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A developer has released EyesRhythm, a free desktop app for macOS and Windows that uses a webcam to monitor blink frequency and encourage healthier blink rhythms during screen use. The app requires no account or license key, and the developer states that camera frames are processed locally and never leave the user's machine. Installers are available as a DMG for Mac and an EXE for Windows, version 1.5.0.
OpenAI is phasing out the original ChatGPT Classic desktop app, displaying a notice that it will be retired on January 30, 2027, with chat history carried over to the newer unified app. Separately, OpenAI is preparing to merge the Chat and Work tabs into one interface, consolidating their usage allowances.
Astropad released Workbench 1.4, a remote desktop app update that lets users switch between a Mac's screen and a terminal window without reconnecting, with sessions persisting across devices. The update also adds voice dictation for terminal commands, drag-and-drop file transfer for Mac-to-Mac connections, and native support for iPhone Duo with agent-monitoring panes.
Code spotted by TestingCatalog reveals a hidden 'Additional sandbox options' setting in Gemini's macOS desktop app that would let the AI read, create, modify or delete files anywhere on a Mac, not just in folders users have connected. The feature would also let Gemini interact with apps like Mail, Safari and Messages, and take some actions without asking permission each time. Google has not confirmed the feature, and it is not yet live.
Google is reportedly rolling out a new Tasks mode within the Gemini desktop app, according to TestingCatalog, which separates regular chat conversations from more autonomous, multi-step tasks. The update includes new Computer Use settings allowing users to specify which desktop apps Gemini can and cannot control, plus a more visible option to launch projects from local folders. A Gemini Live button has also been spotted inside Tasks, suggesting users may be able to talk to Gemini while it operates across the computer.
Anthropic engineers spent a two-week sprint in August optimizing four core user journeys in claude.ai and the Claude desktop app, which together account for 95% of user activity. Measured at the 75th percentile, load time for a fresh claude.ai page dropped from 3.1 seconds to 0.55 seconds, new Claude Code sessions went from 0.8 to 0.3 seconds, and Claude Cowork cloud sessions improved from 2.6 to 0.73 seconds, with a 3.1x average speedup across 13 measurements.
Google has released a native Gemini AI desktop application for Windows, following a similar Mac app launched in April. The app offers image generation via Nano Banana, video generation through Gemini Omni for eligible subscribers, and access to multiple Gemini model tiers depending on a user's Google subscription, all launchable with an Alt+spacebar shortcut.