October 24, 2025, 9:30 PM EDT. Samsung's latest One UI 8.5 build for the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears to dial back the 3D-style app icons. Shadows and depth are toned down, producing a flatter look closer to One UI 8.0. The change suggests Samsung is still testing the visual balance after mixed reactions to the previous 3D icons. A leaked gallery contrasts the newer, flatter icons with the older version. Since One UI 8.5 remains early in development, nothing is final, and visuals could shift before launch. A formal debut is expected alongside the Galaxy S26 series next year. Users can check a compatibility list to see if their device will receive One UI 8.5, with devices on One UI 8.0 likely to upgrade.

October 24, 2025, 9:26 PM EDT. Crusoe, a AI-focused startup, has secured funding from a high-profile NFL star, signaling stronger crossover between sports and technology investing. The deal highlights growing appetite for practical AI applications and the appeal of athlete-backed ventures. With new capital, Crusoe can accelerate product development, expand its go-to-market efforts, and attract strategic partners. The investor's backing may also help validate the startup's niche in the competitive AI landscape and draw attention from other venture funds looking for sports-tech synergies. Analysts say this deal could spur more founder-athlete collaborations as AI startups seek credibility and scale.

October 24, 2025, 9:24 PM EDT. Logan Ivey sought a cure for runaway smartphone use after trying dumbphones and time-limiting apps. His answer: the 6-Pound Phone Case, a shell made from stainless steel that weighs a staggering 6 pounds and can only be removed with an Allen wrench. By making the phone heavy and cumbersome, while preserving full functionality, he aims to curb screen time. The concept evokes '80s brick phones, turning a normal device into an awkward, constant reminder to put it down. Ivey shared the idea with Fast Company, describing it as a bold take on tech as a behavior-mod tool.

October 24, 2025, 9:22 PM EDT. Private Chinese firm Orienspace has once again demonstrated the potential of solid-propellant rockets with the second flight of its 30-meter Gravity-1. Launched from a barge in the Yellow Sea on October 10, 2025, the all-solid stack-three core stages and four side boosters-delivered three satellites (the Jilin-1, the Shutian Yuxing-1, and Shutian Yuxing-2) to orbit. Gravity-1 offers a reported 600-ton thrust and a 400-ton lift-off mass, and carries about 6.5 tons to LEO or 4.2 tons to a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit. The mission focused on validating pre-launch procedures and rapid-response/short-launch capability, a key selling point versus more complex liquid rockets such as SpaceX Starship. Orienspace is also advancing a larger Gravity-2 liquid-fueled design with a planned first test flight in 2025, and a Gravity-3 in development.

October 24, 2025, 9:20 PM EDT. GM plans to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all vehicles, expanding a 2023 pilot in EVs to the entire lineup by 2028. The move signals a broader industry shift toward a unified, native in-car experience built on GM's centralized computing platform. GM will replace phone projection with in-house apps and a Google Gemini-powered assistant as part of a broader strategy to own software, data, and the in-car experience. Dealers should brace for more connected-services features, subscriptions, and training. While some rivals still support CarPlay, many automakers are steering toward proprietary infotainment to protect data and control. Tesla and Rivian have never supported CarPlay and Android Auto.