Space News: 9 August 2025 - 19 August 2025

November 23, 2025, 12:40 AM EST. Amazon shows a hidden price on the PS VR2 bundle, with the real list price at $299 (down from $399). The Black Friday deal, tied to Horizon Call of the Mountain, becomes an all-time low and helps push the bundle to #1 best-seller in its category. The PS VR2 highlights advanced VR tech: eye tracking enables foveated rendering for sharper visuals in the direct line of sight and more natural interactions, while Sense controllers bring haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and finger touch detection for intuitive gestures. The headset delivers 4K HDR visuals at 2000 x 2040 per eye and a wide 110-degree FOV, reducing the screen-door effect and boosting overall immersion.

November 23, 2025, 12:38 AM EST. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told colleagues that Google's recent AI advances could create temporary economic headwinds, but stressed that OpenAI is 'catching up fast' and aims to lead the AI race. The memo, written before Google's Gemini 3 rollout, notes rivals like Anthropic and Google narrowing the gap as Claude and Codex show strong coding and automation capabilities. Altman also highlights OpenAI's rapid growth alongside concerns about user engagement dipping on ChatGPT and near-term profitability given a multi-billion-dollar burn toward superintelligence. He urges resilience and notes Google's vast cash flow and cloud business as a continuing competitive edge. The memo emphasizes focusing on three pillars: the best research lab, the best AI infrastructure company, and the best AI platform/product company, and maintains confidence in weathering the competition.

November 23, 2025, 12:36 AM EST. A new wave of AI-powered wearables-necklaces, pendants, wristbands and portable devices-aims to blend daily tasks with intelligent assistance. Bee offers a $49.99 pendant and a $19/month iOS app that learns routines, creates reminders, and transcripts, with a mute button for privacy. Friend positions itself as an emotionally aware pendant that listens and chats, though it has faced privacy backlash. Limitless (formerly Rewind) records and searches conversations for easy recall, with tiered AI features. Omi can answer questions, summarize chats, make to-dos, and even attach to the side of the head via medical tape, all powered by a ChatGPT backbone. These gadgets raise questions about privacy, consent, and how personal AI companions will fit into everyday life.

November 23, 2025, 12:34 AM EST. Amazon just slashed the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite by 52%, bringing the price from $329.99 to $159.99. The mid-range tablet packs a 10.4-inch display (2000 x 1200), Dolby Atmos audio, and Samsung DeX for a PC-like workflow. It includes the S Pen for notes and edits, a 64GB base storage with microSD expandability up to 1TB, and 4GB RAM to keep apps snappy. A 7,040 mAh battery promises up to 14 hours of use. Available in Chiffon Pink or Mint, this Black Friday deal won't last long, making it a strong option for artists, students, or light professionals shopping on a budget.

November 23, 2025, 12:32 AM EST. Huawei has teased the Mate80 lineup ahead of its November 25 launch in China, sharing camera samples on Weibo. The company is expected to unveil four models-Mate80, Mate80 Pro, Mate80 Pro Max, and Mate80 RS-with the RS rumored to bring premium upgrades. CEO He Gang posted six images from the lineup, including shots from the Mate80 Pro, Mate80 Pro Max, and the Mate80 RS; no sample from the base Mate80 was shown, keeping fans guessing about its camera. The teasers hint at strong photography capabilities and possible AI-powered enhancements for the Pro and RS variants. Early leaks suggest contemporary design and multiple storage/RAM options. Official specs remain unconfirmed until launch, but excitement is high for Huawei's next flagship focused on photography.