MacRumors

Opera today launched its subscription-based, AI-focused Neon browser, which joins a growing field of companies touting agentic browsing capabilities.

Opera first previewed Neon in May and is now gradually rolling out invites to waitlist members. Available to early access users at $19.99 per month, Neon aims to go beyond traditional browsing by using AI to execute tasks directly within the browser. Neon can open and close tabs, compare information across multiple sources, and even complete transactions on a user's behalf.

Central to Neon's design is the Tasks feature, which creates self-contained workspaces for different projects. Each Task functions like a mini-browser with its own context, allowing the AI to act across multiple sources without accessing information from other parts of the browser. The idea is that you can work on several complex projects simultaneously – say, planning a trip while researching a purchase – without the AI confusing contexts between them.

Neon browser also introduces Cards, which are reusable prompt instructions that can be combined to automate common workflows. Cards are supposed to be like building blocks for AI interactions: instead of explaining your needs from scratch each time, you can combine pre-made Cards like "pull-details" and "comparison-table" to instantly create product comparison prompts. For meeting notes, users might stack "key-decisions," "action-items," and "follow-ups" Cards to capture what matters in the right format, says Opera. Users can create their own Cards or access community-made options through an in-browser store.

The Neon Do function is perhaps the browser's most ambitious capability, since it allows the app to navigate websites, fill out forms, and gather data while operating within a user's logged-in browser session. Unlike cloud-based alternatives, Neon Do works locally, so it keeps login credentials private and lets users pause or take control at any time.

The browser will compete directly with similar offerings from the likes of Perplexity (Comet Browser) and The Browser Company (Dia Browser). Opera Neon won't replace the existing Opera browser, but some of its features will likely be added to Opera over time.

Apple has expanded its sleep apnea notification feature to Apple Watch users in South Korea, the company announced today.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often leading to poor rest. The Apple Watch detects signs of the disorder by using its accelerometer to track subtle wrist movements associated with irregular breathing patterns. When these disturbances occur repeatedly across several nights, the watch can flag a potential case of sleep apnea.

The feature is supported on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch Ultra 3, and is available in more than 150 countries worldwide. To receive an initial reading, users need to wear the watch consistently for several nights, although nightly breathing disturbances are logged in the iPhone's Health app.

Apple also provides a full list of Apple Watch feature availability on its website.

WhatsApp has confirmed the introduction of Live Photos support on iPhones running its encrypted chat platform, allowing users to send and receive images captured in the format.

Introduced in 2015, Apple's Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds of video and audio before and after you take a picture, with the aim of adding a little bit of life and movement to still images.

In a blog post on Monday rounding up its recent feature additions, Meta-owned WhatsApp listed support for Live Photos on iOS, as well as Motion Photos – the equivalent format on Android.

When a Live Photo appears in a WhatsApp conversation, the familiar Live Photo symbol appears in the top-left corner of the preview image. Tapping the image plays the related clip as well as accompanying audio.

Among the other features recently added, you can now use Meta AI to design custom chat themes and generate unique video call backgrounds, or add AI-powered backdrops to photos and videos in chats. In addition, finding a group chat has become easier – you can now search for a contact in your Chats tab, and WhatsApp will show the groups you share.

• Make Live Photos Loop, Bounce, and More on iPhone

The new features are said to have been added to the app "over the past few months," so if any don't appear for you, make sure you're running the latest version of WhatsApp.

Apple's retail store at University Park Village, in Fort Worth, Texas, will soon be moving to a different area of the shopping center.

The new store will open on Saturday, October 11, at 10 a.m. local time, on the north side of University Park Village. Apple is moving into a larger space that was previously split between men's suit store Jos. A. Bank and women's clothing store The Impeccable Pig, which has also moved into a new unit at the shopping center.

Apple will be located between the relocated The Impeccable Pig and Eatzi's Market & Bakery, according to photos shared by Fort Worth resident Sydney B. Claridge.

Apple opened its current store at University Park Village in 2008. The new store will be larger than the original, and it will feature an updated design. Apple has yet to share any photos of the new store, however, so its exact layout remains to be seen.

Apple's original store between Starbucks and Williams Sonoma remains open for now.

Elsewhere in Texas, Apple continues to renovate its store at the Baybrook Mall, in the Houston suburb of Friendswood. It is unclear when this project will be completed, but Apple has been operating out of a temporary store at the mall in the meantime.

After Apple released the original iPad in 2010, it tested a second-generation model that only had 8GB of storage. AppleDemoYT, known for sourcing rare prototype devices, recently shared a video featuring the test ‌iPad‌.

The ‌iPad‌ runs SwitchBoard, Apple's internal factory testing software, instead of a version of iOS. It was manufactured in 2011, but it is a 2012 ‌iPad‌ that has an ‌iPad‌ 2,4 identifier. The ‌iPad‌ is a prototype that Apple used during the Engineering Validation Testing phase of device production.

On the back of the ‌iPad‌, there's an 8GB label, which suggests it wasn't just meant to be a test device. Apple's original ‌iPad‌ started with 16GB of storage, and Apple never released an ‌iPad‌ that had less storage space than that.

Prior to the launch of the ‌iPad‌ 3, there were rumors suggesting that Apple would release a low-cost iPad 2 with 8GB storage. It was supposedly going to be a more affordable option, but Apple ended up launching the ‌iPad‌ 3 at $499, while keeping the 16GB ‌iPad‌ 2 around at $399. The 8GB ‌iPad‌ never made it to market.

The rumor about the 8GB ‌iPad‌ came from DigiTimes, a site that has a hit or miss record when it comes to Apple rumors. Interestingly, the ‌iPad‌ 2 prototype proves that this is one time that ‌DigiTimes‌ wasn't wrong, because Apple did seemingly consider an 8GB model.

It's likely that Apple decided 8GB wasn't enough storage space for a tablet, and 2012 was around the time that Apple phased out 8GB capacities for the iPhone. From the original ‌iPhone‌ to the ‌iPhone‌ 4s, 8GB storage was an option, but the 2012 ‌iPhone‌ 5 started with 16GB of storage.

These days, 128GB is the minimum storage that Apple offers in its iPhones and iPads.

Anthropic today introduced Claude Sonnet 4.5, which the company says is the "best coding model in the world," outperforming GPT-5 and Gemini 2.5 Pro. It's also the strongest model for building complex agents and using computers, plus Anthropic says that it shows substantial gains in reasoning and math compared to Opus 4.1.

Along with Claude Sonnet 4.5, Anthropic added a new terminal interface and checkpoints to Claude Code. Checkpoints serve as save points, saving your progress so you can roll back to a previous state as necessary.

The Claude apps now support code execution and file creation for making spreadsheets, slides, and documents directly in the conversation. Claude for Chrome is available as well, with Anthropic allowing some Max users to beta test the feature. There's also a Claude Agent SDK that's available for building agents.

According to Anthropic, Claude Sonnet 4.5 has improved capabilities and extensive safety training to improve its behavior, so there has been a reduction in sycophancy, deception, power-seeking, and the tendency to encourage delusional thinking.

Claude Sonnet 4.5 is available everywhere starting today, and Anthropic recommends that users upgrade.

RidePods is a new iOS game that's designed to use the AirPods as a wearable controller, and it is promoted as the world's first earbuds-controlled game.

The idea is to race with head movements, tilting your head left or right to steer and dodge cars. RidePods uses the motion sensors that are built into the AirPods to detect head movements.

RidePods is a hands-free game, so like an endless runner, the motorcycle propels itself while the player controls the steering and dodging oncoming traffic. The idea is to get the highest score possible.

To play the game, users will need earbuds with motion sensors, like the AirPods Pro, Pro 2, or Pro 3. The third-generation AirPods and later also work, as do the AirPods Max.

As noted by The Verge, the game uses the same accelerometer and gyroscope that powers spatial audio. The developer behind the game, Ali Tanis, said that developing it required reverse engineering the spatial audio feature. Developers have access to an API for headphone motion data for fitness tracking purposes, but Tanis used the information in another way.

A few weeks ago, while listening to music and developing an app with my AirPods, I noticed their spatial audio feature. I thought about what else could be done with reverse engineering, including the possibility of using AirPods as a motion controller. I built the world's first AirPods-controlled game, which uses a motor driven by head movements. In fact, it's not just AirPods, it's a game that uses a headset as a motion controller. And today, it was approved on the App Store. Who knows, maybe AirPods Arcade has even started? :)

The game is free, and it can be downloaded from the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]

Apple is currently offering a promotion that provides new subscribers with a three-month free trial of Apple Music, with qualified returning subscribers able to get a free two month trial.

The promotion is celebrating the release of the recent Genshin Impact album, The Shimmering Voyage Vol. 5, which is available on ‌Apple Music‌ and ‌Apple Music‌ Classical.

‌Apple Music‌ Classical includes an exclusive multi-language track-by-track commentary that accompanies the album. The commentary is voiced by the original voice actors from the game.

Genshin Impact is an open world anime-style game that is available on iOS devices. Players control one of four interchangeable characters to complete battles, quests, and challenges for rewards. There are multiple regions to visit, each with a different musical theme built on orchestral foundations.

The free trial must be redeemed before October 31, 2025. After the trial period, ‌Apple Music‌ will renew at $10.99 per month.

OpenAI today announced a new Instant Checkout feature for ChatGPT, which is designed to allow ChatGPT users to buy items from Etsy and Shopify merchants without leaving the app or ChatGPT website.

ChatGPT will be able to look for items that match what the user has requested, and if the item is from Etsy or a merchant that uses Shopify, it can be purchased through ChatGPT. Products available through Instant Checkout will have a "Buy" option, with subscribers able to pay with their card on file or use other payment options.

Instant Checkout is powered by Stripe's Agentic Commerce Protocol, and it is available for ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users in the United States.

Right now, the feature only supports single-item purchases, but OpenAI says that support for multi-item carts is in the works. Instant Checkout will also eventually expand to other merchants and regions. Merchants can start building integrations and can apply to support Instant Checkout.

Merchants are required to pay a small fee on completed purchases, but OpenAI claims that Instant Checkout items are not preferred in product results. When multiple merchants sell the same item, ChatGPT will factor in availability, price, quality, and whether Instant Checkout is enabled, which OpenAI says is to optimize the user experience.

Along with Instant Checkout, OpenAI is adding parental controls to ChatGPT, allowing parents to link their account with their teen's account to customize settings for an age-appropriate experience. Parents can restrict when ChatGPT can be used, turn off voice mode, disable memory, or remove image generation.

OpenAI is debuting a new system that will better recognize potential signs that a teen is thinking of harming themselves. If ChatGPT detects potential harm, a "small team" will review the situation, and if there are signs of acute distress, parents will be contacted.

Apple today released iOS 26.0.1 and iPadOS 26.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out earlier this week.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 26.0.1 addresses a bug that could cause aberrations in photos captured with the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro models. It also fixes ongoing cellular and Wi-Fi issues that iPhone 17 owners have been dealing with, and addresses a bug with tinted icons. Apple's release notes are below.

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone, including fixes for the following issues:

- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may occasionally disconnect on iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro models
- A small number of iPhone users may be unable to connect to a cellular network after updating to iOS 26
- Photos taken under certain lighting conditions with iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro models may include unexpected artifacts
- App icons may appear blank after adding a custom tint
- VoiceOver may become disabled for some users after updating to iOS 26
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100

The iPadOS 26.0.1 update fixes the same VoiceOver issue and also addresses a bug that could cause the floating keyboard to change positions unexpectedly.

For those who are unable to update to iOS 26.0.1, Apple has released a iOS 18.7.1 update.

Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.0.1, the first update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out earlier this month.

macOS Tahoe 26.0.1 can be downloaded through the Software Update section of the System Settings app.

According to Apple's release notes, macOS Tahoe 26.0.1 addresses a bug that was preventing Mac Studio machines with an M3 Ultra chip from being upgraded to macOS Tahoe. A failed hardware check was causing macOS Tahoe installation attempts to be aborted, with Mac Studio users ultimately stuck on macOS Sequoia.

‌Mac Studio‌ users who were unable to install macOS Tahoe should now be able to.

Apple today released watchOS 26.0.2, visionOS 26.0.1, and tvOS 26.0.1, the first updates to the watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26 updates that came out earlier in September.

The new software can be downloaded on each device by going to the Software Update section of the Settings app. There's also a new HomePod Software 26.0.1 update. Note that watchOS is 26.0.2 because there was a watchOS 26.0.1 update designed to add Messages and Find My support to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in Mexico.

According to Apple's release notes, the software provides bug fixes and important security updates. tvOS 26.0.1 also addresses an issue that could cause audio to be out of sync on certain video streaming apps.

Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends.

Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below.

Apple in October

Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023.

In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it announced new products with press releases and a series of shorter product videos.

A recap of Apple's hardware announcements:

• October 2021 (Monday, October 18 Event): 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, AirPods 3, and new HomePod mini colors
• October 2022 (Press Releases All on Tuesday, October 18): iPad Pro with M2 chip, iPad 10, and third-generation Apple TV 4K
• October 2023 (Monday, October 30 Event): 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, and iMac with M3 chip
• October 2024 (Press Releases on Monday, October 28 Through Wednesday, October 30): 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, iMac with M4 chip, and Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips

Rumored Products

It is not yet known if Apple plans to host an October event this year, but it seems likely.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iPad Pro models with Apple's M5 chip would be released this year. If that timeframe remains accurate, the likelihood of an October event this year is high, as the standard M1 through M4 chips were all unveiled during events.

Apple is also expected to update the Vision Pro with the M5 chip this year.

Apple's next MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will reportedly enter mass production soon, but they might not be announced until early 2026.

Gurman expects Apple to update these products between late 2025 and early 2026, and most of them would be fitting for an October event:

• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.
• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.
• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.
• iPad Pro: M5 chip and two front cameras, allowing for photos and video calls in both portrait and landscape orientations.
• Vision Pro: A faster M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option.
• MacBook Pro: Multiple sources have indicated that MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips might not launch until early 2026, and it is unclear if any other Macs with M5 chips like an iMac or Mac mini would debut this year as a result. Perhaps we will see another MacBook Pro announcement in January. In any case, it may be wise to skip the next MacBook Pro models, as bigger upgrades like an OLED touch screen and a thinner design are expected for the subsequent models.
• Studio Display: A new version of the Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026. If no new Macs launch this year, then early 2026 is the more likely timeframe.

Gurman's list did not mention the rumored lower-priced MacBook with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip, which is also expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.

Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is likely to arrive next year, so here's what to expect.

The current ‌iPad mini‌ came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.

In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation ‌iPad mini‌ with the codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The current ‌iPad mini‌ uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the ‌iPhone Air‌ also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next ‌iPad mini‌.

No other new features or changes are likely beyond some refreshed color options. The ‌iPad mini‌ is essentially a smaller version of the iPad Air, which has only seen minor improvements such as chip upgrades since its redesign in 2020. Apple is reportedly working on more substantial upgrades such as an OLED display for future models in 2026 or 2027.

There are no specific rumors about when the next ‌iPad mini‌ will be released, but a launch alongside new ‌iPad Air‌ models in the first half of next year seems likely.

Starting with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, Apple provides app developers with access to a new Foundation Models framework that allows their apps to tap into the on-device large language model at the core of Apple Intelligence.

Apple today highlighted some of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps utilizing the Foundation Models framework to power new features and capabilities.

For example, in the fitness app SmartGym, users can now describe a workout and turn it into a structured routine with sets, reps, rest times, and equipment adaptation. SmartGym also generates insightful summaries of workout data, and more.

In the journaling app Stoic, users can now receive contextual journaling prompts that are generated from their recent entries, and there are other new features.

SwingVision, an app that helps users with their tennis or pickleball skills, uses the framework to generate advice for players to improve their game.

Foundation Models powers new Listen Mode and Scan Mode options in the to-do app Stuff.

The task management app OmniFocus 4 can now generate projects and next steps on a user's behalf, such as helping them know what to pack for an upcoming trip.

Apple's press release highlights many other apps using the framework.

Amazon's second Prime Day for 2025 is just around the corner, with Prime Big Deals Days set to kick off on Tuesday, October 7 and run through Wednesday, October 8. Even though we're still over a week away from the event, Amazon is hosting a few notable early deals for Prime members.

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

Prime Big Deal Days will officially kick off at 12:01 a.m. PT on October 7, and new discounts will appear throughout the event. Like all Prime Day sales, most of the discounts will be exclusive to Prime members.

In terms of early deals, we're tracking a few notable discounts, including a new all-time low price on the 2025 MagSafe Charger (2m). You can get this accessory for $29.00, down from $49.00, and there are also still solid sales on the official Silicone and TechWoven cases for iPhone 17.

Apple Accessories

• MagSafe Charger (2m) - $29.00, down from $49.00
• FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe - $52.99, down from $59.00
• Apple Pencil Pro - $99.00, down from $129.00
• 11-inch iPad Air Magic Keyboard - $249.99, down from $269.00
• 13-inch iPad Air Magic Keyboard - $277.00, down from $319.00

Anker Accessories

• Nano USB-C 30W Foldable Charger - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank - $31.99, down from $49.99
• Nano Magnetic Car Charger - $39.99, down from $59.99
• Soundcore V40i Open-Ear Headphones - $59.99, down from $79.99
• 10,000 mAh MagGo Qi2 Power Bank - $69.99, down from $89.99
• 140W 4-Port USB-C Charger - $79.99 with coupon, down from $99.99
• Power Station with Lantern - $109.99, down from $149.99

iPhone Cases

• iPhone 17 Clear Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Silicone Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Pro Silicone Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case - $52.99, down from $59.00
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Clear Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Silicone Case - $43.99, down from $49.00
• iPhone 17 Pro Max TechWoven Case - $52.99, down from $59.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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On the latest episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, released today, Ford CEO Jim Farley told guest host Joanna Stern that the automaker does not entirely like Apple's current implementation of its CarPlay Ultra software system for vehicles.

"We don't like the execution in round one of Ultra, but we're very committed to Apple," said Farley. "I've talked to [Apple CEO] Tim [Cook] many times about this."

Farley implied that Ford is currently passing on CarPlay Ultra because it would result in Apple having "control of the entire experience inside a vehicle."

It is worth noting that CarPlay Ultra is an optional experience, with the system only taking over the instrument cluster and other dashboard screens when an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later is wirelessly connected to the vehicle.

In addition, Farley said it is important that Ford's entertainment system of choice integrates with its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

"We just believe ADAS integration with your entertainment system is so critical when you're flying down the highway with your eyes off the road, you know, in three or four years at 80 miles an hour on the I-5," he said.

When it announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra in May, Apple said the system can show information from a vehicle's advanced driver assistance systems, but it sounds like certain functions provided by Ford's systems would not be supported.

CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can choose from various preset design options. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides driving data like current speed, and other info like tire pressure.

When it first previewed the next generation of CarPlay (now known as CarPlay Ultra) in 2022, Apple said Ford was committed to offering the software system. However, Farley's comments suggest Ford currently has no plans to offer CarPlay Ultra, unless Apple is willing to make changes that loosen its control over the system.

CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Apple said many other automakers around the world are working to offer it over the next year and beyond, including Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis brands.

In iOS 26, Apple quietly added a neat new option that lets you send smaller-sized previews of images over Messages so that recipients get them right away, before the full-resolution images arrive.

Thanks to the new setting, your recipient will receive a lower-quality preview almost instantly, followed by the full-resolution image. And if you're traveling with limited cellular data or using a metered data connection, they only get the compressed preview version – ensuring the original high resolution image doesn't hoover up your data.

How to Enable Send Photo Previews

Apple has made this feature easy to toggle on or off depending on your needs. Here's how to enable it:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Apps.
3. Select Messages from the app list.
4. Toggle on the switch next to Send Low-Quality Photo Previews.

Once enabled, the feature works automatically, so you don't have to do anything else.

A Note on Low Data Mode

You can make sure that only smaller-sized previews of images are sent to recipients by keeping your iPhone in Low Data Mode. You can enable this manually by going to Settings ➝ Cellular Service. Choose your primary service, then tap Data Mode and toggle on Low Data Mode. The same setting appears under individual Wi-Fi network settings in Settings ➝ Wi-Fi (tap the encircled "i" button next to the Wi-Fi network name).

When Low Data Mode is active and Send Low-Quality Photo Previews is enabled, you may see photos in your Messages conversations appear slightly pixelated. Just bear in mind that they will only be delivered in higher quality versions if you send them when Low Data Mode is turned off.