American Airlines is “seriously considering” bringing back seat-back screens to its narrow-body planes and a decision could be made as early as next month, according to a person familiar with the matter.
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It would be part of a major revamp of American’s in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi for narrow-body aircraft, said the person, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to talk about the plans publicly.
Part of those plans include discussions with SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon Leo to potentially provide in-flight Wi-Fi, according to the person.
American is also talking with Amazon about providing content for the seats, which could include Amazon Prime, music and potentially shopping, where customers could use miles for purchases, the person said.
The airline currently has a deal with Apple for customers to stream music and Apple TV+ content.
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Amazon Leo declined to comment. SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pressure is mounting on American from rivals such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, which account for most of the U.S. airline industry’s profits, and airlines have been increasingly relying on customers willing to pay up for premium seating.
Those two carriers have invested for years in improving customer products with technology such as new in-flight entertainment and other perks.
Meanwhile, American decided to remove seat-back screens from its mainline narrow-body aircraft almost a decade ago to save money on the equipment cost and weight they add to the aircraft. Executives at the time said customers would likely use their own mobile phones, tablets or laptops to stream entertainment.
In recent years, however, rivals have been investing heavily in new cabins and more modern entertainment. American itself is adding more premium seats to both its narrow-body and wide-body planes, which already have screens on them.
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In an interview last fall, American’s chief customer officer, Heather Garboden, told CNBC that the airline was warming to the idea of bringing screens back.
“I think of where the technology was a decade ago, and where it can be today, or even a few years from today,” Garboden said at the time. “Hopefully the complexity is less.”
Adding seatback screens to American’s planes would take years and be a costly undertaking. American has more than 790 narrow-body Boeing and Airbus jets, according to the company’s annual filing. It has more than 280 of these jets on order, and seatback screens could debut with deliveries straight from the factory.
United, Delta, Southwest Airlines and American in recent years have followed JetBlue Airways‘ move to offer Wi-Fi for free. Generally, customers must be members of the airline’s loyalty program to receive the complimentary Wi-Fi.
Read more about airlines’ race to win over big spenders
Gold prices fell more than 2%, but remain above $4,400 a troy ounce as investors assess conflicting signals about cease-fire talks between the U.S. and Iran.
“Despite the recent recovery, gold remains down approximately 15% since the war began, pressured by rising energy-driven inflation expectations that have reduced the likelihood of rate cuts and increased the prospect of tighter monetary policy,” analysts at MUFG said.
“Continued ETF outflows also weigh on sentiment, leaving gold caught between geopolitical uncertainty and shifting macroeconomic expectations.” In early European trade, New York futures were down 2.1% to $4,455.60 an ounce.
Council leaders from Sheffield and Rotherham joined South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard to launch the plan for Don Valley
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard (Image: Copyright Unknown)
Plans for a new mayoral development zone in the Don Valley have been unveiled, promising a £1.3bn boost to the region’s and UK economy, 18,500 new jobs and more than 10,500 new homes.
The development zone has been welcomed by South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, Sheffield City Council leader Tom Hunt and his Rotherham counterpart Chris Read. It will stretch from the heart of Sheffield through Attercliffe, Tinsley and Templeborough into Rotherham Gateway, the town centre and Bassingthorpe.
The Don Valley Corridor aims to bring together new employment, housing, infrastructure, skills and community regeneration into one 30‑year plan. The plan aims to build on the success of the advanced manufacturing park in the area.
Mr Coppard said: “For as long as I can remember, Britain has doubled down on a growth model that meant the South East took both the benefits and the burdens of growth. If the whole country is to thrive, and every place is to stand on its own two feet, playing a full part in UK PLC, places like South Yorkshire will need to unlock their own, full potential.
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“Our plans for the Don Valley Corridor offer a new path, for the UK, the North and South Yorkshire, one that allows the expertise, innovation and energy that has always been here, to restore the pride, purpose and prosperity of our communities.”
Cllr Hunt said: “The Don Valley Corridor linking Sheffield and Rotherham is a nationally significant opportunity for regeneration and growth. We can unlock 10,500 new homes in new neighbourhoods, and nearly 20,000 new jobs in fast-growing industries, all connected by the right infrastructure. “Cutting edge centres of innovation like the AMRC and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park show what happens when you bring together world-leading research and industry and we will build on their success. From clean energy, to advanced manufacturing, healthcare and defence, what happens in Sheffield and Rotherham is at the centre of the UK’s industrial future.
“This is a plan to give the Don Valley a prosperous future that provides new homes, new jobs, new infrastructure and new opportunities for our residents and businesses.”
Cllr Read added: “The Don Valley Corridor has the potential to be one of the most important growth areas anywhere in the country, and an exemplar for the North. For Rotherham, this really is about forging ahead with the next chapter of our borough’s growth, building on the lessons of the AMP as we build on the strengths of our heritage and the opportunities of new industries, infrastructure and investment. You only have to look at our plans for Rotherham Gateway to see the scale of that ambition – a new mainline station, new employment space, and the chance to bring thousands of good‑quality jobs right onto our doorstep.”
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The plan aims to deliver over 18,500 new jobs through co‑ordinated employment and innovation development, as well as supporting the Sheffield Innovation Spine. There will also be a Green Employment Hub.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves praised the plan, saying that “investing in our regions outside of London and the South East will be pivotal to unleashing their potential and turbocharging growth.”
Hull has been named as one of 80 locations across Great Britain set to receive a new Youth Hub, bringing together employers, training providers and Jobcentre services to support 16-24 year olds into work
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden(Image: PA)
Young people in Hull are set to gain from enhanced employment assistance at a new Youth Hub. The Hubs amalgamate employers and training providers to aid those aged between 16-24 into employment.
Hull has been identified as one of 80 sites earmarked for new Hubs. They offer a venue for Jobcentre Plus, local authority services, employers and training providers to support young people, all under one roof.
Each Youth Hub will adhere to a set of minimum standards. This aims to guarantee that young people can access on-site Jobcentre support along with mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities, careers guidance and direct links to employers with job and apprenticeship openings.
This announced expansion is viewed as a stride towards having a Youth Hub in every part of Great Britain. Within three years, the Hubs are projected to be in over 360 areas.
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The Government’s Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has lauded the expansion. He stated: “Today marks a major boost for young people with 80 new Youth Hubs.”, reports Hull Live.
“We are delivering support in every region, connecting young people with employers, and meeting them where they are so they can move into work, as we reform the welfare state into a working state. This is about breaking down barriers, opening doors and ensuring every young person can earn or learn, wherever they live.”
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Nine of the 80 new Hubs have already launched, including facilities in Nottingham and Newcastle. The precise location of the Hull Hub remains under wraps for now.
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The Youth Hub expansion forms part of a broader £2.5 billion commitment to the Youth Guarantee and reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy designed to prioritise young apprentices. Ministers say this combined package is expected to generate 200,000 employment and apprenticeship opportunities.
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are shaping up as significant evolutionary steps for the flagship lineup, with leaks and supply chain reports pointing to a variable aperture camera system, record-breaking battery capacities, a next-generation 2nm A20 Pro chip and a slimmer Dynamic Island as the devices prepare for a September 2026 debut alongside a possible foldable iPhone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max
The Pro models are expected to retain much of the current design language, including the titanium frame and prominent rear camera plateau with a triple-lens setup. However, subtle refinements could include a slightly thicker chassis on the Pro Max to accommodate a larger battery and new color options, such as a deep red finish that has generated early buzz among enthusiasts.
Display sizes are rumored to remain consistent at approximately 6.3 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro and 6.9 inches for the larger Pro Max, both featuring advanced LTPO OLED panels with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. New LTPO+ technology could enable even more efficient variable refresh rates, improving power consumption without sacrificing smoothness. Rumors also suggest a noticeably smaller Dynamic Island cutout — potentially reduced by around 35% — as Apple moves some Face ID components under the display, though full under-display Face ID may still be a year or more away.
Camera System Takes Center Stage in Rumors
Photography upgrades appear to be among the most anticipated changes. Multiple supply chain leaks indicate the iPhone 18 Pro models could introduce a variable aperture lens on the main 48-megapixel Fusion camera. This mechanical iris-like feature would allow users to adjust the amount of light reaching the sensor, offering greater control over depth of field, reducing overexposure in bright conditions and improving low-light performance — a long-requested enhancement that could bring DSLR-like flexibility to mobile photography.
The telephoto lens is also expected to see improvements, with reports of a brighter aperture for better zoom performance in challenging lighting. Some speculation points to a possible shift in sensor suppliers, including advanced stacked image sensors from Samsung that could deliver faster readout speeds, reduced noise and wider dynamic range. A 24-megapixel front-facing camera is another frequently mentioned upgrade across the Pro lineup.
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These camera enhancements align with Apple’s continued investment in computational photography and Apple Intelligence features, potentially enabling more sophisticated on-device editing, natural depth simulation and improved night-mode zoom capabilities on the Pro Max.
Performance and Efficiency Gains from A20 Pro Chip
Powering the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be Apple’s A20 Pro chipset, built on TSMC’s advanced 2-nanometer manufacturing process — a generational leap from the 3nm technology used in recent models. The new chip is expected to deliver noticeable improvements in both raw performance and energy efficiency, with some analysts predicting up to 15% faster processing and significant gains in power savings.
Rumors suggest the A20 series could integrate RAM directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine in a wafer-level multi-chip module design. This closer integration is anticipated to boost AI capabilities, support more demanding Apple Intelligence features and enable smoother multitasking. Reports point to 12GB of RAM across Pro models, an upgrade that would further future-proof the devices for on-device machine learning tasks.
Connectivity upgrades, including Apple’s next-generation C2 modem, are expected to bring better efficiency, lower latency and expanded satellite capabilities beyond emergency messaging.
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Battery Life Could Reach Record Territory
Battery improvements rank high on many wish lists, and early leaks suggest Apple is delivering. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to feature a capacity between 5,100mAh and 5,200mAh — potentially the largest battery ever in an iPhone — which, combined with the efficient 2nm chip, could push real-world usage toward 40 hours in some scenarios. The standard Pro model is also expected to see gains, possibly exceeding 4,000mAh depending on regional variants and SIM configurations.
Slight increases in device thickness may be necessary to house the larger cells, though Apple is known for optimizing internal layouts to minimize overall size impact.
Pricing and Release Context
Analysts currently expect pricing to hold steady, with the iPhone 18 Pro starting around $1,099 and the Pro Max at $1,199 in the United States, consistent with recent generations. No widespread reports of significant increases have surfaced, though global economic pressures and component costs remain variables.
The September 2026 launch window will be notable for Apple’s evolving strategy. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are slated to arrive alongside the company’s first foldable iPhone, while standard iPhone 18 models may be delayed until spring 2027. This staggered approach could allow Apple to focus its fall event on premium devices and innovative form factors.
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Design and Other Notable Rumors
Beyond core internals, leaks mention possible semi-transparent or unified rear glass finishes that move away from current two-tone designs, as well as expanded satellite-based 5G support. A new deep red or burgundy color option could join the lineup, giving buyers fresh aesthetic choices.
While many rumors remain unconfirmed and subject to change as development progresses, the collective picture emerging from supply chain sources and analysts suggests the iPhone 18 Pro series will emphasize meaningful refinements rather than radical redesigns — focusing on camera versatility, all-day battery endurance and AI-ready performance.
Apple has not commented on the rumors, and final specifications will only be revealed at the company’s traditional fall event. In the meantime, the steady flow of leaks has already sparked discussion among enthusiasts weighing upgrades from the iPhone 17 series or earlier models.
For consumers, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max appear positioned to address common pain points — low-light zoom, battery anxiety and cutout aesthetics — while laying groundwork for deeper Apple Intelligence integration in the years ahead. As always with Apple products, real-world performance and software optimization will ultimately determine whether the rumored upgrades translate into a compelling reason to upgrade.
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With roughly six months until the expected announcement, more concrete details are likely to surface through further supply chain reports and regulatory filings. Apple’s history of under-promising and over-delivering means the final devices could include additional surprises not yet widely discussed.
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