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Technology News

  • iOS 26.1 beta adds 'Tinted' Liquid Glass option, keeping 'Clear' for power users
    October 21, 2025, 4:08 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds a new Liquid Glass option: Tinted, which increases opacity and contrast, while keeping the existing Clear design for those who prefer it. This design move isn't about betraying a brand vision; it's a win for Apple and users. With a 2.35 billion-active-device base and ambitions like Apple Glasses, forcing a single look would risk stagnation. By offering Tinted alongside Clear, Apple preserves the original vision for most users and provides a better alternative for those who dislike Liquid Glass or need tweaks via Accessibility settings. The change maintains momentum without diluting the design, respecting diverse preferences in iOS 26.1.
  • China's AI Strategy Aims to Lead Global Energy AI Applications by 2030
    October 21, 2025, 4:06 PM EDT. China's new AI strategy, unveiled by the NDRC and NEA, seeks to weave artificial intelligence into the energy sector, with a target of widespread deployment by 2027 and global leadership by 2030. The plan frames AI with Chinese Characteristics as a tool to solve baseload challenges and act as a multiplier across industry, accelerating the adoption of renewables and smart grids. Beijing links energy security to technology leadership, citing a shift away from volatile fossil imports toward domestic, exportable green tech. Despite a 25% surge in wind and solar from 2024-25, renewables alone can't meet demand, so China remains reliant on diverse foreign suppliers. The strategy emphasizes energy transition, sustainability, and geopolitical resilience amid global energy realignments.
  • SpaceX Settles Cards Against Humanity Lawsuit Over Space Debris Dump on CAH Land
    October 21, 2025, 4:04 PM EDT. SpaceX has settled a lawsuit with Cards Against Humanity over allegations that it dumped space debris on land CAH bought along the Texas-Mexico border to block Trump's wall. The 2017 crowdfunding campaign aimed to deny the land to the project, but SpaceX's nearby Starbase operations allegedly left trash on the site. Facing an expensive trial, the parties reached a settlement in which SpaceX agrees to clean up the mess and the land is restored. CAH won't collect damages, but funders will receive a free card expansion. The filing noted SpaceX's lawyers effectively admitted trespass on the record, underscoring how high-profile tech battles can hinge on complex legal strategies in the space industry.
  • Apple Warns iOS Exploit Developer Targeted by Government Spyware, Highlighting Rising Mercenary Threat
    October 21, 2025, 3:58 PM EDT. Apple has issued a rare threat notification after veteran iOS exploit developer Gibson learned his iPhone was targeted by government spyware. The case shows how the mercenary spyware ecosystem now circles back to its builders, not just victims. Apple's alerts are high-confidence warnings of targeted attacks and do not confirm a compromise. Several exploit developers have received similar notices recently, suggesting a coordinated effort inside cybersecurity. The expanding market for mercenary spyware fuels rapid innovation and seven-figure prices for iOS exploit chains, with researchers noting record zero-day activity. Google's Project Zero counted 97 documented zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild, feeding a cycle where unpatched flaws enable stealthy, remote intrusions. Gibson's targeting signals a chilling precedent: the hunter becoming the hunted, and rivals or governments possibly watching the watcher.
  • Apple Alerts iOS Exploit Developer Targeted by Mercenary Spyware
    October 21, 2025, 3:56 PM EDT. Apple has alerted a veteran iOS exploit developer that his device was targeted by sophisticated mercenary spyware. The case centers on Gibson, who once built surveillance tools for Trenchant and says he was fired over a Chrome zero-day leak before Apple notified him. Security researchers call this possibly the first documented instance of an exploit craftsman becoming a spyware target, signaling a maturing market where knowledge workers in offensive security are high-value targets. The pattern is expanding beyond journalists and activists, with Apple reporting similar notices to other exploit and spyware developers. The shift from "state-sponsored" to mercenary spyware reflects a broader industry trend: attackers now pursue the technical talent behind offensive tools to neutralize them.