Americas News
Microsoft is bringing a built-in network speed test to Windows 11
- Technology
- Emma Roth
- Feb 18, 2026
Microsoft is working on a bunch of new features for Windows 11, including a new network speed test that you can access from your taskbar. The tool is bundled in an update rolling out to Windows 11 Ins...
Ken Watanabe didn’t think a kabuki movie would work
- Technology
- Andrew Webster
- Feb 18, 2026
A three-hour-long period drama about kabuki, a centuries-old form of Japanese theater, doesn't exactly sound like box office gold. But that's exactly what happened with Kokuho. Director Lee Sang-il's...
Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is $200 off, marking a new low price
- Technology
- Sheena Vasani
- Feb 18, 2026
If you want a Chromebook that can double as a tablet when you need it to, Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is one of the better 2-in-1s on the market. And you can buy it with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of s...
Are Elon Musk’s Mars plans finally coming back down to Earth?
- Technology
- Georgina Torbet
- Feb 18, 2026
Maybe you've heard, but Elon Musk is apparently a Moon fan now. He has historically been the ultimate cheerleader for human missions to Mars, and as recently as last year, he said his aim was to go st...
Audible syncs ebook reading and audiobook listening to keep you focused
- Technology
- Stevie Bonifield
- Feb 18, 2026
On Wednesday, Audible launched a new "immersion reading" feature that could help readers concentrate on their audiobooks by allowing them to read along with the ebook version. While listening to an au...
Google’s AI music maker is coming to the Gemini app
- Technology
- Jess Weatherbed
- Feb 18, 2026
Google has given Gemini the ability to spit out AI-generated music, courtesy of DeepMind's latest audio model. Beta access to Lyria 3 is rolling out in the Gemini app, enabling users to generate 30-se...
Google Pixel 10A preorders come with a $100 gift card
- Technology
- Cameron Faulkner
- Feb 18, 2026
As promised, Google opened preorders for its Pixel 10A midrange phone, and it’ll launch on March 4th. We already published a hands-on with the device, and I encourage you to check it out (we think it’...
Waymo denies using remote drivers after Senate testimony went viral
- Technology
- Andrew J. Hawkins
- Feb 18, 2026
Waymo defended its use of remote assistants for its robotaxis after the testimony of one of its top executives during a Senate hearing went viral. In a letter to Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) on Tuesday, Waym...
Nevada sues to block Kalshi’s prediction betting market
- Technology
- Emma Roth
- Feb 18, 2026
Nevada is suing to block the prediction market platform Kalshi from allowing residents to place bets on the outcomes of events, including elections and sports games, as reported earlier by Business In...
The Pixel 10A is a little too much like last year’s phone
- Technology
- Todd Haselton
- Feb 18, 2026
Google's midrange Pixels have been our top pick for budget Android phones for a while. They offer good cameras and most of what you need at a budget-friendly price. But this year's upgrade feels so mi...
Toyota’s C-HR electric hatchback starts at $38,135
- Technology
- Andrew J. Hawkins
- Feb 18, 2026
Toyota is on an EV roll these days, introducing the newly all-electric, three-row Highlander SUV, and giving us a fuller picture of the bZ Woodland wagon. Now, the Japanese auto giant is completing th...
Mark Zuckerberg is taking the stand as social media goes on trial
- Technology
- Lauren Feiner
- Feb 18, 2026
Lori Schott didn't care what it took to haul her way from her small town in Eastern Colorado to show up to a Los Angeles courtroom where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify Wednesday. "I don't...