TechCapsules

Apple’s iOS 27 introduces over 15 new pre‑installed widgets, including a new “extra‑large” size that spans a 4×6 grid, effectively filling an entire Home Screen page. The largest previous widget, “large,” occupied a 4×4 grid. Extra‑large widgets are available for several Apple apps, allowing users to display more content—such as detailed calendars, to‑do lists, or notes—on any iPhone, though they are especially suited to the larger iPhone Duo. The update expands customization options for Home Screen users. [...]

Siemens announced that its Calibre software now incorporates NVIDIA’s cuLitho GPU‑accelerated library, delivering up to 12× faster computational lithography simulations. The partnership targets the “runtime wall” that hampers high‑NA EUV and curvilinear patterning, such as Inverse Lithography Technology, by providing 10–17× speed‑ups for key workloads. Faster simulations enable more optimization iterations, earlier hotspot detection, and tighter process margins, making full‑chip curvilinear patterning viable for next‑generation AI and memory chips.

Microsoft, Health‑ISAC, JC3, and a coalition of private firms dismantled three phishing kits—CoGUI, Haozi, and Iron Man System—responsible for over one billion scam emails and SMS messages since January 2026. The kits, linked to the YAM Store marketplace, targeted more than 75,000 organizations across 150 countries, exploiting compromised Microsoft and Google cloud environments. The operation, authorized by court order, exposed shared code and infrastructure among the kits, revealing a coordinated Chinese‑speaking cybercriminal ecosystem.

Apple showcased the iPad Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the Turkish fashion show “From Earth to Sky,” celebrating Les Benjamins’ 15th anniversary. German‑born designer Bünyamin Aydın used the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil Pro, Freeform, and Procreate to create mood boards and design custom hot‑air balloons. French filmmaker Neels Castillon filmed the event with an iPhone 18 Pro Max, including drone‑mounted units, and edited footage on a MacBook Pro M4 Max. Apple will share the project on its Instagram and Newsroom. [...]

Apple released version 1.12.1 of its Invites app, adding RSVP enhancements and a larger Home‑Screen widget that utilizes the new extra‑large widget format introduced with iOS 27. The update follows a recent release that enabled full‑resolution photo sharing and Image Playground features. The new RSVP tools streamline guest management, allowing users to track responses more efficiently. Apple’s release notes detail the changes and encourage users to download the updated app from the App Store.

Google has added a “Shop devices” section to the Play Store, letting users buy hardware such as Pixel phones, Pixel Watch 4, Google TV Streamer, and Samsung Galaxy S26 models directly through the app. The new option appears in the profile menu and redirects to Google’s existing hardware storefront. Currently, only select devices are listed, and Samsung’s recent price hikes are not reflected, offering potential savings for buyers. Eligible Google One members receive a 10% store credit [...]

ChipAgents, an agentic AI platform for semiconductor engineering, partnered with NVIDIA to launch Build‑A‑Chip‑Bench, a comprehensive benchmark that evaluates AI agents on the full chip‑design flow—from specification and RTL generation to synthesis, placement, routing, and physical verification. The benchmark measures whether agents can produce a verified GDS that meets functional, timing, power, and area constraints. Initial tests show agents pass functional verification on about 40% of tasks, but only 10% meet physical performance targets, underscoring the gap [...]

Google has notified Gemini AI Plus subscribers that, effective November 13, 2026, their plan will no longer include access to the advanced Gemini Pro models. The change follows the launch of the new Argon model, which is now reserved for AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers. AI Plus members will retain only the Flash‑Lite and Flash models. The $4.99 monthly plan will offer these two models, while the $19.99 tier will include Argon, widening the gap between subscription