The Ace supports lossless audio when linked to devices via USB-C.
Read our Sonos Ace review.
Other deals to consider
- If you’re a member of DoorDash’s premium DashPass plan, you can save $30 on a purchase of $100 or more from Best Buy. You can find the discount by navigating to Best Buy in the DoorDash app (iOS or Android), and it will automatically apply to eligible purchases at checkout. The promotion is available through July 15th.
- Green Man Gaming is selling a bundle of seven good Lego video games for $9. It includes Steam keys for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Deluxe Edition, The Lego Movie Videogame, The Lego Movie 2 Videogame, The Lego Ninago Movie Videogame, Lego The Incredibles, and Lego Jurassic World with three DLC packs. The lowest price we’ve seen for The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition on Steam is $13.99, making this an excellent deal for Lego and Star Wars fans alike.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is discounted to $699.99 (originally $799.99) at Amazon. Apple’s most premium smartwatch features GPS and 5G cellular connectivity, emergency services via satellite, and all of the health and fitness tracking features found on the other Apple Watches. This price isn’t quite as low as it was during Prime Day, but it’s a decent consolation if you missed out a few weeks ago. Read our review.
The PocketMage resurrects the PDA with an e-paper screen
Personal digital assistants like the iconic Palm Pilot were one of many devices we thought went extinct with the arrival of the smartphone. But similar to Canon resurrecting a nearly decade-old digital camera to appeal to point-and-shoot fans, Talisman Design is crowdfunding a clamshell PDA called the PocketMage that combines a tactile keyboard with both e-paper and OLED displays in a pocketable device.
There are two different preorder options for the PocketMage on Crowd Supply, plus you get your choice of parchment (gray) or royal purple accent colors. The $235 version comes fully assembled, while the cheaper $185 version requires you to b …
Sony brings back the superzoom RX10 with a stacked sensor and a high price
Sony is bringing back the RX10 superzoom camera after a nearly nine-year gap between models. The newly announced RX10 V retains the same 24-600mm equivalent f/2.4-4 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 25x zoom lens of its last two predecessors, but it has lots of upgrades elsewhere. The new 20.1-megapixel 1-inch-type sensor is a stacked design, allowing up to 30fps continuous burst shooting without any blackout (up from the last-gen's 24fps). That's a nice improvement for a camera aimed at action, sports, and wildlife photography, but it will come at a steep cost of $2,299.99 when the camera launches in early August.
The RX10 IV launched at $1,700 in 2017. …