This was another busy week for tech news, with Valve revealing its new Steam Machine console and Steam Frame headset, Mozilla overhauling Firefox, a new update for Visual Studio Code, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

The Big News

The new Steam Machine is taking on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X

After months of rumors, Valve has finally revealed the new Steam Machine, a home console that can run PC games. It runs the same SteamOS software as the Steam Deck and could be a fantastic alternative to an Xbox or PlayStation console.

I already hate Firefox’s upcoming ‘AI Window’ feature

Mozilla is pushing ahead with AI features in Firefox, despite much criticism from Firefox users and occasional technical problems. The company is now working on an ‘AI Window’ for Firefox, which it promises will be “our most intelligent and personalized experience yet.”

Visual Studio Code just got a new coat of paint and a smarter terminal

Visual Studio Code version 1.106 has officially released. This update focuses on AI integration, includes a significant refresh of the user interface, and makes the integrated terminal smarter than ever before. It’s a substantial update for everyone.

Valve releases Proton 10.0-3 with massive improvements

Valve has released Proton 10.0-3, the newest stable version of the compatibility layer that allows Linux and Steam Deck users to run thousands of Windows games. The update brings better stability, performance boosts, and support for a huge list of titles.

Belkin recalls over 80,000 chargers and batteries after burn injuries reported

Battery recalls are nothing new but still inconvenient, especially when the products were sold widely. Belkin sold over 80,000 battery packs and wireless stands before issuing this recall, making it a significant concern for many consumers.

Disney+ is getting the worst feature imaginable

Disney+ will soon allow users to create and consume AI-generated content on the platform. This was revealed by Disney CEO Bob Iger during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call.

Your Google Messages group chats are about to get better

Google is testing a highly requested group chat feature that will allow users to @mention someone in a chat, similar to how you can on social media or Facebook Messenger. This feature will soon be available to all users.

Google backs down in its attack on Android sideloading

Sideloading is a core component of Android, but recent major changes proposed by Google sparked developer backlash. Following the outcry, Google is walking back some of the changes, offering a lifeline to power users and developers.

Tor released Tails Linux 7.2: Here’s what’s new

The Tor Project dropped a massive update with Tails 7.2. This release brings a variety of upgrades and quality-of-life improvements that users who rely on anonymity will appreciate.

Vivaldi is getting better tab synchronization and a Start Page overhaul

The Vivaldi browser, already a compelling alternative to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, is improving its tab synchronization. Additionally, there are enhancements to the new tab page, performance controls, and the built-in mail client.

Valve’s ‘Steam Frame’ headset is a Quest 3 killer, and here’s why

Virtual reality headsets have struggled to gain traction among consumers, even gamers. Valve’s new Steam Frame headset is positioned as a strong competitor to devices like the Meta Quest 3, potentially changing the VR landscape.

Amazon Fire TV cracking down on sideloaded apps

Amazon is rolling out a strict new policy aimed at blocking illegal streaming apps sideloaded onto its Fire TV Stick devices. This crackdown will apply to all Fire TV devices and sticks as part of Amazon’s efforts to combat piracy.

Homebrew releases big 5.0 update

The popular macOS and Linux package manager Homebrew has released version 5.0, bringing faster downloads, improved hardware support, and an important security change for Mac software.

LibreOffice fixes font problems

LibreOffice is improving its font replacement feature to keep up with major shifts in Microsoft’s standard document fonts. This is great news for users working across different operating systems or dealing with Microsoft or macOS-originated files.

Google is about to fix one of my least favorite Pixel “features”

Google Pixel phones are popular for their clean and customizable software experience. However, one complaint has been the non-removable “at-a-glance” widget inside the Pixel launcher. Google is preparing to address this issue.

Windows 11 just got a big passkey upgrade

With the November 2025 security update, Windows 11 now supports third-party passkey managers natively. This improvement ends the disjointed experience Passkeys used to have for users not fully committed to Microsoft’s built-in tools.

Google killed old Nest thermostats, but hackers revived them

Google recently ended support for 1st and 2nd generation Nest Thermostats, disabling some features on still functional devices. Thankfully, the open-source community has developed a workaround to restore their original capabilities.

Microsoft releases emergency update KB5071959 for Windows 10 ESU enrollment bug

Microsoft dropped an out-of-band update to fix a critical bug preventing Windows 10 users from enrolling in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This is vital as Windows 10 reached its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025.

The latest Pixel Drop delivers battery life boost and smarter notifications

Google is rolling out a fresh update for Pixel phones that includes new image editing tools in Google Messages, more organized notifications, and enhanced battery-saving features.

AMD’s Zen 7 CPUs might be a huge upgrade

While AMD’s current flagship Zen 5 CPUs remain strong against Intel’s latest chips, AMD is hard at work developing Zen 7 and beyond, promising significant improvements in the future.

Now’s your chance to get Paramount+ before the price hike

Paramount+ plans to increase its US subscription prices early in 2026. If you’re not yet a subscriber, it might be a good time to sign up before the prices rise.

These Samsung TVs are getting a software overhaul

Samsung announced the Vision AI Companion platform, which transforms TVs from passive viewing devices into connected, conversational hubs. Users will be able to interact with their TVs using natural dialogue.

Google Photos is getting new editing features

Google Photos, already a handy app for photo viewing and quick edits, is rolling out new AI-powered editing features that users are likely to make frequent use of.

Tesla now offering rentals at surprisingly low prices

Tesla has launched a rental program where customers can drive one of its cars for three to seven days, starting at just $60 per day plus taxes and fees. Rentals include perks such as unlimited mileage, free Supercharging, and access to Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

Gmail is about to get two helpful new label features

Google is enhancing Gmail with new filters and labels to improve organization. These new labels are expected to roll out just in time for the holiday season.

Morphie’s new battery case makes the iPhone Air thick again

Mophie launched new Juice Pack battery cases for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. These cases extend battery life and provide stronger protection but compromise on the slim design Apple is known for.

Windows 11 26H1 is coming, but only for some PCs

Windows 11 traditionally receives one major annual update. Next year, an additional update, 26H1, is expected but will be available only for select PCs.

The Google TV Streamer is replacing Google Assistant

Google’s Gemini for TV is rolling out on Google TV Streamer devices, replacing the old Google Assistant with a more capable and responsive assistant that handles complex queries better.

Venmo’s debit card will now pay you to use it

Venmo has introduced a new rewards program for its debit card, offering cashback—a feature more common with credit cards—potentially surpassing many credit card rewards.

This breached credentials dump has millions of actively used passwords

Many smaller data breaches often go unreported but can be equally harmful, especially if you reuse passwords. This latest breached credentials dump is a reminder of the importance of unique passwords.

Firefox is blocking more fingerprinting methods to improve privacy

Mozilla’s Firefox 145 update introduces major privacy protections designed to cut the number of users trackable by browser fingerprinting by half, significantly enhancing user security.

Samsung Health is copying a popular Apple Fitness+ feature, with limited free access

Samsung is partnering with iFIT to integrate a comprehensive library of expert-guided workouts into the Samsung Health app, closing a feature gap compared to Apple Fitness+.

Apple TV is not doing ads—at least for now

Unlike many streaming services that are adopting ad-supported lower-priced tiers, Apple TV remains ad-free for the time being, though Apple hasn’t completely ruled out ads in the future.

Raspberry Pi just got a pro upgrade with Pi Vision 10.1

SECO launched the Pi Vision 10.1 CM5, a rugged industrial human-machine interface platform based on the powerful Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5. This device transforms the flexible Raspberry Pi into a professional-grade solution.

Google Play purchases can’t sync with Movies Anywhere anymore

Google Play has ended support for syncing movie purchases with the Movies Anywhere platform, affecting users who relied on seamless access across services.

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