All posts tagged: attendees

BookCon 2026: All the bookish tech and gear we saw on the floor and in attendees’ hands.

BookCon 2026: All the bookish tech and gear we saw on the floor and in attendees’ hands.

Published by skeptic

Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of ContentsRakuten KoboAuthor ClockDJI Osmo Pocket 3 and Mic MiniHandheld fansCollapsible stoolsMacopro folding utility cart BookCon 2026 returned for the first time in six years, and fans returned in droves, selling out the event fast. We were on the ground at the event, covering panels and chatting with authors and BookTok creators. But just like the attendees, we also hit the exhibition floor to explore all the gadgets on display. With the popularity of e-readers, we expected to see a ton of devices on the floor, but there was a surprising lack thereof, and the enthusiasm focused on physical books. But we looked at what BookCon attendees had on hand, too, including the tech they used to capture the event and the essentials for navigating the chaos of BookCon. Here are all the bookish tech and products we spotted at BookCon 2026. Rakuten Kobo Rakuten’s Kobo e-readers were the only e-readers on display at BookCon 2026. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable On the show floor, while Kindle cases …

How attendees at The Masters are beating the phone ban

How attendees at The Masters are beating the phone ban

Published by skeptic

If you happen to catch a broadcast of The Masters this weekend, you’ll probably notice a few obvious things: the undeniable talent of the players, the immaculate conditions of the course, and the sea of attendees wearing green as if it’s a second St. Patrick’s Day. But there’s one other thing conspicuously absent from the weekend festivities: smartphones.  Unlike other sporting events, sometimes heavily attended by people who paid obscene amounts of money to watch the excitement through the lens of an iPhone, The Masters bans all recording and communication devices, from phones and tablets to digital cameras. It’s right there in black and white on their list of Prohibited Items, above “knives and weapons of any kind” (so you know they take it seriously).  But, according to Golf Monthly, some sneaky attendees are finding a way to circumvent the ban: wearable technology. The latest smartwatches from Apple and Google are easily able to send and receive both text messages and phone calls, while the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are subtle enough to pass as regular …

The attendees ducking for cover at Trump’s State of the Union

The attendees ducking for cover at Trump’s State of the Union

Published by Sam Flores

Donald Trump will deliver a “long speech” in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The president told reporters that he would not be restraining himself as there was “so much to talk about”. But he will step up to the podium with a lengthy list of political challenges, and advisers are hoping that the free-wheeling former TV host can focus on the most pressing: rising public concern about the cost of living. Polls show that Mr Trump’s approval rating is sliding and 57 per cent of Americans now disapprove of his handling of the economy. The US president will announce new policies on the economy, analysts expect, including a measure forcing AI companies to pay more for electricity in communities where they are building data centres. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Mr Trump would lay out his policies to make the “American dream more attainable and affordable for working-class people,” while promising some “tear-jerking moments”. Ms Leavitt announced that the president will bring Erika Kirk, the widow of Right-wing …

COP30 attendees in Brazil forced to evacuate pavilion following fire | Climate News

COP30 attendees in Brazil forced to evacuate pavilion following fire | Climate News

Published by skeptic

Officials at the climate conference say the fire was contained within six minutes, and 13 attendees were treated for smoke inhalation. Sao Paulo, Brazil – Attendees have been forced to evacuate the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, after a fire broke out at the venue in Belem, Brazil. There were no injuries in Thursday’s blaze, according to Brazil’s Tourism Minister Celso Sabino. In a news conference afterwards, he downplayed the seriousness of the fire. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “There was a small fire here, which is possible at any large event,” he told journalists. “This small fire could happen anywhere on planet Earth.” Organisers reported that the evacuation was “fast” and the fire was controlled within six minutes, leaving only minor damage. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, according to a joint statement from the UN and COP30 leaders. The affected area, known as the Blue Zone, is expected to remain closed until 8pm local time (23:00 GMT). The cause of the fire remains unclear. But …