A group of designers who used to work at Pinterest have created a new email system called Extra that organizes your messages around what matters in your life—like trips, purchases, or family updates—rather than just listing everything in one inbox. For someone juggling multiple life areas, this approach could mean less time hunting through emails and more time actually reading the messages that matter most to you.
Google's smart home system now lets you chat with its AI assistant naturally, without saying "Hey Google" before every question—the microphone stays active for a few seconds after each answer so you can keep the conversation flowing. This makes getting information faster and easier, since the AI remembers what you've already said instead of making you repeat yourself each time. Worth knowing: You'll need to turn on this "continued conversations" feature manually in your Google Home app settings, and while Google says it can tell the difference between questions meant for it and regular room conversation, it's worth being aware that voice assistants can sometimes listen when you don't intend them to.
Samsung has made it easier to connect IKEA's smart home products—like lights and plugs—to Samsung's SmartThings system, so you can control them all together from one app or voice command. For anyone with IKEA smart devices who's struggled to get them working smoothly, this partnership should mean fewer headaches and a simpler experience managing your home. Worth knowing: if you own IKEA Matter devices and a Samsung phone or tablet, check the SmartThings app to see if IKEA products are now available to add—the integration is rolling out to users now.
Yelp's new AI chatbot can now do much more than answer questions—it can recommend restaurants, read reviews, and even book reservations for you, all in one conversation. For anyone who's tired of juggling multiple apps or websites to find a place to eat and make a reservation, this could save you real time and effort. Worth knowing: the next time you open the Yelp app, look for the chatbot feature and try asking it to find a restaurant recommendation and book a table in the same message.
Yelp now has an AI chatbot that can do more than just help you find restaurants—it can actually make your reservation or order takeout for you, all through simple conversation. For anyone who's tired of juggling phone calls and websites to book a table or appointment, this could save you time and frustration when you're planning an evening out or scheduling a doctor's visit.
Yelp's new AI assistant lets you ask questions about restaurants and then book a table or place an order without switching between different apps or screens. This saves time when you're planning dinner out and want to check reviews, see what's available, and make your reservation all in one go.
Gigs is a new app that lets you upload old concert tickets and emails to create a digital scrapbook of every live music show you've attended, complete with fun facts like how many times you've seen your favourite artist. It's a lovely way to relive memories and keep track of your musical journey in one organized place.
Uber is adding a new service where their drivers will pick up items you want to return directly from your home, rather than you having to drive them to a store or drop-off point yourself. This saves you time and effort on errands, especially if you're managing returns from multiple online purchases and want a simpler solution. Worth knowing: check if this service is available in your area and what return policies apply, since not all retailers may participate yet.
Google's AI assistant can now help you locate products that are actually in stock at stores near you, rather than just showing you what's available online. This saves you time and frustration by confirming an item is sitting on a shelf before you drive to a shop or make a purchase.
Casely is urgently recalling its Power Pods 5,000mAh wireless chargers (model E33A) because they can overheat, catch fire, and explode—a tragedy made worse when a 75-year-old woman in New Jersey died from severe burns after one ignited on her lap last year. If you own one of these chargers, which were sold between 2022 and 2024, you should stop using it immediately and contact Casely for a free replacement.
Worth knowing: the company wants you to mark the battery with "recalled" in permanent marker and photograph both that and the model number on the back before contacting them—and never throw it in regular trash or recycling, as lithium-ion batteries need special disposal.
Google's Gemini AI can now look through your personal Google Photos to create custom images of you, your family, or your pets—so you won't have to describe them in detail each time. This makes generating personalized pictures much faster and easier, since the AI already knows what your loved ones look like instead of relying on your written descriptions. Worth knowing: you'll need to deliberately turn this feature on in your Gemini settings, and Google will only access your photos if you give permission, so you're always in control of what the AI can see.
Google's Gemini can now look at your personal photos, emails, and YouTube history to create custom images tailored just for you — so instead of describing what you want in detail, you can simply ask it to "draw my desert island essentials" and it will include things it knows you actually like. This matters because it saves you time explaining yourself and makes the AI feel more like a helpful personal assistant rather than a generic tool, especially useful if you want pictures of family members or your own belongings without having to upload files or give lengthy descriptions. You can start exploring this feature now if you have a Google Gemini Pro or Ultra subscription, and you'll be able to see which of your own photos the AI used as reference by clicking a "Sources" button.
