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Google has released Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, a new speech-to-text model that converts raw audio into clean, formatted text while handling background noise, jargon, and disfluencies better than prior systems. It's available to developers via the Gemini API in Google AI Studio and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, split into a real-time streaming option and a pre-recorded audio processing option.
Google has released Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, adding creative controls and generative video features aimed at developers building media and editing tools through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio. The update introduces scene extension, letting users continue existing videos using up to 10 seconds of prior context instead of just the final second, and extend clips in 10-second increments up to 40 seconds total.
Apple has rolled out 11 new hardware products through 2026, starting with a second-generation AirTag in January and continuing through a dense March launch that included the iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, updated MacBook Air and Pro, new Studio Displays, the budget MacBook Neo, and AirPods Max 2. In August, Apple added updated Mac mini and Mac Studio models built around its new M6 chip, with faster storage, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
A tech roundup recommends external displays for buyers of Apple's newly released Mac mini and Mac Studio, highlighting Apple's own Studio Display and the newer Studio Display XDR as standout choices. The Studio Display offers a 27-inch 5K panel, a 12MP Center Stage webcam, True Tone technology, and Thunderbolt 5 ports, while the XDR variant adds mini-LED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate.
LM Studio has integrated Z.ai's newly released GLM-5.3-Flash model into its Bionic agent platform, adding multimodal image input and a 1 million-token context window. The company says the model outperforms its predecessor, GLM-5.2, while costing roughly 9-10 times less to run, and it's served from US-based servers with zero-data-retention enabled by default.
Apple broke a decade-long pattern this week by quietly releasing updated Mac mini and Mac Studio models in late August, even though they won't ship until September 22. This timing suggests Apple needed to clear these updates off its plate before the September 9 'Surprise and shine' event, which is rumored to feature five to nine or more new products.
Apple's Mac Studio, available with M5 Max or the fused-together M5 Ultra chip, offers up to 80 GPU cores, 512GB of RAM and a 16TB SSD, along with more ports than the Mac mini, including four Thunderbolt 5 connections. The Mac mini starts at $899 and covers most everyday needs, while the Mac Studio starts at $2,499 and targets professionals with intensive workloads.
SoundCloud is launching a feature that lets musicians sell tracks straight from their profile pages, starting with a beta test involving 200 US-based Artist Pro subscribers before wider rollout this fall. The company won't take a percentage of sales, though artists still cover payment processing fees and taxes, and can track earnings through existing Artist Studio and Fan Support tools.
Apple kept the M5 Max Mac Studio's starting price at $2,499, but choosing the 40-core GPU option—listed as a $300 upgrade—automatically bumps memory from 32GB to 48GB, adding another $300. That makes the real cost of the GPU upgrade $600, not the $300 shown next to it. John Gruber flagged the discrepancy while tallying configuration prices for the new lineup.
The August 25, 2026 episode of 9to5Mac Daily podcast summarized the day's top Apple news, including the unveiling of a refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio lineup. The episode is distributed through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, and an RSS feed for players like Overcast.
Apple published a support document listing the devices that fully support Wi-Fi 7, following today's update to the Mac mini and Mac Studio, which now include the technology for the first time. The list differs from Apple's broader compatibility list, since Wi-Fi 7 networks remain backward-compatible with older Wi-Fi 6E devices that can still connect but lack full feature support.
Following Apple's announcement of new Mac Studio and Mac mini models with M6 and M5 Pro/Ultra chips, Amazon has begun accepting pre-orders for the 2026 Mac mini lineup starting at $899. Apple also refreshed its Magic Keyboard, which is now listed on Amazon in configurations ranging from $99 to $199.