Tech News – by Arlin Schaffel

If you can get past the terrible logo, Audacity 4 looks pretty great

Over 25 years Audacity has gone from simple audio editor, to a UX nightmare. If you can get past the terrible logo, version 4 looks like it might fix that. It was no surprise that when Audacity revealed its new logo people on the internet got a little worked up. And look, there’s no two ways about it, the logo is pretty bad. The font it quite nice, but the bewildering take on its traditional headphone icon is rough.
https://www.theverge.com/news/792368/if-you-can-get-past-the-terrible-logo-audacity-4-looks-pretty-great

The First 24 Hours of Sora 2 Chaos: Copyright Violations, Sam Altman Shoplifting, and More

On Tuesday, OpenAI released Sora 2, the latest version of its video and audio generation tool that it promised would be the “most powerful imagination engine ever built.” Less than a day into its release, it appears the imaginations of most people are dominated by copyrighted material and existing intellectual property.
https://gizmodo.com/the-first-24-hours-of-sora-2-chaos-copyright-violations-sam-altman-shoplifting-and-more-2000666216

Microsoft’s new Office icons are more curvy and colorful

Microsoft is officially unveiling its new Office icons today, after they leaked earlier this year. The icons have a modern design that’s more colorful and playful, with subtle changes that match Microsoft’s recent work with its Fluent illustrations.
https://www.theverge.com/news/789533/microsoft-office-new-icons-design

Google’s gradient ‘G’ icon, design is going company-wide

image via 9to5google.com

After introducing for Google Search in May, the gradient ‘G’ icon will now be used across the company. Google used “brighter hues and gradient design” to “symbolize the surge of AI-driven innovation and creative energy across our products and technology.” The aim was to stay “true to Google’s iconic four colors,” with the last design refresh taking place 10 years ago.
https://9to5google.com/2025/09/29/google-g-gradient-company-icon/

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pulse to proactively write you morning briefs

OpenAI is launching a new feature inside of ChatGPT called Pulse, which generates personalized reports for users while they sleep. Pulse offers users five to ten briefs that can get them up to speed on their day, and is aimed at encouraging users to check ChatGPT first thing in the morning — much like they would check social media or a news app.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/25/openai-launches-chatgpt-pulse-to-proactively-write-you-morning-briefs/

Google’s Android for PC: ‘I’ve seen it, it is incredible’

Google is continuing to slowly tease its rumored plans to bring Android to PCs, merging it with ChromeOS, and now Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon is getting in on the action. He says he’s seen a version of the software, and that he “can’t wait to have one.”
https://www.theverge.com/news/784381/qualcomm-ceo-seen-googles-android-pc-merger-incredible

VR Headsets Are Better Than Ever and No One Seems to Care

If mixed reality and virtual reality are still a big thing, you wouldn’t know it based on Meta’s Connect conference last week. There were no big Quest announcements (outside of maybe Hyperscape), no new Quest headset, and it felt like the only time Meta (traditionally the loudest and proudest purveyor of XR out there) really tackled XR and VR was through a surprise, and slightly out of place, fireside chat with… Avatar director, James Cameron.
https://gizmodo.com/vr-headsets-are-better-than-ever-and-no-one-seems-to-care-2000663098