Apple today released watchOS 27.0.1, a minor update to the watchOS 27 operating system that came out last week. The update is limited to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.


watchOS 27.0.1 can be downloaded through the Settings app on the watch or the Apple Watch app on a connected iPhone. Software can only be installed when the Apple Watch is on the charger and has over 50 percent battery.

Apple's release notes say the update fixes bugs, including an issue that could cause the Apple Watch to restart unexpectedly.
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Disney today increased the prices on several of its Disney+ and Hulu streaming plans, with the increase coming exactly one year after Disney's last price hike.


Premium ad-free plans are $2 to $2.50 more expensive per month, while Disney's ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu plans are $0.50 higher per month. The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle has not changed in price, and that's what Disney is steering customers toward.

• Disney+ (Ads) - $12.49, up from $11.99


• Disney+ (No Ads) - $21.49, up from $18.99


• Hulu (Ads) - $12.49, up from $11.99


• Hulu (No Ads) - $21.49, up from $18.99


• Disney+, Hulu Bundle (Ads) - $12.99, no change


• Disney+, Hulu Bundle (No Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+, ESPN, Hulu Bundle (Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads), ESPN Select (Ads) - $32.99, up from $29.99


• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Basic (Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Basic (No Ads) - $34.99, up from $32.99

Bundles with ESPN or HBO Max are also $2 to $3 more expensive. Buying a standalone Disney+ or Hulu plan is just $0.50 cheaper per month than getting a bundle, both with ads and without. Disney is pushing bundles because it has been merging Hulu content into the Disney+ app to create an all-in-one experience.

When Disney+ launched in November 2019, it was priced at $6.99 per month. It did not have ads at the time, with Disney introducing its first ad-supported plan in 2022. Pricing for the no-ad option has increased more than 200% in nearly seven years.

Apple's streaming TV service launched right around the same time as Disney+ for $4.99 per month. Today, the Apple TV service is $14.99 per month, also a 200% increase. Other streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max raise prices regularly too.

Disney's higher prices go into effect for new subscribers today, and for existing subscribers on their next monthly bill.
This article, "Disney+ and Hulu Raise Prices Again, Ad-Free Plans Now $21.49" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's smarter, more capable version of Siri is expanding to the HomePod, according to details found by code sleuth pdfu. According to pdfu, ‌HomePod‌ Software 27 includes the system behind ‌Siri‌ AI, called "Linwood," along with new status lights in the ‌Siri‌ AI colors.


Since ‌HomePod‌ Software 27 is out and ‌Siri‌ AI isn't available on existing HomePods, it's possible support will be limited to new ‌HomePod‌ models.


Rumors suggest Apple is working on an updated HomePod mini, and the main upgrade will be a faster processor. Apple is expected to equip it with an S9 chip or newer, and it's possible the ‌HomePod mini‌ could even get the latest S11 chip that's in the Apple Watch Series 12.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and later support ‌Siri‌ AI, though a connected iPhone with Apple Intelligence is required for the ‌Siri‌ functionality. The next ‌HomePod mini‌ models are expected to work in the same way, offering some ‌Siri‌ AI and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features when used with a compatible iPhone.

The ‌HomePod mini‌ isn't expected to get a redesign, but along with an updated processor, Apple could add its N1 networking chip, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and updated colors.

The Apple TV 4K is also expected to get a processor capable of supporting ‌Siri‌ AI, and Apple is working on a dedicated home hub with ‌Siri‌ AI integration. All of the new products, ‌HomePod mini‌ included, could launch as soon as October. Apple is also working on an updated full-size ‌HomePod‌, but it isn't clear when it will launch.
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Apple today seeded the first betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2. The software comes a day after Apple provided the second betas to developers.


To get the new betas, you can sign up on Apple's beta testing website. After you're signed up, the betas can be installed through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 27.2 includes the redesigned Health app that Apple introduced at its September iPhone event. It features new Insights and Longevity tabs with more insight into health and fitness data. There's also a Health Age feature that uses your metrics to determine your fitness age vs. your actual age.

In the Apple TV app, there are new profile options, and Siri AI is now available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

There are a few other features in the updates, which are listed in our iOS 27.2 guide.
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OpenAI today launched GPT–6 Sol and GPT–6 Luna, two new models that follow GPT–6 Astra. OpenAI says the new models were developed using methods similar to Astra's for improvements in professional work, factuality, coding, computer use, and alignment.


GPT–6 Sol is for everyday work, and it costs less than Astra. GPT–6 Luna is an even cheaper model. Luna is optimized for fast responses and higher volume, while Sol has more reasoning capability.

The new models outperform their predecessors on OpenAI's benchmark tests, and GPT–6 Sol makes "about half as many mistakes" as GPT–5.6 Sol. GPT–6 Sol shows improvements in coding and computer use compared to GPT–5.6 Sol, and it matches or beats Claude Fable 5.1 scores on some benchmarks.

OpenAI compared GPT–6 Sol to Opus 5 on several tests, but Anthropic released a new Opus 5.5 model today that outperforms Astra on some coding and knowledge work benchmarks.

GPT–6 Sol and Luna are adopting the improved communication style OpenAI introduced with Astra for simplified conversations with less jargon and fewer low-value details. Answers should be slightly shorter without losing substance, and the new models have lower rates of misleading claims about their coding work in OpenAI's alignment testing.

OpenAI is lowering token prices for Sol and Luna compared to their 5.6 counterparts, and prompt caching has been improved. OpenAI says agents will reuse more context, respond faster, and get 90 percent discounts on cached input-token reads.

GPT–6 Sol is priced at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens, down by half. GPT–6 Luna costs $0.10 per million input tokens and $0.50 per million output tokens, down from $0.20 and $1.20, respectively. GPT–6 Sol costs half as much per token as Opus 5.5, but Anthropic says Opus 5.5 uses fewer tokens per task than Opus 5, so it's not a straight comparison.

GPT–6 Sol and GPT–6 Luna are rolling out in ChatGPT Work and Codex starting today for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu users. GPT–6 Luna is available to Free and Go users in the desktop app. GPT–6 Sol and Luna are not yet available in Chat mode.
This article, "OpenAI's New GPT-6 Sol and Luna Models Bring Astra Improvements to Cheaper Tiers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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