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TV Time, the popular show and movie tracking app, is shutting down on July 15, with all personal user data set to be deleted after that date. In a support page update announcing the news, the company admitted that it was "no longer sustainable to continue operating the service as a free app," and said that there was "not enough demand for a paid app." Come the shutdown date, the TV Time app will be removed from both the App Store and Google Play, and the tvtime.com website will go offline permanently. Users who want to preserve their viewing history and tracked data can request an export through the app's GDPR self-service tool before the July 15 cutoff. The company says all personal user data will be deleted after that date, but it may retain aggregated, non-personal data for business or legal purposes. TV Time has operated for more than a decade, and over that period it built a dedicated community around episode tracking, watchlists, and user ratings. In the wake of the closure announcement, users on the Resetera forums have suggested alternatives like Trakt, Serializd, and Simkl – although the latter's servers have reportedly struggled under a sudden wave of new sign-ups. This article, "Popular Show Tracking App TV Time Shutting Down on July 15" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple has told suppliers to prepare to make approximately 10 million foldable iPhones this year, up from a previous forecast of about 7-8 million units a few months ago, reports Nikkei Asia ($). Apple has already booked parts for roughly 80 million smartphones for the second half of 2026, which includes the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first-ever foldable iPhone. The company's full 2026 production is expected to top 220 million units, according to the publication. Apple's purchasing power is said to have left it better positioned than rivals like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, which have each cut annual production targets below 100 million units amid an industry-wide memory shortage. Some suppliers have reportedly been told to expect orders for as many as 85 million new iPhones in the second half of 2026, with Apple asking them to reserve iPhone 17 components for the coming iPhone 18 lineup. Engineering problems tied to the foldable iPhone's hinge appear to have been resolved, but that has raised the odds of a small initial shipment following the device's launch. A larger production run likely won't begin until closer to the end of the year. Apple raised prices on MacBooks and iPads last month in response to rising component costs, but the iPhone 17 lineup has so far been spared from a price hike. If that remains the case, Apple will likely use the new devices launches to introduce increased pricing across the lineup. IDC has predicted that the foldable will carry an average selling price of $2,500, with storage options potentially priced as high as $3,000. Apple's foldable iPhone is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, along with Touch ID instead of Face ID, an A20 chip, and Apple's C2 modem. The device is expected to be released alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Apple's book-style foldable could launch as the "iPhone Ultra," as suggested by reports.Related Roundup: iPhone FoldTags: Foldable iPhone, Nikkei This article, "Apple Ramps Foldable iPhone 'Ultra' Production to 10 Million Units" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Anthropic's Fable 5 model is once again available for use, the company said today. Claude users are now seeing the option to use Fable 5, with Anthropic rolling out an in-app message. Through July 7, eligible Claude subscribers can use up to 50 percent of their plan's weekly usage limit on Fable 5. After hitting that limit, Fable 5 use will require credits. After July 7, Fable will be available through usage credits. Fable 5 is Anthropic's first Mythos-class model that's available for the public, and it first came out on June 9. Fable 5's capabilities exceed those of any model it has made generally available, and it has demonstrated "exceptional performance" for software engineering, knowledge work, vision, scientific research, and more. It outperforms Opus models on longer, more complex tasks. Fable 5 can work autonomously for longer than any prior Claude model. Though Anthropic released Fable 5 with conservative safeguards to prevent misuse, the Trump administration applied export controls to the model, forcing Anthropic to restrict access to foreign nationals. Anthropic had no way of verifying the nationality of people using its models, so it had to suspend access to Fable 5. At the same time, Anthropic also had to restrict access to Mythos 5, the next model in its Project Glasswing initiative for major companies and federal agencies seeking help defending critical infrastructure. The order came after Amazon researchers found a prompt able to bypass Fable's safeguards, and the model found software vulnerabilities. Anthropic investigated and discovered that older models and models from competing companies could also locate the same vulnerabilities. Anthropic ended up shipping a new classifier that blocks the technique in more than 99 percent of cases. Fable 5 is available for Pro, Max, Team, and select Enterprise plans. Anthropic has also restored Mythos 5 access for U.S. organizations that are part of Project Glasswing. Anthropic says that it is deepening its cooperation with the U.S. government on new pre-release testing, information sharing, and research collaboration.Tag: Anthropic This article, "Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 Available Again After U.S. Lifts Export Controls" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The Maps app didn't get as many iOS 27 updates as some of Apple's other apps, but there are still several useful features worth knowing about. Flyover Improvements Apple is upgrading Flyover in ‌iOS 27‌, making it more detailed than before. It combines aerial imagery with Vision Intelligence models to add more texture and sharper visuals for trees, architecture, and more. Apple says select cities around the world are rendered in sharper, more lifelike detail with improvements to everything from the "shapes of individual trees to the way light reflects off the glass of skyscrapers." Flyover is an Apple Maps feature that offers detailed 3D landmarks, roads, parks, buildings, and more in more than 350 cities. The current version of Flyover uses aerial imagery captured by planes, but the new ‌iOS 27‌ version improves the quality using AI. New Maps Icon Apple updated several of its Liquid Glass app icons in ‌iOS 27‌ to add more glass-like layers. Icons have more depth, and the Maps app icon makes the difference especially clear. Local Lists Local Lists uses intelligent insights from what's trending around you for suggestions on places you should visit. Maps surfaces locally relevant collections of places to make it easier to find popular and interesting locations to visit. Local Lists is privacy-focused and does not use information tied to individual users. It is a U.S.-only feature. Trending Restaurants In the Search interface, there's a Trending Restaurants section that shows you the top restaurants in the area you're in. Natural Language Search Expansion Natural language search in Maps now lets you ask for directions that avoid toll roads or highways. Widgets On the Apple Watch, there's a new Parked Car widget in the Smart Stack so you can easily see your car's last known location, with info synced from the iPhone. Offline Maps Apple says Offline Maps have improved in ‌iOS 27‌. More locations are shown on the map, labels are darker and clearer, and there are icons that are easier to view at a glance. When you tap on a location, like a town, it will zoom into the area automatically so you can see what's there. Visited Places The Visited Places feature is more accurate in ‌iOS 27‌ and less likely to miss locations. Visited Places keeps track of locations you've been to, organizing stops by category and location. It's accessible by tapping on your profile picture, choosing Places, and selecting Visited Places. Visited Places is also expanding to more locations in ‌iOS 27‌. More iOS 27 Features For more on what's new in ‌iOS 27‌, we have a dedicated roundup.Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27Tag: Apple Maps This article, "iOS 27: All the New Apple Maps Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple is planning to release new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models in spring 2027, reports Bloomberg. No major design changes are expected, with Apple focusing on internal upgrades. The ‌iPad Pro‌ models could use either M6 chips or M7 chips. Apple will introduce the M6 chip as soon as this year in an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro model, but it is aiming to release the M7 chip in the first half of 2027. Bloomberg does not specify which chip Apple will put in the ‌iPad Pro‌, but if the M7 chip is ready by spring 2027, the new iPads could have the upgraded chip. If it's not ready, they'll use the M6. Both chips will be built on Apple's new 2-nanometer process, but the M7 has AI optimizations that the M6 doesn't have. Apple has also tested a vapor chamber cooling system that could improve performance. Little else is known about the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models, but if they come out in spring 2027, Apple could introduce them alongside the iPhone 18e, iPhone 18, and iPhone Air 2, devices that are also slated for spring 2027.Related Roundup: iPad ProBuyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral) This article, "Apple to Launch New iPad Pro in Spring 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple plans to release an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip in late 2026, and then follow it with a revamped M7 model in the first half of 2027, reports Bloomberg. Apple apparently finished work on a 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an M6 chip "months ago," and the device is expected to launch before the end of the year. Apple's M6 chip cycle will be shorter than prior chip cycles because it is not planning for M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. Apple is aiming to have a quick transition between M6 and M7 because its M7 chips have optimizations for AI workloads. The M7 ‌MacBook Pro‌ coming in 2027 will have a new design that's "in line" with the design that Apple plans to use for its rumored high-end OLED touchscreen ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. Prior rumors have suggested the high-end ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ models could get a slimmed down design. It's still unclear when the ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will come out, but Bloomberg believes a launch is slated for the end of 2026 or early 2027. Apple's release timelines are uncertain because of the ongoing memory chip shortages and increased costs that it's dealing with. Apple has a long list of products that could come in the first half of 2027, including new iPad Pro models, the iPhone Air 2 with a second camera, the iPhone 18, and the iPhone 18e.Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: MacBook Pro This article, "M6 MacBook Pro Coming in Late 2026, Redesigned M7 Model Launching in 1H 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 247 adds the Safari Model Context Protocol (MCP) server meant to speed up web development and debugging. With the MCP server, an AI agent can emulate what users experience on a website, providing better information for debugging. In Safari Technology Preview 247, we're introducing the Safari MCP server — a Model Context Protocol server for web developers that makes your web development and debugging workflow faster and more powerful. We know agents are increasingly integral to the coding process and the Safari MCP server gives your agent the ability to know how your code actually renders in the browser by connecting it to a Safari browser window. Any MCP-compatible client can connect to the Safari MCP server. More information is available on Apple's WebKit site. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 247 also includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, Fonts, Forms, HTML, JavaScript, MathML, Media, Model Element, Networking, Rendering, SVG, Scrolling, Security, Spatial Web, Text, Web API, WebDriver, and WebGL. The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple's website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website. Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.Tag: Safari Technology Preview This article, "Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 247 With MCP Server for AI Agent Integration" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple is in talks to buy memory from Chinese semiconductor companies ChangXin Memory Technologies Co. (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), reports Bloomberg, citing sources with knowledge of the talks. Discussions between Apple and the chipmakers are ongoing, and no deal has been finalized yet. Financial Times previously reported Apple was looking into working with CXMT and YMTC to get RAM at a lower cost, and there were also several reports from South Korean sites on the possibility. Apple recently raised the prices of Macs, iPads, and other devices, and consumers are now forced to pay more for many Apple products. Apple increased its prices because of an ongoing global memory shortage that has driven costs up. Chipmakers are focusing on chips for AI servers, leaving less supply for consumer devices. With demand outpacing supply, memory manufacturers can charge higher prices. Both CXMT and YMTC are on the Defense Department's 1260H list of Chinese companies that the U.S. suspects have ties to the People's Liberation Army. YMTC is also on a U.S. Commerce Department blacklist that prevents U.S. companies from selling to companies on the list without an export license. Apple is not required to get U.S. approval before buying chips from the Chinese companies, but working with the Trump administration would prevent political upset. Apple is hoping to get a green light on the deal, and it wants to keep CXMT off the Commerce Department's Entity List, which would prevent it from using CXMT as a supplier. Bloomberg says Apple CEO Tim Cook has spoken with Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Apple has proposed using the chips sourced from the companies in devices meant for the Chinese market, freeing up chips from other suppliers for the U.S. Some Trump administration officials are reportedly against letting Apple source chips from CXMT and YMTC, so it's not clear if the talks will lead to an agreement. Apple previously tried to source memory from YMTC in 2022, but the talks ended after congressional backlash.Tag: China This article, "Apple in Talks to Buy Memory Chips From Chinese Makers CXMT and YMTC" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Elon Musk's SpaceX may be aiming to compete with Apple in the future. The company showed investors a prototype for a "handset-like device designed to reshape how humans interact with artificial intelligence," according to The Wall Street Journal. The device is described as being slimmer than an iPhone, with a "sleek design." It runs a proprietary operating system, has a Qualcomm chipset, and integrates AI tech from SpaceX subsidiary xAI. In the past, Musk has talked about an "everything app" like China's WeChat, and the device investors were shown apparently drew on that concept. SpaceX was showing the prototype to investors and stakeholders ahead of its IPO, and said the project was in the early stages of development. The final design could change, and it is not known if it will actually come to market. Musk has talked about designing a smartphone in the past. He said he would develop one if X (formerly Twitter) was removed from the App Store by Apple. In November 2025, he said he didn't want to make a phone, but he would if Apple and Google did "really bad things" like censorship. In a town hall meeting, Musk said the idea of making a phone "makes me want to die," but one of his companies would make a phone if needed. Earlier this year, Musk said explicitly that SpaceX is not developing a phone, but The Wall Street Journal says some SpaceX and Tesla investors were told Musk "has long envisioned" a device that would be a platform for Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI technologies. Musk has denied the report, calling it "utterly false."Tag: Elon Musk This article, "Elon Musk's SpaceX Showed Off Prototype AI Device" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Google today launched Gemini Spark for its macOS desktop app, allowing the AI agent to automate tasks involving local files and desktop workflows. Google announced the update today, adding a dedicated Spark tab to the sidebar of the Gemini app for macOS. The feature allows the AI agent to take action on files stored locally on a user's computer rather than just responding to questions in a chat window. Users can perform actions such as sorting PDFs from a Downloads folder into labelled subfolders, or pulling figures from locally saved invoices to build a Google Workspace budget spreadsheet on a set schedule. Users control which folders Spark can see by linking them in the sidebar and can revoke that access at any time. Google says a future update will allow users to start tasks on their Mac from a phone. Google also announced a series of third-party integrations for Spark on web and mobile. New connected apps include Google Tasks, Google Keep, Canva, Dropbox, Instacart, OpenTable, and Zillow Rentals, enabling actions like converting Keep notes into task lists, reserving restaurant tables, ordering groceries, and booking apartment tours. Those integrations are rolling out over the next week, with macOS support to follow in the weeks after. Support for custom Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers is also arriving, giving users a way to connect additional services directly into Spark. Google also adds real-time topic tracking, allowing Spark to monitor blogs, news sites, social media, finance, sports, shopping, weather, and email and alert users when specified conditions are met. Gemini Spark for macOS is available in beta to Google AI Ultra subscribers aged 18 and over in the United States, starting with version 1.80.15.516 of the Gemini desktop app. Google AI Ultra starts at $99 per month.Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Gemini, Google This article, "Google Gemini Spark Comes to Mac With Local File Automation" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple's annual WWDC developers conference is in the rearview mirror, but there is still a lot to look forward to in the second half of the year. July Update: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week reported that Apple has planned to update the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M6 chip later this year, and that means the company is now rumored to have at least 16 new products in the pipeline for the rest of 2026. Our list of rumored new products has been updated accordingly. Now that the more intelligent and personal version of Siri has finally arrived in beta, a full two years after Apple first previewed it at WWDC 2024, we should begin to see some new devices that were reportedly postponed until the new Siri was ready. Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches in September, Apple's all-new smart home hub is expected to debut later this year. We are also expecting a foldable iPhone Ultra and long-awaited updates to the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini. And a redesigned MacBook Ultra with an OLED display is expected by early 2027. Here is what to expect from Apple later this year, according to rumors. iPhones iPhone 18 Pro: A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control button, a Dark Cherry color option, variable aperture for at least one rear camera, Apple's C2 modem with support for 5G web browsing via satellite, and more. iPhone 18 Pro Max: The same features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro, but the Pro Max model may or may not be slightly thicker. iPhone Ultra: A foldable iPhone Ultra with a 7.7-inch inner display and 5.3-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and more. iOS 27 is expected to be tailored for the foldable iPhone, allowing for side-by-side apps and other iPad-like multitasking functionality.Apple WatchesApple Watch Series 12: A faster S11 chip or newer, plus design changes such as Touch ID and/or more health sensors (disputed). Apple Watch Ultra 4: A faster S11 chip or newer, plus design changes such as Touch ID and/or more health sensors (disputed). There may also be additional satellite features for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and newer, such as Apple Maps via satellite and the ability to send and receive photos with Messages via satellite.iPadsiPad 12: A16 chip → A18 chip or A19 chip with Apple Intelligence support. iPad mini: A17 Pro chip → A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system, and a water-resistant design. Macs Mac Studio: M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips → M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. Mac mini: M4 and M4 Pro chips → M5 and M5 Pro chips. iMac: M4 chip → M5 chip, plus new color options. MacBook Pro: A new 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M6 chip. MacBook Ultra: A major MacBook Pro redesign in late 2026 or early 2027, with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design. On this laptop, which will reportedly be named MacBook Ultra, macOS 27 is expected to offer a touch-friendly interface.Home Apple TV: A17 Pro chip with support for the more personalized Siri, and Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model. HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for the more personalized Siri, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and potentially new color options like red. HomePod: A new full-sized HomePod that supports the revamped Siri. Home Hub: An all-new smart home hub featuring the more personalized version of Siri, a 6-inch to 7-inch square display, an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and more. Place it on a table or mount it on a wall. This article, "Apple to Release These 16 New Products Later This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

iOS 27 adds a new copy-and-paste feature to the iPhone's keyboard, enabling convenient one-tap pasting for text, photos, links, and more. For example, if you copy a link in Safari and move to the Notes app, a "paste from Safari" option with the link will automatically appear above the keyboard. Tapping on the shortcut adds the link to the note. Or if you copy a photo in the Reddit app and open the Messages app, a "paste from Reddit" option will appear above the keyboard. Given this feature is built into the keyboard, it works across many combinations of apps, making pasting more convenient across iOS 27. The keyboard has already surfaced one-time verification codes since iOS 12. iOS 27 is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta to follow in July. The update is expected to be released to all users with an iPhone 11 or newer in September, and this small yet useful feature will likely be popular.Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27 This article, "iOS 27 Adds a Useful New Copy-and-Paste Feature to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Soaring demand for the iPhone 17 lineup seems to have finally come to an end, amid rumors that Apple has finally lowered expectations and reduced production plans by 15%. In a pair of posts on Weibo, the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said the claim comes from reliable sources within the supply chain. The leaker said that the ‌iPhone 17‌'s current outlook "won't hold for long," adding that "major global smartphone manufacturers — Apple included — have all lowered their shipment forecasts." The second post provides broader industry context for that claim. Xiaomi has reportedly reduced its shipment targets by approximately 20–30%, while OPPO, vivo, and Honor are also lowering their targets by roughly 15–30%. A simpler explanation for softening ‌iPhone 17‌ demand may be the natural product cycle. The iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to launch in September alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone, and many customers who were going to buy an ‌iPhone 17‌ model have likely already done so following a near-record sales run stretching back to launch last September. As recently as June, TrendForce reported that Apple's iPhone production surged 19.7% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, even as the broader global smartphone market contracted 1.7% over the same period. That report attributed Apple's strong output to the launch of the iPhone 17e alongside ongoing production ramp-up for the broader ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup, and described Apple as better positioned than most competitors to absorb rising memory component costs without sacrificing profitability. In May, Counterpoint Research's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker found the iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2026, capturing 6% of worldwide unit sales, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ in second and third place. A separate Counterpoint report that same month found Apple had topped the global smartphone market in a first quarter for the first time ever, capturing 21% of global shipments and growing 9% year-over-year even as the overall market contracted 3%. The ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup's strong run began at launch. Shortly after release in September 2025, Apple told two suppliers to increase daily ‌iPhone 17‌ output by at least 30% following a strong pre-order weekend, and Counterpoint found the lineup outsold the iPhone 16 models by 14% during the first 10 days in the United States and China. In January, Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC that demand for the iPhone during the holiday quarter was "simply staggering" and had surpassed the company's own expectations, with iPhone revenue reaching $85.2 billion, a new all-time high. After nine months and with another generation on the horizon, it was inevitable that the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup's remarkably strong run would come to an end eventually. Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17eTag: Fixed Focus DigitalBuyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral), iPhone 17 Pro (Caution), iPhone 17e (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPhone This article, "Apple Has Reportedly Cut iPhone 17 Lineup Production" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Last week, Apple introduced major price hikes across a number of products, including Macs, iPads, and more. This week, Apple's newly increased prices have begun to hit third-party retailers like Amazon, but there are a few select products that are retaining original prices, which now represent solid discounts on each device. MacBook Pro Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. There are now just three models left at notable low prices in the wake of Apple's price hikes. Prices start at $2,549.99 for the 24GB/2TB 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro, now a $449 discount on the new price of this model. You'll also find two 16-inch devices on sale this week on Amazon, but we don't expect these discounts to last much longer. $449 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/2TB) for $2,549.99 $349 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,649.99 $549 OFF16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,849.99iPad Air Amazon has up to $350 off the M4 iPad Air, although stock is quickly dwindling compared to sales from last week. Prices now start at $559.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Air, a $190 discount on the newly increased price of this model. $190 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $559.00 $210 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air (512GB Wi-Fi) for $839.00 $200 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $749.00 $230 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air (512GB Wi-Fi) for $1,019.00 $350 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air (1TB Wi-Fi) for $1,199.00 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, "Last Chance: Get the 2026 MacBook Pro and iPad Air for Pre-Hike Prices Before They're Gone for Good" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

A flaw in Apple's Hide My Email service can reportedly allow almost anyone to uncover the real email address behind a generated alias, and Apple has failed to address it for more than a year since it was first reported. 404 Media is withholding the technical specifics of the vulnerability because it remains exploitable, but the publication verified the issue this week using one of its own Hide My Email addresses. In tests with volunteers by the researcher who discovered the flaw, 100% of Hide My Email addresses were found to be exploitable. Tyler Murphy, co-founder of EasyOptOuts, discovered the issue and responsibly reported it to Apple in June 2025, along with instructions to replicate it. Apple acknowledged the report a month later and said it was investigating. Murphy said: Apple Hide My Email is leaking email addresses that are supposed to be hidden. We reported the issue and replication instructions to Apple over a year ago. We don't know why it hasn't been fixed, but we don't feel comfortable waiting any longer. Hide My Email users deserve to know that it may be possible for attackers to discover their hidden email addresses. Free, publicly accessible people-search sites make it easy to link an email address to other personal details, so people relying on Hide My Email for safety may be at risk. In March 2026, Apple told Murphy it had "addressed the reported issue in a recent system change," but Murphy found the flaw had not in fact been closed. He provided further information, and Apple replied again to say it was still investigating. In May, Apple once more said the issue remained under investigation and asked Murphy not to disclose it publicly until the inquiry was complete. Murphy proposed that Apple suspend the creation of new Hide My Email addresses as an interim measure to limit customer risk, but there is no indication that suggestion was acted on. By the end of May, Apple said it expected to address the issue in a security update "expected in the coming weeks." Hide My Email is an iCloud+ feature that lets users generate random alias email addresses, primarily for use when signing up to services or corresponding with third parties. It is designed to protect a user's real email address from spam, data breaches, and unwanted identification. Murphy noted that numerous people-search databases are freely available online and can tie an email address to a person's other personal details, meaning anyone depending on Hide My Email for their safety may be more exposed than they realize. Last month, it emerged that Apple's decision to move Hide My Email to a dedicated "private.icloud.com" domain appears to have the consequence of making it easier for platforms that want to block ‌iCloud‌ aliases to do so.Tag: Apple Mail This article, "Apple Hide My Email Vulnerability Exposes Real Email Addresses" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

AI coding agents are quickly becoming part of everyday development workflows. Today, AI tools can write and execute code, install dependencies, debug repositories, interact with APIs, automate terminal tasks, and modify project files. What once required constant developer involvement can increasingly be delegated to AI-assisted workflows. This shift is exciting, but it also changes an important assumption in software development: Should AI-generated code run directly on your machine? As AI agents become more capable, developers need safer ways to experiment, automate, and execute AI-assisted workflows. That is where isolation becomes important. Docker Sandbox (sbx) introduces a more secure execution model for AI workflows by combining sandbox isolation, microVM-based protection, customizable environments, secure credential handling, and controlled network access. This article explores why isolation matters for AI agents, what Docker SBX changes, and how Sandbox Kits help create safer AI development environments. The Shift From AI Assistance to AI Action For years, AI developer tools mostly acted as assistants. They suggested code, explained concepts, or answered questions. Modern AI agents are different. Instead of only suggesting code or answering questions, they can run terminal commands, install packages, edit repositories, access external services, execute generated scripts, and interact directly with development environments. This shift moves AI systems from passive assistance toward active participation in software workflows. That creates new possibilities for productivity. It also introduces new risks. AI systems generate outputs probabilistically. Even strong models can make mistakes, misunderstand context, or generate unsafe commands. A generated command might: remove important files expose credentials install malicious dependencies modify configurations unexpectedly access sensitive local data In traditional workflows, developers directly control these actions. With AI agents, developers increasingly supervise actions generated by the model itself. That changes the security model. Why Isolation Matters The core idea is simple: AI-generated actions should not automatically receive unrestricted access to a developer’s host machine. Isolation creates a controlled boundary between the host system, the AI agent, generated code, and the external tools and services the agent may interact with. This explicitly helps reduce accidental filesystem damage, credential exposure, unrestricted network access, persistence risks, and unsafe experimentation. One example discussed frequently in the Docker SBX community is running: bash sudo rm -rf /* inside a sandbox while the host machine remains protected. The example is intentionally dramatic, but it highlights an important point: AI-generated commands should execute inside environments designed to contain mistakes safely. Isolation is not just a security feature. It is becoming an important part of responsible AI-assisted development. A New Approach to AI Agent Isolation Containers already provide lightweight isolation and are foundational to modern development workflows. But AI workloads introduce additional considerations. A common question raised around Docker SBX is: Why use microVMs instead of standard containers alone? Traditional containers share the host kernel. For many workloads, that model works extremely well. However, AI agents may execute untrusted code, interact with external repositories, dynamically generate commands, access APIs and credentials, and automate sensitive workflows. These workflows can benefit from stronger isolation boundaries. Docker SBX introduces a microVM-based approach designed to provide additional protection while still maintaining a developer-friendly experience. Another recurring question has been: Why did Docker build its own VMM instead of using Firecracker? The reasoning shared publicly is that Docker wanted an approach that works across Windows and Mac environments in addition to Linux-focused deployment scenarios. The goal is simple: AI tooling should remain accessible across developer operating systems while improving isolation for modern AI workflows. Understanding Docker SBX Docker SBX focuses on creating isolated environments for AI-assisted development. The platform emphasizes secure execution, sandboxed environments, controlled networking, safer credential handling and customizable workflows. One particularly interesting part of SBX is how credentials are managed. According to the official documentation, credentials stay on the host and are routed through a proxy instead of directly entering the sandbox VM. This matters because AI agents increasingly interact with APIs, model gateways, cloud services, development platforms, and external tooling. Reducing direct credential exposure helps improve the safety of these workflows. The official documentation also explains how the proxy-managed credential system works. Inside the sandbox, the agent works with a sentinel placeholder value. The proxy then replaces the outgoing authentication header with the real credential before the request leaves the sandbox environment. This means the real secret never directly enters the VM. That design reflects an increasingly important principle for AI tooling: safer execution environments matter just as much as model capability. Sandbox Kits: Where Isolation Becomes Practical While exploring Docker SBX, one thing that stood out to me was that isolation is only part of the story. Running AI agents inside an isolated environment provides a stronger security boundary, but teams still need a practical way to configure, secure, and standardize those environments. That is where Sandbox Kits play an important role. According to Docker’s documentation, a Kit can package tools, environment variables, credentials, network rules, files, startup commands, and even memory instructions for an agent into a single reusable specification. Rather than manually configuring every sandbox, teams can define these capabilities once and reuse them across projects and teams. What makes Kits particularly interesting is that they are not simply templates or setup scripts. Docker SBX applies and enforces Kit-defined capabilities at runtime. This means that tooling requirements, network policies, proxy-managed credentials, and agent guidance can travel with the sandbox environment itself rather than relying on manual configuration. This becomes increasingly valuable as AI agents take on more responsibility. An organization may want every AI coding agent to start with approved tools, access only specific services, authenticate through proxy-managed credentials, and follow internal development standards. Without a reusable mechanism, maintaining those controls consistently across environments can quickly become difficult. Sandbox Kits help address that challenge by turning environment configuration into a reusable artifact. Teams can package their requirements once and apply them repeatedly, creating more consistent and secure AI workflows while preserving the isolation boundaries provided by Docker SBX. MicroVM isolation provides the foundation, while Sandbox Kits help turn that foundation into repeatable day-to-day AI workflows. Sandbox Kits Make AI Workflows Practical One of the most interesting additions to Docker SBX is Sandbox Kits. Kit packages reusable customizations for sandbox environments. According to the official documentation, Kits can install tools, configure environment variables, inject files, run startup commands, control allowed domains, and manage credentials through proxy-based injection. This allows teams to create repeatable AI environments tailored to their workflows. For example, a team could create a secure AI coding environment, a research sandbox, a data science workspace, a controlled API testing setup, or an internal experimentation environment. Kits as Reusable AI Environment Blueprints Sandbox Kits are useful not only for customizing individual sandboxes but also for creating consistent AI environments that can be reused across teams and projects. Instead of manually configuring environments every time an AI agent is launched, teams can create reusable Kits that package tools, network policies, credentials, files, startup logic, and agent instructions into a single definition. Docker SBX then applies and enforces those capabilities when the sandbox runs. For example, an engineering team could create a coding-focused Kit that installs approved development tools, restricts outbound access to trusted services, injects shared configuration files, and provides secure access to internal APIs through proxy-managed credentials. Every AI coding session would start with the same controls and capabilities. Similarly, a research team could create an evaluation Kit that installs benchmark tooling, configures required dependencies, injects project instructions through agent memory, and standardizes how experiments are executed. This helps improve reproducibility while maintaining isolation. Another interesting capability is agent memory. Docker Kits can append instructions and guidance to files such as AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md, allowing teams to provide project conventions, workflow guidance, or tool-specific instructions directly to the agent at startup. Taken together, these capabilities make Kits more than a customization feature. They provide a practical way to package secure AI environments that teams can share across projects. For example, a developer could start a sandbox with a custom Kit using: sbx run claude --kit ./my-kit/ This launches an isolated environment with predefined tools, startup commands, and built-in security controls, making it easier to create repeatable AI environments safely. The documentation also distinguishes between two types of Kits: Mixin Kits vs Agent Kits Docker SBX supports two different types of Kits, each designed for a different level of customization. Mixin Kits Mixin Kits extend an existing agent with additional capabilities. Rather than creating a completely new environment, they allow teams to layer functionality onto agents they already use. Common examples include: installing linters or developer tools injecting shared team configuration providing access to approved external services adding organization-specific instructions or workflows This makes Mixin Kits useful when teams want to standardize capabilities without changing the underlying agent experience. Multiple Mixin Kits can also be stacked on the same sandbox, allowing teams to combine capabilities as their workflows evolve. Agent Kits Agent Kits take a different approach. Instead of extending an existing agent, they define a complete agent environment from scratch. An Agent Kit can specify: the container image the agent entrypoint networking behavior credential configuration persistence settings startup and installation logic This makes Agent Kits useful for organizations building internal agents, experimenting with custom agent architectures, or packaging specialized workflows that can be shared across teams. In practice, Mixin Kits help teams standardize and extend existing agents, while Agent Kits provide a framework for building and distributing entirely new agent experiences. Why This Matters for AI Safety Many conversations around AI safety focus on topics such as alignment, hallucinations, evaluations, misuse prevention, and model behavior. These are important challenges, but infrastructure-level safety is equally important as AI systems become more capable and autonomous. Even highly capable AI models can generate unsafe commands, misuse credentials, access unintended resources, and interact with untrusted code. For that reason, developers need strong runtime isolation, controlled execution environments, credential protections, network boundaries, and safer environments for experimentation. As AI agents become more autonomous, secure execution environments may become a foundational part of responsible AI development. Isolation is not about assuming AI will always fail. It is about building systems that safely contain mistakes when they happen. That principle has long existed in security engineering. Now it is becoming increasingly important for AI systems as well. The Shift Toward Agentic Development Many developers are already part of an AI adoption journey, even if they do not think of it that way. AI tools are rapidly moving from passive assistance toward: autonomous execution agentic workflows AI-driven development environments automated coding systems That shift changes how developers think about security. Developers are no longer only running their own commands. They are increasingly reviewing and supervising commands generated by AI systems. As this transition continues, isolation may become a standard part of AI-assisted software development. Architecture Diagram: Docker SBX Isolation Model Figure 1: Docker SBX isolation model This architecture highlights the core SBX security model: AI agents run inside an isolated sandbox credentials stay outside the sandbox Outbound requests pass through a secure proxy layer The host machine remains protected Workflow Diagram: Secure AI Agent Execution Figure 2: Secure AI agent execution workflow using Docker SBX This workflow shows: 1. The developer launches Docker SBX. 2. The AI agent runs inside an isolated sandbox. 3. The agent accesses external services safely. 4. Results return while the host machine remains protected. Official References Docker Sandbox Kits Documentation Docker SBX CLI Docker Blog: Why MicroVMs? The Architecture Behind Docker Sandboxes Getting Started Developers interested in experimenting with Docker SBX can explore the official Sandbox Kits documentation and SBX CLI reference to start building isolated AI workflows. Getting started is straightforward, as the standalone sbx tool installs quickly on macOS, Windows, and Linux without requiring full Docker Desktop dependencies. Even simple sandboxed setups can help create safer environments for AI-assisted development and experimentation. Conclusion AI coding agents are reshaping how software is built. But more capability also requires stronger safety boundaries. Docker SBX introduces an approach focused on isolation, microVM-based protection, secure execution, customizable sandbox environments, and safer AI-assisted workflows. Sandbox Kits further extend this model by making secure and repeatable AI environments easier to build and share. As AI agents continue to evolve, secure execution environments may become just as important as the models themselves. Ultimately, the future of AI development is not only about building more capable systems. It is also about building systems that can operate safely. And isolation is becoming an important part of that future. View the full article

Apple CEO Tim Cook held "constructive" talks with EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on Tuesday about releasing Siri AI in the bloc while complying with the bloc's digital rules, reports the Financial Times ($). An EU spokesperson told the publication the virtual meeting had involved a "constructive exchange on topics of common interest, on which the work continues." Siri AI will be available for free with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 when they are released in September. However, the enhanced chatbot-style Siri will not be available in the EU on iOS and iPadOS until it can find a path forward under the bloc's regulatory framework. That includes the new Siri app for revisiting conversations, expanded Visual Intelligence capabilities, integrated writing tools, Siri mode in the Camera app on iPhone, and more. When the new enhanced Siri AI features were announced at WWDC 2026 last month, Apple said EU regulators did not accept any of the company's proposed solutions to bring Siri AI to the EU while safely supporting other virtual assistants. According to the Commission, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires Apple to give rival AI assistants access to the same underlying iPhone capabilities as Siri, allowing them to perform many of the same tasks on a user's behalf with appropriate user consent. To address the issue, Apple came up with the idea of a Trusted System Agent – intermediary software that would be designed to let third-party virtual assistants securely access the same system capabilities as Siri AI on EU devices. Apple said the EU rejected the proposal. The EU quickly shot back against that characterization, however, saying the decision not to launch Siri AI in the bloc was entirely Apple's and that the company sought an exemption from its legal obligations rather than a compliant solution. Regulators also said Apple simply requested a blanket exemption from its interoperability obligations under the DMA, something the Commission said is not an available option. The dispute prompted a wave of criticism of the Commission. According to the Financial Times, EU officials received hundreds of emails from consumers accusing Brussels of denying Europeans access to the new technology. As for Apple's proposed Trusted System Agent, a Commission official told the publication its contact with Apple on the idea was limited, and that it lacked a concrete proposal or details on how such an agent would work beyond the general concept. The official claimed Apple "focused on obtaining a green light to delay compliance." "Apple's proposal to delay interoperability for third-party AI agents while having its product available to users would have risked leading to the entrenchment of its service before others would get a chance to compete for at least two years if not more," the official said.By contrast, the official said changes Google made to Android prompted the Commission to open a formal consultation on how the company could comply with the DMA and avoid hefty fines. Apple has not publicly commented on the latest round of discussions.Tags: European Commission, European Union, Siri, Siri AI, Tim Cook This article, "Tim Cook Holds 'Constructive' Talks With EU Over Siri AI Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The technology landscape is shifting rapidly toward automation, cloud-native architectures, and platform-driven delivery models, making the role of the DevOps engineer more critical than ever. In this evolving environment, true career stability is not built on memorizing the latest software release, but on mastering the fundamental principles of system architecture, infrastructure automation, and continuous delivery. Employers today increasingly prioritize candidates who demonstrate practical, hands-on experience over those with theoretical knowledge alone, making it essential for learners to build a balanced skill set that bridges the gap between software development and IT operations. By focusing on foundational technical competencies through structured guidance, such as the comprehensive programs available at DevOpsSchool, aspiring engineers can transform from passive learners into active practitioners, unlocking long-term career opportunities in a high-growth industry that rewards those who can architect reliable, automated solutions for complex real-world challenges. What Is DevOps? DevOps is often misunderstood as a set of tools or a specific job title. In reality, it is a cultural and professional philosophy. At its heart, DevOps is about breaking down the traditional silos between developers, who want to ship features quickly, and operations teams, who prioritize system stability. This culture emphasizes shared responsibility, where engineers across the entire development lifecycle work together to ensure that software is delivered efficiently and reliably. Automation is the primary vehicle for this, allowing teams to replace manual, error-prone processes with repeatable, high-speed workflows. Through continuous improvement and a focus on feedback loops, organizations can deliver value to users faster while maintaining a high standard of quality. Why Core Skills Matter In a field defined by constant change, core skills act as your anchor. When you understand the underlying principles of networking, Linux internals, or version control, you become tool-agnostic. If a specific automation platform becomes obsolete, your foundational knowledge allows you to learn its successor in days rather than months. Career Growth: Proficiency in the basics allows you to progress from junior tasks to architecture-level problem solving. Technical Confidence: Understanding how a system fails allows you to troubleshoot with calm precision. Better Collaboration: When you speak the language of both developers and sysadmins, you become an invaluable bridge within your team. Core Technical Skills Every DevOps Learner Should Master To build a strong foundation, you must balance breadth with depth. The following table provides a high-level view of the technical pillars required for a successful career. SkillWhy It MattersPractical ApplicationLinuxThe foundation of almost all cloud infrastructure.Managing processes, user permissions, and log analysis.GitEssential for source control and collaboration.Managing branching strategies and resolving merge conflicts.NetworkingUnderstanding how data travels between services.Configuring DNS, firewalls, and load balancing rules.ContainersPortable and lightweight application deployment.Building, optimizing, and securing Docker images.KubernetesOrchestration for large-scale production systems.Managing pods, services, and cluster scaling.CI/CDAutomating the delivery of software.Building pipelines that test and deploy code automatically.IaCTreating infrastructure like application code.Provisioning cloud resources using Terraform or Ansible.MonitoringGaining visibility into system health.Setting up dashboards and alerts for system performance.SecurityProtecting the entire stack (DevSecOps).Scanning images for vulnerabilities and managing secrets. Linux Linux is the operating system of the cloud. You must move beyond basic commands and understand the kernel, file systems, permissions, and process management. Start by setting up a local Linux environment and learning to write Bash scripts to automate simple system administration tasks. Git Git is the standard for version control. Beyond simply “pushing” code, you need to master branching strategies like GitFlow or trunk-based development. Understanding how to handle complex merges and code reviews is crucial for working in professional engineering teams. Networking DevOps engineers often face “it’s a network issue” scenarios. You should understand the OSI model, how DNS resolution works, how HTTP/HTTPS requests are routed, and the role of load balancers and firewalls in securing applications. Cloud Computing Choose a major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and learn how to use their services. Focus on virtual machines (compute), object storage, IAM (identity management), and VPCs (virtual private clouds). Theory is useful, but building a multi-tier application in the cloud is the only way to truly grasp how these components interact. Containers Docker transformed how applications are packaged. Learn how to write efficient Dockerfiles, manage volumes, and handle networking between containers. A deep understanding of container layers and optimization will make your deployment pipelines much faster. Kubernetes Kubernetes is complex, but essential. Start by learning the core objects: Pods, Services, Deployments, and ConfigMaps. Practice deploying a simple web application and exposing it to the internet, then move on to managing stateful sets and storage. CI/CD Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery are the heartbeat of DevOps. Use tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI to automate testing and deployment. A great project is to create a pipeline that triggers a deployment every time you push code to your repository. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Manual configuration is a recipe for disaster. Using tools like Terraform or Ansible allows you to define your infrastructure in code. This makes your environments reproducible and version-controlled. Monitoring You cannot fix what you cannot see. Learn to collect logs and metrics using tools like Prometheus and Grafana. Practice creating alerts that notify you when CPU usage spikes or a service goes down. Security Security must be integrated into the pipeline, not treated as an afterthought. Learn how to manage environment secrets, perform static analysis on your code, and scan your container images for known vulnerabilities. Essential Soft Skills Technical skills get you the interview, but soft skills get you the promotion. Communication: You must be able to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Problem-Solving: The ability to decompose a massive outage into smaller, solvable components is a superpower. Documentation: If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. Writing clear runbooks and README files is vital for team efficiency. Adaptability: The industry changes every few years; you must be willing to unlearn and relearn. Learning Roadmap Beginner: Master the Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting. Versioning: Become proficient in Git and collaborative workflows. Networking: Understand TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP. Containers: Learn Docker internals and image creation. Automation: Develop your first CI/CD pipeline. Cloud: Deploy resources in AWS/Azure/GCP. IaC: Use Terraform to manage cloud infrastructure. Orchestration: Master Kubernetes basics and cluster management. Observability: Implement monitoring and alerting systems. Advanced: Dive into DevSecOps and Platform Engineering. Hands-On Practice Practical experience is the ultimate form of learning. Build a home lab using virtualization tools, or set up a free-tier account on a cloud provider. Create a portfolio on GitHub where you document your projects. When you encounter an error, don’t just search for the answer; read the documentation and debug the issue step-by-step. Measuring Learning Progress Use these KPIs to track your professional development. MetricWhy It MattersCareer BenefitProjects CompletedShows hands-on capability.Strengthens portfolio.GitHub ActivityDemonstrates consistent coding.Proof of work for recruiters.CI/CD Pipelines BuiltProves automation skills.Increases deployment speed.Kubernetes DeploymentsValidates orchestration skills.High-demand technical skill.Cloud LabsShows real-world platform usage.Better interview performance.Certifications EarnedIndustry recognition of knowledge.HR keyword matching. Common Learning Challenges ChallengeImpactRecommended SolutionLearning too many toolsBurnout and shallow knowledge.Focus on one tool per category first.Weak Linux knowledgeInability to debug systems.Spend extra time on Linux internals.Lack of practiceLoss of retention.Build one project for every concept.Skipping networkingInability to connect services.Dedicate a month to network fundamentals.Poor documentationInability to track progress.Maintain a blog or repository notes.Inconsistent studySlow progress.Use a structured learning plan. Best Practices for Learning DevOps Learn Fundamentals First: Don’t jump to Kubernetes before understanding Docker. Practice Daily: Consistency beats intensity. Build Projects: Theory only sticks when applied to a problem. Read Documentation: Official docs are always more accurate than third-party tutorials. Join Communities: Engaging with others helps you stay updated. Review Progress Regularly: Adjust your plan based on what you find difficult. Real-World Example: A Learner’s Path Consider “Alex,” a system administrator who wanted to transition into DevOps. Initial Knowledge: Basic Windows Server management and some internal scripting. Learning Roadmap: Alex spent three months mastering Linux and Bash, then moved to Git. Practical Projects: Alex built a CI/CD pipeline for a static website, then migrated it to a Docker container on AWS. Interview Preparation: Alex focused on explaining the why behind the architecture rather than just naming tools. Career Outcome: Alex landed a Junior DevOps Engineer role by showcasing the GitHub repository containing the documented project steps. Lessons Learned: Focus on understanding how components talk to each other. Common Beginner Mistakes Memorizing Tools: Tools change; concepts do not. Focus on the architecture. Ignoring Concepts: Don’t skip the “boring” stuff like networking or security basics. Avoiding Troubleshooting: The moment you stop debugging an error, you stop learning. Weak Communication: Always explain why you made a specific architectural choice. Not Documenting Projects: If your work isn’t visible, it’s harder for employers to see your value. Future Skills Every DevOps Learner Should Explore AI-Assisted DevOps: Learning how to use AI tools for code generation and debugging. Platform Engineering: Building internal platforms that abstract complexity for other developers. GitOps: Managing infrastructure state entirely through Git workflows. Kubernetes Security: Mastering admission controllers and network policies. Cloud-Native Development: Writing code specifically designed for distributed systems. Certifications & Learning Paths While projects are king, certifications help validate your knowledge for potential employers. CertificationBest ForSkill LevelFocus AreaLFCSLinux FoundationBeginnerLinux System AdminAWS Solutions ArchitectCloud EngineersIntermediateCloud ArchitectureCKAKubernetesIntermediate/ProContainer OrchestrationTerraform AssociateIaC LearnersBeginner/IntermediateAutomationSecurity+DevSecOpsAllSecurity Fundamentals Utilize the DevOpsSchool ecosystem to find structured learning paths that align with these industry-standard certifications. Practical DevOps Skills Checklist [ ] Install and configure a Linux server. [ ] Manage a repository with Git branching. [ ] Containerize a small application with Docker. [ ] Deploy a containerized app to a local Kubernetes cluster. [ ] Write a shell script to automate a repetitive task. [ ] Provision cloud resources using Terraform. [ ] Create a basic CI/CD pipeline. [ ] Set up monitoring and alerts for a service. FAQs Which DevOps skill should beginners learn first?Linux is the undisputed priority. Everything else runs on top of it. Is Linux mandatory?Yes. You cannot effectively manage cloud infrastructure without it. Do I need cloud experience?It is essential for modern roles. Start with the free tier of a provider like AWS. Is Kubernetes necessary?For mid-to-senior roles, yes. Start with the basics before jumping into complex clusters. How important is Git?It is the backbone of the DevOps workflow. Master it early. Should I learn Terraform?Yes. Infrastructure as Code is standard in every professional environment. How do I practice DevOps?Build a project, break it, and then fix it. Repeat. Which certifications are most valuable?CKA (Kubernetes) and Cloud Provider Architect certifications are highly recognized. Do I need to be a programmer?You need to understand scripting and basic application logic, but you don’t need to be a full-stack developer. How long does it take to learn?It is a continuous process. Expect to spend 6-12 months to get “job-ready.” Is DevOps dying because of AI?No. AI is a tool for DevOps engineers to become more efficient. Should I learn one cloud or all?Master one deeply first, then expand. What is the best way to learn?Combine courses, documentation reading, and personal projects. How do I deal with errors?Read the logs. The error message usually tells you exactly what is wrong. Is it better to specialize or generalize?Start as a generalist to understand the ecosystem, then specialize in one area. Final Thoughts The journey to becoming a DevOps professional is a marathon, not a sprint. Success in this field requires a persistent curiosity and a willingness to embrace the grind of troubleshooting. Focus on building strong fundamentals—Linux, networking, and scripting—before you chase the latest trends in the ecosystem. Every professional started exactly where you are today. Build projects, document your learning, and engage with the community. Consistency in your practice will eventually translate into career-defining technical expertise. View the full article

Apple is working on a high-end MacBook Pro that could be called the "MacBook Ultra." The device will have several firsts in a Mac, including an OLED display and a touchscreen. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The "Ultra" name isn't a sure thing, and Apple could also continue to call the device the ‌MacBook Pro‌. It will be a "Pro" device in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ line. Design Apple hasn't redesigned the ‌MacBook Pro‌ since it added Apple silicon chips in 2021, so the device is due for a new look. The MacBook Ultra could feature some design changes, including a thinner chassis. Apple could get rid of the notch on the MacBook Ultra, replacing it with an iPhone-style Dynamic Island. A ‌Dynamic Island‌ would unify the way Siri AI behaves across the iPhone and the Mac with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate. Size Options The MacBook Ultra will be available in both 14-inch and 16-inch size options. Display Apple's upcoming MacBook will be the first with an OLED display. OLED display technology is already used for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro, but it has taken time for larger-sized OLED screens to come down in price. OLED will be an upgrade over the current mini-LED display technology in most cases, bringing deeper colors and a higher contrast ratio with true blacks. In an OLED display, individual pixels turn off instead of dim when not activated, so there's less light leakage. OLED displays tend to have better HDR than mini-LED, but sometimes don't match the overall mini-LED brightness levels. Along with OLED technology, the MacBook Ultra is expected to have the first touchscreen display on a Mac. Users will be able to use their fingers for tapping and interacting with items on the Mac's display, similar to an iPad. Touchscreen capabilities will be used alongside the trackpad and keyboard, and so Apple may be viewing them as more supplementary than a main control method. Apple is rumored to be adapting ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ for touch input. Apple plans to add a reinforced hinge to the MacBook Ultra's display so that it doesn't wobble when it's tapped. M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips The current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are equipped with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and Apple plans to use the same chips for the rumored MacBook Ultra. Apple is planning to introduce the M6 chip as soon as late 2026, but Bloomberg says Apple isn't going to release any other chips in the M6 series. Apple's chip plans have changed in recent months, and there won't be an M6 Pro or an M6 Max. With no M6 Pro or M6 Max, Apple will need to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max so it doesn't have to wait for the M7 series. A second-generation MacBook Ultra will use the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips. With the MacBook Ultra set to use the same chips that are in the existing ‌MacBook Pro‌, it's unclear if it will replace the existing 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models or be sold alongside them as a higher-end option. MacBook Ultra Hints There are features in ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ that hint at a future touchscreen Mac. Apple added direct touch input to Sidecar so users can tap and interact with macOS elements when using the ‌iPad‌ as a Mac display. ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ supports an iPhone-style pull-to-refresh option, and it can be used across apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. A pull-to-refresh option makes the most sense on a touch display. Pricing Apple's OLED MacBook is expected to be a premium product, with a price tag higher than current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. Apple raised the prices of all Macs in June, and so the MacBook Ultra will likely be even more expensive than expected. The higher-end 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with M5 Pro chip starts at $2,499, while the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ starts at $2,999. The OLED MacBook will be priced even higher. Launch Date Rumors suggest the MacBook Ultra will launch in late 2026 or early 2027, with mass production to start in late 2026. If the MacBook Ultra comes in 2026, it could be released sometime between October and December, but it won't be unveiled at Apple's September iPhone event. If it launches in 2027, it could come early in the year at Apple's first 2027 event.Tags: OLED, Touchscreen Mac This article, "MacBook Ultra: Everything We Know About Apple's OLED Touchscreen Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Nanoleaf today launched the Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light, an affordable Matter-compatible lighting product. With a dual-sided design, there's a main downlight and an upward backlight for a layered lighting glow. Each side can be controlled individually for bright light or an ambient lighting option. The light has 196 LEDs inside, with up to 2600 lumens. White light ranges from 2200K to 6500K, supporting tones that change throughout the day to match natural light. Nanoleaf says it was built with RG0 Low Blue Light technology to reduce blue light hazard and eye strain. There are 28 color zones, and millions of colors are supported for gradients. According to Nanoleaf, the Multicolor Ceiling Light has a Color Rendering Index of 95, offering "vivid-natural looking colors." The light measures 13.8 inches, and it is 1.18 inches thick. It is a hard-wired light that's meant to be installed with a standard light switch, though it also works with the Nanoleaf Sense+ Wireless Smart Switch. Nanoleaf's new light supports Matter over Wi-Fi, so it can connect to a HomeKit setup for use with Siri and the Home app. It also works with the Nanoleaf app, which offers hundreds of color scenes and support for music pairing. For multi-color lighting scenes with gradients, the Nanoleaf app is required because ‌HomeKit‌ doesn't support that. The Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light can be purchased from Amazon.com or the Nanoleaf website for $80.Tags: HomeKit, Nanoleaf This article, "Nanoleaf's New $80 Smart Ceiling Light Works With Matter and HomeKit" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Anthropic today introduced Claude Sonnet 5, a more affordable model that narrows the gap between Sonnet and Opus. Anthropic says Claude Sonnet 5 is its most agentic Sonnet model to date, able to make plans, use tools like browsers and terminals, and run autonomously. Opus models have better agentic capabilities, but they're more expensive than Sonnet models. Sonnet 5's performance is similar to Opus 4.8, and it has improved over Sonnet 4.6 in areas including reasoning, tool use, coding, and knowledge work. As for agentic capabilities, Sonnet 5 is able to finish complex tasks that Sonnet 4.6 could not complete, and it checks its own output without being asked. It is better at refusing malicious requests, and Anthropic says it shows lower rates of hallucination and sycophancy. Sonnet 5 is available across all plans and is the default model for Free and Pro plans. It is priced at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through August 31, then prices will go up to $3 and $15, respectively.Tag: Anthropic This article, "Anthropic Launches Claude Sonnet 5 With Near-Opus Performance at a Lower Price" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple's Beats brand has launched a new retailer-exclusive orange color for its Solo Buds, with the earphones available now at Best Buy in the United States and coming July 4 to 7–Eleven in Japan. The Solo Buds are an entry-level earphone product from Beats, normally priced at $79.99 in the United States, although they are occasionally offered on sale such as the current $10 discount at Best Buy bringing all colors down to $69.99. The Solo Buds offer up to 18 hours of battery life in the buds themselves, with their tiny case offering only wired charging capabilities and no battery of its own. Beats debuted the Solo Buds back in June 2024 in Matte Black, Storm Gray, and Transparent Red color options, as well as an Arctic Purple that has been exclusive to Apple and Target. Late last year, a new retailer-exclusive Ivory color launched at Walmart in the United States and at other retail partners in select countries. While the new orange color is exclusive to Best Buy and 7-Eleven, it is very similar to orange Solo Buds that were offered in India for free with the purchase of an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus back in October 2024 as part of a promotion in celebration of Diwali. The limited-edition earbuds offered in India included purple Beats "b" logos on the earbuds and case, while the new ones at Best Buy and 7-Eleven feature red "b" logos.Tag: Beats This article, "Beats Launches Solo Buds in Retailer-Exclusive Orange Color in the U.S. and Japan" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today updated its online refurbished store in the United States, adding the iPhone 16e. Refurbished iPhone 16e models are available at discounted prices for the first time since the device launched in February 2025. Entry-level 128GB iPhone 16e models are priced at $419, which is a $180 discount from the original price. The iPhone 16e was retired when the iPhone 17e came out, so it is no longer available new from Apple. Upgraded 256GB and 512GB iPhone 16e models are available for $509 and $679, respectively. The iPhone 16e comes in black or white, and Apple has both colors available. At $419, a refurbished iPhone 16e is $180 less than Apple's most affordable iPhone, the 17e, but it lacks a few useful features. It does not include MagSafe charging, it has a slower C1 modem instead of the C1X, 128GB starting storage instead of 256GB, an older A18 chip, and original Ceramic Shield glass instead of Ceramic Shield 2. Refurbished iPhones are unlocked and eligible to be used with any carrier. Apple revamps iPhones that have been returned or repaired, adding new batteries, outer shells, and cables. Refurbished iPhones are essentially identical to new iPhones after going through Apple's cleaning and testing process, and they come with the same one-year warranty with an option to purchase AppleCare+ coverage.Tag: Apple Refurbished Products This article, "Apple Now Sells Refurbished iPhone 16e Starting at $419" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Starting today, a mobile version of the popular game show Family Feud is available on Apple Arcade, and four more games are coming this week. Apple says the game provides an "authentic, true-to-show trivia experience." "Hosted by the iconic Steve Harvey, the game features the classic mechanics fans know and love, along with daily challenges and exclusive questions," says Apple. "Players can guess the answer and outsmart the competition solo or with loved ones — at home or on the go — through local and online multiplayer." On Thursday, July 2, four popular App Store games are coming to Apple Arcade: Dungeon Clawler+ Creatures of the Deep+ Pocket City 2+ Draw It+ More details about these games were outlined in Apple's press release earlier this month. Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is also bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans. Apple Arcade can be accessed through the App Store and the Apple Games app.Tag: Apple Arcade This article, "Apple Arcade Adding 5 Games This Week, Including 'Family Feud Pocket'" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today provided public beta testers with the third betas of iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, watchOS 26.6, and tvOS 26.6, with the software coming a day after Apple seeded the betas to developers. After signing up to beta test the software updates on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the new software using the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. iOS 26.6 has a feature that will let you know when you have blocked too many contacts, but the limit is in the thousands so most users may not ever see the messaging. There are also signs of a new iPhone anti-snatching feature that locks a stolen iPhone when it's grabbed from your hand. No other major new features have been found in any of the software updates, with Apple likely focusing on bug fixes and security improvements. We're nearing the end of the "26" software cycle, with Apple planning to release iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and more in September.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS TahoeRelated Forums: iOS 26, macOS Tahoe This article, "Apple Seeds Third Public Betas of iOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6 and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article