Weekly Download #99 (yes, again)

Hey , it’s Monday, September 15,

Sorry for the delay on this, but things got a bit wild and I wasn’t able to finish in time. Rest assured, I have something to make up for it. But first, here’s what we have going on this week:

This week features Apple's release of iOS 26 and the iPhone 17 series highlight advancements in, well, iPhones. And then of course, Google facing legal challenges and OpenAI navigating ethical concerns. Water is also wet.

Alright, remember what I said what\ would make up for it? Keep on reading, it’s a good one. Alright, and we’re off!

Partner Message

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🤑 GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the launch of the iPhone 17, we're excited to announce a giveaway of a brand new iPhone 17!

But before you get too excited, we're only giving away one, and it's the base model. If you were hoping for the iPhone 17 Max Pro, the $2,000 version, sorry, that's not happening.

We're covering the cost ourselves to give you a new iPhone. So, if you see an ad in our newsletter or on our website (KnowTechie.com), please click it and learn more about the advertiser supporting us and the rest of the staff [LINK].

📝 HOW-TO

iOS 26 Is Here – How To Install it On Your iPhone

Apple just dropped iOS 26, and it's a game-changer!

The new Liquid Glass UI is now live on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, bringing a sleek, consistent look across all your devices.

This update is available globally, and you can expect it to land around 1 PM ET. Before you update, make sure to back up your iPhone

To install, just head to

Settings > General > Software Update.

Got an older iPhone? Check if your device is compatible - iPhone 11 and newer models are in luck! But if you're rocking an older model, you might miss out on some of the AI-powered features.

What's your favorite new feature in iOS 26?

⚡ Fast Five

1. Apple's Top AI Executive Jumps Ship
   Apple just lost another major AI player as Robby Walker, a key executive behind Siri's improvements, leaves for unknown reasons. The departure adds to worries about Apple's pace in the AI race. [LINK]

2. Plex Users Forced to Reset Passwords After Data Breach
   Media server fans got a scare as Plex announced hackers grabbed some user data. Bank info is still safe, but everyone has to update their passwords ASAP. [LINK]

3.  OpenAI, Google Compete to Power Your iPhone's Smart Features
   A battle is heating up over who gets to run AI on iPhones. Apple quietly integrates both ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, letting your phone choose the smartest answers on the fly. [LINK]

4. Nintendo Wins $2 Million in Lawsuit Against Switch Modder
   Nintendo just took a big legal win, shutting down a high-profile Switch modder and forcing a huge payout. The crackdown sends a warning to other hardware tinkerers. [LINK]

5. Spotify Rolls Out Mood-Based Smart Filters
   No more endless playlist scrolling! Spotify’s new feature lets you sort your songs by moods like “workout” or “chill” at the touch of a button. [LINK]

📩 A Newsletter Worth Reading

Context Collapse
(noun)

Definition: The blending of professional, personal, and public lives on tech platforms—think your boss, friends, and followers seeing the same post.

Why it matters: Context collapse can lead to miscommunication, over-sharing, and the feeling that you have to “perform” different versions of yourself at once online.

Usage: "Posting on LinkedIn gave Kai a serious case of context collapse—her coworkers and her college friends all saw her startup meme."

📰 The Big One

iPhone 17 Drops With a Bang (But, Let’s Be Real, It’s Apple—So Hold the Fireworks)

The iPhone 17 landed this week and, believe it or not, Apple actually did more than shuffle the camera island and recycle last year’s paint.

Every iPhone 17 now gets that high-refresh-rate screen Android folks have been lording over iPhone stans for years, and base storage isn’t an embarrassing 128GB anymore.

The Pro and Pro Max landed with a three-lens, three-ridiculous-name camera system built for “pros.” The selfie cam? Allegedly “Center Stage.”

But let’s not pretend the real headline isn’t the iPhone Air—Apple’s thinnest, lightest, and most flex-worthy slab of glass yet. More on that disaster-waiting-to-happen below.

Takeaway: Apple may have finally delivered an iPhone that feels “new” without needing microscope-level scrutiny, but remember: This is Cupertino. You’ll need a second mortgage if you want a charging brick, and a third if you want a case that actually fits. [iPhone 17 LINK] [iPhone 17 Pro and Max LINK]

PARTNER MESSAGE

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• The biggest blockers slowing others down—and how to avoid them

• A 2025 action plan to upgrade your own AI strategy

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Learn what’s working now, and what’s next.

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💾 Extra Bytes

Adobe released a free beta of Photoshop for Android [LINK]

Snapchat app is now available on Apple Watch [LINK]

Court rejects Apple’s request to delay App Store changes [LINK]

Reddit is suing Anthropic for allegedly using its data to train AI [LINK]

Google Photos pauses AI-based image search feature [LINK]

DeepSeek accused of using Google Gemini to train new AI model [LINK]

Google Wallet parts ways with PayPal [LINK]

📱 Gear of the Week

iPhone Air: Because You Can’t Flex a Flip Phone on TikTok Anymore

Apple replaced "Plus" with "Air," and you know what? This device is incredibly thin, almost like it could disappear into thin air (well, not really, but you get where I’m going with this). At 6.5 inches, it feels more like a slim metal bookmark than a phone.

There's just one camera (because who needs different angles, right?), all SIM cards are eSIM, and if you want to keep more than three vacation photos, you'll need to buy extra storage and keep subscribing.

Apple claims their product is "titanium strong," but we'll have to wait for YouTubers to test how tough it really is. Regarding battery life, Apple says it lasts all day, but we've heard similar promises before.

Buy it if:

• You crave attention.

• You love answering “Wait, is that really a phone?”

• You feel nostalgia for the iPod Nano’s silhouette frame.

Otherwise, stay tuned until Apple releases an “Air Pro Max Ultra.” [LINK]

⚙️ Tools

Hyperfeed.ai: Build easy-to-use workflows using the language you speak everyday [LINK].

Probz AI: Create internal tools without coding [LINK]

CrePal: AI-Powered Video Production Goes Fully Autonomous [LINK]

Retrotype: It’s a virtual typewriter. That’s the bit [LINK]

Thanks for reading!

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

-Kevin

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