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- Wednesday December 10
- 02:09 pmInstagram now lets you take control of your feed (somewhat)
A commonly expressed frustration with algorithmically-driven apps like Instagram is that users have no control over their feeds. They are instead shown what the app thinks they want to see, which is often wildly inaccurate. Meta is promising to provide at least a partial solution to the problem with a new feature called Your Algorithm … more…02:02 pmBlacklisted apps stayed on App Store despite US sanctions
Over 50 apps on the App Store and Google Play Store continued to be available even after the US banned working with the developers.The App Store has several apps that may violate sanctionsApple was accused in 2021 of hosting apps by companies on the US Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals — and in 2019 was fined for doing so. Now The Tech Transparency Project (TPP), a non-profit watchdog, says Apple and Google have continued to host blacklisted apps.As first reported by The Washington Post, the TPP group says that some app developers were listed on the App Store under barely changed names. For instance, some added OOO to their name — which is the Russian abbreviation for a corporation. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:00 pmShelly’s new Plug Gen4 is a powerful Matter smart plug for less than $20
I love smart plugs for smart home automations. Smart plugs are one of the easiest ways to start building out a smart home without overwhelming someone. They are easy to install, use, and are usually low-cost. Today, Shelly has released the new Shelly Plug Gen4. Big point up front: it works with Matter, and it’s under $20. For HomeKit users, it is an easy way to add automations, track power usage, and control lamps or small appliances directly from the Home app. more…01:37 pmApple and Best Buy pack free subscriptions with every Apple Gift Card
Apple and Best Buy are giving away free months of Apple Arcade, Music, TV, and Fitness+ with every Apple Gift Card. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:28 pmApple reportedly broke the law by ignoring US sanctions on apps
Apple has been accused of breaking the law by failing to comply with US sanctions after the App Store was found to have contain dozens of apps from sanctioned companies. The same was true of Google, though at a smaller scale. The banned apps were identified by the Tech Transparency Project, which says it demonstrates that Apple failed to live up to its promises that the App Store represents a safe and trusted source … more…01:21 pmFifth Apple Store in India to open on December 11
Ahead of its December 11 opening, Apple has previewed an Apple Store in Noida, its fifth Apple Store location in India and the third opened in 2025.Apple Noida - Image Credit: AppleApple is expanding its retail presence in India very quickly, and is about to do it once again. This time with a new outlet in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, located in the DLF Mall of India in Noida, one of India's largest shopping centers.Referred to as Apple Noida, it appears to be a fairly typical mall-style storefront for the company. Photographs shared on Wednesday depicts the usual array of iPhone-covered tables, wall modules, and large screen seen in many other places. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:00 pmAustralia Bans Social Media Accounts for Minors
Australia's new social media ban for minors puts governments, platforms, and families at the center of a growing debate over online harm, privacy, and enforcement. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.01:00 pmAdobe Photoshop, Express, and Acrobat now available for free on ChatGPT
Starting today, features from three of Adobe’s flagship products will be natively integrated into ChatGPT, for free. Here’s how it works. more…12:48 pmPSA: Amazon-exclusive power banks have been recalled after fires
Around 210,000 budget portable power banks sold exclusively by Amazon USA are being recalled after they were found to have caused 11 fires resulting in both injuries and property damage … more…12:16 pmApple may have accidentally made it almost impossible for governments to ban iMessage
Authoritarian governments don’t like their citizens being able to have private conversations using end-to-end encrypted messaging apps. This is the reason Russia has just banned FaceTime, but it was surprising iMessage had escaped a ban. A potential reason for this has now been discovered: Apple may have accidentally made it almost impossible for a government to ban its end-to-end encrypted text messaging app … more…12:15 pmUnleash your iPhone’s Action button with these 7 creative shortcuts
Macworld When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro, it retired the classic mute switch which had been part of the iPhone design since the very first model. These days, all iPhones feature a customizable Action button, which users can freely remap to various different actions. Some of the default actions include muting the iPhone, toggling a Focus mode, launching the Camera app, recognizing a song, recording audio, and translating speech. While these actions are sufficient for many users, the pros may find them lackluster. Fortunately, iOS supports deeper customizations through Apple’s Shortcuts app, allowing the Action button to perform a practically infinite number of tasks. Once you understand the logic behind the feature, you should be able to build and assign any desired shortcut. Generic Control Center toggles If you find the built-in Shortcuts app too complex, you can settle for Control Center toggles instead. While not as flexible, they include some useful first- and third-party functions you can assign to the Action button, beyond Apple’s default suggestions. This is a good place to start.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Simply head to the Action Button section in the Settings app and scroll horizontally to reach the Controls option. Tap on Choose a Control to view a full list of available toggles you can use with the Action button. Some of the popular actions include toggling Dark mode, playing ambient music, starting a Quick Note, and launching the Calculator. Depending on the apps you’ve installed, you’ll also find other actions provided by third-party developers. Once you’ve chosen a toggle, iOS will complete the desired task whenever you push and hold the Action button. Summon AI assistants Siri is far from being a reliable virtual assistant, especially when it comes to maintaining longer conversations. Thankfully, you can assign a third-party AI assistant to the Action button to mimic Siri’s Side button shortcut. First, you’ll need to download the official Gemini app. (Or, if you’re not keen on Google’s AI, you can alternatively use the feature with other popular chatbot apps—like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.) Once installed and signed in, you’ll find new toggles in the Controls list mentioned in the previous section. Some of Gemini’s bundled shortcuts include typing a prompt, talking live, scanning with the camera, uploading a file, and more. Assign the functionality you typically rely on, and it’ll always be one Action button click away from initiation. Gemini is now only one click away.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Unlock your car The Action button doesn’t necessarily have to control your iPhone. If you’ve got a newer car, chances are it offers a companion iOS app you can use to unlock, start, or adjust it. Many vehicle manufacturers have baked these capabilities into the built-in Shortcuts app, making them compatible with the Action button. Launch the Shortcuts app and tap on the plus (+) button to create a new shortcut. Scroll through the list of apps in the shortcut builder and locate your car’s companion app. Tap on it to view the available actions compatible with your model. Pick the one you need the most, then save the shortcut. This is where you create new shortcuts.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Head to the Action Button section in the Settings app and scroll horizontally to find the Shortcut option. Tap on Choose a Shortcut, and pick the one you just created. Triggering the Action button will now control your car the way you’ve specified. Smart home switch Similarly, the Action button can control certain smart home products, such as lights, via the Shortcuts app. In the shortcut creation flow described above, locate the Home app. If you simply want to turn a light on or off, opt for the Toggle Accessory or Scene action and pick the relevant HomeKit bulb. For deeper controls, you can opt for the Control Home action instead, which, for example, lets you specify the color and intensity of the light, not just toggle it on or off. It’s like having a light switch on the side of your phone.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Once you’ve completed setting up and saving the shortcut, you can assign it to the Action button as outlined in the previous section. Call your partner Remember the speed dial feature from the prehistoric Nokia phone era? You can replicate it using your iPhone’s Action button. To do so, create a new shortcut, pick Phone from the list of apps, and insert the Call action. Choose your partner’s contact card, save the shortcut, and assign it to the Action button. Et voilà! This is for illustrative purposes only. We don’t recommend creating a shortcut to your own number.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Multiple actions Now, you may be thinking that some of these use cases are quite niche, and that it doesn’t make sense for them to occupy the Action button’s sole function slot. Luckily, there’s a workaround for this: the toolbox approach. Create a new shortcut, navigate to the Shortcuts app in the creation flow, and add the Run Shortcut action. In the action’s options, set the blank space to Ask Each Time. You can now head to the Action button’s settings again and assign the newly created shortcut. Whenever you trigger it, it’ll display a list of your other shortcuts, and you can tap on any of them to execute the needed task on the spot. As such, you can assign all of the above-mentioned shortcuts simultaneously to the Action button. With this option activated, you’ll be given the choice of multiple shortcuts.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Conditional shortcuts While it works, the toolbox approach can be overwhelming if you’ve created a lot of shortcuts. What if there was a smarter way to incorporate multiple tasks into the Action button, without having to manually pick a shortcut from the all-encompassing list? When you’re outdoors, for example, you likely won’t need to access your smart home shortcuts. With conditional shortcuts, you can program the Action button to react to your location and proceed with a specific task accordingly. Create a new shortcut, then search for and add the Get current location action. Add the If action, change the default Latitude selection to Street, and type your home street name in the blank space at the end. Add a Run Shortcut action under the If action, and select the smart home shortcut you created earlier. If you usually call your partner when you’re away from home, add another Run Shortcut action under Otherwise, and select the speed dial shortcut. When done, assign the conditional shortcut to the Action button. This is a simple example of a conditional shortcut. They can get way more complicated.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Now, when you trigger the Action button, it’ll first check your current location using your iPhone’s GPS. If the street you’re currently at matches your home address, it’ll automatically toggle your smart home appliance. If not, it’ll proceed with calling your partner. This is just one basic example of how powerful conditional shortcuts can be. You can create if statements that detect your current activity for running-related shortcuts. Similarly, you can set the Action button to perform specific tasks depending on the app you have in the foreground, the phone’s orientation, the battery level, or other factors. You even nest multiple if statements to create a comprehensive shortcut that adapts to everything you do. It may take you some time to get there, but it’s technically possible.11:30 amiOS 26.2’s small tweaks add up to a big update for your iPhone–here’s what’s new
Macworld iOS 26.2 will soon be available to download on your iPhone, and while the update isn’t a major overhaul, it brings numerous changes and refinements, including more Liquid Glass tweaks. More importantly, iOS 26.2 brings a series of minor new features throughout the system that will surprise and delight iPhone users. Here are all the new iOS 26.2 features you’ll want to check out right away: Liquid Glass Lock Screen slider After listening to user feedback, Apple added a new option to iOS 26.1 that lets users choose between the traditional Liquid Glass look and a “Tinted” mode that makes everything more frosted. Now with iOS 26.2, there’s also a similar adjustment for the clock on the Lock Screen. Thanks to a new slider in the Lock Screen options, users can adjust the transparency of the clock to make it more or less “Liquid.” The option to make the clock completely solid remains, and users can still choose between different colors. iOS 26.2 lets you adjust the Liquid Glass intensity on the Lock Screen.Foundry Liquid Glass Measure app Apple continues expanding its new design language across the system, and the Measure app is the latest to get the Liquid Glass treatment. With iOS 26.2, the app’s controls, buttons, and panels adopt the same translucent, fluid look introduced earlier this year. The interface feels more consistent with the rest of iOS. Functionality remains the same, but the updated visuals help modernize an app that hadn’t seen a significant UI refresh in a while. The Measure app got a Liquid Glass update in iOS 26.2.Foundry Auto chapters in Podcasts Although Apple Podcasts already had a chapter selector, it required the podcast creator to set them manually. iOS 26.2 automatically creates chapters based on the content transcript, so you can easily jump to a specific part of an episode. In addition, the app now detects mentions of another podcast available on the platform and then provides the user with a link to listen to that episode. Improved Sleep Score Another new feature introduced with iOS 26 is Sleep Score, which ranks the user’s sleep quality based on data obtained from the Apple Watch. This includes things like how long you sleep, bedtime, and interruptions. With iOS 26.2, Apple is making fine adjustments to Sleep Score, which now provides a more accurate score for each category. These are the new scores for each level: Very High: 96-100 High: 81-95 OK: 61-80 Low: 41-60 Very Low: 0-40 The Sleep Score is improved in iOS 26.2.Foundry Set reminders as alarms With iOS 26.2, users can choose to display reminder notifications as alarms. Instead of a banner, the reminder will take up the entire screen with an audible alert, just like traditional alarms set in the Clock app. You can snooze the reminder or slide to stop it. It’s worth noting that the feature is optional, which means you can continue using the Reminders app with classic notifications if you prefer. AirDrop PIN AirDrop is also gaining a new feature with iOS 26.2. When you’re using AirDrop with someone who isn’t in your contacts list, AirDrop will show a PIN code to be entered on the other device, similar to Apple TV pairing. Doing this adds the other device to a list of known devices for 30 days. So the next time, you can quickly use AirDrop with that person without changing any settings or entering the PIN again. You can now secure AirDrop interactions with a pin code in iOS 26.2.Foundry Apple News shortcuts With the update, Apple News users will find new shortcuts with quick access to specific sections of the News app. These include Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food. The shortcuts are shown on the Apple News app home screen, as well as in the Search tab. Freeform app tables Apple’s Freeform whiteboarding app, which lets users sketch, brainstorm, organize notes, and more on an infinite canvas, is getting a powerful tool in iOS 26.2: tables. After updating to iOS 26.2, you’ll see the new option to add tables alongside the existing options for creating notes and adding shapes. Tables can be customized with multiple rows and columns. AirPods Live Translation in the EU One of the biggest new features in iOS 26 is Live Translation for AirPods. As the name suggests, this feature allows users to talk to people who speak a different language, with the earbuds translating the conversation in real time. The feature was previously only available in a few regions, but iOS 26.2 expands it to more countries. The feature is now enabled for all users in the European Union. It’s worth noting that AirPods Live Translation only works with AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4. The feature is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Update to iOS 26.2 Functionality remains the same, but the updated visuals help modernize an app that hadn’t seen a significant UI refresh in a while. If you’re already running iOS 26, this update makes the experience feel more cohesive, more responsive, and simply nicer to use day-to-day. To get the update when it arrives, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update.08:00 amThese $199.95 wireless iPhone chargers are $35 right now
Macworld TL;DR: A Speedy Mag Wireless Charger now only costs $35 (reg. $119.95). A dead battery at the wrong time can ruin your whole day. Keep your batteries up with a Speedy Mag 5,000mAh Wireless Charger for iPhones on sale for $34.97 (reg. $119.95). There’s nothing worse than watching your phone hit 8 percent when you’re nowhere near a charger. Speedy Mag snaps onto the back of your iPhone and just stays there while you go about your day. No wires swinging around, no guessing whether it’s lined up right. Because it attaches magnetically, you can slip your phone into a pocket, hold it normally, or set it down without knocking the charger loose. The 5,000mAh capacity is enough to get most iPhones through the rest of a busy day without babysitting your battery level, which is all you really want in a portable charger. It charges quickly, and the built-in protections keep your phone from getting too hot or overcharged. The matte finish feels nice in your hand and keeps things from looking bulky. If you ever need a wired backup, the USB-C port is right there, but you’ll rarely touch it. Speedy Mag works with iPhone 12 and newer, plus any Qi-compatible devices if you want to share the power. It’s small, travel-friendly, and solves a problem everyone deals with at some point. Until December 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $34.97 to get a Speedy Mag Wireless Charger. Speedy Mag 5,000mAh Wireless Charger for iPhone (Black)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amSay bye-bye to your slippery Apple TV remote—grab this one for just $30
Macworld TL;DR: This classic, easy-to-use Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV is just $29.95 with free shipping—compatible with all Apple TV and Apple TV 4K models. Apple TV is great—until you’re fumbling with the remote in the dark or accidentally activating voice commands when you meant to pause. The Function101 Button Remote brings back the simplicity of a traditional remote—clear buttons, intuitive layout, and no guesswork required. And for $29.95 with free shipping, it’s a simple upgrade that makes everyday streaming feel refreshingly smooth. This remote uses infrared (IR) technology, which means you can sync it with your Apple TV in seconds and control power, volume, and mute on your TV, receiver, or soundbar. No complicated setup, no pairing drama—just point, click, and watch. It works with all Apple TV and Apple TV 4K models, and with a range of up to 39 feet, you can kick back on the couch and still control everything comfortably. With its soft silicone buttons, generous spacing, and familiar layout, the Function101 remote is especially great for families, guests, or anyone who prefers tactile buttons over touch surfaces and voice commands. Order by Dec. 12 to have it arrive in time for holiday gifting or to upgrade your own setup before the next holiday movie marathon. Get the Function101 Button Remote for $29.95 with free shipping. Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV/Apple TV 4KSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.02:18 amCiti lifts Apple stock target following strong iPhone sales
Citi analysts are growing bullish on Apple, pointing to soaring iPhone 17 sales and movement towards the new, improved Siri.iPhone 17There's no doubt that Apple is having a banner year, and analysts are adjusting their predictions accordingly. Citi has doubled down on its "buy" rating for Apple's stock, raising the target price from $315 to $330.Apple's stock had a price of $277.18 by market's end on Tuesday. As CNBC notes, a jump to $330 would mean a 19% boost, up considerably from the 13% the analysts had initially quoted. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:08 amCiti reiterates Apple stock buy rating, boosts price target
Despite the ongoing leadership turmoil and AI uncertainty, Citi’s analysts raised the price target on Apple’s stock from $315 to $350. Here’s why. more…12:39 amResearchers used 3 million days of Apple Watch data to train a disease-detection AI
A new study by researchers from MIT and Empirical Health used 3 million person-days of Apple Watch data to develop a foundation model that predicts medical conditions with impressive accuracy. Here are the details. more…Tuesday December 0911:38 pmEuropean Commission credits DMA for upcoming iPhone-Android switching tools
Apple and Google are preparing tools to make switching devices easier, but the European Commission is already claiming credit under the DMA.iPhone 17 ProOn Monday, Google began rolling out an Android update that will eventually make it easier for users to transfer data, such as contacts, calendars, and messages, between platforms. Apple is also working on a similar feature for a future iOS 26 developer beta, though no release date has been set.The feature isn't live yet, and we suspect it will take quite some time before it is. The rollout process is likely to be gradual, as it requires significant collaboration between Apple and Google. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:47 pmThe iPhone’s 18 Dynamic Island could get smaller, according to a new report
Macworld Rumors from Chinese social media site Weibo are hit-and-miss, especially when they don’t contain any photographic evidence or name sources. So with the appropriate grain of salt, consider the latest leak from Weibo account “Smart Pikachu” who asserts that Apple is testing a “a micro-transparent glass panel” for under-display Face ID. Face ID relies on a number of sensors beyond just the front-facing camera. There’s an infrared flood illuminator, a dot projector from a VCSEL array, and a structured light receiver. So some of these parts might move under the display, but the main front-facing camera probably won’t, for example. This could make the Dynamic Island area smaller, or even reduce it to a “punch-hole” style circle. Otherwise, it’s unclear why Apple would need to move the parts under the display. Of course, even this rumor says Apple is only “testing” the technology, and does not mention which iPhone 18 phones would get the feature. So, it could be limited to the Pro models or even just the Pro Max if it arrives at all. We’ve certainly heard rumors of Apple reducing and eventually eliminating the cutout for its front camera several times in the past. While the timeline seems to shift, the latest leaks seem to suggest that we’ll see some changes in the iPhone 18 timeframe and further changes in the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027.10:42 pmiMessage’s Delivery Architecture Makes It Hard to Block Without Blocking All iOS Push Notifications | Daring FireballiMessage’s Delivery Architecture Makes It Hard to Block Without Blocking All iOS Push Notifications
Draw your own conclusions about cellular carriers and enterprise network administrators being similar to authoritarian governments.