• The next 007 will be Chinese

    January 27, 2026

    We’re still waiting for word on who will be the next James Bond, aka Agent 007, but that hasn’t stopped the Chinese automotive industry from pumping out another 007. No, it’s not a suave secret agent, but rather a large electric liftback that’s now available to order in New Zealand, ahead of first dealership arrivals in February 2026. The Dongfeng 007 entered production in China back in 2024 and it’s now bound for our neighbours across the ditch, where the Chinese brand is distributed by Armstrong’s Distribution Limited. The independent distributor also exclusively handles Citroen, Opel, Peugeot and Smart in…

  • Monarch Money’s budgeting app is 50 percent off for new users right now

    January 27, 2026

    The start of the new year is a great time to get your finances in order, and a good budgeting app can help with that. Instead of laboring over a spreadsheet, you can try one of our favorite budgeting apps for less than usual. Monarch Money is running a sale that gives new users 50 percent off one year of the service, bringing the final cost down to just $50. Just use the code NEWYEAR2026 at checkout to get the discount. Monarch Money makes for a capable and detailed budgeting companion. You can use the service via apps for iOS,…

  • Some international attendees are skipping 2026 GDC due to safety fears and growing ICE presence

    January 27, 2026

    The 2026 Game Developers Conference is shaping up to be a little less international this year if commentary on social media platforms like LinkedIn is an indicator. Many members of the international games industry have announced they will skip the event, mainly over concerns about safety, tougher U.S. immigration rules, and a stronger immigration and Customs Enforcement presence. Developers, past GDC attendees, and other industry professionals have taken to platforms like LinkedIn to publicly voice their concerns. ICE activity in numerous U.S. cities as well as the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving ICE agents have compounded concerns. Renee Nicole Good…

  • Australian dealer group says EV demand has flatlined despite sales growth

    January 27, 2026

    A survey commissioned by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) claims demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has ‘flatlined’, despite EV market share gains in 2025. The survey of 2000 Australian motorists, commissioned by the peak body for car dealers in Australia and conducted by Melbourne-based Zing Insights in November 2025, found 38 per cent of respondents intend to buy an EV as their next primary new-vehicle purchase. That figure is unchanged from the AADA’s 2022 survey and one percentage point lower than its 2024 result (39 per cent). “Our members are committed to supporting Australia’s transition to lower-emissions vehicles and…

  • Ball x Pit’s first update brings an endless mode and much more to the chaos

    January 27, 2026

    It’s time to jump back into the pit. Ball x Pit is one of the very best games of 2025 and there’s now even more to play around with in the brick-busting roguelite. The first major free update for the game (one of three that’s on the cards this year) just arrived on all platforms. It added a bunch more stuff to the mix, including two new characters, eight extra special balls with powerful abilities and an endless mode. Developer Kenny Sun wrote on the PlayStation Blog that because fans demanded it so much, endless mode jumped right to the…

  • AI chip startup Ricursive hits $4B valuation two months after launch

    January 27, 2026

    Ricursive Intelligence, a startup building an AI system to design and automatically improve AI chips, has raised $300 million at a $4 billion valuation. The company said Monday the round was led by Lightspeed. Ricursive says the system will be able to create its own silicon substrate layer and speed up AI chip improvements. Rinse and repeat to get to AGI, the founders say. The Series A comes just two months since the company formally launched with a seed investment led by Sequoia. It has raised $335 million total, reports The New York Times. Ricursive was founded by former Google…

  • BMW scraps end date for V8 and V12 engine production

    January 27, 2026

    BMW has scrapped plans to end production of its trademark V8 and V12 petrol engines, which will continue to be offered in its high-end performance and luxury models alongside a range of new electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its Neue Klasse electrification strategy. According to Automotive News Europe, the German automaker’s renewed commitment to large combustion engines is due in part to continuing high demand in the US. “High-performance engines remain a central part of our strategy,” a BMW spokesperson told ANE, adding that North American demand for V8 vehicles remains “above average” and that the company doesn’t expect…

  • Trump admin reportedly plans to use AI to write federal regulations

    January 27, 2026

    The Trump administration is planning on using Google Gemini to draft important federal regulations, . This is starting with the Department of Transportation, according to interviews with agency staffers. Regulations created by the DOT help keep us safe when traveling. The plan was initially presented to DOT staffers last month, with agency attorney Daniel Cohen writing to colleagues about AI’s “potential to revolutionize the way we draft rulemakings.” Gregory Zerzan, the agency’s general counsel, has indicated that President Donald Trump is “very excited by this initiative” and that DOT will be “the first agency that is fully enabled to use…

  • South Korea’s Edenlux set for U.S. debut of eye-strain wellness device

    January 27, 2026

    People around the world now spend hours a day on their smartphones. On average, daily smartphone use exceeds three hours, and for many adults, total screen time climbs to six hours or more, according to research. This constant close-up screen exposure has been linked to a growing list of eye-health issues, including dry and irritated eyes, eye fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and the worsening of nearsightedness, per reports. Edenlux, a South Korea–headquartered startup, has developed technology to address eye and ear health issues caused by screen-heavy digital lifestyles. The company’s mission is personal. Edenlux founder and CEO Sungyong Park knows…

  • Jaguar calls hybrid rumours ‘rubbish’, doubles down on EV-only future

    January 27, 2026

    Luxury brand Jaguar has denied reports it’s set to introduce new models packing a petrol engine, saying it remains fully committed to an all-electric future and that suggestions to the contrary are “rubbish”. The Sunday Times published a report on January 24, 2026, claiming the Indian-owned British automaker is exploring the inclusion of extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains which incorporate internal combustion engines (ICE). Such a move would represent a significant strategy shift after Jaguar’s 2024 announcement it would stop making ICE-powered vehicles, announcing it would pause production entirely as part of its transition to a more upmarket, electric-vehicle-only brand. However,…