iPad Alternatives 2026: Four Tablets to Beat the Competition
Apple's iPad may still dominate the tablet market, but 2026 is shaping up to be the year of serious rivals. Glenn Kelly tests four compelling alternatives.
Big Tech
MixRift CEO Bobby Voicu Details Rapid Rise in Mixed Reality Gaming
MixRift, a mixed reality gaming studio, racked up 300,000 downloads for its debut title Hell Horde on Meta Quest within months of launch. Co-founder and CEO Bobby Voicu credits the company's rapid prototyping model for its quick traction on platforms like Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.
Plato Raises $14.5M Seed for AI OS Targeting Distributors
Plato has secured $14.5 million in seed funding to build an AI operating system for distributors. Atomico led the round, with Cherry Ventures, D11Z Ventures, Discovery Ventures and Lucid Capital joining as investors.
CVR College Wins Radha TMT Buildathon 2026 with Waste-to-Building Tech
CVR College of Engineering took top honors at the Radha TMT Buildathon 2026 grand finale in Hyderabad, claiming a 2.5 lakh rupee prize for converting water treatment waste into sustainable building materials. The event drew teams from over 100 Telangana colleges to tackle infrastructure challenges with green innovations.
Musk Hints at Grok 4.2 After Microsoft Adds Grok 4.1 to Copilot
Microsoft rolled out Grok 4.1 Fast, an xAI model, to its Copilot Studio in preview for U.S. organizations. Elon Musk quickly replied to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella online, teasing an imminent Grok 4.2 release without specifics.
Microsoft Names Asha Sharma CEO of Gaming Division
Microsoft appointed Asha Sharma as executive vice president and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, tasking her with leading the division into its next phase. She succeeds Phil Spencer and brings experience from top roles at Instacart and Meta.
Pros and Cons of Buying Used iPad Amid High New Prices
Used iPads offer steep savings compared to Apple's latest models, where the base 11-inch iPad with 128GB storage starts at $349 for Wi-Fi or $499 with cellular. Buyers weighing options against pricey new Pro versions face trade-offs in condition, warranty and support.
LatencyMon Free Tool Pinpoints PC Stuttering Culprits
LatencyMon, a free diagnostic utility from Resplendence Software, identifies hidden latency issues causing PC stutters even when Task Manager shows normal CPU and RAM usage. The tool measures kernel timer latencies, DPC and ISR execution times, and hard page faults to name problematic drivers.
Google ‘Bitcoin is Dead’ Searches Hit Record High Amid Price Dip
Searches for 'Bitcoin is Dead' on Google reached a record high of 100 on the relative scale in recent months. The surge coincides with Bitcoin trading around $68,000 after a 47% correction from October 2025 peaks.
Class 12 Chemistry Paper Leaked on WhatsApp in Nagpur Before Maharashtra Board Exam
Police in Nagpur launched an investigation after the Class 12 Chemistry question paper for Maharashtra board exams circulated on WhatsApp hours before the test on February 18. Invigilators caught a female student with a smartphone containing the leaked paper and possible answers shared in a group.
macOS 26.3 Code Reveals J700 MacBook, J427 and J527 Displays Before March 4 Event
Developers uncovered references to three unreleased Apple devices—J700, J427 and J527—in macOS 26.3 kernel extensions ahead of the company's March 4 event. The codenames point to a budget MacBook and refreshed Studio Displays, according to code analysis.
Judges Urge Courts to Tackle Jurors’ Social Media Use
Three federal and state judges called for updated court rules to counter jurors' use of social media and internet research during trials. Speaking at LegalTech 2011 in New York City, they warned that wireless devices threaten the fairness of jury verdicts.
Microsoft CEO Nadella Names Asha Sharma Gaming CEO
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appointed Asha Sharma as executive vice president and CEO of Microsoft Gaming on Feb. 20, 2026. Sharma, a senior AI executive, will oversee Xbox operations from Redmond, Washington, succeeding retiring Phil Spencer.
Windows 11 Canary Build 28020.1619 Adds Freeform Rotate to Paint
Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 Canary Insider Build 28020.1619, tagged KB5077230, with a freeform rotate tool in the Paint app and a redesigned SCOOBE setup screen. The update also boosts Cross-Device Resume, Narrator capabilities and fingerprint sensor support for Windows Hello.
Mumbai Police Issue LOC Against Harry Boxer in Ranveer Singh Threat Case
Mumbai Police issued a Look Out Circular against Harichandra, alias Harry Boxer, a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, after a threatening voice note targeted Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh. The WhatsApp audio, sent to Singh's manager, was traced to a US-based number routed through a VPN.