Web mapping platform by Google; Street View, real-time traffic, route planning
Slate Auto has unveiled a bare‑bones two‑seat electric pickup with a $24,950 base price and a two‑row SUV conversion starting at $29,950. The company has raised the base EPA range estimate to about 205 miles, is taking preorders with a $300 deposit, and plans production to begin in late 2026 with direct online sales.
European heat waves persist with record-setting temperatures across multiple countries. Authorities warn of health risks, power strains, and disruptions to travel and schooling. Forecasters expect a gradual cooldown starting Friday, as the continent faces a second consecutive heat dome driven by high pressure.
TikTok is expanding beyond social video to include shopping, travel bookings, and payments, signaling a move toward a “super app” model. Separate microdrama deals show investors betting on AI-assisted, mobile-first storytelling as a growing entertainment niche, while studios and networks explore vertical formats and creator-owned IP.
Waze has rolled out five new features, including personalized navigation, a new motorcycle mode, and a less chatty voice. The updates are rolling out globally on Android and iOS as the company leans on Gemini AI to refine routing and communications.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 line remains the flagship, with the Ultra model offering higher-end cameras and battery life. Other foldables from rival brands enter markets with new shapes, improved screens, and pricing shifts. Preorders and deals signal growing consumer interest, while reviews highlight both value and trade-offs.
Google has rolled back a new Google Earth feature that used the Nano Banana 2 image model to generate AI images over satellite, aerial and 3D imagery after researchers and journalists created fabricated scenes — from refugee camps to bomb craters — that could be shared as persuasive, falsified evidence.
The Pixel 11 lineup is set for an August 12 Made by Google event. Leaks point to incremental upgrades across models, a new LED camera light, a Pixel Fold, and a Pixel Watch 5. Pricing is rising across the range, with 256GB starting storage for most models and a likely $899 base price.
Google reports Gemini has reached 1 billion monthly active users across its app, with 63% using voice input. The milestone is framed as rapid growth alongside competition from OpenAI, with Google stressing integration across products and recent model updates.
Google Maps has updated its naming to reflect US GNIS designations, showing Lake America for U.S. users and Lake Ontario for Canada. The move comes after President Trump’s executive order to rename the lake, triggering backlash and partial adherence from tech firms and policymakers.