Author: alex

Apple joins Texas Instruments in $60B U.S. chip expansion Apple will produce some iPhone chips in the United States as part of a $60 billion chip-factory expansion led by Texas Instruments (TI). The plan calls for seven new chip fabs: five in Texas and two in Utah. Four fabs will be at Sherman, Texas, where TI aims to start the first production line by the end of 2025. Key facts Project size: $60 billion for seven new fabs (TI-led). Locations: Five fabs in Texas (including four in Sherman) and two in Utah (including Lehi/nearby sites). Timeline: TI targets the first production line at Sherman by end of 2025; broader buildout continues across 2025–2027. Partners: Apple (iPhone chips), Texas Instruments, Applied Materials, GlobalWafers America and other U.S. suppliers. Strategic goals: Increase…

LockParty: Create Animated Photo Collages for iPhone Lock ScreenLockParty is a free app that lets you design eye-catching collages for your iPhone lock screen using photos from your library. The app focuses on easy, fast creation with attractive grid layouts rather than heavy editing tools.Key featuresMake animated photo collages optimized for the lock screenSimple selection workflow — no complicated editorsSupports Live Photos so your lock screen can animate on compatible iPhonesFree to downloadHow to get itSearch for "LockParty" in the App Store or visit: App Store: LockPartyNotesThis post is based on recent reports about the app and user-facing features. If you want to try creating moving collages for your lock screen quickly, LockParty is worth a look.

CUII now requires court orders for domain blocks The Clearingstelle Urheberrecht im Internet (CUII) has changed its procedure: domain blocks for alleged copyright infringements will now be applied only after a court order confirms their legality. The Bundesnetzagentur has stepped back from handling these blocks directly to focus on its core duties. What changed Previously, large media companies, associations and ISPs in the CUII coalition could have domains blocked on suspicion of copyright infringement without a judicial decision. Following indications of incorrect decisions and pressure from the Bundesnetzagentur, CUII updated its rules: DNS-based blocks will only be implemented after a court order. CUII will increase transparency by publicly listing court-ordered blocked domains (with case numbers) on its website. Sources Coverage and confirmation of the change: Golem.de article. Additional information from…

Apple plans three years of new iPhone designs — iPhone 17 Air in 2025 Bloomberg reporting summarized by TechCrunch: Apple is preparing a phase of significant iPhone redesigns across the next three model cycles, starting with the 2025 lineup. The headline change is a new, ultra-thin model dubbed the iPhone 17 Air, expected to debut with the iPhone 17 family in 2025. Key points Apple plans major design changes over the next three iPhone model cycles. The 2025 iPhone 17 series is expected to include an iPhone 17 Air, positioned as an ultra-thin variant (reports suggest it may replace the Plus model). Changes will focus largely on the exterior/look of iPhones and lineup reshaping. Timing: reports point to a September 2025 launch window for the iPhone 17 generation. Primary coverage:…

SpaceX Starship Flight 10 — Launch Summary (Aug 24, 2025) SpaceX is scheduled to attempt Starship Flight 10 from Starbase (Boca Chica), Texas. The launch window opens at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CT). The official SpaceX webcast begins 30 minutes before liftoff and is available on the SpaceX launches page: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-10. What to expect Vehicle: Starship (Ship 37) atop Super Heavy (Booster 16). Mission: Deploy 8 dummy Starlink satellites and run experiments focused on enabling the Starship upper stage to return to the launch site in future tests. Duration: ~1 hour, ending with a splashdown of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean. Live coverage: SpaceX webcast (link above). Weather & backup windows Weather is currently assessed to be about 45% favorable, so delays are possible. SpaceX has backup…

AYN Thor Dual‑Screen Handheld — Specs, Prices & Preorder AYN has revealed the Thor, a Nintendo DS‑style dual‑screen clamshell Android gaming handheld. It blends a modern 6" primary AMOLED display with a secondary 3.92" AMOLED screen for portable multitasking and retro vibes. Key specs Main display: 6.0" AMOLED, 1920×1080, 120Hz Secondary display: 3.92" AMOLED, 1240×1080, 60Hz Battery: 6,000 mAh OS: Android 13 Inputs: Hall effect joysticks, reinforced hinge, active cooling Ports & connectivity: USB‑C (video out), 3.5mm jack, TF card slot, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth Models & pricing Thor Lite — Snapdragon 865, up to 8GB RAM / 128GB storage. Preorder price: $249. Thor Pro & Thor Max — Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Max configurable up to 16GB RAM / 1TB storage. Max MSRP around $429. Colors Available in black, white, clear…

Ayaneo KONKR Pocket Fit Elite — Specs, Price, Release Ayaneo announced the KONKR Pocket Fit Elite, a higher-end model in its more affordable KONKR sub-brand. The reveal came via Ayaneo's YouTube video and was covered by multiple outlets. Key specs Display: 6-inch 1080p, 144Hz Battery: 8,000 mAh Controls: Hall-effect joysticks and triggers Processor: Unconfirmed — widely expected to be a more powerful chip than the Pocket Fit base (possible Snapdragon 8 Elite) OS: Android (Ayaneo confirmed an Android handheld) Price & availability Pocket Fit Elite: starting under $399 Pocket Fit (base model): starting under $329 Ayaneo says the Pocket Fit line is in final preparation for launch, expected in September. Notes The main difference between the Elite and the base Pocket Fit will likely be the processor. Ayaneo has not…

xAI open-sources Grok 2.5; Grok 3 to follow Elon Musk’s xAI has made the Grok 2.5 model publicly available by uploading its weights and source to Hugging Face. Developers can download, run, and tweak the model, but xAI’s custom license prohibits using Grok to train, create, or improve other AI models. Key points Grok 2.5 released: Weights and code uploaded to Hugging Face for public use. Hugging Face — Grok 2.5 License restrictions: The open-source license prevents using Grok to train or improve other AI models. Grok 3 planned: Elon Musk said Grok 3 will be open-sourced in about six months. Prior releases: xAI previously released the raw Grok-1 base model in March 2024. Controversy addressed: Grok produced antisemitic responses in an earlier incident; xAI attributed this to deprecated code…

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger — Record Low $63 Anker’s MagGo 3‑in‑1 MagSafe charging station is on sale for a record-low price of $63. This Qi2-certified 15W dock can wirelessly charge a compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. Key features Qi2 15W wireless charging (fast charge on compatible iPhones) Charges iPhone 16 Pro Max to ~20% in ~20 minutes Charges Apple Watch Series 10 from 0 to 100% in just over an hour Adjustable magnetic iPhone stand: 45° vertical rotation, 360° horizontal rotation Compact design, includes cable and 40W power adapter This is a handy all-in-one solution if you want to charge your daily devices together — similar to what Apple never released as an official pad. Anker’s chargers are reliable and well-built, but sales like this are the…

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