Category: Technology

Alongside all of the new iPhones, Apple Watch models and other hardware, today’s Apple event brought forth news of when you’ll be able to install iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26. You’ll be able to install these operating systems on compatible devices on September 15 when they move out of beta.

There are two major changes this year. The first is Apple’s shift to the Liquid Glass design language across its devices. It’s a significant overhaul of the design of Apple’s operating systems, with a focus on translucency and fluidity. The other big update is to the naming system of the operating systems. It might feel a little jarring to go from iOS 18 to iOS 26, but Apple is now aligning the version numbers with release years to keep everything more consistent.

The iPhone 17 lineup will come with iOS 26 pre-installed. You can also download it on iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 devices, as well as second-gen and later iPhone SE units.

Compatibility for watchOS 26 is straightforward too. It’ll be available on the latest devices, along with the second-gen Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6 or later and all Apple Watch Ultra variants. 

Things get a little more complicated when it comes to iPadOS and macOS. If you’d like to try macOS 26 (aka macOS Tahoe), you’ll need one of the following Macs:

MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)

MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)

MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)

MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)

iMac (2020 and later)

Mac mini (2020 and later)

Mac Studio (2022 and later)

Mac Pro (2019 and later)

As for iPadOS 26, you’ll be able to use that on the following iPad models:

iPad Pro (M4)

iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation and later)

iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st generation and later)

iPad Air (M2 and M3)

iPad Air (3rd generation and later)

iPad (A16)

iPad (8th generation and later)

iPad mini (A17 Pro)

iPad mini (5th generation and later)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ios-26-ipados-26-watchos-26-and-macos-26-will-be-released-on-september-15-182024821.html?src=rss 

As expected, Apple’s September 9 “awe-dropping” event brought a tsunami of new hardware, including the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. But those long-awaited models weren’t the only launches worth noting — the event also debuted three new Apple Watches: the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3.

Now that the livestream is over, these three new Apple wearables are all available for pre-order. All three will ship out on September 19.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-pre-order-the-apple-watch-ultra-3-apple-watch-series-11-and-apple-watch-se-3-175645177.html?src=rss 

AirPods Pro 3, Apple’s high-end earbuds, joined the iPhone Air and new Apple Watches in the spotlight at Apple’s September 9 “awe-dropping” launch event. The first AirPods Pro 3 will ship on September 19, but pre-orders are live now. Here’s how to get your hands on a pair of the new AirPods to go with your iPhone Air.

AirPods Pro 3

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more information.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-airpods-pro-3-173916856.html?src=rss 

Apple’s “pro” AirPods were due for an update. Despite continuously upgrading the AirPods Pro 2 with new features since their introduction in 2022, Apple hadn’t produced another robust overhaul of its priciest earbuds yet. At today’s iPhone 17 event (or iPhone Air event, depending on who you ask), the company unveiled the latest model: the AirPods Pro 3. The company has refined the design, added heart rate sensing, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), delivered live translation and more. And most importantly, it did so without increasing the price.

My brief demo with the AirPods Pro 3 focused entirely on the refined ANC. I wasn’t able to try any sustained heart rate tracking or live translation just yet, but I hope to have other opportunities for that later this week. The product area is always set up just outside of Steve Jobs Theater and the marble floors and walls echo seemingly every voice in the large room. It’s a nightmare for trying to shoot a video, but it’s a prime testing ground for active noise cancellation. 

Developing…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-airpods-pro-3-hands-on-new-design-and-improved-anc-are-impressive-183246429.html?src=rss 

Despite how it sounds, a xenotransplant isn’t something from the latest Alien movie. It’s an increasingly credible science: the transplantation of animal organs into humans. The field took one of its biggest leaps forward on Monday. The FDA approved the biotech company eGenesis to begin human trials of pig-to-human kidney transplants.

eGenesis provides pigs with CRISPR-modified genes. These genetic changes reduce the chances of organ rejection in human recipients. The FDA approved the company for Investigational New Drug (IND) Clearance for a three-phase study. Each stage will increase the number of patients if the results support moving forward.

Only those with end-stage kidney disease will be eligible. They’ll also need to be 50 or older, dialysis-dependent and on the kidney transplant waitlist. Around 86,000 people are currently on the kidney waitlist. The average wait time is three to five years at most centers. It can be longer for rarer blood types. Over 800,000 Americans have end-stage kidney disease.

eGenesis isn’t alone: United Therapeutics, another gene-edited pig developer, will soon begin enrolling people in a similar FDA-approved study.

“Advances in xenotransplantation are giving our community hope that new options may soon be available to those who need them most,” National Kidney Foundation CEO Kevin Longino wrote in a press release. “Patients expressed strong support for the advancement of clinical trials in our recent Xenotransplantation Voice of the Patient report. It is gratifying to know they’re being heard.”

The trial approval coincided with news of another successful xenotransplant. Bill Stewart, an otherwise healthy 54-year-old New Hampshire resident, received one of eGenesis’ pig kidneys on June 14. Before the operation, he received dialysis three times per week for over two years. His organ donor wait was longer than most due to his blood type. He was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital on June 21 and no longer requires dialysis.

“There’s so few of us who have done this, and they’re writing the protocol as we go, so to speak,” Stewart told CNN. “But I’m feeling good.”

Tim Andrews, 67, received a pig kidney in January. Before his transplant, he required dialysis for over two years. Over seven months after the operation, he’s still dialysis-free. He’s currently the longest living recipient. 

Earlier transplant recipients had significant underlying health problems. That limited scientists’ ability to conduct long-term tests. Trials with healthier patients will assess the durability of the organs over time.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/the-fda-approves-human-trials-for-pig-kidney-transplants-165416004.html?src=rss 

Apple announced three new smartwatches at its “Awe Dropping” event today. Along with new iPhone 17 models, we now have the Apple Watch Series 11 as the rumors predicted. Engadget’s Cherlynn Low, Sam Rutherford and Billy Steele are on the ground at the event, so we’ll have hands-on coverage soon, followed by full reviews in a week or so. In the meantime, here’s everything we know about the newest Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Series 11

The keynote speech started off with dramatic testimonials of how the Apple Watch has helped people with their health and well being, alerting people to health issues and calling for help that saved their lives. And the new model will help identify hypertension. 

As for what’s new this year, we heard from Stan Ng who called the Series 11 the thinnest and most comfortable ever. The screen now has a ceramic coating bonded at an atomic level making it two times more durable than before. Cellular connection has improved as well with 5G connectivity from most carriers at launch.  

This is a developing story. Check back for updates…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-includes-5g-and-a-hypertension-tracking-feature-172451506.html?src=rss 

After three years, the Apple Watch SE is finally getting a refresh. The company showed off the Apple Watch SE 3, the latest version of its budget-friendly wearable during its big iPhone 17 event.

The third-generation Apple Watch SE is getting some notable upgrades, including Apple’s S10 chip and new health-tracking features, including sleep apnea tracking. It also charges two times faster and supports 5G connections.

Developing…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-se-3-has-an-always-on-display-and-the-s10-chip-173033739.html?src=rss