Technology
Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 Update and Switch 2 Edition Details Revealed
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set to receive a new 3.0 content update in January 2026, alongside a Switch 2 Edition. The update will be free for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 owners, while the Switch 2 Edition will be available for $64.99 USD. A Switch 2 Upgrade Pack will also be available for $4.99 for those who already own the original game. The Switch 2 Edition will feature improved resolution, mouse controls, a megaphone tool, and 12-player multiplayer. The megaphone tool will allow players to locate villagers by calling their name, and the 12-player multiplayer will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The 3.0 update will bring a range of new content to the game, including a resort hotel, upgraded item storage, and new items such as Nintendo consoles, retro toys, and playable NES and Game Boy games. The resort hotel will be located at the end of the player's pier and will be run by Kapp'n's family. Players will be able to decorate guest rooms with specific themes and earn Hotel Tickets, which can be used to trade for unique items. Other new features include Resetti's Reset Service, which will allow players to remove flowers and trash from an area, and the Dream World function, which will provide three new save files for Slumber Islands that can be customized in the player's dreams. The update will also add LEGO items, Zelda items, and Splatoon items, as well as new villagers and amiibo functions. The Switch 2 Edition and 3.0 update will be released on January 15, 2026. Players can expect a range of new content and features to enhance their Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience.
WhatsApp introduces passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android
WhatsApp is launching passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android, allowing users to secure their chat history using biometric authentication like face, fingerprint, or device screen lock codes. The feature is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks and months, making it easier to apply the same security measures that protect personal chats and calls to backup storage. Previously, WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption for backups required users to save a 64-digit encryption key or create a password tied to the key. Passkeys eliminate these cumbersome requirements by using built-in device authentication systems instead of traditional passwords. The company already introduced passkey support for account logins in 2023. WhatsApp emphasizes that protecting chat backups is crucial since users store "years of precious memories" including photos, voice notes, and important conversations that could be lost if a phone is damaged or needs to be transferred to a new device. This latest expansion indicates WhatsApp's continued push toward a passwordless future while maintaining strong security for user data.
SpaceX Advocates for Lunar Mission Leadership Amid Contract Uncertainty
In response to recent statements by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy regarding potential changes to lunar mission contracts, SpaceX released a blog titled "To the Moon and Beyond" on October 30. The company argues that Starship provides the necessary capability for establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, positioning the upcoming Artemis III and IV missions as foundational steps beyond the symbolic Apollo program. SpaceX highlighted Starship's progress, including its October 13 test flight, and outlined 2026 milestones such as orbital missions and in-orbit refueling demonstrations. The company emphasized its significant financial contribution, covering 90% of Starship's development costs, and noted its selection for Artemis III and IV resulted from fair competition with highest technical ratings and lowest costs. According to SpaceX, 49 milestones related to lunar landing systems have been achieved, mostly on or ahead of schedule, supporting Starship's role as the "fastest path" to sustainable lunar presence.
Amazon Cancels Lord of the Rings MMO Amid Significant Reduction in MMO Development
Amazon has reportedly canceled its Lord of the Rings massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. The decision comes as part of the company's effort to halt a "significant" amount of work on MMOs, which was announced this week as part of its big layoffs. A former senior gameplay engineer for Amazon Games confirmed the cancellation on LinkedIn, stating that they were part of the layoffs and that the Lord of the Rings game was affected. The planned Lord of the Rings game was Amazon's second attempt at an MMO in the LOTR universe, with the first one being canceled two years after its announcement in 2019. Amazon will continue to support two MMOs that it publishes, Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark. The developers of New World: Aeternum, an MMO developed in-house by Amazon, also announced that they would no longer be providing new content updates for the game. The Lord of the Rings game was still listed on the Amazon Games website at the time of the report. Amazon and Embracer, the company's partner on the project, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The cancellation of the Lord of the Rings MMO is a significant development in the gaming industry, and it remains to be seen how it will impact Amazon's gaming efforts moving forward. Amazon's decision to reduce its MMO development efforts is likely to have a significant impact on the gaming industry. The company's layoffs and cancellation of the Lord of the Rings MMO are a clear indication that it is shifting its focus away from MMOs. The exact reasons behind Amazon's decision to cancel the Lord of the Rings MMO are not clear, but it is likely that the company's changing priorities and the current market conditions played a role. The gaming industry is highly competitive, and companies must be able to adapt quickly to changing market conditions in order to remain successful.
Android 17 ‘Min Mode’ could run full-screen apps on the always-on display
Google is developing a new Always-On Display (AOD) mode in Android 17 codenamed “Min Mode” that lets apps display their own minimal, persistent interfaces while the device is idle. Unlike the standard AOD, which shows the time and notifications, Min Mode can present a full-screen application tailored for glanceable, low-power viewing. It runs in the same ultra-low-power state as the regular AOD, keeping brightness, refresh rate, and color limited, but preserves battery life by avoiding the higher-power interactions required for full app use. Developers will designate a special “MinModeActivity” in their manifest, which registers with a SystemUI “MinModeProvider” to request activation. The system also mitigates burn-in by shifting every pixel by one position every 60 seconds. Google appears poised to open this as a developer API in Android 17 rather than shipping it as a system-only feature. Evidence suggests Google Maps will be among the first to use Min Mode, with a minimalist, monochrome power-saving mode that displays turn-by-turn navigation on the AOD and is restricted to portrait orientation. The feature is currently disabled and not expected to arrive before Android 17.
Android beats iOS in spam protection: Study shows 58% fewer scam texts reach Android users
Google and YouGov surveyed over 5,000 smartphone users across the US, India, and Brazil during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, revealing significant differences in spam and scam text protection between Android and iOS. The study found Android users were 58% more likely than iOS users to avoid scam text messages over a seven-day period. Pixel users showed even stronger results, being 96% more likely than iPhone users to report receiving zero unwanted scam and spam messages. Conversely, iOS users were 65% more likely to receive three or more scam texts per week compared to Android users. Google attributes these protections to multiple factors including continuous RCS safety checks, Android's built-in scam and phishing defenses, AI-powered detection, and spam filters in apps like Messages and Phone. The survey results are particularly notable given RCS's history with spam before Google's involvement in standardizing the messaging platform. Additional validation comes from Leviathan Security Group's evaluation, which found Pixel devices leading in scam and fraud protection compared to recent Apple, Samsung, and Motorola devices. The study suggests Google's AI efforts are successfully reducing unwanted messages and calls, with continued improvements expected as the technology advances into 2026.
Disney+ Adds HDR10+ Streaming, Starting With Hulu Titles and Samsung TVs
Disney+ has begun streaming movies and shows in the HDR10+ format, though the rollout is limited for now. Only certain Hulu titles are currently available in HDR10+, and Disney+ has said additional Disney+ content will support HDR10+ in the future. Samsung is the first device maker to enable HDR10+ streaming from Disney+, with Samsung’s Crystal UHD, OLED, The Frame, QLED, and Micro RGB TVs from 2018 onward compatible. Apple’s tvOS app also lists HDR10+ support. Previously, Disney+ offered only HDR10 and Dolby Vision, while Hulu began offering HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision back in 2021. The move caters to Samsung TV owners because Samsung does not support Dolby Vision, making HDR10+ a way for Disney+ to appeal to the world’s top‑selling TV brand and its home‑theater enthusiasts. HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata for per‑frame control, unlike static‑metadata HDR10, and competes with Dolby Vision, which provides additional color depth (12‑bit) and more granular profiles. Disney+ joins other services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ that already support HDR10+. Disney+’s cheapest subscription plan includes HDR streaming, and the HDR upgrade follows a recent price increase for the streaming service.
Microsoft Reports 2% Gaming Revenue Decline in Q1 FY26 Despite Strong Overall Growth
Microsoft's first quarter FY26 financial results showed mixed performance across its gaming division. While the company achieved record overall results with $77.7 billion in revenue (up 18% year-on-year) and $27.7 billion in net income (up 12% year-on-year), gaming revenue fell 2% primarily due to a 29% decline in Xbox hardware sales. The More Personal Computing segment, which includes Xbox, reported $13.8 billion in revenue, up 4% year-on-year, with Xbox content and services showing modest 1% growth driven by Game Pass and third-party content performance. Cloud and AI services remained the primary growth driver, reaching $30.9 billion (up 28% year-on-year). Looking ahead, Microsoft forecasts Q2 revenue between $79.5 billion and $80.6 billion, representing 14-16% growth, while expecting Xbox content and services to decline in the "low to mid-single digits" due to fewer first-party titles compared to the prior year. The gaming results follow recent price increases across Microsoft's gaming products, including a second round of console price hikes in the US ranging from $20 to $70 and a 50% increase in Xbox Game Pass pricing. Despite hardware challenges, Xbox president Sarah Bond confirmed that next-generation hardware is in development through a partnership with AMD, with the company positioning itself to innovate and provide new choices for gamers.
OpenAI Launches Aardvark: AI-Powered Security Researcher in Private Beta
OpenAI has announced Aardvark, an agentic security researcher powered by GPT-5 that is now available in private beta. Unlike traditional security tools that rely on fuzzing or software composition analysis, Aardvark uses LLM-powered reasoning to continuously analyze source code repositories, identify vulnerabilities, assess exploitability, prioritize severity, and propose targeted patches. The system operates through a four-stage pipeline: First, it analyzes repositories to produce threat models reflecting security objectives. Second, it continuously scans commits for vulnerabilities against the entire codebase and threat model. Third, it validates potential vulnerabilities in isolated environments to confirm exploitability. Fourth, it integrates with OpenAI Codex to generate patches for human review. Aardvark has been operational for several months across OpenAI's internal codebases and external alpha partners, identifying meaningful vulnerabilities and enhancing OpenAI's defensive posture. In benchmark testing on "golden" repositories, the system identified 92% of known and synthetically-introduced vulnerabilities. When applied to open-source projects, Aardvark has discovered and responsibly disclosed numerous vulnerabilities, with ten receiving Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifiers. OpenAI plans to offer pro-bono scanning to select non-commercial open source repositories and has updated its coordinated disclosure policy to be more developer-friendly. The company reports that over 40,000 CVEs were reported in 2024, and their testing shows approximately 1.2% of commits introduce bugs. Organizations and open source projects interested in joining the private beta can apply directly through OpenAI's platform.
Microsoft Rolls Out New Windows 11 Update with Redesigned Start Menu and AI-Powered Features
Microsoft is releasing a new Windows 11 update, featuring a redesigned Start Menu that was first showcased earlier this year. The update includes a scrollable "All" section that lists all installed apps, as well as two new views: Category and Grid. The Category view groups apps by type and highlights frequently used ones, while the Grid view displays apps alphabetically. The Start Menu also features a responsive layout that adapts to the user's screen resolution. The update also introduces a color-coded battery icon in the taskbar to indicate laptop battery status, with green indicating charging, yellow indicating battery saver mode, and red indicating critically low battery. Additionally, the update includes AI-powered image editing tools in the revamped Photos app. Other notable features include Phone Link integration to the Start Menu, allowing users to expand or collapse content from connected devices, and a new AI feature called Fluid Dictation, which removes filler words and corrects grammar in real time. The rollout is occurring in two phases, with new features being gradually deployed to minimize the risk of critical bugs, while bug fixes are being delivered immediately to all eligible devices.
Canva Unveils Free, All‑in‑One Affinity App for Design, Photo Editing, and Page Layouts
After acquiring Serif in 2024, Canva has relaunched the Affinity creative suite as a single, unified application that combines photo editing, vector illustration, and page layout tools. Previously, the suite was sold as three separate one‑time purchases (Designer, Photo, and Publisher) for $70 each. The new Affinity app is positioned as “free forever” and does not require a subscription, addressing concerns that the company might shift to a pay‑to‑use model. It is currently available for Windows and macOS, with an iPad version promised for the future. Canva says the new app uses one universal file type and includes integrations that let users export designs directly to their Canva accounts. Premium Canva subscribers will also be able to access AI‑powered features—such as image generation, photo cleanup, and instant copy—inside the Affinity app. Existing owners of the standalone V2 editions of Designer, Photo, and Publisher can continue using those programs, and they won’t be forced to switch. However, Canva has already removed the V2 editions from the Affinity website and has not confirmed whether those legacy users will receive further updates. The shift to a free, all‑in‑one platform contrasts with Canva’s own free‑tier model, which limits most capabilities behind a subscription. While the new app’s zero‑cost promise aims to calm creators wary of subscription models, the inclusion of AI tools may still provoke resistance from professionals opposed to AI‑driven design workflows.
Samsung Internet Browser Expands to PC with New Beta Program
Samsung Electronics has announced the beta release of Samsung Internet for PC, marking the first time its popular mobile browser is available on desktop. The move aims to provide a seamless and connected browsing experience across Samsung devices, syncing browsing data such as bookmarks and history. Users can also access Galaxy AI capabilities like Browsing Assist for instant webpage summarization and translation. The browser is built on Galaxy's foundation of privacy and security, featuring smart anti-tracking and a Privacy Dashboard. Samsung Internet for PC beta will be available to users of Windows 11 and Windows 10 in the United States and Korea starting October 30, 2025. The expansion is part of Samsung's vision for ambient AI, integrating AI into everyday life. The beta program allows users to shape the future of browsing, with plans for broader expansion to follow. Users can sign up for beta program access at browser.samsung.com/beta. The browser is designed to bring safe, reliable, and intelligent experiences without compromising on security or trust. With this milestone, Samsung is laying the groundwork for a browser that evolves with its users and devices.
Apple Releases Pico-Banana-400K Dataset to Advance AI Photo Editing Capabilities
Apple researchers have unveiled Pico-Banana-400K, a comprehensive dataset containing 400,000 curated images specifically designed to enhance AI systems' ability to edit photos based on text prompts. The dataset addresses a significant gap in current AI image editing training, where existing systems like GPT-4o can perform impressive edits but lack adequate training data built from real photographs. The dataset features images organized into 35 different edit types across eight categories, ranging from basic adjustments like color changes to complex transformations such as converting people into Pixar-style characters or LEGO figures. Each image underwent Apple's AI-powered quality control system, with Google's Gemini-2.5-Pro evaluating the results based on instruction compliance and technical quality. Pico-Banana-400K includes three specialized subsets: 258,000 single-edit examples for basic training, 56,000 preference pairs comparing successful and failed edits, and 72,000 multi-turn sequences demonstrating how images evolve through multiple consecutive edits. Apple built the dataset using Google's Gemini-2.5-Flash-Image (Nano-Banana) editing model. However, the research revealed significant limitations - while global style changes succeeded 93% of the time, precise tasks like relocating objects or editing text struggled with success rates below 60%. Despite these limitations, researchers aim to establish "a robust foundation for training and benchmarking the next generation of text-guided image editing models." The complete dataset is freely available for non-commercial research use on GitHub, enabling developers to train more capable image editing AI systems.
Magic Leap Unveils Android XR Smart Glasses Prototype in Partnership With Google
Magic Leap has revealed a new Android XR smart glasses prototype designed as a reference device for Google's Android XR ecosystem. The glasses feature thick frames housing electronics and a camera lens on the left side, combining Magic Leap's waveguides and optics with Google's Raxium microLED light engine. Magic Leap describes this collaboration as making all-day wearable AR more achievable, running on the same Android XR operating system that powers Samsung's Galaxy XR headset, which launched last week. The company, now majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund since 2022, has received over $1 billion in investment from the fund. Magic Leap previously struggled in the consumer market, selling only 6,000 units of its original AR headset in six months before pivoting to enterprise focus with the Magic Leap 2 in 2022. The company laid off 75 employees primarily from sales and marketing teams in July 2024 as part of another strategic shift toward technology licensing. This latest prototype represents the first tangible result of Magic Leap's expanded partnership with Google, announced several months prior. Google reportedly brought in 100 Magic Leap staff members to work on Android XR projects late last year. The prototype showcases Magic Leap's continued efforts to remain relevant in the evolving AR/VR landscape through strategic partnerships and technology licensing.
Samsung Teases Galaxy S26 With Next‑Gen AI, Custom Chip, New Camera Sensors
Samsung’s quarterly earnings call revealed the company’s plans for the Galaxy S26 series. Vice‑President Daniel Araujo said the flagship will “revolutionize the user experience” with user‑centric, next‑generation AI, a second‑generation custom application processor, and upgraded camera sensors. The custom AP is likely the Exynos 2600—Samsung’s first 2 nm foundry chip—though the company will also use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, indicating a dual‑chip strategy across regions. Earlier reports suggested only the standard S26 would ship with an Exynos variant, while other models would rely on Qualcomm. Araujo cautioned that chipset evaluation is still ongoing, so the final configuration has not been confirmed. Samsung also promised more innovation on foldables in 2026 and highlighted expanded AI health features for upcoming Galaxy Watches. The earnings report showed steady demand for flagship phones, tablets, and wearables, despite slight declines in North America and South Korea. Looking ahead, Samsung aims to double down on AI‑powered smartphones, push seasonal promotions, and grow its ecosystem of watches and earbuds while anticipating higher component costs that may lift smartphone prices.
Apple introduces new App Store submission features and expands marketing tools for developers
Apple has announced several new features aimed at making it easier for developers to submit, manage, and market their apps on the App Store. The updates include enhanced App Review submission capabilities, expanded custom product page options, and broader offer code functionality. Developers can now submit additional items to App Review independently, even when an app version is already under review. This includes In-App Events, Game Center features like achievements and leaderboards, and critical bug-fix updates. Previously, developers had to wait for existing reviews to complete before submitting these elements separately. The platform now supports up to 70 custom product pages at any given time, allowing developers to showcase different content using unique screenshots, app previews, and promotional text. Additionally, developers can assign keywords to custom product pages to improve App Store discoverability, with these pages appearing in search results for designated terms instead of default product pages. Apple is expanding offer codes to cover all types of In-App Purchases, including consumable, non-consumable, non-renewing subscriptions, and auto-renewable subscriptions. This expansion represents the first step in phasing out promo codes, which will no longer be creatable for In-App Purchases starting March 26, 2026, though existing codes can still be redeemed until expiration. Promo codes for app downloads will continue to be available.
Resident Evil Requiem preorders launch with $70 standard, $90 Deluxe Steelbook, $90 Switch 2 Generation Pack, and $100 themed Pro Controller
Resident Evil Requiem goes up for preorder at major retailers ahead of its February 27 2026 launch. The standard edition is priced at $70 and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2. Amazon’s exclusive version adds a double‑sided poster featuring key art and a landscape screenshot, while GameStop offers an exclusive tote bag—but it must be collected in‑store on launch night. All preorders, physical and digital, include the “Apocalypse” in‑game costume for Grace. The Deluxe Steelbook Edition costs $90 and ships on PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and PC (Steam key). It bundles a limited‑edition steelbook case with a gun on the front and a Raccoon City newspaper clipping on the back, a lenticular card, five character costumes, four weapon skins, two charms, the Raccoon City audio pack, classic files from 1998, and an Apocalypse screen filter. Nintendo Switch 2 owners can also purchase the $90 Generation Pack, a US‑exclusive bundle that includes Requiem, Resident Evil Village Gold Edition, and Resident 7 Biohazard Gold Edition. The three games arrive on Switch 2 the same day as Requiem; the pack is sold digitally only until March 31 2026, and physically in an oversized case stamped with the Resident Evil 30th‑anniversary logo. A Resident Evil‑themed Switch 2 Pro Controller is priced at $100—$10 more than the standard controller—and features a black base with a Raccoon City newspaper clipping faceplate matching the Deluxe Steelbook’s back. It can be preordered at Best Buy and the Nintendo Store, and it will be the first themed Switch 2 Pro Controller unless Nintendo announces another before launch. A Grace Ashcroft Amiibo is slated for a summer release.
Sora AI Video App Sparks Trust Crisis as Deepfake Backlash Grows
OpenAI's Sora app has reached 1 million downloads within a week of its September 30 launch, but is facing intense backlash over unauthorized deepfakes of deceased celebrities, living figures, and copyrighted characters. The app allows users to create hyperreal 10-second AI videos from text prompts, featuring celebrities like Robin Williams and historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., often without permission. Celebrity families and Hollywood studios are demanding protection of likenesses after videos of Robin Williams, Kobe Bryant, and Mister Rogers circulated widely. Zelda Williams, daughter of the late comedian, publicly criticized creators making "disgusting" AI videos of her father. Fred Rogers Productions has requested OpenAI block the use of Mister Rogers' likeness, stating the videos contradict Rogers' child development principles. Hollywood talent agencies and unions, including SAG-AFTRA, are accusing OpenAI of improper use of likenesses. In response, OpenAI has shifted from an opt-out to opt-in system for character rights, with CEO Sam Altman promising greater control for rights-holders and revenue sharing. The app's success coincides with growing concerns about "AI slop" - low-quality but viral content - and broader fears about misinformation, propaganda, and the erosion of public trust in authentic media. Experts warn that the technology makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and synthetic content, creating what one deepfake expert calls "a fog of doubt settling over everything we see."
MediaTek Announces Kompanio 540 Chromebook Chipset With 35% Better Battery Life and Fanless Design
MediaTek has unveiled its latest Kompanio 540 chipset specifically designed for Chromebooks, particularly targeting student-focused laptops. The octa-core processor features two Arm Cortex-A78 CPUs, a dual-core graphics engine, and supports premium LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage for smooth performance and multitasking capabilities. Students can seamlessly switch between web browsing, media streaming, and gaming without lag. The chip promises 35% longer battery life compared to competing processors, allowing Chromebook users to stay productive throughout the entire day. Its power-efficient design enables fanless operation for quiet performance that won't disrupt learning environments, while also keeping laptops light and cool for true portability. MediaTek has been supplying chipsets for various Chromebook models, with the Kompanio 540 set to debut in laptops arriving in early 2026. The company positions this new chip as enabling "thin, ultra-portable" Chromebooks that provide a computing experience "that's always with you."