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Tech News
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will unveil a new smart home lineup on October 13, including a square six-inch smart display (code-named J490/J491), an updated HomePod mini, and a faster Apple TV 4K. The display reportedly uses facial and voice recognition and runs software blending elements of iPadOS, watchOS, and iOS's StandBy mode, with the whole lineup built to showcase Apple's revamped Siri.
Fujifilm has unveiled the Instax Pal 2, a compact digital camera that builds on the original Pal by adding tactile controls, downloadable color filters and a horizontal, Charmera-like design. It packs a 1/3.06-inch CMOS sensor that shoots either 10MP or 1MP images, an f/2.2 aperture and LED flash, and lets users transfer photos to a phone via a built-in USB-C port or Bluetooth.
9to5Mac editors shared the iPhone 18 Pro accessories they are personally buying, including Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, the TechWoven case, Anker's 3-in-1 MagSafe charger, and the FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe. The update notes that several of these items are currently discounted as part of early fall Amazon Prime Day sales.
Apple has brought back the Messages Suggestions feature in the iOS 27.2 beta after pulling it from the iOS 27 public release earlier this fall. The feature shows one-tap action buttons under messages, letting users quickly add reminders, notes, or calendar events, or find relevant photos based on conversation context.
CNET surveyed readers through its People's Picks community program about satisfaction with their mobile carriers, focusing on pricing and data quality. Visible by Verizon emerged as the top-rated choice among respondents for truly unlimited data service.
Amazon is selling Skullcandy's Crusher 540 Active wireless over-ear headphones for $119.99, down from a $209.99 list price, a 43% cut. The gym-focused model features sweat and water resistance, adjustable sensory bass, 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.2, and up to 40 hours of battery life with rapid charging.
Lux Optics released Halide 3.2, an update to its Mark III camera app, adding support for the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture camera. The update introduces an Aperture Priority mode that lets users set a target f-number while Halide automatically adjusts shutter speed and ISO, alongside manual ISO control. It also adds two new visual looks, dawn and quicksilver, plus a 16:9 aspect ratio shooting mode for all iPhones.
Nintendo has officially ended service for Mario Kart Tour, the free-to-play mobile racer launched in 2019, with servers going offline on Sept. 29. The app will remain installable but will only display player stats, and unlike Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, it is not being converted into an offline title.
Valve released an Arm version of SteamOS following its Snapdragon-powered Steam Frame headset, and developers hashtagbasit and MaSieS4Fun quickly adapted it to run on Android handhelds. The port can be installed from a microSD card on devices including the AYN Odin 2 family, AYN Thor, Retroid Pocket 6, and several AYANEO Pocket models, letting users try SteamOS without wiping internal storage. Android Authority tested the MaSieS4Fun build on an AYN Odin 2 Portal and reported it booted and set up successfully after first installing the Rocknix ABL bootloader.
Shure has released the MV6 Gen 2, an updated version of its USB microphone for gamers and streamers, adding a white color option, a longer 2-meter USB-C cable, and expanded software controls. Users can now adjust how loud their voice sits in the mix, how quickly the mic reacts to volume changes, and how much background noise the real-time denoiser filters out, all through Shure's free Motiv app. The microphone costs $169 and is available now from Shure and authorized retailers, working across Mac, PC, Android, iPhone and iPad.
Amazon has kicked off an early fall Prime Day sale ahead of the main event next week, offering price cuts across Apple products, smart TVs, speakers and displays, and smart home devices. Highlighted deals include AirTag 2 at $24, an M5 Pro MacBook Pro down $500 to $2,699, MacBook Air models cut by up to $150, and Apple Watch Ultra models discounted to $780. Anker has also launched its own Fall Sale with up to 50% off chargers and power banks, alongside bundle blind boxes and multi-buy discounts.
Apple is developing iOS 27.2, which extends the Dual Capture front-and-back camera feature to Group FaceTime calls, previously limited to one-on-one calls in iOS 27. The update also splits Apple Podcasts' Up Next queue into separate 'New Episodes' and 'Continue Playing' sections, and brings user profile support to the iPhone TV app for the first time, a feature previously exclusive to tvOS.