SSPAI

Tag: WeChat

  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 as Google Integrates ProducerAI Music Tool

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 as Google Integrates ProducerAI Music Tool

    Morning Brief

    1. Samsung Releases the S26 Series
    2. New Developments from Anthropic
    3. Aqara Launches Smart Video Doorbell G400
    4. Spotify Introduces Urn-Shaped Speaker
    5. Audio-Technica Releases USB-C Wired Earphones ATH-CKD7NC
    6. ProducerAI Music Creation Tool Integrates with Google
    7. Open-Source Office Suite LibreOffice Online Project Resumes
    8. WeChat Announces Two Practical New Features
    9. Rumors Worth a Quick Look

    Samsung Releases the S26 Series

    On February 26, Samsung held a Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, USA, unveiling the Galaxy S26 series, which includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.

    In terms of display and design, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ feature 6.3-inch and 6.7-inch displays respectively, with body thicknesses of 7.2mm and 7.3mm, and weights of 167g and 190g. Both support IP68-rated dust and water resistance and use an “Enhanced Armor Aluminum Frame.” The Galaxy S26 Ultra measures 7.9mm in thickness and weighs 214g, featuring an “Upgraded Enhanced Armor Aluminum Frame,” and also supports IP68-rated dust and water resistance. All models in the S26 series support a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate and peak brightness of up to 2600 nits. The Galaxy S26 has a display resolution of 2340 × 1080, while both the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra offer a resolution of 3120 × 1440.

    In terms of hardware, all three models are powered by the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset. Samsung claims that the chip delivers approximately 39% improvement in NPU performance, 24% improvement in image processing, and around 19% improvement in CPU performance. For thermal management, the Ultra model is equipped with a new vapor chamber solution.

    For battery life and charging, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ come with 4300mAh and 4900mAh batteries respectively, with official claims of up to 31 hours of video playback. The Galaxy S26 supports up to 25W wired fast charging (around 55% in 30 minutes) and requires a separately purchased 25W adapter. The Galaxy S26+ supports up to 45W wired fast charging (around 69% in 30 minutes) with a separately purchased 45W adapter. The Galaxy S26 Ultra retains a 5000mAh battery but supports up to 60W wired charging (Super-Fast Charging 3.0), also requiring Samsung’s 60W power adapter. In terms of wireless charging, the S26+ and Ultra support Qi2 wireless charging at 20W and 25W respectively, though neither includes built-in magnetic alignment.

    For imaging, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 10MP telephoto lens, supporting 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom, along with the “Enhanced Visual Engine” for improved night photography. The S26 series also introduces a new “Super Steady” feature that combines ultra-wide field of view with gyroscope and accelerometer data to improve horizontal stabilization during shooting. The Galaxy S26 Ultra adopts a quad-camera system, including a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP / 10MP telephoto combination, supporting 3x and 5x optical zoom, along with a 12MP front camera. The Ultra’s wide-angle lens is upgraded to an ƒ/1.4 aperture, with Samsung claiming a 47% increase in imaging brightness, while the telephoto lens features an ƒ/2.9 aperture with a claimed 37% brightness improvement. Samsung also highlighted improvements in Nightography Video, stabilization, ISP performance, and skin tone reproduction, along with expanded AI capabilities.

    In terms of privacy and functionality, the Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces native hardware-level “Privacy Display” for the first time, which helps obscure sensitive content such as notifications from side viewing angles, with customizable in-app settings and multiple visibility levels. It also supports privacy protection for password, PIN, or pattern input across lock screens, Secure Folder, and system settings. The Ultra continues to support the S Pen, available only in black and white finishes, though Bluetooth functionality has not returned.

    On the system and AI side, the Galaxy S26 series comes preloaded with One UI 8.5, featuring the “Now Nudge” information suggestion function, with a more personalized Now Brief. Circle to Search also adds multi-object recognition. For the default assistant, users can choose between Bixby, Gemini, or Perplexity in system settings.

    In terms of pricing, the base Galaxy S26 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at 6,999 RMB; the Galaxy S26+ with the same configuration is priced at 7,999 RMB; and the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at 9,999 RMB. Source

    New Developments from Anthropic

    On February 25, Anthropic Product Manager Noah Zweben stated that the newly added “Remote Control” feature in Claude Code allows developers to remotely sync and control command-line programming tasks on their local computers via mobile devices. Users only need to update the client and scan a QR code to complete session synchronization. This feature works by establishing a secure connection between the local terminal and the mobile device, rather than migrating the development environment to the cloud.

    The feature is currently being rolled out to Claude Max subscribers first and will later be extended to Claude Pro users. According to Anthropic, the design aims to improve developers’ workflow continuity, enabling them to continue working on complex tasks even when away from their computers. Source

    Additionally, according to TIME magazine, Anthropic has made significant revisions to its Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP) introduced in 2023, removing the key commitment to “not train AI models without first ensuring sufficient safety mitigation measures.” Chief Scientist Jared Kaplan noted that amid rapid advances in AI technology and continued progress by competitors, unilaterally pausing model training would neither effectively curb rising systemic risks nor preserve the company’s influence in frontier safety research.

    The updated RSP places greater emphasis on transparency and relative constraint mechanisms, including disclosing model performance in safety testing, matching or exceeding competitors’ safety investments, and committing to consider slowing development only when the company is deemed to be leading in the AI race and facing significant catastrophic risks. Anthropic also plans to regularly publish a “Frontier Safety Roadmap” along with more detailed risk reports. Source

    Aqara Launches Smart Video Doorbell G400

    On February 25, Aqara announced that its Smart Video Doorbell G400 is now officially available. The device features an IP65 protection rating and adopts a constant power supply design, meaning it does not support battery operation. It offers 2K resolution and supports AI-powered human detection, facial recognition, and package detection. The G400 is equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and an RJ45 Ethernet port, and includes a Micro SD card slot. Additionally, it supports Apple HomeKit and is priced at 819 RMB. Source

    Spotify Introduces Urn-Shaped Speaker

    On February 25, Spotify and Liquid Death announced a collaborative product called the “Eternal Playlist Urn,” a wireless Bluetooth speaker designed in the shape of an urn—not an actual container for ashes.

    As a limited-edition collectible, only 150 units of the Eternal Playlist Urn will be sold in the United States, priced at $495. Buyers will receive a 7-inch by 11.4-inch urn-shaped speaker with an integrated Bluetooth audio unit built into the lid.

    Users can create a personalized “Eternal Playlist” on Spotify by answering questions such as “What is your eternal vibe?” Spotify will generate a customized playlist based on the responses and listening history, which can then be synced directly to the urn speaker and shared with friends and family. In an official blog post, Spotify stated: “Life needs music—and so does the afterlife.” This collaboration with Liquid Death aims to create what is described as the world’s first wireless speaker designed for music to accompany users into the unknown. Source

    Audio-Technica Releases USB-C Wired Earphones ATH-CKD7NC

    Audio-Technica has announced that it will launch a new USB Type-C wired earphone, the ATH-CKD7NC, this Friday. The model supports high-precision hybrid active noise cancellation and is equipped with an ENC environmental noise-reduction microphone. The ATH-CKD7NC features a precision-machined aluminum alloy housing and houses an 11mm Hi-Res driver unit, along with a high-quality DAC chip supporting 24-bit / 96kHz audio. The product also includes an in-line controller for switching between transparency and noise cancellation modes, as well as a cable clip. It is priced at 9,680 yen. Source

    ProducerAI Music Creation Tool Integrates with Google

    On February 24, Google Labs published a blog post announcing that the generative AI music creation platform ProducerAI has joined its product ecosystem. ProducerAI deeply integrates Google DeepMind’s Gemini, Lyria 3, Veo, and other large models to provide musicians with end-to-end creative support—from songwriting and arrangement to mixing.

    Users can simply input commands such as “produce a lo-fi beat,” and ProducerAI will quickly generate cross-genre compositions, with support for post-processing such as adding reverb or enhancing bass. Google has also introduced the Spaces feature for the platform. Artists can use natural language to create new instruments and effects, or even build node-based modular audio environments. These modular environments can be shared among users and used for remixing. Finally, Google stated that to enhance the identifiability of AI-generated content, all audio outputs from the platform are embedded with SynthID invisible watermarks. Source

    Open-Source Office Suite LibreOffice Online Project Resumes

    On February 25, The Document Foundation (TDF) announced the relaunch of the LibreOffice Online project. The project’s code repository has now been reopened, and the open-source community is invited to resume development under official guidance.

    Once relaunched, LibreOffice Online will allow users to access the office suite directly through a web browser without installing desktop applications. Designed for cloud platform integration and self-hosted collaborative environments, the project supports Writer (documents), Calc (spreadsheets), and Impress (presentations), enabling users to open, edit, and collaborate on files remotely at any time. Source

    WeChat Announces Two Practical New Features

    Recently, WeChat introduced feature enhancements focused on two high-frequency scenarios: image transfer and image traceability.

    First, WeChat has added the ability to quickly send and receive original images without needing to add each other as friends. Users can tap the “+” icon on the homepage, go to “Scan,” then select “My QR Code” followed by “Receive Photos and Files Face-to-Face” to generate a dedicated QR code. After scanning, the other party can directly send original images or files. According to WeChat, the entire transfer process is completed via a local connection without consuming mobile data, making it especially suitable for scenarios such as travel, gatherings, or team events where multiple people need to share photos.

    Additionally, WeChat has introduced an image “traceability” feature. By long-pressing an image in chat and selecting “View Chats Containing This Image,” users can quickly see which conversations the image has been sent to and jump directly to the corresponding chat to review the context. WeChat stated that this feature is particularly useful when images are frequently forwarded or when chat histories are extensive, helping users quickly identify the source and transmission path of information. Source

    Rumors Worth a Quick Look

    • Jiemian News has exclusively learned from multiple sources that Meizu’s smartphone business has effectively come to a halt and is set to officially exit the market in March 2026. Meanwhile, Meizu’s FlymeAuto in-vehicle system business will operate independently, and the Meizu brand may continue to be retained within Geely’s ecosystem. Source
    • According to a February 25 report by Bloomberg, Unity Software is evaluating multiple options for its China business, including the potential sale of related operations. The company has reportedly engaged an advisor to gauge market interest in Unity China. Sources familiar with the matter stated that Unity Software may be seeking a valuation exceeding $1 billion for its China unit. Discussions are ongoing and no final agreement has been reached. A Unity spokesperson declined to comment. Source
  • Morning Brief: Chrome Adds Gemini-Powered Automation as Tesla Plans to End Model S and X

    Morning Brief: Chrome Adds Gemini-Powered Automation as Tesla Plans to End Model S and X

    Morning Brief

    1. Xiaomi launches the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones
    2. WeChat issues a special enforcement notice targeting third-party violations
    3. MiniMax (Xiyu Technology) releases the MiniMax Music 2.5 model
    4. Microsoft commits to not using Copilot interactions to train AI
    5. Chrome introduces Gemini-powered automated browsing
    6. Tesla plans to discontinue the Model S and Model X
    7. Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    Xiaomi launches the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones

    On January 29, Xiaomi officially unveiled the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones.

    Among them, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max is powered by the Dimensity 9500s chip built on a 3nm process. According to the company, the Dimensity 9500s adopts an all–big-core architecture and features a large cache. The CPU reaches a peak clock speed of up to 3.73GHz, with cache capacity increased to 29MB. In terms of display and design, the new phone comes with a 6.83-inch 1.5K-resolution screen using new M10 emissive materials, offering a peak brightness of up to 3500 nits and supporting both 3840Hz PWM dimming and DC dimming.

    For battery life and charging, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max packs a 9000mAh battery. Xiaomi claims its endurance rivals that of some 10,000mAh devices. It supports 100W wired fast charging, the 100W PPS protocol, and 27W wired reverse charging. On the imaging front, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max features a 50MP primary camera with an ƒ/1.5 aperture and 1.6µm pixels, and supports high dynamic range video recording.

    The REDMI Turbo 5 Max is available in four colors: black, blue, white, and orange. The base configuration includes 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a starting price of 2,499 yuan.

    The standard REDMI Turbo 5 uses the Dimensity 8500-Ultra chip built on a 4nm process. It features a 6.59-inch display, while most other specifications remain consistent with the REDMI Turbo 5 Max. The REDMI Turbo 5 is equipped with a 7560mAh battery, supports 100W wired fast charging, 27W wired reverse charging, and is compatible with 100W-class PPS fast charging. The standard REDMI Turbo 5 comes in three colors—black, green, and white. The base model offers 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, starting at 1,999 yuan. Source

    WeChat issues a special enforcement notice targeting third-party violations

    On January 29, WeChat released a special enforcement announcement targeting third-party violations, with a focus on cracking down on false marketing, excessive marketing, and activities that threaten data security.

    WeChat stated that, based on recent user complaints and reports, it has launched concentrated governance actions against third-party violations that seriously disrupt the platform ecosystem and infringe on user rights. These mainly include false marketing and related fraudulent activities, excessive marketing and induced sharing behaviors, as well as actions that endanger privacy and security, such as illegally obtaining user data and using plug-ins or external tools. In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and multiple WeChat platform agreements, the platform will impose tiered penalties on violating links, mini programs, and third-party apps, including access restrictions, functional bans, removal from the platform, and account suspensions.

    WeChat further noted that false marketing often involves fabricated cashback or lottery schemes and impersonation of official identities for fraud, frequently resulting in financial losses and illegal collection of personal information. Excessive marketing harms user experience through high-frequency push notifications and forced redirects. Meanwhile, plug-ins and data theft activities manipulate WeChat functions through automated scripts and technical means, posing direct threats to platform security. WeChat said it will continue to clear such violations through a combination of technical inspections and user reports. Source

    MiniMax (Xiyu Technology) releases the MiniMax Music 2.5 model

    On January 29, MiniMax (Xiyu Technology) officially released its music generation model, MiniMax Music 2.5. The model supports full-section tag control and precisely handles 14 musical structure variants, including Intro, Bridge, Interlude, Build-up, and Hook, enabling expressive creation of highly complex musical works.

    For Mandarin pop music scenarios, MiniMax Music 2.5 has been deeply optimized to cover a wide range of styles, including ballads, rap, fully Chinese lyrics, and mixed Chinese–English compositions. Vocal synthesis has also been enhanced, delivering smoother and more nuanced pitch transitions, more natural vibrato dynamics, and flexible switching between chest and head resonance. In male–female duet scenarios, MiniMax Music 2.5 presents more coordinated vocal interplay, supporting alternating vocals and multi-layered harmony arrangements.

    In terms of timbre, the model supports more than 100 instruments and includes optimized mixing to keep vocals and accompaniment clearly separated. At the same time, MiniMax Music 2.5 is deeply integrated with professional creative workflows. According to the company, it can be applied to professional scenarios such as film and television scoring, dynamic game audio effects, studio-grade pop music production, and branded sound design. Source

    Microsoft commits to not using Copilot interactions to train AI

    On January 28, Microsoft issued a statement responding to long-standing public concerns over its data collection and privacy practices. The company reiterated that users retain full control over their personal data and can access, transfer, or delete relevant information at any time. Data will only be used for purposes such as personalized advertising with explicit user consent.

    Addressing privacy concerns from enterprise and individual users regarding Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft further pledged to strictly isolate user prompts, generated content, and business data, and clearly stated that none of this information will be used to train any AI systems, including foundational large language models (LLMs). Microsoft said that Copilot fully inherits Microsoft 365’s existing identity management, permission controls, and compliance framework, ensuring that organizational data remains within the company’s own tenant environment and is not accessed externally or exposed. Source

    Chrome introduces Gemini-powered automated browsing

    On January 29, Google announced the introduction of new AI capabilities to the Chrome browser, deeply integrating Gemini 3 technology into the browser’s sidebar to deliver a more intelligent interactive experience.

    At the same time, Chrome is rolling out a new feature called “Automated Browsing,” available to users subscribed to Google AI Pro or Ultra. This feature allows AI to carry out multi-step tasks through natural language commands, including opening pages across websites, filling out forms, comparing prices, and managing appointments and subscriptions, thereby reducing repetitive operations. For sensitive actions such as payments or content publishing, the system still requires manual user confirmation.

    In addition, the newly added Gemini panel on the right side of the browser can work in conjunction with services such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Flights, and Shopping. Based on cross-app data, the AI can provide intelligent suggestions—for example, extracting itinerary details from emails, matching them with flights, and automatically generating calendar schedules. Chrome also includes a built-in generative image tool called Nano Banana, allowing users to generate or edit images directly within the browser using text prompts. Source

    Tesla plans to discontinue the Model S and Model X

    Elon Musk revealed during the latest earnings call that Tesla plans to cease production of the Model S and Model X in the second quarter of 2026, in order to free up manufacturing capacity at the Fremont factory for the Optimus humanoid robot project. He said the move reflects the company’s strategic shift toward autonomous driving and robotics, and advised consumers interested in these models to place orders as early as possible.

    The Model S was launched in 2012, followed by the Model X in 2015, and both long served as key parts of Tesla’s flagship lineup. As the company has increasingly focused its resources on the Model 3 and Model Y, sales of the two high-end models have continued to decline. Data shows that sales classified under the “other models” category fell by more than 40% year over year in 2025, while Tesla’s profits in the fourth quarter also saw a notable drop. Source

    Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    • According to reports, Logitech G is set to officially launch the G325 LIGHTSPEED wireless over-ear headset. The headset features 32 mm drivers with an impedance of 32 Ω, and is equipped with an omnidirectional beamforming microphone that supports AI noise reduction and 24-bit audio. In terms of design, it uses seamless breathable knitted fabric, a soft headband, and dual-layer ear cushions, with a total weight of 212 g. For connectivity, it supports Bluetooth 5.2 as well as Logitech’s 2.4 GHz LIGHTSPEED wireless mode, offering a battery life of over 24 hours. The headset is priced at €79.99. Source
    • The Raspberry Pi Foundation is reportedly preparing an intelligent display module for the Compute Module 5. Essentially an adapter board, this module integrates the CM5’s computing power and energy efficiency directly into compatible displays, while also providing an additional HDMI output to drive a second independent video signal, catering to multi-display setups or complex information presentation needs. The module board also reserves an M.2 expansion slot, allowing users to add AI acceleration modules and leaving headroom for local inference and intelligent applications. Designed in accordance with the Intel SDM specification, the intelligent display module is positioned for use cases such as flight information systems, retail and enterprise digital signage, and industrial-grade display terminals. The module is expected to launch later this year and will make its first public appearance next week at ISE 2026 in Spain. Source

  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Market Regulator Drafts Compliance Guidelines to Curb “Selling Cars at a Loss”

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Market Regulator Drafts Compliance Guidelines to Curb “Selling Cars at a Loss”

    Morning Brief

    1. Market regulator drafts compliance guidelines to curb “selling cars at a loss”
    2. Motion-sensing game console Nex Playground gains popularity in the U.S.
    3. Musk seeks evidence from Alipay in lawsuit accusing Apple of monopoly practices
    4. OpenAI begins selling physical merchandise
    5. Central authorities signal continuation of national subsidies next year, with policies to be optimized
    6. Doubao mobile assistant clarifies it cannot capture screenshots of banking keyboards
    7. Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    Market regulator drafts compliance guidelines to curb “selling cars at a loss”

    On December 12, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Automobile Industry Price Conduct Compliance Guidelines (Draft for Public Comment) and opened it for public feedback. The document emphasizes that automobile manufacturers and dealers that “sell cars at a loss” through various means will face significant legal risks.

    The Guidelines first detail pricing conduct requirements for automobile manufacturers, calling for: the establishment of end-to-end pricing management systems covering vehicle sales and financial services; clear and transparent rebate policies that respect dealers’ independent pricing rights; prohibitions on price collusion, below-cost sales aimed at excluding competitors, and price discrimination; and requirements that “paid unlock” features disclose free-use periods and fee standards to protect consumers’ right to be informed.

    The Guidelines also specify pricing conduct requirements for automobile dealers, including: clear price marking and strict separation of vehicle prices from sales service fees; standardized promotions; bans on deceptive pricing, false reference prices, and failure to honor pricing commitments; encouragement for platforms to provide two-way alerts for conspicuously low prices; and strict prohibitions on charging without providing services, duplicate charges, and passing on improper fees.

    In addition, the Guidelines encourage companies to establish internal compliance management systems covering price decision-making, contract management, internal oversight, and risk prevention, so as to prevent pricing violations at the source.

    In response, automakers such as Changan Automobile, BYD, BAIC Group, and XPeng have successively stated their support and indicated they will actively comply with the Guidelines.

    Since the beginning of this year, regulators have continued to roll out measures to curb “involution” in the auto industry. In March, a senior official at the National Development and Reform Commission criticized disorderly competition in the car market, noting that some companies were sacrificing profits to grab market share, and pledged efforts to rectify market chaos and regulate competition. In May, an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said oversight of involution-style competition would be intensified. In June, under regulatory guidance, automakers committed to shortening supplier payment terms to 60 days; in September, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers further issued initiatives to standardize practices.

    Motion-sensing game console Nex Playground gains popularity in the U.S.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, during the 2025 U.S. holiday shopping season, a motion-sensing game console called Nex Playground unexpectedly emerged as a market “dark horse.” Launched by Silicon Valley startup Nex, Nex Playground topped Amazon’s Toys & Games rankings during Black Friday and sold out at brick-and-mortar retailers such as Walmart and Target. Data shows that its single-week sales surpassed Microsoft’s Xbox, trailing only Sony’s PS5 and Nintendo’s Switch 2, ranking third in overall U.S. game hardware sales.

    Priced at $249 (approximately RMB 1,757), Nex Playground’s core appeal lies in completely abandoning traditional controllers in favor of capturing player movements via built-in cameras and AI-powered computer vision. Unlike conventional consoles, the product targets family and parent–child scenarios, encouraging kids to “get moving” in the living room rather than slumping on the couch—an approach that has resonated strongly with parents. In addition, Nex secured the IP licensing rights to Bluey, a children’s animated series with exceptionally high viewership on streaming platforms, which became a key driver behind the surge in sales.

    Nex’s success stems from a high-risk business pivot. The company originally started by developing an AI basketball training app and once received investment from NBA star Steve Nash. After recognizing the market ceiling of a single sports-focused app, the team leveraged its core vision technology to first pivot into AR game development, and then crossed over into the supply-chain-intensive hardware sector, aiming to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the Nintendo Wii in the motion-gaming market.

    The commercial returns from this transformation have been striking. Two years ago, the device sold only 5,000 units; this year, sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday surpassed 300,000 units, with full-year sales projected to reach 600,000. Company revenue is expected to grow from roughly $3 million annually to $150 million, with profitability anticipated for the first time.

    Musk seeks evidence from Alipay in lawsuit accusing Apple of monopoly practices

    According to 9to5Mac, newly disclosed court filings show that in xAI’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, Elon Musk’s company sought documentary evidence from foreign tech firms including China’s Alipay and South Korea’s Kakao. The aim is to argue that Apple preserves its iPhone hardware monopoly and high pricing by restricting the growth of “super apps.”

    In the case, xAI alleges that Apple not only entered into exclusive agreements with OpenAI and suppressed the visibility of competitors such as Grok in the App Store, but also used ecosystem rules to block “super apps” that integrate instant messaging, payments, transportation, and e-commerce. Musk’s team contends that such apps reduce users’ dependence on a specific operating system, making it easier for consumers to switch from iPhones to other brands, and are therefore deliberately constrained by Apple.

    Under evidence-gathering requests sent to judicial authorities in China and South Korea pursuant to the 1970 Hague Evidence Convention, xAI asked Alipay and KakaoTalk to provide their App Store ranking histories, revenue data, and internal strategic assessments on “how super apps affect users’ willingness to switch smartphones.” Under the Hague Convention, judicial authorities in one contracting state may request evidence from the competent authority of another contracting state in civil or commercial matters. xAI is expected to submit similar requests to other leading Asian app developers, including WeChat and Grab.

    Musk has long sought to transform the social platform X (formerly Twitter) into a Western-style “super app” akin to WeChat. While the lawsuit initially appeared to stem from a dispute over Grok’s App Store ranking, the expanding scope of evidence collection suggests the case’s core has clearly shifted toward Musk’s ambitions for an all-in-one app.

    OpenAI begins selling physical merchandise

    According to Business Insider, to mark its 10th anniversary, OpenAI has opened its official merchandise store, OpenAI Supply Co., to the public for the first time. Previously, the store was accessible only to internal employees. After OpenAI shared the store link on X, it quickly sparked a buying frenzy, with most popular sizes of hoodies and T-shirts already sold out.

    The store currently lists 10 items available for purchase, largely themed around OpenAI’s technological vision and geek culture. For example, there is a set of Pokémon-style collectible trading cards featuring models such as Sora 2 and GPT-5, as well as several apparel designs incorporating elements of “artificial general intelligence” (AGI). Beyond the items for sale, the website also showcases a large archive of past merchandise, including hats printed with the “1-800-CHATGPT” phone number and retro designs featuring San Francisco city motifs.

    Central authorities signal continuation of national subsidies next year, with policies to be optimized

    According to Yicai, the Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing from December 10 to 11 made it clear that next year China will “adhere to demand-driven growth and build a strong domestic market,” and will optimize the implementation of the “Two New” policies.

    The so-called “Two New” policies refer to large-scale equipment upgrades and the trade-in program for consumer goods, the latter of which is commonly known as the “national subsidy.” The conference’s clarification that the “Two New” policies will be optimized in 2026 indicates that national subsidies will continue next year, though with adjustments to specific measures.

    To boost consumption, China issued RMB 150 billion in ultra-long-term special government bonds in 2024 to support consumer goods trade-ins. Given the strong results that year, China doubled the amount in 2025, issuing RMB 300 billion in ultra-long-term special bonds for the same purpose. The 2025 national subsidy program also expanded on the 2024 scope, adding three categories of digital products—smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches/bands—as well as four categories of home appliances, including microwave ovens, water purifiers, dishwashers, and rice cookers.

    Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that from January to November this year, consumer goods trade-ins drove related product sales exceeding RMB 2.5 trillion, benefiting more than 360 million instances of consumers. Among them, over 11.2 million vehicles were traded in, more than 128.44 million home appliances were replaced, subsidies covered over 90.15 million purchases of phones and other digital products, more than 12.91 million electric bicycles were traded in, and over 120 million home renovation and kitchen/bathroom “refresh” items were upgraded.

    Experts interviewed said that the national subsidy budget in 2026 may see a moderate increase over 2025 levels, with further optimization of funding allocation—potentially expanding into service consumption—to better leverage fiscal spending to stimulate consumption, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, and support economic growth.

    Doubao mobile assistant clarifies it cannot capture screenshots of banking keyboards

    On December 13, in response to recent online claims that the “Doubao Mobile Assistant” exploits special permissions to steal private information such as banking keyboard inputs, the Doubao team issued a statement clarifying that this interpretation is incorrect. The company said the assistant uses the system’s native screenshot APIs and strictly follows Android’s underlying security mechanisms, making it impossible to capture protected interfaces such as those used by banking apps.

    The core of the controversy centers on the use of permissions such as READ_FRAME_BUFFER. Doubao explained that the assistant employs a “virtual screen” technology, running third-party apps within a virtualized environment. While this permission allows reading the graphics buffer for AI inference, on Android, once an app invokes the FLAG_SECURE interface (as is typically the case during sensitive steps like password entry), the system returns black-screen data at the graphics rendering layer for any screenshot or screen-recording request. As a result, even with screen-reading permissions, no actual content can be seen.

    Regarding the CAPTURE_SECURE_VIDEO_OUTPUT permission, Doubao said its practical purpose is to ensure that users can visually view protected pages normally when operating in small-window modes such as the “Dynamic Island,” rather than seeing a completely black screen. This, however, does not change the page’s inherent screenshot-blocking properties.

    Doubao added that the mobile assistant currently operates on a workflow of user command → screenshot upload to the cloud → model feedback. Because the multimodal large models required for interface analysis have massive parameter sizes and are constrained by current mobile chip performance, screenshots must be uploaded to the cloud for processing. The company emphasized that screenshots are taken only when explicitly triggered by user commands, and uploaded data is used solely for real-time visual understanding and reasoning, with no cloud storage after the task is completed.

    The technical preview version of the “Doubao Mobile Assistant” was released on December 1 and preinstalled on the nubia M153 engineering prototype jointly developed by ByteDance and ZTE, which was sold in limited quantities. On December 3, after encountering risk-control restrictions that prevented normal use of WeChat, Doubao removed the assistant’s ability to operate WeChat. On December 5, Doubao announced plans to standardize and adjust certain AI phone-operation capabilities, including—but not limited to—score farming, incentive farming, and scenarios involving financial apps and games.

    Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    • According to Macworld, a leaked internal build of iOS 26 reveals some of Apple’s future development plans. Among them, iOS 26.4—expected to be released in spring 2026—will include a revamped Siri integrated with Apple Intelligence and based on Google’s Gemini model, along with a redesigned Health app interface. The code also indicates Apple is developing a new verification system that checks device integrity before Apple ID sign-in, meaning devices that have been “jailbroken” or otherwise modified without authorization may be unable to access online services such as iCloud. In addition, the Apple TV app may add a “Sports” subscription, and the Freeform app is set to gain folder management features.
    • On the hardware side, AirPods Pro 3 will leverage the built-in U2 ultra-wideband chip to support “outdoor Precision Finding” within the Find My network. Looking further ahead, iOS 27 is expected to improve the Photos app’s “Featured” functionality and AirPods pairing mechanisms, while iOS 28 plans to add sleep-tracking metrics such as “time in bed” for Apple Watch. macOS 28 is also slated to receive the Health app.
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI Releases GPT-5.1-Codex-Max and More

    SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI Releases GPT-5.1-Codex-Max and More

    Morning Highlights

    • OpenAI releases the GPT-5.1-Codex-Max model
    • Google announces the Nano Banana Pro model
    • WeChat Desktop gets a practical upgrade
    • Qualcomm unveils its Snapdragon control panel
    • Kodak’s brand licensee teases the Snapic A1 film camera
    • CCTV exposes gas stations using modified pumps and cheating software to steal fuel and evade taxes
    • Apple Music reveals its Artists of the Year
    • Pixel 10 now supports peer-to-peer transfer with Apple devices
    • HarmonyOS Galaxy Connect app launches on the App Store
    • Rumors worth a glance only

    OpenAI Releases the GPT-5.1-Codex-Max Model

    On November 19, OpenAI published a blog post announcing GPT-5.1-Codex-Max, an agent-based programming model featuring major improvements in long-range reasoning, efficiency, and real-time interaction. Tests show that GPT-5.1-Codex-Max achieves 77.9% accuracy on SWE-Bench Verified, which evaluates real-world software problem-solving capabilities; 58.1% on Terminal-Bench 2.0; and a score of 2439 on the LiveCodeBench Pro coding Elo benchmark.

    One of the core upgrades in GPT-5.1-Codex-Max is a mechanism called Compaction. When approaching the context window limit, it intelligently retains crucial content while discarding minor details, enabling the model to process millions of tokens continuously without performance degradation. In internal testing, the model successfully completed complex tasks that ran for over 24 hours, including multi-step code refactoring and autonomous debugging. This technology also boosts token efficiency by roughly 30%, reducing both cost and latency.

    GPT-5.1-Codex-Max has already been integrated into several OpenAI-developed Codex environments, including the official command-line tool (Codex CLI), internal code-review tools, and multiple interactive programming environments. Source

    Google announces the Nano Banana Pro model

    Google has announced Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image), a model built upon Gemini 3 Pro and a major upgrade following the original Nano Banana. The new model offers stronger reasoning abilities, real-time knowledge integration, more accurate text rendering, and richer creative editing tools—allowing abstract ideas, notes, data, or sketches to be transformed more intuitively into images, infographics, or design prototypes.

    Google states that with Gemini 3 Pro’s deep understanding and world knowledge, Nano Banana Pro not only produces more realistic and contextually complete visuals, but can also use Search Grounding to obtain real-time facts and up-to-date information. For example, Nano Banana Pro can automatically gather weather reports, recipes, plant information, and more from the web, and convert them into visualized infographics—ideal for education, popular science, business presentations, and everyday content creation.

    In text rendering, Nano Banana Pro supports in-image text generation and layout capabilities. It can produce multilingual, highly readable, detail-rich fonts and paragraphs for posters, titles, packaging designs, infographics, and more, while supporting various font styles, textures, and calligraphic expressions—resulting in more accurate localized outputs.

    In terms of consistency and creative composition, Nano Banana Pro can blend up to 14 input images while maintaining identity consistency for up to 5 people. It also enhances local editing and creative control, enabling adjustments to lighting (such as day–night switching), focus, depth of field, composition, camera angles, or even applying complex color grading. Source

    WeChat Desktop gets a practical upgrade

    WeChat for Windows and Mac released version 4.1.5 on November 20. The update introduces a scrolling screenshot feature, allowing users to scroll downward after initiating a screenshot to generate a long capture. In file management, selecting a file received in WeChat now offers a new “Download to…” option, letting users save files directly to a specified directory instead of being restricted to the default path. Users can also disable “Automatically download files under 20 MB” in settings to prevent small files from being saved automatically to a fixed location.

    In addition, the Windows version now adds an emoji button in the message forwarding interface, allowing users to insert emojis directly into the note field and send them together with text. Source

    Qualcomm Releases Snapdragon Control Panel

    Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon Control Panel, which can automatically detect PC games installed on Snapdragon X Elite devices and provide optimization suggestions based on the system configuration. Its overall operation is similar to AMD and Nvidia GPU control panels, supporting settings such as frame-rate limits, anti-aliasing modes, and texture filtering. Players can also update their Adreno GPU drivers with a single click to achieve more stable performance. Qualcomm states that it has repaired and optimized over 100 games since last year and will continue releasing updates.

    Meanwhile, Microsoft and Qualcomm are jointly enhancing system-level gaming capabilities. The Microsoft Prism emulator now supports the x86 AVX instruction set—an important dependency for many games and creative applications. Qualcomm’s previously released Snapdragon X2 Elite chip supports AVX2 emulation, and older Snapdragon X devices will receive related updates in the coming weeks. The new Xbox app now allows ARM64-native compatible games to be installed directly on Windows on Arm devices, and the full PC Game Pass library is now playable locally, not limited to cloud gaming.

    Regarding multiplayer game compatibility, Qualcomm is working with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to Windows on Arm devices with full kernel-level anti-cheat support. Qualcomm is also collaborating with Tencent ACE, Roblox Hyperion, Denuvo, InProtect GameGuard, Uncheater, and BattleEye to expand compatibility for more mainstream multiplayer titles. Source

    Kodak’s brand licensee teases the Snapic A1 film camera

    kodakfilm.reto has released a new teaser video, hinting at the upcoming launch of the Snapic A1 film camera. The video shows a minimalist black design equipped with a 25mm three-element glass lens, balancing compact size with image quality. The camera body features a small display for basic shooting information and operation controls. The Snapic A1 will support automatic exposure (AE) and offer multiple adjustable shooting parameters, giving users a more convenient experience while preserving the characteristic texture of film. The official release date and price have not yet been announced. Source

    CCTV exposes gas stations using modified pumps and cheating software to steal fuel and evade taxes

    According to a November 19 report from CCTV’s Focus Report, some gas stations have been stealing fuel by tampering with fuel pump motherboards and installing cheating software. During surprise inspections, regulators discovered that these gas stations kept two identical-looking computers—one of which contained software used to configure fuel-theft parameters. The theft ratio typically ranged from 2% to 5%. For example, when paying for 60 liters, consumers would receive at least 1.2 liters less.
    In addition, some stations were also involved in large-scale tax evasion. One station’s paper records showed a July revenue of 770,000 yuan, but an encrypted ledger found on a USB drive revealed real sales reaching 8.5 million yuan—concealing nearly 8 million yuan of revenue.
    In May this year, police cracked down on a cheating software operation known as “Leyou,” arresting individuals involved in its development, sales, and use. Over 360 sets of the software had been sold across 21 provinces and cities nationwide. Source

    Apple Music reveals its Artists of the Year

    Apple Music has announced Tyler, the Creator as its Artist of the Year for 2025, stating that his October 2024 release Chromakopia is his most personally expressive work to date, and it set new Apple Music records for first-day and first-week streams. While on the Chromakopia tour, he also created and released Don’t Tap the Glass, which topped the Apple Music charts in more than 55 countries on its release day.

    Apple Music notes that from November 2024 to October 2025, Tyler reached career highs in global streams, listener numbers, and total listening time—surpassing 4.5 billion minutes. He also earned five Grammy nominations for Chromakopia and Don’t Tap the Glass. Source

    Pixel 10 now supports peer-to-peer transfer with Apple devices

    Google has announced that the Pixel 10 now supports direct peer-to-peer file transfers with iPhone, iPad, and macOS devices via Quick Share—without routing through servers and without relying on Apple’s technical support. Users simply need to enable “Everyone” visibility (limited to 10 minutes if desired) on an Apple device, after which it becomes discoverable by the Pixel. The transfer interface appears identical to a standard AirDrop request. Transfers in the opposite direction also work, as long as the Pixel is set to receive. Google emphasizes that the entire feature is independently implemented and has passed internal privacy reviews as well as penetration testing by third-party security firm NetSPI.

    For now, this capability is exclusive to the latest Pixel 10 series, though Google says support will expand in the future. Apple has not yet provided a response. Source

    HarmonyOS Galaxy Connect app launches on the App Store

    On November 21, the HarmonyOS Star River Connect app officially launched on the Apple App Store. The app currently allows Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 6.0 and iPhone/iPad to transfer contacts, photos, videos, and files between each other, and includes features such as device search, device information display, and transfer history. Huawei previously announced at the HarmonyOS 6 special event that the system would support cross-device transfer experiences with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so this app is also expected to expand to macOS. Source

    Rumors worth a glance only

    • According to reports, Samsung originally planned to develop a glass-substrate micro-OLED display technology for Apple, known as G-VR, aimed at reducing production costs for the rumored Vision Air headset. Unlike costly silicon-based micro-OLED, G-VR uses a glass substrate, simplifying manufacturing and lowering costs, potentially allowing Vision Air to be positioned as a more affordable product compared to the high-end Vision Pro. However, new information suggests Apple has shelved the plan and may even ask Samsung to halt G-VR development entirely. While reports do not specify why Vision Air may be canceled, industry analysts believe Apple could be redirecting resources toward its smart glasses project. According to supply chain sources, Apple’s first smart glasses are expected to debut in 2026, although the initial version will not feature full AR display capabilities. A version with true AR display is expected to arrive in 2027. Source
    • According to GalaxyClub, Samsung is developing a smart glasses device under the codename “Haean,” model SM-O200P. Unlike the SM-I series used for Galaxy XR headsets, this naming suggests that Samsung intends smart glasses to be a distinct product line rather than a continuation of its XR series. The device will reportedly use photochromic lenses that automatically darken in bright environments to reduce glare, then return to transparent indoors—improving usability for outdoor and everyday wear scenarios. The glasses are expected to include a built-in camera for imaging or visual assistance, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for working alongside a phone or other devices. However, the device will not include independent cellular data capabilities and will instead rely on paired devices for network access. Source
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Valve Announces New Steam Hardware and More

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Valve Announces New Steam Hardware and More

    Quick News Summary

    1. Valve Announces New Steam Hardware
    2. Microsoft to Phase Out Microsoft Publisher
    3. WeChat Reveals Hidden Video Call Features
    4. Huawei to Cancel Continuous Subscription Plan for High-Precision Positioning Service
    5. Synology Fixes Critical Remote Execution Vulnerability in BeeStation

    Valve Announces New Steam Hardware

    On November 13, Valve announced a new lineup of Steam hardware products set to launch in 2026, including the Steam Frame VR headset, Steam Machine console, and a new Steam Controller.

    The Steam Frame features a lightweight, modular design — the core body weighs only about 185 grams, and with the head strap and face mask, the total weight comes to around 440 grams. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and runs SteamOS, a Linux-based system. With the upgraded Proton compatibility layer, it can natively run most Linux, Windows, and Android games, while also supporting high-quality wireless game streaming from a PC via the included 6GHz wireless adapter. The display consists of dual 2160×2160 LCD panels, supporting up to a 144Hz refresh rate.

    In terms of tracking and interaction, the Steam Frame abandons the Lighthouse base stations used in the Index era and adopts an inside-out tracking system with four outward-facing grayscale cameras and two inward-facing eye-tracking cameras. This setup enables spatial positioning and eye-tracking, which can be leveraged for foveated rendering and foveated streaming, reducing bandwidth and latency requirements. Additionally, Valve has integrated dual speaker units into both sides of the head strap. The opposing layout helps minimize low-frequency vibration interference with camera tracking, maintaining both immersive audio and tracking precision. Source

    Product Images — Courtesy of News Sources

    The Steam Machine is positioned as a console-class device designed for high-definition television platforms. According to Valve, its performance is approximately six times more powerful than that of the Steam Deck handheld, supporting 4K resolution at 60 fps gaming. It also runs the Linux-based SteamOS and comes preloaded with the Proton compatibility layer to ensure seamless compatibility with Windows games available in the Steam library. In terms of controllers, the new Steam Controller has been redesigned, combining the traditional gamepad layout with elements such as touchpads and shoulder triggers, making it better suited for living room and home console use.

    Product Images — Courtesy of Valve

    As of now, Valve has not yet announced the specific release date or pricing details for the new products. Source

    Microsoft to Retire Microsoft Publisher

    On November 11, Microsoft announced that it will end all support for its desktop publishing software Microsoft Publisher starting in October 2026. At that time, Publisher will no longer be included in the Microsoft 365 suite, and users will not be able to launch or access its features. According to Microsoft, the retirement of Publisher is primarily due to functional redundancy. Tools such as Word, PowerPoint, Designer, and Microsoft Create already overlap with Publisher’s features. For users who are still relying on Publisher, Microsoft recommends taking action as soon as possible by using the “Save As” function to convert all project files into more universal formats such as PDF or Word for storage and backup. Source

    WeChat Unveils Hidden Video Call Features

    On November 12, the WeChat team published a blog post revealing three hidden features currently available in WeChat video calls. The first feature allows users to initiate a video call directly from the phone’s lock screen via the Care Mode “One-Tap Video Call”, making it easier for users—especially the elderly—to connect with family members. The second feature enables a “split-face” effect: by long-pressing the video call’s floating window and dragging it to the top of the screen, users can activate split-screen mode, displaying both participants simultaneously. The third feature allows for instant call connection—if both parties press the call button at the same time, WeChat will automatically skip the call confirmation step and connect immediately. Source

    Huawei to Discontinue Monthly Subscription Plan for High-Precision Positioning Service

    On November 12, Huawei announced through its Member Center app that, due to business adjustments, the company will officially terminate the continuous monthly subscription plan for its High-Precision Positioning Service on November 30, 2025. After the termination date, the service’s auto-renewal feature will also be disabled. Huawei’s High-Precision Positioning Service is based on real-time kinematic (RTK) differential technology, providing greater GNSS positioning accuracy. Once activated, the service automatically engages during navigation on supported roads within map applications. Even after the discontinuation of the monthly subscription plan, users will still be able to manually subscribe to one-month access to continue using the service as needed. Source

    Synology Fixes Critical Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in BeeStation

    Recently, NAS brand Synology released a security update addressing a critical remote code execution (RCE) zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-12686) found in its personal cloud product BeeStation. The flaw was publicly demonstrated earlier at the well-known Pwn2Own hacking competition, posing a direct threat to users’ personal data security.

    The technical root of the vulnerability lies in a failure to validate input size during buffer copying. Attackers could exploit this flaw to remotely execute arbitrary code without any physical access to the device, potentially gaining full control over affected systems. According to Synology’s official security advisory, no temporary mitigations or workarounds are available for this issue. The only solution is to update the system.

    Synology strongly recommends all users upgrade BeeStation OS to version 1.3.2-65648 or later, which has fully patched the vulnerability. Source

  • App Picks | Noteworthy Apps of the Moment

    App Picks | Noteworthy Apps of the Moment

    Welcome to this issue of App Picks. You can use the article’s table of contents to quickly jump to the sections that interest you most. If you discover other apps or topics you’d like to discuss, feel free to share them with us in the comments section.

    New Apps Worth Your Attention

    While SSPAI has always been dedicated to discovering and introducing high-quality apps across different platforms, there are still many apps with outstanding design, functionality, interaction, and overall user experience that we haven’t yet featured. Some may be long-standing hidden gems, while others are brand-new releases. Here, we bring them to your attention.

    Hurricane Camera: Lowering the Barrier for Video Creation, Making iPhone Filmmaking Easier

    • Platform: iOS
    • Keywords: Mobile Imaging, LUT

    @Vanilla: This year, Apple has once again strengthened its dominance in mobile videography with the iPhone 17 Pro series. In addition to hardware upgrades, Apple introduced professional-grade features like OpenGate, Genlock, support for ProRes RAW video recording, and the new Apple Log 2 format.

    Shortly after the iPhone 17’s release, Hurricane Studio launched Hurricane Camera, a third-party video app for iPhone—something that sounds perfectly reasonable at first. But with Apple’s own Final Cut Camera, its “godson” Blackmagic Camera, and a lineup of other third-party apps already targeting advanced mobile videography, one might wonder—is there really room for another one? With that question in mind, I decided to give Hurricane Camera a try. After using it for a while, here’s what I found.

    When you open Hurricane Camera, it defaults to video shooting mode. You can switch to Dynamic Image (Log) mode via the top tab, though this feature requires a paid upgrade. In the video mode, the top-left corner of the viewfinder displays input levels for the left and right microphones, while the top-right corner houses the video format selector. Tap it to choose among different formats, resolutions, and frame rates.

    Inside the format menu, Hurricane Camera clearly labels and explains options like sRGB, HDR, Log, and Log 2—a friendly touch for users who aren’t professional cinematographers. At the bottom of the viewfinder, there’s a row of controls for front/rear camera switching, focus, white balance, ISO (sensitivity), shutter speed, exposure compensation, and settings. From focus to exposure compensation, each parameter can be fine-tuned with a slider or left on Auto. However, it’s worth noting that focus and exposure compensation use circular sliders, while the other three use horizontal ones—this small inconsistency in UI design can feel a bit confusing at first glance.

    The lens switch module and the storage information panel are hidden by default, but you can swipe up on the viewfinder to bring them out, or swipe down to hide them again. Hurricane Camera even adds an animation when switching lenses, though the transition isn’t entirely smooth—it’s unclear whether that’s an intentional design choice or a technical limitation. One thing to note: lens switching is disabled once recording starts, meaning you can’t change lenses mid-shot.

    To the left of the record button is the media library, where you can edit your footage—apply LUTs, make simple cuts, and render the final result for export. You can also export a clip as a dynamic image, though that feature is reserved for Pro members.

    To the right of the record button lies the LUT button. Hurricane Camera offers a selection of built-in LUTs you can apply instantly, with real-time previews displayed directly in the viewfinder.

    In the settings menu, Hurricane Camera provides a variety of practical options. For example, under performance settings, you can limit preview frame rates, enable system overload protection, and toggle LUT preview—all of which can noticeably improve the app’s smoothness. In the recording settings, you can choose to record either the raw footage only or include LUT-applied video simultaneously.

    To me, Hurricane Camera strikes an excellent balance between ease of use and professional-level functionality. It’s powerful enough to handle most shooting needs while remaining approachable for casual users. To reinforce that accessibility, the app even includes a “Simple Mode” toggle in the settings menu, which retains only the core shooting features—further lowering the barrier for everyday creators.

    Hurricane Camera is available for free on the App Store, with a ¥69 Pro membership unlocking features such as dynamic image recording and export. Relation article.

    Wins 3: Efficient Multi-Window Management

    • Platform: macOS
    • Keywords: window management

    @Snow: Earlier this year, I recommended two macOS window management apps—TabTab, known for its minimalism and efficiency, and DockDoor, praised for its gorgeous visual effects. The app I’m introducing today, Wins, feels like a perfect blend of the two while also incorporating some of Magnet’s strengths. With deep system-level integration, Wins helps you manage multiple windows more effectively.

    Like DockDoor, Wins provides multi-window previews for both the App Switcher and the Dock, designed with macOS’s translucent “liquid glass” aesthetic. Animations are fluid, and users can quickly close windows directly from their previews. Wins also enhances the App Switcher with its “Cmd-Tab Plus” feature—after pressing Command + Tab to activate the switcher, you can hold Command and use the arrow keys, or press W or Q, to swiftly switch, close, or quit apps.

    Wins also brings a Windows-like window toggling logic to the Dock: when enabled, clicking the same Dock icon twice automatically minimizes its corresponding window. Combined with the macOS option “Minimize windows into application icon” and multi-window previews, this feature keeps your Dock neat and uncluttered.

    In addition, Wins offers Magnet-level window snapping and split-screen options. You can drag a window to the screen’s edge to snap it to the left, right, or full screen. When dragging a window to the top of the screen, Wins presents four preset split layouts in a floating overlay—just drag the window onto your desired layout to instantly organize your workspace. The app also includes handy shortcuts like hiding all windows, hiding others, and centering windows, all of which can be customized in System Settings > Wins.

    Wins further supports features like shake-to-hide other windows, multi-monitor quick switching, and closing windows from the Mission Control view. However, during testing, I encountered a few issues affecting usability—for example, certain apps like One Markdown failed to display previews, and the integrated settings panel occasionally glitched when switching between light and dark modes.Wins offers a one-day free trial, and it’s best to test it before purchasing.

    A personal license (for one device) costs ¥139, but during the SSPAI App Store Double 11 promotion, you can get it at a 40% discount via the purchase link.

    Hungry: If You Feel Hungry, Go Cook

    • Platform: Android
    • Keywords: recipes

    @Peggy_: I have to start with a confession. During the height of the food delivery boom, I practically lived on hamburgers, barbecue, spicy hot pot, milk tea, beer, and iced Americanos—never leaving home, barely touching my kitchen. Unsurprisingly, I eventually earned myself a bout of gastritis. It’s not that eating delivery food will definitely make you sick, but compared to constantly consuming takeout with questionable hygiene, taking the time to visit a local market and cook something with your own hands is not only healthier, but also a great way to rediscover the joy of everyday life.

    Hungry is a beautifully designed recipe app that helps you organize the dishes you want to cook. As you use it over time and add more content, it gradually solves that eternal dilemma—“What should I eat today?” Let’s walk through the process of creating a recipe to get familiar with how it works.

    Tap the “Add” button in the lower-right corner of the app. You can take a photo of the finished dish or the prepared ingredients to make your recipe look more appealing, then enter the recipe name. In the description field, you can add personal notes or comments about how much you like the dish. If the recipe comes from a creator or YouTuber you follow, you can credit them as the author—or if it’s your own creation, even better; nothing beats the satisfaction of cooking your own recipe. You can also set an estimated cooking time (in minutes by default), though that might be a bit limiting for Chinese dishes that require longer steaming or simmering. Before finishing this setup, you can tag your dish with labels such as “Healthy Meal” or “Vegetarian.”

    Next comes the real work: adding ingredients one by one, including their names and quantities. To keep your prep organized and avoid chaos, Hungry allows you to group ingredients, add dividers between sections, or even use emojis to make ingredients easier to identify—and to add a bit of fun to recipe editing. The app even tries to automatically suggest emojis for each ingredient, but in Chinese, the results are often hilariously off. For example, it once matched “lamb” with “green tea,” which clearly required manual correction. If you’re copying an existing recipe from elsewhere, Hungry also includes a convenient “Paste” button so you can quickly drop in all the ingredient names at once.

    After that, you can begin adding cooking steps. Hungry lets you list each step in order, complete with descriptions, duration, and optional tips. You can even bulk paste instructions if your content matches the app’s formatting requirements. Overall, Hungry has done a good job minimizing the friction of recipe creation—after all, if maintaining your recipe collection is harder than cooking itself, who would bother?

    Hungry is available for free on the Play Store.

    MagicFX Wallpaper: Bringing Pixel’s Exclusive Wallpaper Magic to Everyone

    • Platform: Android
    • Keywords: wallpaper

    @大大大K: On Pixel devices running Android 16, users can create wallpapers with a “Magic Portrait” effect—where the subject of a photo appears to extend beyond its frame. Samsung has introduced a similar feature in newer versions of One UI, but for most other Android devices or older systems, this option simply doesn’t exist.

    To change that, an independent developer created MagicFX Wallpaper, an app that brings the same subject-pop-out effect to any Android phone. The app automatically separates the subject from the background of a photo and lets you export it as a wallpaper with that signature layered look.

    Using it is simple: just select a photo, and the app will automatically handle the background and subject separation. The extracted subject is positioned relative to its base, creating the illusion that it’s “standing inside the frame, with its head popping out.” However, depending on the photo’s composition—such as subject position, size, or angle—the pop-out effect may not always look perfect. In such cases, you can fine-tune the boundaries of the subject under the “Subject” option, cropping out unwanted areas to improve the final result.

    Once you’re done editing, MagicFX Wallpaper’s preview tool allows you to see how the wallpaper transitions from lock screen to home screen. By adjusting the home screen wallpaper’s position and scale, you can achieve a smooth, visually cohesive unlock animation.

    MagicFX Wallpaper supports separating people, pets, and distinct objects from photos as subjects. For more complex images, the developer has promised ongoing algorithm improvements. Some of the frame styles in the editing page require an in-app purchase to unlock, but more designs are already planned for future updates.If you’re curious to try it, MagicFX Wallpaper is available for free on Google Play.

    AutoSnore: Intelligent Snore Tracking

    • Platform: iOS
    • Keywords: Snore Monitoring

    @Snow: When iOS 26 introduced the new sleep score system, many users thought that sleep-tracking apps like AutoSleep were about to become obsolete. But the AutoSleep team clearly had no plans to retire. Last week, they launched AutoSnore, a new app designed to help users understand how snoring affects their health. Unlike other solutions, AutoSnore doesn’t require external devices such as the Apple Watch — simply place your iPhone by your bedside before sleeping, and the app will automatically track and analyze your snoring throughout the night, adding a new dimension to your sleep insights.

    Using AutoSnore is remarkably straightforward. Upon the first launch, you just need to enter your nickname, then before going to sleep, position your iPhone’s microphone toward yourself and tap the Start button. In the morning, tap Stop, and AutoSnore will automatically process your data. It presents your snoring patterns in a visual “Snore Cloud,” where white dots indicate snoring events, categorized by frequency and intensity. Beyond analyzing a single night, AutoSnore also compares your current session with past records, giving you a broader view of your sleep quality over time.

    Within the Snore Cloud view, you can replay recorded sound snippets from your sleep. Thanks to its built-in algorithms, AutoSnore isolates snoring segments and highlights the “Top 10 Snore Moments,” helping you identify periods of severe breathing irregularity so you can take corrective action. The app also tags other detected sounds — such as voices, musical instruments, ambient noise, or natural sounds — allowing you to revisit specific moments and even discover who (or what) you might have “talked to” in your dreams.

    Scrolling down to the main screen, AutoSnore also provides a manual tagging feature. You can log factors that might affect your snoring, such as whether you have a cold, are overly fatigued, switched pillows, or took medication — all of which help refine your personal sleep optimization strategy.

    However, as a newly released app, AutoSnore still suffers from several bugs that affect the overall user experience. The sound analysis algorithm, for example, occasionally misclassifies alarm tones as high-intensity snores. Since there’s currently no way to exclude alarms from detection or manually correct false positives, the analysis results can be significantly skewed. Additionally, due to its strict privacy policy, AutoSnore cannot yet distinguish between different voices. If you share a bed with someone or fall asleep with the TV or a podcast on, your only workaround is to reposition your iPhone or tweak the Sound Threshold setting under Options > Configure My AutoSnore to filter out external noise. Users have also reported playback issues such as overlapping soundtracks and UI glitches with mislabeled tags.

    AutoSnore is now available on the App Store for an introductory price of ¥38. Given the current technical issues affecting its daily usability, it might be wise to wait for a few updates before purchasing.

    Can’t-Miss App Updates

    Besides brand-new apps, many long-standing names on the App Store continue to evolve with fresh, useful features. Here at SSPAI, we aim to help you keep up with the latest updates worth your attention—so you can quickly discover what developers have been up to.

    XMind: AI-Powered Mind Mapping and Brainstorming

    • Platform: iOS / iPadOS / macOS / Android / Windows / Web
    • Keywords: Mind Mapping, Brainstorming

    @ElijahLee: Recently, the veteran mind mapping app XMind rolled out a major update, introducing a suite of AI-powered creative tools. With these new features, users can now leverage AI to automatically generate mind maps, break down projects into tasks, assist in brainstorming sessions, and even spark new ideas.

    In the updated XMind interface, you’ll find a new “One-Click Generate” button in the sidebar—this is the entry point to the AI creation tools. In the pop-up window, you can transform virtually any content—an article, document, website, or even a webpage video—into a structured mind map. This makes the process of mind map creation faster and significantly less tedious.

    In my own quick test, I found XMind’s AI assistance dramatically reduces the manual labor involved in organizing and formatting maps. For instance, I was reading Satantango and asked XMind to create a mind map summarizing each chapter and its main characters. The resulting map looked impressively polished: chapter titles, plot outlines, and character listings were all logically arranged and visually cohesive. The only issue? The AI had completely made up the story—none of the plot points or characters matched the book. Clearly, XMind’s AI had a “hallucination moment.”

    XMind’s AI toolset is surprisingly comprehensive. Within the “One-Click Generate” window, you can upload files like PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint slides, plain text, or Markdown files. You can also select from multiple diagram types—mind maps, logic charts, organizational charts, timelines, and fishbone diagrams. The system supports multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

    The AI Work Breakdown feature automatically decomposes projects into executable tasks, assigning timelines and priorities. You can use it when first generating a map or later, by right-clicking on any node and selecting “AI Work Breakdown.” It effectively transforms a conceptual mind map into a practical action plan.

    The web version of XMind currently offers even more AI-powered features, which will gradually roll out to desktop and mobile platforms. One standout is Brainstorming, which provides five AI-assisted creative modes: Direct, Associative, Analogical, Synthetic, and Exploratory. Essentially, this is an AI chatbot for idea generation—just describe your topic, select a brainstorming style, and the system will generate idea cards and automatically arrange them into an elegant mind map.

    Another feature, Grow Ideas, allows AI to expand on any topic or subtopic within an existing map. The tool icon sits at the far right of the toolbar. You can choose between on-demand or automatic generation, letting the AI analyze the current structure and create new branches of thought in real time.

    You can download XMind from the official website. The AI functions use “AI Points,” with each task consuming a different amount depending on complexity. Free users get 10 AI Points, while upgrading to the Premium plan ($99/year, with a 7-day free trial) grants 500 points per month, unlimited cloud mind maps, AI summaries, Gantt charts, and more.

    DEVONthink 4.1: Expanded AI Model Support and Natural Language Task Creation

    • Platform: macOS
    • Keywords: Knowledge Management

    @化学心情下2: As one of the most established file management tools on macOS, DEVONthink has maintained a steady pace of major version updates. The release of version 4.0 in July 2025 marked a major milestone, introducing support for AI-powered large language models. Now, just a few months later, the 4.x series receives its first minor update—version 4.1—bringing with it a series of meaningful improvements and expanded AI integration.

    Compared with version 4.0, where AI was first introduced, version 4.1’s biggest change is its enhanced openness and flexibility in connecting to AI services. Previously, users were limited to specific AI providers; now, you can connect to your preferred models through OpenRouter or OpenAI (Compatible) endpoints. This means you can integrate models from providers like xAI, Baidu, and Alibaba’s Qwen. On the native side, DEVONthink 4.1 adds support for Claude 4.1 Opus, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite, OpenAI GPT-5, Google Imagen 4, Mistral, Google Nano Banana, and Ollama Cloud. All Perplexity Sonar models now include vision capabilities, giving users the option to work with visual input when needed.

    With these AI integrations, DEVONthink takes automation even further. Users can now use natural language in the Script Assistant to generate executable AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation code. This makes it much easier to automate workflows without manually writing lengthy scripts, reducing syntax errors and improving productivity.

    AI also extends to image generation and editing. You can now adjust or create images through prompt-based editing, using AI to refine visual details or produce entirely new images according to your description. The same principle applies to editing—simply tell the AI to remove unwanted objects or insert new subjects into your scene, and DEVONthink handles the rest.

    Beyond AI, version 4.1 also introduces a Quick Look extension that allows users to preview Spotlight search results directly in macOS. Large Markdown files have also been optimized for better performance and faster editing speeds. If you use DEVONthink for document or note management, this update is worth exploring—it makes organizing, automating, and editing your files more intuitive than ever.

    You can download and purchase DEVONthink from the official website.

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