Presidents Day and Valentine's Day have spurred a wave of deals on tech gadgets, while other news includes a California beach town employing AI for parking enforcement and Verizon implementing new phone unlocking restrictions. The Verge is highlighting numerous discounts on items like earbuds, speakers, and smart home tech, as well as a Valentine's Day gift guide. Meanwhile, Verizon customers now face a 35-day waiting period to unlock their phones after paying off installment plans.
The Verge published a gift guide on February 13, 2026, featuring 32 Valentine's Day gift ideas. The guide, written by Brandon Widder and Cameron Faulkner, aimed to offer creative alternatives to traditional gifts. Simultaneously, The Verge reported on significant discounts for Presidents Day. Sheena Vasani and Brandon Widder compiled a list of 50 of the best deals, with discounts appearing across various tech categories. The Beats Studio Buds Plus, known for their noise-canceling capabilities, were on sale for 41 percent off for Presidents Day, according to Sheena Vasani.
In other tech news, a Southern California beach town is set to utilize AI to detect bike lane violations. Starting in April, the City of Santa Monica will deploy Hayden AI's scanning technology in seven parking enforcement vehicles. Charley Territo, chief growth officer at Hayden AI, told Ars Technica that the goal is to "reduce the amount of illegal parking" and "make it safer for bike riders."
Verizon introduced a new policy this week that impacts customers seeking to unlock their phones after paying off device installment plans. Customers now face a 35-day waiting period after paying off their device plans online, via the Verizon app, over the phone, or at Verizon Authorized Retailers. According to Ars Technica, immediate unlocking appears to require paying off the device plan at a Verizon corporate store.
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