The full extent of the U.S. governments impeding tariffs were revealed by the Trump administration today in a press conference. The hefty tariffs threaten economic trade on a massive scale with implications on almost all big US companies, including Apple.The Apple supply chain relies on manufacturing and assembly of its devices in countries like China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. All of these regions are now facing huge tariffs, which ultimately increases the cost of production and undermines Apples margins and potential profitability.Trump announced a base rate of 10 percent tariffs on all imports to the United States, a move that will have significant economic impact on its own. The 10% levy goes into effect on Saturday, April 5.However, the story only gets bleaker as the Trump administration is also instating what it calls reciprocal tariffs on select nations where the prices of US exports are said to be inflated by international government measures. These higher rates are set to go into effect next week, April 9.Some of the heftiest reciprocal tariffs announced today directly target major geographic regions of the Apple supply chain. Most iPhones sold today are made in China, and those imports now face a tariff rate of up to 54 percent, a combination of the 34 percent reciprocal tariff announced today on top of the 20 percent levy the President launched in January.Following the 2018 trade war and COVID disruptions, Apple has accelerated the diversification of its supply chain away from China as much as it can. But these other regions are also now facing the ire of Trump. For instance, Vietnam is a big manufacturer of AirPods, Apple Watch and MacBook models. These imports are now facing a 46 percent tariff rate. Similarly, Apple suppliers in India will be hit with 26 percent tariffs, and Malaysia operations will also tariffs as high as 24 percent. Other parts of the Apple supply chain in other countries are now subject to at least a 10% tariff they never had to contend with before. Trump believes these measures will bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.But if everything goes ahead as announced today, this will have a devastating impact on Apples business. The increased cost of production will either see Apples margins curbed substantially, or the company will be forced to increase the price of its products to compensate, likely lowering demand as customers are turned away by the resultant sticker shock.These fears have seen investors ditch Apple stock, with a sell-off in after hours trading of more than 7%. In absolute terms, $AAPL closed at $223 today, and is currently sitting at about $207 in the volatile after-hours market. Many other big tech names are also significantly down, amid a market-wide selloff.Some believe this is all bluster, and Trump will carve out exceptions and pull back on some of these measures in short order. Indeed, during the China-US trade war of 2018, Apple secured tariff exemptions on many of its products, notably avoiding any impact on the iPhone, its biggest business segment. However, so far, Apple has been unsuccessful at securing exemptions from Trump, since he began his second term in office this January.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As we reported this morning, Apple has released a firmware update for the USB-C AirPods Max that enables lossless audio. However, due to a bug in iOS 18.4, the headphones were unable to download the update. Now the company has re-released the firmware that brings the new feature to AirPods Max.AirPods Max update with lossless audio now availableApples support webpage for AirPods firmware now lists a new build 7E101 available for USB-C AirPods Max. The build released on Tuesday along with iOS 18.4 was 7E99.For some unknown reason, the AirPods Max failed when trying to download and install the latest firmware. As a result, users were unable to try out the new feature that enables lossless audio over USB-C. The update also brings ultra-low latency audio when using a USB-C cable, as well as enabling wired playback for the first time usingApples new USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable.You can check which firmware version your AirPods are running by going to Settings in iOS and looking for the AirPods menu at the top of the screen. Of course, you need to connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad first.Unfortunately, theres no easy way to install AirPods firmware updates. Apple recommends that users who want to update the new firmware as soon as possible follow these steps:Update to the latest version of iOS (lossless audio on USB-C AirPods Max requires iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4).Connect your AirPods via Bluetooth to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Make sure your Apple device is connected to Wi-Fi.Plug your AirPods into the charger.Keep your AirPods in the case and keep them near your device for at least 30 minutes.Put on your AirPods and check the firmware version again.One thing to keep in mind is that the firmware update with lossless audio is exclusive to theUSB-C version of the AirPods Maxthat was launched last year. The Lightning version wont get this feature.H/T: Aaron Zollo!Apple teases new short film with Pedro Pascal to promote AirPods 4Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has big plans for the iPhone 17 lineup. In addition to the rumored iPhone 17 Air, the Pro models are also expected to receive significant hardware upgrades, especially when it comes to cameras. And in addition to everything thats been leaked so far, it looks like the iPhone 17 Pro will have another camera surprise.iPhone 17 Pro rumored to have new telephoto cameraAccording to Majin Bu, Apple plans to adopt a new telephoto lens with a 48-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 17 Pro. While this isnt exactly news since other sources have already corroborated the change, Majin Bus report reveals some other interesting details.Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are equipped with a telephoto lens with a 12-megapixel sensor that enables 5x optical zoom. But if the report is right, the 17 Pro models will have a new telephoto camera with a 3.5x optical zoom yes, less than the current zoom camera. According to the leaker, the higher resolution sensor will allow Apple to offer zoom greater than 5x with a digital crop.The idea is essentially the same as the main lens on the latest iPhones. Although the iPhone 16 has a 48-megapixel sensor, Apple offers a 2x digital zoom (which the company calls a telephoto zoom) that crops the full image into a 12-megapixel photo, resulting in a decent zoomed-in photo. Thats why Apple says the iPhone 16e has two cameras in one, for example.Majin Bu suggests that the change in the iPhone 17 Pro will benefit users, as the current 5x lens requires users to move away from the subject to take portrait photos. With a 3.5x lens, taking portrait photos would be easier while the iPhone would still be able to take photos with up to 7x digital zoom.Personally, Id prefer Apple to keep the 5x lens with a combined 10x digital zoom, just like Samsung does with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung phones used to have a true 10x zoom lens, but the company switched to a 5x zoom lens with a 50-megapixel sensor. Its also worth noting that Majin Bu has a mixed track record, so take his report with a grain of salt.According to other sources, all iPhone 17 models will also have a new 24-megapixel selfie camera, while the Pro models will have 8K video for the first time. Apple is expected to announce iPhone 17 Pro in September.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

I started using OS X full-time when I was 18 and the Mac was 25. Booting up my first Apple computer, a 2009 MacBook Pro running OS X 10.5 Leopard, was like getting behind the wheel of a Porsche for the first time after being raised on pedestrian PCs.Now its the iPhone and its software that are 18. In Macintosh terms, the iPhone and iOS are in the iMac G4 iLamp running OS X 10.2 Jaguar era maturing products and platforms that still have room to grow up.For this reason, I am still one to welcome changes to the way things look with open arms. It looks different is a great feature if the way it looks is cool. Does it look cooler is a different question than does it look better. The former has more to do with trends while the latter is a matter of longevity.If a change can be both stylish and practical such that it can last for years, then thats a design change success. iOS 7 was too polarizing and required too many iterations before reaching stability to really hit that mark. iOS 19 has the potential to meet both metrics. It could also be a bigger deal than iOS 7 for three reasons.Apples iOS 7 design reset in 2013 was largely fueled by a personnel change. Steve Jobs had a larger-than-life presence that balanced differences between Scott Forstall and Jony Ive. After Jobs died, Tim Cook recognized an imbalance that caused the new CEO to fire Forstall, elevate Craig Federighi, and give software design to Jony.The staff change that led to an redesign played out in a matter of months. Before 9to5Mac revealed the breadth of change in iOS 7, people reasonably predicted that we wouldnt see much of a departure from iOS 6. Apple published its press release titled Apple Announces Changes to Increase Collaboration Across Hardware, Software & Services on October 29, 2012. In just 224 days, iOS 7 was unveiled.In the years since, Apple has gradually built upon the wireframe design foundation set by iOS 7. The original iPhone software through iOS 6 looks like a video game today while some parts of iOS 18 are virtually unchanged from iOS 7 icons included.First, the circumstances of the iOS 19 redesign are quite different. There is no major personnel change between polar personalities to expedite a new design. Instead, the principal designers of iOS 19 have been in place for years, considering the future direction of Apples software design. This should result in a more thoughtful look that doesnt need as much correction as early iOS 7 builds.Second, the redesign could go deeper than how things look. This Slate piece from Farhad Manjoo argued at the time that as different as iOS 7 looked, the iPhone software basically worked the same. That was a feature, not a bug. Four years later, the way things worked changed with the software running on the iPhone X. If iOS 19 is both a software design and interaction model change, it will arguably be bigger than iOS 7.Third, iOS 19 will run on upgraded hardware that also looks new. iOS 7 looked dramatically different, but it was tied to the iPhone 5s that looked nearly identical to the iPhone 5 (which was re-cased as the iPhone 5c). iOS 19 will be tied in part to the rumored iPhone 17 Air. The ultra thin design would look futuristic even if it ran iOS 18.iOS 19 is also a redesign that should make considerations for a new form factor: a foldable iPhone. The iOS 7 design was more adaptable and less pixel perfect, helping developers adapt apps for larger displays the following year. iOS is already resizable at this point, but iOS 19 and iOS 20 may need to prepare the way for a version of the OS that adapts to changing form factors.Whatever Apple has in store for us, well soon learn as WWDC is officially set for June 9, 2025.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

With the release of iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence now supports eight additional languages besides English. However, a small number of users have been complaining that they dont see Apple Intelligence in the settings even after updating an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest software and this may be related to having a device purchased in China.Apple Intelligence not available on Chinese devicesWhen Apple released iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence was only available in US English. While most users could try out the new features just by changing the devices language and region settings, there were two regions where the AI features were unavailable: the EU and China.In these two regions, Apple has restricted the availability of Apple Intelligence due to local legislation. While iOS 18.4 enables Apple Intelligence for users in the EU with support for some of the local languages, the features remain unavailable in China.Why is this important? Because users who bought an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in China cant enable Apple Intelligence even if they change the settings or use their device in another country. One of our readers bought a new iPhone in China while visiting the country. The person is no longer in China, but theres still no sign of Apple Intelligence in the iOS settings.Apple Intelligence will not currently work for supported devices purchased in China mainland. For supported devices purchased outside China mainland, Apple Intelligence will not currently work if you are in China mainland and if yourApple Account Country/Regionis also in China mainland, Apple says on its website.Theres a way to check if you have a device bought in China. On iPhone and iPad, follow the steps below:Open the Settings app.Tap General.Tap About.Look for Model Number.On the Mac:Go to the Apple menu.Click About this Mac.Click More Info.Scroll down and open System Report.Look for Model Number in the Hardware tab.If the Model Number ends with CH/A, the device is a version made specifically for the Chinese market so Apple Intelligence wont be available.So what now?Apple has officially partnered with Alibaba to enable Apple Intelligence for iPhone users in China. According to a Bloomberg report, the company has been working on a new system to ensure that its AI complies with local legislation.Presumably, users with Chinese devices will be allowed to enable Apple Intelligence around the world once Apple officially launches the feature there. But for now, theres nothing these customers can do.Report reveals details of how Apple Intelligence will work in ChinaGadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.5 beta 1 was released today for developers, and so far its been particularly light on noticeable changes. However, one key update makes it easier than before to get the old Apple Mail design back in iOS 18.5.Apple Mail got a big redesign in iOS 18.2, bringing inbox categorization, digest view, contact photos, and more.But even back then, Apple knew that not everyone would appreciate the apps changes.From the start, you could disable categorization by tapping the three-dot icon in the upper right corner.That menu offered options to switch from Categories View to the classic List View for your inbox.It also let you disable the Apple Intelligence-powered Priority messages feature, which surfaces more important emails to the top of your inbox.Now, some new menu options have been added: you can disable contact photos and the Group by Sender digest view.When the Mail app was first redesigned, it added contact photos to your inbox. The look was very clearly inspired by Apples Messages app, where contact photos are similarly prominent.In previous iOS updates, you could disable Mails contact photos, but it took some digging. You needed to go to Settings Apps Mail and toggle off the Show Contact Photos option.But in iOS 18.5, you can make the change right inside the Mail app, inside the same menu that lets you disable or enable Apples other Mail changes. Disabling digest view from this same menu is another solid addition.These are small tweaks, but ultimately nice ones for anyone whos still not loving Apple Mails new look and feel.What do you think of the Apple Mail redesign? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

TikTok was temporarily saved from a US ban earlier this year, but a key deadline is coming up that could see the ban reinstated. According to a new report, President Trumps plan to stop that from happening is a new company called TikTok America.New TikTok America company would have split ownership, but likely wouldnt impact user experienceKaya Yurieff writes at The Information:President Donald Trump plans to announce later on Wednesday his plan for a new company called TikTok America, part of his eorts to broker a deal to keep TikTok alive in the U.S., according to a person close to the discussions. Its unclear whether the Trump administration has approval for the proposed structure from the Chinese government. Under Trumps proposal, TikTok America would be roughly 50% owned by new U.S. investors and license TikToks algorithm from ByteDance, the person said. Existing investors in ByteDance would have a roughly one-third stake in the new company, while ByteDance would retain a 19.9% stake.The beginning of that second paragraph is especially key. Although it sounds like Trump intends to announce his plan very soon, its unknown whether ByteDance and/or the Chinese government are actually on board or not.If they are, then TikTok America could prove a lasting solution to the seemingly never-ending drama around TikTok and the US.Hopefully this change would come with zero impact to users, since presumably the same TikTok app would continue being available with the same algorithm. To comply with the law, however, it would just be primarily owned by US stakeholders.It will be interesting to see how the details shake out over the next few days, but for now, it seems things are happening in an attempt to secure TikToks ongoing presence in the US.What do you think is going to happen with TikTok? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Hot off the heels of releasing iOS 18.4 to everyone, Apple has pushed out the first developer beta version of its next big point update. iOS 18.5 beta 1 is now available to developer beta testers. Well dig in to learn whats new and report back so stay tuned.Whats new in iOS 18.5?iOS 18.5 isnt expected to include any major new features. Thats because iOS 19 development is well underway internally, and Apple has shipped nearly all of its promised features for the iOS 18 cycle.However, last years iOS 17.5 software update did include a few surprises with News+ game additions and cross-platform tracking detection for AirTag-like products.Spot anything new in iOS 18.5 beta 1? Send tips to tips@9to5mac.com. Well also post a roundup of everything new in iOS 18.5 beta 1 assuming the software release has any new features or changes.For a recap at whats new in the recently released iOS 18.4 update, read our coverage here.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Its an exciting day for beta software releases, as Apple has just shipped developer beta 1 for tvOS 18.5, visionOS 2.5, HomePod 18.5, and more.New batch of betas rolling out, including tvOS 18.5 and moreIts been a big week for Apple software. Not long after shipping major new updates like iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, visionOS 2.4, and more, Apple now has a new slate of beta releases available.Were officially in the x.5 beta territory, with new developer versions of visionOS 2.5, tvOS 18.5, HomePod 18.5, and more.Currently, new features and changes across these betas are completely unknown.Sometimes rumors help inform what we should expect from new software releases. But this time, theres been nothing on that front. There arent big previously announced features for these platforms that could potentially be included either.Apple did announce a special Apple TV+ screensaver for tvOS 18, but references to that were later removed from the companys website around the time the Snoopy screensaver debuted.Since were starting to get relatively close to WWDC and its big unveiling of iOS 19 and more, its possible this beta cycle will be light on new additions.In any case, well install the new betas and report back on any changes and features we discover.Have you installed beta 1 of tvOS 18.5 or any of the other updates? Let us know of changes you find via the comments.Best accessories for Vision Pro, Apple TV 4K, WatchAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Ever since Apple TV+ first launched, many have wondered why the maker of the iPhone would be interested in running its own Hollywood studio and major streaming services. Even Netflixs CEO is stumped. But a new chart outlining Apple TV+ subscribers product ownership may have some clues.Survey shows Apple TV+ subscribers own more Apple productsMichael Levin and Josh Lowitz write at CIRP:It appears Apple TV+ subscribers are more likely to own more Apple products. Based on data for the twelve months ending December 2024, one-third of customers that purchased a new device from Apple in the three months preceding our surveys have Apple TV+. Those Apple TV+ users own more Apple devices. We look at the three principal products, iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Half of Apple TV+ users own all three, compared to about one-third of Apple customers that dont use Apple TV+.Even better (for Apple), only 13% of Apple TV+ subscribers own just one of the three key products, compared to almost one-quarter of customers that dont subscribe to Apple TV+.The chart below shows the breakdown of Apple TV+ subscribers and non-subscribers, and how many Apple devices each group owns.Deciphering the dataThe big question about this chart, of course, is Why? Why are Apple TV+ subscribers more likely to own more Apple products?Is it because someone who owns more products can likely afford more streaming services?Is it a halo effect of loving Apple products translating to viewing its TV efforts positively?Do owners of more devices simply have greater awareness that TV+ exists?Or is Apple TV+ in some way leading users to buy more Apple products?Its impossible to answer these questions without more data. That said, no matter what the answers turn out to be, this report seems to point to positive trends for Apple regardless. Whatever mix of cause and effect that Apples products and its services like TV+ have on each other, Apple is ultimately the winner.Do you have any big takeaways from this Apple TV+ subscriber chart? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best Apple TV 4K accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Joining a series of ongoing deals on iPad mini 7 configurations at $100 off, as well as new lows on the new iPad (A16), today we are turning our attention to the best cash deal on select M3 iPad Air models. We also spotted the new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air at its best Amazon price yet alongside a rare deal on Nomads gorgeous latest-gen metal and glass 15W 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. All of that and more awaits down below.Apple unleashed the next-generation of mid-range iPads just under a month ago with the new M3-equipped iPad Air lineup, and we just spotted a new all-time low. While youll still find $50 price drops across a number of configurations over at Amazon right now (waiting down below), it now has the 11-inch 256GB model starting from a new $644 shipped low. Regularly $699, this is $55 off the going rate and the best cash deal we have tracked on this model to date.While you can still score the $50 price drop on the base model 11-inch 128GB configuration at $549, todays deal marks the lowest price we have tracked to date on the 256GB upgrade.As avid 9to5Toys readers will all already know, while todays deal is the lowest cash deal yet, we uncovered some serious opportunities to save on trade-ins back during the pre-order phase and you can still take advantage of them right now. In fact, you can score one with a massive $650 in savings when you trade-in a previous-generation M2 iPad Air right now and there are also plenty of savings with just about any previous iPad. All of the details you need on that are waiting right here.That said, and including the all-time low still live on the most affordable 13-inch variant, you can browse through the straight up cash deals across the lineup down below all but the 11-inch 512GB variant are still marked down to the best we have tracked.11-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $549 (Reg. $599)11-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $644 (Reg. $699)11-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $849 (Reg. $899) OOS11-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $738 (Reg. $799)13-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $849 (Reg. $899)13-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,229 (Reg. $1,299)Head over to our launch coverage for more details on the M3 Air and the new Magic Keyboard.DREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale up to $700 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacsDREAME is offering hundreds on savings on its range of intelligent robotic vacuum and mop combos as well as its wet/dry and stick vacuum models. Delivering as much as $700 in savings on X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop, youll find some of the best prices of the year on a collection of models across the brands to meet just about anyones needs.DREAME X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$900(Reg. $1 600)DREAME L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$500(Reg. $1,500)DREAME L10s Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop:$400(Reg. $900)DREAME H12 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$255(Reg. $450)DREAME H14 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$400(Reg. $700)DREAME H14 Wet & Dry Vac:$300(Reg. $500)DREAME Z30 Stick Vac:$350(Reg. $700)DREAME R10 Stick Vac:$190(Reg. $300)Apples new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is now sitting at the $1,139 Amazon all-time low, more from $949Amazon is now delivering a new all-time low on the Sky Blue 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and the 256GB SSD at $1,139 shipped. This is the most affordable 15-inch configuration of Apples new M4 MacBook Air and in the all-new Sky Blue colorway with the best straight up cash deal we have tracked to date.Youre looking at a regularly $1,199 setup here after Apple lowered the MSRP on the M4 machines, delivering a new all-time low with $60 in savings. We did recently catch one colorway of the 512GB 13-inch M4 model at $100 off, but that deal didnt last for more than a few hours at best over last weekend.As we have detailed on just about all of the cash deals we have been tracking on Apples latest 2025 releases, there are some serious trade-in options here for folks with a previous-generation machine to flip. This will obviously yield a much lower price than the offer highlighted above and all of the details you need on this are waiting right here score your new M4 MacBook Air pre-order from just $449 with an M3 trade-in ($550 off), or $499 with an M2.The 15-incher might not be for everyone, but if you are looking towards Apples latest mid-range M4 laptop with the additional screen real estate and without an older device to trade-in, todays deal is the best we have tracked yet. That said there are some cash deals across just about every configuration in the lineup and you can scope those out down below:13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $949 (Reg. $999)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,169 (Reg. $1,199)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,359 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,139 (Reg. $1,199)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,352 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,549 (Reg. $1,599While you can still score the most affordable 128GB iPad mini 7 down at $399 via Amazon, the mid-range 256GB configs quickly jumped back up to full price right in the middle of the Amazon Big Spring Sale last week. However, the deals are now back on all four colors at $499 shipped, down from the regular $599. Details below.I certainly wouldnt blame anyone for just jumping on the now $399 entry-model and calling it a day I have spent more than enough time talking about how I tend to try and save as much cash as possible when it comes to Apple storage upgrades. That said, the mini 7 starts at 128GB, as opposed to the 256GB entry point on the M4 iPad Pro for example this configuration is starting to show its age if you ask me.While it wasnt all that long ago when more than just entry-level iPads started at 64GB, the 128GB models need to go the way of the old 8GB Mac configs if you ask me. The 128GB is likely more than enough for some folks, but it is really starting to feel a bit tight for me, even on a less pricey iPad, and nows your chance to score a good mid-range compromise on one of the more affordable current-generation iPads in the lineup.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) Apples new iPad (A16) hits new lows at up to $50 off, or nearly 50% off with iPad 10 tradesTwelve Souths PlugBug USB-C Wall Charger with Apple Find My back to Amazon all-time low at $43 (Reg. $70)Nomad launched a very serious April Fools sale yesterday, delivering 15% off sitewide, excluding only backordered and third-party items. It is a notable sale for sure, and one we already detailed right here, but we wanted to point out the offer it delivers on the brands latest Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen). This one debuted for the first time last summer as one of the best 3-in-1 magnetic charging stands we have ever tested out it is seriously gorgeous and well-made and has rarely ever been on sale since. Use code FOOLS15 at checkout right now to knock 15% off the price tag. Details below.You can now score the Nomad Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen) down at $126.65 shipped. Thats 15% off the regular $149 price tag, the lowest price we have tracked this year on this model, and the lowest around.The $126 deal price is still not the most affordable 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand out there, not by a long shot, but this is no ordinary charging station. Forget all of those plastic, mass produced solutions for a second at least, youre looking at a premium product that screams high-quality the second you unsheathe it from its packaging.Yes, this is a 3-in-1 charging hub for iPhone, with an Apple Watch Fast Charger, and third pad for AirPods, and yes, it delivers the max 15W of power we have seen thus far on these sorts of stands from any brand, but it also features a seriously high-end build and, if you ask me, a simply gorgeous design that stands out in the sea of tree- and pad-style plastic chargers out there.The heavily weighted base is not just trimmed with a matching metal treatment, the whole thing is made of solid metal with hits of glass accents surrounding the main iPhone MagSafe pad.Features at a glance:3-in-1 charging hub15W charging for MagSafeApple Watch Fast ChargerSupports iPhone StandBy modeAirPods Qi charging spotSolid metal & glass design2.0m USB-C to USB-C cable includedRequires 30W USB-C Power Adapter (not included)You can get a complete rundown of the build, feature set, and user experience in our hands-on impressions feature post right here.Nomad now offering 15% off sitewide: Leather iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, moreScore $437 off an unlocked 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max today (Amazon Renewed Premium, 1-year warranty)Todays accessories and charging deals:You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offAs part of the ongoing Amazon Big Spring Sale, the deals on Apples M4 series MacBook Pro models have been flying with pricing still kicking off from $1,399, or $200 off, on the base model. But we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight a couple of the 24GB models that are now sitting at $220 off the going rates to match the lowest prices of the year. This includes an upgraded 1TB M4 model, but youll want to head below for more details as you can also score an M4 Pro variant at the same price right now.Deciding between the M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro model largely comes down to price for most folks. Its really a matter of deciding whether or not you really need the extra M4 Pro horsepower and if youre really willing to spend the cash on one. Everyone wants the extra M4 Pro power cause why not? but if you dont really need it you really dont need to spend the cash on it.Then it comes down to deciding your configuration do you need 24GB of RAM? An upgraded SSD? There a couple of notable deals to scope out today if you do.Firstly, Amazon is offering the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro upgraded with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB internal SSD down at $1,779 shipped. Thats $220 off the regular $1,999 list price and on par with the lowest price we have tracked this year.But how much do you value that 1TB of storage here?Amazon is also offering the more powerful 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD down at the same $1,779 shipped list price right now.Now theres nothing particular new about this decision as both of these models carry the same $1,999 list price from Apple. But it certainly begs the question how much do you need the double storage action?For me its an easy answer go for the horsepower on the M4 Pro all the way and stick a portable SSD in there, no questions asked. For some it might not be so easy. I do know folks that seriously value the upgraded storage I often times tell them they are wrong and dont, but hey, to each their own.Either way we are looking at a match of the lowest prices we have tracked this year on these models and a great chance to score $220 off the list price on a shiny new M4 series MacBook Pro.Latest Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 wireless buds deliver impeccable sound, onboard retransmission down at $319Nintendo officially announces $450 price for Switch 2, $500 Mario Kart bundle, pre-orders start next week!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In a somewhat surreal event, the National Labor Relations Board has frozen two cases against Apple after Trump nominated one of the iPhone makers defence lawyers to head up the watchdog.The NLRB was due to hear cases alleging that Apple illegally fired two organizers of the #AppleToo movement, but both cases have been postponed indefinitely just days after Crystal Carey was nominated to head up the body The NLRB cases against AppleBack in 2021, around 2,000 Apple employees took part in an unofficial salary survey, the results of which showed evidence of a wage gap between men and women. The survey kicked off an #AppleToo movement, in which Janneke Parrish and Cher Scarlett were two key figures.The findings led to some 12,000 current and former female employees filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that there is a reasonable possibility thatAppledid indeed illegally pay women less than men, allowing the case to proceed. Both Parrish and Scarlett subsequently left the company, and filed claims with the NLRB that Apple had illegally fired them for organizing. These first of these cases was due to be heard this month.The NLRB has also pursued separate complaints against Apple for illegal union-busting activities. Cases frozen after former defence lawyer nominatedThe Financial Times reports that Trump nominated Crystal Carey to head up the NLRB, and that two of the cases against Apple were frozen just days later.The National Labor Relations Board filed multiple complaints against the iPhone maker last year alleging it intervened against employee attempts to organise, but abruptly pulled back from two of the cases late last week, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.Trump last week nominated Crystal Carey, a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, to be the NLRBs general counsel. She is listed in the agencys records as an attorney acting in Apples defence in both cases against the Silicon Valley tech group.The two frozen cases relate to Parrish and Scarlett.Hearings before an administrative law judge had been scheduled for April and June in Parrish and Scarletts cases, respectively. But the NLRB late last week informed them the trials had to be postponed indefinitely pending a legal review by the agencys head office.The FT reports that Apple didnt offer any comment on the latest development. Careys appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.Highlighted accessoriesLogo: Public domain. Background:Avinash KumaronUnsplash.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak with prestige shows, and its starting to find real success with movies too. The next Apple TV+ film, Fountain of Youth, looks set to continue that trend with its big stars and heavy Indiana Jones vibes. Heres the trailer.Fountain of Youth is a new action-adventure film coming next monthFountain of Youth hails from director Guy Ritchie and stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman in an Indiana Jones-style action-adventure.The movie will be released directly on streaming, debuting Friday, May 23 on Apple TV+.Per the films official summary, Krasinski and Portman play siblings who partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth.The first trailer just arrived, and it looks like a ton of fun.Apple TV+ movies hitting a winning streakApples last couple movies, The Gorge and Wolfs, proved very successful for the streamer. They also represent a big shift Apple has taken with its film strategy. While the company used to give its films wide theatrical releases, those are now the exception rather than the norm.The Brad Pitt-starring F1 this summer will be Apples one big theatrical swing for the foreseeable future, while films like Fountain of Youththat look very much theater-worthywill go straight to Apple TV+.What do you think of the Fountain of Youth trailer? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Includes 5G Ultrawideband, which can be super-fast but is only available in very limited areasVerizon-owned Visible seems to be offering a much better unlimited mobile data deal than its parent company. The new Visible+ Pro plan includes 5G Ultrawideband, unlimited hotspot usage, 4K video streaming, cellular service for one Apple Watch and claims to have no throttling.The cost of the plan is $45 per month, which is $20 cheaper than Verizons own Unlimited Welcome Heres what Visible says about the new plan:Unlimited talk, text & dataNever worry about overages or hidden fees with all the minutes, messages and gigabytes you need. Includes unlimited calls & texting from the US to Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan.With unlimited 5G, get reliable 5G performance. All plans include 5G and 4G LTE network access and unlimited data, talk, text and hotspot.5G Ultra WidebandVisible+ Pro gives you unlimited premium data on Verizons 5G Ultra Wideband network, the fastest 5G network access we offer.UHD VideoStream all your favorite media with up to 4K UHD quality video.Smartwatch service includedGet Apple Watch service included in your plan at no additional cost (normally $10/mo)3x faster unlimited mobile hotspotYour smartphone becomes a Wi-Fi connection for devices like tablets, laptops, and more. Visible+ Pro includes mobile hotspot with unlimited data at speeds up to 15 Mbps (3x faster than our Visible plan).There are also a number of international features, including unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, as well as up to 24 days a year of overseas use.The Verge notes that the plan is a significantly better deal than you can get direct from Verizon, yet seems to equal or better the quality of coverage.Its common for carriers to claim unlimited data in the headline and then include data throttling for high-usage customers in the small-print, but this doesnt seem to be the case here, so itll be interesting to see whether any catches emerge.Highlighted accessoriesPhoto byFrederik LipfertonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iPhone farms banks of phones equipped with rotating temporary Apple IDs are being used to send more 100,000 scam iMessages per day, found security researchers.By using iMessages rather than texts, scammers can bypass spam and scam filters implemented by mobile carriers. Fraudsters dont even need any technical skills to carry out their attacks, as there are companies offering phishing-as-a-service (PhAAS) Unpaid toll fees, shipping fees, and more scamsCommon scams doing the rounds at present include fake demands for unpaid road toll fees; claims that shipping fees are needed to release valuable packages from Customs; and fictitious warnings about unpaid taxes.These scams are commonly carried out via email and text message, and theres a constant cat-and-mouse game between criminals and ISPs and mobile carriers seeking to detect suspicious text and links in order to block them.iPhone farms sending scam iMessagesHowever, researchers at cybersecurity firm Catalyst have found that scammers are now turning to iMessage. Because these messages are encrypted, with networks unable to see the contents, they cannot be detected and blocked.What makes things worse is they found a Chinese platform offering the use of their iPhone farms to anyone willing to pay.Lucid is a sophisticated Phishing-as-a-Service (PhAAS) platform operated by Chinese-speaking threat actors, targeting 169 entities across 88 countries globally []Its scalable, subscription-based model enables cybercriminals to conduct large-scale phishing campaigns to harvest credit card details for financial fraud [] To enhance effectiveness, Lucid leverages Apple iMessage and Androids RCS technology, bypassing traditional SMS spam filters and significantly increasing delivery and success rates.The group behind Lucid even includes templates scammers can use to create convincing-looking replicas of websites for companies like courier services. The XinXin group, known for developing Lucid and other PhAAS platforms, has been observed selling phishing templates designed to impersonate postal services, courier companies, road toll systems, and tax refund agencies.Catalyst includes a low-quality photo (above) of one of these iPhone farms in use.A Telegram group used to sell these PhAAS attacks has more than 2,000 members.How to protect yourselfThe main safeguard against phishing attacks is toneverclick on links sent in emails. Always use your own bookmarks, or type in a known URL.Its easy to make an email or message look like it originated from a legitimate company, so dont trust apparently-known senders. Be especially suspicious of messages urging you to act quickly to avoid fines or see packages returned to their senders.Highlighted accessoriesVia Macworld. Photo via Catalyst on background by Uriel SConUnsplash.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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