The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. The Ubuntu Budgie project has published a new release, Ubuntu Budgie 26.10, which receives nine months of support. The main focus of the latest version is an update to the Budgie desktop: "Ubuntu Budgie 26.10 'Stonking Stingray' is a Standard Release with nine months of support by your....

Apple is planning to introduce new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models on October 27 or October 28, and the machines could launch on Friday, November 6, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said during his latest podcast.


Apple retail stores apparently have a "big floor reset" scheduled for the evening of Thursday, November 5, and into Friday, November 6, which Gurman says could be in preparation for the new Macs. The store reset will follow a debut in late October, with Apple planning a creator-focused gathering in Los Angeles to introduce the new products.

Along with the ‌OLED‌ touchscreen ‌MacBook Pro‌, Apple is rumored to be launching the ‌OLED‌ iPad mini, M6 iMac, and M6 entry-level 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌. Gurman did not say whether there would be a classic Apple event, but suggested Apple will "do something" and will "have those videos" at the "very least."

Gurman previously said Apple might name the new ‌OLED‌ Macs the "MacBook Ultra," but he more recently walked that back and suggested they would be part of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ line. He also said the foldable iPhone could be the iPhone Ultra and that Apple would debut AirPods Ultra, but so far Apple has not embraced the Ultra naming.

The ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ models could be sold as a higher-end option alongside the current mini-LED models, but new chips are not expected. Apple is said to be using the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that are in the existing ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

If the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models do launch on November 6, Apple will have several weeks of product launches. The iPhone Duo is coming out on October 23, while the HomePod mini 2 launches October 30. The HomeView and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K will be released on November 13.
This article, "Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Withings, the maker of smart scales for measuring body weight, has announced that customers who create an account on October 13, 2026 or later must have a Withings+ subscription for automatic syncing of data to third-party apps, including Apple's Health app. In the U.S., Withings+ costs $99.50 per year.

If you created your account on or before October 12, 2026, automatic syncing to third-party apps remains free. Since this change is tied to the account creation date, existing customers who buy a new Withings scale or other device are unaffected.
This article, "New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Say you see this lovely chunk of decompiled code:

    var_v1 = &sp10
    var_v0 = D_80010040;
    temp_s4 = var_v1;
    sp110 = &sp2C
    sp114 = &sp30
    do {
        var_v1->unk0 = (s32) var_v0->unk0;
        var_v1->unk4 = (s32) var_v0[1];
        var_v1->unk8 = (s32) var_v0[2];
        var_v1->unkC = (s32) var_v0[3];
        var_v0 += 0x10;
        var_v1 += 0x10;
    } while (var_v0 != &D_8001040[0x3C]);
    var_v1->unk0 = (s32) var_v0->unk0;
    var_v1->unk4 = (s32) var_v0[1];
    var_v1->unk8 = (s32) var_v0[2];

If you ignore the fact that m2c wrote ->unk0 for [0] (it has a bit of an annoying habit to do that), this is obviously something copying 16 bytes at a time and then 12 more bytes at the end. But would a programmer ever do this? Nope, this is an inlined, unrolled memcpy.

This is known in GCC as __builtin_memcpy, and it can happen either implicitly, or by some sort of lowering from a struct or array copy (e.g., through initialization of a stack array). Depending a bit on whether the variable is known to be aligned or not, you'll either get just lw or some evil lwr/lwl sequence; I'm always struggling a bit to change one to the other. In any case, what you want here is:

    __builtin_memcpy(&sp10, D_80010040, 0x4C);

and then make sp10 the right type instead of a scalar, ideally so that you can use sizeof() on it. Or, in some cases, a direct initialization:

    s32 foo[] = { 1, 2, 3, ...more data from D_80010040... };

The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. Ubuntu Studio is a distribution for creative individuals in the areas of audio production, video production, graphics design, photography and desktop publishing. The project's latest version, 26.10, offers nine months of support and a handful of new tools. "Ubuntu Studio’s audio package selections now include Sonic Pi, SuperCollider,....

On the latest episode of his Power On podcast, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he heard that Apple has tested both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion displays for the next iPad mini. However, he has not yet learned which option Apple has chosen.

Apple is expected to announce the new iPad mini on October 27 or October 28, with rumored features including an OLED display, A20 Pro chip, landscape front camera, redesigned speaker system, and water-resistant design.
This article, "iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Meta today announced the release of Muse Spark Open, which it says is the "most capable U.S. open-weight model to date."


‌Meta‌ worked with Apple to bring Muse Spark Open to the Mac, and the model can run on a desktop setup with two 512GB Apple M5 Ultra Mac Studios running the latest MLX framework. ‌Meta‌ CEO Mark Zuckerberg thanked Apple CEO John Ternus for working with Meta.


Muse Spark Open has 816 billion total parameters with 42 billion active parameters and a 1 million-token context window. It is meant for coding and agentic work, and ‌Meta‌ says it excels at extended tasks, multi-step reasoning, and software engineering.

The new Muse model was tuned to run on Mac Studio, and ‌Meta‌ says the ‌Mac Studio‌ paired with Muse Spark Open is the "best way to run a powerful model on your own desktop." From ‌Meta‌:

Apple's unified memory architecture lets the M5 Ultra's integrated GPU use up to 512 GB per Mac Studio, so two machines can hold an entire model. And the chip's 1.2 TB/s of memory bandwidth is fast enough to read the small slice each token needs. The result is two Mac Studios behave like one supercomputer with a terabyte of unified memory.

Apple hasn't released the 512GB ‌Mac Studio‌ as of yet, but it's supposed to be coming later this month. It won't be cheap, because the 256GB ‌Mac Studio‌ is already priced over $10,000.

The model is available through API platforms at Baseten, Fireworks AI, Groq, Modal, Nebius, OpenRouter, and Together AI, with model weights downloadable from Amazon SageMaker AI, Google Cloud Model Garden, Hugging Face, and Microsoft Foundry Models. Muse Spark Open is free to download and has a license allowing limited commercial use.

Apple and ‌Meta‌ often argue more than they work together, so it is something of a surprise to see the two companies partnering for Muse Spark Open. "We're excited for mommy and daddy to be playing nice again," ‌Meta‌'s AI chief Alexandr Wang told Axios.
This article, "Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. Edubuntu is a partner project of Ubuntu, a distribution suitable for classroom use. The project's latest version, 26.10, includes GNOME 51 as the default desktop environment, refreshed branding, and enhancements to the system installer. "Desktop environment and technology: GNOME 51 brings the latest improvements in performance, usability and....

Apple announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K earlier this week, introducing the A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri, four-speaker HomePod surround sound, and an updated ‌Siri‌ Remote. It replaces the third-generation model introduced in 2022, bringing a number of internal changes while retaining the same basic design and most of the same entertainment features.


The new model costs $299 and comes with 128GB of storage. ‌Siri‌ AI is also coming to the third-generation model, and the new remote can be purchased separately for existing devices. Apple says the assistant will be available in beta with tvOS 27.2 on second-generation and later ‌Apple TV‌ 4K models, including conversational entertainment searches, follow-up questions, and personal context through a compatible paired device.

The new model's distinctive hardware benefit is direct voice input through the box's microphones; access to the voice assistant itself is shared. Whether you should upgrade therefore comes down to which hardware changes you will actually use.

Configurations, Connectivity, and Price

The differences in configurations, connectivity, and pricing between the third- and fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K are as follows:

‌Apple TV‌ 4K (3rd Generation)	‌Apple TV‌ 4K (4th Generation)
64GB model: Wi-Fi only 128GB model: Wi-Fi and Ethernet	Single 128GB configuration with Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 6
Gigabit Ethernet on the 128GB model only	Gigabit Ethernet as standard
Thread networking on the 128GB model only	Thread networking as standard
Original U.S. launch prices: $129 for 64GB; $149 for 128GB	U.S. launch price: $299 for 128GB
Final prices before replacement: $199 for 64GB; $249 for 128GB	$299 for 128GB
Now discontinued	Available to pre-order
Released November 4, 2022	Available November 13, 2026

Apple raised the older model's prices in June 2026, so comparing the new model exclusively with its predecessor's original launch pricing misses an intervening increase. Against the final price of the equivalent 128GB model, the new ‌Apple TV‌ costs $50 more. Against the previous entry-level configuration, it costs $100 more and includes twice the storage, Ethernet, and Thread connectivity.

A15 Bionic vs. A19

The A19 chip brings a substantially newer chip architecture to the ‌Apple TV‌. Apple says the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K delivers the following improvements over the third-generation model:

• Up to 50% faster CPU performance.


• Up to twice the GPU performance.

The table below lists capabilities of two chip architectures.

A15 Bionic Chip	A19 Chip
Made with TSMC's 5nm (N5P) process	Made with TSMC's third-generation 3nm (N3P) process
	Dynamic Caching
Software-based ray tracing	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Mesh shading without the newer dedicated hardware acceleration	Hardware-accelerated mesh shading
	Dedicated Neural Accelerators in each GPU core
16-core Neural Engine	Updated 16-core Neural Engine architecture
Display engine and image signal processor	Updated display engine and image signal processor
	Dedicated AV1 hardware decoder
Up to 4x multisample anti-aliasing	Up to 8x multisample anti-aliasing
Maximum 1D, 2D, and cube-map texture dimensions of 16,384 pixels	Maximum 1D, 2D, and cube-map texture dimensions of 32,768 pixels
	Universal texture compression
	MetalFX denoised upscaling capability
	Depth bounds testing

The A19 chip has a substantially better GPU than the A15 Bionic. Dynamic Caching manages fast on-chip GPU memory according to the workload. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading provide more advanced graphics-processing capabilities, while GPU Neural Accelerators supply dedicated hardware for machine learning calculations.

While GPU improvements will be particularly useful for gaming, it is unclear just how much the full breadth of the chip architecture improvements will make a meaningful difference to the ‌Apple TV‌.

Hands-Free Siri and HomePod Audio

The new microphones and expanded ‌HomePod‌ support provide some of the clearest functional differences between the two devices:

‌Apple TV‌ 4K (3rd Generation)	‌Apple TV‌ 4K (4th Generation)
No built-in microphone array in the box; microphone only in the ‌Siri‌ Remote	Three built-in far-field microphones with voice isolation, alongside the microphone in the ‌Siri‌ Remote
‌Siri‌ voice input through the remote or another compatible device	Direct hands-free activation using "‌Siri‌" or "Hey ‌Siri‌," with echo cancellation while audio is playing
‌HomePod‌ TV audio through a single speaker or stereo pair	Four-speaker ‌HomePod‌ surround sound using matching front and rear pairs
	Automatic positioning, timing, and level calibration for the four-speaker setup
	Whole Room Audio mode distributes sound across four ‌HomePod‌ speakers

The four-speaker configuration requires HomePod mini 2 or second-generation full-sized ‌HomePod‌ speakers. You can use four matching speakers or combine two matching front speakers with a different matching rear pair. For example, two full-sized HomePods can serve as the front speakers and two ‌HomePod mini 2‌ units as the rear speakers.

First-generation full-sized HomePods and original ‌HomePod‌ mini speakers are excluded from this new four-speaker configuration. Existing owners should account for any speaker replacements or additions when considering the cost of upgrading.

Whole Room Audio serves a different purpose from directional home theater sound, distributing audio more evenly around the room for music, sports, and more.

Hands-free ‌Siri‌ support also has its own language requirements. Apple lists Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, and Swedish, subject to regional availability.

Siri Remote Differences

The fourth-generation ‌Siri‌ Remote retains the familiar design and controls while making a misplaced remote easier to find:

‌Siri‌ Remote (3rd Generation)	‌Siri‌ Remote (4th Generation)
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 6
Nearby finding through iPhone, with proximity guidance	Find My with Precision Finding on a compatible iPhone
	Bluetooth Channel Sounding for precise location tracking
	Built-in speaker for playing a sound to locate the remote
66 grams	69.6 grams

The older remote already supported nearby finding with an iPhone. The new remote's additional benefits are precise location guidance and an audible alert. Precision Finding uses Bluetooth Channel Sounding, providing precise tracking without requiring a UWB chip.

Precision Finding requires an iPhone 17 or later, excluding the iPhone 17e, or an iPhone Air or iPhone Duo running the latest software. You can also ask ‌Siri‌ to find the remote through the ‌Apple TV‌'s built-in microphones and have the remote play a sound.

The new ‌Siri‌ Remote is available separately for $59 and works with the third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, every earlier ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, and even the ‌Apple TV‌ HD.

Design, Dimensions, and Weight

Both generations retain the compact black enclosure and Apple logo. The principal visible changes are the microphone hardware and the repositioned front light.

	‌Apple TV‌ 4K (3rd Generation)	‌Apple TV‌ 4K (4th Generation)
Width	93 mm	93.24 mm
Depth	93 mm	93.24 mm
Weight	Wi-Fi: 208g Wi-Fi + Ethernet: 214g	217g
Status light	Positioned toward the right	Positioned in the center
Packaging	At least 90% fiber-based packaging	100% fiber-based packaging

The new box weighs three grams more than the previous Ethernet model and nine grams more than the Wi-Fi-only model. The centered front light also indicates when the built-in microphones are listening for commands.

Should You Upgrade From the Third-Generation Apple TV 4K?

Most third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K owners should keep their existing device. For ordinary streaming through television speakers, a soundbar, or an AV receiver, the new model does not add new capabilities. The maximum viewing resolution and HDR support remains the same. ‌Siri‌ AI's availability on the older hardware further reduces the need to replace a working device.

The strongest reason to upgrade is a planned four-speaker ‌HomePod‌ system. If you already own two second-generation full-sized HomePods and want dedicated rear speakers, the new ‌Apple TV‌ enables a specific setup your existing model cannot provide. Include the cost of additional or replacement speakers when judging the upgrade.

Hands-free control is another practical reason if you regularly use ‌Siri‌ and want to speak directly to the device. It is likely to be more useful when the ‌Apple TV‌ is directly in the viewing room than when it is installed in a separate equipment cupboard or rack.

AV1 hardware decoding may justify the upgrade for a particular media library or playback workflow. Gaming enthusiasts may also value the newer GPU architecture, but the benefit depends on the games available for tvOS and how developers use the hardware.

If locating the remote is a source of frustration, buying the $59 ‌Siri‌ Remote separately costs $240 less than replacing the entire ‌Apple TV‌. That purchase supplies the new remote features while retaining your existing device.

Should You Buy the Third- or Fourth-Generation Model?

For a new purchase, the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is the stronger choice when the price difference is modest or you intend to use its exclusive features. Compared with the older 128GB model's final $249 Apple price, the $50 premium is easier to justify than the much larger difference suggested by comparing original launch prices.

That being said, a discounted third-generation model remains a sensible purchase. The older model is particularly appealing when the saving is substantial and you are not interested in a four-speaker ‌HomePod‌ sound system.

If you need Ethernet or want the ‌Apple TV‌ itself to provide Thread networking, choose the third-generation 128GB model or the fourth-generation model. A sufficiently large saving on the older 128GB configuration can outweigh improvements with the latest model that you would rarely use.
This article, "Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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At a glance Microsoft Edge is developing new ways to help security updates reach people faster with less disruption. A seamless-updates prototype shows how Edge could update while work continues. Available today, Restart to update on idle (formerly Instant Updates) can apply pending updates when devices are idle and Security Update Alerts help organizations identify devices that need critical updates.

Imagine an update that does not interrupt your work

As AI speeds up both the discovery of security flaws and the pace of attacks, getting protection to everyone quickly matters more than ever. Security updates are essential. Interruptions shouldn't have to be. That's why we've developed a working prototype that moves the browser to a new, more secure version while your open work continues, with no restart prompt and hardly anything to notice. Imagine you are halfway through a long form, such as an expense report. You've found the receipts and entered all the details. Then you notice a security update is ready…but you're not. Restart now, or risk losing your work? It's easy to see why people hesitate to take updates. With seamless updates, instead of asking you to pause and relaunch the browser, Edge applies the new version in the background. The browser, its supporting processes, and your open tabs transition to that version while the form stays open and your work remains in place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3IEkey1NQ In this demo, we clicked the Update button so you can see the moment the browser begins updating. Our goal is that you won't have to click the update button at all; you would simply continue working with a safer browser. Importantly, your updates could be applied within minutes of availability. There's a reason browser updates have traditionally relied on a restart. A browser needs to coordinate many connected processes, all of which must transition safely and reliably to the new version while preserving what you are doing. We're sharing this prototype early in development to make the ambition tangible and help advance the broader conversation about how browsers can move to more secure versions without interrupting people's work. As such, it is not in production code or part of Chromium today. We invite others across the industry to join us in exploring new approaches to getting critical protection to people faster and with less disruption.

Restart to update on idle: A practical step you can take today

You don't need to wait for seamless updates to arrive to reduce update friction. You can opt in to Restart to update on idle (formerly named "Instant Updates"), which relaunches Edge when the device is idle, applies a pending update, and restores open tabs. Organizations can configure the experience through the Monitoring dashboard in Edge management service. This is different from the seamless-updates prototype: a restart still occurs, but it shifts that interruption away from active work and helps important security fixes reach everyone sooner. If you typically wait to update your browser, Restart to update on idle can help you get the latest protection in hours instead of days.

Why faster updates matter

A security update can only protect you after apply it. The time between a fix becoming available and the update being applied is known in security circles as the patch gap. Restarts add friction to that gap: people may keep a browser open for days because they are in the middle of something important. That window matters even more as AI changes the speed and scale of cybersecurity. The 2026 Microsoft Digital Defense Report describes how AI is compressing attack timelines and accelerating vulnerability discovery. Defenders need to find and fix issues quickly—and help those fixes reach people just as quickly.

When protection can't wait, Edge can move faster

Microsoft Edge is built on Chromium and benefits from the security work of the broader open-source community. But Edge is not limited to waiting for the Chromium release cadence in urgent situations when Microsoft determines that customers need protection sooner. As we shared in a recent Browser Vulnerability Research blog, Microsoft has issued Edge patches independently of Chromium to address urgent security needs. We're ready to bring our security research and engineering capabilities to bear when timing is critical. Together, these efforts show Microsoft Edge working across each stage of the update journey: responding quickly when protection is needed, helping updates take effect with less disruption today, and exploring a future where people can stay secure without interrupting their work.

For organizations: Security Update Alerts help admins close update gaps faster

For organizations managing browsers across many devices, Edge for Business also provides robust tools to help IT and security teams close update gaps today. Security Update Alerts in the Microsoft Edge management service let admins set a minimum severity threshold and receive dashboard alerts and email notifications when a newly released update contains security fixes that meet or exceed it. Alerts also highlight releases that address zero-day vulnerabilities. From the Monitoring dashboard, admins can review release severity, addressed CVEs, how many managed Windows devices may require an update, and the latest versions available across Edge channels. They can then prompt users to restart or configure automatic restarts when devices are idle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_g8HC20JZA Security Update Alerts are available now for managed Windows devices through the Monitoring dashboard in the Edge management service, with no additional licensing required. Learn more about the Monitoring dashboard. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month and throughout the year, Microsoft Edge is working toward a simple outcome: protection that moves faster and asks less of you. The seamless-updates prototype makes that future visible, while Microsoft security engineering and organizational management tools help close update gaps today.

The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. The Xubuntu project has published Xubuntu version 26.10. The new release, code-named "Stonking Stingray", will receive nine months of support and runs the Xfce 4.20 desktop. "Xfce 4.20 components have received further stability and Wayland improvements, including fixes for several Thunar crashes and a more resilient Xfce Panel....

In a recent interview with TIME, Apple CEO John Ternus described some early foldable smartphones as feeling "kind of cheap and crappy." Samsung released its first foldable in 2019, but Apple opted to take its time and has now developed the iPhone Duo with a premium design and a barely-noticeable display crease.

The interview touches on how Ternus gave Apple's design team "the confidence to really push the boundaries on innovation and manufacturing" with the iPhone Duo, which is available to pre-order starting this Friday at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.
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In an interview with TIME's Andrew R. Chow, Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak said Apple Intelligence is meant for "everyday people" as opposed to the "lunatic fringe."


The full sentence: "In the midst of a populist AI backlash, they contend that they are building a modest but personalized and privacy-preserving form of AI that will actually help ordinary people as opposed to merely dazzling Silicon Valley's 'lunatic fringe,' as Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, puts it."

Joswiak apparently believes Apple Intelligence is not for "die-hard AI believers chasing superintelligence," as Chow described it.

"We love them, and they can use it too, but that's not our target," said Joswiak. "It's how to make it better for everyday people."

Joswiak added that "we don't feel threatened" in regards to Apple facing competition in the AI industry. "The fact that we can do the integration that we can means we can create just a better experience than anybody else," he said.
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Amazon has a few notable markdowns on AirPods models this week, including the AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3. In regards to the AirPods Max 2, Amazon's deal today is matching the Prime Day low price we saw earlier this month.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can get the AirPods Max 2 on sale for $429.00, down from $549.00. This is one of the lowest prices we've ever seen on the AirPods Max 2, and the sale is available in Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight colors.



For the AirPods Pro 3, you can get this model for $199.00, down from $249.00. This is a second-best price on the AirPods Pro 3, but if you missed the all-time low price during Prime Day and want a model now, it's still a solid $50 discount.



This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

---

This article, "Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. The Ubuntu MATE project has returned after missing the 26.04 release cycle. The project has published version 26.10, launching its first version with a new team: "Lo and behold, Ubuntu MATE 26.10 'Stonking Stingray' is here. We are back after a hiatus where the project skipped the 26.04....

Apple CEO John Ternus has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2026" edition, available October 26.


Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and was formerly its senior vice president of hardware engineering, succeeded Tim Cook as the company's CEO on September 1. This paved the way for Ternus to unveil the iPhone Duo just eight days later.

Ternus believes the iPhone Duo stands apart from other foldable smartphones.

"The other examples in the world felt kind of cheap and crappy," said Ternus, in an interview with TIME's Andrew R. Chow.

Ternus was eight years old when his father purchased an Apple II computer. "I started playing games on it and fell in love with Apple," he said.

Cook remains at Apple as executive chairman, with his primary focus being engaging with policymakers around the world. "He has great relationships and loves Apple," Ternus said of Cook. "So wherever he can help, he is happy to help."

In a separate interview, Cook said he is "not meddling" with Ternus.

Apple's large language models that power Siri AI are "based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," according to a joint announcement from Apple and Google earlier this year. When asked about this, Ternus said Apple does not always have to make the whole widget, with the company focused on areas it can provide "differentiation."

"There's not really a goal that we have to make every single thing in a product," he said. "We make the things where we can really bring differentiation."

Apple also tries to remain focused.

"You can't do everything," Ternus added. "So we kind of try to constrain ourselves to the stuff that matters most—and then put all of our effort into those things."

The full magazine cover is below.


This article, "Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that customers have until 9 p.m. Pacific Time today to "get ready" for their iPhone Duo pre-order.

By completing this process via Apple's online store or the Apple Store app, Apple said customers can "check out with a single click" when iPhone Duo pre-orders go live on Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. The device launches on Friday, October 23.
This article, "Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Photos hold some of our most meaningful memories: the people we love, the milestones we celebrate, and the everyday moments we want to remember. They connect us to our past and help us share our stories. Finding, editing, and enjoying them on Windows should be simple, wherever they're stored. As we shared today, we're excited to introduce new Photos experiences on Windows 11, with an all-new Gallery, a new native Editor, and a redesigned Viewer. This is a closer look at those new experiences, which are starting to roll out to Windows Insiders today. Our focus is simple: help you rediscover and organize your collection, give you more capable tools for your favorite shots, and make the everyday experience faster. At a glance: 

• An all-new Gallery: Bring photos from your PC, OneDrive, and iCloud together in one fast, beautiful gallery. Find favorites by describing them in your own words, search or filter for friends and family, relive memories with Moments for your OneDrive photos, and organize albums to share. 
• A new native Editor: Bring out the best in a favorite photo with a rebuilt Editor that loads 25% faster¹, with intuitive tools to crop, enhance, repair, and stylize your photos, plus HDR, HEIC, and WebP editing. Remove unwanted objects from the background, or use Relight to correct lighting and explore a different look. 
• A redesigned native Viewer: Opens photos up to 30% faster¹, with a cleaner photo-first design, smoother navigation, improved HDR viewing, expanded file type support, and useful details and actions available when you need them.

An all-new Gallery: Your collection, together

Your photos don't all live in the same place, and you shouldn't have to remember where you saved a picture to start enjoying your collection.  The all-new Gallery brings photos and videos from your PC, OneDrive, and Apple iCloud together in one fast, beautiful gallery. Your phone may capture the moment, but your PC gives you the space to see the whole story—and the control to find, organize, and make more of your photos. Browse by date, explore photos by the people in them, organize and share albums, search with natural language, and rediscover your favorite memories, all right on Windows. We've improved app launch and scrolling performance, too. Whether you're opening Photos to find a recent picture or taking your time browsing years of memories, you can get to your collection faster and move through it more smoothly. You can browse online or offline, with photos available on your device ready to enjoy even when you're not connected. [caption id="attachment_180525" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The all-new Gallery brings photos from your PC, OneDrive, and iCloud together in one fast, beautiful place to explore your memories.[/caption]

From your phone to your PC, with OneDrive

OneDrive is a great way to back up the photos and videos on your phone and keep them safer and more accessible anywhere. Turn on Camera Backup in the OneDrive mobile app on iOS or Android to automatically back up your photos and videos. Once saved to OneDrive, they're available on your phone, in the browser, and in Photos on Windows. The familiar ways you explore by searching for friends and family members, the way you organize and share albums, and how you relive memories in OneDrive's web and mobile photo experiences are now available to you on Windows. It's one consistent experience for your photos, wherever you choose to enjoy them. Prefer to keep photos on your PC or use iCloud? You can continue using Photos without signing in to OneDrive to enjoy content stored locally on your device and in iCloud.

Your iCloud photos, on your Windows PC

Apple’s iCloud for Windows app brings your iCloud photos and videos into Gallery alongside your local collection, keeping them up to date across your PC and other devices.  You can also use File Explorer to download photos and videos for offline access. For sharing, the iCloud Shared Albums app lets you create albums and invite friends and family to contribute photos, videos, and comments, which is a great way to bring everyone’s memories of a trip or celebration together.  Set up Photos in iCloud for Windows to get started.

Moments that bring you back

Some of the best photos to rediscover are the ones you weren't looking for.  For photos saved in OneDrive, Moments finds themes in your library and brings related pictures together into memories throughout the year. It even gives them meaningful names, such as Peaceful Moments, inviting you to revisit a quieter part of a family trip or an everyday scene you might have forgotten.  At the end of each season, OneDrive also creates a recap automatically. A summer of family outings, holidays, and small discoveries can be waiting for you when you open Moments, without having to write a prompt or put the collection together yourself.  Each memory plays as a slideshow you can watch, share with family and friends, or save as a video. It's a way to enjoy those pictures again and share more of the story behind them. [caption id="attachment_180517" align="alignnone" width="1024"] On this day brings memories from years past back to you, helping you rediscover moments you might have forgotten.[/caption]

Start with the people who matter

The people in your photos are often what make them worth coming back to. With People, familiar faces become a starting point for exploring your collection. Search for photos of the people you care about without remembering a particular date or album.  A new filter system helps you narrow your collection by where photos are stored and who’s in them. Looking for photos in OneDrive that feature your child or two specific friends together? Select OneDrive and the person or people you want to see, rather than scrolling through your whole library.  And when you want to keep a set of pictures together, Albums make it easy to organize and share them. Gather favorites from a trip or celebration into an album, then share it with the people who were part of it. [caption id="attachment_180516" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Find photos of the people you care about, with filters that narrow your collection by who’s in them and where they’re stored.[/caption]

Organize and share your favorites 

With Albums, you can bring your photos together into a collection that tells the story. Organize your favorites around the experiences that matter to you, and when you’re ready to share, albums help friends and family enjoy the highlights. You can also mark individual photos as favorites and revisit them anytime in the dedicated Favorites view. 

Describe the photo you're looking for 

Looking for something specific? Describe it in your own words, such as "a family picnic by the lake" or “sunset at the beach.” Natural-language search in Gallery helps surface photos more quickly. You can start with what you remember, rather than a filename or an exact date. On supported hardware, improved Windows Search also works with photos saved locally in your Pictures Library².

A new native Editor: Built around what you want to do

Once you've found a photo, the next step might be a quick crop, removing a distraction, or trying a different look. We’re focused on making the editing experience faster and more intuitive. Rebuilt from the ground up with WinUI 3, the native Editor is organized around those photo-editing workflows, making it easier to move from an idea to an edit.  Your phone is great for quick edits. For more detailed work, the larger display and more precise controls on your PC give you room to refine lighting, framing, and the overall look.  The same native Editor is available for photos in Gallery or from anywhere on your PC. The Editor now launches 25% faster¹ and offers smoother navigation to help it fit naturally into your workflow, whether you're making a quick adjustment or spending more time on a favorite image.  The tools are arranged into four categories, organized around what you want to accomplish: 

• Crop brings together tools for adjusting framing, composition, and aspect ratio.
• Enhance helps you fine-tune light, color, and the overall appearance of your photo.
• Repair provides tools for correcting flaws and addressing imperfections in your photos.
• Stylize offers creative ways to change a photo's look and feel.

[caption id="attachment_180522" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The all-new native Editor is built around what you want to do, with intuitive tools to crop, enhance, repair, and stylize your photos.[/caption]

Edit HDR photos and images from your iPhone

Your photos should keep everything that made them worth capturing, even after editing.  Photos now preserves the rich color and contrast of HDR throughout the editing process and lets you edit and save HEIC and WebP images in their original format. Whether you’re enhancing an HDR photo or refining a shot captured on an iPhone, you can now make it your own without compromising its quality or format.

Quickly remove distractions

An unwanted object shouldn't distract from a favorite photo.  In Repair, you can quickly remove unwanted objects by circling or brushing over them. An improved AI model delivers higher-quality results and faster processing than ever before¹, while the simpler interface helps you keep the focus on the parts of the photo that matter. [caption id="attachment_180521" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Quickly remove distractions—like a bag in the foreground—with faster processing and higher-quality results, keeping the focus on your subject.[/caption]

Take control of lighting with Relight

Lighting can change the feel of a photo. In Enhance, Relight gives you control over that lighting after the shot, whether you're correcting poor lighting or exploring a creative effect. We're expanding its availability to all Windows 11 devices.  Position up to three light sources, set their colors, and choose a focus point that all the lights automatically aim toward. Brightness and intensity controls let you fine-tune the effect, turning complex lighting adjustments into a visual, intuitive experience.  For quicker edits, built-in presets such as golden hour offer ready-made lighting styles you can apply with a single click. [caption id="attachment_180526" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Relight gives you control over your photo’s lighting, with adjustable light sources and one-click presets to correct poor lighting or create a new mood.[/caption]

Get the framing right for sharing

New social media crop templates make it simple to get your photos ready to share. Choose the format for your favorite social network, adjust the framing if needed, and your photo is ready to post in just a few clicks.

A redesigned native Viewer: Focus on the photo

We've significantly improved Viewer launch performance with 15% faster startup on average and improvements of up to 30% for HEIC images¹, so your photos open faster. The cleaner layout keeps edit, print, and share close at hand, while smooth navigation with the arrow keys helps you move quickly through your collection. We've also improved HDR viewing and expanded file-type support, including SVG files. A single menu keeps navigation and app choices organized without crowding the photo. Select the information button to see useful details alongside the image: the file name, date, camera details, a location map when location data is available, a color histogram, and visual search. Those details are there when you need them and out of the way when you don't. [caption id="attachment_180523" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The redesigned Viewer puts your photos first, with faster launch times, a cleaner layout, and useful details and actions available when you need them.[/caption] Photos feel more connected to Windows, too. Open an image directly from File Explorer and it launches into the fast, lightweight new Viewer, where you can quickly flip through the photos on your PC.

The everyday improvements matter, too

We're continuing to invest in the fundamentals that make Photos feel fast, dependable, and easy to use. Performance, reliability, and usability matter in every part of the experience, whether you open a single picture or spend time exploring your collection.  Just as important is the craft: clear layouts, consistent interactions, and thoughtful details that help the app feel considered from start to finish. Our goal is not simply to add more capabilities, but to make the time you spend with your photos better.

One connected photo experience

From organizing a growing collection in Gallery to refining a favorite photo in the Editor and reviewing it in full fidelity in Viewer, these experiences are designed to work together. More room to see your photos and finer control over your edits help you make the most of the time you spend with them.  Today, we’re beginning to roll out these new Photos experiences as an update to Windows Insiders on Windows 11, with availability expanding to all Windows 11 users later this year. Your feedback continues to shape this work. Please keep sharing it via Feedback Hub (WIN + F, under Apps > Photos) and thank you for helping us make Photos better!

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1. Based on app performance measurements of Photos under controlled test conditions across a range of Windows 11 devices, including both x64 and ARM64 architectures, compared to Photos Version 2026.11060; actual performance varies by device, configuration, usage, and other factors.
2. Learn more about improved Windows Search, including supported file types and languages.

Every day, your PC helps you get things done, stay connected, capture ideas and make time for what you enjoy. That’s why Windows 11 continues to evolve, starting with a faster, more dependable and refined experience. Throughout the year, we’ve worked with the Windows Insider community on improvements to Windows that are now beginning to roll out broadly, with more to come.  That same care shapes our latest Windows experiences, building on these foundational improvements with new possibilities that make everyday moments on your PC simpler and more intuitive. From new features for gamers, to a modernized Photos experience, to more seamless phone to PC integration, Windows is built to support the way you work, create, play and connect.

A faster, more responsive Windows experience

Responsiveness shapes nearly every experience on your PC. It’s the difference between staying in your flow and waiting for your device to catch up. That’s why we’ve continued to invest across Windows, from the platform and shell to the apps people use every day, to make Windows feel faster, more responsive and more efficient. The result is a Windows experience that’s up to 20% more responsive, with improvements you can feel as soon as you boot into your PC and extending to Start, File Explorer, Search, Snipping Tool, Microsoft 365, Edge and more¹. A big part of that work is making smarter use of memory and system resources. We’ve improved memory management and efficiency across Windows to help keep more of your PC’s resources focused on what you’re actively doing. That work can make an especially meaningful difference on PCs with 8GB of memory. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more of your active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage, helping your PC stay responsive as you open more apps or browser tabs. Windows is also making additional memory-saving improvements that reduce background memory use. For example, on PCs with 8GB of memory or less, Widgets load only when you open them, making more than 200 MB of memory available for your apps and other work². It’s one example of the broader work underway to reduce the Windows memory footprint and deliver a fast, responsive experience across the PCs people use every day, an area we’ve made an explicit focus for Windows.  But a great Windows experience isn’t only about speed. It’s also about making your PC feel dependable, less disruptive and more your own. We’re giving you more flexibility to personalize Start and your taskbar, including choosing where it appears on your screen, while making Widgets cleaner and quieter so you have more control over what gets your attention. And we’ve improved Windows Update to give you greater control over when updates happen and better coordinate updates to reduce restarts, while continuing to reduce the time it takes to apply an update.  We’re also improving the everyday interactions you depend on. Bluetooth headphones work more reliably on Windows, with smoother pairing, reconnection, audio and calls, including an AirPods pairing experience that’s up to 15 seconds faster³. And we’ve made signing in with Windows Hello easier, faster and more reliable, with improvements to both face and fingerprint recognition. Alongside that work, we’re partnering with our hardware ecosystem through the Driver Quality Initiative to improve driver stability, reliability, security and performance across Windows devices. The result is a Windows experience that feels faster, more responsive and more thoughtfully designed around you, whether you’re opening an app, finding a file, connecting your headphones, arranging your taskbar the way you want or simply getting back to what you were doing.

From searching to doing, faster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TOTiZhIrVo For hundreds of millions of people each day, Windows search on the taskbar is where intent begins. It’s one of the quickest ways to get started, whether finding a file, opening an app, or changing a setting. This release builds on the search quality improvements we delivered in recent months, with clearer results and more control over suggestions. Now, we are carrying those improvements forward with a new interface and expanding search from a place for finding information into a place for getting things done. Finding the right result is often only the first step. After finding what you’re looking for, you often need to navigate to another destination to complete the task. Actions allow you to complete common Windows tasks directly from the search results. When searching for a system setting like dark mode or night light, you can now make the relevant change without opening Settings or searching for the right sub-menu. Search can also help with managing your workspace, like minimizing or arranging open windows, and coming soon, the ability to interact with your connected phone. These actions are designed to make common tasks faster and more intuitive: simply search and act directly from the taskbar. The new Windows Search experience is available to Windows Insiders today and will roll out more broadly later this year. Learn more about the new Windows Search experience.

Move between your phone and PC seamlessly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxNHn_-vmRg When you’re in the middle of something on your PC, your phone’s messages, apps and files should be within reach too. Windows 11 brings more of your phone experience to your desktop, so you can reply to a message, answer phone calls, open apps, and keep going without reaching for another device⁴. Preview messages and notifications from your Android phone or iPhone in Start to see what needs your attention. When a conversation needs a reply, open it in a window focused on your chat, send your response and get back to what you were doing. Quick Settings keeps useful phone controls close, whether you want to silence or ring a misplaced phone. With a supported Android phone, open your phone apps in separate, resizable windows on your desktop, with room to work on the larger screen alongside your other apps. Browse your phone files in File Explorer and open what you need without switching devices. And when you take a photo on your phone, a notification on your PC lets you open it with one click, ready for a closer look. When you do move between devices, Resume helps you pick up supported activities where you left off instead of finding your place again. It’s your phone and PC working together, so you can stay connected from the screen you’re already using.

From capture to creation, faster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdtG43F4iCg Spend less time searching for your photos and more time enjoying them. The new Microsoft Photos app brings images from your PC and connected libraries into one fast, beautiful Gallery, with more of your collection in view. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite trip or browsing everyday snapshots, it’s easier to see what you have and rediscover moments worth keeping close. Find a favorite by describing it in your own words or bring memories together in albums to share. Bring out the best in a favorite photo with a new Editor that loads faster and gives you easy-to-use, precise editing tools on your PC’s larger display. From a quick crop to fine-tuning colors, you have room to see the details and make the adjustments you want. Quickly remove a distracting object from the background, or use Relight to correct lighting and explore a different look. The Photos app now launches up to 20% faster and the redesigned Viewer opens photos with less clutter and more room for your pictures to shine⁵. When you find a photo you want to pass along or put on display, everyday actions like sharing and printing are within easy reach. Learn more about the new Photos experience.

The most PC games, and the best place to play⁶

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB3Uao5BsOU Nobody likes waiting. Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) is designed to reduce the initial load time of your games by delivering precompiled shaders for supported titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day, so your games load in seconds instead of minutes. To get the most from ASD, install the XBOX PC app before downloading a supported game and make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. Learn more about ASD and supported titles. There’s never been a better time to start playing games on Windows. And to celebrate 25 years of XBOX, starting this November, eligible Windows 11 PC purchased in the US can claim a collection of 25 fan-favorite games at no additional cost. The collection includes $500+ worth of games, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, Gears of War: Reloaded, and more. Once claimed, the PC versions of the games are linked to your Microsoft account and you can play them on any compatible Windows PC, with select titles also playable on XBOX Series X|S consoles with XBOX Play Anywhere. Note that some devices eligible for the offer cannot play all the games in the collection⁷. Once you're playing, press Win+G to open Game Bar, where you can find useful widgets for recording your gameplay, connecting with friends, and managing your audio settings. You can also use Microsoft Edge for Game Bar to pull up guides, videos and websites on top of your game, without switching away. It's one of the exclusive features that make Microsoft Edge the best browser for gamers on Windows.

Bring ideas to life more naturally

Some ideas are easier to draw than describe. With Microsoft Ink Canvas, pen and touch become a more natural way to sketch, annotate and bring thoughts together on a flexible canvas. Select notes, drawings and references and use Copilot to help turn them into visual or written output you can copy and transfer into another document or presentation⁸. It is a more fluid path from the first rough draft to something ready to share. Ink Canvas is pre-installed on Surface Pro 12-inch (2^nd Edition), and users with other supported Windows devices can download it now from the Microsoft Store⁹.

Feel the difference in every interaction

Advanced haptics in Windows 11 bring a sense of touch to everyday work and creativity. Whether you’re snapping a window into place, aligning an object in Microsoft PowerPoint or Affinity by Canva, or snapping a clip to a Filmora timeline, subtle tactile cues provide immediate physical confirmation that helps you work with confidence. A library of curated effects connects each cue to the action, making interactions feel more natural and responsive. Supported accessories—including Surface Mouse (2nd Edition) and Logitech MX Master 4—bring these experiences to your fingertips¹⁰. Learn more about advanced haptics.

A more comfortable PC experience, for everybody

A personal computer should feel personal. It should adapt to how you see, read, learn and work, not the other way around. Windows 11 brings accessibility updates shaped by feedback from the people who use them every day, giving you more ways to make your screen comfortable, work with confidence and get started independently. Make your display feel right for you with Screen Tint. Choose a color overlay and adjust its strength to suit your preferences. If you use Magnifier across multiple displays, each screen can now keep its own zoom level. Keep reference material magnified on one screen while you work on another, with a locked view that stays where you need it. Magnifier’s refreshed design also puts contrast themes just a click away, while keeping the true colors in your photos. With Narrator, following an equation is easier. Math is read with its structure intact, so you can explore each part at your own pace. Improvements across everyday apps also help you get more done at work and school. Jump straight to an email’s sender or a meeting’s location in Outlook. Hear row and column headers as you move through numbers in Excel. Create and present your own PowerPoint slides or fill in forms on the web with confidence. Setting up a new PC should be accessible too. Narrator now supports braille displays that use the HID standard. If your display supports HID, simply connect over USB or Bluetooth without extra drivers and use it from the first screen of Windows setup, so you can set up a new PC on your own. To explore these settings, press Windows logo key + U to open Settings > Accessibility.

Make every day easier, with a new Windows 11 PC

A new PC is a meaningful purchase, and the value should show up in more than a spec sheet. A modern Windows 11 PC brings together responsive everyday performance with more intuitive, connected and personal experiences, all supported by hardware designed for how you interact, create and play, from touch, pen and tactile feedback to immersive gaming experiences. The reason to upgrade is not just one feature; it is how all these experiences work together to make more of your day feel effortless. Explore the holiday Windows PC lineup, offers and buying guidance in our companion holiday blog, then choose the PC that fits how you work, create, play and connect.

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[1] Based on measurements of Search, Start, right-click, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer response times using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared to Windows 11 OS build 26200.7628; actual performance varies by device, configuration, usage, and other factors. Rollout timing and availability may vary by device and region. [2] Based on improvements included in Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550; actual memory availability and performance varies by device configuration, usage and other factors. [3] Based on improvements included in Windows 11 OS build 26200.8737; actual performance can vary by Apple AirPods model, device configuration, usage and other factors. [4] Requires compatible Android device or iPhone. features vary by mobile platform. See aka.ms/phonelink. [5] Based on measurements of Photos launch times using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared to Windows 11 OS build 26200.7628; actual performance varies by device. [6] Based on Steam’s catalog of PC games. Source: The Preferences Powering PC Gaming report by Ampere Analysis, commissioned by Microsoft, September 2025. [7] 25-game digital bundle; no discs included. Some devices eligible for this offer do not support all 25 games. Some games cannot be played on Xbox consoles and are subject to age-based content restrictions. Valid only with purchase of select Windows devices from participating U.S. retailers from 11/2/26 through 12/31/26, while supplies last. Offer will be available to claim on your eligible device in the Microsoft Store app no later than 11/30/26. Must activate your PC and claim the digital game bundle to your Microsoft account by 2/12/27. See aka.ms/XBOXbundle on 11/2/26 for game compatibility, system requirements, ratings, and full offer terms. ESRB Ratings for the games mentioned: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol / In-Game Purchases; Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Violence / Users Interact; Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – TEEN: Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violence / Users Interact; Minecraft Dungeons – EVERYONE 10+: Fantasy Violence / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases; Gears of War: Reloaded – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language / Users Interact; Other games in the collection are rated: EVERYONE to MATURE. [8] Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, or Pro subscription required for AI features. AI usage limits apply. Learn more about AI credits and limits. Minimum age limits may apply for use of AI features. See Copilot Frequently asked questions. [9] Microsoft Ink Canvas requires Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher and integrated touch support. Microsoft account and sign-in required. [10] Requires compatible hardware, supported Windows updates and app versions.

A new PC is a meaningful purchase. Whether you are upgrading a family laptop, shopping for a student, or someone who loves to create or game, you want your money to go further. The right PC should deliver value when you buy it, and every day after.  This holiday, Windows brings it all together with a broad choice of new PCs at great seasonal savings, and experiences that make it easier to work, create, connect and play. From Surface to Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and more, there is a Windows PC for you – with more reasons to make this the season you upgrade.

Save more. Play more.

Value matters more than ever this holiday. From great PCs starting at $249¹ to our most powerful new devices, Windows has a PC for everyone, at the right price. Look for new deals every week on select Windows 11 PCs across leading brands and retailers throughout this holiday, with savings of up to $500 each week².  Explore new offers throughout the holidays at Best Buy, Costco, Walmart and Microsoft.com. And to celebrate 25 years of XBOX, starting this November, eligible Windows 11 PC purchased in the US can claim a collection of 25 fan-favorite games at no additional cost. The collection includes $500+ worth of games, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, Gears of War: Reloaded, and more. Once claimed, the PC versions of the games are linked to your Microsoft account and you can play them on any compatible Windows PC, with select titles also playable on XBOX Series X|S consoles with XBOX Play Anywhere. Note that some devices eligible for the offer cannot play all the games in the collection³.  With more ways to save, more PCs to choose from, and more features ready on day one, now is a great time to move to a new Windows PC.

The best of Windows, with a PC for you

Only Windows gives you the flexibility and choice of options from ultra-thin designs, brilliant OLED touch displays, pen support, long battery life, rich colors, and versatile port options you need – with performance options for productivity, creativity, and gaming whatever your budget.

More ways to save on Microsoft Surface 

Surface brings Microsoft’s hardware and software expertise together for a powerful Windows experience that makes it easy to work, create and play. This holiday is a great time to make it yours, with the Surface Pro 12-inch starting at just $849 and holiday savings across the entire Surface family.   Ready to break up with your MacBook? The new Surface Laptop Ultra is the most powerful Surface Laptop ever, with NVIDIA RTX Spark™ for demanding creative and developer work. Trade in your MacBook Pro at Microsoft Store for up to $1,000 toward Surface Laptop Ultra.   Shop offers across the Surface family every week this holiday, and more flexible payment options make Surface yours at Microsoft.com starting Black Friday⁴.   Explore the latest from Surface:  

• Surface Pro: From holiday travel to downtime at home, Surface Pro brings tablet flexibility and laptop productivity together in a portable touchscreen design and built-in kickstand. 
• Surface Laptop: A vibrant PixelSense™ touchscreen, premium aluminum craftsmanship, Snapdragon X series performance and long battery life come together in Surface Laptop for seasonal planning, everyday work and entertainment. 
• Surface Laptop Ultra: Built for developers and creators, Surface Laptop Ultra pairs NVIDIA RTX Spark™ performance with local AI processing for coding, content creation and gaming with less reliance on the cloud.

Explore the latest from our PC partners 

Across Windows collections, there’s even more choice from favorites including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung:   Core Essentials PCs – For browsing, email, and streaming 

• HP OmniBook 3: The HP OmniBook 3 delivers reliable AI-enhanced performance, exceptional battery life, vibrant display options, and essential connectivity in a versatile design built for everyday work, learning, and entertainment. 

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: The IdeaPad Slim 3 delivers serious everyday performance in a straightforward, portable design for work, school, and daily tasks. 

Everyday Productivity PCs – For everyday projects, school, and multitasking 

• Acer Swift Air 14: The Acer Swift Air 14 features an all-metal body that is stylish and durable, immersive quad-speaker audio, and is powered by the new Intel® Core™ Series 3 Processors that deliver long battery life and excellent performance for everyday computing. 

• Dell XPS 13: At just 1kg, the XPS 13 is Dell’s thinnest and lightest laptop ever made, combining premium portability with 17 hours of streaming battery life at an accessible price point. Built with the same standard as every XPS, it features a durable CNC aluminum chassis, 2.5K touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and Intel Wi-Fi 7, powered by Intel® Core™ Series 3 Processors.

Premium Performance PCs – For all-day performance with gaming power 

• ASUS Zenbook A14: ASUS Zenbook A14 pairs a Snapdragon® X processor with a featherlight Ceraluminum™ design at just over 2 lb, vivid OLED display and long lasting battery for productivity and entertainment wherever the day takes you.
• HP OmniBook X: The HP OmniBook X delivers advanced AI performance, exceptional battery life, rich colors and crisp visual on OLED touch display.
• Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1: The Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 combines a convertible design, touchscreen, and optional Yoga Pen to give you the freedom to sketch, present, or edit with ease, powered by AMD Ryzen™ AI 400 Series Processors and brought to life in vivid color on its PureSight Pro OLED display.

That range is the Windows advantage: more choice across designs, capabilities, and price points, so that you can find the PC that fits your needs and lifestyle.

Five Windows experiences worth upgrading for

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP2MzBgaTX4

1. From searching to doing, faster. The new Windows Search experience helps you find what you need and act on it fast. With thousands of actions available from the taskbar, like changing a setting, arranging open windows or, coming soon, even texting a friend – the new search experience is available to Windows Insiders today.
2. From capture to creation, faster. The new Photos experience makes it easier to find and edit your photos with a new Gallery, faster Viewer and rebuilt Editor, plus intelligent tools like Relight and object removal.
3. The most PC games, and the best place to play⁵. Blockbuster games like Gears of War: E-Day load up to 95% faster thanks to Advanced Shader Delivery, which is expanding to support more devices⁶.
4. Move between your phone and PC seamlessly. Stay connected to what’s on your phone without stepping away from your PC. Access messages, apps, files and phone controls from your PC, and use Resume to pick up supported activities where you left off⁷.
5. Bring ideas to life more naturally. Microsoft Ink Canvas gives you a flexible space to sketch, annotate and bring ideas together with pen and touch⁸. On compatible hardware, advanced haptics adds subtle tactile cues that make interactions feel more natural and responsive. 

Windows brings together the apps and experiences you rely on, from productivity and creativity to gaming, STEM and more. Windows is also built to support the agentic experiences you choose, from Microsoft Copilot to ChatGPT, Claude, Hermes Agent, OpenClaw, Perplexity and more. Muse is coming soon as a native Windows app. Windows provides the Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) platform, so you can keep agents securely contained.   To learn more about these and other experiences, visit our companion experiences blog.   A faster, more responsive Windows experience The best experiences are built on a strong foundation. Over the past year, we’ve continued to invest across Windows to make it faster, more responsive and more dependable.  Windows is now up to 20% more responsive⁹. And we’re making improvements across the experiences you use every day, from Microsoft 365 and Edge to how Windows manages memory and system resources, helping your PC keep up as you open more apps and browser tabs.  But a great Windows experience isn’t only about speed. Windows is also becoming more personal and frictionless, with greater control over updates, more flexibility to personalize Start and your taskbar, and more reliable sign-in and Bluetooth experiences¹⁰. It all adds up to a PC experience that feels faster, more dependable and more thoughtfully designed around you.

Find the Windows PC that’s right for you 

Great value, new experiences you'll use every day and a Windows that's faster and more dependable: there's never been a better time to buy a new Windows PC. Explore Surface PCs at Microsoft.com and holiday offers from Best Buy, Costco and Walmart, and find the PC that fits your budget today and everything you want to do next.

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[1] Based on Walmart Direct published pricing as of October 14, 2026. Pricing is determined by Walmart and subject to change. [2] Valid 11/2–12/25 at select retailers, while supplies last. Savings are based on MSRP; actual savings may vary. See retailers for current pricing, availability, and offer details. [3] 25-game digital bundle; no discs included. Some devices eligible for this offer do not support all 25 games. Some games cannot be played on Xbox consoles and are subject to age-based content restrictions. Valid only with purchase of select Windows devices from participating U.S. retailers from 11/2/26 through 12/31/26, while supplies last. Offer will be available to claim on your eligible device in the Microsoft Store app no later than 11/30/26. Must activate your PC and claim the digital game bundle to your Microsoft account by 2/12/27. See aka.ms/XBOXbundle on 11/2/26 for game compatibility, system requirements, ratings, and full offer terms. ESRB Ratings for the games mentioned: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol / In-Game Purchases; Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Violence / Users Interact; Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – TEEN: Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violence / Users Interact; Minecraft Dungeons – EVERYONE 10+: Fantasy Violence / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases; Gears of War: Reloaded – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language / Users Interact; Other games in the collection are rated: EVERYONE to MATURE. [4] Available in the US only. "Holiday" refers to the period from November 16, 2026 through December 24, 2026. [5] Based on Steam’s catalog of PC games. Source: The Preferences Powering PC Gaming report by Ampere Analysis, commissioned by Microsoft, September 2025. [6] Gears of War: E-Day – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases [7] Requires compatible Android device or iPhone. Features vary by mobile platform. See aka.ms/phonelink. [8] Microsoft Ink Canvas requires Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher and integrated touch support. Microsoft account and sign-in required. Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, or Pro subscription required for AI features. AI usage limits apply. Learn more about AI credits and limits. Minimum age limits may apply for use of AI features. See Copilot Frequently asked questions. [9] Based on measurements of Search, Start, right-click, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer response times using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared to Windows 11 OS build 26200.7628; actual performance varies by device, configuration, usage, and other factors. Rollout timing and availability may vary by device and region. [10] Based on improvements included in Windows 11 OS build 26100.9278 and later; actual experience and availability may vary by device configuration, usage and other factors. Rollout timing and availability may vary by device and region

Beginning Friday, October 16, at 5 a.m. PT, customers can pre-order iPhone Duo on apple.com and in the Apple Store app.

Apple this week introduced an all-new HomeView smart home hub, but popular tech reviewer Marques Brownlee is "not convinced" about it.


In his HomeView impressions video on his YouTube channel MKBHD, Brownlee said "I cannot figure any group that this is actually ideal for."

HomeView has a lot of overlap with other Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and HomePod. Brownlee said the HomeView does not provide enough "extra value," leading him to believe that the device should be "a skip for most people."


HomeView lacks an App Store, which limits its usefulness, but it can also display CarPlay-enabled audio and video apps from a paired iPhone.

Do you think the HomeView is a useful addition to the Apple ecosystem? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
This article, "MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's wall-mounted HomeView will ship without a power adapter, USB-C cable, or mount, requiring customers to purchase compatible accessories separately.


In a support document posted on October 14, Apple outlined different power requirements for the two versions of its new smart home hub. The tabletop HomeView requires a USB-C power adapter rated for at least 30W, supporting an output of 15V at 2A or higher. The wall-mounted model requires at least 20W, with support for 9V at 2.22A or higher.

The tabletop model includes a 30W power adapter and a 1.5-meter USB-C cable. The wall-mounted version's box contains only the device and documentation.

Customers choosing the wall-mounted HomeView will need a compatible third-party mount and power solution. Depending on the mount, the device can use a separate USB-C cable and power adapter or a hardwired connection to line power.

If the power requirements are not met, HomeView will display a "Power Adapter Not Supported" message, accompanied by a lightning bolt and yellow warning triangle. For a wall-mounted unit, Apple suggests testing the device outside its mount with a compatible USB-C cable and adapter. If it works when connected directly, customers should contact the mount manufacturer or their professional installer.

Apple introduced the HomeView earlier this week, featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 chip, and Siri AI. Both models are available to pre-order for $299 in the United States, with availability beginning on November 13.
This article, "Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The DistroWatch news feed is brought to you by TUXEDO COMPUTERS. Utkarsh Gupta has announced that Canonical has published Ubuntu 26.10 which carries the codename Stonking Stingray. The new release introduces updated encryption, RISC-V desktop images, and ships with GNOME 51 as the default desktop. "Ubuntu 26.10 brings significant progress for security, and strengthens
the platform with the full adoption....

The "Hatfield" Apple-1 has sold for $1,148,200 including the buyer's premium, setting a world auction record for a commercially sold Apple-1, according to Bonhams.


Two bidders competed for 28 minutes before the October 14 auction closed, taking the working computer beyond its $500,000 to $800,000 estimate.

The machine takes its name from original owner Fred Hatfield, who complained to Apple about the lack of software for the Apple-1. A letter included in the sale contains Steve Jobs' 1978 reply, offering an Apple II motherboard in exchange for the Apple-1 and another $400. Hatfield kept his computer.

He eventually sold it privately for $40,000 while it needed repairs. The buyer restored it and obtained Steve Wozniak's signature on the motherboard before it set an auction record in 2013. Bonhams lists that earlier sale as approximately $686,000.

Apple-1 prototypes have fetched more in the past. The "Celebration" board, which sold for $815,000 in 2016, sold for $2.75 million in January 2026.
This article, "Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has begun inviting selected members of the media to a product launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In a post on X, Gurman described the gathering as an "all-day product launch experience" for touchscreen MacBooks, a new iPad mini, and Macs equipped with M6 chips.

Gurman previously reported that Apple would introduce the devices "on or around" Tuesday, October 27, with an online video presentation and a hands-on experience for the media. His latest post specifies October 28 for the media gathering, but does not say whether the product announcements will take place that day or beforehand.

The touchscreen MacBooks are expected to be redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, featuring OLED displays, a Dynamic Island, and significantly lighter designs. While earlier rumors suggested Apple could use the "MacBook Ultra" name, Gurman's report from earlier this month suggested the devices would remain in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ family.

Alongside the redesigned high-end machines, Apple is expected to introduce M6 versions of the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ and iMac. The new ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to gain an OLED display, a front-facing camera positioned for landscape video calls, and a redesigned speaker system.
This article, "Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPhone Duo unsurprisingly offers performance similar to the iPhone 18 Pro, according to an early iPhone Duo benchmark shared on Geekbench 7. Both devices are equipped with Apple's 2nm A20 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU.


The benchmarked ‌iPhone Duo‌ (iPhone19,4) is running iOS 27.1, as expected, and it had a single-core score of 3986 and a multi-core score of 11067. That's in line with multiple benchmarks collected from ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max models.

Scores vary from test to test, so while the result does fall short of the top ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ benchmark scores, we're only viewing a single score. The ‌iPhone Duo‌ has the same 6-core CPU with a 4.93GHz base frequency that's identified in ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ benchmarks, and it lists 11.30GB memory, which means 12GB of RAM.

While the ‌iPhone Duo‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models use the same A20 Pro chip, there could be differences in real-world performance based on thermal management, the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s two screens vs. a single screen, and other factors.

Apple says the A20 Pro offers up to 20 percent faster CPU performance than the A19 Pro and up to 40 percent faster GPU performance. GPU speeds were not tested.

Pre-orders for the ‌iPhone Duo‌ will start on October 16, and a launch will follow on October 23.
This article, "iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple plans to launch the HomeView on November 13, so we have a month to go until we can learn more about it. Right now, we're limited to the information Apple has shared and what members of the media learned during limited hands-on time.


We've rounded up some interesting HomeView tidbits you might have missed.

• Recipe walkthroughs - HomeView makes Safari recipes easier to follow by pulling out the ingredients and steps. You can tap on a "Start Cooking" button to get step-by-step instructions you can use as you cook. The device also supports multiple voice-activated timers.


• Siri access - You can say Siri (English only) or Hey ‌Siri‌ for hands-free access, but there are also options for activating ‌Siri‌ with a swipe down from the top of the display or using Type to ‌Siri‌.


• Apple Intelligence - HomeView has some Apple Intelligence features built in. You or members of your household can use ‌Siri‌ AI for general knowledge questions if you don't have an ‌Apple Intelligence‌ iPhone or iPad, but you do need one for any requests involving personal context.


• Guests - Personal data is private, but guests can control smart home accessories, check the weather, set timers, and play music. Visitors can also AirPlay audio to the HomeView using peer-to-peer discovery.


• Adaptable interface - HomeView can tell when someone is approaching and parts of the interface will change based on proximity. If someone is across the room, it shows less information in a larger view. As the person approaches, the view can change to show more information.


• Faces - HomeView has multiple customizable faces similar to watch faces. Apple says some faces can "wake with you in the morning, wind down with you at night." The Snoopy face, for example, has different animations based on time of day, weather, and holidays.


• Third-party apps - There's no App Store, but the HomeView has CarPlay-like software capabilities. It can show CarPlay audio and video apps from a linked iPhone. There are no ‌CarPlay‌ video apps except for Apple TV, so app developers will need to add support.


• Handoff - You can transfer songs, podcasts, calls, videos, and recipes from the iPhone to the HomeView.


• Live Activities - HomeView supports Live Activities, so if you have a timer running or get an incoming Intercom message, content will be visible while you use other apps.


• Sensors and HomeKit - The HomeView has temperature and humidity sensors that can be used in Home app scenes and automations. It also serves as a home hub for controlling HomeKit and Matter devices when you're away from home.

HomeView is available for pre-order now, and it will launch on November 13. It is priced at $299 and comes in either a tabletop version with a speaker base or a wall-mounted version.
This article, "10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today closed with a market capitalization above $5 trillion, making it the second company to do so after Nvidia.


As noted by The Wall Street Journal, Apple's market cap has exceeded $5 trillion six times before today during intraday trading, but this is the first time the company stayed above the mark at closing.

Apple closed at $342.96, for a market cap of $5.005 trillion. The new valuation comes just over a month after John Ternus took over for Tim Cook as Apple CEO, and two days ahead of iPhone Duo pre-orders.

While Apple surpassed Nvidia to briefly become the most valuable company in the world in July, Nvidia has since retaken the title and continues to hold the top spot with a market cap of $5.33 trillion.
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There's been some confusion about which of Apple's new and existing home devices will support Siri AI and when, because ‌Siri‌ AI isn't going to be available at launch on some products.

Devices With Siri AI

• HomeView - Available at launch (November 13)


• Apple TV 4K (4th generation) - Available at launch (November 13)


• Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) - Available in tvOS 27.2


• Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) - Available in tvOS 27.2


• HomePod mini 2 - Ships October 30, ‌Siri‌ AI coming in a future software update

Despite a report from CNET suggesting the first HomePod mini would support Siri AI, Apple has since confirmed that's not the case.

No Siri AI Support

• Original HomePod mini


• Original HomePod


• Original Apple TV 4K (no tvOS 27)


• Apple TV HD (no tvOS 27)

Unconfirmed

• HomePod 2 - Possibly coming, with mentions in website metadata

Siri AI Requirements

On the ‌HomePod‌ and Apple TV 4K models that support ‌Siri‌ AI, the home owner in the Home app must have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad on the latest version of the software. ‌Siri‌ AI has to be turned on, and it has to be set to a supported language. Other members of the household don't need an Apple Intelligence-enabled device once ‌Siri‌ AI is turned on, except for personal requests.

HomeView does not require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or ‌iPad‌ for ‌Siri‌ AI, except for requests that use personal context.

‌Siri‌ AI for HomeView, ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, and HomePod mini 2 is English only and is limited to the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK at launch.

EU Restrictions

‌Siri‌ AI is not available in the EU on the iPhone and ‌iPad‌, so ‌Siri‌ AI won't be available for home devices that support it. HomeView isn't even launching in the EU.

Siri AI Beta

Apple is still calling ‌Siri‌ AI a beta, and it will be in beta when it's available on HomeView, ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, and ‌HomePod mini 2‌.
This article, "Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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