GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has published estimated out-of-warranty repair costs for its new iPhone Duo, ranging from $49 for cover layer damage to $1,499 for general 'other damage'. Inner display repairs cost $999 and battery service costs $229, while AppleCare+ is priced at $19.99 per month and sharply lowers many of these fees.
Researchers ran molecular dynamics simulations of a 1 M LiPF6 solution in ethylene carbonate solvent, comparing a machine-learned force field (QRNN) against a conventional empirical force field (OPLS4). The two methods produced markedly different molecular structures around lithium ions, with the QRNN simulations revealing previously unidentified clusters containing multiple lithium ions bound together.
Startup Niobia has built AI software that monitors chip and battery production lines using GPU-equipped sensors mounted on manufacturing equipment, detecting tiny defects like pinhole scratches. Engineers can then query a chatbot built on the gathered data to identify the root cause of failures, aiming to cut diagnosis time from days to minutes. Co-founders Gaurav Jha and Harveen Kaur, both chemistry PhDs with industry experience, are presenting the company as a Battlefield finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
OnePlus has released a new smartphone featuring a 9,000mAh battery, a notably large capacity compared to most flagship phones sold globally. The device is currently available only in China, meaning customers in Western markets such as the US and Europe cannot purchase it through official channels.
A review of AppleCare+ costs for the Apple Watch SE finds that three years of coverage runs just under $90, rising to $159 with one accidental damage claim and $209 with a theft or loss claim. Out-of-warranty repairs on the SE 3 cost $99 for a battery and $199 for other damage on the GPS model, or $229 for cellular models, with no theft option available without coverage.
A new guide advises Galaxy Watch owners on when to charge their devices to preserve battery longevity, recommending users avoid letting the battery fully deplete or overcharging it. The piece notes that improper charging habits can degrade battery efficiency over time and eventually require a replacement.
When an EV battery is taken out of a car — due to reduced range, a fault, or crash damage — technicians inspect and test it to decide its next stage of life rather than discarding it. Depending on its condition, individual modules may be repaired and the pack reused in another compatible vehicle, or the battery may be repurposed for stationary energy storage or sent for recycling. Severely damaged packs, such as those from total-loss crashes, are harder to salvage.
Google has launched the Fitbit Edge, a $179 fitness tracker featuring a 1.34-inch OLED display, built-in GPS, ECG support, week-long battery life, and Fitbit's first user-replaceable battery. The device works with both Android and iPhone through the Google Health app, and also adds an altimeter and a far-field skin temperature sensor borrowed from the Pixel Watch. Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation is planned for later this year.
A technology explainer outlines the core distinctions between alkaline batteries, the disposable AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt cells used in low-draw gadgets like remotes, and lithium-ion batteries, the rechargeable cells found in smartphones, laptops, cameras and power tools. It also flags that disposable 'lithium AA' batteries are a 1.5-volt alkaline substitute and should not be confused with rechargeable lithium-ion packs, even though both use lithium-based chemistry.
A roundup of findings explains that highway driving, high speeds and hard acceleration drain EV batteries faster than stop-and-go city driving, partly because highway trips offer less opportunity for regenerative braking. Climate control systems, especially heaters, also reduce range noticeably, while infotainment and navigation systems have minimal impact. A 2025 Recurrent study found EV range can drop nearly a third below freezing and about 18% at 100 degrees, with cargo and passenger weight further cutting range.
Amazon commits to at least four years of security updates for Kindle devices, but its Kindle Updates page shows some models, like the 2024 Paperwhite and first-gen Colorsoft, are slated for coverage through 2030. Earlier this year Amazon fully cut off devices as old as the 2007 original Kindle and other pre-2012 models from downloading, purchasing or borrowing new books, though previously downloaded titles remain readable.
Google announced the Fitbit Edge on Monday, a screen-equipped fitness tracker priced at $180 that succeeds the three-year-old Charge 6. It features a 1.34-inch display, a user-replaceable battery, an altimeter, and a far-field skin temperature sensor, and works with both Android and iPhone via the Google Health app. Preorders are open now, with sales starting October 27.