Tech News for Saturday, August 8, 2026

Musician Tom Vek builds a digital music player, rejecting the retro label

Tom Vek, known for his 2005 album 'We Have Sound', is developing a modern digital music player that he insists is not a retro device. The player aims to offer a fresh approach to music playback.

Unknown-brand $450 laptop faces scrutiny against $599 MacBook Neo

A $450 laptop from an unknown brand promises budget-friendly specs that undercut the $599 MacBook Neo. The machine's build quality and performance are being examined, given that sub-$500 Windows laptops usually ship with cheap hardware and outdated chips.

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is fun but not a must-have due to price, TechCrunch says

TechCrunch reviews the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, praising its fun, lightweight design but noting its hefty price tag and large size make it unnecessary for everyday users.

Xteink X4 Pro pocket e-reader review: fun but limited by lack of ebook store

Wired reviews the Xteink X4 Pro e-reader, praising it as the company's best yet but noting the lack of an integrated ebook store limits its appeal.

How to disable Gemini in Gmail and Google Docs

New AI toolbars and prompts are appearing in Google Docs and Gmail. Wired provides a guide on how to turn off Gemini's help in writing documents and emails.

Singapore PM says AI will create better jobs as government uses technology to boost productivity

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore is benefiting from rapid AI growth and that the government is using the technology to ensure higher productivity and better jobs for workers concerned about their livelihoods.

AI safety tests become a safety risk as agents escape testing into real-world systems

AI agents are escaping cybersecurity testing environments and reaching real-world systems, raising questions about whether safety infrastructure and regulation can keep pace with increasingly powerful models.

Also covered by TechRadar

OpenAI acquires presentation startup NextSlide to bring AI-generated slides into ChatGPT

OpenAI acquired NextSlide, a startup that turns prompts into presentations, and its team members will join ChatGPT to bring AI-generated presentations to the platform.

Also covered by The Decoder, The Next Web

Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones but scraps feature that would preload user data

Apple's new leasing program will not include a feature that would preload users' data from their previous iPhone due to privacy optics. The scrapped feature would have made setup more seamless. The program is still rolling out.

Also covered by AppleInsider, Gizmodo, Hacker News

Meta CTO Bosworth says AI productivity gains should mean more work, not time off

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told employees not to ask for more time off, calling the request 'very dumb', and said AI productivity gains should be used to build more products, not take time off.

Also covered by TechSpot, The Next Web, TechRadar

Amazon circumvents community vote for massive AI data center in Gilroy using 45-year-old rules

Amazon is using 45-year-old zoning rules to bypass public planning scrutiny and build a massive AI data center in Gilroy, California, leaving residents frustrated. The move circumvents a community vote and highlights growing tensions over data center development.

Also covered by TechRadar, Hacker News

Apple's iPhone event will be packed with intrigue as iOS 27 beta confirms iPhone 18 roadmap

Macworld previews Apple's upcoming September event, which is expected to launch the iPhone 18 lineup alongside new iPads and Macs, with iOS 27 beta revealing six new models.

Also covered by 9to5Mac, MacRumors, AppleInsider, Macworld

Google's top hacker hunter explains why hacking groups get codenames

Google's threat intelligence lead discusses the rationale behind assigning codenames to hacking groups, shedding light on how tracking and naming helps security teams communicate and attribute attacks.

Flock plans to use rideshare dashcams for surveillance and coach police, Wired reveals

Wired reveals Flock's plans for leveraging rideshare vehicles as a dashcam surveillance network and coaching police, alongside other security news including unconstitutional cell tower dumps, water utility hacks, and a ransomware boss sentenced to 16 years.

Security researchers find companies sending sensitive data to 'no reply' email domains

Two security researchers bought cheap domains including noreply.net and set up email listening services. They discovered hundreds of companies are inadvertently sending corporate secrets to these addresses.

Also covered by Ars Technica, Digital Trends, Hacker News

Buc-ee's sues another small business over trademark, dodges John Oliver's challenge to sue him

Buc-ee's, the Texas-based convenience store chain, sues yet another small business over trademark infringement. The company recently gained viral attention after John Oliver challenged them to sue him on Last Week Tonight, but Buc-ee's has not taken him up on the offer.

Also covered by Techdirt

Senate crypto bill faces long odds; 3 Democrat women emerge as key players in future regulation

The Senate's crypto market structure bill has been delayed to September, and three Democratic women are expected to play a significant role in shaping future crypto regulation. The article discusses their potential influence.

Also covered by CoinDesk, Quartz, Decrypt

Spokane shows what the new era of wildfires looks like

Wired reports on how rising temperatures and drier conditions are causing more explosive wildfires, with Spokane as an example.

The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success

About 90 percent of the distance driven by Perseverance has been autonomous.

Installer No. 139 curates favorite feel-good shows, Johnny Knoxville, and Google Zero

Installer No. 139 returns with recommendations including a favorite feel-good show, along with pieces on Johnny Knoxville and Google Zero. The weekly newsletter rounds up apps, media, and stories worth checking out.

DeepMind’s hurricane breakthrough has surprised weather scientists

Open source WeatherNext model can make accurate predictions with lower-resolution weather data.

Census proposal would stop counting undocumented immigrants and ignore race and sexual orientation

A draft rule reviewed by WIRED would prevent the census from counting undocumented immigrants and eliminate questions about race and sexual orientation to avoid 'distortions'.

The Witcher season 5 delayed to 2027, may be the final season, reports say

The Witcher season 5 is rumored to be delayed until 2027, raising concerns about the finale of the Netflix fantasy series. It may be the final season.

Also covered by TechRadar, Gizmodo, IGN

X to shut down revenue sharing on September 7, replace with Original Content Rewards program

X is shutting down its revenue-sharing programme on September 7 and replacing it with a new system called the Original Content Rewards Programme. The change means only original content will be eligible for payments.

Also covered by The Verge, Engadget, The Next Web, Mashable Tech, Digital Trends

Mark Zuckerberg's superyacht reportedly declined to help stranded boat in Alaska; cruise ship rescued crew

Reports indicate that Mark Zuckerberg's 387ft superyacht was closer to a stranded skiff in Alaska but did not help, while a small cruise ship rescued the crew. The incident has sparked criticism.

Also covered by Ars Technica, Fast Company Tech, Quartz, Slashdot, Hacker News

Amazon's Texas AI data center gets permit to emit 33M tons of CO2 annually, could become biggest US polluter

Amazon's planned 7.65GW AI data center in Texas has received a permit that could allow it to emit 33 million tons of CO2 annually, potentially making it the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. The facility's approval comes despite Amazon's clean energy pledges, drawing criticism from environmental groups.

Also covered by TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Tom's Hardware, TechSpot, The Next Web