Month: September 2025

Apple Wallet App Unveils Upgraded ‘Pay Later’ Functionality for Transactions

### Apple Wallet Improves Pay Later Features

Since the sudden halt of Apple Pay Later last year, Apple has been consistently incorporating third-party ‘pay later’ services as substitutes. A recent update to the Apple Wallet has made these alternatives more accessible and easier to use.

In the past, Apple Pay supported third-party ‘pay later’ services like Klarna and Affirm, but the procedure was often concealed and cumbersome. Users needed to choose and configure a pay later option during the Apple Pay checkout process, which required double-pressing the iPhone’s side button to initiate Apple Pay, selecting Other Cards & Pay Later Options, and going through the setup process at the point of purchase.

The latest update significantly streamlines this process. As noted by Aaron Perris on social media, Apple has rolled out a new menu in the Wallet app. The ‘Pay Later Options’ feature is available to all Wallet app users on iOS 18 or iOS 26. Users can conveniently access this feature by tapping the ‘+’ button located in the upper-right corner of the app.

This new menu showcases all accessible pay later options, enabling users to finalize the setup process for their selected service before making a purchase. This pre-authorization step boosts convenience and enhances the visibility of these services by incorporating them directly into the Wallet app.

The timing of this update, aligning with the impending iPhone 17 release, indicates a strategic decision by Apple to elevate user experience and engagement with its payment services.

As users become accustomed to these modifications, feedback regarding the experience with pay later options in Apple Pay is welcomed.

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XGIMI Unveils Horizon 20 Series With Integrated Netflix and Debuts First Enterprise Projector

MoGo projectors in Paris this June, XGIMI is revealing new premium models as part of its Horizon 20 Series this week. With these projectors, the company continues to enhance its already impressive range of home projectors by addressing some issues with the earlier Horizon S Max model and reintroducing some beloved features from the Horizon Ultra model.

What distinguishes the new Horizon 20 Series — which encompasses the Horizon 20, Horizon 20 Pro, and Horizon 20 Max — is that they all provide support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Filmmaker Mode, IMAX Enhanced, and lens shifting with optical zoom, which were not fully available on the 2024 models.

XGIMI finally includes Netflix support in its high-end projectors, a feature highly sought after by its users. Moreover, the company aims to attract gamers through a collaboration with “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows” to enhance the gaming experience through low-latency gaming mode, 240Hz refresh rate, and VRR. Each model comes bundled with a complimentary code for the game. Furthermore, the Horizon 20 Max provides 5,700 ISO lumens of brightness, surpassing the previous S Max model which offered up to 3,100 ISO lumens of brightness.

XGIMI Titan represents the company’s dedication to enterprise projection

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iPhone 17 Air Anticipated to Cost $200 Extra Compared to the Least Expensive iPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 17 series unveiled on September 9, and now, a timely TrendForce report has disclosed the alleged specifications and pricing for each of the four devices debuting from the event. The analysts present specifications akin to earlier iPhone 17 speculations surrounding this year’s versions. The initial price points are somewhat more unexpected than what other experts have suggested for the iPhone 17 lineup, especially for the iPhone 17 Air, which might retail for $200 above the least expensive iPhone 16 Plus.

TrendForce anticipates that the ultra-slim iPhone will begin at $1,099, a cost that some buyers of the iPhone 17 Air may find less palatable. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to include a single camera on its rear and a significantly slimmer battery than the $899 iPhone 16 Plus. The Air is speculated to measure 5.5mm in thickness compared to 7.8mm for last year’s Plus model, which also provided users with an additional ultra-wide camera alongside the primary lens.

Nonetheless, there is some positive news in TrendForce’s analysis, assuming the details are correct. The iPhone 17 Air could come equipped with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. The $899 iPhone 16 Plus includes 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. To acquire the 256GB model, you’d need to spend $999, but the RAM remains at 8GB no matter the storage variants. With the inclusion of the A19 chip, the iPhone 17 Air becomes a worthwhile enhancement as manufacturers elevate flagship devices to ensure they are prepared to accommodate AI functionalities for years ahead. Considering these rumored enhancements, the iPhone 17 Air’s starting price of $1,099 is just $100 above its predecessor.

Price increases for all but one iPhone 17 variant

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How Smart Rings and Smartwatches Measure Blood Oxygen Levels

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Welcome to Tech Talk, a weekly article series dedicated to the tools we rely on and their functionality. We aim to simplify things so that everyone comprehends how and why the device you’re using performs as it does.

At times, the discussion may delve into technical aspects, as technology inherently possesses complexity and detail. However, we can collaborate to dismantle the information and render it understandable!

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Essential Factors for Enhancing Your Wireless Router: The Significance of the Most Recent Standard

### Enhancing Your Wireless Router for a Smart Home: The Significance of Wi-Fi for Matter Certification

If you are contemplating swapping your wireless router, particularly within a smart home setup, it is crucial to select a model that aligns with the latest standards. One of the most important developments in this domain is the launch of the Wi-Fi for Matter certification.

#### Reasons to Upgrade Your Router

As technology progresses, older routers may find it challenging to accommodate the requirements of contemporary smart home devices. Upgrading to a newer model can greatly improve your Wi-Fi connection and boost the reliability of your smart home products. A modern router can offer superior coverage, increased speeds, and enhanced security features.

#### The Significance of Matter Compatibility

Previously, users often sought HomeKit compatibility when choosing smart home devices. However, the attention is shifting toward Matter compatibility. Matter serves as a universal standard that aims to improve interoperability among smart home devices, simplifying their communication with one another.

The Wi-Fi for Matter certification provides two main advantages:

1. **Consistent Connectivity**: It guarantees that your Matter-certified devices maintain a stable and robust connection, reducing disruptions in your smart home network.

2. **Energy-Saving Capabilities**: With a compatible router, battery-operated devices can shift into a prolonged sleep mode to save energy. The router can reactivate these devices as required, improving their efficiency and battery longevity.

#### Essential Features of Wi-Fi for Matter Certification

The Wi-Fi for Matter certification integrates several existing standards, such as:

– **Wi-Fi 6**: Offers quicker speeds and better performance in densely populated areas.
– **WPA3 Security**: Bolsters security for your network, safeguarding against unauthorized access.
– **IPv4 Proxy Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)** and **IPv6 Proxy Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP)**: Enhance communication between devices on the network.

This indicates that when shopping for a new router, you simply need to seek one certification label: Wi-Fi for Matter.

#### Industry Perspectives

Kevin Robinson, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, underscores the significance of these technologies: “Wi-Fi and Matter are two foundational technologies propelling the next wave of IoT innovation. With Wi-Fi for Matter, we are assisting our members in accelerating the deployment of products that offer the scalability, simplicity, and interoperability that consumers anticipate in their connected homes.”

#### Summary

Upgrading your wireless router to one that includes the Wi-Fi for Matter certification is a wise decision for anyone aiming to improve their smart home experience. With enhanced connectivity, energy efficiency, and security, a modern router can profoundly affect the performance of your smart devices. As the smart home sector continues to develop, ensuring your network is ready to support the latest technologies will keep your home connected and optimized.

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Apple Arcade Unleashes Two Significant Titles Incorporating a Common Essential Feature

Apple Arcade has just unveiled two significant new offerings for its subscribers: NFL Retro Bowl ’26 and Jeopardy! Daily. In conjunction with their debut, an interview with Apple Arcade’s senior director sheds light on the increasing trend of IP-centric games launching.

## NFL Retro Bowl ’26 and Jeopardy! Daily are now live, part of a recent influx of IP-driven titles

Apple Arcade has established a pattern of releasing fresh titles monthly, typically on the same day. For September, today marks that launch day.

Among the newly released titles, two stand out prominently:

*NFL Retro Bowl ’26* features a fresh Retro Bowl Championship Leaderboard that enables players to engage in matches corresponding with the 2025 NFL season games.

*Jeopardy! Daily* is a daily puzzle experience filled with unique clues crafted by the beloved show’s writing team.

Both titles are designed to attract a wide range of users, yet they share a significant commonality: they are based on well-known existing IP.

The NFL and Jeopardy, of course, are both immensely recognizable brands and properties.

This trend has become more apparent with the latest Arcade launches.

## The rationale behind Apple Arcade’s increased focus on IP-based games

In an interview released today by The Verge, Apple Arcade’s senior director Alex Rothman acknowledged the success of IP-driven titles while contending that they aren’t monopolizing the service. Instead, they are part of a strategy to “meet the diverse needs of Apple users.”

> “We’re not exclusively going all in on IP,” Rothman stated. “It’s a diversified mix, as we cater to a wide player demographic.” While Rothman is aware of the criticisms Arcade has received, he insists that Apple is committed to the Arcade for the long term. “We are genuinely passionate about games,” he remarked. “It’s not just the Arcade team; it resonates throughout the company.”

The heightened focus on IP is not confined to Apple Arcade, but mirrors broader trends within the industry.

A notable point from the article is that Apple now “links its partner developers with major IP holders for collaboration chances.” This is how one of Arcade’s biggest hits, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, was created.

> “I believe *Hello Kitty* presents an intriguing story,” Rothman mentioned. He explained how the indie developer Sunblink initially released a game named *Heroish* on Apple Arcade in 2022. Rothman remarked that *Heroish* was “exceptionally high quality” and considered Sunblink an excellent collaborator to introduce a *Hello Kitty* game to Arcade. “We succeeded in bringing Sunblink together with Sanrio to create something truly unique,” Rothman noted. “Numerous attempts have been made over the years to develop *Hello Kitty* games, none of which succeeded until we paired Sunblink with

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Google’s Veo 3 Technology Improves Google Photos’ Photo-To-Video Functionality

the Google Photos interface a few months back introduced a new “Create” tab that provides users with quick access to innovative AI editing features, including a tool enabling the transformation of photos into videos. On Wednesday, the firm revealed a significant update for Google Photos, integrating support for Veo 3, Google’s premier AI video creation model. Veo 3 will manage photo-to-video transformations within Google Photos, ensuring users receive higher-quality clips than previously available. Initially, the previous Veo 2 video creation model took charge of these animation processes.

This enhancement is sensible, given that Google initially launched its Veo 3 photo-to-video AI editing feature in Gemini before it made its way to Google Photos. The Gemini functionality utilizes Veo 3 along with a text prompt to animate photos. The photo-to-video option in Google Photos is less intricate than in Gemini. Users can utilize the Create tab to infuse motion into still images, but they do not have the option to enter a text prompt. Instead, they can choose between two selections, “Subtle movement” and “I’m feeling lucky.” The AI then animates the images without providing more detailed control.

Google clarified in a blog post that users will have a limited allowance of Veo 3 photo-to-video generations daily. Subscribers to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra will enjoy higher limits. Furthermore, the Create tab, which is currently accessible to users in the U.S., will also incorporate several additional AI editing functions.

Additional AI editing features in Google Photos

Instagram Finally Debuts on iPad After 15 Years

Meta has at last released the official Instagram application for iPad, putting an end to years of speculation and user demands. In spite of earlier statements regarding resource limitations and a minimal user base, the postponement was likely attributed to Meta’s competition with Apple. Instagram, a key source of revenue for Meta, was acquired in 2012 but had not seen an iPad version until now. Launched in September 2025, the application emphasizes Reels, a feature influenced by TikTok, rather than its traditional photo content. The iPad application debuts a new Following tab, presenting three feeds: All, Friends, and Latest, which enable users to prioritize their content. The app’s design enhances Instagram’s functionalities for the larger iPad display, improving user experience with split-screen interactions and simplified content creation. A version for Android tablets is anticipated to arrive shortly.

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Playing YouTube Clips in the Background on Android Without Premium

One of the primary advantages of a YouTube Premium subscription is the ability to play videos in the background. However, at $14 per month, it can be challenging to rationalize this expense, particularly if other Premium perks are not utilized. If only there were a means to access this functionality without enrolling and incurring another subscription fee.

Fortunately, Microsoft is currently piloting a novel feature in its Edge browser for Android that could pose a challenge to YouTube’s paywall. This might even encourage Chrome users to migrate to Edge. Recently, a flag was uncovered in Microsoft Edge Canary — the browser’s beta testing channel — that permits users to play videos in the background when utilizing Edge. And here’s the highlight: This capability is not limited to YouTube videos. Any site that hosts an embedded media player stands to benefit from this new Edge flag.

At this stage, we are still experimenting with the Edge Canary iteration of this feature. This means that you can’t simply launch the standard Edge application; you’ll first need to install Edge Canary on your compatible Android device.

How to activate background playback in Edge Canary

How to Stop Meta from Scanning Your Images Without Your Awareness

Meta AI Terms of Service: “Depending on your geographical location, you might have the ability to share images with AIs. Upon sharing, you consent to Meta analyzing those images, including facial characteristics, through AI. This analysis enables us to provide innovative features, such as summarizing image content, altering images, and creating new content derived from the image. Additionally, you agree not to upload images to Meta AI that you are aware contain individuals residing in Illinois or Texas, unless you are their legally authorized representative and have their consent.”

You must manually access settings to disable this feature. This incident isn’t the first instance of the Meta AI app triggering user dissatisfaction. Likewise, it isn’t the initial occasion where companies have exploited user-generated content for their AI purposes to enhance profitability.

How to prevent Meta from scanning your photos