Dogs have brains. I know this, and it’s often led me to ponder what they think about, and if they ever think about, for example, the best camera smartphone. Probably not, but I couldn't help wondering again as I read our AI Editor Graham Barlow’s exploration of the latest ‘talking dog’ technology. The AI-powered collar sounds, if I’m being honest, like bunk, but I’d love it if it was just the first step in us finally being able to understand why Fido is barking at that chihuahua, or what that plaintiff look he’s giving you means.
Speaking of things we (or our pets, I guess) wear, the new Oura Ring 4 sounds like a bonafide hit, although our Health and Fitness Editor Matt Evans has one major quibble, and it starts with the word ‘subscription’.
It does seem like a lot of the action lately is in wearable technology, and I was heartened to see our resident VR expert Hamish Hector agree with me that the new Meta Quest 3S is the VR headset for everyone. You should read his full review, linked below, to find out all the details.
There was also a lot of action this week in the tablet space. Apple finally launched an iPad mini update (it looks the same as the last one but gets an Apple Intelligence-friendly chip), and Amazon unveiled a whole bunch of new Kindles – I’m especially impressed with the all-new Kindle Colosoft, and the new super-fast-page-turning Paperwhite.
In other mobile news, the Pixel phone line is finally getting Android 15. I have a Pixel 9 Pro Fold sitting right next to me, so maybe I should upgrade… but not before we’re done here.
Before I go, a quick word about our regular 'What to watch this weekend' article. This is a post I read every week, because I have no idea what’s arriving on streaming, and I hate when I’m sitting with my family on a Saturday night and we can’t agree on what to watch. Our round-up is a great guide – now I just have to convince everyone to watch Hysteria! on Peacock.
Enjoy the weekend and talk soon!
Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-Large
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The Week in AI
Meta's Yann LeCun has been talking about AI (Getty Images)
AI is the hottest tech topic of the moment, and the debate continues about just how helpful – and how dangerous – AI might be, with Meta's AI chief Yann LeCun recently speaking out to defend the technology. Here's our take on the potential risks that lie ahead.
Oura has launched its fourth-generation smart ring, and we've slipped it on for our full review: our takeaway is that it's a fantastic health- and sleep-tracking wearable, but the value proposition is diminished by the need for an ongoing subscription.
Apple launched the iPad mini 7 this week, and with a starting price of $499 / £499 it's immediately the cheapest device that can run Apple Intelligence – and it might just be the best option too, if you want to try out Apple's upcoming AI features.
Android 15 is finally making its way out to the masses – or at least the masses using a Pixel phone. If you want to know about all the new features you can play around with, including improvements in device security and multitasking, we've got you covered.
Netflix offers us the returning fan-favorite The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, and new thriller movie Woman of the Hour, this week. Horror fans can also find A24's MaXXXine on Max, The Devil's Hour season 2 on Prime Video and the new series Hysteria! on Peacock.
