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Tech News
Google is discontinuing Safety Signal, the LTE-based safety tool on the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3, with access ending December 12. Users will get email and push notifications giving 30 days' notice before their access is cut off. Features like emergency SOS, fall detection and emergency contact calls will still work via WiFi, Bluetooth pairing to a phone, or an active cellular plan.
The Trump administration has barred Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys and Tata from the PERM program, which lets H-1B visa holders pursue permanent residency by certifying no qualified American workers are available. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the agency is investigating whether the companies committed fraud by undercutting American workers through foreign hiring. Vice President JD Vance specifically accused Microsoft of abusing the visa system, a claim Microsoft disputes, saying it hires according to visa standards while also building American talent.
Apple's iOS 27 update adds major upgrades to the Home app, led by improvements to HomeKit Secure Video. Compatible cameras can now stream and record in 4K, up from the previous 1080p cap, while Apple Intelligence adds AI-generated video descriptions, clip search, and highlighted 'noteworthy clips.' The update also introduces real-time notifications that consolidate related alerts into a single updating message instead of several separate ones.
US authorities announced the arrest of a man accused of developing malware used to fraudulently empty ATMs, a technique known as 'jackpotting.' Officials say the suspect, tied to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, had been named to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, reportedly the first cybercriminal to receive that designation.
Writer Ken Arneson reflects on a 2015 personal essay describing a phone conversation with his college-freshman daughter, who insisted on talking about trivial topics before revealing what was really bothering her. He recounts realizing, after reading that small talk exists to relieve conversational pressure, that his own instinct to get straight to the point had previously left him unaware of this social function.
9to5Mac's daily podcast episode for October 8, 2026 rounds up top Apple news, including rumors about a new iPad mini and updates to iCloud+. The episode is sponsored by Stuff, a task-management app, and Roborock, which is running Fall Prime Day discounts on its robot vacuum lineup.
The Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is moving from traditional broadcast television to Amazon's Prime Video streaming service. This marks a shift in how the television industry's top honors will be distributed to viewers going forward.
HubSpot co-founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah published a short LinkedIn post thanking employees affected by the company's recent 7% workforce reduction, describing it as a 'parting of ways.' The post prompted a wave of critical responses from LinkedIn users who objected to its tone.
A commentary piece recounts how Jeff Bezos, in his 1997 Amazon shareholder letter, pledged to prioritize long-term decisions over short-term Wall Street pressure. Despite Amazon's stock falling below $6 per share by late 2001 and media skepticism such as Barron's 1999 'Amazon.bomb' cover, Bezos continued investing in warehouses, software, and customer trust, re-attaching his original letter to every subsequent annual report.
Vice President JD Vance announced the US government will stop processing Permanent Labor Certification Program applications from Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, accusing them of fraud in using H1b visas and the PERM pathway to permanent residency. Labor Secretary Kieth Sonderling called the companies and some US universities 'visa mills' flooding the country with foreign workers. Microsoft responded that most of its US employees are American and that 80% of its recent H1b filings involved existing staff rather than new hires.
Microsoft announced it will change how storage and AI credits work across Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, and Pro subscriptions in the coming months. Instead of each family member getting a fixed 1TB OneDrive allowance, plans will share a single pool, shrinking Family and Premium plans from a potential 6TB combined total down to 2TB. AI usage credits will also move to a shared pool across subscribers.
Atari has reintroduced the 800XL, a hybrid home computer and gaming console from the early 1980s, rebuilt with modern features like HDMI output and USB ports. The $220 unit ships with 25 pre-loaded games, a cartridge slot, a USB-chargeable joystick, and a mechanical keyboard that supports Atari Basic coding and homebrew software. Plaion Replai, the company behind recent Commodore 64 and Neo Geo remakes, designed the hardware, with preorders open now and shipping set for April 23, 2027.