Gadgets
TechnologyThe latest on Gadgets from our Technology desk.
Cowboy Space Unveils Big Iron Rocket Built to Become AI Data Center
Cowboy Space, led by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has revealed Big Iron, a 86-meter reusable rocket whose upper stage becomes an orbital AI data center. The company plans a 20,000-satellite constellation called Stampede and targets a first flight in 2028.
Apple Unveils OLED iPad Mini as More Launches Loom This Week
Apple has unveiled a new iPad mini and signaled that more product announcements are coming this week. The company has an event scheduled for Wednesday, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has outlined a possible sequence involving updated Macs and a touchscreen MacBook Pro. Apple has not confirmed that rumored schedule.
Apple Acknowledges Inner Screen Issues in Some iPhone Duo Phones
Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo units have an issue affecting the inner display, after owners posted reports of cracked screens online. The company directs affected customers to AppleCare for a replacement. Repair experts say the reports are too limited to establish how widespread the problem is, while iFixit has raised questions about the hinge area.
iPhone Duo Users Report Creased, Cracked Screens After Launch
Early iPhone Duo owners have posted photos of creases, cracked screens and display faults along the phone’s fold. Apple said it is aware of an inner-display issue affecting a small number of units, while reports indicate some buyers with a white line on their screens have received replacements. The company has not said whether it will replace devices showing a crease without other damage.
Fitbit Edge brings back the fitness band, with a new trade-off
Google’s Fitbit Edge returns to the focused fitness-band format, pairing a small display and built-in GPS with roughly a week of battery life. The Verge says the tracker drops contactless payments and wrist calls, while Google Health replaces the familiar Fitbit app and offers an AI coach through a subscription. The review also notes that enabling the always-on display cuts battery life to about a day and a half.
OLED iPad mini A20 brings Apple’s first OLED mini display
Apple unveiled an iPad mini with its first OLED display for the product line and an A20 Pro chip. The 8.5-inch tablet also adds speakers beneath the display, Wi-Fi 7 and IP67 protection. But the 128GB and 256GB versions have a five-core CPU, while the 512GB model has six. Pre-orders start October 28, with deliveries scheduled for November 6.
A. Lange & Söhne Brings Back Platinum Bracelet on Datograph Perpetual
A. Lange & Söhne has paired diamond hour markers with a platinum bracelet on a new Datograph Perpetual, bringing a sought-after bracelet configuration back into the brand’s lineup. Hodinkee says the release speaks to collectors’ longstanding interest in bracelet-equipped Lange watches, while cautioning that details about vintage bracelet rarity and configurations can be difficult to verify.
SlashGear’s 13 Practical Tools for Fall Camping Include Hand Warmers and a Waterproof Lighter
SlashGear recommends a mix of warmth, fire-starting and repair gear for fall camping, when damp conditions and colder temperatures can complicate a trip. Its list includes pocket-sized hand warmers, a waterproof lighter and a compact sewing kit, with product details and Amazon prices reported by the publisher. available reports also describes how some gear can help campers stay charged or signal for help.
Early iPhone Duo Buyers Report Damage Along Screen Hinge
Some early iPhone Duo buyers say their foldable phones developed permanent lines on the inner display after the hinge felt stiff and made a popping or cracking sound. Apple has offered replacements, but GSMArena reports that limited stock has left many owners waiting, especially for higher-capacity models. The cause remains unconfirmed, and reports may involve only a select batch of devices.
6 Essential Gadgets Learning Guitar Beginners Can Use
BGR highlights six types of gear that can support people learning guitar, from clip-on tuners to metronomes and headphone amps. The recommendations were selected using criteria that included endorsements from established publications and Amazon review averages. The guide focuses on practical tools for tuning, timing and practice, while emphasizing that equipment supports the work of learning rather than replacing it.
12 Fun USB-C Gadgets for a More Useful Desk
USB-C can do more than charge a laptop. SlashGear’s desk-gadget roundup includes a hub with a built-in display and programmable Stream Deck keys, alongside playful devices such as a keychain camera and a crank-powered handheld game. The picks vary in price and have trade-offs, including a short hub cable and a menu reviewers found cumbersome.
Early iPhone Duo Users Report Cracks Along the Fold
Some first-day iPhone Duo buyers are reporting cracks running down the foldable phone’s inner screen, with damage near the hinge accompanied in some cases by
Retire Your Old Fountain for a Solar Patio Alternative
Home Depot sells a compact Teamson fountain that runs its pump and lights on solar power, avoiding the need for a nearby outlet. The 15-pound design is made for smaller patios, but its panel needs two days of full sun before first use and roughly six or seven hours of light each day afterward.
YouTuber’s teardown points to a weak hinge link behind iPhone Duo screen cracks
A thin hinge link may be the weak point behind reports of cracked iPhone Duo screens, a YouTuber’s teardown suggests. CuriousHagi reproduced the failure in
iPhone Duo Adds Apple Watch Unlock to Skip Touch ID Scans
iPhone Duo owners can use an Apple Watch to unlock the phone without touching its side-mounted Touch ID sensor. MacRumors says the feature requires a supported watch, worn and unlocked near the phone, and must first be enabled in Settings. Users still need to swipe past the Lock Screen unless they change that setting.
Hope Apple’s Touchscreen MacBook Learns From Lenovo
The Verge’s hands-on experience with Lenovo’s Yoga 9n points to features that could make a touchscreen MacBook more useful: a stylus that works on both the display and trackpad, and a way to keep it attached to the laptop. Apple has not confirmed a touchscreen MacBook, but the report says an announcement may come next week.
Expect Apple’s Pro Tell: Touchscreen MacBook Pro on Oct. 28
Apple’s “Pro and tell” event is scheduled for October 28 in Los Angeles, with a touchscreen MacBook Pro among the expected announcements. Reports point to an OLED screen, while other possible updates include M6 Macs and an OLED iPad mini. Apple has not confirmed which products it will unveil.
Apple Store Pickup System Returns for iPhone Duo Buyers
Apple has restored reservations for iPhone Duo pickup at its stores in the U.S. and Canada, but availability remains scarce. MacRumors reported that most stores had no pickup slots for the day. The option also returned in several other countries, while Apple says it is working to meet demand as quickly as possible.
iPhone Duo Users Report Cracks Along Foldable Screen’s Hinge
Some early iPhone Duo owners are reporting a crack running down the foldable phone’s inner screen, with a bright white line of pixels appearing beside
iPhone Duo Apps Turn Foldable Screen Into Retro Computers and More
Developers are adapting apps to the iPhone Duo’s folding screen, with experiences that mimic a retro computer, notebook, toaster and Nintendo DS. The designs use the device’s hinge and different orientations as part of how the apps work. MacRumors also describes relaxation, coloring and weather apps tailored to the foldable display.
Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Brings a Big Screen—and App Compatibility Questions
For buyers paying $1,999 for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the key question may be how well their apps fit its unusual screens. The iPhone Duo
ASUS ProArt P16 Puts NVIDIA’s RTX Spark in a $7,000 Creator Laptop
For creators who want to run AI models on their own machines, ASUS has built a laptop with room for an unusually large amount of
The iPhone Duo’s Small Cover Screen Masks a Heavy, Wide Foldable
The iPhone Duo’s 5.4-inch cover screen may look familiar to fans of Apple’s discontinued Mini-sized phones. But the foldable is thick and heavy, and its
Apple Plans Horizontal Reachability for iPhone Duo Later This Year
Apple says Reachability will arrive on iPhone Duo later this year, moving interface elements toward the screen’s left or right edge. The feature is designed to make the wider outer and inner displays easier to use for people who struggle to reach controls one-handed. The device launches this Friday, according to 9to5Mac.