Mikael is a prominent voice in consumer technology, with experience at Macworld. He currently contributes to PC för Alla and M3, focusing on gadget releases, streaming service developments, and advancements in artificial intelligence tools.
Users of the Samsung Galaxy S26 reported issues with the integration of Perplexity AI, specifically that the app was missing from the voice wake-up list and the wake word "Hey Plex" was not functioning. Samsung described the situation as part of an "ongoing product refinement process" but did not clarify the cause. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas hinted at a transition to a new wake word, "Hey Perplexity," which is supported by an update to the Perplexity Android app (version 2.81.2) that prepares for this change. The app is being updated with screens related to the new command, indicating that the transition is in progress. Speculation suggests that the change may be to differentiate from the Plex media service and address potential pronunciation challenges. An APK teardown can provide insights into future features, but there is no guarantee they will be included in a public release.
Amazon Luna has released a lineup of complimentary PC games for subscribers in April 2026, including:
- Available now:
- XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack (GOG)
- Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties (Epic Games Store)
- April 9:
- A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home (Epic Games Store)
- King of Retail (GOG)
- April 16:
- Snake Core (GOG)
- Monster Harvest (Epic Games Store)
- Detective Agency: Gray Tie Collector’s Edition (Legacy Games)
- April 23:
- Neo Cab (GOG)
- The Pale Beyond (GOG)
- April 30:
- KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat (Epic Games Store)
- Fantasy General (GOG)
- Pinball Spire (GOG)
Players can still claim titles from March, including Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Total War: Rome II, and Total War: Three Kingdoms. Amazon Luna also revamped its streaming service last October, introducing GameNight, which features around 30 party games that allow players to use mobile phones as controllers without app downloads.
HP has launched a new streaming service called HP TV+ for Windows 11 users. It is an ad-supported application that offers live channels, movies, and various shows in one interface, similar to Pluto TV and Tubi. The service is available through the Microsoft Store and has a rating of 4.1. While designed for Windows 11, it can also be installed on Windows 10 and ARM64 devices. Initial impressions suggest it may not become a regular part of users' routines.
A jury has found YouTube and Meta liable for millions due to negligent and addictive app design, following a lawsuit by K.G.M., who experienced severe mental distress linked to her use of these platforms during her teenage years. K.G.M. filed her lawsuit in 2023, citing struggles with body dysmorphia and self-harm as a direct result of her experiences on these platforms. TikTok and Snap settled out of court, while YouTube and Meta contested the claims. The jury's ruling mandates that Meta and YouTube pay millions in compensatory damages, with Meta responsible for the majority. A spokesperson for Google disagreed with the verdict and stated intentions to appeal.
The Anna’s Archive project has released approximately 2.8 million audio files, totaling around 6.4 terabytes, from Spotify's database. The files are distributed through 47 torrent distributions and include music, individual releases, and metadata. The initial release features the least popular tracks, labeled as "pop_0," and contains embedded metadata such as track, album, artist, label, and publisher information. Anna’s Archive aims to preserve music and plans to publish more files in phases. Spotify has responded by disabling accounts involved in illegal scraping and has filed a lawsuit against the operators of Anna’s Archive, claiming damages in the trillions for copyright infringement. Some domains associated with Anna’s Archive have been disabled through court orders, prompting the service to consider relocating its infrastructure. Maintaining the full estimated catalog of 300 terabytes may require two to three times more storage space, potentially needing around 50 hard drives of 18 to 20 terabytes each.
In a recent poll, 20% of respondents favored mainstream applications, while 80% preferred underdog alternatives. Vivaldi is a web browser that prioritizes user privacy and offers extensive customization options, built on a Chromium foundation for compatibility with Chrome extensions. Anytype is an offline-first application that combines features of Notion and Obsidian, focusing on privacy and security. Deezer is highlighted as a superior music streaming service compared to Spotify, with an extensive library and a user-friendly interface that includes a personalized music recommendation feature called Flow. Perplexity is an AI platform that provides verified sources and a user-friendly interface, offering access to multiple AI models through a single subscription. Superlist is a to-do list application developed by the creators of Wunderlist, featuring natural language input, AI-driven task organization, and a free version with a Pro subscription for expanded features.
Nvidia has launched its GeForce Now game streaming service on Amazon's Fire TV Sticks and select Fire TVs, allowing users to stream games they already own from various digital stores. The streaming quality is capped at 1080p/60fps, and the service operates on a tiered subscription model, with a free tier offering one-hour sessions supported by ads. The GeForce Now application is compatible with specific Fire TV Stick models, but not with the Fire TV Stick Select. The platform distinguishes itself by enabling users to access their existing game collections rather than providing a Netflix-style library. GeForce Now competes with other streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna and is accessible on multiple devices.
Christoph Hartmann, head of Amazon Game Studios, is leaving the company, which is shifting its focus from PC and console gaming to prioritize its Luna cloud streaming service. This change coincides with Amazon's layoffs affecting approximately 16,000 roles, following a previous round of 14,000 layoffs in October 2025. The gaming division may face challenges due to this strategic pivot, and significant reductions have already occurred in Amazon's gaming operations. The project New World Aeternum is scheduled to go offline in January 2027. Hartmann joined Amazon in 2018 and has over two decades of experience from 2K Games.
Apple services have expanded beyond their ecosystem, with Apple Music now available on Android, Windows, Google TV, and ChromeOS, as well as through a web app. Apple Music offers features like Dolby Atmos and lossless audio support, making it competitive against Spotify and YouTube Music. Spotify's recent price increase has made it more expensive than Apple Music and YouTube Music. YouTube Music, while bundled with YouTube Premium, struggles as a standalone service and has audio quality limitations. Apple Music provides high-resolution lossless audio, Dolby Atmos support, and a user-friendly experience on Android, priced at .99 per month. It allows users to import libraries from various services, enhancing its appeal across different platforms.