TechCapsules

Character.AI, the chatbot startup that filed for bankruptcy this week, will see most of its staff transition to Disney. The entertainment conglomerate has agreed to extend employment offers to at least 60 workers, representing the majority of the company’s workforce, and to provide $60 million compensation. Former Character.AI chief executive Karandeep Anand has been hired as Disney’s first chief technology officer. Disney’s plan also includes acquiring select assets of the bankrupt firm for an estimated $20 million, though the [...]

Xbox announced a new hire, designating a “Physical Games Strategist” to oversee the company’s disc-based gaming initiatives. The role, filled by veteran Xbox analyst and Windows Central executive editor Jez Corden, signals Microsoft’s intent to maintain a tangible media presence amid its cloud‑first strategy. Corden, known for deep‑dive reporting on the Xbox ecosystem, will coordinate hardware, software, and supply‑chain teams to ensure physical titles remain viable on the upcoming Xbox Helix console. The appointment follows months of speculation about [...]

Florida’s Department of Transportation announced it will reallocate $197 million of federal infrastructure grant money, originally earmarked for electric‑vehicle fast chargers, to a research program for an “Aerial Highway Network” that would support flying‑car operations. The move diverges from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which mandates expanding charger coverage within a mile of all interstates and provides cost‑share incentives to private operators. Simultaneously, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the second‑generation Roadster, showcasing a prototype that performed aerial maneuvers and [...]

A series of Apple‑related crimes made headlines this week. In Macau, a shirtless man seized a 30‑centimeter iron rod and a brick, battered an Apple Store door during the new iPhone launch, fled to mainland China and was later arrested when he tried to re‑enter the territory. In Florida, a Facebook Marketplace iPhone sale turned into an armed robbery and kidnapping; the suspect was apprehended and charged with multiple felonies. Vermont’s Lake Champlain Maritime Museum reported the [...]

The indie studio Alliance Arts, creator of the anime‑styled Russian‑roulette drinking game Drunken Goddess Reflux, announced it will no longer release the public Steam demo slated for October 19. Instead, the demo will be limited to a closed play session for pre‑selected participants who agree to strict posting and streaming rules. Developers said rapid advances in generative AI could enable malicious actors to replicate the demo’s visuals and mechanics and distribute copycat versions before the full game’s [...]

Google has enabled a default‑on feature that automatically verifies and links the phone number stored on an Android device to every Google account signed in on that device, including secondary work accounts and alternate profiles. The setting, found under Settings → Google → All services → Phone number verification, allows Google and carriers to periodically re‑verify numbers for services such as account recovery, RCS messaging, emergency features and Quick Share. Users discovered the behavior after receiving unexpected verification emails from noreply‑phone‑verification@google.com, prompting complaints [...]

Elon Musk announced on X that owners of the upcoming Tesla Roadster will be able to request the vehicle perform the autonomous stunts demonstrated at its October 15 unveiling, including flips, upside‑down runs and thruster‑powered jumps. Musk described the feature as “sentient,” noting the car’s steer‑by‑wire system, electric‑actuated cold‑gas thrusters and a suction fan that can hold it inverted. He also promised a “wild looping track” at Tesla’s Texas headquarters where owners could test these maneuvers, though [...]

Indie App Spotlight features Hoardware, a free iOS 17‑plus app that lets users catalog every Apple device they own. The tool records model numbers, serial numbers, iOS versions and custom notes, and presents a coverage tab showing how many devices run each OS release. Users can add new hardware from a searchable list, with details and images auto‑filled, mark favorites, and receive push alerts when software updates become available. Hoardware syncs libraries via iCloud, ensuring the collection [...]