News 17 January 2026 - 18 January 2026

Meaco Air Conditioner Restock Sells Out Fast in Heatwave Run
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Meaco Air Conditioner Restock Sells Out Fast in Heatwave Run

Meaco’s new batch of Cirro portable air-conditioners is showing what UK buyers are willing to spend on cooling when stock is low and the heat doesn’t let up. Meaco’s 12,000 BTU cooling-only air conditioner restocked on Wednesday but sold out again, Ideal Home reported. TechRadar noted all six models of the Cirro line were gone from Meaco’s site before this week’s staggered restock. The company said cooling-and-heating models should be available Thursday and Friday.
July 9, 2026
Satellite calling is coming to everyday smartphones in 2026 — Infinix Note 60 and Samsung Galaxy moves show how
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Satellite calling is coming to everyday smartphones in 2026 — Infinix Note 60 and Samsung Galaxy moves show how

On Jan. 16, Infinix announced that its forthcoming Note 60 smartphones will feature two-way satellite voice and messaging, expanding satellite connectivity further into consumer devices. According to the company, the system will seamlessly toggle between terrestrial and satellite networks, providing coverage over nearly two-thirds of the planet’s surface. This change marks a shift in 2026, positioning satellite features not just as emergency fallbacks but edging toward regular backup connectivity. Up until now, Apple and leading Android manufacturers mostly confined satellite functions to brief, controlled emergency texting.
January 18, 2026
Samsung makes Galaxy AI free as it moves to put AI into every 2026 smartphone
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Samsung makes Galaxy AI free as it moves to put AI into every 2026 smartphone

Samsung Electronics has updated the fine print around its Galaxy AI tools to say its “basic features” are free, as the company pushes to put AI into more phones — including lower-priced models — ahead of its 2026 lineup. The wording matters because consumers have been asking whether phone makers will turn AI features into subscriptions. It also matters because “AI” is quickly becoming the label slapped on everything from photo editing to voice assistants, and buyers are getting pickier about what is actually useful.
January 18, 2026
NASA’s TESS pivots to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — and the data will be public
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NASA’s TESS pivots to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — and the data will be public

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, better known as TESS, has paused its regular mission to focus on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. The spacecraft is now tracking this visitor from beyond our solar system as it makes its exit. The timing is crucial since this object is already moving away. Having passed its closest point to the Sun, it’s dimming as it retreats, reducing the window for extended, consistent observation.
January 18, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II Moon Rocket Reaches Launch Pad, Putting February Launch Window in Play
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NASA’s Artemis II Moon Rocket Reaches Launch Pad, Putting February Launch Window in Play

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 18, 2026, 04:38 NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket reached its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida late on Saturday, closing out a slow 4-mile trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building and pushing the mission into its final test stretch. The stack arrived at Pad 39B at 6:42 p.m. EST after a nearly 12-hour journey that topped out at 0.82 mph, NASA said.
January 18, 2026
iPhone Fold leak points to September 2026 debut as Apple eyes split iPhone 18 launch vs Galaxy S26
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iPhone Fold leak points to September 2026 debut as Apple eyes split iPhone 18 launch vs Galaxy S26

Apple plans to launch just the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, while the regular iPhone 18 might arrive in spring 2027, according to Tom’s Guide on Sunday. This delay could hand Samsung an early advantage with its Galaxy S26 series, targeting flagship buyers before Apple’s full lineup hits the market. If Apple breaks up the schedule, it reshapes what “iPhone season” means for carriers and competitors who time their launches accordingly. This shift would also emphasize premium models, just as manufacturers push prices higher to counteract slower unit sales.
January 18, 2026
Apple cuts iPhone trade-in payouts again — iPhone 16 Pro Max now tops out at $650Cupertino, California, Jan 18
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Apple cuts iPhone trade-in payouts again — iPhone 16 Pro Max now tops out at $650Cupertino, California, Jan 18

Apple has reduced the top trade-in credit available in the U.S. for iPhones, including the iPhone 16 series. The highest offer for an iPhone 16 Pro Max has dropped to $650, down from $670, according to a recent report. https://www.phonearena.com/news/your-iphone-16-or-older-model-is-now-worth-less-as-apple-cuts-trade-in-values_id177425 Trade-in credits are crucial since they offer a straightforward way for many buyers to lower the cost of a new phone at checkout. Even minor adjustments can have a big impact on upgrade calculations, particularly for those upgrading storage or purchasing multiple devices for family members.
January 18, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S26 leak: Colombia document lists S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra — not Pro or EdgeSEOUL, Jan 18
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Samsung Galaxy S26 leak: Colombia document lists S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra — not Pro or EdgeSEOUL, Jan 18

A financing promotion document on Samsung Electronics’ Colombia site reveals three Galaxy S26 variants: “Galaxy S26,” “Galaxy S26 +,” and “Galaxy S26 Ultra.” Notably, there’s no reference to “Pro” or “Edge” models. The PDF, released by Samsung Electronics Colombia S.A., details a 0% interest installment plan available from Jan. 10 through March 31. This matters because Samsung’s Galaxy S series remains its flagship Android line and one of the rare phone families that consistently commands premium prices. Names aren’t mere tags; they influence how carriers market the phones and where customers decide to upgrade.
January 18, 2026
Apple’s “Restart Now” iPhone Alert: Why the iOS 26.2 Security Update Suddenly Matters
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Apple’s “Restart Now” iPhone Alert: Why the iOS 26.2 Security Update Suddenly Matters

Apple is urging iPhone users to update and restart their devices after it disclosed fixes for two WebKit vulnerabilities that it said may have been exploited in an “extremely sophisticated” attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS versions before iOS 26. The flaws sit in WebKit, the browser engine that powers Safari and handles much of the web content rendered on iPhones. One of the bugs could allow “arbitrary code execution” via maliciously crafted web content — in plain terms, an attacker could potentially run code on a device after a user loads hostile web material.
January 18, 2026
Apple iPhone users may have to update now as iOS 26.2 security push hits “Liquid Glass” holdouts
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Apple iPhone users may have to update now as iOS 26.2 security push hits “Liquid Glass” holdouts

Apple is urging iPhone users to update to iOS 26.2 or iOS 18.7.3 following detection of active exploits targeting vulnerabilities in its software. Some users are also being advised to reboot their devices if they haven’t applied the update yet. The pressure is real as the company works to patch a security hole, especially since a lot of users still rely on older software—a scenario Apple rarely encounters this far along in an iPhone update cycle.
January 18, 2026
Technology News 18.01.2026
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Technology News 18.01.2026

ENDEDLive coverage has endedEnded: January 19, 2026, 12:00 AM EST NVIDIA's Quantum Strategy Shapes the Future of Computing January 18, 2026, 11:58 PM EST. NVIDIA has turned its GPU-led AI and high-performance computing backbone toward quantum research without building a QPU of its own. The company now collaborates with more than 200 partners to accelerate quantum computing research, development and commercialization, integrating quantum hardware with AI software and simulations. Sam Stanwyck, NVIDIA's quantum product lead and a Stanford PhD, guides the strategy from a role at Rigetti earlier. Unlike pure hardware players, NVIDIA focuses on simulating, optimizing and pairing quantum
January 18, 2026
NOAA weather drones: A new pilot aims to fix a key U.S. forecast blind spot
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NOAA weather drones: A new pilot aims to fix a key U.S. forecast blind spot

NOAA is set to start incorporating “weather drone” data into U.S. forecasting through a new collaboration with Swiss weather-data provider Meteomatics, the company announced this week. The data stream will be integrated via NOAA’s National Mesonet Program, which currently aggregates information from non-federal sources, covering 35,000 observation sites nationwide. The effort focuses on a persistent blind spot in the U.S. weather monitoring network: the lower atmosphere, stretching from about 50 feet up to 20,000 feet above the ground. This zone is critical—where fog develops, storms begin to form, and hazardous low-level winds shift—but it’s notoriously difficult to observe with precision.
January 17, 2026
NASA’s TESS abruptly pivots to watch interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — what it’s looking for
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NASA’s TESS abruptly pivots to watch interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — what it’s looking for

NASA announced on Friday that its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite will pause its ongoing Sector 99 observations for a special campaign tracking the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. The data collected from this comet will be calibrated and made publicly accessible following the mission’s usual protocols. This development is significant because 3I/ATLAS is a rare visitor from beyond our solar system—only the third confirmed object of its kind, following 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Interstellar comets like this carry material that formed around other stars, providing a distant but direct glimpse into how planets and smaller bodies develop elsewhere.
January 17, 2026
Night sky tonight: Northern lights risk rises as a new moon darkens skies
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Night sky tonight: Northern lights risk rises as a new moon darkens skies

The night sky tonight could include a brief run of northern lights in parts of northern Britain and the northern United States, as space weather forecasters tracked a rise in geomagnetic activity through the weekend. Britain’s Met Office said coronal hole fast winds may boost the auroral oval, with a chance of sightings reaching northern Scotland if skies clear. The timing is good for anyone planning a late look. The moon is down to about 1% illumination ahead of Sunday’s new moon at 19:52 GMT, when the lunar disk slips close to the sun and leaves darker skies. “The moon does not emit its own light but reflects that of the sun,” said Giuseppe Donatiello, an Italian amateur astronomer and
January 17, 2026
Starlink vs Iran: SpaceX satellite internet faces tough jamming test amid crackdown
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Starlink vs Iran: SpaceX satellite internet faces tough jamming test amid crackdown

Iran’s effort to suppress dissent is emerging as a major security challenge for SpaceX’s Starlink, following the company’s move to offer free satellite internet access to Iranians this week, sources including activists, analysts, and researchers report. Starlink, which accounted for $15 billion of SpaceX’s revenue in 2024, now faces signal jamming and GPS spoofing attacks—manipulated location data that can disrupt the alignment of its terminals. This moment is crucial because Starlink has evolved beyond a consumer gadget into vital infrastructure, especially in regions where governments sever cables, throttle mobile networks, or shut down the internet entirely. If Iran manages to consistently disrupt the service, the issue won’t remain confined to Iran alone.
January 17, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket starts its slow crawl to the pad — what happens before a February launch
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NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket starts its slow crawl to the pad — what happens before a February launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, January 17, 2026, 10:32 EST NASA kicked off the rollout of its Artemis II Moon rocket to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, marking a critical milestone for the agency’s first crewed lunar mission in over five decades. The four-mile journey began promptly at 7:04 a.m. EST, with the earliest opportunity to launch set for Feb. 6, according to NASA.
January 17, 2026
Kansas could ban student cellphones bell-to-bell — here’s what SB 302 would do
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Kansas could ban student cellphones bell-to-bell — here’s what SB 302 would do

TOPEKA, Kan., Jan 17, 2026, 02:18 This week, Kansas lawmakers received mixed testimony on a bill aimed at tightening regulations around student cellphone use in K-12 schools across the state. Supporters argue the measure would reduce distractions, while opponents caution it enforces a rigid, one-size-fits-all rule. The Kansas Board of Education stayed neutral but expressed a preference for allowing districts to set their own policies.
January 17, 2026
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold may get an easier-to-swap battery — a new patent shows how
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Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold may get an easier-to-swap battery — a new patent shows how

Google is drawing fresh attention for a patent-backed battery design that could make future Pixel phones easier to repair, with recent reports tying the idea to the next-generation Pixel foldable often referred to as the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The timing matters because regulators are tightening the screws on sealed devices. EU Commission guidelines say Article 11 of the bloc’s batteries regulation applies from Feb. 18, 2027, setting rules that aim to make portable batteries “readily removable and replaceable” using commercially available tools and without specialised tools, thermal energy or solvents, with some derogations.
January 17, 2026
Apple’s Siri is getting Google Gemini — why the AI deal is drawing fresh privacy and antitrust scrutinySAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17
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Apple’s Siri is getting Google Gemini — why the AI deal is drawing fresh privacy and antitrust scrutinySAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17

Apple’s decision to base a revamped Siri on Google’s Gemini is renewing questions about how far two longtime partners can deepen ties, with privacy lawyers and analysts pointing to possible regulatory blowback. The move lands as U.S. antitrust enforcers look harder at Google’s distribution agreements and as Apple tries to show its own AI push can turn into something users notice, not just a promise on a launch-stage.
January 17, 2026
Micro-app boom: AI “vibe coding” lets non-programmers build apps instead of buying them
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Micro-app boom: AI “vibe coding” lets non-programmers build apps instead of buying them

More non-programmers are turning to AI tools to craft their own “micro apps,” developing personalized software tailored to specific needs instead of signing up for yet another subscription service. The key point now is how much easier building has become. Users just need to describe their needs in plain English—often referred to as “vibe coding”—and large language models, AI systems that generate text and code, will create functional outputs. This is beginning to change what companies and everyday users expect, whether it’s for spreadsheets, group chats, or simple custom tools.
January 17, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra just got cheaper on Amazon — deals push prices near $1,020
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra just got cheaper on Amazon — deals push prices near $1,020

Amazon in the US is now offering new discounts on Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. The 256GB Titanium Silver Blue model is going for $1,023.45, down from the usual $1,299.99, according to SammyFans on Jan. 16. The S25 Ultra remains Samsung’s flagship in the current Galaxy series. Discounts arrive during a slower period following the holiday rush, a time when retailers typically push sales through direct price drops, bundles, and “limited-time” deals. For an unlocked flagship, the pitch is straightforward: pay full price upfront and avoid carrier contracts.
January 17, 2026
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