Apple's new AirPods Max 2 just launched last month, and you can get all five color options for $509.00 this weekend on Amazon, down from $549.00. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. This is a match of the all-time low price on the brand new AirPods Max 2 headphones. Free delivery has the AirPods Max 2 arriving around May 11, while Prime members may be able to find quicker options in select locations. $40 OFFAirPods Max 2 for $509.00 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "AirPods Max 2 Available for $509 in All Colors on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

And just like that, Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 10th, which is too soon for most online purchases to arrive in time. That said, you aren’t alone if you waited too long to pick up a gift this year, and you definitely aren’t alone in feeling guilty for considering digital gifts instead of something your mom can unwrap. But here’s the thing: digital gifts can still unlock memorable experiences, be it movies, games, or music. They can also let your mom choose exactly what she wants, making them both convenient and versatile. Below, we’ve curated a list of some of the best digital goodies that folks at The Verge have used or gifted. The list is curated by interests, too, so you can find the perfect present whether your mom is into the arts, exercise, or something else entirely. That way, you’ll at least be able to gift something more thoughtful than an Amazon or Walmart gift card — even if those are still totally viable options in our book. Gifts for film and TV buffs Whether your mom is a movie buff or an avid sports fan, there are a number of subscriptions that’ll grant her access to a wide range of content. Below are some of the most popular, as well as a few catered toward anime diehards, horror lovers, and those looking for something more niche. Disney Plus gift card You can buy Disney Plus gift cards in increments of $25 up to $500. They’re usable toward Disney Plus subscriptions and bundles that include access to Disney Plus and Hulu, which start at $12.99 a month. That way, the family can stream everything from Andor and Paradise to The Bear and Percy Jackson. Where to Buy: $25 at Disney Store A gift card to a major streaming service like Netflix (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart), Peacock (Peacock), or Paramount Plus (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart) is a good gift that’ll cater to all kinds of passions. With a Netflix account, your mom can binge Stranger Things and Bridgerton, while Peacock provides access to shows like The Paper, Parks and Recreation, and Downton Abbey. A Paramount Plus subscription, meanwhile, lets her dive into Survivor 50, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and the entire Taylor Sheridan universe — including newer series like Landman and The Madison. A Criterion Channel gift card grants access to more than a thousand classic and contemporary Hollywood, international, arthouse, and independent films. It also features programming that spotlights directors, stars, genres, and themes, including a “15-minute-a-month film school.” For the anime lovers in your life, a Crunchyroll gift card provides access to hundreds of anime shows and films shortly after they air in Japan, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Blue Lock, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. They can even use the gift to purchase Crunchyroll’s extensive collection of anime figures, vinyl records, and clothes. Gifts for the gamers If you’re not sure which type of games your mom prefers, you can gift her an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo subscription. Not only will these memberships grant them access to free digital games, but they also include perks such as online multiplayer and cloud saves, among other incentives. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (three-month subscription) Giving the gift of Game Pass unlocks hundreds of great games to play, whether your recipient is a console or PC gamer. If you’re gaming on an Xbox, it also allows for online multiplayer. Where to Buy: $68.99 at Amazon $68.99 at Best Buy $68.99 at GameStop If your mom owns a PlayStation 5, a PlayStation Plus membership grants them access to free titles and discounts every month, lets her play games online, and allows her to access cloud-based backups. PlayStation Plus memberships start at $9.99 a month, and you can subscribe directly via PlayStation or buy a subscription with a PlayStation Plus gift card, which is available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target in denominations starting at $10 and going up to $250. Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 lovers, meanwhile, might enjoy an annual subscription

Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there's something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game, snow can be very powerful. And two recent releases - Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow - really capture just what snow is capable of. Let's start with the Moomins. Winter's Warmth is the second game based on the iconic Finnish fai … Read the full story at The Verge.

With Apple preparing to unveil iOS 27 and related updates at WWDC in just under a month, iOS 26.5 and friends are now right around the corner with some minor tweaks before we get our first look at the next major update. This week also saw Apple making more changes to its Mac mini and Mac Studio offerings amid product shortages, while the company is weighing how it can meet strong demand for the new MacBook Neo, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! Top Stories Apple Says iOS 26.5 Adds Three New Features to Your iPhone iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out. The second new feature added in iOS 26.5 is "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps. This section of the app provides recommendations based on your location and recent searches, and it will start showing ads in the U.S. and Canada later this year. Third, a new Pride Luminance wallpaper that "dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors" is available to download on iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5. Released alongside a new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face, Apple says the wallpaper celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world. Why You Might Want to Wait to Buy a MacBook Pro Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max models in March 2026, but depending on your needs and interests, you might want to skip this generation because there's something better in the works. The M5 Pro and M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models have faster chips, but the same design that Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and faster performance is coming in late 2026 or early 2027. Check out our overview of everything rumored for this upcoming "MacBook Ultra." Apple Stops Selling Mac Mini With 256GB of Storage, Starting Price Rises to $799 Apple last week stopped offering a 256GB storage option for the Mac mini worldwide. As a result, the desktop computer now has a higher starting price. In the U.S., for example, the Mac mini now starts at $799 with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, whereas it previously started at $599 with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Apple is also continuing to cut other configurations of the Mac mini and Mac Studio as the company has been hit by related issues of memory shortages throughout the industry amid strong demand from customers looking to use these machines for AI-related purposes. Apple Was Caught Off Guard by MacBook Neo's 'Off the Charts' Demand Apple's most affordable MacBook ever appears to be a resounding hit with customers, based on comments shared by CEO Tim Cook last week. On an earnings call last Thursday, Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo has been "off the charts" since the laptop was unveiled in March. "We could not be happier with how things are going at the moment," he said. Apple has been struggling to meet customer demand for new laptop, and the company is said to be running out the A18 Pro chips used to power them. With Apple rumored to be considering ordering another run of the chips that will add to the cost, plus rising memory costs, tech columnist Tim Culpan believes Apple could be considering dropping the entry-level $599 configuration of the MacBook Neo and perhaps offering it in some additional colors. iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Keep Aluminum Finish Amid Durability Complaints The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly carry over the same anodized aluminum finish introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, despite concerns from some users about its durability. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital,"

Article URL: https://internetarchive.ch/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48074265 Points: 162 # Comments: 19

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 127, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, my Scorpion challenges your Sub-Zero to a duel, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Hasan Piker and lines and David Sacks and sleep learning, catching up on Andor (for me) and Young Jedi Adventures (for my toddler), poring over thousands of new Artemis II photos, listening to many hours of possibly the longest YouTube video ever, taking more walks thanks to Pedometer++ 8.0, losing my mind during every second of every Arsenal match, and spendi … Read the full story at The Verge.

RGB LED technology might be everyone’s focus for TV tech in 2026, but quantum-dot TVs still might be the better choice. | Photo by John Higgins / The Verge At the Los Angeles Convention Center, two 85-inch TVs sat side by side inside the Nanosys meeting room at Display Week - a yearly business-to-business convention focusing on the technology that goes into displays of all types. One TV was a mini-LED panel with super quantum dots, and the other was an RGB LED - this year's hottest TV trend. Both TVs were showing the same content at the same time to highlight the differences between the two technologies - or more specifically, to show the potential failings of RGB LED backlights when compared to super quantum dot (SQD), which uses blue LEDs for the backlight. I should probably mention that Nan … Read the full story at The Verge.

Plus, make a mixtape with help from the folks behind Mixtape.

The studio behind Psychonauts is organizing with the Communications Workers of America.

Article URL: https://adele.pages.casa/md/blog/all-my-clients-wanted-a-carousel-now-it-s-an-ai-chatbot.md Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48072720 Points: 120 # Comments: 54

Article URL: https://cyberinsider.com/eu-calls-vpns-a-loophole-that-needs-closing-in-age-verification-push/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48072190 Points: 302 # Comments: 217

Examples: https://thariqs.github.io/html-effectiveness/Related: https://simonwillison.net/2026/May/8/unreasonable-effectiven... Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48071940 Points: 264 # Comments: 154

Article URL: https://techrights.org/n/2026/05/08/Over_97_of_the_Linux_Foundation_s_Budget_Goes_Not_to_Linux.shtml Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48071496 Points: 146 # Comments: 94

https://twitter.com/wtgowers/status/2052830948685676605https://xcancel.com/wtgowers/status/2052830948685676605 Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48071262 Points: 458 # Comments: 311

Article URL: https://mccue.dev/pages/5-8-26-ai-art Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48070548 Points: 124 # Comments: 147

Apple is developing a wearable AI device that's been described as a pin or pendant, and that could compete with a similar AI product coming from OpenAI's Jony Ive. It wasn't clear if the wearable would actually make it to launch because Apple sometimes cancels projects, but it is still in the works and could come as soon as next year. 1. It'll Look Like an AirTag Apple's design plans could change, but rumors suggest the device is a pin or pendant that looks similar to an AirTag. It's been described as having a thin, flat, circular disc shape, with an aluminum and glass shell. A physical control button is included on one edge. Apple wants the final version of the device to be about the same size as an ‌AirTag‌, but because of the hardware inside, it could be thicker. It sounds like the wearable will be versatile. It could have a clip to attach to clothing like a pin, but there's also supposedly a hole in the device so it can be worn as a necklace. Rumors have referred to it as both a pin and a pendant. 2. There Will Be Cameras Apple's AI wearable is going to have at least one camera, but rumors are mixed on exactly what the camera will be used for. Bloomberg says the pin will have a low-resolution camera that gives it info about its surroundings rather than a camera for capturing photos and videos. The camera will be always-on and processing visual data, but users will not be able to use it for images. The Information reports there will be two front cameras, one with a standard lens and one with a wide-angle lens for capturing photos and videos. Apple's AI device will rely heavily on Visual Intelligence, which is currently an iPhone feature that uses the camera to provide users with more information about places and objects around them. 3. Siri is the Brain Rumors have described Apple's wearable as an AI pin or pendant, because it's going to be reliant on artificial intelligence. It's one of several AI-equipped devices that Apple is working on, and it will give wearers a way to interface with Siri without having to use an iPhone. The camera on the pin will give ‌Siri‌ insight, and ‌Siri‌ will be able to answer questions about what the wearer is looking at or the wearer's surroundings. Apple is planning to completely overhaul ‌Siri‌ in iOS 27, turning the personal assistant into a much smarter chatbot on par with Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT. 4. iPhone Required While the AI wearable will have a chip inside, it will be a smaller chip that's similar to the H2 in the AirPods. It won't use a high-powered chip, and most processing will need to be done on the iPhone. The pin is not meant to be a standalone device, and it will instead be marketed as an iPhone accessory. 5. It'll Listen, But Might Not Talk Back To listen for voice requests and to pick up sounds around the wearer, the AI pin will have a microphone. Apple has not yet decided whether to add a speaker for back-and-forth ‌Siri‌ conversations and audio playback. If there's no speaker, responses might be directed to the wearer on the iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods. Release Date Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said this week that the AI wearable could see a launch as soon as 2027.Related Roundup: AirTagTag: Apple AI PinBuyer's Guide: AirTag (Buy Now)This article, "Apple's AirTag-Sized AI Pendant: Five Features Rumored So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

With watchOS 26.5, Apple is introducing a Pride Luminance face, and it's one of the most versatile and customizable watch faces. There are pre-configured color options, but the face also supports custom colors. You can select 1 to 12 colors from a palette that has every color of the rainbow, some in-between shades, and black, white, brown, and gray. The colors you pick are distributed across the watch face in a gradient, available in either radial or linear styles. The first style looks like a starburst, while the second style is a series of rectangular lines. The dial can be set to Rectangle for edge-to-edge color, or Circle for a smaller dial that supports four complications. As with most of Apple's faces, the Luminance face is animated. When the wrist is down, it shrinks into slim lines of color on a black background, but when the wrist is raised, the full color palette is displayed. Colors will also shift slowly. Apple's pre-selected colors represent different Pride flag colors, but with the deep customization options, the Pride Luminance face can match clothing, show off support for sports teams, or just display your favorite colors. iOS 26.5 also has a matching Pride Luminance Wallpaper option that can be customized in the same way. You can choose up to 12 colors for the Lock Screen and Home Screen. On the Lock Screen, the colors collapse onto a black background when the device is locked. To get the new watch face, you need iOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5. Apple has released RCs, and the public versions of the updates are expected as soon as next week. Related Roundup: watchOS 26Related Forum: Apple WatchThis article, "A Closer Look at watchOS 26.5's New Luminance Watch Face" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Article URL: https://www.pcmag.com/news/meta-shuts-down-end-to-end-encryption-for-instagram-dms-messaging Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48069192 Points: 290 # Comments: 191

While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch models, there are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in September, and we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this year, as that model was just updated last year and it typically goes two to three years between refreshes. Apple will unveil watchOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and a developer beta will likely be available immediately afterwards. A public beta typically follows in July, and the update should be widely released in September. Touch ID Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, according to internal Apple software code that leaked online last year. Touch ID would likely be built into the Apple Watch's side button, enabling users to unlock the device with their fingerprint instead of a passcode. Even though new Touch ID references were discovered within the code, there is no guarantee that Apple will move forward with this plan either this year or ever. In addition, credible sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have yet to mention Touch ID coming to the Apple Watch this year. New Chips After One-Year Hiatus While the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 all contain the same S10 chip as the previous year's models, the leaked Apple code indicated that the Series 12 and Ultra 4 will get a new chip. It is unclear if the chip will have S11 or S12 branding, but performance improvements are expected either way. New Modular Watch Face watchOS 27 will reportedly include new watch faces, including a variant of the "Modular Ultra" watch face that is currently exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra. New Apple Intelligence Features On watchOS 26, the following Apple Intelligence features are available on an Apple Watch when it is paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer: Workout Buddy Live Translation in Messages Notification SummariesWhen it announced the dates for WWDC 2026, Apple promised to unveil "AI advancements" across its platforms, and it can be reasonably assumed that watchOS 27 will include some additional Apple Intelligence features powered by the iPhone. New Satellite Features Apple Watch Ultra 3 has built-in satellite connectivity, enabling Emergency SOS, Find My, and Messages via satellite without any reliance on an iPhone. iOS 27 will reportedly include up to five new satellite features, and the following two would likely extend to watchOS 27:Apple Maps via satellite Photos support for Messages via satelliteAmazon last month announced plans to acquire Globalstar, the satellite company that powers Apple's satellite features on the iPhone 14 and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. In turn, Amazon announced that it has signed an agreement with Apple to provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, watchOS 26Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution), Apple Watch Ultra (Neutral)Related Forum: Apple WatchThis article, "Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect Later This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Welcome to episode 99 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will tackle the latest rumors surrounding Google’s Pixel 11, which could arrive later this summer with new camera sensors, whatever Pixel Glow is, and a whole lot of downgrades. Then they turn to the long-awaited Fitbit Air and try to predict how the fitness tracker audience will react to a significantly cheaper Whoop competitor. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Overcast more…