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In a letter sent to Apple's CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus this week, nine members of U.S. Congress from Maryland expressed "serious concern" regarding Apple's decision to close its unionized retail store in Towson, Maryland on June 20, without plans to open a replacement store within the Baltimore region. Apple Towson Town Center "We recognize that decisions of this scale involve complex business considerations," the lawmakers said. "However, we urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region. Maryland residents value employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a sustained commitment to the communities they serve. We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and to explore potential solutions." The letter was signed by nine of Maryland's lawmakers, including two senators and seven representatives, all from the Democratic Party. They said it was their understanding that Apple's store at the Towson Town Center has been in "a strong-performing location," but several local news reports have stated that the shopping mall is in decline and has lost major retailers like Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic, and Madewell. In the letter, the lawmakers said the store's closure will "significantly affect" residents and small businesses across the Baltimore region, including approximately 90 employees. As a result, they asked for Apple to provide a clearer understanding of the rationale behind this decision, including whether alternatives such as relocating the store or other operational adjustments were meaningfully considered. Last month, Apple announced that it will be permanently closing three retail stores in the U.S. in June, with the other two locations set to close beyond Apple Towson Town Center being Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut and Apple North County in Escondido, California. Apple said it made this difficult decision following the "departure of several retailers" and declining conditions" at all three of the shopping malls. Notably, the staff at the Towson store became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024. Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will "continue their roles" at the company's nearby stores in each area, so transfer eligibility is guaranteed. Meanwhile, Apple said employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, and it is unclear if everyone who applies will successfully secure a new position at the company. Last month, the IAM union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), citing discriminatory treatment against unionized workers at the Towson store. Unlike workers at two other closing stores, Apple has not offered its unionized Towson employees the opportunity to transfer to other stores. IAM said Apple not offering Towson employees the opportunity to transfer "raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union." "We praise the Maryland congressional delegation for having these workers' backs and demanding answers from Apple," said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. "These workers made history by exercising their right to organize for a voice on the job. Walking away from them now sends a dangerous message to working people everywhere." Apple has said it is simply respecting the terms of the bargaining agreement. According to Apple, the contract that the union agreed to states that in the event of a store closure, Apple would transfer or rehire employees if the company opened a new store within 50 miles of the current location at Towson Town Center. In any other circumstance, the union negotiated for employees to receive severance. Apple has no current plans to open a new store in the area, but if it were to do so within the next 18 months, the affected employees would have the right of first refusal. "We strongly disagree with the claims made, and we will continue to abide by the agreement that was negotiated and agreed with the union," an Apple spokesperson said. "We look forward to presenting all of the facts to the NLRB."Tag: Apple Store This article, "Maryland Lawmakers Press Apple Over Decision to Close Unionized Store" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly carry over the same anodized aluminum finish introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, despite concerns from some users about its durability. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital," surface chipping on the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ has become a common complaint, and that users who have sought recourse from Apple have been told they cannot claim it, with the company classifying the issue as an inherent characteristic of the aluminum alloy material and normal wear and tear. Crucially, they added that the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ will "continue to utilize this same design approach" despite its weaknesses. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ moved away from the titanium frames Apple used in its Pro lineup for the previous two years, adopting an anodized aluminum unibody design. Surface durability concerns surfaced almost immediately after launch. Reports suggested that Dark Blue and Cosmic Orange models appeared to scratch more easily than other finishes, with MacRumors forum users describing visible marks on in-store display units within days of availability. A scratch test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything added some nuance, finding that most of the anodized shell holds up well against everyday items like keys and coins, but pinpointing the camera plateau as a clear weak point where the raised, unchamfered edges chip and scratch easily. A separate issue emerged the following month, when a number of Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro owners reported color shift, with the aluminum frame and camera plateau drifting toward a rose-gold or pink hue and in some cases prompting device replacements by Apple Support. Rumors point to four color options for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. Dark Cherry is expected to serve as the signature new color, described as a deep, wine-like red that is considerably more muted than last year's Cosmic Orange. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ is not expected to offer a black option for the second consecutive year, but the rumored gray option could come close. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to be announced in September 2026, alongside the first foldable iPhone.Related Roundup: iPhone 18 ProTag: Fixed Focus Digital This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Keep Aluminum Finish Amid Durability Complaints" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say the feature would no longer be available for direct messages between users from May 8. With end-to-end encryption enabled, the contents of messages are protected from the moment they leave the sender's device to the moment they reach the receiver's device. In other words, nobody, including Meta, can see what is sent. When May 8 rolls around, that extra layer of security will be removed. On its help page, Instagram says users that are affected by the change will see instructions in the app on how they can download any media or messages that they may want to keep. However, the company hasn't explained why encrypted chats must be downloaded before the cutoff date or what will happen to them afterwards. In March, a spokesperson for Meta told The Guardian that the decision to abandon encryption was due to low uptake. "Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we're removing this option from Instagram in the coming months," the spokesperson said. "Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp." Meta has come under sustained pressure over the years from law enforcement and child safety groups to remove encryption, but there's likely more to it than that. With Meta able to see messages between users, it could potentially run advertising algorithms or train chatbots on their contents. It's an odd twist for a company who in 2019 aggressively promoted tightening encryption standards on its social media and messaging apps. As things stand, end-to-end encryption for group Facebook Messenger chats remains opt-in, while it continues to be the default setting for all WhatsApp conversations and calls.Tags: Encryption, Instagram, Security This article, "PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

watchOS 26.5 fixes two Apple Watch bugs, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. Apple fixed bugs in the Messages and Workout apps:• Fixes an issue where Messages on Apple Watch may use SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone • Fixes an issue where Workout app audio alerts could fail to play if the phone was not nearby Apple WatchThe notes also mention the new Pride Luminance watch face available on watchOS 26.5. The watch face has a customizable layout and colors. Given that the watchOS 26.5 Release Candidate was seeded this week, it is likely that Apple will make the update available to all users next week.Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, watchOS 26Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, "watchOS 26.5 Fixes Two Apple Watch Bugs" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out. End-to-end encryption for ‌RCS‌ is a security layer that ensures that messages sent between supported iOS and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by Apple or any third party while they are being delivered. Keep in mind that text messages sent via the older SMS standard still lack end-to-end encryption. iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have already been end-to-end encrypted since iOS 5. The second new feature added in iOS 26.5 is "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps. This section of the app provides recommendations based on your location and recent searches, and it will start showing ads in the U.S. and Canada later this year. Similar to the ads that are already shown in App Store search results on the iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, and Apple promises strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says a user's location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps are not associated with a user's Apple Account. Third, a new Pride Luminance wallpaper that "dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors" is available to download on iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5. Released alongside a new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face, Apple says the wallpaper celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world. Here are Apple's full release notes for iOS 26.5:This update includes the following enhancements: • End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) in Messages is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time • Pride Luminance wallpaper that dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors, is available for download • Suggested Places in Maps displays recommendations based on what's trending nearby and your recent searchesGiven that the iOS 26.5 Release Candidate was released this week, it is likely that Apple will make the update available to all users next week.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Says iOS 26.5 Adds Three New Features to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

This year, Mother's Day lands on Sunday, May 10, and we're tracking quite a few offers from some of the best Apple-related accessory companies, as well as steep discounts on Apple products at Amazon. 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. Apple Deals There are numerous Apple discounts on Amazon this week, with all-time low prices on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, iPad, iPad Air, and MacBook Air. Most of these still have free delivery dates before Mother's Day, but be sure to order soon to ensure arrival before Sunday. AirPods Pro 3 - $199.99 ($49 off) AirPods Max 2 - $509.00 ($40 off) Apple Watch Series 11 - $299.00 ($100 off) 11-inch iPad - $299.00 ($50 off) M4 iPad Air - $519.99 ($79 off) M5 MacBook Air - $949.00 ($150 off) Accessory Deals In other deals, we're tracking a big collection of Mother's Day sales from retailers like Best Buy, Belkin, ZAGG/Mophie, Verizon, and more. This year you can save 25 percent on OtterBox accessories sitewide, up to 30 percent on Belkin charging devices, and up to 40 percent on Anker products. Anker - Get up to 40% off charging accessories AT&T - Get iPhone 17 Pro Max for up to $1,100 off Best Buy - Save on everything from wearable tech to TVs and more Belkin - Get up to 30% off Casetify - Buy two get 20% off Grid Studio - Get 15% off sitewide Hyper - Get 20% off select products Nimble - Get 20% off with code MOM20 OtterBox - Get 25% off sitewide Verizon - Get iPhone 17, iPad, and Apple Watch Series 11 for no cost when switching ZAGG - Get 25% off screen protectors and cases 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, "Mother's Day Deals Include Low Prices on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPhone Chargers, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple this week held the inaugural Spring Forum for its Manufacturing Academy in East Lansing, Michigan, gathering hundreds of U.S. manufacturers at Michigan State University to demonstrate how businesses are applying AI techniques learned through the program. The event was the academy's largest to date. Offsite tours formed a central part of the program, with Block Imaging, a Michigan company that services and refurbishes medical imaging equipment including CT scanners and MRI machines, hosting attendees at its facility to show how it has put the academy's training to use on the factory floor. Other stops included the MSU Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and Peckham. On-campus sessions featured speakers from McKinsey, Magna, LightGuide, and Medtronic on topics including physical AI in manufacturing and the challenges of scaling AI solutions. A poster session closed the day, featuring MSU students and small- and medium-sized business participants. Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple's vice president of Product Operations, spoke at the forum and took part in a fireside chat with Michigan State University president Kevin M. Guskiewicz, covering AI's impact on manufacturing operations and the skills workers will need in an AI-enabled economy. Block Imaging's director of Technical Training, Katie Runyon, said the program had produced tangible results for her team: The Apple Manufacturing Academy has had a direct impact on how we operate. The training we've received from Apple engineers and Michigan State experts has given our team practical tools and techniques we've been able to apply immediately on the floor, improving the way we work and the quality of what we deliver to healthcare providers. We keep coming back because the program continues to push us forward. Launched last year as part of Apple's $500 billion U.S. investment commitment, the Manufacturing Academy is a free program pairing Apple engineers and MSU experts with small- and medium-sized businesses to help them implement AI and smart manufacturing techniques. It is the only such academy in North America and is open to businesses nationwide. To date, it has supported more than 150 companies through dozens of in-person training sessions, and recently added virtual programming.Tag: American Manufacturing Program This article, "Apple Manufacturing Academy Hosts AI Showcase" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The standard iPhone 18 and the lower-cost iPhone 18e are said to share components, according to the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital," as further evidence that Apple is narrowing the gap between the two devices. In new posts on Weibo, Fixed Focus Digital said that certain parts are interchangeable between the two models, adding that the information originates from a reliable manufacturing source. The leaker described the component overlap as confirmation that the specification convergence between the ‌iPhone 18‌ and iPhone 18e is real and measurable at the supply chain level. "Take it from me: The standard ‌iPhone 18‌ model has been downgraded and its launch delayed-this decision is final and will not change," they added. The posts also suggested that if the ‌iPhone 18‌ ships in spring 2027 rather than alongside the Pro models in the fall, September and October will effectively become "flagship season" for Apple, a window occupied by the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and the foldable "iPhone Ultra." A split launch strategy separating the Pro and standard models has been widely reported since last year, with Ming-Chi Kuo and Nikkei among those to have corroborated the plan. The component sharing claim builds on a string of downgrade reports over the past two weeks. The leaker first reported that Apple is implementing certain manufacturing downgrades to the ‌iPhone 18‌ as a cost-cutting measure, before adding that display specifications and the chip will both be affected. Apple could be planning to tweak the name of the A-series chip used in the device to obscure the extent of the chip change. Engineering Validation Testing of the ‌iPhone 18‌ and iPhone 18e is said to be taking place simultaneously in June, which aligns with the idea that the two devices now share significant engineering overlap. Today, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e are meaningfully different devices: the standard model features a 6.3-inch display with ProMotion and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness, the Dynamic Island, a five-core GPU, an Ultra Wide camera, and significantly better battery life. The ‌iPhone 17e‌, by contrast, has a smaller 6.1-inch display, a notch rather than a ‌Dynamic Island‌, no ProMotion, a four-core GPU, and no Ultra Wide camera. If Apple is now sharing components between the ‌iPhone 18‌ and iPhone 18e and reducing display and chip specifications on the standard model, many of those distinctions could shrink or disappear entirely in the next generation. The ‌iPhone 18‌, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 are all expected to launch in spring 2027, with the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and iPhone Ultra anticipated to be announced in the fall.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tag: Fixed Focus DigitalRelated Forum: iPhone This article, "iPhone 18 Downgrades Rumored Yet Again" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

We’ve all been there: you need to generate a few images for a project, you fire up an AI image service, and suddenly you’re wondering what happens to your prompts, how many credits you have left, or why that “safe content” filter rejected your perfectly reasonable request for a dragon wearing a business suit. What if you could skip all of that and run the whole thing on your own machine, with a slick chat UI on top? That’s exactly what Docker Model Runner now makes possible. With a couple of commands you can pull an image-generation model, connect it to Open WebUI, and start generating images right from a chat interface fully local, fully private, fully yours. Let’s build it. Your own private DALL-E, no cloud subscription required. What You’ll Need Docker Desktop (macOS) or Docker Engine (Linux) ~8 GB of free RAM for a small model (more is better) GPU: optional but highly recommended, NVIDIA (CUDA), Apple Silicon (MPS), or CPU fallback If you can run docker model version without errors, you’re good to go. How Docker Model Runner works with Open WebUI Before we dive in, here’s the big picture: Docker Model Runner acts as the control plane. It downloads the model, manages the inference backend lifecycle, and exposes a 100% OpenAI-compatible API — including the POST /v1/images/generations endpoint that Open WebUI already knows how to talk to. Step 1: Pull an Image Generation Model Docker Model Runner uses a compact packaging format called DDUF (Diffusers Unified Format) to distribute image generation models through Docker Hub, just like any other OCI artifact. Pull a model to get started: docker model pull stable-diffusion You can confirm it’s ready: docker model inspect stable-diffusion { "id": "sha256:5f60862074a4c585126288d08555e5ad9ef65044bf490ff3a64855fc84d06823", "tags": [ "docker.io/ai/stable-diffusion:latest" ], "created": 1768470632, "config": { "format": "diffusers", "architecture": "diffusers", "size": "6.94GB", "diffusers": { "dduf_file": "stable-diffusion-xl-base-1.0-FP16.dduf", "layout": "dduf" } } } What’s happening under the hood? The model is stored locally as a DDUF file, a single-file format that bundles all the components of a diffusion model (text encoder, VAE, UNet/DiT, scheduler config) into one portable artifact. Docker Model Runner knows how to unpack it at runtime. Step 2: Launch Open WebUI This is a magic trick. Docker Model Runner has a built-in launch command that knows exactly how to wire up Open WebUI against the local inference endpoint: docker model launch openwebui That’s it. Behind the scenes this runs: docker run --rm \ -p 3000:8080 \ -e OPENAI_API_BASE=http://model-runner.docker.internal/engines/v1 \ -e OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://model-runner.docker.internal/engines/v1 \ -e OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-docker-model-runner \ ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:latest The model-runner.docker.internal hostname is a special DNS entry that Docker Desktop containers use to reach the Model Runner running on the host, no port-forwarding gymnastics required. If you use Docker CE, you’ll see the docker/model-runner container address instead of model-runner.docker.internal. Open your browser at http://localhost:3000, create a local account (it stays offline), and you’ll land on the chat interface. Tip: Want to run it in the background? Add –detach: docker model launch openwebui --detach Prefer Docker Compose? See the full setup here: https://docs.docker.com/ai/model-runner/openwebui-integration/ Step 3: Configure Open WebUI for Image Generation Open WebUI already uses Docker Model Runner for text chat automatically (it reads the OPENAI_API_BASE env var). For image generation you need to point it at the images endpoint too, a 30-second job in the settings UI. Got to http://localhost:3000/admin/settings/images Enable Image Generation Fill in the fields: Click Save. Field Value Model stable-diffusion API Base URL http://model-runner.docker.internal/engines/diffusers/v1 API Key whatever-you-want Why the dummy API key? Docker Model Runner doesn’t require authentication, it’s a local service. The key is only there because Open WebUI’s form requires one. Any non-empty string works. Step 4: Pull a Chat Model Open WebUI is also a full-featured chat interface, and one of its best tricks is letting you ask the LLM to generate an image right from the conversation. For that to work, you need a language model too. # Lightweight option — runs on almost any machine docker model pull smollm2 # Recommended — more capable, better at understanding creative prompts docker model pull gpt-oss Both will show up automatically in the Open WebUI model selector. Use smollm2 if you’re tight on RAM, or gpt-oss if you want richer, more creative responses before image generation. No extra configuration needed, Open WebUI picks up text models from the same OPENAI_API_BASE endpoint it was already configured with. Step 5: Generate Your First Image Head back to the main chat view. You’ll notice a small image icon in the message input bar. Click it to toggle image generation mode, type your prompt, and send. Try something like: Create an image of a whale. The first request takes a little longer while the backend loads the model into memory. After that, subsequent images generate much faster. Open WebUI will automatically route image-generation requests to the diffusers backend and text requests to the language model, seamlessly, in the same conversation. Step 6: Generate Images Directly via the API For developers who want to integrate image generation into their own apps, Docker Model Runner exposes the standard OpenAI Images API directly: curl -s -X POST http://localhost:12434/engines/diffusers/v1/images/generations \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "stable-diffusion", "prompt": "A cat sitting on a couch", "size": "512x512" }' The response follows the OpenAI Images API format exactly: { "created": 1742990400, "data": [ { "b64_json": "/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBD..." } ] } Decode and save the image: curl -s -X POST http://localhost:12434/engines/diffusers/v1/images/generations \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "stable-diffusion", "prompt": "A cat sitting on a couch", "size": "512x512" }' | jq -r '.data[0].b64_json' | base64 -d > cat.png open cat.png Advanced Parameters The API supports all the parameters you’d expect from a full diffusers pipeline: curl http://localhost:12434/engines/diffusers/v1/images/generations \ -X POST \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "stable-diffusion", "prompt": "A serene Japanese zen garden, cherry blossoms, koi pond, photorealistic", "negative_prompt": "blurry, low quality, distorted, watermark", "size": "768x512", "n": 2, "num_inference_steps": 30, "guidance_scale": 7.5, "seed": 42, "response_format": "b64_json" }'| jq -r '.data[0].b64_json' | base64 -d > garden.png Parameter What it does prompt What you want in the image negative_prompt What you want to avoid size Resolution as WIDTHxHEIGHT (e.g., 512×512, 768×512) n Number of images to generate (1–10) num_inference_steps More steps = higher quality, slower (default: 50) guidance_scale How closely to follow the prompt (1–20, default: 7.5) seed Integer for reproducible results; omit for random Pro tip: Set a seed while you’re iterating on a prompt. Once you’re happy with the composition, remove it to get unique variations. Under the Hood: How the Diffusers Backend Works When you first request an image, Docker Model Runner: Unpacks the DDUF file: extracts the model components and loads them via DiffusionPipeline.from_pretrained() Starts a FastAPI server: this is the server that Open WebUI and your curl commands talk to through Docker Model Runner The server is installed on first use by downloading a self-contained Python environment from Docker Hub (version-pinned, so updates are explicit). It lives at ~/.docker/model-runner/diffusers/ — no Python version conflicts, no virtualenv setup. Troubleshooting The model takes forever to load on first use. That’s normal, the model weights are being loaded from disk and transferred to GPU memory. Subsequent requests in the same session are much faster because the backend stays warm. I get a “No model loaded” 503 error Make sure the model is fully downloaded (docker model list) and that you’re sending the correct model name in the model field. Image quality is poor / generations are too fast Increase num_inference_steps (try 20–50 steps). Higher values = slower but sharper results. Open WebUI can’t connect to the image endpoint Double-check the URL in Admin Panel → Settings → Images. Inside a Docker container it must be http://model-runner.docker.internal/engines/diffusers/v1, not localhost. Conclusion and What’s Next Docker Model Runner makes local image generation simple. It packages and serves image models through an OpenAI-compatible API, while Open WebUI provides an easy chat interface on top. Together, they let you generate images privately on your own machine, either through the browser or directly through the API, without relying on a cloud service. This feature opens up a lot of possibilities: Multimodal workflows: Chat with a text model about an idea, then immediately generate an image of it — in the same Open WebUI conversation RAG + image generation: Build a pipeline that generates illustrations for your documents Custom models: The diffusers backend supports any DDUF-packaged model, so you can package your own fine-tuned models using Docker’s model packaging tools The Docker Model Runner team is actively expanding model support on Docker Hub. Check docker model search for the latest available models. View the full article

OpenAI is said to be fast-tracking development of its first "AI agent phone," with the company now aiming to mass produce the device as early as the first half of next year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Late last month, Kuo revealed OpenAI's work on a smartphone, contradicting earlier reports that the company had no plans to enter the mobile market. Kuo said MediaTek and Qualcomm are the chosen chip partners and Luxshare Precision Industry is the exclusive manufacturing partner, with mass production scheduled for 2028. Reasons for Kuo's revised 1H27 production target are now said to include OpenAI's planned initial public offering (i.e. a compelling hardware product could strengthen its story to investors if it goes public) and intensifying competition in AI agent phones. Kuo says MediaTek appears "better positioned to become the sole processor supplier," with the device set to use a customized version of the Dimensity 9600, which will apparently be built on TSMC's N2P node in 2H26. The device's "headline spec" will allegedly be its image signal processor, featuring an enhanced HDR pipeline that improves real-world sensing - or what the AI "perceives" through the camera. The phone will also use two AI processors for handling different tasks (e.g. vision and language simultaneously), fast memory and storage, and security features to isolate processes. "If development stays on track, combined 2027-2028 shipments could reach around 30 million units," says Kuo, who argues that fully controlling both the operating system and the hardware is the only way for the company to deliver a comprehensive AI agent service. Kuo expects AI agents to change how people interact with a phone, shifting the focus from launching individual apps to completing tasks within a seamless context-aware interface. Quite where this leaves Jony Ive's non-phone AI device prototype isn't entirely clear. Shortly after its acquisition of Ive's startup io Products in May 2025, OpenAI engaged in something of a marketing blitz to promote Ive's first upcoming product for the company, describing it as a "third core device" after a MacBook Pro and an iPhone. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, it would be the "coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen." And crucially, it wouldn't have a screen - because phones have screens, and Ive and Altman want to wean people off those. The original goal was to release the device later this year, but in November that roadmap got pushed back to "less than two years." The last we heard, Ive's first OpenAI device was revealed to be a smart speaker with a camera, set to come out in early 2027. Other OpenAI products reportedly in development include smart glasses, a smart lamp, and potentially earbuds, but the roadmap is supposed to be further out for those. If any of these devices eventually launch, OpenAI will become a direct hardware rival against several Apple product lines - Apple is rumored to be also working on smart glasses, as well as AirPods with cameras, an AI pendant, and a smart home hub with enhanced Siri capabilities.Tags: Ming-Chi Kuo, OpenAI This article, "OpenAI Fast-Tracking AI Phone for 2027 Launch, Says Kuo" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

For the rumored 20th-anniversary iPhone, Apple continues to test a solid-state haptic button system that will replace traditional mechanical buttons and enhance the uninterrupted look of the device's display, claims Chinese leaker "Instant Digital." According to the Weibo-based leaker, the buttons have already passed tests for use when wearing gloves or having wet hands, in extreme temperatures, and when the phone has a case on. The leaker also claims that the 20th-anniversary iPhone will be equipped with an ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing the solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out. It's not the first time Instant Digital has said solid-state buttons will feature on the device. The leaker made the same claim in October 2025, saying that Apple's solution would include haptic feedback for the Side button, volume buttons, Action button, and Camera Control button. Apple is reportedly working on a display that curves down around all four edges of the device for a borderless visual experience - and solid-state haptic buttons could help in Apple's apparent desire to create a device that looks like a slab of glass with no cutouts and no bezels. That said, Apple's adoption of solid-state buttons has been repeatedly rumored for an iPhone, but with nothing to show for it. Back in 2022, several reports suggested Apple intended to bring solid-state buttons to the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023 as part of "Project Bongo." However, the plan was reportedly canceled at a late stage. They were then rumored to come to the iPhone 16 Pro, before being shelved indefinitely. In the same Weibo post, the leaker went on to list other features that have been repeatedly rumored for the 2027 device, such as a dual-layer OLED panel, under-display Face ID, and an under-display front-facing camera. They also mentioned a 6,000mAh battery, under-display audio (eliminating the earpiece slit), reverse wireless charging, and a next-generation Ceramic Shield - although it's unclear whether these last few items are more of a wish list of features rather than being based on new supply chain information. Instant Digital has a generally good track record for Apple rumors and has provided some accurate information ahead of time, such as the imminent launch of 2023's Yellow iPhone 14, as well as the frosted back glass of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The 20th anniversary iPhone will presumably come out in the fall of 2027.Tags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone, Instant Digital This article, "20th Anniversary iPhone Could Blend Haptic Buttons Into Curved Edges" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple has held "exploratory" talks with Intel and Samsung about manufacturing the main processors for its devices in the United States, reports Bloomberg ($). Apple is said to have had early-stage talks with Intel about using its chipmaking services, while Apple executives have reportedly visited a Samsung plant under construction in Texas that will also make advanced chips. The talks are said to be preliminary, and no orders have been made so far, according to the report's sources who asked not to be identified. Apple is also said to have concerns about using technology that is not made by its longtime chip partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), so the talks could still go nowhere. Apple is said to be seeking potential additional suppliers beyond TSMC as a way to avoid recent shortages almost entirely driven by the current build-out of AI data centers. Heavy demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio models - sought-after because of their suitability for running local AI models - is also said to have been another factor. On an earnings call last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that Mac mini and Mac Studio supply is constrained, and he said it may take "several months" for Apple to achieve supply-demand balance. Neither Intel nor Samsung can reliably provide the kind of production and scale that TSMC offers, so it's not clear how much, if anything, will come out of the discussions. Apple has already worked with TSMC to help expand its plant in Phoenix, which is now producing a limited number of chips for Apple and expects to make 100 million chips for the company in 2026.Tags: Bloomberg, Intel, Samsung This article, "Apple Eyes Intel and Samsung as Backup US Chipmakers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The complexity of modern containerized applications often leaves developers drowning in a sea of “noise”—vulnerabilities that exist in the file system but pose zero actual risk to the application. The integration between Black Duck and Docker Hardened Images (DHI) provides a definitive answer to this challenge. By combining Docker’s secure-by-default foundations, using VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) statements, and Black Duck’s industry-leading analysis engines, teams can now automatically separate base-layer noise from application-layer risk. By combining Docker’s secure-by-default foundations, using VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) statements, and Black Duck’s industry-leading analysis engines, teams can now automatically separate base-layer noise from application-layer risk. TL;DR: The Black Duck + Docker Value Proposition Zero-Config Recognition: Black Duck automatically identifies DHI base images during scanning without manual tagging. Precision Triage: Leverage Docker-provided VEX data and Black Duck Security Advisories (BDSAs) to ignore “not affected” base image vulnerabilities. Comprehensive Vulnerability Intelligence: Combine Docker’s exploitability data with Black Duck’s proprietary research to reduce triage costs and eliminate false positives. Compliance on Autopilot: Export high-fidelity SBOMs enriched with VEX exploitability status, supporting transparent vulnerability obligations present in global regulations like the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and industry standards such as those mandated by the FDA for medical devices and governmental agencies. A Comprehensive Strategy for Software Integrity Black Duck’s strategy for container security is built on a “Better Together” philosophy, leveraging two distinct but complementary analysis technologies to provide 360-degree visibility: Black Duck Binary Analysis (BDBA): Our primary integration for DHI was released on April 14, 2026. BDBA provides deep, signature-based inspection of compiled assets within DHI, verifying the “as-shipped” state of your containers without needing access to source code. Black Duck Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Soon, Black Duck will extend this DHI identification and verification support to our flagship SCA platform. This upcoming release will unify DHI intelligence with source-side dependency management, providing a single, comprehensive Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) across the entire SDLC. Deep Visibility with Binary Match & SCA Roadmap While traditional scanners often rely on simple package manager manifests, Black Duck looks deeper. Signature-Based Accuracy: Using BDBA (launching March 31st), Black Duck identifies DHI components by their binary “fingerprint,” ensuring accuracy even if package metadata is stripped or modified. The Path to Unified SCA: Our roadmap includes bringing these DHI insights directly into Black Duck SCA. This will allow security teams to apply the same governance policies to DHI-based containers as they do to their application source code, all within a single pane of glass. Layer-Specific Analysis: Easily pivot between the hardened base image and your custom application layers to understand exactly where a risk was introduced. Dynamic Risk Triage: VEX + BDSA Intelligence The most significant drain on developer productivity is manual triage. This integration operationalizes “Reachability” and “Exploitability” through automated data streams: VEX Integration: Black Duck ingests Docker’s VEX statements as a primary source of truth. If Docker confirms a base image vulnerability is “not_affected” due to the hardening process, Black Duck automatically suppresses the alert. Beyond the NVD: While competitors rely on the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), Black Duck uses BDSAs. These advisories often arrive days before the NVD, providing deeper exploitability context and specific remediation paths. Bulk Policy Enforcement: Security teams can set global Black Duck policies to automatically “ignore” any vulnerability backed by a “not_affected” vulnerability status statement from Docker, potentially clearing thousands of non-actionable alerts with zero manual effort. Operationalizing Security with Automated Workflows Black Duck does more than find issues; it manages the lifecycle of the container: SLA Tracking: Automatically trigger Jira tickets or email alerts when a vulnerability in a custom layer exceeds your organization’s risk threshold. Pipeline Gating: Use the Black Duck Detect CLI to fail builds only when reachable or unaddressed risks are found in your application code, keeping the CI/CD pipeline moving. Continuous Patching: For Enterprise DHI users, Black Duck verifies when a patched base image is mirrored to your private repository, confirming mitigation without requiring a developer to manually “re-scan” to prove compliance. Get started for free Check Docker Documentation on VEX at https://docs.docker.com/dhi/core-concepts/vex/ Learn more Docker’s approach to CVE exploitability and auditability at https://www.docker.com/blog/why-we-chose-the-harder-path-docker-hardened-images-one-year-later/ Read on Black Duck’s VEX documentation at https://documentation.blackduck.com/bundle/bd-hub/page/Reporting/vexReport_global.html View the full article

Alright Australia, brace yourselves – Oliver Tree is bringing his beautifully unhinged live show back to Australia this October, locking in a run of headline dates as part of his massive global tour behind new album Love You Madly, Hate You Badly. Fresh off the release of his fourth studio record – a 17-track, genre-pinballing fever dream entirely written and produced by Tree himself- the internet’s favourite chaos merchant is gearing up for his most ambitious tour yet, spanning literally every continent. But for our purposes? He’s heading straight for Aussie stages with a handful of shows that are guaranteed to be equal parts gig, performance art and full-blown fever dream. Oliver Tree – Love You Madly, Hate You Badly. If you’ve seen Oliver Tree live before, you already know this isn’t your standard night out. His shows are loud, theatrical, unpredictable and just a little bit cooked… blending alt-pop, electronic, hip-hop and straight-up absurdity into something that somehow works way too well. Expect big visuals, chaotic energy, and at least a few moments where you question what timeline you’re currently living in. The tour lands off the back of Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, a globe-trotting project recorded across 82 countries (casual), pulling in sounds and influences from pretty much everywhere on earth. Singles like “Joyride,” “Flowers,” and the aggressively titled “Fuck The Whole World” have already been making noise – the latter getting a viral boost after Tree popped up during Subtronics’ Coachella set. Now he’s bringing that whole unfiltered world to Australia for a tight run of shows this October, hitting Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. Presales kick off from Wednesday May 6, with general tickets on sale Friday May 8, and you can peep all the details down below. OLIVER TREE – AUSTRALIA 2026 TOUR DATES Thursday October 2 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD Friday October 3 – Forum Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Tuesday October 7 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW Wednesday October 8 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, SA Friday October 10 – Metro City, Perth, WA The artist presale (register now via Cobrand) and Spotify pre sales will begin Wednesday, May 6th at 10AM local time. Untitled Group presale will run from Thursday, May 7th 10AM local time – register here. General on sale will begin Friday, May 8th at 10AM local time here. Further Reading Post Malone To Headline Huge Aussie Country Festival, Strummingbird 2026 What So Not Releases New Single ‘Mr Regular’ Featuring Oliver Tree & Killer Mike Oliver Tree Links Up With Blink-182 For Single ‘Let Me Down’ The post Oliver Tree Returns To Australia With New Album And Big Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

If your May plans don’t already involve getting your face melted by desert riffs in a sweaty room… here’s your sign. Norwegian stoner rock heavyweights Slomosa are officially touching down in Australia this month for their first-ever headline tour – and they’re bringing their self-coined “Tundra Rock” chaos with them. Slomosa – ‘Battling Guns’ Yep, after years of building a global rep as one of the most exciting names in modern heavy rock, the Bergen quartet are finally giving Aussie fans a taste of their icy, groove-laden sound, hitting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane across a tight three-date run. For the uninitiated, Slomosa’s whole deal is this beautifully weird fusion of desert rock swagger and Nordic frostbite – think Kyuss-style riff worship colliding with grunge hooks and a bit of punk bite for good measure. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and it absolutely rips live. And that live reputation? It’s not just hype. The band have been steadily levelling up on the global circuit, earning nods from heavy hitters like Helmet and Mastodon, smashing festival stages across Europe, and even jumping on US runs with the likes of Alkaline Trio. Safe to say: they’re not arriving quietly. Their latest album Tundra Rock has only added fuel to the fire, with critics praising its “intoxicating mix of stoner and grunge” and undeniable energy – the kind of record that feels tailor-made to go off in a packed room. Which is exactly what Aussie fans are about to get. The run kicks off in Melbourne at Max Watts on Friday May 22, before rolling through Sydney’s Crowbar on May 23 and wrapping up in Brisbane on May 24 – short, loud, and very likely sweaty. So if you like your riffs big, your grooves filthy and your gigs feeling like a full-body experience, you might wanna lock this one in. Suss the deets below. SLOMOSA – AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026 Friday May 22 – Max Watts, Melbourne, VIC Saturday May 23 – Crowbar, Sydney, NSW Sunday May 24 – Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD Tickets on sale now via thephoenix.au Further Reading Swedish Metallers Avatar Announce 2026 Australian Tour Dates Crystal Lake On Their Explosive Aussie Return And Wild New Live Vocalist “We Owe Them Everything”: Of Mice & Men On Their 2026 Australian Tour The post Slomosa Are Hitting Australia This Month For Their First-Ever Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

Alright Australia, dust off the boots and prepare your liver – Strummingbird is back for 2026, and it’s bringing one of the most unexpected (but kinda perfect?) headliners along for the ride: Post Malone. Yep. Posty. At a modern Aussie country festival. And honestly? It makes a lot of sense. Post Malone – ‘I Had Some Help’ (feat. Morgan Wallen) After diving headfirst into his Nashville era with F-1 Trillion – a Grammy-nominated country project stacked with heavy hitters – Post Malone is officially saddling up for his return Down Under, leading a massive Strummingbird lineup set to roll through Ballarat, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast this October. If his last Aussie visit is anything to go by, these shows are going to go off. Joining him on the bill is one of country’s fastest-rising stars, Bailey Zimmerman, who’s been absolutely everywhere lately thanks to viral hits and a gritty, chart-dominating sound. Add in North Carolina’s rowdy crowd-pleaser Cooper Alan, the introspective brilliance of Cam, and a stacked mix of international names and homegrown faves, and you’ve got a lineup that goes far beyond your standard country fare. From the DIY grit of viral hitters Dexter & The Moonrocks and the blissed-out vibes of Stella Lefty, to local heavy-hitters like Brad Cox and Sons of the East, Strummingbird is once again serving up a full-spectrum country experience – plus a few curveballs for good measure. If you’re still wrapping your head around Post Malone topping the bill, it’s worth noting this isn’t just a novelty moment. His country pivot has seen him link up with the likes of Dolly Parton, Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton, while still carrying that unmistakable Posty DNA – and now he’s bringing that crossover chaos to a full-scale Aussie festival stage. Beyond the music, Strummingbird is leaning all the way into the experience, with line dancing sessions returning across all stops (led by fan-fave Maddison Glover), plus camping options and travel packages for those keen to make a full weekend of it. Presale tickets go live Wednesday May 13, with general tickets on sale Thursday May 14. So yeah… if you’ve ever wanted to scream the lyrics to “Rockstar” while wearing cowboy boots surrounded by line dancers and country diehards, this might just be your moment. Suss the full lineup and details down below. Strummingbird 2026 Lineup Post Malone Bailey Zimmerman Cooper Alan Stella Lefty Dexter & The Moonrocks Brad Cox Cam Cigarettes @ Sunset Kaitlin Butts Noah Rinker Sons of the East Briana Dinsdale Mack Geiger Max Jackson Sara Berki Late Night Riot (with Willie Pake) Lewis Love* Loren Ryan^ Sammy White+ Line dancing with Maddison Glover (*Ballarat / ^Newcastle / +Sunshine Coast) Strummingbird 2026 Dates + Venues Saturday October 10 – Victoria Park, Ballarat Saturday October 17 – Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle Sunday October 18 – Kawana Sports Precinct, Sunshine Coast PRESALE TICKETS ON SALE: WEDNESDAY 13 MAY GA TICKETS ON SALE: THURSDAY 14 MAY SIGN UP FOR PRESALE ACCESS AT STRUMMINGBIRD.COM.AU Further Reading The Kid LAROI Joins Post Malone Onstage in Sydney Post Malone Says Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s Level of Fame “Must Suck” Post Malone Thought Blake Shelton’s ‘Austin’ Was About Him The post Post Malone To Headline Huge Aussie Country Festival, Strummingbird 2026 appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

Apple today filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, asking for a stay on App Store fee calculations while it waits to hear whether the Supreme Court will weigh in on the latest developments in its legal battle with Epic Games. Apple argues that without a stay, it will face irreparable harm. Apple says it will have to litigate the fundamentals of its business model with the "highly prejudicial taint of being (improperly) found to have acted in contempt of the court's initial order" with the world watching, plus the case would require it to disclose confidential business information, which can't be undone. Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States. No proceeding setting the commission Apple may charge--an endeavor that itself is fraught with challenges and raises the prospect of the courts engaging in improper rate-setting--should be allowed to unfold under the false and prejudicial auspices that Apple acted in contempt by charging a commission based on an injunction that did not even mention commissions. The Supreme Court's finding could also affect the scope of the case, because one of Apple's arguments is that the injunction should only apply to ‌Epic Games‌, not all developers that distribute apps in the United States. For a recap, in 2021, the U.S. Northern District Court of California ordered Apple to relax its anti-steering rules as part of the ruling in the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Apple case. Apple was told to allow developers to link to alternate payment options in apps. Apple complied, but still charged high fees (three percent less than its standard fees), leading the court to find Apple in contempt of court for willfully violating the injunction. In April 2025, Apple was barred from collecting any fees on links in apps in the U.S. ‌App Store‌, a change Apple implemented the same month. Apple appealed, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Apple violated the injunction, but said the company should be able to receive compensation for its technology. The appeals court then ordered the district court to calculate a reasonable fee, and that's what Apple wants to pause. Apple is planning to challenge the district court's contempt of court ruling and the scope of the injunction, and it does not want to go to court for fee calculations when there's a chance the Supreme Court could vacate the decision entirely. All Apple seeks here is a stay of the mandate so this Court can consider Apple's petition before it is subjected to a remand proceeding that could reshape the global app market based on the false premise that Apple engaged in civil contempt. Apple asked the appeals court to stay the fee calculation phase until it heard back from the Supreme Court. The appeals court agreed initially, but then reversed course after ‌Epic Games‌ challenged the decision. Apple is now asking the Supreme Court for the same stay that the appeals court denied. Apple wants to keep its current zero-fee link-out commission structure in place while it appeals to the Supreme Court, which means developers in the U.S. would continue to pay no fees for purchases made using third-party payment options in their apps while the case plays out. If the Supreme Court grants Apple's request for a stay, the zero-fee setup will remain in place while Apple waits on a decision from the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court does not grant the stay or declines to hear the case, Apple and ‌Epic Games‌ will return to the district court to determine the reasonable fee that Apple can collect. While Apple is asking the Supreme Court for a stay as it prepares a full filing, Apple has also suggested that its filing could be used as a certiorari petition, so we could soon hear whether the Supreme Court will decide to hear the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Apple case. Apple will not be able to submit a petition for certiorari that will be considered before the summer recess. The mandate that will send Apple back to the district court for fee calculations goes into effect on May 5.Tags: App Store, Epic Games vs. Apple, Apple Lawsuits This article, "Apple Asks Supreme Court to Pause Epic Games Case Ahead of App Store Fee Ruling" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

T-Mobile's Starlink satellite connectivity is now available for T-Mobile users who are traveling in Canada and New Zealand. T-Mobile users have previously had access to cellular connectivity through roaming agreements in Canada and New Zealand, and now T-Satellite connectivity is included. Canada satellite coverage is enabled through Rogers Satellite, and in New Zealand, satellite coverage is provided by One NZ. Both Rogers and One NZ have agreements with Starlink provider SpaceX. T-Mobile updated its website to mention satellite roaming last week, and the company says that support for other locations will be coming in the future. T-Mobile is working with global roaming partners and SpaceX to expand T-Satellite. T-Satellite is available to T-Mobile subscribers in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and parts of southern Alaska. It is also now available in Canada and New Zealand, with a coverage map available on the T-Mobile website. Rogers and One NZ customers can also use T-Satellite when traveling in the United States as part of the new partnership. T-Mobile's satellite connectivity launched in July 2025 after several months of beta testing, and it is compatible with the iPhone 13 and later. In October 2025, T-Mobile added support for using satellite data with some third-party apps, an option not available with Apple's built-in satellite feature on the iPhone 14 and later. Like Apple's satellite option, T-Satellite kicks in when users do not have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection available. A view of open sky is required to establish connectivity, but there is no need to manually hold an iPhone to the sky to connect as there is with Apple's implementation. T-Satellite works on Apple iPhones, and it can be used alongside the native satellite connectivity. Satellite service is included in T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plans, and is priced at $10 per line for other T-Mobile plans. Smartphone users without T-Mobile service can sign up for T-Satellite for $10 per month.Tag: T-Mobile This article, "T-Mobile Customers Can Now Use Satellite Connectivity in Canada and New Zealand" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android devices is coming in iOS 26.5, Apple confirmed today. The feature is listed in Apple's iOS 26.5 release notes. Apple says end-to-end encrypted ‌RCS‌ messaging remains in beta even though it is being released in iOS 26.5. The feature is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time, and for conversations to be encrypted, both the receiver and the sender must use a carrier that supports the latest version of ‌RCS‌. End-to-end encryption is on by default, and there is a toggle for it in the Messages section of the Settings app. Encrypted messages are denoted with a small lock symbol. Testing of E2EE for ‌RCS‌ began in iOS 26.4, but Apple did not launch the feature in the iOS 26.4 update. It returned in the iOS 26.5 beta, and has been available throughout the beta testing process. E2EE means that messages sent between devices cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. As of now, ‌RCS‌‌ messages sent between Android and iPhone users do not have E2EE, but iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, and watchOS 26.5 will put Android/iPhone conversations on par with iPhone to iPhone conversations that are encrypted through iMessage. Apple worked with the GSM Association to implement E2EE for ‌RCS‌ messages. E2EE is part of the ‌RCS‌ Universal Profile 3.0, published with Apple's help and built on the Messaging Layer Security protocol. ‌‌RCS‌‌ Universal Profile 3.0 also includes editing and deleting messages, cross-platform Tapback support, and replying to specific messages inline during cross-platform conversations.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Android, RCSRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "iOS 26.5 Brings End-to-End Encryption to iPhone-Android RCS Messages" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Back in April, we highlighted a new add-your-own card Wallet app option coming in iOS 27, and now Bloomberg has shared additional information. At the time, we said Apple was working on a feature that would let users generate digital passes from scans of things like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards. The option will be called "Create a Pass," and it will bridge the gap between the Wallet app and passes that are not compatible with it. Users will be able to tap on the "+" button in the Wallet app and then scan a QR code on a pass or ticket if one is available. If there is no QR code available, there will be an option to create a custom pass. Text in the app suggests the feature will work for tickets, memberships, gift cards, and more. There are three pass types, each with a different color. Apple is using purple for events, blue for memberships, and orange for other types of passes. Users will be able to customize images, colors and style, and text on the digital passes. The new Wallet option is one of many features coming in ‌iOS 27‌, which will be previewed at Apple's June WWDC event. More information on what to expect from ‌iOS 27‌ can be found in our roundup.Related Roundup: iOS 27Tag: Apple Wallet This article, "iOS 27 Will Let You Create Custom Wallet Passes" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today provided the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the fourth beta. Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required. No new features were found in the first four ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 betas, and it's likely the update primarily focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements.Related Roundup: macOS TahoeRelated Forum: macOS Tahoe This article, "macOS Tahoe 26.5 Release Candidate Now Available" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any ‌Siri‌ updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searches, plus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app. Apple is continuing to test end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users. Apple included the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but removed it before the update launched to the public. There is a new Pride wallpaper to go along with the Pride Apple Watch band for this year. In the European Union, Apple is testing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables like earbuds and smartwatches. The functionality will allow third-party wearables to have many of the same features as the Apple Watch and AirPods. More detail on what's new in iOS 26.5 can be found in our iOS 26.5 beta features guide. iOS 26.5 is likely to see a launch next week. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Seeds iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today provided developers with the release candidate versions of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the fourth betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. watchOS 26.5 adds a new Pride watch face to go along with the 2026 Pride Apple Watch band. There's no word on what other features are in the software as of yet. watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS often get few features in each new beta, with updates primarily focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements. Nothing new was found in the betas. watchOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, and tvOS 26.5 are likely to see a public release next week.Related Roundups: Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, watchOS 26Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy), Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch This article, "Apple Seeds watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Release Candidates" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Notepad++ creator Don Ho said the macOS version of the popular Windows code editor is fake and using the Notepad++ trademark without permission. The unofficial Notepad++ app for macOS In a blog post, Ho said the macOS app is "not authorized, not endorsed, and not affiliated with" the official version of Notepad++ in any way, adding that it is "misleading, inappropriate, and frankly disrespectful to both the project and its users." In coordination with Ho, the developer of the macOS port Andrey Letov said he will rebrand the Mac app and its corresponding website in the coming days:In coordination with Don Ho, the creator of the original Notepad++, I'll be evolving the branding of the macOS version so it stands on its own while respecting its lineage. These updates, such as a new logo, a refined name, and likely a new domain will ship with version 1.0.6 in the coming days. Continuity for existing users is a priority, and I'll make the transition as seamless as I can. Thank you for your patience.Notepad++ has been one of the most popular text and code editors on Windows for more than 20 years, and many users have long hoped for a Mac version. It appears the unofficial port will live on for now, but with a new name and branding. Emphasis on unofficial. "To be crystal clear: Notepad++ has never released a macOS version," said Ho. This article, "Notepad++ Creator Calls Out 'Fake' Mac App Over Trademark Violation" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

iOS 26.5 is expected to be released this May, following more than a month of beta testing. The update is relatively minor so far, which is not too surprising given that Apple is starting to shift its focus towards iOS 27. iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for end-to-end encryption for RCS in the Messages app and ads in the Apple Maps app, and it will include a new Pride wallpaper and a few other changes. Below, we outline all of the notable additions in iOS 26.5. End-to-End Encryption for RCS End-to-end encryption for ‌RCS‌ is a security feature that ensures that messages sent between supported iOS 26.5 and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by a third party while they are being delivered. Apple already tested end-to-end encryption for RCS in the iOS 26.4 beta, but the feature did not make it into the final release of iOS 26.4 in March. The option returned in the iOS 26.5 beta, but it remains to be seen if it makes it into the final release. Ads and "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps In March, Apple announced that localized ads are coming to the Apple Maps app on the iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada starting "this summer," and there is evidence of Apple preparing for that within iOS 26.5's code. Apple says businesses in the U.S. and Canada will be able to place local ads in search results and at the top of a new "Suggested Places" section. "Ads on Maps will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of a user's search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will display recommendations based on what's trending nearby, the user's recent searches, and more," says Apple. Similar to the ads that are already shown in App Store search results on the iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, and Apple promises strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says a user's location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps are not associated with a user's Apple Account. New Pride Wallpaper Alongside the new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face for the Apple Watch, iOS 26.5 will include a matching iPhone wallpaper. Apple said the wallpaper features a "joyful, vibrant design to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities worldwide during Pride Month and beyond." The wallpaper has a dynamic design with customizable colors. More In the iOS 26.5 beta, Apple is also working to extend iPhone features like notifications, Live Activities, and AirPods-like pairing to third-party smartwatches and headphones in the EU, as required under the Digital Markets Act. Beyond that, iOS 26.5 has only a few other minor changes.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "iOS 26.5 Coming Soon With These New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article