Innovation News: 19 August 2025 - 26 October 2025

November 23, 2025, 12:04 AM EST. Sony's handheld remote player, the PlayStation Portal, just joined this year's Black Friday deals with its first major discount, dropping to about $178.99 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy (roughly $21 off). The device now includes cloud streaming for select PS5 games for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, letting you stream from the cloud or from your library without a nearby PS5. Hardware remains a split DualSense controller with an 8-inch 1080p display; performance hinges on fast Wi-Fi, with ethernet recommended for streaming. Limitations include compatibility only with Pulse Explore earbuds and Pulse Elite headset, and a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones. Sony also discounts PS5 configurations up to $100, and reviews note the Portal is better in practice with reliable internet.

November 23, 2025, 12:02 AM EST. Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok boosted hype about the billionaire even as a SpaceX booster exploded during testing. The incident involved the Booster 18 Version 3 at the Massey test site, described as suffering an anomaly during gas system pressure testing with no propellant and no engines installed. There were no injuries, but the setback compounds delays to SpaceX's ambitious Starship/super-heavy launch timeline, including NASA's Artemis 3 mission. The company will continue with on-orbit refueling tests, slated for late 2026, as it pursues a lunar return program once more. Ahead of that, SpaceX faces renewed competition from Blue Origin's New Glenn. The blast underscores the risks of iterative design and aggressive schedules in commercial space ventures.

November 23, 2025, 12:00 AM EST. The Trump administration is weighing a policy shift that could allow the sale of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to China, signaling a possible shift in export controls as U.S.-China tech tensions ease after a Busan-trade detente. The Commerce Department is reviewing current prohibitions, with plans that could still change. White House officials did not comment. The move would reflect a friendlier stance since Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump brokered a tech-war truce, though China hawks warn shipments of advanced AI hardware could bolster Beijing's military. Critics say export controls under the Biden administration were designed to limit Beijing's access, and the policy review indicates flexibility amid evolving bilateral ties.