Technology

TechnologyArs Technica ·

Public Comments Open on Rule That Could Put Politicians in Charge of Science

A proposed rule that could give political appointees greater control over scientific decision-making is currently open for public comment. The rule has raised concerns among scientists and advocates who warn it could compromise the independence of federal science. Members of the public are being urged to submit formal comments as part of the regulatory review process. Such comments can carry legal and procedural weight in determining whether or how a rule is finalized. Ars Technica is encouraging readers to participate before the comment deadline closes.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

Google ordered to pay €4.1bn fine over Android competition violations

Google has been ordered to pay a €4.1 billion fine after regulators found the company used its Android operating system to unfairly block rivals. The ruling determined that Google leveraged Android's dominant market position to restrict competition. The fine represents one of the largest antitrust penalties issued against a tech company. Google has disputed the decision, with a spokesperson stating the judgement fails to recognise the firm's significant investment in keeping Android open.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Amazon Kuiper Reaches 396 Satellites, Enough to Begin Initial Internet Service

Amazon has deployed 396 satellites into low-Earth orbit, which the company says is sufficient to provide continuous internet service across initial latitudes. The milestone was reached following a launch, with Chris Weber, VP of Amazon Kuiper's business and product division, confirming the threshold has been met. Amazon remains on track to launch commercial service by mid-2026 as previously targeted. By comparison, SpaceX launched its Starlink beta in 2020 with nearly 900 satellites in orbit, initially serving a limited geographic range of users.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

The Hidden Cost of 'Frictionless' Tech: Who Really Benefits?

The concept of a 'frictionless' society promises to remove barriers between users and their tasks, making everyday life more seamless and convenient. However, critics argue that this convenience-driven design may serve corporate interests more than those of individual users. By eliminating friction, companies can streamline consumer behavior, encouraging faster purchases and greater data collection with fewer moments for reflection. What appears to be a user benefit may in fact be a mechanism that reduces consumer agency and deepens dependency on tech platforms. The debate raises broader questions about whether frictionless design is a genuine innovation or a subtle form of manipulation.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Indian entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia invests $30M to build AI-powered Office rival

Indian tech entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia is personally investing $30 million to develop an AI-driven alternative to Microsoft Office and Google Apps. The new venture, called Neo, marks his fifth entrepreneurial undertaking and his latest foray into enterprise software. Turakhia is betting on artificial intelligence as the key differentiator to challenge the dominance of two of the biggest players in workplace productivity tools. The self-funded commitment signals strong personal conviction in the product's potential to disrupt the enterprise software market.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Apple Said to Be Planning New iPad Pro and Affordable MacBook Pro for Early 2025

Apple is reportedly preparing to launch new iPad Pro models along with a more budget-friendly MacBook Pro in early 2025. The plans were reported by TechCrunch, citing unnamed sources familiar with the company's roadmap. The new iPad Pro lineup is expected to include multiple variants, while the MacBook Pro refresh aims to offer a lower price point than current models. No official confirmation or pricing details have been released by Apple at this time.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

Car Trackers May Not Help Recover Stolen Vehicles, Experts Warn

Experts are cautioning car owners not to rely on built-in location trackers to recover stolen vehicles. Kia confirmed to the BBC that UK law restricts its tracking function from being used to monitor vehicles in real time. This means that even cars equipped with tracking technology may not be recoverable through live location data. The limitation highlights a significant gap between consumer expectations and the actual capabilities of vehicle tracking systems.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Bending Spoons shares surge 40% on market debut after acquiring legacy tech brands

Italian tech company Bending Spoons saw its stock jump 40% on its first day of trading, defying a broader slump in the SaaS sector. The company has built its business model around acquiring and revitalizing older, well-known technology brands. Its portfolio includes recognizable names such as AOL, Eventbrite, Evernote, Meetup, and Vimeo. The strong debut signals investor confidence in Bending Spoons' strategy of breathing new life into legacy platforms.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Apple Reportedly Planning Redesigned Entry-Level 14-inch MacBook Pro for 2027

Apple is developing a redesigned version of its entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, with a potential launch as early as the first half of 2027, according to Bloomberg. The new model's design is expected to align with Apple's upcoming touchscreen MacBooks, which are slated for release between late 2025 and early 2026. In addition to the MacBook Pro refresh, Apple is also testing four new iPad Pro models focused on internal improvements, set to arrive in spring. The reports suggest Apple is planning a broader hardware design overhaul across its laptop lineup in the coming years.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Bending Spoons founder shares lessons on success after landmark $18B IPO

Bending Spoons, the Italian tech company known for acquiring struggling internet brands, recently completed an $18 billion IPO. The company's co-founders have spoken openly about the key lessons they drew from an earlier failed startup venture. According to the founder, sustainable success is less about luck and more about deliberate, disciplined decision-making. The team applied these hard-won insights to build Bending Spoons into a major player in the tech acquisition space.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Sony to Stop Making Game Discs for New Titles From January 2028

Sony has announced it will cease producing physical discs for new games starting January 2028, marking a significant shift toward digital-only distribution. The decision has drawn criticism from players, independent retailers, and gaming preservationists alike. Small game retailers like Pink Gorilla Games say the move will eliminate their ability to sell, share, or resell titles. Preservationists and accessibility advocates are also concerned about the long-term impact on game ownership and archiving. Critics argue the change benefits Sony's digital marketplace while removing consumer choice over how games are purchased and owned.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

WhatsApp Usernames Launch Sparks Impersonation Concerns Among Critics

Meta has introduced username functionality to WhatsApp, framing it as a privacy enhancement for users. The feature allows people to identify themselves without exposing their phone numbers. However, critics have raised concerns that the new system could be exploited for impersonation. Observers are questioning whether Meta's existing safeguards are robust enough to prevent bad actors from mimicking real individuals or organizations.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

T-Mobile migrates thousands of VMs away from VMware amid Broadcom dispute

T-Mobile is in the process of migrating tens of thousands of virtual machines off VMware as its dispute with Broadcom escalates. The telecom giant is pushing to move workloads to alternative platforms rather than accept new licensing terms imposed after Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. At the center of the conflict is T-Mobile's demand that Broadcom continue honoring its existing perpetual VMware licenses. The two companies are currently engaged in a lawsuit over the licensing disagreement. The migration signals a broader industry tension as Broadcom's post-acquisition pricing and support policies push large enterprise customers to seek alternatives.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Microsoft Plans Major Xbox Layoffs, Studio Closures in July Restructuring

Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing a significant restructuring dubbed an 'Xbox reset,' according to an internal memo sent on June 10th by new CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty. The company cited a 3 percent accountability margin, sharply higher console component costs due to a memory and storage shortage, and an overstretched studio system as key pressures. Layoffs are expected to be announced around July 6th, with reports indicating at least five studios could be closed and games such as Blade potentially canceled. Ninja Theory, the studio behind Hellblade, has already been confirmed for closure as part of the shake-up. Under Sharma's leadership, Xbox has also raised console prices, restructured Game Pass, and rebranded the division to XBOX.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Musk Denies WSJ Report Claiming SpaceX Showed AI Phone Prototype to Investors

Elon Musk has called a Wall Street Journal report about a SpaceX AI phone prototype 'utterly false.' The WSJ reported on Wednesday that SpaceX demonstrated a slim, handset-like device to investors ahead of its IPO in June. The prototype was said to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip and feature an AI-powered operating system tied to SpaceX-owned xAI. Separately, the Financial Times last week reported that SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell had told investors the company was exploring a smartphone.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

NASA Chief Expresses Confidence in Blue Origin Despite Recent Launch Failure

NASA's administrator has praised the progress Blue Origin is making on its rocket program following a recent launch failure. Despite the setback, the NASA chief indicated the agency is not yet concerned about timelines, stating there is runway into 2027 before anxiety sets in. Blue Origin is working with NASA on key space exploration objectives, and officials remain optimistic about the company's ability to recover and deliver. The comments suggest NASA views the failure as a manageable hurdle rather than a critical threat to its broader mission schedule.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Bug in Apple's Hide My Email may expose real addresses, researcher warns

A security researcher has claimed to have discovered a bug in Apple's Hide My Email privacy feature. The flaw reportedly undermines the feature's core purpose by potentially exposing users' real email addresses. Hide My Email is designed to let users share random, relay email addresses instead of their actual ones. The bug could render the privacy feature effectively useless, according to the researcher's findings. Apple has not yet publicly commented on the reported vulnerability.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

US Home Battery Installations Reach Record High Amid Surging Electricity Costs

Home battery installations in the United States have hit an all-time high, driven largely by rising electricity costs pushing homeowners to seek energy independence. The growing adoption of residential batteries is giving households greater control over their power consumption and backup energy supply. Beyond individual benefits, the surge is also creating new opportunities for electric grid operators to tap into distributed energy storage. Analysts note that the expanding network of home batteries could additionally support the growing power demands of AI data centers.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Superworms Found Effective at Cleaning Skeletal Remains, Study Shows

Researchers have identified superworm larvae as a promising alternative to beetles for cleaning skeletal remains. The study found that an optimal ratio of 10 to 15 grams of larvae per gram of specimen produced the best results. This ratio minimized the time needed to clean bones while preventing any damage to the specimens. Superworms could potentially replace dermestid beetles, which are currently the standard tool used in osteological and forensic preparation work.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

SpaceX Demos AI Handset-Like Device Prototype to Investors

SpaceX has reportedly showcased a prototype AI device described as 'handset-like' to a select group of investors. The demonstration took place ahead of any public announcement by the company. The device's form factor suggests it could function similarly to a smartphone. Analysts see this as a potential signal that SpaceX is eyeing an expansion into the consumer wireless market, possibly leveraging its Starlink satellite network.

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