Innehållsförteckning för #733 från Techlife News

Valve has introduced a new Steam Controller, returning to the category nearly a decade after the original model left the market. The company outlines a hardware design built around conventional inputs, expanded connectivity, and compatibility extending across SteamOS systems, desktop platforms, mobile devices through Steam Link, and upcoming Valve hardware. The announcement marks the first time Valve has repositioned a controller for a wider ecosystem rather than a single living-room interface, signaling a broader role for input hardware within the Steam platform. The controller adopts a structure closer to modern gamepads while preserving features that previously differentiated Valve’s input approach. According to early hands-on information, this revision appears centered on addressing feedback from players who preferred the flexibility of Steam Input but wanted hardware that aligned with contemporary expectations for…

Airbnb is testing a new feature that allows guests to order groceries and household supplies through Instacart before arriving at a rental, marking a continued shift toward expanding services beyond accommodations. The pilot is limited to select U.S. cities and integrates Instacart’s fulfillment system directly into the Airbnb booking flow, allowing guests to schedule deliveries up to several weeks before check-in. The test reflects Airbnb’s broader direction of embedding convenience features into its platform while exploring additional service-driven revenue models. HOW THE PILOT WORKS FOR GUESTS The integration appears in the Airbnb app for eligible listings, giving guests the option to order groceries, toiletries, and basic household supplies tied to the timing of their stay. The order arrives shortly before check-in, enabling travelers to walk into a rental with essentials…

The robots have arrived. Not in a far-off dystopia, but here and now, with their awkward steps and startling intelligence. We’re witnessing the very first commercial generation of AI-driven generalist humanoids take their first steps into our homes and offices, with challenges and opportunities ahead. THE FUTURE IS HERE No longer confined to research labs or splashy tech demos, these humanoid robots are beginning to appear in warehouses, retail spaces, office buildings, and even homes. While the technology is still in its infancy, what we’re seeing is nothing short of historic: the dawn of a new industry. 2025 is the warm-up. 2026 will be the year humanoids break out of beta and into mainstream reality. It’s no longer a question of if these machines will become part of everyday life;…

SoftBank’s decision to sell a multibillion-dollar stake in NVIDIA has rippled across global markets, reigniting debate over the sustainability of the semiconductor boom and the broader valuations driving the artificial intelligence sector. The move, disclosed earlier this week through regulatory filings, comes amid record highs in NVIDIA’s stock price and growing investor unease about concentration risks in AI-related equities. According to details first reported by TechCrunch, SoftBank’s sale involved part of its holdings acquired during NVIDIA’s 2016 purchase of Arm shares, followed by subsequent market investments made through its Vision Fund. The divestment, estimated at more than $12 billion, marks one of the largest portfolio reductions by the Japanese conglomerate since its partial exit from Alibaba in 2023. Market analysts were quick to interpret the sale as a signal that…

Google has begun rolling out its “Help Me Edit” feature on Google Photos for iOS, extending one of its core generative AI tools to Apple devices. The update allows iPhone users to describe edits in plain language—such as removing background objects, adjusting lighting, or refining color balance—and have the app perform those changes automatically. The feature, already available on Android since mid-year, relies on Google’s Gemini AI models to interpret user instructions and apply corresponding visual adjustments. It introduces a conversational interface to a process that previously required manual sliders or third-party editing software, giving users more flexible control without altering the app’s existing workflow. AI-ASSISTED EDITING NOW CROSS-PLATFORM Once installed, the latest version of Google Photos adds a text-prompt field labeled “Describe what you want to change.”Requests are processed…

As smartphones adopt increasingly powerful charging systems—some now reaching 100 watts or more—a recurring question continues to circulate among users and engineers alike: does fast charging harm a phone’s battery in the long run? Recent findings suggest the answer is more nuanced than simple yes or no, depending largely on how the technology is implemented and how consistently it’s used. According to a detailed breakdown by BGR, battery degradation is influenced not by the act of fast charging itself but by the heat generated during high-voltage power transfer. Modern charging systems rely on lithium-ion or lithium-polymer cells, which deteriorate faster when exposed to sustained high temperatures. While contemporary devices employ sophisticated control systems to mitigate these effects, the limits of chemistry remain constant: heat accelerates wear, regardless of design. HOW…

Tesla is conducting internal tests of Apple CarPlay integration, according to sources familiar with early development efforts. The testing marks the first known instance of the company evaluating support for the iPhone-centric platform after years of declining to adopt outside infotainment systems. While Tesla has not confirmed public plans, the testing suggests the company is weighing whether expanded smartphone compatibility can coexist with its long-standing commitment to a proprietary user interface. Reports indicate the current implementation under evaluation does not replace Tesla’s native software. Instead, CarPlay appears within a contained window that sits inside the broader interface, functioning as an embedded layer rather than a system-level replacement. The design mirrors Tesla’s historical reluctance to hand over core vehicle functions to third-party ecosystems, maintaining separation between vehicle controls and mirrored smartphone…

Apple has unveiled a new iPhone Pocket accessory created in partnership with Issey Miyake, marking its latest collaboration with a leading design house. The product is available through Apple’s online store and select retail locations worldwide. Prices are set at $229.95 for the crossbody version and approximately $149.95 for a smaller short-strap model. A FUNCTIONAL FABRIC DESIGN BASED ON A-POC PRINCIPLES The iPhone Pocket is made using 3D-knitted textile construction based on Issey Miyake’s A-POC (“A Piece of Cloth”)approach. The technique produces a seamless, stretchable knit that forms a single continuous surface. Apple’s product description highlights the use of a ribbed elastic weave that can expand to fit multiple smartphone sizes. The fabric offers limited transparency when stretched, allowing a faint view of the phone’s outline or display without removing…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once again pushed the boundaries of robotics showmanship, teasing a new demonstration of the company’s humanoid robot Optimus that drew instant comparisons to the cinematic cyborgs of RoboCop. The brief clip, shared on social media late Tuesday, showed the robot performing a series of industrial tasks with strikingly fluid movement, prompting renewed speculation about Tesla’s near-term ambitions for its AI-driven robotics program. While Musk offered few technical details, he described the current version of Optimus as being “much closer to production form” than previous prototypes. The robot’s refined motion control and apparent spatial awareness suggest that Tesla’s AI division has reached a new level of real-world autonomy integration—the same foundational model that powers the company’s self-driving software. A NEW PHASE FOR TESLA’S HUMANOID PROJECT Tesla…

Apple’s HomePod mini appears to be nearing replacement, as major retailers have now marked the current model as discontinued, fueling speculation that an updated version of Apple’s compact smart speaker is imminent. Reports from Macworld indicate that inventory listings at large U.S. and European resellers show the device as unavailable or end-of-life, suggesting Apple is preparing to introduce a successor after nearly four years without a hardware revision. SIGNS OF AN UPCOMING MODEL The current HomePod mini, introduced in October 2020, has remained unchanged since launch aside from minor firmware and color updates. Retail databases now listing it as discontinued typically coincide with the end of Apple’s production cycle, which precedes the release of a refreshed product line. Apple has not announced any new HomePod hardware, but earlier supply chain…

Apple is advancing its satellite communication technology with a new wave of features designed to expand iPhone connectivity beyond conventional cellular networks. According to multiple reports, the company is preparing to extend its existing emergency satellite functions into broader, real-time communication capabilities that could eventually support messaging, location sharing, and limited data access in remote areas. This next step builds on Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite, first introduced with the iPhone 14 series in 2022. The upcoming iteration aims to transform that safety-oriented feature into a more integrated system within iOS, leveraging improvements in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite infrastructure and Apple’s growing network partnerships. FROM EMERGENCY SIGNALS TO EVERYDAY CONNECTIVITY The original satellite feature allowed users to contact emergency services and share location details when outside mobile coverage. While…

The ongoing technological rivalry between the United States and China has entered a new phase centered on data centers, where both nations are rapidly expanding investments in AI infrastructure, semiconductor design, and cloud computing capacity. According to Dutch broadcaster NOS, what began as a race to dominate chip manufacturing and artificial intelligence research has evolved into a competition over who can power the next generation of global data operations. This shift underscores the critical role of large-scale computing hubs as the backbone of modern AI development. Advanced language models, autonomous systems, and cloud services depend on increasingly powerful chips and energy-efficient server architectures—areas now viewed as both economic drivers and strategic assets. FROM CHIP PRODUCTION TO DATA INFRASTRUCTURE Over the past two years, U.S. restrictions on semiconductor exports to China…

Google is preparing a revised sideloading framework for Android that preserves advanced installation controls for experienced users while tightening developer verification across the broader ecosystem. The change follows months of concern from developers, researchers, and open-source communities after Google announced plans to require identity-verified developers for nearly all app installations, including those distributed outside the Play Store. The updated approach introduces a dedicated user workflow designed to allow technically skilled users to bypass upcoming restrictions while maintaining the broader security model Google intends to deploy across Android devices in the coming years. The shift arrives as Google continues to balance regulatory pressure, long-standing security challenges, and the need to support alternative app stores and sideloading practices that remain central to Android’s identity. The company’s communication around the policy has emphasized…

A new study has revealed that listeners can no longer reliably distinguish between human-created music and songs generated entirely by artificial intelligence, highlighting how far machine-learning models have come in replicating musical expression, texture, and emotional tone. The findings underscore growing concerns among artists, streaming platforms, and regulators about authorship, copyright, and the integrity of creative work in an age where algorithms increasingly compose like humans. The survey—conducted across several major music markets—asked participants to identify whether audio samples had been produced by a human composer or generated through AI systems trained on extensive databases of digital sound. The results showed error rates above 80 percent, meaning most respondents could not tell the difference between algorithmic compositions and traditional music. AI COMPOSITION HAS REACHED HUMAN-LIKE REALISM Early attempts at machine-generated…

IBM has unveiled a significant advancement in quantum computing, one that could accelerate the technology’s shift from laboratory research to large-scale industrial use. The company’s latest quantum architecture, introduced this week, marks a leap in processing capability and stability, positioning IBM at the forefront of a race that has drawn major investment from governments, universities, and private corporations worldwide. According to reporting from Inc., IBM’s new system integrates advanced error-correction methods with modular scaling, allowing for more reliable operations across thousands of qubits—a key milestone that researchers have long viewed as essential for moving beyond experimental demonstrations toward practical computation. The breakthrough effectively closes part of the gap between quantum prototypes and deployable machines, bringing sectors like pharmaceuticals, logistics, and finance closer to leveraging the technology in real-world scenarios. FROM…

Apple is preparing to push its iPhone silicon roadmap into the 2-nanometer era with the iPhone 18 cycle, aligning with TSMC’s next major process node and reinforcing the long pattern of annual gains in performance per watt. The plan builds on Apple’s strategy of pairing custom CPU and GPU architectures with the foundry’s most advanced manufacturing, using tighter transistor geometries to lift speed, reduce leakage, and extend battery life under sustained loads. HOW 2NM FITS THE ROADMAP APPLE HAS FOLLOWED SINCE A11 Moving to 2nm continues a cadence that has defined Apple’s mobile chips for years. The A11 Bionic in 2017 marked the jump to 10nm, followed by the A12 at 7nm, a refinement with the A13 on enhanced 7nm, a more substantial shift to 5nm with the A14, and…

Apple’s gradual expansion into satellite technology—once viewed as a niche safety initiative—is beginning to resemble a long-term connectivity roadmap that could redefine how future iPhones, Watches, and even Mac devices communicate. As TechSpot reports, what started with Emergency SOS via satellite has evolved into a coordinated effort to establish Apple as an independent player in off-grid communication, powered by long-term agreements with Globalstar and a growing internal focus on hybrid network integration. Over the past three years, Apple has made steady, low-profile investments in satellite systems and network infrastructure while publicly downplaying its broader ambitions. Yet each incremental update—from Find My integration to roadside assistance via satellite—has added another piece to a puzzle that now appears much larger than previously assumed. A STRATEGY THAT GOES BEYOND EMERGENCY USE When Apple…

Ookla, the company behind the Speedtest platform, has unveiled Speedtest Pulse, a new hardware-based diagnostic system developed to provide continuous network monitoring for service providers, broadcasters, and enterprise infrastructures. The device extends Ookla’s measurement technology into a professional environment capable of tracking latency, jitter, throughput, and overall stability across wired and wireless connections. The launch marks one of Ookla’s most technical expansions since its 2021 acquisition by Ziff Davis. With Speedtest Pulse, the company is entering a field long dominated by network analytics firms, offering a smaller, automated alternative to traditional enterprise monitoring systems. The product is aimed at facilities where uptime, bandwidth consistency, and low latency are operational priorities. PURPOSE-BUILT FOR CONTINUOUS NETWORK INTELLIGENCE Speedtest Pulse is designed around a plug-and-measure architecture that combines embedded telemetry with cloud analytics.…