A solo developer released Hush, a lightweight macOS menu bar application that generates brown noise and a speech-blocking sound in real time, replacing the need for browser tabs or streaming apps. Users can start or stop playback with a right-click, adjust volume and tweak the low-pass cutoff via a simple controls panel, all while working fully offline. The app is Apple notarized, free to download on a pay-what-you-want basis, and its source code is available on GitHub under an MIT license.
oldmanrahul.com
· 2026-09-16
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro introduces a variable aperture camera with six blades controlled by a rotor, letting users choose between four settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0 directly in the Camera app. The update is paired with other imaging features including cinematic effects for standard video, Apple Reference Image, Photographic Styles 3, and an Audio Mix tool for music. According to early hands-on testing, the new aperture control produces more natural soft-focus effects than the phone's existing Portrait mode.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-16
Anthropic's threat intelligence team detected unusual activity on Claude, tracing it to a prepaid account making over 100,000 API requests daily. Investigation revealed a network of roughly 28 fraudulent dating apps, including one called Dora, where AI personas like 'Jennifer' conducted most conversations and even video calls with users without any human involvement.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-16
WIRED has released a dedicated mobile app for iPhone and Android, available as a free download. The app bundles a personalized daily digest, video content, podcasts, narrated stories, and a comment section for reader discussion and live AMAs with journalists.
wired.com
· 2026-09-16
Lyft has revived its election-season program, first launched in 2014, giving riders across the U.S. access to free or discounted rides to voting locations. The initiative spans from major cities like Manhattan to remote areas such as Alaska.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-16
iOS 27 adds a small feature to the Phone app that displays a festive fireworks banner animation when a user calls a contact whose birthday is saved in Contacts. The detail, spotted by an X user, mirrors an animation Apple already uses on Apple Watch's midnight birthday notifications and New Year's celebrations.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
AppZapper, the veteran Mac utility for thoroughly removing apps and their leftover files, has relaunched as AppZapper 3000 after a long absence. The new version keeps its signature zap sound effects but adds a playful blaster-style cursor animation for deleting app remnants. It's free to try with three zaps included, after which a license costs $18.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
Apple's watchOS 27 introduces a Siri app with chat history, matching similar updates on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, unlike those versions, the Apple Watch interface doesn't offer an obvious way to continue a previous conversation from within the app.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
In a Fast Company interview, Grindr CEO and Chairman George Arison discussed how the company is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to expand beyond its core dating app business. Arison pointed to strong recent financial performance, including 38% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter, as evidence the strategy is gaining traction.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-15
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new 'Siri' mode in the Camera app that uses AI to identify and act on what the camera sees, such as translating text or adding event details to a calendar. The update also lets users customize which controls appear in each camera mode, while iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners get exclusive tools including manual aperture, shutter speed, white balance, a histogram viewer, and upgraded Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
Apple has introduced a Readiness app exclusive to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, powered by an upgraded Health Sensing System with new optical and electrical sensors. The app assigns a 0-10 score categorized into four tiers—Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, and Go For It—based on activity, sleep, and vitals data. The feature will not be available on older Apple Watch models, including Series 11 and Ultra 3, even after updating to watchOS 27.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
iOS 27 brings a new 'Recurring' section to Apple Card in the Wallet app, letting users see predicted subscription and recurring charges in calendar or list form. The update also adds optional notifications that warn users ahead of upcoming recurring charges, plus a redesigned Apple Pay checkout screen with clearer shipping and billing details.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
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