Latest news with #9To5Mac
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Perplexity's Mac app can now perform system tasks using MCP: What it means
The Perplexity app for macOS has added support for Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing users to connect the app to various system-level services such as Apple Notes, Reminders, and Calendar. According to Perplexity, the update enables the AI assistant to perform basic tasks beyond search queries, such as creating reminders or retrieving data from Google Drive. How MCP works in Perplexity for Mac Perplexity's integration of MCP means the app can now connect to local tools via community-developed 'connectors.' These connectors act as instructions that tell the AI how to interact with specific applications, such as searching Apple Notes or editing calendar entries. Because apps on the Mac App Store are sandboxed and cannot access other parts of the system directly, users are required to install a separate helper tool — PerplexityXPC — to enable these functions. Once installed, users can configure new connectors via the app's settings, using commands sourced from the connector's documentation, such as those hosted on GitHub. A successful setup allows the AI to execute local tasks using natural language queries. How to set up and configure local MCP on MacOS Perplexity in its blog laid out the steps to activate local MCPs for the Perplexity Mac app. Here are the steps that users need to follow: Open your account settings and click on Connectors Before you can add MCP Connectors, you have to install the helper application PerplexityXPC so that Perplexity can securely connect to your local MCP servers Once the Helper is installed, go back to the Connectors settings and click Add Connector On the 'Add Connector' page, add an MCP Connector to the 'Simple' tab Add any name for 'Server Name', for example, MCP for AppleScript Add the command that is used to run the MCP server This can usually be found in the README of the MCP server Make sure you have any requirements for the MCP server installed, for example brew install node if you need npx. Ask Perplexity if you need any help installing requirements on your computer Enter the command after installing the requirements. For example, for the command is npx -y @peakmojo/applescript-mcp Click "Save" and wait for the MCP server to show "Running" status in the Connectors list. Make sure the MCP server is running Go to the Perplexity homepage and toggle your MCP on underneath 'Sources' Test your MCP server: Ask a new command in Perplexity that references the MCP server, like 'check my Mac calendar'. This should run one of the MCP server's tools and prompt you for confirmation. What is MCP Model Context Protocol, or MCP, is a new standard proposed by AI company Anthropic. It is designed to serve as a communication bridge between AI systems and traditional software environments, similar to how HTTP functions for websites or SMTP for email. According to an article by 9To5Mac, MCP has seen early adoption across the industry, including by companies such as Zapier, Google, and Salesforce. The protocol allows AI assistants to interface directly with APIs, local applications, and services in a structured and secure manner.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Apple's next-gen TV 4K and HomePod Mini 2 likely coming later this year
Apple is reportedly working to expand its smart home ecosystem with new devices expected to launch later this year. According to a report by 9To5Mac, the company is preparing refreshed versions of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini, both likely to feature key internal hardware upgrades — potentially to support Apple Intelligence. While Apple was also expected to unveil a dedicated hub for its Home devices in 2025, development delays may push that launch to a later Apple Home devices: What to expectApple TV 4K:The next-generation Apple TV 4K is likely to bring notable hardware improvements over the current model. The report suggests it may be powered by either the A18 or A17 Pro chip, offering a performance leap from the A15 Bionic found in the existing model. The new chip is expected to support Apple Intelligence features, although Apple has yet to outline how these will be implemented in tvOS READ: Apple iPad Pro 2025: M5 chip to dual front cameras, check expected upgradesAnother expected change is the inclusion of a built-in camera, which could enable FaceTime support natively on tvOS. Additionally, the new Apple TV 4K may include Apple's custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this upgrade could allow the device to integrate more tightly with other Apple home devices and improve data mini 2:Apple is also anticipated to unveil the next-generation HomePod Mini by the end of 2025. The report notes that this model could be equipped with a newer S-series chip — possibly the S9 or S10 used in recent Apple Watch models — which may allow it to handle select Apple Intelligence READ: Google adds 'AI Mode' option upfront on Android Search widget: Details hereMoreover, the HomePod Mini 2 is expected to incorporate Apple's in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, potentially enabling support for newer wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, along with more seamless connectivity across Apple's ecosystem.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
ChatGPT Agent arrives on Mac: Automates searches and tasks for subscribers
OpenAI's ChatGPT Agent feature launches on Mac for Pro, Plus, and Team users, enabling web browsing, data analysis, and task automation with GPT-4o and deep tool integration New Delhi OpenAI has reportedly rolled out its Agent feature to the ChatGPT app for Mac, offering AI-powered task automation for users on Pro, Plus, and Team plans. According to a report by 9To5Mac, the tool—announced a week ago—integrates OpenAI's Operator and Deep Research capabilities to enable hands-free, multistep task execution using GPT-4o. With this launch, users can delegate tasks such as browsing the web, creating presentations, conducting research, analysing data, and coding—directly from their Mac desktop. Availability What is ChatGPT Agent ChatGPT Agent is an AI automation assistant that can manage multistep workflows with minimal user input. Acting like a virtual operator, it can click, browse, type, and interact with web tools or platforms simulating human-like digital behaviour. On macOS, users can activate the feature using the '/agent' command or by selecting the new Agent button in the ChatGPT app interface. The agent follows a step-by-step reasoning process, visible to the user, who can step in or stop the process at any time. Key Capabilities In internal demos and user testing, ChatGPT Agent has demonstrated the ability to: Search and filter e-commerce websites, and add products to carts Draft presentations, pull data from Google Drive, and generate charts and slides Plan events or trips, find outfits, hotels, and populate spreadsheets Execute code and access terminal tools Conduct deep research and convert findings into structured formats Visually interact with websites via the Operator interface Limitations and Safeguards OpenAI emphasised that the Agent feature is still under development. It currently declines tasks involving financial transactions, legal matters, or sensitive communications unless explicitly approved by the user. Tasks like writing emails, placing orders, or editing shared documents require supervision or confirmation. Future updates will focus on enhancing speed, reliability, and safety. As OpenAI brings more powerful tools into desktop environments, ChatGPT Agent is poised to become a key productivity assistant for users relying on intelligent automation.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Apple releases iOS 26 developer beta 4 with improved liquid glass interface
iOS 26 developer beta 4 returns AI summaries with disclaimers, improves the Liquid Glass effect, and adds welcome screens. Apple is also expected to rollout iOS 26 first public beta release this week New Delhi Apple has released the fourth developer beta of iOS 26, giving a clearer picture of what iPhone users can expect when the public beta rolls out. The iPhone maker is expected to roll out the public beta later this week. According to a report by TechCrunch, this version doesn't bring radical changes, but it refines the user experience across visuals, AI features, and app behaviour. iOS 26 developer beta 4: What's new AI-powered notification summaries make a return According to 9To5Mac, Apple has reintroduced AI-generated notification summaries in iOS 26 developer beta 4, especially for news content. The feature, which had been pulled earlier this year after misreporting a headline, is now back with a few safety nets. This time around, Apple has added a clear disclaimer in the setup screen, warning users that AI summarisation may alter the meaning of original headlines, as reported by TechCrunch. Refined Liquid Glass design Apple's Liquid Glass redesign, introduced earlier this year at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), continues to evolve. In beta 3, some of the transparency effects were pulled back, but beta 4 reportedly brings them back. Apps like Photos, Apple Music, Weather, and the App Store now feature slightly more fluid visuals with refined transparency. As per 9To5Mac, the Notification Center also gets a subtle update — introducing a dynamic tint that changes as users scroll, enhancing the overall sense of depth in the UI. New setup screens for key features Users updating to iOS 26 beta 4 are greeted with a new 'Welcome' splash screen, followed by introductory screens for various features. These include guided walk-throughs for Siri's new capabilities, AI notification settings, and the updated Camera app, helping users get familiar with what's new right from the start, reported TechCrunch. Public beta on the way While this release is currently limited to registered developers, the iOS 26 public beta is expected to go live later this week. Public betas are typically more stable and give regular users a chance to test upcoming features before the full release rolls out in the coming months.
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Business Standard
16-07-2025
- Business Standard
iPhone 17 series: Titanium frames to A19 chips, what to expect from Apple
Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 17 series later this year, expected to include four models: the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air — likely replacing the Plus variant. According to a report by GSMArena, citing analyst Jeff Pu, the entire lineup will be powered by next-generation Apple Silicon, most likely the A19 series of chips. In addition to performance upgrades, the lineup is also expected to bring notable design changes, including a shift away from titanium frames on the Pro models and the introduction of a new titanium-aluminium alloy frame exclusive to the iPhone 17 Air. Apple A19 chips across the lineup Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the base model would retain the current A18 chip, Pu claims the iPhone 17 will feature the newer A19 chipset. Both the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are expected to be powered by the A19, while the Pro models may feature an A19 Pro variant with more GPU cores. Additionally, the Pro models are tipped to include faster LPDDR5X RAM, while the standard and Air models may stick with LPDDR5. Titanium alloy frame for iPhone 17 Air Apple is also expected to make notable changes to the materials used across the series. Multiple reports suggest the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could revert to aluminium chassis, shifting away from the titanium alloy frames introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. However, titanium is not expected to disappear entirely. According to a report by 9To5Mac, citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will reserve the titanium frame design exclusively for the new iPhone 17 Air model, likely to provide added durability while maintaining a lightweight build. As per the report, Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air will have a 'titanium-aluminium alloy metal frame, with a lower percentage of titanium than the current Pro and Pro Max metal frames.' iPhone 17 series: What to expect While the Pro models may lose their titanium chassis, a significant design overhaul is still anticipated. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to introduce a dual-finish design featuring an aluminium frame and a partial glass rear to support wireless charging, MagSafe, and potential pass-through functionalities. Apple may also relocate the Apple logo and adopt a full-width camera layout, replacing the traditional corner camera bump. The Pro lineup could also receive upgraded telephoto lenses with higher resolution. The standard iPhone 17, while retaining much of its predecessor's design, is tipped to gain support for ProMotion display technology, allowing for adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz — something previously exclusive to the Pro series. As for the new iPhone 17 Air, it is expected to be Apple's slimmest smartphone ever. Reports suggest it could feature a chassis as thin as 5.5mm — thinner than the iPhone 6, which currently holds the record at 6.9mm. To achieve this ultra-slim profile, Apple might reduce battery capacity and opt for a single rear camera setup.
