TechCapsules

esmo group, a long‑standing supplier of semiconductor handling systems, has launched Vulcon, a new family of contactors designed for final test stages. The product completes esmo’s existing test‑cell portfolio, allowing the company to provide a full mechanical chain—from manipulator to docking to contactor—for any handler brand. Vulcon targets power‑device testing in automotive, industrial, and AI data‑center markets, offering customized configurations and engineering support to reduce test costs through longer contact life and higher yield. First shipments are [...]

Apple released a new update for its Apple Invites app that adds polling functionality, allowing hosts to ask guests about activities, food preferences, and other event details. The update also introduces a themed emoji effect that animates icons across an invitation. The enhanced features are available immediately on the App Store. Apple’s move expands the app’s interactive capabilities, positioning it as a more comprehensive event-planning tool for iOS users.

TechCrunch’s Equity podcast discusses how many announced data‑center projects may never materialize, citing local opposition, permitting delays, and power shortages. Hosts Rebecca Bellan and Tim De Chant interview Brent Nelson of Ascend Analytics, who helps distinguish realistic builds from speculative plans amid billions of AI‑infrastructure investments. The episode highlights the growing need to filter viable projects before they face real‑world obstacles.

Final Fantasy XIV players worldwide held in‑game memorials for Eikichi Iwai, the 57‑year‑old bassist of the game’s official band, The Primals. Iwai’s sudden death was announced on November 11, 2026 by Chirinuruwowa and the FFXIV development team, who issued a joint condolence letter. Players gathered in iconic locations such as Limsa Lominsa’s Aetheryte Plaza and Ultima Thule, lighting campfires and sitting in silence for hours. The band canceled its remaining 2026 tour dates, and fans shared memories across social media. [...]

Apple’s iCloud+ app Apple Invites received its latest update, version 1.13, adding two new features: hosts can now poll guests during events, and a new emoji effect enhances invitations. The update also includes standard bug fixes and performance improvements. Invites remains available on iPhone and iPad, though the iPad version is pending. The app allows anyone to respond to digital events without an iPhone or paid iCloud account, expanding accessibility. The new poll feature and emoji effect aim [...]

Audible’s new sci‑fi thriller “Exoplanet,” written by Benjamin Percy and executive produced by Andy Weir, follows three crew members stranded on an alien world. The story blends dramatic survival scenes with a scientific exploration of what makes a planet habitable, focusing on stellar temperature, luminosity, orbital distance, and atmospheric composition. Voice actors Anthony Mackie, Ariana DeBose, and John Leguizamo bring the narrative to life while experts explain how spectroscopy reveals a star’s properties and how radiation can [...]

Nothing announced a forthcoming screenless AI device, unveiling a teaser on X that shows a curved, metallic gadget with two glowing LEDs and a central red‑circular button. CEO Carl Pei described it as “context doesn’t live in a chat box,” hinting the device will rely on voice interaction rather than a display. The teaser, posted on November 11, suggests the product will launch in December and may connect to a phone via Bluetooth. Nothing has previously prioritized AI over [...]

Sivers Semiconductors AB announced a global distribution agreement with WT Microelectronics Co., Ltd., a distributor holding 15% of the worldwide market. The partnership will enable WT to sell Sivers’ Indium Phosphide lasers and wireless beamformer products worldwide, expanding the company’s commercial reach in optical and high‑capacity wireless markets. Sivers CEO Vickram Vathulya highlighted the opportunity to leverage WT’s distribution network and demand‑generation capabilities. WT’s SVP of Marketing noted the fit with AI data center connectivity, satellite communications, [...]