TechCapsules

Formula 1’s president and CEO Derek Chang told Axios in Austin that the sport intends to honor its five‑year U.S. broadcast deal with Apple TV, which began in the 2026 season, and is already looking beyond the 2030 expiry. Chang said Apple’s performance has exceeded expectations, and while he declined to confirm any early‑termination clause, he dismissed it as irrelevant because Liberty Media views Apple as a “strong partner.” The agreement grants Apple exclusive rights to every Grand Prix, qualifying, [...]

After eight years at Meta, Rohit Patel, former director of Meta Superintelligence Labs, is leaving to launch Ndoc, a startup that aims to replace Microsoft Office and Google Workspace with an AI‑native unified workspace. Ndoc combines three tabs—Stage for presentations, Narrative for analysis with citations, and Model for datasets and Python scripts—allowing users to upload data, generate analyses, and view underlying code. Patel, a reinforcement‑learning specialist who emphasized trustworthy AI, built Ndoc on open‑source models to keep [...]

Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab will forgo a traditional paint shop, using in‑mold coloring and selective anti‑corrosion dip coats to finish the vehicle. Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy explained that the front and rear aluminum castings are made from alloys that do not oxidize, eliminating the need for paint, while only the side modules receive an e‑coat. Color is added in the reaction‑injection‑molding (RIM) process, mixing pigment into a polyurethane resin so panels emerge with a Class‑A surface. [...]

Apple accessory maker Twelve South has expanded its AirFly line with the AirFly View, a wireless audio dongle that incorporates a built‑in display. The device plugs into a seat‑back jack on airplanes or any headphone outlet, enabling Bluetooth headphones such as AirPods to receive audio from screens that lack native Bluetooth support. The new screen guides users through pairing in up to 24 languages, shows connected headphones, battery level and powers down when idle. AirFly View promises [...]

Google DeepMind unveiled Genie 4, its newest world‑model research preview, on Tuesday. The system creates interactive 3D environments that persist for up to two minutes and respond to typed prompts that alter weather, camera angles, objects or characters in time. Unlike its predecessor, Genie 4 adds synchronized audio—including music, ambient sounds and dialogue—and improves physics, character realism and scene consistency. Gemini, Google’s multimodal AI, acts as a director, planning steps and checking frames while Genie 4 renders visuals, enabling hybrid [...]

Apple today released iOS 26.7.2, a security‑only update for iPhones still on iOS 26, alongside the feature‑rich iOS 27.2. The new patch addresses undisclosed security vulnerabilities but adds no new functions, as Apple’s development focus has shifted to iOS 27. Users on iOS 26 are urged to install the update immediately to protect their devices. Apple’s support page lists the security content, and the company will publish detailed notes once available.

Apple confirmed that a limited number of iPhone Duo units suffer from an inner display failure caused by a hinge defect. The company issued a brief statement on Monday, advising affected users to contact AppleCare for a replacement. Mark Gurman reported that only a handful of cases—four confirmed at 20 Genius Bars—have been identified, with no known international data. Apple has replaced the affected devices with service‑stock phones, and no returns have been reported. The issue appears [...]

Google expanded its 3D meeting booths, known as Google Beam, to more than 20 United Service Organizations (USO) locations worldwide, including Grafenwöehr, Germany, and Fort Hood, Texas. The rollout follows pilot programs in Poland and Texas that demonstrated the technology’s ability to bring military families closer through immersive video communication. Google partnered with HP’s Dimension booths and filmmaker‑veteran Kyle Hausmann‑Stokes to produce a docuseries showcasing four families’ experiences. The initiative aims to bridge distance for service members [...]