While the world awaits next-gen CarPlay, Land Rover has made a retrofit CarPlay solution for Range Rovers from a previous decade. With the exception of wireless support, the CarPlay hardware appears to be pretty basic, and that’s the point. Land Rover recently announced an official CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment system upgrade for the third-generation Range Rovers. This covers the 2010, 2011, and 2012 model SUVs. OEM CarPlay didn’t appear in new cars sold until the 2015 model vehicles. Land Rover emphasizes that its official retrofit solution is intentionally made to add CarPlay to the infotainment experience without changing anything else. Owners will be able to enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with the original touchscreen, effortlessly blending period‑correct hardware with the latest technology features. The wireless upgrade retains all the existing functionalities ‑ including the superb sound quality of the original audio system – while adding features such as music and podcast streaming services and modern connected navigation apps on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Joining the already extensive range of Classic Genuine Parts, the new infotainment system uses the original screen, ensuring upgraded models retain a factory‑fresh, OEM appearance – with bespoke fixtures and fittings engineered by Land Rover Classic.  Available for Range Rover models manufactured between 2010 and 2012, the experts at Land Rover Classic have designed the new system to be fully compatible with all stereo specifications available on the original vehicle. Classic engineers have also worked hard to ensure clients can seamlessly transfer between the legacy user interface and the new Apple and Android functions. While the OEM upgrade is only offered in the UK and Germany, it shows just how much drivers care about CarPlay in 2025. There are more advanced retrofit CarPlay solutions for Range Rover models going back 20 years, but collectors will value the “period-correct hardware” solution. Do more with your iPhone Follow Zac Hall: X | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

With data brokers making big money by selling your personal details, it’s never been easier for spammers and scanners to get access to your phone number, email address, physical address, and even sensitive data like your social security number. Apple’s privacy protections help, of course, but if you want to get proactive about removing your existing personal data from the internet, it’s never been easier to do so … Data brokers are companies whose business is buying and selling personal data. While they do grab headlines on rare occasions – as in the case of a major data breach – they mostly operate in the shadows. Despite occasional talk of lawmakers or regulators intervening, data broking remains a perfectly legal business, taking advantage of the small-print we frequently agree to when registering to use a website or buying an app. This not only makes your contact details available to spammers and scammers, but records of your online activity can also hurt your finances by impacting your credit score. That can affect everything from your eligibility for credit cards and loans to the rates you pay for your health insurance. The law does allow you to opt out, but manually identifying all of the companies holding your data, and issuing removal requests, is an incredibly labor-intensive task. Fortunately, there’s a much easier solution. Incogni’s data-erasure service Instead of you having to contact hundreds of different companies, jumping through whatever hoops they put in your way, you can outsource the work to data-removal service Incogni. The company behind Surfshark does all the hard work for you, contacting more than 250 data brokers and people search sites on your behalf, and issuing demands for the removal of all of your personal details. No matter whether you are based in the US, Canada, UK, EU, or Switzerland, Incogni will use the relevant laws in each country when issuing its notices. The results? Less spam, as fewer companies have your details Reduced risk of being scammed, as fraudsters often steal details available online Protection from stalking and harassment, by keeping your personal details private Subscribers can monitor the process (potential databases found, requests sent, requests completed) on their Incogni dashboard. 50% savings for 9to5Mac readers 9to5Mac readers can keep their data off the market with a 1-year subscription at a 55% discount on both individual and family plans. Users can choose to add up to four loved ones to their Family & Friends plan. Users can add up to three phone numbers (US-based customers only), three emails, and three physical addresses. Additionally, Incogni recently launched its Unlimited plan, which the company believes to be a game-changer in the world of data removal services. In addition to all the standard data brokers and people-finder sites, Unlimited subscribers can request custom removals from any website that exposes their personal data (with the exception of social media platforms, government records, blogs, and forums) – and dedicated privacy agents will take care of the rest.  Exclusive reader pricing is: Monthly, Individual: $16.58 Monthly, Family: $32.98 Annual, Individual: $89.53 Annual, Family: $178.09 Annual, Individual, Unlimited: $161.89 Annual, Family, Unlimited: $323.89 Use the discount code 9TO5MAC at checkout to qualify. Sign up at Incogni’s website. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Even as CarPlay 2 work keeps chugging along, Apple has been slowly adding new features to the existing CarPlay too. Last fall CarPlay got some Apple Intelligence enhancements, and recently Ford EV owners gained NACS routing. Now, with iOS 18.4, there are three more new CarPlay features that just arrived. #1: Third row of app icons One of the complicated things about CarPlay is that it needs to adapt to a wide range of vehicle infotainment systems. Fortunately, iOS 18.4 brings a nice enhancement for vehicles that have especially large displays. Users throughout the beta found that on certain screen sizes, CarPlay gained a third row of app icons where it only supported two before. This extra screen real estate for apps pairs nicely with this next CarPlay addition… #2: Sports apps Apple has made a new API available to app developers that will bring sports apps to CarPlay. Starting in iOS 18.4, apps that show sports scores can integrate with CarPlay. This way, you can stay on top of how your favorite team’s doing even while in the car. It could take some time for third-party sports apps to officially add CarPlay support, but here’s hoping we get a CarPlay update for the Apple Sports app before long. #3: Default navigation in EU iOS 18.4 brought a long-awaited new option for EU users: the ability to set a default navigation app. That’s right, rather than relying on Apple Maps, users in the EU can set alternatives like Google Maps as their default. This change should have a huge impact on the CarPlay experience. Why? Because it means you’ll be able to tell Siri, “Take me to X” and the assistant will use your chosen navigation app to route you. Quick, seamless, and hassle-free—just like voice computing in the car should be. CarPlay iOS 18.4 features: wrap-up I’d just like maps to show me where the storm fronts are. Rain, snow, tornadoes, etc., so I can outrun ‘em or choose a new direction. View all comments CarPlay’s latest updates may not be for everyone—if your vehicle’s display is small, and you’re outside the EU, this list shrinks very quickly—but they’re welcome nonetheless. While we continue waiting for CarPlay 2, anything Apple can do to continue improving the existing CarPlay is a win in my book. Seen in that light, iOS 18.4 is a solid step down the right path. What are your thoughts on iOS 18.4’s new CarPlay features? Let us know in the comments. Best CarPlay accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Screenshot The fifth episode of Apple Immersive Video series, Adventure, is now available on Apple Vision Pro. The latest entry transports you to the passenger seat of a rally car during a record-breaking Pikes Peak International Hill Climb attempt. In addition to driving views, the “Hill Climb” episode takes you behind the scenes with driver Laura Hayes as she explains why she’s racing up the side of a mountain. The most impressive footage in the episode is an immersive first-person shot of the road as you speed up the mountain as if you’re riding on the hood of the car. Other driving footage takes place from the perspective of the passenger seat inside the rally car. Other episodes in the series include highlining, parkour jumping, ice diving, and free-solo cliff climbing. Adventure, the Apple Immersive Video series, is available exclusively through the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro. The video format resembles a 3D movie but goes much further as it wraps the footage around you as if you were there in person. Do more with your iPhone Follow Zac Hall: X | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

I thought my days of wearing a smartwatch were over, after making the switch to dumb watches and relying instead on a smart ring, but the chance to try out a $65 Apple Watch clone proved too intriguing to refuse! I fully expected it to be pretty terrible. But while I wouldn’t recommend buying the WithIt Giga instead of an Apple Watch, I was actually quite pleasantly surprised … Look & feel There are, of course, counterfeit Apple Watches out there. These replicate both design and packaging, and are sold to some unknown mix of people who want the look without the price tag and people who are being scammed, thinking they’re buying the real thing. The Giga isn’t one of those. It does look similar to an Apple Watch at first glance, but isn’t pretending to be one. The overall form factor is the same, but there are enough visual differences that it wouldn’t fool anyone familiar with one. For example, the casing protrudes around the equivalent of the Digital Crown, and there are conventional watch lugs to attach the band. The watch faces also look nothing like Apple ones. The standard one shown above has very prominent WithIt branding, and the activity and health stat displays are much more basic than Apple’s exercise rings. There’s a celebratory face with balloons which shows just the date, time, and step-count; there’s one which is very vaguely reminiscent of the panel graphics in Star Trek: TNG; and two analogue faces, one of which is ugly, and the other really ugly! In short, anyone buying this hoping people will mistake it for an Apple Watch is going to be very sorely disappointed. Functionality Giga offers much the same health and fitness monitoring as the Apple Watch, and most such devices these days, including: Heart rate Blood oxygen Steps Exercise minutes Sleep time Stress level There’s a Workout equivalent, with support for a solid range of activities. Additionally, you can toggle on reminders to move and to drink water. You can also choose to sync the health and activity data to the Apple Health app, either permitting all data to be shared or toggling on/off individual data items. You get a remote camera button, but it’s literally just a red shutter button: no viewfinder feature, and no controls. You also get the option of music controls, for Apple Music and Spotify. You can sync with your Apple Calendar, and a world clock supports up to six time-zones. You can make and receive phone calls from the Watch (via a Bluetooth connection to the iPhone – there’s no cellular capability). Finally, you can receive any notification on the watch, with individual toggles for popular messaging apps (Messages, Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, and Snapchat), along with things like email. Beyond those, it’s all-or-nothing, via an ‘Other apps’ toggle. In use It perhaps feels a little cheap compared to the real thing – especially the band – but the finish and build quality seem decent. Battery life is excellent, going several days between charges. There’s a raise-to-wake feature which proved reliable (with the same ability to set working hours for this, so it doesn’t wake you in bed), and the screen is bright, colorful, and easy to read. The functionality provided by the controls is crude. Pressing the digital crown acts as a manual wake button when off, and a Home button when on. Rotating it from the home screen simply switches between watch faces, which is arguably the least-useful thing it could possibly do since I rarely changed mine on my Apple Watch, and would never change the mostly-ugly ones on this. The side button opens the workouts screen, with the digital crown letting you scroll through them and select. The ‘apps’ are accessed by swiping from the left side of the screen. This displays the weather, and provides one-touch access to the five most recently-used apps, with a 6th button bringing up the full list. The digital crown then scrolls through these. I tested heart-rate, steps, and sleep monitoring against my Oura Ring (which was in turn more accurate than my Apple Watch). Heart-rate and step accuracy was remarkably good. It over-estimated sleep time when I wore it for one night, logging 7h 49m against the 7h 21m recorded by my Oura Ring, but my Apple Watch did the same thing to about the same extent. Conclusions I’m honestly impressed by just how much tech you get for a pretty incredible $65. If someone wanted to test out whether a smart watch is for them, or you wanted to give something to a younger kid, you could do worse. More than anything, this is a sign of just how incredibly cheap no-brand tech can get while still delivering decent performance. Indeed, there’s a whole bunch of these things on Amazon for as little as $30. That said, however, you get could a pre-owned Apple Watch SE on eBay for roughly the same money as the Giga, and in most cases that would be a significantly better option. It was fascinating to try, though! Highlighted accessories The WithIt Giga costs $65 from the company’s website. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In the wake of the recent tariffs debacle, both Bloomberg and The Financial Times are reporting that Apple aims to manufacture import almost all of its iPhones sold in the United States from India, rather than China, by the end of next year. This means Apple would need India to make more than 60 million phones a year, in order to satisfy its domestic sales. Overall India iPhone assembly would have to approximately double to meet this target, to about 80 million per year. While Apple was in the process of diversifying iPhone production before the Trump administration took office, it seems the ensuing tariff wars have given motivation to accelerate the plans. Since February, when Trump’s plans for reciprocal tariffs were first announced, Apple’s India production has surged. For a short while, Apple faced eye-watering 145% tariffs on its Chinese imports. As of right now, with the smartphone tariff exemption in place, iPhones imported from India would see no tariffs applied to them. Tariffs from iPhones imported from factories in China are currently slapped with 20% levies. Of course, the US tariff policy changes by the week and the situation may be different by the end of next year. Still, Apple benefits from diversifying its supply chain operations. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Fountain of Youth is the next big Apple TV+ movie that will debut directly on streaming. Apple just released a new trailer for the Indiana Jones-inspired film, and it looks great. Fountain of Youth’s new trailer just dropped Apple TV+ is currently airing several hit TV shows, but it has a film coming soon that looks very compelling too. Fountain of Youth debuts on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 23—just under a month from now. The film stars John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, plus a strong ensemble and hails from director Guy Ritchie. A new trailer just dropped, revealing how Apple’s latest film could easily have earned a wide theatrical release. It seems perfectly suited for the big screen. Despite whatever big budget Fountain of Youth had, Apple is releasing it directly on streaming, with no planned theatrical release. If it’s a hit, perhaps the film can spawn Apple’s first movie franchise. Based on this trailer, I’d certainly love to see more adventures from the Krasinski-Portman duo in the future. What do you think of Fountain of Youth’s new trailer? Let us know in the comments. Apple TV+ is currently available for just *$2.99* per month with a limited-time special. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple is reportedly preparing to give the iPhone a “Stage Manager-like interface” when connected to an external display via USB-C. But this niche iOS 19 addition is likely just setting the groundwork for a bigger update next year: true multitasking on the iPhone Fold. iPhone Fold needs multitasking, and iOS 19 lays the groundwork Next year, Apple plans to launch its first ever foldable iPhone. iPhone Fold, as I’ve been calling it, will boast a 7.8-inch inner display. That display is expected to carry an aspect ratio very similar to the iPad mini. iPad mini, by the way, used to have a 7.9-inch screen until it got bumped to 8.3 inches a few years back. Essentially, the iPhone Fold will function like an iPhone when folded, and resemble an iPad mini when unfolded. And iOS needs to adapt accordingly. Fortunately, it sounds like Apple isn’t wasting any time building multitasking support into the iPhone. iOS 19’s rumored Stage Manager-style functionality surely won’t stay exclusive to external displays. Would Apple really devote heavy engineering resources to build a new iPhone feature that will be used by almost no one? I doubt it. Instead, I suspect the groundwork is being laid for true on-device iPhone multitasking with next year’s iPhone Fold. Apple likely anticipates that some tweaks might be needed with its new multitasking system, and getting it into the world a year early will provide them the real-world data—and time—to make those changes. All with the goal of crafting an iOS multitasking system that’s perfectly suited for the iPhone Fold. How exactly will that system work? At this point that’s anyone’s guess. But with WWDC around the corner, we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out. What do you hope to see from iOS 19’s multitasking system? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple is preparing another leadership shakeup, this time for its secretive robotics team. Bloomberg reports that Apple is shifting its robotics team from AI chief John Giannandrea to John Ternus, its Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. This move comes just a month after Apple removed Siri from Giannandrea’s oversight after Tim Cook “lost confidence in the ability” of the former Google executive to “execute on product development.” Siri is now led by Mike Rockwell, the creator of Apple Vision Pro, who reports to software boss Craig Federighi. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple will move the robotics team to Ternus’s purview “later this month.” Ternus currently leads hardware engineering for almost all Apple’s products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Ternus is also a leading candidate to eventually replace Tim Cook as Apple CEO. The robotics team at Apple is working on multiple products, including a tabletop iPad-like device with a robotic arm that moves the display around. The team is led by Kevin Lynch, who also worked on the Apple Watch and Apple’s failed electric car project. In addition to the robotic iPad, the team is working on more advanced projects, such as a “mobile robot that can follow users around their homes.” In addition to the robotics team led by Giannandrea, a separate team working on “robotics and smart home technologies” also exists inside Apple. That team, led by Brian Lynch and Matt Costello, was already under the purview of Ternus. By shifting Giananndrea’s robotics responsibilities to Ternus, both teams are now under a single leader. The move also means that Ternus now has control over key AI teams, Bloomberg reports: The relocation of Lynch’s unit is also notable because it gives Ternus control over key AI operating system and algorithms teams, groups not typically managed by the hardware engineering department. Ternus briefly oversaw the Vision Pro software unit — until Rockwell moved with that team to the software engineering organization. That coincided with the Siri management shift last month. With this change, Giannandrea and his AI/ML group will have “more time to focus on underlying artificial intelligence technology.” Bloomberg says that Giannandrea hasn’t indicated he is leaving the company: Giannandrea hasn’t given his team any indication that he is planning to leave soon, but the continued shift of responsibilities has raised the prospect that the company may be preparing for a world without the executive at the helm of its AI efforts. Eight years after combining Apple’s AI teams into a single group with the hire of Giannandrea, a breakup of the AI and ML team is looking more likely, the people said. Read the full report at Bloomberg. My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.  Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has already launched five new products this year, but the company has much more in store for users. In addition to major software changes like iOS 19’s redesign, there are 15+ new Apple products in the pipeline that we’re expecting to launch before the year ends. Here’s everything that’s coming. iPhone 17 family After years of fairly iterative iPhone updates, this year’s iPhone 17 lineup is set to elicit a lot more hype. The Plus model is out, replaced by a new iPhone Air, and there’s even potential for a rebranding of the Pro Max to give us the first iPhone Ultra. iPhone 17: ProMotion for the first time, better selfie camera, more. iPhone 17 Air: Radically thin, futuristic look but some compromises. iPhone 17 Pro: Upgraded camera system, memory, and A19 Pro chip. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Thicker for even more battery, and reduced display cutout. M5 Macs and iPads Apple has already launched two new iPads and two new Macs this year, but there’s more on the way, including the debut of the first products with an M5 chip. New Mac Pro: M3 Ultra like the recent Mac Studio, and slim chance of a redesigned case. M5 MacBook Pro: First product with M5, plus M5 Pro and M5 Max options. M5 iPad Pro: Rumors are minimal aside from M5 chip, but iPadOS 19 upgrades should be a highlight. Big wearables upgrades for AirPods and Apple Watch Apple’s lineup of wearables is expected to get some strong updates this fall, largely due to the arrival of much-anticipated new versions of AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Ultra. AirPods Pro 3: Upgraded noise cancellation, heart-rate monitoring, and new H3 processor. Apple Watch Ultra 3: 5G RedCap, hypertension sensors, satellite features. Apple Watch Series 11: Same design, high blood pressure detection. Apple Watch SE 3: Updated S-class chip, more modern than existing SE. Apple Home products Apple has big ambitions for the smart home, and we’ll start to see its new plans materialize with a brand new Home product plus updates to existing favorites. ‘HomePad’: Smart home command center running homeOS. New Apple TV 4K: Likely Apple Intelligence capable, with upgraded A-class chip. HomePod mini 2: New Wi-Fi modem, enhanced compatibility with other Home products. Everything else from Apple What else is left? Just a couple key revisions for some of Apple’s rarely updated products. AirTag 2: New Ultra Wideband chip with improved range, plus stronger privacy features. Studio Display 2: Same 27-inch size, but with MiniLED technology and likely camera improvements. What other new Apple products could launch this year? There are strong rumors indicating the entire list of new products above should launch this year, or very shortly afterwards. But are there any other launch possibilities? A couple wildcards include updates to two of Apple’s most expensive products: Vision Pro Pro Display XDR I just wish Apple would make another small IPhone not everyone wants to carry around a large inconvenient brick. My hands nor my pockets are getting any bigger and if I can’t operate with one hand or fit it in my pocket then I don’t want it. The size the iPhone 8 with the design of the iPhone 16 would be amazing. Make it happen Apple. I have been extremely disappointed in the last 3 years. If an android makes a phone I want then I’m switching. View all comments Rumors about a new Vision Pro are all over the place, but at least one reliable supply chain source believes an M5 Vision Pro update is coming late this year or in early 2026. Similarly, beyond its Studio Display 2, reports indicate Apple may also be preparing a Pro Display XDR 2 for later this year or shortly thereafter. In any case, with the many Apple products outlined above expected to launch this year, it should make for an especially exciting year for new hardware. Which of this year’s new Apple products are you planning to buy? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: iPhone 17 Pro in Sky Blue, iOS and iPadOS 19 productivity upgrades, and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors. iPhone 17 Pro could go Sky Blue like MacBook Air This week, leaker Majin Bu had a lot to share, starting with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Bu says that while Apple is still working to finalize its color lineup for the 17 Pro line, Sky Blue is emerging as the most likely choice for a new color this year. My takeaways Anecdotally, Sky Blue has seemed like a hit among M4 MacBook Air shoppers. While I wouldn’t have expected Apple to debut the same color on the iPhone this year, it’s not at all out of the question. I’m most interested, however, in what Sky Blue might mean for the rest of the color lineup. Is the gold-like Desert color going away? Or could we see a bigger shakeup of the standard Pro color options, coinciding with the expected reduction of Titanium this year? We’ve heard before that Apple plans for iPadOS 19 to bring big productivity improvements to the iPad. Majin Bu shared today what two of those may be: Menu bar (like on macOS) and ‘Stage Manager 2.0’ Both iPadOS 19 features, per Bu, will be triggered when the iPad detects it’s connected to a hardware keyboard. My takeaways I’ve used the iPad Pro as my primary computer for nearly a decade, so iPadOS rumors always pique my interest. In my view, Apple doesn’t have the best track record with iPadOS productivity features. But these two changes do sound very exciting. Bringing the menu bar to iPad seems like a no-brainer, and I’m not a fan of the current Stage Manager, so a fresh ‘2.0’ take sounds great to me. My excitement for iPadOS 19 is starting to outpace that of iOS 19. Speaking of… iOS 19 boosting productivity with external display Rounding out the trio of Majin Bu rumors this week, he also says that iOS 19 is getting major upgrades to external display support. This includes iPhones with USB-C gaining a “Stage Manager-like interface” when connected to a monitor—presumably with multiple apps running at once. My takeaways This change feels like a precursor to next year’s iPhone Fold supporting multitasking on its own, without a display connected. Gaining a large, foldable display won’t matter much if iOS can’t properly support running multiple apps on screen at once. If that hunch proves true, the stakes are especially high for Apple’s Stage Manager overhaul to actually deliver—not just for the iPad’s sake, but also the iPhone’s. iPhone 17e in the works already Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital shared this week that Apple’s supply chain is already preparing for an iPhone 17e to launch next year. Reportedly, the setup of the production line is being planned, with trial production beginning soon. My takeaways When Apple discontinued the iPhone SE and launched its new budget model as the iPhone 16e instead, it raised a lot of questions. One such question involved the plans for future ‘e’ models. And now the answer seems clear. If an iPhone 17e is coming, I’ll be curious to see what kind of compromises it may bring compared to the base iPhone 17. But perhaps more important for budget-conscious shoppers: will the iPhone 16e stick around at a lower price? Would you buy a Sky Blue iPhone? What are your takeaways from the other rumors? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Joining the ongoing price drops we spotted yesterday on the black Apple Watch Ultra 2, today’s best Apple deals are kicking off with even lower prices across the M3 MacBook Air lineup with new Amazon all-time lows landing on various configurations, alongside Apple’s upgraded 24GB M4 MacBook Air at the $1,272 low and models starting from $910. We also spotted a pair of Twelve South accessories deals, including its Find My-equipped PlugBug wall charger and its metal/walnut wood HiRise Pro monitor stand to join some solid offers on monitors, charging gear, and more. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break. We just spotted a new Amazon all-time low on the 13-inch 256GB M3 iPad Air at $829 shipped. While only the Blue and Starlight models are marked down this low – the Purple model is out of stock and the Gray is selling for $849, this is a regularly $899 configuration now down at a new Amazon all-time low. Deals on the M3 iPad Air, much like we saw with the M2 right through until the new model released earlier this year, haven’t been quite as deep as we have seen elsewhere across the latest Apple devices. But again, if it goes anything like the previous M2 model, it likely won’t see giant deals at all, but instead slowly creep down to the $50 and $100 off range through the year until we might see something closer to $120 off like we did on the M2 for the holidays. The iPad Air is arguably the most universally appealing iPad in the lineup – it’s not nearly as expensive as the M4 iPad Pro and is the only other current-gen Apple tablet that runs on the M series chips. One might suggest the latest iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip that can run Apple Intelligence is a more popular pick-up and that might be true, but if you want to get into the M chips the Air is where it’s at. The only notable option we can find for less on the 13-inch 256GB model is the Best Buy open-box model at $807.99 in “excellent” condition with a full Apple warranty. This is $91 off the asking price and the best deal we can find from a dealer with this sort of reputation, units in this condition, and with a full warranty – it just depends on whether or not you’re willing to go for an open-box unit over a brand new one for $21 in savings. Now let’s take a look at the rest of the configurations in the lineup for folks not interested in the 13-inch 256GB and for price comparison reference – alongside the 13-inch 256GB above, we are now tracking new lows on the 11-inch 256GB and 512GB models: 11-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $554 (Reg. $599) 11-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $642 (Reg. $699) 11-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $829 (Reg. $899) 11-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,027 (Reg. $1,099) 13-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $738 (Reg. $799) 13-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $829 (Reg. $899) 13-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $1,047 (Reg. $1,099) 13-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,229 (Reg. $1,299) Scope out our launch coverage on the new M3 iPad Air for a closer look. Apple’s upgraded 24GB M4 MacBook Air just hit the all-time low at $1,272 (Up to $139 off), more While yesterday we spotted the 15-inch models and the entry-level variant dropping to a new all-time low at Amazon, this morning we are focused on the best price ever for the 13-inch 24GB M4 MacBook Air. Prices have been slowly falling below the MSRP across the lineup, but the new 13-inch 24GB model with the new 512GB SSD is now starting at $1,272 shipped. Regularly $1,399, this is $127 off the going rate, a new all-time low, and the best price we can find in new condition online. While the best price available right now on this particularly configuration lands on the Midnight model – this colorway is seeing notable prices and new all-time lows on all of the 13-inch variants available on Amazon starting from $911.42 right now, you will also find the 13-inch 24GB model in the Sky Blue treatment at its best price to date as well down at $1,286 shipped. This upgraded 13-inch model that typically sells for $1,399, which is still currently sitting at full price over at Best Buy where an open-box unit will cost you nearly as much at $1,259.99, or $139 off, with a full Apple warranty attached, is not only at its best price ever but it is also delivering the deepest deal we have tracked to date on brand-new condition M4 MacBook Airs. Now let’s scope out the entire configuration lineup at Amazon, as many of the prices have dropped (again) from yesterday’s mentions – the base model is touch less much like the model featured above, and the entry-level 15-inch is now $100 off at a new all-time low. 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB from $911 (Reg. $999) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,099 (Reg. $1,199) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB from $1,272 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,199) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,279 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,459 (Reg. $1,599) Apple’s new 11-inch iPad (A16) returns to Amazon lows today from $320 Twelve South’s Apple Find My PlugBug USB-C Wall Charger returns to Amazon all-time low at $43 (Reg. $70) Twelve South’s metal/walnut wood HiRise Pro monitor stand with storage hits $80 Amazon all-time low Skip the Apple tax: Your M4 Mac Mini will love LG’s UltraFine 4K monitor at $230 (Save $120) Your M4 Mac mini will love Samsung’s M8 Smart Monitor with onboard webcam at $300 off Today’s accessories and charging deals: Amazon brings back one of its best prices of the year on all black Apple Watch Ultra 2 models at $730 Amazon is bringing back the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals, and now undercutting the spring sale price from last week. You’ll now find all three of the stock satin black titanium configurations that debuted last fall down at $729.99 shipped, including the Black Ocean Band, the Black Trail Loop, and the Dark Green Alpine Loop models. Now within $1 of the lowest price we have tracked on new-condition units all year on Amazon, you’ll want to head below for more details. There were some offers in the $719 range on the black Ultra 2 at Amazon for Black Friday and the holidays last year, but anything under $740 since then has been notable. While we were recently tracking some notable open-box listings at Best Buy to nab these same configurations for less, those deals have come and gone now with most of them landing at prices higher than Amazon’s new listing we are featuring above. You will find some “good” and “fair” condition units there for less, but we tend to only recommend going for the “excellent” condition Best Buy open-box units – it’s sort of hard to justify spending $600 or more on something that might come scratched or dented, even if you can barely see it. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to make its worldwide debut this fall alongside the next-generation iPhone, and we wouldn’t blame you for just holding off until then. But for me, Apple Watch, and especially the Ultra models are really more of a multi-year investment and there’s frankly no telling what pricing or deals might look like through the end of 2025 on the latest series 3 models. Either way, you’ll want to scope some of our coverage on 9to5Mac before you make a final decision on any of this: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are $79 off today (Best Buy certified refurbished) Tested: Arc’s aerospace-grade metal Pulse AirPods Pro 2 case – it really is as gorgeous as it looks Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple chipmaker TSMC says that it will make chips with a sub-2nm process size for the first time ever in 2028, and that the development of 1.4nm chips will allow for greater AI capabilities. The iPhone maker is generally first in line for the company’s most advanced chipmaking capabilities, so we can expect the chips – slightly confusingly dubbed A14 – to debut in 2028 iPhones … Up until around 1997, the sizes of chip processes referred to physical size of transistor gates in nanometers. Since then, the actual numbers are more marketing speak than anything, but it is the case that each process generation is smaller than the last, and that TSMC has for a great many years led the race toward ever smaller processes. But the convention of using nanometers to describe the process size has led to a slight naming issue for TSMC. All was fine when it was N7, N5, N3, and N2 – but we heard back in 2023 that the company would adopt a new naming convention once it moved below 2nm. Specifically, it would swap the N prefix for an A, and 1.4nm chips would be labelled A14. This of course conflicts with the naming of Apple processors. But the company has now confirmed this, stating that the first A14 chip will be made in 2028. TSMC today unveiled its next cutting-edge logic process technology, A14, at the Company’s North America Technology Symposium. Representing a significant advancement from TSMC’s industry-leading N2 process, A14 is designed to drive AI transformation forward by delivering faster computing and greater power efficiency. It says the new generation of chips will allow even greater AI performance in particular. Compared with the N2 process, which is about to enter volume production later this year, A14 will offer up to 15% speed improvement at the same power, or up to 30% power reduction at the same speed, along with more than 20% increase in logic density […] It’s also expected to enhance smartphones by improving their on-board AI capabilities, making them even smarter.  TSMC always has limited production capacity for its latest processes, and Apple typically books 100% of that capacity for its own use in the launch year. Highlighted accessories Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The first Apple Watch hit stores a decade ago on April 24, 2015. When mine arrived, I had no idea that putting on the Apple Watch would be the first step toward me becoming a half-marathon runner. At 24, fitness was never a part of my identity. Like most habits, it started with a streak. 2015: Starting from zero My only memory of running before the Apple Watch dates back to eighth grade in 2005 when I “completed” a mile run in gym class by walking with my friends for 20 minutes. The next known record of me attempting something called exercise occurred on May 9, 2015. I needed a screenshot of closing my rings for my Apple Watch review. Then I decided to do it again: stand up and move around for at least 12 different hours of the day, capture at least 30 minutes of exercise at a brisk walk or more, and burn my self-assigned goal of 500 active calories in a day. That was the start of a streak of closing my Activity rings with the original Apple Watch. This model would later colloquially be called Series 0 when Apple replaced it with two new models. 2016: Series 2 adds standalone GPS Apple Watch Series 1 introduced a new chip for a better overall experience. Apple Watch Series 2 brought the same speed boost and included the first built-in GPS. I started my ring-closing streak by going on daily outdoor walks with the original Apple Watch. Bringing the iPhone was required to map outdoor workouts for better accuracy using assisted GPS (i.e. the phone’s GPS). Summer brought heat and humidity, so I bought a used elliptical for the house to keep my workout streak alive without melting outside. Reviewing Apple Watch Series 2 for 9to5Mac, however, meant logging outdoor workouts without my iPhone. This was the only way to show that the Series 2 could map outdoor workouts without bringing the phone along for the walk, run, or bike ride. Apple heavily marketed the Series 2 for runners because of its GPS. Naturally, I decided to test it out by running. The only problem? I couldn’t run — like, at all. Fortunately, the cardio work I started with the original watch and the ellipitical helped me ease into running without keeling over or giving up. I wanted to close my rings as early in the day as possible, and it wasn’t exactly cool outside yet either. I started by running for as long as I could (a few seconds), then walking until I caught my breath (several minutes). After a few weeks, I could comfortably run a mile without stopping. I was finally using the Apple Watch Series 2 the way it was marketed, and I fell in love with running along the way. 2017: Series 3 brings LTE Listening to music while running has always been the secret to me finding joy in the first mile. After that, the endorphins activate and I don’t want to immediately stop to quiet my breathing. In 2016 and most of 2017, playing music while running outside without the iPhone required syncing media to the watch ahead of time and using Bluetooth headphones. I started with a cheap pair of so-called wireless earbuds that had a wire connecting either side, and I only paired them with the watch. Then AirPods were invented! The term “truly wireless” was required for a while to distinguish between wireless with a wire and wireless without. AirPods were also nice because they paired to your Apple Watch automatically just by setting them up from your iPhone. Playing music while working out got much better when the Apple Watch Series 3 added standalone cellular connectivity. This unlocked the ability to go for a run and stream music with just the Apple Watch and AirPods without strapping an iPhone to your arm. Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE, Apple Music streaming, and AirPods worked together to make an overall better running experience. Exercise went from something I did once to make a screenshot for a review to something that brought me great joy. It created a space for me to enjoy music, think without interruption, and set goals to reach and exceed. I logged my first workout with the first Apple Watch. I ran my first mile with Apple Watch Series 2. Then I ran my first 5K, 10K, and half marathon with Apple Watch Series 3. Apple Watch Series 4 introduced a larger display, and Apple Watch Series 5 introduced an always-on display. Testing accuracy and battery life in different scenarios while running races made evaluating those versions especially fun. Between 2015 and 2019, I went from never thinking about fitness to completing a total of seven different half-marathon races. Now my identity will always include being a runner. While the Apple Watch doesn’t make you a runner — going for a run makes you a runner — I can’t imagine another scenario where I would have had the same fitness journey. Do more with your iPhone Follow Zac Hall: X | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now live (or will be momentarily) at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and more. Nintendo hosted its long-awaited Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025 after officially unveiling the new Switch 2 console back in January, and, after pre-orders were initially delayed, they are finally set to go live at (just about) all major retailers in the U.S any minute, and it might be a good idea to go get in the queue folks, just in case. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders now live Walmart – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder (12 a.m ET) Best Buy – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder (12 a.m ET) Target – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder (12 a.m ET) GameStop – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder (11 a.m ET) Amazon – Nintendo Switch 2 preorder (TBD) Nintendo Switch 2 game pre-orders: Donkey Kong Bananza $69 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Mario Kart World $79 Walmart | Best Buy | Target The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition $79 Walmart | Best Buy | Target The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildSwitch 2 Edition $69 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition $80 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Kirby and The Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition $79 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Street Fighter 6 $60 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion $70 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma $70 Walmart | Best Buy | Target No Sleep For Kaname Date $50 Walmart | Best Buy | Target Let’s-a-go! Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are now live at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and elsewhere (or will be very soon!). As early reports suggested, we expect the pre-sale units to be limited at best – just about everyone on the internet is going to be trying to scoop up a Switch 2 tonight and there’s just no telling how long stock might stick around for – get in there while you can and be ready before the clock strikes midnight. There are several major retailers with Nintendo Switch 2 units now up for grabs and we will be scouring the web for others today as Nintendo’s next-generation of gaming goes up for sale ahead of release this summer. Early leaked internal documents from a major U.S. retailer have already suggested that it expects to sell out of Switch 2 units very quickly. You’ll want to pay very close attention to our social feeds – especially on X (formerly Twitter) where we will be be serving up-to-the-minute details on live listings across the web through the Switch 2 pre-order phase and subsequent release.  Nintendo already said it was very much aware of the bots looking to scoop up preorder units only to scalp them at exorbitant prices elsewhere, and that it was doing everything it can to circumvent these evil resellers. While it might end up a fruitless endeavor, we will be working around the clock to uncover live listings to fight back against the dastardly trolls to ensure you get yourself a shiny new Switch 2 and have it delivered on release day (or very close to it).  Industry analysts, financial advisors in the gaming sector, and just about everyone else suggested Switch 2 would be the biggest launch in all of gaming, certainly this year, and perhaps even of all-time, so while it might not be easy to actual secure your Switch 2 preorder, never mind the fair share of obstacles Nintendo is attempting to doge in the wake of Trump tariffs, stay hopeful and vigilant…we are doing everything we can to make it happen for ourselves and everyone else at this point.  The Nintendo Switch 2 is set for official release this summer, but there’s just no telling when retailers will re-stock units before then, on day one, or even after. If the last few major console releases are any indication, it’s going to be a frustrating mess for some folks, with listings going in and out of stock constantly and, in many cases, in seconds – our entire staff is scouring the nets and hounding retail contacts for in-stock details in hopes of getting a jump on the scalpers for our readers and we will be serving up constant details from now through year’s end, an potentially even beyond that to help the cause.  Reports suggested Switch 2 preorders would begin on April 2, only to have internal retailer documents leak suggesting they wouldn’t go live until April 9, and then official delays hit. But none of that matters now as Switch preorders are now going live across the web and at retail.  FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

Apple sells a premium streaming box with a price that largely exceeds competing products. But if Apple TV 4K ads start using these new quotes from Roku’s marketing lead, I don’t think Apple will have any trouble making new sales. Roku touts increased advertising push as good for consumers Roku today launched its latest streaming sticks, which cost $29 and $39 accordingly. Apple TV 4K, which is about to get an upgrade but is currently over two years old, starts at $129 and goes up from there. What do you get for that $100 premium? Well, a lot if you ask me. But one new standout is you get to avoid the kind of OS-level ads that Roku seems very keen on shipping. Last month Roku tested auto-playing Moana 2 ads right as your streaming sticks boots up, before you even reach the home screen. Now today after its latest product launch, Roku’s marketing lead Jordan Rost shared the following with The Verge’s Chris Welch: Rost said “all the advertising we employ is meant to be additive to the consumer experience — everything from brands showing up in Roku City to ads on our home screen that help guide people towards content they love.” The Moana 2 test, in theory, was meant to cover that second point. But based on the customer outcry, Roku’s execution was more bothersome than helpful, even if it was possible to exit out of the ad. I also asked Rost about some Roku patents that hint at the company possibly injecting ads onto the video feed from other devices plugged into a Roku TV over HDMI. He said Roku’s own platform is the “primary” focus of its ads strategy. But last month’s misstep isn’t going to stop the bigger plan to keep pushing to make ads more shoppable, interactive, relevant, and “delightful.” If you’re at all like me, you’ll take deep satisfaction in how Welch concludes the article. He writes: “And if any of that makes you shudder, there’s always the Apple TV 4K.” 9to5Mac’s Take As a long-time Apple user, I’m admittedly very biased in this area. That said, can someone please explain how auto-playing ads on startup, or other ads peppered throughout Roku’s OS could possibly be “additive to the consumer experience”? Hey, at least I’ve now gained a greater appreciation for my Apple TV 4K. What’s your take on the Apple TV 4K vs. Roku? Let us know in the comments. Best Apple TV 4K accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple CEO Tim Cook is being pressed for information on his collaboration with the Trump administration surrounding tariffs. In a letter sent today, Senator Elizabeth Warren said that Cook’s collaboration with Trump “creates the appearance of impropriety.” This comes after Warren and other senators questioned $1 million donations made by Cook and others to Trump’s inauguration fund in January. “The circumstances surrounding Apple’s exemptions raise fresh concerns about influence-peddling by huge well-connected corporations, and their ability to gain special favors from President Trump,” Warren wrote. As we’ve covered extensively, Trump announced massive tariffs on China and the rest of the world, impacting almost every facet of Apple’s supply chain. Trump then enacted a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries, while simultaneously increasing the tariff on imports from China. Apple raced to fly planes full of iPhones into the United States before those tariffs were enacted. Trump then announced wide-ranging exemptions covering smartphones, laptops, and other product categories. A report from The Washington Post last week offered a glimpse at Cook’s communication with the Trump administration in seeking these tariff exemptions for Apple. Cook is said to have spoken with multiple senior members of the Trump administration “about the potential impact of the tariffs on iPhone prices.” Of COURSE it was influence peddling. That’s how the Trump administration works. You don’t pay the price of admission you get deliberately harmed. You do you’ve bought a favour from the The Don. Don’t want your government to be run like a protection racket, don’t elect a criminal. View all comments In the letter sent to Cook this week, spotted by Bloomberg, Warren wants details on these talks between Cook and the Trump administration: At best, your work to eliminate the tariffs on Apple products, and President Trump’s subsequent decision to exempt certain Apple products, creates the appearance of impropriety. However, recent reporting also raises serious questions about the extent to which it is possible for massive corporate special interests to use their money and influence to secure tariff exemptions that are unavailable to Main Street small businesses. Senator Warren specifically lays out four questions: What was the nature of your discussions with Trump Administration officials with regard to proposed tariffs? Please provide information on any meetings or conversations (including via telephone or email) that you or anyone acting as an agent of you or Apple had with Trump Administration officials about tariffs prior to the April 12 announcement. When did Apple find out about the tariff exemptions announced by President Trump on April 12? What is the value of the additional profits that Apple will obtain as a result of President Trump’s tariff exemption? Please explain your process for determining this estimate. The Trump administration is expected to announce a broader plan for tariffs on products like smartphones and laptops within the next month or two. My favorite iPhone accessories: Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The iPhone’s camera has long been one of its most important features. But late last year, Apple added a new capability that seeks to boost the camera’s importance even further: visual intelligence. Then in iOS 18.4, Apple brought the feature to many more iPhone cameras—but reportedly, it’s just getting started. Visual intelligence just upgraded many iPhone cameras thanks to iOS 18.4 Visual intelligence is an AI feature that utilizes the iPhone’s camera. Here’s how Apple describes it: Use visual intelligence to quickly learn more about the places and objects around you…look up details about a restaurant or business; have text translated, summarized, or read aloud; identify plants and animals; and more. When visual intelligence first launched in iOS 18.2, it was exclusive to iPhones with a Camera Control button. That means it only worked on the four iPhone 16 flagships. But in iOS 18.4, Apple expanded the feature to: iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16e Any of these devices can use the feature by adding visual intelligence to the Action button, Lock Screen, or Control Center. This expansion of the feature, which itself already added new capabilities in iOS 18.3, is just the start of Apple adding ‘intelligence’ to its devices’ cameras. Cameras in AirPods and Apple Watch will continue visual intelligence expansion Visual intelligence offers a variety of useful benefits today. But Apple’s ambitions are apparently much bigger. Per Mark Gurman, “Apple’s ultimate plan for Visual Intelligence goes far beyond the iPhone.” He continues: The company wants to put the feature at the core of future devices, including the camera-equipped AirPods that I’ve been writing about for several months. Along the way, Apple also wants to shift Visual Intelligence toward its own AI models, rather than those from OpenAI and Google. But Apple’s vision for AI wearables goes even further. The company is working on new versions of the Apple Watch that include cameras. As with the future AirPods, this would help the device see the outside world and use AI to deliver relevant information. Future AirPods and Apple Watch models gaining cameras is apparently deeply tied to Apple’s plans for visual intelligence. The strategy seems to be two-fold: Add new features to visual intelligence over time, like iOS 18.3 did and bring ‘intelligent’ cameras to more devices over time, like iOS 18.4 did Whether you find visual intelligence useful today or not, it seems Apple is just getting started with the feature. In a few years, perhaps visual intelligence will be an indispensable part of not only our iPhones, but many of our Apple devices. Do you use visual intelligence on your iPhone today? What should Apple do to improve it? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.5 is the next software update coming for iPhone users. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s new in iOS 18.5 and when it will be released. Plus, what comes next… iOS 18.5 release date Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.5 on April 2, followed by beta two on April 14, and beta three on April 21. When will iOS 18.5 be released to the general public? Here’s when Apple has released its iOS x.5 updates in previous years: iOS 17.5 – May 13, 2024 iOS 16.5 – May 18, 2023 iOS 15.5 – May 16, 2022 iOS 14.5 – April 26, 2021 iOS 13.5 – May 20, 2020 This suggests that iOS 18.5 will likely be released to everyone sometime in the third week of May. What’s new in iOS 18.5? If you’re hoping that iOS 18.5 will add major new features to your iPhone, I have bad news for you. Barring any surprises, iOS 18.5 is shaping up to be a small update focusing mostly on bug fixes and performance improvements. There are, however, some changes to the Mail app in iOS 18.5 that are worth pointing out. With iOS 18.2 last year, Apple introduced a refreshed design for the Mail app with a categorization system and larger contact photos and icons. Since that release, Apple has gradually made additional changes to the Mail app in response to feedback from iPhone users. That trend continues with iOS 18.5. In the Mail app with iOS 18.5, Apple has added a new toggle that lets you disable the new contact photos design. To find this menu, just tap the three dogs in the app’s upper-right corner, then toggle off “Show Contact Photos.” Previously, you had to go into the Settings app to make this change. iOS 18.5 also makes the “All Mail” view in the Mail app more visible. Previously, it existed as a hidden section alongside the new Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions categories that you could access by swiping left across the list of categories. Now, it exists as a fifth tab, such that it’s more obvious it exists. Finally, iOS 18.5 makes AppleCare information in the Settings app more prominent so you can see the warranty information for your iPhone at a glance. Wrap up Following iOS 18.5, Apple will begin beta testing iOS 18.6 sometime in May, which is also expected to be a minor update. What’s more exciting, however, is that the first iOS 19 beta will be released for developers in June. WWDC kicks off on June 9 with an Apple special event keynote. For more on what to expect from iOS 19, check out our full guide here. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

CIRP just published US sales data for the iPhone in Q1, including a breakdown of how each different iPhone 16 model is performing. There are winners and losers, and even the first iPhone 16e data. The surprise loser of the bunch? The iPhone 16 Pro. CIRP shows base iPhone 16 is swaying potential 16 Pro customers Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz write at CIRP: The mix of the original four iPhone 16 models shifted. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max together accounted for 38% of iPhone sales in the quarter, down from the 45% share for the similarly positioned iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max one year ago. The iPhone 16 Plus matched its iPhone 15 Plus predecessor’s share last year. The basic iPhone 16 gained significantly, with 20% of new US iPhone unit sales, compared to only 14% for the iPhone 15 in the same quarter last year. Why did the 16 Pro models dip so much? Diving deeper into the data, things are pretty clear. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max still performed nearly as well as its predecessor, the smaller iPhone 16 Pro saw a big dip. iPhone 15 Pro: 22% of sales in last year’s Q1 iPhone 16 Pro: only 17% of sales this year Looking at the full chart, it’s not too difficult to discern what happened. Way more than last year, a lot of buyers opted for the cheaper base model this quarter. iPhone 16 sales accounted for 20% market share, while last year the iPhone 15 managed only 14%. Apple’s efforts to make its base model more compelling clearly worked. That might be seen as a loss, since theoretically those buyers might have splurged for the more expensive iPhone 16 Pro. But with the introduction of iPhone 16e, Apple had to take a calculated risk. It needed to upgrade the base model enough that it’s differentiated from the new budget option. I’m especially keen to see what happens to the Pro line later this year, after the iPhone 17 Air presumably wins users over. What are your takeaways from Apple’s Q1 iPhone 16 Pro and other sales? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed my use of AirPods steadily increasing over time. And with iOS 19, Apple plans to offer yet another reason to never take your AirPods off: live translation. Live translation in iOS 19 will make AirPods even more useful When AirPods first launched, they felt like a futuristic, wireless version of earbuds—but not much more. Over time, thanks to features like Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, and more, AirPods started becoming more like augmented reality devices for your ears. Then in iOS 18.1, AirPods Pro 2 added Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features that offered even more reason to wear AirPods constantly. In iOS 19, yet another upgrade will continue that trend. Per Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a live translation feature for AirPods running iOS 19. Here’s how it will work: If an English speaker is hearing someone talk in Spanish, the iPhone will translate the speech and relay it to the user’s AirPods in English. The English speaker’s words, meanwhile, will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone. Gurman implies that at least some existing AirPods models will gain the feature, but it’s also possible it could end up being exclusive to AirPods Pro 3 and its new H3 chip. Depending on how often you’re in multilingual environments, this feature could be a game changer. I live in New York City, where I encounter a wide variety of spoken languages every day. The opportunity to not only understand what others are saying with my AirPods, but also hold an actual conversation with them via my iPhone sounds brilliant. What that experience will actually feel like is all up to the implementation details. But I have high hopes that Apple can make its live translation feature more seamless than any existing third-party solution. Live translation, for users in multilingual environments, will be yet another reason to keep wearing your AirPods—even when you’re not listening to anything. Do you expect to use iOS 19’s live translation feature with your AirPods? Let us know in the comments. Best AirPods deals and accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Today’s Apple gear deals are now alive and well starting with even lower prices on the new M4 MacBook Air lineup – just about all of the 13-inch configurations have now dropped even lower with a new all-time low now live on the most affordable model in brand-new condition. From there we move over to a notable $79 price drop on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation down at $99.99 shipped in Best Buy certified refurbished condition alongside the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 configs back down at the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon this year. All of that and more, alongside details on tonight’s Switch 2 pre-orders are waiting below.  AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are $79 off today (Best Buy certified refurbished) While we have tracked a few chances to save on the latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, there hasn’t been quite as many deals on those as we have seen on the base model set without the ANC or AirPods Pro 2. There was a short-lived 1 day offer on a refurbished set over the weekend at $85, but we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight a notable chance to save as part of the now live Best Buy Outlet sale that has official Geek Squad certified refurbished units down at $99.99 shipped – the second lowest price we have tracked to date on AirPods 4 with ANC. Apple’s AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation released last fall for the first time alongside the base model set, iPhone 16, and the black Apple Watch Ultra 2. They carry a $179 list price but have been readily available on Amazon for $169 for months like they are right now. Today’s deal knocks $79 off the list to deliver a price at $39 under the best new condition deal we have tracked to date at Amazon – that price only happened once for Black Friday and hasn’t returned since. The units we are featuring here today are Best Buy Geek Squad certified refurbished covered under Best Buy’s Return & Exchange Promise. They have been “thoroughly, painstakingly and lovingly tested, so you can be sure that your device will work right, right away,” and ship with the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, “Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker, Documentation, (USB-C Charge Cable sold separately) with 90 Days warranty.” Clearly some folks would prefer to just wait on a brand-new condition deal, even if it is at a higher price than today’s, and we completely understand. Refurbished headphone deals can get dicey, but we do recommend sticking with programs like the Best Buy certified, in-house Bose options, and the Amazon Premium Renewed listings if you are going to go this route. This is the lowest price around after all. Dive into our hands-on review of Apple’s AirPods 4 right here where we said they are “better in every way.” Now even lower: New Amazon lows hit Apple’s M4 MacBook Air lineup at up to $100 off, brand-new configs from $912 In our continued effort to uncover the best possible deals on Apple’s latest M4 MacBook Air lineup, we wanted to highlight the deal Amazon is now offering on the Starlight 15-inch model with the upgraded 24GB of RAM and the 512GB SSD. Regularly $1,599, you can land this one down at $1,499 shipped to deliver a solid $100 in savings and the lowest price we have tracked to date in brand-new condition on this configuration. As of the time of writing only the Starlight variant is seeing the straight up $100 price drop right now – the Midnight model is at the $1,519 all-time low as well, but the other two are very near full price. For the record, even Best Buy’s open-box listings on this model are sitting at prices worth of $1,400. Let’s take a run down of the best new prices across the lineup over at Amazon for folks not interested in the upgraded 15-inch above – all three of the most affordable 13-inch models have now dropped an additional $10 to $20 to deliver new lows on just about all color options, much like the 15-inch configs seen below: 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB from $939 $912 (Reg. $999) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,129 $1,097 (Reg. $1,199) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,319 $1,307 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $1,129 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,319 $1,307 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,519 (Reg. $1,599) While the price drops on the M4 MacBook Air have been a bit of a slow burn with just about all configs hovering in that $50 off range, we are now just starting to see a good collection of models dropping below that by as much as $100 to give folks a shot at some savings. It’s hard to say exactly how the tariff situation is going to take hold of the latest MacBooks here in terms of potential price hikes, but there are definitely some savings to be had at well below the pre-Trump MSRPs. Amazon brings back one of its best prices of the year on all black Apple Watch Ultra 2 models at $730 Amazon is bringing back the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals, and now undercutting the spring sale price from last week. You’ll now find all three of the stock satin black titanium configurations that debuted last fall down at $729.99 shipped, including the Black Ocean Band, the Black Trail Loop, and the Dark Green Alpine Loop models. Now within $1 of the lowest price we have tracked on new-condition units all year on Amazon, you’ll want to head below for more details. There were some offers in the $719 range on the black Ultra 2 at Amazon for Black Friday and the holidays last year, but anything under $740 since then has been notable. While we were recently tracking some notable open-box listings at Best Buy to nab these same configurations for less, those deals have come and gone now with most of them landing at prices higher than Amazon’s new listing we are featuring above. You will find some “good” and “fair” condition units there for less, but we tend to only recommend going for the “excellent” condition Best Buy open-box units – it’s sort of hard to justify spending $600 or more on something that might come scratched or dented, even if you can barely see it. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to make its worldwide debut this fall alongside the next-generation iPhone, and we wouldn’t blame you for just holding off until then. But for me, Apple Watch, and especially the Ultra models are really more of a multi-year investment and there’s frankly no telling what pricing or deals might look like through the end of 2025 on the latest series 3 models. Either way, you’ll want to scope some of our coverage on 9to5Mac before you make a final decision on any of this: Apple Watch band discovery box deal: Buy 1 official Solo Loop for $20 and get 2 FREE (Orig. $147), more Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders go live tonight from $450, here’s everything you need to be ready Today’s accessories and charging deals: We are once again tracking another chance to score the lowest new price to date on Apple’s latest iPad (A16). Amazon is now offering the base model 128GB configuration in blue and yellow down at $319.99 shipped. The pink and silver variants are remaining at the prices we have been tracking over the last month or so starting at $329. Regularly $349, today’s deals certainly aren’t massive or anything but again, $320 is the lowest we have tracked on brand-new units since the latest iPad 11, or iPad (A16), debuted under two months ago. This is only the second time we have seen the blue this low and the very first time the yellow model has dropped below $329. Here’s how the discounted pricing works out across the lineup right now – only the 128GB variant is matching the lowest we have tracked to date. 128GB iPad (A16) from $320 (Reg. $349) 256GB iPad (A16) from $429 (Reg. $449) 512GB iPad (A16) from $609 (Reg. $649) While for many the 128GB is going to feel underwhelming, myself included, this is Apple’s ultra-affordable entry-level tablet after all. I would argue that, for the folks interested in picking up Apple’s latest casual iPad experience, scoring the most affordable possible configuration is key – once you get up into the $400+ range you could just land a discounted iPad mini 7 or M2/3 Air. This iPad features a slightly larger 11-inch Liquid Retina Display, 12MP front/12MP back cameras, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C connectivity, and runs on the A16 chip – it is not Apple Intelligence-compatible, but rather a more family-friendly casual tablet experience that brings the iPad vibes home for less. Hit up our launch coverage over at 9to5Mac for more details. Just remember, if you have an older iPad 10 or something to trade-in, you can still score this model at as much as $175 off – all of the details you need to know await right here. Your M4 Mac mini will love Samsung’s M8 Smart Monitor with onboard webcam at $300 off Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? 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Today, Logitech announced a major new update for its MX Creative Console. This update brings new integrations and functionality for Final Cut Pro, Affinity Photo, Adobe Lightroom, Figma, and DaVinci Resolve, speeding up users workflows greatly. MX Creative Console overview Logitech announced the MX Creative Console last September, aiming to compete with the very popular Stream Deck. When it was announced, it had deep integration with popular Adobe Creative Cloud apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Lightroom Classic, and more. The MX Creative Console comes with two pieces: a customizable dialpad, and a customizable keypad. You can make precise adjustments, scroll through your video editing timeline, and more with the dialpad. With the keypad, there are 9 dynamic buttons with small LCD panels, allowing you to look at different custom controls for different apps. New integrations Since its launch in October, Logitech users have found that the MX Creative Console speeds up their workflow, increases productivity, and makes work easier. Now, with today’s new integrations, Logitech aims to empower more creators to work faster and smarter. For Final Cut Pro users, Logitech now offers capabilities to make your editing workflow faster and more intuitive, including quick actions for clip transport & clip manipulation, precise color grading with the dial, tools for easily navigating the timeline, and more. Additionally, Logitech announced new integrations for other popular creative apps, including: Adobe Lightroom: Tools for quickly rating and flagging images, as well as adjusting brightness, white balance, and clarity with the dial Figma: Adjust text size, weight, height, and more with the dial; access all essential tools and actions for Figma and FigJam DaVinci Resolve: Navigate the timeline with precision, cut/trim/retime clips instantly, add/remove/edit/navigate nodes efficiently All of these new integrations can be explored inside of the Logi Marketplace section of the Logi Options+ app. While all of the integrations have a default profile with the most popular actions and tools, you can customize it as you’d like to meet your needs. MX Creative Console is available for purchase on Amazon for $199.99 in two colors, Pale Gray and Graphite. There’s also a bundle available with an included MX Master 3S for $299.99. My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

A new residential property survey is suggesting that smart home tech can add to the resale value, though there are some big caveats. The headline news is that more than a quarter of American homebuyers are now willing to pay a premium for smart homes, and that the average perceived value-add is $18k … There are two elements to Vivint’s survey: an analysis of 35,000 home listings across the country, looking for price differences between those which do and don’t highlight smart home features, and a survey of 1,000 US buyers, asking how much they valued these when buying their new home. The first part of that very clearly doesn’t mean anything. It showed that the average price of a smart home was almost double that of a non-smart home. The exact difference varied between cities, ranging from a 175% premium in Chicago to a negative premium in Texas locations like Arlington and Plano. (I’m saying nothing about Texans …) In almost all cases, the differences are way too big to be related to the smart home element. You could clearly install your own smart home kit, or even have it done professionally, for a fraction of the premium. What we’re self-evidently seeing here is simply that pricier properties are more likely to have smart home tech. Correlation, not causation. Similarly with the claimed premium buyers would pay. While $18,056 is a slightly more realistic number for a large home which has all the smart home tech money can buy, it’s still likely way more than people would really pay for a typical HomeKit setup. My own experience, of selling one house and listing an apartment, is that it depends entirely on the buyer. Some of those viewing really loved the tech, and checked that it was included in the price. The couple who ended up buying my last house, in contrast, wanted my assurance that everything would be removed and replaced with dumb equivalents! It all seemed too complicated for them. But for those who do appreciate smart home tech, here are the features they looked for, in decreasing order of importance: Smart security system (cameras, door locks, alarms) 65% Smart thermostat 57% Smart lighting 51% Water leak detection sensors 35% Smart appliances 31% Whole-home energy monitoring system 28% Smart garage door opener 25% Automated blinds or windows 20% Integrated home entertainment systems 18% Personally, I don’t think I’d pay a premium unless everything was HomeKit-compatible and happened to match my own product tastes. In general, I’d much prefer to choose my own products – how about you? Photo by Islam Allam on Unsplash Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has today received a 500 million euro fine (about $570 million) from the EU commission under the Digital Markets Act. The commission said the fine relates to Apple’s App Store anti-steering policies. The DMA requires that app developers should be able to inform customers of alternative purchasing options outside of the App Store, and direct customers to those alternative payment options, free of charge. Apple’s rules currently do not allow for this … The EU says the 500 million euro amount was decided based on the gravity and duration of Apple’s non-compliance. The EU announcement does not specify exactly what it finds to be in breach, although it likely relates to Apple’s App Store fee structure. Apple currently charges a commission of more than 17% on purchases made outside of the app. This would be in opposition to the DMA’s requirement that these abilities be offered “free of charge”. As such, the EU finds that app developers “cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels outside the App Store”. In addition to the fine, the EU orders Apple to remove technical and commercial restrictions on all relevant steering provisions. This means we should expect Apple to announce policy changes to the App Store rules shortly, or else face further fines. Separately, the commission has taken a preliminary view that Apple has not complied with its obligation to allow for the distribution of apps outside of the App Store, i.e. its support for third-party app marketplaces in the European Union is not good enough. The commission says developers are disincentivized from doing so due to the required agreement of alternative business terms, which includes the Core Technology Fee. It also says Apple has purposely made the process of using alternative app marketplaces too difficult and burdensome on end users. Apple can now formally reply to the preliminary decision, and await the EU’s response. Apple could face additional fines on this matter in the future. Some good news for the company, however, is that the EU found Apple’s changes to iOS in regard to offering user choices to system defaults as sufficient. This includes things like the default web browser choice screen that is shown to iPhone and iPad users in the European Union, new settings for changing default apps for calling, messaging and other features, and the ability to completely uninstall system apps like Safari. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In February 2022, a hostage situation unfolded at an Apple Store location in Amsterdam when a gunman demanded a $227 million ransom in cryptocurrency. The hostage and other Apple Store visitors escaped the situation safely, while the gunman died from injuries sustained when he was hit by a police vehicle. Netflix subsequently announced its plans to create a thriller based on the situation, called iHostage, which debuted this week. As part of the production of iHostage, Netflix recreated the Amsterdam Apple Store from scratch – and has shared a behind-the-scenes video of what that process entailed. In a video posted to YouTube this week, iHostage director Bobby Boermans shared the process of creating the Apple Store for the film. The development consisted of recreating the Apple Store in front of a large screen, where they digitally recreated the entire world outside of the Apple Store. “Filming in an actual Apple Store wasn’t possible, so we recconstructured an authetic Apple Store to the actual scale. The floor space is the exact same size as the retail store. I don’t think this technique has been used on such a large scale in the Netherlands before, but it’s clearly the future. If we’ve done this right, the viewer won’t even notice.” Here’s Netflix’s description of the movie: iHostage is a gripping thriller inspired by the shocking 2022 hostage crisis at Amsterdam’s Apple Store. The film follows a Bulgarian man caught in a life-threatening ordeal as an armed assailant holds the building’s occupants hostage. Through the eyes of the attacker, the hostages, and the first responders, iHostage delivers a tense and emotional tale of courage, survival, and the lasting impact of terror. You can watch the behind-the-scenes video below and a trailer for iHostage. The film is available to watch on Netflix and has already hit the top of the charts. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple recently gave Mike Rockwell leadership over Siri, a big shake-up that proved the status quo of Siri development had grown unacceptable to senior leaders. Now, per a new report, it seems Rockwell is wasting no time continuing to implement major changes internally with the teams responsible for Siri. Mike Rockwell revamping Siri team with various personnel and structural shifts Mark Gurman writes at Bloomberg: Apple Inc.’s new Siri engineering chief is overhauling the management team leading development of the beleaguered voice assistant, taking a step he assured employees would set the company up for success. Mike Rockwell, head of engineering for the assistant, is replacing much of Siri’s leadership with lieutenants from his Vision Pro software group, according to people with knowledge of the matter. He’s also restructuring teams related to speech, understanding, performance and user experience, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the changes are private. The full report goes into a lot more detail on the specific managerial and structural changes Siri’s teams are undergoing. Some of those changes include: “Ranjit Desai, a longtime top deputy from the development of the Vision Pro…will now be in charge of much of Siri’s engineering, including the underlying platform and systems groups” ”Olivier Gutknecht, a senior Vision Pro software executive, is taking over the team in charge of Siri’s user experience” ”Nate Begeman and Tom Duffy, veteran Apple software engineering managers, are also joining the Siri team to run underlying architecture” ”Stuart Bowers, who has led data, training and evaluation teams, will get an expanded role working on Siri’s ability to figure out how to respond to a user” ”David Winarsky, a longtime Siri leader, is taking over a new group responsible for all voice and speech-related components.” Gurman summarizes the changes: The moves show that Rockwell is either demoting or replacing the prior managers in charge of Siri engineering. At the same time, he is turning to the people behind the Vision Pro to fix the long-plagued voice assistant. 9to5Mac’s Take This isn’t the first we’ve heard of big changes happening under Siri’s new leadership. A recent report indicated the teams working on Siri features were being permitted to use third-party LLMs in features for the first time. Rockwell may very well have been behind that change too, though the report credited it to Federighi. One thing is clear: Siri’s new boss is taking decisive action to right the ship of Siri’s years of stagnation. And that sounds like very good news for users. What do you make of this new report on Siri changes? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Project Fi was announced 10 years ago, and Google is celebrating the MVNO’s birthday with a handful of updates for iPhone and iPad owners. The Google Fi Wireless set-up process on iPhone is getting simpler. You no longer have to manually enter carrier information to get service up and running. The actual activation period is also getting faster. On the calling front, voicemail will soon be integrated into the Phone app. At the moment, you have to check the Google Fi app, with visual voicemail rolling out in the coming weeks. When traveling, iPhone owners on the Unlimited Premium (renamed) and Flexible plans can now access international 5G service in 92 countries. Google Fi previously only offered this capability on Android devices.  Meanwhile, Google is adding support for data-only eSIMs. This is catered towards tablets, with recent iPads dropping the physical SIM card slot. However, you’ll be able to download a data-only eSIM to phones that you don’t want to issue a number for. This set-up process just involves scanning a QR code. Last month, Apple enabled RCS on Google Fi and other T-Mobile MVNOs. This addressed a big Fi limitation, with iOS subscribers next turning their attention to Apple Watch. The Fi team tells us that it wants to support the Apple Watch, but the activation process is proprietary and something it cannot do alone. In the case of RCS, Google Fi had to wait on Apple. This is unfortunate as Android users can add supported Wear OS smartwatches to their plan without paying a separate fee.  Google Fi today also announced a new entry-level $35 and increased data limits on all other plans. You can read more about that here. Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has new public beta software available for testing now. Public beta 2 just debuted for macOS Sequoia 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, tvOS 18.5, and more. Public beta 2 for macOS 15.5 and more now available Last week, Apple’s first public betas for the next wave of software releases arrived. macOS 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, and more launched in public beta after the updates had already been available for developers for a couple of weeks. Those initial developer betas were fairly buggy in my experience, so it’s unsurprising Apple didn’t ship them to the public. Now, however, public beta 2 for Apple’s various platforms is here—just one day after new developer builds. Unfortunately, in our testing so far, no new features or noteworthy changes have been discovered. The two updates to Apple’s Mail app present in last week’s betas remain the only real feature updates of this current software wave. Bug fixes and under-the-hood tweaks seem to be the focus. Apple could always have surprises in store for closer to the public launch. That happens occasionally with new software versions that otherwise seem devoid of changes in the beta. Since so little seems to be changing in macOS 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, and the other updates, it’s very possible we’ll see a shorter than usual testing cycle. In that case, public launches could arrive in early to mid-May. If you want to install the new versions sooner, you can join Apple’s beta software program via its website. Have you discovered any changes in iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, or other public beta 2 updates? Let us know in the comments. Best Mac and iPad accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.5 public beta 2 has just been released, bringing the latest iPhone software version to members of Apple’s public beta program. Here’s what to expect. No additional features discovered in iOS 18.5 public beta 2 Yesterday, Apple shipped a new iOS 18.5 beta for developers, and today a fresh public beta has followed. Both releases are identical software builds, but Apple typically provides developers the first look to ensure no critical bugs make it into the update. Now, after a day of developer testing, public betas users have access to the latest version of iOS 18.5 too. No new features have yet been discovered in the latest beta. Instead, Apple appears focused on providing bug fixes and performance enhancements. As a result, the latest iOS 18.5 beta should run smoother on your iPhone than last week’s initial public beta. However, as is true with all beta software, your experience may differ from that of other users. It’s not uncommon for some users to encounter minimal bugs while other run into serious issues. As a result, if you’re not yet running the public beta, you may want to stay on iOS 18.4.1 for now. New features in iOS 18.5 so far are minimal—limited to two updates to Apple’s Mail app, and small UI changes in Settings. How has iOS 18.5 been running for you so far? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel