As we approach the expected September iPhone event, the gadget world is abuzz with questions: Will there be two new iPhones or three? How much will the presumed high-end OLED model cost? Will facial recognition fully replace Touch ID, or merely be an alternative? And: will the iPhone finally get wireless charging? But that last …

Microsoft is making Surface products easier to buy and upgrade, with a new monthly financing plan called Surface Plus.  With the Surface Plus plan, customers in the US can now own expensive products such as the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Studio, and pay them off with a 24-month, zero-interest payment plan. It’s targeted at students, educators …

HP is launching what it calls the world’s first professional virtual reality wearable, in the form of a convenient portable backpack. With the new HP Z VR Backpack, you can avoid the usual VR hassle of cords and wires — since you’re actually wearing the computer. It’s complete with battery, ports and the right PC parts for VR creation. The …

Amazon wants to make deliveries easier for residential buildings with no doorman, concierge, or mailroom service.  The company quietly released a new set of lockers designed for apartment buildings and other complexes, called The Hub. It’s “your fast and easy way to receive packages from anyone,” according to the company.  Customers in buildings with these lockers will need to enter …

Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs, will soon co-own The Atlantic magazine.  Chairman and current owner of Atlantic Media David G. Bradley said Friday that he’ll be selling the majority of the magazine to Emerson Collective, the social justice organization led by Jobs.  Bradley, who will keep a small portion of the company, told The Atlantic that …

HP is quietly updating its Pavilion All-in-One desktop series with new 24- and 27-inch models that include newer CPUs, a thinner design and a pop-up webcam that can be pushed out of sight for privacy. The new HP Pavilion All-in-One desktops are part of HP’s back-to-school push. According to the company’s blog post announcement, these models feature a more modern …

You may be not thinking about going back to school yet, but Apple is. Apple’s back-to-school promotion is back, and this year the company is offering education discount pricing and free giveaways to college students and their parents, as well as faculty and staff of K-12 institutions. Eligible customers will be offered one free pair of either Beats Solo3 Wireless, …

It’s no secret that the internet can be a cesspool of hate. From the harassment of GamerGate to cartoon characters being turned into hurtful memes, the onslaught is a daily occurrence on social media and comment threads all over the web. And now a new study from the Pew Research Center shows that upwards of 41 percent of all Americans …

Your Facebook Messenger home screen may no longer be just an inbox for messaging friends.   Facebook’s dedicated messaging app will be extending its beta test of ad placement on users’ home tabs globally, building on successful tests in Australia and Thailand, according to the company’s blog post. Advertisers will be able to add Messenger to their campaigns, but ads …

There’s a new low-tech wristband that has the power to share your medical information when you can’t. Unlike smart wearables with built in CPUs, antennas and displays, Wrixo is a simple waterproof wristband that can use a preprinted QR code or built-in NFC chip to access important patient health information — including medical history, prescriptions, and allergies — that you’ve …