Tech Innovators Remembered; New Features Impress

Robert Tinney, the artist whose airbrushed cover paintings defined the look and feel of Byte magazine for over a decade, died on February 1 at the age of 78, according to a memorial posted on his official website. Meanwhile, the tech world saw the release of new features and products, including a new Alexa feature for Kindle Scribe users and the debut of NanoClaw, a more secure version of the open-source AI assistant OpenClaw. Additionally, The Verge released a Valentine's Day gift guide for 2026.

Tinney, who died in Baker, Louisiana, was the primary cover artist for Byte from 1975 to the late 1980s. He created a visual language for personal computing, translating concepts like artificial intelligence and networking into vivid paintings. His work resonated with a generation of computer enthusiasts.

In other tech news, Amazon has been rolling out a new "Send to Alexa" feature for Kindle Scribe users. This allows users to send their notes to the AI-powered assistant, enabling them to ask questions about their notes without referring back to their Kindle. This feature requires the third-generation Kindle Scribe or Kindle Scribe Color, though Amazon stated it should eventually be available on older models.

The open-source AI assistant OpenClaw, developed by Peter Steinberger, has gained rapid popularity since its release in November 2025. Its "permissionless" architecture, however, raised security concerns. To address these issues, NanoClaw, a lighter and more secure version, was released under an open-source MIT license. NanoClaw aims to solve the security issues that arose with OpenClaw's widespread adoption.

For those looking for gift ideas, The Verge released its 2026 Valentine's Day gift guide, featuring a collection of 32 gifts for men. The guide aims to offer creative alternatives to traditional Valentine's Day gifts.

Finally, the market for hearing aids continues to evolve. The US Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter hearing aid devices in 2022, leading to a growing array of alternatives.