TechCapsules

After a week of daily use, a reviewer finds the iPhone Duo more frustrating than enjoyable, citing a preference for one‑handed operation that the outer display hampers. He estimates that roughly 90 % of his interactions occur on the front screen, leaving the foldable interior rarely opened and feeling like an unnecessary extra. The device’s weight, width, and altered UI on the outer panel make extended use uncomfortable, especially while multitasking with young children. When he does unfold [...]

Fast radio bursts (FRBs)—millisecond‑long flashes that release as much energy as the Sun emits in three days—have been “sonified” for the first time. Using data from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), which recorded 4,539 bursts from 3,641 sources between 2018 and 2023, artist‑composer Andrew Melchior and MIT physicist Kiyoshi Masui translated each signal’s frequency sweep into musical pitches. The resulting soundscape, titled “The Logos,” is played through twelve speakers in Oulu Cathedral, Finland, where the youngest bursts are [...]

Google is rolling out a new Google Home update that adds features to Gemini for Home and fixes Nest camera bugs. Gemini now asks clarifying follow‑up questions when multiple devices match a command, shows contextual images on Nest Hub displays, and delivers faster timer, alarm and sleep responses while allowing users to edit voice input before sending. The Google Home app update resolves live‑streaming and stability problems for first‑generation Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, wired Nest [...]

Foundational designer Kouji Okada announced Villain:Code, a new RPG launching on PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 and Steam on Jan 26 2027. In a GamesRadar+ video, Okada traced his career from early Megami Tensei titles—1987’s Megami Tensei, 1992’s Shin Megami Tensei, and 1996’s Revelations: Persona—through the experimental “Shin Megami Tensei if…” which proved players welcomed a smaller, intimate setting. That success led to the school‑based Persona series, a formula that persists into the upcoming Persona 6. Villain:Code also centers on students, a choice Okada says leverages universal, [...]

Brewer Science, Inc. will exhibit its newest material solutions at SEMICON Europa 2026, the premier European semiconductor manufacturing forum held November 10‑13 in Munich. At Booth C1470, the company will present AI‑driven patterning technologies that enable high‑selectivity lithography for next‑generation nodes, low‑temperature transfer methods for fragile 2D semiconductors, and advanced packaging materials for heterogeneous integration and high‑bandwidth memory stacks. Co‑CEO Dr. Srikanth Kommu highlighted the need for resilient, scalable materials as AI and high‑performance computing push chip designs to new limits. [...]

Grand Theft Auto VI will launch worldwide next week after a 13‑year development cycle, but Japanese pre‑order listings show a 208 GB install size, slightly smaller than the 212 GB reported elsewhere. The game received CERO’s highest “Z” rating, yet the rating omits the “strong sexual content” warning present on PEGI and ESRB listings. Fans interpret the reduced file size and missing disclaimer as possible evidence that Rockstar may have trimmed or altered the game’s explicit material for the Japanese [...]

Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 3i 15.3‑inch laptop, normally priced at $1,299.99, is on sale for $599.99 at Best Buy, a 54 % discount announced in early November ahead of Black Friday. The model ships with a 2026 Intel Core i7‑350 processor, 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD and a 2K IPS touchscreen that supports a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Lenovo advertises up to 18 hours of battery life, multiple USB and HDMI ports, and an ultra‑thin chassis. The [...]

Google Wallet on Android is expanding to include digital home keys for compatible smart locks integrated with Google Home. Users can add a key through the Home app, after which the phone’s NFC can unlock the door with a tap, even when the screen is locked, though optional settings allow biometric or screen‑lock verification. The feature requires Android 9 or later and initially supports Aliro Ultra‑Wideband (UWB) phones paired with Aliro UWB locks for “Unlock on Approach.” At launch, [...]