iOS 26.2 Adds APIs for Texas App Store Parental Consent Law
Apple today detailed the tools it is providing developers for compliance with the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) that goes into effect in Texas in 2026. Starting on January 1, 2026, Apple users in Texas will need to confirm whether they are 18 years or older when creating an Apple account, and parents will need to provide consent for their children's ‌App Store‌ downloads and in-app transactions. Apple will share user age ranges for developers, and developers will need to have systems for notifying parents about significant app changes and allowing parents to revoke child access to an app at any time. To help developers meet these requirements, Apple is adding several new APIs in iOS 26.2, and sandbox testing is now available for them. Declared Age Range Declared Age Range provides an app with a user's age category rather than a specific age. Categories include under 13, 13-15, 16-17, and over 18. Apple says that the API will also provide developers with a signal from the user's device about the method of age assurance, such as a credit card or government ID. Significant Change The Significant Change API prompts parents or guardians to provide consent for a child or teen to continue using an app after a "significant change" is made. Apple says that developers will need to determine when there's a significant change in their apps to comply with the law. The API will prompt the child or teen to request parental consent, and developers can restrict app access until consent is given. Changing the age rating of an app is one example of a significant change that would require developers to re-obtain consent. Consent Revocation Texas parents and guardians can withdraw consent for any app, which blocks the launch of the app on a child or teen's device. Apple says that the ‌App Store‌ will provide a server notification that developers can configure to receive notifications that consent has been withdrawn from an app. More information about the changes can be found on Apple's developer site.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Review: Two Months With the AirPods Pro 3
It's been almost two months since Apple released the AirPods Pro 3, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using them since they came out. He has some new thoughts to share on longer-term ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ use, so check out our video if you're thinking of picking up a pair for the holidays. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. There have been recent reports from some people who are experiencing an ongoing static issue with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, so that's something to be aware of. Apple does seem to be replacing affected units for customers who are bothered by the noise, which appears to be audible when ANC is active but no sound is playing. Other users have been hearing a high-pitched whine when on airplanes, which could be related to pressure. Not all ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ units are experiencing the issue, but it sounds like Apple is looking into it. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer excellent sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities, and for some people, the fit is much better than the AirPods Pro 2. Battery life has held up well in our testing, and the heart rate sensor offers readings almost identical to the Apple Watch. What do you think of the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ if you've been using them since launch? Let us know in the comments below.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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Apple Card Now Offers 3% Daily Cash Back on Hertz Rental Cars
Apple Card purchases made in the Hertz app or through Hertz.com are now eligible for 3% Daily Cash back, according to an updated Apple Support document. The Daily Cash bonus is available when booking a rental car at U.S. Hertz corporate locations through the app or the website. Hertz is also offering ‌Apple Card‌ users free emergency roadside service, a discounted loss damage waiver ($16.95 per day), one free additional driver, and at least 5% off Pay Later base rates. To get these benefits, ‌Apple Card‌ holders will need to visit the Rewards and Offers Hub in the Wallet app. 3% Daily Cash back is not available through Hertz franchise locations, and other limitations are listed in the fine print on Apple's website. Hertz is one of several companies that Apple has partnered with to offer special cash back rates for ‌Apple Card‌ users when using Apple Pay and the ‌Apple Card‌ for a purchase. Other merchants that offer 3% Daily Cash back include Ace Hardware, Booking.com, ChargePoint, Duane Reade, Exxon and Mobil gas stations, Nike, Uber, Uber Eats, and Walgreens. ‌Apple Card‌ holders can also get 3% Daily Cash from Apple purchases. ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases earn ‌Apple Card‌ holders 2% cash back by default, with 1% cash back available for non-Apple Pay purchases.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Nomad Stand One Gets Qi2 Update With 25W iPhone Charging
Nomad today updated its popular Stand One and Stand One Max chargers to add Qi2 support. Qi2 allows compatible iPhones to charge at up to 25W, matching the 25W charging speed of Apple's newest MagSafe chargers. The $119 Stand One can charge an iPhone at up to 25W using the ‌iPhone‌ charging surface, and it can also charge the AirPods at the base of the device. It comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but you'll need to supply your own 40W+ power adapter. The $159 Stand One Max has a design similar to the Stand One, but it also includes an Apple Watch charging puck. It can charge an ‌iPhone‌, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time. As with the Stand One, a USB-C cable is included, but a power adapter is not. Both chargers are available in either silver or carbide, and they support charging an ‌iPhone‌ in portrait or landscape orientation. In landscape mode, StandBy is supported. The Qi2 Stand One and Stand One Max are available from the Nomad website as of today.Tag: NomadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Pay Promo: Save $25 on Columbia Orders Over $150
Apple today launched a winter-themed Apple Pay promotion, offering users a $25 discount on a purchase of $150 or more from Columbia. If you spend $150+ on the Columbia website and then use ‌Apple Pay‌ when checking out, you can get $25 off your purchase. No promo code is required. Apple says that products from the Amaze Puff Collection and the ROC collection are excluded from the offer, but it is valid on other items from the website. The discount is not available at Columbia retail stores or outlet stores, and it cannot be combined with other offers. The ‌Apple Pay‌ promotion will be available until November 16, 2025.Tag: Apple Pay PromoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 1
Just a day after launching iOS 26.1, Apple is ready to test the next update, iOS 26.2. iOS 26.2 brings AirPods Live Translation to the EU, introduces changes to Reminders, adds a Lock Screen Liquid Glass slider, and more. We've rounded up all of the new iOS 26.2 features that we've found so far. Lock Screen There is a Liquid Glass slider on the Lock Screen that lets you customize the appearance of the clock. When using the "Glass" option, you can use the slider to make the time look almost entirely clear, or give it a more frosted look. There continues to be a separate Solid toggle that turns off the Liquid Glass appearance for the clock entirely if you want to opt for a much more opaque design, and you can also still use the color options for the clock. Sleep Score With iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple has adjusted the ranges for the Sleep Score feature that it introduced earlier this year. The new Sleep Score numbers better match how people might be feeling after a night of sleep. These are the new scores: Very Low - 0-40 (previously 0-29) Low - 41-60 (previously 30-49) OK - 61-80 (previously 50-69) High - 81-95 (previously 70-89) Very High - 96-100 (previously 90-100) The "Very High" rank used to be "Excellent," but Apple changed the name to be more in line with the other labels. Sleep Scores are available on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.2 and can be found in the Health app on the iPhone. Apple designed Sleep Score to provide an overall sense of sleep patterns, so users can identify habits that might impact their sleep. Sleep Score takes into account sleep duration, bedtime, and interruptions to assign a nightly score that represents sleep quality. Duration is worth 50 points, bedtime is worth 30, and interruptions (times woken up in the night) are worth 20, for a total of 100 possible points each night. Passwords In the Settings section of the Passwords app, there's now an option to manage websites where passwords are not saved when signing in. AirPods Live Translation for EU iOS 26.2 expands AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. Apple had to delay the feature in the EU to complete the engineering work needed to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. AirPods Live Translation works with the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean at the current time. Freeform The Freeform app now supports Tables. Reminders In the Reminders app, there's a new option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due. Setting up an alarm can be done by toggling on the "Urgent" option when creating a reminder. When a Reminder alarm activates, it displays a snooze option or a slide to stop option. If you snooze it, it will show a countdown on the Lock Screen that includes an option to complete the reminder or reschedule it. Apple distinguishes Reminders alarms from standard alarms with a new blue color. Podcasts The Podcasts app adds support for three new features, including automatically created chapters, options to see mentions of other podcasts from the transcript and the player, and access to links mentioned in a podcast on the episode page. AirDrop Though not live, iOS 26.2 includes multiple references to a new AirDrop feature. It will allow two people to send a PIN to one another, and the special code will enable AirDrop for the next 30 days. AirDrop is limited to 10 minutes for people who are not in your contacts, so this setting could extend that period. Weather There is also code suggesting that the Weather app now supports relative time for alerts like "next Friday," or "next Tuesday" in reference to upcoming rain or weather conditions. Apple News Apple updated the design of Apple News, adding quick access top buttons for categories like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food. There's also a dedicated tab for Following, which has been decoupled from the search interface. Flash for Alerts The Flash for Alerts option in the Accessibility section of the Settings app now allows users to have the screen flash. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED on the back of the ‌iPhone‌. Users can swap to the screen flash or have both flash at the same time when notifications come in. Enhanced Safety Alerts In the Notifications section of the Settings app, there's an Enhanced Safety Alerts section for managing earthquake alerts, imminent threat alerts, and activating improved alert delivery, a feature that uses location to improve the reliability of alerts. Download iOS 26.2 iOS 26.2 is available for developers right now, but a public beta is likely coming later this week. You can sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website. Compatibility iOS 26.2 is available on all iPhones that support iOS 26. Release Date We're expecting Apple to release iOS 26.2 in December, sometime between December 9 and December 16.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Delta Now Offers iOS 26's Upgraded Boarding Passes in Apple Wallet
Delta recently added support for iOS 26's upgraded boarding pass experience in the Apple Wallet app, according to MacRumors reader Aaron Binner. It is not entirely clear if Delta support was added in the iOS 26.2 beta, which was released earlier today, or if this is a server-side change. The upgraded boarding passes have an option to turn on Live Activities, allowing you to keep track of your flight at a glance on your iPhone's Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island. You can also share the Live Activities widget with others. In addition, new shortcuts provide one-tap access to Apple Maps for airport directions, and to the Find My app for baggage tracking. Finally, the Wallet app automatically updates flight details, such as the gate and departure time. United has offered the upgraded boarding passes for at least a month. In June, Apple said eight other airlines would eventually offer them, including Air Canada, American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, Lufthansa, Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: Apple WalletRelated Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iOS 26.2 Adds Three New Features to Podcasts App
With iOS 26.2, Apple is updating the Podcasts app to add a trio of new features and updated tools for podcast creators. All English podcast shows will now get automatically created chapters, which makes it easier to navigate through them. Apple says that automatic chapters will also make it simpler for users to understand an episode's structure and return to specific sections that interest them. Apple will use podcast chapters submitted by creators if they're available, but if not, Apple Podcasts will generate them by default. Podcast creators can turn off the setting in ‌Apple Podcasts‌ Connect. When a podcast episode mentions another podcast, there will be an option to view the mention in the podcast player and the transcript, making it easier to find recommendations. Podcast pages will also show links shared in a podcast on the episode page. On the creator side, podcasters can offer links to Apple Music, Apple News, ‌Apple Podcasts‌, Apple TV, and more. Links that are timestamped and included in show notes or through an RSS feed will appear in line with the transcript and the player while the link is being discussed. Apple says that links may also be automatically created for any podcast that's mentioned. iOS 26.2 is limited to developers right now, but Apple will likely provide a public beta later this week. iOS 26.2 will launch in December.Tag: Apple PodcastsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iOS 26.2 Lock Screen Gets Liquid Glass Slider
In iOS 26.2, there's a new Liquid Glass slider that lets you customize the appearance of the clock. When you select the "Glass" option, you can use the new slider to make the time look almost entirely clear, or give it a more frosted, solid look. There continues to be a separate Solid toggle that turns off the Liquid Glass appearance for the clock entirely if you want to opt for a much more opaque design. Apple has been adding Liquid Glass customization options, most recently introducing a "Tinted" toggle in iOS 26.1 that makes notifications and in-app buttons much more opaque for those who don't care for the Liquid Glass transparency. Many iPhone users have been asking for a Liquid Glass slider to customize the intensity of Liquid Glass throughout iOS 26, but it's not clear if Apple plans to expand the slider beyond the Lock Screen. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launching November 11
Apple is planning an Apple Watch Activity Challenge for Veterans Day, which takes place next Tuesday in the United States. Apple Watch owners are tasked with doing any workout for 11 minutes or more on November 11. Apple Watch owners who complete the challenge will win an Apple Watch activity award in the Fitness app. Earn this award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.Like all of Apple's Activity Challenges, the Veterans Day challenge will reward users with animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app. Apple does a Veterans Day Activity Challenge on an annual basis, and the company also often provides Veterans Day-themed content in the App Store, Apple TV app, Books app, and more. This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iOS 26.2 Adds Alarms for Reminders
In iOS 26.2, there's a new option to set an alarm to go off when creating a reminder in the Reminders app. When adding a reminder, selecting a time and then toggling on the "Urgent" option will cause an alarm to go off at the designated time. Alarms that you set in the Clock app can also be integrated into the Reminders app by allowing the app to access Alarms in the Settings app. When a Reminder alarm activates, it displays a snooze option or a slide to stop option. If you snooze it, it will show a countdown on the Lock Screen that includes an option to complete the reminder or reschedule it. Tapping to complete the reminder opens up the Reminders app where you need to tap again. In the Reminders section of the Settings app, you can also opt to remove the snooze option and replace it with a Complete button to immediately mark it as complete. Apple distinguishes Reminders alarms from standard alarms with a new blue color.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iOS 26.2 Expands Live Translation on AirPods to EU
The upcoming iOS 26.2 update for iPhone makes the Live Translation feature on select AirPods available in the EU, according to Apple. The news was also reported by various publications, including the German blog Macerkopf. Live Translation allows you to understand someone who is speaking a different language than you. For example, if you speak English, and someone is speaking to you in French, Siri can tell you what they are saying in English through your AirPods. The feature works best when both participants in a conversation are using Live Translation on AirPods. If you are talking with someone who is not wearing AirPods, you can display a live transcription in the other person's language on your iPhone. Live Translation is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The feature launched in the U.S. and select other countries with iOS 26, but it was not available in the EU until now, as Apple said it needed additional time to ensure compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act. iOS 26: Use Live Translation With AirPods The feature can be used in the EU starting with the first iOS 26.2 beta, which was seeded to developers earlier today. A public beta of iOS 26.2 will soon follow, and Apple said the update will be released to all users in December. In addition to compatible AirPods, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence turned on and Apple's Translate app installed. As of iOS 26.1, Live Translation on AirPods supports the following languages: English (U.S.) English (U.K.) French (France) German (Germany) Portuguese (Brazil) Spanish (Spain) Chinese — Simplified (China) Chinese — Traditional (China) Japanese Korean Italian iOS 26 also has a built-in Live Translation feature in the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps, with no AirPods required.Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: Apple TranslateBuyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral), AirPods Pro (Buy Now)Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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watchOS 26.2 Updates Sleep Score Ranges
watchOS 26.2 tweaks the Sleep Score feature that's available for the Apple Watch, changing the labeling for point ranges to better match how people might be feeling after a restless night of sleep. The new scores are as follows: Very Low - 0-40 (previously 0-29) Low - 41-60 (previously 30-49) OK - 61-80 (previously 50-69) High - 81-95 (previously 70-89) Very High - 96-100 (previously 90-100) The "Very High" rank used to be "Excellent," but Apple changed the name to be more in line with the other labels. At the current time, five or six hours of restless sleep can still earn a "High" score, even though most people probably aren't feeling their best with that amount of sleep. Sleep Score is a watchOS 26 feature that takes into account sleep duration, bedtime, and interruptions to assign a nightly score that represents sleep quality. Duration is worth 50 points, bedtime is worth 30, and interruptions (times woken up in the night) are worth 20. Apple intends for Sleep Score to provide an overall sense of sleep patterns, helping users to identify habits that might be impacting sleep. Sleep Score requires an Apple Watch, and it works on all Apple Watch models that support ‌watchOS 26‌.Related Roundup: watchOS 26Related Forum: Apple WatchThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to Developers
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a day after Apple released iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. We don't yet know what's included in the new beta software, but given that these updates will be tested over the holiday period, Apple may be planning to focus on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than adding notable new features. When we learn what's new in the updates, we'll share details. iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 are limited to developers at the current time, but Apple will likely release a public beta in the next couple of days.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Releases First watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2 and visionOS 26.2 Betas
Apple today provided developers with the first betas of upcoming watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS 26.2 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a day after Apple launched the 26.1 versions of each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and tvOS 26.2. Apple doesn't typically provide release notes for betas, so we might not know what's new until the software updates see a public launch unless there are outward-facing changes. Apple will likely provide public beta testers with access to the tvOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 betas later this week, but visionOS 26.2 will remain limited to developers. The software updates will probably launch sometime between December 9 and December 16, given Apple's historical release timelines for .2 updates.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Come in Only One of These New Colors
Apple is testing three new color options for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, according to a known leaker, but they have since clarified that the company plans to move forward with only one of the three new finishes. The color options that Apple is considering include burgundy, brown, and purple, according to Instant Digital, a user on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Instant Digital has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record. The image above is merely a concept — the exact shades of the rumored colors are unknown. iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models come in Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue. It is unclear if Apple will reuse any of those colors next year. If the special new color ends up being burgundy, it would be the first time that the Pro and Pro Max models are available in red, although it would be a deeper shade than Apple's charitable (PRODUCT)RED color for other past devices. iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models were available in Deep Purple. There has never been a truly brown iPhone. Given the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September 2026, there is still plenty of time for Apple to finalize its color decisions.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tag: Instant DigitalRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Launching Budget MacBook in 2026
Apple is developing a more affordable Mac notebook that's set to come out in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg. The machine will cost "well under $1,000" and it will compete with affordable Windows machines and Chromebooks. Apple's lowest priced Mac notebook right now is the MacBook Air, which starts at $999, though students can get a $100 discount through the Education Store. The Mac mini desktop machine is more affordable at $599, but it is not portable and does not come with a display or peripherals. While Apple has long had a more affordable "SE" version of the iPhone, Macs have always been more expensive, premium devices. Cheaper PCs have seen success with students and those that don't need capabilities beyond web browsing and document creation. The low-cost Mac could replace the entry-level iPad and keyboard combo that some people use as an affordable way to get a PC-capable Apple device. We've heard multiple rumors about Apple's plan for a lower-cost notebook over the last few months. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in June that the machine would have a 13-inch display and an A-series ‌iPhone‌ processor rather than a Mac processor. Apple will reportedly use the A18 Pro chip that first came out in the iPhone 16 Pro. Kuo said that Apple could offer the Mac in bright colors like the iMac, selling it in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow. The low-cost MacBook will not replace any existing Mac in Apple's lineup, and it will be sold alongside M5 versions of the ‌MacBook Air‌ and MacBook Pro that Apple plans to debut early in 2026.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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M2 vs. M5 Vision Pro: 20+ Differences Compared
Apple recently refreshed its Vision Pro headset with the M5 chip, but how different is it from the original version? This guide lists all of the differences between the two models. While the latest model sees no hardware changes beyond the chip and the headband, the M5 chip unlocks a series of new capabilities for the Vision Pro, such as a higher refresh rate, more rendered pixels, and longer battery life. The M5 Vision Pro isn't classified as a second-generation model, which reveals how incremental Apple sees the update over the original M2 version. Nevertheless, it refines the headset in specific ways. All of the differences between the two models are as follows: Apple Vision Pro (2024) ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ (2025) Apple ‌M2‌ chip Apple M5 chip Made with TSMC's third-generation 5nm node (N5P) Made with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P) Based on A15 Bionic chip from iPhone 13 (2021) Based on A19 Pro chip from iPhone 17 Pro (2025) 8-core CPU (4 performance and 4 efficiency cores) 10-core CPU (4 performance and 6 efficiency cores) New GPU architecture Integrated Neural Accelerator in every GPU core Metal 4 developer APIs Metal 4 developer APIs with Tensor APIs to program GPU Neural Accelerators Third-generation ray tracing engine Hardware-accelerated mesh shading Second-generation dynamic caching LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory 100 GB/s memory bandwidth 153 GB/s memory bandwidth Support for AV1 decode Dedicated display engine 10% more rendered pixels Up to 100Hz refresh rate Up to 120Hz refresh rate 2–2.5 hours battery life 2.5–3 hours battery life 30W power adapter included 40W power adapter included Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band included Counterweighted Dual Knit Band included Weighs 600–650 grams (21.2–22.9 ounces) Weighs 750–800 grams (26.4–28.2 ounces) Made in China Made in Vietnam Released February 2024 Released October 2025 Started at $3,499 (£3,499 or €4,000) Starts at $3,499 (£3,199 or €3,700) The new chip is dramatically more powerful and efficient, making the device tangibly faster at tasks that push multiple subsystems at once, such as creating spatial photos or loading widget-heavy environments. Latency is reduced and overall responsiveness improves enough to feel noticeable in daily use. While there aren't many workflows that can take full advantage of the M5 chip's capabilities, it provides considerable performance headroom and strengthens the headset's technical foundation for future versions of visionOS and third-party apps. That said, the upgrade is still bound by the same cameras, sensors, and displays as the ‌M2‌ model. The new 120 Hz refresh rate and 10% increase in rendered pixels subtly enhance motion smoothness and realism, but they don't transform the experience. Battery life is also slightly better, yet none of these shifts make the ‌M2‌ version feel obsolete. The software remains identical across both models, and since the new Dual Knit Band is available separately, comfort is also not a differentiator. For current owners, the decision to upgrade hinges on use-case. Developers, designers, or professionals who push the headset to its limits will appreciate the added headroom and smoother responsiveness. For everyone else—especially those who primarily use the Vision Pro for watching TV and movies, Mac Virtual Display, browsing, or light productivity—the ‌M2‌ version still delivers the same fundamental experience. The ‌M2‌ model's secondary-market prices also change the equation. With no trade-in program and units now listed on eBay at substantially lower prices, the original Vision Pro has become a far more accessible entry point into Apple's spatial computing experience. That makes the M5 model the better option for new buyers who want the most longevity and headroom, but the ‌M2‌ model remains better value for those entering the platform for the first time or waiting for a larger generational leap.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Amazon Music Now Features Alexa+
The Amazon Music app now integrates with Alexa+ on iOS and Android, allowing users to navigate its extensive catalog via intuitive conversation. Amazon today announced that Alexa+, its upgraded AI-driven assistant, is now available in beta to members of the Alexa+ Early Access program using the Amazon Music app across all subscription tiers. The assistant introduces new ways for users to discover, organize, and engage with music through natural conversation rather than traditional commands. According to Amazon, Alexa+ enables listeners to interact with music as if speaking to "a knowledgeable friend," discussing genres, influences, and song meanings in depth. The feature appears as a new "a" button in the lower right corner of the Amazon Music interface, allowing users to activate Alexa+ through voice queries. Alexa+ can respond to both general and highly specific prompts. Users can ask questions such as "What's the song that plays in the opening credits of The Sopranos?" or "Which song has the lyrics, 'Catch me or I'll go Houdini'?" The assistant can also generate playlists tailored to complex requests, including "Create a playlist for driving along the Pacific Coast Highway at sunset" or "Make a playlist of relaxing songs for my dog but with R&B vibes that soothe anxiety." Beyond basic song identification, Alexa+ is capable of explaining the meaning of lyrics, exploring artist discographies, identifying sample origins, and tracing genre evolution across decades and regions. Amazon says that listeners who engaged with Alexa+ explored three times more music and listened to nearly 70% more tracks than those using the original version of Alexa. Alexa+ was first announced earlier in 2025. It can respond to personalized requests, manage routines, summarize topics, and understand context in extended dialogue. Once the beta period ends, Alexa+ will be available to Amazon Prime members at no additional cost, while non-Prime users will be able to subscribe for $19.99 per month. The current rollout marks one of the first major integrations of a generative AI assistant within a mainstream streaming service.Tags: Alexa, Amazon Music UnlimitedThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Do More With Spotlight in macOS Tahoe
In macOS Tahoe 26, Apple gave Spotlight a major update with a visual overhaul, clipboard access, and Actions for performing tasks within apps directly from the search bar. There's quite a lot of hidden potential in Spotlight's new manifestation. Below, we've put together a cheat sheet of Spotlight functionality to help you make the most of it. Getting Started With Spotlight You can open Spotlight on your Mac at any time by pressing Command + Space Bar or by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar. The main Spotlight overlay remains the quickest way to find almost anything on your Mac. Type a keyword to surface apps, documents, emails, contacts, dictionary definitions, or web results. You can drag a file from search results to the desktop or a Finder window, or you can open it by double-clicking it or selecting it and pressing Return. You can also still access the extra functionality that Apple has added over time, like input calculations and get conversions, find flight information with a flight number, or get an up-to-date weather forecast. If you move your pointer when Spotlight is open, you'll see four icons appear to the right of the interface: they are Apps, Files, Actions, and Clipboard. You can click to open these browse modes or use keyboard shortcuts to open straight into them and switch between them: Command + Space Bar + 1: Apps Command + Space Bar + 2: Files Command + Space Bar + 3: Actions Command + Space Bar + 4: Clipboard We'll get to these browse modes later on, but first let's look at some Spotlight-wide filter functions. Filter Search With Categories You can narrow your Spotlight results by selecting a category that appears beneath the search field. Press Command + Space Bar to open Spotlight, then start typing. As you search, dynamic categories such as Screenshots, System Settings, or Folders will appear – click any of them to instantly filter your results. Filter Search by Location If you're searching for a file, you can filter it based on where the file is stored – like iCloud Drive, for example. Type "iCloud Drive," press the Tab key, and then type the name of the file before pressing Return. Reveal File Location If the file you're looking for is highlighted in the results, hold the Command key to reveal its location path beneath the name. You can also double-click the location to go straight to it in Finder. Filter Search by App or Kind of Item You can specify the type of items you're searching for, such as apps, folders or PDFs. To search by app, type the app name (e.g. Notes, Calendar) then press the Tab key. Now type a term to search only within that app. To search by kind, enter "/" followed by the type of item or app. For example, to narrow search results to PDFs, enter "/PDF" and press Return, then type your search terms. Use Keywords Apple has also implemented keywords for specifying different kinds of item. In the Spotlight search field, add the text "kind:[type of item]" to the beginning of your search. For example, to search for photos of Edinburgh, type "kind:images Edinburgh." Spotlight supports the following keywords for searching for different types of item: table.comparison td { vertical-align: top; /* text starts at top of cell */ padding: 8px 12px; } table.comparison ul.keyword-list { list-style: none; /* no bullets */ margin: 0; /* no extra space above/below */ padding: 0; } table.comparison ul.keyword-list li { margin: 0; /* tight stacking */ line-height: 1.35; /* readable, compact */ } Type of Item Keyword Apps kind:application kind:applications kind:app Contacts kind:contact kind:contacts Folders kind:folder kind:folders Email kind:email kind:emails kind:mail message kind:mail messages Calendar Events kind:event kind:events Reminders kind:reminder kind:reminders Images kind:image kind:images Movies kind:movie kind:movies Music kind:music Audio kind:audio PDF kind:pdf kind:pdfs Settings kind:system settings kind:settings Bookmarks kind:bookmark kind:bookmarks Fonts kind:font kind:fonts Presentations kind:presentation kind:presentations You can also refine your searches using specific keywords such as from, to, author, with, by, tag, title, name, keyword, and contains. To use one, type the keyword followed by a colon, then your search term – for example, author:Tim or title:Edinburgh. Launching Apps With Launchpad gone, you can use Spotlight's Apps browse mode to launch apps instead (Command + Space Bar + 1). The mode also surfaces iPhone apps when iPhone Mirroring is active, so you can access them directly from your desktop. If you prefer, you can hide iPhone apps from this view via the browse mode's options button (three encircled dots). You can also change from Grid to List view from this menu. Unfortunately, you can't uninstall apps or rearrange them in Spotlight like you could do in Launchpad. Actions Actions in Spotlight let you do things with apps without having to open those apps. You can send emails, create shortcuts for features in apps, set timers, create Calendar events, make reminders, and much more, plus there's integration with the Shortcuts app to take things even further. For example, if you want to send a message, press Command + Space Bar + 3 to open Spotlight Actions, then select the Send Message action and hit Return. Type your message, hit Tab, type the name of the recipient, then select their contact and hit Enter again. The steps depend which action you choose to run, but it's the same basic process. Here are just some actions that you can use:
 Add File to Note: Quickly adds a file on your computer to a note in the Notes app. Change Case: Changes the case of copied text. Start FaceTime call: Makes a FaceTime call – audio or video – to the person of your choice. Random Number: Picks a random number when given a minimum and maximum. Recognise Music: Names the currently playing song. Remove Image Background: Removes the background from a named image. Send Email: Sends an email message to a recipient of your choice. Translate Text: Translates selected text from a detected language to the language of your choice. Quick Keys You can use Spotlight Actions to do all kinds of things without opening an app, but there are also quick access phrases you can assign to launch tasks quickly, like "ch" for bringing up ChatGPT. Simply click the "Add quick keys" button whenever you see it in search results. If you need to, you can reset assigned quick keys to their defaults by clicking Reset Quick Keys in System Settings ➝ Spotlight. Clipboard Mode Clipboard mode (Space Bar + Command + 4) is one of the most practical additions to macOS Tahoe. It keeps a searchable history of copied text, links, images, and files, even syncing across your devices through Universal Clipboard. You can copy or paste items directly from this view, or clear history entirely for privacy. You can see your entire history for the day, but it is limited to the last eight hours by default. In macOS 26.1, you can change how long clipboard history is kept in System Settings ➝ Spotlight. You can copy from the clipboard search results by clicking the Copy icon, then paste the item anywhere by pressing Command + V. To erase the clipboard history, click the options button (three encircled dots), then choose Clear History. Spotlight History If you open Spotlight (Command + Space Bar) and start pressing the up arrow key, you can see a history of your past searches. Customize Spotlight Settings Head to System Settings ➝ Spotlight to fine-tune what appears in results. You can exclude apps and private folders, reset Quick Keys, and delete search history. New in macOS Tahoe 26.1, you can also now adjust how long clipboard history is retained (30 minutes, 8 hours, 7 days), or disable clipboard history completely. The options generally give you greater control over privacy and performance while keeping Spotlight uncluttered.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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