In recent weeks, I’ve noticed a peculiar trend emerging in the world of wearable technology. It’s as if the industry has become fixated on an elusive promise – one that whispers sweet nothings to our ears about the power of self-control, personalization, and longevity. And at the forefront of this revolution are two companies that have come to define the landscape: Whoop and Oura.

The notion that wearable tech can empower individuals to take control of their health is nothing new. In fact, it’s a premise that has been driving innovation in the industry for years. Wearables promise to monitor our metrics, establish baselines, and alert us when our bodies deviate from the norm. It’s an attractive proposition, one that has indeed saved lives and helped people live healthier, longer.

The Trump Mobile saga continues to captivate and confound in equal measure. Despite a nine-month silence, the company has recently filed a new trademark application for “The 47 Plan,” its sole cell plan, sparking renewed speculation about the fate of the long-promised Trump phone. While this latest development may not conclusively prove that the T1 Phone is still in the works, it does suggest that someone within the organization remains committed to the project.

As the April 20th deadline approaches, Congress is faced with a crucial decision regarding the reauthorization of FISA Section 702. This warrantless wiretapping authority has been a contentious issue for decades, allowing federal agencies to surveil foreign targets and, in turn, permitting backdoor searches on American citizens. A bipartisan coalition of progressive Democrats and members of the Freedom Caucus is urging reform, but their efforts are met with opposition from powerful figures in both parties.

In a shocking turn of events, a father found himself entangled in a frustrating support nightmare after his teenage daughter’s Discord account was hacked. The ordeal highlights the shortcomings of Discord’s support infrastructure and raises questions about the platform’s preparedness to handle situations involving minor victims.

The story began when Brady Frey’s 12-year-old daughter created a Discord account, falsifying her age to bypass the platform’s minimum age requirement. This is not an uncommon occurrence, as many young users are eager to join online communities, even if it means circumventing safety measures designed to protect them. The incident underscores the need for platforms like Discord to implement robust age verification processes.

The wait for Snap’s augmented reality (AR) glasses, known as Specs, has been long and arduous. The company first began working on the project over a decade ago, with the last consumer-facing version released in 2019. Since then, the product has undergone significant changes, becoming a developer-only offering to allow Snap to refine its technology and build a foundation for future releases. Now, with the announcement of a partnership between Specs and chipmaker Qualcomm, it seems that the time is finally ripe for Snap’s AR glasses to make their return.

As part of its ongoing efforts to refine and streamline the user experience, Microsoft is quietly pulling back the curtain on a subtle yet significant change within the Windows 11 ecosystem. Specifically, the tech giant has started removing “unnecessary” Copilot buttons from various apps, including Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos, and Widgets. This move, part of a broader plan to revamp Windows 11, signals a thoughtful approach to integrating AI-powered features while minimizing clutter.

In a move that reflects the evolving dynamics of the streaming landscape, YouTube Premium has announced a price hike for its individual and family plans in the United States. The new pricing structure sees the standard plan increase by $2 per month, from $13.99 to $15.99, while the five-person family plan jumps up by as much as $4, from $22.99 to $26.99. This development marks a significant shift in YouTube Premium’s pricing strategy, particularly in light of recent price hikes from major competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to permeate various aspects of life, a new report by Gallup has shed light on the sentiments of the digital-native generation, Gen Z, towards this technology. The findings suggest that enthusiasm for AI is waning, while resentment and anxiety are on the rise.

The survey, conducted in February and March 2023, polled nearly 1,600 individuals between the ages of 14 and 29 across the United States. The results indicate a significant decline in Gen Z’s feelings towards AI compared to previous years. While only 18% of respondents expressed hope about AI this year, down from 27% last year, the percentage of those feeling angry or frustrated has increased to 31%, up from 22% in the past.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the tech community, Samsung has quietly increased the price of its flagship Galaxy Z Fold 7 model, with the 1TB variant now retailing for $2,499. This development is particularly noteworthy given the phone’s already premium pricing and the absence of any significant upgrades to justify the hike.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 was always a pricey proposition, with an entry-level price tag of $2,000. However, Samsung’s decision to bump up the cost of its 1TB variant by $80 to $2,499 signals a shift in the premium smartphone market that may have far-reaching consequences for consumers and manufacturers alike.

The latest update to Google’s Pixel phones brings back a beloved feature that many users had been missing since the redesign of the Now Playing function. After removing the ability to trigger a manual song search from the lockscreen, Google is now reinstating this functionality with an update to version B.23 of Android System Intelligence.

The revival of “Tap to see what’s playing” on the lockscreen marks a significant change in Google’s approach to its music discovery feature. Users can once again tap the icon beneath the fingerprint sensor to initiate a manual search for songs currently playing around them. Upon tapping, the system microphone indicator will appear, accompanied by the message “Identifying song….” Once the song is identified, Now Playing will display the rich information with cover art, a heart icon indicating whether you’ve saved the track, and an option to open the song in your set music app.