Tag: Source: 9to5mac.com

### The Expanding Market of Book-Style Folding Smartphones

The market for book-style folding smartphones is experiencing notable expansion, particularly with the upcoming release of Apple’s iPhone Fold, also known as the iPhone Ultra, later this year. This cutting-edge segment has already seen involvement from major players like Oppo, Huawei, and Samsung, with Motorola also preparing to launch its latest device shortly.

#### Key Participants in the Market

Samsung has established itself as the leading entity in the book-style folding phone arena, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 being the most recent version. The phrase “book-style” describes devices that look like conventional smartphones when folded but open up to disclose a larger, tablet-sized screen. This design grants users the convenience of portability while not compromising on display area.

#### Upcoming Motorola Razr Fold

The Motorola Razr Fold has garnered significant attention, with new information about its pricing and release date recently disclosed. Pre-orders for the device will commence on May 14, and shipments are anticipated to start on May 21. Priced at $1,899, the Razr Fold is positioned between Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Ben Shoon, a tech reviewer currently utilizing Samsung’s foldable device, remarks that the Razr Fold offers a well-rounded blend of features and ease of use. He highlights that Motorola has developed an experience that is both streamlined and rich in functionality, leveraging Android’s enhancements for foldable devices.

#### Features of the Razr Fold

The Razr Fold is equipped with several features that boost its functionality. It features a taskbar that remains visible during navigation, enabling effective multitasking with split-screen options. Moreover, users can tilt the device to enter “laptop mode,” turning the lower section of the display into a trackpad while the upper part functions as a screen. This capability is akin to what Samsung provides in its foldable offerings.

#### The Anticipation for the iPhone Ultra

As the market progresses, the iPhone Ultra is projected to be the most premium model, with a price expected to surpass $2,000. This forthcoming launch is likely to heighten competition among established brands and could establish new benchmarks for foldable technology.

In summary, the book-style folding smartphone sector is swiftly advancing, featuring innovative designs and functionalities that address the changing demands of consumers. With more manufacturers entering the market, the rivalry will propel advancements in technology and enhance user experiences.

### Apple Glasses: The Next Generation of Wearable Tech

As excitement builds for the debut of Apple Glasses, anticipated next year, speculations are circulating about possible features that could distinguish this gadget in the wearable tech arena. One notably fascinating assertion indicates that Apple Glasses might include hand gesture recognition, a feature that has attracted attention due to its use in Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

#### The Hand Gesture Assertion

The Vision Pro has transformed user engagement in virtual reality by facilitating hand gesture recognition without the need for extra hardware. This feature empowers users to navigate and control the device in an intuitive manner. According to a report from MacRumors, a source has suggested that Apple Glasses will embrace a comparable strategy, employing two cameras—one high-resolution for capturing images and videos, and another lower-resolution wide-angle lens for identifying hand gestures and enabling visual input for Siri.

This speculation aligns with earlier rumors concerning AirPods potentially integrating cameras for gesture recognition, hinting at a wider strategy from Apple to improve user engagement across its devices.

#### Grounds for Doubt

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding these assertions, there are notable reasons to exercise caution. Apple Glasses are said to feature either one or two cameras, a marked difference from the Vision Pro’s comprehensive set of twelve cameras (eight external and four internal). The dependence on a single low-resolution camera for consistent hand gesture recognition raises concerns about the viability of such technology.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has expressed doubt, stating that the current technology does not enable reliable gesture recognition with a single camera, particularly without advanced features like neural bands or eye-scanning capabilities. He has indicated that he has not found any credible information indicating that the first version of Apple Glasses will include advanced gesture recognition.

While it is plausible that the glasses might accommodate basic head gestures, such as nodding or shaking the head—akin to AirPods-style interactions—there is a strong chance that initial reports have merged these simpler gestures with more intricate hand gesture recognition.

#### Summary

As the launch of Apple Glasses nears, the anticipation surrounding their prospective features continues to increase. While the concept of hand gesture recognition is intriguing, the skepticism from industry experts underscores the difficulties that Apple may encounter in effectively implementing such technology. For the time being, it remains unclear how Apple will reconcile innovation with practicality in their forthcoming wearable device.

### Apple Watch Campaign Showcases Transformative Experiences

Apple and TBWAMedia Arts Lab – China have unveiled a campaign that highlights stories from three Apple Watch users whose lives were spared thanks to the device’s emergency functionalities. The initiative, named “Thankfully, I was wearing it” (“还好戴着它”), illustrates the profound experiences of individuals who gained from the Apple Watch’s features during crucial situations.

On Apple’s Chinese portal, a dedicated area for the campaign displays testimonials from three users: Me Junyan, Chen Huimin, and Yang Xiao. Each person shares their unique narratives linked to the Apple Watch’s functionalities such as Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and heart rate notifications. The campaign’s title echoes a phrase that has arisen spontaneously among Apple Watch users, commonly said following emergencies or health concerns.

Beyond the online material, the campaign features a special episode of the podcast “你，静不下来” (roughly translated as “You Just Can’t Settle Down”), hosted by Li Jing, a prominent interviewer in China and an Apple Watch user. During the hour-long episode, the three users narrate their life-saving experiences, including a tale of a significant car accident that triggered an emergency call via the watch.

For Chinese speakers, the complete podcast episode is available [here](https://podcasts.apple.com/cn/podcast/%E4%BB%8E%E9%99%A9%E5%A2%83%E4%B8%AD%E8%84%B1%E8%BA%AB%E5%90%8E-%E6%88%91%E6%89%8D%E8%AF%BB%E6%87%82%E5%B9%B3%E5%87%A1%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E7%9A%84%E6%84%8F%E4%B9%89/id1809736974?i=1000762908678). Subtitled portions from the interview can also be found on TBWA’s [website](https://lbbonline.com/news/Apple-Watch-Thankfully-Im-Wearing-It).

This campaign not only underscores the life-saving capabilities of the Apple Watch but also highlights the significance of wearable technology in improving personal safety and health tracking.

### Vine Returns as Divine

Longtime users of social networks may recollect Vine, the short-form video platform that swiftly gained popularity following its launch in June 2012 and was promptly acquired by Twitter. Essentially, Vine permitted users to share looped videos lasting up to 6 seconds. It drew in artists and creators, amassing over 200 million active users by the close of 2015. However, after several years of stagnation, Twitter discontinued the app in 2017 while keeping its video catalog available until 2019. A significant portion of this catalog has now made its way back on Divine, a new application supported by Jack Dorsey’s nonprofit and Other Stuff.

The app was initially announced last year and remained in beta until today, when it officially launched on the App Store and Google Play. As noted by TechCrunch, the debut of this Vine revival stemmed from a rigorous reconstruction initiative, which entailed rebuilding the original archive from extensive backup files and reinstating related engagement data.

Evan Henshaw-Plath, a member of the Divine development team, articulated Divine’s journey to becoming a fully-operational, revitalized video social network, following the same principles of the original Vine platform: “It was genuinely the Viners who were like ‘no, no — this is far more significant than just nostalgia.’ The users expressed their desire for something akin to Vine that could reset social media and eliminate AI clutter. They urged us to take our time and get it right. And that’s precisely what we did.”

Another intriguing feature of Divine is its foundational technology, which utilizes Nostr, an open social media protocol that also has the backing of Jack Dorsey. TechCrunch reports that the Divine team is “exploring the integration of the open-source AT Protocol, which powers Bluesky,” and may also “incorporate the ActivityPub protocol, which underlies alternative social networks like Mastodon and Flipboard and is integrated into Meta’s Threads.”

For additional information about Divine, follow this link.

In a recently published paper, a group of Apple researchers presents an innovative framework that enhances LLM responses in mathematical reasoning, code production, and beyond. Here are the highlights.

## Diffusion and autoregression, harmonized

In a newly-updated study named [LaDiR: Latent Diffusion Enhances LLMs for Text Reasoning](https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/ladir), Apple researchers, in collaboration with scholars from the University of California, San Diego, outline a fascinating method to boost the quality of responses generated by large language models (LLMs) within specific fields.

Previously, [we’ve touched on diffusion models](https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/13/apples-new-language-model-can-write-long-texts-incredibly-fast/), which produce text by processing several tokens simultaneously during each iteration, unlike autoregressive models, which build and predict tokens sequentially.

Apple has also examined diffusion models related to [protein folding prediction](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/24/apple-simplefold-protein-folding-prediction-ai/) and [programming](https://9to5mac.com/2025/07/04/apple-just-released-a-weirdly-interesting-coding-language-model/), which is perpetually captivating.

In essence, LaDiR merges both methodologies: it uses diffusion in the reasoning phase and then produces the final output through autoregression.

Furthermore, it operates with multiple reasoning pathways simultaneously, each undergoing its own diffusion procedure, guided by a mechanism that encourages exploration of diverse options, thereby yielding a varied array of candidate responses.

They clarify that during the inference stage, when the model is formulating its answer to the user’s prompt, LaDiR creates a series of concealed reasoning blocks, each initiated as a random pattern (or noise) that is progressively honed into a more coherent step.

Once the model decides it has sufficiently reasoned, it transitions to generating the ultimate answer autoregressively, token by token.

A crucial aspect is that LaDiR can execute several of these reasoning paths simultaneously, with a mechanism that prompts it to investigate various alternatives to prevent premature convergence on a single idea, thus maintaining the objective of the approach.

Significantly, LaDiR is not a completely new model, but a framework that enhances existing language models. It modifies how they address problems rather than wholly replacing them.

## How LaDiR performs

In the research, the team implemented LaDiR on Meta’s LLaMA 3.1 8B for mathematical reasoning and puzzle-solving, and Qwen3-8B-Base for code production.

In mathematical benchmarks, LaDiR reached greater accuracy compared to current methods and exhibited superior performance even on more challenging, out-of-distribution tasks.

In code generation evaluations like HumanEval, LaDiR yielded more dependable outputs, surpassing standard fine-tuning by a significant margin, especially on more complex problems.

Moreover, in puzzle-like planning scenarios, such as the Countdown game, LaDiR examined a more extensive range of valid responses than any baseline model and identified correct solutions more consistently than all general-purpose baselines. However, it did not achieve the same level of accuracy on single attempts as a specialized task-specific model.

While some components of the LaDiR paper can be rather intricate, it is a valuable read for those interested in the mechanics of large language models and innovative strategies for enhancing text generation performance.

To access the complete paper, [click here](https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04573).

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

In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, keeping abreast of the most recent news is crucial, particularly for Apple fans. 9to5Mac Daily acts as a dependable resource for daily summaries of the most important stories concerning Apple and its ecosystem. This podcast, presented by the 9to5Mac team, is tailored to keep listeners updated on the latest advancements, product unveilings, software modifications, and industry shifts.

**What to Anticipate from 9to5Mac Daily**

Every episode of 9to5Mac Daily is recorded during weekdays, assuring that subscribers obtain prompt updates. The podcast encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects, such as:

– **Product Unveilings**: Stay updated on the newest Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and accessories.
– **Software Modifications**: Discover new features, bug solutions, and enhancements in Apple’s operating systems, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
– **Industry Analysis**: Acquire knowledge about market movements, competitor evaluations, and the overall technology environment that influences Apple and its users.

Listeners can subscribe to the podcast via various platforms, including [iTunes](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), or through a dedicated [RSS feed](https://feedpress.me/9to5macdaily) for Overcast and other podcast players.

**Sponsorship and Backing**

9to5Mac Daily is backed by sponsors such as Bitwarden, a secure, open-source password manager that provides end-to-end encryption and effortless autofill across devices. This collaboration not only aids in sustaining the podcast but also offers listeners valuable resources for improving their digital safety.

**Exclusive Material and Community Interaction**

For those wanting to enrich their listening experience, 9to5Mac Daily Plus presents an ad-free version of episodes combined with additional content. Subscribers can directly support the podcast and enjoy extra benefits.

Listeners are invited to share their opinions and feedback through email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Ratings and recommendations on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Overcast also assist in broadening the podcast’s audience, enabling more Apple enthusiasts to find the show.

**Conclusion**

9to5Mac Daily is a vital resource for anyone intrigued by Apple news and technology. With its succinct format and expert perspectives, the podcast guarantees that listeners remain informed about the latest events in the Apple realm. Whether you’re a casual user or a tech aficionado, subscribing to 9to5Mac Daily is an excellent way to stay updated.

Almost 75% of satellite-capable smartphones sold in 2025 were iPhones, as per a recent report by Counterpoint Research. Here’s what’s anticipated for the market moving forward.

### Anticipated shipments to reach 46% by 2030

As detailed in a newly released Counterpoint Research report, Apple accounted for 71.6% of all satellite-capable smartphones shipped last year, trailed by Samsung at 15.9%, Huawei at 6.1%, Google at 2.2%, and Honor at 1.9%.

Counterpoint indicates the market is presently divided, with firms like Apple, Huawei, and Google leveraging proprietary satellite systems. Meanwhile, a significant portion of the Android ecosystem, including Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR, and vivo, is aligning with the emerging 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) standards.

The report notes that the former allows for tightly integrated, device-specific services today, while the latter aspires to transform satellites into extensions of cellular networks for enhanced compatibility and scalability in the future.

It also points out that despite Apple’s leadership, overall market adoption still depends on broader applications beyond messaging and emergency services, as well as the integration of mid-range devices:

> The satellite smartphone sector is primarily driven by the premium tier, yet the absence of compelling use cases is hindering widespread adoption. 3GPP Release 17 use cases are confined to SOS and messaging. Though 3GPP Release 18 will further advance penetration among premium brands, mass adoption in the mid-range tier is anticipated only with Release 19.

Another factor affecting adoption rates is the approach to satellite connectivity at the chipset level. Senior Analyst Shivani Parashar states:

> Qualcomm has been leading among Android chipset manufacturers in facilitating satellite connectivity via its Snapdragon X80 and X85 modems, followed by Huawei, Google, and Samsung. MediaTek is also pushing forwards with NTN integration through its MT6825 5G SoC. Increased involvement from chipset manufacturers will heighten competition while potentially aiding scalability.

Lastly, the report addresses collaborations between telecom operators and satellite services and how these are aiding initial adoption.

It highlights initiatives like T-Mobile and Rogers teaming up with SpaceX, AT&T collaborating with AST Mobile, and Apple’s alliance with Globalstar, which is now owned by Amazon, establishing North America as an early frontrunner in this space.

It also mentions that while “telecom operators in other regions, such as Europe and China, are not hurrying to provide satellite connectivity, satellite firms are boosting capacity to support the mass market.”

In this context, Counterpoint projects that global shipments of smartphones featuring satellite capabilities will achieve 46% by 2030, with “Apple, Google, and Samsung [leading] in terms of overall penetration,” and “additional Android manufacturers and telecom operators beyond developed regions [playing] a crucial role in speeding up global adoption,” according to Research Vice President Peter Richardson.

To access Counterpoint Research’s comprehensive report, click this link.

Apple is anticipated to unveil a series of new Home products later this year, following the arrival of iOS 27 which brings a long-awaited upgrade to Siri. However, there are three ways in which Apple Home has improved during the iOS 26 cycle as well. Here’s what’s changed.

## #1: Adaptive Temperature functionality for smart thermostats

iOS 26 rolled out a novel Adaptive Temperature functionality in Apple’s Home app designed to enhance the ‘intelligence’ of smart thermostats.

Program your thermostat to automatically modify itself when you’re heading home, going to bed, or when you’re away for an extended time. Your iPhone utilizes on-device intelligence to forecast when you’re en route home, adjusting the temperature accordingly by the time of your arrival, and tweaks the thermostat to conserve energy when you’re away from home. It also adapts to the sleep schedule programmed on your iPhone, modifying the temperature for when you fall asleep and wake up.

Although Apple technically unveiled Adaptive Temperature in iOS 26.0, the first supported smart thermostat was just launched earlier this month.

The **Aqara Smart Thermostat W200** arrived with full compatibility for Adaptive Temperature, ensuring your home remains comfortable and energy-efficient without any effort on your part. All you need is an Apple home hub.

Aqara’s W200 additionally functions as a Matter 1.4 hub with Thread and Zigbee integrated, and it pairs conveniently with Aqara smart locks and video doorbells as well, allowing you to manage and view live video feeds directly on the 4” touchscreen.

## #2: The inaugural smart lock featuring Apple Home Key and Ultra Wideband

Apple Home also gained from the recent introduction of the first smart lock that incorporates Apple Home Key and Ultra Wideband (UWB).

This product is the **Aqara Smart Lock U400**—clearly, Aqara is fully committing to Apple integrations.

Apple Home Key is configured in the Home app for your smart lock, facilitating the locking and unlocking of your door while allowing you to share access with guests.

The particularly impressive aspect of Aqara’s U400 is its Ultra Wideband feature. UWB enables your door to automatically secure and unlock based solely on your presence. Moreover, it’s significantly more precise, secure, and dependable than other options.

## #3: Quicker accessory setup for multipacks

If you’ve ever purchased a multipack of home accessories, you’ll understand the hassle of setting them up one at a time.

However, in iOS 26.2, Apple enhanced the Home app with a practical update in this area.

Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app allows you to use the same setup code to seamlessly enroll multiple accessories sold together.

That’s correct: with a single setup code, you can swiftly and effortlessly add a multipack of smart plugs, light bulbs, motion sensors, and more to the Home app.

What new Apple Home features are you eager to see introduced in iOS 27? Share your thoughts in the comments.

### Best Apple Home accessories

**iOS 26.4: Improvements to iCloud and Fresh Features for Apple Services**

iOS 26.4 was released last month, bringing an array of new functionalities for Apple Music, Podcasts, and beyond. A major highlight of this update is the upgrade of iCloud on the web, especially with the inclusion of a search option that enhances accessibility for users visiting iCloud.com.

### Apple’s Online Services: A Change in Emphasis

Traditionally, Apple has favored native applications over web services, leading to online interfaces that frequently trail behind their app versions. This strategy supports Apple’s ecosystem, where users mainly interact with services on Apple devices, gaining an improved experience from native applications.

Nevertheless, with the arrival of iOS 26.4, Apple has taken significant steps to advance its web services, specifically iCloud.com. The newly added search capability enables users to locate files and images directly through the web interface, a feature that was previously confined to the native Files and Photos apps on iOS.

### The Updated Search Feature

The iOS 26.4 update features a toggle for ‘Allow Search,’ which is off by default. When activated, this feature permits users to search for files in iCloud Drive and photos in iCloud Photos via the web. Per Apple’s support guidelines, users may receive suggestions depending on their search terms, such as:

– **For iCloud Drive:** File names, folder titles, and document categories.
– **For iCloud Photos:** Dates, individuals, and geographical locations.

Crucially, searches performed via iCloud.com are encrypted and use on-device processing, guaranteeing that no search history is retained on Apple servers.

### Activating Search on iCloud.com

To turn on the search function on iCloud.com, users must adhere to these instructions:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap ‘iCloud.’
4. Scroll down and select ‘iCloud.com.’
5. Toggle ‘Allow Search’ to on.
6. Confirm ‘Allow’ on the prompt.

This setting needs to be activated on every device that the user wants to yield search results to iCloud.com. However, if all devices are synced with the same files and images, enabling it once on an iPhone will be adequate.

### Consequences for Users

While users with a fully Apple ecosystem may not regularly use iCloud.com, the new search capability is especially advantageous for those who operate across various platforms, like Windows or Android devices. This upgrade streamlines access and management of files and photos on iCloud.com, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

To summarize, iOS 26.4 has brought notable advancements to iCloud’s web services, closing the gap between Apple’s native applications and online capabilities. As users begin to adjust to these updates, the lingering question is: how frequently will you utilize iCloud on the web, and has the new search feature affected your usage?

YouTube has recently revealed that it will be offering its Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for free to all users worldwide, following a successful rollout in the United States. This functionality enables users to view longform, non-music content while engaging in multitasking on their mobile devices, thereby enhancing the overall viewing experience.

### What is Picture-in-Picture Mode?

Picture-in-Picture mode allows users to keep watching videos in a compact, resizable window while they explore other applications on their smartphones. To enable this feature, users merely need to start a video in the YouTube app and then exit the app. The video will continue to play in a small window that can be repositioned on the screen. Users can tap the window for play/pause controls or to return to the full app.

### Availability

The complimentary PiP feature will be available to all non-YouTube Premium subscribers on both Android and iOS devices. The rollout is currently underway and is anticipated to reach all users globally in the upcoming months.

### Impact on YouTube Premium Subscribers

For YouTube Premium subscribers, there will be no alterations to their existing perks. Premium members will continue to have access to PiP for both music and non-music content, ensuring a completely uninterrupted viewing experience. Additionally, Premium Lite members will maintain access to PiP for longform, non-music content.

### Conclusion

The launch of free Picture-in-Picture mode represents a significant upgrade for YouTube users, enabling greater flexibility and convenience while consuming content. As this feature becomes available globally, it is likely to enhance user engagement and satisfaction on the platform.