Dusty Mag

Elecom is introducing a power bank that is powered by a sodium-ion mobile battery. The Japanese electronics company claims this is the first in the world. Its environmentally friendly approach attracts consumers to call it the next-generation battery.

Prior to the groundbreaking innovation, the accessory maker had been in the mobile battery-selling scene in Japan since 2010. In line with this, it holds the most sales volume in the country for 11 consecutive years – until now.

However, Elecom and the people behind it recognized that their lithium-ion products pose a negative impact on the environment. At the same time, this kind of battery entails the possibility of grave danger. Accordingly, the sodium-ion battery is the Osaka-based manufacturer’s answer to the problems.

Based on a press release by the company, the product boasts four game-changing aspects.

Sustainable Approach

Traditional mobile batteries, specifically lithium-ion, require metals like cobalt and lithium. Consequently, this presents environmental pollution and safety concerns during mining. On the other hand, a sodium-ion battery is much easier to produce and more abundantly available. It enables a stable supply and fixes the problems concerning the environment.

Versatility and Reliability

The new revolutionary battery is suitable for use in any weather condition. It will work even in the most harsh environments, ranging from -35℃ to 50℃. So, consumers do not have to worry whether the product will function when they are on snowy mountains or under the extreme heat of the sun.

Next-level Safety

Compared to a conventional lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion batteries are less likely to catch fire or cause thermal runaway. It includes Thermal Protection and features a safe circuit design.

Durability

A sodium-ion battery promises a lifespan of approximately 5,000 times. With a 9,000mAh capacity, one charge can charge a 1,800mAh smartphone up to 2.9 times.

The product from Elecom is available in Japan at ¥9,980 or around $66.75. 

Apple iPhone 17 dummy phones surfaced online after a leak from Sonny Dickson appeared on X. Dickson has a reputable history of leaking nonfunctional versions of iPhones. Accordingly, manufacturers of phone accessories use them for preparing products in advance.

According to The Verge, the unofficial photos resemble the renders from previous weeks. In line with this, the recent renders suggest that the iPhone 17 Air would be the Cupertino company’s thinnest phone. Both the new leak and recent renders share the same look. Similarities go down up to the phone-wide camera bump, which is expected to be included on every model except the standard iPhone 17.

The insider images from Dickson presented the dimensions of the dummy handsets. While the existing models of iPhones are pretty slim, these leaked photos show a notable difference. The rumored Air model makes the others look like they have been hitting the buffet.

Subsequently, the dummies seem to support circulating rumors that the iPhone 17 Air is sized at 6.6 inches. It is right in the middle of the iPhone 16 Pro (6.3 inches) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.9 inches), Wes Davis of The Verge reports.

More Possible Features of the iPhone 17 Air

As reported by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.6 display after Apple canceled its plan of making it 6.9 inches. Apparently, the tech company was worried that the original design was prone to bending, making the device less durable. The journalist also added that the smartphone includes the Dynamic Island and a button to control the camera. At the same time, it is rumored to feature slim bezels. 

Moreover, the upcoming smartphone will feature a single back camera, an Apple A19 chip, a 120Hz ProMotion display, and a familiar battery life, Gurman says as shared by The Verge. He also expects the Apple iPhone 17 Air to start at roughly $900.

Meta will begin testing Community Notes across its major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Originally, the tech giant announced this innovation last January, stating it would end the third-party fact-checking program.

According to an article, the company will adopt the approach of X’s Community Notes system. Specifically, its version will be more of a crowd-sourced Community Notes method.

The testing program amassed almost 200,000 potential contributors in the US through sign-ups across their apps. While the waitlist remains open, Meta will start admission gradually and randomly. As part of the program testing, contributors will write and rate notes on content. However, Meta plans to take its time testing the system entirely before publishing anything.

A Closer Look at How Community Notes Work

Meta says that it does not get to decide on the content, but community contributors will. Publishing content requires “contributors with a range of viewpoints broadly agree on them” to avoid bias. In connection, the process is not majority wins. Individuals who commonly disagree need to approve that the content offers helpful context for it to get published, regardless of how many contributors agree on the note. A link to support the note will also be necessary in the process.

Furthermore, community notes will not feature the names of the authors, as it wants contributors to rate solely the content. Similarly, contributors are not allowed to post notes on advertisements.

Facebook’s parent company also wants Community Notes to perform better than its previous program.

“We expect Community Notes to be less biased than the third party fact checking program it replaces, and to operate at a greater scale when it is fully up and running,” Meta says, citing the unexpected challenges it faced in 2016.

Meta’s Community Notes testing will begin on March 18 in the United States. Nevertheless, it intends to bring the new approach to the rest of the world once everything is running smoothly. 

Google Deepmind is launching two new Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER. These latest iterations are powered by Google’s Gemini 2.0, setting the foundation for the next generation of assistive robots.

The innovation is set to solve the gap in the abilities of the company’s existing robots, which are limited to the digital realm. Consequently, the new versions bring the power of AI into real-life, physical applications.

According to Google’s AI research lab, Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER possess the necessary characteristic to advance what their earlier models can do. Specifically, they have embodied reasoning to interact like a real human with the world around us and be able to do things with safety.

Gemini Robotics

Deepmind describes Gemini Robotics as an advanced vision-language-action (VLA) model. It also integrated a new output modality to control the robots directly and conduct physical actions.

The first new AI model represents notable improvements in three key aspects, including generality, interactivity, and dexterity. Gemini Robotics can smoothly adapt to various situations and robot types. They can easily follow instructions and respond to environmental changes. Moreover, the model is capable of doing things human-like, specifically object manipulation.

Gemini Robotics-ER

Google Deepmind says that Gemini Robotics-ER allows roboticists to execute and manage their own programs.

Focusing on spatial reasoning, Gemini Robotics-ER heightens Gemini’s understanding of the world. The latest version significantly improves pointing and 3D detection features. It can also instantly generate fresh capabilities when encountering new scenarios.

Both Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER push robots to perform better in various real-world activities.

In addition, the research team is planning to further explore the capabilities of the new models to continue the development.

“As we explore the continuing potential of AI and robotics, we’re taking a layered, holistic approach to addressing safety in our research, from low-level motor control to high-level semantic understanding,” Carolina Parada added.

Meanwhile, Google Deepmind is also partnering with Apptronik to produce new generations of humanoid robots. 

iRobot is introducing a new set of Roombas consisting of eight state-of-the-art vacuums and 2-in-1 vacuums and mops. The products do not only look different from the earlier models, but they also work more efficiently.

According to the company, the latest Roombas include a premium design with improved technology. From retractable dual-spinning mop pads to debris-compacting systems, the newly integrated lidar navigation and mapping feature makes cleaning smarter. Consequently, the fresh suite of cleaning equipment marks the corporation’s biggest and most comprehensive offering after 35 years.

The 2025 Roomba Lineup

iRobot launches the Roomba 105 Vac Robot series at the entry-level, which includes extra power-lifting suction of up to 70 times. Moreover, DustCompactor innovation allows the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Vac Robot and Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot to store debris for a longer period.

At the higher end of the lineup, the Roomba 405 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock includes more powerful suction and heavy scrubbing along with a maintenance-free dock. Furthermore, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock offers an automatic multi-function dock, which, by default, empties debris and cleans mop pads after use.

All products in the lineup will feature an upgraded Roomba Home app, which helps users achieve more intuitive and efficient management.

The latest collection of smarter Roombas starts at $299 for the entry-level versions and goes up to $999 for the higher-end models, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge reports.

The Current Situation of the Consumer Robots

Coming from a rough 2024, when iRobot suffered the loss of its founder, acquisition plans upset, and mass layoffs, the company is looking to revamp its operations with the new intelligent vacuums. At the same time, the design overhaul seems to target competing with Chinese counterparts.

The Roomba robots will be pre-order-ready in North America and some European countries by March 18 on iRobot.com. On the other hand, March 23 will kick off retail availability.