Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple is planning an Oct. 13 push into smart-home hardware, including a hub device, refreshed HomePod mini colors and a new Apple TV with Siri AI support.
Engadget says the new stick is faster and will retail for $60. The Verge reports that Amazon is also launching a redesigned Fire TV remote with a new shape and clickier controls.
Samsung launched two new flagship tablets, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, and there is no base Tab S12 in this lineup.
DoorDash has unveiled an AI ordering agent that works inside Apple Messages, letting US waitlist users place food orders by text and check out with saved payment methods.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy SmartTag 3, a third-generation Bluetooth tracker with a smaller design and improved battery life.
Meta is adding an AI creative assistant to Instagram’s Edits app that uses a creator’s account metrics to suggest video ideas, hooks, captions, audio and scripts, with free use capped by a daily prompt limit and extra access tied to Meta One.
Google is reportedly running a pilot that pays roughly 100 publishers based on how much their content contributes to AI Overviews, AI Mode in Search and Gemini.
TechCrunch reports Tinder is rolling out Group Hangouts, a feature that lets groups of friends discover other groups around shared activities and connect in a shared chat to make plans together.
The New York Times reports Meta sought billions in research tax credits for A.I. data center expansion, classifying multibillion-dollar facilities as “pilot models” while warning in filings that the savings could be overturned by the IRS.
Xbox chief Asha Sharma denied reports that Microsoft is considering selling off or spinning out Xbox, saying, “Xbox is not for sale.”
The release post describes TaskSmith as a specialized orchestrator, rather than a general coding agent with a long prompt.
Lux Optics’ Halide camera app received an update that adds support for the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture on the main camera.
Borderless Gaming has added support for an unofficial DLSS 5 Neural Rendering effect that loads through its BGFX scaling system, avoiding game-file edits. VideoCardz reports users still have to install the shader separately from GitHub.
OpenAI delayed the release of GPT-6.1 Astra over security concerns voiced by its researchers.
Restate has raised a $20 million Series A led by Singular, TechCrunch reports, as demand grows for infrastructure that keeps long-running AI agent workflows resilient through failures and interruptions.
Minisforum’s AtomMan G1 Pro-89A6 pairs a Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB with a Ryzen 9 8945HX. VideoCardz and Wccftech report a US 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD configuration is listed at $1,759, with late-October shipping.
Google launched Fitbit Air in India on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
A fake iPhone Duo preorder site is reportedly using the DarkSword exploit chain to target vulnerable iPhones. CNET and 9to5Mac report that just visiting the page can launch the attack attempt, which may seek crypto wallet data and other sensitive information.
Freckle, a New York City startup led by CEO Sam Terris, is launching a $199 phone for kids 7 to 13 with a $25 monthly plan, a simplified OS with no app store or open web, and a design meant to support independent outdoor exploration.
WhatsApp is adding parent-managed controls for teen accounts, including limits on groups, Status visibility and profile photos, plus stricter Meta AI settings, while keeping messages and calls encrypted.
