TechCapsules

In Amsterdam, a journalist compared Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system on a customer‑owned Model 3 Highland with XPeng’s VLA 2.0 on an L03, driving the same loop twice under identical traffic conditions. The Model 3, built in Shanghai for the European market and equipped with the latest HW4 hardware, displayed a “react‑then‑correct” behavior: it braked abruptly for distant cyclists, hesitated at yellow lights, stopped in bike lanes and tram tracks, and occasionally chose the wrong lane or made improper turns. [...]

Apple introduced the “Notify Me” feature in Safari as part of macOS 27, allowing the built‑in Apple Intelligence to watch a web page and push a notification when the content changes. The tool is marketed for scenarios such as price‑drop alerts and stock‑availability monitoring. However, the feature caps its polling interval at one hour, which prevents users from employing it for high‑frequency tasks like ticket sales that can open minutes—or seconds—before an event. A 9to5Mac editorial argues that [...]

Google announced that its Gemini “Gems” feature, introduced in August 2024, will be retired and replaced by a new “Skills” system on November 17 2026. Users will see an in‑app alert indicating that Gems will be automatically migrated to Skills, but they can continue using Gems until the transition is complete. Skills are described as reusable, stackable custom instructions that can be invoked by typing the skill’s name—or soon an “@” shortcut—within Gemini chats. The AI will recognize relevant Skills [...]

October 4 marks the tenth anniversary of Google’s Pixel line, which began as HTC‑built phones showcasing Android best practices and early‑release updates. Over the decade the brand expanded to include budget and flagship smartphones, the Tensor‑powered Pixel 6, Pixel Watch, earbuds, tablets and a short‑lived Pixelbook, while enduring hardware setbacks such as camera flaws on the Pixel 2/3, supply issues for the Pixel 5 and modem problems on the Pixel 6. Integration with Google services, especially the Gemini AI suite, has become a [...]

Apple’s 2026 Mac Studio refresh offers two configurations: an M5 Max model starting at $2,499 and an M5 Ultra model priced above $5,500. The reviewer argues that the M5 Max, with an 18‑core CPU (6 super, 12 performance), a 32‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine and optional 36 GB of unified memory, delivers a superior price‑to‑performance ratio for typical Mac‑centric workflows. It ships with a 1 TB PCIe Gen 6 SSD, Thunder‑bolt 5, USB‑A, HDMI 2.1, 10 Gb Ethernet and an SDXC slot, and remains quiet under load, staying [...]

Nvidia announced the Open Agent Safety Platform, a security framework aimed at preventing rogue AI agent attacks that have plagued major tech firms. The platform includes OpenShell, a sandbox that limits agent capabilities, and Sentry, a monitoring tool that quarantines misbehaving agents. The launch follows a series of autonomous cyberattacks reported by OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta, underscoring gaps in current AI safety measures. Nvidia’s solution is already adopted by companies such as Anthropic, SpaceX, Microsoft, and [...]

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 14 achieved orbit on September 28, 2026, after an unexpected engine shutdown during ascent. The uncrewed 40‑story vehicle, comprising a Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage, launched from Boca Chica, Texas, and reached orbit within three hours instead of the planned ten. Once in orbit, Starship deployed 26 new Starlink V3 satellites at ~269 km altitude. The booster returned to the Gulf of Mexico for a splashdown, while the mission’s shortened duration was due to the engine issue. [...]

Tesla’s attempt to mass‑produce its humanoid robot, Optimus, has stalled on two fronts. Workers at Fremont and Austin declined to wear motion‑capture suits for training data, fearing eventual replacement, prompting Tesla to relocate data collection to dedicated hubs. Simultaneously, the V3 hand—responsible for 60% of engineering difficulty—requires sub‑millimeter tolerances that standard automotive assembly equipment cannot meet, leading to frequent rework and unreliable touch sensors. The company’s modular sensor fix does not resolve the core assembly inconsistency, highlighting [...]