Techlife News

Quantum computing company Photonic Inc. has earned a spot in Stage A of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, a program designed to evaluate scalable quantum computing technologies. The Vancouver-based firm announced its selection during a press briefing, highlighting its role among nearly 20 companies chosen to demonstrate viable quantum systems. For researchers, industry leaders, and technology analysts, this milestone underscores Photonic’s position in advancing distributed quantum computing solutions. Photonic’s inclusion in Stage A follows a rigorous evaluation by DARPA, focusing on its entanglement-first approach, which uses photonic qubits to connect quantum systems across distances. The initiative aims to identify technologies capable of reaching industrial-scale quantum computing within a decade, assessing both performance and cost. This selection places Photonic alongside firms like IBM and IonQ, all tasked…

Aerospace company United Launch Alliance has teamed with Amazon to schedule the initial Project Kuiper launch, a satellite internet network aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink, set for a three-hour window opening at noon Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch provider will deploy 27 satellites using an Atlas V rocket, kicking off Amazon’s effort to place 3,232 satellites in low Earth orbit. For satellite internet providers, consumers, and industry analysts, this mission marks Amazon’s debut in a competitive broadband-from-space market. Project Kuiper targets global high-speed internet delivery, challenging Starlink’s network of nearly 6,500 satellites serving over 5 million customers worldwide. ULA’s Atlas V, built at its Decatur, Alabama facility, will lift off from Space Launch Complex 41, starting Amazon’s multi-launch plan with various providers. This mission,…

Entrepreneur Elon Musk will stay on as a senior White House adviser to complete his mission with the Department of Government Efficiency, the White House announced, dismissing reports of an imminent departure. The administration clarified this stance during a press briefing, affirming Musk’s commitment to cutting federal spending and workforce size under President Donald Trump’s directive. For government officials, industry leaders, and taxpayers, this statement resolves speculation about Musk’s role in the cost-cutting initiative. Musk, tasked with leading DOGE, aims to slash $1 trillion from the federal budget within his 130-day term as a special government employee, a role set to conclude by late May unless extended. The White House emphasized that both Trump and Musk have agreed he will exit once his objectives are met, countering media claims of…

Software developer Google has readied its Find My Device network for a substantial update, adding ultra-wideband technology similar to Apple’s AirTags to boost location tracking accuracy on Android devices. The company’s latest app update contains code revealing this enhancement, offering precise item-finding capabilities for users. For Android owners, app creators, and market analysts, this upgrade represents a significant improvement in Google’s tracking system, aligning it closer to Apple’s Find My network. The Find My Device network currently uses GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi to locate devices and trackers, supporting offline searches across over 3 billion Android phones worldwide. The integration of ultra-wideband technology will allow compatible Android devices to pinpoint lost items with greater detail, narrowing locations to specific areas within a space. This development enhances Google’s ecosystem, directly competing with…

Apple has updated its Home app to include support for robot vacuums, integrating them into its smart home ecosystem via the Matter standard and iOS 18.4 software update. The company rolled out this feature in San Francisco, allowing iPhone users to manage compatible robot vacuums through the app and Siri voice commands. For homeowners, developers, and smart home users, this update expands Apple Home’s functionality, offering a unified control point for automated cleaning devices. The iOS 18.4 release enables Matter-compatible robot vacuums from brands like Roborock, Ecovacs, and iRobot to join the Home app, alongside existing devices such as lights and thermostats. The firm leverages Matter, an industry-wide smart home protocol, to connect these vacuums seamlessly, marking a step forward in its competition with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This…

Computer services leader IBM has renewed its collaboration with Tokyo Electron, a Japanese semiconductor equipment maker, to advance cutting-edge chip technology over the next five years. The companies announced the extension during a joint press briefing, focusing on next-generation semiconductor nodes and architectures to support artificial intelligence applications. For chipmakers, tech developers, and industry analysts, this agreement strengthens an alliance that has shaped semiconductor innovation for over two decades. The partnership builds on IBM’s expertise in chip design and Tokyo Electron’s equipment manufacturing prowess, targeting smaller nodes and chiplet-based designs for AI-driven computing. Both firms aim to develop technologies that enhance performance and energy efficiency, addressing the growing demands of generative AI systems. This collaboration operates within the Albany NanoTech Complex in New York, a hub for semiconductor research hosting…