Tech news on Saturday, September 26, 2026 is led by a federal appeals court decision. It upheld the Pentagon’s decision to label Anthropic a supply chain risk, and Claude stays barred inside the Pentagon for now. A New Mexico jury also found that Meta misled residents about data privacy.
Table of Contents
The rest of this tech news roundup covers new camera apps for the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture, code leaks that point to a new HomePod mini, iPad mini 8 and Apple TV 4K, a video of the iPhone Duo in left-handed use, and how to opt out of Meta’s smart glasses AI data setting. We also have unconfirmed reports about Meta’s Muse AI agent and a comparison of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: Appeals court upholds the Pentagon’s supply chain risk label on Anthropic
- AI Tools: Meta’s Muse agent is reportedly doing well, but the numbers are unconfirmed
- Fitness & Health Tech: Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs. Series 12: what actually differs
Tech & Apps
Appeals court upholds the Pentagon’s supply chain risk label on Anthropic
A federal appeals court sided with the Pentagon in its dispute with Anthropic, upholding the supply chain risk designation, according to Ars Technica. The decision was 2-1, and CNBC reports that the court found the Pentagon had ample support for its finding. Ars Technica says the judges wrote that overly constrained AI models could cause military operations to fail. One judge dissented.
New Mexico jury finds Meta misled residents about data privacy
A New Mexico jury ruled that Meta misled state residents about data privacy, Engadget reports, with the case rooted in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The jury found that Meta violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act. A judge still has to decide how much Meta will be fined.
How to opt out of Meta using your smart glasses’ visual data
Meta has added a setting, called “Store visual data from AI experiences,” that controls whether your glasses’ visual data is kept and used for AI training and product improvement, per Engadget. You’ll find it in the Meta AI app under Settings, then Meta AI. The setting has to be changed for each pair of glasses you own, and turning it off may disable features such as visual reminders. If you like trimming AI features elsewhere too, see our guide to turning off AI Mode in Google Search results.
Camera apps add finer iPhone 18 Pro aperture control
The iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera has a variable aperture, but in manual mode Apple’s own camera app offers only four settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4, according to The Verge. Third-party apps, including Moment Pro and Blackmagic Camera, give photographers more control over the aperture.
Code leak points to a new HomePod mini, iPad mini 8 and Apple TV 4K
Details and images found in Apple code show a new HomePod mini, an iPad mini 8 and an Apple TV 4K, The Verge reports. The site says Apple is expected to announce more hardware before the end of the year, following this month’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo debut. This is a leak, and Apple has not confirmed any of these products.
Video shows the iPhone Duo in left-handed use
9to5Mac shared a video showing how the folding iPhone Duo works for left-handed users. The site says the phone is less than a month away, and many prospective buyers have been wondering about this.
AI Tools
Meta’s Muse agent is reportedly doing well, but the numbers are unconfirmed
According to TechCrunch, Meta’s personal AI agent Muse is reportedly outpacing ChatGPT’s early numbers. It is also reportedly headed for smart glasses. These claims are not officially confirmed. The report frames this as a busy week for AI, with Anthropic’s Opus 5.5 and OpenAI’s GPT-6 updates arriving 90 minutes apart.
Fitness & Health Tech
Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs. Series 12: what actually differs
A new in-depth comparison from DC Rainmaker calls the two watches very similar in some ways and surprisingly different in others. The Ultra 4 is bigger, with a larger battery, better GPS and satellite messaging. If you’re weighing a wearable for workouts, our take on whether WHOOP is worth it for non-athletes may help, and our guide to syncing Garmin, Strava and Apple Health covers your data.
Explore more: whether WHOOP is worth it for non-athletes, syncing Garmin, Strava and Apple Health, turning off AI Mode in Google Search results.
Tech News FAQs
What did the appeals court decide about Anthropic?
A federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon’s supply chain risk designation of Anthropic in a 2-1 decision. Judges said the Pentagon had ample support for its finding, and one judge dissented.
Has Meta been fined in New Mexico?
Not yet. A New Mexico jury found that Meta misled state residents about data privacy, but a judge still has to decide how much Meta will be fined.
How do I stop Meta from using my smart glasses’ visual data?
Open the Meta AI app, go to Settings, then Meta AI, and turn off the “Store visual data from AI experiences” setting. Your glasses must be connected to your phone, and you have to do this for each pair. Turning it off may disable features such as visual reminders.
Are the new HomePod mini, iPad mini 8 and Apple TV 4K confirmed?
No. They come from details and images found in Apple code, as reported by The Verge. Apple has not announced any of them.
What is the main difference between the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12?
According to DC Rainmaker, the Ultra 4 is bigger and has a larger battery, better GPS and satellite messaging. The comparison describes the two watches as similar overall.
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Photo: HaeB / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.