Samsung is working to improve home security by merging SmartThings with Arlo’s advanced security platform. This partnership aims to position SmartThings as the primary hub for home security and automation, with Arlo delivering the strong security capabilities. The collaboration enables users to control security services right from the SmartThings app, removing the necessity for multiple apps to oversee security cameras or motion detectors. Initially set to launch in the U.S., this integration will utilize Arlo’s Smart Security SaaS platform to introduce new security services, making the process easier for Samsung users. This initiative builds upon earlier partnerships, like the implementation of Arlo’s AI-driven object detection in SmartThings, and is anticipated to streamline security management for Galaxy users while broadening Arlo’s outreach.
Apple Introduces Back to School Offers in Various Countries
Apple’s Back to School promotions offer a fantastic chance for students, educators, and academic personnel to save on crucial technology. Although the deals generally kick off in the summer for the US and Europe, various nations, including Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and South Korea, have early access to these promotions, which last until March 11.
The Back to School promotion features regular education discounts along with the opportunity to choose complimentary accessories when purchasing qualifying devices like the iPad, MacBook, or iMac. This enables customers to enjoy substantial savings, making certain accessories free while also offering discounts on pricier options.
### iMac Promotions
For individuals acquiring an iMac, the following accessories are offered:
– AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation
– AirPods Pro 3 (available for an extra A$130)
### MacBook Promotions
Consumers purchasing a MacBook can select from a range of accessories, including:
– AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation
– AirPods Pro 3 (available for an extra A$130)
– Magic Mouse
– Magic Trackpad
– Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad
### iPad Promotions
iPad purchasers can choose from these accessories:
– Apple Pencil Pro
– AirPods 4
– AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (available for an extra A$80)
– AirPods Pro 3 (available for an extra A$210)
– A A$199 discount on any Magic Keyboard for iPad
These promotions complement the standard education discounts, making it a perfect opportunity for those involved in the education sector to invest in new technology.
Five Essential Open-Source Applications for Android Users
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Spotify Unveils Direct Messaging for Jam Session Invitations and Listening Engagements
Spotify has revealed a major enhancement to its Messages feature, aimed at improving music-sharing functionalities. The update brings forth two new additions: “Request to Jam” and “Listening Activity.”
“Request to Jam” permits users to join a friend’s listening session directly via DMs, akin to the existing Jam sessions on the platform. This feature allows users to invite friends or family to a live listening experience, where both individuals can contribute tracks to the session. The session host can be the user who sends the Jam request, and the feature is available through a Jam icon in the DM thread.
The “Listening Activity” feature, once activated, enables users to share their current listening choices with others, who can then incorporate those tracks into their own playlists. This feature can be customized within the Privacy and Social settings, providing users the ability to manage who can view their listening activity.
These enhancements are being rolled out to Android and iOS devices in areas where Spotify Messages are accessible, with a wider rollout anticipated in February. Spotify Messages, launched in 2025, serves as a one-on-one chat service that allows users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Users need to accept a Message request prior to engaging in conversation, adding a layer of privacy and security.
In summary, these updates are designed to reinforce user interactions and elevate the music-sharing experience on Spotify.
Top 4 Budget-Friendly Laptops Suggested by Consumer Reports
which laptop brands stand out as the most dependable in selecting the appropriate specifications and operating systems.
This is where reliable sources like Consumer Reports (CR) come into action. CR is recognized for its thorough assessments and impartial insights. Similar to a variety of other products, CR evaluates laptops, assessing their processing power, screen quality, battery longevity, and various other essential aspects, subsequently selecting a few as its recommendations for the finest laptops of the year. Therefore, to assist you in finding a reliable budget laptop, we have sifted through CR’s recommendations and identified the following five choices. Each of these laptops is priced below $1,000 and encompasses a broad spectrum of costs and specifications to cater to various budget tiers and needs.
Acer Aspire Go 15 Laptop AG15-51P-510U
The Acer Aspire Go 15 ranks among Consumer Reports’ best selections for those in search of an affordable laptop. It labels the Acer laptop as a “fantastic option for daily web surfing, email correspondence, and streaming.
Apple Validates Purchase of Chase for Apple Card and Reveals Additional Information
Apple has announced that Chase will take over as the new issuer of Apple Card, succeeding Goldman Sachs, with the change anticipated to take place in about 24 months. Throughout this timeframe, Apple Card holders may continue to utilize their cards as usual, and additional information will be shared as the transition date draws closer.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, highlighted the pride in how Apple Card has changed the credit card landscape, underlining the mutual dedication to innovation shared by Apple and Chase. Apple has established a new webpage to answer commonly asked questions about the transition.
Key points regarding the transition include:
– Current Apple Card users will not have to reapply.
– Mastercard will persist as the payment network.
– Users should keep settling their balances as they currently do; balances will roll over to Chase after the transition.
– Access to Savings will remain, with further details to be provided later.
– Users can oversee their Apple Card accounts via the Wallet app.
– Existing physical Apple Cards can continue to be used normally, with updates about new cards forthcoming.
– Apple Card Monthly Installments will still be an option for purchasing Apple goods.
– There will be no fees linked to Apple Card, including annual, late, or foreign transaction charges.
– Credit reports will show Chase as the new issuing bank once the transition is finalized.
At present, Apple indicates that there is no action required from Apple Card users for the transition to Chase, and any necessary updates will be shared directly with users as the transition date approaches. Additional information is available on Apple’s website.
Apple TV Comedy Series Achieves Most Acting Award Nominations of Any Television Program
Apple TV’s recent impressive awards season proceeds today, as the acclaimed comedy *The Studio* has just been recognized as the single most-nominated television program at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards.
### The Studio secures five nominations at The Actor Awards, surpassing all other TV programs
This weekend features the Golden Globes, where Apple is forecasted to secure some significant victories. However, prior to that event, another forthcoming awards ceremony has revealed its nominations.
The Actor Awards is a newly branded iteration of the SAG-AFTRA awards. Essentially, it’s an event where actors celebrate their peers.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Netflix in March, but the recently unveiled nominations already suggest a potentially festive evening for Apple TV.
Apple nominees encompass Rhea Seehorn for *Pluribus*, Gary Oldman for *Slow Horses*, among others. Yet, the standout accomplishment for Apple TV is that *The Studio* received more nominations than any other individual television show.
The popular comedy garnered two nominations each in the “Outstanding Performance” categories for male and female actors, in addition to another nomination for ensemble cast.
Its total of five nominations outmatches any other television show this year.
### The Studio’s nominations and competitors
Here are the nominees, along with the competition:
**Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series**
– IKE BARINHOLTZ / Sal Saperstein – “THE STUDIO”
– ADAM BRODY / Noah Roklov – “NOBODY WANTS THIS”
– TED DANSON / Charles Nieuwendyk – “A MAN ON THE INSIDE”
– SETH ROGEN / Matt Remick – “THE STUDIO”
– MARTIN SHORT / Oliver Putnam – “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
**Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series**
– KATHRYN HAHN / Maya Mason – “THE STUDIO”
– CATHERINE O’HARA / Patty Leigh – “THE STUDIO”
– JENNA ORTEGA / Wednesday Addams – “WEDNESDAY”
– JEAN SMART / Deborah Vance – “HACKS”
– KRISTEN WIIG / Maxine Simmons – “PALM ROYALE”
**Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series**
– ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
– THE BEAR
– HACKS
– ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING
– THE STUDIO
What insights do you have regarding this year’s Actor Awards nominations? Share with us in the comments.
Apple TV is priced at $12.99 monthly and features popular TV shows and films such as *Ted Lasso*, *Severance*, *Pluribus*, and more. It is also available through the Apple One bundle.
How to Conquer the Most Difficult Captcha in the World
I’m Not a Robot invites players to tackle 48 levels filled with progressively intricate CAPTCHA tasks. It begins simply: tick the box, identify the squares featuring a stop sign, interpret the twisted text — the basics. Then, things take a strange turn, as you’ll need to win at tic-tac-toe, engage in whack-a-mole, and locate Waldo. Soon enough, you’re descending into a chaotic realm of Rorschach tests, eye examinations, trigonometry, and a sequence of “park the car” tasks that will ignite road rage from the coziness of your own residence!
By the time the game puts you to the test with a “reverse Turing test,” you may start to doubt your grip on reality, but should you succeed, a certificate of humanity from Luis von Ahn, co-creator of CAPTCHA (and Duolingo!) awaits you as a reward. The experience is witty, whimsical, and thoroughly maddening. It’s also a brilliant demonstration of the genuine technology driving CAPTCHA.
How CAPTCHAs function
Apple Finds New Collaborator to Supplant Goldman Sachs for Apple Card Services
Apple has reportedly secured a new collaborator to take over from Goldman Sachs for its Apple Card, as outlined in a recent report from the Wall Street Journal. This shift follows over two years of speculation about Goldman Sachs’ intention to exit the partnership, mainly due to substantial financial setbacks in the consumer credit card market.
Per sources referenced by the Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan Chase is poised to step in as the provider for Apple’s iPhone-integrated credit card. Goldman Sachs has been looking to withdraw from the Apple Card arrangement, which has led to multi-billion dollar deficits for the bank. The agreement will see JPMorgan Chase taking on existing credit balances at a major discount, with projections indicating that Goldman Sachs could transfer about $20 billion in outstanding card balances for over a $1 billion markdown. This is significant as most co-branded credit card balances usually sell at a premium, making such discounts uncommon and suggestive of a difficult scenario.
Alongside managing the Apple Card, JPMorgan Chase is anticipated to support Apple-branded savings accounts. Current customers holding savings accounts with Goldman Sachs will have the choice to either stay with Goldman or move to a new account with JPMorgan.
The expected announcement of this arrangement is anticipated soon, following prior reports of the separation between Apple and Goldman Sachs regarding the Apple Card, which debuted in 2019. The Apple Card, exclusively available in the United States, provides various perks, including 3% cash back on purchases from Apple and select merchants when using Apple Pay, 2% cash back on other purchases made with Apple Pay, and seamless integration with the Apple Wallet app on iPhone. This card succeeded a previous co-branded card with Barclays, which lacked the same level of integration or the unique titanium card design.
Every iOS 16 Configuration Altered Instantly on My iPhone
# Personalizing Your iPhone with iOS 26: Essential Settings to Adjust
iOS 26 and its updates have rolled out a variety of personalization choices for iPhone users via the Settings app. Below are some key settings that can elevate your iPhone experience.
## Wallpaper Photo Blur on Always On Display
In iOS 26, the Always On Display feature has been updated to blur the wallpaper photo by default. This change is intended to highlight the new Liquid Glass clock more effectively or possibly to save battery power. If you wish to retain the original appearance of your Lock Screen photos, you can easily change this setting back. Go to **Settings ⇾ Display & Brightness ⇾ Always On Display** and switch off the ‘Blur Wallpaper Photo’ option.
## Lock Screen Camera Swipe
For years, users have been able to access the Camera app by swiping left on the Lock Screen. However, with the addition of various options to open the Camera, this gesture has become less common. In iOS 26.1, Apple allows users to turn off the Lock Screen swipe for opening the Camera. To disable this, navigate to **Settings ⇾ Camera** and locate the ‘Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera’ toggle at the bottom. Switching it off will prevent unintentional launches of the Camera app.
## Adaptive Power Feature
The newly introduced Adaptive Power option in iOS 26 aims to prolong battery life without noticeably hindering performance. Unlike the standard Low Power Mode, which significantly limits performance, Adaptive Power makes subtle tweaks, such as reducing display brightness and extending the duration of some activities. You can find this feature under **Settings ⇾ Battery ⇾ Power Mode ⇾ Adaptive Power**. It activates only during unusually high battery usage, serving as a practical solution for users who want to save energy without compromising performance.
## Sleep Detection for AirPods
iOS 26 has brought a new capability for AirPods that senses when you are asleep and automatically pauses media playback. This is especially beneficial for those who listen to audiobooks or podcasts before going to sleep. To activate this option, go to the AirPods settings and enable ‘Pause Media When Falling Asleep.’ This feature is available for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4, simplifying your listening experience by eliminating the need to find your place after pausing.
## Summary
The new settings in iOS 26 and iOS 26.1 provide users with greater control over their iPhone experience. Whether it’s personalizing the Always On Display, disabling accidental Camera openings, engaging Adaptive Power mode, or managing AirPods playback, these features can greatly enhance usability and customization. Take the time to explore these settings to tailor your iPhone to your liking.
