BMW is pushing a Spider-Man: Brand New Day promotion onto the Control Displays of compatible vehicles in more than 70 countries.

You might think those who purchased their cars a few years ago would be safe from the onslaught, but that’s not the case. Even drivers of vehicles built as far back as 2020 are being subjected to the ad.

As soon as the car starts, a Spider-Man banner pops up on the center screen: “Surprise! Spider-Man just dropped into your BMW!”

If the driver taps it, they get a full-screen animation with music. In some suitably equipped vehicles, the ad is accompanied by a light show through the ambient lighting system.

Continue reading “BMW Owners Annoyed by Spider-Man Banner on Dashboard Display — ‘Not an Ad,’ Claims Company” →

The United States government has blocked new foreign-made robot vacuums from entering the American market. Manufacturers can circumvent the new ban only by obtaining a government exemption or conditional approval while working to relocate production to the United States.

The new restriction went into effect after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced “advanced robotic devices” to its Covered List on July 28, 2026. The Covered List identifies equipment that the government considers an unacceptable security risk.

While the announcement mostly highlighted humanoid robots and robotic dogs, the FCC confirmed to The Verge that the definition also covers the robot vacuum cleaners that have become common in U.S. households.

Continue reading “The FCC’s New Robot Vacuum Ban Could Mean Higher Prices, Fewer Choices and Older Tech” →