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THE DAILY INDEX

Technology, AI, software, security, crypto and business

Across today’s newsletters

Today’s Index

GOOGLE'S ANDROID-POWERED LAPTOPS ARE CALLED GOOGLEBOOKS, AND THEY'RE COMING THIS YEAR

Googlebooks are designed from the ground up with Gemini intelligence. Wiggling the cursor on a Googlebook activates a full-screen Gemini experience. The AI can view screen content to make contextual suggestions, and it can pull in data from multiple apps. Googlebook devices will run Android and have access to the Play Store. Most manufacturers that make Chromebooks will also offer Googlebooks when they launch.

WHEN "IDLE" ISN'T IDLE: HOW A LINUX KERNEL OPTIMIZATION BECAME A QUIC BUG

A performance bug in the quiche implementation of the CUBIC congestion controller caused the congestion window to get stuck at its minimum due to a Linux kernel optimization for idle periods, inadvertently triggering a "death spiral" that prevented data transfer rate increase. The issue was resolved by adjusting the code to measure idle time from the most recent acknowledgment instead of the last packet sent, allowing the controller to properly distinguish between true idleness and network congestion.

WHATSAPP IS GETTING IOS 26'S LIQUID GLASS GLOW-UP, AND IT'S SURPRISINGLY GORGEOUS

WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iPhone app inspired by Apple's iOS 26 “Liquid Glass” aesthetic, bringing more transparency, depth, blur effects, and fluid animations throughout the interface. The update refreshes elements like the bottom navigation bar, keyboard, buttons, and context menus with semi-transparent, layered visuals that better match the latest iOS design language, though the rollout is gradual and some parts — like the chat bar — still retain the older flat style.

ONCE AGAIN, SPACEX HAS SET A NEW RECORD FOR THE TALLEST ROCKET EVER BUILT

Starship Version 3, taller and more powerful than previous iterations, comes with numerous upgrades, including higher thrust, more efficient Raptor engines, a new reusable lattice-like structure at the top of the booster for hot staging, and three modified grid fins to help bring the first stage back to Earth for recovery and reuse. This version should be capable of in-orbit refueling. At a height of 408 feet, the rocket's upcoming flight (date yet to be determined) will mark the first liftoff from a new launch pad at Starbase.

SPACEX AND GOOGLE ARE IN TALKS TO LAUNCH DATA CENTERS IN ORBIT

Google is in talks with SpaceX and other rocket-launch companies for a rocket launch deal. Last year, Google announced Project Suncatcher, a moonshot initiative aimed at launching orbital data centers. Many industry leaders see orbit computing as a solution to the limitations of Earthbound data centers. SpaceX is also looking to launch orbital data centers. The speculative technology was the center of SpaceX's pitch to investors ahead of its planned IPO.

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