Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Thursday February 26
- 02:05 pmNew Apple product launch starts Monday, Tim Cook confirms
Apple CEO Tim Cook just confirmed that the company will announce new products starting “Monday morning.” This will be the start of a release cycle that includes a hands-on “experience” on Wednesday. 9to5Mac’s Chance Miller will be in attendance in New York City. more…01:58 pmThe Top 5 Reasons Why Your App Might Get Rejected (And How to Fix Them)
Getting rejected after waiting days for App Store review is one of the most frustrating experiences as an app developer. I went through 50+ real rejection cases on Reddit, Indie Hackers and Apple's developer forums, here are the 5 most common reasons and how to avoid them. (Not in order just a list) App crashes […]01:53 pmSamsung’s equivalent of Apple Intelligence in the Galaxy S26 seems very underwhelming
Samsung loves to launch new features before Apple, and it has partly done so with the new AI capabilities in the Galaxy S26. The latest version of Galaxy AI seeks to perform many of the same functions as Apple Intelligence. As our sister site 9to5Google notes, however, the experience seems set to prove very underwhelming … more…01:33 pmSamsung’s Privacy Display is the best iPhone feature Apple never made
Macworld At a time when our smartphones store banking apps, passwords, personal messages, and other sensitive data, privacy screen protectors have become a must for many users. These third-party add-ons rely on micro-louver technology to restrict the viewing angle of the display, limiting visibility from the sides. This makes it difficult for bystanders to see on-screen content at an angle, as the light emits in a controlled, forward-facing direction. During its Unpacked event earlier this week, Samsung revealed its Galaxy S26 line. As you’d expect from phone manufacturers at this point, the keynote heavily revolved around performance gains and AI features. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping highlight, however, was the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display, which mimics the aforementioned screen protectors natively. If Apple truly cares about iPhone users’ privacy, it needs to steal this ingenious invention as soon as possible. How Privacy Display works So, did Samsung just pre-install a privacy screen protector on the Galaxy S26 Ultra to save its customers $20? Far from it. Privacy Display does not rely on an external layer or filter to achieve the intended goal. It has been engineered on the pixel level, dictating how the screen emits light in the first place. Smartphone displays are typically made up of wide pixels, which emit light outward in multiple directions. This enables you to view on-screen content even when you’re not strictly facing the device. Here’s where Samsung applied its magic. Samsung’s Privacy Display limits the field of view for sensitive content on your phone.Samsung The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first smartphone to feature what Samsung calls the Black Matrix. Marketing lingo aside, the technology essentially narrows a pixel’s light path using a ring, directing more of the light forward—rather than allowing it to scatter outward. This produces a narrow pixel that behaves in a restricted manner. To make the feature dynamic, Samsung had to incorporate both wide and narrow pixels in its latest flagship phone. When Privacy Display is on, narrow pixels become the primary source of light, reducing visibility from an angle. Toggling it off enables both pixel types to work in tandem, restoring regular light emission. To see it in action is truly mind-blowing. Why Privacy Display wins Now, you may be wondering why iPhone users should care about Privacy Display when screen protectors can seemingly achieve similar results for just a few bucks. Mainly, Samsung’s implementation is neither permanent nor universal. You can toggle the feature on or off using the Quick Panel (Samsung’s Control Center) or tie it to daily schedules or routines. For example, the screen can behave normally when you’re at home and switch to private mode when you’re out and about. More importantly, you can have Privacy Display conceal specific portions of the screen, such as incoming notifications, banking apps, password fields, etc. This maintains your phone’s proper illumination while still blocking others from viewing private content of your choosing. The S26 Ultra can customize when Privacy Display appears.Samsung It is also worth noting that privacy screen protectors come with a few caveats. For starters, they make the screen a little thicker and tend to dim the brightness and alter the colors’ accuracy. They can also make the screen less responsive to touch input and interfere with some features. Samsung’s implementation achieves similar results while maintaining the image quality and the phone’s functionality. Once it becomes a default on all smartphones in the coming years, no one will want to look back. The innovation race Apple’s unwillingness to take risks is slowing down its innovation. Even as an iPhone enthusiast, I can’t help but acknowledge how mundane Apple’s product launches have generally become. Despite maintaining its status as a trendsetter, Apple has been lagging behind its competitors in terms of breakthrough technology and features. Sure, it is doing wonders with its silicon, but performance means little when the rest of the device is so tediously uninspiring. Privacy Display is objectively an actual, transformative screen innovation in a way the iPhone 18 Pro’s smaller Dynamic Island won’t be.01:24 pmApple continues to casually dominate gaming
Macworld Apple might not always seem to understand PC gamers, but it remains a hugely dominant force in that market. Newly published research shows that in 2025, the App Store made significantly more money from games than the other two major platforms combined. According to SensorTower’s State of Gaming 2026 report, which recounts key findings from the previous year and predicts what we can expect in this one, the App Store made gross revenue of $52.5 billion in 2025, compared to just $30 billion for Google’s Play Store and $11.7 billion for Valve’s Steam platform. Steam is doing its best to catch up–its revenue was up 13 percent on the previous year, whereas Google and Apple saw growth of just 2.8 percent and 0.6 percent respectively—but Apple retains its massive lead in the market. (Just as a note on methodology: SensorTower says its revenue figures for the App Store and Google Play are based on IAPs within games rather than the cost of the games themselves, presumably because the vast majority of apps sold are free. They include both the money made by the games publisher and the percentage skimmed off by the platform holder.) Interestingly, while Apple is ahead on revenue, it’s a long way behind on volume. SensorTower reports that a whopping 81 percent of downloads in 2025 were on Google Play (that’s all games, not just mobile), compared to 15 percent for Apple’s App Store. The difference is that iPhone owners are far more likely to spend money. Services, the category of revenue which includes the App Store along with subscription services such as Apple Music and, relevantly to this discussion, Apple Arcade, is a cherished source of income for Apple because it scales so efficiently. There aren’t supply issues when the product is purely digital, and as such, Services is the company’s second-largest revenue generator after the iPhone, and topped S30 billion in the last quarter. All of which should explain why Apple is so reluctant to allow developers to direct users through their own payment systems in order to reduce or avoid the App Store revenue cut. A few years back a court ordered the company to allow “buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to [external] purchasing mechanisms,” but its response was to place a fee on purchases made outside the App Store as well as on those made within. This policy, which calls to mind an old Onion article about American Airlines charging non-passengers, did not go down well with the judge. But you can kind of see why they were tempted to try.01:15 pmRAM supply is so tight, Samsung may be charging Apple double
Apple has reportedly agreed to pay Samsung double what it used to for DRAM chips, the memory used in iPhones and Macs — even though it may not have needed to just yet.Examples of older DRAM modules — image credit: SamungMassive worldwide demand for AI servers has meant all manufacturers having a hard time securing what they need in memory, storage, and processors. It's also meant Apple losing its previous ability to negotiate low prices and long-term deals.The latest example of the pressures Apple and others are under concerns buying DRAM supplies from Samsung. DRAM is used as RAM in the iPhone and Apple Silicon Macs, and according to Dealsite, a South Korea financial news publication, Apple has just agreed to pay double what it has before. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:13 pmI’m not a developer. I used AI to build my first iOS app. It just got approved first try. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI’m not a developer. I used AI to build my first iOS app. It just got approved first try.
Hi all, A year ago I wouldn’t have imagined posting this. I’m not a software engineer. My background is in Digital Project Management at a university. I’ve worked alongside developers for years, but I’ve never been the one writing production code. After being made redundant last year, I started building an iOS app called Ride […]01:08 pmApple Home Key comes to everyone, everywhere with Aliro launch
After years in development, the Connectivity Standards Alliance has announced the release of the 1.0 version of Aliro, bringing an Apple Home Key-like experience to everyone.Aliro brings the Apple Home Key experience to other ecosystems with this new open standardThe Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is a member-driven organization that develops the Matter smart home standard. Matter was designed to enable smart home devices to work across different ecosystems, and Aliro is a new specification within that framework.Not much has been shared about Aliro since the original announcement. Recently, interest has increased as manufacturers prepare Aliro-compatible products, such as those showcased at CES 2026. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:03 pmInstagram will notify parents if their child searches for self-harm content
Instagram has said that it will begin notifying parents if their teenage child “repeatedly” searches for content related to self-harm or suicide. The announcement follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying in court in response to claims that Instagram content had led to self-harm by children … more…01:00 pmBacked by Apple, Aliro 1.0 aims to do for enterprise access control what Matter did for the smart home | 9 to 5 MacBacked by Apple, Aliro 1.0 aims to do for enterprise access control what Matter did for the smart home
Enterprise access control is what I would consider “legacy” technology. A lot of the systems are Windows-based and look like a fancy Access database. On top of that, you are still dealing with physical cards. It is a fragmented mess for users and an onboarding nightmare for IT departments as well. Today, the Connectivity Standards Alliance is stepping in to fix that with the official release of the Aliro 1.0 specification aiming to create a standard for how mobile devices unlock doors, badge in, etc. more…12:39 pmSketchy report claims Apple fell for Samsung negotiating ploy on memory
Apple almost always gets the better part of any negotiation with its suppliers, but a sketchy report claims that this wasn’t the case when it came to buying RAM from Samsung. The report says Samsung had asked for a 100% increase in price, expecting to negotiate down to 60%, but Apple’s desperation was such that it agreed to the first demand … more…12:26 pmBMX SolidSafe Air 5K Review: The thinnest Qi2 magnetic power bank we’ve tested
Macworld At a glance Pros Super slim Impressive battery power Our Verdict The SolidSafe Air is easily the slimmest semi-solid-state 5K Qi2 power bank you can buy—indeed, in our experience, it’s the slimmest magnetic wireless power bank full stop. And it impressed us in our iPhone recharging tests. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$59.99 Best Prices Today: BMX SolidSafe Air 5K Solid-State Qi2 Power Bank Retailer Price BMX $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I still own power banks that I struggle to grip in one hand. Such items lurk in the bottom of a cupboard awaiting only the end of days rather than a long train journey or city break vacation. Batteries have been getting smaller for years, but recent advances have slimmed phone power banks to shirt-pocket size. Solid-state electrolytes are replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with more stable, efficient materials that allow for smaller, more compact, and safer battery designs. While we haven’t tested any fully solid-state power banks, we have been seeing semi-solid-state cells where flammable liquid is reduced to a fraction of that found in standard lithium-ion batteries. It’s not all about size—these batteries are safer and should last significantly longer with a greater number of cycles before the battery degrades. BMX Size matters: How thin is it compared to other Qi2 power banks? But size does matter when you’re carrying the power bank in your pocket or backpack. BMX, not the little trick bicycle ridden by kids and hipsters but a company called Better Mobile Xperience, has just released a new magnetic wireless power bank that it claims is the “world’s thinnest” 5,000mAh Qi2 power bank. The SolidSafe Air 5K doesn’t stray far from the usual length and width of today’s magnetic wireless power banks (4.1 x 2.8 inches / 103 x 70mm), but when it comes to depth (or height, however you look at it) it is truly tiny at just 0.27 inches (6.8mm). In comparison, the iPhone Air is only slightly thinner at 5.6mm, with a 3149mAh (12.4Wh) battery capacity. While we haven’t tested every single wireless power bank model that exists, we pride ourselves in checking out all those from our most trusted power brands, including Anker, Ugreen, Belkin, EcoFlow, Baseus, Kuxiu, ESR, Statik and more. The margin might be coming down in size, but the SolidSafe Air 5K does indeed live up to BMX’s claim. The closest we have measured in terms of slimness are: BMX SolidSafe Air 5K: 6.8mm Anker Nano 5K MagGo Slim: 8.6mm Vonmählen Evergreen Mag 5000mAh: 8.6mm PhoneSuit Elite Mag Slim 5K: 8.9mm Baseus PicoGo Ultra-Slim 5K: 8.9mm Kuxiu S2 5K (also semi-solid state): 10mm Infinacore M3 Mini 5K: 10.6mm Clearly, the SolidSafe Air is the thinnest 5K magnetic wireless power bank that we have tested. Simon Jary Weight matters too What about its weight? When it’s on your person or in the bag you are carrying, weight is as important as size; if not more. The SolidSafe Air weighs 4.1oz (116g); to compare, the iPhone Air weighs 165g. Let’s compare that to our other slim power banks mentioned above. BMX SolidSafe Air 5K: 4.1oz (116g) Anker Nano 5K MagGo Slim: 4.3oz (122g) Vonmählen Evergreen Mag 5000mAh: 4.34oz (123g) PhoneSuit Elite Mag Slim 5K: 3.88oz (110g) Baseus PicoGo Ultra-Slim 5K: 3.77oz (107g) Kuxiu S2 5K (also semi-solid state): 6.14oz (174g) Infinacore M3 Mini 5K: 3.88oz (110g) The SolidSafe Air is therefore not the lightest power bank we’ve tested. That honor goes to the Baseus PicoGo Ultra-Slim. However, we don’t think 0.32oz or 9g is going to be noticeable by anything other than a set of precision scales. BMX Design: Does the slim design affect battery life or charging speed? The SolidSafe Air is so thin that the magnetic coil must be raised a little from the otherwise flat surface of the power bank. Looking at the distance between the USB-C charging port and the sides makes me think it will be nearly impossible to get any thinner—but, fear not, someone will. BMX It’s available in a choice of three colors: Titanium Gold, Titanium Black, and Titanium Silver. Add in a Sky Blue model and the iPhone Air models would all be matched. BMX has certainly tried to create a power bank thin enough for the iPhone Air users. The battery indicator is the standard set of four LEDs to let you know how much power is left in the power bank’s battery. One of the thinnest power banks we’ve reviewed is the PhoneSuit Elite Mag Slim 5K, and this boasts a digital percentage display, which is far more accurate, but such display on a 5K power bank is are, and to its credit, the SolidSafe Air’s LEDs are brighter than most. The SolidSafe Air is reinforced with titanium to make it more durable against impact. That combined with the safer semi-solid electrolytes should make the power bank inherently safer than most power banks. Semi-solid-state cell technology reducing flammable liquid content improves thermal stability and lowers fire risk compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. It should also mean the SolidSafe Air can be charged, discharged and recharged many more times than a traditional lithium-ion power bank. Performance also matters The 5000mAh (milliamp hour) battery is rated at 18.5Wh (watt hours). This is the sweet spot for a power bank that is lightweight and slim but still has enough capacity to offer a decent iPhone recharge. Remember the iPhone Air’s battery capacity is 3149mAh (12.4Wh). The closer match is the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5088mAh (20Wh) battery. Find out your iPhone’s battery capacity in our long list. We test power banks by running down an iPhone 16 Pro to 0% and seeing to what percentage the power bank can take the phone’s battery. In this test the BMX SolidSafe Air 5K achieved an impressive score of 89%, among the highest of all the magnetic wireless power banks we have had in the Macworld Labs. Simon Jary The SolidSafe Air employs the Qi2 magnetic charging technology, so can supply up to 15W of power wirelessly. Some larger 10K power banks—such as the Kuxiu K1, Baseus PicoGo 25W 10K, Ugreen MagFlow and Sharge Icemag 3—use the newer Qi2.2 tech that can handle 25W for compatible iPhones (iPhone 16 and later). 25W should charge an iPhone (16 or later) from 0-50% in around half an hour, while 15W takes about 45 minutes. We are still waiting for a 5K power bank that is as fast as 25W. Use the charging port with a cable (USB-C to USB-C for iPhone 15 and later, USB-C to Lightning for older iPhones) to gain a little faster 20W of power. A neat function is simultaneous wired (using a cable in the power bank’s charging port) and wireless charging. Via this method you get 10W wired plus 12W wireless for 22W power—not so far off the 25W that Qi2.2 would have supplied. The power bank itself is charged at up to 15W, which is quite slow in comparison to others that have input speeds of between 18-30W. if charging overnight or not in a hurry, this shouldn’t matter. A full recharge of the power bank should take around 2 hours. Price The SolidSafe Air 5K Solid-State Qi2 Power Bank is available on the BMX website for $59.99, with Amazon sales starting at the end of March. For alternatives check our reviews of the best magnetic wireless power banks. Should you buy the BMX SolidSafe Air 5K Solid-State Qi2 Power Bank The titanium SolidSafe Air is wafer-thin and can slip into a shirt pocket without worrying the stitching. You can charge your iPhone (12 and later) wirelessly at 15W or 22W when using both wired and wireless outputs, which is fast. There are power banks that recharge themselves faster, and power banks with smarter battery displays, but the BMX SolidSafe Air is easily the slimmest semi-solid-state 5K Qi2 power bank you can buy—indeed, in our experience, it’s the slimmest magnetic wireless power bank full stop.12:03 pmApple Pay set for biggest ever expansion, likely to boost iPhone sales
Apple Pay has reportedly grown to become the second largest payment processing service in the world after Visa, handling 9.5 trillion transactions for more than 800 million customers. Those numbers now look set for a significant boost as Apple prepares for its biggest ever expansion of its mobile wallet service … more…12:00 pmIndia may finally get Apple Pay by mid-2026
A new report backs up recent claims that India is shortly to get Apple Pay after years of complex negotiations.Apple Pay may finally come to IndiaIn January 2026, it was rumored that Apple was in talks to get Apple Pay in India. Now Bloomberg is reporting which banks Apple is in discussions with, and when it may launch.Apple is said to be in talks with three of the largest banks operating in the country: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:48 amApple Reportedly Agrees to 100% Price Hike on Samsung Memory Chips
Apple has agreed to pay Samsung twice as much for the LPDDR5X memory chips that it needs for ongoing iPhone 17 production, claims a report from Korean outlet Dealsite. According to the report's sources, Apple recently held emergency meetings with Samsung's semiconductor division to negotiate delivery volumes of RAM for the first half of this year. The 12GB LPDDR5X modules used in the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro have already roughly doubled in price since early 2025, rising from around $30 to approximately $70. Samsung is said to have originally planned to push for a 60% price increase on LPDDR5X modules supplied to Apple. Instead, however, Samsung opened with a 100% markup as a negotiating tactic – and Apple apparently accepted it on the spot. If the publication's industry sources are accurate, Apple's immediate acceptance just goes to show how desperate smartphone makers have become to lock down memory supply. Chipmakers like SK Hynix and Micron have been redirecting production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI servers, and that has left mobile DRAM in extremely short supply. Despite the cost pressure, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said Apple's current plan is to keep iPhone 18 Pro starting prices flat. On a recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that rising chip prices would have "a bit more of an impact" on gross margins, but the company still expects year-on-year revenue growth of 13% to 16% this quarter.Tag: SamsungThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums11:30 amA cheap MacBook is the shakeup Apple’s laptop lineup needs
Macworld Everything we know about the MacBook is about to change. There have been widespread rumors that Apple is about to shake up its laptop range in the most significant way since it introduced the failed 12-inch MacBook in 2015. And after many months of speculation, it now feels like a near-certainty that a budget MacBook powered by an iPhone chip will appear as part of Apple’s March 4 “experience” event. So far, almost all of the focus has been on this laptop itself, and understandably so—Apple has never released a sub-$1,000 MacBook, after all. But the impact of such a device won’t just be limited to the budget market. It will likely spur changes elsewhere in the MacBook lineup as well. Indeed, the new budget MacBook gives Apple the opportunity to rethink the MacBook Air and bring some much-needed upgrades to its mid-range MacBook options, creating space between it and the new budget model while also further distinguishing the Air and Pro lines. Gasping for Air For years, the MacBook Air has occupied the low-end slot among Apple’s portable Macs. It’s got the cheapest price, the lowest-end chips, and the least advanced display. For the majority of consumers, it’s more than enough, and it’s absolutely the best MacBook for most people. But the arrival of a cheaper MacBook will change that perception. Based on rumors, this new MacBook will have a significantly slower chip than the Air, but many of the same characteristics people want in a laptop: price, portability, and battery life. The Air has long checked all of those boxes, but now that something significantly cheaper will be available, Apple needs to reposition the Air as a mid-range device by addressing some of its shortcomings. The MacBook Air is a solid machine for $999, but it’s starting to feel stale.Foundry Primary among those quibbles is the display. Compare the Air’s 13-inch LED display to what you get with the MacBook Pro and the differences are stark. Even if you opt for the larger model, the MacBook Pro offers far superior resolution: 3024 by 1964 pixels in the 14-inch MacBook Pro versus 2560 by 1664 pixels in the 13-inch MacBook Air, or 254 pixels per inch (ppi) compared to 225 ppi. You also get much more in the way of brightness. While the MacBook Air is stuck at 500 nits in all situations, the MacBook Pro can ramp up to 1,000 nits outdoors and 1,600 nits for HDR content. That’s complemented by the Pro’s use of mini-LED technology, which provides much-improved colors and contrast. And finally, there’s the refresh rate. The MacBook Pro’s display is kitted out with Apple’s ProMotion feature, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, depending on what’s on screen, resulting in much smoother motion during gaming, movie watching, and scrolling. Like the non-Pro iPads, the MacBook Air is locked to 60Hz. That all means that the MacBook Air is a categorically budget choice with a display that’s clearly inferior to the one you find in the MacBook Pro, but you get a concession in the form of the price. At $999 compared to the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s $1,599, the MacBook Air is much more affordable, and the tradeoffs are understandable. The M5 MacBook Pro could be redundant with the launch of the low-cost MacBook.Foundry A breath of fresh Air Once the new MacBook arrives, the MacBook Air will no longer be the budget laptop choice. It starts at $999, whereas the new MacBook is expected to cost somewhere around $699. With a price difference like that, the MacBook Air will suddenly become one of Apple’s mid-range Macs. Since Apple already differentiates its laptops with their screens, one way Apple could give the MacBook Air some mid-range attention is by upgrading the Air with ProMotion.That would make a significant difference in day-to-day usage, as higher refresh rates are instantly noticeable and give the Air a much-needed upgrade, not unlike how Apple handled the iPhone 17. And with the MacBook Pro already rumored to get an OLED Ultra Retina XDR display later this year, an Air with a ProMotion LED is an upgrade that steps up the MacBook Air without bringing it too close to the MacBook Pro. Apple’s new MacBook could impact the entire lineup.Eugen Wegmann This realignment of the MacBook lineup comes with another quandary: What should happen to the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro? Right now, this model features a similar M5 chip to the upcoming Air with a Pro display and a few more ports for $1,599, hundreds of dollars more than even the 15-inch Air. With the introduction of the new MacBook, Apple’s laptop roster will start looking a little bloated, especially if the Air gets ProMotion. The entry-level Pro is already a cut-rate machine compared to its Pro- and Max-powered siblings, and the shift in the lineup will only highlight its flaws. And with the rumors of an OLED touchscreen coming later this year, it’s likely the model gets axed, leaving a much clearer lineup. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Apple shuffles the Air lineup, possibly eliminating the low-end chip or bumping the entry-level storage to 512GB for higher price points. So the lineup could look something like: MacBook: $699 13-inch MacBook Air: $1,099 15-inch MacBook Air: $1,299 14-inch MacBook Pro: $1,999 16-inch MacBook Pro: $2,499 With the high-end and low-end all but secured, this is an important time for the MacBook Air. It’s started to feel a little stale, with few exciting improvements since its 2022 redesign. Its lower price has helped it become the go-to MacBook for most people, but with an even cheaper MacBook breaking onto the scene, the MacBook Air will have to work even harder to justify its existence.11:27 amAI-speed iteration vs. App Store Featuring timelines, how are you handling this? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingAI-speed iteration vs. App Store Featuring timelines, how are you handling this?
With vibe coding and AI tools, meaningful features can go from idea to release in just a few days now. But App Store Featuring Nominations still recommend planning 2 weeks, sometimes even months in advance. If a substantial update is ready in 3 days (not just a minor patch), do you: • Ship immediately • […]11:14 amWhat a solo iOS dev’s full stack library actually looks like — Cognito, CDK, StoreKit 2, and all the parts tutorials skip – Open sourced | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWhat a solo iOS dev’s full stack library actually looks like — Cognito, CDK, StoreKit 2, and all the parts tutorials skip – Open sourced
I've been shipping iOS apps as a solo developer for a few years now, and the thing that still surprises me is how little of my time goes into SwiftUI. The views, the animations, the layout — that's maybe 30% of building an app. The other 70% is authentication, backend APIs, infrastructure, subscription management, and […]11:06 amStatik SmartCharge Pro Review: 15K all-in-one charger for MacBook, iPhone
Macworld At a glance Pros Multi-function charging tool 60W GaN USB-C wall charger 15W wireless charger 15K laptop power bank Built-in USB-C cable Orange model is cool Cons Too chunky for a pocket 60W won’t fast-charge MacBooks Our Verdict With 15K power bank, 60W laptop charging cable & port plus handy iPhone/Watch/AirPods wireless charger, the SmartCharge Pro is the Swiss Army penknife of charging, able to replace your MacBook charger, iPhone charger, travel adapter in one. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$99.99 Best Prices Today: Statik SmartCharge Pro Retailer Price Statik $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It’s bigger than a USB-C charger needs to be, and larger than a magnetic wireless power bank should be, so who is the Statik SmartCharge Pro aimed at? Yes, it comes in an unmissable orange color that will spark interest from the iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange brigade. Yes, it boasts Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W, and a built-in USB-C cable for charging to up to 60W, plus three more USB ports for extra devices. And, yes, it hosts a powerful 15K power bank that should keep your iPhone and MacBook charged when you’re away from a power source. But is this a handy multi-function utility charger or an attractive Frankenstein’s monster of power? Simon Jary Best for: Someone looking for a handy all-in-one charging solution for all their Apple devices. Not for: Someone who wants an iPhone power bank they can slip in a pocket, or a MacBook Pro owner in a hurry. Specs and features Power bank battery capacity: 15000mAh (54Wh) Integrated USB-C Cable: 60W PD 3.0 USB-C port: 60W PD 3.0 USB-A port: 18W Max output: 60W Wireless charger: 15W (Qi2) The SmartCharge Pro has most bases covered, with two USB-C output/inputs and one USB-A plus the wireless charging pad, all on top of a high-capacity power bank. The built-in AC plug prongs mean the SmartCharge Pro can be plugged direct into a power socket. Statik includes slip-on plug adapters for the U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ, which means customers in those regions can use the SmartCharge Pro and also take it on their travels. Those adapters mean it should be ready for action in over 200 countries without you having to carry extra converters. Both the USB-C outputs can charge at 60W, which is powerful enough to charge any MacBook, although it’s not enough to fast-charge them. Even the 13-inch MacBook Air demands a 70W charger for fast-charging, although 60W is not far off. MacBook Pro models are better served with 100W—or 140W for the 16-inch MacBook Pro—but 60W should be sufficient for steady if not super-speedy charging. We’ve reviewed the best USB-C chargers for MacBook if you need a simpler solution. Simon Jary Those inputs are easily powerful enough to fast-charge iPhones and iPads, as well as other devices. The magnetic wireless charging pad is Qi2 15W rated for iPhones and should charge an iPhone from 0-50% in around 45 minutes. It can also be used to fast-charge an Apple Watch or compatible AirPods case at 5W. It’s too big and too heavy to be a pocket-friendly wireless power bank that you can just clamp to your iPhone: for that see our reviews of the best magnetic wireless power banks. That magnetic attachment is there to support the 15W Qi2 wireless connection, not let you slip the whole thing in your pocket while charging. The power bank itself can be recharged at 45W. This isn’t as fast as some laptop power banks—the Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank has a 100W input port—which is surprising as the SmartCharge Pro plugs direct into a power socket rather than relying on a USB-C connection (which also works, by the way). Simon Jary Design The SmartCharge Pro measures 4.3 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches (110 x 90 x 33mm) and weighs 13oz (370g). In comparison an equal capacity 15K power bank such as the Cuktech 15 Air is smaller at 5.2 x 2.8 x 0.82 inches (132 x 72 x 21mm) and weighs 10.8oz (306g). Of course, it lacks the wireless charger and built-in USB-C cable hosted by the SmartCharge Pro. It’s obviously larger than a standard USB-C charger and much more so than a portable wireless iPhone charger, but that’s missing the point of a charging tool such as this. Statik It’s available in Blaze Orange or Black—the former not only appealing to owners of the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro but making it easy to find in your backpack or tech organizer bag. Performance We tested the Statik SmartCharge Pro in its prowess at recharging a MacBook and iPhone. First we run each device down to 0% and the power bank to 100%, then see how far the power bank’s battery can fill the Apple device’s own battery. There are higher-capacity laptop power banks—the top ones max out at around 27500mAh (99.5Wh), which makes them compliant with airline 100Wh battery carry-on rules. 25K (90Wh) and 20K (72Wh) are also popular laptop power bank capacities. 15K is an increasingly popular size, and these usually get a MacBook up to around 50% of a full charge. The 15K SmartCharge Pro scored 54% of a full MacBook charge in our test, which is what we expected. When tested with an iPhone 16 Pro we got a Macworld Recharge Score of 235. That means we recharged it fully twice plus another 35% on the third charge. That’s a lot of power for iPhone users on the road, although we’d expect a mix or MacBook and iPhone charging to be a more realistic use case, maybe with some Watch and AirPods action in there too. Simon Jary Price The Statik SmartCharge Pro is priced at $99.99. In comparison, the smaller, lighter Cuktech 15 Air 15K Power Bank costs $79.99, yet lacks the integrated AC plug pins and USB-C cable and of course the 15W wireless charger. If you’re carrying around that plus a wall charger and cable, the SmartCharge Pro is the much neater travel solution. See our reviews of the best power banks for MacBook for plainer solutions. Should you buy the Statik SmartCharge Pro? Because it has a magnetic wireless charger on top, it’s easy to mistake the SmartCharge Pro as a chunky iPhone charger. Because it plugs straight into the wall and has multiple USB ports plus an integrated USB-C cable, it’s easy to think of the SmartCharge Pro as a bulky laptop charger. In fact, it’s a reasonably sized portable laptop power bank with built-in iPhone and MacBook chargers. Rather than being a superhero with one special power the SmartCharge Pro is more of a Batmobile or James Bond gadget with multiple functions. With 15K power bank, 60W laptop charging cable and port plus handy iPhone/Watch/AirPods wireless charger, it’s the Swiss Army penknife of charging.11:02 amApple Maps Launches F1 Tracks Guide Ahead of 2026 Season
Apple Maps has been updated with a new guide called "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World," ahead of the new season which is being streamed exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. Spotted by 9to5Mac within the Apple TV Formula 1 Channel, the guide offers an immersive way to explore the circuits, starting with Albert Park in Australia, with more 3D circuit experiences to be added as the season progresses. The Albert Park circuit map highlights turn numbers, grandstands, and a three-dimensional model of the F1 pit building. The experience also doubles as a navigation tool for those attending the Australian Grand Prix, with walking directions to key locations. The track is rendered with realistic kerbs, clearly labelled 3D grandstands and footbridges, and all 14 turns. Temporary pop-up locations pinpoint entrance gates and essential amenities, including restrooms, water stations, first aid points, and merchandise stands, with step-by-step walking directions to individual grandstands. Several other tracks have been upgraded with new 3D graphics, but not yet to the extent of Albert Park. For a preview of what's changed, it's worth visiting the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Miami International Autodrome in Florida, the Circuit de Monaco, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, Silverstone in the UK, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and more. The 2026 F1 season kicks off in Australia on March 8. Last October, Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year partnership including exclusive streaming rights in the U.S. The partnership allows Apple TV to provide comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, including all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. At the time, Apple said it planned to "amplify" the sport across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+. For example, the Apple Sports app will feature live updates for every qualifying, Sprint, and race for each Grand Prix across the season, along with real-time leaderboards, season driver and constructor standings, Live Activities, and widgets.Tag: Apple MapsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:54 amUnited Kingdom Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – Vodafone
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 1, 13:15 - 20:15 PSTFeb 26, 02:43 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner Vodafone United Kingdom is conducting a planned maintenance from 01 March 2026 at 13:15 PST until 01 March 2026 at 20:15 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for Vodafone United Kingdom customers.Impacted Products: Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes, Lookup SIM Swap, Lookup Identity Match10:47 amMobile app design reference for ios developers who aren’t designers
iOS developer doing design work out of necessity and it's painful lol. I can make things functional but they don't look or feel right, probably because I'm not following iOS conventions properly or making up interaction patterns that don't match user expectations. Im using mobbin to study how popular iOS apps handle navigation, gestures, transitions, […]10:23 amEWR (Newark) on 2026-02-27
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 27, 09:00 - 17:00 UTCFeb 26, 10:05 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in EWR (Newark) datacenter on 2026-02-27 between 09:00 and 17:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.10:22 amUnited Kingdom Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – Vodafone
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 28, 12:45 - 18:00 PSTFeb 26, 02:03 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner Vodafone United Kingdom is conducting a planned maintenance from 28 February 2026 at 12:45 PST until 28 February 2026 at 18:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for Vodafone United Kingdom customers.Impacted Products: Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes, Lookup SIM Swap, Lookup Identity Match09:22 amUnited Kingdom Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – Vodafone
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 26, 14:45 - 19:30 PSTFeb 26, 00:55 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner Vodafone United Kingdom is conducting a planned maintenance from 26 February 2026 at 14:45 PST until 26 February 2026 at 19:30 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for Vodafone United Kingdom customers.Impacted Products: Lookup SIM Swap, Lookup Identity Match, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributesWe are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.08:50 amApple in Talks With Banks to Launch Apple Pay in India This Year
Apple is in talks with major Indian banks as it prepares to introduce Apple Pay in the country sometime in the middle of 2026, reports Bloomberg. Apple is said to be in discussions with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank, according to people with knowledge of the matter who spoke to the publication. The report corroborates a story in January by Business Standard that said Apple Pay was preparing to go live in the Indian market before the end of the year. The Times of India also earlier reported the India plans for Apple Pay. Today's report says Apple is talking through the plan with global payment networks Mastercard and Visa. UPI dominates digital payments in India, and Apple Pay is expected to support the state-backed payments interface, which allows customers to instantly transfer money and bills. Apple Pay launched more than 10 years ago, and is already available across 89 markets globally. Late last year, India's central bank approved new rules that allow biometric authentication like Touch ID and Face ID for digital payments. The country's authentication methods previously relied on one-time passwords sent over SMS messages. The timing comes at a good moment for Apple in India. The company recorded its highest quarterly shipments in the country during Q3 2025, reaching 5 million units and securing fourth place in the market for the first time, according to IDC data. Apple is also rapidly expanding its retail presence in India, with a sixth store opening in Mumbai on Thursday. Tags: Apple Pay, Bloomberg, IndiaThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:27 amThe iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Is $20 Off
The battery is exclusively made for the iPhone Air, fitting in your pocket. It gives a great feel when holding, and can extend the battery life of your iPhone Air further than the device’s normal battery life. You can attach it magnetically to the back of your iPhone Air to charge it for all-day use. […] The post appeared first on iLounge.08:25 amMeta Releasing Smartwatch
Meta is looking to release their first smartwatch this year with a built-in Meta AI and health-tracking. The launch of the smartwatch would compete against its rival, Apple, and its Apple Watch and other smartwatch companies. This is the product of a resurrected project the company decided to back out of in 2022. The watch […] The post appeared first on iLounge.08:24 amThe 2026 Major League Soccer Season Is Near
The Major League Soccer’s 31st season will start on February 21 (a Saturday), with games made available in a subscription service on Apple TV. Subscribers of the service in 100 countries are able to access Major League Soccer matches with no extra fees or blackouts. The company previously charged $99 or $14.99 monthly for a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.08:23 amQuality of Life Updates For Chrome Added
Three new features have been added by Google to the desktop browser Chrome: PDF annotations, an option to Save to Google Drive, and split view. Split view is a tool that allows Chrome to support two tabs being used simultaneously. PDF annotations allow you to add notes, signatures, and highlight texts in a PDF. Save […] The post appeared first on iLounge.08:00 amThis $24 slim tracker pulls off the things an AirTag can’t
Macworld TL;DR: The MagTag SmartCard has the same Apple Find My tracking ability — just flat enough to forget it’s there. Once upon a time, AirTags were revolutionary, until you put one in a wallet and suddenly feel like you’re carrying a stack of poker chips. The problem was never tracking — it was shape. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card fixes that by ditching the puck design entirely. It’s basically a credit card with a GPS-style safety net built in. And it’s now on sale for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99). Slide it into a wallet, passport holder, backpack sleeve, or luggage pocket, and it disappears until you need it. It connects directly to Apple’s Find My network, so you can see your item on a map, trigger a loud beep nearby, or get alerts if you leave it behind somewhere. It also recharges wirelessly (no coin batteries to hunt down) and lasts months between charges. The waterproof build means rain, travel, or everyday chaos won’t bother it. The best part is behavioral: you stop doing the pocket-pat dance before leaving a café because the notification tells you first. Same peace of mind, just without the weird bulge. Get this MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card while it’s just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99). MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card – Works with Apple Find My AppSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.07:57 amMacworld Podcast: What to expect from the Apple Experience on March 4
Macworld The Apple Experience event is next week, on March 4. On this week’s episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about what we expect: new MacBooks, new iPads, a new iPhone 17e, and a lot more. This is episode 972 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola. Watch episode 972 on YouTube Listen to episode 972 on Apple Podcasts07:53 amYYZ (Toronto) on 2026-03-06
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 6, 06:00 - 12:00 UTCFeb 26, 07:34 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in YYZ (Toronto) datacenter on 2026-03-06 between 06:00 and 12:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.06:18 amIssues displaying system metrics
Feb 25, 22:18 PSTInvestigating - We are currently investigating an issue affecting the display of system metrics on statuspages.06:04 amdad of a preemie here… built a super simple ios app to track feeds cuz the sleep deprevation is real | Reddit on iOS Programmingdad of a preemie here… built a super simple ios app to track feeds cuz the sleep deprevation is real
our little boy decided to come early a couple weeks ago. having a preterm baby is stressful enough, but trying to remember his exact feeding schedule, how many oz he took, or which side my wife nursed on at 3am has been impossible. our brains are absolute mush. im an ios dev so i built […]04:07 amI had zero coding experience a month ago. Just launched my first app on the App Store using only AI coding tools. Here’s my experience. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI had zero coding experience a month ago. Just launched my first app on the App Store using only AI coding tools. Here’s my experience.
Hey everyone! I'm fairly new to using Reddit, but a few of my friends told me this could be a good place for feedback. I recently left my job and have been trying to make some money. My old roommate was a software developer, so he convinced me to create an app. With 0 experience […]02:53 amGRU (São Paulo) on 2026-03-05
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 5, 05:00 - 11:00 UTCFeb 26, 02:46 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in GRU (São Paulo) datacenter on 2026-03-05 between 05:00 and 11:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:52 amMIA (Miami) on 2026-02-27
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 27, 08:30 - 12:00 UTCFeb 26, 02:30 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in MIA (Miami) datacenter on 2026-02-27 between 08:30 and 12:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:35 amPlease help!! App store connect is not allowing my app 😭
My app is a job portal which takes some compulsory information from user to create their account as shown in image This app is already live on play store and play store doesnt even complain a bit But app store connect has issue with me taking these three fields. Phone number, email and gender and […]01:44 amExperience F1 tracks with 3D art in Apple Maps ahead of each race
Apple Maps has been updated with a new "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World" guide that showcases each racing location. Updated 3D art will be added throughout the season, starting now with Albert Park in Australia.Apple Maps gets F1 guideIt's almost time for the first F1 season distributed by Apple TV to begin. Apple is known for its vertical integration and brand synergy, and it hasn't wasted any time with F1 either.As first discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple is promoting the F1 season in Apple Maps with a new guide. It is titled "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:21 amModularizing Swift Apps with SPM
submitted by /u/unpluggedcord [link] [comments]12:42 amApple Maps adds detailed F1 experience ahead of 2026 season
The 2026 F1 season begins next month, and it’s Apple’s first season with exclusive streaming rights in the United States on Apple TV. In celebration of the kickoff, Apple has added a gorgeous new Apple Maps experience for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026 — with more to come. more…12:31 amApp Store and iTunes Store Experiencing Issues
Some customers are having problems with the App Store, Mac App Store, and iTunes Store, according to Apple's System Status page. The three services have been experiencing issues since 7:22 p.m. Eastern Time. Not all users are affected, but if you've been having trouble accessing or downloading apps, the outage is the reason why. We'll update this article when the problems have been resolved.Tag: System StatusThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums12:22 amSJC (San Jose) on 2026-02-27
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 27, 10:00 - 14:00 UTCFeb 25, 23:55 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in SJC (San Jose) datacenter on 2026-02-27 between 10:00 and 14:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.12:09 amApple Vision Pro users will get to see Disney's 'Muppet*Vision 3D' in all its glory
"The Muppet Show" rebirth has brought Jim Henson's creations back into the spotlight, and fans are awaiting news of the virtual return of the fan-favorite "Muppet*Vision 3D" via Apple Vision Pro.'Muppet*Vision 3D' may have closed, but it's being kept alive in VRJim Henson was responsible for a lot of the world's most popular entertainment, and even Apple has some in their studio. We're not here to talk about Fraggle Rock, but instead, a green guy and his friends that are a little more popular.It's a great time to be a Muppets fan, as Seth Rogen's new special seems to have successfully revived the brand. Long-time fans recently packed the theater for the first time in forever, and mourned the loss of the popular Muppet*Vision 3D attraction at Hollywood Studios in Orlando. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our ForumsWednesday February 2511:27 pmGrab Apple's M5 MacBook Pro for $1,449 before the month-end deals expire
Grab a triple-digit discount on Apple's M5 14-inch MacBook Pro, as retailers engage in a month-end price war.Save $150 on numerous M5 MacBook Pro configurations - Image credit: AppleApple's standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,449 at both B&H and Amazon, as the retailers participate in a month-end price war.Buy M5 MacBook Pro for $1,449 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:22 pm9to5Mac Daily: February 25, 2026 – Touchscreen MacBook Pro rumors, Apple Card latest
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 BenQ: Check out BenQ’s smarter displays made for how Mac users actually work and sign up for the giveaway here. more…11:10 pmIncreased latency with the Cloudflare One Client connected to datacenters in the Texas region | CloudFlareIncreased latency with the Cloudflare One Client connected to datacenters in the Texas region
Feb 25, 23:10 UTCInvestigating - Multiple users in the Texas region may experience performance degradation and increased latency while using the Cloudflare One Client (formerly known as the Cloudflare WARP client). We are actively troubleshooting the issue and will provide updates shortly.11:02 pmU.S. lawmakers request briefing on the UK's iCloud encryption backdoor plans
The UK government's continued attempts to gain access to iCloud users' private data have prompted U.S. lawmakers to request a briefing about the issue.Apple's iPhone is encrypted to ensure no one can get in, good guys or badApple is a company widely known and often praised for its privacy-first approach, but sometimes that very same philosophy is at odds with the goals of world governments. The iPhone maker famously fought against an FBI request for an encryption backdoor, and it did the same when the UK came up with similar demands of its own.The drama surrounding the UK's seemingly never-ending pursuit of iCloud user data continues. On Wednesday, two U.S. lawmakers, U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast, requested that the UK government hold a briefing about its planned iCloud encryption backdoor. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:02 pmM5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro: What to Expect
Apple is working on a new MacBook Pro that could launch next week ahead of the "Special Experience" planned for March 4, so we thought we'd highlight all of the rumors about the device so far. Design There are no rumors of design changes, and we are expecting the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models to look just like the M4 versions. Apple will continue to offer 14-inch and 16-inch size options, both of which should come in M5 Pro and M5 Max varieties. M5 Max and M5 Pro Chip We already got the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M5 chip in October, so what we're expecting are upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The M5 family is built on a more advanced N3P 3-nanometer process from TSMC, and it offers speed and efficiency improvements. The M5 chip is up to 20 percent faster in multi-core CPU performance than the M4 chip, and we could see similar improvements for the M5 Pro and M5 Max chip options. GPU performance is up to 30 percent faster. With the M5, Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU core, improving the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. The chip also supports third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, and enhanced shader cores. The 16-core Neural Engine is more energy efficient than before, and unified memory bandwidth has improved significantly. These are all features that we're likely to see with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as well. Other Possible Updates We haven't heard rumors about any other features coming to the MacBook Pro line. Apple did update SSD speeds for the M5 MacBook Pro models, so we could see the same upgrade to the M5 Pro and M5 Max machines. Why You Shouldn't Buy an M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro If you're not in serious need of a new MacBook Pro right away, early 2026 is a bad time to upgrade. The next-generation MacBook Pro after the early 2026 models is expected to feature an OLED display and touchscreen capabilities, both of which will mark a major upgrade in display quality. It's expected to include a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and macOS will be optimized for touch interactions. Most people shelling out extra money for a MacBook Pro with a higher-end M5 Pro or M5 Max chip need the extra performance or display quality, so it is worth waiting for the huge update that's coming. The transition to OLED will also likely bring a design update along with M6 Pro and M6 Max chip technology, which is another reason to wait. Of course, the new features could be limited to higher-end MacBook Pro models or could be significantly more expensive. If you're on a budget, need a Mac now, or don't care about OLED, the M5 Pro and Max models could still be worth considering. Launch Date The new MacBook Pro models could be announced via press release next week ahead of Apple's Special Experience.Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)Related Forum: MacBook ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:42 pmShould 1Password’s Price Hike Push You to Apple’s Passwords?
1Password is raising prices for the first time in ten years. With Apple’s free Passwords app maturing into a capable alternative, is it finally time to consider switching—or do 1Password’s features still justify its cost?09:53 pmUnited States MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 26, 02:00 - 05:00 PSTFeb 25, 13:32 PSTScheduled - Our MMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting a planned maintenance from 26 February 2026 at 02:00 PST until 26 February 2026 at 05:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering MMS to and from United States handsets via subset of United States short codes.We are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.09:51 pmiOS 26 has made Apple Passwords the only password manager I need
iOS 26 is packed with big and small changes, three of which have enabled me to make Apple’s Passwords app my one and only password manager. more…09:42 pmApple TV just added three new movies to expanding future lineup
Apple TV has been on a hot streak with new movies, and the streamer keeps strengthening its future lineup too. Here are three new movies that, per reporting today, are now part of Apple’s upcoming film plans. more…09:16 pmSpain’s CNMC rules Apple and Amazon delayed removal of anti-competitive clauses, risking further fines | Mac Daily NewsSpain’s CNMC rules Apple and Amazon delayed removal of anti-competitive clauses, risking further fines
Spain's competition regulator has ruled that Apple and Amazon took too long to remove anti-competitive clauses from their distribution… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:42 pmmacOS 27: All the Rumors So Far
macOS 27 is still months away, but there are already a handful of rumors about the upcoming software update, as outlined below. We expect the first beta of macOS 27 to be seeded to developers during WWDC 2026 in June, and a public beta to follow in July. Following beta testing, the update should be released to all users with a compatible Mac in September. macOS 26 is known as macOS Tahoe, but the name of macOS 27 has yet to leak. Siri Upgrades macOS 27 will reportedly include a full-out Siri chatbot that you can have back-and-forth conversations with. This would make Siri more like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Due to delays, macOS 27 might also include at least some of the personalized Siri features that Apple previewed all the way back at WWDC 2024. For example, Apple showed a user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps. This functionality was previewed on an iPhone, but it will extend to the iPad and Mac. More Apple Intelligence Features Last month, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, and that will extend beyond the more personalized version of Siri. However, exactly which features arrive remains to be seen. Touch Interface Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week reported that Apple is preparing a touch-optimized version of macOS for the rumored MacBook Pro with a touch screen. For example, if a user touches a button or control on the screen, the report said a relevant set of commands will instantly appear in a menu surrounding their finger. And if a user taps on an item in the menu bar at the top of the screen, the report said the controls will enlarge so they are easier to select with a finger. Gurman expects the MacBook Pro with a touch screen to be released in late 2026, so these touch optimizations will presumably arrive in macOS 27. However, the changes might be hidden until the touch-screen MacBook Pro launches. Improved Stability macOS 27 will reportedly be similar to 2009's Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is apparently very focused on improving "quality and underlying performance." Apple is expected to implement many bug fixes and stability improvements, and there may also be some much-needed Liquid Glass design enhancements. No Intel Macs Last year, Apple announced that macOS Tahoe would be the final major macOS release for Intel-based Macs, meaning that macOS 27 will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip and newer only. However, Apple will likely continue to release security fixes for some Intel-based Macs for at least a few more years.Tag: macOS 27This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:29 pmLooking for ideas, to make an APP, which solves a big problem.
Yes, I know, this sounds like, ideas for the next million dollar app, but why not? Sharing problems, faced by us, or the majority of us, can help benefit both, our ownself and the community. Looking particularly, for niche problems or problems which the mass faces. submitted by /u/Alternative-Ask5392 [link] [comments]08:15 pmThe Mac is about to get a new AAA game in rare day-one launch
Next week will be a big one for the Mac, with several new MacBooks launching. But another big moment is around the corner: Crimson Desert, a AAA game debuts next month with a day-one macOS release. more…08:04 pmiPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra compared
Samsung's latest high-powered flagship launched on Wednesday, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra taking aim at the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here's the tale of the tape for the two smartphone heavyweights.iPhone 17 Pro Max [left[ vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra [right]Samsung Unpacked took place on February 25, and saw the South Korean electronics giant introduce its latest smartphone lineup. As usual, this included a lot under the Galaxy S26 brand, covering a wide range of performance levels and price points.The highlight model is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, its highest-specification model and largest device on the roster. One that everyone will be comparing with Apple's similarly-framed model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums07:18 pmSamsung copies Apple’s Search button from iOS for One UI 8.5, shamelessly names it ‘Finder’ | 9 to 5 MacSamsung copies Apple’s Search button from iOS for One UI 8.5, shamelessly names it ‘Finder’
The Galaxy S26 trio is finally here, and with it comes One UI 8.5. Samsung might be waiting until the summer to roll out its next big shake-up for its version of Android, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t seeing some new visual elements in this mid-cycle release. As we’ve come to expect, at least one element on the S26’s software is ripped right from Samsung’s closest rival. more…07:09 pmAdvanced Apple Silicon remains tied to Taiwan despite Arizona fab expansion
A walk-through of Apple partners' chip fabrication lines practically demonstrates how the company's push to expand semiconductor manufacturing in Arizona and Texas is mainly aimed at reducing geopolitical risk, and less about bringing back large-scale U.S. factory jobs.TSMC workersA February 25 report outlines how Apple and its suppliers are rebuilding parts of the U.S. chip supply chain, from silicon wafers in Texas to final assembly in Houston. The strategy centers on strengthening supply resilience after pandemic shortages and rising tension around Taiwan.Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has appeared alongside President Donald Trump to spotlight domestic investment. Chip fabrication plants today are highly automated operations powered by robotics and precision machinery. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums07:03 pmApple’s ‘budget’ MacBook may start at $699
Apple is reportedly planning a product launch event in March 2026, where a more affordable MacBook is expected to be the main highlight… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.07:01 pmApple and Amazon accused of ignoring Spanish antitrust order for nearly two years
Following a 2023 decision that fined Apple and Amazon over anti-competitive distribution clauses, Spain’s competition regulator now says the companies took too long to comply and may issue a new fine. Here are the details. more…06:23 pmHAM (Hamburg) on 2026-02-25
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 25, 23:45 UTC - Feb 26, 06:00 UTCFeb 25, 18:21 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in HAM (Hamburg) datacenter between 2026-02-25 23:45 and 2026-02-26 06:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.06:16 pmApple’s low-cost MacBook might lack these key features
Apple’s new low-cost MacBook is set to have a number of compromises to help bring the cost of the machine down. A new rumor today outlines at least some of those compromises in detail … more…06:03 pmTim Cook sums up Steve Jobs in just four words
Macworld Apple boss Tim Cook joined the company in 1998, and has achieved an extraordinary amount in the years since: he has pushed Apple’s profits into the stratosphere, and become a billionaire in the process. But it turns out that the decision to take the job wasn’t as obvious at the time as it now seems in retrospect. In a 2024 letter which the Steve Jobs Archive has this week published for the first time, Cook describes the mixed feelings with which he weighed up the prospects of working at Cupertino. In those days the company wasn’t the dependable corporate behemoth of 2026. “At the time,” he writes, “Apple had been struggling and Steve was working to right a ship that had drifted in his absence. Many people doubted the company could survive, and I was warned that accepting a job there would come with risks.” That “Steve,” of course, refers to the Apple founder who only the year before had returned from exile to be Apple’s sixth CEO. Cook describes his first meeting with Steve Jobs as a fateful day when “my desire to be part of something truly inspiring would finally meet its moment.” What follows is a fascinating glimpse of the first encounter between Apple’s two great leaders. “When Steve spoke,” Cook recalls, “any trepidation I harbored instantly dissolved. I had never met someone with so much passion and vision. “He spoke with charisma and clarity—about a future where technology could unlock a wellspring of human creativity and potential, connecting us and uplifting us in ways even he had yet to imagine. In Steve, I found an incredible mentor who inspired me to grow and challenge myself in new and important ways.” And the rest is history. Jobs invited Cook to join his group of “deeply curious individuals willing to work hard for something greater than themselves” (those are the latter’s words, not the former’s), and he accepted. Some 13 years later, Cook followed in Jobs’ footsteps and became Apple’s seventh CEO. Cook’s letter, along with others by various leaders and creators with a connection to Apple, was originally shared only with fellows of the Steve Jobs Archive. They are released this week as part of a celebration of what would have been Jobs’ 71st birthday.06:01 pmNew app warns of hidden smart glasses cameras nearby
A new Android app called Nearby Glasses alerts users if someone nearby is likely wearing camera-equipped smart glasses, such as… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:01 pmSamsung Launches Galaxy S26 Ultra With Built-In Privacy Display and New AI Features
Samsung today announced its newest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. Samsung's latest devices are focused on AI, and Samsung says they have the most "intuitive, proactive, and adaptive Galaxy AI features" to date. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The 6.3-inch Galaxy S26 is Samsung's smallest and most affordable smartphone, followed by the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26+. The 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra is the high-end model. All three devices feature OLED displays, but only the Ultra works with the S Pen stylus. New to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a built-in "Privacy Display" that makes it harder to view what's on the screen when looking at the phone from a side angle. It's clear when looking at it head on, but someone sitting next to you will have a hard time seeing your phone's display. Privacy Display works at the pixel level, controlling how pixels disperse light. It can be set to activate only for certain apps or situations like entering a PIN, and there are partial and maximum privacy options. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best camera lineup, featuring a 200-megapixel wide lens, a 50-megapixel ultra wide lens, and two telephoto lenses. The 10-megapixel telephoto lens has 3x optical zoom, while the 50-megapixel telephoto lens features 5x optical zoom and 10x "optical quality" zoom. There's a new Nightography feature for clearer video in low lighting conditions, and several AI photo features. Photo Assist lets users describe the change they want to make to a photo, from restoring missing elements to removing objects. It can also change a photo from day to night, or change a person's outfit. Creative Studio uses sketches, photos, or prompts to create and edit AI-generated visuals like stickers, wallpapers, and invitations. The smartphones use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, which Samsung says is 19 percent faster than the prior-generation CPU in the Ultra. The GPU is 24 percent faster, and there's a 39 percent improvement in neural processing. The Ultra model also includes an updated vapor chamber with thermal material at the sides of the processor to better dissipate heat. Samsung says the processor also includes a "ProScaler" feature that improves image scaling for photos and videos. Most models feature 12GB RAM, though the 1TB Ultra model has 16GB. Samsung added faster charging, and the device is able to charge to 75 percent in 30 minutes. Wireless charging at up to 25W is supported. Along with the previously mentioned photo editing AI features, there are several other AI additions. Now Nudge - Now Nudge offers suggestions to help users avoid distractions. If someone asks for photos from a recent event, the Galaxy S26 can automatically suggest them so there's no need to switch apps and search for them. Now Brief - Samsung's daily AI-powered briefing is more proactive and more personalized, and it is able to surface reminders for important events based on personal context. Circle to Search - Circle to Search supports improved multi-object recognition so it can identify and locate multiple items in an image. Call Screening - Call screening detects unknown callers and asks them why they called, summarizing the information. Privacy Alerts - Machine learning notifies users when apps with device admin privileges unnecessarily try to access sensitive data. Private Album - With private album, users can hide select photos and videos without creating a separate folder or signing into a Samsung account. Bixby - Bixby serves as a conversational device agent that can adjust settings or help users with troubleshooting. Other chatbots - Galaxy users can choose other chatbots like Gemini and Perplexity, which can be activated with a button press or voice prompt. Background processing - The Galaxy S26 series can handle multi-step tasks in the background, which allows AI agents to complete tasks while the user does something else. Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, which are designed to be used with the Galaxy S26 devices. The Galaxy Buds4 earbuds feature an updated fit and improved sound quality. The Buds4 Pro include Active Noise Cancellation, upgraded Adaptive EQ, an option for accepting or declining calls with head gestures, and support for activating AI agents. Pre-orders for the new Samsung smartphones are available starting today, with a launch to follow on March 11. The Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, the Galaxy S26+ starts at $1,099.99, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99. The Galaxy Buds4 are also available for pre-order starting today. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.Tag: SamsungThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:59 pmApple reveals US chipmaking behind-the-scenes process
This week Apple announced an acceleration of its US manufacturing efforts, including some Mac mini production coming stateside. Now today via The Wall Street Journal, the company has offered a behind-the-scenes look at its US chipmaking process. more…05:53 pmIreland Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 3, 12:00 - 13:00 PSTFeb 25, 09:39 PSTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Ireland is conducting a planned maintenance from 03 March 2026 at 12:00 PST until 03 March 2026 at 13:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be Intermittent delays to Twilio Ireland phone numbers.05:48 pmCompromises for affordability ahead: Code leak spills details on new MacBook
Nobody claimed it was going to be equivalent to a MacBook Pro or even a MacBook Air. A code leak details the budget MacBook having an A18 Pro chip, limits on charging, no True Tone, and more.Apple's new MacBook in an explosion of colorwaysApple is preparing a new low-cost MacBook model for launch, switching out Apple Silicon's M-series chips for an A-series from the iPhone. While the rumor mill has settled on some core specifications, other measures will help bring the cost of production down for the company.In a technical analysis of an internal test build of macOS shared with AppleInsider, there will be quite a few smaller changes in the smaller MacBook compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:46 pmHow age verification works in iOS 26.4
The latest iOS 26.4 developer beta has introduced age verification, although so far only for the UK. You can postpone setting it up, but the whole process is absurdly fast to do.Apple has added age verification to the UK iOS 26.4 betaAmongst features such as improved RCS messaging encryption, the latest iOS 26.4 beta has added age verification for the first time. For now, it's present in the UK beta because the country's Online Safety Act requires it.Apple's implementation is not part of how the UK uses the act to mandate that adult sites verify users' ages. It's instead another aspect of how parents can already limit their children to age-appropriate apps on the iPhone. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:41 pmApp Store gaming revenue hit $52.5B in 2025, topping Google Play and Steam combined: report | 9 to 5 MacApp Store gaming revenue hit $52.5B in 2025, topping Google Play and Steam combined: report
Sensor Tower has published a new report with a comprehensive review of how mobile gaming performed in 2025, and its outlook for the year to come. Here are the details. more…05:30 pmCloudflare GraphQL API Outage in US region
Feb 25, 17:30 UTCResolved - The Cloudflare GraphQL API in the US region experienced a brief service disruption between 17:36 and 17:53 UTC. The issue is now fully resolved.05:30 pmWorkers Cron Triggers not firing
Feb 25, 17:30 UTCResolved - Cloudflare is aware of and has mitigated an issue which impacted for some customers. This impacted some users from 17:54 to 18:18 UTC.05:25 pmLeaker Says Apple's Lower-Cost MacBook Will Have These 8 Limitations
Apple is expected to unveil its long-rumored lower-cost MacBook next week. Given it will be more affordable, this MacBook model will obviously have some reduced specs and compromises compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. While we are still waiting for Apple to announce the new MacBook, a leaker has shared eight alleged limitations to expect, based on an internal version of Apple's Kernel Debug Kit for a macOS Tahoe beta that leaked online last year. The information below comes from the same leaker who claimed that Apple's next Studio Display may have a 90Hz refresh rate, that the next iPad mini will have an A20 Pro chip, and more. Many of their claims are still untested, but we should get a better picture of this source's track record as the products in question are released over the coming months. Here are the alleged limitations they outlined in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo and in an email to MacRumors:Lower max display brightness: The leaker said the lower-cost MacBook's maximum display brightness may fall below the MacBook Air's 500 nits. No True Tone: The lower-cost MacBook will apparently lack True Tone, a feature that can adjust the color and intensity of the display to match the ambient light. No 1TB or 2TB storage capacities: The leaker expects the lower-cost MacBook to be available in 256GB and 512GB storage capacities, and they mentioned a potential 128GB capacity for educational institutions. Unlike the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the new MacBook would lack 1TB and higher storage options. Slower SSD speeds: The flash storage in the new MacBook base model will apparently have slower read and write speeds compared to the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, potentially due to Apple using a single NAND chip. No fast charging: The new MacBook might not be "fast-charge capable." No backlit keyboard: The keyboard may lack backlit keys. No high-impedance headphones support: You can connect high-impedance headphones directly to compatible Mac computers introduced in 2021 or later, but the lower-cost MacBook will apparently not be one of them. No N1 chip: All of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models feature Apple's custom N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. However, the lower-cost MacBook will not use the N1 chip, the leaker said. Instead, the laptop will likely have a MediaTek chip for wireless connectivity. While the leaked files are real, this source currently lacks an established track record, so these claims should still be treated with some skepticism. Some of the information mentioned above is not explicitly mentioned in the files, but rather is based on the leaker's interpretations, so it is possible that not every claim will prove to be accurate. The lower-cost MacBook is expected to be powered by the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip, rather than an M-series chip, and it will reportedly have a smaller 12.9-inch display. Based on A18 Pro specs, this MacBook will likely have 8GB of RAM, and the laptop will likely have regular USB-C ports instead of faster Thunderbolt ports. Like the iBook from the early 2000s, it has been rumored that this MacBook will come in fun color options, like yellow, green, blue, and/or pink. The media will likely receive hands-on time with the lower-cost MacBook at the "Apple Experience" gatherings being held in New York, London, and Shanghai on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. There is no Apple Event live stream for this launch, with the new MacBook expected to be announced in a press release.Tag: MacBook (A18 Pro)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:16 pmApproximately 25% out of all submitted apps get rejected, here is what you can do to preserve that | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingApproximately 25% out of all submitted apps get rejected, here is what you can do to preserve that
Have you ever waited seemingly countless days for your app store approval only to get rejected because of some guideline you have never even heard of? I've seen this happen many times, often it's just some basic rule like "Minimum functionality not met" or "app completeness" which could easily be preserved. This is why I'm […]05:11 pmBlizzard's 'Overwatch Rush' reminagines legendary shooter for iPhone
Blizzard's "Overwatch Rush" will bring the franchise to the iPhone, but gamers are getting something different instead of the original first-person-shooter action.Overwatch Rush - Image Credit: BlizzardDespite Blizzard's history with Apple's platforms, Overwatch has frustratingly steered clear of the Mac. However, Blizzard is now planning a return via an iPhone game, that takes things in a different direction.Overwatch Rush is an in-development title that Blizzard describes as an entirely new game made for mobile. Instead of being a first-person shooter, it's a "top-down hero shooter." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:08 pmSpain antitrust dispute intensifies over late Apple & Amazon compliance
Spanish antitrust authorities believe that Apple and Google took to long to comply with orders despite ongoing appeals, opening the door to millions more in fines.Facade of the CNMC corporate headquarters in Barcelona. Image credit: Grupo CastellviSpain's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), said Apple and Amazon didn't eliminate the disputed contractual provisions until May 2025, nearly two years after regulators ordered their removal. The finding opens the door to additional penalties if upheld.The original $194.1 million fine imposed in July 2023 remains under appeal. Spain's High Court has suspended enforcement while it reviews the case. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:52 pmEBL (Erbil) on 2026-02-25
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 25, 20:00 - 21:15 UTCFeb 25, 16:26 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in EBL (Erbil) datacenter on 2026-02-25 between 20:00 and 21:15 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.04:49 pmMy 2025 Apple Report Card
A mixed year.04:48 pmtvOS 26.4: Three new changes are coming for Apple TV 4K
tvOS 26.4 is currently in beta testing, with a launch expected next month. Here are three new changes that tvOS 26.4 will bring for Apple TV 4K users. more…04:39 pmDeals: M3 iPad Air $250 off, Apple Watch Ultra 3 up to $159 off, ZAGG Pro 2 Apple Pencil 62% off, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: M3 iPad Air $250 off, Apple Watch Ultra 3 up to $159 off, ZAGG Pro 2 Apple Pencil 62% off, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is ready to roll starting off with a particularly notable deal on this 512GB 13-inch M3 iPad Air – these things are rarely ever better than $150 off, but this one is $250 off right now if you’re quick. We also spotted a chance for folks to land the latest black Apple Watch Ultra 3 at as much as $159 off the list price right now alongside an ongoing shot at the Jet Black Apple Watch Series 11 at $100 off. On the accessory front we have new all-time lows on select Apple Crossbody Strap colors at up to 60% off, ZAGG’s magnetic Pro 2 Apple Pencil alternative at $30 (Reg. $80), and an exclusive deal on SANDMARC’s brand new 24x zoom Tetraprism 72mm iPhone Lens. Check it all out down below. more…04:30 pmThis tiny 45W charger is smarter than it has any right to be [Review] ★★★★★
The new Anker Nano Charger powers up your devices at up to 45W with a smart display and 180° foldable design. We go hands-on. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:30 pmConnectivity degradation in Hamburg, Germany datacenter
Feb 25, 16:30 UTCResolved - Between 16:32 and 16:38 UTC, a connectivity degradation occurred in Hamburg, Germany datacenter.04:18 pmApple CEO Tim Cook ‘lied through his teeth’ about bringing iPhone production to America – White House trade adviser Navarro | Mac Daily NewsApple CEO Tim Cook ‘lied through his teeth’ about bringing iPhone production to America – White House trade adviser Navarro
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accused Apple CEO Tim Cook of lying about plans to shift iPhone production from China to America… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:18 pmSupply chain proves Apple is not immune to massive SSD cost increases
SSD storage is now a seller's market. Apple's huge buying power no longer means it can dictate better and long-term deals with its iPhone suppliers than anyone else — for now.The iPhone 18 Pro will cost Apple more to manufacture as NAND storage costs riseJust as it used to buy out as much of TSMC's processor capacity as possible, Apple used to bulk-buy NAND storage. In 2009, for instance, it paid Toshiba $500 million for a long-term deal.In 2012, Apple bought 23% of the world's NAND supply, paying around $0.67/GB. NAND prices fluctuate greatly, but Apple has almost always paid less than market rates — such as in 2018, when it was reportedly paying an incredibly discounted $0.25 per gigabyte. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:14 pmSpotify’s newest feature makes playlists sound better
There’s some serious competition happening right now between music streaming services to make transitions between songs sound better. Spotify’s new Smart Reorder feature continues that push. more…03:58 pmTask Usage Page Currently Unavailable
Status: InvestigatingWe’re currently investigating an issue affecting the Task Usage page. At the moment, some customers may not be able to view their task usage data in the UI. Our engineering team is actively working to resolve this and restore visibility to the Task Usage page as quickly as possible. We’ll continue to share updates as soon as we have more information. If you have any questions, reach out to our support team here: https://zapier.com/app/get-help03:49 pmApple said to launch premium AirPods Pro with ‘Apple Intelligence’ this year
Apple is preparing to release a higher-end variant of the existing AirPods Pro 3 later this year. This premium model… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:44 pmRising memory & battery costs complicate Apple's lower-cost MacBook
Initial guess-work about Apple's low-cost MacBook in 2023 set pricing at about $500, but surprise increases in component pricing since then are a problem in 2026.Apple MacBooksIndustry forecasts project Apple's MacBook shipments will rise 1.4% quarter over quarter and 3.7% year over year in early 2026. Total MacBook shipments are expected to reach 21 million units in 2026, up from 20.55 million in 2025, a modest gain that stands out in a weakening market.Global notebook shipments are expected to decline in early 2026 due to cautious enterprise spending and a slower consumer upgrade cycle. Apple's expansion is happening against that backdrop, not in spite of it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:28 pmToday in Apple history: Massive layoffs clear out Apple’s ‘bozo explosion’
On February 25, 1981, Apple CEO Michael Scott oversaw mass layoffs, then held a massive party marking the end of the "bozo explosion." (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:26 pmiOS 26.4 beta 2 changes and features: hints at upcoming upgrades [Video]
Although it lacked the much-anticipated new Google Gemini-powered Siri features, the initial iOS 26.4 beta release was still jam-packed with new changes. As a result, we showcased over 40 new updates in our iOS 26.4 Beta 1 walkthrough. The second iOS 26.4 Beta doesn’t include nearly as many changes, but there are still several new additions and updates to consider. There’s also some interesting under-the-hood stuff that hasn’t been discussed yet. This includes an upcoming redesign of the permissions prompt, a new NSPredicateValidating protocol, and more clues about Apple’s upcoming Studio Display refresh. In this latest episode of iOS Decoded, we explore 10 new features and changes in iOS 26.4 beta 2. Watch the full walkthrough, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac for more. more…03:26 pmUsing Everything We’ve Learned to Build a Fully Featured App
Over the past couple of weeks ive shared multiple landmarks apps. This post brings them all together submitted by /u/unpluggedcord [link] [comments]03:24 pmRejected 5x – need advice
I’m building a parking ticket prevention app for nyc, and rejected 5x for different reasons: Rejection 1: AR hydrant to bumper measurer not differentiated enough from apple’s measure ~> removed from app Rejection 2: photo camera warning – says doesn’t work (it’s bc feature is inactive outside of NYC) ~> provided instruction for Rejection 3: […]03:18 pmiPhone 17 Pro Gets 24x Zoom With Sandmarc's New Tetraprism Lens
California-based accessory maker Sandmarc has launched a new Tetraprism 72mm Lens for iPhone that adds 3x optical magnification on top of the iPhone 17 Pro's built-in tetraprism telephoto camera. The iPhone 17 Pro's 48 MP Fusion Telephoto offers a true 4× optical zoom at a 100mm equivalent focal length. When combined with Sandmarc's 72mm lens, which adds genuine optical magnification on top, it can extend effective zoom up to 24x on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. According to Sandmarc, users get 12x optical zoom at full 48MP resolution, or up to 24x at 24MP. Sandmarc claims the multi-element, multi-coated glass construction preserves sharpness and color accuracy at a distance while reducing flare. The company also says the optical compression effect is perfect for landscapes, cityscapes, and wildlife, or the sort of tight, layered look you'd normally need a dedicated camera to achieve. The 72mm lens sits alongside Sandmarc's existing 48mm model, which offers 2x magnification. Both mount directly to the tetraprism camera, but they do require a third-party pro camera app like Halide or Blackmagic Camera, since Apple's stock Camera app may automatically switch lenses. The lens is also compatible with the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, with zoom reach topping out at 15x on those models. The lens itself weighs 180 grams and integrates with Sandmarc's case and filter mount system. The 72mm lens costs $299, while the 48mm model is priced at $249. Both can be ordered from Sandmarc's website.Tag: PhotographyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:17 pmiPhone Fold hinge crease will be about 1/4 the depth of the Galaxy Fold 7
Apple's focus on the iPhone Fold display will finally pay off when it is released, with the device rumored to have a tiny crease compared to other foldable smartphones.The iPhone Fold's screen should be crease-free — image credit: AppleInsiderThe long-rumored iPhone Fold's key feature is its ability to fold its larger display in half. But, as other foldables have shown, there is a risk of there being a noticeable crease in the middle.If a new leak is correct, Apple's work to minimize the crease has resulted in an exceptional display. If this rumor is correct, it will have a crease, but one only barely observable to its users. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:15 pmHigher-End AirPods Pro With 'Apple Intelligence' Rumored to Launch This Year
While the AirPods Pro 3 launched less than six months ago, it has been rumored that Apple plans to unveil new AirPods Pro this year. Instead of AirPods Pro 4, it has been rumored that the new AirPods Pro will be a higher-end version of the AirPods Pro 3. This would be similar to the regular AirPods 4, which are available in two versions, with and without active noise cancellation. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and multiple other sources in the Apple rumor scene, the new AirPods Pro will be equipped with tiny infrared cameras that can "see around you." Kuo said the cameras will enable in-air gesture controls, and provide an enhanced audio experience between the AirPods Pro and Vision Pro. In addition, an occasional Apple leaker known as "Kosutami" claimed the infrared cameras will allow for the AirPods Pro to be "connected with Apple Intelligence." Specifically, it has been reported that Visual Intelligence will be a core feature of the camera-equipped AirPods Pro and Apple's other wearable AI devices. If these rumors are accurate, there would be two AirPods Pro 3 models:AirPods Pro 3: $249 AirPods Pro 3 with Cameras: Likely $299-$349+Apple has never offered multiple AirPods Pro product SKUs at the same time, but it is certainly plausible given the AirPods 4 precedent. Here are all of the AirPods Pro models ever released: AirPods Pro: October 28, 2019 AirPods Pro (MagSafe Charging Case): October 18, 2021 AirPods Pro 2: September 7, 2022 AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C): September 12, 2023 AirPods Pro 3: September 9, 2025 It is unclear when Apple plans to announce the new AirPods Pro this year, but September or October is most likely based on historical patterns.Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3Tags: Apple Intelligence, KosutamiBuyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:10 pmEU Reveals Apple Made a Tiny Acquisition Last Year
In October 2025, Apple notified the European Commission that it would be acquiring invrs.io LLC's sole employee, and certain assets from the company. Following a four-month waiting period, the European Commission published this information this week. That sole employee appears to be Martin Schubert, according to his LinkedIn profile. Schubert founded invrs.io in 2023 to advance AI-guided design, initially focusing on optical and photonics technologies for AR/VR, data centers, and more. "Invrs develops open-source frameworks for photonics research, providing standardized simulation challenges and a public leaderboard for benchmarking and comparing design results," reads a notice on the European Commission's website. Schubert's systems could be useful for future Apple Vision Pro development, but it is unclear exactly what he was hired to work on at this point. He previously worked at Alphabet's X, on AI-powered photonic design, and at Meta. More details about invrs.io are available on GitHub. Last month, Apple announced that it acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup working on AI technology for audio. That was reportedly Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, with the deal valued at nearly $2 billion. Apple's largest acquisition was the headphone brand Beats, which it bought for $3 billion in 2014. Apple Music launched a year later, and it was built on the foundation of the former Beats Music streaming service.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProTag: Apple AcquisitionBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:08 pmApple is launching new products next week, here’s what’s coming
Apple is holding a hardware launch event next week on March 4, and rumors indicate several new products will debut in the days beforehand too. Here’s everything Apple is rumored to launch next week. more…Firehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
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