#OktoberTech rules!

@Apple took seven years to fold. At $1,999, the iPhone Duo had better do more than bend. I’m Mark Vena, CEO and Principal Analyst at SmartTech Research. Apple provided an early review unit, and I put it through a real travel test: two flights, live Giants football between Las Vegas and Phoenix, and an unexpected question—do I still need to pack my iPad? The Duo’s impeccable design and thoughtful software make a compelling first impression. That initially “squatter” outer screen gives way to a tablet-like experience that changes how you watch, read, work, and frame podcast interviews. It also turns heads. Strangers at the airport bar and on the plane wanted a closer look. But a premium price doesn’t erase first-generation compromises. Limited camera zoom, no variable aperture, a puzzling preference for right-handed controls, and unanswered long-term durability questions deserve more than a footnote. My verdict: a terrific first-generation foldable iPhone. Whether it’s worth your money depends on how often you’ll use what makes it different. Watch the entire episode via the link in COMMENTS! Like, comment, and subscribe for free—and suggest the next topic SmartTech Research should tackle. #iPhoneDuo #Apple #FoldablePhone #SmartTechCheck #SmartTechResearch #TechReview #ECTNewsNetwork @BrettBFaulk @Thinkers360 #LeoGebbie #LaurenKlug

AI can make a brilliant prediction, but it won’t help much if the package never made it onto the truck. Impinj is bringing AI down to earth with RAIN RFID technology that helps businesses see where physical goods actually are. Its Physical Intelligence strategy tackles one of enterprise AI’s biggest blind spots: decisions are only as good as the real world data behind them. In my latest SmartTechCheck newsletter, I explore why that visibility matters and what Impinj must prove to turn its vision into measurable results. bit.ly/3VVn3St #AI #Impinj #RFID #PhysicalIntelligence #SupplyChain #EnterpriseAI #SmartTechCheck @BrettBFaulk #BassilElkadi @Thinkers360 @Impinj

@Apple thinks packing an A19 chip into a $300 streaming box and mounting an iPad-style screen on your kitchen wall will finally conquer the smart home. Spoiler: It won’t—at least not until Cupertino realizes that true ambient intelligence requires more than just locking users inside another polished walled garden. On this episode of the TechStack, we tear into the newly announced Apple HomeView, question whether anyone actually needs console-grade silicon in an Apple TV 4K, and dissect why hardware partnerships with LG and Schneider Electric still only earn Apple a "B+" until Siri can predict behavior instead of waiting for manually configured routines. Watch the full breakdown: youtu.be/F2aLo-ihGQk #Apple #SmartHome #AppleIntelligence #HomeView #AppleTV4K #TechStack #SmartTechCheck #IoT #ArtificialIntelligence #TechPodcast @MarcoChiappetta @DaveAltavilla @FSideco @TekStrategist @BrettBFaulk @Technologistnet

AI is leaving the screen, and Infineon wants to power its next move. Its Physical AI Growth Lab gives startups a path from prototypes to working machines. The timing couldn’t be better as Infineon’s “always interesting” OktoberTeK kicks off later this morning. I’ll be there. My take regarding the real opportunity: turning impressive demos into machines that deliver. Sensors, power, connectivity, and control will determine whether physical AI becomes an industrial growth engine. #Infineon #PhysicalAI #Robotics #OktoberTeK #Innovation @BrettBFaulk #AgnesToan @Thinkers360 @TechNewsWorld #DajanaScherr #EranRosenberg #AllanFrederiksen @Infineon @NVIDIA #MaherMatta @Microsoft