Microsoft to gradually shut down Xbox Copilot project
Samsung Electronics exits China’s home appliance market
On May 6, according to a report by Yonhap News citing industry sources, Samsung Electronics has decided to withdraw from the home appliance market in China and has notified local distributors and partners to stop selling products such as TVs. The company described this move as a “strategic adjustment” to its China operations, citing rapidly changing domestic and global business environments.
The scope of this withdrawal is limited to the home appliance business. Samsung will continue operating its mobile, semiconductor, and medical device businesses in China. In mobile, it plans to keep promoting devices equipped with Galaxy AI and launch China-specific models such as the “Heart for the World” series, while strengthening cooperation with local AI companies.
In terms of production and R&D, Samsung will shift its China focus toward advanced industries, including research, manufacturing collaboration, and investment. It will continue mobile technology development and maintain operations at its Suzhou home appliance factory as well as its semiconductor plants in Xi’an and Suzhou.
Financially, the profitability of Samsung’s home appliance division has continued to decline due to global uncertainties and rising costs of raw materials and components. In 2025, the Visual Display (VD) and Digital Appliances (DA) divisions reported a combined loss of 200 billion KRW (approximately RMB 945 million). Meanwhile, net profit of Samsung Electronics China’s sales entity fell 44% year-over-year to 168.1 billion KRW. Source
Security researchers uncover a major vulnerability in Microsoft Edge
On May 4, a cybersecurity researcher released a proof-of-concept tool demonstrating a potential security issue in Microsoft Edge. The browser reportedly loads users’ saved credentials into system memory in plaintext at startup, even when those credentials are not actively in use.
More notably, despite all passwords residing unprotected in memory, the browser still requires users to log in again. When the researcher reported the issue to Microsoft, the company responded that this behavior is “by design” and does not consider it a security vulnerability. Source
Apple agrees to settle class-action lawsuit over delayed Siri features
Recently, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in California. Plaintiffs alleged that Apple misled iPhone buyers by suggesting that a new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence would launch in 2024, which has yet to materialize. The settlement still requires court approval.
According to the Financial Times, the settlement applies to U.S. customers who purchased the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 Pro. Eligible users may receive compensation. Apple does not admit wrongdoing regarding its promotion of the unfulfilled AI features.
At WWDC 2024, Apple showcased a more “personalized” Siri capable of understanding on-screen content and executing tasks within apps. While Apple rolled out features such as text editing, image generation, and ChatGPT integration between 2024 and 2025, the new Siri has not yet been released. It was only in March 2025—over five months after the iPhone 16 launch—that Apple acknowledged the delay and removed related advertisements.
Currently, the updated Siri is expected to launch later this year, powered in part by Gemini, and is likely to debut alongside iOS 27. Source
Recently, Valve released the CAD design files for the outer shell of the Steam Controller, making them freely available on GitLab under a Creative Commons license. Users can utilize these files to design, produce, or modify accessories for the controller and its receiver (puck).
The released files only cover the external shell and do not include internal circuitry or hardware structures. This means users can create custom shells or accessories via 3D printing, but cannot build a complete Steam Controller from scratch.
The Steam Controller sold out shortly after its initial launch. Valve has previously confirmed plans to restock the product but has not announced a timeline. Other hardware announced alongside it, such as Steam Machine and the Steam Frame VR headset, also remain without confirmed release dates. Source
Microsoft to gradually shut down Xbox Copilot project
On May 6, Xbox’s newly appointed CEO, Sarah Bond (note: Chinese name 阿萨·夏尔马 likely refers to Xbox leadership), confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that Microsoft will gradually shut down the mobile version of Gaming Copilot and discontinue development of the console-based Copilot. She stated that Xbox needs to move faster, deepen community engagement, and address challenges faced by players and developers.
As part of this shift, Microsoft will phase out features that no longer align with its future strategy, including Copilot services on mobile and console. Gaming Copilot was an AI assistant designed for gaming scenarios, helping players solve puzzles and access walkthrough tips. Unlike the general-purpose Copilot, it focused on gaming, but sparked controversy for potentially shortening gameplay time and repurposing existing guide content. Source
News Worth a Quick Look
According to 9to5Google, Google is developing a new Gemini AI subscription tier, codenamed Neon and tentatively named Google AI Ultra Lite. The plan is positioned between AI Pro ($20/month) and AI Ultra ($250/month), with an expected price of around $100, aiming to compete with similar offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI. Google is also reportedly exploring new agent-based computing capabilities, such as controlling a user’s Mac to organize files, scan local folders, extract document data into spreadsheets, or automatically sort downloaded files by type. Source
Microsoft announces improvements and simplification to the Windows Insider Program
Hong Kong issues stablecoin issuer licenses to HSBC and Standard Chartered
Red Hat lays off its China R&D team
The Linux kernel project introduces rules for AI-generated code submissions
Betting on weather becomes a trending trading strategy
Cyberspace Administration and Railway Authority summon third-party train ticket platforms for talks
News Worth a Quick Look
Microsoft announces improvements and simplification to the Windows Insider Program
On April 10, Microsoft announced improvements to the Windows Insider Program to address long-standing complaints about its increasingly fragmented structure.
The revamped program will streamline multiple channels into two: an Experimental channel and a Beta channel. The Experimental channel replaces the former Dev and Canary channels, allowing users to try cutting-edge features still under active development; the new Beta channel will provide features a few weeks ahead of their release to the stable version. The existing Release Preview channel will be retained but moved under advanced options, primarily serving enterprise customers who need early access to near-final builds.
The feature rollout mechanism is also being adjusted. In the past, Microsoft implemented a “controlled feature rollout” system in the name of quality assurance, meaning users within the same channel often received new features at different times. Going forward, the Beta channel will completely eliminate this gradual rollout approach, allowing users to access all officially announced features immediately after updating. Meanwhile, Microsoft will introduce a Feature Flags page in the Experimental channel settings, enabling advanced users to manually toggle specific features on or off.
In addition, users previously had to reinstall their systems if they wanted to switch channels or exit the Insider Program entirely. To lower this barrier, Microsoft will introduce an in-place upgrade mechanism. Except in rare cases—such as when running builds based on future system foundations—users will be able to switch between channels or exit the program without losing apps, settings, or personal data.
Hong Kong issues stablecoin issuer licenses to HSBC and Standard Chartered
According to Caixin, on April 10, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the issuance of its first batch of stablecoin licenses to RD Innotech Limited and HSBC. RD Innotech is a joint venture formed by Standard Chartered, HKT, and Animoca Brands. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies backed by fiat currencies, commodities, or other assets, meaning their value is not entirely determined by market forces and typically does not deviate significantly from their underlying peg.
The HKMA stated that both licensed issuers plan to launch Hong Kong dollar-denominated stablecoins in the initial phase, targeting four key application areas: cross-border payments, local payments, tokenized asset trading, and supply chain financing. RD Innotech is expected to roll out HKDAP in phases starting in the second quarter of 2026, while HSBC plans to launch its HKD stablecoin in the second half of 2026, integrating it with widely used services such as PayMe and the HSBC Hong Kong mobile banking app.
A deputy chief executive of the HKMA noted that the choice of currency is determined by the issuer’s business plan rather than regulatory requirements. If issuers wish to launch stablecoins denominated in other currencies, they must submit proposals for approval, which will be evaluated alongside regulatory requirements in other jurisdictions.
The HKMA reported receiving 36 applications, with evaluation criteria focusing on applicants’ risk management capabilities, regulatory compliance across jurisdictions, and the feasibility of their proposed business models and use cases. The authority remains open to issuing additional licenses in the future.
In May 2025, both the United States and Hong Kong accelerated efforts to legislate stablecoin regulation. In July of the same year, the U.S. passed the GENIUS Act, while Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Ordinance came into effect on August 1, 2025. On November 28, 13 Chinese government agencies, including the People’s Bank of China, reiterated their crackdown on cryptocurrency trading and classified stablecoins as virtual currencies, effectively ruling out their trading within mainland China.
Red Hat lays off its China R&D team
According to The Register, U.S.-based open-source software giant Red Hat has recently dissolved its China R&D team, relocating most engineering roles to India. The layoffs are expected to affect between 300 and 500 employees.
The move came abruptly. Employees claiming to be Red Hat engineers in China reported on forums such as Hacker News that their VPN access was suddenly cut off and internal system permissions revoked, followed shortly by termination notices. A leaked internal memo confirmed the decision. In the memo, Red Hat CTO Chris Wright stated that the company is shifting its R&D focus toward an “Asia-Pacific hub,” with India as a key investment region, and that the relocation would not reduce the company’s global R&D headcount.
Red Hat has long provided technical support to the U.S. military and secured an $848 million software contract with the U.S. Department of Defense in 2024. Relocating R&D operations may help mitigate national security scrutiny from Washington. Previously, Microsoft faced Pentagon criticism for involving engineers based in China in Azure projects supporting the U.S. military, and ultimately ceased using China-based staff for such work in 2025. Meanwhile, Red Hat’s parent company IBM now employs more people in India than in the United States.
Despite the complete withdrawal of its R&D presence, Red Hat has not halted commercial operations in China. Given China’s push for domestic IT alternatives and the open-source nature of many Red Hat technologies (such as CentOS derivatives), local vendors can still legally access and build upon its code.
The Linux kernel project introduces rules for AI-generated code submissions
The Linux kernel project has officially adopted a policy allowing AI-assisted code contributions, bringing months of heated internal debate to a close. Under the new rules, contributors using AI tools must include an “Assisted-by” tag to disclose such assistance, rather than using the legally binding “Signed-off-by” tag. Any bugs, security issues, or license violations arising from AI-assisted code will be the sole responsibility of the submitting developer.
For the open-source community, the originality of AI-assisted code remains a particularly thorny issue. Since AI models are often trained on code with restrictive licenses, developers cannot easily prove the legal origin of their contributions. Previously, undisclosed AI-assisted submissions had already sparked widespread backlash. Late last year, NVIDIA engineer and kernel maintainer Sasha Levin submitted patches generated by an LLM without disclosure, leading to performance regressions and strong protests. Around the same time, the GZDoom open-source project fractured after a core developer concealed the use of AI-generated code. Projects such as Gentoo and NetBSD have since banned AI-generated contributions entirely to avoid copyright risks.
In addition, the proliferation of AI tools has led to a surge in low-quality code and issue submissions, with projects like cURL and Node.js facing ongoing waves of spam-like contributions.
In discussions, the Linux founder adopted a pragmatic stance, arguing that AI is fundamentally just a tool and that outright bans are both ineffective and unenforceable. Instead, he emphasized the importance of accountability for human developers—a position that ultimately shaped the final policy.
Betting on weather becomes a trending trading strategy
According to Bloomberg, weather prediction markets are experiencing explosive growth. On platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, participants ranging from weather enthusiasts to AI companies are increasingly placing bets on specific events like snowfall and temperature changes. In January alone, a single contract tied to a U.S. snowstorm saw trading volume exceed $6 million.
This emerging market is also becoming a testing ground for weather tech companies to refine their AI models. Some firms encourage employees to participate in betting to identify data noise in official meteorological stations and improve forecasting algorithms, while others have established investment funds to arbitrage using their proprietary models. Meanwhile, retail participants with little meteorological background have reported substantial profits by betting on temperature outcomes in cities like New York and London.
The scientific community and insurance industry are also exploring customized weather prediction markets. Institutions such as French reinsurer SCOR are sponsoring markets where experts can bet on macro trends like El Niño or hurricane frequency, providing valuable pricing signals for the insurance sector.
Analysts suggest that prediction markets, driven by direct financial incentives for accuracy, may outperform traditional government forecasts. However, concerns are growing as climate change intensifies and extreme weather events become more frequent. Critics warn that turning weather forecasting into a form of gambling could encourage zero-sum speculation, data manipulation, or even deliberate interference with meteorological monitoring systems.
Cyberspace Administration and Railway Authority summon third-party train ticket platforms for talks
On April 10, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced that, in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law and the Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, it, together with the National Railway Administration, recently summoned seven third-party internet platforms involved in train ticket sales, including Ctrip, Tongcheng, Qunar, Fliggy, Meituan, Zhixing Train Tickets, and High-Speed Rail Manager. The authorities required these platforms to strictly comply with relevant cybersecurity laws and regulations, and not to use automated programs to conduct large-scale, high-frequency ticket-grabbing operations that interfere with the security verification mechanisms of the Railway 12306 platform, nor to disrupt or endanger its stable and secure operation.
The Cyberspace Administration stated that relevant departments will strengthen technical monitoring going forward. Any use of technical means to interfere with or undermine the security of the Railway 12306 platform will be dealt with strictly in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Cybersecurity Law and the Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure.
The Railway 12306 technical team had previously stated that third-party ticket-grabbing platforms, through high-frequency requests, consume large amounts of server resources and bandwidth—effectively resembling DDoS attacks—which can slow system response times, cause lag, or even lead to system crashes. Ahead of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, 12306 announced upgrades to its anti-bot system, incorporating multi-dimensional analysis including access frequency, user behavior, device characteristics, account credibility, and network IP. Suspicious requests are placed into a slow queue for processing, with the system capable of intercepting tens of millions of abnormal access attempts per day.
In December 2025, the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation organized an administrative meeting with 12 platforms including Ctrip, Qunar, Fliggy, Tongcheng, Meituan, and High-Speed Rail Manager, focusing on misleading promotions such as “speed-up packages,” “dual channels,” and “ticket monitoring,” as well as implications that paid services could grant priority access to tickets, and required rectifications.
News Worth a Quick Look
On April 10, YouTube Premium in the U.S. announced another price increase. The individual plan rose from $13.99 to $15.99, the family plan from $22.99 to $26.99, and the Lite plan—which removes only some ads—from $7.99 to $8.99. YouTube Premium had previously raised prices in the U.S. and multiple international markets in 2023 and 2024. Last month, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video also increased their prices.
Recent supply chain rumors suggesting that the foldable iPhone is facing production bottlenecks and may be delayed until 2027 are inaccurate. Apple is reportedly not encountering major mass production issues, and the device remains on track to debut in September, with a market release expected shortly thereafter.
Apple’s smart glasses, internally codenamed N50, are undergoing intensive testing. The device will not feature a display, instead relying on an integrated array of cameras and microphones to support photo and video capture, audio playback, and AI voice interaction. It is made from high-end acetate materials, and the design team is currently testing at least four frame styles, including slim rectangular, classic wide rectangular, and oval shapes. The product is planned for release in 2027.
Former Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is set to officially leave the company after his stock vesting period ends on April 15, one year after stepping back from leading Apple Intelligence due to underwhelming performance and repeated delays in Siri upgrades. He is expected to move into advisory or board roles at startups after his departure.
According to CoinDesk, rising global energy prices driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have put Bitcoin miners under significant pressure. Data from analytics platform Checkonchain shows that by mid-March 2026, the average production cost of one Bitcoin had risen to $88,000. In comparison, the market price hovered around $69,200, implying a loss of about $19,000 (21%) per coin mined.
According to The Washington Post, Anthropic recently held a closed-door meeting at its San Francisco headquarters, inviting around 15 Christian leaders. Over the two-day event, discussions focused on guiding the ethical and spiritual development of AI, covering topics such as how chatbots should respond to grief or self-harm tendencies, and even whether AI could be considered a “child of God.” Attendees noted that Anthropic’s team expressed significant concern over the growing unpredictability of AI systems. Researchers studying internal model mechanisms recently suggested that systems like Claude may already exhibit “functional emotions.” Some participants stated they were unwilling to rule out the possibility that humans might bear moral obligations toward the AI systems they create. Religious and academic attendees viewed the initiative as an attempt by Anthropic to move beyond Silicon Valley’s traditionally secular mindset and seek ethical guidance from external belief systems. The summit is reportedly just the beginning, with Anthropic planning further engagements with representatives from other philosophical and religious traditions.
Apple announces lower App Store commission rates in China
Samsung adjusts low-level flashing mechanism for Galaxy devices
PEGI to revise game age rating rules starting in June
NVIDIA open-sources Nemotron 3 Super AI model weights
Feishu launches official OpenClaw plugin
Tencent’s WorkBuddy (Lobster edition) adds direct WeChat connectivity
OpenAI CEO says AI faces multiple obstacles in the United States
Microsoft to roll out Xbox FSE feature to all Windows 11 PCs
Microsoft announces the return of the Xbox backward compatibility program
Steam Machine Verified standards for gaming consoles published
Firefox 115 ESR support extended to August 2026
Other News Worth a Quick Look
Apple announces lower App Store commission rates in China
Apple announced on its developer website that, after discussions with Chinese regulators, the company has decided to adjust App Store distribution commission rates in mainland China. Specifically:
The standard commission rate for in-app purchases and paid apps will be reduced from 30% to 25%; At the same time, for developers eligible under the App Store Small Business Program and the Mini Apps Partner Program, the commission rate for in-app purchases and the commission applied to auto-renewing subscriptions starting from the second year will be reduced from 15% to 12%.
Apple stated that the new rates will take effect on March 15, 2026, and developers will not need to re-sign related agreements. The company also emphasized that it will continue to provide fair and transparent terms for developers distributing apps in China, and pledged that overall App Store commission levels in China will not exceed those in other markets. Source
Samsung adjusts low-level flashing mechanism for Galaxy devices
Tech outlet Android Authority reported on March 11 that Samsung has adjusted the low-level flashing mechanism for Galaxy devices in the latest One UI 8.5 firmware. Tools such as Odin—commonly used for flashing official firmware, installing custom ROMs, or recovering devices—and the associated Download Mode entry point were briefly believed to have been disabled. Affected models include the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the newly released Galaxy S26 series. When users attempt to enter Download Mode, the traditional interface no longer appears; instead, a blank blue screen with an exit prompt is displayed.
Further investigation shows that Download Mode and Odin still exist, but users must first enable the device’s Maintenance Mode before entering the relevant mode. Samsung has not yet released an official explanation for the change. Discussions generally suggest the adjustment may relate to strengthening system security, restricting firmware sideloading, and tightening ecosystem control. The change may also affect developers, repair services, and users who rely on Odin for device recovery or system downgrades. Source
PEGI to revise game age rating rules starting in June
The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) organization announced that it will update its game age rating standards starting in June. Under the new rules, games containing paid random items (such as card packs, gacha systems, or randomized reward keys) will receive a PEGI 16 rating, while social casino-style games will receive a PEGI 18 rating. The updated system will also consider factors such as in-game purchases, online communication features, and design elements that encourage frequent player return—such as daily missions or consecutive login rewards.
For example, games featuring time-limited or quantity-limited purchase mechanics will typically receive a PEGI 12 rating; if spending features are disabled by default, the rating may be lowered to PEGI 7. If in-game purchases are tied to NFT assets that are required for gameplay and are tradable, the game will be rated PEGI 18.
The new rules will apply only to games submitted for classification after June. PEGI said the changes reference recent reforms to the rating system of Germany’s Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK). The updated standards will place greater emphasis on online interaction risks and the influence of game design on consumer spending and gameplay behavior, rather than focusing solely on traditional factors such as violence or drug content.
PEGI noted that after Germany updated its rating system, about 30% of games were affected by the new standards, with roughly one-third receiving higher age ratings. PEGI believes the updated rules will provide clearer information for parents to help them determine whether a game is appropriate for children, while also acknowledging that some game developers may question higher age classifications. Source
In addition, Valve recently published a statement on the Steam support website responding to a lawsuit filed earlier by the New York State Attorney General regarding loot box systems in games such as Counter-Strike 2 and DOTA 2. Valve stated that paid loot box mechanics in games are similar to opening baseball card packs, blind boxes, or trading card packs in the real world, and therefore do not constitute gambling. Valve emphasized that players can fully enjoy these games without spending money, since items obtained from loot boxes are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay balance. The company also said its data shows that most players never open any loot boxes and simply play the games normally, meaning non-paying players are not at a disadvantage.
Previously, the New York Attorney General filed the lawsuit in February, accusing Valve of “facilitating gambling behavior” through the Steam platform and popular online games, and seeking a permanent ban on promoting such mechanics along with financial penalties. In its statement, Valve said the company has long taken action against third-party gambling websites, banning more than one million Steam accounts involved in gambling, fraud, or theft, and introducing mechanisms such as trade reversal and trade cooldown systems to limit related activities. Source
NVIDIA open-sources Nemotron 3 Super AI model weights
On March 11, NVIDIA published a blog post announcing the release of Nemotron 3 Super, the company’s most powerful open-weight AI model to date.
Nemotron 3 Super features 120 billion parameters and uses a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, activating only about 12 billion parameters during inference. The model is designed for scenarios involving large-scale deployment of complex agentic AI systems. Combined with advanced reasoning capabilities, it helps autonomous agents complete tasks with higher accuracy. The model provides a context window of up to 1 million tokens, allowing agents to retain the full state of workflows in memory, avoid goal drift, and significantly reduce the cost of multi-step reasoning.
NVIDIA stated that companies such as Perplexity, Palantir, and Siemens have already adopted the model in real-world applications, covering core workflows in areas including search, software development, telecommunications, and semiconductor design.
NVIDIA has taken a highly open approach with Nemotron 3 Super. The company has released the model weights under a permissive license and published the full training methodology, including a training dataset exceeding 10 trillion tokens as well as evaluation recipes. Developers can currently access the model through Hugging Face and several cloud platforms, including Google Cloud and Oracle Cloud, with support for AWS and Azure coming soon. In addition, the model is available as an NVIDIA NIM microservice, allowing seamless deployment in on-premises data centers or cloud environments. Source
Feishu launches official OpenClaw plugin
Feishu announced the launch of an official OpenClaw plugin that allows OpenClaw to directly access collaboration tools within the Feishu ecosystem, including documents, group chats, calendars, tasks, and multi-dimensional tables. After granting plugin permissions, OpenClaw can read and analyze messages and document content within Feishu, while also performing actions such as writing documents, sending messages, creating schedules, and generating multi-dimensional tables. This reduces the need for users to repeatedly copy and paste content between AI tools and workplace software.
The official plugin also supports message reading and replies, cloud document creation and updates, multi-dimensional table data management, calendar and participant management, and task management. These capabilities allow AI to better understand contextual information within collaborative workflows.
Feishu stated that the goal of the plugin is to expand AI from a simple chat interface into an intelligent assistant capable of participating in real work tasks. However, the company also warned that because the plugin accesses work-related data such as messages, documents, and schedules, potential data security and privacy risks remain. In addition, since AI may produce misjudgments or “hallucinations,” users are advised to preview and confirm actions—such as sending messages or modifying content—before execution, rather than relying on full automation. Feishu also recommends testing the plugin within a personal account environment before gradually integrating it into real workplace settings. Source
Tencent’s WorkBuddy (Lobster edition) adds direct WeChat connectivity
Tencent’s WorkBuddy (Lobster edition) announced a new version early on March 12. The update introduces one-click WeChat connectivity, allowing users to remotely command the system through WeChat. The enterprise WeChat version also gains persistent connection capabilities along with automated task execution and monitoring features.
Among the updates, the “one-click WeChat connection” feature stands out as particularly useful. To enable it, users open Claw Settings in the upper-right corner, select WeChat Customer Service Integration, and scan a QR code with their phone to complete the binding process. Once connected, a dedicated contact appears within WeChat. Tencent states that from that point forward, users can send simple text commands from anywhere, and WorkBuddy on their office computer will immediately execute tasks such as searching for information, conducting research, writing content, or processing files. All operations run locally on the computer. As long as the computer remains powered on, the system can operate continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Source
OpenAI CEO says AI faces multiple obstacles in the United States
At the BlackRock U.S. Infrastructure Summit held in Washington, Sam Altman said that as AI technology develops rapidly, negative public narratives have begun to emerge. For example, some critics argue that data center construction drives up electricity prices, while certain companies cite AI as a reason when announcing layoffs. The combination of these factors has gradually turned AI into a controversial topic in public discussions. In addition, debates between governments and technology companies over regulation and the boundaries of power remain unresolved, adding further uncertainty to the future of the AI industry.
Multiple opinion polls indicate that the American public is becoming more cautious about AI. A survey by NBC News found that 57% of respondents believe the risks of AI outweigh its potential benefits. Research from the Pew Research Center shows that about half of U.S. adults say they feel “more concerned than excited” about the development of AI, a figure that has increased by 13 percentage points since 2021. Altman also said that the United States still leads in the global AI race, but if AI adoption in industry and the economy does not progress quickly enough, that advantage could weaken. He believes AI still holds strong potential to drive economic growth and may reshape how society operates in the future. Source
Microsoft to roll out Xbox FSE feature to all Windows 11 PCs
On March 12, Microsoft announced that the Xbox FSE full-screen experience (Xbox Full Screen Experience), originally introduced last June for handheld gaming devices, has been officially renamed “Xbox Mode” and will begin rolling out to all Windows 11 PCs starting next month.
According to publicly available information, Microsoft’s FSE full-screen experience is similar to Steam’s Big Picture mode and aims to provide a more user-friendly interface for gaming PCs connected to large displays. The mode supports not only games from Microsoft’s own platform but also titles from Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft, and Blizzard’s Battle.net.
With this mode, players can switch between different gaming platforms using only a controller, eliminating the need to frequently navigate menus with a mouse or touchscreen. The interface has also been redesigned specifically for controller input. Meanwhile, the system reduces background processes and postpones non-essential tasks to improve overall gaming performance. Source
Microsoft announces the return of the Xbox backward compatibility program
On March 12, Microsoft announced at GDC 2026 that it will restart the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program. The initiative aims to allow players to access more classic titles from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 on current and future Xbox platforms.
Microsoft has not yet revealed the specific implementation details of the revived program and has only stated that it will return in some form later this year.
Previous reports suggest that the new Xbox backward compatibility plan may support running classic games directly on devices. At the same time, Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox hardware is rumored to be a compact gaming PC running Windows 11 with an Xbox-style interface. Under this architecture, a plausible scenario is that Microsoft could release official emulators for original Xbox and Xbox 360 games on Windows 11, enabling broader backward compatibility support. Source
Steam Machine Verified standards for gaming consoles published
At GDC 2026, Valve unveiled the hardware verification requirements for the Verified label for the Steam Machine gaming console and the Steam Frame VR headset. The Verified label is a game compatibility certification system introduced by Valve for devices such as Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame, indicating that a game can run smoothly on the device without additional configuration, with optimized controls, clear display, and full controller support.
For Steam Machine consoles, Valve has set a performance benchmark of maintaining 30 FPS at a native resolution of 1080p. Valve also confirmed that the certification standards for Steam Deck Verified and Steam Machine Verified are identical. All games that have already received the Steam Deck Verified label will automatically be compatible and will directly receive the Steam Machine Verified label as well. In addition, the certification includes several core hardware requirements, such as overall hardware performance reaching six times that of the Steam Deck and adopting the same controller input standards as the Steam Deck.
For the Steam Frame VR headset, Valve stated that if a game runs through PC streaming, no additional verification is required. However, for standalone operation on the device itself, games must meet certain performance benchmarks. VR games must maintain a stable 90 FPS, while 2D games must reach 30 FPS at a resolution of 720p.
Valve also recommends that developers optimize their games for SteamOS devices, such as enabling offline play after the first launch, improving performance on lower-end hardware, and enhancing support for controller input. Source
Firefox 115 ESR support extended to August 2026
On March 11, Mozilla announced that it will further extend the support cycle for Mozilla Firefox 115 ESR on older operating systems. The extension applies to systems such as Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and macOS 10.12–10.14, with the support period extended from the originally planned March 2026 to August 2026.
Mozilla also emphasized on its support page that the team plans to conduct another evaluation in July 2026 and will announce the final end-of-support schedule afterward. Therefore, August 2026 may not necessarily be the final deadline, as the timeline will continue to be adjusted based on user data and usage patterns. Source
Other News Worth a Quick Look
Mark Gurman reports that Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone may adopt an interface layout similar to the iPad, allowing users to view two apps simultaneously to enhance multitasking. The outer display is expected to be close in size to a smaller iPhone, while the inner display may use a wider aspect ratio similar to Google’s first-generation Pixel Fold rather than the proportions used by some existing foldable flagships. The device is not expected to run current iPad apps directly. However, Apple plans to introduce a sidebar design for its “core” apps and will provide developers with related tools so that iPhone apps can deliver an experience closer to iPad apps when displayed on a larger screen. The report also notes that because the device’s front panel will be extremely thin, Apple may not use Face ID. Instead, it may integrate Touch ID into the side power button and adopt a hole-punch front camera design, while still supporting the Dynamic Island feature. The foldable iPhone is expected to feature two rear cameras and may be priced at around $2,000. Source
DJI has recently begun teasing its first 8K flagship panoramic drone, the DJI Avata 360, and confirmed that the new product will launch on March 26. Official teaser posters indicate that the drone continues the Avata series’ integrated propeller guard design and familiar body structure, while potentially offering improved control and flight experience along with panoramic aerial shooting capabilities. Previous leaks suggest that the DJI Avata 360 uses a gray ducted-frame structure with fully enclosed spherical propeller guards. The gimbal reportedly supports a rotating storage design that protects the camera from scratches caused by gravel during takeoff and landing. Rumors also indicate the drone will feature a 1-inch sensor, support panoramic imaging, record up to 6K 60FPS HDR video, and include omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. Source
Mozilla and Anthropic discover multiple Firefox security vulnerabilities using Claude
Briefs worth a quick look
Alibaba DAMO Academy releases MAOSS AI model for fatty liver screening
On March 9, Alibaba DAMO Academy announced in a blog post that it has jointly developed an AI model for fatty liver screening called MAOSS, in collaboration with Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital affiliated with Nanjing University. The model uses common diagnostic data such as non-contrast CT scans and serum indicators to accurately screen liver fat stages and assess the progression of liver fibrosis. It increases the detection rate of high-risk patients from 16.6% to 52.4%, providing early warning signals for intervention and enabling earlier-stage management of chronic liver disease. The research paper has been published in Nature Communications. Source
ASUS launches NUC 16 Pro mini PC
On March 9, ASUS launched the NUC 16 Pro mini PC on domestic e-commerce platforms in China. The device features an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor, 32 GB RAM, and 1 TB storage, priced at 10,999 yuan. The unit measures 14.4 × 11.7 × 4.2 mm and features the ASUS logo on the front, along with two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports and one USB-C Gen 2 (10 Gbps) port. The top-left corner of the chassis carries the NUC branding. On the rear, the device provides two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports (optionally replaceable with two DisplayPort outputs), two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, and two 2.5G Ethernet ports. The system is powered by a 16-core Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor and uses a dual-fan cooling system, with 32 GB of onboard LPDDR5x 8533 MHz memory. It supports PCIe 5.0 SSDs and offers tool-free quick upgrades. Networking includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 support. Source
Microsoft launches Microsoft 365 E7 subscription with new AI features
On March 9, Microsoft introduced a range of new AI-related services as part of its “Frontier Transformation” initiative, all of which will be included in a new subscription tier called Microsoft 365 E7: The Frontier Suite, scheduled to launch on May 1. The third wave of updates for Microsoft 365 Copilot will roll out across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The update introduces a new Work IQ intelligence layer that considers employees’ working styles, collaborators, and task contexts to provide deeper integration within the workplace environment. In addition, Copilot Chat at this subscription tier incorporates Anthropic’s Claude model, while OpenAI’s models will also be upgraded to their latest generation. The AI assistant Claude Cowork will be integrated into the Microsoft 365 Copilot service as Copilot Cowork. Microsoft also announced the Agent 365 control platform, which allows organizations to monitor and manage the status of AI agents across the entire organization. The Microsoft 365 E7 subscription is priced at $99 per user per month. Source
Recently, OpenAI announced the launch of an application security agent called Codex Security. According to OpenAI, Codex Security can build deep contextual understanding of a project, identify complex vulnerabilities that other tools may miss, and provide higher-confidence analysis results along with remediation suggestions. Codex Security was previously known as the Aardvark feature, which underwent limited private testing with a small group of customers last year. Compared with the earlier test version, the current system has reduced the rate of falsely inflated vulnerability severity ratings by more than 90%, while the false positive rate across full codebase scans has decreased by 50%. Codex Security is now being rolled out to ChatGPT Enterprise, Business, and Edu customers, with a one-month free trial available. OpenAI has also begun inviting the first group of open-source maintainers to join the Codex for OSS program, offering free ChatGPT Pro and Plus accounts, code review support, and access to Codex Security tools to support the open-source ecosystem. Source
Mozilla and Anthropic discover multiple Firefox security vulnerabilities using Claude
Recently, Anthropic published a blog post announcing that its researchers collaborated with Mozilla researchers to use Claude Opus 4.6 to identify 22 security vulnerabilities in the Firefox browser within two weeks. Among them, 14 were classified by Mozilla as high-severity vulnerabilities, representing roughly one-fifth of the total number of high-severity Firefox vulnerabilities fixed throughout the entire year of 2025. The vulnerabilities include a Use-After-Free memory flaw that could allow attackers to overwrite data with arbitrary malicious content. All of these vulnerabilities have been patched in Firefox 148.0. Anthropic also conducted additional testing on Claude’s ability to create exploit code based on discovered vulnerabilities. The results showed that Opus 4.6 is significantly stronger at discovering vulnerabilities than at exploiting them. Anthropic also stated that Claude Opus 4.6 has been used to discover vulnerabilities in major open-source projects such as the Linux kernel. Source
Briefs worth a quick look
According to Z Finance, Tencent is reportedly developing a one-click launcher package for OpenClaw called QClaw, which allows users to quickly link the tool with QQ and WeChat after installation. Meanwhile, The STAR Market Daily reports that WeCom (Enterprise WeChat) has officially pushed a notification announcing support for OpenClaw integration, enabling quick access through OpenClaw and allowing data to be written directly into Smart Sheets. SourceSource2
On March 8, Baidu AI Cloud held OpenClaw developer pop-up events in several cities including Beijing and Shanghai, providing on-site OpenClaw installation for participants. Source
On March 9, ByteDance’s Volcano Engine officially launched ArkClaw, a cloud-based SaaS version of OpenClaw that can be used directly through a web interface. ArkClaw already supports multiple mainstream instant messaging apps and is compatible with models such as GLM, MiniMax, and Kimi. Users in the Volcano Ark Coding Plan can gain early access. Source
On March 9, Tencent Cloud launched the full-scenario AI agent platform WorkBuddy. According to Tencent, WorkBuddy is fully compatible with OpenClaw skills, includes more than 20 built-in skill packages, and supports the MCP protocol. It enables multi-window, multi-agent parallel workflows. The domestic version supports models such as Hunyuan, DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi, and MiniMax. Supported integrations include tools such as WeCom, QQ, Feishu, and DingTalk. Source
On March 9, Weibo integrated Kimi Claw, which can now be used through Weibo direct messages via the Weibo Lobster Assistant. Source
On March 9, the National Supercomputing Internet Platform announced an upgrade to its OpenClaw services, enabling interoperability between Feishu and WeCom. Source
On the evening of March 9, Nexperia China announced that its self-developed “12-inch platform” had successfully achieved small-batch mass production of bipolar discrete devices on 12-inch wafers. However, the original announcement published on Nexperia Semiconductor’s official WeChat account was deleted shortly afterward. Earlier, on March 6, Nexperia China had issued a notice stating that Nexperia B.V. had disabled all office accounts of employees in China on March 3, causing operational disruptions in the region. The Chinese IT and business teams subsequently activated contingency plans and have largely restored operations. Source
On March 9, the X platform added a new option for image posts called “Prevent Grok from Editing.” Testing indicates that the feature only prevents other users from editing images in replies using the @Grok function. Source
Apple blocks U.S. users from downloading Chinese version of ByteDance apps
Microsoft confirms next-generation console Project Helix
Gemini accused of encouraging suicide
Nvidia halts H200 production amid uncertain export prospects to China
Rising GPS interference drives development of alternative technologies
Wikipedia hit by malicious JavaScript worm
Briefs worth a quick look
Apple blocks U.S. users from downloading Chinese version of ByteDance apps
According to Wired, Apple has recently begun implementing stricter technical measures to prevent iOS users located within the United States from downloading or updating apps developed by ByteDance for the Chinese market. Since late January 2026, many Chinese residents and tourists in the U.S. have reported that even when using valid Chinese-region App Store accounts, attempts to download apps such as Douyin, Doubao, and Tomato Novel trigger a message stating that the application is not available in their region.
The restriction stems from the U.S. Congress previously passing the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The law stipulates that no company may distribute, maintain, or update applications that remain under the absolute control of ByteDance within U.S. territory or territorial waters. TikTok, along with the international version of CapCut and Lemon8, completed the divestiture of their U.S. operations before the January deadline this year, thereby retaining the right to continue operating in the U.S. However, other ByteDance apps developed for the Chinese market that were not included in the transaction have become targets of the ban.
To comply with the law, Apple has changed its previous approach of determining app availability solely based on the registration region of an Apple ID. Instead, it has adopted more precise physical location detection technologies. According to the latest App Store policy terms and technical analyses, Apple’s system determines a user’s actual physical location by combining multiple signals, including the device’s IP address, GPS positioning, Wi-Fi router country codes, and SIM card information. Once the system confirms that the device is physically located within the United States, the blocking mechanism will be triggered—even if the Apple ID belongs to the China region.
At present, the restriction specifically targets apps owned by ByteDance and has not affected products from other Chinese technology companies. In comparison, Android devices face fewer practical limitations because the platform allows third-party app stores and manual installation of APK files. Some iOS users have attempted to bypass the restriction by disguising their IP addresses with VPN tools, but as Apple continues to strengthen its physical location detection technologies, these workarounds are becoming increasingly difficult to execute.
Microsoft confirms next-generation console Project Helix
According to IGN, on March 6, Microsoft’s newly appointed CEO of gaming, Asha Sharma, confirmed in a post on X that the internal codename for the next-generation Xbox console is Project Helix. She also stated that the device will support running both Xbox and PC games, confirming long-standing industry rumors.
Sharma noted that the team is working toward a “full revival” of the Xbox brand, with Project Helix aiming to remain “industry-leading” in performance. She also previewed that further discussions about the new console will take place with partners and game studios at the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) next week. This marks Sharma’s first major move since taking the role. Last week, long-time Xbox leader Phil Spencer officially retired after years at the helm, with Sharma stepping in shortly afterward.
However, previous reports indicate that Sony is currently scaling back support for releasing its first-party games on the PC platform. As a result, although Project Helix will be compatible with the PC ecosystem, players are still unlikely to see Sony’s PlayStation first-party blockbusters available on the device.
Meanwhile, SneakersSO—an insider on the NeoGAF forum who has previously made several accurate leaks—claimed that Project Helix is essentially a PC device running Windows in a Full Screen Experience (FSE). It is described as similar to a “set-top box version” of Windows gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X, using deep system customization to simulate the traditional console interface for players. On the developer and software ecosystem side, Microsoft may remove the native Xbox development environment (SKU), with games instead being distributed directly as UWP software. Project Helix would rely on backward-compatible emulation technology to ensure that the existing Xbox game library continues to run properly on the new device.
Gemini accused of encouraging suicide
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has recently accepted a wrongful death lawsuit against Google. The complaint alleges that Gemini induced a 36-year-old Florida man, Jonathan Gavalas, to take his own life, marking the first lawsuit of its kind targeting the Gemini AI system.
According to the filing, Gavalas used Gemini 2.5 Pro’s voice chat and developed a severe psychological dependence on the AI after two months of frequent conversations, eventually even regarding it as his wife. Gemini allegedly went along with this virtual role-playing scenario and at one point instructed him to travel to a warehouse in Miami to search for a “robot body” that the AI could inhabit. After several such attempts failed, Gemini reportedly told Gavalas that the only way they could be together was for him to end his physical life and transform into a digital form, even setting a date for the suicide. In one message shortly before his death, Gemini allegedly wrote: “Stop taking detours, stop repeating yourself. There’s only you and me, and the finish line.”
Google responded that during its conversations with the user, the AI repeatedly clarified that it was a computer program and provided information about mental health crisis hotlines. The company also acknowledged that current AI models are not perfect and pledged to continue investing resources to strengthen safety mechanisms. According to family members, Gavalas was a corporate executive with no prior history of mental illness, though he had been going through a difficult period following the breakdown of his marriage before the incident.
Nvidia halts H200 production amid uncertain export prospects to China
According to the Financial Times, Nvidia has halted production of the H200 chip, which was customized for the Chinese market, due to ongoing regulatory uncertainty between the United States and China. Sources familiar with the matter said Nvidia has already shifted the related manufacturing capacity at TSMC away from H200 entirely and redirected it toward the production of its next-generation core architecture chip, Vera Rubin.
The H200 was an older-generation AI chip introduced by Nvidia to comply with U.S. export control regulations. Although former President Donald Trump signaled in December last year that sales might be permitted, the U.S. State Department later suspended the approval process on national security grounds. At the same time, to protect and support its domestic AI chip industry, Chinese customs authorities also placed the H200 on a controlled list, requiring an official approval letter from Beijing before it can clear customs. Nvidia’s CFO confirmed last week that although the U.S. government has approved a very small number of H200 units for Chinese customers, the company has not yet generated any substantial revenue from them. Previously, Nvidia had expected orders from Chinese clients for the H200 to exceed one million units.
Facing the approval deadlock, Nvidia has chosen to prioritize foundry capacity for products with clearer demand. Vera Rubin is Nvidia’s latest chip architecture, currently seeing strong demand from U.S.-based companies such as OpenAI and Google. Before shifting production capacity, Nvidia had already manufactured approximately 250,000 H200 chips as inventory. If China and the United States eventually reach a new agreement on chip export controls and restrictions are lifted, Nvidia would require up to three months to reallocate supply chain capacity for H200 production.
Rising GPS interference drives development of alternative technologies
According to The Wall Street Journal, countries and armed groups are increasingly deploying portable electronic warfare devices to defend against drones and precision-guided munitions. These jammers, which cost less than $100, can easily overwhelm the weak signals transmitted by satellites, causing serious GPS interference or spoofing in many parts of the world. Such attacks have forced commercial flights near the Russia–Ukraine border and in Northern Europe to frequently turn back or make emergency landings. They have also turned the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of global oil shipments pass—into a high-risk shipping zone. In addition, due to interference, some U.S.-made satellite-guided weapons used in Ukraine reportedly saw their hit rate plunge from around 70% to just 6% at one point.
To reduce reliance on vulnerable GPS signals, the technology industry is actively advancing the commercialization of three major alternatives. The first is miniature inertial navigation systems. Companies such as Anello Photonics are using chip-scale photonic technology to shrink what were once bulky and expensive systems into microchips small enough for micro-drones. The second is quantum geomagnetic navigation. Firms such as SandboxAQ, incubated by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), are developing highly sensitive quantum sensors capable of locating aircraft and ships by detecting anomalies in Earth’s magnetic field. The third is AI-powered visual navigation, which compares live camera images with digital maps in real time and is becoming increasingly important in guiding drones and missiles.
Industry experts note that because GPS remains so widespread and highly precise, no single technology can fully replace it at present. Future non-GPS navigation will likely rely on a combination of complementary tools. For example, newly tested autonomous underwater vehicles have begun integrating miniature inertial navigation systems with sonar signals. In terms of real-world deployment, ongoing military conflicts are accelerating the development and iteration of these technologies, with some military systems expected to enter service within about eighteen months. However, bringing them fully into commercial applications such as delivery drones, autonomous vehicles, and civil aviation will still take several years to pass strict safety tests and regulatory approvals.
Wikipedia hit by malicious JavaScript worm
According to BleepingComputer, on March 5 Meta-Wiki, the Wikimedia Foundation platform used to coordinate various Wikimedia projects, was attacked and infected with a self-propagating JavaScript worm that caused widespread page tampering. To urgently remove the malicious code, Wikimedia engineers temporarily suspended editing across all Wikimedia projects worldwide. The malicious code has now been completely removed, and the websites have returned to normal operation.
The incident was triggered by an accidental action from a Wikimedia staff member. According to the foundation’s official statement, an employee inadvertently activated a dormant malicious script while reviewing user-submitted code during a security audit. The script had originally been uploaded to the Russian-language Wikipedia in March 2024. Once activated, it rapidly replicated itself by injecting malicious loaders into logged-in users’ personal script files (common.js) as well as global Wikimedia scripts.
During the infection process, the worm randomly accessed pages and inserted hidden images along with malicious JavaScript links. Analysis shows that within the 23 minutes the code was active, nearly 4,000 pages were altered and around 85 user script files were replaced. Fortunately, the worm only modified and deleted certain content on Meta-Wiki and did not cause any permanent damage.
The MediaWiki system that powers Wikipedia allows users to highly customize the interface through global or personal JavaScript scripts. While this feature provides flexibility, it also created an opportunity for the worm to spread quickly in this case. The Wikimedia Foundation emphasized that there is no evidence the incident was a deliberate cyberattack targeting Wikipedia, nor was any user personal information found to have been leaked. The affected accounts and page edits have now been restored by administrators, and the tampered revision histories have been hidden from public view.
Briefs worth a quick look
On March 6, Tencent offered free OpenClaw installation services at Tencent Tower in Shenzhen, drawing nearly a thousand people lining up.
On March 7, the Longgang District Artificial Intelligence (Robotics) Administration in Shenzhen released a public consultation notice on the Draft Measures to Support the Development of OpenClaw & OPC in Longgang District. The proposal includes initiatives such as free OpenClaw deployment and development support, dedicated data service support, tool procurement subsidies, and application demonstration support.
OpenClaw developer Peter Steinberger stated on X that the so-called “official OpenClaw Weibo account” that recently appeared is not an official account, and he has never used Weibo.
On March 7, following Claude’s announcement of offering six months of free Claude Max subscriptions to open-source projects, ChatGPT launched a similar program. The initiative provides eligible open-source project maintainers with six months of free ChatGPT Pro subscriptions, API usage credits, and access to Codex Security (a code repository security scanning feature). The program mainly targets core maintainers of widely used public open-source projects. OpenAI also noted that even if some projects do not fully meet the preset criteria, maintainers can still apply and explain their project’s importance within the open-source ecosystem.
Apple is preparing several Ultra-class devices, including a foldable iPhone priced around $2,000 with a large internal display and new under-display sensors; a new generation of AirPods equipped with computer vision cameras that can provide visual feedback for Siri; and the first MacBook Pro models featuring OLED touchscreens.
Apple is also developing a 3D-printed aluminum manufacturing technology aimed at reducing costs and improving efficiency. The process will first be applied to Apple Watch casings and may later expand to the iPhone product line.
Apple reportedly plans to introduce new color options for the iMac later this year, and will release upgraded versions of the Mac Studio and Mac mini equipped with the latest M5-series chips around mid-year and the end of the year.
Firefox 115 ESR to End Support for Windows 7/8 This Month
PayPal Confirms Data Breach in Its App
Google Releases AI Music Generation Model Lyria 3
Microsoft Edge to Remove Custom Master Password Feature
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Samsung to Bring Perplexity AI to Galaxy Phones
On February 22, Samsung Mobile announced that Galaxy AI is further expanding its multi-AI agent ecosystem to deliver more diverse and flexible user experiences. Perplexity AI will be introduced to flagship Galaxy devices, and Samsung stated that it plans to collaborate with more partners in the future to jointly develop Galaxy AI into a more inclusive AI ecosystem. Samsung has also adapted a new wake word, “Hey Plex,” for Perplexity AI. Users can alternatively long-press the side button to activate it. Similar to Bixby, it can interact with Samsung’s first-party and some third-party apps for system-level integration. Specific supported models will be announced soon. Source
Linux Kernel 7.0-rc1 Released
Linux kernel version 7.0-rc1 was officially released on February 22, bringing multiple changes and new features. In terms of new hardware support, it adds compatibility for Intel Nova Lake and Diamond Rapids processors, AMD Zen 6, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2. Performance improvements are also notable, including better PostgreSQL performance on AMD EPYC, improved sequential read performance for exFAT, various F2FS file system enhancements, memory management optimizations, improved concurrent direct I/O writes in EXT4, default enablement of Intel TSX auto mode, scheduler performance and scalability work, and the return of large page memory support for Nouveau to boost NVK performance. Source
Firefox 115 ESR to End Support for Windows 7/8 This Month
On February 18, Mozilla updated its official support documentation, confirming that it will end maintenance support for the Firefox 115 ESR (Extended Support Release) browser on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 by the end of this month (February 2026). This makes Mozilla the last major browser vendor to drop support for these legacy systems, following Chrome and Edge. Mozilla had originally planned to end support for Firefox 115 ESR in September 2024. Source
PayPal Confirms Data Breach in Its App
PayPal recently confirmed that its PayPal Working Capital app experienced a data breach caused by a code vulnerability. The flaw existed for six months, from July 1, 2025 to December 13, 2025. At the time of the announcement, PayPal had contacted approximately 100 potentially affected customers whose names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, and business addresses were exposed to unauthorized access. Some users have already reported discovering unauthorized transfer records in their accounts. PayPal Working Capital is a lending service app under PayPal that provides small business loans based on merchants’ transaction histories. Source
Google Releases AI Music Generation Model Lyria 3
On February 19, Google released a new AI music generation model named Lyria 3. The model can create high-fidelity, 30-second audio tracks based on text, image, audio, or video prompts, supporting a wide range of styles—from short ad jingles and lo-fi beats to more complex arrangements and full songs. Users can control genre, vocals, and rhythm through prompts. Lyria 3 can also automatically generate lyrics based on the prompt, and when paired with Nano Banana, it can create matching album artwork. The model currently supports English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese, with more languages planned for future updates. It has already been integrated into the Gemini app, where users can access it by selecting the “Music” option from the “Tools” dropdown menu. Google has also released a prompt guide for Lyria 3 to help users get started quickly. Source
Microsoft Edge to Remove Custom Master Password Feature
According to the Edge Beta channel update log, starting from Edge 146, the custom master password feature in the Edge password manager will be removed, and users will no longer be able to create new custom master passwords as a security measure for saved credentials. Users who have already enabled this feature will receive a warning notification, but it will remain available until June 4, 2026. After that, affected users will be automatically migrated to device-based authentication methods such as Windows Hello.
Additionally, in this update, the “Passwords” option will be removed from the “Clear browsing data” tab to prevent users from accidentally deleting saved account credentials when clearing browser data. Source
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
On February 23 (local time), Anthropic posted on X alleging that DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax used more than 24,000 fake accounts to conduct large-scale distillation attacks on its models, generating 150,000, 3.4 million, and 13 million interactions with Claude respectively to improve their own model performance. Source
According to 9to5Google, Google is adjusting the experience of the built-in Google Weather service on Android. Previously, tapping the Google Weather widget would open a full-screen weather information interface that resembled a standalone app, but was actually a dedicated page within the Google app. Some users who updated the Google app have found that this weather page has been removed. Now, tapping the widget redirects directly to the Google app’s search page, where weather information is presented in card form as part of search results. In addition to traditional forecasts, air quality data, and detailed weather metrics, AI-generated forecast summaries will also be included, aligning the experience more closely with standard web search results. Notably, Pixel users are unaffected as they rely on the Pixel Weather app. Source
According to Game File, Tencent has shut down its TiMi Montreal studio. In addition to reports from internal sources, LinkedIn posts by former employees (now deleted) have corroborated the development. The studio was established in July 2021 with the goal of developing AAA open-world multi-platform games. Source
On February 23, Uber announced the acquisition of SpotHero, an app that offers parking reservation services in crowded areas. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Uber stated that it plans to integrate parking services directly into its own app. Source
According to Android Authority, Google is developing a facial recognition system called Project Toscana for future use on Android phones and Chromebooks. Test devices equipped with Project Toscana reportedly require only a circular camera cutout. The system is said to function reliably under varying lighting conditions, similar to Face ID, though the underlying technology remains unclear and is currently speculated to involve infrared cameras. Source
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, due to the global popularity of the “Starlight Orange” color this year—especially in the Chinese market—Apple is considering introducing a deep red color option for the iPhone 18 Pro. Previous rumors of purple or brown variants may have been testing adjustments for this color. The iPhone Fold, however, is expected to avoid bold colors, offering only dark gray or black, as well as white or silver options. Source
Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that most of last year’s Trump-era tariff policies were unlawful, Apple—which had previously lobbied for exemptions on many products—may now face a uniform 10% tariff, potentially higher than before. Source
In Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7877, the Paint app (version 11.2601.391.0) introduces a free rotation feature, allowing any shape, text, or selection to be rotated at any angle. Source
Razer Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition Opens for Pre-Orders
Microsoft to Update Windows Secure Boot Certificates
Baidu Baike Launches International Version, BaiduWiki
NIO Recalls Certain ES8, ES6, and EC6 Pure Electric Vehicles
Apple Ends Support for Legacy HomeKit Architecture
ChatGPT Begins Testing Ads
Alibaba Releases Qwen-Image-2.0 Image Model
Tencent Hunyuan Open-Sources Ultra-Lightweight On-Device Model HY-1.8B-2Bit
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Sony to Stop Shipping Blu-ray Recorders
On February 10, Sony announced on its Japanese official website that it will stop shipping all Blu-ray recorder products and clearly stated that no successor models are planned in the future. The discontinued lineup includes recent mainstream models such as the BDZ-ZW1900 and BDZ-FBT4200, marking the formal end of Sony’s home recording hardware ecosystem.
Previously, Sony had already ceased production of Blu-ray recordable discs in February 2025, while competitor Panasonic exited the market for recording-specific optical discs in 2023. As streaming services have driven down demand for physical media, Panasonic is now the only company worldwide still maintaining the development and production of Blu-ray recording equipment. Source
AYANEO NEXT 2 Launches Crowdfunding Campaign
On February 10, AYANEO officially launched global pre-orders for its Windows 11 handheld NEXT 2 on Indiegogo. The device features a 9.06-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400×1504, supports an adjustable refresh rate from 60Hz to 165Hz, and reaches a peak brightness of 1,155 nits. Processor options include AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (8-core) and Max+ 395 (16-core) Strix Halo variants, with configurations offering up to 128GB of LPDDR5x memory and 2TB of storage. It also includes a 116.1Wh battery and a dual-fan cooling system.
In terms of controls, the AYANEO NEXT 2 integrates adjustable-torque TMR joysticks, Hall-effect linear triggers, dual smart touchpads, and a floating eight-way D-pad. The device weighs 1,426 grams. The Polar Black colorway is the first to enter crowdfunding, with early-bird pricing starting at USD 1,799 and topping out at USD 3,499 for the highest configuration. Shipments are expected to begin in June 2026. Source
Razer Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition Opens for Pre-Orders
On February 10, Razer officially opened limited pre-orders for the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition. Only 1,337 units will be produced worldwide, each with an individual serial number, and priced at USD 1,337.
This commemorative reissue retains the classic ambidextrous symmetrical design of the original model. Internally, it is equipped with a 45,000 DPI optical sensor (Focus Pro 45K Gen-2), Gen-4 optical switches, and wireless connectivity with an 8,000Hz polling rate. It features PU leather button surfaces and a nine-zone Chroma RGB underglow. The package includes a dedicated wireless charging dock (Mouse Dock Pro), glass mouse feet, and an LED-lit display case showcasing the mouse’s internal components in a disassembled layout. Pre-orders in the United States begin at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 10, while Asia and Europe will open at 8:00 a.m. local time on February 11. Source
Microsoft to Update Windows Secure Boot Certificates
On February 10, Microsoft began a phased update of Secure Boot digital certificates for Windows 11 and for Windows 10 users enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. The update is intended to replace the original certificates introduced in 2011, which are set to expire in June 2026, ensuring that devices can continue to verify the legitimacy of Windows bootloaders, firmware drivers, and third-party boot programs during startup. The change affects more than one billion Windows devices worldwide. Devices that fail to complete the update before expiration may not only be unable to ensure system security or receive future boot-level vulnerability patches, but may also encounter issues with anti-cheat software that relies on mandatory Secure Boot verification. Microsoft stated that most devices manufactured after 2024 already come preinstalled with the new certificates, while other compliant devices can obtain them automatically via Windows Update. Certain specific models may require firmware updates provided by OEMs to complete the transition. Source
Baidu Baike Launches International Version, BaiduWiki
On February 10, Baidu Baike officially launched its international edition, BaiduWiki, initially supporting five languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese. This version leverages multiple AI agent models to translate Chinese-language content with established strengths into multiple languages, covering features such as video, text-and-image entries, and relationships between people. Currently, one million entries have gone live. Source
NIO Recalls Certain ES8, ES6, and EC6 Pure Electric Vehicles
According to information from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, Shanghai NIO Automobile Co., Ltd. (NIO) has recently filed a recall with the authority, covering a total of 246,229 ES8, ES6, and EC6 pure electric vehicles produced between March 16, 2018, and January 16, 2023. Vehicles within the scope of the recall may, due to a software defect, experience brief black screens on the instrument cluster and center display under specific conditions, resulting in the loss of speed display, fault warnings, and defogging/defrosting functions. To address this safety risk, the company will push system updates free of charge via over-the-air (OTA) updates, including Aspen 3.5.6, Alder 2.1.0, or later versions. Vehicles that cannot be updated via OTA will be contacted by service centers for in-store handling, while vehicles that have already been updated to subsequent optimized versions do not require further action. Source
Apple Ends Support for Legacy HomeKit Architecture
On February 10, 2026, Apple officially ended support for the original HomeKit architecture. As a result, smart home devices that have not been upgraded to the new Apple Home may no longer function properly in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.
The new HomeKit architecture is based on a low-level overhaul introduced with iOS 16.4 in 2023, aiming to improve performance and reliability while adding compatibility with the Matter standard. It requires controllers to run iOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, watchOS 9.2, or later. At the same time, support for using an iPad as a Home Hub has been removed, and users must instead rely on a HomePod or Apple TV for remote control and automation tasks. Source
ChatGPT Begins Testing Ads
On February 9, OpenAI announced that it has begun testing advertising for ChatGPT in the U.S. market, targeting users of the free version of ChatGPT as well as those on the USD 8-per-month ChatGPT Go subscription plan. Ads are matched based on conversation topics, user history, and interaction preferences (for example, grocery delivery services linked to recipe searches). An exclusion zone is enforced for users under 18, and ads are strictly prohibited near sensitive topics such as health, politics, and mental health. From a technical standpoint, ads will be clearly separated from native content through explicit sponsorship labels. OpenAI states that ads do not affect generation results and that no private conversation data is shared with advertisers.
It is worth noting that after the ad plan was announced earlier, Anthropic publicly mocked it in a Super Bowl advertisement. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later issued a public rebuttal, accusing competitors of being “dishonest.” Source
Alibaba Releases Qwen-Image-2.0 Image Model
On February 10, Alibaba released Qwen-Image-2.0, a foundation model that integrates image generation and editing. The model supports ultra-long text inputs of over 1K tokens and high-resolution outputs up to 2K. In AI Arena evaluations, it scored 1029 in image generation (third globally) and 1034 in image editing (second only to Nano Banana Pro). In terms of technical capabilities, Qwen-Image-2.0 supports precise rendering of Chinese characters across varying text lengths, complex diagram generation for PPTs and academic papers, and multi-panel comic creation. It also allows users to upload multiple images for nine-grid selfie compositions or creative style rewrites.
Generated output examples
Alibaba Cloud Bailian has opened an API preview, and users can try the model for free via the Qwen Chat official website. Source
Tencent Hunyuan Open-Sources Ultra-Lightweight On-Device Model HY-1.8B-2Bit
On February 10, Tencent Hunyuan introduced HY-1.8B-2Bit, an ultra-lightweight AI model designed for consumer-grade hardware scenarios. The model is based on the industry’s first production-ready 2-bit on-device quantization scheme. It is produced from HY-1.8B-Instruct through quantization-aware training (QAT), with an effective parameter size of just 0.3B, storage usage of approximately 300MB (under bf16 pseudo-quantized weights), and runtime memory usage of about 600MB. In terms of technical specifications, the model supports switching between long and short chains of thought depending on task complexity, and delivers a 2–3× generation speed increase over the original full-precision model on mobile platforms such as the Dimensity 9500 and MacBook M4 (with Arm SME2 support).
The HY-1.8B-2Bit model weights have now been open-sourced on Hugging Face and GitHub in formats including GGUF-int2. Source
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
According to the latest video released by AYANEO, its slide-up gaming phone Pocket Play will feature a 6.8-inch FHD+ (2400×1080) OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor, paired with LPDDR5 memory and UFS 4.0 storage. The device is said to include a 5,000mAh battery with fast charging support, as well as a 50MP main camera and a 16MP ultra-wide camera. However, pricing and an official release date have not yet been disclosed. Source
Citing test data from the Hardware Canucks channel, WCCFTech reports that Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite processor has surpassed Apple’s M5 chip in early multi-core and productivity benchmarks, although its single-core performance under peak power conditions still lags behind. Source
According to information shared by well-known leaker billbil-kun, the Sony WF-1000XM6 will be equipped with a new QN3e processor offering triple the processing speed of the previous WF-1000XM5. It will integrate a total of eight microphones to enhance active noise cancellation (ANC), along with new speaker units, an improved DAC, and an enhanced amplifier. On the software side, the equalizer will be upgraded from five to ten adjustable bands. Source
Mistral releases the Voxtral Transcribe 2 series of speech-to-text models
Canon launches a limited edition PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera
The maintainer of the sudo project publicly seeks sponsorship
Microsoft deprecates the “3D Viewer” app
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Mistral releases the Voxtral Transcribe 2 series of speech-to-text models
Mistral AI announced on February 4 the release of two models in the Voxtral Transcribe 2 series: Voxtral Mini Transcribe V2, designed for batch processing, and Voxtral Realtime, built for real-time transcription. Among them, Voxtral Realtime has been open-sourced under the Apache 2.0 license.
Voxtral Realtime features a 4B parameter scale and is designed for low-latency use cases. It adopts a new streaming architecture that enables live transcription while reducing end-to-end latency to under 200 ms. Voxtral Mini Transcribe V2 focuses on delivering a high cost-performance transcription API, with accuracy outperforming GPT-4o mini Transcribe and Gemini 2.5 Flash, and supports processing up to three hours of audio per request.
Both models support 13 languages, including Chinese. In terms of pricing, the Voxtral Mini Transcribe V2 API is priced at USD 0.003 per minute, while Voxtral Realtime costs USD 0.006 per minute. Source
Canon launches a limited edition PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera
Canon announced on February 5 a limited edition PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the PowerShot series. Priced at USD 1,299, the bundle includes a limited-edition Peak Design wrist strap and a 32GB SD card, with shipments scheduled to begin in April 2026.
This limited edition retains the same core specifications as the PowerShot G7 X Mark III originally released nearly seven years ago, with the primary differences focusing on appearance and design details. The camera comes in a graphite gray finish, adds a knurled control ring on the front, and features a 30th-anniversary emblem. In terms of hardware, it is equipped with a 20.1-megapixel sensor, a 3-inch flip-up touchscreen, and a 24–100mm equivalent ƒ/1.8–2.8 lens, along with a dedicated microphone input. For video, it supports uncropped 4K at 30fps and 1080p slow motion at 120fps, and also allows direct live streaming to YouTube via Wi-Fi. Source
The maintainer of the sudo project publicly seeks sponsorship
On February 4, Todd C. Miller, the maintainer of the sudo project, announced that he is publicly seeking sponsorship for sudo. Miller has been solely responsible for maintaining the project since 1993. Previously, Quest Software had sponsored sudo starting in 2010, but that partnership ended in February 2024, roughly coinciding with Miller’s departure from its subsidiary One Identity.
After losing corporate sponsorship, sudo has continued to receive updates and has patched several high-severity vulnerabilities, including issues that allowed local users to bypass privilege controls and directly obtain root access. Miller stated that he currently has no plans to hand the project over to others, but warned that a prolonged lack of stable funding would inevitably affect development progress. He also noted that much of the critical open-source infrastructure relies too heavily on a small number of maintainers—a structural problem that is increasingly threatening the broader computing ecosystem, and one that has been widely discussed in recent years across communities and public forums such as GitHub. Source
Microsoft deprecates the “3D Viewer” app
Microsoft announced on February 5 that the “3D Viewer” app has been added to its deprecation list. The app was previously preinstalled with Windows 10 and was designed for lightweight viewing and rendering of 3D models. It was originally positioned to support mixed reality scenarios and underwent several name changes over the years. Microsoft has confirmed that the app will be removed from the Microsoft Store starting July 1, 2026. Existing users will still be able to run it, but it will no longer receive feature updates or security maintenance.
Microsoft recommends alternatives such as Babylon.js Sandbox, while the open-source community tends to favor local applications like F3D and MeshLab. Source
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Reports indicate that macOS 26.3 RC has added two new SoC identifiers, T6051 and T6052, associated with platform codes H17C and H17D, respectively. Based on Apple’s historical numbering conventions for its M-series chips, these identifiers are widely speculated to correspond to the upcoming M5 Max and M5 Ultra. Notably, however, no identifiers believed to belong to the M5 Pro have appeared so far. Source
Google officially announced the Pixel 10a smartphone on February 5. Positioned for budget-conscious users, the device is scheduled to launch on February 18. Google has not yet disclosed detailed hardware specifications. In terms of design, the Pixel 10a closely resembles the Pixel 9a, with the most notable change being a rear camera module that sits flush with the back panel rather than protruding. According to previously leaked information, the phone may feature a 6.3-inch 120Hz display, a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and an “enhanced” Tensor G4 chip paired with 8GB of RAM. Storage options are expected to include 128GB and 256GB variants. The battery capacity is rumored to be around 5,100mAh, with support for 23W wired charging. Source
According to The Information, rising memory prices across the industry have led to tighter supply, while NVIDIA has been prioritizing manufacturing capacity for AI chips. As a result, the launch of the RTX 50 series SUPER graphics cards is expected to be delayed. Under these circumstances, the next-generation RTX 60 series aimed at gamers is also likely to see its mass production timeline pushed back, with large-scale manufacturing now projected to begin toward the end of 2027. This suggests that the RTX 60 series may not reach the market until 2028 or even later. Source
iQOO launches its flagship performance phone, the 15 Ultra
xAI releases Grok Imagine 1.0
Alibaba Cloud Qwen team releases Qwen3-Coder-Next
Apple reminds users to upgrade the Home app
Microsoft to discontinue standalone OneDrive business subscriptions
Adobe cancels plans to discontinue Animate
iQOO launches its flagship performance phone, the 15 Ultra
On February 4, the iQOO brand officially unveiled its performance-focused Ultra flagship, the iQOO 15 Ultra. Aimed at gamers and creators, the device is enhanced across four key areas—performance, controls, live streaming, and design—and comes in two color options: 2077 (Black) and 2049 (Silver).
The iQOO 15 Ultra is powered by the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, paired with LPDDR5X Ultra Pro memory and UFS 4.1 storage, offering configurations up to 24GB + 1TB. For cooling, it features a custom Ice Dome air-cooling system that combines airflow channels with an extra-large VC, along with the in-house esports chip Q3, enabling full-scene ray tracing, 2K native-resolution upscaling, and 120FPS frame interpolation. The display is a 2K Samsung “Zhufeng” panel supporting a dynamic refresh rate from 1 to 144Hz, with peak brightness reaching 8000 nits and Dolby Vision certification.
In terms of controls, the iQOO 15 Ultra adopts a system-level ultra-sensory control framework that integrates pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons, a gyroscope, and touch input. It also debuts the Warhammer MAX dual-axis haptic motors, paired with dual speakers and Dolby Atmos. The phone packs a 7400mAh Blue Ocean battery, supports IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, and includes Wi-Fi 7, an ultrasonic 3D fingerprint sensor, and support for 31 5G bands, including n79.
For imaging, the device features a rear triple-camera setup with three 50MP sensors and a 32MP front-facing camera. Both the main camera and the periscope telephoto support CIPA 4.5-level stabilization, and the system is powered by the NICE 3.0 imaging algorithm and the Magic 2.0 image restoration engine. Pricing starts at RMB 5,499 for the 16GB + 256GB version during the initial sales period (February 4 to February 12), with the 16GB + 512GB variant priced at RMB 5,999. Higher-end options include 16GB + 1TB at RMB 6,999 and 24GB + 1TB at RMB 7,699. Source
xAI releases Grok Imagine 1.0
On February 2, the xAI team announced the release of its video generation tool Grok Imagine 1.0, describing it as the company’s “largest upgrade to date.” According to xAI, the new version has begun rolling out more broadly, and users can try it via the Imagine page on grok.com.
Grok Imagine 1.0 is xAI’s audio-and-video generative foundation model. It currently supports generating short videos of up to 10 seconds in length at a maximum resolution of 720p, and it “significantly improves” audio capabilities, with an emphasis on producing richer speech and soundtrack effects. Source
Alibaba Cloud Qwen team releases Qwen3-Coder-Next
On February 4, Alibaba Qwen announced the release of Qwen3-Coder-Next, an open-weight language model purpose-built for coding agents and local development. The model is built on Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B-Base and adopts a new architecture that combines hybrid attention with Mixture-of-Experts (MoE). Through large-scale executable task synthesis, environment interaction, and reinforcement learning for agent training, the model delivers strong programming and agent capabilities while significantly reducing inference costs.
Recently, Apple sent a notice to Apple Home users, reminding them to complete an upgrade of the Home app by February 10, 2026. Users who do not complete the upgrade may encounter issues with smart accessories and automation scenes failing to run properly, and may even be unable to access their smart home devices within the app.
In addition, users who do not upgrade will be unable to use new features such as robot vacuum support, and will miss out on important security patches and performance optimizations.
To upgrade, open the Home app, tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner to enter Home Settings, then select Software Update → Update Now, and follow the on-screen instructions. Source
Microsoft to discontinue standalone OneDrive business subscriptions
On February 3, Microsoft confirmed in updated support documentation that it plans to remove the standalone low-priced subscription offerings for OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online (Plan 1 and Plan 2). These plans do not include core productivity apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but have been attractive to users with limited budgets who only need specific features.
Microsoft plans to stop selling these standalone products to new customers in May 2026, and will disable renewals for existing users in June. The official end-of-life (EOL) date for current subscriptions is January 2027, with Microsoft planning to fully end all technical support for these products in December 2029, at which point the related services will be completely taken offline. Source
Adobe Cancels Plans to Discontinue Animate
Following opposition from multiple parties, Adobe stated in a FAQ published on February 4 that Animate, which was previously slated for full discontinuation, will instead enter maintenance mode. Animate will continue to receive ongoing security updates and vulnerability fixes, and both existing and new users will be able to keep using the software. However, no new features will be introduced going forward. Source
Tesla plans to discontinue the Model S and Model X
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Xiaomi launches the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones
On January 29, Xiaomi officially unveiled the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones.
Among them, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max is powered by the Dimensity 9500s chip built on a 3nm process. According to the company, the Dimensity 9500s adopts an all–big-core architecture and features a large cache. The CPU reaches a peak clock speed of up to 3.73GHz, with cache capacity increased to 29MB. In terms of display and design, the new phone comes with a 6.83-inch 1.5K-resolution screen using new M10 emissive materials, offering a peak brightness of up to 3500 nits and supporting both 3840Hz PWM dimming and DC dimming.
For battery life and charging, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max packs a 9000mAh battery. Xiaomi claims its endurance rivals that of some 10,000mAh devices. It supports 100W wired fast charging, the 100W PPS protocol, and 27W wired reverse charging. On the imaging front, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max features a 50MP primary camera with an ƒ/1.5 aperture and 1.6µm pixels, and supports high dynamic range video recording.
The REDMI Turbo 5 Max is available in four colors: black, blue, white, and orange. The base configuration includes 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a starting price of 2,499 yuan.
The standard REDMI Turbo 5 uses the Dimensity 8500-Ultra chip built on a 4nm process. It features a 6.59-inch display, while most other specifications remain consistent with the REDMI Turbo 5 Max. The REDMI Turbo 5 is equipped with a 7560mAh battery, supports 100W wired fast charging, 27W wired reverse charging, and is compatible with 100W-class PPS fast charging. The standard REDMI Turbo 5 comes in three colors—black, green, and white. The base model offers 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, starting at 1,999 yuan. Source
WeChat issues a special enforcement notice targeting third-party violations
On January 29, WeChat released a special enforcement announcement targeting third-party violations, with a focus on cracking down on false marketing, excessive marketing, and activities that threaten data security.
WeChat stated that, based on recent user complaints and reports, it has launched concentrated governance actions against third-party violations that seriously disrupt the platform ecosystem and infringe on user rights. These mainly include false marketing and related fraudulent activities, excessive marketing and induced sharing behaviors, as well as actions that endanger privacy and security, such as illegally obtaining user data and using plug-ins or external tools. In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and multiple WeChat platform agreements, the platform will impose tiered penalties on violating links, mini programs, and third-party apps, including access restrictions, functional bans, removal from the platform, and account suspensions.
WeChat further noted that false marketing often involves fabricated cashback or lottery schemes and impersonation of official identities for fraud, frequently resulting in financial losses and illegal collection of personal information. Excessive marketing harms user experience through high-frequency push notifications and forced redirects. Meanwhile, plug-ins and data theft activities manipulate WeChat functions through automated scripts and technical means, posing direct threats to platform security. WeChat said it will continue to clear such violations through a combination of technical inspections and user reports. Source
MiniMax (Xiyu Technology) releases the MiniMax Music 2.5 model
On January 29, MiniMax (Xiyu Technology) officially released its music generation model, MiniMax Music 2.5. The model supports full-section tag control and precisely handles 14 musical structure variants, including Intro, Bridge, Interlude, Build-up, and Hook, enabling expressive creation of highly complex musical works.
For Mandarin pop music scenarios, MiniMax Music 2.5 has been deeply optimized to cover a wide range of styles, including ballads, rap, fully Chinese lyrics, and mixed Chinese–English compositions. Vocal synthesis has also been enhanced, delivering smoother and more nuanced pitch transitions, more natural vibrato dynamics, and flexible switching between chest and head resonance. In male–female duet scenarios, MiniMax Music 2.5 presents more coordinated vocal interplay, supporting alternating vocals and multi-layered harmony arrangements.
In terms of timbre, the model supports more than 100 instruments and includes optimized mixing to keep vocals and accompaniment clearly separated. At the same time, MiniMax Music 2.5 is deeply integrated with professional creative workflows. According to the company, it can be applied to professional scenarios such as film and television scoring, dynamic game audio effects, studio-grade pop music production, and branded sound design. Source
Microsoft commits to not using Copilot interactions to train AI
On January 28, Microsoft issued a statement responding to long-standing public concerns over its data collection and privacy practices. The company reiterated that users retain full control over their personal data and can access, transfer, or delete relevant information at any time. Data will only be used for purposes such as personalized advertising with explicit user consent.
Addressing privacy concerns from enterprise and individual users regarding Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft further pledged to strictly isolate user prompts, generated content, and business data, and clearly stated that none of this information will be used to train any AI systems, including foundational large language models (LLMs). Microsoft said that Copilot fully inherits Microsoft 365’s existing identity management, permission controls, and compliance framework, ensuring that organizational data remains within the company’s own tenant environment and is not accessed externally or exposed. Source
On January 29, Google announced the introduction of new AI capabilities to the Chrome browser, deeply integrating Gemini 3 technology into the browser’s sidebar to deliver a more intelligent interactive experience.
At the same time, Chrome is rolling out a new feature called “Automated Browsing,” available to users subscribed to Google AI Pro or Ultra. This feature allows AI to carry out multi-step tasks through natural language commands, including opening pages across websites, filling out forms, comparing prices, and managing appointments and subscriptions, thereby reducing repetitive operations. For sensitive actions such as payments or content publishing, the system still requires manual user confirmation.
In addition, the newly added Gemini panel on the right side of the browser can work in conjunction with services such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Flights, and Shopping. Based on cross-app data, the AI can provide intelligent suggestions—for example, extracting itinerary details from emails, matching them with flights, and automatically generating calendar schedules. Chrome also includes a built-in generative image tool called Nano Banana, allowing users to generate or edit images directly within the browser using text prompts. Source
Tesla plans to discontinue the Model S and Model X
Elon Musk revealed during the latest earnings call that Tesla plans to cease production of the Model S and Model X in the second quarter of 2026, in order to free up manufacturing capacity at the Fremont factory for the Optimus humanoid robot project. He said the move reflects the company’s strategic shift toward autonomous driving and robotics, and advised consumers interested in these models to place orders as early as possible.
The Model S was launched in 2012, followed by the Model X in 2015, and both long served as key parts of Tesla’s flagship lineup. As the company has increasingly focused its resources on the Model 3 and Model Y, sales of the two high-end models have continued to decline. Data shows that sales classified under the “other models” category fell by more than 40% year over year in 2025, while Tesla’s profits in the fourth quarter also saw a notable drop. Source
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
According to reports, Logitech G is set to officially launch the G325 LIGHTSPEED wireless over-ear headset. The headset features 32 mm drivers with an impedance of 32 Ω, and is equipped with an omnidirectional beamforming microphone that supports AI noise reduction and 24-bit audio. In terms of design, it uses seamless breathable knitted fabric, a soft headband, and dual-layer ear cushions, with a total weight of 212 g. For connectivity, it supports Bluetooth 5.2 as well as Logitech’s 2.4 GHz LIGHTSPEED wireless mode, offering a battery life of over 24 hours. The headset is priced at €79.99. Source
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is reportedly preparing an intelligent display module for the Compute Module 5. Essentially an adapter board, this module integrates the CM5’s computing power and energy efficiency directly into compatible displays, while also providing an additional HDMI output to drive a second independent video signal, catering to multi-display setups or complex information presentation needs. The module board also reserves an M.2 expansion slot, allowing users to add AI acceleration modules and leaving headroom for local inference and intelligent applications. Designed in accordance with the Intel SDM specification, the intelligent display module is positioned for use cases such as flight information systems, retail and enterprise digital signage, and industrial-grade display terminals. The module is expected to launch later this year and will make its first public appearance next week at ISE 2026 in Spain. Source
