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Tech News
Microsoft has filed a patent for a content management system that inserts ads into games during natural downtimes, such as after boss fights, during loading screens, or in menus. The game freezes while an ad plays, and watching it grants the player a fresh block of ad-free playtime before the cycle repeats.
Microsoft has submitted a patent application, US 2026/0260258 A1, outlining a system that inserts ads into PC and console games at points the game itself flags as natural breaks—like after a boss fight, at the end of a cutscene, or during a loading screen—rather than on a fixed timer. Players would first get an ad-free window, either time-based or tied to progress, and watching an ad afterward would earn a 'credit' extending uninterrupted play.
Xteink makes small, pocket-sized e-readers that can be enhanced with a free, alternative operating system replacing the stock software. This custom firmware reportedly unlocks additional features and improves the reading experience beyond what the devices offer out of the box.
Meta is expected to unveil a new pair of smart glasses at Connect 2026 that drop cameras entirely, relying instead on added microphones for voice interaction with its AI assistant. The frames are said to come in two styles and will be slimmer, resembling regular eyewear, according to reports ahead of the event.
Keurig plans to officially launch AltaRounds pods in late September, marking a redesign of its familiar K-Cup format to eliminate plastic. The pods are built for a new brewing system called Alta, representing the company's latest step in the decades-long evolution of home coffee machines.
According to a JPMorgan note cited by Semi Doped, ASML has no plans to adopt free-electron laser (FEL) technology for extreme ultraviolet lithography, despite backing from Elon Musk for that approach. Instead, ASML is continuing to refine its existing laser-produced plasma (LPP) method, aiming to boost source power from around 500W to 1,000W and nearly double the rate of tin droplet generation to 100,000 per second.
Rent prices have declined for 37 consecutive months as rental demand softens across the market. In response, more landlords are offering incentives like rent credits, waived application fees, and free rent periods to attract tenants.
GitLab is overhauling how it throttles requests on GitLab.com, moving from flat limits to caps tied to each subscription plan, applied per user and per top-level group. Free accounts and unauthenticated traffic hit the new limits on October 19, 2026, with two brownout previews on October 7 and 14; Premium and Ultimate users follow in January 2027. Unauthenticated requests, including automation hitting the API without credentials, will be capped at 60 requests per hour per IP regardless of account tier.
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction stopping ICE from threatening criminal charges against David Streever, who had emailed then-acting director Todd Lyons condemning him for defending fatal shootings of ICE protesters in Minnesota. ICE agents had visited Streever's home and tracked him to a hotel months after the email, warning him that continued criticism could lead to state or federal prosecution. FIRE represented Streever, arguing the email was harsh moral condemnation, not a criminal threat.
Some PlayStation users organized a boycott urging Sony to abandon its plan to phase out physical game discs by 2028, pledging to avoid digital features on the console. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said tracking data revealed no notable change in player engagement or activity, suggesting the protest had little practical effect.
So Delicious Dairy Free has issued a second nationwide recall of its Salted Caramel Cluster frozen dessert due to concerns that small stones and other hard objects may be present in the product. This follows a prior recall of the same flavor back in December, marking a repeat issue with this specific item.
Lyft has revived its election-season program, first launched in 2014, giving riders across the U.S. access to free or discounted rides to voting locations. The initiative spans from major cities like Manhattan to remote areas such as Alaska.