News 4 February 2026

Robot Dog Climbs Mount Etna to Sniff Volcanic Gases — Here’s What It Found
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Robot Dog Climbs Mount Etna to Sniff Volcanic Gases — Here’s What It Found

ETH Zurich researchers sent a four-legged robot equipped with a mass spectrometer onto Mount Etna to autonomously sample volcanic gases in hazardous areas. The robot achieved up to 100% autonomy in some missions but struggled with wind and rough terrain, which scattered gas plumes and sometimes required manual control. The system detected sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and five out of eight helium sources.
February 4, 2026
Ford-Geely talks could put Geely EVs on Ford’s European lines
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Ford-Geely talks could put Geely EVs on Ford’s European lines

Ford and China’s Geely are in talks about Geely producing vehicles at Ford’s European plants, with Valencia, Spain, seen as a leading option, according to sources. Negotiations also cover collaboration on vehicle technology, including automated driving. Ford sent a team to China this week to advance discussions. Any deal could help Geely avoid EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
February 4, 2026
Waymo and Tesla tell Congress: Act now on self-driving cars — or China sets the rules
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Waymo and Tesla tell Congress: Act now on self-driving cars — or China sets the rules

Waymo and Tesla executives, joined by U.S. senators, are pressing Congress to pass stalled self-driving car legislation, warning that delays could let China set global standards. The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday as federal safety investigations and recent incidents raise concerns. Waymo reports 200 million autonomous miles and lower crash rates; Tesla cites improved safety data from its Full Self-Driving system.
February 4, 2026
Texas Instruments’ $7.5 Billion Silicon Labs Buyout: What the Chip Deal Changes
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Texas Instruments’ $7.5 Billion Silicon Labs Buyout: What the Chip Deal Changes

Texas Instruments will acquire Silicon Laboratories for $231 per share in cash, valuing the deal at about $7.5 billion. The companies expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. TI plans to shift Silicon Labs’ chip production in-house and projects $450 million in annual cost savings within three years. Silicon Labs’ shares jumped in premarket trading; TI’s stock slipped.
February 4, 2026
U.S. senators roll out ‘SCAM Act’ to curb scam ads on Facebook and other social platforms

U.S. senators roll out ‘SCAM Act’ to curb scam ads on Facebook and other social platforms

U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno introduced the bipartisan SCAM Act Wednesday, requiring social media platforms to verify advertisers and respond quickly to scam reports. The bill follows reports that Meta could earn $16 billion in 2024 from ads linked to scams and illegal products. Enforcement would fall to the FTC and state attorneys general. Meta said scam reports have dropped 58% in 18 months but questioned the effectiveness of new ID checks.
February 4, 2026
Meta’s Quest 3 gets a virtual “Surface Keyboard” that turns any table into a typing pad
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Meta’s Quest 3 gets a virtual “Surface Keyboard” that turns any table into a typing pad

Meta’s Horizon OS v85 beta adds an experimental “Surface Keyboard and Touchpad” for Quest 3, letting users pin a virtual keyboard to a desk. The update removes the Horizon Feed and introduces a new Navigator interface. Security upgrades include malware scanning and passkey support. The keyboard feature is exclusive to Quest 3 and currently in public beta.
February 4, 2026
TCL K70 Power lands in Thailand with a 6,500mAh battery as K70 readies behind it
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TCL K70 Power lands in Thailand with a 6,500mAh battery as K70 readies behind it

TCL launched the K70 Power 4G in Thailand with a 6,500mAh battery and MediaTek Helio G100 chip, priced from 13,090 to 14,090 baht depending on memory. The phone features a 6.8-inch 120Hz LCD, 50MP main camera, and up to 8GB RAM. Analysts say rising component costs are squeezing budget smartphones. TCL plans a standard K70 with a smaller battery and lower memory option.
February 4, 2026
Leak hints Google’s Gemini may soon book rides and order food inside Android apps
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Leak hints Google’s Gemini may soon book rides and order food inside Android apps

Beta code in the Google app reveals Gemini’s “screen automation” feature, allowing it to place orders and book rides in Android apps. Warning text says users remain responsible for Gemini’s actions and can interrupt tasks. Privacy notices state screenshots may be reviewed if activity tracking is enabled. Google has not announced a release date or which apps will support the feature.
February 4, 2026
Motorola Razr 70 pops up in UAE TDRA certification database — Razr 70 Ultra listed too
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Motorola Razr 70 pops up in UAE TDRA certification database — Razr 70 Ultra listed too

Motorola Razr 70 (XT2657-8) and Razr 70 Ultra (XT2655-1) have received equipment registration in the UAE, with listings under Lenovo (Shanghai) Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. The Eurasian Economic Commission also lists the Razr 70, suggesting a wider release. No technical specifications or launch dates have been disclosed. Motorola has not officially announced the Razr 70 series.
February 4, 2026
Google’s ChromeOS exit plan surfaces in court: Android PC “Aluminium” pushed to 2028, sunset eyed for 2034
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Google’s ChromeOS exit plan surfaces in court: Android PC “Aluminium” pushed to 2028, sunset eyed for 2034

Court documents show Google plans to end ChromeOS by 2034, shifting Chromebooks to a new Android-based platform. A limited test of “Project Aluminium” is set for late 2026, with a full rollout in 2028. The new system will not support all current Chromebook hardware. U.S. court orders exempt ChromeOS and its successors from some antitrust restrictions.
February 4, 2026
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