Tech & Mobile 24-Hour Briefing
×Tech & Hardware
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Gaming & Software
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is off to an unusually strong start on Steam, with reviews sitting at roughly 90% positive. Meanwhile, Konami president Hideki Hayakawa downplayed the disruption generative AI will bring to the games market, arguing that creators will remain central to the industry.
On the policy front, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres announced plans for a bill aimed at giving gamers ownership rights over the games they purchase.
Graphics & Hardware
ASUS has entered the Intel graphics market with its first Arc card, a 32 GB Arc Pro B70 listed under its UGen AI brand. Intel, for its part, reportedly plans to pack 700 TOPS of AI compute into its upcoming Razor Lake-AX platform, according to senior vice president Cho Min-sung.
NVIDIA has also responded to reports that the RTX 5090 is being discontinued, denying the rumors while acknowledging that supply remains tight.
Console Costs
The memory crunch may hit the next PlayStation hardware hard, as a leaker claims that RAM and storage alone cost Sony over $680 per unit for the PS6.
Workplace Technology & Culture
Research suggests that bosses who talk less and listen more in meetings get better outcomes, and that cutting aimless meetings can free up substantial time.
Legacy Games
Bio Ware's Neverwinter Nights continues to draw thousands of active players years after release, with its community-driven appeal outweighing a single-player campaign that is only passable.
Coming Up
Sony's PS6 pricing remains unconfirmed, and the leaked component costs suggest a premium console price is possible.
Mobile News
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Phones & Software
Swapping a SIM no longer requires powering down, but doing it safely still takes a few precautions. Google is also tying phone numbers to accounts users may have wanted to keep separate, a move that is drawing privacy complaints. Android owners running low on space can track down the culprits eating their storage, while Samsung's Auto Blocker feature can screen out risky apps. Insider reports suggest Samsung is planning a major overhaul of One UI 10 with a heavier focus on AI and its ecosystem.
Foldables & Deals
Apple's first foldable is now taking pre-orders for the iPhone Duo, and the same roundup notes a price cut on the Galaxy Z Fold8. Apple's own silicone case for the device reportedly requires adhesive to stay attached. Separate deal coverage shows the latest Galaxy foldables and S26 series discounted at Amazon and Walmart.
Chips & Performance
Qualcomm has denied rumors that its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 overheats. Honor's Win2 is also drawing attention, with a scored AnTuTu run boosted by a built-in cooling fan, and the company has teased a 185Hz 2K display on the series. On the Chinese side, leaks point to the iQOO 16R and Z12 Turbo chipset and screen size, while vivo's V80 has gone global with its specs and color options.
AI & Robotics
OpenAI is building a humanoid robot, and CEO Sam Altman argues that the software brain, not the hardware body, is the harder problem. Apple has tightened App Store rules to bar AI nudify apps that generate nonconsensual images.
Home Networking & Smart Devices
Slow evening Wi-Fi often traces to network congestion when everyone is online at once. Households weighing reliability can compare wired and wireless setups, and a cable's speed rating can help diagnose bottlenecks. To keep devices running through an outage, see how to protect a smart home when the internet goes down. Owners puzzled by an Alexa device can check what its yellow light means, and common Alexa problems have straightforward fixes.
Gaming & Hardware
A Nintendo Switch 2 that won't display on a TV has a short list of checks to run. A leaked build reportedly shows a canceled Assassin's Creed game set in ancient China. Older Play Stations can be repurposed rather than thrown out. Anbernic's premium 3DS-style handheld, the RG DDS, is expected to ship in December at nearly double the original 3DS price.
Cars & Gadgets
Tesla's Roadster is not the first car to use fans for downforce. Slate's compact pickup is more capable than expected at towing and payload. Verizon will charge $10 a month for iPhone Handoff, which lets two devices share one number. Xiaomi owners frustrated by heavy ads can learn why they appear and how to block them. Microsoft has pushed users toward subscriptions, so free alternatives to Office are worth a look. Google's Fitbit Air is not waterproof, though swimming with it is still possible.
Coming Up
The Honor Win2 launches in China on October 21, according to GSMArena's report. The iPhone Duo is now open for pre-orders, and the RG DDS is expected to start shipping in December.
Apple News
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Retail & Corporate
Some Apple retail staff have reportedly been told to discourage walk-in purchases of the iPhone Duo, as supply remains tight following strong preorder demand. Apple has also hired former Meta lawyer Scott Tucker to lead its global litigation efforts, a reshuffle of the company's legal team.
Policy & App Store
Apple has tightened its App Review Guidelines to target AI "nudify" apps that generate non-consensual imagery. Separately, developers are being urged to prepare for Rosetta's removal in mac OS, with one IT administrator outlining how he is managing his fleet ahead of the change.
iPhone Duo & Accessories
UK carrier EE has published Handoff pricing for customers preordering the iPhone Duo. Apple's official silicone case for the device will require adhesive to stay attached. Third-party makers are also filling the gap, with UGREEN's 25W MagSafe battery featuring liquid cooling.
Week in Review & Deals
It was a busy week for Apple, highlighted by the HomeView, new Apple TV and HomePod mini announcements and the sell-out of the iPhone Duo. Discounts are also available this weekend, with Apple deals on Air Pods Pro, the new Apple TV 4K and MacBook models. For those tracking their gear, the Hoardware app offers a way to catalogue an Apple device collection.
Coming Up
The iPhone Duo is about a week away from launching, according to 9to5Mac.