AirTag, Apples item tracking device, was announced almost four years ago. Although the company has introduced new software features for AirTag owners since then, the accessory has never had a hardware upgrade since its launch. But according to the latest rumors, an AirTag 2 is on the way and heres everything we know about it so far.Latest rumors on AirTag 2For those unfamiliar, AirTag is a small accessory that can be used to track items such as keys, backpacks, suitcases and even vehicles. It works through Apples Find My network, which sends the location of the accessory to the owner via other Apple devices nearby, so AirTag doesnt need to be connected to the internet to work.But what about the rumored AirTag 2? According to multiple sources, Apple has been working on the second generation of its item tracker with plans to launch it sometime this year.A Bloomberg report last year revealed exactly what to expect from the AirTag 2 in terms of hardware specifications. According to people familiar with the matter, one of Apples main goals is to extend the range of the Precision Finding feature. Presumably, Apple will use the same UWB chip added to the latest iPhone and Apple Watch models.Currently, an AirTag can be tracked with Precision Finding at a range of 10 to 15 meters thanks to Apples Ultra Wideband U1 chip. However, the latest generation of Apples UWB chip introduced with iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 has an extended range of up to 60 meters. This makes it easier to find these devices at a greater distance.Other reports also suggest that Apple is working on new anti-stalking measures. For instance, some people have found a way to modify AirTags to disable their internal speaker. Apple wants to find a way to make this modification impossible.Unfortunately, there are no rumors about any changes to the AirTag form-factor. Although the current version is already small enough, its not exactly ideal for things like a wallet. There are third-party item trackers that are almost as thin as a card, but they dont have Precision Finding which is exclusive to AirTag.As for the release date, leaker Kosutami recently suggested that AirTag 2 will be released in May or June, so perhaps well see the new accessory in time for WWDC 2025.What would you like to see in the next generation AirTag? Let us know in the comments section below.Another city is giving out free AirTags to combat car theftsGadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apples push to make the iPhone more customizable and personal has brought a new iOS 18.4 feature: now there are two new categories for setting default apps, depending on where you live.Translation default available broadly, while Navigation is limited to the EUApple has offered some form of default app controls in the Settings app for years. But recently in iOS 18.2, the feature expanded with new categories and a dedicated hub.Now in iOS 18.4, the category options are growing again.Translation is a new category available in the US and abroad, letting you change the default from Apples Translate app to a third-party option like Google Translate.And if youre in the EU, youll see a second long-anticipated addition: Navigation.Its a shame that Navigation is restricted to EU users, but if you do happen to live in the EU youll be able to change your iPhones default from Apple Maps to another option, such as Google Maps.Default app categories all work a bit differently, but generally speaking, your default app will be used by links and built-in OS tools you encounter system-wide for performing a certain function.For example, if you change your Navigation default to Waze, tapping an address your friend sends you in an iMessage should open that location directly in your preferred app.Default apps can be configured on your iPhone by opening Settings Apps Default Apps.In the US, you should see these nine category options, with Navigation as the tenth in the EU:EmailMessagingCallingCall FilteringBrowser AppTranslationPasswords & CodesContactless AppKeyboardsDo you plan to change default apps in iOS 18.4? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is availableon iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,Stitcher,TuneIn,Google Play, or through ourdedicated RSS feedfor Overcast and other podcast players.Sponsored by DREAME: Get up to $600 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacs in DREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale now.New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as theyre available.Stories discussed in this episode:Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:Ad-free versions of every episodeBonus contentCatch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes!Dont miss out on our other daily podcasts:Share your thoughts!Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apples Messages app got some big upgrades in iOS 18, but one with the biggest potential impactRCS supporthas had a slow rollout among some carriers. Fortunately in iOS 18.4, Messages is bringing the feature to a lot of new users, including those on Google Fi, Mint Mobile, and more.RCS expansion hits Messages for new carriers in iOS 18.4RCS is the best way for iPhone and Android users to message each other.Unlike the longtime SMS standard, RCS enables a variety of great iMessage-like featureseven in your green bubble threads.RCS features include:typing indicatorsread receiptsmuch improved media sharingand tapback reactionsBut carriers have to enable RCS support before iPhone users can use it.Until now, the three major US carriersAT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizonhave all supported RCS. Customers of lots of small to midsize carriers, however, have been left waiting.iOS 18.4 shrinks that list significantly by enabling RCS for T-Mobile MVNOs. These include:Boost MobileGoogle FiMetro by T-MobileMint MobileTello MobileUltra MobileUS Mobileand moreApple has yet to update its carrier support page with the new RCS additions, but it was confirmed throughout the iOS 18.4 beta process.To check that your iPhones using RCS, go to Settings Apps Messages RCS Messaging. Then in conversations with Android users who have RCS enabled, youll see RCS in the blank message box at the bottom of the screen.Did your carrier add RCS in iOS 18.4 or a prior update, or are you still waiting? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

A battle is apparently breaking out among companies looking to get in on the Apple Card business. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are all in talks to become the payment network behind Apple CardAs a refresher, Goldman Sachs is the bank that currently backs the Apple Card. Mastercard currently serves as the cards payment network, helping to transmit information between the bank and the merchant. As has been reported many times, Goldman Sachs is looking for a way out of its deal with Apple after losing billions of dollars on the partnership. But before Apple picks a new bank to replace Goldman Sachs, it needs to select a network for Apple Card. Todays report from The Wall Street Journal (Apple News+ link) says that both Visa and American Express are trying to unseat Mastercard as the payment network that powers the Apple Card. Visa has reportedly made an aggressive pitch to win the Apple Card business, sweetening the offer with a $100 million upfront payment to Apple thats normally reserved for the biggest card programs. Meanwhile, American Express is vying to become both the issuer and network of the Apple Card, replacing Goldman Sachs and Mastercard. Mastercard, however, isnt going down without a fight and is fiercely trying to keep its role as the network, the report says. Mastercard has also explored integrating its Finicity platform with the Apple ecosystem: Big banks and networks for years have been wary of Apples ambitions and have developed a frenemy relationship, taking steps to keep the tech giant from making more inroads in consumer finance, while seeking to be close to Apple.The network that locks in this deal is expecting to stay close to Apples future payments efforts.Mastercard, for example, has explored using its fintech, Finicity, which has software that plugs into consumers bank accounts with their permission, to enable consumers to see their deposit-account balances within the Apple ecosystem, according to people familiar with the matter.Goldman Sachs has been trying to exit its relationship with Apple since at least November 2023. A number of partners are vying to replace Goldman as the bank behind the card, including Synchrony, Chase, Capital One, and American Express. Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Update 4/1/25: watchOS 11.4 has now officially re-launched to all users.Update 3/31/25: After initially listing watchOS 11.4 on Apples website as released, the site has since been updated to remove the update. Its unknown when it will return.Apple has released watchOS 11.4 for Apple Watch users, and while it isnt a particularly big update, it does include a few new features and at least one key bug fix. Heres whats new.Apple Watch gains new alarm option, emoji, and more in watchOS 11.4Apple Watch owners may not get as big of releases as whats found in iOS, iPadOS, and more, but every new feature counts.In watchOS 11.4, Apple has the following new features and fixes in store:Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners can be added to the Home app as well as used in scenes, automations, or simply say Siri, clean the living room.An option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent ModeSeven new emoji added to the emoji keyboardAn issue where face selection may become unresponsive when switching facesThe support for Matter-compatible robot vacuums and new emoji are also part of Apples other updates today, such as iOS 18.4."Update: After initially listing watchOS 11.4 on its website as released, the site has since been updated to remove the update. Its unknown when it will return." View all commentsBut the new Sleep Wake Up alarm option is entirely exclusive to watchOS.Ive outlined the feature in detail here, but essentially it lets you, for the first time ever, keep your Apple Watch in Silent Mode while still getting an audible alarm.I use my Watch in Silent Mode all the time to keep notifications haptic-only, but the chance to still get woken by an audible alarm is a nice addition.Notice any other changes in watchOS 11.4? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple Watch accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

HBO Now gave way to HBO Max, which later became Maxand now, Max is getting its HBO vibes back with yet another rebranding. This go-around is mainly about color changes, but it just might be the most successful rebrand yet for the streamer.The very true, convoluted story of HBOs brand transformationNot long ago, HBOs branding couldnt be stronger.Okay okay, to be fair, HBO still very much stands for prestige TV.But when Warner Bros. decided to up the ante in its streaming play, the former HBO Now service became part of a much bigger offering. That new player would combine HBOs content with the vast WB library of classic films and TV shows to create a Netflix-class contender.HBO Max was the new service. It dropped the classic black-and-white HBO look for a bold and distinct purple.Except, that purple didnt last. Nor did the name.When HBO Max gained Discovery content after the Warner-Discovery merger, it rebranded again as just Maxand purple became blue.Generally, public reception to all of these changes was a collective, Huh?Why take one of the strongest TV brandsHBOand dilute it?Fortunately, I think the latest iteration of Max is the best yet.Max now gives off prestige vibes without using HBOs nameMax just launched a fresh logo with a new color scheme.The name is the same, but now Max has a distinctly HBO-like logo.It joins Apple TV+ as the only big streamer to use primarily black and white-silver for its branding.It took a few tries, but I hope this time around, the branding sticks.Max already has name recognition. But now it gets to tap into the prestige HBO vibes without actually being called HBO.And it shouldnt be called HBO, since it offers so much more than just HBO.Max, in HBO-style black and white, is a winner in my book. Somebody give the branding team at Warner Bros. Discovery a raise.What do you think of Maxs new logo and look? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV 4K accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Your Tuesday deals on Apple gear and accessories are now live and at the ready down below. We are once again tracking $100 price drops on the latest iPad mini 7, including the mid-range 256GB model, as well as an ongoing offer on the 36GB M4 Max MacBook Pro at $350 off. From there we move over toOG Apple Watch Ultra units at up to $409 off the original list price, a new all-time low on Twelve Souths latest 15W Qi2 HiRise 2 MagSafe Charging Stand, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones at $100 off. All of that and more awaits below in todays 9to5Toys Lunch Break.While you can still score the most affordable 128GB iPad mini 7 down at $399 via Amazon, the mid-range 256GB configs quickly jumped back up to full price right in the middle of the Amazon Big Spring Sale last week. However, the deals are now back on all four colors at $499 shipped, down from the regular $599. I certainly wouldnt blame anyone for just jumping on the now $399 entry-model and calling it a day I have spent more than enough time talking about how I tend to try and save as much cash as possible when it comes to Apple storage upgrades. That said, the mini 7 starts at 128GB, as opposed to the 256GB entry point on the M4 iPad Pro for example this configuration is starting to show its age if you ask me.While it wasnt all that long ago when more than just entry-level iPads started at 64GB, the 128GB models need to go the way of the old 8GB Mac configs if you ask me. The 128GB is likely more than enough for some folks, but it is really starting to feel a bit tight for me, even on a less pricey iPad, and nows your chance to score a good mid-range compromise on one of the more affordable current-generation iPads in the lineup.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) If youre looking for a case or sleeve to safeguard your new mini, here are our favorite options from $8.50.DREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale up to $700 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacsDREAME is offering hundreds on savings on its range of intelligent robotic vacuum and mop combos as well as its wet/dry and stick vacuum models. Delivering as much as $700 in savings on X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop, youll find some of the best prices of the year on a collection of models across the brands to meet just about anyones needs.DREAME X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$900(Reg. $1 600)DREAME L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$500(Reg. $1,500)DREAME L10s Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop:$400(Reg. $900)DREAME H12 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$255(Reg. $450)DREAME H14 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$400(Reg. $700)DREAME H14 Wet & Dry Vac:$300(Reg. $500)DREAME Z30 Stick Vac:$350(Reg. $700)DREAME R10 Stick Vac:$190(Reg. $300)Twelve Souths ultra-clean 15W Qi2 HiRise 2 MagSafe Charging Stand now at $64 Amazon all-time lowWhile we are still tracking a new Amazon all-time low on Twelve Souths flagship 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand, we wanted to touch down this morning to shine some light on the newer 2-in-1 model too. Last fall Twelve South expanded its lineup of magnetic charging stands with the new 2-in-1 Qi2 15W HiRise 2 and we are now tracking a new Amazon all-time low down at $63.99 shipped.Regularly $80, this is a solid 20% in savings and the lowest price we can find. It is in fact the very first deal we have tracked on Amazon worth your time there were a couple offers at a few bucks off, but nothing like we have here today.While avid Apple Watch users will likely want to look towards the new low we are tracking on the 3-in-1 variant highlighted above, those who prefer an ultra-clean, all-white charging stand that can power up iPhone and AirPods (or any other Qi-enabled) device will want to take a closer look at the HiRise 2 we are highlighting here today.This one features 15W of Qi2 power on the main MagSafe pad that extends up from the weighted base where youll find the second wireless charger. It is a particularly clean and minimalist design that also supports both vertical and horizontal viewing angles on the adjustable main pad, making for a versatile, and yet simplified charging stand experience I came away impressed with after giving it a test run.More details and some hands-on impressions await right here.Twelve Souths wonderful 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand just hit the $100 Amazon all-time low (33% off)Score an OG Apple Watch Ultra today at $409 off the original price (1-year warranty, refurb)As part of its new Apple refurb sale, Woot is now offering Grade A Refurbished OG Apple Watch Ultra configurations with various band options down at $389.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise). Youre looking at $799 Apple wearables at $409 off the original list prices to land within $10 of the lowest price we have tracked this year, and there are several more band options up for grabs with todays deal.Last time around we saw some of these units down at $380 via Best Buy with a more limited selection of band options. Todays Woot listings include several Ocean Band colors alongside a pair of different Trail and Alpine Loops, all down at the same $389.99 Prime shipped.Clearly this is no Ultra 2, but for folks not looking to spend at least $600 or much more on one of those, the original Ultra looks very similar at a glance and delivers on just about all of the major functionality most folks really even use. They are still, in my opinion, a more premium and, frankly, nicer looking wearable than even the current-generation Series 10 models, but thats just a personal preference of mine the Series 10 does look nice, and especially that Jet Black colorway, but theres just something about the way the Ultra models look on the wrist for me.You cant score a black case OG Ultra, but the black Ultra 2 models are starting at $742 shipped on Amazon right now.While there were some solid deals on the flagship Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones as part of the brands spring event and the Amazon Big Spring sale that ended yesterday, the price just got even better this morning. Over at Amazon youll find a few color options of the regularly $429 over-ear ANC headphones down at $329 shipped thats $100 off and the lowest price we can find. they are still up at full price via the Bose site.These headphones dropped to $349 as part of both the aforementioned spring sales, but Amazon has taken things down at notch further to deliver a straight up $100 price drop and land on par with the official Black Friday price last year.While we have seen some notable refurbished options for less, and there were some on-page coupons that took things down to $299 as part of the holiday festivities last year, todays deal is matching the lowest we have tracked this year on Amazon.This mornings offer lands on the White Smoke, Black, and Lunar Blue sets over at Amazon we will keep an eye out on the other colors and keep you posted via our social feeds if we catch any movement there.The short-form takeaway here is wonderful active noise cancellation with the option to let some sound in when needed, solid Bose audio reproduction, spatial audio support, and up to 24 hours of wireless playback. I have a set of these and they are simply wonderful they didnt land in our Favorite Things of 2024 list for no reason.The $429 list price is a bit much, but the $329 deal here with $100 in savings is far more digestible if you ask me.Todays accessories and charging deals:While the notable trade-in deals that can net you the new 11-inch iPad (A16)at close to 50% off are still live (more on this below), Amazon has also dropped the most affordable model a touch lower for folks without some gear to flip. You will now find the 128GB model starting down at $327 shipped with straight up cash deals also still live on the upgraded storage tiers as well. Details below.Regularly $349, these new releases arent seeing massive price drops right now, but you are looking at the lowest prices to date on what are already notably affordable tablets (as far as iPads go anyway). The deepest deal now sits on the silver 512GB model that is seeing a solid $50 in savings, but there are discounts across all colors and storage configurations right now too:128GB iPad (A16) from $327 (Reg. $349)256GB iPad (A16) from $420 (Reg. $449)512GB iPad (A16) from $599 (Reg. $649)As mentioned above, and as we detailed previously, there are some serious trade-in savings to be had here for folks looking to flip a previous-generation iPad 10 for the new 11-inch model. In fact, you can land nearly 50% off the $349 list price and youll find all of the details you need on this offer right here.No, it doesnt support Apple Intelligence and no, its not the most powerful iPad out there. That said, it is a relatively affordable, current-generation iPad experience that makes for a great casual browsing and video chatting solution without breaking the bank.Our launch coverage over at 9to5Mac details the new iPad (A16) completely.Apples latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation drop back to Amazon 2025 low at $149 today, base set at $100Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Countdown [T-1 Day]: How to watch the Switch 2 Direct, pre-order details, moreAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

One of my favorite Apple accessory brands, Nomad, is having an extremely rare sitewide sale for April Fools! Nomad is giving everyone 15% off all of its amazing products. That means all of its newest releases, from its 3 in 1 charger to its new Kevlar cables to its leather phone cases, are eligible here, using codeFOOLS15at checkout. It is not very often we see its new, full-priced releases see a sale opportunity like this, so jump on it while you can!I have been using Nomad products for years. They are an amazing combination of high-quality materials and functionality. I use a lot of the products on a day-to-day basis, but I wanted to name a few below that I think are a lot for anyone in the Apple ecosystem! These have to be my most used Nomad products ever. I use them with my Apple Watch Ultra, and they are great. I use them for all occasions from runs to going out to dinner. FKM fluoroelastomer rubber100% waterproofInterior ventilation channelsCustom aluminum closure pinDesigned for Apple Watch Ultra & Ultra 2, Series 10, 9, 8, 7, SE, and all previous versions of Apple WatchNormally, it goes for $49, but with 15% off, it will be about $41!Horween Leather CaseThis is one of my all-time favorite cases. It uses super-soft, clean Horween leather for the rear of the phone and satisfying aluminum buttons around the side. Horween leather from the USADevelops a rugged patina over timeAnodized aluminum buttonsGrippy TPU bumper8ft drop protectionMagSafe & wireless charging compatibleNormally, it goes for $69, but with 15% off, it will be about $57!Stand One MaxThis is the best third-party Apple charger on the market. The new update gives us Qi2 charging and standby Mode support, and its great for a desk or nightstand setup!3-in-1 charging hub15W charging for MagSafeApple Watch Fast ChargerSupports iPhone StandBy modeAirPods Qi charging spotSolid metal & glass design2.0m USB-C to USB-C cable includedNormally, it goes for $149, but with 15% off, it will be about $127!Final thoughtsAgain, you need to use the code FOOLS15 at checkout for the discount, which will last from April 1 to April 3! This discount applies to all products on the site, so jump on it while you can!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apples AirPods Max revision last fall was underwhelming. It only brought a few changes: new colors, USB-C, and Personalized Spatial Audio. But now thanks to iOS 18.4, this new AirPods Max model just gained three additional features. Latest AirPods Max firmware adds three new featuresI love my AirPods Pro 2, and a big part of why is that Apple has consistently updated them with powerful new features. AirPods Max historically havent received the same attention. But thats starting to change thanks to the latest update.iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4 include support for three new features with Apples latest AirPods Max model.If you use AirPods Max with USB-C, heres whats new:Lossless audioUltra-low latency audioWired playback is now supported for the first timeThese three new features are enabled by a combination of the new software updates and a fresh firmware version Apple just released.The new firmware is build 7E99.Release notes for the firmware are as follows:When used with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later, AirPods Max with USB-C and firmware update 7E99 enable lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio for the ultimate listening experience and even greater performance for music production, content creation, and gaming.Apple had previously announced that this update was on its way. In that announcement, it shared even more detail, including saying that ultra-low latency audio significantly lowers lag time, and is on par with the native built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.Checking your AirPods Max firmware and updatingTo check which firmware your AirPods Max are currently running, open the Settings app, visit the AirPods Max settings near the top of the screen, then scroll to the bottom where Version is listed.If your AirPods Max arent yet running version 7E99, heres how Apple recommends triggering the update:Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and that Bluetooth is on. To update your AirPods Max (USB-C), you need iOS or iPadOS 18.4 or later, or macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later.Make sure that your AirPods Max are connected via Bluetooth to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Wi-Fi.Plug the charging cable into the bottom-right earphone, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.Keep your AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.Reconnect your AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Check the firmware version again.If you still cant update your firmware,reset your AirPods Max, then try to update your firmware again.What do you think of iOS 18.4s new AirPods Max features? Let us know in the comments.Best AirPods Max deals and accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple released iOS 18.4 to everyone this week, and it comes with a big upgrade to the Home app. With iOS 18.4, users can now add robot vacuums to HomeKit for the first time thanks to the Matter smart home standard.Here are the best robot vacuums compatible with HomeKit in iOS 18.4What can you do with a robot vacuum in HomeKit?Once you add a compatible robot vacuum to the Home app, youll see the device alongside all your other HomeKit accessories.You can integrate your robot vacuum with different automations and scenes in the Home app. You can also schedule it to run at certain times of day and as part of specific automations, including scheduling and automating cleanings for specific rooms at specific times.Additionally, if you have a robot vacuum that supports vacuuming and mopping, the Home app will let you pick between those modes. The Home app will also show you the devices current status, such as whether its cleaning or charging.Integration with HomeKit also means you can control your robot vacuum with Siri. You can say things like, Siri, clean the living room or Siri, mop the kitchen to begin hands-free cleaning.You will, however, still have to use the manufacturers app for the more robust features and controls for your robot vacuums. This includes mapping, object avoidance settings, custom routes, and more. For the fundamentals and day-to-day usage, the Home app should be able to get the job done.Which robot vacuums support HomeKit?So, which robot vacuums support HomeKit integration? Its more than you might think, thanks to the Matter smart home standard. This makes it easier for manufacturers to adopt new features.In a press release, Roborock says it has started rolling out a firmware update that enables HomeKit support on a handful of its models. The update started rolling out today, and Roborock promises that all customers will have it by April 10th.Heres the full rundown on the Roborock models that will support HomeKit integration:Roborock says that firmware updates with HomeKit support will come to other models, like the S8 Max Ultra and Qrevo Slim, in the upcoming weeks and months, followed by even more models coming soon.Ecovacs is also committed to supporting HomeKit integration. The company told The Verge that the update be released to the following models in phases starting this week:SwitchBot is another brand that has started rolling out HomeKit support to its products. First up is the SwitchBot S10 Robot Vacuum and Mop, which features Home app integration today.iRobot says that the Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Auto Wash Dock will receive a firmware update with Apple Home support. The company hasnt shared any details on when that update will be released, though.Wrap upWhile the Home app and HomeKit platform often feel neglected, support for robot vacuums is a great addition. Do you own a HomeKit-capable robot vacuum? Are you planning to buy one now that iOS 18.4 has been released? Let us know down in the comments.Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has gotten a lot of flack for talking up Apple Intelligence while delivering very little of it, and now it seems Amazon is about to do the exact same thing.A new report citing internal company documents suggests that Alexa+, Amazons equivalent of the new Siri, will also launch without many of its headline features Apple Intelligence embarrassmentApple promised a new, conversational Siri and a whole lot more, but what has actually launched is essentially just tinkering around the edges. The gulf between what Apples glossy videos promised, and what the company has so far delivered, is so enormous that the company was forced to pull an iPhone 16 ad focused on a feature which is currently complete fiction. I wont retell every twist and turn along the way some recent headlines alone are enough:Now Alexa+ is doing the sameAmazons Alexa+ presentation was every bit as flash, promising a truly intelligent and useful voice assistant.A demo video showed Alexa booking concert tickets, restaurant reservations and texting a babysitter. Shes useful, Panay repeated, before conducting what he said was a live conversation with the updated software. During the presentation, he demonstrated a flowing ongoing conversation a departure from the stilted, single-question interactions Alexa users are familiar with.But The Washington Post reports that Alexa+ too will be mostly vaporware when it launches next week.Some of the new features Amazon previewed at the February event wont become available for two months after Mondays launch, and some will take even longer, according to internal company documents seen by The Washington Post []The delayed features that documents say dont yet meet Amazons standards for public release include the ability to order takeout on Grubhub based on a conversation with Alexa+ about what youre craving, or for Alexa+ to visually identify family members and remind them to do specific chores like walking the dog.So, uh, the headline features shown off by the company in its announcement, then.The piece also says that while you will be able to upload documents and ask Alexa+ to summarize them, theres a teensy-weensy privacy problem: you wont be able to delete those documents from Amazons server afterwards. The company apparently expects it to take several weeks to fix this.Finally, Alexa+ wont be available on any of the companys standard smart speakers youll need a recent Echo Show device to use it.9to5Macs TakeThis stuff is hard.Chatbots like ChapGPT have essentially created a highly misleading view of how intelligent generative AI really is. Their output sounds intelligent, and well-informed, and trustworthy but its actually none of those things. Its simply a statistical sampling model figuring out which word is most likely to follow the current one when constructing a sentence or paragraph, based on analysis of human-written text in the (hopefully) relevant field.Creating an AI system that simulates intelligence to a useful and reliable degree when working with your own personal data is a whole other ballgame, and its clear that both Apple and Amazon have promised capabilities they cannot yet deliver.Highlighted accessoriesImage: AmazonAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Mark Gurmans recent Q&A revealed a little snippet of information about iOS 19 its codename within the Apple teams working on it and it sounds very much like it tells us what to expect That codename is Solarium, and the internet was quick to jump on this as a clear description of the upcoming design language.Merriam-Webster defines the word as a glass enclosed porch or room. Couple that to Apples frosted glass WWDC 2025 graphic, and reports of a UI based on Vision Pro, and it seems like another, uh, clear piece of evidence about what to expect.But as Macworld notes, Apples codenames have never meant anything.Historically, Apples codenames dont have anything to do with the shipping product. For example, last years iOS 18 codename was Crystal, and iOS 17s was Dawn. iOS 12? Peace []The last major change to iOSs interface came with iOS 7. That codename? Innsbruck, a mountainous city in Austria popular for skiing. Back then Apple was fond of naming iOS versions after winter resort cities.The sites Michael Simon says that Solarium, like Innsbruck, almost certainly has no meaning. Id put it far more strongly than this: one of the most secretive companies in the world, with a history of seeing its codenames leak, absolutely isnt going to embed clues into them.WWDC graphics are arguably a little different. By the time those are issued, there have already been a fair number of leaks, so Apple can get a little playful with these. But codenames created right at the start of a project arent going to give anything away.Highlighted accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

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 & 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 TRIALtoday and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with Brad Kowalk from Hero Assistant about the problems with the current generation of digital assistants, whats needed to advance the technology, and where we are most likely headed. more

The popular console game emulator Delta has just gotten another huge update. With its latest version, users can now play online multiplayer Nintendo DS games.You can now play online multiplayer Nintendo DS games with DeltaAs announced in a post on Bluesky, version 1.7 of the Delta emulator for iOS introduces Online Multiplayer for Nintendo DS games. Of course, the service relies on alternative Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC) servers hosted by the community since Nintendo shut down the official DS servers for online multiplayer in 2014.With the latest version of Delta installed, all you have to do is choose your preferred server in the emulator settings. Theres no need to change DNS or other complex settings.Nintendo DS games with online multiplayer support include Mario Kart DS, Pokmon and Animal Crossing. You can find a list of all supported games here.In addition to online multiplayer support, Delta 1.7 also improves the emulation of Nintendo 64 games, lets users upscale the resolution and even use their own texture packs. Plus, it now has an option to quickly take a screenshot of the game and comes with many bug fixes.Delta 1.7 is now available on the AltStore PAL for users in the EU and will soon be available worldwide on the App Store. You can download it for free.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple on Monday released visionOS 2.4, and its the first update to enable Apple Intelligence features in Apple Vision Pro. However, even though the update was released on the same day as iOS 18.4 which expands AI capabilities to more languages Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro is only available in English.Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro is limited to US EnglishIn a note on Apples website, the company notes that the first set of Apple Intelligence features for Vision Pro is only available in US English. This means that Vision Pro users must set both the system language and Siri to US English before enabling AI features.When Apple Intelligence arrived on iOS, it was also limited to US English. With iOS 18.2, Apple has expanded its AI tools to more variations of English. Now with iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence is also available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, and Spanish.The Apple Intelligence features in Vision Pro are pretty much the same as those already available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This includes Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, and text summarization. Apple hasnt made any specific AI features for Vision Pro, and it doesnt have Visual Intelligence like the iPhone.Since Vision Pro is only available in a few countries around the world, its understandable that Apple hasnt rushed to add support for more languages just yet.In addition to Apple Intelligence, visionOS 2.4 adds a new Spatial Gallery app with photos, videos and spatial panoramas curated by Apple. The update also makes it easier to share a Vision Pro with a guest.You can install visionOS 2.4 by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Its worth noting that Apple Vision Pro is currently available in Australia, Canada, China mainland, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK, and the US.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Were just over two months away from Apple announcing iOS 19 at WWDC25. A new rumor this week says that iOS 19 will drop support for three iPhone models: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. All three of those phones were released in September 2018. This rumor comes from a private and anonymous account on X that regularly shares accurate information about Apples software platforms. The account has correctly leaked information about upcoming Apple software updates on countless occasions. If this rumor turns out to be correct, then iOS 19 will be supported on the following iPhones: iPhone 11iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12 and 12 miniiPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13 and 13 miniiPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro MaxiPhone 14 and 14 PlusiPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro MaxiPhone 15 and 15 PlusiPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro MaxiPhone 16eiPhone 16 and 16 PlusiPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro MaxiPhone SE (2nd gen)iPhone SE (3rd gen)As for iPadOS 19, todays rumor says that the update will drop support for the iPad (7th generation), which was released in September 2019 and is powered by the A10 Fusion chip. However, todays leak differs from an iPhoneSoft leak in December that said all iPhone models that can run iOS 18 will also be able to run iOS 19. Both sources have a strong track record and have accurately reported details of iOS device compatibility in prior years. iPhoneSoft, however, falsely reported that iOS 13 would end support for the original iPhone SE in 2019. Even if the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR dont support iOS 19, they will continue to receive software updates from Apple. For example, just today Apple released iOS 16.7.11 with security fixes for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. My favorite iPhone accessories:Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.4 is here, bringing with it a ton of new features. One of my favorites? A new Apple Music capability that expands the services reach beyond the Music app, pushing further into Control Center and more.Ambient Music controls expand Apple Musics reach in iOS 18.4After you install iOS 18.4, if youre like me youll probably pop into some of your favorite apps to see if anythings changed.Doing this with the Music app will reveal no discernible new features. But thats because the latest Apple Music feature isnt found directly inside the app.Instead, Apple has done something unique and expanded Apple Musics functionality into a new set of Ambient Music controls in iOS 18.4. Essentially, the update adds special new ways to trigger Apple Music mood playlists from outside the Music app.iOS 18.4 supports four such moods, though I wouldnt be surprised if more arrive in future updates.SleepChillProductivityWellbeingEach control has been assigned to play a specific Apple Music playlist. For example, by default the Productivity control plays BEATstrumentals, but you can also select one of three other curated playlists, or set it to trigger any playlist of your choice.You can assign these new music controls to any of the following three places:Control Centeryour Lock Screenand the iPhones Action buttonTo update a controls playlist setting, be sure youre in editing mode then tap the control and youll see customization options.Apple Music in iOS 18.4: wrap-upOpening the Music app will continue being the main way most of us interact with Apple Music, but I love what Apples doing with iOS 18.4s new Ambient Music controls. The ability to assign a mood playlist button to your iPhones Lock Screen, Action button, or Control Center removes friction from the music playback experience. It also helps reduce my own analysis paralysis when opening the Music app and confronting far too many options to choose from. Now I can have a simple toggle fit for these select occasions.What do you think of the ambient music options Apple added to iOS 18.4? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple Watch Series 10 was introduced last year with a refreshed design. But when it comes to health sensors, Series 10 has pretty much the same capabilities as Series 9. Interestingly, a leaked prototype of Series 10 has just revealed that Apple may have had bigger plans for last years Apple Watch.Apple Watch Series 10 prototype hints at new health sensorsThe Apple leaker and collector known as StellaFudge has shared images of an intriguing prototype of the Apple Watch Series 10. Thats because this particular prototype has a very unique health sensor arrangement that differs not only from the sensors included in the final version of the Series 10, but from any other Apple Watch ever released.According to the leaker, the heart rate and blood oxygen level sensors in this prototype are much smaller than in the sensor that Apple currently uses. But thats not all, as the back of the leaked Apple Watch Series 10 prototype also includes a never-before-seen extra light ring between the ECG sensor and the heart rate sensors.According to rumors, Apple has been working on blood pressure and blood glucose sensors for the Apple Watch. The company would have experimented with these new sensors during the prototyping phase of the Series 10, but ended up delaying them to focus on the new design. The leaker believes that the prototype was used for internal testing with the new health sensors.Unfortunately, although the prototype is fully functional, it runs an internal build of watchOS 11.1 without the stock apps installed (because they can only be downloaded through Apples internal network). For this reason, theres no way to explore whether the health apps on this Apple Watch Series 10 prototype have any new unreleased features.Another interesting detail is that the internal build installed on this prototype dates back to October 2024, which suggests that Apple is still running experiments with these new health sensors. Maybe well finally see them in action on the next generation Apple Watch.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As reported last year, the Unicode Consortium had teased eight new emoji that would become available on platforms such as iOS and Android. Now with the official release of iOS 18.4 to the public, Apple has finally introduced support for these new emoji.New emoji coming with iOS 18.4Perhaps one of the new emoji that stands out the most is the face with bags under eyes, which is basically an emoji with a really tired face. But users will also have a few other new options as well.Heres the list of new emoji added with iOS 18.4:Face with bags under eyesFingerprintLeafless treeRoot vegetableHarpShovelSplatterFlag of SarkIts worth noting that emoji are created and approved by the Unicode Consortium, and then Apple and other companies design their own versions of the characters.Another thing to keep in mind is that only users running the latest software can see the new emoji. This means that users running iOS 18.3 or earlier versions of the operating system will only see a blank icon if someone running iOS 18.4 or later sends them a message with the new emoji.In addition to the new emoji, iOS 18.4 also expands Apple Intelligence support to more languages. Moreover, iOS 18.4 brings a new Food Recipes section to Apple News+, the promised Priority Notifications feature, and enhancements to CarPlay.You can update your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Its worth noting that the new emoji are also available for iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users with the latest software.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple today released big iOS 18.4 and visionOS 2.4 updates, each of which come with a brand new app: Apple Vision Pro is the newest iPhone app, and Spatial Gallery is new to Vision Pro. Heres everything you should know about Apples latest apps.Apple Vision Pro is the latest iPhone app in iOS 18.4For years, Apple has offered a standalone Watch app on the iPhone for setting up and managing your Apple Watch.Now in iOS 18.4, that same idea has been applied to the Vision Pro.The new Apple Vision Pro app on iPhone offers a dedicated home to:view your Vision Pros model number, software version, and serial numberaccess tips and the Vision Pro user guideand discover new and recent Vision Pro content, such as immersive videos, apps and games, and moreOpening the app provides a single-screen Discover page where you can scroll through various stories about recent Vision Pro updates and content.It works a lot like browsing the App Stores Today tab.If you own a Vision Pro, the new Apple Vision Pro app will be automatically installed on your iPhone with iOS 18.4. However, for everyone else, the app is entirely optional as a separate App Store download.The second new app released today is Spatial Gallery, which debuts for Vision Pro users as part of visionOS 2.4.Spatial Gallery is a dedicated home for all the spatial media you have available: photos, videos, and panoramic shots. But thats not all it can do.Heres Apples full description of the app:Spatial Gallery, a new app for Apple Vision Pro, features spatial photos, spatial videos, and panoramas curated by Apple, and gives users a window to captivating and powerful moments spanning art, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, nature, sports, and travel, with new content released regularly.At launch, users can discover stories and experiences from iconic brands including Red Bull, Cirque du Soleil, and Porsche; go behind the scenes with Apple Originals likeSeverance,The Studio, andThe Morning Show; and listen to conversations with top artists like Bad Bunny, Charli xcx, and Keith Urban.Ill be curious to see over time how regularly Apple is able to add new content to Spatial Gallery and provide fresh reasons for users to open the app.What do you think of the new Apple Vision Pro and Spatial Gallery apps? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone and Vision Pro accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Today Apple released its latest array of major software updates. Now, the company has outlined all the security fixes introduced by iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, and more.Security updates detailed in new support documentsNew features are a big motivator for a lot of users to install software updates. And todays new software has a lot to offer on that front. But whether you care about feature updates or not, security fixes are perhaps an even better reason to update sooner rather than later.As it does with each new release, Apple has shared details on exactly which security issues were addressed with this latest software launch.You can find full lists of security updates here:Each update comes with an especially long list of security fixes. Browsing the lists, some areas that received a lot of attention include Siri, WebKit, apps breaking out of sandboxes, and various other vulnerabilities.Do any security updates in iOS 18.4 or the other updates stand out to you? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Today alongside iOS 18.4 and its various other software updates, Apple has shipped brand new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. Heres what you should know.New AirPods firmware coincides with iOS 18.4s releaseApple has new firmware available for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 users.Shipped shortly after iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, and the companys other software updates, its possible this new firmware ties in to certain features of Apples latest software updates.The new AirPods firmware build is version 7E93.Until now, the current firmware version was 7B21. It was released all the way back in November.That last update didnt include any feature changes, only Bug fixes and other improvements per Apples release notes.Apples AirPods firmware site doesnt yet list details on whats included in the new 7E93 build, but its likely more of the same. Bug fixes and miscellaneous improvements tend to be the common changes in new firmware versions.Updating your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 firmwareApple says that firmware updates install automatically in the background. However, if you want to try making that installation happen sooner rather than later, the company provides the following tips:Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.Make sure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac thats connected to Wi-Fi.Connect your charging case to power.Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Check the firmware version again.Best AirPods deals and accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

This is your last chance to jump into the Amazon Big Spring Sale before the whole thing shuts down tonight, however the final day of the sale is ushering in some notable price drops for World Backup Day 2025. Our master roundup is loaded with deals on portable SSDs, microSD cards, flash drives, NAS systems, and more, but we are also tracking some Apple gear deals today as well Apples new iPad (A16) hits new lows at up to $50 off, you can save up to $312 on the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, and the 36GB M4 Max MacBook Pro is now $350 off. On top of that, the Twelve Souths wonderful 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand just hit the $100 Amazon all-time low, and youll find plenty more down below.While the notable trade-in deals that can net you the new 11-inch iPad (A16)at close to 50% off are still live (more on this below), Amazon has also dropped the most affordable model a touch lower for folks without some gear to flip. You will now find the 128GB model starting down at $327 shipped with straight up cash deals also still live on the upgraded storage tiers as well. Details below.Regularly $349, these new releases arent seeing massive price drops right now, but you are looking at the lowest prices to date on what are already notably affordable tablets (as far as iPads go anyway). The deepest deal now sits on the silver 512GB model that is seeing a solid $50 in savings, but there are discounts across all colors and storage configurations right now too:128GB iPad (A16) from $327 (Reg. $349)256GB iPad (A16) from $420 (Reg. $449)512GB iPad (A16) from $599 (Reg. $649)As mentioned above, and as we detailed previously, there are some serious trade-in savings to be had here for folks looking to flip a previous-generation iPad 10 for the new 11-inch model. In fact, you can land nearly 50% off the $349 list price and youll find all of the details you need on this offer right here.While pricing on the more affordable end of the lineup has jumped up recently, we are tracking another chance to score the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro back down at $1,649 shipped thats $250 off and matching our previous mention. Head below for more details and a chance to save even more on an open-box listing with a full Apple warranty in tow.This configuration dropped down at $1,699 for Presidents Day earlier this year, but Amazon is now offering another opportunity to land it at $50 less than that to match the best price of the year this is $250 off the full price youll find at Best Buy.Just keep in mind you can score an excellent condition open-box unit at Best Buy right now with a full 1-year Apple warranty down at $1,586.99 shipped. This is $312 off the list price at Apple and the lowest price we can find on a comparable open-box unit from a reputable dealer.The 13-inch 1TB model certainly isnt the most universally appealing it isnt exactly the most affordable tablet out there. But if youre looking to land a serious workhorse of a tablet that can offer complete workstation potential, the up to $312 in savings we are tracking here today should be on your radar.That said, if theres another configuration you have your eye on, scope out the list of discounted pricing below just note the most affordable 11-inch models have been $150 more than a few times since release:Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 256GB $919 (Reg. $999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,199)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 1TB $1,449 (Reg. $1,599)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,869 (Reg. $1,999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,299)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 1TB $1,649 (Reg. $1,899)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $1,999 (Reg. $2,299)Apples latest 36GB M4 Max MacBook Pro is now $350 off at AmazonWhile we are still tracking a series of 2025 Amazon lows on various M4 MacBook Pro configurations (youll find those below), those looking for some serious power can now score a sweet deal on the M4 Max setup. Firstly, Apples most affordable stock M4 Max configuration with 36GB of RAM and the 1TB SSD carries a $3,199 list price, but Amazon is now offering the Space Black model down at $2,849 shipped, or $350 off the going rate. This is the lowest price we have tracked on the Space Black model.We did see a short-lived one day Black Friday offer on this model last year at $50 off, but todays deal is otherwise on par with the best we have seen on the Space Black variant. There have also been some in-store only offers for less than this, but when it comes to online deals anyone can score right now, this is a solid $350 price drop. For the record, this model is carrying a $3,049 deal price at Best Buy.Now clearly, even at $774 off, the M4 Max is a bit of a niche model for all but the most power hungry of users serious Final Cut sessions, scientific applications, 3D rendering, and so on so most folks can likely side step it for something more affordable in the lineup. And here are the best deals we are tracking right now on those:Amazon now clearing out 24GB 15-inch M3 MacBook Airs at a $1,349 low ($550 off the original price)You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offWorld Backup Day 2025 delivers big-time deals on Portable SSDs, microSD, NAS, more from $15Twelve Souths wonderful 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand just hit the $100 Amazon all-time low (33% off)As part of the now live Big Spring Sale, Amazon is now offering its best price to date on one of our favorite 3-in-1 15W MagSafe charging stands the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe. Regularly $150, you can now score one of the more premium options on the market down at a new $99.99 shipped Amazon all-time low. This is $12.50 under the most readily available Prime Day and Black Friday offers from 2024, landing roughly $6 under the previous best price we have tracked.It you were going to make a short list of the best MagSafe charging stands out there, the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe would be an easy pick for the top 5 It would likely crack the top 3 for most folks, and thats if it wasnt already in the top spot.For me personally, it is an easy top 3 alongside offerings from Satechi and Nomad the only real difference here is the form-factor. If you like what you see and are in the market for a new charging stand, its very hard to go wrong with this one.Youre looking at a 3-in-1 setup with official 15W MagSafe charging for your iPhone, a 7.5W Qi-certified charger for your AirPods or other Qi-capable devices on the base, and a magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch. The main pad is adjustable to get your phone at the right viewing for video-chatting angle, and Im a big fan of the build here the weighted build is stable while a vegan leather wraps around the base alongside sleek aluminum accents.HiRise 3 Deluxe is a luxurious, space-saving 3-in-1 wireless charger for your 3 most important devices. Place your iPhone on the vertical charger to see notifications at a glance. Pop up the Apple Watch Fast Charger to power up in Nightstand mode. Charge AirPods or even a second phone on the soft vegan leather charging base.Youll also find the new 2024 model Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station in white now sitting down at the $63.99 shipped Amazon all-time low. Regularly $80, this is the brands latest 15W Qi2 model thats equally as notable an option for folks who dont need the Apple charging action.Our launch coverageand early hands-on impressions feature has all of the details for you.ecobees Smart Video Doorbell Camera with HomeKit hits Amazon 2025 low at $120 (25% off)While the Amazon Big Spring sale is scheduled to wrap up by days end, we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight the best price of the year on the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera with HomeKit down at $119.99 shipped. Regularly $160, deals dont often get much better than this on ecobees smart video doorbell and you are now looking at an Amazon 2025 low. Details below.Todays offer lands within $20 of the Amazon all-time low, but scoring this model for any less than $120 is rare at best. The $100 offer was an extremely limited and short-lived one with todays deal landing below just about every readily available price drop we have tracked on Amazon since its release.This deal also sits alongside the rest of the ecobee smart home discounts now live on Amazon as part of the spring event, including the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium this smart thermostat can actually display the live feeds from the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera directly on the built-in screen (as seen above).Alongside HomeKit support and the Alexa integration potential, the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera delivers the usual 1080p HDR feeds with a 175-degree field of view so you can keep a close on your front porch, whos at the door, and your package deliveries from just about anywhere. Our hands-on review details the experience further.Scope out the other spring ecobee deals live through today below:ecobee Home Security Bundle $250 (Reg. $340)Incl. Smart Doorbell Camera (Wired), SmartSensor for Doors and Windows, and SmartCameraecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced $169 (Reg. $190)Smart Sensors $80(Reg. $100)Smart Doorbell Camera $120 (Reg. $160)2-pack ecobee Smart Sensor for Doors & Windows $60 (Reg. $80)And even moreTodays accessories and charging deals:Apples latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation drop back to Amazon 2025 low at $149 today, base set at $100AirPods Pro 2 back to one of the best prices this year at $170, AirPods 4 just returned to $100 Amazon low (Reg. up to $249)One of the best prices of the year is back on Apples flagship AirPods Pro 2. Regularly $249, Amazon has now dropped the price on the latest AirPods Pro 2 back down to the $169.99 shipped we tracked late last month to deliver $79 in savings and the lowest straight up cash deal we can find. Head below for more details and the return of Amazon all-time low pricing on AirPods 4 as well.Apple AirPods Pro 2 fell to a quite wild $154 for Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year that deal was short-lived and the best we have ever tracked. But it is also now long gone and in the grand scheme of things todays is otherwise very close to the best we have seen otherwise and still a notable price to pick a set up at it comes within $1 of the 2025 all-time low.The new AirPods 4 have now also returned to their Amazon all-time low at $99.99 shipped. A notable price on the newer and regularly $129 re-designed Apple buds with the more compact charging case, but the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are still up at the $168.99 we have been seeing on Amazon for months outside of a couple brief drops to $149 Target Circle members can actually land a discounted price right now at $149.99 shipped though.The base model AirPods 4 are now matching the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon to date there have been some YMMV and special targeted offers for select users at Target for less, as well as some extremely fleeting deals at some less than desirable retailers for under $100, but the Amazon price we have here today is indeed the best otherwise.For many folks, the re-designed AirPods 4 are about as welcomed an addition to the lineup as they are far inferior to the AirPods Pro 2. For others, the lowest price point and refreshed Apple design are more than compelling enough to save the extra cash. And for me, they are a tough sell right now when the AirPods 4 with ANC are just $20 less than the flagship AirPods Pro 2 if you dont care about the ANC, the base AirPods 4 are well below the price we might ever see on the Pro 2.Still undecided, scope out our AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro feature piece.Apples iPad mini 7 now $100 off for Amazons Big Spring Sale, deals from $399Apple Watch Series 10 now up to $120 off in Amazon Big Spring sale with deals from $399 shippedAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak lately, and thats only expected to continue in April. Seth Rogens hit comedy The Studio will release new episodes all month, and theres another prestige series just around the corner: Jon Hamms Your Friends & Neighbors is getting strong early buzz, and already scored a season 2 pickup. It will be joined this month by surrealist comedy Government Cheese, new family content, and an intriguing French drama. Heres everything coming to Apple TV+ in April.Your Friends & NeighborsWhen:April 11What:TV ShowGenre:DramaIn Your Friends & Neighbors, after being fired in disgrace, a hedge fund manager still grappling with his recent divorce, resorts to stealing from his neighbors homes in the exceedingly affluent Westmont Village, only to discover that the secrets and affairs hidden behind those wealthy facades might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.Government CheeseWhen:April 16What:TV ShowGenre:ComedyGovernment Cheese is a surrealist family comedy set in 1969 San Fernando Valley that tells the story of the Chambers, a quirky family pursuing lofty and seemingly impossible dreams, beautifully unfettered by the realities of the world. When Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo) is released from prison, his long-awaited family reunion doesnt go quite as hed planned. During his absence, Hamptons wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), and sons, Einstein (Evan Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi DiAllo Winston), have formed an unconventional family unit, and Hamptons return spins their world into chaos.Jane (season 3)When:April 18What:TV ShowGenre:Kids & FamilyJane is a 9-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David and Greybeard the chimpanzee on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world because, according to her idol Dr. Jane Goodall: Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.WondLa (season 2)When:April 25What:TV ShowGenre:Kids & FamilyWondLa follows Eva, a typical teen whos curious, enthusiastic, spirited. The only difference shes being raised alone by a robot caretaker, Muthr, in a state-of-the-art underground bunker. On her 16th birthday, an attack on her sanctuary forces her onto the Earths surface, and its not what she expected. The planet is inhabited by aliens, covered with otherworldly fauna, and there are no other humans to be found. In fact, its no longer called Earth its called Orbona. Otto, a lovable giant waterbear with whom Eva shares telepathic powers, Rovender, a cantankerous alien with a troubled past, and Muthr join Eva as she embarks on a quest to find humans, her home and her true destiny.CarmeWhen:April 30What:TV ShowGenre:Drama (French language)Carme follows the thrilling story of the worlds first celebrity chef, Antonin Carme (Benjamin Voisin), who rose from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleons Europe. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambitions attract the attention of renowned and powerful politicians, who use him as a spy for France. Determined to escape poverty and fulfill his dream, Carme can choose revenge, or he can have it all women, wealth, fame but at what cost? His love? Soul? Life?Availability and pricing for Apple TV+Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and can be watched via the Apple TV app using various smart TVs, and also iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, and more. It contains hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.Which of these Apple TV+ April releases are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad, he called it a third category of device. One that would do certain things better than a laptop or smartphone. But what happens when foldable iPhones can operate as both smartphone and iPad equivalents? Does that third device disappear?Apples first foldable iPhone has been on my mind lately.Im especially excited by the idea of the iPhone Fold offering iPad mini-like utility.For years, I owned and loved the iPad mini. But a decade ago when I made the iPad Pro my full-time computer, I wasnt keen on the idea of using two iPads, and the iPad mini fell out of my life.My 13-inch M4 iPad Pro is basically a laptop though, since I keep it in the Magic Keyboard 24/7. So I dont benefit from the tablet part of the iPad very much.As a result, theres something I very much miss about my tiny iPad mini.It kind of gets to Steve Jobs core proposition when he first introduced the iPad.Back in 2010, on the heels of the iPhones early success, Jobs proposed that there was space for a third category of device that fits between the smartphone and laptop.This device was the iPad.Jobs demonstrated on stage how iPad was better than both the iPhone and Mac for certain tasks. For example, light web browsing, watching videos, and checking email.He made a compelling case for the iPads existence, but it hung on this argument.If theres going to be a third category of device, its going to have to be better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone, otherwise it has no reason for being.Over the years, many have questioned the iPads reason for being.Some users, like myself, rely on it as their main computer. For others, its a casual device for entertainment and light tasks.As iPhones have gotten larger, and Macs have gotten sleeker, the iPad has had to fight harder to set itself apart.And soon, with foldable iPhones, that could become a much tougher battle.The iPads not going anywhere any time soon.For starters, the first iPhone Fold will almost certainly be a niche device. Its ultra-premium price tagwhich some expect to hit $2,000will leave plenty of room for the $349 iPad to keep selling well.But what happens five years from now?If foldables prove successful, Apple will likely offer a lot more of them, and at much more appealing price points.Next years iPhone Fold is expected to have a 5.5-inch outer display and 7.8-inch inner one.This will make it moderately small compared to current iPhones when folded, and similar to an iPad mini when unfolded.But history has repeatedly shown that users love big iPhones.It wouldnt surprise me to see several different foldable iPhones in a variety of sizes in the years ahead, replacing more of Apples current iPhone lineup, but also potentially its iPads.Over time, the iPad may continue on as a niche, budget-friendly device. Or get its own ultra-premium, huge foldable version. But for most people? I suspect the need for an iPad will disappear, as the product gets absorbed into foldable iPhones.I am an artist. I paint on my big iPad. It has to have an absolutely flat, solid, smooth surface. Put a hinge in it and it wont. A folding phone will not ever replace an iPad for me. View all commentsWhen Steve Jobs was around, that third category of device truly did have value. But with folding smartphones, the game could change.I love the iPad, but we may soon enter the early stages of its logical end.Do you think foldable iPhones will eventually cause the iPad to fade away? Let us know in the comments.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The number of Made in India iPhones is expected to more than double this year, as Apple seeks to further reduce its dependence on China, says a local report.Key iPhone assembler Foxconn is said to be conducting trials to ensure that it can ramp up volume while meeting Apples tight quality standards at its latest iPhone plant in the country Made in India iPhonesThe vast bulk of the worlds iPhones are made in China, but Apple has for many years been working on establishing India its second-biggest manufacturing base. Apple graduallyramped up production from just the iPhone SE to nowthe latest flagship phones. Its been previously reported that Apple has set a goal of making 25% of iPhones in India by 2027.The Indian government has been encouraging this ramp-up through a series oftax breaks on imported components known as the Made in India initiative, while the Chinese government is accused of deliberately interfering with these plans.Foxconn doubling iPhone production in IndiaIndias Economic Times reports that Foxconn has responded to a request from Apple to dramatically boost iPhone production in the country, building a new plant in Bengaluru to do so.Foxconn aims to churn out 25-30 million iPhones at its India plants this year, more than double the number it made last year [] said people aware of the development.Last year, the company assembled about 12 million iPhones in India, said one of the persons. But with their Bengaluru facility also coming up quickly, they have set their ambitions a lot higher, in line with Apples push to deepen their presence in India.The assembler reportedly began limited trials three or four months ago, and is now focused on ensuring that quality standards can be maintained when the plant is operating at scale.Analysts say that this number is in line with their own estimates, and sees the Cupertino company on track to hit a target of 25% of iPhone production in India by next year.Highlighted accessoriesPhoto: Purely illustrative stock image of commercial buildin byJonas OffonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

A new report says that SpaceX is trying to block Apples expansion plans for iPhone satellite messaging by pressuring the FCC to intervene. Elon Musks close relationship with both the White House and the FCC chair could give SpaceX a substantial advantage in an ongoing battle between the two companies for radio spectrum Apples satellite messaging servicesApples Emergency SOS via satellite service first launched for the iPhone 14 back in 2022, and is now a standard feature in subsequent iPhones. It enables messages to be sent to 911 in parts of the country where no mobile coverage is available.The service has been credited with saving lives on multiple occasions since it launched.iPhone satellite comms has twice had functionality boosted since then. In 2023, roadside assistance was added for those experiencing car trouble in remote areas. The following year, Apple added Messages via satellite, to let iPhone users contact family and friends when no mobile service is available this can be especially valuable when natural disasters like severe storms take out mobile masts.Apples satellite connectivity is provided through a partnership with Globalstar, and Apple last year provided the company with more than a billion dollars to expand the service.SpaceX trying to block expansionAs usage increases, Apple needs more bandwidth for the service, and Globalstar applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to use more radio frequencies.The Wall Street Journal reports that SpaceX has asked the FCC to delay this because it is competing for use of the same frequencies for its Starlink satellite broadband service.Apple is clashing with Elon Musk in its push to eliminate cellphone dead spots with satellite technology []To build capacity, the companies are competing for valuable spectrum rightsairwaves to carry their signalswhich are in limited supply. Apples outer-space investments have drawn Musks ire, people familiar with the matter said. SpaceX has pushed federal regulators to stall an Apple-funded satellite expansion effort []SpaceX recently asked the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss a Globalstar application seeking permission to use certain spectrum for the new network of Apple-financed satellites, documents show. It called the airwaves it uses to carry Apple users emergency signals an underused resource.The two companies have had discussions about giving iPhones direct access to Starlink connectivity, but so far Apple has stuck with Globalstar though it has allowed access to T-Mobiles satellite cellphone service, which uses Starlink.Musks close relationships concernApple will likely be worried about Musks close relationship with Trump, including his own office in the White House, with the potential that creates for influencing federal regulators like the FCC.In this case, however, there is even more cause for concern. Trump appointed a new FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, who is a close ally of Musk and has in the past attacked the agency for not giving SpaceX what it wanted.Additionally, Globalstar relies on SpaceX to launch its satellites, giving Musk another potential weapon.Highlighted accessoriesPhoto: NASAAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has been fined $162M by Frances competition regulator for the way App Tracking Transparency is implemented, stating that this is an abuse of the companys powers.This bizarre ruling follows a complaint by a group of trade associations representing advertisers who are no longer able to access user data to serve personalized ads App Tracking TransparencyApple offers a way for advertisers to track the apps we use in order to target personalized advertising. Personalized ads are far more valuable than generic ads, so developers who offer ad-supported apps will make more ad revenue if they collect this user data.Back in 2021, Apple started requiring apps to ask user permission to collect this data through a new feature called App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Apps must now display a popup asking to allow tracking, and unsurprisingly a lot of people say no.Advertisers and developers complainedBoth advertisers and developers of free ad-funded apps complained loudly at the impact of ATT, as it was estimated that it would cost social media companies alone tens of billions of dollars.Complaints were made in a number of countries some arguing that it was unfair because Apple exempts its own apps (which are in reality subject to even tighter controls), others saying the loss of revenue forced developers to raise prices to compensate.It appeared last month that a complaint by advertisers in France was likely to be upheld, and Bloomberg reports that this has indeed turned out to be the case.Frances antitrust regulator fined Apple 150 million ($162 million) after a lengthy probe into how the technology company asks to collect iOS users data and the impact on advertisers.The reason? The popup was apparently too complicated.The Autorit de la Concurrence said on Monday [that] forcing these apps to display multiple pop-ups [was] making their use excessively complex []The regulator said that Apples ATT framework was neither necessary nor proportionate in a text of its decision. It said the framework in itself was not problematic, however, the way it was implemented is abusive within the meaning of competition law.9to5Macs TakeAlthough expected, the decision is still inexplicable. ATT involves precisely one popup asking a simple yes/no question. Additionally, Apple lets users switch on a toggle (shown above) to block apps from even asking the question.Its especially odd given that ATT is a privacy feature, and Europe has the strongest privacy laws in the world. The EU has also previously vindicated Apples introduction of ATT.Whats more, the regulator hasnt even stated what action it would like Apple to take!Apple said it is disappointed with the decision and that the regulator hasnt asked for specific changes to the ATT framework, in an emailed statement.The relatively substantial fine risks putting France into conflict with the US, after Trump described fines by European regulators as overseas extortion.Highlighted accessoriesImage: 9to5Mac collage of images from Apple and Pawel CzerwinskionUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Today, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple will be releasing a MacBook Pro overhaul in 2026. There are three key rumors to follow with this redesigned MacBook Pro, and well be delving into them here.OLED displayAfter debuting in the iPad Pro in 2024, Apple is expected to introduce OLED display technology to the MacBook Pro for the very first time with the redesign in 2026. Thisll provide higher brightness, better contrast ratios, and nicer colors to the MacBook Pro lineup for the very first time.Plus, according to TheElec, Apple will be using the same Tandem OLED display tech as the aforementioned iPad Pro:The OLED MacBook Air is also expected to get a standard single-stack display, rather than the more sophisticatedTwo-Stack Tandem displayswe reported on for the MacBook Pro.Single-stack displays have one red, green and blue layer, while two-stack tandem OLED has a second RGB layer. Two layers stacked in tandem increases the brightness of the screen, while also increasing longevity.While transitioning to OLED, Apple may also ditch the notch, in favor of a smaller camera hole cutout. This information comes from Omdia, who describes it as a rounded corner + hole cut.The report doesnt specify whether or not itll be a single hole punch, or something more similar to Dynamic Island on the iPhone. Either way, there wont be as chunky of a cutout in your MacBook Pro display once the redesign arrives.Thinner designAccording to Bloomberg, Apple will be adopting a new, thinner design with the 2026 MacBook Pro. There arent many other details specified, so its unclear if the overall chassis design will change:Though Apple has continued to enhance the product with new chips and other internal improvements, the MacBook Proprobably wont get another true overhaul until 2026. The company had once hoped to release this new version in 2025 with a thinner design and a move to crisper OLED screens but there were delays relatedto the display technology.Cutting-edge M6 chipApple will also debut the M6 family of chips in this new MacBook Pro redesign. Currently, M6 is anticipated to be the first generation of Apple Silicon to adopt TSMCs 2nm technology, alongside the A20 chip for iPhone.As per usual, we should see M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max versions of the MacBook Pro, in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. With a new process node, we should see noticeable performance and efficiency gains.My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel