Apple's Google Gemini Deal Could Be Worth $5 Billion
Apple's newly announced partnership with Google to use Gemini models for Siri and Apple Intelligence could be worth as much as $5 billion, according to one analyst's estimate. The deal is structured as a cloud computing contract that will see Apple pay "several billion dollars to Google over time," according to the Financial Times (paywalled), citing a person familiar with the agreement. Gene Munster at Deepwater Asset Management puts the value at $5 billion for Google. Apple said it determined that Google's technology provides the "most capable foundation" for its Apple Foundation Models. However, the Gemini partnership raises questions about the future of Apple's existing ChatGPT integration, which has been part of Apple Intelligence since 2024. Apple said the Google deal does not affect the ChatGPT integration, but Munster expressed skepticism about its long-term prospects. "I think that the ChatGPT integration is going to die on the vine... having two large models, given the economies of scale, wouldn't make a ton of sense for Apple," he told FT. A person close to OpenAI told the newspaper that the company had taken "a conscious decision to not become the custom model provider for Apple" last autumn to focus on building its own AI device. That hardware effort is being led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who was hired by OpenAI in May 2024 – a move Munster suggested may have soured Apple on a deeper OpenAI partnership. Despite the $5 billion figure, Apple's Gemini deal is comparatively conservative compared to other companies' AI infrastructure spending. Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have all committed hundreds of billions of dollars to new AI data centers since ChatGPT launched in 2022, but Apple has kept its investment in physical infrastructure at roughly 3 percent of revenue, according to FT's analysis. For fiscal 2025, Apple's spending on property, plant, and equipment was $12.7 billion. Compare that to the roughly $90 billion Google is expected to spend this year. One former Apple executive told the FT that the Google deal was "a necessary byproduct of Apple's decision not to 'go big' on its AI investments like its competitors." The next-generation version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, which will likely be released to the general public in March or April.Tags: Apple Intelligence, Financial Times, Gemini, GoogleThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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MacPaw Pulls Plug on Setapp Mobile iOS Store, Blames Apple's 'Still-Evolving and Complex Business Terms' for Alternative EU Marketplaces
Ukraine-based developer MacPaw is set to close Setapp Mobile, its alternative app store for iOS devices in the European Union, next month. The service will officially cease operating on February 16, 2026. Setapp Mobile launched in open beta in September 2024. In a support page, MacPaw said Setapp Mobile is being closed because of Apple's "still-evolving and complex business terms that don't fit Setapp's current business model," suggesting it was not profitable for the company. For users in the EU who accessed iOS apps through Setapp's subscription store, those apps will be removed from the platform after the shutdown date. Setapp advises users to back up any important data before then, as the apps will no longer be available once the service ends. Setapp's separate subscription-based Mac app store will continue to operate as normal. MacPaw is not alone in trying its hand in the EU market for alternative app stores, which came in the wake of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that mandates support for third-party app marketplaces on iOS in the EU. There are a handful of alternative marketplaces, but the most prominent is the Epic Games Store. These alternative app marketplaces, as Apple calls them, are a relatively new frontier for app distribution on iOS, but they face hefty challenges, such as navigating Apple's controversial Core Technology Fee and competing with its established ‌App Store‌ ecosystem. Epic Games currently pays the Apple fees that EU developers incur when distributing their apps through the ‌Epic Games‌ Store. However, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has said it is "not financially viable" for ‌Epic Games‌ to pay Apple's fees in the long term, but it plans to do so while it waits to see if the European Union requires Apple to further tweak its rules for third-party marketplaces under the DMA. Sweeney has criticized Apple's Core Technology Fee and app distribution guidelines many times, and has described the fee as "ruinous for any hopes of a competing store getting a foothold." In that regard, Setapp Mobile may well have been its first major victim.Tags: European Union, SetappThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Expands Cross-Border Apple Pay Support in China
Apple today announced expanded cross-border Apple Pay support for users in mainland China, allowing them to use Visa credit and debit cards issued by local banks to make contactless payments both in-store and online while traveling abroad. Eight major Chinese banks now support the feature, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, and China Merchants Bank. Additional banks including Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and China Construction Bank will add support in the coming months. Mastercard is also preparing to launch similar support for select cardholders. "With this expansion of cross-border Apple Pay capabilities in mainland China, we're making travel more seamless and secure, giving users confidence in their payments wherever they go," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Apple first launched ‌Apple Pay‌ in 2014, and has expanded it to dozens of countries and territories around the world.Tags: Apple Pay, ChinaThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 17e to Gain Dynamic Island But Display Still Stuck at 60Hz
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17e will feature a Dynamic Island instead of a notch at the top of the screen, but unlike the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, the display itself will still refresh at 60Hz, according to a known Weibo leaker. Apple made major improvements to the iPhone 17's display last year, introducing ProMotion display technology with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to recent iPhone Pro models. 120Hz maximum refresh rates allow for smoother scrolling when viewing webpages and improvements for video, but it looks like the iPhone 17e is not getting the upgrade to keep costs down. In a new post on the Chinese social media platform, "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 17e will retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, but this time it will have a Dynamic Island. The Dynamic Island would add the interactive area at the top of the screen that displays ongoing activities, incorporating the camera and other front-facing sensors. The iPhone 16e features a "notch" at the top of the display, similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14. That's because the ‌iPhone 16e‌ is based on the design of 2022's ‌iPhone‌ 14, so it could be that the ‌iPhone‌ 17e is based on 2023's ‌iPhone‌ 15, which gained the ‌Dynamic Island‌ and a more rounded frame. Reiterating a previous claim, the leaker also said the second version of Apple's more affordable iPhone will feature an A19 chip, replacing the A18 used in the current iPhone 16e. The A19 chip is based on TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, N3P, and is around 5-10% faster than the A18 chip in terms of raw CPU performance. Another Weibo leaker has claimed Apple will use a downclocked A19 chip in the iPhone 17e. If so, aside from Neural Engine improvements, it would be roughly comparable to Apple's A17 Pro chip. Meanwhile, other rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will gain a magnetic ring so it can connect to MagSafe chargers, which is not an option with the iPhone 16e. To cut down on costs, the device may also be equipped with either the older C1 or C1X modem, but no N1 wireless chip, based on leaked Apple code. Otherwise, the device is expected to retain a front-facing 12-megapixel camera, Face ID, and a rear 48-megapixel camera. The iPhone 17e could launch as soon as February, as the iPhone 16e did last year, but it could come later in the spring. The $599 starting price is not expected to change.Related Roundup: iPhone 16eTag: Digital Chat StationBuyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Caution)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone SOS: Verizon Apologizes for Outage, Promises Customer Credits
Verizon today experienced a major outage, which it is still working to fully resolve. In response, the carrier has promised that all affected customers will be credited an unspecified amount, with more details to be shared soon. "Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry," said Verizon. "We are working non-stop and making progress," the carrier assured. "Our teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers." iPhone users with Verizon service are or were generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage. iPhone users typically see "SOS" in the status bar when a carrier experiences an outage. Apple explains what "SOS" means in a support document:If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States.Stay tuned for further updates. Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry. They expect more from us.We are working non-stop and making progress. Our teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers.We will make this right -…— Verizon News (@VerizonNews) January 15, 2026 Tag: VerizonThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 235 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 235 includes fixes and updates for CSS, Canvas, Clipboard, Editing, Encoding, Forms, HTML, JavaScript, MathML, Media, Networking, Rendering, SVG, Web API, Web Inspector, WebAssembly, and WebRTC. The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS. The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website. Apple’s aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.Tag: Safari Technology PreviewThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Will Final Cut Pro on Mac Get Every New Feature Without a Subscription? Here's What Apple Says
Apple has confirmed that it will continue to offer a one-time-purchase version of Final Cut Pro for Mac for $299.99, but will that version receive every new feature? In an interview with digital filmmaking news website CineD, Apple marketing manager Bryan O'Neil Hughes said both the one-time-purchase and Apple Creator Studio versions of Final Cut Pro for Mac will include the new "intelligent" features Visual Search, Transcript Search, and Beat Detection, but his comment did not explicitly confirm if both versions of the app will receive every additional "intelligent" feature in the future. We have reached out to Apple for comment, and we will update this story if we receive a response. What we do know is that the one-time-purchase version of Final Cut Pro for Mac will miss out on some "premium content," according to Apple's website:A one-time purchase will still be available, but access to some of the premium content is available only to Apple Creator Studio subscribers. If you already own Final Cut Pro, it will continue to be updated.In the interview, Hughes went on say that both the one-time-purchase and Creator Studio versions of Final Cut Pro for Mac will continue to receive updates and "work as you expect," but we have still yet to see Apple explicitly confirm if both versions of the Mac app will have 100% feature parity forever. For now, though, it seems like customers with the one-time-purchase version will only miss out on "premium content." Apple's website is more explicit about Logic Pro and MainStage, promising feature parity:Logic Pro and MainStage have all the same features whether they are subscription or one-time-purchase versions.Some other apps in the Creator Studio bundle, including Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform, will be receiving some "intelligent" features that will not be available without a subscription, so it is a mixed bag. For example, only Pixelmator Pro users with a Creator Studio subscription will be receiving a new Warp tool that allows you to twist and shape image layers. Across the Keynote, Pages, and Numbers apps, Creator Studio subscribers will have access to a new Content Hub with high-quality photos and graphics, as well as new premium templates, themes, and more. Apple said its Freeform app will also be updated with "intelligent" features for Creator Studio subscribers later this year. Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform never cost money, but the apps will effectively be "freemium" now. Fortunately, Apple has ensured that all four of the apps will continue to receive other new features and updates without a subscription. Overall, the introduction of the Creator Studio bundle makes for a more confusing landscape with less feature parity in some apps, and customers who dislike subscriptions have been voicing their disappointment. Keeping one-time purchase options around helps alleviate some concerns, but not everyone is happy with this direction. Apple Creator Studio launches on Wednesday, January 28, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year — read our earlier coverage to learn more.Tags: Apple Creator Studio, Final Cut ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage. iPhone users may see "SOS" in the status bar, as the device cannot connect to Verizon's network. AT&T and T-Mobile customers may be indirectly impacted by Verizon's outage. Apple explains what "SOS" means in a support document:If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States.Verizon is aware of the outage, and it is working on a fix. "We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers," said Verizon, in a social media post, shortly after 1 p.m. Eastern Time. "Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience." We will update this story once the outage is fully resolved. We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.— Verizon News (@VerizonNews) January 14, 2026 Tag: VerizonThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Will Apple Announce New MacBook Pros This January?
While the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro was updated with an M5 chip in October, we are still waiting for higher-end MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and there are some signs that might point towards a late January launch this year. First, Apple's new Creator Studio bundle of creative apps launches on Wednesday, January 28. Given that Creator Studio includes many professional Mac apps, such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro, Macworld speculated that the week of January 28 would be a fitting time for Apple to release new MacBook Pro models too. Second, Apple's next quarterly earnings call is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, and the company has introduced new products shortly before these calls on numerous occasions over the years and touched on them in the opening remarks. Third, there is precedent, as Apple unveiled MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips with a press release in January 2023. Again, all of this is speculation, so do not set your expectations too high. But, sometimes where there is smoke there is fire. Beyond the M5 chip, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro received only one notable change last year: PCIe 5.0 storage. Apple says this results in up to 2× faster SSD read and write speeds compared to the previous-generation model. The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are likewise expected to have few other changes. Bigger changes to the MacBook Pro are expected with the two-generations-away models, in either late 2026 or at some point in 2027. Rumored upgrades include an OLED display with touchscreen capabilities, a thinner design, built-in cellular connectivity, and M6 chips manufactured with TSMC's advanced 2nm process, for even greater year-over-year performance gains. For that reason, it will probably be wise to skip the MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips unless you really need to upgrade.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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Best Buy's Winter Sale Includes Big Discounts on Apple Devices, TVs, Monitors, and More
Best Buy kicked off a new Winter Sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones and speakers, monitors, appliances, and much more. This sale is set to last through January 19, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to see the deals. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. In terms of Apple devices, you can find solid deals on MacBook Air, AirPods Max, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Beats accessories, and more. In most cases Best Buy is offering same day pick-up on these products, and there are several free shipping options as well. SITEWIDE SALEBest Buy Winter Sale Some of the biggest discounts you'll find in Best Buy's Winter Sale are on TVs, with as much as $1,300 off select models. Best Buy has Samsung's popular line of The Frame TVs on sale, including the 65-inch 2025 model for $1,199.99 ($600 off) and the 65-inch The Frame Pro for $1,899.99 ($300 off), both of which match the low prices we tracked over the holidays at Samsung's own website. Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter - $14.99 ($4 off) AirPods Max - $449.99 ($100 off) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air - $799.00 ($200 off) 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro - $1,449.00 ($150 off) 13-inch M5 iPad Pro (1TB Nano-Texture) - $1,799.00 ($200 off) TVs 55-inch Toshiba C350 4K Smart Fire TV - $199.99 ($200 off) 65-inch Samsung U7900 4K Smart TV - $329.99 ($140 off) 65-inch LG UA7050 4K Smart TV - $329.99 ($160 off) 75-inch LG LED 4K Smart TV - $449.99 ($240 off) 65-inch Samsung OLED 4K Smart TV - $899.99 ($1,100 off) 98-inch Hisense QLED 4K Smart Google TV - $999.99 ($1,300 off) 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV (2025) - $1,199.99 ($600 off) 65-inch LG OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,399.99 ($1,300 off) 65-inch Samsung The Frame Pro - $1,899.99 ($300 off) Monitors 27-inch LG 120Hz Monitor - $104.99 ($145 off) 27-inch Samsung Curved 100Hz Monitor - $139.99 ($60 off) 34-inch LG UltraWide 100Hz Monitor - $199.99 ($100 off) 27-inch Alienware OLED Monitor - $479.99 ($70 off) 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED Curved Monitor - $999.99 ($700 off) Audio Beats Pill - $99.99 ($50 off) Beats Solo 4 Headphones - $149.99 ($50 off) Beats Studio Pro Headphones - $249.99 ($100 off) Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones - $279.00 ($150 off) Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 - $499.99 ($200 off) If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in February
Apple Arcade will be adding another four games on Thursday, February 5, with complete details about each game outlined in Apple's announcement. Retrocade will allow Apple Vision Pro users to play classic arcade games like Asteroids, PAC-MAN, Breakout, Galaga, and Space Invaders in an immersive 3D environment, complete with leaderboards, daily challenges, and more. An arcade edition of the popular PC game Sid Meier's Civilization VII is also coming to Apple Arcade next month, across the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The award-winning strategy game tasks players with building the greatest empire in the world. The other two games coming to Apple Arcade next month are I Love Hue Too+, in which you arrange colorful tiles, and rhythm game Felicity's Door. Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is also bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans. Apple Arcade can be accessed through the App Store and the Apple Games app.Tag: Apple ArcadeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple's Foldable iPhone Rumored to Be Built With Liquid Metal and Improved Titanium
Apple is planning to use advanced liquid metal and improved titanium alloys for its first foldable iPhone, according to new supply-chain information. According to the Korean Naver user known as "yeux1122," citing a material company source, the hinge used in Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ will be made from liquid metal, an "amorphous" material Apple has been exploring for over 15 years. The main body of the device will apparently use a revised titanium material that improves strength while reducing overall weight when compared with existing titanium ‌iPhone‌ frames, despite having virtually the same surface area. Apple's relationship with liquid metal goes back years, tracing back to a 2010 deal with Liquidmetal Technologies. Apple received a "perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, exclusive license" to commercialize Liquidmetal-related intellectual property in the field of consumer electronic products. Around the same time, Apple started using the material in small ‌iPhone‌ and iPad parts such as the SIM ejector tool. In subsequent years, Apple repeatedly renewed or extended aspects of its arrangement with Liquidmetal Technologies, but the material remained difficult to scale for high-volume structural components and it has never seen significant use. Liquid metal has continued to surface in Apple patent filings and rumors over the years. Liquid metal lacks a crystalline structure, meaning that it offers high strength, resists permanent bending, and holds up well under repeated mechanical stress. Those characteristics have led Apple to repeatedly explore liquid metal in patents covering hinges and other moving parts, especially for foldable devices where the material's fatigue resistance and spring-like behavior are essential to hinge durability. For the body of the device, titanium provides a stronger strength-to-weight ratio than aluminum or stainless steel, but foldable designs add further constraints because of their larger size and the need to manage weight around the hinge. Changes to both the titanium alloy itself and the manufacturing process to increase strength while reducing weight for a given surface area could help remedy this. The foldable ‌iPhone‌ is likely to be Apple's fourth attempt at a titanium ‌iPhone‌, so it has had several generations to iterate on the alloy's composition to optimize particular properties. Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is expected to debut in the fall of this year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max. It is rumored to feature a wide, book-style folding design with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display, a crease-free display, the A20 chip and Apple's C2 modem, two rear cameras, Touch ID, and more. Tags: Foldable iPhone, Liquidmetal Technologies, NaverThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around nine months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous rumors, the leaker claimed that both of the models will have a breakthrough new feature: under-screen Face ID. Last month, The Information also reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would be equipped with under-screen Face ID, and it said the front camera would be moved to the top-left corner of the screen on the devices. As a result, the report said the devices would no longer have a pill-shaped cutout in the screen. If under-screen Face ID does finally materialize this year, it is unclear if the iPhone 18 Pro models would have a Dynamic Island. Even if the TrueDepth sensor cutouts for Face ID are hidden under the screen, perhaps the Dynamic Island would still pop up at least briefly for things such as low battery alerts and Live Activities. As for the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2, the leaker expects those devices to have a Dynamic Island, and the same 6.3-inch and 6.5-inch display sizes as the equivalent previous-generation models, respectively. All in all, here is what the leaker expects:iPhone 18: 6.3-inch display (120Hz/LTPO) and Dynamic Island iPhone Air 2: 6.5-inch display (120Hz/LTPO) and Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro: 6.3-inch display (120Hz/LTPO) and under-screen Face ID iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.9-inch display (120Hz/LTPO) and under-screen Face IDThe display sizes above are rounded. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the typical September timeframe this year, but rumors suggest the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2 will not launch until around March 2027. Digital Chat Station has more than three million followers on Weibo, and the account has accurately leaked some Apple information in the past. Of course, rumors do not always pan out, so nothing is official at this point.Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone AirTags: Digital Chat Station, Face IDBuyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Get $200 Off Apple's M4 MacBook Air, Available From $799
You can get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00 today on Amazon, down from $999.00. You'll find similar $200 discounts across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and all of these deals are being matched at Best Buy. 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. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00, down from $1,199.00. You'll also find many of the 512GB models of the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week. $200 OFF13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00 $200 OFF15-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $999.00 These prices are solid second-best prices on the M4 MacBook Air, and we haven't tracked record low prices since before Christmas. 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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Apple Releases New Firmware Update for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
Apple this week released another firmware update for the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, but there are no specific details about what it includes. The latest iPhone Air MagSafe Battery firmware has a version number of 8B32, up from 8B25. In the Settings app on the iPhone Air, the new firmware is listed as version 101.0, while the previous firmware was listed as version 99.0 in the app. New Firmware: 101.0 (Version) / 8B32 (Build) Previous Firmware: 99.0 (Version) / 8B25 (Build)Apple does not share release notes for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery firmware updates, so it is unclear what is new. However, it would be reasonable to assume the update includes performance and stability improvements, and/or bug fixes. iPhone Air MagSafe Battery firmware updates automatically install in the background over time, while the accessory is charged and actively being used. You can check the version number of the ‌MagSafe‌ Battery's firmware by attaching it to an ‌iPhone Air‌, opening the Settings app on the device, and tapping on General → About → ‌iPhone Air‌ ‌MagSafe‌ Battery. If you see 101.0, it is up to date.Related Roundup: iPhone AirTag: iPhone Air MagSafe BatteryBuyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Buy Now)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Struggling With Key Material Shortage as AI Chips Drain Supply
Apple is confronting a newly intensified supply-chain challenge for future chips as the AI boom has created a global shortage of a key material, Nikkei Asia reports. Apple is said to be struggling to secure sufficient supplies of high-end glass cloth fiber, a material that plays a critical role in the printed circuit boards and chip substrates used in iPhones and other devices. The most advanced forms of this glass cloth are apparently produced almost entirely by one supplier, Nitto Boseki. Apple began using Nittobo's premium glass cloth in chips years before AI computing drove widespread demand for similar materials. As AI workloads have expanded, however, companies such as Nvidia, Google, Amazon, AMD, and Qualcomm have moved aggressively into the same supply pool, placing unprecedented pressure on Nittobo's limited capacity. In response, Apple has taken several unusual steps to protect its supply chain. The company reportedly sent staff to Japan last autumn and stationed them at Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, which produces substrate materials and relies on Nittobo's glass cloth. Apple is also believed to have approached Japanese government officials for assistance in securing supply. Apple is additionally working to qualify alternative suppliers, though progress has been slow. Apple has engaged with smaller Chinese glass fiber producers, including Grace Fabric Technology, and asked Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to help oversee quality improvements. Other potential entrants from Taiwan and China are attempting to scale production, but industry sources said achieving consistent quality at the required level remains difficult. Each glass fiber must be extremely thin, uniform, and free of defects, as the glass cloth is embedded deep inside the chip substrate and cannot be repaired or replaced after assembly. Because of this, major chipmakers have been reluctant to adopt lower-grade materials, even temporarily. Apple has discussed using less-advanced glass cloth as a stopgap, but doing so would require extensive testing and validation and would not significantly ease supply constraints for 2026 products. Similar concerns are affecting other chipmakers.Tag: NikkeiThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Google Gemini-Powered Siri Will Reportedly Have These 7 New Features
Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide emotional support Assist with more tasks, such as booking travel Create a document in the Notes app with information, such as a cooking recipeThe report said Apple plans to announce additional Siri capabilities at WWDC in June, including… Conversation history Proactive suggestions based on information from apps, such as CalendarApple already announced that the personalized Siri would have better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls, so a lot of the specific capabilities that the report said are coming would align with that. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps. The report said that the latest prototype of the more personalized Siri does not have any Google or Gemini branding, and Apple will be able to fine-tune Gemini's model to ensure that Siri responds to queries in a way that the iPhone maker prefers. More details are available in The Information's paywalled report. Apple first previewed the more personalized Siri at WWDC 2024, and the revamped assistant is finally expected to launch as part of iOS 26.4 in March or April. However, according to the report, some capabilities will not arrive until iOS 27.Tags: Apple Intelligence, Gemini, Google, Siri, The InformationThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Shazam's Fast Forward Playlist Reveals Music Artists Set to Rise in 2026
Shazam has published its annual Fast Forward list, and an accompanying Apple Music playlist. The list takes a look ahead at some of the most exciting music artists who are being discovered through the song identification tool. 2026's list features more than 60 music artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year. Here is how Apple describes this year's playlist:Every day, Shazam gets millions of requests from users around the world who are curious about the artist behind a song. These requests come from all over-TikTok videos, car commercials, overhearing something in the wild-which makes it a powerful tool for predicting tomorrow's heavy hitters. For 2026, we've assembled a playlist featuring over 60 artists-based on Shazam data and reviewed by our editors-that are poised to have a breakthrough year. From K-pop group CORTIS to Alabama country crooner Kashus Culpepper to Irish rock band Florence Road, it's a remarkably diverse group of artists hailing from all corners of the globe. Have a listen and add the ones you love to your library before the world catches on.Some well-known music artists, including Benson Boone, Ice Spice, and Ayra Starr, were featured in Shazam's previous Fast Forward lists. Tags: Apple Music, ShazamThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Says 'Pixelmator' App on iOS Will No Longer Receive Updates
Alongside the news that Pixelmator Pro is coming to the iPad, Apple has confirmed that the more basic Pixelmator app for the iPhone and iPad will no longer be updated. From the Pixelmator Pro page on Apple's website:Pixelmator Classic for iOS, released in 2014 as a companion app to the now-discontinued Pixelmator Classic for Mac, provides basic image editing features such as cropping, color adjustments, and effects. It remains a functional app but is no longer being updated.The classic Pixelmator app offers more basic image editing tools, whereas Pixelmator Pro for iPad will be a fully-featured, professional image editing app. Pixelmator Pro for iPad features a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive brushing, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version of the app. Read our earlier coverage of the Pixelmator Pro for iPad announcement to learn more. There is also a free Photomator photo editing app for the iPhone and iPad in the App Store, and Apple did not mention updates ending for that app.Tag: PixelmatorThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 3 Firmware Update
Apple today released a firmware update for the AirPods Pro 3. The latest firmware has a version number of 8B34, up from the previous version 8B30. Apple has a support document for AirPods firmware updates, and it indicates that the 8B34 update contains unspecified "bug fixes and other improvements." No other AirPods models received firmware updates today. How to install AirPods Pro firmware updates, according to Apple: Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and that Bluetooth is on. Make sure that your AirPods are connected via Bluetooth to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Wi-Fi. Connect your charging case to power. Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid. Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and keep your AirPods in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update. Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Check the firmware version again. AirPods Pro 3 were released in September, with key features versus the previous generation including increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, longer battery life per charge, heart rate monitoring during workouts, 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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PDX (Portland) on 2026-02-04
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 4, 14:00 UTC  -  Feb 5, 00:00 UTCJan 26, 21:30 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in PDX (Portland) datacenter between 2026-02-04 14:00 and 2026-02-05 00:00 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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Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Beeline
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 28, 13:00 - 16:00 PSTJan 26, 05:26 PSTScheduled - The Beeline network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 28 January 2026 at 13:00 PST until 28 January 2026 at 16:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Beeline Russia handsets.

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Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – MTS
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 27, 19:00 - 20:00 PSTJan 26, 05:17 PSTScheduled - The MTS network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 27 January 2026 at 19:00 PST until 27 January 2026 at 20:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to MTS Russia handsets.

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Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Sotovaja Svjaz MOTIV
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 27, 13:00 - 17:00 PSTJan 26, 04:40 PSTScheduled - The Sotovaja Svjaz MOTIV network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 27 January 2026 at 13:00 PST until 27 January 2026 at 17:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Sotovaja Svjaz MOTIV Russia handsets.

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Poland SMS Carrier Maintenance – Orange
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 27, 14:00 - 16:00 PSTJan 26, 02:53 PSTScheduled - The Orange network in Poland is conducting a planned maintenance from 27 January 2026 at 14:00 PST until 27 January 2026 at 16:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Orange Poland handsets.

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United Arab Emirates SMS Carrier Maintenance – Etisalat
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 27, 12:00 - 18:00 PSTJan 26, 03:12 PSTScheduled - The Etisalat network in the United Arab Emirates is conducting a planned maintenance from 27 January 2026 at 12:00 PST until 27 January 2026 at 18:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Etisalat United Arab Emirates handsets.

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Singapore Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 25, 09:00 - 13:00 PSTJan 26, 01:48 PSTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Singapore is conducting a planned maintenance from 25 February 2026 at 09:00 PST until 25 February 2026 at 13:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent call disconnects or call failures from Twilio Singapore phone numbers.

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UPDATE: Gmail users might see banners indicating missing spam checks. We are experiencing an issue with Gmail beginning on Saturday, 2026-01-24 05:02 US/Pacific. Users might experience the following banner: “Be careful with this message. Gmail hasn’t scanned this message for spam, unverified senders, or harmful software.” We advise the users to be extra diligent in lieu of missing spam checks. Our engineering team is investigating the issue. We will provide an update by Saturday, 2026-01-24 09:30 with current details.
Incident began at 2026-01-24 13:02 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).Gmail users might see banners indicating missing spam checks. We are experiencing an issue with Gmail beginning on Saturday, 2026-01-24 05:02 US/Pacific. Users might experience the following banner: “Be careful with this message. Gmail hasn't scanned this message for spam, unverified senders, or harmful software.” We advise the users to be extra diligent in lieu of missing spam checks. Our engineering team is investigating the issue. We will provide an update by Saturday, 2026-01-24 09:30 with current details. Affected products: Gmail

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United Kingdom Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – Three
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 30, 14:00 - 22:00 PSTJan 23, 15:04 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner Three United Kingdom is conducting a planned maintenance from 30 January 2026 at 14:00 PST until 30 January 2026 at 22:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for Three United Kingdom customers.Impacted Products: Verify Silent Network Auth, Lookup SIM Swap, Lookup Identity Match, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes

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US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 29, 02:00 - 04:00 PSTJan 23, 14:46 PSTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 29 January 2026 at 02:00 PST until 29 January 2026 at 04:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via long codes and short codes.

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US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jan 27, 02:00 - 04:00 PSTJan 23, 14:45 PSTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 27 January 2026 at 02:00 PST until 27 January 2026 at 04:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via long codes and short codes.

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[Programmable SMS] SMS Delivery to Claro Network in Costa Rica Affected
Jan 23, 12:30 PSTResolved - Twilio Programmable SMS was degraded for 58 minutes between 11:32 and 12:30 Pacific Time on 01/23/2026. During this period of time customers may have experienced SMS Delivery Failures to Claro Network in Costa Rica. The issue has now been resolved.Jan 23, 12:24 PSTMonitoring - Our engineers are currently investigating the customer impact of a retroactive issue with SMS Delivery to Claro Network in Costa Rica. We will follow up and provide customer impact details within 2 hours.

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On Call Engineers are Investigating an issue
Jan 23, 11:52 PSTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue with SMS Delivery Failures to Claro Network in Costa Rica. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

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Test
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 9, 14:21 - 15:21 ESTJan 23, 14:22 ESTScheduled - This is a paging system test message. Please disregard.

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Upcoming winter storm notification
Jan 23, 19:16 UTCMonitoring - Akamai is aware of an upcoming winter storm set to affect the continental United States during the upcoming days (https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/wssi/wssi.php). Akamai is working with our vendors to ensure proper preparedness to withstand the storm and take actions in case they are needed. We are actively monitoring the situation to ensure that services remain stable. If you are experiencing issues and are unable to open a Support ticket, please call us at 855-454-6633 (+1-609-380-7100 Intl.), or send an email to support@linode.com.Our general best practice guidelines for all customers is to maintain redundancy of critical systems across multiple regions at all times. We also recommend that all customers [maintain a robust backup strategy](https://www.linode.com/docs/guides/backing-up-your-data/) for their services at all times. Compute instances can be cloned or migrated to other datacenters through our self-service Cloud Manager or API tools. Note that migrating services between datacenters will result in changes to Backups and IPv4 and v6 endpoints:Migration Resourceshttps://techdocs.akamai.com/cloud-computing/docs/migrate-to-a-new-data-centerhttps://techdocs.akamai.com/linode-api/reference/post-migrate-linode-instanceCloning Resourceshttps://techdocs.akamai.com/cloud-computing/docs/clone-a-compute-instancehttps://techdocs.akamai.com/linode-api/reference/post-clone-linode-instance

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