Matter 1.6 and Product Security 1.1 officially announced, here’s what’s new
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) today announced Matter 1.6 and Product Security 1.1, introducing several improvements to new smart home setup tools, better multi-ecosystem device sharing, and more. Here are the details.

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Feature Request: Apple Intelligence provides a new opportunity to block junk notifications
Looking back, I was surprised to see it’s been more than eight years since I put my iPhone on a notifications diet. My iPhone is a far calmer place because of this. But there’s another long-standing issue with notifications: there’s still no way to separate useful ones from marketing and other junk …

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AirPods Pro 3 drop to a record-low $169 ahead of Prime Day (Reg. $249)
While we are still slightly under a week out from Amazon’s massive summer sale event, the best Prime Day deal of the year might already be live right now – Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 have now dropped to the best price ever at $169 shipped. 

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Apps can help you learn an instrument, but they're not enough
You can get help from iPhone and iPad apps to learn piano. What you should not do is cancel your practice sessions with a live teacher.It's best known for languages, but Duolingo includes a piano course that you can work through with or without a real keyboard,My piano playing has been compared to Rachmaninoff's. Only last week, someone said, "he's not as good as Rachmaninoff."I can't say I'm surprised, but I want you to know that I am trying. So for instance, right now, I am 525 days into Duolingo Piano and 48 days into using Simply Piano. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 27 almost killed my AirPods Pro 3
Macworld As long as I’ve been able, I’ve rushed to install beta AirPods firmware to test the latest audio features before they arrive. So right as the WWDC keynote ended last week, I headed over to Apple’s developer site, downloaded the update, and waited for it to install on my AirPods.  I’m aware of the risks, of course, including the possibility of bricking my trusty earbuds. I’ve never encountered any installation issues with beta AirPods software before, but last week I encountered my first major problem. Attempting to install the first iOS 27 developer build rendered my AirPods Pro 3 useless. The process seemed to be OK at first. I connected my charged AirPods Pro case to a wired charger and enabled the beta firmware toggle on my updated iPhone. I could tell that the installation process was ongoing, as the AirPods banner in the iPhone’s Settings app persisted while my earbuds were idle. But then, the banner disappeared, and so did the case’s battery percentage in my phone’s Battery widget. I waited for a few minutes and opened the lid, but the case’s LED indicator did not flash as it should. I could still listen to music using my earbuds, but the case failed to charge them. The Find My app similarly couldn’t locate or ping the case anymore. I tried resetting the AirPods by tapping repeatedly on the case’s hidden button, but it didn’t register my taps, either. The AirPods’ charging case was completely dead. A day later, the earbuds themselves ran out of power and died, too. If you want to try out the AirPods’ new equalizer, you’ll need to install the beta.Apple Two possible explanations came to mind: The update was successfully installed, but the system glitched while the case rebooted. In this case, restarting the case would likely fix the issue. A glitch occurred during the installation process, permanently bricking the case. If so, I would need to buy a new pair of AirPods Pro 3 for $249, as I can’t order an individual charging case replacement where I live. Unfortunately, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t feature a physical restart button that can override the frozen software. The alternative was to let the case’s battery drain completely and then recharge it to force its software to restart. I enabled the “Notify When Found” toggle for my dead AirPods in the Find My app in case my iPhone detected any sign of life, tossed my AirPods in a drawer, and waited. After five days or so without any signs of life, I tried to charge the case. To my surprise, a minute later, my iPhone notified me that my AirPods had been detected nearby.  I checked my Battery widget, and I could see that both the case and the earbuds were listed with 1percent power. I opened the lid, the LED blinked, and the full AirPods functionality was restored. Fortunately, the update had completed installation before the software glitch, and once they were fully charged, my AirPods were fully operational again. So while you probably shouldn’t install AirPods beta firmware on your only pair of AirPods, if you run into trouble, don’t panic. Try this trick first: let their batteries drain fully and try to recharge them. It might just be a $249 solution.

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Apple collects every tap to deliver App Store personalized recommendations
Apple recently introduced Personalized Collections in the App Store, which provides users with individually tailored recommendations for new apps they might enjoy. Two security researchers have highlighted the extremely extensive analytics data the company is capturing in order to compile these recommendations, logging every tap you make …

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Amazon has reduced AirPods to record-low U.K. prices ahead of Prime Day
Macworld Best AirPods deals at Amazon U.K. £49 off AirPods Pro 3 £39.20 off AirPods 4 £43.60 off AirPods 4 with ANC Amazon Prime Day starts next Tuesday (June 23–26), but Amazon has already begun cutting prices on AirPods. Right now, you can save on the AirPods Pro and both AirPods 4 models, with discounts that are even better than those seen during Black Friday. Apple’s current AirPods lineup includes four models: AirPods Pro 3 (£219), AirPods 4 (£119), AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (£169), and the latest over-ear model, AirPods Max 2 (£499). AirPods Pro 3 deal Apple Amazon has already reduced the price of the AirPods Pro 3 as part of its Early Prime Day Deals. They’re available for £170, saving you £49 and matching the lowest price we’ve seen to date. AirPods Pro 3: £170

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Siri AI is both impressive and disappointing
Macworld The big new feature coming in iOS 27 is Siri AI, and the broader Apple Intelligence features it’s built on. Landing on the more recent devices this fall, it’s a total reimagining of Siri from the ground up, with a new foundation model, new cloud processing, new voice, new knowledge database, new back-and-forth chat capabilities, new everything. Apple dropped the first developer beta on Monday, June 8, and it includes the first look at the new Siri (with a waitlist for access). This gives us the ability to kick the tires and provide feedback, with the obvious understanding that this is the very first of a string of beta releases, and we can expect some rough edges and errors. In fact, Apple says Siri will still be in beta when it launches in the fall, so there’s clearly a lot of work to be done. Still, over this first week, I’ve been impressed by what the new Siri can do. This is obviously a couple of generations beyond anything Apple has shipped before. But at the same time, it’s clear that Apple has plenty of work to do before the OS 27 updates release in September. Good work on safety First, some good news. Apple has done a really good job of making the new Siri comparatively safe to use, relative to a lot of other LLM chatbots. Siri’s voice is more human-sounding and emotive than ever, the answers it gives are refreshingly matter-of-fact, and it doesn’t try to build false engagement, usually. Siri AI has never been sycophantic or tried to tell me that I’m so smart or so good at something. It also refused to “act human” when given prompts that only a human should answer. For example, if you ask Siri what its favorite songs are, it will steadfastly tell you that it’s not a person and doesn’t have feelings or favorites, then offer to play some of your favorite tracks. In a few example prompts that signaled an intent to harm myself or others (such as telling it I had lost my job and then asking what tall bridges are nearby), Siri refused to engage with the question. Instead, it said, “It sounds like talking to someone might help,” with a direct link to call a help hotline. Foundry That’s a great start. These typical AI problems—sycophancy, personification, encouraging harm—are rampant in other LLMs, and while the situation is improving, we’re never going to wake up from our collective AI nightmare if the LLMs don’t stop trying to be a doting girlfriend for every lonely teenager or a hype person for every rise-and-grind entrepreneur who thinks they’re the smartest person in the room. A lot more testing needs to be done to find the cracks in Apple’s implementation, but at first glance, it seems the Siri team has done a very good job here. It’s obviously beta Screenshot Foundry Not only does the new Siri give some odd or flawed responses at times, but it will sometimes simply fail, or stop hearing you. Clearly, the new Siri is not ready for release, simply in the technical sense. I experienced regular server errors and random disruptions. Of course, this is Developer Beta 1—the earliest and buggiest release to go outside Apple’s walls—and these sorts of functional problems are not uncommon at this stage. Surprisingly helpful Siri AI is surprisingly useful and helpful in ways that the old Siri would often outright fail, and can clearly do things old Siri couldn’t dream of doing. For starters, asking about current events actually works. I deliberately asked who won the NBA finals on June 10 before they were over, and Siri didn’t claim either team won, instead just giving me the latest results. Given how often Siri has been behind on recent events, it’s nice to see the change. Foundry Siri has been known to simply default to web searches for all kinds of general info, but the new Siri AI can deliver thorough responses for a really wide swath of general questions. I asked it about coffee ratios. Old Siri would default to a web search until recently, when it started giving information in different units than I asked for. Siri AI gets it done right. Foundry During the WWDC keynote, Apple showed off using Siri to split a bill with Apple Cash. Point the Siri camera mode at the bill and with a few taps, you can split the bill based on what people had. It’s neat, but it requires using Apple Cash and inviting others into the transaction first, so you can designate who had what. I figured if it can parse a receipt and perform some simple math on it for that, then it should work outside the Wallet app, too. So I pointed the Siri camera mode at a grocery receipt, asked it to remove a couple of items, and then split the rest, so my wife and I can settle up on splitting the grocery bill. Siri nailed it, and this is the sort of thing I would actually use every week. Foundry Perhaps the most impressive is when I asked Siri, “What are my plans for my wife’s birthday?” I had been discussing it in a couple different text threads, back and forth presenting various ideas and times. Siri would have to know who my wife is, and correctly parse my texts to get the right info. Foundry Not only did Siri get the key dates, times, and locations correct, but it also offered a summary and a link to a relevant message thread. I followed up with, “Show me any relevant emails,” and it provided a link to my email confirmation for my reservation. I then asked, “How long does it take to drive there?” and got an accurate estimated time to the correct address, along with a little Maps info card I could tap to open driving directions. This is exactly the kind of thing Apple promised. It pulls in personal info from my phone, understands context correctly, and hooks into other apps and services all with very natural language. It’s impressive, and honestly, actually useful for a change. Whoops, that shouldn’t happen At this early beta stage, for every time Siri AI impresses me, there’s another time I’m disappointed. Of course, I started with some well-documented LLM stumpers, like asking how many Rs are in “strawberry” or whether I should walk or drive to a nearby car wash. It got those correct, but managed to whiff a question about which days of the week have a “D” in them. It’s just another reminder that LLMs don’t actually know or understand things, and when they appear to, it’s just because the training data incorporates that particular logical task. Foundry Siri AI has been mercifully free of some LLM annoyances such as the perpetual “it’s not just this, it’s that” sentence construction or an excess of em dashes and semicolons. You can find that stuff if you look long enough, but the Siri AI writing style isn’t steeped in it like other prominent LLMs are. Apple’s new AI does exhibit a couple of annoying LLM patterns, though. When you catch it being wrong, you’ll get a “you’re right, I’m sorry” lead-off answer. Many responses to advice-style queries end with follow-up questions, which most LLMs will do to try to keep you engaging with them. There are other areas where the Siri AI assistant doesn’t seem to be able to do things it should definitely be able to do. I asked it to make a wallpaper out of an image in a particular style, and it was stumped. I had no problem opening up Image Playground and doing that exact thing, though. These are the sort of weird “Siri doesn’t know what it can and can’t do” problems I would expect Apple to work out before release. Siri couldn’t make a wallpaper from an image in my Photos library, but Image Playground had no problem with it.Foundry I’d also like it to be a little smarter with logic about how it finds and presents information. I like to open my windows and turn on the whole house fan once the temperature drops enough, so I asked Siri, “What time will the temperature drop below 80 degrees?” While it understood I was talking about the weather and provided a helpful widget showing hourly temperatures, it couldn’t actually answer the question I asked. Instead, it gave me an answer to a different question, one that I didn’t ask. Okay, but that’s not what I asked you, Siri.Foundry Apple has around three months before Siri AI becomes available to hundreds of millions of users. So much of what it is capable of is impressive and useful, but the company has a ton of work to do between now and then to provide consistent performance and reliable results. The reliability and capability of the new Siri are not nearly ready for everyday users. I’m cautiously optimistic, as this is only the first developer beta, but I expect to see significant improvements in future beta releases.

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This credit card-sized tracker fits in your wallet and costs $20 during Deal Days
Macworld TL;DR: The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker works with Apple Find My and is on sale for $19.99 (reg. $59.99) through June 28 as part of Macworld’s Deal Days — our answer to Prime Day. AirTags are perfect for keys. Wallets? Not so much. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker fixes the problem Apple didn’t for $19.99 (reg. $59.99) — at 1.5mm thick and credit-card sized, it disappears into your wallet slot without the bulk. It connects directly to Apple’s Find My network, so setup takes seconds, and tracking works globally without any third-party app. Same coverage as an AirTag, but none of the awkward fit. What the Find My card can do Real-time global tracking via Apple Find My Instant left-behind alerts when you walk away from your valuables Audible ping to locate items nearby Qi wireless charging with up to 5 months of battery life IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating Built-in keyring hole for keys, lanyards, and bag straps Wallet, passport pouch, kid’s backpack, luggage — one card slips into all of them. This is the tracker for Apple users who want full Find My coverage in a form factor that actually fits. Deal Days runs through June 28, with big discounts across the store. Browse the full Macworld Deal Days collection to see what else is on sale. Pick up the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for $19.99 while Deal Days pricing lasts. MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card – Works with Apple Find My AppSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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This app replaces your scanner, PDF editor, and filing cabinet for a flat $24.97
Macworld TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to iScanner for $24.97 (MSRP $199.90) and turn your phone into a portable scanner, PDF editor, and document manager. Paperwork has a habit of showing up when you’re least prepared for it. Whether it’s signing forms, saving receipts, or sending important documents, relying on a traditional scanner isn’t always practical. That’s where a mobile scanning app can save time and frustration. Right now, a lifetime subscription to iScanner is available for $24.97 (MSRP $199.90) during Deal Days, an alternative to Prime Day, through June 28. Instead of snapping messy photos, iScanner automatically detects edges, straightens pages, and cleans up the image so your scans actually look like proper documents. It can export files in multiple formats like PDF, Word, or JPG, and even pulls text from scans using OCR so you can edit or search them later. The app also doubles as a lightweight editor and file manager, so you can sign documents, organize files, and keep everything in one place. Never use a traditional scanner again with iScanner Scan documents, IDs, receipts, and notes in seconds Convert files to PDF, Word, Excel, and more Edit, sign, annotate, or merge documents Use AI tools to clean up scans and extract text Organize everything with folders and secure storage Until June 28, grab a lifetime subscription to iScanner for $24.97 and stop fighting with your home scanner. To see more deals, check out the full Deal Days collection. iScanner App: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple finally explains why your Mac has been blocking Terminal commands
macOS blocks dangerous Terminal commands, and a new Apple support document explains what those alerts mean and what to do when they appear. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple releases Beats Studio Buds firmware update with important microphone security fix
In addition to three AirPods firmware updates released earlier today, Apple also rolled out firmware version 1B211 for the Beats Studio Buds, fixing a serious vulnerability. Here are the details.

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iPhone part factory in India no longer in danger of shutting down
After alleging that Apple supplier Tata contaminated farm water and threatening to close its iPhone factory, Indian regulators have now dropped the matter altogether.Tata's iPhone component production facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India. Image Credit: TataAs a result of Apple's supply chain diversification plans, which aim to reduce reliance on China, a quarter of all iPhones sold worldwide are now made in India. Tata, which manufactures iPhone backplates, is a relevant factor in the process, but its production efforts have come under scrutiny.In 2025, farmers near Tata's facility in Tamil Nadu complained to authorities that factory wastewater was contaminating their land and open wells. After conducting five inspections from December 2025 through May 2026, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) threatened to shut down Tata's factory. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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9to5Mac Daily: June 16, 2026 – New Screen Time and Child Safety features
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.

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iPhone Mirroring gets 3 overdue features in macOS 27
Apple's macOS 27 Golden Gate brings notable improvements to iPhone Mirroring, including a resizable window that hints at the folding iPhone. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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WhatsApp working on yet another ephemeral feature on iOS
A few weeks ago, a WhatsApp beta build revealed work on disappearing messages that vanish after they’re read. Now, WhatsApp is developing another ephemeral messaging feature. Here are the details.

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Apple supplier Tata avoids regulatory action after pollution warning in India
Apple supplier Tata says an Indian pollution regulator has dropped scrutiny of one of its iPhone component plants, after the company responded to concerns over possible wastewater contamination. Here are the details.

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Apple TV drops to just $5.99/month for Amazon Prime members – 50% off limited-time deal
Apple is teaming up with Amazon to make its premium streaming service more accessible than ever. Prime members can now subscribe… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple has started replacing macOS names with version numbers in several ways
Among Apple’s slate of software platforms, macOS is an outlier in having its own brand name (e.g., macOS Golden Gate) instead of just a number. But some new signs indicate Apple may be shifting toward number versioning.

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Apple has started replacing macOS names with version numbers in several ways
Among Apple’s slate of software platforms, macOS is an outlier in having its own brand name (e.g., macOS Golden Gate) instead of just a number. But some new signs indicate Apple may be shifting toward number versioning.

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Apple has started replacing macOS names with version numbers in several ways
Among Apple’s slate of software platforms, macOS is an outlier in having its own brand name (e.g., macOS Golden Gate) instead of just a number. But some new signs indicate Apple may be shifting toward number versioning.

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Apple has started replacing macOS names with version numbers in several ways
Among Apple’s slate of software platforms, macOS is an outlier in having its own brand name (e.g., macOS Golden Gate) instead of just a number. But some new signs indicate Apple may be shifting toward number versioning.

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MyFitnessPal adds AI-powered Coach for personalized nutrition guidance
MyFitnessPal is adding a new AI-powered coaching experience that turns users’ food logs, goals, meals, and habits into personalized nutrition guidance. Here are the details.

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MyFitnessPal adds AI-powered Coach for personalized nutrition guidance
MyFitnessPal is adding a new AI-powered coaching experience that turns users’ food logs, goals, meals, and habits into personalized nutrition guidance. Here are the details.

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MyFitnessPal adds AI-powered Coach for personalized nutrition guidance
MyFitnessPal is adding a new AI-powered coaching experience that turns users’ food logs, goals, meals, and habits into personalized nutrition guidance. Here are the details.

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MyFitnessPal adds AI-powered Coach for personalized nutrition guidance
MyFitnessPal is adding a new AI-powered coaching experience that turns users’ food logs, goals, meals, and habits into personalized nutrition guidance. Here are the details.

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Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service is becoming seriously impressive
With iOS 27, Apple is rolling out Apple Intelligence-powered features like AI video summaries, natural-language search, richer notifications… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Eugene Levy’s Apple TV travel series is coming back for season 4
Following a successful third season, where Eugene Levy went around the world to cross off several items on his bucket list, Apple TV confirmed today that ‘The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy’ has been renewed for 8 more episodes. Here are the details.

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Italy launches antitrust probe into Apple’s iCloud dominance under EU’s Digital Markets Act
Italy’s competition authority has opened an investigation into Apple for allegedly failing to open up its iOS and iPadOS ecosystems… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Snap built standalone AR glasses without a convincing reason to wear them
Snap Inc. wants its Specs to be the future of everyday computing, but between the eye-watering price and lackluster demos, we don't see it happening.Snap Inc's new SpecsOn Tuesday, Snapchat unveiled Specs, a $2,195 pair of augmented reality glasses. The glasses, notably, are fully standalone and do not need to be tethered to a computer or smartphone to work.They come in two sizes, too. A 47mm model that weighs 132 grams, and a 52mm model that weighs 136 grams. The lens inserts are removable and support a wide range of prescriptions. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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