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Fosi Audio used to be rather easy to categorize. Affordable desktop amplifiers, DACs, and other compact components were its bread and butter, usually with enough performance to make considerably more expensive competitors a little uncomfortable.

That description no longer tells the whole story.

Over the past year, Fosi Audio has pushed much harder into the personal audio category with headphones, IEMs, headphone amplifiers, portable components, and streaming products. We have covered a lot of them at eCoustics, and while not every new product is aimed at the same listener, the broader strategy has become increasingly clear: Fosi wants a much larger piece of the Head-Fi market.

CanJam SoCal 2026, which takes place August 29-30 at the Irvine Marriott in Orange County, will give the company another opportunity to make that case. Fosi Audio is bringing four new products for attendees to see and hear: the ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp, Carbon12 IEM, DISC Nano Portable CD Player, and S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport.

All four are interesting for different reasons, particularly as Fosi continues to stretch beyond the inexpensive desktop amplifiers that established the brand. But we are saving the most intriguing one for last. The S3 Lite takes a decidedly different approach to affordable network streaming, and at $199.99, it could become a rather disruptive little black box for listeners who already own a DAC they have no intention of replacing.

ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp

To start things off, the ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp is designed to bridge music, entertainment, and gaming in a compact desktop component.

According to Fosi Audio’s latest specifications, the ZH1 uses an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and supports PCM playback up to 768kHz and DSD512. That is notably different from the prototype we saw at CanJam London, which was built around a pair of Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs, suggesting Fosi has made some significant changes ahead of production. The balanced headphone output is rated at up to 2,000mW, which should give it enough power for a wide range of full-size headphones.

The ZH1 also incorporates Fosi Audio’s AI-assisted EQ system. Rather than requiring users to manually adjust individual parameters, Fosi says the system can create a personalized EQ curve based on the listener’s stated sonic preferences. Customizable RGB ambient lighting is also included for those who want their desktop audio system to look a little more like their gaming rig.

Multiple input and output options are designed to make the ZH1 suitable for both conventional desktop listening and gaming setups. It also expands Fosi Audio’s growing gaming and personal audio lineup alongside the C3 Gaming DAC & Headphone Amp.

Fosi Audio has not provided a complete set of specifications ahead of CanJam SoCal, but the ZH1 is expected to be available in late September for $149.99.

Carbon12 In-Ear Monitor (IEM)

The next new product Fosi Audio is showing at CanJam SoCal 2026 is the Carbon12 In-Ear Monitor (IEM), and it represents another significant step into a category the company was barely involved in a year ago.

Fosi is positioning the Carbon12 as a premium HiFi IEM built around what it describes as the world’s first UTPT ultrathin pure carbon-fiber diaphragm. Unlike more common composite diaphragms that incorporate carbon fiber with other materials, Fosi says its UTPT design uses pure carbon fiber to combine very low mass with high rigidity.

The Carbon12 uses a 12mm dynamic driver housed inside a TC4 titanium alloy body with a forged carbon-fiber faceplate. Internally, Fosi has incorporated a dual-chamber acoustic structure and balanced pressure-relief system designed to control airflow and driver behavior.

Fosi is tuning the Carbon12 for a warmer presentation with an emphasis on vocals, which should make it rather different from some of the brighter and more analytical IEMs currently crowding the $150 segment. We will reserve judgment on that until we actually hear it at CanJam.

Key Specifications

Price & Availability

The Fosi Audio Carbon12 is expected to be available in late September 2026 for $149.99 MSRP.

DISC Nano Portable CD Player

Physical media has found new life over the past few years, and CDs are increasingly part of that conversation. New CD players are appearing at almost every price point, which makes Fosi Audio’s next CanJam SoCal 2026 debut rather timely.

The DISC Nano Portable CD Player is designed for listeners who want to take their discs with them without carrying something the size of an early 1990s Discman. Fosi describes the DISC Nano as the world’s smallest portable CD player, a claim we would like to see backed up with final dimensions before handing over the trophy.

Its distinctive half exposed disc design puts the CD itself on display, combining some of the tactile appeal of physical media with features that did not exist when portable CD players ruled backpacks and airline tray tables.

The DISC Nano uses a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and incorporates ESP electronic anti-skip protection to improve playback stability when used on the go. Fosi has also equipped it with an internal rechargeable lithium battery, so it does not need to remain tethered to an external power source.

Connectivity is unusually comprehensive for something this small. The DISC Nano provides 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs, along with an optical digital output for use with an external DAC or audio system. Bluetooth transmission also allows CDs to be played through compatible wireless headphones, earbuds, and speakers.

Fosi has also incorporated an N52 magnetic rear panel, allowing the player to attach to compatible magnetic mounts and accessories. Some early descriptions refer to this as MagSafe compatibility, although we would not interpret that as MagSafe wireless charging unless Fosi confirms that capability.

Key Specifications

Price & Availability

The Fosi Audio DISC Nano is expected to arrive in late September 2026 for $99.99 MSRP.

At that price, the DISC Nano might be more than a novelty. A genuinely portable CD player with balanced headphone output, Bluetooth, optical digital output, an internal battery, and a $100 price tag is exactly the sort of product that could make the CD revival a little more interesting.

S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport

Rounding out the new products Fosi Audio is bringing to CanJam SoCal 2026 is the S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport, and this might be the most interesting of the four.

The S3 Lite takes its inspiration from the previously released S3 Streamer/DAC/Preamp, but removes the onboard AKM DAC, analog output stage, and physical audio inputs. The idea is straightforward: if you already own a DAC that you like, why pay for another one?

That makes the S3 Lite less of an all in one streamer and more of a dedicated digital bridge between streaming services and an existing HiFi system. It supports dual band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, along with Google Cast, AirPlay 2, DLNA, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Bluetooth. Fosi also lists Roon Ready support, although the company said in July that certification was still being completed, so we would like to see final confirmation on that point.

More importantly, calling it the S3 Lite undersells one aspect of the design. The S3 Lite provides USB-A, optical, and coaxial digital outputs, whereas the full S3 does not offer USB or coaxial digital output. For anyone planning to use an external DAC, that actually makes the less expensive model more flexible.

The USB output supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, although DSD is not currently supported. Fosi also includes a 10 band graphic EQ, a Bluetooth remote with a claimed 15 meter operating range, and a 12V trigger output that can power compatible downstream components on and off with the streamer. The chassis measures just 147mm wide, making it easy to integrate into a desktop or compact two channel system.

Ultimately, the S3 Lite is not trying to replace your DAC, preamplifier, or entire system. It is designed for listeners who already spent money on those things and simply want to add modern streaming, including USB digital output, without dismantling everything else.

The Competition

FiiO’s SR11, currently selling for around $119.99, is probably its most direct rival because it is also a dedicated digital streamer with USB, optical, and coaxial outputs and support for PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz. The catch is that its streaming ecosystem is considerably narrower, concentrating primarily on Roon Ready and AirPlay.

The WiiM Pro at $169 and WiiM Pro Plus at $249 offer considerably broader software and streaming service support, along with excellent app integration, but their optical and coaxial digital outputs top out at 24-bit/192kHz and neither offers USB audio output. If you are only feeding an external DAC, the Pro Plus’ upgraded internal DAC becomes largely irrelevant.

Moving up to $349, the WiiM Ultra adds USB digital output, HDMI ARC, analog and phono inputs, a 3.5 inch touchscreen, an internal ESS DAC, subwoofer output, and much more extensive EQ capability. Its digital outputs, including USB, are limited to 24-bit/192kHz, but it is clearly the more comprehensive system hub if you actually need all of those additional features.

The Bluesound NODE NANO, at roughly $429, is another strong alternative with BluOS, an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC, USB, coaxial, and optical digital outputs, Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and access to a much broader streaming ecosystem. It tops out at 24-bit/192kHz, but BluOS remains one of the more mature streaming platforms available at this end of the market.

Comparison

Price & Availability

The S3 Lite is available now for $199.99 MSRP.

The Bottom Line 

Fosi Audio’s presence at CanJam throughout 2026 makes one thing increasingly clear: the company is no longer content being known primarily for affordable desktop amplifiers. Personal audio has become a significant part of its strategy, and the four products heading to CanJam SoCal cover a surprisingly broad range of categories.

The ZH1 looks like a lot of desktop DAC/headphone amplifier for $149.99, while the Carbon12 represents Fosi’s most ambitious move yet into IEMs. The DISC Nano is certainly the most visually distinctive of the group and arrives at an intriguing $99.99, although portable CD players with balanced headphone outputs and Bluetooth already exist.

The S3 Lite is the one we find most interesting. Dedicated digital transports are nothing new, but Fosi’s combination of USB, optical, and coaxial outputs, support for PCM up to 768kHz over USB, eight streaming protocols, Wi-Fi 6, and a $199.99 price makes it an unusually focused option for listeners who already own a DAC they have no desire to replace. Instead of adding more hardware simply to make the specification sheet longer, Fosi removed the parts that audience does not need. That makes a lot of sense.

Of course, specifications and aggressive pricing only tell us so much. The eCoustics team will be at CanJam SoCal 2026 on August 29 and 30, where we will get a closer look at all four products and share our listening impressions after the show.

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The iPhone 17 closed the gap between Apple’s entry-level phone and the pricier Pro models last year with long-overdue display upgrades, alongside nifty camera and durability improvements. Apple also made new features like Center Stage (its new selfie camera) and Dual Capture available across the entire lineup, making the iPhone 17 an even better value.

A year later, it has become the most affordable entry-level flagship across brands, thanks to Samsung and Google raising the prices of their entry-level models due to a surge in RAM prices driven by AI and data centers.

August is usually when we suggest to avoid buying a new iPhone and to wait for the next one. But things are looking different in 2026.

As we inch closer to the next-generation iPhone announcement on Sept. 9, the iPhone 17 is holding strong against its Android rivals. And it will have to compete with newer models till March 2027, since the iPhone 18 won’t launch until then alongside the iPhone 18E, according to the rumors.

So what if you need a new iPhone before March or don’t want to pay $1,100 or more for an iPhone 18 Pro? I charged up my iPhone 17 and revisited Apple’s standard model this week to find out if it’s still worth buying.

Display, durability and camera upgrades keep it strong

The iPhone 17 arrived last year with multiple major upgrades, many of which you’ll appreciate daily. 

The screen is finally on par with Apple’s Pro models and every other Android counterpart. It runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which also adapts to the on-screen content to save battery. I compared it to the iPhone 15 and the smoother visuals were immediately noticeable when scrolling through the home screen. It makes the phone feel faster and more responsive.

 The display is also brighter and less reflective than its predecessor. It is immediately noticeable when you’re navigating outdoors or need to do anything on your phone under bright lights. I put it against the new Pixel 11, which is equally bright, but iPhone 17’s smaller bezels make its screen more pleasing to look at.

Apple said its 2025 iPhones were more durable than ever. While I haven’t used the iPhone 17 for a year straight, I have daily driven the iPhone 17 Pro Max without a case for 10 months. (Yes, I’m that guy.) Compared to my 2024 iPhone 16 Pro, the 17 Pro has fared better against scratches and drops thanks to its Ceramic Shield 2 glass, the same found on the iPhone 17.

Some might dismiss it as a minor feature, but the 17’s selfie camera is the best upgrade, in my opinion. The new 18-megapixel square sensor is more of a quality-of-life upgrade than just a mere number bump because it lets you shoot landscape selfies without needing to rotate your phone. The viewfinder automatically repositions its framing based on the number of people in the photo.

I love the camera for two reasons. First, it enables Center Stage, which tracks you (even if you’re moving) on video calls (both on FaceTime and third-party apps like WhatsApp). It’s a handy feature for when I need to move around doing chores, but the camera keeps me in the frame and helps me be less annoying for my girlfriend.

Second, the square sensor improves stability in selfie video recording. I live with a condition that causes constant hand tremors, which makes it difficult to record myself on phones. The iPhone 17 has been helpful as I’m less self-conscious and more confident that I’ll get stable footage instead of a blurry video.

As for the two cameras on the back, they are far more capable than its predecessor. The iPhone 17 has two rear cameras: a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide, which is an upgrade over the 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16. You’ll get sharp photos, better indoor shots and a smooth video experience. It misses out on a telephoto camera that the 17 Pro has, so there’s no optical zoom, but these are all the cameras most people would ever need.

iOS 26 has its flaws — I can’t wait for iOS 27

The iPhone 17 runs iOS 26, which offers more translucent controls, customization options and Apple Intelligence features. However, my experience has been buggy since the beginning. On multiple occasions, I’ve missed calls and alarms because my iPhone automatically lowered its system volume to a minimum. I didn’t put it in Do Not Disturb or Focus modes. Other times, the keyboard starts lagging out of nowhere, and whenever I need to access the Control Center while watching a video in landscape mode, my controls are all over the place.

Some of these issues have already been fixed on the iOS 27 Public Beta, which I’ve been running on my iPhone 17 Pro Max.

For starters, I can set different volume levels for the call ringer, alarms and media. The Control Center is now better optimized for horizontal orientation, keeping my customizations right where I want them. Then there are smart features, like spatial reframing in Photos for using generative AI to “change” the camera’s position when an image was taken. There’s also an all-new Siri mode in the Camera app.

In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test, which includes streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, Apple’s entry-level iPhone went from full to 98%, which matches the results of the iPhone 17 Pro. It has the second-longest battery life of any phone CNET has tested in the past 12 months, tied with the OnePlus 15 and Motorola Razr (2026); behind the first-place phone is the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, subsequent iOS 26 updates along with continued use have had an impact on the battery life of my personal iPhone 17, causing more overnight idle drain. That’s why I’m looking forward to the upcoming iOS 27 update. If the beta is any indication, it should only improve the iPhone 17 experience with smarter features and better stability.

It has fared well, but what about six months from now?

The baseline model stacks well against the competition. The iPhone 17 was launched at $799, which is $100 less than the $899 Samsung Galaxy S26 and the new Google Pixel 11. But with phone prices increasing across the board and new rumors pointing to higher iPhone prices, the iPhone 17’s current price is good if you are looking for a phone upgrade.

Those notable upgrades make it worth the $799 price, which might not remain the same in a few days from now, when Apple announces the iPhone 18 Pro and its first-ever foldable iPhone Ultra.

While the iPhone 18 is tipped to be announced next year, the Pro series could get a price hike, resulting in a wider price gap between the entry-level and top-of-the-line models.

To compensate, Apple could push the ceiling of its base iPhone and make it more expensive, even before the iPhone 18 launches. This is just speculation right now, based on Apple’s recent price hikes. But the base iPhone has remained at $799 ($829 without a carrier discount) since 2020, and after the new pricing on Macs, iPads and several other products, it makes much more sense to raise the barrier to a new entry-level model than ever.

As for those willing to wait for the iPhone 18, it is unlikely to be a major upgrade. Apple is expected to reserve the most prominent changes like a reduced Dynamic Island and newer cameras for its Pro models. Moreover, a recent rumor on Weibo suggests that the iPhone 18 could align more closely with a lower-cost iPhone 18E model. It might not receive a similarly powerful chip as its Pro siblings, for instance. It’s a similar move Google has made with its base Pixel 11 and budget Pixel 10A.

Given the lukewarm rumors regarding the upcoming model and iPhone 17’s current price tag (and the looming price hike), I think last year’s model is still an excellent deal. And for the first time in my career, I’d say if you want a new iPhone before Sept. 9, it is totally fine to get the iPhone 17 now rather than wait and see what the 18 Pro may bring.

Prakhar Khanna is a Writer at CNET with bylines in ZDNET, Forbes, and other major outlets. A digital nomad at heart, he thrives in chaos–mixing deadlines with travel, often writing stories on planes, trains, and cafe tables while hunting down the best pizza spots wherever he lands. His backpack usually carries one phone too many, and his playlists are stacked with 2000s Bollywood. Find him across social media @ParkyPrakhar.
Contact: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com

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It’s no exaggeration to say the large language models that power AI bots like ChatGPT and Gemini are changing the world. Many of us are now relying on them for coding, writing, summarizing, and searching the web. Whatever directions AI goes in over the next few years, LLMs will be part of that future.

If you use ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or any of the other AI platforms, then you’re using an LLM. What’s less commonly known is that these LLMs can be run locally, on your own computer. The key benefits are offline access and greater privacy, because you’re not sending anything to the cloud for anyone else to analyze or review.

You’re also not paying any AI companies a monthly subscription or hitting any usage rates. Numerous LLMs are available to download for free, including from big names like Meta and Google. Though they tend not to be as advanced or as speedy as the LLMs inside the apps you have to pay for, they’re capable enough for everyday use, and you can pick and choose between them as needed.

There is more maintenance involved here, and you lose some of the convenience that comes with just loading up the ChatGPT app. (You’ll need to handle updates yourself, for example.) However, you get a more personalized and private AI system all to yourself, and it’s not difficult to get started.

What You Need to Get Started

You can run local LLMs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, though macOS tends to be the preferred platform for most AI enthusiasts. Everything is more unified and consistent on Macs—unlike Windows PCs, only one company makes them—and Apple Silicon chips combine the CPU, GPU, and RAM together, which AI models like.

Whichever platform you go for, having plenty of RAM helps. The bare minimum is 8 GB, though if that’s all you’ve got, you’ll be somewhat limited in terms of the size of the LLMs you can run and how fast they’ll go. Sixteen gigs is better, and 32 or more is required if you want to use the biggest and fastest models. For the best results, you need plenty of VRAM on a dedicated GPU (anything above 8 GB will make a difference), as this type of memory is optimized for the kind of tasks AI models do.

An AI chatbot like ChatGPT relies on the cloud.Photograph: David Nield

If you own a Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) portable Bluetooth speaker system, stop using it.

Cambridge Audio has issued a voluntary product safety recall covering every YOYO (M) because its rechargeable lithium-ion battery can overheat and enter thermal runaway. According to Cambridge, affected products can catch fire, emit smoke and eject hot battery material, including while being charged.

The recall is unusually broad. It does not apply to one production batch or a specific serial-number range. Every YOYO (M) sold between 2016 and 2023 is included, regardless of purchase date.

Cambridge says it has received a small number of reports involving batteries overheating during charging and resulting in fire and/or smoke. The company says no injuries have been reported.

Which Cambridge Audio YOYO Speakers Are Recalled?

The recall applies specifically to the Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) in all three color versions:

Cambridge also identifies the corresponding serial-number prefixes as FD C10930, FD C10931 and FD C10965. The model information can be found on the bottom of the speaker.

The recall does not currently include the YOYO (S) or YOYO (L).

What Is Wrong With the Battery?

The YOYO (M) contains an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery that Cambridge says can overheat and enter thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway occurs when rising battery temperature triggers reactions that generate still more heat. In severe cases, a lithium-ion battery can produce smoke, flames and extremely hot material.

Cambridge says the reported incidents occurred during charging. France’s official RappelConso product recall database also states that examples of the product have caught fire while being charged.

Cambridge says the YOYO (M) met applicable safety standards when it was designed and manufactured. After receiving reports years later, the company decided it could not identify a reliably safe subset of products and recalled the entire model line.

What Should YOYO (M) Owners Do?

Cambridge’s instructions are straightforward:

• Stop using the YOYO (M) immediately
• Switch it off and disconnect it from power
• Do not recharge it
• Store it away from combustible materials
• Do not open the speaker or attempt to remove the battery
• Do not attempt a repair
• Do not put it in household trash or ordinary recycling
• Do not ship it back using regular mail or an ordinary courier

Lithium-ion batteries require specific transportation and disposal procedures, so owners should wait for instructions applicable to their country.

This is not a DIY battery-replacement project. Leave the screwdriver in the drawer.

What Should U.S. Owners Do?

As of August 25, 2026, Cambridge Audio has announced the safety recall but has not yet finalized the remedy for customers in the United States.

That means Cambridge has not confirmed whether U.S. owners will receive a refund, replacement or another form of compensation.

U.S. customers should register through Cambridge Audio’s recall support system so the company can contact them when the process is finalized. Owners should not independently mail the speaker back or dispose of it while waiting for those instructions.

Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) Recall Information

What About Owners Outside the United States?

The remedy varies by market.

In the United Kingdom, Cambridge has notified Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards and is asking owners to complete its YOYO (M) Assessment Form.

In the European Union, Cambridge has notified the relevant safety authorities, including the EU Safety Gate system and France’s RappelConso service.

France’s government recall database currently lists a refund as the compensation method and specifies that returns must use transportation suitable for lithium-ion batteries.

Cambridge says procedures are still being finalized in a number of other markets, including Canada, Australia, Japan, Israel and New Zealand.

Why This Recall Matters

The YOYO (M) was sold for roughly seven years, from 2016 through 2023.

That matters because many of these speakers may no longer be in the hands of their original buyers. Portable audio products get moved between rooms, handed down to family members and forgotten in closets until someone decides to charge them again. Owners therefore shouldn’t assume an older YOYO (M) has escaped the recall simply because it has worked without problems for years.

The model designation is what matters.

The Bottom Line

Cambridge Audio’s YOYO (M) recall requires immediate attention because the potential failure involves an internal lithium-ion battery and the risk of fire.

If you own one, switch it off, disconnect it and follow Cambridge Audio’s recall instructions for your country. Do not charge, open, ship or dispose of the speaker until Cambridge provides the appropriate procedure.

For U.S. customers, the remaining unanswered question is compensation. Cambridge has not yet announced whether owners will receive a refund, replacement or another remedy.

We will update this story when that information becomes available.

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Bandai spent two years chopping down a Tamagotchi so that it could survive on one hand. The Tamagotchi Ring is the end result: a 28-millimeter egg with a color screen, two functional side buttons, and 30 characters taken from three decades of the same hungry little creatures that were formerly fastened to backpacks. Official pre-orders began in Japan on August 27, 2026, with boxes shipping in February 2027.

The original Tamagotchi from 1996 was roughly 50 millimeters tall, but the new Tamagotchi Ring is only 28 millimeters tall and 23 millimeters wide, which Bandai says is 56% of the original body size. The ring fastening on the back of the Tamagotchi Ring increases the overall thickness, which now measures 35 millimeters. Screenwise, you’re getting a tiny 0.56-inch color LCD, the smallest Bandai has ever used in one of these things. Three little dots printed under the glass are designed to seem like the iconic buttons we all know and love, but they don’t actually do anything. The switches, on the other hand, are a different story, the left and right edges have been painted to match the rear half of the shell.

Tamagotchi Paradise – Orange Tropics

• ZOOM. Nurture with a spin! Zoom into Paradise! Turn the dial to take care of your Tama. Zoom from cell to space for traditional nurturing play – clean…
• CHARACTERS. Raise more than 50,000 Tamas. Depending on the environment and the way you take care of your Tama, you can grow over 50 different…
• CONNECT. Connect with friend’s device directly to see how your Tamas interact – is it a good match or a bad match? And, now, when you connect, you can…

The Tamagotchi Ring has a total of 64 components, 52 of which are electronic and the remaining 12 are plastic. That is less than the 116 components used in the most recent full-size Tamagotchi model, Tamagotchi Paradise. So, how did Bandai get there? They simply removed the USB port from the toy and created a completely new charging case. The old protection circuitry that used to protect the connector has been removed, freeing up some room within a body that was simply too small to accommodate a coin cell, thus the rechargeable battery has been transferred to the ring. To power it back up, use the specific dock, which is color-matched to the rear of the Tamagotchi Ring for an authentic look. Simply flip the transparent cover over the toy as it sits proudly on your desk.

When it comes time to buy, you can choose from three distinct finishes. You can choose from Pink & Pearl White, which has a pearl-colored frame, or Light Blue & Metallic Gold or Black & Metallic Silver for a more metallic style. Each box includes a matching dock and a little spacer to make the band suit lower Japanese ring sizes, allowing you to wear it even if your ring size is 10 or 14. Size 14 is rather large, with an inner diameter of around 17.3 millimeters, which is roughly equivalent to a US 7, although size 10 is closer to a US 5.5. Anyone outside of that range may need some custom modifications.

Wear one of these Tamagotchi Rings and you’ll be shocked how much it feels like the classic Tamagotchi we all know and adore. You can feed it, clean it, play minigames, and design its room. The level of care you provide also decides which adult character you will receive from a roster of 30. Bandai has organized the characters by era, so you have a number of classic faces like Mametchi and Kuchipatchi from 1996, newer ones from the 2004 Plus line such as Memetchi and Flowertchi, and of course stars from 2008 onward like Lovelitchi and Melodytchi. If you take good care of the Tamagotchi, or if you don’t, you might be able to unlock a secret character, but there’s no phone app, Bluetooth, or cloud save, because the Tamagotchi’s life is confined to that small piece of glass.

In Japan, you can get one for 7,700 yen, which is about $52. To prove how popular they are, Bandai took orders in August and they sold out so quickly that they had to close the original pre-order window early and even open a second reservation period the very next morning. Unfortunately, anyone looking to buy one outside of Japan must rely on proxy shopping sites. The few resellers who did list them early on were charging a premium, roughly $80, and they quickly sold out. No international release date has been announced, however they were on display at this year’s Tokyo Toy Show in August.

• Nvidia is looking to set up a political action committee (PAC)
• Many companies have set up PACs to help shape US policy
• The US mid-term elections have seen a record level of corporate funding

Companies using their money to shape policy in the United States is nothing new – in fact, it’s the whole reason the US is so dependent on car-centric infrastructure and transport thanks to the work of numerous motoring lobbying groups.

Groups such as Political Action Committees (PACs) donate to politicians aligned with their interests in the hopes of helping them win elections. The capital they provide is tax exempt and can be used for campaign advertisements and canvassing.

AI leaders Anthropic and OpenAI are notable signatories to the letter.

Around 120 companies and entities from the world of tech, finance, telecoms and related industries have signed an open letter calling for greater collective action on cyber defence by society and business in the face of growing AI-enabled security threats.

AI leaders Anthropic and OpenAI are notable signatories to the letter – alongside companies such as Google, AWS, Visa, ServiceNow, PwC, Oracle, Microsoft, MasterCard, IBM, Hugging Face, Deutsche Telekom, Cloudflare and Accenture – warning of “a limited window to strengthen cyber defences”.

“In the coming months, AI-enabled cyberattacks will become far more widespread and sophisticated as models around the world become increasingly capable,” the letter – published yesterday (27 August) – said, warning that vital infrastructure underpinning hospitals, water treatment plants and internet access could be at risk.

The countermeasure to this, according to the letter, is to use advancing AI tech “to fix weaknesses that have accumulated for years” in order to “make our digital world much more secure”.

The signatories wrote: “We call on leaders across industry and government to bring the full weight of their technology, resources and expertise to this effort. Put cyber-capable AI in the hands of defenders, starting with the teams protecting essential services.”

The parties outlined three key collective response principles to AI cyberthreats: recognising that status-quo security won’t be sufficient; empowering more defenders with cyber-capable AI; and mobilising a collective response.

“Security teams, particularly for critical infrastructure, have been historically under-resourced and need a surge in tools and resources,” the letter said.

It added that “sharing tools, practical knowledge and verified fixes” can allow one organisation’s security advancements to “help protect many others”, and noted that “no single company should control the future”.

The letter referred to a “defenders’ window”, during which, it said, organisations, cybersecurity companies, technology partners, governments and frontier AI companies should now “accelerate defenders’ priorities with tools, funding and hands-on support – especially for critical infrastructure organisations with limited budgets”.

The signatories said that for any organisation, cyber defence should be “an immediate leadership priority”, suggesting that entities use “capable, lower-cost models for broad coverage, and apply frontier capabilities to the hardest problems”.

Cybersecurity companies and technology partners should lead the defence response against AI-enabled attacks, the letter said, through testing, intelligence sharing, and making “AI-powered defence accessible and deployable for critical-infrastructure operators”.

Governments, according to the letter’s authors, should coordinate cyber defence at local, national and international levels while funding and expediting its deployments.

“Give hospitals, water utilities and local governments access to capable defensive AI, authorised testing and hands-on support through trusted security providers and partners,” they said, while urging that “costs” be imposed on attackers.

Frontier AI companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI also saw recommendations to them put forth in the open letter, including that they: provide responsible model access alongside significant funding, training and hands-on support; build observability and security tools, ensure agentic identities are traceable and accountable, and share best practices in continuous monitoring; invest in authorised testing, private disclosure and verified fixes; and share tools, playbooks and credible threat assessments with governments, security partners and open-source maintainers.

AI models created by Anthropic and by OpenAI have been at the centre of recent hacking incidents in which they behaved in unintended and unforeseen ways during cybersecurity testing scenarios.

Earlier this week, Microsoft founder Bill Gates published a blogpost detailing his own predictions, apprehensions, hopes and suggestions around the impact that AI will have on society.

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