GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has published details of its 2027 Swift Student Challenge, with submissions open February 8-28, 2027. For the first time, students can submit an app built for any Apple platform, including tvOS, watchOS and visionOS, rather than being limited to specific platforms as in prior years.
Apple released a batch of minor software updates across its device lineup, including iOS 26.7.3, iPadOS 26.7.3, iOS 18.7.12, iPadOS 18.7.12, watchOS 27.2.1, watchOS 26.6.1, visionOS 27.2.1, and macOS updates for versions 27, 26 and 15. The updates focus on security patches and bug fixes, while tvOS and HomePod software were not updated.
Apple's watchOS 27.3 and iOS 27.3 betas, released this week, introduce Siri Recap and Live Rewind, two 'Audio Intelligence' features exclusive to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Siri Recap ambiently listens to conversations throughout the day and generates AI summaries that can be deleted automatically after up to seven days unless manually saved.
Apple has released the first developer beta of watchOS 27.3, introducing two Audio Intelligence features announced in September: Siri Recap and Live Rewind. Both work only on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, with Siri Recap generating Apple Intelligence summaries of conversations and Live Rewind showing a 15-second transcript when the Digital Crown is double-pressed.
Apple has distributed beta 1 of watchOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and related updates to developers, just a week after releasing iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 to the public. The betas are available now to enrolled developer devices through Settings, though public beta versions have not yet been released.
Apple's watchOS 27.3 developer beta introduces two Audio Intelligence features for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: Live Rewind, which shows a transcript of the last 15 seconds of audio, and Siri Recap, which summarizes conversations. Both features require opting in through the iPhone's Watch app, are off by default, and Live Rewind needs an initial microphone calibration before use.
Apple's watchOS 27.3 developer beta introduces Siri Recap and Live Rewind, two Audio Intelligence features that use the Apple Watch's microphone to generate conversation summaries and 15-second text transcripts on demand. Apple also released a redesigned Health app in the iOS 27.3 developer beta, adding an Insights tab, personalized recommendations, and support for additional languages. Alongside these releases, Apple published a privacy overview document describing how raw audio is processed on-device and not accessible to apps or Apple itself.
Apple's watchOS 27.3 beta brings two Audio Intelligence tools first shown alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: Siri Recap, which generates titled summaries of conversations, and Live Rewind, which transcribes the last 15 seconds of audio on demand via a double-press of the Digital Crown. Both features rely on the watches' always-listening microphones and are limited to the two newest Apple Watch models.
AssistiveTouch is a built-in accessibility feature on Apple Watch models running the latest watchOS that uses the gyroscope, accelerometer and optical heart rate sensor to detect hand and finger movements. This allows users to tap, scroll and even make Apple Pay payments through gestures alone, without touching the screen.
Apple says two new Audio Intelligence features, Siri Recap and Live Rewind, are coming later this year to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Siri Recap generates AI summaries of conversations that auto-delete after seven days unless saved, while Live Rewind lets users view a text snippet of the last 15 seconds of speech by double-pressing the Digital Crown. Apple expects to roll out both features with the watchOS 27.3 update, due in beta soon.
Apple has released a new release candidate build (24S118) of watchOS 27.2 for developers and public beta testers, replacing the earlier RC build 24S5101f issued days before. The change comes ahead of Apple's broader 27.2 software rollout, expected early next week alongside iOS, iPadOS and tvOS updates.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 includes an orange action button near the speaker grille that lets users trigger a single assigned command instantly, bypassing menus other Apple Watch models require. The button can also activate an emergency siren to help attract attention in dangerous situations, and it supports a range of assignable commands that pair with new automation features in watchOS 27 and iOS 27.