TechCapsules

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to overhaul its camera array, dropping the four‑lens configuration of the S26 Ultra for a three‑camera setup. Leaks suggest a 200 MP ISOCELL HP6 main sensor, a 50 MP ultrawide lens, and a 50 MP 5× telephoto lens, while the dedicated 10 MP 3× telephoto module would be eliminated. The company may rely on the primary sensor for intermediate zoom, aided by software enhancements that promise warmer colors, better highlight control, and reduced noise in [...]

Apple’s September event introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and the unreleased iPhone Duo, a folding handset slated for pre‑order on Oct. 16 and launch on Oct. 23, with limited stock expected. In addition to the Duo, analysts anticipate several new hardware releases in October: a 6‑inch “HomePad” smart‑home hub launching Oct. 13, a second‑generation HomePod mini featuring an upgraded processor for Siri AI, a refreshed Apple TV 4K with faster networking and a Find My‑enabled remote, an iPad mini equipped [...]

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this week disclosed two fraud schemes that exploited the soaring demand for pre‑IPO shares of high‑profile startups such as SpaceX and OpenAI. In the first case, fund adviser Owen Meyer allegedly misappropriated investor capital, using it for personal expenses—including a $4,400 strip‑club bill—after fabricating nonexistent share purchases. The SEC says Meyer transferred $10,000 from a fund containing only client money to cover the charges. In a separate scheme, two partners of Beyond [...]

Samsung increased prices for several Galaxy models in the United States amid rising component costs. The price hike affected the Galaxy S26 flagship and the 7‑year‑old Nvidia Shield TV Pro, and extended to multiple Galaxy A devices—including the A57, A37, A27, and A17—with adjustments ranging from $20 to $70. The A17, originally priced at $199, now sees a 35% increase, marking its second major price rise. Retailers such as Samsung.com and other outlets reported the changes within [...]

Pope Leo XIV publicly criticized AI‑generated art, asserting a fundamental ontological gap between human creativity and machine output. In a Friday X post, he warned that algorithms, which rely on statistical patterns from millions of images, lack the “spark of humanity” essential to true art. The Pope referenced a May encyclical stressing human dignity amid growing automation. Despite his stance, AI firms such as Anthropic have lobbied the Vatican, seeking a reassessment of non‑human consciousness, with limited success. [...]

Gartner forecasts conversational AI will reduce contact‑centre labour costs by US$80 billion in 2026, with about 10 % of agent interactions automated. The shift is moving from chat to voice, especially in Asia where telephone remains the default channel for problem resolution. Current demonstrations show fluent, natural responses, but real‑world calls involve interruptions, language switches, and network noise. Vendors report response times measured at the AI model boundary (200–800 ms), a metric that does not reflect the end‑to‑end delay callers [...]

Paramount launches a fall promotion offering new and returning subscribers the first two months of its Premium, ad‑free tier—including Showtime—at $0.99 per month using coupon code 26zcsp2prm3qz. The Premium plan normally costs $13.99 monthly. The deal coincides with Paramount’s 2026 lineup, featuring new seasons of Tulsa King, Dexter: Resurrection, and the final season of All the Queen’s Men, plus the debut of Avatar: Seven Havens. UFC fans gain access to UFC 332 and 333, while the service [...]

On September 29, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” to “Super Intelligence” and “SI” across all federal communications. The directive requires every executive department to replace the terms in official correspondence, public statements, websites, reports, and policy documents, while excluding statutory materials, existing contracts, and congressional laws. The administration argues that “artificial” misrepresents the technology’s advanced capabilities. The change was announced during a White House luncheon attended by major tech [...]