Humane AI Pin's charging case poses fire risk

Image: Humane

The Humane AI Pin, a wearable device launched with much fanfare, faces fire safety concerns. Users are advised to stop using the charging case due to a potential battery issue. Humane sent an email to its users explaining the device uses a third-party battery cell that supposedly poses the risk of the Humane AI Pin combusting.

The US$699 (around CA$963) device promised to replace smartphones with AI-powered features, but its functionality relied on a separate touchpad and required a monthly subscription fee. With its sales figures falling short and now a safety risk, Humane's future seems uncertain.

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Apple commits to minimum 5-year security updates for iPhones

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Apple has confirmed it will provide security updates for iPhones for at least five years, less than the seven years guaranteed by Samsung and Google. This is the first time Apple has committed to a minimum length of software support for iPhones. A new UK regulation requires companies to provide security updates for internet-connected devices for at least five years. This applies to iPhones, and Apple has confirmed they'll support iPhone 15 with security updates for at least five years from its launch in September 2023.

While Samsung and Google currently offer a longer guarantee, Apple has historically provided security updates for iPhones for over five years. So, iPhone users can likely expect to receive security updates for just as long, if not longer, than Samsung and Google devices.

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Samsung strikes first in the smart ring patent battle against Oura

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Samsung isn't waiting for a potential legal fight—it's going on the offensive. The tech giant has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Oura, a leader in the smart ring market, seeking a court declaration that its upcoming Galaxy Ring doesn't infringe on five of Oura's patents.

Samsung accuses Oura of a concerning pattern: suing competitors over features typical to most smart rings, like sensors, batteries, and metric-based scores. The lawsuit cites instances where Oura targeted rivals like Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn—sometimes before their products even launched in the US.

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Meta Connect 2024 dates announced

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Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta Connect 2024—a two-day event on September 25-26—via Instagram story. The focus, according to Meta's social media channels, will be on "exploring the future of AI and mixed reality, and sharing progress on building the metaverse."

While details are scarce, Meta's emphasis on AI before mixed reality (XR) seems strategic. Following Google's two-hour AI showcase at I/O 2024, Meta might follow suit, highlighting advancements in its Meta AI and Llama 3 models. This might not excite those solely interested in XR hardware.

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