AI agents are coming to CarPlay, but they're not getting the keys
Apple is formally making room for AI agents in the car, adding a new voice-based conversational app category to CarPlay in iOS 26.4.CarPlayApple's February 9, 2026 update to the CarPlay Developer Guide introduces a new CarPlay entitlement category for voice-driven conversational apps. The move creates an official path for third-party AI assistants to operate inside CarPlay rather than relying solely on Siri.The change arrives as generative AI becomes more embedded across Apple platforms. CarPlay is next, but Apple is setting clear boundaries. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Music tests new AI ‘Playlist Playground’ feature
Apple has introduced a new AI-powered feature to Apple Music with the beta release of iOS 26.4: "Playlist Playground." This tool allows… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple Mail has a hidden feature that solved my biggest inbox problem
I’ve used Apple’s Mail app for years across my iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but the recently added inbox categories were a mixed bag for me until I started regularly using one hidden feature. more…

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iOS 26.4 adds support for voice-based AI apps to CarPlay
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple was preparing to update CarPlay with support for voice-based interactions in AI apps like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. As of this week’s release of iOS 26.4 beta 1, that support has officially arrived. Here’s how it works. more…

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End of an era: Apple’s tvOS 26.4 removes standalone iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps from Apple TV
In Apple's upcoming tvOS 26.4 update the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps will be fully removed from Apple TV devices… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Toyota rolls out digital car keys on Apple iPhone
Toyota is rolling out support for Apple Wallet car keys, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch users to lock, unlock, and start select vehicles … The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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New MacBook with ‘fun colors’ sounds like the best Mac for most people
For years now, the best Mac for most people has been the MacBook Air. But that may be about to change, with a revival of the suffix-free ‘MacBook’ coming soon. more…

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Amazon adds ‘read and listen’ mode to Audible app for immersion reading feature
Torn between reading an ebook and listening to the narrated version? Amazon’s Audible is introducing a clever solution that it calls immersion reading. more…

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Apple TV debuts trailer for psychological thriller ‘Imperfect Women,’ limited series premiering March 18th
Apple TV on Wednesday released the trailer for “Imperfect Women,” a new psychological thriller starring and executive produced… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Berkshire trims Apple stake but keeps the stock as a $62 billion anchor
Berkshire Hathaway reduced its Apple stake by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, but Apple remains the conglomerate's largest equity holding by a wide margin.Berkshire Hathaway trims its Apple investmentA February 17 regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows Berkshire trimmed its Apple position during the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Apple was still valued at roughly $62 billion within Berkshire's portfolio at year's end.The filing also shows Berkshire sold 77% of its Amazon stake in the same quarter, a far more substantial reduction than the modest adjustment to Apple. The latest stock cut by Berkshire isn't a harbinger of doom but rather a routine portfolio adjustment. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Belkin’s power bank is the perfect iPhone backup [Review] ★★★★☆
This Belkin power bank provides convenient charging without the hassle of extra cables for your devices. We went hands-on for our review. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Belkin’s power bank is the perfect iPhone backup [Review] ★★★★☆
This Belkin power bank provides convenient charging without the hassle of extra cables for your devices. We went hands-on for our review. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Deals: Most affordable M5 iPad Pro nearly $200 off, Apple Watch Ultra 3 up to $155 off, Ocean Band, Trail Loop, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now ready to go, starting off with new Amazon all-time lows on the most affordable M5 iPad Pro models – you will now find nearly $200 off the most attainable 11-inch configurations. Alongside a chance to score the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $155 off, we also spotted new Amazon all-time low pricing on the Neon Green Ocean Band and the blue Apple Trail Loop at up to 41% off, joined by ongoing $300 price drops on 32GB M5 MacBook Pro models. Scope it all out down below.  more…

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Apple TV unveils new psychological crime thriller coming soon
Apple TV just released the trailer for Imperfect Women, a new psychological thriller series revolving around the fallout from a shocking crime. more…

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Lowest price ever: M5 iPad Pro plunges to $799
Amazon has slashed $200 off the M5 iPad Pro, bringing the cost down to a record low $799.91.Get an M5 iPad Pro for just $799.99 while supplies last - Image credit: AppleApple's latest M5 11-inch iPad Pro is on sale at Amazon for $799.91 in Space Black, delivering the lowest price on record this Wednesday.Buy M5 iPad Pro for $799.91 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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March madness: What Apple is getting ready to launch
With an Apple experience on March 4, the rumor mill is in overdrive. These are the best candidates — and the also-rans — for what Apple will launch and then have an "experience" to demo on March 4.The more likely Apple launches for early MarchIt seems the March 4 Apple Experience won't be an actual launch of new products in Apple's catalog, but instead capping off multiple announcements during the week. That gives Apple a lot of opportunity to promote multiple items.With the breadth of rumored devices on the docket, including many anticipated for launch in earlu 2026. it certainly needs that opportunity. But, as ever, some have more chance of making an appearance than others. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Berkshire Hathaway reduces Apple stake as Warren Buffett officially retires
In new SEC disclosures filed this week, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed that it has once again trimmed its stake in Apple. At the same time, the firm disclosed a new $350 million investment in the New York Times. more…

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One of our favorite MagSafe power banks is nearly half-off ($38)
Macworld Keys, wallet, phone, power bank—they should all be part of your daily routine. Missing out on a power bank? Then today’s deal is for you: Amazon is selling the Baseus Picogo Magsafe power bank on sale for $38 right now, a massive 46 percent off and matching its all-time low. With a 10,000mAh capacity, this tiny power bank is more than enough to recharge your phone about twice over, which is great when you go about town or when you travel, as well as for concerts. The Baseus Picogo supports both 15W Qi2 wireless charging and a faster 27W wired charging via the available USB-C port. So, if you have a cable in your bag and your phone’s battery is on its last legs, you might want to plug that in so it charges faster. The power bank is 0.5 inches thick and only weighs 6 oz, so you’ll barely feel it in your pocket. You’ll also barely feel it when it’s magnetized to the back of your phone. When we reviewed it, we gave it 4 stars and our editor’s choice award, praising its portability and fast charging. So snag one of these Baseus Picogo Magsafe power banks for $38 and keep your iPhone going for hours. Buy now at Amazon

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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs says Apple is finally debt-free
On February 18, 2004, Steve Jobs sent a memo to Apple employees revealing that the company was, for the first time in years, out of debt. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple revives Apple Music Connect (but fans can’t join)
Apple revives Apple Music Connect -- but as a tool for music labels and industry promoters, not for music fans. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple’s March event might bring several days of surprises
Macworld We now know the date of Apple’s next event-type thing: March 4. But as ever, we won’t know the precise details or the products the company plans to announce until it chooses to make that information public. Unusually, however, there’s a good chance that Apple will tell us about the new products first and host the event (or, to use the company’s preferred terminology, the “experience”) after. Because one respected pundit has put forward the theory that Apple will announce new iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks via press release on Monday to Wednesday of that week, before journalists and influencers are gathered for a hands-on session with the hardware. John Gruber, writing on his Daring Fireball blog, ponders the large number of Apple releases that are expected in the next few months. We’re waiting for the iPhone 17e, he notes, new versions of the entry-level iPad (with an A18 or A19 chip) and iPad Air (with an M4), M5 Pro and Max MacBook Pro, M5 MacBook Air, and the rumored low-cost MacBook with an A18 chip. That’s a lot to fit into a single event. Perhaps too much. “What strikes me is that March 4—the ‘experience’ day—is a Wednesday,” Gruber writes. “So my spitball guess is that they announce all these products via Newsroom press releases, day-by-day. Like, say, the iPhone 17e on Monday, new iPad(s) on Tuesday, and new MacBooks on Wednesday. And then the ‘experience’ will be a hands-on thing with in-person demos.” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is generally keyed into Apple’s product launches, responded on X, saying Gruber’s guess “is exactly what I am expecting based on what I’ve heard.” Gurman has previously reported that Apple had a product launch slated for March 2. There is a precedent for this sort of serial press release strategy. At the end of October 2024, Apple sent out announcements on consecutive days for the M4 iMac (October 28), M4 Mac mini (October 29), and M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro (October 30). The company even called this an “exciting week of announcements,” even though it only lasted for three days and wasn’t especially exciting, focusing only on the Mac section of its product portfolio. A week of announcements covering the iPhone, iPad, and Mac might do a better job of qualifying for that adjective.

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Apple Music in iOS 26.4: Five new features coming to iPhone
iOS 26.4 is packed with new features and changes, including five updates for the Music app. Here’s everything new for Apple Music in iOS 26.4. more…

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iOS 26.4 beta 1: Notification Forwarding onboarding, allow search on iCloud․com, and more [Video]
In this new episode of iOS Decoded, we take a deep dive into what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1, with in-depth looks at dozens of new features and changes. For example, we get our first look at the Notification Forwarding setup for third-party smart watches and other hardware devices in the EU, along with new iCloud.com functionality that brings secure Photos and iCloud Drive search to the web. In this post, we’ll consider five standout features included with the update, but watch the full video for a look at everything new, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more in-depth walkthroughs. more…

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Producer Dana Eden dies unexpectedly at 52 during filming of Apple TV series ‘Tehran’
Dana Eden, the acclaimed Israeli producer and co-creator of the Apple TV+ spy thriller series "Tehran," has died at age 52 during… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Early demo reveals how CarPlay handles video in iOS 26.4, including Apple TV app
Starting with iOS 26, Apple will officially allow video playback through CarPlay. Released this week in beta, iOS 26.4 appears to be the first version with support, as long as two conditions are met. While CarPlay video playback isn’t ready for users yet, one developer has shown off how it will look as well as how Apple’s TV app looks in the car. more…

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You don’t need to pay full price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
These stackable, discounted Xbox Game Pass Ultimate one-month subscriptions cost just $24.99 (regularly $29.99). (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Here’s a hopeful sign the M5 Mac Studio isn’t too far away
Thinking of purchasing a Mac Studio? Here's why it might be wise to wait for improved M5 versions coming soon — they look phenomenal. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Federal ban on TP-Link routers shelved, but Texas fights on
Badged versions of TP-Link routers are supplied to US customers by more than 300 ISPs, making them the most widely used Wi-Fi routers in the country, found in millions of US homes. It therefore caused grave concern when security researchers at Microsoft found that a hacking group based in China was using vulnerabilities in the devices to carry out cyber attacks in the US. It had been widely expected that the routers would be banned from sale in the US, but politics seemingly intervened. However, the battle is not yet over … more…

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Berkshire trims 4% of its Apple stake in Q4; Apple remains its largest equity holding at $62 billion
During the fourth quarter of 2025, Berkshire also reduced its position in Apple — its largest equity holding — by about 4%, trimming roughly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple is making it easier to customize how subtitles look on iPhone
The usage of subtitles and captions in TV shows and movies is ever increasing, both due to the popularity of foreign language content and Hollywood’s inability to produce an audio track where the person speaking is sufficiently intelligible. With iOS 26.4, Apple is improving the subtitles experience in the native video player on iPhone and iPad, and a similar change is rolling out to Apple TV with tvOS 26.4 … more…

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