Update, June 7: The cube-shaped model has been officially announced as the Amazon Fire TV Cube. Related links Roku vs. Apple TV vs. Chromecast vs. Amazon Fire TV vs. Android TV: Which streamer should you buy? Smart talk is cheap with Alexa streaming TV stick Amazon has two new Fire TVs coming out later in …

You can finally realize your dreams of becoming a Pikachu, thanks to a new Pokemon filter released Monday on Snapchat. Here’s what Pokemon had to say about the limited-time-only filter in a related blog post: Pikachu’s ears, nose, and bright-red cheeks will appear over your smiling face when you use this Lens. Then, you can open your mouth to call on …

Google added more than 20 languages to its speech recognition software Monday, including Georgian, Swahili and Amharic, among others.  According to Google’s blog post, Android customers can now dictate (rather than type) in 119 “language varieties” via the Google keyboard, Gboard, Voice Search and the Cloud Speech API. These languages will soon be available through Google’s Translate app as well.  …

Android founder and former Google exec Andy Rubin Friday sent out an email saying that the delayed Essential Phone would be here “in a few weeks,” claiming that his new company Essential is working hard to complete the certification and testing process with various carriers in the US and around the world.  Here’s Rubin’s full email, which was sent to customers who …

Samsung is reportedly working on Bluetooth earphones that work with Samsung’s new Bixby voice assistant. The earphones are expected to be available around the same time as the Galaxy Note 8, according to Etnews.  Since the Note 8 “phablet” — translation: part phone, part tablet — is scheduled to arrive sometime in “late August,” we likely won’t have to wait …

Now playing: Watch this: iPhone 8 leaked pics hint at new design 1:58 Enlarge Image Is this the iPhone 8? kamikasky/ Reddit We’re looking at the front and back housing for Apple’s 10th-anniversary iPhone 8, according to Reddit user kamikasky.  Kamikasky shared allegedly leaked images on Imgur and Reddit on Monday, saying they came from “a friend in the industry.” …

We’ve been talking about Microsoft’s next tablet PC for months, but a purported leaked image published Thursday by VentureBeat’s @evleaks gives us an early glimpse of the upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro. Microsoft’s current production model, the Surface Pro 4, impressed us in 2015 with its large screen, high resolution and slimmed-down design. It was also among the first mobile systems …

Apple CEO Tim Cook is working on a glucose monitor for the Apple Watch, according to a CNBC report. Cook has reportedly been seen testing out a blood sugar tracker paired to his Apple Watch on Apple’s campus. In a previous report, CNBC said Apple employees were testing out small sensors to continuously monitor glucose for diabetes patients. This isn’t …

Many of us use fitness trackers as motivational tools to keep us moving, and to monitor our progress over time. But what if that sensor-packed Apple Watch or Fitbit on your wrist could actually help diagnose a potentially fatal heart condition? It’s possible, according to app developer Cardiogram. In a joint study published today, Cardiogram and researchers at the University …

Apple today updated its list of official Apple Pay partners, with 22 new US banks added to the hundreds that already support the payment system, according to 9to5Mac. The site lists the following banks and credit unions as new additions to Apple Pay: Bank of Grove Boulder Dam Credit Union Boundary Waters Bank Community 1st Credit Union Decorah Bank & …