UK regulator Ofcom welcomes Apple age verification in iOS 26.4
Apple yesterday released iOS 26.4, with the company highlighting 13 new features and enhancements. The software update added functionality to Apple Music, made accessibility improvements, and introduced a number of other worthwhile enhancements. There was one change the company didn’t mention, and that was the introduction of age verification for UK users. This was accidentally launched in a previous beta but is now official … more…

Read more »

Best Apple Big Spring Sale deals now live: AirPods Pro 3, MacBook Air/Pro, iPad, and more
The massive 2026 Amazon Big Spring Sale is now officially underway with loads of the best deals of the year on Apple gear as well as thousands of price drops across just about every product category. From discounts on the brand new M5 MacBook Air and M4 iPad Air, we also the return of holiday pricing on AirPods Pro 3 at $50 off the list price joined by price drops on M5 MacBook Pro models, iPad from $299, and much more. We will be updating this post throughout the day and for the next week as we make our way through the 2026 Amazon Big Spring Sale, and stay locked to 9to5Toys for up-to-the-minute price drops.  more…

Read more »

AI chatbot privacy ratings for the most popular iPhone apps
A VPN company has put together AI chatbot privacy ratings based on the data collection practices of the ten most popular AI chatbots in the App Store. The iPhone chatbots are ranked worst to best, and there are no prizes for guessing which of the competing apps collects the most personal data … more…

Read more »

Microsoft Pledges Quality Improvements for Windows 11
Microsoft is moving to fix Windows 11 performance and usability issues while rethinking its AI strategy as user frustration with the OS continues to build. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Read more »

The Apple Watch Series 11 42mm GPS is $100 off
The watch provides you with insights on your health, capable of detecting potential sleep apnea, be notified of low or high heart rate and irregular heart rhythm, readings of your blood oxygen, and your sleep with a sleep score, an easy way to understand and track your sleep quality, and offers tips to make it […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

Nine Apple TV shows nominated for UK's Bafta television awards
Apple TV has scored 15 nominations across the UK's most prestigious awards, including multiple nods for "Slow Horses," and "Severance."Gary Oldman in "Slow Horses" — image credit: Apple Nine of Apple TV's most acclaimed series have been nominated in two further awards. Following its nominations for the Bafta Film Awards, Apple TV is now also recognized in both Bafta's TV and TV Craft awards.Across these two Bafta awards events, nine Apple TV series have received a total of 15 nominations: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Apple Anniversary Celebrations Coming to Australia
Sydney Opera House and Apple recently announced a collaboration. Sydney Opera House is located in Australia, and it looks like Apple will be bringing its celebrations for its 50th anniversary there. Bailey Pickles, an Australian composer, posted on his Instagram page that Apple requested him to compose and perform a piece to celebrate their 50th […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

OpenAI Creating A Superapp
A superapp is currently in development, made by OpenAI that combines Codex, Atlas and ChatGPT, a coding platform, a browser and an app into one. The concept is to make the user experience simpler, as many customers from OpenAI are not resonating with the standalone apps, the company is trying to recover after their rivals’ […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

Nike Special Edition Powerbeats Pro 2 Rolled Out
A Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 special edition is now available to be purchased at Apple.com for customers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States and other countries. The headphones are exactly the same as the base version of the Powerbeats Pro 2 but they have a two-tone design feature the Nike signature […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro 36GB 2TB is $49 off
The MacBook Pro has been refreshed, given the M5 Max Chip for next-generation power and speed, allowing you to speed through your workload. The device features a stronger GPU with Neural Accelerators built into each core. The device features a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina display capable of sustaining 1000 nits of sustained brightness, a 1 million […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

AppleCare One Coming to the EU
The trademark of AppleCare One was registered in the EUIPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office, today hinting that the company will be releasing a subscription branching outside the United States for customers in the area to cover many of their Apple devices with one plan. AppleCare One was released by Apple in the United States […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

Apple Advising Its Users to Update iOS
iPhone users on iOS 13/14 are advised by Apple to upgrade their devices to iOS 15 to prevent being hacked via malicious web content. Apple has highlighted recent reports regarding hacking tools that are effective against past versions of iOS, as they use DarkSword and Coruna iOS exploit kits. Vulnerabilities have been patched by Apple […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

Foldable iPhone Rolling Out in December and Two Other Devices Alongside Base iPhone 18
Tim Long, an Apple analyst, stated that sources in his supply chain talk about a potential base iPhone 18 model being announced next year in March instead of September, as the company is looking to split its iPhone releases. Notable information mentioned was also the shipments of the foldable iPhone starting in December after the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

Read more »

Apple Event 2026: When is the next keynote and what to expect
Macworld Apple rarely confirms event dates far in advance, and there’s no guarantee an event will take place within its usual window. That leaves Apple fans – and anyone considering a new Apple device – wondering when the next Apple event will happen and what might be announced. Based on Apple’s long-established schedule, recent announcements, and reliable industry rumours, we can make informed estimates about when the next keynote is likely and which products could headline it. Read on for a closer look at all of the events Apple is expected to hold in 2026, and what could launch. When is Apple’s next event? WWDC, Apple’s annual developer event, is confirmed to start on Monday June 8. As usual, WWDC will commence with a keynote at which Apple will reveal details of the new features and changes coming to macOS, iOS and other operating systems later in 2026. Apple is likely to broadcast the event live so that fans can watch Apple executives describing the new features and potentially unveiling new products. What Apple events are expected in 2026? Completed: Special Experience, March 4 – iPhone 17e, MacBooks Neo, Pro & Air, iPad Air Confirmed: WWDC, June 8 – iOS, macOS, other software, Mac updates Expected: iPhone event, September – iPhone 18, new Apple Watch Possible: Late fall event, October or November – TBC Apple has already held one “event” in 2026, although not in the traditional sense. On March 4, the company invited select media to hands-on “experiences” in multiple locations. In the run-up to that date, Apple also launched several products via press release, including the iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, and MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max, M5 MacBook Air and the MacBook Neo. The next confirmed event is WWDC, which begins on June 8. This developer-focused conference opens with a keynote where Apple outlines upcoming changes to its operating systems – and occasionally introduces new hardware. Looking ahead to the fall, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 at Apple’s usual event in September. A second, late-fall event in October or November is possible, though less certain and typically focused on Macs or iPads. Here’s when the 2026 Apple events might take place.Foundry FAQ 1. What will Apple announce at the next event? WWDC is Apple’s big developer event at which it reveals plans for the operating systems that run on Apple hardware. At WWDC 2026 we expect Apple to unveil details of the iOS 27, iPadOS 27, a new macOS, updates to watchOS, tvOS, HomePod software, and an update to Apple’s realityOS. Apple sometimes announces new hardware at WWDC, usually the high end models targeted at power users, so we could see new Macs. This could include a new Mac Pro (the current model still utilizing the older M2 Ultra chip). The Mac Studio and Mac mini could also get an update. You can about WWDC date, times and everything you need to know in a separate article. 2. What time does the next Apple event start? Apple keynotes usually start at 10 am PT. That translates to the following times in the countries where most of our readers live: U.S.: 10 am PDT, 11 am MDT, 12 pm CDT, 1 pm EDT Canada: as above, plus 2 pm ADT U.K.: 6 pm BST Europe: 7 pm CEST, 8 pm EEST India: 10:30 pm IST Australia: next day — 1 am AWST, 2:30 am ACST, 3 am AEST New Zealand: next day — 5 am NZST Timings can be slightly different if Apple holds the event during the period of a couple of weeks when the clocks have changed in the U.S. but not elsewhere (in 2026 the clocks will change in the U.S. on March 8 and November 1, while in the U.K. they change on March 29 and October 25). Sometimes Apple holds events at different times, for example, in October 2023 the event was held in late afternoon in San Francisco, which meant it was midnight in the U.K. If Apple doesn’t hold an event and instead just issues a press release that usually happens around 8 am PT, 11 am ET and 4 pm U.K. time. 3. How long do Apple events usually last? Apple keynotes usually last between one and two hours and feature CEO Tim Cook along with various other Apple executives. WWDC and the September event tend to be longer keynotes; the spring and late-fall events can be slightly shorter. The September 2024 event was 1 hour 38 minutes. 4. How often does Apple hold events? There can be as many as four Apple events in a year: Spring Event WWDC in June iPhone Event in September Late Fall Event in October This event calendar is by no means set in stone, though, with the spring and October events being less regular. Some years, Apple doesn’t hold a spring event at all. In 2025 Apple only held two events preferring instead to announce new products via press release. 5. Does Apple take part in other events? Apple doesn’t participate in big industry-wide events such as CES, IFA or E3. Instead Apple invites the press and industry professionals to Apple Park to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these ‘events’ and it streams them live online to millions of viewers. 6. Does Apple ever announce products without an event? Apple frequently announces products without a keynote event, often opting for press releases or multi-day announcement windows. In recent years, the company has increasingly reserved its large-scale media events for major flagship launches, such as the primary iPhone lineup in September, while using press releases for iterative updates or “chip bumps” that may not warrant a full hour-long presentation. When is WWDC 2026, and what will Apple announce? Foundry When is the WWDC keynote? WWDC will open with a keynote on Monday June 8. WWDC will then run throughout the second week of June, from Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12. What Apple could launch at WWDC WWDC is Apple’s big developer event at which it reveals plans for the operating systems that run on Apple hardware. In June 2026 we expect Apple to unveil details of the iOS 27, iPadOS 27, a new macOS, updates to watchOS, tvOS, HomePod software, and an update to Apple’s realityOS. Apple sometimes announces new hardware at WWDC, usually the high end models targeted at power users, so we could see new Macs. This could include a new Mac Pro (the current model still utilizing the generations-old M2 Ultra chip). The Mac Studio and Mac mini could also get an update. Following the keynote on the Monday, developer events and sessions will run throughout the week. You can about WWDC date, times and everything you need to know in a separate article. When is the iPhone 18 event and what will launch? Apple When is the iPhone event? Apple’s iPhone launch event has become a regular fixture in September (aside from 2020 event when it was delayed until October – and the early January launches). In recent years the event has been held on September 9, so we could see Apple make the unveiling in the week of September 7 in 2026, with the event perhaps taking place on September 8 or 9. What will Apple launch at the September 2026 event? We can be pretty confident that the iPhone 18 series will launch in late 2026, although there may be some changes to the line up: we may see the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max launch in September but the iPhone 18 may be held back until the spring of 2027. There are also rumors of a folding iPhone – aka iPhone Fold launching in September. Alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro we may see new Apple Watches. In 2026 the Apple Watch Series 12 should get a chip update, since the Series 11 is using the same chip as the Series 10 did. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is said to be getting a fingerprint scanner. Find out more about the September iPhone event in our dedicated article. Will Apple have a second fall event in 2026? Apple Will there be a late fall event in 2026 The last time Apple held a late fall event was October 30, 2023, and before that October 18, 2021. So a late fall event isn’t unprecedented, but it is uncommon. Right now there is no way of knowing if Apple will hold a late fall event in 2026, or indeed, if it ever will again. Usually this event is to launch consumer Macs, but in recent years Apple hasn’t felt the need to hold an event to do that. Nearer the time we will know if there are big things planned that might warrant an event. What will Apple launch at the late fall 2026 event? Mac or iPad launches are most likely for an event in this time frame, but Apple hasn’t seen the need to hold an event to launch Macs since the Scary Fast event in 2023 when Apple introduced the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max in the MacBook Pro. As for iPads, the last time Apple featured an iPad launch at an event was in May 2024, so slightly more recent than Macs, but the new iPads could arrive at the spring event in 2026 meaning there would be no iPad news in the pipeline by the fall. For more information about Apple’s late fall events read: Apple’s October Event: Date, time and what will launch. What did Apple launch at past events So far in 2026 Apple has held an ‘experience’, which rather than being an event in the traditional sense, was a chance for journalists to get a look at products Apple had launched in the days prior, including MacBook Neo and iPhons 17e. In 2025 Apple only held two events. The first was its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, at which it introduced the new features coming in the next version of its operating systems, and the second was the huge September 9 Apple Event where it launched new Apple Watches, new AirPods Pro and the new iPhones for 2025. Apple doesn’t have to hold an event to launch new products though. Prior to WWDC, Apple launched a new iPhone 16e via press release on February 19, a new iPad and iPad Air via press release on March 4, and a new MacBook Air and Mac Studio on March 5. Apple then went on to launch a new M5 MacBook Pro and M5 iPad Pro in October. No event was held to mark these launches. In 2024, Apple held three events: one on Tuesday, May 7, at which it launched new iPads, a keynote to kick off WWDC on June 10, and an event on September 9 at which Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and the AirPods 4. In October 2024 there was no event, but Apple did announce new products (iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro) via press release. In 2023 there were three events: WWDC in June, an iPhone event in September, and Apple’s second fall event on October 30 (or after midnight on October 31 if you weren’t in the U.S.). In 2022 Apple held three events: a spring event on March 8, WWDC on June 6, and the iPhone 14 launch on September 7. In other years Apple has held four events though. Foundry When were Apple’s past events? Spring Apple events have been held on the following dates: 2026: ‘Experience’ Wednesday March 4 2025: No event 2024: Tuesday May 7 2023: No event 2022: Tuesday March 8 2021: Tuesday April 20 2020: No event 2019: Monday March 25 2018: Tuesday March 27 2017: No event 2016: Monday March 21 2015: Monday March 9 2014: No event 2013: No event 2012: Wednesday March 7 WWDC events have fallen on the following dates: WWDC 2025: June 9 (9-13) WWDC 2024: June 10 (10-14) WWDC 2023: June 5 (5-9) WWDC 2022: June 6 (6-10) WWDC 2021: June 7 (7-11) WWDC 2020: June 22 (22-26) WWDC 2019: June 3 (3-7) WWDC 2018: June 4 (4-8) WWDC 2017: June 5 (5-9) Here are the past few Apple September event dates: 2025: Tuesday, September 9 2024: Monday, September 9 2023: Tuesday, September 12 2022: Wednesday, September 7 2021: Tuesday, September 14 2020: Tuesday, September 15 2019: Tuesday, September 10 2018: Wednesday, September 12 2017: Tuesday, September 12 In the past, Apple has held a second fall event on the following dates: 2025: No event 2024: No event 2023: Monday, October 30 2022: No event 2021: Monday, October 18 2020: Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 10 2019: No event 2018: Tuesday, October 30 2017: No event 2016: Thursday, October 27 2015: No event 2014: Thursday, October 16 2013: Tuesday, October 22 2012: Tuesday, October 23 2011: Tuesday, October 4

Read more »

As we await Apple Glasses, Neal Stephenson now says the tech is doomed
Apple execs reportedly once expected the iPhone to be replaced by smart glasses by 2029, with Eddy Cue later updating this prediction to 2035. However, one high-profile former ardent supporter of this idea has now changed his mind completely, and now believes that we will still be using smartphones 20 years from now … more…

Read more »

The OS 26.4 updates are loaded with security fixes, so grab it now
Macworld The iOS 26.4 update has a handful of neat new features and some bug fixes. There may not be the new Siri we were hoping for, but at least there are new emojis and a keyboard accuracy fix, right? Well, even if you don’t care about any of that stuff, this is a must-install update. The Apple Security releases page lists almost 40 important fixes for security and privacy in iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4. For macOS Tahoe 26.4, the list is even longer. The bugs range from the relatively minor, like a fix in Crash Reporter that may allow an app to know which other apps you have installed, to the critical, like a security fix that prevents someone with local access to your device from accessing your Keychain items. There are updates to pre-installed apps, core components like networking, major WebKit vulnerabilities closed, and four kernel updates. Unless you have a very good reason not to, you should grab this update now. Nothing here is known to be exploited in the wild, but we recommend all users update as soon as it is practical. To install OS 26.4 on your iPhone or iPad: Open Settings Tap General Tap Software Update Follow the on-screen prompts

Read more »

Apple urges iPhone users to update as new DarkSword hacking tool lands online
Macworld The latest iOS security report is a good reminder that iPhone users need to install iOS updates as soon as possible. TechCrunch (a sister publication to Macworld) reports that an updated version of the DarkSword hacking toolkit has been released on GitHub, which means the softare is freely available for download on the internet by threat agents. Last week, the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reported on DarkSword, software used to create three malware families called Ghostblade, Ghostknife, and Ghostsaber. The malware uses JavaScript, and attackers embeds the code in a website. When the user visits the website, the JavaScript executes and installs malware on the iPhone that can gather the user’s personal data, record audio, or check GS data for the current location. The information is then uploaded to a remote server. GTIG said that most targeted users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Ukraine. iPhones running iOS 18.4 to 18.7 are vulnerable to the attacks, but all of the security holes used by the DarkSword malware have been fixed as of iOS 26.3 (the current version is iOS 26.3.1); most of them were fixed before 26.3. The latest version of iOS 18 is 18.7.6, released on March 4. “Keeping your software up to date is the single most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products,” Apple spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke told TechCrunch. Older iPhones running updated versions of iOS were not vulnerable to the DarkSword attacks. Generally, iOS can be updated in the Settings app by tapping General > Software Update. However, Apple has a separate method for installing immediate security patches. This setting is called Background Security Improvements, and is located in Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll to the bottom to find Background Security Improvements. Matthias Frielingsdorf of iVerify, told TechCrunch that the new DarkSword spyware has similarities to previous DarkSword versions, and that the GitHub files are so simple that anyone can execute them “in a couple minutes to hours.”

Read more »

iOS 27 rumored to bring a totally new Siri interface, ‘Ask’ button, and more
Macworld A new report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg sheds a little more light on the rumors and leaks already circulating about the upcoming changes coming to Siri. It describes some of Apple’s plans and tests for what Gurman is calling an “AI reboot.” We’ve already heard that Apple is working on a new Siri powered by Google Gemini (with Apple’s own technology alongside it). A version of that was expected to arrive as part of this week’s iOS 26.4 update, but setbacks in development and testing pushed some of those features back to 26.5. Other features have been delayed until the fall, when Apple is set to introduce an even bigger Siri overhaul. Still based on Gemini technology, the iOS 27 Siri is supposed to be a full chatbot that you can converse with, similar to the latest versions of ChatGPT or Gemini. It will also reportedly be based on a much larger and more capable foundation model. The new report makes it sound like Apple won’t release a half-baked new Siri this spring, and instead is putting all its eggs in the OS 27 basket. It should be something of a total AI reboot set to be unveiled at the WWDC keynote on June 8. According to the report, Apple is testing an actual Siri app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Like rival chatbots, it would give users a place to reference and refer to past interactions, and keep multiple AI-powered projects and lines of query going at once. Apple is also testing new interfaces for Siri to replace the glowing screen border introduced in iOS 18. Users would still be able to summon Siri with the power button or “Siri” wake word, but the response could change. In one version in testing, Siri appears in the Dynamic Island with a prompt to “Search or ask.” Apple’s systemwide search feature, Spotlight, could also be replaced with Siri. It will still focus on local content and apps, and show “Siri Suggestions,” but it will be able to root through more kinds of data in more apps. Finally, Apple’s plans may include more deeply integrating Siri throughout its OSes. Built-in apps could have an “Ask Siri” toggle in menus, and the keyboard could have a “Write with Siri” option at the top, making Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools feature more visible. Key Siri features promised for iOS 18—personal context gleaned from on-device data sources, full screen awareness to add context to commands and questions—don’t seem ready for release any time soon. Gurman reports that people involved believe the majority of the already-announced changes “won’t be ready until this fall” when iOS 27 arrives. That would be two full years since Apple began advertising the features alongside the iPhone 16. The big expansion of Apple’s “App Intents” feature, by which Siri can perform actions within apps, is still in the works, Gurman says. Perhaps that will be released this spring, while the rest of New Siri comes this fall? We’ll know soon enough, with the iOS 26.5 beta, likely the last major update before WWDC, set to arrive imminently.

Read more »

Upgrade your drive without upgrading your car — get this wireless CarPlay adapter for $35
Macworld TL;DR: Cut the cords for good — this $34.99 (MSRP $59.99) compact adapter converts your wired CarPlay or Android Auto into a fully wireless setup, reconnects automatically in seconds, and keeps all controls working. Grabbing your phone, plugging it in, dealing with tangled cables — it’s a small annoyance that somehow happens every single time you get in the car. And once you’re on the road, that clutter just sits there, getting in the way of an otherwise clean, modern dashboard. The Mini Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter fixes that instantly, and it’s available now for $34.99. Designed for cars that already support wired CarPlay or Android Auto, it converts your existing system into a fully wireless setup in seconds. Setup is simple: plug it in once, pair via Bluetooth, and after that, it reconnects automatically in under three seconds every time you start your car. You still get full functionality — navigation, music, calls, messaging, and voice assistants — without sacrificing performance. It uses dual-band Wi-Fi for a stable connection and supports your car’s built-in controls like touchscreen, steering wheel buttons, and voice commands. The compact design keeps things clean and out of the way, while built-in protections help it handle real driving conditions. If your car already has CarPlay or Android Auto, this is one of the easiest upgrades you can make. Cut the cord and upgrade your drive — get the Mini Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter for $34.99 while this deal lasts. Mini Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto AdapterSee 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.

Read more »

Amazon's Big Spring Sale drops stainless steel Apple Watch S9 with cellular to $299
The GPS + Cellular Apple Watch Series 9 with a stainless steel case is on sale for $299 today only as Amazon kicks off its Big Spring Sale event.Get a stainless steel Apple Watch S9 with cellular for just $299 - Image credit: AppleOriginally retailing for $699, the $400 discount on the blowout Apple Watch Series 9 is valid today only at Amazon. The 41mm S9 has GPS + Cellular capability, along with a Silver Stainless Steel Case and Storm Blue Sport Band.Get the $299 Apple Watch deal Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »