GoKawiil
Tech News
Analyst Jeff Pu reports that most iPhone 18 Pro models are shipping immediately, with the Pro Max facing delays of at most three to four weeks depending on color and storage configuration. He interprets this as a sign of softer demand compared to prior iPhone launches, based on pre-order availability data.
An EFF essay co-authored with Cindy Cohn argues that surveillance tools built after Sept. 11 for counterterrorism have expanded far beyond that purpose, now used routinely by agencies like ICE and local police, and increasingly fused with private systems such as facial recognition and license-plate readers. It highlights that most of this data actually originates with private companies, including data brokers, which sell information to agencies like the FBI.
A Warsaw-based user reports that on September 1, 2026, Google shut down a Gmail account they had held since 2011, citing spam without identifying any offending message. Despite five appeals, three registered letters, complaints to three public authorities and a visit to Google's Polish office, the company gave no explanation, while the user notes Google Poland is not party to any agreement covering the account.
Tesla quietly opened its two-seater Cybercab robotaxi rides to the public in Austin on September 4, announcing it via a post on X rather than a livestreamed event. Analysts and investors said the low-key rollout offered scant detail, with the fleet still small and confined to a geofenced zone, while separate tests in New York required human drivers and steering wheels.
Initial hands-on reviews of Apple's AirPods 5 have surfaced, highlighting notably stronger active noise cancellation compared to prior models and the addition of swipe-based volume controls on the earbud stems. Reviewers note these changes as the most tangible upgrades in the new lineup.
Jensen Huang has been seen publicly using a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, a device he reportedly received as a gift from Samsung Electronics' chairman last year. The sighting suggests Huang has adopted the foldable as his personal phone rather than just accepting it as a courtesy gift.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science fabricated nanoscale optical structures based on the Smith hat monotile, the shape that solved the Einstein aperiodic tiling problem in 2023. When laser light hit these silicon nitride structures, it produced pinwheel-shaped diffraction patterns showing chirality not seen in typical quasicrystals.
Following a weekend of AI executives calling for slower development and stronger oversight, President Trump publicly rejected the idea of new guardrails, saying only a capable president is needed to control AI. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had proposed embedding independent evaluators and setting cross-government safety standards after two safety researchers resigned citing existential risk concerns, a position echoed by OpenAI's Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
As artificial intelligence enables more sophisticated cyberattacks, companies are increasingly turning to experienced cybersecurity professionals to defend their systems rather than entry-level staff. Industry observers warn this trend could create a long-term skills gap if younger workers aren't given opportunities to develop expertise in parallel.
Researchers at Lumen's Black Lotus Labs identified a previously undocumented malware framework, BambooToken, active since 2023, that in its 2024-2025 variants switched to the MQTT messaging protocol for command-and-control. Infected systems subscribe to unique topics on a central broker to receive operator commands and report status, and the malware has infected servers tied to mobile apps, legal, financial, and software development firms via side-loading disguised as Tendyron OnKey USB-token software or a fake Kingsoft Office suite.
Meta has rolled out its Meta One subscription tiers worldwide, bundling paid versions of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook with extra AI capabilities powered by its new assistant Muse. Individual plans start at $7.99 monthly for Core and $19.99 for Premium, while creator and business tiers range from $14.99 up to $499 per month with perks like verified badges and impersonation protection. Meta says free access to its apps and AI assistant will remain, and plans to eventually add AI glasses and Edits to the bundles.
Light is launching a Rideshare feature for its Light Phone III and upcoming Light Flip, letting users request Uber and Lyft rides, view fares and ETAs, and contact drivers directly from the device. The tool runs through a partnership with Tremp, an SMS-based rideshare service, and charges a 10 percent fee with a $2 minimum, though the first five rides in 30 days are free.