Tech news today is led by a teardown confirming the iPhone 18 Pro Max still uses a Qualcomm modem in the US, plus President Trump’s announcement that he wants to form an ‘AI Force’ and appoint an AI czar to oversee the industry.
Table of Contents
- The TLDR
-
Tech & Apps
- iPhone 18 Pro Max Teardown Confirms US Models Still Use a Qualcomm Modem
- Why Apple Ditched Its Shorter Apple Pencil for the iPhone Duo
- Trump Says He’ll Create an ‘AI Force’ and Name an AI Czar
- Google Analyst Went Undercover Inside the TeamPCP Hacking Gang
- What Is iPhone Handoff, and Which Carriers Support It?
- Here’s Which AI Chatbot Apps Now Work With CarPlay
- Science & Space
- Tech News FAQs
- Make Your Digital Life Better
This tech news roundup also covers why Apple scrapped a shorter Apple Pencil for the iPhone Duo, an undercover Google analyst’s infiltration of a major hacking gang, explainers on iPhone Handoff and CarPlay chatbot apps, plus science stories on an Iron Age iron bar discovery in Austria, a wildfire threatening a Colombian tourist town, and New Zealand’s Bird of the Year.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: iPhone 18 Pro Max Teardown Confirms US Models Still Use a Qualcomm Modem
- Science & Space: Archaeologists Confirm Europe’s Largest Cache of Iron Age Iron Bars in Austria
Tech & Apps
iPhone 18 Pro Max Teardown Confirms US Models Still Use a Qualcomm Modem
A teardown from TechInsights confirms that iPhone 18 Pro Max units sold in the US still use a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem — the same chip found in last year’s iPhone 17 lineup — rather than Apple’s own C2 modem, according to 9to5Mac. Everywhere else in the world, the iPhone 18 Pro Max ships with Apple’s in-house modem, and the standard iPhone 18 Pro also uses Apple’s chip in the US. Analysts believe the split is contractual rather than a performance choice.
Why Apple Ditched Its Shorter Apple Pencil for the iPhone Duo
Apple had been developing a shorter Apple Pencil meant to attach to the iPhone Duo’s hinge, but scrapped the project after hitting technical problems ahead of mass production, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman via 9to5Mac. Instead, Apple added support for its existing USB-C Apple Pencil at the iPhone Duo keynote. That compatibility isn’t live yet — Apple reportedly needs to build and test new software first, with support expected by the end of 2026.
Trump Says He’ll Create an ‘AI Force’ and Name an AI Czar
President Trump announced on Truth Social that his administration plans to form an ‘AI Force,’ modeled on the Space Force, and will soon name an AI czar to lead it, according to The Verge. The announcement came amid growing calls from across the political spectrum, and even within the AI industry, to slow development. Trump said his administration “will not in any way hinder or stifle” the industry’s growth.
Google Analyst Went Undercover Inside the TeamPCP Hacking Gang
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group revealed that one of its analysts spent months undercover inside TeamPCP, a group blamed for tainting hundreds of open-source packages and breaching more than 1,000 companies, according to Ars Technica. The undercover persona was reportedly brought into the group’s inner circle early on, giving Google visibility that helped warn victims and trace operational security mistakes back to the group. Two alleged members from Australia have since been arrested.
What Is iPhone Handoff, and Which Carriers Support It?
Apple’s iOS 27 ‘Handoff’ feature lets you use the same phone number across two iPhones — unlock whichever device you want active, and calls and texts follow, per Engadget. Right now, only T-Mobile in the US and Telekom in Germany support it, and T-Mobile charges an extra $5 a month. Both phones need iOS 27 or later, the same Wi-Fi network, and the same Apple Account, though paired Apple Watches and some Wallet passes won’t switch over automatically.
Here’s Which AI Chatbot Apps Now Work With CarPlay
If Siri isn’t cutting it on road trips, several chatbot apps now work with Apple CarPlay, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Meta AI, Grok, and Claude, according to Engadget. The apps run through an API Apple introduced with iOS 26.4 and are limited to voice commands for safety while driving. For more on choosing between AI assistants day-to-day, see our ChatGPT vs Gemini breakdown.
Science & Space
Archaeologists Confirm Europe’s Largest Cache of Iron Age Iron Bars in Austria
A new study in the journal Antiquity confirms that a haul of iron bars pulled from the Danube River at a gravel plant in Austria is the largest known assemblage of prehistoric iron bars in Europe, according to ScienceAlert. Researchers from the University of Innsbruck and a French research institute dated roughly 500 double-pointed iron bars, weighing about a metric ton total, to the Late Iron Age’s La Tène period. They believe the bars were being shipped down the river for trade when they were lost, likely in a shipwreck.
Wildfire Threatens Colombian Tourist Town of Villa de Leyva
A forest fire that broke out Saturday near the colonial tourist town of Villa de Leyva in Colombia’s Andes had burned more than 200 hectares by Sunday afternoon, according to Phys.org. Colombia’s disaster management agency said the blaze was about 50% under control as roughly 250 firefighters and residents, backed by helicopters, worked to contain it. Officials said the fire may have been deliberately set.
New Zealand’s Bird of the Year Goes to the Critically Endangered Black Robin
New Zealanders voted the critically endangered black robin as this year’s Bird of the Year, with more than 26,000 of roughly 105,000 total votes going to the species, according to Phys.org. Only five black robins were alive in 1980, all on New Zealand’s Chatham Islands; conservation efforts have since grown the population to around 350 birds across two protected sites. The group behind the bird’s campaign now wants to establish a third habitat for the species.
Explore more: ChatGPT vs Gemini breakdown, rotating streaming subscriptions without losing track.
Tech News FAQs
Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max use a Qualcomm modem in the US?
Yes. A teardown from TechInsights confirmed the US version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, the same chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup, while other regions get Apple’s own C2 modem.
What is Trump’s ‘AI Force’?
Trump announced plans to form an AI Force, modeled on the Space Force, and said he will soon name an AI czar to lead it. Specific details on the group’s role haven’t been finalized yet.
Which carriers support iPhone Handoff?
As of now, only T-Mobile in the US and Telekom in Germany support iPhone Handoff, which lets one phone number work across two iPhones. T-Mobile charges an extra $5 a month for the feature.
Which AI chatbot apps work with CarPlay?
ChatGPT, Perplexity, Meta AI, Grok, and Claude are among the chatbot apps that now work with Apple CarPlay through an API introduced in iOS 26.4. All are limited to voice commands while driving.
Make Your Digital Life Better
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Originally published at gtwebs.com.
