MacTech News

Apple releases macOS 26.3.2 update for the MacBook Neo only

Apple has released a new software update, macOS 26.3.2, an over-the-air update only for the new MacBook Neo. According to the release notes, the update focuses on bug fixes. This means MacBook Neo will have a software update ready on day one — that day...

Apple now makes a quarter of its iPhones in India

Apple increased iPhone production in India by around 53% last year and now makes a quarter of its smartphones there, reports Bloomberg (a subscription is required to read the article). This is part of an ongoing effort by the tech giant to avoid Trump tariff when it...

German publishers don’t like Apple’s revised App Tracking Transparency rule tweaks

The German Association of the Branded Goods Industry and various other group want Apple to be forced to change its App Tracking Transparency rules, reports Reuters (a subscription is required to read the article). Apple has made some changes to appease them, but...

Apple laptops and other computing devices likely to see substantial price hikes this year

Apple laptops and other computing devices likely to see substantial price hikes this year. The global notebook market is expected to face dual pressures from weak demand and rising component costs in 2026, according to TrendForce’s latest research on the notebook...

Jeff Daniels joins fifth season cast of Apple TV’s ‘The Morning Show’

Jeff Daniels has joined the upcoming fifth season of Apple TV’s drama series “The Morning Show,” headlined and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. In a major recurring role, he will play Lukas, a self-made billionaire and founder of a...

‘The Studio’ nabs a Camera Operator of the Year award by the Society of Camera Operators

The pros behind the lens for Apple TV’s “The Studio” were named Camera Operator of the Year in TV by the Society of Camera Operators on Saturday. “F1” and “Severance” pros were also nominated, but didn’t win. The awards honor the craft of camera operation and...

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Opinion

Elon Musk says he tried selling Tesla to Apple, but Tim Cook didn’t return his call

According to SlashGear, in 2020, Elon Musk tweeted that during a particularly hellish phase (2017 into 2018) of its first mass-market EV (the Model 3), he contacted Apple’s CEO Tim Cook to see if the tech giant had any interest in buying Tesla. Why? According to...

Apple’s iPhone production in quarter three shows a ‘stable growth trend’

According to TrendForce’s latest research, global smartphone production totaled around 289 million units for the third quarter of 2022, showing a slight quarter-over-quarter drop of 0.9% and a year-over-year drop of 11%. However, it was mostly good news for Apple....

Apple’s ‘RealityPro’ headset may be able to record extended reality scenes

Apple has been granted a patent (number 11521359) for an “extended reality recorder” that hints that the rumored “Reality Pro” will be able to record extended reality scenes. About the patent In the patent, Apple notes that augmented reality (AR) technology aims to...

Apple granted patent for interacting with an Apple Watch through more physical movement

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Apple’s ‘RealityPro’ may have bat-like sonar capabilities to determine distances

Apple has been granted a patent (number 11520041) for “correcting depth estimates derived from image data using acoustic information.” IT apparently involves a virtual reality/augmented reality headset that can determine distances via bat-like sonar features. Bats are...

New study: only 12% of folks want to work full-time in an office setting

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Friday March 27
06:05 pm
Why you can’t upgrade MacBook Neo’s 8GB of RAM | Cult of Mac
Why you can’t upgrade MacBook Neo’s 8GB of RAM
Is a MacBook Neo RAM upgrade possible? Nope. Here's why. And why Apple couldn't make its own version with 16GB of memory. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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06:02 pm
Apple stock has struggled so far this year, but analysts see a rebound ahead | Mac Daily News
Apple stock has struggled so far this year, but analysts see a rebound ahead
Apple's stock price lagged the broader market in 2026, trading roughly flat and posting a roughly 7% decline year-to-date amid four… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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06:00 pm
Apple’s busy March continued with three notable arrivals this week | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple’s busy March continued with three notable arrivals this week
Apple has had a jam-packed March so far after launching seven new products and surprisingly announcing an eighth. This week, even more came from Apple before the month wraps up and Apple’s 50th anniversary arrives on April 1. more…
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05:54 pm
Apple’s iPhone 17 family includes my favorite hardware improvement in years | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple’s iPhone 17 family includes my favorite hardware improvement in years
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro is a big improvement over the more fussy iPhone 16 Pro. The vapor chamber and switching to aluminum from titanium both make a noticeable difference in sustained performance and improved thermal management. However, my favorite hardware improvement in years isn’t limited to the Pro series. more…
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05:47 pm
New AirPods Max 2 drop to $529 with this weekend's best preorder deal | AppleInsider
New AirPods Max 2 drop to $529 with this weekend's best preorder deal
Despite preorders selling out at other retailers, AirPods Max 2 are on sale now at Walmart, with a $20 weekend discount and a preorder price guarantee.AirPods Max 2 are on sale now with a preorder price guarantee - Image credit: ApplePick up Apple's new over-ear headphones in Midnight for $529 at Walmart, a $20 discount off MSRP. With retailers like Amazon showing a "currently unavailable" message on its product page, ordering from Walmart allows you to snap up the lowest price on the 2026 release while securing a preorder price guarantee ahead of the early April launch.Save $20 on AirPods Max 2 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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05:44 pm
Apple hires veteran Google VP to lead AI product marketing | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple hires veteran Google VP to lead AI product marketing
Apple has hired Google VP Lilian Rincon as its new vice president of Product Marketing for AI, the company tells me. Apple says Rincon will lead product marketing and product management for its AI platforms, including Apple Intelligence and Siri. She will report directly to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. more…
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05:01 pm
Apple Original Films lands new sci-fi thriller ‘Liminal,’ starring Vanessa Kirby | Mac Daily News
Apple Original Films lands new sci-fi thriller ‘Liminal,’ starring Vanessa Kirby
This week, Apple Original Films announced it has landed “Liminal,” a new sci-fi thriller starring Vanessa Kirby… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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04:43 pm
9to5Mac Daily: March 27, 2026 – RIP Mac Pro | 9 to 5 Mac
9to5Mac Daily: March 27, 2026 – RIP Mac Pro
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily. more…
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04:28 pm
iOS 26.4 adds video podcasts with these new features | 9 to 5 Mac
iOS 26.4 adds video podcasts with these new features
Apple Podcasts got some exciting video improvements in iOS 26.4 this week, here are the new features included in the update. more…
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04:21 pm
Get Paramount Plus for $2.99/mo for 2 months with this flash streaming deal | AppleInsider
Get Paramount Plus for $2.99/mo for 2 months with this flash streaming deal
A month-end streaming deal discounts Paramount Plus to $2.99 per month for two months, and the best part is you can choose any plan.Get Paramount Plus for just $2.99 per month for 2 months - Image credit: ParamountFrom sports to original dramas, Paramount Plus has thousands of programs to watch this spring. And with this month-end streaming deal that gives new and former subscribers access to any plan for $2.99 per month for two months, there's no better time to sign up for the service.Get Paramount+ $2.99/mo deal Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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04:03 pm
CardPointers app can now integrate with ChatGPT and more [Save 50%] | 9 to 5 Mac
CardPointers app can now integrate with ChatGPT and more [Save 50%]
I’ve written before about why CardPointers is one of my favorite apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A recent update to CardPointers has added integrations that can be used with ChatGPT, Claude, and any MCP-compatible AI platform. Plus, CardPointers is currently 50% off as part of the Big Spring Sale promotion, exclusively for 9to5Mac readers. more…
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04:02 pm
Apple plans standalone Siri app, new ‘Ask Siri’ feature, chatbot-like experience | Mac Daily News
Apple plans standalone Siri app, new ‘Ask Siri’ feature, chatbot-like experience
Apple is testing a standalone app for its Siri voice assistant, along with a new "Ask Siri" feature that will work seamlessly across the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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03:55 pm
Apple claims a 100% protection rate with iPhone Lockdown Mode | AppleInsider
Apple claims a 100% protection rate with iPhone Lockdown Mode
Apple says that nobody has ever been successfully hacked when their iPhone or other device was in Lockdown Mode, showing just how vital the security feature can be.Lockdown Mode on iPhone is for users facing grave threats to their digital securityLockdown Mode was launched in 2022 and has to be specifically enabled by the user. Once enabled, the feature hardens the device's security and has become the go-to option for people who could be a target for hacking.While most regularly used on an iPhone, Lockdown Mode can also be enabled on Macs, iPads, and even Apple Watches. So long as the device is running iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later, and macOS Ventura or later, Lockdown Mode can be enabled. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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03:38 pm
Deals – Big Spring Sale day 3: M5 MacBook Air all-time low, Apple Watch models up to $438 off, M4 iPad Air, more | 9 to 5 Mac
Deals – Big Spring Sale day 3: M5 MacBook Air all-time low, Apple Watch models up to $438 off, M4 iPad Air, more
Alongside the day 3 Amazon Big Spring Sale deals, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is ready to go. Headlined by ongoing holiday pricing on AirPods Pro 3 and clearance deals on 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models, we also have the brand new 24GB 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with a 1TB SSD dropping back to the all-time low at nearly $85 off. Those offers join Apple Watch Series 10 Titanium models at $300 off and this Apple Watch Ultra 2 refurb at a giant $438 off. We also have Apple’s new 512GB M4 iPad Air returning to the Amazon all-time low at $80 off and a whole lot more down below. more…
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03:09 pm
White House launches official app for iPhone and iPad: Live streams, real-time alerts, and ‘no filter’ access to the Trump administration | Mac Daily News
White House launches official app for iPhone and iPad: Live streams, real-time alerts, and ‘no filter’ access to the Trump administration
The White House officially rolled out its own mobile app today, giving Americans direct, unfiltered access to President Donald J. Trump… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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03:07 pm
How to watch Major League Baseball on Apple TV every Friday night | 9 to 5 Mac
How to watch Major League Baseball on Apple TV every Friday night
Friday Night Baseball returns to Apple TV tonight, with the first of many doubleheaders coming this season for Apple subscribers. Here’s how to watch MLB games on Apple TV. more…
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02:58 pm
Slay The Spire 2 review: The best deck-builder just got better | Macworld
Slay The Spire 2 review: The best deck-builder just got better
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros New co-op mode Runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs Easy to play, but hard to master More variety than the first game Cons Simplistic 2D graphics and animations Rogue-like mechanics can be frustrating Few major new features Our Verdict Slay The Spire 2 doesn’t attempt to re-invent the wheel. It sticks closely to the format of the original game, but does provide lots of small changes and additions that help to keep it fresh. And people who want to play with their friends will welcome the new co-op mode too. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$24.99 Best Prices Today: Slay The Spire 2 Retailer Price Steam $24.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who it’s for: Fans of the original. Wait if: You haven’t played STS1 yet. There are more than 2000 deck-building games listed on Steam, but only a tiny fraction of those run on Macs. Fortunately, Slay The Spire, which has been the king of the deck-builders in recent years, was available on the Mac right from its launch back in 2019 (and still runs on Apple Silicon Macs as well). The sequel has just gone on sale on Steam for $24.99/£19.99, and is already soaring up the sales charts, despite the fact that it’s actually still in ‘Early Access’, which means that it’s essentially a beta version of the game that is still being tested. Love Mac gaming? Check out the best Mac Games we’ve played. What’s new in Slay The Spire 2? Slay The Spire 2 doesn’t make any major changes to the format of the original game. The central task of the game is to fight your way through a series of rooms in order to reach the top of a mysterious spire, using a deck of cards that provide your character with different skills and abilities. It’s also a ‘rogue-like’ game, which means that dying sends you right back down to the bottom of the spire so that you have to start all over again, rather than just saving your progress as you complete each room. The Necrobinder is a new character who wields the power of the undead. Mega Crit Games What’s changed from the original? A popular feature in the first game was the ability to play as any of three different characters – the sword-slinging Ironclad, a nimble assassin called Silent, and a fan-favourite robot called The Defect. Those characters are still included in the sequel, but you also get two new characters called the Necrobinder and the Regent. There was a fourth character called The Watcher who was added to the first game in 2020, but there’s no sign of the Watcher in the current Early Access version of Slay The Spire 2. The secret of the game’s popularity was that – like many great games – it’s easy to understand the basics so that you can dive straight in and get started, but it takes longer to master the complexities of the game and understand the ways that all the different cards, skills and abilities can work together to make you more powerful. Slay The Spire 2 sticks with that approach, but it adds more of everything – more characters to play with, a wider range of skills and abilities, as well as magical relics and rare cards that provide special powers. As well as the main single-player game, this sequel includes a new co-op mode for up to four players. Mega Crit Games What’s game play like? At the start of each game, you are shown a map of the spire, with a number of different paths that you can choose as you climb to the top. Each path takes you through a different series of rooms, with most rooms containing monsters that you have to defeat. However, there are also rest rooms where you can sleep and recover some of your health after a challenging fight, or spend the time upgrading your cards instead. To add variety, there are also rooms that contain merchants who can sell you new cards or weapons, and even special quests for you to compete. I found a magic egg in one room, which could give me a powerful new card, but only if I first found a rest room where the egg could be hatched. This forced me to alter my path through the spire – as I was initially heading towards a merchant to top up on potions – but the detour was worth it as the new card gave my armour a big boost. Like its predecessor, Slay The Spire 2 also includes a daily challenge and a custom mode that allows you to modify the game settings for each run. However, it also includes one entirely new feature, introducing a multiplayer co-op mode that allows up to four people to play together as a team – although there’s no pvp mode that will allow you to compete directly against other people. You can buy new cards, as well as potions and magical trinkets to boost your powers. Mega Crit Games Where the graphics fall short My only real disappointment is that the game’s graphics aren’t terribly exciting. The 2D graphics are a bit more detailed this time around, but your character and the various monsters mostly just glare at each other across the screen, with simple effects used to indicate attacks and injuries each time you play a card. Games such as the Darkest Dungeon series have similar 2D graphics, but have a more distinctive gothic artwork style that really adds atmosphere and a sense of menace to the game. How does it run on Mac? The relatively simple graphics do mean that the game will run well even on older Macs with Intel processors, as long as you’re running macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later. Should I Buy Slay The Spire 2? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you’re a fan of deck-builder games then Slay The Spire 2 is a must-have addition to your library. Some people have argued that it’s a fairly unambitious sequel that doesn’t make many changes from the original game. Even so, there are still enough refinements and small additions to make it a very enjoyable update for anyone that has already played the first game. And, if you’re new to the genre, the original Slay The Spire is currently on sale, making it a great place to start before moving on to the sequel.
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02:55 pm
Relive the original Mac Pro through the pages of Macworld | Macworld
Relive the original Mac Pro through the pages of Macworld
Macworld Apple officially discontinued the Mac Pro on Thursday. While most of us couldn’t afford Apple’s most powerful Mac, it was an example of how much power a Macintosh could wield. But Apple, always looking forward, thinks its time has come and gone. The Mac Pro was first introduced in 2006, and while Macworld had a web presence back then, the focus at the time was on the print magazine version. As way to remember the Mac Pro, below are scans of the first Mac Pro articles that Macworld published. This first article is a Mac Pro FAQ. The actual Mac Pro announcement occurred several days before the magazine was set to go to press and be distributed. Because of this discrepancy in scheduling (the magazine would hit the newsstand long after the Mac Pro news hit the wire), the magazine answered reader questions about the Mac Pro, which appeared on the cover of the October 2006 issue. Macworld followed up with a full review of the Mac Pro by then editorial director Jason Snell. It got four mice (Macworld ratings used to be mice instead of the current stars). Snell wrote, “The 3GHz Mac Pro is the fastest Mac we’ve tested—however, since the 3GHz processors cost an additional $800 and provide a proportionately slight speed increase, they’re a good bargain for only voraciously speed-hungry pros.” (This issue was also the only time Johnny Depp was on a Macworld cover.)
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02:54 pm
Apple products using Lockdown Mode have never been hacked, company confirms | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple products using Lockdown Mode have never been hacked, company confirms
iPhone security has been in the news this month as Apple patches known exploits. As promised, the company has alerted customers using iPhones on older software to update this week. Meanwhile, Apple states on-the-record that its Lockdown Mode has proven effective against hack attempts so far. more…
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02:47 pm
Apple pulls the plug on its high-priced, oft-neglected Mac Pro desktop | Ars Technica
Apple pulls the plug on its high-priced, oft-neglected Mac Pro desktop
M2 Ultra Mac Pro is no longer for sale, and Apple says no replacement is planned.
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Thursday February 12
12:56 pm
Tomb Raider Reboot Launches on iOS and Android | MacRumors
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
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12:07 pm
Tim Cook Faces FTC Warning Over Apple News Curation | MacRumors
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
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10:34 am
Apple Stores See iPhone 16e, iPad Air Shortages as New Models Near | MacRumors
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
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12:42 am
Will Apple Music Get AI Playlists in iOS 27? | MacRumors
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
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12:04 am
Anthropic's Claude Gets More Free Features as OpenAI Starts Showing Ads in ChatGPT | MacRumors
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
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Wednesday February 11
11:37 pm
T-Mobile Launches Beta for Free Real-Time Call Translation on Any Phone | MacRumors
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
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10:47 pm
U.S. TikTok Introduces 'Local Feed' to Surface Nearby Events and Content | MacRumors
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
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09:28 pm
iOS 26.3 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.3 | MacRumors
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
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08:18 pm
New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27 | MacRumors
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
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07:22 pm
10 iPhone Tips and Tricks You Probably Didn't Know About | MacRumors
10 iPhone Tips and Tricks You Probably Didn't Know About
No matter how well you think you know your iPhone, there are always tons of hidden features and shortcuts that you aren't aware of, or might have forgotten about. We've rounded up 10 useful ‌iPhone‌ features that are worth knowing about to make using your ‌iPhone‌ just a little more pleasant. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Many of these tips require the latest version of iOS, iOS 26, but there are a few that work for older versions of iOS, too. Alarms in Reminders - You can set an alarm for a reminder, so you get a pop-up that has to be snoozed or dismissed rather than just a notification. Adaptive Power Mode - Adaptive Power Mode is a setting you should turn on, because it uses AI to learn your ‌iPhone‌ usage habits. If you're using more battery one day, it can adjust background app refresh and other features to preserve battery so you get all-day use. This is limited to newer ‌iPhone‌ models, but you can get some of the same benefit by adjusting which apps are able to use background app refresh on older models. Link to Specific Text - When you send a link to someone, you can use Safari's Copy Link with Highlight feature to direct them right to the spot on a webpage that you want them to see. Action Button Menu - You can pick one thing for your Action Button to do by default, but if you set it to a Shortcut, you can create a multi-option pop-up that lets you access multiple quick access buttons. It's entirely customizable, and you're only limited to what Shortcuts can do. Text Message Search - Search in the Messages app isn't exactly great and it can be hard to find what you're looking for, but there's a Messages Shortcut that lets you add parameters like date and organize results with the latest messages first. AirPods Camera - You can use the button on your AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 as a remote for your ‌iPhone‌'s camera, and when paired with the timer feature, it's a great way to get group shots where everyone is in frame and no one has to hold the phone. Alarm Snooze - With ‌iOS 26‌, you're not limited to a 9-minute snooze duration when an alarm goes off. You can customize your snooze length to be longer or shorter in the Clock app. Podcast Show Tweaks - For podcast fans, you can use the Podcasts app to create per-show settings for Enhance Dialogue and playback speed, so you don't need to use the same settings for every podcast. Snooze Notifications - For notifications from apps like Calendar and Reminders, you can long press on the notification on the Lock Screen to snooze it for a few minutes, an hour, or a custom length of time. Screenshots - Tired of full-screen previews for screenshots? You can turn them off and go back to the prior screenshot method that just saves them right to the Photos app. To see how to set up all of these features, make sure to check out our full video up above where we walk you through the steps. Have a useful tip that we didn't list here? Share it in the comments and we might add it to our next video.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:51 pm
Update Now: iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3 Fix Dozens of Security Vulnerabilities | MacRumors
Update Now: iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3 Fix Dozens of Security Vulnerabilities
Apple today released iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3, all of which largely focus on bug fixes and security improvements. Apple says that the updates address dozens of vulnerabilities, including one that is known to have been actively exploited. That vulnerability in the dyld dynamic link editor could allow for the execution of arbitrary code, and Apple says the bug may have been exploited in an "extremely sophisticated attack" against targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26.An attacker with memory write capability may be able to execute arbitrary code. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26.Apple says the memory corruption issue was fixed with improved state management. There are numerous other vulnerabilities that were also fixed across not only iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, but also Apple's other platforms that saw updates released today. Now that these 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.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS TahoeRelated Forums: iOS 26, macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:07 pm
Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 include unspecified bug fixes and security updates, but there are a couple features that Apple didn't highlight. The updates add a tool for transitioning from an Apple device to an Android device. Transfers are able to be started during the device setup process, and moving data from one device to another can be done without having to download apps from Apple and Google. The transfer process supports moving photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone numbers, and more, and it's not too surprising that Apple isn't advertising it. Data transfers were already possible, though not quite as simple, and Apple likely doesn't want to encourage users to move to a different platform. In December, the European Union took credit for the new transfer tool, touting it as an example of how the Digital Markets Act (DMA) benefits users and developers. Google and Apple apparently implemented the feature because the DMA requires services to offer interoperability to prevent customers from being locked in to an operating system. The two companies opted to add the functionality worldwide rather than just in the EU. iOS 26.3 includes a setting to limit carrier location tracking, though it is limited to a few select carriers worldwide. 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. It is a feature available only for devices with C1 or C1X modems. 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 will be able to use some of the same functionality available to the AirPods and the Apple Watch going forward. Proximity pairing will allow 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. Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive richer notifications from the ‌iPhone‌, which are able to be viewed and interacted with. Apple is allowing notifications to be forwarded to a single connected device, so turning on notifications for a third-party watch disables notifications on the Apple Watch. While these features have been tested in iOS 26.3, they may have been removed for the release version of the software and could come in a future update. Most of the beta testing period focused on bug fixes and these EU-specific features, so there isn't a lot that's new in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3. We are expecting a lot more to be added in iOS 26.4, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 could come this month.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:06 pm
Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.3
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.3, the third major update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 comes two months after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.2. Mac users can download the new software by opening up the System Settings app and navigating to the Software Update section. According to Apple's release notes, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 focuses on bug fixes and security updates rather than new features, so it is a smaller update than some of the other releases we've had. In the next couple of weeks, Apple will begin testing ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4, an update that is expected to be much more feature packed. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 could include new Siri functionality and new emoji, among other features.Related Roundup: macOS TahoeRelated Forum: macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:05 pm
Apple Releases tvOS 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases tvOS 26.3
Apple today released tvOS 26.3, the third update to the tvOS operating system that came out last fall. tvOS 26.3 is available for the Apple TV 4K and the ‌Apple TV‌ HD, and it comes two months after Apple released tvOS 26.2. tvOS 26.3 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 26.3 automatically. The tvOS 26.3 update includes bug fixes and security improvements, with full release notes for tvOS available through Apple's tvOS support document.Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home TheaterThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:04 pm
Apple Releases watchOS 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases watchOS 26.3
Apple today released watchOS 26.3, an update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.3 comes two months after Apple released watchOS 26.2. watchOS 26.3 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.3 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger. According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 26.3 includes unspecified bug fixes and security updates, and there were no new outward-facing features discovered during the beta testing process.Related Roundup: watchOS 26Related Forum: Apple WatchThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:03 pm
Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.3
Alongside iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3, Apple has released new HomePod 26.3 software for the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini. The update comes two months after Apple released ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.2. According to Apple's release notes, ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.3 includes performance and stability improvements. ‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod miniBuyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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06:02 pm
Apple Releases visionOS 26.3 | MacRumors
Apple Releases visionOS 26.3
Apple today released visionOS 26.3, the third update to the visionOS 26 operating system that launched in September. visionOS 26.3 comes a month after Apple released visionOS 26.2. ‌visionOS 26‌.3 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the exterior EyeSight display. Apple's release notes say that visionOS 26.3 includes bug fixes and security improvements, and that the software is recommended for all Vision Pro users.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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05:01 pm
Never Miss Your Doorbell While Wearing Headphones on iPhone | MacRumors
Never Miss Your Doorbell While Wearing Headphones on iPhone
Noise-canceling headphones are great for blocking out distractions, but they can also block out sounds you actually need to hear, like a courier at the front door with your all-important package. Well, thanks to an Apple accessibility feature, your iPhone can do the listening for you and alert you when your doorbell rings. Meet Sound Recognition, the feature in question that uses your iPhone's microphone to continuously monitor for specific sounds. When it detects one, you'll receive a notification that plays through your connected headphones, along with a vibration on your iPhone (or Apple Watch if you're wearing one). The feature is primarily designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it's equally useful for anyone who works from home and regularly wears AirPods or noise-canceling headphones. How to Enable Doorbell Alerts Open Settings on your iPhone. Tap Accessibility. Under "Hearing," tap Sound & Name Recognition, then tap through to Sound Recognition. Toggle on Sound Recognition, then tap Sounds. Under "Household," tap Door Bell and toggle it on in the next screen. You'll also see the option to choose a specific alert tone. Note that your iPhone may need to download a small file (around 30MB) before the feature becomes active, so a Wi-Fi or data connection could be needed. Training Your iPhone to Recognize Your Doorbell If your iPhone doesn't reliably detect your specific doorbell, you can train it to recognize the sound by following these steps: Go to Settings ➝ Accessibility ➝ Sound & Name Recognition ➝ Sound Recognition ➝ Sounds. Tap Custom Appliance or Doorbell, then enter a name. Place your iPhone near the doorbell and tap Start Listening. Ring your doorbell. Repeat this five times to complete the training. Quick Access via Control Center Once Sound Recognition is enabled, iOS automatically adds a toggle to Control Center. From here, you can press and hold the Sound Recognition icon to quickly enable or disable specific sounds without diving into Settings, which is handy if you only want doorbell detection when you're at home wearing headphones. Sound Recognition can also detect smoke alarms, dog barking, babies crying, water running, and more. Just keep in mind that Apple advises against relying on this feature in high-risk or emergency situations.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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04:20 pm
Samsung Smart Monitor M9 Hits Record Low Price on Amazon at $300 Off, Plus More Monitor Deals | MacRumors
Samsung Smart Monitor M9 Hits Record Low Price on Amazon at $300 Off, Plus More Monitor Deals
Samsung has introduced a few big discounts on its monitors, TVs, and more this week on Amazon, including the return of the all-time low price on the newest Smart Monitor. You can get the 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 for $1,299.99 on Amazon, down from $1,599.99. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. This model of the Smart Monitor launched last summer, and today's sale is a match of the best price we've ever tracked, which is typically at Samsung.com. Today is one of the few times we've seen this low price on Amazon, and it has an estimated delivery date between February 14 and February 16. $300 OFFSamsung 32-Inch Smart Monitor M9 for $1,299.99 In addition to the Smart Monitor M9 sale, Amazon is offering extra savings if you purchase multiple select Samsung products this week. Purchasing two products from this landing page will get you an additional $100 off, three will get you $300 off, four will get you $400 off, and five will get you $500 off your total. BUY MORE, SAVE MORESamsung Sale on Amazon This list includes monitors, TVs, soundbars, and even cordless vacuums. We've gathered a few of the highlights in this sale below, but be sure to check out the full list on Amazon before the sale ends. Shoppers should note that Amazon has discounts on many of these products without the need of the bundle offers, but if you're interested in more than one you can get some extra savings by clicking the on-page coupons. 43-inch Odyssey Neo G7 Gaming Monitor - $569.99, down from $999.99 27-inch Odyssey G61SD Gaming Monitor - $649.99, down from $799.99 49-inch Odyssey G95C Curved Gaming Monitor - $749.99, down from $999.99 49-inch Odyssey G91SD Curved Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,299.99 32-inch Odyssey G81SF Gaming Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,299.99 Bespoke AI Jet Ultra Cordless Stick Vacuum - $899.00, down from $1,099.00 49-inch Odyssey G95SD Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,197.99, down from $1,899.99 57-inch Odyssey Neo G95NC Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,499.99, down from $2,299.99 77-inch OLED 4K Smart TV - $2,197.99, down from $2,497.99 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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04:08 pm
Where Is AirTag 2's Missing Feature? | MacRumors
Where Is AirTag 2's Missing Feature?
Apple just introduced its second-generation AirTag, but one rumored feature failed to arrive with the new accessory. The second-generation ‌AirTag‌ features 50% farther Precision Finding, upgraded Bluetooth with increased range, a 50% louder speaker, and more. Back in August 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the second-generation ‌AirTag‌ would have better integration with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset, as part of its spatial computing ecosystem. He did not provide any additional details at the time, but the functionality was a key part of the rumor cycle around the accessory leading up to its launch. The final, released product has no such feature, but it is possible that Apple could still add deeper ‌AirTag‌ integration with the Vision Pro via visionOS 27. It is also worth noting that Kuo said another product will have similar Vision Pro integration. Last year, he explained that the next-generation AirPods Pro will feature a "more significant" hardware upgrade in the form of infrared cameras. They are are expected to integrate with Apple's Vision Pro headset to provide enhanced enhanced spatial experiences: The new AirPods is expected to be used with Vision Pro and future Apple headsets to enhance the user experience of spatial audio and strengthen the spatial computing ecosystem. For example, when a user is watching a video with Vision Pro and wearing this new AirPods, if users turn their heads to look in a specific direction, the sound source in that direction can be emphasized to enhance the spatial audio/computing experience. While the rumor about infrared cameras is now widely corroborated, the Vision Pro integration is more uncertain. With the second-generation ‌AirTag‌'s rumored Vision Pro integration missing, the AirPods Pro's similar feature may now be in question, not least because Apple now appears to be deprioritizing the Vision Pro with no new headsets in active development. Related Roundups: AirPods Pro 3, AirTagTag: Ming-Chi KuoBuyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
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My 10 favorite products of 2021; the number one spot goes to ….

This year has seen some incredible products roll out from Apple and other companies. Following are my top 10 favorites with the top of the list going to The 24-inch iMac Apple wowed everyone with its debut of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with your choice...

AWT mini-review: Satechi’s new adapters for M1 Macs

I’m a big fan of Apple’s M1 Macs, especially the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Despite the (relative) plethora of ports on the updated laptop, having some adapters still comes in handy. And Satechi has released two new, very useful ones. The USB-C Multiport MX Adapter...

Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a great, if pricey, accessory for 2021 MacBook Pros

I hate to use the term “power user,” as I’m not sure exactly what the term means. However, Satechi’s new Thunderbolt 4 Dock is certainly a product that will appeal to those who want power and expandability on Apple’s latest and greatest laptops and are willing to pay...

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Monday March 02
01:52 am
AMS (Amsterdam) on 2026-03-04 | CloudFlare
AMS (Amsterdam) on 2026-03-04
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 4, 23:00 UTC - Mar 5, 07:00 UTCMar 2, 01:52 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in AMS (Amsterdam) datacenter between 2026-03-04 23:00 and 2026-03-05 07:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.
Read more »
Sunday March 01
01:29 pm
Service degradation on DUO81 | Duo Security
Service degradation on DUO81
Mar 1, 08:29 ESTInvestigating - We are currently investigating a service degradation on our DUO81 deployment and are working to restore services as soon as possible.
Read more »
Saturday February 28
03:54 pm
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance | Twilio
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 3, 15:00 - 16:30 PSTFeb 28, 07:42 PSTScheduled - Our SMS and MMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting a planned maintenance from 03 March 2026 at 15:00 PST until 03 March 2026 at 16:30 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS and MMS to and from United States handsets via United States long codes and short codes.
Read more »
11:00 am
Elevated 500 error rate on Cache Purge API requests | CloudFlare
Elevated 500 error rate on Cache Purge API requests
Feb 28, 11:00 UTCResolved - Cloudflare investigated and mitigated an issue that caused customers on Europe, Middle East, Africa and western Asia Pacific regions to observe a higher 500 error rate on Cache Purge API requests from 10:35 to 11:00 today.
Read more »
10:00 am
Increased traffic and elevated 5xx errors in Salt Lake City, US region | CloudFlare
Increased traffic and elevated 5xx errors in Salt Lake City, US region
Feb 28, 10:00 UTCResolved - Cloudflare is aware and has already mitigated an increased level of errors in our data centers in the Salt Lake City area.This may have impacted customers web site visitors in the region for about 15 minutes each time, in these timestamps:23/02 - 03:30 UTC26/02 - 03:45 UTC27/02 - 06:25 UTC
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03:23 am
US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers | Twilio
US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 5, 19:00 - 21:00 PSTFeb 27, 19:14 PSTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 05 March 2026 at 19:00 PST until 05 March 2026 at 21:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via subset of short codes.
Read more »
03:23 am
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance | Twilio
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 1, 23:00 PST - Mar 2, 03:00 PSTFeb 27, 19:12 PSTScheduled - Our SMS and MMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting a planned maintenance from 01 March 2026 at 23:00 PST until 02 March 2026 at 03:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS and MMS to and from United States handsets via United States long codes and short codes.
Read more »
Friday February 27
11:45 pm
Magic Transit Control Plane Issues | CloudFlare
Magic Transit Control Plane Issues
Feb 27, 23:32 UTCIdentified - Cloudflare is investigating issues with the Magic Transit and Cloudflare WAN control plane. Customers may be unable to make configuration changes to GRE/IPsec tunnels, CNI connections or routing policies via the Dashboard or API. Existing Magic Transit and Cloudflare WAN tunnel configurations and traffic forwarding are operating normally. This issue does not affect the data plane - active tunnels and health checks continue to function.We are working to mitigate this problem. More updates to follow shortly.
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11:23 pm
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance | Twilio
United States SMS and MMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 9, 23:00 - 23:30 PDTFeb 27, 14:54 PSTScheduled - Our SMS and MMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting a planned maintenance from 09 March 2026 at 23:00 PDT until 09 March 2026 at 23:30 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS and MMS to and from United States handsets via United States long codes and short codes.
Read more »
10:53 pm
France SMS Carrier Partner Maintenance | Twilio
France SMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 11, 12:00 - 14:00 PDTFeb 27, 14:44 PSTScheduled - Our SMS carrier partner in France is conducting a planned maintenance from 11 March 2026 at 12:00 PDT until 11 March 2026 at 14:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to France handsets via subset of France long codes.
Read more »
09:58 pm
Potential service degradation in South America datacenters | CloudFlare
Potential service degradation in South America datacenters
Feb 27, 21:58 UTCMonitoring - A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results.Feb 27, 21:54 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is aware of, and investigating an issue which potentially impacts multiple customers and services in South America which includes datacenters located in Chile. Further detail will be provided as more information becomes available.
Read more »
09:13 pm
Connectivity Issue – Mumbai, IN (in-mum) | Linode
Connectivity Issue – Mumbai, IN (in-mum)
Feb 27, 21:00 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating an issue affecting connectivity in our Mumbai, IN (in-mum) data center 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 »
08:18 pm
Connectivity Issue – Singapore: 1 (INVESTIGATING) | Linode
Connectivity Issue – Singapore: 1 (INVESTIGATING)
Feb 27, 20:18 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating an issue affecting connectivity in our Singapore data center starting at approximately 1905 UTC, February 27, 2026. 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 »
06:52 pm
DEL (New Delhi) on 2026-02-27 | CloudFlare
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 »
05:30 pm
Increased HTTP 520 Errors in Newark, New Jersey datacenter (EWR) | CloudFlare
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 »

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