Tech News Roundup — June 22, 2026 (AM)

Linux and open-source hardware lead this morning’s tech roundup with three Phoronix stories: Valve’s open-source graphics team is landing GPU-recovery improvements for early AMD GCN hardware, the Rust-based zlib-rs ships a 0.6.4 release with an Intel Raptor Lake crash fix, and Qualcomm posts Linux kernel patches bringing up the HP EliteBook X G2q (Snapdragon X2 Elite). Space coverage from Portugal’s Pplware highlights two NASA Mars stories: a curious stacked-rock formation photographed by Perseverance, and a new prototype rover designed to be 10× faster than its predecessors by lifting each wheel independently. On the AI side, Pplware reports that ChatGPT is losing millions of users while Anthropic’s Claude is gaining ground. Hyundais full takeover of Boston Dynamics is now complete, with the Atlas humanoid headed to automotive production. The Verge brings three smaller stories (Bose Studios, a Cold Court EP review, and Polymarket’s fake-bet videos), and there’s a smattering of Microsoft, Google, and consumer-tech notes below.

Linux & Open Source

• Early AMD GCN GPUs get better GPU recovery. Valve’s open-source Linux graphics driver team is landing work to improve the GPU-recovery process on early AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next hardware so a hang doesn’t lock up the entire display pipeline. It’s the latest in a string of Valve-funded Linux improvements. Phoronix
• zlib-rs 0.6.4 ships with an Intel Raptor Lake crash fix. The Rust-based Zlib implementation adds SIMD optimisations and resolves a Raptor Lake regression that surfaced with last week’s Firefox integration work. Phoronix
• Qualcomm posts Linux kernel patches for the HP EliteBook X G2q. Following last month’s Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen11 Snapdragon X2 bring-up, Qualcomm engineers have sent out a new set of patches enabling the HP EliteBook X G2q X2 Elite laptop. Phoronix

AI & ML

• ChatGPT is losing millions of users; Claude is climbing. More than three years after launch, OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains a household name in AI but is shedding users at a meaningful clip, while Anthropic’s Claude has surged to capture a growing share of the consumer and developer market. Pplware

Space & Science

• NASA’s Perseverance spots a stack of perfectly arranged rocks on Mars. The rover photographed an unusual formation of apparently stacked rocks on the Martian surface, drawing fresh attention from the planetary-science community. Pplware
• NASA tests a Mars rover 10× faster than its predecessors. A new prototype can lift each wheel independently to clear complex obstacles and reach significantly higher speeds than the current generation of exploration rovers. Pplware

Hardware & Robotics

• Hyundai assumes full control of Boston Dynamics; Atlas heads to the car factory. Hyundai has formally taken total ownership of Boston Dynamics, and the Atlas humanoid robot will be deployed on automotive production lines rather than just starring in viral demo videos. Pplware
• Razer’s Rogue V4 backpack ditches the gamer aesthetic. A $110 backpack with serious engineering behind it: durability, comfort, and style without leaning on the loud Razer-green gamer look. Windows Central

Microsoft & Google

• Android 17 ships with a bizarre Pixel Wi-Fi bug. Google’s latest Android release is rolling out first to Pixel devices, but a strange Wi-Fi issue is already making the rounds, requiring a follow-up patch. Pplware
• Gmail app bug prevents replying to messages. A new Gmail client regression is blocking users from sending replies on mobile; Google is investigating. Pplware
• Google Search quietly recommends DuckDuckGo to dodge AI results. A growing subset of Google queries now surfaces a tip suggesting DuckDuckGo as a way to opt out of AI-overviews and other generative search features. Pplware

Gaming

• A look back at 30 years of Diablo music. A feature on the Diablo Infernal Symphony and the composers behind three decades of the franchise’s iconic soundtrack. Windows Central
• Wired Productions sets a launch date for BrokenLore: Don’t Lie. A psychological horror adventure touching on modern social themes; release date announcement inside. Pplware

The Verge

• Bose thinks it can be a media company. Bose Studios and a new record label are part of a CMO-led push away from “campaign-driven marketing” — history suggests the path is treacherous. [The Verge]
• Cold Court’s debut EP is an infectious, glitchy genre mashup. A brother-sister duo from Philly turns hyperpop, dance punk, and emo into a messy, mostly successful soup. [The Verge]
• Polymarket reportedly paid people to post fake videos of themselves placing bets. A WSJ investigation identified over 1,100 deceptive clips, with subtle tells (like “poiymarket.com”) betraying the ruse. [The Verge]

In Brief

• UGREEN NAS owners: PDF Manager is now installable. A self-hosted PDF viewer/annotator with multi-user libraries, tags, full-text search, sharing, and OIDC SSO. Marius Hosting
• Portugal moves to reinforce power-grid security with a new capacity mechanism. Government aims to ensure available generation in peak-demand periods. Pplware
• Revolut may have out-earned Caixa Geral de Depósitos in 2025 profitability. The neobank’s European push is reshaping the Portuguese retail-banking landscape. Pplware
• Summer heat prep: a few simple car-care checks. With warmer temperatures arriving, basic checks help avoid breakdowns and keep road safety in shape. Pplware
• A5 motorway may get average-speed cameras in both directions in Portugal. Aiming to reduce accidents on the busy Alentejo stretch. Pplware
• Sweden pushes back on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving rollout in Europe. Regulators cite safety concerns over the EU’s incoming FSD approval. Pplware
• Portugal’s most-anticipated astronomical event of the century, in one site. A primer on what to look for and when. Pplware
• Taiwan is teaching civilians to fly drones, drawing lessons from the Ukraine war. Public drone-pilot courses expand amid cross-strait tensions. Pplware
• Portugal may lower speed limits on key roads. A draft proposal under consultation could trim limits on several national routes. Pplware
• C-DAYS 2026 drew 1,400 participants; new MyCiber platform features revealed. Portugal’s flagship cybersecurity event closes with platform updates. Pplware
• THQ Nordic preps Expeditions: Samurai for launch. A samurai-era entry in the Expeditions series, with a release window confirmed. Pplware
• Portugal’s Multibanco: minimum purchase for card payments of €5 is legal. Regulator clarifies rules around contactless floor. Pplware
• EVs with ≥10% shortfall vs WLTP range may be deemed defective. A new EU consumer-protection interpretation tightens the screws on range claims. Pplware
• Do fitness trackers still work if you have tattoos? A short explainer on the optical sensor vs. ink problem. Pplware
• Apps built by our readers, vol. 135. A weekly roundup of reader-developed mobile apps and games. Pplware
• GoodOffer24 mid-year promo on Windows & Office keys with code TT30. A 30%-style discount promo post; not a hands-on review. Pplware
• Pplware Classics: the weekly music roundup returns. Tracks that shaped the Pplware team’s youth and recent past. Pplware

Roundup compiled from the TTRSS Tech feed. 19 articles from 5 sources summarised; 3 Phoronix items lead the Linux/open-source coverage.