Daily Tech News Digest – 2026-06-25

Top tech headlines from BBC Technology, TechRadar and Ars Technica in the last 24 hours.

BBC Technology

• IBM hails new 'block of flats' design breakthrough for ultra tiny chips
  IBM says it has created the world's first known chip tech below 1 nanometre - but it will be some time before it's ready for production.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:04:43 GMT
• GTA 6 - all you need to know about Rockstar's blockbuster game
  Rockstar's sixth game in the franchise is set to be the biggest game release of the year.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:47:54 GMT
• GTA 6 will cost £70 - and physical edition will not contain a disc
  Rockstar has said physical copies of the game will contain a code for a digital download for the game.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:20:12 GMT
• Scientist publishes fresh doubts over Microsoft's quantum claims
  The tech giant has consistently stood by its Majorana chip research despite scepticism from some experts in the field.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:00:34 GMT

TechRadar Tech

• Don't delay that MacBook upgrade — Apple's laptop price hikes could be much worse than the iPhone 18 Pro, analysts predict
  We know price hikes are inbound for all major Apple products, but MacBooks could potentially come off worst.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:23:08 +0000
• 9 essential gadgets that will upgrade your summer holiday instantly — all under £30
  Affordable buys to keep you cool, comfortable and entertained on your travels, while keeping an eye on your home.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:22:45 +0000
• iPhone owners are blaming a ‘silent alarm’ problem for costing them jobs — but a fix is finally coming in iOS 27
  Some iPhone users say their alarms are going off silently, leading to them losing their jobs.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:20:38 +0000
• 'I deleted it and it came immediately back': White House staff are having an official app foisted on to their phones and they hate it
  The controversial White House app is a compulsory install for a lot of federal workers, who aren't best pleased.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:14:51 +0000
• Multiple malicious OpenClaw skills found online - including two macOS infostealers
  Criminals found yet another marketplace to infect and use as a launchpad for malware delivery.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:10:00 +0000
• OpenClaw powers $99 mini PC but it's an AI agentic trap wrapped in Windows 11, delivered with a CPU from 2011 - choose a refurbished PC instead
  It's not exactly a deal when you look closely at the details
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:02:00 +0000
• From blocking out plane noise to keeping up with your LED light-therapy routine, I've handpicked 15 beauty tech deals for your next holiday
  From Nanoleaf's light-therapy wand to the Oura Ring 4, here are the beauty tech deals worth making room for in your suitcase.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:59:13 +0000
• This super-compact power bank has saved my bacon more times than I'd care to admit — and it just hit an ultra-cheap price for Prime Day
  I use the Anker Nano 10K 45W Power Bank almost every day, and it's just hit an unbelievably low price for Prime Day.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:58:04 +0000
• Tom Hanks calls AI replacing him 'a scary thought' — and Hollywood should probably listen
  Tom Hanks' warning that AI replacing him is "a scary thought" highlights the debate over AI and filmmaking
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:56:03 +0000
• Amazon beats Currys on the Asus Zenbook, the 'fabulously thin' MacBook Air rival for work and study — with double the storage at a much lower price in the Prime Day sale
  It's a price war that Amazon's winning right now on this business and back-to-school Zenbook.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:46:02 +0000
• I've spent several weeks with the pricey Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, but I'd be better off with a Kindle Paperwhite and an 11-inch iPad — and right now, that's a cheaper combination
  Sure, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft sounds great on E Paper, but right now you can get a more powerful, better screen in the 11-inch iPad and a more portable Kindle Paperwhite for less
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:38:38 +0000
• Big Tech slapped with $3.5bn in fines for using your personal data to train AI — and 'it could be only the beginning,' warns Surfshark
  Surfshark found that 9 out of 10 AI-related fines concern the unlawful use of personal data. But the enforceability of privacy protections remains a key challenge.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:31:59 +0000
• I use my Technics ANC earbuds every day because they're still the only buds to offer triple-device multipoint and now, they're cheaper than ever
  This is the best price I've ever seen on my sensational beloved Technics earbuds and because I use them ever day, I know they’re worth it
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:26:08 +0000
• Quiet fans are selling like hot cakes, but these 5 Prime Day deals are all still in stock, and will keep you cool and comfortable at night
  Fans are selling fast in the Amazon Prime Day sale, but there are still great deals to be found on whisper-quiet coolers from reputable brands.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:22:58 +0000
• The PS5 homepage, PS Store, and PS App have all been updated with a new GTA 6 UI as pre-orders begin
  Sony has gone full Grand Theft Auto 6 marketing mode as pre-orders for the most anticipated game of all time officially begin.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:19:35 +0000
• I’ve spent years testing headphones and headsets — if you’re looking for the absolute best gaming audio upgrade you can buy this Prime Day, these are the features you need to consider
  I’ve bought a lot of gaming headsets and headphones over the years. Here’s my best advice on which can offer stunning gaming sound and immersive features.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:18:42 +0000
• Don't be tempted by the lowest-ever Nintendo Switch Prime Day discount, I'm a gaming editor and the Switch 2 is still the better buy right now
  Why you should avoid the original Switch and pick the Switch 2 this Prime Day.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:10:08 +0000
• Currys is a goldmine for back-to-school and business laptop deals from Asus, HP, and Lenovo — but there's one model you need to avoid
  I found 4 work and study laptops that are actually worth buying and no, they're not on Amazon for Prime Day
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:09:44 +0000
• I’ve always wanted Apple’s impossibly thin iPhone Air — this 24%-off Prime Day deal might finally convince me
  The iPhone Air is a remarkable iPhone and more affordable than ever thanks to this Amazon Prime Day offer.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:03:29 +0000
• How to pick HVAC field service management software in 2026
  A look at what separates HVAC field service software that earns its keep from tools that just add another screen to check.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:53 +0000

Ars Technica Technology

• IBM claims world’s first sub-1 nanometer chip technology
  IBM’s nanostack transistors could boost chip performance or energy efficiency.
  Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:00:55 +0000
• Hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI will cost more than other AAA games
  GTA6 might be an outlier, though—at least for now.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:47:03 +0000
• OpenAI and Broadcom announce chip designed for LLM inference at scale
  The silicon race is heating up amid the struggle to keep up with demand.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:28:18 +0000
• 13 years and $500 million for a stage adapter? Report justifies NASA cancellations.
  "Contract values for these efforts ballooned from nearly $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion."
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:41:03 +0000
• US ends hantavirus outbreak response with no answers on draconian quarantines
  We still don't know why RFK Jr. overruled CDC expert to order strict quarantines.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:28:39 +0000
• One-two punch delivered in global operation disrupts cybercrime "assembly line"
  "Operation Endgame" simultaneously disrupts two widely used crime tools.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:03:34 +0000
• Underpromise, overdeliver? Hands-on with the $24,950 Slate auto.
  It has 205 miles of bare-bones range.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:28:07 +0000
• Disney agreed to $50M settlement over claims it made live-TV streaming expensive
  Lawsuit alleged Disney inflated market prices by making carriers include ESPN.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:22:58 +0000
• Experimental wine bottle tracks oxygen moving through the cork
  The small bit of air in the bottle sees oxygen and other chemicals move in and out.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:04:32 +0000
• FCC plans ID mandate that could block anonymous use of prepaid burner phones
  Privacy advocates and domestic violence groups say ID mandate is a big mistake.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:45:37 +0000
• Formula E reveals first calendar for GEN4 with lots of real race tracks
  Brands Hatch, COTA, and Zandvoort will all hold an e-Prix in 2027.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:35:45 +0000
• Google starts lowering Play Store fees, making good on Epic Games settlement
  A few additional markets will get the lower fees this year ahead of a global rollout in 2027.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:00:17 +0000
• Elon Musk denies Tesla’s Autopilot caused crash that killed grandmother
  Tesla, accused of failing to fix design flaws, blames driver pressing accelerator.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:40:32 +0000
• Military branches restore flu shot requirement after virus swept through base
  Branches received exceptions to Hegseth's policy that made the shot optional.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:54:54 +0000
• Slate Auto's truck builder goes live for its $25k electric pickup
  From a bare-bones pickup to a loaded, wrapped SUV, here's what some Slates will cost.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:27:16 +0000
• We got a sneak peek of the final space shuttle set to go on public display
  "It is an incredible exhibit and incredible sight."
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:04:56 +0000
• White House app auto-downloads to government phones, can't be uninstalled
  “It’s shooting pure unadulterated propaganda into our veins,” says one worker.
  Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:35:19 +0000

— Auto-generated digest