PayPal and Venmo users in the U.S. and some global markets will receive early access to Perplexity’s new AI-powered Comet browser through a 12-month trial of the startup’s Pro subscription. The startup provides AI search tools that deliver information summaries to users, looking to take on OpenAI and Google in the AI-powered search industry. The Perplexity Pro subscription is worth $200 a year or $20 a month. It is one of the first offers now available to customers in PayPal’s new subscriptions hub, which helps users view and manage recurring subscription payments. The offer also provides Perplexity access to Paypal’s more than 430 million users, as of the second quarter, enabling easy onboarding into a 12‑month Pro trial. The browser integrates Perplexity’s AI tools directly into web browsing, allowing users to ask questions about personal data like emails, calendars, or browsing history, and perform tasks such as scheduling meetings or summarizing webpages. Users in the U.S. can sign up for Perplexity Pro directly in the PayPal app starting Wednesday, while global customers in select markets can activate the offer by selecting PayPal at checkout when signing up for Perplexity online. Perplexity is also working on a mobile version of Comet and the company was in talks with smartphone makers to distribute the browser on mobile devices.
Expectations from Apple next week include- iPhone 17: Larger 6.3-inch display with ProMotion and Apple Watch Ultra 3: Slightly larger display (matching Series 10); S11 chip; 5G Redcap cellular; Satellite connectivity
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has summarized his expectations for what Apple will reveal next week. Aside from a couple of new details and the inclusion of some more recent leaks from other sources, much of the following is a recap of Gurman’s reports over the last several months: iPhone 17: Larger 6.3-inch display with ProMotion; A19 chip. iPhone 17 Air: 5.5mm thick; A19 chip; Single camera; Reduced battery life; 6.6-inch display with ProMotion; eSIM replacing physical SIM; Apple C1 modem; Sky blue color. iPhone 17 Pro Models: New rear runway-style camera bump; 48MP telephoto lens (up from 12MP); New variable aperture system; Simultaneous front-and-back video capture; New two-thirds rear cutout for wireless charging; A19 Pro chip; Increased battery life; Aluminum frame; New orange color. Apple Watch Ultra 3: Slightly larger display (matching Series 10); S11 chip; 5G Redcap cellular; Satellite connectivity; Apple Watch Series 11: New screen with increased brightness; New color and band offerings. Apple Watch SE: New display; Faster chip; AirPods Pro 3: Heart-rate monitor; Smaller charging case matching AirPods 4; Live translation. Apple is also launching new accessories for the iPhone 17 lineup, including a revamped non-leather case replacing the company’s ill-received FineWoven cases, an iPhone 4 bumper-like case for the iPhone 17 Air, and a “pricey, high-end” cross-body strap that has apparently been a priority of the company’s design team.
Apple Card is offering new Uber and Uber Eats bonus
Now through September 30, get 5% Daily Cash when you use the Apple Card via Apple Pay for purchases across the Uber and Uber Eats apps and websites. 5% Daily Cash is limited to $500 in combined Uber and Uber Eats purchases, meaning that the maximum cash back that you can receive from this offer is $25. Ordinarily, the Apple Card offers 3% Daily Cash for Uber and Uber Eats purchases. In addition, Apple Card users can continue to receive a six-month free trial of Uber One, by signing up with this link using the Apple Card via Apple Pay. Uber One provides savings and other benefits for both Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries.
Apple’s new wireless protocol SPR AVS augments legacy Bluetooth and AirPlay, powering their spatial ecosystem and context-aware, multi-sensory experiences that require tight coordination between devices
Apple’s new proprietary wireless standard, SPR AVS, is designed to optimize audio, video, and sensor data transmission across devices. SPR AVS is designed to replace or augment legacy protocols like Bluetooth and AirPlay in specific contexts. It is tightly integrated with Apple’s C1X modem and A19 Pro chip, enabling ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth communication between iPhones, AirPods, Vision Pro, and other Apple devices. Key advantages of SPR AVS include ultra-low latency, lossless audio support, multi-device sync, dynamic bandwidth allocation, secure peer-to-peer relay, and sensor fusion integration. It is a foundational protocol for Apple’s spatial computing ecosystem, particularly as Vision Pro and AirPods Pro 3 become more integrated with iPhone. It is designed for context-aware, multi-sensory experiences that require tight coordination between devices.
Apple’s new iPhone Air and higher-capacity models are boosting the average selling price by 12% over last year’s models; potentially magnifying revenue gains even with small sales increases
New physical designs have typically helped iPhone sales in the past. But the appeal of the iPhone Air might be constrained by a shorter battery life, a single-lens camera and Apple’s limited AI offerings. But time might be on Apple’s side. Rising smartphone prices have compelled users to hold on to their devices for longer periods in general, and Apple’s well-heeled customers are no exception. About 38% of the current iPhone users in the U.S. have devices that are at least three years old, according to a June survey by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. That compares with 33% using such devices in the same period two years earlier. Older phones will make it harder for some users to wait another year, when Apple is expected to launch its first foldable phones with a more robust AI offering. And the company appears to be betting on the same. The new iPhone Air and the higher-memory configurations of other models are lifting the average selling price of this year’s new crop of iPhones by 12% over the iPhone 16 family launched a year ago. The iPhone Air is priced at a notable premium to the iPhone Plus models it replaced in the lineup, and Apple added a new 2-terabyte model to the iPhone Pro priced at $1,999—25% higher than the most expensive iPhone that Apple has sold in years past. Higher prices mean that even a small uptick in unit sales could have a magnified impact on revenue. And expectations there are currently modest; Wall Street expects iPhone revenue to rise just 4% in Apple’s fiscal year that ends next September, to be driven primarily by the new devices announced Tuesday. Separately, Apple’s wearables business—its second-largest product segment—should get a boost from the new AirPods Pro 3. The popular wireless earbuds hadn’t seen a major upgrade in three years.
Microsoft advances agentic AI with role‑based Copilots and a “Frontier Firms” pitch focused on effectiveness, not just efficiency, as agents orchestrate cross‑system workflows
Microsoft announced a set of Copilots for sales, service and finance in a move that brings role-based assistants to Microsoft 365 Copilot. The role-based Copilots will be available in preview for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers in October via the Copilot Agent Store. Microsoft’s offering is the latest in a trend of copilots and AI agents aimed at specific roles and processes. With the Copilots for Sales, sellers can leverage AI within their usual productivity tools. Ditto for service pros and finance teams. In a blog post, Microsoft pitched “Frontier Firms” that put AI at the center of customers experience, productivity and processes. Constellation Research CEO R “Ray” Wang argued in a research report that enterprises need to rethink old models in enable AI and shed tech debt. Wang also recently examined AI exponentials and their potential. For these role-based Copilots to work, Microsoft is connecting them to outside systems. For sales, Copilot connects to Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 as well as Salesforce and other CRM systems. Finance connects to Dynamics 365 as well as SAP and other ERP systems.
Pixel 10 can now connect to Galaxy Watch 8 following update
Following an update to the August 1 Google Play services update, users are reporting that the Galaxy Watch 8 can now connect to the Pixel 10. It’s unknown if this is the case for other Pixel devices, as the issue appeared to include other models. In our own testing, a previously barred Galaxy Watch 8 Classic paired flawlessly to our Pixel 10 Pro XL on the first go following the update. It’s worth noting we skipped signing into Samsung Health at the start, though that should have no bearing on a successful connection. The connection appears stable after rebooting both devices. One user had submitted a ticket indicating that their Pixel 10 Pro would not connect with the Galaxy Watch 8, and over 260 users have indicated that they’re experiencing the same issue. According to them, after confirming pairing codes on both watch and phone, the setup fails or glitches out. No pending updates seem to be the issue. Some devices on the 9to5Google team had the same issue. After getting the Watch 8 Classic to work on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold with no problems, upgrading to the Pixel 10 Pro XL resulted in multiple failed setup attempts. Sometimes the Pixel 10 Pro would refuse to give a pairing code, and the Watch 8 Classic would have to be reset because of the error. Other times, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and Pixel 10 Pro XL could agree on codes and begin the pairing process, though it never exceeded 84% completion without faulting. This issue takes a tremendous amount of time and has no success.
Apple eyes fall 2026 smart glasses debut, starting with a display‑less, Ray‑Ban‑style model tethered to iPhone for capture, audio, and processing
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes that Apple will enter the market in the next 12 to 16 months, which would be in line or after the fall release schedule for 2026. Gurman adds that the smart glasses that will show up first will be a display-less version to take on Meta’s Ray-Bans. That would mean smart glasses with cameras for video recording, some form of audio system for playback and recording, and a connection to an iPhone for processing. The full smart glasses experience, which will involve seeing data through the lenses of the glasses, is expected to be a few years away from becoming a reality. A lot of this is miniaturization and reducing weight, as expectations are for Apple to get as close to a lightweight pair of spectacles as possible, not a heavy device like the Apple Vision Pro. Apple has a natural advantage in this area. Its brand means that existing iPhone users will gravitate toward its smart glasses automatically. While Meta and others have a more difficult time making their glasses work with the iPhone, Apple can do a much deeper integration, as it has done with its other products.
Apple eyes fall 2026 smart glasses debut, starting with a display‑less, Ray‑Ban‑style model tethered to iPhone for capture, audio, and processing.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes that Apple will enter the market in the next 12 to 16 months, which would be in line or after the fall release schedule for 2026. Gurman adds that the smart glasses that will show up first will be a display-less version to take on Meta’s Ray-Bans. That would mean smart glasses with cameras for video recording, some form of audio system for playback and recording, and a connection to an iPhone for processing. The full smart glasses experience, which will involve seeing data through the lenses of the glasses, is expected to be a few years away from becoming a reality. A lot of this is miniaturization and reducing weight, as expectations are for Apple to get as close to a lightweight pair of spectacles as possible, not a heavy device like the Apple Vision Pro. Apple has a natural advantage in this area. Its brand means that existing iPhone users will gravitate toward its smart glasses automatically. While Meta and others have a more difficult time making their glasses work with the iPhone, Apple can do a much deeper integration, as it has done with its other products.
Apple Pay adds in‑store Affirm: approved users can split eligible purchases into biweekly or monthly payments from 0% to 36% APR on iPhone
Consumers can now access Affirm’s payment options when making in-store purchases with Apple Pay on iPhone in the United States. The move marks an expansion of a capability that was already available when checking out with Apple Pay online and in-apps, Affirm said. “This gives Apple Pay users in the U.S. added flexibility and transparency at even more checkouts,” Vishal Kapoor, senior vice president of product at Affirm, said. Affirm enables approved customers to split eligible purchases into biweekly or monthly payments, at rates ranging from 0% to 36% APR. The company said the ability to access loan offers from eligible credit or debit cards, including from pay-over-time providers like Affirm, when making an Apple Pay purchase in person with an iPhone would give users greater flexibility and choice.