Victoria Song, Author at Gizmodo

Too Many of You Still Believe in 5G Conspiracy Theories

5G conspiracies are nothing new. They’ve been tirelessly debunked several times and yet a 2021 survey found that roughly 24% of people believe that at least one 5G conspiracy is true. C’mon, really? The data comes via a new research survey by InMyArea.com (IMA), a website that specializes in ISP comparison shopping based on zip…

Internet Victoria Song

Apple Mulled Lowering Its App Store Commissions Way Back in 2011, Emails Show

At the heart of Epic Games’ case against Apple is the company’s 30% App Store commission and its iron rule over in-app purchases. We now know, thanks to internal documents unearthed through the Epic’s lawsuit, that Phil Schiller, the top executive in charge of App Store, had floated the idea of cutting its infamous Apple…

Tech News Victoria Song

We’re Not Ready for Smart Glasses Yet

After the original Google Glass crashed and burned, consumer smart glasses were put on the back burner for a while. There’s no shortage of reasons why, which makes it a little baffling that in 2021, high-tech glasses have made a mini-comeback. Facebook, Apple, and even Samsung are all rumored to be working on a pair…

Accessories & Wearables Victoria Song

EU Charges Apple With Antitrust Violations in Spotify Case

Apple’s App Store—and its so-called “Apple tax”—have been at the center of several recent lawsuits. In the latest development, the European Union has charged Apple with allegedly “abus[ing] its dominant position” in the music streaming market. The charges stem from an initial complaint filed by Spotify in 2019. At the time, Spotify accused Apple of…

Tech News Victoria Song

You May Have to Wait Longer for Your New iPad or Mac

If you’re thinking about getting a new iPad or Mac in 2021, you should factor in a longer-than-usual wait time. Although Apple raked in an obscene amount of money this past quarter, CEO Tim Cook also warned in Apple’s Wednesday earnings call that there will be supply issues affecting iPads and Macs in the second…

Tech News Victoria Song

T-Mobile Introduces Its Own Shitty Version of AirTags

T-Mobile is hopping on the tracker bandwagon. Today, the carrier announced it’s launching its SyncUP Tracker so you can find lost items. The difference here is unlike Samsung’s SmartTags, Apple’s AirTags, or a Tile tracker, T-Mobile’s version doesn’t use Bluetooth or ultrawide-band. Instead, it leverages a combination of GPS and T-Mobile’s LTE network. To be…

Gadgets Victoria Song

For Better or Worse, CES Is Back, Baby!

This year’s CES was an all-digital event because of the pandemic. It was a decision that led many a journalist to fall to their knees, arms opened wide in supplication because a benevolent God apparently did exist. Alas, it was temporary. The Consumer Technology Association announced today that CES 2022 will return to Las Vegas…

Tech News Victoria Song

Microsoft Wants Your Help Picking the Next Default Font in Office

Listen, Calibri. It’s not you, it’s Microsoft. After 15 years, Microsoft announced today that it’s commissioned five new custom fonts—one of which will replace Calibri as its default font. “Calibri has been the default font for all things Microsoft since 2007, when it stepped in to replace Times New Roman across Microsoft Office. It has…

Tech News Victoria Song

You Can Now Get HTC Vive Parts for DIY Repairs

In a first for virtual reality headsets, HTC announced it’s partnering with iFixit to offer official HTC Vive parts, accessories, and repair guides so customers can fix their own headsets. North American HTC Vive owners can now order parts for the Vive Cosmos Elite, Vive Pro, Vive Pro Eye, and other accessories like power adaptors…

Gadgets Victoria Song

How to Block Apps From Tracking Your Activity in iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5 is finally here, baby! And with it comes Apple’s much-anticipated App Tracking Transparency feature, which allows users to grant or deny apps permission to track their activity for targeted advertising. (This feature has been in the works for a while, and it’s got companies like Facebookshaking in their boots.) In addition to granting…

Tech News Victoria Song

Rideshares Are Increasing Traffic Jams and Making Them Longer, Study Finds

Although rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft were initially hailed as a way to reduce road congestion, that notion’s been thoroughly debunked in the past few years. However, a new MIT study found that not only do rideshares increase congestion, but they also made traffic jams longer, led to a significant decline in people taking…

Tech News Victoria Song

Last Year’s 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard Is Already Obsolete

Bad news for anyone who bought a 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard last year. When you upgrade to a new iPad, it looks like you’ll have to buy a new Magic Keyboard along with it. This past Tuesday, Apple unveiled its fifth-generation iPad Pros—and a new Magic Keyboard, too. The 12.9-inch version, in particular, got a lot…

Tech News Victoria Song

AirDrop Security Flaw Exposes 1.5 Billion Apple Devices, Researchers Say

Apple’s AirDrop feature is a convenient way to share files between the company’s devices, but security researchers from Technische Universitat Darmstadt in Germany are warning that you might be sharing way more than just a file. According to the researchers, it’s possible for strangers to discover the phone number and email of any nearby AirDrop…

Tech News Victoria Song

Bless These Sleepbuds for Drowning Out My Snoring Husband

Wireless earbuds to help you sleep at night from Bose

Headphones Victoria Song

Sony’s New Wearable Air Conditioner Is Twice as Cool as the Original

After launching its first wearable air conditioner last year, Sony’s back with the Reon Pocket 2. This time around, the device can absorb twice as much heat thanks to newly designed internal circuitry, has better sweat resistance, and comes with more accessories and apparel options. In a press release, Sony says the new circuit design…

Gadgets Victoria Song

Congrats to OnePlus for Making Its Smartwatch Slightly Less Awful

The OnePlus Watch launch was catastrophic. Never had a flagship smartwatch since Will.i.am’sinfamous Puls smartwatch failed in such spectacular fashion. I recently wrote 2,000 words about how it was the worst smartwatch I’ve ever used. Today OnePlus pushed out an over-the-air update that claims to fix some of the watch’s egregious omissions and cock-ups. It’s…

Gadgets Victoria Song

A Health Tech Company Says the Apple Watch Is Infringing on Its ECG Patents

When Apple unveiled FDA-cleared ECG capabilities with the Apple Watch Series 4, it spurred a slew of other wearables companies to do the same. Now, health tech company AliveCor has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission claiming the Cupertino-based tech giant allegedly infringed on three of its ECG patents. And it wants…

Tech News Victoria Song

You Can Now Get a 10Gbps Ethernet Port on the M1 Mac Mini

While all eyes were on the colorful M1 iMacs at yesterday’s Spring Loaded event, Apple also quietly updated the M1 Mac Mini. You can now configure it with a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port! Apple first added 10Gbps Ethernet to the Mac Mini back in 2018. However, the M1 Mac mini launched back in November, its…

Tech News Victoria Song

Apple Basically Launched a Patreon for Podcasters

On Monday, there were murmurs Apple might launch a podcast subscription service. Today, those rumors came true. Kind of. Instead of Podcast+, we’re getting what’s basically a redesign of the Apple Podcasts app—and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, a new, Patreon-like program for creators. The announcement isn’t a total surprise. Snippets of code in the iOS 14.5…

Tech News Victoria Song

We’re Liveblogging Apple’s ‘Spring Loaded’ Event Right Here

Now that we’ve had time to recover from last fall’s never-ending stream of Apple events, it’s time to get ready for… another Apple event! Today’s Spring Loaded event kicks off at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT, and as always you can catch the livestream at its event page. If you’re looking for other ways to…

Tech News Victoria Song

Victoria Song

Too Many of You Still Believe in 5G Conspiracy Theories

Apple Mulled Lowering Its App Store Commissions Way Back in 2011, Emails Show

We’re Not Ready for Smart Glasses Yet

EU Charges Apple With Antitrust Violations in Spotify Case

You May Have to Wait Longer for Your New iPad or Mac

T-Mobile Introduces Its Own Shitty Version of AirTags

For Better or Worse, CES Is Back, Baby!

Microsoft Wants Your Help Picking the Next Default Font in Office

You Can Now Get HTC Vive Parts for DIY Repairs

How to Block Apps From Tracking Your Activity in iOS 14.5

Rideshares Are Increasing Traffic Jams and Making Them Longer, Study Finds

Last Year’s 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard Is Already Obsolete

AirDrop Security Flaw Exposes 1.5 Billion Apple Devices, Researchers Say

Bless These Sleepbuds for Drowning Out My Snoring Husband

Sony’s New Wearable Air Conditioner Is Twice as Cool as the Original

Congrats to OnePlus for Making Its Smartwatch Slightly Less Awful

A Health Tech Company Says the Apple Watch Is Infringing on Its ECG Patents

You Can Now Get a 10Gbps Ethernet Port on the M1 Mac Mini

Apple Basically Launched a Patreon for Podcasters

We’re Liveblogging Apple’s ‘Spring Loaded’ Event Right Here

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Adds ‘Succulent Chinese Meal’ Guy

Feds Sniffing Around Polymarket After Suspicious Bets

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Don’t Get Too Attached to Any AI App

‘Paradise’ Writer Teases What’s Coming in Season 3 After That Huge Twist

Trump’s New White House App Is Mildly Concerning and Weird for a Lot of Reasons

Bloodsucking Ticks Can Survive Inside Your Home Longer Than You Might Think

The Best New Toys of March 2026

Judge Denies Liking LinkedIn Post Critical of Elon Musk But Reassigns His Cases Anyway

Amazon Slashes 50% Off Keurig K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Now a Budget Alternative to Breville and Nespresso Espresso Machines

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets