Technology News | CuriousCats.ai

Today

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 17:54 UTC

ONGC leads $228M fund for deeptech energy startups, partners IIT Bombay; MC²⁺ Ignite to back 30 startups with up to ₹2 crore each

The fund is structured to bypass 'excessive pains of governance,' as Singh put it, and targets seven fields including AI-driven subsurface intelligence and hydrogen. Only 2% of national startup funding reaches the energy sector, with just 0.15% for oil and gas, highlighting the gap the initiative aims to fill.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 17:31 UTC

Open-source InterSCADA platform rewrites grid control with modular microservices; six analysis tools now tested across four European pilot sites

The project, coordinated by Fraunhofer under Horizon Europe, runs until September 2027 and has already produced a free template for vendor-independent control systems. A live demonstration is slated for the general assembly in the second half of 2026, with recommendations feeding into EU grid standards.

·8 September 2026 · 16:41 UTC

Apple's new CEO John Ternus to debut first foldable iPhone at Wednesday event; device may eclipse $2,000

The foldable iPhone is expected to match styling of Samsung's leading foldables but carry a price tag that could exceed $2,000. Apple may also unveil iPhone 18 Pro models with an upgraded A-series processor and camera aperture, while the base iPhone 18 could shift to early next year.

·8 September 2026 · 16:41 UTC

Logitech launches MX Keypad in India with programmable keys for coding tools and AI workflows, priced at ₹15,999; native GitHub Copilot integration included

The keypad includes three months of GitHub Copilot Pro+ redeemable via Logi Options+, and developers can build custom integrations through Logitech's SDK with Claude Code and OpenAI Codex plugins already available.

·8 September 2026 · 16:41 UTC

Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event Wednesday night marks CEO John Ternus' first public appearance; foldable iPhone, AI integration, and rising costs expected to dominate

Analysts expect Apple's first foldable to cost between $2000-2500, pricier than rivals, while the company may skip the base iPhone 18 and launch only Pro variants. Gartner's Padhi suggests a separate Spring 2027 launch for other models due to rising device costs.

·8 September 2026 · 16:19 UTC

Mistral raises $3.5 billion in record EU funding round, hitting $24 billion valuation; CEO says it removes 'key bottleneck' for frontier AI compute

The Series D is the largest equity fundraising round on record for a European tech company. CEO Arthur Mensch said the funds will give Mistral compute 'very comparable to what the Chinese labs have,' enabling continued model training and scaling.

·8 September 2026 · 15:09 UTC

Microsoft faces backlash as Bing Wallpaper pushes Harry Potter ad on desktops; users call it 'atrocious UX' amid Windows 11 decluttering promise

One user said they used Bing Wallpaper for years before seeing an ad for the first time, while another asked if uninstalling is the only way to opt out. The promotion ties to the Harry Potter series premiering in December, and some users criticized it over JK Rowling's transgender views.

+2 sources·8 September 2026 · 15:09 UTC

Sony Electronics introduces its first fisheye zoom G Lens, the SEL814G, covering 8-14mm with circular to diagonal fisheye; pre-orders begin Sept. 8

The lens weighs just 314 grams and pairs with the VENICE Extension System Mini for spatial content production, with optical axes 64mm apart for natural VR depth. Yang Cheng, VP of Imaging Solutions, says it 'runs circular through diagonal across 8 to 14 millimeters' for creative flexibility.

·8 September 2026 · 14:49 UTC

SORRY SUGAR raises $1 million in seed funding led by Dhanuka family, Amishi London; brand targets North India expansion, new product launches

The brand, founded by Deepak Pathak, Kunal Verma, Shashank Sherawat and Saiyam Malik, uses monk fruit as a natural sweetener and generated over Rs 1 crore in its first month. It aims for an ARR of more than Rs 60 crore by year-end, expanding via D2C, quick-commerce and offline retail.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 14:36 UTC

iQOO 16 and iQOO Pad Ultra to debut in China at end of September; pre-orders live, 100x zoom and 1TB storage leaked

The iQOO 16 is tipped to offer up to 100x digital zoom in Light Chaser, Legend, and Track colorways, with storage options up to 16GB/1TB. The Pad Ultra is expected to feature an 8.8-inch OLED display, a 9000mAh-class battery, and a built-in cooling fan.

+2 sources·8 September 2026 · 14:36 UTC

OPPO teases F35 Series launch in India, building on the legacy of the popular F Series; no specs or date yet

The F35 Series is expected to include at least two models, with the F35 Pro Max rumored to feature a 6.78-inch OLED display, Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chipset, and a 10,000mAh battery. OPPO aims to strengthen its mid-range presence in India, with more details promised in the coming weeks.

·8 September 2026 · 14:04 UTC

Realme unveils Harry Potter Edition of Realme 16 Pro and Buds T500 Pro with Hogwarts house logos and color-changing back panel

The special edition features the Hogwarts motto 'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus' and 'Welcome to Hogwarts' on the frame. Realme hasn't revealed pricing or availability, but a pop-up event is slated for September 21.

·8 September 2026 · 13:29 UTC

iQOO Z11xa 5G launched with MediaTek processor, priced below Rs 30,000; features 7,200mAh battery and military-grade durability

The phone packs a 6.76-inch FHD+ LCD with 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits brightness, but rivals like the Poco X8 offer AMOLED panels. It also includes IP68/IP69+ ratings and a 50MP Sony IMX852 main camera.

+2 sources·8 September 2026 · 13:29 UTC

OnePlus teases N6 Lite launch in India as budget phone expected to become brand's most affordable, possibly under ₹20,000

The N6 Lite is expected to replace the N6x as the entry point, with the N6x currently priced at ₹20,999. Tipster Abhishek Yadav suggests the phone may feature 4GB of RAM and 4G-only connectivity, arriving by late September.

+1 source·8 September 2026 · 13:29 UTC

IFA 2026 shows next PC battle is about memory, AI, and efficiency; AMD's Ryzen AI Max PRO 400 supports up to 192GB unified LPDDR5X

AMD's platform offers about 273 GB/s bandwidth, still below datacenter-class HBM, so large models run slower than on specialized hardware. Lenovo's Project AeroBlade replaces fans with Frore Systems AirJet modules, but power, cooling, cost, and reliability remain open questions.

+2 sources·8 September 2026 · 13:29 UTC

Redmi Note 17 Pro series to launch in India on September 15 with up to 10,000mAh battery; Note 17 review praises battery life and display

The Pro Max variant, already available in some markets, packs a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, and 100W charging. The standard Note 17, priced at ₹27,999, offers an 8,000mAh battery with 45W charging and IP65 rating.

·8 September 2026 · 13:21 UTC

Iztri raises Rs 10 crore seed round led by All In Capital and Suashish Group; litigation tech startup Concorda secures $3.8M from Sazze Partners

Concorda's platform combines legal research, matter management, and drafting, leveraging generative AI and automation. The round also drew participation from Amino Ventures, Gaingels, and a16z's speedrun accelerator.

·8 September 2026 · 12:53 UTC

iPhone Ultra foldable expected to launch September 9 with 7.8-inch inner display, A20 chip, dual-battery, and price over $2,000; Xiaomi 18 Fold pre-orders open in China

The iPhone Ultra is rumored to be thinner at 4.5mm unfolded versus the Xiaomi 18 Fold's 5.02mm, with a special display construction to reduce the crease. It may feature two 48MP rear cameras, possibly omitting a telephoto lens due to space constraints.

·8 September 2026 · 12:53 UTC

Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event to feature iPhone 18 Pro, foldable iPhone, and John Ternus' first big test; standard iPhone 18 pushed to 2027

The foldable iPhone is expected to have a book-style design with a 5.3-inch external display and 7.8-inch internal screen, priced between $2,000 and $2,500. Rising memory costs from AI infrastructure demand are raising expectations of higher iPhone prices this year.