Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Friday May 08
- 07:37 pmWarning: Instagram DMs Lose End-to-End Encryption Starting Today
As of today, end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages is no longer available. DMs that you send to people on Instagram will no longer feature full encryption, and your conversations are not protected from Meta. Meta can potentially see what's in messages shared between users on Instagram, and that information can be shared with law enforcement agencies worldwide. End-to-end encryption has been an opt-in messaging feature on Instagram since 2023, but Meta quietly removed it. Meta told The Guardian earlier this year that it is removing the encryption feature because not enough people adopted it. At the same time, Meta did not turn it on by default, nor did the company alert users that it was an option. Sending an encrypted message required turning it on for each individual conversation by tapping into a buried per-conversation setting. Meta also never rolled the feature out to all Instagram users. "Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we're removing this option from Instagram in the coming months," Meta said. Meta suggests that people who want end-to-end encryption should use WhatsApp, which is another messaging app that it owns. iMessage and other apps like Signal that are not Meta-owned also offer end-to-end encryption. Law enforcement agencies and child safety advocates have long pushed for Meta to remove encryption, but Meta could also be getting something out of the feature's removal. It's possible the company will be able to use direct messaging content for advertising algorithms or training chatbots. Meta says that content in DMs is not used for targeted ads right now, but there is wording that allows for product improvement. Meta's decision to remove Instagram's end-to-end encryption comes 11 days before the Take It Down Act takes effect. The actf will require platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery like deepfakes within 48 hours of a takedown notice, but with E2EE in place, Meta can't access the content needed to comply. Instagram users who have end-to-end encrypted chats have been given instructions on how to download media or messages that they want to keep. Last year, Meta started using private generative AI conversations to personalize content and customize ad recommendations for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger users, so there seems to be little limit on the data that it will use to generate revenue. WhatsApp and Messenger continue to have end-to-end encryption for the time being.Tag: InstagramThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums07:25 pmCourt rules Trump's 10% tariff is just as illegal as the tariff it replaced
Trump's vow to impose tariffs a "different way" already has the tech industry on edge.07:23 pmReport: Apple has reached a preliminary deal with Intel to make chips in the U.S.
Macworld According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary deal to manufacture some of Apple’s chips. The WSJ and Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Apple had been in talks with both Intel and Samsung to diversify its suppliers for advanced chips, which currently rest almost entirely with TSMC. Now, it would appear that there is a deal in place—at least in principle. Intel was a leading chip manufacturer for decades, but only for chips of its own design. More recently, Intel’s manufacturing prowess has fallen behind the state of the art, where TSMC is the go-to company to manufacture the most advanced chips in the world. Its bleeding-edge processes are used by Apple, AMD, Nvidia, and others. Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has promised to revitalize Intel’s chip foundry business until its manufacturing processes are no longer second-best, while opening up the company’s chip manufacturing to make other companies’ products. It’s not clear which chips would be first in line for Intel’s plants. It’s not clear what chips Intel would manufacture for Apple, nor when production would begin. Intel’s most advanced new production process, called “18A” (for “18 angstrom”), is generally considered to be a competitor for TSMC’s most advanced 2nm process (18 angstroms is 1.8 nanometers). At the big Computex conference next month, Intel will be showing off its Nova Lake desktop processors, Panther Lake mobile/handheld chips, and Clearwater Forest server processors, all made on the 18A process. If this process is as good as it appears to be, Apple could theoretically produce its latest M-series and A-series chips with Intel. However, chip designs are largely fab-specific, and it’s not trivial to simply take an existing design and have it made with another company’s exclusive foundry process. It seems more likely that Apple would start by manufacturing chips that are a little further behind the bleeding edge, such as S-series chips for Apple Watch or the company’s N or C series networking chips.07:01 pmCarPlay keeps getting better, here are two new features I’ve been loving
CarPlay has improved a lot with iOS 26 and subsequent updates over the past year, here are two new features I’ve been loving lately. more…07:00 pmApple TV’s ‘The Dynasty: UConn Huskies’ set to premiere globally August 21st
Apple TV announced that the new three-part docuseries, “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies,” featuring the legendary University of Connecticut… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:58 pmWould a game developed in Java be able to be programmed into a SwiftUI iOS app? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWould a game developed in Java be able to be programmed into a SwiftUI iOS app?
Pretty much want to dev games with Java and have SwiftUI be my mobile dev framework to create mobile games. I do know about godot and unity but wondered if this was a possibility. submitted by /u/TurtleSlowRabbitFast [link] [comments]06:46 pmI built a tool to convert and export App Store video previews in the exact format Apple requires | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI built a tool to convert and export App Store video previews in the exact format Apple requires
https://www.asoscreens.app/ One of the most frustrating App Store experiences for me was this: edit a preview video upload it to App Store Connect submit for review wait 2–3 days get rejected because of the video format Sometimes it was the codec. Sometimes the resolution. Sometimes the duration. What made it worse is that Apple doesn’t […]06:44 pmShould I change my career? Are others struggling too or am I actually just an undesirable dev? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingShould I change my career? Are others struggling too or am I actually just an undesirable dev?
I have ~5 YOE. Mostly contract work (all of which got slightly extended) and one full time role that I was laid off from. Have had some stints of unemployment in between where I worked on side projects of my own cause I struggled to land jobs. Once again I am seriously struggling to land […]06:37 pmYou now need to be a student or teacher to shop at Apple’s education store
Macworld Apple has updated its surprisingly lax requirements for buying its products with an educational discount. Students and teachers will now need to verify their educational status using UNiDAYS in order to buy products from the Apple Education Store. The change applies to the United States as well as Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Canada, and Chile. Before this change, all you really needed was the name of an affiliated institution to access the Apple Education Store and, at most, an .edu email address to qualify for the discount. In some regions, including the UK, Apple already requires UNiDAYS verification to get an educational discount. Apple’s educational discounts vary by product, but generally range from $20-50 for less expensive items and $100 on more expensive items such as the MacBook Neo. Apple’s educational pricing applies to Macs, iPads, and certain related accessories, including, for the first time, Apple Watch models. In addition, shoppers are limited to how many items they can purchase with an educational discount each year: one desktop Mac, one Mac mini, one Mac laptop, two iPads, and two accessories that have education pricing. Education pricing is available for college students, all teachers and faculty for K-12 or higher education, parents buying on behalf of a higher-education student, or homeschool parents. Homeschool parents are still eligible after the change to UNiDAYS verification, but will need to provide additional documentation to verify their legitimacy. Back in January 2022, Apple added the UNiDAYS requirement to the U.S. educational store, only to remove it a week later.06:20 pmWeekend deal: Apple's 1TB M5 MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM falls to $1,699
Apple retailers are competing for your business with a $200 discount this weekend on the 1TB M5 14-inch laptop with an upgrade to 24GB of memory.Save $200 on Apple's M5 MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM - Image credit: AppleBoth Amazon and B&H Photo are offering a $200 discount on Apple's M5 MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, bringing the Space Black model down to $1,699.Buy M5/24GB/1TB MacBook Pro for $1,699 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:15 pmPrime Video just launched vertical video inside its iPhone app
Prime Video is the latest streaming service to debut a vertical video feed in its iPhone app. Here are the details on Prime Video’s new ‘Clips’ vertical video feature, rolling out today. more…06:08 pmUpdated iOS 26.5 & iPadOS 26.5 RC 2 builds tighten final release
Apple has seeded a second round of release candidate builds of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, bringing the updates a step closer to public release with a smaller round of fixes and feature additions.Liquid Glass in iOS 26The RC builds arrived one week after the fourth betas. Release candidates are typically the final versions Apple ships publicly unless major bugs force additional revisions during last-minute testing.Build number 23F77 appears on Apple's developer portal for both iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, replacing the earlier 23F75 RC build released on May 4. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:01 pmHomeKit Weekly: The Airversa QliQ brings a rechargeable Thread smart button to Apple Home | 9 to 5 MacHomeKit Weekly: The Airversa QliQ brings a rechargeable Thread smart button to Apple Home
Smart buttons have become incredibly common in the Apple Home ecosystem, but finding one that checks every single box is still surprisingly challenging at times. The new Airversa QliQ immediately caught my attention because it addresses two of my biggest complaints about most smart switches: it uses a Thread connection instead of Bluetooth, and it ditches disposable coin batteries for a rechargeable one. Let’s take a closer look at what it brings to the table and see if its premium hardware features justify the purchase. more…06:00 pmApple, Intel Have Reached Preliminary Chip-Making Agreement
Apple and Intel have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement (paywalled; alternative source) for Intel to manufacture some chips used in Apple devices, after more than a year of talks and pressure from the Trump administration. It's still unclear which Apple products would use Intel-made chips, but the deal would mark a major potential win for Intel's foundry ambitions and give Apple another manufacturing option beyond TSMC. Read more of this story at Slashdot.05:51 pmThe Apple Silicon chip in your next device may be made by Intel
Apple has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement that will see Intel become a chipmaking partner, helping reduce the company's reliance on TSMC for Mac chips and more.Intel could soon be making Apple's chips. Image credit: IntelReports had earlier suggested that the two companies were discussing a deal that would help Apple diversify its supply chain. Now, the pair are closer than ever to manufacturing some of Apple's chips in the United States.According to a report Wall Street Journal on Friday, the two companies have been in discussions about the project for more than a year. Significant progress has been made in recent months, however. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:51 pmThe Apple Silicon chip in your next device may be made by Intel
Apple has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement that will see Intel become a chipmaking partner, helping reduce the company's reliance on TSMC for Mac chips and more.Intel could soon be making Apple's chips. Image credit: IntelReports had earlier suggested that the two companies were discussing a deal that would help Apple diversify its supply chain. Now, the pair are closer than ever to manufacturing some of Apple's chips in the United States.According to a report Wall Street Journal on Friday, the two companies have been in discussions about the project for more than a year. Significant progress has been made in recent months, however. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:45 pmGood follow-up after Stanford CS193p?
I recently finished Stanford’s CS193p after doing 100 Days of SwiftUI. What would you recommend next for learning more advanced Swift/iOS development? I’m looking for something beyond beginner tutorials, ideally free. I couldn’t find an obvious follow-up course to CS193p, so I’m curious what people here found useful after that stage. submitted by […]05:37 pmApple and Intel have reached a deal to produce future chips: report
Reports have been building about Apple potentially partnering with Intel to produce future chips, and according to The Wall Street Journal, a deal has officially been reached. more…05:31 pmApple Could Soon Be Buying iPhone and Mac Chips From Old Frenemy Intel
After more than a year of discussion, Apple and Intel established a preliminary agreement that will see Intel manufacturing processors for Apple devices, reports The Wall Street Journal. Intel would make chips based on Apple chip designs, much like TSMC. Prior rumors on Intel's Apple talks have suggested Intel could make some of the lower-end processors used in Apple devices, including the lowest-end M-series chip used in select iPad and Mac models. Before Apple adopted Apple silicon, it used Intel-designed chips for its Macs, but had to deal with continual chip delays. Apple now designs its own Arm chips that are manufactured by TSMC, allowing it to provide updates at a more regular cadence. Intel makes its own chips, but it also makes chips for other companies. Apple has not previously eyed Intel as a supplier because it has lagged behind other chip makers like TSMC and Samsung, and because of the history between the two companies. Intel replaced CEO Pat Gelsinger with Lip-Bu Tan last year, and Tan has led an effort to revitalize Intel's chip manufacturing business. Tan has been focusing on Intel's most advanced process node, 14A, which will reach production in 2028. Intel has been seeking customers for its 14A 1.4nm node. Intel also makes 18A chips built on a 1.8nm node, along with chips built on older process nodes. Apple has been working to diversify its supply chain, because Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is currently its sole Apple silicon manufacturer. During Apple's latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said iPhone 17 models had been constrained during the quarter because Apple could not get enough A19 and A19 Pro chips from TSMC. TSMC is one of the world's largest chip manufacturers, and along with making chips for Apple, it makes chips for other companies like Nvidia. With the AI boom and huge demand for AI servers, TSMC has more limited capacity for chips made for consumer devices, and Apple has less leverage to convince TSMC to make its chips.Tag: IntelThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:30 pmApple pushes back against Canada’s encryption bill
In a move that underscores the growing friction between Silicon Valley and governments worldwide, Apple and Meta have formally… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:18 pmApple releases iOS 26.5 RC 2 ahead of public launch
Apple has released a new RC (release candidate) build for iOS and iPadOS 26.5 today, it’s available now for developers and public beta testers. more…05:16 pmApple Seeds Second iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers
Apple today seeded new release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming five days after the first RC. It's not clear what's changed in the second RC, but Apple typically sends out another candidate if there are bugs that need to be addressed. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any Siri updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searches, plus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app. Apple is continuing to test end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users. Apple included the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but removed it before the update launched to the public. There is a new Pride wallpaper to go along with the Pride Apple Watch band for this year. More detail on what's new in iOS 26.5 can be found in our iOS 26.5 beta features guide. iOS 26.5 is likely to see a launch next week. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, iOS 27Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:08 pmTokextract: Reverse-engineer a SwiftUI app’s design system into DTCG tokens, brand-narrative DESIGN.md, and an audit report. Claude Code plugin. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingTokextract: Reverse-engineer a SwiftUI app’s design system into DTCG tokens, brand-narrative DESIGN.md, and an audit report. Claude Code plugin.
A Claude skill I built today that does what it says in the title. I needed to extract the styles from one of my apps so I can iterate quickly on some experiments in Claude Design. This is a skill that does that. submitted by /u/CelticChokehold [link] [comments]05:02 pmApple TV has its best reviewed shows of the year airing right now
Apple TV is about to kick off its best summer lineup ever, but the streamer’s current offerings deserve attention too, including two current series that are Apple’s best reviewed of the year so far. more…04:58 pmMacRumors Giveaway: Win a MacBook Neo and Accessory Kit From Plugable
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Plugable to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a MacBook Neo and a Plugable MacBook Neo accessory kit that includes the UD–6950PDH USB-C Docking Station, USBC–9IN1E USB-C Hub, and the PS–30C1 30W power adapter. Plugable makes a wide range of accessories for Apple devices, and it is perhaps best known for its hubs and docks. There are several dock and hub options that work well with Apple's new low-cost MacBook Neo, and Plugable's solutions are affordable. The UD–6950PDH USB-C 14-in–1 Dock is priced at $180, and it adds multiple ports to the MacBook Neo or another Mac. There's a 5Gb/s USB-C port that also provides power for accessories, four 5Gb/s USB-A ports (one of which can power peripherals), microSD and SD card reader slots, a 100W USB-C port for charging a connected MacBook, a 1Gb/s Ethernet port, two HDMI ports, two DisplayPorts, and a K-Lock for security. The dock supports two 4K 60Hz displays connected via HDMI or DisplayPort, and it uses DisplayLink software to get around display limitations on the MacBook Neo and other Macs. Even though the MacBook Neo only supports one external 4K display natively, with the dock, it can power two displays. For those who only need a single display, Plugable has the $50 9-in–1 USB-C Hub. It connects to the MacBook Neo or another Mac via USB-C, adding several useful ports. Unlike the dock, it does not need an external power source because it is bus-powered. The hub has a 10Gb/s USB-C port, an HDMI 2.0 port, microSD and SD card slots, a USB 2.0 port, two 10Gb/s USB-A ports (one offers 15W charging for accessories), a USB-C port for 125W passthrough charging to the connected Mac, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Plugable currently has a 15% discount on the 9-in–1 Hub on Amazon. Plugable's MacBook Neo accessory lineup is rounded out with a compact $24 USB-C Charger Block, which comes in either black or white. The power adapter provides 30W for the MacBook Neo, which is ideal. It uses GaN technology so it's small in size, and it has collapsible prongs, making it ideal for travel. Plugable is offering a 16% discount on the power adapter on Amazon this week. We have a MacBook Neo and a Plugable accessory kit to go along with it for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected. Plugable Giveaway (U.S. Only)The contest will run from today (May 8) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 15. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after May 15 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.Related Roundup: MacBook NeoTag: GiveawayBuyer's Guide: MacBook Neo (Buy Now)Related Forum: MacBook NeoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:30 pmBrazilian betting license requirement for App Store availability
Following changes to Brazil’s fixed-odds betting regulation, apps with fixed-odds betting (gambling) features can now be distributed on the App Store in Brazil with a valid fixed-odds betting license from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA). If any of your apps include these features (indicated by selecting “Yes” to the gambling question in the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect), you’ll need to provide this license. Keep in mind that answering “Yes” to the gambling question in the age rating questionnaire will set your Brazil age rating to A18.A new app version must be submitted to initiate the license verification process. Updating the App Review Information section in App Store Connect alone won’t start a review. When submitting a new version of your app for review: Include your license information in the App Review Information section in App Store Connect. Enter your license details in the Notes field. Attach any supporting documents using the file attachment field. Please ensure that your app complies with all disclosures and warnings requirements, including but not limited to age restrictions and gambling risks, as required under the law. For questions regarding your legal obligations, please contact your legal counsel.Learn more about Brazil age ratingsLearn more about Brazil’s fixed-odds betting regulation04:26 pmThis ex-Apple designer’s backspace button will blow your mind
Macworld Anyone who has an iPhone can tell you that the Delete key is both one of the most common and one of the most annoying to use, with frustrating accuracy and inconsistent speed fluctuations. It shouldn’t be this way, and Eli Guerron agrees. As a designer (and one who once worked for Apple), Guerron took it upon himself to make the world a better backspace key, and he’s come up with a brilliant solution. Guerron posted his concept on X, and it’s one I’d love to see become available in iOS. Guerron’s delete can work as usual by tapping, but it also has a speed controller that moves faster as you stretch the button. You can see how it works in the video he posted on X: When I was at Apple, I loved working on micro interactions that you see all over the OS. Now that I’m not an apple I still like to solve for these little problems that really annoyed me. In this case, I designed a backspace button with a speed controller, so by just pressing it… pic.twitter.com/YVOlLMH0PN— Eli Guerron (@eliguerron) May 8, 2026 This is a great example of how out-of-the-box thinking is needed for certain features, especially those in devices that are analogous to actual hardware, like a keyboard. Often, the software version is made to mirror the hardware, but in reality, the interaction is different. The software version should be designed more to take advantage of the medium. I’d love to see this Delete key come to iOS, even as a third-party touchscreen keyboard. Now, if only there were an easier way to precisely place a cursor within a word–maybe that could be Guerron’s next challenge.04:09 pmBloat-free app that logs when you “last did” something, with online Group feature | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingBloat-free app that logs when you “last did” something, with online Group feature
I just launched "JustDid" and it was a product of a post-work hobby + my wife's obsessive use of the app for our family. What started out as our own simple PWA turned extremely infectious across our household, and my siblings started using it for their own homes too. My friends and I keep a […]04:00 pmApple TV releases trailer for ‘Cape Fear’ limited series starring Amy Adams, Javier Bardem, and Patrick Wilson | Mac Daily NewsApple TV releases trailer for ‘Cape Fear’ limited series starring Amy Adams, Javier Bardem, and Patrick Wilson
Apple TV has unveiled the trailer for “Cape Fear,” the new psychological horror thriller showrun and executive produced by Nick Antosca… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:54 pmShould you buy the MacBook Air now or wait?
Macworld As of May 2026, it’s an excellent time to buy a MacBook Air. Apple refreshed the lineup in March 2026 with the new M5 chip, meaning the current models are at the very start of their lifecycle. Another update to the MacBook Air is not expected until 2027, so buyers can purchase now without worrying about an imminent refresh. There are also broader market reasons not to delay. Rising component costs – particularly for RAM and storage driven by growing AI demand – could push prices higher on future Mac models. Buying sooner may help avoid those increases. That said, whether you should buy now depends on your current device, budget, and what features matter most to you. Buy a MacBook Air now if… You’re upgrading from an Intel Mac: Apple’s transition away from Intel is accelerating, and support is shrinking. You need a lightweight laptop: The 13-inch MacBook Air weighs just 2.7 pounds, making it ideal for travel, commuting, and working between locations. You’re buying your first Mac: The MacBook Air is a user-friendly entry point to macOS. You need to: You’re replacing a broken or unreliable device. You’re a student: The MacBook Air is one of the best student laptops thanks to its silent fanless design, long battery life, and portability. You find a good deal: If you find the M5 MacBook Air for under $999 / £999 grab it. As of May 2026, Amazon is selling the M5 MacBook Air for $949 and Amazon U.K. has it for £988.97. Don’t buy a MacBook Air now if… You already own an M2, M3, or M4 MacBook Air: The M5 improvements are meaningful but not transformative for recent Apple Silicon owners. You need power: Creative professionals should consider buying a MacBook Pro instead. The Air’s fanless design is excellent for silence and portability, but sustained workloads like 4K video exports or 3D rendering can cause thermal throttling. You want a major redesign: OLED displays, ProMotion (120Hz), and thinner chassis redesigns are rumored for 2027. You’re highly price-sensitive: It would be wise to wait for larger seasonal discounts if you can. You’re interested in refurbished pricing: Apple Refurbished discounts are typically around 15%, however, the M5 models probably won’t appear until late 2026.03:41 pmI automated my App Store screenshots with a Python script
I recently published an app where i support 4 languages and plan to add more. With 8 screenshots in each language that's 32 app images, add ipad screenshots and it's 64. That was too much for me to create and maintain by hand. So I wrote a python script (thank you claude code) that takes […]03:40 pmApple Watch vs WHOOP: Here’s what I learned after 60 days wearing both [Video]
For the last 60 days, I have been wearing an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the latest WHOOP MG. I wanted to better understand the hype surrounding WHOOP. If you spend enough time online, you can see that WHOOP users are loud and proud. It’s marketed as a serious wellness and fitness tracker that high-profile athletes and Silicon Valley tech founders wear. So, as someone who cares about their fitness, wellness, sleep, and overall health, I felt like I had to experience this for myself and, of course, compare it to the fitness tracker that I have been wearing for well over a decade: the Apple Watch. This is what I learned after 60 days. more…03:39 pm9to5Mac Daily: May 8, 2026 – Apple EDU store changes, AirPods with cameras
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…03:31 pmDeals: M5 MacBook Air new all-time lows (up to $220 off), AirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Battery, cables, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: M5 MacBook Air new all-time lows (up to $220 off), AirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Battery, cables, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by the most affordable AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2, but everything is waiting down below. more…03:25 pmShipped a local-first visit logbook for field techs — SwiftData + Speech framework + on-device PDF export. Writeup of what I learned. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingShipped a local-first visit logbook for field techs — SwiftData + Speech framework + on-device PDF export. Writeup of what I learned.
Just shipped Field Stub: Visit Log to the App Store. Fifth app under my LLC, but the first one where I really pushed SwiftData and Speech into territory I hadn't touched before. Writing this up because the technical challenges were more interesting than I expected and a few of them weren't well-documented anywhere I could […]03:23 pmYou can now ship offline tool calling agents in swift
Guys this an engine that allows you to embed and run local LLMs in apps with native tool use and rag capabilities, the engine natively handles context for you too. Bindings available for swift and other mobile frameworks . https://github.com/iBz-04/quaynor Thoughts? submitted by /u/Ibz04 [link] [comments]03:03 pmiPhone 18 Pro’s new A20 chip rumored to bring two major upgrades
Every year, Apple has a new chip ready for its latest iPhones. But the A20 Pro chip for this fall’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra sounds like it could be extra special. Here are its two big rumored upgrades. more…03:00 pmWhich Macs are suffering from shortages—and where are things getting worse?
There are a couple signs of strain beyond the MacBook Neo and the desktops.03:00 pmNew Perplexity AI app opens Personal Computer to all Mac users
The new Perplexity Personal Computer AI app for Mac touts an "all-new native Mac experience" for more users. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:54 pmLAX (Los Angeles) on 2026-05-13
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT May 13, 09:00 - 11:00 UTCMay 8, 14:31 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LAX (Los Angeles) datacenter on 2026-05-13 between 09:00 and 11:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:47 pmThe MacRumors Show: Is Apple Downgrading iPhone 18 Due to Memory Shortage?
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through how the global memory shortage is forcing Apple's hand across multiple key products, killing configurations, delaying launches, and prompting spec decisions that would have seemed unlikely a year ago. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The pressure originates outside Apple's control. JPMorgan analysis cited by the Financial Times found that memory could account for as much as 45% of an iPhone's component costs by 2027, up from around 10% today. Companies like Nvidia are reportedly outbidding consumer electronics makers for limited DRAM supply from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, while cloud firms are locking in capacity with multi-billion-dollar upfront commitments. Apple, which buys memory for roughly 250 million iPhones per year, has shifted from a position where it could dictate terms to one where it must compete for supply, and component prices are being driven up as a result. The consequences are already visible in the Mac lineup. Apple last week removed the Mac mini's 256GB storage option, pushing its starting price from $599 to $799. Days later, it eliminated Mac mini models with 32GB and 64GB of RAM and stripped the M3 Ultra Mac Studio to a single 96GB configuration, with delivery estimates for remaining Studio models at 9 to 10 weeks. The Mac Studio had already lost its 512GB memory option in March, and multiple configurations became entirely unavailable in April. On Apple's April 30 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that both machines would be "hard to get for months to come" and said Apple expects "significantly higher memory costs" in the current quarter. The MacBook Neo was sold out through April and Cook described demand on the earnings call as "off the charts." The MacBook Neo uses binned A18 Pro chips, adopting manufacturing rejects from the iPhone 16 lineup with one GPU core disabled, repurposed rather than discarded to keep costs low enough to hit the $599 price point. Apple's initial production target is believed to be about five to six million units, but demand has since pushed the company to instruct suppliers to prepare for at least 10 million. TSMC's N3E production lines, where the A18 Pro was made, are now running at maximum capacity, with AI-related orders consuming much of the available output. A fresh manufacturing run for the A18 Pro would yield fully functional chips rather than defective ones, raising the per-unit cost before any expedited manufacturing premium is applied. Apple is now said to be weighing up its options for the MacBook Neo. The company is purportedly considering cutting the 256GB entry-level model, which would push the effective starting price up by $100 without changing any existing configuration's price, the same mechanism used with the Mac mini. Separately, Apple may be considering new color options to soften any price increase. Upcoming products are apparently being reshaped too. Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" has claimed in a series of posts that the standard iPhone 18 is being downgraded as a cost-cutting measure, with both display and chip specifications affected. Most recently, the leaker said certain parts are interchangeable between the iPhone 18 and the lower-cost iPhone 18e. For context, iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e differ meaningfully: the standard model has a larger ProMotion display, Dynamic Island, Ultra Wide camera, five-core GPU, and significantly better battery life, but it looks like there could be fewer differences with the next generation. A follow-up post framed the new split launch strategy, under which the iPhone 18 ships in spring 2027 rather than alongside the Pro models in the fall, as a deliberate commercial mechanism to smooth out demand. By extending the iPhone 17's flagship run, Apple is also said to be creating conditions under which a lower-specced successor will be more palatable. The split launch itself has been widely reported since last year, with Ming-Chi Kuo and Nikkei among those to have corroborated it. The launch of the rumored all-new high-end MacBook Pro or "MacBook Ultra" with an OLED display and touchscreen has also apparently slipped. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said early 2027 is now looking more likely than late 2026 due to Apple's constrained memory supply. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our answers to your listener questions about the future of Apple's product lineup, the software and services shaping the ecosystem, and our own personal histories with the company and its devices. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tag: The MacRumors ShowRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums02:37 pmBest Apple Deals of the Week: Shop Popular Mother's Day Accessory Deals, Plus AirPods Max 2 for $509.99 | MacRumorsBest Apple Deals of the Week: Shop Popular Mother's Day Accessory Deals, Plus AirPods Max 2 for $509.99
Mother's Day is just two days away now, and you can still find great discounts across multiple retailers like Anker and ZAGG. Additionally, this week we began tracking new record low prices on the AirPods Max 2, M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and iPhone Air MagSafe Battery. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Mother's Day Deals What's the deal? Save on popular accessories and more Where can I get it? Anker, OtterBox, ZAGG, and more Where can I find the original deal? Right here Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10, and multiple popular accessory companies are hosting big discount events to mark the holiday. You'll find savings on Anker charging accessories, OtterBox iPhone cases, ZAGG screen protectors, and much more in the list below. Anker - Get up to 40% off charging accessories AT&T - Get iPhone 17 Pro Max for up to $1,100 off Best Buy - Save on everything from wearable tech to TVs and more Belkin - Get up to 30% off Casetify - Buy two get 20% off Grid Studio - Get 15% off sitewide Hyper - Get 20% off select products Nimble - Get 20% off with code MOM20 OtterBox - Get 25% off sitewide Verizon - Get iPhone 17, iPad, and Apple Watch Series 11 for no cost when switching ZAGG - Get 25% off screen protectors and cases AirPods Max 2 What's the deal? Take $40 off AirPods Max 2 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $40 OFFAirPods Max 2 for $509.00 Amazon this week introduced a new record low price on the AirPods Max 2, now available for $509.00, down from $549.00. This sale is available in all five colors of the headphones. MacBook Pro What's the deal? Take up to $216 off M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $216 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $1,983.94 $150 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,549.00 Amazon is offering a few all-time low prices on Apple's M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro this week, with up to $216 off select models. iPhone Air MagSafe Battery What's the deal? Take $39 off Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $39 OFFiPhone Air MagSafe Battery for $59.99 Following a few steep discounts on the iPhone Air last month, we're now tracking a new all-time low price on the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery on Amazon. You can get the accessory for $59.99, down from $99.00, beating the previous low price by about $20. Samsung Sale What's the deal? Save on Samsung's best monitors, TVs, and more Where can I get it? Samsung Where can I find the original deal? Right here UP TO $1,099.99 OFFSamsung Monitor Sale $800 OFF65-inch The Frame for $999.99 $1,000 OFF75-inch The Frame Pro for $2,199.99 Samsung this week is offering big discounts across multiple product categories, including its most popular monitors and TVs. This sale precedes the announcement of Samsung's newest line of 2026 monitors, and if you sign up with your e-mail and phone number, you can lock in $50 savings on the upcoming monitors. 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 forums02:27 pmI automated my App Store screenshots with a Python script + Fastlane
Fastlane captures screenshots for me via UITests The script renders background, adds iphone frames, adds screenshots and text I recently published an app where i support 4 languages and plan to add more. With 8 screenshots in each language that's 32 app images, add ipad screenshots and it's 64. That was too much for me […]02:10 pmFinally, a compact USB-C hub that handles dual displays properly [Review] ★★★★☆
We went hands-on with the EZQuest USB 4 Dual Display 8-in-1 Hub — seamless connectivity with your Mac thanks to eight USB-C ports. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:08 pmiOS 27 has new features coming for two of iPhone’s most popular apps
iOS 27’s unveiling is only weeks away, and rumors for new features keep coming. Here are the rumored iOS 27 upgrades coming for two of iPhone’s most popular apps: Camera and Photos. more…02:07 pmThe $599 MacBook Neo is here to stay
Macworld Back in March, Apple announced its cheapest notebook ever, the MacBook Neo. Starting at as little as $599 ($499 for students), the laptop has been selling like hotcakes. Typically, high sales would make the corporate overlords happy. The MacBook Neo’s exceptional success, however, has apparently become a real problem. Due to chip shortages and the MacBook Neo’s extraordinarily high demand, Apple is struggling to produce new units en masse. A recent report from analyst Tim Culpan suggests that the company could stop selling the base Neo model, pushing customers to the higher-end variant that costs $100 more and helping Apple preserve its margins. While this approach can potentially resolve one issue, it would introduce a bigger challenge. The Neo problem The MacBook Neo packs a binned version of the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip. In simpler terms, Apple is repurposing faulty iPhone processors that had one fewer GPU core that would have otherwise been discarded. This approach has enabled Apple to price the Neo competitively, as it had plenty of these flawed processors lying around. Once Apple runs out of those chips, making new ones won’t be a simple switch. While Apple had to know the MacBook Neo would be a hit, its popularity has exceeded even the company’s expectations. Departing CEO Tim Cook stated during Apple’s most recent earnings report that the company hadn’t forecasted this level of enthusiasm, which helped attract a record number of first-time Mac buyers. Consequently, Apple has reportedly increased the production target from 5-6 million to a whopping 10 million. So, between running out of binned A18 Pro chips and TSMC’s limited capacity to produce new units due to the memory crunch, keeping up with the MacBook Neo’s demand is becoming trickier. The MacBook Neo uses a binned version of the A18 Pro chip inside the iPhone 16 Pro.Connor Jewiss / Foundry Rumored remedies To deal with the RAM crisis without introducing sudden price hikes, Apple has been silently discontinuing certain Mac models. The entry-level Mac mini, which started at $599 and offered 256GB of storage, was recently removed from the Apple Store. This pushes customers to the 512GB tier, which starts at $799 instead. The company similarly stopped selling the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 256GB and 512GB of RAM. Perhaps unrelated, Apple also recently stopped selling the Mac Pro, which started at 64GB of RAM. Culpan’s recent report suggests that, as it did with the Mac mini, Apple may retire the $599 MacBook Neo with 256GB of storage. This would force customers to pay $100 more for the model with 512GB of storage and Touch ID. The same report also claims Apple may be exploring new color options to make the $699 configuration more enticing and “soften the impact of higher prices.” The problem, however, is that, unlike the Mac mini, the MacBook Neo’s budget-friendly pricing is its key selling point and the main stimulus behind its high demand. If a product is unaffordable to a group of people, a new shiny color won’t fix that. Even at $699, many would-be Neo customers will likely explore cheaper Windows laptops or Chromebooks. The MacBook Neo’s main appeal is its starting price. Even a small hike would limit its appeal.Eugen Wegmann The RAM crisis has been ongoing for a while now, and Apple still chose to release the affordable MacBook Neo right in the middle of it for a reason. While its sales may have exceeded expectations, the company was aware of the industry challenges and associated impacts on its products. Additionally, the MacBook Neo’s entire objective is to get students and kids used to the Apple ecosystem early on to win them as potential lifelong customers. It’s not meant to be a high-profit driver or a direct revenue generator. In a way, I see it as a free trial of sorts to get users hooked on Apple hardware. It would make more sense for Apple to absorb the costlier production fees than kill the Neo’s momentum. The $599 MacBook Neo is Apple’s gateway Mac, and it’s not going anywhere.Foundry Possible outcomes So, how does Apple deal with the situation? Just today, it was revealed that Apple will now require proper identification for students or teachers shopping in its discounted education store in the US and other countries. (Curiously, Apple’s education store has always operated on the honor system and never required buyers to use a dot-edu email or scan an ID card.) While a seemingly innocuous move, it could be hiding a solution for the Neo problem. If Apple is really in a predicament as big as Culpan says, Apple’s most likely route is to eventually make the $599 MacBook Neo exclusive to the education store, as its primary target is students on a budget. This would enable Apple to keep its low pricing but alleviate some of the demand for the cheapest model without eliminating it from the lineup completely. Alternatively, Apple could accelerate the production of the MacBook Neo 2 and release it sooner than planned, as Apple presumably has an ample supply of binned A19 Pro chips. Or maybe the $699 model gets the newer chip while the $599 model sticks with the A18 Pro. This would address the supply constraints in the short run until it figures out a sustainable, long-term solution that isn’t a price hike. Whichever route Apple chooses, one thing is clear: The $599 MacBook Neo isn’t going anywhere. And you’d be crazy to believe it would even consider it.02:06 pmWedbush raises Apple price target to $400
Apple stock rose about 0.8% on Friday after Wedbush Securities delivered a strong bullish note, lifting its price target from $350 to a new… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:45 pmPresident Trump invites CEOs of Apple, Exxon, Nvidia on diplomatic trip to China
U.S. President Trump is inviting CEOs from Apple, Nvidia, Exxon, Boeing, and other major companies to accompany him on his trip to China… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:40 pm[DirtyFrag] Linux Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
May 8, 13:40 UTCInvestigating - Akamai is aware of the recently disclosed “DirtyFrag”[1] vulnerability that followed the “CopyFail”[2] disclosure. This vulnerability is very similar in nature and has a similar impact, exploit path, and mitigation approach. We have not observed any related malicious exploits targeting our infrastructure and are continuing to address the vulnerability across our product portfolio and internal systems.As with “CopyFail”, we are advising customers to consider most Linux distributions to be at-risk until patched. Since the “DirtyFrag” vulnerability was disclosed prior to upstream patches having been made available, we are forced to wait for the different OS providers to create new releases or patches before we can integrate them into the versions we make available to customers.As this is a rapidly developing incident, we will provide further information regarding recommended actions, possible mitigations, and OS updates for all customers who may be affected.[1] https://github.com/V4bel/dirtyfrag/blob/master/assets/write-up.md[2] https://www.linode.com/docs/guides/cve-2026-31431-copy-fail-mitigation/01:40 pmInstagram redesigns iPad app to what it always should have been
Instagram finally launched an iPad app last fall, over 15 years after the iPad debuted. But the iPad version of Instagram differed from its iPhone app in key ways. Now, after a new update, Instagram for iPad has been redesigned to what it always should have been. more…01:30 pmToday in Apple history: 1997’s ‘MacBook Air’ weighed 4.4 pounds
On May 8, 1997, Apple released the PowerBook 2400c laptop, a 4.4-pound "subnotebook" that presaged the rise of speedy, lightweight notebooks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:30 pmToday in Apple history: 1997’s ‘MacBook Air’ weighed 4.4 pounds
On May 8, 1997, Apple released the PowerBook 2400c laptop, a 4.4-pound "subnotebook" that presaged the rise of speedy, lightweight notebooks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:26 pmKeep your iPhone Air charged around the clock with 40% off this official MagSafe battery
Macworld Apple iPad Air MagSafe Battery 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 there’s one knock on the iPhone Air, it’s that the battery is a little small, and the last thing you need when you’re out about town with your skinny phone is to have its battery die on you. Thankfully, Apple has a solution that doesn’t add too much bulk to the phone, and today it’s cheaper than ever: Apple’s special iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is on sale for 39 percent off, bringing the price lower than ever down to just $60. Built specifically for the iPhone Air, this compact power bank will slip right into your pocket without adding too much weight. In fact, it’s slim enough that it won’t even bother you if it’s already magnetized to the back of your phone. As always, Apple brought in the sleek design that will perfectly match your device. As a matter of fact, Apple advises users to just snap this thing onto the back of the iPhone Air even when you have a full battery, simply allowing it to slowly charge the phone over the day as needed. The battery pack has a 3,149mAh capacity, so it’ll provide roughly 65 percent additional battery charge, more than enough to get you through a heavy day of use. And with 12W fast wireless charging when connected, it’ll keep up with everything you do. So upgrade your traveling upgrade strategy and get Apple’s iPhone Air MagSafe Battery for $60 while Amazon still has it on sale.01:15 pmTry these brilliant ways to use an iPad in a Mac setup
As iPadOS grows more capable, users find smarter roles for their tablet. These great workstations show the best uses of iPad in Mac setups. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:11 pmCarPlay now works with three top AI chatbot apps
CarPlay continues to give drivers more choice than ever when it comes to which services to use on the road. For example, . This extends the iPhone experience into the car without requiring special integration between automakers and services. more…01:06 pmMac shortages, iPhone rumors, and 'Schmigadoon!' on the AppleInsider Podcast
Apple is having even greater success with the MacBook Neo than expected, and also startling success with its great but cancelled "Schmigadoon!" show, plus there are so many new iPhone rumors, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.Is this "Schmigadoon!" or a party at Apple Park for the hit MacBook Neo? - image credit: AppleIt was predicted before, but now it appears to be absolutely true. The MacBook Neo is so much of a hit that Apple wasn't ready for it and is having to spin back up production lines for its processor.Then, too, Apple presumably didn't expect "Schmigadoon!" to be such a hit on Broadway, or it wouldn't have cancelled the original TV show. Nonetheless, TV's loss is theater's gain and Apple has stumbled into a dozen Tony nominations for the show. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:01 pmFly with these highly affordable new power banks in your carry-on bag
The new Pisen power banks, great for iPhones and other devices, are certified for airline travel. And they don't cost much. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:00 pmKodebits Day 19: Count With Predicate [FREE]
Practice collections with a short kotlin challenge.01:00 pmiPhone-controlled Anthbot M9 robot lawn mower has replaced cutting grass for me [20% off] | 9 to 5 MaciPhone-controlled Anthbot M9 robot lawn mower has replaced cutting grass for me [20% off]
Update May 8: Anthbot M9 is currently 20% off on Amazon for the next few days, offering a big $180 discount off the regular price. I haven’t mowed my lawn in over a month, but it’s manicured like a golf course. That’s because I switched from a push mower to a robot lawn mower that I manage from my iPhone. It’s the Anthbot M9, and it’s by far my favorite new piece of technology I’ve tried this year. more…12:50 pmThe iOS Weekly Brief – Issue 59 (News, releases, tools, upcoming conferences, job market overview, weekly poll, and must-read articles) | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingThe iOS Weekly Brief – Issue 59 (News, releases, tools, upcoming conferences, job market overview, weekly poll, and must-read articles)
News: – Xcode 26.5 RC and iOS 26.5 RC are out – Swift Evolution accepted a Vision for Networking, a plan to rebuild Swift's networking stack from scratch with proper HTTP client and server APIs Must read: – the background refresh debugging trick that skips waiting for the system – why correct async/await can still […]12:41 pmGrok AI Voice Mode Arrives on Apple CarPlay
SpaceXAI has released Grok Voice mode for Apple CarPlay, allowing CarPlay users to ask the chatbot questions and make requests directly from their vehicle dashboard, handsfree. Previously, Grok for iPhone displayed a placeholder app in CarPlay saying the handsfree support would be coming soon. Grok comes built-in on Tesla vehicles, but now almost any other car can access it. Apple started permitting third-party voice-driven conversational apps to integrate with CarPlay in iOS 26.4, but developers must add support for the feature and obtain a special entitlement from Apple. Apple requires apps to use its voice control template for CarPlay. Whenever voice-based services are active, apps must display the voice control interface and can include up to four action buttons. However, Apple says chatbot apps should not show text or imagery in response to queries. Grok Voice mode joins ChatGPT and Perplexity, which arrived on CarPlay in March and April, respectively. Your commute just got smarterTalk to me hands free — now on Apple CarPlay pic.twitter.com/ZuMzC9D9jH— Grok (@grok) May 7, 2026 CarPlay has supported third-party apps for years, but Apple restricts the types of apps permitted on the platform to reduce driver distractions. Apple maintains a list of approved app categories, including audio, communication, EV charging, and navigation apps.Related Roundup: CarPlayTag: GrokRelated Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums12:35 pmBuilt a SwiftUI daily reflection app (no habit :)) — looking for TestFlight feedback before App Store submission | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingBuilt a SwiftUI daily reflection app (no habit :)) — looking for TestFlight feedback before App Store submission
Hey everyone, I’m looking for some TestFlight feedback on SixSignal, a SwiftUI app I’ve been building for knowledge workers. The app is a calm daily reflection tool: once a day, you check in across six signals — Body, Focus, Output, People, Agency, and Meaning. Over time, it turns those check-ins into cautious personal patterns, small […]12:33 pmApple’s camera-equipped AirPods enter advanced testing: A major leap toward AI-powered wearables | Mac Daily NewsApple’s camera-equipped AirPods enter advanced testing: A major leap toward AI-powered wearables
Apple is pushing deeper into the AI era with its most ambitious AirPods update yet. According to a new report… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.12:14 pmmacOS security spotlight: 3 new Tahoe features you should know
Macworld One of the advantages of using macOS is that it offers a more secure platform than Windows. Part of the reason is that it’s not targeted as often (though it has been subject to more attacks over the years), but the main reason is that Apple acts more as a gatekeeper, with security implementations within the chipset, app notarization, and many other features. In an effort to create awareness, Apple recently met with the media to spotlight three security features introduced with macOS Tahoe. And whether you’re new to MacBook Neo or a veteran MacBook Pro user, they’ll keep you safe while you work: FileVault recovery key in Passwords With macOS Tahoe, Apple decided to turn on FileVault by default. FileVault is Apple technology for encrypting a Mac’s internal storage. If your Mac is lost or stolen, FileVault protects your data from unauthorized access. FileVault can be turned off in System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault, but you’ll be removing a significant layer of security. To access a Mac’s internal storage when FileVault is on, you need to enter the user password for the account being used–you do that whenever you log into your Mac to use it. But what if you have an instance where you can’t remember your password? You can use a FileVault recovery key (which is generated when FileVault is turned on) when booting the Mac in recovery mode. Foundry That FileVault recovery key used to be stored in iCloud, but with macOS Tahoe, it is now stored in the Passwords app. That means you can quickly access it in the Passwords app on you iPhone, iPad, or another Mac, provided that you sign into the same Apple Account and your devices are syncing data via iCloud. To see your FileVault recovery key in the Passwords macOS app, click All in the left column (on the iPhone/iPad, go to the Passwords screen and tap All). Then do a search for the name of your Mac. If you can’t remember the name you gave it, you can search for “FileVault” or “Recovery” and look for your Mac in the results that appear. Paste protections in Terminal One way an attacker may try to access your Mac is through scripts and commands that are processed through the Terminal. The Terminal is the Mac’s command line interface, and you might now know it’s actually an app in the Applications’ Utilities folder. Terminal commands seem like a foreign language to most users, which is why attackers are able to use them to lure unsuspecting users to make their system vulnerable. They find some sort of social engineering opportunity or send an email posing as an authority, and then they give the user a command to copy and paste into a Terminal window. As a safety measure, the Terminal will now post a warning when you attempt to paste something into the command line interface. You do have the option to bypass the warning and perform the paste if you want. This new protection was implemented in macOS Tahoe 26.4. Foundry Fortunately, for those who use the Terminal often, macOS can determine if you need to see the warning or not. For example, software developers who have Xcode and other tools may not see the warning because they use the Terminal frequently, and posting the warning isn’t necessary. Background security fixes With macOS 26.1, Apple implemented Background Security Fixes, which is the ability of macOS to install “lightweight security releases.” There are times when Apple wants to issue a security fix but doesn’t want to wait and include it in the next point-release update. Instead, they’ll release a Background Security Fix. If your Mac’s OS is up to date, then the first Background Security Fix was installed and you may not have noticed it. Back in March, Apple released a fix for a WebKit vulnerability. Apple maintains a list of released fixes you can check.12:12 pmMacBook Neo could face price hike, analyst predicts
Macworld The MacBook Neo, by almost all accounts, is a wildly successful product, so much so that Apple quickly started to run short of the “free” binned A18 Pro chips it used in the laptop. This is great news for Apple, which has a blockbuster on its hands and a new source of revenue in the budget space. But it could be bad news for consumers who haven’t yet managed to snag a Neo. According to the Taipei-based tech columnist Tim Culpan, writing in his Culpium newsletter this week, Apple has decided to respond to the higher-than-expected demand by doubling its Neo production plans… which might seem like a no-brainer, except that the ongoing components crisis means the new batch could be a lot more expensive for Apple than the original one. The company faces, Culpan claims, “a severe cut in gross margins amid escalating DRAM prices and a higher cost-base for the core processor.” At the heart of the issue is that the Neo’s binned A18 Pro, a mildly defective version of the chip produced randomly as a natural byproduct of the imperfect manufacturing process, are running low, and cannot be created to order. Most of the new processors Apple will receive, Culpan explains, won’t be binned at all: rather, they’ll be fully functional A18 Pros with six operational GPUs instead of the five in the Neo’s spec. Apple may disable one GPU chip via software, as bizarre as that sounds, in order to maintain consistency. But that won’t change the fact that these non-binned chips will cost more than the binned ones. And that’s on top of the fact that other components have also gone up in price as a result of ballooning demand for AI server hardware. Each second-batch Neo will cost significantly more to make than its first-batch equivalent, and profit margins tend to be tighter at the budget end of the market anyway. How can Apple preserve its profits? We’ve speculated earlier that Apple may introduce the A19 Pro Neo earlier than anticipated to absorb some of the blow, but Culpan suggests a bolder option. While he’s already floated the possibility that Apple drops the $599 256GB model from sale and pushes customers to the higher-margin $699 512GB configuration, in this latest article, he goes further, arguing that this now looks more likely than ever, after Apple pulled exactly the same move with the Mac mini. The 256GB model of that device is no longer available, effectively increasing the baseline price from $599 to $799 (although at least you get twice as much storage). It’s important to note that Culpan does not present this as something Apple is definitely planning to do, nor even that he has firm evidence that the company has discussed it. This is merely an analyst predicting what is likely, based on supply-chain pressures and recent activity with another budget Mac product. But sure, it could happen, so if you have your eye on a $599 MacBook Neo, you should grab it. Our MacBook Neo deals page is a good place to start.12:08 pmHelp making a app with my old MacBook
I am trying to make an app just for personal use and am running into problems right away. I have a windows computer and an old MacBook Pro. The Mac only has OS Sequoia 15.7.5 and won’t let me install Xcode from the App Store. My phone is on the current iOS. Any ideas what […]12:00 pmThe Zens Semi-Solid-State Powerbank: a modest but worthwhile battery breakthrough
Next-generation battery technology is much like fusion power: a major breakthrough is always a year or two away. We keep being promised things like laptop batteries that can last for a month, and true wireless charging throughout a room. None of it ever materializes. However, one modest but still worthwhile breakthrough in battery tech is real and available today: solid-state powerbanks – including a new MagSafe model from Zens … more…11:51 am∞ The Dalrymple Report: Swap Apple Intelligence Models, Apple advertising on Apple Maps
Perhaps one of the best Apple Intelligence decisions I've ever heard, the company announced this week that users will be able to swap Apple's AI model to a rival's to control the new AI system. That means you could use Claude or Gemini or another company that wants to have theirs available. Dave and I also talk about Apple's decision to show advertising on Maps. A disappointing choice for a company that ridiculed Google for its advertising efforts to customers and saying Apple doesn't treat its customers like the product. Follow this podcast Brought to you by: NordLayer: Get an exclusive offer: up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code: DALRYMPLE10. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. Show Notes: Apple Stops Selling Mac Mini With 256GB of Storage, Starting Price Rises to $799 Apple settles Apple Intelligence lawsuit Apple plans to let users swap Apple Intelligence models Apple lands first-ever honors from the Tony Awards with a record 12 nominations Apple reports second quarter results Shows and movies we're watching Running Point, Netflix The Truman Show, Paramount+11:46 amWedbush biggest bull on Apple with huge target price jump to $400
Financial analysts at Wedbush have consistently been bullish about Apple, but now has raised its target price by a whopping $50 to $400, making its greatest jump in at least the last five years.The new Siri is comingBack in April 2025 when Trump's tariffs first struck, Wedbush did cut its Apple price target $325 down to $250, but that was a rare drop. Now it's made a similarly large increase, taking its price target from the $350 it set in December 2025, to $400.This is the highest price target ever set for Apple by any investment firm, and in a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, the company's analysts attribute it very much to AI. They believe that what Apple will reveal at WWDC 2026 in June will lead to around a fifth of the entire world's population using AI via Apple devices over the next few years. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:22 amApple Warns Canada's Bill C-22 Could Force Encryption Backdoors
Apple and Meta have opposed a Canadian bill that the companies say could force them to create backdoor access to encrypted user data, should it pass through the country's parliament. Proposed by Canada's ruling Liberal Party, Bill C-22 contains provisions that could be similar to a UK data access provision order sent to Apple last year, depending on how they are implemented. Back in February 2025, the British government demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud. Apple refused, and instead pulled its Advanced Data Protection iCloud feature from the United Kingdom. U.S. officials later said Britain had dropped the request after the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, raised concerns that it could violate a cloud data treaty and tap into US citizens' data. Apple now finds itself in a similar standoff across the Atlantic. Canadian law enforcement officials say Bill C-22 would help them investigate security threats earlier and act more quickly. But Apple has pushed back against the proposed legislation. The company provided Reuters with the following statement: "At a time of rising and pervasive threats from malicious actors seeking access to user information, Bill C-22, as drafted, would undermine our ability to offer the powerful privacy and security features users expect from Apple. This legislation could allow the Canadian government to force companies to break encryption by inserting backdoors into their products – something Apple will never do."Meta also argued that the bill contained "sweeping powers, minimal oversight, and lack of clear safeguards" that could end up making Canadians less safe, rather than more. Apple CEO Tim Cook has consistently insisted that providing back-door access past its encryption for authorities would open the door for "bad guys" to gain access to its users' data. Cyber security experts agree that it would only be a matter of time before bad actors discover such a point of entry. Apple's stance was enhanced in 2016 when it successfully fought a US order to unlock the iPhone of a shooter in San Bernardino, California. The Canadian bill is currently being debated in the House of Commons.Tags: Apple Privacy, Apple Security, Canada, EncryptionThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums11:16 amApple cracks down on unverified student discounts in US
You can no longer purchase Apple products in the US and Canada with a student or teacher discount without verifying your eligibility. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)11:02 amiOS 26 review one year later: Liquid Glass complaints hide the real problem
Most of the conversation around iOS 26 got lost behind social media's need for it to be as controversial a change as iOS 7. The bigger story is the lack of a revitalized Apple Intelligence.iOS 26 review: Liquid Glass all the way downMy iOS 26 review is going to focus on the changes that actually affected our day-to-day use of the iPhone. There are a lot of new features, app updates, and the Liquid Glass material, but the elephant in the room is the ongoing delays in AI.If you're here for me to pile onto the Apple failure bandwagon, this isn't the review for you. In fact, I am still fully of the opinion that Apple's admittedly embarrassingly slow start in artificial intelligence might be one of its biggest victories in tech in decades. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:00 amI can’t wait for iOS 27 to fix my iPhone
Macworld With iOS 26, Apple introduced one of the most significant changes to its operating system interface, arguably the most radical since iOS 7. However, this change has also led to many users experiencing annoying bugs and performance issues. Not only that, but Apple still hasn’t delivered on many of the Apple Intelligence features it promised two years ago at WWDC 2024. That’s why, when Apple unveils iOS 27 at WWDC in June, my only wish is that it focuses on fixing iOS instead of changing it even more. iOS 26 has been a troubled release Every time Apple releases a new version of iOS, some bugs are to be expected. That’s why Apple is always releasing updates to refine its software. No platform is immune to bugs, especially when it has just undergone major changes. But if you ask many iPhone, iPad, or Mac users, they’ll likely tell you that iOS 26 was one of the most buggy releases of recent times. It’s not hard to find reports online about broken features, interface glitches, or slow performance (especially on older devices). Since September, Apple has released 10 software updates for iOS 26, including major updates and smaller security and bug fixes. We’ve gotten three in just the last month, with iOS 26.4 adding new features, followed by minor updates iOS 26.4.1 and iOS 26.4.2 that focused on bugs and security updates. Still, iOS 26 doesn’t feel as polished as iOS 18 did. For me, one of the most annoying things about iOS 26 has been how hot my iPhone 17 Pro Max with the new vapor cooling chamber gets even when running basic apps like Messages. As a result, the battery has also been draining very quickly. There are also a few minor but very unpleasant bugs, such as icons disappearing or showing up in a different style than the one I chose (like a light icon when dark mode is on), Face ID taking longer to authenticate, and extremely sluggish animations when Low Power Mode is enabled. I could also mention how unreliable the virtual keyboard has become, even with all the fixes in iOS 26.4, and how the Liquid Glass interface has made some text unreadable. Liquid Glass has made some text all but unreadable with certain backgrounds.Foundry Liquid Glass might be to blame The problems all seem to come down to Liquid Glass. Apple’s new shiny interface demands a lot of hardware resources, especially graphics resources, since we see translucency and distortion happening in real time. When Craig Federighi introduced Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025, he made sure to mention how the chips inside Apple devices have evolved in terms of performance in recent years, enabling the company to run a more demanding and complex interface. And that’s true, but it seems that Apple didn’t take the time to fine-tune the performance of this interface on devices that rely heavily on battery power. To test just how resource-intensive the Liquid Glass interface is, I used my MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip since it’s easier to measure GPU and power usage on macOS than it is on iOS. Here, my Mac usually runs at around 3W when idle. It’s pretty impressive. Apple Silicon chips really shine here. And even when I’m doing simple things like scrolling through a webpage in Safari or opening a Finder window, power consumption rarely exceeds 5W. But this is where things start to get interesting. When I open the Messages app in a chat with an animated background, power consumption spikes to 10W. At the same time, GPU usage, which typically ranges from 0% to 5% when idle, reaches 40 percent when the Mac is rendering animations in the Messages app. Animated Messages backgrounds are neat, but impact performance and battery life.Foundry Since not everyone uses animated backgrounds in their chats, I ran another test with something that most people use: Control Center and Notification Center. And I set my widgets and icons to the “Clear” option. Here, the results were even more shocking. When I opened both Control Center and Notification Center on my Mac, it recorded a peak power consumption of 15W, with GPU usage reaching up to 40 percent to render the animations.10:36 amWrangler users may experience frequent log out
May 8, 10:36 UTCIdentified - The issue has been identified, and we are working on a fixMay 8, 10:35 UTCInvestigating - We are currently investigating an issue where Wrangler users experience frequent log out.10:31 amSpotify Now Plays Personal Podcasts Generated by Your AI Agent
Spotify has launched a new feature that lets users save AI-generated audio briefings called Personal Podcasts directly to their Spotify library. It uses a new command-line tool for desktop that works with AI coding agents like OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code. After you install the Save to Spotify CLI from GitHub and sign into your Spotify account, you can prompt the agent to generate a custom audio piece, like a daily news digest, a study guide pulled from class notes, or a weekly itinerary. Once generated, it appears alongside your music and regular podcasts in Your Library. Here's how Spotify frames it. From the company's newsroom post: People are already starting to use their agents to create personal audio that guides their day: from summaries of class notes before an exam to briefings of what's on their calendar. And they're asking for a way to listen to it on Spotify, where they already listen to everything else. Now, we're making it possible to save and play Personal Podcasts on Spotify. Your agent can generate a daily briefing, private to you, and it's saved alongside everything else in Your Library. And as always with Spotify, it's seamlessly integrated across the devices you use.Spotify offers a few use case examples to get you started, such as a morning briefing that flags upcoming meetings, checks the weather, and recommends a commute podcast, or a progressively deeper audio series built from saved articles and personal notes for learning a new subject. The feature remains in beta but is available worldwide to eligible Free and Premium subscribers, though Spotify cautions that there are usage limits during the testing period. The CLI tool launch follows Spotify's release last month of a Claude integration that lets users connect their Spotify account to the chatbot and ask for personalized music and podcast recommendations directly in a conversation.Tag: SpotifyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:01 amApple Store education purchase verification process expands to US
Education customers in the US will need to verify eligibility to make a discounted purchase, as Apple expands its verification process to the US and other countries.Apple is updating its education program with new verification and Apple Watch elligibilityStarting on Friday, May 8, Apple has started to more strictly enforce its education pricing. Previously, while Apple Stores would verify eligibility in person, anyone was able make discounted purchases by visiting the virtual education store.Apple has partnered with Unidays on a new verification system. Students will be able to verify their enrollment and faculty will be able provide the appropriate documentation with the new automated process. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:00 amApple Now Requires UNiDAYS Verification for Education Discounts in U.S. and Canada, Adds Apple Watch | MacRumorsApple Now Requires UNiDAYS Verification for Education Discounts in U.S. and Canada, Adds Apple Watch
Starting today, Apple will require customers in the U.S., Canada, and Chile to verify their status as a student or educator to get educational discounts. Apple is adopting the UNiDAYS verification system that it uses in other countries, with a new process to accommodate homeschool families. Apple is also adding the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to its Education Store, which means students and teachers are now eligible for up to a 10 percent discount on Apple's most popular wearable. Students and educators in the three countries can use the UNiDAYS app or website to verify their academic status with an email address from an educational institution, a student or staff photo ID, or another valid educational document. Eligible customers who homeschool can also be verified by UNiDAYS. Verification requires an identity document like a driver's license or passport, and a homeschool document, such as a Letter of Intent or Letter of Acknowledgement. Most customers will be verified instantly, with UNiDAYS providing a decision in under 24 hours when manual review is required. Once confirmed through UNiDAYS, students and educators in the U.S., Canada, and Chile will be able to purchase the Apple Watch and other Apple devices at Apple's discounted educational prices. Apple's Education Store offers special pricing on Macs, iPads, and the Studio Display, along with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. Apple did not previously have an established academic status verification system in the U.S. or Canada, which meant that anyone could technically purchase from the Education Store. Apple's sales policies said that it routinely audited customer purchases to verify purchase conditions were followed. Apple briefly used UNiDAYS in the U.S. in 2022 to verify student status, but it was removed after a few days following complaints about issues with the verification process. Apple's Education Store discounts are available to employees of K–12 institutions, faculty and staff of higher education institutions, students attending or accepted to higher education institutions, and parents purchasing on behalf of children attending or accepted to a higher education institution. In addition to the U.S., Canada, and Chile, Apple has added the Apple Watch to the Education Store in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Germany, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK. Apple also expanded UNiDAYS verification requirements to Australia, Hong Kong, and Turkey yesterday.Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:00 amApple now requires verification for Education Store, adds Apple Watch with discounts
Apple is rolling out two changes to the Education Store in the United States and other countries. First, Apple now requires verification for all purchases made via the Education Store in the US … so it’s no longer on the “honor system.” Meanwhile, Apple has added Apple Watch to the Education Store for the first time … more…09:49 amWhy did Apple set the basics of SwiftData to Core Data and SwiftUI to UIKit? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWhy did Apple set the basics of SwiftData to Core Data and SwiftUI to UIKit?
What do you think about the future of Core Data and UIKit? In my point of view it looks like they wanted to make things more abstract, more readable, easier to use, but they did not make a new base for them, unlike Jetpack Compose for android, where google separated it's base from xml. It […]08:00 amThis $130 Office 2024 upgrade leaves free apps and MS 365 in the dust
Macworld TL;DR: A one-time $129.97 (reg. $249.99) gets you Microsoft Office 2024 for life—no subscription fees, just the apps you’ll actually use. There’s a point where monthly subscriptions stop feeling convenient and start feeling like a rip-off. If you’re still paying for Microsoft 365 just to use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, this deal is worth a look. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is down to $129.97 (reg. $249.99) through May 17—and it’s a lifetime license. No recurring fees, no renewal reminders, no “oops, your subscription expired” moments. You’re getting the essentials: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The difference this time around is how polished and modern everything feels. Performance is noticeably smoother (especially in Excel with large datasets), and the updated interface keeps things clean and consistent across apps. There are also plenty of genuinely useful upgrades. PowerPoint now lets you record presentations with voice and video. Outlook has better accessibility tools, and Excel leans into smarter data insights. You can still collaborate in real time, use AI-assisted suggestions, and work offline when needed—so you’re not giving up functionality, just the ongoing cost. If you’re going to use Office anyway, you might as well own it. Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for just $129.97 (reg. $249.99) through May 17. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.07:09 amiPad screenshot for an iOS app?
I’m about to submit my first iOS app to the App Store! Do I really need to add iPad screenshots? It’s only designed for iOS for now but I see iPad and even Apple Watch screenshots on Apple connect 🤔 submitted by /u/FrankElda [link] [comments]06:08 am5 free AI image-editing tools every creator should know
Macworld If you’re a creator, marketer, or active social media user, you’ve probably felt the pressure to produce polished visuals quickly. It’s not just a creativity challenge, it’s about time, tools, and technical skill. That’s exactly where Adobe Firefly stands out. It offers a suite of free, AI-powered tools that let you upload your images and walk through edits step by step—delivering fast, precise, and professional-quality results without requiring advanced design experience. What makes Firefly particularly powerful is its “quick action” approach. Instead of digging through complex menus, users are guided through pre-built prompts tailored to specific tasks. Even better, Firefly allows experimentation with variations using models from partners such as Google and OpenAI—all without switching platforms. The result is a streamlined editing experience that feels intuitive and efficient. Here are five of the most useful free image editing tools inside Adobe Firefly: 1. Remove objects instantly with Generative Remove Adobe Unwanted elements can ruin an otherwise perfect image—think stray tourists, messy signage, or distracting wires. Firefly’s Generative Remove tool makes cleanup effortless. Simply brush over the object you want gone, click “Generate,” and the AI replaces it with a natural-looking background. The real advantage here is precision. Instead of awkward patches or visible edits, Firefly intelligently fills in textures, lighting, and context so the final image looks untouched. Whether you’re refining a product shot or cleaning up a travel photo, the process takes seconds rather than hours. Remove an object from a photo now 2. Expand your image beyond its borders Adobe Sometimes the biggest limitation of a photo is its framing. With Generative Expand, Firefly allows you to extend your image outward while maintaining visual consistency. This tool is especially valuable for marketers and social media users who need multiple aspect ratios. A square image can quickly become a widescreen banner or vertical story format. Firefly automatically generates new content that matches the original image’s lighting, perspective, and style. It’s more than resizing, it’s about reimagining. You can even guide the expansion with text prompts, turning a simple background into a forest scene, a cityscape, or something more imaginative. AI image expander: Extend images instantly 3. Upscale images without losing quality Adobe Low-resolution images are a common frustration, especially when working with older assets or user-generated content. Firefly’s AI-powered upscaling tool solves this by increasing image size while preserving sharpness and detail. Instead of stretching pixels, the AI reconstructs missing detail, making images look crisp even at 2x or 4x enlargement. This is particularly useful for marketers who need to repurpose customer photos or improve outdated brand assets without reshooting or redesigning. It also breathes new life into scanned or archival images, making them suitable for modern use across digital and print platforms. AI image upscaler: Enhance your images 4. Remove people with precision Adobe Crowded backgrounds can distract from your subject. Firefly’s people removal feature—also powered by Generative Remove—lets you eliminate unwanted individuals just as easily as objects. Brush over the person, generate the edit, and the AI seamlessly fills the space. The result is a clean, distraction-free image that keeps focus exactly where you want it. For social media users, this means no more photobombers. For brands, it ensures visuals stay aligned with messaging and aesthetics. Remove a person from a photo 5. Generate and replace backgrounds effortlessly Adobe Backgrounds define mood, context, and brand identity. Firefly’s AI background generator makes it incredibly simple to swap or create entirely new environments. The tool automatically detects your subject, separates it from the background, and replaces it with a new scene based on your prompt. Whether you want a minimalist studio look, a vibrant outdoor setting, or something more imaginative, Firefly delivers realistic results with matching light and shadows. This is a game-changer for product photography and content creation. Instead of organizing expensive shoots, you can generate professional-grade visuals in minutes—perfectly tailored to your campaign or platform. AI background generator: Transform photos in a click Why Firefly stands out The real strength of Adobe Firefly lies in its balance of simplicity and control. It doesn’t overwhelm users with technical complexity, yet it delivers highly precise edits that meet professional standards. Speed is another major advantage. Tasks that once required hours of manual work—masking, cloning, resizing—are now completed in a few clicks. And because the platform guides you through each step, even beginners can achieve results that look expertly crafted. For creators juggling deadlines, marketers scaling campaigns, or anyone looking to elevate their visuals, Firefly offers a practical, accessible solution. It turns image editing from a time-consuming chore into a fast, creative process—without sacrificing quality. Start using Adobe Firefly for free. In a world where visual content drives engagement, tools like Firefly aren’t just convenient—they’re essential. Additional Firefly plans with more premium features and higher level of generative credits are also available. Better still, there’s a special offer through May 20th that allows you unlimited generations in Firefly. Special Offer Get unlimited Firefly generations03:26 amApple pushes back against Canadian bill that could force companies to weaken encryption | 9 to 5 MacApple pushes back against Canadian bill that could force companies to weaken encryption
Apple and Meta are publicly opposing a new Canadian bill that they say could force tech companies to break encryption or build backdoors into their products. Here are the details. more…02:58 amCanvas Breach Disrupts Schools & Colleges Nationwide
An ongoing data extortion attack targeting the widely-used education technology platform Canvas disrupted classes and coursework at school districts and universities across the United States today, after a cybercrime group defaced the service's login page with a ransom demand that threatened to leak data from 275 million students and faculty across nearly 9,000 educational institutions.02:55 amHow to pause Activity Rings in watchOS 26 when you need a break
While Activity Rings are a staple for fitness enthusiasts, there might be times when you need to pause them. Here's how you can do it in watchOS 26.How to pause Activity Rings in watchOS 26The Activity Rings on the Apple Watch are a great way to keep track of your daily movement, exercise, and standing goals. However, there are situations where keeping them active isn't practical.For instance, maintaining your usual activity level could interfere with the recovery process if you're recovering from an illness or injury. Pausing the rings allows you to prioritize healing without feeling pressured to meet daily goals. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:53 amLHR (London) on 2026-05-13
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT May 13, 00:00 - 06:00 UTCMay 8, 02:50 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LHR (London) datacenter on 2026-05-13 between 00:00 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.02:46 amCanadian encryption law could force Apple to take drastic action like in UK
Instead of complying with an encryption backdoor mandate in the UK, Apple pulled features like Advanced Data Protection. A similar result could occur in Canada if a new bill passes.Apple's stance on encryption remains unchangedApple won't weaken encryption for any government entity because doing so would allow good guys and bad guys better access to user data. As it argued with the FBI after the San Bernardino shooting, there is no such thing as a backdoor "just for the good guys."Canadian legislators believe that lawful access to encrypted data should be required, which is why Bill C-22 exists. According to a report from Reuters, Apple and Meta are pushing back. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:45 amMy App currently says my name on the developer tab of the published app. How do I make it say my company? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingMy App currently says my name on the developer tab of the published app. How do I make it say my company?
title. I know this is a stupid question. submitted by /u/Strong_Surround5112 [link] [comments]01:52 amOTP (Bucharest) on 2026-05-08
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT May 8, 02:00 - 08:00 UTCMay 8, 01:44 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in OTP (Bucharest) datacenter on 2026-05-08 between 02:00 and 08:00 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.01:22 amGrasshopper – Issues to Admin Portal
May 8, 01:22 UTCInvestigating - We are actively investigating reports that some Grasshopper customers may be experiencing audio issues on calls.Our engineers are working to identify the issue and will provide another update shortly.12:47 amAWS availability causing degradation in user experiences for various services
May 7, 17:47 PDTInvestigating - We are currently investigating some degradation in user experience which are being caused due to AWS issues in us-east-112:42 amOpenAI's Codex Now Works in Chrome With New Extension
OpenAI today launched Codex for Chrome, a Chrome extension that lets Codex work directly in the browser on Macs and PCs. With the extension, Codex can use the browser to test web apps, get context across multiple tabs, use web DevTools, and more without taking over the browser from the user. OpenAI says that after it launched Computer Use in the desktop Codex app, it saw that most common workflows happened in the browser. The Chrome extension should make it faster and easier for Codex to help with browser-based work that plugins or APIs can't handle. According to OpenAI, Codex has more than 4 million weekly active users, an increase of 8x since the beginning of the year. The Chrome extension is part of OpenAI's broader effort to make Codex more useful for work people do daily, while keeping it useful for developers. The Chrome extension can be installed through the Codex Plugins menu.Tags: Chrome, OpenAIThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums12:27 amGameSir Pocket Taco review: an emulator-friendly retro controller with some tradeoffs | AppleInsiderGameSir Pocket Taco review: an emulator-friendly retro controller with some tradeoffs
The GameSir Pocket Taco is an interesting, single-purpose game controller built for retro gaming on iPhone via emulation. Its low price makes its tradeoffs worth it for nostalgia seekers.GameSir Pocket Taco reviewSince Apple enabled the use of emulators on iPhone, the search for the perfect emulation controller began. We've seen many mounts, attachments, and standard controllers, but the Pocket Taco takes a different approach.Instead of simply being a capacitive set of buttons like Gamebaby, the GameSir Pocket Taco is a full Bluetooth game controller that slips onto your iPhone. Of the two options, I like GameSir's approach better since I don't always want my iPhone to have a controller attached. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:01 amApple TV announces new docuseries on UConn women’s basketball team
Apple TV today announced ‘The Dynasty: UConn Huskies,’ a three-part docuseries about the University of Connecticut women’s basketball program. Here are the details. more…12:00 amIssue 750
From tinkering with Objective-C to writing a little newsletter for almost fifteen years. 😱Thursday May 0711:12 pmSpotify’s AI-powered personal DJ adds support for more countries and languages
Spotify announced today that Premium users in more than 75 countries can now interact with the platform’s AI-powered DJ, in an expansion that also includes support for four new languages. Here are the details. more…10:59 pmApple can't avoid $4.1 billion iCloud suit in UK
Apple has failed to reduce the scope of a UK class-action lawsuit, and all iCloud users in the country will be owed $95 if the company loses.Apple could be forced to pay $95 to all iCloud users in the UK, if a class-action lawsuit agains the company is successful.Apple has had its fair share of lawsuits in the United Kingdom, with ongoing cases regarding App Store fees, an alleged price-fixing scheme with retailers, and more.In November 2024, consumer rights group and publication Which? also sued Apple, alleging that the company had an anti-competitive way of locking users into paying for iCloud storage. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:48 pmMore refunds possible for Apple as Trump's 10% global tariffs found illegal too
The nearly universal 10% tariffs enacted by Trump have been declared illegal, pending appeal, so Apple may get even more cost reduction across its supply chain and additional refunds.Liberation Day tariffs and their follow up are both illegalThe so-called "Liberation Day" on April 2, 2025 hit Apple's supply chain like a ton of bricks. A year later, those "reciprocal" tariffs were declared illegal and new global tariffs were put in place immediately.President Trump attempted to utilize a never-before-used provision to enact the 10% tariffs without congressional approval, but that has backfired. On Thursday, the Court of International Trade has found those new global tariffs were also illegal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:22 pmApple expands environmental initiatives in India with new partnerships
Apple announced today an expansion of its environmental initiatives in India, with three projects focused on clean energy, plastic pollution, and green entrepreneurship. Here are the details. more…09:56 pmPerplexity's New Mac App Brings Personal Computer to Pro Users
Perplexity today launched a new Mac app with support for its hybrid local-cloud AI agent Personal Computer, plus it expanded Personal Computer access to Pro and Enterprise users, so it is no longer limited to just Max subscribers. Perplexity describes Personal Computer as a "personal orchestrator" that hybridizes local and server environments for security and productivity. Personal Computer is available in the new Mac app, which Perplexity says gives users access to queries, conversations, and dictation. While all Mac users can download the new app, access to Personal Computer still requires a paid subscription. Personal Computer can access the Mac's file system and native Mac apps to create and execute entire workflows, plus it can access the web. It can see active apps and work across any Mac app, but files are created in a secure sandbox, and its actions are auditable and reversible. When paired with the Comet browser, Personal Computer can operate web-based tools without the need for direct connectors. Pressing both Command keys on a Mac activates Personal Computer, and it responds to text or voice commands and displays useful quick actions automatically. Personal Computer can do things like complete each task on a to-do list, sort a messy downloads folder, compare local files against information on the web, and more. Though it has access to what's on a user's Mac natively, Personal Computer processes intense tasks on Perplexity's servers, so a high-performance Mac isn't needed to run it. Personal Computer works on any Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later, though Perplexity says running Personal Computer on a Mac mini creates the best experience because it allows the agent to run continuously. Perplexity's older Mac app will be deprecated in the coming weeks.Tag: PerplexityThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forumsFirehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
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