November 21, 2025, 6:44 PM EST. Google is upgrading Android Auto with its Gemini AI, switching the trigger from OK Google to Hey Google when casting to a car's infotainment system. Gemini aims to deliver more natural, conversational AI that can handle queries like finding well-rated restaurants along a route, drilling into search results, translating messages into 40 languages, and simplifying playlist creation and destination research. It also has access to Gmail, calendars, and tasks, signaling a push toward productivity in-car. In a related move, Gemini will replace Google Assistant in Polestar models-from the Polestar 2 to the upcoming Polestar 5-emphasizing a higher-powered voice experience in the cabin.

November 21, 2025, 6:42 PM EST. Google is rolling out its Gemini AI assistant to Android Auto, letting drivers use a truly conversational voice assistant for directions, messages, and errands. After downloading the Gemini app on their Android phone, users will see Gemini on the car's infotainment display and can activate it by saying "Hey Google," tapping the mic, or long-pressing the steering-wheel button. Gemini works across tasks like finding restaurants, messaging with ETA and emoji, checking calendars, making to-do lists, and extracting addresses from emails, all while keeping hands on the wheel. Google notes Gemini will not yet arrive on Apple CarPlay, and future updates could bring it to vehicles with built-in Android. The company positions Gemini as a potential step up from current voice assistants, but researchers warn that driving-related speech interfaces may introduce cognitive distraction and require more study.

November 21, 2025, 6:36 PM EST. Black Friday is Nov 28, with early Meta Quest deals from Amazon and Costco. The focus is on the Quest 3S-often priced around $200-$300-which brings the same games and most specs as the standard Quest 3, including the XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB RAM, and a sharp display. Accessories are also heavily discounted. The regular Quest 3 hasn't dropped yet; expect further price drops as Black Friday approaches, and Cyber Monday on Dec 1. If you're new to VR, the Quest 3S is a strong entry point and a smarter buy for many. For those eyeing Quest 3, wait to see if more deals appear. I'll update this guide as new deals go live.

November 21, 2025, 6:34 PM EST. Growing up around NASA's Michoud and now at NASA Stennis, Huy Nguyen embodies a family tradition of problem solving. As an electrical controls engineer for propulsion testing, he maintains legacy systems while upgrading them with robust, modern controls. He works across the High Pressure Gas Facility and the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility, the 'heart and powerhouse' of testing, and loves integrating new interfaces with ongoing infrastructure. A career highlight: the Green Run test series that validated the SLS core stage for Artemis I and set the stage for Artemis II. Nguyen led controls operations, ensuring helium, nitrogen, air, and water were supplied around the clock for a full-duration test-24 hours. The effort showcased teamwork and precision central to NASA's Artemis era.

November 21, 2025, 6:32 PM EST. Set an 80% charge limit on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and track battery health for about a year and 355 cycles. Early results looked fine, but after extended use the battery's maximum capacity fell to around 91%, illustrating the trade-off between longer life and daily runtime. Apple claims devices can retain 80% of original capacity at 1,000 complete cycles under ideal conditions-a benchmark that may not match everyday use. Occasional full charges for calibration provided brief convenience, but the core takeaway is that battery-life optimizations depend on how you use the phone, and real-world results vary.