Technology News 20.10.2025

Opera Neon: The AI-powered browser with three bots and a $19.90/month experiment

October 20, 2025, 11:56 PM EDT. Opera's Neon blends AI assistants into a browser: Chat, Do, and Make collaborate to tackle tasks while you surf. The trio can summarize pages, click around the web, or build tools in a sandbox, but the experience is chaotic and sometimes flawed. Neon charges $19.90/month and includes a built-in VPN and ad blocker, plus a Cards system of prewritten prompts. It's ambitious but feels more like a quirky intern than a polished assistant, offering a glimpse of a future where your browser thinks for you as a coworker.

Samsung Galaxy A73 Finally Gets One UI 8 (Android 16): Last Major Update Rolling Out in Asia

October 20, 2025, 11:54 PM EDT. The Galaxy A73 from 2022 is getting its final major OS upgrade as Samsung rolls out One UI 8 based on Android 16. The update, bearing build number A736BXXUAGYJ1, is a roughly 2.5GB download and includes the September 2025 security patches. Availability currently covers Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, with a broader rollout expected soon. This marks the end of Samsung's promise of four major Android updates for the device, which launched with Android 12. Users can update via Settings > Software update > Download and install once their region is eligible.

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W review: built-in retractable USB-C cable and portable charging

October 20, 2025, 11:52 PM EDT. The Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W with Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable is a compact portable charger with a 10,000mAh capacity and a 45W max output. Its standout feature is the integrated retractable cable that auto-locks to the needed length, keeping things tidy. In use, it charges smartphones quickly-my Galaxy S24 FE hit 100% in about 80 minutes with fast charging-though it throttles input to ~19W to manage heat. A full recharge took around two hours, and the unit's temperature control helps prevent overheating. The inbuilt display shows power output and battery health, and extra ports (USB-A/USB-C) add versatility. With a premium metallic finish and multiple colors, it's highly portable, though it isn't designed to charge laptops at peak power.

Tesla's $1 trillion pay deal for Musk faces investor pushback and proxy scrutiny

October 20, 2025, 11:50 PM EDT. Elon Musk's controversial $1 trillion pay package for Tesla's CEO is under heavy scrutiny ahead of the upcoming shareholder meeting. While the majority of the investor community backs the plan, especially given Musk's role in Tesla's market value, some institutional and individual holders oppose it, arguing it overvalues Musk and delivers little shareholder value. Proxy firm ISS has advised voting against the pay package, calling its potential upside 'astronomical' and warning it could limit future board flexibility. A former Tesla employee increased pressure on the plan on X, claiming the compensation would underperform the S&P 500 and cost shareholders too much. Musk defended Tesla's dominant position, while the board emphasized commitments to wind down his political involvement.

AWS Outage Impacts Canvas, Snapchat and More: What Happened and Who's Affected

October 20, 2025, 11:48 PM EDT. An AWS outage in the eastern United States has left thousands unable to access services across the web, including Canvas, Snapchat, Venmo, Instacart, Reddit, Roblox, and more. Downdetector reports 9,000+ issues in the last 24 hours, affecting major apps and even video-game platforms like PlayStation and Xbox Live. AWS, the world's leading cloud platform, hosts websites and apps for many companies, so an outage cascades across services. The company says it has narrowed the source of the connectivity problems and is working on recovering services, but a precise fix time was not disclosed. Users are advised to monitor status dashboards and expect continued disruption as the recovery proceeds.

Elon Musk hits back at former Tesla employee over pay package

October 20, 2025, 11:46 PM EDT. Elon Musk clashed on X with a former Tesla employee who criticized his proposed pay package, calling it an overpayment that wouldn't deliver proportional shareholder value. As Tesla readies its annual shareholder meeting, investors are divided: some back the package for potential gains up to $1 trillion in Musk holdings if all performance targets are met, while others object to the cost and risk. Proxy firm ISS has advised voting against, warning the pay structure offers extraordinarily high opportunities and could hinder future adjustments. Musk fired back, noting that Tesla is worth more than all other auto companies combined and questioning which CEO could keep it running. Tesla's proxy filing cites commitments to wind down Musk's political involvement in a timely fashion.

Tesla Rides High Into Q3 With Record Deliveries, Gigafactory Texas Milestone, and Green-Energy Push

October 20, 2025, 11:44 PM EDT. Tesla, Inc. is accelerating into Q3 2025 with near-record deliveries and a growing global manufacturing footprint. In the quarter, Tesla delivered 497,099 vehicles, signaling continued demand for the Model Y, Model 3, and the upcoming Cybertruck. The Austin-based Gigafactory Texas reached a major milestone, producing over 500,000 vehicles since 2022 and leveraging Giga Presses to speed output and cut waste. The plant's use of renewable energy and efficiency efforts support Tesla's aim for 100% clean energy across its factories. Revenue gains next quarter are expected to be modest as credit sales soften and prices remain competitive in the face of Chinese rivals, while margins compress but software services such as FSD and connectivity remain buoyant. Energy storage deployments also rose, underscoring a broader growth picture.

Jim Cramer: Apple's rally proves you should own, not time the stock

October 20, 2025, 11:40 PM EDT. Apple's nearly 4% surge helped lift the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, underscoring how Apple drives markets. Jim Cramer says investors should own the stock rather than try to time the move, citing the iPhone 17 lineup, pricing stability, and strong product demand. He points to partnerships with Alphabet, potential AI monetization, and compelling opportunities in China as signs of a resilient ecosystem. Analysts see continued growth in services and a multi-year phone cycle, with whispers of a foldable iPhone. With over 1.5 billion iPhones in use, the margin leverage from the ecosystem could expand further. Critics' negativity, he argues, misses the fundamentals and long-term growth.

Canvas Restored After 16-Hour Global AWS Outage Disrupts Universities

October 20, 2025, 11:38 PM EDT. Canvas is back online after a global outage tied to AWS. The downtime began around 2:00 a.m. CT and lasted about 16 hours, leaving universities and school districts unable to access Canvas for assignments or course materials. By 5:01 p.m. CT, all AWS services were restored, including Canvas. The incident affected 142 AWS services and spilled over to consumer platforms like Snapchat and Fortnite, as well as airlines Delta and United, in a broader AWS network crash. CNN estimated the economic impact could reach hundreds of billions of dollars. This update follows the Southeast Arrow's earlier report.

Microsoft to release emergency fix for Windows 11 update issues

October 20, 2025, 11:36 PM EDT. Microsoft says an emergency fix is coming after a problematic Windows 11 update caused widespread issues. Reports cite failures such as broken localhost (127.0.0.1) HTTP/2 connections and apps unable to access the network. Some Logitech hardware stopped functioning, while others reported WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) input devices no longer working. Additional complaints included File Explorer previews not opening and false security warnings. The company has indicated a follow-up update is in development to address these problems, highlighting the importance of rapid patching after major OS updates to protect compatibility and security. An upcoming patch is expected soon.

Google seeks 15 Pixel Superfans to shape the Pixel 11 via Trusted Tester

October 20, 2025, 11:34 PM EDT. Google is recruiting 15 Pixel Superfans to join its Trusted Tester program, offering hands-on feedback on upcoming Pixel hardware. Selected superfans will help shape what could become the Pixel 11, while NDA rules promise no leaks. This is an exclusive chance to influence future devices and gain early access, though members won't attend public events and the press cannot participate. The effort mirrors a prior Pixel 10 round but on a smaller scale. If you fit the bill, you can apply to join the program and potentially land an early hardware preview. The news comes via Bloomberg and Android Authority.

Opera Neon Adds ODRA, the Deep Research Agent, for Advanced AI Research in the Omnibox

October 20, 2025, 11:32 PM EDT. Opera Neon is adding ODRA (Opera Deep Research Agent) to its suite of AI tools, joining the existing Chat, Do, and Make agents. In a forthcoming update, ODRA will run alongside Neon's agents in the Omnibox, delivering customized, multi-source reports rather than simple web answers. Tested on the DeepResearch Bench, ODRA nearly matched Google Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Research and excels by parallelizing tasks on the server-side into multiple AI researchers. Typical deep research tasks take about 15-20 minutes, after which you'll receive a research document in the AI chat. Opera says ODRA will be available to Neon users very soon.

Kenny Loggins Demands Trump Remove AI-Generated Video Using His Song

October 20, 2025, 11:30 PM EDT. Legendary singer Kenny Loggins is asking President Trump to pull an AI-generated video that uses his hit song without permission. The move highlights growing concerns over copyright and AI-created media as politicians and platforms experiment with generative tech. Loggins' team says the video was produced without consent, potentially infringing on his rights and misappropriating his voice and music. The incident adds to ongoing debates about how AI can imitate real artists, the need for clearer consent, and possible policy safeguards for creators. As political content and AI tools intersect, calls for stronger rights protections and transparency in AI-generated content are likely to intensify, with creators urging platforms to enforce takedowns and require verification of consent before distributing AI media.

Tesla leads Q3 DC fast-charging growth as US network expands past 64,000 ports

October 20, 2025, 11:28 PM EDT. Tesla led Q3 deployments with 1,820 new ports, about 45% of all additions, as the US reaches 64,486 public DC fast-charging ports across 12,375 stations. Overall, 699 new stations and 4,061 new ports were added in Q3, but growth slowed 12% and 7.7%, respectively. Paren still expects about 16,700 new ports by year-end 2025 and notes a shift toward larger hubs, with 27% of stations now hosting eight or more stalls. While larger operators dominate, regional operators account for 21% of new ports; Ionna opened 12 stations (132 ports) and Red E expanded to 18 states. Summer travel lifted charging demand, with utilization rising in most states. Some non-Tesla users may be flocking to Supercharger, reducing utilization at some non-Tesla sites. The reliability index rose to 92.3%; 32 states improved, 15 declined, 4 held.

Elon Musk threatens to quit Tesla over $1 trillion payday and the EV market race

October 20, 2025, 11:26 PM EDT. Elon Musk hints he'll quit as Tesla's CEO if his $1 trillion pay package isn't approved, reigniting debate about leadership incentives in the EV sector. In Quick Charge, the discussion even toys with replacing him with GM's Mary Barra, while surveying compelling EV deals and how a shrinking federal EV tax credit could reshuffle market share. The episode also previews upcoming electric Jeep models and a range of EV lease deals. It situates the news inside broader climate policy through Climate XChange and its EV raffle. Listen for more EV updates and submit tips to Electrek as new episodes roll out.

Stranger Things: Catalyst Immersive VR Experience Arrives in Arcades

October 20, 2025, 11:24 PM EDT. Sandbox VR launches Stranger Things: Catalyst, an immersive group VR experience in the Hawkins Laboratory. Players take on Dr. Brenner's test subjects, exploring the Rainbow Room, Mirkwood forest, and the Upside Down, while wielding telekinetic powers to hurl objects, smash obstacles, and face Demobats, Demodogs, and the Demogorgon. The experience supports two to six players and uses full-body tracking, haptic vests, and rifles to boost immersion, with teammates appearing as avatars. Matthew Modine returns as Dr. Brenner on an English-only voice track. Sandbox VR now operates 60+ locations worldwide, including 10 in Germany, with a new Nuremberg site opening Oct 10 and more to follow in Munich and Cologne. It's Netflix's third VR collaboration after Squid Game Virtuals and Rebel Moon: The Descent, as Stranger Things S5 nears release in three parts.

SpaceX Surpasses 10,000 Starlink Satellites Launched

October 20, 2025, 11:22 PM EDT. SpaceX has hit a milestone by launching more than 10,000 Starlink satellites after a double-header from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg on Oct. 19. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 1:39 p.m. EDT, followed by a second Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:24 p.m. EDT, each carrying 28 satellites. Independent astronomer Jonathan McDowell tracks the fleet, which he estimates at about 8,680 in orbit, while SpaceX says the network serves over 7 million subscribers. The constellation also includes more than 650 satellites for its Direct-to-Cell service. SpaceX has petitioned the FCC to permit up to 15,000 additional MSS satellites to expand mobile-device connectivity. The system has faced outages in July-September but remains central to SpaceX's internet ambitions.

AI's Invasive Species: The Narcotic Rise of Generative Video in Social Media

October 20, 2025, 11:20 PM EDT. AI's Invasive Species tracks how generative video ecosystems infiltrate social media. The piece follows Vibes within Meta's AI app, where users prompt images that instantly render into a stream of visuals-sleek, ultra-processed, and seemingly real yet devoid of actual people. This creates a relentless, almost narcotic feed: each clip is easy to consume but unsatisfying on its own. Similar experiments surface in Sora 2 and other AI tools, feeding a TikTok-style carousel that challenges imagination and context. The narrative threads in AI-driven politics and culture: clips of Trump with a crown, spoof images, and fake ads that spread with watermarks and trolling. As audiences drown in synthetic content, the line between truth and fabrication blurs, raising urgent questions about authenticity online.

What Tesla Investors Want to Hear About Robo Taxis on the Earnings Call

October 20, 2025, 11:18 PM EDT. On the earnings call, investors will look for progress on robo-taxis: expansion into more cities, and a further push in Austin. Elon Musk has suggested the service could eventually cover a large share of the U.S. population, but today it operates only in Austin with a safety driver in the passenger seat and a separate safety rider policy. Bulls argue the expansion is accelerating; bears counter that the company isn't even in two cities yet. Key signal will be the rollout of FSD version 14 and how fast the staged updates improve performance. Beyond product talk, executives will need to address revenue outlook and when robo-taxis could affect automotive gross margins. The call will hinge on expansion speed, adoption, and the path to profitability.

Cards Against Humanity, SpaceX Reach Settlement Over Texas Trespass Claim

October 20, 2025, 11:16 PM EDT. SpaceX has reached a settlement with Cards Against Humanity over allegations that SpaceX trespassed on a plot of land owned by the card game maker in Texas and left debris and construction materials for months. The case, which was set for a jury trial in early November, was resolved weeks before trial according to Texas court records. Cards Against Humanity said SpaceX admitted trespassing during discovery and that the settlement removes construction equipment and allows the land to be restored. The company had sought about $15 million in damages and raised funds from donors to buy the land in 2017 as part of a stunt related to border walls.

OpenAI Tightens Sora 2 Guardrails After Bryan Cranston Likeness Concerns

October 20, 2025, 11:14 PM EDT. OpenAI has strengthened its guardrails for Sora 2 after public figures like Bryan Cranston pressed for protections against unauthorized likeness and copyrighted material. Despite a cameo-opt-in policy unveiled at launch, early clips featuring Cranston and other celebrities circulated, prompting SAG-AFTRA to collaborate with OpenAI on voice and likeness protections. The update tightens enforcement to block content that depicts real people or copyrighted IP without permission. CEO Sam Altman underscored OpenAI's commitment to performers' rights as Hollywood debates licensing and compensation for AI tools. The episode highlights ongoing tensions between creators and developers over IP, licensing, and the future use of AI in representing famous figures and characters.

Google seeks 15 Pixel Superfans to test unreleased phones with NDA

October 20, 2025, 11:12 PM EDT. Google's Pixel Superfans program is expanding to include testing unreleased devices, offering freebies and exclusive events. Selected testers will sign a strict NDA and must keep devices in a protective, disguised case, helping curb leaks. While Pixels are often leaked, Google's pre-release samples have tracing identifiers, and the NDA should deter leaks while allowing testers to preview upcoming features. Sign-ups are open anytime, though selection may take weeks; Google hints testers could see previews earlier than public launches. The company is aiming to finalize features months before the anticipated August 2026 Pixel 11 release, with the Pixel 10a due as early as spring 2026.

Hollywood pressures OpenAI for consent over AI-generated likenesses with Sora 2

October 20, 2025, 11:10 PM EDT. Hollywood is pressuring OpenAI over its AI video tool Sora 2, which can generate realistic audio and video from text prompts and images. Industry insiders warn that such tech enables deepfakes of living or historical figures, prompting fears about consent and IP rights. OpenAI has published new policies for Sora 2 in response to concerns from Hollywood studios, unions, and talent agencies. Notable examples cited include AI recreations of Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jackson, Mr. Rogers, Tupac Shakur, and the late Robin Williams. Williams's daughter Zelda urged fans to stop, calling it horrible slop. Industry groups, including UTA, stress that human talent remains essential and advocate for stronger protections of actors' likenesses and performances.

Oakland City Hall AI image prompts readers to spot discrepancies before State of the City address

October 20, 2025, 11:08 PM EDT. Oakland's mayor will deliver the State of the City as reporters noticed an AI-generated image of City Hall with missing and fabricated elements. The piece invites readers to compare the AI render with a real photograph by Amir Aziz, and readers Andrew Danish and Tone'e Tipton identified about 30 discrepancies each. City officials say using AI for content was an outlier, stressing that they'll rely on regular images moving forward. The story underscores growing concerns about AI-generated visuals in government communications and invites participation in a reader-difference-tracking exercise ahead of the address.

Growing Potential of AI in Infectious Diseases at IDWeek 2025

October 20, 2025, 11:02 PM EDT. At IDWeek 2025, Nicholas P. Marshall highlighted the growing potential of AI to reshape workflows in infectious diseases. He noted that while other specialties have rapidly adopted AI, infectious diseases faces clinical complexity that can hinder current AI tools. A gap in formal training in clinical informatics, machine learning, and AI knowledge leaves many providers ill-prepared to harness the technology. Still, AI can automate repetitive antimicrobial stewardship and infection-prevention tasks, improve documentation via ambient listening that converts speech to notes, and support evidence-based decisions with literature-trained AI models that fetch exact papers line by line. Marshall frames AI as augmented intelligence-extending specialists' reach rather than replacing them.

Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 rolls out for Pixel to fix boot issues

October 20, 2025, 11:00 PM EDT. Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 is rolling out as a patch for Pixel devices that boot-loop when the 'Enable desktop experience features' option is turned on before install. The update (BP41.250916.010 for Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a and BP41.250916.010.A1 for all devices) is a small 2.64 MB OTA. Google had pulled the prior OTA last week, and today's release notes omit a dedicated Beta 3.1 entry. For devices that took Beta 3, options include letting the system recover back to Beta 2 after repeated boot failures, and, if ADB USB debugging was enabled, sideloading the new OTA package. If you're in Android Recovery, a factory reset may be required. Beta 3 fixed many issues but introduced a bug removing other lockscreen clocks; a larger bug-fixer update is expected in coming weeks.

What to watch as Tesla Q3 earnings roll in: margins, cash flow and AI-driven bets

October 20, 2025, 10:54 PM EDT. Tesla reports Q3 after the bell as investors gauge whether record output translates to margin expansion, cash flow and sustainable demand. The story splits between familiar volume/scale and ambitious bets on robotaxis, Optimus, software monetization, and energy software. Key tests: whether pricing power holds as regulatory credits shrink, and if costs and capex don't derail profitability. Free cash flow is a focus, with Street estimates around $1.1-$1.3B and potential drag from inventory build. Delivery reached a Q3 record of 497,099 vehicles, but much was pre-September tax-credit pull-forward. Europe remains challenging; China stabilizes. Investors will seek FSD subscriptions, deferred revenue, and fleet-pilot data to judge the economics behind the ambitions.

NMSU, Fujitsu Launch National Testbed for HPC, AI, and Edge Computing in New Mexico

October 20, 2025, 10:52 PM EDT. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a Memorandum of Understanding between New Mexico State University and Fujitsu to establish a national testbed at the intersection of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing. The collaboration will leverage Fujitsu's FUJITSU-MONAKA chip technology to accelerate innovation across critical sectors, with real-world testing in an academic and research ecosystem. The testbed will support applications in precision agriculture, microgrids and grid-tied systems, water and environmental monitoring, and aerospace/space technologies, boosting resource efficiency, resilience, and secure computing. By expanding NM's research capacity and technical workforce, the partnership aims to position New Mexico as a leader in HPC, AI, and edge tech, driving economic growth and international collaboration.

Can SpaceX Help NASA Return to the Moon by 2027?

October 20, 2025, 10:48 PM EDT. NASA aims to return humans to the Moon by mid-2027 under its public-private push with SpaceX. The centerpiece is the Starship HLS, a variant of the Starship rocket designed to ferry astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back to Orion. After an 11th test flight of Starship V2, the team moves to V3 to test orbital flights and refueling. The plan hinges on rapid, multi-ship refueling shots-rumored to involve 10-40 tanker Starships-and on overcoming technical hurdles not seen since the 1990s. Critics warn the aggressive timeline could slip if refueling logistics or tanking counts prove harder than expected. Still, NASA and SpaceX remain committed to the Artemis program and the goal of a lunar landing for Artemis III.

Apple's Continued Innovation Drives iPhone 17 Momentum and Stock Optimism

October 20, 2025, 10:46 PM EDT. Discussion on Apple's iPhone 17 cycle: expectations were low, but the company is delivering continued innovation in camera, video, and the user experience. Demand appears strongest for the Pro and Pro Max, supporting a growing installed base and a healthy services business. The conversation also notes rising sentiment from firms like Evercore and Loop Capital, reinforcing stock momentum. Beyond hardware upgrades-longer battery life and faster processors-the emphasis is on integrating hardware, software, and services to create a secure, intuitive experience, with AI and visual intelligence features driving engagement. If Apple can redefine the smartphone experience, this could underpin continued growth through the quarters ahead.

Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) Shares Up 1.5% as Mixed Analyst Coverage Emerges

October 20, 2025, 10:42 PM EDT. Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) shares rose about 1.5% in mid-day trading, climbing as high as $23.34 and last at $21.78, on volume of 53.7M versus the 26.7M average. Analysts issued mixed notes: Wall Street Zen downgraded to a strong sell; Lake Street initiated a buy with a $24 target; Ascendiant lifted its target to $40 with a buy rating; Cantor Fitzgerald started at Neutral with a $15 target; Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+). Market consensus from MarketBeat is Hold with an average target of $26.33. The stock trades with a market cap around $4.07B, a P/E of -32.03, and a beta of 3.85. In the latest quarter, EPS of $(0.06) on revenue of $0.06M; insider activity included CEO Yuping Huang selling 1,000,000 shares.

Stock-Split Watch: Could IonQ Be the Next Quantum Stock to Split?

October 20, 2025, 10:38 PM EDT. IonQ is one of a small group of pure-play quantum stocks that surged in recent years. Stock splits tend to spark investor interest after a big run, and they alter share price and outstanding shares without changing market cap. A four-for-one split would boost liquidity by increasing the number of shares while lowering the price. Conversely, reverse splits raise share price and reduce share count, sometimes to avoid delisting. Could IonQ be next? While quantum computing remains a hot theme, investors weigh execution and valuation as they monitor any split signal from IonQ.

iQOO Pad 5e debuts with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, up to 16GB RAM and 10,000 mAh battery

October 20, 2025, 10:34 PM EDT. The new iQOO Pad 5e is a gaming-focused tablet powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, paired with a 10,000 mAh battery and up to 16 GB of RAM. It weighs about 584 g and measures roughly 6.62 mm thick (camera array excluded). The device features an 8 MP rear camera with an LED flash. In China, it starts at CNY 1,999 (~$281) for 8GB/128GB and is available in green, grey, and silver. Other configurations include 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, and 16/512 GB for CNY 2,299 (~$323), 2,599 (~$365), and 2,999 (~$562) respectively. There is currently no word on international availability.

Apple Breaks Out as Markets Rally Toward All-Time Highs on Shutdown Optimism

October 20, 2025, 10:32 PM EDT. Markets opened in a buoyant mood as investors priced in a potential end to the government shutdown (Day 20). Small caps led gains after White House adviser Kevin Hassett's comments. Apple (AAPL) surged about 4% and broke out past a 259.24 buy point, helping lift sentiment and signaling renewed tech leadership.

NASA Reopens Artemis III Lander Contract Amid SpaceX Delays, Seeks Competition

October 20, 2025, 10:30 PM EDT. NASA is reopening the Artemis III lunar lander contract after acknowledging SpaceX delays. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy told CNBC that SpaceX is behind schedule, prompting NASA to invite new bids to land Americans on the Moon's south pole. The site's ice deposits offer strategic scientific value, making timing critical as a 2027 deadline appears unlikely. If Blue Origin can beat SpaceX, NASA could have two contenders vying to reach the Moon by 2028. Meanwhile Artemis II preparations continue at Kennedy Space Center, with Orion atop the SLS rocket for a lunar flyby next year. The move intensifies the race to the Moon amid policy and geopolitical considerations as nations push for sustained lunar exploration.

Inside Virginia's cloud data centers: how the warehouses power the internet

October 20, 2025, 10:28 PM EDT. An outage tied to Amazon Web Services showed how much of the internet depends on a concentrated set of cloud data centers in Northern Virginia. Cloud computing lets firms rent infrastructure rather than own it, with AWS commanding about 41% of the market, followed by Google and Microsoft. AWS operates several hubs, with the US-East-1 region near Virginia being the largest and oldest, handling far more data than others. The industry relies on spreading workloads, but the reality is a heavy concentration around one region. That creates a systemic fragility for services worldwide, from social apps to retailers, when this single hub falters.

China's AI+ Plan Aims for an 'Intelligent Civilisation' by 2035: Robots, Governance and Household Companions

October 20, 2025, 10:26 PM EDT. China's AI+ initiative, launched within the government's broader push for digital transformation, is described as a decade-long blueprint toward an "intelligent civilisation." By 2035, robots could shift from factory automation to roles in government, social governance, and even households as potential companions and children. The plan seeks a multidimensional transformation of politics, economy, society, science and technology, and China's global stance, while acknowledging risks such as mass unemployment, erosion of family structures, human-machine tensions, ethical upheaval, and widening inequality. Officials and scholars frame the effort as a path to a future of "infinite hope," balancing growth with safeguards against negative social impacts.

Indiana University Canvas outage disrupts classes as AWS outage hits Gradescope, Qualtrics

October 20, 2025, 10:24 PM EDT. An AWS outage that began around 4 a.m. Monday left multiple Indiana University sites, including Canvas, Gradescope, and Qualtrics, down. The downtime has disrupted classes, assignments, and communication since class materials and grades rely on AWS. As of publication the outage is ongoing. Students like sophomore Hannah Schultz saw classes canceled and an eight-week course delayed; senior Allie Myers wasn't personally affected but couldn't start overdue assignments. Top Hat, an attendance tool integrated with Canvas, was also down, forcing instructors to improvise. Emily Monteleone said her instructor considered alternatives while she couldn't download notes. Others – Anthony Brace and Gaby Rosa – can't access study materials or answer keys because their professor's email and files live on Canvas, jeopardizing a calculus deadline and study prep.

Is Amazon down? Broad AWS outage disrupts Venmo, Snapchat, Hulu and more

October 20, 2025, 10:18 PM EDT. Major cloud outage hits AWS causing interruptions across websites and apps. The second disruption began around 10:30 a.m. in the US-East-1 region, impacting services built on AWS infrastructure. Amazon.com remained online, but other sites and apps including Venmo, Snapchat, Hulu, Slack, Roblox, and Ring experienced problems. Some services were back online by noon while others remained affected. Downdetector warned of widespread issues affecting AWS-powered sites. The outage underscores how many online services rely on AWS for hosting and delivery. Amazon Web Services provides scalable cloud hosting, letting companies avoid on-site infrastructure; outages can ripple across the internet.

Recycling rare earth magnets: flash joule heating and chlorine enable cleaner recovery

October 20, 2025, 10:16 PM EDT. Researchers are proposing a new method to reclaim rare earth elements (REEs) from discarded magnets. The process uses flash joule heating-an electric current rapidly heats waste magnets on a carbon platform inside a glass chamber to thousands of degrees Celsius in seconds. Chlorine gas is then introduced to form chlorides of undesired elements (like iron) and lower their boiling points, enabling separation from REEs. Led by Rice University's James Tour, the team published their approach in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). They mapped the Gibbs free energy for the oxide forms of all 17 REEs and nine common oxides, aiming for a cleaner, lower-energy recycling route. If successful, the method could help the United States meet rising REE demand from waste.

Apple adds a 'Tinted' option to Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, letting users roll back the look

October 20, 2025, 10:14 PM EDT. Apple is letting users customize Liquid Glass again with a new Tinted option in the latest beta of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1. The feature adds a simple Clear vs Tinted toggle under Settings > Display & Brightness (and System Settings on Mac), letting people increase the opacity of interface elements for better readability. This comes after user feedback during the iOS 26 redesign, with Apple historically offering fallbacks (similar to Safari's address bar change). Developers can test apps against both looks, as Apple notes; no slider control-just two preset levels.

EV battery blast in Mumbai slum kills teen; investigation underway

October 20, 2025, 10:12 PM EDT. In Mumbai's Cuffe Parade slum, a fire started in a room where three EV batteries were charging, killing 15-year-old Yash Khot and leaving others with burn injuries. The family had switched to electric bikes about two years ago for deliveries and charged the batteries overnight. Fire officials say the blaze began around 2:30 am and was reported later; investigators say acid from the battery contributed to the damage, with the exact cause to be determined. Victims include Yash (deceased), Viraj (13), Sangram Kurne (25) and Devendra Choudhary (30). Emergency access was hampered by cramped lanes, with residents evacuating victims using ladders and blankets. Yash died at St George's hospital; others were hospitalized with burns ranging from 15% to 25%. The fire was confined to the room's wiring, batteries and household items.

SpaceX to launch Starship on pivotal test of Artemis program and Mars ambitions

October 20, 2025, 10:10 PM EDT. SpaceX is set to launch Starship, its most powerful rocket, in an eleventh flight that tests a fully reusable vehicle ahead of NASA's Artemis program and Elon Musk's Mars ambitions. The 6:15pm local liftoff from Starbase, Texas, will resemble Starship's August flight, with data gathering for the next-gen Super Heavy booster, heatshield stress testing, and upper-stage maneuvers for a future return-to-launch-site. The mission includes a Gulf of Mexico splashdown for the Super Heavy and a water landing in the Indian Ocean for Starship. NASA's Artemis timeline has faced delays, pushing crewed Moon landings beyond 2024, with some forecasts suggesting 2027 or later. Expert observers warn the HLS schedule remains significantly challenged as SpaceX eyes a fleet to enable Mars exploration.

AirTags on Sale: 4-Pack Now $65 (About $16 Each)

October 20, 2025, 10:08 PM EDT. AirTag lovers rejoice: a four-pack is on sale for $65, bringing each unit to just over $16 (normally $29). The bundle offers a 34% discount off the four-pack price, with singles at $25 after a 14% cut. The piece shares a Paris baggage claim scare to illustrate how AirTag provides peace of mind by tracking via nearby iPhone users and relaying coordinates to Apple's secure server. AirTags are small, puck-like trackers you can drop in luggage, on keys, or wallets, and pairing is quick on iPhone. If you're holiday traveling, this record-low price probably won't last, so stock up while you can.

Rocket Lab Schedules The Nation God Navigates: Sixth Electron Mission for iQPS to Deploy QPS-SAR-14

October 20, 2025, 10:06 PM EDT. Rocket Lab today announced the window for its next Electron launch for iQPS, marking the 74th Electron flight and the sixth mission for this Japan-based Earth-imaging operator. The mission, named The Nation God Navigates, will deploy QPS-SAR-14 (nicknamed YACHIHOKO-I) to a ~575 km circular Earth orbit from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, within a window opening 2:45 pm ET (Nov 5, 2025; UTC 19:45). iQPS aims to build a 36-satellite SAR constellation delivering near-real-time SAR images every 10 minutes. Rocket Lab notes a 100% mission success rate this year and anticipates more iQPS launches in 2026 and beyond.

Is It Too Late to Buy Rigetti Computing Stock? A Quantum-Computing Rally

October 20, 2025, 10:04 PM EDT. Rigetti Computing's stock has surged from sub-$1 to near $50 in weeks, highlighting a broader run for quantum-computing pure-plays. The path isn't simple: competition from giants like Alphabet and IBM looms, and the space carries high risk. Rigetti says it's sold quantum systems to two customers for about $5.7 million, signaling a real offering for the Novera platform. A JPMorgan note about investing up to $10 billion in quantum computing (as one sector among many) boosted enthusiasm across the sector, but it doesn't guarantee Rigetti a large stake. At roughly a $15 billion valuation, even a sizeable investment would be a fractional stake. The rally appears overheated, and the industry still faces a long path to widespread adoption. Investors should weigh momentum against the sector's fragility and the hurdle of commercialization.

Amazon AWS Outage Disrupts Global Websites and Apps as Cloud Services Rebound

October 20, 2025, 10:02 PM EDT. Amazon's cloud unit AWS fixed an underlying issue that caused a major outage and widespread connectivity problems for websites and apps worldwide. While AWS later said it was recovering across all services, some customers continue to face issues after the disruption. Downdetector logged more than 11 million outage reports, with hundreds of businesses affected; renewals of service hiccups even after partial recoveries. Authorities say the problem originated in the EC2 internal network and was not a cyberattack. Industry observers warn the outage could trigger a multi-billion-dollar impact on productivity and operations across sectors from airlines to factories. Affected platforms included Perplexity, Robinhood, Signal, and Coinbase. The disruption underscores the internet's fragility and cloud dependency as AWS (roughly 30% of the market) competes with Microsoft and Google.

EV Charger Adapter Explodes Near Tesla in Canada, Highlighting Uncertified Gear Risks

October 20, 2025, 9:58 PM EDT. In Hope, BC, a non-certified EV adapter suffered an arc fault after plugging into a Tesla at a non-Tesla charger. The explosion destroyed the adapter; the driver sustained only minor scrapes. Investigations found faults in both the adapter and the charger, and noted the adapter wasn't certified for Canadian use. Abnormal voltage from the charger likely triggered the arc. Officials warn against uncertified charging gear. Safety expert Bob Porter of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association cautioned about risks from third-party equipment that hasn't been tested. This incident underscores the need for certified, properly tested charging hardware.

iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds Liquid Glass toggle, Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera, and more

October 20, 2025, 9:54 PM EDT. iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds a Liquid Glass toggle, letting you switch between clear and tinted opacity for UI elements such as notifications and tab bars (also on Mac under Appearance). A new Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera toggle disables the camera swipe on the lock screen, a welcome relief from accidental launches. The update expands Apple Intelligence language support and juices up AirPods Live Translation with more languages. Apple is rebranding Apple TV as simply Apple TV with a new icon and identity. A new Local Capture section in Settings lets you choose where Local Capture files save and toggle audio-only capture. Other refinements include easier Slide to Unlock alarm dismissal and a swipe gesture to skip songs in Music.

Opera Unveils ODRA: Fourth AI Agent in Opera Neon with Symphony Orchestration

October 20, 2025, 9:52 PM EDT. Opera unveils the Opera Deep Research Agent (ODRA), the fourth AI agent inside Opera Neon, underscoring Opera's push toward an agentic browser. ODRA is model- and tool-agnostic, capable of combining engines like Gemini and GPTs, with server-side parallelization that runs multiple researchers in parallel. The feature will debut soon as Neon's fourth agent. Opera says users will benefit from a new orchestration layer called Symphony that groups and routes tasks to the most relevant agents, enabling a scalable, intuitive workflow. The company plans to expand the agent lineup and introduce a redesigned UI to help users choose the right group of agents. Early benchmarks place ODRA among top deep-research agents on the DeepResearch Bench.

Apple's iPhone 17 outsells iPhone 16 in US and China, boosting shares to record highs

October 20, 2025, 9:50 PM EDT. Apple's new iPhone 17 series quickly outsold the iPhone 16 lineup in the US and China, signaling strong demand as the stock jumped over 4% to a record high and Apple nears a $4 trillion valuation. Counterpoint Research data shows the iPhone 17 leading the first 10 days on sale, with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air drawing attention for new cameras, the A19 chip, and a slimmer, more capable design. The base model starts at $799; the Pro at $1099. In China, sales are almost double the 16 during launch. Apple remains heavily reliant on the iPhone for revenue, while investors watch for continued momentum into October and potential AI features highlighted at launches.

Tesla's FSD expansion backfires as hardware gaps widen and customers demand refunds

October 20, 2025, 9:48 PM EDT. Tesla's push to scale Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is backfiring as hardware gaps become exposed and customers demand relief. Since claiming that all Teslas would have "all the hardware for FSD," Tesla migrated from HW2 to HW3 and then HW4, with HW3 ultimately not supporting unsupervised driving. Updates have often gone to HW4 first, leaving HW3 owners waiting for a capability that may never arrive. The international rollout-to China, Australia and New Zealand-magnifies the problem, as HW3 cars can't access the latest FSD features. In Australia, Tesla also launched FSD subscriptions for HW3 vehicles despite no available software, while offering $5,000 discounts on new inventory when transferring FSD. The episode underscores a growing mismatch between promised software and hardware reality, and customer frustration over compensation.

Dow Jones Futures Steady as Apple, Alphabet, Netflix and Tesla Rally; Oracle Dives

October 20, 2025, 9:46 PM EDT. Dow Jones futures, along with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, were little changed ahead of Tuesday's open after a rally near record highs. Apple, Alphabet, Netflix, and Tesla led Monday's market gains, underscoring continued strength in large-cap tech. By contrast, Oracle sold off for a second straight session, signaling mixed leadership among AI-focused peers. Traders will watch how the index-wide futures respond to earnings chatter and macro headlines.

Trump pushes National Guard to San Francisco amid AI-driven resurgence and record venture funding

October 20, 2025, 9:42 PM EDT. President Trump renewed calls to deploy the National Guard to San Francisco as the city experiences an AI-fueled rebound. CBRE data project 2025 venture funding to top 2021's record, with SF and Silicon Valley receiving the bulk of AI capital-80% of AI VC through Q3 totaling about $115 billion. By September, the Bay Area was 35% above its prior annual investment peak. Local officials tout safety gains: crime down, homicides at a 70-year low, and tourism rising ahead of Salesforce's Dreamforce. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff publicly supported federal troops but later walked back the stance. The Trump administration has already deployed the National Guard to Chicago and Portland; Trump pressed that a national deployment to SF is part of the broader policy push.

NVIDIA and TSMC Produce First Blackwell Wafer Fully in the U.S. at TSMC Arizona

October 20, 2025, 9:40 PM EDT. NVIDIA and TSMC have produced the first Blackwell wafer entirely in the United States, at the Arizona site. The milestone-manufacturing the flagship AI chip domestically-highlights a growing push for onshoring of critical tech and is tied to tariff-driven reshoring pressures and a broader drive for reindustrialization. Officials say U.S.-made Blackwell chips could cement America as an AI hardware hub and create local jobs, strengthening supply chains and domestic innovation. NVIDIA and TSMC executives framed the achievement as a milestone for American manufacturing and AI leadership, signaling a shift toward more resilient, locally produced AI infrastructure.

REDMAGIC 11 Pro: The First Gaming Phone with a Visible Liquid-Cooling Flow

October 20, 2025, 9:38 PM EDT. RedMagic 11 Pro breaks the phone-thermals stereotype by putting its liquid-cooling system on display with a transparent back window. The visible cooling channel, live coolant flow, and customizable RGB lighting turn thermal management into a visual feature, not a hidden trade-off. The dual water-and-air cooling architecture sustains peak performance under long gaming sessions, preventing thermal throttling and keeping frames high. Hardware is top-tier: a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 24GB RAM, and 1TB UFS4.1 PRO storage, plus an 8,000mAh battery and a BOE X10-accelerated Full-Screen 2.0 display. Performance upgrades like Ultra Graphics Engine 3.0 and RedCore R4 enable 2K upscaling to 144Hz for over 200 titles. Precision inputs include a 3,000Hz Synaptics touch controller, 520Hz triggers, and ultrasonic fingerprint, with esports certification. It's built for competitive play with MORA AI.

Microsoft Prepares Windows 11 Security Update Hotfix After KB5066835 Bugs

October 20, 2025, 9:36 PM EDT. A mandatory Windows update, KB5066835, has reportedly caused issues on some machines, prompting Microsoft to work on a hotfix to reverse the damage. Affected editions include Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, and Windows Server 2025. Users report problems such as mice and keyboards disabled in recovery mode, loss of network access for locally hosted apps, and broken Windows Explorer file previews. The update, issued on Oct. 14, can install automatically on some devices. Microsoft has not publicly commented; Windows Latest says a fix could take several days. Workarounds include rebooting to let Windows roll back code and a temporary registry tweak to restore networking for local apps. A targeted fix is expected soon.

What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4: Lock Screen Camera, Liquid Glass, and More

October 20, 2025, 9:34 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 Beta 4 adds several notable changes. A new Liquid Glass transparency toggle in Settings > Display and Brightness lets you choose Clear or Tinted for background translucency. The Lock Screen Camera Swipe can be disabled in Settings > Camera, preventing quick camera access from the Lock Screen. A Phone Haptics toggle now lets you turn off haptic feedback when calls connect or drop. In Settings, the Apple Intelligence section is left-aligned and no longer shows a Beta label, though Apple hasn't clarified if all features are out of beta. The update also features minor UI tweaks and ongoing refinements across betas. See our iOS 26.1 feature guide for context and prior betas.

AI-Powered Sting: Predator Poachers Expose Elementary School Music Teacher Accused of Sexting a Minor

October 20, 2025, 9:28 PM EDT. A watchdog group in Long Island used AI to help catch an elementary school music teacher accused of sending explicit messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Mark Verity, 37, of Islip, was charged with multiple counts including 'Attempted Dissemination of Indecent Material to a Minor.' Predator Poachers Long Island confronted him outside the Shoreham-Wading River school after a decoy-who appeared to be a teen online-was used to lure him. The decoy, portrayed by a 29-year-old group member, looked younger thanks to AI-driven appearance modification. Investigators say the group then used AI tools to trace Verity's online activity and locate him. The district is cooperating; no student victim has been identified. Verity was suspended.

Tesla Stock Could Move About 7% Post-Earnings, Options Signal

October 20, 2025, 9:26 PM EDT. Options traders expect Tesla to swing about 7% in either direction in the days after its third-quarter earnings report, according to current pricing. If realized, a move from last week's close would place shares near the $470 level or around $409, illustrating the stock's ongoing volatility after earnings. Analysts remain split on the outlook, with most seeing the stock as potentially overvalued, even as investors eye updates on lower-cost models, the rollout of robotaxi services, and progress on the Optimus humanoid robot. Investors will also listen for commentary on full-self-driving software and the impact of EV tax-credit expirations on future sales. Tesla's earnings cadence has historically triggered outsized moves, underscoring the stock's sensitivity to quarterly results.

Omni Group explains on-device Apple Foundation Models for privacy-first AI

October 20, 2025, 9:24 PM EDT. Omni Group developers describe Foundation Models that can call tools acting as a perfect oracle, reducing the risk of hallucinated answers. They favor on-device automation, enabling customers to work with confidential information under strong privacy protections. By moving AI services off the cloud and onto the user's silicon, they cut energy use and costs while keeping data local. They praise Apple's approach to Foundation Models that run on hardware already at hand, avoiding external servers. The result is a privacy-centric AI workflow where tools and models collaborate on the device, not in the cloud, aligning with enterprise security and efficiency goals.

Apple Seeds Fourth Betas for iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1 and More

October 20, 2025, 9:20 PM EDT. Apple has released the fourth betas of its upcoming software-iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1-for developers to test ahead of a wider rollout. The betas install via Settings > General > Software Update. Notable changes include expanded language support for Apple Intelligence and AirPods Live Translation now in additional languages (including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese). Users may notice UI tweaks to Calendar, Safari, and Photos, plus the Phone keypad gains Liquid Glass. More features will surface as testing continues toward the anticipated October release window.

Tesla May Stop Including Physical Key Cards With New Model 3/Y Cars

October 20, 2025, 9:18 PM EDT. Tesla may stop including physical key cards with new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, per Not A Tesla App, after updating owner manuals. Historically, Tesla provided two RFID key cards instead of a metal key, but references to the cards have been removed from manuals for the Standard trims. If true, buyers could face an extra $40 charge for a replacement key card, adding a small but noticeable cost. Tesla already relies on smartphone keys, and this could push a fully digital key experience. The change would fit Tesla's pattern of quiet manual edits to trim included perks, rather than public announcements. The claim isn't officially confirmed by Tesla, but it highlights a potential shift in how keys are provisioned with new cars.

Apple Adds Liquid Glass Toggle in iOS 26.1 Beta 4 to Ease Bold Redesign

October 20, 2025, 9:16 PM EDT. Apple's Liquid Glass redesign in iOS 26 sparked mixed reactions, and with iOS 26.1 Beta 4 the company introduced a much-needed toggle to switch it off. The new option, available as Clear or Tinted modes, lets users control transparency for better readability and accessibility. The toggle appears in Settings > Display & Brightness (and Appearance on Mac). Apple appears to acknowledge feedback and balance aesthetics with practicality, though switching modes affects third-party apps inheriting the setting. For some, the change offers a usable compromise between a bold look and usability, while fans of the aesthetic may prefer the more transparent design. The update underscores Apple's responsiveness to user experience during beta testing.

Agentic AI: A Fundamental Shift for Legal Teams and Practice

October 20, 2025, 9:14 PM EDT. Agentic AI represents a fundamental shift for legal teams, combining reasoning, planning and workflow orchestration to augment rather than replace professionals. The technology offers powerful capabilities for research and case strategy but also new risks, notably data fabrication and opaque decision making. Key safeguards–human oversight, verification protocols, transparent audit trails, and built-in accountability-are essential to preserve the ethical accuracy required in law. Unlike static pattern matching, agentic AI uses real-time data and multiple tools to augment workflows, freeing lawyers for higher-level strategy and client counseling. Adoption hinges on transparency, rigorous governance, and clear responsibility as leaders weigh potential gains against implementation challenges.

Energy Department cancels $110 million in funding for Ascend Elements amid broader battery-funding cuts

October 20, 2025, 9:12 PM EDT. Energy Department canceled about $110 million of a $316 million grant to Ascend Elements, a Massachusetts startup building a Kentucky facility to produce critical minerals for lithium-ion batteries. The decision, announced as the government shutdown began, is part of more than $700 million in cuts to battery projects and a broader list of roughly $24 billion in potential terminations. Ascend says construction is paused but the project remains strategic and could resume in 2026, noting that its economics were not predicated on grants. The move has sparked concern among scientists and industry leaders as grantees adjust plans amid policy uncertainty and shifts in energy funding during the shutdown.

Large chunk of suspected space debris found in Western Australia desert

October 20, 2025, 9:08 PM EDT. Authorities in Western Australia's Pilbara region confirmed a large, charred object found on a remote access road is likely space debris-probably a propellant tank or pressure vessel from a space launch vehicle. The Australian Space Agency said it is investigating with local authorities and other space agencies, and there's no immediate public safety threat. The discovery underscores the broader issue of space debris as launches rise and fragments can survive atmospheric re-entry. The report notes that thousands of pieces clutter low Earth orbit, driving calls for cleanup tech and better tracking. Recent incidents in the US-such as a SpaceX Crew Dragon module fragment-and ongoing policy efforts by NASA and other agencies are part of the broader response to orbital junk.

AI-Powered Trophy Homes Redefine Luxury Real Estate for Silicon Valley's Ultra-Wealthy

October 20, 2025, 9:06 PM EDT. Silicon Valley's ultra-wealthy are chasing AI-powered trophy homes that learn owners' routines and respond in real time, far beyond basic smart devices. These $15-$100 million residences aim to be fully autonomous ecosystems with anticipatory lighting, climate, and security, plus AI-driven kitchens, washing, and wellness features like hyperbaric chambers. Architects like Paul McClean are building homes designed to act as enduring legacies, integrating smart technology into the fabric of the house rather than mere gadgets. The trend signals a shift from status symbols to self-regulating environments that blend architecture, luxury, and AI for personalized living in Silicon Valley.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 after one month: the feature I can't give up

October 20, 2025, 9:04 PM EDT. After a month with the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the highlights still shine: always-on seconds in for Modular Ultra, a larger display with smaller bezels, and faster charging. The battery life is strong enough to squeeze a second full day when needed. Yet the biggest upgrade isn't hardware-it's the Modular Ultra watch face, which blends all needed complications with a large digital clock and visible seconds. That exclusive face, a software choice rather than a hardware one, is Ultra's clear differentiator and a major reason to upgrade for anyone who loves watch-face customization. While satellite/5G features remain underutilized, the design and interface advantages are what keep this buyer committed to the Ultra line.

TCL Tab 8 Nxtpaper 5G Review: An Affordable Tablet With a Few Too Many Flaws

October 20, 2025, 9:02 PM EDT. The TCL Tab 8 Nxtpaper 5G positions itself as an affordable tablet with a distinctive Nxtpaper display. The review notes solid value for budget buyers, thanks to 5G connectivity and a compact form factor. However, it also highlights a handful of flaws that weigh on daily use – limited performance, a modest display quality in bright environments, and a software experience that feels rough around the edges. Battery life is adequate but not class-leading, and the build quality shows cheaper materials. If you need a cheap day-to-day tablet, it's worth a look, but expect compromises in speed, apps, and longevity; the trade-offs keep it from being a true standout in its category.

How to turn off or tune Apple's Liquid Glass UI across macOS devices

October 20, 2025, 8:58 PM EDT. Apple's Liquid Glass UI offers extensive customization, and this guide by Adam Engst at TidBITS shows how to dial it down or switch it off. The article notes that settings mirror across devices but behave differently, so Engst separates them by device and provides screenshots to preview each change. On macOS 26 you can choose from options like Default, Reduce Transparency, Increase Contrast (and Reduce Transparency), Liquid Glass Off, and combinations such as Liquid Glass Off, Reduce Transparency On or Liquid Glass Off, Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast On, including per-app and Reduce Motion. It's a practical resource for users unhappy with the default look and feel.

Apple and Super Micro Lead S&P 500 Gains as Oracle Slips on AI Capital Spend Concerns

October 20, 2025, 8:56 PM EDT. Stocks rose across major indexes Monday, with Apple (AAPL) jumping nearly 4% on strong early demand for the new iPhone 17 and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) rallying about 5% on a bullish chart pattern. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq each rose more than 1% as investors digested a week of earnings and inflation data. In contrast, Oracle (ORCL) slid roughly 5% after the company outlined ambitious AI growth targets and higher capex, raising doubts about reliance on revenue from OpenAI. The week's action also saw declines for AppLovin (APP) on regulatory scrutiny, and simultaneous weakness in disk-drive names like Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC).

3 Top Stocks to Buy to Benefit From the AI and Quantum Computing Revolution

October 20, 2025, 8:52 PM EDT. The piece argues that AI and quantum computing could reshape business, offering investors a rare double opportunity. AI is already solving real-world problems, while quantum computing remains early-stage but with long-term upside. The article spotlights three top stocks. IonQ is a pure-play quantum company using trapped-ion tech, with about $20 million in quarterly revenue from cloud access and consulting, but its fortunes hinge on a quantum breakthrough and carry higher risk. Microsoft is expanding into quantum via software and cloud, with progress like its Majorana 1 chip that aims to improve qubit control and shorten the path to practical use. These ideas illustrate how investors may benefit from the AI and quantum frontier, balancing execution risk against potential long-term gains.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro 44 mm: Lighter Rugged Upgrade with 10 ATM and 17-Day Battery

October 20, 2025, 8:50 PM EDT. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro gains a slimmed-down 44 mm variant that preserves rugged DNA while cutting bulk. At 46.8 g and 13.2 mm thick, it wears lighter on a 20 mm strap, with a 1.3-inch AMOLED display protected by sapphire crystal and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It retains the 10 ATM waterproof rating and scuba/free-diving capability, and comes in two-tone finishes-Black Gold and Arctic Gold-for a premium look. The battery drops to 500 mAh, delivering about 17 days of real-world use despite the smaller display. Priced at $399 (€399/£399), the 44 mm model sits alongside the 48 mm. Shipping soon-would you pick the 44 mm for a lighter, still rugged daily wearer?

Google reportedly lets 15 superfans test unreleased Pixel phones in 'Trusted Tester' program

October 20, 2025, 8:48 PM EDT. Google may invite 15 fans to join a hidden Trusted Tester program to test a Pixel phone still in development. Winners would sign an NDA and use the device in protective disguises while out in public. Bloomberg reports on the proposed rules; Google hasn't officially confirmed the program. While not unheard of for internal hardware testing, allowing fans to take a Pixel phone into the wild is unusual and could blur lines with leaks. Details on which model or when it would ship are unclear, and access would rely on the existing Pixel Superfans community. If real, the program could gather early feedback while keeping some surprises intact.

UK Channel 4 Debuts AI News Presenter in 'Will AI Take My Job?' Special

October 20, 2025, 8:46 PM EDT. Channel 4 in the UK aired a Dispatches special, 'Will AI Take My Job?', featuring what it described as the first AI-generated news anchor. The AI host narrated from multiple locations and revealed at the end that it was not real. The stunt, produced for Kalel Productions with guidance from prompts, aims to spark discussion on trust, authenticity, and the disruptive potential of AI in media and the workplace. Channel 4 emphasizes it won't become routine and underscores the need for premium, fact-checked journalism, while noting the risks of audience hoodwinked by nonhuman content. A Channel 4 survey found 76% of bosses have adopted AI for tasks, 66% are excited, 41% report reduced recruitment, and many expect more reductions. The story also echoes SAG-AFTRA concerns about AI-generated performers like 'Tilly Norwood'.

iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds transparency controls for Liquid Glass

October 20, 2025, 8:44 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 beta 4 introduces a new transparency control for Liquid Glass. Users can tailor the effect via Settings > Display and Brightness, with a new Liquid Glass section offering Clear or Tinted modes. The submenu placement hints at future options. On macOS 26.1, the control appears under System Settings > Appearance. The Tinted option returns menus to a frosted, color-tinged look, while Clear delivers a more transparent aesthetic. This is the fourth beta, with a final release anticipated soon, and it adds a polished layer to Apple's platform refresh by giving users more visual customization.

AWS Outage Disrupts Major Websites Across the Internet

October 20, 2025, 8:42 PM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted services across the internet, impacting numerous major websites. Amazon said engineers are working to fix the technical issue and restore operations, but some disruptions remain. The incident underscores the cloud's central role in online services and the ripple effects of downtime. As recovery progresses, affected sites are gradually returning online while Amazon implements fixes to the AWS infrastructure.

Seraphim Space Investment Trust portfolio value reaches £260m, up 29% YoY as Iceye drives gains

October 20, 2025, 8:40 PM EDT. SSIT reports a portfolio valued at close to £260 million at end-June, up about 29% year-on-year. Key holdings show traction, with Iceye doubling in value over the year amid major commercial wins. The group says its portfolio is well-positioned to benefit from favorable market conditions, with liquidity boosted through further IPOs and exits of listed holdings. SSIT deployed £14.2 million into one new portfolio company and six existing ones, while realising £12.5 million from disposals over the 12 months to June. Notable activity included Astroscale's IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, exercising options in AST SpaceMobile, and partial disposals in April. CEO Mark Boggett cites a geopolitical realignment driving profitability and shifting valuations to EV/revenue multiples, with more than $390 million raised by private companies and a Voyager IPO signaling sector confidence.

Tesla Pay Package for Elon Musk Faces Investor Pushback Ahead of Shareholder Meeting

October 20, 2025, 8:38 PM EDT. Tesla is navigating controversy over CEO Elon Musk's proposed pay package, which could unlock about $1 trillion in additional holdings if all performance targets are met. As the November shareholder meeting approaches, the company is urging investors to back the package, which has drawn both strong support and skepticism. Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has advised voting against, arguing the plan offers 'astronomical' value and would limit the board's ability to adjust future pay. A former Tesla employee also criticized the package on X, saying it would underperform the S&P 500 and overpay for CEO leadership. Musk responded by arguing Tesla's value dwarfs other automakers and asked which CEO would run Tesla otherwise. Tesla's board noted commitments to wind down Musk's political involvement.

Tesla Expands Everyday Heroes Discount to Healthcare Workers in US and Canada

October 20, 2025, 8:36 PM EDT. Tesla expands its Everyday Heroes program to include healthcare workers in the US and Canada, offering a discount on any new Tesla, including Model S, 3, X, Y, and Cybertruck. The change adds to the existing US list (military members/veterans, first responders, students, teachers) and to Canada's expanded roster (first responders, students, teachers, plus medical providers and nurses). After a prior reduction from $1,000 to $500, eligible providers must verify employment via ID.me before placing an order; once verified, the $500 adjustment is applied during checkout and can be stacked with loyalty and referral benefits. Tesla says the expansion makes ownership more accessible and honors healthcare professionals' contributions.

Reid Hoffman backs Anthropic as 'one of the good guys' after Sacks critique

October 20, 2025, 8:34 PM EDT. OpenAI investor and Greylock partner Reid Hoffman called Anthropic 'one of the good guys' after criticism from David Sacks, the Trump-era AI and crypto czar. Hoffman, who sits on Microsoft's board and remains an investor in OpenAI, disclosed that Greylock has also invested in Anthropic. In posts on X, he argued that, in AI especially, it's crucial to back the good guys and pursue development that is thoughtful, safe, and societally beneficial. He noted that major players like Microsoft and Google are part of a wider effort to deploy AI responsibly and said he supports Anthropic's approach. Hoffman generally avoids commenting publicly on specific firms, but his call reflects a broader, ongoing policy- and safety-focused AI conversation.

Apple leads tech rally as Wall Street eyes busy earnings week

October 20, 2025, 8:32 PM EDT. US stocks jumped as Apple led a tech rally ahead of a busy earnings slate and key inflation data. The Dow rose over 500 points (about 1.1%), the S&P 500 gained roughly 1.1%, and the Nasdaq climbed about 1.4%. Investors focused on reports from Tesla, Intel, Netflix, and Coca-Cola while awaiting Zions Bancorp's results after the bell. The market also weighed trade-relations signals, with hopes for cooler tensions with Beijing. Traders watched the impact of an AWS outage on tech platforms and waited for the BLS CPI release ahead of the Fed's rate decision. As earnings week unfolds, risk-on sentiment kept equities higher despite political and policy headwinds.

AWS outage disrupts popular apps and websites as cloud service issues ripple across US-EAST-1

October 20, 2025, 8:30 PM EDT. A major AWS outage disrupted services across the internet, with Downdetector reports showing outages for popular apps such as Snapchat and WhatsApp and large sites including Amazon beginning shortly after 3 a.m. ET. AWS said it was investigating increased error rates and latencies in the US-EAST-1 region and actively working to resolve them. By 6:35 a.m. ET, the company said the issue was "fully mitigated" and most services were back to normal, though some requests may be throttled or experience delays. Hours later, AWS noted lingering network connectivity issues. There was no indication of a cyberattack. Affected services cited by users included Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Teams, and The New York Times as outages continued.

China Antitrust Case Targets Apple App Store Distribution and Payments Policies

October 20, 2025, 8:28 PM EDT. An antitrust complaint filed with China's State Administration for Market Regulation alleges that Apple abuses its dominant position by mandating that iOS app distribution and payments occur on its platform and by charging commissions up to 30%. The suit, brought by a group of 55 Chinese iPhone and iPad users, is led by lawyer Wang Qiongfei, who previously pursued a similar case in 2021 that was dismissed in 2024 and is appealing to the Supreme People's Court. Apple did not comment. The case adds to legal pressures after EU DMA criticism and fines – including a $580 million penalty – and a US DOJ monopoly case over app and device restrictions. Apple argues the suit misstates the facts.

Global Drone Photography Market Set to Reach $18.3B by 2033, Led by DJI, Parrot, GoPro

October 20, 2025, 8:26 PM EDT. Global Drone Photography Market is expanding rapidly, with a projected CAGR of 15.6% from 2024 to 2033, rising from $9.7B in 2024 to $18.3B by 2033. Major players include DJI, Parrot, GoPro, and Yuneec, reflecting a competitive landscape across regions where North America currently dominates and Europe shows the fastest growth. Market segments cover types such as Aerial Photography Drones, 4K Video Drones, FPV Drones, Thermal Drones, and Real Estate drones, with applications in Entertainment, Real Estate, Agriculture, Construction, and Film & Media. Key drivers include advancements in drone imaging and AI-powered processing, plus growing demand for real estate visuals. Challenges involve regulatory barriers and high-end hardware costs, while opportunities lie in expanded services and AI-driven imaging.

AWS Cloud Outage Disrupts Global Online Services

October 20, 2025, 8:22 PM EDT. An AWS cloud outage disrupted services worldwide, taking down a broad range of online platforms. The disruption hit social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming, and financial services, underscoring how deeply many sectors rely on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure. The incident exposed the fragility of a technology-dependent economy and spurred widespread user frustration as services faltered and recovery began. Industry experts urged stronger incident response and resilience measures, while operators worked to reroute traffic and restore cloud-based applications. AWS is reviewing the incident and communicating with customers as engineers work to prevent future outages.

Apple adds a toggle to tint Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1 beta

October 20, 2025, 8:20 PM EDT. Apple is rolling out a new toggle in the iOS 26.1 beta that lets users tint its signature Liquid Glass UI, softening the characteristic glassy look. The feature, highlighted by Jay Peters, adds user control over translucency and color, offering a more personalized appearance without changing core behavior. If adopted widely, it signals Apple's ongoing push for visual customization while preserving performance and compatibility as developers await the final release.

NASA hints SpaceX could be sidelined from Artemis III as contract opens to rivals

October 20, 2025, 8:18 PM EDT. NASA chief Sean Duffy indicated that NASA may open the Artemis III lunar-landing contract to other bidders, signaling that SpaceX could be replaced if its Starship lander misses timelines. With Artemis III targeting a mid-2027 moon landing, Duffy said the agency is in a race with China and plans to "open up the contract" to other space companies. SpaceX currently holds a $2.9 billion contract to provide the surface lander, but concerns about schedule delays and complex logistics have grown after several test flights. Blue Origin remains the other contracted provider with its Blue Moon lander, while NASA has not yet commented on the remarks. The move underscores tensions over mission risk and speed in the evolving space race.

Silicon Valley 996: Expect Weekends and Long Hours as AI Race Heats Up

October 20, 2025, 8:16 PM EDT. As AI competition accelerates, some Silicon Valley companies embrace a 996 schedule-working 9 a.m.-9 p.m., six days a week. High-profile leaders, including CEOs and startup founders, argue longer hours drive breakthroughs, while Ramp's data shows a rise in Saturday corporate card transactions in San Francisco, implying more weekend work in 2025. Google's Sergey Brin reportedly praised a 60-hour week as a productivity sweet spot. In practice, firms like Cognition and Windsurf advertise extreme performance cultures, and NYC startup Rilla explicitly asks engineers to expect ~70 hours per week. For job seekers, this trend signals intense workloads but also opportunities in AI, provided you can tolerate the weekend grind.

Apple Tops Microsoft as World's Second-Most Valuable Company After Stock Rally

October 20, 2025, 8:14 PM EDT. Apple overtook Microsoft to become the world's second-most valuable company after a rally in its stock driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17. Apple's market capitalization neared the $4 trillion mark, edging past Microsoft's roughly $3.8 trillion and underscoring momentum alongside Nvidia. Counterpoint Research data showed the iPhone 17 outsold the iPhone 16 by about 14% in the first 10 days of release in China and the U.S. Apple's shares closed at an all-time high of $262.24, up 3.9%. The move comes as Apple's year-to-date gains lag broader markets, while investors weigh supply chain and tariff headwinds against continued product momentum.

Apple releases iOS 26.1 beta 4 with expanded language support and new features

October 20, 2025, 8:10 PM EDT. Apple released the fourth developer beta of iOS 26.1, the next update ahead of its public rollout expected late October or early November. Key changes include expanded Apple Intelligence language support (Chinese traditional, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese) and expanded AirPods Live Translation for Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Japanese, and Korean. The update also marks the rebranding of streaming service from Apple TV+ to Apple TV, with a new app icon reflecting a vibrant identity. A new Local Capture setting lets you choose where captured files are saved and toggling audio-only captures. Other refinements include an improved Slide to Unlock for alarms, a gesture for changing songs, and a Liquid Glass transparency toggle. Full notes coming with beta 4 coverage.

AI in Journalism: Balancing Skepticism, Ethics, and Investigative Potential

October 20, 2025, 8:08 PM EDT. AI in journalism presents both challenges and opportunities. The surge of AI-produced articles raises concerns about accuracy amid a dwindling number of working journalists who guard against misinformation. Yet, as Sotiris Sideris argues, data- and generative AI-driven tools can help reporters analyze vast government and business data quickly, spotting patterns that point to improvements or potential wrongdoing. The key question is not whether we use AI in journalism, but whether we maintain skepticism, ethics, and accountability. AI can act as a microscope for complex data and a mirror revealing our biases. Real cases-like uncovering sanctioned oil shipments and studying housing displacement via public records-show how AI can aid rigorous investigative reporting, while vetting and documentation remain essential.

AWS Outage Sparks Panic Among Diehard Wordle Players

October 20, 2025, 8:06 PM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted Wordle's online game, sparking panic among diehard players who rely on daily streaks and real-time results. With the web app temporarily unavailable, fans scrambled to keep scores intact, share updates, and plan the next puzzle. Tech observers note how cloud dependencies power casual games and highlight the fragility of popular services when infrastructure hiccups occur. Communities turned to social feeds for updates, while some players explored alternate caches or offline workarounds. The incident underscores the importance of reliability, redundancy, and robust incident response for developers and players alike, reminding everyone that even lighthearted games ride the health of major cloud platforms during outages.

Starship V3: SpaceX's Next-Gen Giant Ready for Orbital Tests

October 20, 2025, 7:58 PM EDT. SpaceX's Starship V3 is set to debut in 2026, promising orbital flights, lunar and Martian missions. Building on the current Version 2 run, the upgraded vehicle is about 5 feet taller and carries more propellant, with an all-new docking system for in-orbit propellant transfer. The rocket will employ third-generation Raptor engines and a wave of energy storage and avionics upgrades to enable longer missions. SpaceX already demonstrated in-flight tests with Starship, and the company notes a learning curve as the design pivots to full reusability and crewed or uncrewed missions. The project aims to enable Earth orbit to Moon and Mars operations, including ship-to-ship refueling for deep-space hops.

Rigetti Computing: Is It Too Late to Buy After a 5,100% Rally?

October 20, 2025, 7:56 PM EDT. Rigetti Computing has surged more than 5,000% in a year as the quantum-computing hype intensifies. The rally reflects investor enthusiasm for innovative chipmakers and Rigetti's strategy to monetize quantum tech. The company designs QPUs, runs Quil, and offers QCS for cloud access, signaling a diversified approach beyond single-product bets. Yet commercialization is still in early innings: recent orders suggest growing demand, but profitability and unit economics remain uncertain. Industry advances-Google's Willow chip and error-correction progress-underscore the sector's potential, while competition and capital intensity pose risks. For potential buyers, key questions include scalability of quantum hardware, the pace of enterprise adoption, and Rigetti's ability to win larger, durable contracts before a pullback in speculative names. Investors should weigh risk tolerance against the long-run demand for quantum computing.

Sunlight on demand: satellites that could brighten our nights

October 20, 2025, 7:54 PM EDT. Sunlight on demand explores how orbital mirrors and reflective satellites could brighten our nights without extra street lighting. The idea envisions lightweight, space-based illumination that redirects sunlight to urban areas, potentially reducing energy use, lowering emissions, and extending productive hours after dark. The piece surveys design routes (active reflectors vs passive surfaces), evaluates technical hurdles (orbital lifetime, alignment precision, skyglow), and sketches business models and policy questions. It weighs costs, launch logistics, and the need for international norms to manage spectrum, debris, and privacy concerns. While promising in theory, experts say success hinges on breakthroughs in materials, cost-effective launches, and robust governance to navigate safety and sustainability.

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Adds Toggle to Disable Lock Screen Camera Swipe

October 20, 2025, 7:52 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 Beta 4 adds a new Lock Screen toggle to disable the swipe-to-open Camera gesture. In Settings > Camera, users can turn off Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera, preventing the left-swipe from launching the camera on the lock screen. This addresses privacy concerns without disabling the camera app entirely. The beta also brings minor changes across other apps and features and expands support for Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods, with more tweaks likely as testing continues.

SpaceX reaches 10,006 Starlink satellites as launches continue

October 20, 2025, 7:50 PM EDT. Two Falcon 9 missions from Florida and California added 56 Starlink satellites, pushing SpaceX's constellation to 10,006 in low-Earth orbit. The milestone is tracked by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. The network has more than 7 million global subscribers and eyes expansion to direct-to-smartphones. Early prototypes Tintin A/B launched in 2018; by 2019 the fleet shifted to 60-satellite campaigns, with modern missions delivering 28 satellites per flight. The latest deployment lifted ~160 miles up, with satellites aiming for ~332 miles operational altitude. Fleet totals show 8,680 in orbit, 8,664 functioning, and 7,448 in operational orbit as older satellites are decommissioned via reentry.

Google Faces Bed Bug Outbreak at NYC Chelsea Campus

October 20, 2025, 7:48 PM EDT. Google's Chelsea campus in New York received a Sunday notice warning of a possible bedbug outbreak after exterminators with a sniffer dog found credible evidence. Employees were told to avoid the office during treatment, then allowed to return on Monday. Google is conducting additional inspections at other New York campuses, including Hudson Square, as a precaution. Staff are urged to report any symptoms linked to exposure or any sightings to facilities, and to contact professional exterminators if bedbugs are found at home. The story cites WIRED and notes Google declined to comment. This isn't the first NY incident; a 2010 outbreak affected Google's 9th Avenue offices amid a wider city infestation. Colleagues are asked to share tips securely via Signal.

AIR unveils 'Tesla for the air' electric two-seater at Indiantown Airport

October 20, 2025, 7:46 PM EDT. In Indiantown, Florida, startup AIR demonstrated a bold vision for personal electric aviation with a two-seat aircraft that VTOLs like a helicopter but flies as a traditional winged plane. Described as a 'Tesla for the air', the vehicle can fly about an hour per charge. It can operate as a piloted sport aircraft or be used unmanned for logistics. The company is coordinating with the FAA to allow operation with just a sport pilot license in the future. Priced in the low six figures (below $500,000), AIR aims to begin scaling by the end of 2026 and is seeking a larger manufacturing facility, signaling growing momentum in electric aviation.

UL Lafayette hiring spree, Apple stock soars on iPhone 17 buzz, aluminum shortage hits auto production

October 20, 2025, 7:44 PM EDT. A three-part tech/business roundup: UL Lafayette expanded hiring by 554 roles, widening its budget by $60 million even as undergrads fell by 1,700 since 2015. Interim President Jaimie Hebert says undergrads pay the bills. Separately, Apple stock hit an all-time high near $264, helped by the iPhone 17 launch cycle and year-to-date gains. In manufacturing, a sharp aluminum shortage forced pauses at Jeep and Ford plants in Michigan, highlighting supply-chain strain, tariff headwinds, and higher vehicle costs as automakers reel from production halts.

Enshittification: Why Tech Platforms Are Getting Worse and What to Do

October 20, 2025, 7:40 PM EDT. In The American Prospect's October 2025 issue, Cory Doctorow argues that today's tech platforms are undergoing Enshittification: a systemic decline as monetization, control, and empire-building erode user trust. Through stories from Alibaba's Ma and Google's internal debates, the piece traces how governments and executives steer growth, tighten grip on data, and prioritize profit over openness. The narrative links China's regulatory stance with U.S. platform dynamics-claims of state influence, the push toward proprietary hardware, and legal fights over search dominance. Doctorow blends history and critique to ask what steps citizens and policymakers can take to counteract surveillance capitalism, restore competition, and reclaim the public benefits of the web.

TAG Heuer Ditches Wear OS for Proprietary OS in Apple-Friendly Calibre E5

October 20, 2025, 7:38 PM EDT. TAG Heuer is moving away from Google's Wear OS with the new Connected Calibre E5, opting for a proprietary TAG Heuer OS that remains Android-based but is compatible with iPhone. The decision appears to target Apple users while reducing dependence on Google, at the cost of access to Google and Apple's app ecosystems. In hands-on testing, the 45-mm Calibre E5 felt polished and premium, with a ceramic bezel, domed sapphire crystal, and high-end materials, priced at about $2,000 (up to $2,800 for other variants); the 40-mm starts at $1,800. While the design stands out, sleep tracking isn't available yet and is promised via a December software update. The watch supports multiple faces and swappable straps, emphasizing luxury aesthetics alongside smart features.

Hustle Culture Returns in Silicon Valley: Can the 996 Grind Endure?

October 20, 2025, 7:36 PM EDT. In this Forum episode, Laura Kelley explains the rise of 996-working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week-as a new hustle culture trend in Silicon Valley. Originating in China, the practice drew backlash and legal hurdles (including a 2021 ruling), yet remains a talking point as workers post about long work hours and dedication. The panel probes whether this is genuine top-down pressure or signaling, exacerbated by insecurity after layoffs and a retreat of traditional perks. UC Berkeley's Carolyn Chen and Ramp's Ara Kharazian help unpack the risk of burnout, legal constraints, and how firms and employees navigate a culture that prizes constant availability.

Musk Mocks AWS Outage as Claim That 75% of Amazon's Code Is AI-Generated Resurfaces

October 20, 2025, 7:32 PM EDT. Elon Musk seized on an AWS outage that knocked Prime Video, Canva, Perplexity AI, and other services offline to lampoon a resurfaced claim by AWS CEO Adam Selipsky that '75% of Amazon's production code is AI-generated'. The outage-described by Amazon as an operational issue-affected millions and even hit Signal, which depends on AWS. Musk posted a You don't say comment on X, while Downdetector logged thousands of outage reports in the US. The disruption highlighted AWS's central role in cloud infrastructure and the ripple effects across services like Venmo, Snapchat, Roblox, Coinbase, Canva, and Ring. Amazon said the issue was fully mitigated and is pursuing multiple parallel paths to speed recovery. AWS's dominance keeps Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud in close competition.

2 Apple CarPlay Widgets You Need To Start Using Right Now

October 20, 2025, 7:30 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26 brings CarPlay widgets, letting you customize what you see on the car display. The two you should try first are the Home app widget and the Weather widget. Enabling them is simple: ensure your iPhone runs iOS 26, then go to Settings > General > CarPlay > Your vehicle > Widgets and tap Add Widget. In CarPlay, you can swipe right to view widgets. The Home app widget shows four frequently used HomeKit accessories or scenes, offering quick control without Siri. The Weather widget keeps you informed about conditions during your drive. CarPlay also supports third-party widgets for added functionality, expanding what you can do while on the road.

OnePlus 15 Battery Beast: 7,300mAh, 120W wired and 50W wireless charging with Geekbench tease

October 20, 2025, 7:28 PM EDT. OnePlus is finally lifting the veil on the OnePlus 15, promising a 7,300mAh battery-a big leap from the OnePlus 13-with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. To hit max speeds, you'll need OnePlus' own charger and cable, though third-party options will be slower. On paper, it's also aiming to beat rivals in real-world charging. Geekbench listings reveal a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12 GB RAM, and Android 16, with a 165Hz display and a slight resolution dip to 1.5K. Rumors pencil in a triple 50 MP camera setup. In short, OnePlus 15 looks like a major upgrade inside and out, with a bold new design and color options.

Logitech Muse Stylus Brings Precise 3D Drawing to Apple's Vision Pro

October 20, 2025, 7:26 PM EDT. Logitech debuts the Muse, a dedicated stylus for Apple's Vision Pro, delivering real-time haptic feedback and a pressure-sensitive tip for drawing and 3D manipulation in mixed reality. The device, launching October 22 at $129.95, supports six degrees of freedom (6 DoF), gesture controls, and a dual-mode design that bridges physical drawing with mid-air precision. Unlike iPad styluses, Muse uses USB-C charging (no dock) and builds on Logitech's MX Ink lineage, offering compatibility with a growing spatial-app ecosystem and popular apps like Vermillion and Gravity Sketch. This unlocks architecture and product design workflows, letting creators annotate, sculpt, and iterate directly on 3D models with tactile, grounded control.

Smart Glasses Are Forcing Wearables to Get Very Weird

October 20, 2025, 7:24 PM EDT. Smart glasses are moving from labs to shelves, with Meta's Ray-Ban Display leading the charge and rumors of Samsung and Apple joining soon. The bigger story isn't the screen so much as the input methods that run them. Meta's Neural Band is a wristband that reads EMG signals from your arm and fingers and translates them into UI actions, letting you swipe with a clenched fist or pinch to click. Other wearables-touch-sensitive smart rings and devices like INMO's thicker AR glasses-offer similar navigation via thumb gestures. A Tokyo University prototype called the picoRing promises month-long battery life on Bluetooth with minimal power, though it relies on a wristband relay. The trend: extra hardware becomes the default controller for wearable displays, and smartwatches may join as controllers too.

Snapchat Down as Major AWS Outage Impacts Thousands of Users

October 20, 2025, 7:22 PM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage crippled several popular apps on Oct. 20, with Snapchat among the hardest hit. Downdetector logged more than 21,000 reports of problems around 4 a.m. ET, peaking as the outage spread to services hosted in the US-EAST-1 region in Virginia. By 2 p.m. ET, roughly 7,200 users were still reporting issues. AWS traced the fault to an internal subsystem that monitors the health of its network load balancers, tied to the EC2 internal network. The outage affected other platforms including Fortnite, Roblox, and Lyft. AWS said it had narrowed the root cause on its status page as engineers worked to restore affected services. Reuters and USA TODAY contributed to coverage.

Starbucks Teases AI Barista and Smart Q Tech to Aid Baristas, Speed Up Orders

October 20, 2025, 7:18 PM EDT. Starbucks' CEO Brian Niccol previewed AI initiatives aimed at turning the chain into the "world's greatest customer service company again." The rollout centers on Green Dot Assist, an AI-powered in-store assistant on iPads that helps baristas with drinks and customer service, already in 35 locations with plans to expand. The goal is faster, more accurate service and faster problem resolution at the counter. The company is also deploying Smart Q technology to reduce bottlenecks by prioritizing orders and boosting throughput to under four minutes in-store, drive-thru, and mobile pickups. Beyond cafe floors, Starbucks says AI is improving inventory management and demand forecasting, and could extend to the Starbucks app and voice ordering to anticipate customer orders. The move prompts questions about impact on workers.

OpenAI Tightens Sora 2 Deepfake Guardrails After Cranston, SAG-AFTRA Pressure

October 20, 2025, 7:16 PM EDT. OpenAI said it will team with Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA and other unions to tighten guardrails around Sora 2 to curb unauthorized AI-generated clips that imitate a performer's voice and likeness. The move follows Cranston's concerns after clips surfaced post-launch, with collaborators UTA, CAA and other agencies joining to strengthen protections. OpenAI has previously blocked Martin Luther King Jr. videos and faced criticism from studios over copyright materials. The company updated its opt-out policy to give rights holders more granular control and pledged to respond expeditiously to complaints. OpenAI remains a supporter of the NO FAKES Act to guard performers against misuse of their voice and image.

Hancock County Sheriff's Office Launches Smartphone App to Boost Community Engagement

October 20, 2025, 7:12 PM EDT. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office has released a free smartphone app to boost community engagement and safety. Available on the Apple Store and Google Play, the app provides the latest alerts and emergency information from Sheriff Michael Cortez's office. Features include submit a tip, records and reports, and corrections, all in one tool. This launch aims to keep residents informed and connected with real-time notices and direct access to the sheriff's office.

Take Your Apple Watch Experience to the Next Level: 8 Tips and Tricks for WatchOS 26

October 20, 2025, 7:10 PM EDT. Maximize your Apple Watch experience with 8 practical tips for WatchOS 26 and the latest Series (11, SE 3, Ultra 3). Learn how to enable Swipe to Switch Watch Face for quick transitions, use the Vitals app to monitor overnight heart rate, respiration, and sleep trends, and understand how blood oxygen data is managed across devices. Discover the new Wrist Flick gesture to dismiss calls and notifications, plus tips for staying on top of heart health with personalized baselines. Whether you're upgrading or refining daily use, these tricks help you be more productive, healthier, and in control.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, Classic, and Ultra 2025: Which One Fits Your Lifestyle

October 20, 2025, 7:08 PM EDT. Samsung's 2025 Galaxy Watch lineup expands choices with the Galaxy Watch8, Watch8 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Ultra, covering everyday convenience, timeless style, and rugged outdoor performance. The Watch8 is praised as an everyday essential with a refined design, bright AMOLED display, on-device health sensing (heart rate, sleep, body composition, temperature), Wear OS access for apps and music, and solid all-day battery with faster charging plus AI-assisted coaching. The Watch8 Classic blends style and substance with a stainless steel case, a rotating bezel for navigation, a larger display, and the same health/fitness features. The new Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) targets durability and extreme outdoor use as Samsung's most capable model yet.

Cards Against Humanity settles with SpaceX over South Texas land near Starbase

October 20, 2025, 7:06 PM EDT. Cards Against Humanity has settled its trespassing lawsuit with SpaceX over land near Starbase in South Texas. Court records show the case was nonsuited last month, and SpaceX allegedly dumped trash on land bought by the game company to protest the border wall. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed; SpaceX reportedly admitted to dumping waste on the site, and CAH said no damages were awarded. The company had sought up to $15 million but noted it would return any funds to fans if it prevailed. The settlement is accompanied by a Musk-themed mini pack release to mark the deal. The land, near Brownsville along the Rio Grande, remains a flashpoint in the border wall debate.

This Budget Lenovo Tablet Slashes Price: 35% Off to $120

October 20, 2025, 7:04 PM EDT. The Lenovo Tab M11 is available for $120, a 35% discount off the regularly listed $182. This 11-inch tablet features a WUXGA IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution for crisp streaming, plus quad speakers with Dolby Atmos for immersive sound. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G88, it offers 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage for smooth multitasking and casual gaming. It promises up to 10 hours of video playback on a single charge. Cameras include an 8 MP rear and 8 MP front, with the rear camera's smart scanner that converts photos to PDF. It will receive Android 14/15 updates and security patches through January 2028. Act fast before the price returns to $182.

NASA may pull SpaceX's Artemis 3 contract, invites competition from Blue Origin

October 20, 2025, 7:00 PM EDT. NASA is re-evaluating SpaceX's $2.9 billion Artemis 3 lunar-landing contract amid concerns about Starship's pace. Acting administrator Sean Duffy said NASA will open the work to competition, potentially inviting rivals such as Blue Origin, which holds its own Artemis HLS award for a Blue Moon lander. Musk has questioned whether Blue Origin can accelerate enough to beat SpaceX. Artemis 3 timelines have slipped from late 2024 through 2025 and into 2026-2027, with a target possibly as late as 2028. The decision could reshape who lands astronauts on the Moon, while Orion, spacesuits, and related tech remain bottlenecks.

Apple TV and Peacock Launch Budget Streaming Bundle Starting at $14.99/Month

October 20, 2025, 6:58 PM EDT. Apple TV and NBCUniversal's new streaming bundle combines Apple TV+ and Peacock for as low as $14.99/month, with two tier options. The bundle covers blockbuster movies, award-winning originals, and live sports, and promises over 30% savings versus subscribing separately. New customers get a seven-day Apple TV trial, while Peacock offers Premium at $10.99/month (or $16.99 for Premium Plus). Sign-up is available on the Apple TV or Peacock platforms; existing Peacock subscribers can switch plans online. The bundle highlights popular titles like Ted Lasso and The Traitors and positions itself as a budget-friendly way to diversify streaming across both services.

AirTag four-pack hits record-low $65 in latest deal

October 20, 2025, 6:56 PM EDT. Apple's AirTag deal is back: a four-pack is now $65, about 34% off. The AirTag acts as a Bluetooth tracker you can attach to wallets, bags, or luggage and locate via the Find My network of nearby iPhones and iPads. When close enough to a participating device, it can be located and even beep thanks to its built-in speaker. On iPhone 11 and newer models, the Ultra Wideband capability guides you with directional arrows to the AirTag. The four-pack makes bulk gifting or multi-item tracking affordable, and a wide range of accessories are available to secure your items. Note location accuracy depends on proximity to the Find My network.

Windows 11 KB5066835 breaks localhost HTTP/2, File Explorer previews, and WinRE – October 2025 Patch Tuesday issues

October 20, 2025, 6:54 PM EDT. Microsoft confirms Windows 11 KB5066835, a mandatory security update for 24H2/25H2, breaks localhost 127.0.0.1 HTTP/2 connections and IIS hosted services, causing ERR_CONNECTION_RESET and ERR_HTTP2_PROTOCOL_ERROR. The October 2025 Patch Tuesday also introduces issues such as a Preview pane bug that blocks File Explorer document previews, compatibility problems with some Logitech peripherals, and Mouse/keyboard failures in WinRE. Install failures can show 0x800f0922, 0x800f0983, 0x800f081f, 0x80071a2d, or 0x800f0991. Microsoft recommends pulling the patch from the Update Catalog or performing an in place upgrade using the Media Creation Tool to move to 25H2. Avoid unreliable online fixes.

Windows 11 Update Breaks USB in Recovery Environment; Microsoft Promises Fix

October 20, 2025, 6:46 PM EDT. Microsoft has confirmed a bug in Windows 11 25H2 triggered by security update KB5066835 that disables USB mice and keyboards in WinRE after installation. The issue only affects Windows 11 25H2 users when entering WinRE, while USB devices work normally in the main OS. WinRE is invoked after repeated boot failures or by interrupting the startup sequence; Microsoft said engineers are developing a fix to be released 'in the coming days.' The problem adds to a growing list including smartcard authentication issues in Windows Cryptographic Services and Windows Update Standalone Installer failures when installing from shared folders; IIS-based server apps may fail to load, per The Register.

LangChain becomes unicorn with $125M Series B to power AI agents and real-time data tooling

October 20, 2025, 6:44 PM EDT. LangChain, one of the earliest breakout startups in the generative-AI era, today announced a $125 million Series B at a $1.25 billion valuation, cementing its status as a unicorn. The open-source framework connects AI apps to real-time data, positioning LangChain as the connective tissue for the coming era of autonomous agents. Investors led by IVP and including Sequoia, Benchmark and new backers such as CapitalG, Sapphire Ventures, Cisco Investments, Datadog, Databricks and ServiceNow Ventures back the company's vision of a production-ready toolchain for building, deploying and monitoring AI agents. LangChain coins the term agent engineering and aims to provide the full lifecycle of tools developers need, beyond simple connectors, to unlock reliable AI agents at scale. LangChain traces its roots to late 2022 and the idea of chains.

Top Amazon Deals: Sunscreen, Apple Gear, LEGO & More at Deep Discounts

October 20, 2025, 6:42 PM EDT. This round-up highlights major savings on tech and gear. Neutrogena Sunscreen is up to 72% off, Surge Protector Power Strip with USB ports is $8.99, and Hanes X-Temp Polo shirts drop to $7.69. For Apple fans, AirTag 4-Pack is $64.99 and AirPods Pro 2 are $169.99. Also showcasing iPhone charging cables, a Keurig coffee maker at $99, and a range of LEGO sets and Disney toys at deep discounts. This list covers electronics, accessories, toys and apparel with limited-time prices and coupons. Check the link for the full deals and store-wide savings.

Snag 4 Apple AirTags for $65: Save on Lost Item Tracker Deal

October 20, 2025, 6:40 PM EDT. Tired of losing everyday items? Apple AirTags make finding keys and luggage easy with the Find My network. Right now you can snag a 4-pack for just $65 on Amazon, a price never seen before for a bulk bundle ($16 per tag). Within about 30 feet, your iPhone guides you to the item with an on-screen arrow; farther away, nearby iPhones help triangulate its location. Each AirTag uses a replaceable battery that lasts up to a year, and setup is quick-just bring it close to your iPhone. Note: Apple doesn't include a case or clip, so you may want to buy an accessory for attaching to keys, luggage, or bags. Overall, a solid savings for frequent travelers and forgetful folks alike.

Venmo Outage: AWS DNS Glitch Disrupts Payments and Cloud Services

October 20, 2025, 6:38 PM EDT. The AWS outage on October 20, 2025 triggered mass disruptions, with payments apps like Venmo affected after a DNS issue tied to a cloud provider. Venmo showed a disruption message as users reported failed transfers and logins. Amazon said the underlying DNS problem has been mitigated, but some requests may still be throttled while systems recover. Downdetector logged a spike in Venmo outages around 11:00 a.m. ET, easing by noon. PayPal has owned Venmo since 2013. Experts warned that the outage reflects how many services depend on cloud infrastructure and DNS for cross-regional access, potentially lasting through the day. Officials say full restoration will take time, with ongoing updates as providers restore normal operations.

OpenAI's Sora 2 Guardrails Earn Praise From Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, CAA and UTA; No FAKES Act Advances

October 20, 2025, 6:34 PM EDT. Bryan Cranston praised OpenAI after his voice and likeness were used on Sora 2 without consent, with SAG-AFTRA noting the company has tightened guardrails around non-opt-in replication. Cranston raised the issue with his union, prompting collaboration among SAG-AFTRA, OpenAI, CAA, and UTA to defend artists' rights to control how their voices are simulated. OpenAI maintained an opt-in policy and apologized for the unintentional outputs, saying new guardrails prevent similar occurrences. SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin warned that many performers are at risk of misappropriation by replication tech. Lawmakers are advancing the No FAKES Act to codify protections, signaling a policy-driven shift in AI entertainment and rights management.

Samsung offers $100 store credit for preorders of Project Moohan XR headset ahead of Unpacked

October 20, 2025, 6:32 PM EDT. Samsung has announced an October 21 Unpacked event to unveil Project Moohan, its next-gen XR headset built with Google and Qualcomm. The mixed-reality device runs on Android XR with Gemini AI tools and is powered by the XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, aiming to rival Apple Vision Pro. Early hands-on impressions praise a lighter, well-balanced design, though the headband and shell feel cheaper than Apple's metal build. At the event, Samsung is expected to reveal pricing, software, and ecosystem details. Ahead of time, Samsung is offering a $100 store credit to customers who place a preorder, usable on any additional accessories or items.

Nvidia-Backed Cohere Offers Secondary Sale of Employee Shares

October 20, 2025, 6:30 PM EDT. Cohere Inc., the Nvidia-backed AI startup that recently reached a $7 billion valuation, has launched a tender for employees to sell their stakes to outside investors. Current employees can participate in a secondary sale instead of waiting for a future IPO or takeover to cash out. The Toronto-San Francisco company has reached about $150 million in annualized revenue, up from $100 million in May. The move highlights an emerging trend of private markets enabling liquidity for staff ahead of public listing, while Cohere continues to grow its AI platform and revenue run rate.

Amazon discounts Apple Watch Series 10 Titanium models up to $170 off today

October 20, 2025, 6:28 PM EDT. Amazon is offering up to $170 off on the upgraded Apple Watch Series 10 Titanium lineup. Highlights include the 42mm Titanium GPS + Cellular at $588 (reg. $749), and the 46mm Slate Titanium GPS + Cellular at $559 (reg. $749) or $629 (reg. $799), with some variants including the Milanese Loop. These are marketed as all-time low prices on Amazon. Early Series 11 deals are also listed, such as 42mm Jet Black $389-$390 and 46mm GPS + Cellular $520. Series 10 features include a larger display, faster charging (80% in ~30 minutes), ECG, Blood Oxygen, sleep tracking, and safety notifications.

Wikipedia traffic drops as AI tools and social platforms bypass links

October 20, 2025, 6:26 PM EDT. New data from the Wikimedia Foundation shows Wikipedia page views have declined by about 8% year over year. The foundation says generative AI tools and social platforms increasingly display Wikipedia content without sending users to the site, while bots that mimic real users add load to Wikipedia's servers. The trend threatens long-term risks even though Wikipedia remains a key source for training data for many AI models. In response, Wikimedia is pursuing new formats for younger audiences, improvements to mobile editing, and clearer guidelines on how others can reuse Wikipedia content. As Wikipedia approaches 25 years since its creation, editors say human knowledge remains a valuable global resource, even as access patterns evolve.

PayPal and Venmo outage: live updates and latest status

October 20, 2025, 6:24 PM EDT. Early today, a broad PayPal and Venmo outage disrupted login, dashboards, and transfers, with thousands of reports on Down Detector. Users reported the main issues ranged from sign-in failures to slow or empty feeds. The official status page initially showed limited disruption, even as impact was widespread. Over the next hours, PayPal acknowledged a Service Disruption across the homepage, accounts, and Venmo, before signaling an Operational restore. Simultaneously, Venmo showed signs of recovery, and users began reporting successful sign-ins and transfers. By mid-evening, reports on Down Detector fell and most users appeared back to normal, though some still faced loading delays. The episode highlights the importance of real-time incident updates and robust payment-service resilience.

ASML's EUV Momentum Boosts Nvidia, Broadcom, and AMD

October 20, 2025, 6:22 PM EDT. ASML is solidifying its monopoly in photolithography with its EUV machines, a key bottleneck in today's AI chip supply chain. In Q3, ASML shipped nine EUV systems at an average price of €400 million, contributing to €7.52 billion in net sales and €5.4 billion in net bookings. The majority of bookings came from EUV orders, signaling steady demand from leading fabricators like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. For Nvidia, Broadcom, and AMD, the data points to more robust AI chip production capacity as AI workloads accelerate and imaging continues to improve. ASML's EUV leadership helps sustain higher chip yields and enables more powerful GPUs and CPUs. While revenue dipped slightly QoQ, the order book suggests a healthy longer-term growth path for the AI hardware ecosystem.

Massive Data Breach Exposes Millions of Private AI Girlfriend Chats

October 20, 2025, 6:20 PM EDT. Cybernews uncovered a massive data breach affecting millions of private chats from two AI companion apps, Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat. An open Kafka Broker hosted by Imagime Interactive Limited exposed over 43 million intimate messages and more than 600,000 images and videos from about 400,000 users on iOS and Android. The leak revealed IP addresses and device IDs, exposing a deep gap between user trust and developer safeguards. With no authentication or access controls, anyone with a link could access exchanges and purchase logs showing some users spent up to $18,000 on chats. Experts warn about privacy risks, potential identity theft, and possible blackmail – a stark reminder of the need for robust data protection for AI companions.

Venmo outage tied to AWS blackout highlights cloud-driven fintech disruption

October 20, 2025, 6:18 PM EDT. Venmo outages continued due to an AWS-wide outage that disrupted millions of online services. DownDetector logged around 5,000-8,300 reports, while Venmo's status page showed 'Service Disruption' even as other PayPal services stayed operational. AWS said systems were recovering in some US-EAST-1 AZs after issues with a network-load monitor, and engineers are restoring EC2 capacity. The event illustrates a domino effect from cloud problems to consumer fintech apps, DNS failures, and service degradation across the internet. As AWS pushes mitigations, users brace for a full recovery and issuers assess exposure to such cloud outages and the need for robust contingency plans.

Venmo outage linked to AWS outage as thousands report issues

October 20, 2025, 6:16 PM EDT. Venmo users faced outages as a broader Amazon Web Services outage disrupted many services, including Snapchat, Roblox and Lyft. Downdetector logged nearly 6,000 Venmo reports by 1 p.m. ET, with peaks above 8,000 earlier. AWS said the issue, rooted in the US-EAST-1 region, is tied to DNS problems and was nearing full resolution. The incident highlights how fintech apps rely on cloud infrastructure and how DNS failures can cascade into user-facing outages. AWS pledged continued work toward a full fix as the company works to restore services.

iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds new setting to tone down Liquid Glass transparency

October 20, 2025, 6:14 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 beta 4 introduces a new Liquid Glass option to curb transparency. Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can choose between Clear (more transparent) and Tinted (more opaque) in Settings → Display & Brightness on iOS/iPadOS, or System Settings → Appearance on macOS. The binary choice applies across Apple's apps and supported third-party apps, and also affects Lock Screen notifications on iPhone/iPad. Apple says the setting lets users tailor the look while preserving the design's signature fluidity. While iOS 26 initially boosted opacity, beta 4 reintroduces a user-controlled balance ahead of a likely public beta later this week.

The S&P 500 as an AI index: Diversify with non-AI stocks to hedge AI risk

October 20, 2025, 6:12 PM EDT. With AI stock valuations sky-high, investors should diversify beyond AI as the S&P 500 tilts toward tech and AI names. Trivariate Research founder Adam Parker notes that his AI factor now has its highest correlation to the S&P 500, making the index an AI factor bet. Parker proposes a plan to stock-pick diversifiers with low correlation to the AI semiconductors basket, at least 10% gains in six months, top-half quality, beta under 1, and a market cap above $50B. Examples include Walmart, which is applying AI in its business and testing OpenAI's ChatGPT for purchases. The piece also mentions concern of a rational bubble and argues for hedging with diversified longs.

OnlyFans Tops Global Revenue per Employee, Surpassing Apple and NVIDIA, in Barchart Analysis

October 20, 2025, 6:10 PM EDT. Barchart analysis shows OnlyFans generates $37.6 million in revenue per employee far outperforming tech giants. With ~42 employees and $1.3 billion annual revenue, OnlyFans hosts 2.1 million creators who monetize through subscriptions and tips, taking a 20% platform commission while creators keep 80%. In contrast, NVIDIA, Apple, Meta, Google, OpenAI and Microsoft report lower revenue per employee (roughly $1.1-$3.6 million) despite higher total revenue. The metric highlights efficiency over size and illustrates a digital economy/platform model where infrastructure and payments enable direct creator-to-consumer monetization. Regulatory context notes Ukrainian tax claims and related proceedings; OnlyFans operates globally with adult content remaining a primary revenue driver.

Samsung to unveil Android XR headset Project Moohan in Oct livestream

October 20, 2025, 6:08 PM EDT. Samsung is set to officially reveal its Android XR headset, codenamed Project Moohan, during an Oct. 21 livestream at 10 PM ET. The event will stream on YouTube and the Samsung Newsroom site, with Samsung promising devices that blend everyday utility with immersive experiences. Moohan is the first device to use Google's new Android XR OS, designed for XR/VR/AR devices. Official specs remain under wraps, but leaks mention a high-end display, advanced tracking, and Gemini integration, with rumors placing the price at $1,800-$2,800, positioning it as a rival to the Apple Vision Pro rather than Meta's glasses. The livestream should confirm or debunk leaks and show how this platform expands mixed reality capabilities.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Review: A Sub-250g Drone With a 1-Inch Sensor Redefining the Mini Standard

October 20, 2025, 6:06 PM EDT. DJI's Mini 5 Pro packs a 1-inch CMOS sensor into a sub-250 g airframe, delivering pro-level image quality without sacrificing portability. At 249.9 g (±4 g variance), it stays under most registration limits, though adding the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can push it over the edge. The drone folds to a compact size and expands for flight, while the new push, twist, and lock propellers and a refined gimbal (with a 225° rotation) improve setup speed and cinematic mobility. A one-piece propeller + gimbal guard simplifies transport but may frustrate fans who prefer more modular protection. Overall, the Mini 5 Pro aims to blend lightness, safety features, longer flight time, and image quality, redefining what 'mini' means for creators on the go.

Apple TV & Peacock Bundle Launches with $14.99/mo Starter Plan

October 20, 2025, 6:04 PM EDT. Apple and NBCUniversal have unveiled an Apple TV and Peacock bundle designed to cut costs for streamers. Starting Oct. 20, the Apple TV+ and Peacock bundles come in two tiers: a Premium Bundle at $14.99 per month and a Premium Plus Bundle without ads at $19.99 per month. Existing Apple One subscribers on the Family or Premiere plans can get a 35% discount on Peacock Premium Plus. The offer includes cross-catalog previews-current Peacock subscribers can sample select Apple TV shows and vice versa. Registration is available on the Apple TV and Peacock websites. The bundle's announcement underscores tighter collaboration between Apple and NBCUniversal, with limited access to selected episodes as a promotional boost.

BoE warns AI valuation bubble could burst amid market risks

October 20, 2025, 6:02 PM EDT. Britain's Bank of England warned that public enthusiasm for AI has pushed tech valuations to stretched levels, raising the risk of a sudden market correction. The FPC cited soaring figures for leading AI groups-OpenAI valued around $500bn and Anthropic near $170bn-as evidence valuations may be pricing in optimistic AI scenarios that could prove fragile. A sharp repricing of US dollar assets and spillovers to UK markets could follow if confidence in the Fed erodes. The BoE also noted risks from power, data, and infrastructure bottlenecks, and warned that disappointing AI progress could undermine future earnings. The report coincides with ongoing political pressures in the US, including Trump's criticisms of the Fed, which could amplify financial stability risks in a global context.

Apple's Great Ideas Start on Mac ad features Jane Goodall

October 20, 2025, 6:00 PM EDT. Apple unveils a new Great ideas start on Mac ad voiced by the late Jane Goodall. The spot frames ideas as starting from nothing-a flicker on a screen that sparks questions-while Goodall's lines emphasize curiosity and possibility. Apple's YouTube description echoes the theme: discoveries and films begin with nothing, inviting viewers to make with a Mac. Apple's marketing VP Tor Myhren calls the campaign a salute to origin stories, recognizing how breakthroughs emerge from a blank canvas. The ad arrives as Goodall has recently passed away at the age of 91; Tim Cook honored her life, praising her work for nature, people, and the planet. The piece blends science, creativity, and platform-fueled inspiration, positioning Mac as the starting point for invention.

Apple's Jane Goodall-voiced Mac ad: 'Great ideas start on Mac'

October 20, 2025, 5:58 PM EDT. Apple releases a new Mac-focused video featuring the late Jane Goodall in the voiceover for the campaign Great ideas start on Mac. The spot argues that creativity begins with nothing and takes shape on a Mac, using the image of a flicker on a screen to invite invention. The ad does not name a model but lands alongside the arrival of the new M5 MacBook Pro. Tor Myhren, Apple's VP of Marketing Communications, says the campaign honors the origin of ideas and how a Mac helps creators realize them. Apple invites user feedback and notes affiliate disclosures.

WearOS update narrows the Apple Watch gap with Material 3 overhaul and better battery

October 20, 2025, 5:56 PM EDT. WearOS's latest update narrows the gap with the Apple Watch by overhauling the UI with Material 3 Expressive, smoother animations, and better boot/setup visuals. Battery life is improved and performance feels noticeably faster. Pixel Watch users report parity with Apple Watch in daily use. Compatible models include Pixel Watch 3 and 4, Samsung Galaxy 8 series, and Galaxy Watch 4. Highlights: Material 3 Expressive, Updated Tiles, Adaptive Theming, easier-to-read notifications with images, a significantly improved keyboard, and offline Google Maps. You can also use Google Wallet for passes and tickets, plus Google Home shortcuts for quick smart-home control. In short, WearOS finally delivers a modern, polished experience that fans have awaited.

Pixel Watch 4 In-Depth Review: Bigger Display, Satellite SOS, and AI-Driven Fitness

October 20, 2025, 5:54 PM EDT. Pixel Watch 4 arrives with satellite emergency SOS, a brighter 3,000-nit display, and a larger, domed screen with slimmer bezels. It adds dual-frequency GNSS, faster 25% faster chips that sip power, and a 25% longer battery with 0-50% charging in 15 minutes. The device strengthens the haptic motor, tunes the speaker for Gemini responses, and introduces a Bike Realtime Streaming mode to share cycling metrics with your phone. Google touts an AI-powered workout recognition, new sleep tracking algorithms, and more than 50 sport profiles. A refreshed watch-to-phone data mirroring and a revamped Fitbit app (with an AI Health Coach) round out the software. Altogether, Pixel Watch 4 is a hardware-centric upgrade with meaningful but incremental software enhancements.

iPadOS 26.1 Beta 4 Release: Slide Over Returns with a Single-App Limit and a Liquid Glass Toggle

October 20, 2025, 5:52 PM EDT. Apple has released iPadOS 26.1 beta 4 for developers, signaling a push toward the update's launch. The standout change is the return of Slide Over, but in a tighter form: you can resize the window, yet it now supports only a single app at a time. Outside of Slide Over, details are sparse, as beta cycles often shift toward bug fixes as the RC approaches. In this build, Apple added a toggle to dial back Liquid Glass transparency for a more iPadOS 18-like look. While the update may improve stability over prior betas, it's still unclear what other features will ship, and users should expect continued testing as Apple nears a wide release.

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Adds Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle Across Apple Platforms

October 20, 2025, 5:50 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 beta 4 (and iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1) adds a new Liquid Glass toggle that lets users choose clear or tinted transparency. The option appears in Settings > Display and Brightness on iOS/iPadOS or System Settings > Appearance on Mac. Apple says feedback during beta testing led to the more opaque option, providing extra contrast while keeping Liquid Glass across the OS, including apps and Lock Screen notifications. The release also brings other features for iOS 26.1, such as a slide to stop alarm/timer, new Apple Intelligence languages, a redesigned Apple TV app icon, and Settings changes. More features will follow in future iOS 26.1 updates.

AI Agents Could Betray Crypto's Promise-Open-Source AI Fights Back

October 20, 2025, 5:48 PM EDT. Autonomous AI agents have become crypto's hottest narrative, swelling to a roughly $13.5B market as platforms like Truth Terminal drive funding and tokenized strategies. But the trend hinges on a central bottleneck: most agents rely on closed-source models from OpenAI and Anthropic, giving a few giants privileged access to user data and trades. The result is a centralized chokepoint in an otherwise decentralized system, threatening transparency and fair access. In response, a smaller cadre of projects pursues the opposite path-open-source models, on-chain verification, and auditable AI. Kava's platform, backed by DeepSeek R1 and on-chain reasoning, showcases a model where decisions are verifiable instead of hidden in corporate servers. As Kava's Scott Stuart says, true decentralization means AI that is not a black box controlled by a few firms.

Battery Show Signals Ongoing Opportunities in Electrification Amid Headwinds

October 20, 2025, 5:46 PM EDT. At The Battery Show and EV Tech Expo 2025, interest in batteries and related EV technologies remained strong, with steady foot traffic and productive conversations. Some attendees noted lighter overall attendance than 2024, possibly due to market conditions and competing shows, while many incentives are winding down and tariffs on materials from Asia complicate supply chains. Manufacturers are seeking domestic suppliers and production partners, using the event to highlight how their technology powers EVs and to explore safety technology, on-board chargers, and higher-voltage systems. The consensus remains: despite these headwinds, there are abundant opportunities in electrification, driving advances in automation and battery performance.

Galaxy S26 Ultra may get Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in select markets

October 20, 2025, 5:44 PM EDT. Rumors suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra could use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in a limited rollout, while other markets get the Exynos 2600. If true, Samsung would repeat a familiar pattern: a Snapdragon variant in select regions (notably the United States, Japan, and China) and Exynos in South Korea, Europe, and the rest of the world. This would mark a shift back toward multiple chip options for Samsung's top flagship, a pattern last seen with the Galaxy S21/S22/S23 Ultra line. The split will invite quick side-by-side tests once reviews land, with Qualcomm and Exynos comparisons likely to intensify as launch chatter builds.

How to spot a fake AI video: tips to verify authenticity

October 20, 2025, 5:38 PM EDT. With AI-generated videos rising, question what you see online. Here are quick checks to spot a fake: 1) source credibility – if every link returns the same viral post, doubt the claim and favor established outlets. 2) watermark clues – unusual or smeared watermarks near frame edges can signal edits. 3) camera tells the tale – AI often mimics faces well but struggles with natural filming and movement. 4) beware sensational content designed for clicks (e.g., cats, political figures). Tools like Sora 2 synthesize lifelike audio and video, complicating authenticity. In short, rely on verifiable provenance, credible witnesses, and clear attribution to separate real from AI-generated content.

SpaceX's Starshield Satellites Detected Transmitting on Unauthorized Bands

October 20, 2025, 5:36 PM EDT. Amateur satellite tracking has raised concerns that SpaceX's Starshield satellites may be transmitting on unauthorized bands, potentially causing interference with scientific and commercial satellites. The finding, highlighted by observers such as amateur tracker Scott Tilley, signals potential gaps in spectrum coordination and regulatory oversight. If confirmed, the issue could spur reviews of licensing, cross-band coordination, and the space environment rules governing large constellations. SpaceX and regulators may need to publish data on frequency use, ensure compliance with international spectrum agreements, and establish clearer testing protocols to safeguard weather, astronomy, and communications services from unintended interference.

Tesla, Netflix, GM Poised for Big Moves After Earnings Week

October 20, 2025, 5:34 PM EDT. Stocks including Tesla, Netflix, and General Motors could swing sharply this week as they report quarterly results. With earnings season gaining momentum, about 76% of S&P 500 results beat estimates so far, above the first-week average. Options-driven forecasts flag sizable moves for names like Netflix (~6.9%), Tesla (~7.1%), and Intel (~10.1%), with Lam Research, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines also showing wide potential moves. Analysts note Netflix's mixed quarter has tempered sentiment, while Tesla faces a year-to-date lag amid EV competition and a China sales rebound. The earnings beats and outlooks could serve as catalysts, driving volatility and potential direction for the market.

Apple Faces New Antitrust Complaint in China Over App Store and Payment Rules

October 20, 2025, 5:32 PM EDT. Reuters reports a Chinese law firm has filed a new antitrust complaint against Apple alleging it still monopolizes iOS app distribution via the App Store, restricts third-party payments, and charges commissions up to 30%. The filing, submitted to the SAMR on behalf of 55 iPhone and iPad users, mirrors a 2021 suit that was dismissed in 2024. The attorney says the goal is regulatory enforcement rather than a civil judgment and cites changes in other jurisdictions, including the EU's Digital Markets Act and a U.S. court ruling, suggesting sideloading and outside payment links. The case could proceed faster under an administrative route, with an appeal to China's Supreme People's Court pending. No ruling yet.

Stranger Things: Catalyst Opens in Orlando at Sandbox VR

October 20, 2025, 5:30 PM EDT. Fans can step into the Upside Down with Stranger Things: Catalyst, now open at Sandbox VR on International Drive in Orlando. This immersive VR experience lets groups of up to six play as Eleven, wielding telekinetic powers to battle iconic foes like Demogorgon, Demodogs, and Demobats. The run marks the third Netflix collaboration with Sandbox VR, following Squid Game Virtuals and Rebel Moon: The Descent. A blend of live action and cutting-edge VR, Catalyst invites visitors to explore the Stranger Things universe beyond the screen.

Google confirms Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 rollout will resume this week

October 20, 2025, 5:26 PM EDT. Google has confirmed that the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 rollout will return this week after a bug caused system UI crashes when desktop mode was enabled. The beta, released for eligible Pixel devices, was briefly pulled as some users couldn't install updates, seeing a message that the device was up-to-date. Google says the issue is being addressed, but no exact date was given. The patch also follows fixes for Play System updates and launcher CPU usage. A Google spokesperson did not specify a comeback date, but indicated the rollout will reappear soon for affected devices.

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Apple, KLA, Tempus AI and more

October 20, 2025, 5:24 PM EDT. Apple rose about 4% after the iPhone 17 outsold the iPhone 16 in China and the U.S. in the first 10 days, per Counterpoint; Loop Capital upgraded to buy from hold. KLA Corp. gained ~4% after Barclays upgraded it to overweight, citing long-term process-control gains and exposure to Leading Edge with strong growth outside China. Cleveland-Cliffs surged ~24% as it said it's exploring rare earths mining; Q3 EBITDA was $143M vs $127.9M est. The rare earths group rose after Bloomberg reported Australia may offer resource holdings to the U.S. WW International +12% on a partnership with Amazon to deliver GLP-1 obesity meds. Tempus AI +8% after Canaccord Genuity began coverage with a buy and a $110 target, noting xT CDx and xR IVD catalysts. Archer Aviation +5% on a deal with Korean Air for Midnight; Liberty Energy +6% on the rally.

China Antitrust Complaint Targets Apple App Store Practices

October 20, 2025, 5:22 PM EDT. A coalition of 55 iPhone and iPad users in China has filed a formal complaint with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), accusing Apple of abusing its dominant position in the app marketplace. The filing, reported by Reuters, argues that Apple monopolizes the iOS ecosystem in China by forcing app downloads through the App Store and channeling payments through In-App Purchase with commissions up to 30%. It cites three alleged violations of China's Anti-Monopoly Law: restricting payment options to Apple's system, mandating the App Store for downloads, and imposing excessive fees. The complainants note that regulators in other markets have forced open ecosystems. The case could move faster than a prior civil suit and signals how Beijing intends to enforce competition rules amid broader US tech pressure.

Netflix's Stranger Things: Catalyst VR Experience – Immersive, Yet Not What I Expected

October 20, 2025, 5:20 PM EDT. Netflix's latest collaboration with Sandbox VR brings Stranger Things: Catalyst to locations across the US and UK. The room-scale VR experience uses an HTC Vive Focus 3 headset and ankle/wrist trackers, letting teams work together in real-time while avoiding collisions. The 20-minute adventure drops you into Eleven's world, as you play as test subjects battling demogorgons and other threats in converted lab spaces. Interaction is physical: move within a defined space, throw objects at enemies, and dodge danger. The setup mimics a theme-park cross, with tight corridors, cues from the show, and a moving truck finale. For fans craving more than a static screen, this feels like a promising direction for Netflix House-but the novelty can wear thin if the tech limitations pull you out of the moment.

Quantum Threat to Blockchain: The Race to Quantum-Safe Crypto

October 20, 2025, 5:14 PM EDT. A race for quantum supremacy is becoming a race for cryptocurrency survival as powerful quantum computers could break current cryptography that underpins banks, blockchain, and emails. Quantum systems use superposition and Shor's algorithm to threaten RSA and elliptic curves, enabling private keys to be derived from public keys and jeopardizing wallets. Researchers dub the moment Q-Day-the day quantum machines can crack classical cryptography. Projections vary, with some arguing a breakthrough as soon as 2029-2030. The urgent response is migration to post-quantum encryption: standards are emerging, with Cloudflare already deploying some solutions and NIST approving Kyber (ML-KEM), Dilithium (ML-DSA), and SPHINCS+ for signatures. Nations have invested over $55B in quantum tech; the transition must happen by 2033 to avert data exposure.

M5 iPad Pro arrives as Amazon drops $406 on upgraded 1TB M4 11-inch Pro

October 20, 2025, 5:12 PM EDT. Amazon is offering the 1TB 11-inch M4 iPad Pro with nano-texture glass and cellular connectivity for $1,892.43 shipped – about $406 off the $2,299 list price, the lowest price tracked. The launch of the new M5 iPad Pro hasn't raised prices, so you can still buy the M5 at the same $2,299 price, and save on other 11-inch models or consider the M4 as a premium option. If you're eyeing the M5 lineup, check our pre-order deals; Best Buy members can get $50 off without a trade-in, and enhanced trade-in credits are available for older models. The M4 features the Ultra Retina XDR display, powerful M4 chip, and iPadOS productivity features. Nano-texture glass helps reduce glare in bright environments.

Oura Labs Launches Blood Pressure Profile Study to Spot Hidden Hypertension Risks

October 20, 2025, 5:10 PM EDT. Oura Labs has launched the Blood Pressure Profile Study to help identify hidden hypertension risks using wearable data. Eligible United States members aged 22+ with an Oura Ring Gen3 or newer can participate without cuffs or clinic visits-just wear the ring, answer brief background questions, and Oura will translate signals into insights about cardiovascular health. The goal is to develop a software feature that can spot rising hypertension risk and contribute to science that may protect millions tomorrow. Eligibility excludes pregnancy (or within 12 weeks postpartum) and anyone with a cardiac implant. Learn more in Oura Labs and participate in non-invasive data collection.

Nic Carter: Quantum Computing Threat to Bitcoin's Cryptography and the Roadmap Ahead

October 20, 2025, 5:06 PM EDT. Nic Carter argues that quantum computing poses the biggest long-term risk to Bitcoin's core cryptography. In plain terms, Bitcoin relies on private keys and on-chain public keys derived from the secp256k1 elliptic-curve used by ECDSA and Schnorr signatures. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could threaten the discrete-log problem behind these signatures, eroding the one-way function that makes keys secure. Carter uses intuitive analogies-like a deck shuffle and the double-and-add method-to explain the potential exposure when coins move and public keys appear on-chain. He cautions against panic but urges urgent planning: avoid address reuse, consider post-quantum signature schemes, and develop realistic migration paths as engineering work rather than a distant concern. Parts II/III forthcoming.

Cards Against Humanity settles trespass lawsuit against SpaceX

October 20, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT. Cards Against Humanity has settled its trespass lawsuit against SpaceX, a year after accusing the rocket company of dumping equipment on land near Starbase in Cameron County, Texas. The land, crowdfunded through about 150,000 donations totaling $2.25 million in 2017, aimed to block the border wall. In 2024 CAH alleged trespassing; terms of the settlement were not disclosed. CAH had sought $15 million and promised supporters up to $100 each, but instead offered a brand new mini-pack of exclusive cards about Elon Musk. The company said SpaceX removed equipment and it aims to restore the land to its natural state. CAH previously joked about Musk and even created a site, ElonOwesYou100Dollars.com, but the dispute is now resolved.

Honor Magic 8 Series Adds Dedicated AI Button, But No Google Gemini in Press Release

October 20, 2025, 4:56 PM EDT. Honor's Magic 8 lineup adds a dedicated AI button and a GPU-NPU Heterogeneous AI approach on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, aiming to boost gaming and AI features. The Magic 8 Pro expands on the base model with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto camera and AI-driven stabilization, plus a large 7,200mAh battery in a silicon-carbon pack. The AI button supports multiple actions, including a double-press for the camera, a long-press for YOYO Video Call (Honor's Gemini Live rival), and a configurable quick-tap function. Honor has not mentioned Google Gemini in the press release, signaling a shift toward its own AI model. Availability starts in China for RMB 4,499 (Magic 8) and RMB 5,699 (Magic 8 Pro), with a broader rollout later this year.

Tesla Roadster 2025 Unveil On Track, Says Design Chief

October 20, 2025, 4:54 PM EDT. Tesla's Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen says the long-awaited next-generation Roadster remains on track for a 2025 unveiling. Appearing on the Ride The Lightning podcast, he describes the car as an electric supercar that will push the limits of physics and aims to achieve extreme performance, including a possible sub-1-second 0-60 mph time. Tesla has teased ambitious goals since its 2017 reveal, and von Holzhausen notes that a full demo is planned before year-end 2025, with unique paint options. The interview also touched on the new Model Y Standard, which Tesla says feels premium at a $39,990 starting price as deliveries begin in Europe. Fans may finally see the Roadster as Tesla pushes toward its most ambitious production car to date.

Nvidia and Palantir Issue a Cautionary AI Stock Warning to Wall Street

October 20, 2025, 4:50 PM EDT. Investors should take note as Nvidia (NVDA) and Palantir (PLTR) issue a cautionary signal amid a rally powered by AI. The two leaders have dominated returns since 2022, with Nvidia capturing a large share of enterprise GPUs and Palantir expanding its Gotham and other data platforms. While analysts tout an approximate $15.7 trillion potential global AI uplift, the message is clear: sustainability and strong moats matter. Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem and Hopper/Blackwell chips reinforce its AI-GPU dominance, and Palantir's two flagship platforms remain hard to replicate at scale. The takeaway for Wall Street is to assess durability of competitive advantages, balance optimism with risk, and monitor execution in hardware, software, and government-focused deployments.

Adobe launches AI Foundry to build custom generative AI models for enterprises

October 20, 2025, 4:48 PM EDT. Adobe revealed AI Foundry, a new service that lets enterprises partner with Adobe to train custom generative AI models on their own branding and IP. Leveraging Adobe's Firefly family, these models can produce text, images, video, and 3D content, and are fine-tuned for each customer. Pricing is usage-based, not per-seat. The goal is to help brands run on-brand campaigns across seasons, languages, and formats, while keeping humans central to the creative process. Adobe VP Hannah Elsakr says the offering broadens existing enterprise AI tools and reflects customer demand for greater customization. Since Firefly's 2023 launch, enterprises have generated over 25 billion assets with the tech.

Tesla updates Roadster plans as it maintains US charging leadership with 34,328 stalls in Q3

October 20, 2025, 4:46 PM EDT. Tesla is updating fans on Roadster plans while reinforcing its edge in EV charging. A Paren report for Q3 shows Tesla installed 1,820 new chargers in the United States, lifting its total to 34,328 and capturing a 53.2% share of all US charging stalls. By contrast, nine competing networks-ChargePoint, Red E, Electrify America, EV Connect, EVgo, Ionna, Blink, Pilot Flying J, Rivian Adventure-added 841 chargers in the quarter, totaling about 10,055 stalls or roughly 15.6% of the market. The data shows Tesla added more Superchargers in Q3 than the next nine networks combined, underscoring the scale of its charging infrastructure lead. With Tesla opening Supercharger access to other brands over the past two years, public charging remains crucial for EV adoption, including Roadster plans.

Inside Log4Shell: The untold story of the breach that rocked the internet

October 20, 2025, 4:44 PM EDT. Log4Shell exposed critical gaps in open source security, showing that protecting code is about people and sustainability, not just patches. This piece recounts how Christian Grobmeier, a Log4j maintainer, faced an inbox overflowing with remote code execution alerts as the global Java ecosystem reeled. Log4j, a small but ubiquitous 20+-year-old logging library, quietly underpins countless applications-from financial services to Minecraft servers-making the vulnerability devastating in scope. The interview with Grobmeier and GitHub's Gregg Cochran underscores the human side of crisis response and the need for ongoing support for maintainers. It also highlights initiatives like the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund, aiming to harden digital infrastructure and prevent repeats of Log4Shell.

Jim Cramer: Patient Apple bulls vindicated as iPhone 17 rally begins

October 20, 2025, 4:42 PM EDT. Apple stock is reviving as bullish sentiment proves naysayers wrong about the iPhone upgrade cycle. The shares hit an intraday high after upbeat Wall Street commentary and strong demand data for the iPhone 17 lineup. Counterpoint data shows the iPhone 17 outselling the iPhone 16 by 14% in the US and China in its first 10 days. The base model delivers value with a better chip, improved display, higher base storage, and a sharper camera at the same price as last year's model. The new iPhone Air is eSIM-only and sold out in China. Loop Capital raised Apple to Buy with a target of $315. Melius sees potential upside into CY26 and a March 2026 Siri/product event as demand persists.

NASA opens Artemis contracts as SpaceX delays spark competition for Moon program

October 20, 2025, 4:38 PM EDT. NASA says it will not rely on a single contractor for its crewed lunar program as SpaceX falls behind schedule. In a CNBC interview, Transportation Secretary and interim NASA head Sean Duffy announced Artemis III will be competed, potentially across firms including Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Although NASA signed a $2.89 billion contract with SpaceX to develop a Starship landing system, the agency is racing to beat China and accelerate the schedule. The next Artemis mission to orbit the Moon is moved from April 2026 to February 2026, with a Moon landing now slated for mid-2027. The White House reshuffled NASA leadership, and Duffy, as interim administrator, is steering a push to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a lunar camp/base.

Grab a 20,000mAh INIU Power Bank for £15 on Amazon – Fast PD charging, compact design

October 20, 2025, 4:34 PM EDT. Looking for a travel-friendly power bank? The INIU 20,000mAh unit combines massive capacity with a surprisingly compact form factor. It packs up to 22.5W Power Delivery and supports PD and QC fast charging, so devices like iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 top up quickly (INIU claims 60% and 70% in ~25 minutes). The built-in USB-C cable stays attached (detachable for portability), with an extra USB-C and USB-A port for simultaneous charging. It's currently available on Amazon for about £15, with a 49% discount that auto-applies at checkout-the best price in months. If you need one charger for travel or multi-device use, this 20,000mAh power bank is a strong bargain.

Amazon Drops Charmast 10000mAh Portable Charger with Built-In Cables to $20

October 20, 2025, 4:32 PM EDT. Amazon is pricing the Charmast 10000mAh portable charger at $20 (down from $29), with a built-in cable pack that covers Lightning, USB-C, and Micro USB. Instead of hunting for cables, you get three output cables plus one input cable permanently attached, plus two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, enabling up to six devices to charge simultaneously. The 10,000mAh capacity should deliver about 2-3 full charges for typical smartphones (roughly 2.5 for iPhone 15, around two for Galaxy S24 Ultra) and one full tablet charge. It's compact at about 5.68 x 2.63 x 0.69 inches and weighs ~0.55 lb, with an LED display showing remaining power. A bargain for portable power on the go.

Samsung to power Galaxy S26 with in-house Exynos 2600 in select markets

October 20, 2025, 4:30 PM EDT. Industry sources indicate Samsung Electronics plans to power several Galaxy S26 variants with its in-house Exynos 2600 AP, reviving a two-chip strategy in multiple markets. After past lean years for the Exynos family, Samsung reportedly aims to deploy the Exynos 2600 in some S26 models, while others may stick with Qualcomm Snapdragon due to yield considerations. The move follows the earlier exclusion of Exynos 2300 and 2500 in flagship lines. Samsung has touted improvements in foundry yield and performance, with the neural processing unit reportedly outperforming rivals. Built on Samsung's 2-nanometer process, the chip is expected to offer better energy efficiency and strong overall performance, potentially affecting the Galaxy S26 Ultra's sourcing. The exact distribution between markets like Korea and Europe remains unclear.

Iniu Pocket Rocket P50 10,000mAh Power Bank Hits New Low Price on Amazon

October 20, 2025, 4:28 PM EDT. Compact and capable, the Iniu Pocket Rocket P50 packs a 10,000mAh battery into a case-sized charger with three ports (two USB-C, one USB-A) and up to 45W via USB-C for fast power to a phone, tablet, or even the Nintendo Switch 2. The battery supports pass-through charging and includes a real-time charge display, plus a detachable lanyard that doubles as a USB-C cable. Currently on Amazon, it's discounted to $13.74, after a 45% coupon, making it cheaper than ever-perfect for travelers who want portable power without sacrificing performance.

SpaceX to Launch First Expendable Falcon 9 Since January – Launch Roundup

October 20, 2025, 4:26 PM EDT. SpaceX is set to launch an expendable Falcon 9 booster-the first since January-according to NASASpaceFlight's launch roundup. The mission illustrates a temporary return to a non-reusable flight profile to meet payload or scheduling needs, even as SpaceX presses ahead with its core emphasis on booster reuse and rapid cadence. The report notes the countdown, range safety checks, and weather updates that typically shape a SpaceX liftoff, as engineers confirm disposal plans and data collection parameters. This expendable flight underscores how SpaceX balances reliability, mission requirements, and reuse economics within its broader orbital launch program.

What is AWS? How a Monday outage hit sites and apps

October 20, 2025, 4:24 PM EDT. An outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) disrupted access to popular sites and apps on Monday, including Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Robinhood, and the McDonald's app. AWS is a leading cloud platform offering more than 200 services, from computing power and storage to databases and networking, used by countless businesses worldwide. The incident highlights how many online services rely on a single cloud provider for core infrastructure, and how a disruption can cascade across the internet. Users should monitor status dashboards, understand failover and redundancy strategies, and consider multi-cloud or regional designs to improve resilience during cloud outages.

Cloud Outages to Worsen as AI Adoption Expands, Says Tech CEO After AWS Disruption

October 20, 2025, 4:22 PM EDT. An AWS DNS outage disrupted major carriers, banks, streaming services and apps, impacting more than 1,000 companies. Future Tech Enterprise CEO Bob Venero warns that outages will rise as AI capabilities expand in the enterprise. He notes a growing trend of repatriation from public cloud to colocation and on-prem deployments to mitigate risk. AWS continues to invest heavily in AI-focused data centers, including plans to spend billions in Pennsylvania and Georgia in 2025, reinforcing its dominant position in the cloud market. The incident underscores customer risk tolerance and the need for diversified architectures. As enterprises adopt more AI, cloud complexity grows, and providers face potential disruption, making on-prem and colocation options more attractive for resilience.

Apple Watch SE 3 vs Series 11: Why the SE 3 is the smarter pick for most people

October 20, 2025, 4:20 PM EDT. After upgrading from the Apple Watch SE 2, the author argues that the Apple Watch SE 3 is the better pick for most people compared to the Series 11. Both wearables share the S10 processor and offer an always-on display; the SE 3 matches most health and fitness features, including the Sleep Score, at a much lower price. The big caveat: blood-pressure monitoring isn't available yet in Australia due to TGA delays, which undermines the appeal of the higher-end model. Battery life still favors the Series 11, but the SE 3 can go longer with low-power mode (nearly two days). Overall, for many users, the SE 3 delivers nearly the same performance at a substantially lower cost, with only a few features reserved for the Series 11.

Apple Watch Series 11 eases wearable anxiety with Workout Buddy and empathetic coaching

October 20, 2025, 4:18 PM EDT. After switching from WearOS to the Apple Watch Series 11, the author finds wearable anxiety diminishes thanks to a new feature called Workout Buddy, an AI-powered coach that offers encouragement during short workouts. The piece argues that activity rings and constant health data can provoke stress, but these tools can also soften the experience and make tracking feel supportive rather than punitive. It also references research from UNC and Yale showing that smartwatch data can contribute to anxiety and pathological monitoring. The takeaway: well-designed feedback and empathetic coaching can transform wearables from pressure points into trusted wellness partners.

Tesla kicks off Magnificent Seven earnings season with AI-driven bets and robotaxi focus

October 20, 2025, 4:16 PM EDT. Tesla is set to report earnings on Wednesday, launching the Magnificent Seven's Q3 cycle. After a rough first half of 2025, the EV maker has staged a late rally, up about 10% since January while the broader group flirted with gains. Investors are weighing near-term results against longer-term opportunities in autonomy, robots, and a potential pay plan for Elon Musk alongside a major stock purchase. Wall Street remains divided on valuation, with price targets below Friday's close despite strong deliveries and an improving lineup. Visible Alpha projections sit at roughly $26.6 billion revenue and $1.5 billion in net income, while many analysts are still calibrating forecasts for a new generation of cars. Tesla's performance-and any AI/autonomy updates-will help set the tone for the Magnificent Seven as earnings season proceeds, including Netflix.

Galaxy S26 series to allegedly switch to Exynos 2600, outperforming Snapdragon

October 20, 2025, 4:14 PM EDT. According to a Hankyung report (via @Jukanlosreve), Samsung's Galaxy S26 series may switch the entire lineup to Exynos 2600, including the Ultra model, built on a 2nm process. The chip is said to offer slightly better CPU performance than Apple's A19 Pro, with a GPU up to 75% faster and an NPU for AI that's claimed to be around 6x faster than Apple's. It's also said to outperform the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 by about 30% in GPU and NPU tasks. Samsung would go all-in on Exynos for the S26, though the US (and markets like Japan and China) could still see Snapdragon chips for regulatory reasons. Expect a January launch; treat as rumor until official confirmation.

AWS Outage Explained: DNS Failure, Impact on Social Platforms and the Internet

October 20, 2025, 4:12 PM EDT. Today's AWS outage highlights how much of the internet depends on a single provider. The disruption wasn't a broad service failure, but a DNS issue at AWS's North Virginia data center, leaving platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, Canva and HMRC unable to route traffic even while apps stayed online. Millions were affected across social media, banking and gaming as the outage showed the fragility of relying on one giant cloud vendor. Experts call it a textbook case for why diversification matters, but there are few scale options beyond AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. The debate over regional cloud independence and multi-vendor strategies has intensified as businesses reassess risk and resilience.

Kohler Dekoda: Toilet Health Tracker Analyzes Hydration and Gut Health

October 20, 2025, 4:08 PM EDT. Kohler's Dekoda turns the bathroom into a data-informed health hub by attaching to the toilet rim and using advanced sensors and spectroscopy to analyze what's in your waste. It tracks hydration and gut health, and can alert you if blood is detected. The system includes a sensor, a magnetic charging pad, and a wall-mounted remote, with data delivered via the Kohler Health app (iOS now, Android coming) under a paid membership. Preorder is $599 with shipping starting Oct 21. Single-user plans are $6.99/mo or $70/yr; family plans are $12.99/mo or $130/yr for up to five users. Privacy emphasizes end-to-end encryption and a fingerprint on the remote to distinguish users; it's installed on a toilet rim and won't work on dark-colored bowls.

WIRED Uncanny Valley Roundup: Satellites Leak Data, Cybertruck Stories, and Federal Workers in the Shutdown

October 20, 2025, 4:06 PM EDT. On this week's Uncanny Valley, Zoë Schiffer and Jake Lahut run through five stories you need to know: satellites leaking data-from calls and texts to military and corporate secrets; what it's like to own a Cybertruck; and how federal workers became pawns in the political fight around the shutdown. They also spotlight WIRED investigations: A Plan to Rebuild Gaza Lists Nearly 30 Companies and A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone. It's a tour of tech, security, and governance under political pressure, with the human impact of layoffs and policy. Reporting comes from WIRED's Andy Greenberg, Matt Burgess, Caroline Haskins, Emily Mullin, and Makena Kelly, and you can find the transcript and listen wherever podcasts are found.

Stranger Things: Catalyst Opens in Los Angeles Today with Sandbox VR

October 20, 2025, 4:04 PM EDT. Los Angeles fans can step into the Upside Down as Stranger Things: Catalyst launches today with Sandbox VR. Players become Dr. Brenner's subjects and explore Hawkins National Laboratory, the Rainbow Room, and the eerie Upside Down, using telekinetic powers to battle Demogorgons, Demodogs, and Demobats alongside up to six friends. This full-body VR experience-created in partnership with Netflix and featuring Matthew Modine as Dr. Brenner-marks the third collaboration between Sandbox VR and Netflix, following Squid Game Virtuals and Rebel Moon: The Descent. With stunning visuals and heart-pounding action, Catalyst invites fans to relive the series in a new, immersive way in the Los Angeles area.

NVIDIA: From 95% to 0% Market Share in China, CEO Says

October 20, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT. During a recent talk, NVIDIA's CEO highlighted policy-driven barriers in China, arguing that restrictive rules prevent AI innovation from leveraging US technology. He notes that China holds about half of the world's AI researchers, but policy shifts have left NVIDIA '100% out of China,' causing the company to go from a reported 95% market share to essentially 0%. He suggests such measures hurt not only NVIDIA's bottom line but also America's tech leadership and global AI collaboration. The remarks underscore how geopolitics can reshape supply chains, investment, and access to a major AI market, complicating efforts to advance research and commercialization of AI hardware.

Garmin Forerunner 55 on Amazon for $169: Affordable GPS Smartwatch for Beginners

October 20, 2025, 3:58 PM EDT. Amazon is offering the Garmin Forerunner 55 for just $169, down from $200. This affordable GPS Smartwatch covers the basics: daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach, and profiles for outdoor running, treadmill, track, cycling, walking, and swimming. It delivers pace and cadence alerts, plus a quick look at your estimated VO2 max to gauge progress. With up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode and 5 ATM water resistance, it's built for rain, sweat, and pool sessions. It also tracks steps, calories, sleep, and uses Body Battery and stress metrics to guide training. A solid starter choice for fitness-focused users on a budget.

How AI Impacts the US Labor Market: Task-Level Adoption and Employment Trends

October 20, 2025, 3:56 PM EDT. AI adoption boosts firm growth and can increase employment when it shifts tasks rather than replacing entire occupations. The study finds AI exposure is greatest in higher-paying roles involving information processing and analysis. From 2010-2023, AI-exposed roles did not show employment losses due to offsetting factors; productivity gains allowed firms to expand headcount in some cases. When AI can perform most tasks in a job, about 14% of workers in that role may depart; when AI affects only a few tasks, employment in that role can grow as workers focus on tasks AI can't do well. Even high-wage roles saw ~3% employment share growth, thanks to productivity. The takeaway: firms can grow and use workers more efficiently by adopting AI.

IBM and Groq Partner to Accelerate Enterprise AI Deployment with Speed and Scale

October 20, 2025, 3:54 PM EDT. IBM and Groq announced a strategic go-to-market and technology partnership to bring Groq's high-speed inference to watsonx Orchestrate, enabling immediate action on complex workflows. The collaboration will integrate Red Hat open-source vLLM with Groq's LPU architecture and plan IBM Granite models on GroqCloud, giving enterprises faster, cost-efficient AI inference at scale. GroqCloud claims over 5x faster inference and lower latency than GPUs, supporting regulated and non-regulated sectors alike. Use cases span healthcare, finance, government, retail, and manufacturing, from handling thousands of real-time patient questions to HR automation and autonomous decision-making. IBM executives say this accelerates production-ready agentic AI by combining speed, reliability, and enterprise orchestration. Groq's CEO notes the partnership moves organizations from experimentation to scalable, AI-driven responses.

From Classroom to AI Consulting: Bethel Alum Tyler Moberg '07, GS'11 Leads in a Tech-Driven World

October 20, 2025, 3:52 PM EDT. Bethel alumnus Tyler Moberg '07, GS'11 moves from the classroom to AI-powered consulting, turning training into a discipline grounded in neuroscience and evidence on how people learn. Through the Bob Pike Group, he became a consultant who spent two years traveling the country to help organizations break free from "sit-and-get" lectures and deliver meaningful learning experiences. He has advised on work at Air Force bases, Navy bases, and major banks, proving that domain knowledge isn't a prerequisite for impactful training. Moberg's passion is to connect people and ideas to fuel growth and amplify impact. Embracing AI early, he immersed in courses, books, and tools, shaping a new vision for AI-enhanced training.

AWS outage disrupts apps and websites worldwide, including Snapchat and Ring

October 20, 2025, 3:46 PM EDT. Amazon Web Services suffered a major outage that disrupted apps and websites worldwide for several hours on Monday. Users reported problems with Snapchat, WhatsApp, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, DoorDash, Coinbase, Fortnite, the New York Times, Reddit, Ring, and more. AWS said it was investigating increased error rates and latencies in the US-East-1 region and actively working to resolve the issue. By 6:35 a.m. ET, AWS said the outage was fully mitigated and most services were returning to normal, though some requests may still be throttled as systems recover. While there was no evidence of a cyberattack, the cause remained unclear. Companies including Google and Microsoft provide much of the world's cloud infrastructure.

Oura redesigns app with three tabs and Cumulative Stress ahead of Ceramic Ring 4 launch

October 20, 2025, 3:44 PM EDT. Oura is overhauling its app to complement the new Ceramic Ring 4 with a cleaner design and easier data access. The update introduces three main tabs-Today, Vitals, and My Health-tasked with highlighting a daily insight, breaking down biometrics by timeframe, and offering long-term data plus AI-driven guidance from Oura Advisor. The Today tab emphasizes a daily One Big Thing, while Vitals reorganizes sleep, stress, and cardiovascular data and uses color cues for quick at-a-glance status. New features include Cumulative Stress, a long-term view comparing current and prior months, and expanded Cycle Insights that can predict cycle phase from a single night. The rollout begins on Android and iOS over the coming weeks.

Apple stock climbs to intraday record of $263.47 on iPhone 17 demand

October 20, 2025, 3:42 PM EDT. Apple stock climbed to an intraday record of $263.47 today, adding to a prior high of $260.10 set late last year. The gain follows strong demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, though the iPhone Air is lagging outside China. Apple has split its stock five times since going public, most recently a 4-for-1 split in 2020. Despite the rally, the company remains seen as behind peers like OpenAI and Google in generative AI. Some software engineers have concerns about the performance of the revamped Siri on an internal iOS 26.4 beta. Apple is expected to report its next quarterly earnings on October 30.

Anthropic launches Claude for Life Sciences to accelerate AI-powered research

October 20, 2025, 3:40 PM EDT. Anthropic unveiled Claude for Life Sciences, a dedicated AI platform extending Claude's models to the lab. The offering connects with Benchling, PubMed, 10x Genomics and Synapse.org to support researchers from literature reviews to developing hypotheses, analyzing data and drafting regulatory submissions. This marks Anthropic's first formal entry into the life sciences sector. CEO Dario Amodei and head of biology Eric Kauderer-Abrams emphasize a major investment to have Claude power a meaningful share of life science work. The rollout follows the release of Claude Sonnet 4.5, said to be stronger at life sciences tasks, and includes partnerships with Caylent, KPMG, Deloitte, AWS and Google Cloud to enable adoption.

Glass Lewis urges vote against Musk's $1 trillion Tesla pay package amid investor pushback

October 20, 2025, 3:36 PM EDT. Proxy adviser Glass Lewis joined ISS in urging investors to vote against Elon Musk's $1 trillion compensation package for Tesla ahead of the Nov. 6 annual meeting, citing potential shareholder dilution and other terms that could dilute value. The recommendations, which come as large institutions weigh how to vote in a high-stakes package tied to milestones such as an $8.5 trillion market value and expanded car, robotics and robotaxi businesses, could complicate its passage. Tesla dismissed the guidance as misguided, arguing it reflects rigid policies over shareholder value. The plan would boost Musk's stake and control if targets are met, while a separate xAI investment is also under board consideration; Glass Lewis said that decision should be board-driven, not voted on by shareholders.

Vivo X300 vs X300 Pro: specs, prices, and reader poll on the next flagship

October 20, 2025, 3:34 PM EDT. The Vivo X300 Pro arrives as the flagship upgrade, swapping in a faster Dimensity 9500, and bumping storage to UFS 4.1 with a larger battery (6,510 mAh). It also explores a higher-end camera path, including a 1/1.28" main sensor and a 200MP capability. The non-Pro X300 is positioned as the successor to the X200 Pro mini, bringing USB-C 3.2, a 6,040 mAh battery, and the same overall upgrade trajectory (Dimensity 9500, UFS 4.1). Pricing starts at CNY 5,300 for the X300 Pro (12/256GB) and CNY 4,400 for the X300 (12/256GB). Global rollout details aren't confirmed yet; some markets may see the X200 line replaced by the X300 family. Now, vote: will you pick the Pro or wait for an Ultra?

OpenAI's Sora Deepfake Safeguards Bypassed, Raising Privacy Concerns

October 20, 2025, 3:32 PM EDT. OpenAI's Sora, an AI video app with a 'cameos' feature, lets users place likenesses in clips while performing a liveness check to authenticate consent. Reality Defender says it bypassed Sora's anti-impersonation safeguards within 24 hours using publicly available footage of CEOs and entertainers. They claim any savvy user could replicate the method, underscoring how deepfakes protections can be circumvented by off-the-shelf tools. OpenAI counters that researchers built a sophisticated system to test protections and that Sora's defenses will be strengthened. Sora reached 1 million downloads in under five days, highlighting rapid adoption even as regulators lag behind the technology. Experts warn that distinguishing deepfakes by sight is increasingly difficult, raising risks of fraud and harassment.

Afghan Students Speak Out as the Taliban's Internet Ban Threatens Education and Rights

October 20, 2025, 3:28 PM EDT. The Taliban's 2021 takeover has devastated freedoms in Afghanistan, especially for women and girls, with secondary and tertiary education restricted and secular curricula replaced by religious schooling. Despite this, digital platforms like LEARN Afghan offered a lifeline, helping students continue studies, access resources, and pursue skills online. Recently, however, the Taliban cut fiber-optic and mobile internet across provinces, threatening education, employment, and free expression. Service has been restored in parts, but the broader impact endures. Afghan students shared their perspectives with the Bush Institute, showing how the internet enables coursework, language learning, professional development, and remote work-essential for economic survival and visibility of abuses. The shutdown highlights the fragility of information access and the resilience of learners.

Vivo X300 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Shanghai shoot reveals Chinese camera phones pushing mobile photography forward

October 20, 2025, 3:24 PM EDT. Across Shanghai streets, the Vivo X300 Pro faces off against Apple's iPhone 17 Pro, showcasing how Chinese camera phones are closing the gap with flagship rivals. The X300 Pro pairs a new Dimensity 9500-powered chipset with Zeiss-certified optics, Sony/Samsung sensors, and a gimbal-stabilized 1/1.3-inch main sensor plus a 200MP 1/1.4-inch telephoto. It records 4K video at 120fps with both electronic and optical stabilization on all rear lenses, and supports 4K 60fps portrait video. A collaboration with Samsung upgrades light gathering and stabilization. The BOE OLED panel debuts DC dimming and 2160Hz PWM, while brightness reaches up to 4500 nits. Vivo's camera software and image processing aim to outpace rivals-though the iPhone 17 Pro's refinements remain formidable. My Shanghai shoot illuminated where the future of mobile photography is headed.

Vivo X300 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Camera samples showdown

October 20, 2025, 3:20 PM EDT. Here's a head-to-head between a camera-centric flagship and a seasoned smartphone giant. The Vivo X300 Pro features a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide, and a striking 200 MP zoom lens; the iPhone 17 Pro Max touts 48 MP sensors across the back, a 40x max zoom, and new pro video features plus the Advanced Photographic Styles. The piece sticks to the default, out-of-the-box camera experiences to keep comparisons fair, noting that real-world results depend on tuning and processing. Look for side-by-side samples-day and night-from both devices to see which delivers crisper detail, more natural color, and better zoom performance.

Tesla eyes year-end 'most epic demo' for Roadster as updates surface

October 20, 2025, 3:18 PM EDT. Tesla has updated fans on the Roadster project, reiterating plans for the most epic demo by year-end. Despite years of delays driven by the Model Y ramp-up and the company's focus on autonomy, Franz von Holzhausen confirmed on the Ride the Lightning podcast that the Roadster remains on track, with paint options as a new feature. Executives emphasize the car's capabilities push the limits of physics, even as the Roadster remains a smaller part of Tesla's broader mission centered on AI and autonomy. While eager customers have placed large downpayments, no firm demo date has been announced. The update underscores Tesla's balance between product cadence, scale, and software-forward development.

Rocket Lab Secures JAXA, iQPS, and Synspective Launch Deals to Boost Cadence

October 20, 2025, 3:14 PM EDT. Rocket Lab is signaling a stronger launch cadence with new contracts from JAXA and iQPS, plus progress on Synspective missions. The Long Beach-based company will launch two dedicated Electron missions for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, with one in December and the second in 2026, deploying satellites for JAXA's Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. Separately, Rocket Lab signed a multi-launch deal with Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), making it the primary launcher for the Japanese company's commercial Earth-imaging constellation. The company also completed the Owl New World mission for Synspective as part of a planned 21-launch series by year's end. Rocket Lab's stock has surged, even as quarterly losses widened and revenue is expected to rise.

iPhone 17 Surges in Early Sales, Apple AI Shakeups Signal Momentum

October 20, 2025, 3:12 PM EDT. Counterpoint reports that the iPhone 17 is off to a stronger start than the iPhone 16, outpacing it in the U.S. and China during the first 10 days. The base model nearly doubles sales in China year over year, with a 31% rise in China and the U.S.; Apple touts a better chip, display, higher base storage, and an upgraded selfie camera at the same price as last year. The iPhone 17 Pro Max shows the strongest U.S. demand after major carriers boosted subsidies. Separately, Apple's AKI AI unit loses its leader, Ke Yang, amid a wave of departures that leave questions about the company's AI ambitions and how it will compete with rivals like Meta and Google.

AWS incident knocks out Canvas, Snapchat, Instacart and more amid EC2 network outage

October 20, 2025, 3:10 PM EDT. An AWS outage on Oct. 20, 2025 disrupted dozens of popular apps and websites, including Snapchat, Fortnite, Instacart, Venmo, Canvas by Instructure, Robinhood, and Ring, and Fanduel. AWS said it is investigating and has identified issues in its EC2 internal network, with the East-1 region most affected. Downdetector tracked spikes in outages starting around 3 a.m. ET; by 11:04 a.m. ET AWS acknowledged significant errors and ongoing investigations. The ripple effects hit consumer services, education platforms, and even mobile networks, with Verizon phones reportedly entering SOS mode. Other affected services ranged from Zoom, Reddit, and Starbucks to gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox Live. Companies and users are awaiting a fix as AWS works to restore normal operation.

Apple's iOS 26 Warning: Change Default Wired Accessories Settings to Prevent Juice Jacking

October 20, 2025, 3:08 PM EDT. IPhone users running iOS 26 should know there's a dangerous default in the Wired Accessories settings. Apple's security options under Settings > Privacy & Security > Security include Always Ask, Ask for New Accessories, Automatically Allow When Unlocked, and Always Allow. The default? Automatically Allow When Unlocked, which lets new physical accessories connect while your phone is unlocked. This creates a risk of juice jacking and data exposure from malicious cables. The article warns to avoid the Always Allow option and to choose Always Ask or Ask for New Accessories for new connections. It's a quick change-practically a few seconds-and it helps protect data even when a device is unlocked. Stay vigilant about physical access and reconnecting peripherals.

DJI Mic Mini wireless kit drops to $79 on Amazon – 34% off for creators

October 20, 2025, 3:06 PM EDT. The DJI Mic Mini two-transmitter wireless kit is down to $79 at Amazon, a 34% discount off its $119 list price. At this price, it's one of the strongest values for entry-level wireless audio and a smart upgrade from phone or camera mics. The bundle includes two transmitters and one receiver, suitable for interviews, vlogs, or walk-and-talk content with no cables. Features include 2.4 GHz digital transmission with adaptive frequency hopping, magnetic clips for fast mounting, and windshields to cut outdoor noise. The kit is designed for plug-and-play setup, offering clearer dialogue, fewer post-prod fixes, and flexibility for two-person shoots or backups on busy shoots.

Coinbase and Robinhood Sidelined by AWS Outage as Amazon Cloud Disruption Spreads

October 20, 2025, 3:04 PM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage in northern Virginia disrupted services for major platforms including Coinbase and Robinhood, as well as sites like Snapchat and Hulu. The disruption, stemming from AWS, led Coinbase to report recovery with some older asset transfer requests still pending, while Robinhood said services were impacted and actively being resolved. Downdetector tracked thousands of outage reports. The incident underscores how a growing share of crypto and fintech flows depend on large cloud providers, highlighting the lingering tension between centralized cloud infrastructure and the aim of a decentralized web. AWS noted degraded service at its Virginia data center but signaled early signs of recovery. Despite the outage, shares for Amazon, Coinbase, and Robinhood rose in early trading.

Deals roundup: Lenovo Tab M11 $130, Galaxy S25 Ultra $350 off, Samsung Qi2 Car Charger and more

October 20, 2025, 3:02 PM EDT. Kickoff: this weekend's price drops include Lenovo Tab M11 bundle with Tab Pen and gray Folio Case at $129.99 shipped. The tablet features a 1920×1200 11-inch display, 90Hz refresh, 128GB SSD, and a MediaTek Helio G88 octa-core, plus front/back cameras (8MP/13MP) and a 7,040mAh battery with USB-C. Lenovo promises security updates through 2028. Compared with the bare unit on the Lenovo site at $119.99, the bundle adds value for $10. The other headlines include a $350 discount on the unlocked Galaxy S25 Ultra (1TB) to $1,309.99; a return deal on the Nothing Headphones; a best-ever price on Samsung's magnetic Qi2 Car Wireless Charger; and the Anker Halloween sale. More details inside.

Sora 2 Extends Clip Length to 15 Seconds, 25-Second Pro Clips with Storyboarding

October 20, 2025, 3:00 PM EDT. Sora 2's latest update unlocks longer output in its AI video generation tool, letting users create 15-second clips by default and 25-second clips for Pro subscribers. The rollout also adds a storyboarding feature for Pro plans, helping creators outline scenes before rendering. The upgrade arrives today as part of the product's ongoing push to streamline video creation with AI, expanding the platform's capabilities for rapid content production. If you rely on quick AI-generated video, this update strengthens the balance between speed and control, particularly for teams or power users who can access the extended lengths and storyboard workflow.

Apple TV and Peacock Bundle Launches with Big Savings and Cross-Content Access

October 20, 2025, 2:58 PM EDT. Apple TV and Peacock are bundling their streaming services, offering Apple TV and Peacock Premium for $14.99/month (Peacock's ad-supported tier) or Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99/month (ad-free). The launch is October 20, with subscribers getting cross-access to select episodes: Apple TV users can stream three episodes of Peacock titles, and Peacock subscribers can view three episodes of Apple TV titles. Existing subscribers can sample the other service's catalog. Apple One Family/Premier subscribers get Peacock Premium Plus at a 35% discount. Sign-up is via Apple TV or Peacock sites/apps. The move broadens choices beyond Apple's own bundles and complements live sports on Peacock and Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV.

AWS outage disrupts Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite and more as US-East-1 DNS/DynamoDB issue hits services

October 20, 2025, 2:54 PM EDT. An AWS outage affected users worldwide when the US-East-1 data center region logged a problem tied to the DynamoDB endpoint. AWS later said the fault stemmed from a DNS issue, causing many apps and websites to lose connectivity even if their data remained safe. The disruption lasted about three hours and hit popular services including Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite and the Signal messaging app, illustrating how much of the internet relies on a handful of cloud regions. AWS said it was recovering but continuing to address 'significant' errors across multiple services. Experts described DynamoDB as a critical, fast data store, and noted that oddities in the records that point to data can create widespread ripple effects online.

DJI Mic 3 Review: Compact, Powerful Wireless Microphone System

October 20, 2025, 2:50 PM EDT. DJI's Mic 3 refines the wireless mic experience with a compact, lightweight design that outmatches its Mic Mini and challenges full-size kits. This review covers the in-the-box contents: two transmitters, a receiver, a charging case, cables, windscreens, magnets, clips, and a pouch. The Mic 3 weighs about 16g per transmitter with the magnetic clip and measures 28.77 × 28.34 × 16.35 mm-slightly larger than the Mic Mini but far smaller than the Mic 2. Battery life is strong: the transmitter up to 8h, the receiver up to 10h, and up to 28h total with the case. Fast charging gives two hours of use from five minutes. A removable clip and magnetic pad add flexible attachment options. In short, the Mic 3 blends portability, endurance, and DJI reliability for creators.

NVIDIA and Google Cloud Expand Enterprise AI with RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, G4 VMs, and Omniverse

October 20, 2025, 2:48 PM EDT. NVIDIA and Google Cloud are expanding access to accelerated computing across enterprise workloads, from visual computing to agentic AI. Google Cloud launches GA of G4 VMs powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs, with Omniverse and Isaac Sim available as VMIs on the Cloud Marketplace to power industrial digitalization in manufacturing, automotive, and logistics. The G4 VM uses the Blackwell-based RTX PRO 6000 with fifth-gen Tensor Cores and fourth-gen RT Cores, scalable up to eight GPUs (768 GB GDDR7) and integrated with Google Kubernetes Engine, Vertex AI, and Dataproc for ML, analytics, and deployments. Omniverse enables photorealistic simulations and digital twins; customers like WPP and Altair show use cases in advertising and engineering. This platform aims to accelerate AI, simulation, and design at enterprise scale.

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 booster in 29th flight from Vandenberg (Starlink 11-17)

October 20, 2025, 2:46 PM EDT. SpaceX deployed 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on the Starlink 11-17 mission, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base's SLC-4E. Liftoff occurred at 8:54 p.m. PDT (11:54 p.m. EDT / 03:54 UTC). The mission flew on a south-easterly trajectory, adding to SpaceX's expanding megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1071, marked its 29th flight-the second-most flown booster-having previously supported NASA SWOT, five missions for the National Reconnaissance Office, and four rideshares. About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1071 landed autonomously on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'-the 156th landing on that pad and the 516th booster landing to date.

Tesla Driver Flung by Exploding Third-Party Charger in Canada Prompts Safety Review

October 20, 2025, 2:44 PM EDT. Shocking footage from Hope, British Columbia shows a Tesla driver being hurled to the ground after using a non-Tesla adapter at a DC fast charger. The August 2024 incident, now detailed in a TSBC report, points to a short circuit in the charger that sent abnormal voltage through the A2Z EV adapter, triggering an arc-flash. A2Z EV says its diagnostic logs showed multiple warnings and maintains there was no manufacturing defect in its adapter, attributing the fault to the station's ground-fault condition that was not fixed. The company reports an internal safety failure at the charger's battery stack and notes that an automatic shutdown should have engaged but did not. No serious injuries were reported; investigations continue as regulators scrutinize EV charging safety.

Karpathy: AI Agents Won't Replace Humans for a Decade

October 20, 2025, 2:38 PM EDT. OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy says AI agents are far from ready to replace human workers. Speaking on the Dwarkesh Podcast, he warned that today's agents are "cognitively lacking" and will need about a decade to work through all of those issues. He notes they are not yet multimodal, can't remember past interactions, and still require human guidance. The broader industry is cautiously experimenting: Gartner finds many firms pausing automation plans, and 95% of AI pilots have flopped, while projects like McKinsey's Copilot Studio-based email review have cut project-triage time from 20 days to two-with a human-in-the-loop requirement. In India, LimeChat touts an 80% reduction in contact-center staff. Experts expect AI agents to disrupt administrative tasks more than routine jobs, but widespread replacement remains distant.

Viasat Expands Defense Satellite Portfolio with PTS-G and MGEO Initiatives

October 20, 2025, 2:36 PM EDT. Viasat is expanding beyond commercial broadband into defense satellites, leveraging its commercial portfolio to meet the Pentagon's demand for secure, resilient in-orbit comms. The company is developing a dual-band X/Ka-band geostationary satellite for the Space Force's PTS-G program, aiming smaller, jam-resistant nodes based on commercial tech. The craft is built on the Viasat-3 high-throughput platform for Ka-band links. Space Systems Command has awarded Viasat a place on a potential 15-year, $4B multi-award contract alongside Astranis, Boeing, Intelsat, and Northrop Grumman. A $37.5M task order calls for satellite and ground architecture designs by early 2026, with launches slated for 2028. Viasat also plans involvement in MGEO and Golden Dome initiatives, following its 2023 Inmarsat acquisition to broaden mobility and government offerings.

IKEA's Phone Sleep Collection Rewards UAE Shoppers for Seven Nights of Screen-Free Sleep

October 20, 2025, 2:34 PM EDT. IKEA's new Phone Sleep Collection is a miniature bed with wooden slats and an embedded NFC chip that logs how long you let your phone sleep. The UAE-only promotion promises a shopping voucher worth about $27 if you keep your phone undisturbed for seven hours a night for seven nights. To buy, customers must pay 700 Dirham (~$204) and use the IKEA app to connect the bed. The campaign, by Memac Ogilvy, extends IKEA's pattern of sleep-themed promos and limited-time rewards. Past stunts include a Belgium insomnia hotline and Canada DM offers for a free mattress. The project highlights how retailers experiment with gamified rewards and geographic restrictions.

Strava breaks silence on Garmin feud, vows broader attribution and smoother connectivity

October 20, 2025, 2:32 PM EDT. Strava has commented on its feud with Garmin, saying it doesn't agree with the extensive branding Garmin is seeking but will keep uninterrupted connectivity for Garmin users as a priority. In a statement to TechRadar, Strava says it will extend similar attribution to all device partners going forward to be fair, aligning with Garmin's upcoming changes set for November 1. The remarks come amid a patent dispute over segments and heatmaps, and a Reddit post by Strava's Matt Salazar accusing Garmin of using partners as an advertising platform. Strava also notes it can't comment on ongoing disputes and hints at potential future moves, including a possible IPO discussion.

Garmin-Strava dispute takes a new twist: branding compromise keeps connectivity alive for Garmin users

October 20, 2025, 2:30 PM EDT. Strava and Garmin's feud has taken another turn that should reassure users. While the patent infringement case still looms, there's no immediate threat to connections between the two brands. Strava has backed down on Garmin's demand for pervasive branding, opting instead to give similar attribution to all device partners and adopt Garmin's branding guidelines for developers using Garmin data via the Strava API. Strava says its top priority is uninterrupted connectivity with Garmin, acknowledging that most Strava uploads come from Garmin devices. The compromise suggests the branding issue is largely settled, reducing the likelihood of Garmin cutting off the feed. Whether the patent dispute will fade remains uncertain, but Garmin users appear set to retain access to Strava for now.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch from Vandenberg Sunday to Deploy 28 Starlink Satellites

October 20, 2025, 2:28 PM EDT. SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, October 19, delivering 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit between 10:24 a.m. and 2:24 p.m. PST. Updated audibility models indicate residents of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Ojai, Ventura, and Oxnard may hear a sonic boom about 8-10 minutes after liftoff, with the strongest chance near Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Depending on weather, the plume could be visible up to about 100 miles from the launch site. Viewers can watch the launch live at spacex.com.

iPhone 17 Outpaces iPhone 16 in China and US in First 10 Days, Counterpoint Reports

October 20, 2025, 2:26 PM EDT. Counterpoint Research notes early demand for the iPhone 17, with stronger sales in both China and the United States during the first 10 days of availability. The firm specializes in tech industry analysis-covering connected devices, digital consumer goods, and software & applications-and offers syndicated reports, tailored research, workshops, and consulting. The report shows how market intelligence from agile firms helps brands gauge gadget trends, pricing dynamics, and market momentum in a fast-moving ecosystem.

Navitas Semiconductor Stock Surges 311% on Nvidia AI Data Center Partnership

October 20, 2025, 2:24 PM EDT. Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS) has jumped roughly 311% in 2025 after a late-week rally, including a 78.1% surge versus last week's close. The move followed an Oct. 13 press release announcing Navitas is supplying GaN and SiC power semiconductors for Nvidia's next-gen AI data centers. Nvidia's leadership in GPUs powering AI fuels optimism that Navitas will secure more design wins and partnerships. With a market cap near $3.1 billion, Navitas trades around 64x expected 2025 revenue. The company guided for about $10 million in Q3 revenue, down from $14.5 million in Q2, suggesting uneven early growth. Investors bet that stronger partnerships could reaccelerate growth in the quarters ahead. Disclosure: Keith Noonan has no position.

CATL Q3 profit growth accelerates amid competition and export-control risk

October 20, 2025, 2:22 PM EDT. CATL's third-quarter net profit rose 41.2% year-on-year to 18.5 billion yuan, with revenue up 12.9% to 104.2 billion yuan, signaling faster earnings growth despite intensified competition. The company remains the global leader in EV battery usage at 36.8% in the first eight months, down from 37.7% a year earlier, while BYD held an 18% market share (vs. 16.2% prior). CATL continues overseas expansion, including a new plant in Hungary slated to start production by early next year. However, Beijing's new export controls on lithium battery parts will require exporters to obtain permits from November, introducing uncertainty for CATL's overseas ventures. CATL supplies automakers including Tesla, Volkswagen, and Xiaomi.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Drops to $729 for Prime Day – 5-Star PCMag Favorite

October 20, 2025, 2:20 PM EDT. Prime Day discounts hit laptops hard, and PCMag flags the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition as a standout. This model, a PCMag Editors' Choice and a 5-star favorite, pairs a 2TB SSD with a 2.8K OLED display in a featherweight chassis that weighs about 2.17 pounds. The review praises the exceptional keyboard and broad ports, though it notes the lack of SD/microSD card slots and modest graphics performance. At about $1,820 after discount, it's a strong value for a business-class portable. Compare that to the test model's 512GB configuration, and you can see why many buyers would snap this up. For more savings, see our hub of Prime Big Deal Days coverage.

SpaceX to Carry ~90% of Global Payload Mass to Space in 2025; Pichai Responds

October 20, 2025, 2:18 PM EDT. Elon Musk claims SpaceX will handle about 90% of the world's payload mass launched to orbit in 2025, a projection tied to its market lead and reusable Falcon 9 technology. A chart shows SpaceX already surpassing 90% in Q2, underscoring its de facto monopoly on US and global access to space. Musk framed SpaceX as Earth's space program, while Google CEO Sundar Pichai replied with "Incredible to see!!" The firm attributes its cost-efficient, high-cadence launches to reusable rockets, reshaping launch economics versus traditional expendables. The report notes a double-header Falcon 9 day with 56 Starlink satellites launched from Florida and California.

Is Apple's Siri Ready? Patience, Privacy, and the AI Race

October 20, 2025, 2:16 PM EDT. Longtime Apple watchers urged patience for Siri, arguing that privacy makes AI harder but worth the payoff. The author notes Apple's "best, not first" strategy, preferring to perfect technology before release rather than sprint to market. Siri's limitations-especially spoken answers that you must listen to before a caveat-remain a hurdle. Progress in AI is not linear, and recent disclosures that three new Siri features will take longer than expected underscore the growing gap. The piece discusses mitigation ideas, but ultimate judgment rests on a truly spectacular conversational Siri. With 2027 looming, expectations will be shaped by rivals like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, as Apple weighs privacy against performance.

AWS outage sparks memes as global services blink offline

October 20, 2025, 2:12 PM EDT. An hours-long AWS outage in the US-EAST-1 region triggered widespread disruption across banks, retailers and games, prompting a flood of apocalyptic memes on X and Reddit. The downtime began around 3 a.m. ET and most services were back by about 5:30 a.m., though engineers remained to clear backlogs. The incident affected logins and operations for apps including Roblox, Snapchat, Ring, Fortnite, Hulu, Venmo, Coinbase, WhatsApp, the Starbucks app and Microsoft 365; even the British government site and tax portal went dark. AWS cited an operational issue and said it was investigating the root cause while mitigating impact. The episode underscored how a small set of cloud providers can influence global internet availability and digital commerce, entertainment and communication.

EU Data Rules May Slow AI Innovation, Study Finds Cultural Moderation

October 20, 2025, 2:10 PM EDT. New research from Northeastern University suggests the EU's data protection regime-especially the GDPR-has dampened AI innovation, though the impact varies by culture. Luis Alfonso Dau analyzed over 550,000 AI patents from 2000-2019 across 48 countries and found that countries with strict data protection regulations exhibit lower AI innovation. 'Balancing consumer protection with domestic competitiveness is nuanced,' Dau notes. Using Geerte Hofstede's cultural dimensions, he shows that higher levels of individualism, assertiveness, and indulgence correlate with a smaller negative impact from GDPR, with examples like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland. Conversely, higher uncertainty avoidance and power distance correlate with stronger dampening (e.g., Belgium, Portugal, Greece; Croatia, Romania, Slovenia).

Apple TV+ and Peacock launch $15/month bundle with ad-supported tier

October 20, 2025, 2:06 PM EDT. Apple and NBC have launched a bundle pairing Apple TV+ and Peacock at $15/month for the ad-supported tier. The deal compares to Apple TV+ at $13/month and Peacock at $11/month, yielding roughly $9/month in savings. The caveat: the base tier includes ads; ad-free options run higher (Apple TV+ $20/month; Peacock $17/month standalone). Apple One subscribers also get a 35% discount on Peacock Premium Plus. The move ties into broad streaming bundling and positions both platforms as the showpieces for fans of Ted Lasso, The Office, and other originals like Poker Face, Twisted Metal, and Mrs. Davis. The bundle launches now and highlights continued cross-service promotions.

Deal Alert: High-Performance 15.6" Ryzen Gaming Laptop Drops to $467.49 in Flash Sale

October 20, 2025, 2:04 PM EDT. An eye-popping flash sale slashes price on a 15.6" Ryzen Gaming Laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, integrated Radeon 660M, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. At $467.49, this rig undercuts many budget desktops and handles esports, content creation, and multitasking. The 15.6" FHD IPS display features 144Hz for smooth gaming, while the slim aluminum chassis (

Tesla Stock Nears Buy Point: Risks To Watch As Cup-With-Handle Pattern Emerges

October 20, 2025, 2:02 PM EDT. Tesla (TSLA) trades near a potential buy point as investors watch a base with a 470.75 handle. The EV leader's chart shows an emerging cup-with-handle pattern, a classic bullish setup that could prompt an aggressive entry if price clears the handle. Traders should weigh earnings risk and the possibility of a whipsaw in a choppy market before committing new capital. Key metrics to monitor include a Composite Rating of 78/99 and an Industry Group Ranking of 34/197. With a positive pattern forming, buyers should assess risk tolerance and confirm follow-through beyond resistance before buying.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Slashed to $800 on Amazon – 40GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 13th Gen i7

October 20, 2025, 2:00 PM EDT. Power through work and play with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, now down to $800 on Amazon – a 64% off off the regular price. The configuration packs a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H (10 cores) with boost up to 4.9GHz, a massive 40GB DDR5 RAM for effortless multitasking, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD for plenty of storage. The 15.3-inch WUXGA IPS display (1920×1200) stays sharp, while a 720p webcam with privacy shutter keeps video calls clear. Connectivity is solid with WI-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, plus a full set of ports (USB-C with PD, HDMI, USB-A, SD card reader). Don't miss this limited-time deal before it returns to normal.

One UI 8.5 Could Bring Album-Art Lock Screen and Pixel-like Call Screen

October 20, 2025, 1:58 PM EDT. Samsung's One UI 8.5 is rumored to introduce a refreshed lock screen for its media player, featuring a centered album art display and a new transition when skipping songs. A clip posted by tipster Tarun Vats suggests the album cover will dominate the lock screen, with song title and artist beneath and a subtle delay as covers swap. The feature reportedly works with Spotify and could extend to other services like YouTube Music and Pandora. Alongside this, rumors point to a Pixel-like Call Screen feature with AI-driven transcription, spam filtering, and automatic answering, with a potential beta rollout in late November. Samsung continues refining One UI ahead of the update.

Samsung One UI 8 Unveiled: AI Tools, Interactive Wallpapers, and 6-Year Support

October 20, 2025, 1:56 PM EDT. Samsung is rolling out One UI 8 on Android 16, stepping up with AI-powered features like Gemini Live and Best Face. The update adds two new interactive wallpapers-placed in the much-derided Graphical category-sparking debate on customization choices. Beyond visuals, One UI 8 brings Audio Eraser for cleaner clips, smarter Galaxy Gallery edits, and a dynamic lock screen clock that adapts to your wallpaper. Samsung promises six years of OS and security updates for compatible devices, a major longevity play for fans and enterprise alike. The mix of practical tools and bold experiments-plus the wallpaper controversy-summarizes the upgrade as a bold step forward that may not satisfy every user.

Vertu Agent Q: A $18,000 Luxury AI Smartphone Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Supreme

October 20, 2025, 1:54 PM EDT. Vertu's Agent Q blends luxury materials with cutting-edge tech. The phone uses crocodile leather, gold detailing, and stainless steel accents, plus Vertu's concierge via the Ruby Key button-connecting owners to a team of over 200 specialists for travel, dining, and more. Limited to 27 bespoke units exclusive to Harrods in London, it carries a price range of roughly $12,880-$18,800. Inside, it runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Supreme, with a dedicated hardware encryption chip for added security. Marketed as an AI agent phone, it aims to perform tasks through agentic AI rather than a sea of apps. Specs include a 6.02-inch AMOLED 120Hz display, 16GB RAM, up to 1TB storage, a triple camera setup (50MP main, 64MP tele, 50MP ultrawide), and a 5,565mAh battery with 65W charging.

Tesla Stock: Buy Before Autonomous Valuation Unlocks, Says Daniel Ives Ahead of Q3 Earnings

October 20, 2025, 1:50 PM EDT. Tesla stock is viewed as a buy ahead of Q3 results, with analyst Daniel Ives noting incremental positivity from a likely deliveries beat and stabilizing demand. He cites pull-forward EV demand before the US tax credit expiration and a modest China rebound as the key upside, while headwinds remain in Europe. For the quarter, consensus revenue is around $26 billion, with about $19 billion from autos; Ives sees potential upside if energy margins improve and the higher-margin energy division strengthens the mix. China has become a source of strength thanks to the Model Y; new six-seat Model YL and ongoing Shanghai production support demand. On the call, attention will shift to Robotaxi, autonomy, and Optimus as the AI narrative drives the stock.

SPOT X Satellite Messenger Tested for Hurricane Readiness

October 20, 2025, 1:48 PM EDT. During severe weather, staying connected matters. A Fox 26 segment with meteorologist John Dawson demonstrates the SPOT X Satellite Messenger, a rugged gadget that keeps you in touch when cell towers go down. The test highlights how this satellite-based device sends SOS and messages even when traditional networks fail, offering critical reliability for storm prep and recovery.

Stranger Things: Catalyst VR Experience Opens at Sandbox VR

October 20, 2025, 1:46 PM EDT. Experience a new chapter in Stranger Things with Catalyst, a full-immersion VR experience now at Sandbox VR locations worldwide. Players become Dr. Brenner's test subjects, exploring the sinister halls of Hawkins National Laboratory, the Rainbow Room, Mirkwood, and the Upside Down. Channel Eleven-like power to hurl objects and battle Demobats, Demodogs, and the Demogorgon using telekinetic powers. Matthew Modine returns as Dr. Brenner. Sandbox VR founder Steve Zhao promises an experience that goes beyond the screen with patented motion-tracking and a high-end haptic system. Catalyst is Sandbox VR's third Netflix collaboration after Squid Game Virtuals and Rebel Moon: The Descent. Meanwhile, Netflix's Stranger Things Season 5 will release in three parts: Nov 26, Dec 25, and Dec 31.

Portugal's Sines as a Data-Centre and Submarine Cable Hub: Renewables, Low Costs, and Latency Edge

October 20, 2025, 1:44 PM EDT. Portugal is shaping Sines as a strategic hub for digital infrastructure. Officials say the investment signals international confidence in Portugal as a destination for innovation and high-value investment, strengthening its role in the global digital economy. Renewables powered 71% of electricity in 2024 and rose to 81% early 2025, with energy prices well below EU averages, giving Portugal a cost edge over Ireland and the Netherlands. The Sines port is positioned as a landing point for submarine cables that carry the bulk of international internet traffic. Placing data centres near these landing stations can deliver lower latency for cross-border data transmission, reinforcing Sines as a key telecoms and data-centre hub.

Kenny Loggins Demands Removal of AI-Generated 'Danger Zone' Clip Used in Trump Video

October 20, 2025, 1:42 PM EDT. Kenny Loggins is demanding the removal of an AI-generated clip of Donald Trump that uses his hit song 'Danger Zone.' Loggins says the clip, which depicts an AI Trump dumping brown sludge on protesters and is aligned with a Trump meme post, is an unauthorized use of his recording. He urges the video be taken down and notes he would have denied permission. The controversy underscores tensions around copyright, AI deepfakes, and how platforms like X and Truth Social handle such content. Trump has not removed the video, prompting ongoing cease-and-desist and copyright discussions.

NoiseFit Endeavour Pro Review: Rugged Build, Long Battery Life at ₹9,999

October 20, 2025, 1:38 PM EDT. Reviewing the NoiseFit Endeavour Pro, a smartwatch that aims to punch above its weight. The build pairs a titanium alloy bezel with a sturdy polycarbonate chassis and a 22mm silicone strap. It withstands 0°C to 50°C and minor drops. The 1.5-inch AMOLED display with 1000 nits brightness stays readable in sun, helped by auto-brightness. It tracks heart rate, SpO₂, stress, steps, and sleep across 100+ sports modes and uses dual-band GPS. It syncs with Strava and Apple Health; you can store music and play via Bluetooth. Battery life runs about five days with heavy use and up to two weeks on moderate use. Extras include a LED flashlight, red emergency light, and mild SOS. Drawbacks: limited quick replies, no third-party apps, occasional time reset. Price: ₹9,999.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Rumor: March Launch, Ultra With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Edge Dropped

October 20, 2025, 1:34 PM EDT. Another day, another Galaxy S26 rumor suggests Samsung may delay the flagship launch by two months, pushing unveiling to March instead of January. The report claims development and design issues as the reason. It says the Galaxy S26 Ultra has completed development, while the Galaxy S26 faces delays. No extra details are given, so treat with caution. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to use a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy SoC and a 10-bit display, while the standard Galaxy S26 is expected to run an Exynos 2600. The lineup is said to include a Galaxy S26 Pro, S26+, and S26 Ultra, with the Galaxy S26 Edge reportedly dropped due to poor sales of the S25 Edge. Source.

iPhone 17 long-term review: 120Hz display, Center Stage, and deep customization

October 20, 2025, 1:30 PM EDT. After a month with the iPhone 17, this long-term user review highlights a true upgrade. The 120Hz display makes scrolling and visuals feel fluid, a big jump from the iPhone 16. The Center Stage camera is put through its paces against rivals, with the Pixel 10 in particular as a comparand, and the main camera's 48MP delivering impressive low-light results and strong night mode performance. iOS 26 steps up with deeper customization-including depth effect on wallpapers and dynamic clock sizing-making the lock/home screens feel personalized. While it's a solid daily driver, there are a few caveats mentioned in passing as the author weighs daily use against the clean spec sheet.

D-Wave Quantum QBTS: Is This the Best Quantum Stock to Buy Now?

October 20, 2025, 1:28 PM EDT. Interest in quantum computing stocks has surged, and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) has been a standout performer with a 500% rise in six months. The story is not just momentum: D-Wave's sixth-generation Advantage2 quantum annealing system, with over 4,400 qubits, is commercially available and targets real-world use cases in optimization, materials simulation, and artificial intelligence. A key advantage is a strong balance sheet, with over $800 million in net cash, helping the company weather potential pullbacks as the quantum space matures. Investors might consider gradual exposure or buying in thirds to manage risk, rather than a lump-sum purchase. Note that the sector remains volatile, and outcomes could change over time.

Amazon AWS outage disrupts Zoom, Roblox, Snapchat and more services

October 20, 2025, 1:26 PM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted dozens of major services worldwide, hitting Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Signal, Coinbase and even Amazon's own Ring and Alexa devices. The outage began around 3:11 a.m. ET with increased error rates in the US-EAST-1 region and was blamed on issues with the domain name system (DNS). AWS said engineers were actively working as it reported significant error rates; by about 6 a.m. ET many services were recovering, with a full resolution still underway. In total, 64 internal AWS services were affected. The outage underscores how much of the internet relies on a few cloud computing giants. It's not the first time: similar disruptions hit in 2023 and AWS has had major outages in 2021 and earlier years. Industry experts warn of ongoing risk to government, education and business networks.

Past Might Be Prologue? Investor Sees Nvidia Stock Rally Extending After Blackwell

October 20, 2025, 1:24 PM EDT. TipRanks highlights a bullish view on Nvidia (NVDA) following the Blackwell launch. Investor Adria Cimino argues that history could repeat, predicting double-digit to triple-digit gains as Blackwell drives data-center demand. Cimino suggests Nvidia could rally toward around $284 within 24 months if conditions stay favorable. The article cites Nvidia's strong Q2 results-revenue of $46.7 billion and 17% sequential data-center growth-supporting the thesis. Despite the upside, Cimino cautions about geopolitical and macro risks. Wall Street remains broadly supportive, with a Strong Buy consensus and a 12-month average price near $224.69, implying roughly 23% upside. Overall, the piece frames Nvidia as a long-cycle AI winner, contingent on macro stability and continued demand for AI chips.

CleanSpark Rises as Bitcoin Miner Pivot to AI Data Centers Expands

October 20, 2025, 1:22 PM EDT. Shares of CleanSpark Inc. surged as much as 13% after the Bitcoin miner announced a pivot into AI data centers, expanding into date-center infrastructure and hiring Jeffrey Thomas from Saudi Arabian AI firm Humain. The Henderson, Nevada-based company says the move leverages existing assets-ample power capacity and seasoned engineers-to kick-start the build-out of AI infrastructure. Several crypto miners have signaled plans to diversify into AI infrastructure, aiming to monetize spare energy capacity and talent. CleanSpark's pivot reflects a broader strategy to apply traditional mining assets to the growing demand for AI compute and data-center services.

Oura unveils redesigned app with Cumulative Stress and FDA blood pressure study

October 20, 2025, 1:16 PM EDT. Oura is rolling out a redesigned app with more personalization across three tabs: Today, Vitals, and My Health. The update adds a stress-focused feature called Cumulative Stress, tracking how sleep continuity, heart stress-response, sleep micro-motions, temperature regulation, and activity impact accumulate over a month and updating weekly. It also expands menstrual cycle insights to a 12-month view. In parallel, Oura is pursuing FDA clearance for a blood pressure feature and has launched a Blood Pressure Profile study to identify early hypertension signals by passively analyzing ring data combined with a short questionnaire in Oura Labs. Participants in the study will receive a health assessment indicating no, moderate, or major signs of hypertension; the app will roll out globally in the coming weeks.

Oura revamps app with expanded stress tracking and hypertension study

October 20, 2025, 1:14 PM EDT. Oura is redesigning its app to add expanded stress-tracking insights, including a new Cumulative Stress feature that provides a weekly view of how the body manages and recovers from stress using sleep, heart rate, temperature, and activity data. The update, arriving on iOS and Android in coming weeks, also introduces a stress-management dashboard. Separately, Oura is collaborating with the FDA on a blood-pressure study for US Oura Labs early-access members to identify early signs of hypertension by combining ring data with a lifestyle questionnaire. Apple Watch models already offer hypertension notifications after FDA clearance in September.

Oura to Trial Blood Pressure Profile in Smart Ring for Early Hypertension Detection

October 20, 2025, 1:12 PM EDT. Finnish wearable maker Oura Health Oy is moving toward blood pressure monitoring with its smart ring. It announced a planned Blood Pressure Profile study for later this year to detect early signs of hypertension without displaying real systolic or diastolic numbers, as it works toward a future consumer feature. The study will track users' data without a traditional cuff and provide insights to help people understand their potential risk levels. If successful, the cuff-less approach could echo other wearables aiming to offer cardiovascular context rather than diagnostic readouts, expanding the appeal of Oura's ring beyond sleep and activity tracking.

Oura Ring introduces Cumulative Stress to flag burnout and previews app redesign

October 20, 2025, 1:10 PM EDT. Oura Ring unveils Cumulative Stress, a new metric that measures long-term stress by analyzing a month of biometric data to flag potential burnout before symptoms appear. It complements daytime stress and shows the body's hidden toll from strain. Oura validated Cumulative Stress against the Perceived Stress Scale and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, factoring sleep continuity, heart-rate response, sleep micromotions, temperature regulation, and activity impact. The rollout includes Stress Management and a refreshed Today tab that emphasizes a single 'One Big Thing'. Other updates widen Cycle Insights to a 12-month view, speed up cycle-phase insights, and add a planned Blood Pressure feature with FDA collaboration, plus a Blood Pressure Profile study.

Apple stock climbs as iPhone 17 demand beats expectations in U.S. and China

October 20, 2025, 1:08 PM EDT. Apple shares rose 4% after Counterpoint research showed the iPhone 17 outsold the iPhone 16 by 14% in the U.S. and China within the first 10 days. The data helped traders push the stock higher as demand for the latest model exceeded expectations. Loop Capital upgraded Apple from hold to buy and raised the price target to $315 from $226, signaling material upside through CY2027. The iPhone 17, launched in September, offers a better chip, improved display, higher base storage, and a selfie camera upgrade at the same price as last year, fueling value-driven purchases. Analysts say the momentum could keep lifting Apple shares amid strong demand for the new generation.

Lazer Logistics Powers Yard Management with BEVs and LFP Battery Strategy

October 20, 2025, 1:06 PM EDT. Lazer Logistics expands battery-electric yard operations with its Electric Vehicle Spotter Program, relying on Orange EVs to move trailers in distribution yards. The initiative has logged over 2.5 million zero-emission miles and more than 1 million hours of EV operation, backed by rigorous powertrain testing comparing CNG and diesel. The leadership, including a chemical-engineer-informed team, favors a 100% lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery strategy, citing long runtimes and strong data. Drivers report quieter cabins, reduced vibration, instant acceleration, and better cold-weather performance. Lazer argues that TCO advantages, a heavier curb weight, and improved traction make BEVs superior for yard tractors. The company continually evaluates technologies (ammonia, ethanol, methanol) while prioritizing LFP chemistry and data-driven decisions.

Viasat Demonstrates First Direct-to-Device Satellite SMS on Android in Mexico

October 20, 2025, 1:04 PM EDT. Viasat conducted a country-first D2D demonstration in Mexico, enabling native SMS exchange between two Android smartphones over the I-4 F3 satellite using 3GPP NTN standards. One device connected via satellite, the other over cellular, with SMS and push-to-talk (PTT) supported by the HMD Offgrid and the Bullitt app. All messages ride on L-band satellite links, built on NTN RAN/CORE tech from Skylo. The project highlights how D2D can let ordinary devices reach satellites without dedicated hardware, under Release 17 3GPP specs, and paves the way for operator collaborations to bridge connectivity gaps. Viasat, MSSA participation, and partnerships like Equatys with Space42 underscore a broader push toward global D2D/MSS in a 5G-ready era.

Troy University SBDC launches regional AI initiative for rural Alabama businesses

October 20, 2025, 1:02 PM EDT. Troy University's Small Business Development Center is launching a regional initiative to help rural Alabama businesses understand how AI can boost operations and growth. The program begins with a free virtual workshop, "Work Smarter, Not Harder & Safer: AI Tools for Small Business," on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with registration at https://asbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/10481. Presented by Juliana Bolivar, Director of the Troy University SBDC, and Katherine Zobre, SBDC Business Consultant, the session covers the basics of AI, safe and effective use, and practical tasks like drafting emails, marketing content, proposals, and workflow organization-at no cost. This is the first regional effort in Alabama focusing on rural communities, with partners across chambers of commerce and economic development groups, aligning with Troy's All Ways Real. Always TROY. campaign.

Turn Your E Ink Tablet into a Reading Powerhouse: File Formats and Integrations

October 20, 2025, 1:00 PM EDT. Turn an E Ink tablet into a reading powerhouse. From reMarkable to Kindle Scribe and Supernote, reading quality hinges on supported file formats and official integrations. Key options: reMarkable supports PDF and EPUB (SVG export); Supernote covers PDF, EPUB, DOC/DOCX, TXT; Kindle formats AZW3, MOBI, PDF, EPUB; Kobo supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI and more. Consider any built-in integrations that broaden access to your library. By matching your material to your device's supported formats and features, you can read, annotate, and organize books and documents on your E Ink tablet-without sacrificing performance or flexibility.

Woori Bank launches high-interest deposits linked to Samsung Wallet Money and Points

October 20, 2025, 12:58 PM EDT. Woori Bank has launched high-interest products tied to Samsung Wallet Money and Points, offering attractive returns amid ultra-low rates. The Samsung Wallet Money Our Bank Account deposits can earn up to 3.5% annual interest (0.1% base; +2.4pp if connected; +1.0pp if sign up by year-end) with a 2 million won cap and a first-come, first-served basis for up to 200,000 signups via the bank's mobile web. The Samsung Wallet Money Our Savings deposits offer up to 7.5% annual interest (base 2.5%; +2.0pp if Wallet Money is charged more than three times); plus an extra 1.0pp for holding the Samsung Wallet Money Our Bank account and a preferential 2.0pp for customers without Woori deposits in the last six months. A Lucky Box event adds cash rewards and a chance to win Samsung Galaxy Fold/Flip and Ultra Watch.

Stranger Things: Catalyst VR launches at Sandbox VR venues worldwide in Netflix collaboration

October 20, 2025, 12:54 PM EDT. Sandbox VR has launched Stranger Things: Catalyst, a fully immersive VR experience produced with Netflix and now available at Sandbox VR locations worldwide. Players become test subjects inside Dr. Brenner's Hawkins Laboratory, gaining telekinetic powers to throw objects, demolish obstacles, and battle the Demobats, Demodogs, and the Demogorgon as they race to escape and uncover the lab's dark secrets. With the rift to the Upside Down widening, teams must collaborate to survive the escalating threats and save Hawkins. CEO Steve Zhao calls it the most ambitious Netflix collaboration yet, delivering an original chapter that lets fans embody iconic powers and share unforgettable moments in a group Stranger Things universe.

Tesla Adds More Supercharger Ports in Q3 Than Next Nine Networks Combined, Dominating US Public DC Fast-Charging Growth

October 20, 2025, 12:50 PM EDT. Tesla dominated US public fast-charging growth in Q3, adding 1,820 new ports out of 4,061 total DC fast-charging ports, more than the next nine networks combined. ChargePoint added 300 ports, Red E 215, with the rest spread among others. Tesla's all-time US port deployment reached 34,328 stalls, about 53.2% of the market, though Q3 share fell to 44.8% as rivals expanded. Across the US, 699 new public fast-charging stations joined in Q3, a 12% drop from Q2's 794, per Paren (DOE tallies showed 780). The trend shows growing availability and higher-powered stalls, while policy and funding shifts risk slowing momentum. Tesla remains a leading player even as the landscape broadens to serve non-Tesla EVs.

Best DJI Mic Deal: Save 34% on the DJI Mic Mini at Amazon

October 20, 2025, 12:48 PM EDT. Save on the DJI Mic Mini: The package with 2 transmitters and 1 receiver is on sale for $79 at Amazon, down from $119 – a 34% discount and the best price we've seen. For creators, this compact wireless mic kit makes vlogging and on-the-go interviews easier, delivering clearer audio than built-in mics. Note: deal pricing and availability can change after publication. Includes everything you need to start: two transmitters, one receiver, and USB-C/lighting power options. With this bargain, you can step into content creation without breaking the bank.

iPhone Air One Month Later: Camera and Battery Fears Put to Rest

October 20, 2025, 12:46 PM EDT. After a month with the iPhone Air, the initial fears about its ultra-thin design and the lone 48-MP single camera largely faded. The reviewer compared it to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, finding you can live with the trade-offs for everyday use. The camera delivers crisp, detailed footage most of the time, and features like Center Stage work on the Air as well. At $999, the device prioritizes portability over multi-lens versatility, so zoom and ultrawide shots aren't as flexible, but the experience remains compelling. Battery life, once a concern, proved manageable for daily use. Bottom line: sleek design, capable camera, and battery expectations met-camera and battery fears put to rest for many users.

Spectrum and Bexar County Expand Fiber Broadband to 12,000+ Rural Homes and Businesses

October 20, 2025, 12:44 PM EDT. Bexar County and Spectrum are expanding fiber broadband to more than 12,000 additional homes and businesses in unserved and underserved areas. The public-private partnership involves a total investment of over $58 million–$46.6 million from Spectrum and an $11.8 million grant from Bexar County. The rollout will reach communities including Von Ormy, St. Hedwig, Converse, Somerset, Atascosa, Adkins, Sandy Oaks, Macdona, Helotes, Schertz, Cibolo, and Selma. Phase 2, finishing by year-end, will connect an additional 2,400 homes and businesses; Phase 1 was completed in March. The project aims to close the county's digital divide revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stranger Things: Catalyst Comes to Sandbox VR for an Immersive New VR Experience

October 20, 2025, 12:42 PM EDT. Sandbox VR debuts Stranger Things: Catalyst, an immersive VR chapter created with Netflix and partners. Players become Dr. Brenner's test subjects, exploring Hawkins National Laboratory, the Rainbow Room, the woods of Mirkwood, and the Upside Down. They can fight like Eleven with telekinetic powers, hurling objects and fending off Demogorgon and other threats. Escape the lab and uncover its secrets as Stranger Things fans dive deeper into the universe. Powered by Sandbox VR's full-body motion tracking and cutting-edge haptic tech, the experience delivers unprecedented immersion and co-op thrills ahead of Netflix's Stranger Things Season 5.

Tanzania Reaches 56.3 Million Internet Users as Connectivity Hits 87% of Population

October 20, 2025, 12:40 PM EDT. Tanzania recorded 56.3 million active internet subscriptions by September 2025, up from 52.9 million in June, signaling rapid progress toward universal access. The surge is driven by expansion of mobile broadband (4G/5G) and rising smartphone adoption, with mobile operators expanding coverage to rural areas. More than 99% of users access the web via mobile devices, underscoring the centrality of mobile technology in the country's digital transformation. Internet penetration now reaches 87% of the population, aligned with the Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) and the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB). Public Wi-Fi, lower data tariffs, and ongoing investment are boosting inclusion and enabling growth in mobile money, e-commerce, and online learning. The report projects subscriptions to rise through 2026 as 5G deployments and device affordability continue to accelerate connectivity.

AI Spending Offsets Tariffs – But a Catch for Tech Growth and Policy

October 20, 2025, 12:36 PM EDT. AI spending has helped cushion the economic blow from tariffs, boosting productivity and investment across sectors. Yet the relief may be temporary, as higher costs, supply chain frictions, and policy uncertainties could erode gains. The story examines how AI adoption and automation drive efficiency in manufacturing and logistics, offsetting tariff friction, while warning that the dividend could hinge on tech talent, data access, and the pace of policy changes. Firms weigh the cost of AI deployments against tariff savings, seeking smarter procurement, reskilling, and resilient supply chains. The takeaway: tariffs remain a headwind, but strategic AI investment could sustain growth – until new policy twists emerge.

Tesla FSD V14.2 Targeted for Wide Release as V14.1.x Stays Internal

October 20, 2025, 12:32 PM EDT. Tesla is tightening the cadence of its full self-driving (FSD) releases. After rolling out FSD V14.1.2 with the revived Mad Max Mode to early testers, Elon Musk said the wide public rollout will target FSD V14.2, not a 14.1.x build. V14.1.x (including 1 and 2) is staying in internal testing, while V14.1.3 is in development for influencers. A North America map update (NA-2025.44) could accompany the new release, addressing data-driven issues like speed limits. The broader rollout to the masses is anticipated around the upcoming Q3 2025 Earnings Call on Oct 22 and the Nov 6 Shareholder Meeting, with some predicting V14.2 will land just before the event. Elon still foresees V14.3 later as the step toward a more 'sentient' driving experience.

What the Huge AWS Outage Reveals About Internet Resilience

October 20, 2025, 12:26 PM EDT. An AWS outage in US-EAST-1 disrupted major services worldwide, highlighting the Internet's fragility. The incident affected Amazon's e-commerce, Ring, Alexa, and threatened users of WhatsApp, ChatGPT, PayPal/Venmo, Epic Games, and several government sites. AWS traced the issue to DNS resolution failures impacting the DynamoDB API endpoint in US-EAST-1 and urged users to flush DNS caches. While mitigations began by 5:22 am ET and the underlying problem appeared resolved by 6:35 am ET, some services faced backlogs. Experts describe this as a classic availability problem and a data integrity risk: when a single cloud region becomes a chokepoint, cascading failures ripple across the Internet. The outage underscores how relying on centralized cloud platforms yields efficiency with tradeoffs in resilience and trust.

Tech-heavy Stocks Lead Higher as Earnings Week Kicks Off and Trade War Eases

October 20, 2025, 12:22 PM EDT. US stocks rose to start a busy earnings week, with the Dow up about 0.7%, the S&P 500 ~0.9%, and the Nasdaq leading gains after a softer tone on trade. Investors anticipate results from Tesla, Intel, Netflix, and Coca-Cola, while Zions Bancorp reports after the bell. A cooling in US-China tensions and talks resuming in Malaysia provided a market-friendly backdrop, tempering fears of tariffs. Watch for the CPI release Friday and the upcoming Fed meeting as policymakers balance inflation and rates. The day's news also included an Amazon AWS outage ripple and Apple's stock hitting a record on strong iPhone 17 demand.

Honor's 'Emotional Companion' Smartphone with Flipping Gimbal Camera Sparks Debate

October 20, 2025, 12:20 PM EDT. Honor is pitching its concept as an AI-driven 'emotional companion' smartphone that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously. The design centers on a camera on a gimbal that flips out from the back of the device, a feat of engineering that doubles as a potential conversational buddy. While the idea is intriguing, the projected uses feel unsettling: the company's references to Pixar and the Star Wars universe hint at a device meant to coo at passersby and mollify a user's baby. Critics worry about a trend toward phone-as-personal-assistant that borders on insubstantial companionship, even as Honor claims it will be at the forefront of AI device innovation and hints at a release next year.

AI in Healthcare: How AI is Changing Your Doctor Visit and Data Privacy

October 20, 2025, 12:18 PM EDT. AI is reshaping the patient experience, from tablet-based intake forms to chatbot scheduling and ambient scribe tools that feed the EHR. While these apps can reduce cognitive load and improve reimbursement, they raise privacy and data-sharing concerns: de-identification is not the same as anonymization, and data can be used by third parties for marketing or research. Patients should ask providers where intake data is stored, who has access, and whether de-identified data may be used for purposes beyond care. The vision is broader-toward better disease understanding and more efficient clinics-yet hidden risks include potential cost shifts and expanded billing.

OnePlus 15 debuts with 7,300mAh battery and 120W wired / 50W wireless charging ahead of October 27 launch

October 20, 2025, 12:16 PM EDT. OnePlus reveals the OnePlus 15 will feature a 7,300mAh battery, a substantial jump from the OnePlus 13 and well above the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 5,000mAh. The flagship will support 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, with bypass charging to optimize power flow. Rumors suggest this battery tech could use silicon-carbon chemistry, potentially delivering about two days of typical use. The phone also sports a 1.5K, 165Hz display and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. China launch set for October 27; US models may still cap charging at around 80W. More details will emerge ahead of the official debut.

Apple TV + Peacock Bundle Unveiled: 35% Savings, Apple One Subscriber Discounts

October 20, 2025, 12:14 PM EDT. Apple and NBCUniversal unveiled a new Apple TV + Peacock bundle, delivering substantial savings for US customers. The bundle offers Apple TV + Peacock Premium for $14.99/month, or $19.99/month for Peacock Premium Plus with ads-free. That's about 35% off buying the services separately ($12.99 + $10.99). Apple One subscribers get an extra perk: Peacock Premium Plus for $10.99/month, a 35% discount off $16.99. You can sign up from the Apple TV app or Peacock app/website, with integrated payments in Apple's ecosystem. The deal also includes cross-platform access to watch content and sample Peacock originals like Slow Horses and Apple TV originals like Twisted Metal. If you recently bought Peacock annually, you may request a pro-rated refund to switch to the bundle.

iOS 26.1 release date: when to expect the next iPhone update

October 20, 2025, 12:08 PM EDT. iOS 26.1 is in beta and expected to land in late October, with the best candidate date around October 27 and a fallback to very early November. The update focuses on Apple Intelligence across eight languages, adds AirPods Live Translation in five more languages, and brings a Swipe gesture for Apple Music. Alarms and timers gain a Slide to stop gesture, while the Photos video scrubber and Phone app receive UI tweaks. If you're on iOS 26, upgrading to iOS 26.1 could fix bugs and unlock these new features.

Major AWS outage highlights cloud dependency and internet disruptions

October 20, 2025, 12:06 PM EDT. A major AWS outage disrupted access to many popular sites and services early Monday, underscoring how the internet relies on the Amazon Web Services cloud. The disruption appears to have begun around 3 a.m. Eastern in the US-East-1 region, impacting services that depend on AWS infrastructure, including Slack and Microsoft 365. Downdetector flagged widespread problems, while Amazon said it applied initial mitigation around 5 a.m. and that some sites were returning online. The incident illustrates how cloud computing platforms underwrite a vast range of websites, apps, and government services, and how an outage at a single provider can cascade into global disruptions, highlighting ongoing questions about reliability, redundancy, and the role of major cloud vendors like AWS in the internet economy.

Quantum computing's scaling bottleneck: replacing coaxial cables with advanced flexible interconnects

October 20, 2025, 12:04 PM EDT. Quantum computing is attracting record investment, but scaling remains hampered by aging infrastructure. The article highlights coaxial cables-a century-old solution-carrying control and readout signals into cryogenic qubit environments. As qubit counts grow from hundreds to thousands, traditional cables struggle with limited channel density, bulky footprint, and high failure rates from thermal cycling. In these frigid systems, every connector threatens coherence and system reliability. Innovative engineering points to a path forward: flexible, multichannel cables that weave superconducting materials with integrated filtering and signal conditioning. By consolidating functions into a single component, these next-generation interconnects deliver far higher channel density and improved reliability, helping quantum machines scale toward practical quantum advantage.

Public AI Is the New Multilateralism: Global Compute Pooling for Apertus LLM

October 20, 2025, 12:02 PM EDT. Public AI is forging a new form of diplomacy as an international coalition of AI labs and cloud providers pools their compute to run Apertus, a Swiss-built open-source LLM. The model's queries may be served by AWS in Switzerland, Exoscale, AI Singapore, Cudo Compute, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre, or Australia's NCI, illustrating a distributed, cross-border approach to AI access. The effort highlights practical, scalable steps toward multilateralism in technology policy and demonstrates how global collaboration can accelerate availability of powerful tools while sharing compute responsibly. If sustained, this model could point the way forward for international cooperation in AI research, governance, and deployment.

A Clarification on AI from Your CEO: Satire, Layoffs, and PR Missteps

October 20, 2025, 11:56 AM EDT. An internal memo from a CEO at Bin There, Felt That braids AI hype with a chaotic culture. The piece cites the blunt line that CEOs are extremely excited about the opportunities that AI brings and then exposes a controversial email thread filled with crude jokes, a misquote, and transgressive name-calling. It introduces JOË̈, an AI agent intended to manage layoffs humanely, and recounts a strained friendship with a reporter. The memo lampoons leadership hype, PR missteps, and the ethical minefield of using AI to fire people, revealing a culture where humor clashes with harm.

Strategy (MSTR) Outpaces Nvidia and the S&P 500 After Bitcoin Pivot; 1,540% Gain

October 20, 2025, 11:52 AM EDT. Since its late-2020 pivot to Bitcoin, Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy) has delivered multi-year gains that outpace the S&P 500 and even NVIDIA. Rebranding to Strategy Inc. in 2025 while keeping the MSTR ticker signals a Bitcoin-treasury strategy wrapped in software, a bold financial narrative that aligns a balance sheet with a macro bet. Despite its size and profitability, MSTR was not added to the S&P 500 on the latest rebalancing, yet the stock rose as a leveraged proxy for Bitcoin. The piece highlights outsized returns plus the risks that can reverse, underscoring how Bitcoin exposure can drive upside and downside.

Global AWS outage disrupts major sites and services worldwide

October 20, 2025, 11:50 AM EDT. An outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) disrupted thousands of apps and websites worldwide, with more than 70 AWS services affected at the peak. Major platforms such as Facebook, Disney+, Reddit, Lyft, The New York Times, Snapchat, and airlines and banks reported issues. AWS advised customers to clear caches and warned that some requests may be throttled as systems recover. In the U.K., Gov.uk and HMRC reported disruption, and Lloyds Bank, Halifax and National Rail also faced outages. The incident highlights AWS's roughly 30% global cloud share and the cascading risk of cloud dependence for online services.

Apple iPad Pro M5: 3.5x AI Boost and Fully Custom Cellular/Wireless Chips

October 20, 2025, 11:48 AM EDT. Apple's iPad Pro gets a notable upgrade with the M5, delivering up to 3.5x better AI performance vs. the M4. The bigger story: Apple now ships with fully custom cellular and wireless chips, a move toward greater independence from third-party suppliers. Pricing stays steady at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,299 for the 13-inch, with pre-orders starting Oct 15 and devices in stores Oct 22. Connectivity shines with Wi-Fi 7 and the efficient C1X modem, which can matter more for cloud syncing and live collaboration than raw compute. For M4 owners, the jump is compelling but not mandatory; for M1+ users, the suite of speed, networking, and efficiency upgrades makes a strong case depending on workflow and budget.

Duffy says SpaceX behind on Artemis moon mission, opens contracts to Blue Origin

October 20, 2025, 11:46 AM EDT. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator, says SpaceX is falling behind the Artemis schedule and will open contracts to other firms, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. He aims to push forward the U.S. moon program and win the second space race, saying the agency won't wait for a single company. SpaceX remains a participant in NASA's Artemis program to establish the first long-term presence on the Moon, while others like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman also support the effort. NASA has already redrawn launch timelines for Artemis, with next missions delayed into 2026-27, and Duffy suggests potentially accelerating the lunar program toward a 2028 moon return, inviting competition to advance timelines. The article notes SpaceX's recent Starship tests amid broader industry setbacks.

Are We Already Witnessing Space Warfare in Action? The Rise of ASATs and the Orbital Arms Race

October 20, 2025, 11:44 AM EDT. Space nations are expanding anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities, turning space into a potential battlefield. The article notes that major players – China, Russia, India, and the United States – view space-based weapons as a deterrent and a way to prevail in a conflict. It explains that ASATs include both kinetic-kill (direct-hit missiles) and soft-kill methods like electronic warfare, cyber operations, and sabotaging ground stations. Analysts point to co-orbital capabilities and recent incidents showing in-orbit interference, including GPS disruption and jamming of commercial satellites such as SpaceX Starlink. The piece argues that attacking satellites is becoming normalized in military planning, even as broader global issues like authoritarianism and climate change loom. The takeaway: space is increasingly a domain of competition and potential conflict.

AMA Center for Digital Health and AI: Bridging Medicine, Tech, and Policy

October 20, 2025, 11:40 AM EDT. The AMA Center for Digital Health and AI forges connections across medicine, technology, policymakers, and regulators to shape benchmarks for the safe and effective use of AI and digital health within clinical workflows. It aims to ensure AI tools are designed and deployed to fit real-world care while protecting patients and data. The center also educates physicians and clinicians on how to integrate AI efficiently and ethically into practice, clarifying capabilities, limitations, and implementation strategies. By aligning stakeholders, it supports policy guidance, standard-setting, and practical adoption across health systems. Learn more.

A Conversation on the Web's Future with Tim Berners-Lee and Brewster Kahle

October 20, 2025, 11:38 AM EDT. Two pioneers of the web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Brewster Kahle, discuss the rise of the internet, its evolving impact on society, and the fight for open access. The conversation highlights Berners-Lee's creation of the World Wide Web, HTML, URLs, and the HTTP protocol, alongside Kahle's mission to ensure universal knowledge through the Internet Archive and public access initiatives. Topics include the history of the web, the role of the W3C and the World Wide Web Foundation, challenges to preservation, censorship, and the balance between innovation and safety. The dialogue underscores how archival tools, open standards, and visionary libraries can shape a more connective, democratic internet for future generations.

OnePlus 15 Display Official: 165Hz Refresh, 1 Nit Brightness, 13% More Color

October 20, 2025, 11:36 AM EDT. The OnePlus 15's display is officially teased, featuring a 165Hz refresh rate, higher brightness by about 13%, and improved color accuracy by roughly 11.8% versus the OnePlus 13. The panel, produced by BOE, uses a near-borderless design with 1.15mm bezels and promises 10% lower power consumption and 30% longer lifespan. It runs on an Oppo P3 chip to boost response times and brightness stability at high refresh rates, plus a true hardware-level 1 nit minimum brightness certified by TÜV Rheinland. Notably, the display is listed as 1.5K resolution-downgraded from QHD+-while the phone will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Launch in China is imminent, with a global reveal anticipated in November.

One UI 8.0 Rollout to Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7; One UI 8.5 Preview for Galaxy S26 in 2026

October 20, 2025, 11:34 AM EDT. Samsung's One UI 8.0 arrived July 9, 2025 for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, continuing its two-update-per-year cadence. With 8.0 out, attention is on One UI 8.5, likely debuting with the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026 and rolling out in May-June if timelines hold. Some reports point to a March 2026 reveal due to development challenges. Early internal testing is already underway on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, suggesting 8.5 could ship pre-installed on the new flagship. Expected features include more Galaxy AI tools for photo editing, translations, and writing, smarter multitasking for foldables, faster performance, and expanded customization (themes, fonts, lock screens). If you own a recent Samsung device, watch the rollout calendar for updates.

Bioprocessors: Computers Powered by Human Brain Organoids

October 20, 2025, 11:32 AM EDT. In a quiet Swiss lab, startup FinalSpark is pursuing bioprocessors built from reprogrammed human stem cells turned into neurons and assembled into brain organoids. Electrodes connect to the organoids, letting researchers send signals and read neural activity that mirrors digital binary. Proponents contend biological neurons are dramatically more energy-efficient than silicon, promising huge savings as AI workloads grow. Demos include a robot using an organoid to read Braille, but the field faces challenges: organoids can die, data is noisy, and questions about consciousness in living networks loom. Despite uncertainties, researchers push ahead, hoping living brain tissue could unlock low-power computing at scale-if the science can be made reliable.

Exynos 2600 Might Ship Without Integrated Modem on 2nm Process

October 20, 2025, 11:30 AM EDT. Samsung's upcoming Exynos 2600 is splashed with rumors that it could ship without an integrated modem, instead relying on an external one. While this could keep devices slim, it echoes past criticisms that Exynos chips lag behind Qualcomm in battery life and efficiency. The 2600 is reportedly built on Samsung's 2nm process, aiming to boost performance and power efficiency, and mass production has reportedly begun. If true, this change could affect devices like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with a launch expected in early 2026. Still, details remain scarce, and Samsung may reveal clarifications about modem integration and real-world impact before the official reveal.

Innospace wins Korea's first private orbital launch approval for Hanbit-Nano

October 20, 2025, 11:28 AM EDT. Innospace has received Korea's first commercial launch authorization from the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) for its Hanbit-Nano orbital launcher, a milestone for the country's private space sector. The approval clears the way for the inaugural Spaceward mission, targeting a window from Oct. 28-Nov. 28 at the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil and carrying five small satellites from Brazilian and Indian partners, plus additional payloads and a branding item. A KASA team will visit Brazil to review safety and support the mission, reflecting stronger Brazil-South Korea space cooperation. Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage vehicle capable of deploying up to 90 kg to a sun-synchronous orbit, using a hybrid LOX/paraffin first stage and a LOX/methane second stage. Future variants, Hanbit-Micro and Hanbit-Mini, would raise payloads up to 170 kg and 1,300 kg, respectively. Innospace listed on KOSDAQ in July 2024.

DMU lecturers trained to spot AI misconduct as AI use grows

October 20, 2025, 11:26 AM EDT. At DMU, academics are balancing encouragement of AI use with preventing misconduct. Staff are receiving guidance and face-to-face training on spotting signs of wrongful AI use as AI tools grow more capable. Dr Abiodun Egbetokun notes that detection is difficult but markers-such as repetitive phrasing or unusual Americanisms-are becoming clearer. DMU's policy allows AI to support thinking, provided students demonstrate how they used it; submissions that present AI-generated text as their own or that fabricate references can trigger disciplinary panels. Many cases are currently accidental, due to skill gaps rather than intent. The programme aims to sharpen instincts and showcase faculty across the university, with similar moves echoing at Oxford where ChatGPT Edu is now available.

Amazon Web Services outage disrupts online services worldwide

October 20, 2025, 11:24 AM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage is causing disruptions worldwide, with services in the eastern U.S. region affected and engineers racing to identify the cause. The incident, tracked by DownDetector and reported by the AP, has disrupted popular apps and services including Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Robinhood, and the McDonald's app. AWS says it is actively investigating and providing updates on its status page as outages ripple across governments, universities, and enterprises relying on cloud infrastructure. This is a developing story; expect further updates as engineers work to restore normal service.

Henry Ford-MSU Innovation Hub fast-tracks AI, devices and diagnostics to transform patient care

October 20, 2025, 11:22 AM EDT. Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences have expanded their 30-year collaboration with the Innovation Hub, designed to fast-track health-tech from idea to impact. Led by Henry Ford Innovations and MSU Research Foundation, the Hub aligns physicians, researchers and entrepreneurs to shorten the path from discovery to commercialization. It combines clinical validation, startup support and a joint $10 million venture fund for digital health, devices, diagnostics, and augmented intelligence (AI). The program offers an end-to-end pipeline-discovery, funding, clinical validation and commercialization-while expanding EHR usability and adoption. This venture-catalyst approach is backed by the AMA Health System Member Program and positions Henry Ford Health and MSU as a living test lab for patient-centered care improvements.

AMA launches Center for Digital Health and AI to place physicians at the center of medical technology

October 20, 2025, 11:20 AM EDT. AMA launches its Center for Digital Health and AI to place physicians at the center of developing and deploying technology in medicine. The center aims to ensure AI and digital health tools fit clinical workflow, lessen physician burden, and improve patient care. Core focus areas include policy and regulatory leadership, clinical workflow integration, education and training, and broad collaboration across tech, research, government, and health care sectors. AMA CEO John Whyte notes that Augmented Intelligence will define healthcare, but physician input is essential to maximize safety and effectiveness. Surveys show many physicians already use AI tools, yet concerns about data privacy and reliability remain. The center seeks to harness innovation responsibly, advance patient care, and address clinician concerns.

Ontario records show repeated health and safety hazards at NextStar EV battery plant in Windsor

October 20, 2025, 11:18 AM EDT. Ontario records obtained by CBC News show that workers at the NextStar Energy battery plant in Windsor faced persistent health and safety hazards, including carbon monoxide exposure, electrical risks, and flooded parking lots. Provincial inspectors have visited since construction began in 2022 and issued more than 100 orders related to OHSA violations, including 10 stop-work orders. NextStar, a JV between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, has largely complied with recent orders. The concerns reached cabinet-level attention, with Labour Minister discussions about increasing inspector presence on site. The project promises about 2,500 jobs and billions in incentives from federal and provincial governments. NextStar says it meets industry standards and noted an occupancy permit and eight million safe work hours achieved.

How AI Can Accelerate Storm Surge Forecasts to Save Lives

October 20, 2025, 11:16 AM EDT. Storm surge is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths and damage. This piece explains how AI can accelerate storm surge forecasts by augmenting traditional hydrodynamic models. Today's forecasts rely on physics-based simulations that are accurate but slow when high grid resolution is needed for neighborhood-level detail. Running many small cells across coastal areas increases computational cost and introduces latency, delaying warnings for communities and emergency responders. By merging physics with machine learning surrogates, data assimilation, and rapid emulation of high-resolution runs, forecasts can achieve faster turnaround without sacrificing accuracy. The result could be earlier, more precise alerts, better evacuations, and enhanced coastal resilience.

Honor Magic 8 Mini set to challenge iPhone Air with AI-powered features

October 20, 2025, 11:14 AM EDT. Honor is set to challenge Apple's iPhone Air with the Magic 8 Mini, a compact AI-powered contender. Following the surprise launch of Magic 8 and Pro in October, Honor emphasized an innovative form factor, AI self-evolution, and a new lifestyle approach. The Magic 8 Mini is rumored to use a Dimensity 9500 chipset with Immortalis-Drage GPU, delivering better power efficiency and enhanced gaming. Expect faster memory, advanced AI features, and generous storage, plus a battery larger than the iPhone mini. Security could combine a 3D Face scanner with Ultrasonic Fingerprint recognition, and a potential 200MP camera may keep the device slim. If true, the Magic 8 Mini could present a credible challenge to the iPhone Air in 2025.

Open Cosmos to Lead Spain's Atlantic Constellation for Earth Observation

October 20, 2025, 11:12 AM EDT. Open Cosmos has been selected by the Spanish Space Agency and ESA to lead Spain's portion of the Atlantic Constellation, touted as the largest Earth observation network contracted in Spain. The eight microsatellites will deliver data for environmental management, climate resilience, and coastal zone surveillance, equipped with high-resolution multispectral optical cameras, GNSS reflectometry sensors, IoT connectivity, and Automatic Vessel Identification System (AIS). The project aims for procedural interoperability with other satellite systems, supporting sovereign capabilities and rapid, data-driven decisions for governments, industries, and researchers. From monitoring forests and water resources to tracking pollution and maritime activity, the constellation promises near-real-time insights for emergencies like wildfires and floods, as well as smarter navigation and coastal protection. Other European partners and Spanish regions may contribute satellites to this shared system.

AWS outage disrupts major sites as DNS issues hit US-East-1, restoring services after hours

October 20, 2025, 11:10 AM EDT. An AWS outage affected the company's DNS and multiple services in the US-East-1 region, impacting sites including Amazon, Disney+, Reddit, Snapchat, and Canva. AWS reported an 'operational issue' with DynamoDB and said it was pursuing multiple recovery paths. The outage began around 12:11 a.m. PDT, with more than 70 services affected and government sites such as Gov.uk and HMRC reporting issues. By about 3:35 a.m. PDT, AWS said the issue was fully mitigated and most operations were returning to normal, though some requests could still be throttled as queues backed up. The incident underscores AWS's critical role in cloud infrastructure, hosting a substantial share of the market.

Apple Watch Series 11 review: superb smartwatch, but the SE 3 offers better value

October 20, 2025, 11:06 AM EDT. Macworld's Apple Watch Series 11 review says the Apple Watch Series 11 is an excellent smartwatch – it looks and feels great, offers superb battery life, and supports fast charging. The design remains timeless, and the user experience is smooth and intuitive. The big caveat is value: the Apple Watch SE 3 is almost as capable and costs about $150 less. So while the Series 11 is a standout in performance and refinement, most buyers may prefer the SE 3 for better value. If you want the best pure Series experience and price isn't a concern, the Series 11 won't disappoint; otherwise, choose the SE 3.

AWS DNS Outage Disrupts Websites and Services Worldwide

October 20, 2025, 11:04 AM EDT. An AWS DNS outage disrupted a broad swath of the internet, knocking offline websites, banks and some government services as the issue spread across cloud-hosted apps. Amazon said the problem was "fully mitigated" within hours, with most services returning to normal after an hours-long disruption. The outage centered on DNS-the system that translates web addresses into IPs-and affected consumer apps such as Coinbase, Fortnite, Signal and Zoom, as well as Amazon's Ring devices. The incident underscores how many companies rely on AWS data centers and the global cloud market. Amazon offered no immediate cause for the outage. The report recalls prior global outages, including a 2024 CrowdStrike malware-update disruption and a 2021 Akamai DNS failure.

Alibaba Cloud's Aegaeon pooling slashes Nvidia GPU use by 82%, boosts inference up to 9x

October 20, 2025, 11:00 AM EDT. Alibaba Cloud claims its Aegaeon pooling system slashed Nvidia GPU needs by 82% during a multi-month beta inside Model Studio, yielding up to a 9x improvement in system-wide goodput. In production tests, GPUs required for dozens of LLMs dropped from 1,192 to 213, with one H20 serving multiple models via token-level scheduling and model packing. The inference-time scheduler avoids per-model reservations, instead dynamically allocating compute as output is generated. The work, peer-reviewed and presented at the SOSP 2025 conference, highlights hardware efficiency gains in constrained markets (e.g., China under export controls) but leaves open whether results transfer to other clouds or fabrics. Alibaba's vertically integrated stack and eRDMA network are likely contributors, and the approach could inform other hyperscalers facing bursty demand.

Tesla Brand Value Drops 35% to $29.5B; BYD Surges, Tesla Ranks 25th in Interbrand Global Brands 2025

October 20, 2025, 10:58 AM EDT. Tesla's brand value fell 35% in 2025 to $29.5 billion, per Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2025. The slide underscores how product hiccups, Musk's public controversies, increased EV competition, aging lineup, and the Cybertruck's mixed reception have dented the once-pristine image. The report notes that strong branding translates into loyalty, easier product launches, and pricing power, making the decline notable for investors. BYD joins the top 100 for the first time with an $8.1 billion brand, signaling shifting dynamics in the EV race. Tesla remains recognizable with a loyal following, but its ranking dropped to 25th.

Beyond Meat, Tesla, Kering, TKMS: Stocks Trend on Debt Restructuring, Mergers and Defense Demand

October 20, 2025, 10:56 AM EDT. In early trade, Beyond Meat jumped roughly 60-70% in pre-market after saying it would restructure its debt, even as it has shed most of its value over five years. The same session brought Paramount Sky Dance stock up about 1% amid news of planned mass layoffs and potential savings of around $2 billion. In luxury, Kering rose over 3% after announcing it would sell its entire beauty division to L'Oreal for €4 billion, with Kering up about 94% in six months. The ship-and-defense group TKMS debuted in Germany, opening with big gains after Thyssenkrupp's shares fell ~20%. Demand for submarines and defense tech remains a tailwind amid the war in Ukraine. Finally, Tesla sits in focus ahead of its next earnings report, trading up about 1% pre-market.

AWS outage fully mitigated after DNS issue hits US-East-1, impacts major sites

October 20, 2025, 10:52 AM EDT. An AWS outage that began around 3:11 a.m. disrupted services across the internet, knocked offline apps in the US-East-1 region, and affected sites including Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, McDonald's, and Coinbase. AWS attributed the issue to a DNS failure and said it has fully mitigated the incident. Most services are back online, but some requests may be throttled as backlogs are cleared and systems finalize restoration. The outage also raised accessibility concerns for schools and remote workers. As AWS completes remediation, affected sites are gradually returning to normal operation. The report notes ongoing recovery steps and credits the rapid restoration to the incident response effort.

Elon Musk Threatens to Quit Tesla Over Controversial Compensation Plan

October 20, 2025, 10:50 AM EDT. Elon Musk has publicly threatened to leave Tesla or quit as CEO if he doesn't get the controversial compensation package approved by shareholders. The plan could unlock up to trillions in value, with Reuters noting Musk could receive tranches worth $20-$40 billion even if Tesla underperforms. Critics say the deal rewards below-average returns and could be used to dazzle investors. Musk's response, boasting about market cap and implying he won't stay, raises governance concerns and could pressure shareholders ahead of the November 6 vote. Analysts warn the package risks misaligning incentives, while Musk's push to secure it continues to dominate discussions about the company's future and leadership.

Loop Capital upgrades Apple, sees iPhone adoption set to rise through 2027

October 20, 2025, 10:48 AM EDT. Loop Capital upgraded Apple to buy from hold and raised its price target to $315 from $226, signaling nearly 25% upside. The firm's supply-chain view places us at the front end of a long-anticipated iPhone adoption cycle with shipment growth through CY2027. Analyst Ananda Baruah argues there could be material upside beyond Street expectations as Apple expands beyond the iPhone 17 with differentiated designs, lighter and foldable forms, and a potential first "AI Phone." If confirmed, Loop says this could mark a third straight year of design innovation. The note follows September demand for iPhone 17, with Apple stock up ~22% in three months and ~3% in 2025. Most analysts remain buy/strong buy.

Big Time Laptop Deals at Woot: Save 15% on the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, 2024)

October 20, 2025, 10:46 AM EDT. Woot is offering a 15% savings on the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, 2024) powered by the M3 chip. The sleek, silent design delivers strong performance for everyday work, creative projects, and all-day battery life, now discounted by $165. This deal targets students, creators, and professionals who want premium portability without sacrificing speed. Highlights include a bright display, light chassis, and the macOS ecosystem. Act fast, as the promotion and stock are limited.

AWS outage disrupts services globally after DNS issue hits US-East-1

October 20, 2025, 10:42 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted several popular services after a DNS issue in the US-EAST-1 region (in Northern Virginia) began around 2 a.m. CT. Downdetector logged spikes across platforms including Amazon, Snapchat, Ring, and Fortnite. AWS said the DNS problem was fully mitigated and most services were returning to normal by 6 a.m. CT, with the outage largely resolved and a full resolution still being pursued. The incident underscores AWS's cloud-central role for global sites. Amazon (ticker AMZN) is led by CEO Andy Jassy, while founder Jeff Bezos serves as Executive Chairman with a large stake.

Apple Watch SE 2 Deal: $169 at Walmart for 40mm, Limited Stock

October 20, 2025, 10:40 AM EDT. Walmart slashed the price on the 40mm Apple Watch SE 2, dropping to $169 for the starlight case with a green sport loop (and $170 for the midnight variant). The second-gen SE is still CNET's top budget pick, offering crash detection, heart-rate monitoring, and activity tracking. Inventory is limited, so act fast before stock runs out. It's a solid first smartwatch option for kids or anyone who doesn't need the premium features of the latest models. Note: this deal focuses on the SE 2, not the newer SE 3, but it delivers strong value at a steep discount.

Why the Internet Keeps Going Down: AWS Outage Highlights Cloud Dependency and Fragility

October 20, 2025, 10:38 AM EDT. An AWS outage shuttered a wide swath of the internet for hours, affecting banking, social media, travel and retail services. The disruption underscores how much of today's online life rides on a small cluster of cloud regions, making the web vulnerable to a single fault. While the root cause isn't confirmed, experts cite possibilities from faulty updates to bad code, third-party software changes, or rare network faults; cyberattacks are considered unlikely by some officials. The episode raises questions about redundancy and diversification, as companies lean on cloud providers instead of building truly decentralized infrastructure. AWS's last major disruption was in 2021, and observers say the speed and breadth of impact show how concentrated and fragile the internet's backbone has become.

Amazon AWS outage disrupts Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite and more

October 20, 2025, 10:34 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted a wide range of online services early Monday, affecting apps like Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, and Signal. Amazon Web Services reported DNS-related issues in the US-EAST-1 region and said engineers were working to restore services. By about 6 a.m. ET, most affected services were recovering, with a full resolution still underway. The disruption also hit consumer devices and platforms such as Ring, Alexa, and Kindle, and bubbled up on DownDetector. The outage highlights how much of the internet relies on a few cloud providers. AWS has faced major outages before (2021, 2020, 2017), underscoring the ongoing risk of single-provider dependence and the cascading impact on customers.

Empathy Tops the AI Transformation Agenda, Says American Express Executive

October 20, 2025, 10:32 AM EDT. Executive leaders say AI's impact goes beyond tech and hinges on empathy and human connection. Anna Marrs of American Express calls empathy the most under-hyped factor in the AI transformation era, noting Claude feels approachable. Paula Kerger of PBS warns that people fear AI and trust is built through transparent communication and responsible transformation. Iris Yen of Wella stresses mindful staffing-don't replace everyone, but empower a few in the right roles. Deloitte's Amy Feirn adds the three Ps–purpose, preparation, and positioning-as core to adoption: clear goals, robust cloud infrastructure and data security, and the right talent moves. In short, tech progress must be matched by governance, infrastructure, and ongoing empathy to keep consumers and employees engaged.

Save $40 on the world's first smartphone-based telescope

October 20, 2025, 10:28 AM EDT. Hestia, the first smartphone-based telescope, is on sale for $259.99 (reg. $299). Attach it to the included tripod, align your phone with the ocular using the Gravity app, and start stargazing. With 25x magnification and 5x the resolution of a typical smartphone, you can see sunspots and lunar craters. The app supports day and night modes, and a patented six-lens optical design directs light into your camera. No batteries needed. The kit includes a premium tripod, solar observation kit, glare-reducing visor, and a transport case; it's waterproof and temperature-resistant. Funded via Kickstarter/Indiegogo, Hestia brings telescope-grade viewing to your pocket.

Napster – yes, that Napster – is making a big AI play

October 20, 2025, 10:26 AM EDT. Napster, the once-iconic file-sharing brand, is making a bold AI push. The move signals a pivot from legacy music sharing to AI-powered streaming and discovery, with potential applications in personalized recommendations, smarter content indexing, and licensing workflows. The initiative shows how legacy platforms are harnessing AI to compete in modern digital music by enabling faster search, better curation, and new revenue models. Industry observers will watch how Napster scales its ML models, partners with labels, and protects rights while delivering data-driven experiences for listeners.

SpaceX Schedule at Vandenberg: Falcon 9 launches to deploy Starlink satellites

October 20, 2025, 10:24 AM EDT. SpaceX plans multiple Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California this week to deploy Starlink satellites. The schedule includes Starlink 11-5 on Wednesday, Oct. 22; Starlink 11-12 on Saturday, Oct. 25; and Starlink 11-21 on Monday, Oct. 27. Each mission uses a 230-foot Falcon 9 two-stage rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E, with launch windows of 7 to 11 a.m. PT for the first two and 2:12 to 6:12 p.m. PT for the last. Boosters are expected to land on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific. Delays are common, so check for updates from local outlets like VC Star before heading out.

Amazon slashes price of rugged OUKITEL smartwatch to £34.19 after £100 cut

October 20, 2025, 10:22 AM EDT. Amazon has slashed the price of the rugged OUKITEL Smart Watch from £139.99 to £34.19, a saving of over £100. The sport-focused wearable is built to endure extreme environments (-40C), features a shatterproof display, and tracks 100 activities, from running to swimming. It includes optical sensors for heart rate, sleep, SpO2/pressure, steps, and calories, plus Bluetooth for notifications and the ability to answer calls from your wrist. Shoppers praise its comfortable rugged design, long battery life, and easy-to-use interface, with several budget-friendly alternatives highlighted (e.g., Reflex Active Series and Karrior).

iPhone Satellite Features in 2025: Availability, Countries, and What Works Where

October 20, 2025, 10:20 AM EDT. Apple's satellite features started with Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 and have grown into a broader safety toolkit. Apple extended free access for iPhone 14 and 15 users through November 2026, backed by a roughly $450 million investment with Globalstar to build out satellite infrastructure. Availability isn't worldwide: coverage depends on country and feature. Emergency SOS via satellite works in many regions, while Satellite messaging is currently limited to the US, Canada, and Mexico. Some places-such as Armenia, Belarus, and parts of China-don't support satellite features at all. Before travel, check Apple's support pages for the latest country list, as regulatory approvals are expanding capabilities with iOS 18 and beyond.

Strava vs Garmin patent battle rattles the wearables and fitness apps ecosystem

October 20, 2025, 10:18 AM EDT. Strava has filed a lawsuit against Garmin, accusing the wearable-maker of breaching two patents and seeking product withdrawals. Garmin replies by threatening to cut the data feed to Strava unless its information carries Garmin branding. The dispute has athletes debating where to post workouts if the Garmin-Strava link breaks and has sparked a public backlash against Strava after comments by chief product officer Matt Salazar. Users question Strava's stance on logo usage and the impact on third-party integrations, recalling past moves that affected partners. Industry watchers say the case highlights how intellectual property and platform control intersect with a market reliant on real-time exercise data from wearables. Some analysts tie the timing to Strava's potential stock flotation.

AI and Education: Preparing Students for a Changing Workforce

October 20, 2025, 10:16 AM EDT. AI is reshaping the workplace, and education leaders must act now. The piece argues that guiding students toward AI literacy and pairing curricula with the realities of the modern economy can convert disruption into opportunity. It identifies three labor-market shifts: the AI Users who will need daily, ethical AI collaboration; the AI Creators concentrated in places like Bay Area, Austin, Boston, and New York; and the Augmentation Effect where upskilling can drive net job growth, potentially boosting economic mobility. Rather than waiting for perfect data, schools should build dynamic, regionally aligned pathways-from certificates to advanced degrees-so learners become adaptable contributors in a future of work shaped by AI.

Ikea unveils a tiny bed for your smartphone

October 20, 2025, 10:14 AM EDT. Ikea has created a tiny bed for a smartphone, a playful example of the brand blending furniture design with tech accessories. The novelty item showcases Ikea's willingness to experiment in the gadget space, turning a phone into a bedside prop and sparking chatter about how brands extend beyond traditional furniture.

Data Storage: The Hidden Engine Behind AI's Rise

October 20, 2025, 10:08 AM EDT. Data storage is the hidden engine behind AI's rise. As AI touches vehicles, medicine, and consumer apps, the demand to store, access, and manage enormous data volumes has exploded-global data is projected to top 200 zettabytes this year. Every AI insight, output, or decision relies on fast, reliable storage and processing. Without efficient flash storage, AI models would stall. The AI data lifecycle-from ingestion and preprocessing to training and inference-depends on sustained storage performance and management. Analyses such as Sandisk's breakdown and reporting in Business Insider show how storage underpins every stage of AI workloads. This piece explains why data storage isn't just a backroom concern, but a crucial engine of the AI era.

Why AI Failures Are Worth Talking About-Loudly and Publicly

October 20, 2025, 10:04 AM EDT. At Taskrabbit, CEO Ania Smith introduced a 'Nailed it, Failed it' segment to publicly share AI flops, turning failure into learning. Fortune Most Powerful Women execs say leaders should normalize experimentation, embrace vulnerability, and learn from missteps rather than hide them. When AI pilots fail, champions advise clarifying how humans are needed to fix the tool. The discussion also highlights women adopting AI more slowly but benefiting from AI to reduce 'office housework' and focus on strategic, high-impact work. Quotes include Emma Chalwin's call to get comfortable with discomfort, Stephanie Kramer on human oversight, and Doniel Sutton on freeing female employees to pursue higher-potential tasks.

Tesla Investors Eye Teased Cybercab Ahead of Q3 Earnings

October 20, 2025, 10:02 AM EDT. Tesla (TSLA) reports Q3 earnings after the close as investors await details on the long-teased Cybercab and the company's broader strategy. CEO Elon Musk appears focused on his pay package and the upcoming shareholder meeting, while analysts survey production, margins, and demand signals. Consensus expects Q3 EPS to fall about 24% year over year to roughly 55 cents, per FactSet. Traders will look for clarity on the tease, any progress toward autonomous or new platforms, and commentary that could influence sentiment ahead of the report. The results could set the tone for Tesla's product roadmap, pricing moves, and capital allocation going into the next fiscal quarter.

AWS Outage Disrupts Global Internet: DNS Failure in US-East-1 Impacts Services Worldwide

October 20, 2025, 9:58 AM EDT. An early-morning AWS outage disrupted websites, apps, and cloud services worldwide. The incident began in the US-East-1 region with a DNS resolution failure affecting the DynamoDB API, cascading across EC2, Lambda, and dozens of other services. By mid-morning, ~28 AWS services were affected, causing slowdowns and timeouts for platforms like Snapchat, Ring, Alexa, Roblox, and Hulu, as well as financial apps such as Coinbase and Robinhood. Even retail and streaming-Amazon.com and Prime Video-saw partial outages. The outage also hit UK/EU banks and government sites, highlighting how deeply many systems rely on the AWS cloud. AWS reported resolution by around 6:35am ET after working on multiple recovery paths.

Samsung Prepping In-House Cloud to Rival iCloud and Deepen Galaxy Ecosystem

October 20, 2025, 9:54 AM EDT. Samsung is reviving its own cloud storage to challenge Apple iCloud and Google's paid offerings, shifting from an outsourced model to an in-house, end-to-end solution. The company reportedly tested 49GB and 199GB paid tiers for Galaxy users after winding down its partnership with Microsoft OneDrive for photo backups. With a unified cloud, Samsung aims to back up not just device data but media files as well, creating a one-stop restore experience when upgrading Galaxy devices. While Google Drive would still be an option, the move hints at stronger ecosystem lock-in through exclusive Galaxy perks. A migration tool and new Samsung Cloud tiers are anticipated alongside the Galaxy S26 launch and One UI 8.5 in early 2026, per leaks.

Are Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave Wall Street's Most Dangerous Investment? History Says Yes

October 20, 2025, 9:52 AM EDT. Pure-play IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. have surged 570% to 6,590% over the trailing year, but the piece warns valuations are on another planet and meaningful corporate adoption remains distant. The article notes near-term utility in AI, molecular simulations, weather modeling, and cybersecurity, yet historical patterns suggest a high-risk path for these stocks. While industry forecasts from The Quantum Insider and Boston Consulting Group point to trillions in potential value, real-world uptake-such as AWS Braket offering quantum services-remains nascent. Investors face FOMO versus reality: substantial upside if commercialization accelerates, but a volatile, crowded trade with uncertain timing.

Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet Expected to Be the First $5 Trillion Tech Giants

October 20, 2025, 9:50 AM EDT. The race to a $5 trillion market cap is shaping up: Nvidia and Microsoft appear to have clear paths to reach the milestone, with Alphabet a possible dark horse. Nvidia sits around $4.4 trillion, needing about a 14% lift, and investors eye an upcoming earnings release as a catalyst. Microsoft trails at about $3.8 trillion but benefits from the AI megatrend through Azure, its cloud platform that powers many AI models and had 39% YoY growth in its Intelligent Cloud segment in Q4 FY2025. Apple and Alphabet are discussed as contenders; Apple would need sustained growth to catch up, while Alphabet could potentially overtake Apple. The AI boom and cloud computing momentum underpin these projections, making Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet the early frontrunners toward $5 trillion.

JPMorgan's $10B push into quantum tech fuels stock surge

October 20, 2025, 9:48 AM EDT. JPMorgan Chase unveiled plans to invest up to $10 billion in four areas-supply chain and advanced manufacturing, defense and aerospace, energy technology, and frontier and strategic technologies (including quantum computing). The move boosted gains in quantum names such as Rigetti Computing, D-Wave, Arqit Quantum, and IONQ, with double-digit increases. The effort is part of a broader, multi-trillion-dollar push to bolster national security and critical tech infrastructure under the Security and Resiliency Initiative. As demand grows, tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are advancing gate-model quantum computing and related hardware, including Majorana 1 and Willow chips via Amazon Braket.

Apple Watch Series 10 price hits new low after Series 11 launch

October 20, 2025, 9:46 AM EDT. With the launch of the Series 11, Apple has relegated the Series 10 to last-gen status, and a generous Amazon deal has pushed the price to a new low. The Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) is now $559 (from $749), a $190 discount tracked by price sites. This makes it a strong buy for buyers seeking a larger display with core health features like ECG, Blood Oxygen, and sleep tracking, plus faster charging and an always-on display. Prices change, so check current deal prices before buying.

Enshittification of Online Platforms: Why Everything Feels Worse and How to Fight It

October 20, 2025, 9:44 AM EDT. Doctorow's concept of enshittification explains how online platforms start with a high-quality, loss-leader product, then degrade it to benefit business customers. Once advertisers and partners are locked in, platforms profit by prioritizing paid interests over user needs, often via ads, data collection and tuned algorithms. This cycle spreads across services-from Facebook and Twitter to Amazon, Google, dating apps, and even iPhones-creating a structural issue rather than isolated flaws. The model frames degradation as a disease with symptoms and epidemiology: attract users, monetize them, lock in business customers, and erode quality for everyone. Recognizing enshittification highlights both why things feel worse and where policy or design changes might still improve the online experience.

Apple Inks Five-Year Exclusive Formula 1 Coverage Deal for Apple TV in the U.S.

October 20, 2025, 9:42 AM EDT. Apple and Formula 1 have announced a five-year partnership giving all F1 races exclusive coverage on Apple TV in the U.S. starting next year. The deal includes live coverage of practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix, with select races and all practice sessions available for free in the Apple TV app during the season. Eddy Cue calls it front-row access to one of the world's fastest-growing sports, as Apple positions F1 as a centerpiece for 2026's regulatory era. Apple plans to amplify coverage across Apple News, Maps, Music, and Fitness+, with the Apple Sports app delivering live updates, real-time leaderboards, standings, Live Activities, and widgets. The partnership builds on the success of the F1 The Movie and will be expanded with further production and product details forthcoming.

5 Upgrades That Could Make the Galaxy S26 Ultra the Android Phone to Beat in 2026

October 20, 2025, 9:40 AM EDT. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to push Android flagships further with several notable upgrades. Expect an M14 OLED panel with Color-on-Encapsulation (CoE), delivering higher brightness (up to about 3,000 nits) and better energy efficiency, paired with stronger anti-reflective glass. A rumored Flex Magic Pixel privacy toggle could subtly adjust viewing angles to keep content private in public. The main camera is slated for a major jump through a larger 1/1.1-inch Sony sensor or a faster f/1.4 aperture, improving low-light performance and depth of field. While there's no single headline feature, these upgrades could collectively make the S26 Ultra a more capable, private, and photogenic Android flagship in 2026.

Exynos 2600 May Lose Efficiency Edge If 5G Modem Is Separate

October 20, 2025, 9:38 AM EDT. Samsung's 2nm Exynos 2600 on a GAA node is reportedly nearing mass production, but a rumor says the 5G modem will be separate from the SoC. In contrast, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500 pair basebands on-die, boosting efficiency. A separate modem could erode the promised gains of the 2nm GAA process due to extra power and space on the motherboard. The situation echoes Apple's approach in some models, but the article argues that Samsung may need an on-die modem to stay competitive. Note this rumor is unconfirmed; readers can check our rumor roundup for more context.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra Launching Soon

October 20, 2025, 9:36 AM EDT. The upcoming Galaxy S26 series from Samsung is shaping up to a trio: the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Leaks promise a new, high-performance Qualcomm processor for faster, smoother performance and a notable camera upgrade with better sensors for sharper photos and videos. Rumors also suggest new camera sensors have already surfaced, and the Edge model has been scrapped in favor of keeping the lineup tidy as S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Launch timing is prophesied for late January 2026, with a potential shift to March if there are delays. Partners are reportedly beginning camera-sensor production by November 2025, and software work for the Ultra is underway. Expect smarter AI features and enhanced software across the series.

Should enterprise developers care about Nvidia? Nvidia's software platform strategy for CUDA

October 20, 2025, 9:34 AM EDT. Nvidia is betting on a software-centric platform play to monetize beyond silicon. With a potential $1 trillion market on the table, Nvidia isn't content with selling chips alone; the real moat is software. CUDA has long been a proprietary advantage, but it's tough for the average enterprise developer. Nvidia's new approach abstracts the complexity and builds a software stack on top of its stack, targeting enterprise developers who don't want to become GPU wizards. By offering APIs and services like NIM (Nvidia Inference Microservices), Nvidia is turning CUDA into a broad platform-an AWS-like or App Store-style ecosystem designed to accelerate AI and ML workloads without deep low-level learning. This move could redefine who benefits from Nvidia's technology.

Cosmic Orange: Apple Sparks a 2026 Surge in Orange Smartphones with iPhone 17 Pro

October 20, 2025, 9:30 AM EDT. Apple's iPhone 17 Pro introduces Cosmic Orange, making orange one of the standout smartphone colors. The move could push orange Android phones toward mainstream adoption as other brands follow suit. Orange devices offer a bold look and pop with cases, but questions remain about whether the trend will age. Apple's vibrant color choice signals a potential color trend for 2026. An orange phone is attention-grabbing in photos and conversations and could become a fashion-forward option for buyers seeking something different. If you buy, the orange option adds personality and visibility, even with a case.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra May Stick with Exynos 2600 Across Lineup, Ditching Snapdragon

October 20, 2025, 9:28 AM EDT. Rumors suggest Samsung will equip the entire Galaxy S26 lineup with the Exynos 2600, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra, moving away from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. If true, this would mark the first top-tier Galaxy flagship to skip Snapdragon in four years. Samsung reportedly touts the Exynos 2600 with dramatic gains: up to 6x AI processing power of Apple's latest, around 15% CPU and up to 75% GPU improvements, and even 30% AI processing and up to 29% higher GPU vs Snapdragon. The manufacturer's strategy allegedly includes a standalone modem chip to free CPU/GPU space. As with all leaks, verifications are pending, but Samsung appears intent on showcasing the Exynos 2600 next year.

Grant Enables AI Imaging Database and TRACE Tool for PKD Research

October 20, 2025, 9:26 AM EDT. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have secured a five-year grant from the NIDDK to support TRACE, a Tool for Reproducible, Accurate Contour Estimation, powered by artificial intelligence to measure organ volumes in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The project will build a standardized, de-identified database of MRI and CT images and the PKD Image Phenotyping Repository Core to accelerate discoveries from basic science to clinical trials. By reducing variability in imaging data, TRACE provides precise imaging biomarkers to guide treatment decisions, such as disease-modifying medications or dialysis. The resource will include measurements of kidneys and related organs-liver, pancreas, spleen, heart-and the skeletal muscle index, helping researchers track progression and response while protecting privacy.

Taming LLMs: A Reliability Layer as the Last Hope to Cool the AI Bubble

October 20, 2025, 9:22 AM EDT. We may be in an AI bubble, but a practical fix could deflate it: a reliability layer on top of LLMs. The piece argues that hype around artificial general intelligence is overblown and that many pilots fail to reach production. To tame LLMs, the proposed approach introduces a continually expanding set of guardrails, keeps humans in the loop indefinitely, and customizes the system to fit each project. By expanding guardrails, validating behavior, and linking transactions to oversight, this strategy seeks to convert promising pilots into reliable products. If successful, it would reduce risk, improve user trust, and slow the bubble's detonation. Progress requires ongoing discipline, iteration, and governance rather than a single breakthrough.

Chime Outages Persist After AWS DNS Disruption in US-East-1

October 20, 2025, 9:20 AM EDT. Thousands of users reported problems with the Chime banking app amid a broader AWS outage that began around 3 a.m. EST on Oct. 20. Downdetector tallied more than 2,300 reports by 7:53 a.m. EST, and Chime's own status page cited a third-party service provider issue impacting services such as balances viewing and mobile check deposits. AWS later said the incident was largely resolved and attributed the disruption to a problem in its DNS in the US-EAST-1 region. Despite AWS updates, outages continued on Downdetector, and Chime warned it would monitor for further issues. The outage affected other sites as well, underscoring how a cloud-level disruption can ripple into digital banking platforms. USA TODAY will continue to follow developments.

Stranger Things: Catalyst lands at Sandbox VR across 60 locations

October 20, 2025, 9:12 AM EDT. Stranger Things: Catalyst is the latest Netflix x Sandbox VR collaboration, launching today as a location-based VR experience across 60+ sites. Unlike Tender Claws' more narrative Stranger Things title, Catalyst is a short, self-contained arcade wave shooter for up to six players set in the Hawkins National Laboratory and the Upside Down. A haptic vest with ankle and wrist trackers, plus a wand-like Catalyst controller, lets you grab objects, throw them at enemies, and telekinetically push close foes. A red boundary line and wind effects enhance immersion. Powered by the Vive Focus 3 (with Focus Vision updates planned next year), playthroughs run about 25 minutes. It's best enjoyed with a coordinated group; solo or casual visitors may find the experience dated and less compelling than other Sandbox VR offerings.

Europe's Leonardo, Airbus, Thales Plan 10B Satellite Merger to Rival SpaceX

October 20, 2025, 9:10 AM EDT. Europe's aerospace leaders Leonardo, Airbus, and Thales are pursuing a preliminary merger of their satellite businesses to rival SpaceX. The deal, valued at about €10 billion, aims to form a large, Europe-wide satellite manufacturer akin to the MBDA missile enterprise. Leonardo's board is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss details amid more than a year of negotiations, with France-Italy political and valuation tensions and a Paris government crisis complicating progress. The plan faces an antitrust review from the European Commission before it can proceed. As space exploration prioritizes cost-effective satellite production, Europe faces pressure to consolidate assets or risk obsolescence in a rapidly evolving market.

Pebble Smartwatch Relaunches with iPhone and Android Companion Apps

October 20, 2025, 9:06 AM EDT. Pebble is staging a comeback by releasing a new companion app for both iPhone and Android. The updated software supports not only existing Pebble models but also newer devices, expanding compatibility beyond the original watches. The relaunch aims to revive developer and user interest in the wearables category, with refreshed app experiences, improved syncing, and cross-platform support. The move signals renewed attention to legacy wearables in a crowded market, as Pebble leverages modern mobile ecosystems to extend the life of its smartwatch ecosystem. Tech watchers will note the continued demand for simple, long-lasting wearables that emphasize battery life, quick glance information, and a low-friction user experience.

IonQ vs Rigetti: Which Quantum-Computing Stock Is Favored by an Investor

October 20, 2025, 9:02 AM EDT. Quantum-computing stocks have surged on breakthroughs, including Alphabet's Willow chip progress and signs of growing government interest. In this spotlight, the investor known as Hunting Alpha weighs two names: IonQ (IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI). The piece highlights IonQ's fifth-generation system, IonQ Temp, hitting the AQ #64 benchmark ahead of schedule and claiming a computation space far larger than IBM's public quantum offerings. The company also closed the Vector Atomic acquisition and is pursuing collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy to advance quantum solutions for space. The takeaway is that one stock showed enough promise for a position while the other did not, underscoring the elevated risk yet potential of pure-play quantum plays.

Spotify Partners With Labels on AI Music Products – Balancing Innovation and Artists' Rights

October 20, 2025, 9:00 AM EDT. Spotify says technology should serve artists, not the other way around, as it teams with record labels to develop AI-powered music products. Co-president Alex Norstrom frames the move as a way to protect artists' rights, respect creative choices, and help fans discover new music. Critics warn AI risks polluting the creative ecosystem and shrinking streaming revenue for performers. MidCitizen Entertainment's Max Bonanno calls AI-generated songs a revenue drain, while Fairly Trained founder Ed Newton-Rex emphasizes ethical development and consent. The debate centers on a permission-based model: can innovation advance without artists' control? The article examines how Spotify's strategy aims to balance innovation, artists' rights, and audience access in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

ISS Urges Tesla Shareholders to Reject $1 Trillion Musk Pay Plan

October 20, 2025, 8:58 AM EDT. ISS has advised Tesla shareholders to vote against Elon Musk's proposed $1 trillion compensation plan ahead of the Nov. 6 meeting, warning it is exceptionally large and could grant Musk tens of billions even if performance targets are only partially met. The plan envisions milestones such as an $8.5 trillion market cap, 20 million vehicles, one million robotaxis, and $400 billion in adjusted earnings over the next decade. Tesla defends the package as essential to retain Musk's leadership amid expansion into robotics and artificial intelligence. The proposal follows Delaware court invalidation of a prior $56 billion package. ISS also suggested rejecting a nonbinding proposal to invest in Musk's xAI and opposed the re-election of Ira Ehrenpreis, while Tesla criticized ISS's guidance. Musk holds about 13.5% of voting power and could influence the outcome.

Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Bundle Gets 72% Off – Ryzen 5, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD

October 20, 2025, 8:56 AM EDT. Dell's 2-in-1 Inspiron bundle is the standout tech steal of the week, slashing the price by 72%. The model combines a laptop and tablet, powered by a Ryzen 5 CPU, and comes with an astonishing 64GB RAM and a massive 2TB SSD for local storage. The 14-inch convertible can switch from laptop to tablet on demand, and includes a Windows 11 Pro license, a bundled mouse, and a USB hub. Listed at around $3,400 but currently available for about $960, this limited-time Amazon deal won't last long. If you need portable power for heavy multitasking, this is worth a quick checkout.

Dreamforce 2025: Benioff's Agentic Enterprise Push Meets AI Adoption Hurdles

October 20, 2025, 8:54 AM EDT. At Dreamforce 2025, Marc Benioff unveiled the era of the agentic enterprise, arguing AI is playing its largest-ever role even as many customers struggle to deploy it. He said innovation is outpacing adoption and that many enterprises still lack a clear plan for AI deployment. Salesforce shares have fallen about 34% from their December 2024 peak, and the company cut around 4,000 jobs tied to its AI rollout. Benioff framed Agentforce as central to Salesforce, describing it as the core of every product. Anthropic chief Dario Amodei cautioned against 100% AI adoption, predicting humans will supervise most AI-driven coding and boost productivity. Analysts from Constellation Research talked up AI-driven CRM, while Salesforce pressed forward with updates to advance its AI roadmap.

AI-Driven Framework Predicts Invasive Plant Species Before Arrival

October 20, 2025, 8:46 AM EDT. An interdisciplinary team at UConn has developed an AI-driven framework to predict which plant species could become invasive before they arrive in new regions. Published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, the study repurposes machine learning techniques from astrophysics to analyze ecological traits and historical introductions. The work, led by Julissa Rojas-Sandoval with collaborators Daniel Anglés-Alcázar and Michael Willig, aims to move beyond post-hoc detections toward pre-entry screening. By combining decades of ecological data with sophisticated algorithms, the framework assesses which species carry the highest invasion risk and should be prioritized in import screening. This approach could complement traditional risk assessments and help protect ecosystems from rapid, hard-to-control invasions.

Samsung begins mass production of Exynos 2600 for Galaxy S26, with Ultra model potential

October 20, 2025, 8:44 AM EDT. Samsung Electronics has begun mass production of its own mobile AP, the Exynos 2600, ahead of the Galaxy S26 launch. Production starts in November and the chip is expected to power the Galaxy S26 series, with talks that the top Ultra model may also use Exynos 2600. Developed by Samsung's System LSI and manufactured on a 2nm process, it reportedly reaches 85% of its target. In internal tests, the Exynos 2600 delivers more than six times higher NPU performance than Apple's A19 Pro and up to 29% higher GPU performance than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. The chip's separation of AP and modem enables a larger CPU/GPU area and could boost performance. If installed on the Ultra, Samsung would deploy its own chip on the flagship Galaxy S series for the first time in four years.

Samsung Exynos 2600 reportedly beats A19 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in internal tests, AI up to 6x faster

October 20, 2025, 8:42 AM EDT. Samsung is prepping its first 2nm GAA SoC, the Exynos 2600, with internal tests claiming strong gains across AI, compute, and GPU. Data cited by Korea Economic Daily suggest the Exynos 2600 is 75% faster than the A19 Pro's 6-core GPU, and its AI engine is 6x faster. In multi-core compute, Samsung reportedly posts 14% faster performance versus the A19 Pro. Against the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the NPU is ~30% faster and the Adreno 850 score ~29% higher, though shared compute figures were not disclosed. Analysts caution that lab results differ from real-world use, as cooling and power limits may skew outcomes, so actual device performance could vary.

Apple Faces Siri Delays as AI Concerns Grow Ahead of 2026 Update

October 20, 2025, 8:40 AM EDT. In a Bloomberg report, Apple engineers testing the next Siri in iOS 26.4 report performance hiccups, with slower responses and higher error rates; the spring 2026 update (around March-April) aims to add major AI features to the iPhone, but the new Siri (version 2) has yet to meet Apple's quality standards. The process is complicated by leadership turnover, including Ke Yang leaving for Meta and other AI experts exiting, heightening concerns as rivals push forward with Gemini on Google platforms and Galaxy AI from Samsung. Despite the challenges, iPhone 17 demand remains solid, and analysts expect AI features to shape smartphone demand in 2026. Apple must balance quality with timely delivery.

Tesla's Roadster Unveil Still Planned This Year, Says Franz von Holzhausen

October 20, 2025, 8:38 AM EDT. Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen reiterated that the Roadster unveil and demo remain on track for this year, during a Ride the Lightning episode. He told host Ryan McCaffrey that Tesla is planning an official reveal within the year and moving toward a saleable product faster than last summer. The Roadster is also expected to be available within two years, according to Holzhausen, after years of delayed projections. Musk had previously teased an unprecedented demo and ambitious specs, including 0-60 mph under 1 second, with promises of the production design to be complete and unveiled by year-end (which did not materialize). Tesla has repeatedly stressed momentum toward a new Roadster, amid hype and scrutiny from investors and fans.

Galaxy S26: Exynos 2600 rumored for all models in some regions, 50/50 with Snapdragon

October 20, 2025, 8:36 AM EDT. Leakster Jukanlosreve claims the Exynos 2600 will bring massive gains in GPU and NPU, potentially beating the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apple A19 Pro. The Exynos 2600 could appear across all Galaxy S26 models in some regions, with a 50/50 regional split vs Snapdragon: US, China and Japan get Qualcomm chips, while Korea, Europe and others get Samsung's. Samsung's foundries are said to be producing Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips too, hinting at mixed chip sourcing. The Galaxy S26 lineup is fluid: naming tweaks, the Edge model reportedly canceled, S26+ persists, and the Ultra's future unclear. Highlights from the report include an NPU up to 6x faster than the A19 Pro, CPU ~14% higher, and GPU up to 75% faster than the A19 Pro, with the Exynos GPU up to 29% faster than the Snapdragon.

AWS outage disrupts major sites like Snapchat and Venmo as DNS issue hits US-East-1

October 20, 2025, 8:34 AM EDT. An AWS outage knocked several services offline early Monday, affecting apps like Snapchat, Venmo and other high-profile sites. AWS traced the disruption to an underlying DNS issue in the US-EAST-1 region (Northern Virginia) and said it was working toward full resolution as of the morning of Oct. 20. Downdetector logged spikes in outages across platforms including Amazon, Apple Music, Fortnite, Lyft and YouTube. By about 6:35 a.m. EST the company said the DNS issue has been fully mitigated and most AWS services were back to normal, with recovery continuing. The incident underscores how many consumer and business apps rely on AWS cloud infrastructure.

Nvidia's China exit underscores policy risk: Huang urges nuance in AI export controls

October 20, 2025, 8:32 AM EDT. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged nuance in regulating China's access to U.S. AI tech, warning that policies harming China can also harm the U.S. He told Citadel Securities regulators that the world should run on American know-how, noting roughly half of global AI researchers are in China, and stressing it would be a mistake to exclude Chinese developers from American technology. Huang noted Nvidia is now 0% in China after previously dominating with 95% share, reflecting the impact of export controls implemented by the Biden administration in 2022 and subsequent licensing changes. He argued for a balanced approach, not an all-or-nothing policy, as both sides seek to maintain U.S. tech leadership while preserving access to China markets. Nvidia's forecasts assume China remains out of the picture.

OnePlus 15 Geekbench Leak: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Delivers 17% Single-Core, 9.5% Multi-Core Boost

October 20, 2025, 8:30 AM EDT. A Geekbench 6 listing for the OnePlus 15 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 shows a 17% single-core and 9.5% multi-core uplift over the OnePlus 13 (which scored around 3,087 single-core and 9,369 multi-core). However, the OnePlus 15's scores are still below the Qualcomm Reference Design and the RedMagic 11 Pro, likely due to pre-release software not fully optimised. The leak also confirms a 12 GB RAM baseline for the phone, with a probable 16 GB RAM option. Release timing is rumoured for November. Source: Geekbench via Abhishek Yadav.

OnePlus 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which flagship offers more value in 2026

October 20, 2025, 8:28 AM EDT. In this head-to-head, the OnePlus 15 targets value with a redesigned chassis, nano-ceramic metal build, and IP69 durability, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leans on a rugged titanium frame and the familiar S Pen ecosystem. The two flagships differ in design, display, and performance: the OnePlus uses a 6.78-inch 1.5K panel at up to 165Hz with bright up to 1,800 nits, and may ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and up to 16GB RAM; the Galaxy S25 Ultra rocks a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,600 nits peak brightness, 1-120Hz, S Pen, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite family chipset with 12GB RAM. Storage starts at 256GB for both. Value depends on priority: speed and durability vs ecosystems and pen support.

Nvidia's Huang Warns US-China Tech Curbs Could Backfire; Says Nvidia Is '100% Out of China'

October 20, 2025, 8:26 AM EDT. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argues that current US export controls on critical AI tech risk harming the US economy and tech leadership. In a Citadel Securities interview, he urged a more nuanced policy approach, warning that measures against China can backfire, sometimes 'even in worse ways.' He noted Nvidia's China market share dropping from about 95% to nearly 0%, saying such outcomes harm America's interests. Huang calls for balancing tech supremacy with continued China access, noting roughly half of global AI researchers are in China. The discussion also underscores a volatile regulatory climate-export restrictions, and Beijing's limits on rare earths-showing the tight link between US policy, supply chains, and innovation.

OnePlus 15 battery details revealed: 7,300mAh with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging

October 20, 2025, 8:24 AM EDT. Ahead of its October 27 China launch, the OnePlus 15 is confirmed to pack a 7,300mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. The phone's Absolute Black color shows light scratch resistance, and a Geekbench listing indicates a global variant with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12GB RAM, and Android 16, scoring 3,615 (single-core) and 10,261 (multi-core). The device is also expected to feature a 165Hz AMOLED display and will debut alongside the Ace 6. A launch in China is set for October 27.

AWS Outage Impacts Apps Worldwide, Including Snapchat, Roblox, and Fortnite

October 20, 2025, 8:22 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted services worldwide, affecting apps, websites, governments and universities that rely on Amazon Web Services. Downdetector users logged issues with Alexa, Prime, Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Robinhood, the McDonald's app and more. AWS said the disruption was centered in the eastern U.S. region, with engineers investigating the cause. By 5:27 a.m. EDT, AWS noted "significant signs of recovery," and a short time later said recovery was underway across most of the affected services. The outage underscores how many consumer and enterprise apps depend on cloud infrastructure, and AWS warned customers to stay tuned for updates as engineers continue to restore services.

Mother Sues AI Firm After Teen's Death In Romantic Relationship With Character.AI Bot

October 20, 2025, 8:14 AM EDT. Mom Megan Garcia filed a lawsuit against Character.AI after her 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer died shortly after a romantic exchange with a chatbot on the platform. The case centers on whether the company's tools blur lines between human and machine and exploit adolescent vulnerabilities. New research from the Center for Democracy & Technology finds that 1 in 5 high school students have had a relationship with an AI chatbot or know someone who has, while a 2025 Common Sense Media report says 72% of teens have used an AI companion. The company says it enforces safety with parental controls, age gates, and self-harm alerts, but a testing journalist found only self-reported age and weak verification. The article raises questions about teen safety, age verification, and platform responsibility in AI social tools.

Amazon Web Services Outage Disrupts Apps and Websites Worldwide

October 20, 2025, 8:12 AM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage disrupted apps and websites worldwide, with problems first reported around 3:11 a.m. ET in the US-EAST-1 region. AWS indicated increased error rates and latencies across multiple services, leaving users on apps like Alexa, Prime Video, and various third-party services facing outages. Downdetector tracked widespread issues across consumer apps, social platforms, and fintechs, including Snapchat, Ring, Roblox, Fortnite, and Robinhood, as well as the McDonald's app. AWS said it was pursuing multiple recovery paths and applying initial mitigations, and within hours noted significant signs of recovery and that most requests should now be succeeding, while a backlog of queued requests was being cleared. The company continues to work to restore full service. Source: AP and Reuters.

Best DJI drone deal: DJI Mini 4K on Amazon for $239 (Prime-exclusive)

October 20, 2025, 8:10 AM EDT. Deal highlight: the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $239 at Amazon, exclusively for Prime members. That's a $50 cut and the lowest-ever price for this model. The article notes that deal pricing and availability can change after publication, so act quickly if you're eyeing a compact, camera-ready drone from a leading brand. The piece also frames DJI's popularity among creators and social media enthusiasts, making this a compelling value for those seeking portability without sacrificing image quality.

Enshittification: Why Platforms Decay and How to Fight Back (Cory Doctorow)

October 20, 2025, 8:04 AM EDT. Cory Doctorow's Enshittification explains why digital platforms degrade in a familiar three-stage arc: Stage One delivers value to end users, Stage Two shifts value to business customers, Stage Three strips away both. The mechanism is 'twiddling'-per-user, per-session rule changes driven by surveillance data. Lock-in via network effects and the collective action problem keeps users and publishers tethered. As the platform squeezes ad revenue and suppresses content reach, creators must pay to boost visibility, while audiences see less of what they want. The takeaway: resist, regulate, and reimagine architecture that rewards openness, transparency, and user control.

AI Won't Replace Workers: Experts Say Human Skills Remain Essential

October 20, 2025, 8:02 AM EDT. AI is a powerful tool, but its value comes from integration with human expertise and relies on tacit knowledge, context, and judgment. A Tulane study found that among workers using ChatGPT, only those who used it actively gained meaningful benefits by identifying problems and optimizing how AI supports goals. Generative AI doesn't automatically boost creativity; it helps those who apply metacognitive strategies-analyzing tasks, monitoring thoughts, and adapting approaches. Experts warn against over-automation, which can erode brand distinctiveness and lead to mediocrity. The takeaway: use AI to empower talent, not replace people, and ensure strategic thinking guides automation.

Microsoft patches Windows bug breaking localhost HTTP connections after security updates

October 20, 2025, 8:00 AM EDT. Microsoft has fixed a bug that disrupted localhost HTTP/2 connections and IIS sites after recent Windows security updates. The issue affected Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, causing ERR_CONNECTION_RESET and ERR_HTTP2_PROTOCOL_ERROR when connecting to 127.0.0.1. Reported after KB5066835 (and the KB5065789 preview) updates, it impacted tools like Duo Desktop, Visual Studio debugging, and SSMS Entra ID authentication. Microsoft linked the bug to HTTP.sys in ASP.NET Core and noted it can be triggered by restart timing and network state. The company rolled back the update for many home devices via Known Issue Rollback (KIR). Enterprise admins may need to apply a KIR group policy; a permanent fix is expected in a future Windows update.

AI Homeless Man TikTok Prank Triggers Parental Panic and Police Warnings

October 20, 2025, 7:58 AM EDT. An AI-driven prank on TikTok called the AI Homeless Man Prank shows a digitally generated homeless man inside users' homes, triggering widespread parental panic and police responses. One video with over 2 million views features a distraught mother reacting to fake images; creator Nnamdi Anunobi shared a scene of a man in her bed. The trend has sparked real-world consequences: at least two Ohio juveniles were charged, Yonkers PD warned of serious outcomes, and a Salem PD PSA urged viewers to read state law. Authorities say such fabrications waste police resources and can dehumanize the homeless, risking repeat calls and harm to real emergencies. Over 600 posts appear under the hashtag #AIHomelessManPrank on TikTok.

Google readies major screen recording upgrades for Android tablets and PCs

October 20, 2025, 7:54 AM EDT. Android's built-in screen recording is getting a major upgrade as Google gears up for Android on PCs and large displays. Since debut in Android 11, it matured from recording the whole screen to capturing a single app (via Android 14 QPR2), with a status bar chip and easier stop control added in Android 15. Android 16 added external display support, signaling prep for a PC-like Desktop Mode. With AOSP underpinning these changes, Google aims to address past security concerns around third-party tools and deliver a more seamless, feature-rich workflow across tablets and desktop scenarios. The upcoming revamp should extend the built-in tool for larger screens, improving usability when casting or sharing content to external monitors.

Android Screen Recording Gets Major Upgrade with Desktop-Style Tools and Selfie Overlay

October 20, 2025, 7:52 AM EDT. Google is quietly overhauling Android's screen recording with a desktop-style workflow that could boost tablets, large phones, and Chrome OS. The update introduces a floating on-screen toolbar, a selfie-camera overlay for picture-in-picture captures, cleaner audio controls, and a built-in post-capture review screen. The old pop-up dialog is replaced by a non-intrusive toolbar that appears from a Quick Settings tile, designed for framing shots without covering content. New post-capture tools mirror the system's screenshot UI, including an in-page player, trim/edit options, and quick retake or share actions. Additional features include a selected area capture, configurable keyboard shortcuts, and support for recording external displays, signaling a more creator-friendly workflow across platforms.

Build a Rocket Boy: How ex-GTA boss's grand vision became a £200m flop

October 20, 2025, 7:50 AM EDT. BBC Newsbeat pieces reveal Build a Rocket Boy, the Edinburgh studio led by ex-Rockstar boss Leslie Benzies, dumped into a £202.6m loss while MindsEye flopped after a controversial launch. The company claimed conspiracies and 'saboteurs' targeted the MindsEye release, even as staff faced redundancy. By 2024 Barb had attracted over £233m in investment and grown to about 448 employees across Edinburgh, Budapest and Montpellier, yet no product had shipped. Former staff describe a sprint-driven push for new ideas that outpaced implementation, with focus drifting from Everywhere to MindsEye. The pivotal questions remain: was the ambition too big, did mismanagement outpace resources, and what's next for a studio that once drew international attention? MindsEye, Leslie Benzies, and Barb sit at the center of the debate.

Apple iOS 26.1 Beta Expands AI, Translation, RCS Upgrades, and Siri Improvements

October 20, 2025, 7:48 AM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 beta expands Apple Intelligence and Live Translation to more languages, with refinements across Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari. Beyond the beta, Apple plans a broader iOS 26 cycle featuring Digital Passport in Wallet for US travelers and REAL ID compliance, plus RCS upgrades with end-to-end encryption, in-line replies, editing, and unsending to move toward parity with iMessage (carrier coordination required). A more personalized Siri is on the horizon, expected with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026, offering contextual understanding and deeper app integration. Code hints at a Weather via Satellite feature that could work offline, though not confirmed, alongside existing satellite services.

China Claims Solid-State EV Battery Breaks 1,000 km Barrier With 100 kg Pack

October 20, 2025, 7:46 AM EDT. Chinese researchers claim a solid-state battery breakthrough could let electric vehicles travel over 1,000 kilometers on a single charge with a 100 kg pack. Announced on CCTV and validated by Tsinghua University and institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the advance targets the long-standing interface bottleneck between the solid electrolyte and the lithium metal anode. If scalable, this could slash battery weight by more than 70% and substantially boost range, reshaping the EV race over density, safety, and cost. The report highlights a three-pronged approach addressing the interface from multiple angles, including a method using iodine ions that migrate to the interface to create a self-healing bridge. Still, the path from lab to mass production remains a key challenge for commercial viability.

Rare Apple Watch Ultra 2/3 Black Titanium Milanese Loop deal hits $177 on 49mm band

October 20, 2025, 7:44 AM EDT. Rare deal lands on the official Apple Watch Black Titanium Milanese Loop for Ultra 2/3. The 49mm Milanese Loop in size small (fits 130-160mm wrists) is now $177.11 shipped on Amazon – the best price in over 6 months. This is a regularly $199 official Apple band that's rarely discounted. The belt features aerospace-grade titanium mesh with a secure parachute-style buckle, designed to elevate the look of the Black Ultra 2 or Ultra 3. Apple listings around the Ultra 3 launch appear to be the same band released with the Black Ultra 2 in 2024. It's a premium, rarely discounted accessory that can elevate the Ultra watch's appearance, though it remains a high-end purchase. FTC: affiliate links.

The £233M MindsEye Debacle: Inside Build a Rocket Boy's Broken Launch and Mass Layoffs

October 20, 2025, 7:42 AM EDT. An investigative BBC report details severe turmoil at Build a Rocket Boy, the studio founded by former GTA producer Leslie Benzies. After the launch of its debut game, MindsEye, the company reportedly laid off 200-250 staff. Months before release were marked by relentless crunch, unpaid overtime, and erratic leadership. Former developers say Benzies demanded micromanagement through "Leslie tickets," dictating urgent tasks regardless of priority. Allegations of on-call pressure and a post-launch accusation of "sabotage" by Benzies amplified staff fear, while some workers were dismissed or mocked for raising concerns. The BBC notes widespread burnout and technical issues as MindsEye released in June 2025, followed by patches and mass layoffs. The IWGB plans legal action, and despite £230M in investment, the studio's future remains unclear.

Manganese X Urges North American Battery Materials Supply Chain Amid China's Export Controls

October 20, 2025, 7:40 AM EDT. Manganese X Energy Corp. warns that China's export controls taking effect November 8, 2025 heighten risk to global EV and energy storage supply chains, underscoring the need for a North American battery materials supply chain. CEO Martin Kepman says restrictions on high-performance batteries, cathode materials (LFP, LMFP; NMC), and related technologies will accelerate regional self-sufficiency. The company points to its Battery Hill manganese project in Woodstock, New Brunswick as a critical step toward domestic production of HPMSM for next-generation chemistries like LMR, LMFP, and NMC. Manganese X frames this as advancing energy security, ethical sourcing, and economic resilience while reducing reliance on Chinese processing for the North American EV/BESS markets and defense applications.

What Nvidia Can Teach Doctors About Strategy and Survival

October 20, 2025, 7:38 AM EDT. Strategy determines destiny. Nvidia rose from a niche GPU maker to a $4T AI powerhouse by focusing on core bets and timing. It targeted GPUs for gaming, outsourced manufacturing, and waited for the AI revolution to arrive before dominating the market. By contrast, many physicians faced rising costs and lost independence as control shifted to hospitals, insurers, and private equity. The article argues for a unifying strategic vision and durable partnerships to amplify physicians' power. It outlines three lessons from Nvidia, beginning with Lesson 1: Action Without Strategic Thinking Is Aimless. The core message: align bold execution with a long-term plan, balance risk with strategy, and regain influence through purposeful collaboration.

Celebrity chef Mario Carbone backs AI-powered loyalty startup Magic in $10M seed round

October 20, 2025, 7:34 AM EDT. Celebrity chef Mario Carbone is backing Magic, an AI-powered CRM startup whose first product, Loyalist, targets the restaurant industry. Major Food Group is investing following a $10 million seed led by Lerer Hippeau, aiming to bring data-driven guest experiences to fine dining. Founder Maggie Tang, a Wharton grad, built Magic to modernize antiquated tech stacks in restaurants and turn customer data into personalized service and repeat visits. The platform tracks diners' orders, visit frequency, and preferences to tailor experiences and marketing. Tang emphasizes that AI helps create better personas and more precise outreach, extending loyalty beyond reservations to bring guests back. The deal signals growing investor interest in hospitality tech that blends high-touch service with scalable analytics.

When Everything Is Fake: What's the Point of Social Media in the AI Era

October 20, 2025, 7:32 AM EDT. AI-generated posts flood feeds-from a viral, fake 'girl and puppy' story to dazzling Sora 2 videos. The origin of the images is unclear, signaling a wider problem of AI-generated content seeding social feeds with no clear provenance. OpenAI's Sora 2 is generating realistic footage, some obviously fake, others harder to tell from reality. Critics warn it could corrode trust and undo social media's purpose of connection, while some proponents argue AI may reveal the value of a verifiably real online world. Labs chase realistic images and videos to spur creativity and inch toward AGI, but the balance between innovation and authenticity remains unsettled. The industry is optimizing for engagement, training models with user feedback, and confronting the challenge of telling fact from fabrication.

Cost and chaos test resiliency of U.S. auto industry as Ford, GM and Tesla prep Q3 results

October 20, 2025, 7:30 AM EDT. Auto executives say the industry has shown notable resilience despite a year of tariffs, inflation, and supply-chain disruptions, with sales and production holding up better than feared. Yet concerns persist about the consumer and suppliers as major automakers like Ford, General Motors and Tesla prepare to report third-quarter results. Ford CEO Jim Farley described early-year conditions as "a lot of cost and a lot of chaos," but analysts from Barclays and S&P Global have nudged outlooks toward neutral as demand headwinds linger and policy uncertainty remains. The outlook has improved overall, but the industry remains vulnerable to macro shifts that could affect auto demand and capital allocation.

China's Generative AI Users Leap to 515 Million in Six Months

October 20, 2025, 7:28 AM EDT. China's AI adoption surged in H1, with 515 million users and a 36.5% adoption rate, according to the CNNIC. The user base more than doubled in six months, aided by robust infrastructure and state-led support under the AI Plus initiative. Domestic models dominate popularity as OpenAI and Google DeepMind remain blocked on the mainland. Key players include Alibaba Cloud's Qwen and ByteDance's Doubao, alongside other domestic options like DeepSeek. Younger and educated users drive growth (74.6% are under 40; 37.5% hold a higher education degree). The report underscores China's leadership in AI use and ongoing diffusion of AI technologies across society and the economy.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Returns at Walmart with $349 Price Cut (256GB for $749.99)

October 20, 2025, 7:26 AM EDT. Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra returns on sale at Walmart, with a $349 discount on the 256GB model, now $749.99 (list ~ $1,099). The deal is via a third-party listing, but Walmart handles shipping and offers refunds until January 31. This high-end tablet packs a 14.6-inch AMOLED display (2960×1848, 16:10, HDR) at 120Hz, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 12GB RAM, and a 11,200 mAh battery. The S Pen is included, making it a strong work-and-play option without the flagship price. While the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is also in circulation, this $349 off on the S9 Ultra is pitched as an unmissable deal for new units.

Blackview Xplore 2 rugged phone review: projector, rugged build and AI apps-not for everyone

October 20, 2025, 7:24 AM EDT. Review of the Blackview Xplore 2 Projector Smartphone: a rugged device built for field use with a 100-lumen built-in projector, long battery life, and AI-enhanced apps. The chassis is chunky and durable, waterproof, and resistant to drops. The projector offers 480p resolution at 100 lumens-fine for dark environments but not cinematic. It supports two capable cameras, including a 50MP front camera and a 20MP night-vision sensor, with solid photo and 4K video quality. Beyond projection, it includes AI-enhanced creative tools and productivity apps that unlock deeper features with a subscription. While the device excels in durability and field usability, its projector quality, bulk, and pricing mean it won't suit everyone.

Panasonic LUMIX Firmware Updates for S5 II, S5 II X, S9, GH7, and G9 II Add DJI RS4 Compatibility, Faster Startup, and New Focus Controls

October 20, 2025, 7:22 AM EDT. The latest LUMIX firmware updates bring faster boot times across the S5 II, S5 II X, GH7, and G9 II, and add full Bluetooth support for the DJI RS 4 Pro, RS 4, and RS 4 Mini for cable-free record and focus control. The update also lets users customize the focus-ring-reversing direction and mapping ISO, aperture, or white balance to the ring-on the S5 II, S5 II X, S9, and six S-Series primes. Enhancements extend to the LUMIX Flow 1.3 integration with LUT View Assist and autofocus-frame display on external monitors, plus future compatibility for more models. Altogether the revisions boost everyday usability for documentary and run-and-gun shooters, with tighter gear-flow across cameras, lenses, and apps.

AWS outage shows signs of recovery after global disruption

October 20, 2025, 7:16 AM EDT. On Monday, a major outage hit websites and services tied to AWS, with thousands reporting problems on Downdetector. The issue originated from a DNS problem at AWS's data centres in North Virginia, causing outages for banks, apps, airlines, and online games. AWS said within about two hours that it was seeing significant signs of recovery, and that most requests should now be succeeding, though a backlog persisted. The episode shows how central the cloud is: a single provider's hiccup can ripple across the internet, affecting consumers and businesses worldwide.

Best Apple Watch SE 2 deal: Save $80 at Walmart

October 20, 2025, 7:12 AM EDT. Score a sweet discount on the Apple Watch SE 2 at Walmart. As of Oct. 20, it's listed at $169, down from a $249 list price – a solid save $80 for a capable wearable. The deal highlights a starlight aluminum case with a lake green sport loop, pairing style with value ahead of the holiday season. Deals like this make the Apple Watch SE 2 a practical choice for fitness tracking, notifications, and quick replies without a premium price. Availability can change, so act quickly to lock in the sale price and check stock at your local Walmart.

AWS Outage Knocks Out Fortnite, Roblox, Nintendo and More Across US-East-1

October 20, 2025, 7:10 AM EDT. An AWS outage at its US-EAST-1 datacenter disrupted several popular online services in the early hours, knocking out games like Fortnite and Roblox, as well as Nintendo online services and the Epic Games Store. Other affected titles included Clash Royale and Palworld. While Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live largely remained online, the incident demonstrated how a cloud-wide disruption can ripple across gaming ecosystems. AWS later confirmed an "operational issue" and reported recovery underway across most affected services by 6 a.m. EDT. The outage also impacted non-gaming sites, hitting Amazon itself, Reddit, Snapchat, Duolingo, and even Ring doorbells, highlighting the broad reach of a single datacenter problem.

MindsEye Fallout: Former Barb Staff Allege Crunch, Mismanagement, and Lack of Direction

October 20, 2025, 7:08 AM EDT. The MindsEye launch has become a flashpoint for Build a Rocket Boy (Barb). Former GTA producer Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard steered Barb from Everywhere to MindsEye, backed by about £233 million and hundreds of staff. An open letter signed by 93 ex-employees accuses systemic mistreatment, mismanagement, and mis-handling of redundancies and complains of a directionless leadership style, including the infamous "Leslie tickets" and "Leslie bugs." Staff say a months-long crunch involved unpaid overtime and promises of time off in lieu, while feedback was often ignored. By launch, morale was low and reviews were poor, fueling questions about the project's vision and execution.

AWS outage disrupts airline websites, hitting Delta and United check-ins and reservations

October 20, 2025, 7:06 AM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage disrupted airline websites Monday, causing check-in and reservation issues for Delta and United. AWS said it was seeing recovery around 5:30 a.m. ET as it works through a backlog of requests. Some customers could view reservations in apps while others couldn't check in or drop bags for hours. Airlines advised patience and to monitor status updates, while FlightAware data showed only minimal flight delays overall. The incident highlights how heavily cloud platforms like AWS power airline operations and the ripple effect when outages occur.

Rivian's RJ Scaringe bets big on a new electric SUV to challenge Tesla

October 20, 2025, 6:58 AM EDT. RJ Scaringe is betting Rivian's next electric SUV will redefine the company's trajectory and position Rivian as the next Tesla. The investor darling turned automaker aims to leverage a new model, scaling production, and expanding its charging and software ecosystem to capture mainstream EV adoption. With a focus on rugged utility, software-enabled services, and a strong supply-chain push, Rivian is hoping to convert early interest into mass-market demand. If execution matches ambition, the brand could accelerate EVs from niche to mainstream, pressuring legacy automakers while pushing the broader market toward a more electrified future.

AWS outage disrupts major websites overnight as recovery begins

October 20, 2025, 6:56 AM EDT. An overnight AWS outage disrupted hundreds of sites, including major services like Amazon, Venmo, Hulu, Snapchat, Ring, Roblox, Slack, Fortnite, and Microsoft 365. The problem reportedly began around 3 a.m. Eastern in the US-East-1 region, causing widespread service failures as sites relying on AWS queued requests. By about 6 a.m., AWS said initial mitigation was in place and some sites were returning online, with most requests expected to succeed and backlogs being cleared. The incident underscores how much of the internet depends on a small number of cloud providers, and cybersecurity experts warn outages can ripple across a broad range of online services.

Nio and CATL Form Wuhan JV Weineng Battery Mirattery to Expand Battery Leasing, Recycling and EV Charging

October 20, 2025, 6:54 AM EDT. Chinese EV maker Nio and battery leader CATL have formed a new joint venture in Wuhan named Weineng (Wuhan) Battery Technology Co., Ltd., also known as Mirattery. The entity, wholly owned by Wuhan Weineng Battery Asset Co., is backed by Nio, CATL, Guotai Junan and Hubei Science and Technology Investment with a registered capital of 100 million yuan. It will focus on battery leasing, recycling, secondary utilization of retired power batteries, and EV charging operations. This move expands Nio-CATL cooperation as CATL invests in Nio Power and collaborates with Mirattery on battery assets. The JV arrives amid renewed scrutiny of Nio's battery-asset structure following a GIC lawsuit. Mirattery has grown to over 27 GWh of capacity, serving more than 350,000 users, aiming to improve utilization and recycling across the EV supply chain.

MindsEye: Former Devs Accuse Leadership of Ignoring Feedback and 'Leslie Tickets'

October 20, 2025, 6:52 AM EDT. A BBC report details claims from MindsEye's former developers that leadership ignored feedback and laughed at concerns after a letter from the UK Game Works Union. Former lead analyst Ben Newborn says many points were ignored, while former associate producer Margherita Peloso says higher-ups laughed at her concerns. Before launch, a video showed CEO Leslie Benzies addressing changes-later dubbed 'Leslie tickets'-that allegedly included removing entire missions and stifling developer ownership. After layoffs, MindsEye has offered little on a post-launch roadmap or sequel plans. The piece notes ongoing questions about the game's future and links to our review of the launch version.

AWS Outage Hits Popular Apps Like Snapchat, Venmo and Fortnite

October 20, 2025, 6:50 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted cloud services globally, triggering higher error rates and latencies. The disruption affected popular apps and services across gaming, payments, and media, including Fortnite, Snapchat, Perplexity, Coinbase, Robinhood, Venmo, and Chime; Prime Video and Alexa also faced issues. Downdetector logged problems with Signal, and UK banks such as Lloyds and Bank of Scotland, plus telecoms Vodafone and BT, reported outages. The outage showed how AWS cloud dependence can ripple across the internet. Elon Musk said X continued to work. AWS provides on-demand computing power, storage, and other services worldwide.

MindsEye Developers Turbulence at Build a Rocket Boy: Burnout, Regressions, and a Troubled Launch

October 20, 2025, 6:48 AM EDT. Former audio programmer Isaac Hudd says mistakes and regressions mounted as one team fixed a bug only for another to reappear, eroding morale. He describes burnout and growing arguments as developers burned the candle at both ends. After a celebratory launch, a cascade of reviews and a mismatch between the released version and what the community deserved soured the mood. The studio remains committed to delivering MindsEye as they always envisioned, though the game may struggle to recover from the backlash. The piece notes outreach via 80 Level Talent and social channels for updates and breakdowns.

Google Readies Android Screen Recorder Upgrades: Toolbar, Selfie Camera Toggle, and Post-Capture Features

October 20, 2025, 6:42 AM EDT. Google is planning a major refresh of Android's built-in screen recorder, moving from a pop-up dialog to a cleaner toolbar with a selfie camera toggle. A new post-capture screen will offer a video player and quick actions to retake, edit, delete, or share. This follows years of gradual feature additions to the native tool, and aims to close the gap with third-party options. The changes also tease partial screen recording and a customizable keyboard shortcut as part of a broader push toward Android Desktop Mode for tablets. If timing holds, we could see these features roll out with Android 16 QPR3 (2026) or later in Android 17 (2027).

Enshittification Explained: Cory Doctorow on Why the Internet Got Worse and How to Fix It

October 20, 2025, 6:40 AM EDT. Technology writer Cory Doctorow's term enshittification describes how platforms deteriorate: benefits to users and business give way to gains for shareholders, yielding a worse experience for almost everyone. In his book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, he argues the decline wasn't an accident but the result of policy choices and incentives set by major platforms. The interview touches on whether AI amplifies the trend, and even Donald Trump's unlikely role in a healthier online future. Doctorow emphasizes that the problem stems from past decisions and missing protections: lack of consumer privacy laws since 1988, insufficient regulation, and the need to recover a history of policy-making by named individuals.

Amazon Web Services outage hits global services as engineers investigate

October 20, 2025, 6:36 AM EDT. An Amazon Web Services outage is impacting services worldwide, affecting governments, universities and companies that rely on cloud hosting. In the eastern U.S. region, engineers are working to identify the root cause after multiple downstream issues were reported across popular apps and sites. Users on DownDetector tracked outages affecting social and entertainment platforms such as Snapchat, Roblox and Fortnite, along with finance apps like Robinhood and the McDonald's app. The disruption underscores how many organizations depend on cloud infrastructure to run critical operations. AWS noted ongoing investigations and pledged updates as it works to restore full service. Customers including media outlets like The Associated Press rely on AWS cloud computing for delivery and operations.

Cathie Wood says Elon Musk's $1 trillion pay deal will pass decisively despite proxy-firm opposition

October 20, 2025, 6:34 AM EDT. Cathie Wood argues that Elon Musk's $1 trillion pay deal for leadership will pass decisively despite proxy firms opposing it. The discussion centers on whether such extreme incentives align with long-term value creation and governance standards, especially as shareholders weigh incentives against potential risks. Supporters say the plan links compensation to ambitious milestones across Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures, potentially accelerating growth and innovation. Critics warn it could set a high bar for accountability and exacerbate pay disparities. The story underscores broader tensions in tech-focused governance and investor sentiment, as outcomes hinge on voting dynamics, fiduciary duties, and the appetite for high-velocity, high-stake incentives in fast-moving companies.

AST's BlueBird FM1 Arrives in Chennai Ahead of ISRO Launch

October 20, 2025, 6:30 AM EDT. AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird FM1, a second-generation satellite, has arrived in Chennai after a four-day journey on a giant Antonov and will undergo final tests at the ISRO launch site before transfer to orbit. Unconfirmed reports hint at a possible November launch window, with ISRO's LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to place the satellite into orbit. Separately, Deutsche Bank analysts outline aggressive revenue prospects for AST, forecasting 2025: $62M; 2026: $419M; 2027: $1.5B; 2028: $3.1B and $4.3B; 2029: $5.3B. If realized, the trajectory would mark a dramatic expansion for AST's space-based connectivity ambitions.

OpenAI Deals Put Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom in Spotlight – Nvidia Emerges as Biggest Winner

October 20, 2025, 6:28 AM EDT. As AI spending climbs toward trillions, Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom have struck notable OpenAI deals. Nvidia plans to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI to power a 10-gigawatt deployment of its systems, with rollout starting in the second half of next year. AMD will deploy six gigawatts of its chips to OpenAI over several years, and has issued OpenAI a warrant for up to 160 million shares (about 10% of AMD) vesting on milestones. A separate OpenAI collaboration will involve Broadcom's chips and networking tech. All three companies have reported double-digit AI revenue growth as demand for compute accelerates toward Huang's forecast of trillions by 2030.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Tops UK Charts with 51/49 Switch Split

October 20, 2025, 6:26 AM EDT. Pokémon Legends: Z-A debuts at No. 1 in the UK physical charts, with a razor-close platform split: Switch 2 Edition 51% and the OG Switch 49%. Boxed sales are roughly 40% lower than Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and while these figures exclude digital data, Nintendo's lack of digital figures could tilt the split toward the Switch eShop. Just Dance 2026 Edition arrives at No. 16, continuing Ubisoft's franchise cadence. Other notable entries include The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered at No. 10 and a mix of evergreen titles filling the top 40.

AWS outage disrupts dozens of sites and apps including Roblox, Snapchat and Ring

October 20, 2025, 6:24 AM EDT. A major AWS outage disrupted dozens of websites and apps worldwide, beginning on the US East Coast. Users reported higher error rates and latencies across the Amazon Web Services cloud, triggering a ripple effect across the internet. Affected platforms included Snapchat, Roblox, Signal, Duolingo, and other Amazon services such as the Ring doorbell business and the main retail site. In the UK, banks like Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland faced outages, and HM Revenue and Customs sites were inaccessible. Ring users complained their doorbells stopped working. Downdetector recorded spikes globally; Cisco's ThousandEyes noted outages concentrated in the US-East-1 region. AWS said the issue originated on the US East Coast and spread from there.

GPT-5 hype, Erdős problems clash; Hong Kong stablecoins paused by regulators

October 20, 2025, 6:22 AM EDT. Fortune Tech covers the GPT-5 controversy sparked by OpenAI's claims of solving Erdős problems. Critics say the post misrepresented progress, with mathematician Thomas Bloom noting that GPT-5 found references rather than solving open questions, while Demis Hassabis called the claim embarrassing. The episode shows how breakthroughs in AI and LLMs are amplified before verification, turning a search-like capability into headlines and leaving the math community debating what counts as a true solution. In other tech news, Ant Group and JD.com paused Hong Kong's tentative stablecoin pilot after regulators warned privately run coins could clash with the central bank's digital yuan. The timing highlights tensions between innovation and oversight in AI and crypto.

What makes us human? How AI magnifies our best and worst traits on stage

October 20, 2025, 6:20 AM EDT. From ancient tragedy to modern AI, this piece asks how technology exposes our humanity and our flaws. The latest discourse on artificial intelligence sharpens old questions about consciousness, memory, and what counts as a self. In Lauren Gunderson's play at the Matrix Theatre, a grieving coder recreates her sister as an AI replica after disappearance, raising ethical and emotional stakes. Merril feeds a machine-learning natural-language model with intimate data-emails, messages, shopping history-to conjure a digital daughter. The drama weds theater to AI to test whether a digital echo can ever fill a missing life, or instead amplify grief, gullibility, and the fear of becoming something less than human. The question endures: does technology reveal or redefine our identity?

Windows 11 October update KB5066835 breaks WinRE USB input; recovery options become unusable

October 20, 2025, 6:18 AM EDT. Microsoft's Windows 11 October 2025 update (KB5066835) breaks USB keyboards and mice in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), rendering recovery options unusable. USB devices work in the main OS, but input is blocked in WinRE. The issue has been documented in the 25H2 Known Issues page, under USB mouse and keyboard not working in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Microsoft has not yet offered a workaround, saying a fix is coming in the coming days. Users booting into WinRE after the update may be unable to navigate or select options, leaving them stranded. The episode underscores the importance of resilient backups and multi-method recovery plans when updates affect recovery tools.

In-System Testing for AI Data Centers: Proactive Monitoring and Lifespan Extension

October 20, 2025, 6:16 AM EDT. Testing inside the fab confirms function at time zero, but real-world AI data centers can behave differently under varied workloads and environmental stress. In AI data centers, higher utilization of multiple dies can raise failure rates as latent defects become real; elevated voltage, power, and temperature accelerate aging. Nilanjan Mukherjee, VP of Engineering for the Tessent Division at Siemens EDA, discusses when and where to design in-system tests, how to optimize monitoring data for individual dies or fleets, and how to use that data to proactively extend the life of systems.

Foxconn to Mass Produce NVIDIA's Vera Rubin NVL144 MGX AI Servers by H2 2026

October 20, 2025, 6:14 AM EDT. Tech giant NVIDIA is accelerating its next-gen AI server cycle with the Vera Rubin lineup, building on the ramp of GB300 Blackwell Ultra and ongoing GB200 shipments. According to Taiwan Economic Daily, Foxconn has begun developing the next-gen Vera Rubin NVL144 MGX servers, with mass production expected in the second half of 2026. The effort centers on onboard Vera Rubin chips and a redesigned rack stack to boost enterprise AI compute. Foxconn reportedly accounts for about 60% of NVIDIA's next-gen AI server capacity and is expanding US-focused facilities, underscoring a push toward domestic manufacturing. The Vera Rubin cadence aims to hit mainstream markets by next year and aligns with current OpenAI mega deployments.

AWS Outage Disrupts Major Websites as DynamoDB Issue Impacts US-East-1

October 20, 2025, 6:12 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted thousands of sites and services after an error in DynamoDB affected the US-EAST-1 region. AWS reported an "operational issue" at 12:11 a.m. PT, with elevated error rates and latency across 14 services. By 5:27 a.m. ET there were "significant signs of recovery," though a large backlog remained. The disruption hit cloud-based games like Roblox and Fortnite, social apps such as Snapchat, and Amazon's own storefront and Prime Video, plus Ring and other services. Coinbase reported unavailability as well, and media outlets including Disney and The New York Times were affected. AWS noted the problem stemmed from DynamoDB APIs and that automated support tools were offline, complicating incident reporting. The incident underscores AWS's central role in cloud computing and AI investments. Recovery continued with evolving conditions.

Starlink hits 10,000 satellites as SpaceX pushes toward mega-constellation

October 20, 2025, 6:08 AM EDT. SpaceX surpassed 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit after a fresh Falcon 9 launch of 56 satellites, marking the 132nd SpaceX launch of 2025. Of the total, about 8,608 are currently operational, with satellites designed to last roughly five years before de-orbit. The milestone comes as SpaceX holds approval to launch up to 12,000 satellites, with plans potentially exceeding 30,000, aiming to deliver low-latency internet worldwide. Rival mega-constellations from Amazon Project Kuiper, Europe, and China are also in development, raising concerns about orbital overcrowding. Prototypes date back to February 2018, ahead of the 2021 commercial service. The article highlights ongoing capacity, lifecycle management, and policy questions as mega-constellations expand.

Generational Battery Health Certificates Accelerate Used EV Sales by 7.3 Days

October 20, 2025, 6:06 AM EDT. Generational's study benchmarks six months of industry data, showing that used EVs with a battery health certificate sold in 43.1 days vs 50.4 days for uncertified units – a 7.3-day advantage. The findings underscore growing demand for clear, reliable information on battery health, real-world range, and warranty status, empowering buyers to act faster. The company's state-of-health certificates aim to boost confidence across the pre-owned EV market, addressing concerns about component longevity. Generational's Impact Calculator helps retailers quantify added gross margin and reduced holding costs from battery health testing. With an easy mobile app and OBD-connected tests, dealers can certify vehicles quickly, unlocking value for both retailers and customers and accelerating a maturing used EV market.

AWS outage disrupts nationwide services, hits news, gaming, and commerce

October 20, 2025, 6:02 AM EDT. An outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) is disrupting businesses nationwide, affecting news networks, video games, and ecommerce sites. AWS reported the issue shortly after 11 p.m. CDT, impacting 14 services at its Northern Virginia facility. NBC News reports social posts flag outages at companies including Snapchat, Amazon.com and Prime Video, Roblox, Fortnite, and the Ring doorbell service, among others. This is a developing story, and updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Best Apple Deal: Save 34% on AirTag 4-Pack – $64.99 at Amazon

October 20, 2025, 5:58 AM EDT. Deal alert: The Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale at Amazon for $64.99, a 34% discount off the $99 list price. Although Prime Day has passed, this deal remains available as of Oct. 20, 2025, with the usual caveat that prices can change. The four-pack is a convenient way to track multiple items, and Mashable notes that products featured may earn an affiliate commission. Act fast if you want to lock in the savings before prices rebound.

IAEA Launches Research Project to Fortify AI Security in Nuclear Facilities

October 20, 2025, 5:50 AM EDT. The IAEA has launched a new research project to strengthen computer security for AI systems used in the nuclear sector. The initiative aims to bolster cybersecurity strategies to support adoption of AI-enabled technologies at nuclear facilities, including small modular reactors. While AI and ML are improving operational efficiency and security functions like threat detection, they also raise new security challenges such as data manipulation and compromised training data. The project emphasizes robust information security, secure data governance, and correct deployment of AI tools to minimize risks. By prioritizing encryption, access controls, and rigorous testing, the effort seeks to ensure trusted, resilient AI that enhances safety without compromising safety standards.

AWS US-East-1 outage disrupts major sites as DNS/DynamoDB issue surfaces

October 20, 2025, 5:46 AM EDT. An AWS outage in the US-EAST-1 region is causing widespread disruption to popular sites and apps, including Amazon, Roblox, Fortnite and Snapchat. AWS says it has an operational issue tied to increased error rates and latencies, with a likely root cause in DNS resolution for the DynamoDB API endpoint. The issue may also affect other AWS services in US-EAST-1, and users are advised to retry failed requests as engineers work on multiple recovery paths. The outage has spilled over to other services, from HM Revenue & Customs' site to Ring doorbells, and is being tracked by Cisco ThousandEyes and users on Downdetector. AWS reports rapid engagement to fix the problem, with updates expected as the investigation continues.

Pakistan launches first hyperspectral satellite HS-1 from China

October 20, 2025, 5:44 AM EDT. Pakistan has deployed its first-ever hyperspectral satellite, HS-1 (also known as H1), from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre aboard CAS Space's Kinetica1 rocket. The launch, confirmed by SUPARCO, marks a milestone for Pakistan's space program and highlights the growing Pakistan-China space partnership. Hyperspectral data can detect subtle chemical and material changes on the Earth's surface, supporting precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management. The project is expected to bolster development along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by helping identify geohazard risks along infrastructure routes. SUPARCO chair Muhammad Yousuf Khan says the data could revolutionize agricultural productivity and climate resilience. Calibration may take about two months before full operation; Pakistan has already launched two other satellites this year, EO-1 and KS-1, which are reportedly fully operational.

AWS Outage Disrupts Major Apps (Snapchat, Venmo, Ring, Life360)

October 20, 2025, 5:42 AM EDT. An Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage early Monday disrupted internet infrastructure services, causing major apps like Snapchat, Venmo, Ring, and Life360 to experience outages. The issue began just before 3:00 am local time, according to DownDetector, and affected users across several platforms. Local 3 News will provide updates as AWS works to resolve the disruption.

AWS DynamoDB outage in US-EAST-1 triggers global service disruption for Fortnite, Snapchat

October 20, 2025, 5:40 AM EDT. An AWS status update confirms significant error rates affecting the DynamoDB endpoint in the US-EAST-1 region, with ripple effects across other AWS services in the same region. The outage may hinder users from creating or updating Support Cases as engineers race to mitigate the issue and determine the root cause. While the company works to restore normal service, affected apps and games- including popular services like Fortnite and Snapchat – could experience interruptions or degraded performance due to dependent infrastructure. AWS says more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Why Google's Pixel Strategy Complicates Android: Should Stock Android Get Pixel-Exclusive Features?

October 20, 2025, 5:38 AM EDT. Opinion: As Android competition grows, Google's role as the main Android developer incentivizes Pixel-exclusive features over stock Android. While hardware has improved, Google tends to roll out improvements first on Pixel, limiting features on other devices. Examples include Call Screen, Scam Detection, and advanced voice typing in Gboard, as well as the Battery Health indicator-yet these are often Pixel-only. The author argues many of these would boost Android security and accessibility if released system-wide, rather than as Pixel-exclusive features. The concern isn't hardware or Google itself, but that core updates and safety benefits hinge on Pixel devices. The call is for broader Android features across devices to keep the platform inclusive and safer for everyone.

Amazon AWS outage disrupts major apps, sites and services

October 20, 2025, 5:36 AM EDT. An AWS outage disrupted dozens of popular apps and sites including Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Duolingo and Canva, with users facing errors from around 8am UK time. The incident underscores how Amazon Web Services underpins much of the modern internet, hosting infrastructure for countless services. AWS reported increased error rates across multiple services, and the ripple effects meant sites and apps unrelated to Amazon could go dark. Analysts note that while cyber attacks are a frequent speculation during outages, there is no evidence of deliberate hacking and no definitive root cause yet. AWS remains a dominant cloud provider, responsible for a large share of internet traffic and a steady source of profit for Amazon. The outage highlights how fragile online services can be when a single vendor falters.

Starship's 12th flight: timing, Block 3 upgrades, and Artemis III implications

October 20, 2025, 5:32 AM EDT. SpaceX has not announced a firm date for Starship's 12th flight, but late 2025 to early 2026 is widely anticipated as the company transitions to the Block 3 booster. The 12th flight would test upgrades that follow the 11th flight, including higher thrust, refined grid fins, and longer-range reusability intended for longer missions. Block 3 is viewed as the first operational Starship capable of deep-space missions and could underpin a variant of the Ship for NASA's Artemis III lunar landing. Artemis III plans a crewed lunar descent with the Ship rather than lunar orbiting, using Orion for transit. A successful 12th flight would boost cadence and confidence as SpaceX scales launches from Starbase in Texas and Cape Canaveral.

3D-Printed Low-Sidelobe Dual-Band Dual-Polarized Antenna Array for Ku-Band SATCOMs

October 20, 2025, 5:28 AM EDT. Researchers from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications present an 8×8, 3D-printed, low-sidelobe dual-band dual-polarized slot antenna array for Ku-band SATCOMs based on gap waveguide (GWG) technology. The design stacks two GWGs to excite quasi-TE420 and quasi-TE242 modes through orthogonal slots, enabling dual-band, dual-polarization operation. An unequal T-junction power divider based on ridge gap waveguide (RGW) realizes a tapered feeding network that suppresses SLL. Waffle grids on the slot surface optimize the main beam and gain. Fabrication uses direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) in four layers with screws for assembly. Measured results show impedance bandwidth covering 14.0-14.5 GHz (transmit) and 12.25-12.75 GHz (receive), max gain 25.6 dBi, efficiency >72%, SLL < −17.4 dB (V-pol) and < −18.2 dB (H-pol).

Nvidia and TSMC begin mass production of Blackwell chips at Arizona plant

October 20, 2025, 5:22 AM EDT. Nvidia and TSMC began mass production of the Blackwell GPUs at a Arizona facility, marking a milestone in the US chip footprint. The line runs on TSMC's four-nanometer process, with later moves toward the upcoming two-nanometer node set for mass production later this year. The Blackwell architecture bundles a reworked Transformer Engine, plus a new Decompression Engine to accelerate AI workloads, with the top Blackwell Ultra delivering up to ~15 petaflops. Packaging is handled by Amkor and SPIL in Arizona, integrating chips with HBM memory. Nvidia also expands US manufacturing with DGX system assembly in Texas. For TSMC, the Arizona build is a springboard to two more plants this decade, including lines for the A16-class process.

Apple's M5 lineup lands: New MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Vision Pro released as AirTags 2 and Apple TV 4K loom

October 20, 2025, 5:20 AM EDT. Apple has just rolled out its M5-powered machines-the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro-shaking up its product lineup. But fans should expect more in the coming weeks: whispers point to an AirTags 2 with a faster chip, longer range, and improved privacy, plus a new Apple TV 4K. Analysts and insiders noted low store inventory preceding the reveal, fueling rumors that additional hardware could land soon. The AirTags 2 could retain the familiar design while upgrading tracking tech, and the Apple TV 4K might mirror the pace of the other M5 updates. In short: the M5 trio is here, but Apple's holiday roadmap reportedly still has a few surprises left.

AI is changing how startups hire – and what it means for the workforce

October 20, 2025, 5:18 AM EDT. AI is reshaping how startups hire and scale. As founders lean on AI tools to automate time-intensive tasks, startups hope to accelerate growth and unleash new efficiencies. John Dearie argues that startup-led innovation drives economic growth, job creation, and opportunity. A Mercury study found that more than 70% of early-stage founders are increasing spending on AI and automation. Founders say AI helps run core functions-sales, marketing, and operations-and extends a nimble team's bandwidth. But automation raises hiring tensions: some startups prefer AI over entry-level staff and interns, though leaders stress this isn't permanent and may free time for higher-skill roles. Critics worry about displacing low-wage roles, while others see AI as pushing workers toward entrepreneurship and broader opportunities for new graduates.

AI Tools Fight Paper Mill Fraud-Overwhelming Peer Review

October 20, 2025, 5:12 AM EDT. AI tools are being deployed to fight paper mill fraud that is overwhelming the peer review system. Publishers like Hindawi (Wiley) retracted thousands of articles written by mills, highlighting the scale of the problem. New platforms from industry players, including STM Integrity Hub, and vendors such as Clear Skies and Cactus Communications, use multi-layer checks-network analysis, author credentials, reference validation, and AI-generated content detection-to flag suspicious manuscripts before they reach reviewers. Tools such as Alchemist Review offer editors summaries, method critiques, and interactive chats. Some publishers allow limited AI use to improve review clarity; others ban generative AI due to confidentiality and accuracy concerns. Post-publication screening (e.g., Problematic Paper Screener) grows, but experts call for systemic reform-greater use of preprints and reduced reliance on traditional journals-to restore integrity.

Breaking: AWS Outage Hits Global Platforms, Snarling Snapchat, Robinhood, Perplexity and More

October 20, 2025, 5:10 AM EDT. An outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) is impacting the US-EAST-1 region and triggering disruptions across several major platforms. Downdetector reports increased error rates and latency for multiple AWS services, with ripple effects on Snapchat, Robinhood, Perplexity, and other giants like Amazon.com, Prime Video and Alexa. Additional affected services include PayPal's Venmo, Roblox, Fortnite, Canva and Duolingo. AWS says it is actively engaged in mitigating the issue and investigating the root cause, and notes potential impact on Case Creation through the AWS Support Center or the Support API. The spike in reports began around 4:30pm AEST, with users in the eastern United States most affected, particularly checkout systems and the Snapchat mobile app. A resolution timeline has not yet been provided.

AI-Powered Histopathology Predicts Immunotherapy Benefit in pMMR mCRC at ESMO 2025 (AtezoTRIBE & AVETRIC)

October 20, 2025, 5:08 AM EDT. At ESMO 2025 in Berlin, researchers presented AI-powered histopathology analysis using the Lunit SCOPE IO platform to predict immunotherapy benefit in pMMR metastatic colorectal cancer. An AI-derived biomarker, trained on pre-treatment slides from AtezoTRIBE (FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab ± atezolizumab) and AVETRIC (FOLFOXIRI/cetuximab/avelumab), quantified immune, stromal, and tumor cell features. In AtezoTRIBE, 113/161 patients were biomarker-high; this group showed significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with atezolizumab, while no advantage was seen in the control arm. The biomarker was validated externally in AVETRIC. The study suggests a non-invasive way to identify pMMR mCRC patients who may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors, highlighting the potential of AI-driven pathology to guide precision immunotherapy.

AWS outage disrupts popular apps and services across the internet

October 20, 2025, 5:06 AM EDT. An outage affecting Amazon Web Services (AWS) triggered widespread problems across popular apps and websites. The disruption began around midnight PT, with AWS's status page reporting 'increased error rates' and delays across multiple services, including DynamoDB and Amazon EC2. Downdetector shows a surge in complaints as services relying on AWS experienced outages, from Canva, Duolingo, and Ring to gaming platforms like Fortnite, Clash Royale, and Pokémon Go. Fortnite even advised users they were investigating login issues. The incident underscores AWS's central role in powering much of the modern internet, and engineers are actively working to mitigate the issue and identify the root cause. As updates come, users and developers await confirmation on service restoration and timelines.

UNC bets big on AI under interim chancellor Lee Roberts

October 20, 2025, 5:04 AM EDT. Lee Roberts, UNC's interim chancellor, travels to San Francisco to push AI as the university's north star, tying a business-like bet on technology to higher education. Once a finance executive turned government budget official, Roberts frames AI as a real-world skill-while faculty lines are drawn between those who embrace AI for authentic problem-solving and those who call it cheating. The piece notes a spectrum among UNC's 4,000 faculty, the university's grant-related headwinds, and a broader culture war over autonomy and innovation in classrooms. Against the backdrop of Belichick's rocky return to football and other campus tensions, Roberts insists the future hinges on preparing students for a world where AI is integrated into work and learning.

Snapchat and Duolingo among major apps down as AWS outage hits US-EAST-1

October 20, 2025, 5:02 AM EDT. An AWS outage affected major apps, including Snapchat and Duolingo, as the cloud giant's infrastructure in the US-EAST-1 region reported high error rates. AWS's status page indicated significant errors in requests to a key endpoint, impacting millions of devices that rely on the cloud for core services. The incident underscores how many popular apps run on Amazon Web Services data centers and depend on its reliability. As developers chase fixes, users may see outages, login issues, and degraded performance across services hosted in AWS, highlighting the vulnerability of many online platforms to regional cloud hiccups.

Honor's Shenzhen Factory: a Smartphone Every 28.5 Seconds with 85% Automation

October 20, 2025, 4:58 AM EDT. Honor's Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Shenzhen runs a smartphone line every 28.5 seconds, showcasing speed, precision, and automation. The facility reports about 85% of manufacturing is automated, with 150-meter lines turning a motherboard into a complete phone through more than 120,000 automated steps. Flagships like the Magic6 Pro and Magic V3 are built at top speed, including models touted as the world's thinnest foldable outside Huawei. Each device contains around 2,000 components, installed by robots with hair-thin precision. An automatic assembly machine places 89° curved displays to about 75-micron accuracy. Most phones finish in under a minute, while flagship models undergo three days of rigorous testing. Real-time quality control triggers alerts; Honor runs ~150 predictive tests on the line. About 60% of automation is in-house, 9,000 staff in R&D, and R&D spend reached 11.5% of revenue, per Honor.

Nearly 70% of Millennials Say Gen AI Helps Them Work Smarter, Not Harder

October 20, 2025, 4:52 AM EDT. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, Generation AI, shows Americans' comfort with generative AI depends on trust in the technology, the data behind it, and the institutions deploying it. In June, 57% of U.S. adults-about 149 million-use AI tools for tasks from grocery lists to work reports. Millennials and Gen Z lead adoption, while Boomers stay skeptical due to privacy and reliability concerns. Across generations, a tension persists: AI's usefulness clashes with fears of harm, data misuse, and hallucinations. Nearly two-thirds say AI helps with quick information, yet more than half don't fully trust it. At work, 52% of Millennials use AI, and almost 70% say it speeds access to information, editing, and task completion. Gen Z worries about job loss; Boomers remain uncertain but not hostile.

Apple Pay Turns 11 as Rivals Close the Wallet Gap

October 20, 2025, 4:50 AM EDT. Digital wallets are at a turning point. In-store usage has more than doubled year over year, and Apple Pay now moves an estimated $450 billion in annual sales. Yet cards still dominate checkout counters, and a new wave of challengers-Google Pay, PayPal, and Cash App-is redefining what "contactless" means. The report shows wallet adoption rising, with more than 30% of consumers using a wallet in-store weekly, but transaction share lags. Triggers for adoption include forgetting a physical card, convenience, speed, and perceived security. While Apple Pay leads in some areas, rivals are gaining ground, signaling a more competitive, multi-wallet future. Debit and credit cards remain the backbone, even as digital balance payments climb from 1% to 3.7%. Winning the tap isn't the same as replacing the wallet.

Scale AI Alum Raises $9M Seed for 1001 AI's AI Infrastructure in MENA

October 20, 2025, 4:48 AM EDT. 1001 AI, founded by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, raised a $9M seed round led by CIV, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital to build an AI infrastructure platform for critical industries in the MENA region. The company is developing an AI-native operating system for decision-making aimed at slashing inefficiencies in high-stakes sectors like aviation, logistics, and oil & gas. Abu-Ghazaleh notes more than $10B in inefficiencies in the Gulf markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and expects early customers in airports and construction firms as the product launches later this year. The background: he worked at Scale AI and Hive AI, and sees the Gulf as a prime testing ground for AI adoption amid heavy government investment in local AI infrastructure.

Low-Cost Satellite Internet for Remote Areas: Starlink vs. Amazon Project Kuiper

October 20, 2025, 4:44 AM EDT. Several developing countries are exploring low-cost satellite internet to connect remote areas, with Starlink and Amazon Project Kuiper leading the charge. Starlink uses a LEO constellation to deliver faster speeds and lower latency, but requires proprietary equipment that can raise costs and is sensitive to extreme weather. Project Kuiper aims for widespread coverage to reach hard-to-reach rural communities, though public pricing remains unclear. Benefits include independence from telephone lines, a global network of satellites, ground stations, and user terminals that reduce delay. Amazon also emphasizes direct customer support to help technology integration. The broader mobile ecosystem, led by GSMA, shapes policies and events like MWC and M360 that propel connectivity solutions for billions of people.

Cambodia Resurrects Controversial National Internet Gateway Plan

October 20, 2025, 4:40 AM EDT. Cambodia is pushing ahead with key infrastructure for a national internet gateway (NIG) next year, a move critics describe as a step toward expanded censorship. The plan, revived with the involvement of state-owned Telecom Cambodia, would see the government analyze and manage social media broadcasts as part of broader controls over online content. Documents viewed by Nikkei Asia indicate officials expect to restart the project soon, a move long stalled but now viewed as central to monitoring digital traffic. Critics warn the project would empower authorities to tighten limits on free speech online, raising concerns among rights groups as the country plots deeper access controls within its telecommunications infrastructure.

AI Bubble or Boom? Navigating Valuations, GenAI Growth, and OpenAI's Push

October 20, 2025, 4:38 AM EDT. Is the market in an AI bubble or a boom? The article weighs the late-1990s dot-com analogy against today's growth, noting extreme P/E ratios in some giants while GenAI revenue expands. Giants like NVIDIA command high multiples due to profits; others such as AMD and even Tesla trade on expectations. Demand for AI data centers is accelerating, with McKinsey projecting trillions in investment through 2030. Adoption of GenAI/LLMs is rapid: OpenAI reported $4.3B in revenue for 1H 2024 and forecasts up to $200B by 2030, aiming for cash flow positive in 2029 at about $125B in revenue. OpenAI is locking in GPU capacity, building its own data centers and accelerator, and rolling out new products to expand TAM and stickiness. The outcome will hinge on who wins the AI value chain.

Massive outage hits major apps as AWS cloud issues disrupt services worldwide

October 20, 2025, 4:36 AM EDT. Many of the world's biggest apps and websites experienced outages as AWS faced service problems. Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Duolingo and Canva were among the services affected, according to Downdetector. The issues began around 8am UK time and appear linked to Amazon Web Services' cloud infrastructure, including DynamoDB and EC2. AWS outages can ripple across the internet since hundreds of sites rely on its services. AWS is the leading cloud provider, contributing a large share of Amazon's profits. The incident shows how a single provider's problems can paralyze online services globally. Other affected services noted include Ring, Life360, Wordle, HMRC, Vodafone, PlayStation and Pokémon Go. Amazon's service-status updates pointed to ongoing issues in north Virginia.

Smartphone Repair Market Overview: Key Opportunities and Future Outlook

October 20, 2025, 4:34 AM EDT. The smartphone repair market is growing, valued at USD 24.8 billion in 2024 and forecast to reach USD 45.4 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 7.2% from 2026 to 2033. Key drivers include the increasing dependence on smartphones for daily tasks, high replacement costs, and longer device lifespans, boosting repairs over replacements. Growing environmental awareness encourages sustainability through repair rather than disposal. Advancements in diagnostic tools and repair technology enable faster fixes. Urbanization and the rise of service-oriented retail expand access, while a steady supply of spare parts and skilled technicians shorten turnaround times. Insurance coverage, and right-to-repair policies, further support demand. Overall market growth spans both emerging and developed economies.

Amazon Web Services Outage Cripples Ring, Alexa, Snapchat, Fortnite and More

October 20, 2025, 4:32 AM EDT. An AWS outage has taken down many online services that rely on Amazon Web Services, causing widespread disruption across consumer apps and games. Down Detector tracked outages across Ring doorbells, Alexa, Snapchat, Roblox, Canva, Fortnite, and more as AWS's cloud infrastructure reportedly collapsed. Industry outlets quoted experts noting thousands of clients affected, including Asana, Crunchyroll, McDonald's, and Roblox. Several companies issued apologies on social media while AWS has not issued a public comment; even customer support pages appeared unavailable. Coinbase also reported access issues tied to the outage. AWS provides scalable, reliable cloud services, so the outage highlights how many digital services depend on a single provider.

AWS Outage Knocks Out Dozens of Apps as North Virginia Data Center Encounters Widespread Issues

October 20, 2025, 4:30 AM EDT. An AWS outage has sparked wide-spread internet disruptions, taking down popular apps and services that rely on Amazon's cloud. Reports began around 8 AM UK time, with Downdetector showing spikes across platforms from Snapchat to Roblox and Fortnite. Amazon has acknowledged increased error rates and delays, citing core services like DynamoDB and EC2 as affected. The incident centers on North Virginia data centers, a major backbone for the global internet. The outage has impacted social, gaming, productivity, and streaming apps, including Canva, Duolingo, Ring, Prime Video, and fintech services like Robinhood. Amazon is investigating and hasn't given a restoration timeline. Downdetector visuals illustrate a broad, cross-service disruption.

Rumor: Resident Evil 0 Remake in Development Codenamed 'Chamber'

October 20, 2025, 4:28 AM EDT. Rumors suggest Capcom's next big Resident Evil remake is Resident Evil 0 under the codename Chamber. MP1st sources claim the project has been in development for years, with new voice acting and motion capture. Actor Jon McLaren is listed as a lead in Project Chamber, potentially voicing Billy Coen, while Rebecca Chambers could be a focus in the updated narrative. Production is said to be overseen by motion-capture firm Beyond Capture Studios, which has previously worked with Capcom. According to the report, the remake would expand on the source material, though the core plot would remain intact.

How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy in Real Time

October 20, 2025, 4:16 AM EDT. School districts nationwide are rolling out AI policy to guide how teachers, staff, and students use the technology, balancing benefits with concerns. The effort ranges from formal, board-approved rules to flexible frameworks that set guardrails for safe, responsible use. Experts say many districts still lack clear guidance, underscoring the challenge of policing a fast-evolving tool. Leaders emphasize that policies should address everyone in the education ecosystem, not just students, and align with the district's larger goals. A recent EdWeek survey shows nearly half of districts lack any policy, highlighting the ongoing need for resources, training, and practical guidance to demystify AI and keep classrooms focused on learning.

How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy on the Fly

October 20, 2025, 4:14 AM EDT. School districts across the U.S. are rolling out AI policies to guide how teachers, staff, and students use the technology, addressing both benefits and drawbacks. Yet many systems have yet to tackle AI use in a systematic way, and even established policies may not provide meaningful guardrails in this fast-changing landscape. Education Week reports on lessons from district leaders, principals, and teachers about what's working, what isn't, and what frontline educators still need. Experts argue that policies should cover everyone who uses AI-teachers, instructional staff, administrators, and district personnel-and come with clear guidance on responsible, ethical use. Whether board-approved or framed as a flexible framework, the aim is to demystify AI, align use with district goals, and provide resources for safe, informed decision-making. The survey shows many districts lack any AI policy, underscoring the gap and urgency.

Smartphone RF Front End Chips and Modules Market Poised for Growth Fueled by 5G Expansion and IoT Adoption

October 20, 2025, 4:12 AM EDT. The Smartphone RF Front End Chips and Modules market surged from USD 5.12 billion in 2024 toward USD 9.87 billion by 2033, signaling a CAGR of 7.8% between 2026 and 2033. Growth is driven by 5G rollout, rising smartphone penetration, and expanding IoT-enabled devices that demand higher data rates and reliable links. Key drivers include miniaturization and energy-efficient designs, enabling slimmer devices without sacrificing performance. Ongoing technological evolution, more multi-band RF front-end modules, and consumer demand for faster, smoother streaming fuel investment in R&D and partnerships across foundries and ODMs. Regulatory shifts on spectrum usage and thermal/interference management challenges shape product development. Regions with rising digital infrastructure and higher smartphone adoption are expected to lead optimization of RF front-end solutions to meet next-generation networks.

Smartphone RF Front End Chips and Modules Market Poised for Growth with 5G and IoT Adoption

October 20, 2025, 4:10 AM EDT. Smartphone RF Front End Chips and Modules Market is set for robust expansion, with 2024 value of USD 5.12 billion and a projected reach of USD 9.87 billion by 2033, a CAGR of 7.8% (2026-2033). Growth is driven by demand for high-speed connectivity and advancing wireless standards like 5G, as smartphones remain central to digital lifestyles. Miniaturization and energy-efficient designs push investment in integrated RF front-end modules, while rising smartphone penetration in emerging economies and IoT-enabled devices amplify volumes. Increasing multimedia consumption, including video streaming, further boosts data transmission needs. Regulatory spectrum management, multi-band support, thermal management, and interference control shape development, alongside consumer demand for sleeker devices. Key enablers include R&D, supply chain dynamics, and partnerships across foundries, designers, and manufacturers.

Indycar Racing 2 Gets HD Graphics Upgrade and Modern Force-Feedback Mod

October 20, 2025, 3:48 AM EDT. Retro-enthusiasts are reviving Indycar Racing 2 (1995) with two standout mods. A wrapper by sharangad translates the vintage Rendition API to modern hardware, letting the DOS classic splash into HD resolutions on current monitors. While textures aren't being upscaled, the effect is a dramatic visual upgrade that preserves the original's pixel art. Separately, a mod by GPLaps feeds physics data from game memory to a modern force-feedback wheel, letting players actually feel skids and traction-decades ahead of keyboard-only play. The community-driven effort, highlighted by TedMeat's video and tips from Keith Olson, shows how fans keep old favorites alive through dedicated hacking and remasters.

Honor Magic 8 Pro camera outshines iPhone 17 Pro Max with 200MP periscope and 5.5-stop stabilization

October 20, 2025, 3:46 AM EDT. Honor Magic 8 Pro reportedly tops the iPhone 17 Pro Max in imaging specs, thanks to a 200MP periscope telephoto with PDAF, OIS and 3.7x optical zoom, plus the industry's first CIPA 5.5-stop image stabilization. By contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro Max uses a 48MP telephoto with 4x zoom. Honor's AiMAGE Nox Engine and a 1/1.4-inch sensor with f/2.6 aperture help deliver clearer, brighter, and more detailed night shots. The setup includes a multi-directional system and advances like OIS. Honor even staged a helicopter zoom camera test at night comparing the Magic 8 Pro to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If verified, the Magic 8 Pro could challenge most Max-class devices for photography.

Satellite communications exposed: unencrypted traffic can be intercepted by anyone

October 20, 2025, 3:44 AM EDT. Researchers from the University of California and University of Maryland revealed a vulnerability in satellite communications: many transmissions were collected unencrypted for years. A standard amateur radio receiver could intercept private calls, SMS from mobile networks, airplane Wi-Fi data, critical commands for power grids and oil platforms, and even military and police reports. The finding shatters the view that satellite links are inherently secure and shows how easily data can be exposed or manipulated, including the risk of fake base stations spoofing signals. Only 15% of traffic was analyzed, implying the real scale may be far larger. In response, carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T have begun implementing encryption; researchers have released tools for independent verification. A coordinated, global push is needed to secure satellite links and protect personal and critical infrastructure data.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12in: a versatile Windows tablet at a compelling price, with optional keyboard and pen

October 20, 2025, 3:42 AM EDT. Microsoft's new Surface Pro 12in packs a Snapdragon-powered Windows tablet into the smallest Surface form factor, delivering light weight and strong versatility. The 256GB model starts at £799, with 512GB (£899) and 1TB (£1,049) options; the keyboard (£149) and pen (£249) are optional, and a 65W USB-C charger adds £50. Cheaper than the new Surface Pro 13in, it lacks cellular connectivity and a display choice, positioning it as a competitor to the iPad Air and even higher-end tablets. Design leans conventional: 100% recycled aluminum, a built-in kickstand, a 9mm bezel, and dual 10Gbps USB-C ports with DP AltMode. It omits the audio jack and memory card slot, and the old Surface Connect port. Tablet weighs 650g; with keyboard and pen, 340g more. A versatile Windows device at a bold price.

Apple TV, Apple Music and App Store outage hits Apple services; status updated to resolved

October 20, 2025, 3:40 AM EDT. An Apple-wide outage disrupted core services, taking down Apple TV, Apple Music, and the App Store for several hours. Users reported errors like 'There's a problem loading this content' while streaming Apple Originals, causing episodes to stop mid-way. Social chatter noted trouble with TestFlight, the Games app, and some iCloud Storage settings, pointing to a backend/storefront issue. Apple's system status page confirmed issues starting around midnight ET, with no firm fix timeline. The incident marked one of 2025's most impactful Apple outages, though updates now show the services as resolved.

AST SpaceMobile Valuation Faces Scrutiny After Verizon Deal

October 20, 2025, 3:38 AM EDT. AST SpaceMobile's Verizon deal to deliver direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity in 2026 has fueled a sharp rally, signaling growing credibility in space telecom. Yet the move fanned a lofty price-to-book of 26.2x, well above industry peers, raising questions about valuation. In contrast, a DCF view suggests the stock trades at a discount to fair value, implying the market may be underpricing future cash flows. The tension between multiples and fundamental valuation underscores risk from execution and growth pace. Investors should weigh the valuation divide-strong near-term catalysts versus longer-term profitability-before extrapolating the recent surge.

Windows 11 25H2 Bug Breaks WinRE: USB Keyboard/Mouse Disabled in Recovery Environment

October 20, 2025, 3:36 AM EDT. Microsoft's Windows 11 25H2 October 2025 update (KB5066835) introduces a bug that can render Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) unusable. Users report USB keyboards and mice stop working when WinRE is invoked, blocking startup repair, resets, and other recovery tasks. Microsoft confirms the issue on the official Known Issues page and says a fix is coming in the coming days. The bug underscores how a routine security patch can disrupt recovery workflows, potentially bricking a PC if WinRE can't function. Workarounds are limited; some advise avoiding the update for now, especially on critical devices. Monitor Microsoft's guidance for a timely fix and consider delaying updates until the patch lands.

California Signs AI Transparency Bill for Police Reports (SB 524)

October 20, 2025, 3:34 AM EDT. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 524, boosting transparency around AI use by police departments. The bill requires agencies to disclose when reports are generated by generative AI, and, starting Jan. 1, 2026, to include the statement: 'This report was written either fully or in part using artificial intelligence,' plus which software version was used. Departments must retain the first draft and identify the report creator, and officers must verify all AI-generated content with a signature. Proponents warn that AI hallucinations can affect a suspect's defense, so verification is crucial. California is leading in AI regulation, with lawmakers aiming for greater accountability in law enforcement documentation. Vendors like Axon are integrating AI into police workflows.

AI Governance at the Board Level: Boosting Literacy and Ethical Oversight

October 20, 2025, 3:32 AM EDT. Boards must actively raise AI literacy and strengthen ethical oversight to harness AI's benefits while mitigating risks. An AI-literate board understands core AI technologies, capabilities, limits, and potential business impact. The 2024 Deloitte Global Boardroom Program found only about 2% rate themselves as highly knowledgeable, with nearly 80% reporting limited or no experience. To close the gap, boards are adopting structured AI education programs (around 40%), regularly briefing by external AI experts, and, in some cases, appointing AI specialists as directors (8%). Alongside literacy, boards should establish and uphold clear AI principles-transparency, accountability, privacy-and oversee governance frameworks, such as dedicated committees and review protocols, to ensure responsible AI development.

Elon Musk Says 'Same' to Twitter User on Changing Minds With Facts

October 20, 2025, 3:24 AM EDT. Twitter user Pascal Anglehart (@DemosKratosCA) posted a tongue-in-cheek claim that people can be persuaded by 'the correct arguments with the appropriate facts and data.' Elon Musk replied simply with 'Same,' turning the moment into a relatable thread that drew thousands of likes. The exchange highlighted how online debates often hinge on emotions rather than logic, prompting a flurry of reactions about persuasion, eloquence, and cognitive biases. Critics and fans noted the irony of the billionaire's concise verdict, and the moment quickly became a talking point about how people try to change others' minds on social media.

OpenAI's GPT-5 math claims spark backlash from LeCun and Hassabis

October 20, 2025, 3:20 AM EDT. OpenAI's victory lap over GPT-5's math claims drew swift pushback from AI luminaries. Meta Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun called the reaction 'embarrassing,' and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind chimed in with similar skepticism. The controversy centers on a since-deleted tweet from OpenAI VP Kevin Weil asserting that GPT-5 "found solutions to 10 previously unsolved Erdős problems and made progress on 11 others." Mathematician Thomas Bloom argued this was a misrepresentation: the problems were open, but no paper solving them was cited; GPT-5 seemingly found references that solved them, which Bloom hadn't seen. OpenAI researcher Sebastien Bubeck conceded only literature-based solutions were found, yet suggested the feat still demonstrates the challenge of exhaustive literature search. Event context: TechCrunch, San Francisco, October 27-29, 2025.

Bringing Windows Phone Tiles to Android: Launcher10 vs Square Home

October 20, 2025, 3:18 AM EDT. Tech nostalgia meets practical Android: you can recharge the old Windows Phone tile aesthetic on modern devices with an Android launcher. The article weighs two popular options: Launcher10, the closest faithful replica that offers easy tile resizing and layout tweaks but can crash or lose apps; and Square Home, which trades perfect accuracy for rock-solid stability. The piece highlights how switching to a Windows Phone-style launcher changes screen organization, pushing users toward a minimalist aesthetic with easy access to favorites via simple tile moves, color tweaks, and size adjustments. In short, you get a practical, customizable homage to Windows Phone that balances fidelity with daily reliability through different launchers.

Self-Organizing Light Could Transform Computing and Communications

October 20, 2025, 3:16 AM EDT. USC engineers unveiled an optical device where light finds its own path through nonlinear systems, powered by optical thermodynamics. Published in Nature Photonics, this breakthrough moves away from switches and digital control toward a self-guiding, nonlinear photonics approach. In a marble-maze analogy, light drops in and automatically reaches its destination, eliminating manual routing. The technology could accelerate data transmission, computing, and telecommunications by offering a more natural, energy-efficient form of optical interconnects. As electronic speeds plateau, chipmakers may turn to self-organizing light for faster, simpler connections. While still foundational, the concept promises to simplify routing in photonic networks and could influence secure data transfer and high-performance computing through thermodynamic-driven light control.

How AI Is Reshaping Hiring: GenAI, OECD Principles, and Trustworthy AI in Talent Acquisition

October 20, 2025, 3:14 AM EDT. AI is reshaping hiring by turning GenAI into a partner that supports human decision-making across the six phases of hiring, from applications to offers. The study assesses GenAI's impact through the OECD AI Principles for trustworthy AI, addressing four guiding questions: revolutionary changes, ethical concerns, competitiveness and compliance for both firms and job seekers, and new research directions. Findings show GenAI boosts efficiency by automating resume screening, interview scheduling, and data analysis – hotel and hospitality sectors already use chatbots, AI video tools, and analytics to speed decisions. Yet risks remain: bias, opacity, and data privacy without human oversight. Framed by fairness, accountability, and transparency, the work proposes six phase-specific propositions. It highlights how GenAI can aid contract preparation and offer negotiations, contingent on data quality and governance.

OpenAI Tops Google in Consumer AI Token Consumption, Enterprise Edge Shifts to Anthropic

October 20, 2025, 3:12 AM EDT. OpenAI has surged in consumer AI token consumption, processing 6 billion tokens per minute and powering ChatGPT with over 800 million weekly active users, while Google handles 1.3 quadrillion tokens per month across its services. Barclays notes OpenAI leads in consumer token usage, roughly double Google Gemini, though Google remains dominant in lab-token totals. In the enterprise arena, Anthropic is vying for leadership, with nearly twice OpenAI's revenue share and ambitious targets of $9B annualized revenue by year-end and up to $20B by 2026, backed by 300k+ business customers. The piece also flags AI's potential to trim supply-chain costs by 3-4% and highlights how agentic AI improves fulfillment and liquidity management as CFOs push for AI-driven finance integration.

Snap AR Glasses Add Synth Riders, Star Wars, and Avatar Minigames Ahead of 2026 Specs

October 20, 2025, 3:10 AM EDT. Snap OS 2.0 expands its AR ecosystem with minigames from Synth Riders, Star Wars, and Avatar: The Last Airbender for the consumer Snap Specs at launch. While Spectacles remain a developer-focused kit ($99/month), Snap aims for a lighter, more capable consumer device by 2026. Snap OS runs sandboxed Lenses built in Lens Studio using JavaScript/TypeScript, with no APKs or native engines. New developer APIs, a WebXR-friendly browser, Travel Mode, and a Gallery app deepen the platform. At Lens Fest, Snap unveiled more branded Lenses and continued work on multi-user experiences and in-app payments, signaling a broader consumer rollout ahead.

Fort Worth venue ruling in Musk-X antitrust suit urges Apple and OpenAI to relocate HQs to Texas

October 20, 2025, 3:06 AM EDT. US District Judge Mark Pittman issued a four-page order in the Musk-X suit against Apple and OpenAI, accusing them of an antitrust-level "anticompetitive scheme." He sarcastically urged the parties to relocate their headquarters to Fort Worth, Texas, criticizing the practice of venue-shopping. The case will stay in the Fort Worth division of the Northern District of Texas despite scant ties to the city, with Pittman noting the division's docket is two to three times busier than the Dallas division. He highlighted the broader issue of forum-shopping in high-profile cases and directed the parties to Fort Worth's Business Services site to start the move. The ruling preserves the case in Fort Worth and underscores how venue decisions can affect competition in AI and tech litigation.

OpenAI GPT-5 math claims debunked: Erdős problems solved by literature search, sparking ridicule

October 20, 2025, 3:02 AM EDT. OpenAI claimed that GPT-5 had solved 10 previously unsolved Erdős problems and made progress on 11 others. However, investigators found the work amounted to literature search for already solved results, and Weil's post was later deleted, provoking ridicule from rival developers. Critics such as Stefan Schubert warned to be skeptical of these claims. OpenAI researcher Sebastien Bubeck described GPT-5 as 'superhuman at literature search' for locating earlier solutions. Harvard's Mark Sellke joined the discussion, listing ten Erdős problems now believed solved by GPT-5 and noting significant partial progress on 11 more; some corrections to Erdős's original paper were also discussed. In a later update with Mehtaab and colleagues, the team reportedly refined the results. The episode underscores the need for verification and clear attribution in AI research.

Manganese X Urges North American Battery Materials Supply Chain Amid China's Export Controls

October 20, 2025, 3:00 AM EDT. Manganese X Energy Corp. calls for a rapid build-out of a North American battery materials supply chain in response to China's export controls that take effect November 8, 2025. The controls cover high-performance lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials (including LFP), ternary precursors, and graphite anode tech, threatening global supply chains. CEO Martin Kepman argues this shift accelerates domestic self-sufficiency for EV and energy-storage sectors. The company highlights its Battery Hill project in Woodstock, New Brunswick, as a path to produce high-purity manganese (HPMSM) for next-gen chemistries such as LMR, LMFP, and NMC. Manganese X aims to reduce reliance on foreign processing, position itself as a cornerstone supplier, and align with North American energy security and clean-tech leadership.

What's Next for SpaceX After Starship's Big Test Flight

October 20, 2025, 2:56 AM EDT. SpaceX's 11th Starship test again showed the vehicle's power, firing all 33 engines at liftoff and re-igniting in space while deploying mock Starlink satellites. While the goal is to support Starlink, the Artemis III Moon mission in 2027, and future Mars exploration, industry experts say the vehicle still faces key hurdles before carrying humans. The craft has been suborbital so far and has not yet reached orbit, a threshold many expect to test next. After achieving orbit, SpaceX would need to demonstrate in-space refueling between two Starship vessels – a critical capability for long-range missions. Analysts warn time is running out, with milestones including orbital deployment and reliable propellant transfer seen as essential before crewed Moon or Mars flights.

Time is running out for SpaceX as Artemis III deadline looms after Starship test

October 20, 2025, 2:54 AM EDT. SpaceX's Starship just completed its 11th test flight, firing all 33 engines on liftoff and six more in ascent, with eight mock satellites released and an engine reignition in space. The mission is threefold: advance Starship for Starlink, support Artemis III's Moon landing in 2027, and enable future Mars exploration. Industry experts warn there are still major milestones before humans travel to the Moon. ESPI's Lars Petzold cautions that time is running out and that SpaceX will likely prove capabilities incrementally, including achieving a full Earth orbit. ASD-Eurospace's Pierre Lionnet notes Starship has yet to deploy a satellite in orbit. A key, currently unproven step is propellant transfer between two Starships, a prerequisite for long-distance missions.

Most AI privacy research misses lifecycle risks, CMU/Northeastern study finds

October 20, 2025, 2:36 AM EDT. A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and Northeastern University argues that privacy research for LLMs has focused too narrowly on training data leakage and direct chat exposure, neglecting how models collect, process, and infer during regular use. After reviewing 1,322 papers (2016-2025), researchers find 92% address data memorization while the remaining 8% cover inference attacks and broader risks like context leakage and data aggregation. They advocate expanding the privacy map across the entire LLM lifecycle, from data collection to deployment, and note barriers: policy lags and a culture that underestimates human factors in privacy. They propose a five-category taxonomy, including indirect context leakage, indirect attribute inference, and direct aggregation into detailed profiles.

AMD Surges as a Leading AI Hardware Challenger Backed by OpenAI and Oracle

October 20, 2025, 2:22 AM EDT. While Nvidia remains the dominant force in AI hardware, AMD is positioning itself as a credible challenger. The company's MI300 architecture is already competing at high performance tiers, with the upcoming MI400 expected to boost memory, energy efficiency, and throughput. Through open standards like ROCm, AMD is offering a flexible ecosystem that helps developers move models across platforms instead of locking into a single vendor. Major hyperscalers such as Microsoft and Meta are integrating AMD chips in next-gen data centers, while marquee partnerships with OpenAI and Oracle underscore its scale. These deals signal a shift toward diversified GPU supply chains and competitive price-performance, supporting AMD's case as a leading AI accelerator supplier.

AI-generated 'poverty porn' images spark ethics debate in aid sector

October 20, 2025, 2:20 AM EDT. AI-generated imagery of extreme poverty is flooding stock photo sites and increasingly used by leading NGOs, triggering an ethics debate over consent, cost, and the risk of stereotypes. Researchers like Arsenii Alenichev warn the visuals reproduce a biased poverty grammar, creating what he calls poverty porn 2.0. The spread is aided by cheap licensing on platforms such as Adobe Stock and Freepik, with many captions that reinforce racialized tropes. NGO leaders note the tension between urgency and responsibility, arguing platforms and consumers must scrutinize imagery, while some say developers cannot fully curb bias. The piece also highlights industry responses to bias and asks whether AI-generated photos should replace real photography in advocacy campaigns.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Elegant Marble-Back Mid-Range Smartphone with Fast WLAN

October 20, 2025, 1:48 AM EDT. OnePlus Nord CE5 delivers a classy, marble-back design with a sturdy plastic chassis that feels premium. The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 keeps everyday tasks smooth in this mid-range device. The camera system is versatile, especially with the added wide-angle lens, producing usable photos. Battery life is strong in daily use, though EU models ship with a capped capacity; fast charging helps top up quickly. It offers Wi-Fi 6, numerous 4G/5G bands, and speeds up to about 1.3 Gbps. An in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock provide convenient biometrics. Shipping with Android 15 / OxygenOS 15, OnePlus promises four Android updates and six years of security patches. The white marble finish is a standout visual, with pricing around €300 and solid value for a mid-range smartphone.

This Week's Japanese Game Releases: Ninja Gaiden 4, Double Dragon Revive, Once Upon a Katamari and More

October 20, 2025, 12:56 AM EDT. This week brings major Japanese releases across platforms including NINJA GAIDEN 4 on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC; Double Dragon Revive arriving on PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC; and Once Upon a KATAMARI expanding to PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC. Other highlights include Full Metal Schoolgirl for PS5, Switch, and PC, and Persona 3 Reload with related updates for Switch 2. The lineup also features digital-only debuts such as Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit and titles like Bounty Star, Criss Cross, and more, with Gematsu noting affiliate links through Play-Asia. Expect cross-gen, cross-platform releases and several indie titles alongside big mainstream ports.

Should You Sell Nvidia Stock to Buy IonQ? A Quantum Computing Bet in AI's Arms Race

October 20, 2025, 12:54 AM EDT. AI's rise has made Nvidia a top performer, while IonQ has attracted attention as a potential quantum computing disruptor. The article notes that Nvidia dominates GPUs for AI training, whereas IonQ offers a full-stack quantum computing approach. While IonQ has delivered stellar gains when measured against Nvidia, the quantum space remains far from mainstream adoption, with 2030 often cited as commercialization target. Some analysts estimate a possible $15-$30 billion annual quantum market by 2030, and if IonQ captured a large share at favorable margins, proponents envision a multi-hundred-billion valuation. However, this is highly speculative and hinges on timing, technology milestones, and execution; investors should weigh risk versus potential in AI and stock diversification rather than chasing a single theme.

Kyndryl Readiness Report: AI Delivers Early Returns Amid Infrastructure and Skills Gaps

October 20, 2025, 12:52 AM EDT. New York, Oct. 20, 2025 – Kyndryl's Readiness Report surveys 3,700 senior leaders across 21 countries, revealing AI momentum even as foundational gaps define the next phase. While 54% report positive ROI from AI and the figure is up 12 points from 2024, 62% have not moved beyond pilots and less than a third say employees are truly ready for AI. AI is expected to transform jobs for 87% within 12 months, yet widespread skills gaps persist. Leaders say their tools enable rapid experimentation, but a fragile tech stack and a fragmented regulatory landscape slow progress. Data and cloud strategies are being reevaluated amid geopolitics, while cyber resilience tops ROI concerns as AI spending rises about 33% on average. Cloud adoption remains a work in progress.

iPhone 17 Still Sells Out Globally as iPhone Air Sells Out in China

October 20, 2025, 12:42 AM EDT. Apple's latest wave of launches is proving hot: iPhone Air preorders in China sold out within hours after regulatory approval, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max led the charge by going out of stock first during the launch weekend. Across the globe, supply constraints persist on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and standard iPhone 17 models, with delivery estimates stretching to 2-3 weeks in several regions. The iPhone Air is the only 2025 model not yet sold out in some markets at launch. Analysts from Mizuho Securities estimate Apple will produce about 94 million new iPhones this year, underscoring stronger-than-expected demand, even as regions like China see early sellouts.

iOS 26.1 beta 3: Alarms, Apple Music swipes, and Apple TV rename

October 20, 2025, 12:40 AM EDT. iOS 26.1 beta 3 brings a few small refinements after the main iOS 26 release. Highlights include alarms that are harder to dismiss (slide to stop), Apple Music now supports swipe gestures to switch between tracks, and a rename of Apple TV+ to simply Apple TV with a redesigned icon. The update follows betas 1 and 2 (Sept. 22 and Oct. 6) and is expected to remain a minor, incremental release.

Starlink Mini Discount Brings Satellite Internet Anywhere: $299 in the US, CAD$399 in Canada

October 20, 2025, 12:38 AM EDT. Starlink Mini is SpaceX's portable satellite internet device. SpaceX is discounting it to $299 in the US and CAD$399 in Canada, making on-the-go connectivity more affordable. The device is designed for use where traditional broadband isn't available, leveraging Starlink's satellite network to deliver internet on the move. The price cut signals SpaceX's push to broaden consumer access to satellite internet, appealing to travelers, remote workers, and rural users seeking reliable service. Availability remains in the US and Canada, with more details to come.

Apple's New iPhone Air Sells Out Within Minutes in China, Signaling Brand Loyalty

October 20, 2025, 12:36 AM EDT. Apple's new iPhone Air reportedly sold out within minutes of its Friday China launch, buoyed by strong local interest. South China Morning Post notes brisk demand, and Counterpoint Research analyst Ivan Lam says loyalty to the Apple brand remains high in China despite fierce competition from domestic rivals. At 5.1mm, the iPhone Air's record-thin chassis stands out, underscoring Apple's design appeal. Tim Cook's China visit-meeting fans, developers, and officials, announcing a Shenzhen research lab, and attending the China Development Forum-helped fuel excitement, with Cook's Weibo posts going viral. Though Apple hasn't disclosed unit numbers, estimates suggest hundreds of thousands sold early. China remains a crucial market as Apple broadens manufacturing elsewhere amid tariffs. Wall Street shows a Moderate Buy on AAPL with a target of $255.84.

iPhone 17 Faces AI-Driven Headwinds as Apple Intelligence Trails

October 20, 2025, 12:34 AM EDT. Sales of the iPhone 17 stay strong, but AI momentum could shift buying decisions. In Power On, Mark Gurman argues that AI on smartphones may become more important in the coming months, elevating the role of Apple Intelligence. Apple's AI efforts lag behind rivals like Google's Gemini, and attrition among AI leads has hurt progress. If AI becomes a bigger factor, the iPhone 17, iPhone 18, and later models may meet stiffer competition unless Apple closes the gap. The report hints at future hardware boosts-Face ID under display on the iPhone 18 and a cutout-free Pro for the 20th-anniversary model-but cautions that true AI dominance isn't imminent.

Samsung Galaxy XR Android Apps Surface Ahead of October 21 Unveil

October 20, 2025, 12:32 AM EDT. Android apps for Samsung's Galaxy XR (aka Project Moohan) are appearing on the Google Play Store ahead of the official unveiling on October 21. The apps carry the XR label, hinting at immersive experiences that mix virtual reality with real-world overlays. Titles resemble Quest 3-style experiences – a virtual golf game, a space shooter, and a virtual TV screen app. The reveal on October 21 is set, with price rumors around $1,760 (roughly £1,315 / AU$2,715). Samsung and Google have teased Android XR software with Gemini and AI features, including live translation and quick responses. If true, Galaxy XR could rival Meta Quest 3 as a leading VR/AR headset.

Microsoft expands Dragon Copilot AI for nurses, adds third-party app and agent integrations

October 20, 2025, 12:30 AM EDT. Microsoft expanded its Dragon Copilot AI clinical assistant to nurses, tailoring ambient AI for frontline nursing workflows and co-developing the capability with Mercy and Advocate. The update will bring Dragon Copilot into Epic's Rover app and adds support for integrating partner AI apps and agents directly into the platform. Unveiled earlier at HIMSS 2025, Dragon Copilot combines Dragon Medical One's voice dictation with ambient listening from DAX Copilot to streamline documentation. It records nurse-patient conversations and auto-files the details into EHR flowsheets, with nurses able to preview or edit for accuracy. The tool also drafts notes and summarizes interactions to reduce clicks and administrative burden. With nurse burnout high (65% report stress) and 25% of shifts spent on documentation, this aims to reclaim patient-facing time.

AI Helps Itself: How Generative AI Wrote a Course About AI for Middle Schoolers

October 20, 2025, 12:16 AM EDT. Anna Otto, a middle school computer science coordinator in Colorado, enlisted AI to help design a short course about AI for students. The effort shows that AI can assist with planning, but it also reveals limitations: generic prompts often yield teacher-centric lessons and may not fully align with standards. To counter that, Otto crafted very specific prompts and built customized assistants-what ChatGPT calls GPTs and Gemini terms as gems-to guide the curriculum. The course emphasizes formative assessment and real-time checks of student understanding, aiming for student-centered learning. Even with safeguards, the AI made mistakes, such as misapplying standards; the example underscores the need for human oversight, critical thinking, and careful alignment to standards in AI-assisted curriculum design.

How AI Search Is Reshaping Publisher Visibility and Licensing Deals

October 20, 2025, 12:14 AM EDT. Generative AI platforms are growing, boosting AI referrals to publishers but not enough to offset declines in traditional Google search traffic. For meaningful visibility, publishers should pursue licensing deals with AI platforms, which can promise prominence in AI search results and attribution, says Semrush. The landscape shows Google still dominates overall search, while ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Copilot are rapidly expanding their reach (YoY Sep 2024-2025). AI referrals to major outlets rose year over year, but remain under 1% of total traffic. Each AI click, per SEOClarity, is tied to roughly 20 underlying searches, underscoring the need for accessible, crawler-friendly content. Publishers should align with AI partners and optimize content for AI crawlers to enhance visibility in AI search results.