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iOS users in Brazil will now be able to install alternative app marketplaces.

2026-06-18T11:23:41-04:00

We knew this was coming thanks to a settlement Apple made with Brazil’s competition watchdog last year, but now it’s official.

Apple opening up iOS in Brazil follows similar changes made for users in Japan and the EU.

[Link: Apple announces changes to iOS in Brazil | https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-announces-changes-to-ios-in-brazil/ | Apple Newsroom]

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 hits its best price since Black Friday.

2026-06-18T10:56:55-04:00

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has joined the growing list of early Prime Day Apple deals. Amazon’s selling it for $699.99 ($100 off), which is its $20 shy of its best price. Designed for outdoor adventurers, Apple’s most capable smartwatch offers up to 42 hours of battery life and supports satellite connectivity and 5G. Read our review.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Where to Buy:

Spotify is launching its concert ticket presale program for superfans of certain artists.

2026-06-17T22:16:22-04:00

The first artist partner for Spotify Reserved is Role Model, who is also announcing a tour today. More tours that are part of the program will be announced this week.

GTA VI preorders open June 25th.

2026-06-18T09:16:43-04:00

Rockstar Games says preorders will be available “on digital storefronts and at other select retailers,” and revealed the game’s cover art in a teaser video:

You can turn this LED candle on by pretending to light it with an imaginary match.

2026-06-18T09:11:21-04:00

The creators of the Birdie and Birdie Pro air quality monitors are expanding their offerings to include two new products focused on “healthier indoor climates” expected to launch in November. An emission-free LED candle called the Birdie Flame, and a towering air purifier called the Birdie Podium designed to look like a decorative wooden pedestal.

The Birdie Flame will be available in a small ($49), medium ($59), and large ($69) versions and can be turned off by blowing it out like a real candle. | Image: Birdie" data-portal-copyright="Image: Birdie" /> The Birdie Podium is expected to cost $749 this fall. | Image: Birdie" data-portal-copyright="Image: Birdie" /> The Birdie Podium is designed to hide its internal components that include a fan and filter, while still facilitating air flow through perforated panels. | Image: Birdie" data-portal-copyright="Image: Birdie" /> The Birdie Pro air quality monitor is available through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign ending today. | Image: Birdie" data-portal-copyright="Image: Birdie" />

The CoD SSD.

2026-06-18T06:21:39-04:00

SanDisk has a new 8TB PS5 drive, which will cost you a mere $2,959.99 (thanks, RAM crisis!). But that might not be enough for every game.

ItWasRamirez:

And the worst part is that Call of Duty still won’t fit

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It’s now Sennheiser’s turn to release a pair of open clip-style wireless earbuds.

2026-06-17T15:59:14-04:00

Following the recent debut of its Momentum 5 headphones, Sennheiser is joining companies like Bose and Sony with a new pair of open earbuds worn on the back of the ear. The Accentum Clip offer up to nine hours of battery, and while they won’t launch in the US, they’ll be available in Canada starting July 23rd for $269.95 CAD.

The Accentum Clip will run for up to nine hours on their own, but that can be boosted to up to 36 hours with their charging case. | Image: Sennheiser" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sennheiser" /> The earbuds each feature a 12mm driver that works alongside a dynamic EQ that automatically makes adjustments when volume is raised or lowered. | Image: Sennheiser" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sennheiser" /> The Accentum Clip support Bluetooth 6.0 plus SBC, AAC, and high-res LDAC codecs. | Image: Sennheiser" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sennheiser" />

Step into the Criterion Closet.

2026-06-18T06:06:12-04:00

Developers Oliver and Patrick Evans have made a digitized 3D version of the famous movie closet that lets you explore 1,247 films distributed by The Criterion Collection. So now you can peruse the shelves and pull out titles to learn more about them, just like your favorite celebrities (kinda).

[Link: The Closet — the Criterion Collection | https://the-criterion-closet.vercel.app/ | The Criterion Closet]

Co-lead of Gemini joins OpenAI.

2026-06-18T01:54:38-04:00

Noam Shazeer spent twenty years at Google before returning in 2024 after the Big G reportedly paid Character.AI — a company co-founded by Shazeer in 2021 — $2.7 billion to bring him and a team of researchers back home.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining OpenAI and look forward to working with the exceptional team there.

It was a difficult decision to move on. I’m incredibly proud of the amazing team at Google and everything we’ve built together. It has been an honor and a pleasure to…
— Noam Shazeer (@NoamShazeer) June 18, 2026

Valve’s big SteamOS 3.8 update is now available for everyone.

2026-06-17T21:14:30-04:00

Three months after Valve’s doozy of an update arrived in preview — the first with support for the Steam Machine and a whole lot more — it’s getting a full stable release. Here’s the changelog. But when will the Steam Machine arrive? Valve’s had quite a few shipments now…

[Link: SteamOS 3.8.10 has just been released for all users | https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1675200/view/697641379212298072 | Valve]