MacTech News

CSA — of which Apple is a member — announces Aliro, a new communication protocol

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (Alliance) — of which Apple is a member — has announced the release of the Aliro 1.0 specification, a new communication protocol and credential standard. While the convenience of unlocking a smart home lock often captures...

Apple releases Xcode 26.3 with support for agentic coding

Apple has released Xcode 26.3, which introduces support for agentic coding, a new way in Xcode for developers to build apps using coding agents such as Anthropic’s Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex. With agentic coding, Xcode can work with greater autonomy toward...

Apple releases visionOS 26.3.1 to fix flickering issues when watching sports

Apple has released visionOS 26.3.1 for the Apple Vision Pro. According to Apple’s release notes, the upgrade fixes a flicker issue that sometimes happens when watch sports content with MultiView in the Apple TV app. To install visionOS 26.3.1 on your Vision Pro:...

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Opinion

Apple may be interested in making a line of luggage straps, travel accessories — and shoe strings!

Is Apple interested in making its own line of luggage straps, travel accessories, and even shoe strings? Maybe. The company has been granted a patent (number US 11614108 B2) for “attachment apparatuses.” About the patent The items described in the patent relate...

Apple may be making progress on an Apple Car, but model one won’t be self-driving

Apple has made advancements with its self-driving system for the “Apple Car” and could use LiDAR sensors from Wenmao, according to the Chinese language site, the Economic Daily News. However, the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) doesn’t think the first model of...

Apple patent involves user interfaces for searching, entering Animoji, Memoji

Apple has been granted a patent (number US 11609640 B2) for emoji user interfaces. It involves the company’s Animoji and Memoji features. Animojis allow a user to choose an avatar (e.g., a puppet) to represent themselves. The Animoji can move and talk as if it were a...

Apple’s 2022 holiday quarter earnings will likely be lower than those for 2021

In a note to clients — as noted by AppleInsider — Apple’s holiday quarter results will be lower than 2021, according to the Cowen research group, with “softness” expected due to iPhone shipments impacted by Chinese lockdowns. For the December 2022 quarter, the...

Analyst: Apple’s Tim Cook is ‘a Hall of Fame CEO’ who will avoid layoffs

Webush analyst Dan Ives says Apple’s Tim Cook is “a Hall of Fame CEO” who will avoid layoffs because he didn’t overtire during the pandemic unlike some of the company’s rivals. “Apple never hired at the pace of these other tech giants,” he said on Yahoo Finance Live....

Check out Parker Otolani’s great concept for a revived AirPort router/home hub

Parker Otolani — who manages consumer product development for The Verge, Polygon, and the Vox Media Podcast Network — has designed a fantastic mock-up of a new AirPort router/home hub. He envisions an Airport powered by Wi-Fi6E, Siri, HomeKit, and private relay...

Apple patent involves an ‘impact absorber’ for future iPhones, iPads

Apple wants to make future iPhones and iPads even more durable. The company has been granted a patent (number 11563877 B2) for an “impact absorber” for portable devices. About the patent The patent relates generally to position control and more specifically to...

Apple patent involves an ‘impact absorber’ for future iPhones, iPads

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Monday March 02
04:26 pm
HBO Max and Paramount+ to be merged into one streaming service | 9 to 5 Mac
HBO Max and Paramount+ to be merged into one streaming service
Paramount is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery after beating Netflix’s purchase offer, and CEO David Ellison just shared what that means for the companies’ two streaming platforms: HBO Max and Paramount+. more…
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04:13 pm
Today in Apple history: Here comes the Macintosh II | Cult of Mac
Today in Apple history: Here comes the Macintosh II
On March 2, 1987, three years after releasing the original Macintosh 128K, Apple launches its direct sequel, the almighty Macintosh II. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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04:04 pm
Apple iPad Air M4 (2026) Complete Guide: Release date, price, specs & what’s new | Macworld
Apple iPad Air M4 (2026) Complete Guide: Release date, price, specs & what’s new
Macworld Apple introduced the M4 powered iPad Air via a press release on March 2, 2026. The M4 iPad Air refresh mainly updates performance, memory, and wireless connectivity, while many elements – including design, screen tech, accessory support, storage entry point, and price – closely match the previous M3 iPad Air. Read on for all the details you need about availability, price, specs and how the new M4 iPad Air compares to the M3 model. M4 iPad Air Release date and availability Pre-orders will begin on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with availability from Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Pre-Order an iPad Air M4 at Apple Once the iPad Air is on sale it will be available to purchase from Apple as well as third-party stockists including Amazon and Best Buy. Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket M4 iPad Air Price Despite the upgrades, the iPad Air’s starting price remains unchanged from the M3 model. This is excellent news for consumers who get faster and more capable hardware without paying more. Unlike the new iPhone 17e, which doubles the storage at the entry-level to 256GB for the same price, the iPad Air still starts with 128GB of storage. A cellular model costs an additional $150/£150 over the standard Wi-Fi version – before factoring in the price of a monthly data plan. The premium reflects the extra hardware required for mobile connectivity, including a cellular modem and GPS support, allowing for accurate location tracking and internet access on the go. Unless you specifically need always-on connectivity, it may be more cost-effective to use your iPhone as a personal hotspot and share its data connection instead of paying extra for a cellular iPad. WiFiCellularEducation11-inch iPad Air M4, 128GB$599 / £599$749 / £749$549 / £54911-inch iPad Air M4, 256GB$699 / £699$849 / £849$649 / £64911-inch iPad Air M4, 512GB$899 / £899$1,049 / £1,049$849 / £84911-inch iPad Air M4, 1TB$1,099 / £1,099 $1,249 / £1,249$1,049 / £1,04913-inch iPad Air M4, 128GB$799 / £799$949 / £949$749 / £74913-inch iPad Air M4, 256GB$899 / £899$1,049 / £1,049$849 / £84913-inch iPad Air M4, 512GB$1,099 / £1,099$1,249 / £1,249$1,049 / £1,04913-inch iPad Air M4, 1TB$1,299 / £1,299$1,449 / £1,449$1,249 / £1,249 M4 iPad Air Processor: Will the 2026 iPad Air be faster? Apple-designed M4 chip with 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU. Up to 30% faster overall performance vs the M3 version. 16-core Neural Engine and 50% more unified memory (12GB). Apple We are already familiar with the M4 chip, which featured in the 2024 iPad Pro. Unlike the iPad Pro, which came with a 9-core or 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The M4 iPad Air features an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. The M4 is notably faster than prior Apple chips. For users that will mean snappier multitasking, quicker app launches, and smoother operation even under heavy load, compared to the previous generation. The M4 GPU is much improved on its predecessors, meaning even better graphics and rendering for games and creative apps. In addition, the 16-core Neural Engine in the M4 will benefit machine leaning tasks such as photo editing and enhancements and AI-driven features. The M4 is also designed to be more power-efficient than earlier chips, which should translate to better battery life. The 2025 iPad Air had 8GB of RAM, the minimum required to run Apple Intelligence. The new iPad Air has 12GB of RAM as standard, with memory bandwidth increases to 120GB/s, which will benefit AI processes. M4 iPad Air Performance: How much faster is the M4 iPad Air compared to the M3 iPad Air? The M4 delivers up to ~30% faster performance than the M3. Unified memory increased (12 GB vs typically 8 GB on the M3 model). Faster Neural Engine and GPU, enhancing graphics and AI tasks. Apple Apple’s claims “blazing performance” for the M4 iPad Air, but the M3 iPad Air was by no means slow. In our tests of the M4 chip we found it to be around 25-30 percent faster than the M3 and the GPU to be around 20% faster. In practice this should mean multitasking is smoother and graphics intensive apps should be more responsive, which will be good for gaming. M4 iPad Air Connectivity: How the N1 and C1X will benefit the iPad Air N1 wireless chip (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6). C1X cellular modem in cellular models with faster data. 5G support and enhanced wireless performance. With the iPhone 17, Apple included a new Apple-made wireless networking chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread networking technology (used to control smart-home devices). This N1 chip is included in the iPad Air bringing support for Wi-Fi 7 and its higher peak speeds, lower latency, and quicker downloads and uploads. The N1 also adds support for Bluetooth 6, with benefits including more reliable connections in crowded locations, lower latency, and more efficient power use. Another benefit of the N1 is that AirDrop and Personal Hotspot reliability should also be improved. The iPhone Air’s C1X 5G modem is also being used in the cellular models of the iPad Air. The benefits there revolve around cellular connectivity, including: faster 5G performance, better power efficiency (Apple says it uses 30% less energy), and improved battery life. What is the same compared to the M3 iPad Air Same advanced cameras (12MP rear camera, 12MP Center Stage front camera). Same all-day battery life. Same support for Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. Available in 11- and 13-inch sizes, multiple finishes, and storage options (128GB – 1TB). Same slim aluminium body, same color options: Space Gray, Blue, Purple and Starlight. Same 11-inch of 13-inch LCD Liquid Retina display. Base-level storage is the same at 128GB. The new iPad Air has the same design and screen options as previously. The same four colors are used as has been the case for the past two generations: Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray. The iPad Air has used the same LED backlit Liquid Retina display for several generations, and this continues with the M4 update. Apple’s more expensive iPad Pro uses tandem OLED panels and there are rumors that OLED may be coming to other iPads, possibly the iPad mini first. The storage options are the same, starting at 128GB. The iPad Air has had the same two cameras since the M1: a 12MP front camera with Center Stage and a 12MP rear wide-angle camera. The hardware hasn’t changed unfortunately. Below you can read the rumors from before the launch. We are currently updating this and the other hubs relating to new product launches. 2026 iPad Air: What else is coming… Apple has scheduled “Special Experiences” for March 4 – inviting journalists to venues in New York, London and Shanghai for some sort of hands-on briefing, rather than a live-streamed event. There are a number of new products expected to launch during the week leading up to the event. So far the iPad Air and the iPhone 17e have launched. We also expect to see other iPads and we may see the M5 MacBook Air upgraded with the M5 chip and the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are also claims that Apple may be soon to launch a low-cost MacBook. See our March Event Live Blog for the latest news.
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04:00 pm
Starlink announces V2 satellites: 5G speeds from space with 100x data density | Mac Daily News
Starlink announces V2 satellites: 5G speeds from space with 100x data density
SpaceX's Starlink has unveiled its next-generation V2 satellites for mobile service, promising to deliver true 5G speeds directly from orbit… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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03:55 pm
Here’s everything new Apple TV has coming in March | 9 to 5 Mac
Here’s everything new Apple TV has coming in March
March will be a big month for Apple TV. Not only will the streamer air ongoing episodes of major series like Monarch and Shrinking, but it also has the kickoff of the Formula 1 season, a highly anticipated new psychological thriller series, the return of its longest-running sci-fi show, and a lot more. Here’s everything new coming to Apple TV in March. more…
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03:52 pm
Apple either over- or under-invested in server hardware, depending on how you read this report | AppleInsider
Apple either over- or under-invested in server hardware, depending on how you read this report
Years of under-investment in data centers may mean that Apple will increase its reliance on Google when the revamped Siri launches. Or it may not, it's hard to tell from the inconsistent report.The improved Siri will use Google servers to meet demandEven back in 2021, Apple was Google's largest corporate cloud customer , as the company preferred leasing data centers rather than build up its own network of servers. That's reportedly worked well, even now when Apple Intelligence requires more servers.According to The Information, what servers Apple does own are proving to be vastly underused. Citing unspecified former Apple employees, the report claims that on average, only 10% of Apple's Private Cloud Compute capacity is in use. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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03:42 pm
The new iPad Air is basically the old iPad Air | Macworld
The new iPad Air is basically the old iPad Air
Macworld Kicking off a week of product announcements, the new iPad Air has arrived, but if you go see it at the Apple Store, you’d be hard-pressed to know if Apple actually switched out the old models. They have the same dimensions, same colors, and same displays, have the same prices, and the same tagline on Apple’s website. What’s actually new is the CPU (M4 vs M3), modem (C1X), networking chip (N1), and RAM (12GB vs 8GB). Those are all fine upgrades, especially for the same prices, but if you own last year’s model or even 2024’s version, there’s probably no need to upgrade. Apple’s press release highlights “blazing performance” and “game-changing iPadOS 26 features,” but it’s not like the iPad Air didn’t have that before. Quite frankly, an M1 iPad Air from 2022 will run iPadOS 26 perfectly fine. Not that any of this is a bad thing. Apple has absolutely won the tablet war, and its hardware has no competitor. And now that iPadOS 26 has finally upgraded the interface to be more like the Mac, there’s not much to criticize. But some new colors would have been nice. You can preorder the new iPad Air beginning Wednesday, March 4, at 9:15 a.m. ET. @macworld.com No competition #ipad ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Apple Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $799 (138GB) Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple
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03:41 pm
4 key upgrades make new M4 iPad Air a beast | Cult of Mac
4 key upgrades make new M4 iPad Air a beast
The new M4 iPad Air features a faster processor, more RAM, new Apple wireless chips and other enhancements to Apple's mid-range tablet. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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03:23 pm
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: What’s actually different? | 9 to 5 Mac
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: What’s actually different?
Apple has just launched iPhone 17e, the latest member of the iPhone 17 family. Here’s what’s the same and different between iPhone 17e and iPhone 17. more…
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03:18 pm
Apple’s iPhone 17e gets MagSafe and A19, but it’s not all good news | Macworld
Apple’s iPhone 17e gets MagSafe and A19, but it’s not all good news
Macworld Apple today announced the iPhone 17e, a follow-up to last year’s iPhone 16e with a number of useful improvements, to kick off its ongoing “big week” of product announcements. As expected, the 17e has been upgraded to support Apple’s MagSafe charging technology, rectifying the 16e’s most painful shortcoming. This means that, provided you have a compatible charger, your phone will be securely held in the charging sweet spot by a ring of magnets. MagSafe would normally mean significantly faster wireless charging speeds too: the 16e is capped at 7.5W, whereas recent iPhones can wirelessly charge using MagSafe at up to 22W or even 25W. Unfortunately the iPhone 17e has not been given access to the full extent of MagSafe’s powers in this regard, and has a limit of 15W. That’s the same as MagSafe on the iPhones 12 through 15, and remains an improvement on the 16e, but is still disappointing. Here’s a summary of the various wireless charging speeds of recent iPhones, compiled helpfully by Macworld contributor and charging expert Simon Jary: iPhone 8-11: (Qi) 7.5W iPhone 12-15: (MagSafe and Qi2) 15W iPhone 16 series (except 16e): (MagSafe and Qi2.2) 22W iPhone 17 series (except 17e): (MagSafe and Qi2.2) 25W iPhone Air: (MagSafe and Qi2.2) 20W iPhone 16e: (Qi) 7.5W iPhone 17e: (MagSafe and Qi2) 15W It was also expected that the 17e would get a new processor, as this is a standard upgrade for almost every refresh of almost every Apple product. The iPhone 16e came with an A18 chip; the 17 has an A19, which, according to Apple, “delivers exceptional performance for everything users do.” Of course that depends on the user and their needs, and it’s important to point out that, just like last year, Apple has chosen to use “binned” units of the chip in order to save money. Binned chips have failed manufacturing tests in some minor way and don’t have the full complement of cores. Whereas the A19 in the iPhone 17 has a 5-core GPU, the 17e’s A19 has just a 4-core GPU, so performance won’t be quite as good. It’s unlikely to be all that noticeable for most people, however. Welcome upgrades Moving away from these predicted upgrades, Apple has thrown in a couple of bonus enhancements. One is twice the starting storage for the same price. The entry-level iPhone 16e cost $599 and came with 128GB of storage,. This year’s baseline 17e also costs $599 but comes with 256GB, essentially a $100 price cut. (Storage still tops out at a maximum of 512GB, so there are only two pricing tiers this year, rather than three.) Apple also says scratch resistance is 3x better than on the 16e thanks to Ceramic Shield 2 on the 6.1-inch, although that’s difficult to assess without in-depth testing. And although the cameras are still disappointingly few in number—one on the front and one on the back—the wording for the portrait mode has been updated from “Portrait mode with Depth Control” (the same as on the iPhone 12) to “Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control” (same as on the iPhone 17). This appears to highlight the fact that you can change the focus point. Finally, the iPhone 17 gets a new color finish. Whereas the 16 came in a sadly limited choice of white or black, the 17e is also available in a delicate shade Apple calls Soft Pink. The iPhone 17e starts at $599 and takes the place of the 16e, which has been discontinued. It will become available to pre-order on Wednesday March 4 at 6:15 a.m. PT, and goes on sale on March 11.
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03:16 pm
Your Wi-Fi router's guest network may not be as secure as you think | AppleInsider
Your Wi-Fi router's guest network may not be as secure as you think
Researchers have found that the extra wireless network you set up for visitors may not isolate devices the way router makers advertise, potentially allowing attackers on the same network to intercept traffic.Asus RT-AX57 routerWi-Fi security researchers have found new vulnerabilities that let attackers on the same network intercept and mess with traffic. These issues exist even when WPA2 or WPA3 encryption and client isolation are turned on.The techniques, known as AirSnitch, were shared on February 25 at a security symposium in San Diego. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and KU Leuven presented their findings. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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03:11 pm
Apple debuts its 2026 spring accessory collection for iPhone and Apple Watch | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple debuts its 2026 spring accessory collection for iPhone and Apple Watch
The M4 iPad Air and new iPhone 17e aren’t the only Apple product announcements happening today. Apple also just refreshed its Apple Watch band and iPhone case lineup with a variety of spring colors. more…
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03:10 pm
The iPhone 17e is a solid upgrade but looks dated on day one | 9 to 5 Mac
The iPhone 17e is a solid upgrade but looks dated on day one
As expected, Apple has today announced the new iPhone 17e with some worthwhile upgrades over its predecessor. The new model gets full support for MagSafe wireless charging and storage has been doubled to 256GB for the same price. There is, however, one very surprising thing about the upgrade … more…
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03:06 pm
$599 M4 iPad Air is a lot like the old one, but with a substantial RAM boost | Ars Technica
$599 M4 iPad Air is a lot like the old one, but with a substantial RAM boost
Unexpected RAM upgrade is the highlight of an otherwise straightforward refresh.
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02:58 pm
An existing iPhone 16e case will still fit the iPhone 17e | AppleInsider
An existing iPhone 16e case will still fit the iPhone 17e
Apple's new iPhone 17e has a few new tricks up its sleeve, but the exterior design remains familiar enough to raise a practical question about case compatibility.Left to right: iPhone 16e case, iPhone 17e caseWhen a new iPhone releases, the most common question we get asked has nothing to do with the tech specs. It's "will my old case fit."On Monday, Apple announced the iPhone 17e, the next generation of Apple Intelligence ready, budget friendlier phones. But we (and some of you) are curious: does the bump in specs also necessitate a whole new phone case? Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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02:45 pm
Apple introduces A19-powered iPhone 17e with MagSafe and double the starting storage at 256GB | Mac Daily News
Apple introduces A19-powered iPhone 17e with MagSafe and double the starting storage at 256GB
Apple today announced iPhone 17e, a powerful and more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup. At the heart of iPhone 17e is the latest… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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02:45 pm
iPhone 17e doubles built-in storage, increases performance | Cult of Mac
iPhone 17e doubles built-in storage, increases performance
The iPhone 17e includes improvements — including double the starting storage capacity — that make it a great value. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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02:41 pm
There's not much in the new M4 iPad Air update other than speed | AppleInsider
There's not much in the new M4 iPad Air update other than speed
Apple has started its week of launches by debuting a new iPad Air, which is mostly just an upgrade to M4.Front of the iPad AirThis week will be a busy one for Apple as it brings out a bunch of new products ahead of the March 4 Apple Experience. Its opening salvo includes one of the lesser-speculated product line updates, with the introduction of a new iPad Air.Monday's update is not a massive one for Apple's mid-tier iPads. The headline change is the chip, with the M3 switched out for an M4, which was previously used on the iPad Pro before the fall 2025 upgrade to M5. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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02:41 pm
There's not much in the new M4 iPad Air update other than speed | AppleInsider
There's not much in the new M4 iPad Air update other than speed
Apple has started its week of launches by debuting a new iPad Air, which is mostly just an upgrade to M4.Front of the iPad AirThis week will be a busy one for Apple as it brings out a bunch of new products ahead of the March 4 Apple Experience. Its opening salvo includes one of the lesser-speculated product line updates, with the introduction of a new iPad Air.Monday's update is not a massive one for Apple's mid-tier iPads. The headline change is the chip, with the M3 switched out for an M4, which was previously used on the iPad Pro before the fall 2025 upgrade to M5. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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02:34 pm
Apple's new iPhone 17e has an A19 chip, MagSafe, and 256GB of storage for $599 | Ars Technica
Apple's new iPhone 17e has an A19 chip, MagSafe, and 256GB of storage for $599
New just-the-basics phone replaces the year-old iPhone 16e at the same price.
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Friday January 30
03:31 pm
Will the iPhone Air 2 Launch This Year? The Latest Report Says No | MacRumors
Will the iPhone Air 2 Launch This Year? The Latest Report Says No
A second-generation iPhone Air is "not expected this year," according to a Nikkei Asia report today that cites people familiar with Apple's supply chain. The report said Apple plans to release an iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone later this year, followed by the base model iPhone 18 in the first half of next year. The report said Apple does have a revamped iPhone Air in the pipeline, but the publication does not expect it to launch until at least 2027. While one leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo has insisted that the iPhone Air will receive a spec bump this year, most reports from sources such as Bloomberg and The Information have pointed to an early 2027 launch. Last year, The Information reported that Apple was aiming to add a second rear camera to the next iPhone Air. That report added that the next iPhone Air could weigh less, have a larger battery capacity, and gain a vapor chamber cooling system like the iPhone 17 Pro models have. And Bloomberg expects the device to have a 2nm chip. While several reports indicated that the iPhone Air has been in low demand, the extreme popularity of the iPhone 17 base model and the iPhone 17 Pro models led iPhone revenue to a new all-time high last quarter, according to Apple.Related Roundup: iPhone AirTag: NikkeiBuyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Buy Now)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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03:22 pm
Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Pro 3 Return to $199 Record Low Price, Plus AirTag 4-Pack at $69.99 | MacRumors
Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Pro 3 Return to $199 Record Low Price, Plus AirTag 4-Pack at $69.99
Apple's AirPods Pro 3 returned to their all-time low price of $199.00 this week on Amazon, accompanied by other solid discounts like $60 off AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, $29 off AirTag 4-Pack, and a few deals across Anker and Nomad charging accessories. 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. AirPods What's the deal? Take up to $60 off AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $50 OFFAirPods Pro 3 for $199.00 $60 OFFAirPods 4 (ANC) for $119.00 Amazon brought back a few low prices on multiple AirPods models this week, including the AirPods Pro 3 for $199.00 and the AirPods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation for $119.00. In regards to the AirPods Pro 3, this is a match of the all-time low price on this model. AirTag What's the deal? Take $29 off AirTag 4-Pack Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $29 OFFAirTag 4-Pack for $69.99 Apple unveiled the second generation AirTag this week, but if you want the best discount on the product you'll do best looking at the first generation model on Amazon. The retailer has the AirTag 4-Pack for $69.99 right now, down from $99.00. Anker What's the deal? Save on Anker accessories Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $50 OFFAnker Charging Cube for $99.98 $79 OFFAnker Power Station + Lantern for $169.99 Amazon introduced a few notable discounts on multiple Anker accessories this week, with popular products like the MagSafe-compatible Charging Cube ($50 off) and Power Station with Retractable Lantern ($79 off) on sale at low prices. You can find even more accessories on sale in our original post. Nomad What's the deal? Take up to 49% off Nomad accessories Where can I get it? Nomad Where can I find the original deal? Right here UP TO 49% OFFNomad Overstock Sale On the heels of the launch of its newest Stratos Band for Apple Watch with an icy blue glow color, Nomad this week introduced an overstock sale, with major discounts across a few different product categories. This includes iPhone 17 cases, MagSafe-compatible charging stations, iPad folios, and much more. 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 forums
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02:49 pm
Apple Explains How Gemini-Powered Siri Will Work | MacRumors
Apple Explains How Gemini-Powered Siri Will Work
Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday reiterated the structure of its partnership with Google to use Gemini AI models for the next generation version of Siri. During the company's Q1 2026 earnings call yesterday, Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ and CFO Kevan Parekh were asked several questions about Apple Intelligence and the company's recently announced deal with Google to power the personalized version of ‌Siri‌ using Gemini. We basically determined that Google's AI technology would provide the most capable foundation for AFM (Apple Foundation Models), and we believe that we can unlock a lot of experiences and innovate in a key way due to the collaboration. We'll continue to run on the device and run in Private Cloud Compute and maintain our industry-leading privacy standards in doing so. In terms of the arrangement with Google, we're not releasing the details of that. That description closely matches language from Apple and Google's earlier joint announcement, which said that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ would continue to operate on Apple hardware and Private Cloud Compute. Cook also addressed Apple's own artificial intelligence development efforts, noting that the company continues to build its own technology alongside the Gemini partnership, but clarified that those efforts do not replace Google's role in the personalized ‌Siri‌ system. You should think of it as a collaboration. And we'll obviously independently continue to do some of our own stuff, but you should think of what is going to power the personalized version of Siri as a collaboration with Google. When asked about monetization and return on investment, Cook framed ‌Apple Intelligence‌ as a feature integrated across Apple's platforms rather than a discrete revenue driver. We're bringing intelligence to more of what people love and we're integrating it across the operating system in a personal and private way, and I think that by doing so, it creates great value, and that opens up a range of opportunities across our products and services. And we're very happy with the collaboration with Google as well, I should add. Neither Cook nor Parekh disclosed how many users currently have access to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features or whether those capabilities are driving hardware upgrades. Apple previously acknowledged that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is limited to devices with sufficient memory and processing capacity, which constrains availability somewhat.Tags: Apple Intelligence, Gemini, Siri, Tim CookThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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01:40 pm
Apple Teases 'Innovations That Have Never Been Seen Before' This Year | MacRumors
Apple Teases 'Innovations That Have Never Been Seen Before' This Year
Apple CEO Tim Cook believes that his company will have opportunities to deliver "innovations that have never been seen before" this year. "As I said at the beginning of my remarks, this was, in so many ways, a remarkable quarter for Apple, and we're excited for all the opportunities we'll have in the year ahead to deliver innovations that have never been seen before and enrich the lives of users every step of the way," said Cook, on an earnings call on Thursday. Cook hypes up Apple's future on every earnings call, but "innovations that have never been seen before" is particularly bold wording compared to his usual comment about how the company's product pipeline is stronger than ever. Only time will tell if Apple actually delivers. Will the foldable iPhone have any breakthrough features, such as a rumored crease-free screen? Will the more personalized version of Siri go above and beyond the likes of ChatGPT in any ways? Will the long-rumored Apple smart glasses do anything unique compared to the Meta Ray-Bans? Will the rumored Apple smart home hub, security camera, and Face ID video doorbell give companies like Google and Ring a run for their money? These are some of 2026's burning questions, and we look forward to seeing what Apple has in store throughout what should be quite a busy year.Tag: Tim CookThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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01:11 pm
Google Maps Now Lets You Chat With Gemini AI While Walking or Biking | MacRumors
Google Maps Now Lets You Chat With Gemini AI While Walking or Biking
Google Maps now lets you talk to Gemini while following walking or cycling directions. The latest update is an extension to the AI chatbot's existing conversational navigation feature in driving mode that rolled out in November. You can now ask Gemini hands-free questions without leaving the navigation screen. While walking, for example, you can ask things like "Tell me more about this neighborhood" or "Are there cafes with a bathroom along my route?" Cyclists can also check their ETA without taking their hands off the handlebars. The embedded video below gives you an idea of how Gemini already works during driving navigation. Google says the feature addresses the practical problem of typing while moving, which is awkward at best and dangerous at worst. The Gemini integration also supports follow-up questions, so you could, for example, ask for a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options, then follow up with questions about parking. Beyond discovery queries, users can also issue navigation commands like "Add stop," "Show alternative routes," or "Mute guidance." You can also ask practical questions such as "What's my next turn?" or "What's the weather like at my destination?" To activate Gemini during navigation, tap the Gemini icon in the top-right corner or use the "Hey Google" invocation. The feature is available now worldwide on iOS wherever Gemini is supported, with Android availability rolling out gradually.Tag: Google MapsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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01:08 pm
Apple Ends iPhone Upgrade Program in the UK | MacRumors
Apple Ends iPhone Upgrade Program in the UK
Apple has discontinued the iPhone Upgrade Program in the United Kingdom, moving to a more traditional financing system. The change appears to be related to Apple ending its partnership with Barclays bank, which supported the ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program in the UK. The iPhone Upgrade Program webpage in the country now says: The iPhone Upgrade Program is coming to an end, but we think you'll love what's next. You don't need to do anything right now, just keep making your remaining payments. When it's time for your next iPhone, the Flexible Finance Account will offer you a new, more flexible way to upgrade. The ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program allows customers to get a new ‌iPhone‌ annually with AppleCare+ included for a monthly fee. It essentially provides a 0% APR, 20 or 24-month loan, usually with an upfront payment. After 11-12 payments, users can upgrade to the latest model, provided they trade in their current device in good condition. To replace the program in the UK, Apple has debuted a new "Flexible Finance Account" in partnership with Creation. The Flexible Finance Account provided by Creation is a line of credit that lets you spread the cost of your next Apple device, and it's available exclusively at the Apple Store. The good news is, it gives you even more options when it's time for the latest iPhone. Whether applying in-store or online, choose a plan that works for you and get ready to upgrade. When a new ‌iPhone‌ is released, users can trade in their old device, and use the credit to pay off their associated plan. Creation and PayPal Credit now fully replace Barclays for general Apple device financing in the UK. The ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program continues to be available in other countries. Tags: Barclays Bank, iPhone Upgrade Program, United KingdomThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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12:41 pm
Apple's New Split iPhone Launch Strategy Corroborated in Latest Report | MacRumors
Apple's New Split iPhone Launch Strategy Corroborated in Latest Report
Apple's rumored plan to split its iPhone launch cycle beginning this year has gained additional credibility, with a new report from Nikkei Asia corroborating earlier claims from The Information, Bloomberg, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Nikkei's sources, Apple will prioritize its first foldable iPhone along with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models for the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 will ship in the first half of 2027. An updated iPhone 18e is also expected to appear in the first half of 2027. Nikkei's report does not mention this. It does note however that a second-generation iPhone Air is in Apple's pipeline, though it is not expected this year. The staggered approach aims to both optimize resources and maximize Apple's revenue from premium models amid rising memory chip costs and supply chain pressures, according to the report. One supplier executive told Nikkei that a smoothly functioning supply chain is "one of the key challenges" this year, adding that a marketing strategy change also factored into Apple's decision to prioritize its premium devices. The report also notes that Apple is facing additional pressure as some of its suppliers have shifted resources toward AI companies like Nvidia, Google, and Amazon. Notably, Apple explicitly mentioned iPhone supply constraints during its recent earnings call on Thursday. The pressure comes at a key time for Apple's ambitious new device: mass producing a foldable iPhone requires more complicated manufacturing techniques and new materials, so it's crucial for Apple to minimize production issues leading up to and during its expected launch in the fall. For Apple's part, it has not officially confirmed any changes to its traditional annual fall iPhone release schedule.Tag: NikkeiThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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Thursday January 29
10:56 pm
Apple Was Caught Off Guard by AirPods Pro 3 Popularity | MacRumors
Apple Was Caught Off Guard by AirPods Pro 3 Popularity
AirPods Pro 3 demand was so strong after the earbuds launched in September that their popularity reportedly "caught Apple off guard." "AirPods Pro 3 were supply-constrained during the quarter, and we think we would have grown year over year if we would not have been constrained," Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters, in a report published alongside Apple's record-breaking earnings results for the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year. He is referring to Apple's Wearable, Home, and Accessories category, which saw around a 2% drop in revenue year-over-year. AirPods Pro 3 no longer have any extended delivery delays on Apple's online store, so it would appear that Apple has caught up on supply by now. AirPods Pro 3 feature increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, longer battery life per charge, heart rate monitoring during workouts, improved fit for many users, increased water resistance, a new XXS ear tip size, and more.Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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10:40 pm
Apple Responds to Fast-Rising RAM and Storage Chip Prices | MacRumors
Apple Responds to Fast-Rising RAM and Storage Chip Prices
On an earnings call with equity analysts today, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to fast-rising RAM and SSD storage prices in the supply chain. Cook said that rising memory chip prices had a "minimal impact" on Apple's gross margin in the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year, but he does expect a "bit more of an impact" on the company's gross margin in the current quarter. Cook added that Apple is aware of the rising prices and "will look at a range of options to deal with that" over the long term, if necessary. Apple reported record-breaking revenue of $143.8 billion last quarter, up 16% year-over-year, and it is predicting similar 13% to 16% year-over-year growth and gross margin of 48% to 49% in the current quarter, so the company is still reporting impressive earnings results despite concerns surrounding memory chip prices. This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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10:02 pm
Apple Reaches 2.5 Billion Active Devices | MacRumors
Apple Reaches 2.5 Billion Active Devices
There are now more than 2.5 billion active Apple devices, the company announced today. "We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release announcing the company's record-breaking earnings results. Apple said it had more than 2.35 billion active devices in the year-ago quarter, and the number continues to rise. It shows that Apple has a massive opportunity to sell services, ranging from Apple Music subscriptions to iCloud+ storage plans.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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09:51 pm
Apple CEO Tim Cook Says iPhone Demand Was 'Simply Staggering' Towards End of 2025 | MacRumors
Apple CEO Tim Cook Says iPhone Demand Was 'Simply Staggering' Towards End of 2025
Apple today reported earnings results for the fourth quarter of the 2025 calendar year, including record-breaking $143.8 billion revenue that was up 16% year-over-year. These results were driven in part by exceptionally strong iPhone sales. iPhone revenue in the quarter was $85.2 billion, a new all-time high. That is up from $69.1 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 23% increase. "iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in Apple's press release announcing its earnings results. Cook told CNBC's Steve Kovach that demand for the iPhone last quarter was "simply staggering" and beat Apple's expectations. The latest iPhone lineup includes the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple does not break down iPhone revenue on a model-by-model basis, and it did not comment on which models were most popular last quarter. The quarter encompassed the 2025 holiday shopping season, so it is safe to say that a lot of people were gifted a shiny new iPhone last month.Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone AirBuyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral), iPhone 17 Pro (Neutral), iPhone Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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09:38 pm
Apple Reports Record-Setting 1Q 2026 Results: $42.1B Profit on $143.8B Revenue | MacRumors
Apple Reports Record-Setting 1Q 2026 Results: $42.1B Profit on $143.8B Revenue
Apple today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2026, which corresponds to the fourth calendar quarter of 2025. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $143.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $42.1 billion, or $2.84 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $124.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $36.3 billion, or $2.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Apple set all-time records during the quarter for total revenue, earnings per share, iPhone revenue, and services revenue. Total revenue was up 16 percent year-over-year, while earnings per share rose by 19 percent. Gross margin for the quarter was 48.2 percent, compared to 46.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.26 per share, payable on February 12 to shareholders of record as of February 9."Today, Apple is proud to report a remarkable, record-breaking quarter, with revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent from a year ago and well above our expectations," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment, and Services also achieved an all-time revenue record, up 14 percent from a year ago. We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world."As has been the case for over five years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in March. Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q1 2026 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights. Conference call starts at 2:00 p.m. Pacific - No need to refresh Loading live updates... var reportinglive = new reportinglive_module;reportinglive.init();Tag: EarningsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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09:15 pm
Apple Called Out in New 'Encrypt It Already' Campaign | MacRumors
Apple Called Out in New 'Encrypt It Already' Campaign
The non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today launched an "Encrypt It Already" campaign that calls on tech companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and others to implement or expand end-to-end encryption on their platforms. iCloud already provides end-to-end encryption for more than a dozen data categories by default. For users looking for additional protection, Apple offers an optional feature called Advanced Data Protection, which extends end-to-end encryption to iCloud Backup, Notes, Photos, Voice Memos, and more. But, the EFF wants Apple to go further. For example, the EFF said Apple and Google should deliver on a promise to implement end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. Last year, Apple said it planned to add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to the Messages app in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS updates, but it did not provide a specific timeframe. Starting with the iOS 26.3 beta, Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for carriers to be able to support end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. iMessage has already supported end-to-end encryption by default since 2011. The EFF also called on Apple and Google to offer users per-app AI permissions, so Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini can be turned off in certain apps. The non-profit organization said it is also important how tech companies communicate new implementations of end-to-end encryption. It encouraged the companies to write blog posts that summarize key details, publish technical papers and user documentation that go into further detail, and follow best practices for data minimization. The EFF encourages people to use Apple's feedback form to let the company know that additional end-to-end encryption support is important to them.Tag: EFFThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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07:00 pm
MacBook Pro: What to Know as Wait Continues for M5 Pro and M5 Max | MacRumors
MacBook Pro: What to Know as Wait Continues for M5 Pro and M5 Max
The launch of Apple Creator Studio on Wednesday would have been a fitting opportunity for Apple to unveil new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, but unfortunately it looks like that was nothing more than wishful thinking. For now, all we have is a broad timeframe from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who expects new MacBook Pro models "in the first half of the year." The next window for Apple to update the MacBook Pro might be tied to the upcoming release of macOS 26.3. In October, AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic said the MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are "expected to ship with macOS 26.3," at least as of the time that he wrote that. macOS 26.3 remains in beta testing, but it should be coming out soon, with a public release expected in the first half of February. Like the Apple Creator Studio launch, though, the release of macOS 26.3 could come and go without any new MacBook Pro models. But, until a more specific release date is rumored, this is all we have to go on for now. Keep in mind that Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak has often put out a social media teaser for upcoming launches lately, including for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M5 chip most recently. He did not put out a teaser before the new AirTag, but that was merely an accessory. So, perhaps we will have to wait for that. Beyond the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the next MacBook Pro models are not expected to have any major changes. We recommend skipping the next models, unless you really need to upgrade, as the MacBook Pro is expected to receive a major redesign with an OLED touch screen, a thinner case, and more as soon as late 2026. While reports have said there is a chance that the redesigned MacBook Pro does not arrive until 2027, there is precedent for two MacBook Pro refreshes in one year. In 2023, Apple released MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January, followed by models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in October. In the meantime, the wait for the models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips continues.Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)Related Forum: MacBook ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:07 pm
Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats | MacRumors
Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has developed technology that can "analyze facial expressions" to understand "silent speech," according to the Financial Times. "Patents filed by Q.Ai show its technology being used in headphones or glasses, using 'facial skin micro movements' to communicate without talking," the report said, adding that this could pave the way for "non-verbal discussions" with Siri. Q.ai CEO Aviad Maizels previously founded another Israeli startup, PrimeSense, which was also acquired by Apple in 2013. Apple used PrimeSense's technology to develop Face ID, which debuted on the iPhone X in 2017. Q.ai's founding team will join Apple, including Maizels, Yonatan Wexler, and Avi Barliya. Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji described Q.ai as "a remarkable company that is pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning," in a statement shared with Reuters. "We're thrilled to acquire the company, with Aviad at the helm, and are even more excited for what's to come." This acquisition comes as Apple's former design chief Jony Ive has been working with OpenAI on a new AI device, and as other companies like Meta have released AI-powered devices such as the Meta Ray-Ban glasses with an in-lens display.Tags: Apple Acquisition, Financial TimesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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04:54 pm
AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared | MacRumors
AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared
Apple's new AirTag introduces a series of small improvements, so how does it compare to the original model from 2021? The second-generation ‌AirTag‌ arrives five years after the original, bringing improvements to tracking range, speaker output, and internal design while retaining the same outward design and accessory compatibility. At the same time, first-generation AirTags remain available from some retailers at reduced prices, raising the question of whether the newer model is worth choosing over the original, or whether the earlier ‌AirTag‌ still makes sense as a lower-cost option. The comparison below outlines every difference between the two generations, including Apple-announced feature upgrades and hardware changes identified through teardowns. While both models perform the same core function of tracking items through the Find My network, there are some small differences worth noting: ‌AirTag‌ (first-generation, 2021) ‌AirTag‌ (second-generation, 2026) First-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip Shorter Precision Finding range Up to 50% farther Precision Finding range Precision Finding on iPhone only Precision Finding on ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch (Series 9 and later and Ultra 2) Earlier Bluetooth implementation Upgraded Bluetooth with increased range Bluetooth identifiers rotate at standard intervals Bluetooth identifiers rotate more frequently Standard speaker volume Up to 50% louder speaker Chime note in F Chime note in G Works on earlier supported iOS versions Requires iOS 26.2.1 or later Reset without a required wait between battery removals Reset requires battery out for at least five seconds each cycle 11g weight 11.8g weight (around 7% heavier) Back text listing "Assembled in China" and "Designed by Apple" Back text in all-caps listing IP67, NFC, and ‌Find My‌ Thicker main PCB Thinner main PCB with revised battery connectors, and additional test pads and markings Smaller speaker coil Slightly larger speaker coil Speaker magnet more easily removable Speaker magnet more firmly secured and harder to remove Wider box with flat printed text and plastic pull tabs Redesigned narrower box with updated artwork, raised UV printed text, and paper pull tabs Folio-style inner tray holding up to two rows of two AirTags Redesigned inner tray with simpler design holding up to four AirTags For buyers choosing between the two ‌AirTag‌ models, the decision depends less on basic tracking and more on how and where an ‌AirTag‌ is typically used. Both generations rely on the same ‌Find My‌ network for long-distance location updates, offer similar battery life, and work with the same accessories, so neither model is considerably better for general item tracking. The second-generation ‌AirTag‌ is likely to benefit users who frequently rely on Precision Finding rather than approximate location. The extended Ultra Wideband range makes it easier to determine the specific location of items, while the louder speaker improves audibility in noisy spaces or when an ‌AirTag‌ is buried inside a bag or suitcase. Support for Precision Finding on compatible Apple Watch models also makes the newer ‌AirTag‌ more convenient for users who often leave their ‌iPhone‌ behind. The first-generation ‌AirTag‌ remains a practical option for the overwhelming majority of use cases, such as tracking keys, backpacks, or household items that are usually misplaced within short distances. If available at a meaningful discount, it may offer better value for users who do not need Precision Finding at extended range, do not use an Apple Watch for item location, or simply want basic ‌Find My‌ functionality at the lowest cost. For existing ‌AirTag‌ owners, there is certainly no pressing need to upgrade. For new buyers, the second-generation ‌AirTag‌ simply offers the most complete feature set and greater flexibility going forward, acting as a moderate specification bump over the previous model.Tag: AirTagThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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04:40 pm
Here's Everything Apple Released This Week | MacRumors
Here's Everything Apple Released This Week
Following a quiet start to 2026, the final week of January has been a busy one for Apple so far. There are new versions of the AirTag and the Black Unity band for the Apple Watch, and the Apple Creator Studio bundle is now available. Apple also released iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 updates, and iOS 26.3 beta testing continues. While the launch of Apple Creator Studio would have been a fitting opportunity for Apple to unveil new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, unfortunately it looks like that proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking. We have recapped our coverage of these topics below. New AirTag Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More 10+ Things to Know About the New AirTag 2 New AirTag's Improved Precision Finding Requires These iPhone Models AirTag 2: These Airlines Offer Feature That Helps Find Your Lost Bags Precision Finding on Apple Watch Doesn't Work With the Original AirTag Teardown Reveals AirTag 2 is Full of Hidden Changes New Black Unity Band Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch Band Apple Creator Studio Apple's 'Creator Studio' App Bundle Now Available for $12.99 Per Month Apple Creator Studio Hands-On: What You Get for $12.99 Per Month Apple Updates Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro With These New Features Apple Updates Keynote, Numbers, and Pages Apps With New Free and Paid Features Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad With Apple Pencil Support and More Apple Stops Selling $200 'Pro Apps' Bundle With Final Cut Pro and More Software Updates Apple Releases iOS 26.2.1 With AirTag 2 Support Apple Releases watchOS 26.2.1, Adding Precision Finding Support for AirTag 2 Apple Seeds Third Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Developers Apple Seeds Third Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Public Beta Testers iOS 26.3 Adds Privacy Setting to Limit Carrier Location Tracking Warning: These Continuity Features Are Broken on Latest iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 Betas iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After LaunchThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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03:24 pm
Amazon Discounts Anker's Most Popular MagSafe-Compatible Chargers, Power Stations, and More | MacRumors
Amazon Discounts Anker's Most Popular MagSafe-Compatible Chargers, Power Stations, and More
Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Anker, Ecovacs, and Jackery. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible chargers to portable power stations and robot vacuums. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Amazon has discounts on multiple Anker charging accessories, including products like the 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube for $99.98, down from $149.95 and the SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern for $169.99, down from $249.00. You can find these deals and more in the lists below, and this time around none require any coupon codes. $50 OFFAnker Charging Cube for $99.98 $79 OFFAnker Power Station + Lantern for $169.99 Anker 6-in-1 USB-C Power Strip - $79.99, down from $109.99 140W 4-Port GaN USB-C Charger - $64.99, down from $99.99 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $99.98, down from $149.95 SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $169.99, down from $249.00 SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $429.00, down from $799.00 SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $799.00, down from $1,499.00 Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station + Solar Panel - $349.00, down from $499.00 Explorer 1000 V2 Portable Power Station - $424.65, down from $799.00 Explorer 1500 Portable Power Station - $898.99, down from $1,399.00 HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station - $1,299.00, down from $2,499.00 HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station + Solar Panels - $1,598.99, down from $2,999.00 HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station - $2,099.00, down from $3,699.00 Ecovacs Deebot N20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop - $161.49, down from $199.99 Deebot T80 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop - $499.99, down from $999.99 Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop - $699.00, down from $799.00 Deebot X8 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop - $749.00, down from $1,099.99 Deebot X11 OmniCyclone Robot Vacuum and Mop - $1,099.00, down from $1,499.99 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 forums
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03:22 pm
Apple Stops Selling $200 'Pro Apps' Bundle With Final Cut Pro and More | MacRumors
Apple Stops Selling $200 'Pro Apps' Bundle With Final Cut Pro and More
Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio this week, Apple has quietly stopped selling its valuable "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" (archived link). "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" included one-time-purchase versions of Apple's Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps at a steep discount, with U.S. pricing set at $199.99. Purchasing each of the included apps separately costs $629.95, so the bundle provided more than $400 in savings. While the bundle was sold through Apple's online education store since its launch in 2017, there was no student or teacher verification system in the U.S. and certain other countries, so most customers were able to purchase it. Anyone who already purchased the bundle can continue to use the apps. Apple also appears to be cracking down on sharing the apps included in the bundle. According to a MacRumors tipster, sharing the apps with others as a ZIP file no longer works, as the recipient will receive an error when opening the apps. Apple Creator Studio is a new subscription bundle that provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac and/or iPad, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. One-time-purchase versions of all six apps remain available on the Mac for now. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium content" in apps like Pixelmator Pro, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and later Freeform.Tags: Apple Creator Studio, Pro Apps for EducationThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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03:17 pm
Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone, iPad, and Mac | MacRumors
Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Lockdown Mode is an optional security feature designed by Apple to provide maximum protection against highly sophisticated digital threats. When enabled on your Apple device, it greatly reduces exposure to complex attacks by restricting certain features and network connections. Keep reading to learn how to use it across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. For most users of Apple devices, the standard iOS, iPadOS, and macOS security protections should be sufficient, whereas Lockdown Mode is aimed at users who could be targets of cyberattacks, such as journalists, activists, and government employees. That said, any user can enable it on their device for what Apple calls an "extreme" level of security. Lockdown Mode Protections When enabled, Lockdown Mode strictly limits or disables the functionality of features, apps, and websites. Lockdown Mode protections include the following: In the Messages app, most message attachment types other than images are blocked, and some features like link previews are unavailable. Incoming FaceTime calls from people you have not previously called are blocked. Incoming invitations for other Apple services from people you have not previously invited are also blocked. Some complex web technologies and browsing features, including just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode. This protection applies to Safari and all other web browsers using WebKit across the ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Mac. Shared albums will be removed from the Photos app, and new shared album invitations will be blocked. When a device is locked, wired connections with other devices/accessories are blocked. Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management (MDM), while Lockdown Mode is turned on. Certain network protocols and services are restricted. How to Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone and iPad Lockdown Mode is turned off by default on ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, but you can enable it by following these steps. Open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security. Scroll to the bottom and tap Lockdown Mode. Tap Turn On Lockdown Mode. Review the information about what features are restricted, then tap Turn On & Restart. After the restart, Lockdown Mode will be active. You can confirm this by returning to Settings ➝ Privacy & Security ➝ Lockdown Mode, where a toggle will show that it's on. How to Enable Lockdown Mode on Mac Open System Settings. Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. Under the "Security" section at the bottom, click Lockdown Mode. Click Turn On Lockdown Mode. Review the protections and click Turn On & Restart. Your Mac will restart and Lockdown Mode will be enabled when it boots up. How to Turn Off Lockdown Mode Whether you're on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these are the steps to follow: In Settings on iPhone/iPad (or System Settings on Mac) go to Privacy & Security ➝ Lockdown Mode. Tap or click the Lockdown Mode toggle to turn it off. Confirm that you want to turn it off. Your device will restart to leave Lockdown Mode. Configuring Allowed Websites and App Exceptions While Lockdown Mode is active, some websites and certain app features may be blocked for security. Apple allows you to add exceptions in some areas. For example, in Safari, if a site is blocked by Lockdown Mode, you may be offered an option to allow website exceptions. This lets specific sites load normally while Lockdown Mode remains enabled. Some third-party apps may also appear in a list in Settings ➝ Privacy & Security ➝ Lockdown Mode ➝ Configure Web Browsing, and you can turn off Lockdown Mode for those apps individually. This lets an app continue to function normally if it was being restricted by Lockdown Mode's web content limitations. This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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Scoshe’s PowerVolt Traveler30 is a great traveling companion for charging your various devices

Scoshe’s US$44.99 PowerVolt Travelerl30 is an 30W USB-C Port for fast charging speed for such as an iPhone, iPad, and even Mac laptops. It’s small, portable, and does what’s expected of it. In my tests, it can power a smartphone, tablet, or tablet to 70% capacity in...

The Grovemade Desk Shelf is a classy, pricey desk shelf for smaller displays

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always had an appreciation for fine wood, which is why I’m a big fan of the products from Grovemade, a designer of handcrafted wooden and leather accessories. They’re luxury items, not necessities. However, Grovemade’s products are...

Monoprice Horizon ANC True Wireless Earphones are a good alternative to Apple’s AirPods

If Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro are too expensive for your budget, give the US$59.99 Monoprice Horizon ANC True Wireless Earphones a look. Er, listen. Available in black, they’re light and comfortable. The Bluetooth 5.2 earphones provide up to seven hours of...

The Commuter Backpack offers a durable, classy way to travel with your laptop and accessories

WaterField Designs’ Mezzo Laptop Backpack remains my favorite all-time carrying case for my MacBook Pro and iPad. However, the Harber London Commuter Backpack is a close second. According to the folks at Harbor London, the Commuter Back “is perfect for your bike...

Wristcam lets you take decent photos and videos with your Apple Watch, but it sure is bulky

If you want to take pictures and make videos without your iPhone handy, you can do it with the Wristcam for Apple Watch (assuming, of course, you have an Apple Watch). However, this must be something you REALLY want to do as the Wristcam costs US$299 and has some...

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Thursday February 05
02:53 pm
Netherlands Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – T-Mobile NL | Twilio
Netherlands Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – T-Mobile NL
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 9, 00:00 - 01:00 PSTFeb 5, 06:38 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner T-Mobile NL Netherlands is conducting a planned maintenance from 09 February 2026 at 00:00 PST until 09 February 2026 at 01:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for T-Mobile NL Netherlands customers.Impacted Products: Verify Silent Network Auth, Lookup Identity Match, Lookup SIM Swap, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes
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02:53 pm
Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Tele2 | Twilio
Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Tele2
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 8, 13:00 - 17:00 PSTFeb 5, 06:29 PSTScheduled - The Tele2 network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 08 February 2026 at 13:00 PST until 08 February 2026 at 17:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Tele2 Russia handsets.
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01:53 pm
Colombia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Claro | Twilio
Colombia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Claro
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 5, 19:00 PST - Feb 6, 04:00 PSTFeb 5, 05:48 PSTScheduled - The Claro network in Colombia is conducting a planned maintenance from 05 February 2026 at 19:00 PST until 06 February 2026 at 04:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Claro Colombia handsets.We are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.
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08:22 am
Germany Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – T-Mobile | Twilio
Germany Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – T-Mobile
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 13, 15:00 - 21:00 PSTFeb 4, 23:55 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner T-Mobile Germany is conducting a planned maintenance from 13 February 2026 at 15:00 PST until 13 February 2026 at 21:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for T-Mobile Germany customers.Impacted Products: Verify Silent Network Auth, Lookup Identity Match, Lookup SIM Swap, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes
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Wednesday February 04
11:22 pm
US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers | Twilio
US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 5, 19:00 - 20:00 PSTFeb 4, 15:05 PSTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting an emergency maintenance from 05 February 2026 at 19:00 PST until 05 February 2026 at 20:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets.
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10:53 pm
LYS (Lyon) on 2026-02-10 | CloudFlare
LYS (Lyon) on 2026-02-10
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 10, 00:00 - 06:00 UTCFeb 4, 22:44 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LYS (Lyon) datacenter on 2026-02-10 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.
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10:53 pm
OSL (Oslo) on 2026-02-11 | CloudFlare
OSL (Oslo) on 2026-02-11
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 11, 01:00 - 07:00 UTCFeb 4, 22:46 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in OSL (Oslo) datacenter on 2026-02-11 between 01:00 and 07:00 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.
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10:52 pm
OSL (Oslo) on 2026-02-12 | CloudFlare
OSL (Oslo) on 2026-02-12
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 12, 01:00 - 07:00 UTCFeb 4, 22:48 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in OSL (Oslo) datacenter on 2026-02-12 between 01:00 and 07:00 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.
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07:52 pm
EWR (Newark) on 2026-02-13 | CloudFlare
EWR (Newark) on 2026-02-13
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 13, 07:00 - 12:00 UTCFeb 4, 19:47 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in EWR (Newark) datacenter on 2026-02-13 between 07:00 and 12:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.
Read more »
06:55 pm
All Deployments: Duo Enrollment URL Session Expired Errors | Duo Security
All Deployments: Duo Enrollment URL Session Expired Errors
Feb 4, 13:55 ESTIdentified - We have Identified the cause of enrollment failures that display the error message "Your session has expired. Please try again." and are working to correct the issue as soon as possible.As a workaround:-If using enrollment email links, update the enrollment experience settings (https://duo.com/docs/administration-settings#enrollment) to show New Universal Prompt.-If enrolling using in-line self enrollment with an existing application (https://duo.com/docs/enrolling-users#inline-self-enrollment), update that application to use the Universal Prompt (https://duo.com/docs/universal-prompt-update-guide).-You can also enroll users manually from the Duo Admin Panel (https://duo.com/docs/administration-devices#adding-a-2fa-device-to-a-user) or issue an enrollment code for self-enrollment (https://duo.com/docs/enrolling-users#generate-enrollment-codes-for-existing-users).Please check back here or subscribe to updates for any changes.
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02:41 pm
Service Issue – Object Storage – (gb-lon) | Linode
Service Issue – Object Storage – (gb-lon)
Feb 4, 14:41 UTCResolved - Starting at 14:41 UTC on February 4, 2026, users in our London (gb-lon) region may have encountered 500 errors when accessing object storage. We identified the issue quickly and resolved it by 15:19 UTC the same day. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you are still experiencing issues, please open a Support ticket for assistance.
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02:23 pm
HEL (Helsinki) on 2026-02-10 | CloudFlare
HEL (Helsinki) on 2026-02-10
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 10, 00:00 - 08:00 UTCFeb 4, 14:06 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in HEL (Helsinki) datacenter on 2026-02-10 between 00:00 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.
Read more »
01:23 pm
HEL (Helsinki) on 2026-02-11 | CloudFlare
HEL (Helsinki) on 2026-02-11
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 11, 00:00 - 04:00 UTCFeb 4, 13:10 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in HEL (Helsinki) datacenter on 2026-02-11 between 00:00 and 04:00 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.
Read more »
10:54 am
IAD (Ashburn) on 2026-02-11 | CloudFlare
IAD (Ashburn) on 2026-02-11
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 11, 05:00 - 13:00 UTCFeb 4, 10:30 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAD (Ashburn) datacenter on 2026-02-11 between 05:00 and 13:00 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.
Read more »
10:53 am
IAD (Ashburn) on 2026-02-10 | CloudFlare
IAD (Ashburn) on 2026-02-10
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 10, 05:00 - 13:00 UTCFeb 4, 10:26 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAD (Ashburn) datacenter on 2026-02-10 between 05:00 and 13:00 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.
Read more »

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