Tech News Roundup — July 21, 2026 (PM)

Today’s tech feed mixes practical platform work with bigger hardware and AI bets: Microsoft is moving Windows 11 fixes through Insider channels, while Linux developers prepare support for AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo and Zen 6. Google is extending its undersea network to Portugal, XPENG is testing megawatt-class EV charging without a matching grid connection, and smart-glasses hardware is showing signs of becoming less awkward.

Google/Android

• Google’s new Nuvem submarine cable will connect Sines directly to the United States. The cable expands Google’s global infrastructure into Portugal, giving Sines a direct high-capacity route to the US and strengthening the country’s position as an Atlantic connectivity hub. Pplware
• X rebuilds its Android app to address long-running reliability problems. After nearly a year of development, X has launched a substantially reworked Android application intended to eliminate recurring failures and improve the day-to-day experience. Pplware

Microsoft

• Windows 11 moves closer to fixing broken touchpads and the Start menu. Microsoft has released five Insider builds across Beta, Experimental, Release Preview, and 26H1 channels. The releases continue the company’s effort to get its flight schedule back on track while addressing touchpad and Start menu problems. Windows Central

Gaming

• Splatoon Raiders continues Nintendo’s push to make shooters approachable. The Switch 2 spin-off takes the series’ colourful, non-violent paintball identity in a new direction while retaining the accessible design that helped introduce competitive-shooter ideas to a wider audience. [The Verge]
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta dates are set for late August. Early access for customers who preordered runs from August 21 to 25, followed by a free open beta across all platforms from August 28 through September 1. Windows Central
• Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski wants to return to full-time game development. In a new in-depth interview, the former Epic Games designer reflects on Boss Key Productions’ collapse and says he would like to work in games again after an eight-year break. Windows Central

Linux & Open Source

• AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo LED driver is queued for Linux 7.3. The mainline driver will let owners of AMD Ryzen AI Halo mini PCs customise the LED lighting bar on the hardware. Phoronix
• Intel continues building out the experimental LEO feature. Intel Compute Runtime 26.27.39122.11 follows the recent Intel Graphics Compiler 2.38.2 release and expands the still-experimental LEO work in the GPU compute stack. Phoronix
• AMD prepares Linux profiling support for Zen 6. New kernel patches add awareness of more EILVT registers, at least on EPYC Venice platforms, as AMD gets the kernel ready for profiling and perf work on its next-generation processors. Phoronix
• InputPlumber 0.78 expands open-source input-device support. The latest feature release adds hardware support to the input router and remapper daemon, which combines gamepads, mice, and keyboards and can emulate other devices. Phoronix

AI/ML

• China’s AI industry is forcing Silicon Valley to recalibrate its assumptions. Moonshot’s Kimi and Alibaba’s Qwen have unveiled models they say can compete with leading OpenAI and Anthropic systems at lower prices. The reaction — from market jitters to renewed arms-race language — reflects how quickly Chinese labs are moving from catching up to setting the pace of the conversation. [The Verge]

Hardware

• Halliday’s second-generation smart glasses improve on their troublesome first attempt. The company has replaced the original, difficult-to-see movable display window with a more conventional design, addressing the biggest usability problem identified in the first generation. [The Verge]
• Glorious’ $229.99 InfinitePlay headset makes battery swaps effectively downtime-free. A fallback battery keeps audio running while the main pack is exchanged, improving on the swappable-battery approach popularised by SteelSeries. [The Verge]
• XPENG demonstrates a giant power bank capable of 1 MW charging without a 1 MW grid connection. The company’s system is intended to let an electric car charge almost as quickly as a combustion vehicle refuels while avoiding the need for a permanent megawatt-scale electrical connection. Pplware
• Bridgestone’s airless tyres enter real-world Japanese testing. After nearly two decades of development, AirFree tyres are being used on a small fleet of autonomous vehicles, although the technology still faces a significant practical drawback before wider deployment. Pplware

Security/CVE

• Mailpit offers a safer way to test application email. The open-source tool provides a local inbox for inspecting messages during development without risking delivery to real recipients, making it useful for validating email workflows. Pplware

In Brief

• A UK electricity VAT cut could lower household bills. The new government plans to reduce VAT on family electricity bills to zero from October 1, a move framed as relief for consumers. Pplware
• Huawei’s MatePad Pro Max targets creative and professional users. Pplware’s review covers the ultra-thin 13.2-inch tablet and its pitch as a high-end productivity and creative device. Pplware
• Two Portuguese road signs look similar but require different driving behaviour. Both use a white arrow on blue, but their meanings differ — an easy distinction to miss on holiday drives. Pplware
• Portugal’s GNR will watch empty homes for free during holidays. In cooperation with the PSP, the police offer a free service for residents leaving their homes unattended while on vacation. Pplware
• The Verge questions the value and environmental cost of the GPU boom. The feature examines the hardware underpinning generative AI, from data-centre power and water consumption to the longer history of GPUs as engines of technological change. [The Verge]
• Office 2024 Pro and Windows 11 Pro are being promoted at steep discounts. Pplware highlights a summer software sale offering Office 2024 Pro for €16.99 and Windows 11 Pro from €12.25. Pplware

Roundup compiled from the TTRSS Tech feed. 22 articles from 4 sources summarized.