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If you’ve ever used a laptop in a café, airport, or office and worried about someone glancing at your screen, Apple may be working on a solution. A new leak suggests future MacBooks could gain a built-in privacy display that hides sensitive content from anyone looking at your screen from the side. The rumor comes from well-known leaker Ice Universe, who claims Apple could adopt Samsung’s upcoming Privacy Display technology for MacBook laptops in the coming years. Reports citing research firm Omdia suggest the feature may arrive around 2029, giving Apple plenty of time to refine the tech for larger laptop displays.

Unlike today’s clip-on privacy screen protectors, this technology would be built directly into the display. The system reportedly uses a mix of screen engineering and software to limit viewing angles so that only the person sitting directly in front of the laptop can clearly see what’s on screen. In practical terms, that could mean emails, messages, passwords, and documents becoming unreadable to anyone sitting nearby.

A long-term fix for a very modern problem

Samsung is expected to debut its Privacy Display tech first in the upcoming Galaxy S26 phones, where it can selectively hide parts of the screen, such as notifications or sensitive apps. The feature is designed specifically to prevent “shoulder surfing” in crowded environments like public transport or shared workspaces.

Bringing the idea to laptops makes obvious sense. Phones can be tilted or turned away easily, but laptops are far harder to shield in public spaces. Add to that, there are plenty of third-party privacy filters for MacBooks on the market, which shows there is already demand for this type of protection. That said, a built-in version would feel far more seamless, brighter, and easier to toggle on and off.

Of course, this remains a long-term rumor, and Apple has not confirmed anything. Still, the idea fits neatly into the company’s broader focus on privacy as a selling point. If this technology does arrive, it could turn everyday laptop use in public spaces into a far less stressful experience.

If you were expecting the PlayStation 6 to arrive on the usual console timeline, it may be time to reset expectations. A new report from Bloomberg suggests Sony is considering pushing back the next PlayStation launch to 2028 or even 2029, a significant shift from the typical seven-year console cycle. Interestingly, this is something that was rumored late last year, too.

The reason is not a lack of ambition or demand. It is a global memory chip shortage driven by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. According to the Bloomberg report, the surge in AI data centers is consuming massive amounts of DRAM and high-bandwidth memory, leaving consumer electronics companies competing for a shrinking supply.

The AI boom is reshaping console timelines

The Bloomberg report explains that companies such as Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into AI data centers, buying huge numbers of AI accelerators that require enormous amounts of memory. Each new generation of AI hardware uses far more RAM than traditional PCs, and that demand is expected to keep rising through the rest of the decade.

As a result, memory manufacturers are shifting production toward high-bandwidth memory for AI workloads, leaving less capacity for consumer electronics like smartphones, laptops, and game consoles. In fact, analysts warn that this supply imbalance is not temporary and could last for years, forcing companies to rethink long-term product roadmaps.

In such a scenario, delaying the PS6 may be a strategic move from Sony. Launching a new console during a period of high component costs would likely push prices higher and risk repeating the supply shortages seen during the PS5 launch. By waiting, Sony could avoid another hardware rollout plagued by limited stock and inflated prices.

That said, if the PS6 arrives later than expected, the PS5 generation will likely enjoy a longer lifespan, giving developers more time to support existing hardware and continue releasing major titles without rushing the next transition. For now, though, Sony has not officially confirmed the delay. But if these reports hold true, the next PlayStation era may take a little longer to arrive.

While the primary function of scholarships is often viewed as financial assistance, their impact on college students extends well beyond tuition costs. For many, scholarships provide a platform for academic enrichment, personal development, and enhanced career prospects. Research indicates that scholarship recipients tend to achieve higher rates of degree completion and academic success than their peers who are not scholarship recipients.

Exploring the Academic Advantages of Scholarships Beyond Financial Aid

Scholarships do more than alleviate the cost of education; they often propel students to higher academic achievement. Receiving a scholarship can be seen as a vote of confidence in a student’s potential, which, in turn, can boost self-esteem and motivation levels. Studies suggest that scholarship recipients frequently maintain higher GPAs and are more likely to pursue postgraduate studies.

Aside from motivating higher performance, scholarships often come with requirements, such as maintaining a certain GPA or joining specific academic communities, which facilitate a structured, goal-oriented college experience. For example, the accountability to retain scholarship funding can encourage consistent study habits and active participation in courses.

Students should approach scholarships as more than just financial support; they should recognize them as pathways for academic excellence. Maintaining the scholarship standards can foster a disciplined academic routine, possibly leading to prestigious academic honors and further opportunities.

Scholarships as a Catalyst for Personal Growth and Leadership Development

Many scholarships are designed not only to support academic pursuits but also to foster leadership and personal growth. They often encourage recipients to take on leadership roles, engage in community service, or initiate projects that contribute to societal well-being. As a result, scholarships can act as incubators for future leaders.

For instance, a scholarship might require its recipients to lead a community service project or participate in leadership workshops, providing practical experience in managing teams, public speaking, and developing strategic initiatives. This experiential learning is invaluable, contributing to a well-rounded skill set that extends beyond the classroom.

Networking and Career Opportunities Stemming From Scholarship Awards

Winning a scholarship can open doors to a rich network of professionals and peers that may prove valuable throughout a student’s career. Scholarship sponsors and alumni groups often include influential leaders, industry experts, and former recipients who can provide mentorship and career advice.

Many scholarships offer exclusive events such as conferences, seminars, and internships, allowing recipients to connect with prominent professionals and like-minded scholars. These connections can lead to internship offers, research projects, and even employment after graduation. For example, scholarships funded by corporations or professional associations may offer direct lines to internships and job placements within those organizations.

Leveraging the networking aspect of scholarships requires a proactive stance. Recipients should attend offered events, engage with the community of sponsors and alumni, and cultivate relationships that can translate into career opportunities. This strategic networking can give students a competitive edge in the job market.

Enhancing Diversity and Access in Higher Education Through Scholarships

Scholarships play a pivotal role in promoting diversity and accessibility within higher education. They can help break down barriers for underrepresented groups by providing the resources these students need to thrive academically and personally.

For many minority and low-income students, scholarships are a critical factor in attending college and can dramatically alter their educational trajectory. There are scholarships aimed specifically at increasing the representation of these populations in various fields, thereby promoting a more inclusive and diverse academic community.

To create more equitable access to higher education, active efforts should be made to inform eligible students about scholarship opportunities designed to support diversity. Emphasizing targeted outreach and support services ensures that scholarships reach those who can benefit most, ultimately contributing to a richer, more diverse academic environment.

Scholarships offer a plethora of benefits that extend across personal development, academic achievement, networking, and career opportunities, while simultaneously promoting diversity in higher education. By fully engaging with the holistic benefits provided by scholarships, students can enrich their college experience and lay a strong foundation for their future endeavors.

Google may soon give one of the best features in Pixel phones a bigger spotlight. The company is working on a dedicated app for Now Playing, the built-in tool that automatically identifies songs playing nearby.

This Shazam-like feature shows the song title and artist right on the lock screen and saves a history of tracks your phone has recognized. The key appeal has always been that it runs on the device, meaning songs are identified locally without sending audio clips to the cloud.

For Pixel users, Now Playing currently runs as a background service tucked inside Android System Intelligence. It’s the same system software that runs tools such as Live Caption and Smart Text Selection.

A closer look at Google’s plans for Now Playing

Recent code changes suggest Google is working to turn Now Playing into its own standalone app. 9to5Google has uncovered strings that explicitly reference a prompt to “download the new Now Playing app” and direct users to the Play Store.

This means that settings, song history, and associated controls will be placed in a dedicated application. A brand-new icon has also been spotted in testing builds, further hinting that this isn’t just a minor UI tweak.

Whether the new Now Playing app will remain exclusive to Pixel phones or arrive on other Android devices is an open question for now. Google has not officially confirmed anything yet; however, speculation points to a possible release alongside an upcoming Pixel Feature Drop in March.

Nevertheless, turning Now Playing into a dedicated app could make it easier for Google to update it more frequently, improve its design, and introduce enhancements without waiting for a full system software update.

Meanwhile, Google has also resumed rolling out the Android 17 beta to Pixel phones after briefly pausing the update due to a bug, restarting access for users who were temporarily blocked from installing it.

Apple has just sent out the media invites for an event happening on March 4. Interestingly, the events will be simultaneously held in New York, Shanghai, and London. The company, as usual, hasn’t said anything about the upcoming products, but we might have an idea of what’s coming.

What’s coming?

“Macs are imminent,” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared on X. The outlet also reports that the company has planned a whole slate of refreshed products across the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and the Mac desktop line-up, but there is no clarity on exactly which product is going to be revealed at the event.

Researchers from China’s Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics recently unveiled a new EV battery technology aimed at delivering stronger performance in freezing conditions than traditional lithium-ion packs. The so-called “liquid-solid” battery is claimed to retain more than 85% of its capacity after operating for eight hours at -34°C (−29°F), with early tests conducted using industrial-grade drones showing promising results.

While this liquid-solid technology has yet to be tested in an electric vehicle, a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has taken a similar step and tested a different EV battery technology designed for sub-zero temperatures using a production vehicle from automaker Geely. According to CarNewsChina, the researchers have successfully tested an aluminum-based wide-temperature lithium-ion battery in a Geely EX5 EV, claiming it can achieve over 92% discharge efficiency at -25°C (-13°F) and charge to 90% in around 20 minutes under extreme cold conditions.

Cold weather has long been a weak spot for regular lithium-ion batteries. In many EVs, including models from Tesla, low temperatures can reduce range and slow charging speeds unless the battery is carefully preconditioned. Even with advanced thermal management systems, performance typically drops as temperatures fall well below freezing.

The new aluminum-anode design is said to address this issue by widening the battery’s operating temperature range. In testing, it reportedly remained functional across a broad temperature window and managed heat effectively during fast charging without requiring complex insulation setups. If these results translate to large-scale production, it could mean less winter range anxiety and faster charging for drivers in cold regions.

Cold climates may no longer slow down EVs

Chinese battery giants like BYD and CATL have already been racing to push ultra-fast charging technology, with claims of adding hundreds of kilometers of range in just minutes under ideal conditions. However, maintaining that performance in below-freezing temperatures remains a challenge.

If commercialized, this aluminum-based battery could offer a meaningful edge by combining fast charging with strong cold-weather efficiency. It is still early days, and further validation will be needed before the new battery tech appears in mainstream EVs. But the development shows just how quickly battery innovation is moving, especially as automakers compete to close the gap between electric and ICE vehicles in all climates.

Google is introducing Gemini-powered Audio Summaries to Google Docs, letting you listen to a shorter AI-generated overview of your document on the go. Think of it as turning long-form documents, such as product manuals, minutes of the meeting, or a quarterly business report, into an audio-only podcast.

Audio Summaries generate a short, natural-language recap of the document (typically a couple of minutes long) that retains the key ideas; it is based on Google Gemini.

Your Google doc, now in podcast form

It offers the gist of the entire document in audio format. You can listen to it while completing your steps on a treadmill, preparing breakfast, or simply walking to your class or office.

The Audio Summaries feature is available in Google Docs on the web, under Tools > Audio > Listen to document summary. Once you select the feature, Gemini scans the file and produces a narrated summary, along with a “Listen to this tab” option that reads the entire page for when you don’t want to miss the details.

Google says the voices sound natural (similar to the Gemini AI assistant). You can also control the playback speed to suit your needs. You also control standard controls like play, pause, and timeline scrubbing, as well as different voice styles, so that you can personalize the document-turned-podcast yourself.

Availability, productivity boost, and a catch

The Audio Summaries feature is rolling out gradually. However, the feature isn’t available for free users; it is currently limited to paid tiers, including the Workspace Business (Standard and Plus) and Enterprise plans (Standard and Plus), as well as certain AI add-ons (including Google AI Ultra and AI Pro).

Audio Summaries could really help enhance your productivity, especially if you’re a multitasker or have accessibility needs. However, be careful when using the feature, as summarizing the document might miss some important details.

China is officially telling automakers to get a full grip: a complete wheel-style steering wheel. According to a draft from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the country plans to ban “yoke-style” or “half” steering wheels (via CarNewsChina).

The ban comes into effect from January 1, 2027, as part of the updated national safety standard (GB 11557-202X). While the documentation doesn’t explicitly name yokes, the new crash-testing requirements make it effectively impossible to pass.

China tightens its grip on steering design

The updated safety norms require steering wheels to pass an impact test at 10 specific points around the rim, and guess what: a yoke-style steering wheel, which doesn’t have a top part, can’t exactly volunteer for the test. It’s a no rim, no test, no approval kind of situation.

Chinese regulators explain how the choice isn’t about aesthetics. Rounder steering wheels offer a broader surface area, preventing drivers from pitching forward past the wheel in the event of a crash. Concerns about airbag deployment have also fueled the new norms.

The move will affect brands that have embraced the sci-fi look, including Tesla (among the major automakers that popularized the yoke-style steering wheels), Lexus, IM Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. While new models must comply from 2027, existing models might get a 13-month transition period.

Automakers rethink the spaceship look

Most recently, China also banned flush, pop-out door handles over safety concerns, stating that motorized handles can complicate emergency exit from vehicles.

Whether it is the yoke-style steering wheel or the flush-type door handles, regulators are dialing back flashy design trends in favor of safety and practicality.

For Chinese drivers who never quite got used to shuffling a yoke through a tight parking space, the news might come as a relief. For those chasing a spaceship-like vibe, automakers have to get back to the drawing board to continue selling models in the region.

For now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t given any indication about such bans coming to the United States, nor do the regulatory bodies here have a norm that automatically rules out yoke-style steering wheels.

If you’ve ever tried to move the cursor in a text field on an Android phone, you’ll know how frustrating it can be to place it exactly where you want it. Gboard helps a little with its glide feature, which lets you press and hold the spacebar and then swipe left or right to adjust the cursor’s position. But even this solution is not perfect.

You can easily overshoot the mark while swiping on the spacebar, and the gesture doesn’t let you move up or down through longer blocks of text. Now, Google appears to be working on a new feature that could make cursor control a lot easier.

Android Authority has spotted an in-development cursor mode while digging through the keyboard app‘s latest beta, and it could make adjusting the cursor’s position as simple as doing it on a laptop. Although the feature isn’t live in the current beta build, the publication managed to enable it early, offering a preview of how it might work once released.