The latest details about Apple’s upcoming camera-equipped AirPods make for fascinating reading.
The cameras work in unison, appear not to be infrared (as previously reported/speculated), and also don’t take video!
Instead, they seem to work by taking static photos (albeit likely in quick succession, which is basically the definition of how video works, but still). Maybe they’re not so creepy after all?
The new details come from code hidden in the macOS 26.7 release candidate, and they are surprisingly revealing. There’s a lot more information in our report (well-written, if I do say so myself). Apple’s not having a good week for keeping secrets!
Also in today’s newsletter:
Apple Music will label songs made with AI, but oddly, it’s not going as far as other services.
For 12 years, Walmart stubbornly spurned Apple Pay. And just before the Apple exec in charge of it retires, the retailer finally relented.
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: Save 35% on JBL’s fab, beer-can-shaped waterproof speaker. Multiple colors, 365-day low price. #affiliate (Apologies for the broken link to the deal in yesterday’s email. Something happened that corrupted the link. It worked fine when we checked before sending. We think it’s got something to do with our email provider — we’re checking. Fingers crossed it works today. If not, search Amazon for “JBL Grip Portable Bluetooth Speaker.”)
ChatGPT now works with Messages, and the best take I’ve seen is the top X post below. Lots of fun X posts today, IMHO.
I guess not many people here like Beats headphones. Oh well. See below.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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Apple is leaking like a sieve: Cult of Mac podcast #29
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A message from Wispr Flow
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One more thing ...
I don’t think I run roughshod over people, but if something sucks, I tell people to their face. It’s my job to be honest. I know what I’m talking about, and I usually turn out to be right.
Today’s poll
Do AirPods with cameras give you the creeps?
Results from yesterday’s poll
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