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- Wednesday February 18
- 03:19 pmApple Music in iOS 26.4: Five new features coming to iPhone
iOS 26.4 is packed with new features and changes, including five updates for the Music app. Here’s everything new for Apple Music in iOS 26.4. more…03:15 pmiOS 26.4 beta 1: Notification Forwarding onboarding, allow search on iCloud․com, and more [Video] | 9 to 5 MaciOS 26.4 beta 1: Notification Forwarding onboarding, allow search on iCloud․com, and more [Video]
In this new episode of iOS Decoded, we take a deep dive into what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1, with in-depth looks at dozens of new features and changes. For example, we get our first look at the Notification Forwarding setup for third-party smart watches and other hardware devices in the EU, along with new iCloud.com functionality that brings secure Photos and iCloud Drive search to the web. In this post, we’ll consider five standout features included with the update, but watch the full video for a look at everything new, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more in-depth walkthroughs. more…03:02 pmProducer Dana Eden dies unexpectedly at 52 during filming of Apple TV series ‘Tehran’ | Mac Daily NewsProducer Dana Eden dies unexpectedly at 52 during filming of Apple TV series ‘Tehran’
Dana Eden, the acclaimed Israeli producer and co-creator of the Apple TV+ spy thriller series "Tehran," has died at age 52 during… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:57 pmEarly demo reveals how CarPlay handles video in iOS 26.4, including Apple TV app
Starting with iOS 26, Apple will officially allow video playback through CarPlay. Released this week in beta, iOS 26.4 appears to be the first version with support, as long as two conditions are met. While CarPlay video playback isn’t ready for users yet, one developer has shown off how it will look as well as how Apple’s TV app looks in the car. more…02:30 pmYou don’t need to pay full price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
These stackable, discounted Xbox Game Pass Ultimate one-month subscriptions cost just $24.99 (regularly $29.99). (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:15 pmHere’s a hopeful sign the M5 Mac Studio isn’t too far away
Thinking of purchasing a Mac Studio? Here's why it might be wise to wait for improved M5 versions coming soon — they look phenomenal. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:06 pmFederal ban on TP-Link routers shelved, but Texas fights on
Badged versions of TP-Link routers are supplied to US customers by more than 300 ISPs, making them the most widely used Wi-Fi routers in the country, found in millions of US homes. It therefore caused grave concern when security researchers at Microsoft found that a hacking group based in China was using vulnerabilities in the devices to carry out cyber attacks in the US. It had been widely expected that the routers would be banned from sale in the US, but politics seemingly intervened. However, the battle is not yet over … more…02:03 pmBerkshire trims 4% of its Apple stake in Q4; Apple remains its largest equity holding at $62 billion | Mac Daily NewsBerkshire trims 4% of its Apple stake in Q4; Apple remains its largest equity holding at $62 billion
During the fourth quarter of 2025, Berkshire also reduced its position in Apple — its largest equity holding — by about 4%, trimming roughly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:47 pmApple is making it easier to customize how subtitles look on iPhone
The usage of subtitles and captions in TV shows and movies is ever increasing, both due to the popularity of foreign language content and Hollywood’s inability to produce an audio track where the person speaking is sufficiently intelligible. With iOS 26.4, Apple is improving the subtitles experience in the native video player on iPhone and iPad, and a similar change is rolling out to Apple TV with tvOS 26.4 … more…01:08 pmMarch 4 international Apple Experiences may follow week of online launches
Apple may return to its marketing playbook, delivering multiple press releases of big products in just a few days, then highlight them all at the international March 4 "experiences."Apple's experience logo has many layers. The announcement of a special event on March 4 has led to wild speculation of what Apple could introduce at the time. However, with so many oddities surrounding it all, it may not be as straightforward as people think.On Tuesday, Daring Fireball's John Gruber proposed that Apple's reference of it as an "experience" day is unusual. The choice of holding the event on a Wednesday is also unexpected, especially when you factor in Apple's preference for Tuesday product announcements. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:54 pmYou might soon be able to watch Apple TV in your car
Macworld Code references in the latest version of iOS point to what might sound like a surprising new feature in CarPlay: the ability to play movies and TV shows in your car. iOS 26.4, which has just launched in beta form, contains two giveaway strings, both of which mention an important safety measure. “When you’re not driving,” reads the first, “open Apple TV on iPhone and review the privacy information.” While the second reads: “When you’re not driving, sign in to Apple TV on iPhone.” These code strings were spotted by the MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris, who posted his discovery to Twitter/X. The Apple news site 9to5Mac further spotted five references that contain the words “CarPlayVideoPlayback,” juxtaposed with terms such as “ClimateControls” and “Notifications.” It’s worth noting that while these snippets point to the feature approaching launch, the concept is not a total surprise. “Video in the car” was originally announced as part of the iOS 26 update last year, and is still mentioned in the CarPlay section of Apple’s developer site. “AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren’t driving,” the page explains. “Integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature in your car.” That’s the key: it was left up to automakers to authorise and integrate the feature. And up to now, no automaker has chosen to do that, or announced that it intends to do so in the future. But this latest discovery hints that progress is finally being made.12:40 pmThe low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release
Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March. Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024 … more…12:40 pmThe low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release
Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March. Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024 … more…12:40 pmThe low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release
Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March. Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024 … more…12:17 pmApple Music Connect is reborn as a marketing tool for the music industry
Apple's failed social media platform Apple Music Connect is back, but this time not for fans. Instead, it's a set of promotion tools for record labels.Apple Music has added a new central resource for record industry professionalsIt's not as if Apple starts up and abandons social media programs as often as Google kills off apps, but it feels close. Alongside better-known failures such as Ping, there was Apple Music Connect, which started in 2015 and died in 2019.Now Apple has brought it back — or really just reused the name — with Apple Music Connect for record labels and music distributors. It still has a social media element in that its tools include what Apple calls social templates for promotion on Twitter, Instagram and so on. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:15 pmThe final countdown for Intel Mac apps has begun
Macworld Apple has made a major announcement this week that could affect the software you use, especially if it’s an older app. In a support document, Apple wrote that it will start to phase out Rosetta functionality with macOS 28. That means in two years, apps that were written for Intel-based Macs will no longer run on M-series Macs, except for “certain older, unmaintained games.” When Apple began its switch from Intel chips to its own M-series chips in 2020, it changed the architecture of the underlying workings of the Mac. To help navigate the transition, Apple created Rosetta, which acts as a translator of Intel-based apps so they can run on M-series Macs. Rosetta will be included in macOS 27, which is expected to be released this fall. After that, Apple will limit the Rosetta implementation in macOS 28. It’s been over five years since the first M1 Macs debuted. By the time macOS 28 is released in the fall of 2027, it’ll be seven years–Apple has a history of deprecating products after such time. Developers have had plenty of time to update their software to either support M-series Macs exclusively or run universally on either chip. You can check an app’s compatibility by selecting the app’s icon and pressing Command+I on the keyboard. This will open a software info window, and in the General section, look at the listing for Kind. This will show one of the following: Application (Apple silicon): The app was written for Apple chips Application (Universal): The app was written for both Apple and Intel chips Application (Intel): The app was written for Intel chips and will stop working with macOS 28 Foundry If an app is “Apple silicon” or “Universal,” it will continue to work when macOS 28 arrives. However, if an app is “Intel,” it will stop working (unless it’s one of those older games Apple has yet to identify). If the developer doesn’t update the app between now and then, you may need to find an Apple silicon or Universal alternative to continue using it. These are your options: If you bought the app in the Mac App Store, you check for any updates between now and then in the store. If you downloaded the app from a third-party site, check the app’s settings or the developer’s website for an update. If none become available between now and 2027, your options become a bit more dramatic. You can look for a new app altogether, or you can put off upgrading to macOS 28 (which we don’t recommend). Finally, if you have an older Mac, you can use it to run any Intel apps when you need them.11:54 am‘Double-dipping’ dispute over Qualcomm iPhone chips finally ends
Apple previously accused Qualcomm of “double-dipping” as a result of the company’s policies over selling radio chips for use in iPhones. The Cupertino company had also objected to Qualcomm charging a percentage of the price of an iPhone rather than a fixed fee per chip. Apple withdrew its claims back in 2024, but an independent class-action lawsuit was still being pursued on behalf of iPhone owners. This lawsuit has now been abandoned … more…11:30 amCan Eddy Cue break Apple’s slump?
Macworld Earlier this month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple had scaled back its plans to launch a new Health+ service and was revisiting its entire health and fitness strategy. While this could be seen as being another sign of trouble at Apple, as the company is currently mired in an ongoing narrative about its inability to ship AI features it promised nearly two years ago, I choose to see this as the opposite: a promising early sign that Apple’s executives are recognizing that its headlong charge into chasing services revenue might be coming at too high a cost. The unlikely hero in all this? Apple’s services chief himself, Eddy Cue. This isn’t good enough At the end of last year, with the departure of former Apple COO Jeff Williams, Cue took over Apple’s health division. Even though Cue has been at Apple for a very long time, he was new to this group, and it seems to have made a difference. A new leader comes in with no ego invested in the path the group has been walking down, which makes it easier to see things fresh and not be afraid to make changes. What Cue saw was a team that was busily preparing a new service, Health+, that offered AI-powered coaching features using data from Apple Health. His response seems to have been that, even for the guy whose job it is to grow and maintain Apple’s services business, the service being built was not compelling enough to launch. But I think it goes deeper than that: The App Store has several apps that mine Apple Health data to generate AI-enhanced health information. What might have felt like an add-on feature a few years ago feels more like table stakes for Apple’s own Health app these days. And, according to Gurman, Cue has asked that a bunch of the features being built for Health+ just be rolled into the Health app. It’s not Sherlocking Is it wrong for Apple to look at other apps in the app store, like Athlytic, and realize that its basic, fundamental device features are lacking? This is the classic “Sherlocking” argument, but I don’t agree with it. There is a base level of functionality that Apple should be providing with every device it sells. Apple’s brand promise is that it sells nice stuff–a little pricier than the competition in a lot of cases, but you get better quality for what you pay for. That requires a level of basic functionality that comes along with the device that you’re buying. Right now, on the health and fitness side, Apple’s in danger of creating the perception that users need to buy an iPhone and Apple Watch and then subscribe to a service (from Apple or a third party) to make it worthwhile. Apple needs to make its base offerings with the Health app more robust instead of packing features into a pay-for service. Apple Cue’s decisions seem to reflect this worldview. Apple’s services, and indeed the services of third-party app developers, should exist to augment the base level experience. Independent app makers are always aware that Apple could roll in and stomp on their apps, and the wise ones realize that Apple’s much more concerned with satisfying a broad general audience, leaving room for apps and services that cater to more sophisticated or focused users. It has always been thus. Right now, Apple Health doesn’t feel state-of-the-art. It feels like an empty shell, full of data but with no intelligence explaining what that data means. I realize that health information is tricky and highly regulated in most of the world, but it’s incumbent on Apple to make all the data it collects understandable and actionable–and it can’t hide that behind a monthly fee. A nice hotel Forgive me for this tangent, but I swear it’s going somewhere: a few weeks ago, I went on vacation. We stayed at a nice hotel rather than the less-nice-but-cheaper VRBO condo rental we usually do. Because I’m me, I started thinking about Apple. Like Apple, the nice hotel’s brand promise is that it’s a nice hotel. If the hotel didn’t clean its rooms well, didn’t provide soap that smelled nice, didn’t maintain the in-room refrigerator, didn’t clean the swimming pool, it would probably decrease its expenses and increase its profit margin. But over time, it would lose its niceness and become a lousy, overpriced hotel. It’s a tricky balance, holding to the promise of your brand while also calibrating how to make a good profit. (I will point out that the hotel has an undoubtedly high-margin bar and restaurant and rents beach supplies at an enormous markup. These are the equivalent of Apple’s services.) What I get out of Eddy Cue’s reported decisions is that he seems to understand that not everything can be a service. If you strip-mine Apple’s devices so that they’re just empty containers into which services can be placed, you lose the ability to sell iPhones for $1,200. Apple needs to keep its standards high, wherever possible, and then offer services that provide value that goes beyond the basics. I don’t expect Apple to give me “Severance” for free, but I don’t expect to pay a subscription fee to use my own Wi-Fi. Opportunity for change One final point: Apple is entering a major period of executive transition. A few people, like Williams, have already left. Tim Cook is probably not going to be around too much longer. A lot of high-level execs have been at Apple for decades, have made loads of money, and will not stick around too much longer. This can seem like a terrifying brain drain. And if it hasn’t been handled right, yes, it’s an existential risk for Apple. But it’s important to consider that it’s also an enormous opportunity, because every time someone–even a longtime exec like Eddy Cue!–is given a new remit and new responsibilities, they are given the opportunity to change direction and revisit old decisions. Change at Apple doesn’t have to be a scary thing.Foundry It’s an opportunity that happens regardless of the stature or track record of the people being replaced. Tim Cook, when he took over as CEO from Steve Jobs, made a bunch of immediate changes to corporate policy, including reinstating charity matches. Being the new boss means setting your own agenda. In fact, one might argue that to establish yourself as the new boss, you have to set your own agenda or risk being seen as a mere caretaker. Every time an executive enters a new role at Apple, they have the opportunity to revisit decisions and policies, some of which could be years or even decades old. Not that they’ll change everything, but a new set of eyes and responsibilities can often be the perfect tonic for a troubled organization. Sometimes things are not working right, but nobody feels empowered to change them–because it’s the way they’ve always been done. A new leader can make those changes without feeling any of the burden of the past. If Eddy Cue can come in and decide that something Apple’s been working on for years doesn’t meet the company’s standards, that even a potentially revenue-generating new service is a bad idea, imagine what might happen with new executives all over the company. Apple has benefited greatly from an era of executive stability over the last decade or two. Now it potentially stands to benefit from ending that era and embracing change.11:30 amFree your iPhone from spam with these 10 tips and tricks
Macworld The iPhone has become an all-in-one device for communication, entertainment, productivity, and more. Naturally, as we install more apps, the number of unwanted notifications keeps growing. Spam is no longer limited to occasional emails, texts, and calls; many apps now use push notifications to deliver ads, irrelevant recommendations, and other distracting alerts. Fortunately, iOS includes a comprehensive set of tools that help you reduce all sorts of spam types and focus on what actually matters. 1. Good ol’ blocking Blocking remains one of the simplest, most straightforward ways to shut down a consistent source of noise. If the same phone number keeps texting or calling you, you can easily head to the info card in Messages or the Phone app’s call log and hit the Block button. All relevant third-party communication apps offer a blocking functionality as well. Similarly, if an app you installed has been abusing the push notification system, you can tweak or revoke the permission. In the Notifications section of the Settings app, you can decide how an app gets to notify you, if at all. For example, you could turn off the Sounds toggle to receive silent alerts or uncheck the Lock Screen option to stop seeing banners when your iPhone is idle. Before revoking an app’s notification permission, it’s wise to scan the settings in the app itself. Many apps let you opt out of certain notification categories. This enables you to still receive updates about the things you care about, and nothing else. 2. Limit mirroring The Apple ecosystem lets iPhone users mirror calls to nearby iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches. That’s not to mention that, beyond calls, macOS and watchOS support third-party app notification mirroring, and AirPods can interrupt your music playback to announce incoming alerts. These integrations are welcome, but can make using our everyday devices overwhelming. Fortunately, you can choose what alerts get mirrored to other devices without completely blocking them on iOS. In the Settings app, under Notifications, you can turn off (for individual or all apps) the Announce Notifications feature that reads out alerts when your AirPods are connected. Likewise, you can go to each app’s notification settings and disable the Show on Mac toggle to stop mirroring alerts to macOS. The Watch app offers a comparable section to manage the notifications iOS pushes to watchOS, too. To prevent all of your devices from ringing every time someone calls you, you can head to the Phone app’s settings and turn off Calls on Other Devices. 3. AI notification handling If you’re using a newer iPhone, the on-device AI can analyze the contents of your alerts and highlight the ones it deems important. Apple Intelligence can also summarize long or multiple texts to make grasping their content easier. To set these features up, go to the Prioritize Notifications and Summarize Notifications pages in the Settings app’s Notifications section. Foundry 4. Scheduled summaries Scheduled Summary is yet another alert management tool that helps you avoid unnecessary distractions. When enabled in the Notifications settings page, the feature bundles unimportant alerts throughout the day and delivers them together at a time of your choosing. iOS will still notify you about time-sensitive updates, like calls and urgent notifications. Foundry 5. Focus modes Focus is Apple’s advanced do-not-disturb system, letting you pick which apps and contacts can notify you across your devices. You can create multiple Focus modes with varying rules to match your different activities. The Focus mode dedicated to work, for example, would let alerts from your boss and collaborative apps through. You could also set in-app filters that hide content accordingly, like concealing non-work inboxes in the Mail app. To set it up, head to Focus in the Settings app. Foundry 6. Messaging controls While blocking is effective for alerts coming from the same source, users often get spammed by random numbers. Luckily, the Messages app accommodates that, letting you silence all texts (or non-time-sensitive ones) from unknown numbers. It could also place them in a separate inbox to keep your main view clutter-free. Go to Messages settings, enable the Filter Spam and Screen Unknown Senders toggles, then customize how you want the feature to behave. 7. Call management In Settings > Apps > Phone, you can enable similar filters for incoming calls. Under Screen Unknown Callers, you can choose if unsaved numbers are silenced or asked for the reason of calling automatically using on-device AI. The latter option will display a transcript in real time, so you can pick up and take over the call if it turns out to be relevant. Otherwise, enabling the Unknown Callers toggle under Call Filtering will move missed calls and voicemails from unsaved numbers to a separate list. Foundry 8. Third-party solutions While call management tools have become reliable on iOS, you could still opt for third-party apps for added functionality. TrueCaller, for example, can warn you about known spam/scam numbers and look up the likely name of the person ringing you. 9. Mail filters Like Messages and Phone, Apple’s Mail app offers automatic lists to help keep your inbox clean. You can enable the Categories toggle under the 3-dot menu in your inbox to reveal five main lists—Primary, Transactions, Updates, Promotions, and All Mail. The Mail app will scan every incoming email and place it in the respective list, reserving the Primary list for essential messages. Foundry 10. Calendars Lastly, many users complain about receiving a ton of spam alerts from the Calendar app. This happens when you accidentally subscribe to a malicious calendar online. To undo the damage, go to the Calendars section of the Calendar app, locate the troublemaker, and unsubscribe from it using its info panel.08:29 amApple’s March 4 event may not be what you expect
Apple may skip a traditional keynote on March 4 and instead unveil new products through press releases earlier in the week. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)