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Satirical npm package 'jev-leftpad' pads strings via AI model call instead of padStart()

A new joke npm package called jev-leftpad reimplements string left-padding by calling an AI model (Jev, via TypeSafe's SDK) to choose how many spaces to add, rather than using JavaScript's built-in padStart() method. It requires an API key, Node.js 20+, and only supports padding up to 10 spaces since the AI is given choices labeled space_0 through space_10. The author explicitly warns against using it in production or for anything important.

Apple uses firmware trick to ship iPhone 18 Pro Max's oversized battery

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max ships with a battery-firmware lock that caps capacity below the 20Wh threshold that triggers international shipping restrictions on single-cell batteries. Once a customer activates the phone for the first time, the lock lifts automatically, restoring the battery to its full rated capacity of roughly 21-22Wh depending on the model. A 'Prepare to Ship' setting can reimpose the cap, limiting charging to 80 percent over 14 days, for anyone sending the device in for repair or resale.

Apple reportedly prepping smart home display with Face Match-style recognition, launch possible next month

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is testing a smart home display, internally coded J490/J491, in employee homes ahead of a possible launch as soon as next month. The device reportedly combines elements of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with its own home screen, widgets, and clock faces, and leans heavily on an upgraded Siri to handle tasks across apps like Notes and Reminders.

Antitrust suit accuses Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, SpaceXAI of colluding on AI slowdown

Four paying subscribers of ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Gemini have filed a proposed class action in California federal court, alleging that the four AI companies illegally coordinated to slow product development. The suit cites Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's September 12 essay calling for an industry-wide pace slowdown, which was publicly endorsed by Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Demis Hassabis, along with an earlier July statement acknowledging pressure not to unilaterally slow progress. Plaintiffs say this coordinated restraint, not individual safety decisions, amounts to an antitrust violation that shortchanges paying customers.

Microsoft confirms September 2026 Windows updates break File History backups

Microsoft has acknowledged that its September 2026 security updates cause the legacy File History backup tool to fail on multiple Windows 10 and 11 versions. Affected PCs may show FileHistory.exe crashes in Event Viewer, false 'Reconnect your drive' warnings, and backups that stop updating even though the external or network drive is connected properly.

Leak: Apple testing quad-curved, bezel-less displays for iPhone 20 Pro line

Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station claims Apple is prototyping two new iPhone displays—6.41 inches and 6.96 inches—for what may become the iPhone 20 Pro and Pro Max. The panels reportedly feature a bezel-less design that curves on all four edges, paired with a new punch-hole camera cutout, though no actual images of the hardware have surfaced.

Kev: Open-source small decision models built on Qwen3.5 released with training code

A developer has released Kev, a family of small decision-making models (0.8B, 4B, and 9B parameters) built on Qwen3.5, inspired by the architecture behind Jev. The models handle yes/no, multiple-choice, and rating questions within a single request and are compatible with TypeSafe's System One API, meaning developers can run Kev locally instead of relying on that hosted service. Full training code, evaluation data, and a web playground are included, and the models run on both CUDA and Apple Silicon hardware.

Apple's firmware trick lets iPhone 18 Pro Max ship with oversized battery legally

Apple has built a 'Prepare to Ship' firmware feature into the iPhone 18 Pro Max that temporarily caps its battery below the 20Wh transport limit enforced in the US, EU and other regions. Once the device is activated by a customer, the cap lifts and the phone's full 5,391mAh capacity becomes available. The same toggle can be re-enabled manually when shipping a device for repair, trade-in or resale.

iFixit teardown reveals iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture camera is unrepairable if broken

iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max exposes the new variable aperture lens, which uses six overlapping blades thinner than a human hair to control light via a magnetic mechanism. The site praises the engineering that fits this system into the same camera footprint as last year's model, but warns the mechanism is essentially impossible to repair if it fails.

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