TechCapsules

Apple’s HomeView offers a dedicated smart‑home controller, but many users find an older iPad can deliver a comparable experience with added flexibility. The author explains how to repurpose a spare iPad—ranging from a 2013 iPad Air to a 2021 M1 iPad Pro—by mounting it with inexpensive plastic brackets and using it as a kitchen hub for recipes, video streaming, and smart‑home control. Key steps include setting up an Apple TV 4K, HomePod, or HomePod mini as the [...]

Tesla has begun mass‑producing its Optimus humanoid robot on a dedicated high‑volume line inside the Fremont factory, converting space formerly used for Model S and Model X production. The company claims the first units off the line meet “production‑quality” standards and that the manufacturing process is ready for commercial scale, targeting up to one million robots annually. Elon Musk said equipment for this capacity is already in place and output could rise to roughly 20,000 units per week as the [...]

Tesla posted a 34‑second video on X that walks future owners through the next‑generation Roadster’s cockpit, emphasizing a fighter‑jet‑inspired touchscreen layout. The interface centers a 3D wireframe of the car beside a squared‑off yoke, with tabs for Home, Vehicle, Listen, Climate and Navigate. In Track Mode, drivers see a live circuit map, lap times, brake and motor temperatures, and tire pressure and temperature readouts. A setup page lets users select Auto, Low Drag, High Downforce or Custom [...]

Google’s planned $13 billion data‑center expansion in Finland has sparked controversy after the company felled roughly 250,000 trees in Muhos and an additional 150,000 in Otanmäki without completing required environmental impact assessments. The Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority halted construction on both sites, citing legal violations. Google’s Finnish operations manager apologized, claiming compliance with then‑understood legislation. The incident has prompted calls for stricter permitting laws and compensation for local communities, amid concerns over environmental damage and limited national [...]

Google has expanded Gemini Notebook’s functionality by adding a Connected App integration that lets users manage and query notebooks directly within Google Chat using natural language. The new feature automatically triggers when relevant prompts appear, enabling users to retrieve data, create new notebooks, add sources, and save notes without leaving the chat interface. The integration is enabled by default for all users worldwide, except in the European Economic Area, and is available to Workspace customers, Workspace Individual [...]

Apple boosted its share of China’s smartphone market in Q3 2026 despite a 10% drop in shipments, lowest in 14 years. Counterpoint Research reported Apple captured 19.5% of shipments, up 4.8 percentage points, moving from sixth to second place behind Huawei’s 21.3% share. The rise is linked to a strong launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series, which posted 23.5% higher sales in its first three weeks than the previous‑generation model. IDC data showed a 15.4% decline [...]

Halo: Campaign Evolved, the 2026 remake of the original 2001 shooter, arrives as Xbox’s second attempt to revive the franchise after Bungie’s departure. While the polished update satisfies nostalgia, it does little to address the series’ deeper design stagnation that has plagued Halo 4, 5 and Infinite. Xbox’s recent restructuring places Activision in charge of future Halo development, relegating veteran 343 Studios to a support role and prompting further layoffs. Rumors suggest Activision may reboot the series, potentially shifting [...]

Apple’s iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable smartphone, expands to a display 50 % larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max when opened. The reviewer tested three personal concerns—MagSafe compatibility, Face ID reliability, and software adaptation—and found each largely addressed. MagSafe accessories work when the device is closed, and new, slimmer wallets and battery packs are already emerging to fit the Duo’s compact form. Face ID functions without noticeable delay, and the software introduces a versatile StandBy mode, live‑animation weather widgets, a modular [...]