Apple Music: 3 Months Free — Family Plan for New Subscribers Apple Music is offering new subscribers three months free of its Family Plan. The Family Plan supports up to six people, each with their own Apple ID and personalized library, so playlists and recommendations stay separate. Key details Offer: 3 months free for new subscribers (redeem on eligible devices) Post-trial price: $16.99/month (auto-renews until cancelled) Requires: Family Sharing and an Apple ID for each member Works on: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Android and PC (best experience on Apple devices) Audio quality: CD-quality or higher; includes personalized playlists and live radio stations Pros & cons Pros: High audio quality, polished apps on Apple devices, robust family sharing, live radio and curated playlists Cons: Web/Windows apps…

iOS 26 Spatial Scenes: Turn Any Photo into a 3D Wallpaper With iOS 26 Apple introduces Spatial Scenes, a feature that converts ordinary 2D photos into dynamic, motion‑responsive 3D wallpapers. The system generates depth and multiple perspectives so images react to device movement, producing a convincing parallax effect. Key points Spatial Scenes transform regular photos into 3D backgrounds that respond to iPhone motion. Works with the Photos widget on the Home Screen so you can set transformed images quickly. Processing is done on the device using the Neural Engine; Apple confirms the feature in its iOS 26 documentation. Supported on iPhone 12 and newer (performance varies by model). How it works (brief) Apple’s system analyzes the photo to estimate depth and synthesize missing scene details, then renders multiple views so…

Sony, UMG and other labels settle lawsuit vs. the Internet Archive over the Great 78 ProjectIn 2023 Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and several other labels sued the Internet Archive over its Great 78 Project, which digitized 78 rpm shellac records. The parties have now filed that they reached a confidential settlement and will file to dismiss the lawsuit within 45 days.Key pointsSettlement is confidential; details not disclosed and the Archive said it will have no further public comment.The original complaint focused on thousands of recordings (initially 2,749, later amended to 4,142) including artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong.Labels argued the tracks face no risk of loss since they are available through music services; had the court sided with labels, damages could…

Hydrow Arc: Bigger Screen, AI Scoring, and New Lineup Hydrow has introduced the Arc, a new flagship rowing machine that sits on the same footprint as the former Pro model but adds a larger 24-inch touchscreen, improved ("premium") sound, and an AI-driven feature called the HydroMetrics Index. The Index evaluates your workout and returns a single score that tracks precision, power and endurance, and — when paired with AI — supplies personalized workout recommendations to target weak areas. Key specs 24-inch touchscreen display Built-in premium sound / front-facing speakers HydroMetrics Index — AI-powered single-score and personalized recommendations Approx. dimensions: ~86"L x 25"W x 48"H; weight ~147 lbs Pricing & availability Hydrow has reshuffled its lineup and pricing: Hydrow Arc (flagship): $2,295 — orders available now on Hydrow’s site Hydrow Origin…

Prime Day Early Deals: Save on iPad Air, Mac mini, Anker & more Prime Day is approaching and many early deals are already live. If you have Prime, now’s a smart time to grab tech bargains. Below are standout early discounts and quick links to search these products on Amazon (affiliate tag applied). Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449 (approx. $150 off). A faster M3 chip boosts performance vs M2. Find it on Amazon: Search iPad Air 11" (M3) Apple Mac mini (M4) — $499 (approx. $100 off). Compact desktop with M4 chipset and 16GB RAM in base. Search on Amazon: Search Mac mini (M4) (note: listings may vary). Anker Soundcore Space A40 — $45 (44% off). Budget wireless earbuds with solid ANC and multi-device pairing. Search on Amazon:…

Anker Nano 5K MagGo Slim — Slim MagSafe Power Bank at $46 Amazon currently lists the Anker Nano 5K MagGo Slim at $46 (down from $55). This ultra-thin 5,000 mAh MagSafe-compatible power bank comes in black and white and sticks directly to MagSafe-ready iPhones and other compatible devices. Quick facts Capacity: 5,000 mAh Price: $46 (sale; previously $55) Colors: Black, White Compatibility: MagGo / MagSafe-compatible phones (with magnetic cases) Size: About a third of an inch thick (ultra-slim) Charging performance In testing and product reports, the Nano 5K MagGo Slim charged an iPhone 15 from 5% to about 90% in roughly 2.5 hours, and could reach ~40% in under an hour — solid results for a compact 5K power bank. Why it stands out Extremely slim, pocket-friendly design — far…

US version of TikTok may still use Chinese algorithm — summary & analysis Recent reports say a potential US–China deal could license TikTok's Chinese algorithm for use in a US version of the app, while placing ownership/control with American investors. Key names mentioned in reporting include Wang Jingtao, deputy director of China's Cyberspace Administration, who said the deal would include "licensing the algorithm and other intellectual property rights." The Financial Times and other outlets have reported on the talks; an original summary appeared on Engadget — read the Engadget report. Why this matters TikTok's recommendation algorithm has been central to US concerns about influence and data control. Licensing the algorithm to a US-run entity raises questions about whether algorithmic behavior can be audited, modified, or fully detached from its original…

Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11 — Quick Comparison and Buying Guide The new Apple Watch SE 3 (starts at $249; $299 for cellular) has closed the gap with the flagship Series 11 (starts at $399). Both run watchOS 26 and share the S10 chip, Always‑On Retina displays, 5G on cellular models, important safety features (Fall & Crash Detection, Emergency SOS), and many core health and tracking tools. But the Series 11 still leads in advanced health sensing, display brightness/size, battery life and premium materials. What’s the same watchOS 26 and S10 chip (similar performance) Always‑On Retina display (first for SE line) Basic health & safety: heart notifications, sleep tracking, temperature sensing, Cycle Tracking, noise monitoring, Fall & Crash Detection 5G on cellular models, gesture controls, water…

Apple Watch Ultra 3 — Satellite comms, S10 chip, up to 42‑hour battery Apple’s new Watch Ultra 3 brings several upgrades focused on connectivity and endurance. Key highlights: Satellite communications — Emergency SOS via satellite, plus Messages and Find My via satellite. Apple includes two years of satellite service; Messages and Find My via satellite require an active cellular plan (Emergency SOS via satellite works without a paid watch plan for emergency use). S10 chip — New 64‑bit S10 processor for improved performance and efficiency. Display & battery — Larger LTPO3 wide‑angle OLED with thinner bezels; Apple claims up to 42 hours of battery life (longer in low‑power modes). Connectivity & health — 5G support, dual‑frequency GPS, hypertension notifications, Sleep Score and other health features introduced with Series 11, plus…

Apple AirPods Pro (3rd generation) — Quick Summary Apple’s AirPods Pro (3rd gen) bring notable upgrades: stronger active noise cancellation, a redesigned fit, and an integrated optical heart‑rate sensor that works with Apple Fitness and compatible third‑party apps. Early reports note improved passive isolation from the new ear‑tip design, plus advanced computational audio. Some users may find the new shape takes getting used to, and there are tradeoffs around battery life in certain use cases. Key features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Apple claims meaningful ANC improvements over the previous generation (Apple has reported roughly 2× the cancellation vs AirPods Pro 2). Ear tips & fit: New ear‑tip design for better seal and passive isolation; the earbuds also have a redesigned housing. Heart‑rate sensor: Integrated optical sensor that feeds data to…