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Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and drop apps from the Dock, Spotlight Search, or the App Library to different multitasking views, including Slide Over. Apps can be dragged to the far left or far right to enter Slide Over mode, or to the left or right to enter a tiled view. There's also an option to drag an app to the middle to open up a larger or smaller window, with visual indicators to make it simple. It's an easier way to manipulate apps than the prior controls accessible through the window buttons. More info on ‌iPadOS 26‌ is available in our roundup.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌‌iPhone‌‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iOS 26.2 adds an option to activate an alarm when a reminder is due, an option to change the opacity of the time on the Lock Screen, updated AirDrop functionality, and new features for the Podcasts app. It also brings Live Translation for the AirPods to the EU, and adds support for alternative app stores and other voice assistants in Japan. Apple's release notes for the update are below. For more on the new features in ‌iOS 26‌, we have a dedicated roundup.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26Related Forums: iOS 26, macOS Tahoe This article, "Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released tvOS 26.2, an update to the tvOS 26 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 26.2 is available on the Apple TV 4K and the ‌Apple TV‌ HD models, and it comes a month after Apple released tvOS 26.1. tvOS 26.2 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 26.2 automatically. The tvOS 26.2 update changes the way that profiles work on the ‌Apple TV‌, adding an option to create a profile without an Apple Account. With no need for an Apple Account, profiles can be created for guests and children. For profiles made for children, there is an age-restricted mode that limits the content that kids can access in the ‌Apple TV‌ app. The ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ app will only show content that is appropriate for the limits that have been established for the account, and rating options include TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, and more. Apple shares full release notes for tvOS in its tvOS support document when new versions are released, so check that out for additional details. Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater This article, "Apple Releases tvOS 26.2 With New TV Profiles, Dedicated Kids Mode" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released watchOS 26.2, an update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.1 comes a month after Apple released watchOS 26.1. watchOS 26.2 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.2 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger. watchOS 26.2 changes the labeling for Sleep Score point ranges to better match how people might be feeling after a night of rest. The update adjusts the ranges for Very Low, Low, OK, High, and Very High sleep score results. Very High is also a new classification that replaces Excellent. Apple's full release notes for watchOS 26.2 are below. This update includes improvements and bug fixes, including: - Refinements to sleep score classifications and notification controls - An issue where the Music app fails to advance to the next song - Enhanced Safety Alerts can inform you about imminent threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies, with rich information like a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance (available in the US) For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100Related Roundup: watchOS 26Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, "Apple Releases watchOS 26.2 With Sleep Score Updates" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today released visionOS 26.2, the second update to the visionOS 26 operating system that came out in September. visionOS 26.2 comes a month after the release of visionOS 26.1. ‌visionOS 26‌.2 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display. During the beta testing process, no new features were found in visionOS 26.2. Additional information on the new M5 Apple Vision Pro and visionOS 26 can be found in our roundup.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro This article, "Apple Releases visionOS 26.2" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Alongside iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has released new HomePod 26.2 software for the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini. The update comes a month after Apple released ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.1. According to Apple's release notes, ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.2 includes performance and stability improvements. ‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod miniBuyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology This article, "Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.2 With Performance Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Protect your expensive electronics from power surges and outages with these picks by CNET experts.View the full article

Well-known game developer Halfbrick this week launched Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen, an iPhone, iPad, and Mac adventure game that's currently exclusive to Apple's platforms. The game was made for children and adults who are fans of the wildly popular Bluey animated series. Like the show, the game features Bluey, an anthropomorphized six-year-old blue heeler puppy, along with her sister Bingo and her parents. Bluey's Quest was inspired by the Dragon and Escape episodes from the TV show, where Bluey and Bingo's drawings come to life. The game uses a charming hand-sketched art style that ties into the Bluey universe while still creating a unique gaming experience. Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen is a game designed for children, and Halfbrick kept that in mind when developing it. The game has no ads and no in-app purchases to trick children or their parents into spending more money. It's a free download with a demo to play before purchase, and then a $14.99 in-app purchase to unlock the full game. $14.99 is on the more expensive side for a game, but it is refreshing to see a thoughtfully designed experience for children that's not just a digital loot box cash grab. Bluey creator Joe Brumm wrote an original story for the game, and Halfbrick made it feel like the player has been transported into an episode of Bluey. In the game, Bluey and her family are once again transported into a world of drawings, where they team up to hunt down the Gold Pen. Gameplay consists of simple puzzles, fun challenges, item collecting, and animated cutscenes, with a touching, humorous Bluey story unfolding as players progress through nine different worlds. There are simple controls, and children can glide, fly, and skate through levels while interacting with fun characters and uncovering treasure. As in the show, there are a range of Australian landscapes, from mountains and beaches to forests. The original TV show actors reprise their roles in the game, so it will feel just like an episode of Bluey. Younger children can play alongside parents, while older children will be able to explore the game on their own. Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen offers hours of gameplay, and children will likely want to experience the adventure again and again. Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen is available from the App Store for free, and unlocking the full game requires a one-time $14.99 fee. It will eventually come to consoles and other platforms, but for now, it is exclusive to Apple devices. [Direct Link]Tag: App Store This article, "'Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen' Now Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

700Credit, a company that runs credit checks and identity verification services for auto dealerships across the U.S., had a data breach that allowed a hacker to steal names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers.View the full article

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has said that he will never agree to share revenue with Apple for external purchases linked from iOS apps, even after a U.S. appeals court ruled that Apple is entitled to charge a reasonable fee for such transactions. Speaking to The Verge following the U.S. Court of Appeals decision that partially modified the injunction in the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Apple case, Sweeney outlined his position on what Apple should and should not be allowed to charge developers as the dispute returns to the district court for further proceedings. The appeals court ruled that Apple must be allowed to collect some form of compensation for purchases made through external links in iOS apps, reversing a lower court order that had permanently barred Apple from charging any commission at all. Sweeney acknowledged that Apple incurs operational costs in reviewing apps that include external payment links and said Epic would accept flat, submission-based fees tied directly to that work. However, he rejected outright the idea that Apple should receive any percentage-based commission on revenue generated outside the App Store. Sweeney characterized the appeals court ruling as a decisive rejection of Apple's longstanding approach to ‌App Store‌ fees. He said the decision "completely shuts down, I think, for all time, Apple's theory that they should be able to charge arbitrary junk fees for access." He went on to suggest that the U.S. decision could influence regulators abroad, arguing that other countries would be unlikely to permit Apple to charge fees that a U.S. court had found to be unlawful. However, the appeals court did not block Apple from charging commissions on external purchases. Instead, it said the district court went too far by permanently banning all commissions, calling that approach more like a punishment than a corrective measure. Although the court agreed that Apple deliberately violated the original injunction by making external links hard to use, it ruled that Apple must still be allowed to cover its costs and receive some payment for the use of its intellectual property. As a result of the ruling, the case has been sent back to the Northern District of California to determine what constitutes an appropriate fee structure. The appeals court said that Apple may not charge any commission on purchases made via external links in iOS apps until the district court approves a rate.Tags: Epic Games, Epic Games vs. Apple This article, "Epic Games CEO Says Apple Should Be Paid for App Review Only, Not External Purchase 'Junk Fees'" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Trump signed an AI executive order targeting state laws and promising one national rulebook. Critics warn it could trigger court battles and prolong uncertainty for startups while Congress debates federal rules.View the full article

Fulu sets repair bounties on consumer products that employ sneaky features that limit user control. Just this week, it awarded more than $10,000 to the person who hacked the Molekule air purifier.View the full article

The real-time headphone translations experience keeps each speaker’s tone, emphasis, and cadence intact, so it’s easier to follow the conversation and tell who’s saying what.View the full article

A standout channel lineup and user-friendly features make YouTube TV a top live TV streaming service, but its value isn't what it used to be.View the full article

It is top against bottom at the Emirates Stadium.View the full article

Retro's new feature, Rewind, let you look back at your photo memories and scroll through them with a dial.View the full article

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through Apple's plans to refresh the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation Studio Display is widely expected to feature the same 27-inch screen size as the current model, but with mini-LED technology instead of LCD. This upgrade would result in increased brightness and a higher contrast ratio compared to the current model, bringing it in line with the MacBook Pro, which has touted mini-LED since 2021. Leaked Apple code suggests that the new Studio Display will also feature an A19 chip. The Studio Display's chip supports features like Center Stage, Spatial Audio, and "Hey Siri" commands. The current Studio Display contains the A13 Bionic, a chip that started out in the iPhone 11 lineup back in 2019. The new model could also feature ProMotion for a refresh rate up to 120Hz, just like the ‌MacBook Pro‌, along with HDR. Apple released the Studio Display in March 2022, alongside the first Mac Studio. The standalone display features a 27-inch LCD screen with a 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, a single Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the monitor starts at $1,599. Reports suggest that the next-generation Studio Display will come out in early 2026, when we're also expecting new Macs with the M5 chip. Apple has been rumored to be working on an updated version of the Pro Display XDR since 2022, adding an Apple silicon chip. As a result, the Pro Display XDR is likely to gain speakers, microphones, Hey ‌Siri‌ support, and a camera with Center Stage, just like the Studio Display. Further parity with upcoming Studio Display features such as mini-LED and ProMotion is also possible. At the very least, the new monitor is expected to feature the same quantum-dot display technology adopted by the MacBook Pro. The latest quantum-dot display films have equal to better color gamut support, and offer improved motion performance, compared to the KSF phosphor film that Apple uses for the existing Pro Display XDR and previous ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. This means the new Pro Display XDR should have improved color accuracy and faster response times compared to the current model. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Samsung's new Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone and how it could compare to Apple's upcoming foldable ‌iPhone‌. Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. ‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Tag: The MacRumors Show This article, "The MacRumors Show: Studio Display 2 and Pro Display XDR 2 Rumors" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

A security researcher tried to alert Home Depot to the security lapse exposing its backend GitHub source code repos and other internal cloud systems, but was ignored.View the full article

A timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, which we’ve been updating throughout the year.View the full article

Onion goggles, herb strippers and 18 more kitchen gadgets that career chefs say aren't worth the money.View the full article

We're already in the middle of December, and holiday deals are abundant this time of year. This week, you can find best-ever discounts on AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and M5 iPad Pro. Below, you'll also find an exclusive sitewide deal at Burton Goods and an ongoing holiday sale at Samsung with big discounts on storage accessories and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. AirPods Pro 3 What's the deal? Take $50 off AirPods Pro 3 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $50 OFFAirPods Pro 3 for $199.00 Apple's AirPods Pro 3 hit a new record low price of $199.00 this week on Amazon, down from $249.00, and they're still available today. This deal beats the Black Friday price we saw last month by about $20. Burton Goods What's the deal? Take 25% off sitewide with code MR25 Where can I get it? Burton Goods 25% OFF SITEWIDEMacRumors Exclusive Sale at Burton Goods MacRumors readers can get 25 percent off sitewide this weekend at Burton Goods, with the code MR25 at checkout. Burton Goods is known for its leather accessories that include iPhone and iPad Cases, MacBook sleeves, Apple Watch bands, MagSafe-compatible wallets, and more. Samsung What's the deal? Save sitewide on Samsung TVs, monitors, and more Where can I get it? Samsung Where can I find the original deal? Right here SITEWIDE DISCOUNTSSamsung Holiday Sale Samsung kicked off a new holiday event this week, and you can find great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances. Many of these deals are the exact same all-time low prices we tracked during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. A new highlight of this event is Samsung's 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield for $349.99 ($115 off), and you can still get The Frame Pro on sale for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off). Apple Watch What's the deal? Take up to $100 off Apple Watch SE 3 and Series 11 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00 $50 OFF40mm GPS Apple Watch SE 3 for $199.00 $50 OFF44mm GPS Apple Watch SE 3 for $229.00 Amazon has a few record low prices on multiple Apple Watch models this week, including the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3. These have been some of the most consistent deals to stick around after Black Friday, and they're available in multiple color options and sizes. iPad Pro What's the deal? Take up to $180 off M5 iPad Pro Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy Where can I find the original deal? Right here $100 OFF11-inch M5 iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) for $899.00 Amazon and Best Buy opened up big discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup this week, offering as much as $180 off select tablets. Prices start at $899.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro at Amazon, down from $999.00. All deals in this sale match — or beat — the record low prices we tracked during Black Friday. 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 this holiday season? 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, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Pro 3 Hit Best-Ever $199 Price, Plus Portable SSDs at Samsung and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Enterprises relying on Gladinet’s file-sharing services are faced with another round of zero-day patching, this time to block attackers from abusing cryptographic keys directly baked into its CentreStack and Triofox platforms. Cybersecurity firm Huntress warned that attackers are already abusing the hardcoded keys to perform remote code execution (RCE) on the affected servers. “The AES implementation of Gladinet’s CentreStack and Triofox products contains hardcoded cryptographic keys,” Huntress researchers said in a blog post. “We are seeing attackers target this flaw across our customer base.” As with any internet facing server, remote code execution on CentreStack or Triofox can potentially lead to malware deployment, backdoor persistence, and credential theft. Huntress urged all CentreStack/Triofox customers to update to the latest version, 16.12.10420.56791, saying nine of its enterprise customers had already been affected. Hardcoded keys, harder consequences At the core of the issue is a design failure in how CentreStack and Triofox generate the cryptographic keys used to encrypt the access tokens the platforms uses to control who can retrieve what files. Huntress found that the server relies on a function called “GenerateSecKey()” to produce the AES key and initialization vector (IV) for ticket encryption — but instead of generating unique values, the function returns the same static 100-byte strings every time the service runs. “Because the keys never change, we could extract them from memory once and use them to decrypt any ticket generated by the server or worse, encrypt our own,” the researchers said, adding that the keys were static strings of Chinese and Japanese text. With that ability, an adversary can request any file the server is capable of serving, including the sensitive “web.config” file that contains the ASP.NET machine key. With the machine key in hand, attackers can generate malicious ViewState payloads that the server will trust, enabling remote code execution through ASP.NET deserialization. Deserialization attacks leverage unsafe parsing of serialized objects (like ViewState in ASP.NET) to inject malicious payloads that run with the privilege of the web service. Patch now Huntress identified multiple active attacks with the threat actor first attempting to exploit CVE-2025-11371, a previously disclosed unauthenticated Local File Inclusion bug in CentreStack/ Triofox, followed by the new exploit. Both allowed attackers to obtain the web.config file containing the machine key. No pre-requisites such as valid credentials or privileged access are needed for a successful attack beyond knowledge of the default keys. To mitigate the risk, Huntress urged all customers to update immediately to the latest builds released by Gladinet on December 8, as these contain fixes for the insecure cryptography. Where immediate patching isn’t feasible, configuration changes to replace machine keys with randomized values can reduce risk until updates are deployed. Additionally, the huntress team shared the encrypted GET request for web.config as an indicator of compromise (IOC). Gladinet has previously failed to completely patching a similar hardcoded-keys flaw as criminals found a way to revive exploit conditions on patched systems. View the full article

Hama Film makes photo booths that upload pictures and videos online. But their backend systems have a simple flaw that allows anyone to download customer pictures.View the full article

Our experts tested all kinds of gadgets and gear under $50 that could make great holiday gifts. Here are our top picks.View the full article

As more and more age tech hits the market, I’ve been testing the most innovative gadgets for older folks and caregivers.View the full article