iOS 26.4 introduces mood-based Music widgets for your iPhone’s home screen.

iOS 26.4 introduces mood-based Music widgets for your iPhone’s home screen.

      The new Ambient Music widgets in iOS 26.4 transform your iPhone's Home Screen into a mood board with just one tap — provided you subscribe to Apple Music.

      If you've ever unlocked your iPhone at midnight, searching for a sleep playlist while still groggy, Apple's iOS 26.4 can help simplify that experience.

      The iOS 26.4 release candidate is now available, and among its various features, it brings Ambient Music widgets, which allow you to access mood-based playlists directly from your home screen with a single tap.

      What mood options do you have?

      Now, there's no need to launch the app, search for the playlist you need, and navigate through multiple menus in Apple Music. The widgets cater to four main mood categories: Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing.

      You can choose between two widget sizes: the smaller one displays a single playlist of your choice, while the larger option provides one-tap access to all four mood playlists simultaneously. Both widgets are based on the Ambient Music feature, which was initially introduced in the Control Center.

      Now, this feature is prominently displayed on your home screen, making it easy to find.

      Can you personalize the music selection?

      Yes, and Apple has streamlined this process. They provide preset playlists for each mood. For example, the Sleep category includes options like Sleep Sound, Bedtime Beats, Sound Bath, and Plano Sleep.

      If those selections don't suit your taste, you can create your own custom playlists by long-pressing the widget and selecting "Edit Widget." It's important to note that the Ambient Music widget is exclusively compatible with Apple Music and does not cater to Spotify users.

      The Ambient Music widgets are just a small aspect of the new iOS 26.4 update, which also introduces a Playlist Playground feature, eight new emojis, urgent reminder flags in the Reminders app, and an update for Purchase Sharing among family users.

      For over five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified trends in consumer technology and shared insights...

      Cloudflare's CEO warns that the number of AI bots online could surpass humans by 2027.

      The prevalent use of bots is altering the internet landscape. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince indicates that within the next year or two, AI bots might create more web traffic than humans, signifying a significant transition in the online environment. During a discussion with TechCrunch, Prince remarked on the rapid increase in bot activity as AI systems access and engage with websites on a large scale.

      Microsoft is working on reducing "bloat" related to Copilot in Windows 11.

      The company plans to be more deliberate about the integration of AI features. Microsoft is reassessing the necessity of AI in Windows 11 and intends to scale back the presence of Copilot. As part of its broader initiative to enhance the quality of Windows, it aims to decrease the number of Copilot touchpoints throughout the operating system and its applications.

      Microsoft stated that this reduction will begin with applications such as Photos, Notepad, Widgets, and the Snipping Tool, where Copilot features have begun to feel overwhelming. This adjustment is part of Microsoft's shift away from embedding AI too aggressively toward integrating it only when appropriate.

      Windows 11 is aiming for improved performance similar to that of a MacBook Neo, particularly regarding memory efficiency.

      Microsoft is addressing one of the ongoing performance issues in Windows 11, especially for lower-end systems. As part of its commitment to enhancing Windows quality, the company is working to minimize resource usage, boost responsiveness, and optimize memory efficiency across the OS. The objective is straightforward: to make Windows faster and more reliable, even on basic hardware, a factor that has become increasingly important.

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iOS 26.4 introduces mood-based Music widgets for your iPhone’s home screen.

Apple's iOS 26.4 introduces Home Screen widgets that enable users to start mood-based Ambient Music playlists with a single tap — eliminating the need to open an app, scroll, or waste time.