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OpenAI acquires camera startup Glass Imaging for over $300 million

OpenAI has reportedly acquired Glass Imaging, a Los Altos-based smartphone camera company, for more than $300 million according to the Wall Street Journal. Founded in 2019 by former Apple engineers Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop, who helped build Portrait Mode, the startup had raised roughly $30 million before the deal and uses neural networks trained on specific camera hardware to improve image quality directly at capture rather than through post-processing edits.

Not all USB-C ports carry video: here's how to check for DisplayPort Alt Mode

USB-C video capability depends on DisplayPort Alternate Mode, a feature that lets a single cable carry both data and display signals, but it requires the device, cable, and monitor to all support it. Older USB 3.1/3.2 devices may or may not include this support depending on the manufacturer, while USB4 and all Thunderbolt 3-5 connections guarantee it.

iPhone owners can get blurred backgrounds without the iPhone 18 Pro's wider aperture

A photography guide explains that Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro has a slightly wider variable aperture (f/1.48 vs f/1.78) than its predecessor, theoretically producing shallower depth of field. However, it outlines four techniques—Portrait mode, Macro mode, shooting close to a subject, and using the telephoto lens—that let owners of older iPhones create similar background-blur effects without upgrading.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Reviewed: Solid Cameras, Weak Value at $700

WIRED's review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE finds strong daylight photos, a useful 3X optical zoom telephoto lens, and good 4K/8K video with stabilization features like horizontal lock and My FanCam framing. However, at $700 for the base 128 GB model, the reviewer says it's priced too close to the superior standard S26, which often sells for the same amount with a faster chip, more storage, and a better telephoto camera.

Apple Spotlights Task App 'Stuff' as Example of New Siri AI Integration

During its September iPhone event, Apple showcased its upgraded Siri AI's ability to work with third-party apps, using the note-organizing app Stuff as a key example. Stuff lets users convert speech and handwritten notes into task lists with dates, and now integrates with Siri so users can create and manage lists through voice commands and camera scans.

Google adds fantasy football advice and live scores to AI Mode Search

Google is updating Search's AI Mode so it can act as a fantasy football advisor by connecting to Yahoo Fantasy or Sleeper accounts, offering lineup suggestions and free-agent picks based on a user's roster and league. The company is also rolling out a 'Live Game Feed' that shows scores, recaps, play-by-play updates and video highlights when users search for ongoing games, plus carousels for league scores, player stats, win odds and bracket matchups.

Apple adds variable aperture to iPhone 18 Pro cameras

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduce a mechanical variable aperture with laser-cut blades, offering four manual settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0. The feature works alongside a new sensor, persistent subject tracking, expanded Pro controls, and a new 'Reference' mode to give photographers more control over depth of field and exposure without changing shutter speed.

Apple launches AirPods 5 at $129 with stronger noise cancellation

Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, priced at $129 and available in stores from September 18, with preorders already open. A version bundled with a wireless charging case, offering extended battery life and on-stem volume controls, costs $149. Apple says the earbuds cut up to 50 percent more background noise than the AirPods 4, thanks to a new multiport acoustic design and upgraded computational audio.

Sydney man convicted after using Tesla app to remotely control ex-partner's car

A Sydney court convicted Enrico Pucci, 50, on 30 domestic violence charges against his former partner Stacey, including remotely manipulating her Tesla via the vehicle's app. He added an unauthorised 'parental control' profile giving him command over the car's temperature, locks, curfew and speed, at one point triggering Valet Mode to cap it at 40km/h while she was driving. Police documents describe him boasting he was 'in her car' and 'in her maps' while stalking her.

Apple lets drivers customize CarPlay's look via built-in Settings app

Apple CarPlay includes a dedicated Settings menu where drivers can adjust the interface to their preference, including switching between light, dark, or automatic display modes based on ambient light. Users can also change the background wallpaper from a set of Apple-designed options, swap between dark and clear 'Liquid Glass' icon packs, and increase text size through the Accessibility menu.

Regular PC restarts still matter in 2026, especially for Windows users

Longstanding advice to periodically restart a computer remains valid today, with experts recommending Windows PCs be rebooted at least once a week. Linux systems generally require fewer restarts, and laptops should be shut down or put to sleep after use due to their limited cooling capacity.

Apple explains how iPhone's LiDAR sensor enables AR and better low-light photos

LiDAR on iPhone Pro models works by emitting light pulses and timing their return to measure distances to nearby surfaces, giving the device a sense of depth alongside camera imagery. Apple's ARKit uses this data to build a 3D mesh of a room's floors and walls, which apps like RoomPlan use to map furniture, doors and windows into a full 3D model. The sensor also boosts photography, enabling faster autofocus and Night mode portraits in dim lighting.