Hasta La Gadget!

Amazon’s new feature could make it easier to get into the latest release in a series, especially if it’s been some time since you’ve read the previous books. The new Recaps feature is part of the latest software update for the Kindle, and the company compares it to “Previously on…” segments you can watch for TV shows. Amazon announced Recaps in a blog post, where it said that you can get access to it once you receive the software update over the air or after you download and install it from Amazon’s website. Amazon didn’t talk about the technology behind the feature in its post, but a spokesperson has confirmed to TechCrunch that the recaps will be AI generated. 

Shortly after the feature rolled out, users talked about it on social media, wondering if Amazon is using generative AI to write series summaries. They expressed concerns about the use of generative AI, especially about the possibility of the technology hallucinating plot elements that aren’t actually in the books. “We use technology, including GenAI and Amazon moderators, to create short recaps of books that accurately reflect book content,” Amazon spokesperson Ale Iraheta told the publication. Iraheta assured TechCrunch that Amazon’s recaps are accurate, but of course, use it at your own risk. 

At the moment, the Recaps feature is available for best-selling English-language book series on all Kindle devices in the US. To know if your favorite series has one, look for the “View Recaps” button within the series page in your Kindle library. It will soon be available for the Kindle app on iOS, as well. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-will-use-ai-to-generate-recaps-for-book-series-on-the-kindle-170018503.html?src=rss

The POCO C71 has been officially launched in India as an affordable smartphone featuring a 120 Hz display, a 5,200 mAh battery, and an entry-level price. Positioned as one of the most budget-friendly models from the Chinese brand, the device aims to deliver a smooth user experience with key enhancements in display, battery life, and software.

The POCO C71 features a 6.88-inch IPS LCD screen with HD+ resolution (1,640 x 720 pixels), a high refresh rate of 120 Hz for fluid visuals, a peak brightness of 600 nits, and TÜV Rheinland certification for reduced eye strain. The display has a water drop notch design to house the front-facing camera.

Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by the Unisoc T7250 chipset, paired with either 4 GB or 6 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, along with an additional 6 GB of virtual RAM. It offers up to 128 GB of internal eMMC 5.1 storage. The 5,200 mAh battery supports 15W charging, ensuring long-lasting usage.

For photography, the POCO C71 is equipped with a 32 MP primary rear camera and an additional secondary sensor. The front camera has an 8 MP resolution for selfies and video calls. The device runs Android 15 Go out of the box, providing a lightweight and bloatware-free experience. POCO guarantees two major Android updates and four years of security patches.

Additional features include 4G VoLTE connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The phone is IP52-certified for water and dust resistance. It measures 171.9 × 77.8 × 8.26 mm and weighs 193 grams.

Specs

Availability and Price

The POCO C71 has been announced in India and is available in three color options: Power Black, Desert Gold, and Cool Blue. We still don’t know if the device will be sold in other markets but the pricing details are as follows:​

• 4 GB RAM + 64 GB Storage: ₹6,499, which is approximately $78 USD.​

• 6 GB RAM + 128 GB Storage: ₹7,499, roughly $90 USD

POCO C71 Launched: 120Hz Display, 5,200mAh Battery And A Budget Price Tag

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Amazon has started testing another AI-powered feature called “Buy for Me,” which allows the e-commerce company to make purchases for you from other websites. Specifically, from the actual website of a brand you’re looking looking up. The experience is built into the Amazon app. When you search for an item from a particular brand, you may see a section of results labeled “Shop brand sites directly” separate from the results you’ll get from Amazon and its third-party sellers. 

If you click on the “Buy for Me” button underneath an item in the separate results section, you’ll be taken to a product detail page right inside the Amazon app. The company says the page will provide relevant product information similar to the product details in Amazon’s own listings. Amazon will purchase the item for you from the brand’s website if you decide to go through with the transaction. It uses agentic AI, a type of AI that doesn’t need human intervention, to provide your name, address and payment details for the checkout process. Your details are encrypted, Amazon says, and it will not be able to see your previous and future orders from brands’ websites. You’ll receive a confirmation email from the brand store itself for your purchase, but you can track your order within the Amazon app through the new Buy for Me Orders tab in the Your Orders page. 

The company told us that it’s not getting a commission from your purchases made through the experimental feature, but it didn’t say if it was going to get a cut from sales in the future. For now, the feature is still in beta and will only be available to a subset of customers on the US on its iOS and Amazon apps. The test will also only feature a limited number of brand stores and products for now. Just a few days ago, Amazon also released an AI-powered feature called “Interests,” which can process prompts in every day language related to your, well, interests. You can, for instance, type in “Brewing tools and gadgets for coffee lovers” to get relevant notifications for Amazon’s deals and offerings. 

Amazon

Update, April 05, 2025, 09:25 AM ET: Amazon told us it’s not getting a commission from this experimental feature. This story has been updated to reflect that.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazons-buy-for-me-ai-will-purchase-stuff-from-third-party-websites-123036361.html?src=rss

Amazon has started testing another AI-powered feature called “Buy for Me,” which allows the e-commerce company to make purchases for you from other websites. Specifically, from the actual website of a brand you’re looking looking up. The experience is built into the Amazon app. When you search for an item from a particular brand, you may see a section of results labeled “Shop brand sites directly” separate from the results you’ll get from Amazon and its third-party sellers. 

If you click on the “Buy for Me” button underneath an item in the separate results section, you’ll be taken to a product detail page right inside the Amazon app. The company says the page will provide relevant product information similar to the product details in Amazon’s own listings. Amazon will purchase the item for you from the brand’s website if you decide to go through with the transaction. It uses agentic AI, a type of AI that doesn’t need human intervention, to provide your name, address and payment details for the checkout process. Your details are encrypted, Amazon says, and it will not be able to see your previous and future orders from brands’ websites. You’ll receive a confirmation email from the brand store itself for your purchase, but you can track your order within the Amazon app through the new Buy for Me Orders tab in the Your Orders page. 

The company told us that it’s not getting a commission from your purchases made through the experimental feature, but it didn’t say if it was going to get a cut from sales in the future. For now, the feature is still in beta and will only be available to a subset of customers on the US on its iOS and Amazon apps. The test will also only feature a limited number of brand stores and products for now. Just a few days ago, Amazon also released an AI-powered feature called “Interests,” which can process prompts in every day language related to your, well, interests. You can, for instance, type in “Brewing tools and gadgets for coffee lovers” to get relevant notifications for Amazon’s deals and offerings. 

Amazon

Update, April 05, 2025, 09:25 AM ET: Amazon told us it’s not getting a commission from this experimental feature. This story has been updated to reflect that.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazons-buy-for-me-ai-will-purchase-stuff-from-third-party-websites-123036361.html?src=rss

The official launch of Apple’s iOS 18 brought with it some fresh ways to customize your iPhone’s home screen. Rather than leaving unwanted apps hanging around like a bad smell in places you don’t want them, users can now take full control of app placement and make their home screen their own. Whether you’re looking to add useful widgets, reorganize your apps or get rid of the ones you never use, customizing your iPhone home screen can help your device feel a little more unique. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to everything you can do to make your iOS 18 home screen look better and work the way you want.

How to add, edit and remove widgets

Widgets provide a convenient at-a-glance view of an app’s data or functionality, giving you quick access to information and reducing the need to open the app itself. A well-placed widget allows you to check the weather, view your calendar or access music controls, all without opening an app, giving your thumb a well-earned rest. Everybody loves a good shortcut, and with iOS 18, you can add, edit, or remove widgets easily, letting you jump straight to the information that matters.

To add a widget:

1. Touch and hold an empty area on your home screen until the app icons start to jiggle.

2. Tap the Edit button in the top-left corner and select Add Widget.

3. Scroll or search for the widget you want, then tap it.

4. Swipe left or right to choose a size (some offer different layouts).

5. Tap Add Widget to place it on your screen.

6. Drag it to your preferred spot, then tap Done (top right).

To edit a widget:

1. Press and hold the widget you want to change.

2. Tap Edit Widget (if available). If Edit Widget isn’t available, you can cycle through the icons for different placement and layout options.

3. Adjust settings like what calendar it shows, which location for the weather, etc. These options will be unique to each app’s widget.

To remove a widget:

1. Press and hold the widget.

2. Tap Remove Widget, then confirm.

Rob Webb for Engadget

How to move apps and widgets on the home screen

Shuffling your home screen apps and widgets is also a cinch thanks to iOS 18’s customization overhaul. It’s a simple but useful way to personalize your iPhone’s home screen and declutter your wallpaper, so your loved ones’ faces don’t become buried underneath a wall of app icons.

1. Tap and hold on any app to reveal a menu.

2. Select Edit Home Screen, where you can move the apps across pages by dragging them to the edge of the screen.

3. Tap Done when you’re finished.

You can also stack one app on top of another to automatically create a folder (more on that below).

How to customize apps and widgets on the home screen

Moving your most-used apps into prime position is all well and good, but if you’re going for a particular aesthetic with your home screen, the default appearance of an app icon can sometimes spoil the overall look. Luckily, in iOS 18, you can exert more control over how your apps look, including the option to change app icon colors and how widgets are displayed.

To customize your app icon colors:

1. Press and hold on the home screen and tap Edit at the top.

2. Choose Customize to change background colors (like dark, light or a custom color) or apply a different layout.

However, bear in mind that not all app icons can change color. If these steps don’t work for you, you may be left with the odd rogue app icon, sticking out like a sore thumb. In which case, you can hide the app icon from view, while still being able to access it easily from the app library.

How to lock or hide an app

Security is a top priority, particularly when it comes to your smartphone. You might have certain apps you want to keep private and for your eyes only. If so, you’ll be happy to know that there are two ways in which you can prevent unwanted eyes on your apps. You can hide or lock an app behind a passcode or Face ID; this prevents unauthorized access and keeps your apps in a Hidden folder. Similarly, you can remove apps entirely from the home screen, still allowing you (and others if they have access) to view them in your App Library.

To lock an app:

1. Long-press the icon of the app you want to lock on the home screen.

2. Select Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).

3. Confirm your selection by pressing Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).

To hide an app:

1. Long-press the icon of the app you want to lock on the home screen.

2. Select Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).

3. Confirm your selection by pressing Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode)

4. Tap Hide and Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), then tap Hide App.

How to organize your apps in folders

Folders are a great way to declutter your home screen and keep similar apps grouped together. If you’re the type of person who likes to keep things tidy and organized, storing your apps in folders is a good way to do it.

To create a folder:

1. Drag one app icon over another, and iOS 18 will automatically create a folder with both.

2. Tap the name to rename the folder (e.g., “Social” or “Work”).

3. Drag in additional apps if you want.

To remove a folder:

1. Move all the apps out of the folder, and it will disappear once it’s empty.

How to remove or delete apps

The struggle is real when it comes to app bloat, and sometimes a bit of a spring clean is needed. If your home screen needs a bit of freshening up, you can kick a seldom-used app to the curb, or at least kick it off your home screen.

To remove an app from the home screen (without deleting it):

1. Tap and hold the app icon.

2. Tap Remove App.

3. Select Remove from Home Screen.

4. When you want to use that app, navigate to the App Library (swipe left past your last home page) or swipe down from the top of your home screen to search for it.

To delete an app completely:

1. Tap and hold the app icon.

2. Tap Remove App.

3. Select Delete App, then confirm.

To re-download a deleted app:

1. Open the App Store, search for the app and tap the download icon.

Rob Webb for Engadget

A few more tips to personalize your home screen space

Widgets Smart Stacks: Using this feature, you can combine multiple widgets into a stack you can swipe through. To do this, just drag one widget on top of another of the same size.

App Library shortcuts: If you want a cleaner home screen, you can remove most apps and rely on the App Library (swipe all the way left) or the search tool to launch what you need.

Focus mode customization: Each Focus mode can have its own custom home screen. This is a useful tool for separating your work life from your personal life.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-customize-your-iphones-home-screen-in-ios-18-120100872.html?src=rss