Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, an update to 2024's AirPods 4, featuring a redesigned acoustic architecture and adaptive active noise cancellation that Apple claims reduces noise 50 percent better than before. A higher-end model adds stem-based volume controls, up to five hours of ANC playback, and a wireless charging case compatible with Qi and Apple Watch chargers. The base model costs $129 while the wireless-charging version is $149—$30 cheaper than its predecessor—with both available for preorder now and shipping September 18th.
Apple's standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 both launch at $899, a $100 gap that has flipped the usual value equation in the flagship smartphone market. Rising RAM and storage costs, plus heavier investment in on-device AI, are cited as reasons behind the higher pricing from Google and Samsung, and rumors suggest Apple may delay the iPhone 18 launch, potentially extending this pricing advantage.
Researchers at Westlake University built an AI-based 'virtual cell model' trained on over 38 million protein measurements from breast cancer cell lines, most of them triple-negative. Tested on real patient biopsies, the model successfully identified which drugs would be effective against individual tumours, matching actual clinical outcomes. The findings, published in Nature, mark the first time such a virtual cell model has moved from lab experiments to clinical testing.
Slow Horses season 6 premieres September 16 on Apple TV with weekly episodes through October 21, marking the show's first season under new creative leadership and adapting two Mick Herron novels instead of one. Early critic reviews from outlets like Decider, Comic Book Club, and Next Best Picture praise the season as the strongest yet, citing sharp twists and strong character work.
IFA 2026 wrapped up with a wave of new smartphones, concept PCs, and gadgets from established brands and newcomers alike. A standout trend was a fresh wave of cameras bridging the gap between smartphones and professional gear, including phones with detachable cameras and more 360-degree and gimbal-style action cameras. Meanwhile, Lenovo and Dell unveiled budget laptops positioned to compete with Apple's MacBook Neo, alongside a flood of colorful third-party accessories clearly inspired by Apple's design language.
Planet Labs, which runs the world's largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites, has been named No. 4 on Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list. The company generates over 3 terabytes of high-resolution imagery daily, used by governments, researchers and media to track environmental and security threats. Its recognition stems from an in-house approach called 'Agile Aerospace,' used to build satellite systems including Pelican and Owl.
Chipotle developed a High-Efficiency Equipment Package after frontline workers flagged that slow prep and grilling were hurting throughput and consistency. The package, built through rapid R&D iteration and in-restaurant testing, includes a three-pan rice cooker, dual-sided plancha griddle, high-capacity chip fryer, and produce slicer, cutting prep time by hours per restaurant daily. The innovation helped land Chipotle the No. 2 spot on a Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list.
Anthropic has been ranked No. 1 on Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list, with recognition tied partly to Claude Code, a tool originally built internally for engineers to test AI models and assist with coding. The tool spread organically inside the company before Anthropic released it publicly in early 2025, later evolving into the broader Claude Cowork product launched in early 2026.
Fast Company released its Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list, highlighting seven companies in the technology and science category chosen by its judges. Three of the seven winners are based in the Bay Area, underscoring the region's continued concentration of innovative employers.
Fast Company has released its 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list, recognizing nine companies with 50 or fewer employees for category honors. Judges evaluated these small firms specifically on how well they cultivate cultures that encourage innovation among staff.
Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 program singled out eight companies that depend heavily on skilled tradespeople for their category honors. Judges evaluated how these firms foster innovation specifically among workers in skilled-labor roles rather than traditional office or tech positions.
Fast Company has released its Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list, recognizing six companies with 51 to 200 employees as category winners in the midsize business segment. These firms were selected by Fast Company judges for standout innovation practices within their organizations.
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