Apple's Tim Cook era ends, IFA 2026 kicks off, and the day's tech worth your time

As of today, John Ternus is Apple's CEO — Tim Cook moves to Executive Chairman after 15 years at the helm. Ternus ran Hardware Engineering, overseeing Apple Silicon and the last several iPhone generations, so for the first time in a long while a pure product person sits at the top. The first real test of the new era is the September 9 keynote.

The problem

Tim Cook led Apple for 15 years and became synonymous with its operational machine and record valuation. Any handover at a company this size raises the obvious question: can the culture and execution survive the person who defined an era?

What changed

Effective September 1, 2026, John Ternus (50) becomes Apple's CEO; Cook's final day in the role was August 31, and he transitions to Executive Chairman. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and led Hardware Engineering from 2021, steering Apple Silicon and recent iPhone hardware. The board approved the move unanimously after a long-planned succession.

The catch

A hardware engineer's strengths aren't automatically an operator's or a dealmaker's. Cook's supply-chain and geopolitical fluency is hard to replace — and he stays on partly to keep engaging policymakers, a hint the transition isn't total on day one.

What it means for you

Watch the September 9 keynote as Ternus's first real signal: expect a product- and hardware-forward Apple. Don't expect overnight change, but the tone from the top is now set by an engineer, not an operator.

Europe's biggest consumer-electronics show returns to Berlin, with press days on September 2-3 and the show floor open September 4-8. Worth watching: Acer's Next @ Acer event on September 2 (new AI PCs and display tech), a wave of health wearables from Xiaomi, Withings, RingConn and Ultrahuman, and an overarching theme of 'AI in everything' — including plenty of devices that don't need it.

The problem

Trade shows drown you in launches, most of which are noise — spec bumps and 'AI-powered' gadgets that add a chatbot to a toaster. It's hard to tell what actually deserves your attention.

What changed

IFA 2026 runs September 4-8 at Berlin's exhibition grounds, with press days September 2-3. Confirmed highlights include Acer's Next event (AI PCs, gaming, next-gen displays) on September 2, a strong wearables slate (Xiaomi, Withings, RingConn, Ultrahuman), and accessory launches from UGREEN, PITAKA, Lexar and Bluetti.

The catch

'AI in everything' is as much marketing as innovation this year — expect the label slapped on devices that gain nothing from it. Samsung is also skipping a big public stand for an off-site B2B showcase, so the floor may feel lighter on blockbuster phone reveals.

What it means for you

If you're buying a laptop or a wearable this year, IFA is your preview — watch the AI PC and health-wearable announcements, and ignore anything whose only new feature is the word 'AI'.

Instagram has a built-in filter called Hidden Words that most people never switch on. Go to Settings → How others can interact with you → Hidden Words, turn on 'Hide comments' and 'Hide message requests', then add your own custom keywords. Instagram auto-filters spammy, scammy and abusive comments and DM requests before they ever reach your notifications — no manual blocking required.

The problem

Public Instagram accounts get buried in spam comments, scam DMs and abuse, and blocking accounts one at a time is a losing game.

What changed

Hidden Words (Settings → How others can interact with you → Hidden Words) lets you enable Instagram's own offensive-content filters and add custom keyword filters. Flagged comments and message requests are hidden automatically before you see them.

The catch

It hides rather than deletes, and keyword lists need occasional tuning — spammers adapt, so you'll want to add new terms over time.

What it means for you

Turn it on today, especially if your account is public: enable both toggles and drop in the words and phrases you're tired of seeing.

Skip the hype — here's who each flagship earbud is actually for. AirPods Pro 3 are the pick for iPhone users, with heart-rate sensing, a hearing-aid mode and seamless Apple device switching. Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are best on Samsung and Android, with Bluetooth 6.1 and huge range. Nothing Ear 3 are the value play at $179, with surgical custom tuning and a charging case that doubles as a mic. Go cross-platform and you lose half the magic — none have a proper native app on the other side. Rule of thumb: buy for your phone, not the brand.

The problem

'Best earbuds' lists are noisy and ecosystem-blind, so people buy on hype or brand loyalty and end up with buds that lose half their features on their actual phone.

What changed

The 2026 flagships sort cleanly by ecosystem: AirPods Pro 3 (heart-rate, hearing-aid mode, seamless switching) for iPhone; Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (Bluetooth 6.1, long range) for Samsung/Android; Nothing Ear 3 ($179, custom tuning, case-as-mic) for value seekers.

The catch

Cross-platform, each loses its edge — the Galaxy Buds have no native iOS app and AirPods have no Android app — so the 'winner' depends entirely on the phone in your pocket, not raw specs.

What it means for you

Match the buds to your phone: iPhone → AirPods Pro 3, Samsung/Android → Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, tight budget or tinkerer → Nothing Ear 3.

As of today, Apple has a new CEO for the first time in 15 years — hardware and product chief John Ternus takes over from Tim Cook, who moves to Executive Chairman. For Apple's next five years, are you more excited (a real product person finally at the top) or more worried (nobody replaces a Cook-level operator easily)? Vote and tell us why.