TechCapsules

AAWireless, known for converting wired Android Auto links to wireless, unveiled a new active‑cooled Qi2 car charger. The “AAWireless Charge” delivers up to 25 W of Qi2 wireless power and retails for $50. It supports MagSafe, Pixelsnap and any Qi2‑compatible device, and includes a built‑in fan for active cooling. The package contains an air‑vent mount, an adhesive base and two magnetic ring adapters for phones lacking built‑in magnets. The charger can draw power from a vehicle’s 12 V outlet [...]

Before the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft approached Nintendo twice about a takeover. The first meeting in 1999 left Nintendo executives laughing, and a second 2000 pitch proposing that Microsoft handle hardware while Nintendo focused on games also failed. Microsoft then turned to acquiring studios, eventually buying Bungie and later Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. While Nintendo rode the success of the Switch family—selling over 156 million original units and more than 23 million Switch 2 units by mid‑2026—Xbox’s revenue [...]

Apple is slated to expand its hardware lineup early next year with three new iPad models, including a refreshed standard iPad, a larger‑screen iPad Pro and a budget‑friendly iPad mini, according to supply‑chain leaks. A separate report indicates the next‑generation MacBook Pro will feature Apple‑designed GPUs and a thinner chassis while retaining the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Apple also confirmed that the iOS 27.3 beta, which introduces the Apple Intelligence suite to Chinese users, will [...]

Tutor Intelligence Inc., a spin‑out of MIT CSAIL, announced a $75 million Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing its total funding to $117 million. The capital will accelerate training of its frontier robot foundation models and expand manufacturing of its two‑armed “Sonny” and mobile “Cassie” robots. Tutor’s full‑stack platform uses a “data flywheel” that captures real‑world manipulation data from fleets of internet‑connected robots operated remotely by human “tutors,” feeding the data back into AI models to improve capability, [...]

Viltrox released the AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens in April 2026, targeting Sony FE and Nikon Z full‑frame users at a $399 price point. The 13‑element, 10‑group design delivers a fast f/1.8 aperture in a compact 355 g body, making it attractive for astrophotography. Tests show the lens is sharp in the centre at wide open, with a sweet spot between f/8 and f/11 and noticeable edge astigmatism that turns stars into crosses at f/1.8. Vignetting is strong at the maximum aperture [...]

Google led a takedown in late October of a botnet controlling more than 1.3 million Android devices, chiefly TV set‑top boxes, after determining Shenzhen‑based Videostrong deliberately embedded a backdoor called x.cpe and sold access to criminal operators. The malware turned boxes into residential proxies and ad‑fraud platforms, disabling Play Protect and allowing silent app installs, screen captures, keystroke logging and reverse shells. Google used action to shut down the command‑and‑control domains and those of over a dozen related [...]

Samsung is reportedly set to debut its Intelligent Eyewear, an Android‑based XR glasses platform, in mid‑December 2026, targeting South Korea and the United States. The launch window, previously rumored for November, was shifted after internal sources told 9to5Google that the company will use the two markets as test beds, monitoring demand and user feedback before expanding globally. Pricing remains unsettled, though Samsung has hinted at a “reasonable premium” that would sit above Meta’s $300 Ray‑Ban models. The [...]

Qtonic Quantum Corp announced the appointment of retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier Jr., former commander of NATO Allied Land Command, as head of operations. Cloutier will manage the firm’s organizational structure and daily functions while continuing as chair of its Allied Defense Council, a role he has held since May 2026. He joins three other retired generals on Qtonic’s leadership team, including Lt. Gen. Mark E. Weatherington, Lt. Gen. Milford H. “Beags” Beagle Jr., and BG Shan K. Bagby, [...]