Daily Tech News Digest – 2026-07-03

Top tech headlines from BBC Technology, TechRadar and Ars Technica in the last 24 hours.

BBC Technology

• AI is 'not smart' so what's next in artificial intelligence?
  Leading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:02:09 GMT
• Meta glasses wearers hit with paywall to use built-in feature
  A feature in Meta's glasses which boosts the voice of people will be capped at three hours for free use.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:42:53 GMT

TechRadar Tech

• What are 2026's 5-star tech products for far? Here are the 25+ products that earned top marks in our tough hands-on testing
  These are the gadgets that have aced our tough TR tests this year.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:23:17 +0000
• I test headphones and earbuds for a living — these are the 8 standout releases of 2026 so far, from Apple, Marshall, Shokz, Sennheiser and more
  Four sets of headphones; four pairs of earbuds: I look back at the best I've tested so far this year, and select my own antithesis to the 'hateful eight'
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:19:17 +0000
• A stunning low light capture of a volcanic eruption in Guatemala sweeps the 2026 iPhone Photography Awards — and it was taken on an iPhone 15 Pro
  Turns out you don't need the latest tech to win prestigious prizes.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:12:52 +0000
• New report claims companies which embrace AI also add more workers (eventually)
  High-intensity AI adopters saw employment rise by around 10% during the first two years of AI adoption, despite gained productivity.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:25:00 +0000
• Xerox C255a review: I much prefer Xerox’s reboot of Lexmark’s laser printer
  Xerox is targeting the hybrid workforce with this mid-priced multifunction device.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:21:36 +0000
• Apple's iPhone Ultra could raise foldable prices by almost 20% — no wonder Samsung isn't scared of its arrival
  Book-style foldable phone prices could increase a lot this year, but clamshell models might actually drop in price.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:18:42 +0000
• I tried Clean Up in the iOS 27 developer beta, and Apple's AI-powered image editing tool is finally worth using — but there's a big caveat
  I put an early version of Clean Up in iOS 27 to the test against its iOS 26 equivalent, and the results surprised me.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:00:42 +0000
• The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is 'one of the best portable power stations' we've ever tested — and it's plummeted in price at Amazon this summer
  Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 has a 1070Wh battery, 1500W output, and a big discount at Amazon
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:59:41 +0000
• Spotify confirms it’s fixing a major playlist organization problem — and this boost to ‘Your Library’ pinning is something I’ve wanted for years
  Spotify confirms it's increasing the number of items you can pin to Your Library from 4 to 20.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:37:33 +0000
• Two of the world's fastest-growing skills are in the same job description
  The future of cybersecurity depends on professionals who can secure and govern AI.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:30:45 +0000
• Look mom, no app: these premium headphones throw the logic of your Sonys or Boses out the window in favor of a 'Still Mode' to stay calm, and I’m all for it
  Rather than trying to better Bose’s ANC, these new headphones simply want to bring you its desired effect: calmness
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:26:27 +0000
• Gas vs wood pizza oven: the differences you need to know, plus our top oven recommendations
  I'm a firm fan of pizza ovens — if you're thinking of buying one, here's how to choose.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:13:23 +0000
• Is the SaaSpocalypse over? And if so, what comes next?
  Far from becoming obsolete overnight, many SaaS firms are well positioned to use AI to strengthen their market position.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:07:44 +0000
• More than half of employees are using unapproved AI tools at work
  Shadow AI is still a problem – but it could be the employer's fault for not providing the right tools in the first place.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:58:25 +0000
• Currys launches its summer Epic Deals sale — I've hand-picked the 18 best deals on TVs, appliances, headphones, laptops, and more
  Currys has launched another Epic Deals sale, so I've searched through and picked out the 18 best deals on TVs, appliances, headphones, laptops, and more.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:35:00 +0000
• Your camera deserves great glass — here are 5 of the best new optics I've tested in 2026, from Canon, Sony, Nikon and more
  I get just as excited about new lenses as I do about new cameras, and these 5 new optics for 2026 were a real treat to review.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:22:42 +0000
• AFERIY Nomad 1800 Pro with Expansion Battery review
  A capable portable power station that delivers excellent value, even if it lacks the polish of the market leaders.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:36:35 +0000
• Faster and further reaching — NordVPN quietly brings its obfuscated servers to its in-house censorship-resistant protocol
  NordVPN has moved its obfuscated servers onto the NordWhisper protocol, dropping OpenVPN to give users better speeds and access to more server locations.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:05:59 +0000
• Project Hail Mary is my favourite feel-good movie of the year — and it’s on Prime Video this weekend
  We rated this sci-fi blockbuster 4.5 stars and it has been a critical darling with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, so you’re in for a treat — and it’s just in time for the Amazon Prime Day sale, too.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:46:11 +0000
• Redodo battery and accessories review
  Redodo’s 2.1kWh battery can power a small off-grid installation for just under $1000, including a 20A battery charger and 2kW AC inverter.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:31:35 +0000

Ars Technica Technology

• Inside the Luddite festival harnessing Gen Z’s rage against Big Tech
  New York City’s Summer of Ludd festival is teaching people how to live offline.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:36 +0000
• Despite the darkness, I still see signs of hope in America
  It's difficult to pinpoint the moment in my life where America started to lose the plot.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:30:22 +0000
• Visiting the stars (and planets, and telescopes) in VR
  Walkthrough experience includes visits to stars, exoplanets, and observatories.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:15:35 +0000
• Wing Commander IV and the FMV future that never quite was
  C:\ArsGames takes a look at the time Chris Roberts more or less made a whole movie.
  Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:03:39 +0000
• Newly discovered PamStealer isn't your typical macOS malware
  The discovery underscores the increased effort being poured into Mac infostealers.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:38:57 +0000
• FAA proposal: Supersonic airliners can fly over US cities if they’re quiet
  New US rules would legalize quiet supersonic flights without the sonic boom.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:29:37 +0000
• Ars Live recap: When are the big rockets NASA desperately needs going to be ready?
  I have not seen anyone put out a date for a new rocket, and actually hit it.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:46:47 +0000
• Plex debuts 5-year membership pass for $250
  Plex is pushing customers to newer features and more frequent payments.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:35:59 +0000
• Africa CDC confirms Marburg case in Uganda as Ebola outbreak rages
  Early reports indicate there may be another case, but spread is thought to be localized.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:30:37 +0000
• Artificial cell manages a few rounds of cell division
  It only works for a few divisions thanks to a lot of added materials.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:21:23 +0000
• Google loses long-running appeal of record EU fine, will have to cough up $4.7 billion
  The EU went after Google for the practice of bundling its search engine and browser with Android.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:15:41 +0000
• Trump gets OpenAI to offer US 5% stake, far lower than Sanders’ target
  Insiders say Sam Altman is in active talks with the Trump administration.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:12:25 +0000
• Musk’s X poses “serious risk to Americans’ privacy,” advocates warn FTC
  FTC urged to reject Elon Musk’s bid to end X monitoring amid AI concerns.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:39:17 +0000
• Tesla sales increase by 25% in Q2 2026
  Deliveries outstripped production, suggesting Tesla has cleared some inventory.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:11:07 +0000
• Woman's hip replacement disintegrates, causing severe metal poisoning
  Doctors find grey fluid and dead, metallic flesh inside poisoned woman's hip.
  Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:04:28 +0000

— Auto-generated digest