General

Best Buy kicked off a new Winter Sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones and speakers, monitors, appliances, and much more. This sale is set to last through January 19, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to see the deals. 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. In terms of Apple devices, you can find so

Apple Arcade will be adding another four games on Thursday, February 5, with complete details about each game outlined in Apple's announcement. Retrocade will allow Apple Vision Pro users to play classic arcade games like Asteroids, PAC-MAN, Breakout, Galaga, and Space Invaders in an immersive 3D environment, complete with leaderboards, daily challenges, and more. An arcade edition of the popular PC game Sid Meier's Civilization VII is also coming to Apple Arcade next month, across

Apple is planning to use advanced liquid metal and improved titanium alloys for its first foldable iPhone, according to new supply-chain information. According to the Korean Naver user known as "yeux1122," citing a material company source, the hinge used in Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ will be made from liquid metal, an "amorphous" material Apple has been exploring for over 15 years. The main body of the device will apparently use a revised titanium material that improves strength whi

While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around nine months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous rumors, the leaker claimed that both of the models will have a breakthrough new feature: under-scre

You can get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00 today on Amazon, down from $999.00. You'll find similar $200 discounts across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and all of these deals are being matched at Best Buy. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00,

Apple this week released another firmware update for the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, but there are no specific details about what it includes. The latest iPhone Air MagSafe Battery firmware has a version number of 8B32, up from 8B25. In the Settings app on the iPhone Air, the new firmware is listed as version 101.0, while the previous firmware was listed as version 99.0 in the app. New Firmware: 101.0 (Version) / 8B32 (Build) Previous Firmware: 99.0 (Version) / 8B25 (Build)Apple

Apple is confronting a newly intensified supply-chain challenge for future chips as the AI boom has created a global shortage of a key material, Nikkei Asia reports. Apple is said to be struggling to secure sufficient supplies of high-end glass cloth fiber, a material that plays a critical role in the printed circuit boards and chip substrates used in iPhones and other devices. The most advanced forms of this glass cloth are apparently produced almost entirely by one supplier, Nitto Bose

Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide emotional support Assist with more tasks, such as booking travel Create a document in the Notes app with information, such as a cooking recipeThe report sa

Shazam has published its annual Fast Forward list, and an accompanying Apple Music playlist. The list takes a look ahead at some of the most exciting music artists who are being discovered through the song identification tool. 2026's list features more than 60 music artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year. Here is how Apple describes this year's playlist:Some well-known music artists, including Benson Boone, Ice Spice, and Ayra Starr, were featured in Shazam's previous Fast Fo

Alongside the news that Pixelmator Pro is coming to the iPad, Apple has confirmed that the more basic Pixelmator app for the iPhone and iPad will no longer be updated. From the Pixelmator Pro page on Apple's website:The classic Pixelmator app offers more basic image editing tools, whereas Pixelmator Pro for iPad will be a fully-featured, professional image editing app. Pixelmator Pro for iPad features a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive

Apple today released a firmware update for the AirPods Pro 3. The latest firmware has a version number of 8B34, up from the previous version 8B30. Apple has a support document for AirPods firmware updates, but it has yet to be updated to reflect the 8B34 update. There can sometimes be new features, but most often the release notes simply mention unspecified bug fixes and improvements. How to install AirPods Pro firmware updates, according to Apple: Make sure that your iPhone, iPa

If you are not interested in subscribing to the new Apple Creator Studio bundle introduced today, you will officially start to miss out on some new features. Apple said some "exciting new intelligent features and premium content" in Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform will only be accessible with a Creator Studio subscription. In the U.S., a subscription costs $12.99 per month, or $129 per year, while college students can pay a lower $2.99 per month or $2

Samsung has introduced a new batch of discounts across its most popular monitors and TVs this week, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame and the Smart Monitor series. These deals have all been applied automatically on Samsung's website, and many match all-time low prices on these products. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Starting with monit

Apple today shared a new "Slide" ad that highlights the Ceramic Shield 2 cover glass on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The ad shows an ongoing negotiation, during which an iPhone 17 Pro with the screen facing down is slid back and forth across a long table. Apple says the Ceramic Shield 2 above the screen offers 3× better scratch resistance compared to the iPhone 16 lineup, and it says the material is tougher than any smartphone glass or glass-ceramic mix. "Rel

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates to public beta testers, with the updates coming four weeks after Apple provided the first betas to testers. Anyone can download and install public betas, and all that's required is to sign up on Apple's beta site. Once you've opted in, the software can be downloaded through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. iOS 26.3 adds a new tool for transitioni

Apple today provided public beta testers with the second release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the second beta to developers. After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app. We don't know about any new features in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 as of yet, but Apple might introduce new capabilities in la

Apple is preparing to mass-produce its own AI-focused server chips in the second half of 2026 amid reliance on a short-term partnership with Google to meet immediate AI expectations, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a new post on X, Kuo said that Apple is facing mounting short-term pressure in artificial intelligence that is shaping its current strategy, even as it continues to pursue long-term control over core AI technologies. Kuo explained that Apple has encountered two imm

Starting with the iOS 26.3 beta, Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for carriers to be able to support end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, and that news could actually have even bigger implications for the Messages app on the iPhone. In order to offer E2EE for RCS, iOS 26.3 or later would need to support RCS Universal Profile 3.0, which includes many iMessage-like enhancements for RCS:End-to-end encryption, which will prevent Apple and any other third party from being a

Apple today announced that Pixelmator Pro is coming to the iPad, complete with a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version. Pixelmator Pro is a popular image editing app that was acquired by Apple last year. There is already a more basic Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone, and now the full-fledged Pixelmator Pro experience is coming to the iPad. Apple sa

Amazon this week is back with big discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The highlight this time around is the 1TB Wi-Fi 13-inch M5 iPad Pro with Nano-Texture Glass, which is on sale for $1,799.00, down from $1,999.00. 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. Many of the deals in this sale match — or bea

Apple today introduced a new Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, and premium features in iWork apps, for $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Apple Creator Studio includes access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro on the Mac and iPad, as well as Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac. Plus, it unlocks premium AI features and content across the iWork apps Keynote, Pages, and Numbers across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and later in the Freeform app

Apple appears close to supporting end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, almost a year after the GSM Association said it was working to implement the privacy feature for messages sent between Android and iPhone devices. As shared by Tiino-X83 on X (Twitter), the latest iOS 26.3 beta includes references to a new carrier bundle setting that will let carriers enable and disable E2EE for RCS messages. It's possible that the setting relates to making the encryption status of mes

Apple's Mac business ended 2025 with flat year-over-year shipments in the holiday quarter despite a broader rebound in the global PC market, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). The findings suggest that global PC shipments rose 9.6% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 76.4 million units, exceeding expectations as brands accelerated purchases ahead of anticipated supply constraints and component price increases. Within that total, Apple shipped 7.1 million M

Apple's U.S. patent activity declined sharply in 2025 amid a broader slowdown in patent filings, according to newly released data from IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. The data shows that Apple was granted 2,722 U.S. patents in 2025, down from 3,082 in 2024, a year-over-year decline of roughly 12% that pushed the company down two positions to sixth place in IFI's annual ranking of the top 50 recipients of U.S. patent grants. The shift marks a notable change for Apple at a time when its spendi

Apple's retail store in Santa Rosa, California will be moving from the Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall to the open-air Montgomery Village shopping plaza later this month. Apple Santa Rosa Plaza The new store at Montgomery Village will be holding its grand opening on Friday, January 23, at 12 p.m. local time, according to Apple's website. Apple's existing store at the Santa Rosa Plaza opened in 2004. Elsewhere in California, Apple continues to renovate its store in Carlsbad, north

Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London, England is temporarily closed starting today for "refurbishment," the company said on its website. Apple has not indicated when the store will reopen, but a source familiar with the matter indicated that the location will likely be closed for at least a few weeks. It is unclear if Apple is planning any changes that will be visible to customers, but the company has been removing the Video Wall from some of it stores in recent months. Many ne

Elon Musk today expressed concern about Apple and Google partnering on a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google's generative AI platform Gemini. "This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that [they] also have Android and Chrome," wrote Musk, in a post on X. Musk serves as CEO of xAI, the company behind Gemini competitor Grok. It is unlikely that Apple or Google will publicly respond to Musk's comment, but we will update this story if

On iOS 18.2 and later, there is a Share Item Location feature in the Find My app that allows you to temporarily share the location of an AirTag-equipped item with others, including employees at participating airlines. This way, if you put an AirTag inside your bags, the airline can better help you find them in the event they are lost or delayed at the airport. The feature also works with other item trackers that support Apple's Find My network, such as those sold by Chipolo and Pebblebee

Apple today announced that 2025 was a "record-breaking year" for many of its services, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. "Apple services had a banner year, rolling out game-changing features for customers while shattering records," said Apple's services chief Eddy Cue, in a press release. "The numbers reflect the incredible enthusiasm of our customers, whether it's downloading an exciting new app or game, watching the hottest new show with family and fri

Apple today provided the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming four weeks after the launch of the first beta. Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 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. There's no word yet on what's included in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3, an

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming four weeks after the release of the first 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, although it appears over-the-air updates may still be rolling out. The downloads are already available from Apple's Developer site. iOS 26.3 add

Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 betas for testing purposes. The software comes four weeks after Apple provided the first betas. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and tvOS 26.3, and nothing new has been discovere

Google today announced that its AI platform Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features. "Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," said Google, in a statement. "These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this y

iOS 26.3 will likely be released to the public later this month, but it appears that Apple is preparing to push out another software update in the interim. Apple's software engineers have started testing iOS 26.2.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The update will likely be released at some point this week or next week. iOS 26.2.1 should be a minor update with bug fixes and/or security patches. iOS 26.3 is e

Satechi announced a few products at CES last week, and to mark the launch it's providing a 20 percent discount on these devices for early adopters. You can use the code CES2026 at checkout to get 20 percent off all five of Satechi's newest products. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Satechi. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Satechi's new CES 2026 products include two wireless keyboards, a wireles

In a statement shared with CNBC today, Apple confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement said. The report explicitly mentioned that Google Gemini will power Siri, as was expected. Ap

Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.99 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $129 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid se

A detailed new report from SemiAnalysis argues that while Apple's partnership with TSMC created the modern leading-edge foundry model, the rapid rise of AI computing is changing who pays for new chip technologies and how much influence Apple holds over each new manufacturing node. The report traces how Apple became the single most important customer in the global semiconductor industry by committing early and at scale to new manufacturing processes at TSMC, beginning with the A8 chip in

In mid-December, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 26.3. So far, the upcoming software update includes a couple of new features for iPhones. iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so thereby it is likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. Below, we recap what is new in the iOS 26.3 beta so far. iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 make

Google has confirmed that its Chrome 150 browser update coming later this year will be the last version to support macOS Monterey. Going forward, Chrome 150 and later versions will no longer support macOS 12, which Apple released in October 2021. In a platform status update, Google says that on Macs running Monterey, Chrome 150 will continue to work, but the browser will display a warning infobar and will not update any further. For new installations of Chrome 151+, macOS 13 or newer wil

Apple emerged as the global smartphone market leader in 2025, capturing a 20% market share with 10% year-over-year shipment growth – the highest among the top five brands, according to data released today by Counterpoint Research. Global smartphone shipments grew 2% year-over-year in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of growth. Counterpoint said the market was driven by more consumers taking advantage of financing options to upgrade to premium devices, as well as increasing adopt

Apple and other smartphone manufacturers are resisting an Indian government proposal that would require them to hand over source code for security review, reports Reuters. The proposal is included in a package of 83 security standards that India is considering as legal requirements, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to boost security of user data following increases in online fraud and data breaches in the country. Beyond routine measures like notifying the governme

Amazon and Best Buy this weekend have all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. 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

Even without any announcements from Apple, CES dominated tech news this week with a host of upcoming products and technologies being demonstrated at the annual expo in Las Vegas. Other news in the Apple world this week included official word that the Apple Card will shift from Goldman Sachs to Chase, while iOS 26 appears to be showing extremely slow adoption rates amid the controversial Liquid Glass redesign, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! Top Storie

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the MacBook Pro, unveiled by Steve Jobs as a "One More Thing" segment at the end of his Macworld San Francisco keynote on January 10, 2006. The MacBook Pro was an evolution of the previous PowerBook as the professional-level laptop in Apple's lineup, but with the shift from PowerPC chips to Intel Core chips, Apple decided to launch a rebrand. The ‌MacBook Pro‌ was initially available only in a 15-inch size, with a 17-inch model foll

Back in late 2022 and early 2023, Apple rolled out a new architecture for its Apple Home platform to deliver improved performance and compatibility, although the rollout came with some hiccups that forced Apple to pull and later re-release the upgrade. Three years later, Apple is now on the verge of ending support for the old version of the Home architecture, which may result in access to the entire Home platform being blocked for some users if they do not or cannot update. The deadline

In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan, and Edward Markey have requested that Apple and Google remove X Corp's X and Grok apps from their app stores over recent incidents of "mass generation of nonconsensual sexualized images of women and children." X has come under fire over the past week amid reports of Grok's AI image generation capabilities being used to create images depicting women and children in bikinis or underwear.

Apple this week secured another victory in its ongoing legal dispute with heart monitoring company AliveCor, after a federal appeals court upheld a 2024 ruling that found Apple's changes to the Apple Watch were lawful product improvements rather than anticompetitive behavior. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision that rejected AliveCor's antitrust claims. AliveCor had argued that Apple illegally monopolized the market for heart rate analysis apps on watchOS w

2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next 12 months from Apple's multi-pronged MacBook offering. Got your eye on a particular model? Let us

We tracked big discounts during the first full week of 2026, including a new record low price on the Apple Pencil Pro and pre-order discounts on Anker's just-announced collection of Nano chargers. Below you'll also find solid discounts on iPad mini 7, AirPods 4, and M5 MacBook Pro. 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. Anker What's the dea

Spam and cold calls have become such a nuisance that many people simply don't answer their phone unless they recognize the number. In iOS 26, though, you can learn about who's calling before you respond, thanks to a clever feature that intercepts unknown calls and asks the caller to identify themselves before your iPhone even rings. The "Ask Reason for Calling" feature is kind of like having your own receptionist. When someone who isn't in your Contacts calls, your iPhone automatically a

The Unicode Consortium has published a draft list of emoji that could come to smartphones and other devices in the future. The list shared by Emojipedia outlines 19 emoji candidates under consideration for Emoji 18.0, which is expected to be finalized in September 2026. Among the proposed additions are a squinting face emoji, left- and right-pointing thumb gestures, a pickle, a lighthouse, a meteor, an eraser, and a net with a handle. The draft list also includes a monarch butterfly emoj

The iPhone Fold will be the first Apple device to adopt a Samsung-made OLED technology called CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation), which could make the display brighter and thinner than previous panels, reports The Elec. In a traditional OLED panel, a polarizing film sits above the display to cut reflections and improve contrast. The drawback is that this film also absorbs some of the OLED's own light, reducing brightness and efficiency. With CoE, Apple would remove the polarizer entirel

iOS 26 is showing unusually slow adoption among iPhone users months after release, according to third-party analytics. Usage data published by StatCounter (via Cult of Mac) for January 2026 indicates that only around 15 to 16% of active iPhones worldwide are running any version of ‌iOS 26‌. The breakdown shows iOS 26.1 accounting for approximately 10.6% of devices, iOS 26.2 for about 4.6%, and the original iOS 26.0 release at roughly 1.1%. In contrast, more than 60% of iPhones tracked by

Apple CEO Tim Cook earned $74.3 million in 2025, down slightly from $74.6 million in 2024, Apple said in its annual proxy filing released today. Cook's earnings included a $3 million base salary that has remained the same since 2016, $57.5 million in stock awards, $12 million in performance-based cash awards, and $1.76 million in other compensation, such as 401(k) contributions, life insurance premiums, vacation cash-out, security expenses, and personal air travel expenses. For efficienc

Apple's 2026 shareholders meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, according to an SEC filing that was released today. Apple shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026, can attend, vote, and submit questions during the meeting by logging in to Apple's virtual meeting website 15 minutes before it kicks off. A control number included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that's provided to shareholders is required to join. At the m

Apple is once again testing its new Background Security Improvement feature that first rolled out in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Following a previous test earlier this week, developers and public beta testers who are running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 can now install a second Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes. Apple says Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari

Apple has lost another senior figure from its Safari team as a lead designer departs for The Browser Company, extending a pattern of high-profile exits from Apple's browser team amid intensifying competition around AI-driven browsing. Marco Triverio was a lead designer for Safari and has now joined The Browser Company, the developer of the Arc and Dia browsers. The move was confirmed by The Browser Company chief executive Josh Miller in a post on X, marking the latest in a series of hire

CES 2026 runs through tomorrow, but most of the media announcements and events have already taken place and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera is wrapping things up with our third video highlighting some of the neat tech innovations being demoed on the show floor. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Among the new introductions this week are several from Clicks, the company that previously brought the BlackBerry-like physical Clicks Keyboard to the iPhone. ‌CES 2026

With Tim Cook having recently turned 65 years old and a number of other senior Apple executives having already departed in recent months or heading for the exits, there has been significant focus on Apple's plans for who will succeed Cook as CEO. Several recent reports have identified Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, as likely to be named the next Apple CEO, and The New York Times has now shared a profile of Ternus with some context on his expertise and

Amazon today has dropped the price of the new M5 MacBook Pro to $1,449.00, down from $1,599.00. This is the 10-Core model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, and it's a solid second-best price on the M5 MacBook Pro. 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. Additionally, the 16GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro has hit $1,599.99 on Amazon, which is a $199 discount on t

Google today made three Gmail AI features free for all personal account holders in the United States, removing the subscription requirement that previously locked them behind its Google AI Pro or Ultra tiers. "Help Me Write" allows users to enter prompts to draft entire emails from scratch. Like Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools, Help Me Write includes refinement options like Formalize, Elaborate, and Shorten, and users can also apply Polish to messages they've already written. The feat

Apple Music is now available as an extension within ChatGPT, meaning you can search for songs, create playlists, and discover new music through OpenAI's chatbot. Here's how to set it up and what makes it worth using. What You Can Do With Apple Music in ChatGPT ChatGPT's integration with Apple Music has the potential to change how you discover new music by letting you describe what you're looking for in natural language. Instead of typing specific search terms like you would in Apple M

Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,

Apple's annual "Back to School" or "Back to Uni" promotion has returned this week in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea. From January 6 through March 11, qualifying higher-education students and staff in these countries can receive a free or discounted accessory with the purchase of select Mac and iPad models, similar to previous promotions that launched in the United States and a number of other countries last June and July. For each device type, there is at least one

Though it's been just a few months since iOS 26 launched, we're already hearing rumors about the next-generation version of iOS, iOS 27. iOS 27 will be introduced at Apple's June WWDC 2026 event before it launches in September 2026. We don't know all of the details about iOS 27 yet, but we do have some information about what to expect. "Snow Leopard" Update iOS 27 will apparently focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements to boost performance rather than new features. It'

The Xthings Ultraloq Bolt Sense is a smart lock that incorporates biometric authentication and Matter support. The Bolt Sense is able to identify a person through 3D facial recognition and palm vein authentication. Xthings says the dual biometric approach is meant to be more secure than traditional biometric unlocking methods, but it may also exist because few companies have managed to master facial recognition as accurate as Face ID. The extra palm scan, which identifies an individual's

JPMorgan Chase has reached a deal to take over operation of the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. Barring any "last minute hiccups," the deal should be announced shortly after over a year of negotiations. Reports began circulating over two years ago that current Apple Card issuer Goldman Sachs was looking to end its partnership with Apple as part of an effort to scale back on consumer banking products amid steep losses. According to The Wall Street Journal, Goldman Sachs

ESR is updating its line of CryoBoost chargers, adding new Qi2.2 options that can charge an iPhone 17 at up to 25W. CryoBoost is ESR's feature that uses active cooling to improve wireless charging speeds. The $90 CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station has a compact design that's ideal for travel. It folds down to 15.8mm, but can charge an iPhone at up to 25W, an Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time. The $100 CryoBoost 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station offers the sam

OpenAI today announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated section of ChatGPT where users can ask health-related questions completely separated from their main ChatGPT experience. For more personalized responses, users can connect various health data services such as Apple Health, Function, MyFitnessPal, Weight Watchers, AllTrails, Instacart, and Peloton. Last month, MacRumors discovered icons related to Apple Health within the ChatGPT app, and today's announcement makes the integr

Best Buy today has a match of the record low price on the AirPods Pro 3, available for $199.99, down from $249.00. This is the first time in 2026 that we've tracked the AirPods Pro 3 at this low price, which matches the best deal we saw over the holiday season. Right now, only Best Buy has this best-ever price on the AirPods Pro 3. 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 ke

LIFX, known for its smart lighting options, debuted a new SuperColor Mirror at CES 2026. The SuperColor Mirror features both front and back lighting options, and it connects to an Apple Home setup using Matter. There are lighting modes like Make Up Check and Anti-Fog that users can select, plus brightness and color can be adjusted. LIFX says that other Matter-enabled devices can be controlled using three physical buttons that are on the mirror. The mirror features polychrome blended

WhatsApp announced three new group chat features today, expanding how users can interact and add context to their role within conversations involving many participants. The Meta-owned messaging app is rolling out Member Tags, Text Stickers, and Event Reminders, all of which are designed to give group chats more flexibility and organization. Member Tags let you assign yourself different roles in different group chats for more context – so you can be "Coach" in one thread and "Dad" in

Spotify is bringing its long-running Listening Activity feature to its mobile apps, so now you can see what your friends are listening to on the streaming service when you're away from your desk. For years, Spotify's desktop app has allowed users to check on their friends' listening habits via a Friend Activity sidebar, but the ability has not been available on iOS and Android apps until now. If you're familiar with Listening Activity, its appearance on mobile shouldn't throw up an

Amazon this week is offering discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The highlight this time around is the 2TB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, which is on sale for $1,480.80 with an on-page coupon, a massive discount of $518 on the original price of $1,999.00. 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. Otherwise

Dell announced the UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor at CES 2026, billing it as the "world's first 52-inch 6K display." At 52 inches, the ultra-wide curved monitor features a 21:9 aspect ratio with 6,144 x 2,560 resolution at 129 pixels per inch and supports refresh rates up to 120Hz. The display uses IPS Black panel technology for deeper blacks and improved contrast compared to standard IPS panels, with brightness listed as 400 cd/m. Dell says it emits up to 60% less blue ligh

Logitech users on macOS found themselves locked out of their mouse customizations yesterday after the company let a security certificate expire, breaking both its Logi Options+ and G HUB configuration apps. Logitech devices like its MX Master series mice and MX Keys keyboards stopped working properly as a result of the oversight, with users unable to access their custom scrolling setup, button mappings, and gestures. It wasn't long before the Logitech subreddit was awash with frustrated

Apple is exploring multispectral imaging technology for future iPhone cameras that could improve Visual Intelligence, enhance material detection, and boost image processing, according to a new supply chain rumor out of China. In a post on Weibo, leaker Digital Chat Station said Apple is currently evaluating components related to multispectral imaging within the supply chain, but cautioned that formal testing has not yet begun, suggesting the technology remains at an exploratory stage.

Apple's adoption of a 200-megapixel camera for a future iPhone is still some ways off, according to a prominent supply chain leaker who says such a sensor is not currently part of Apple's active prototype testing. In a post on Weibo, Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station said that 200-megapixel camera sensors are being discussed in the supply chain, but they have not appeared in iPhone engineering prototypes undergoing real-world imaging tests. Instead, Apple's current camera development w

Lighting company Signify today announced a new SpatialAware scene feature that's coming to Philips Hue lights. SpatialAware scenes take into account the position of all of the Hue lights in a room, using an algorithm to distribute light in a more natural way. The savannah sunset scene with SpatialAware The SpatialAware feature analyzes the layout of each room in the home with Hue lights, and then lighting scenes are tailored to your personal space. Lighting is meant to feel more immersive

At CES 2026, Google announced some new Gemini features that it's bringing to Google TVs. Google TV is built into some TV sets and set-top boxes, and while it may not be immediately relevant to many Apple users, it does give us a look at what AI can do on a TV set. Gemini on Google TV will be able to answer queries with a "visually rich framework" that offers up imagery, videos, and real-time sports updates. A "Deep Dives" feature will give users narrated, interactive overviews of a topic

Aukey introduced a new desktop charging option this week, debuting the $150 MagFusion DeskHive 5X Pro. The DeskHive is a 5-in-1 charging solution that combines wired and wireless charging in a compact desktop box. Measuring in at 3.76 x 3.76 x 3.07 inches, the DeskHive includes two retractable USB-C cables, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and a Qi2.2 25W charger for wirelessly charging the iPhone. The magnetic charger has an adjustable hinge so it can be positioned at different angles for vi

GE Lighting this week unveiled Matter-compatible GE Smart Shades that are able to integrate with the Apple Home app. Priced starting at $300, the Smart Shades offer simple, screw-free installation, with white and gray fabric options. The shades can be purchased in a translucent fabric to let light through, or a blackout version. All options have aluminum trim and no visible hardware. The motorized shades are designed to raise or lower via an included remote control, the Apple Home app, S

SwitchBot, known for its Matter-enabled smart vacuums and other smart home products, today introduced the Onero H1, a robot that is meant to automate household chores. The AI robot has a rolling base, a tube-shaped body, and flexible arms. SwitchBot says that it is designed to learn, adapt, and work in coordination with existing SwitchBot robots like vacuums. It does not have a single function, and is instead meant to adapt to multiple cleaning scenarios. The Onero H1 combines visua

Senso is a gamified plant sensor that's designed to use AI to improve plant care. It is supposed to track soil moisture, temperature, and light exposure data in real time, and there is a little pixel creature that delivers AI insights. The pixel creature awakens once the sensor is placed in soil, and users can complete daily and weekly plant care missions to collect rewards and unlock new characters. The sensor has a modular design with different depth options, and multiple sensors for m

Intel introduced its latest processors at CES 2026, debuting the "Panther Lake" Intel Core Ultra Series 3. The chips are the most advanced manufactured in the U.S., according to Intel, and they are built on Intel's 18A process. 18A, or 18-angstrom, is the most advanced node Intel has designed to date, but Intel continues to trail TSMC. TSMC is developing Apple's next-generation 2nm chips, and they are expected to have higher transistor density and efficiency than Intel's 18A chips.

It's day two of CES, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has another video highlighting new and upcoming tech products that were showcased at media events. Today's video features new displays from LG, the latest Qi2.2 chargers, robots, and more. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. LG announced multiple new TVs and displays at its CES 2026 event, and showed off some older tech. Last year's 32-inch UltraFine Evo 6K monitor was on display, and of all LG's displays,

Apple is testing a Background Security Improvement feature that first rolled out in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Developers and public beta testers who are running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 can install a new Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes. According to Apple, Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries. Background Securi

Birdbuddy debuted two new smart bird feeders, which are successors to its existing bird feeder options. The Birdbuddy 2 and the Birdbuddy 2 mini are set to launch later this year. The $199 Birdbuddy 2 features 2K HDR video, a wider field of view, dual integrated solar power, better audio, an improved extended perch, and more seed capacity. It was shown off earlier this year, and pre-orders have sold out, but it is set to launch in February 2026. There is a redesigned circular camera

Satechi today announced its first Thunderbolt 5 product, a dock that has an included SSD enclosure for adding storage. The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure supports high-resolution multiple display setups, offering 80Gb/s bi-directional bandwidth with 120Gb/s Bandwidth Boost. The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock has a 5x5x2-inch form factor, and it is designed from aluminum to match Apple devices. It includes a 180W power supply with 140W host charging, so it is able to work with Apple's

Apple has historically resisted the idea of touchscreen MacBooks, arguing that laptop PCs with the feature are unwieldy and far from ergonomic. But recent reports suggest Apple has changed its tune, and the company is now rumored to be developing a touchscreen MacBook Pro. In the meantime, startup Intricuit has been showcasing its own solution at CES 2026 that brings touchscreen to existing MacBooks with Apple silicon. The Magic Screen is a snap-on digitizer that aligns to your MacBook's

You can get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00 today on Amazon, down from $999.00. You'll find similar $200 discounts across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and all of these deals are being matched at Best Buy. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00,

Smart home company Aqara today debuted its latest smart lock, the U400. The Aqara Smart Lock U400 incorporates ultra wideband (UWB) technology for more precise location-based tracking and automated door unlocking. There are few UWB smart locks on the market, but the technology uses the UWB chip in the iPhone to unlock the door right as you approach. There is no need to tap an ‌iPhone‌ on the lock with UWB, so the door can be unlocked entirely hands-free. We were able to test the lock ahe

Apple's iPhone 17e will feature upgrades including a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout and a downclocked A19 chip, with mass production set to begin this month, claims a Chinese leaker. The current iPhone 16e features a "notch" at the top of the display, similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14, and contains Apple's A18 chip with a 4-core GPU, instead of the 5-core GPU version found in the iPhone 16. However, according to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shar

KEYi Tech, the company behind the Loona companion robot and ClicBot modular robot, is showing off a new take on AI assistants at CES 2026 called DeskMate, which is exclusively for iPhone. Rather than building another standalone robot, the company has gone with a desktop charging hub that turns an attached iPhone into an AI companion, using your device's existing display, camera, and microphone to bring it to life. Apart from three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, the device features a rot

CES 2026 has just provided a first glimpse of the folding display technology that Apple is expected to use in its upcoming foldable iPhone. At the event, Samsung Display briefly showcased its new crease-less foldable OLED panel beside a Galaxy Z Fold 7, and according to SamMobile, which saw the test booth before it was abruptly removed, the new panel "has no crease at all" in comparison. The existing display used in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does an impressive job of reducing crease visibility

Kwikset today announced the Aura Reach, a smart lock that offers Matter over Thread and Bluetooth connectivity. With Matter, the lock is able to connect to HomeKit, allowing it to be controlled through Apple Home or with Siri voice commands. The Aura Reach supports hands-free auto unlock, proximity keypad wakeup, and a guided installation process for easy setup. It is able to be activated alongside other ‌HomeKit‌ and Matter devices using automations in the Apple Home app. Users can

OWC today announced the launch of a fully certified 2-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, which OWC says is the longest Thunderbolt 5 cable available for Macs and PCs. The cable has been certified by Thunderbolt and independent testing labs, and it meets the full Thunderbolt 5 specification. It offers up to 80Gb/s bi-directional data performance, up to 120Gb/s video streaming performance for multiple displays, and 240W power delivery. The 2-meter cable is priced at $80, and it joins OWC's ot

Samsung announced a refreshed Odyssey gaming display lineup for CES 2026, which includes five updated models with higher resolutions and refresh rates. The new 32-inch Odyssey G9 is a 6K 3D display that doesn't require glasses to see the 3D effect. Samsung says the monitor uses real-time eye tracking to adjust depth and perspective in response to the viewer's position, providing a layered sense of dimension with no need for a headset. The Odyssey G9 features a 165Hz refresh rate tha