All posts filed under: Technology News

Apple Patches Beats Studio Buds Wiretap Flaw

Apple Patches Beats Studio Buds Wiretap Flaw

Your earbuds should not become someone else’s microphone. Apple released Beats Firmware Update 1B211 on June 16 to fix a Bluetooth vulnerability in Beats Studio Buds that could have let an attacker within range listen through the earbuds’ microphone while the device was unpaired and actively seeking a connection. The issue, tracked as CVE-2025-20701, highlights why wireless accessories should be part of routine device security checks, especially when they are used near work phones, laptops, calls, and voice assistants. What Apple fixed Apple patched a Bluetooth vulnerability in Beats Studio Buds that could have exposed the earbuds’ microphone under specific pairing conditions. In its security advisory, Apple said an attacker within Bluetooth range may have been able to listen through the microphone of a device that was not yet paired and was actively seeking a pairing request. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2025-20701. Apple described it as a vulnerability in open source code and said Apple software was among the affected projects. The company credited Dennis Heinze and Frieder Steinmetz of ERNW GmbH for reporting …

Apple to Work With Intel on US Chip Production, Trump Says

Apple to Work With Intel on US Chip Production, Trump Says

Intel may have just landed the customer that could change everything. After years of trying to convince the industry it can manufacture advanced chips for other companies, Intel appears to have secured a major vote of confidence from Apple. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the iPhone maker would work with Intel to design and manufacture chips in the US, sending Intel’s shares soaring. The significance extends beyond a single deal. If the partnership materializes, it would mark a major milestone in Washington’s effort to expand domestic chip production while giving Apple another manufacturing option at a time when chip supply chain reliability has become a strategic priority. A partnership with a backdrop The announcement comes at an interesting time for Intel. For years, the chipmaker has been trying to reinvent itself as a leading contract manufacturer capable of producing advanced chips for other companies, a difficult task in a market largely dominated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Since returning to office, President Trump has repeatedly backed initiatives aimed at expanding domestic chip production, …

Apple’s Next iPhone Air Could Arrive in Spring 2027

Apple’s Next iPhone Air Could Arrive in Spring 2027

A second act, six months late. Apple is preparing a second-generation iPhone Air that could arrive in spring 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The device is reportedly in advanced testing and is expected to keep the same ultra-thin design while addressing two of the biggest criticisms of the current model: its camera system and battery life. The new device is said to carry the internal codename V62 and could add a second rear camera for ultrawide photography. That would mark a notable change for the Air lineup, which currently relies on a single rear lens. Bloomberg reported that the extra camera is among the major upgrades Apple is considering as it looks to make the slim handset more appealing to buyers. Camera complaints appear to be driving the changes The first iPhone Air debuted in September 2025 with a thin design that helped it stand out from the rest of Apple’s smartphone lineup. But the trade-off for that slimmer chassis was a simpler camera setup. According to Bloomberg, Apple views the camera system as one of the biggest …

Android 17 Is Live on Pixel, but Samsung and Other Android Users Still Have to Wait

Android 17 Is Live on Pixel, but Samsung and Other Android Users Still Have to Wait

Android 17 is now rolling out to supported Pixel devices, but Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, Motorola, and other Android users should not expect the same update timeline. Google’s Android 17 launch combines three moving parts: core platform features, Pixel-only additions from the June Pixel Drop, and features scheduled for later release. For non-Pixel users and IT teams, the update cycle now shifts to each device maker’s roadmap, beta program, and enterprise testing process. Pixel gets Android 17 first Google lists Android 17 over-the-air updates and downloads for Pixel 6 and newer devices, including Pixel Fold models and Pixel Tablet. Supported Pixel users can update through device settings, while developers and testers can use Google’s system images when they need more control over installation. For most non-Pixel users, the stable update remains a manufacturer-by-manufacturer wait. Google says Android 17 will reach other eligible Android devices throughout 2026, while select partner devices from brands including HONOR, iQOO, Lenovo, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Sharp, vivo, and Xiaomi can test Android 17 beta builds through separate OEM channels. Pixel coverage …

The World Claims Tech Sovereignty: What of Australia

The World Claims Tech Sovereignty: What of Australia

Major economies are moving to reduce dependence on foreign-controlled technology supply chains. Australia has not yet made that shift at scale, but it is increasingly exposed to markets that have. The European Commission announced its European Technological Sovereignty Package last week, the most recent expression of this gradual shift. The US has already legislated billions into domestic semiconductor manufacturing through the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022. China, too, has pursued domestic capabilities across hardware, cloud, and AI for many years. Countries across Southeast Asia have implemented or strengthened data localization requirements, indicating a common pattern: technology infrastructure is now an important geopolitical asset, and control over it matters. For Australian CIOs, cybersecurity teams, cloud architects, and technology exporters, the question is no longer whether this shift is happening, because it has already started. The question is what it means for the way Australian organizations buy, use, and sell technology, and how long they have before decisions are made for them. The global technology architecture is being redrawn The EU’s package gives the clearest picture yet of where sovereign …

What Is a Gantt Chart and How Does It Work?

What Is a Gantt Chart and How Does It Work?

Key takeaways: A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that illustrates a project schedule, showing the start and end dates of individual tasks or activities and their dependencies. It allows project managers to visualize the project’s critical path, the sequence of tasks that must be completed on time to keep the project on schedule. A Gantt chart is best used in linear projects where tasks follow a sequential order. The first time I had to present a multiphase project to a stakeholder, a task list didn’t cut it. I needed one visual that showed the project timeline, task sequence, and key dependencies without making me narrate every detail. A Gantt chart gave me that view, helping me show how one task affected another and where delays could ripple through the project. Despite the name, the earliest version of this kind of chart is often credited to Polish engineer Karol Adamiecki, who developed a scheduling tool called the harmonogram in the 1890s. Henry Gantt later popularized a similar version in the early 1900s, which is …

The 5 Best Online C Programming Courses

The 5 Best Online C Programming Courses

Learning C can still be useful in 2026, especially if you want to understand how software works at a closer-to-hardware level. C remains widely used in systems programming, embedded software, operating systems, and performance-sensitive applications. It can also make it easier to learn other programming languages because many share concepts influenced by C. Free tutorials can help you get started. Still, structured online courses offer a clearer path through syntax, memory management, pointers, debugging, and hands-on projects. I picked these five online C programming courses based on course depth, format, time commitment, prerequisites, learner fit, and overall practical value. Best of C courses: Comparison table Course Harvard’s CS50 (Harvard University on edX) C Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning) C Programming with Linux Specialization (Coursera) C Programming for Beginners (Udemy) Introductory C Programming Specialization (Coursera) Cost Free for course, $219 for certification $39.99 per month with LinkedIn Premium subscription $20 per month $119.99 $20 per month Duration 12 weeks at 10 – 20 hours per week 2 hours, 51 minutes 2 months at 10 hours per week …

Google Launches  Gemini-Powered Home Speaker

Google Launches $99 Gemini-Powered Home Speaker

Google just turned its smart speaker into a household AI. With the launch of the new Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker, the company is moving beyond the command-and-response model that defined voice assistants for years. Instead of relying on specific instructions, the device is designed to understand context, maintain conversations, and handle more complex requests throughout the home. The launch represents a major overhaul of Google’s smart home strategy, coming at a time when consumer expectations have shifted from simple automation to AI-driven, nuanced assistance. It also sets Gemini as the intelligence layer connecting Google’s growing ecosystem of products and services that consumers rely on daily. What Gemini changes at home The central feature of the Google Home Speaker is Gemini. For anyone following Google’s product releases, this may not come as a surprise, as the company is embedding Gemini across its products and services. In this case, however, Google is positioning Gemini as a home-focused assistant designed to handle requests in real time. That becomes important in a home setting, where requests are rarely as …

Top 5 Prompt Engineering Certifications Worth Taking

Top 5 Prompt Engineering Certifications Worth Taking

Course spotlight: Coursera’s Google AI Essentials Our assessment: Best for beginners Coursera’s Google AI Essentials stands out as a flexible, beginner-friendly course that shows how to use generative AI to speed up everyday work tasks such as writing emails, summarizing meetings or solving math problems. Learn prompt engineering techniques such as few-shot prompting. Identify generative AI’s potential biases and see how to reduce harm. Determine whether generative AI is right for the tasks you need to do. Plan ahead on how to keep up with the rapidly developing field of generative AI. Prompt engineering is the practice of writing clear instructions that help generative AI tools return more accurate, useful, and repeatable results. As more teams use tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, this skill is becoming useful for more than just developers or AI specialists. In this guide, we reviewed prompt engineering certifications that offer practical training and a certificate of completion. We focused on course depth, flexibility, prerequisites, hands-on value, and how well each program teaches learners to apply prompting techniques responsibly in …