Articles by David Nield, Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Articles by: David Nield

Google's data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa

'How we build is just as important as what we build' — Google reveals how it's going to solve the AI data center water problem by 2030

By David Nield Published 26 July 26

Google says it'll be giving rather than taking water when it comes to data center use within four years.

Now might be a good time to get yourself a Roku: prices are set to rise by up to 60%, and the memory shortage is to blame

By David Nield Published 26 July 26

The prices on all of the Roku streaming sticks and boxes have gone up — though only in the US for now.

OpenAI quietly signs letter from Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta warning about dangers of 'premature restrictions' on open-weight AI models — as the White House accuses China of stealing from Anthropic

By David Nield Published 25 July 26

With China's open-weight AI models continuing to improve, US companies want to see a free market for all.

ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the Garmin Cirqa

By David Nield Published 25 July 26

There was a lot of top-tier tech content published on TechRadar this week, and these are the highlights.

A TV screen showing the Netflix and Prime Video homepages

Netflix and Prime Video plot AI-driven homepages, but users say they don't want 'software to think' for them

By David Nield Published 24 July 26

Both Amazon and Netflix are reportedly testing out plans to incorporate AI into the first streaming screen you see.

Garmin backtracks on Cirqa subscription after outcry from fans and makes a crucial feature available for free

By David Nield Published 23 July 26

Garmin has decided that users of the new Cirqa should be able to access real time hear rate data without a subscription.

2 Comments

Flock is pulling its plan to use its microphone network to monitor for signs of 'human distress' — but privacy concerns remain

By David Nield Published 22 July 26

Flock says it's abandoning the idea of using its acoustic detection network to listen out for signs of screaming and disturbance.

2 Comments

Google Pixel 6 held in hand with thumb reaching for fingerprint scanner

It’s officially the end of the road for the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro — but here are 6 clever ways to reinvent your old Android phone

By David Nield Published 21 July 26

Software updates for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are ending later this year, but you've got options for reusing your old handset.

2 Comments

Man holding a smartphone with the YouTube app opening

YouTube picture-in-picture mode seems to be broken on Android and iOS, and Google is 'actively investigating'

By David Nield Published 20 July 26

Some (but not all) users are reporting that picture-in-picture has stopped working properly on mobile.

Fake bus stops ads in London showing Meta smart glasses

'People are choosing to be a walking Flock camera': the smart glasses backlash hits new heights as celebrities blast 'creep goggles' — and activists install fake Meta Glasses ads at London bus stops

By David Nield Published 19 July 26

It's been a week of strong reaction against cameras in smart glasses, and tech companies are facing a lot of negativity.

8 Comments

Chinese company BrainCo unveils first 'brain-to-robot' interface for controlling robots with your thoughts

By David Nield Published 19 July 26

The latest in brain-computer interfaces can work directly with robots, without any physical input or verbal instruction.

Unbox Therapy examines a dummy unit of Apple's folding iPhone Ultra.

I've used foldable phones for years — here's how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and iPhone Ultra are fixing the form factor in 2026

By David Nield Published 19 July 26

Both Samsung and Apple are rumored to be launching 'wide' foldables this year, and I think I know why.

The Apple Music app icon against a red background on an iPhone.

Apple is putting up prices on Apple Music and Apple One, and says 'rising licensing costs' are to blame — here's how much you'll pay now

By David Nield Published 18 July 26

Apple has put up the prices for its music streaming subscription service for the first time in four years.

ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from the world's techiest e-bike to Apple vs OpenAI drama

By David Nield Published 18 July 26

The week's biggest tech news from OnePlus, Apple, Samsung, GoPro and more for July 17, 2026.

'It almost defied belief': here are the 5 best OnePlus phones ever, as the 'flagship killer' leaves the US and Europe

By David Nield Published 18 July 26

We're not going to get any more new OnePlus phones in the US and Europe, but we still have our memories.

Millions of Netflix viewers are abandoning shows after their first season — and I think I know the reasons why

By David Nield Published 18 July 26

Netflix is seeing big drop-offs in viewing figures between successive series, and there are several reasons why.

'I thought it was satire': Sam Altman mocks Anthropic's latest AI ad that's getting widely blasted for being 'dystopian marketing slop'

By David Nield Published 17 July 26

There's a new Anthropic ad for Claude in the wild, but it hasn't had quite the impact that its creators might have been hoping for.

Neural Electronic Opportunity (NEO) implant

China beats Elon Musk’s Neuralink to the world’s first commercial brain-computer interface implant — car crash victim given coin-sized chip that turns neural signals into hand movements

By David Nield Published 16 July 26

Regulatory approval of brain implants in China mean they can now be fixed to the brains of anyone who wants to try them.

A laptop screen showing the Suno AI song generator

Suno trained its AI on millions of songs from YouTube Music, Deezer and other sites, new hack reveals — and critics have branded it 'staggering theft'

By David Nield Published 16 July 26

Suno has previously faced criticism for building an AI song creator on copyrighted works, and here's more evidence.

The Pinwheel Home is a retro-inspired landline phone that will keep your kids safe from doomscrolling

By David Nield Published 16 July 26

Worried about your kids being exposed to social media and the web too soon? Buy them a landline.

Thought smart glasses were creepy? These bone conduction headphones have a tiny 4K camera — but luckily they're aimed at cyclists

By David Nield Published 14 July 26

The W&O X1 put a recording camera right by your ear, which is great for action cam videos but worrying for privacy.

DJI Mini 5 Pro in flight with trees in the background

The FCC is going after third-party companies that it suspects are sneaking rebranded DJI drones and cameras into the US

By David Nield Published 13 July 26

It appears that several companies might be importing DJI hardware into the United States under different names.

The Nvidia Shield TV is one of my favorite streaming gadgets ever — but the base model is no longer on sale, and may not come back

By David Nield Published 12 July 26

Nvidia has confirmed that the Shield TV base model is out of stock, and it doesn't seem as though it's likely to return.

4 Comments

The DIY energy boom is here — 30 US states are planning to legalize plug-in solar tech, as home battery installations quietly hit a record high

By David Nield Published 12 July 26

Plug-in solar gives residents a way to save money on electricity without the expense of rooftop solar panel installations.

'We're so close to the streamers inventing television': Disney+ is reportedly thinking about a fully free tier supported by adverts

By David Nield Published 11 July 26

How many ads would you be prepared to put up with if it meant you could access some Disney+ content for free?

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