HeyWhatsNew: Switch 2 Buying Frenzy and Wyze Launches a Smart Bulb Camera
Welcome back to everything tech and trending, Heyuppers. Let’s take a look at everything happening in the week beginning 02/06/2025.
Hugging Face Launches SmolVLA: A Big Leap for DIY Robotics
Hugging Face has unveiled SmolVLA, a compact yet powerful AI model designed to make robotics more accessible than ever. With just 450 million parameters, SmolVLA is small enough to run on a MacBook or consumer GPU, yet it outperforms much larger models in both virtual and real-world robotic tasks. Built from open, community-shared datasets under the LeRobot project, the model enables developers to train and test on affordable hardware, including Hugging Face’s own low-cost robots. Thanks to its asynchronous inference stack, SmolVLA processes vision, language, and action separately, letting robots react faster in dynamic environments.
This release is part of Hugging Face’s broader push into open-source robotics, following its acquisition of France-based Pollen Robotics and the rollout of budget-friendly robotic systems, including humanoids. SmolVLA is already gaining traction, with one user on X reporting that they are using it to control a third-party robotic arm. While Hugging Face leads the charge, it’s not alone: Nvidia, K-Scale Labs, Physical Intelligence (backed by Jeff Bezos), and RLWRLD are all racing to define the future of open robotics. SmolVLA is available now for download on Hugging Face’s platform.
Wyze’s Bulb Cam Blends Light and Surveillance in One Clever Package
Wyze’s new Bulb Cam combines a smart lightbulb with a motion-activated security camera with no wires, batteries, or drilling needed. It screws into any standard light socket and delivers 2K video, color night vision, two-way audio, and local microSD storage, all with a 160° field of view. Built for outdoor use, it’s IP54-rated and works with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. Wyze also offers cloud storage and AI features starting at $3/month. Paired with new Bluetooth Accessory Bulbs, it creates a smart lighting setup that responds to motion, making it a sleek, no-fuss upgrade to home security.
Shein Faces EU Complaint Over Manipulative App Tactics
Shein is facing a major complaint from the EU watchdog BEUC, accusing the fast-fashion giant of using manipulative “dark patterns” to drive impulse buying. Pop-ups, countdown timers, nonstop notifications, and endless scrolling are among the tactics called out as “aggressive commercial practices.” Backed by 25 consumer groups across 21 countries, the complaint follows similar action against rival Temu. Shein says it’s cooperating with regulators, but BEUC reportedly declined its meeting request. The EU has warned Shein that it could face fines and is also reviewing its broader online practices.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Here – A Dream Upgrade That Plays It Safe
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally launching, and while it’s a solid hardware upgrade, with sturdier JoyCons, a gorgeous display, and slick online features, it’s more of a refresh than a reinvention. Performance is greatly improved, games look sharper, and the user interface is delightfully refined. But if you were hoping for a groundbreaking leap forward after eight years, you might find the £400 console a little underwhelming. Aside from fun new controller tricks (like using them as motion-enabled mice), the experience feels comfortably familiar.
Still, Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title, is a clear standout. With an expansive open-world design, seamless course transitions, and wild challenges, like hopping between seaplanes or racing through a Donkey Kong-style space station, it’s bursting with charm and creativity. Other new games, like Konami’s Survival Kids, add co-op chaos with a survival twist. But not everything lands: the Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour, an interactive feature demo, feels more like a tedious school exhibit than the whimsical magic you’d expect from Nintendo. The Switch 2 is promising, especially for newcomers, but longtime fans may be left wishing for something a bit more revolutionary.
Leveling Up: The UK Welcomes Its First Generation of Pensioner Gamers
Fifty years after video games arrived in UK homes, the first wave of pensioner gamers is here, and they’re fueling a fresh surge in demand for richer, smarter games. This shift is energizing East England’s gaming scene, where indie studios in Norwich are taking on big names like Jagex and Frontier. Ukie’s CEO calls it “amazing” to see lifelong players now retiring, and still gaming.
The impact goes beyond culture. The region’s gaming jobs have soared to over 3,100 across 160 companies, nearly doubling its economic footprint since 2016. New creators like Iz Head and Sketchbook Games are pushing creative boundaries, while the pandemic helped gaming become a truly all-ages phenomenon. The industry is booming, making it more inclusive, inventive, and competitive than ever.
That’s all for this week. Catch up with us again next week for even more exciting tech news!
