NO NEW GPUs…

Major shifts in the consumer hardware roadmap and intensifying regulatory scrutiny on social media platforms are defining the current technology landscape. Nvidia has reportedly delayed its next-generation gaming graphics cards until 2028 due to supply chain constraints, while the European Commission has formally challenged TikTok regarding the addictive nature of its algorithms.

Key Points

• Nvidia Delays: The RTX 60-series gaming GPUs are reportedly pushed back to 2028, with current production cut by approximately 20% due to VRAM supply shortages.
• Privacy Precedent: Apple’s "Lockdown Mode" successfully prevented FBI access to a journalist’s iPhone during a federal investigation.
• Regulatory Action: The EU Commission found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA), threatening fines up to 6% of global revenue.
• Security Breaches: Substack confirmed a data breach exposing user emails and phone numbers, though payment data remains secure.
• Space Tech: NASA will permit astronauts on upcoming Artemis and Crew missions to bring smartphones to space, replacing legacy camera equipment.

Hardware Market: Nvidia Roadmap Shift

In a significant development for the PC gaming market, reports from The Information indicate that Nvidia is unlikely to release new RTX gaming GPUs in 2026. The company’s rumored RTX 60-series is now potentially delayed until 2028. Sources familiar with the matter attribute this strategic pivot to severe supply constraints on Video RAM (VRAM).

Despite Nvidia claiming that demand for GeForce cards remains robust, the supply chain reality tells a different story. The company is reportedly forced to prioritize shipping existing models rather than launching new architectures. Concurrently, Nvidia is cutting production of certain current-generation GPUs by roughly 20%, shifting focus toward lower-VRAM cards to maximize available memory inventory.

This delay implies that mass production for the next major generation of graphics cards may not commence until late 2027. Consequently, the market may see a resurrection of older GPU architectures to stabilize supply in the interim, signaling a prolonged lifecycle for the current RTX 50-series and its predecessors.

Privacy and Security: Apple vs. Federal Authorities

Apple’s commitment to user privacy was tested recently when its "Lockdown Mode" successfully blocked FBI investigators from accessing data on an iPhone 13 belonging to Washington Post reporter Hannah Nathansson. Following a raid connected to a classified leaks investigation, the FBI’s forensic unit was unable to extract data from the device due to the advanced security setting.

Lockdown Mode is designed for individuals facing high-risk digital threats. It functions by severely limiting device functionality—blocking unknown connections, restricting web technologies, and preventing mobile device management access. While federal agents legally possess the authority to compel a suspect to unlock a device via Face ID, Nathansson had biometric unlocking disabled. However, authorities were able to access data via a MacBook that had Touch ID enabled.

Substack Data Breach

In other security news, Substack CEO Chris Best informed users of a data breach involving unauthorized access to internal systems. Hackers obtained email addresses, phone numbers, and internal metadata. While credit card numbers and passwords were not compromised, reports from Bleeping Computer indicate that a database containing nearly 700,000 records of allegedly stolen Substack data has appeared on breach forums.

Regulatory Landscape: EU Challenges TikTok

The European Commission has issued preliminary findings stating that TikTok is in breach of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation, which began in early 2024, concluded that the platform’s design exploits user psychology to encourage compulsive scrolling.

Regulators argue that existing safeguards, such as parental controls, are insufficient. The Commission is demanding significant changes to the platform's core architecture, including:

• Disabling infinite scroll features.
• Implementing mandatory screen time breaks.
• Overhauling the algorithmic recommendation system.

A TikTok spokesperson told the Financial Times that the company intends to defend its current model. However, failure to comply with the EU’s requirements could result in fines totaling 6% of the company's total global revenue.

Industry Briefs: Windows, Web Archiving, and Space

Windows 11 Performance Issues: The latest security update for Windows 11 is reportedly causing significant performance degradation in gaming applications, including dropped frames and visual artifacting. Nvidia has advised users that the current workaround is to uninstall the mandatory security patch until a permanent fix is deployed by Microsoft.

Fighting Link Rot: The Internet Archive has launched a new WordPress plugin designed to combat "link rot." The tool automatically scans posts for broken links and redirects them to archived versions stored on the Wayback Machine. With approximately 38% of web links from the past decade now broken, this tool aims to preserve the integrity of digital journalism and content.

Smartphones in Orbit: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a policy shift for the upcoming Crew 12 and Artemis 2 missions. Astronauts will now be permitted to bring smartphones to space, replacing aging DSLR and action camera equipment. This marks a modernization of space documentation, with the Artemis 2 mission set to capture the first smartphone photography from lunar orbit since 1972.

As the tech sector faces hardware stagnation and increased regulation, stakeholders should monitor Nvidia’s upcoming earnings calls for confirmation on production adjustments and the outcome of TikTok’s appeal against the European Commission.