Technology & Telecom

Bedford, Mass. – September 07, 2026 -- iRobot has launched the Roomba Max 875 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock, its most advanced vacuum-mop hybrid yet, priced at £1,099 and available now at irobot.com.

SealForce technology seals against carpet fibers for deeper suction

The robot's headline feature, patented SealForce Vacuuming Technology, lowers a skirt from the chassis to create an airtight seal against carpet fibers, concentrating a 20 L/s tornado-style airflow and 35,000 Pa of suction directly where dirt hides. iRobot says this delivers three times deeper carpet cleaning compared to vacuuming without SealForce. Adam Pope, iRobot's VP and chief engineer, said the sealing mechanism -- not just raw power -- is what pushes cleaning performance to a new level, since it stops airflow from escaping around the edges.

Morton Grove – – September 7, 2026 -- U.S. spending on new physical video games fell to $1.5 billion in calendar year 2025, the lowest annual total since tracking firm Circana began measuring the category in 1995, according to data shared by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella and cited by The Old School Game Vault.

The figure marks a steep drop from the category's peak of $11.6 billion in 2008. A separate rolling 12-month measurement from Circana, covering the period ending May 2026, put spending at approximately $1.6 billion -- down from a peak of roughly $11.5 billion for the 12 months ending May 2009.

San Diego – September 07, 2026 -- Sony Electronics is launching three new party speakers in its ULT POWER SOUND series -- ULT TOWER MAX, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER 5 -- built with deep bass and DJ-ready features for everything from backyard parties to karaoke nights.

The lineup arrives in September 2026, with the ULT TOWER MAX priced at $1,499.99 USD, the ULT TOWER 7 at $649.99 USD, and the ULT TOWER 5 at $449.99 USD. Canadian pricing runs from $599.99 to $2,099 CAD. All three will be sold at Sony.com, Best Buy, Amazon, and other authorized retailers.

Hip-hop producers helped tune the sound

Sony co-developed the speakers with Grammy-nominated producer Dot Da Genius, drummer and producer Daru Jones, DJ and producer Dready, and audio engineer Dennis "ROC.am" Jones. Their feedback shaped the tuning toward deeper low frequencies, stronger impact, and clearer vocals.

Shenzhen – September 05, 2026 --8849 has opened pre-orders for the TANK 5 Pro, a rugged smartphone that pairs a wide-angle thermal camera with a built-in 2K projector, aimed at outdoor and professional users who need durability alongside high-end performance.

A FLIR thermal sensor gives the phone a 95-degree field of view

The TANK 5 Pro uses a FLIR Lepton 3.1R sensor with 160x120 resolution and a 95-degree ultra-wide view, letting users spot heat sources and temperature anomalies across a larger area at once. 8849 says the feature suits outdoor exploration, equipment checks, structural inspections, search-and-rescue operations, and night navigation.

Olathe – September 04, 2026 -- Garmin has launched SmartDrive, an autopilot system for sailboats and catamarans up to 45 feet and 33,000 pounds of maximum displacement, priced at $3,499.99 as a standalone actuator.

SmartDrive uses a brushless linear actuator with a built-in ECU

The system is the first sailboat autopilot to pair a brushless linear actuator with an integrated ECU and rudder feedback sensor, according to Garmin. As part of the Reactor 40 Corepack, it delivers up to 1,050 pounds of maximum thrust to help maintain steady rudder control.

Fewer cables mean simpler installation

SmartDrive operates with fewer cables and external components than typical setups, and its form factor matches other linear actuators on the market. Garmin designed it to serve as a direct replacement for retrofit installations, and it connects to compatible Garmin multifunction displays via the NMEA 2000 network.

Olathe, Kan. – September 04, 2026 -- Garmin has launched the GMI 40, a multipurpose marine instrument with a 4.3-inch, high-resolution color touchscreen, priced at $599.99, with bundles ranging from $1,099.99 to $1,899.99.

The touchscreen replaces cluttered dashboards with one clear display

The GMI 40 features an edge-to-edge glass touchscreen designed to give sailors, cruisers and coastal anglers an uninterrupted view of live boating data. Garmin says the compact design fits cleanly at the helm and complements its GPSMAP chartplotters.

It connects to existing onboard electronics and wearables

The device integrates with compatible marine electronics through the NMEA 2000 network and Garmin's own BlueNet network. It also connects wirelessly to gWind sensors, marine remote controls and Garmin quatix marine smartwatches, letting boaters share data across devices in real time.

OLATHE – September 04, 2026 -- Garmin has launched the JL Audio M200 series, a new lineup of marine speakers and subwoofers priced from $199.99 to $349.99, expanding its M-series audio lineup for boaters.

The speakers come in three sizes with distinct sound roles

The M200 series includes 6.5-inch and 7.7-inch speakers alongside a 10-inch subwoofer. The speakers use a 1-inch edge-driven silk dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet, handling up to 60 watts RMS for smooth, warm sound. The subwoofer features an injection molded polypropylene cone and rubber surround, delivering 250-watts RMS power handling for deep bass with minimal distortion.

NEW YORK – September 03, 2026 -- Gaming peripheral maker ATTACK SHARK will release its R86 HE Carbon Fiber Magnetic Switch Gaming Keyboard on September 7, 2026, an 82-key, 75% layout board aimed at competitive players who also want desktop-friendly proportions.

The R86 HE pairs a carbon fiber composite top case with anodized CNC aluminum alloy side accents, and its keycaps are also made from carbon fiber composite for a firmer, more consistent typing feel during fast gameplay.

Rapid Trigger tuning claims 0.005mm precision

The keyboard's Rapid Trigger system allows key reset and actuation control down to 0.005mm, intended to help players execute precise counter-strafes in FPS titles. A custom esports chipset adds 256K scanning and an 8000Hz polling rate, with response times as low as 0.08ms according to ATTACK SHARK.

TAIPEI -- September 01, 2026 -- GIGABYTE closed out Gamescom 2026 by putting its newest AORUS INFINITY gaming hardware directly into players' hands, from a motherboard built with 3D metal-printing techniques to OLED monitors with 0.03ms response times. The Taiwan-based computer maker reported strong gamer engagement across desktop builds, AI-equipped laptops, monitors and peripherals at its booth during the annual gaming convention. GIGABYTE shared the recap on August 31, 2026, as part of its ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations.

TAIPEI -- September 01, 2026 -- Gamers walking through Gamescom 2026 got their hands on GIGABYTE's newest AORUS INFINITY lineup, testing everything from an AI-optimized gaming laptop to OLED monitors with 0.03-millisecond response times. GIGABYTE wrapped up the event reporting strong turnout at its showcase, where flagship desktops, laptops, monitors, and peripherals were set up for live play. The Taiwan-based computer maker used the gathering to demonstrate how its latest engineering choices translate into faster, smoother gameplay for everyday PC builders.

The centerpiece was the AORUS INFINITY Series, a matched set of components meant to work as one system rather than separate parts bolted together.