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.

    • Tim Cook handed $47m package for new role as executive chair of Apple

      Tim Cook has been awarded a $47m (£35m) pay package for his new role as Apple’s executive chair, following his handover of the chief executive role to John Ternus on Tuesday. The sum sits close to the $58m package granted to Ternus as his successor, reflecting both men’s continued significance to the $4.7tn company as…

    • United trials gate delivery of food and travel essentials

      United Airlines is trialling a new service that lets passengers order food, over-the-counter medicine and travel essentials through its app for delivery straight to their departure gate. The pilot, running at nine gates in Terminal C of Newark Liberty International Airport, aims to make waiting for flights more convenient and could point to a wider…

    • Bar conversation triggers Vizient Chicago-to-Dallas datacentre migration

      A senior cloud engineer at healthcare services firm Vizient found himself agreeing, mid-conversation with senior executives in a bar, to shut down the company’s Chicago datacenter and migrate everything to Dallas. Dave Bradley, speaking at the VMware Explore conference, recounted how a casual exchange after an off-site meeting turned into a real project once his…

    • London Underground 5G coverage rivals street-level signal

      Mobile signal on parts of London’s Underground now matches or beats street-level coverage for 5G, according to analysis by network intelligence firm Ookla, as Transport for London continues connecting the network after missing a 2024 deadline. The rollout matters because it addresses a long-standing gap in mobile connectivity for millions of daily Tube passengers, and…

    • BGP hijack infecting networks caused by a comedy of errors that’s not funny at all

      A supply chain attack pushed malware to networks by hijacking IP address space used by Softaculous, the UAE-based maker of the Virtualizor server management platform, to distribute software updates. Unknown attackers exploited weak routing security at hosting provider Hetzner Online, combined with lapses in TLS certificate issuance, to carry out a BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)…

    • The robot butler dream doesn’t have legs

      The Verge’s tech reviewer argues that the humanoid robot butler, despite dominating this year’s tech shows, is not a practical solution for home automation. At IFA in Berlin, several Chinese-made humanoid robots will parade their skills, following on from US firm 1X’s $20,000 Neo robot already trialled in homes, but the author contends that legged,…

    • Best Sony Headphone Deals: WH-1000XM5 and More (2026)

      Wired’s deals roundup highlights a discount on the Sony WH-1000XM5, an older flagship noise-cancelling headphone model, now available for $198, a $202 saving. The publication notes this is the lowest price it has tracked for the model, positioning it as a strong buy for shoppers even though Sony has since released the newer WH-1000XM6. The…

    • The next StarCraft may not be made by Blizzard, according to a new report

      Nexon is reportedly close to finalising a deal with Blizzard that would let the South Korean publisher, rather than Blizzard itself, develop a new game in the StarCraft franchise, according to Korean newspaper Chosun. The report matters because StarCraft and StarCraft 2 remain hugely popular in South Korea’s PC bangs and are widely credited with…

    • Ryanair warns air fares in Europe will jump next year if oil price stays high

      Ryanair has warned that European short-haul air fares could rise significantly next year if oil prices remain elevated, cautioning that some rival carriers with weaker fuel hedging may struggle to survive the coming winter. The Irish budget airline has trimmed its passenger target for the year to 31 March from 216 million to 214 million…

    • Microsoft is enabling a Windows 11 security feature that can hurt gaming performance

      Microsoft is preparing to roll out its “memory integrity” security feature more widely on Windows 11 devices from next month, though the kernel-level protection can reduce PC gaming performance on some hardware. The feature, which forms part of Virtualization-based Security (VBS), blocks untrusted kernel-mode code and drivers from running, helping guard against malicious software, but…