Android’s Latest Feature Improves the Capabilities of Always-On Display
Android’s AOD is becoming interactive.
Essential information
- Google’s upcoming significant update may bring “Min Mode,” an extensive redesign that changes the AOD from a fixed clock to a dynamic, app-based interface.
- Min Mode allows apps to display simplified, low-energy interfaces directly on the AOD without waking the screen fully.
- Initial code indicates that Maps will utilize Min Mode for live turn-by-turn navigation in a minimalist, monochrome format that only works in portrait orientation.
Notice
Read More
Samsung Galaxy A57 Model Identifier Verified in Testing Firmware
The development of Samsung’s next model following the Galaxy A56 is currently underway.
Essential Information
- The Samsung Galaxy A57 has been spotted on the company’s internal testing servers for the first time.
- This discovery indicates that the midrange device is in development, marking the second instance of the Galaxy A57’s model number being observed.
- To date, only the international model numbers have surfaced, leaving the U.S. release of the Galaxy A57 uncertain.
Read More
New AI Summaries in Play Store Improve App Discovery Effectiveness
Get the essence of any application in mere seconds with Play Store’s updated AI summaries.
Essential information
- Google is implementing AI-generated review summaries on the Play Store, summarizing app evaluations into a quick paragraph that showcases the most frequent advantages and disadvantages.
- Google’s AI gathers both commendations and criticisms—such as sleek interface but sporadic crashes—into a straightforward, impartial overview.
- Topic buttons presented as chips beneath the summary enable users to examine reviews regarding performance, design, or reliability.
Notice
Read More
Indie App Highlight: ‘Dropla’ – A Resource for Managing Files Across Various Applications
# Indie App Spotlight: Dropla – Your Universal File Shelf for iPad
Welcome to the Indie App Spotlight, a weekly feature by 9to5Mac that showcases cutting-edge applications from the indie app ecosystem. This week, we are thrilled to present **Dropla**, a multifunctional iPad app crafted to optimize file management and improve multitasking.
## What is Dropla?
Dropla is an iPad application that functions as a temporary repository for your files, resembling a universal clipboard but tailored for file management. It utilizes the iPad’s multitasking features, permitting users to seamlessly drop and organize files across various applications.
## Top Features
### Universal Temporary File Space
A key highlight of Dropla is its capability to act as a universal temporary file space. This feature is especially beneficial for users frequently transitioning between different apps, as it streamlines the act of dragging and dropping files.
### Project Organization
Dropla surpasses basic file management by providing project organization tools. Users can select from a kanban board or grid layout to outline workflows involving multiple files, facilitating project visualization and management.
### Multiple Workspaces
The application supports the creation of several workspaces, allowing users to arrange their dropped files according to distinct contexts. This functionality is perfect for individuals managing various projects or tasks at once.
### Intelligent File Handling
Dropla smartly manages the files you input. For example, if you drop an email, it will reopen in the mail application, and PDFs will launch in Quick Look for effortless editing. This seamless integration boosts the user experience and conserves time.
## Who Should Use Dropla?
If you are an avid iPad multitasker frequently handling a multitude of files, Dropla is an essential app to explore. Its user-friendly design and robust features make it a vital tool for anyone seeking to enhance their productivity on the iPad.
## Download the App
Dropla is accessible on the
Read More
Anticipated Release of New Apple TV and HomePod Mini: Hopes and Truths
### Upcoming Changes at Apple Stores: What to Expect
In the most recent Power On newsletter from Bloomberg, Mark Gurman has informed that Apple retail staff are gearing up for an overnight update on November 11th, with possible changes to be revealed on November 12th. Although these changes might be small, they reflect Apple’s persistent dedication to maintaining a dynamic and engaging retail experience for customers.
#### Anticipated Product Launches
As the tech world anticipated October, many conjectured that Apple would reveal new products, such as the M5 chip in the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Vision Pro, along with updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Nevertheless, these expected launches did not occur, leaving many questioning the timeline for these items.
During a recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook conveyed enthusiasm regarding the upcoming product lineup for the holiday season, implying that major new releases may not take place before the year concludes. This remark has caused analysts to presume that the Apple TV and HomePod mini, although possibly facing supply shortages, may not have new iterations released until early next year.
#### The Significance of Inventory Levels
Gurman emphasizes that the declining stock of the Apple TV and HomePod mini might suggest that new versions are imminent. A reduction in inventory often indicates that a refresh is on the way, especially since these products are anticipated to incorporate enhanced Siri and Apple Intelligence features in the following year.
Despite the conjecture, it seems improbable that these items will launch before the end of 2025. However, should they do, November 12th could be a crucial date for their introduction in stores.
#### Visual Refresh for the Holidays
As Apple gets ready for the holiday season, the forthcoming store refresh may prioritize visual enhancements rather than new product introductions. This strategy aligns with Apple’s plan to improve the in-store atmosphere, making it more attractive to holiday shoppers.
In summary, while enthusiasm for new Apple products persists, the immediate emphasis seems to be on revitalizing the retail experience. Customers can anticipate a visually refreshed atmosphere at Apple Stores beginning November 12th, with the possibility of new product announcements in the coming future.
Read More
Apple is set to unveil iOS 26.2 Beta shortly following the release of iOS 26.1, as reported by Gurman.
**Apple’s Upcoming iOS 26.2 Update: What to Anticipate**
Apple is preparing for the rollout of its forthcoming significant update to iOS, version 26.2, with indications that a beta version might be accessible as early as Tuesday. This announcement comes in the wake of the expected public release of iOS 26.1, which is anticipated on Monday, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
### iOS 26.1 Launch
The iOS 26.1 update brings several new features, including a significant ‘Tinted’ toggle for Liquid Glass, designed to improve readability, albeit compromising aesthetics. Nevertheless, this update is seen as relatively minor. Users should prepare for the deployment of iOS 26.1 on Monday, assuming there are no last-minute setbacks.
### iOS 26.2 Beta Release
After the launch of iOS 26.1, Apple is poised to unveil the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 shortly thereafter. This beta is likely to coincide with updates for Apple’s other platforms as well. While early reports indicate that the initial beta may not showcase major new features, there is a possibility for modifications as the beta cycle advances. For example, the Liquid Glass toggle in iOS 26.1 was introduced in the fourth beta version, just prior to the release candidate.
### Anticipated Features of iOS 26.2
At present, expectations for iOS 26.2 are low-key. One of the sought-after features is support for US passports in Apple Wallet, which Apple has vowed to implement before the year’s end. However, this feature might not be dependent on the new iOS version.
Furthermore, Apple has guaranteed end-to-end encryption for RCS (Rich Communication Services) in upcoming software updates. Although it remains unclear if this feature will debut with iOS 26.2, the upcoming update provides another chance for its introduction.
Aside from these features, not many other enhancements are anticipated, although Apple is known for unexpectedly surprising users with new updates. Traditionally, iOS updates are launched to the public in December, hinting that iOS 26.2 might continue this pattern.
### Conclusion
As Apple gets ready for the iOS 26.2 update, users can anticipate the first beta release shortly after the public launch of iOS 26.1. While significant new features may not be on the immediate horizon, the possibility for enhancements and new functionalities keeps excitement alive. With the pledge of improved features such as passport support and RCS encryption, iOS 26.2 could still provide valuable updates for Apple users in the upcoming months.
Read More
Apple’s Upcoming Siri to Leverage Google Gemini Models for Improved Capabilities
### Apple’s Upcoming Siri Enhancement: A Major Advancement through Google Gemini Integration
Apple is poised to upgrade its Siri voice assistant with a notable update scheduled to be unveiled with iOS 26.4 in the spring of the following year. This update will bring a new architecture that utilizes Google’s Gemini models, indicating a strategic transition in how Siri interprets user requests and provides answers.
#### Main Characteristics of the New Siri Interface
The forthcoming Siri update will be driven by a tailored Gemini model operating on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers. This setup will allow Siri to manage more intricate inquiries, such as personal prompts like “retrieve the book suggestion from Mom,” by tapping into and analyzing data saved on the user’s device instantaneously.
The revamped Siri architecture will include three primary elements:
1. **Query Planner**: This segment will ascertain the optimal method for responding to user questions.
2. **Knowledge Search System**: This will facilitate Siri in accessing a wider grasp of diverse subjects and trivia, enabling more knowledgeable replies.
3. **Summarizer**: This aspect will distill information and furnish succinct responses to user inquiries.
#### Focus on User Privacy
Apple has reiterated that safeguarding user privacy is of utmost importance. The incorporation of Google Gemini models will take place solely on Apple’s servers, guaranteeing that no external data sharing occurs. Moreover, personal data on devices will be processed using Apple’s proprietary Foundation Models, further protecting user information.
#### Improved Knowledge Functionality
The enhanced knowledge search feature driven by Gemini models will enable Siri to respond to general knowledge inquiries without depending on third-party integrations or basic internet search outcomes. This improvement seeks to elevate the overall user experience by delivering more precise and pertinent information directly from Siri.
#### Behind the Curtain: A Collaborative Partnership
Although the backend execution of the Gemini models is intricate, Apple is not anticipated to publicly endorse this alliance. Instead, the new Siri functionalities will be presented as unique Apple technology, seamlessly integrated within the Apple ecosystem. This strategy reflects approaches utilized by other tech firms, such as Samsung, which incorporates Google technology in its Galaxy AI functionalities.
#### Expected Launch and Future Innovations
Apple is predicted to reveal the new Siri functionalities alongside the introduction of iOS 26.4, expected in March or April. Aside from the Siri update, Apple is allegedly working on a new smart home display device that will harness the advanced capabilities of the AI assistant.
In summary, the upcoming Siri enhancement signifies a considerable progress in Apple’s voice assistant technology, propelled by a strategic partnership with Google. As users progressively anticipate advanced AI features, this update aims to fulfill those expectations while upholding a strong dedication to privacy and data protection.
Read More
Meta’s Q3 2025 Earnings Affected by Reality Labs and Taxes; Zuckerberg Talks AI Glasses Profitability Schedule
Despite encouraging sales of Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, losses at Meta Quest escalated Reality Labs losses to $4.4 billion this quarter.
What you should be aware of:
– Meta generated $51.2 billion in revenue, primarily from advertising, but only saw $2.7 billion in net income due to a One Beautiful Bill income tax and AI infrastructure capital expenditures.
– Reality Labs recorded a loss of $4.4 billion this quarter, with expectations of further declines in the next quarter unless a new Meta Quest launch occurs.
– The user base for Instagram and Threads grew to 3 billion and 150 million, respectively.
– The company plans to invest tens of billions into Meta Superintelligence Labs in 2026, and could face financial losses from lawsuits concerning child safety.
Meta is achieving unprecedented levels of advertising revenue and is successfully engaging users on its platforms for extended periods, utilizing AI, Mark Zuckerberg highlighted in Meta’s Q3 2025 earnings call. However, the company is also investing tens of billions in AI infrastructure to “front-load” computing power for an AI Superintelligence, leading to investor anxiety.
Zuckerberg and CFO Susan Li revealed the company’s record revenue of $51.2 billion this quarter, yet Meta’s net income plummeted 83% year-over-year, attributed to significant AI capital expenditures and a one-time $15.9 billion income tax from Trump’s 2025 tax law.
Aside from the tax one-off, Meta insists that the $19.4 billion spent this quarter on AI servers, data centers, and network infrastructure is “very likely to be a profitable thing” as it hastens their AI research on Superintelligence and enhances advertising efficiency. This approach is familiar to Meta, which makes substantial investments in visionary concepts like the “Metaverse” with the future promise of returns.
Promising a ‘profitable’ future for Reality Labs (eventually) following years of deficits:
During the Q3 earnings call, Meta took pride in the success of its recent AI glasses, noting that most Meta Ray-Ban Display store inventory sold out within “48 hours.” Nonetheless, Reality Labs’ research and development expenses remained high, resulting in a $4.4 billion net loss this quarter after generating $470 million in revenue.
Li stated that they expect “significant year-over-year growth in AI glasses revenue” next quarter, driven by the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 and Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, but these profits will be “more than offset by the hurdles associated with Quest headsets,” mainly due to the absence of a Quest 3S launch this year.
It is somewhat unexpected that Ray-Ban sales are not anticipated to alleviate Reality Labs’ losses, or at least replicate the previous success of Quest headsets during the holiday season. Nevertheless, Zuckerberg reassured investors that “it will be a very profitable investment” in due course, starting with revenue from the glasses and then expanding “services” built on the hardware.
Zuckerberg elaborated that research and development expenses will persist for upcoming devices like Meta Orion, their full-field of view AR glasses, asserting that smart glasses are still “earlier in their curve” before evolving into a “sustained business.”
Eventually, however, they aim to engage “many hundreds of millions or billions of people, and that’s the juncture at which we foresee this becoming an extremely profitable business,” Zuckerberg concluded.
The Meta CEO previously mentioned the vision of billions of smart glasses in an earlier earnings call; current projections indicate that the total is still far from ten million, though EssilorLuxottica is gearing up to sell 10 million pairs of AI glasses annually beginning in 2026, with Meta as a key partner.
Meta’s plans and concerns for 2026:
Meta asserts that following this one “Big Beautiful Bill” tax obligation, there will be a “significant reduction in our U.S. federal cash tax payments,” thereby decreasing operational costs in the future. However, Meta is expected to reinvest those savings into AI.
Having spent a total of $70–72 billion on capital expenditures in 2025, Li cautions that “total expenses will increase at a considerably faster percentage rate in 2026 compared to 2025, with growth primarily driven by infrastructure costs, including additional cloud expenses and depreciation.”
This will facilitate the construction of Meta’s Superintelligence that “understands us deeply, appreciates our aspirations, and can aid us in realizing them.” Zuckerberg indicated that they are developing “truly frontier models with novel capabilities,” although he did not specify when these advanced AI tools will be available.
Meta also alerted investors that ongoing pressure from the European Union could result in a “significant negative impact on our European revenue,” while in the U.S., “a number of youth-related trials are scheduled for 2026” which could lead to financial losses. Meta has faced criticism for allegedly concealing potential dangers to children from VR games.
Read More
YouTube Introduces AI Technology to Upgrade Low-Quality Videos to HD
a novel initiative aimed at enhancing overall video quality throughout the platform. The streaming leader unveiled a groundbreaking feature that will utilize AI technology to upgrade low-resolution videos to 1080p HD. In the future, it will eventually elevate content to 4K. YouTube emphasizes that “creators will maintain full control over their library.” This indicates that users will continue to have authority over their original files and that the source video won’t be replaced with a higher resolution version. In essence, creators wishing to experiment with Google’s innovative AI tools don’t have to be concerned about losing access to their original videos.
Per YouTube’s announcement, the AI upscaling feature will be turned on by default. Users who prefer not to upscale their content can choose to opt out. YouTube also states that it will inform viewers when they are viewing an AI upscaled video. These videos will bear the label “super resolution.” Users wishing to avoid AI enhancements will still have the option to watch videos in their original resolution.
YouTube has been operational for twenty years, and often, one can identify when a video was uploaded simply by its quality. Although most content today is uploaded in sharp HD, the entire YouTube library is filled with videos recorded on outdated camera phones, early smartphones, camcorders, and various obsolete video recording equipment. It remains uncertain if YouTube will offer AI upscaling for these older videos. While there is merit in appreciating a video at its original resolution, the opportunity to view early 1980s NBA footage in HD would certainly be an appreciated advantage.
YouTube has additional features on the horizon
Apple Might Tackle My Primary Issue with the iPad Mini
# The Prospects of the iPad Mini: Foreseeing a Screen Enhancement
The iPad mini has consistently held a distinctive role in Apple’s tablet offerings. Its sleek design and ease of use have attracted many, although its screen quality has frequently left users desiring improvements. Nevertheless, recent indications imply that the iPad mini could soon attain the upgrades necessary to become a more attractive choice for buyers.
## A Short History of the iPad Mini
Debuting in 2012, the iPad mini was intended to present a compact alternative to the conventional iPad. Throughout the years, it has seen multiple updates, but its size and pricing have often complicated its recommendation. In 2021, Apple refreshed the iPad mini with a redesigned exterior and a larger 8.3-inch display, representing a notable enhancement. Yet, despite these modifications, the display technology has remained unchanged, featuring a 60Hz LCD panel that did not fulfill the expectations of numerous users.
## The Screen Conundrum
For a lot of users, the iPad mini’s dimensions are a significant attraction, being portable yet sufficiently spacious for a variety of tasks. Nevertheless, the screen quality has been a continual concern. The upgrade to a larger display did not come with a corresponding improvement in display technology, resulting in dissatisfaction among those who emphasize visual excellence. The iPad mini’s LCD screen, while adequate, falls short when compared to the OLED displays utilized in newer iPhones and iPads.
## Speculation of an OLED Upgrade
Recent sources suggest that Apple is developing a new iPad mini that might sport an OLED display. As reported by Bloomberg, this potential enhancement could greatly improve the visual experience for users. OLED technology provides deeper blacks, more vibrant hues, and superior contrast ratios, making it a highly sought-after enhancement for the iPad mini.
Implementing an OLED display would align the iPad mini with Apple’s existing benchmarks for its other gadgets, especially considering that all iPhones currently feature OLED screens. This shift could render the iPad mini a more appealing choice for those who prioritize screen quality.
## ProMotion Technology: A Potential Inclusion
An outstanding question is whether the upcoming iPad mini will also feature ProMotion technology, which allows for a higher refresh rate and smoother scrolling. While Bloomberg’s report does not verify this functionality, the recent launch of ProMotion in the baseline iPhone 17 stirs optimism that it may also be integrated into the iPad mini. A ProMotion screen would further elevate the user experience, particularly for multitasking and gaming activities.
## The Effect of iPadOS 26
The anticipated iPadOS 26 introduces a refreshed multitasking interface designed to optimize the iPad mini’s capabilities. Despite its smaller screen, the iPad mini will facilitate this new multitasking system, enhancing its versatility for productivity. Paired with an OLED display and potentially ProMotion, the iPad mini could evolve into a robust device for users requiring a blend of portability and performance.
## Conclusion
The iPad mini holds the potential to transform into a more competitive device within Apple’s range, particularly if the anticipated upgrades materialize. An OLED display, possibly coupled with ProMotion technology, would address many of the issues users have raised regarding display quality. As Apple continues to push boundaries in innovation, the outlook for the iPad mini seems bright, and many are keen to witness how these enhancements will upgrade the device into a more attractive option for consumers.
Read More