Smart

Voters across Brazil are looking up polling locations ahead of the elections, with the Superior Electoral Tribunal promoting its 'Clica e Confirma' guide for the first round of the 2026 elections. In Mato Grosso do Sul, polls will be open from 7am to 4pm. Meanwhile, Folha de S.Paulo reports the TSE did not train poll workers to identify smart glasses, with criticism of court president Kassio just two days before the vote.

A new report claims Apple's upcoming smart home camera will not record video, a surprising choice for a home security product. If accurate, the device would rely on live viewing and Apple's privacy-first approach rather than storing footage, setting it apart from rivals like Amazon's Ring and Google Nest cameras. Commenters are questioning how useful a security camera without recording would be.

A smart borewell startup appeared on Shark Tank India's fourth season, seeking ₹75 lakhs in funding. The full pitch drew big attention online, with viewers discussing the business idea and the sharks' response. It reflects continued strong interest in tech-enabled rural and water-management businesses featured on the show.

A new open-source tool for urban data collection is being presented as a way to rethink how smart cities gather and use information. Coverage focuses on the idea that cities could rely on community-driven, transparent software rather than closed proprietary systems to collect data about urban environments. Details about the tool's developers, features and adoption remain limited.

A new open-source tool called Parrot is being introduced for Mac users, offering smart meeting recording with an AI co-pilot feature. The project is available via its website, openparrot.app. Early attention is coming from the developer and tech community, where open-source alternatives to commercial meeting transcription tools typically draw interest over privacy, customisation, and cost.

A new write-up introduces Quarry, a system for distributing operating system images that shifts complexity away from servers and into client software. The server only needs to serve static bytes, while the client handles verifying and assembling images. Readers on Hacker News are discussing the design trade-offs of this approach for image distribution at scale.

Meta has released Muse AI as an open-source project aimed at accelerating the development of smart home technology. By making the system freely available to developers, Meta is positioning Muse as a foundation for connected-home applications built by the broader community. Details beyond the announcement remain limited, but the move fits Meta's recent pattern of releasing AI tools openly to compete in the AI ecosystem.

A Guardian money column examines why bus passengers who cannot or do not want to pay via smartphone apps often end up paying more than those using digital tickets. The piece highlights complaints that transport operators are pricing out older and less tech-savvy riders, and readers are debating whether fare structures should accommodate cash and card options equally.

Apple is reportedly working on home security camera products that would not record video, according to a report circulating in tech media. The devices would instead focus on sensing and automation within smart home setups. The unusual design choice is drawing attention and speculation about Apple's privacy-first approach to home security hardware.

Ring's Solar Pathlight and its multi-pack bundles are on sale starting at $28, according to a 9to5Toys deals listing. The solar-powered lights are designed to line walkways and outdoor paths without wiring. The discount is drawing attention from shoppers looking for affordable smart home outdoor lighting options.

Yanpei Cao of 3D generation company Tripo AI has given an interview outlining the company's work on SmartMesh, its open source approach, and how its tools fit into previsualisation workflows for animation and film. The discussion covers how AI-generated 3D assets could speed up previs and early-stage creative pipelines, and why open sourcing parts of the technology matters to the developer community.

Kiplinger publishes guidance on using artificial intelligence in personal financial planning, stressing that human advisors remain essential. The piece outlines where AI tools can help — such as budgeting, research and scenario analysis — and where they fall short, including nuanced decisions involving taxes, estate planning and personal circumstances. Readers are advised to treat AI as a supplement to, not a replacement for, professional advice.

A retired couple plans to withdraw $120,000 from an IRA to fund their son's down payment, a move that would push them into a higher tax bracket and cost roughly $34,000 in federal taxes that could largely be avoided. Commenters point to alternatives such as spreading withdrawals across years, using a mortgage gift provision, or other tax-smart options.

A short padel clip titled 'The Smart Serve — Padel Tactics' is circulating in Spanish, ending with the question 'What do you think about the ruling?' and hashtags referencing true crime, corruption and Spain. The footage mixes padel strategy content with commentary on a Spanish court sentence, prompting viewers to share their opinions on the verdict.

Apple Stores are reportedly receiving sealed boxes ahead of the company's expected push into smart-home products. The deliveries suggest a launch may be imminent, though Apple has not confirmed what the boxes contain. Observers speculate they hold new home hardware, such as a smart display or camera, but no details on specifications, pricing, or release dates have been disclosed so far.

A German-language guide explains how to charge smartphones in a battery-friendly way so the battery lasts longer over the years. It notes that battery capacity declines noticeably with time and use, and shares personal tips drawn from years of experience with different devices.

Huawei has increased prices of its flagship smartphones by as much as US$200, attributing the hike to rising memory chip procurement costs that have added roughly that amount to per-unit manufacturing expenses. The move highlights how surging memory prices are being passed on to consumers, and industry watchers are watching whether other smartphone makers will follow with similar increases.

Circle published a piece outlining how wrapped Bitcoin lets holders use their BTC in decentralized finance, including lending, trading and yield applications across blockchains. The article explains that wrapped BTC brings the largest cryptocurrency's liquidity to smart contract networks, where native Bitcoin cannot operate directly.

Hans Anders, a popular optical and hearing retail chain, says it will no longer sell smart glasses in Belgium or the Netherlands. The move makes it one of the first mainstream retailers to publicly drop the devices, and it is drawing attention to growing unease among sellers about privacy concerns and customer pushback over camera-equipped eyewear.

A new smartphone cooling accessory called the B9X has been introduced, built around a Peltier element paired with a 5cm fan to pull heat away from a phone during heavy use. The device is pitched as a hyper-cyber styled gadget aimed at mobile gamers and heavy users. Its unusual, futuristic look is drawing attention alongside its active-cooling approach.

A blog post titled 'Nobody Is Listening on Port 8125' is drawing attention among developers. Port 8125 is best known as the default web interface port for Home Assistant, the popular open-source smart home platform, and is also used by some telemetry services like StatsD. The piece appears to explore what happens when a network service is unreachable, a frustration familiar to anyone who has self-hosted software and found nothing answering on the expected port.

A feature on BGR rounds up four sophisticated Swiss smartwatches, presenting them as options for buyers looking to combine traditional watchmaking style with smart features. The piece is aimed at gadget and style readers considering premium wearables, and there is no indication yet of broader discussion or reaction beyond the shopping guide itself.

The Netherlands is considering a ban on Meta's AI-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses, and some Dutch retailers have already removed the product from their shelves. The move signals growing European scrutiny of camera-equipped wearable devices and their privacy implications, though the specific legal grounds for the proposed ban have not been detailed.

A member of Japanese boy group Timelesz is drawing attention for his composed performance at a press conference to apologize for an insensitive joke made during the group's member-selection program, which chose new members through open public audition. Japanese media report his reputation has risen sharply as a result, with commentators noting he handled the controversy calmly and moved past the episode.

Tesla has filed a new patent describing a roof-mounted smart air conditioning system for its vehicles, according to a report by BGR. The design would reimagine the car's roof as an active cooling element, suggesting the company is exploring new ways to manage cabin climate more efficiently. Details about how the system would work, and whether it will reach production vehicles, have not been confirmed.