TechCapsules

Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo, weighing 254 g and 11.3 mm thick when closed, features a 4,883 mAh battery—larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The capacity was confirmed via an EU energy label, a rare disclosure for Apple. While the battery size is not record‑breaking for foldables, it surpasses competitors, reinforcing Apple’s advantage in power and ecosystem integration. Pre‑orders for the Duo are delayed until 2027.

NVIDIA and the Jülich Supercomputing Centre executed a 104‑qubit fault‑tolerant quantum simulation on JUPITER, Europe’s first exascale machine, during GTC Berlin 2026. The simulation modeled magic‑state cultivation under realistic hardware noise, validating a protocol that cuts physical qubit overhead by up to 90% versus traditional cascade distillation. The work, detailed in NVIDIA’s technical report, complements Google Quantum AI’s cultivation theory and demonstrates the CUDA‑Q platform’s scalability across European supercomputing hubs. It marks the first exascale‑level validation of [...]

The Carlota copper mine in Arizona is experimenting with bio‑leaching, using acid‑tolerant microbes from Denver startup Endolith to extract copper more efficiently from low‑grade ore. The method mixes microbes with sulfuric acid, spraying the solution over rock piles to dissolve iron and sulfur, freeing copper. The mine currently yields only a third of its former output, and improved yields are critical to avoid closure by the decade’s end. The article also notes rising temperatures in Longyearbyen, Norway, [...]

Google has begun replacing detailed support articles with AI‑generated summaries on its Help portal, starting with Google Account Help pages. The new “Ask Google Help” feature presents a concise version of the article and lets users ask Gemini for next steps. A “View Sources” button still links to the original content, but direct article links now default to the AI experience. The change is currently limited to select topics, with some sections like Pixel Help still showing [...]

Beijing‑based quantum hardware startup FlipFlop Tuoyuan, founded in July 2026 by 29‑year‑old physicist Dr. Qiao Mu, has secured over RMB 100 million (USD $14 M+) in seed and angel funding from Source Code Capital, Oasis Capital, and CICC Capital. The company aims to commercialize neutral‑atom quantum processors, targeting a 100‑logical‑qubit system built around fault‑tolerant error correction. Its team blends trapped‑ion and neutral‑atom expertise, and it plans to use AI agents for autonomous experimental design and real‑time control. [...]

Apple unveiled HomeView, a new Apple TV, and a HomePod mini, and announced a second event for October 28 dubbed “Pro and tell.” The agenda includes a high‑end MacBook Pro expected to sit above the current lineup, possibly branded without the rumored “Ultra” moniker. An iPad mini will receive a first‑generation OLED screen, the A20 Pro processor from the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, landscape‑oriented front camera, enhanced water resistance and louder speakers. A refreshed iMac will ship with an M6 chip [...]

Apple entered the smart‑home display market with the HomeView, a 7‑inch Liquid Retina screen powered by its A18 chip and Siri AI, priced at $299. It competes directly with Amazon’s Echo Show 8, an 8.7‑inch HD touchscreen that costs $199.99. Both devices run Wi‑Fi 6E, Thread and support Matter, but Apple leans on HomeKit and its own sensors while Amazon offers Alexa, Zigbee and a larger speaker array. The HomeView is available as a freestanding unit with a tilting [...]

Apple’s iOS 27.2 update introduces a “Lock Controls” option for HomePod devices, letting users disable the touch‑sensitive top cap. The setting appears in the Home app after both the HomePod and iPhone are updated to version 27.2, and it applies to every HomePod model, including the 2018 first‑generation speaker. When enabled, the speaker will ignore accidental or intentional taps that would normally start playback, while still responding to Intercom, timers, alarms, Check‑In and FaceTime calls. The feature [...]