The deal paves the way for Form Energy to raise a new funding round before potentially going public next year.
Blog Posts
Blog Posts
Three Breakthroughs in Future Apple Devices That Will Improve iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Apple has officially announced that it will start launching new products beginning on Monday, March 2. This rollout consists of updates to its iPhone, iPad, and Mac ranges, signifying a major upgrade to its hardware offerings by retiring older technology choices.
### All iPhones Will Feature MagSafe for the First Time
Last year, Apple substituted the iPhone SE with the more contemporary iPhone 16e, which notably did not have MagSafe. If the forthcoming iPhone 17e incorporates MagSafe and the iPhone 16e is phased out, it will mean that every iPhone sold by Apple will include MagSafe for the first time. Launched with the iPhone 12 in October 2020, MagSafe allows for a robust magnetic connection on the back of the iPhone, facilitating the attachment of various accessories such as wallets, stands, and battery packs. It also improves wireless charging by ensuring proper coil alignment. Nearly six years later, Apple will be able to showcase MagSafe support as a standard feature across its iPhone lineup.
### Apple Intelligence for Each New iPad
While Apple introduced Apple Intelligence to every iPhone last year, it launched a new iPad without this capability. Nonetheless, there is speculation that the upcoming iPad 12 may come equipped with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support. If so, it would mean that every new iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with the Apple Vision Pro, will support Apple Intelligence for the first time. The addition of features like Image Playground on every iPad, particularly the base model, marks a significant improvement, alongside expected Siri enhancements driven by Google Gemini.
### All Mac Laptops May Also Include MagSafe
Even though Apple has not sold a Mac laptop without MagSafe for several years, the M1 MacBook Air has remained available through retailers like Walmart. This model seems to be out of stock ahead of its anticipated replacement. A new MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip is expected to join the range, likely priced below the current $999 MacBook Air. It would be atypical for Apple to introduce this new MacBook without MagSafe charging, which would indicate a complete shift away from the no-MagSafe era for all new Mac laptops.
As the rollout commences on Monday morning, followed by a media experience in New York City on Wednesday, March 4, anticipation grows around these updates. The prospect of having MagSafe on every iPhone is particularly significant, while the introduction of a more budget-friendly MacBook also generates interest. Stay tuned for hands-on coverage from 9to5Mac’s Chance Miller, who will be present for the event.
Eddy Cue Spotlights Brazil as Apple’s TV Market Ranked Second-Largest and Talks About the Netflix-Warner Merger
In a discussion with the Brazilian newspaper *Folha de S. Paulo*, Apple SVP of Services Eddy Cue talked about Brazil’s growing importance in Apple TV’s worldwide operations, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to theatrical releases, and commented on Netflix’s attempts to acquire Warner Bros.
### Apple’s Dedication to Theatrical Releases
At a recent Apple TV media event, Apple unveiled a lineup of new original programming and films intended to debut on its streaming platform through 2026. In the conversation, Cue pointed out Brazil as Apple TV’s second-largest and quickest-growing subscriber market. He recognized the slow progress of suggested streaming regulations in Brazil, which may necessitate national content quotas, while expressing hope about the prospects for high-quality content development in the nation.
Cue underscored Apple’s steadfast dedication to theatrical releases, asserting that even with the mounting challenges of drawing audiences to theaters, the communal viewing experience is irreplaceable. He stated, “There’s no alternative to that experience, watching a film together, going on a date at the movies, spending the evening with friends or your kids seeing a film. It’s something genuinely unique, and I believe it will grow in value over time.”
### Netflix and Warner Bros. Acquisition Discussions
Cue also shared his thoughts on the potential ramifications of a Netflix-Warner Bros. agreement for Apple. He remarked on the robust relationships Apple holds with both Netflix and Warner Bros., emphasizing their collaborative efforts on projects like *F1: The Movie*. Cue conveyed assurance that these alliances would persist, irrespective of the results of Netflix’s acquisition pursuits.
### Recent Partnerships and Offerings
In a significant update, Apple has recently revealed a collaboration with Netflix in the U.S. to make the upcoming season of *Formula 1: Drive to Survive* accessible on Apple TV. Apple TV is currently offered at $12.99 per month and showcases a range of popular series and movies, including *F1 The Movie*, *Pluribus*, *Severance*, *The Morning Show*, *Shrinking*, and *Silo*.
In summary, Cue’s observations highlight Apple’s strategic emphasis on amplifying its content offerings while sustaining strong industry relationships, especially in pivotal markets like Brazil.
Qualcomm Will Not Announce Windows Gaming Handhelds at GDC
In January, Qualcomm hinted to The Verge that it might finally bring its powerful Arm-based Snapdragon processors to Windows gaming handhelds at the 2026 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco – just in time to challenge Nvidia’s own first Arm gaming CPU and Intel’s first dedicated handheld gaming chips. But plans have shifted, Qualcomm now […]
FTC Declines to Enforce Kids’ Privacy Law for Age Verification Data
The Federal Trade Commission is encouraging companies to adopt age verification technologies by announcing it will not enforce a children’s online privacy law against certain websites that collect and use minors’ personal data in order to verify their ages. “Age verification technologies are some of the most child-protective technologies to emerge in decades,” Christopher Mufarrige, […]
Samsung exec confirms RAM and other materials to blame for Galaxy S26’s higher price
The Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are “more of the same for more money,” my colleague Allison Johnson reported this week. Now, Samsung is confirming what we previously only suspected: RAMageddon is partly to blame. Samsung’s Won-Joon Choi, the COO of its mobile business, tells The Verge that the memory shortage alone made a […]
Uncover 5 Little-Known iPad Tips You Need to Be Aware Of
Apple has unveiled iPadOS 26, which offers improved multitasking capabilities compared to the Stage Manager concept introduced in past years. Additionally, iPadOS 26 brings a range of design updates, such as Liquid Glass, which may not appeal to all users. If you have been postponing the installation of iPadOS 26 due to concerns about the translucent effects, you’ll need to go ahead and install this software update to benefit from enhanced multitasking features. While numerous functionalities detailed below are compatible with older iPadOS versions, they are likely to elevate your productivity significantly when used alongside the new windowed applications experience in iPadOS 26.
If your iPad (or iPadOS version) is outdated, you might have to upgrade to a newer model or update the software to fully utilize some of the concealed iPad features listed below. An Apple Pencil may be necessary for some of these features.
Swiftly alternate between applications
The capability to transform apps into windows in iPadOS 26, similar to a Mac or Windows PC, can be useful for specific tasks that need a comprehensive overview of your workspace or quick exchanges between applications. However, certain applications require a full-screen view, and you might still wish to seamlessly switch between multiple full-screen applications. As with the iPhone, you can swipe up from the bottom to the center of the screen and lift your finger to view all currently open apps. Tap the app you wish to access (or any visible group), and it will occupy the screen. Like the iPhone, there’s an even quicker gesture available. You can also swipe left and right at the bottom of the screen to navigate between the recently used apps. In other words, the apps you used last are just a left swipe away, and you can keep swiping until you locate the desired one.
Unlike the iPhone, the iPad also allows you to switch between applications by simply tapping the screen with multiple fingers, making it even swifter than searching for the gestures at the bottom of the display. Tap the screen with four or five fingers and slide right or left. The app-switching method resembles that of the previous version where you swipe left and right at the bottom of the screen, but it’s more intuitive, as it can be done from anywhere on the screen. To activate this feature, navigate to Settings > Multitasking & Gestures > Four or Five Finger App Switching.
Customize the virtual keyboard to suit your needs
Google’s Standard Image Creation Model Enhanced to Nano Banana 2
The latest model offers professional-grade visuals at lightning speeds, enhances text rendering to near-perfection, and preserves accuracy across as many as 14 objects.
Key Details
– Nano Banana 2 introduces swifter image creation with enhanced precision and superior text rendering.
– The upgraded model now accommodates image outputs from 512px to 4K across various aspect ratios.
– Google is extending access to Nano Banana 2 image generation to all Gemini users, not only paying subscribers.
– Nano Banana 2 has become the standard model throughout Gemini, Search AI mode, Lens, and developer tools.
Google has recently unveiled its new image generation model named Nano Banana 2, which represents a significant enhancement over its predecessor.
One of the most prevalent applications for AI chatbots and models today is generating images. Users enjoy transforming text prompts into visuals, and Google is heavily invested in this area. The company launched Nano Banana in the latter part of 2025 and subsequently upgraded it to Nano Banana Pro in November, which gained widespread popularity. Now, Google has officially introduced Nano Banana 2.
Nano Banana 2, officially known as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, encompasses all the advantages of Nano Banana Pro with heightened precision and quicker performance. Google states that Nano Banana 2 has access to real-time knowledge from the internet and improved text rendering, enabling it to produce clear and accurate text for promotional mockups or greeting cards.
The primary advancement this time is its wider availability. Nano Banana 2 offers professional-grade image creation to all Gemini users, not just those who pay for a subscription. It can generate images from 512 pixels up to 4K in various aspect ratios effortlessly. The model also adheres more closely to complex prompts, providing results that better match user requests.
Consistency has long been a significant hurdle in image generation, but Google asserts that Nano Banana 2 maintains character likeness for up to five characters and object fidelity for as many as 14 objects within a single workflow. It also guarantees more radiant lighting, richer textures, and sharper overall detail.
Nano Banana 2 is now set to replace Nano Banana Pro for the majority of users within the Gemini app. However, Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will still have the option to access Nano Banana Pro via the three-dot menu. Google is also streamlining the image generation process by allowing users to select specific visual styles for their outputs.
Nano Banana 2 is becoming Google’s primary image generation model across various platforms. It is accessible in Gemini, Google Search’s AI mode, Google Lens, AI Studio, Gemini API, Gemini CLI, and more. The rollout has already started, and users can begin utilizing it today.
Android Central’s Insight
I haven’t had the chance to try Nano Banana 2 yet, but given how much superior Nano Banana Pro was relative to other AI image generation solutions, I have high hopes. Google has been consistently enhancing its image models, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it has achieved another impressive upgrade this time.
Fortunately, the company is also prioritizing safety concerning AI-generated images. Google has integrated its own SynthID watermark technology with interoperable C2PA Content Credentials, which are already utilized by firms like Meta, OpenAI, Adobe, and others.
Google states that it will now provide users with a clearer, more contextual understanding of not just whether AI was employed to generate an image, but also the manner in which it was used.
Memory Shortage May Lead to Biggest Decline in Smartphone Shipments in Over a Decade
IDC says phone makers will ship only 1.12 billion smartphones as compared to 1.26 billion last year.
Sophia Space Secures $10M Seed Funding to Demonstrate Novel Space Computers
The company’s modular computer tiles offer a new vision for space data centers.
