MAC

A developer has released an open-source tool called SCM that brings AI-powered search to local media libraries on Mac. The software indexes not just photos but every individual frame of video, letting users find specific moments or subjects across their entire collection. Discussion is unfolding on the developer forum Hacker News, where the project has drawn over 160 upvotes, with users debating its technical approach and privacy implications.

A resource from the University of Chicago Library explaining how to use GNU Emacs not just as a text editor but as a full plain text computing environment is drawing attention. It covers how Emacs handles editing, email, file management and other tasks within a single text-based interface. Readers are discussing the enduring appeal of Emacs and its role in computing history.

Tech commentary is highlighting a shift on macOS, where free, open-source applications increasingly match or surpass the paid Mac software many users once paid for. Viewers are debating whether big developers can still justify subscription pricing when community-built alternatives are free, polished and privacy-friendly.

Gizmodo reports on an open-source utility that lets Mac users completely turn off Apple Intelligence, claiming the feature was taking up gigabytes of disk space even when unused. The piece walks through how the tool disables the AI suite and frees the storage it reserves, positioning it as a fix for users unhappy with Apple's default AI integration.

Gizmodo reports that a sale on Dreame robot vacuums is about to end, urging shoppers to upgrade to one of the brand's higher-end cleaning machines before discounts expire. The piece highlights price cuts across Dreame's robot vacuum line, positioning the brand as an elite option in home cleaning tech. It is a typical deals roundup timed to a closing sale window.

New figures for 2025 show pharmacist employment and pay shifting away from retail chains and toward hospital settings. Retail pharmacy continues to shed positions as store closures and cost-cutting mount, while hospitals expand hiring and offer stronger salaries. Commenters in the pharmacy field say the trend reflects long-running pressure on chain drugstores and a broader reallocation of clinical work to hospital and health-system roles.

Dreame is running a limited-time sale offering steep discounts on its higher-end robot vacuum models, with Gizmodo flagging it as a last chance for shoppers to upgrade before the offer ends. The deal covers what the outlet calls elite cleaning machines, positioning them as an affordable step up for buyers weighing robot vacuum purchases during the promotional window.

A new guide explains how iPhone and Mac users can disable individual Apple Intelligence features to reclaim storage space. The instructions walk through turning off specific tools in settings on both devices. Interest comes as Apple continues rolling out its AI features, which take up considerable device storage, prompting some users to switch off parts they don't use.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale includes discounts on iPhone and Mac accessories, and Cult of Mac has rounded up the standout deals. Shoppers are browsing reduced prices on gear like cases, chargers, docks, keyboards and other add-ons for Apple devices during the October event, which runs alongside early holiday-season discounting across the retailer's marketplace.

Amazon's Prime Day shopping event is underway, and retailers and reviewers are highlighting early discounts on Apple devices. Macworld has rounded up the best Apple deals available so far, covering products like iPhones, Macs, AirPods and Apple Watch at reduced prices. Shoppers are comparing offers as the sale runs for a limited period.

Apple's Liquid Glass design language, introduced across its 2025 software updates for Mac, iPhone and iPad, is proving divisive, with some users finding its translucent visual effects distracting. Guides are circulating explaining how to adjust settings such as Reduce Transparency to tone down the effect on all three devices.

Local Call reports that Israel's foreign ministry is deploying AI chatbots as part of its public diplomacy effort, widely known as hasbara, and that the campaign is struggling to make an impact. The piece, tied to the fallout of the October 7 war, raises questions about governments using artificial intelligence to shape online opinion and the effectiveness of automated propaganda.