Tech Roundup: Apple's Brazil Move, GTA VI Pre-Orders, iOS 27 Secrets, and More
Apple and iOS Updates
Apple has been forced to open up iOS to third-party app stores in Brazil, following similar moves in the EU and Japan. Developers can now distribute apps through alternative marketplaces and use non-Apple payment processing. Meanwhile, iOS 27 brings a host of hidden features including a new 'Liquid Glass' slider for deeper customization, natural language input in Calendar and Reminders, and over 50 other changes.
- Apple opens up iOS to third-party app stores in Brazil
- iOS 27 has a new 'Liquid Glass' slider
- 57 Hidden iOS 27 Features Apple Didn't Mention
- Everything New in Calendar and Reminders in iOS 27
Gaming
Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders begin June 25 with official cover art revealed. Persona 6 store pages go live on Steam and consoles, hinting at a darker tone. Valve updates its Steam Controller reservation system, with some buyers facing 2027 delivery. MSI's upcoming gaming handheld is priced at $1,800, and the company warns of further price hikes due to component shortages.
- GTA VI pre-orders start this month, official cover art revealed
- Persona 6 Steam and Console Store Pages Live
- Steam Controllers Available To Order 'By September' At the Earliest
- MSI's $1,800 Gaming Handheld Will Likely Get More Expensive
AI, Space & Hardware
Google's AI Overviews are generating fictional SCP Foundation entries as if they were real, raising concerns about accuracy. In space, NASA and Northrop Grumman are planning a robotic rescue mission to save a telescope from reentry. On the hardware front, Longsys unveiled an 8TB PCIe 5.0 SSD the size of a SIM card, and Lenovo launched a $440 AI-ready Mac mini rival in China.
- Google's AI Overviews blabber about fictional monsters as if they're real
- Race against reentry: The wild plan to save a decaying NASA spacecraft
- SIM-card-sized 8TB PCIe 5.0 SSD hits 11GB/s
- Lenovo built an AI-ready Mac mini rival for $440
Wearables, Audio & Auto
Snap unveiled its $2,195 AR glasses 'SPECS' that work without a smartphone. Sennheiser introduced the Accentum Clip open-ear earbuds with LDAC support. Mercedes-Benz showcased the 2028 VLE, an electric 'Grand Limousine' with a 31-inch 8K screen and Dolby Atmos.
- Snap's $2,195 SPECS Ship This Fall and Skip the Phone Entirely
- The Accentum Clip could make open-ear earbuds more appealing
- 2028 Mercedes-Benz VLE first drive: Your 8K living room on wheels
Policy & Health
The UAE has banned social media for children under 15, becoming the first Arab country to do so. In health news, FDA advisors unanimously voted to approve Moderna's mRNA vaccine after earlier political drama.