Brian Heater
Hardware Editor
The Latest from Brian Heater
10 gifts for frequent travelers in 2023, from backpacks to portable power
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been traveling a lot this year. In fact, I’ve been back to my 2019 levels of travel, which has been a breath of fresh air after being pandemic-grounded for a cou
The best podcast, streaming gear to gift in 2023
If you’re among people as you read this, look to your left. Now look to your right. Statistically speaking, those on either side of you probably have their own podcasts. Odds are you have severa
Robotics Q&A with Toyota Research Institute’s Max Bajracharya and Russ Tedrake
For the next few weeks, TechCrunch’s robotics newsletter Actuator will be running Q&As with some of the top minds in robotics. Subscribe here for future updates. Part 1: CMU’s Matthe
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earn their name and maybe even their $429 price tag
For years, any time someone asked which brand of headphones they should buy for a flight, the answer was a simple one syllable: Bose. The company’s QuietComfort line had long been synonymous with dr
Robotics Q&A: CMU’s Matthew Johnson-Roberson
[A version of this Q&A first appeared in TechCrunch’s weekly robotics newsletter, Actuator. Subscribe here.] Over the next few weeks, TechCrunch will be running a series of Q&As with som
Humane’s Ai Pin up close
A few hours after this morning’s big unveil, Humane opened its doors to a handful of press. Located in a nondescript building in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, the office is home to the startu
Humane’s Ai Pin promises an ‘ambient computing’ future for $699 (plus $24 a month)
It’s here. After months of hype, leaks and reveals, Humane has officially revealed the Ai Pin. The small device magnetically attaches to its wearer’s lapel, collecting data via an on-board camera.
Robotics funding saw another dip in 2023
In 2021, robotics startups were flying high. Unlike other categories that had buckled under the strains of a global pandemic, interest in automation was at an all-time high, as companies attempted to
Apple says it’s not planning a 27-inch iMac
If you’ve been waiting on a new 27-inch to upgrade your desktop setup, maybe consider the new 24-inch iMac or a Mac Studio instead. Despite reports to the contrary, Apple this morning said it won
Apple 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro review: A desktop among laptops
This thing is a beast — in pretty much every sense. It’s a big, heavy, powerful system, with a bright display, massive battery life and impressive power under the hood. After opening the box,
Apple M3 iMac 24-inch review: More power, same package
A fun knock-on effect of this job is having to constantly switch between machines. The best way to test a product is integrating it into your daily routine as much as possible. This time out, that mea
Google DeepMind’s robotics head on general-purpose robots, generative AI and office Wi-Fi
[A version of this piece first appeared in TechCrunch’s robotics newsletter, Actuator. Subscribe here.] Earlier this month, Google’s DeepMind team debuted Open X-Embodiment, a database of robotic
Roli returns with the $350 Seaboard M
Roli wrapped up a rough 2021 by filing for administration. The move saw the musical hardware startup effectively spinning off a new brand in the form of Luminary, led by founder Roland Lamb. The compa
MassRobotics is launching an accelerator
Sandwiched between rows of warehouses in the South Boston Waterfront, MassRobotics serves as both an incubator and import hub for the city’s vibrant robotics community. Soon, it will add accelerator
Apple’s M3 iMac is up for preorder, starting at $1,299
Folks banking on the arrival of the iMac Pro will have to wait a bit longer. If you’ve been looking to upgrade your 24-inch all-in-one, on the other hand, Apple’s got some good news. The company j
Apple’s M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max 3-nanometer chips arrive with a big graphics boost
We felt fairly confident that we would see at least one piece of next-gen Apple silicon as part of tonight’s Scary Fast event. But how’s this for an early Halloween surprise: We just got three new
Apple’s 14- and 16-inch M3 MacBook Pros arrive in ‘Space Black’ color, starting at $1,599
Apple just announced a (nearly) complete overhaul of its first-party silicon line, in the form of the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max. While the new 24-inch iMac is arriving with the M3, the MacBook Pro line is
Apple’s Journal app has arrived – here’s what’s good and bad
Having used Journal for a few days now, I feel confident saying that Day One is not staring down an existential threat — at least not yet. Keep in mind we’re talking about Apple has a well-kno
Apple’s Scary Fast October Mac event: How to watch and what to expect tonight
Surprise! Apple’s got one more event to go this year. Word is that various supply chain issues kiboshed plans to announce additional hardware at last month’s iPhone 15 event. Whereas in past years
Amazon’s Tye Brady discusses generative AI, humanoid robots and mobile manipulation
A version of this post first appeared in TechCrunch’s weekly robotics newsletter, Actuator. Subscribe here. Last week was a busy one for robotics. We had RoboBusiness in the Bay, ROSCon in New O