TechCapsules

NASA just gave SpaceX more crew missions because Boeing can’t certify

NASA has filed a procurement notice to add six post-certification missions to SpaceX's existing Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract. The agency will order up to three missions immediately, with the remaining three available as needed through 2030. The decision is due to shortened ISS mission durations, technical issues, and schedule delays encountered by Boeing, which has not certified its CST-100 Starliner for crewed flights. SpaceX is now the only American company capable of rotating crews to the station. The contract extension follows NASA's 2014 award of $2.6 billion and a 2022 modification worth $1.436 billion.

💡 SpaceX's expanded role cements its position as the primary contractor for American human spaceflight, solidifying its influence on NASA's crew transportation capabilities. Boeing's certification delays have handed SpaceX a strategic advantage in the US space industry.

After waiting for One UI 8.5, users say Samsung axed video features

Samsung's One UI 8.5 update has removed video filters in the camera app, according to user reports on the Galaxy S23 Ultra subreddit. The feature allowed users to apply filters directly while recording videos, which is now gone. Users have confirmed the removal of the feature on their devices, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The update brought other features like AI call screening and image editing tools, but the removal of video filters has disappointed some users. The One UI 8.5 update is being rolled out to various Samsung devices, including the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy Tab S11. Users are expressing their disappointment and unwillingness to update due to the removal of this feature. The update's impact on users who rely on the video filters is significant.

💡 Samsung's decision to remove video filters may alienate casual videographers who relied on the convenience of in-app editing. The lack of a direct alternative forces users to edit videos in the Gallery app, resulting in video compression.

Microsoft, Meta, and Google just announced billions more in AI spending. Only…

Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft announced billions in AI spending, with Alphabet's stock rising 7% after-hours due to strong Google Cloud growth. Meta's stock dropped 6% after CEO Mark Zuckerberg's comments on AI investments failed to reassure investors. Microsoft's stock remained flat. The companies' capital expenditures are expected to exceed $600 billion in 2026, with investors seeking returns on investment. Alphabet's Cloud revenue grew 63% year-over-year to $20 billion.

💡 Google's ability to demonstrate a clear return on AI investment through Cloud growth has set a high bar for its competitors. Alphabet's strong results have validated its AI spending strategy, putting pressure on other tech giants to deliver similar returns.

Intel, AMD stock rally on fresh bullish coverage

Intel and AMD stocks rallied due to fresh bullish coverage from analysts, with Susquehanna raising its price target on AMD to $375 and Freedom Broker upgrading Intel to "buy". The upgrades were based on strong Data Center and AI growth, as well as improving manufacturing credibility. The rally is tied to near-term catalysts and a potential Q4 inflection. The stocks extended gains on Wednesday morning, reigniting momentum in the semiconductor sector with upbeat analyst commentary.

💡 Hyperscalers treating CPUs as the orchestration layer for agentic AI expands the CPU-to-GPU mix, increasing the addressable market. Accelerator deployments support durable Data Center revenue, driving the bullish sentiment.

PS5 Costs Climb Again Amid Rising Chip Prices

Sony has confirmed a new round of price increases for its PlayStation hardware in Australia, with the PS5 console rising to nearly $1,000. The standard PS5 will retail for $999.95, up from $829.95, due to rising chip costs and supply chain disruptions. This is the third price hike since launch, and may dampen consumer demand as the console generation matures. Sony also lifted prices in the US, Europe, and Japan, citing global economic pressures.

Google’s TurboQuant: Opportunity or crisis for memory semiconductor market?

Google's new AI algorithm, TurboQuant, reduces memory usage to a sixth of current levels, sparking market concerns about reduced demand for AI-driven memory. Shares in memory makers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dropped over 8 percent, but some analysts believe the technology may not be bad news for chipmakers, as it could drive innovation and investment in the industry, potentially creating new opportunities.