mrlloyd.net's Tech Brief

Daily edition

Friday, October 16, 2026

AI

1 stories

Scaling Indic Pretraining: 2.8 Trillion Tokens and an Open Data Generation Pipeline

Hugging Face and NVIDIA have released a 2.8 trillion token corpus for 22 Indian languages, along with an open, GPU-accelerated data generation pipeline. The corpus includes native-script data for all 22 languages and romanized text for 12 languages. The pipeline allows developers to adapt the generation recipe to their own source material.

Tesla & EVs

11 stories

Tesla Roadster Event Recap: It Flies, Flips, and Hits 0-60 in 0.81s

Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster, which features a fan-based suction system for upside-down driving and a cold-gas thruster package for flying. The car demonstrated its capabilities with two stunts, including driving upside down and flipping over a row of Tesla vehicles. The Roadster has a new battery and drive unit that offers one-third more power than the Model S Plaid with half the mass.

How Tesla’s Roadster fan system and thrusters are built to dominate the corners

Tesla's Roadster uses a multi-mode fan and ground sealing system, active wings, and cold gas thrusters to create grip at any speed, making it suitable for high-speed corners and racing. The system provides enough suction to hold the vehicle upside down, even when stationary. The Roadster's design includes magnesium, titanium, and carbon fiber materials to minimize weight. The car has three configurations: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, with the latter featuring perimeter thrusters for forward, upward, and lateral rotational movement. The Roadster is claimed to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds.

An updated technical look at Tesla’s kick-flipping, 0-60 in 1s, next-gen Roadster

Tesla has unveiled its next-generation Roadster, which can accelerate from 0-60 in under 1 second and perform a kick-flip in the air. The car uses a 'multi-mode suction system' to create a low-pressure zone underneath the vehicle, allowing it to drive upside down and stick to surfaces. The car's downforce numbers are reportedly extremely high, with 4,700kg of downforce on a car that is likely under 2,000kg.

Tesla Roadster: Three configs, one can fly, 0-60 in 0.8 seconds

Tesla unveiled the next-generation Roadster with three configurations: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket, each with varying levels of acceleration and flight capabilities. The Roadster can fly and reach 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds. The car features a multi-mode fan and ground sealing system, active wings, and cold gas thrusters for propulsion and stabilization.

The New Tesla Roadster Just Did A Mid-Air Barrel Roll

Tesla's new Roadster performed a mid-air barrel roll during a test flight, showcasing its aerodynamic capabilities. The stunt was likely intended to demonstrate the car's stability and maneuverability. The exact details of the test are not specified in the article.

Tesla unveils Cyberfied new Roadster that can kickflip

Tesla unveiled a new version of its next-generation Roadster with a 'cyberfication' design and cold-gas thrusters for jumping and flipping. The car features a new design language and materials, including magnesium, titanium, and carbon fiber. The Roadster has three configurations, including the 'Rocket' trim, which is not approved for public road use.

Alef welcomes Tesla to the electric flying car race by flying over the Roadster [Video]

Alef released a video of its flying car flying over a Tesla Roadster, welcoming Tesla to the electric flying car market. The video was a response to the recent release of the Tesla Roadster, which Alef claims is the second flying car in history. Alef's flying car has completed 1,000 logged flights and has received over 3,600 pre-orders worth $1 billion.

Apple

7 stories

How to manage your iPhone notifications on iOS 27

The article provides tips on managing iPhone notifications on iOS 27, including using Scheduled Summary to group notifications and revoking app permissions to reduce junk notifications. It also discusses the importance of keeping certain government alerts enabled. The article also touches on unrelated topics such as a trade secret lawsuit and an upcoming iPad mini refresh. AppleInsider staff writer Amber shares her expertise on managing iPhone notifications. The article concludes with a discussion of various iPhone-related news and products.

Trade secret lawsuit on iPhone's anodization process now being appealed

A trade secret lawsuit against Apple over the iPhone's anodization process has been appealed after Apple initially won the case via summary judgment. The lawsuit alleges Apple stole a secret anodization process from Envirodigm, a consulting company, after a meeting in 2013. Apple claims it was not required to disclose the process as it was not a trade secret.

Apple inadvertently reveals new iPad mini model exists

A French regulatory website revealed an iPad mini model identifier that doesn't match any existing model, confirming rumors of a new iPad mini with an OLED display. The new model is expected to be released at Apple's October 28 event. The model number A3632 was not included in a previous leak of several model numbers in August.

Apple lists unreleased iPad mini accessory ahead of rumored launch

Apple's French regulatory website lists an unreleased iPad mini accessory with a new model number, suggesting changes to the design. The accessory contains more recycled materials and rare earth elements than its predecessor. The listing is dated September 8, 2026, but it's unclear when it was added to the website.

Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8

Apple's French regulatory website lists an unreleased iPad mini Smart Folio with a new model number, suggesting a new iPad mini is coming. The case is listed alongside iPhone 18 Pro accessories added in September. The listing does not include iPad mini specs but implies design changes.