Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers
Anthropic is making it easier to switch to its Claude AI from other chatbots with an update that brings Claude's memory feature to users on the free plan, along with a new prompt and dedicated tool for importing data from other chatbots. These upgrades could allow users who have been using rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini to quickly copy the data their preferred AI has collected on them and bring it over to Anthropic's chatbot. That way, they don't have to "start over" teaching Claude the context and history their previous chatbot already knows.
The option to import and export memories from Claude has been available since O …
Apple’s cheapest AirPods have hit $89
It’s a good day for Apple fans on a budget. Not only did the company introduce a new budget phone, its entry-level AirPods 4 are also on sale. Right now, you can snag a pair of Apple’s AirPods 4 starting at just $89 ($30 off) at Walmart. The model with active noise-cancellation are also down to their second best price to date, going for $119 ($60 off) at Amazon and Walmart.
AirPods 4
Where to Buy:
The AirPods 4 are the best and most comfortable entry-level earbuds from Apple yet. They deliver fuller bass along with clearer, more detailed sound than previous models, and even now match the AirPods Pro in terms of voice call quality. They also boast an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they can withstand light rain and sweaty workouts. As with other Apple headphones, they also play nicely with Apple devices, offering conveniences like automatic switching, access to hands-free Siri, and Apple TV support.
If you’re willing to spend $30 extra, the ANC model offers all the same features while also doing a surprisingly good job of tuning out the world. They can’t rival the AirPods Pro, but they still dramatically cut down on ambient and low-frequency noise on planes and in offices, particularly with music playing. The ANC earbuds also offer a transparency mode that sounds natural, along with support for tracking via Apple’s Find My App, a wireless charging case, and live translation through an iOS 26 update.
How the new iPhone 17E stacks up against Apple’s pricier phones
The iPhone 17 lineup now has a “budget” option. Announced this week, the iPhone 17E will hit stores on Wednesday, March 11th, starting at $599, with preorders opening on March 4th. The 6.1-inch phone joins the rest of Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup, which includes the iPhone 17 ($799), the more powerful iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099), and the iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199), as well as the ultra-thin iPhone Air ($999).
Unlike last year’s iPhone 16E, the 17E features MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, along with the faster A19 chip found in the iPhone 17 and twice as much base storage (256GB vs. 128GB). It also features a sharper, more durable display, retains support for Apple Intelligence, and includes a 48-megapixel “fusion” camera that enables 2x telephoto shots, all of which bring it closer to Apple’s more premium phones.
But at $599, the 17E doesn’t include all of the bells and whistles found in the rest of Apple’s current iPhone lineup. For example, it only has a 6.1-inch 60Hz display — the smallest display of any iPhone 17 series phone — and lacks features like an always-on display and Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout that shows info, like ride-share updates, at a glance. It’s also noticeably dimmer, with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
Camera hardware is another differentiator. While the 17E, Air, and standard iPhone 17 all share a 48-megapixel main sensor, the iPhone 17 has a dedicated ultrawide camera, which also enables macro photography for close-up shots. The 17 and Air also offer an 18-megapixel front-facing camera — the 17E only has a 12-megapixel shooter — which could translate to sharper selfies and clearer video calls. The Pro and Pro Max models expand further with more advanced camera arrays, including the addition of dedicated telephoto cameras. Plus, all except the 17E include the Camera Control button, which is designed to help people quickly launch the camera and adjust various settings.
Unsurprisingly, charging speeds and battery life also differ. The 17E supports MagSafe charging with Qi2 support, allowing for wireless charging at up to 15W, while the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and both Pro models support faster 25W wireless charging. Apple says the 17E can charge up to 50 percent in 30 minutes, compared to about 20 minutes for the higher-end models. Battery life increases as you move up the lineup, with the 17E rated for up to 26 hours of video playback, while the iPhone Air and the larger Pro Max models last longer (up to 39 hours, in some instances).
Those are just some of the main highlights, though. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, we’ve compiled all the specs together below, letting you see how each phone stacks up to the others.
| Category | iPhone 17E | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 |
| Apple Intelligence support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Display | 6.1-inch (2532 x 1170-pixel) OLED | 6.5-inch (2736 x 1260) OLED | 6.3-inch (2622 x 1206) OLED | 6.3-inch (2622 x 1206) OLED | 6.9-inch (2868 x 1320) OLED |
| Display refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits |
| Minimum brightness | N/A | 1 nit | 1 nit | 1 nit | 1 nit |
| Always-On display | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Glass display | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 |
| Build | Aluminum frame | Ceramic Shield back, titanium frame | Aluminum frame | Ceramic Shield back, aluminum unibody | Ceramic Shield back, aluminum unibody |
| Dimensions | 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.8mm | 156.2mm x 74.7mm x 5.64mm | 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 7.95mm | 150.0mm x 71.9mm x 8.75mm | 163.4mm x 78.0mm x 8.75mm |
| Weight | 5.96 ounces (169 grams) | 5.82 ounces (165 grams) | 6.24 ounces (177 grams) | 7.27 ounces (206 grams) | 8.22 ounces (233 grams) |
| Battery capacity | Up to 26 hours video playback | Up to 27 hours of video playback | Up to 30 hours of video playback | Up to 33 hours of video playback | Up to 39 hours of video playback |
| Wireless charging | Yes, MagSafe / Qi2 (up to 15W) | Yes, MagSafe / Qi2 (up to 20W) | Yes, MagSafe / Qi2 (up to 25W) | Yes, MagSafe / Qi2 (up to 25W) | Yes, MagSafe / Qi2 (up to 25W) |
| Fast charge-capable | Yes; up to 50 percent in 30 minutes | Yes; up to 50 percent in 30 minutes | Yes; up to 50 percent in 20 minutes | Yes; up to 50 percent in 20 minutes | Yes; up to 50 percent in 20 minutes |
| Processor | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Processor cores | 6-core CPU / 4-core GPU / 16-core neural engine | 6-core CPU / 5-core GPU / 16-core neural engine | 6-core CPU / 5-core GPU / 16-core neural engine | 6-core CPU / 6-core GPU / 16-core neural engine | 6-core CPU / 6-core GPU / 16-core neural engine |
| RAM | Not shared | Not shared | Not shared | Not shared | Not shared |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Ports | USB-C charging and data port | USB-C charging and data port | USB-C charging and data port | USB-C charging and data port | USB-C charging and data port |
| USB speeds | USB 2 | USB 2 | USB 2 | USB 3 | USB 3 |
| Rear cameras | 48-megapixel (f/1.6) main | 48-megapixel (f/1.6) main | 48-megapixel (f/1.6) main, 48-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide | 48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 48-megapixel telephoto | 48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 48-megapixel telephoto |
| Highest optical magnification | 2x | 2x | 2x | 8x | 8x |
| Macro mode | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front camera | 12MP | 18MP | 18MP | 18MP | 18MP |
| Video recording | Up to 4K at 60fps | Up to 4K at 60fps | Up to 4K at 60fps | Up to 4K at 120fps (ProRes with external recording) | Up to 4K at 120fps (ProRes with external recording) |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID | Face ID | Face ID | Face ID |
| SIM support | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) |
| Action Button | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Control button | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Island | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Satellite SOS feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Messages via satellite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crash Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Starting price | $599 | $999 | $799 | $1,099 | $1,199 |
| Availability | March 11th | Already available | Already available | Already available | Already available |
| Colors | Black, pink, white | Sky blue, light gold, cloud white, space black | Lavender, sage, mist blue, white, black | Cosmic orange, deep blue, silver | Cosmic orange, deep blue, silver |
Apple might use Google servers to store data for its upgraded AI Siri
Apple has asked Google to look into "setting up servers" for a new version of Siri that's Gemini-powered and meets Apple's privacy requirements, The Information reports. Apple had already announced in January that Google's Gemini AI models would help power the upgraded version of Siri it delayed last year, but The Information's report indicates Apple might lean even more on Google so it can catch up in AI.
The original partnership announcement said that "the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," and that the models would "help power future Apple Intelligence features," incl …
Mastodon now has a button for sharing content from other websites
Sharing content to Mastodon is getting easier with the addition of a universal "Share to Mastodon" button for the decentralized social media platform. Announced on Monday, the widget allows users to share content on any Mastodon server by connecting your Mastodon account and redirecting you to the server that account is on. The blog post announcing the feature also explains that the tool "works entirely in your browser: there is no tracking data, and it does not store any information on the server."
Previously, a "share" widget wasn't available on Mastodon mainly due to the technical challenges that come with the platform's decentralized d …
You could be an influencer without even realizing it
In late February, Puck reported on a strange case: An influencer with more than a million followers was inadvertently promoting products on Instagram. On some of Julia Berolzheimer's posts, a "Shop the look" button hovered in the corner. When followers clicked it, they were fed similar items to what Berolzheimer was wearing.
Her job is to promote clothing, accessories, and other products to her followers, so having links to specific items isn't strange. What was odd was that she hadn't placed the links there herself - Instagram added them without her consent. The product links led followers not to the actual items Berolzheimer was promotin …
Donut Lab’s solid-state battery can handle the (extreme) heat, test says
Finnish startup Donut Lab is out to prove that its solid-state battery is all that it claims to be. Last week, the test was about fast charging. This week is where things get hot.
Like the first test, this one was also conducted by state-owned VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The team set out to determine how well Donut Lab's cells held up under extreme heat, which has been known to adversely affect traditional lithium-ion batteries. The results show that not only can the Finnish startup's solid-state battery still discharge energy under conditions of up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), it actually gains capacity.
…AI-generated art can’t be copyrighted after Supreme Court declines to review the rule
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case over whether AI-generated art can obtain a copyright, as reported earlier by Reuters. The Monday decision comes after Stephen Thaler, a computer scientist from Missouri, appealed a court's decision to uphold a ruling that found AI-generated art can't be copyrighted.
In 2019, the US Copyright Office rejected Thaler's request to copyright an image, called A Recent Entrance to Paradise, on behalf of an algorithm he created. The Copyright Office reviewed the decision in 2022 and determined that the image doesn't include "human authorship," disqualifying it from copyright protection.
After Thale …
Here’s the upgrade to my favorite phone camera of last year
Vivo rarely has a presence at MWC, but this year it bucked that trend in a big way, with the reveal of its next flagship phone, the X300 Ultra, alongside an upgraded telephoto extender lens and professional camera cage. The company isn't ready to launch the handset just yet - or even reveal very many of its specs - but gave us an early look at what it's cooking up; that smartphone-sized 400mm lens is wild to behold in person. Vivo also confirmed that whenever it does arrive, it will be the first Ultra to go on sale outside China.
The only concrete detail about the X300 Ultra itself Vivo would confirm is that it will have a 200-megapixel tel …
Nvidia’s spending $4 billion on photonics to stay ahead of the curve in AI
Nvidia announced on Monday that it's investing $2 billion each into Lumentum and Coherent, which are both developing photonics technology for data centers, like optical transceivers, circuit switches, and lasers, which are used to move data at high speeds over long distances. Their tech could improve energy efficiency, data transfer speeds, and bandwidth in future AI data centers, after Nvidia already capitalized on its 2020 acquisition of the network hardware company Mellanox to beef up NVLink and increase the amount of data moving between its GPUs.
For Lumentum, the nonexclusive multiyear deal includes a "multibillion purchase commitment …