TechCapsules

Joel Franey earned a Bachelors in Creative Writing and Games Design from Brunel University in 2017 and a Masters in Creative and Critical Writing from Sussex University. He freelanced in gaming roles before joining USgamer and ReedPop’s guides team in 2019. Since 2021, Franey has written for GamesRadar+, covering single‑player and narrative titles, while also contributing to major AAA coverage. Outside journalism, he authors fiction, screenplays, and co‑hosts the comedy podcast “Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy.”

Apple’s latest smart‑home leaks reveal a new HomePod mini 2 in five colors, a four‑unit HomePod pairing with Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed Apple TV 4K design featuring ambient audio for screensavers. The leaks also show a new animated light on HomePods when paired with Siri AI. Meanwhile, Anker showcased its Edge 5.0 security system in NYC, comprising five cameras—including the S4 doorbell and Tracklight Cam S1—designed to process video locally and integrate with Apple Home via the Eufy base station. [...]

A Transport & Environment report shows electric trucks have a lower total cost of ownership in six of nine major EU markets, covering 46% of new heavy‑truck sales. In the Netherlands and Germany, savings reach €100,000 and €85,000 over five years, with payback after two years. Chinese and US e‑trucks offer even lower purchase prices, adding €34,000 in German savings. The study urges European manufacturers to scale production and calls for policy measures like toll exemptions to

Mavi, an AI‑powered talent marketplace founded in 2023, officially launched from stealth on Monday, offering U.S. companies rapid access to global financial and accounting talent. Co‑CEOs Molly Liu and Aman Puri highlighted the U.S. accounting shortage and the need for AI‑proficient professionals, noting that many firms hesitate to hire overseas talent due to complexity and quality concerns. Mavi handles cross‑border contracts, compliance, and payroll, focusing on mid‑ to senior‑level placements that augment in‑house teams. The startup has [...]

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that its long‑running Ace Combat series will release a new title, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, for PlayStation 5 on October 2, 2026. The PS5 version has already earned an 87/100 Metacritic score from over 50 critic reviews, with Xbox and PC versions scoring 90 and 86 respectively. Reviewers praised the campaign and dogfighting mechanics, noting the game’s dynamic cloudscapes and intense aerial battles. Preorders are available on the PS Store, with standard and deluxe editions priced [...]

CD Projekt released patch notes for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, detailing PC‑specific and console‑specific updates. The patch introduces a new shading model, updated textures, native DirectX 12 rendering, and additional visual effects such as GTAO and Ray‑Traced HairWorks. Gameplay changes include a reorganized skill tree with reset skill points, rebalanced bonuses, new equipment reforging options, refined monster combat, and improved Geralt animations. The update also adds a horse control sensitivity slider and updates the HDR calibration panel. [...]

The long‑awaited seamless co‑op mod for Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin has been released in alpha by modder Yui, who also created mods for Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring and Armored Core. The update allows up to five players to play from start to finish in a single session, bypassing the game’s default co‑op limitations and keeping progress in sync. Available on NexusMods and GitHub, the alpha contains known issues such as enemy desynchronization and item pickup glitches, [...]

A leak from Apple code reveals five unannounced StandBy views for the upcoming iPhone Duo, scheduled for release on October 23. The new modes include single and grid camera feeds, custom smart‑home controls, and a responsive art display called Flow, with additional Fade and Snoopy faces hinted at. These features expand the device’s versatility beyond its dual displays, allowing StandBy use even when not charging and offering new personalization options. The leak was posted by the anonymous [...]