Author: Richard

Adobe Photoshop, Express, and Acrobat Now Available at No Cost on ChatGPT

Beginning today, functionalities from three of Adobe’s key products will be incorporated into ChatGPT, at no cost. Here’s how it works.

Adobe has announced that effective today, users of ChatGPT can send natural language commands to modify images, produce animations, and manage, combine, extract, or edit text and content from PDFs with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Express, and Adobe Acrobat.

The company asserts that while these features effectively showcase the capabilities of its products to users who may not be familiar with their comprehensive tools, they also provide a quicker way to make rapid edits, even for experienced users.

Ely Greenfield, Chief Technology Officer and Digital Media business head at Adobe, remarked on today’s launch, stating that their advancements in conversational interfaces enable the integration of Adobe’s applications into external platforms like ChatGPT. This connectivity allows users to engage in creative tasks—editing images, designing invitations, modifying documents—while offering the accuracy and control characteristic of Adobe’s tools, all within the chat environment. Users can smoothly switch from ChatGPT to Adobe’s native apps for complete functionality.

### Adobe Photoshop on ChatGPT

With this integration, users can upload an image to ChatGPT and request edits, such as modifying brightness levels. If the outcome doesn’t meet expectations, users can manually tweak it using sliders for brightness, contrast, and exposure, similar to the actual Photoshop interface.

ChatGPT and Photoshop can also detect elements in the image, enabling more precise requests, like applying a charcoal drawing effect to an image while omitting certain components. Users can ask for effects like glitch, glow, or motion blur, and receive previews to refine further. If needed, users can hit an “Open in Photoshop” button to access the web-based version of Photoshop directly from ChatGPT.

### Adobe Express for ChatGPT

Users can submit prompts to create design concepts via Adobe Express, such as crafting a birthday card according to particular themes and preferences. Adobe Express will supply several design alternatives, which can be tailored based on user suggestions. Users can also ask for animated versions of their designs, and if desired, they can open the web-based version of Adobe Express for more extensive editing.

### Adobe Acrobat for ChatGPT

Users can upload PDFs to ChatGPT for manual edits or formatting. In addition, users can ask to merge multiple PDFs, and ChatGPT will offer a drag-and-drop interface for effortless organization and editing. Users can also extract text, compress files, or create new versions of PDFs, reflecting the functionalities of the full Adobe Acrobat application.

All features launching today are available for free to all 800+ million ChatGPT users globally. Adobe has confirmed that these integrations are accessible starting on December 10 on ChatGPT desktop, web, and iOS, with Adobe Express for ChatGPT also arriving on Android. Support for Photoshop and Acrobat on Android is forthcoming.

Adobe intends to keep introducing new features to its applications on ChatGPT in the upcoming weeks.

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Apple Reportedly Breached US Sanctions by Ignoring App Guidelines

Apple has been charged with breaching U.S. sanctions by permitting various applications from sanctioned firms to persist on its App Store. This discovery emerged from an inquiry by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which revealed that both Apple and Google featured apps associated with entities sanctioned by the U.S. government, with the issue being more evident in Apple’s case.

The TTP’s discoveries prompt serious doubts regarding Apple’s dedication to keeping the App Store as a “secure and reliable space” for its users, a statement the company has maintained since the App Store’s launch in 2008. Apple has promoted its platform as a safe environment, highlighting its initiatives to thwart fraudulent activities and safeguard users against harmful conduct. Nevertheless, the existence of apps from entities such as Russian banks backing the invasion of Ukraine and a Chinese paramilitary organization accused of human rights violations challenges this assertion.

The investigation disclosed that 52 prohibited apps were located on the Apple App Store, while 18 were detected in Google’s counterpart. Significantly, the developers of these applications did not make an effort to hide their identities, indicating that both companies could have readily recognized and eliminated the offending apps. This circumstance is particularly concerning as it is illegal for U.S. companies to engage in commerce with sanctioned organizations.

Apple’s track record regarding sanctions adherence is also significant. In 2019, the company incurred penalties from the U.S. government for similar infractions and subsequently vowed to improve its sanctions vetting mechanisms. However, the TTP’s latest findings suggest that Apple has not adequately enhanced its compliance practices in the years following.

While Apple contests the assertion that hosting these applications amounts to a violation of U.S. sanctions, it did remove the apps in the wake of the TTP’s report. This scenario highlights the persistent difficulties tech companies confront in reconciling user security with regulatory adherence, especially in a swiftly changing digital environment.

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Apple’s Initial Foldable iPhone Poised to Influence Market Despite High Price Tag

the Galaxy Z Fold 8 expected next summer, aligning with Samsung’s typical schedule for foldable phone releases. Shortly afterward, Apple is likely to reveal its first-generation foldable iPhone, commonly dubbed the iPhone Fold, as it will directly challenge Samsung’s Fold-style devices. Even with a 7-year delay and a considerably higher sticker price, the iPhone Fold could outperform its competitors, including Samsung handsets.

Recent projections from IDC indicate that the iPhone Fold will capture over 22% of the foldable market in the upcoming year. The analysts further predict that Apple will secure 34% of the market value for foldables, attributed to an average price of $2,400. The current Galaxy Z Fold 7 retails for $2,000, excluding any promotions. Recently, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z TriFold, which is anticipated to be priced around $3,000 in the U.S., although this price has yet to be confirmed. IDC highlights that the Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to stimulate interest in the foldable category next year, while Huawei’s foldable shipments are projected to nearly double, but the iPhone Fold is poised to be the true “game-changer.”

The outlook predicts a 30% growth in the foldable segment next year, in contrast to a 6% increase in the previous forecast. In comparison, traditional phone shipments are expected to decline by 1.4%. Based on IDC’s data, the foldables market is set to continue its upward trajectory over non-foldables through 2029. Apple’s market share is anticipated

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Recent Insights Uncover Animated Aspects of Android’s NameDrop Substitute

The functionality is progressing, yet there remains a considerable journey ahead. Reports indicate that Google is still developing an equivalent to Apple’s NameDrop for Android users. Recent findings suggest that an animation might be triggered when sharing contact information prior to the intended sharing contents being displayed. This capability was initially detected in early code snippets last month, as Google referenced “Gesture Exchange,” NFC implementation, and additional features.

Exchanging contact information is straightforward, but there’s potential for it to be quicker and more fluid, which is why Google is allegedly pursuing a solution already realized by Apple. Minor updates from Google often provide informants, like AssembleDebug at Android Authority, insights into new advancements, leading to this NameDrop-like functionality. After examining a recent beta of Play Services, AssembleDebug managed to (in a certain sense) engage Google’s adaptation of Apple’s contact-sharing feature. The tipster’s video evidence illustrates how this might function between devices as one phone is positioned over another.

There seems to be some space between the devices; however, an animation in a nearly creamsicle hue emerges shortly thereafter. Lights appear along the upper section of both devices, flowing around the rounded edges and partially down the display. The animation will probably show up alongside the contact info you’ve shared and received. It retreats to the punch hole selfie camera once the procedure finishes.

NFC continues to seem pivotal in this contact exchange, but, according to the tipster, it’s uncertain how dependent the feature will ultimately be on it. As development continues, the informant speculates that NFC might merely initiate the feature before transferring to Bluetooth or even Wi-Fi connectivity for the remaining process.

This marks the second instance of Google’s version of Apple’s NameDrop surfacing in rumors. The initial occurrence was in November when early code strings from Google purportedly hinted at its presence. The code referred to the feature as “Gesture Exchange,” while other significant elements underscored its dependence on NFC. It has been theorized that, similar to Apple’s offering, Google’s iteration would enable users to share their phone number, image, name, and email.

That prior discovery even suggested a small menu that could welcome users before they share their details. Users might encounter a list of specifics they wish to share prior to “tapping” their device on someone else’s to commence the transfer. Another menu was observed, one that would clarify the details received from the opposite device. It appears that Google’s Calling Cards are not sufficient, as it aims to genuinely simplify and facilitate staying in touch with others.

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Rivian Vehicles Will Lack CarPlay Support but Will Soon Get Another Significant Apple Feature

A Bloomberg report caught Tesla drivers off guard by disclosing that the automaker is developing a project to integrate CarPlay compatibility into its cars. Though this feature has been highly anticipated by numerous users, the manufacturer has consistently opposed it due to the focus on its proprietary software, which provides Tesla with enhanced control over its ecosystem.

Despite most manufacturers being open to adding CarPlay and Android Auto because of their widespread appeal, one trendy newcomer has mirrored Tesla’s stance. Rivian, which has numerous drivers requesting CarPlay, also stands against including Apple’s infotainment system in its cars. Nonetheless, the company is evidently not dismissing the prospect of collaboration with Apple entirely.

Currently, Rivian provides Apple Music through a Connect+ subscription, and its software lead Wassym Bensaid revealed that the next generation of Rivian vehicles will feature native support for digital car keys on Apple, Google, and Samsung Wallets with the upcoming .46 OTA update later this month. For iPhone users, this implies that if they possess a Gen 2 Rivian, they will have the ability to unlock their vehicle simply by getting close to it.

CarPlay remains unlikely for Rivian

Researchers Examine 3 Million Days of Apple Watch Data to Create Disease-Detection AI

### A Novel Foundation Model for Forecasting Medical Conditions Utilizing Apple Watch Data

A recent investigation by scholars from MIT and Empirical Health has utilized a comprehensive dataset of 3 million person-days gathered from Apple Watch users to create a foundation model adept at predicting various medical conditions with exceptional precision. This groundbreaking method employs the Joint-Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA), a concept introduced by Yann LeCun during his time at Meta, which emphasizes inferring the meaning of absent data instead of reconstructing it.

#### Overview of JEPA

JEPA is crafted to tackle the difficulties presented by data gaps. Rather than trying to ascertain the exact values of missing information, the model learns to anticipate what those absent segments signify based on the surrounding context. For instance, in an image with some sections concealed, JEPA would embed both the visible and concealed areas into a unified space, enabling it to deduce the representation of the hidden area without requiring knowledge of its specific contents.

LeCun’s aspiration for JEPA is to develop machines capable of swiftly acquiring internal models of the world, allowing them to plan elaborate tasks and adjust to new circumstances. This architecture has motivated exploration into “world models,” transcending the conventional token-prediction emphasis of large language models (LLMs).

#### The Research: Examining 3 Million Days of Data

The research, entitled “JETS: A Self-Supervised Joint Embedding Time Series Foundation Model for Behavioral Data in Healthcare,” has recently been endorsed at a NeurIPS workshop. It adapts JEPA’s joint-embedding methodology to manage irregular multivariate time-series data, such as the extensive wearable data captured from individuals’ Apple Watches, where metrics like heart rate, sleep, and physical activity may emerge inconsistently.

The dataset included wearable device data from 16,522 individuals, amounting to roughly 3 million person-days. Investigators logged 63 unique time series metrics spanning five categories: cardiovascular health, respiratory health, sleep, physical activity, and general statistics. Remarkably, only 15% of participants had labeled medical histories available for assessment, indicating that conventional supervised learning techniques would have made 85% of the data unserviceable. Instead, the JETS model employed self-supervised pre-training on the entire dataset prior to fine-tuning on the labeled portion.

To effectively manage the data, researchers assembled triplets of observations linked to day, value, and metric type, converting each observation into a token. This token underwent a masking procedure, was encoded, and subsequently transmitted through a predictor to estimate the embeddings of the missing information.

#### Evaluation and Consequences

The JETS model was assessed against baseline models, including an earlier version grounded in the Transformer architecture, utilizing metrics such as AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic) and AUPRC (Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve). JETS delivered notable outcomes, with an AUROC of 86.8% for high blood pressure, 70.5% for atrial flutter, 81% for chronic fatigue syndrome, and 86.8% for sick sinus syndrome, among others.

It is crucial to recognize that AUROC and AUPRC are not direct indicators of accuracy but instead signify how effectively a model can rank or prioritize probable cases. The study underscores the potential of innovative models and training methodologies to extract meaningful insights from wearable data, even when it is incomplete or inconsistent.

In summary, this investigation showcases the potential of advanced modeling techniques in optimizing the usage of data obtained from commonplace wearable devices such as the Apple Watch. The results indicate that even irregular health metrics can offer significant insights into individuals’ health, paving the way for enhanced predictive healthcare solutions. For more information, the complete study can be accessed

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Citi Confirms Buy Rating on Apple Shares and Raises Price Target

Amidst persistent leadership challenges and uncertainties surrounding AI, analysts at Citi have elevated the price target for Apple’s stock from $315 to $350. This decision rests on several crucial elements that hint at an optimistic future for the tech titan.

### iPhone Sales Trends and AI Prospects Set to Elevate Stock

Citi’s analysts have upheld a “buy” recommendation for Apple’s stock, forecasting a potential rise of 26.3% based on the revised price target. This prediction follows a market close at $277.18, suggesting that analysts anticipate substantial growth driven by a boost in iPhone sales. Numerous consumers are reportedly ready for upgrades after keeping their devices for several years, which may trigger a spike in sales.

The increase in the price target aligns with a recent IDC study that elevated the iPhone shipping forecast for 2025 to 6.1%, up from a former estimate of 3.9%. This favorable outlook is further backed by Apple’s latest quarterly results, during which CEO Tim Cook conveyed confidence in the early sales figures for the iPhone 17. Data from IDC and Counterpoint Research have reinforced this view, underscoring Apple’s robust status in the smartphone sector.

Furthermore, Citi highlighted the potential consequences of Apple’s collaboration with Google, which is anticipated to enhance AI functionalities introduced during last year’s WWDC but have not yet been implemented. Analysts think this partnership could facilitate improvements in Siri and grant Apple the essential time to create its own AI framework.

In recent months, Apple’s stock has demonstrated signs of recovery following a tough commencement to 2025, characterized by a notable drop amid trade tensions earlier this year. Since August, Apple’s dedication to a $600 billion investment in the U.S. has eased some pressures from Washington, enhancing investor confidence. Consequently, Apple’s stock has risen by approximately 30%, achieving a 13.7% increase year-to-date.

In conclusion, the combination of expected growth in iPhone sales and the prospect of improved AI capabilities via collaborations has prompted Citi’s analysts to raise their price target for Apple, reflecting a positive outlook for the company’s future performance.

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Complimentary Application Boosts Performance for Nvidia GPU Users

Players are constantly searching for methods to maximize their investment. I recall back in the early 2000s when overclockers discovered they could enhance an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 from 2.4GHz to 3GHz with merely a bit of tape. In today’s landscape, various overclocking possibilities are more accessible than ever, even for boosting older graphics cards, thanks to applications like MSI Afterburner.

However, if you possess or are planning to acquire a new Nvidia graphics card, you have access to a free tool that can help you achieve optimal visual performance in gaming. Named DLSS Swapper, this third-party application simplifies the management of your DLSS settings in games that support this functionality. It essentially delivers on its promise, allowing you to switch out DLSS versions for different games, as some versions may perform better or worse in specific titles.

In straightforward terms, DLSS Swapper has the potential to offer most modern games a complimentary visual enhancement. Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) is a proprietary Nvidia technology intended to enhance image quality in compatible video games. The company is currently at DLSS 4, and with each iteration, the technology has consistently evolved and improved, with DLSS Swapper making the most of this progression.

The DLSS Swapper is an essential tool

DLSS Swapper can facilitate the downloading and selection of the latest compatible DLSS version, ensuring you receive the finest visuals for most titles that may be utilizing older versions of this technology. If a particular game performs better on a previous version of DLSS, you can switch versions easily via a convenient version list provided. Once you set your preferences, you’ll be ready to launch your game and might experience an enhancement in visual performance.

The primary challenge with DLSS is that each game can apply the technology differently depending on the engine utilized, the developer, and the DLSS version available at the time. Most games do not natively update their DLSS configurations, meaning that the game you are playing will probably be operating on the DLSS version it originally shipped with. This can leave many potential enhancements unexploited that newer versions of DLSS could provide. Fortunately, the version in use can be swapped and upgraded through DLSS Swapper.

While the software will update the version of DLSS implemented in your games, keep in mind that it may not consistently yield the best

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December Android Update Fixes Significant Problem for Pixel Users

Circle to Search fraud system that assists you in discovering potential scams more swiftly. Additionally, embedded within the update, it appears that Google may have enhanced something it did not emphasize in its release blog: performance on Google Pixel gadgets.

Most significantly, it seems that the performance on more than merely the Pixel 10 has seen quite a noticeable enhancement since the update went live earlier this month. Users on Reddit have pointed out experiencing smoother interactions with their devices, with some even observing that the heat levels on their devices have improved. One user even asserted that it feels as if they “acquired a new phone.”

This is particularly encouraging, as one of the major grievances regarding the Pixel 10 since its launch earlier this year was the device’s less-than-ideal performance. Many believed it was significantly inferior to rival flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, although as we noted in our review, there were other aspects where Google’s flagship excelled beyond the competition.

A noticeable enhancement without a clear origin

Festive Price Cuts on MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Additional Items Beginning at $479

The festive season serves as an ideal opportunity for tech aficionados to seize bargains on their beloved Apple products, particularly in the Mac range. This year, buyers can discover remarkable reductions on the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and more. Whether you’re attracted to the elegant design of the Mac mini, the mobility of the MacBook Air, or the impressive performance of the MacBook Pro, there are choices available that fit different requirements and price points.

One of the highlight offers this season pertains to the M4 MacBook Air, which can be found in select configurations beginning at $749, presenting savings of up to $250 off the standard price. This unit remains a favored option for individuals in search of a lightweight yet efficient laptop.

For those keen on cutting-edge technology, Apple has launched the M5 chip, which powers the new iPad Pro and the latest MacBook Pro variants. The 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro is presently available at a considerable discount, with prices reduced to an unprecedented low of $1,349, down from its standard price of $1,599.

Moreover, B&H is presenting excellent deals on sought-after M5 MacBook Pro configurations, making it an appealing choice for shoppers in search of high-performance laptops. The M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models are similarly accessible at attractive prices, offering users some of the most robust MacBooks available today.

The Mac mini has also experienced noteworthy discounts, with current-generation models starting at $479. This compact desktop is favored by users for its flexibility and performance, rendering it a strong candidate for those considering a new Mac.

Although the M4 MacBook Air may enjoy greater popularity, the Mac mini provides substantial savings and remains an outstanding selection for users seeking a powerful desktop experience. With price reductions of up to $350 off the retail price, it emerges as one of the premier all-in-one desktop choices on the market.

In conclusion, this holiday season offers a superb chance for shoppers to capitalize on significant savings concerning Apple’s Mac range. Whether you are in pursuit of a portable laptop or a high-powered desktop, there are deals available that address various tastes and needs.

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