GoKawiil
Tech News
Researchers are monitoring the atmospheric drag experienced by SpaceX's more than 11,000 Starlink satellites to calculate a daily 'sink rate,' the altitude a typical satellite at 480 km would lose in one day without thruster corrections. In 2026 that figure has swung from 19.7 meters per day during quiet conditions to 127.6 meters per day during the year's largest geomagnetic storm in January.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US and China have discussed creating an AI safety notification mechanism, allowing either country to alert the other if its AI systems pose risks or behave unpredictably. The proposal comes ahead of a Trump-Xi meeting, and follows continued US export controls and a Justice Department case accusing six Chinese AI firms of stealing US technology, which China disputes.
Disney is increasing subscription prices for Disney Plus and Hulu starting Wednesday, with premium ad-free plans rising to $21.49 monthly and the combined bundle reaching $22. Ad-supported plans see a smaller increase to $12.49, while the top-tier bundle including ESPN Unlimited stays at $45.
According to The Mobile Report, T-Mobile is preparing to add new subscriber perks that could include Apple Music, YouTube, SiriusXM, Paramount Plus, ESPN Plus, Xbox Game Pass, Google AI, and DoorDash's DashPass. The launch was originally expected on September 23 but has reportedly been delayed to October 1, and T-Mobile has not officially confirmed the plans.
Disney has increased prices across several streaming tiers, per Bloomberg. Ad-free Disney+ rises 13% to $21.50 monthly, the combined ad-free Disney+/Hulu bundle climbs $2 to $22, and ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu each move to $12.50; the ad-supported bundle stays at $13. The changes took effect immediately, with new subscribers seeing them on their next bill.
Former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson criticizes China's space ambitions in his memoir 'Space Odyssey,' set for a January 2027 release by Harper Horizon. He recounts NASA's involvement in the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident, framing it as a signal of an intensifying space race with China, which he says has higher stakes than the Cold War.
Bloomberg reports Disney plans to raise subscription prices across Disney Plus and Hulu, citing people familiar with the matter. Ad-free Disney Plus Premium and ad-free Hulu would rise from $18.99 to $21.49 per month, while ad-supported standalone plans increase by 50 cents to $12.49. The ad-supported Disney Plus-Hulu bundle would stay at $12.99, though the ad-free bundle rises from $19.99 to $21.99, with subscribers possibly notified as soon as September 23.
Bloomberg reports Apple is building prototypes of a display-free wearable, described internally as a technology investigation, pairing a fabric strap with a sensor-and-computing unit focused on passive health monitoring. The project has backing from executives including Tim Cook and Eddy Cue, though Apple has not committed to shipping a product, and a launch could come as early as 2028.
Disney has raised prices on most Disney+ and Hulu subscription tiers effective immediately. Ad-free Disney+ and Hulu Premium plans jump from $18.99 to $21.49 monthly, while ad-supported plans increase by 50 cents to $12.49. The combined Disney+/Hulu Premium bundle is expected to rise to $21.99, though it still displayed the old $19.99 price at publication.
Apple's new iPhone Handoff feature, which shifts a phone number between two iPhones automatically, requires carrier support. AT&T told CNET its focus remains on other innovations and pointed to existing eSIM transfer tools instead of committing to Handoff. T-Mobile currently supports the feature for $5 monthly, Verizon plans to add it by year-end, and Telekom Germany and EE are involved internationally.
American Supercritical, a startup founded by Simon Shuham and others, emerged from stealth with $8 million in funding for technology that uses supercritical carbon dioxide to boost the efficiency of gas turbines powering data centers. The company plans to retrofit simple-cycle turbines—common at data centers but far less efficient than combined-cycle plants—so they generate more electricity without increasing fuel use, though the turbines will still emit carbon pollution from burning gas.
Ahead of a Washington summit between Trump and Xi, analysts say the trade truce reached in May is being fulfilled unevenly across its three main commitments: China's soybean purchases, its pledge to buy 200 Boeing jets, and the resumption of rare earth magnet exports after a 12-month suspension of export controls. Delivery on some commitments remains difficult to verify, according to analysts tracking the deal.