Apple wants to improve everybody's AI image editors with new training dataset
A new Apple research paper argues that AI imaging editors are currently trained on inadequate image sets — so Apple Intelligence researchers have released an improved one.Apple Intelligence is just fine for what it isDespite the continual presumption that Apple is behind the industry in AI, it keeps publishing comprehensive research papers on the subject. In 2025 alone, it's most significant studies have covered how AI cannot reason, but can uncover bugs in code.Now the researchers have published "Pico-Banana-400K: A Large-Scale Dataset for Text-Guided Image Editing." It's explicitly concerned with how to better train AI systems to edit images following text prompts. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 18: Everything we know so far about the 2026 models
Macworld 2026 iPhone 18 series: Summary iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026 iPhone 18 and 18e might not arrive until spring 2027 Folding iPhone also said to launch in September 2026 Smaller dynamic island, camera aperture enhancements, C2 5G modem Another year, another iPhone, right? Not so fast. As Apple demonstrated with the iPhone Air in 2025 and the surprisingly full-featured regular iPhone 17, sometimes the company can surprise us with something new. In addition to the ultra-premium folding iPhone, Apple is said to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the fall of 2026, and then in a new scheduling shakeup, the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027. Here’s a quick summary of what all the rumors and leaks say to expect from the iPhone 18 models. iPhone 18/18 Pro: Latest rumors October 27: Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a variable aperture lens for the first time. iPhone 18/18 Pro design: Three models, similar designs Currently, the rumors suggest we’ll see a base iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Pro, and an iPhone 18 Pro Max. That is in addition to any not-iPhone 18-models like the rumored folding iPhone and second-generation Air. The designs are said to resemble the current iPhone 17 line. The base iPhone 18 will have just the smaller camera bump found on the iPhone 17, while the Pro and Pro Max will have the wider raised “plateau” with three cameras. Screen sizes should be consistent with the 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays on the current models. One possible design change, according to a Weibo leaker, is with the charging area on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models. Reportedly, the ceramic shield section will be “slightly transparent,” but it’s not fully clear what that means. iPhone 18/18 Pro camera: Aperture upgrades Apple just upgraded the iPhone 17 camera system with 48MP sensors, so it’s unlikely there will be any significant changes to the hardware. One significant rumor we’ve heard about the iPhone 18 camera system comes from leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max (and only that model) will get a camera with a mechanically-adjustable aperture like DSLR cameras. This would give users great control over background blurring, but primarily with the ability to keep the foreground and background sharp. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s telephoto lenses are also expected to have a larger overall aperture for sharper pictures in low-light situations. Expect changes to the aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro.Britta O’Boyle iPhone 18/18 Pro: Dynamic Island Apple hasn’t changed the size or shape of the Dynamic Island since its introduction on the iPhone 14 Pro, but some reports suggest there may be changes coming to the iPhone 18’s camera cutout. Some have claimed there will just be a pinhole cutout for the camera, with the whole Face ID assembly under the display, but most reports suggest those changes will be limited to the folding iPhone or arrive on the 20th anniversary model. However, it still may look different. The ever-reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has claimed that Apple will “shrink” the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models, which suggests that some of the several sensors and emitters required for Face ID will be under the display or combined. iPhone 18/18 Pro specs: A20 chip The iPhone 18 line will feature a new A20 processor, likely made using TSMC’s new 2nm fabrication process (which can allow for more complex chips in the same area, and could potentially allow for better power efficiency). The A20 is rumored to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging to incorporate the RAM into the SoC’s package. It’s not clear what the benefit will be, but more tightly integrated RAM can mean more memory bandwidth and lower RAM latency, or better power efficiency. iPhone 18/18 Pro: Wireless connectivity While the iPhone Air features a more advanced version of Apple’s C1 modem, dubbed the C1X, the other iPhone 17 models still use Qualcomm wireless modems. That’s likely to change in the iPhone 18 line. We’re told to expect a new C2 modem in the iPhone 18 phones, including the Pro and Pro Max. It’s not yet clear what features it will offer, but of course should deliver better performance and energy efficiency than the C1X and likely support high-speed mmWave networks in addition to the standard sub-6 networks. Apple debuted its local networking chip in the iPhone 17 line as well; the N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking. We haven’t heard anything about an N2 on the way, and honestly, one probably isn’t needed so soon. Could Apple have an “N1X” surprise in store the way it did with the C1X? It’s possible, but so far the rumor mill expects Apple to build the iPhone 18 line with the same N1 chip as found in the iPhone 17. However, a report from The Information says that Apple is gearing up to support 5G networks that are served from satellites, namely Starlink satellites. While the iPhone has offered satellite connectivity for emergency situations for years, this would allow the iPhone 18 models to have full internet access via satellite, not just emergency services. iPhone 18/18 Pro release date: Split launch There have been consistent reports for some time that Apple will change up its release schedule. In September 2026, Apple will reportedly only release the high-end models: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the new folding iPhone, and perhaps an updated iPhone Air. That means the base model iPhone 18 will wait until spring 2027, when it will reportedly arrive alongside the iPhone 18e. This is a big departure for Apple, and it means that the new iPhones next year will all have price tags of $999 or more. iPhone 18/18 Pro pricing: A wide range We haven’t seen any reports about changes in pricing to the existing iPhone lineup in 2026. As it stands, the iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone Air is $999, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. However, the arrival of the folding iPhone could dramatically change the pricing structure, as it will reportedly have a starting price of $1,999 or more.

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Proposed law to ban teens from using AI chatbots may pose problems for Siri
A bipartisan bill could lead to teams being banned from using AI chatbots, in response to parents expressing concerns about inappropriate content ranging from sexual conversations to assistance with suicide planning. If the proposed GUARD Act becomes law, then it could impact Apple in three different ways – including the company’s plans for the new Siri … more…

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iPhone says Slow Charger: what does it mean and how to fix it
If you have an iPhone running iOS 26, you may have noticed that it now reports the estimated time to finish charging to 80% on the lock screen. If you are not using a fast charger, though, it will not do that and say ‘Slow Charger’ instead. This probably means you are using an underpowered power brick or older cable. To fast charge with a wire, get a new charging brick that is rated for 30 watts or more, and a USB-C cable … more…

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I don’t trust my Apple Watch’s Sleep Score, and neither should you
Macworld At its iPhone 17 launch event, Apple announced a new watchOS 26 feature called Sleep Score. As its name suggests, the tool evaluates the quality of your sleep based on multiple factors, distilling the outcome into a simple number. I was initially looking forward to trying Sleep Score, since the company made such a big deal out of it—making it, in fact, a keynote segment headliner. But after a month of active use, it’s become clear to me that Sleep Score is essentially just the same old Apple Watch sleep tracking with a new coat of paint. It does not collect any new sleep data, nor does it deeply analyze other relevant health metrics. But Sleep Score can be saved. Here’s what Apple needs to do to truly elevate it. How Sleep Score works Before pointing out Sleep Score’s shortcomings, let’s take a closer, objective look at how it works. For starters, you’ll need an Apple Watch with sleep monitoring enabled or a similar third-party tracker that collects the same types of data. Once you update your iPhone to iOS 26, you’ll be able to check your Sleep Score in the built-in Apple Health app. Sleep Score is a 100-point system that takes three main elements into consideration. Your sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and sleep interruptions account for 50, 30, and 20 points, respectively. To earn the duration factor’s full 50 marks, it appears you need to sleep for at least 8 hours during a given night. Meanwhile, the grade for bedtime consistency depends on whether you sleep around the same time every night. Lastly, you can earn the 20 points for sleep interruptions if you don’t wake up for prolonged periods at night. While you probably won’t score a full mark nightly, claiming the 100 points is achievable, as I’ve done it a few times. Given that Sleep Score does not gather any new metrics, you can actually check previous months’ ratings—assuming you’ve had the sleep tracking feature enabled. This only proves that Sleep Score is merely a new way to display existing data and doesn’t do much else. Outliers can be clues to sleep problems, but don’t stop you scoring a perfect 100.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry The missing ingredients I was hoping for a meaningful upgrade to the classic sleep tracking feature but Sleep Score is, at best, a UI overhaul with a rating attached. We’ve long been able to check the nightly sleep duration, schedule, and interruptions. While assigning a score can reflect how consistent one’s sleeping habits are, the number itself can be a bit misleading. Earning 100 points doesn’t necessarily equate to a perfect or even good night’s sleep. For example, if you’re sick and on painkillers, you could realistically score the full mark, despite waking up worn out and having outliers in the Health app’s Vitals section. Sleep Score doesn’t take into account your resting heart rate and heart rate variability, which can be strong indicators of one’s sleep quality and overall health. Similarly, it completely disregards the previous days’ recorded workouts and burned calories, even though they could impact how well a user sleeps and feels the following morning. The same could be said about the Vitals feature’s recorded respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and blood oxygen levels, which Sleep Score excludes altogether. Given its name, Sleep Score delivers on its promise; it rates your primary sleeping conditions. The problem, however, is that it fails to innovate or meaningfully enhance sleep tracking on watchOS. If Apple is unable to significantly upgrade the feature, the company should have rolled it out silently as the mostly cosmetic update it is. A ‘body battery’ approach offers a more useful picture of your sleep health.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry A simple patch A more helpful approach would have been estimating users’ overall energy levels throughout the day. I use a HealthKit-enabled third-party app that accesses relevant metrics to display an all-encompassing ‘body battery’ score. These include my workouts, active energy, heart rate readings, wrist temperature, mindfulness minutes, sleep data, and more. The app analyzes my sleep duration, heart rate, Vitals, and so on to figure out how recharged I am when I wake up. The refilled energy is similarly reflected through a 100-point scoring system. As the day goes by, my score drops depending on recorded workouts, heart rate, physical activity, and so on. Beyond the overall body battery rating, the app estimates fatigue and stress levels. The readings tend to be accurate, as they account for recent weeks’ health data and aren’t limited to a single day’s measurements. The body battery route helps me get a realistic representation of my state in real time, instead of restricting me to a static score formed from incomplete sleep metrics. Given that Apple reportedly plans to launch a Health+ service next year with AI coaching, I’m still hopeful. The company could potentially bundle a tool that reads a user’s entire Health app log and presents a meaningful report that dynamically changes every day. Until then, I’m hitting snooze on the Sleep Score feature.

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As Slow Horses season 5 ends, Apple TV launches another new Mick Herron drama series to keep subscribers hooked
With Slow Horses season five coming to an end today, Apple TV is keen to keep the British crime drama series based off Mick Herron novels rolling. Based off the book of the same name, new TV show Down Cemetery Road debuts with a two episode premiere on Apple TV today. The series stars Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson, who are investigating the disappearance of a girl following an unexplained explosion inside a house. Ruth Wilson plays Sarah, a neighbor who enlists private investigator Zoe Boehm (played by Thompson) to help crack the case. more…

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Rumor: Apple developing OLED iPad mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Air models
If you’ve been hankering for additional Apple devices with OLED displays, you’re going to like this. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is prepping OLED displays for several of its products. The new products seem to be along Apple’s more budget-focused lines, but it appears that OLED will arrive for nearly every Apple […] Source

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Your everyday MS Office apps, minus the monthly bill — 2024 Home & Business is $70 off
Macworld TL;DR: Make the recurring fees disappear and pay $179.99 once for Office 2024 Home & Business — keep the core apps, updates, and offline access on a single device. If you’re still forking over $10 to Microsoft every month for the same Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps you’ve been using all your life, it might be time to stop the subscription spiral. For a limited time, you can get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for a one-time payment of $179.99 (reg. $249.99) — no monthly fees, no surprise price increases. This version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, all in their latest 2024 editions. It’s the perfect setup for anyone who just wants reliable tools on one Mac or PC without the bloat of cloud storage or required online access that they never use anyway. You’ll also get real-time collaboration, modern AI-powered features, and smart layout tools. And, because this download is tied to your device (not the cloud), you won’t wake up to a completely new Outlook layout that requires you to quickly re-learn the entire app before work. Another bonus? You won’t also discover that Microsoft is deleting an app altogether, like they are with Publisher… what’s next? Don’t sleep on this deal. This Microsoft Office 2024 lifetime license for Mac and Windows is available for $179.99 (reg. $249.99) for a limited time. No coupon is needed, but downloads are selling out. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Run a lightning-fast WordPress site for less than $3 a month
Macworld TL;DR: Save 77% on a Hostinger Premium Web Hosting for Managed WordPress 2-year subscription. Your side project deserves more than a “.wordpress.com” URL and slow load times that make visitors bounce. With Hostinger’s managed hosting, you’ll get a real domain, faster load times, and built-in SEO tools that help you grow your ideas into something real (like a business or profits!). How to optimize your WordPress site Start with your domain. Claim your free domain for one year. A custom URL instantly builds credibility and helps people find you more easily. Optimize for speed. Use Hostinger’s LiteSpeed servers and caching tools to reduce load times — faster sites keep readers around longer and boost your SEO score. Add an SSL certificate. It’s included for free and encrypts your site data, which Google loves. Use the built-in SEO tools. Fine-tune your keywords, meta descriptions, and performance analytics to climb search results. Test before you publish. The one-click staging tool lets you experiment with layouts or plugins safely, so you can keep your live site flawless. And that’s just the beginning. There’s so much more to unlock with AI email marketing tools to keep visitors coming back. Get your Hostinger Premium Web Hosting for Managed WordPress 2-year subscription for $69.99 (MSRP $306.74). Hostinger Premium Web Hosting for Managed WordPress: 2-Yr SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple just dropped a massive research dataset to help train AI image editing models
Apple has released Pico-Banana-400K, a 400,000-image research dataset which, interestingly, was built using Google’s Gemini-2.5 models. Here are the details. more…

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KiiBoom Cybrix 29 review: Half a keyboard, all the utility
While the KiiBoom Cybrix 29 is effectively half a keyboard, it's still extremely useful for Mac owners as a macropad for shortcuts — or for gaming.KiiBoom Cybrix 29 ReviewIn the world of third-party keyboards, it can be easy to get lost in the ocean of options, designs, and layouts. Every manufacturer is fighting tooth and nail to catch your eye and your dollars with their next big thing.It is a consumer market, and we have never been more spoiled for choice. But in the wave of products and noise, some manufacturers choose to step outside of the norm, delivering products that appeal specifically to gamers and niche needs consumers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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9to5Mac Daily: October 28, 2025 – iPhone 18 rumors, iPad apps
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card. more…

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Price drop: Generate images, text, logos and more with lifetime access to this AI platform
All-in-one platform gives businesses AI tools for writing, chatbots, and logo and art generation. Save on a lifetime AI MagicX subscription. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Three new features announced today at the TikTok U.S. Creator Summit
In addition to an update to its subscription-based revenue-sharing model, the company announced today two AI-powered features that will help creators streamline their pre- and post-production processes. Here are the details. more…

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Here’s when every iPad gets a beautiful OLED screen
Apple plans to put gorgeous OLED displays in almost every iPad. Here’s when to expect the tablets to switch away from LCDs. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple is reportedly planning a trio of OLED upgrades
Macworld A new report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg details some welcome display updates for some of Apple’s most popular products. The iPad mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Air are all due to move from LCDs to OLEDs. Unfortunately, the changes could take a few years. The iPad mini will move to OLED first, according to Gurman. That change may come as soon as 2026, and could include a price increase of about $100. The iPad Air will be next. It’s due for an update in the spring next year, but that version will still use an LCD. The OLED update will come in the update after that, likely in 2027. Apple has no plans to move the base iPad model to OLED anytime soon. The MacBook Air will be last, with a planned OLED upgrade in 2028. The MacBook Air will get an upgrade to the M5 chip in the spring of 2026, but there will be no other significant changes. Gurman notes that these plans aren’t final and could change, as always. An uncertain manufacturing and cost environment makes it hard to predict future roadmaps, and plans can and do change frequently.

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Apple Music product manager to discuss recently-released features in Reddit AMA
The Apple Music subreddit has announced an AMA with Adam Silver, who has led the platform’s product development for nearly a decade. Here’s how to join in. more…

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Apple and Chernin developing adaptation of Marc Guggenheim graphic novel ‘Last Flight Out’
Apple is working on an adaptation of Dark Horse Comics' "Last Flight Out," which Apple Original Films is developing alongside Chernin… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Report: Apple preparing major display upgrade for three upcoming products
Apple is planning a major display upgrade for three future products, according to a new report. The same report also points to another upgrade coming specifically to the iPad mini. more…

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OLED iPad mini, MacBook Air, iPad Air are in the works
Apple's push into OLED for every device continues with iPad mini getting significant updates in 2026, iPad Air moving to OLED in 2027, and finally, MacBook Air getting the display sometime after 2028.An OLED iPad mini would be a significant upgrade for the tiny tabletTechnology tends to trickle down from top-end products to the rest of the lineup eventually. The time has finally come for OLED to make its way to the rest of Apple's products, but it'll still take some time.According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is prepping OLED displays for several of its products. The report focuses on its more budget-focused lines, but OLED is coming to nearly every product in the next few years. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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