TechCapsules

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency added CVE‑2024‑27834, a medium‑severity Apple flaw, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog after reports of active attacks. The vulnerability, fixed in May 2024 across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Safari, allows attackers to bypass Pointer Authentication and gain arbitrary read/write access. Russian‑linked APT29 exploited the patch‑level flaw via malicious JavaScript on compromised or fake websites and a supply‑chain attack, delivering an info‑stealing payload. Federal agencies are urged to apply [...]

The Quantum Kid’s new episode takes 10‑year‑old Kai through Microsoft’s Lyngby quantum lab, where the company builds Majorana chips that aim to protect quantum information from errors. Vice President Lauri Sainiemi guides him from atom‑by‑atom material growth in a molecular beam epitaxy chamber, through nanowire patterning in a clean room, to cryogenic testing in ultra‑cold “chandelier” fridges. The episode highlights Microsoft’s recent launch of Majorana 2, which promises a thousand‑fold increase in qubit reliability and a 2029 target [...]

Apple’s new 14‑ and 16‑inch MacBook Pro models feature a tandem OLED PRO‑LED XDR display with touch capability, a redesigned thermal system, upgraded audio, and slimmer bezels. Reviewers universally praise the screen’s color accuracy and brightness, calling it the best laptop display tested, while the touch function receives only passing mention. Critics note high price, loud fans under load, and smudge‑prone glass, but overall the laptops earn high ratings and an Editor’s Choice award. [...]

CNET has constructed a custom “Fold‑a‑Phone” rig that continuously folds and unfolds the iPhone Duo 24/7, livestreaming the process on YouTube from 1‑5 p.m. ET each weekday. After more than a week of operation, the device has completed just over 260,000 cycles. Early results show the hinge and crease remain robust, with no visible degradation. CNET plans to keep testing daily until at least November 20 to monitor long‑term durability.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to command a crewed space mission when she led SpaceX’s Crew‑13 launch to the International Space Station on Oct. 1, 2026. The six‑month mission carried Watkins, a geologist, aquanaut, former rugby player, and seasoned astronaut, alongside three other crew members. Her command follows a 2022 flight on Crew‑4, bringing her total space time to over 200 days. NASA confirmed the historic milestone in an official email, noting her experience [...]

Microsoft has updated Teams to display profanity in meeting transcripts, a change aimed at improving transparency and reducing confusion over censored text. The new feature, released in the latest Teams update, automatically reveals explicit language rather than replacing it with asterisks or other placeholders. Users can toggle the setting in the transcript options, and the update applies to all Teams meetings across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web clients. The move follows growing demand for clearer meeting [...]

Atari’s new title, Crossy Road Rush, launches exclusively on Apple Arcade, offering more than 50 hand‑curated levels that blend free‑form movement with environmental hazards and boss battles. The game supports four‑player local co‑op, online multiplayer, and additional features, all without ads or in‑app purchases thanks to its Arcade subscription model. The release expands the Crossy Road franchise into a premium, ad‑free experience, emphasizing gameplay depth over monetization.

Zipline raised $1.5 billion, boosting its valuation to $21.5 billion, and expanded its partnership with Walmart to add 300 drone‑delivery sites across the United States. The new multi‑year agreement builds on a 2021 deal that covered 21 sites, marking a substantial scale‑up. Funding was led by Paradigm, WCM Investment Management, and Layer Global, with participation from Valor Equity Partners, Fidelity, Uber, Tiger Global, J.P. Morgan, ARK Invest, and Salesforce Ventures. Zipline plans to use the capital to expand U.S. manufacturing [...]