This week’s update covers the rumored release of the Trump Gold T1 phone, Figure Robotics’ impressive F3 robot demo, Google’s major Android 17 launch with AI enhancements, and new tech products from Sony, Canon, and Unitry. Additionally, brief news highlights include Reddit’s app push, Gmail’s new storage verification, Netflix’s ad expansion and AI content, Mac and Windows updates, and a recommended eSIM app for travelers.
In this week’s update, the much-anticipated Trump Gold T1 phone is rumored to start shipping soon, though there is still uncertainty about its actual release. The phone appears to be a generic budget Android device with Trump branding and a gold back, but key specifications remain vague. The company has also updated its terms of service, suggesting that the phone’s release might not be guaranteed. Despite the skepticism, there is curiosity about seeing the phone in the market.
A notable demo from Figure Robotics showcased their F3 humanoid robot sorting over 30,000 packages in a continuous live stream lasting more than 20 hours. The robot’s task is to orient packages so their barcodes face down, handling various sizes and textures, and even performing battery shift changes autonomously. While the environment is controlled and occasional mistakes occur, the demo highlights the robot’s ability to improvise and operate for extended periods, which could be appealing to factory owners.
Google had a major week of announcements, including the launch of Android 17 with features like “create my widget,” allowing users to generate custom widgets on the fly, initially limited to Google apps. Other highlights include system-wide screen reactions for recording with selfie overlays, enhanced autofill powered by Gemini AI, redesigned 3D emojis, and advanced AI capabilities for multi-step tasks. Google also introduced Google Book, a hybrid Android and Chrome OS PC platform featuring Gemini AI integration, though its appeal remains uncertain due to the lack of desktop apps.
In product news, Sony released the Xperia 1 Mark 8 smartphone with a redesigned body and improved zoom sensor, though some AI camera enhancements raised eyebrows. Sony also launched the A7R Mark 6 camera with a high-resolution sensor and increased computing power, alongside a new XLR adapter for professional audio recording. Canon introduced the R sixV camera focused on video capabilities, and Chinese company Unitry unveiled a climb-in Mecha robot priced at $650,000, which appears somewhat basic in design.
The brief news segment covered Reddit’s testing of blocking mobile web access to push app usage, Gmail’s new storage policy requiring phone verification for 50GB, and Netflix expanding ads across its app and podcasts while developing AI-generated animation content. On a positive note, the Mac app Bartender introduced a new feature to utilize the MacBook notch as a customizable space, Microsoft improved Windows 11 performance with Windui3 updates and added haptic feedback support. The host also recommended SY, an eSIM app for affordable and convenient international mobile data, offering a discount code for travelers.