Snap Inc. has created Specs Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary to focus on its augmented reality glasses business, aiming to secure investors and partnerships for growth. The move comes as Snap looks to compete with Meta in the wearables market, with plans to launch a new generation of standalone AR glasses in 2026.
A pair of astronomers at the European Space Agency developed a neural network named AnomalyMatch that sifted through nearly 100 million image cutouts from the Hubble Legacy Archive. The AI tool identified 1,400 anomalous objects, with over 800 being previously undocumented, including galaxies merging, gravitational lenses, planet-forming disks, and mysterious unclassified objects.
A bug report on Google’s Issue Tracker provides a sneak peek into the upcoming Android 16 desktop interface, codenamed Aluminium OS. The leaked screen recordings showcase a blend of ChromeOS and Android aesthetics, featuring a taskbar, status bar, Play Store, windowed apps, and more. With a focus on practical implications, users may have to wait for future updates to explore this new desktop experience further.
In the face of a global memory shortage, Apple plans to absorb rising RAM prices to maintain the iPhone 18’s starting price. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple will prioritize keeping costs stable for users, despite industry challenges.
Snap is creating a separate entity, Specs Inc., to focus on its upcoming Specs augmented reality glasses, aiming to attract more investors and refine the technology. This move indicates a commitment to improving the user experience and advancing the development of AR glasses for consumers.
Apple will expand the number of App Store ads in search results, providing advertisers more opportunities to drive app downloads. With nearly 65% of app downloads happening after a search, this change aims to benefit users by offering a wider variety of apps to discover and download.
The European Commission is looking into Elon Musk’s X for its failure to prevent the spread of AI-generated sexually explicit images, including child sexual abuse material. This investigation comes as part of a broader probe into X’s compliance with the Digital Services Act and its handling of manipulated content. The inquiry highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny on tech platforms regarding the dissemination of illegal deepfakes and the potential risks they pose to users in the EU.
TikTok’s technical troubles have led to a 150% rise in uninstalls, pushing users towards indie app UpScrolled. With UpScrolled rapidly gaining popularity, the surge signifies a potential shift in the social media landscape towards a more user-friendly and equitable platform.
After federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, numerous videos of the shooting surfaced online, showcasing varying levels of quality and angles. The incident highlights the prevalent trend of video sharing during critical events, emphasizing the role of technology in capturing and disseminating real-time information.
The National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an official investigation into Waymo’s robotaxis for improperly passing school buses in Austin, Texas. This move follows a software recall by Waymo after a preliminary evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The investigation will focus on the interaction between Waymo vehicles and school buses, highlighting the importance of safety in autonomous vehicle technology.
