Hasta La Gadget!

Google has announced significant updates to its AI model, Gemini, introducing a more efficient 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model, improved Deep Research capabilities, and a new personalization feature.

The latest version of Gemini, known as the 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model, offers faster performance and increased efficiency. This upgraded model improves response accuracy by breaking down prompts into structured reasoning steps. One of its key features is a 1-million-token context window, allowing Gemini Advanced users to tackle more complex tasks. Additionally, it now supports file uploads, expanding its potential applications.

Deep Research Capabilities

The Gemini Deep Research feature has been upgraded with the new model, enhancing its abilities in planning, searching, reasoning, and reporting. Users can now receive multi-page, high-quality reports with visible reasoning steps, similar to DeepSeek’s approach. This improvement ensures that Gemini provides more transparent and detailed outputs.

The updated Deep Research feature is available in over 45 languages worldwide. While free-tier users will have limited access to it a few times a month, Gemini Advanced subscribers will enjoy expanded usage.

New Personalization Features

Google is also introducing an experimental personalization capability, allowing Gemini to integrate with Google apps and services for customized responses. This feature connects with Google Search, tailoring results based on user preferences. For example, if a user frequently searches for sneakers, Gemini will incorporate this history into its recommendations.

Users can activate this feature by selecting “Personalization (experimental)” from the model settings. Over time, Gemini will integrate with more Google services, making interactions more intuitive and user-focused.

Expanded Integration with Google Services

Gemini is evolving into a central hub for personal productivity and assistance. It can now connect with Google Calendar, Notes, Tasks, and Photos in English. This integration enables users to execute complex multi-step requests, such as:

• “Find an easy cookie recipe on YouTube.”
• “Add the ingredients to my shopping list.”
• “Locate nearby grocery stores that are still open.”

Gems Now Free for All Users

Google has also made Gems, a feature within the Gemini app, available for free to all users. This move aligns with the company’s goal of making Gemini a more accessible and essential tool in daily digital experiences.

With these updates, Google aims to make Gemini more powerful, personalized, and integrated, reinforcing its role as a leading AI assistant. You can try the new features for free at https://gemini.google.com/

Try It For Free! Google Releases New Gemini App Features

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SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission has successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03PM Eastern on March 14. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov are onboard and will join the ISS crew after the spacecraft docks with the orbiting lab at 11:30PM Eastern time on March 15. The new crew’s arrival will allow NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to fly back home after their supposed week-long stay on the ISS had turned into a nine-month stint. 

Williams and Wilmore flew to the ISS aboard the Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight meant to prove its readiness to ferry astronauts to orbit. On the way to the station, however, the Starliner started leaking helium, and some of its thrusters had malfunctioned. While the astronauts and ground engineers tried to solve the issue, NASA had ultimately decided to have the Starliner fly back home uncrewed. The spacecraft returned back to Earth in September, leaving Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS. 

Before Boeing’s Starliner flew back, NASA had already decided that Williams and Wilmore will be coming home with the SpaceX Crew-9 personnel. The mission headed to the station with only two astronauts onboard to leave two seats open for its return. They were originally scheduled to fly back in February, but Crew-10’s launch was ultimately delayed to give SpaceX enough time to process a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission. Williams and Wilmore are now expected to fly back to Earth with Crew-9’s Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov as soon as March 19.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacexs-crew-10-mission-is-on-its-way-to-the-iss-133045695.html?src=rss

Reviews season is in full swing, and we’ve been busy at Engadget HQ. Laptops, desktops, earbuds, gaming handhelds and even an ice cream machine are among our slate of recent reviews. The great thing about this time of year is there’s really something for everyone among the in-depth testing our team undertakes. So sit back, relax and catch up on all the reviews you might’ve missed. 

Apple MacBook Air M4 13-inch and 15-inch

The M4-equipped MacBook Air is now available, and so is Devindra’s detailed review of the new Apple laptop. “The M4-equipped MacBook Air is a nearly flawless ultraportable,” he declared. “Even better, it now starts at $999, which is $100 less than before. While I’d still like to see more ports and a faster screen refresh rate, the MacBook Air still remains heads and shoulders above the competition.” 

Apple Mac Studio M4 Max

While the M3 Ultra configuration may be the absolute fastest Mac Studio, Steve argued that the powerful M4 Max version is the better and more affordable option for most power users. But, do you actually need one? Well, that depends. “If you regularly edit 4K (or higher) videos or render 3D graphics (or play games), you’d be better off with the Mac Studio,” he wrote. “For less demanding jobs, a Mac mini will likely suffice.” 

Ninja Swirl by Creami

Soft serve ice cream at home is no longer a fantasy thanks to Ninja’s Creami machine. Sam was impressed by its versatility, but he noted that the ability to make larger batches would make the gadget even better. “Not only can it create delicious concoctions that rival what you can buy from a store (and for way cheaper), it can handle pretty much any other frozen treat you can think of — all in one gadget,” he explained. “My biggest gripe is that the Swirl isn’t available in a deluxe size like you can get with its predecessor.”

Technics AZ100

Technics’ latest earbuds impressed me during a brief introduction at CES and they continued to do so during my full review. New drivers deliver big sound upgrades and three-device multipoint is only available on this company’s earbuds. “Technics thought it could make its well-reviewed AZ80 even better by borrowing tech from another entry in its portfolio and the gamble has definitively paid off,” I wrote. “Sure, you can find better noise-canceling performance with Bose and more modern features with Sony, but Technics has formulated excellent sound quality that few can challenge.”

MSI Claw 8 AI+

MSI may have stumbled with its first gaming handheld, but Sam argues that the Claw 8 AI+ is the company’s redemption. “After the original bombed, a lot of companies would have simply called it quits,” he said. “But with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI came back and totally redeemed itself. Not only is it a very competent gaming handheld, this cat offers a solid design, great performance and above-average battery life.”

Other notable reviews: M3 iPad Air, Sorry We’re Closed and more GPUs

Apple also debuted a new iPad Air recently, and while it isn’t a huge update, Nate wrote that the M3 upgrade still makes it easy to recommend. Jess took Sorry We’re Closed for a ride on PS5, specifically calling out the “epic storyline” with “heartbroken club kids and horny demons,” along with a killer soundtrack. Devindra’s work reviewing GPUs is seemingly never done, and in the last two weeks he reviewed AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070. He also put the ASUS Zenbook 14 through its paces. 

If you’re in the market for a Wi-Fi 7 setup, you’ll want to check out Dan’s review of the Eero Pro 7 where basic features are locked behind an additional purchase. Amy re-reviewed the Apple Watch SE and she has a long list of requests for Apple to include — whenever it finally decides to update its “budget” wearable. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-macbook-air-mac-studio-ninja-creami-and-technics-az100-123020577.html?src=rss

Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has snapped a gorgeous photo of a solar eclipse from the Moon in which Earth covers up most of the Sun, leaving only the so-called diamond ring effect. It also looks nearly identical to the logo of the early 2000s genre show Heroes.

The lander snapped the photo at around 1:30AM ET on Friday morning, as the Earth slowly blocked a view of the Sun. The solar eclipse on the Moon occurred at the same time as a total lunar eclipse here on Earth. Terrestrial viewers saw the lunar surface turn a red hue.

The eclipse lasted for around five hours at the lunar landing site in Mare Crisium. Firefly released another image from the earlier part of the eclipse that shows the lander’s solar panel as the Sun starts to hide behind Earth’s shadow. Cool stuff, right?

Firefly Aerospace

Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander successfully touched down on the Moon on Sunday, March 2 at around 3:30AM ET. It landed upright, with no issues. This is something that cannot be said about rival company Intuitive Machines’ landers.

This is Firefly’s first mission to the Moon, so Blue Ghost is packed with ten NASA instruments designed to probe the lunar surface and gather data to (hopefully) support upcoming human missions to the natural satellite. This is all part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The lander is set to operate on the lunar surface until March 16.

Firefly says it will try to downlink more images from the eclipse once Blue Ghost’s X-band antenna has warmed up after being stuck in the cold throughout the event. The company has already shown off some nifty POV footage of the landing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/fireflys-blue-ghost-lander-snapped-an-incredible-pic-of-a-solar-eclipse-from-the-moon-180231560.html?src=rss

Google Assistant’s days are numbered. Google announced Friday that all Android devices are switching to Gemini as their default assistant and “the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices.”

The company says it’s working to convert more mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini in 2025, and plans on “upgrading tablets, cars and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches” to the new AI assistant. That presumably includes other platforms like iOS, as well. While smart home devices don’t seem to be a focus at Google as of late, the company also reaffirmed plans to use Gemini to power a new experience on speakers, displays, and streaming boxes.

The only way to really avoid Google Assistant’s retirement is to have a device that doesn’t meet Gemini’s minimum system requirements: Running at least Android 10 and having at least 2GB of RAM. If you’ve got both, say goodbye to your old assistant.

For those willing to look, the writing has been on the wall for Google Assistant for a while now. Google launched its Pixel 9 line with Gemini as the default instead of Google Assistant, a pretty bad sign considering Pixels function as one big Google lifestyle ad. The company has also deliberately tried to give Gemini basic capabilities of Assistant over time, presumably to make this transition possible. 

It’s not clear when the switch will happen, but it would make sense for any Android 16 device to use Gemini rather than last years model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-is-removing-assistant-from-most-phones-this-year-182700104.html?src=rss