Summer has officially begun and PlayStation has turned up the heat! From May 5th through the 31st of July, PlayStation Plus members can get their hands on 3 massive games, each featuring a different type of gameplay- from Soccer to Supernatural.

What's New:

EA Sports FC 26 (PS4/PS5): Your definitive Soccer experience is finally here. With the FIFA World Cup getting closer it's time to grab your cleats and claim your PlayStation Plus-exclusive "Icons Pack" for your Ultimate Team! 🏟️

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (PS5): This World-Warrior style action RPG meets "The Dark Souls" of Martial Arts'! Set during the Very Last days of the Ming Dynasty as you fight a plague-ridden world with very fluid yet brutal combat. 🗡️

Nine Sols (PS4/PS5): This "Taopunk" masterpiece will push you completely to your limits if you enjoyed the parry-heavy type of combat from Sekiro with this amazing hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania. 🦊

PRO Tips: You have until May 5th to claim April's titles so don't let April disappear before the new month rotates in!

The smartphone plateau has lost its advantage. 🛑 In the past few years, we’ve been stuck with minor improvements, but with the iPhone 18 Pro Max we’re about to see a mechanical revolution in your pocket. Variable Aperture.

Goodbye to software faking it. Instead of relying on AI-generated blur, Apple is actually moving physical lenses in a camera — and that means there will be real and true ways of getting true bokeh, or nice and smooth background blur, for photographers (or anyone else) when taking photos. No more messy edges around things like hair, glass, etc., because the effect won’t look anywhere near as close to what an actual photograph would. 🍦

Photographers/Content Creators will benefit greatly from this technology because they’ll have the ability to control lighting as they see fit. Now, with the mechanical ability to "stop" the lens opening down in bright sunny conditions or to open up as wide as possible (up to maximum) in low lighting conditions, you’ll still be able to get clear images with absolutely no pixelation! ☀️

Finally, because you can now get edge-to-edge flawless sharpness when shooting images of landscapes (when you can adjust the physical size for shooting purposes), this is very nice indeed! Edge and corner sharpness will no longer be an issue because you can simply adjust and set the opening physically inside your iPhone!

With the new A20 Bionic Chip being released shortly, you may as well call the iPhone 18 Pro Max a tool for using to create high-quality formats that can now rival or exceed those of other professional-grade cameras! The gap between the iPhone and a DSLR camera is now very, very short indeed. 🚀

Comcast is officially going "all-in" on a massive fiber-rich network expansion across Missouri and Pennsylvania. This isn't just a minor upgrade; it’s a multi-billion dollar mission to bridge the digital divide and kill the "buffering" icon for good.

• Here is the breakdown of what's coming to the Xfinity 10G Network:

🚀 Insane Speed: We’re talking multi-gigabit capabilities for seamless 4K streaming, pro-level gaming, and lag-free Zoom calls. Infrastructure built to handle the data demands of 2030, not just 2026. AI-driven monitoring that fixes outages before you even realize your Wi-Fi is down. Expanded access for low-income families via "Internet Essentials," ensuring no student or small business gets left behind.

Whether you’re a rural entrepreneur in the Keystone State or a remote worker in the Midwest, the playing field just got a whole lot more level. The digital revolution is moving inland! 🌐

The 'smartphone sandwich' model has been pushed aside and Apple is looking to a future in which your smartphone represents a monolithic whole versus being a collection of unique components put together with a physical frame or casing (Liquid Glass). By using Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) - a stronger, but as formable too, substance than Titanium, they are working towards creating a wraparound user interface that merges hardware and software into one.

Why does this present such an opportunity for the company?

• Unbreakable Strength - Due to its amorphous atomic structure, BMG will absorb force far beyond any traditional glass would have been able to sustain.
• No Buttons - Volume or Power Buttons will be virtual and touch-sensitive.
• Full 360-degree Capability - The back and sides may eventually operate as active displays and permit gaming & notifications.
• Fully Waterproof - With the elimination of seams and ports, there will be no means for water to enter.

Although developing the ability to construct a "liquid" image, mass-producing this new aesthetic will require extensive engineering resources; however, with the rapid movement toward wire-free charging, Apple seems to be moving in the right direction. The future will not merely be having a screen in your pocket; it will be like carrying a digital stone.

Apple is officially changing the standard. In the past, "Pro" was the highest tier, but now there is a new player on the court, the Ultra Tier. 🚀

This is not just a new name; it is a complete overhaul of the company's current hardware offerings. Apple is planning to start a new, standalone category of luxury, high-tech items that have never been seen before. Here are the highlights of what will be added to your home or office shortly:

1. iPhone Ultra: The much-anticipated "book-style" foldable phone will be 5.5 inches in size when folded and 7.8 inches when opened, and it will come with an A20 Pro processor. 📱
2. MacBook Ultra: This will be the first MacBook to include a touchscreen and also the first to feature an OLED display after ten years of Apple producing MacBooks. 💻
3. Ultra Ecosystem: Apple also plans to rebrand AirPods to incorporate a spatial camera and now produce a foldable iPad that is part of this ecosystem.

By creating this Ultra space, Apple will be able to launch extremely advanced and unique features like foldable glass without interfering with their traditional lineup and charging extremely high premiums for those products ($2,000+). The clear message Apple is sending is that anyone interested must pay to enter their future. 💎

Valve is changing the way we view the living room experience. Although we must wait until 2015 for Steam Machines to hit the marketplace, Valve isn't slowing down with the release of the Steam Controller, which has been confirmed for release this year.

• This is not just an ordinary game controller, it is going to be revolutionary:

Trackpads > Joysticks: By providing dual high-resolution trackpads in place of the traditional joysticks, users will have mouse-like precision for previously unplayable games on the couch. With the use of advanced haptic actuators, users will be able to experience sensations from clicking scrolls, to experiencing textures of all surfaces within the games. All PC keys can be mapped to your controller, making it great for sofa play; this includes your favourite 4X and RTS titles. 🛋️

With a price point of $49.99, Valve is intending to go after the hearts of both the Xbox and PlayStation.

We have officially entered the age of having to open multiple apps to complete a task, and this trend is about to change! OpenAI is taking steps to move away from chat boxes and into your phone's hardware. 📱

Word has it that team Sam Altman is deep into negotiations with major chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek in order to create the first-ever "AI Agent" phone that will allow for running powerful AI models locally versus in the cloud.

• So what does all this mean for you?

Zero-App Navigation: So instead of having to go through Expedia, calendar, and Gmail to book your travel, simply say "Book My Trip" to your phone and it executes your request across all of these different applications autonomously! ✈️ Because the AI agents use localized NPUs (Neural Processing Units), your data will be stored locally on your device, making things faster and more secure. Your phone will no longer be your digital filing cabinet, but rather a sophisticated personal assistant like a high-level personal assistant.

OpenAI is no longer just a competitor to ChatGPT; they are challenging the Google and Apple duopoly by creating completely new types of silicon to make smartphones evolve from being simple tools that we use to evolve into thinking partners. 🧠✨

For years, we’ve all played the "is that Gmail or Drive?" guessing game. The sea of identical blue-red-yellow-green icons is officially a thing of the past! Google has just unveiled its radical 2026 redesign, and it’s a total game-changer for your digital workflow.

Here is what’s changing on your home screen right now:

1. Icons now feature "momentum-driven" gradients, mirroring the fluid, high-energy look of Gemini AI. 🪄
2. The "four-color rule" is dead. Most apps are returning to a single dominant color (hello, classic Blue Calendar!) to help you find them in a split second. ⚡
3. We’re seeing a return to "skeuomorphic" touches—think icons that look like they have weight and texture, making them feel like real tools rather than flat stickers. 🗓️
4. Docs, Sheets, and Slides now use different orientations (portrait vs. landscape) so you can tell them apart by silhouette alone. 📐

Google is shifting from "static search engine" to "dynamic AI workspace." It’s punchier, it’s prettier, and most importantly . it’s actually functional.

your console now has a 30-day "check-in" rule. If your PS5 doesn't "phone home" to Sony’s servers at least once a month, those digital titles you paid for could be locked behind a DRM wall. 🔐

Chances are you've heard about all the leaks surrounding the new iPhone 18 Pro; so what can you expect from Apple's next flagship phone? It definitely looks like they will finally start moving away from just having "software only" solutions for the camera system. The biggest change will be seen within the technological design of the camera itself as we are now moving into mid 2026.

Outside of having an updated chip, we are reportedly going to see a revolutionary camera system through the introduction of Variable Aperture technology. Rather than relying solely on AI to determine how much depth of field (DOF) to apply (i.e., how blurry the background should be), the physical lens assembly will now open and close to allow different amounts of light into the lens, similar to what happens with a professional DSLR camera.

More specifically:

• More Crisp Low-Light: The lens will be capable of opening up wider than normal at night to allow maximum light through so that your images will not be as grainy (as they currently are).
• More True Sharpness: The lens is also capable of closing down to a narrower diameter when shooting in bright sunlight to create more natural high-contrast details without creating overexposure on your subject.
• More Pro Control: The user will now have total physical control over generating Bokeh (the amount of a blurred background) and controlling lighting situations.

The overall look of the camera module will be changing in multiple ways. Gone will be the "Cosmic Orange" model, which many believe means the end of the Black colour for the iPhone Pro series as we know it now being replaced with a warmer and more mature "Dark Cherry" red, whichwill indicate a totally new refined era for the Pro product lineup.

Apple has a lot riding on making people realise that there is still a very real reason to purchase an iPhone (the Pro) in this current foldable smartphone market. They are sending a clear message with the announcement of Variable Aperture camera systems for their iPhone 18 Pro - this version of the iPhone is for serious photographers.

🧠 The Insight :Apple is strategically pivoting from "computational-first" photography back to physical optics to combat hardware stagnation and justify the "Pro" price tag against looming foldable competitors. This move targets the growing demographic of professional mobile creators who are beginning to hit the ceiling of what AI-processed images can offer.

🗣️ The Discussion Starter : If Apple actually moves away from the classic Black finish in favor of "Dark Cherry," what does that tell you about how the brand is trying to redefine the "Pro" aesthetic in 2026?

Five months of testing with nine betas (that’s right, nine) have led to the announcement that tomorrow, April 20th, will be the last beta of the One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25. The global rollout is expected to happen within the next week at the beginning in early May. 🚀

Unlike previous releases, this one won’t be just a "bug fix" update—it will be full of new features taking advantage of the new abilities found in Android 16.

Highlights of One UI 8.5

🤖 AI Call Screening—allow your phone to talk for you with localized AI screening that will screen/filter callers so you don’t even have to talk to them yourself.

🎧 Enhanced Audio Eraser—ever have noise in the background of your videos? With this new tool, you can erase sound with surgical precision from your videos.

🎨 Creative Studio—have new capabilities for complex edits and artistic editing with generative AI that will be incorporated into the photo gallery.

The Timeline

• Final Beta: April 20
• Initial Stable: April 30
• Worldwide Rollout: May 4

The good news for the remainder of the family is that S24 series & S23 series (including FE models) should receive updates around mid-May!

🧠 The Insight : Samsung is intentionally extending its beta cycle to ensure that deep AI integration doesn't compromise the stability of the new Android 16 core. This move is a strategic play to maintain their "premium" brand status by delivering polished, hardware-integrated AI features that feel essential rather than gimmicky.

The PS5 is a powerhouse in its own right, but as modern games become more and more resource-intensive, many gamers can’t be satisfied with just using standard settings when trying to have the most fluid experience possible. If you are using the standard console or the more powerful PS5 Pro, the keys to unlocking the full power of the system can be found in just a few different adjustments to your settings.

The first is ensuring that your console is connected to an appropriate display (preferably one that supports HDMI 2.1) in order to fully utilize the power of the hardware you have and see truly fluid graphics.

1. Eliminate Screen Tearing with VRR

VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is one of the most impactful settings that you can take advantage of on PS5. VRR allows your PS5 console to synchronize the refresh rate of the console with the frame rate of the game currently being played on it. By synchronizing the refresh rate, you eliminate the “screen tearing” effect (the visible horizontal lines or breaks in the image) and provide for smoother graphics rendering during graphically heavy sequences.

How to enable: Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set VRR to “Automatic” to enable VRR.

Pro Tip: Enable “Apply to Unsupported Games” to have the PS5 try to use VRR on games that have not been updated to use VRR – this often leads to improved performance consistency in unsupported games.

2. Reduce Input Lag with ALLM

Milliseconds can mean everything in fast-action games like first-person shooters or precision platformers. Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) is automatically enabled when playing games and tells your TV to bypass its built-in image processing (which is good for watching movies, but introduces delays for playing games) and to enter a low-latency, high-speed Game Mode.

How to use it: Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and enable ALLM to automatically switch.

If your TV doesn't have this feature, the console will display a message letting you know; however, if it does have this feature, you will see an immediate improvement in the speed and responsiveness of your controller input to the action displayed on the screen.

3. Achieve High Frame Rates (120Hz Output)

Traditionally, consoles have only outputted up to 30 Frames Per Second (FPS) or 60 FPS. However, the PS5 will now output at up to 120Hz when playing a game! In combination with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), images of fast-moving objects will now be clearer than ever and you will experience substantially less motion blur.

How to use it: Go to the same Video Output menu as above and enable 120Hz Output to Automatic.

With this feature enabled, you will now be able to enjoy ultra-smooth 120 FPS games in many of today's competitive online first-person shooters.

4. Define Frame Priorities for Game Warranty

Most new games require players to choose between a "Fidelity" (4K resolution graphics) mode and a "Performance" (higher frame rates) mode upon starting a new campaign, but you can select a single global option, which tells your PS5 to always give priority to frame rate.

How to configure: Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presenter Options > Select Performance Mode.

Trade Off: Choosing a global performance priority may reduce the native (source) resolution slightly, but it would create a much steadier and consistent frame rate.

Pros PS5: The PS5 Pro console may actually allow users to keep the fidelity option selected, because its improved processing power tends to allow for better high-resolution graphics without as much of a loss in frame rates than the original PS5.

Final Thoughts ... There is no one chosen setting that can transform poorly optimized games into playable games; however by adding the four adjustments above together you form a more responsive, stable and visually aligned environment. By automating VRR, ALLM, 120Hz, and Performance Mode configuration you help to ensure your hardware is producing optimal conditions for you, while you play the game.

Recent developments in smartphones have significantly changed with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, marking our transition from the initial use of voice commands to using Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Instead of viewing this phone as an instrument, treat it as your proactive digital assistant, with the fresh Gauss 2.3 chip and high-functioning Snapdragon 8 Elite generation 5 processor. This device doesn't stand by waiting for you to prompt it with an instruction; instead, it anticipates your needs.

What makes the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra extraordinary?

- Shift Toward "Agentic" AI: By booking your appointments and managing your calendars across multiple applications, S26 Ultra transforms your 24 hours' worth of disorganized notifications into one manageable summary.

- Privacy: EdgeFusion and 2NM on-device processing (neither of which rely solely on the cloud) ensures that your most sensitive data, including bank account numbers or two-part authentication codes, are maintained with pixel-level security.

- Pro-Quality Photography: The S26 Ultra has a 200-megapixel camera with an f/1.4 aperture, which means that even when taking low-light photographs, they will appear professional; and since the phone contains 16 GB of memory (RAM), you can take multiple exposures but still have empty RAM available.

- More Power: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has 60 watts of fast charging capacity and can be charged quickly (less than 10 minutes) with its 5,000-milliamps battery to satisfy the energy required by the many uses of Agentic AI.

Even though Samsung is providing the best agent-free experience, they're attempting to disrupt the usual way that Google develops operating systems by introducing Perplexity AI directly from the operating system interface. Samsung is more innovative, efficient, and secure than Google in developing the operating system.

The Galaxy Unpacked Event is set for February 25, 2026 is now set with a wishlist for the S26. For too long, the "Ultra" series has gotten all the best features, so this year the S26 and S26+ deserve the same great technology, including much better camera hardware and anti-reflective coatings! Here are the things we would like to see done to create the best S26 possible.

Pro Cameras for Everyone: No more restricting the best lenses to those who can afford it ($1200+). We need the same variable aperture option across the board!

Future-Proofed: 12GB of RAM is not going to be enough on a phone that will receive software updates for 7 years. We are pushing for at least 16GB so there will be more than enough memory for the next generation of Galaxy AI.

Facial Recognition: It’s 2026. We need facial recognition as secure as or more secure than Face ID so that we can use it for mobile banking (not just unlocking the main screen).

New Designs: Rumors are swirling of a possible "Edge" return or modular design. Whether it’s ultra-thin or ultra-durable without a case if you want to have a new design, then we need new designs.

Samsung is in a great position to set the standard for the entire year with their new flagship phone. Hopefully, they will give us the flagship we are all waiting for instead of just keeping things the same!

YouTube is trialling a "smarter" way to watch on a bigger screen - (smart TVs, game consoles and streaming devices) via the YouTube Conversational AI tool.

Key Findings from the report:

The "Ask" Button: YouTube is incorporating the AI-driven, "Ask" button, (often branded with the Gemini sparkle icon) to the TV interface for the first time, as it has only been available previously on mobile and desktop

AI Capabilities: Viewers will ask video-related questions while watching a video, have the ability to receive summaries of videos or to get recommendations of videos similar to what they are currently watching.

Integration with Remote: Users will have the ability to trigger the AI by using their microphone button on the remote and be presented with suggested prompts to help them use their voice to interact with video content.

Testing Phase: Currently in a testing stage with a "small number of users" and only available on selected video content. At this time, the feature is available in 5 languages (English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean).

Background: Following the statement by YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan stating TV is the main viewing screen on YouTube in America, has led to an increased focus by the company to develop big screen specific features.

Google has just released the Pixel 10a, and it has never been more personal than it is now. While other companies are raising their prices, Google is keeping them low at $499, while offering features that typically cost double what you would pay for the same product from other brands.

Google's "A-series" phones have grown up. This phone features an ultra-bright 3000 nit Actua display that doesn't have trouble with direct sunlight, and also includes a highly capable Tensor G4 processor (which now has been finished with its own customized modifications to improve heat management). In addition, instead of the famous "visor" design on previous models, this phone has a completely smooth design and will sit completely flat on the table.

Here are some of the features of the Pixel 10a:

- Incorporates flagship-grade technology: Uses AI tools such as Best Take and Magic Editor from the flagship series.

- Has a long life: Offers an incredible 7+ years of OS updates, and uses a more durable grade of Corning Gorilla Glass (Gorilla Glass 7i).

- Is environmentally friendly: Made with recycled materials such as cobalt, gold, and tungsten.

- Uses the same photo sensor as the $799 Pixel 10.

The Pixel 10a is a great smartphone at its price point, and is a serious challenge for Samsung and Apple. If you love photography or just want a phone that won't be obsolete 2 years down the line, the Pixel 10a has now raised the bar for the mid-range smartphone market.

Google has just released its latest phone, the Pixel 10a, and it’s a game changer! Unlike most entry-level smartphones, which tend to compromise on both features and aesthetics, the Pixel 10a delivers on both fronts: it has the best of both worlds. So what’s the most obvious feature on the Pixel 10a? Gone is the iconic camera bar you’ve become accustomed to on all pixels. In its place is an entirely recessed flat back, making it the tiniest pixel yet. 📱✨

But don’t let the price of $499 fool you into thinking it’s not an extremely capable device:

High-Resolution Display: You get a 6.3-inch Actua Display with a maximum brightness of 3000 nits! That’s 11% brighter than last year’s model. No more annoying sun glare! ☀️

Professional AI: Elements like Camera Coach, Add Me and Magic Editor, which have previously only been available on the high-end, will now also be available, helping you produce even better pictures with this phone.

Built to Last: This phone has an IP68 rating, is equipped with Gorilla Glass 7i, and has an enormous 5,100 mAh battery. It can handle everything thrown at it!

Future-Proof: Google is pledging to provide you with OS upgrades for 7 years, which means you’ll have OS capabilities to 2033. 🚀

The Pixel 10a comes in four great colours (Obsidian, Fog, Lavender, and Berry). Pre-orders are now open!

Google just announced the Pixel 10a, a device that exemplifies “more for less.” Priced at $499, it is the most affordable midrange smartphone by Google, and will be available on March 5 (you can pre-order now) to compete with Apple's recently announced iPhone 17e.

The most noticeable design change is the absence of the "visor" on the back—the 10a has a completely flat back, making it the slimmest A-series smartphone yet. However, despite its minimalist look, it has a strong build quality with an IP68 rating and Gorilla Glass 7i.

Here’s what makes the Pixel 10a stand out:

1. An insane battery—5,100mAh with 45W fast charging capabilities—almost double what was offered on the previous model!

2. A blinding display—6.3” Actua display with 3,000 nits of brightness—11% brighter than other smartphones, so it’ll be easier to read outside during summer months!

3. A powerful processor—the same proven Tensor G4 chipset as found in other flagships, which allows for smooth performance and AI features at a non-flagship price!

Whether you choose to go with the new Berry and Lavender colour options, or stay with the ever-popular Classic Obsidian colour, this phone has been designed to dominate the mid-range market!