TechCapsules

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the United States continues to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 5G modem and SDR875 RF transceiver, while the global version and the smaller iPhone 18 Pro already ship with Apple’s in‑house C2 modem. TechInsights confirmed the discrepancy in a teardown, noting that the U.S. model includes a new in‑house mmWave antenna module. Apple attributes the difference to a 2023 contract obligating it to purchase Qualcomm modems through 2026. The C2 modem offers faster upload speeds and 15 % [...]

Sony abruptly ended funding for Kojima Productions’ long‑anticipated action‑espionage title, Physint, after a Zoom meeting with studio leaders. The decision left director Hideo Kojima shocked but not resentful, prompting him to seek a new publisher to keep the project alive and protect his studio’s staff. Xbox quickly stepped in, announcing it would publish Physint alongside the horror game OD, marking a swift shift in the game’s development and distribution. The move underscores the volatility of high‑profile collaborations [...]

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he is seeking cooperation from major technology firms to strengthen child online safety laws and introduce stricter AI regulations. After meeting former Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple’s headquarters, Albanese emphasized that Australia cannot protect children alone and highlighted new “strong and intuitive controls” Apple plans to deploy. Australia’s 2023 law banned users under 16 from social media, and the draft legislation this month would impose a duty of care on [...]

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu announced that the government will not restore the fuel subsidy, directing states to reduce transport costs by October. The decision follows a broader push to curb subsidies and improve fiscal discipline. Tinubu also ordered an investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the National Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, highlighting concerns over miner safety and law enforcement practices. Additionally, he confirmed the implementation of the Digital Free Zones [...]

JSW Motor, a major Indian conglomerate, is set to launch its first domestic vehicle, a large plug‑in hybrid SUV based on the Chery Jetour T2, under the new brand JSW Motor. The SUV, expected to be assembled in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, will be marketed as the JSW Combat and positioned in the Rs 30‑50 lakh segment. It features a rugged design, 20‑inch wheels, 201 mm of ground clearance, roof rails for 100 kg of luggage, and a spare wheel housed in [...]

Telehealth firms, such as Hims & Hers, have surged in popularity since COVID‑19, offering rapid prescription services for conditions like ADHD and weight loss. Consumer Reports notes a lack of clear federal prohibitions, while the FTC has sued Hims for deceptive practices, including unauthorized data sharing with Meta and Google, automatic subscription enrollment, and bypassing real‑time doctor consultations. Similar complaints target BetterHelp and GoodRx. Experts argue that existing health‑privacy laws, like HIPAA, do not cover many telehealth [...]

Anthropic is weighing a new AI model launch to counter OpenAI’s GPT‑6 Astra, amid rising enterprise interest and investor scrutiny ahead of its anticipated IPO. Sources say the company is balancing safety concerns—highlighted by CEO Dario Amodei’s recent essay urging a slowdown in AI capability releases—with the need to defend its market share. The move follows GPT‑6 Astra’s rapid adoption in business settings and growing pressure from open‑source competitors, especially in China, to deliver sustainable profits amid [...]

Blizzard’s new vanilla‑style title, World of Warcraft: Forever, attracted record‑breaking player numbers during its public beta, prompting server disconnects and lag that the Classic team quickly addressed. Senior producer Tom Ellis explained that the beta environment was not designed for such traffic, yet the issue was resolved by the day’s end. The game, confirmed at BlizzCon, will launch globally on 4 November, marking a significant expansion of the classic franchise.