A few days ago, Microsoft announced via the Windows Insider blog some new AI features and improvements for the Photos app. Among the new features is “Relight,” which lets you adjust the lighting in a photo by placing up to three virtual light sources that can each be adjusted for color, intensity, and direction. There are also several built-in preset styles for quicker adjustments. With Relight, you can use the power of AI to dramatically change the mood, tone, and appearance of any photo. However, you’ll need a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC to take advantage of this feature right now. Intel- and AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs will be getting this feature over the next few months. The search function in Photos has also been upgraded, allowing you to search for images using natural language queries instead of keyword-based queries. For example, you can type “sunset at the beach” or “family outdoor fun” to find relevant images, even if they don’t have file names that match those terms. As with Relight, you’ll need a Copilot+ PC to take advantage of semantic searches in Photos. If you don’t know what that means, see our handy overview on what to know about Copilot+ PCs. Read...

Apple’s latest developer conference covered a huge number of features coming soon to the iPhone, iPad and other devices. Read...

A significant update is coming to the Windows 11 Start Menu: Microsoft is now testing a wider, scrollable design, complete with the Windows Phone sidebar. This latest change follows the introduction of a “category” view last year, showing ongoing development. If this sounds like old news, it is, sort of. While Microsoft’s new “category” view within Start was hidden in a build last year, it resurfaced in February when Microsoft announced it would debut in a Windows Insider test channel soon. By April, the wider, scrollable Start menu was unearthed by Twitter sleuths, again as a hidden feature. In June 2024, Microsoft also began testing a “sidebar” to the Windows 11 Start menu for Android phones, then added iPhone support to the sidebar as well. (Microsoft is also testing allowing users to mirror their Android phones’ screens from this sidebar as well.) If you’re a member of the Windows Insider program and subscribe to the Dev Channel, this is all coming together: the category view, the wider Start, and the phone sidebar. (Though I added the screen mirroring feature, that’s the only bit left out in the latest build, Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5641 (KB5060824). The wider Windows 11 Start menu with the phone sidebar.Microsoft It’s all obviously more than a bit confusing, since Microsoft tests features in various channels, off and on, before an eventual launch. The “Dev” channel is one of the most experimental, so there’s no guarantee you’ll see these features anytime soon. Just know that Microsoft is playing with what works and what doesn’t inside the Start menu, and you can be part of it if you choose. A little flexibility comes to Start Basically, Microsoft is testing a more responsive Start menu. If you pin apps, you’ll see those on top. If you don’t, you may see the “Pinned” row shrink. Underneath those apps, Start will continue to include “recommended” files—but you can turn those off inside the Windows Settings, too, via a toggle. Microsoft’s Windows 11 Start’s Categories and Grid view.Microsoft Underneath the “recommended” files will be a list of “all” apps, organized into one of two views: Category or Grid view. Category view will use AI to group apps into cards. Microsoft’s example uses “productivity,” “creativity,” and “social.” The grid view feels more like the Start menu of old. There won’t really be a “grid” of apps, but they’ll be arranged alphabetically: all of the “A” apps together, then the “B” apps, and so on. If you have a large or widescreen display, the Start menu will stretch wider than it has before. Microsoft’s Settings menu allows Start to be tweaked and configured. “Have a larger-screen device? You can expect to see a larger Start menu, by default, so you can see more of your apps and files,” Microsoft said. “On larger devices, users can expect to see eight columns of pinned apps, six recommendations, and four columns of categories in the Start menu. On smaller devices, you’ll see six columns of pinned apps, four recommendations, and three columns of categories.” If you have a mobile phone, you’ll also be able to push the small “phone” icon and open up the sidebar, where you’ll be able to access messages, calls, and possibly more. Read...

Apple has a reputation for reimagining products launched by other companies, polishing them so thoroughly that they’re often seen as synonymous with Apple itself. With the macOS 26 “Tahoe” update that Apple launched at WWCD 2025, the OS arguably has achieved what Windows 11 has struggled to be: warm, polished, and smart. Apple’s new macOS Tahoe is first defined by its “Liquid Glass” design aesthetic, a new universal design language, that I think hearkens back to Windows 10 and earlier versions of Windows operating systems. But beyond look and feel, there are practical elements, like the Spotlight search bar that understands what’s on your Mac and taps into local intelligence to find what you want. There are also shortcuts or macros to help you complete tasks, and a phone application that looks as rich as what Microsoft offers. There’s even a rudimentary Game Bar. I much prefer Windows over macOS, and have used Windows and Android products for decades. Nonetheless, there have been a few times that I’ve been impressed with what Apple has accomplished—the Apple Watch integration with iOS, for example. There’s a level of polish and integration here that I think Microsoft should pay attention to. If I had to sum it up: What I use on a day-to-day basis on Windows feels like a rough draft. What Apple showed off at WWDC seems more like the final product. Warm and rich From day one of Windows 11, I wrote that Windows 11 felt like an unnecessary replacement for Windows 10. I’ve since changed my mind about that, in part because Microsoft has pivoted toward features like Windows Spotlight and adding AI capabilities like Copilot. MacOS Tahoe looks and feels somewhat like Windows Vista’s Aero Glass design language, but you can’t hold that against them—some of Microsoft’s early Windows efforts were fondly remembered for their UI. Sure, this is way too much. But Windows just doesn’t really allow this level of customization.YouTube / Apple Apple’s widgets look very much like the old Gadgets on Windows Vista, too. They just appear to be small widgets that float on the desktop, with large icons that can show your calendar and the weather. Windows has its own Widgets Panel, of course, and there will be those who prefer that that information hides off screen. Again, however, for those who liked Windows 10’s Live Tiles and how they showed “live” information, Tahoe’s Live Activities look warm and engaging. (I don’t like Tahoe’s new ability to color-code or label folders, weirdly. It feels superficial, like something that Windows would do. ) Apple appears to have more than just light and dark modes in mind. It all looks very personal. That’s something that Windows 11 really doesn’t offer. Windows 11 is functional, but I always feel like a cubicle worker rather than someone more creative. Apple appears to be leaning harder into the individual. YouTube / Apple Productivity, too Some of what Apple showed off at WWDC looked familiar. Apple’s Control Center is just Windows’ Action Center, providing quick shortcuts to apps and controls. Apple Continuity is Apple’s efforts to traverse its iPhone, iPad, and Vision OS platforms, by allowing you to share content across platforms — something that Microsoft doesn’t do well, but hardware makers like Samsung, do. I was more impressed with Live Activities, a more dynamic sort of widget. In one example, Apple’s Craig Federighi showed an Uber delivery app connected the Mac via the iPhone, displaying a summary of how far away the driver was. Apple’s Live Activities connected the iPhone and the Mac.YouTube / Apple Interestingly, one area where it feels like Windows has an advantage is in the Phone application. On Windows, you can read and write SMS messages, grab photos from your phone, and even see the (Android) phone’s desktop. On the Mac, Apple supplies tools that are more integrated into the phone itself, such as Live Voicemail and the ability to perform live translations. Microsoft offers the latter, but that’s built into Windows itself. On the other hand, Microsoft’s UI still feels rather cold and functional, while the macOS interface bursts with life. Apple’s phone app connects the iPhone and the Mac, too. It’s livelier than what Windows offers, but sligtly less functional.YouTube / Apple Shortcuts and Spotlight Apple also showed off an updated version of the Shortcuts application, powered by Apple Intelligence. Shortcuts is a bit like IFTTT or even the Windows Power Automate application: It’s designed to take actions in response to certain conditions. Automations, in other words. On Windows, the Power applications are apps that I’ve struggled with for a few years, since it was essentially a coding language that you had to create a workflow for. Apple is trying to reduce that complexity by asking those actions to be triggered automatically, without a great deal of setup. It’s not clear how successful this application will be. Again, however, it looks crisp and clean. Shortcuts in action.YouTube / Apple The twist that Apple is adding is that macOS users will be able to create shortcuts, essentially macros that are triggered by a keyboard shortcut. One of those allows you to access the built-in version of Apple Intelligence directly, so that your queries don’t have to go out to the cloud. In a Windows context, that would be like Microsoft adding a local version of Copilot — something that it’s hinted at, but has yet to implement. If you want to use the cloud, Apple is apparently partnering with OpenAI, giving direct access to ChatGPT. One example that Apple showed off was recording lecture audio, then comparing it to notes that the student had taken, and then add to that. Shortcuts has previously lived on iOS. It will be interesting to see how Shortcuts fares on macOS, since it’s an app that hasn’t received much fanfare. This is Apple’s Spotlight, looking for local files that are relevant.YouTube / Apple Shortcuts is also being integrated with Spotlight, which is essentially Apple’s search and utility interface. It’s receiving the “biggest update ever,” Apple said, and will quickly allow you to find files that are relevant to you. Windows users will probably compare Spotlight to the built-in Windows search function and File Explorer. They’re comparable, but Apple’s Tahoe certainly looks fresh, inviting, and useful. Apple has even brought in a feature I remember from Windows 10 and Cortana: the ability to draft an email from the search box. It’s an integration that Microsoft pioneered, then dropped — and now Apple has picked up the baton and started running. YouTube / Apple Apple even spent several minutes opening a document in Pages, then adding a graphic and moving it around the page. That’s something Word has struggled with, for years. It’s time for Microsoft to pay attention Apple’s rollout of macOS 26 Tahoe didn’t push “AI” every other sentence. Instead, Apple emphasized its own “Apple Intelligence,” gently deflecting away from the acronym that divides its creative customers. Everything felt very warm, colorful, lively, and human — undoubtedly deliberately so. Microsoft could take a lesson here: Technologists are designing products for people. Windows hasn’t forgotten this, but it’s definitely downplayed it. For years, we’ve gently mocked Apple for following where others have led. This time, I think Microsoft could learn a lesson from Apple instead. Read...

Apple has previewed visionOS 26, introducing new spatial widgets, shared experiences, AI-powered photo scenes, and enhanced personalisation for Apple Vision Pro users. Read...

Apple unveils watchOS 26 with a fresh Liquid Glass design, Workout Buddy and smarter features for a personalised, motivating Apple Watch experience. Read...

Apple launches macOS Tahoe 26, featuring a sleek new design, enhanced Continuity, smarter Spotlight, and expanded AI tools for a seamless Mac experience. Read...

Apple expands Apple Intelligence with new AI features and developer access to on-device models, enhancing privacy and offline capabilities across its devices. Read...

Apple unveils iOS 26 with a Liquid Glass design, smarter Apple Intelligence, and updates to CarPlay, Wallet, Messages, and core apps. Free from iPhone 11. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros It’s an ASTM-certified pool alarm (relevant standard: ASTM F2208 – 2019) Effective alerting Sirens are ear-piercing and impossible to ignore Cons Very expensive compared to general-purpose security cameras   Can’t record video on motion detection Subpar app experience Our Verdict The SwamCam system monitors your pool and sounds an alarm if someone is around your pool when they shouldn’t be—and that’s about it. You’ll find any number of more flexible alternatives that can achieve the same results for a lot less money, even if they’re not ASTM-certified pool alarms. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today With a name like SwamCam, you might already have an inkling of what this product is designed to do. If you guessed it’s designed to keep an eye on your swimming pool, congrats! That said, my expectation is that some of SwamCam’s functionality will surprise you—as will its price tag. At its simplest, SwamCam is a camera designed with pool safety—particularly children who might not be water-safe—squarely in mind. The oblong device is a basic 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) camera with a fisheye camera with a 160-degree field of view and standard LED night vision. You mount the camera on a wall, fence, or somewhere else (various hardware is included, along with a 20-foot power cord—a 50-foot cord is available at additional cost) and aim it directly at your swimming pool, where it keeps a watchful eye on goings-on. If a toddler wanders into my backyard while the SwamCam is armed, the 80dBA siren (91dBA at the extender) will let me know. The camera carries a weatherization rating of IP65, which our IP code guide tells us means it is impervious to dust ingress and that it can withstand water jets coming from any direction (short of a pressure washer). Also in the mix are two-way audio, an integrated alarm system, and a button that lets you quickly dial 911 should you spot something amiss. A security camera that doesn’t record on motion detection You’ll need a paid subscription to define motion-detection zones in the SwamCam app. Christopher Null/Foundry What the SwamCam does not do is record video automatically, and officially the company says it is not designed to be “a historical data security system.” The motion detection system in the device watches for human movement at a range of up to 35 feet away, and (if armed) sounds an alarm if it detects any. That alarm keeps sounding until the motion stops. The SwamCam mobile app sends you a push notification, at which point you can check out a live video feed, but, again, video is not recorded unless you manually initiate it (which in turn requires a subscription plan; I’ll get to that in a bit). A live video feed is available for viewing any time, whether the alarm is sounding or not. Performance The optional Wi-Fi repeater (included in the bundle reviewed here) has an even more powerful siren than the one on the SwamCam camera.Christopher Null/Foundry Over several weeks of testing, I found the device to be responsive, performing well at its primary task: detecting humans in and around the pool. I placed it alongside a standard Vivint security camera and didn’t see any real difference in the alert rates—or false positives, with occasional alerts popping up when a pool robot lumbered into view. Live video was quick to load in my testing, and the alarm sounded immediately—and sustainedly—when I had the system armed. The SwamCam app is a curiosity that merits its own analysis. The main page is very simple, offering only a Live View button and a separate button for arm/disarm actions. It really couldn’t be simpler, which is entirely the point of the device. Tapping the gear icon, however, takes you to an oddball settings page, which is arranged as a grid of haphazardly organized functions. Everything else you can do with the camera is located here, from setting motion sensitivity and your motion detection zone, an arming timer and scheduling system, a custom emergency call number (if you don’t want 911), and even the video playback system. It’s weird to dig around in a settings menu to find recorded videos, but I suppose it’s something you’ll get used to. It comes with some extras SwamCam isn’t just a single device but rather part of an ecosystem that is sold in numerous bundles and configurations, including bundles that contain multiple cameras, so you can get a look at your pool from different angles, along with various accessories you can add to the mix. (The app supports a maximum of three cameras and a total of 20 accessories.) The accessories include an indoor alarm (with or without an integrated Wi-Fi repeater) and a numeric keypad that can be used to arm and disarm the SwamCam alarm. The keypad can be used indoors or out, since it’s rated IP65 for protection from dust and liquid ingress. This keypad, another option that came with the SwamCam bundle reviewed here, can arm and disarm the system. It can be used indoors or out, thanks to an IP66 weatherization rating. Christopher Null/Foundry The accessories connect to the SwamCam via Zigbee. I tested the version with the included Wi-Fi repeater, and while it promises to work at a range of up to 100 feet (from the SwamCam camera), I was unable to get it to connect to the camera at a range of 40 feet, ostensibly due to interference between the two devices. The camera only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. Once I moved the indoor alarm/repeater to just a few feet away from the camera (but still inside the house), I was able to get a strong, reliable signal. The interior alarm is extremely loud and ear-piercing (; a voiced alternative is also available. When it went off, I knew, even if I was on the other side of the house. The numeric keypad is simplistic in both design and function. The chunky device, powered by two AAA batteries, can arm and disarm the system after entering a PIN you create in the app. Tapping any digit on the keypad causes it to light up and indicate with a small LED whether the system is armed or disarmed. Most of the time, however, the lights are all off, so you can’t readily tell without tapping it whether the system is armed or not. The cost conundrum As a basic alarm system that can alert you if someone falls into the pool, SwamCam does what it promises, and I feel reasonably comfortable knowing that if a toddler wanders into my backyard while the SwamCam is armed, the siren on the camera (80dBA at 10 feet) and/or the Wi-Fi extender (91dBA at 10 feet) will fire off and let me know. The SwamCam system sends push notifications if anyone comes into range of its camera while the system is in its armed state. The app’s Settings page is rather haphazardly laid out.Christopher Null/Foundry On the other hand, I’m equally comfortable that my existing camera system—or any of a number of other more conventional security cameras—would do the same job. But they would also record video of the incident. That said, my other security cameras are not ASTM-certified pool alarms. The big catch is that all this stuff is very, very expensive. The SwamCam bundle I received, including one camera, the interior alarm (with Wi-Fi repeater), and the keypad costs a jaw-dropping $499. Standalone products are also pricey. A replacement camera is $299. The interior alarm is $149, or $129 without the repeater. The keypad is $99. Those kinds of prices boggle the mind given their limited feature set, and I don’t know of any DIY security system that would come anywhere close to costing that kind of cash. (For rough comparison, SimpliSafe’s “The Beacon” kit with base station, keypad, two outdoor cameras, and four sensors is currently $367.) And it bears repeating that those other systems can be set to record video on motion detection. The SwamCam will not. You might also be surprised to learn you’ll need to subscribe to SwamCam’s premium service if you want many of the system’s features; namely, the ability to record and share videos, to set custom detection zones, create more than one keypad code, and more. With a paid subscription, video is stored for 30 days on SwamCam’s cloud service. The SwamCam’s 1080p video resolution is adequate for seeing if someone is around your pool when they shouldn’t be; you won’t be using it to capture license plates, after all.Christopher Null/Foundry Clips can be a maximum of 10 minutes if you have one camera, or 5 minutes if you have two.) The service costs $4/month or $40/year. SwamCam suggests customers might want to subscribe only for the months of the year when their pool is in active use. A 30-day trial subscription is included with purchase. This review is part of TechHive’s iin-depth coverage of the best home security cameras I did encounter one problem with recorded video: While the manual recordings I made at the beginning of my testing were immediately playable, more recent recordings never became available for playback, showing a “Video failed to load, please try again later” error—even after more than a day had passed since they were ostensibly created. Should you buy a SwamCam? Listen: Pool safety is no joke, with some 4,000 people drowning each year according to the CDC, most of those in swimming pools. It’s also the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4. As a pool owner, I take safety seriously, including fencing and round-the-clock camera surveillance, and I recommend the same to other pool owners. But while SwamCam’s heart is in the right place—and there’s something to be said for its being an ASTM-certified pool alarm—its pricing simply is not. I just can’t get my head around any calculus that would convince me that a near-$500 purchase (plus subscription fees) is warranted for the very basic functionality the SwamCam offers—no matter how good a job it does. Read...