Google’s new gradient icon design is coming to more apps
In late 2025, Google started rolling out new icons with a gradient design. Now it seems the new look is coming to the rest of Google's apps. 9to5Google got its hands on images of the new icons that ditch the uniform circle design that tries to cram in every color of the Google logo.
In general, the looks are softer. Corners are rounder, the gradients gently transition from almost pastel to the more saturated Google primary colors. We've already seen this new design language show in updated versions of the Google G logo, as well as Gemini, Photos, and Maps. According to 9to5, this represents the presence of AI-powered features.
The new ico …
Trump turns the WHCD shooting into a pitch for the White House ballroom
Within hours of an armed gunman's attempt to enter the White House Correspondents Dinner, attended by top administration officials and hundreds of journalists, President Donald Trump did what he does best: use the assassination attempt to defend his ballroom project.
During a White House press conference just hours after he and several cabinet members were evacuated, Trump told reporters that the Washington Hilton, the hotel where the WHCD historically takes place, was "not a particularly secure building. And I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House. It's act …
Tomora’s Come Closer is an ecstatic love letter to 90s dance music
Before Coachella, Tomora wasn't on my radar at all. It's actually only by chance that I stumbled upon them - I opened the wrong stream because my TV was lagging like a MFer. I paused for a few moments, entranced by the two ethereal Nordic women banging on giant drums to a techno beat. I made a mental note to check them out the following weekend, because Drain was the priority (especially since the Sonora stage wasn't streaming on weekend two). It was only later that I would find out that Tomora is a collaboration between Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora and Tom Rowlands, one-half of the Chemical Brothers.
Suffice it to say, they were incr …
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar is down to its lowest price to date
When you’re juggling more than just your own calendar, staying organized can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the Skylight Calendar 2 can help simplify things by syncing multiple calendars in a single spot, and now through May 7th, it’s available directly from Skylight for $259.99 ($40 off), its best price to date.
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar improves upon the original with a brighter screen, faster performance, and a slimmer design with swappable magnetic frames. Otherwise, though, it offers the same core experience, making it easy for the whole family to see events at a glance, whether you mount it on a wall or place it on a kitchen counter using the included adjustable stand. It automatically syncs with Google, Apple, Yahoo, Outlook, and Cozi calendars, pulling them into a single shared space that updates automatically. Each household member gets their own color, too, so it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what.
In addition to event planning, the Calendar 2 makes it easier to arrange and assign other day-to-day tasks. You can create and manage shared chore charts, grocery lists, and to-do lists directly on the touchscreen device or through the mobile app for Android and iOS, which makes it easy for everyone in your household to stay on track and contribute. Skylight also provides detailed weather forecasts for your events, so you know what to expect before heading out.
If you subscribe to Skylight’s Calendar Plus plan, the Calendar 2 takes even more of the work off your plate. You can forward emails, upload PDFs, or snap photos of flyers and automatically turn them into calendar events. You also get meal planning tools that let you plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week, as well as the ability to assign chores and reward kids for completing them. Plus, just for fun, there’s a screensaver mode that turns the display into an ad hoc digital photo frame when it’s not actively being used as a calendar.
After three months on Linux, I don’t miss Windows at all
In January I finally made good on my threat/promise to install Linux on my desktop. I wanted to see how far I could get using a Linux PC as my main computer without doing a bunch of research beforehand or troubleshooting afterwards. Since then I have booted into Windows exactly twice: once to scan a multipage document that wasn't scanning right in Linux, and once to print a photo for my kids' school on extremely short notice. There's a reason it's taken me three months to write the next installment in my Linux diary: nothing has gone horribly wrong.
It didn't take long for my Linux install to stop feeling new and exciting and start feeling …
The plan to quietly kill Coyote v. Acme blew up in David Zaslav’s face
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on Hollywood trends and streaming culture, follow Charles Pulliam-Moore. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sundays at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.
How it started
Under David Zaslav's leadership, WBD got very into the practice of shelving its own nearly completed projects in order to cash in on subsequent tax write-offs. To help deal with its looming debt and operating costs, the studio killed Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah's live-action Batgirl feature and the Scoob! Holiday Haunt movie from Michael Kurinsky …
Trump fires the entire National Science Board
Multiple sources are reporting that the Trump administration has dismissed the entire National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises the president and Congress on the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has already been funding research at historically low levels and has seen significant delays in doling out that funding. The NSF has been fundamental in helping develop technology used in MRIs, cellphones, and it even helped get Duolingo get off the ground.
In a statement, Zoe Lofgren, the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, said:
"This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to …
An influx of used EVs could drive down prices
Part of what has held back electric cars has been the cost. But an influx of used vehicles over the next three years could bring prices down dramatically. In 2025, just 123,000 leases on EVs expired. That is expected to more than double to 300,000 in 2026, and double again to 600,000 in 2027 and 660,000 in 2028, according to Cox Automotive.
Most leased vehicles end up entering the used market. This means more than a million used EVs could become available over the next few years, making them far more accessible. The vast majority of cars sold in the US are used - some 76 percent as of 2024, according to Consumer Affairs. A large part of th …
Researchers say we’re talking less than ever
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Arizona say that between 2005 and 2019, the number of words we speak out loud to another human being fell by nearly 28 percent. And that has likely only gotten worse following the pandemic.
The researchers actually counted the number of words we were speaking on average (16,632 in 2005). They looked at data from 22 studies in which over 2,000 people recorded audio of their daily lives. Over time, as ordering through apps became the norm, texting increased, and our lives became increasingly online, they found that number had dropped dramatically. By 2019, we were onl …
Sharge’s fast Qi2.2 MagSafe battery is down to $70 with a free USB-C cable
I’ve been testing compact, magnetic Qi2 power banks that can snap onto your phone for an upcoming buying guide. They make recharging much easier than bringing along a huge battery that weighs down your bag. One of my favorites so far is the Sharge Icemag 3, a 10,000mAh model that can wirelessly output 25W to iPhone 16-series phones and newer models. It also offers a built-in kickstand and a 35W USB-C cable that doubles as a lanyard, plus a USB-C port for passthrough charging.
For a limited time, Amazon Prime subscribers can get it in either white or black for $69.90 ($10 off), and Sharge will include a basic 60W USB-C cable for free when you add both items to your cart. Alternatively, you can get the Icemag 3 for $2 less (sans the free cable) through Sharge’s own storefront. Using code ICE15 will knock it down to $67.92.
Sharge Icemag 3 Power Bank
Where to Buy:
I’ll save my detailed charging speed test results for a later date, but I’m impressed so far with the Icemag 3. While it’s thicker than some other Qi2 power banks, the build quality is stellar, and it’s speedy when it comes to both wired and wireless charging. I also adore its see-through window, which showcases an LED-packed fan that keeps the battery cool while it recharges my gear. Plus, a free USB-C cable is a nice little gift.