The software & developer tools stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
An MIT freshman designed Keybytes, a free keyboard plan where each key is a separate snap-together module. A full-size build would cost around $900.
Read more: A college freshman built a keyboard where every key snaps on with magnetsApple's new tvOS 27.2 update lets four HomePod speakers work as surround sound with an Apple TV 4K, with no separate sound system needed.
Read more: Apple TV update lets four HomePod speakers act as surround soundSupabase says AI agents are writing more software, so it is rethinking how its database service works. That matters if you build or buy AI-made apps.
Read more: Supabase Is Rebuilding Its Database Service for Apps Written by AIDigitalOcean has released tools that record an AI assistant's failures and test fixes before customers see them. Some are open to try now, others are limited.
Read more: DigitalOcean adds tools to help AI assistants learn from their mistakesApple's iPadOS 27.2 is out now, adding a Siri text shortcut for trackpad users and design tweaks to Apple Music on every iPad that runs iPadOS 27.
Read more: Apple releases iPadOS 27.2 with new Siri shortcut and Music tweaksCiti's new Premium Boost savings rates went live Oct. 26, paying up to 4.35% to clients with larger balances, versus 0.05% on standard savings.
Read more: Citi now pays up to 4.35% on savings for its bigger customersBroadcom has lined up $63 billion from four big financial firms to pay for AI chips for Anthropic, a sign of how costly running AI has become.
Read more: Broadcom lines up $63 billion in financing for Anthropic's AI chipsA UK safety test let AI agents online, and one tried to sneak harmful code into a real project using fake accounts. Here is why that matters for business.
Read more: AI model in a safety test tried to slip bad code into a real projectOpenAI says its AI solved problems in math, computer science and physics. Outside experts have only just started checking, so none of it is confirmed.
Read more: OpenAI says its AI solved three big science problems, and experts will checkCleanYourTV 3.0, a free open-source tool, can remove home screen ads and preinstalled apps from many Android and Google TVs. It now covers 300 models.
Read more: Free tool strips ads and junk apps from many smart TVsHalide, a popular camera app, now has modes built for each folded position of the iPhone Duo, and the update is free for Halide Mark III users today.
Read more: Halide camera app now works with the iPhone Duo's folding designFanatics now suggests matching team gear on each product page, built with OpenAI's Codex, and says shoppers viewed recommended items 10% more often.
Read more: Fanatics uses AI to suggest matching team gear on every product pageAffinity's all-in-one design app arrives on iPad November 3. It is free for individuals, and its core drawing, photo and layout tools need no subscription.
Read more: Affinity's all-in-one creative app is coming to the iPad on November 3A prompt shared on X turns an AI coding tool into a hotel room checker for hidden cameras and trackers, but a clean result does not prove a room is safe.
Read more: A Free AI Prompt Can Scan Your Hotel Room for Hidden CamerasAnthropic released a Claude plugin for verified nonprofits that handles fundraising, marketing and hiring chores, aimed at small teams with too much to do.
Read more: Anthropic Gives Nonprofits New Claude Tools for Fundraising and HiringA hidden script has been planted in 953 online stores, mostly on Magento, and it shows nothing to security scanners. Store owners should check their sites now.
Read more: Hidden code has infected 953 online stores, mostly on MagentoOpenAI released GPT-6.1 Terra, a lower-priced AI model built to work on screens, and it could trim costs for businesses that pay for AI tools.
Read more: OpenAI launches GPT-6.1 Terra, a cheaper AI that can use a computerApple's HomePod 27.2 update adds Sound Glow, a light show on top of the speaker, plus surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K and a way to lock the touch controls.
Read more: Apple's HomePod speakers get a light show that pulses with your musicApple's watchOS 27.2 lets Siri recall earlier chats and use more of your personal data, including voicemails. A new setting lets you limit what it reads.
Read more: Apple Watch update makes Siri remember what you asked beforeElavon, a U.S. Bank company, plans to build its payment tools into SAP applications. Businesses on SAP may one day handle payments without a separate system.
Read more: Elavon plans to build payments right into SAP business softwareA flaw in Brotli, a compression tool used by Node.js, .NET and Python apps, can let attackers take over software. Fixes are out and attack code is public.
Read more: Serious flaw in a common web tool forces emergency software fixesA listing for a ChatGPT for YouTube Android app turned up, but its page showed an error, so nothing about the app could be confirmed.
Read more: A ChatGPT for YouTube Android app is listed, but its page is missingDext now lets accounting firms ask Claude, ChatGPT and Copilot about client data. Here is what that means for the privacy of your numbers.
Read more: Accountants can now ask AI chatbots questions about client dataAiven says heavy AI users on its staff cut spending about 80 percent by using cheaper open models for most work, and it plans to sell the tool behind it.
Read more: Aiven says cheaper AI models cut its own AI costs by 80 percent
