Author: Richard

Latest Enhancements and Modifications in iOS 26.2 Beta 1

# iOS 26.2 Beta 1: What’s New

iOS 26.2 beta 1 has arrived, introducing an array of changes and enhancements to iPhone software. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the main updates featured in this pre-release version.

## Sleep Score Changes

Apple has overhauled the Sleep Score functionality in its sleep tracking system. The top tier, formerly known as “Excellent,” has now been updated to “Very High.” Moreover, the thresholds for each category have been modified based on user insights, which suggested that the earlier scoring system was excessively broad and too optimistic.

[Read more about the change here.](https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/04/watchos-26-2-sleep-score-changes-apple-watch/)

## Apple Podcasts App Enhancements

Significant improvements have been made to the Apple Podcasts app through the adoption of AI technology. With iOS 26.2, the application can now autonomously create chapters, link to cited podcasts, and assemble show links, thus enriching the overall user experience.

[Read more about the updates here.](https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/04/ios-26-2-includes-three-helpful-upgrades-to-apple-podcasts-app/)

## Apple News Design

Following the substantial redesign of iOS 26, iOS 26.2 further enhances the Apple News app. Users will now discover quick links to trending sections, making navigation more straightforward and efficient.

[Read more about the design change here.](https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/04/ios-26-2s-apple-news-app-has-a-new-and-improved-design/)

## AirPods Live Translation in EU

Apple has revealed that the Live Translation feature for AirPods will launch in European Union countries starting in December. This rollout is anticipated to align with the official launch of iOS 26.2.

[Read more about the rollout plans here.](https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/04/airpods-live-translation-feature-coming-to-the-eu-next-month/)

## Liquid Glass Lock Screen Slider

An innovative Liquid Glass slider has been introduced, allowing users to modify the translucency of the Lock Screen clock. This feature is now compatible with all font styles, offering a more customized appearance.

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Assessing the Optimal Moment to Buy Phones During Black Friday Promotions

It’s essentially betting.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

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Charging Velocity of the OnePlus 15: A Review

OnePlus has once again raised the bar in smartphone charging technology with the introduction of the OnePlus 15. This flagship model showcases exceptional charging capabilities, surpassing its rivals thanks to its sophisticated SuperVOOC and AirVOOC protocols. The OnePlus 15 allows for rapid charging with up to 120W wired support, enabling users to swiftly recharge their devices with a compatible charger. Moreover, it features up to 50W wireless charging, positioning it as one of the fastest charging smartphones on the market.

Equipped with a substantial 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery, the OnePlus 15 guarantees prolonged usage without the need for frequent recharges. This significant battery capacity, combined with the swift charging capabilities, ensures that users can enjoy extended phone functionality with minimal interruptions. The device’s impressive charging abilities are enhanced by its state-of-the-art hardware, which includes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display featuring a 165Hz refresh rate.

The OnePlus 15 also sports a revamped triple-lens camera system, IP69K rated dust and water resistance, and up to 1TB of storage, presenting a well-rounded option for technology aficionados. As OnePlus continues to push the envelope in charging technology, the OnePlus 15 emerges as a frontrunner in the smartphone sector, delivering exceptional performance and convenience.

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Apple News App in iOS 26.2 Showcases Improved Design and User Interaction

Apple has unveiled the inaugural beta iteration of iOS 26.2, showcasing notable design enhancements to the News app to elevate user experience. This update illustrates the app’s transformation from a basic news aggregator into a versatile platform that encompasses a variety of features, including daily puzzles, culinary recipes, and specialized areas for sports and politics.

### Key Features of the iOS 26.2 News Update

Among the most significant alterations in the iOS 26.2 beta 1 are the addition of four new quick links situated at the top of the Today screen, which include:

– **Sports**
– **Puzzles**
– **Politics**
– **Food**

These quick links offer immediate access to their corresponding sections, simplifying navigation and minimizing the number of taps required to access popular content.

In a thoughtful redesign, the Sports segment has been relocated from the bottom tab bar to the new top menu row, facilitating the introduction of a new ‘Following’ navigation tab. This tab merges features that were formerly available through the Search button, delivering a more structured and intuitive browsing experience.

When users select Search, they will now see search suggestions akin to those available in other Apple services, such as Music and TV, simplifying the process of discovering content suited to their interests.

### Overall Impact

Although the core appearance of the News app remains mostly untouched, the enhancements to navigation and the accessibility of favored features signify a considerable upgrade for frequent users. The design modifications aim to boost user engagement by facilitating the discovery and enjoyment of a broader range of content.

As users navigate the new features, feedback regarding the design changes is welcomed, underscoring the continuous progression of the Apple News app in alignment with user requirements and preferences.

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AirPods Set to Launch Live Translation Functionality in the EU Next Month

**Apple’s Live Translation Capability for AirPods Poised to Debut in the EU**

Following delays linked to regulatory ambiguities regarding the Digital Market Act, Apple has officially revealed that its groundbreaking Live Translation capability for AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 featuring Active Noise Cancellation will be accessible in the European Union starting next month.

### Prerequisites for Live Translation

To leverage the Live Translation capability, users must have compatible AirPods synced with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro or later models. This feature is anticipated to be part of the upcoming iOS 26.2 update, which has recently been rolled out to developer beta channels.

### Language Support

Live Translation will encompass several commonly spoken foreign languages, including:

– French
– German
– Portuguese
– Spanish
– Italian
– Japanese
– Korean
– Chinese

### Functionality

Live Translation is a free software enhancement for compatible devices in eligible areas. Users will be notified of access to this feature when a new ‘Live’ tab emerges in the Translate app on their connected iPhone.

When utilizing AirPods, users can partake in discussions with speakers of different languages and perceive the translated dialogue directly in their ears. Furthermore, the iPhone’s Translate app will generate a transcript of the discussion, enabling users to reply in English while the other person can view the translated text on the display.

### Initiation and Efficiency

The Live Translation mode can be activated by pressing both AirPods at once or by starting a conversation via the Translate app on the connected iPhone.

While the idea of Live Translation is encouraging, users might notice a minor lag between the spoken words and the translated output. Although it might not be as fluid as one would hope, it serves as a valuable tool for communication in multilingual environments. Soon, EU residents will have the chance to benefit from this feature, enriching their conversational experiences across linguistic boundaries.

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9to5Mac Daily: iOS 26.1 Launched on November 4, 2025

**9to5Mac Daily: Your Daily Source for Apple News and Insights**

In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, keeping up with current news is vital, particularly for Apple fans. 9to5Mac Daily offers a simple way to stay informed on the most significant stories concerning Apple and its ecosystem. This enlightening podcast aims to provide daily summaries of key events, making sure that listeners are well-acquainted with the latest advancements.

**Podcast Availability**

9to5Mac Daily is available on multiple platforms, allowing users to enjoy it on their preferred devices. The podcast can be located on:

– [iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9to5mac-daily/id1331816080)
– [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/9to5mac-daily)
– [TuneIn](https://tunein.com/radio/9to5Mac-Daily-p1089524/)
– [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/I5d4dzs7dauazmfxvvrynyiuram?t=9to5Mac_Daily)

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Apple Set to Introduce Budget-Friendly MacBook in 2026 to Compete with Chromebooks and Low-Cost PCs

report from Bloomberg. The motivation behind Apple’s choice to introduce an economical MacBook is to enhance its competitiveness against a growing market of affordable and capable PCs and Chromebooks. Although Apple has a history of prioritizing premium products at high prices, it also seeks to tap into a substantial market segment of consumers who prefer not to spend over $1,500 on a MacBook Pro.

The cost of Apple’s more budget-friendly MacBook is anticipated to be “significantly below $1,000.” Apple will manage to control production expenses while maximizing its profits by using lower-grade components. This indicates that the laptop will not feature an M-series processor; rather, it will utilize an iPhone processor. Additionally, the device will include a “less advanced LCD display.” Unsurprisingly, the form factor of the device will be quite compact as well. The report highlights that it will be smaller than the existing MacBook Air, which sports a 13.6-inch display. Interestingly, Apple launched a MacBook Air with an 11.6-inch display in 2010. It stands to reason that Apple’s entry-level MacBook will measure between 11.6 and 13.6 inches. This isn’t uncharted territory for Apple, as the company introduced a 12-inch MacBook back in 2015.

Apple’s affordable Mac won’t lose too much performance

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Microsoft Teams to Introduce New Workplace Monitoring Functions

“vibe operating” AI agents to adjustable keyboard shortcuts. One modification, however, has users concerned that their employers might start monitoring their locations at work. According to a recent development roadmap issued by Microsoft, Teams will soon utilize users’ Wi-Fi connections to ascertain their locations, enabling employers to know where users are whenever they connect to their network. The adjustment aims to promote company synergy by allowing team members to observe each other’s locations, potentially enhancing productivity. Detractors, however, fear that the feature will facilitate workplace surveillance, potentially jeopardizing the independence and privacy of users.

This update is part of a larger initiative by Microsoft to elevate the productivity capabilities of its enterprise offerings. With 320 million users worldwide, Teams stands as one of the most widely used collaborative platforms globally, functioning as a videoconferencing, instant messaging, shared calendar, and document-sharing application. Competing with entities like Google, Zoom, and Salesforce’s Slack, Microsoft has consistently broadened the functionalities of its collaborative application, with a robust AI initiative at the heart of these endeavors. Whether the Teams’ location update will generate as much debate as the Copilot AI-driven price increase of Microsoft 365, however, is yet to be determined. As it is, the update is anticipated to commence in December 2025, granting users a few months to relish geographical anonymity in the workplace.

The particulars regarding Teams’ workplace tracking remain unclear

Initiating Your Journey with the Revamped Fitbit AI Personal Health Coach and Application

Fitbit Unveils a Fresh Look and Enhanced AI Features, But the Experience Remains in Early Development

After hinting at a significant redesign for the Fitbit app earlier this year, Google is now launching the new experience for select users. This introduces a completely fresh appearance to the app, resulting in a much more visually engaging experience, complete with a new layout and updated navigation. However, it offers more than just a cosmetic change.

Alongside the new appearance, Google is launching an AI-driven health coach to assist you in establishing a personalized fitness plan. This feature is integrated throughout the new user interface, making it easy to reach the coach from anywhere to receive contextual insights on your performance and metrics.

Who is Eligible for the New Fitbit Preview?

The primary requirement for accessing the new Fitbit preview is a subscription to Fitbit Premium. This subscription costs $9.99 per month, or you can opt for an annual plan at the equivalent rate of $7.99 per month. If you’ve recently acquired a new Fitbit device, such as the Pixel Watch 4, you may also be eligible for a free trial.

Google also mentions that the preview is currently exclusive to U.S. Fitbit subscribers, though this could change as testing progresses.

Steps to Join the Fitbit Preview

1. Launch the app. A banner at the top may highlight the “new Fitbit features.” Tap Join.
2. Review the subsequent page and tap Join public preview.
3. The next page will underscore how the Fitbit preview leverages Google AI, indicating it will have access to prior and future Fitbit data, along with other “Things to know.” Once you complete your review, tap Agree.
4. The following page will inquire if you wish to permit your data to aid in health research “to develop health and wellness features at Fitbit and Google,” although participation is optional. Review the details regarding its operation and data usage, then tap Agree or No thanks at the bottom.
5. Tap Start exploring to view a brief introduction of the new Fitbit features accessible in the preview.
6. After the introduction, you’ll be prompted to start a conversation with the AI to begin establishing your goals. You can tap Continue to start the chat or Explore the app now, chat later to delve into the new Fitbit experience.
7. The AI health coach will give a brief introduction about itself and the purpose of the initial conversation. Start by expressing what you aim to achieve. You can mention phrases like “I want to lose weight,” “I want to gain muscle,” “I want to enhance my running stamina,” or any mixture of goals you wish to reach. Converse naturally.
8. Keep discussing with the AI coach as it queries you about past or current methods for achieving your goals, your motivations, and more. In the end, it will summarize the discussion.
9. The coach will ask if you wish to develop a workout plan based on your goals. Tap Continue to create a workout plan or Explore the app to set it up later.
10. While creating the workout plan, the AI coach will utilize the prior conversation about your goals and motivations to start proposing a plan. Use this opportunity to inform the coach of any current fitness activities so it can tailor a more specific plan for you, including the days you prefer to engage in certain activities.
11. Continue the dialogue with the AI coach, which will modify its plan based on the information you share. It may inquire about the equipment you have available or any medical issues that might affect your workouts.
12. At the conclusion of the conversation, the AI coach will recap what was discussed. Tap Take me back to the app to explore the new Fitbit.

Your plan will take a few moments to generate and will be displayed on the Today tab once completed, as well as in the Fitness tab, where you can modify the plan or discuss it further with the AI coach.

Discovering the New Fitbit Preview

The updated Fitbit user interface features four primary tabs at the bottom, each concentrating on a different aspect of your health.

The Today tab has been refreshed, showcasing pertinent updates and insights from today’s activities, your sleep, and a recap of the previous day’s activities and metrics. Tapping the pencil icon allows you to modify the focus metrics that show at the top of the Today tab.

The Fitness tab replaces the former Coach tab. Here, you can view your workout plan, exercise days, recent activities, key metrics, and more. You can also see your current goal at the top and adjust it if necessary.

The Sleep tab offers insights on your sleep with straightforward methods to track your sleep consistency and key metrics like the duration spent in each sleep stage.

The Health tab provides a summary of your vitals and overall health. This is where you can enable detection features, such as warnings for high and low heart rates.

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The Galaxy S26 Series Predicted to Feature a Greater Price Tag Than Expected

Escalating expenses for chips, cameras, and RAM might lead to a slight increase in the price of Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy S26 series.

What you need to know

– Samsung could postpone the launch of the Galaxy S26 until February 2026 due to a late adjustment in the lineup.
– Reports indicate that the Galaxy S26 series may experience a price elevation because of the rising costs of essential phone components.
– Prices for chipsets, camera modules, and DRAM have all escalated, creating additional pressure on Samsung’s production expenses.

As the year draws to a close, information regarding the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is beginning to surface. We recently discovered that Samsung might delay the release of the Galaxy S26 series until February 2026 due to the last-minute change of the Galaxy S26 Plus taking the place of the Galaxy S26 Edge in the lineup, and now another leak about the series has emerged, which could be a disappointment for your finances.

Korean publication ET News (via @Jukanlosreve on X) reveals that the price of the Galaxy S26 series could be higher compared to the Galaxy S25 because of increasing component costs. The report indicates that this price increase may result from the simultaneous rise in numerous internal component expenses.

Anticipated price increase for Samsung’s upcoming flagship models

An earlier report this year noted that the average prices for smartphone chipsets have surged by over 12% relative to last year, while the cost for camera modules has risen by nearly 8%. Additionally, Mobile DRAM (LPDDR5) prices have seen an increase of nearly 16% compared to Q1 of this year due to restricted supply. Compounding this issue, the smartphone tariff context in the U.S. remains unpredictable.

Overall, this could imply that Samsung might not be able to absorb the increased costs this time, potentially resulting in higher prices for the Galaxy S26 series when it officially debuts next year.

Samsung did not raise the prices of the Galaxy S25 series over the S24 lineup in January 2025. However, Samsung did raise the price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra by $100 upon its launch in January 2024, so if there is another price increase, it would signal the second rise in three years.

Of course, nothing is confirmed yet, and many factors could evolve before the flagship smartphone series officially debuts, but a price increase seems likely. Nevertheless, Samsung may opt to absorb the additional costs, especially considering how well the Pixel 10 series is performing in the U.S. market.

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