Apple is reportedly preparing one of the more surprising changes to iOS in years: support for third-party wireless casting systems as alternatives to AirPlay. According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, iOS 27 will allow users in the European Union to choose services like Google Cast as their default option for streaming videos, photos, and audio from iPhones and iPads to TVs, speakers, and other connected devices.
The move is said to be part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping regulation designed to limit the control large tech companies have over their platforms and ecosystems.
For years, AirPlay has been deeply integrated into Apple devices, making it the default method for wirelessly sending media across compatible hardware. Under the upcoming changes, users in the EU may finally get the ability to switch to competing technologies instead of relying entirely on Apple’s own ecosystem.
Apple’s EU battle is getting bigger
The reported AirPlay changes arrive at a tense moment between Apple and European regulators. The company has already been forced to allow third-party app stores, alternative payment systems, and software sideloading in the EU following DMA enforcement.
Now, Apple is accusing the European Commission of deliberately delaying approval of its proposed compliance changes while continuing investigations into the company’s App Store policies. The dispute intensified after Setapp, a third-party app marketplace developed by MacPaw, announced plans to shut down its EU iOS marketplace next month. MacPaw cited “complex business terms” as one reason the model no longer made financial sense.
Apple strongly pushed back against suggestions that its policies caused the shutdown. In a public statement, the company accused the European Commission of using “political delay tactics” and claimed regulators had failed to respond to proposed changes Apple submitted months ago.
At the center of the controversy are the fees Apple still charges third-party app marketplaces operating on iOS. Currently, alternative app stores must pay Apple €0.50 per install after crossing one million downloads. Apple previously proposed replacing that structure with a 5% revenue-sharing system, which some developers considered more manageable.
Why this matters for users
For consumers, the biggest immediate impact may be greater flexibility. If iOS 27 allows default casting alternatives, users could potentially stream media more seamlessly across non-Apple devices without being locked into AirPlay compatibility.
More broadly, the EU’s pressure campaign is slowly reshaping Apple’s famously closed ecosystem. Features that once seemed impossible on iPhones – third-party app stores, sideloading, and now possibly alternative casting systems – are gradually becoming a reality in Europe.
Still, Apple continues arguing that many of these changes create unnecessary complexity and security risks for users while unfairly targeting the company compared to rivals.
Even so, the broader direction appears increasingly clear: regulators want users, developers, and hardware makers to have more control over how Apple devices connect, distribute apps, and share content. And with iOS 27, that shift may become much more visible to everyday users.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek just made one of the boldest pricing moves in the artificial intelligence race so far. The company announced it is permanently slashing the cost of its flagship V4-Pro AI model by 75%, bringing prices down to just a fraction of what developers were paying only weeks ago. AI companies worldwide have been facing two major problems: high infrastructure costs and limited access to high‑end AI chips. So when a company suddenly cuts prices this aggressively — and permanently — it usually signals something important is changing behind the scenes.
DeepSeek says usage costs for V4-Pro now range from 0.025 to 6 yuan per million tokens, depending on workload type, down sharply from the previous pricing range of 0.1 to 24 yuan per million tokens. For developers building AI apps, agents, and services, that kind of drop could significantly lower operating costs.
Huawei’s AI chips may be starting to matter
While DeepSeek did not directly explain what enabled the dramatic price cut, industry attention is immediately shifting toward Huawei and its Ascend AI chips. The company previously admitted that limited access to high‑end compute capacity forced V4-Pro pricing much higher than its cheaper Flash model. At launch, Pro access reportedly cost up to 12 times more because advanced AI hardware remained constrained.
Now, those limitations may finally be easing. Huawei’s Ascend 950 chips have become increasingly important for Chinese AI firms after U.S. export restrictions blocked companies like NVIDIA from selling their most advanced AI hardware inside China.
This could intensify the AI price war
The bigger implication here is simple: AI models are getting cheaper fast. If Chinese firms can continue scaling AI performance while dramatically reducing inference costs, the global AI pricing battle could become far more aggressive over the next year. That puts pressure not only on rival Chinese startups but also on larger Western AI providers that charge significantly more for premium models.
Of course, the supply of hardware remains a major question. Huawei still faces manufacturing bottlenecks because of restrictions on advanced chipmaking equipment. But if DeepSeek’s price cuts are an early sign of improving AI infrastructure inside China, this may be the beginning of a much larger shift in the global AI market.
Helios is a new four-armed robot from Zurich-based Orbit Robotics, and at first glance, it reminded me of Goro from Mortal Kombat. But unlike the prince from Outworld, Helios is not built for combat. It is designed to help astronauts on space stations with the repetitive, time-consuming work that keeps life in space running.
Orbit Robotics says that in microgravity, legs are not much help. Instead of walking or standing, Helios needs to move through tight station interiors, hold itself steady, and handle cargo, tools, or equipment. Its four-arm design turns extra limbs into both mobility aids and working hands.
Why four arms make sense in orbit
The design looks strange because most humanoid robots, like the Unitree G1 and Tesla Optimus, are still shaped around Earth-based movement. Helios takes a more practical approach for space.
Its arms do not use bulky motors at every joint. Instead, they are tendon-driven, with motors placed closer to the shoulders, and force is transferred through cables and spools. This should help keep the arms lighter while still giving them the range of motion needed for station work.
Helios also uses a rolling-contact elbow joint, which gives it smoother and more controlled movement. Sudden or uneven motion in space can destabilize the robot, so this mundane-looking feature is actually quite important. The four-arm setup also allows the robot to stabilize its position with two arms and use the other pair to handle cargo, tools, or equipment.
Built to save astronaut hours
Unloading cargo, sorting supplies, tracking inventory, moving equipment, and basic maintenance take up a large chunk of astronauts’ time in space. Maintenance alone is said to account for around 35% of crew time, while one cargo unloading cycle can take nearly 50 hours.
At roughly $140,000 per astronaut hour, routine work in space is expensive. A robot like Helios could help reduce how much of that time is spent on logistics and maintenance.
In my Galaxy S26 review, I briefly mentioned that Good Lock is a pilgrimage every Samsung user should undertake. One UI is jam-packed with features, which don’t always feel coherent, but the software design seems deliberate. Samsung’s custom skin has been among my favorites due to its strong identity, and one of its best hidden tricks is Good Lock.
Good Lock is one of those Samsung features that can be weirdly easy to ignore. There’s no shiny demo at the start of the setup process, sitting as a separate app that you’ll have to download. But oddly enough, it is exactly what gives One UI the edge over many other Android skins.
Samsung describes Good Lock as a suite of customization apps for Galaxy devices, letting users personalize the interface, improve productivity, and install only the tools they actually need. This doesn’t sound too interesting till you actually give it a shot.
The module that instantly explains the appeal is Theme Park
I used it to push my Galaxy S26 into deep purple tones across the interface, including the Quick Settings panel. This isn’t your typical wallpaper‑matching trick, as you can get in‑depth options. With QuickStar, you can redesign parts of the Quick Panel, while LockStar makes the lock screen and Always On Display become more flexible. I even added stickers to the AOD, including goody little line faces, because why not?
It is absolutely not for everyone. But the fact that Samsung even let me make these changes is the point.
Most phones let you choose a wallpaper, pick a color palette, and maybe change icons if the launcher supports it. Good Lock goes several layers deeper. It makes the Galaxy S26 feel less like Samsung’s phone and more like mine.
There’s a lot of silly stuff
The most fun I had was with Edge Lighting+. I set up a flower effect that pops up when a notification comes in. Again, this isn’t essential at all and frankly kind of ridiculous. It makes notifications even more distracting, yet my phone felt more alive in some weird manner. You do have more practical lighting effects to choose from, and they won’t make your phone feel spring. But it is really fun to mess around with.
Chinese smartphones are known for going all‑in on customizations, and it’s great to see that Samsung doesn’t fall behind either. The Galaxy S26 hardware does appear safe in places. Good Lock helps push back against that by having the software be more unique.
Utility is solid too
Good Lock is not only about making your phone look different. You get access to plenty of modules that are quietly useful. I already called NotiStar my favorite in the Galaxy S26 review, and I still think it is one of the best Good Lock tools because notification management is one of those things Android can never make too good. Sound Assistant is a close second for me because it gives you more granular control over audio behavior than the regular settings menu.
Then there is Nice Catch, which helps track unexplained actions like vibrations, sounds, ringer mode changes, call mode changes, and toast notifications. If you’ve ever been bothered or curious about why your phone is buzzing for no apparent reason, this makes sure no software gets away with it.
Camera Assistant is another module worth calling out. Samsung’s own Good Lock listing includes camera customization among its plugin tools, and the module adds the sort of camera behavior tweaks that power users usually wish were built directly into the default camera app.
The beauty of Good Lock is that you do not need to use all of this. Samsung has built a modular app that lets you choose how deep you want to go. So you can simply skip any of the ones that don’t interest you.
Samsung can brag about this more
Good Lock isn’t entirely unknown. At this point, it’s more of an open secret. However, it can be a bit confusing for those getting into it for the first time. A casual user could open it, stare at the list, and leave immediately. But if you give it a shot, you’ll see why the flexibility in Android is the reason why many people never move over to Apple’s polished but locked ecosystem. After using it properly on the Galaxy S26, going back to a cleaner Android phone seems strangely limiting.
Imagine the moisture in the air around you could recharge your fitness band or run the sensors in your smart home. That is precisely what an international team of scientists led by Queen Mary University of London has accomplished.
Their newly unveiled Moisture‑Electric Generator (MEG) converts ambient humidity into usable electricity using only three commonplace kitchen items: gelatin, table salt and activated charcoal.
How it operates
The MEG captures water molecules either from the surrounding atmosphere or directly from human skin. As the gelatin‑salt mixture dries, it spontaneously separates into three distinct layers without any elaborate manufacturing steps.
This layered arrangement establishes a moisture gradient that drives ion migration through the material, producing a steady output of roughly 1 volt per unit that can last for more than 30 days.
When 100 units are linked in series, the voltage climbs to about 90 V and the current reaches 5.08 mA—enough to illuminate a string of 40 decorative lights. The 100‑unit stack weighs only 6.7 g and occupies less volume than a typical AA battery, which supplies just 1.5 V.
Beyond power generation
The MEG also functions as a self‑powered sensor. It can monitor breathing in real time by detecting fluctuations in exhaled moisture, count the syllables in spoken words, and gauge skin hydration levels.
Touch‑free proximity detection is possible as well, since the natural moisture from a hovering fingertip can trigger a voltage response. Importantly, the device biodegrades in soil within three weeks and can be recycled by dissolving it in water and remoulding it, without any loss of performance.
The MEG adds to a growing portfolio of battery‑free energy concepts. Earlier work includes a protein nanowire that harvests electricity from air moisture, a bionic mushroom that generates power via bacteria, and ultra‑thin, nearly invisible solar cells that can coat a car window.
At first glance, it looks like a regular USB cable. But a new Kickstarter project called Hacknect is trying to turn something as ordinary as a charging cable into a surprisingly powerful hacking and automation device. The product is being pitched toward ethical hackers, cybersecurity researchers, developers, and automation enthusiasts. Hidden inside the cable is a tiny Wi‑Fi‑enabled computer powered by an ESP32‑S3 chip, allowing it to do far more than simply charge a phone or transfer files.
According to the Kickstarter campaign, Hacknect can remotely execute scripts, automate tasks, emulate keyboard inputs, and even store hidden files through a built‑in microSD card slot. Users can reportedly control the cable wirelessly through a browser dashboard or smartphone.
In simple terms, once plugged into a computer, the cable can pretend to be a keyboard and automatically type commands or launch scripts. That’s why many people are comparing it to tools like the USB Rubber Ducky and O.MG Cable, which are already popular in cybersecurity circles for penetration testing and security training.
Why a cable like this is grabbing attention
The interesting part is not just what Hacknect can do – it’s how invisible it looks while doing it.
Cybersecurity tools used to look like developer hardware or bulky gadgets. Now, they’re increasingly being disguised as everyday objects. A charging cable that secretly contains a wireless hacking platform feels like something out of a spy movie, which is exactly why projects like this grab attention so quickly online.
For professionals, there are legitimate uses. Security teams often use devices like these to test whether employees can detect malicious USB devices or to simulate real‑world cyberattacks during training exercises. Automation enthusiasts can also use them for repetitive workflows, scripting, or remote device management.
But there’s also an uncomfortable side to this conversation.
Because the cable looks completely normal, critics argue that the same features could potentially be abused if used irresponsibly. A device capable of remotely injecting commands into a computer naturally raises concerns about unauthorized access and physical cybersecurity threats.
What makes devices like Hacknect dangerous is how easily they blend into everyday life. Most people would never suspect that a normal‑looking charging cable could secretly execute commands, inject keystrokes, or remotely communicate over Wi‑Fi. That creates a major trust problem around physical device security.
In the wrong hands, tools like this could potentially be used to steal data, install malicious software, or gain unauthorized access to systems without immediately raising suspicion. Since the cable appears completely ordinary, victims may plug it into personal laptops, office systems, or shared computers without thinking twice. Cybersecurity experts have long warned that physical hardware attacks are becoming harder to detect – and products like this show why.
The bigger trend behind it
Hacknect also reflects a larger shift happening in cybersecurity right now. As software defenses become stronger, researchers and attackers alike are paying more attention to hardware‑based attack methods.
At the same time, Western companies are increasingly paying attention to the hardware innovation happening in smaller developer communities and independent tech projects. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter have become a launchpad for niche cybersecurity gadgets that might once have stayed hidden inside underground forums or specialist circles.
That said, products like this still sit in a gray area. The creators heavily market Hacknect as an ethical hacking and educational tool, but like most cybersecurity hardware, the intent behind how it’s used matters far more than the gadget itself.
And while it may look like an ordinary cable sitting on a desk, Hacknect is a reminder that modern cybersecurity threats are starting to hide in plain sight.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the iconic faces of the Moon‑landing era. Elon Musk’s vision for Mars may feature a very different public figure: Chun Wang, a cryptocurrency billionaire whose wealth stems from Bitcoin mining.
Wang is slated to head a future SpaceX Starship flight that would swing past Mars and then return to Earth. SpaceX has not disclosed a launch window, and the mission remains contingent on Starship demonstrating it can safely transport humans far beyond low‑Earth orbit.
From Apollo legends to billionaire space tourists
Private space travel has already passed its celebrity stage. In April 2025, Blue Origin launched Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn and Kerianne Flynn on the NS‑31 New Shepard flight. The all‑female sub‑orbital trip lasted only minutes but captured worldwide attention.
Wang’s planned expedition is far more ambitious than a brief hop to the edge of space. The Mars flyby is expected to take roughly two years, presenting a far tougher challenge for both the passenger and the vehicle. Should SpaceX succeed, Wang could become one of the first humans to journey toward Mars, even without touching down.
Wang is no stranger to private spaceflight. He previously commanded SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, a Crew Dragon flight that took four civilian astronauts over Earth’s polar regions in 2025. That several‑day orbital experience gave Wang real spaceflight credentials before his intended Starship jump. While this background doesn’t diminish the ambition of a Mars flyby, it shows SpaceX isn’t selecting someone with no prior space experience.
Musk’s Mars ambition still hinges on a functional vehicle
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the twelfth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/XXBAtryPpL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
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Elon Musk has long asserted that SpaceX aims for Mars. Starship is the launch system built for that purpose, but it remains in the testing phase.
SpaceX’s upgraded Starship V3 lifted off on May 22 2026 after an earlier scrub caused by a launch‑tower issue. The uncrewed test reportedly met most objectives, including stage separation and a simulated Starlink satellite deployment, before ending with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean and a dramatic fireball. SpaceX explained the fiery conclusion was intentional, as the company did not intend to recover or reuse the experimental craft.
Since Starship has yet to carry humans, Wang’s Mars mission is still a long way off. For now, the proposal depends on SpaceX proving the rocket can safely ferry people far beyond Earth.
For the past two years, tech firms have loudly proclaimed that AI is ready to take over large swaths of repetitive human labor. Yet Starbucks has just found out that correctly spotting milk cartons inside a coffee shop remains tougher than Silicon Valley promised.
The chain is officially pulling the plug on its AI-driven inventory counting system across North America only nine months after launch, Reuters reported. The solution, meant to automate stock tallies and curb in‑store shortages, reportedly suffered from frequent miscounts and labeling mix‑ups, such as confusing similar milk varieties or overlooking items altogether.
Starbucks’ AI inventory system: More headaches than help?
The automated setup relied on cameras and LIDAR‑equipped tablets to scan beverage inventories and ingredient supplies throughout stores. It formed part of CEO Brian Niccol’s broader “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan, which aims to boost product availability and operational efficiency.
Even though Starbucks previously claimed the system enhanced inventory visibility, staff continued to battle inaccurate counts and unreliable product recognition. Internal communications reviewed by Reuters even showed workers openly celebrating the tool’s removal. Starbucks says it will revert to manual inventory counting while concentrating on more standardized replenishment processes and daily restocking improvements.
AI keeps stumbling over the mundane tasks companies said it would solve first
The irony is that inventory counting is exactly the kind of structured, repetitive job AI vendors constantly argue should be easy to automate. Yet once these systems move from polished demos to chaotic real‑world settings with shifting lighting, similar packaging, and busy staff, they tend to break down quickly.
This is especially awkward given how aggressively corporations are chasing AI adoption. Companies are laying off workers, reshuffling teams, and pouring billions into automation while many AI tools still flounder on basic reliability in everyday workflows. Starbucks becoming the latest “humans still needed” case feels both funny and inevitable. Perhaps the bigger takeaway is that replacing people proves far tougher than swapping PowerPoint decks for AI‑generated buzzwords.
A lot of people on MacBooks do not really think of themselves as gamers. Aside from a few casual titles on phones or trying out GTA or COD on their friend’s console, many don’t really get into that hobby. Macs have never had the same gaming reputation as Windows PCs, and if your idea of gaming is competitive shooters or open-world RPGs from AAA studios, it’s easy to miss out on the gems that are available on the Mac ecosystem.
But some of the best games for non-gamers are not about fast reflexes at all. They are about choices, curiosity, grief, adventure, and so much more. This is exactly why I’ve chosen these three games, which aren’t your typical hardware showcase. These go much deeper than that. Video games as an art form have been a long-standing debate, and I can’t recommend Disco Elysium, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Firewatch enough.
What stands out here is the confidence in writing and atmosphere.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is one of the best arguments that games can be literature without becoming homework. Enter the underwhelming role of a broken detective investigating a murder, but that description barely covers what the game actually does. This is a game about a lot of things. From politics and addiction to identity and the horror of waking up as yourself after everything has gone wrong. There’s a combat loop here, and it’s your conversational skills.
The real battles are fought inside your head, as different parts of the protagonist’s personality play a big role in the outcome of the story. This makes it perfect for MacBook users who do not want a mechanically demanding game. You simply talk, choose, and live with the consequences. Steam describes it as having a “revolutionary dialogue system,” and seeing how you can write sweet talk, romance, and even write poetry in-game, I’d say that’s pretty apt.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is the game I would hand to someone who says they do not have time for games. In essence, it’s a series of connected short stories and experiences that are condensed into one single game that is incredibly easy to understand. You explore the Finch family home as the titular Editch, uncovering the stories of relatives who died in strange, tragic, sometimes surreal ways.
Each interactive short story changes how you play for a little while, but none of them asks you to master complicated systems. It is experienced from a first-person perspective and ends with that family member’s death, with the larger game exploring what it feels like to be humbled by the world.
If the concept sounds heavy, that’s exactly what the devs were going for. This is from the same people who brought you other critically acclaimed titles like Outer Wilds and Stray. So it’s no surprise that there’s a strong focus on narrative. You are not just watching a family history unfold; you are experiencing it yourself and piecing it together room by room.
Firewatch
Firewatch is probably the easiest of the three to recommend to someone who wants a “normal” game but does not want stress. You play as Henry, a man working as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Your main connection is Delilah, another lookout who speaks to you through a walkie-talkie.
While the setup is simple, the game has a very distinct feel to it. Firewatch is about isolation, emotional escape, and the danger of treating distance like a solution. This is a proper single-player experience where choices shape the narrative.
You can expect to explore, talk, and investigate as you slowly get pulled into something stranger. It is not difficult in the traditional sense, but you will be facing emotional challenges between two characters who aren’t honest enough to face their own lives.
For non-gamers on MacBooks, these three games are a perfect starting point. They are not about proving you are good at games. These are experiences that will make you stop and think for a while.
If you use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, you have probably noticed a floating Copilot button hovering over your documents. It has been there since December 2025, sitting at the bottom-right corner of your screen, and Microsoft is finally letting you move it.
Starting the last week of May 2026, an update will give users the option to send it back to the ribbon where it belongs.
Why did Microsoft add the floating Copilot button in the first place?
The short answer is numbers. Only around 3.3% of Microsoft 365 users actually pay for Copilot, and adoption has stayed well below what Microsoft expected. To push more people toward the feature, Microsoft rolled out what it calls the Copilot Dynamic Action Button, or DAB, and quietly expanded it to everyone by May 2026.
The idea was that making Copilot more visible would drive more clicks, which it did. However, it also drove a wave of complaints. Excel users were hit hardest, since the button floated directly over spreadsheet cells, blocking data with no easy way to dismiss it.
How to move the Copilot button off your screen
Once the update rolls out, you can right-click the Copilot icon and choose to move it back to the ribbon. Microsoft is not removing the dock option, so you will still be able to switch between the floating button, the docked version, and the ribbon placement depending on your preference.
Katie Kivett, partner group product manager at Microsoft, acknowledged the frustration, saying the company is making short-term adjustments while it figures out a better long-term approach.
This is not the first time Microsoft has quietly scaled back Copilot. Just a month ago, it began pulling Copilot buttons from various Windows 11 apps after similar pushback. It seems Microsoft is slowly learning that forcing AI into every corner of your workflow is not the same as making it useful.
