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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Nano Banana Improves Gemini App with Better Design Consistency and Precision
    Nano Banana Improves Gemini App with Better Design Consistency and Precision

    Google Aims to Take Advantage of Nano Banana’s Swift Rise in Popularity

    Google is introducing further enhancements for its widely used image generator, Nano Banana, designed to transform users into AI-generated experts. Today (Nov 20), Google unveiled the launch of Nano Banana Pro, officially known as Gemini 3 Pro Image. As suggested by its name, this revamped version of Nano Banana is based on the Gemini 3 Pro model and seeks to deliver two significant improvements to users and their generated graphics. To start, Google asserts that Nano Banana Pro is now more adept at “producing context-rich visuals.”

    The goal of these visuals is for users creating images intended to convey information—accurately—for a more extensive audience. Google indicates that diagrams and “content-rich” infographics crafted from images you provide to the AI are expected to be more useful than previously. Additionally, information that you’ve directly supplied to the AI for it to consider and incorporate has now been enhanced.

    Nano Banana Pro can now utilize Google Search. If you want to highlight a recipe with mouth-watering visuals, Nano Banana Pro can fetch those recipe details and images and compile them.

    The second enhancement pertains to images containing text. Google mentions that it has improved the readability of text in images generated by Nano Banana Pro. Now, AI-generated images featuring text in various styles, textures, and fonts should appear more distinct, along with the added capability for users to create text in several languages.

    Go Bananas Like a Pro

    Naturally, what made Nano Banana famous was its image generation capabilities, and Google is also elevating this aspect. This new Pro version is reported to have improved “consistency by design,” meaning the AI can now integrate/merge images more reliably. Users can depend on more images (up to 14) and observe how the AI combines them in preferred ways. Furthermore, new “creative controls” are being introduced to assist users in modifying the perspective of the generated image, adjusting focus, and more.

    Thus, while Nano Banana Pro adopts a more polished, sophisticated approach to image creation, Google affirms that the original Nano Banana remains available for quicker, enjoyable generation.

    Nano Banana Pro is being rolled out today (Nov 20) in the Gemini application for consumers and students. Users on the free tier will have a “limited free quota” with the Pro version before the app reverts you to the original Nano Banana. Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers will enjoy higher usage quotas. In AI Mode, Nano Banana Pro is accessible for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

    Developers and those utilizing Flow are also benefiting from the update.

    Nano Banana is relatively new, having been launched by Google at the end of August. The feature quickly attracted users keen to try it, as the company reported an astonishing 10 million new Gemini app users due to it. In September, Google already claimed that the generator was accountable for over 200 million images generated. Google continued this momentum by swiftly implementing updates for Nano Banana, integrating it into NotebookLM, Search, and Lens.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Perspectives on Mac Pro, Advances in iPhone Fold Battery, and More Updates
    Perspectives on Mac Pro, Advances in iPhone Fold Battery, and More Updates

    # Apple Rumor Replay: Fresh Insights on Mac Pro, iPhone Fold, and Cutting-edge Accessories

    This article encapsulates the latest speculations surrounding Apple products, concentrating on the possible discontinuation of the Mac Pro, details about the iPhone Fold’s battery capacity, and forthcoming iPhone cases with state-of-the-art features.

    ## No New Mac Pro Anticipated in 2026, Possibly Beyond

    Recent information suggests a grim outlook for the Mac Pro, with no new versions expected until at least 2026. As reported by Bloomberg, Apple has no immediate intentions for a new Mac Pro, despite earlier speculation indicating otherwise. Mark Gurman emphasizes that the M4 Ultra chip is no longer in production, and the attention has transitioned to the Mac Studio, regarded as the future of Apple’s professional desktop approach. Although the Mac Pro is not officially deemed defunct, indications imply it may be subtly eliminated.

    ### Takeaways

    The perspective among users and industry experts is varied. While the Mac Pro has traditionally catered to high-end professional clientele, advancements in Apple silicon and the launch of the Mac Studio might make the Mac Pro redundant. This transition could be welcomed by users who have adapted to the newer models.

    ## iPhone Fold Battery Capacity Leak

    A recent leak indicates that Apple is assessing considerably larger batteries for the forthcoming iPhone Fold, with capacities ranging from 5400 to 5800mAh. This would exceed the current iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery of 5088mAh. Nonetheless, the actual battery life will rely on the device’s dual display setup, which consists of a larger primary display and a smaller front display.

    ### Takeaways

    While a larger battery generally corresponds to extended battery life, the distinctive design of the iPhone Fold complicates this expectation. Optimism remains high that Apple will provide outstanding battery performance, potentially leading to a new “iPhone Ultra” designation.

    ## iPhone Cases with Touch Features

    Leaker Instant Digital has disclosed that Apple is investigating the creation of iPhone cases that could function as secondary touch interfaces. This innovation strives to augment the capabilities of the iPhone Pro, evolving cases from merely protective accessories into interactive tools.

    ### Takeaways

    This rumor aligns with Apple’s strategy to broaden its accessory market. The expanding range of iPhone accessories implies that Apple recognizes substantial revenue possibilities in this sector. Premium cases with touch functionalities could signify a new frontier for iPhone accessories, offering users enhanced usability.

    ## Conclusion

    The latest Apple rumors underscore significant changes in the company’s product strategy, especially regarding the Mac Pro and the rollout of innovative features in the iPhone Fold and its accessories. As Apple continues to progress, these developments will be observed keenly by both consumers and industry experts.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Apple Showcases Performance Enhancements of the M5 Compared to the M4 in Executing Local LLMs
    Apple Showcases Performance Enhancements of the M5 Compared to the M4 in Executing Local LLMs

    ### Apple’s M5 Chip: A Significant Advancement in Local LLM Functionality

    A recent entry on Apple’s Machine Learning Research blog emphasizes noteworthy enhancements in the M5 Apple silicon compared to its predecessor, the M4, especially in executing local large language models (LLMs). This article examines the breakthroughs and their implications.

    #### A Bit of Background

    A couple of years back, Apple launched the Machine Learning eXchange (MLX) framework, tailored for efficient and versatile machine learning on Apple silicon. MLX serves as an open-source framework that empowers developers to create and deploy machine learning models natively on Apple silicon Macs, utilizing familiar APIs and methods from the AI ecosystem.

    MLX stands out for its support of neural network training and inference, incorporating functionalities for both text and image generation. It utilizes Apple silicon’s unified memory architecture, enabling operations to execute on either the CPU or GPU without requiring memory transfers. The API is crafted for ease of use, closely mirroring NumPy, and encompasses higher-level neural network libraries and optimizers, along with resources for automatic differentiation and graph optimization.

    A key component within MLX is MLX LM, which aids in text generation and the fine-tuning of language models on Apple silicon devices. This component permits users to download and execute models from Hugging Face locally and supports quantization, a technique that minimizes memory consumption for extensive models, improving inference speed.

    #### M5 Compared to M4

    In the blog post, Apple showcases the performance improvements of the M5 chip, particularly owing to its new GPU Neural Accelerators that offer dedicated matrix-multiplication operations vital for numerous machine learning tasks. Apple assessed the time necessary for various open models to generate the first token after a prompt was given on both M4 and M5 MacBook Pro models utilizing MLX LM.

    The assessment included models such as Qwen 1.7B and 8B, along with quantized variations of these models. The findings revealed that the M5 chip delivers a performance enhancement of 19-27% relative to the M4, credited to its augmented memory bandwidth (120GB/s for the M4 compared to 153GB/s for the M5).

    Generating the first token is compute-bound, whereas generating subsequent tokens is memory-bound, which is why Apple also evaluated the generation speed for an additional 128 tokens. Overall, the M5 exhibited a significant performance improvement in both contexts.

    #### Performance Statistics

    Apple’s results uncovered that the M5 chip not only expedited the time to first token generation but also considerably hastened the generation of additional tokens. In image generation, the M5 surpassed the M4 by more than 3.8 times, demonstrating its potential across a range of machine learning applications.

    The architecture of the M5 enables the MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM to effectively manage models up to 8B in BF16 precision or a 30B Mixture of Experts (MoE) model in 4-bit quantized format, keeping the inference workload below 18GB.

    #### Final Thoughts

    The advancements in the M5 chip signify a substantial leap in local LLM performance, establishing it as an attractive option for developers and researchers engaged in machine learning on Apple silicon. For additional information, readers can check out Apple’s complete blog post and learn more about the MLX framework.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Motives for the Looming Shopper Boycott Targeting Amazon and Home Depot
    Motives for the Looming Shopper Boycott Targeting Amazon and Home Depot

    its site. The precise manner in which each corporation is said to have submitted to the current government varies.

    Amazon, a firm that has already begun its Black Friday promotions, is facing a boycott due to claims that it possesses a monopoly which “leads to hazardous working environments for its workers and drivers,” and because CEO Jeff Bezos contributed $1 million to the current government in an effort to allegedly secure tax breaks. Bezos has also praised President Trump multiple times.

    The Home Depot is being targeted for a distinctly different reason. “We Ain’t Buying It” charged The Home Depot with “permitting ICE agents to unlawfully detain and abduct workers from their stores,” causing workers to struggle in securing employment. Target rounds out the list of companies in the group’s sights due to the firm retracting DEI initiatives and eliminating LGBTQ+ merchandise from its stores.

    It might have an effect

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Crucial Add-ons to Buy for Your New Pixel Before Black Friday Concludes
    Crucial Add-ons to Buy for Your New Pixel Before Black Friday Concludes

    This Black Friday’s Google Pixel phone offers are sizzling, and I wouldn’t be shocked if you’ve treated yourself to a new device already.

    With any shiny new gadget, accessorizing is essential, so I’ve compiled a brief list of items I believe complement your new phone perfectly. Whether it’s a fresh smart watch, a brand-new case, a charger, or headphones, this concise list features some of the top deals available.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Galaxy Watch 7 Offered at $129 in Pre-Black Friday Promotion
    Galaxy Watch 7 Offered at $129 in Pre-Black Friday Promotion

    Samsung is presently promoting an outstanding offer on its Galaxy Watch 7, giving customers a chance to acquire the smartwatch at a notably lower price. With the imminent launch of the Galaxy Watch 8, Samsung is clearing its stock of the previous model, leading to a reduction in price to $129, which is a 48% discount from the original price. This price cut represents the best offer seen for the Galaxy Watch 7, making it an appealing choice for individuals seeking to buy a premium smartwatch at an affordable rate.

    The Galaxy Watch 7, recognized for its classic round design, provides an array of features including Wear OS 6, access to Play Store apps, and Samsung Health AI insights such as Energy Score. It comes with the Exynos processor, sufficient RAM, and storage, delivering a smooth user experience. The smartwatch is also furnished with various health sensors and guarantees software updates until late 2028, assuring durability and ongoing performance.

    Although the Galaxy Watch 8 rolls out new features such as enhanced brightness and extra health metrics, the Galaxy Watch 7 continues to be an attractive option for those who favor its design and seek a budget-friendly solution. Shoppers may also look at the 44mm variant of the Galaxy Watch 7, available for $159.99, or consider other Wear OS watch brands if they need different functionalities or extended battery life.

    This clearance event offers a rare chance for consumers to obtain a high-end smartwatch at a minimal cost, but they should move swiftly as inventory is limited, and the offer is anticipated to sell out quickly.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Samsung Launches Significant Wear OS 6 Upgrade for Galaxy Watch 6 Series
    Samsung Launches Significant Wear OS 6 Upgrade for Galaxy Watch 6 Series

    Samsung has started the rollout of the One UI 8 Watch update, which is based on Wear OS 6, for the Galaxy Watch 6 series in South Korea. This update, identified by firmware version CYK2, features a revamped interface with stacked tiles that allow for easier access to health statistics, media controls, and various tools. Moreover, a more intelligent Now bar improves multitasking by enabling quicker access to background applications. The update brings Samsung’s wearables in line with the latest changes in Google’s Wear OS, providing smoother animations and a better health dashboard. Users can check for the update through the Galaxy Wearable app, with expectations for the rollout to expand beyond South Korea shortly.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Pixel Watch 3 Continues to Be a Preferred Option for Daily Wear and Provides Excellent Value
    Pixel Watch 3 Continues to Be a Preferred Option for Daily Wear and Provides Excellent Value

    The Pixel Watch 3 has returned to its lowest price during Black Friday sales.

    (Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

    The Black Friday weekend has expanded into a Black Friday week, and we’re already spotting fantastic deals on gadgets. The Pixel Watch 3 is among those gadgets, and even though it’s from last year, it remains one of our top picks for smartwatches, which I personally wear every day. Fortunately for you, this impressive smartwatch is now available at its lowest price, making it one of the most thrilling deals I’ve encountered thus far.

    The standard price for the Pixel Watch 3 is $299 for the 45mm Wi-Fi model, a price that has already been reduced from its initial $399 launch price. Now, Amazon has slashed it further, which means you can snag a Pixel Watch 3 for as little as $199.99, or opt to pay a bit more for

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Apple TV Unveils New Culinary Series ‘The Unlikely Cook Featuring Awkwafina’
    Apple TV Unveils New Culinary Series ‘The Unlikely Cook Featuring Awkwafina’

    Apple TV has broadened its programming offerings in 2025 with the launch of food-themed series, encompassing both scripted and unscripted formats. Notably, “Carême” provides a scripted storyline, while “Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars” features an unscripted examination of culinary prowess. Recently, Apple TV revealed an upcoming series called “The Unlikely Cook,” starring Awkwafina, which is set to explore modern Asian American cuisine.

    “The Unlikely Cook” will highlight Awkwafina, known as Nora Lum, as she embarks on a personal quest throughout the United States to uncover her culinary roots. Although her family has a background in the restaurant industry—specifically, Lum’s, a prominent Cantonese eatery in Flushing, New York—Awkwafina confesses to having limited cooking abilities. The series will document her collaboration with celebrated chefs and her relatives to master the art of Asian cooking and to possibly redefine her family’s culinary tradition.

    This new show bears thematic resemblances to “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy,” another popular series on Apple TV. While Levy traverses the globe as a hesitant voyager, Awkwafina will tackle the kitchen, presenting her amusing and relatable challenges with cooking. She has expressed appreciation for the chance to delve into her family’s culinary past through food, underlining its importance in her life.

    Although no premiere date has been set for “The Unlikely Cook,” it is expected to debut in 2026. Apple TV, which provides a subscription service for $12.99 each month, continues to deliver a varied selection of content, including acclaimed series like “Ted Lasso” and “Severance.”

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Liberty Media CEO Affirms Continued Talks Between Apple and F1 for Broadened Partnership Possibilities
    Liberty Media CEO Affirms Continued Talks Between Apple and F1 for Broadened Partnership Possibilities

    **Liberty Media and Apple: A New Chapter for Formula 1 Streaming**

    During a recent segment on CNBC’s “Money Movers,” Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang shed light on the freshly inked agreement between Liberty Media and Apple, which grants Apple the exclusive U.S. streaming rights for Formula 1 (F1) over the next five years. This arrangement signifies a major transformation in the media environment, especially concerning the consumption of sports content.

    ### The Evolving Media Environment

    Chang stressed the swift advancement of media consumption, illustrating how technology has altered the way fans connect with sports. He noted, “The entire media landscape… has simply evolved over time due to what technology has allowed.” This transformation indicates that watching F1 is no longer limited to a conventional broadcast timeframe; rather, it embraces an “always on, always present” approach.

    Apple’s technological prowess is anticipated to enrich the overall F1 experience, potentially enhancing brand visibility and fan interaction with the sport. Chang is confident that this collaboration will not only refine the content but also uplift the viewer’s experience.

    ### Future Opportunities for Global Streaming Rights

    When asked about the potential for Apple to broaden its streaming rights on a global scale, Chang alluded to ongoing negotiations. He commented, “I believe Apple will be quite proactive… we see it as a robust partnership that might unfold in other regions.” While details remain confidential, the prospect for expanded cooperation suggests an invigorating future for F1 enthusiasts across the globe.

    ### Celebrating Achievements with “F1 The Movie”

    Alongside the announcement of the streaming rights, Chang hailed the success of “F1 The Movie,” which has set records at the box office. The film, starring Brad Pitt, has struck a chord with viewers and is scheduled to debut for streaming on Apple TV on December 12. This further underscores the connection between F1 and Apple, as both organizations strive to broaden their influence and reach.

    ### Conclusion

    The collaboration between Liberty Media and Apple represents a pivotal moment for Formula 1, using technology to bolster viewer engagement and experience. As the media landscape continues to transform, this partnership may lead to innovative methods of sports broadcasting, potentially redefining how fans engage with their beloved sports in the future.

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