[Lenovo](https://mashable.com/category/lenovo) is reportedly working on a transparent laptop, and it's bringing a concept device to this year's [Mobile World Congress](https://mashable.com/category/mobile-world-congress) in Barcelona.

This is according to leaker [Evan Blass](https://twitter.com/evleaks), who shared some images of the device on Twitter.

> [Tweet may have been deleted](https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/1757981929918345377 "(opens in a new window)")

Blass first shared the news of the device's existence last week, together with a couple of images, shared on [Windows Report](https://windowsreport.com/exclusive-lenovo-is-working-on-a-transparent-laptop-might-showcase-it-at-mwc-2024/). The images show a laptop-like device with a completely bezel-less, semi-transparent display. The components are apparently housed in the display's (sizable) chin, while the keyboard is an equally futuristic-looking flat, shiny, tablet-like slab with fully flat or at least hidden keys.

On Thursday, Blass shared another image of the device, displaying two of them on a flat surface. The image looks like a render, but Blass claims the company will unveil the laptop concept at this year's MWC, which kicks off on February 26.

As for the inevitable question of whether we need transparent laptops in the first place, the answer is simple: To look cool! We're sure that Lenovo will concoct some other usage scenarios where using such a device makes sense.

Transparent display tech is definitely a rising trend; at this year's CES, we've seen [several](https://mashable.com/article/ces-2024-best-tvs) semi-transparent TVs, including this beautiful [OLED by LG](https://mashable.com/article/lg-signature-oled-t).

In terms of specs, all we know is that the laptop runs Windows 11, but we're hoping to find out more in Barcelona.

Lenovo developed a concept laptop with a transparent display (leaks)

Lenovo's transparent laptop concept is something else

Shortly after announcing the [official launch date](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-release-date-preorder-info) for its first augmented reality headset, the [Vision Pro](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-impressions), Apple released its first ad for the device.

The Vision Pro is coming slightly earlier than anticipated, on Feb. 2, with pre-orders opening on Jan. 19. [We already know quite a bit about the device](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-onboarding-videos), which was [originally announced in June 2023](https://mashable.com/article/wwdc-2023-apple-mixed-vision-pro-headset-announcement-price-release-date) — it's a whole new product category for Apple, with an accompanying, new platform, [Vision OS](https://mashable.com/article/apple-ipad-iphone-apps-vision-pro), and an entirely different way to interact with apps, games, and video.

So how's Apple selling it to us? Mostly by not even mentioning it at all.

The ad for the Vision Pro, titled "Get Ready," merely shows inserts from famous movies and TV shows, with characters such as Luke Skywalker, Snoopy, Geordi La Forge, and Iron Man, putting on some sort of head-worn device, be it a helmet, motorcycle goggles, or a visor. The ad ends with a woman putting on the Vision Pro and seeing the device's user interface.

In many ways, the ad is similar to [Apple's first ad for the iPhone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MicECONdno0), titled "Hello," which consists of a montage of movie clips with various famous actors merely saying "hello" into a phone.

The idea, we reckon, is to convey the idea that the Vision Pro is merely a gateway into a new universe of content. It's simple and effective, and it underlines the importance of Vision Pro for Apple: It's the company's first entirely new product category since the [Apple Watch](https://mashable.com/category/apple-watch), which launched in 2015.

Get ready: This is Apple's first ad for the Vision Pro

LG is entering its _Jetsons_ era with a smart home robot. At [CES 2024](https://mashable.com/category/ces) on Monday, LG [unveiled](https://www.lg.com/sg/about-lg/press-and-media/lg-ushers-in-zero-labour-home-with-its-smart-home-ai-agent-at-ces-2024/) an AI smart home agent that acts as your very own "Rosie" from the futuristic cartoon. 

Rosie comes to mind, because the AI agent isn’t just a smart hub or disembodied [AI voice assistant](https://mashable.com/article/amazon-alexa-generative-ai-revamp). It’s a little two-legged robot (an upgrade from Rosie’s precarious single wheel) that actually putters around your home, helping you with your chores through LG’s smart home appliances. 

![LG AI agent being unveiled on stage at CES 2024 press conference](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04ihOv0uHkMNmMeSWWKjwCk/images-2.fill.size_2000x1500.v1704739043.jpg)

Meet the walking, talking smart home hub. Credit: LG

The housekeeping bot is part of LG's "Zero Labor Home" initiative that's built around interconnected smart home appliances. In LG's keynote on Monday, CEO William Cho talked about how data gathered from LG's products can be harnessed to train its artificial intelligence in understanding and even predicting customer's behaviors and needs. It comes as no surprise that LG focused big time on AI and IoT. If [2023 was the year of ChatGPT](https://mashable.com/article/ways-ai-changed-the-internet-2023) and the AI chatbot, then 2024 is shaping up to be the year we see generative AI applied to hardware, wearables, and robotics.

![white LG AI agent robot that has two legs and a face with big round eyes](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04ihOv0uHkMNmMeSWWKjwCk/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1704739043.jpg)

Imagine this lil' guy reminding you to take your medicine. Credit: LG

The AI agent operates through LG’s smart home platform ThinQ, which connects to the company’s lineup of smart appliances that include washer/dryers, ovens, and refrigerators. The robot has face and user recognition, relying on machine learning to understand context, so its responses and communications are tailored to individual members of the home. It’s powered by a generative AI large language model, so you can chat with it while you’re, say, folding the laundry. 

But all of that is doable with any other smart home hub on the market. What separates LG's AI agent from the rest is its mobility. The robot can serve as a pet monitor and patrol the house for open windows or lights left on while you're out. It can also alert you when you need to take medications and make emergency calls.

Plus, it is designed to greet you at the door when you come home and can read your mood based on voice and facial analysis — no doubt, the most 60s-era-robot-housekeeper-aspect of the device. To recap: what's old is new, and science fiction has become reality. Sounds about right for CES 2024.

CES 2024: LG announces walking, talking, 'Jetsons-esque' smart home robot


It'll likely be a few years before everyone in the Apple ecosystem can ditch their Lightning cables, but [AirPods Pro](https://mashable.com/review/apple-airpods-pro-2-review) owners can do it right now without buying a new pair.

Specifically, owners of the 2023 second-gen AirPods Pro can buy a new [USB-C charging case](https://zdcs.link/Y1qPd?pageview_type=RSS&template=article&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&element_label=USB-C%20charging%20case&object_type=article&object_uuid=03McNGvPzF0FQIKjxsTUSox&short_url=Y1qPd&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Ffeeds%2Frss%2Ftech "(opens in a new window)") directly from Apple's online storefront. It looks and operates the same as the one that came with your AirPods Pro over the summer, but as you might've guessed already, it uses USB-C for charging instead of Lightning.

Get one of these, and an [iPhone 15 Pro,](https://mashable.com/review/apple-iphone-15-pro-max-review) and you can kiss Lightning goodbye.

Apple is selling standalone USB-C AirPods cases now, finally

When Apple launched its first augmented reality headset, the Vision Pro, back in June 2023, the company said the product would actually be available "early next year."

Now, according to [Bloomberg's Mark Gurman](https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/power-on) (via [9to5Mac](https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/19/gurman-apple-vision-pro-march-release/)), it appears that "early next year" might actually translate to "sometime around" March 2024.

While March can still technically be considered early in the year, it will probably sound a little disappointing to those eager to buy the $3,499 headset. Gurman says that the Vision Pro was originally slated for a January launch, but it's still not quite ready, and is currently undergoing final testing.

The Vision Pro's launch will be a very different affair from Apple's typical product launches. The augmented reality headset will first be available only in the U.S., and will only be sold at Apple retail stores or online. In retail stores, Apple reportedly plans to have special areas with demo units where customers will be able to [try the device out](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-07/apple-vision-pro-headset-to-launch-in-us-stores-by-appointment?embedded-checkout=true) before buying. The Vision Pro should become available in other countries in late 2024.

There are signs, however, that the development is moving forward and that the Vision Pro is close to being ready for prime time. A recent iOS update allowed iPhone 15 users to [record spatial videos](https://mashable.com/article/iphone-15-pro-spatial-video-vision-pro) that can only be viewed on the Vision Pro, and a recent update to Vision Pro's own operating system, visionOS, gave us a peak into the [onboarding process](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-onboarding-videos) for the device.

When the Vision Pro does become available, it might be hard to get one. A Financial Times report in July claimed that [Apple drastically cut the production forecasts](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-production-cuts) for Vision Pro due to the product's complexity.

Apple's Vision Pro may take a little longer to launch

Pixel 8 owners are reporting a number of concerning issues with Google's latest flagship Android smartphone.

Pixel 8 reported issues are piling up: 3 common issues we’re hearing

Apple is reportedly working on a system that would allow it to update iPhones while they're still in the box and in store.

Apple will be able to update iPhones while they're still in the box, report claims

Tesla's got a new product, and it's not an electric vehicle. It's a beer.

Tesla now sells CyberBeer, but it'll cost you

Apple is reportedly working on iOS 17.0.3, which likely contains a fix for the iPhone overheating issues.

Apple's iOS 17.0.3 might bring a fix for overheating iPhones

The Apple Store has been taken offline ahead of its September 12 event, where we expect the company to launch the new iPhone 15.

Apple’s online store goes down ahead of iPhone 15 launch event

Apple Store Goes Down Ahead of iPhone 15 Event Later Today

Apple Store is down ahead of iPhone event

Sorry [Chromecast](https://mashable.com/review/chromecast-with-google-tv-review) users, but from now on you'll need WiFI access to cast content from your phone.

According to [9to5Google](https://9to5google.com/2023/08/23/chromecast-guest-mode/), the streaming adaptor no longer supports "guest mode," which enabled users to cast from your phone to your screen without connecting to WiFi. This is [confirmed](https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6109286) on a Chromecast Help page, which said the only way for guests to cast content from their Android or iOS device is "by connecting to the host's Wi-Fi network."

Guest mode was a convenient feature for users who wanted to stream content, say, at an Airbnb, or in a hotel room, since it didn't require any access to the WiFi network. Instead, Chromecast would emit its own WiFi and Bluetooth beacon, creating a unique network for casting or you could enable guest mode by entering a four-digit pin shown on the screen. The guest mode setting has also been removed from Chromecast settings on the Google Home app.

Google hasn't shared any explanation as why this genuinely useful feature was been removed from Chromecast, although it might be for security reasons since unrestricted access to screen casting is hard to manage or regulate. But that still leaves the question of _why now_, after almost 10 years of existence.

In the grand tradition of moving fast and breaking things, Google does [have a penchant](https://killedbygoogle.com/) for launching and then killing products, which proves the company isn't reluctant to ruthlessly cut products that no longer serve its needs. Alas, maybe that's the only explanation we'll ever get. But from now on, you'll have to be that person always asking for the WiFi password.

Google inexplicably removes Chromecast's guest mode feature

Are you ready for the next generation of foldable phones?

I sure hope so, because Samsung is ready to lift the curtain off of said phones in the very near future. Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked livestream is taking place on Wednesday, July 26 at 7 a.m. ET. You can watch it on [Samsung's website](https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/the-next-galaxy/reserve/) or on [Samsung's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@Samsung/featured).

In case you're wondering why the event's time slot is so hostile to people on the west coast, it's taking place in Seoul this year.

As for what to expect from Unpacked, Samsung's official invite graphic sent out a few weeks ago shows what looks an awful lot like a [Galaxy Z Flip](https://mashable.com/review/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-4-review). Since this is almost exactly a year since Samsung's last batch of foldables launched, it stands to reason that we'll see follow-ups to both the Z Flip 4 and [Z Fold 4](https://mashable.com/review/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-4-review). There could also be updates to the Galaxy Watch wearable line and perhaps even a new Galaxy Tab tablet, but the star of the show will undoubtedly be the foldables.

As always, get your finances in order in case you want to be an early adopter for whatever gets announced next week.

Samsung Unpacked LIVE blog: Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch 6 and latest news

Here’s how to watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26

How to watch the Samsung Unpacked Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 5 reveal livestream

With [Apple's Vision Pro](https://mashable.com/article/apple-vision-pro-impressions) threatening to take a chunk out of the virtual reality market, Meta is doing its best to entice users to stay in its own VR ecosystem.

On Monday, the company announced the [Meta Quest+](https://zdcs.link/xJwBj?pageview_type=RSS&template=article&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&label=Meta%20Quest%2B&object_type=article&object_uuid=0169UY7pmtUjHk4jhatIhVw&short_url=xJwBj&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Ffeeds%2Frss%2Ftech), a VR subscription service that costs $7.99 per month. You can also get it for $59.99 per year, and if you sign up through July 31, you get the first month for $1.

Meta Quest+ works as follows: At the start of each month, users get access to two "hand-picked" VR titles. These titles stay in their collection as long as they remain Quest+ subscribers, so the collection grows each month.

For example, Meta is starting with the _Pistol Whip_ FPS game and the _Pixel Ripped 1995_ retro adventure game. In August, the company will offer _Walkabout Mini Golf_ together with the _Mothergunship:Forge_ shooter.

According to Meta, the subscription gives users a monthly value of "up to $60," as well as the convenience of a curated experience.

Subscripion-based models have become increasingly popular among IT behemoths recently, with some examples including Apple's gaming subscription service [Apple Arcade](https://mashable.com/article/apple-arcade-game-leaving), Twitter's aggressively marketed [Twitter Blue](https://mashable.com/article/twitter-blue-10000-character-bold-italicise), and Meta's own [Meta Verified](https://mashable.com/article/meta-verified-facebook-instagram-details), a subscription service for Facebook and Instagram. [Apple's Vision Pro](https://mashable.com/article/wwdc-2023-apple-mixed-vision-pro-headset-announcement-price-release-date) is far pricier than Meta's Quest headsets and it isn't coming until early next year, but Meta probably wants to lock in as many customers as it can before Apple's VR efforts become competitive with its own.

Meta launches VR subscription service called Quest+

New regulation in the European Union, passed [recently](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IPR96210/making-batteries-more-sustainable-more-durable-and-better-performing) with an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament, requires smartphone manufacturers to equip phones with replaceable batteries.

Among other rules, the new law requires that electronic appliance makers (including smartphone makers) design portable batteries in such a way that consumers can themselves easily remove and replace them.

Right now, this isn't the case in the vast majority of instances. [Apple's iPhone](https://mashable.com/category/iphone), for example, has a battery that's quite hard to replace, and the situation is similar with [Samsung's Galaxy phones](https://mashable.com/article/pixel-7a-vs-iphone-14-vs-samsung-galaxy-s23-comparison), as well as phones from many other popular brands.

Things have gotten better over the years. In 2022, Apple launched a [self-service repair program](https://mashable.com/article/apple-self-service-available) for certain models and allowed customers access to iPhone parts. And [teardowns of the iPhone 14](https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown) show that the design of the phone has been improved, allowing for easier repairs than on some earlier models.

It's still a far cry from popping out the phone's back and swapping the battery in a second (remember the original [Nokia 3310](https://mashable.com/article/nokia-3310-coming-back-report)? Those were the days). But that's pretty much what the EU's new rules are requiring.

From the original [proposal](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2020/0798/COM_COM(2020)0798_EN.pdf), filed in 2020: "Portable batteries incorporated in appliances shall be readily removable and replaceable by the end-user or by independent operators during the lifetime of the appliance (...) A battery is readily replaceable where, after its removal from an appliance, it can be substituted by a similar battery, without affecting the functioning or the performance of that appliance."

The new regulations also come with stricter waste collection targets for portable batteries: 45 percent by 2023, 63 percent by 2027, and 73% by 2030.

It will be a while until we see the effects of this law on the market, as it comes into force three and a half years after the law was passed. But it appears that the days of phones with glued-down batteries, which require special tools to pry out, are numbered.

We're likely to see another EU rule making a big impact on iPhones as early as this year. Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 is likely to come with a USB-C charging port (instead of Apple's proprietary Lightning port), due to new [EU regulations](https://mashable.com/article/apple-iphone-usb-c) that come into force in 2024.

Another redesign on the cards for iPhone as EU rules call for removable batteries

Future iPhones might have an easily replaceable battery due to new EU law

If you have a [Google Pixel phone](https://mashable.com/review/google-pixel-7a-review), you may have noticed its battery has recently been draining at an alarming speed. Google has now confirmed that this issue was caused by a recent update to Google App, which has now been fixed.

"A recent Google App backend change unintentionally resulted in a subset of Android devices experiencing accelerated battery drain," a Google spokesperson said in a statement to Mashable. "We rolled out a fix shortly after becoming aware of the issue, and impacted users should see their devices return to normal behavior immediately. This fix does not require an app update."

The issue was first reported by [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/pixel-users-report-the-google-app-is-making-their-phones-overheat-193325112.html), which noted that multiple Pixel owners had taken to the [r/GooglePixel](https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/13gkrtd/overheating_phone_and_high_power_use/) subreddit as well as [Google's support forums](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/214392878/battery-is-draining-very-fast-after-the-may-2023-security-update?hl=en&sjid=13669988790291989139-NA) complaining about the problem.

While the Pixel's recent battery drainage issue may have been fixed, this is a good reminder to check the [power usage settings](https://mashable.com/article/save-battery-life-in-ios-11) on your phone. Google App might not be chewing up your battery, but there may be other factors such as your phone's auto-brightness setting or location services that are pulling more power than necessary.

Even if a quickly-depleting battery isn't an immediate issue plaguing your lengthy [TikTok](https://mashable.com/category/tiktok) sessions, it's always handy to know how to squeeze out that little bit of extra power if you ever find yourself needing to stretch your charge.