Brian Heater
Hardware Editor
The Latest from Brian Heater
Meta Connect 2023: How to watch the Quest 3 reveal
Meta’s annual Connect conference kicks off with a keynote tomorrow, September 27, at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. Facebook’s parent is expected to make the Meta Quest 3 the centerpiece of the event
Apple executives break down AirPods’ new features
AirPods only got a passive mention during the keynote at Apple’s event. It’s understandable — the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 (and Ultra 2) were center stage. Besides, the headpho
Microsoft refreshes Surface Laptop Go and Laptop Studio
What is a Surface event without a Panos Panay? Microsoft answered the existential question today during a New York City Windows event. The company broke out the big guns in the absence of the longtime
FireBot is designed to scout burning buildings before sending in firefighters
Stanley Wilson died a decade ago, battling a six-alarm fire at a Dallas, Texas, condominium complex. Two additional firefighters were taken to a hospital and two residents were treated on site for smo
Diligent raises $25 million to triple its nursing robot’s reach
The pandemic had a profound impact on countless careers, but few jobs were hit quite like nursing. As hospitals overflowed, staff was forced to take on impossible long shifts, risking their own health
Reekon hopes high-tech home improvement tools can drag contractors into the 21st century
TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield company Reekon is building the next generation of smart tools for home contractors.
Skydio’s enterprise pivot kicks off with a new drone
Last month, Skydio announced that it was shutting down its consumer drone business. DJI continues to dominate the category globally, but when the Shenzhen-based firm found itself on the wrong side of
Amazon’s $180 Echo Hub is a wall-mounted smart home control panel
Echo Hub is easily one of the more interesting hardware devices introduced at today’s Amazon Devices event in Arlington, Virginia. In fact, it’s one of those things Amazon should have introduced y
Amazon adds a $120 soundbar to its Fire TV lineup
Amazon just added another device to the growing Fire TV family. Unveiled at its Devices event in Virginia, the Fire TV Soundbar gives you pretty much what you’d expect out of an Amazon-branded sound
Users can access emergency services with Alexa
At its annual fall event in Virginia today, Amazon announced Alexa Emergency Assist, a new subscription service that lets users contact emergency services through Echo devices. Users prompt the new Ur
Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 arrives next month for $149
Amazon kicked off today’s Fall Devices Event with an update to its Echo Show 8. The small smart screen features smart home hub functionality and improved audio quality. The latter arrives by way of
Apple Watch Series 9 review
It’s hard to know the right time to upgrade. It’s a question I get a lot, having done this job for as long as I have. It’s the double-edged sword of FOMO: wanting to get your hands on the latest
iPhone 15 Pro Max review
I fell asleep with my phone again. I know it’s bad for me, but work trips will do that to you. The next morning, bleary-eyed, I went to plug it in, spending a confused few moments wondering what had
TRI is developing a new method to teach robots overnight
Learning may well be the most exciting frontier in the whole of robotics. The field itself dates back decades. The 80s, for instance, brought exciting breakthroughs in learning by demonstration, but a
Chief Product Officer Panos Panay is out at Microsoft, reportedly heading to Amazon
Update: Speaking of Dave Limp, Panay is reportedly heading over to Amazon next, where he will resume the same role. We have reached out to Amazon for comment. Both companies holding devices events th
AirPods Pro get USB-C and a few new tricks
No name change. The AirPods Pro 2 are still the AirPods Pro 2. Apple’s high-end earbuds got the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it treatment during last week’s iPhone 15 event. In fact, I both blinked and
Boxbot pivots from last-mile trucks to robotical parcel storage
I love a good pivot story. It’s something most startups will confront at some point or other, if they’re going to make it long term. In a category where luck, timing and market forces are at least
California’s right to repair bill heads to governor’s desk
The California state Assembly has voted in favor of right to repair legislation that increases consumers’ ability to fix devices at home. After winding its way through the state legislature, the
Bose upgrades its QuietComfort line
Seeing as how 700 is the largest number known to humankind, Bose has shifted into Ultra mode for its top of the line QuietComfort wireless headphones. The QuietComfort 700s were well-received (as high