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A new explainer breaks down why many viewers assume they're watching 4K content when they're not, pointing to factors like device settings, HDMI cables, subscription tiers, and per-service quality controls. It walks through specific examples including Disney+'s data usage settings, YouTube's on-demand quality selector, and Amazon Prime Video's new Ultra tier that gates 4K access behind an added fee.
Apple will hold its fall hardware event on September 9, reportedly skipping a new base iPhone 18 this year in favor of launching Pro models alongside its first foldable device, expected to be called the iPhone Ultra. The event also marks a leadership shift, coming just days after John Ternus takes over as CEO from Tim Cook, who is stepping down after nearly 15 years leading the company.
A wave of screen-free fitness trackers—including the Garmin Cirqa, Google Fitbit Air, Polar Loop, Amazfit Helio Strap, and Whoop—are gaining traction by design: they collect health data continuously but require almost no daily interaction. Bloomberg reports Apple is reportedly exploring its own take on the format, signaling the trend could expand into mainstream smartwatch territory.
A CDT-commissioned poll of 2,000 British adults, conducted by Public First, found 93% believe they have a right to private online conversations and 89% think no one should read their messages without a court order. Two-thirds said they wouldn't trust the current or any future UK government with the power to access encrypted chats, a view shared across supporters of all major parties.
The Verge's Installer newsletter highlights two newly introduced small-form Macs alongside other gadget picks, including a Nokia phone with reverse charging and a Wyze camera featuring an added privacy control. The roundup also previews Apple's upcoming September 9th launch event through a homescreen feature with Daring Fireball's John Gruber.
Apple has rolled out several updates to Apple Card ahead of its seventh anniversary, including a new 'Recurring' transactions view coming with iOS 27's Wallet app. The company also partnered with Booking.com to grant Apple Card holders automatic Genius Level 2 status plus 3% Daily Cash, building on an earlier Hertz partnership offering discounts, free roadside assistance and extra drivers for car rentals.
Ridley Scott is releasing a post-apocalyptic survival film called 'The Dog Stars,' adapted from Peter Heller's novel about life after a devastating flu pandemic. At the same time, he's developing a new take on 'Treasure Island' starring Hugh Jackman and considering turning one of his earlier films into a musical, though he won't say which one.
Apple's long-rumored Health app revamp, internally known as Project Mulberry, missed its expected debut in iOS 26.4 and again at WWDC27. Speculation now points to a possible unveiling alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 next month, given Apple's history of introducing health features outside its June keynote.
A recent Apple Vision Pro adopter shares that the headset's standout use case is watching movies and TV shows while lying down, echoing comments Tim Cook has made about his own viewing habits. The writer notes that while Vision Pro's broader software experience—like multitasking and typing—remains clunky, its content consumption strength, particularly for reclined viewing, is what keeps the device relevant despite its bulk.
Meta AI has begun appearing as a CarPlay-compatible app on iPhone, joining ChatGPT, Perplexity and Grok as third-party chatbots available in Apple's car interface. However, many users currently see a 'not supported' message when launching it, suggesting the rollout is still in limited testing, and a paid Meta AI account doesn't unlock access either.
Wireless CarPlay initially relies on Bluetooth to pair the iPhone with the car, which then hands the phone Wi-Fi network credentials so CarPlay can run over that faster connection. Once Wi-Fi takes over, the car drops the Bluetooth link, though it keeps the paired connection on file to speed up future launches or reconnect a dropped session. Setup can happen either via a one-time USB connection or fully wirelessly through the iPhone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings.
Apple is preparing to release its first smart glasses as early as next year, built around Siri and Visual Intelligence rather than augmented-reality displays. The glasses will use cameras and microphones to let Siri interpret surroundings, translate text, and answer contextual questions, plus built-in speakers for audio, according to a Bloomberg report citing Mark Gurman. Apple is designing multiple frame styles in-house using acetate material, with possible future versions adding health-tracking features like heart-rate sensors.