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Prog heads, assemble – Plini is back with a brand new album, An Unnameable Desire, landing April 24, and it’s shaping up to be another brain-melting addition to his already stacked catalogue. Across 10 tracks, the Aussie guitar wizard’s third full-length promises to push his signature blend of technical wizardry and emotional depth even further – dialing everything up in every direction. Heavier riffs? Heavier. Prettier moments? Prettier. Finger-breaking passages? Good luck. It’s the kind of “why would you even try to play that???” energy prog fans absolutely live for. Plini – ‘An Unnameable Desire’ Alongside the announcement, Plini has dropped the album’s title track (spin above) – a deceptively breezy first taste that (according to the man himself) is intentionally not showing all its cards. Despite his reputation as one of the most revered guitarists in the game, the track notably sidesteps a traditional solo, instead leaning into mood, texture and storytelling – setting the tone for what he describes as a “whimsical first chapter” before things inevitably get weirder. “I picked this as the first single because it sets the tone/sound of the album without really giving anything away,” shares Plini. “I’m known as a guitarist, but this song doesn’t even really contain a guitar “solo”. Much like the video, it’s the whimsical first chapter of an adventure, and hopefully gives a false sense of security for what’s to come.” An Unnameable Desire also sees Plini linking up with a stacked crew of collaborators, including longtime creative partner Simon Grove, plus Chris Allison, Dave McKay, A.J. Minette and more – all contributing to the album’s rich, multi-dimensional sound. But at its core, the process hasn’t changed: just Plini, a guitar, and a lot of very dangerous rabbit holes. With past albums like Handmade Cities and Impulse Voices cementing his status as one of the most exciting names in instrumental prog, and a global tour locked in for 2026, this next chapter feels less like a big evolution. Pre-order the LP here. Further Reading Doja Cat Apologised To Australian Guitarist Plini For Borrowing His Composition For ‘Say So’ Performance Karnivool Officially Announce First New Album In 12 Years, ‘In Verses’ Monolith Festival 2022 Review – Karnivool Lead Prog Rock Masterclass in Melbourne The post Plini Announces New Album ‘An Unnameable Desire’, Drops Intricate New Single appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

Alt-pop chaos merchants Cry Club are back with their third album High Voltage Anxiety this Friday – and it’s shaping up to be their most fully realised (and fully unhinged) statement yet. Self-produced, self-engineered and completely on their own terms, the record sees the duo of Heather Riley and Jonathon ‘Jono’ Tooke diving headfirst into the emotional and political overwhelm of modern life – from doomscroll-induced brain rot and wealth inequality to burnout, relationships and the slow decay of media literacy – all wrapped in their signature cocktail of industrial pop, punk energy and euphoric chaos. But beneath the rage (and there’s plenty of it), High Voltage Anxiety is also driven by something deeper: care. Care for their community, their world, and the belief that things can be better – even when everything feels like it’s spiralling. To celebrate the release, Cry Club have taken us inside the album with a full track-by-track breakdown, unpacking the ideas, influences and existential spirals behind each song. And trust us, there’s a lot going on under the hood here. You can pre-order the LP here and read their words down below. Cry Club ‘ Monster Of The Week’ 1. ‘ACT ONE’ JONO: Honestly I’m such a huge Kendrick Lamar fan that I had the moment of realisation that for all that we got right on the last two records, one thing that felt missing was this ambitious world setting thing that so many records I love have. Like when I press play on ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’ I immediately hear A WORLD. Always using the concept of album spacing like it would appear on vinyl, we imagined the record as two halves who each could have their own tone setting track to establish the world / but also provide a palate cleanse like you would get at the start of a Pixar movie with their short films. An opportunity to take a deep breath in before we pummel the shit out of you with our heaviest record yet. HEATHER: When we decided to self-produce this album, we initially toyed with the idea of it being a more heavy-duty concept album. There’s still a pile of songs in our google drive based around that idea that we never quite figured out, but this is one of the songs that survived from that batch! It really sets the tone for the album in a way we haven’t been able to do before, it’s cinematic but still grounded in reality: this is a real conversation we had with people we love, trying to figure out how to make the world a better, more liveable place for everyone. Obviously one album isn’t gonna change the world, but if we can convince at least one listener that they aren’t powerless, it’s worth it. 2. ‘RETALIATE’ J: For the longest time, we had this instrumental idea that we always thought was super exciting but could never turn it into an actual song. We’d swung at it 7 or 8 times, each turning into a different song but never capturing what was so interesting about the core idea – until we FINALLY landed here with Retaliate. Another moment where the direction of the record helped crack the song, the combination of breakbeats and down tuned guitars lead us to what immediately felt like The Answer and the song felt like it immediately worked. I love the combination of post-punk reverb guitars against the 8 string metal ideas in the verse, any time we can really cross over styles I’ll always jump at the chance. Staying in one lane is never interesting for us, so being able to do everything we like in one song is a blessing. H: Jumping off from the intro, Retaliate is our first solution to the question of “what’s wrong, how could we fix it?” and the result is BURN IT DOWNNNNNNNNNN. Musically, this song is one of the “babies” of a different song that we’ve been working on literally for like? 5 years now? Every time we open up that song, we work on it for a day and then realise we’ve written a completely different song, so we open it in it’s own session and follow that until it’s done. We did have a few shots at Retaliate until landing on this one, it feels like a new ‘Robert Smith’ in the sense that the first version was wayyyyyy too serious, and this final version is the more stream-of-consciousness take on our earlier idea! We really dug through a bunch of club samples Jono has on file and went purely with the things we found the most fun and exciting, which seems to be the eternal solution to all of our songwriting problems. This is a really satisfying combination of our biggest influences as well as trusting ourselves to make something as fun for us as possible. 3. ‘HIGH VOLTAGE ANXIETY’ J: Crazy that this ended up being the title track of the record, one that summarised everything we had been writing about at that point in time, because I barely even remember writing it for a second. From my end, the song just Arrived one day almost fully formed immediately – a combination of hardcore punk, gothic ambience and rave synth intensity that plays out like a dance track. We knew we had something fun but from the very first time we ever played it live it was like setting gasoline on fire, it just ignited the crowd in a way that we’d almost never experienced before. A blessing. H: Have you dreaded opening social media recently? It feels like an attack on your nervous system to look at the news, look at what hot takes people have on that news, and the backlash to the aforementioned hot takes wallpapered on every newsfeed and FYP. Knowing that our timelines are designed to keep us in these doomscrolling loops and STILL being unable to stop is the inspo for this song and the album title! It’s so far beyond regular anxiety, battling lack of media literacy and reading comprehension when there’s a financial incentive for people to behave like the worst version of themselves. This is a kind of mirror to Retaliate where instead of fighting against the evils of the world, you give up and let it consume you, going completely crazy in the process. 4. ‘BELIEVE’ J: God a miracle that this got to the finish line. In the same way I don’t remember writing High Voltage, this one I remember every painful second of years of trying to make it work. The chorus was just too good to not figure out everything for it, and having the tone set for the rest of the record we were able to finally crack it – sounding like a pop band collaborating with both Korn & Foals somehow. Also I think just the general theme of realising how much something had been holding you back in hindsight is a bit of a forever topic in so many senses, so it really fit well into this anti-capitalist message of the record. H: This is an older song that we’ve reworked dozens of times, in dozens of genres, but the ‘evil club’ sound is something we’ve wanted to attempt for ages!! It’s narrower in scope than the first few songs, more interpersonal, but still follows the same theme. When you’re so worn down that you’ve lost all the fight in you, it leaves the door open for people to take advantage of you when you’re vulnerable. We were so attached to this “do you wanna believe” hook that feels almost religious, staying close to someone you know is hurting you but unable to think of a life outside of it. The song is so spacey and floaty, looking back on all the red flags with mixed emotions: wondering how you could let that happen to you, but trying to understand and forgive yourself at the same time. 5. ‘FEEL THIS WAY’ J: Probably my favourite non-single, this song feels like it achieves everything we set out to do with this record with flying colours. A personal favourite moment is when the Meshuggah inspired guitars arrive in the first chorus, it feels like we’re able to combine some early noise influences of mine with our current spin towards everything heavy and industrial. Always putting it in a package of pop-structure and accessibility means that we can get away with absolute murder with what’s actually in the song, so the gigantic key change that lands each chorus always feels like “hahaha I can’t believe we got away with that”. H: I think this is one of my favourites on the album, brutal and driving and empowering all at once. Again, it’s like a mirror to the previous song from another perspective, what if you had the power to call out someone for becoming the thing they promised not to be? The sheer force of the instrumentation makes me feel 10 feet tall, untouchable and righteous above everything, it’s the euphoria of getting the last word and the devastation of pushing someone out of your life when you can’t deal with them anymore. 6. ‘THIS, FOREVER’ J: Last song of the first side of the vinyl record, I think I always like putting something nostalgic in a spot where it’s got a moment to breathe afterwards. There’ll be the moment where someone is listening to the record and it plays this song and then there’ll be the silence before they flip to the next side, which is kind of an intentional part of its construction. Also it feels like a nod to our first record in so many ways, but made more intense and sonically explorative. Amongst so many super heavy songs, you do need a break from the riffs, so touching back on a love of M83 and shoegaze music from my teen years felt like a great way of getting that. H: Ahhhhhh a breath of fresh air, however bittersweet. Being involved in more activism over the past few years has meant getting front-row-seats to the angst of leftist infighting. It’s painful to have conflict with people who are supposed to be on your side, so have the same goals but be so at-odds in the methods of getting there. It can be so easy to get caught up in these smaller issues instead of the bigger ones, and I’ve learned one of the most important skills is knowing when to let things go, when to be patient, and how to disagree out of love. The love seeps into every part of the song, an acknowledgement of how difficult it is to admit when you feel hurt or when you’re potentially wrong. 7. ‘ACT TWO’ J: And then we’re back in, there’s the relief of something like ‘This, Forever’ and then we need to bring things back up and ready for intensity. So much of this was born out of being in the studio when we were recording drums and gang vocals, they had this beautiful piano there and it just lifted all the ideas we had for this. Amongst however many chopped and distorted elements, the piano is almost a lighthouse that feels like it stays hopeful despite the intensity around it. H: Slightly more cynical, but far more driven, once you’re on the same page politically as your loved ones, you gotta make space to vent without constantly coming up with solutions. There’s a momentum to this interlude that I love, the shared eye-roll with your bestie when someone says something cooked and you’re letting it go for now but you’ll add it to the list of fucked shit you have to deal with. The piano leitmotif from ‘This, Forever’ is something I’m so proud of in this song, Jono tied all our ongoing threads of the album together so well, it’s hopeful but not naive, tired but not resigned, it’s like a water break on the album and so beautiful. 8. ‘FOR YOUR HEALTH’ J: This song is almost the perfect advice I find hard to take myself – it’s so fun working on creative projects with a single-minded intensity but it’s so easy for that to be manipulated into being a standard everyone is held to. As if someone at their most manic is actually what the music industry finds exciting enough to support, but it’s also deeply risky – how many people can survive setting their lives on fire for the opportunity of gatekeepers giving you the thumbs up? Not many!! Also with our current environment, so many big players are just playing catch up to what artists are able to achieve by themselves with their direct community – so I feel more at piece with our small but dedicated audience than I ever did when thinking about reaching as many people as possible. We’re the weird niche thing now, and that’s actually made us a better band but also more sustainable in the long run. H: We’ve had so many friends either pause or stop making music completely due to the demands of the industry, but this isn’t limited to smaller or indie artists. The backlash to artists cancelling or postponing tours due to health reasons, the sense of entitlement from fans and labels that makes our art feel like a commodity instead of uhhhh ART is dread-inducing. The thumping, driving beat and the disaffected drawl through the whole song feels so exhausted, and inescapable, the video in particular is something I’m proud of, it’s dramatic but honestly doesn’t feel completely removed from reality! It’s fucked how so many artists feel like the only solution to the burnout and exploitation of the music Industry is to leave altogether. Like we’re up against a machine that none of us can survive in, it’s frustratingggggggg as hell. 9. ‘MONSTER OF THE WEEK’ J: This song was actually the real START of the record, it was the moment of experimentation where we found what felt fresh to us. The combination of breakbeats, distorted guitars and hyperpop resampling techniques all landed together to sound both like the rave-rock of the 90s but also something that felt very new to us. We’d booked a writing trip away after wanting to do one for years, and this is one of the songs that came out of that in early 2023. We’d always liked the song, but there was a moment of realisation maybe a year or so later of “oh THAT is what we’ve been looking for!!!”. With this in tow, we were able to revisit all of our stuck ideas and give them new life, collect our most cohesive musical statement yet but also feel like we’ve finally found a sound that is almost exclusive to our band. H: Another big political touchpoint on this album is technofeudalism and the enshittification of the internet. It’s no secret how terminally online Jono and I are, and watching the digital spaces we’ve loved become cesspits of ragebait and engagement farming has taken a mental toll on us. It’s exhausting to open up literally every social media app and have it make you feel hopeless and angry every single day- I got a dumbphone for a while to escape it all, which was sick but ended up feeling isolating in a different way. This is us venting our frustrations about everyone falling for inflammatory right-wing rhetoric day in and day out, unintentionally feeding the beast by engaging and trying to dunk on the people starting the fire!!! It’s lose-lose for us, so the song is sonically brutal because it’s the only way we can represent this gross cycle. 10. ‘BURIED!’ J: So many steps to get this perfected, but the constant guiding light was the song at the core of it being right. Getting to the finish point felt like it combined all the big rock guitar moments of the record with these synths that feel like a nod to PS1 era soundtracks, as if this song would have been in a racing game in some alternate future. Despite the 90s trappings, I always feel like this song is almost this record’s My Chemical Romance song – a weirdly emo undercurrent that’s driving an otherwise dance song. H: This is one of the songs that really set the tone for the album sonically. It happened SO quickly tbh, I think we finished it mostly in one day? And then tweaked the production every few months until we felt it was right. The lyrics are some of my favourite we’ve ever written, the fabric/sewing metaphors in the first verse inspired by the kuffiyah, this piece of cloth being so simple but so powerful at the same time. We thought of the people in our life who have lost so much by speaking out for what’s right, being cast out from the communities they’ve known their whole life because they refuse to compromise on their morals. It shouldn’t have to happen, but it’s wild to be surrounded by people who would start their lives over for what they believe in or who they are as a person. 11. ‘CONSEQUENCES’ J: Keeping the piano motif rolling, this song felt like it finally landed when the balance of pretty and dark was struck. Harsh distortion and ambient piano backing, probably one of the most directly political songs on the record felt like a great fit. With the world feeling like it’s accelerating towards absolute hellfire – having something that’s representing that decline but also maintaining a human element keeps the “we can fix this if we try” element alive was important. H: The bookend to Retaliate, how much further do we have to take things to see justice in our lifetime? We have a handful of people willing to doom our planet and society at large in pursuit of money, that will mean nothing to them when they’re dead, but literally risk our lives in the meantime. We wanted to write something that feels like a mob marching up to the billionaires with the guillotine at the ready, a promise that they will be remembered as the ones responsible for the decline of human life as a whole. It’s an explosion of distilled contempt, we know exactly who to blame so why haven’t we done anything? We even had to rewrite the lyrics to be more relevant as the AI bubble has grown more evil since our first draft of the song. Yikes. 12. ‘DESPITE EVERYTHING’ J: The farewell song! We’d had this song sitting in our Google Drive for a lifetime, written during the Melbourne lockdowns, and as the record started to take shape it felt like this was a way of saying “yes, shit is absolutely fucked, but maintaining a sense of self is actually one of the things that can help you keep fighting”. We always have this innate desire to look back at our younger selves with both regret and understanding in equal measure, so this song felt like a way of acknowledging that while also connecting to the current moment. We also snuck a bunch of references to our older songs in here as well, like there’s flashes of ‘Nine of Swords’ running throughout! H: So Jono and I have been fans of this Youtuber called Super Eyepatch Wolf for a long time. His videos feel so in-line with our music in terms of how he allows himself to get emotional or passionate about whatever he’s talking about. During COVID lockdowns, I watched his analysis of the video game Undertale and the fan culture surrounding it, and we were so taken with this moment where the player character looks in the mirror at the start of the game, and the flavour text says “It’s you!”. Finding that same mirror at the end of the game has altered text that says “Despite everything, it’s still you.” It’s been kicking around in our minds for years, it affected me so much that we used it as a lyrical touchpoint before ever playing the game! Having played it now, it still means so much to me to look back on my life and the choices that lead me to this moment. No matter how many gripes I have with the industry, with politics, with society, I’m still here. We’re still here together, and our younger selves would be so proud of us. The second little easter egg was altering the last line of the song to reference a line from Baldur’s Gate 3, “still breathing, despite everything”. It felt like a beautiful full circle moment of accepting yourself as you are in this point in your life, and promising yourself to keep going despite everything Further Reading Cry Club Have Announced Their Third Album, ‘High Voltage Anxiety’ Cry Club on How to Navigate the Music Industry Post-Covid Rachel Maria Cox: My Favourite LGBTQIA+ Pop Songs The post Cry Club Unpack New Album ‘High Voltage Anxiety’ Track-By-Track appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

If you’re heading to see Guns N’ Roses when they hit Australia later this year, consider this your official spoiler warning – because the band have just kicked off their 2026 world tour in Mexico, and the setlist is already looking jacked. We’re talking a full 26-song, three-hour marathon spanning their entire 40-year career – the kind of set that smashes the bar out of the stadium. From the opening whistle of Welcome To The Jungle to the final siren of Paradise City, GN’R are running a best-of playbook loaded with classics (Sweet Child O’ Mine, November Rain, Nightrain) alongside a few deep-cut curveballs and even some fresh debuts. Yep, the band have already given their new singles Nothin’ and Atlas their live debuts, slotting them into the set like a couple of promising rookies who’ve somehow made the starting lineup. Elsewhere, there’s a healthy mix of their classic covers (including Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door and Live and Let Die) and the usual Slash guitar heroics. All of which bodes very well for their upcoming Australian run this November and December, where the rock legends will take their stadium-sized chaos across the country – with local hard rock heroes Airbourne riding shotgun as special guests (which, frankly, is a pairing so loud it should come with a warning label). They’ll kick things off headlining the bp Adelaide grand final on Sunday, 29th November before heading to Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne and wrapping things up in Sydney. You can peep all the details for Gunners’ 2026 Aussie stadium tour, and setlist spoilers for their world tour opener in Mexico down below. Guns N’ Roses – Monterrey, Mexico – March 28, 2026 Setlist Welcome to the Jungle Mr. Brownstone Bad Obsession Live and Let Die (Wings cover) Slither (Velvet Revolver cover) Chinese Democracy Pretty Tied Up It’s So Easy Yesterdays Double Talkin’ Jive Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover) Nothin’ (live debut) Dead Horse Perhaps Civil War (with Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child (Slight Return) outro) Atlas (live debut) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover, with Only Women Bleed intro) Slash Guitar Solo Sweet Child o’ Mine November Rain Patience New Rose (The Damned cover, with Duff on vocals) Down on the Farm (UK Subs cover) Don’t Cry Nightrain Paradise City Guns N’ Roses 2026 Australian Tour Dates Supported by Airbourne Sunday 29 November: Adelaide (bp Adelaide Grand Final) Wednesday 2 December: Townsville (Queensland Country Bank Stadium) Saturday 5 December: Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) Tuesday 8 December: Newcastle (McDonald Jones Stadium) Friday 11 December: Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) Monday 14 December: Sydney (ENGIE Stadium) Tickets on sale now here Further Reading Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose Won’t Throw Microphone Into Crowd Anymore After Injuring Adelaide Fan Guns N’ Roses: 10 Essential Tracks Dave Navarro Was Nearly In Guns N Roses, But Drug Addiction Stopped Him The post Guns N’ Roses Setlist Spoilers Drop Ahead Of 2026 Australian Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

When promoting the MacBook Neo, Apple found a surprise hit with a tiny anthropomorphized version of the Mac Finder icon, which people have taken to calling Little Finder Guy. Little Finder Guy starred in some of Apple's early March TikTok videos, and Apple is now targeting Finder fans with a trio of new videos. Three tutorials on Apple's TikTok account star Little Finder Guy. Videos feature Stacks on the Mac desktop, ring light for video apps, and dictation. The tutorials are all shown on the ‌MacBook Neo‌, and each one includes Little Finder Guy. Most of the comments on the videos are about Apple's new Finder mascot. Stephen Hackett of 512 Pixels has created a .3mf file for 3D printing a Little Finder Guy for those that have a printer available. Android has long had a 3D mascot that's a hybrid between a bug and a droid, which Google calls The Bot, so now there is an Apple equivalent.Tags: Apple Ads, TikTok This article, "Apple Leans Into Little Finder Guy With New TikTok Videos" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Safari Technology Preview, a version of Safari that's aimed at testing new web technologies. Apple first announced ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ for Mac on March 30, 2016, and rolled it out that same day. At the time, Apple said that it wanted to get feedback from developers on browser development using a method more easily accessible than WebKit. "Get a sneak peek at upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ and experiment with these technologies in your websites and extensions," reads the description on Apple's developer website. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can be used side-by-side with the main Safari browser, and it can be set as the default if users prefer it. Though it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ has a purple icon to distinguish it from the standard version of Safari. STP is compatible with macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe right now, and when macOS 27 launches, it will work with ‌macOS 27‌ and ‌macOS Tahoe‌. Apple regularly releases updates for ‌Safari Technology Preview‌, and over the last decade, we've had 240 versions. Apple provides detailed release notes for each update, highlighting new additions and bug fixes in STP that will later come to the primary version of Safari. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can be downloaded from Apple's developer website.Tag: Safari Technology Preview This article, "Safari Technology Preview Turns 10: A Decade of Testing Apple's Web Technologies" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

iOS 26.5 is now available for developers, and while it doesn't include any new Siri capabilities, there are some major changes for the European Union, and smaller tweaks for features available worldwide. Suggested Places In the Maps app, there's a new "Suggested Places" feature that recommends locations to visit based on trending places nearby and recent searches. When Apple launches ads in Maps, it will also show ads. Ads in Maps iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for ads in the Maps app. Apple plans to implement ads this summer, with businesses able to purchase ads that are shown in search results and Suggested Places. Code in iOS 26.5 says the following: "Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search." Ads will have a clear "ad" label. RCS End-to-End Encryption Apple re-enabled end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users in iOS 26.5. Apple tested the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but not include E2EE in the final version. There is a toggle for End-to-End Encryption in the Messages section of the Settings app, and the feature is enabled by default. E2EE for ‌RCS‌ means that conversations between iPhone and Android users are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. European Union Third-Party Wearable Changes Apple is working on new interoperability features in the EU to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has tested these features in prior betas, but the Live Activity sharing feature is new. Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps. Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch. Notifications from select apps can be forwarded, or from all apps. Live Activities - Live Activities are able to sync to a third-party wearable, similar to other notifications. This is a feature that appears to be new to iOS 26.5. There's no word on when the EU third-party wearable features will launch, and Apple also tested them in the iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 betas before removing them when the software was released to the public. Magic Accessories When you connect an accessory like a Magic Keyboard to an iPhone over USB-C, the iPhone will automatically establish a Bluetooth connection with the accessory. iPhone to Android Transfer When switching from an iPhone to an Android device, there appears to be a new setting for selecting which message attachments to transfer over. There are options for All, 1 year, or 30 days. Apple Books There are mentions of new awards in the Apple Books app, which are likely for year-end wrap-ups. Keyboard Layout iOS 26.5 has an Inuktitut keyboard layout option.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Everything New in iOS 26.5 Beta 1" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple has removed a "vibe coding" app from its App Store, reports The Information. AI app building app "Anything" was pulled from the ‌App Store‌, and Anything co-founder Dhruv Amin was told that his app violated Guideline 2.5.2. "Vibe coding" is a term used for code generated using AI based on natural language with no coding experience necessary. Anything and other apps like it let users create apps, websites, and tools with text-based prompts. Apple started removing vibe coding apps from the ‌App Store‌ earlier in March, and the company said that certain features in the apps that were pulled violate code execution rules. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that there are no specific rules against vibe coding, but the apps have to adhere to longstanding guidelines. Apple specifically mentioned Guideline 2.5.2, which is the rule Anything apparently violated. Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user. "Anything" launched on iOS back in November with no issue, and Amin says the tool has been used to publish thousands of apps in the ‌App Store‌. The app let users create and preview vibe code apps on the iPhone, and it raised $11 million at a valuation of $100 million back in September. While Anything was removed from the ‌App Store‌ on March 26, Apple has been blocking updates to the app since December. Amin submitted an update that would allow vibe coded apps to be previewed in a web browser instead of in the app to attempt to comply with the 2.5.2 rule, but Apple blocked the update and pulled the app. Apple previously blocked iOS updates to Vibecode and Replit, vibe coding apps used to generate other apps.Tag: App Store This article, "Apple Pulls Vibe Coding App 'Anything' From App Store, Escalating Enforcement" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple is planning to introduce ads to the Apple Maps app in the near future, and the iOS 26.5 beta lays the groundwork for the feature. Code in the update says the following: "Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search." Apple also says that a user's location and ads interacted with in ‌Apple Maps‌ are not linked to an Apple account to protect user privacy. Apple does not plan to collect or store Maps app data, or share it with third parties. Last week, Apple said that ads are coming to the Apple Maps app for iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada "this summer." Businesses in the U.S. and Canada will be able to show ads in search results and at the top of a "Suggested Places" section in the app, which is new in iOS 26.5. Suggested Places displays recommendations for locations to visit based on trending places nearby, recent searches, and more. Ads in the Maps app will have a clear "Ad" label, much like the ads shown in the App Store search results.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: Apple MapsRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Lays Groundwork for Ads in Maps With iOS 26.5" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

For the last several months, Apple has been working on interoperability changes that are set to be implemented in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is developing AirPods-like pairing and notification forwarding for third-party wearables. Testing on these features started back in iOS 26.3 and continued in iOS 26.4, but the options have not yet launched. Apple is still testing them in iOS 26.5, and both notification forwarding and proximity pairing for wearables are included in the iOS 26.5 beta. Today's update also appears to include a new feature forwarding Live Activities to a third-party wearable device, so Live Activities will be included under the notification forwarding umbrella. Third-party wearables like earbuds will be able to use proximity pairing, similar to AirPods. Bringing a set of earbuds close to an iPhone or iPad will initiate an AirPods-like one-tap pairing process, so pairing third-party earbuds and other wearables will no longer require multiple steps. Apple is also planning to allow third-party accessories like smartwatches to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability currently limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications are only able to be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications on an Apple Watch. Apple has not provided details on when these features will launch in the European Union, but the European Commission said that Apple will roll them out in Europe in 2026. Developers can test third-party TVs, smartwatches, and headphones with the new options. The notification forwarding and proximity pairing features are only going to be available to device makers and users in the EU.Related Roundups: AirPods 4, iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: European UnionBuyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 26 This article, "Apple Testing AirPods-Like Pairing, Live Activities and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in EU With iOS 26.5" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple accidentally started rolling out Apple Intelligence features in China before receiving regulatory approval, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Some Chinese users began seeing ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features listed as available and active in the Settings app on their iPhones, but Apple made no formal announcement. Gurman says that Apple is not planning to launch the feature imminently, and that its availability was a mistake. Apple has since removed the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features. Gurman claims that Apple would not launch AI features in China without an announcement, nor would it launch AI in China in the middle of the night local time. The feature also currently uses Google reverse image search, and Google is banned in China. Apple has not been able to launch ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in China because the country restricts foreign AI technology. Apple is partnering with Alibaba to power ‌Apple Intelligence‌ capabilities, but Apple needs regulatory approval from China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC). The CAC has to test and approve all AI models before AI services are able to launch in China, and there have been ongoing delays with that process. It is unclear when ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will come to China, but Apple is eager to launch in the country. Chinese smartphone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi have a variety of AI features available to customers, which puts Apple far behind in the AI race.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Apple Intelligence, ChinaRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Intelligence Accidentally Goes Live in China Before Regulatory Approval" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The iOS 26.5 beta that Apple released today includes no new Apple Intelligence Siri functionality, which suggests we're going to be waiting until iOS 27 to see any of the promised ‌Siri‌ features. Apple was initially targeting iOS 26.4 for new ‌Siri‌ capabilities, but in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the company wasn't going to make that goal due to ongoing accuracy issues. He said that Apple could postpone some or all of the new ‌Siri‌ features until iOS 26.5 and ‌iOS 27‌. At the time, Apple engineers were apparently using iOS 26.5 for internal ‌Siri‌ testing, and the employees said the update included all of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features that Apple promised back at WWDC 2024, but there are no signs of those additions to ‌Siri‌ now that the beta is available to developers. It's possible that ‌Siri‌ features could come in a later beta of iOS 26.5, but that's looking less and less likely as we get closer to June and the ‌iOS 27‌ WWDC debut. Last week, Gurman said that ‌iOS 27‌ would include a standalone Siri chatbot app and all of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features, indicating members of the public won't get a smarter ‌Siri‌ until ‌iOS 27‌ launches in September 2026. When Apple introduced ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ in June 2024, it said the feature set would launch in an update to iOS 26 coming in 2025. When spring 2025 rolled around, Apple announced a delay and said that ‌Siri‌ was not ready and needed more time. After that setback, Apple made no promise other than saying the revamped version of ‌Siri‌ would launch in 2026. Behind-the-scenes rumors suggested Apple was targeting iOS 26.4 and development was further delayed, but Apple never publicly mentioned the iOS 26.4 update. As long as Apple launches the new ‌Siri‌ features before December 2026, it will be on track to deliver what it promised. The version of ‌Siri‌ that Apple has planned for ‌iOS 27‌ will go above and beyond what was demonstrated at WWDC 2024. ‌Siri‌ is turning into a full chatbot, with a standalone ‌Siri‌ app and feature set that will put the personal assistant on par with Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI chatbots.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, iOS 27Tag: SiriRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "New Siri Features Absent From iOS 26.5 Beta, Likely Pushed to iOS 27 in September" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple tested end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users in the iOS 26.4 beta, but Apple made it clear the functionality was not going to launch in the iOS 26.4 update. E2EE for ‌RCS‌ was removed before iOS 26.4 was released, but the feature is back in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple continues testing it. In the Messages section of the Settings app, the End-to-End Encryption toggle is back in the ‌RCS‌ options, and like before, it is turned on by default. End-to-end encryption ensures that messages sent between devices cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. Right now, ‌RCS‌ messages sent between Android and iPhone users do not have E2EE, but ‌RCS‌ messages between Android users do. iMessages exchanged between iPhone users have always had end-to-end encryption. E2EE is in beta and is not available to all devices or carriers in iOS 26.5. Conversations that are encrypted have a lock symbol.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Android, RCSRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "iOS 26.5 Beta Continues RCS End-to-End Encryption Testing for iPhone and Android Messages" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is set to end tomorrow, March 31, so you still have a little while to shop some of the best prices of the year so far on AirPods, MacBooks, and much more. In this article we're recapping all of the best deals you can still get before the event ends, including a few accessory sales. 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 The best current AirPods deal during the Big Spring Sale is the AirPods Pro 3 for $199.00, down from $249.00. You can also get a pre-order discount on the brand new AirPods Max 2. $50 OFFAirPods Pro 3 for $199.00 $19 OFFAirPods Max 2 for $529.99 Apple Watch Series 11 Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models. $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00 You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well. $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm Cell) for $399.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm Cell) for $429.00 M4 iPad Air Amazon is taking up to $100 off the brand new M4 iPad Air during its Big Spring Sale this week. Specifically, Amazon has up to $80 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership. $40 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air for $559.00 $50 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air for $749.00 The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis. M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro Amazon is offering new all-time low prices on Apple's M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro, with up to $149 off select models without the need of a membership or clipping a coupon. $149 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,049.99 $149 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/2TB) for $2,449.99 We're also tracking similar steep discounts on the 16-inch models, including a few M5 Max options. These discounts reach up to $199 off original prices, and as of writing we're only tracking these deals on Amazon. $149 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,549.99 $199 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB) for $2,899.99 Anker Anker's new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station has been marked down to $104.99 during the Big Spring Sale, down from $149.99, with no need for a coupon. This accessory just launched last month, and Amazon's sale today represents a new all-time low price. $45 OFFAnker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $104.99 The Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station features Qi2.2 support, which lets a compatible MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ charge at up to 25W. It's the same speed as Apple's ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and it is 10W faster than the standard Qi2 ‌MagSafe‌ chargers. You can also simultaneously charge an Apple Watch and AirPods with the device. There are plenty of other Anker discounts happening on Amazon this week, including the Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock back at its all-time low price of $339.99, down from $399.99. Anker's popular 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube is also down to a new all-time low price of $79.03, down from $129.99. $60 OFFAnker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99 Wall Chargers Nano USB-C Wall Charger - $27.99, down from $39.99 6-in-1 USB-C Power Strip - $59.99, down from $109.99 140W 4-Port GaN USB-C Charger - $89.99, down from $99.99 14-in-1 Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock - $339.99, down from $399.99 Wireless Chargers 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible UFO Charger - $69.99, down from $89.99 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Foldable Charging Station - $79.99, down from $109.99 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $79.03, down from $129.99 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station - $104.99, down from $149.99 Prime MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Charging Station - $149.99, down from $229.99 Portable Chargers SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $169.99, down from $249.00 Prime Power Bank 26,250 mAh - $199.99, down from $229.99 SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $428.99, down from $799.00 SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $749.00, down from $1,499.00 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, "Amazon Big Spring Sale Last Chance Deals: AirPods Pro 3, MacBook Pro, and More Best-Ever Prices" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today provided developers with the first betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple launched the 26.4 versions of 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. There's no word on what's 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. Apple will likely provide public beta testers with access to the tvOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5 betas in April, but visionOS 26.5 will remain limited to developers.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 Releases First watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today provided the first beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming six days after Apple launched ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4. 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. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 could introduce some Apple Intelligence Siri features, though recent rumors suggest the new capabilities will be held until iOS 27. The beta is limited to developers right now, but a public beta is expected in the next week or two.Related Roundup: macOS TahoeRelated Forum: macOS Tahoe This article, "First macOS Tahoe 26.5 Beta Now Available for Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4. 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. It's possible iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 will include new Apple Intelligence Siri features, but it's sounding like those capabilities are going to be held until iOS 27. Apple is planning to implement end-to-end encrypted RCS messages at some point, so that functionality could come in iOS 26.5, plus Apple has been planning to implement notification forwarding and proximity pairing for third-party wearables in the EU. It's not known what other features might be included in iOS 26.5, but we'll provide updates when we've installed the new software. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Apple Seeds First iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Betas to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

While it felt inevitable, it was still big news last week when Apple announced that the Mac Pro was discontinued after a nearly 20-year run. Apple discontinued a lot more than just the Mac Pro this month, though, as outlined below. Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM Apple no longer allows customers to configure the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM, with the maximum amount of unified memory now limited to 256GB. Apple has not publicly commented on removing the 512GB of RAM option, but it was likely because of the ongoing memory chip shortage, which has resulted in the price of RAM chips skyrocketing. It is possible that Apple could allow the Mac Studio to be configured with 512GB of RAM again one day, once supply catches up to demand. 14-inch MacBook Pro with 512GB of Storage The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips start with at least 1TB of storage, and Apple also decided to bump the minimum storage for the lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip to 1TB. This means the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 512GB of storage was discontinued. Keep in mind that the 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at $1,699, whereas a configuration with 512GB of storage previously started at $1,599. Pro Display XDR Apple discontinued the Pro Display XDR this month after releasing the Studio Display XDR, which effectively replaces it. Released alongside the 2019 Mac Pro, the Pro Display XDR featured a 32-inch screen with LED backlighting, 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 1,600 nits of brightness, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the monitor started at $4,999, but the optional Pro Stand cost $999 extra. The Studio Display XDR has a lot of superior features compared to the Pro Display XDR, including mini-LED backlighting, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to twice as much display brightness, speakers, a camera, Thunderbolt 5 support, and a lower $3,299 starting price that includes a stand. However, it has a smaller 27-inch screen. More Of course, Apple also discontinued previous-generation versions of the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and many other products this month, as we already listed.Related Roundups: Studio Display, Mac Studio, MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: Displays (Buy Now), Mac Studio (Caution), MacBook Pro (Buy Now), Mac Pro (Don't Buy)Related Forums: Mac Accessories, Mac Studio, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro This article, "Apple Discontinued More Than Just the Mac Pro This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

New images of an alleged iPhone 18 Pro prototype and screen protectors have emerged from multiple sources, adding weight to earlier reports that Apple plans to significantly shrink the Dynamic Island later this year. An X user called @earlyappleleaks recently shared an image purportedly showing a prototype ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ with a noticeably smaller ‌Dynamic Island‌. In the picture, the flashlight of another iPhone is held over the corner of the display, revealing a small circular punch-hole cutout under the display, which is presumably a relocated Face ID sensor. Moving TrueDepth camera components under the display would allow the ‌Dynamic Island‌ cutout itself to shrink considerably, and multiple earlier reports suggested ‌Face ID‌ will be the first component Apple plans to move beneath the screen. "Early Apple" is a relatively new account of unknown origin with no established track record, so the image should be taken with caution. iPhone 18 series bezel are the same as iPhone 17 and iPhone 16. But all three iPhone 18 reduce the width of Dynamic Island. pic.twitter.com/g50BKPPiws — Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) March 27, 2026 Separately, the leaker known as "Ice Universe," who has a decent track record for Apple leaks, shared an image of an alleged ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ screen protector showing dramatically smaller cutouts compared to the current design. The protector images appear to corroborate the alleged prototype photo, and similar images have since been proliferating across Chinese social media. The leaker known as "Majin Bu," citing the accumulating evidence, claims the ‌Dynamic Island‌ is set to shrink by as much as 35% compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. The fact that these accessories are starting to be produced suggests that manufacturers have a high level of confidence that the upcoming device will feature a smaller ‌Dynamic Island‌. Leaks about the iPhone 18 Pro have just appeared online, showing that the dynamic island has shrunk by 35% compared to previous models. pic.twitter.com/DFHbcig9sJ — Majin (@MajinBuofficia) March 29, 2026 There has been some disagreement among sources on the smaller ‌Dynamic Island‌, with some reports casting doubt on the rumors, but most of the evidence now appears to support the change. Ice Universe previously reported that the smaller ‌Dynamic Island‌ would be adopted across the full iPhone 18 lineup, not just the Pro models, while bezels on next-generation devices will apparently remain identical to those on the iPhone 17 series. Apple is expected to announce the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models alongside its first foldable iPhone this fall, with the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ arriving early next year as part of a new split-cycle launch strategy.Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 ProTags: Dynamic Island, Ice Universe, Majin BuRelated Forum: iPhone This article, "iPhone 18 Pro's Smaller Dynamic Island Revealed" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Just a few days after the iPhone Air received a big discount on Amazon in the United Kingdom, Best Buy today is offering customers in the United States a chance to get up to $200 off the smartphone. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You can get the 256GB iPhone Air for $799.99 ($200 off) if you activate the device through Verizon or AT&T. The retailer is also offering an unlocked version of the 256GB iPhone Air for $899.99 ($100 off). UP TO $200 OFFiPhone Air Starting at $799.99 These deals are available in Light Gold, Sky Blue, and Space Black for the 256GB model. You can also find similar discounts at up to $200 off the 512GB and 1TB models on Best Buy. This is Best Buy's deal of the day for today, so we only expect it to be around until later tonight. 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, "iPhone Air Discounts Continue With Up to $200 Off in Best Buy Flash Sale" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple's Irish subsidiary has been fined £390,000 ($516,110) by the UK government for making payments to a sanctioned Russian streaming platform in 2022. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) said that Apple Distribution International Ltd. (ADI), the Republic of Ireland-based entity Apple uses to pay App Store developers, made two payments totaling £635,618 to Okko LLC, a Russian video streaming platform, in June and July 2022, at a time when Okko was subject to UK sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The payments were routed through UK banks. ADI voluntarily disclosed the payments to OFSI, and the agency confirmed that no breach had been attributed to Apple Inc. itself, only to the subsidiary. In a statement, Apple said: We follow the laws in the countries where we operate and take sanctions compliance extremely seriously. After identifying two payments to a developer that days earlier had become affiliated with a sanctioned entity, we promptly and proactively reported our finding to the UK government. We are constantly working to enhance our already robust compliance protocols, which are consistent with industry standards. OFSI said Apple had relied on corporate affiliates to handle payment processing, sanctions screening, and due diligence, but that companies are ultimately responsible for ensuring their own compliance with financial sanctions rules. Tags: Ireland, Russia, United Kingdom This article, "Apple Subsidiary Fined Over $500,000 for Breaching Russian Sanctions" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Apple is preparing to launch an iMac featuring an OLED panel with higher brightness, according to ZDNet Korea. Apple has apparently requested that Samsung Display, LG Display, and other suppliers produce 24-inch OLED panel samples suitable for a future ‌iMac‌ model using their mass-production facilities. This would be the biggest ever OLED display offered on an Apple device. Specifically, Apple asked suppliers for 24-inch OLED panels with 600 nits of brightness and around 218 pixels-per-inch (PPI).By comparison, the current ‌iMac‌ features a 24-inch LCD display with 500 nits of brightness and 218 PPI. Samsung Display is expected to respond first, planning to produce 220 PPI samples on its large-format Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) production lines and ship them to Apple in the second half of 2026. This would be a considerable step up from the 160 PPI QD-OLED panels it currently mass-produces for monitors. SEMES announced earlier this month that it had shipped inkjet printing equipment to Samsung capable of supporting the higher pixel density. LG Display's samples are expected to follow those of Samsung, and may not be as bright due to using color filters rather than a quantum dot color conversion layer. Instead of using its existing 4-stack W-OLED panels, the company reportedly plans to compete using a still-in-development 5-stack design that adds a green layer for better brightness. LG Display is also developing "eLEAP" technology, referred to internally as "fLEAP," which eliminates the need for Fine Metal Masks (FMM), for a selection of future Apple device displays, including the ‌iMac‌ and MacBook. Apple purportedly wants to launch the OLED ‌iMac‌ in 2029 or 2030. For now, the ‌iMac‌ is due an upgrade to the M5 chip. Apple last refreshed the machine with the M4 chip and a 12MP Center Stage camera in October 2024. Related Roundup: iMacTag: OLEDBuyer's Guide: iMac (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iMac This article, "Apple Reportedly Planning to Launch iMac With OLED Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Smooth operators Jungle are bringing the groove back down under, locking in a run of massive Australian arena shows for March 2027 – and honestly, it’s about time we got another dancefloor takeover of this calibre. Off the back of their breakout era with 2023’s Volcano (aka the album that gave us the unstoppable Back On 74 and scored them their first BRIT Award), the London trio are levelling up once again with a brand new record Sunshine, due August 14. Leading the charge is new single Carry On, already making waves after landing Radio 1’s Hottest Record – a strong early sign that Jungle’s signature blend of slick funk, neo-soul and euphoric pop isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Jungle – ‘Carry On’ The Aussie leg of the tour will see J Lloyd, Tom McFarland and Lydia Kitto hit four major cities, bringing their full-scale live show – tight choreography, silky grooves, and all – to some of the country’s biggest stages in the country. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to catch Jungle live, you’ll know it’s less “gig” and more full-body experience. If you haven’t? Stretch beforehand. Tickets are on sale now, with pre-orders of Sunshine unlocking early access – so if you’re keen to secure your spot in what will almost certainly be one of 2027’s sweatiest (and smoothest) dance parties, you know what to do. Globally, the tour is a proper victory lap, with arena dates across North America and Europe – including a huge hometown show at London’s O2 – but let’s be real… the real magic will be happening right here when Jungle touch down next March. Suss the details down below. Jungle Sunshine 2027 Australian Tour Dates March 2 – Brisbane – Entertainment Centre March 4 – Sydney – Qudos Bank Arena March 6 – Melbourne – Rod Laver Arena March 10 – Perth – RAC Arena Tickets on sale now via Live Nation Further Reading Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2023: 100-1 LAUREL Slows Down Jungle’s ‘Happy Man’ For Like A Version GIG Reviews: Laneway Festival 2015 The post Jungle Announce Huge 2027 Australian Arena Tour + New Album ‘Sunshine’ appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

Swedish theatrical metal maniacs Avatar are officially heading back to Australia this August – and if their last visit taught us anything, it’s that this is not your average night in the pit. Returning off the back of their 2023 run, Avatar are bringing their full-blown gothic circus back down under in support of their upcoming tenth studio album Don’t Go In The Forest. Expect the usual chaos: razor-sharp riffs, massive singalongs, and frontman Johannes Eckerström in full ringmaster mode – somewhere between unhinged preacher and theatrical overlord. AVATAR – ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ If Dance Devil Dance was the moment Australia collectively realised just how hard this band goes live (hi, #1 on the iTunes Rock & Metal chart), this next chapter is shaping up to go even bigger, darker and weirder. The new record leans fully into Avatar’s love of storytelling and world-building – which means these shows won’t just be gigs, they’ll feel like stepping into some cursed, carnivalesque universe where anything could happen (and probably will). And look, we’ll say it: Avatar might genuinely be one of the most underrated live bands in heavy music right now. No half-measures, no standing around nodding – just pure, theatrical, all-in commitment from the second they hit the stage. Peep the details down below. Avatar 2026 Australian Tour Dates Wednesday 26th August ADELAIDE, Lion Arts Factory Friday 28th August MELBOURNE, Northcote Theatre Saturday 29th August SYDNEY, Manning Bar Sunday 30th August BRISBANE, Princess Theatre Tickets on sale now via The Phoenix Further Reading Hellbound II Lineup: Parkway Drive, Thy Art Is Murder + MORE Sydney’s Crowbar To Host Official Wacken Open Air Warm-Up Party This April Watch Arch Enemy Debut New Aussie Vocalist Lauren Hart Live The post Swedish Metallers Avatar Announce 2026 Australian Tour Dates appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

triple j’s Like A Version has seen its fair share of iconic moments over the years – but this one? Straight-up history-making. Rising Noongar Wongi artist INKABEE has officially become the youngest artist ever to step into the studio, taking on the beloved segment at just 13 years old. Backed by a full band for the very first time, INKABEE put a soulful, contemporary spin on Black Eyed Peas’ early-2000s anthem Where Is The Love?, blending smooth R&B textures with sharp, confident bars. It’s a track that clearly means something to him too, and that sense of purpose cuts through every moment of the performance, which capped off a stacked March itinerary that saw triple j double the LAV love across the month. Inkabee covers Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Where Is The Love?’ for Like A Version “Me and my mum were driving in the car and we already had our Like A Version song picked out,” the talented teen told the j’s. “But we were just listening to songs and ‘Where Is The Love?’ came on. We were listening and I just thought it’s the most perfect song for how the world is right now.” The result was seriously impressive debut that balances technical skill with heart, as INKABEE seamlessly moves between melody and flow before lifting the final chorus into full goosebump territory. It’s a powerful statement from an artist who’s already making waves, and doing it with a clear mission: putting his mob, his culture and Indigenous excellence firmly on the map. With his debut mixtape on the way (dropping on his 14th birthday, no less), plus a growing catalogue of originals like Vibez, this feels like the beginning of something big. Watch INKABEE make Like A Version history in the viddy up above. Further Reading triple j Doubles Like A Version For March: Turnstile, The Veronicas + More Locked In Dominic Fike Just Broke Like A Version History With A 26-Second South Park Cover Watch The Amity Affliction Take On Turnstile For Their First Ever ‘Like A Version’ The post WATCH: 13yo Inkabee Becomes The Youngest Artist In ‘Like A Version’ History appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article

It’s been a messy one for fans of hip-hop royalty Wu-Tang Clan, with Ticketek stepping in to offer refunds following multiple member no-shows across the group’s recent East Coast Australian dates. The tour – heavily promoted as featuring “all members” and billed as the group’s “final” Australian run – kicked off in Brisbane last week, but quickly drew backlash when several key names failed to appear on stage. While it was flagged ahead of time that Method Man wouldn’t be making the trip as planned, fans in Melbourne and Sydney were blindsided to find that Raekwon, Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard were also MIA – despite no prior announcement. Following the fallout (and some very loud social media reactions), Ticketek confirmed that “a couple of members” were unable to join the remaining shows due to “unforeseen circumstances,” while assuring fans the group would still deliver the goods live. They also offered refunds to anyone no longer keen to attend (pretty rare move for a tour of this scale). For those who did roll through, the shows still featured a stacked lineup including RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and U-God – aka enough legends to still blow the roof off most venues. But given the tour’s “all members” promise (and the emotional weight of a supposed farewell run), it’s no surprise some fans felt short-changed. Moral of the story? Wu-Tang may be forever… but tour lineups, apparently, are not guaranteed. Further Reading Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Australian Tour With All Members RZA Is Suing Wu-Tang Clan Merch Bootleggers for $2 Million USD The US Government Has Sold Martin Shkreli’s Rare Wu-Tang Clan Album The post Aussie Wu-Tang Clan Fans Offered Refunds After Multiple Members MIA From Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. View the full article