EU announces new rules on AI transparency - Engadget

They are 'intended to foster trust and integrity in the information ecosystem.'

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The European Union has announced that it's new AI transparency rules are now in effect and enforceable across the bloc as of August 2nd. Article 50 of the AI Act requires content publishers to mark and label certain types of AI-generated content, as well as informing users when they are interacting a AI chatbot or agent rather than a real person. 

How to sideload Android APKs on your Chromebook - Engadget

You're not limited to only apps you can get on the Play Store.

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

A Chromebook can be a pretty flexible device. You can use it for productivity, to play games, watch movies and so on. To do these things, you might download apps from the Google Play Store. Linux apps and progressive web apps are supported too.

Which USB adapters should you actually keep in 2026? - Engadget

It's time to stop collecting USB adapters like they're Pokémon.

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Can using your phone while charging affect its battery life? - Engadget

And do you need to let the battery fully drain before recharging?

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We're so connected to our smartphones nowadays that even when they're charging, we feel the need to use them. I have a charging cable beside my living room couch so I can fuel my phone while I scroll social media and watch TV. I also have a variety of portable power banks, both wired and wireless, that I bring along to keep my phone charged while I continue to use it. But you might wonder if using your phone while it's charging can impact the battery life.

Should you still buy your next smartphone — or subscribe to it instead?

The smartphone industry’s next battleground may not be the phone itself, but how consumers get it. As premium devices become more expensive, Apple, Samsung, and others are betting that leasing, subscriptions, and guaranteed buyback programs can make upgrading more attractive.

Snapchat no longer rewards fully AI-generated Spotlight content

Snapchat is the latest company to strengthen its stance against AI slop. The social network platform will no longer reward fully AI-generated videos, as it seeks to prioritize human-made content. 

Reddit is testing a new way to watch — and listen to — its viral posts

Reddit is taking a cue from TikTok to bring viral stories to life through video. On Thursday’s second-quarter earnings call, the company said it’s been working on a new “video Reddit” experience that would not only allow users to watch videos from the platform, but also listen to posts in the background.

WhatsApp is testing a new folder for messages from large businesses

During Meta’s Q2 2026 earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg said that other revenue in the family of apps segment crossed $1 billion, largely thanks to WhatsApp paid messaging and subscriptions.

As more businesses use WhatsApp to reach consumers, users’ inboxes often get cluttered, making it hard to find personal and group messages. Meta is now trying out a new feature where it will place messages from larger businesses like banks or airlines in a separate folder, TechCrunch has learned exclusively.

A $2 sticker let me bypass the Meta Glasses' anti-creep feature - Engadget

Meta's update isn't enough to stop covert recording.

Karissa Bell for Engadget

A bright LED is supposed to flip on when Meta's smart glasses record their surroundings to alert bystanders they're being filmed. This has led to a cat-and-mouse game where Meta issues new security measures, and those wishing to use the devices for covert recording find workarounds. The latest of these are little more than light-blocking stickers. I've tested out a few of these products and they are cheap and surprisingly effective.

Slow downloads? These tweaks could speed up your router - Engadget

You don't have to live like this.

Adnan Ahmed for Engadget

There are few things more infuriating than a video buffering, a game lagging or a file downloading slower than you had hoped it would. Of course, the first thing to check for is your internet speed. If you are receiving upload and download speeds close to what your internet service provider has advertised, your connection isn't the bottleneck. In fact, statistics from the Speedtest Global Index show that the median broadband speed in the United States is over 300 Mbps — that's more bandwidth than most streaming services demand and is even quite fast for downloading large files.