Innehållsförteckning för #715 från Techlife News

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is poised to disrupt the web browser market with an AI-powered browser designed to rival Google Chrome. Slated for release in the coming weeks, this browser aims to redefine how users interact with the internet by integrating artificial intelligence at its core. With Chrome’s dominance under scrutiny and a growing appetite for AI-driven solutions, OpenAI’s move could reshape the digital landscape, challenging Google’s grip on user data and ad revenue while offering consumers a novel browsing experience. REINVENTING THE BROWSING EXPERIENCE Unlike traditional browsers, OpenAI’s offering will leverage AI to streamline user interactions, keeping some activities within a ChatGPT-like interface rather than redirecting to external websites. Built on Chromium, the open-source code behind Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera, the browser will feel familiar but introduce…

In a bold move reshaping the UK’s streaming landscape, Disney and ITV have forged a first-of-its-kind agreement to share select content across their platforms, Disney+ and ITVX. Launching July 16, this partnership introduces “A Taste of ITVX” on Disney+ and “A Taste of Disney+” on ITVX, offering viewers free access to curated, regularly refreshed selections of hit shows and films. By blending Disney’s global storytelling with ITV’s British favorites, the deal aims to expand audience reach, leveraging complementary demographics to drive engagement in a crowded market. This innovative collaboration signals a new era of cooperation between streamers and broadcasters, with implications for content accessibility and industry dynamics. A STRATEGIC CONTENT EXCHANGE Starting July 16, Disney+ subscribers in the UK will access a “Taste of ITVX” rail featuring ITV’s acclaimed titles,…

Apple has consistently set the benchmark for innovation in smartphone photography, blending cutting-edge hardware with computational wizardry to deliver stunning images and videos. The iPhone’s camera system has long been a cornerstone of its appeal, and next-gen technology coming to future devices could revolutionize photography yet again. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE A new patent, first reported by Y.M. Cinema Magazine, suggests a significant shift in imaging technology. Titled “Image Sensor With Stacked Pixels Having High Dynamic Range And Low Noise,” this patent describes a revolutionary image sensor that could propel iPhone photography into uncharted territory, potentially rivaling or surpassing professional cinema cameras. With a dynamic range approaching that of the human eye, this innovation could redefine mobile photography, cinematography, and even augmented reality applications for devices like the Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s…

A POWERFUL NEW TIER Perplexity, a fast-growing AI search startup, has launched Perplexity Max, a $200-per-month subscription plan designed for power users, positioning the company alongside heavyweights like OpenAI and Anthropic in the high-stakes AI market. The plan, also available for $2,000 annually, offers unlimited access to Perplexity’s Labs tool, early access to experimental features like the Comet AI browser, priority support, and top-tier models such as OpenAI’s o3-pro and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4. The move, announced in a company blog, targets professionals, researchers, and content creators needing robust AI capabilities. Founded in 2022 by former OpenAI and Google Brain researchers, Perplexity has surged to a $14 billion valuation, processing 780 million queries in May alone with 20% monthly growth. The Max plan, now available on web and iOS with…

Apple’s F1: The Movie has raced past $293 million at the global box office, clinching the title of the company’s highest-grossing theatrical release ever. Distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery, the film, starring Brad Pitt as a Formula 1 driver, outpaced Ridley Scott’s Napoleon ($221 million) in just 10 days since its June 27 debut, marking a milestone for Apple’s fledgling film studio. With $60 million from IMAX screens alone—20.4% of its global haul—and $109 million domestically, the movie has become Brad Pitt’s 12th highest-grossing film, per ScreenRant. The film’s $57 million opening weekend, the biggest for any Apple Studios title, set the stage for its climb, fueled by a star-studded cast, immersive IMAX cinematography, and a marketing blitz across Apple’s ecosystem, including Apple Pay discounts and Formula 1 broadcasts. Despite…

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass has solidified its place as a cornerstone of the company’s gaming strategy, achieving a record-breaking quarterly revenue that confirms its profitability. The subscription service, offering over 100 games for a monthly fee, drove a 2% rise in Xbox content and services revenue, fueled by blockbuster day-one releases like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The service’s success, highlighted in Microsoft’s fiscal year 2025 Q2 earnings, comes from a surge in PC Game Pass subscribers, up 30%, and 140 million hours streamed on Xbox Cloud Gaming. The record revenue, while not detailed in exact figures, underscores Game Pass’s growing clout, with Black Ops 6 becoming the top-selling title on Xbox and PlayStation, and Indiana Jones drawing over 4 million players.…

Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, has cleared a significant milestone in its quest to bring high-speed connectivity to India. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) granted final regulatory approval, positioning Starlink as the third company authorized to offer satellite broadband services in the country, alongside Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite venture. This development marks a pivotal step toward bridging India’s digital divide, particularly in underserved rural and remote regions, while setting the stage for fierce competition in the satellite communications market. CLEARING THE REGULATORY GAUNTLET Starlink’s journey to secure approvals in India began in 2022 but faced numerous obstacles, including national security concerns and a contentious debate over spectrum allocation. Last month, the company obtained a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite…

Meta Platforms has acquired a nearly 3% stake in EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest eyewear manufacturer and parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley, in a €3 billion ($3.52 billion) deal that deepens its push into AI-powered wearable technology. The investment, reported on July 8, 2025, underscores Meta’s strategic focus on smart glasses as a cornerstone of its augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. With plans to potentially increase its stake to 5%, Meta aims to strengthen its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, leveraging the eyewear giant’s manufacturing prowess to compete in the fast-growing smart glasses market. A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN WEARABLE TECH Meta’s stake in EssilorLuxottica, valued at approximately €117.3 billion, builds on a partnership that began in 2019 with the launch of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These glasses, which integrate…

A STRATEGIC MOVE INTO HEALTHCARE Samsung Electronics has signed an agreement to acquire Xealth, a Seattle-based healthcare platform, to expand its mobile healthcare services business. The deal, announced by the South Korean tech giant, aims to merge Samsung’s wearable technology, like the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring, with Xealth’s digital health platform, which connects over 500 U.S. hospitals to patients. The acquisition, set to close by year’s end pending regulatory approval, marks Samsung’s third non-chip purchase in 2025, following a €1.5 billion deal for Germany’s FläktGroup and Masimo’s $350 million audio business. Xealth, spun out of Providence Health in 2017, enables doctors to prescribe and monitor digital health tools, like apps for medication tracking or patient condition monitoring, as easily as medications. Its network, including Advocate Health and Banner Health,…

Virgin Atlantic has announced a transformative overhaul of its passenger experience, headlined by free Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet and a major cabin upgrade program. The initiative, unveiled at an exclusive London event, makes Virgin the first U.K. airline to offer SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet, set to roll out starting in the third quarter of 2026 and complete by the end of 2027. The Wi-Fi, available to all passengers via a free Flying Club account, supports streaming, gaming, and work on multiple devices, promising ground-like connectivity at 35,000 feet. The upgrades extend beyond Wi-Fi. Virgin’s Boeing 787-9 fleet will undergo a full cabin refresh by 2028, boosting Upper Class seats from 31 to 44 in a 1-2-1 layout, inspired by the Airbus A330neo’s design. The airline is also expanding…

SpaceX, the aerospace titan led by Elon Musk, is poised to reach a $400 billion valuation through a new share sale, marking it as the most valuable private U.S. company in history. The deal, reported by Bloomberg, involves a primary fundraising round to sell new shares and a secondary tender offer allowing employees and early investors to cash out, with shares priced at around $214 each. This follows a $350 billion valuation in December, a 67% jump from June’s $210 billion, driven by SpaceX’s dominance in rocket launches and its Starlink satellite internet unit. The $400 billion figure surpasses TikTok parent ByteDance’s $300 billion and OpenAI’s $150 billion, rivaling public giants like Home Depot and Palantir. SpaceX’s financial strength, with $500 million of its own funds in the December $1.25…

Nvidia, the Silicon Valley chipmaker, has etched its name in financial history as the first publicly traded company to surpass a $4 trillion market valuation. This milestone, achieved on Wednesday, underscores the company’s pivotal role in the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, transforming it from a niche graphics card producer to a global tech titan. As investors pour capital into AI-driven enterprises, Nvidia’s ascent highlights both the promise of generative AI and the risks of a market heavily concentrated in a single stock. A METEORIC RISE FUELED BY AI Nvidia’s journey to $4 trillion is a testament to its dominance in the AI hardware market. On Wednesday, its shares climbed 2.8% to $164.42, pushing its market capitalization to $4.01 trillion and overtaking Microsoft ($3.75 trillion) and Apple ($3.19 trillion) as the…

Tropical rainforests, vital carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, face relentless threats from deforestation, mining, and agriculture. Yet, innovative technologies and the stewardship of Indigenous communities offer proven solutions to protect these ecosystems. From satellite-monitoring apps to community-led conservation, a blend of modern tools and traditional knowledge is driving measurable progress in preserving rainforests across the Amazon, Congo Basin, and beyond. These efforts not only safeguard forests but also empower local guardians, proving that collective action can counter environmental loss. HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR FOREST MONITORING Mobile apps and satellite technology have transformed rainforest conservation by enabling real-time monitoring of deforestation. The Forest Watcher app, developed by the Rainforest Foundation US, equips Indigenous communities with offline-capable tools to track forest changes. In Peru, over 30 communities trained in Forest Watcher saw a…

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reported a 40% surge in first-half 2025 revenue, reaching NT$1.77 trillion ($60.8 billion), driven by unrelenting demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips. As the backbone of tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, TSMC’s performance underscores its pivotal role in powering the AI revolution, from smartphones to data centers. Despite global trade uncertainties, the company’s robust growth and strategic expansions signal a bright outlook, though challenges like tariffs and currency fluctuations loom. RIDING THE AI WAVE TSMC’s revenue leap reflects the global rush to build AI infrastructure. The company’s advanced 3-nanometer and 5-nanometer chips, critical for high-performance computing, accounted for 58% of wafer revenue in Q2 2025, up from 50% the prior year. Clients like Nvidia, whose $4 trillion valuation hinges…

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ambitious “click-to-cancel” rule, designed to simplify the cancellation of subscriptions and memberships, has hit a major roadblock. Just days before its scheduled implementation on July 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the rule, citing procedural errors by the FTC. This decision halts a consumer-friendly initiative that aimed to make exiting recurring payment programs—such as streaming services, gym memberships, and cable subscriptions—as straightforward as signing up for them, leaving businesses and consumers in limbo as the FTC considers its next steps. A RULE TO EASE CONSUMER FRUSTRATION Announced in October 2024, the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule was a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s “Time is Money” initiative, which targeted consumer hassles like hidden fees and cumbersome cancellation processes. The rule amended…

Researchers at Finland’s Aalto University have set a new benchmark in quantum computing, achieving a transmon qubit coherence time of one millisecond, nearly doubling the previous record of 0.6 milliseconds. Published in Nature Communications, the milestone, led by Ph.D. student Mikko Tuokkola under Dr. Yoshiki Sunada, marks a significant step toward practical quantum computers. The team’s qubit, fabricated in Aalto’s Micronova cleanroom with superconducting film from VTT Technical Research Centre, maintained a median echo dephasing time of 0.5 milliseconds and a maximum of 1.057 milliseconds, surpassing prior benchmarks. Coherence time, the duration a qubit retains its quantum state, is critical for error-free computations. Longer times allow more complex operations, reducing the need for resource-heavy error correction. The team’s success, part of Finland’s Quantum Flagship initiative, used refined niobium patterning, precise…

Meta has scored a significant win by recruiting Ruoming Pang, the head of Apple’s foundation models team, to strengthen its Superintelligence Labs, a division focused on building artificial general intelligence (AGI). Pang, who previously worked at Alphabet before joining Apple in 2021, led a 100-person team developing the neural networks behind Apple Intelligence, powering features like Genmoji and an enhanced Siri. His move to Meta, reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by sources to The Wall Street Journal, includes a compensation package worth tens of millions annually, underscoring the intense competition for AI talent in Silicon Valley. This defection is a setback for Apple, which is already navigating delays in its AI offerings and internal restructuring. Meta’s aggressive hiring, driven by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, includes 11 other prominent researchers from OpenAI,…

The Federal Trade Commission is distributing over $126 million in refunds to nearly 1 million Fortnite players who faced unwanted in-game charges, part of a $245 million settlement with Epic Games. The payments, announced by the FTC, address allegations that Epic used deceptive practices, like confusing button layouts, to trick players into buying items between January 2017 and September 2022. The settlement, the largest in gaming history, also tackles issues like children racking up unauthorized charges and accounts being locked after disputes. Eligible players have until July 9 to file claims at www.fortniterefund.com. The FTC has already sent 969,173 payments via checks and PayPal, averaging $130 per claimant, following a $72 million first round in December 2024. Those who filed valid claims by February 14 don’t need to act, but…

Apple has filed an appeal against a €500 million ($586 million) fine imposed by the European Union, calling the penalty “unprecedented” and the mandated changes to its App Store “unlawful.” The European Commission issued the fine for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA), claiming Apple’s anti-steering policies blocked developers from directing users to cheaper payment options outside the App Store. The company argues the fine exceeds legal bounds and harms both developers and consumers, lodging its case with the EU’s General Court, Europe’s second-highest court. The dispute centers on Apple’s control over its App Store, which the EU says stifles competition by restricting how developers can inform users about alternative marketplaces or payment methods. Apple made changes in June to comply, allowing third-party app stores and external payment links, but…