TechCapsules

Apple removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store after a formal takedown request from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The removal was executed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, citing illegal content and App Review Guidelines violations, though the specific grounds were not disclosed. Apple directed Bitchat’s developer to contact MeitY for details and limited the app’s availability to India only, while it remains accessible elsewhere. The action [...]

A recently uncovered Tesla patent reveals a ducted electric fan system designed to generate active downforce, effectively “sucking” a vehicle to the road at any speed. The filing, posted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, shows a sleek, low‑profile sports car—though it does not name the model—leading analysts to link the technology to the long‑delayed second‑generation Tesla Roadster, first teased in 2017. If implemented, the fan‑based aerodynamic solution could complement the Roadster’s claimed sub‑2‑second 0‑60 mph acceleration [...]

Amazon has revived its $199 Apple Watch SE 3 promotion as part of the October Prime Big Deal Days sale. The discount applies to the 40 mm GPS model, reduced from $249 to $199, and the 44 mm version is $229. Additional cuts include $10 off the newly released Apple Watch Series 12 (42 mm and 46 mm configurations) and $20 off the Apple Watch Ultra 4 in two colorways. A deeper blowout offers the Apple Watch Ultra 3 with a black titanium case and [...]

Amazon has begun its fall Prime Day promotions early, offering Apple’s third‑generation AirPods Pro for $179 shipped, a $70 discount from the $249 list price. The price drop follows a summer dip to $199 and arrives just weeks after Apple added several software upgrades via iOS 27, including Custom EQ, enhanced Adaptive Audio controls, and improved Find My integration. The AirPods Pro 3 feature three‑times better active noise cancellation, longer battery life, on‑device heart‑rate sensing, and hearing‑aid support, positioning [...]

Two men from Queens were arrested after stealing more than $9,000 in merchandise from the Apple Store at Garden State Plaza and the ALO Yoga shop at American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Police recovered ten Apple accessories worth $921 from their vehicle and charged them with shoplifting, retail theft and receiving stolen property. In Miami Beach, a 48‑year‑old cab driver was detained for leading a scheme that targeted intoxicated nightclub patrons, using facial recognition and biometrics to unlock [...]

Apple’s Mac Studio has retained its compact 7.7‑inch square, 3.7‑inch‑tall aluminum chassis for four successive generations, but its internal silicon has evolved dramatically since the line debuted in 2022. The original model shipped with an M1 Ultra chip limited to 128 GB of memory, while the latest version features an M5 Ultra processor supporting up to 512 GB and delivering 1.2 TB/s memory bandwidth—about 50 % faster than the preceding M3 Ultra. Apple omitted an M4 Ultra due to hardware constraints, opting instead to jump from [...]

Apple has officially acknowledged a software defect affecting iPhone 18 Pro Max units, which can prevent calls, texts, data, and even emergency 911 access. The issue was first reported in mid‑September, prompting AT&T to warn customers to update to iOS 27.0.1. Apple’s release notes for the update do not mention a fix, and many users report the problem persists after installing 27.0.1. The company’s admission marks the first formal recognition of the bug, though a resolution remains [...]

HyFlux, a UK company, proposes a superconducting electric motor that could boost propulsion power density for future hydrogen aircraft by using liquid hydrogen’s extreme cold for cooling. The motor targets over 20 kW/kg and aims for multi‑megawatt output, comparable to NASA Glenn’s high‑efficiency program. However, its commercial viability hinges on integrating the motor into a full cryogenic propulsion system, achieving aircraft certification, and building a hydrogen fuel supply chain at airports. The company’s success depends on both technological [...]