David Nield

Google Gemini users can now disable visible watermarks on images made with Nano Banana, videos made with Omni, and songs made with Lyria, although some countries, including China, legally require them. Invisible SynthID watermarks and C2PA metadata will remain embedded to identify AI-generated content. The setting is available on the web through Gemini or Flow, with mobile support expected later, but removing visible markers may make AI-generated media harder to recognize at a glance.

Google Health version 5.06 for Android and iOS is adding a setting that lets subscribers hide AI Coach insights from the app’s default Today view. The AI Coach remains available through the Fitness tab, while the update also includes fixes for map-view data such as heart rate and pace. The rollout may be gradual, with some users reporting that the setting is not yet visible. The change responds to complaints that the AI Coach is overly prominent and repetitive following Google Health’s replacement of the Fitbit app.

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley says the company is not creating a “Big Brother” system and argues that its cameras improve public safety. In response to criticism over alleged misuse, Flock is shortening default data retention from 30 days to seven, requiring case codes for law-enforcement searches, strengthening security, making its audit tool mandatory and automatically suspending accounts involved in abnormal activity. Rights groups and critics have highlighted instances in which the technology was allegedly used to track protesters, women seeking abortions and former partners. As public opposition grows, including reports of cameras being damaged, a 3D-printed “Flock Sock” has been shared as a way to obstruct license plate readers while humorously presenting itself as protection from sunlight.

Some Waze users are not seeing police, speed-camera, and possibly other hazard alerts on the map, even though report submissions appear to be processed normally. User reports indicate that alerts may disappear, fail to appear, or arrive late, while other drivers remain unaffected. Waze has not officially acknowledged the issue, leaving users advised to keep the app updated and wait for a fix.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering retroactively removing certain previously approved DJI drones from the American market. The proposal could affect models with LiDAR obstacle avoidance, thermal cameras, docking stations, or weights above 55 pounds, although existing owners would be allowed to continue using their drones. DJI argues that the restrictions reverse the FCC’s earlier position, were not supported by an adequate security audit, and could impose costly upgrades on safety agencies, farmers, and small businesses. Public comments on the proposal are open until September 2.

Google will discontinue Gmail's ability to send messages from third-party accounts, import mail through POP, and use Gmailify, with the changes taking effect in January 2027. The changes will make Gmail less effective as a central hub for accounts such as Yahoo and Outlook. Users can rely on auto-forwarding, desktop email clients using IMAP, or third-party accounts in the Gmail mobile app, but each option has significant limitations.

Google removed a user's purchased Lord of the Rings Extended Editions from their digital library because the films were no longer available in its catalog. The user reportedly received neither a refund nor a gift card because the purchase fell outside Google's 120-day compensation window. The incident highlights how licensing changes can affect digital purchases and strengthens the case for physical media, while some commenters argue that such removals may encourage piracy or personal media-server solutions such as Plex.

Trusco Nakayama’s Do Hiemon Box is a wheeled, human-sized cooling chamber that blows air at 5°C (41°F) and automatically shuts off after 20 minutes to prevent overcooling. Sold in Japan for 1.5 million yen, the units are being used at construction sites, golf courses, leisure facilities and university campuses as temporary protection against heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Several hundred have reportedly been sold, with interest from Germany and the United States, while the company is exploring uses at festivals and shopping malls. Its high price and emergence amid worsening heatwaves underscore the growing impacts of climate change.

Google Assistant will stop working on Android phones, tablets, paired Wear OS devices, and Android Auto beginning September 4, with the transition expected to take several weeks across users and devices. Vehicles with Google built-in will retain Assistant for longer. Users should install or open Gemini and follow the setup process to make it their default assistant; existing commands such as “Hey Google” will continue to work, while past Assistant interactions remain accessible through Google account Web & App Activity.

Base Power has raised $1 billion in Series D funding to scale its Base Core home battery, available in 39.2 kWh and 78.4 kWh versions. The system can reportedly be installed in under an hour, automatically provide backup power for 36–72 hours, operate in extreme temperatures and feed electricity back to the grid when needed. It is initially available in Texas and Illinois, with pricing varying by utility; one example includes 13.1 cents per kWh, a $19 monthly membership fee and a $695 upfront charge. The expansion comes as U.S. residential battery installations reach record levels, reflecting growing demand for protection against outages, rising electricity costs and grid constraints.

Casio has introduced the CRW-H001, a smart ring that tracks steps, sleep, heart rate and body temperature and displays smartphone notifications. The company has also listed two retro-styled ABL-100WE watches with Bluetooth-linked step counting, daily goal alerts and basic progress graphs. The ring is currently available only in China, while the watches have appeared in the UK and Australia, with broader international availability still uncertain.