Apps

Apple Launches Klarna-backed Upgrade Leasing

Apple is launching the Apple Upgrade device-leasing program, backed by Klarna, set to debut in the U.S. on July 28 with 24-month leases for iPhone and Apple Watch and 36-month leases for Mac and iPad, allowing early upgrades, payoff, or returns as it phases out the current iPhone Upgrade Program. The move, aimed at expanding financing options and customer access to the latest devices, accompanies exclusions such as AppleCare and some devices, and signals Klarna’s growing role in Apple’s device-financing strategy.

23 sources

Photo: Asoundd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Google's Nuvem cable connects US Portugal

Google’s Nuvem subsea cable connects Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with Sines, Portugal, routing through Bermuda and the Azores over about 7,000 km to provide a 384-terabit-per-second data corridor between the U.S. and Europe. The deployment reinforces Portugal’s role as an Atlantic gateway and hub for AI-driven data centers, aided by renewable-energy-powered infrastructure and major tech investments.

7 sources

Photo: United States Department of the Treasury / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

US China plan September AI safety talks

U.S. and China are moving toward formal AI talks in September, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to set guardrails for frontier models and address risks to security, cyber threats, and labor markets following the May Trump-Xi summit. The discussions, aimed at establishing intergovernmental governance on AI before Xi’s September 24 U.S. visit, signal a continued effort to manage rivalry while keeping lines of communication open.

6 sources

IQE lifts 2026 revenue growth forecast

IQE lifted its 2026 revenue growth forecast to more than 30% driven by accelerating demand for Indium Phosphide optical photonics in AI and data-centre infrastructure, anchored by first-half revenues of at least £64m and a debt-free balance sheet. Despite 2025 weakness in wireless and ongoing margin pressures, management expects continued momentum across photonics, aerospace/defense, and 3D sensing to sustain growth into the latter half of 2026.

7 sources

Photo: SWinxy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Thinking Machines Inkling Open-Weights AI for Enterprise

Thinking Machines Lab unveiled Inkling, a 975-billion-parameter open-weight model led by Mira Murati, designed for enterprise customization with downloadable weights and a Tinker platform for fine-tuning; it uses a mixture-of-experts architecture to balance efficiency and task-specific performance while signaling uncertainty. The company positions Inkling as a flexible alternative to closed models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, and as a competitive option against Chinese open models.

16 sources

Pulse