Anthropic today launched Claude Opus 5.5, which it says is the first model in a new 5.5 model family. Opus 5.5 performs at the level of Claude Fable 5.1 on most work, but costs 40 percent less to run than Opus 5.


According to Anthropic, Opus 5.5 is a "major step up" from Opus 5 with improvements in performance and safety. Opus 5.5 is comparable to Mythos 5.1 in biology and cybersecurity, so Anthropic is launching it with safeguards similar to those on Fable 5.1. Opus 5.5 also generates output over 30 percent faster than Opus 5.

On benchmarks shared by Anthropic, Opus 5.5 surpassed Fable 5.1 on agentic coding, knowledge work, computer use, visual chart recognition, and multidisciplinary reasoning. Anthropic says the model communicates more naturally than prior models, putting important information at the front of a response so it's easier to understand at a glance. It is less likely to use jargon or idiosyncratic phrases, and it follows the writing rules it's given.

Claude Opus 5.5 is available on all platforms as of today. With the launch of Opus 5.5, Anthropic is raising the five-hour usage limits on Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans. Subscribers have also received a rate limit reset that can be used anytime between now and October 22.
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Apple today released a firmware update for the Beats 360 over-ear headphones, so customers ordering the headphones will have new software available when they arrive. The firmware has a 4A262 version number, up from the prior 4A260 firmware.


We don't know what's included in the firmware update, but Apple may share details on its support site.

Announced this morning, the Beats 360 feature an all-new over-ear headphone design with a focus on comfort, active noise cancellation, and sound quality. Beats 360 come in multiple colors and can be customized with removable ear cups and headband cushions in different colors. The headphones are priced at $349.99 and can be ordered from Apple's website and from Amazon.com.

Firmware updates for Beats are delivered over the air. Firmware will be installed when the Beats 360 headphones are fully charged and connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple says the headphones should be turned off and kept in Bluetooth range of your Apple device.

On Android devices, the headphones can be updated using the dedicated Beats app.
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Apple has paused development on a camera-equipped AI wearable, reports Bloomberg. The device was described as a pin or pendant that could be attached to clothing or worn around the neck.


A camera would relay information about the wearer's surroundings to Siri, like the rumored AirPods with cameras that could come as soon as 2027. The AI pin would have Visual Intelligence features, with ‌Siri‌ AI able to answer questions about where the wearer is located or what the wearer is looking at.

The prototype Apple worked on was described as similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, circular disc shape. It was made from aluminum and glass, with a physical control button on the side.

Rumors suggested Apple could introduce the AI wearable as soon as 2027, but with development postponed, that seems unlikely. Apple is working on several other wearables, including a screen-free fitness band, AI smart glasses, and AirPods with cameras.
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Apple is working on an activity tracker that doesn't have a screen, reports Bloomberg. The screen-free health and fitness device is said to be similar to Whoop's line of bands. Whoop makes wrist-worn trackers with 24/7 monitoring, but without a display.


Apple has apparently been "exploring" the category for months and has developed prototypes, but hasn't decided whether the project will move forward. Apple chair Tim Cook and services chief Eddy Cue are interested in the product, notable because Cue now leads Apple's health teams. Cue is said to be pushing for wearables with simpler interfaces, like the screen-free Whoop and Oura Ring.

Prototypes have a fabric band attached to a computing module that rests on the wrist. Sensors track heart rate and other metrics, similar to the Apple Watch.

The latest Apple Watch models adopt features similar to those offered by Whoop and Oura products, including an overall readiness score and an estimate of biological age. A new version of the Health app is being tested in iOS 27.2, and it has a more user-friendly interface with clearer guidance than before.

If Apple moves forward with the screen-free tracker, it likely would not launch until at least 2028. Apple is expected to debut wearable AI smart glasses and AirPods with cameras before then.
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Apple CEO John Ternus did an interview with Canal+ talk show Clique following Apple's September event. He discussed the iPhone Duo's design, difficulties Apple ran into when developing it, his plans for Apple, and more.


On the design of the ‌iPhone Duo‌, Ternus explained why Apple went with an iPad-like shape when the device is unfolded.

I think it's something new and unique, right? But I think we didn't want to just do what we'd seen other people do, which is sort of take two phone shapes and stick them together and then you get this weird square thing. We came at it from we want to build a large screen experience that feels right to us. And obviously we've been doing that for a long time with iPad. And so we knew kind of the shape, you know, we came up with this new aspect ratio.

Ternus said that when developing the ‌iPhone Duo‌, there were "so many problems" to solve, but a foldable was an opportunity for Apple employees to "be really clever" and "come up with entirely new things." He said some of the hardware engineering problems Apple had to address involved the design of the hinge and the display, and making them reliable.

When asked to share his favorite ‌iPhone Duo‌ trick, Ternus showed off the device's opening animation. "I mean, this is really fun, you know, the animation that you get as you open it across from one side to the other. It's just sort of whimsical and fun. And it brings a smile to your face."

Ternus reiterated Apple's stance on AI companions, saying that Siri AI is "not designed to be your friend," which is something we heard earlier this year from Craig Federighi. Ternus said Apple doesn't want to replace human relationships. "They're how we learn, they're how we grow, they're how we find joy and happiness," he said.

Then-CEO Tim Cook and Apple's board asked Ternus if he wanted to be the next Apple CEO. Ternus didn't say when he was approached, but he said the question came as a surprise. "When Tim asked me if it was something I would consider, I would say the good news is I was sitting down, because I never in a million years would have imagined that happening," said Ternus.

As Apple's CEO, Ternus said he doesn't have plans for a radical change. He was asked if Apple was going back to its roots under his leadership, with more of a focus on engineering products.

I don't think anything's really changed. Sure, I'm new in this job, but the focus on innovation, the focus on products, the focus most importantly on our customers, that has never changed. That's been here from the beginning.

I am super passionate about products. I love building things. That's why I've been here so long. That's why I love what I do. And so I'm excited to continue doing that. But I don't think of it as some radical change.

Ternus said it was "amazing" to be able to say "one more thing" on stage at Apple's September event. "I've seen Steve say it, and I've seen Tim say it," he said. "And so having the opportunity for me to say it was pretty magical. Kind of goosebumps."

The full interview includes Ternus' thoughts on ‌Tim Cook‌, the AI race, Apple's environmental goals, the Vision Pro, the new parental controls added in iOS 27, and more.
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Apple is no longer signing iOS 26.6.2, so if you've upgraded to iOS 27, there is no option to downgrade to a version of iOS 26. ‌iOS 27‌ came out a week ago.


Software that is "signed" can pass a server-side verification check that Apple performs when a new version of iOS is downloaded. If an update fails the verification check, it can't be installed.

By unsigning software, Apple prevents customers from installing outdated, less secure versions of iOS.

If you haven't installed ‌iOS 27‌ yet, you can still keep using ‌iOS 26‌, but once you've upgraded, there's no going back. You also can't downgrade from ‌iOS 27‌ to iOS 26.7 (which was released alongside ‌iOS 27‌) because iOS 26.7 is an over-the-air update with no restore file available.
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With the second beta of macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple updated the look of the volume and brightness sliders when you adjust them with the keyboard.


The new sliders have a segmented bar instead of a plain line, making it clearer how much each key press adjusts volume or brightness. Apple used a similar design in macOS Sequoia before Liquid Glass, and the new look is a cross between the old slider and the Liquid Glass slider.

There are no longer two icons at the beginning and end of the slider, and Apple now uses a single larger icon on the left. The sliders appear where a matching menu bar icon is located, so if you have a dedicated sound icon, the slider shows up below it.


The design of the Control Center sliders did not change, and the updated look can only be seen when you change volume or brightness with the keyboard.

Apple seeded the ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 beta to developers earlier today. We're expecting the software to launch toward the end of October.
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