Apple Wins Third Jury Trial Against Optis, Avoiding Hundreds of Millions in Patent Damages
Apple did not infringe on any patents owned by Texas-based company Optis Wireless, a jury ruled today. In a verdict shared by Reuters, the jury decided that Apple did not infringe any of the five LTE patents that Optis sued over back in 2019. If Optis had won, Apple could have faced hundreds of millions in damages. Optis Wireless initially won $506 million from Apple in a 2020 jury trial, but the damages were thrown out after Apple appealed because the jury didn't calculate damages with an understanding of fair and reasonable essential patent (FRAND) terms. A second jury trial was held in 2021 to recalculate damages, and the jury awarded Optis $300 million. Apple again appealed, and the appeals court vacated the $300 million verdict because the district court provided the jury with incorrect instructions. Apple and Optis were sent back to court for a third jury trial, which leads to today's verdict. With the jury finding in Apples favor, Apple owes Optis nothing. In a statement to Reuters, Apple said it was pleased the jury rejected Optis's infringement claims. "We thank the jury for their time, and we're pleased they rejected Optis' false claims. Optis makes no products, and its sole business is to sue companies, which it has done repeatedly to Apple in an attempt to obtain an excessive payout." Optis is likely to appeal the ruling, sending it back to the appeals court again. Apple is also fighting Optis in the UK, where a UK court ordered Apple to pay $502 million. Apple appealed the decision and the UK Supreme Court will hear the case in June 2026.Tags: Patent Lawsuits, Patent TrialsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Confirms Revamped Siri is Still Coming in 2026
Apple is still planning to launch the smarter, more capable version of Siri in 2026, the company told CNBC today. Apple's statement comes just a day after Bloomberg reported Apple is having issues with the updated version of ‌Siri‌, leading to potential delays of the feature. Apple initially intended to launch the Apple Intelligence-powered version of ‌Siri‌ in spring 2025, but right around when a debut was expected in March 2025, Apple said that Siri wasn't ready and needed more time. Later in the year, Apple said that it would launch its Siri update in 2026. Though Apple never gave a timeline more specific than "2026," Bloomberg said the company was aiming to include Siri in iOS 26.4, an update planned for spring 2026. Bloomberg's latest report suggests the ‌Siri‌ functionality will not be ready in time to be included in iOS 26.4, so the new features could be pushed to iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. Apple may miss its internal target for the 2026 ‌Siri‌ launch, but since the company never publicly gave timing beyond 2026, there's no actual delay yet. Apple has until December 2026 to launch ‌Siri‌ within the timeframe that it promised in summer of 2025. Back in June 2024, Apple previewed three new ‌Siri‌ features, including onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to do more in and between apps. Apple has since started working on additional ‌Siri‌ features like image generation and a tool for searching the web. In Apple's testing, ‌Siri‌ apparently sometimes doesn't process queries properly, and can take too long to respond to requests. Features are not working as intended, so ‌Siri‌'s new capabilities could roll out across several updates. We could still get one or two new ‌Siri‌ features in iOS 26.4, with other features set to come in future updates slated for 2026. There are still several iOS 26 updates planned for 2026, and iOS 27 will launch in September 2026. Apple provided CNBC with a statement because the company's stock dropped five percent today, both due to the ‌Siri‌ delay rumors and FTC scrutiny over Apple News. Apple is likely to release the first beta of iOS 26.4 later this month, giving us more insight into the ‌Siri‌ launch situation.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: SiriRelated Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Sony Launches $330 WF-1000XM6 Earbuds to Take on AirPods Pro 3
Sony today announced a new set of earbuds that are designed to compete with the AirPods Pro 3. The $330 WF-1000XM6 Truly Wireless Earbuds feature Active Noise Cancellation with a 25 percent reduction in noise compared to the prior-generation XM5 earbuds, with improved performance in the mid-to-high frequency range that's common in everyday environments. The earbuds use Sony's HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3e with an adaptive noise canceling optimizer and four microphones on each earbud to detect sound to cut out. The earbuds analyze external noise and wearing conditions in real time to improve noise canceling performance. Sony's XM6 earbuds are smaller than the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ because there is no stem, and they include noise isolating silicone ear tips with a USB-C charging case. Sony redesigned the earbuds with a more ergonomic shape that's meant to follow the natural curves of the inner ear to reduce discomfort, and the XM6 is 11 percent slimmer than the XM5. The updated design also reduces internal noises like footsteps and chewing sounds. The battery in the XM6 earbuds lasts for up to eight hours, and the charging case provides an additional 24 hours. More processing power delivers better sound, and Sony says the earbuds have a new driver unit that combines different materials on the dome and the edge. The soft edge offers deep bass, while the rigid dome provides clear and extended high frequencies. Sony is also using AI to restore compressed files in real time to improve sound quality. For phone calls, there are two microphones and a bone conduction sensor on each side, with the earbuds using AI beamforming to isolate and capture the wearer's voice even in crowded environments. Sony offers Adaptive Sound Control, Auto Play, multi-device support, and integrated voice assistance, with Google Gemini Live built in. Reviews suggest the WF-1000XM6 earbuds are almost on par with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ when it comes to noise cancellation. According to SoundGuys, the XM6 had an 88 percent average reduction in loudness across all frequencies, just behind the 90 percent average of the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. Passive isolation was better than the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ passive sound reduction. Engadget felt that Sony's earbuds struggled with human voices and had fit issues, but The Verge said the earbuds tuned out conversations better than other ANC earbuds, including the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. TechRadar said the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ had noticeably better ANC, Business Insider preferred the XM6 noise canceling, and CNET said the XM6 offered better sound quality than the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. Sony's new earbuds are available from the Sony website for $330.Tag: SonyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Live Activities Taking Over Your Apple Watch? Here's the Fix
In watchOS 26, the Smart Stack for your Apple Watch is pretty clever. The collection of widgets can be pulled up with a scroll of the Digital Crown, and shows you relevant information throughout your day. But sometimes, its eagerness to help can be a bit much, especially when it comes to Live Activities. You're probably familiar with this scenario: You raise your wrist expecting to see your customized watch face, but it's been replaced by media playback controls because someone's watching your Apple TV, or a timer you set earlier for cooking that still has ages left to run. Live Activities in the Smart Stack can clearly be useful, but having them automatically take over your display isn't always ideal. Here's how to take back control: Open Settings on your Apple Watch. Tap Smart Stack. Select Live Activities. Toggle off the switch next to Auto-Launch Live Activities. After disabling auto-launch, Live Activities will still be available in your Smart Stack when you want them – you'll just need to manually scroll to see them instead of having them pop up automatically. If you want more granular control, you're in luck. From the same settings screen you can control which Apple apps display Live Activities. Using the Watch app on your iPhone, you can also manage Live Activities settings for third-party apps. This lets you keep the notifications you find useful while preventing the less important ones from interrupting your watch face. Pro Tip: If it's just those persistent media controls that bug you, head to Media Apps in the same settings menu and turn off Live Activities completely, or alternatively under "Auto-Launch," select Off or Smart Stack for a more focused watch face experience.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4
Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 8B5034f. Apple is not testing any iOS updates right now, so it is unclear what's in the AirPods firmware beta. With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates beta testing. Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 237 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 237 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, DOM, HTML, Networking, Rendering, SVG, Web API, Web Authentication, Web Extensions, Web Inspector, 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.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

YouTube Launches on Apple Vision Pro
Starting today, an official YouTube app is available on the Apple Vision Pro, allowing you to watch videos on a theater-sized screen with immersive visionOS Environments. Every video on YouTube is available in the new, standalone visionOS app, including standard videos, 180° videos, 360° videos, and YouTube Shorts. And on the newer Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip, you can even watch YouTube videos in 8K. Apple Vision Pro users can access their YouTube subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and more. It was already possible to watch YouTube videos via the Safari browser on the Apple Vision Pro, but there was no official YouTube app on the device until now. A third-party YouTube app called "Juno" was available on visionOS in 2024, but it was quickly removed from the App Store because it was deemed to be violating YouTube's Terms of Service. The official YouTube app is available in the visionOS App Store.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProTag: YouTubeBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple's M5 iPad Pro Hits Multiple Record Low Prices on Amazon
Amazon this week is offering discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. Every deal on the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro that we're tracking below is a match of the all-time low price on these tablets. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The highlight this time around is a return of a low price on the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, which is on sale for $899.00, down from $999.00. Amazon provides an estimated delivery date around February 17 for free delivery, but Prime members should see earlier delivery dates in many cases. $100 OFF11-inch M5 iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) for $899.00 $150 OFF11-inch M5 iPad Pro (1TB Nano-Texture Wi-Fi) for $1,549.00 There are fewer 13-inch M5 iPad Pro models on sale during this event, but you can find $150 off a few Wi-Fi models on Amazon. Prices start at $1,199.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 13-inch M5 iPad Pro ($100 off), and also include the 1TB Wi-Fi Nano-Texture Glass model for $1,849.00 ($150 off). 11-Inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($100 off) 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($100 off) 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off) 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,549.00 ($150 off) 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,849.00 ($150 off) 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,949.00 ($150 off) 13-Inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,199.00 ($100 off) 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,399.00 ($100 off) 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,749.00 ($150 off) 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,849.00 ($150 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

Read more »

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone
While the first beta of iOS 27 is still four months away, there are already plenty of rumors about new features that will be included in the update. Below, we recap iOS 27 rumors so far:Siri Chatbot: iOS 27 will reportedly include a full-out Siri chatbot that you can have back-and-forth conversations with. This would make Siri more like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Due to delays, iOS 27 might also include at least some personalized Siri features that were announced back in 2024. New Apple Intelligence Features: Apple and Google announced that Gemini will help power some new Apple Intelligence features, which will likely begin rolling out on iOS 27. For example, it has been rumored that Apple Intelligence capabilities are coming to Apple's Calendar app. There was also a rumor about an Apple Health+ subscription service that would have included personalized, AI-powered health and fitness recommendations, but Apple has reportedly gone back to the drawing board on that, so only bits and pieces of it might arrive. New Satellite Features: iOS 27 will reportedly support 5G satellite internet connectivity, although this functionality might be limited to the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models with Apple's next-generation C2 modem. Additional satellite features have been rumored, including Apple Maps via satellite and the ability to send and receive photos when using Messages via satellite. Bug Fixes and Stability Focus: iOS 27 will reportedly be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is apparently focused on improving "quality and underlying performance." Apple is expected to focus on bug fixes, improved stability, and Liquid Glass design enhancements.iOS 27 beta testing is expected to begin during WWDC in June, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.Tag: iOS 27This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Woot Takes 70% Off Solo/Braided Loops for Your Apple Watch
Woot this month is back with a massive sale on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands for Apple Watch, with prices that match the previous record low Woot deals on these bands. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You can get the Solo Loop for just $14.99 ($34 off) and the Braided Solo Loop for $29.99 ($69 off). All bands in this sale are in brand new condition and come with a one-year Apple limited warranty. UP TO 70% OFFApple Watch Bands at Woot Woot has reorganized the sale for 2026, with shoppers choosing their size before color this time around. Woot has size 1-12 of the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop available, but color and style availability varies within each size category. Shoppers should note that this sale is focused on colors of the Braided Solo Loop and Solo Loop that Apple has stopped selling, and it doesn't include any of the new band colors. That being said, all of the bands in this sale are in new condition. The entire sale is focused on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch bands, so you'll need to know the size that works best for you before you buy. Apple has a measurement tool on its website that you can use to determine your exact size. 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

Read more »

Apple Takes Full Control of 'Severance' in Surprise Deal
Apple has fully acquired the rights to its hit Apple TV series "Severance," bringing future seasons and content in-house under Apple Studios, Deadline reports. Apple is said to have acquired the intellectual property and all rights to Severance from Fifth Season in a deal valued at just under $70 million. Apple previously licensed "Severance" from Fifth Season. More than six years after ‌Apple TV‌ launched, Apple Studios now produces roughly half of the platform's slate. The move transitions the series from an externally produced show to a fully in-house Apple Studios production, with Fifth Season remaining attached as an executive producer going forward. The change mirrors Apple's earlier move to bring the sci-fi series "Silo" under Apple Studios after its first season. The acquisition follows a difficult production cycle for the show's second season, which reportedly cost as much as $20 million per episode. Season two faced prolonged production delays caused by COVID-19, Hollywood labor strikes, and script changes that led to reshoots and scrapped sets. Borrowing costs rose significantly during the extended production window, increasing financial pressure on Fifth Season as the studio waited for New York tax credits and funding reimbursements. According to the report, Fifth Season asked Apple for financial advances and considered moving production to Canada for faster and larger tax rebates. Apple executives ultimately concluded that owning the series would allow the company to better absorb long production timelines and keep filming in New York, where the show has an established footprint. Apple apparently now plans to position Severance as a long-term flagship franchise. The show has already been renewed for a third season, and a fourth season is reportedly considered a certainty. Deadline says Apple expects the series to run for at least four seasons, though creator Dan Erickson and executive producer Ben Stiller are open to expanding the franchise with prequels, spinoffs, and international adaptations. Production on the third season is tentatively expected to begin this summer, though the start date may slip slightly as scripts are finalized. Six scripts have reportedly been completed, with additional episodes still in development. Apple and the creative team aim to begin filming only after all scripts are finished to avoid the costly shutdowns and reshoots that affected season two. Season two of Severance became ‌Apple TV‌'s most-watched series at the time of release and received 27 Emmy nominations in 2025, winning eight awards. Tags: Apple TV Plus, Apple TV ShowsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Tomb Raider Reboot Launches on iOS and Android
Feral Interactive has announced the release of Tomb Raider on iOS and Android. Originally released in 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Tomb Raider has been fully rebuilt for iOS and Android. Coinciding with the franchise's 30th anniversary, this reboot of the console version includes the complete original campaign and all 12 DLC packs featuring extra upgrades, outfits, and a bonus Challenge Tomb. In case you need reminding, here's the blurb: Tomb Raider tells the story of Lara Croft's journey from novice explorer to battle-scarred heroine. Shipwrecked on a mysterious island and armed only with her instincts, to survive she must overcome her limits and be reborn a legend. The island's forest canopy hides murderous cultists, rampaging mercenaries, crumbling tombs and prowling wildlife. Whether puzzling, platforming, or fighting off attackers, Lara will be tested both physically and mentally as she uncovers Yamatai's ancient secrets. Feral says the visuals and performance of the game have been optimized for modern platforms, with higher-end devices able to reach 120 frames per second with improved textures and lighting. Depending on your device, you can choose from up to four settings. Graphics mode prioritizes visual quality over frame rate. Performance mode does the opposite, offering smoother gameplay with slightly reduced visuals. Performance Plus, available on select iPad Pro models, pushes performance further with support for up to 120fps. There's also a Battery Saver mode, which extends battery life by lowering both graphical fidelity and frame rate. Controller-wise, the game includes a fully customizable touchscreen interface, with optional gyroscopic aiming available on supported devices. Full gamepad support is also included, as well as keyboard and mouse support on iPadOS and Android. Tomb Raider is available now via the App Store and Google Play Store, priced at $19.99 / £12.99 / €15.99.Tag: FeralThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Tim Cook Faces FTC Warning Over Apple News Curation
Apple has been issued a warning letter from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, urging it to review its content curation for Apple News so as to ensure that it is not suppressing conservative publications. In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, seen by the Financial Times, FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson cites recent press coverage of a report from conservative media watchdog Media Research Center (MRC), which claimed that Apple has promoted "leftist outlets" in its content choices. The report in question by the MRC said that in January, Apple News "refrained from using any right-leaning outlets in the top 20 articles of its morning editions between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2026." The outlets named in the report include Fox News, the New York Post, the Daily Mail, Breitbart, and The Gateway Pundit. The report went on to claim that Apple News was more favourable to including outlets such as The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal – publications that are traditionallly considered either center outlets or nonpartisan. Ferguson, whom President Trump appointed to lead the U.S. competition and consumer protection watchdog, said Apple should conduct a "comprehensive review" of its terms of service and take corrective action if its content curation does not comply with them. Ferguson added that the choice of stories on Apple News may violate the FTC Act, arguing that the stifling or promotion of content "based on the perceived ideological or political viewpoint of the article or publication" may be “inconsistent" with Apple's terms of service or the "reasonable expectations of consumers." "The FTC is not the speech police; we do not have the authority to require Apple or any other firm to take affirmative positions on any political issue, nor to curate news offerings consistent with one ideology or another. But Congress mandated that we protect consumers from material misrepresentations or omissions, including when the product or service offered to consumers is a speech-related product."The letter came the day after President Donald Trump shared coverage of the MRC report on Truth Social. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared coverage of the MRC report on X on Wednesday. Apple has not commented. The letter amounts to a sharp rebuke of Cook and marks an escalation in public tensions between Apple and members of the Trump administration. Trump has generally refrained from criticizing Apple since Cook tried to repair relations with the administration in August, when he pledged to spend $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Trump, in turn, promised Apple an exemption from planned electronics tariffs. Cook also presented Trump with a glass plaque mounted on a 24-carat gold base, a gesture that prompted an online backlash for its perceived obsequiousness.Tags: Apple News, FTCThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Stores See iPhone 16e, iPad Air Shortages as New Models Near
Apple's retail inventory of iPhone 16e and iPad Air models has reportedly dwindled to almost nothing as the company inches towards the release of new versions of both devices. They are expected to launch in the coming weeks. In a post on X (Twitter), Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman said that stock of iPhone 16e models has "basically dried out," while the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well, based on what his Apple retail contacts are telling him. Just this past weekend, Gurman reported that the iPhone 17e is set to launch "imminently" with four new features, including the A19 chip, MagSafe connectivity, Apple's new cellular C1X modem chip, and its N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread connectivity. The device is expected to retain the same $599 starting price as its predecessor. Gurman also said Apple is planning to launch a new entry-level iPad 12 and a new iPad Air in the near future. Both devices are not expected to feature design changes or major enhancements, and will instead feature new chips. The 12th-generation ‌iPad‌ is set to feature the A18 chip, while the eighth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ will apparently feature the M4 chip. We'll have all the details of Apple's product launches as soon as they happen, right here on MacRumors, so stay tuned.Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPhone 16eTag: Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral), iPhone 16e (Caution)Related Forums: iPad, iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Will Apple Music Get AI Playlists in iOS 27?
AI features are expanding to all kinds of apps, and it's getting difficult to find a service that hasn't embraced AI. Lately, AI playlists in music apps have been growing in popularity, and it's plausible that we'll see Apple adopt the trend in the near future. YouTube This week, YouTube Music started rolling out a new AI playlist feature. YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscribers can turn an idea, mood, or genre into a personalized playlist. There's an option in the Library section of the YouTube Music app to create an AI playlist, where you can ask for or type any genre, artist, feeling, phrase, or other suggestion to get a custom playlist suggestion. Spotify In January, Spotify started an expanded test of a "Prompted Playlist" feature that uses AI to generate music suggestions based on a text-based request. Spotify Premium users can describe what they want to hear, and the AI looks at listening history, current trends, and charts to create song suggestions that fit the parameters. AI playlists are kept up to date and refreshed as listening patterns change. Spotify says users can ask for things like "music from my top artists from the last five years," then expand on that with a follow-up request like "and feature deep cuts I haven't heard yet." Requests can also cover specific activities and time periods, such as "high-energy pop and hip-hop for a 30-minute 5K run that keeps a steady pace before easing into relaxing songs for a cool-down." AI playlists from Spotify can be tweaked with prompt edits, and set to refresh daily or weekly with new music. Spotify's Prompted Playlists are an expansion of a prior playlist-generating feature that let users ask for songs based on mood and activity. Prompted Playlists can be much more specific and detailed. Amazon Music Since 2024, Amazon's music service has offered "Maestro," a feature that lets users build playlists using text-based prompts and emoji characters. It's a lot like the YouTube and Spotify options, with Amazon describing it as a feature that helps users create any playlist they can think of. Apple Music Rumors Apple has used AI to generate custom "For You" playlists for Apple Music users for years, but there isn't an option to type in a prompt and get a customized playlist in response. Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on an ‌Apple Music‌ reboot focused around AI. We did get a new AutoMix feature that more seamlessly transitions between songs, and updated lyrics translation features, but no option to generate AI playlists and no specific Apple Intelligence features. More of Apple's apps are expected to adopt Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27, so it's possible we'll get new AI ‌Apple Music‌ features. Apple is now one of the only major streaming music services that does not offer prompt-based AI playlist creation. In the meantime, there is an option to generate Apple Music playlists using ChatGPT. ChatGPT is able to integrate with ‌Apple Music‌, so it can make music recommendations and playlists based on user prompts. ChatGPT can search the ‌Apple Music‌ catalog, but it does not have access to listening history, which limits the personalization of any playlist suggestions. Playlists also need to be manually added to ‌Apple Music‌. A native AI playlist feature in ‌Apple Music‌ would be much more akin to what Spotify and YouTube are offering.Tag: Apple MusicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Anthropic's Claude Gets More Free Features as OpenAI Starts Showing Ads in ChatGPT
Anthropic today said that customers who use Claude without a subscription can create files, use connectors, and access skills, all of which are features that used to require a paid plan. The announcement comes two days after OpenAI said that it was starting to roll out ads for ChatGPT users who don't have a paid subscription, or who use the most affordable Go plan. Anthropic last week promised to keep Claude ad-free, potentially luring ChatGPT users to Claude. The new free options appear to be a continuation of its effort to target people who don't want to see ads when using a chatbot. Free users can create, edit, and work with files directly in a Claude conversation using Sonnet 4.5 (Pro users have access to the more capable Opus model). Claude is able to generate Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and PDF files. The new access to connectors will let Claude users connect to third-party services at no cost. There are connectors for a wide variety of apps and services, including Slack, Asana, Zapier, Stripe, Canva, Notion, Figma, and WordPress. Skills are repeatable filesystem-based resources that give Claude domain-specific expertise. Anthropic offers PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and PDF skills, but users can create custom skills with their domain expertise and organizational knowledge. Anthropic says that free users are also able to engage in longer conversations with Claude thanks to the addition of compaction to the free plan. Compaction allows Claude to automatically summarize earlier context so there isn't a need to start a conversation from the beginning. Anthropic does not appear to have increased the free tier cap, however, so free users will still run into usage limitations.Tag: AnthropicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

T-Mobile Launches Beta for Free Real-Time Call Translation on Any Phone
T-Mobile today announced a new live translation feature that allows conversations to be translated in real-time when calling someone from any phone on the T-Mobile network. Live translation does not require any apps, and it is a free service that T-Mobile is offering in a beta capacity. T-Mobile users can sign up to test live translation on the T-Mobile website, with limited spots available. The feature works with more than 50 languages, and voice conversations are translated for each speaker "almost instantly." T-Mobile says that users can speak how they normally do on calls, with live translation detecting the languages and voices that are speaking for a natural conversation. Live translation is built into the T-Mobile network, so it works with any phone on T-Mobile, from iPhones to flip phones. T-Mobile users can even call landlines and get translation capabilities because only one phone connected to the call has to be on T-Mobile for translation to work. To use live translation, T-Mobile users will need to sign up for the beta. From there, when on a call, pressing * 87 * on the keypad will initiate the live translation process. Apple rolled out a translation feature for phone calls with iOS 26, but T-Mobile's version does not require participants to have an iPhone, and it covers more languages. While live translation is free during the beta testing process, there could be a fee associated in the future. T-Mobile has not mentioned what it will cost when the beta ends.Tag: T-MobileThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

U.S. TikTok Introduces 'Local Feed' to Surface Nearby Events and Content
The U.S. version of TikTok is being updated with a new community-focused "Local Feed," according to a blog post shared by the TikTok USDS Joint Venture. The Local Feed is designed to let TikTok users "discover and connect with content, businesses, and services" wherever they are. Available from a tab on the TikTok home screen, the feed features content related to travel, events, restaurants, and shopping, plus posts from nearby small businesses and local creators. TikTok U.S. says that posts are selected based on location, the topic of the content, and when the content was posted. TikTok users who want access to the Local Feed will need to turn on precise location. "This approach is consistent with how many modern apps use location today and gives people the choice to enable it when they want more relevant, local experiences, while keeping them in control," reads the blog post. Precise Location is off by default, and the feature is opt-in with location only relayed when the app is in active use. Location data is "protected in the TikTok USDS JV secure environment." TikTok U.S. says that it wants to "make sure TikTok is useful, locally relevant, and trusted." A similar "Nearby Feeds" feature rolled out for TikTok users in Europe back in December. TikTok's U.S. operations were transferred to a majority American-owned TikTok USDS venture in late January, and the transition hasn't gone smoothly. TikTok users were unable to upload videos and had posts flagged as ineligible for recommendation, an issue that U.S. TikTok said was due to a power outage at a data center. TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is 80.1 percent owned by U.S. and global investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. The three companies each own 15 percent as managing investors, and other U.S. stakeholders include the Dell Family Office and affiliates of Susquehanna International Group. TikTok parent company ByteDance continues to hold a 19.9 percent stake. A seven-member majority-American board of directors is operating the U.S. version of TikTok, with Adam Presser, TikTok's former global head of operations serving as CEO. Under the agreement, the venture handles U.S. data protection, content moderation, and algorithm security. TikTok's recommendation algorithm is being retrained and updated on U.S. user data, and it has been secured in Oracle's cloud environment.Tag: TikTokThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

iOS 26.3 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.3
Apple released iOS 26.3 today, and while it doesn't have as many features as iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2, there are still a couple of new additions worth knowing about. Transfer to Android Apple is making it easier for iPhone users to transition to an Android smartphone in iOS 26.3, introducing a new transfer tool that lets an ‌iPhone‌ user place their device next to an Android device to initiate a transfer process. With the two smartphones connected, users can opt to move over photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more. Data transfers occur with no need to download and use a separate app, making the process simpler. Health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and protected items like locked notes are not transferred over to the new device. Google has also implemented a similar feature for transferring data from an Android to an ‌iPhone‌, so it is a two-way process between the two platforms. Weather Wallpaper There is a new Weather wallpaper section in the Lock Screen customization options. Previously, Apple had a combined section for Weather and Astronomy, but Weather was split out into its own category. There are now three pre-designed Weather wallpapers with different fonts for the time and different weather widgets to give users a better idea of how the Weather wallpaper can be used. Limit Precise Location iOS 26.3 includes a setting to limit carrier location tracking for carriers that add support for the feature. It's an option that only works with the C1 and C1X modems, which are in the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air. Mobile networks determine location based on the cellular towers that a device connects to, but with the setting enabled, some of the data typically made available to mobile networks will be restricted. Rather than being able to see location down to a street address, carriers will instead be limited to the neighborhood where a device is located, for example. In the United States, only Boost Mobile is supporting the feature as of now. EE and BT in the UK offer it, as does Telekom in Germany and AIS and True in Thailand. You can enable the setting on a compatible device by opening the Settings app, tapping on your cellular service, tapping on Mobile Data Options, and then toggling on Limit Precise Location. You'll need to restart your device when turning the setting on or off. Signs of M5 Chips The iOS 26.3 release candidate featured references to unreleased M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips that could be used in upcoming Macs over the course of the next month or two. Notification Forwarding - EU Only In the iOS 26.3 beta, Apple tested a new "Notification Forwarding" setting that allows incoming notifications on an ‌iPhone‌ to be forwarded to a third-party wearable device like an Android smartwatch. Apple may have decided to delay this functionality until iOS 26.4. The setting was available in the Notification section of the Settings app under a new "Notification Forwarding" option. Notifications can only be forwarded to a single device at a time, so if Notification Forwarding is enabled with a third-party wearable, the Apple Watch won't be able to receive and display notifications. Apple is adding this feature to address antitrust complaints suggesting that third-party wearables should have the same access to notifications and other features as the Apple Watch. It is limited to the European Union. Proximity Pairing - EU Only In the iOS 26.3 beta, Apple added other Europe-only changes for third-party wearables, which were shared by the European Commission. Devices like headphones and smartwatches are able to use some of the same functionality available to the AirPods and the Apple Watch going forward. Proximity pairing allows third-party devices to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like one-tap way by bringing an accessory close to an ‌iPhone‌ or an iPad. Security Updates iOS 26.3 addresses dozens of security vulnerabilities, including one bug that was known to be actively exploited. Apple says that a vulnerability in the dyld dynamic link editor allowed for the execution of arbitrary code. The bug may have been used in an "extremely sophisticated attack" against targeted individuals in versions of iOS before iOS 26. There are several other vulnerabilities that were fixed too, across apps and services. A CoreAudio bug could allow a maliciously crafted media file to terminate an app, and a bug with Game Center could allow users to view sensitive information. A vulnerability in Messages could allow a shortcut to bypass sandbox restrictions, and an issue in Photos could allow someone with physical access to an iOS device to get to photos from the Lock Screen. Now that the vulnerabilities have been publicized by Apple, even those that were not exploited before might be taken advantage of now. Apple recommends all users update their devices to iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3 as soon as possible. How to Update You can install iOS 26.3 by opening up the Settings app, tapping into the General section, and navigating to Software Update. Compatibility iOS 26.3 is available on all iPhones that support ‌iOS 26‌, which includes the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and later. What's Next Apple is likely to release the first beta of its next update, iOS 26.4, in two weeks.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27
Apple has "run into snags" testing the more personalized, smarter version of Siri that's planned for iOS 26.4, reports Bloomberg. Because of the issues, the upcoming ‌Siri‌ features will be spread across several upcoming iOS releases and won't all come in the spring iOS 26.4 update. Apple could postpone some or all of the new ‌Siri‌ features until iOS 26.5, an update planned for May, and iOS 27, which will launch this September. We've been waiting on the Apple Intelligence version of ‌Siri‌ since iOS 18, when Apple debuted the features at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. At the time, rumors suggested a spring 2025 launch. When spring rolled around, Apple announced that the new ‌Siri‌ would take longer than expected, with the functionality delayed for a year. Since then, Apple has been targeting iOS 26.4, which the company will begin testing later this month. As Apple has been testing the updated version of ‌Siri‌ ahead of the release of the first iOS 26.4 beta, there have been unforeseen problems. ‌Siri‌ sometimes doesn't properly process queries and can take too long to respond to requests. Apple engineers have been told to use iOS 26.5 for further internal testing, suggesting the new ‌Siri‌ features will be delayed until that update. Internally, iOS 26.5 includes notices describing the ‌Siri‌ features, as well as a "preview" toggle for turning on the ‌Siri‌ personalization feature that lets the personal assistant tap into user data like text messages and emails. Employees that are testing iOS 26.5 say the update includes all of the features Apple promised, including personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for ‌Siri‌ to do more in and between apps, but not all of the features are working reliably and there are problems with accuracy. ‌Siri‌ also apparently sometimes falls back on using ChatGPT for information instead of relying on the Gemini-powered technology that Apple has partnered with Google to use, even when the new version of ‌Siri‌ is capable of handling a user's request. Apple also planned to include features that haven't been announced, such as options to generate images or search the web. Image generation and web search were tested as part of iOS 26.4, and it's possible they will still be included in the update, so Apple might still be able to announce some of the new ‌Siri‌ functionality. Image generation uses Image Playground, and web search summarizes information from the web. Bloomberg says the situation is "fluid," though, so Apple's plans could change, and executives are reluctant to further delay the ‌Siri‌ functionality beyond spring 2026. There are still major changes planned for iOS 27, with Apple aiming to add chatbot functionality to ‌Siri‌ to allow it to better compete with chatbots like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. That version of ‌Siri‌ will have deep integration with Apple's operating systems.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

DEL (New Delhi) on 2026-02-27
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 27, 19:30 UTC  -  Feb 28, 00:00 UTCFeb 27, 18:36 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in DEL (New Delhi) datacenter between 2026-02-27 19:30 and 2026-02-28 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.

Read more »

Increased HTTP 520 Errors in Newark, New Jersey datacenter (EWR)
Feb 27, 17:30 UTCResolved - Between 17:37 and 21:15 UTC, Cloudflare observed an elevated rate of HTTP 520 errors affecting traffic in Newark, New Jersey datacenter (EWR). After investigation, a fix was applied to mitigate the issue.

Read more »

Issues creating API tokens involving Zero Trust Write permissions
Feb 27, 17:21 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating issues creating API tokens that result in a "1001: Failed common permission check against resources" error. This specifically impacts token creation attempts that include the Zero Trust Write permission group for accounts where the token owner is not a Super Admin. API token creation for users with Super Admin privileges or payloads excluding this specific permission group remain unaffected.We will provide further updates as soon as more information is available.

Read more »

RESOLVED: Vertex AI Gemini API customers experienced increased error rates when accessing the global endpoint.
Incident began at 2026-02-27 04:36 and ended at 2026-02-27 06:45 (all times are US/Pacific).Description Between Friday, 2026-02-27, 04:36 and 06:45 PST, customers experienced increased error rates when accessing the Vertex Gemini API Global endpoint. The issue impacted API requests to multiple Gemini models. The incident also caused downstream impact to Dialogflow CX, Agent Assist, and Google Cloud Support AI agent, and Customer Experience Agent Studio, which rely on Gemini APIs. Preliminary analysis indicates the issue was triggered by a recent configuration change. Service was fully restored after the configuration change was rolled back. We thank you for your patience while we worked on resolving the issue. Symptom Customers experienced increased error rates when sending API requests to impacted multiple Gemini models through the global endpoint. Affected products: Agent Assist, Dialogflow CX, Google Cloud Support, Vertex Gemini APIAffected locations: Global, Montréal (northamerica-northeast1), São Paulo (southamerica-east1), Iowa (us-central1), South Carolina (us-east1), Northern Virginia (us-east4), Columbus (us-east5), Oregon (us-west1)

Read more »

GoTo Contact Center – Call queue distribution issues
Feb 27, 15:52 UTCInvestigating - We are actively investigating reports that some Contact Center – Call Queue customers may be experiencing issues with queue calls not being distributed to Contact Center agents.Our engineers are working to identify the issue and will provide another update shortly.

Read more »

Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Tele2
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 2, 12:00 PST  -  Mar 30, 17:00 PDTFeb 27, 06:56 PSTScheduled - The Tele2 network in Russia is conducting a series of planned maintenances from 02 March 2026 at 12:00 PST until 30 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Tele2 Russia handsets.Note, the maintenance will be carried out on each of the following dates and times:02 March 2026 at 12:00 PST until 02 March 2026 at 16:00 PST04 March 2026 at 12:00 PST until 04 March 2026 at 16:00 PST11 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 11 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT16 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 16 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT18 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 18 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT23 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 23 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT25 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 25 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT30 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 30 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT

Read more »

Connectivity Issue – Chennai, IN (in-maa) and Mumbai Expansion, IN (in-bom-2)
Feb 27, 13:38 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating an issue affecting connectivity in our Chennai, IN (in-maa) and Mumbai Expansion, IN (in-bom-2) data centers During this time, users may experience intermittent connection timeouts and errors for all services deployed in this data center. We will share additional updates as we have more information.

Read more »

ORD (Chicago) on 2026-02-28
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Feb 28, 08:00 - 14:00 UTCFeb 27, 13:22 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in ORD (Chicago) datacenter on 2026-02-28 between 08:00 and 14:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.

Read more »

Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Beeline
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 3, 13:00 - 16:00 PSTFeb 27, 03:05 PSTScheduled - The Beeline network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 03 March 2026 at 13:00 PST until 03 March 2026 at 16:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Beeline Russia handsets.

Read more »

GoTo Connect – Inbound PSTN Calls Not Connecting
Feb 27, 10:30 UTCResolved - During the period from 08:04 to 9:10 UTC on February 27, a subset of GoTo Connect customers in Europe may have experienced issues receiving inbound PSTN calls.We have confirmed that the issue has been resolved and that all systems are 100% operational.We will conduct an internal review of this issue and make appropriate improvements to our system to help prevent or minimize future recurrence.

Read more »

Cloudflare is investigating dashboard login issues
Feb 27, 10:09 UTCResolved - This incident has been resolved.Feb 27, 10:05 UTCIdentified - The issue has been identified, and a fix is being implementedFeb 27, 10:03 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating issues with Cloudflare Dashboard and related APIs. These issues do not affect the serving of cached files via the Cloudflare CDN or other security features at the Cloudflare Edge. Customers using the Dashboard / Cloudflare APIs are impacted as requests might fail and/or errors may be displayed.

Read more »

Emerging Service Issue – Connectivity – London
Feb 27, 07:59 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating an emerging service issue affecting the connectivity in EU-West (London). We will share additional updates as we have more information.

Read more »

Custom Error Pages Not Applying
Feb 27, 05:23 UTCResolved - This incident has been resolved.Feb 26, 22:46 UTCUpdate - Cloudflare is aware of a rare condition by which some Custom Error Pages are not being shown. A gradual resolution has been implemented.Feb 26, 22:44 UTCIdentified - We are aware of an issue currently impacting Custom Error Pages. The team is investigating and we’ll provide updates when we know more.Feb 26, 22:41 UTCInvestigating - We are investigating an issue currently impacting the rendering of Custom Error Pages. Our team is working to identify the cause, and we will provide updates as they become available.

Read more »

Cloudflare Peering Portal Authentication Issue
Feb 27, 02:27 UTCIdentified - Cloudflare is aware of, and investigating an issue which impacts multiple customers/peers who use peering.cloudflare.com. This issue does not affect the serving of cached files via the Cloudflare CDN or other security features at the Cloudflare Edge.Authentication to peering.cloudflare.com is currently affected due to an outage with our third party authentication provider.Further detail will be provided as more information becomes available.

Read more »

Philippines SMS Carrier Maintenance – Globe Telecom
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 2, 16:00 - 17:00 PSTFeb 26, 17:13 PSTScheduled - The Globe Telecom network in the Philippines is conducting a planned maintenance from 02 March 2026 at 16:00 PST until 02 March 2026 at 17:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to and from Globe Telecom Philippines handsets.

Read more »