Samsung Expands One UI 8.5 Beta to More Galaxy Phones as Galaxy S24 Gets Second Build
Samsung on April 9 expanded its One UI 8.5 beta, based on Android 16, to more
Microsoft Moves to Fix WireGuard, VeraCrypt Account Freeze That Halted Windows Updates
Microsoft blocked WireGuard and VeraCrypt developers from sending Windows updates after a verification sweep in its Windows Hardware Program, halting releases and code-signing. Company executives said the issue should be resolved soon.
Anglo American Shares Surge 10% as Relief Rally Revives Copper Bet
Anglo American shares jumped about 10% in London after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal triggered a relief rally and oil prices fell. The
Rolls-Royce Shares Jump 10% as Ceasefire Rally Puts Buyback Back in Focus
Rolls-Royce Holdings shares surged 10% to 1,257.1 pence on Wednesday after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire lifted London markets and a filing showed ongoing
Glencore plc Faces Eskom Power Deal Deadline in South Africa as Ferrochrome Jobs Hang in Balance
Glencore and Merafe’s South African ferrochrome joint venture faces a Tuesday deadline to secure a discounted 62 c/kWh power deal with Eskom,
Lloyds Banking Group plc tests quantum computing to catch money mules
Lloyds and IBM completed a nine-month quantum computing test that identified a deliberately embedded money mule network using anonymised transaction data on
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Heads Into Tougher Summer as Fuel Squeeze Deepens
IAG, owner of British Airways, faces rising fuel costs as U.S. crude for Europe hit a record $15 premium over Brent, driven by disrupted Middle East supplies. Jet fuel prices have outpaced crude, eroding IAG’s hedging protection ahead of the busy summer season. British Airways has extended flight suspensions to several Middle East destinations through May. IAG’s 2026 fuel bill has already climbed to €7.4 billion.
Glencore plc Faces New Mount Isa Test as Jervois Copper Project May Bypass Smelter
Developers of the Jervois copper project are considering refining options that could bypass Glencore’s Mount Isa smelter, the Australian Financial Review reported
HSBC Australia Sale Reignites as Blackstone Eyes A$26 Billion Loan Book
Blackstone is preparing an early bid for HSBC’s A$26 billion Australian loan book, with offers due by late April, according to The
Shell stock in focus: LNG tie-up with METLEN lands as oil stays near seven-month highs
METLEN signed a memorandum with Shell to supply and trade 0.5–1.0 bcm of LNG annually into Greece from 2027 to 2031. Shell
Plug Power stock edges up premarket: why the share-doubling vote has PLUG traders watching dilution
Plug Power shares rose 0.5% to $1.87 in premarket trading after shareholders approved doubling authorized common stock to 3 billion. The amendment
Insta360 Snap Selfie Screen Goes Global, Letting iPhone and Android Users Shoot Better Rear-Camera Selfies
Shenzhen, China, April 10, 2026, 02:10 (China Standard Time) Insta360 has begun global sales of its Snap Selfie Screen, a magnetic phone accessory designed to let users shoot selfies and short videos with their rear cameras instead of the front camera. The Shenzhen-based company said the device is on sale now through Amazon and its own store in two versions priced at $79.99 and $89.99. (Insta360) The launch matters because it pushes Insta360 deeper into phone add-ons as creators look for better image quality without buying a separate camera. Rear cameras typically offer better sensors and lenses than selfie cameras,
Dyson HushJet Mini Cool launches at $99 as portable fan race heats up
Dyson released its first handheld fan, the $99 HushJet Mini Cool, in the U.S. on Thursday. The 212-gram bladeless device pushes air at up to 25 meters per second and runs up to six hours per charge. The launch puts Dyson in direct competition with SharkNinja’s $149.99 ChillPill, which offers misting and longer runtime. The HushJet Mini Cool is available in Stone/Blush now, with more colors coming by June.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Leak Puts Smaller Dynamic Island Back in Play, Says Air 2 Is Still Coming
Apple may still alter the iPhone 18 Pro’s display design, according to new supply-chain leaks cited by 9to5Mac and MacRumors. The iPhone Air 2 is reportedly moving forward despite weak sales of the first model, with Apple discounting the original Air by up to 30% on Amazon UK last month. Apple’s next iPhone cycle comes as it saw a 23% jump in China smartphone sales early this year.
Spotify lets users turn off all videos in its app as audio-first controls roll out worldwide
Spotify is rolling out new controls letting users disable all video features across its app, including music videos, Canvas loops, and video podcasts. Family plan managers can now turn off video for any member. The update applies to mobile, desktop, web, and TV, but video ads and some motion visuals will remain. The rollout is gradual and covers both free and paid users.
Apple AirPods Max 2 Review Roundup: Better ANC, Same $549 Problem
Apple’s AirPods Max 2, priced at $549, launched this month with improved sound and noise cancellation but drew criticism for minimal design changes and high cost. Early reviews say Sony and Bose rivals still outperform on battery life and price. Apple’s new features include the H2 chip, Live Translation, and lossless audio over USB-C. Some software tools now overlap with the cheaper AirPods Pro 3.
Samsung Expands One UI 8.5 Beta to More Galaxy Phones as Galaxy S24 Gets Second Build
Samsung on April 9 expanded its One UI 8.5 beta, based on Android 16, to more Galaxy models, including the S23 series, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, S23 FE, and A36 5G. The company also shipped a second beta to the S24 series in India and South Korea. The A36 5G beta is limited to India, while Fold5 and Flip5 support is restricted to Korea and the U.S. The S24’s second beta update includes new camera filters, bug fixes, and April security patches.
Google Expands Intel AI Chip Deal, Backs Xeon 6 for Data Centers as Intel Shares Rise
Google will expand its use of Intel Xeon processors, including the new Xeon 6, across its cloud infrastructure and deepen collaboration on custom chips, both companies said Thursday. Intel shares rose 2.3% to $60.33 in morning trading. Google Cloud already uses Xeon chips in C4 and N4 instances and has committed to future generations. The agreement comes as demand for CPUs rises amid shifts in AI deployment.
Salesforce Stock Near 52-Week Low as AI Fears Drown Out Agentforce Growth
Salesforce shares fell 4.1% to $169.15 midday Thursday, nearing a 52-week low, as software stocks declined despite the company’s record quarterly revenue and expanded buyback. The drop followed news that Anthropic restricted access to its AI model after finding cybersecurity flaws, fueling concerns about software vulnerability. Salesforce’s fiscal 2027 revenue forecast missed Wall Street’s midpoint estimates.
Google AI Overviews Wrong 1 in 10 Cases, New Analysis Finds
Google’s AI Overviews gave incorrect answers in about 10% of cases, according to a New York Times-commissioned analysis of 4,326 searches by Oumi, despite switching to the Gemini 3 model. Accuracy rose to 91% in February, but over half of correct answers cited sources that did not fully support the claims. Google disputed the findings, calling the study flawed. Pew found users clicked traditional search results less often when AI summaries appeared.
Google Targets 500 Million Stranded Windows 10 PCs With ChromeOS Flex
Google is promoting ChromeOS Flex with a $3 USB installer kit via Back Market as an option for aging Windows PCs and Macs after Windows 10 lost free security updates on Oct. 14, 2025. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 through October 2026, while Google’s system is free but only supports certified devices and wipes existing data. Dell estimates 1 billion PCs are affected by the Windows 10 cutoff.
Google Rolls Out Chrome 147 Stable as Chrome 148 Beta Brings Web Serial, SharedWorker to Android
Google released Chrome 147 for desktop and Android, expanding Local Network Access checks and adding Web Printing API for Isolated Web Apps. Chrome 148 beta on Android enables the Web Serial API and re-enables SharedWorker with extendedLifetime. The Android version also begins rolling out a Material 3 Expressive settings redesign. Chrome 147 on Android will reach Google Play over several days.
Pokémon Champions Launch Stumbles as HOME Error 9007, Missing Modes Spark Backlash
Pokémon Champions launched April 8 on Switch and Switch 2 as a free-to-start battler, but players quickly reported a Pokémon HOME transfer bug and criticized missing formats and a limited roster. The game is set to become the standard for official Pokémon VGC events starting in May. Nintendo shares closed down 2% Thursday at 8,531 yen. Mobile versions are expected later in 2026.
Apple Foldable iPhone Still Seen for September Despite Delay Fears — and the Price Could Top $2,000
Apple’s first foldable iPhone remains on track for a September launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, despite a Nikkei Asia report of engineering delays, according to Bloomberg and Wall Street analysts. Apple shares fell up to 5.1% Tuesday after the Nikkei report but recovered Wednesday as analysts said the timeline had not changed. The foldable model is expected to cost over $2,000 in the U.S. Apple declined to comment.
Nvidia DLSS 5 Faces Fresh Resistance After Dev Warning, Gamer Poll and YouTube Copyright Claim
Liquid Swords tech director Fredrik Lönn said Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is not ready for production and lacks broad hardware support, confirming the studio did not consider it for “Samson.” A PC Gamer poll found 71% of respondents unwilling to use DLSS 5, while Nvidia’s reveal trailer was briefly blocked in Italy over a copyright claim. Nvidia says DLSS 5 launches this fall with support from major publishers.
Apple MacBook Neo Demand Stays Strong Despite 8GB RAM Criticism as Supply Questions Rise
Apple is considering increasing production of its $599 MacBook Neo after demand exceeded expectations, with buyers facing two- to three-week waits, according to multiple reports. The company had planned to build 5–6 million units using “binned” A18 Pro chips from iPhone 16 Pro production. Apple is debating whether to order more components or manage with current inventory. A refreshed Neo model is reportedly planned for 2027.
Microsoft Moves to Fix WireGuard, VeraCrypt Account Freeze That Halted Windows Updates
Microsoft blocked WireGuard and VeraCrypt developers from sending Windows updates after a verification sweep in its Windows Hardware Program, halting releases and code-signing. Company executives said the issue should be resolved soon. Similar suspensions hit Windscribe, MemTest86, and Rufus, with some developers reporting no warning or notification. Microsoft cited required re-verification and promised to review its communication.
Motorola Quietly Hikes Moto G Prices by Up to 50% as Memory Crunch Hits Budget Phones
Motorola has raised U.S. prices for its 2026 Moto G Play, Moto G, and Moto G Power to $249.99, $299.99, and $399.99, up from $179.99, $199.99, and $299.99 at launch. The increases follow sharp rises in memory chip costs, with DRAM contract prices expected to jump over 50% this quarter. Best Buy continued listing the phones at original prices as of Thursday. Similar price hikes appeared in India this week.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Gets an $899 Price Tag Ahead of April 22 Launch
AMD will launch the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 desktop processor at $899 on April 22, pricing it $200 above the previous 9950X3D and $300 above Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K. The 16-core chip features 208MB total cache, a 200W TDP, and support for AM5 motherboards. AMD claims 5–13% faster performance in creator and data-science workloads versus its predecessor. Gaming benchmarks have not been released.
Google Adds Gemini Notebooks Synced With NotebookLM in Challenge to ChatGPT Projects
Google began rolling out the “Notebooks” feature in Gemini on Wednesday for AI Ultra, Pro, and Plus subscribers on the web. The tool lets users group chats, files, and instructions by topic and syncs with NotebookLM. Free users, mobile access, and more European countries will follow later. Under-18, Workspace, and Education accounts are excluded for now.
Technology News 09.04.2026
LIVETechnology news rolling coverageStarted: April 9, 2026, 8:32 AM EDTUpdated: April 9, 2026, 2:43 PM EDT Samsung expands AirDrop over Quick Share to 10 Galaxy models via One UI 8.5 beta April 9, 2026, 2:43 PM EDT. Samsung is expanding **AirDrop over Quick Share** support to 10 more Galaxy smartphones, starting this week with 2024 and 2025 flagships. Samsung confirmed the rollout includes **Galaxy S25**, **S25+**, **S25 Ultra**, **Z Fold 7**, **Z Flip 5**, **S24**, **S24+**, **S24 Ultra**, **Z Fold 6**, and **Z Flip 6**. The feature had first arrived on Pixel phones and reached the **S26** series last month.
TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro Lands in U.S. at $199 on T-Mobile, Betting on Paper-Like Screens
TCL has launched its NXTPAPER 70 Pro smartphone in the U.S. for $199.99 through T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. The phone features a matte, low-glare display and runs Android 16 on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Competing models from Samsung and Motorola are priced similarly. TCL’s own site listed the device at $299.99 and sold out.
YouTube Shorts Rolls Out AI Avatars, Letting Creators Clone Themselves Without Filming
YouTube has launched AI avatars for Shorts, letting creators generate digital versions of themselves using the YouTube app or YouTube Create. Avatar videos will be labeled as AI-generated with visible watermarks and digital tags like SynthID and C2PA. Creators must be at least 18 and can delete avatars at any time, but published Shorts remain online. The feature follows similar moves by TikTok and Meta.
Amazon Is Ending Support for Older Kindle Devices on May 20. What Owners Lose
Amazon will cut off Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 or earlier from the Kindle Store on May 20, blocking new book purchases and downloads. Devices already registered will keep existing titles, but cannot be re-registered if reset after the cutoff. The move affects about 3% of users. Amazon is offering discounts and credits to those upgrading by June 20.
Apple iOS 26.4.1 Update Fixes iCloud Sync Bug Affecting Passwords and iPhone Apps
Apple released iOS 26.4.1 and iPadOS 26.4.1 on Wednesday to fix an iCloud sync bug that disrupted data updates in the Passwords app and other software. Developers confirmed the update resolves issues affecting CloudKit-based apps. Apple’s notes list only “bug fixes” and no security vulnerabilities. Stolen Device Protection now activates automatically for users upgrading from iOS 26.4.
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 09.04.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: April 9, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: April 9, 2026, 8:24 AM EDT Metlen Energy & Metals Enhances Presence in FTSE Index April 9, 2026, 8:12 AM EDT. Metlen Energy & Metals has strengthened its position within the **FTSE landscape**, reflecting growing investor confidence in the company. This move underscores Metlen's strategic growth amid shifting market dynamics. The company's inclusion in the FTSE index, a benchmark for the UK's leading stocks, signals its rising prominence in energy and metals sectors. Investors should note that this development may influence trading volumes and valuation metrics. Financial advisors recommend reviewing portfolio