With Switch 2, iPhone, and laptop tricks, the Sharge Disk Pro 2 is finally a worthy EDC
Sharge, the company that makes delightful retro Mac-shaped chargers and see-inside batteries, is finally impressing me with a portable SSD. I couldn't recommend the Sharge Disk, Disk Plus, or even the Disk Pro, but I'd be happy to own the new Disk Pro 2 Ultra.
This isn't just a drive. It's a 4K HDMI dock and a USB-C hub too. It's a veritable USB-C Swiss Army Knife for all your main gadgets: laptop, tablet, phone, Steam Deck, even the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
And this USB multitool has built-in MagSafe pattern magnets to stick it to your iPhone, Pixel, or anything where you're willing to stick a magnetic ring. (One stick-on ring is in …
Apple’s new AirTags are back down to their best price
We spotted a great deal on Tile trackers earlier this week that’s still live, but if you’re an iPhone owner, we ultimately recommend Apple’s latest AirTag. Right now, you can pick up a four-pack for $89 ($10 off) at Amazon and Target, matching the bundle’s all-time low price. If you’re a member, Costco also has a deal that throws in a fifth AirTag for free.
Apple AirTags (second-generation)
Where to Buy:
A growing number of Bluetooth trackers can tap into Apple’s Find My network these days, but none combine that with Apple’s latest ultra wideband (UWB) chip, which powers even better Precision Finding than before. Precision Finding uses on-screen arrows and distance indicators in the Find My app to guide you directly to a misplaced item, while the second-generation AirTag’s upgraded chip and extended Bluetooth range make it faster and more reliable to locate tags, even in multistory homes. You can also use Precision Finding to find lost items on an Apple Watch, provided you have a Series 9 or later. And if all else fails, the built-in speaker is noticeably louder than before, making it easier to track down an AirTag by sound.
Plus, like its predecessor, the second-generation AirTag comes with a handful of features that are especially useful if you’re traveling this summer. AirTag sharing lets up to five people keep track of the same item, while Apple’s Share Item Location feature allows you to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with participating airlines, including United, Delta, and American Airlines. It’s still a shame Apple doesn’t include a built-in lanyard hole, meaning you’ll need to buy a separate loop or holder, but the tracker continues to use a replaceable CR2032 battery, so you won’t have to replace the entire device when it eventually runs out of power. And at $89 for a four-pack, it’s also a little easier on your wallet today.
Read our second-generation AirTag review.
Google Earth’s AI deepfake tool only lasted one day
Google has shut down Google Earth feature it launched Thursday that allowed users to edit satellite images with text prompts using AI. The tool essentially let users create AI deepfakes of the real world using text prompts; Digital Digging's Henk van Ess, for example, intentionally generated images adding things like refugees near the Mexican border and a bomb crater by a hospital in Gaza. On Thursday, Google's initial response to van Ess noted that images generated with Nano Banana 2 in Google Earth included a digital watermark and that the company prevented "image creation on harmful topics."
One day later, Google's new statement says tha …
The NHTSA is investigating 1.2 million Tesla vehicles over suspension failure reports
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is probing nearly 1.2 million Tesla vehicles after receiving complaints about a suspension failure that could cause "a loss of vehicle directional control," as reported earlier by Reuters. The preliminary investigation includes the 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y, according to a filing from the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
The NHTSA says it received 156 complaints about the issue, which "involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link." In most cases reviewed by the NHTSA, failure occurred with "no advance warning," but some "cite noises occurring prior t …
Google might launch a ‘Pixel Tag’
Google is seemingly working on an item tracker that might compete with Apple's AirTag. 9to5Google obtained an image of something called a "Google Pixel Tag" that has a small oval shape. The publication also linked to a Slovenian store listing about the Pixel Tag that describes the gadget as an item tracker with a speaker that uses Google's "Find My Device" network (which is now called Find Hub).
The Pixel Tag is popping up shortly ahead of Google's planned hardware launch event for August 12th. Google has already shown off teases of the Pixel 11 lineup for the event, and leaks have also appeared for a new foldable, smartwatch, and earbuds. …
The ban on robot vacuums won’t make them safer, only worse
No other gadget knows as much about your home as a robot vacuum. They map your space, learn your routines, and many now carry a camera and microphone into every room in your house. As AI gives them a better understanding of what they see, the privacy and security risks these autonomous robots pose are only growing.
That's why greater scrutiny makes sense, but the ban on foreign-made mobile robots issued by the Federal Communications Commission earlier this week - implemented to address "unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons" - doesn't actually judge products by h …
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a quirky life sim that’s worth buying at this discount
Looking to start your own island paradise full of Miis based on family, friends, and celebrities, but don’t feel like paying full fare? Woot has Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for Switch on sale for $52.99 (usually $59.95). Sort of like Animal Crossing, but more off-kilter, this unique game sees you building and managing relationships on an island of custom Mii characters. You’ll set up and decorate housing, discover what the inhabitants like and dislike, and watch as they interact with each other and form their own community. This discount is for the region-free international version (so it’ll work in all Switch consoles), and includes improved loading times for Switch 2 owners.
The second game in the series, Living the Dream adds a variety of new tools for you to build your island paradise, which folks have used to recreate simulacrums of celebrities, fictional characters, and real people in their lives. Once they’ve settled in, these characters will mingle in unpredictable ways. They may date, become platonic besties, argue, or possibly get married, frequently leading to situations that are as touching as they are funny.
Other deals to consider
- Woot has one-meter-long woven USB-C cables from Apple on sale in a variety of colors for $14.99 each (originally $19), with extra discounts if you want to buy two or three. The cables are rated for 60W of power, enough for iPad and iPhone devices, and transfer data at USB 2 speeds. You can use the coupon code APPLETEN to save an extra 10 percent once per account.
- The Marshall Stanmore III speaker is on sale at Amazon for $249.99 (usually $399.99), matching the lowest price we’ve seen. This capable speaker features a variety of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm aux, and RCA jacks for your record player. The timeless, amp-inspired design will look right at home on a bookshelf or entertainment center, with bass and treble control knobs to tune your listening experience.
- Life360 Tile Slim trackers are $30 for a pack of two at Amazon, just about half off their usual price and the lowest we’ve seen. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices via the Tile app, these credit card-shaped trackers can easily slide into a bag or wallet so you can easily find them, and have an SOS feature that will let you quickly call a friend or family member for help in an emergency.
Here’s the problem with putting an AI image generator in Google Earth
A text prompt was all it took to generate reality-warping images using Google Earth's satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery with a now-rolled back AI feature, like these images generated by Digital Digging's Henk van Ess that show "refugees near the Mexican border" and a bomb crater near a hospital in Gaza.
Google initially responded to Digital Digging's AI-altered images, saying, "We take misinformation seriously - every image created with Nano Banana in Google Earth includes the SynthID digital watermark, so if someone is unsure about an image, they can ask the Gemini app or use Lens in Search to see if the image was AI-generated." In additi …
The major labels propose rules to keep AI slop off the charts
Several record labels, including the big three - Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group - have proposed rules regarding chart eligibility for AI songs. In short, they wouldn't be.
The proposal goes quite a bit further than a labeling proposal put forth by the RIAA, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), SAG-AFTRA, and others. That would create a set of standardized labels for AI-generated and AI-assisted music. The labels' proposal would require songs be clearly labeled, but it would also keep them off international charts unless they met specific criteria, including being "substantially human …
New York sues Kalshi for allegedly running an ‘illegal gambling operation’
New York is suing Kalshi over claims the prediction market is running "an illegal gambling operation." In the lawsuit, New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Kalshi of violating state laws by accepting wagers without a license from the state's gaming commission, as reported earlier by CNBC.
An investigation from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found Kalshi exposes New York residents "to serious personal and financial risk," including people under the legal gambling age of 21, the lawsuit alleges. The state asks the court to block Kalshi - which is headquartered in New York - from operating in the state and to pay restituti …