Key findings
- Intel is in financial trouble following massive stock losses after the CEO confirmed a company split.
- Reusable vape power bank made of lithium batteries for an environmentally friendly technical innovation.
- The new beta of macOS 15.1 introduces Apple Intelligence features. Exciting times are ahead for AI on Apple devices.
Now that fall is upon us, it's time to put away the summer clothes, get out the sweaters and scarves, and get ready for the upcoming holidays and special events. Even though the thermometer has dropped over the past few days, tech news has still been as hot as ever. So let's dive in and see what happened during the last week of summer.
These are tough times for the CPU giant
After Intel lost 30% of its stock overnight, the processor company is not in the best shape. Previously, there were rumors that the company was planning a split: the logistics department would continue to work exclusively for Intel, while the manufacturing department (Intel Foundry) would be allowed to take on third-party projects to raise money. Intel's CEO then published a post confirming these rumors and also stating that they were planning to reverse the company's position.
It seemed like a natural fit, but then more rumors surfaced that Qualcomm had approached Intel during difficult times and offered to buy the company. Given that Intel worded its post as trying to stay afloat, there's a very good chance it rejected Qualcomm's offer. However, this probably won't be the last time we hear about a company trying to take on a major player in the CPU market like Intel.
Protect the environment
Source: Chris Doel
Disposable e-cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries, so why throw away the dead batteries when you can use them for something else? That's exactly what YouTuber Chris Doel wanted to achieve when he took 35 disposable e-cigarettes, removed the batteries, and built a power bank out of them. The results were impressive: the bank could store a 15,000mAh charge, not counting the power lost as heat during conversion. It could charge his phone and laptop super fast, and was designed so that the cells could be replaced when they stopped working.
Surprise! It wasn't out yet
Source: Apple
Apple released the public beta of macOS 15.1 this week, which prompted some of us at XDA to say, “Isn't it already released?” It turns out Apple had kept people on the development branch a little longer than usual, and now the beta is ready for users. This beta includes the first Apple Intelligence features and is worth a try if you want a sneak peek at what the company is planning with its AI tools.
Truly in “pocket format”
How small can a handheld be? If you're thinking of something bigger than a euro coin, then this DIY project has something for you. Everything here ticks the boxes for a handheld: it has buttons, a screen, and swappable cartridges that let you swap out the game you're playing. Sure, the games are limited to Pong and Snake, but it's not like you could squeeze anything else onto such a small display.
Spread the signal
Finally, a new world record in the Wi-Fi scene. Morse Micro was able to break their previous record by sending a Wi-Fi signal almost 10 miles away and providing a 2 Mbps connection to a receiver at the other end. Granted, there were no obstacles between them that could have blocked the signal, but this technology is best suited to empty rural areas where it is not profitable enough for cell phone companies to put up antennas. Great job, Morse Micro!