Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Thursday April 30
- 07:39 amMacBook Ultra To Have These Features
The MacBook Pro has just been refreshed and given the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are already rumors that the device is expected to have bigger updates. The devices are rumored to be getting a significant redesign by early next year and Apple may use the branding MacBook Ultra for the devices. As […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:38 amXChat Released
XChat has been released today on X, a standalone platform for messaging for the iPad and iPhone that allows people to chat with anyone on the platform X in private, separate from X. During launch, the app will support group chat, video calls, audio, and direct messaging, along with file sharing. It will have PIN […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:37 amiPhone Ultra Won’t Have Some Features From iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone Ultra is the upcoming foldable iPhone Apple will be releasing later this year. Despite the price tag of $2,000, the device is expected not to have at least 5 features that are available on the iPhone 18 Pro. Dummy model photos have been uploaded by Vadim Yuryev and Sonny Dickson showing the missing […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:35 amApple Watch Series 11 42mm GPS is $100 Off
The Apple Watch 11 has safety features capable of detecting severe car crashes and hard falls. It also connects you to emergency hotlines automatically to let them know of your situation and to receive immediate medical attention. The watch features a lightweight and thin design, allowing for comfortable all-day wear even when you are sleeping […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:33 amApple Watch and iPhone Pairing Highlighted in Apple Ad
A new ad was uploaded by Apple to attract customers who are in the market with an Apple Watch and iPhone pairing, emphasizing the insights that the watch and device can provide you for your health. The ad was titled Health with iPhone + Apple Watch. It is a half-minute long, and it follows a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:31 amRate for Savings Account on Apple Card Lowered
The Apple Card’s savings account interest rate has been lowered to 3.50% from 3.65%, notifications are sent regarding the reduced rate to users of the Apple Card this Thursday. The interest rate for Savings Account fluctuates often due to the changes made by the Federal Reserve. When the rates are reduced the APY or Annual […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:30 amMockup iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Models Hint At Thicker Plateau for Camera
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to have enhancements to the camera made by Apple but no rumors are fixed hinting the updates will need visible and measurable changes to the rear camera plateau of the device. Max Tech’s, a YouTube Channel, provided us with mockup images for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:27 amHow I finally solved the engagement and moderation issue for my community platform | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingHow I finally solved the engagement and moderation issue for my community platform
Hello. I’ve been managing a niche streaming site for a year, and our biggest headache was the chat. Using basic plugins was a disaster – constant spam, toxic users, and zero ways to keep people engaged after the stream ended. I almost hired two full-time moderators just to keep things clean. Recently, I integrated a […]05:59 amYouTube Picture-in-Picture feature goes free worldwide
YouTube subscribers worldwide can soon enjoy picture-in-picture (PiP) support for free on their devices, including the iPhone and iPad. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:50 amXcode MCP is magical. But need a little more…
Is there any tool that can automate app visual testing reliably? I’ve tried a few, but none of them have been very accurate. Even IDB Companion tends to struggle sometimes. Also, if something like Claude can build a feature, why can’t it just run it on a simulator, verify it, and update it if needed? […]05:41 amThose Who Swift – Issue 264
We are still experimenting with a new format, but still all gems in place. Don't miss the "One more thing…" section. submitted by /u/lanserxt [link] [comments]02:15 amApple China highlights Apple Watch health and rescue stories in campaign with podcast tie-in | 9 to 5 MacApple China highlights Apple Watch health and rescue stories in campaign with podcast tie-in
Apple launched a new campaign in China called “Thankfully, I was wearing it” (“还好戴着它”), which includes a special podcast episode in which three users share their stories. Here are the details. more…12:25 amHaving a mild freak-out. A streamer with a good following wants to play my (basically unknown) iphone game and they can’t unlock the game. Offer codes not working AND unlocking on testflight is now broken for them. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingHaving a mild freak-out. A streamer with a good following wants to play my (basically unknown) iphone game and they can’t unlock the game. Offer codes not working AND unlocking on testflight is now broken for them.
I made a game a solo project and a streamer with a good following wants to play and stream my game. I'm trying to send them an offer code for the in-app purchase that unlocks my full game. First, the codes i generated didn't work at all, and some advice on this sub said since […]12:14 amGPT 5.5 vs Opus 4.7 vs GPT 5.3 Codex for iOS 26 development?
I’m curious what professional iOS developers are currently using for their Swift/SwiftUI work. For modern iOS 26 development, how would you compare: GPT 5.5 Claude Opus 4.7 GPT 5.3 Codex I’m mainly interested in practical coding help: SwiftUI architecture SwiftData concurrency / actors / u/MainActor debugging compiler errors refactoring existing code reasoning about Apple APIs […]12:01 amYouTube Bringing Free Picture-in-Picture to iPhone Users Outside the U.S.
YouTube's picture-in-picture mode on the iPhone and iPad is expanding to more users worldwide, YouTube said today. Picture-in-picture (PiP) will be rolling out globally, so it will no longer be limited to those in the U.S. and Premium subscribers. Non-Premium users worldwide will be able to use PiP for longform, non-music content on iOS and Android. This has already been available in the U.S. and to Premium subscribers globally, so there will be no change for those users. Premium Lite members can still use PiP for longform, non-music content, and Premium members can use PiP for music and non-music content. Picture-in-picture shrinks a video into a small player that can be used alongside other apps. To use PiP, swipe up to exit the YouTube app, and the video will continue to play in a small window that can be moved anywhere on the display. The PiP changes are rolling out "in the coming months," according to YouTube.Tag: YouTubeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forumsWednesday April 2911:52 pmIodyne Pro Data 24TB review: $15K, ridiculous speed, and probably not for you
The Iodyne Pro Data 24TB delivers enormous uninterrupted transfer speed, isn't network attached, and it isn't limited to one user. It's also a $14,995 wallet-breaking money-saver for the right audience.Iodyne Pro Data 24TBIt's not every day we get a second loaner for a review product years after the fact.The market has changed, workflows have changed, since we first reviewed the Iodyne Pro Data. Video workflows are getting bigger and bigger with 8K HDR 3D, and so forth. A single iPod like the Lord of the Rings dailies were shuttled around on are a thing of the past. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:48 pmDLP API Currently Unavailable
Apr 29, 23:48 UTCResolved - This incident has been resolved.Apr 29, 23:38 UTCInvestigating - Latency in the DLP API is causing some functionality to become unavailable11:44 pmDivine, a Jack Dorsey-backed revival of Vine, is now available on the App Store
Featuring hundreds of thousands of archive videos from the original Vine platform, in addition to new videos, Divine is now available on the App Store and Google Play. Here are the details. more…10:50 pmGoogle Photos to Get AI 'Wardrobe' Feature
Google Photos is getting a new wardrobe planning feature that will help you decide what to wear. AI will pull in images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing clothing items into a digital closet. You will be able to put items together to create outfits, and even virtually try them with a digital avatar on to see how they'll look. The Google Photos app will show all items of clothing in a new Wardrobe section in the Collections tab. Clothing can also be viewed in specific categories like tops or bottoms. Items of clothing can be mixed and matched to create outfits, and the results can be shared with friends or saved to a digital moodboard. In the popular 1995 comedy Clueless, main character Cher Horowitz has an iconic digital wardrobe that Google seems to be making a reality with Google Photos. Cher uses a touchscreen computer to swipe through the clothes in her wardrobe, pairing different tops and bottoms to create an outfit. A built-in "Dress Me" button tells her if two items go together, and if they do, she can preview the clothes on a digital version of herself. Google's version of the Clueless virtual wardrobe will be coming to Google Photos this summer. Google says it will be available to Android users first, and then iOS users.Tags: Google, Google Photos, PhotosThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:43 pmApple researchers built an AI that tests several ideas in parallel before answering
In a new paper, a team of Apple researchers details a creative framework that improves LLM answers in math reasoning, code generation, and more. Here are the details. more…10:37 pmIs this acquisition offer from 99apps (Uniqo Lab) legit? Looking for advice. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingIs this acquisition offer from 99apps (Uniqo Lab) legit? Looking for advice.
Hey fellow devs, I just got an email from someone at 99apps offering to buy my app. They claim their actual studio name is Uniqo Lab and provided a link to an App Store portfolio with about 30 apps to prove they aren't a scam. They offered a free valuation and said we could use […]10:33 pmApple smart glasses again rumored to support gesture recognition via built-in cameras | AppleInsiderApple smart glasses again rumored to support gesture recognition via built-in cameras
A repeat rumor says Apple's smart glasses will rely on gesture-based input, with the device featuring two built-in cameras, Siri, and not much else.Apple's smart glasses will support gestures, per multiple sources.Claims of Apple working on smart glasses date back to 2015, with analysts predicting a 2026 or 2027 release even before the Apple Vision Pro made its debut at WWDC 2023. Since then, we've continued to see new rumors about smart glasses development efforts, hardware, and features.A MacRumors report has effectively reiterated previously rumored hardware claims, while also suggesting the device will support hand gestures. The claim about gestures aligns with what analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in June 2025. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:10 pmWhy is there no app that just lets you record yourself playing electric guitar on iPhone — properly? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWhy is there no app that just lets you record yourself playing electric guitar on iPhone — properly?
I've been learning guitar for a while now and like a lot of people I'm doing most of it online. My teacher asks for video recordings, I use backing tracks, I want to track my progress. The phone is basically central to the whole experience. But actually recording yourself playing electric guitar on an iPhone […]09:34 pm9to5Mac Daily: April 29, 2026 – iOS 27 rumors, App Store changes
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices. more…09:18 pmFirst time WWDC | Any tips/tricks?
Hi, so i am an 18 year old student/founder from Slovakia, and i got the invite to WWDC 2026. I know, this may have been posted here before, but i just couldn't find any valuable tips from the past years 😄 so do you have any tips/tricks, i can use? Here are some of my […]08:30 pmApple Home recently got better in three ways, here’s what’s new
Apple is expected to launch a wave of new Home products later this year, after iOS 27 brings Siri’s long-awaited overhaul. But there are three ways Apple Home has recently gotten better during the iOS 26 cycle too. Here’s what’s new. more…08:23 pmApple's AI Smart Glasses Likely to Support Hand Gesture Controls
Apple is developing a set of AI smart glasses to rival products like the Meta Ray-Bans, and MacRumors has learned a few more details about Apple's work on the device from an inside source. The AI glasses will include two cameras. A high-resolution camera will be included for capturing photos and videos that can be shared on social media and used like iPhone photos. A second lower-resolution wide-angle lens will read hand gestures and provide visual input for Siri. Apple uses hand gesture-based input for the Vision Pro, and rumors suggest the AirPods Pro will be updated with low-resolution cameras and support for gestures as well. Apple appears to be leaning into gesture support, and it's an ideal input method when no screen is available to interact with. While future versions of the smart glasses could include an integrated display for augmented reality features, the first version will have no display at all. Apple will not include a screen, LiDAR, 3D cameras, or other similar technology because such features are too energy-intensive. Battery life is a major constraint because Apple needs to keep the glasses slim and lightweight. Battery size is the bottleneck behind the hardware decisions that Apple is making, and it's why Apple is opting for a stripped-down feature set. According to recent rumors, Apple is testing multiple styles for the smart glasses, with plans to use acetate. Acetate is a lightweight plant-based material that's more flexible than plastic. Apple's smart glasses will incorporate the smarter version of Siri that Apple plans to introduce in iOS 27. The device will be able to take photos, record video, and make phone calls, plus users will be able to interact with Siri to ask questions about what's around them. The feature set will be similar to the features available in the Meta Ray-Bans that Apple is aiming to compete with. Rumors suggest Apple could preview the glasses later this year, with a launch to follow in 2027, though it's also possible we won't see them announced until 2027.Tag: Apple Smart GlassesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:22 pmRumored Apple Vision Pro team break-up isn't a death knell for the product
A new rumor suggests Apple Vision Pro hardware may be dead, but the dissolution of a team doesn't necessarily mean that pipeline is dead. If anything, it's business as usual.Apple Vision Pro isn't deadWhenever Apple releases a new product category, there seems to be this industry drive to find its weak points and jab at it until it dies. Apple Vision Pro may not be a blockbuster, but it is the entry point to Spatial Computing, which Apple still believes to be its future.According to a report from MacRumors, Apple Vision Pro hardware as it stands in April 2026 may truly be dead. The story suggests that Apple has likely given up on the platform due to a lack of consumer interest after the M5 update. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:13 pmReport: Apple leads satellite smartphone market as adoption hinges on broader use cases | 9 to 5 MacReport: Apple leads satellite smartphone market as adoption hinges on broader use cases
Nearly three out of four satellite-enabled smartphones shipped in 2025 were iPhones, according to a new Counterpoint Research report. Here’s where the market is expected to go next. more…08:01 pmApple’s brilliant new iPhone + Apple Watch ad nails it: ‘Listen to your body. Not everybody’ | Mac Daily NewsApple’s brilliant new iPhone + Apple Watch ad nails it: ‘Listen to your body. Not everybody’
Apple has just released one of its smartest, most relatable health-focused advertisements in years. Titled “Health with iPhone… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:00 pmApple Gives Up On the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop
MacRumors reports that Apple has effectively paused work on Vision Pro after the M5 refresh failed to revive demand. The team has reportedly been reassigned and the company is now shifting focus toward smart glasses instead. From the report: The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight. The device is over 1.3 pounds, and even with the more comfortable Dual Knit Band that Apple added to redistribute weight, it continues to be hard to wear for long periods of time. The M5 chip added a 120Hz refresh rate, 10 percent more rendered pixels, and around 30 additional minutes of battery life, but the price tag stayed at $3,499, and it ended up not selling well. The Vision Pro has been unpopular since it first launched, and Apple only sold around 600,000 units in total. Insider sources told MacRumors that Apple has received an unusually high percentage of returns, far exceeding any other modern Apple product. [...] If Apple finds a way to create a much cheaper, more comfortable VR headset in the future, the Vision Pro line could be revived, but right now, the company has no plans to launch a new model. Apple has not discontinued the Vision Pro and is continuing to sell the M5 model. Instead of continuing to experiment with virtual reality, Apple is working on smart glasses that will eventually incorporate augmented reality capabilities, but the first version will be similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with AI and no integrated display. Read more of this story at Slashdot.07:50 pmApple may have pulled the plug on Vision Pro
Apple has reportedly halted work on the Vision Pro AR headset, shifting focus to smart glasses. Here's why. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)07:39 pmYouTube starts rolling out free picture-in-picture (PiP) globally on Android, iOS
After offering in the US, YouTube is making picture-in-picture (PiP) mode free for all users around the world. more…07:31 pmiOS 26.4 adds convenient new iCloud feature, here’s how to enable it
iOS 26.4 launched last month with new features for Apple Music, Podcasts, and a lot more. There’s also a new iOS 26.4 feature that makes iCloud on the web more useful than before thanks to the addition of search. Here’s how to enable it. more…07:22 pmCloudflare Access experiencing delays with audit logs
Apr 29, 19:22 UTCUpdate - We are continuing to investigate this issue.Apr 29, 19:19 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating issues with delayed Access authentication logs.07:18 pmUPDATE: **Title:** Investigating issues with Classroom. **Description:** We are experiencing an issue with Classroom beginning at Wednesday, 2026-04-29 11:30 PDT. Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide more information by Wednesday, 2026-04-29 13:00 PDT. **Symptoms:** Affected users may experience issues accessing classroom. **Workaround:** No workarounds available at this time. | Google AppsUPDATE: **Title:** Investigating issues with Classroom. **Description:** We are experiencing an issue with Classroom beginning at Wednesday, 2026-04-29 11:30 PDT. Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide more information by Wednesday, 2026-04-29 13:00 PDT. **Symptoms:** Affected users may experience issues accessing classroom. **Workaround:** No workarounds available at this time.
Incident began at 2026-04-29 18:30 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).Title: Investigating issues with Classroom. Description: We are experiencing an issue with Classroom beginning at Wednesday, 2026-04-29 11:30 PDT. Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide more information by Wednesday, 2026-04-29 13:00 PDT. Symptoms: Affected users may experience issues accessing classroom. Workaround: No workarounds available at this time. Affected products: Classroom07:03 pmApple’s unassailable moat: How iPhone stays immune to demand destruction
Apple's iPhone has proven remarkably resilient. While the broader smartphone market ebbs and flows, iPhone sales often hold steady… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:31 pmApple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop
Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested. The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight. The device is over 1.3 pounds, and even with the more comfortable Dual Knit Band that Apple added to redistribute weight, it continues to be hard to wear for long periods of time. The M5 chip added a 120Hz refresh rate, 10 percent more rendered pixels, and around 30 additional minutes of battery life, but the price tag stayed at $3,499, and it ended up not selling well. The Vision Pro has been unpopular since it first launched, and Apple only sold around 600,000 units in total. Insider sources told MacRumors that Apple has received an unusually high percentage of returns, far exceeding any other modern Apple product. Apple has apparently stopped work on the Vision Pro and the Vision Pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple. Some former Vision Pro team members are working on Siri, which is not a surprise as Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has been leading the Siri team since March 2025. There have been mixed rumors about a new Vision Pro over the last couple of years, with Apple rumored to be working on a lighter-weight Vision Air that's much cheaper, but the project was tabled last year. If Apple finds a way to create a much cheaper, more comfortable VR headset in the future, the Vision Pro line could be revived, but right now, the company has no plans to launch a new model. Apple has not discontinued the Vision Pro and is continuing to sell the M5 model. Instead of continuing to experiment with virtual reality, Apple is working on smart glasses that will eventually incorporate augmented reality capabilities, but the first version will be similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with AI and no integrated display. Apple has not been able to use the technology developed for the Vision Pro in its smart glasses because that tech draws too much power for a smaller, lighter device.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums06:03 pmIs AI even good to use for learning?
Off lately I have really gotten bored of all the AI tool. Claude, Codex, Gemini, Chatbots (GPT etc). I using to review code, plan changes, learning new things, work on personal productivity apps and so many things I have worked on number of top 1% very detailed roadmaps (extremely details, to the level where these […]05:53 pmI made an open-source App Store Connect release automation skill for Codex | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI made an open-source App Store Connect release automation skill for Codex
I built a small open-source tool/skill for App Store Connect release work: https://github.com/magrathean-uk/asc-release It’s aimed at iOS/macOS devs using coding agents who still want a controlled release process. The goal is not to have an agent blindly submit your app. The goal is to make the repetitive ASC release steps explicit and safer: verify ASC […]05:51 pmXcode hangs/freezes indefinitely during Archive (Release build) – Works fine on physical device | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingXcode hangs/freezes indefinitely during Archive (Release build) – Works fine on physical device
Hi everyone, I’m hitting a wall with my current Swift project. Everything works perfectly when I build and run the app directly on my iPhone, but whenever I try to Archive it for App Store Connect, Xcode just hangs indefinitely at the same spot. Here’s what I’ve tried so far: Cleaned Build Folder and deleted […]05:46 pmFormula 1’s Miami Grand Prix is on Apple TV, here’s how to watch
Apple TV is home to Formula 1 races for US viewers, and this weekend F1 comes to the US for the Miami Grand Prix—here’s how to watch. more…05:45 pmNew ‘Siri mode’ is reportedly coming to iPhone Camera app in iOS 27
Macworld Another day, another scoop from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on the features coming to iOS 27 this fall. Gurman leaked three new AI-powered photo-editing features just yesterday, and today he’s got another AI-based feature coming to iPhones. According to his report, Apple is going to give Visual Intelligence a big upgrade, but will also make it easier to discover and use by integrating it into the Camera app via a new Siri mode. Think of it like any other camera mode—video, slo-mo, panorama, etc.—only when in Siri mode, the shutter will reportedly morph into a Siri icon to trigger Visual Intelligence. We previously reported on the big upgrade coming to Visual Intelligence in iOS 27, with much less reliance on ChatGPT for information along with the ability to produce digital tickets/passes from paper ones, read and understand nutritional labels, and add phone numbers and addresses to Contacts. Currently, Visual Intelligence can be summoned by pressing the Camera Button and holding it for a couple seconds or through Control Center, but placing the feature right in the Camera app will ensure almost every iPhone user discovers it and at least tries it out. Apple will unveil iOS 27 (and all the OS 27 updates) at WWDC in June, and it is expected to release this September.05:44 pmiOS 27 could add Siri camera mode and expanded visual AI
Apple adding Siri camera mode and expanded Visual Intelligence should make AI feel core to iPhone with iOS 27. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:30 pmApple Has Likely Abandoned 'iPad Ultra' Plans
Apple has reportedly abandoned plans for a foldable "iPad Ultra" following years of disappointing sales performance for the iPad Pro. The claim predominantly comes from the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," who posted the remark in response to a question about whether the iPad would join a rumored "Ultra" series of Apple devices. Instant Digital listed the Apple Watch Ultra, M-series Ultra chips, "iPhone Ultra," and "MacBook Ultra" with an OLED display as products in the pipeline, but explicitly excluded the iPad from that group, citing weak market performance for the iPad Pro. They added that Apple now has "no plans" to release an iPad Ultra. The iPad Pro's sales struggles are well documented. In October 2024, it was reported that shipment projections for the M4 iPad Pro had been significantly cut after weaker-than-expected demand following its launch earlier that year. DSCC analyst Ross Young lowered his full-year 2024 forecast from up to 10 million units to just 6.7 million, with shipments of the 13-inch model projected to fall by more than 50% and 90% in the third and fourth quarters respectively. Young attributed the sluggish reception in part to the high price point, with the 11-inch model starting at $999 and the 13-inch at $1,299, levels that deter buyers who view tablets as secondary devices alongside a smartphone or laptop. iPad revenue has declined for three consecutive years, and the category accounted for just 6.73% of Apple's total revenue in 2025. In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple has been developing a 20-inch foldable iPad, describing the project as a priority for Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and future Apple CEO John Ternus. Gurman noted, however, that the device "may end up being a wacky experiment that doesn't see the light of day, according to several people who have worked on it." The rumored foldable iPad has a long and troubled development history. Last October, it emerged that engineering challenges tied to weight, features, and display technology had pushed Apple's target launch from 2028 to 2029 or later. The device was reportedly being developed with a large Samsung OLED display, with Apple focused on minimizing the visible crease, just like the upcoming foldable iPhone. Prototype units reportedly weighed around 3.5 pounds, making them heavier than a 14-inch MacBook Pro and nearly three times the weight of a 13-inch iPad Pro. The device could have been priced as high as $3,900, roughly triple the $1,299 starting price of the 13-inch iPad Pro. There has also been uncertainty about how the product would be categorized. In March, Gurman noted that a "gigantic" foldable iPad would challenge Apple's tradition of keeping the Mac and iPad as separate product lines, with some internally describing it as a foldable iPad and others as an all-display MacBook. When closed, the device reportedly resembles a Mac, with an aluminum shell and no exterior display. The design is said to be similar to Huawei's MateBook Fold, an 18-inch foldable tablet currently priced at $3,400. The reports come against a backdrop of Apple's rumored plans to expand its "Ultra" branding across multiple product lines. At least three Ultra devices are believed to be in the pipeline for this year alone: a foldable iPhone Ultra priced at around $2,000, AirPods Ultra with cameras for Visual Intelligence, and a MacBook Ultra featuring a touch-enabled OLED display priced up to 20% above the current MacBook Pro lineup. A source speaking to Macworld subsequently corroborated the iPhone Ultra and MacBook Ultra names. Apple already applies the "Ultra" moniker to Apple Watch Ultra, M-series Ultra chips, and CarPlay Ultra. An iPad Ultra might seem like a natural fit for a family of higher-end, more experimental hardware at the top of each lineup, but with the iPad Pro already struggling to find buyers at its current price point, the question of whether sufficient demand exists for an even more expensive iPad may be answering itself.Related Roundup: iPad ProTags: Bloomberg, Foldable iPad, Instant Digital, John Ternus, Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:23 pmLHR (London) on 2026-04-30
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 30, 01:00 - 06:00 UTCApr 29, 17:01 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LHR (London) datacenter on 2026-04-30 between 01:00 and 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.05:15 pmiPhone 18 Pro to have some of Apple’s biggest camera upgrades ever: report
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are coming this fall, and a new report says they’re set to offer “some of the biggest camera hardware upgrades in the lineup’s history.” more…05:03 pmVisual Intelligence to be added to iOS 27 camera app as 'Siri Mode'
The camera app in iOS 27 will gain some AI smarts, with a new Siri Camera Mode making Visual Intelligence more accessible to users.Visual Intelligence on an iPhone is set to be upgraded. Apple is widely expected to be bringing more AI functionality to the iPhone during WWDC 2026, including a much-delayed update to Siri. Now, it seems that the Siri revision will also extend to the camera app in iOS 27.According to sources of Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, there will be a new Siri mode joining the existing photo and video modes inside the camera app. The idea is that users can toggle the mode and take a photograph, which can then be used as part of a query to ChatGPT or Siri itself. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:02 pmApple’s iOS 27 to turn your iPhone camera into a genius assistant: Siri mode, smarter Visual Intelligence, nutrition scans, and instant contacts | Mac Daily NewsApple’s iOS 27 to turn your iPhone camera into a genius assistant: Siri mode, smarter Visual Intelligence, nutrition scans, and instant contacts
Apple is preparing one of its most practical AI upgrades yet for iOS 27. The company is deeply integrating artificial intelligence… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:01 pmAnyone experienced in ASO, can you see blaring issues in my setup?
I've read hundreds of posts and articles on how to optimize ASO, I've used several ASO programs, but they didn't help improve. Optimized my title, subtitle, and keywords fields, but I don't seem to be ranking well in general search against my competition or gaining impressions. I'm afraid to constantly change them, to inspect analytics […]04:58 pmNew iPhone MagSafe removal rumor makes no sense at all
Claims that Apple is looking at discontinuing MagSafe make for an attention-grabbing rumor, but fall apart when current iPhone hardware, Apple's accessory strategy, and the Qi2 standard is considered.MagSafe battery packA post on Chinese social platform Weibo claims Apple is internally debating whether future iPhones should continue including MagSafe and presents it as a design compromise. The claim sounds plausible at first as Apple explores thinner designs and new form factors.But a closer look at how MagSafe fits into the iPhone shows the argument does not hold up. The claim centers on the idea that magnets force meaningful tradeoffs in hardware design, an argument that falls apart under closer inspection. Rumor Score: 💩 B#$&(*it Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:54 pmiOS 27 Camera App to Get 'Siri' Mode With Nutrition Label Scanning
Apple is planning to integrate Apple Intelligence and Siri into more of its apps in iOS 27, including the Camera app, reports Bloomberg. The iOS 27 Camera app will have a dedicated Siri mode that will be available alongside the existing Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama modes. When in Siri mode, the existing Camera app shutter button will feature the Apple Intelligence logo, letting users know the Siri features are available. Siri mode will incorporate Visual Intelligence, making the feature more accessible. Right now, Visual Intelligence is activated by long pressing the Camera Control button, and it is a gesture that many people may not even be aware of. In addition to being relocated to the Camera app with Siri branding, Visual Intelligence is also being updated with new features. It will be able to scan a nutrition label on food items to log the dietary information, plus users will be able to use it to add contact details for someone directly to the Contacts app. MacRumors first discovered signs of the Visual Intelligence features in Apple code in mid-April. Here's a bit more on what we found: Nutrition - Users will be able to scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie and macronutrient tracking using the Health app. Contacts - Visual Intelligence will let users scan phone numbers and addresses on business cards and other print media, adding the information to the Contacts app. Wallet - In the Wallet app, Visual Intelligence will capture information from physical event tickets and membership cards, generating digital versions. Existing Visual Intelligence features will continue to be available, and it will be able to identify objects like plants and animals, add events to the Calendar app, and send visual information to ChatGPT and Google image search. Users will also be able to access the revamped Visual Intelligence through the Camera Control button, but it will open up to the Siri interface in the Camera app instead of the standalone Visual Intelligence experience that we have now. Apple will introduce iOS 27 at the Worldwide Developers Conference that's set to begin on June 8, 2026.Related Roundup: iOS 27Tag: SiriThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:51 pmClassic 6-second video app Vine resurrected as Divine
From the blast-from-the-past department: Once wildly popular short video app Vine returns as Divine. And no AI slop will be tolerated. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:51 pmCamera in iOS 27 to feature Siri mode with enhanced Visual Intelligence, per report
Apple is saving its big Siri upgrade for iOS 27’s reveal in June, and it sounds like one of the biggest iPhone apps will benefit. A new report details Siri features coming to the Camera, better Visual Intelligence features, and more. more…04:15 pmApple TV lands record six Gotham Television Award noms for ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’ | Mac Daily NewsApple TV lands record six Gotham Television Award noms for ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’
Apple TV on Thursday was recognized with a record six nominations for the 2026 Gotham Television Awards, with three nods for Golden Globe… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:10 pmNew MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max gets its first real deal
Save with this MacBook Pro deal on the new variants with powerful M5 Pro or M5 Max processors. Discounts up to $200 and more! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:59 pmApple might ditch MagSafe on future iPhones, per bizarre rumor
MagSafe is a fan-favorite iPhone feature, but a bizarre rumor this week says Apple is apparently debating whether to remove it from future iPhone models. more…03:44 pmiPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Ultra: Three features to win your upgrade
Apple’s fall iPhone lineup this year is rumored to revolve around iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra. Here are the three biggest feature differences—not counting price—that may influence your upgrade decision. more…03:31 pmDeals: M5 MacBook Air $219 off, 1TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro best price ever, iPad Air new low, AirTag, iPhone Air, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: M5 MacBook Air $219 off, 1TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro best price ever, iPad Air new low, AirTag, iPhone Air, more
Alongside the ongoing price drops on AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 down at $99, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by an interesting offer on this 24GB M5 MacBook Air config at $400 less than the model Amazon sells ($219 off list), joined by the base 1TB M5 Pro MacBook hitting a new Amazon all-time low at $205 off. We also have this 256GB M3 iPad Air down to its lowest clearance price to date at $250 off, unlocked iPhone Air at nearly $100 off, and the Jet Black 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 cell at $130 off. AirTag discounts, chargers, and everything else await below. more…03:26 pmApple Reportedly Questioning Whether iPhone Should Drop MagSafe
A leaker claims Apple is currently embroiled in an internal debate over whether MagSafe should remain a standard iPhone feature. The Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" says that when MagSafe was first introduced, the mood inside Apple was reportedly aggressive about its expansion. MagSafe for the iPhone was introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020, bringing a ring of magnets to the back of the device for snap-on charging and accessory attachment. The ecosystem has since expanded significantly, with dozens of third-party wallets, cases, stands, and chargers built around the standard. There were purportedly even plans to bring built-in MagSafe magnets to the iPad lineup, something the leaker previously hinted at, though those plans never materialized. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first reported in 2021 that Apple was testing a glass-backed iPad Pro that would support wireless charging, specifically noting that MagSalfe was under consideration. A follow-up report in early 2022 suggested Apple had prototyped an iPad Pro with a large glass Apple logo that would serve as the wireless charging area, an approach aimed at avoiding the fragility of an all-glass back. Neither design made it to a shipping product. The rumors resurfaced in late 2023, with reports suggesting that the then-upcoming iPad Pro could include MagSafe support, based on information from sources familiar with Apple's magnet suppliers. The redesigned M4 iPad Pro that launched in 2024 still shipped without the feature. Now, Instant Digital claims that confidence around MagSafe has given way to uncertainty. The leaker says Apple is weighing the costs of including MagSafe magnets in the iPhone against the strength of the accessory ecosystem that has grown up around the feature, though the nature of the debate and what any change might look like remains unclear. The iPhone 16e launched without MagSafe, making it the first new iPhone in years to omit it. Many iPhone 16e owners, as well as users of older iPhones without built-in magnets, turned to third-party cases with embedded magnet rings as a workaround, though the experience is generally considered to be inferior to native MagSafe support. The decision nonetheless drew criticism, and Apple reversed course with the iPhone 17e, restoring MagSafe support when the device launched earlier this year. There is no indication that MagSafe is at imminent risk of disappearing from the iPhone lineup. However, the upcoming foldable "iPhone Ultra" may be a different story. Dummy models of the device show no visible indentations for the internal magnet array that MagSafe requires, suggesting the feature could be absent at launch. The iPhone Ultra is rumored to be just 4.5mm thin when unfolded, and it is thought that the device may simply be too slim to accommodate the magnets. If that proves accurate, the iPhone Ultra would be both the most expensive iPhone ever, with a starting price rumored at around $2,000, and the first new high-end model to ship without MagSafe since the iPhone 11 Pro. While the wording of Instant Digital's post is somewhat ambiguous, it raises the possibility that Apple could be at least considering pulling MagSafe from its standard iPhone models, potentially making it exclusive to higher-end devices. Recent reports suggest that the standard iPhone 18 is being downgraded to cut costs. An alternative scenario could see Apple scale back its in-device MagSafe implementation, relying more heavily on cases with embedded magnets to provide compatibility, as many iPhone 16e users already do. Given that Qi2, the open wireless charging standard now widely adopted across the industry, is built directly on MagSafe's magnet ring specification, a full removal of the feature from the entire iPhone lineup seems unlikely.Tags: Instant Digital, MagSafeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:07 pmLaunchBar 6.24
Brings a smattering of improvements and bug fixes to the keyboard-based launcher. ($35 new, free update, 15 MB, macOS 12+)03:06 pmAudio Hijack 4.5.8
Fixes a couple of regressions caused by the full-featured audio recording app previous version. ($64 new, free update, 27.7 MB, macOS 14.4+)03:05 pmToday in Apple history: Steve Jobs trashes Adobe Flash in devastatingly blunt open letter | Cult of MacToday in Apple history: Steve Jobs trashes Adobe Flash in devastatingly blunt open letter
On April 29, 2010, Steve Jobs penned "Thoughts on Flash," an open letter that explained why, basically, Adobe Flash kind of sucked. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:01 pmApple TV unveils first look at ‘Trying’ season five, premiering July 8th
Apple TV on Wednesday unveiled a first look at the fifth season of acclaimed comedy series “Trying,” starring and executive produced by… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:55 pmRare sale shaves $100 off the impossibly thin iPhone Air
Macworld Apple iPhone Air View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); It’s so rare that we see a no-strings-attached iPhone deal that I had to do a double-take when I noticed that an unlocked iPhone Air is on sale for $100 off at Best Buy. But it’s real, so if you want one, now’s the best time to get it. There are many things we loved about the iPhone Air when we tested it, starting with just how thin this phone really is and how good the selfie cam is. Well, now you can add the fact that you can get it for $900 on the list, too. If that no-strings-attached bit doesn’t interest you, you could shave another $100 off the price by connecting it to your Verizon or AT&T plan directly through Best Buy’s site. This phone’s 6.5-inch screen looks absolutely gorgeous, while the 256GB of storage space offers quite a bit of room for all your favorite apps. The thinness of this phone really is the most impressive thing about it. “It’s almost disappears in my pocket,” we wrote in our review. “Plus and Max iPhones feel heavy and lopsided in a front pocket, and often barely fit. But iPhone Air is just small enough and thin enough to slip right in, and I can almost forget it’s there. It’s like a magic trick.” There you go, a phone that might actually fit in women’s pockets. In fact, our biggest problem with the Air was that it was about $100 too expensive, which this sale takes care of. So go ahead and grab the iPhone Air for $899 before Best Buy sunsets this deal.02:40 pmToday is the last day to save $250 on Apple's new M5 Pro MacBook Pro, best price ever | AppleInsiderToday is the last day to save $250 on Apple's new M5 Pro MacBook Pro, best price ever
Today is the final day to grab the lowest price on record for Apple's 2026 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip.Save $250 on 2026 14-inch MacBook Pro today only - Image credit: AppleB&H Photo has slashed Apple's new 14-inch MacBook Pro, with the standard M5 Pro model falling to $1,949 thanks to a $200 instant discount paired with a $50 in-cart coupon.Buy M5 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,949 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:34 pmEpic Games deals Apple fresh blow in App Store fee fight
In the App Store fee fight stemming from Apple's longstanding legal battle with Epic Games, the iPhone giant takes a setback. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:29 pmwatchOS 26 added Notes app to Apple Watch, here’s how I’m using it
Apple Watch users got a brand new app in watchOS 26, with Apple Notes now available on your wrist. Here’s how I’ve been using the app. more…02:19 pmBuilt a free iOS keyword difficulty checker — type any App Store keyword, see who ranks and how hard it is to compete | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingBuilt a free iOS keyword difficulty checker — type any App Store keyword, see who ranks and how hard it is to compete
Been doing ASO for my own app and kept running into the same problem. I'd think of a keyword, have no idea if it was worth targeting, and the only tools that tell you are $500+/mo (Sensor Tower, MobileAction, etc.). So I built a free checker: you type any keyword, it hits the iTunes Search […]02:00 pmFormula 1 returns to America this weekend via live streaming on Apple TV
Formula 1 returns to the U.S. this weekend for the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2026 — streaming exclusively on Apple TV… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:42 pmGet Up to $100 Off the M4 iPad Air on Amazon
Amazon this week has multiple discounts on the M4 iPad Air, providing up to $100 off these brand new models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically, Amazon has up to $90 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership. $43 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air for $556.50 $58 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air for $741.50 The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis. 11-inch M4 iPad Air 128GB Wi-Fi - $556.50 ($43 off) 256GB Wi-Fi - $644.99 ($55 off) 512GB Wi-Fi - $834.00 ($65 off) 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,009.00 ($90 off) 13-inch M4 iPad Air 128GB Wi-Fi - $741.50 ($58 off) 256GB Wi-Fi - $821.66 ($78 off) 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,001.72 ($98 off) 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,199.00 ($100 off) If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:30 pmGet Microsoft Office 2024, plus courses that show you how to use it, at a killer price | Cult of MacGet Microsoft Office 2024, plus courses that show you how to use it, at a killer price
Get Microsoft Office 2024 plus a full training bundle for $114—so you’re not just using Office, you actually learn how to use it well. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:28 pmApple TV comedy with 96% Rotten Tomatoes is coming back soon
Apple TV announced Ted Lasso’s season 4 release date yesterday, and now today the streamer revealed that it has another beloved, critically acclaimed comedy coming back for a new season too: Trying. more…01:23 pmFormula 1 coverage expands across Apple services for Miami Grand Prix
Apple will stream the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2026 live on Apple TV with full race weekend coverage available across the United States.F1 Miami Grand PrixApple TV will carry every session, including practice, qualifying, and the race, with live and on-demand access through the Apple TV app. Coverage includes up to 30 simultaneous live feeds with onboard cameras, timing data, and a Driver Tracker that shows the full field in real time.A dedicated Podium feed follows the top three drivers throughout each session. Multiview lets viewers build custom layouts or select preset viewing options across supported devices. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:18 pmIntel responds to MacBook Neo with 21% faster chip intended for similar devices
Apple’s launch of the MacBook Neo – and especially the incredible price/performance balance – sent shockwaves through the Windows world. Intel has now responded with the launch of a CPU aimed at similar budget laptops. An early benchmark suggests that it is 21% faster than the A18 Pro used in the MacBook Neo … more…01:05 pmIncoming Apple CEO John Ternus expected to join Apple’s Thursday earnings call
Apple investors are eager for a closer look at John Ternus as the next CEO of the iPhone maker when Apple reports quarterly results on… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:00 pmRobotics Framework Aims to Prevent Conflicts in Shared Spaces
A new interoperability framework aims to help robots share intent, not just data, allowing machines from different vendors to coordinate tasks, avoid conflicts, and operate more safely in complex, shared environments. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.01:00 pmKodebits Day 14: runCatching Fallback [FREE]
Capture failures as values with runCatching and recover cleanly.01:00 pmI tried the most powerful Thunderbolt dock ever made [Review] ★★★★★
The iVanky FusionDock Ultra packs an absurd 26 ports and uses a unique dual-cable Thunderbolt 5 setup to deliver unmatched connectivity. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:00 pmEvery iPhone has a useful hardware feature that zero Samsung phones offer
When Apple released the iPhone 17e, it doubled the storage and added what it calls the “magic of MagSafe” to the $599 iPhone 16e replacement. Apple’s decision to bring MagSafe to the last iPhone holdout meant every iPhone includes a useful hardware feature that zero Samsung phones offer. more…12:55 pmSaved reports in App Store Connect’s trends section not loading
Has anybody else noticed the Trends page in App Store Connect no longer loading certain saved reports? Have a few reports per app – one gives me the countries that app has been downloaded in today/ this week/ this month, one gives me how many updates were installed from the last version (a good indicator […]12:53 pmTake $300 off the M3 iPad Air in Amazon’s blowout clearance sale
Macworld Apple iPad Air M3 View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); If you want a new iPad, we’ve got a great deal for you today: This decked-out M3 13-inch iPad Air with extra storage and 5G is down to its absolute best price of $1,149, which means you’re saving an insane $300! That’s the best price we’ve ever seen for this model and one of the best iPad Air discounts of all time. With the super-fast M3 chip, a maxed-out 1TB of storage, and both Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity. This combo enables you to use your tablet anywhere you go, install tons of apps, and handle all apps, including graphics-intensive tools, with ease. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display is absolutely gorgeous, too, so you’ll love how everything looks, whether you’re playing, binge-watching your favorite shows, or just looking at YouTube vids. When we reviewed the M3 iPad Air, we gave it a 4-star rating, praising its absolutely outstanding performance, loving the design and display, and finding the extended battery life quite great. And since this model has everything you’ll need, it’ll be your go-to tablet for years to come. It might not be as fast as the newer M4 version, but there’s no universe in which you’ll get the same amount of storage and 5G connectivity for this price anytime this year. So grab the M3 iPad Air for $1,149 before Amazon sells out and it’s gone forever.12:49 pmSupreme Court considering legality of smartphone location ‘dragnets’
The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the legality of so-called geofence warrants, sometimes also referred to as “digital dragnets” because they capture the location data of a great many innocent citizens in addition to criminal suspects. In a practice raising obvious privacy concerns, tech giants are increasingly being asked by law enforcement to identify all of the smartphone users present at a particular location at the time a crime was committed … more…12:38 pm$15 for feedback on my app
Not sure if this is allowed, but I’m looking for feedback on a test app that I’m building for helping people navigate to New York City parking tickets. Before releasing, I want have a few people try it out and give me their live reactions while screen recording the app features being used. This feedback […]12:22 pmJohn Ternus' first major challenge is dealing with quadrupled iPhone memory prices
John Ternus faces a turbulent start to his tenure as Apple CEO, including massive RAM pricing spikes that will impact the fall iPhone launch. With continued pressure to manufacture in the U.S, supply chain changes could be on the way.John Ternus will be Apple's next CEO in SeptemberThe arrival of John Ternus as Apple CEO in September will be a big event for Apple, but it will also include some tough early choices. Some that will affect how Apple's massive supply chain operates in the future.At present, Apple is dealing with the industry-wide problem of memory pricing, with RAM skyrocketing in cost and affecting the price of electronics in general. So far, Apple has managed to insulate itself from the problem through strategic contracts with suppliers, but it won't last forever. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:15 pmCLE (Cleveland) on 2026-04-29
Apr 29, 12:15 UTCIn progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.Apr 29, 12:01 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in CLE (Cleveland) datacenter on 2026-04-29 between 12:15 and 15:00 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.12:05 pmEpic Games Wins Reversal of Stay in App Store Fee Legal Battle
Apple has lost a court battle to delay App Store changes while it asks the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on its long-running dispute with Epic Games surrounding developer fees. On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier decision that had let Apple keep its current App Store commission structure in place while it appeals to the Supreme Court. The reversal means Apple now has to return to a lower court to work out what fees it can charge developers who steer customers to outside payment options. Apple won the pause earlier this month by arguing that it shouldn't have to overhaul its fee structure twice if the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in its favor. In response, Epic Games immediately filed two motions: one said it hadn't been given time enough to prepare a response to Apple's stay request, and another asking the court to reject the original request. The three-judge panel granted Epic's motion for reconsideration. The judges said Apple hadn't shown that the Supreme Court was likely to take the case, and pointed out that the high court already chose not to hear Apple's challenges once back in 2024. They also rejected Apple's claim that being forced into lower-court hearings would cause real harm. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney shared the news in a post on X, adding that "Apple's delaying tactics have come to an end!" Apple's delaying tactics have come to an end! Now Epic v Apple returns to Judge Gonzales Rogers for hearings on exactly what fees Apple can charge to recoup costs of reviewing apps using competing payment methods. https://t.co/eukYzpu0dY— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 29, 2026 The case now heads back to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California, who will determine what commission Apple can collect on purchases made through external links, if any. Apple can still petition the Supreme Court while those proceedings move ahead. The dispute traces all the way back to the original Epic Games trial, which Apple largely won. However, one exception was a 2021 ruling from Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordering Apple to relax its "anti-steering" rules and let developers point users to outside payment options. Apple complied with the ruling, but only slightly lowered its fees, which led few developers to even bother adding links. Epic subsequently returned to court, and the judge found Apple in willful violation of the original injunction. Consequently, it barred Apple from collecting any commission on external links. Apple appealed and dropped the link fees while the case moved forward, but the company argued that the ruling was unconstitutional and that it should receive compensation for its technology. Then in December 2025, the appeals court delivered a split decision: Apple had violated the injunction, but the company should still be able to charge something reasonable. That sent the question of what that fee should look like back to the district court. Apple is now hoping the Supreme Court will go further and throw out the district court's ruling altogether.Tags: App Store, Epic Games, Epic Games vs. Apple, Apple LawsuitsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums12:04 pm9 reasons why the ChatGPTphone isn’t an iPhone threat
Macworld As if the smartphone market wasn’t already stuffed with enough rivals to the iPhone, it’s emerged this week that AI giant OpenAI is getting ready to throw its hat in the ring. In a short article posted to Twitter/X, the highly respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the ChatGPT maker is “set to redefine smartphones” with a new handset created in partnership with Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Luxshare. Apple has so far struggled to bring the iPhone up to speed with the pace of AI development, and on first impressions, this might sound like a formidable challenge for John Ternus to deal with as he settles in as CEO. But I don’t think he’ll be worried about the threat of the “ChatGPTphone.” Here’s why. 1. Apps aren’t dead yet In the article, Kuo talks about the evolution from app to agent. “Users are not trying to use a pile of apps,” he says. “They are trying to get tasks done and fulfil needs through the phone.” That sounds good if the apps you’re replacing are Calendar, Clock, Weather, and a bunch of airline, rail, and cab apps. But people will still want to watch and listen to streaming services, browse social media, play games, track sports, and do dozens of other things on their phones. You can’t replace apps with an AI agent unless it’s just a glorified app launcher. 2. It’s too late Apple has been doing this for nearly 20 years, and has built up a loyal fan base of users who would never consider anything other than an iPhone. Google and Samsung, too, have multi-generation fans, as do the other manufacturers of Android phones. Even if OpenAI’s phone came out in 2026, that would already be extraordinarily late to be trying to break into the smartphone market, but Kuo says mass production won’t start until 2028… by which point, as a commenter points out, OpenAI may not even exist. It’s a mark of OpenAI’s lateness that by this point, most other companies are trying to plan for what comes after the smartphone. 3. OpenAI has no experience in smartphone hardware OpenAI will be going from a standing start in a mature market stuffed with contenders that have, as mentioned above, been doing this for almost two decades. Even with design guru Jony Ive on the team, it takes multiple generations to get this sort of thing right, and that’s time OpenAI hasn’t got. 4. OpenAI is overestimating its brand loyalty “OpenAI’s advantages lie in its consumer brand, years of accumulated user data, and leading AI models,” Kuo writes. We’ll come to the second and third factors in due course, but even the brand awareness is debatable. OpenAI certainly has a lot of brand value in ChatGPT, but far less as a company. And just because people know or even like a piece of software, it doesn’t mean they’re prepared to pay hundreds of dollars for hardware by the same company. 5. The ecosystem isn’t there With its iterative updates and generally conservative designs, Apple makes the smartphone market look easy. But it’s not just about the phone, and OpenAI hasn’t got anything like the same surrounding ecosystem to push people towards its smartphone and then lock them in. The iPhone benefits from seamless compatibility with the AirPods, Apple Watch, Mac, and Vision Pro, and also benefits from the appeal of Apple Music, iMessage, Apple Pay, the App Store, and so much more. The only halo product OpenAI can build a phone around is ChatGPT, and the problem with that… 6. What’s the unique selling point? …is that ChatGPT is already on the iPhone, both as an app and integrated with Siri and Apple Intelligence. OpenAI could cut those off (along with the Android app) to give itself a USP, but that would likely hurt OpenAI more than its smartphone competitors. 7. ChatGPT isn’t even that special Yes, ChatGPT was the catalyst for the AI explosion over the past few years, and it’s a market-leading model. But rivals have proliferated, and most are backed by larger companies with a greater capacity to endure the inevitable market dips. AI is only likely to become more commoditised. Why buy a phone built entirely around ChatGPT when you can get a phone that can run ChatGPT as well as Gemini, Claude, or whichever model you may happen to prefer? 8. Apple is going to get AI right eventually I’m the last person to praise Siri or Apple Intelligence, but Apple has made AI a top priority, and it has the resources to reach a solution eventually (or just buy a company that has a worthwhile model already). It’s really just a matter of time before Apple Intelligence works well, and that’ll happen before the OpenAI phone arrives. At which point, the one thing OpenAI does better than Apple won’t be an issue any more, while Apple will still have all its other advantages as a maker of phones and phone software. 9. OpenAI never wanted to make a phone anyway If you examine OpenAI’s hardware development history, it becomes clear that this entire project isn’t its first choice. The company originally wanted to make an AI pin, which it worked on with former Apple design guru Jony Ive (who is now more closely associated with OpenAI following a merger with Ive’s LoveFrom studio in 2025). Why suddenly shift from a pin to a phone? All the reasons above, presumably. But rival AI pins such as Humane were savaged by reviewers, and OpenAI is now fleeing to the more consumer-friendly world of phones as a half-hearted compromise. Good luck with that.11:52 amApple was ready for the RAM crisis
Macworld Over the decades, the evolution of computers has been easy to follow: They’ve become steadily more powerful to keep pace with the need for more advanced applications. We’ve seen computers equipped with faster processors, more storage, and, most of all, more RAM. This trend has accelerated even further recently, with companies pushing on-device AI capabilities into their devices, and Apple is no exception. However, the increasing demand for RAM is having another effect on the market. While once plentiful and affordable, RAM is more expensive than ever, and it’s becoming harder to get, even at exorbitant prices. But instead of dealing with constraints by upping prices, Apple is showing the industry how its years-long effort to control every component inside its devices has given it a unique advantage over every other PC maker, clearly evidenced by the recent launch of the MacBook Neo. The importance of RAM in today’s world First, let’s take a closer look at why RAM or memory is so important. Essentially, RAM is a type of short-term memory with ultra-fast speeds, much faster than SSDs. When you open an app on your phone or laptop, it’s stored in RAM to ensure that the processor can handle it more quickly as you continue to use it. That’s why, generally speaking, having more RAM means your devices can run faster, enabling more apps and tasks to operate at the same time without slowing down. As such, RAM has also become extremely important for artificial intelligence. Since RAM is much faster than internal storage, devices also store AI parameters in RAM for quicker access. In other words, the more and faster the RAM, the greater the device’s ability to handle AI tasks locally. That’s why AI companies have been buying up as much DDR5 RAM, the same that’s used in Apple devices, as they can for their servers. It’s also why we’ve seen consumer desktops and laptops gaining more RAM in recent years, including Apple, which only recently increased the base RAM for Macs to 16GB and the iPhone and iPad to 8GB. The AI boom has put more pressure on chips to increase RAM limits.Apple More RAM isn’t a viable option anymore For years, the strategy of adding more hardware resources to handle software demands was a simple solution to complexity. But as modern workloads have become increasingly memory-intensive in recent years, suppliers have been unable to keep up with demand. As a result, RAM has become much more expensive, and PC makers have been forced to shift their strategy. The situation became so dire that Apple had to discontinue the highest-end Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM, while other versions with higher amounts of RAM are also facing significant shortages. And it’s hard not to conclude that the timing of the Mac Pro’s discontinuation wasn’t tied to the RAM crisis as well. The RAM crunch has also been affecting the 16GB Mac mini, which is currently sold out at the Apple Store and unavailable at Amazon. Higher-end models with more memory are severely constrained as well. This situation would (and has) put tech companies in a bind. They need better hardware to meet the growing demand for AI tasks, but there simply isn’t any more RAM on the market. Fortunately for Apple, it had already found the solution years before. Apple chips were made for a RAM-scarce world In theory, there’s no way to simply replace RAM with something else. However, Apple has found the next best thing: a way to optimize both its hardware and software to run smoothly even on devices with the bare minimum of RAM. When Apple introduced the first Mac with the M1 chip, it wasn’t a mere swap from Intel to its own chips, but also a radical change to how its computers work. That’s because Apple silicon chips are classified as a system on a chip, which means key components, including the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, SSD, and even the RAM, are all on the same pool, sharing the same resources. And that makes a big difference in everyday use. The M-series chips have a complete package right on the chip.Apple Thanks to the SoC’s unified memory, all components can quickly access the same data without having to copy it between different modules. This drastically reduces latency and improves performance when running resource-intensive tasks without needing loads of additional memory. At the same time, Apple leverages its hardware and software integration to further optimize memory usage. For instance, macOS features a very aggressive memory compression system that significantly reduces the amount of RAM used by inactive apps running in the background. The chips also utilize something called “memory swapping.” Admittedly, this isn’t a term Apple invented, but nowhere else is it used so seamlessly thanks to the way Apple silicon chips are designed. If your Mac runs out of RAM, the system can temporarily store memory data directly on the SSD. Because both the RAM and the SSD are connected to the same SoC, data transfer is nearly instantaneous, allowing the computer to run smoothly even when you’re using all available RAM. When it comes to AI, the built-in Neural Engine also helps macOS process machine learning parameters and tasks, freeing up RAM. Essentially, this makes a Mac with 8GB of RAM feel like it has twice that. While pro users will still need more, which Apple happily sells, the MacBook Neo proves once and for all that for everyday users, 8GB of unified memory delivers much more than the same 8GB of RAM in a traditional PC laptop. The ‘RAM tax’ is already here The timing couldn’t be better. In March, Apple introduced its most affordable laptop ever, the $599 MacBook Neo, while the rest of the industry struggles to stay afloat due to the RAM crisis. Microsoft recently announced significant price increases for the Surface lineup, with some flagship models now costing $500 more than they did at launch due to increased costs for memory and other components. For instance, the 13-inch Surface Laptop now starts at $1,149 with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. That’s $50 more expensive than the base 13-inch MacBook Air model with similar specs. Unlike the MacBook Neo, Microsoft doesn’t even offer an option with 8GB of RAM. The MacBook Neo arrive at a time when PC makers are raising prices.Foundry Meta also recently raised the prices of its Quest headsets by up to $100. The company likewise blamed the “global surge in the price of critical components.” Apple isn’t immune to price increases for components, of course. The M5 MacBook Air, which was introduced last month, is in fact more expensive than the M4 model, starting at $1,099 with 512GB of storage rather than $999 with 256GB of storage. Still, it’s unlikely Apple has any plans to change the MacBook Neo’s starting price of $599 anytime soon. That, of course, is because Apple has established that an entry-level Mac can run just fine with only 8GB of RAM thanks to its system-on-chip architecture. And even in the higher-end models, Apple silicon chips are so efficient that Apple is under less pressure to keep raising baseline RAM—and prices—as aggressively as competitors. Even with just 8GB of RAM, the MacBook Neo performs better than PC laptops with twice the memory.Eugen Wegmann Efficiency will become a growing priority As expected, Apple’s competitors finally seem to be catching on. Last month, Microsoft pledged to improve the quality of Windows with a series of improvements that will make Windows faster and more reliable by scaling back AI and freeing up RAM for other parts of the system, which should definitely improve performance on less powerful devices. Whether by coincidence or not, the announcement came about a week after Apple unveiled the MacBook Neo. Apple isn’t reacting to this shift. It’s already there. Not because Apple devices don’t benefit from more RAM, they absolutely do, but because they rely less on memory specs to deliver a consistent experience. It’s no longer just about how much RAM a device ships with, but how well it uses every gigabyte. Apple might not have designed the M1 chip with a RAM shortage in mind, but all this technology is now proving more useful than ever. This gives Apple a significant advantage over its competitors, who are unable to achieve the same level of integration with separate parts.11:48 amAirDrop is now widely available on Android phones, and I’m here for it
We can argue endlessly about how innovative Apple is as a company, and indeed many people do. Personally, I would argue that some of its greatest innovations have been in the seemingly smallest of features, and AirDrop is one of these. AirDrop is a really simple and convenient way to move a document from one of our Apple devices to another, as well as to exchange files and information with other iPhone users. The introduction of NameDrop in iOS 17 was a particularly great application of the tech in my view … more…11:16 amHow is the market for iphone and apple watch apps on App Store?
I've been doing coding lots of hours a week and then working general jobs to make ends meet, and wanted to know if it is worth it? My strategy is publishing around 15 apps in niche and main market on app store along with advertising them. Is it worth the hard work? Can I make […]11:01 amJohn Ternus faces critical decisions on iPhone pricing and US manufacturing – FT
Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus is going to be facing two critical decisions soon after he takes the helm, says a new Financial Times report. First, how to respond to a massive increase in memory prices, with Apple’s RAM costs increasing by more than 400% by next year. Second, how to shape the company’s manufacturing plans across China, India, and the US … more…11:00 amSorry, Intel’s new chip won’t help PCs beat MacBook Neo
Macworld The MacBook Neo has shaken up the affordable laptop market, with PC manufacturers trying to figure out what they can do to compete with Apple’s laptop. One way is to offer better performance with a cheap processor, and Intel’s latest chip appears to do just that. TweakTown reports that benchmark results are appearing for Intel’s new Wildcat Lake Core Series 3 CPU, a chip designed for affordable mobile devices. In PassMark’s multi-thread test, the Wildcat Lake Core 5 320 chip was 21 percent faster than Apple’s A18 Pro, a chip released in September 2024 and used in the MacBook Neo. In single-thread results, the Intel and Apple chips were basically the same. So, it looks like PC makers have another viable chip offering–TweakTown calls Wildcat Lake’s performance “particularly impressive” compared to the MacBook Neo. On multi-thread performance alone, Intel’s new CPU makes good progress catching up to Apple’s older chip. “Impressive” is a bit much, in my opinion, for a difference that is slightly noticeable in real-world usage, but still, it shows that Intel has responded to Apple’s threat. While performance is an important consideration when buying a cheap laptop, there are other factors that PC makers at this price point still haven’t figured out how to compete on. Most notably, PC laptops in this market (even some priced several hundred dollars more than the Neo) are made of plastic, which, apparently and mind-bogglingly, some PC users actually prefer over aluminum, environmental concerns be damned. And the build quality of these laptops, with their creaks, stiff hinges, and flimsiness, makes the MacBook Neo feel downright luxurious. You’ve also got battery life. MacBook Neo’s 16-hour battery life might pale in comparison to the Air and Pro, but it’ll still comfortably get you through a school day. PC laptops, on the other hand, are notoriously inefficient, especially when not plugged in, so it’ll be interesting to see how long the first crop of Wildcat Lake Core 5 320 laptops lasts. I’m gonna guess not great. Then there’s the whole Windows versus macOS thing that, well…the debate is an old one. But I’ll just say, if you like spending time figuring out how to strip out bloatware, ads, and other grossness from your new laptop’s operating system, then Windows 11 is for you. While you’re doing that, I’ll be doing real work on my MacBook Neo.10:30 amApple’s biggest win last week made the fewest headlines
Macworld There was big news from Apple’s boardroom last week. As you know, Tim Cook’s getting kicked upstairs and John Ternus is going to assume the mantle of Apple CEO. But that’s not the news I’m talking about. The other big news is that Johny Srouji is being named Chief Hardware Officer. Nobody outside of those who follow Apple or the chip industry closely has ever heard of Srouji. (For that matter, they hadn’t heard of Ternus, either.) But this is not a minor executive promotion. The fact that Apple made the announcement simultaneously with Cook’s departure and Ternus’s elevation shows that. Srouji’s promotion–and more importantly, retention– is vitally important for Apple. The importance of Apple silicon Calling Srouji the “father of Apple silicon” doesn’t go quite far enough, but it’s a good start. Apple began using the phrase “Apple silicon” to refer to Macs running Apple-designed M-series processors, but the Apple silicon story goes all the way back to the 2010 launch of the first Apple-designed processor, the A4, which powered the iPhone 4 and the original iPad. Srouji led the team that designed the A4, and has led Apple’s chip efforts ever since. Through the decade of the 2010s, it became clear that one of Apple’s enormous advantages in the smartphone market was that it designed its own processors. Because Apple creates its own chips for its own products, it’s able to make decisions about the specs and features of those chips that fit perfectly with the plan for the products they’re going to be used in. (Contrast this with companies that have to buy off-the-shelf chips from vendors like Intel and Qualcomm, where the chips are designed to appeal to a broad selection of clients. Every Apple chip is made for specific Apple products, and that’s it.) Johny Srouji led the development of the A4 in the iPhone 4.Caspertheghost/Wikipedia Apple being able to dictate the features of its own chips might be an advantage enough, but it turns out that Apple’s chips were also faster than the competition. A lot faster. Every summer, Qualcomm would release a new chip that they would boast about, offering performance similar to iPhone chips. Then, in September, Apple would introduce a new iPhone powered by a chip that offered performance that would blow Qualcomm away. In the most dynamic and profitable tech market, the smartphone, Apple basically lapped the competition. Next up, Apple used the iPad Pro as a testing ground to see if it could scale its phone-class processors to provide the kind of power that might drive a full-on computer. In 2018, Apple introduced an iPad Pro powered by the A12X processor, which scaled up the processor cores to create a much more powerful device–a hint of things to come. It followed that up with the 2020 introduction of an iPad Pro powered by the A12Z processor, which Apple explicitly boasted was more powerful than most PC laptops currently being sold. In hindsight, that was one of Apple’s biggest tells ever. Are you getting it yet? Apple silicon is powerful enough to run full-on computers, not just iPads and iPhones! And with the release of the M1 later in 2020, the prophesy was fulfilled. Apple’s advantage on smartphones and tablets has become Apple’s advantage, well, everywhere. (Even in low-cost laptops, as it turns out.) Keep Srouji happy! This brings us back to the man in charge, Johny Srouji. Apple’s chip efforts have gotten a lot of notice in the industry. Key members of the team left Apple to create their own startup, which was in turn bought by archrival Qualcomm. Srouji is in his early 60s and may be considering one last big career move before retirement. Apple’s hardware won’t be where it is today without Johny Srouji leading the way.Apple Amid all of that, Srouji’s longtime boss, Tim Cook, started planning his departure. One of Srouji’s peers at the Senior Vice President level, John Ternus, was going to be the new CEO–Srouji’s boss. I don’t know anything about the personal relationships between these people, but it’s human nature to react a bit negatively to the prospect of losing your longtime boss and having him replaced with someone you see as your peer. This transition, necessary though Cook feels it is, put Srouji’s standing at Apple at risk. This is almost certainly the reason why Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in December that Srouji was considering leaving Apple. That report seemed like a real red alert, because–see above–Srouji is the leader of one of Apple’s strongest groups, providing it advantages across its entire product line. Gurman’s report said that Srouji “recently told Cook that he is seriously considering leaving in the near future,” but it’s not hard to read between the lines and assume that, in a moment of change, Srouji was pondering how much Apple valued his contributions. Two days later, Srouji released a designed-to-leak memo to his staff, saying he didn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Here’s what obviously happened. Cook and Ternus, like everyone else, recognized Srouji’s importance to Apple and offered him a new role. And in this case, the role–becoming Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer–was one that seems to have satisfied Srouji. (He’s the first person to be in charge of that entire group since Bob Mansfield retired in 2012.) With Ternus becoming CEO, his entire hardware division has been handed to Srouji. It’s an enormous portion of the company, and it belongs to Srouji now. Srouji now seems to have gotten what he wants. The next question is, how will Ternus’s former division respond to their new manager? Gurman reports that Srouji has a “hard-driving approach” and that the hardware division is in for a “cold shower.” Look, different managers have different styles. Conflicts are inevitable. Srouji’s new division will need to adapt to him, and he’ll need to adapt to them. Ternus will no doubt be well aware of how the transition in his former division is going, and Srouji reports to Ternus. They’ll all need to work it out, and change can be difficult, but in the end, it can also be refreshing to be guided by some new perspectives. The most important thing is that, in a moment of transition that could have had some brutal side effects, Apple has retained one of its top players. I’m looking forward to seeing what Johny Srouji will do with an even larger portion of Apple as his responsibility.10:14 amReport: iPhone Memory Costs Set to Quadruple by 2027
Memory could account for as much as 45 percent of an iPhone's component costs by 2027, up from around 10 percent today, according to a JPMorgan analysis cited by the Financial Times ($). Apple buys memory for roughly 250 million iPhones a year and has historically been one of the largest customers in the category. But Apple has reportedly now gone from a position where it could set terms to one where it now has to compete with rivals for supply. The principal reason is the heavily subsidized AI build-out that's underway. In a race to make data centers that can handle more compute for frontier AI models, AI infrastructure buyers like Nvidia are now reportedly outbidding consumer electronics makers for limited supply from the likes of Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Meanwhile, cloud companies are reportedly making upfront payments worth billions of dollars to secure capacity. It's a marked break from the industry norm of committing to volumes with suppliers first and negotiating prices later. The pressure is already reshaping Apple's product plans, and the split-launch cycle for the iPhone 18 series is said to be part of that new reality. Apple is expected to stagger the iPhone 18 launch, holding the lower-priced model until spring 2027 rather than shipping the full lineup in the usual fall window. Instead, only the iPhone 18 Pro models will be launched in September, with a foldable iPhone expected to be unveiled around the same time. Apple hardware engineering chief John Ternus takes over from Tim Cook as CEO on September 1, and Cook will transition to his new role as Apple's first executive chair, where he is expected to take a direct role in day-to-day operations. Meanwhile, Ternus's first big decision will be whether Apple absorbs the increasing cost of memory or passes it onto consumers. Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan reckons the decision could come down to whether Apple holds prices to please consumers or accepts a margin hit, especially in markets like India and China where it competes with local smartphone makers. "By the time September rolls around, Apple has two choices: one, they reprice [products] higher, or two, they say 'let's go ahead and gun for market share,'" Mohan told the FT. He thinks there is a decent chance that Apple will opt for market share.Tag: Financial TimesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums09:22 amEmerging Service Issue – Object Storage
Apr 29, 09:22 UTCInvestigating - We are aware that some customers have been experiencing 403 (InvalidAccessKeyId) errors when attempting to access object storage, beginning yesterday evening. We will share additional updates as we have more information.08:54 amMSP (Minneapolis) on 2026-04-30
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 30, 07:00 - 16:00 UTCApr 29, 08:41 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in MSP (Minneapolis) datacenter on 2026-04-30 between 07:00 and 16:00 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.08:54 amYUL (Montréal) on 2026-04-30
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 30, 06:00 - 16:00 UTCApr 29, 08:41 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in YUL (Montréal) datacenter on 2026-04-30 between 06:00 and 16:00 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.08:54 amAMS (Amsterdam) on 2026-04-30
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THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 30, 00:00 - 05:00 UTCApr 29, 08:41 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in BRU (Brussels) datacenter on 2026-04-30 between 00:00 and 05:00 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.Firehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
- Thursday April 02
- 11:23 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K65LL/A – $1,949.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K65LL/A – $1,949.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K65LL/A $1,949.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 32GB unified memory 1TB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…11:23 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Purple – G1ET1LL/A – $1,439.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Purple – G1ET1LL/A – $1,439.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Purple – G1ET1LL/A $1,439.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…11:23 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FWV43LL/A – $1,269.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FWV43LL/A – $1,269.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FWV43LL/A $1,269.00 $1,499.00 −15% Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…11:23 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1K17LL/A – $1,779.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1K17LL/A – $1,779.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Silver – G1K17LL/A $1,779.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 24GB unified memory 512GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…11:23 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FD2U4LL/A – $1,609.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FD2U4LL/A – $1,609.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – FD2U4LL/A $1,609.00 $1,899.00 −15% Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 24GB unified memory 512GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…10:53 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1EH1LL/A – $1,439.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1EH1LL/A – $1,439.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Silver – G1EH1LL/A $1,439.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…10:53 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K63LL/A – $2,119.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K63LL/A – $2,119.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K63LL/A $2,119.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 24GB unified memory 2TB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…01:50 pmApple HomePod $40 Off at Sam’s Club Tech Savings Event (Ends April 30)
Sam’s Club is offering a $40 discount on Apple’s HomePod during its current Tech Savings event, bringing the price down to $259. This limited-time deal runs through April 30 and matches one of the best prices typically available on Apple’s full-size smart speaker. The HomePod combines strong sound quality with deep Apple ecosystem integration, making it a solid option for music, smart home control, and Siri voice commands. Availability may vary by color and location, and a Sam’s Club membership is required. View the deal here, and compare all HomePod prices here: https://www.macprices.net/apple-homepods/08:37 amRefurb Apple MacBook Air M4 15″ Laptop (2025) for $879 + free shipping
At eBay, get the refurb 2025 Apple MacBook Air M4 15″ Laptop for $879. It’s the best deal we’ve seen for this model in any condition. It includes a 1-year Allstate warranty. Buy Now at eBay Features Apple M4 Chip 10-core processor 16GB RAM, 256GB internal storage Mac OSWednesday April 0102:52 pmRefurb Apple MacBook Air M1 13″ Laptop (2020) for $329 + free shipping
At eBay, get this refurb 2020 Apple MacBook Air M1 13″ Laptop for $329. It’s the second-best deal we’ve seen for this model. A 1-year Allstate warranty is included. Buy Now at eBayTuesday March 3103:39 pmApple iPad A16 256GB 11″ WiFi + Cellular (2025) for $467 + free shipping
At Amazon, get the 2025 Apple iPad A16 256GB 11″ WiFi + Cellular for $467. That’s $82 less than what Walmart currently charges. Deal ends today, Buy Now at AmazonMonday March 3009:59 pmRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – FWUY3LL/A – $1,269.00 | Refurb TrackerRefurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – FWUY3LL/A – $1,269.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – FWUY3LL/A $1,269.00 $1,499.00 −15% Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…09:25 pmiPhone 17e Is FREE at 4 Carriers Right Now — Here’s How Each Deal Works
The iPhone 17e is currently free at AT&T, Verizon, Metro by T-Mobile, and Visible—but each carrier uses a different type of promotion to get there. Some rely on bill credits over 24–36 months, while others bundle service discounts or prepaid incentives. Understanding how these offers work is key to getting the best deal. In this post, we break down exactly how each carrier makes the iPhone 17e “free,” what you need to qualify, and which option is actually the best value. Click the Read More button for full details.03:07 pmApple iPad A16 128GB 11″ WiFi + Cellular Tablet (2025) for $359 + free shipping
At Amazon, get the 2025 Apple iPad A16 128GB 11″ WiFi + Cellular Tablet for $359.10. It’s the best deal we’ve seen for this model. Shipping is free. Buy Now at Amazon02:53 pmApple 11″ A16 iPads $50 Off at Amazon & Walmart – Prices Start at $299
Amazon and Walmart are currently offering $50 discounts on Apple’s 11-inch 11th-generation A16 iPads, with prices starting at just $299 for the 128GB WiFi model. This matches some of the best widely available pricing we’ve seen on Apple’s latest entry-level tablet, which now includes double the base storage and improved performance. Both retailers are carrying multiple storage configurations at the discounted price, giving buyers flexibility depending on their needs. These deals are especially strong for students, casual users, and anyone looking for a reliable everyday iPad at a lower cost: Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart See all current prices and retailers here: iPad Price Tracker.Sunday March 2904:09 pm14″ M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pro Deals — $150 Off at Amazon
Amazon is offering $150 off select 14-inch MacBook Pro models, including both M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations. 👉 M5 Pro deals 👉 M5 Max deals These early discounts bring down the price of Apple’s newest MacBook Pro lineup and make mid-tier M5 Pro models especially attractive.03:25 pm16″ M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pro Deals — Save Up to $200 at Amazon
Amazon is now offering early discounts on Apple’s new 16-inch M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, with savings of up to $200 depending on configuration. 👉 View M5 Pro deals 👉 Browse M5 Max models These deals bring select configurations closer to their lowest tracked prices and mark one of the first major price drops on Apple’s latest high-end MacBook Pro lineup.Friday March 2702:02 pmRefurb 5th-Gen. Apple iPad 9.7″ 32GB WiFi Tablet (2017) for $75 + free shipping
Apply promo code "PAD8" to get this price, that's $24 less than you'd pay for a refurb via Amazon. It's the best price we've seen in any condition. A 90-day warranty applies. Buy Now at dailystealsThursday March 2603:41 pmBest iPhone 15 Deals Right Now — From $0 to $379 at Carriers
Carriers are offering major discounts on the iPhone 15, with prices starting around $199 at Boost Mobile, $299 at Metro, and $379 at Total Wireless. AT&T and Verizon are also offering the iPhone 15 for free with qualifying plans and bill credits. 👉 Boost Mobile deal 👉 Metro deal 👉 Total Wireless deal 👉 AT&T deal 👉 Verizon deal These deals vary based on activation requirements, but represent some of the lowest pricing currently available. See our iPhone Price Tracker for the latest prices, deals, and plans...and click through to read the full details of these deals.03:01 pm13″ M4 MacBook Air Clearance Deals — Save Up to $200 at B&H Photo
B&H Photo is offering clearance pricing on Apple’s 13-inch M4 MacBook Air, with discounts of up to $200 off original MSRP depending on configuration. 👉 256GB models now around $899 👉 512GB models around $999 These deals bring upgraded configurations closer to entry-level pricing and mark one of the first major discounts on the previous-generation M4 lineup.02:20 pmBest M4 iPad Air Deals Right Now — Prices Start at $559
Retailers have started discounting Apple’s new M4 iPad Air lineup, with Amazon and other major sellers offering some of the lowest prices currently available across both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The best deals right now are centered on base configurations, though higher storage tiers are also seeing notable price drops depending on color and availability. The strongest deals right now are on the 11-inch models, where entry-level configurations are seeing discounts of around $40–$80 off Apple’s MSRP. Higher-capacity models (512GB and 1TB) are also seeing solid price drops, particularly on select colors, though pricing can fluctuate frequently depending on inventory. The 13-inch models are also discounted, but generally by smaller margins so far, with most deals clustering around $50 off depending on configuration.01:13 pm