Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Apple's iOS 26 Beta Drops: Liquid Glass Design Makes a Splash

2025-07-25

Apple has released the first public betas of its next major software updates, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. The standout feature is the new "Liquid Glass" design language, inspired by visionOS and characterized by extensive use of transparency. Initial developer betas saw significant changes, leading Apple to refine the translucency and Control Center design. The update also simplifies versioning, using '26' across the board for easier identification of the latest software.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech Apple Software Update

TikTok's US Fate Hangs in the Balance: A Final Ultimatum

2025-07-25

The Trump administration vowed to save TikTok's US operations, but months of negotiations have yielded no deal with the Chinese government. Now, Trump's Commerce Secretary Lutnick warns that if China doesn't approve the latest deal—potentially resulting in a crippled US-only version—the US will soon shut down TikTok. The deal demands US control over TikTok's algorithm, a condition ByteDance seems unwilling to meet, unwilling to relinquish its core technology. TikTok's US future remains uncertain, caught in a high-stakes game of national security and commercial interests.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

Intel Cuts 24,000 Jobs, Announces Major Strategic Restructuring

2025-07-25

Intel announced its Q2 2025 earnings, revealing a plan to lay off approximately 24,000 employees and significantly scale back projects in Germany, Poland, and Costa Rica. This restructuring aims to correct previous overinvestment in manufacturing capacity and align future growth with actual market demand. CEO Pat Gelsinger emphasized a shift towards building chips based on customer needs and stricter design review processes. Despite a reported loss, Intel affirmed that key flagship chip projects remain on track, with new leadership for its data center business and a detailed AI strategy expected in the coming months.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Breakthrough: Artificial Blood Could Save Countless Lives

2025-07-25

Tens of thousands die annually in the US from lack of timely blood transfusions, due to the perishability of regular blood. Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have developed a novel artificial blood, stored as a powder and reconstituted with water on-site. This synthetic blood utilizes hemoglobin extracted from expired blood, encased in a protective fat bubble to mitigate toxicity. Animal trials show successful resuscitation, and human trials are hoped for within two years. This could revolutionize emergency medicine and battlefield care.

(www.npr.org)

Tech emergency medicine

Major UK Phone Network Outage

2025-07-25

A major outage has hit several major UK phone networks, including BT, EE, Three, and Vodafone, on Thursday afternoon. Millions of customers are reporting inability to make or receive calls, flooding social media with complaints. Carriers have acknowledged the issue and are working to resolve it. DownDetector shows London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow as the hardest-hit areas. O2 claims its network is operating normally, attributing the minor spike on DownDetector to users trying to reach those on affected networks.

(www.the-independent.com)

Tech network outage

Intel Cuts 15% of Workforce, Bets Big on AI and Efficiency

2025-07-25

Intel CEO sent an internal memo announcing Q2 results exceeding expectations, but also a 15% workforce reduction, bringing the global employee count to roughly 75,000. This move aims to boost efficiency, cut costs, and reshape the company culture. Future strategy centers on three pillars: 1. A more financially disciplined foundry business, canceling some factory projects and prioritizing Intel 18A and 14A; 2. Revitalizing the x86 ecosystem, strengthening market share in client and server segments; and 3. Refining the AI strategy, focusing on inference and agentic AI. Intel is striving to build a leaner, more efficient, and future-focused company.

(morethanmoore.substack.com)

Tech

Visa and Mastercard's Payment Empire: Challenges to the Duopoly

2025-07-25

Visa and Mastercard control approximately 90% of global payment processing (excluding China), boasting a combined market value of roughly $850 billion. This article explores the rise of these payment giants, from the early days of credit cards in the 1950s to Visa and Mastercard's dominance through first-mover advantages and restrictive contracts. However, challenges are emerging, from major companies like Amazon negotiating lower fees to the rise of national payment processors such as RuPay in India. The article analyzes their network effects, scalability, and distribution advantages, highlighting threats posed by competitors like RuPay and fintech companies. Ultimately, the article suggests that Visa and Mastercard's future hinges on their ability to adapt to new technologies, navigate regulatory shifts, and respond to evolving market dynamics.

(quartr.com)

Tech payment processing

DKIM Replay Attack Using Google Sites: A Fake Subpoena Scam

2025-07-25

A friend received an email seemingly from Google, claiming a court subpoena demanding access to their Google account. While the email appeared legitimate at first glance, header inspection revealed a DKIM replay attack. The attacker used Google Sites to create a phishing site mimicking an official Google support page, forwarding the email via Namecheap's PrivateEmail service, bypassing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verification. This case highlights the danger of leveraging trusted infrastructure (like Google Sites) for attacks, reminding us to be wary of any suspicious emails demanding urgent action or containing links to login pages.

(easydmarc.com)

Tech DKIM Replay Attack

US Air Force Grounds Sig Sauer M18 Pistol After Fatal Shooting

2025-07-24

The US Air Force Global Strike Command has temporarily suspended the use of the Sig Sauer M18 pistol following a fatal shooting at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. A 21-year-old airman died in the incident. A full review of the weapon's safety is underway. The M18, and its civilian counterpart the P320, have faced previous allegations of unintentional discharges and lawsuits. While Sig Sauer denies safety concerns, this incident raises further questions about the pistol's reliability.

(www.nhpr.org)

Tech Accidental Discharge Military Weapon

Psychedelic Compound Shows Promise in Extending Lifespan, Opening New Frontiers in Anti-Aging

2025-07-24

A study published in Nature Partner Journals’ Aging demonstrates that psilocin, a byproduct of psilocybin (the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms), extended the lifespan of human skin and lung cells by over 50%. In vivo studies on aged mice showed significant lifespan extension and improved health markers. This research suggests psilocybin could revolutionize anti-aging therapies, paving the way for healthier aging.

(news.emory.edu)

Tech psilocin

OpenStreetMap Launches Vector Tiles

2025-07-24

The OpenStreetMap Foundation announces the deployment of vector tiles on its servers and the release of the layer on the OSM website. This follows over a year of development, including months of testing and optimization for speed and reliability. The result is a sharper, faster visual experience. Developers can leverage this vector data source to create custom styles and utilize the new OSMF-hosted tiles. Further evolution of the Shortbread spec and styles is planned, with community feedback encouraged.

(blog.openstreetmap.org)

Tech Vector Tiles

Critical Security Flaw in Jitsi's Public Instance: Unauthorized Mic and Camera Access

2025-07-24

A critical security vulnerability has been discovered in Jitsi's public instance, an open-source video conferencing application. Attackers can silently initiate a Jitsi meeting in the background by tricking users into visiting a malicious link, gaining unauthorized access to their microphones and cameras. Jitsi claims this is a 'feature' and refuses to fix it. The vulnerability exploits previously granted permissions, allowing attackers to capture audio and video even without the user's knowledge or interaction. The author urges Jitsi to at least remove this 'feature' from the public instance to mitigate the significant security risk.

(zimzi.substack.com)

Tech

Apollo 11's Lunar Customs Declaration: A Moon Rock Mystery

2025-07-24

Upon their return from the moon in 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts had to fill out a customs declaration form. The form listed "moon rock and moon dust samples" as acquired items, with "Moon" as the departure point and Honolulu, Hawaii as the arrival. This incredible document highlights not only humanity's first moon landing but also the meticulous nature of US customs and a charming anecdote about Neil Armstrong's friendship with a pilot.

(magazine.uc.edu)

Tech Apollo 11 Customs Declaration

Google's AI Overviews: A New Way to Find Information or a Traffic Thief?

2025-07-24

Google's integrated AI Overviews in search results are becoming increasingly prevalent, but research suggests users are more likely to end their browsing sessions after seeing AI-generated summaries, raising concerns. AI summaries are prone to inaccuracies, leading users to potentially receive misinformation. While Google disputes the study's findings, claiming AI features increase user engagement with websites, the research indicates AI Overviews are changing how people gather information, negatively impacting web publishers while Google's profits soar.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

T-Mobile's Nationwide Satellite Texting Service Launches

2025-07-24

T-Mobile has officially launched its Starlink-powered satellite messaging service, "T-Satellite," nationwide. No longer in beta, the service offers text messaging and location sharing for $10/month (limited time, then $15/month), or included with select plans. It automatically connects in areas without cellular coverage, supporting texts to 911 and location sharing. Future plans include voice messaging, satellite-optimized apps, picture messaging, and international roaming. Unlike Apple and Google's offerings, T-Mobile supports a wider range of devices and plans to add more features.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

The 10,000 Steps Myth: Why Your Fitness Tracker Might Be Lying

2025-07-24

A major study debunks the 10,000 steps daily myth. Researchers found that 7,000 steps significantly reduces mortality and disease risk, with incremental benefits beyond that. The 10,000-step goal originated from a 1960s marketing campaign, not rigorous science. The study shows that increasing steps from 2,000 to 4,000 daily reduces death risk by 36%, while 7,000 steps yield most health benefits. Optimal step counts vary by age; older adults maximize benefits at 6,000-8,000 steps. Consistency, not an arbitrary target, is key.

(theconversation.com)

Tech steps

EV Brake Dust: A Hidden Air Pollution Threat

2025-07-24

A new study reveals that while electric vehicles (EVs) produce significantly less brake dust than gasoline cars thanks to regenerative braking, it's still a substantial source of air pollution. Brake dust, containing metals like iron, copper, and zinc, is harmful to human health. The study found that up to 55% of non-exhaust traffic-related PM10 in cities comes from brake wear. Although EVs have slightly higher tire wear, brake dust is more likely to become airborne. Improving air quality requires not only promoting EVs but also addressing non-exhaust pollution sources and encouraging public transport, cycling, and walking.

(modernengineeringmarvels.com)

Tech Brake Dust

Shattering the Illusion: How Quickly Leaked AWS Keys Are Exploited

2025-07-24

Researchers found that even after AWS automatically quarantines leaked access keys, attackers can exploit them within minutes for data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and other malicious activities. Traditional key rotation strategies are insufficient against the speed of attackers. A new tool, AWSKeyLockdown, instantly revokes keys upon quarantine, mitigating this threat. The research highlights the importance of Zero Trust architecture and ephemeral identities, urging organizations to shift from reactive to proactive security measures.

(www.clutch.security)

Tech

Google's Kodak Moment: Missing the ChatGPT Revolution

2025-07-23

OpenAI's 2023 launch of ChatGPT represents a potential 'Kodak moment' for Google. Despite pioneering research and vast data resources underlying ChatGPT's technology, Google missed the opportunity to launch a history-making product. Its ad-based business model faces stiff competition from Meta, and losing search traffic to ChatGPT would force a desperate fight for screen-time against rivals like TikTok, Netflix, and game studios. Google's weakness in audio and its failure to commercialize its AR advantage further highlight its strategic shortcomings. Short-term stock pressures incentivize Google's leadership to prioritize immediate profits over a potentially necessary, albeit painful, long-term restructuring. This shortsightedness could ultimately lead to the company's downfall.

(tompccs.github.io)

Tech

World's Fastest Frontier AI Reasoning Model Launches on Cerebras Cloud

2025-07-23

Cerebras Systems announced the launch of Qwen3-235B with full 131K context support on its inference cloud. This model boasts 30x faster code generation and 1/10th the cost of closed-source alternatives. Achieving speeds of 1,500 tokens per second, Qwen3-235B drastically reduces response times. Its extended 131K context enables production-grade code generation by handling massive codebases and complex documents. A partnership with Cline integrates Qwen models directly into their VS Code editor, offering significant speed improvements.

(www.cerebras.ai)

Tech

UK to Ban Ransom Payments for Public Sector and Critical Infrastructure

2025-07-23

The UK government plans to ban public sector and critical infrastructure organizations from paying ransoms following ransomware attacks. This includes local councils, schools, and the NHS. The ban aims to disrupt the cybercriminal business model and protect vital services. Businesses outside the ban will need to report potential ransom payments. A mandatory reporting system will aid law enforcement in tracking attackers and supporting victims. This follows a public consultation highlighting ransomware as a major national security threat, exemplified by recent attacks on organizations like Marks & Spencer and the Co-op.

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Tech

Brazil's Pix Payment System: A Nightmare for US Finance?

2025-07-23

The US House's rejection of bills regarding the Federal Reserve studying or creating a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) sparks debate about the power and politics of US finance. The article contrasts this with Brazil's successful Pix payment system – fast, cheap, and incredibly popular – highlighting the stark difference to slow and expensive US systems. The article argues that the immense power of the US financial industry and the US right's resistance to government intervention are key obstacles to a similar system in the US. Brazil's Pix success offers lessons for other nations, but America may remain trapped by vested interests and crypto fantasies.

(paulkrugman.substack.com)

Tech Brazil Pix

SubTropolis: An Abandoned Mine Transformed into a Thriving Underground City

2025-07-23

SubTropolis, an underground marvel covering an area equivalent to 42 Arrowhead Stadiums, has transformed an abandoned limestone mine into a bustling underground city. Featuring over 10 miles of paved roads and energy-efficient LED lighting, its limestone walls provide natural insulation, earning it a perfect ENERGY STAR® rating. Safety is paramount, with robust limestone pillars and 24/7 surveillance attracting government agencies and high-value tenants. Expansion plans are underway, adding another 8 million square feet of industrial space, showcasing its continued growth potential.

(kcyesterday.com)

Tech underground city engineering marvel

The 100x Engineer: AI Supercharges Productivity

2025-07-23

The days of the '10x engineer' are over; now, it's all about the '100x engineer,' according to Surge CEO Edwin Chen. Chen, who bootstrapped his company to $1 billion in revenue, argues that AI-driven efficiency gains are multiplying the productivity of top engineers. He points to the success of lean startups achieving significant revenue, suggesting that AI could propel single-person companies to billion-dollar valuations. Surge's efficiency, outpacing competitors like Scale AI, highlights the potential of this amplified productivity. While AI coding tools automate tasks, Chen emphasizes their disproportionate benefit to already highly skilled engineers, highlighting the importance of top-tier talent in the age of AI.

(www.businessinsider.com)

Tech Engineer Productivity

Google's AI Summaries: A Threat to Web Traffic?

2025-07-23

A Pew Research Center study reveals how Google's AI-generated search summaries are impacting user behavior. Nearly six in ten respondents used Google searches with AI summaries in March 2025. The study found users clicked on traditional search result links less frequently when presented with an AI summary, often opting to read the summary instead. This resulted in a decrease in clicks to external websites and an increase in users ending their browsing session after the search. While convenient, the summaries predominantly sourced information from a few websites like Wikipedia, YouTube, and Reddit.

(www.pewresearch.org)

Tech User Behavior

California Lawmaker's Push for Affordable Broadband Stalls, Calls for Congressional Intervention

2025-07-23

California Assemblymember Boerner's bill aimed at mandating affordable broadband access for low-income households failed to advance. The bill sought to balance the needs of telecom companies with the necessity of affordable internet access. Boerner criticized Congress for ending a national program providing $30 discounts, exacerbating the issue in California. She urged Congress to reinstate federal subsidies, eliminating the need for state-level mandates. While her bill failed, a Senate bill encourages ISPs to offer cheaper plans through Lifeline subsidies.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech low-income households

Four-Day Workweek Boosts Employee Well-being and Productivity

2025-07-23

A six-month trial involving thousands of employees across multiple countries showed that a four-day workweek, without a pay cut, significantly improved worker well-being and productivity. Researchers found reduced burnout, increased job satisfaction, and fewer sleep problems. While those reducing their hours by eight or more saw the greatest benefits, even a five-hour reduction yielded positive results. Although the study had limitations (volunteer participation, smaller companies, English-speaking countries), it suggests that income-preserving four-day workweeks are a promising organizational intervention, particularly in light of advancements in AI and automation.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech employee well-being

Brave Blocks Microsoft Recall by Default: Protecting Your Browsing Privacy

2025-07-23

Brave browser version 1.81 and later now blocks Microsoft's Recall feature, which automatically takes screenshots of browsing activity, by default for Windows users. Recall's initial design, storing screenshots in a local plaintext database, raised serious privacy concerns. While Microsoft has made improvements, Brave proactively disables Recall, offering a toggle to re-enable it for those who need it. Brave achieves this by marking all tabs as 'private', preventing browsing history from being inadvertently saved. This highlights Brave's commitment to user privacy, especially in sensitive situations like intimate partner violence.

(brave.com)

Tech

Escobar Fold Phone Scamster Pleads Guilty, Faces 20 Years

2025-07-23

Olof Kyros Gustafsson, former CEO of the company behind the infamous Escobar Fold 1 and 2 phones, has pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering. Gustafsson and Escobar, Inc. took orders for phones and other products, but failed to deliver them, instead pocketing customer funds. They also sent products to tech reviewers and influencers to boost sales. The 'Escobar Fold 2' was revealed to be a rebranded Samsung Galaxy Fold with a gold sticker. Gustafsson faces up to 20 years in prison and $1.3 million in restitution.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

US Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Program Halted Due to Funding Lapse

2025-07-23

A US program monitoring critical infrastructure networks for threats, CyberSentry, has been suspended due to expired government funding. Run by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the program uses AI to detect cyberattacks and previously successfully identified high-risk Chinese-made surveillance cameras in US infrastructure. The suspension raises concerns about US critical infrastructure cybersecurity, particularly with the increasing sophistication of cyberweapons targeting industrial control systems. This mirrors a similar funding lapse earlier this year with the CVE program, highlighting staffing and funding shortages at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

(www.theregister.com)

Tech critical infrastructure

Category: Tech