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- Sunday May 24
- 05:59 pmBig Apple Watch AI upgrade might not arrive with iOS 27
Apple reportedly plans to make watchOS 27 a stability-focused release, prioritizing performance and usability improvements. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:39 pmApple Preparing New 'Gen AI' Website Ahead of WWDC — and New AI Features?
Apple just registered a new subdomain record: genai.apple.com. The domain was spotted by a MacRumors contributing researcher, and though it doesn't yet lead to a live web page, they believe it's tied to Apple's annual developers conference WWDC which starts June 8, "where the company has promised to announce 'AI advancements' across its software platforms." The blog 9to5Mac speculates that "All signs point to WWDC 2026 being Apple's major AI renaissance, where the company will live up to the promises it made back at WWDC 2024, as well as a few additional new announcements." [I]it goes without saying that this is probably related to Apple's upcoming generative AI announcements at WWDC... Siri should finally be able to understand more personal context, have on screen awareness, and be able to take action in apps for you. This'll finally be made possible thanks to Apple's new partnership with Google, where Apple will be using Gemini-diffused models hosted on Private Cloud Compute to power Siri... Apple will also reportedly be introducing a new Siri app. This'll allow you to access your previous Siri conversations, as well as have text-based conversations with Siri. Other Apple Intelligence upgrades coming at WWDC 2026 include the ability to generate wallet passes from physical tickets, new editing features in the Photos app, and additional functionality for Visual Intelligence... Read more of this story at Slashdot.04:50 pmAirPods will be easier to manage with iOS 27 controls revamp
AirPods users will see different personal audio controls in iOS 27, with an improved settings menu that should make them easier to manage.AirPods Pro 3While AirPods don't really have an operating system that gets featured at WWDC, the audio line can still be affected by changes. For WWDC 2026, that will involve iOS 27 as well as iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.According to Mark Gurman in Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple will be altering how the AirPods are controlled within the operating systems. A revamp for the settings menu will apparently make it more functional and better organized. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:59 pmReport: watchOS 27 to improve heart-rate tracking; AI health coach may not debut at launch | 9 to 5 MacReport: watchOS 27 to improve heart-rate tracking; AI health coach may not debut at launch
For the better part of a year, we’ve been hearing about Project Mulberry: Apple’s AI-powered health coach. Back in February, it was reported that these efforts had been scaled back. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the features should still be on track for iOS 27, though they may not release until later in the cycle. On the other hand, Apple is apparently going to greatly improve Apple Watch heart-rate tracking with watchOS 27, which could tie in nicely with Apple’s eventual health coach. more…03:49 pmGoogle's 'Cast to TV' could join AirPlay on iPhones thanks to EU regulations
Apple will be adding support for Google Cast and other alternatives to AirPlay as part of iOS 27, in order to appease the EU's Digital Markets Act.EU flags in Brussels — image credit: EUThe Digital Markets Act is viewed by Apple as a problem, due to a lack of clarity about regulatory requirements and their effects. While this has so far meant the blocking of some features from reaching the continent, Apple is meeting halfway by abiding by some elements.One of those will apparently be a change to iOS 27 for connecting to other devices. While Apple already has AirPlay for that, it will be moving to add more support for other solutions. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:25 pmApple's worst AI feature to get a 'big boost' with upgraded Apple Foundation Models
Generative AI is not Apple's strong suit, but Image Playground, the tool responsible for horrific AI avatar generation and Genmoji, should see significant improvements with the OS 27 cycle.Image Playground will generate images based on provided photos and other inputs, but the results leave a lot to be desiredApple announced Apple Intelligence features that had to be delayed in 2024, and one of them should have been Image Playground. While the other AI tools were of passable usefulness and quality, the image generation tool still leaves a lot to be desired.According to the "Power On" newsletter from Bloomberg, the Image Playground app should see a "big boost" from Apple's upgraded Apple Foundation Models. It's an obvious statement given that Gemini is being distilled into Apple's models, and one of Gemini's specialties is image generation. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:58 pmHeart rate tracking improvements are about all that's expected in watchOS 27
The WWDC updates for watchOS 27 are expected to be minimal thanks to Apple's stability focus. However, Apple is rumored to be improving the heart-rate tracking with the new fall update.Apple Watch Series 11The WWDC 2026 keynote is a few weeks away, and the excitement is all about AI and iOS 27's changes. While you can expect some tweaks to watchOS 27, it seems like there won't be that many visible changes on the way.In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, the watchOS update will focus on stability, performance, and refinements. There will be changes, but most will be to improve the existing features rather than add new ones to the software. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:57 pmApple Intelligence image models to boast ‘major’ visual upgrades in iOS 27: report
According to this weekend’s Power On newsletter, Apple’s image generation models – used in Genmoji and Image Playground – will be receiving a ‘big boost’ in visual quality. Currently, they’re far from anything to write home about. more…02:31 pmiOS 27 could offer native integration with Google Cast and other streaming protocols
In response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is reportedly working on the ability to replace AirPlay with other third-party streaming protocols at a system level. This feature may only roll out in the European Union, similar to third-party app marketplaces. more…02:30 pmHow AirPods Ultra could redefine premium earbuds
Here's what you need to know about Apple's upcoming AirPods Ultra, which could make the jump from audio to an advanced AI device. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:12 pmReport: iOS 27 to revamp the AirPods settings UI
While a dedicated ‘AirPods’ app does not seem to be on the cards, AirPods Pro. Bloomberg says iOS 27 will significantly change the layout of the AirPods menu in Settings app. The new design will be ‘more functional, better organized and more streamlined’. more…01:00 pmTitanium iPhone redux? [Cult of Mac podcast No. 21]
On this episode of the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple might go back to the future, thanks to some metallurgical magic that involves a special titanium alloy. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)12:04 pmToday in Apple history: iTunes ditches movie trailer downloads
On May 24, 2013, Apple began phasing out downloads from its once enormously popular iTunes Movie Trailers website. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)12:03 pm'GenAI' Apple subdomain surfaces weeks ahead of WWDC
A new Gen AI subdomain has been found for Apple's website, with the domain's appearance solidifying AI as one of the major topics at WWDC in June.Apple Intelligence is expected to get a big Siri upgrade for WWDC 2026Apple's annual WWDC event is set to start on June 8, with its keynote setting the tone for the rest of the year. While Apple is secretive as usual about what will be mentioned, one web-based change has practically confirmed one of the most likely topics.A new subdomain for genai.apple.com has been found, reports MacRumors. Attempts to load the subdomain comes up with connection time-out messages, indicating that it has been registered but not configured for its final server destination. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:00 amCut the Microsoft Office subscription and own it for life — $45
Macworld TL;DR: A lifetime license to Microsoft Office is available for $44.97 (regularly $219) through May 31 — no monthly fees, no renewals, ever. Most people kick off a new year with a list of subscriptions they keep meaning to cancel. Microsoft 365 is one of the sneakier ones — easy to set up, easy to forget, and quietly billing you every single month. If dropping that recurring charge is on your list for 2026, there’s a straightforward way to do it. A lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac is currently on sale for just $44.97 (regularly $219), and once it’s installed, the meter stops running for good. One payment gets you the core apps most people rely on every day — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. No trial period, no tier to upgrade from, and no reminder emails telling you your subscription is about to renew. It’s also a practical fix if you recently picked up a new PC and discovered Office wasn’t included. Rather than defaulting to yet another monthly plan on day one, this gets your setup complete without adding anything to your recurring expenses. There’s nothing to manage after the initial install. No cancellation windows to watch, no annual pricing jumps to deal with, and no account juggling. You own it, you use it, and that’s the end of it. Get a lifetime Microsoft Office license for $44.97 (regularly $219) through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT and make 2026 the year the monthly Office bill finally disappears. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amThis $45 Montessori-style app rethinks screen time for kids
Macworld TL;DR: Guilt-free screen time for kids exists thanks to Pok Pok, and now a lifetime subscription can be yours for just $44.97 (MSRP $250) through May 31. If you’re a Mac lover, you probably spend a lot of time on screens. And if you’re a parent, you probably worry about your kids doing the same thing. Pok Pok gives you a safe and gentle way to introduce kids ages 2 to 8 to screen time, and right now, a lifetime subscription is just $44.97. Give kids safer screen time with Pok Pok Make screen time for kids educational and non-addictive with Pok Pok. This award-winning app takes a Montessori-style approach — emphasizing hands-on learning, independence, and natural development — with hand-drawn animations and low-stimulation, in-house-made sound effects. Pok Pok can be navigated solo, as kids learn STEM concepts, language, and numbers as they play. There are no levels, no objectives, and no winners or losers. You can also rest easy knowing it’s COPPA-certified and GDPR compliant. Your lifetime subscription comes with an exclusive gift mailed to your home. It also includes new content, as well as seasonal and cultural updates for life. Give the little ones in your life safe, guilt-free screen time with Pok Pok, now $44.97 (reg. $250) through May 31. Pok Pok: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.04:32 amiOS 27 to feature upgraded Camera interface and Photos app: Here’s what’s rumored
While many of the iOS 27 rumors have focused on Apple Intelligence, Siri, and performance – there’s a plethora of upgrades reportedly coming to the Camera app, building on top of the redesign that we saw last year with iOS 26. There’ll also be a number of new AI-enhanced editing tools coming to the Photos app. more…Saturday May 2310:37 pmApple registers new ‘gen AI’ subdomain ahead of next month’s WWDC keynote
Apple has just registered a new subdomain record ahead of WWDC: genai.apple.com. All signs point to WWDC 2026 being Apple’s major AI renaissance, where the company will live up to the promises it made back at WWDC 2024, as well as a few additional new announcements. more…08:00 pmTwo affordable iPhone 17 Pro accessories worth trying
While my preferred way to use an iPhone is with no case or screen protector, I’m actually enjoying both on iPhone 17 Pro and can recommend them. They’re inexpensive enough to try without committing for a year or more. more…07:30 pmIndie App Spotlight: ‘Poppy’ is a proactive AI assistant that handles what Siri still can’t | 9 to 5 MacIndie App Spotlight: ‘Poppy’ is a proactive AI assistant that handles what Siri still can’t
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. In a world full of AI assistants and tools that try to make your life easier, Poppy takes a different approach. Rather than requiring your effort up front, Poppy does its best to be proactive – and give you helpful context before you even know you need it. more…