The iOS 26.6 developer beta released earlier today brings a few animation and interface tweaks, indicating that Apple is still working on the balance between practical usability and its original vision for Liquid Glass. Here’s what’s changed.

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WondLa, Apple’s animated adventure trilogy, returns on November 26 for a final run of six episodes. Watch the trailer below.

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Apple today provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26.2, which adds a few new features worth knowing about.

Measure App

Apple's Measure app now features a Liquid Glass design for the level, with two Liquid Glass bubbles instead of white circles.

Games App

There's now an option to sort games in the Games app Library by size, in addition to Name and Recent.

CarPlay

The CarPlay app supports disabling pinned messages in the Messages app.

Menu Animations

For pop-out menus that expand from a corner button, there's a quicker, bouncier animation that looks like the animation that Apple showed off at WWDC.

Alerts

Apple now provides more information on the Enhanced Safety Alerts added in the first beta.

Enhanced Safety Alerts can provide you safety alerts on your iPhone and Watch to notify you of an emergency event, such as an earthquake or flood. These alerts are sent over available connectivity, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and, when available, mobile data. Apple can deliver Enhanced Safety Alerts to your current region, which is determined using your device location. A region may be a country, or for some countries (such as the US), a region may be a group of states. Your Apple device can be associated with this region. Apple does not store information about your device location in a region.

Enhanced Safety Alerts are turned on by default. You can disable or re-enable Enhanced Safety Alerts by going to Settings > Notifications > Enhanced Alerts > Enhanced Safety Alerts, then tapping to turn one or more types of Enhanced Safety Alerts on or off. Enhanced Safety Alerts are delivered by Apple and will appear and sound different to a Government Alert sent by your local government.

Improve Alert Delivery uses your approximate location to improve the timeliness and reliability of Enhanced Safety Alerts. For example, Earthquake Alerts might be delivered quicker and more reliably when Improve Alert Delivery is turned on. Apple does not store your approximate location. You can enable Improve Alert Delivery in Settings > Notifications > Enhanced Alerts > Enhanced Safety Alerts > Improve Alert Delivery.
To receive Enhanced Alerts, you must have enabled Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Alerts & Shortcuts Automation.

Other Features

There are several other new features coming in iOS 26.2, such as a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen and Live Translation support for the AirPods in the European Union. More information can be found in our iOS 26.2 beta 1 guide.

Download iOS 26.2

iOS 26.2 beta 2 is available for developers right now, but a public beta is likely coming later this week. You can sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website.

Compatibility

iOS 26.2 is available on all iPhones that support iOS 26.

Release Date

We're expecting Apple to release iOS 26.2 in December, sometime between December 9 and December 16.
This article, "Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.


‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 232 includes fixes and updates for CSS, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, SVG, Storage, Web API, and Web Inspector.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
This article, "Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 232 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Aqara today launched its latest sensor, debuting the Presence Multi-Sensor FP300. Aqara’s sensor is able to determine when someone is in the room, providing a useful way to control HomeKit-connected lights and devices.


There are dual mmWave and passive infrared sensors inside the FP300, and in our testing prior to launch, the sensors worked well to detect presence and keep lights on even when sitting still.

A wide 120-degree field of view provides coverage of most of a room depending on where the sensor is located, and Aqara added extra sensors for ambient light, humidity, and temperature. It’s handy to have extra sensors for keeping an eye on room conditions or activating scenes based on parameters like light levels.

Unlike prior Aqara sensors that detect presence, the FP300 is battery powered so it can be placed anywhere, and it’s also more affordable. At $50, it’s an easier buy for rooms where you want better control over when the lights are on and off. The sensor is small and unobtrusive with a rotatable base, so it can be placed almost anywhere. It comes with screws, adhesive and a magnet for mounting it on the wall or another surface.

Compared to the more expensive FP2 Presence Sensor from Aqara, the FP300 is not as advanced and does not include multi-person detection, sleep tracking, or fall detection capabilities.

There are plenty of sensors that can detect movement to turn on lights or activate other devices, but those mostly work by detecting movement upfront and then turning the lights off after a set period. Aqara’s Presence Sensor works much better than these static motion sensors. It keeps the lights on inside the closet for the entire duration that I’m in there before turning them off again. It has a range of almost 20 feet, so it works in most rooms.

The FP300 is able to connect to HomeKit using Matter, and it also includes Zigbee and Thread protocol support. When used in Thread mode, it can connect with Apple Home without a hub, but Zigbee mode requires an Aqara Zigbee Hub.

It supports ‌HomeKit‌ automations, so you can create actions for turning on lights or other devices when you enter the room, or use features like the ambient light detection to automate your lights when it starts to get dark.

Combining the included sensors is useful too. You can set up an automation for turning the lights on in the dark only when presence is detected, or activating the thermostat only if it’s over a certain temperature while someone is in the room. Aqara designed the sensor with AI, and it can adjust detection sensitivity to the room where it is placed.

There are two CR2450 batteries inside, which will need to be replaced approximately once every two years when it’s connected via Thread.

The Presence Sensor FP300 can be purchased from Amazon for $50 as of today.
This article, "Aqara Launches Matter-Supported FP300 Presence Sensor" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today, 1Password announced a new “unlock with device” setting that auto-unlocks the app when you unlock your Mac. Here’s how it works.

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Apple continues to test the next iPhone software update with iOS 26.2 beta 2 released today. The pre-release iPhone software update includes a surprising amount of changes and refinements. Here’s everything new so far:

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iOS 26 brought major changes to CarPlay, including a new Liquid Glass design, widgets, Live Activities, and more. The Messages app also added new features like Tapbacks and pinned conversations.

With today’s release of iOS 26.2, Apple has added a new toggle that lets you simplify the Messages app …

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The second beta of macOS 26.2 introduces a new Edge Light feature that's designed for video calls on FaceTime and other video calling platforms. It adds a light border around the edges of your Mac's display, providing improved lighting. Apple says that it is meant to help you look your best on video calls.


Edge Light mimics a ring light, eliminating the need for a separate device. It can provide illumination when you're in a dark room, and customize the light to match the brightness of the ambient lighting.

The Mac's Apple Neural Engine is able to detect your face, relative size, and location in the video frame to position the light appropriately, and it will fade out to allow you to access content on your screen when needed by detecting your mouse cursor. You can adjust the color of the light using a slider that transitions between warm and cool options.

Edge Light can be accessed in the settings of video conferencing apps alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Voice Isolation. The feature is available on Macs that support Apple silicon, and it works with both webcams and external cameras that are connected.

On Macs from 2024 and later, Edge Light can turn on automatically when ambient lighting in the room drops.

Developers can try Edge Light today, and macOS Tahoe 26.2 is set to launch to the public in December.
This article, "macOS Tahoe 26.2 Gets Edge Light Feature for Video Calls" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple released iOS 26.2 beta 2 earlier today, and it continued its system-wide overhaul of the Liquid Glass visual concept with a nice interface update to the Level tool inside the Measure app. Here’s what it looks like.

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iOS 26.2 is coming next month, and developer beta 2 just arrived today, highlighting three new improvements for Apple’s Games app.

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Apple has released a new wave of beta updates, with developer beta 2 rolling out for tvOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and more.

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Apple today provided the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the first beta.


Developers can download the macOS Tahoe 26.2 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

The Reminders app is getting an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due, the News app has some design updates, and Apple is adding new features to the Podcasts app.

We'll likely see Apple release macOS Tahoe 26.2 right around mid-December given past launch timelines.
This article, "Second macOS Tahoe 26.2 Beta Now Available to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple seeded the first betas.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.2 has a Liquid Glass slider on the Lock Screen to adjust the transparency of the clock, plus it brings AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. The Reminders app now supports alarms for when tasks are due, and there are updates to the Podcasts and Apple News apps.

We have a full guide on all of the features available in iOS 26.2 in our guide.

iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 will see a launch in December.
This article, "Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Less than a week after releasing beta 1, Apple is now rolling out macOS Tahoe 26.2 developer beta 2. Here’s what to expect, including a new feature for video calls.

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Apple has just released iPadOS 26.2 developer beta 2, which arrives about one week after developers received access to the first beta version. Here’s what’s new so far.

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Apple has released the second iOS 26.2 beta for iPhone. The developer beta version is available as an over-the-air update starting today.

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Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS 26.2 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple seeded the first betas.


The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

watchOS 26.2 features updated Sleep Score ranges that better match how people might be feeling after a night's rest.

In tvOS 26.2, Apple added support for creating a profile without an Apple Account, plus there is a dedicated Apple TV app kids mode for profiles created for kids.

We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and tvOS 26.2. Apple doesn't typically provide release notes for betas, so we might not know what's new until the software updates see a public launch unless there are outward-facing changes.

The new updates will probably launch sometime between December 9 and December 16, given Apple's historical release timelines for .2 updates.
This article, "Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2 and visionOS 26.2 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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macOS Tahoe 26.2 is adding a a fun and useful new feature for video conferencing.

The update introduces a feature Apple is calling Edge Light, which aims to improve your video quality in low lighting conditions by adding a virtual ring light around the edge of your Mac’s display. Here’s how it works.

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OpenAI today upgraded GPT-5 to GPT-5.1, the next-generation version of the AI model that powers ChatGPT. There are two versions of GPT-5.1, including Instant and Thinking.


Instant is warmer, more intelligent, and better at following instructions, according to OpenAI, while GPT-5.1 Thinking is easier to understand, faster on simple tasks, and more persistent on complex tasks.

OpenAI says that users can expect a more enjoyable communication experience, with options to more easily customize ChatGPT's tone. There are new presets for tone, including Professional, Candid, and Quirky. The new presets join the existing Default, Nerdy, Cynical, Friendly (previously Listener), and Efficient (previously Robot) options. ChatGPT can also proactively offer to update preferences during conversations when you ask for a certain tone or style, and there are fine tuning options to adjust how concise, warm, or scannable responses are, along with how often it employs emojis.

By default, GPT-5.1 Instant is warmer and more playful, and more likely to adhere to parameters that you set. GPT-5.1 Thinking is able to adapt thinking time more precisely to the question, and responses are clearer with fewer undefined terms. It's also warmer and more empathetic than before.

Questions will continue to be routed to the most suitable model using GPT-5.1 Auto. GPT 5.1 Instant and Thinking are rolling out to users today, with paid Pro, Plus, Go, and Business users set to get access first, then free and logged-out users. Enterprise and Edu users will get a seven-day early-access toggle, after which GPT-5.1 will become the default model.

OpenAI plans to roll out GPT-5.1 gradually to keep performance stable, so not all users will see it right away.

GPT-5 will remain available in the legacy models dropdown for paid subscribers for the next three months.
This article, "OpenAI Launches Smarter, More Conversational ChatGPT 5.1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s Shortcuts app offers tremendous power, especially with new iOS 26 additions. But my own most-used shortcuts tend to be extremely simple, including one recently shared by Quinn Nelson for opening an app’s settings.

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Following two months of meticulous work, Basic Apple Guy has released the much-anticipated iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max Internals Wallpapers. Here’s how to get them.

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While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen.


Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet, nothing so far.

There are reasons to believe that at least one of the products could be updated imminently, but there are also signs that Apple might hold off until next year.

For starters, HomePod mini inventory is running low at many of Apple's retail stores, and the speaker is completely out of stock at select resellers. That would typically be a sign that a hardware refresh is imminent, but it is already mid-November, so it is getting late in the year. Apple just updated its online store for the holiday season, and it even highlights the existing five-year-old HomePod mini as a gift idea.

"We are excited to be sharing our most extraordinary lineup of products as we head into the holiday season," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release at the end of October. Did he mean no more new products this year? Maybe. Maybe not.

Apple rarely launches new products in the second half of November or December, but it has happened a few times. For example, the original 16-inch MacBook Pro was announced in November 2019, and the AirPods Max were unveiled in December 2020. So, anything is possible. Just keep your expectations low.

All in all, the reality is that nobody seems to know if the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag will be updated this year anymore — at least until the next rumor surfaces.

If the HomePod mini and Apple TV do not end up being updated until 2026, it could be the result of Apple delaying its more personalized version of Siri until next year, as Gurman expects both devices to support the revamped assistant. The improved Siri is currently expected to launch as part of iOS 26.4 in March or April. It is possible that Apple would want to show off the new-and-improved Siri at the same time as the first new devices that will run it, including the company's long-rumored smart home hub.

The current HomePod mini was unveiled in October 2020, while the latest-generation Apple TV 4K was released in October 2022.

It is harder to explain why the AirTag has not been updated yet. Apple unveiled the current version of the accessory in April 2021.

Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product:

• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.


• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.


• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

What do you think? Will any of these products be updated this year, or is Apple done for now?
This article, "New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Back in August, OpenAI unveiled GPT-5, a major frontier model update to ChatGPT. Three months later, OpenAI is back with GPT-5.1, which it says is “now warmer, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions.”

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