Eric Migicosvky never found a smartwatch to fill the void left by Pebble, so he’s bringing it back under a new name.

It’s been clear for some time that the Gemini AI app would be replacing Google Assistant, once it had learned all the necessary tricks and been granted all the required hooks into other apps. Now, Google is in the process of actively dismantling the features available in Google Assistant ahead of its retirement.

As per Google’s official support document (as spotted by 9to5Google), seven more Google Assistant features have recently been pulled across Android devices and Nest smart speakers and displays. These deactivated features add to a bunch of other capabilities that were taken away last year.

On smart displays, you can no longer use your voice and Google Assistant to favorite, share, or ask where and when your photos were taken, or to access photo frame settings. You’ll now need to delve into Google Photos or the options panel on your smart display to get at this information.

Google Assistant remains integral to Google’s smart speakers and displays.
Credit: Google

Another Google Assistant capability that’s going away across devices is interpreter mode, where you can have a conversation translated in real time. It’s still available in the Google Translate app, though you can’t yet do this with Gemini.

When it comes to Google Assistant Routines, you can no longer get birthday reminders as part of a Routine. Google is also taking away daily updates and Family Bell announcements from Google Assistant, pointing users towards Routines instead. And finally, Google Assistant is being pulled from car accessories that work via Bluetooth or an AUX plug.

Google says this is all part of “prioritizing the experiences you love and investing in the underlying technology to make them even better” while retiring “underutilized features”—but considering we just received an official announcement that Google Assistant is going to be replaced by Gemini on phones before the end of 2025, there’s not going to be much investing in the older AI app from this point on.

Google Gemini is the new default on Pixel phones.
Credit: Google

As long as your phone meets the minimum requirements of 2GB of RAM and Android 10 or later, Google Assistant will be switched off in the coming months, and you’ll be pointed toward Google Gemini instead (which has already replaced Google Assistant on newer phones such as the Google Pixel 9).

Google also says new Gemini-powered experiences are coming to other devices, including smart speakers and TVs, in the “next few months.” The switchover on these other gadgets may take longer, but it’ll happen eventually—and it probably makes sense to start using Gemini as much as possible, where you can.

There’s still a lot of maintenance work for Google to do here: Routines, for example, let you group a bunch of actions with a single Google Assistant voice command, and there’s no sign yet of the functionality appearing in Gemini. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Google Assistant features deactivated in the coming months.

As Assassin’s Creed Shadows approaches, the franchise and Ubisoft prepare to enter uncharted, possibly game-changing waters.

The Find My Device app for Android is getting an update: The new Find My Device app is now split up into two tabs, one for Devices, and one for People. With it, you can easily coordinate meet-ups with friends or check that your kids have safely arrived home.

You’ll find the app preinstalled on Pixels, and it’s a free download for other Android devices. It’s also available on the web, but there’s no iPhone app. Despite that, you can still keep tabs on the real time locations of your contacts if they have iPhones—more on that in a moment.

The new People tab in Find My Device.
Credit: Lifehacker

This is the same Find My Device tool that received a pretty major upgrade last year. While it’s existed in some form for a long time, showing you Android phones and other gadgets on a map if they were ever lost and stolen, the new and improved version added a bunch of features to make it more useful.

Whereas before you would need your phone to be on and connected to wifi to be able to find it, the 2024 improvements mean you can now enlist the help of all the other millions of Android gadgets out there to (securely and anonymously) track down missing devices (Apple’s Find My Network works in the same way).

The same location sharing list is available in Google Maps.
Credit: Lifehacker

There’s also now support for third-party Bluetooth trackers, and recent Pixels can even be located when they’re powered off. Phones and tablets you track down with the app can be made to play a sound to help you find them, plus you have the option to lock them or even wipe them remotely to keep your data safe.

All those upgrades were already in place, and now people finding is the latest one to arrive: Contacts who trust you can let you see where they are on a map, and you can opt to share your own location with them in return. If you’re thinking that sounds a lot like the functionality that was already built into Google Maps, that’s because it is—it’s just that now you’ve got another screen to access it from.

Use Find My Device to find people

Open Find My Device on your phone and you’ll see the People tab has a little Beta label next to it, indicating that this feature is a work in progress. There’s also a sticker on the map, showing you that the location sharing feature is powered by Google Maps, even though you’re accessing it through Find My Device.

If you’ve already set up sharing through Google Maps, you’ll see your contacts listed and their current locations shown on the map. Tap the + (plus) button to share your location with someone new: The default option is to share your whereabouts for an hour, but you can tap this to change it to Today only, Until you turn this off, and Custom duration.

You can choose how long you save your location for.
Credit: Lifehacker

You can then pick a contact from the panel below, or generate a link to send to someone in an app of your choice. They’ll be able to see the location of your phone for the time you’ve specified, as well as the battery level of the device, and they’ll get the opportunity to share their location in return—though they don’t have to.

This is functionality that’s been in Google Maps for some time: If you’ve never used it, you can find it in the Google Maps app by tapping your profile picture (top right) then Location sharing. As it works through Google Maps, contacts with iPhones can be added as well, and see your location—as long as they’ve got Google Maps installed.

You can share your location with anyone who uses Google Maps.
Credit: Lifehacker

Back in Find My Device, tap on any contact in your list to see where they are on the map. The next screen enables you to get directions to their current location (via Google Maps, of course), and to stop sharing your location with them. Tap the three dots next to a name to hide them from the map, if you only want to check up on them occasionally.

Head to Find My Device on the web, and you get the same Devices and People tabs, though you can’t add new contacts in the web app. You’re always in control when it comes to who can see where you are and for how long, and given the tight integration with Android, you might find it preferable to location sharing tools in apps such as WhatsApp.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Apple lost an appeal on Tuesday against a regulatory assessment that opens the iPhone maker up to stricter controls in Germany, the Federal Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday, following years of debate over the company’s market position. Federal judges backed the German cartel office’s 2023 designation of Apple as a “company of paramount cross-market significance for competition”.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Only two cases of chronic hiccups tied to eosinophilic esophagitis have previously been reported, the man’s doctors say.

War. War never changes.

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This deal on the refurbished Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular) for $359.99 on Woot (for the next six days or until it sells out) is tempting—especially considering that it’s going for over $445 on Amazon. That’s a solid price cut, but the catch is, this is a refurbished unit. That means some level of wear and tear is expected, but it has been tested to be fully functional with at least 80% battery capacity, and Woot backs it with a two-year limited warranty. If you’re OK with a few cosmetic imperfections in exchange for savings, this might be worth grabbing—just note that it’s only available for shipping within the contiguous U.S. Prime members also get free shipping, while non-members will have to pay $6.

Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular)

$359.99
at Woot

$445.00
Save $85.01

$359.99
at Woot

$445.00
Save $85.01

As for the Apple Watch Ultra itself, this thing is built tough. Designed for extreme conditions, its MIL-STD 810H certification means it can handle freezing temps, high altitudes, sandstorms, and general rough treatment. Apple says it’ll keep working between -4 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which is overkill for most people but great if you’re into extreme sports or outdoor adventures. The GPS + Cellular connectivity of this model is a big advantage, too, letting you take calls, stream music, or use maps even when you’re away from your phone—a huge plus for runners, hikers, and anyone who hates being tied to their iPhones. Also, its 1.9-inch OLED Retina screen is ridiculously bright at 2,000 nits, making it super easy to read in direct sunlight.

The Apple Watch Ultra runs on watchOS 9, packing features like heart rate zone data, sleep stage tracking, advanced running metrics, and more. It also includes Apple’s safety and health tools like car crash detection and overnight body temperature tracking. Battery life holds up well, lasting 55 to 57 hours with normal use, even with the always-on display enabled, notes this PCMag review.

If you want one of the most rugged Apple Watch ever made at a lower price (and don’t mind some cosmetic flaws), this Woot deal is worth considering before it sells out. But if you’d rather have a newer model without the Ultra’s bulk, the Series 10 ($359, down from $429) is the best iPhone-compatible smartwatch for most users, while the Watch SE ($249) is the best budget-friendly option, according to this PCMag “Best Smartwatches for 2025” roundup.

The first-ever toy will come following the Nintendo Switch release of Pokémon Legends Z-A.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan said startups are reaching $1-10 million annual revenue with fewer than 10 employees due to “vibe coding,” a term coined by OpenAI cofounder Andrej Karpathy in February.

“You can just talk to the large language models and they will code entire apps,” Tan told CNBC (video). “You don’t have to hire someone to do it, you just talk directly to the large language model that wrote it and it’ll fix it for you.” What would’ve once taken “50 or 100” engineers to build, he believes can now be accomplished by a team of 10, “when they are fully vibe coders.” He adds: “When they are actually really, really good at using the cutting edge tools for code gen today, like Cursor or Windsurf, they will literally do the work of 10 or 100 engineers in the course of a single day.”

According to Tan, 81% of Y Combinator’s current startup batch consists of AI companies, with 25% having 95% of their code written by large language models. Despite limitations in debugging capabilities, Tan said the technology enables small teams to perform work previously requiring dozens of engineers and makes previously overlooked niche markets viable for software businesses.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Hulu’s lineup of original content is lighter in April than in previous months but includes the sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale (April 8), the dystopian drama based originally on Margaret Atwood’s novel but that has long since evolved into a world of its own. According to the Hulu synopsis, June (Elisabeth Moss), Luke, and Moira make up the resistance to bring down Gilead. A sequel series, The Testaments, also based on an Atwood novel of the same name, is in development for release after The Handmaid’s Tale ends.

Hulu has a new original reality competition show launching in April to take on Peacock’s hit series The Traitors. On Got to Get Out (April 11), 20 contestants are racing against time to steal $1 million from each other and escape without getting caught. The show is hosted by Simi Liu and includes reality stars like Spencer Pratt, Cynthia Bailey, and Val Chmerkovskiy.

April also brings season two of Hulu original series No Man’s Land (April 16) about the Syrian war and a new standup special from Jessica Kirson (I’m the Man, April 25).

Here’s everything else coming to (and leaving) Hulu in April.

What’s coming to Hulu in April 2025

Arriving April 1

• Arrival (2016)

• Arrival En Espanol (2016)

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

• Black Swan (2010)

• Boys on the Side (1995)

• Concussion (2015)

• Concussion En Espanol (2015)

• Copycat (1995)

• Enough Said (2013)

• The Equalizer (2014)

• The Equalizer En Espanol (2014)

• Gifted (2017)

• The Good Thief (2003)

• Gone Girl (2014)

• Gulliver’s Travels (2010)

• The History of the World Part I (1981)

• I Heart Huckabees (2004)

• Interstellar (2014)

• Interstellar En Espanol (2014)

• Jumanji (1995)

• Jumanji En Espanol (1995)

• Jurassic Park (1993)

• Jurassic Park III (2001)

• The Karate Kid (1984)

• The Karate Kid En Espanol (1984)

• The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

• The Karate Kid: Part II En Espanol (1986)

• The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

• The Karate Kid Part III En Espanol (1989)

• Little Man (2006)

• Little Man En Espanol (2006)

• The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

• Made in America (1993)

• Me, Myself and Irene (2000)

• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

• Oddity

• Red Sparrow (2018)

• The Revenant (2015)

• Runaway Jury (2003)

• Sexy Beast (2001)

• Shark Tale (2004)

• The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

• Superbad (2007)

• Superbad En Espanol (2007)

• Tombstone (1993)

• True Story (2015)

• 21 Jump Street (2012)

• 22 Jump Street (2014)

• Wall Street (1987)

• Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

• War of the Worlds (2005)

• Widows (2018)

• Wild (2014)

• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

• The Wolf Of Wall Street En Espanol (2013)

• Year One (2009)

• You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

Arriving April 2

• Beyblade X: Complete Season 1B

Arriving April 3

• Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America: Complete Limited Series

Arriving April 4

• FX’s Dying for Sex: Complete Limited Series

• Fire Force: Season 3 Premiere (Subbed)

• Classified (2024)

• The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

• Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

• The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

• The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

• Rushmore (1999)

Arriving April 5

• American Monster: Complete Season 3

• Bering Sea Gold: Complete Season 3

• Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Complete Seasons 1-2

• I Love A Mama’s Boy: Complete Season 2

• The World According to Allee Willis (2024)

Arriving April 6

• Witch Watch: Series Premiere (Subbed & Dubbed)

Arriving April 8

• The Handmaid’s Tale: Sixth & Final Season Premiere

• Small Things Like These (2024)

Arriving April 9

• Angels & Demons (2009)

• The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Arriving April 10

• Court Cam: Complete Season 7

• Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life: Complete Season 1

• Ca$h (2010)

• Hesher (2010)

• Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights (2024)

• Red Dog (2011)

• So Undercover (2012)

• Spun (2002)

Arriving April 11

• Got to Get Out: Series Premiere

• Garfield (2004)

• Garfield: A Tail Of Two Kitties (2006)

• Magpie (2024)

Arriving April 12

• Fixer Upper: Complete Season 5

• MythBusters: Complete Season 5

• The Family Chantel: Complete Season 4

Arriving April 15

• Lake George (2024)

Arriving April 16

• No Man’s Land: Complete Season 2

• Synduality Noir: Complete Season 1 (Dubbed)

• The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Complete Season 3

Arriving April 17

• The Stolen Girl: Series Premiere

• Bible Secrets Revealed: Complete Season 1

• Gangland Chronicles: Complete Season 1

• Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath: Complete Seasons 1 and 2

• Martin Short: Complete Season 1

• The Girl Who Wasn’t Dead (2024)

Arriving April 18

• The Order (2024)

Arriving April 19

• Breaking Amish: Complete Season 4

• Disappeared: Complete Season 6

• Gypsy Sisters: Complete Season 3

• Moonshiners: Complete Season 13

Arriving April 21

• Secrets of the Penguins: Complete Limited Series

• No Hard Feelings (2023)

• No Hard Feelings En Espanol (2023)

Arriving April 22

• In a Violent Nature (2024)

Arriving April 24

• Airline Wars: Complete Season 1

• Customer Wars: Complete Season 4

• Tell Me How I Died: Complete Season 1

• Tiny House World: Complete Season 1

• Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story

Arriving April 25

• Jessica Kirson: I’m the Man: Special Premiere

• Azrael (2024)

Arriving April 26

• Chopped: Complete Season 60

• Four Weddings: Complete Season 9

• House Hunters Renovation: Complete Season 16

• Jessica Chambers: An ID Murder Mystery: Complete Season 1

Arriving April 29

• Ernest Cole: Lost and Found (2024)

What’s leaving Hulu in April 2025

Leaving April 6

• Agnes (2021)

Leaving April 13

• She Will (2021)

Leaving April 16

• Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)

Leaving April 20

• Totally Under Control (2020)

Leaving April 24

• The Good Neighbor (2022)

Leaving April 27

• Resurrection (2022)

Leaving April 30

• After Everything (2018)

• Code Name Banshee (2022)

• Stars Fell Again (2023)

NASA’s Landsats captured views of a Swiss glacier 40 years apart, showing how a warming world has reduced its footprint.

Before he was abruptly fired last month, Derek Copeland worked as a trainer at the US Department of Agriculture’s National Dog Detection Training Center, preparing beagles and Labrador retrievers to sniff out plants and animals that are invasive or vectors for zoonotic diseases, like swine fever. Copeland estimates the NDDTC lost about a fifth of its trainers and a number of other support staff when 6,000 employees were let go at the USDA in February as part of a government-wide purge orchestrated by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Before he received his termination notice, he says, Copeland had just spent several months training the only dog stationed in Florida capable of detecting the Giant African land snail, an invasive mollusk that poses a significant threat to Florida agriculture. “We have dogs for spotted and lantern flies, Asian longhorn beetles,” he says, referring to two other non-native species. “I don’t think the American people realize how much crap that people bring into the United States.”

Dog trainers are just one example of the kind of highly specialized USDA staff that have been removed from their stations in recent weeks. Teams devoted to inspecting plant and food imports have been hit especially hard by the recent cuts, including the Plant Protection and Quarantine program, which has lost hundreds of staffers alone.

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Time and again, studies and surveys identify the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle as one of the most significant hurdles affecting EV adoption. For generations, drivers have gotten used to being able to refuel their cars in five minutes using energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons, and plenty of them balk at the idea of having to drive a car where recharging a battery takes half an hour or more. Now it seems that may not be an excuse for much longer—in China, at least.

New tech has been developed by BYD, the Chinese automaker that recently eclipsed Tesla as the leading EV maker by volume. Called the “super e-platform,” the new batteries are able to charge at 10C, and the new DC chargers peak at 1,000 kW. BYD says this will add 249 miles (400 km) of range in just five minutes. By contrast, most current Tesla Superchargers peak at 250 kW, with Electrify America’s chargers maxing out at 350 kW, and even the powerful new chargers used by Formula E can only reach 600 kW.

“Our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refueling a gasoline car,” said BYD chairperson Wang Chuanfu.

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She was a witch. He was her ogre familiar. Can we make it any more obvious?