This week, Google has made it remarkably easy to share files wirelessly between Android and iOS devices by enabling Quick Share to work with Apple’s AirDrop. This feature is initially rolling out to the Pixel 10 family and will soon be available on other Android devices. Google revealed that they achieved this through their own implementation, which was thoroughly vetted by their privacy and security teams and tested by a third-party security firm. This essentially means Google may have reverse-engineered AirDrop, raising questions about whether Apple will respond or try to block this functionality. The sharing only works if AirDrop is set to be visible to everyone nearby, which is an extra step but still a promising development.
Apple launched a new in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip called the N1 in the iPhone 17 series, replacing the previous Broadcom chip. Real-world data from UCLA and Speed Test.net shows that the N1 chip significantly outperforms the old chip across various regions and markets. While the Pixel 10 series slightly leads in download speeds and the Xiaomi 15T with a MediaTek modem tops upload speeds, the iPhone 17 holds a strong second place in both categories. This marks a significant achievement for Apple, which struggled for years to develop its own 4G and 5G modems and now appears to have succeeded with both cellular and Wi-Fi chips.
Google also announced Gemini 3, their next-generation AI model, which boasts impressive capabilities such as generating interactive user interfaces within chats. For example, it can create tools like calculators on the fly to help with complex questions, such as financing a home purchase. Gemini 3 will power a new image editor called Nano Banana Pro, which allows users to generate and edit images up to 4K resolution with features like refocusing. While Google claims the images are watermarked for recognition, this only applies to their own generated content, raising concerns about the potential misuse of highly realistic image editing technology.
In other tech news, DJI released the Action 6, the world’s first action camera with a variable aperture, offering better low-light performance and features like screw-on lenses and 10-bit log recording. Leica announced the Q3 Monochrome, a high-end black-and-white full-frame camera priced at $7,790, which is even more expensive than its color counterpart. Samsung introduced budget tablets, the Tab A11 and A11 Plus, with basic specs but affordable prices starting at $180. Additionally, YouTube is testing the return of direct messages, Matter 1.5 added support for more smart home devices, and Microsoft is evolving Windows into an agentic OS with AI-powered taskbar features.
Finally, the video highlights the popular Moment Pro camera app’s upgrade, enabling raw shooting on all iPhone 17 sensors and new natural processing options. The host also shares personal experiences using the Insta360 X5 360° camera for unique shots, praising its stabilization, resolution, and versatility, especially when paired with a 3-meter selfie stick. The camera is currently on sale for Black Friday with a $100 discount and a free lens replacement kit for the first 10 buyers using the provided link. The video concludes with a look at ongoing developments in digital sovereignty in Europe, a settlement between Samsung Display and BOE over trade secret disputes, and the growing interest in Linux as a desktop operating system.
