Talk Fuse

    Software

    Software encompasses the digital tools, applications and systems that power modern life, from the artificial intelligence models reshaping how we work and create to the open-source projects offering alternatives to established platforms. This section covers developments across the full software landscape, including advances in machine learning, developer tools and infrastructure, cybersecurity concerns, and the underlying technologies that connect our digital world.

    The software industry is experiencing rapid evolution driven by artificial intelligence. Major technology companies are integrating new capabilities into widely-used applications, from interactive diagrams in chatbots to local file access in AI assistants. Simultaneously, developers continue building open-source alternatives to commercial software, whilst internet infrastructure providers work to expand the ecosystem of domain names and digital resources available online.

    Software developments matter to readers because they directly shape how we interact with technology daily, influence the tools available to businesses and creators, and raise important questions about security, privacy and competition in the digital economy. Whether through new features in familiar applications, emerging cybersecurity risks, or funding trends affecting startup innovation, software news determines how technology evolves and who benefits from it.

    • Netflix announces Crazy Taxi film, Sonic series and Stranger Than Heaven

      Netflix has announced three new film and television projects based on Sega video games, expanding its slate of gaming adaptations. The line-up includes a live-action Crazy Taxi film, an animated Sonic the Hedgehog series aimed at young children, and a live-action movie based on Stranger Than Heaven, an upcoming title from Yakuza developer RGG Studio.…

    • Cheap solar forces global shift away from centralised utilities

      Cheap, Chinese-made solar panels are transforming energy systems worldwide, giving businesses and households the ability to generate their own power and undercutting the traditional model of centralised utilities. In Pakistan, cement maker Bestway is rapidly expanding rooftop solar capacity because, as one executive put it, “it’s the only way we can compete,” reflecting a broader…

    • Government moves to nationalise Speciality Steel UK to protect 1,300 jobs

      The UK government has announced it will move towards nationalising Speciality Steel UK (SSUK), the Yorkshire-based steelmaker, in a bid to safeguard 1,300 jobs after the company failed to find a private buyer. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said officials would “work towards” public acquisition, having judged that a proposed takeover by Norwegian firm Blastr Green…

    • Second refresh keeps Volvo XC40 competitive into 2028

      Volvo has revealed a second facelift for its XC40 small SUV, an unusual move that gives the model, first launched in 2017 and already updated once in 2023, a further refresh for model year 2028. Rather than replacing the popular crossover with an all-new generation, Volvo has opted to refine its design, technology and safety…

    • Australia’s outdated technology is vulnerable to AI hacking attacks, signals chief says

      Australia’s top intelligence agency has warned that the country’s ageing technology infrastructure leaves it vulnerable to attacks exploiting artificial intelligence, as the government works on new AI regulations. Abigail Bradshaw, director general of the Australian Signals Directorate, told the Sydney Dialogue summit in Canberra that governments and businesses would need to spend “enormous” sums updating…

    • Perfect-10 GitLab bug under attack days after patch lands

      GitLab has confirmed that a maximum-severity security flaw in its Community and Enterprise Editions is now being actively exploited, just days after the company issued a patch. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added the vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-85706, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue, warning that such flaws are frequently targeted…

    • OpenAI urges UK lawmakers to rein in technology amid growing safety fears

      OpenAI has called on UK lawmakers to seize the current political momentum and introduce legislation to control powerful artificial intelligence systems, urging narrowly targeted rules aimed at the most advanced AI labs rather than smaller startups. The intervention comes amid mounting global unease, with a cross-party parliamentary committee warning that the world is unprepared for…

    • How to prepare your iPhone for the iOS 27 update

      Apple’s iOS 27 update introduces a redesigned interface and a significantly overhauled Siri intended to compete with rivals such as Gemini and ChatGPT, and it remains compatible with devices as old as the iPhone 11. Because major updates like this carry some risk of glitches or data loss, taking a few preparatory steps beforehand can…

    • What does background app refresh on iPhone actually do?

      Background App Refresh is an iPhone setting that lets apps fetch new content from the internet while running in the background, so information is ready and up to date when you open them. This matters for anyone trying to conserve battery life or mobile data, as the feature is enabled by default for nearly every…

    • Huawei advances near-packaged optics for lower-cost AI datacentres

      Huawei is promoting near-packaged optics (NPO) as the practical next step for AI datacentre networking, positioning it as a cheaper and easier-to-maintain alternative to co-packaged optics (CPO). At the China International Optoelectronic Exposition in Shenzhen, the company demonstrated a 7.2 terabits per second (Tbps) NPO module that will feature in its upcoming SuperPOD AI systems,…