A backpack that automatically opens an umbrella may seem like a trivial convenience, but inventor Current Concept took the idea and turned it into a practical reality that’s actually rather astounding. That’s correct, he created a backpack that automatically opens an umbrella when it starts raining, keeping your hands free and your head dry with no effort on your side.

The brain of the operation is housed inside a regular backpack, thanks to an ESP32 microcontroller that constantly monitors for rain. The trigger is a rather simple rain sensor affixed to the umbrella’s canopy, consisting of a little board with copper traces that are close together when dry but become bridged by water when it rains, sending a signal to the ESP32.

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Activation occurs when enough rain falls on the sensor. The ESP32 then utilizes a servo to trigger a camera, which presses the umbrella’s built-in open button in the same way that your thumb would. And the good news is that Current Concept left the umbrella entirely alone; the motor remains outside and can be simply reversed if necessary.

While opening the umbrella is simple enough, closing it is a another issue. Automatic umbrellas aren’t known for being easy to shut down; they have a lot of spring tension. Early attempts with normal servos failed… so Current Concept resorted to a high-torque motor with a worm gearbox, which multiplies the power and prevents the umbrella from folding back on itself.

When you try to close it, a spool of quarter-inch Dyneema rope, which is incredibly strong and can withstand over a thousand pounds, begins to reel it back in. During the opening process, a servo-operated clutch disengages the spool, allowing the umbrella to fully extend. Once deployed, another servo gently nudges it to the side to get it out of your hair.

Custom work was necessary during the build, including the installation of a sliding carriage to lift the folded umbrella out of the backpack. The inventor created a handmade wooden base plate to match the curve of the backpack, stitched it all together, and locked it in place. The rest is made up of 3D-printed brackets, a cam, a clutch, and cable guides, all of which glide and tilt smoothly.
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Google is rolling out a major update to its Gemini AI platform that changes how mobile users interact with artificial intelligence on Android devices. With its latest enhancement, Gemini can now operate in split-screen mode alongside other apps, allowing the AI assistant to work in context with what’s on your phone screen – without forcing you to switch between apps.

Bringing AI into your workflow

Traditionally, AI assistants on smartphones have existed in separate interfaces: you open a chat window, ask a question, then switch back to your app of choice once you’ve received an answer. Google’s new split-screen implementation breaks that pattern. Now, Gemini can appear alongside another app in a dedicated pane, actively assisting you as you work.

For example, while composing an email or message, Gemini can suggest phrasing, refine text, or draft replies in real time. If you’re reading a long article or document in a browser, the AI can pull out key points or summaries without interrupting your reading flow. In messaging apps, users can ask Gemini to help with reply suggestions or generate quick responses based on the conversation visible on the screen.

This update is part of Google’s broader effort to make its AI tools more assistive – not just reactive. Instead of waiting for a user to ask a question, Gemini can now be a contextual partner that actively contributes to your tasks.

Already rolling out to select Android devices and compatible apps, the split-screen feature shows up as an option to “open Gemini” alongside supported applications. Once activated, the AI pane remains visible and interactive while the primary app stays in view.

An important shift in mobile AI design

This move reflects a broader shift in how manufacturers and developers are thinking about artificial intelligence on mobile platforms. Instead of treating AI as a separate service that users dip into occasionally, companies like Google are moving toward AI-augmented multitasking, where generative intelligence becomes part of everyday mobile workflows.

Competitors such as Apple and Microsoft have also signaled interest in deeper AI integration into their respective operating systems. Microsoft is exploring AI tools within Windows apps, while Apple is preparing its on-device AI services in iOS. Google’s split-screen implementation represents one of the more advanced examples of contextual AI integration on Android so far.

For users, this evolution means less context switching. You no longer need to copy text from one app, open a separate AI interface, and paste it back – Gemini can be right there beside your content, understanding what you’re doing and suggesting enhancements on the fly.

The benefits may seem subtle at first glance, but they’re significant in practice

Streamlining tasks like drafting replies, summarizing long content, or generating ideas can save time and reduce friction in routine workflows. Students researching topics, professionals juggling communication, or casual users trying to extract insights from articles will find the new split-screen Gemini a practical addition.

Privacy-minded individuals will also appreciate that Gemini’s split-screen tools work within the context of their existing apps, rather than funneling data through separate windows or services.

What’s next for gemini and mobile AI

Google’s rollout is still in the early stages, and not all devices or apps support the split-screen feature yet. But the groundwork has been laid for even deeper integrations, where third-party apps might expose richer interfaces that Gemini can use to provide more tailored assistance. Developers could eventually allow Gemini access to app content in structured ways, similar to desktop AI plugins.

As AI becomes more embedded into operating systems, experiences like split-screen multitasking may soon become commonplace, blurring the line between app and assistant. Google’s latest move with Gemini hints at a future where your phone’s AI doesn’t just answer questions – it helps you get things done.

A government customer of sanctioned spyware maker Intellexa hacked the phone of a prominent journalist in Angola, according to Amnesty International, the latest case of targeting someone in civil society with powerful phone-hacking software.

The human rights organization published a new report Tuesday analyzing several hacking attempts against local journalist and press freedom activist Teixeira Cândido, in which he was sent a series of malicious links via WhatsApp during 2024. 

Cândido eventually clicked on one and his iPhone was hacked with Intellexa’s spyware, dubbed Predator, Amnesty found.

The new research shows again that government customers of commercial surveillance vendors are increasingly using spyware to target journalists, politicians, and other ordinary citizens, including critics. Researchers have previously found evidence of Predator abuse in Egypt, Greece, and Vietnam, where the government reportedly targeted U.S. officials by sending the spyware via links on X.  

Intellexa is one of the most controversial spyware makers of the last few years, operating from different jurisdictions to skirt export laws and using an “opaque web of corporate entities” — as a U.S government official put it at the time — to hide its activities.

In 2024, around the same time one of Intellexa’s customers was targeting Cândido with its spyware, the outgoing Biden administration sanctioned the company, as well as its founder Tal Dilian and his business partner Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou. 

Earlier this year, the Treasury lifted sanctions against three other executives tied to Intellexa, a decision that left Senate Democrats demanding answers from the Trump administration. 

Dilian did not respond to a request for comment.

Amnesty researchers wrote in the report that they linked the intrusions to Intellexa by examining forensic traces found on Cândido’s phone. Amnesty said that Intellexa used infection servers that had been previously linked to the company’s spyware infrastructure. 

Several hours after clicking on the link that led to his phone hack, Cândido rebooted his phone, which wiped the spyware from his device. Amnesty said it wasn’t clear how the spyware was capable of hacking Cândido’s phone, as his phone was running an outdated version of iOS at the time.

The researchers found that Predator stayed hidden by impersonating legitimate iOS system processes to avoid detection. 

Amnesty believes Cândido may be just one of many targets in the country, based on their findings that they were able to find multiple domains linked to the spyware maker used in Angola. 

“The first domains linked to Angola were deployed as early as March 2023, indicating the start of Predator testing or deployment in the country,” wrote the Amnesty researchers, who added that they had no evidence to determine exactly who hacked Cândido. 

“It is not currently possible to conclusively identify the customer of the Predator spyware in the country,” read the report. 

Last year, based on leaks of internal documents, Amnesty and media organizations revealed that Intellexa employees had the ability to access customers’ systems remotely, potentially giving the spyware maker visibility into government surveillance operations. 

Those leaks, like this report, shows that despite its controversies and sanctions, Intellexa has remained active in recent years.

“We’ve now seen confirmed abuses in Angola, Egypt, Pakistan, Greece, and beyond — and for every case we uncover, many more abuses surely remain hidden,” said Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, the head of the security lab at Amnesty International.

To streamline servicing for users, ASUS has announced a new after-sales initiative in India called ASUS PUR (Pickup & Return). The service enables eligible customers to get free doorstep pickup and delivery for accessory replacements, eliminating the need to visit a service centre.

Doorstep Warranty Replacement Across 17,000+ Pin Codes

With ASUS PUR, customers across more than 17,000 pin codes in India can request a warranty replacement for eligible workspace and gaming accessories directly from home. Once a request is raised through ASUS Customer Care (1800 209 0365, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM), the company verifies warranty eligibility and serviceability in the customer’s area. If approved, ASUS arranges doorstep pickup and return, handling the process end to end.

The initiative is part of ASUS India’s “4A framework,” which focuses on Assured Quality, Always-on Support, All-around Coverage, and Added-value Services. PUR falls under the Added-value Services category, extending support beyond laptops and desktops to essential accessories used daily for work and gaming.

The PUR service covers a range of ASUS and ROG-branded accessories commonly used with laptops and desktops. Eligible products include wireless and Bluetooth silent mice, wireless keyboards including the Marshmallow Keyboard, ASUS and ROG backpacks, adapters and GaN chargers, docks and dongles, as well as JoGeek RAM and SSD products

Vishal M, National Service Manager, Consumer & Gaming PC, ASUS Technology India, said, “With ASUS PUR, we are extending our commitment to convenience and reliability beyond devices to accessories that are integral to everyday work and play. By offering free doorstep pickup and delivery for warranty replacements, we aim to minimize downtime for our customers and deliver a truly worry-free ownership experience. This initiative strengthens our ASUS Assurance promise and reflects our focus on building long-term trust with users.”

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Singapore-based startup Strutt introduced the EV¹, a powered personal mobility device that uses lidar, cameras, and onboard computing for collision avoidance. Unlike manually-steered powered wheelchairs, the EV¹ assists with navigation in both indoor and outdoor environments—stopping or rerouting itself before a collision can occur.

Strutt describes its approach as “shared control,” in which the user sets direction and speed, while the device intervenes to avoid unsafe motion.

“The problem isn’t always disability,” says Strutt cofounder and CEO Tony Hong. “Sometimes people are just tired. They have limited energy, and mobility shouldn’t consume it.”

Building a mobility platform was not Hong’s original ambition. Trained in optics and sensor systems, he previously worked in aerospace and robotics. From 2016 to 2019, he led the development of lidar systems for drones at Shenzhen, China-based DJI, a leading manufacturer of consumer and professional drones. Hong then left DJI for a position as an assistant professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen—a school known for its research in robotics, human augmentation, sensors, and rehabilitation engineering.

However, he says, demographic trends around him proved hard to ignore. Populations in Asia, Europe, and North America are aging rapidly. More people are living longer, with limited stamina, slower reaction times, or balance challenges. So, Hong says he left academia to develop technology that would help people facing mobility limitations.

Not a Wheelchair—an EV

EV¹ combines two lidar units, two cameras, 10 time-of-flight depth sensors, and six ultrasonic sensors. Sensor data feeds into onboard computing that performs object detection and path planning.

“We need accuracy at a few centimeters,” Hong says. “Otherwise, you’re hitting door frames.”

Using the touchscreen interface, users can select a destination within the mapped environment. The onboard system calculates a safe route and guides the vehicle at a reduced speed of about 3 miles per hour. The rider can override the route instantly with joystick input. The system even supports voice commands, allowing the user to direct the EV1 to waypoints saved in its memory.

The user can say, for example, “Go to the fridge,” and it will chart a course to the refrigerator and go there, avoiding obstacles along the way.

The Strutt EV1 puts both joystick controls and a lidar-view of the environment in front of the device’s user. Strutt

Driving EV¹ in manual mode, the rider retains full control, with vibration feedback warning of nearby obstacles. In “copilot” mode, the vehicle prevents direct collisions by stopping before impact. In “copilot plus,” it can steer around obstacles while continuing in the intended direction of travel.

“We don’t call it autonomous driving,” Hong says. “The user is always responsible and can take control instantly.”

Hong says Strutt has also kept its users’ digital privacy in mind. All perception, planning, and control computations, he says, occur onboard the device. Sensor data is not transmitted unless the user chooses to upload logs for diagnostics. Camera and microphone activity is visibly indicated, and wireless communications are encrypted. Navigation and obstacle avoidance function without cloud connectivity.

“We don’t think of this as a wheelchair,” Hong says. “We think of it as an everyday vehicle.”

Strutt promotes EV1’s use for both outdoor and indoor environments—offering high-precision sensing capabilities to navigate confined spaces. Strutt

To ensure that the EV¹ could withstand years of shuttling a user back and forth inside their home and around their neighborhood, the Strutt team subjected the mobility vehicle to two million roller cycles—mechanical simulation testing that allows engineers to estimate how well the motors, bearings, suspension, and frame will hold up over time.

The EV1’s 600-watt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery provides 32 kilometers of range—enough for a full day of errands, indoor navigation, and neighborhood travel. A smaller 300-watt-hour version, designed to comply with airline lithium-battery limits, delivers 16 km. Charging from zero to 80 percent takes two hours.

Might These EVs Be Covered by Insurance?

The EV1 retails for US $7,500—a price that could place it outside the reach of people without deep pockets. For now, advanced sensors and embedded computing keep manufacturing cost high, while insurance reimbursement frameworks for AI-assisted mobility devices depend on where a person lives.

“A retail price of $7,500 raises serious equity concerns,” says Erick Rocha, communications and development coordinator at the Los Angeles-based advocacy organization Disability Voices United,. “Many mobility device users in the United States rely on Medicaid,” the government insurance program for people with limited incomes. “Access must not be restricted to those who can afford to pay out of pocket.”

Medicaid coverage for high-tech mobility devices varies widely by state, and some states have rules that create significant barriers to approval (especially for non-standard or more specialized equipment).

Even in states that do cover mobility devices, similar types of hurdles often show up. Almost all states require prior approval for powered mobility devices, and the process can be time-consuming and documentation-heavy. Many states rigidly define what “medically necessary” means. They may require a detailed prescription describing the features of the mobility device and why the patient’s needs cannot be met with a simpler mobility aid such as a walker, cane, or standard manual wheelchair. Some states’ processes include a comprehensive in-person exam, documenting how the impairment described by the clinician limits activities of daily living such as toileting, dressing, bathing, or eating. Even if a person overcomes those hurdles, a state Medicaid program could deny coverage if a device doesn’t fit neatly into existing Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System billing codes

“Sensor-assisted systems can improve safety,” Rocha says. “But the question is whether a device truly meets the lived, day-to-day realities of people with limited mobility.”

Hong says that Strutt, founded in 2023, is betting that falling sensor prices and advances in embedded processing now make commercial deployment of the EV¹ feasible.

Last year, Google first enabled AirDrop compatibility on Pixel 10 devices, a change that finally let Android phones share files with iPhones using Apple’s own system. Now, Google is expanding its Quick Share feature, and Pixel 9 phones are next in line.

Google shared the news on X, confirming that the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold now support Apple’s AirDrop.

However, the company hasn’t explained why the Pixel 9a is excluded from this wave of compatibility. The feature will roll out over the coming weeks in phases.

How to set up Quick Share with AirDrop on Pixel phones

To enable the feature on a Pixel 9 series phone, follow these steps: Settings > System > Software updates > install the latest Google Play System update.

Make sure the Quick Share extension is also updated by opening Settings > All services > System services > Quick Share extension and installing the available update.

To receive files from a Pixel, Apple device owners need to set their AirDrop visibility to “Everyone for 10 Minutes,” allowing the connection to establish.

Google’s promise on privacy and performance

Google says the update allows Pixel 9 users to easily share high-resolution files with iPhones, iPads, and macOS devices. This makes it easier for friends using Apple products to exchange content over Bluetooth.

Google also says that privacy and speed remain priorities, adding that the system uses multiple layers of protection to keep shared files secure. The feature uses a direct, peer-to-peer connection, so files are not sent through servers, logged, or shared beyond the transfer itself.

For Pixel 9 users, it’s a small update that finally removes a big everyday annoyance when sharing files with iPhone friends.