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Apple Unveils iOS 26.1 Beta 1 for Developer Evaluation

postponed numerous features prior to the rollout of iOS 26 that may begin to appear in the software throughout this beta phase.

In contrast to past years, we have limited information regarding Apple’s intentions for iOS 26. This is due to the company opting to only reveal the functionalities that can be launched when it officially introduced iOS 26 at WWDC 2025. Following the previous year’s delay of Apple Intelligence and the subsequent deferral of the brand-new Siri, Apple has chosen a more cautious approach this time.

Nonetheless, we anticipate some adjustments to the Liquid Glass UI and additional enhancements, as millions more users are now actively utilizing iOS 26 on devices ranging from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here’s what you can look forward to in iOS 26.1 beta 1.

Features on hold that we may encounter in iOS 26.1

Five Essential Apps for Android Auto Setup

In a manner akin to Apple CarPlay, this allows you to manage messaging, music, and additional features via the car’s touchscreen instead of dealing with your phone while driving.

Setting up Android Auto with your vehicle unlocks a range of conveniences that encompass hands-free calling, game access while stationary, and even robust Gemini integrations. Android Auto is compatible with more than 500 vehicle models, and initiating the setup requires merely connecting your phone to the car using a USB cable or wirelessly through Bluetooth. The interface is user-friendly, but having the appropriate apps installed can significantly influence your daily drive, summer road adventures, or leisurely Sunday outings. Let’s delve into our five must-have Android Auto apps for these specific situations.

Google Maps

How Owners of Google Pixel 10 Pro Can Claim Their Complimentary Gemini Subscription

a Google Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Google AI Pro plan is complimentary. The sole Pixel 10 model that does not qualify for this offer is the standard version. The Google AI Pro plan provides access to various Google AI resources, such as Gemini 2.5 for enhanced chatbot capabilities, rapid video creation with Veo 3, a premium edition of NotebookLM, the Jules AI coding helper, and up to 2TB of storage. 

How to enroll for a complimentary year of Google AI Pro

Eligible purchasers can redeem the complimentary year of Google AI Pro promotion until October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. The offer is not accessible to individuals already subscribed to a Google add-on or higher-tier membership, anyone on a family plan that does not manage the shared plan, or those who registered for a Google subscription via an affiliate or third party.

If you meet all these criteria, you can initiate the redemption procedure by downloading the Google One app on your Pixel 10 Pro or higher. Sign in to the app using the credentials for the Google account you wish to utilize the AI Pro suite with, then review and accept the terms and conditions. That’s all there is to it.

After completing the registration, the benefits of the Google AI Pro plan should be accessible to

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Apple Boosts iPhone 17 Manufacturing to Meet Surging Demand

the organization’s basic iPhone 17 variants. In particular, The Information conveys that Apple has instructed Foxconn and other manufacturers to ramp up production by 40%. This represents a considerable increase and contributed to pushing Apple shares to $245 prior to the market’s closing on Friday.

Naturally, without further context it’s challenging to fully understand the situation. For instance, it’s conceivable that the demand for the iPhone 17 is elevated simply because consumers perceive the iPhone 17 Pro models as too costly. Recall that the base model iPhone 16 Pro was set at $999. The basic iPhone 17 Pro, on the other hand, begins at $1099.

A $200 price hike is not insignificant, and could be the factor driving the heightened interest in the iPhone 17. By the way, Tim Cook mentioned to CNBC this week that the price alteration has nothing to do with President Trump’s tariffs. “There’s no increase for tariffs in the prices to be totally clear,” Cook stated.

This is Apple’s most robust iPhone lineup in years

Sam Altman Unveils Costly New Features for ChatGPT

an announcement regarding X hinting at new ChatGPT functionalities expected to be unveiled in the near future. These enigmatic functionalities will incur higher operational costs, hence access cannot be assured for the most affordable premium subscription, which is the ChatGPT Plus tier priced at $20/month. “In the upcoming weeks, we will be introducing several new compute-heavy offerings,” Altman remarked. “Due to the related expenses, certain features will initially be restricted to Pro subscribers, and some new products will entail extra charges.”

“Our goal continues to be to drive down the costs of intelligence as much as we can and to make our services accessible to a wide audience, and we are optimistic about achieving this over time,” Altman added. “However, we also aim to explore what’s feasible when we apply a substantial amount of compute, at today’s model expenses, to intriguing new concepts.”

It remains uncertain why the CEO hinted at the new features over the weekend or what they could entail. This is not the first instance where ChatGPT Pro users have gained exclusive access to new, compute-demanding features. ChatGPT Operator, OpenAI’s initial AI agent, serves as one such example. Additionally, ChatGPT Pro users were the pioneers in gaining access to functionalities such as Deep Research and the GPT-4.5 model prior to their wider release. Concerning GPT-5, ChatGPT Pro users benefit from elevated usage limits and exclusive entry to the GPT-5 Pro model.

What’s the upcoming significant advancement for ChatGPT?

How to Resolve a PS5 Frozen on a Black Screen

ignite your PlayStation 5, and anticipate its splendid boot logo to grace your television screen. Then you wait, and wait, and wait. Rather than an enjoyable escape from the week’s numerous mental frustrations, you find yourself facing the notorious PS5 black screen dilemma.

You are not alone in this predicament. A simple online search will uncover a plethora of other PS5 users who have experienced this issue as well. Fear not, this is not the end of the line. Depending on how your PS5 is set up — at least regarding physical connections, as well as system and TV configurations — there might be several explanations for the black screen you’re encountering. Let’s begin to dissect this annoyance so you can resume your gaming.

Inspect the HDMI cable and connection

The Promise of Snails in Human Eye Restoration: Research Discoveries

The capacity to regenerate lost body parts has long intrigued humanity. Numerous creatures in the wild can execute repair feats that greatly outstrip our own capabilities. For instance, salamanders can regenerate limbs, starfish can restore their arms, and lobsters can regenerate their limbs, claws, and even antennae. Nevertheless, this extent of regeneration remains firmly unattainable for humans, particularly concerning delicate organs like the eyes.

Nevertheless, researchers have begun to focus on a more surprising model: snails. A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that the apple snail can entirely regrow its camera-type eyes after complete removal. The results do not suggest that human eye regeneration is on the horizon, but they open a new avenue of research into the regeneration of complex organs. By investigating what other species have already accomplished, scientists aim to make significant advancements in human medicine and transform organ regeneration into a reality.

Science Insights

The latest research, led by Alice Accorsi from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, centers on the apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, a freshwater mollusk with a surprisingly advanced visual system. These snails have what are classified as camera-type eyes. Similar to human eyes, these visual structures incorporate a cornea and lens to focus light onto a layered retina, where photoreceptors convert light into signals sent to the brain. This distinguishes apple snails from other invertebrates that possess simple eyespots. In fact, their eyes show greater similarity to those of vertebrates, including humans.

Researchers completely excised the apple snail’s eye to evaluate its regenerative capabilities. They even removed the stalk that supports the eye. Remarkably, these snails took just one month to regenerate the organ fully. Furthermore, the regeneration was not limited to merely the surface tissue. Every significant component of the eye was reconstructed, including the optic nerve. Scientists were able to meticulously observe the regeneration process, which commenced with wound closure, followed by the proliferation of new cells and the formation of blastema (a group of cells that serves as a regeneration hub). Only then did the slow differentiation into the intricate layers of the eye take place.

More crucially, the research team examined the genetic mechanisms that facilitated the eye’s recovery. They pinpointed a master gene, pax6, recognized as vital for eye development across various animal species on the planet. Once the scientists deactivated pax6, the apple snails could no longer regenerate their eyes.

Implications for Humans

The revelation made by the researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research positions apple snails as a novel model organism for regrowth studies. These snails are simple to maintain and examine, and they possess complex eyes that can be entirely reconstructed. They represent ideal test subjects for future investigations that could push the boundaries of current medicine. For humans, eye damage is frequently irreversible. While the human cornea can heal to a certain extent, injuries to the retina or damage to the optic nerve offer few repair options. Existing treatments can restore some eye functions and partially enhance vision but cannot fully recreate the eye. The notion that humans could regenerate intricate organs, like eyes, raises numerous challenges.

The apple snail study demonstrates that the eye can be completely regenerated. For humans, this won’t occur instantaneously, but it aids in understanding the principles of regeneration found in nature. Ultimately, this knowledge may pave the way for the full or partial reconstruction of the human lens, retina, optic nerve, and associated eye tissue. If researchers can identify the molecular pathways active in snails but dormant in humans, it may lead to new methodologies for tapping into the human capacity for self-repair.

However, significant obstacles persist. Snails and humans are evolutionarily quite distant relatives. What is effective in one species may not directly apply to another. Nonetheless, snails enhance our comprehension of the remarkable regenerative capabilities possessed by many animals already. The exciting potential of regenerative medicine is currently being rigorously explored. Even if humans never achieve the ability to entirely regrow their eyes, these snails might inform future therapies for eye degeneration and even improve transplant success rates. Who knows, perhaps an apple snail a day will keep the doctor away.

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YouTuber Discusses the Reasons Behind the iPhone 17 Pro’s Susceptibility to Scratches in ‘ScratchGate’ Examination

the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 were launched in stores on Friday, and we witnessed the first drop test of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which demonstrated just how remarkably durable the new Pro models can be. The iPhone 17 Pro Max withstood every fall in the clip — or at least the glass sections of the device did. Nevertheless, the aluminum frame distinctly endured some damage. Multiple users also posted images and videos revealing scratches and blemishes on the iPhone 17 Pro models showcased in Apple retail locations. Shortly thereafter, “Scratchgate” began trending on X — reminiscent of the iPhone 6’s Bendgate — with buyers displaying scratches on the latest iPhone gadgets.

On Sunday, YouTuber JerryRigEverything released a durability examination on YouTube of the two iPhone 17 Pro models, detailing the possible reasons behind the scratches. The YouTuber remarked that the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max feature a sturdy aluminum chassis, complete with an anodized surface layer that can endure level 9 scratches on the Mohs hardness scale — second only to diamond. However, JerryRigEverything pointed out two possible factors contributing to the scratching issue with the iPhone 17 Pro.

Why is the iPhone 17 Pro so prone to scratches?

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A Ranking of the Largest Known Objects in the Universe by Dimension

**The Largest Recognized Entities in the Cosmos: An Expedition Through Celestial Behemoths**

The universe is immense, extending beyond our comprehension. The observable cosmos measures roughly 92 billion light-years across, representing just a small portion of the whole universe. Within this region, astronomers have identified massive objects and phenomena that put our perceptions of size and proportion to the test. This article delves into the largest recognized entities in the cosmos, organized into planets, stars, galaxies, and structures.

**Planets**

1. **Kepler-435 b**: Discovered in 2015, this gas giant boasts a radius double that of Jupiter, around 86,448 miles. Despite its size, it possesses only 85% of Jupiter’s mass. It orbits its star at a distance of just 0.0948 AU, completing a full orbit in 8.6 days.

2. **HAT-P-67 b**: This planet has a radius of 92,963.74 miles, making it 2.14 times the size of Jupiter while having a density lower than that of marshmallows. It orbits its star at a distance of 0.06505 AU, finishing its orbit in just 4.8 days.

3. **ROXs 42 Bb**: Possibly the largest recognized planet, it has an estimated radius of 91,226.1 miles and a mass of 2.47 * 10^28 kg. There is ongoing debate regarding its classification as either a planet or a brown dwarf.

**Stars**

1. **WOH G64**: Previously the largest identified star, this red supergiant has a radius close to 346 million miles. It has since diminished in size and is now classified as a yellow hypergiant.

2. **UY Scuti**: A variable star with pulsing characteristics, its radius ranges between 393.3 million miles and 736 million miles. It is approximately 5,900 light-years distant from Earth.

3. **VY Canis Majoris**: The current largest star, boasting a radius of 614.42 million miles. It is recognized as the brightest source of infrared radiation recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope.

**Galaxies**

1. **IC 1101**: A colossal lenticular galaxy with a diameter measuring 409.72 thousand light-years. Its core is the largest yet discovered, spanning 13.7 thousand light-years.

2. **A2261-BCG**: An elliptical galaxy with a diameter of 544 thousand light-years. Its core resembles billowy fog and lacks a gravitational anchor due to ejected black holes.

3. **ESO 383-76**: The most extensive elliptical galaxy, measuring between 1.7 to 1.8 million light-years across. Its central black hole is among the heaviest ever found.

**Structures**

1. **Eridanus Supervoid**: A semi-hypothetical void measuring 1.8 billion light-years across, potentially accounting for the CMB Cold Spot’s deficit of background radiation.

2. **Giant GRB Ring**: A circular formation of nine GRBs, 5.6 billion light-years in diameter, indicating a linked cosmic structure.

3. **Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall**: A galaxy filament that stretches 10 billion light-years; its existence is still under scrutiny due to limited data availability.

**Methodology**

This article organizes the most substantial entities in the universe into categories of planets, stars, galaxies, and structures while choosing the largest instances based on their size. Although estimates come with inherent uncertainty, size is typically easier to quantify than mass. The entries are arranged from smallest to largest, with several potential candidates omitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

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Top 5 Complimentary Apple Watch Applications Ready for Download

The Apple Watch might not be essential, but once it’s on your wrist, it swiftly transforms into a vital associate. Serving as a seamless extension of your iPhone, the Apple Watch allows you to view notifications, utilize Siri for quick actions, and even unlock your Mac, all without having to retrieve your phone from your bag or pocket. In addition to convenience, it serves as a potent health and fitness monitor, tracks your sleep, logs workouts with comprehensive metrics, and offers insights to help you achieve your wellness aspirations. With the newest Apple Watch Series 10, the experience is smoother than ever. 

However, there is a caveat: After investing several hundred dollars in the watch itself, you might hesitate to splurge on premium apps. The good news? You don’t need to. The Apple Watch App Store is brimming with free applications that can match or even exceed their paid versions. Ranging from productivity tools to fitness partners, these apps enable you to unlock the complete potential of your Apple Watch without spending an additional cent.

If you’re curious about where to begin, we’ve compiled a list of the top five free Apple Watch apps available for download right now. These essential selections will enhance your Apple Watch experience from day one, and the best part? They’re entirely free. 

Todoist: Well-known to-do application

Todoist is among my preferred productivity applications that you can integrate into your Apple Watch. With a quick glance, you can see your daily to-do list straight from your wrist, making it simple to keep up with deadlines without frequently reaching for your iPhone. The app’s user-friendly interface is ideally designed for the compact screen size, allowing you to swiftly mark off finished tasks, assign new ones using voice dictation, or reschedule items with just a tap. 

Notifications on the watch keep you on track throughout the day, making sure you never overlook an important reminder or due date. What truly makes Todoist excel on the Apple Watch is its integration into your larger workflow. Tasks refresh

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