Stay connected with what’s happening in the world of tech! From Instagram Blend to Patreon Live and more, we have you covered with the leading headlines. Check out this week’s tech news blog for the biggest tech stories from across the web.
Readmoo mooInk V: World’s First Folding E‑Ink e‑Reader Debuts
Readmoo has unveiled the mooInk V, the first consumer e‑reader with a folding E Ink display. The 8‑inch touchscreen uses E Ink’s Gallery 3 tech to deliver over 50,000 colors at 300 ppi—far richer than filter‑based rivals—while a new hinge design and reinforced panel survive more than 200,000 bends. The aluminum‑magnesium chassis weighs about 225 g, folding to a size smaller than a paperback yet opening flat or at a 90‑degree “book” angle. Pricing and ship dates are still under wraps, but Readmoo’s nine‑year R&D push puts a pocket‑friendly, color, folding e‑reader on track to challenge Kindle and other slate readers later this year.
Google One AI Premium Is Now Free for U.S. College Students Through 2026
Google is giving U.S. college students free access to its $20‑a‑month Google One AI Premium plan until June 30, 2026, if they sign up with a verified .edu address by June 30, 2025. The offer unlocks 2 TB of cloud storage and Gemini 2.5 Pro‑powered tools such as Gemini Advanced, Deep Research, and NotebookLM Plus, plus Gemini assistance inside Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Students also get early use of Google’s Veo 2 text‑to‑video model and Whisk for mixing text and image prompts. The move follows similar education promos from OpenAI and Anthropic, underscoring Big Tech’s race to win the higher‑ed AI market.
Instagram Launches Blend: Shared Reels Feed Built for DM Groups
Instagram is rolling out Blend, a feature that creates a private Reels feed tailored to the shared interests of members in a one‑on‑one or group DM chat. Tap the new Blend icon, invite friends, and you’ll see up to 24 hours of Reels recommendations refreshed each day for everyone in the chat. The feed is algorithmically generated from what each participant likes, offering content beyond a user’s usual suggestions while keeping all interactions inside the DM thread. Only invited members can view or leave the Blend at any time, and the launch arrives alongside Instagram’s wider push to seize momentum from TikTok’s uncertain future, which includes rectangular profile grids and work on an iPad app.
Archer and United Airlines Plan Electric Air Taxi Routes Between Manhattan and NYC Airports
Archer Aviation and United Airlines will launch an all‑electric “Midnight” air taxi service that links Manhattan helipads at East 34th Street, West 30th Street, and Lower Manhattan with JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Westchester, Teterboro, and Republic airports. Each eVTOL craft carries four passengers plus a pilot, cuts road trips of up to an hour down to 5–15 minutes, and flies 100 miles at 150 mph on battery power. Riders will book the flights as add‑ons to United tickets, with pricing still unannounced (Blade charges roughly $265 to JFK). Archer must first secure FAA type certification, but it targets a broader debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; the project follows a $1 billion United order, a $500 million Japan Airlines deal, and backing from Stellantis, BlackRock, and Anduril. The move intensifies competition in the eVTOL market alongside Joby, Volocopter, and Beta Technologies, while firms like Lilium struggle to stay aloft.
TikTok Launches “Footnotes” Crowd‑Sourced Fact‑Checking for U.S. Users
TikTok is testing Footnotes, a community‑driven moderation tool that lets vetted contributors add context to short‑form videos. U.S. users who are 18 or older, have six months on the platform, and no recent guideline violations can apply today; eligible creators will also be invited directly. The bridge‑based ranking system surfaces only notes marked “helpful” by people with diverse viewpoints, after which the wider community can vote to refine accuracy. TikTok says Footnotes complements its existing safety measures and will roll out to more contributors in the coming months, following similar crowd‑sourced fact‑checking programs on X, YouTube, and Meta’s apps.
Patreon Tests Native Livestreaming to Rival Twitch
Patreon is rolling out a native live video feature to “thousands” of invited creators this week, with a full launch slated for summer 2025. Creators can stream from mobile or desktop, gate access for paid members or offer it free, and tap live chat, moderation tools, and integrations with OBS and Streamlabs. Completed broadcasts can be shared as VODs or sold as one‑time purchases, adding fresh revenue options. The company says it will refine features during the test, based on creator feedback. Patreon’s move follows Substack’s live‑video push and expands its existing direct‑upload video toolset, tightening competition with Twitch.