PCMag – Page 2 – Tech News

Meta’s Smart Glasses With Built-In Display May Launch Next Month

Meta's display-equipped smart glasses may launch next month and cost less than previous estimates, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The wearable, codenamed Hypernova, has been rumored for some time. It is expected to be a high-end version of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, with a small display at the bottom of the right lens. The display will only be visible to the wearer, and it can be controlled using a wrist accessory called Ceres—something Meta first teased in 2022.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/metas-smart-glasses-with-built-in-display-may-launch-next-month

Apple Makes Major Changes to App Store’s Age Ratings

Apple added 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings to the existing 4+ and 9+ ratings, while removing the 12+ and 17+ age ranges. These changes have been applied automatically, based on developers’ previous responses to Apple’s questionnaires. But you’ll have to wait until September for the public rollout, unless you're running one of the beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, or watchOS 26. The tech giant has also introduced new questions to help identify sensitive content within apps before they are added to the App Store, including those covering the presence of medical or wellness topics, violence, and in-app controls. Apple has asked developers to complete the updated questionnaire via App Store Connect by Jan. 31, 2026. If they fail to comply, app updates will be blocked.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-makes-major-changes-to-app-stores-age-ratings

PSA: Google Ending Support for Early Gen Nest Learning Thermostats

This means users will no longer be able to control these models remotely from their phone or via Google Assistant, but they’ll still be able to adjust the temperature and modify schedules directly on the thermostat itself.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/psa-google-ends-support-for-early-gen-nest-learning-thermostats

Why Being Polite to ChatGPT Is Costing OpenAI Millions and Wasting Electricity

Polite exchanges are costing the AI company a fortune, CEO Sam Altman revealed in an exchange on X. "I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models," writes user @tomieinlove. "Tens of millions of dollars well spent—you never know," Altman responded.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/why-being-polite-to-chatgpt-is-costing-openai-millions-and-wasting-electricity

Google Guilty of ‘Willfully Anticompetitive Acts’ in Display-Ads Business, Court Finds

“Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising,” Judge Leonie Brinkema concluded in a 115-page ruling (PDF) for the Alexandria division of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-guilty-of-willfully-anticompetitive-acts-in-display-ads-business

Utah Lawmakers Pass Bill That Puts App Stores in Charge of Age Verification

Utah has become the first US state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users' ages and seek parental consent before allowing minors to download apps. "Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it," Meta, X, and Snapchat said in a joint statement. "We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit."
https://www.pcmag.com/news/utah-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-puts-app-stores-in-charge-of-age-verification

Would You Attach These Giant Lenses to Your Phone to Take Better Photos?

Realme and Xiaomi showed off concept devices at Mobile World Congress that involve attaching a lens to your phone to get sharper shots. The concept phone has a physical connector that allows you to attach lenses directly to the phone itself. It lines up with the phone's internal 1-inch type sensor and allows you to use any full-frame mirrorless lens. Realme thinks pairing better optics with its phones' processing power will lead to better phone-based photos.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/would-you-attach-a-big-lens-to-your-phone-to-take-better-photos-mwc-2025