A new Nintendo Switch 2 could be the poster child for replaceable batteries
Nintendo plans to release a Switch 2 revision in the European Union that will let users replace their own batteries, Nikkei reports. The current version of the Switch 2 has a glued-in battery. But Nintendo apparently plans to make the change in order to comply with EU rules going into effect in February 2027 that will require devices to let users easily swap out portable batteries.
The new version of the Switch 2 will be released "soon," and both the console and the Joy-Cons will have replaceable batteries, according to Nikkei. In Japan, the console's specifications will remain the same, Nikkei says. Nintendo didn't immediately reply to a r …
Future Sony PlayStation games will use AI to imagine new frames
Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, told Digital Foundry that ML-based frame generation tech is coming to "PlayStation platforms" in the future, letting the game console use AI to imagine new frames between the ones it's actually rendering, which can create smoother perceived image quality while (typically) introducing some amount of lag. At least, that's how it works on PCs, where critics call them "fake frames."
It's not clear whether Cerny means he'll bring it to the PS5 Pro, which just got better AI upscaling with an upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technique, or whether it'll have to w …
Windows 11 is finally getting a movable taskbar
It's taken almost five years, but Microsoft is finally bringing back the ability to move the Windows taskbar to the top or sides of your screen. The movable taskbar is part of some much bigger changes coming to Windows 11 this year in response to growing criticism of the operating system's performance, reliability, and user experience.
"Repositioning the taskbar is one of the top asks we've heard from you," says Windows chief Pavan Davuluri. "We are introducing the ability to reposition it to the top or sides of your screen, making it easier to personalize your workspace."
This taskbar change will be available to Windows Insiders in the co …
Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely
In 2015, Microsoft decided that you shouldn't be in control of updating your PC anymore. At first, it seemed like a good idea to keep malware at bay - but soon, users discovered their computers were automatically shutting down and erasing work in the middle of the day. Then, Microsoft abused its power to install shovelware apps and force-feed us a new web browser.
Now, each new update might add unwanted Copilot AI buttons or prevent our PCs from properly booting. My colleague Tom Warren wrote about Microsoft's many buggy Windows updates in this story.
But today, as Microsoft commits to fix Windows 11, it's also signaling that our long Win …
This is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11
Microsoft has faced a breakdown of trust in Windows 11 and a backlash over AI additions to its operating system in recent months. After promising to rebuild trust in Windows earlier this year, Microsoft's Windows chief, Pavan Davuluri, is now revealing the company's plan to fix Windows 11 - and there are a lot of changes on the way.
"Over the past several months, the team and I have spent a great deal of time analyzing your feedback," says Davuluri in a blog post committing to Windows quality improvements. "What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better."
Windows 11 will start with a first …
Trump takes another shot at dismantling state AI regulation
The Trump administration on Friday unveiled its new legislative blueprint for AI regulation, and the seven-point plan includes a clear message: The federal government should avoid many AI regulations beyond a set of child safety rules, and it should bar states from messing with the "national strategy to achieve global AI dominance."
The plan advises Congress to protect minors using AI services with more safeguards and take action to attempt to prevent electricity costs from spiking due to AI infrastructure. It encourages "youth development and skills training" to boost familiarity with AI tools, without much further detail. But it suggests …
These electronic Polaroids are powered by your phone’s NFC chip
E Ink displays have expanded beyond e-readers. They're now used in digital photo frames, smartphones, and even the price tags found on grocery store shelves. VidaBay's Classic Plus NFC E-Ink Fridge Magnet - which looks like a Polaroid photo - features the same low power color E Ink screens used in those electronic price tags, but to display photos from your phone without the need for a battery.
The small digital photo frames are now available globally in white, red, or yellow through VidaBay's online store for $35.99 each (currently discounted to $29.99), or as a three-pack for $99.99 (now discounted to $86.99).
One of the many unique bene …
Nine months later, the Trump phone still doesn’t exist
Where's the Trump phone? We're going to keep talking about it every week. We've reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump phone's whereabouts. Once again, we're waiting for a response.
It's been more than a month since two Trump Mobile executives showed me what they claimed was the T1 Phone, and in the time since, there's been… nothing. No news, no announcements, no phone. And the company has gone back to ignoring my emails.
When I spoke to Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas in early February, I was told that within "the next couple of weeks" the Trump Mobile website would be updated with a full spec sheet and imagery for the updated vers …
Anker’s Qi2 MagGo Power Bank is down to its best price in months
Given how often most of us rely on our smartphones, it’s a good idea to keep a power bank on hand in the event your phone dies while you’re out and about. If you don’t own one already, Anker’s MagGo Power Bank (10K) is down to $71.99 (nearly $20 off) at Amazon in the lead-up to the retailer’s annual Big Spring Sale. You can also buy it directly from Anker for the same price when you use coupon code WS7DV27ZN58X, which drops it to the best price we’ve seen this year.
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K)
Where to Buy:
Anker’s lightweight power bank can deliver 15W of wireless power to MagSafe-compatible iPhones, allowing you to charge an iPhone 17 to about 50 percent in about 45 minutes. The battery’s 10,000mAh capacity also means you can charge the base iPhone 17 nearly twice or the iPhone 17 Pro Max at least once. There’s also a USB-C port for juicing other devices at up to 27W, while passthrough charging lets you top off both the power bank and your phone at the same time.
Additionally, Anker’s magnetic power bank stands out with a built-in LED screen, which displays the remaining battery life and how long it’ll take to charge. It also sports a sturdy, integrated kickstand on the back, which lets you prop up your phone as it charges and take advantage of Apple’s handy StandBy mode, turning your screen into a smaller, glanceable smart display for quickly viewing the time, calendar events, photos, and other tidbits of info.
Google’s battery-powered Nest Doorbell is $40 off right now
Buying a video doorbell is worth it for several reasons. They’re convenient if you get a lot of deliveries or visitors, as they let you glance at a phone alert to decide whether it’s necessary to drop everything and go to the door. They can provide peace of mind, too, particularly if you’re heading out of town on vacation. Fortunately, Google’s entry-level Nest Doorbell — one of the best models available — is on sale for $139.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target in the run-up to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which starts on March 25th.
Google Nest Doorbell (second-gen, battery)
Where to Buy:
Unlike Ring’s $100 battery-powered Video Doorbell, Google’s Nest Doorbell doesn’t require a paid subscription for smart alerts — you’ll be notified for free via the Google Home app if the doorbell detects a person, package, or animal. You’ll get notifications when a package arrives and another alert if your doorbell detects the package has been picked up. The doorbell also offers up to three hours of event-based recording, though a premium Google Home Premium subscription ($10 a month / $100 a year) provides 30 days of history and access to Google’s Familiar Faces tool, which can tell you who’s at your door.
As for the camera, the Nest Doorbell records video at 960 x 1280 resolution and offers up to 6x digital zoom, making it easy to identify visitors and packages. It uses a 3:4 portrait aspect ratio and a 145-degree field of view, providing both a wide view and a head-to-toe view. It also supports night vision and two-way audio, and integrates seamlessly with the rest of Google’s ecosystem. That means, when someone rings it, you can quickly view a live stream on compatible Google TV devices, as well as Nest and Echo smart displays.