The article says surround sound systems generally deliver a more immersive, object-based experience than soundbars, and a New York Times blind test found participants could tell the difference and understood dialogue better with surround sound but few planned to buy it due to space and setup friction.
Sep 27, 2026 ·
Engadget
You can make Google Maps the default navigation app in Apple CarPlay in the EU or Japan by changing iPhone Settings > Apps > Default Apps and selecting Google Maps (so Siri directions and address taps open Google Maps instead of Apple Maps).
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Smartphone+mount (often plus a fitness smartwatch) is enough for commuting and occasional weekend rides, but a dedicated bike computer starts to be worth it when battery life, all-day visible GPS/navigation, wet-weather/rain controls, or dedicated sensor support happen often enough to justify carrying an extra device.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
You can reuse an old MacBook as a home NAS by enabling macOS File Sharing (Sharing settings), selecting folders to share, and accessing them over your network via the Mac’s provided IP address—optionally sharing an external drive as well.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Goodwill diverts an average of 1 million pounds of electronics from landfills each year through refurbishing and secure recycling, with proceeds funding its career training and job resources.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Out of the Park Baseball has 2,300 hours of play time reported on Steam in the article and lets a full season play out in as little as a few hours with faster simulation options.
Sep 27, 2026 ·
The Verge
Engram, Thoughtful Things’ first instrument, is an offline “tiny AI” sampler/groovebox that mangles incoming audio and can hallucinate new sounds for experimental audio design.
Sep 27, 2026 ·The Verge
Book-style foldable phones can offer tablet-like screen sizes (e.g., iPad Mini’s 8.3-inch screen vs Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and iPhone Duo at 7.6 inches) that fold down to typical smartphone size for easier carry.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
BYD says it will release its first car with solid-state batteries in 2027 and plans to have solid-state batteries in mass production around 2030.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Foldable phones make up about 2% of the global smartphone market and are appealing for “wow factor,” up to 8-inch displays, improved multitasking, and flexible use modes, but they also come with durability/crease and scratch risks, bulk/weight, generally less advanced cameras, incomplete app optimization, and higher repair/replacement costs (with iFixit warning they’re currently “not repairable”).
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Snoop Dogg hosts the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 27, airing 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET/4:30-6:30 p.m. PT on MTV and CBS and streaming live on Paramount Plus Premium.
Sep 27, 2026 ·
CNET
Spotify’s new Running Mode uses music BPM to generate fitness-goal playlists and lets Premium subscribers in select markets tailor workouts with prompted playlists and optional voice guidance on iOS and Android.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Sennheiser Momentum 5 headphones deliver up to 57 hours of battery life (with a 10-minute charge providing about 7 hours) and support Dolby Atmos at $399.99.
Sep 27, 2026 ·
TechCrunch
Putting a PC directly on the floor can pull carpet fibers and pet hair into the case, coating heatsinks and filters, blocking airflow, increasing fan workload, and triggering thermal throttling that slows performance.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Live Text on iPhones running iOS 15+ lets you point the Camera at text and instantly copy or share it, look it up, or translate it (and you can toggle it off via Settings > Camera > Show Detected Text).
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Apple’s “iPhone Duo” name is tied to earlier Apple products including the Apple PowerBook Duo (1992–1997) and Apple’s MagSafe Duo Charger (introduced in 2020), while Microsoft’s Surface Duo line launched in 2020 but was widely criticized and later discontinued.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
Google revealed details of its Googlebook laptops, promising 10 years of updates and launching the first five models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo—positioning them to pair with Android phones.
Sep 27, 2026 ·The Verge
PNOĒ 2.0 will launch October 1 with a self-administered breath test that measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide exhalation over eight minutes and turns the results into wellness guidance without providing medical recommendations.
Sep 27, 2026 ·TechCrunch
Apple’s nano-texture matte coating can make the iPhone Duo’s fold crease much less noticeable at first, but the article says it won’t be possible to confirm long-term performance until the phone has been used widely for months.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
A typical laptop power bank should be evaluated by watt-hours (Wh) for capacity and watts (W) for output—not mAh—because a 20,000 mAh bank is about 74Wh (assuming ~3.7V cells), but fast-charging losses can cut its effective capacity to about 52Wh (using ~30% overhead).
Sep 27, 2026 ·Engadget
