TechCapsules

Apple has raised the education price for its budget MacBook Neo, now starting at $649 for students and educators. The model, originally launched at $599 for the general market, previously offered a $100 discount to education buyers, but the new price reduces that discount to $50. The general public price increased from $599 to $699 amid a global RAM shortage, making the Neo the cheapest new MacBook but less of a bargain for education users.

Tesla’s Cybercab battery pack was intentionally designed with extra internal space to accommodate future lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cells, aiming to lower costs and improve durability. The current pack uses 4680 nickel‑based cells, but the reserved room allows a switch to LFP, which is cheaper, cooler, and longer‑lasting, albeit with lower energy density. The pack also features four modular, sealed cells for easier repair, addressing high service costs. Tesla plans to deliver Cybercabs by end‑2026, with most remaining company‑owned [...]

Perplexity has integrated OpenAI’s gpt‑live‑1 voice model into its Mac app, enabling the assistant to listen while it speaks. The update, released today, adds multitasking capabilities, allowing users to manage multiple computer sessions, start new tasks, and create projects within a single voice session. The feature is available to all Pro and Max subscribers on both the Mac app and web. Perplexity also recently introduced an offline AI mode that runs locally on Macs, enhancing privacy and [...]

Flexell Space and Singapore‑based Satoro have signed an agreement to demonstrate Flexell’s next‑generation CIGS and perovskite solar cells on two CubeSat missions launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets in 2027 and 2028. Satoro will build the satellites, while Flexell will supply the solar cells and test modules for integration. The missions aim to validate the cells’ power output, radiation tolerance and long‑term reliability in the space environment, comparing in‑orbit data with previous ground‑test results from Flexell’s 2025 and [...]

Tesla’s “Emergency Drive Away” feature, introduced months ago to let drivers quickly detach a Supercharger plug in life‑threatening situations, was unintentionally activated for the first time in real life. The incident occurred early Sunday morning in Austin while a Tesla was charging at a Supercharger before the city’s Formula 1 race. A Reddit user captured video showing the car lurch forward as the connector was released, damaging both vehicle and charger. Tesla has warned that misuse can incur [...]

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman disclosed that Apple will launch its first OLED‑touchscreen MacBook Pro models at the upcoming “Pro and Tell” event. The 14‑inch version is slated for $2,899 and the 16‑inch for at least $3,399, marking a $700 price jump from last month’s M5 Pro lineup. The new laptops will feature thinner bezels, a lighter chassis, a redesigned hinge, and an improved cooling system that channels airflow through the hinge. Apple will continue selling non‑touch models alongside [...]

Apple’s 14‑inch M5 MacBook Pro, upgraded to 32 GB of RAM and a 96‑W power adapter, is now available at B&H Photo for $1,999—a $420 discount from the standard price. The deal features the 10‑core M5 chip in a silver finish, 1 TB of storage, and a higher‑wattage charger. B&H, an Apple‑authorized reseller, is clearing out inventory to make room for the upcoming M6 models. Similar close‑out prices begin at $1,837. Customers can also find other M5 configurations at [...]

Infinity Ward celebrates strong Metacritic scores for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4—89 on PlayStation and 86 on PC—but the Xbox Series X version lacks a Metascore, showing “tbd” after only two critic reviews. journalists explain the gap stems from Xbox’s cumbersome review process. Reviewers must provide their Xbox Live Device ID, wait for manual whitelisting, and receive codes later than on PC or PlayStation, where redemption is immediate. The extra steps clash with tight embargoes and Q4 release [...]