Aavik Acoustics, part of Audio Group Denmark, has introduced three phono preamplifiers labeled as the R-188, R-288, and R-588 for ultra high-end vinyl playback systems using Moving Coil cartridges or DS Audio optical cartridges. Built around trickle down technology from Aavik’s flagship R-880 ($73,500) reference phono stage, the new R x88 Series is aimed at listeners who already live deep in the analog trenches and probably don’t need anyone explaining why a $20,000 phono preamp exists.

This is the same Danish audio group behind Børresen, whose $1.15 million M8 Gold Signature loudspeakers we recently covered, so nobody should be shocked that Aavik’s idea of “more accessible” still starts at $20,000.

External phono preamps, also known as phono stages, remain one of the most important but least understood parts of a serious vinyl playback system. Their job is to properly match the output of the phono cartridge to the amplifier or preamp that follows, while applying the RIAA equalization curve that restores the tonal balance of the original recording.

Most phono stages support Moving Magnet cartridges, some add Moving Coil support, but the Aavik R x88 Series takes a more specialized route with MC and DS Audio optical cartridge compatibility. Standard MM cartridge users need not apply.

Aavik R x88 Phono Stage Series

Aavik Acoustics’ three model R x88 Series lineup starts at $20,000 for the R-188 phono preamp, and steps up an additional $5,000 for the R-288 and R-588, respectively. That is Aavik’s version of connecting with a “broader audience,” which still assumes your vinyl budget has its own climate controlled room.

Aavik says the goal is a quiet, low noise connection between cartridge and amplifier that preserves the detail, dynamics, and tonal information cut into the record groove. Each unit is handcrafted in Aalborg, Denmark, using in house production and selected Danish and international partners.

R x88 Series Shared Features

Versatility: The Aavik R x88 Series supports both Moving Coil cartridges and DS Audio optical cartridges, with adjustable gain and filter settings for system matching. Standard Moving Magnet cartridge support is not included, which makes this a very specific product for very specific vinyl systems.

Noise Rejection: The R x88 Series incorporates Integrated Ansuz Active Tesla Coils, Square Tesla Coils, Analog Dither Circuits, and Anti Aerial Resonance Coils. These technologies are designed to reduce unwanted electrical noise and preserve low level detail before the signal reaches the amplifier.

Extreme Low Noise Floor: The Aavik R x88 Series uses a discrete RIAA input stage built around ultra low noise bipolar transistors arranged in parallel. Aavik specifies a 94 dB signal to noise ratio measured at 1 kHz, which is critical when dealing with the very low output levels of MC cartridges. The Moving Coil input stage is also balanced and floating, meaning it is not connected to ground.

Resonant Mode Power Supply: The R x88 Series also uses custom DC/DC converters designed to generate clean sine wave voltages with very low noise and minimal distortion. The goal is to provide a stable, quiet power foundation for the phono circuit, because with vinyl playback, noise does not need an invitation. It usually finds a way in.

Advanced Circuit Design: The flagship Aavik R 588 adds Aavik’s discrete operational amplifiers and independent voltage rails, which are intended to improve resolution, dynamics, and transparency. In plain terms, the R 588 is where Aavik pushes the circuit design harder for systems where every upstream choice is already under a microscope.

Connectivity: For all of the internal complexity, the R x88 Series keeps the rear panel relatively straightforward. Separate inputs are provided for turntables fitted with Moving Coil and DS Audio optical cartridges, with clearly labeled connections for each. Analog audio line outputs are included for connection to an amplifier or receiver, while RS 232 and 12V trigger connections provide external wired control. A power inlet and rear power switch are also included.

Front Panel Display and Controls: The Aavik R x88 Series includes a large front panel display that shows the active input, display brightness, display dimming, software version, and factory reset option. To the left of the display are physical controls for Standby, Mute, and Input Select/Menu operation. Aavik also includes a wireless remote control for more extensive access, because at $20,000 and up, reaching for the front panel should remain strictly optional.

Cabinet Construction: The Aavik R-x88 series phono preamps were designed by Flemming Erik Rasmussen and Michael Børresen. The hybrid enclosure combines wood, copper, and steel. This combination is designed to support exceptional resonance control and structural stability, complemented by a visually appealing cabinet design. 

Key Differences Between Models

R-188: The Aavik R-188 is the “entry level” model in the R-x88 Series, which is doing a lot of work when the starting price is $20,000. It features 36 Active Tesla Coils, 72 Active Square Tesla Coils, and 3 dither circuits.

R-288: The Aavik R-288 steps up from the R-188 with 72 Active Tesla Coils, 144 Active Square Tesla Coils, and 6 dither circuits. Aavik positions the additional noise reduction hardware as a path to greater clarity and lower noise within the same core platform.

R-588: The Aavik R-588 is the flagship model in the R-x88 Series, with 108 Active Tesla Coils, 216 Active Square Tesla Coils, and 9 dither circuits. It also adds discrete operational amplifiers and independent voltage rails, making it the most advanced version of the lineup for systems where the phono stage is expected to do more than just sit quietly on the rack looking expensive.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The Aavik R-x88 Series phono stages are not for casual vinyl listeners, MM cartridge users, or anyone still debating whether an external phono preamp is worth it. These are ultra high end analog components built specifically for systems using Moving Coil or DS Audio optical cartridges, with serious attention paid to noise reduction, power supply design, and signal purity.

What makes the R-x88 Series unusual is the combination of MC and optical cartridge support, Aavik’s extensive use of Ansuz noise reduction technologies, and a three model structure that starts at $20,000 and only climbs from there. The R-188, R-288, and R-588 are clearly aimed at vinyl listeners who have already invested heavily in the turntable, cartridge, amplification, and loudspeakers surrounding them.

Who is this for? The obsessed analog listener with a very serious system, a very quiet listening room, and a willingness to spend real money chasing the last few layers of resolution from the groove. Everyone else can keep walking. Denmark has locked the door behind them.

Price & Availability

All Aavik products are available through Authorized Audio Group Denmark Dealers.

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Google’s DeepMind built this new Omni model family from the ground up as one unified system that handles text, images, audio, and video together. Instead of bolting separate tools onto each other, the network reasons across whatever you feed it and produces a single, consistent output. The first practical result arrives right now in the form of video generation, and the early examples already feel like a quiet shift in how quickly ideas move from head to screen.

Gemini Omni Flash can create a short stop-motion sequence of amino acid chains twisting into alpha helices and beta sheets that is almost comforting to watch, with a quiet voiceover guiding the viewer through the process. The animation would appear quite smooth, as the model creates the scene using a snapshot and a few basic lines of instruction while retaining the original parts. Then it just inserts some audio, and the clip is properly synced.

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People who have been testing early versions of the model have been using it on everyday tasks that formerly required extensive professional software and hours of adjusting. They requested that a vacation clip be edited to remove the intrusive background checks and it was done soon away. They asked for a product shot with a slogan that looks exactly like the real thing, complete with shadows, and they got exactly what they wanted. They’ve even used technology to produce super-personalized clips where a digital version of themselves comes up on stage and accepts an award, or floats about near the moon looking just like them.

Of course, all of this is possible because the tech behind it all is actually set up properly. For once, it’s not treating audio as an afterthought, or becoming confused when images, text, and other data all contradict one other. Gemini Omni Flash is trained on all four data types at the same time, so it understands that a marble sliding down a track should follow gravity and that a harp string plucked by a leaf should produce the correct sound at the appropriate time. That shared understanding is what makes the result seem and sound so natural, even after numerous rounds of conversation-style editing.

So, the Gemini Omni Flash version is now available in the main Gemini app, the creative studio Flow, and YouTube Shorts. Clips start at roughly ten seconds long, which is ample time to cover the most of your normal social post or fast test. A more robust Pro model will be released later, if internal quality standards are met, and an API will be available in the coming weeks for all developers who wish to incorporate the technology into their own workflows.

The next steps on the roadmap include longer clips and new areas of innovation. The team wants to train the model to convert audio into still images and, who knows, maybe even extract soundtracks from mute footage. Each phase keeps the essential idea the same: feed the model what you have, tell it what you want to modify, and you’ll get something that feels thought out rather than merely pasted together.
[Source]

Mercedes-AMG is known for its performance sedans like the GT63 SE Performance that comes with a complex 4.0-liter V8 biturbo hybrid powertrain. Now, the company has come up with its most powerful vehicle ever, but took a completely different route to get there. The new GT 4-Door Coupé is an 1,153 hp, purely electric beast with an all-new thin and lightweight powertrain.

To build a vehicle that could take on Porsche’s electric Taycan, Mercedes-AMG came up with the 800-volt AMG.EA platform. It uses three new “axial-flux” motors that marry high-power with reduced weight and size. The front motor is just 3.5 inches thick but redlines at over 15,000 rpm and only kicks in for extra performance or regenerative braking. The two rear motors (each about 3.2 inches high) are married to a single-speed transmission and can hit just over 13,000 rpm. The entire powertrain weighs just 309 pounds. 

Mercedes-AMG

Those tiny motors, mated with the 106kWh battery, can pump out quite some power, though. The GT55 variant outputs a maximum of 805 hp and 1,328 lb-ft of torque, while the GT63 version produces 1,153 hp and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. That will power the GT63 from 0 to 60 mph in 2.0 seconds, beating Porsche’s 940 hp Taycan Turbo S by 0.3 seconds. Should you pine for a throaty ICE engine sound, the GT models can artificially emulate an AMG V8, including the gear changes. 

The GT 4-Door users a new type of battery, developed in collaboration with the company’s Formula 1 program. It uses very long (four+ inch) cylindrical cells that allow for a high energy density of 298Wh/kg, along with long life and fast charging performance Mercedes-AMG said. It also has a non-conductive oil cooling system designed to keep the cells at uniform temperatures.

Operating at 800 volts and up to 800 amps, the GT 4-Door can charge at over 600 kW, which would take it from 10 to 80 percent full in 11 minutes. Mercedes-AMG says the GT55 and GT63 models (which both use the same capacity battery) are rated at 370 to 470 miles on Europe’s WLTP cycle, equating to over 300 miles of EPA range. 

Mercedes-AMG

To accommodate all that horsepower, the GT 4-Door has multilink front and rear suspensions, with the standard air suspension bolstered by electronic dampers and AMG’s Active Ride Control. For everyday driving, the car will be slowed mainly by regenerative braking, but during more sporty maneuvers, the 5,400 pound vehicle can be hauled to a stop with carbon-ceramic disc brakes in front and rear steel rotor discs in the rear. 

Outside, the GT 4-Door has a curvy aerodynamic design with a 0.22 drag coefficient, featuring bulgy fenders, a panoramic glass roof and elegant strakes along the hood and side. It looks and is quite long, five inches more than the Taycan. Up front are running lights in the shape of Mercedes’ three-pointed star, along with a large grille which is mostly cosmetic but allows air to enter below, controlled by louvers, for battery cooling. The rear taillights (all six of them) also show Mercedes’ logo, just in case onlookers weren’t quite sure of the brand. 

Mercedes-AMG

The sporty interior features bolstered seats and a large central screen, along with a dedicated front passenger display. The battery configuration, along with the length, allows for plenty of passenger space. The driver can choose from no less than seven drive modes, nine traction control settings and a warm-up feature alerts the driver when the tires and motors are at the ideal temperature. There’s even a panel that delivers stats on your racetrack performance. 

The 2027 Mercedes-AMG GT55 4-Door Coupe will arrive later this year, while the higher-performance GT63 version will go on sale in 2027. Prices haven’t been revealed, but Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S can reach well over $200,000. Since the GT63 is likely to outperform it, you can guess it’ll be priced in that neighborhood as well. 

Questyle isn’t aiming low with the new M18i MAX. At $349 USD, this flagship mobile DAC and headphone amplifier targets listeners who expect more than convenience-grade audio. We’re looking at you, discerning audiophiles, music professionals, and mobile hi-fi users who actually read the spec sheet before surrendering the credit card.

Yes, even the Audio Science Review crowd. Still chasing that last decimal point of SINAD while the rest of us are listening to music. At some point, you have to step away from the measurements, come upstairs, and admit that enjoyment isn’t a graph. Momma called. Your TV dinner is ready.

The M18i MAX pairs Questyle’s patented Current Mode amplification with dual ESS ES9219Q DACs, Snapdragon Sound, and support for both USB DAC operation and lossless Bluetooth via aptX HD, LDAC, and LE Audio; all in a compact, premium design built to their usual level of quality at the factory in Shenzhen.

That also puts it on a very different path than Schiit’s new Vestri — the $99 Norse dongle DAC that basically says, “we don’t play that Schiit.” No screen. No Bluetooth. No wireless codecs. Just a stripped-down, wired-only approach that leans hard into simplicity and price. And to be fair, at $99, that’s kind of the point.

But in 2026, most people want options. Wired when it matters. Wireless when it’s convenient. High-quality codecs that don’t turn your library into sonic Bojangles. Questyle isn’t ignoring that reality — the M18i MAX is built around it.

What the Questyle M18i MAX Offers

The Questyle M18i MAX uses a dual ESS ES9219Q DAC architecture with Questyle’s TTA decoding design, paired with four groups of patented Current Mode amplification rated at an ultra-low 0.0002% THD+N. It supports both Bluetooth 5.4 and USB DAC operation, giving users the flexibility to listen wirelessly or plug in directly when maximum signal integrity matters. It supports up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM and DSD256, which should cover 99% of the music that you might own or stream at this juncture.

Wireless support includes Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, LDAC, and LE Audio, which gives the M18i MAX broader codec support than many mobile DAC amps in this category. On the output side, it includes both 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone connections, along with manual gain adjustment for better control with different IEMs and headphones.

Questyle also adds an intelligent battery management system with up to 12 hours of wireless playback, Apple MFi certification for smoother iPhone and iPad compatibility, an OLED display, and a premium CNC anodized aluminum chassis. In other words, this is not a bare bones dongle. It is a full featured portable DAC and headphone amplifier for listeners who want wired performance, wireless flexibility, and actual control in one pocketable device.

Questyle M18i MAX vs. M18i: What Changed and What We Still Don’t Know

Based on the currently available information, the M18i MAX looks more like an evolution of the original Questyle M18i than a complete redesign. A lot of the core DNA appears intact: dual ESS ES9219Q DACs, Questyle’s Current Mode amplification, Bluetooth plus USB DAC operation, balanced and single ended outputs, OLED display, and the same general “dongle that refuses to behave like a dongle” philosophy.

What does appear different so far is the positioning and feature refinement. Questyle is clearly leaning harder into the “flagship mobile DAC and headphone amplifier” language this time around, and the M18i MAX seems designed to address some of the criticisms surrounding the original M18i.

The biggest potential improvement is battery life. The original M18i earned praise for its sound quality, but eCoustics Headphone Editor Will Jennings and some users noted the relatively small 500mAh battery and limited runtime. In heavier use, especially over LDAC or the balanced output, real world playback could drop to roughly three hours.

The M18i MAX now claims up to 12 hours of wireless playback with a new intelligent battery management system. If that number holds up in real world use, that is not a small tweak. That changes the product from “desktop dongle with Bluetooth” into something people might actually use on flights longer than a Marvel movie.

Bluetooth support also seems more mature this time around. The original M18i already supported aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and LE Audio, but the M18i MAX branding and Snapdragon Sound emphasis suggest Questyle may have refined stability, latency, or wireless performance further. What we do not know yet is whether wireless output power has improved. As our review noted, the original M18i delivered its strongest performance in wired mode.

Technical Specifications

• Dual ESS ES9219Q DAC architecture with Questyle TTA (Three-Tier Architecture) decoding
• 4 groups of patented Current Mode amplification delivering ultra-low 0.0002% THD+N
• 1800mAh battery with Fast charging
• 12 hours of wireless playback
• Bluetooth 5.4 + USB DAC dual-mode operation
• TTA 3-stage amplification architecture
• OLED display and premium CNC anodized aluminum chassis
• 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs with manual gain adjustment
• Compatible codecs: SBC/aptX/aptX HD/aptX Adaptive/LDAC/LE Audio
• Apple MFi certification for seamless iPhone and iPad compatibility
• Size: 82 x 53 x 15 mm
• Weight: 100g

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the M18i MAX.

We do not yet know:

• Actual output power ratings into common loads like 32Ω, 150Ω, or 300Ω
• Whether wired mode performance has improved over the original
• Whether battery bypass or battery protection features were added
• If thermal performance changed
• Whether Questyle added DSP, EQ, filters, or app support
• If gaming console compatibility has improved
• Whether the OLED interface offers more functionality or customization
• Whether the Bluetooth antenna and reception performance were upgraded
• If the MAX uses revised amplification modules or simply retuned existing CMA stages

And perhaps most importantly for the measurement crowd currently polishing their oscilloscopes in the basement: we do not know how much of the M18i MAX improvement is measurable versus audible. Questyle products have historically leaned into musicality, dynamics, and current mode implementation rather than chasing spec sheet theater alone. That tends to annoy people who listen to AP analyzer screenshots more than albums. Your dinner is getting cold.

The Bottom Line

The Questyle M18i MAX looks like a meaningful step forward because it keeps the original M18i formula intact while addressing the one issue that mattered most: battery life. What makes M18I MAX unique is the combination of wired DAC performance and serious wireless flexibility in one compact device. This is not a $99 plug in dongle with a very focused mission. The M18i MAX is for people who want one portable solution for laptops, phones, tablets, IEMs, and easier to drive headphones without giving up codec support or manual control.

What we still need to know matters. Questyle has not provided enough information yet on actual output power, thermal behavior, app support, EQ or filter options, wireless output performance, or whether the amplification section has been meaningfully revised beyond the original M18i. Until we test it, the “MAX” part remains a promise, not a verdict.

This is for mobile audiophiles, music professionals, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants a premium pocket DAC amp that works both wired and wirelessly. It is not for buyers who only need a simple dongle, refuse Bluetooth, or want desktop class power in their pocket. The M18i MAX looks far more complete than the original, but Questyle still has to prove that the longer battery life and updated feature set translate into better real world use.

Where to buy: $349, available May 20, 2026.

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Google’s smartwatch operating system took a back seat at I/O this year, and its lack of prominence reveals where AI is heading next: your body.

Last year, Wear OS 6 debuted a redesigned interface, smoother animations, battery optimizations and, most importantly, Gemini on the wrist. The company framed smartwatches as the next major surface for AI, with Wear OS positioned as a central part of Android’s future. 

Turns out this may have marked the beginning of a larger shift. 

This year, Wear OS 7 got little more than a passing mention. Instead, Google I/O focused heavily on AI health tools, Gemini integrations, XR glasses and supporting hardware like the screenless Fitbit Air, a $100 band with no display, designed primarily as a gateway into Google’s health ecosystem. The redesigned Fitbit app has now become the Google Health hub, which centers around an AI health coach/concierge (with a $10 per month Premium subscription) that can give personalized training recommendations and surface broader health trends.  

Wear OS 7 updates, as described in an official blog post, focus mostly on minor tweaks under the hood: battery life improvements (10% over Wear OS 6), a shift from full-screen tiles to smaller Android-style widgets, refreshed Live Update notifications with dynamic information, a standardized universal workout-tracking experience for exercise apps and expanded Gemini Intelligence for “select” watches. This includes a new AppFunctions API that lets developers tie their apps into Gemini for task automation. Developers can now test features in the Wear OS 7 Canary emulator, based on Android 17. A broader consumer rollout is expected later this year. 

That shift signals where Google sees hardware heading overall, with wearables taking a supporting role in Google’s main AI story. Phones, watches, glasses and earbuds are starting to feel secondary to the AI layer sitting on top of them. Hardware will still be important, but mostly because it gives Gemini more context, more sensors and more access to your life (and body). Google’s new AI health coach can now analyze biometric trends and even medical records to generate personalized recommendations. 

Google isn’t alone in this broader industry trend. Apple is leaning on Google’s Gemini to power a revamped Siri, while also expanding its Apple Intelligence to watchOS on the Apple Watch. Companies like Whoop and Oura are building similar AI-driven coaching systems. Across the industry, hardware is increasingly presented as a delivery mechanism for AI services rather than the main product itself.

But before this AI-driven health future becomes reality, companies like Google will need to convince their customers that their most sensitive data is actually safe.

Google says its health features are designed with user privacy controls in mind, but the company hasn’t yet fully outlined how biometric and medical record data will be processed across Gemini-powered experiences.

Health data has a long history of being exposed, shared or sold, and even strong privacy promises have failed before. Anonymized health data can still be traced back to a specific person. Google will likely face an uphill climb to entice people to hand over access to their medical records. 

Wear OS 7 is now available through the Canary Emulator for developers, giving app makers early access to new APIs and compatibility testing ahead of launch. Google says the broader Wear OS 7 rollout will begin later this year (no specific watch models have been listed yet), with some Gemini Intelligence features arriving independently on supported hardware based on region, manufacturer and account eligibility.

Google is completely revamping its search experience, and that doesn’t stop at YouTube. Like the rest of Google, YouTube’s search bar is getting infused with AI tools like “Ask YouTube,” a feature that is supposed to give users a more sophisticated search experience.

“With Ask YouTube, you can ask more complex search queries, such as wanting tips on how to teach your kid to ride a bike, or finding creator reviews of cozy games to play before bedtime,” the company explained. “You can even ask follow-up questions to continue refining what you’re looking for.”

YouTube will compile both Shorts and long-form videos and generate a response.

Premium subscribers in the U.S. on desktop can start using this feature now through YouTube’s optional Premium offerings to test new tools.

The company also announced that it is adding Gemini Omni, Google’s new AI video model, to YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app.

“Remixing with Omni delivers a fresh way for users to create and build on each other’s imagination,” YouTube wrote in a press release. “The model better understands user intent creating more consistent and meaningful storytelling while also handling complex video and audio adjustments behind the scenes.”

Other companies like Meta and OpenAI have seen mixed reception when pushing for AI use in Shorts. OpenAI even sunsetted its social app Sora, where users could post and share their AI-generated clips. But YouTube seems to be rolling this out in a manner that feels a bit less front and center.

YouTube is also expanding its likeness-detection tool to creators 18 and older, which is supposed to help prevent creators from being deepfaked in other people’s AI content. If a creator sees themselves misrepresented in AI videos, they can request that the video be removed. Since this feature is only now expanding more broadly, it remains to be seen how effective it is.

Vibe coding is great for the App Store economy, but Apple is still wary about its use without safeguards in place. It’s a fine balance that’s going to be hard to maintain.

The concept of vibe coding has risen in tandem with AI chatbots in recent years. Infiltrating many areas of the development process, it has turned the process of making an app into child’s play.

However, while it has its benefits and issues, there are also some areas that Apple is really worried about. Stuff that it is really keen to avoid becoming a serious problem in the future.

It’s something that Apple really wants to sort out now before it becomes a real issue.

What is vibe coding?

Vibe Coding, simply put, is the idea of making an AI chatbot create code for you. At its minimalist level, you tell a chatbot to make something, potentially with some basic specifications or guidance to follow, and it produces the app on its own.

It could be as simple a prompt as “Make me a driving game” or “Create an egg timer that can be adjusted to various durations, and with varying alarm sounds.”

The idea is one that makes it extremely easy for anyone to make an app that they want to use. It takes away the harder elements of learning how to code, how to structure a program, or even knowing how to properly use a development environment like Xcode.

Connect ChatGPT to Xcode and you can ask the AI chatbot to help you make apps.

You could call it a natural but extreme extension of existing code-assistance tools developers already have access to for their work. A developer writing some script can be offered a ready-made element to complete the code, which can save them precious seconds of time.

Vibe coding goes multiple stages further, as you are effectively handing over the majority of the initiative over to an AI. It will follow whatever coding practices it has picked up when scouring the Internet, and produce an app in its own way, fulfilling your prompt.

In some cases, users simply ask for an app to be made and then use the app without examining code or questioning any element. They may give some feedback about a feature, such as asking for changes in font size or color, but the users may not even care about what processes have been undertaken.

The whole concept of telling an AI chatbot what to do goes beyond coding. You can also ask them to create designs and other things in apps, albeit with varying degrees of success.

When it comes to whether vibe coding is a good thing to allow or not, you have to look at it from two angles, as Apple currently does. There’s the case for it being used to make apps, but then there’s the issue of allowing vibe coding to occur beyond the App Store.

Vibe coding as an assistant

One of the areas that is completely fine to Apple is vibe coding outside of the App Store. Making apps to run on a Mac using an AI agent is perfectly fine to Apple.

Indeed, it even encourages it.

For quite some time, you could connect your choice of AI tool to a development environment to make edits to code. With increased integration, the developer environment can be used to the fullest extent by the AI agent, opening the door to full-blown project creation.

This was something that Apple introduced in Xcode 26.3. By enabling more access for AI services, it allowed for the creation of complete apps that followed Apple’s developer guidelines.

This can be a shockingly fast process too. As I found out in February connecting ChatGPT to Xcode, I was able to build a simple Pomodoro timer app and see it working on the Mac screen within two minutes.

A few button presses later, and I saw the exact same app working on a connected iPhone.

Vibe-coding a Pomodoro app within minutes using a simple prompt in Xcode.

This entire process democratizes app development, since you don’t need to know how to use Swift to create an app for your iPhone anymore. If you can describe it well enough to be understood by the AI, and if you don’t care too much about the exact result you get, the app will be usable enough.

Of course, you don’t have to settle for what the AI produces.

AppleInsider readers will be familiar with my development of a game, with the help of ChatGPT in Xcode. Rather than go full-on with vibe coding, I instead took the more careful route of making small and purposeful changes over time.

Every request was considered carefully, with the results checked thoroughly and corrected if needed before moving on. Less vibe coding, more being a project manager in control of a virtual programmer who knows everything about the topic.

It’s entirely possible that someone can vibe code the same game without too much trouble. But at the same time, they won’t know what will happen if something goes wrong and needs to be fixed.

They also won’t necessarily have a result that matches their vision.

The same Pomodoro app on an iPhone, minutes later.

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A vibe coder may want to include a feature in their app that they saw elsewhere, and simply ask the AI to do it. But, unless you know exactly how that feature operates and any other underlying elements the other app’s developer took into account, and somehow explain that to the AI perfectly, it won’t be a direct copy.

Sometimes, it’s the execution that actually matters.

With the Xcode integration enhancements, it’s safe to say that Apple is fine with people doing vibe coding in this way. Indeed, it’s something that has helped send a surge of apps through to the App Store review submissions process.

For Apple, vibe coding means more apps in the App Store, and more opportunities to earn from it.

At least, this sort of vibe coding is the version it’s fine with.

Beyond the App Store

The other kind of vibe coding that Apple has to deal with is the version that happens on an iPhone or iPad. This one is a problem because it’s something Apple can’t directly control.

Apple has consistently prevented anyone from being able to compile apps for the iPhone and iPad on the actual hardware. Sure, there’s some coding capability in Swift Playground, but that is a carefully managed experience, and you can’t create a separate standalone app.

This is not a technical limitation of the hardware, as an iPhone or iPad is a computer in its own right and easily capable. But it is a limitation of permissions for a few good reasons.

The App Store Review Guidelines, which app developers must follow, have rules preventing anyone from compiling code. That is, you can’t submit an app that generates code that can then run on the same iPhone or iPad as an app in its own right.

The rules make sense if you consider why the App Store Review Guidelines exist. One of the reasons is to maintain security and privacy, which it does so by checking apps that are submitted to the App Store for potential dangers.

The App Store Review process does accept vibe-coded apps.

For an app capable of coding and compilation, that means it’s possible for apps to be produced beyond the reach of the App Store Review Guidelines. Apple simply cannot check these generated-on-device apps at all.

The worst-case scenario is for someone to make malware on the iPhone or iPad directly, then use it to cause havoc.

With the capabilities of vibe coding as they are, if there are no guardrails in place, a user could create a prompt to make that hazardous software, with no oversight or protections in place.

There is also the argument that Apple would lose potential sales due to users making their own apps. But, in the face of possible malware generation and the potential harm to both the user’s private data and those of other victims, it’s not the one people should be worried about.

Of course, there are ways to enable vibe coding without running afoul of Apple’s guidelines.

For a start, the compilation could happen off-platform. Think of someone making a web app that is hosted on a server elsewhere, but using an iPhone app as a means to design it.

With the more recent development of AI chatbot services where the AI controls a user’s computer elsewhere based on prompts from a mobile app, it’s the same sort of remote-compilation workaround.

Vibe-coding by telling an AI prompt on your iPhone to build something on your Mac isn’t against Apple’s App Store’s rules.

Replit was hit by Apple’s strict rules, but it fixed things and started getting updated again.

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A timely example is Apple’s handling of Replit, which saw updates to the app being declined in January. Apple pushed back because it wasn’t happy with users being able to preview AI-built apps on the iPhone, which goes against rules about dynamically executed code.

In May, Replit made a number of changes to appease Apple and allow the app to be updated. The two “worked things out” without there being any real explanation of what changed, but it probably involved changes to that preview mechanism.

Right, but for how much longer?

Apple is, so far, handling the issue of vibe coding pretty well. Really, it’s two issues, and it has gone with the right answer for each one.

Using vibe coding for apps entering the App Store is a completely natural and expected use of the technology. For Apple, the only real downsides are dealing with a greater influx of apps to check and the possibility of the app flood making the market tougher for developers to sell their apps.

These are issues that can be solved by coming up with new ways to process higher numbers of apps, and to aid users in discovering the best apps for their particular needs.

The other side of the equation, the whole business of making apps on an iPhone that aren’t checkable by Apple’s workforce, is also being handled appropriately right now.

Apple is the judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to the App Store’s vibe coding apps.

Apple simply cannot check that a vibe-coded app theoretically running on the iPhone it was created on is actually safe. There are echoes of the whole third-party app storefront arguments when it comes to safety.

Again, I feel Apple is doing the right thing here. It doesn’t want an uncheckable piece of world-destroying malware to be made on an iPhone.

It could be proposed to Apple that it handles apps on an iPhone in the same way as on Mac. A platform that has to deal with apps downloaded from the Internet thanks to a notarization process where Apple checks the app before it becomes downloadable.

There’s more to the issue than that, but macOS proves that it can be done with relative success.

The real problem comes when the major AI players step in and demand that Apple allow for vibe-coded apps to be made and used on the same iPhone.

Despite protestations, Apple will eventually have to decide whether to allow them and deal with the safety and privacy issues, or risk losing out by angering OpenAI, Anthropic, and others.

It’s a problem Apple will have to face and solve at some point down the road. With the rate of change in the AI field, that time could come sooner than anyone thinks.

Jamo isn’t easing back into the market. It’s making noise on multiple fronts ahead of High-End Vienna 2026. After being dropped by Voxx International in 2024 and re-emerging under Cinemaster and Rayleigh Lab, the Danish brand has already returned with the Concert Legacy and Concert Element speaker lines for mid to high-end two-channel and home theater buyers. Now it is moving into a far more crowded Bluetooth speaker category with the new HYG series.

Positioned as a premium lifestyle range built around the Danish concept of hygge, which focuses on comfort, warmth, and connection, the HYG lineup includes three models: Flex, Reflect, and Flow. Each is designed for a different use case, including indoor listening, outdoor spaces, and portable playback. Jamo is not just trying to revive its legacy. It is trying to prove it still belongs in the conversation.

HYG Flex 

The HYG Flex sits at the top of Jamo’s new Bluetooth speaker lineup. It is aimed at listeners who want bigger sound from a portable speaker that still looks like it belongs in a living room, terrace, or outdoor space instead of a dorm-room crime scene.

The cylindrical cabinet is wrapped in soft fabric and designed for easy placement around the home. Inside, dual angled tweeters and a dedicated 5-inch woofer are intended to deliver wider dispersion, stronger bass, and greater scale than the smaller HYG models. Auracast support allows compatible Jamo speakers to connect for multi-speaker playback or stereo pairing, while the built-in ambient base light adds a softer visual touch for evening listening.

HYG Reflect

The HYG Reflect is Jamo’s bedside-focused Bluetooth speaker, designed for listeners who want music, light, and utility in one compact package. The built-in clock makes its intended location rather obvious, and the design leans into calm rather than flashing lights and “party mode” nonsense.

Reflect combines warm ambient lighting, wireless charging, and room-aware audio tuning that adjusts playback based on where the speaker is placed relative to the listener. It is the most lifestyle-focused model in the HYG lineup, built for bedrooms, nightstands, and smaller spaces where a speaker needs to sound good without looking like it escaped from a gaming desk.

The HYG Reflect also includes built-in ambient soundscapes inspired by Scandinavian nature, giving it a relaxation angle beyond basic Bluetooth playback. That makes sense for a bedside speaker, where blasting Slayer at 6:45 a.m. is technically possible but probably not the brand promise.

Two passive radiators and multi-stage tuning are designed to give the Reflect stronger low-frequency output than its compact size might suggest, while the integrated alarm and sleep timer keep the setup simple. The HYG Reflect is not a typical clock radio. It is Jamo’s attempt to make the bedside speaker feel more useful, calmer, and a lot less disposable.

HYG Flow 

HYG Flow is designed primarily for outdoor spaces and road trips. Compact, portable, and IPX7 waterproof-rated, the HYG Flow combines Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics with durable materials and extended battery life. The HYG Flow is designed around portability and simplicity, with a braided handle and nano-coated water-resistant fabric. 

Inside, the HYG Flow uses dual full-range drivers and two passive radiators to deliver balanced stereo sound from a compact portable design. Jamo has tuned it for vocal clarity and longer listening sessions, making it a strong fit for audiobooks, podcasts, radio, and background music that does not punish your ears after 30 minutes.

With up to 27 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 6.0, and Auracast support, the Flow is the most portable member of the HYG lineup and one of the more feature-complete options in Jamo’s new lifestyle range.

JAMO HYG Comparison

The Bottom Line 

Jamo’s HYG line is less about one Bluetooth speaker in three sizes and more about three lifestyle products with different jobs. Flex is the larger portable option for room-filling sound, Reflect is the bedside model with a clock, ambient lighting, wireless charging, alarm, sleep timer, and relaxation soundscapes, while Flow is the grab-and-go speaker with up to 27 hours of playback. That gives the lineup a clearer identity than the usual “small, medium, large” Bluetooth speaker playbook.

The missing pieces matter. There is no Wi-Fi, no app control, and no listed support for LDAC or aptX Lossless, which limits flexibility versus Sonos, JBL, Bose, and other established players. But with pricing from $129 to $279, the HYG series is aimed at listeners who want simple Bluetooth speakers with Scandinavian design, Auracast on select models, and easy placement around the home, garden, bedroom, or bag. Sonos does not need to panic. But Jamo has at least found a sensible way back into the conversation.

Price & Availability

The Jamo HYG Series Bluetooth Speakers will be available globally starting July 2026 through Authorized Dealers at the following prices:

Pro Tip: The Jamo HYG series will be previewed at High End Vienna from June 4 – 7, 2026

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from the buh-bye dept

Senator Bill Cassidy just lost his campaign for reelection to his Senate seat in Louisiana. With that, his career in federal government is likely over. It’s no secret as to why this happened. In early 2021, Cassidy suffered from a spasm of patriotism and voted to convict Donald Trump during his impeachment trial after the latter spurred on an attempted insurrection in the capitol that left several people dead, scores injured, and became the most famous stain on American democracy since the Bill Clinton era. Trump turned his retribution cannons on Cassidy, pumped the primary cycle full of vitriol for Cassidy, and managed to shove him from office.

But here’s the thing: fuck Bill Cassidy.

In the years since Trump’s second impeachment trial, Cassidy did his absolute best to throw as much unrequited love at Donald Trump as he possibly could. The moment the political realities became evident, Cassidy’s principles melted away. He spoke glowingly of Trump in his second term. He touted how well he and Trump work together, even as he acknowledged that Trump hates him. He was a reliable pro-Trump vote on nearly everything.

And he was the most important vote in confirming RFK Jr. to his current role as Secretary of HHS. And given how his vote to confirm Kennedy gave his colleagues cover to do so means that he may be the man most singularly responsible for Kennedy’s appointment other than Donald Trump.

Bill Cassidy is more at fault, because he actually knows better. RFK Jr. is an idiot with a brainworm, whereas Bill Cassidy is a doctor. A real doctor who worked in a charity hospital for the uninsured in Louisiana and, to his own testimony, has seen what happens when children don’t get vaccinated. He knew better, and yet he still provided the deciding vote to confirm Kennedy, almost definitely because he saw it as a way back into Trump’s good graces. Clearly, that didn’t happen.

And while he swore up and down that he had given Kennedy a real good talking-to and got all of the assurances that he would not screw with vaccines or change the CDC’s page stating that vaccines do not cause autism, that did not happen either.

He fucked us all to save his own skin, and ended up bloody and skinless anyway. He claimed it would be okay because of said “assurances” and because of his promise to monitor everything Kennedy did.

Monitor Kennedy he did, perhaps, but it certainly didn’t go beyond that. Save for a few contentious congressional hearings and Cassidy occasionally complaining to local news media about Kennedy’s actions at HHS, the man simply didn’t do anything to try to fix the mess he had a heavy hand in creating. He didn’t sign up to help the impeachment effort against Kennedy. He didn’t call for any new legislation to curb the chaos that is happening at HHS and its child agencies right now. He even had kind words to say about Kennedy’s approach to processed foods in the past few weeks.

Taking a moral stand is not a one-time project. Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump in 2021 was the right vote. Nearly everything he’s done since negates that moral stance, as he engaged in the most pathetic forms of boot-licking in an attempt to save his political career.

It didn’t work. Trump doesn’t work that way. Neither does Kennedy. Once you’re on the enemies hit list, you’re never coming off. The Senate will probably be worse for losing Cassidy generally. The Senate Health Committee certainly will be. And that’s too bad.

But fuck Bill Cassidy for foisting RFK Jr. as HHS boss on this country.

Filed Under: bill cassidy, donald trump, fuck that guy, rfk jr.