News 1 February 2026 - 2 February 2026

iPhone battery dying by afternoon? A 2026 audit points to one Wi‑Fi tweak — plus 4 privacy switches
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iPhone battery dying by afternoon? A 2026 audit points to one Wi‑Fi tweak — plus 4 privacy switches

Restricting Background App Refresh to Wi‑Fi only increased mid-afternoon battery life on an iPhone 15 Pro from about 40% to nearly 60%, according to a week-long user test. Apple says iPhone 15 batteries retain 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles, while iPhone 14 and earlier manage 500. Blocking tracking and disabling analytics also affected battery use, reports show.
February 2, 2026
Are annual iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel upgrades about to end? 2026 puts the phone sequel cycle on notice
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Are annual iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel upgrades about to end? 2026 puts the phone sequel cycle on notice

Memory-chip prices are rising as supply tightens, pushing up smartphone costs and dampening demand, according to industry sources. Major brands now offer up to seven years of software support, letting users keep devices longer. Research firms expect global smartphone sales to fall at least 2% in 2026. Analysts say yearly phone launches now bring only minor changes.
February 2, 2026
Apple’s foldable iPhone buzz: “iPhone Flip” talk and 5,500 mAh battery leak collide
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Apple’s foldable iPhone buzz: “iPhone Flip” talk and 5,500 mAh battery leak collide

Apple is reportedly testing a foldable iPhone with a square, clamshell design and a battery over 5,500 mAh, the largest yet in an iPhone. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the clamshell concept is not guaranteed to launch. Competing foldables from Samsung and Google face battery life challenges. Details remain unconfirmed as Apple explores both “book” and “flip” styles.
February 2, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks tease cleaner sky photos and a bright white look — as price hike talk grows
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks tease cleaner sky photos and a bright white look — as price hike talk grows

Samsung is considering raising Galaxy S26 prices due to higher memory chip costs and a weaker won, with executives confirming price impacts are likely. New leaks show the S26 Ultra will get improved camera processing, a pure white color option, and a flatter display. Renders reveal a 6.9-inch screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and a 200MP main camera. Six color choices are expected, but some camera details remain unconfirmed.
February 2, 2026
YouTube TV updates Android icons as ESPN Unlimited access snags linger for Comcast’s Xfinity users
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YouTube TV updates Android icons as ESPN Unlimited access snags linger for Comcast’s Xfinity users

Google has begun rolling out new icons in the YouTube TV Android app, updating navigation and playback controls. The update comes ahead of YouTube TV’s planned launch of genre-based subscription packages in early 2026. Some YouTube TV and Comcast subscribers remain unable to access ESPN’s premium Unlimited tier through the ESPN app, with no clear timeline for a fix. ESPN’s WWE Royal Rumble will stream exclusively for Unlimited subscribers.
February 2, 2026
2nm chip showdown: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, Dimensity 9600 tipped to hit iPhone 18 month as Samsung foundry role debated
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2nm chip showdown: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, Dimensity 9600 tipped to hit iPhone 18 month as Samsung foundry role debated

Flagship Android phones using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 may launch the same month as Apple’s iPhone 18, according to tech reports. Some sources link Samsung’s 2nm process to a custom Qualcomm chip for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, but others say that shift is unlikely this cycle. Foundry capacity and possible DRAM shortages could affect release timing.
February 2, 2026
X outage: Elon Musk’s platform, formerly Twitter, back after Downdetector flags thousands of U.S. reports
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X outage: Elon Musk’s platform, formerly Twitter, back after Downdetector flags thousands of U.S. reports

Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, went offline Sunday, triggering over 19,000 U.S. outage reports on Downdetector before service mostly returned in about 45 minutes. NetBlocks said the disruption was not caused by nationwide internet filtering. X did not respond to requests for comment. Users reported delays, broken timelines, and login issues during the outage.
February 2, 2026
Apple’s new iPhone privacy switch can blur carrier location tracking — here’s who gets it
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Apple’s new iPhone privacy switch can blur carrier location tracking — here’s who gets it

Apple has added a “Limit Precise Location” setting for select iPhones and iPads, reducing how accurately mobile carriers can track devices. The feature, available with iOS 26.3 or later, works only on certain models and a limited number of carriers, including Boost Mobile in the U.S. The update does not affect emergency calls or app-level permissions.
February 2, 2026
Technology News 02.02.2026
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Technology News 02.02.2026

Crunchyroll raised monthly prices for all paid tiers, with new rates effective immediately for new customers and March 4 for existing ones, after dropping its free tier in December. Google shifted Pixel updates to a flexible schedule, with recent patches landing on varying weekdays and some models moving to quarterly updates. UNT Health Texas TCOM will add AI to its four-year curriculum to enhance clinical training. D-Wave announced a dual-track quantum computing strategy for 2026.
February 2, 2026
India Budget 2026 gives Apple a five-year tax shield for iPhone-making machines
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India Budget 2026 gives Apple a five-year tax shield for iPhone-making machines

India’s 2026/27 budget exempts foreign firms from income tax on machinery supplied to contract manufacturers in bonded export zones for five years. The rule, aimed at easing Apple’s expansion, does not cover domestic sales, which remain subject to import duties. Apple and its suppliers have pushed for clarity amid rising iPhone production. The exemption runs through the 2030-31 tax year.
February 1, 2026
SpaceX asks FCC to approve 1 million solar-powered AI data-center satellites
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SpaceX asks FCC to approve 1 million solar-powered AI data-center satellites

SpaceX has asked the FCC for approval to launch up to 1 million solar-powered satellites as orbital data centers for AI processing. The company says the satellites would use laser links for data transfer, with Ka-band radio as backup. The filing also seeks waivers to speed up regulatory review. The request follows reports of possible merger talks between SpaceX and xAI.
February 1, 2026
Waymo’s $16B raise plan: Alphabet backs $110B valuation as safety scrutiny returns
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Waymo’s $16B raise plan: Alphabet backs $110B valuation as safety scrutiny returns

Waymo is seeking about $16 billion in new funding, which could lift its valuation to nearly $110 billion, with Alphabet expected to provide $13 billion. The fundraising comes as U.S. regulators investigate a Waymo vehicle’s collision with a child in California. Waymo recently expanded airport service in San Francisco and launched fully autonomous rides in Miami.
February 1, 2026
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, mobbed in Taiwan, tells TSMC he needs “a lot of wafers” for AI chips
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Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, mobbed in Taiwan, tells TSMC he needs “a lot of wafers” for AI chips

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pressed Taiwan’s chipmakers, including TSMC, to boost production as AI demand strains supply chains. Huang cited memory chip shortages as a key bottleneck and called the situation “challenging.” TSMC said capital spending could rise up to 37% this year to meet demand. Huang’s Taiwan trip included a dinner with top tech executives.
February 1, 2026
Meta’s Reality Labs lost $19 billion in 2025 — what it means for Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse reset
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Meta’s Reality Labs lost $19 billion in 2025 — what it means for Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse reset

Meta’s Reality Labs posted a $19.2 billion operating loss for 2025, with fourth-quarter losses at $6.0 billion on $955 million in revenue. Meta expects Reality Labs’ losses in 2026 to remain at similar levels. The division cut about 10% of staff, with up to 1,000 jobs affected. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said most investment is now going toward glasses and wearables.
February 1, 2026
Garmin Connect iOS bug fix rolls out after watches stop syncing — but not everyone is back online
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Garmin Connect iOS bug fix rolls out after watches stop syncing — but not everyone is back online

Garmin released iOS app version 5.21.1 to fix watch-to-phone syncing issues affecting Fenix 8, Venu 4, and Forerunner 970 users. Some devices still fail to connect after the update, with users reporting missing watches in the app and lost features like Garmin Pay. Garmin advises re-pairing devices, which deletes wallet data. Android users are unaffected.
February 1, 2026
Android users are replacing Google apps with Fossify — here’s what they gain (and lose)
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Android users are replacing Google apps with Fossify — here’s what they gain (and lose)

An Android Police writer reported fully replacing Google’s clock, calculator, keyboard, calendar, and contacts apps with Fossify alternatives. Fossify’s repositories showed updates to several core apps on Feb. 1. The writer cited Google’s increased integration of its Gemini AI as a reason for switching. Fossify apps have surpassed 100,000 downloads on Google Play.
February 1, 2026
RedMagic 11 Air goes on sale Feb 11 — early reviews weigh the €499, 207g fan‑cooled gaming phone
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RedMagic 11 Air goes on sale Feb 11 — early reviews weigh the €499, 207g fan‑cooled gaming phone

REDMAGIC will launch its RedMagic 11 Air gaming phone in Europe on Feb. 11, starting at €499. €1 “Early Bird” vouchers offering €30 off and early access go live Feb. 5. The device features a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 7,000 mAh battery, and 24,000-RPM fan. Reviews praise performance but note heat issues, loud cooling, and lack of wireless charging.
February 1, 2026
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