Here’s your 60-second tech roundup for today: Sony is closing the book on PlayStation discs, Apple is shaking up its iPhone launch calendar, Samsung’s next software update leaked, astronomers found something stranger than fiction in deep space, and a payments giant might be about to get a lot bigger. Let’s get into today’s 60-second tech roundup.
Table of Contents
1. Sony Is Ending PlayStation Discs, and Analysts Say It Was Inevitable
Sony’s plan to stop producing physical PlayStation discs for new games starting in 2028 has sparked plenty of backlash, but industry analyst Piers Harding-Rolls says the move “was always going to happen.” Physical discs cut into profit margins through manufacturing and shipping costs, while digital sales let Sony keep a bigger cut, including the 30% fee it takes on digital storefront purchases. With the next-gen PS6 rumored to cost around $1,000, going all-digital is also seen as a way to help keep the console’s price from climbing even further. According to GamesRadar+, the timing lines up with the next console generation, giving Sony what one analyst called a “clean cut” for the new cycle.
2. Apple Is Reportedly Splitting Up the iPhone 18 Launch
Apple supplier Pegatron has indirectly confirmed a change to Apple’s usual iPhone rollout: the standard iPhone 18 won’t launch alongside its Pro siblings this September. Instead, the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new foldable “iPhone Ultra” are expected in September 2026, while the standard iPhone 18, a cheaper iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are now tracking for around March 2027. According to MacRumors, this breaks a pattern that’s held since the iPhone 11, when standard and Pro models always launched together. Apple hasn’t confirmed the change, but multiple supply chain sources have pointed to the same timeline.
3. One UI 9.5 Leak Reveals a Simple New App Lock Feature
Samsung Galaxy owners may finally get an easy way to lock individual apps without digging into Secure Folder. A leak spotted by tipster Fahad Ali Javed on a One UI 9.5 firmware build shows a new App Lock option accessible by long-pressing any app icon and tapping a lock symbol. It uses the phone’s existing screen-unlock method, so there’s no extra PIN to remember. One UI 9.5 is expected to debut with the Galaxy S27 series before rolling out to the Galaxy S26, Z Flip 8, and Z Fold 8 lineups. It’s a small but welcome addition worth flagging in this 60-second tech roundup.
4. Astronomers Spot Evidence of a Real ‘Black Hole Star’
A new study in Nature, based on James Webb Space Telescope data, lays out strong evidence for a bizarre object nicknamed a “black hole star.” The object, cataloged as MoM-BH*-1, formed when the universe was just 660 million years old and glows in a way that mimics a giant star, but it emits roughly 100 billion times more energy than nuclear fusion could produce. Researchers believe it’s actually a black hole wrapped in an extremely dense, glowing gas envelope, a theory that could help explain the mysterious small red dots JWST keeps finding scattered across the early universe. Lead author Rohan Naidu says MoM-BH*-1 is unusual because its light appears to completely outshine its host galaxy.
5. Stripe Is Reportedly in Talks to Buy PayPal
Stripe and private equity firm Advent International are reportedly discussing a joint purchase of PayPal, according to the Wall Street Journal. The pair previously offered $60.50 a share in July, valuing PayPal around $53 billion, but talks are said to now involve a higher price. If it happens, Stripe and Advent would become equal co-owners without breaking up PayPal, creating a combined company reportedly capable of processing around $3.7 trillion in payments annually. PayPal has been trading well below its pandemic-era peak of roughly $320 billion, and new CEO Enrique Lores has been restructuring the business into checkout, Venmo, and payments/crypto units ahead of any potential deal. It’s easily the biggest business story in today’s 60-second tech roundup.
6. Also Today: A Wild Weekend at the Box Office
While all this tech news was breaking, Hollywood had its own busy weekend. We broke down who’s winning, who’s opening strong, and who’s quietly climbing toward the half-billion-dollar mark in our full box office weekend recap, covering Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The End of Oak Street, and more.
What Happens Next
Expect more details soon on Apple’s split iPhone launch strategy and Samsung’s One UI 9.5 rollout as both companies approach their fall and early-2027 release windows. On the business side, all eyes are on whether Stripe and PayPal can actually agree on a price. And if the black hole star hypothesis holds up, astronomers will likely go hunting for more of these objects hiding in JWST’s deep-field images. That wraps up today’s 60-second tech roundup. Check back tomorrow for another quick 60-second tech roundup of the biggest stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Sony stop making PlayStation discs?
Sony plans to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028, around the same timeframe as the rumored PS6 launch.
Why is the iPhone 18 launch being split up?
Reports suggest Apple will launch the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and a new foldable iPhone Ultra in September 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 waits until around March 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.
What is a black hole star?
It’s a theorized object where a black hole is wrapped in an extremely dense, glowing gas cloud that mimics the light signature of a giant star, potentially explaining mysterious red dots found by the James Webb Space Telescope.
How much is PayPal potentially worth in a Stripe deal?
Stripe and Advent International reportedly offered around $53 billion (about $60.50 a share) in July, though talks are said to now involve an even higher price.
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