We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells it in Glacier Silver, model 16-bv0099nr. Amazon’s typical price is the price it has usually charged recently, not a made-up list price, so the $270.89 saving reflects what buyers were paying before this drop.

HP OmniBook 3 has twice the memory of a MacBook Neo for $50 less

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s cheapest laptop, and it’s the obvious rival at this price. Apple’s MacBook Neo spec page lists 8GB of memory in every model, 256GB of storage for $699 and 512GB for $799. The HP gives you 16GB and 512GB for $649.

The 16-inch screen is bigger than MacBook Neo’s, but it isn’t as sharp or as bright

Be honest with yourself about the display. HP calls it 2K, but the Amazon listing shows a 1920 x 1200 panel at 300 nits that covers 62.5% of the sRGB color range. The MacBook Neo’s 13-inch screen is brighter at 500 nits and much sharper at 219 pixels per inch. Colors on the HP will look duller, and it’s harder to use near a bright window.

What you get in return is room. A 16-inch touchscreen fits two windows side by side more comfortably. The ports are also far better. The HP has two USB-C ports at 10Gbps with charging and DisplayPort, two USB-A ports and an HDMI 2.1 port, so you won’t need a hub for a monitor or an older flash drive. The MacBook Neo has two USB-C ports, and one of them runs at USB 2 speeds.

Who should pick the $649 HP over Apple’s $699 MacBook Neo

Apple’s education price for the Neo is $649, the same as this HP, as we covered when Apple raised the MacBook Neo education price. Students who qualify should compare the two at the same price. For everyone else, the HP is the cheaper laptop.

• Pick the HP if you need Windows, a bigger screen, 16GB of memory and more ports
• Pick the MacBook Neo if you use an iPhone, want a lighter laptop and care about screen quality
• Both have enough battery life for a full school or work day by their makers’ figures

The Ryzen AI 5 430 is an x86 chip, so it runs every Windows app without the compatibility questions that come with Arm laptops. At $649 on Amazon, the OmniBook 3 is a lot of laptop for the money if you can live with its dimmer screen.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells and ships it in Platinum. If you’re cross-shopping a MacBook Air, the M5 model with the same 16GB and 512GB lists at $1,299 at Apple and is $1,099 on Amazon, so we’ve put the two side by side below.

Surface Laptop with X2 Elite vs M5 MacBook Air, with the same 16GB and 512GB

The Surface wins on a few things the MacBook Air doesn’t offer at all. It has a touchscreen, a 120Hz refresh rate and a full-size USB-A port, according to Microsoft. Apple’s MacBook Air spec page lists a sharper display at 224 pixels per inch, MagSafe charging and a lighter 2.7-pound body.

Compared with Apple’s own $1,299 price, the Surface Laptop deal costs $50.99 more. Against Amazon’s $1,099 MacBook Air, the gap grows to $250.99. Microsoft’s store price of $1,529.99 would put the Surface $230.99 above the Air at Apple’s price, so this Amazon deal is what makes the two worth comparing at all. Both laptops come with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, so you aren’t trading storage for the lower price on either side.

Snapdragon X2 Elite runs Windows on Arm, the same idea as Apple silicon on a Mac

Qualcomm’s X2 Elite is an Arm chip, just like Apple’s M-series chips. That’s why Microsoft can promise up to 20 hours of video playback on the 13.8-inch model. The tradeoff is app support. Most Windows apps run, but older software, some drivers and some games with anti-cheat tools can have trouble. If you need a specific Windows app for work, check that it supports Windows on Arm first.

Microsoft also sells a bigger Surface Laptop Ultra at $2,599 for people who want a MacBook Pro rival. This 13.8-inch model is the MacBook Air rival, and the X2 Elite is the top chip Microsoft offers in it.

Pick the Surface Laptop only if you need Windows, because the MacBook Air costs less

At these prices, the M5 MacBook Air is $250.99 cheaper on Amazon with the same memory and storage. If you already use an iPhone and a Mac, the Air is the easier pick, and our M5 MacBook Air deal roundup tracks the other configurations.

The Surface Laptop makes sense in a few cases:

• Your job or school requires Windows apps
• You want a touchscreen and a 120Hz display in a 13-inch class laptop
• You need a USB-A port without carrying a dongle

For a Windows laptop with this chip, $1,349.99 on Amazon is $350 below list and $180 below Microsoft’s own price.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells it in the Dune color, and the listing showed only 9 left in stock. Microsoft’s own store has the same 16GB and 512GB model at $1,299.99, so Amazon is $50 cheaper than Microsoft too.

Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 Plus costs $249 less than a 13-inch iPad Pro with M5

The comparison most iPad shoppers will make is with the 13-inch iPad Pro. Apple lists the 13-inch iPad Pro from $1,499 with 256GB of storage and 12GB of memory. Amazon sells that iPad for $1,399 right now, which still leaves the Surface Pro $149.01 cheaper with double the storage.

The iPad Pro wins on screen. Apple’s spec page lists a tandem OLED panel with ProMotion, while this Surface Pro uses an LCD. Microsoft offers an OLED Surface Pro, but only with the pricier Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. If you watch a lot of HDR video or edit photos, that difference shows.

Windows 11 and two USB4 ports make Surface Pro a full laptop that folds into a tablet

The Surface Pro runs full Windows 11 Home, so it installs the same desktop apps as a Windows laptop. That’s the big reason to pick it over an iPad. Microsoft lists two USB-C ports with USB4 plus the Surface Connect charging port on the 13-inch model, a 165-degree kickstand, and up to 15.5 hours of video playback. The 13-inch model weighs 1.97 pounds.

The Snapdragon X2 Plus is an Arm chip, like Apple silicon. Most Windows apps run on it, but older apps and some games with anti-cheat software can have trouble. Check that the apps you need support Windows on Arm before you buy.

Budget for the Surface keyboard, because Microsoft doesn’t include one in the box

This deal is for the tablet alone. Microsoft’s Surface Pro page says the Surface Keyboard and Slim Pen are sold separately, and the Amazon listing points buyers to the Surface Pro 13-inch Flex Keyboard for laptop use. Apple sells its Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro separately too, so neither price includes a keyboard.

Even with a keyboard added, the Surface Pro deal stays well under Microsoft’s full $1,599.99 price for the tablet alone. If you’d rather stay with Apple, our M5 iPad Pro deal post covers the current Amazon prices, and our iPad Pro vs iPad Air comparison can help you decide whether you need a Pro at all.

Who should buy the Surface Pro at $1,249.99 instead of an iPad Pro

• You need Windows apps that don’t exist on iPadOS, such as some work tools or PC games
• You want 512GB of storage without paying Apple’s $200 jump to the 512GB iPad Pro
• You want two USB4 ports for a dock, a display and a drive at the same time

If you live in Apple’s apps and care most about the screen, the iPad Pro is still the better tablet. If you want a Windows PC you can hold like a tablet, the Surface Pro at $1,249.99 is $350 off and $50 below Microsoft’s own sale price.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells the keyboard (Space Grey) and the mouse (Graphite).

MX Keys Mini for Mac gives you backlit Mac keys that Apple’s $99 Magic Keyboard doesn’t have

Logitech’s MX Keys Mini for Mac page lists a dedicated Mac layout, backlighting that turns on as your hands approach and adjusts to room light, and Easy-Switch pairing for up to three devices over Bluetooth Low Energy. The battery charges over USB-C and lasts up to 10 days, or up to 5 months with the backlight off. The Amazon listing names the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac as compatible and asks for macOS 10.15 or later.

There are two things to know before you swap out Apple’s keyboard. Logitech’s page lists no fingerprint sensor, and Apple charges $149 for its Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, so you lose Touch ID at your desk. Logitech also warns that FileVault can stop Bluetooth keyboards from connecting before you log in, and it suggests its Logi Bolt receiver, which isn’t in the box. Apple lists only USB-C ports on the MacBook Neo, so a Bolt receiver would need a USB-C adapter.

MX Master 3S at $79.99 costs about the same as Apple’s $79 Magic Mouse

Apple sells the Magic Mouse (USB-C) for $79, so the MX Master 3S at $79.99 is a straight swap on price. Logitech lists an 8,000 DPI sensor that tracks even on glass, Quiet Clicks with 90% less click noise, MagSpeed electromagnetic scrolling and a thumb wheel. A one-minute quick charge gives you three hours of use, and the mouse weighs 141 grams. It needs macOS 10.15 or later.

This listing is the Bluetooth Edition. The Amazon listing says it comes with no USB receiver and no charging cable, so keep a USB-C cable handy.

Who should buy the Logitech keyboard and mouse pair for a MacBook desk

• Buy the MX Keys Mini for Mac if you want backlit keys and a Mac layout for less than Apple’s $99 keyboard.
• Buy the MX Master 3S if you’d rather have a thumb wheel and side buttons than the Magic Mouse’s touch surface.
• Keep Apple’s $149 Magic Keyboard with Touch ID if you log in to your Mac with a fingerprint every day.

The MX Keys Mini for Mac at $79.99 and the MX Master 3S cost $159.98 together, $18.02 less than Apple’s $99 Magic Keyboard and $79 Magic Mouse. For an Apple keyboard instead, see when the Glyph Magic Keyboard dropped to $79.99, and our coverage of Satechi accessories for MacBook Neo has more port options.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells both monitors.

Samsung’s 32-inch ViewFinity S7 matches the MacBook Neo’s 4K at 60Hz limit

Apple says the MacBook Neo supports one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz, through the USB-C port on its left side. Samsung’s ViewFinity S7 spec table lists 3840 x 2160 at a maximum of 60Hz. That’s an exact match, which makes the S7 the easy pick for a Neo desk.

The rest of the spec sheet is plain but solid for the money. It’s a 32-inch flat VA panel with 300 nits typical brightness, 3,000:1 static contrast, HDR10, 99% sRGB coverage and up to 1.07 billion colors. It supports Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture. Inputs are one DisplayPort 1.2 and one HDMI 2.0, plus a headphone jack.

There’s no USB-C input, so you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort cable. On a Neo, that cable goes in the left USB 3 port, the only one Apple’s MacBook Neo specs list with display output. The right-hand USB 2 port still charges the laptop. The stand tilts but has no height adjustment, so plan on a 100 x 100 VESA arm if you want it higher.

The Odyssey G5 gives MacBook Air and Mac mini owners a 34-inch ultrawide for $249.99

Samsung’s Odyssey G5 spec table lists a 34-inch 21:9 VA panel at 3440 x 1440 with a 1000R curve, up to 165Hz, a 1ms (MPRT) response time, 250 nits typical brightness, HDR10 and FreeSync Premium. You get one DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0 input. Samsung lists no USB-C, no USB hub and no speakers, and the stand only tilts, from -2 to 18 degrees.

Apple’s support pages for the M5 MacBook Air and the M6 Mac mini list 4K, 5K, 6K and 8K modes, not 3440 x 1440. Samsung doesn’t mention Mac either. So 165Hz from a Mac is unconfirmed, and Apple doesn’t list ultrawide modes for the Neo at all. If you own a Neo, the S7 is the safer buy.

Which $250 Samsung monitor to buy for your MacBook or Mac mini desk

Pick the ViewFinity S7 if you mostly read and write. A 4K panel at 32 inches gives you sharper text than the G5, and it fits the Neo’s limit exactly. Pick the Odyssey G5 if you want width for side-by-side windows or timelines, or if you also game on a PC that can use the 165Hz panel.

Buy both and you’ve spent $499.98, still $1,099.02 less than one Studio Display. If you’re pairing one with a desktop, our M6 Mac mini Amazon deal post covers the Mac mini side of the desk.

Neither Samsung charges your MacBook. If you want one cable for power and picture, BenQ’s PD2706QN with 90W USB-C is $299.99 on Amazon, $50 more than these two.

For a Neo or a writing desk, get the Samsung ViewFinity S7 32-inch 4K at $249.99. For a wider workspace on a MacBook Air or Mac mini, get the Samsung Odyssey G5 34-inch at $249.99.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. AnkerDirect, Anker’s own Amazon store, is the seller for all three.

Which iPhones charge at 25W on Anker’s Qi2.2 stand and Apple’s MagSafe Charger

Anker’s Prime 3-in-1 page says the stand delivers 25W only to Qi2.2 25W-enabled phones. It lists the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 series at 25W, and the iPhone 15, 14, 13 and 12 series at 15W. Anker says the stand doesn’t work with the iPhone 16e.

Apple’s own MagSafe Charger support page draws a similar line. With a 30W or higher adapter, Apple’s charger reaches 25W on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone Air peaks at 20W, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro at 22.5W, and the iPhone 17e and iPhone 15 and earlier at 15W. Apple sells the MagSafe Charger for $39 (1 m) or $49 (2 m), and it charges only your iPhone. Neither Apple’s list nor Anker’s names the iPhone Duo, so we can’t promise 25W on it, and we’ve reported that an unfolded iPhone Duo tilts on upright MagSafe stands.

Anker Prime 3-in-1 charges iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods with a 65W adapter in the box

The Prime stand gives your iPhone up to 25W, and the watch and earbud spots get up to 5W each. Anker includes a 65W USB-C adapter, so you don’t need to buy one. A thermoelectric cooler and fan pull heat away from the phone, and you pick from Boost, Ice and Sleep modes. The Amazon listing describes a 1.65-inch screen that shows wattage, temperature and charging status, plus an 80-degree adjustable stand. Anker lists fast charging for Apple Watch Series 7 through Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra.

The $79.99 MagGo foldable and the $25.99 Zolo two-pack stop at 15W for your iPhone

The MagGo foldable is the travel pick. Anker lists 15W for the phone and 5W each for an Apple Watch and earbuds. Folded, it measures 89 by 60 by 25 mm and weighs 6.9 oz. A 40W charger and a 5 ft USB-C cable come in the box, and Anker says its testing took an Apple Watch Series 9 from 0% to 47% in 30 minutes.

The Zolo two-pack gets you two 15W Qi2 magnetic pads with 5 ft cables, but no power adapters. Anker recommends a 20W or higher charger and says Qi2 15W needs an iPhone 12 or newer on iOS 17.2 or later. Two pads for $25.99 cost $13.01 less than one $39 Apple MagSafe Charger, but Apple’s charger reaches 25W on newer iPhones and the Zolo pads stop at 15W.

Which Anker charger fits your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods

• Buy the Prime 3-in-1 if you own an iPhone 16, iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 Pro and want the fastest wireless speed for all three devices.
• Buy the MagGo foldable if you travel, or if your iPhone tops out at 15W anyway.
• Buy the Zolo two-pack if you only need iPhone and AirPods pads at home and already have spare USB-C adapters.

The Anker Prime 3-in-1 at $169.99 is the one to get if your iPhone supports 25W. Older iPhones get no speed benefit from it, so the $79.99 MagGo makes more sense there. For more Apple-friendly gifts, see our Apple gifts under $100 on Amazon.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Both monitors are sold by BenQ’s own Amazon store, BenQ INFTY Lab, rather than a third-party reseller.

One USB-C cable charges your MacBook and drives the BenQ screen at the same time

BenQ’s spec sheets for the PD2706U and the PD2706QN list a USB-C port with 90W Power Delivery, DisplayPort Alt Mode and data. Plug that one cable into your Mac and you get the picture, the monitor’s USB ports and charging together. BenQ also says Thunderbolt 3 and 4 devices work with the PD2706U’s USB-C port.

Ninety watts covers every current MacBook Air comfortably. Apple’s MacBook Air specs say the M5 model ships with a 40W adapter and needs a 70W or higher USB-C source for fast charging. The MacBook Neo ships with a 20W adapter, and Apple says only its left USB 3 port carries a display signal, so that’s the one to plug the BenQ into.

The monitor also fixes the Neo’s port shortage. The Neo has two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. Both BenQs add three USB-A ports and one USB-C downstream port, and both have a KVM switch if you share the screen with a work PC.

BenQ’s M-book mode and Display Pilot 2 make the screens behave more like Apple’s

BenQ builds in a few things for Mac owners. Its PD2706U page says the monitor ships with default color settings meant to match Mac and MacBook Pro colors, and an M-book mode handles that color matching. BenQ’s Display Pilot 2 app adds ICCsync for color profiles and lets you change the monitor’s brightness from your Mac keyboard. BenQ says that keyboard control only works on Mac devices running Display Pilot 2.

One limit is spelled out on BenQ’s PD2706QN page: Mac devices do not support DisplayPort MST. So the PD2706QN’s daisy-chain output won’t let you hang a second screen off it from a Mac.

Which BenQ fits your Mac: the 4K PD2706U or the QHD PD2706QN

For a MacBook Neo, get the PD2706U. Apple says the Neo supports one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz, and that’s exactly what this BenQ runs. Apple’s Neo page lists nothing about QHD at 100Hz, so it doesn’t confirm the PD2706QN’s faster refresh on that laptop.

For an M5 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, it comes down to sharpness against smoothness. The PD2706U packs about 163 pixels per inch at 27 inches, so text looks crisper. The PD2706QN sits around 109 pixels per inch but scrolls at 100Hz, and it costs $100 less.

Against Studio Display at $1,599, the PD2706U is $1,199.01 cheaper and gives up only 6W of charging, 96W against 90W. You do drop from 5K to 4K and lose the built-in camera. If you’re kitting out a new Neo, our look at Satechi color-matched MacBook Neo accessories covers the rest of the desk.

Pick the BenQ PD2706U at $399.99 if you want the sharper 4K screen and a one-cable MacBook desk. Pick the PD2706QN at $299.99 if you’d rather keep $100 and get a smoother 100Hz panel.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. The seller is AnkerDirect, Anker’s own Amazon store, and the listing showed the dock in stock.

Anker says two monitors on a Mac show the same image through this dock

The dock has two HDMI 2.0 ports, but Anker’s product page says macOS doesn’t support Multi-Stream Transport (MST), and that on macOS the display on both external monitors will be identical. In plain terms, a Mac can drive two screens from this dock, but both show the same picture. You don’t get two separate desktops from the single cable.

Your Mac sets its own limits too. Apple’s MacBook Neo spec page says the Neo supports one external display at up to 4K and 60Hz, and only its USB 3 port lists DisplayPort support. Plug the dock into that port, not the USB 2 one, or you won’t get a picture. Apple’s MacBook Air spec page says the M5 Air supports up to two external displays, so if you want two different desktops on an Air, run the second monitor straight from the Air’s other Thunderbolt 4 port.

Resolution has a catch as well. Anker rates each HDMI port at 4K and 60Hz, but its own note says two screens run at up to 2K and 60Hz on a DP 1.4 laptop, or 1080p at 60Hz on a DP 1.2 laptop. The Amazon listing adds that the dock doesn’t support 5120 by 1440 monitors, so skip it for a super ultrawide.

100W charging for your MacBook plus 13 more ports from one USB-C cable

Anker lists 160W of total output. The upstream port that connects to your MacBook delivers up to 100W, which is five times the 20W adapter Apple ships with the MacBook Neo. Here’s the port list from Anker’s spec sheet:

• Two USB-C charging ports at up to 100W each and one USB-A charging port at up to 12W
• Two USB-C data ports and one USB-A data port at 10Gbps
• Three USB-A data ports at 480Mbps for a keyboard, mouse or receiver
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports, a 1Gbps Ethernet port and an audio in and out combo jack

A small screen on the front shows the power going out of the dock, so you can see how much your MacBook is pulling. Anker lists macOS 11 or later and names MacBook and iMac among compatible host devices. For a MacBook Neo, which has only two USB-C ports and a headphone jack according to Apple, the dock turns one port into a full desk.

Should you buy the Anker Prime dock for your MacBook Neo or MacBook Air

• Buy it if you use one external monitor and want charging, Ethernet and USB ports from a single cable.
• Buy it if you have a MacBook Neo, since Apple’s own limit is one external display anyway.
• Skip it if you want two extended monitors from one cable on a Mac. Anker’s page rules that out, and Anker sells a separate DisplayLink model for that job.
• Skip it if you use a 5120 by 1440 ultrawide, which the listing says it doesn’t support.

For a single-monitor MacBook desk, the Anker Prime 14-in-1 dock at $179.99 gives you a lot of ports and 100W of charging for $90 less than its list price. Just plan your monitors around Anker’s macOS note before you order. If you’re still choosing the laptop, our M5 MacBook Air deals cover current prices, and our report on external display bugs in macOS 27.0.1 is worth reading if your monitor acts up.

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How to Set Up WhatsApp Web on Mac Using an iPhone

You need an active WhatsApp account on your iPhone and an internet connection on your Mac. Make sure you have updated WhatsApp to the latest version before linking your devices.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Safari on your Mac and visit web.whatsapp.com.
   
2. Wait for the WhatsApp Web login screen to display a QR code.
3. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
4. Tap Settings or your profile picture, then select Linked Devices.
5. Tap Link a Device and authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your iPhone passcode.
6. Point your iPhone camera at the QR code displayed in Safari.
7. Wait for WhatsApp to synchronize your conversations and open the web interface.

Once connected, you can access your chats, send messages, and share photos or documents directly from Safari.

If the QR code fails to scan, check your internet connection and try refreshing the page. You can also follow these fixes for WhatsApp not linking to your desktop if the connection repeatedly fails.

Can You Use WhatsApp Web Without Keeping Your iPhone Online?

Yes. WhatsApp’s multi-device feature allows you to link up to four additional devices to your primary account, and each linked device maintains its own encrypted connection.

This means you can continue sending and receiving messages from your Mac even when your iPhone loses its internet connection or runs out of battery.

However, WhatsApp requires you to use your primary phone periodically. If you leave WhatsApp inactive on your iPhone for more than 14 days, the service automatically disconnects your linked devices.

The same functionality also works when you use one WhatsApp account on multiple phones.

How to Fix WhatsApp Web Not Working in Safari

WhatsApp Web officially supports recent versions of Safari, so you should be able to use it without installing Chrome. If the website refuses to load or your messages stop synchronizing, try the following solutions.

1. Clear Safari Website Data

Corrupted website data or outdated session cookies can interfere with WhatsApp Web authentication.

1. Open Safari > Settings > Privacy.
   
2. Click Manage Website Data.
   
3. Search for whatsapp.
4. Select the relevant website data and click Remove.
5. Reload WhatsApp Web and link your iPhone again.

Removing website data signs you out of the affected website. If Safari continues behaving unexpectedly, try these additional Safari troubleshooting steps.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

Both devices need working internet connections during the initial setup. If WhatsApp Web disconnects repeatedly, switch your Mac to another Wi-Fi network, temporarily disable your VPN, and refresh the browser.

3. Update Safari and WhatsApp

Install available macOS updates to keep Safari current, then open the App Store on your iPhone and update WhatsApp. Older browser versions can cause compatibility problems with the web client.

How to Log Out of WhatsApp Web Remotely

If you used WhatsApp Web on a shared computer or forgot to sign out, you can disconnect that session directly from your iPhone.

1. Open WhatsApp > Settings > Linked Devices.
2. Review the list of connected devices.
3. Select the Mac or browser session you want to disconnect.
4. Tap Log Out.

WhatsApp will remove that device’s access to your conversations. For better account security, regularly review your linked devices and disconnect any sessions you no longer recognize or use.

We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells it. Samsung’s own US store lists the same model, LS40FG75DENXZA, at $999.99, so Amazon is $350 cheaper for the identical monitor.

One 40-inch 5K2K ultrawide gives you more room than two 1440p monitors

Two 27-inch QHD monitors side by side give you 5,120 pixels across and 1,440 down, about 7.4 million pixels in total, with a seam in the middle. The G7 gives you the same 5,120 pixels across, 2,160 down and no seam, which works out to about 11 million pixels. You get 720 extra rows for timelines, spreadsheets and long documents.

Samsung’s spec table lists a 21:9 VA panel with a 1000R curve, 350 nits typical brightness, VESA DisplayHDR 600, 3,000:1 static contrast, 99% sRGB and 90% DCI coverage, up to 180Hz and a 1ms response time. It also supports Picture-by-Picture, so you can run your Mac on one half and a work PC on the other.

One warning if you shop on Samsung’s site. Its US page title and image labels call this a 4K 165Hz monitor, but the spec table on the same page lists WUHD 5,120 x 2,160 and a maximum of 180Hz. The spec table is the one to trust.

Which Macs can run the Odyssey G7, based on Apple’s external display limits

Samsung doesn’t mention Mac support, so here’s what Apple says. The MacBook Neo supports one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz, which is 3,840 pixels across. The G7 is 5,120 pixels across, so Apple doesn’t promise the Neo can run it at native resolution. If you own a Neo, this isn’t your screen.

The M5 MacBook Air is a better match. Apple lists one external display at up to 5K (5120 x 2880) at 120Hz, and the G7 has fewer pixels than that. But Apple’s table doesn’t list 5120 x 2160 by name, so don’t count on 180Hz, or even 120Hz, until you’ve tried it. The M6 Mac mini can run up to three external displays, and has HDMI built in.

Cables are the other catch. The G7 has no USB-C input, only DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports. A MacBook Air only has Thunderbolt 4 ports, so you’ll need a USB-C to DisplayPort cable or a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Samsung includes HDMI and DisplayPort cables in the box. The G7 can’t charge your laptop either, so your MacBook stays on its own charger.

Running a very wide external screen on macOS 27 has had rough edges too, as our report on Mission Control and external display bugs in macOS 27.0.1 covers. Check that your Mac is up to date before you judge the monitor.

Buy the 40-inch Odyssey G7 if you want one screen and no seam on your Mac desk

The stand adjusts 120mm in height, tilts from -5 to 20 degrees and swivels 20 degrees each way, and there’s a 100 x 100 VESA mount. Samsung lists no speakers, and the screen draws up to 140W from its external power adapter.

Buy it if you have an M5 MacBook Air, a MacBook Pro or an M6 Mac mini and you want a single wide workspace for video timelines, code or side-by-side windows. Pass if you own a MacBook Neo, if you want one-cable charging, or if you do color-critical photo work, where Studio Display’s flat 5K panel is the safer tool.

At $649.99, the Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 on Amazon is $949.01 less than Studio Display and replaces two monitors with one.

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We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com is the seller. The white pair uses listing B0BS74M665, which we opened to confirm the color, and the pink pair is on its own listing at the same price. Sony’s own store had the black model at $89.99 when we looked, so Amazon is $1.99 cheaper.

Sony’s lightest noise cancelling headband weighs half as much as AirPods Max 2

Sony calls the WH-CH720N its lightest wireless noise cancelling headband, and its product page lists 192 grams. Apple lists AirPods Max 2 at 386.2 grams, so the Sony pair weighs almost exactly half as much. If heavy headphones give you a sore neck by the afternoon, that gap is the reason to look here.

Battery life is the other win. Sony rates the WH-CH720N at up to 35 hours of music with noise cancelling on, measured over AAC with DSEE off, and up to 50 hours with noise cancelling off. Apple rates AirPods Max 2 at up to 20 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on. A 3-minute quick charge gives you about an hour of playback, according to Sony’s comparison chart.

What $88 gets you on an iPhone compared with $199 AirPods Pro 3

Sony uses its Dual Noise Sensor technology with two microphones in each earcup and its Integrated Processor V1. You can set ambient sound across 20 levels in the Sony Sound Connect app, use Focus on Voice to talk without taking the headphones off, and let Adaptive Sound Control switch modes based on where you are.

• Multipoint connection, so your iPhone and your Mac can both stay paired at the same time
• Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC and AAC, and no LDAC on Sony’s spec list
• USB-C charging plus a 3.5 mm jack for a wired connection
• A wind noise reduction structure around the microphones for calls

Remember what you skip. These are standard Bluetooth headphones with Sony’s app, so the Apple-specific setup and controls you get with AirPods are not part of the package. It’s also an over-ear headband rather than earbuds, so it’s a different kind of product from AirPods Pro 3 even if the budget question is the same.

Who should buy the Sony WH-CH720N and who should pay more for AirPods

• Buy the Sony pair if you want long battery life and light over-ear noise cancelling for under $100.
• Buy it as a second pair for travel or the office, so your AirPods stay charged for the gym.
• Pay more for AirPods Pro 3 if you want earbuds that fit in a pocket and Apple’s own iPhone features.
• Pay more for AirPods Max 2 if you want Apple’s flagship over-ear pair and don’t mind twice the weight.

At $88, the Sony WH-CH720N is the easy pick for an iPhone owner on a budget. If you’d rather stay with Apple, our AirPods Pro 3 deal at $199 covers that option, and the Beats Studio Pro deal is the over-ear pick from Apple’s own headphone brand.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells it, and the listing shows only a few left. Be aware of the rating too. The Amazon listing sits at 3.1 stars from 24 reviews, which is low for an $800 monitor, even if 24 reviews is a small sample. Read the one-star and two-star reviews before you order, and keep the return window in mind.

Amazon also isn’t the only place with this price.

LG’s 27GM950B packs 5K at 218 ppi with 1,250 nits of peak brightness

LG’s spec sheet lists a 27-inch panel at 5120 x 2880 and 218 PPI. That’s the same pixel density Apple quotes for the Studio Display, so text should look as sharp as on Apple’s screen. The backlight is what LG calls Hyper Mini LED, with 9,216 LEDs, 750 nits typical brightness, 1,250 nits peak and VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. LG also lists 99% DCI-P3 color.

For games, LG’s Dual Mode switches between 5K at 165Hz and QHD at 330Hz, with a 1ms response time. LG notes the 330Hz mode needs a graphics card with DisplayPort 2.1, which no Mac has.

One USB-C cable to your MacBook, with 90W charging and a 120Hz Mac ceiling

This is the part that sets the LG apart from most 5K gaming monitors. LG lists DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C with 90W power delivery, and says the USB-C port carries display, data and charging through a single cable. Studio Display delivers 96W, so you give up very little there.

Ninety watts also clears Apple’s fast-charging bar for the M5 MacBook Air. Apple’s MacBook Air specs say fast charging needs a USB-C Power Delivery source of 70W or more, and the Air ships with a 40W adapter.

Refresh rate is where you should temper expectations. Apple’s support pages list one external display at up to 5K at 120Hz on the M5 MacBook Air, the M5 Pro MacBook Pro and the M6 Mac mini. So 165Hz at 5K isn’t on the table from a Mac, by Apple’s own numbers. LG doesn’t mention Mac anywhere on its page, so 120Hz over its USB-C port isn’t confirmed either.

MacBook Neo owners should pass. Apple says the MacBook Neo drives one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz, which is well below this screen’s 5K.

Should you pick the LG UltraGear evo or a cheaper 5K screen for your Mac

The obvious rival is Samsung’s Odyssey G8 5K at $549.99, also sold by Amazon. The LG costs $250 more. For that you get the mini-LED backlight, nearly double the typical brightness, DisplayHDR 1000 and the 90W USB-C port the Samsung doesn’t have.

Buy the LG if you want one cable from your MacBook to a bright 5K screen, and you also game on a PC. Next to a Mac mini, it saves $799.01 against Studio Display, which our M6 iMac vs Mac mini plus Studio Display comparison prices out in full. Skip it if the 3.1 rating worries you, or if you need a built-in camera.

At $799.99, the LG UltraGear evo 27GM950B-B on Amazon gets you Studio Display pixel density with more brightness and 90W charging for about half of Apple’s price.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com is the seller for all three Bose models in this post, so you’re not buying from a third-party store, and returns run through Amazon.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen costs $210 less than AirPods Max 2 at Apple

The Ultra 2nd Gen product page lists Bluetooth 5.4, five listening modes (Quiet, Aware, Immersion, Cinema and Off) and CustomTune, which tunes the sound to your ears. You also get wired USB-C audio, which Bose describes as lossless at 16-bit and 44.1 or 48 kHz from a compatible source. A 15-minute charge gives you up to 3 hours of listening.

Battery life needs a footnote. Bose’s spec table lists 30 hours, but the footnote on the same page says its testing reached up to 24 hours with Immersive Audio off and 18 hours with it on. Plan around the lower number. Even that beats AirPods Max 2, which Apple rates at up to 20 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on.

You’ll feel the weight difference more than the battery gap. Bose lists the headphones alone at 0.583 lb, about 264 grams. Apple’s AirPods Max 2 spec page lists 386.2 grams, so the Bose pair is roughly 120 grams lighter on your head. That counts on a long flight or a full workday at your Mac.

What you give up is Apple’s software. Apple lists an H2 chip in each AirPods Max 2 ear cup, plus Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Loud Sound Reduction. Bose runs its settings through the Bose app on the App Store and connects to your iPhone over standard Bluetooth.

QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen add Immersive Audio and lossless USB-C for $279

Bose announced the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) on August 6, 2026 at $359. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are already $279 on Amazon, $80 off. Bose rates them at up to 24 hours, or 18 hours with Immersive Audio on, and a 15-minute charge adds up to 2.5 hours.

This is the model to pick if you plug into a Mac. Bose lists lossless USB-C input up to 24-bit and 48 kHz, two-way USB-C audio for calls and video meetings, multipoint for two devices at once and Bluetooth 5.4. Bose also says a new six-microphone system copes better when glasses or hair break the earcup seal.

The original QuietComfort Headphones are $254.10, $104.90 off their $359 list price. Bose rates them at up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, and they also connect to two devices at once. Bose’s own comparison table marks Immersive Audio as missing, and lossless USB-C audio is one of the additions Bose credits to the 2nd Gen. For $24.90 more, the 2nd Gen is the better buy unless you only ever listen over Bluetooth.

Which Bose pair to buy instead of AirPods Max 2 for your iPhone and Mac

• Buy the Ultra 2nd Gen if you want Bose’s top model, Cinema and Immersion modes, and the biggest saving against AirPods Max 2.
• Buy the QuietComfort 2nd Gen if you want lossless USB-C on a Mac and Immersive Audio for $60 less than the Ultra.
• Buy the original QuietComfort if you only use Bluetooth and want the lowest price of the three.
• Stay with AirPods Max 2 if Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness are the features you use every day.

Our pick is the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) at $339. It’s lighter than AirPods Max 2, it lasts longer on Bose’s own numbers, and it costs $210 less than Apple’s store price. If you’d rather stay with Apple, our AirPods Max 2 Amazon deal covers that price, and the Beats Studio Pro deal is the cheaper Apple-owned option.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

We checked the price, seller and stock on Amazon on November 14, 2026. Amazon.com sells and ships it, not a third-party seller. The listing showed only about 2 left in stock, so this one may not last until Amazon’s Black Friday Week, which runs November 19 to 30.

The Odyssey G8 matches the Studio Display’s 5K resolution for $1,049 less

Apple’s Studio Display tech specs list a 27-inch panel at 5120 x 2880. Samsung’s G80HF spec page lists the same 27-inch size and the same 5120 x 2880 resolution, on an IPS panel. Same pixel count, same size, and $1,049 apart.

You do give things up for that $1,049. Studio Display has 600 nits of brightness, a camera, speakers, Thunderbolt 5 and 96W charging for your MacBook. Samsung lists 350 nits typical and 400 nits peak, no speakers and no USB-C port. The G8’s video inputs are one DisplayPort 2.1 and two HDMI 2.1 ports. Its two USB-A ports work as a hub over a USB-B upstream cable, and Samsung says that cable isn’t in the box.

Where the Samsung pulls ahead is speed. Studio Display runs at 60Hz. The G8 runs 5K at up to 180Hz, or drops to QHD at up to 360Hz in what Samsung calls Dual Mode. It also supports HDR10 and covers 99% of sRGB, per Samsung.

What refresh rate your Mac can drive on a 5K monitor, according to Apple

Samsung’s page doesn’t mention macOS at all, so Apple’s own limits are the guide. Apple’s support pages list one external display at up to 5K at 120Hz for the M5 MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and the Mac mini with M6. That’s double Studio Display’s 60Hz, but it isn’t the G8’s 180Hz. Treat 120Hz at 5K as Apple’s ceiling, not a promise for this exact monitor and cable.

Plugging in takes one extra purchase on a MacBook Air. It only has Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the G8 has no USB-C input, so you need a USB-C to DisplayPort cable. Samsung includes HDMI and DisplayPort cables, not that one. You’ll also keep your MacBook on its own charger, since the G8 can’t power a laptop.

MacBook Neo owners should skip it. Apple says MacBook Neo supports one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz, through the USB-C port on its left side. The G8’s native 5K is beyond that, so you’d pay for pixels your Mac can’t drive at native resolution.

Who should buy the Odyssey G8 for a Mac desk, and who should pass

Buy it if you want a 5K screen for a Mac mini, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you also game on a PC or console, and you don’t need a webcam or speakers built in. An M6 Mac mini at $899 plus this G8 comes to $1,448.99, which is still less than Studio Display on its own. Our M6 iMac vs Mac mini plus Studio Display breakdown shows how fast the all-Apple setup adds up.

The stand is better than you’d expect at this price. Samsung lists 120mm of height adjustment, tilt from -2 to 25 degrees, 30 degrees of swivel each way and pivot to portrait. There’s a 100 x 100 VESA mount if you’d rather use an arm.

Pass if you want one cable to your MacBook that also charges it, or if you own a MacBook Neo. Pass too if you need Studio Display’s brightness for bright rooms, since 350 nits is a big step down from 600.

At $549.99, the Samsung Odyssey G8 on Amazon is the 5K pick for Mac owners who’d rather keep $1,049 than pay for Apple’s camera, speakers and charging. With about 2 left, don’t wait long.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

The HomeView launched on November 13 with a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 chip, facial recognition, and smart home controls. Apple markets it as an intelligent household assistant, but its long-awaited Siri AI overhaul remains in beta, and the early experience suggests Apple still has considerable work ahead.

Reviewers Are Losing Patience With Siri AI

Technology journalist Joanna Stern’s HomeView review describes the frustration of living with Apple’s supposedly smarter assistant. After testing the device in her kitchen, she wrote:

“In more than 15 years of reviewing gadgets, I’ve never seriously considered crying over one. Until now.”

Stern’s criticism reflects a recurring problem with Apple’s AI strategy. The company has produced another impressive piece of hardware while asking customers to accept software that still struggles to deliver the experience advertised.

Her video review on YouTube also examines how HomeView performs in a real household compared with Apple’s polished marketing promises.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy at The Verge found that Siri AI frequently struggled with personal-context requests, sometimes responding slowly or failing altogether.

“If Siri AI were a human personal assistant, I’d fire her for being too slow.”

That’s particularly damaging for a product whose biggest selling point is hands-free intelligence.

Even Basic Features Are Failing for Some Buyers

The complaints extend to early customers. In a Reddit discussion about HomeView’s Siri problems, one owner reported that the assistant refused to set a timer because it supposedly needed a newer operating system, despite the device already being updated.

Another HomeView owner reported similar problems with timers and opening Safari.

These are individual user reports, but they highlight how frustrating Apple’s software inconsistencies can become when customers expect simple voice commands to work immediately.

The broader criticism is equally concerning. Tom’s Guide concluded:

“Siri isn’t as capable as other AI assistants.”

Its review also criticized limited customization, fewer streaming applications, and the absence of a physical camera or microphone disable button.

Privacy Concerns Make Things Worse

Perhaps the most troubling finding comes from The Verge, where the reviewer discovered that family members’ personal information could appear on the shared display.

She reported being able to read her daughter’s text messages, exposing a serious weakness in a device designed for communal spaces.

HomeView recognizes up to six people through facial recognition, yet the review suggests Apple’s approach to switching personal profiles needs improvement.

That is particularly concerning given how heavily Apple promotes privacy throughout its ecosystem.

$299 for Beta Software, With More Charges Coming

Apple charges $299 for HomeView, with wall-mounting accessories costing an additional $59.95 to $129.95. Buyers also face limitations on third-party applications and must rely on compatible iPhones or iPads for certain personal features.

Worse, Apple has already confirmed that some Siri AI features have daily usage limits, with expanded access eventually requiring payment.

Apple is effectively asking customers to pay $299 for an AI-powered product whose assistant remains unfinished, while reserving the right to charge more for additional AI usage.

There are positive reviews. TechRadar praised HomeView’s sound and personalization, while AppleInsider’s video review acknowledged software frustrations despite recommending the device.

However, impressive hardware cannot excuse unreliable software at this price.

Apple has spent years promising a more capable Siri, and customers have already waited long enough. Selling another first-generation device with beta AI, missing functionality, and unresolved privacy concerns makes HomeView difficult to recommend.

At $299, customers deserve a finished product rather than another expensive opportunity to test Apple’s software.

Tags: featured

]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2026 18:20:30 +0000 Shane Watson tmo_wp_495625 Apple’s new Apple TV 4K (4th generation) and HomeView smart display are officially available starting today, November 13, 2026, following their announcement last month. Both devices cost $299 in the United States and bring Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence, to home entertainment and smart home management. Customers can purchase them through Apple’s online store and participating retail locations.

New Apple TV 4K Brings Faster Performance and Siri AI

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K features Apple’s A19 chip, delivering up to 50% faster CPU performance and twice the GPU performance of its predecessor. It also includes a dedicated AV1 decoder for more efficient video streaming.

Apple has added three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri commands, while the upgraded Siri Remote supports Find My with Precision Finding and sound alerts.

The device also supports a four-speaker surround sound setup using compatible HomePod models, alongside smart home controls and AI-generated security camera notifications.

Siri AI is available in beta through tvOS 27.2, with support for conversational searches and personalized recommendations.

Apple HomeView Offers a Dedicated Smart Home Display

The new Apple HomeView features a 7-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen, an A18 chip, and a 12MP Center Stage camera for FaceTime calls.

It recognizes up to six household members and automatically displays personalized widgets, calendars, messages, and smart home controls. Users can also manage connected accessories, view security cameras, and create automations using Siri AI.

Apple offers tabletop and wall-mounted versions, both priced at $299. However, the wall-mounted model requires a separately purchased mount.

For buyers considering the device, our HomeView compatibility guide explains which iPhones support personalized Siri AI features.

Pricing and Availability

Both devices are available starting November 13 in supported markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, and India.

Availability varies by region and configuration. Apple’s earlier pre-orders also experienced shipping delays into late November.

Meanwhile, HomeView remains unavailable in the European Union because Siri AI has yet to launch there. Apple has not announced when the device will become available in those markets.

Tags: featured

]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2026 18:14:50 +0000 Mike Peterson tmo_wp_495622 Delete to remove the app and its stored data. Open the App Store and search for YouTube. Download the app again, launch it, and sign in if necessary. Apple's official support documentation confirms that deleting an app also removes its locally stored data, allowing you to start with a fresh installation. Other Fixes Worth Trying If reinstalling YouTube doesn't work, try these additional troubleshooting steps: Update tvOS: Open Settings > System > Software Updates and install the latest available version. Some users report success after updating to tvOS 27.2. Restart Apple TV: Navigate to Settings > System > Restart, then reopen YouTube. Force quit YouTube: Double-press the TV button on your remote, select YouTube, and swipe up to close it. See our guide to force quitting Apple TV apps for detailed instructions. Reports on Reddit's Apple TV community suggest the issue has also cleared automatically for some owners, potentially following a server-side change. For persistent playback problems, Google's YouTube troubleshooting guide recommends checking for app updates and restarting the streaming device. You can also follow these additional YouTube fixes for Apple TV if the problem continues.]]> Owners of the new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K are reporting problems with the YouTube app, including black screens, compatibility errors, and warnings that the app is only approved for testing. Fortunately, reinstalling YouTube appears to resolve the issue for some users, although others have found success by updating tvOS or restarting their devices.

According to The Verge, some users see a QR code alongside a message claiming YouTube is unavailable on their device. Others encounter a red warning banner even when the app works normally.

The problem appears to involve compatibility with the new Apple TV 4K, although Google has yet to confirm the exact cause.

How to Fix YouTube Not Working on the New Apple TV 4K

The most effective reported workaround is to delete and reinstall YouTube. This worked for The Verge’s Tom Warren after updating tvOS failed to resolve the error.

Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the YouTube app on your Apple TV Home Screen.
2. Press and hold the remote’s clickpad until the app options appear.
3. Select Delete App > Delete to remove the app and its stored data.
4. Open the App Store and search for YouTube.
5. Download the app again, launch it, and sign in if necessary.

Apple’s official support documentation confirms that deleting an app also removes its locally stored data, allowing you to start with a fresh installation.

Other Fixes Worth Trying

If reinstalling YouTube doesn’t work, try these additional troubleshooting steps:

• Update tvOS: Open Settings > System > Software Updates and install the latest available version. Some users report success after updating to tvOS 27.2.
• Restart Apple TV: Navigate to Settings > System > Restart, then reopen YouTube.
• Force quit YouTube: Double-press the TV button on your remote, select YouTube, and swipe up to close it. See our guide to force quitting Apple TV apps for detailed instructions.

Reports on Reddit’s Apple TV community suggest the issue has also cleared automatically for some owners, potentially following a server-side change.

For persistent playback problems, Google’s YouTube troubleshooting guide recommends checking for app updates and restarting the streaming device. You can also follow these additional YouTube fixes for Apple TV if the problem continues.

According to Deadline, Apple Original Films has acquired the project, with Pitt also producing through his Plan B Entertainment company. The film remains in development, with no confirmed release date.

What Is Brad Pitt’s New Movie Connector About?

Connector follows a legendary working-class ironworker in 1970s New York who works high above the city on steel structures and finds himself confronting powerful forces.

The screenplay comes from Darius Marder and his sister Nina Marder, based on a story by filmmaker Derek Cianfrance.

Marder previously directed Sound of Metal, which received six Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars for Best Sound and Best Film Editing. Connector will mark his first feature film as director since that acclaimed drama.

Pitt will produce alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner through Plan B, while Marder will also serve as a producer.

Apple Reunites With Brad Pitt After F1 Success

The announcement continues Apple’s successful partnership with Pitt, whose F1: The Movie became Apple TV’s most-watched film following its streaming debut in December 2025.

The racing drama also became the highest-grossing sports film of all time and received a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

Apple previously collaborated with Pitt on the 2024 action comedy Wolfs, co-starring George Clooney, which helped increase Apple TV viewership.

When Will Connector Release on Apple TV?

Apple has yet to announce a theatrical release date or streaming premiere for Connector. However, early reports suggest Pitt is considering the film as one of his next projects to shoot in 2027.

The supporting cast, filming schedule, and distribution plans also remain unconfirmed. Given the project’s early development stage, viewers will have to wait for Apple to share further production details.

Jonah Katz, X’s mobile engineering lead, announced the change and confirmed that the platform now supports up to 20 media attachments per post.

Big update to the X platform today. After 10 years of Twitter/X supporting up to 4 Photos and Videos per post, the limit has been increased to 20!

X Expands Media Sharing Across Web and Mobile

The expanded limit supports a combination of photos and videos within the same post. Users can upload up to 20 attachments, making it easier to share event coverage, travel photos, product galleries, and other visual content.

The change is already available on the web version of X, while support is also reaching the latest versions of its iOS and Android applications.

Users can browse multiple attachments by swiping horizontally through the media carousel, bringing the experience closer to Instagram’s photo-sharing format.

The announcement focuses specifically on attachment counts. X has not announced changes to individual video duration, upload resolution, or file-size restrictions alongside this update.

How to Share 20 Photos and Videos on X

To use the expanded media-sharing feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the X application on your iPhone or Android device, or visit X on the web.
2. Tap the Compose Post button.
3. Select the media icon and choose up to 20 photos or videos.
4. Add your caption and publish the post.

If your account still limits uploads to four attachments, check the App Store or Google Play Store for the latest application update.

The change adds to X’s recent efforts to improve its mobile experience, including Grok-powered custom timelines and iOS Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets.

For creators, photographers, and journalists, the higher limit provides more flexibility to publish complete visual collections while keeping related content together in a single post.

According to WIRED, which reviewed internal correspondence, most comments on the employee suggestion-box post support Huang’s return. The growing response highlights strong internal support for the former CEO despite the controversy surrounding his departure.

Nvidia Employees Want Jensen Huang Back as CEO

The discussion began before Huang resigned, when a longtime Nvidia engineer submitted a suggestion-box post asking directors to consider employee opinions before making major leadership decisions.

The post has since received more than 1,600 comments, with several employees asking the board to reconsider Huang’s departure. One anonymous employee wrote:

“If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss.”

Another employee argued that Huang deserved a second chance because of his contributions to Nvidia. Separately, a staff member sent a companywide email defending Huang and requesting greater transparency about the circumstances surrounding his resignation.

WIRED also reported that approximately two dozen Nvidia employees publicly supported Huang on LinkedIn shortly after his departure. One employee described support for his reinstatement as widespread, although the number of comments does not establish how many workers share that position.

Why Did Jensen Huang Resign From Nvidia?

Huang resigned following reports of multiple extramarital relationships, including allegations involving Nvidia employees and a woman suspected of having connections to Chinese intelligence.

In a November 8 email, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologized to his family and colleagues. Nvidia’s board also launched an independent investigation into potential national security concerns, while stating that it had no reason to believe company secrets had been compromised.

The company confirmed Huang’s resignation on November 12, ending his leadership tenure that began when he co-founded Nvidia in 1993.

Will Jensen Huang Return as Nvidia CEO?

Nvidia has appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent replacement, considering both internal and external candidates.

The leadership change comes during a difficult period for the AI chipmaker, with Nvidia shares falling after Huang’s resignation and investors questioning its future direction.

Huang played a central role in Nvidia’s transformation into an AI computing leader through its GPUs, CUDA software ecosystem, and data center accelerators.

For now, Nvidia has announced no plans to reinstate Huang. The board’s ongoing leadership search will determine who takes responsibility for the company’s next phase as employees continue pressing for their former CEO’s return.

The outage has affected organizations across multiple countries, with Downdetector recording more than 130,000 Outlook problem reports at its peak. Users have reported failed logins, inaccessible mailboxes, and delayed emails, while businesses and government agencies have also experienced disruptions.

Microsoft 365 Outage Affects Multiple Services

According to Microsoft’s incident report MO1550821, the problems primarily involve Exchange Online, which handles email and calendar services across Microsoft 365.

The affected services include:

• Outlook: Users cannot access some mailboxes through desktop, web, or mobile applications, while email delivery may be delayed.
• Microsoft Teams: Calendar access and meeting scheduling are affected, although core messaging and online meetings remain largely functional.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot: Users may experience failed responses or problems accessing emails, calendars, and work files.
• SharePoint and Microsoft 365: Some connected features and recently used file lists may fail to load.
• Microsoft Defender and other services: Security portals, Microsoft Graph requests, Planner, and administrative tools are experiencing disruptions.

The outage has also affected Microsoft 365 connectors used by OpenAI and Anthropic, extending its impact beyond Microsoft’s own applications.

Microsoft Identifies Server Problems as Recovery Continues

Microsoft initially traced the connectivity failures to overloaded infrastructure across multiple regions. Its investigation found that a core server process was becoming overwhelmed, causing affected servers to stop responding when traffic returned.

The company has since applied a patch to an upstream authentication and routing configuration component, reporting improvements in server stability. Recovery efforts are expanding across affected regions, although some users continue to experience intermittent problems.

Microsoft has found no indication of malicious activity and has yet to publish a final root-cause report.

When Will Microsoft 365 Services Return to Normal?

Microsoft has not announced a confirmed time for full restoration. Its recovery measures have improved mailbox access and delayed email processing in some regions, but the company continues to monitor server capacity.

Users can follow incidents MO1550821 and EX1550543 through the Microsoft 365 admin center for updates.

Meanwhile, users experiencing repeated Outlook login prompts or email synchronization problems can review guidance on Outlook password issues on iPhone and Apple Mail not syncing with Outlook. However, local troubleshooting will not resolve failures caused by Microsoft’s ongoing server outage.

iCloud+ Now Includes AI Features for HomeKit Cameras

With iOS 27, Apple Intelligence can analyze HomeKit Secure Video recordings and automatically describe what happened in each clip. This makes reviewing security footage easier, especially for households with cameras monitoring entrances, driveways, and other areas.

According to Apple’s iOS 27 feature documentation, the Home app supports AI-generated video descriptions and natural-language searches.

For example, users can search for phrases such as “person delivering a package” or “car entering the driveway” instead of manually checking recordings.

The Home app can also highlight noteworthy clips, helping users find important activity faster. These improvements build on the new HomeKit camera features in iOS 27, which also include smarter notifications and support for 4K recording on compatible cameras.

Which iCloud+ Plans Support the New Features?

Apple restricts its new camera intelligence features to iCloud+ plans starting at 2TB. The number of cameras eligible for AI processing also depends on the subscription tier.

These limits apply specifically to the new Apple Intelligence camera features. Existing HomeKit Secure Video recording allowances remain separate.

What Else Do You Need?

Along with an eligible subscription, users need a compatible HomeKit Secure Video camera, an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone, and a supported home hub such as an Apple TV 4K or HomePod.

Apple processes recordings using a combination of on-device intelligence and Private Cloud Compute, allowing its AI models to generate descriptions and identify relevant footage.

Users can also search HomeKit camera recordings using natural language directly through the Home app.

Meanwhile, iOS 27 gives subscribers on most iCloud+ plans increased daily access to certain Apple Intelligence features, including image generation. Apple has not published detailed usage limits for every subscription tier.

For households already paying for higher iCloud storage, these additions make their existing subscription more useful without requiring a separate AI camera service.

The advertisement begins with a young boy who loves drawing, painting, and imagining characters. However, negative experiences and pressure from people around him gradually affect his confidence, leading him to hide his artistic interests.

Years later, his parents surprise him with a MacBook Neo for Christmas. The gift encourages him to revisit his childhood drawings and transform his characters into an animated cartoon using the laptop.

Directed by Melina Matsoukas, The Dreamer features cinematography by Bradford Young and artwork by Hebru Brantley. The film uses Strawberry Guy’s song Give Me a Dream and tells its story without dialogue.

Interestingly, longtime Apple fans can also spot an iPhone 3GS and an older iMac during the childhood flashback scenes.

MacBook Neo Takes Center Stage in Apple’s 2026 Holiday Campaign

Apple has previously featured iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods in its holiday advertisements. This year, the company highlights its most affordable MacBook, which features an A18 Pro chip, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, and up to 16 hours of battery life.

The MacBook Neo originally launched at $599, although its US starting price has since increased to $699.

Apple’s latest campaign focuses on how encouragement from family can help people pursue their creative interests.

You can watch the complete film, The Dreamer, on Apple’s official YouTube channel.

The new UFC integration arrives ahead of UFC 334 on November 14 and introduces round-by-round updates, fighter comparisons, and visual tracking of strikes. It also expands the Apple Sports app’s existing live sports coverage.

Apple Sports Now Tracks UFC Fights in Real Time

According to the UFC’s official announcement, fans can view fighter rankings and pre-fight information, including physical measurements and records, before each matchup begins.

During fights, Apple Sports provides detailed statistics covering:

• Total and significant strikes landed
• Successful takedowns and knockdowns
• Submission attempts and control time
• Round-by-round results and fight progress
• Strike heat maps showing where fighters land their hits

Apple has also introduced animated backgrounds and fight-specific visualizations that recreate the atmosphere of the Octagon while making statistics easier to follow.

Live UFC Updates on iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch

Fans can receive fight updates through Live Activities on their iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch. This allows them to follow ongoing bouts without repeatedly opening the app.

To follow UFC events, download or update Apple Sports from the App Store, open the app, and select UFC from the available sports. Users can also open an upcoming fight and activate its Live Activity.

The update also adds three soccer competitions: the Chinese Super League, Russian Premier League, and Swedish Allsvenskan.

Apple Sports remains free and available exclusively as a native iPhone app, although its Live Activities can appear on other compatible Apple devices. The latest expansion follows recent improvements to live statistics and match tracking.

The semiconductor giant has lost approximately 26% of its market value over the past month, with its market capitalization falling to around $4 trillion. Its latest decline also weighed on broader technology stocks ahead of Friday’s trading session.

Why Is Nvidia Stock Falling Today?

Nvidia confirmed Huang’s departure in an official announcement on November 12, ending his 33-year leadership of the company he co-founded in 1993.

Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has taken over as interim CEO while Nvidia searches for a permanent replacement. The company also appointed Harvey Jones as board chair.

The leadership shakeup follows an independent investigation into Huang’s reported personal relationships, including allegations involving a woman suspected of having ties to Chinese intelligence.

Investors had already reacted to reports of Huang’s possible removal, which triggered an 8.6% after-hours decline earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Nvidia’s relationships with AI infrastructure companies, including CoreWeave and Nebius, face increasing scrutiny over financing arrangements and the sustainability of AI spending, according to Reuters.

Nvidia Stock Price and Market Performance

What Comes Next for NVDA Stock?

Nvidia will report its fiscal third-quarter 2027 earnings on November 17, giving investors their first major financial update following Huang’s departure.

The report will help investors assess AI chip demand, data center revenue growth, profit margins, and management’s spending outlook.

Leadership uncertainty could also affect Nvidia’s partnerships and long-term technology strategy, particularly as competitors expand their AI hardware offerings.

The company’s search for a permanent CEO has already attracted attention around possible candidates, including Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji.

For Friday, November 13, investors will watch whether Nvidia shares stabilize after Thursday’s sharp recovery from their intraday lows, while next week’s earnings remain the biggest scheduled catalyst for NVDA stock.

The financial disclosure shows that Trump sold Nvidia shares on August 21, alongside hundreds of other stock transactions. The report was signed on September 17 and subsequently made public in October.

Trump Bought Nvidia Shares Before and After the Sale

The disclosure reveals that Trump’s Nvidia transactions included several purchases throughout August, with one investment valued between $500,001 and $1 million on August 17.

Additional purchases followed the August 21 sale, indicating that the transaction did not represent a complete withdrawal from Nvidia.

The reported amounts are disclosure ranges, meaning the exact number of shares traded, transaction prices and realized gains remain unknown.

Nvidia Investments Raise Conflict-of-Interest Questions

The transactions have attracted attention because Trump’s administration controls policies that directly affect Nvidia’s business, particularly restrictions on exporting advanced AI processors to China.

These restrictions determine which high-performance GPUs Nvidia can sell to Chinese customers, influencing its revenue opportunities and position in the global AI market. The issue has also drawn attention following reports of Nvidia AI servers allegedly being smuggled into China.

According to Reuters, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said independent third-party financial institutions manage Trump’s investment portfolio and follow established market indexes, including the Schwab 1000.

“All investment decisions are made entirely by independent managers. There are no conflicts of interest.”

The disclosure was released on the same day Trump honored Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang with the National Medal of Science on October 8.

The transactions highlight the financial interests surrounding one of America’s most influential AI companies as Washington continues shaping semiconductor export policy.

According to Chalkbeat, CPS is exploring ways to suppress Google’s AI-generated answers while maintaining traditional search access. The district currently blocks generative AI tools, including Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude, over student privacy and safety concerns.

Google Makes AI Part of School Search

On November 3, Google announced new controls that will disable Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search by default for K-12 student accounts until administrators enable them.

However, schools cannot enable traditional Search without its integrated AI features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. Google says the technologies are too closely connected to offer separately.

The company is also introducing Guided Learning, which provides step-by-step explanations instead of immediate answers to homework questions. These changes build on Google’s broader integration of AI Mode into Search.

Chicago Schools Push Back Against Google’s Decision

CPS has questioned why students must accept AI-generated responses to access basic search functionality. In a statement reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, the district explained its position:

“The District would like to continue to provide students with access to the Google search engine without the AI component. If such an arrangement can’t be reached, the District will look to other search solutions.”

Meanwhile, around 30 parents, students, and educators protested outside Google’s Chicago office on November 11, raising concerns about AI’s influence on classroom learning.

CPS already relies heavily on Chromebooks, Google Classroom, and other Google services, making any transition complicated.

The dispute also highlights growing concerns about AI Overviews in Google Search, particularly when students need to evaluate original sources and develop independent research skills.

For now, CPS has not announced a replacement search engine or finalized its response, although it has made clear that student safety and control over classroom technology remain priorities.

People familiar with the situation told Bloomberg that Huang’s normally commanding personality had changed dramatically. The executive, known for closely monitoring everything from chip development to employee compensation, reportedly began responding with phrases such as “whatever” and “I don’t care.”

How Jensen Huang’s Final Hours at Nvidia Unfolded

The controversy intensified in late October when reports linked Huang to Alice Huang, a businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of having connections to Chinese intelligence. The allegations remain unproven, and Nvidia previously said it had no reason to believe its confidential information had been compromised.

On November 8, Huang apologized to Nvidia employees and his family after admitting to an extramarital relationship. Nvidia’s board subsequently launched an independent investigation.

However, another report on November 11 alleged that Huang had also been involved with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare. The revelations increased pressure on the board, which held a late-night meeting to decide his future.

Bloomberg reported that Huang had become increasingly disengaged from his responsibilities. His responses to executives reportedly slowed, a significant change for someone who personally supervised approximately 60 direct reports.

Nvidia Faces an Uncertain Future Without Huang

On November 12, Nvidia confirmed Huang’s immediate resignation as CEO, president, and board member. The company appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while beginning its search for a permanent successor.

Huang’s departure creates a major leadership challenge for Nvidia, whose GPUs, CUDA software ecosystem, and AI accelerators underpin much of the global artificial intelligence industry.

The company is also preparing to report quarterly earnings on November 17, placing additional pressure on its new leadership.

Meanwhile, Huang is expected to face questions from US lawmakers about whether his personal relationships created risks involving Nvidia’s advanced semiconductor technology and sensitive information.

For now, the board must find someone capable of replacing a founder who spent more than three decades shaping Nvidia’s technology, business strategy, and influence across the global AI industry.

According to Reuters, two people familiar with the matter said Huang had an intimate relationship with another Nvidia employee. The news agency withheld the woman’s identity and said attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.

Nvidia declined to comment on the latest allegation, while Huang and representatives of the company’s board did not respond to requests for comment.

Third Allegation Adds to Jensen Huang’s Growing Controversy

The latest report follows allegations involving Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed International, and Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.

US intelligence officials reportedly suspect Alice Huang of having connections to Chinese intelligence, raising concerns about potential access to sensitive semiconductor technology. However, the espionage allegations remain unproven.

Meanwhile, earlier reports about Huang’s alleged relationship with Powell increased pressure on Nvidia’s board because she reportedly worked directly under him.

On November 8, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in a message to employees, although he did not publicly identify the women involved.

I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.

Nvidia Investigates Security Concerns Following Huang’s Departure

Nvidia’s board announced an independent investigation on November 8 into reports that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.

The company said independent directors and outside legal counsel would examine the allegations. It also emphasized that it had no reason to believe national security or Nvidia’s confidential information had been compromised.

These concerns are particularly significant because Nvidia supplies advanced AI processors used in large-scale computing systems, while the US government continues restricting exports of powerful semiconductor technology to China.

Colette Kress Takes Over as Nvidia Searches for New CEO

In its official announcement, Nvidia confirmed Huang’s immediate resignation as president, CEO, and board member on November 12.

Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has taken over as interim CEO, while Harvey C. Jones has become the company’s first chairman.

The board is considering internal and external candidates for a permanent replacement. Meanwhile, Nvidia faces growing investor uncertainty as the company prepares to report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on November 17.

The update comes three months after SpaceXAI and Cursor launched Grok Bot for iPhone and Mac. The company has also released version 1.0 this month, marking the app’s exit from beta.

What Grok Bot Can Do With Apple’s Mac Apps

The latest update adds seven integrations, giving Grok Bot access to information and actions across several macOS apps.

• Messages: Read conversations and send messages on your behalf.
• Mail: Search emails and prepare drafts.
• Notes: Read existing notes and create or edit content.
• Reminders: Create reminders and check existing tasks.
• Calendar: Access calendar information for scheduling tasks.
• Contacts: Find existing contacts and add new ones.
• Location: Search for nearby places using location information.

These capabilities allow users to combine information from different apps within a single request. For example, Grok Bot can find information in an email, prepare a reply, or turn details from a conversation into a reminder.

The Messages integration is particularly useful because it supports sending replies directly from the assistant. OpenAI introduced similar Messages access for ChatGPT on Mac earlier this year.

How to Connect Apple Apps to Grok Bot on Mac

Grok Bot provides a dedicated Connect Apps interface where users can enable individual Apple integrations.

To get started:

1. Update Grok Bot to the latest version on your Mac.
2. Open the app and navigate to Connect Apps.
3. Find the Apple apps available under the Mac integrations.
4. Select Allow beside each app you want to connect.
5. Approve any additional macOS permission requests.

Each integration has its own permission control, allowing users to decide which information the assistant can access. Since Messages, Mail, and Contacts contain personal information, users should review these permissions before enabling them.

The update follows Grok Bot’s expansion to iPad and additional subscription plans in September. However, the newly announced Apple app integrations specifically target macOS, with no confirmed timeline for bringing the same capabilities to iPhone or iPad.

What Is Apple TV’s New Comedy She’s Fine About?

According to Apple’s official announcement, the half-hour comedy follows Heidi, played by Banks, as she tries to rebuild her life after a difficult divorce while raising her children.

However, her plans become complicated when she gets involved in arranging romantic encounters for residents of her father’s retirement community. She also finds herself working alongside her father’s girlfriend’s perpetually single son.

Ted Danson plays Heidi’s father, bringing another experienced comedy performer into a story centered on family relationships, dating, and starting over later in life.

Who Stars in She’s Fine on Apple TV?

Alongside Banks and Danson, the series features Rob Delaney, Katey Sagal, Jared Goldstein, Spencer Moss, Titus Collier, and Thaddaeus Collier.

As previously reported by Deadline, Hamish Linklater, Michelle Buteau, and Simu Liu have also joined the comedy in recurring roles.

Liz Heldens and Matt Ward created the series, with Banks serving as an executive producer. Jonathan Krisel directs the pilot, while 20th Television handles production.

When Will She’s Fine Premiere on Apple TV?

She’s Fine premieres globally on Wednesday, January 27, 2027, with its first two episodes.

Apple will release the remaining eight episodes every Wednesday, concluding the season on March 24, 2027.

The series also marks another collaboration between Banks and Apple following her appearance in the 2023 film The Beanie Bubble.

Samsung launched the Ultra2 at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, according to the Samsung Newsroom, with a Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and an 800 mAh battery that Samsung says holds 35% more than the original Ultra’s. Apple’s specs come from its Ultra 4 tech specs page. One thing settles this before any spec does, though. Neither watch works with the other company’s phone.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 specs and prices from Apple and Samsung

Samsung rates the Ultra2 for 60 to 80 hours, while Apple quotes 50 hours or 84 in Low Power Mode

Samsung’s spec sheet lists up to 60 hours with the always-on display on and up to 80 hours with it off. Apple quotes up to 50 hours of normal use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, plus up to 18 hours of outdoor running with the heart rate sensor on and no iPhone. The companies test differently, so treat this as a rough guide. On paper, Samsung gives you about 10 more hours before Low Power Mode enters the picture.

Apple wins on recharging. The Ultra 4 reaches 80% in about 45 minutes with the included fast charger and a 20W adapter, and Apple says 15 minutes gives you up to 18 hours of normal use. Samsung doesn’t list a charge time on its spec page.

The Ultra2 has a brighter 5,000-nit screen, the Ultra 4 adds 5G and satellite messaging

Samsung calls the Ultra2’s 5,000-nit display the brightest ever on a Galaxy Watch. That’s well above the Ultra 4’s 3000-nit peak. Samsung’s case is also thinner at 10.7mm against Apple’s 12mm, and Samsung says it’s 12% thinner than the original Galaxy Watch Ultra. Both watches carry the top dust rating, but Samsung’s IP69K also covers high-pressure washdown.

Apple answers with connectivity. The Ultra 4 supports 5G RedCap and LTE, and it can send Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My over satellite, free for two years after activation. Samsung’s spec table lists 3G and 4G LTE bands and no satellite features. Both watches use dual-frequency GPS and both carry EN13319 dive certification to 40 meters. Samsung’s dive mode needs the Mares app, and Apple’s dive computer app needs an App Store subscription.

For health, Apple lists an ECG app for users 22 and older, hypertension notifications and sleep apnea notifications for users 18 and older. Samsung adds a bioelectrical impedance sensor for body composition, plus Vitals and a Heart Health Score. Samsung’s footnotes say some of those features need a Samsung Galaxy phone, not just any Android phone.

Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 or the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 based on the phone in your pocket

Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if you have an iPhone 11 or newer. It’s the only choice of the two for you, since Samsung’s footnotes require a compatible Android phone. Get it from Amazon at $699.99 rather than $799 from Apple, a price we first saw in our Ultra 4 deal coverage. It also suits you if you hike out of cell range and want satellite messaging.

Buy the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 if you carry a Galaxy phone and want the longest rated battery outside Low Power Mode, the brighter 5,000-nit screen and a thinner case. Samsung’s $699.99 price also comes with up to $250 in trade-in credit or $100 in Samsung Credit right now.

Skip both if you don’t dive, hike or run long distances. Our look at whether the Ultra is worth it for everyday use explains where the cheaper models make more sense.

All three play 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, so the gap comes down to the chip, storage, networking and the smart home extras. We pulled every spec from Apple’s tech specs page, the Google Store and Amazon’s device page. Our breakdown of the $299 Apple TV 4K against the 2022 model covers what changed inside Apple’s own lineup.

Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer and Fire TV Cube specs and prices compared

Apple’s extra $149.01 buys 4x the storage of Google’s box and the fastest Wi-Fi

The Apple TV 4K ships with 128 GB of storage. That’s four times the Google TV Streamer’s 32 GB and eight times the Fire TV Cube’s 16 GB. If you play Apple Arcade games or keep lots of apps installed, you’ll hit the limit on the cheaper boxes first.

Networking is the other clear split. Apple lists Wi-Fi 7 and Gigabit Ethernet. The Fire TV Cube has Wi-Fi 6E, but its wired port tops out at 10/100 Mbps, so Wi-Fi can be the faster option on a newer router. Google’s box has Gigabit Ethernet with older 802.11ac Wi-Fi. If your router sits far from the TV, the Cube and Apple TV have the edge. If you can run a cable, Google and Apple do.

Each box ties you to its maker’s smart home and voice assistant

Apple calls the new Apple TV 4K a home hub for the Home app, and it supports Thread with HomeKit or Matter accessories. A three-microphone array lets you say “Siri” without picking up the remote. Siri AI is in beta in tvOS 27.2 and needs the Home owner to have an Apple Intelligence iPhone or iPad.

Google’s Streamer is a Matter controller and Thread border router for Google Home. The Fire TV Cube responds to hands-free Alexa, can show your Ring camera in picture-in-picture while you watch and controls IR devices like soundbars and cable boxes. It also has an HDMI input, so you can route a cable box through it.

One small cost applies to all three. None ships with an HDMI cable. Apple, Google and Amazon all say you need to buy one separately, and Google specifies a certified HDMI 2.1 cable.

Buy the Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer or Fire TV Cube if this is your setup

Buy the Apple TV 4K if you use an iPhone, want Apple Home controls on your TV, or plan to build HomePod surround sound. The 128 GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7 and Find My on the USB-C Siri Remote are things neither rival lists. Amazon sells it at the same $299.

Buy the Google TV Streamer if you run Google Home, want a Thread border router behind the TV and can plug in Ethernet. At $149.99 it costs half the Apple TV.

Buy the Fire TV Cube if you have Alexa speakers or Ring cameras, want hands-free voice control at $199.99, or need to control a cable box and soundbar by voice. If you only need 4K streaming, Amazon sells the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $84.99.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

According to Reuters, Trump called Cook a “legend” while acknowledging Huang’s contributions to NVIDIA. His comments came Thursday, November 12, shortly after the company confirmed Huang’s resignation as CEO, president, and board member.

Why Jensen Huang Resigned From NVIDIA

Huang stepped down following reports of an extramarital relationship with a Chinese businesswoman whom US authorities suspect of having ties to Chinese intelligence.

The controversy has raised national security concerns because NVIDIA supplies advanced AI accelerators used in data centers worldwide, while US restrictions on semiconductor exports to China remain politically sensitive.

Trump previously defended Huang, saying the executive had told him he was unaware of the woman’s alleged intelligence connections.

In an official announcement, NVIDIA confirmed the leadership change and appointed chief financial officer Colette Kress as interim CEO. Its board has begun evaluating internal and external candidates for a permanent replacement.

Could Tim Cook Actually Become NVIDIA CEO?

Cook’s name carries considerable weight in Silicon Valley. He led Apple for 15 years before John Ternus officially became CEO on September 1, 2026.

Cook currently serves as Apple’s executive chairman, maintaining responsibilities that include relationships with policymakers and strategic oversight.

His experience managing Apple’s global supply chain, manufacturing partnerships, and international operations makes him an interesting candidate for NVIDIA, which depends heavily on advanced semiconductor manufacturing and complex global partnerships.

However, NVIDIA’s business also requires extensive knowledge of GPU architecture, CUDA software, AI infrastructure, and hyperscale computing.

Trump’s public endorsement does not establish Cook as an official candidate. Neither Apple nor Cook has announced plans for him to pursue the position.

For now, NVIDIA’s board will decide who succeeds Huang, while Kress oversees operations during the leadership transition.

Tags: featured

]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:04:01 +0000 Shane Watson tmo_wp_495575 Apple Watch can now automatically identify songs playing around you and display their titles and artists without requiring you to open Shazam or ask Siri. Available on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, the feature uses Apple’s new Audio Intelligence technology in watchOS 27 to recognize nearby music directly from your wrist.

Whether you’re listening to music at a restaurant, shopping mall, or café, your Apple Watch can identify the track in the background. The result appears in the Smart Stack, where you can save the song or open it in Apple Music.

How to Enable Automatic Music Recognition on Apple Watch

According to Apple’s support documentation, automatic Music Recognition requires an Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 paired with an iPhone 11 or later, or a second-generation iPhone SE or newer, running iOS 27.

To enable the feature:

1. Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and select Smart Stack.
   
3. Turn on Music Detection.
4. Return to your watch face and wait until music plays nearby.
5. Swipe up or turn the Digital Crown upward to open Smart Stack.

The Music Recognition widget automatically displays the song’s title and artist once Shazam identifies it. You can also tap Add to save the track to your Shazam history.

Older Apple Watch models still support song identification through Shazam, although users must manually start recognition.

How Apple Watch Recognizes Music Without Recording Audio

Apple uses the S11 chip’s Secure Exclave to analyze surrounding audio and detect music directly on the device.

When identifying a song, the system generates an acoustic fingerprint and sends it to Shazam’s servers for matching. According to Apple’s privacy documentation, the feature does not record or store surrounding audio.

Music Detection also automatically stops working when Low Power Mode, Water Lock, or Sleep Focus is enabled.

The feature makes discovering unfamiliar songs easier, especially when reaching for your iPhone would interrupt what you’re doing.

So the real question is what the extra $100 or $200 buys you. We picked the Echo Show 8 because its 8.7-inch screen is the closest Echo to HomeView’s 7 inches. The larger Echo Show 11 costs $249.99. Google also lists the Nest Hub Max at $229, but its store page shows it out of stock. If you’re still choosing between the two HomeView models, our wall-mounted vs tabletop HomeView cost breakdown covers that. This piece compares the tabletop model with its rivals.

HomeView, Echo Show 8 and Nest Hub specs and prices from each maker

The Echo Show 8 gives you a bigger screen for $99 less, but HomeView’s is sharper

Amazon’s 8.7-inch panel is the biggest here. Apple’s 7-inch square display packs 1088 by 1088 pixels at 220 ppi, with True Tone and 500 nits of brightness. Amazon lists 800 by 1340 pixels on a larger panel, so you get more glass but fewer pixels per inch. Google lists only “7-inch touchscreen” on its spec page.

Sound follows price. HomeView’s tabletop model uses two full-range drivers, a down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators, with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. The Echo Show 8 pairs a 2.8-inch woofer with two full-range drivers. The Nest Hub has a single full-range speaker, the lightest setup of the three if music is the main job.

Cameras and privacy split the three, and only Google ships without a camera

HomeView has a 12MP Center Stage camera for FaceTime. Apple says the A18 chip’s Secure Exclaves process the camera and microphone feeds in a compartment that neither the operating system nor Apple can access. It also shows your messages and other personal content only when it recognizes your face and your iPhone, opened recently, is nearby on the same Wi-Fi, as we covered in how HomeView handles personal content. It recognizes up to six people.

Amazon’s 13MP camera auto-frames calls and adds 3.3x zoom. You get a button that disables the microphones and camera, separate camera controls and the option to review and delete voice recordings. Amazon also uses the camera for Omnisense visual ID and presence detection, which can trigger routines. The Nest Hub has no camera at all. If you don’t want a lens in your bedroom or kitchen, that’s the simplest privacy answer, and it’s the cheapest.

Pick the display that matches the smart home and assistant you already pay for

HomeView only works if you live in Apple Home. It needs an iPhone on iOS 27.2 or an iPad on iPadOS 27.2, and its Thread radio works only with HomeKit or Matter accessories. Siri AI is in beta, Apple’s footnotes say some server features have daily limits, and Apple says expanded access will cost a fee later. The Echo Show 8 is the broadest hub here, with Zigbee, Matter and a Thread border router, and the Alexa app runs on iPhone and Android. Alexa+ is free with Prime or $19.99 a month without it. The Nest Hub supports Thread and Matter and runs Gemini for Home through the Google Home app.

Buy HomeView, the Echo Show 8 or the Nest Hub if this describes your home

Buy Apple HomeView if your household uses iPhones, your accessories are in the Home app and you want FaceTime and the most elaborate speaker system of the three. Amazon’s $289.99 pre-order price for Space Gray saves you $9.01 over Apple’s store.

Buy the Echo Show 8 if you have Zigbee gear, mix iPhones and Android phones at home, or already pay for Prime, which covers Alexa+. It’s $99.01 cheaper than HomeView and has the bigger screen.

Buy the Nest Hub if you want a $99.99 kitchen screen with no camera, use Google Home, or need a Thread and Matter controller on a budget.

MacObserver may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change the price you pay.

According to Apple’s official announcement, the Home Collection will become available through Apple’s website, Apple Store app, and retail locations. Some accessories will arrive in early 2027.

Apple Home Collection Prices and Available Accessories

Apple has confirmed nine accessories with prices starting at $39.95 and reaching $399.95 in the United States.

The cameras and video doorbell will launch in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while the remaining accessories will initially be limited to the United States and Canada.

What Makes Apple’s New Smart Home Accessories Different?

Every accessory supports one-tap setup through an iPhone and works directly with the Apple Home app without requiring a separate account.

The cameras support up to 2.5K video recording, while eligible iCloud+ subscriptions provide 10 days of encrypted event history. Apple Intelligence also enables automatic video summaries and natural-language searches of recorded footage.

Meanwhile, LG’s smart lock uses Ultra Wideband technology to unlock doors automatically when someone approaches with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch.

The accessories also support Thread connectivity, while additional features require a compatible home hub.

Customers planning to build a connected home can check the complete Home Collection lineup and pricing and the iCloud+ requirements for security cameras before purchasing.

Although Apple has confirmed December availability, it has yet to reveal exactly when customers can place their orders or which accessories will arrive first.

Samsung announced the Buds 4 Pro on February 25, 2026, according to the Samsung Newsroom, with general sales from March 11. Our AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds3 Pro comparison covered last year’s pairing. This is the 2026 rematch, with prices checked on November 12.

AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro specs and prices side by side

AirPods Pro 3 last two hours longer per charge, but the Buds 4 Pro case holds more

Apple rates AirPods Pro 3 at up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, and up to 10 hours if you use the Hearing Aid feature in Transparency mode. Samsung’s spec table gives the Buds 4 Pro up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on and up to 7 hours with it off. That’s a real difference on a long flight. You’d stop to recharge the Samsung buds two hours sooner.

The cases flip it. Samsung quotes up to 26 hours in total with noise cancelling on, against 24 hours for Apple. Here’s the odd part. Samsung’s own comparison page shows the Buds 4 Pro have bigger batteries than the Buds3 Pro, 61 mAh per bud and 530 mAh in the case versus 53 and 515 mAh. Yet the rated play times are identical across both generations. If you own Buds3 Pro, battery life isn’t a reason to upgrade.

What Samsung changed from the Buds3 Pro and what Apple adds that Samsung doesn’t

The Buds 4 Pro drop the Buds3 Pro’s Blade Lights, move from Bluetooth 5.4 to 6.1 and add head gestures for handling calls and Bixby, which need a Galaxy phone on One UI 8.5 or later. Samsung says the new woofer has a 19.8% larger diaphragm than the Buds3 Pro’s, paired with a tweeter and two amplifiers in each bud. With a recent Galaxy phone, the buds stream 24-bit, 96 kHz audio over Samsung’s SSC-UHQ codec.

Apple’s extras are about health. AirPods Pro 3 have a built-in heart rate sensor that tracks workouts in the Fitness app, and the Hearing Aid feature carries FDA authorization for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Apple says AirPods Pro 3 cancel up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2. Samsung calls its system Adaptive ANC 2.0. Neither company publishes a figure you can compare directly, so we won’t call a noise cancelling winner from spec sheets.

Your phone decides most of this, because Samsung limits the Buds 4 Pro on iPhone

Samsung’s FAQ says it plainly. iOS devices connect to the Buds 4 Pro “via Bluetooth only,” like a PC or game console. Samsung says Android phones get most features through its Galaxy Wearable app, and it lists no such support for iPhone. The 24-bit audio, Interpreter and head gestures all need a Galaxy phone. Even non-Samsung Android phones miss some features, including HD Voice calls.

AirPods work the other way. Earlier software and non-Apple devices can use them as plain Bluetooth headphones, but Apple says functionality may be limited. Live Translation needs an Apple Intelligence iPhone on iOS 26 or later, and the heart rate sensor needs iOS 26.

Buy the AirPods Pro 3 or the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if these fit you

Buy the AirPods Pro 3 if you use an iPhone, want 8 hours per charge, or care about the heart rate sensor or the hearing aid feature. At $199 on Amazon, sold by Amazon itself, they’re also the cheaper pair right now by $36.70 to $50.99. We’ve tracked the AirPods Pro 3 at that price in our early Black Friday deals roundup.

Buy the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if you carry a Galaxy S23 or newer, want hi-res 24-bit audio, or use Galaxy AI’s Interpreter on calls. The 26-hour case total and the 5.1 g buds also suit you if you rarely sit near a charger. Just don’t buy them for an iPhone. At $249.99 you’d pay full price for a pair Samsung itself limits to basic Bluetooth.

Skip both if you own Buds3 Pro and like them. Samsung’s own numbers show the same rated battery life, the same IP57 rating and the same three microphones plus voice pickup unit in each bud.

Our short answer: most students, parents and Intel Mac owners should buy now. Wait only if you plan to keep the laptop for five years or more and you care about the memory-hungry Apple Intelligence features.

What the $699 MacBook Neo gives you, according to Apple’s own spec sheet

Apple’s MacBook Neo spec page lists an A18 Pro with a 6-core CPU (two performance and four efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. Every model has 8GB of unified memory, with a 256GB or 512GB SSD. You get a 13-inch Liquid Retina display at 2408 by 1506 pixels and 500 nits, up to 16 hours of video streaming, two USB-C ports (one at 10Gb/s, one at USB 2 speed), a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E and a weight of 2.7 pounds. It has no fan, so it runs silent.

The price has moved twice. Apple launched the Neo on March 4 at $599, or $499 for education. In June it raised the 256GB model to $699 and the 512GB model with Touch ID to $799, blaming the memory chip shortage, as MacRumors reported from the Apple Store. Then Apple raised the education price to $649, so students now save just $50.

Gurman says the next MacBook Neo gets an A19 Pro chip and 12GB of memory in the first half of 2027

Gurman first reported the upgrade in a July 22 Bloomberg story, saying Apple was testing a Neo with the A19 Pro and more RAM. His October report put the launch in the first half of 2027. He hasn’t named a month or a price, so treat any specific date you see as a guess.

Supply chain reporting points the same way. Digitimes reported on November 4 that Apple told suppliers to plan for 16 million MacBook Neo units in 2027, about double the nearly 8 million expected this year. We covered that forecast when it broke. It tells you Apple expects the Neo to keep selling, not when the new one ships.

The memory jump is the upgrade that counts. Apple’s macOS 27 page says customizing Siri’s voice needs a Mac with M3 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory. The current Neo misses on both counts. Apple’s footnote only names M-series chips, so it’s not clear yet whether a 12GB A19 Pro Neo would qualify. And Apple sells every Neo with 8GB and no memory upgrade, so the memory you buy is the memory you keep.

There’s also a price risk. Apple blamed memory costs for June’s $100 increase. A model with 50 percent more memory, arriving while that shortage lasts, may not start at $699. That’s our read, not a report, but don’t assume waiting saves you money.

Our verdict for students, parents and Intel Mac owners weighing the MacBook Neo

• Students: if your old laptop won’t make it through the spring semester, buy now. If it will last until summer, waiting lines up with back-to-school season and gets you 12GB of memory for the next four years of coursework.
• Parents: buy now. 8GB is enough for schoolwork, browsing, video calls and Google Docs. Apple’s macOS 27 compatibility list still includes the M1 MacBook Air from 2020, so Apple has a record of supporting its laptops for years. A Neo bought this holiday should get updates well into the next decade, based on that pattern.
• Intel Mac owners: buy now. That same list includes no Intel Macs, so macOS Tahoe is the last major version your Mac gets. Apple still ships security fixes for Tahoe, with macOS Tahoe 26.7.3 on November 9, but you won’t get macOS 27 or Apple Intelligence. Apple says the Neo is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5.

When waiting for the second-generation MacBook Neo is the smarter call

Wait if you keep laptops for five years or longer, keep dozens of browser tabs open while you work, or bought a Mac mainly to use Apple Intelligence. Those are the buyers who will feel 8GB first, and they’re the ones Gurman’s 12GB model is aimed at.

Wait too if you’re happy with what you have now. A working laptop costs nothing to keep, and the first half of 2027 is less than eight months away. If you can’t wait, the 256GB model at $699 is the one to get. The extra $100 for 512GB buys storage and Touch ID, not more memory, so it doesn’t fix the Neo’s real limit.

Go to Settings, then Battery. If you see the Insight called Ongoing iOS Update, your phone is still working through that background job, and the drain should ease once it’s done. Apple doesn’t say how many days that takes. Early 27.2 owners have reported mixed results, which we rounded up after the release. If you’re past a few days and the battery still falls fast, these are the settings to change, all from Apple’s own iOS 27 support documents.

Read the Battery screen first, because iOS 27 tells you which app is draining your iPhone

Apple’s page says the Daily Usage chart in Settings, then Battery, compares the current day with the past seven days and lists the apps that used the most power. Look at the usage type next to each app. Background Activity means the app ran while you weren’t using it, for music or location tracking. No Mobile Coverage and Low Signal means your phone burned power searching for a signal. Notifications means an app kept waking your screen.

Suggestions also show up above Daily Usage. Apple lists turning on auto-brightness, turning on Auto-Lock and lowering screen brightness as common ones. If iOS flags something, do that first.

Eight settings in iOS 27 that cut battery drain, with the exact path for each

• Low Power Mode. On iPhone 15 and later, go to Settings, then Battery, then Power Mode. On iPhone 14 and earlier, it’s a switch in Settings, then Battery. Apple’s Low Power Mode page says it sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds, lowers brightness, turns off some visual effects, pauses iCloud Photos, stops automatic downloads, email fetch and Background App Refresh. It turns itself off once you charge past 80 percent.
• Adaptive Power. On supported models, Apple says this predicts the days you’ll need more battery, adjusts performance and can switch on Low Power Mode at 20 percent. Apple lists it for supported iPhone models on iOS 26 or later, so it carries over to iOS 27.
• Background App Refresh. Go to Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh, and tap it again to turn it off or limit it to Wi-Fi. Apple’s app switching page says closing all your apps doesn’t improve performance, so skip the swipe-up ritual and use this switch instead.
• Location Services. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Location Services. Apple’s location guide lets you set each app to Never or Ask Next Time, and turn off Precise Location for apps that only need a rough idea of where you are. Check System Services at the bottom too.
• Auto-Brightness. Apple’s display page says brightness affects battery life and recommends auto-brightness. It lives in Settings, then Accessibility, then Display and Text Size.
• Always On Display. Same Apple page: it’s on by default on iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models, iPhone 17 and iPhone Duo, and off by default on iPhone Air. Turn it off in Settings, then Display and Brightness. Apple says it drops as low as 1Hz to save power, but turning it off is the bigger saving if your battery won’t last the day.
• Limit Frame Rate. On iPhones with ProMotion, Apple’s motion settings guide says this caps the display at 60 frames per second. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Motion.
• 5G Auto. Apple’s battery page says Wi-Fi generally uses less power than cellular, and 5G Auto lets your phone fall back to LTE when 5G wouldn’t help. It’s in Settings, then Cellular, then Cellular Data Options, then Voice and Data.

What Apple doesn’t say about Siri AI and battery life in iOS 27.2

iOS 27.2’s headline feature lets Siri AI remember earlier conversations, and Apple’s release notes say Siri can now draw on voicemails, Messages photos and Safari history. Apple hasn’t published any battery guidance for Siri AI or those new features. We’re not going to tell you to turn off a feature based on a guess, and Apple’s battery page doesn’t list Siri AI as something to switch off.

Apple did ship iOS 27.2.1 on November 9, according to its security releases page. The notes list bug fixes and security updates, with no battery fix mentioned. Install it anyway, since Apple’s first battery tip is to run the latest software.

When the drain points to a worn battery instead of iOS 27.2

If nothing above helps, check the battery itself. On iPhone 15 and later, go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health. On iPhone 14 and earlier, it’s Battery Health and Charging. Apple says a Service message next to Battery Health means you should consider a replacement. A worn battery will drain fast on any iOS version, and no setting fixes that. If you hit this problem after the iOS 27 update in September too, our earlier piece on Apple’s wait-a-few-days advice covers how that first round played out.

Previously, landscape mode offered limited Dynamic Island functionality. With iOS 27, compact and minimal Live Activities can remain visible when the screen rotates, giving users access to real-time information without returning to portrait orientation.

What’s New in Dynamic Island Landscape Mode?

Apple confirmed the changes during its WWDC 2026 Live Activities session, explaining how the Dynamic Island adapts to different screen orientations.

The main improvements include:

• Landscape Live Activities: Ongoing activities remain visible in supported landscape interfaces.
• Adaptive layouts: Compact and minimal views adjust to the narrower available space.
• Smarter information display: Developers can replace longer text with shorter labels or symbols to prevent content from getting cut off.
• Continued activity controls: Users can touch and hold a Live Activity to access its expanded presentation.

Apple has also introduced a SwiftUI environment value called isDynamicIslandLimitedInWidth, which helps developers detect restricted Dynamic Island space and adjust their interfaces accordingly.

How to Use Dynamic Island in Landscape Mode

The feature works automatically in supported apps on compatible iPhones running iOS 27.

1. Open Control Center and disable Portrait Orientation Lock.
2. Launch an app that supports landscape orientation.
3. Start a supported Live Activity and rotate your iPhone sideways.
4. View the activity in the Dynamic Island while using the app.

The change also complements iOS 27’s expanded landscape support, which brings sideways layouts to Apple Music, Podcasts, Health, Weather, and several other built-in apps.

What About the iPhone Duo?

Apple has taken the Dynamic Island further with its foldable iPhone Duo. According to the official announcement, the device places a redesigned Dynamic Island vertically along the side of its displays, where it expands to show Live Activities and alerts.

This follows Apple’s broader effort to make iOS 27 adapt to different display sizes and orientations. The landscape improvements also work alongside other Dynamic Island features, including the new gesture for launching Siri AI.

Rockstar has confirmed the November 19 release date, while parent company Take-Two Interactive reiterated the schedule in its November 9 earnings report.

GTA 6 Launch Date and Pre-Load Details

GTA 6 launches worldwide on November 19, with the standard edition priced at $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition costing $99.99 in the United States.

Players can purchase the game through PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Rockstar Games Store, and participating retailers.

According to Rockstar’s latest announcement, pre-loading began on November 10, allowing digital customers to download the game before launch.

However, Rockstar has not confirmed a PC release date, meaning computer players will have to wait for further announcements.

What to Expect From GTA 6 on Launch Day

GTA 6 takes players back to Vice City, located within the fictional state of Leonida, where protagonists Jason and Lucia become involved in a criminal conspiracy following a failed robbery.

The game targets 30 frames per second on current-generation consoles, with PlayStation 5 Pro offering enhanced image clarity through PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and additional ray-traced shadows.

Rockstar has also confirmed DualSense haptic feedback, improved spatial audio, and faster loading on PlayStation 5.

Players can learn more about the protagonists through the GTA 6 relationship and story details, while the previously released extended gameplay presentation offers a closer look at the game’s world.

Meanwhile, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says pre-orders have reached unprecedented levels, with the company expecting between $8 billion and $8.2 billion in net bookings for fiscal 2027.

With launch day approaching, Rockstar is preparing to deliver one of the gaming industry’s most anticipated releases.

Gurman’s record on that September roadmap is good so far. He put six products in late 2026: the touchscreen MacBook Pro, an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, HomePod mini 2, the Apple TV 4K and an OLED iPad mini. Apple has announced all six. That doesn’t make his 2027 list a promise, but it’s the best map you have.

All 11 Apple launches expected before mid-2027, with the source behind each one

Apple confirms HomeView and Apple TV 4K for November 13, the only dates set in stone

Apple’s newsroom lists HomeView at $299 in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, with a 7-inch Liquid Retina display. It goes on sale in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa, but not the EU. Apple also lists a $129.95 Power over Ethernet wall mount for early 2027, which is the only 2027 date Apple itself has published here.

The Apple TV 4K uses the A19 chip. Apple says it has up to 50 percent faster CPU and up to 2x faster GPU performance than the previous model. Apple has put a date on both, which is more than any rumor in the table can claim.

Gurman expects three iPhones in spring 2027, and the iPhone 18 barely changes

Gurman’s September report moves the base iPhone 18 out of the usual September slot and into spring 2027, next to the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2. We broke down the base iPhone 18 timing earlier. Gurman describes the iPhone 18 as mostly an iPhone 17 with an A20 chip, and the 18e as a chip upgrade only.

That changes how you should shop. If you want a standard iPhone in the next few months, the iPhone 17 is not about to be made obsolete by a redesign. The iPhone Air 2 is the spring phone with real changes, an added ultrawide camera and better battery life, per Gurman. If you skipped the first Air because it had one rear camera, that’s the one worth waiting for.

OLED iPad Air, iPad Pro, base iPad, MacBook Neo and M6 MacBook Air fill out the first half of 2027

Gurman’s November 1 Power On newsletter said Apple plans new iPad Air, iPad Pro and entry-level iPad models in the first half of 2027, which we reported here. The OLED iPad Air has a second source. ETNews reported in April that Samsung Display could start mass production of the panels as early as the end of 2026, with a launch expected in March or May 2027. ETNews says the Air gets a single-stack LTPS OLED panel, not the two-stack LTPO panel in the iPad Pro. If you’re buying an iPad Air with M4 now, you’re buying the last LCD model.

On the Mac side, Gurman reported October 27 that a second-generation MacBook Neo is planned for the first half of 2027, and he has said it gets the A19 Pro chip and 12GB of memory. Digitimes reported that Apple told suppliers to plan for 16 million Neo units in 2027. The M6 MacBook Air in Gurman’s September list is a chip update. If you need a MacBook Air now, a discounted M5 model gives up little.

One product you won’t see in this window is the bigger HomeView. Gurman’s October 18 newsletter said a 9-inch model with a screen that turns 360 degrees on a robotic arm is planned for 2027 or 2028, so don’t hold off on a HomeView for it.

Based on that history, expect your iPhone 15 to stay on the current iOS until about 2029 or 2030, and security fixes until roughly 2031 to 2033. That’s our estimate from Apple’s past pattern, not an Apple promise. Here’s how we got there.

Apple’s own release notes show iPhones get six to seven years of major iOS updates

Apple’s security releases page and its 2022 to 2023 archive list which iPhones each major iOS version supports. Put those next to the launch years on Apple’s iPhone model guide and you get a clear pattern:

Apple released iOS 16 on September 12, 2022 for the iPhone 8 and later, which cut off the 6s and 7. iOS 17 arrived on September 18, 2023 for the iPhone XS and later, which cut off the 8 and X. iOS 18 still covered the XS in September 2024, then iOS 26 on September 15, 2025 started at the iPhone 11. The trend is moving in your favor. The iPhone 11 is already past seven years and still on the current release.

Apple released the iPhone 15 on September 22, 2023. Six to seven years from there puts your last major update in fall 2028 or fall 2029, and your first missed version in fall 2029 or fall 2030. If the iPhone 11’s run is the new normal, you could get one more year.

Apple’s UK filing guarantees security updates until at least September 2028

You don’t have to rely only on history. Apple’s UK product security statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max lists a first supply date of September 22, 2023 and a defined support period of a minimum of five years from that date. The UK requires Apple to publish that figure. It covers security updates, not new iOS versions, and it’s a floor. Apple’s history says the real number is much higher.

Look at what Apple still patches. On November 9, 2026, Apple shipped iOS 18.7.12 for the iPhone XS and XR, more than a year after iOS 26 dropped them. In May 2026 it shipped iOS 16.7.16 for the iPhone 8 and X and iOS 15.8.8 for the iPhone 6s and 7. That’s a phone from 2015 still getting fixes more than ten years later. Apple’s pattern is two to three years or more of security updates after a phone loses major versions, which is where our 2031 to 2033 range comes from.

The iPhone 15 already misses Apple Intelligence, so features run out before support does

There’s a catch for owners of the standard model. Apple’s Apple Intelligence support page lists the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but not the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. The base models use the A16 Bionic, and that means no Siri AI and no Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, even though the phone runs iOS 27. Features like Live Translation on phone calls also need an iPhone 15 Pro.

So if you own an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, you’re already on a reduced feature set. Each new iOS release is likely to add more features your phone can’t use, well before Apple stops updating it. The 15 Pro models get Apple Intelligence now, but Apple’s iOS page reserves Siri voice customization for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and newer, so even the Pro is behind the newest phones.

Repairs and batteries should outlast software support under Apple’s vintage policy

Apple stopped selling the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus on September 9, 2025, when the iPhone 17 arrived. Apple’s vintage and obsolete policy calls a product vintage more than five years after Apple stopped selling it, and obsolete after seven. For iPhone, Apple says it offers service and parts for at least five years after it last sold the model, and up to seven years if parts allow. That points to Apple repairs until at least fall 2030, possibly into 2032. No iPhone 15 model is on the vintage list yet.

We ran the same numbers for Macs in our look at how long your M1 Mac really lasts before Apple drops support.

The battery is the part most likely to send you shopping first. Apple’s battery page says iPhone 15 batteries are designed to keep 80 percent of their original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, double the 500 cycles Apple rates the iPhone 14 and earlier for. A battery swap at that point is cheaper than a new phone. If you want a longer view of how this series works, see our iPhone 13 support guide.

There are very few executives whose identities are so closely tied to their companies that imagining one without the other feels strange. Jobs was one of them, and Huang belongs in that same category. Both helped define major shifts in computing, built powerful technology ecosystems, and made decisions that influenced the direction of the entire industry.

Why Jensen Huang’s Exit Is Such a Big Deal

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, long before artificial intelligence became the biggest investment theme in technology. What began as a graphics chip company eventually became the foundation of modern AI computing, supplying the hardware and software that companies use to train and operate advanced AI models.

Much of that transformation came from decisions Nvidia made years before the industry recognized their importance. The introduction of CUDA in 2006, for example, allowed developers to use GPUs for general-purpose computing, helping establish the software ecosystem that now supports much of the AI industry.

The company’s extraordinary growth reflects how important those early decisions became. Nvidia reported $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue in August 2026, up 106% from the previous year, with its data center business accounting for $89 billion.

That makes Huang’s resignation particularly significant because Nvidia is losing its founder during one of the most consequential periods in its history.

The Steve Jobs Comparison Makes Sense

When Jobs resigned from Apple in August 2011, the company had already transformed the consumer technology industry through the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. His departure raised questions about whether Apple could maintain its culture of innovation without the person who had shaped its products and strategy.

Nvidia now faces a similar question.

Huang has been deeply involved in Nvidia’s engineering strategy, product development, and relationships with major customers. His influence extends beyond individual chip generations to the company’s broader direction in accelerated computing, AI networking, robotics, and data center infrastructure.

Apple had Tim Cook ready to take over when Jobs resigned. Nvidia has instead appointed CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent replacement, creating additional uncertainty about its long-term leadership.

Can Nvidia Remain the Same Without Huang?

Nvidia confirmed Huang’s resignation on November 12, effective immediately. The announcement follows days of boardroom uncertainty and investor concerns, although Nvidia did not explain the reason for his departure.

The company still has its engineers, CUDA ecosystem, enormous customer base, and strong position in AI infrastructure. These advantages have taken decades to build and will remain important under its next CEO.

However, Huang’s ability to anticipate where computing was heading has been central to Nvidia’s success. The next CEO must preserve that technical ambition while managing relationships with companies investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure.

When Steve Jobs left Apple, the industry wondered whether the company could continue succeeding without its defining leader. Fifteen years later, Nvidia faces its own version of that question, with its future leadership still undecided.

Huang’s resignation feels like the end of an era for Silicon Valley, and its consequences could extend across the entire AI industry.

The stock closed Wednesday at $173.73 before falling sharply as investors reacted to reports about Huang’s future. According to Reuters, his departure has created fresh uncertainty around one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.

Jensen Huang Steps Down After 33 Years at Nvidia

Huang’s resignation ends an extraordinary 33-year run leading Nvidia, which he co-founded in 1993 and transformed from a graphics processor manufacturer into the dominant supplier of artificial intelligence computing hardware.

The company appointed longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent replacement. Harvey Jones has also been appointed Nvidia’s first chairman.

The leadership change follows reports of two extramarital relationships involving Huang, including one with a businesswoman suspected by US authorities of having connections to Chinese intelligence.

Nvidia’s board previously announced an independent investigation into possible national security concerns, although the company said it had no reason to believe sensitive information had been compromised.

Nvidia’s Historic Selloff Wipes Out Hundreds of Billions

The latest decline adds to an extraordinary week for Nvidia shareholders, with the company’s valuation falling dramatically as investors reassess the risks surrounding its leadership.

As previously reported, Nvidia shares had already fallen approximately 23% from their November 3 closing price during Wednesday’s extended trading.

At a share price of $156, Nvidia would have lost approximately 24.5% of its value since November 3, representing a decline of more than $1 trillion in market capitalization based on its earlier valuation.

This makes the selloff particularly significant because Nvidia sits at the center of global AI infrastructure spending, supplying GPUs and accelerated computing platforms to major cloud providers and technology companies.

What Happens to Nvidia Stock Next?

Investors now face uncertainty over how Nvidia will maintain its technological leadership without Huang, whose decisions helped establish the company’s CUDA software ecosystem, data center business and dominance in AI training and inference.

Although Nvidia retains its extensive product portfolio and engineering teams, leadership changes could affect strategic decisions, customer relationships and the execution of future chip architectures.

The company’s next major test arrives on November 17, when Nvidia is scheduled to report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings.

Those results, alongside updates on its permanent CEO search, will provide investors with a clearer picture of whether Nvidia can stabilize after one of the most consequential leadership transitions in technology history.

According to Reuters, Huang is stepping down as CEO and leaving Nvidia’s board following reports of alleged extramarital affairs and an investigation into potential national security concerns.

Who Is Colette Kress?

Colette Kress, 59, is an experienced technology executive who joined Nvidia in September 2013 as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

During her tenure, she helped oversee Nvidia’s financial operations as the company expanded from a graphics processor manufacturer into one of the world’s most valuable businesses, driven by demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Kress has also become a familiar figure among Wall Street investors through Nvidia’s quarterly earnings calls, where she regularly discusses revenue, profitability, operating expenses, and business forecasts.

Her experience managing Nvidia’s finances and relationships with investors makes her a natural choice to provide stability during the leadership transition.

Colette Kress’s Education and Career Before Nvidia

Before joining Nvidia, Kress spent nearly 25 years working in financial leadership roles at several major technology companies.

According to her official Nvidia biography, her professional background includes:

• Cisco: Served for three years as senior vice president and CFO of Business Technology and Operations Finance, overseeing financial strategy and business planning.
• Microsoft: Spent 13 years at the company, including four years as CFO of its Server and Tools division.
• Texas Instruments: Held several financial management positions earlier in her career.

Kress earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

What Will Colette Kress Do as Nvidia’s Interim CEO?

As interim CEO, Kress will oversee Nvidia’s operations while the board evaluates candidates for a permanent chief executive.

Her immediate responsibilities include maintaining investor confidence, managing relationships with major cloud customers, and keeping the company focused on its AI hardware roadmap.

Nvidia’s position in the industry depends heavily on its GPUs, CUDA software ecosystem, and networking technology, which power large-scale AI training and inference systems.

The leadership transition also comes as Nvidia shares face significant pressure following reports about Huang’s future.

Will Colette Kress Become Nvidia’s Permanent CEO?

Nvidia has not announced a permanent successor to Huang, and its board is considering both internal and external candidates.

Among the potential replacements is Ian Buck, a senior Nvidia engineering executive closely associated with CUDA and the company’s data center business.

For now, Kress will remain Nvidia’s interim chief executive while retaining her responsibilities as CFO, placing her in charge during one of the most important leadership transitions in the company’s history.

Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress will serve as interim CEO while Nvidia searches for a permanent replacement. Board member Harvey Jones has also been appointed chairman.

Why Jensen Huang Resigned From Nvidia

Huang’s departure follows reports of two extramarital affairs, including one involving a businesswoman suspected by US authorities of having ties to Chinese intelligence.

Nvidia’s board previously launched an independent investigation into potential national security concerns, although it stated that it had no reason to believe company secrets had been compromised.

The leadership crisis comes after Nvidia shares had already fallen sharply, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars from the company’s market capitalization.

How Could Nvidia’s Stock Price Move?

Nvidia’s immediate market reaction has been negative, with investors concerned about leadership uncertainty, business execution and the company’s long-term AI strategy.

However, several factors will determine how its shares perform over the coming weeks:

• Further selling pressure: Uncertainty over Nvidia’s permanent CEO and ongoing investigations could increase volatility.
• AI chip demand: Strong demand for Blackwell GPUs and the upcoming Rubin architecture could support Nvidia’s financial performance.
• Competitor gains: AMD and Broadcom could attract investors looking to reduce their exposure to Nvidia.
• Broader market impact: Nvidia’s substantial weighting in the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 means further declines could pressure major US indexes.

The company’s CUDA software ecosystem, data center partnerships and established chip roadmap remain important competitive advantages, even as investors reconsider the leadership risks.

What Happens Next for Nvidia Investors?

Nvidia’s November 17 earnings report will provide an important test of investor confidence, particularly regarding AI infrastructure spending, revenue guidance and management’s ability to execute its existing strategy.

Investors will also watch whether Kress maintains Nvidia’s financial commitments to AI companies and cloud infrastructure providers.

Although Huang’s resignation introduces significant uncertainty, Nvidia’s future stock performance will ultimately depend on earnings growth, customer demand and the company’s ability to maintain its technological leadership.

Huang has also stepped down as Nvidia’s president and a member of its board of directors, marking an abrupt leadership change at one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.

Why Did Jensen Huang Resign From Nvidia?

Huang’s resignation follows reports of two extramarital affairs, including a relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom US intelligence reportedly suspected of involvement in efforts to divert restricted Nvidia chips to China.

According to Reuters, Nvidia’s board met on Wednesday to consider removing Huang after additional reports emerged about his relationship with a company executive.

Earlier, Nvidia launched an independent investigation into possible foreign intelligence involvement, although the company said it had no reason to believe its confidential information or national security had been compromised.

The controversy also triggered a sharp decline in Nvidia shares, with the stock dropping more than 8% in after-hours trading following reports of Huang’s possible removal.

Nvidia Appoints Colette Kress as Interim CEO

Nvidia has appointed Colette Kress, who joined the company in 2013, as interim CEO while retaining her responsibilities as chief financial officer.

The company also named Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chairman of the board, with directors considering both internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position.

In its official announcement, Nvidia’s board expressed confidence in the new leadership:

“The Board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team, and we expect the company’s operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption.”

What Happens to Nvidia After Huang’s Departure?

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and transformed the graphics chipmaker into a dominant supplier of AI computing hardware, supported by its CUDA software ecosystem and increasingly powerful GPU architectures.

His departure creates uncertainty around Nvidia’s long-term leadership, particularly as the company prepares to advance its Blackwell and Rubin AI platforms while facing growing competition and tighter US export restrictions.

Nvidia will report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on November 17, giving investors an early opportunity to assess the company’s outlook following the unexpected leadership transition.

The awkward part for Apple is timing. The code went public on November 8. Apple shipped iOS 27.2.1 a day later, and its security notes for that update list nine fixes, none of them for the app sandbox or the container system this bug abuses.

Binance says worse_query is an iOS problem that reaches beyond its own app

Binance named iOS 26.7.1, 27.0.1 and 27.2 as affected, according to its advisory as quoted by CyberInsider. It said exposed files could include wallet seed phrases, private keys and login credentials. And it was blunt about scope: “This is an iOS-level issue, not unique to Binance.”

That last line is the one to take seriously. A seed phrase is the master key to a wallet. If an app copies it once, deleting that app later doesn’t help, because whoever has the phrase can rebuild the wallet anywhere.

Neither Binance nor the researcher has reported a single attack or theft tied to the flaw so far. This is a warning about what’s possible, not a report of stolen money.

How the worse_query sandbox escape works, according to Ostorlab’s breakdown

Every iPhone app lives in its own sandbox, a walled-off space it can’t see out of. Security firm Ostorlab published a technical breakdown on November 10 that explains how worse_query gets around that.

The trick uses App Groups, the shared folders Apple lets a developer’s apps and extensions use to swap data. A malicious app replaces its own App Group cache folder with a shortcut, called a symlink, that points somewhere else on the phone. The iOS service that hands out folder access follows that shortcut and grants access to the target without checking that it still sits inside the app’s own space. From there the app can read other apps’ data containers.

Ostorlab says no jailbreak and no kernel exploit is needed. The researcher’s README is just as direct, saying the project “is not relevant to a jailbreak and never will be.” It lists iOS 26.0 through 26.7.2 and iOS 27.2 as working, a wider range than Binance named.

Someone has already turned it into a tool. Developer Christoph Kolbicz released WQ Files, a file browser that uses the same technique to open, back up, edit and delete other apps’ data. Its README says it was tested on iOS 26.7.1, 27.0.1 and 27.2, and it installs only by sideloading through tools like AltStore and SideStore.

Apple’s iOS 27.2.1 security notes fix nine bugs but none in the sandbox

Here’s what Apple did patch on November 9. The iOS 27.2.1 notes cover AirPlay, Bluetooth, two CoreUtils pairing bugs, two iMessage group chat flaws, rapportd, the brotli compression library and App Intents. The update runs on iPhone 11 and later.

The App Intents entry, CVE-2026-113963, says an app “may be able to access sensitive user data.” Bitdefender pointed to it, but Apple doesn’t connect it to worse_query, and nobody has shown that it closes the hole. Ostorlab says Apple has published no advisory, no CVE and no patched version for this specific escape, and that it wasn’t on the US government’s list of known exploited bugs as of November 10.

So you should still install iOS 27.2.1, because the Bluetooth and iMessage fixes are real. Just don’t treat it as protection against this one.

What iPhone owners with crypto wallets should do before Apple ships a fix

The good news is that the attack needs a bad app on your phone first. Ostorlab says it requires a sideloaded or attacker-controlled app with an App Group container, running locally on the device. It can’t reach in over the internet by itself. Data protection may also keep some files unreadable while the phone is locked, though Ostorlab didn’t measure how much.

Binance, Ostorlab and Bitdefender line up on the same steps:

• Delete any app you didn’t get from the App Store, including sideloaded or self-signed IPA files and apps from AltStore-style sources.
• Remove configuration profiles you don’t recognize in Settings, under General, then VPN and Device Management.
• Install iOS 27.2.1 for the other fixes, and update your wallet apps.
• Stop keeping recovery phrases in screenshots, Photos or Notes, where any app that can read files can find them.
• If you ran an untrusted app, make a new wallet on a clean device, move your funds and sign out of active sessions.

If you hold a large balance, Bitdefender also suggests a hardware wallet, which keeps the keys off your phone entirely. And if a message arrives asking you to type in your seed phrase to “secure” your wallet after this news, it’s a scam. No real exchange asks for it.

Apple’s last update round fixed a long list of Bluetooth and iMessage bugs, which we covered in our iOS 27.2.1 report. If you were one of the people who got Apple’s recent threat notification, read what Apple told users in 99 countries, because that’s a separate problem with separate advice.