A new phone called Clicks Communicator, which has a physical keyboard like the old BlackBerry phones, will start shipping to customers in December. If you miss typing on a real keyboard instead of tapping a screen, or simply prefer a device designed for messaging and email, this gives you another option beyond standard smartphones. Worth knowing: the company plans to raise the price soon, so if you're interested, December would be the better time to order before costs go up.
Google has created an AI assistant called CC that learns what your family needs and then helps manage your household tasks—things like organizing everyone's schedules, creating shopping lists, and planning meals. This kind of help can be especially valuable if you're coordinating a busy household with multiple people, medical appointments, or caregiving responsibilities that require keeping track of many details. Worth knowing: before you share your family's emails and schedules with any AI system, check Google's privacy settings to understand exactly what information the system can see and how it's used.
Meta's new Muse tool can now work on your Mac computer, taking actions like opening files, sending emails, or editing documents when you ask it to—without you having to do the clicking yourself. For people managing busy schedules or dealing with multiple apps, this kind of AI assistant that actually does tasks (rather than just giving you information) can save real time and reduce frustration with technology. Worth knowing: start with simple requests to see how well it handles your routine tasks, and keep an eye on what permissions you're giving it to access your files and apps.
Apple's newest AirPods (the fifth generation) have better sound quality and longer battery life than before, though the main improvements work on both the standard and premium versions. If you wear hearing aids or struggle with certain sounds, these could be genuinely helpful—and the longer battery means fewer charges during your week. Worth knowing: the premium model costs more but offers features like automatic volume adjustment that many people find worth the extra expense, so compare what matters most to you before buying.
# Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs. Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Apple's latest Ultra Watch and Samsung's newest Galaxy Ultra are both rugged smartwatches designed for active people, with the Apple model better if you use iPhones and the Samsung one better if you use Android phones. Both watches are built to withstand tough conditions, track your health and fitness, and last several days between charges—so either one could be a reliable companion for hiking, swimming, or just keeping tabs on your daily activity. Worth knowing: the choice really comes down to which phone you already own, since each watch works best with its matching phone brand.
A sudden cloudburst dumped over 8 inches of rain on a small Indiana town in just a few hours, catching residents like Laura Lin completely off guard as her yard began flooding while she worked from home. Flash floods are particularly dangerous because they happen so fast that people often don't have time to evacuate, but scientists are developing new technology to give communities earlier warning when dangerous rainfall is on the way. Worth knowing: if you live in an area prone to flooding, signing up for local emergency alerts on your phone and knowing your evacuation route ahead of time could make all the difference in a crisis.
Google has created a new AI assistant called CC that works like a helpful family member—it gets its own account in your household or group and sends everyone a daily summary of important information tailored to what matters to each person. For busy families juggling different schedules and interests, this means you could get a personalized briefing about your grandchild's school calendar while your spouse sees sports scores, all without anyone having to ask for it. Worth knowing: before letting this AI assistant into your family account, check what personal information it might see and make sure all family members are comfortable with how it's being used.
Google is creating a new AI assistant called CC that's designed to help entire families stay organized by keeping track of schedules, emails, and shared documents in one place. For people over 50 who use Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services, this could mean having a personal assistant that already knows your family's routines and can remind everyone about appointments or important deadlines. Worth knowing: the assistant only sees information you deliberately share with it—like specific email addresses or folders—so you're in control of what it knows about your family.
Waymo's self-driving taxis are back on the road in San Antonio after being paused for five months—one of their vehicles had been swept away in flooding back in April. If you're considering trying driverless taxis or wondering whether they're reliable enough for everyday use, knowing that the company takes safety seriously enough to pause operations and make improvements is reassuring. Worth knowing: before using any autonomous taxi service in your area, check whether they've recently expanded or restarted operations, as this often means they've addressed previous issues.
Pinterest is building a tool that uses artificial intelligence to let you photograph your own room and instantly see how different furniture, paint colors, and decorations would look in that space. This could save you from expensive mistakes by showing you whether that armchair you're eyeing actually works with your carpet and lighting before you buy it. Worth knowing: when this feature becomes available, you'll be able to take a photo of your bedroom or living room and experiment with different styles without any commitment or cost.
Tovala combines a special oven with ready-made meals that have QR codes on them—you scan the code with your phone, and the oven automatically cooks the meal perfectly without you having to think about temperature or timing. For people who want home-cooked quality but find cooking stressful or time-consuming, this removes the guesswork and delivers restaurant-style results in your own kitchen. Worth knowing: you'll want to check if Tovala meals are available in your area and whether the monthly cost (oven plus meal subscriptions) fits your budget compared to what you currently spend on takeout or groceries.
Two new AI assistants—Instinct and Meta's Muse—can now make phone calls on your behalf to handle tasks like booking restaurant reservations or canceling subscriptions that you'd rather not do yourself. For busy people in their 50s and beyond, this means you could simply ask your phone to handle tedious calls while you focus on what matters to you. Worth knowing: these services are still early, so test them with low-stakes calls first, and always check that the reservation or cancellation actually went through.
