Lucidica Tech News #37

What's Happening in Tech?

Synchron, a competitor to Neuralink, is making exciting strides in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The company has now integrated its BCI with popular consumer devices like Amazon Alexa, allowing individuals with severe paralysis to control smart home technologies entirely with their thoughts. For example, a user with ALS was able to use the Tap to Alexa feature on an Amazon Fire tablet to control lights, make calls, play music, and even read books, all without using their hands or voice. This breakthrough could provide greater independence and ease everyday tasks for people living with mobility impairments.

Chipotle is stepping up its game with a new robot called the Autocado, which does exactly what it sounds like: it helps making guacamole! The robot, developed in collaboration with Vebu, is capable of cutting, coring, and peeling avocados before being hand-mashed by staff to make guacamole. This idea attempts to reduce the time and work required in preparing the avocados. It is currently being tested in a few California locations, where Chipotle intends to boost productivity without eliminating the human touch that goes into making their meals. The initiative is part of a bigger trend in the fast-food business to use automation to perform repetitive tasks.

If you need a battery replacement for the new iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max, expect to pay a little extra. Apple has increased the out-of-warranty battery replacement cost for some models by 20%, bringing the total to ￡109 from ￡95 on last year's models. This?increase only impacts the Pro versions; the basic iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will still cost ￡95.The higher price might be due to improvements in battery design, such as a metal case for better thermal management, though this has not been confirmed by Apple. Battery replacements are still covered by AppleCare+ if the battery health falls below 80%, but without it, the new fee will apply.

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Mini PCs for On-the-Go Work: A Quick Review

If you're a freelancer who can work from anywhere, a professional adopting hybrid work, or just have a small workspace, a mini PC might be the best way to go.

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