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Tech News
Amazon has brought back a pre-order discount on the base M6 Mac mini (16GB/256GB), now priced at $879.99 ahead of next week's release, alongside a similar deal on the 24GB configuration. The retailer is also matching an all-time low of $330 off Apple's 2026 Studio Display XDR, part of a wider batch of discounts covering AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3, the M5 MacBook Air, and a Thunderbolt 5 dock.
Roku introduced Roku Labs, a new home-screen tile giving any Roku user access to in-development apps without needing an invite-only beta program. The initial lineup includes Backdrops Studio for custom backgrounds, Roku Immerse for custom screensavers, plus dedicated Weather and Stocks apps. Roku also announced it will open-source Roku LT OS, the software behind its remotes and smart home devices, along with free developer tools and training videos.
Spotify introduced Fresh Finds Forward, a program offering artists placed on any Fresh Finds playlist after January 1, 2026 a year of extra support. Benefits include free studio sessions at notable US studios, early access to Spotify tools, priority partnerships for tours and videos, software subscriptions from Landr and Splice, and six months of free therapy via BetterHelp.
Apple is reportedly exploring an AI inference server using future M8 Ultra chips, in configurations of two or four chips, and is debating whether to use Nvidia's NVLink Fusion to link them instead of its own interconnect methods. Any product wouldn't ship before 2029 and could be canceled. The plan follows rising demand from AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have bought or rented large numbers of Mac mini and Mac Studio units for reinforcement-learning workloads.
Apple is reportedly building an enterprise AI server powered by future M8 Ultra chips, expected to launch in 2029 in configurations with two or four chips, according to The Information. The project reportedly began about a year ago with backing from John Ternus, now Apple's CEO, when he still led hardware engineering. This would be Apple's first server product in roughly twenty years.
According to The Information, Apple is developing enterprise-grade AI servers built around its future M8 Ultra chip, intended for sale to AI developers, businesses and governments rather than just internal use. Two configurations are reportedly planned, one linking two M8 Ultra chips and another linking four, with Apple weighing Nvidia's NVLink Fusion networking tools to connect them. The project has been underway for about a year with CEO John Ternus reportedly supportive, though nothing is finalized and launch isn't expected before 2029.
Chinese filmmakers are increasingly turning to AI tools like ChatGPT, Kimi and DeepSeek to draft screenplays and generate footage, with one studio producing a 90-minute AI-assisted film for roughly $500,000 versus the millions typical productions cost. Director Lu Beike, known for the series 'Three-Body,' says AI-generated scenes still fall short of live performances, sometimes forcing crews to make real actors look less realistic so they blend with AI-generated environments.
Netflix and Sega are broadening their collaboration to include a live-action comedy based on Crazy Taxi, written by Naked Gun scribes Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, and a live-action crime film based on RGG Studio's upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven. Netflix is also developing a new Sonic animated series aimed at younger viewers, following Sonic Prime.
Photon Studio is a newly available desktop image editor that supports layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, and native PSD file compatibility. It performs all processing locally, including AI-driven subject selection and background removal, and is currently free with no paywalled features.
Apple has begun taking pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12, while retailers continue discounting older models. AirPods Pro 3 remain $50 off at $199, AirTag 2 is $20, and the M5 MacBook Air is up to $150 off at Amazon, alongside a record-low price on the 2026 Apple Studio Display and discounted Anker MagSafe chargers.
Wokyis has released the G5 and G7, retro-styled docking stations designed for the Mac mini and Mac Studio respectively, styled after the original 1984 Macintosh. The docks pack a 7-inch flip-up display, nine remappable physical controls, an NVMe SSD enclosure supporting up to 8TB, and a mix of high-speed ports including Thunderbolt 5 on the 80Gbps configuration. Both 10Gbps and 80Gbps versions are available, with card readers, USB-A/C ports, HDMI, DisplayPort and a headphone jack rounding out the connectivity.
9to5Toys compiled a weekend list of Apple product discounts, including pre-order savings on the new AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12, plus a $50 cut on AirPods Pro 3 and an all-time-low price on AirTag 2. Other highlights include a $500 discount on the 2TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro, an all-time-low deal on the entry Studio Display, and ongoing M6 Mac mini pre-order offers ahead of this month's shipments.