Apple Announces New M6 and M5 Ultra Processors - DTH

These are the daily tech headlines for Tuesday, August 25th, 2026. I'm Rob Dunwood. Apple has announced the new M6 2 nanometer processor designed for the Mac Mini and the M5 Ultra, a powerful quad die chip for the Mac Studio. While the M6 focuses on efficiency and improved multi-threaded performance with its 12-core CPU, the M5 Ultra is built for high-demand tasks like 3D rendering, featuring up to 36 CPU cores, an 80-core GPU, and support for up to 512 GB of unified memory. Pre-orders for both systems begin Tuesday, August 25th, with a launch scheduled for September 22nd. New Zealand is introducing a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to protect them from harmful content and addictive technology. While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon advocates for these virtual safety measures, the proposal faces opposition from several political parties. Under the new law, non-compliant platforms could face significant including fines of up to 10% of the global revenue for failing to verify users' ages. Uber is rolling out a new feature for teen accounts that allows parents to view live encrypted video feeds from the driver's selfie camera during their child's ride, providing added peace of mind amid ongoing ride-hail safety concerns. This feature, which requires driver opt-in and notifies all parties when active, complements existing safety measures like GPS tracking and PIN verification. While drivers qualified for these trips must maintain high safety ratings. Xiaomi Corp has launched its in-house Zering 03 mobile processor for its marquee devices, aimed at enhancing power efficiency and artificial intelligence capabilities. This move strengthens Xiaomi's semiconductor design efforts while reducing its long-standing reliance on third-party suppliers such as Qualcomm and MediaTek. WhatsApp has introduced new security features to counter sophisticated phishing and hacking attempts, including support for longer alphanumeric two-step verification pins and the ability to add multiple passkeys for better cross-platform account management. Additionally, the app is providing Android users with more context for calls from unknown numbers, further building on recent updates such as profile usernames and the optional WhatsApp plus subscription plan. Google has expanded its Gemini enterprise platform with specialized AI tools for law firms, developed in collaboration with firms like Will Gottschal and Freshfields to streamline legal tasks securely. This move intensifies competition in the legal AI sector, where Google rivals established providers like Thomson Reuters and Thropic and LexisNexis in meeting the growing demand for generative AI in the profession. Hugging Face has reportedly attracted acquisition interest at a valuation exceeding $13 billion, highlighting its role as a cornerstone of AI infrastructure. Despite this interest, CEO Clem Delang has emphasized on its commitment to its community and long-term sustainability over short-term financial gains or fundraising maximization. This focus on independence is consistent with the company's history, such as its earlier decision to decline a $500 million investment from Nvidia to ensure no single dominant investor could influence the strategic direction. Google has begun a phased rollout of its motion assist feature on Android 17, starting with Pixel devices to help reduce motion sickness by displaying customizable vehicle motion response visual cues around the screen's edges. Unlike previous iterations that were limited by system UI restrictions, motion assist now utilizes update OS level APIs to appear over all apps and system elements. Users can enable the feature via Google Play settings or a quick settings tile, and the system offers various personalization options for the motion indicators, such as adjusting color, shape, and opacity. Lafoolink, a new LTE-enabled health and safety wearable from Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman integrates all-day health sensing, voice logging, and location awareness to provide an intelligent family care system without requiring a phone. Designed as a discreet jewelry-like alternative to traditional trackers, the device focuses on family connection and well-being by monitoring daily patterns and offering emergency assistance. Currently available for pre-order at $250 with a future retail price of $300, the link complements the existing Locket app and helps families manage caregiving responsibilities without the need for constant monitoring. Threads is currently testing new podcast focused features, including a tool for automatic audio transcriptions that enables users to read along without sound. While not guaranteed for release, these efforts highlight the platform's ongoing strategy to support content creators and capitalize on its growth of 500 million monthly active users. And finally, Devine, a new app inspired by the video platform Vine, has launched to restore the spirit of human-centric creative content while explicitly prohibiting AI-generated material. Founded by former Twitter employee Rabble with backing from Jack Dorsey, the app features a scrolling feed of 6-second videos, incorporates an archive of original Vine posts, and emphasizes transparency, decentralized infrastructure, and user agency to offer a healthier alternative to mainstream social media. For more analysis of the tech news of the day, subscribe to dailytechnewsshow.com. And if you enjoyed the show, remember to tell a friend to check us out. 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