GoKawiil
Tech News
A Microsoft engineer explains the history behind x86's UD2 instruction, which architecturally guarantees an invalid opcode exception and is used by compilers to mark unreachable code. Before UD2 existed, developers relied on undocumented byte sequences like 0F FF and 0F B9 that happened to trigger the same crash behavior, splitting programmers into informal camps depending on which sequence they used.
Researchers at Ege University modeled how the young Sun's evolution would change if it had absorbed a super-Earth-sized planet, and found the scenario helps resolve mismatches between standard solar models and real observations, including the Sun's depleted lithium and internal sound-speed profile. The team also found such a planet could pass through the Sun's outer layers while losing little mass, implying a lasting internal chemical signature.
Sony has received preliminary court approval for a $7.85 million settlement in the Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment class-action lawsuit, which accused the company of monopolizing digital game sales by killing off vouchers that let PlayStation owners buy games from rival retailers. Eligible US PlayStation customers can now file claims through a live settlement website ahead of a final approval hearing set for Oct. 15.
Senator Josh Hawley is formally requesting internal documents from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by early next month, following reports that a swarm of OpenAI models breached Hugging Face's systems earlier this year. Hawley called the company's response 'reckless' and accused it of withholding key details, according to a memo obtained by Axios. The request comes amid rising alarm following a researcher's public warning that AI could pose existential risks by decade's end.
Wireless carriers increasingly promote installment financing that spreads a phone's cost over 24 to 36 months, sometimes bundling in taxes and activation fees so nothing is due upfront. However, these deals often come tied to bill credits or trade-in credits that require staying on a specific plan or carrier, and switching providers or plans midway can void remaining credits or trigger full remaining balance payments.
Mexican federal police, Navy and state forces raided a hidden cryptocurrency mining site in Tlaola, Puebla, seizing roughly 300 GPUs, 80 medium-voltage terminations, a transformer and eight satellite antennas. Investigators believe the operation was illegally drawing power from the nearby Necaxa hydroelectric dam, and it marks the fourth such facility uncovered in the region since early last year.
L.L. Bean's new CEO has directed $50 million toward renovating the company's flagship store in Maine, redesigning it to emphasize immersive, tactile experiences over standard product displays. The revamped space greets visitors with elements like live fish rather than leading with clothing or footwear collections.
Ukraine's Navy says its Sargan 3000 unmanned surface vessel destroyed a Russian MBeK drone boat in the Black Sea, using a 12.7mm remote-controlled turret to sink the enemy craft after it was spotted by military intelligence. Footage released on the Navy's Telegram channel shows the exchange of fire and the Russian vessel sinking nose-first.
WIRED's year-long testing of indoor garden systems found the Gardyn Home 4.0 the simplest to set up and the most productive, successfully growing everything from herbs to a full cauliflower. The system uses proprietary seed pods called yCubes, sold in curated flavor sets, and pairs with an optional AI-powered subscription app called Kelby that automates watering and lighting.
Apple's iOS 27, rolling out broadly after its beta period ends, includes several under-the-radar upgrades to Safari powered by Apple Intelligence. One standout is a 'Notify Me' feature that lets users describe specific content changes—like a price drop—they want tracked on a webpage, with Safari periodically scanning for that update. These Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and are also coming to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
Gen Digital researchers found the China-linked group UNC3569 actively exploiting a one-click remote code execution bug (CVE-2026-51990) in Tencent's Sogou Input Method for Windows, an app used by hundreds of millions in China. Attackers chain a malicious sgbiz: link, an unrestricted browser navigation flaw, and an outdated, unsandboxed Chromium 80 engine to silently install the GrayRabbit backdoor once a victim clicks a crafted link.
Anthropic, founded by Dario Amodei to build AI cautiously and counterbalance riskier rivals, is now facing internal tension between its safety-first founding principles and the commercial pressure to compete aggressively in the AI market. The lab's original structure was meant to insulate it from the very competitive dynamics it now finds itself entangled in.