Technology Reporter
Lauren Schafer reports on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the intersection of technology and society. With a background in software engineering, she brings technical expertise to her coverage of how emerging technologies are reshaping industries and daily life. Her AI reporting has been featured in industry publications.
Xbox is rolling out sweeping improvements to its Achievements system for Insiders, including customizable notifications, game hiding options, and completion highlights. These changes reflect growing player demand for greater profile curation and personalization.
The Cube, Save Us, a free-to-play extraction shooter by XLGAMES, announced its shutdown just three weeks after launch on March 18, 2026. The game suffered from abysmal reviews and dwindling player counts, with only 5,177 simultaneous players at launch and nearly 70% negative Steam reviews.
Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon has sold 1.2 million copies and earned tens of millions, but its 20K-30K Steam players highlight the brutal math behind game survival. As Sony faces layoffs and shifting markets, the fate of niche hits like Marathon reveals deeper industry fractures.
A journalist tracked her glucose 24/7 for over a year using Dexcom Stelo and Abbott Lingo CGMs, uncovering metabolic insights but also unexpected health anxiety and data discrepancies. The experiment revealed both benefits and limitations of wearable glucose tech for non-diabetics.
Google and Back Market offer 500M Windows 10 users a $3 ChromeOS Flex USB Kit to revive aging PCs as Microsoft ends support. Pilot program delivers plug-and-play cloud-based OS with tutorials to simplify transition.
Actor Chris Pratt has drawn criticism for his apparent unfamiliarity with Mario lore, most recently misstating the setting of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as “the Mushroom planet.” Fans and critics question his commitment to voicing the iconic character in Nintendo’s $1.3B film franchise.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro now supports PSSR 2.0, an AI-powered upscaling tech that rivals DLSS and FSR. Owners can upgrade older PSSR 1.0 games via system toggle, improving image quality and stability.
A review of Aircalin's Business Hibiscus class on an Airbus A330neo from Paris (CDG) to Bangkok (BKK). While the airline dominates routes in New Caledonia, the overall experience was average, with highlights in bedding and lows in entertainment and Wi-Fi.
Asus unveils the $1,699.99 Zenbook A16, a 16-inch Windows laptop with 48GB RAM and a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. It’s 20% lighter than MacBook Air but packs comparable performance and a stunning 120Hz OLED display.
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass expands in April 2025 with 18 new titles including Hades II, Vampire Crawlers, and Kiln. Subscribers on Ultimate, Premium, and PC tiers gain access to blockbuster remasters, cozy sims, and survival hits starting April 7.
Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo and Google’s Pixel 10 series validate a growing trend: prioritizing seamless user experience and ecosystem integration over flashy hardware benchmarks. Both companies are betting big on accessible devices that deliver essential functionality without overwhelming costs.
NASA’s Artemis II crew is using a decade-old Nikon D5 DSLR on their lunar flyby, not the newer Z9, because its unmatched low-light performance suits the dark void of space. Learn how a 2016 camera became the right tool for humanity’s farthest voyage yet.
Four delisted Xbox 360 and Xbox titles briefly reappeared on the Xbox Store, sparking speculation about Microsoft’s revamped Backwards Compatibility Program. The errors coincide with Microsoft’s plans to expand backward compatibility to PC and Project Helix.
A disgruntled security researcher publicly released unpatched exploit code for BlueHammer, a Windows zero-day privilege escalation flaw. The flaw, reported to Microsoft’s Security Response Center, allows attackers to gain SYSTEM-level access, raising concerns about delayed patching practices.
Google quietly launched 'Google AI Edge Eloquent' on iOS, an offline-first AI dictation app using Gemma models to compete with Wispr Flow and others. The app offers live transcription, filler-word removal, and cloud-free processing.
Nathaniel Ellis, founder of Flip This Dollhouse, relocated his world-renowned miniatures shop from New Bedford to Fall River’s Tower Mill this April. His 15-year-old business now spans 5,000 sq ft, supplying Hollywood sets and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with hyper-realistic dollhouses and furnishings.
Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 can detect sleep apnea, translate speech in real time, and recognize songs instantly—without your iPhone. These features, part of watchOS 26, enhance health, accessibility, and daily convenience.
RPGs like Final Fantasy VI and Star Wars: KOTOR undergo seismic narrative shifts halfway through, reshaping worlds and identities. These twists redefine gameplay and storytelling forever.
Nintendo’s legendary *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* is getting a Switch 2 remake, with producer Eiji Aonuma’s cryptic hints over three years now confirmed as intentional. Leaks and insider reports suggest this isn’t a simple graphical update but a groundbreaking reimagining.
Investigation reveals Suno’s AI music tool bypasses copyright protections with minimal effort, enabling uncanny AI covers of artists like Beyoncé that can be monetized on streaming platforms. Experts warn the system’s flaws disproportionately harm independent musicians.