Following the release of Apple’s earnings report for the second fiscal quarter of 2026, shares rose slightly in after-hours trading as the market digested the results and outlook for Q3 2026. Here are the details.

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Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model
failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has
learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a
more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other
hardware changes, and consumers still weren’t interested. […]

The Vision Pro has been unpopular since it first launched, and
Apple only sold around 600,000 units in total. Insider sources
told MacRumors that Apple has received an unusually high
percentage of returns, far exceeding any other modern Apple
product.

Apple has apparently stopped work on the Vision Pro and the Vision
Pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple. Some
former Vision Pro team members are working on Siri, which is not a
surprise as Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has been leading the
Siri team since March 2025.

This report comes as news to everyone at Apple working in the Vision Product Group (VPG). Nothing about the future of the platform has changed recently. When it was a secret project, prior to unveiling, it was called the Technology Development Group (TDG) inside Apple. Then, when Vision Pro was unveiled, it became VPG. And then at some point the hardware went under Apple’s hardware group (led by John Ternus) and the software under the software group (led by Craig Federighi). So there have been changes, yes, but only the sort of changes that are natural when a product shifts from being a secret to being one of Apple’s regular non-secret platforms.

As for poor sales, I think it’s unquestionable that Vision Pro sales — and general enthusiasm — have been a disappointment. What momentum they had out of the gate has seemingly petered out. But the optimistic scenario inside Apple was not all that high. The best-case scenario was surely a bigger number of units than they’ve actually sold, but not that much more. There’s no realistic scenario where Vision Pro was an out-of-the-gate hit like, say, the iPad was. It’s an all-new device in an all-new product category that starts at $3,500 and costs more like $4,000 if you need corrective lenses. Before it debuted, there were multiple reports from multiple sources that suggested (a) that Sony could only manufacture a maximum of 900,000 displays per year, capping dual-display Vision Pro headsets at 450,000 per year; and (b) that Apple itself “expected to ship fewer than half a million headsets in the first year of its release, according to people involved in its supply chain” (per Wayne Ma at The Information).

Look at how Apple unveiled the second-gen Vision Pro with M5 — it was the definition of “low key”. I don’t think there was a single person in Cupertino — not one — who looked at first-generation Vision Pro sales and thought, “I know what will turn this around in a big way: a second-generation speed bump where the M2 chip is upgraded to an M5!” That speed bump in October was not intended to make a huge difference. It was just a signal that they’re still at it. Speed bumps are good. (And it probably helps, not hurts, margins because the M5 is used on Macs and iPads too, and no other product still in production uses the M2.) Rather than anyone — literally anyone — at Apple being surprised that the October second-gen M5 update did not meaningfully change the sales trajectory, I think the entire company would have been flabbergasted (and caught flat-footed on supply) if it had.

This sentence from Clover’s report is doing a lot of work:

Apple has apparently stopped work on the Vision Pro and the Vision
Pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple.

There’s only one Vision hardware product to date, and that product, through two generations, is named Vision Pro. If Clover is saying that no one is working on a third-generation revision of the Vision Pro product we know today, maybe that’s correct. I don’t know. I certainly hope it’s correct. I think it was fine for Apple to do one new-generation speed bump of the original hardware. But going forward, they clearly need to do something significant for the next hardware. Ideally, two things: a much more appealing “Vision Pro” and a lower-priced “Vision Air” or just plain “Vision” or, hell, a “Vision Neo”. Take a new crack at the high end with a lighter-weight higher-resolution Vision Pro and open up new markets with something starting at under $2,000.

But I don’t think anyone is reading that sentence from Clover’s report that way. It implies — along with the headline — that Apple is just giving up on the whole platform. That’s how everyone is reading it, and it’s clearly what the article, and especially headline, implies.

I don’t think that’s true, at all. There’s a VisionOS 27 update coming at WWDC and new hardware in the works. Not just AR glasses, but immersive Vision headsets. There are, I believe, as many people at Apple working on VisionOS software and immersive content today as there ever have been. It’s full steam ahead. The pressure is on, I’m sure, but there’s no doom and gloom. The Apple folks in the Vision group aren’t oblivious.1 They actually know the roadmap, and they know just how much work is between where the platform is today and where it needs to be for it to be a meaningful contributor to Apple’s bottom line. But they’re there, working on it. I don’t know who told MacRumors what (and their sourcing is just “MacRumors has learned”), but I know for a fact that it is not true that the teams working on the Vision platform have “been redistributed to other teams within Apple.”

It’s a strange thing for MacRumors to state so categorically something I believe has no truth to it whatsoever. And if there is some truth to it, it’s not what the article implies, which is that the whole thing has been shut down, somehow without the world knowing until now. Just two weeks ago John Ternus and Greg Joswiak were interviewed by Mark Spoonauer at Tom’s Guide, and both spoke of a bright future for spatial computing. Joz describing Vision Pro as a product pulled into the present from the future is a good way of emphasizing the yet regarding a product — and category — that’s not there yet. Apple executives know how to give a non-answer answer to a question they don’t want to answer honestly. (Exhibit A: Tim Cook “squashing” rumors that he was about to retire … one month before he announced he was stepping aside as CEO.) The way Ternus and Joz were talking about the platform, and immersive content, this month was not lacking in enthusiasm. It was asking for patience.

It’s certainly possible that this Vision thing ultimately isn’t going to work out and Apple will throw in the towel on it. But that hasn’t happened, and if it does, it’s not going to come out of nowhere as a story on MacRumors for the people in VPG working on it. When Apple threw in the towel on Project Titan (the car project) in February 2024, an all-hands was held to break the news, led by then-COO Jeff Williams and Titan project lead Kevin Lynch. The team didn’t learn it from a fucking leak.

No one on the planet is more keenly aware of how few people own a Vision Pro than the people who work on the Vision platform. If you work at Apple and work on the iPhone, and you meet someone who asks what you do, and you tell them you work on the iPhone at Apple, there’s a good chance they’ll say “Hey, I have an iPhone!” and they’ll take it out of their pocket to show you. If you work on the Mac, you’ll meet a lot of people who will say “Hey, I’ve been a Mac user for a long time!” Tell people you work on Vision Pro, and the best answer you’re likely to get is “Oh, nice, uh, I think I’ve heard about that.“ ↩︎

Happy customers snap up Macs so fast that even Apple’s manufacturing expertise can’t keep up. Here’s what’s behind Mac supply complaints.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Learn what Tim Cook advised John Ternus as he prepares to take over as Apple CEO this fall. It’s all about following Apple’s “North Star.”

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple’s spending on research and development hit an all-time high in the company’s latest quarterly results, reflecting an industry-wide continued push into AI development. Here are the details.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook said today that the company is seeking refunds for duties it paid under tariffs Donald Trump announced last year, which the Supreme Court recently ruled unconstitutional. Here are the details.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices.

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Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus promises he will be just as much of a profit-focused bean counter as his predecessor, current CEO Tim Cook. “As you know, one of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company,” Ternus said Thursday […]

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple today provided its guidance for the June quarter of fiscal 2026, outlining expectations for revenue growth, margins, and key business trends amid the ongoing memory shortage. Here are the details.

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On its quarterly earnings call today, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the ongoing supply shortages for Apple’s pro desktop Macs. Many configurations of Mac mini and Mac Studio are completely out of stock at Apple Stores online.

Cook said customer interest in agentic AI use cases (like OpenClaw) is driving Mac mini and Mac Studio demand beyond what Apple predicted. Due to the ongoing industry constraints for advanced nodes and memory components, the company expects the supply shortages for these Macs to continue for the next several months.

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ChatGPT remains the top downloaded app on the App Store, and it sounds like OpenAI will launch a new iPhone app soon.

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Apple’s Q2 2026 earnings call included a notable addition this time around, as incoming CEO John Ternus joined the discussion alongside current CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh. Here are the details.

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If you thought Apple would show any signs of slowing down following its record-breaking Q1 results, you’d be mistaken. Apple on Thursday announced its Q2 earnings results, and they’re just as glittery as last quarter, with record revenue of $111.2 billion and strong showings for the iPhone and Mac.

Every category of Apple product saw growth over the year-ago quarter, with the iPhone hitting nearly $57 billion in sales, a whopping 22 percent increase over last year. This quarter saw the launch of the iPhone 17e, but it’s likely the bulk of the revenue is from higher-priced iPhone 17 Pro models.

Additionally, Apple hit another all-time Services high, with revenue of nearly $31 billion. Mac sales also grew from just under $8 billion last year to about $8.4 billion this year. Apple released the MacBook Neo in March and has faced supply constraints ever since its launch, so it likely does not play a significant role in this quarter. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple’s new laptop is “captivating customers all around the world.”

Additionally, Apple’s iPad sales grew to $6.9 billion from $6.4 billion and its Wearables line pulled in $7.9 billion compared to $7.5 billion a year ago. 

During its conference call with investors, Cook addressed the coming CEO turnover to John Ternus, saying there is “no one I trust more on this planet to lead Apple.” John Ternus spoke on the call as well, repeating the oft-heard phrase that Apple has an “incredible roadmap ahead” and that this is “the most exciting time in my 25 year career at Apple.”

Apple reported another record-breaking quarter of earnings today, and it came with a big announcement about the iPhone 17 lineup: it’s now the company’s most popular model family ever.

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Apple revenue reaches a record high for the most-recent March quarter. The iPhone 17 contributed, plus there’s growth all around the company.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple just announced its quarterly results, including $56.99 billion in iPhone revenue. This number is slightly below the average of analyst expectations heading into the earnings, but Tim Cook tells Reuters that Apple would have sold more if it had the supply.

Cook said iPhone 17 demand “was off the charts”. He said supply of advanced processor nodes is constrained and “there’s just a little less flexibility in the supply chain at the moment” in terms of getting more parts available.

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MacDailyNews presents live notes from Apple’s Q226 Conference Call with analysts starting at 2pm PDT / 5pm EDT today, April 30, 2026.

This stream is best experienced on an iPhone 7 or later, iPad (5th generation or later), or iPod touch (7th generation) using Safari on iOS 12 or later; or a Mac using Safari on macOS Mojave 10.14 or later. Streaming to your TV requires an AirPlay 2–capable device, or via AirPlay to an Apple TV (2nd generation or later) with the latest Apple TV software or tvOS. Other platforms may also be able to access the stream using recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge (MSE, H.264, and AAC required).

Apple’s live conference call webcast will begin at 2pm PDT / 5pm EDT here.

Apple today posted record second quarter revenue of $111.2 billion, up a whopping 17% year over year, and quarterly diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.01, up a staggering 22% year over year.

According to LSEG consensus estimates compiled from Wall Street analysts called for Apple to post revenue of $109.5 billion and EPS of $1.95.

Live notes in reverse chronological order:

• Awaiting start of conference call

• Anyone, or any bot, selling AAPL after hours on these results is handing us a discount. Thanks, chumps!

• AAPL @ 4:45:44 PM EDT: $268.41, -2.94, (-1.08%)

• AAPL @ 4:36:10 PM EDT: $271.25, -0.10, (-0.04%)

• AAPL @ 4:28:07 PM EDT: $272.53, +1.18, (+0.43%)

The post MacDailyNews presents live notes from Apple’s Q226 conference call appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple just released its earnings report for the second fiscal quarter of 2026. The company reported $111.2 billion in revenue, $29.58 billion in net profit, and $2.01 in earnings per share. Here’s the full breakdown.

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Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended March 28, 2026. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $111.2 billion, up 17 percent year over year. Diluted earnings per share was $2.01, up 22 percent year over year.

“Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever, with revenue of $111.2 billion and double-digit growth across every geographic segment,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s outgoing CEO, in a statement. “iPhone achieved a March quarter revenue record, fueled by such extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. During the quarter, Services achieved yet another all-time record, and we were excited to introduce remarkable new products to our strongest lineup ever. That included the addition of the iPhone 17e and the M4-powered iPad Air, along with the launch of MacBook Neo, which is captivating customers all around the world.”

“Our strong business performance during the March quarter generated over $28 billion in operating cash flow and drove new March quarter records for both operating cash flow and EPS,” said Kevan Parekh, Apple’s CFO, in a stateemnt. “Continued strong customer demand for our products and services once again helped us achieve a new all-time high for our installed base of active devices across all major product categories and geographic segments.”

Net sales by category:

• iPhone: $56.994 billion (vs. $48.841 billion YoY)
• Mac: $8.399 billion (vs. $7.949 billion YoY)
• iPad: $6.914 billion (vs. $7.522 billion YoY)
• Wearables, Home and Accessories: $7.901 billion (vs. $7.522 billion YoY)
• Services: $30.976 billion (vs> $26.645 billion YoY)

Net sales by reportable segment:

• Americas: $45.093 billion (vs. $40.315 billion YoY)
• Europe: $28.055 billion (vs. $24,454 billion YoY)
• Greater China: $20.497 billion (vs. $16.002 billion YoY)
• Japan: $8.401 billion (vs. $7.298 billion YoY)
• Rest of Asia Pacific: $9.138 billion (vs. $7.290 billion YoY)

Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.27 per share of the Company’s common stock, an increase of 4 percent. The dividend is payable on May 14, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 11, 2026. The board of directors has also authorized an additional program to repurchase up to $100 billion of the Company’s common stock.

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q2 2026 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PT on April 30, 2026, at apple.com/investor/earnings-call. The webcast will be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

According to consensus estimates tracked by FactSet, prior to earnings, Apple was expected to post adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.95 and revenue was projected at $109.5 billion. Analyst forecast iPhone revenue of $56.5 billion and Mac sales were expected to come in at $8.12 billion. Greater China was projected at $19 billion.
‎
MacDailyNews Take: Slight iPhone miss, but overall:

MacDailyNews Note: We’ll have live notes from Apple’s conference call starting at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT here.

‎
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The post Apple beats second quarter results with record quarterly revenue of $111.2 billion appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Benjamin and Chance discuss whether bringing visual intelligence inside the Camera app is a good idea, as rumored for iOS 27 by Bloomberg. Also, Tim Cook shares his personal highs and lows across his career, Mayo’s iPhone refuses to turn on after running out of battery, and the App Store launches a new monthly payments subscription option.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance kits out his whole house with HomeKit lights … so now here’s what we want next from Apple Home. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Sponsored by Cash App: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/i4d1b1x2 #CashAppPod

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Later today, Apple will release its Q2 2026 earnings, where component shortages, the iPhone 17 line’s ongoing success, and low Mac availability are expected to play a bit part. Here’s how you can listen in live.

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Later today, Apple will release its Q2 2026 earnings, where component shortages, the iPhone 17 line’s ongoing success, and low Mac availability are expected to play a bit part. Here’s how you can listen in live.

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In a sharpening dispute that highlights ongoing tensions between Big Tech and regulators in one of its fastest-growing markets, Apple has accused India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) of exceeding its powers and attempting to undermine judicial authority.

According to a Reuters exclusive published today, Apple filed a non-public submission with the Delhi High Court on April 24, urging urgent intervention to halt proceedings in an antitrust case centered on the iPhone apps market.

The U.S. tech giant argues that the CCI should not proceed with demands for detailed financial information — data typically used to calculate potential penalties — while Apple is actively challenging the underlying Indian law governing such fines in court. Apple has warned that penalties in the case could theoretically reach as high as $38 billion.

“The commission’s decision to schedule a final hearing represents an escalation in its efforts to usurp the Hon’ble Court’s authority,” Apple stated in the filing, requesting the court hear the matter as soon as May 15.

The CCI had given Apple an ultimatum earlier this month and set a final hearing for May 21 after the company withheld the requested financial data. The regulator’s investigation previously concluded that Apple abused its dominant position in the apps market.

Apple maintains it is a relatively small player in India compared to Google’s Android ecosystem and has resisted providing the information on the grounds that the penalty framework itself is under legal challenge.

India remains a critical growth market for Apple. iPhone market share has more than doubled to around 9% in recent years, and the country is a key focus for the company’s expansion in emerging markets.

MacDailyNews Take: AGgain, India risks squandering a golden growth opportunity with Apple over a regulatory trifle in which the Cupertino company has done absolutely nothing wrong.

Apple in India isn’t a dominant behemoth crushing competition, it’s a company successfully earning its way in one of the world’s toughest, most price-sensitive markets by offering superior products that Indian consumers increasingly want.

Forcing changes to a proven, secure App Store model that benefits users with privacy, security, and a consistent high-quality experience — while enabling millions of developers worldwide to build thriving businesses — over complaints that largely echo global gripes from a few large players is yet another regulatory overreach. Apple has cooperated extensively is currently a small participant in India with no abusive dominance.

India has everything to gain by fostering an environment where innovative companies like Apple can continue investing, creating jobs, expanding retail presence, and driving premium economic activity. Alienating one of the world’s most successful tech firms over what amounts to standard platform policies that have fueled an entire ecosystem risks sending exactly the wrong signal to global investors and innovators.

‎
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The post Apple escalates battle with India’s CCI, claims antitrust body is usurping court authority appeared first on MacDailyNews.

iOS 26.4 added brand new widgets for the iPhone’s Home Screen, but you might not know that fairly recently, Apple also upgraded its popular Photos widget in two ways.

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Apple has just released brand new firmware for users of AirPods Pro 3. Here are the details.

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Apple TV is assembling a packed summer lineup, with beloved comedies like Ted Lasso and Trying returning, plus several fan-favorite sci-fi series too. Here are three returning sci-fi series hitting Apple TV soon.

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Satellite connectivity in smartphones is entering a critical growth phase, with Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)-capable devices projected to account for 46% of global smartphone shipments by 2030, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest Smartphone Satellite Connection Report. Proprietary solutions will drive the market in the near term as 3GPP NTN faces challenges around chipset readiness, operator certification and service maturity.

Apple was the first mainstream smartphone brand to offer satellite connectivity by partnering with Globalstar for the iPhone 14 in 2022. The recent acquisition of Globalstar by Amazon provides immediate scale and opens up a new revenue stream for Amazon around connectivity-as-a-service. Huawei was the second player to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones in 2023, and now more than 10 brands are offering it in smartphones.

Source: Counterpoint Research Global Satellite Smartphone Shipment Tracker, April 2026

Commenting on the smartphone OEM dynamics, Principal Analyst Soumen Mandal said in a statement, “Apple remains the leading smartphone OEM in terms of NTN-capable smartphone shipments, while Samsung leads the Android ecosystem. Similar to Apple, Huawei and Google follow the proprietary NTN approach. Other Android players, including Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR and vivo, have aligned with 3GPP NTN to enable broader scalability and interoperability.”

The satellite smartphone market is mostly driven by the premium segment, but the lack of killer use cases is limiting mass adoption. 3GPP Release 17-based use cases are limited to SOS and messaging. While 3GPP Release 18 will help further adoption across brands in the premium segment, mass adoption in the mid-price segment is expected only with Release 19.

Commenting on the satellite smartphone SoC market competitive landscape, Senior Analyst Shivani Parashar said in a statement, “Qualcomm has been at the forefront among Android chipset players in enabling satellite connectivity through its Snapdragon X80 and X85 modems, followed by Huawei, Google and Samsung. MediaTek is also advancing NTN integration through its MT6825 5G SoC. More participation from chipset players will increase competition while potentially helping scalability.”

The partnerships entered into by North American telecom players, such as T-Mobile with SpaceX, AT&T with AST Mobile and Rogers with SpaceX, along with Apple’s tie-up with Globalstar, have helped bring satellite connectivity to smartphones, making North America an early leader in the field. Though telecom operators in other regions, like Europe and China, are not rushing to offer satellite connectivity, satellite operators are increasing capacity to cater to the mass market.

Commenting on the satellite smartphone market outlook, Research Vice President Peter Richardson said in a statement, “Nearly one in two smartphones is expected to support satellite connectivity by 2030. Apple, Google and Samsung will lead in terms of overall penetration, but Android brands targeting the entry and mid-price segments will see less penetration. Satellite offerings by more Android players and telecom operators beyond developed markets will play a key role in accelerating global adoption.”

The satellite smartphone connectivity space is expected to create opportunities across the entire ecosystem, including smartphone OEMs, SoC vendors, component players, telecom operators and satellite operators. Beyond this, it will also unlock new service models and bundled offerings, where companies like Amazon could integrate satellite connectivity into platforms such as Amazon Prime to enhance the overall consumer experience. However, the pace of growth will depend on the collaboration of ecosystem players to solve issues such as design and cost constraints, limited use cases, regulatory complexities and network immaturity, Counterpoint says.

MacDailyNews Take: Even though Apple picked the wrong satellite communications partner, the strength of iPhone and the first-mover advantage spell total domination.

iPhone’s ecosystem power, software polish, and sheer volume turn even a “suboptimal” satellite tie-up into market-crushing dominance. With Amazon now stepping in via Globalstar, Apple’s moat will only widen.

Never bet against the iPhone. Strength, timing, and execution beat “perfect” partnerships every single time.

See also:
• If Tim Cook put Apple users ahead of his Elon Musk grudge, Apple users would have superior satellite connectivity and better AI today – April 15, 2026
• Amazon to acquire Globalstar for $11.57 billion in attempt to challenge Starlink; Apple owns approximately 20% of Globalstar – April 14, 2026
• As Elon Musk’s SpaceX delivers real satellite connectivity to smartphones, Apple might be having second thoughts about propping up Globalstar – October 6, 2025

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It’s a big weekend in America for Apple and racing. F1 returns to the U.S. with the Miami Grand Prix happening Sunday on Apple TV.

Meanwhile, Apple and Porsche have collaborated on an anniversary race car design that will be on the track in California, also on May 3.

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First unveiled at CES 2025 over a year ago, MOFT’s beloved MagSafe wallet with kickstand now comes with a much needed feature: Find My integration. After loads of delays, the product is now finally available for purchase.

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Apple AirTags (1st Gen)

View Deal

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It was five years ago when Apple first released its tiny AirTag tracker, and even though there’s a new model, it hasn’t changed much. So the original model is still great, especially when you can get a 4-pack for just $57. That’s an incredible $42 off the original MSRP, and just $14.25 per tracker, the best price we’ve ever seen. And since the sale is at Woot, your Amazon Prime perks will be useful here too, including free shipping.

As you know, AirTags are super useful to have, especially hooked up with your keys or bag, so you don’t have to spend forever searching for them in the morning. Just pop open the Find My app and make it ping. When the tag isn’t nearby, you’ll still be able to track it down with Apple’s global Find My network that uses other iPhones to pinpoint its location. With millions of connected Apple devices, you’re certainly going to find its location in seconds.

The AirTags are durable and water-resistant, so they’re good to use in all sorts of conditions. The batteries will last for over a year, and they’re easy to swap out, too, so you can use them for a very long time.

But act fast, because this Woot deal won’t last forever. Even if they don’t sell out, the timer runs out Friday at midnight, so you’d better hurry up and grab a pack because we might never see a discount this good again.

OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 upgrade to ChatGPT and Codex appears to be going smoothly, especially compared to the rockier GPT-5.0 release last August.

It turns out OpenAI got ahead of one issue that was brewing before the release of GPT-5.5 models: a goblin fixation.

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Apple TV has delivered another standout original with “Widow’s Bay,” the new horror-comedy series starring Matthew Rhys as a determined mayor trying to transform a cursed New England island into a tourist hotspot. Created by Katie Dippold and featuring direction from Hiro Murai and others, the show blends quirky small-town charm with genuine scares and supernatural folklore. Early reviews are overwhelmingly positive, hailing it as a fresh, tonally ambitious gem that’s unlike anything else on television right now.

Critics praise the series for its perfect balance of laughs and chills, strong ensemble performances, and inventive storytelling that mixes episodic horror tales with an overarching mystery. With a Metacritic score in the high 70s and strong audience buzz, Widow’s Bay is shaping up to be one of 2026’s must-watch Apple TV offerings.

Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

“The wonderfully demented ‘Widow’s Bay’ plays out almost like an anthology of Stephen King short stories, shuffling supernatural urban legends in a small New England community with equal parts humor and horror. It is truly unlike anything else on TV, a wild swing of tonal shifts that works because it commits so fully to both halves of the equation.”

— Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

“Mare of Easttown meets Schitt’s Creek in this rich, wonderful and laugh-out-loud series, in which a put-upon mayor tries to turn a cursed New England island into a tourist hotspot… In short, “Widow’s Bay” is rich and wonderful. Grownup, funny, scary, true.”

— The Guardian

“‘Widow’s Bay’ Review: Matthew Rhys’ Inspired Island-Bound Horror-Comedy Is a Wicked Treat.”

— Ben Travers, IndieWire

“In a TV landscape dotted with quirky little hamlets, it’s the best reason to drop in on “Widow’s Bay,” Apple’s uneven but intriguing mashup of Pawnee-style coziness and Derry-esque chills… they do make “Widow’s Bay” a destination worth visiting — perhaps even again and again, for years and years to come.”

— Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter

“Apple TV’s delightfully oddball horror-comedy may have a few flaws, but it’s like almost nothing else on TV at the moment.”

— Den Of Geek

Reviewers highlight standout performances from Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, and the ensemble, along with the show’s confident navigation of horror tropes, character-driven comedy, and atmospheric island setting. While a few note minor pacing issues, the consensus is clear: Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” is a fresh, addictive, and highly entertaining series.

MacDailyNews Take: The first episodes are streaming now on Apple TV, with new installments dropping weekly. If you’re in the mood for something spooky, funny, and utterly original, clear your schedule and ferry over to “Widow’s Bay” — you won’t regret it.

MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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A redesigned iPhone app cleans up navigation and adds vertical video discovery. But will it crash and burn like Netflix’s Apple TV app?

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple’s Health app got a pair of welcome improvements in iOS 26.4, and rumors indicate Apple has major upgrades coming soon in iOS 27.

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The AirPods Pro 3 deals are flying alongside AirPods 4 from $99, but today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by some seriously notable M5 MacBook Air deals – Midnight 24GB 15-inch up to $219 off and this new low on the base 15-inch M5 MacBook Air at $170 off. We also have the best clearance prices yet on the M3 iPad Air lineup up to $300 off, Apple’s 24GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro dropping back to its best Amazon price ever ($250 off launch), and the Titanium Apple Watch Series 11 hitting the Amazon all-time low at up to $160 off today (plus deals from $299). Head below for a closer look at the details.

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Orico USB-C Clamp Hub

View Deal

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If there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of, it’s that every one of us needs a few extra ports for extra drives and accessories, but even the smallest hubs will take up desk space that no one has to spare. That’s where this clever USB-C Clamp Hub comes in, and it’s on sale for just $15.46 right now.

This tiny little thing is so cool because, thanks to the C-clamp, you can mount it up to the underside of your monitor, for instance. You can, of course, also mount it to the very edge of your desk so it takes up very little of that precious space. This tiny little thing only needs an edge measuring between 0.19 and 1.1 inches and features three USB-A ports and one USB-C port, so you won’t have to worry about taking out a tiny dongle just to be able to use a flash drive.

You won’t even have to worry about setting it up close to your desktop or laptop. This hub doesn’t have a built-in cable like some other models (though it does include a 2-in-1 cable in the box). The USB-C port on the back gives you flexibility to use whatever cable you want, and it also has an optional 5V USB-C port that can keep your connected devices charged.

Go ahead and grab the Orico USB-C Clamp hub for just $15.46 off while this deal’s still live.

CNBC is out with a timely take that could have major implications for investors heading into the traditionally weaker summer months: it may be time to ditch the old “Sell in May and go away” playbook.

In an article published today, “Forget ‘Sell in May.’ Under Trump, market could be poised for summertime gains,” the network argues that the historic seasonal weakness in stocks from May through October could be overridden this year by the tailwinds of a second Trump administration. Instead of the usual summer lull, the market may actually be poised for meaningful summertime gains.

Fred Imbert for CNBC:
‎

The upcoming six-month period has historically been such a bad stretch for the stock market that Wall Street has an adage for it: “Sell in May and go away.” Data compiled by CFRA’s Sam Stovall shows the S & P 500 has averaged a gain of just 2% between April 30 and Oct. 31 going back to 1945. Between Oct. 31 and April 30, the benchmark averages an advance of nearly 7%. In recent years, however, investors who sold in May and went away missed out on sharp advances…

Stocks have also performed well during this period under President Donald Trump. “During Trump Presidency Years, the S & P 500 has tended to carve out a spring bottom in late March to early April before staging meaningful advances into year-end,” Jeff Hirsch, editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, said in an email earlier this week. “S & P 500′s low close was March 30. The two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire has held — and despite weekend peace talks ending without a deal, a new round of in-person negotiations is in the works this week. So far, 2026 is tracking the Trump Presidency seasonal pattern closely,” he said.

With Trump back in the White House, investors appear to be pricing in a more supportive backdrop for corporate earnings and risk assets. The article highlights how these factors could sustain momentum through the summer rather than letting the usual seasonal headwinds take over. While the piece stops short of guaranteeing gains, it makes a compelling case that the old calendar-based strategy may be outdated in the current political and economic climate.

This view aligns with broader market chatter we’ve seen in recent days. Other analysts have also begun questioning whether the traditional May-October weakness will materialize, especially after stocks have already shown resilience following earlier volatility tied to geopolitical events and tariff concerns.

For Apple investors and the broader tech sector — which has been a key driver of market performance — the message is potentially bullish. Stronger overall market sentiment and pro-growth policies tend to lift high-valuation growth stocks like AAPL, especially if consumer and enterprise spending holds up or improves under the new administration.

Of course, nothing is certain in the markets. Tariff negotiations, inflation data, Federal Reserve moves, and any fresh geopolitical developments could still introduce volatility. But the CNBC analysis offers a refreshing counterpoint to the usual summer skepticism and gives investors a reason to stay engaged rather than automatically heading for the exits.
‎
MacDailyNews Take: If the current Trump-era policy tailwinds continue to materialize as many analysts expect, “Sell in May” could turn out to be the wrong move this year. Summer trading could be a lot more interesting (and rewarding) than the old adage suggests.

Apple and, indeed, the entire U.S. economy, are primed to roar in 2026! – MacDailyNews, February 20, 2026

‎
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The post CNBC: President Trump’s pro-growth policies could fuel strong summertime stock-market gains appeared first on MacDailyNews.

macOS 27 won’t support any Intel Mac. Learn about the impact on the security of older computers, and what you can do to prevent problems.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

On April 30, 2010, the first Wi-Fi + 3G iPads arrived in the hands of U.S. customers. The tablet became Apple’s fastest-selling new product.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

We’re heading into a summer of software unveilings, but Apple has 15+ new hardware products rumored to launch later in the year—including multiple iPads. Here’s the latest on new iPads to expect.

more…

The F1 Miami Grand Prix on Apple TV this weekend brings loads of new content, from live feeds and multiview to new shows and live events.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple has essentially abandoned the Apple Vision Pro after the M5 refresh failed to spark renewed interest in the device, MacRumors reports. The company updated the headset in October 2025 with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable headband, but made no other hardware changes—and consumers still weren’t interested.

Juli Clover for MacRumors:
‎

The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight. The device is over 1.3 pounds, and even with the more comfortable Dual Knit Band that Apple added to redistribute weight, it continues to be hard to wear for long periods of time.

The Vision Pro has been unpopular since it first launched, and Apple only sold around 600,000 units in total. Insider sources told MacRumors that Apple has received an unusually high percentage of returns, far exceeding any other modern Apple product.

Apple has apparently stopped work on the Vision Pro and the Vision Pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple. Some former Vision Pro team members are working on Siri, which is not a surprise as Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has been leading the Siri team since March 2025.

If Apple finds a way to create a much cheaper, more comfortable VR headset in the future, the Vision Pro line could be revived, but right now, the company has no plans to launch a new model. Apple has not discontinued the Vision Pro and is continuing to sell the M5 model.

The other factors are that Mike Rockwell, who created the Vision Pro, is weighing his future and that new CEO John Ternus has long been against the Vision Pro as a product. He killed the cheaper/lighter revamp last year and the Mac AR display glasses. https://t.co/r7QyDhkFbL https://t.co/3Hc4AyQI4M

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 29, 2026

‎
MacDailyNews Take: Shocker.

[This] is exactly what you’d expect to occur when a product is released too early to average users… Apple Vision Pro is a devkit for developers, not for average users, and should have been released as a devkit for developers. – MacDailyNews, March 26, 2024

As we wrote on March 22nd:

There are a lot of people inside and outside of Apple who think the company should have waited on the Vision Pro, but it’s fairly easy today to see why Tim Cook released this beta (alpha?) devkit: He likely knew last year, or had a strong inkling, that Project Titan was a goner and there wasn’t much excitement in Apple’s pipeline. He’d need something to point to as “innovation” while he continued on his seemingly unending quest to iterate and monetize products invented by Steve Jobs’ Apple (a very different place) while continuing Apple’s retail store buildout. He also needed something to energize developers and, who knows, they might come up with a killer visionOS app while Apple toils on the long road to real lightweight spatial computing glasses and beyond.

More importantly, Apple last year had already come to the sad realization that they’d missed the generative artificial intelligence revolution and would need a distraction while they feverishly scrambled to catch up (the fruits of which — alongside what sound like disappointing partnerships which hopefully, somehow, preserve user privacy — we’ll hopefully begin to see at WWDC this June).

You have to feel for Cook. After a decade plus of being able to iterate and monetize Jobs’ inspired products and services and continue adding retail stores around the world to spectacular effect, and being lauded for it, he now finds himself in a place that requires actual vision to be able to see which path to take. And he’s not the guy. Even the guy who put him in the position knew it.

Tim’s not a product person, per se. – Steve Jobs

See also:
• Contrary to popular belief, Steve Jobs knew about Apple Watch – February 13, 2023
• Work on Apple Vision Pro began under Steve Jobs – August 23, 2023

Beyond the fact that Cook can’t even execute a compelling live keynote address, his big send off, the “Apple Car,” [the idea of which was also germinated under Jobs] fizzled in ignominious failure.

See also:
• Scrapped Apple Car ‘a massive disappointment that will alter the course of the company’s history, perhaps for decades to come’ – Gurman – March 11, 2024
• Apple employees referred to doomed Apple Car project as ‘The Titanic Disaster’ – February 29, 2024

So, despite myriad misgivings and protestations inside Apple, Cook pulled the trigger early on the Vision Pro. He had to have something to point to that would buy him some time. Even Apple’s rubber-stamping board of lackeys would wake up and start asking questions otherwise.

While Cook is hemming and hawing when faced with shareholders (virtually, of course, never again in person for as long as Cook remains), Apple is currently in scramble mode trying to catch up to rivals in generative AI, a technology the company seems to have completely missed while focusing instead on the not-ready-for-primetime Apple Vision Pro, visionOS, its now-canceled decade-long multi-billion-dollar electric vehicle boondoggle, replacing leather in iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands with overpriced junk in a quest to “save the planet,” forcing employees to endure a constant barrage of time-wasting zero-productivity DEI sessions, and myriad other various and sundry “initiatives” which Cook deems of import. – MacDailyNews, February 28, 2024

When you lose your visionary CEO and replace him with a caretaker CEO, this is the type of aimless, late, bureaucratic dithering that ensues. – MacDailyNews, November 21, 2017

‎
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Our hands-on review reveals that DwarfLab’s Dwarf Mini smart telescope works with your iPhone to take amazing pictures of the stars.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple has made some dubious design decisions over the past 15 years, from FineWoven to the AirPods Max Smart Case. We hope that trend is about to change, under the company’s new perfectionist CEO, but even the current management is too smart to drop MagSafe from the iPhone line, as claimed by a new report.

The Weibo leaker Instant Digital, who posts a lot but doesn’t have an especially strong track record of accurate predictions, claimed earlier this week that Apple has been debating whether to maintain MagSafe as a standard feature on the iPhone. “When MagSafe was first introduced, the internal stance was very aggressive,” the leaker adds. “There were even plans to include it as a standard feature on iPads, which I mentioned before, but ultimately didn’t happen. Now they’re starting to waver.”

The rationale behind this debate, Instant Digital claims, is the “sacrifice” involved in building MagSafe into each device. And it’s undoubtedly the case that MagSafe imposes a burden on phone designers: it requires the inclusion of a ring of magnets as well as the necessary inductive charging coils. Apple could make its iPhone thinner and lighter if it were able to drop MagSafe, and early prototypes suggest that the foldable iPhone Ultra may not get the feature. It’s notable, however, that the super-thin iPhone Air did get MagSafe, so it’s not like this is an insurmountable problem.

The iPhone 17e gained MagSafe this year.

David Price / Foundry

If true, however, the iPhone Ultra won’t be the first model in recent years to miss out on MagSafe. The iPhone 16e suffered from the same omission, although it isn’t clear whether this decision was made in order to cut costs, help with design/manufacturing processes, encourage upsell to costlier alternatives, or (the official reasoning) because target buyers simply didn’t want it. It’s worth pointing out that the iPhone 17e gained MagSafe, albeit a slower version than that seen on other contemporary iPhones, and this upgrade was a major factor in that device getting a higher review score than its predecessor.

As I’ve explained elsewhere, MagSafe is a transformative feature. Before it came along, the options for iPhone owners were using a cable (fiddly, particularly when the cable inevitably slips down behind the nightstand) or non-magnetic wireless charging (also fiddly, and prone to leaving you with a dead phone in the morning because it got nudged off the sweet spot). We still have wired charging for moments where speed is the priority, but for all other times, MagSafe is the most convenient and frictionless way to perform a much-repeated task. Going back to the pre-MagSafe world while reviewing the iPhone 16e was far more annoying and inconvenient than I ever would have expected.

With this in mind, I’d be very surprised if Apple’s supposed debate about the future of MagSafe led to terminal action. Apple (as well as the rest of the smartphone world) knows MagSafe is a winner, and as Instant Digital acknowledges, the ecosystem of licensed MagSafe-ready accessories is itself a non-trivial source of revenue. That doesn’t mean there won’t be exceptions to the rule: the company tried to live without the tech on the 16e, for example, and it seems likely we’ll see something similar on the first-gen iPhone Ultra. But the standard, surely, will be to include MagSafe, because it’s too good to die and too important to limit to the Pro models only.

Anecdotally, I’ve been hearing for a very long time that Facebook and Instagram users are growing ever more dissatisfied with their social media feeds, and there now appears to be some hard data to support this.

Meta has admitted that its daily active users declined by 20 million this quarter, and the company is taking steps to try to improve the quality of both Facebook and Instagram feeds …

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Netflix is rolling out an overhaul of its iPhone app today, as previously announced, with a redesign centered around a vertical video feed called ‘Clips.’ Here’s what’s new.

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With this Philips 1000 series touchscreen deadbolt lock, you replace keys with easy PIN access. And it’s on sale for $67.99 (MSRP $129.99).

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple is set to report its fiscal second-quarter financial results after market close today, and Wall Street analysts are projecting another solid performance for company.

According to consensus estimates tracked by FactSet, Apple is expected to post adjusted earnings per share of $1.95, marking an 18% increase from $1.65 in the year-ago quarter. Total revenue is projected to reach $109.5 billion, up approximately 15% from $95.4 billion last year.

The iPhone remains the standout performer, with analysts forecasting iPhone revenue of $56.5 billion — a strong 21% jump year-over-year. This suggests continued momentum in Apple’s flagship product line amid a recovering smartphone market.

Mac sales are expected to come in at $8.12 billion, representing a modest 2% increase from the prior year. Meanwhile, Greater China continues its rebound, with projected sales of $19 billion, up a healthy 19% compared to last year.

These figures point to broad-based growth across Apple’s hardware business, particularly in its largest product category and key geographic region. Investors will be watching not only the headline numbers but also any forward guidance and commentary on AI initiatives, services traction, and the overall health of consumer demand.
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MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

‎
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The book-style folding smartphone market continues to grow ahead of the expected launch of the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra later this year. We’ve so far seen models from Oppo, Huawei and Samsung, with a new Motorola device available soon.

We already knew a lot of details about the Motorola Razr Fold, but this now includes the price and launch date in the US …

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For years, Adobe Creative Cloud has been an essential part of my workflow. While I’m always writing as a journalist, I’m also constantly editing photos and videos, and Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, and other apps have been essential to my work. But like many freelance creators, I started to wonder if paying such a high price for Adobe apps was really worth it.

Even before Apple Creator Studio became a reality, I had already decided to switch from Adobe to Apple and Pixelmator apps (which now belong to Apple). If you’re also wondering whether the switch is worth it, read on as I detail how this decision impacted my workflow and which suite is better.

Adobe made sense, until it didn’t

I’m not here to disparage Adobe apps. There’s a reason why Adobe dominates the industry when it comes to creativity apps. Creative Cloud offers powerful tools that work seamlessly with each other and are widely used in professional environments.

Few things are easier than starting to edit a photo in Lightroom and retouching it in Photoshop with just a few clicks. Plus, if you work in a team, at an agency, or in a corporate environment, Adobe is usually the standard. It’s hard to be the only one using different software when you need to collaborate with others.

But as a solo creator, I started to realize that I wasn’t actually using most of what I was paying for.

Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps are incredibly powerful, but are also very expensive. 

Foundry

I’ve been an independent journalist for years, and I also work from home. And as a Mac user, I started to notice that Adobe apps aren’t really optimized to take advantage of all the newer features in Apple hardware and software. All of Adobe’s apps run natively on Apple silicon, of course, but Adobe doesn’t keep up with the latest advancements in hardware or software as Apple does.

And yet, I was locked into a subscription that kept getting more expensive and harder to cancel. Annual plans, cancellation fees, and constant subscription renewals created a sense that I was renting my tools indefinitely, whether I wanted them or not.

Pixelmator Pro replaced Photoshop more easily than expected

There’s no denying that Photoshop is the most powerful image editor on the market. There’s no denying that. But I also realized that I didn’t need all that power most days.

My main use for Photoshop was to create artwork and crop images for my articles, or make templates for social media posts. I’m not a novice user, but I also didn’t really need all of Photoshop’s advanced tools.

Pixelmator Pro is a worthy alternative to Photoshop.

Foundry

I gave other apps such as Affinity Photo a try and ended up choosing Pixelmator Pro as my new image editor. At the time, Apple hadn’t yet acquired the app, and it was only available for Mac, which wasn’t a problem since I prefer working on my Mac anyway.

With Pixelmator Pro, you can work with multiple layers, add shapes, text, and masks, remove backgrounds, adjust colors, apply effects, and more. But one of my favorite features is Super Resolution, which uses AI to restore low-resolution images.

Pixelmator Pro doesn’t have as many tools as Photoshop, but it gets the job done and covers everything I need for retouching, compositing, cropping, and easy exporting to the web and social media. The interface is much cleaner and easier to use than Photoshop’s, which is great for beginners.

And Pixelmator Pro is a great Mac app. It’s built with the latest technologies and runs extremely smoothly on Apple silicon Macs. It became clear to me that I no longer needed Photoshop in my life. It started to feel like overkill.

Photomator is the perfect Lightroom alternative

In order to dump Adobe, I also needed a replacement for Lightroom. Since I was already using Pixelmator Pro, Photomator felt like the best and most natural choice. From the same developers as Pixelmator Pro and now also owned by Apple, Photomator is the perfect app for batch editing photos.

Photomator is an underrated tool for touching up photos.

Foundry

It has all the essential tools for editing photos with color and texture correction, LUT support, automatic subject and background selection, and compatibility with multiple RAW formats. It’s also super easy to use and integrates with the iCloud Photos library, which is a huge plus for me.

Like Pixelmator Pro, Photomator also has some interesting AI-based features, such as Super Resolution, Smart Deband to remove color banding artifacts, Denoise to remove camera noise, and Repair to remove imperfections or entire objects from a photo. 

I also find that Photomator runs noticeably faster and smoother on my Mac than Lightroom. Plus, Photomator is available on iPhone and iPad, so I can edit photos right from my phone or retouch them with Apple Pencil on my iPad.

Final Cut Pro is a real upgrade over Premiere

When it comes to video editing, both Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro offer advanced tools and are widely used in the industry. But for me, Final Cut is much easier to use.

Despite having professional tools for color grading, LUTs, transitions, and effects, Apple designed Final Cut Pro with an interface that makes it look like iMovie. Even if you’ve never edited a video before, you’ll learn how to use it in no time.

Final Cut Pro is superior in many ways to Premiere.

Foundry

Of course, if you’re coming from Adobe Premiere, there’s definitely a learning curve. You have to relearn the interface, menus, keyboard shortcuts, and adjust your workflow. But once you do, you’ll master Final Cut and enjoy some excellent new tools.

My favorite thing about Final Cut Pro over Premiere is the magnetic timeline. You can easily drag and drop videos, images, and audio files onto the timeline to rearrange them as you like, while Premiere is still track-based and much more complex to compose your videos.

Once again, performance is also a key aspect of Final Cut Pro. It runs infinitely better than Adobe Premiere on macOS, and rendering time is also much faster. This really helps speed up my workflow.

How the iPad fits

I switched from Adobe to Apple because I’m more of a Mac person. Still, I have an iPad Pro that helps me work on the go.

Both Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud offer versions of their apps for the iPad, but there are a few things to keep in mind. iPad apps, whether from Apple or Adobe, lack some of the features found in their desktop versions.

With my Adobe subscription, I had access to iPad versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, and even Premiere. They were far from being desktop apps, but still quite useful when my Mac wasn’t around.

Apple Creator Studio is just a few months old and already has some excellent features for the price.

Apple

When it comes to Creator Studio, you’ll find both Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro on the iPad. However, while I love Final Cut Pro on the Mac, the iPad version still feels too basic. The mobile version of Premiere offers more tools (such as using AI to enhance audio) and is even available on the iPhone. I miss that, and it feels like a missed opportunity for Apple.

Pixelmator Pro on iPad has pretty much the same tools available on the Mac, but with some limitations. You can’t open files with a huge number of layers, for example. Meanwhile, Photomator for iPad is also an excellent app, but here’s the thing: It’s not part of Creator Studio, which means you have to buy it separately ($119 or $30/year). Even worse, buying the Mac version doesn’t give you access to the iPad version, so you essentially need to buy it twice.

So if you want to focus on creating on the iPad, Adobe is probably still be the best option. As I previously wrote here on Macworld, Apple hasn’t fully figured out Pro apps for the iPad yet.

The price difference is a no-brainer

Adobe Creative Cloud is powerful, but it’s expensive, especially if you need more than one app. Even the Photography plan with Photoshop and Lightroom adds up over time, and the full Creative Cloud subscription can feel heavy if you’re working independently.

Apple, on the other hand, has a much more appealing deal with Creator Studio. For $12.99 per month or $129 per year, you get access to Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Logic Pro, and many other apps. The only downside is that Photomator is not included in the bundle (a lifetime license costs $119).

Adobe, on the other hand, charges $19.99 per month for its Photography plan with only two apps. If you want the full suite, it will cost you $69.99 per month if you commit to a full year or $104.99 on a per-month basis, and canceling incurs hefty fees. For independent creators, the price difference matters a lot—especially when you consider that two months is more than a full year of Creator Studio.

Foundry

Why I don’t regret switching

When I first switched over to Creator Studio, I was afraid of losing important features by ditching Adobe apps. But in reality, Apple apps offer pretty much everything I need and are much more affordable. Final Cut Pro feels faster and more enjoyable to use on a Mac. Pixelmator Pro and Photomator cover everything I need for images without overwhelming me with features I’ll never touch.

Are Adobe apps more advanced in many areas? Absolutely. But for an independent creator working primarily within the Apple ecosystem, they’re not always necessary. I can still do my job, and I no longer pay a fortune for tools I wasn’t fully using.

If that’s the case for you (especially if you have a Mac), you should definitely give switching from Adobe to Apple apps a try.

We’re expecting to see the launch of an Apple Glasses product at some point next year, and a sketchy rumor suggests that they may borrow a key feature from Vision Pro.

Specifically, it’s said they may be able to recognize hand gestures as a means of interacting with the wearable device – but there’s good reason to doubt the claim …

more…

Back in 2010, Steve Jobs introduced FaceTime as an iPhone 4 perk, letting users video call their loved ones over Wi-Fi. The service matured over the years, bringing more advanced features like group calls, screen sharing, and much more. Despite its evolution, many users continue to rely on FaceTime for basic one-to-one audio and video calls, disregarding the slew of advanced tools it now offers. If you’re looking to make the most of FaceTime, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with these lesser-known tips and tricks.

Smooth operator

One of the main reasons many people are drawn to Apple-only setups is the ecosystem that brings all your devices together through a set of features Apple calls “Continuity.” Handoff is one of the popular Continuity features: it lets you seamlessly move a task from one Apple device to another. FaceTime supports it, so you can move audio and video calls between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

For example, if a video call is taking longer than expected and I’m tired of holding my iPhone, I can conveniently move it to my MacBook. Similarly, I can hand off a call from the living room’s TV to my iPhone if I’m heading out during a call.

Foundry

To use the feature, make sure the Handoff toggle is enabled under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. Now, whenever you’re FaceTiming, all of your nearby devices will display a persistent notification that you can click to effortlessly move the call without interrupting it.

Take the wheel

Technology enthusiasts often become the default troubleshooters for their friends and family. FaceTime simplifies the process through its screen sharing feature. You could even doodle on the shared screen by tapping it, guiding the other party on where to tap. That’s not always efficient, however. Just tap the screen during a FaceTime call to show the controls, hit the share button and select Share My Screen.

Fortunately, FaceTime supports remote control; you can initiate a session by tapping the dedicated button in the bottom-right corner of the screen sharing interface. Once the other party approves your request, you’ll be able to remotely control their iPhone by tapping and swiping naturally on your screen. It truly makes resolving technical issues easier when you’re away from each other.

App-solute fun

SharePlay is another FaceTime perk that brings people together while they’re apart. During a call, tap the 3-dot menu (…), followed by SharePlay. This will bring up a list of installed apps that support the feature, such as popular music and video streaming services. Once you select an app and its relevant content, you’ll be able to enjoy it on your individual devices at the same time. It’s a neat way to socialize with faraway friends and keep the stream in sync.

Foundry

The aforementioned list also includes apps that support collaboration, including Apple’s own productivity suite. So, you could similarly collaborate on a document via SharePlay by following the same steps.

Face card never declines

Between messy rooms and unforgiving lighting, video calls can easily put participants on the spot. Luckily, FaceTime offers several enhancements that can polish your audio and video streams. Head to your iPhone’s Control Center during a call, and tap on the Controls bar at the very top. This will reveal several effects that you can instantly apply, including Portrait for blurring chaotic backgrounds, Studio Light for adjusting the lighting on your face, and Center Stage to keep you in frame as you move. Likewise, you can opt for the Voice Isolation option when sitting in noisy places to clean up your audio.

Foundry

If you’re using a Mac, you get to utilize a couple of exclusive perks, including virtual backgrounds to completely conceal your surroundings and Edge Light, which acts as a digital ring light.

Graphic responses

Speaking of effects, FaceTime supports more prominent ones that can emphasize a certain opinion or emotion during a call. The Reactions toolbox includes a heart, thumb up, thumb down, balloons, rain, confetti, lasers, and fireworks. To apply any of them, simply tap and hold on your thumbnail during a FaceTime video call, and pick the desired reaction. You could alternatively enable the Reactions toggle after expanding your video tile and perform their respective gestures to apply them.

Foundry

Links to the other side

If you’ve accidentally befriended Android or Windows users, you can actually FaceTime them, too. All you have to do is launch the FaceTime app on your iPhone, click on New Call, followed by Link (chain icon in the bottom-left corner). You can then optionally give the call a name and share the generated link via any messaging app.

Foundry

Keep in mind that anyone with the link will be able to request to join the call via a web browser. FaceTime doesn’t require them to sign in with an Apple Account, and they can assign themselves any alias. They’ll also be able to view your FaceTime caller ID (typically your phone number), so you should only share links privately with people you trust.

Eye-catching tech

During a FaceTime call, users naturally focus on the center of the screen, so you can see the other person. Because the front camera is positioned at the top, this creates the impression that you are looking downward instead of making eye contact. Your iPhone, however, can use its AI smarts to correct your gaze and establish virtual eye contact. Simply head to Settings > Apps > FaceTime, and enable the Eye Contact toggle. Et voilà.

TL;DR: Through May 17, get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) and take advantage of AI-assisted coding, cross-platform development tools, and more.

Macs are great dev machines, but if your work has to ship across Windows, Linux, and everything in between, you’ve almost certainly spent time in Visual Studio. The latest release rolls in stronger AI tools, faster performance, and better workflows for teams.

Included in Visual Studio 2026:

Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit development environment, designed to handle massive codebases and complex projects without slowing you down. You can build everything from mobile apps to web platforms and containerized cloud services.

Some highlights include:

AI-assisted coding with IntelliCode: suggests code based on patterns in your project, helping you write faster and reduce repetitive boilerplate.

Cross-platform development tools: build and debug .NET or C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers, making it useful for mixed-device teams.

Live Share collaboration: jump into real-time coding sessions without teammates needing to clone repos or install dependencies.

CodeLens insights: see commit history, tests, and authors directly in your editor so you understand your codebase faster.

Don’t miss this great deal on Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2026, on sale for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) until May 17.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Lifetime access to Babbel’s 14 languages for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN at checkout — expires June 30.

AI can translate a menu, but it can’t teach you how actually to hold a conversation. The folks at Babbel know this and take a different approach than those gimmicky AI language learning apps. Every lesson is crafted by a team of 100+ linguists and language educators, built around real-life dialogue, cultural nuance, and the kind of practical exchanges that actually come up when you’re out in the world.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages is $159.00 with code LEARN at checkout — but the deal ends June 30.

You’ll get access to over 10,000 hours of content across Spanish, French, German, Italian, Turkish, and more. Lessons run just 10 to 15 minutes and are grounded in everyday scenarios, so you’re learning language the way humans actually use it — not just pattern-matching through an algorithm.

Speech recognition helps you refine your pronunciation, and offline access keeps your learning going wherever you are.

Whether you’re prepping for a trip or want a structured path to fluency, Babbel’s human-centered method is built to get you there.

Get Babbel for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN — offer ends June 30 at 11:59 PM PT.

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple has announced that Tim Cook will no longer serve as Apple’s CEO and John Ternus will have the job starting on September 1. In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the announcement and what it could mean. 

This is episode 981 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola. 

Watch episode 981 on YouTube

Listen to episode 981 on Apple Podcasts

Tune in to the episode 981 on Spotify

Get info 

Click on the links below for more info on what was discussed on the show. 

Tim Cook stepping down as CEO

John Ternus is not inheriting your father’s Apple 

Tim Cook’s reward for exemplary service? The worst job in the world

Don’t worry, Tim Cook is fine, and he’s not leaving Apple

Why John Ternus is the right pick at the right time

I’ll miss Tim Cook’s sneaker game most of all

John Ternus’ promotion to Apple CEO may have claimed its first casualty

Tim Cook’s legacy: 9 small bets that paid off and 2 big swings that didn’t

Apple’s ‘Ultra’ roadmap confirmed: iPhone, MacBook, and more on the way

Steve Jobs’s ‘”Thoughts on Flash” (Internet Archive)

Comment Corner

I’m hearing again about the possible future discontinuation of the iMac. I have had iMacs from grape color to M-series chip (6 of them) and they have been family workhorses. If and when that dread day happens, what will be a reasonable replacement for about the same cost? Mini or MacBook with a monitor? Apple I with a TV? Right now it’s good to be able to use external hard drives for backup and music. 

David C. via email

Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast

You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel.  Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld

To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.

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YouTube subscribers worldwide can soon enjoy picture-in-picture (PiP) support for free on their devices, including the iPhone and iPad.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple launched a new campaign in China called “Thankfully, I was wearing it” (“还好戴着它”), which includes a special podcast episode in which three users share their stories. Here are the details.

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Featuring hundreds of thousands of archive videos from the original Vine platform, in addition to new videos, Divine is now available on the App Store and Google Play. Here are the details.

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In a new paper, a team of Apple researchers details a creative framework that improves LLM answers in math reasoning, code generation, and more. Here are the details.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices.

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Apple is expected to launch a wave of new Home products later this year, after iOS 27 brings Siri’s long-awaited overhaul. But there are three ways Apple Home has recently gotten better during the iOS 26 cycle too. Here’s what’s new.

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Nearly three out of four satellite-enabled smartphones shipped in 2025 were iPhones, according to a new Counterpoint Research report. Here’s where the market is expected to go next.

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Apple has just released one of its smartest, most relatable health-focused advertisements in years. Titled “Health with iPhone + Apple Watch,” the 30-second spot cleverly contrasts unsolicited advice from strangers with the quiet, science-backed insights your own devices provide every day.

The tagline is pure genius: “Listen to your body. Not everybody.”

The commercial shows a woman standing in a busy café line being bombarded with well-meaning but unwanted health tips from people around her — and even their dogs. Instead of listening to the noise, she glances at her iPhone and Apple Watch for accurate, personal data on heart rate, sleep, cardio fitness, cycle tracking, and more.

It’s funny, relatable, and brilliantly on-message. Apple isn’t just selling gadgets — it’s positioning the iPhone and Apple Watch as your most trustworthy personal health companions.

Key Health Features Offered by iPhone + Apple Watch

• Activity & Fitness Rings — Continuous tracking of movement, exercise, and stand goals that gently nudge you to build better daily habits.

• Heart Health — ECG app, irregular rhythm notifications, and heart rate insights that have prompted life-saving medical visits for many users.

• Sleep Tracking — Detailed analysis of sleep stages and quality, helping users improve rest and energy levels.

• Cycle Tracking & Women’s Health — Advanced menstrual cycle and reproductive health insights directly on iPhone.

• Unified Health App — All data flows seamlessly into the secure Health app on your iPhone, giving you trends, long-term patterns, and actionable intelligence in one private dashboard.

The Bigger Picture: Apple’s Health Moat

This ad reinforces why the Apple ecosystem is so sticky. Once you own both an iPhone and Apple Watch, the combination delivers far more value than either device alone. The passive, always-on monitoring turns your everyday tech into a proactive health partner — without feeling like a burden.

It’s another reminder of Apple’s deepening moat in personal health technology. Features backed by science, protected by industry-leading privacy, and integrated so smoothly that they become indispensable.

MacDailyNews Take: In a world full of health noise, conflicting advice, and wellness fads, Apple’s message is refreshingly clear: your body already knows what it needs — and your iPhone + Apple Watch can help you actually hear it.

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The post Apple’s brilliant new iPhone + Apple Watch ad nails it: ‘Listen to your body. Not everybody’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple has reportedly halted work on the Vision Pro AR headset, shifting focus to smart glasses. Here’s why.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

After offering in the US, YouTube is making picture-in-picture (PiP) mode free for all users around the world.

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iOS 26.4 launched last month with new features for Apple Music, Podcasts, and a lot more. There’s also a new iOS 26.4 feature that makes iCloud on the web more useful than before thanks to the addition of search. Here’s how to enable it.

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In any period of economic uncertainty, inflation, and/or tightening consumer budgets, many premium products face “demand destruction” — a long-lasting shift where buyers delay purchases, trade down, or abandon categories altogether. Yet Apple’s iPhone has proven remarkably resilient. While the broader smartphone market ebbs and flows, iPhone sales often hold steady or even surge, as evidenced by recent quarters showing record revenues and Apple leading global shipments despite industry headwinds.

This insulation isn’t accidental. It stems from deep structural advantages in Apple’s business model, customer psychology, and ecosystem design.

1. Unrivaled Customer Loyalty and Retention

Apple’s iPhone owners exhibit loyalty rates that dwarf competitors. Retention hovers between 89% and 96% in recent surveys, with figures as high as 96.4% in the U.S. for users planning to stick with iPhone on their next upgrade.

Over 90% of iOS users worldwide stay within the Apple ecosystem rather than switching to Android.

This isn’t mere brand affection, it’s behavioral lock-in. Once invested in iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud, Apple Watch pairing, and AirPods continuity, switching imposes real friction: data migration hassles, lost features, and a noticeable drop in seamless experience. High loyalty translates directly to predictable upgrade cycles, buffering against economic shocks. Even in downturns, existing owners prioritize replacement over abandonment.

2. The Power of the Ecosystem and Installed Base

Apple’s installed base exceeds 2.5 billion active devices globally. This creates a self-reinforcing flywheel: more devices mean more services usage, which funds better hardware and deeper integration.

Consumers don’t just buy a phone, they buy into an interconnected world. An iPhone owner adding an Apple Watch or Mac becomes exponentially less likely to defect. This lock-in insulates demand because the marginal cost of staying (upgrading) feels lower than the switching cost. Trade-in programs further sweeten the deal, effectively subsidizing upgrades and maintaining volume even when list prices rise.

3. Premium Positioning and Pricing Power

The iPhone is a status symbol as much as a tool. Buyers associate it with quality, security, longevity, and social signaling — perceptions that hold up well in tough times. Apple’s strategy of focusing on high-end models (Pro and Pro Max) drives strong average selling prices (ASPs), even as it occasionally adjusts production for specific SKUs.

Unlike commoditized Android competitors fighting on price, Apple rarely engages in deep discounting. This preserves margins and perceived value. Data from past recessions (including 2008) shows premium smartphones holding up better than mass-market ones, as aspirational buyers still stretch for the “best” option.

4. Services: The Recurring Revenue Cushion

Hardware sales can fluctuate, but Apple’s Services business (App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Pay, advertising, and more) grows steadily with high margins (76.5% gross margin vs. 40.7% for products).

Services revenue hit records in fiscal 2025, contributing significantly to profits even if unit sales slow.

A massive installed base keeps Services humming regardless of new iPhone purchases. This diversification reduces reliance on hardware cycles and provides a financial buffer that funds R&D and marketing, further strengthening the core product.

5. Supply Chain Mastery and Market Leadership

Apple’s ability to forecast demand, manage inventory tightly, and diversify manufacturing (e.g., India and Vietnam ramp-ups) prevents oversupply issues common in consumer electronics. Recent reports of production tweaks for models like the iPhone Air highlight responsiveness, not weakness — while overall iPhone demand remains healthy, with year-over-year growth in key periods.

In Q1 2026, Apple led global smartphone shipments with growth while the market contracted.

The Bottom Line: A Moat Against Economic Cycles

Demand destruction hits categories where products are easily substitutable, low-status, or lack recurring value. The iPhone defies this through emotional attachment, functional lock-in, a services safety net, and relentless focus on the high end.

Of course, no product is immune forever. Prolonged stagnation, major competitive breakthroughs, or geopolitical risks could test this resilience. Yet Apple’s track record of thriving through multiple economic cycles suggests the iPhone’s moat remains very wide and deep. For investors and consumers alike, it’s a reminder that true premium endures not just because of specs, but because of the invisible threads tying users to the brand.

MacDailyNews Take: In any uncertain time, people will cut back on many things. For hundreds of millions, their Apple iPhone isn’t one of them.

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Apple TV is home to Formula 1 races for US viewers, and this weekend F1 comes to the US for the Miami Grand Prix—here’s how to watch.

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Another day, another scoop from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on the features coming to iOS 27 this fall. Gurman leaked three new AI-powered photo-editing features just yesterday, and today he’s got another AI-based feature coming to iPhones.

According to his report, Apple is going to give Visual Intelligence a big upgrade, but will also make it easier to discover and use by integrating it into the Camera app via a new Siri mode. Think of it like any other camera mode—video, slo-mo, panorama, etc.—only when in Siri mode, the shutter will reportedly morph into a Siri icon to trigger Visual Intelligence.

We previously reported on the big upgrade coming to Visual Intelligence in iOS 27, with much less reliance on ChatGPT for information along with the ability to produce digital tickets/passes from paper ones, read and understand nutritional labels, and add phone numbers and addresses to Contacts.

Currently, Visual Intelligence can be summoned by pressing the Camera Button and holding it for a couple seconds or through Control Center, but placing the feature right in the Camera app will ensure almost every iPhone user discovers it and at least tries it out.

Apple will unveil iOS 27 (and all the OS 27 updates) at WWDC in June, and it is expected to release this September.

Apple adding Siri camera mode and expanded Visual Intelligence should make AI feel core to iPhone with iOS 27.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are coming this fall, and a new report says they’re set to offer “some of the biggest camera hardware upgrades in the lineup’s history.”

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Apple is preparing one of its most practical AI upgrades yet for iOS 27. According to Bloomberg, the company is deeply integrating artificial intelligence into the iPhone’s Camera app with a dedicated Siri Camera Mode and by promoting Visual Intelligence from a secondary Camera Control button feature into a core, always-accessible part of the camera experience.

A New Siri Mode in the Camera App

In iOS 27, opening the Camera app will reportedly offer three main modes: the familiar Photo and Video, plus a brand-new Siri mode. This isn’t just voice commands — it’s a full AI-powered visual assistant built directly into the viewfinder.

By moving Visual Intelligence into the main Camera app (instead of requiring the Camera Control button on newer iPhones), Apple is making on-device AI dramatically more prominent and easier to use for everyone. Point your camera at something, tap or speak, and Siri will handle the heavy lifting.

Visual Intelligence Gets Real-World Superpowers

The upgrades go far beyond basic object recognition. Leaks and code discoveries point to two especially useful new capabilities coming to Visual Intelligence in iOS 27:

• Nutrition Label Scanning — Point your camera at a food package and get instant breakdowns of ingredients, calories, macros, and more. Expect tight integration with the Health app for seamless food logging and tracking. This could be a game-changer for anyone serious about nutrition or managing dietary needs.

• Business Card & Contact Scanning — Scan printed phone numbers, addresses, or names on cards, flyers, or signs, and Visual Intelligence will offer to add them directly to your Contacts app. It already handles calendar events — now it’ll handle people too.

These features build on Apple’s existing Visual Intelligence (introduced with the iPhone 16 series) but make it far more proactive and useful in everyday scenarios.

Apple has been playing catch-up in the generative AI race, but with iOS 27 the company appears focused on practical, privacy-respecting intelligence that works where you already spend your time — inside the built-in Camera app.

• No more switching apps or fumbling with the Camera Control button.

• Deeper on-device processing (keeping data private).

• Features that solve real daily problems instead of just generating images or text.

The changes are expected to be previewed at WWDC 2026 in June, with the full iOS 27 release arriving in the fall alongside new iPhones.

MacDailyNews Take: iOS 27 is about embedding artificial intelligence into the tools users use most. A significantly smarter Camera app with always-on Siri visual mode, nutrition insights, and effortless contact capture could make the iPhone feel genuinely more capable in 2026.

If you’ve been waiting for Apple Intelligence to deliver everyday wins rather than gimmicks, this is the years it look like Apple will finally deliver!

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