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Data center developers are facing long waits for gas turbines needed to power AI infrastructure, prompting new entrants including startup Parallax and Elon Musk to move into power generation. The shortage has intensified interest in alternative manufacturing approaches, such as 3-D printing, that could speed up turbine production.
A tech reviewer evaluated three newly launched home battery systems designed for easier installation than earlier models. The testing comes as electricity prices climb and power outages become more frequent for many households. The reviewer reported spending weeks hoping for an outage to properly assess how the batteries would perform during a real blackout.
A tech trivia feature identifies the original iMac G3, released in 1998, as the first widely used computer to drop all legacy ports in favor of USB exclusively. The machine shipped with two USB 1.1 ports and no ADB, serial, SCSI, or floppy connectors, while retaining Ethernet, a modem jack, and audio. The piece also examines near-misses like Sony's VAIO 505 and Compaq's iPaq Desktop, which came later or kept some legacy ports.
TechCrunch has published the complete agenda for its one-day Founder Summit at Boston's SoWa Power Station on November 4. Sessions include Underscore partner Brian Devaney on fundraising strategy and HubSpot co-founder and Sequoia partner Brian Halligan on evolving as a CEO through company growth stages, alongside talks on AI-native company building. Tickets are currently on sale at discounted early pricing.
Amazon is selling the UGREEN MagFlow 10,000mAh Qi2 25W Wireless Power Bank for $54.96, a 39% cut from its $89.99 list price. The magnetic battery pack is designed for MagSafe-compatible iPhones, offering 25W wireless charging plus a built-in USB-C cable and an extra USB-C port for wired use.
USB extenders and long cables can technically move both power and data, but rarely deliver top performance in both categories at once. For example, Anker's 10-foot 240W USB-C cable transfers data at just 480Mbps, while Icron's 328-foot extender hits 5Gbps but only supplies 6W per port. USB-IF's compliance rules also don't cover generic male-to-female USB-C extension cables, even though such cables aren't illegal to sell or use.
A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao turned back to the Netherlands after a portable charger caught fire in business class nearly six hours into the flight over the Atlantic. The device, belonging to former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings, scorched his seat and window blind. Passengers were rebooked and completed the journey to Curaçao the following day.
INIU has released the SnapGo, a compact 10,000mAh portable battery that supports the Qi2.2 wireless charging standard and attaches magnetically to iPhones via MagSafe. The company positions it as capable of charging both smartphones and laptops without cables while on the move.
Apple has launched a dedicated live-music venue called Apple Music Hall at its London headquarters in Battersea Power Station, built to host and broadcast Apple Music Live concerts. The space seats up to 600 people, features 48 speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 16 camera positions, two recording studios and a broadcast control room supporting iPhone video capture. Its stage can switch between a traditional front-facing layout and an in-the-round setup.
Data Center Watch, a research initiative from 10a Labs, reports that 45 large-scale data center projects worth $68 billion were blocked or delayed in the second quarter due to community pushback. The group tracked 843 opposition groups across 49 states, with only Hawaii lacking any organized resistance, and noted 30 state legislatures have introduced or passed measures on data center siting, power and water use.
Apple is launching a new live music venue called Apple Music Hall inside London's Battersea Power Station, opening September 28. The 600-person venue will host single-show performances that are simultaneously live-streamed to Apple Music subscribers, backed by a 38-foot stage and a 48-speaker Spatial Audio system. Apple also confirmed it is relocating its London-based Apple Music Radio hosts to new studios at the same site.
Apple Music is opening a dedicated concert venue inside Battersea Power Station in London, where it will host ticketed shows for the public. The space is designed primarily to help Apple produce original performance content with artists that will then be broadcast through Apple Music.