📱Weekly Download #111: Apple just killed the iPhone 18 (2026 buyers panic)

Hey , it’s Sunday, January 4.

Here's what we're covering this week:

• Apple's skipping the iPhone 18 in 2026 (upgrade chaos incoming)

• AI-powered pen from OpenAI and Jony Ive (ChatGPT meets handwriting)

• Pebble's smartwatch resurrection with 2-week battery life

• Quick Roku cleanup that'll save your sanity

Alright, and we're off!

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📝 How-To

Make your Roku less annoying in 5 minutes

Roku’s great until the home screen turns into Times Square and every app wants your attention. Here’s a quick tune‑up you can run this weekend.

Clean up your home screen

• From the left sidebar, go to Settings > Home screen to control what shows up on the main grid.​​

• Hide stuff you never use (Live TV, What to Watch, Featured Free, etc.) so you only see your apps and inputs.​​

• To move apps, highlight a channel tile, press the * button, choose Move channel, and park your must‑use apps in the first row.​

Fix the volume jumps

• On most Roku models, you can turn on Volume leveling so ads and channel changes don’t blow your eardrums.​

• While something is playing, press the * button, go to Sound settings, and turn on Leveling (or Night mode if you’re watching while everyone’s asleep).​

Use the remote like a power tool

• If you have a Roku voice remote, hold the mic button and say things like “Open Netflix” or “Pause” instead of digging through menus.​

• Install the Roku mobile app and use Private Listening so the TV audio plays through your phone and headphones instead of the speakers.​

Make it look like your TV

• Head to Settings > Themes > Theme packs to swap wallpapers and overall look; Roku’s own “Roku City” theme is a nice, minimal default.​

• You can also change screensavers and declutter the extra recommendation rows for a calmer “just apps” home screen..

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 📚 Tech Terms Worth Knowing

Multimodal AI
(noun)

Definition: Artificial intelligence systems capable of processing and integrating multiple types of data simultaneously—such as text, images, audio, and video

Usage: "The multimodal AI analyzed the product photo, read the accompanying description, and listened to customer feedback audio to generate a comprehensive quality report."

📰 The Big One

No standard iPhone 18 this fall?!

Apple is skipping the standard iPhone 18 in 2026 and shifting to a staggered launch strategy that puts Pro and foldable models in the spotlight first, with the base iPhone 18 now pushed to spring 2027.

What’s happening: Apple is not expected to ship a standard iPhone 18 in 2026, breaking from the annual refresh cycle for its mainstream iPhone line.

​New cadence: Instead of dropping all core models in September, Apple is moving toward split launches, with premium devices arriving in the fall and cheaper “standard” models following later.

Fall 2026 lineup: Rumors point to iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first foldable iPhone taking the usual fall spotlight.

Spring 2027 wave: The regular iPhone 18 is now expected to land in spring 2027, alongside an iPhone 18e and a second‑gen iPhone Air as part of a lower‑cost refresh event.

Why It Matters

• ​Less self‑cannibalization: Staggering launches gives each model more time in the spotlight and reduces the risk that new devices immediately eat into each other’s sales.

• ​Consumer impact: Shoppers who usually upgrade to the base model may be nudged toward Pro or older discounted models during the gap before the standard iPhone 18 arrives.

Bottom Line: If you’re eyeing a “regular” upgrade, plan around a longer iPhone 17 run—or be ready to jump Pro or wait until that spring 2027 standard iPhone 18 window [LINK].

⚡ Fast Five

1.) OpenAl developing Al-powered pen for 2026 launch
The Jony Ive-designed device will transcribe handwritten notes to ChatGPT and enable voice communication. [LINK]

2.) More kids than ever will be banned from social media this year
Governments globally are implementing or planning strict social media bans for minors. [LINK]

3.) Belkin unveils wireless HDMI adapter with 131-foot range
The $149.99 ConnectAir uses peer-to-peer connection for 1080p screen sharing without Wi-Fi, launching in Q1 2026. [LINK]

4.) Amazon customers receive checks from $2.5B Prime settlement
Amazon customers are receiving checks and refunds this month following the company's landmark $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC [LINK].

5.) Motorola to unveil first book-style foldable on Jan. 6:
The device marks Motorola's expansion beyond its Razr clamshell series and may feature a smaller cover screen [LINK].

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💾 Extra Bytes

Grok chatbot’s safety fails, releases explicit images of minors [LINK]

Samsung’s new Freestyle+ projector uses AI to light up your wall [LINK]

Review roundup: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold [LINK]

PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox might be late, and AI is to blame [LINK]

OpenAI’s new audio device aims to reduce screen time soon [LINK]

Meta buys another AI startup and promises to cut all ties with China [LINK]

The Government may have hacked your iPhone [LINK]

Gmail finally lets you fix that cringey old email address [LINK]

Amazon turns Alexa into an actual personal assistant [LINK]

📱 Gear of the Week

Pebble Round 2

Pebble’s classic round smartwatch just got a full reboot: same super‑slim vibe, way smarter guts. Think 1.3-inch edge‑to‑edge color e‑paper display, stainless steel body, and a ridiculous 10–14 days of battery on a single charge

What’s cool:

• Actually lasts: Up to two weeks of always‑on notifications, sleep, and step tracking instead of dying every other day.​

• Looks like a real watch: 8.1mm thin, bezel‑free round face, and comes in matte black, silver, or rose gold with 14mm or 20mm bands.​

• Stays simple on purpose: Runs Pebble OS with hundreds of watch faces and apps, but skips heavy fitness sensors and app bloat.​

Pricing: $199, preorders open now, shipping in May

The bottom line: If you miss old‑school Pebble charm but want modern battery life and a cleaner design, the Round 2 is the no‑drama smartwatch to beat [LINK]

⚙️ Tools

FunKey: Satisfying mechanical keys + mouse click sounds to your Mac [LINK]

OptiVault: Al financial advisor that optimizes your money and budget [LINK]

Descript: AI-powered video editing [LINK]

Refreshme: The all-in-one personal financial management tool. [LINK]

Thanks for reading!

Alright! Thanks for getting all the way to the end. Until next week…….

-Kevin

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