TechCapsules

A U.S. jury awarded Taction Technology $5.7 billion for patent infringement against Apple’s Taptic Engine, the haptic feedback system used in Apple Watch, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus. Taction’s lawsuit, filed in 2021, claimed Apple’s vibration module violated two patents covering skin‑contact vibrational tractions. The verdict follows a trial where Taction argued Apple capitalized on its innovation. Apple rejected the decision, stating its technology differs and plans to appeal. The case highlights the high stakes of patent [...]

Microsoft unveiled a comprehensive redesign of its Copilot AI assistant, reorganizing it into Home, Code, and Autopilot modules. The update expands Copilot’s role in workplace task management, custom application creation, and autonomous task continuation after employees log off. Autopilot, a persistent agent, can monitor projects, coordinate with colleagues, and resume work days later, while Code generates applications from written instructions on Microsoft‑managed infrastructure. Home merges quick chat with longer collaborative assignments, integrating Office tools for seamless editing [...]

Apple is slated to release its long‑rumored smart glasses, dubbed Apple Glass, by the end of 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The glasses are expected to launch first as audio‑and‑camera‑enabled eyewear without a video display, similar to Meta’s Ray‑Ban partnership, with a later version adding AR visuals. Simultaneously, Apple’s Vision team is developing a new headset, codenamed N224, that may offload components to a separate puck to reduce weight and cost, targeting a 2028‑2029 launch. [...]

Xbox has reportedly secured Hideo Kojima’s action‑espionage title Physint for a budget far below the $400 million figure previously cited by Sony. Christopher Dring of The Game Business first reported the $400 million estimate, but later clarified that Microsoft’s negotiated amount is “quite a bit less,” with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier noting it is “significantly less.” Windows Central’s Jez Corden added that Xbox is paying only a fraction of the original figure. The deal also includes movie and TV licensing rights [...]

Microsoft’s Copilot+ branding was removed from its laptops, yet the company’s AI assistant continues to thrive. Nicolas Bustamante, an AI division employee, noted that Copilot remains popular among businesses, citing strong adoption rates. He recalled that before his involvement, only a handful of users were known, but now the tool is widely embraced. The decision to drop the Copilot+ label reflects a strategic shift, while internal feedback underscores the product’s growing relevance and user satisfaction. [...]

Apple is developing a new Vision Pro successor, code‑named N224, after shelving the earlier Vision Air (N100). Bloomberg reports the device could launch between late 2028 and early 2029, potentially offering a lighter, all‑in‑one design or an external puck similar to Meta’s VR glasses. Apple is experimenting with materials—plastic, titanium, and other metals—to reduce weight while maintaining performance. The new headset may feature an A‑series chip capable of running visionOS without active cooling, positioning it as a [...]

Apple’s internal “development graveyard” – a repository of abandoned prototypes – illustrates the company’s disciplined approach to product development, exemplified by the Vision Pro headset. While analysts criticize Apple for not accelerating a lighter, cheaper version after a 28‑month gap between the M2 and M5 chips, the firm reportedly rejected several design iterations to preserve its fidelity standards. Bloomberg’s “Power On” newsletter notes that Apple maintains dozens of active projects, from rollable OLED displays to drones, yet only [...]

Google’s Project Suncatcher will launch its first “MVP” satellite on October 1, 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare from Vandenberg. The 4‑kilogram payload carries four custom Trillium TPU AI chips, solar panels delivering about one kilowatt, and is designed for a dawn‑dusk, sun‑synchronous low‑Earth orbit lasting roughly a year. The chips can compute for only 15 minutes before pausing to dissipate heat, making the test a proof‑of‑concept for space‑based AI compute. Google accelerated the launch from early 2027, underscoring the [...]