Here are the iOS 26.4 features to try after installing the new iPhone update
Macworld Apple has officially released iOS 26.4 to the public, and unlike the previous update, this one brings a more noticeable set of new features. While the long-awaited AI-powered Siri is still nowhere to be seen, iOS 26.4 brings several new features and improvements to Apple Music, Podcasts, and Reminders, as well as overall system enhancements and new emoji. Read on as we break down all the major new features and changes coming with iOS 26.4. Apple Music With iOS 26.4, Apple Music subscribers are getting an important new feature called Playlist Playground. Essentially, it lets users quickly create playlists using AI. Users can simply describe what they want to listen to, whether it’s specific songs, artists, or genres, and Apple’s AI will create a playlist based on that prompt. The feature can also edit existing playlists. It’s worth noting that this feature is available only in the U.S. and works on any iOS 26.4 iPhone, even ones that don’t support Apple Intelligence. Apple Music has new full-screen artwork in iOS 26.4.Foundry Apple Music is also getting a new Concerts feature, which helps users discover nearby shows from artists in their library, while also recommending live shows from new artists based on listening habits. Another notable addition is Offline Music Recognition, now available through Control Center. This lets users identify songs with Shazam even without an internet connection. The result shows up as soon as the device is back online. Rounding out the Apple Music changes, iOS 26.4 introduces an Ambient Music widget for quick access to curated playlists focused on Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing, as well as full-screen backgrounds for album and playlist pages, making the interface more immersive. Podcasts In addition to Apple Music, Apple Podcasts is also getting some improvements with iOS 26.4. More specifically, Apple has revamped the experience for video podcasts. The update introduces support for Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology, which automatically adjusts the video bitrate during playback. This means the app will always choose the best quality based on your internet connection without you having to change any settings. Thanks to this technology, users can also seamlessly switch between audio and video while playing a podcast. iOS 26.4 includes several new Accessiblity settings.Foundry Accessibility Updating to iOS 26.4 also brings some welcome accessibility improvements.  For instance, the system now includes a new “Reduce Bright Effects” toggle that minimizes intense flashes when interacting with certain interface elements. Apple has also made it easier to access and customize subtitles and captions directly from the media player interface. Moreover, the “Reduce Motion” setting has been improved to more consistently limit animations across the system, particularly with the Liquid Glass interface. Emoji For emoji fans, iOS 26.4 adds eight new characters to the keyboard. As previously announced, they include an orca, a trombone, a landslide, a ballet dancer, and a distorted face emoji. Keep in mind that only people who have also updated their devices will see the new emojis in conversations or social media posts. You can use several new emojis once you update to iOS 26.4.Foundry Freeform When Apple announced the Creator Studio subscription, the company revealed that the Freeform app would also gain certain features exclusive to subscribers. These features are now available with iOS 26.4. Creator Studio subscribers can now access the Content Hub right from Freeform, which offers a wide variety of photos, illustrations, and graphics that can be used royalty-free. Users will also notice a new icon for the Freeform app that matches the style of other Creator Studio apps. Urgent reminders are getting an upgrade in iOS 26.4.Foundry Urgent reminders With iOS 26.2, Apple introduced a new option for creating urgent reminders, which show up as full-screen alerts at the scheduled date and time. Now, iOS 26.4 makes it easier to mark a reminder as urgent. Users can mark tasks as urgent in the Reminders app right from the Quick Toolbar or with a long press. Urgent reminders can also be filtered using Smart Lists. Family Sharing Apple is also making a major change for users who rely on Family Sharing. While the entire family currently relies on a single payment method, iOS 26.4 will allow each family member to pay for their own online purchases. “Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organizer,” Apple explained in the release notes. This is certainly great news for those who use Family Sharing to share their iCloud and App Store purchases. The Freeform app got its Creator Studio update in iOS 26.4.Foundry Keyboard accuracy As we reported last year, many iPhone users had been complaining that iOS 26 had reduced the accuracy of the on-screen keyboard, resulting in more typos. Although Apple never acknowledged the issue at the time, it has made changes to the iOS 26.4 keyboard that essentially admit there was a problem. The iOS 26.4 release notes mention “improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly” as part of the changes included in the update. It’s unclear exactly what Apple changed to improve the virtual keyboard, but users will certainly be pleased that Apple is working on the issue. Age verification One of the most notable changes in iOS 26.4 is related to compliance with local laws. The update introduces age verification requirements in multiple regions, including Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and specific U.S. states such as Utah and Louisiana. These measures are tied to regional legislation and are designed to ensure that users meet minimum age requirements for certain features and services. In these locations, Apple may require additional information about the user to verify their age. This includes details such as how long the Apple Account has been active or credit card information. The company has also created a new API that will anonymously inform apps whether a user meets the minimum age requirements without sharing their age, date of birth, or any other personal information. Update your iPhone now In addition to all these new features, iOS 26.4 also includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and enhanced security. That’s why it’s always important to keep your devices updated with the latest software. You can install iOS 26.4 by going to Settings > General > Software Update and tapping Update Now. The update is available for the iPhone 11 and later.

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This is what a fan is supposed to be — bladeless, sleek and customizable
The Shark TurboBlade Fan is a sleek, quiet, highly customizable bladeless fan that cools efficiently without the noise, and it’s more than half off. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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This tax season is a key time to delete your personal data from the internet
It’s never been easier for spammers and scammers to get access to your personal data, and this is particularly dangerous during tax season. With data brokers providing easy access to your phone number, email address, physical address – and even sensitive data like your social security number – tax season can be peak time for fraud. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to reduce the risk. more…

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Today in Apple history: Apple racks up staggering $700 million loss
On March 28, 1996, Apple warned Wall Street that it would report a $700 million quarterly loss. It was Apple's worst quarter ever. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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5 times Apple turned failed products into huge successes
Apple's greatest talent is turning niche products into mainstream hits. Here are five brilliant examples of trash into triumph. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple @ Work: Eero adds LTE failover for remote employees and Starlink could be that for enterprises
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. The need for highly reliable internet connectivity is a no brainer for enterprises, K through 12, healthcare, etc. Eero recently launched Eero Signal, a 4G LTE backup device that plugs into existing Eero routers to automatically keep homes and small businesses online during an ISP outage. A 5G version is on the way. With an Eero Plus subscription, 10GB of bandwidth per year is included, with options to upgrade to 100GB. more…

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Giant lineup of Apple Big Spring weekend deals: AirPods Pro 3, Max 2, MacBook Air, iPad, more
We have moved into Day 4 of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and the Apple deals are still flying through the weekend. From the first cash discount on AirPods Max 2 (they are now back in stock with a pre-order discount alongside the M5 MacBook Air lineup and various M5 MacBook Pro configs. Deals are now once again live on iPad mini joined by price drops across the M4 iPad Air lineup, $200 off M3 models, and some iPad 11 offers. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Giant lineup of Apple Big Spring deals: AirPods Pro 3, Max 2, MacBook Air, iPad, more
We have moved into Day 4 of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and the Apple deals are still flying through the weekend. From the first cash discount on AirPods Max 2 (they are now back in stock with a pre-order discount alongside the M5 MacBook Air lineup and various M5 MacBook Pro configs. Deals are now once again live on iPad mini joined by price drops across the M4 iPad Air lineup, $200 off M3 models, and some iPad 11 offers. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Giant lineup of Apple Big Spring deals: AirPods Pro 3, Max 2, MacBook Air, iPad, more
We have moved into Day 4 of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and the Apple deals are still flying through the weekend. From the first cash discount on AirPods Max 2 (they are now back in stock with a pre-order discount alongside the M5 MacBook Air lineup and various M5 MacBook Pro configs. Deals are now once again live on iPad mini joined by price drops across the M4 iPad Air lineup, $200 off M3 models, and some iPad 11 offers. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Giant lineup of Apple Big Spring deals: AirPods Pro 3, Max 2, MacBook Air, iPad, more
We have moved into Day 4 of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and the Apple deals are still flying through the weekend. From the first cash discount on AirPods Max 2 (they are now back in stock with a pre-order discount alongside the M5 MacBook Air lineup and various M5 MacBook Pro configs. Deals are now once again live on iPad mini joined by price drops across the M4 iPad Air lineup, $200 off M3 models, and some iPad 11 offers. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Top stories: Mac Pro discontinued, iOS 26.4 now available, more
Welcome to 9to5Mac’s top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, Apple officially discontinued the Mac Pro, iOS 26.4 is now available, ads in Apple Maps are coming soon, and more. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and reviews. Read on for all of this week’s top stories. more…

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If your PDF workflow is stressful, here’s the $40 fix
Macworld TL;DR: A $39.99 lifetime license to PDF Agile Premium (MSRP $119) gets you a full-featured PDF editor for Mac and Windows PDFs are supposed to make life easier. In reality, they’re often where productivity goes to stall—formatting breaks, edits get clunky, and simple tasks take way longer than they should. That’s why PDF Agile Premium is an excellent solution. It’s designed to simplify everything you’d normally need multiple tools (and subscriptions) to handle. Editing text, converting files, adding signatures, and even extracting content from scanned documents can all be done in one place. Conversions hold their formatting, which matters when you’re dealing with contracts, reports, or anything client-facing. It also covers the details that tend to get overlooked. You can redact sensitive information, password-protect documents, or compare files side by side without needing extra software. OCR functionality makes scanned documents editable, which is a major time-saver for anyone dealing with paperwork regularly. With a one-time payment and lifetime access, it replaces the ongoing cost of subscription-based tools. For anyone who works with PDFs more than occasionally, this is an easy workflow upgrade. Get lifetime license to PDF Agile Premium for just $39.99 (MSRP $119) while you can. PDF Agile Premium: All-in-One Lifetime Subscription (Windows & Mac)See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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This MacBook Air can be your digital buddy for just $200
Macworld TL;DR: A refurbished MacBook Air for $199.97 delivers reliable everyday performance, long battery life, and serious value. Not every laptop needs to be a powerhouse. Sometimes you just need something that works—reliably, quickly, and without costing a small fortune. That’s exactly what this refurbished MacBook Air does. At just $199.97 (MSRP $999), it’s positioned less like a primary workstation and more like your go-to digital bestie. Think streaming shows on the couch, answering emails, online shopping, paying bills, or tossing it in your bag for a weekend trip. The Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB SSD keep things responsive for browsing, document editing, and media playback. The 13.3-inch display is sharp enough for streaming, and with up to 12 hours of battery life, you’re not constantly hunting for an outlet. You’re getting Apple hardware—known for its longevity and build quality—at a fraction of the original price. Sure, it’s not meant for heavy video editing or gaming, but that’s not the point. This is the laptop you grab when you want to get things done. Get a refurbished MacBook Air (2017) for just $199.97 (MSRP $999) with free shipping while stock lasts. Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple still selling the Mac Pro through its Certified Refurbished store
Despite its decision to discontinue the Mac Pro, Apple is still selling a few units through its Certified Refurbished store. Here are the details. more…

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Anime explosion on Apple TV: Crunchyroll launches as official channel
In a major win for anime fans everywhere, Crunchyroll — the world’s leading anime streaming service — has officially arrived as a native… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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9to5Mac Overtime 065: Untelling parts of the story w/ special guest David Pogue
David Pogue, a CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent, joins Overtime to discuss his new book, “Apple: The First 50 Years.” Pogue, a former Macworld and New York Times columnist, shares insights into the writing process, interviews with key past and present Apple employees, and offers his thoughts on former CEO Steve Jobs and current CEO Tim Cook. 9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more. more…

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Windows PCs Crash Three Times As Often As Macs, Report Says
A workplace-device study says Windows PCs crash significantly more often than Macs, lag further behind on patching and encryption in some sectors, and are typically replaced sooner. TechSpot reports: Omnissa's 2026 State of Digital Workspace report outlines the IT challenges that various organizations face from the growing use of AI and the heterogeneous deployment of enterprise devices. The relative instability of Windows and Android is a recurring theme throughout the report. The company gathered telemetry from clients located across the globe in retail, healthcare, finance, education, government, and other sectors throughout 2025. The data suggests that IT administrators face frustrating security gaps due to inconsistent patching across a diverse mosaic of devices and operating systems. Employee workflow disruption, often due to software issues, is one area of concern. The report found that Windows devices were forced to shut down 3.1 times more often than Macs. Windows programs also froze 7.5 times more often than macOS apps and needed to be restarted more than twice as often. Certain industries were also alarmingly lax in securing Windows and Android devices. More than half of Windows and Android devices in healthcare and pharma were five major operating system updates behind, likely leaving them more vulnerable to errors and malware. More than half of the desktops and mobile devices used for education were also unencrypted, putting students' privacy at risk. Macs also last longer, being replaced every five years on average, compared to every three years for Windows PCs. Despite a recent backlash against Windows, driven by a push for digital sovereignty in countries such as Germany, Windows use on government devices actually doubled last year. Meanwhile, Macs using Apple's M-series chips showcase a significant thermal advantage, with an average temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius, while Intel processors run at 65.2 degrees. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Apple Giveth, Apple Taketh Away
Safari is no longer breaking my menu-item-icon despising heart on MacOS 26 Tahoe, but the best trick to block the Tahoe “upgrade” notice on MacOS 15 Sequoia no longer works.

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Apple hires former Google executive to lead AI marketing as it ramps up efforts to fix Siri
Apple announced today that it has hired Lilian Rincon, a seasoned technology executive who spent nearly a decade at Google… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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You can now watch a full BBC Proms concert in immersive video on Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro owners can now watch a full BBC Proms concert in immersive video, featuring Lukas Sternath performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. Here’s how. more…

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