Apple's iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and other software updates are now available in public beta. The Vergecast podcast discusses user experiences with the new Liquid Glass design language, noting refinements since its WWDC introduction but also persistent criticisms, particularly regarding the Control Center. The podcast also covers updated Mac Spotlight and Phone app features, new Apple Watch features including an AI-powered Workout Buddy, and user feedback.

Further discussion includes Tesla's recent financial struggles and the launch of a new diner-slash-charging station in Los Angeles. Analysis covers the impact of Elon Musk's political activities on Tesla's performance, along with a review of the diner's menu and eco-friendly utensils. The podcast concludes with a "Thunder Round" covering Faraday's new minivan, Amazon's AI acquisition, Uber's safety update, Apple's new subscription service, and the challenges of obtaining a Labubu collectible.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8's new Antioxidant Index feature, which uses LEDs to estimate carotenoid levels in the skin to gauge fruit and vegetable intake, produced inconsistent results in testing. The author initially received low scores despite consuming a significant amount of fruits and vegetables, including a vegetarian meal and a smoothie. Subsequent tests showed the sensor registered high scores for brightly colored items, regardless of actual antioxidant content, including a tangerine peel, peach slice, and even a yellow-orange marker, but low scores for a blackberry. A Cheez-It cracker also registered a high score, despite not being a significant source of antioxidants.

The author contacted Samsung for clarification on whether the sensor relies solely on pigment detection. While awaiting a response, the author concluded that the feature's accuracy is questionable and shouldn't be used as the sole determinant of healthy eating habits. The author ultimately focused on the positive discovery of enjoying new combinations of fruits.

Impact Statement: The incident highlights potential inaccuracies in consumer health technology and the importance of critical evaluation of quantified self-tracking data.

Several major app developers, including Signal, AdGuard, and Brave, are actively blocking Microsoft's controversial Recall feature on Windows. Recall automatically takes screenshots of nearly everything on a user's computer, raising significant privacy concerns. AdGuard described the background screen captures as "unsettling," citing potential risks to private information such as chats and online forms containing sensitive data.

Brave, partly influenced by Signal's actions, has also disabled Recall by default for Windows 11 users, although it offers a toggle to re-enable the feature. Signal's block, implemented in May, utilizes a DRM flag to prevent Recall from accessing the app, highlighting Microsoft's lack of granular settings for developers to easily protect user privacy. Brave, however, notes that Microsoft allows browsers to individually disable Recall, suggesting a double standard.

Brave hopes Microsoft will provide similar granular control to all developers concerned about user privacy.

Impact Statement: The conflict highlights growing concerns about the privacy implications of AI-powered features and the need for developers to have greater control over user data access.

Google has released ChromeOS version 138, introducing a new "Desk sync" feature that synchronizes windows, tabs, and cookies across Chromebooks. This is designed to improve workflow for users who switch between devices, particularly in sectors like healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. The update also significantly enhances AI wallpapers on Chromebook Plus models, offering a freeform text field for prompt input, replacing the previous limited style and prompt options. This feature was initially introduced in May with Gemini.

Chromebook Plus users also gain access to the "Help me read" feature, simplifying complex text. All ChromeOS devices receive Lens improvements for on-screen content and image text selection, alongside various bug fixes focused on accessibility.

Impact Statement: The update enhances productivity and user experience for Chromebook users, particularly those frequently switching devices or using AI-powered features.

SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service experienced a significant outage on Thursday, lasting approximately two and a half hours. The disruption affected tens of thousands of users across its global network of roughly 140 countries and territories. Michael Nicolls, Starlink's vice president of Starlink Engineering, attributed the outage to a failure of key internal software services operating the core network. Downdetector, a crowdsourced outage tracker, reported as many as 61,000 user reports.

Both Nicolls and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk issued apologies for the disruption, promising to investigate the root cause and prevent future occurrences. The outage sparked speculation among experts regarding its cause, ranging from software glitches to potential cyberattacks. Starlink, boasting over six million users, has seen rapid growth and focused recently on network updates to improve speed and bandwidth.

Impact Statement: The outage highlights the potential vulnerabilities of even highly resilient satellite internet networks and underscores the importance of robust software infrastructure.

Since approximately 3 PM ET on Thursday, Starlink users globally have reported an inability to connect to SpaceX's satellite internet service. The Starlink website acknowledged the outage, stating that their team is investigating. A subsequent message on X (formerly Twitter) specified a network outage and indicated that a solution is being implemented.

Reports of service disruption have emerged from users across the US, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, citing "no healthy upstream" error messages. While the extent of the outage remains unclear, this appears to be the first widespread Starlink service interruption of 2025. The impact on other services utilizing Starlink, such as T-Mobile's T-Satellite and government users like the Ukrainian army, is currently unknown.

Impact Statement: The outage's impact on various services and sectors reliant on Starlink remains to be seen.

Google launched Web Guide, an AI-powered search feature that reorganizes search results. It uses a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model to process queries, grouping links and generating related questions. Currently available as a test in Search Labs, Web Guide is accessible within the "Web" tab, offering an alternative to AI Overviews. The feature pulls together results from various sources, including educational websites, YouTube, Quora, and Reddit.

Web Guide aims to improve search organization and provide helpful summaries. While praised for returning some elements of traditional search, some aspects of the AI-generated descriptions have been criticized as unnecessary. The feature allows users to ask more detailed questions, with the AI attempting to address different parts of the query. Google plans to expand Web Guide's availability to the "All" tab.

Impact Statement: Web Guide's launch signifies Google's continued investment in AI-driven search enhancements, potentially altering user experience and search result presentation.

This article reviews several budget smartphones priced at or under $500, evaluating their performance, features, and value. The author emphasizes the importance of sufficient storage (at least 128GB), a high-quality screen (OLED with at least 1080p resolution), and a minimum of three years of security updates. Key considerations include camera performance (particularly in low light), processing speed, and water resistance. Several phones are highlighted, including the iPhone SE (2024), Google Pixel 9A, OnePlus 13R, and Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, each with its strengths and weaknesses detailed. The author extensively tests each phone for a week before review.

The iPhone SE (2024) is highlighted as the cheapest new iPhone, but lacks MagSafe and an ultrawide camera. The Google Pixel 9A is lauded for its reliable performance, improved screen, and seven years of security updates, though it lacks wireless charging. The OnePlus 13R boasts a large, high-refresh-rate screen and excellent battery life but lacks wireless charging and full water resistance. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G offers strong specs, including IP67 water resistance and four years of OS updates, although its camera performance and processor are described as lacking.

Impact Statement: This review provides consumers with valuable information to help them choose the best budget smartphone based on their individual needs and priorities.

This article reviews various controllers for the Nintendo Switch, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Key contenders include the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, praised for its comfort, features (including HD rumble, motion controls, and NFC), and compatibility with the Switch 2 (though lacking Switch 2 wake-up functionality); the Hori Split Pad Compact, a comfortable handheld mode alternative; the GuliKit KingKong 3 Pro and Max, offering extensive customization and Hall effect sticks; and 8BitDo's Ultimate Bluetooth Controller and Pro 2 controller, both praised for their features and platform compatibility. The article also mentions the 8BitDo Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter 2, enabling the use of third-party controllers. Several other controllers, such as those from PowerA and GameSir, are briefly discussed and deemed less favorable compared to the top recommendations.

The article assesses controllers based on various criteria, including comfort, connection reliability, feature support (HD rumble, motion controls, NFC, etc.), button and stick quality, build quality, software customization, and price.

Impact Statement: The article provides valuable guidance for Nintendo Switch users seeking to enhance their gaming experience by selecting a controller that best suits their needs and preferences.

Apple has released the public betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, allowing users to test new features before the official release. Setup is similar to the developer beta program and is free. Users should be aware that not all features will be immediately available, and betas may experience stability issues, excessive battery drain, or even data loss, so backing up data beforehand is recommended.

The update introduces a new design language called "Liquid Glass," which has already received some negative feedback and has undergone revisions since the developer beta. Other improvements include updates to group chats, a call screening feature, and live translation. Compatibility information for supported devices is available on Apple's website.

Impact Statement: The release of the public beta allows a wider range of users to test new features and provide feedback to Apple before the official launch.

Apple has announced iOS 26, featuring a redesigned interface dubbed "Liquid Glass," inspired by visionOS. The update includes numerous improvements, such as enhanced group chat functionality in Messages (including polls and typing indicators), call screening, Hold Assist, a unified phone layout, and on-device Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app. Additional features include Visual Intelligence for screen searches, Genmoji for combining emoji, and Apple Intelligence improvements to Shortcuts. A new Games app centralizes game access, management, and social features. A public beta is currently available.

The iOS 26 update brings a significant visual overhaul and several new features aimed at improving user experience and productivity.

Impact Statement: iOS 26's new features and design will likely impact iPhone user experience and potentially influence the design of other mobile operating systems.

Apple released the public beta of macOS Tahoe, featuring the new Liquid Glass design language also coming to other Apple operating systems. Initial reactions from beta testers have been mixed, with the design described as "weird yet milquetoast." While some improvements have been made since the initial developer beta, the overall consensus is that the update is underwhelming compared to the previous macOS Sequoia. Key improvements include a more usable Control Center and updated Spotlight search with clipboard history. A new Phone app allows for making and receiving calls directly on the Mac.

Despite improvements, some design choices remain questionable. The Menu Bar's behavior with Show Desktop is considered odd, and the volume/brightness popup's placement is still criticized. While the Spotlight and Phone app updates are considered beneficial, the Liquid Glass design is deemed largely insignificant. The beta is noted to have some bugs affecting third-party applications.

Impact Statement: The release of macOS Tahoe's public beta introduces a new design language with mixed reception, potentially impacting user satisfaction and adoption. The updated Spotlight and Phone app features, however, could enhance user experience.

Apple's new iOS 26 design language, "Liquid Glass," inspired by the Vision Pro's interface, has received mixed reactions. While initially jarring with its transparent, floating windows—a style reminiscent of the movie Minority Report—the design's impact lessens with extended use. Although some users, including a colleague, find the transparency hinders readability, particularly of notifications, the author reports a neutral adaptation, finding the overall effect largely fades into the background after several weeks of use. The author notes some persisting distractions, such as magnification effects behind the search bar, but generally finds the design forgettable. One exception is the appreciated "Long Clock" feature on the lock screen.

Apple's history of controversial design choices, such as AirPods and the iPhone X, that eventually gained widespread acceptance suggests "Liquid Glass" might follow a similar trajectory. The author anticipates the design's longevity, predicting the public will adapt to it rather than Apple abandoning the concept.

Impact Statement: The long-term user acceptance of Apple's "Liquid Glass" design remains uncertain, but Apple's track record suggests adaptation is likely, despite initial negative reactions.

The public beta of iPadOS 26, released recently, introduces significant multitasking improvements. The update provides users with true windows, allowing for the simultaneous use of multiple apps, similar to a MacBook or Surface Pro. Features include resizable windows, a cursor, and a redesigned Files app with improved access to files stored on the iPad or iCloud. The author reports that while the beta has some minor bugs, it largely delivers a significantly enhanced user experience.

While the iPadOS 26 beta offers substantial improvements, some limitations persist. The author notes that the smaller screen size of their 11-inch iPad Pro can limit the practicality of using several apps at once, and that some desktop apps still offer a better user experience than their iPad counterparts. Nevertheless, the author concludes that for many users, iPadOS 26 finally makes the iPad a viable option for completing most work tasks without the need for a laptop.

Impact Statement: iPadOS 26's improved multitasking capabilities could significantly increase the iPad's appeal as a productivity device, potentially reducing the reliance on traditional laptops for certain users.

Apple has released the public beta of watchOS 26, featuring new Apple Intelligence functionalities. Key additions include Workout Buddy, an AI-powered fitness coach providing real-time feedback and encouragement during workouts; enhanced messaging features with Live Translations and Smart Actions; and Wrist Flick, a gesture allowing users to dismiss unwanted notifications with a wrist twist. David Clark, Apple's senior director of software engineering for watchOS, stated the update focuses on enhancing the Apple Watch's core competencies: fitness and connectivity. While Workout Buddy uses AI to personalize feedback based on user data and historical performance, its impact on motivation varies depending on individual fitness levels and goals. Other AI-driven features include improvements to the Smart Stack widget system, which now incorporates various signals from apps and environmental cues to offer more relevant information.

The impact of watchOS 26 is expected to enhance user experience through improved fitness tracking, streamlined communication, and more efficient notification management. The subtle yet effective integration of AI features aims to seamlessly improve the overall usability of the Apple Watch.

Apple has released the first public betas of its next major software updates: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. A key feature is a new design language called "Liquid Glass," inspired by visionOS and characterized by extensive use of transparency. Apple has already made adjustments to the translucency and Control Center based on feedback from the developer beta program.

The updates also feature a new, simplified numbering scheme, aligning all operating systems with the number 26. This change aims to improve user understanding of which software versions are the most current.

Leaked renders published by Android Headlines suggest the upcoming Google Pixel Watch 4 will charge on its side, rather than on its back, incorporating a "new array of sensors." This design change may also improve repairability, unlike previous Pixel Watch models which Google only offered replacements for. The new charging method is expected to offer approximately a 25 percent increase in charging speed compared to the Pixel Watch 3. The side charging may also prove more convenient in various settings.

Google plans to officially unveil the Pixel Watch 4, in 41mm and 45mm sizes, at a product launch event on August 20th. The event is also expected to feature the announcement of the Pixel 10 lineup.

Impact Statement: The design changes and improved charging speed could enhance user experience and potentially increase the Pixel Watch 4's market competitiveness.