This week we covered 17 stories that’ll make you question everything, seriously, everything you thought you knew about the digital world. From billion-dollar courtroom showdowns (yes, IBM vs. LzLabs was as dramatic as it sounds) to atomic-scale 3D printers (ATLANT 3D) crafting tools in space (because why not?), we’ve got the goods on all things tech.
So, if you’re ready to geek out, get inspired, or just feel smarter at your next dinner party, dive into our latest roundups.
Trust us, you don’t want to miss these.
First up, IBM scored a big win in a lawsuit against LzLabs and its UK arm, Winsopia. The issue was that LzLabs got caught reverse-engineering IBM’s proprietary mainframe software to shift workloads to cheaper systems.
On the regulatory front, the UK’s CMA dropped a massive 600-page report calling out Apple’s mobile browser policies. They say forcing iOS browsers to use WebKit stifles innovation, could this mean changes are coming for Safari?
Oh, and there’s some hush-hush tension between British and US officials too. Apparently, the UK ordered Apple to unlock encrypted iCloud data, forcing them to ditch Advanced Data Protection for UK users. Privacy folks are not happy.
Now, let’s pivot to some good vibes, startups and funding galore! Mixergy, a clever Oxford University spin-out, nabbed £12 million to grow its smart water heating tech. It’s all about cutting energy costs and helping the UK hit those net-zero targets.
Then there’s Supercritical Solutions, which raised £14 million for its high-pressure electrolyser to crank out green hydrogen, super efficient and eco-friendly. Alloyed Ltd also joined the party with £37 million to scale its advanced metal manufacturing, partnering with heavyweights like Boeing and BMW.
And how’s this for out-of-this-world? ATLANT 3D secured $15 million to push atomic-scale 3D printing for space, think tools printed in orbit. Meanwhile, Niantic handed off its gaming division (yep, Pokémon GO too) to Scopely for a cool $3.5 billion, freeing them up to focus on geospatial tech.
And for car lovers, British startup Longbow unveiled two sleek, ultralight electric sports cars, the Speedster and Roadster, blending classic design with EV power.
Big deals are happening too! OpenAI inked a five-year, $11.9 billion pact with CoreWeave for AI computing muscle, plus snagged a $350 million stake in the company before its IPO.
Crypto fans, listen up: Kraken got an Electronic Money Institution licence from the FCA, paving the way for expanded crypto and fiat services in the UK. London fintech Atoa also got FCA approval to roll out open banking payment services, offering a low-cost alternative to card payments and joining the likes of GoCardless.
But regulation’s getting a shake-up, Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to ditch the Payment Systems Regulator and roll its duties into the FCA. Streamlined rules could be a win for businesses, so fingers crossed!
Oh, and at the techUK Tech Policy Conference 2025, CMA boss Sarah Cardell unveiled her “4Ps” framework to reshape the UK’s digital economy, something to watch!
Over on TikTok, they’ve launched new parental controls and a nighttime wind-down feature for teens. Parents can now set no-scroll zones (like bedtime), and kids get soothing tunes to ease off the app, pretty smart for healthier habits.
Amazon, though, stirred some controversy: starting March 28, 2025, Echo devices will lose the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” option. Privacy hawks are side-eyeing this, especially with Amazon’s upcoming Alexa+ subscription push.
Wrapping up, Intel tapped Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO to steer the ship through rough waters, think financial woes and tough competition.
What a week! from courtroom dramas to space printers, hydrogen wins to browser battles, the tech scene’s buzzing.
What do you think of all this, any sparks for your next big idea?
