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The best digital frames for 2026

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3 weeks ago

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A digital photo frame shouldn’t be complicated. At its best, it’s just a good-looking screen that can be set up quickly that reliably shows the photos you care about. Unfortunately, that’s not always how things play out. The market is flooded with cheap digital frames that promise simplicity but end up delivering washed-out displays, clunky apps and a frustrating experience — leading you to abandon it after a week.

That’s a shame, because a good digital frame can be really enjoyable. Most of us have thousands of photos sitting on our phones that never make it beyond the camera roll, even though they’re exactly the kind of moments worth seeing every day. A solid frame gives those images a permanent home, whether it’s family photos cycling in the living room or shared albums updating automatically for relatives across the country. We’ve tested a range of smart photo frames to separate the genuinely useful options from the forgettable junk, and these are the ones that are actually worth putting on display.

Best digital picture frames for 2026

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AURA

Using an Aura frame felt like the company looked at the existing digital photo frame market and said “we have to be able to do better than this.” And they have. The Carver Mat is extremely simple to set up, has a wonderful screen, feels well-constructed and inoffensive and has some smart features that elevate it beyond its competitors (most of which don’t actually cost that much less).

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The Carver Mat reminds me a little bit of an Amazon Echo Show in its design. It’s a landscape-oriented device with a wide, angled base that tapers to a thin edge at the top. Because of this design, you can’t orient it in portrait mode, like some other frames I tried, but Aura has a software trick to get around that (more on that in a minute). The whole device is made of a matte plastic in either black or white that has a nice grip, doesn’t show fingerprints and just overall feels like an old-school photo frame.

The 10.1-inch display is the best I’ve seen on any digital photo frame I’ve tested. Yes, the 1,280 x 800 resolution is quite low by modern standards, but it provides enough detail that all of my photos look crisp and clear. Beyond the resolution, the Carver’s screen has great color reproduction and viewing angles, and deals well with glare from the sun and lights alike. It’s not a touchscreen, but that doesn’t bother me because it prevents the screen from getting covered in fingerprints — and the app takes care of everything you need so it’s not required.

One control you will find on the frame is a way to skip forwards or backwards through the images loaded on it. You do this by swiping left or right on the top of the frame; you can also double-tap this area to “love” an image. From what I can tell, there’s no real utility in this aside from notifying the person who uploaded that pic that someone else appreciated it. But the swipe backwards and forwards gestures are definitely handy if you want to skip a picture or scroll back and see something you missed.

Setting the frame up was extremely simple. Once plugged in, I just downloaded the Aura app, made an account and tapped “add frame.” From there, it asked if the frame was for me or if I was setting it up as a gift (this mode lets you pre-load images so the device is ready to go as soon as someone plugs it in). Adding images is as simple as selecting things from your phone’s photo library. I could see my iPhone camera roll and any albums I had created in my iCloud Photos library, including shared albums that other people contribute to. You can also connect your Google Photos account and use albums from there.

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One of the smartest features Aura offers is a continuous scan of those albums — so if you have one of your kids or pets and regularly add new images to it, they’ll show up on your frame without you needing to do anything. Of course, this has the potential for misuse. If you have a shared album with someone and you assign it to your Aura frame, any pictures that someone else adds will get shared to your frame, something you may not actually want. Just something to keep in mind.

My only main caveat for the Carver Mat, and Aura in general, is that an internet connection is required and the only way to get photos on the device is via the cloud. There’s a limited selection of photos downloaded to the device, but the user has no control over that, and everything else is pulled in from the cloud. Aura says there are no limits on how many images you can add, so you don’t need to worry about running out of storage. But if you don’t want yet another device that needs to be online all the time, Aura might not be for you. Most other frames I tested let you directly load photos via an SD card or an app.

The Aura app also lets you manage settings on the frame like how often it switches images (anywhere from every 30 seconds to every 24 hours, with lots of granular choices in between) or what order to display photos (chronologically or shuffled). There’s also a “photo match” feature, which intelligently handles the issue of having lots of images in both portrait and landscape orientation. Since the Carver Mat is designed to be used in landscape, the photo match feature makes it so portrait pictures are displayed side-by-side, with two images filling the frame instead of having black bars on either side. It also tries to pull together complementary pairs of images, like displaying the same person or pulling together two pics that were shot around the same time.

Overall, the Carver Mat checks all the boxes. Great screen, simple but classy design, a good app, no subscription required. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than some competing options, but all the cheaper options are also noticeably worse in a number of ways. And if you don’t want a mat, there’s a standard Carver that costs $149 and otherwise has the same features and specs as the Caver Mat I tested.

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Pros
  • High-quality display with minimal reflections
  • App makes set-up and management of your photos simple
  • You can store an unlimited number of pictures in Aura’s cloud
  • Good integration with Apple iCloud Photos and Google Photos
  • Elegant, well-constructed design
  • Smartly displays two portrait photos side-by-side on the landscape display
  • No subscription required
Cons
  • A little pricey
  • Aura’s app and cloud are the only way to get photos on the frame
  • Can’t be set up in portrait orientation
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PhotoSpring

If you’re looking to spend less, PhotoSpring’s Classic Digital Frame is the best option I’ve seen that costs less than $100 (just barely at $99). The PhotoSpring model comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the same 1,280 x 800 resolution as the Carver Mat. The screen is definitely not as good as the Carver, though, with worse viewing angles and a lot more glare from light sources. That said, images still look sharp and colorful, especially considering you’re not going to be continuously looking at this display.

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PhotoSpring’s frames are basically Android tablets with some custom software to make them work as single-purpose photo devices. That means you’ll use the touchscreen to dig into settings, flip through photos and otherwise manipulate the device. Changing things like how often the frame changes images can’t be done in the app. While doing things on the frame itself are fine, I prefer Aura’s system of managing everything on the app.

However, PhotoSpring does have a good advantage here: you can pop in a microSD card or USB drive to transfer images directly to the frame, no internet connection required. You can also use the PhotoSpring app to sync albums and single images as well, which obviously requires the internet. But once those pics have been transferred, you’re good to go. Additionally, you can upload pictures on a computer via the PhotoSpring website or sync Google Photos albums.

As for the PhotoSpring hardware itself, it looks good from the front, giving off traditional photo frame vibes. The back is rather plasticky and doesn’t feel very premium, but overall it’s fine for the price. There’s an adjustable stand so you can set the frame up in portrait or landscape mode, and you can set the software to crop your photos or just display them with borders if the orientation doesn’t fit.

PhotoSpring also has a somewhat unusual offering: a frame that has a rechargeable battery. The $99 model just uses AC power, but a $139 option lets you unplug the frame and pass it around to people so they can swipe through your photos albums on the device. This feels like a niche use case, and I think most people will be better served saving their $40, but it’s something to consider.

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One of my favorite things about PhotoSpring is that they don’t nickel-and-dime you with subscription services. There aren’t any limits on how many images you can sync, nor are things like Google Photos locked behind a paywall. The combo of a solid feature set, a fine display and a low entry price point make the PhotoSpring a good option if you want to save some cash.

Pros
  • Solid display
  • Works in portrait or landscape orientation
  • Lets you load pictures from multiple sources, including the PhotoSpring app, an SD card, USB drive or via Google Photos
  • Inoffensive design
  • No subscription required
Cons
  • Touchscreen controls mean the display is prone to picking up fingerprints
  • Display picks up more reflections than the Aura
  • Feels a little cheap
  • Software isn’t the most refined
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Google

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If you want a device that works great as a digital photo frame that can do a lot more than the above options, consider Google’s Nest Hub Max. It has a 10-inch touchscreen with a 1,280 x 800 resolution and can connect to a host of Google services and other apps to help you control your smart home devices. It also works great for playing videos from YouTube or other services, or streaming music thanks to its large built-in speaker. At $229, it’s significantly more expensive than our other options, but there’s no question it can do a lot more.

From a photos perspective, you’ll need to use Google Photos. If you’re not already using the app, switching your library over might be too much of a task to make it worthwhile. But if you do use Google Photos, signing in with your Google account when you set up the Hub Max makes accessing your images quite simple. You can pick specific albums, have it stream your entire library or pull things from various recommendations it offers up.

Once that’s set up, you can customize the slideshow as you’d expect — I set mine to come up by default after the Hub Max was dormant for a few minutes. I also removed everything from the display except the photos. By default, it shows you a clock and the weather forecast, but I wanted to just focus on the pictures. I do like the option to show a little more info, though.

As for the screen itself, it has the same relatively low resolution of the other digital photo frames I tried, but it handles glare very well. And the built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts brightness and color temperature, which I enjoy. It keeps the Hub Max from feeling like an overly bright screen blasting you with light; it recedes into the background well.

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Of course, the Nest Hub Max has a lot of voice-activated tricks via the Google Assistant. My big question is how long the Hub Max will be supported, as Google is clearly planning to phase out the Assistant in favor of Gemini, and I’m not convinced that the Hub Max will ever support that new AI-powered tool. Beyond the Assistant, you can get a variety of apps on it like Netflix and YouTube, stream music from a bunch of apps, see video from your Nest Cam or make video calls via the built-in camera.

If you’re going to buy a Nest Hub Max, it shouldn’t be just for its digital photo frame features, even though those are quite solid. It’s best for someone well-entrenched in the Google ecosystem who wants a more multi-purpose device. If you fit the bill, though, the Nest Hub Max remains a capable device, even though it’s been around for almost five years.

Pros
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  • Good display quality with auto-brightness and warmth settings
  • Getting images on it is a piece of cake, provided you use Google Photos
  • Plenty of ways to control smart home devices
  • Good-sounding speaker
Cons
  • Almost five years old
  • Google Assistant’s days are likely numbered
  • More expensive than a standard digital photo frame
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AURA

The Aura Aspen frame is a step-up from our top pick in terms of overall quality and, unfortunately but predictably, price. For $229, you get a 1,600 x 1,200 resolution, 11.8-inch display that supports 169 pixels per inch, and the frame can be positioned in either portrait or landscape mode. There’s a physical button and touchbar on the frame’s edge that let’s you swipe through photos or change what’s currently displayed, but you can also do that remotely with Aura’s mobile app. All of the same great app features present in the Carver are here for the Aspen, including inviting others to contribute photos to your frame. The kicker here, like with all Aura frames, is the lack of a subscription necessary to keep your frame filled to the brim with updated photos. That alone may be worth paying the higher price tag for some when picking out a frame you want to be able to use freely for years to come. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

Pros
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  • Elegant design
  • 1,600 x 1,200 resolution display
  • Easy-to-use Aura app
  • Can invite others to add photos via mobile app
  • No subscription required

What to look for in digital picture frames

While a digital photo frame feels like a simple piece of tech, there are a number of things I considered when trying to find one worth displaying in my home. First and foremost was screen resolution and size. I was surprised to learn that most digital photo frames have a resolution around 1,200 x 800, which feels positively pixelated. (That’s for frames with screen sizes in the nine- to ten-inch range, which is primarily what I considered for this guide.)

But after trying a bunch of frames, I realized that screen resolution is not the most important factor; my favorite photos looked best on frames that excelled in reflectivity, brightness, viewing angles and color temperature. A lot of these digital photo frames were lacking in one or more of these factors; they often didn’t deal with reflections well or had poor viewing angles.

A lot of frames I tested felt cheap and looked ugly as well, which isn’t something you want in a smart device that sits openly in your home. That includes lousy stands, overly glossy plastic parts and design decisions I can only describe as strange, particularly for items that are meant to just blend into your home. The best digital photo frames don’t call attention to themselves and look like an actual “dumb” frame, so much so that those that aren’t so tech-savvy might mistake them for one.

Perhaps the most important thing outside of the display, though, is the software. Let me be blunt: a number of frames I tested had absolutely atrocious companion apps and software experiences that I would not wish on anyone. One that I tried did not have a touchscreen, but did have an IR remote (yes, like the one you controlled your TV with 30 years ago). Trying to use that with a Wi-Fi connection was painful, and when I tried instead to use a QR code, I was linked to a Google search for random numbers instead of an actual app or website. I gave up on that frame, the $140 PixStar, on the spot.

Other things were more forgivable. A lot of the frames out there are basically Android tablets with a bit of custom software slapped on the top, which worked fine but wasn’t terribly elegant. And having to interact with the photo frame via touch wasn’t great because you end up with fingerprints all over the display. The best frames I tried were smart about what features you could control on the frame itself vs. through an app, the latter of which is my preferred method.

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Another important software note: many frames I tried require subscriptions for features that absolutely should be included out of the box. For example, one frame would only let me upload 10 photos at a time without a subscription. Others would let you link a Google Photos account, but you could only sync a single album without paying up. Yet another option didn’t let you create albums to organize the photos that were on the frame — it was just a giant scroll of photos with no way to give them order.

While some premium frames offer perks like unlimited photos or cloud storage, they often come at a cost. I can understand why certain things might go under a subscription, like if you’re getting a large amount of cloud storage, for example. But these subscriptions feel like ways for companies to make recurring revenue from a product made so cheaply they can’t make any money on the frame itself. I’d urge you to make sure your chosen frame doesn’t require a subscription (neither of the frames I recommend in this guide need a subscription for any of their features), especially if you plan on giving this device as a gift to loved ones.

How much should you spend on a digital picture frame

For a frame with a nine- or ten-inch display, expect to spend at least $100. Our budget recommendation is $99, and all of the options I tried that were cheaper were not nearly good enough to recommend. Spending $150 to $180 will get you a significantly nicer experience in all facets, from functionality to design to screen quality.

Digital frames FAQs

Are digital photo frames a good idea?

Yes, as long as you know what to expect. A digital picture frame makes it easy to enjoy your favorite shots without printing them. They’re especially nice for families who want to display new photos quickly. The key is understanding the limitations. Some frames have lower resolution displays or need a constant Wi-Fi connection to work properly, so they’re not a perfect replacement for a high-quality print on the wall. But if you want a simple way to keep memories on display and up to date, they’re a solid choice.

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Can you upload photos to a digital frame from anywhere?

Most modern digital frames let you do this, but it depends on the model. Many connect to Wi-Fi and use apps, cloud storage or email uploads, so you can add photos from your phone no matter where you are. Some even let family members share directly, which is great for keeping grandparents updated with new pictures. That said, a few budget models only work with USB drives or memory cards, so check how the frame handles uploads before buying.

Georgie Peru contributed to this report.

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Nvidia challenger AI chip startup MatX raised $500M

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25 February 2026

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MatX, a chip startup founded by two former Google hardware engineers, has raised a $500 million Series B led by Jane Street and Situational Awareness, an investment fund formed by former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner.

The company’s goal is to make its processors 10 times better at training LLMs and delivering results than Nvidia’s GPUs.  

Other investors in the round include Marvell Technology, NFDG, Spark Capital, and Stripe co-founders Patrick Collison and John Collison, the startup’s founder and CEO Reiner Pope announced Tuesday in a post on LinkedIn.

Although the company didn’t release its latest valuation, Etched, MatX’s closest competitor, raised a $500 million round at a $5 billion valuation, Bloomberg reported last month. Etched didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

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MatX’s latest round comes more than a year after its Series A of about $100 million, which was led by Spark Capital. TechCrunch earlier reported that the 2024 round valued the startup at more than $300 million.

Before co-founding MatX in 2023, Pope led AI software development for Google’s TPUs, the tech giant’s proprietary AI chips. His co-founder, Mike Gunter, was a lead designer of the TPU hardware before leaving to launch the startup.

The new funding will help MatX produce its chips with TSMC, with plans to start shipping them in 2027.

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Death Stranding 2 PC requirements are surprisingly pleasant

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25 February 2026

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Kojima Productions has officially revealed the PC system requirements for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and the good news is that they are far more approachable than many recent big-budget releases. According to Sony’s PlayStation Blog, the PC version launches March 19 and includes a wide range of graphics presets designed to scale from budget systems all the way to high-end rigs.

death-stranding-2-pc-release-date
Kojima Productions

At the entry level, the game targets 1080p at 30 frames per second with hardware that many gamers already own. A GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5500 XT paired with an Intel Core i3-10100 or Ryzen 3 3100 and 16GB of RAM is enough to get started. That alone makes the game feel refreshingly accessible in a landscape where minimum specs often demand much newer GPUs.

Death Stranding 2 PC Port System Requirements
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Moving up the preset scales is a predictable process. Medium settings aim for 1080p at 60fps with an RTX 3060 or RX 6600, while the recommended tier targets 1440p at 60fps with an RTX 3070 or RX 6800. The very high preset pushes into 4K at 60fps territory with an RTX 4080 or RX 9070 XT. Every preset requires 16GB of RAM and a 150GB SSD install, which is becoming standard for modern AAA titles.

Handheld gaming and modern upscaling take center stage

One of the most interesting additions is a dedicated Portable preset designed specifically for handheld gaming PCs. This mode targets devices such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, with full support for modern upscaling and frame-generation technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2. These tools allow players to push higher resolutions and frame rates without requiring top-tier hardware.

Death Stranding 2 Gameplay 2
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On top of that, the game includes Guerrilla’s in-house Pico upscaling technology from the Decima engine, which can be used alongside frame generation and works across different graphics cards. Ultrawide support is also included, with cutscenes designed for 21:9 displays and gameplay extending to 32:9 aspect ratios.

With the PC launch arriving on March 19, these requirements suggest that many players may already have the hardware needed to jump in on day one. If anything, this release feels like a reminder that not every blockbuster needs extreme specs to deliver a next-gen experience.

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How BYD is redefining automotive spaces in Singapore

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34 minutes ago

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25 February 2026

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[This is a sponsored article with BYD by 1826.]

Singapore’s physical spaces are shifting from purely transactional retail to experience-led destinations.

Consumers, especially younger and urban audiences, increasingly seek places where they can linger without pressure, connect socially and experience a brand through food, design and culture.

Across industries, retail, food and lifestyle brands are rethinking how space functions—not just to sell, but to shape how they are experienced.

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From individual brands like Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami’s pop-up, where potential customers can pamper themselves with a cinema, cafe and carestation to creative precincts like New Bahru that feature retail brands in a design-led and cultural environment, physical environments are becoming strategic branding tools.

Now, the automotive industry is catching up. BYD by 1826, which claims to be Singapore’s first integrated automotive lifestyle brand, wants to lead the way in enhancing how car showrooms can appeal to customers.

BYD is transforming the car-buying experience

byd by 1826 cafe specialty coffee zen garden imm hubbyd by 1826 cafe specialty coffee zen garden imm hub
BYD by 1826’s IMM hub features locally roasted specialty coffee in a tranquil setting./ Image Credit: BYD by 1826

While lifestyle-first spaces are common in fashion, food, and retail, automotive retail spaces have largely remained transactional. Traditional showrooms can feel intimidating or high-pressure, especially for first-time buyers.

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows and car ownership becomes a lifestyle choice rather than a status symbol, expectations around how people engage with car brands are shifting, alongside the global move towards experiential spaces. 

This is evident from how two-thirds of people globally expect the places and spaces where they live, work and play to provide more enjoyment, diverse activities, and add value to the time they spend there.

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As such, BYD has been experimenting with spaces that blend automotive retail with lifestyle experiences. Over the years, it has launched several of these spaces, including the first BYD-themed restaurant, BYD by 1826, which opened at Boat Quay in 2023. 

These outlets have helped the brand understand how Singaporeans interact with cars in relaxed, everyday settings and refine its automotive-lifestyle retail model.

Michelle Ho, Chief Brand Officer & Chief Culinary Officer, shared: “Each outlet sharpened our understanding of how different communities engage with us.”

byd by 1826 zhongshan park exteriorbyd by 1826 zhongshan park exterior
BYD by 1826 Zhongshan Park./ Image Credit: BYD by 1826

For instance, while BYD by 1826’s Zhongshan Park outlet demonstrated the strength of inclusive, pet-friendly environments that encourage longer stays, the Suntec and Tanjong Pagar outlets reinforced the need for accessibility and seamless integration into the routines of professionals. 

On the other hand, BYD by 1826 at Waterway Point highlighted the power of neighbourhood familiarity and repeat visits driven by coffee culture.

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Armed with these insights, its latest IMM outlet, located in the West, draws inspiration from local identity and daily routines. The outlet combines electric vehicles, a café, design elements, and community-focused activities.

Alongside its accessible EVs, BYD by 1826 at IMM also includes DENZA, a premium electric‑vehicle brand owned by the Chinese automaker. 

BYD by 1826’s IMM hub represents the evolution of the concept from hybrid showroom to experiential hub… [it] signals a deeper commitment to embedding BYD within the social fabric of the neighbourhood.

Michelle Ho, Chief Brand Officer & Chief Culinary Officer of BYD by 1826

What you can expect at BYD by 1826’s IMM hub

byd by 1826 pets food imm hubbyd by 1826 pets food imm hub
BYD by 1826’s IMM outlet is pet-friendly and serves Singapore fusion dishes./ Image Credit: BYD by 1826

At the BYD by 1826 IMM hub, visitors can enjoy speciality coffee and Singaporean fusion fare, from Chilli Crab Shiok-shuka to Tiger Prawn Risotto Pao Fan, in a pet-friendly, family-oriented space designed for lingering.

While they enjoy the ambience and food, they can also browse cars from BYD and DENZA. 

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Together, these elements form a “café-first” environment where food, conversation, and community unfold alongside automobiles, according to the brand. 

This reinforces BYD by 1826’s vision of automotive-lifestyle integration, where they aim to position cars as part of a place of familiarity and belonging.

byd by 1826 performance local business artistes cafe imm hubbyd by 1826 performance local business artistes cafe imm hub
(Left): The cafe at BYD by 1826’s IMM hub; (Right): The space also hosts curated cultural programmes, spotlighting local musicians, creatives and small businesses./ Image Credit: BYD by 1826

The brand has noticed that because customers are not in a sales-driven environment, they feel comfortable asking questions at their own pace, which piques their curiosity. 

In several cases, repeat visits have led to spontaneous test drives and eventually to serious purchase considerations.

When people experience the brand in a relaxed, lifestyle setting, trust builds organically. That sustained engagement has proven far more impactful than a single transactional interaction.

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“Each location we open is not just about showcasing cars—it’s about creating experiences that belong to Singaporeans,” said Davin Ongsono, CEO of BYD by 1826. 

The future of automotive spaces

Image Credit: BYD by 1826

In Singapore, it’s clear that retail spaces are no longer just about transactions—they’re evolving into experience-driven destinations. 

BYD has embraced this trend by creating spaces that combine cars, cafés, and community activities, offering a more relaxed and engaging way for people to explore automotive options.

It’s a notable disruption in the automotive industry, which has long relied on traditional, transactional showrooms. 

From the West to the East, the brand wants Singaporeans to experience what the future of automotive spaces can look like. You can check out BYD by 1826 at IMM here, and discover its other lifestyle spaces across the city-state here.

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Featured Image Credit: BYD by 1826

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Linux 7.0 rc1 arrives with major hardware enablement and performance gains

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25 February 2026

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Linux 7.0 is officially taking shape with the release of the first release candidate. The new kernel lays the groundwork for upcoming distros like Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora 44, while delivering broad hardware enablement for Intel’s next-gen CPUs, AMD Zen 6 and new GPUs, and expanding support for Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. Beyond hardware, Linux 7.0 brings meaningful file system and performance improvements, continued Rust integration, and a long list of under-the-hood optimizations.

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World’s largest SSD has tripled in price in just nine months and now costs more than a new car

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25 February 2026

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  • The price of Solidigm’s monster 122.88TB SSD has increased by nearly 200% in just nine months
  • The drive was originally listed at $12,399 and now costs $37,128 at Tech-America
  • The U.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD is built for enterprise servers, storage arrays, and cloud data centers

Originally announced back in November 2024, Solidigm’s 122.88TB D5-P5336 SSD officially went on sale in May 2025.

Early estimates had suggested it would retail for close to $14,000, but as we reported, the enterprise drive became available through Tech-America for “just” $12,399, seriously undercutting market expectations.

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3 Big Changes Are Coming To Milwaukee Tools In 2026

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25 February 2026

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Milwaukee Tools on display in store.
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Milwaukee Tool, a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Techtronic Industries, is one of the biggest names in the tool trade, particularly in the United States. Cognitive Market Research reports that the brand is projected to have a market size of $2.72 billion in the U.S. by 2033. In order to retain its commanding position, it’s vital that the company continues to expand, develop, and produce new things. 

In 2026, a wide range of new products is coming to the Milwaukee brand beyond power tools. However, new products aren’t the be-all and end-all of a company’s development. There are also some big business moves, both planned and underway on Milwaukee’s part, that are aimed at growing even further still in the industry in 2026. They include the development of existing distribution centers and facilities in the United States and brand new buildings to develop operations in Canada. 

On top of that, the brand has also kicked off an ambitious effort intended to raise the company’s profile and offer new industry training opportunities further afield, in a dedicated new center in the United Kingdom. Let’s take a look at each of these substantial projects and what they might mean. Not only for the brand, but for all those around the world who use Milwaukee products to get the job done and often save their backs in the process.

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A high-profile expansion in Menomonee Falls


Milwaukee banner at tool store.
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In February 2026, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Menomonee Falls Village Board met to discuss a historic proposal from Milwaukee Tool. The newspaper reported that the board “unanimously approved a tax incremental financing proposal” that would allow the long-wished-for facility revamp in the region to go ahead. Alongside that, no less than four new Milwaukee Tool buildings would be created in Menomonee Falls. This expansion, in one of the biggest and most significant regions to the company, would provide stability, jobs, and sizeable property taxes, while allowing the brand to ramp up operations. 

According to the newspaper, the renovation and the work on the new building are estimated to be worth approximately $200 million, and as part of the developments, “the Heritage Reserve building is to be remodeled into an electric lab and research and development facility.” This could be the new nerve center for innovation at Milwaukee Tool, serviced and facilitated by a new private road. Though the plan is taking significant steps forward in 2026, it’s still some distance from completion.

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All in all, it’s reported that these facilities will represent about 750,000 square feet of new workspace for the company. Needless to say, it’s a huge project that won’t be completed this year, or even this decade. According to WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, it’s estimated as of the time of writing that the four distinct phases of construction that the project represents will be completed in 2038. A spokesperson for Milwaukee Tool told the outlet, “We are continuing to invest in and grow our Menomonee Falls campus, and the agreement provides flexibility to support that growth over the long term.” 

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More huge growth in Canada


A Milwaukee Factory Service Centre storefront.
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Milwaukee is a huge part of the tool manufacturing landscape of not only the U.S., but North America as a whole. So it isn’t too surprising that the brand is also developing its Canadian presence significantly in 2026. For one thing, Canada represents a sizable area of growth and customers for the company; the Great White North does not have its own dedicated distribution center in the country. That is set to change in 2026, with the construction of a center high on the agenda. The town of Georgina’s Keswick Business Park is set to be the location for a new multi-purpose facility for the company, which will have a huge role in boosting delivery times for consumers, efficiency throughout the manufacturing process, and more. 

Georgina reports that the site was chosen for its proximity to major highways in the region and Toronto Pearson International Airport, making it a key strategic position for the expansion. As Milwaukee Tool Canada president John Myers put it, according to Georgina, “By establishing this new Service Hub here, we are doubling down on our investment in Canada and enhancing our ability to support users of our brands nationwide.” The Service Hub will house a wide range of operations and services in one complex, but perhaps the distribution center will have the biggest impact on Milwaukee’s customers. 

Local access to Milwaukee products will get them into the hands of professionals and DIY enthusiasts in the country much faster than before. It’s perhaps the company’s biggest development in the region to date. It’s targeted to come to fruition soon, too, with late 2026 being the estimated time frame for operations to begin at the new Milwaukee Tool Service Hub. 

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A potential British breakthrough in staff training


A Milwaukee Tool tape measure.
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Milwaukee Tool’s efforts to expand in 2026 aren’t just concentrated on North America. In the town of Aylesbury, in the southeast of England, a new facility will become home to something very special in January 2026. As the name suggests, it’s a place where those in the industry can sample Milwaukee products in a realistic setting, rather than in glamorous, controlled demonstrations. But it’s also much more than that. It will also be a training hub for employees in the use and maintenance of a vast range of products.

Torque Expo reports that an estimated 300 employees will train there every year. They can develop the experience they need to advance their careers with the company and in the industry, and provide invaluable expertise for customers. This will be ideal for those who aren’t familiar with the many new Milwaukee tools and accessories coming in 2026. According to Builders Merchant News, Milwaukee Tool U.K. Head of Training, Dan Stringer, said that “investing in this hub demonstrates our growing support of the British trades sector.” It’s one thing to make such a claim, of course, and quite another to demonstrate it. 

That’s exactly what Milwaukee has done, with a decade-long lease on the building indicating that the region’s value for the company is long-term. It’s set to be carbon-neutral and to allow access to the full Milwaukee product ecosystem, which is an important way for the company to let its products truly do the talking. It’s not a small, tentative facility, either: At 13,250 square feet, and with the capacity to test tools in outdoor and indoor environments, it’s sure to serve as a big part of the company’s efforts across the Atlantic. 

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Inventor James Bruton Builds Self-Balancing, One-Ball Bike

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25 February 2026

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James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
Inventor James Bruton has done it again, creating a machine that challenges our perceptions of balance and motion. His latest creation rolls on a single huge ball, maintains its upright position with an endless stream of computer corrections, and cruises in whatever direction the rider chooses.



People who enjoy engineering and experimenting with devices are familiar with Bruton’s never-ending search for unusual vehicles. A year ago, he showed us a version that used two large red balance balls, similar to those used by circus artists, along with wheels that could spin in any direction. This allowed the rider to move their weight in any direction. Now that he has reduced it to a single ball, he must deal with stability in two axes at the same time.

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Three custom-made omni-wheels cradle the ball in a compact triangular frame. Each has an aluminum core encased in two rows of teeny-tiny rollers for a total of 216 bearings, which are covered with gripping 3D printed TPU tires. Commercial omni-wheels failed in earlier experiments due to overheating and excessive drag, so Bruton attempted to create his own for more strength and less friction. The wheels are crammed in vertically as a deliberate choice to prevent them from colliding at high speeds.

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James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
ODrive’s powerful motors, rated at 2kW each, spin the wheels directly via 1:1 belt drives. Six 6S lithium batteries provide 50 volts, with separate batteries for the electronics to ensure everything runs properly. A robust chassis composed of 40/40 aluminum extrusion is what holds everything together. It must to support the rider’s weight while also keeping the ball in the center.

James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
To keep the machine upright, it utilizes a Teensy 4.1 microprocessor and a BNO086 IMU. That IMU tracks pitch and roll in real time, and a PID control loop uses those angles to modify the speed of the wheels, pushing back against any lean and keeping the rider steady as a rock. There are also twist grips on the handlebars that allow the rider to shift the balance point roughly 10 degrees and send it off in any direction they like.

James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
Once you get started, the movement begins to seem natural. Lean slightly, and the system responds by sending the ball in that direction. The single-ball design ultimately allows the machine to move in all directions, as there is no requirement for differential speeds like in the two-ball version.

James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
Steering is the major puzzle here, as with only one ball and straight up and down wheels, you lose all of the natural balance control that comes in handy when steering a bike, but leaning the bike helps a lot when you need to change direction while in motion; it’s the best way to do so. The difficulty arises while attempting to spin or do extremely tight turns. For the time being, Bruton has devised a temporary solution: a large foam wing attached directly behind the rider. As the bike accelerates, the wing begins to generate drag, which helps pull the bike into a turn as the rider leans, and curiously enough, it appears to perform well in tests. He describes it as a temporary solution, yet it works remarkably effectively.

James Bruton Self-Balancing One-Ball Bike
There were also some teething issues with the electronics, particularly the ball. It was producing a lot of static electricity, causing the entire bike to misbehave at random. However, the problem was easily resolved with a short layer of nickel shielding spray on the electronics box. Now you’ve got a bike that is just begging for you to try and balance on it at high speed, and for which a lot of skill and experimentation are going to be rewarded. Bruton has also uploaded all of the code and CAD files on GitHub, allowing anyone to join in and try their hand at it.
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Adventurer Drops Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Camera Into Waters Off Black Magic Island, Captures Rarely Seen Creatures

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2 hours ago

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25 February 2026

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Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Camera Black Magic Island Barny Dillarstone
Photo credit: Barny Dillarstone
Barny Dillarstone is an adventurer who enjoys traveling to distant bodies of water and placing baited camera systems in places that most don’t even think of. He chose a location near Nusa Penida, a small Indonesian island nicknamed the “Black Magic Island” due to its murky legend and hazardous tides. Over the course of a few days, he was able to get his beloved Insta360 Ace Pro 2 down to about 170 metrers / 600 feet, where the water is so forceful that only the most desperate life can cling to the bottom.



Using squid as bait, which allegedly smells like the dinner bell for these animals, as well as some lights and weights to attract anything in the vicinity, Dillarstone was surprised to snag a western highfin spurdog right immediately. This is a shark with a serious expression on its face, a short snout, large dorsal fins, long spines, and a stunning tail with white edges. They’ve developed enormous eyes to cope with the lack of light, which is essentially what you need to exist in this pitch dark planet. What’s even more astounding is that, unlike certain predators found in shallower water, these creatures can locate their prey using their sense of smell before pouncing on it. Unsurprisingly, and perhaps unexpectedly, they didn’t take off when they noticed the light. That might differ from a few species you encounter at shallower waters.


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Dillarstone captured a number of western highfins in the area, some of which had suffered serious injuries but still showed up for the party, as well as a couple with gear that would not be spotted in deep water. He also saw a houndshark drifting by at a safe distance; later, he noticed an Indonesian wobbegong, a carpet shark with a flat body and mottled patterning that allows it to lie down and attack any unwary prey that passes by. Interestingly, this shows it prefers colder, deeper water than you might expect.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Camera Black Magic Island Barny Dillarstone
One of the absolute highlights he managed to record on camera was a stunning purple eagle ray that appeared. In gliding smoothly closer, he revealed a flat, mottled brown and purple body, a pretty standard eagle ray head and snout, a teeny little dorsal fin, and a pair of barbs on the end of its tail that were just as lethal as they appeared and ready to unleash at a moment’s notice. It flew by the rig a couple of times, doing these rapid bursts of speed that made it appear to be stumbling around for a second at a time – it appeared disoriented from where I was standing, and was this possible the first time this species had ever been seen on camera in the wild? Could be.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Camera Black Magic Island Barny Dillarstone
Other species were going about their daily activities all throughout the region. There were jobfish and deep water snappers that appeared to have legs inspecting the bait. Squat lobsters burst out on all sides, hot on the tails of the scraps, little urchins clinging to the sand, catching everything that came falling down, and the occasional sandperch would spring up, hanging around with its nose twisted up as if it was trying to figure something out. And just when you thought it was getting too much, schools of fusiliers would dart into view from above.
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Trump made tax day more complicated. ChatGPT and Claude can make it easier.

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2 hours ago

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25 February 2026

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Tax season starts early this year. Or at least it should for you, because this one is a doozy. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which Congress passed in 2025, there are some significant and potentially confusing changes coming to your tax return. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even if you’re asking an artificially intelligent chatbot.

Whenever a friend asks me about using AI, I say the same thing: Treat it like a capable coworker who never gets tired and sometimes gets things wrong. You can ask a chatbot a thousand questions, and with the latest frontier models — ChatGPT 5.2 Thinking and Claude Opus 4.6 — you’re going to get better answers than you might have last year, presumably with fewer hallucinations. They’re even getting better at doing math, which has historically been a weak spot for LLMs. Still, you wouldn’t let your energetic but slightly dishonest coworker file the final draft of an important report.

Treat ChatGPT and Claude the same way, especially when it comes to tax season. These tools aren’t designed to file your taxes for you, and you shouldn’t be uploading your forms for proofreading before submitting to the IRS. Your tax documents — namely your W2 and any 1099s — include sensitive personal information like your social security number and address. It’s generally a good rule not to upload those anywhere, unless you’re sure the site is private and secure. (The consumer versions of ChatGPT and Claude, by default, are not.)

Even if you are using an accountant, ChatGPT and Claude can help you get up to speed on all the tax code changes this year. Think of them as tax prep tools, a way to learn what kinds of questions to ask and which deductions to seek out. (The two big tax filing software companies offer their own chatbots — Turbotax has its Intuit Assist assistant and H&R Block has its AI Tax Assistant — that promise to make navigating the accounting labyrinth easier. In my experience, their functionality is limited and the sites tend to steer you toward paying for other financial products, like loans and banking services.) You can ask ChatGPT and Claude to explain particular rules based on your situation, a task that’s much harder if you’re just Googling or reading FAQs.

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Before I go any further, however, I want to make something super clear: There’s a difference between using AI for tax research and using AI for financial advice. The former is a helpful information-gathering exercise. The latter is a great way to lose money. Chatbots sound smart but they are ultimately text generation machines, not certified financial planners or certified public accountants.

You certainly don’t have to use AI on your taxes this year. But much in the same way you might have Googled something like the child tax credit in the past, you might try chatting with the bots, asking them questions, and double-checking all their answers. Here’s how to get the most out of them this tax season.

One Big Beautiful Bucket of Confusion

Regardless of your political leanings, it’s important to know that the changes to the tax code ushered in by the OBBBA are pretty major: There are a lot of them, and they are quite specific. If you’re used to doing your taxes a certain way, you should know that your tax return this year will not just look like an updated version of last year’s tax return. There will be meaningful changes to the types of deductions and credits you can claim, and if you don’t take advantage of them, you could miss out on some free money. Here’s a breakdown, although I very much encourage you to check out the IRS page on the subject as well as the surprisingly helpful guides put together by Turbotax and H&R Block.

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Some of the changes from the bill took effect in 2025 and will apply to the tax returns you’re filing now. They include deductions for taxes on tips and taxes on overtime, which don’t actually amount to no taxes on these streams of income as Trump has argued, but will save some people money. If you have kids, you’ll want to note that there’s a slight bump to the Child Tax Credit (from $2,000 to $2,200), and an expansion of 529 plans for education expenses. This year is also when you can claim your Trump Child Savings Accounts, also known as Trump Accounts. If you’re eligible, your tax filing software or account might prompt you to set them up by filling out the proper IRS form, but you can also fill it out here.

One other significant change: The IRS Direct File, which allowed people in 25 states to file their taxes online for free, is now gone. There are still a couple options to file for free through the IRS, but suffice it to say many more people will be using tools like Turbotax and H&R Block this year.

Again, those are just a few of the many changes ushered in the OBBBA. Learning about how new rules apply to your specific situation is difficult, especially if you, like me, feel like you’re allergic to accounting. This is where the chatbots come into play.

ChatGPT: good at chatting, bad at math

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When it comes to your taxes, chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude are great for talking through questions and scenarios. If you’re a W-2 employee and your spouse is a freelancer, you’ve got two kids and a house, and your Jeep doubles as a delivery vehicle for your smoked meats side hustle, where you make a killing on tips, there’s a lot ChatGPT can tell you about the tax rules that apply to you — especially the new rules. Think of this less as advice and more as information that can help you get better organized for your actual tax preparation experience, whether that’s on Turbotax or in a conversation with a human accountant.

To be honest, when it comes to saving money, I don’t think you can ask enough questions. Start by telling your chatbot about your family’s situation, your ages, what you do for work, how you invest your money, and even what kind of car you drive, then ask what you should do differently on your taxes this year.

You could also keep a chatbot open in a window while you’re filing your taxes and ask it about the steps you don’t understand. The AI tools from H&R Block and Turbotax are designed to assist here, but in my experience, they don’t tailor the explanation to your situation, which makes them less helpful. If you’re working with an accountant, they’re probably using AI to make their jobs easier and save time. Being at least more familiar with the technology could improve those interactions, too.

Let me put it another way: You could use all the help you can get this year. There are enough new rules and changes to the tax code that not totally understanding how they apply to you could lead to mistakes or, worse, missed opportunities.

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Everyone in this process could use all the help ,in fact; the Internal Revenue Service lost 25 percent of its workforce in the months after Trump took office, and it’s apparently chaos there now. Like I said, this year’s a doozy.

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UK brings streaming giants under broadcaster-style regulation

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2 hours ago

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25 February 2026

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The UK government announced new regulatory requirements that will bring major video-on-demand (VoD) platforms under tighter oversight by Ofcom, aligning them more closely with traditional television broadcasters.

The changes are part of implementing the Media Act 2024 and mark one of the most significant shifts in how online streaming services are governed in the UK.

Under plans laid out by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, VoD services with more than 500,000 average monthly UK users, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX and Channel 4’s on-demand service, will be designated as Tier 1 services and required to comply with a new VoD accessibility code.

The new accessibility code will introduce minimum standards around subtitles, audio description, and signing for content on these platforms. According to government guidance, services must ensure at least:

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  • 80 percent of their total catalogue is subtitled.
  • 10 percent has audio description for viewers with sight loss.
  • 5 percent includes sign language support.

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These thresholds mirror accessibility requirements that traditional UK broadcasters have long followed, helping ensure that visually impaired and deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences have better access to streamed content.

Platforms will have four years to meet the standards, with interim targets after two years.

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Why this matters?

Streaming services have overtaken broadcast TV as the dominant way people consume video entertainment in the UK, with research showing that a large majority of households now subscribe to at least one major streaming platform.

Traditional broadcasters have long been subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, which includes accessibility and audience protection measures. The shift to extend similar rules to VoD services reflects how viewing habits have changed and aims to close a regulatory gap.

Until now, many of the biggest streaming platforms were either unregulated in the UK or faced only limited oversight.

The upcoming rules will also give Ofcom broader data-gathering powers and the responsibility to review audience protection tools, from age ratings to parental controls, used by these services.

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The changes come as the broader regulatory framework for UK media is being updated. The Media Act 2024 amended parts of the Communications Act 2003 to allow the designation of Tier 1 VoD services and introduce codes that better reflect modern media consumption.

What comes next?

Ofcom will launch consultations on the new VoD standards, giving platforms, creators and audiences a chance to weigh in on the details before enforcement begins.

The government says the new rules are a step toward a more consistent media landscape in which streaming services are accountable for audience protection and accessibility just like traditional broadcasters.

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