9to5Mac Daily: January 27, 2026 – AirTag 2 is here
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 Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year. more…

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Month-end deal: AirPods Pro 3 are back down to best $199 price
AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $199, as Amazon issues month-end deals on Apple's latest products.Grab the best price of 2026 on Apple AirPods Pro 3.Apple AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for $199 at Amazon, reflecting the lowest price seen in 2026 and beating Black Friday 2025 pricing by $20.Buy AirPods Pro 3 for $199 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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PSA: Belkin ending support for most Wemo smart home accessories this week
Last year, Belkin announced that it would end support for most of its Wemo smart home products in January 2026. That deadline is now approaching, with customers set to lose access to most Wemo smart home accessory functionality on January 31. The exception, however, is if you use Wemo accessories with HomeKit. more…

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WhatsApp launches new anti-spyware mode for improved security
WhatsApp announced a pair of anti-spyware security improvements today, including a new ‘Strict Account Settings’ mode and behind-the-scenes changes to protect user data. more…

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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs introduces us to the iPad
On January 27, 2010, Steve Jobs unveiled the first-generation iPad. A few months later, It became Apple's fastest-selling new product ever. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Deals: AirPods Pro 3 back to Amazon low, AirPods 4 ANC 35% off, Alpine/Trail/Ocean bands hit best prices, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now ready to go, and alongside the new AirTag 2 up for purchase at $29 Prime shipped, we have some sweet AirPods deals. Amazon has now brought back the $199 AirPods Pro 3 all-time low from the holidays last year and it is also offering solid price drop on AirPods 4 with ANC down at $119 shipped too. From there, the official Apple Watch band deals roll on, with new all-time lows on the blue Alpine Loop, the green Trail Loop, and the latest Ocean Band in the new Anchor Blue color too. All of that and more awaits below.  more…

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This Ugreen 4-port plug is the last charger you’ll ever need (40% off)
Macworld A multi-port plug can make your life so much easier, especially if you can get one for a great price. Well, today’s deal has you covered: This 4-port Ugreen charger is only $24.50 at Amazon right now, a hefty 39 percent discount for a charger that can charge everything. This particular Ugreen charger uses GaN technology, which means it delivers power safely and efficiently in a much smaller package. It’s also got a fold-up plug for snag-free traveling. With a 65W maximum output, this charger will pair well with smartphones, tablets, and even your MacBook Air. As mentioned, this is a 4-port charger that features three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. When all are in use, the left-most ports will deliver 30W and 20W, while the other two will both cap at 15W, so you’re better off using single-port charging for your MacBook. Snag one of these Ugreen chargers for $24.50 before the deal ends. This discount will only be available today, so time’s ticking. Don't miss out on this Ugreen 4-port chargerBuy now at Amazon

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Apple TV launches F1 programming in app ahead of season kickoff
Apple TV is the exclusive US streaming home for Formula 1 races starting this year. And ahead of the first Grand Prix in March, the Apple TV app now offers a variety of programming to help fans get ready for the season. more…

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Mcon launches its long-awaited controller for iPhone gamers
The OhSnap Mcon iPhone game controller is brilliant — it's simply packed with innovation. And it's finally available! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS versions: Explore every iOS version from day one to today
Macworld iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. It’s the operating system on which everything else sits, while also delivering plenty of features and dedicated apps built by Apple itself. Every year (usually in September) Apple adds new features to compatible iPhones with an update to iOS, and in the months that follow more features arrive. If you want to know what the latest version of iOS is, or if you’ve ever wondered about when versions came out and what features they brought, we will answer your questions. We also show you how to check which iOS you’re currently using and how to update to the latest iteration. The latest version of iOS is iOS 26, which brings a brand new look and lots of new features. iOS 26 arrived in September 2025 and subsequent updates to iOS 26 have added new features. As of January 2026 we are at version iOS 26.2.1. iOS version history: Every iOS and the features it brought There are significant milestones scattered across the iOS timeline: Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007.Apple iPhone OS (2007): iOS made its debut in 2007 with the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the little device aloft revealing it to the world for the first time, it wasn’t running iOS 1. Instead, it was reported by Apple to be powered by OS X, the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until finally gaining its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS in 2010. iPhone OS 2 (2008): The second major release of the iPhone software was groundbreaking because it brought third party apps and introduced the App Store. iPhone OS 3 (2009): This update was designed to make it easier to find things, while at the same time adding the ability to have up to 11 pages to the Home Screen. Messages could support MMS, Video recording became possible and it was possible to save voice notes with the Voice Memos app. iOS 4 (2010): Apple changed the name to iOS and added the ability to put apps in folders for a better organised Home screen with iOS 4. The FaceTime, iBooks and Game Centre apps also arrived. The iPad also joined the scene, sharing the same operating system as the iPhone. iOS 5 (2011): iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw the debut of Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. The Notification Centre was introduced and iCloud arrived bringing syncronisation between devices. This was the first time iOS could be installed directly on the iPhone without requiring a computer. iOS 6 (2012): This is where Apple Maps came onto the scene. Podcasts and Passbook (now Wallet) apps also arrived. iCloud Photo Stream made it easier to share photos with family and friends. iOS 6 was the last with a skeuomorphic design. iOS 7 (2013): With iOS 7 iPhone users got a redesigned user interface, which looked a lot more modern with flatter icons. iOS 7 introduced AirDrop and CarPlay. iOS 7 had a brand new look (at the time).Apple iOS 8 (2014): One of the features of iOS 8 was Continuity, which linked the iPhone, iPad and Mac together, so you could “handoff” tasks from one device to another. Family Sharing also arrived making it easier to manage a child’s iPhone. iOS 9 (2015): iOS 9 improved the Notes app, added Apple News, and featured a new Night Shift mode that removed some of the blue light that can disturb circadian rhythms and stop someone sleeping. iOS 10 (2016): There were updates to Messages and changes to the Photos app in iOS 10. A new Home app brought HomeKit control. Maps got a redesign. Universal Clipboard meant that users could copy something on a Mac and paste it on an iPhone, for example. iOS 11 (2017): Things changed significantly in iOS 11 in 2017 as it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a Home button – the iPhone X. There was a new Files app making it easier to access content synced or saved in iCloud and the Control Centre got a redesign. iOS 12 (2018): Screen Time, Memoji, Group FaceTime and Siri Shortcuts were new in iOS 12. iOS 13 (2019): Another major shift came with iOS 13 in 2019, as Apple’s mobile operating system for the iPad split with the iPhone, with iPadOS powering new iPads. Updates to iOS included Dark Mode, new privacy features and the ability to Sign in with Apple and hide your email address. The Photos and Apple Maps apps got a redesign and a swipe-to-type keyboard was added. iOS 14 (2020): One of the most notable additions was Back Tap, a feature that effectively turned the back of the iPhone into an extra button. Starting with iOS 14.2, music recognition was built directly into the operating system via a Shazam button. iOS 15 on iPhone 12.Foundry iOS 15 (2021): Focus Mode arrived in iOS 15 to help users manage the onslaught of notifications, Live Text and Visual Look up made it possible to interact with text within photos (Live Text) and use the camera to identify objects like plants and animals. The Safari browser received a major interface update as did Maps and the Weather app. iOS 16 (2022): One of the most visible changes in iOS 16 was the complete overhaul of the Lock screen, which allowed users to add widgets for the first time to view data at a glance without unlocking their devices. Apple added Rapid Security Responses so that it could deliver important security patches outside of an iOS update. iOS 17 (2023): NameDrop in iOS 17 made it possible to share information by bringing two iPhones together. Stolen Device Protection added a layer of security by requiring biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID) before an Apple ID password could be changed. Live Voicemail meant that iPhone users could get a live transaction of a message. iOS 18 (2024): The iOS 18 update laid the groundwork for Apple’s subsequent AI initiatives. There was also a complete redesign of the Photos app, a dedicated Passwords app, Control Center Customization and Live Activities (so you could see when your dinner delivery is arriving). iOS 26 (2025): Rather than progress to iOS 19, Apple has aligned the numbering of all its operating systems according to the year with iOS 26. It wasn’t just a name change though, there was a significant visual and functional overhaul with a Liquid Glass design language. Big changes also came to the Phone app with Call Screening and Hold Assist. Live Transaltions make it easy to communicate with foreign friends and colleagues. The Camera app had a simplifying redesign and a Games app replaced Game Centre. Foundry Here’s how the latest two iOS versions compare: iOS 26 vs iOS 18. List of iOS versions and latest versions Here’s a breakdown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, when they were released, when they were last updated, and the latest iOS version. OS versionRelease dateLatest versionLatest update dateiPhone OS 1June 29, 2007iOS 1.1.5July 15, 2008iPhone OS 2July 11, 2008iOS 2.2.1January 27, 2009iPhone OS 3June 17, 2009iOS 3.2.2August 11, 2010iOS 4June 22, 2010iOS 4.3.5July 25, 2011iOS 5October 12, 2011iOS 5.1.1May 7, 2012iOS 6September 19, 2012iOS 6.1.6February 21, 2014iOS 7September 18, 2013iOS 7.1.2June 30, 2014iOS 8September 17, 2014iOS 8.4.1August 13, 2015iOS 9September 16, 2015iOS 9.3.6July 22, 2019iOS 10September 13, 2016iOS 10.3.4July 22, 2019iOS 11September 19, 2017iOS 11.4.1July 9, 2018iOS 12September 17, 2018iOS 12.5.8January 26, 2025iOS 13September 19, 2019iOS 13.7September 1, 2020iOS 14September 17, 2020iOS 14.8.1October 26, 2021iOS 15September 24, 2021iOS 15.8.6January 26, 2026iOS 16September 12, 2022iOS 16.7.13January 26, 2026iOS 17September 18, 2023iOS 17.7.2November 19, 2024iOS 18September 16, 2024iOS 18.7.4January 26, 2026iOS 26September 15, 2025iOS 26.2.1January 26, 2026 Which iOS versions are currently supported by Apple? In terms of new features, only iOS 26 is currently supported by Apple. When Apple introduced iOS 26 stopped development of new features for iOS 18. The following iPhones support iOS 26: iPhone 17 Series – iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air (2025) iPhone 16 Series – iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e (2024) iPhone 15 Series – iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max (2023) iPhone 14 Series – iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max (2022) iPhone 13 Series – iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max (2021) iPhone 12 Series – iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max (2020) iPhone 11 Series – iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (2019) iPhone SE – iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020), iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022) However, even when it stops development of an old version of iOS, Apple does continue to issue security updates for a little while longer. As we explain in How long does Apple support iPhones? Apple supports some iPhones that can’t run the latest version of iOS with security updates. For example, in January 2026 the company issued a update to iOS 18 that addressed security flaws. That iOS 18 security patch was only available for iPhones that are unable to update to iOS 26, though, so there is an assumption that Apple wants those who have compatible iPhones to update to iOS 26 in order to get security related support. A big surprise then came on January 26, 2026 when Apple issued updates to iOS 12, 15, 16 and 18. In that case the updates extended the certificate required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027. The iOS 16 update even provides some bug fixes. These January 2026 updates are available for 2013’s iPhone 5S, and 2014’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Luckily, many iPhones are able to run supported versions of iOS. We run through which iPhone supports which version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run. You may also find this at a glance chart useful: Which iPhone runs which iOS Every version of iOS and the phones supported. Foundry So, there it is. A potted history of iOS. Want to know about all the versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released so far. You can also find out what the latest version of macOS is.

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Wall Street braces for a blowout quarter from Apple
Apple earnings are set to soar with predicted double-digit revenue growth. Discover why Wall Street is so upbeat about the iPhone maker. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple to unveil new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro/Max chips as soon as tomorrow
Apple is currently hosting an "Apple Experience" event in Los Angeles for creators, fueling rumors that a new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro/Max… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple doesn’t want AirTag 2 tracking pets. Why not?
Macworld Midway through the seventh paragraph of its press release about the new AirTag, Apple reiterates its surprisingly unambiguous position on the device’s intended usage. “Designed exclusively for tracking objects,” the company writes, “and not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking…” It may have got a louder speaker and longer effective tracking range, but the updated AirTag still doesn’t have “tracking anything with a pulse” on its feature list. The first half of that italicised section makes sense, because Apple wishes to distance itself from the criminals and abusers who misuse the AirTag to stalk their victims. This was particularly widespread in the device’s early days, before privacy measures were introduced to make it beep when separated from its owner and send alerts to unknown smartphones it detected nearby, but still remains a concern to this day. And thus, even though a parent could quite ethically place an AirTag in their child’s school bag for peace of mind, it’s understandable that Apple would decline to cater to that use case. But the second part is more of a mystery. What’s wrong with using an AirTag to track your pet? A dog or cat isn’t going to mind, and an AirTag in the collar would come in equally handy if your pet is stolen or if you just want to know where it goes to get a second dinner. Indeed, the only people I know who get significant utility out of their AirTags use them to track the movements of their wander-prone cats. I suppose the answer isn’t one of ethics but of practicality. As I’ve written elsewhere, tackling privacy issues comes at a price, which is that the AirTag is now pretty useless at preventing theft. Hiding an AirTag in the case of your expensive musical instrument might seem like an excellent way to see where it gets taken by thieves, but they would soon be alerted to its presence by the anti-stalking measures. Similarly, the privacy features create headaches any time you use the AirTag to track a living creature. You’re obviously not stalking your own child, but their teacher may not appreciate the AirTag beeping in the classroom because it’s been out of range of your iPhone for too long. (There are ways around this, but they don’t get Apple’s official endorsement.) And while most cats I know reappear for feeding, sleep, or attention frequently enough to stop the AirTag beeping in distress, I suppose that feature could become annoying to passers-by if your animal is prone to staying away from the house for longer periods. Let alone if it’s stolen and the thieves start getting alerts on their phones, I don’t imagine it takes long to search a cat. Ultimately, Apple isn’t trying to control how we use a product we own, but merely to warn us about one of its limitations, one which, unlike with the AirTag 1, is present in the AirTag 2 from the very start. AirTags simply aren’t very good at tracking people. They’re designed that way: it’s a feature, not a bug. The pet issue strikes me as less clear-cut, partly because cats don’t carry smartphones and partly because they’re less likely than your children to have a reason to be out all day. There’s absolutely still a use case for owners who are curious about where their pets like to wander, and I’m sure AirTag collars and compatible Find My trackers will continue to sell. But if you expect the device to help at all in a case of theft, you’re likely to be disappointed and wish you’d paid attention to Apple’s warning.

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TikTok says it’s still working to resolve ‘cascading systems failure’
TikTok is still broken for many people in the United States. In a new update today, the now-US-backed company says a power outage at one of its data centers “caused a cascading systems failure” that it’s still working to resolve. more…

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iOS 26.3 will add three new ways to customize your iPhone
Apple just released iOS 26.2.1 this week, but iOS 26.3 is expected to launch soon too. When it does, it will introduce three new ways to customize the iPhone thanks to new settings and wallpaper options. more…

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I figured out the best use for the iPhone’s Action button [Pro Tip]
Here's the perfect set of controls to assign to your iPhone's Action button. I made a shortcut that combines the two controls in one.  (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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The iPhone Fold won’t be the most expensive smartphone; this will
We’re expecting the iPhone Fold to be eye-wateringly expensive, with predicted pricing as high as $2,500. However, it won’t be the most expensive smartphone on the market thanks to Samsung launching its new trifold phone at a price which gives little change from $3k … more…

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Update: Apple’s class-action Siri payments are beginning to arrive
Macworld Update January 27: Payments are now beginning to arrive for eligible recipients. The original article appears below. If you’ve always suspected that Siri is listening to you even though you haven’t called upon it, a new class-action lawsuit may give you some peace of mind. Apple has agreed to pay nearly $100 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit over Siri’s ability to “listen to, record, and share their conversations” without consent. According to the Lopez v. Apple suit, which was filed in 2019, the plaintiffs allege that Apple’s Siri-enabled devices both listened to conversations due to “accidental activations” and shared the contents with advertisers. Examples in the suit include Air Jordan sneakers, Pit Viper sunglasses, and a specific surgical treatment, all of which allegedly resulted in targeted ads on their devices. The lawsuit covers a decade of devices, from September 2014 to December 2024, and seemingly includes iPhones, Apple Watches, and any other device with “Hey Siri” capabilities. As is the case with class-action settlements, Apple has denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to the terms of the settlement. In a statement to the press, Apple stressed that Siri data is not used for market purposes: Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning. Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose. Apple settled this case to avoid additional litigation so we can move forward from concerns about third-party grading that we already addressed in 2019. We use Siri data to improve Siri, and we are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private. The $95 million figure is relatively low, especially since it also includes legal fees, which are likely to top $30 million. For example, the class-action suit over the iPhone 6 battery issue concluded in a $500 million settlement, which resulted in an average payout of $65 per person across 3 million claims. At any rate, Reuters reports class members may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, but that will be dependent on the terms of the settlement, which haven’t been disclosed. Members of the class received emails this week with unique codes identifying their participation in the class action. To receive payment, those codes must be entered into the claims section of the Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement site. We had trouble logging in when we tried, so there might be a temporary issue with the site.

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This guy fed years of Apple Watch health data to ChatGPT — with disastrous results
A tech columnist finds the Apple Health ChatGPT integration raises major red flags after feeding the AI bot a decade of Apple Watch data. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Morgan Stanley expects Apple’s earnings to beat expectations
Consensus estimates project Apple to report approximately $138.4 billion in revenue for the December quarter (fiscal Q1 2026), along with… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Photoshop’s AI tools now offer higher resolution output, fewer artifacts, more control
Adobe is rolling out updates to a few AI-powered Photoshop features today, including referencing objects in Generative Fill. Here’s everything new. more…

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AirPods Pro 3 after four months: Revisiting fit, comfort, more
It’s been just over four months since Apple released AirPods Pro 3. When I posted my initial review, my takeaway was that AirPods Pro 3 are the “best getting even better.” Four months later, I still stand by that sentiment … but it’s clear I was wrong about at least one big thing. Buy AirPods Pro 3: $199 (Reg. $249) Buy AirPods 4: $119 (Reg. $179) more…

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Brace yourself for paid subscriptions to Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook
Meta has revealed that it plans to test paid subscriptions to Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook – with multiple options apparently on the cards. The company has so far only provided specifics on the paywalled features for Instagram, with no details yet available about its other services … more…

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If you give ChatGPT your health data, have your doctor on speed-dial
We warned you. In a disappointing and totally predictable way, giving ChatGPT access to Apple Health data has been shown to be as bad an idea as we've already said.Apple Health can now be connected to ChatGPT, but don't do it.Since January 7, 2026, it's been possible to connect ChatGPT to Apple Health. This is similar to the way that ChatGPT can also connect to apps like Notion, app-making tools like Xcode, and so on.Except in all of those cases, when — not if — ChatGPT does something wrong, it's mostly just annoying. You might not spot it right away with an app like Notion, but Xcode will probably fail to compile so you get error messages. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Services growth may be down, iPhone 17 Pro unsurprisingly drove Apple holiday quarter
Increased popularity of the iPhone 17 Pro models will more than cover the slight drop in Services growth according to Evercore, ahead of the Q1 AAPL results.iPhone 17 ProApple's first-quarter results are usually the highest of the fiscal year, and analysts are jointly forecasting it will be a bumper year for the company in 2026. In its own pre-results note, Evercore joins the chorus on sky-high revenues.In figures shared with AppleInsider, Evercore believes there to be near-term upside compared to Wall Street consensus estimates. It models Apple's Q1 results at $140.5 billion in revenue and an earnings per share of $2.71. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple updates iOS 12 for the first time since 2023
Macworld Monday was a good day for fans of small Apple updates. Early in the morning, we got the 2nd-generation AirTag, which is visually identical to the original model but adds a larger speaker and better tracking. Then it delivered iOS 26.2.1, iPadOS 26.2.1, and watchOS 26.2.1 to support the new accessory. Finally, Apple also announced the 2026 Black History Month Apple Watch band. But even if you don’t have an iOS 26 iPhone and have no intention of buying a new AirTag, Apple has something for you, too. Alongside the 26 releases, Apple has also updated several of its older operating systems, some for the first time in years. They include: iOS/iPadOS 18.7.4, iOS/iPadOS 16.7.13, iOS/iPadOS 15.8.6, and iOS/iPadOS 12.5.8. (Of note, iPad OS wasn’t split apart from iOS until version 13, though Apple’s iOS 12.5.8 security page still references iPad OS.)  The update appears to be related to a specific issue. According to Apple’s “About iOS 12 Updates” page, iOS 12.5.78 “extends the certificate required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027.” Meanwhile, the iOS 16 update says it “provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all users.” When iOS 13 arrived, it dropped compatibility for the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the 2013 iPad Air and iPad Mini 3, so users of those phones should specifically take note. To update to the latest version, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update, and follow the instructions.

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Clawdbot sparks Mac mini memes as Anthropic forces name change
If you’re seeing a lot of photos of stacks of Mac mini machines filling the internet, that’s been sparked by the development of Clawdbot by Peter Steinberger. It’s an open-source project that allows you to run your own personal AI assistant, and multiple M4 Mac minis seem to be the hardware of choice. It’s the very definition of a nerdy project, and the memes doing the rounds very much reflect this – though it seems not everybody is amused … more…

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Intel’s latest chip proves again that Apple made the right decision
Macworld In case you didn’t know, Intel has been having a rough time. But they’re taking steps in the right direction. Most recently, they made a major announcement at CES 2026, revealing their new Panther Lake chip for laptops. Our sister publication, PCWorld, got its hands on an Asus ZenBook Duo laptop outfitted with a Core Ultra X9 388H Panther Lake chip and ran several benchmarks. The results are encouraging for Windows users. But this is Macworld, and we’re interested in how the chip compares to Apple’s M-series. Below is a chart of PCWorld’s results pitted against Apple’s family of entry-level M-series chips. Take your time and click through the charts. Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Panther Lake vs. Apple M-series

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Here’s the good news and bad news on upgrading to the AirTag 2
Apple yesterday announced the AirTag 2, the first update to its standalone location-tracking device. It offers improved Precision Finding, a longer Bluetooth range, and a louder speaker. Whether or not the improvements justify replacing any of your existing AirTags is a judgment call, but there’s a mix of good news and bad if you are considering it … more…

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AirTag 2 is a missed opportunity for a reboot
Macworld The new AirTag, announced earlier today, does the same things as the first one, but it does them a little better. It has a longer Precision Finding range and a louder speaker. This sounds good, and certainly isn’t unwelcome. The problem is what hasn’t changed. We gave the 2021 AirTag a solid review because it did its job well. The design was slimline and unobtrusive, tracking was effective and easy to use, and the price was right. It was an excellent Bluetooth tracker embodying many of Apple’s best qualities. But there were problems too. For one, that attractive design was available in just one wallet-unfriendly size and was too elegantly minimalist to include anything as plebeian as a hole, which meant the AirTag nearly always had to be used in conjunction with an accessory such as a keyring or luggage tag. For another, there emerged serious concerns about privacy, after unscrupulous parties started using the device to stalk their victims: slipped in a pocket or tucked into a car’s wheel well, it might not be discovered until too late. Apple, to its credit, took the stalking issue seriously and quickly addressed it with firmware updates. Nowadays, AirTags beep once separated from their owner for a matter of hours rather than days, and will send smartphone alerts to any unfamiliar devices that are traveling with it. This was a necessary and admirable step. But the side effect is that AirTags aren’t as useful as anti-theft devices, because tracking a stolen device is functionally the same as stalking the thief. You can beat theft or stalking, but not both. Despite these two quibbles the original AirTag was widely praised and appears to have been a minor success. So it would not have been a surprise if Apple launched a follow-up one or two years later with only minimal changes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The original AirTag had problems that haven’t been fixed.Foundry But Apple didn’t do that, and it gradually became clear that the second model wouldn’t arrive for a while. (Back in 2023, I wrote an article warning that the AirTag 2 had been postponed to 2025. Turns out even that was optimistic.) When the second version of a product arrives the better part of five years after the first one, consumers are liable to expect something more substantive. Or maybe that’s just journalists. Regardless, a lot of time has passed. Indeed, in the absence of new hardware, Apple has been busily working on the software side to upgrade the AirTag experience. In an even older article, I discussed seven ways the product could be improved in the second generation, and it’s gratifying to note how many were quietly sorted before the AirTag 2 arrived. Separation alerts: Check. Sharing: Check. Improved privacy measures: Check. Against that backdrop, I was keyed up for the actual AirTag 2 to complete the set with hardware upgrades. On the plus side, we get a longer effective location range, which ticks another of my requests. And there might be a child safety mechanism on the battery compartment, which probably wouldn’t get a mention in a press release for obvious reasons. But we’re definitely missing the multiple size/style options and the all-important keyring hole, which you’ll notice were the top two entries on my list. Which is rather disappointing. This was an opportunity to rethink the product from the ground up, to actively engage with the problems that firmware cannot fix. And instead of asking the hard questions, the company chose to tinker very slightly with the elements that already work. It puts me in mind of the HomePod 2, whose designers apparently spent five years rebalancing the bass and completely failed to address the original model’s serious issues with voice control and Wi-Fi connectivity. This is not to say that the AirTag 2 is a bad product; I look forward to trying it out and have high hopes for a slick, competent user experience… just like the AirTag 1. I just think that after all these years, and all those firmware updates, Apple could have been a little more ambitious on the hardware side than a new chip and a louder speaker.

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