Don’t miss out on what’s happening in the world of tech! This week we’re covering top headlines from Plaud AI Earbuds to the next iPhone, and more! For all things media and tech happening this week, read on below!
September 9 Set for Apple’s Next iPhone Event
Apple has officially scheduled its next major product event for September 9 at 1PM ET, with a livestream planned from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. The company’s “Surprise and shine” event could include one of its most anticipated hardware launches in years, with rumors pointing to the debut of a foldable iPhone. Apple is also expected to refresh its Pro and Pro Max models, although reports suggest those devices will receive more modest upgrades. The standard iPhone 18 may be absent from the September presentation and instead arrive sometime in 2027. With a possible foldable joining the lineup, this year’s event could mark a significant expansion of Apple’s smartphone strategy.
Xbox Makes Disc-to-Digital Gaming Official
Microsoft has officially announced a new Xbox feature that allows players to create digital entitlements for supported games they already own on disc. Players will insert an eligible Xbox One or Xbox Series X game into a console and launch it to claim access, with the entitlement remaining tied to that specific physical disc. Supported titles may then be playable through Xbox Play Anywhere on PC or streamed to other devices through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft says thousands of games will be included initially, although publishers will have control over whether individual titles participate. Xbox Insiders will begin testing the feature on August 31, with a broader rollout planned for the coming months.
Hugging Face Introduces a Rollerskating AI Robot Duck
Hugging Face’s Pollen Robotics is bringing a playful new personality to consumer robotics with Microduck, a one-eyed bipedal robot standing just under 10 inches tall. Demonstrations show the $399 robot picking up small objects, kicking a ball, following a laser pointer, and moving around on tiny roller skates. Its open-source software also allows owners and developers to retrain Microduck to perform new behaviors and experiments. Cameras, LiDAR, motion sensors, articulated limbs, and a Rockchip processor give the small robot a surprisingly robust collection of hardware. Each Microduck even generates its own permanent audio identity, with shipping expected to begin before Christmas 2026.
Plaud Turns AI Recording Into a Pair of Earbuds
AI recording company Plaud is moving its transcription technology into a more familiar wearable format with the new Plaud One earbuds. The $249.99 device can record conversations, generate transcripts, and create AI-powered summaries while functioning like a traditional pair of wireless earbuds. A 4G-enabled charging case allows recordings to be uploaded and processed without relying on a nearby phone or Wi-Fi connection, while its own microphones can capture audio from up to five meters away. Plaud Agent can also connect with services including Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion, and Slack to help turn conversations into follow-up actions. Preorders are available in select markets, with shipments expected to begin in late September.
Photoshop Lets Users Draw Instructions for Its AI
Adobe is making Photoshop’s growing collection of generative AI tools easier to find and control with a new optional AI-Assisted Editor interface. The beta experience places features such as background removal, image expansion, and prompt-based editing into one simplified toolbar. A new markup tool takes interaction beyond text prompts by letting users draw directly on an image to show the AI where and how they want something changed. Creators can circle areas for recoloring, sketch arrows to reposition objects, or roughly draw new elements they want Photoshop to generate. Adobe is also improving natural-language editing with Firefly Image 5, which can interpret the broader context of an image before making requested changes.
Instagram’s First Draft Takes the Tedious Part Out of Reels Editing
Instagram is rolling out a new iPhone feature called First Draft. The feature will automatically trim multiple video clips into a starting edit for a Reel. After analyzing selected footage, the tool removes pauses. From there, the feature pulls together what it considers the most important moments. Afterwards, the tool combines them into an editable video. Instagram says the feature is suited to multi-clip montages, talking-head videos, and day-in-the-life content. Of course, this new feature potentially saves creators time before they begin more detailed editing. Despite its automated approach, Instagram confirmed that First Draft does not use artificial intelligence. The rollout gives creators another built-in production tool as Instagram continues making Reels creation faster without requiring separate editing software.
Android Adds a High-Tech Approach to Fighting Car Sickness
Google is rolling out Motion Assist. The Android 17 feature is designed to reduce nausea when using a smartphone inside a moving vehicle. The system uses a phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope. With that, it places moving dots around the edge of the screen. The moving dots then visually correspond with the car’s acceleration, braking, and turns. This helps address the sensory mismatch that can cause motion sickness. Users can customize the appearance of the indicators. Additionally, users can set the feature to activate automatically when a moving vehicle is detected. Motion Assist appears to be reaching select Pixel devices first. Likewise, this gives Android an answer to Apple’s similar Vehicle Motion Cues feature.