The everyday tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
A reviewer says Google Fi stands out for travelers with a Pixel phone: data in over 110 countries, no extra fees, and a recent deal of $17 a month.
Read more: Google's phone plan works in over 110 countries with no extra feesMaybelline is adding live virtual makeup testing to ChatGPT, so shoppers can describe a look and see it tried on instead of browsing a catalog.
Read more: Maybelline lets you test makeup shades by chatting with ChatGPTA tech writer used a home 3D printer to give old phones, a smartwatch and a smart speaker new jobs, which could save readers money on new gear.
Read more: A home 3D printer turns old phones and gadgets into useful gearOpenAI has opened ChatGPT's voice chat to all users, so you can ask questions out loud on an iPhone or Android phone without paying.
Read more: ChatGPT now lets anyone talk to it out loud, for freeNetflix has settings that stop autoplay previews, reveal your full watch history and unlock niche genres. Engadget lists five worth a few minutes.
Read more: Five hidden Netflix settings that make streaming betterWhatsApp no longer works on phones running Android 5.0 or 5.1, and some iPhones face a similar cutoff on November 30, 2026. Check your phone now.
Read more: WhatsApp stops working on phones running Android 5.0 and 5.1A YouTube Music Premium feature called Smart Downloads kept working in the background and topped one writer's battery use, even after a phone switch.
Read more: One YouTube Music setting was quietly draining his phone batteryReducto says ChatGPT and Codex can now edit Word and Excel files for free, which could save time for anyone who lives in spreadsheets and documents.
Read more: Reducto adds free Word and Excel editing to ChatGPT and CodexCredit Saison says its ChatGPT Enterprise pilot returned 954%, but the number comes from OpenAI's own post and the math is not shown.
Read more: Japanese lender says its ChatGPT trial paid back 954%General Motors will pay $220 million to settle a case over selling driving data to insurers, a reminder that how you drive can follow you to your bill.
Read more: GM will pay $220 million over selling drivers' data to insurersApple's first MacBook with a touch display adapts macOS 27 for fingers, with bigger buttons and trackpad gestures on the screen.
Read more: Apple's first touchscreen MacBook Pro changes how Mac software worksXero users can now ask Google's Gemini chat about profit, overdue bills and cash, and get charts from live numbers. Changes still need your approval.
Read more: Xero accounting data now works inside Google's Gemini chatOnly Roku's $40 stick lacks 4K. Every other Roku device supports it, so the $80 model's name can mislead shoppers into paying more than they need to.
Read more: Most Roku sticks stream in 4K, so the cheapest upgrade is $40 moreFirefox on Android comes in five versions, and each trades privacy, features and speed differently. A review from How-To Geek explains which one fits which person.
Read more: Firefox for Android comes in five versions, each with its own purposeWhatsApp is changing group chats: pins that never expire, a filter for unread mentions, wider history sharing and a Status feature only a group can see.
Read more: WhatsApp adds group chat tools, including pins that never expireAirPods that seem to drop out may be bouncing between your Apple devices. A few settings changes can stop it without buying new earbuds.
Read more: Why your AirPods keep cutting out and the settings that fix itA reviewer tested Samsung's Galaxy AI tools one by one. Several save real time, but voice transcripts and summaries need a second look.
Read more: Samsung's AI phone tools tested: some save time, some are fillerThe USB port on your router can share a drive with the whole house, but big file copies can strain the router and make calls and streams stutter.
Read more: Using your router's USB port as file storage can slow your whole home networkA MakeUseOf writer gave Claude Code a key to his Home Assistant setup. It could then control real devices, and a wrong answer could change real things.
Read more: A writer gave Claude the keys to his smart home, and it got complicatedGoogle moved a tool called AppFunctions to beta, letting AI assistants run actions inside Android apps. Businesses with booking or ordering apps should take note.
Read more: Google lets AI assistants use your phone's apps directly, in betaPhonic-1, a new voice AI, begins looking up answers while you talk. In the company's own demo, it replied 1.1 seconds after the speaker stopped.
Read more: New voice AI starts looking up answers while you are still talkingGoogle's Gemini app can now make, preview and edit files inside a chat, but on phones only PDFs work. Everything else needs a web browser.
Read more: Gemini can now make and edit documents right inside the chatA developer's free, open-source apps now mimic Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe tools. They could cut subscription bills, but they come with real gaps.
Read more: Free AI-built apps now copy Word, Excel and PhotoshopA frozen touchscreen is often fixable at home. Engadget lays out free steps to try first, from removing the case to a force restart, before paying for a repair.
Read more: What to try when your phone screen stops responding to touch
