Google held I/O this week, and I almost didn't cover it. BTTR still hasn't fully recovered from the algorithm changes Google made for the Helpful Content Update and March 2024 Core update, and I have little appetite for writing free publicity for the company that caused it.
But the announcements are worth paying attention to, because they confirm the direction Google is travelling.
AI Overviews now has 2.5 billion monthly active users. AI Mode, which serves answers instead of links, already has 1 billion.
Google is processing 3.2 quadrillion tokens a month across its products. All of that content came from somewhere.
This week Google announced agents that monitor your inbox, a voice-powered Docs tool that pulls from Gmail and Drive, and what it's calling the "biggest upgrade to Search in 25 years".
The web that built Google's index gets no mention.
Anyway. There was plenty of other news this week.
Until next week
Nick @ BTTR
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This week's news
- Sony's WH-1000 turns ten, and the birthday present is very fancy indeed – I have a pair in for review, and they feel amazing. Sound is brilliant, too.
- Samsung's biggest-ever washer-dryer wants to kill your daily laundry grind – I'm almost due for a new dishwasher and a new dryer, but this wont fit in my laundry.
- Bad hair day? Shark reckons it can fix that in one shot – when you're in your 40s and balding, every day is a bad hair day.
- Feel the feedback: MX Master 4 gets native Windows 11 haptics – how is haptics in a mouse a new thing?
- HP's new laptops want to do the thinking for you – If you want a HP laptop, this is for you.
- Tin Can thinks your kid's first phone shouldn't come with an algorithm – Old school landline feel, modern-day tech. It's an interesting idea, that's for sure.
- Midea's new dishwasher lifts the load (literally) – I love this design innovation so much!
- Ring completes its 2K glow-up with new spotlight and floodlight cameras – 2K is no 4K though.
- Apple Intelligence finds purpose with these accessibility upgrades – This is what AI should be focusing on – accessibility, not stupid cartoons.
- Apple Sports finally comes to Australia, just don't ask it about the footy – This is uncharacteristically Apple, in that it sucks if you like Australian sports.
- The Narwal Flow 2 turns up the heat on robot cleaning – My favourite robot vac gets a sequel. That's cool.
- Your Kobo is about to track your reading for you – I love it when great products get better for free.
- Finally, a wireless mic that advertises for you – e-ink as a marketing tool on your wireless mic. Brilliant.
- Tineco's new stick vacuums will outlast your will to clean – Because nobody enjoys cleaning!
- A 25-year warranty on a torch? Ledlenser is making the appliance industry look very bad – Give me a 25 year warranty on everything, please
- Dot points: TCL's 2026 SQD-Mini LED range is here just in time for World Cup season – I really want a new TV for the World Cup...
- DJI goes to Cannes (and brings a very small camera) – Barely a month after the Osmo Pocket 4, DJI shows off the 4P with twin lenses.
New reviews
- Sonos Play review: It plays well, but does it wow? – You'll have to read the review to find out!
Best deals this week
Here's a taste of this week's top deals. There are 85 total this week.
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