TechCapsules

Apple software chief Craig Federighi revealed that the iPhone Duo’s hinge mechanism is now exposed to developers via an API that reports hinge angle to about five degrees and device pose. He highlighted Apple’s own use of the angle for a subtle screen‑defocus animation that lets users see the inner screen as the phone opens. Federighi emphasized that the pose information—book, on‑table, tent—will allow apps to adapt automatically, while raw data can enable creative animations. Apple has [...]

At Meta Connect 2026, Meta unveiled Muse AI, a new generative‑AI platform positioned as the core of its future social ecosystem. The company announced that Muse will integrate with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, offering personalized content creation, real‑time translation, and advanced moderation tools. Meta emphasized that Muse AI will replace legacy tools, aiming to streamline user interaction and reduce content moderation costs. The launch includes a developer beta, a new API, and a partnership with major cloud [...]

A jury awarded Apple over $5.7 billion for infringing Taction Technology’s patents on its Taptic Engine, used in the Apple Watch and other devices. The verdict follows a 2021 lawsuit that was initially dismissed, overturned by the Federal Circuit in 2025, and retried. Apple plans to appeal, and legal firm Burford Capital, representing Taction, expects the award to be reduced during post‑trial proceedings. The case highlights the complexity of patent litigation and the potential for significant financial adjustments.

Atomic, a Boston‑based supply‑chain startup founded by former Tesla engineers, unveiled a fully autonomous inventory‑management platform that simulates scenarios to recommend or automatically execute decisions. The company’s annual recurring revenue has quintupled this year, attracting a $12.5 million Series A led by Klass Capital and Madrona Venture Group, bringing total funding to just over $15 million. Key clients include DoorDash and HelloFresh, with Atomic now handling up to 90 % of DoorDash’s purchasing across hundreds of sites. The platform’s AI adapts [...]

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 [...]