Look ma, no hands!

It’s easy to forget that we already live in an incredible sci-fi future.

Here in San Francisco, robots are literally driving cars in the streets. And I have what’s basically a Star Trek communicator strapped to my wrist.

The next step is controlling devices with thoughts alone — and Apple said Tuesday that it will add brain-computer interfaces to its list of native inputs, joining voice, typing and touch. This will allow iOS, iPadOS and visionOS devices to be used without any physical movements.

It’s one of several very cool accessibility features coming soon to Apple devices. Many of these look pretty amazing, but thought control really stands out.

In an impressive demo, a patient suffering from ALS used a Vision Pro headset to control a bunch of devices around their home using thoughts alone — including feeding their dog without touching a thing.

Ofc, right now, it relies on an implanted brain-computer interface, but it hints at possible future breakthroughs where you control devices using The Force!

Also in today’s newsletter:

• Readers of this newsletter are very likely eligible for a cash payout from Apple for Siri potentially spying on them. Here’s how to claw back a bit of moolah from Cupertino.

• In a highly unusual move for Samsung, the electronics giant rushed out a copycat product before Apple could debut its own. Here’s your first look at Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air clone.

• My mom and daughter are both avid “twitchers” (British slang for bird watchers), and they swear by the free Merlin Bird ID app, which helps them identify our feathered friends. Here’s why it’s an awesome app.

• I used to use a four-monitor setup, then a three-monitor setup, and now just two. Adding more monitors does not mean boosting productivity, I’ve found. But some jobs demand multiple screens, and this new hub can hook up a whopping five monitors to your MacBook.

• Logitech makes some of the best accessories for Mac and iPad, and the company’s summer kickoff sale covers a bunch of great items.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

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Today’s poll

Results from yesterday’s poll: Do you update iOS as soon as it drops or wait a while?

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