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Stay in sync with what’s happening in the world of tech! From NBC Sports AI to Google’s Veo 3.1 and more, we have you covered on this week’s headlines. Check out what’s happening from across the web below!

YouTube adds teen time limits for Shorts to parental controls

YouTube now lets parents set explicit time limits for kids’ and teens’ Shorts viewing, with presets from 15 minutes up to two hours and an option to set zero minutes soon — kids and teens won’t be able to disable those limits on their end. The feature extends YouTube’s broader effort to classify and restrict under-18 accounts, letting parents also set Bedtime and Take-a-Break reminders and manually choose the account’s age category during signup. It’s a familiar move in platform safety land — aligning YouTube with Instagram and TikTok’s earlier nudges toward under-18 restrictions — and it’s designed to reduce endless scrolling without requiring new hardware or extra apps. For families, the change is straightforward: more parental control over how long Shorts can be a background habit. Expect rollout to be gradual as YouTube tightens age estimation and account classification. 

NBC Sports and Nippon TV lean on AI tracking to follow favorite players live

NBC Sports and Nippon Television are piloting AI-driven player tracking that lets viewers follow specific athletes in real time. Offering personalized camera feeds and mobile experiences, the NBC Sports tracking spotlights chosen players’ motion and statistics. The NBC Sports system combines computer vision and telemetry to identify and isolate athletes on the field. Likewise, this delivers view layers that can show replays, positional overlays, and player-centric angles. The new development from NBC Sports is great for fans who want a single-player focus. For rights holders and broadcasters, the tech opens new engagement windows and targeted ad opportunities. The approach by NBC Sports also highlights how augmented broadcast tooling can make linear sports feel more like a choose-your-own-camera experience. Privacy and data-use guardrails will matter as broadcasters refine how much personal tracking and derived metadata live inside viewer apps. 

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Evo Cinema Link Plus blends instant prints with cinema tricks

Fujifilm updated its Instax Mini Evo line with the Cinema Link Plus, a printer and companion workflow that leans into short video and cinematic stills — letting users pull clips, capture high-speed moments, and pair them with Instax prints for tactile keepsakes. The product keeps the charm of instant film while adding features aimed at creators who want shareable physical artifacts from their mobile video moments. It’s a reminder that analog formats still have cultural value when married to clever digital features that boost storytelling and shareability. For creators who love tangible content, the Evo Cinema Link Plus is a neat bridge between moving images and printed nostalgia. Pricing and availability put it squarely in the impulse-buy/gift category for makers who want to mix analog and digital play. 

Google’s Veo 3.1 makes vertical AI videos out of portrait images

Google updated Veo to version 3.1, expanding its AI “video ingredients” toolkit to convert portrait photos into vertical, scroll-ready video clips and to provide creators with faster, more native outputs for short-form platforms. The update improves framing, motion synthesis, and audio-linked transitions so a still portrait can become a dynamic, mobile-ready clip without heavy manual editing. For social creators and publishers, it cuts production time by turning existing image assets into vertical-first content that fits modern discovery surfaces. As platforms prioritize short vertical formats, Veo’s enhancements underscore how image→video pipelines will be a central productivity lever for small teams and solo creators. Expect iterative quality improvements as Google refines motion realism and context preservation. 

Apple’s Creator Studio apps aim to compete with Adobe for in-house creatives

Apple debuted a Creator Studio suite — apps and subscription tooling that help creators edit photos and videos, design assets, and publish across Apple platforms — positioning itself as a more integrated alternative to third-party suites like Adobe’s. The apps are built to take advantage of on-device silicon and Apple’s media frameworks, promising smooth performance and tight OS integration for iPhone, iPad, and Mac workflows. Apple pitches the suite as a simpler, cohesive home for creators who want fewer app handoffs and native optimization rather than plugin-driven workflows. For pro teams, the new tools won’t replace high-end packages overnight, but for many creators, the convenience of a unified Apple stack could be enough to justify a subscription. Watch how Adobe responds and whether the ecosystem shift nudges creators toward Apple’s vertical convenience. 

Anker’s new whole-home backup system scales portable power into true home redundancy

Anker revealed a whole-home backup system that links modular battery units with power distribution so households can run essential circuits during outages without paying enterprise prices for full home batteries. The system is designed for easier installation and scalability — add modules to increase capacity and route critical loads through a simple interface — making emergency power more accessible to renters and homeowners who need temporary resilience. For people prepping for storms or relying on at-home healthcare devices, this lowers the barrier to dependable backup power without major remodeling. The tradeoffs remain cost, space, and the need for safe electrical installation, but as portable energy tech matures, product-fit and service integration get closer to mainstream adoption. Expect these systems to appeal to the growing market of pragmatic resilience buyers rather than luxury off-grid enthusiasts.  

As the days grow shorter and temperatures dip, our homes become more than just a place to escape the cold; they become a refuge for our well-being. The concept of winter home wellness goes beyond simple comfort; it’s about cultivating a space that nurtures your mind, body, and spirit. Whether you’re seeking stillness after a busy year or craving more balance in your daily routine, small changes can lead to big emotional shifts. Here are some holistic enhancements to help turn your home into a cozy sanctuary this winter.

1. Start with Scent: Aromatherapy That Soothes

Scent is one of the quickest ways to shift your mood and create a sense of peace. Essential oil diffusers are a staple in winter home wellness, offering both functional and emotional benefits. Try grounding oils like cedarwood or frankincense to evoke calm, or energizing citrus blends to brighten gray afternoons. Ultrasonic diffusers also double as humidifiers, which can help with dry winter air.

2. Let There Be (Soft) Light

Lighting plays a major role in regulating mood and energy levels. Swap harsh overhead lights for soft, warm-toned lamps and candles. Himalayan salt lamps are a favorite for wellness enthusiasts, said to release negative ions and improve air quality. They also emit a calming amber glow that enhances any room. Cluster them in reading nooks, bedrooms, or meditation corners for a gentle touch of magic.

3. Breathe Easier with Air-Purifying Plants

Indoor plants are a year-round wellness win, but in winter, when windows are closed and heating systems run full throttle, they become even more essential. Snake plants, pothos, and peace lilies are low-maintenance options that naturally cleanse the air while adding color and life to your home. Group several together for a mini indoor jungle, or place one on your bedside table for a touch of serenity.

4. Design a Cozy Meditation or Reading Corner

One of the most impactful winter home wellness upgrades? Carving out a corner dedicated to quiet. Whether you meditate, journal, read, or just sip tea while doing nothing at all, having a designated space for stillness signals your brain to slow down. All you need is a soft floor cushion, a warm throw blanket, and perhaps a small shelf for candles or books. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s peace.

5. Incorporate Texture and Warmth

Wellness is sensory. Add plush textures through faux fur throws, wool rugs, velvet pillows, or soft flannel sheets. These tactile elements not only look inviting but also engage your sense of touch, a grounding force during times of stress. Layering fabrics and materials also helps your home feel more intimate and cocoon-like, perfect for chilly evenings.

6. Clear the Clutter, Clear the Mind

Lastly, give yourself the gift of space. A tidy environment can do wonders for your mental health, especially during the winter months when we spend more time indoors. Embrace small, manageable decluttering projects, like organizing a drawer or clearing off a countertop, to create breathing room for both your home and your headspace.

This winter, let your home support your inner world. By integrating elements of winter home wellness, you can create a space that not only protects you from the cold but also actively restores and rebalances you each day.

Dive into this week’s leading tech news headlines. From Nintendo My Mario Merch to Microsoft CoPilot and more, we have you covered on the latest news. Check out what’s happening from across the web!

Microsoft’s Copilot now lets you buy without leaving chat

Microsoft unveiled Copilot Checkout, a new in-chat purchase flow that surfaces “Buy” buttons inside Copilot so you can choose a product, enter shipping and payment details, and complete checkout without opening a retailer’s site. The feature is rolling out with select partners (think Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and some Etsy sellers) and taps payment providers like PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify to power transactions. It’s part of a larger trend—agents moving from suggestion to action—so expect more assistants to blur discovery and commerce into one conversational loop. For shoppers, the convenience is obvious; for merchants, it’s a new placement to win conversions (and a new place to think about brand control and data). Keep an eye on how receipts, returns, and post-purchase service get handled when the cart never actually leaves the chat. 

Nintendo brings My Mario merch to the U.S. Market

Nintendo is expanding its My Mario line in the U.S. next month with apparel, toys, books, and a mobile app. Likewise, this debut from Nintendo packages the brand’s cozy, character-driven merch into an owned-brand moment. The Nintendo initiative feels designed to turn fandom into low-friction, everyday touchpoints. Of course, think soft hoodies you actually want to wear and small toys that make for shareable social posts. For brand teams, it’s a reminder that IP monetization now lives across product, content, and companion apps rather than just game sales. The move by Nintendo also taps into nostalgia and collectible culture. If you’re curating lifestyle content, expect a new wave of Nintendo Mario-themed flatlays and influencer fits. 

Bose open-sources old SoundTouch smart speakers 

Bose surprised many by choosing to open-source the software for older SoundTouch smart speakers that were losing official cloud support, giving owners and hobbyist devs a route to keep devices useful rather than forcing e-waste. The code release lets community maintainers run local or self-hosted services, effectively turning obsolescence into an opportunity for DIY longevity. It’s a rare corporate move that respects customer hardware investments and empowers privacy-minded users to retain features without vendor lock. For the sustainability crowd, this is an encouraging precedent: when companies can’t or won’t keep cloud hooks live, handing control back to users is a practical, less-wasteful path. Watch whether other audio and smart-home brands follow Bose’s example when clouds fade. 

Disney Plus tests vertical video to meet the short-form moment

Disney Plus is experimenting with vertical video formats — a nod to short-form viewing habits — so that bite-sized, portrait-first clips can live inside the streaming app alongside traditional widescreen fare. This is about more than orientation: it’s a play to surface snackable moments from franchises and to keep eyeballs inside Disney’s ecosystem when users are in a scroll mindset. Creators and social teams will appreciate another official home for repurposed clips and discovery loops that feed back into long-form viewing. For viewers, the experience should feel more native for mobile-first browsing, though the challenge is preserving cinematic intent while slicing content into portrait frames. Expect creative teams to test repackaged scenes, micro-edits, and vertical trailers as the format matures. 

Bluetti lets you fast-charge power stations from your car at up to 1,200W

Bluetti updated its car-charging support so compatible power stations can now accept up to 1,200W from a vehicle’s inverter, dramatically cutting refill times on road trips and emergency runs. That change turns a car into a far more useful mobile charging hub for large batteries, making portable power stations actually practical for overnight uses or power interruptions while traveling. The tradeoffs are about vehicle wiring and inverter quality—this kind of throughput demands robust electrical systems and safe cabling—so installers and users should proceed with care. For overlanders, vanlifers, and emergency planners, the feature meaningfully shrinks the “refill” pain point and makes off-grid power more usable without long wait times. It’s another small step toward making portable energy feel less like camping gear and more like dependable mobile infrastructure. 

L’Oréal’s Light Straight uses infrared to speed hairstyling 

At CES, L’Oréal demoed Light Straight, a handheld styler that leverages targeted infrared heat to smooth hair faster with less thermal exposure than traditional flat irons. Early hands-on notes highlight quicker styling passes and a gentler feel on brittle hair, suggesting that light-based thermal strategies might be a real haircare innovation rather than a gimmick. For beauty tech product teams, the gadget is proof that category incumbents can meaningfully reengineer everyday rituals with science-backed heating methods. Consumers should expect premium pricing at first, but if the tech proves kinder to hair over time, adoption could spread beyond early adopters. Regulatory and safety testing will be important to watch as the category shifts from brute-force heat to smarter thermal delivery. 

Amazon refreshes the Dash Cart for Whole Foods

Amazon unveiled a redesigned Dash Cart for Whole Foods that’s lighter, carries more, and includes tap-to-pay so shoppers can breeze through checkout even more smoothly than before. The cart’s iteration leans into convenience: improved sensors, better ergonomics, and a payment flow that reduces friction for fresh grocery runs. For retailers and in-store marketers, the cart remains an experiment in blending physical retail with digital ease—data from instrumented carts can inform aisle layout, promotions, and inventory. Privacy questions linger about in-store tracking, but the value proposition for a frictionless grab-and-go experience is undeniable for busy shoppers. Expect Amazon to keep iterating on the hardware and software interplay as it learns usage patterns at scale.