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All the news you need to keep up with the latest developments in the tech world, from product announcements and live events to tariffs, policies, and regulations. Tech touches every aspect of daily news, and our experts are here to keep you informed on what happens and how it all affects you.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Hori’s new modular arcade controller lets you swap in a joystick, trackball, or paddle.

The Hori Arcade Classic Pro, now available for preorder in Japan for around $260, features a pair of modular slots where you can install a standard 8-way joystick, a paddle, a trackball, or a rotating loop lever stick. It’s compatible with PC and the Switch 2 and could be a great solution for playing a wide variety of classic arcade titles.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Amazon Air will “pause” operations with carrier tied to the Miami plane crash.

Reuters quotes Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel saying that, “….we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the ​surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, ​the operator of Flight 7598.”

So far, the NTSB reports that despite warnings about speed, “There was not a consistent verbal response to the comments about speed” from the plane’s pilot before it overran the end of the runway on September 6th, killing five people.

Picture of investigators in NTSB shirts approaching a flame and impact-damaged “Prime Air” plane.
NTSB investigators at the site of the 21 Air Flight 7598 runway excursion at MIA
Image: NTSB
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Leaked images reveal a new design for Fairphone’s next wireless earbuds.

First announced during the Fairphone 6 Plus launch last month we finally have more pics of the Fairbuds 2 that will launch later this year thanks to leaks shared by NieuweMobiel. Pricing and the level of repairability still isn’t known, but the redesigned Fairbuds 2 appear to have a stubby stem and a larger charging case.

The actual release date isn’t known yet, but the Fairbuds 2 will carry forward a <a href="https://news.halloffame.workers.dev/2024/4/9/24125089/fairbuds-fairphone-noise-canceling-earbuds-battery-replace-repairability">modular repairable design like the originals</a>.
Color options may include black and green like the <a href="https://news.halloffame.workers.dev/tech/980876/fairphone-6-plus-us-t-mobile-amazon">Fairphone 6 Plus</a>.
1/2
The actual release date isn’t known yet, but the Fairbuds 2 will carry forward a modular repairable design like the originals.
Image: NieuweMobiel
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The Delta emulator devs are already working on support for the iPhone Duo.

In addition to a “Delta Duo” teaser recently shared on Threads, lead developer Riley Testut told Retro Dodo that “the plan is to have dedicated support for the Duo in Delta” and the work they did “making sure that Delta worked with resizing and multi-window support back when Stage Manager first debuted for iPadOS”is already proving beneficial for the upcoming Duo support.

The Delta emulator logo shown on half open iPhone Duo.
Image: Delta
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The iPhone Duo’s front screen accommodates thick cases with an optional extended border.

To ensure content isn’t obscured and all swipe gestures still work while using a protective case, the iPhone Duo includes a new “Shift Left Edge” setting spotted by Nicolas Lellouche after Apple’s event last week. Turning it on increases the narrow black border on the left edge of the Duo’s front screen.

A person holds the iPhone Duo closed in two hands with the iOS settings screen displayed.
Screenshot: X
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Microsoft adds Grok to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Microsoft added SpaceXAI’s Grok models to its Foundry service last year, and now it’s expanding the access to Copilot itself. Grok models can now be used in Word, Excel and PowerPoint from the model picker interface for Microsoft Frontier users. Microsoft says it’s starting with a preview release to “gather feedback.” This means Office Copilot users can now pick between OpenAI’s GPT models, Anthropic’s Claude models, and SpaceXAI’s Grok models.

Grok inside Microsoft Excel.
Grok inside Microsoft Excel.
Image: Microsoft
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
China: AI CEOs are “fear mongering.”

When asked about the flurry of weekend blog posts and tweets from the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft, SpaceX, (and Alphabet’s Hassabis) calling for a coordinated slowdown on the development of advanced AI models, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said, “Fear mongering, confrontation, competition will just disrupt [the] process of global AI governance.”

That partially aligns with Trump’s view that the execs are overreacting and “bringing up things that won’t happen,” but at least Beijing supports international regulation.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Sam Altman: Let’s slow down.

Last night, the OpenAI CEO lent additional support to Anthropic’s CEO urging AI companies to slow down advanced model development. “When we talk about ‘pacing,’ we do not mean ‘stopping.’ Progress has been rapid and will continue to be. But it should be slower than it otherwise could be,” said Altman. That statement seems targeted at Trump and Co who fear letting China catch up. “No amount of American competitive pressure should justify recklessness, or let capabilities get ahead of alignment and monitoring.”

“Where we will need the help of our government is for international coordination. But first we should do what we can ourselves,” Altman added.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
The first phone with a trio of 200 megapixel cameras.

Oppo is teasing a September 22nd launch of its Find X10 series in China. The Pro Max model is reliably tipped to pack three 200MP sensors into the squircle around back, while the flash and other sensors get stuffed into that raised vertical bar.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Steve Ballmer won’t fight the NBA’s penalties.

Late Sunday night, the LA Clippers owner announced he and the team are complying with the league’s penalties for the whole jumbotron corruption scandal.

That includes paying a $30 million fine and a one-year suspension for Ballmer himself, not to mention what may come from ongoing SEC and DOJ investigations.

Steve Ballmer tweet screenshot reading: For my Los Angeles Clippers followers This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets. I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner. We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract. The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of.
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
The NSA is reorganizing with an increased focus on AI, China, and cybersecurity.

According to The Washington Post, the spy agency is set to undergo its largest restructuring in over a decade. Army general and NSA director Joshua M. Rudd is leading the effort. According to the Post:

Rudd’s initiative calls for the creation at NSA’s Fort Meade, Maryland, headquarters of five new organizations inside the agency, in artificial intelligence, China, cybersecurity, combat support or warfighting, and global intelligence. Each will be led by a newly elevated “mission director” …

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Tesla announces a Roadster event for October 1st.

The second-generation Tesla Roadster appears to be set for a reveal on October 1st. That’s nearly nine years since the prototype was first shown off in November of 2017, and we’re still probably at least another year or so out from availability.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Is it time for AI companies to press pause?

After high-profile incidents in which agents went rogue, hacked other sites, and overwhelmed a German wiki, some AI execs are calling for a slowdown. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a lengthy open letter yesterday saying it was time to “pace the frontier.” OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk both agreed. What do you think? Is it time to pump the brakes? Is it already too late? Or are you looking forward to serving your AI overlords?

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Warcraft III is getting a new campaign after 23 years.

The Warcraft III Reforged remake was widely panned. But since it launched in 2020, Blizzard has worked to fix many of the bugs. Now it’s finally delivering the promised new narrative content with the Forsaken Kingdom campaign, the first new campaign since 2003’s Frozen Throne.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Diablo V is coming in spring of 2029.

There will be a panel at 4:45 PM ET (1:45 PT) today at BlizzCon where more info will be revealed, but for now you’ll have to satisfy your thirst for fire, brimstone, and Sanctuary with this short teaser.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Netflix is making a Diablo animated series.

We’ve got almost no details beyond that, but Blizzard told Variety that “this is only the beginning, with even more taking shape across our universes.” So we might finally get those Overwatch and World of Warcraft series as well.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Preorder the Nopia ‘harmony machine’ synth on September 15th for $650.

We finally got a real look at the viral Nopia in July after more than three years of development. Now the company is preparing to launch a Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday, with super early-bird pricing starting at $650.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Husqvarna gets the first exception to the FCC’s foreign robot ban for its mowers.

The ban, announced in July, has caused chaos for many manufacturers of robot vacuums, pool cleaners, lawn mowers, and more. Swedish company Husqvarna has secured the first exception to the rule for its 305v IQ, 310v IQ, 420v IQ, and 440v IQ after the Defense Department decided they don’t pose a national security risk.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
A Quibi co-founder and the former boss of Sora are launching an AI video startup.

According to The Information, former DreamWorks co-founder (and co-founder of the quick bites video app) Jeffrey Katzenberg’s latest move is joining up with Bill Peebles, who left OpenAI after it pivoted away from the Sora team he was leading.

The unnamed venture will apparently “train its own video models and try to win over filmmakers,” once it secures enough funding. On the plus side, they already have a long list of things to not do this time around.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Twitch is testing an AI ‘Stream Coach’ that gives creators tips after their streams.

The AI coaching feature is only available to a small group of streamers right now. Unlike Twitch’s generative AI training toggle, which is opt out, the company says this feature would be opt-in if it’s ever expanded beyond this test.

A screenshot of a Twitch tweet responding to questions about an AI Steam Coach feature
Image: Twitch
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Microsoft is finally adding a setting for remapping the Copilot key.

After Microsoft removed the Copilot buttons from some Windows 11 apps, the latest Insider Release Preview builds (26100.9539 and 26200.9539) add an option for easily changing that dedicated AI key back to a control or Context Menu button, without using workarounds.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The Justice Department is looking into Steve Ballmer’s jumbotron corruption scandal.

The New York Times reported Thursday that federal prosecutors are in the “early stages” of a criminal investigation into the Clippers’ shady sponsorship arrangements for Kawhi Leonard, using companies like Aspiration, Daktronics (which already revealed an ongoing SEC investigation), and Boingo Wireless.

Pablo Torre obviously chimed in with his take on the proceedings, saying “there is, in fact, more.”

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Polyarc, known for its VR series starring a mouse, appears to be shutting down.

”After nearly 12 years riding the joyous rollercoaster of emotions that is making video games, our time together has come to an end,” Polyarc, the developer of the Moss franchise, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Friday.

Earlier this year, Polyarc laid off staff after it couldn’t secure funding “following the cancellation of a major project.” It also released a flatscreen collection of the two Moss games, titled Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Framework canceled its One Key Module for making custom Laptop 16 keyboards.

Framework announced the single-key module last year, but now says it can no longer turn it into a “sellable product.” The company says the module’s costs were too high and even the “expert DIYers and electronics tinkerers” in its developer program struggled with assembling it.