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AMD has reportedly informed its add-in board (AIB) partners, including major manufacturers like ASUS and Gigabyte, to brace for upcoming price increases on Radeon graphics cards, according to HotHardware.
The reported price hike could affect AMD's current and upcoming GPU lineup, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT among the models potentially impacted. This development comes at a time when graphics card pricing has been a critical factor for PC gamers and content creators looking to upgrade their systems.
Price increases from AMD could have broader implications for the graphics card market. With AMD positioning itself as a more affordable alternative to NVIDIA in many market segments, any price adjustments could shift the competitive landscape and affect consumer purchasing decisions.
For shoppers considering a new graphics card, this news suggests it may be worth making purchasing decisions sooner rather than later, before the reported price increases take effect at retail. However, the exact timing and magnitude of the price changes have not been officially confirmed by AMD.
Consumers should monitor pricing on AMD Radeon graphics cards, particularly if they've been considering an upgrade. As more details emerge about the specific models affected and the extent of the price increases, shoppers will be better positioned to make informed decisions about their GPU purchases.
Amazon has confirmed that Alexa Home Theater is now rolling out "broadly" to users, bringing surround sound capabilities to select Echo speakers. The feature was originally unveiled at Amazon's devices and services event in September and is now becoming available to consumers.
Alexa Home Theater transforms compatible Echo speakers into a surround sound system, allowing users to create a multi-speaker audio setup for an enhanced home entertainment experience. The feature works with select Echo models, though the snippet doesn't specify which devices are compatible.
According to Amazon's confirmation to Engadget, the feature is rolling out starting today in a broad release. This means users with compatible Echo speakers should begin seeing the option become available on their devices, though rollouts typically occur in waves and may take some time to reach all eligible users.
Alexa Home Theater represents Amazon's effort to increase the value proposition of its Echo speaker ecosystem beyond smart home control and music playback. By enabling surround sound functionality, Amazon is positioning its Echo devices as a more affordable alternative to traditional home theater speaker systems, allowing users to leverage Echo speakers they may already own to create an immersive audio experience for TV and movie watching.
For consumers who have already invested in multiple Echo speakers throughout their homes, this feature provides added functionality without requiring additional hardware purchases, making it a cost-effective way to upgrade their home entertainment setup.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned consumers that batteries from Rad Power Bikes pose a serious fire risk and should not be used. The warning represents a significant safety concern for owners of the popular e-bike brand's products.
In an unusual move, Rad Power Bikes has declined to offer full battery replacements or refunds to affected customers. According to CNET, the company cited financial constraints as the reason for not providing complete remediation options.
This decision leaves e-bike owners in a difficult position—unable to safely use their bikes but without recourse for full compensation. The lack of a comprehensive recall or replacement program is particularly concerning given the severity of fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
E-bike batteries contain lithium-ion cells that, when defective, can overheat and ignite, potentially causing property damage or injuries. Fire risks from e-bike batteries have been a growing concern across the industry, with multiple incidents reported nationwide.
For Rad Power Bikes owners, the warning creates immediate safety and financial implications. Consumers who purchased these e-bikes expecting reliable transportation now face the prospect of unusable products without guaranteed replacement options.
The CPSC's warning advises owners to stop using the affected batteries immediately. Customers should contact Rad Power Bikes directly to inquire about available remediation options, though the company's financial limitations may restrict the solutions available.
This situation highlights the importance of manufacturers maintaining adequate resources to address safety issues and the challenges consumers face when companies cannot provide full recalls for defective products.
The computer memory market is experiencing a crisis that's fundamentally changing how consumers shop for RAM. According to The Verge, the situation has become so volatile that stores are now selling RAM "like lobster" — with prices fluctuating based on daily market conditions rather than fixed manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP).
Micro Center, a major PC component retailer, has shifted to spot pricing for memory products in some stores, according to Tom's Hardware. This means RAM prices now change dynamically based on supply and demand, making it significantly harder for consumers to shop and compare prices in 2025. The traditional fixed price tag system has effectively disappeared for memory products at affected locations.
The RAM shortage's impact extends beyond memory modules. Tom's Hardware reports that AMD plans to raise graphics card prices by at least 10% in 2026, directly attributing the increase to the ongoing AI-related DRAM supply crisis. As graphics cards require substantial amounts of memory, the component shortage is forcing manufacturers to pass costs onto consumers.
While consumers face price uncertainty, Lenovo has taken proactive measures. The company has reportedly stockpiled enough RAM inventory to last through 2026, maintaining memory stock levels approximately 50% higher than usual, according to Tom's Hardware. This strategic move aims to shield their products from the pricing shock affecting the broader market.
The AI boom's massive demand for DRAM has created a supply crisis affecting everyday PC buyers. Consumers looking to upgrade or build systems should expect volatile pricing, difficulty comparing prices, and potentially significant cost increases. Those planning future purchases may want to buy sooner rather than later, as the shortage is expected to persist well into 2026.
Samsung is reportedly preparing a significant upgrade to its Bixby voice assistant by partnering with AI search company Perplexity, according to reports from multiple sources. The move marks a notable strategic shift for Samsung, which has heavily integrated Google's Gemini AI across its Galaxy device lineup.
According to tipster @chunvn8888, the upgraded Bixby would operate on a hybrid model:
This approach closely mirrors Apple's AI strategy with its own voice assistant, suggesting Samsung is following a similar path of combining on-device processing with cloud-based AI capabilities.
The enhanced Bixby assistant could debut with the Galaxy S26 series, though Samsung has not officially confirmed these plans. The timing would align with Samsung's typical flagship release cycle.
For years, Bixby has been considered the least competitive of the major voice assistants, often criticized for its limited capabilities compared to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. A partnership with Perplexity could dramatically improve Bixby's usefulness by:
The decision to partner with Perplexity rather than further integrating Google's Gemini suggests Samsung wants to maintain more control over its assistant experience and differentiate its devices from standard Android offerings.
Samsung has not officially commented on these reports, and details about pricing or specific features remain unconfirmed.
OnePlus has announced an upcoming December launch event that will bring three new products to North America: the OnePlus 15R smartphone, the Pad Go 2 tablet, and the Watch Lite smartwatch.
The OnePlus 15R is positioned as a budget-friendly alternative to the recently released OnePlus 15 flagship, though official pricing has not yet been revealed. The device will offer the same durability as its premium sibling while maintaining a more accessible price point.
According to PhoneArena, the 15R will pack impressive hardware including a giant battery and a "mighty chipset" that could make it a true flagship killer. Some reports suggest the device may be a rebrand of the China-exclusive OnePlus Ace 6T, potentially featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, which would give it performance capabilities that could outperform last year's OnePlus flagship models.
The device's design has been officially revealed by OnePlus ahead of the launch event, showing a redesign from the standard OnePlus 15.
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 will mark the first time the company's budget-friendly tablet lineup arrives in North America. This follows OnePlus's strategy of expanding its ecosystem beyond smartphones into other device categories.
The OnePlus Watch Lite will join the December launch as the company's latest wearable offering, though specific details about features and pricing remain under wraps.
This December launch gives OnePlus a strong presence in the competitive holiday shopping season, offering consumers multiple price points across different device categories. The OnePlus 15R, in particular, could appeal to budget-conscious buyers seeking flagship-level performance and durability without the premium price tag. The timing also positions OnePlus to compete directly with other mid-range and budget offerings during the crucial year-end shopping period.
Google has rolled out new improvements to its Home app, focusing on making the AI-powered features more useful and reliable for smart home device users.
The Google Home AI Descriptions feature is receiving a notable enhancement that will help reduce notification clutter. According to 9to5Google, the system will now automatically skip "generic" motion-only events, meaning users won't be bombarded with alerts every time their security cameras detect simple movement without any meaningful context.
This change should make the AI Descriptions feature more practical for daily use, as it will focus on providing summaries of events that actually matter rather than flagging every instance of motion detected by connected cameras and sensors.
Alongside the AI Descriptions improvement, Google is also delivering bug fixes for the Gemini voice assistant integration with Home devices. Both 9to5Google and Android Authority report on these Gemini for Home improvements, though specific details about which bugs were addressed weren't provided in the release notes.
Android Authority characterized these updates as Google "trimming the fat off Home Brief," suggesting the changes are aimed at streamlining the smart home experience and removing unnecessary information or alerts.
These updates are being rolled out through the Google Home app, though Google hasn't tied them to a specific version number in the latest release notes. Users with compatible Google Home devices and Nest cameras should see the improvements automatically as they receive the update.
Google is working on bringing Android to PCs through a new project called 'Aluminium,' according to details spotted in a company job listing. The new operating system is slated for introduction next year and represents Google's latest effort to expand Android beyond mobile devices.
According to the 9to5Google report, the job listing reveals that Aluminium will have "AI at the core" of the experience, though specific AI features have not yet been detailed. This aligns with Google's broader push to integrate artificial intelligence across its product ecosystem.
The job listing also indicates how this Android PC initiative ties back to Google's existing ChromeOS platform, though the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear. Google currently offers ChromeOS for laptops and desktops, raising questions about how Aluminium will coexist with or potentially replace the existing platform.
If successful, Aluminium could bring the full Android app ecosystem to desktop and laptop computers, potentially offering users access to millions of mobile apps on larger screens. The AI integration suggests Google plans to differentiate this experience from traditional desktop operating systems with intelligent features and automation.
More details about Aluminium, including supported devices, specific features, and launch timing, are expected as Google continues development throughout the coming year.
After years of development, Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026, with new reports indicating the device has entered the engineering validation stage as the company gears up for mass production.
Analyst Arthur Liao at Fubon Research estimates the foldable iPhone will be priced at $2,399, placing it on the higher end of previous price predictions, which have ranged from $1,800 to $2,500. This premium pricing could make Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 look affordable by comparison and may prompt Apple to brand the device as an "iPhone Ultra" to justify the cost.
According to Chinese publication UDN citing supply chain sources, Apple has reportedly solved "the crease problem" that has plagued most foldable smartphones on the market. This technical achievement could give Apple a significant advantage over competitors like Samsung, whose foldable devices still exhibit visible creases where the screen folds.
If Apple successfully delivers a crease-free foldable display, it would address one of the most common complaints about current foldable phones. However, the steep $2,400 price point means this device will likely target early adopters and premium users rather than mainstream consumers.
The 2026 timeline suggests Apple is taking a measured approach to entering the foldable market, waiting until the technology meets its quality standards rather than rushing to compete. For consumers considering a foldable phone, this could mean waiting another year for what might be the most refined foldable experience available—if you're willing to pay the premium price.
The iVANKY FusionDock Max 2 is making waves as the first Thunderbolt 5 MacBook dock that actually lives up to its all-in-one promises, according to a recent review from 9to5Mac.
While the market is flooded with MacBook docks and hubs—ranging from compact on-the-go accessories for iPads to desktop-class solutions—most fall short of their ambitious claims. The FusionDock Max 2 appears to be breaking that trend by genuinely handling everything users demand from a premium docking station.
The dock's Thunderbolt 5 connectivity represents the latest generation of connection technology, offering significantly faster data transfer speeds and increased bandwidth compared to previous Thunderbolt standards. This makes it particularly valuable for MacBook users who need to connect multiple high-resolution displays, external storage devices, and peripherals simultaneously without compromising performance.
Unlike smaller portable hubs designed for basic connectivity needs, the FusionDock Max 2 is positioned as a desktop-class solution meant for power users who need comprehensive connectivity at their workstation. The dock is designed to serve as a complete hub for professional workflows, eliminating the need for multiple adapters and dongles.
For MacBook users who have struggled to find a single dock that can truly handle all their connectivity needs, the FusionDock Max 2 represents a potentially significant upgrade. As Thunderbolt 5 technology becomes more widespread, docks like this one will become increasingly important for users looking to maximize their MacBook's capabilities while maintaining a clean, organized workspace.
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