It's Memorial Day weekend, and retailers are hosting a wide variety of discount events online with big savings on everything from computer monitors to iPhones and charging accessories. We're also still tracking numerous deals that happened during the week, including savings on iPad mini 7, Apple Watch, and AirPods Max, as well as a huge markdown on your first year of Peacock.

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.

Memorial Day sales

• Samsung - Save on monitors, storage solutions, and more


• Logitech - Get up to $150 off with select purchase amounts


• T-Mobile - Get an iPhone 16 Pro at no cost when switching


• Belkin - Get up to $60 off with select purchase amounts


• Burton Goods - Get 25% off sitewide


• Casely - BOGO free sitewide


• GRID Studio - Get 15% off sitewide


• ZAGG - Get 35% off sitewide

Charging Accessories at Amazon

• What's the deal? Find great deals on iPhone charging stations and Jackery batteries


• Where can I get it? Amazon

This week, we're tracking a handful of solid discounts on a collection of iPhone charging stations and portable power stations. Regarding the former accessories, you'll find up to $70 off charging stations from Twelve South and Belkin, with the Belkin devices requiring you to clip an on-page coupon.

For the Jackery accessories, there are big discounts on a few of the company's portable power stations. We've listed all of these deals below.

• Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Station - $79.99, down from $99.95


• Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Stand - $99.99 with on-page coupon, down from $119.99


• Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe - $79.99, down from $149.99


• Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 - $599.00, down from $799.00


• Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro - $2,399.00, down from $3,699.00

Anker

• What's the deal? Get 20% off sitewide with our exclusive sale


• Where can I get it? Anker


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker is still offering our readers an exclusive 20 percent off this month, and the code works on nearly every accessory sitewide. In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code Ankermacrumors2025 at checkout to see the discount.

Apple Watch Bands at Woot

• What's the deal? Buy one Solo/Braided Loop on sale, get up to two free


• Where can I get it? Woot


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Woot's BOGO sale on Apple Watch Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands is still happening this week, but it is poised to finally end later tonight. If enough stock still remains, Woot could extend the sale again, but now is your best chance to buy one Solo/Braided Loop at a huge discount and get up to two bands for free.

For more information on how this sale works, be sure to visit our original post.

Peacock

• What's the deal? Get 68% off your first year of Peacock


• Where can I get it? Peacock


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Peacock this week introduced one of its best offers so far in 2025, allowing new subscribers a chance to get a full year of the premium plan for $24.99, down from $79.99. You can read more about how to claim this offer in our original post.

OWC

• What's the deal? Save sitewide on Mac docks and more


• Where can I get it? OWC


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

OWC's "Spring productivity event" includes big deals on USB-C docks, memory cards, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. The highlight of the sale is the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $169.00 once you add it to your cart, down from $279.99.

iPad Mini 7

• What's the deal? Get $100 off iPad mini 7


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon is taking $100 off every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7, as well as quite a few cellular models. Prices start at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, and these all represent record low prices on each device.

AirPods Max

• What's the deal? Get $69 off AirPods Max


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's USB-C AirPods Max hit $479.99 in every color this week on Amazon, and all models are still available today.

Apple Watch

• What's the deal? Get up to $100 off Apple Watch Series 10 and SE


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week brought back a huge set of discounts across the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE, available for $100 off and $80 off, respectively.

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.

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This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Memorial Day Sales Arrive With Savings on iPad, AirPods, iPhone Accessories, and Much More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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I don’t usually watch trailers, but Apple TV+ makes it nearly impossible to avoid them with how aggressively it peddles its own content.

After the umpteenth time that sharp trumpet note from The Studio’s trailer blared through my TV while I was just trying to watch something else, I gave in. My first thought? Yeah, no. Looks way too over the top. Eleven episodes later, I can confirm: it absolutely is. And it’s glorious. Give it a shot and you’ll thank Sal Saperstein later

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Tim Cook is personally involved in an attempt to stop a Texas child safety bill targeting the App Store from becoming law, the Wall Street Journal reports.

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It would be more financially viable for Apple to absorb a 25% import tariff on iPhones sold in the United States than to relocate its assembly operations to the U.S., Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said.


Kuo, a respected analyst with a long track record of accurate forecasts about Apple's supply chain, made the statement on X (formerly Twitter) in response to renewed pressure from former President Donald Trump for Apple to shift iPhone production to the United States. The comment follows President Trump's threat to impose a 25% tariff on all iPhones not assembled domestically.

In terms of profitability, it's way better for Apple to take the hit of a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the US market than to move iPhone assembly lines back to [the] US.

The analysis alludes to the scale and complexity of Apple's current manufacturing infrastructure, which is deeply rooted in Asia — particularly China and, increasingly, India. Apple relies on an extensive network of suppliers and contract manufacturers such as Foxconn and Pegatron, all of which operate large-scale facilities tailored specifically to Apple's production requirements. These partnerships are supported by decades of logistical refinement and allow Apple to produce iPhones at a volume and cost efficiency that would be difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in the United States under current conditions.

The U.S. plays a relatively limited role in the physical assembly of iPhones, despite being one of Apple's most critical markets. While some components, such as glass from Corning, are American in origin, final ‌iPhone‌ assembly occurs almost entirely overseas. Moving this process stateside would require multibillion-dollar investments in infrastructure, labor, and training, with no guarantee of replicating the scale, cost structure, or speed of existing operations in Asia.

Apple reportedly plans to shift a majority of ‌iPhone‌ production for the U.S. market to India by 2026. According to Bloomberg, Apple intends to source more than 60 million iPhones annually from Indian factories over the next two years. Foxconn, Apple's primary assembly partner, is currently investing $1.5 billion in new manufacturing infrastructure in India. President Trump posted on Truth Social earlier today:

I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter!

Such a tariff would be unprecedented in scope and could lead to a significant increase in retail prices for iPhones sold in the United States. Wedbush Securities recently estimated that shifting ‌iPhone‌ production to the United States could increase the per-unit cost of an ‌iPhone‌ to approximately $3,500.

With the U.S. ‌iPhone‌ user base estimated at over 120 million and annual U.S. ‌iPhone‌ shipments exceeding 60 million units, even a 25% tariff would represent a smaller financial burden than the capital expenditures and operational challenges required to replicate its Asian supply chain in America. Apple's shares fell 3% in pre-market trading following the President's comments.
This article, "Kuo: Apple Better Off Taking 25% Tariff Hit Than Move iPhone Production to US" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The long-term promise of Apple Intelligence and next-gen Siri is that it will be able to access all our apps, and the data stored in those apps, to become massively more helpful.

ChatGPT has effectively given us a preview of this type of capability through its integration with a handful of Mac apps, and I’ve been putting it to the test …

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss all of the major announcements from Google's AI-focused I/O conference this week and the mysterious device former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing at OpenAI.


At its I/O 2025 conference, Google unveiled a wide range of artificial intelligence enhancements surrounding its Gemini AI platform. Chief among these is a dedicated AI Mode for Google Search, which leverages contextual understanding to return more relevant, nuanced results and allows follow-up questions. Within Google Chrome, Gemini has also been integrated to assist with summarizing web content, composing messages, and providing intelligent suggestions. Gemini Agent Mode is designed to be an autonomous assistant that completes tasks on your behalf, while Gemini Personal Context pulls from your Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and more to offer personalized, proactive help.

Google introduced Gemini Live, which brings real-time AI assistance to iPhone users. The feature supports screen sharing, camera access, and integration with services like Google Calendar and Maps. The company also devoted time to generative models: Veo 3 for video generation, Imagen 4 for image synthesis, and Deep Research, a tool designed to provide thorough, AI-powered insights across complex subjects.

Moreover, Google introduced significant developments in wearable computing with Android XR, a new operating system designed specifically for augmented reality headsets and smart glasses. The platform gains features like live translation, turn-by-turn directions, and real-time contextual support powered by Gemini. Samsung will be the first partner to release a headset running Android XR later this year, followed by a smart glasses product.

Google's own smart glasses initiative was also showcased. The new glasses are equipped with in-lens displays, microphones, speakers, and cameras, allowing users to see and hear the world with real-time assistance from Gemini. The glasses will be designed in partnership with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

In other news, OpenAI this week set out plans to acquire io, a hardware startup co-founded by legendary former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion. The acquisition brings a team of influential former Apple designers, including Evans Hankey and Marc Newson, into OpenAI. The company is working on developing a new category of device described as a "third core device," envisioned to complement the smartphone and laptop without replicating either.

The new hardware is neither a phone nor a pair of glasses, but a compact, screenless device designed to sit on a desk or in a pocket. Unlike legacy devices, it apparently seeks to reduce dependence on screens and offer more ambient, contextual interactions with AI. According to reports, the device is aware of its surroundings through microphones and cameras, and integrates tightly with a user's life while remaining unobtrusive. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has described the product as "the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen."

Development of the product remains highly secretive. Comparisons have been made to the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin, but the involvement of Jony Ive and his team designing around OpenAI's industry-leading technology suggests that this product could be different. The device is expected to be revealed in late 2026.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about the long-awaited rollout of Apple CarPlay Ultra and Samsung's all-new S25 Edge, which is positioned to rival the iPhone 17 Air later this year.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Kevin Nether, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Google and OpenAI Step Up AI Tech Ahead of WWDC" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While and Best Buy’s Memorial Day sales before we even kick off the holiday weekend, there are some additional deals to add to the list today. Amazon has now dropped a sizable $300 off the 2TB M4 iPad Pro, while more affordable models start from $809. That deals joins some notable offers on Apple’s Magic Keyboard as well as a giant price drop on the originally $1,049 iPad Air down at $699 shipped. Apple Watch Series 10 deals continue from $299 while upgraded models are up to $160 off alongside discounts on Twelve South’s TimePorter Apple Watch band organizer. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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On iPhone and iPad, Apple's screen recording feature records a video of what you're doing on your screen, which is great if you want to capture gameplay, walk someone through a tutorial in an app, demonstrate a bug, or anything else. You can also include a voiceover in screen recordings. Keep reading to learn how.


If you're making a screen recording to demonstrate something in iOS, chances are it would benefit from some voiceover commentary. Fortunately, Apple enables you to do this by activating your device's microphone for the duration of the recording.

To record your voice along with screen activity, simply follow these steps.

1. Invoke the Control Center by swiping down diagonally from the top-right corner of the screen.


2. Long press the Screen Recording button in Control Center (if it isn't there, you can add the function via Settings -> Control Center).
   
   
3. Tap the Microphone button so that it turns red and reads "Microphone On."


4. Select an app from the list that you want to save the recording to.


5. When you're ready, tap Start Recording.
   

You can end the recording by tapping the Stop button in the top-left corner of the screen (if your iPhone has a Dynamic Island, tap it to reveal the Stop button), and the recording will be automatically saved to the app that you checked in the app list.
This article, "Give Your iPhone Screen Recording a Voiceover" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Just one day after Mozilla confirmed it’s shutting down Pocket, Digg co-founder and chairman Kevin Rose has stepped up with a public offer to take it over.

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Apple has temporarily increased its iPhone trade-in values in select countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K., and China. Apple says the extra credit towards a new iPhone is available through June 18.


In the U.S., the maximum estimated trade-in values increased by only $5 to $30, with the full changes in that country outlined below.

iPhone Model	New Values	Old Values
iPhone 15 Pro Max	Up to $650	Up to $630
iPhone 15 Pro	Up to $520	Up to $500
iPhone 15 Plus	Up to $450	Up to $440
iPhone 15	Up to $410	Up to $400
iPhone 14 Pro Max	Up to $460	Up to $450
iPhone 14 Pro	Up to $400	Up to $380
iPhone 14 Plus	Up to $310	Up to $300
iPhone 14	Up to $300	Up to $290
iPhone SE (3rd generation)	Up to $120	Up to $100
iPhone 13 Pro Max	Up to $380	Up to $370
iPhone 13 Pro	Up to $310	Up to $300
iPhone 13	Up to $270	Up to $250
iPhone 13 mini	Up to $210	Up to $200
iPhone 12 Pro Max	Up to $300	Up to $280
iPhone 12 Pro	Up to $250	Up to $220
iPhone 12	Up to $200	Up to $170
iPhone 12 mini	Up to $130	Up to $120
iPhone SE (2nd generation)	Up to $60	Up to $50
iPhone 11 Pro Max	Up to $200	Up to $180
iPhone 11 Pro	Up to $160	Up to $150
iPhone 11	Up to $150	Up to $130
iPhone XS Max	Up to $130	Up to $120
iPhone XS	Up to $95	Up to $90
iPhone XR	Up to $105	Up to $100
iPhone X	Up to $65	Up to $60
iPhone 8 Plus	Up to $65	Up to $60
iPhone 8	Up to $50	Up to $45

iPhone trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. Visit the trade-in page on Apple's website to learn more.
This article, "Apple Raises iPhone Trade-In Values For Limited Time — Here's the List" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple shares are down at market open today after President Trump threatened new tariffs unless the company starts building iPhones in the United States.

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Apple introduced app privacy labels to help people better understand what data an app may collect, including what data is linked to them or used to track them across the web. When released back in 2020, the labels set a precedent in the industry and were a major first step in raising awareness of privacy-invasive apps. It became easy for users to compare something like Signal, which collects virtually no user data at all, and Facebook Messenger, which gobbles up anything and everything it can. The feature set out to help users make informed downloads.

However, in recent years, I have seen a growing conversation around whether these entirely self-reported labels located further down on the application’s App Store page still impact the user’s decision before hitting “Get” to install.

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Apple has announced that it is running a limited-time promotion offering boosted trade-in values on iPhones. The promotion will run through June 18 and is available in multiple countries around the world, including the United States and China.

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President Donald Trump escalated his trade rhetoric Friday, targeting Apple with a potential 25% tariff unless the company manufactures iPhones domestically rather than anywhere else.


The warning came via Truth Social after CEO Tim Cook announced earlier this month that Indian facilities would handle the majority of U.S. iPhone sales. Apple's pivot to India was widely seen as a strategy to sidestep Chinese manufacturing amid ongoing trade tensions.

"I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter!"

The U.S. president brought up the issue just last week during his Middle East trip. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said during his state visit to Qatar. "He is building all over India."

Apple had reportedly planned to source all 60+ million annual US iPhone sales from India by late 2026. Meanwhile, key supplier Foxconn is investing $1.5 billion to expand Indian production, including a display module facility near Chennai.

The threat sent Apple shares tumbling 3% in pre-market trading Friday.

Trump's demand would force a major shift from Apple's current manufacturing strategy, which relies heavily on Asian suppliers for cost efficiency and established supply chains. Moving iPhone production to the U.S. would likely require massive infrastructure investments and could substantially increase device costs, but there's simply no way Apple could pull off the transition. According to Wedbush, producing iPhones in the U.S. could push prices to ~$3,500 and take 5–10 years to implement, making it unfeasible.
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President Trump has just blasted Apple in a post on his account on TruthSocial. The president said that he has “long ago informed” Apple CEO Tim Cook that iPhones sold in the United States should be manufactured and built in the United States, “not India, or anyplace else”.

He continues by threatening that if this does not happen, “a tariff of least 25% must be paid by Apple”. The details of the ‘tariff’ are unclear, but the outburst has nonetheless shook investors and Apple company stock has already dropped 3% in response to the announcement.

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British fintech company Curve has launched contactless payments for iPhone users in the European Union, becoming the second third-party payment service after PayPal to take advantage of Apple's newly opened NFC interface (via iphone-ticker.de).


The Curve Pay app allows users to make tap-to-pay purchases without using Apple Pay or the Wallet app, following PayPal's debut of similar functionality in Germany earlier this month. The feature was made possible by Europe's Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open its NFC chip to third-party developers.

Unlike traditional wallet apps, Curve Pay operates as an independent payment authority rather than simply passing through stored card data. Users can reassign purchases to different cards after completing transactions and link various payment sources including PayPal accounts.

The app also provides real-time spending analytics and automated cashback programs. Its "staged wallet" architecture also gives users more control over the payment process compared to conventional digital wallets.

Curve claims more than six million users across its platform, which was previously available only on Android devices. The company joins PayPal in offering European iPhone users alternatives to Apple Pay, with German cooperative banks also planning to introduce their own NFC payment solution through their banking app this September.

NFC access is available for banking and wallet apps in the European Economic Area, which includes the 27 European Union countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
This article, "Curve Pay Launches iPhone NFC Payments as Apple Pay Alternative" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A new Apple job listing has provided more evidence that the company is working on a major overhaul of its Calendar app.


A senior software engineer position for "Calendar Experience," spotted by Macworld's Filipe Espósito, explicitly states that Apple seeks candidates to join a team that will "reimagine what a modern calendar can be across Apple's platforms." Listed on April 29, the posting is surely the clearest acknowledgment yet of Apple's Calendar ambitions.

The job listing provides further context for Apple's acquisition of Mayday Labs in April 2024. Per our report earlier this month, the Canadian startup had developed an AI-powered calendar app that automatically scheduled events and tasks at optimal times.

Mayday's features included a "Calendar Shield" that blocked overbooked schedules and AI-powered task scheduling that would suggest ideal focus times. The app could also identify scheduling conflicts and provide rescheduling recommendations.

The Mayday app was shuttered shortly after the acquisition, suggesting the startup's AI capabilities could surface within Apple's own Calendar app under the Apple Intelligence umbrella.

Over a year has passed since the acquisition, so perhaps some of these changes will debut as early as iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16, which will be unveiled at Apple's annual developers conference WWDC next month.
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Mozilla today said that it is shutting down Pocket, the read-it-later service that allows users to save articles, videos, and webpages to view later. The company also plans to end work on Fakespot, a browser extension and website that analyzes the authenticity of online product reviews.


Pocket is a well-known service that streamlines articles, offering a distraction-free reading experience. It includes offline access, text-to-speech options, and tagging capabilities. Pocket has been integrated in Firefox since 2015, and Mozilla bought the service in 2017.

Fakespot is an online review checking website that Mozilla bought two years ago and integrated into Firefox, but Mozilla said Fakespot "didn't fit a model [it] could sustain."

Pocket is no longer available for download as of today, and there is no longer an option to purchase a Pocket Premium subscription. The Pocket shutdown will happen on July 8, 2025, and users will have until October 8, 2025 to export Pocket data before they are permanently deleted.

Pocket Premium monthly and annual subscriptions will be canceled automatically, and annual subscribers will receive refunds after July 8. Access to the Pocket API will end on October 8, and data will need to be exported before then.

Mozilla is shutting down the Fakespot extensions, mobile apps, and websites on July 1, 2025 and the Fakespot Review Checker in Firefox will shut down on June 10, 2025.

According to Mozilla, while Pocket is popular and has over 10 million users, "the way people save and consume content on the web has evolved." As a result, the company plans to focus time and resources on Firefox, and develop projects that better match current browsing habits.

Pocket users who are looking for an alternative have a number of options to consider, including Instapaper, Wallabag, and Raindrop.io.
This article, "Firefox Maker Mozilla Discontinues Pocket and Fakespot to Focus on Browser" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is in a tough spot. While the company is painfully behind the competition when it comes to getting a solid handle on AI development, it seems to be speeding up the timeline to release its first AI-powered smart glasses. That’s… quite a gamble.

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Verizon wants to lock subscribers to its network for a longer period of time, and has asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission [PDF] to extend how long customers must wait before a Verizon smartphone can be unlocked and transferred to another carrier.


Back when Verizon purchased 700MHz spectrum for its network in 2008, it agreed to unlock smartphones after a 60-day period. Verizon now wants the FCC to waive that requirement, allowing it to change its phone unlocking policy.

Verizon claims that the 60-day unlocking requirement it is subject to leads to fraud and device trafficking. Verizon said it lost an estimated 784,703 devices to fraud in 2023, costing it "hundreds of millions of dollars." From Verizon's filing:

The Unlocking Rule applies only to particular providers -- mainly Verizon -- and distorts the marketplace in a critical U.S industry. The rule has resulted in unintended consequences that harm consumers, competition, and Verizon, while propping up international criminal organizations that profit from fraud, including device trafficking of subsidized devices from the United States. These bad actors target and harm American consumers and U.S. carriers like Verizon for their own profit, by diverting unlocked trafficked devices to consumers in foreign countries.

Verizon suggests that consumers will benefit from the waiver because it will allow the company to better compete with other carriers by "offering subsidies and other mechanisms to make phones more affordable, lower upfront costs, and enable customers to obtain the latest and most innovative devices."

Going forward, Verizon wants to be able to lock phones to its network for at least six months, putting it on par with other U.S. carriers. AT&T locks prepaid devices to its network for six months and requires postpaid devices to be paid in full before they're unlocked, while T-Mobile locks prepaid devices to its network for 12 months, and also requires postpaid devices to be paid in full. Verizon is required to unlock prepaid and postpaid devices after 60 days.

Under Biden, the FCC was considering a proposal that would require all carriers to unlock smartphones within a 60-day period, but as Ars Technica notes, that effort might be dead under new FCC Chairman Brendan Carr because of his focus on deregulation.
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Apple has released the first teaser for Chief of War, a historical drama starring and co-created by Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Dune: Part One). This nine-episode series follows the story of Ka‘iana, a Native Hawaiian warrior fighting to unify the islands before the arrival of Western colonizers in the late 1700s.

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In a new feature story on its Newsroom today, Apple showcases how iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches are being used by doctors and nurses at one of Georgia’s largest health systems. And while the piece suffers from a chronic case of PR-speak, the project is pretty interesting nonetheless.

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Apple is no longer planning to release an Apple Watch that includes a camera, reports Bloomberg. Apple was developing Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra models that had a camera to view the wearer's surrounding environment, but work on those projects ended this week.


The camera in the Apple Watch would not have been used for features like FaceTime or snapping photos, but instead would have allowed Apple Watch owners to get information about objects and places near them.

An Apple Watch might have been able to do things like provide hours when pointed at a restaurant or store, identify a plant, describe an object, or offer language translations. The wearable camera functionality would have worked much like Visual Intelligence, an AI iPhone feature that lets users point their camera at something to get more information.

Apple planned to release the camera-equipped Apple Watch models in 2027, but the plans are off. It's possible Apple could bring the technology back in the future, and it's not known why development ended.

Though Apple is no longer planning for an Apple Watch with a camera, it's still developing AirPods with tiny cameras inside. The AirPods cameras may be infrared sensors to enable features like enhanced spatial audio, in-air gesture control, and AI capabilities.
This article, "Apple Stops Work on Camera-Equipped Apple Watch Planned for 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the Android XR glasses that Google showed off earlier this week.


Apple's smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide translations, give turn-by-turn directions, play music, facilitate phone calls, offer feedback on what the wearer is seeing, and answer queries, but there won't be augmented reality capabilities included. Siri will be a key part of the glasses experience, with Apple planning to improve the personal assistant ahead of when the product launches.

With Apple targeting a late 2026 launch, work on the smart glasses has ramped up. Apple plans to produce "large quantities" of prototypes by the end of this year, giving the company time to test before mass production and a public unveiling.

According to Bloomberg, an Apple employee said that the glasses are similar to Meta's glasses, "but better made." The Meta Ray-Bans use Meta Llama and Google Gemini, but Apple will rely on its own AI models.

Apple's longtime goal has been a pair of lightweight augmented reality glasses, and the smart glasses that it is working on for 2026 will serve as a stepping stone. True augmented reality glasses are still years away as components like chips and batteries need to come down in price and size.
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Apple is expediting its plans to compete with Meta’s popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. Bloomberg reports today that Apple is now aiming to release smart glasses “at the end of next year.” Simultaneously, the company has dropped its plans to release an Apple Watch with a built-in camera.

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AI company Anthropic today announced the launch of two new Claude models, Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Anthropic says that the models set "new standards for coding, advanced reasoning, and AI agents."


According to Anthropic, Claude Sonnet 4 is a significant upgrade to Claude Sonnet 3.7, offering improved coding and reasoning along with the ability to respond to instructions more precisely. Claude Opus 4 is designed for coding among other tasks, and it offers sustained performance for complex, long-running tasks and agent workflows.


Claude Opus 4 is Anthropic's most powerful model to date, and it is the world's best coding model with a 72.5 percent score on SWE-bench and 43.2 percent score on Terminal-bench. It can provide sustained performance over several hours on tasks that have thousands of steps.

Claude Sonnet 4 is designed to balance performance and efficiency. It doesn't match Opus 4 for most domains, but Anthropic says that it is meant to provide an optimal mix of capability and practicality.

Both models have a beta feature for extended thinking, and can use web search and other tools so that Claude can alternate between reasoning and tool use. Tools can be used in parallel, and the models have improved memory when provided with access to local files. Claude is able to save key facts to maintain continuity and build knowledge over time.

Anthropic has cut down on behavior where the models use shortcuts or loopholes for completing tasks, and thinking summaries condense lengthy thought processes.

Claude Code, an agentic coding tool that lives in terminal, is now widely available following testing. Claude Code supports background tasks with GitHub Actions and native integrations with VS Code and JetBrains, and it is able to edit files and fix bugs, answer questions about code, and more.

Subscribers with Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise Claude plans have access to Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4 starting today, while Sonnet 4 is available to free users. The models are available to developers on the Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud Vertex AI.
This article, "Claude 4 Debuts with Two New Models Focused on Coding and Reasoning" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Satechi, known for its range of accessories for Apple products, recently came out with a new series of OntheGo Wireless Chargers that are perfect for bringing along on trips due to their compact size.


There are two models, a 3-in-1 charger and a 2-in-1 charger. The 3-in-1 option has a Qi2 charging surface for an iPhone, an AirPods charger, and an Apple Watch charging puck. The 2-in-1 model drops the AirPods charger, so it has just the Qi2 charging platform and the Apple Watch charger. Depending on the AirPods you have, you can charge them via Qi2 or with an Apple Watch charger anyway.


Each of the charging surfaces is a little bigger than Apple's MagSafe charger, with the same circular shape. There's a small band connecting each one, and they stack on top of each other. The end result is a fold out multi-device charger that's super portable. It's under an inch and a half tall when folded up, and two and a half inches wide. The bands that connect each of the chargers feel sturdy and well-attached, and I wasn't able to budge them when pulling on them with force. I think they will hold up decently over time with regular use.


The chargers are covered in a vegan leather material that seems to resist dust and is soft to the touch, so it won't scratch your devices. The Qi2 and Apple Watch chargers are flat, but the Apple Watch has a pop-up puck so it can charge flat or raised up for Nightstand mode.


With the 3-in-1 model, the AirPods charger and the Qi2 charger can be folded upright with the Apple Watch charger as a base, forming a stand that can hold an ‌iPhone‌ upright while also providing space for charging the Apple Watch. This orientation is useful for StandBy Mode, but you'll need to fold it flat if you want to charge three devices at once. In any orientation, it works well on a hotel nightstand or an office desk.


The ‌iPhone‌ charger is Qi2, so it charges an ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W, the same as the original ‌MagSafe‌ charging speed. The iPhone 16 models support faster 25W charging, so Qi2 is a slower wireless charging speed. There are no third-party ‌MagSafe‌ 2 chargers on the market yet, so 25W charging is only available with a standalone ‌MagSafe‌ charger from Apple.


The middle charger for the AirPods is standard Qi and it is 5W, while the Apple Watch charger offers fast charging for compatible Apple Watch models. In testing, the Qi2 charger was able to charge my iPhone 16 Pro Max to 41 percent in an hour, starting from around two percent, which is in line with what I expect from 15W wireless chargers. Wireless charging speeds are variable due to heat restrictions, so charging speeds can fluctuate if an ‌iPhone‌ gets warm or the room that it's charging in is warm. My ‌iPhone‌ did get warm when using the Satechi charger, but not hot.


Satechi is selling the chargers in three colors, including black, sand, and desert rose. Each comes with a matching USB-C cable that's a meter long, but there is no USB-C power adapter included, so you will need to supply your own. Satechi says that the charger needs a 36W power adapter at a minimum to charge devices at the maximum speeds. Along with the USB-C cable and the charger, Satechi includes a little travel pouch so you can tuck the folded charger in a bag, backpack, or suitcase.

Bottom Line

At $100, the 3-in-1 OntheGo Charger from Satechi is reasonably priced for its compact size and its versatility. It can be used folded in multiple ways, and it provides reasonable overnight charging speeds for an ‌iPhone‌, plus fast charging for an Apple Watch. The price is competitive with similar travel chargers from notable brands, as it's cheaper than Belkin's $120 3-in-1 Travel Charger, and Mophie's $150 3-in-1 Travel Charger.


I do wish that Satechi had included a USB-C power adapter. The 36W charger that it requires is a little bit bigger than what you'd get with a MacBook Air or an iPad, so it might not be a size that people just have on hand.

Given how small it folds up, this is a great option for those who are looking for a travel charger or even something to bring between work and home. The 2-in-1 model works the same, but it seems worth spending an extra $20 for the AirPods charger and the stand functionality unless you want something even more compact.

How to Buy

The OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger can be purchased from the Satechi website for $100. The 2-in-1 model is also available for $80.

Note: Satechi provided MacRumors with 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 OntheGo Chargers for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Review: Satechi's Foldable 3-in-1 Charger Maximizes Portability" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Pour one out for an App Store classic. Mozilla has just announced it’s phasing out its read-it-later service, Pocket, as part of a broader effort to double down on its focus on Firefox. Here’s how it’s going to work.

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On the heels of Microsoft Build and Google I/O, Anthropic has just announced Claude 4 Sonnet and Claude 4 Opus, which are immediately available on Claude’s website, as well as in the API. Here’s what’s new.

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WWDC invites have gone out, and Chance will be there in person. The pair discuss the narrative of indifference that hangs over WWDC at the moment, as the tech industry is currently dominated by daily onslaught of AI news. And while the rumors about the AirPods roadmap are a little bleak, Apple is rumored to be shipping a truly all-screen bezel-less iPhone in a couple of years time — an exciting prospect indeed.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin has spilt tea on his Magic Keyboard, which leads into a bigger topic of the pair talking about what sits on their desk. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Apple just dropped the first trailer for the return of The Buccaneers, its drama series based on Edith Wharton’s of the same name.

Set to Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe,” it reveals a new character played by a Gossip Girl alum.

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Right after yesterday’s bombshell announcement that OpenAI had acquired Jony Ive’s AI startup to form a new company called io, the entire tech world immediately began asking, “OK, but what is it?”

Now, supply chain analyst and frequent Apple leaker Ming-Chi shared what he was able to gather about the mysterious io device.

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The next generation of CarPlay is finally starting to roll out, and it includes a new feature that solves one of regular CarPlay's longstanding limitations.


Apple last week announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, and it offers a Radio app, allowing you to control AM and FM radio stations within CarPlay. With regular CarPlay, you must switch between CarPlay and your vehicle's built-in software interface to control the radio, so CarPlay Ultra will be more convenient for this purpose.

CarPlay Ultra's built-in Radio app can also be used to control satellite radio stations, but this is less notable given that SiriusXM already offers a CarPlay app.

Apple shared an image of the SiriusXM experience within the Radio app, but unfortunately it did not provide a look at the AM/FM side of the app.


Apple did preview the FM radio controls when it first announced next-generation CarPlay in 2022, but the design of the app has slightly changed since then.


CarPlay Ultra also has a Climate app with climate controls, allowing you to adjust your vehicle's temperature and fan speeds within CarPlay.

CarPlay Ultra is rolling out in new and select existing Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, so it is currently limited to one luxury brand. Apple promised that many other automakers around the world will offer CarPlay Ultra over the next year, with the list of committed brands including Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and others.

To learn more about CarPlay Ultra, read our earlier coverage of Apple's announcement.
This article, "CarPlay Ultra Solves One of Regular CarPlay's Biggest Limitations" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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On Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 6 and later models running watchOS 9 and newer, you can use the Compass app's Backtrack feature to track your route and then help you retrace your steps in case you get lost.


Backtrack uses the GPS on your Apple Watch to create a virtual breadcrumb trail of your route so you don't have to worry about keeping track of where you're going. According to Apple, Backtrack is designed to be used in remote settings, away from familiar places like your home or workplace, and outside densely populated areas without Wi-Fi, but there's nothing stopping you from using it anywhere you need it.

The following steps show you how to use the feature. Note that Backtrack doesn't account for external conditions, such as changes in elevation or objects in the environment.

1. Open the Compass app on your Apple Watch.


2. Tap the Backtrack button in the bottom-right of the screen, then tap Record Path to begin recording your route.
   
   
3. When you're ready to retrace your steps, tap the now-highlighted Backtrack button in the bottom-right of the screen, then tap Retrace Steps.


4. The path back to the location where you first tapped the Backtrack button will appear on the screen, while the initial location appears as a white dot at the beginning of the path. Follow the path back to return to where you first turned on Backtrack.
   
   
5. When you've arrived at your starting location, tap the Backtrack button again, then tap Delete Path.

If you have an Apple Watch Ultra, you can start Backtrack with the Action button: Go to the Settings app on your watch and tap Action Button ➝ Action ➝ Backtrack, then tap the chevron to return to the list of actions. Then simply press the Action button to start Backtrack and tap Record Path. You can press the Action and side buttons at the same time to switch between recording your path and retracing your steps.

The Compass app also lets you create Compass Waypoints while you're on the move, which you can also use in combination with Backtrack. Click the link to learn more.
This article, "Use Apple Watch Backtrack to Retrace Your Steps" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside the now live wider sales at Amazon and Best Buy, the Memorial Day weekend offers are starting flood in. But first, we have up to $400 off iPhone 16 Pro units in Amazon Premium Renewed condition alongside one of the best deals we have tracked to date on the M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard. Then it’s on to the accessories – Twelve South’s 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe stand is now at a new Amazon all-time low with 47% in savings and the Burton Goods Memorial Weekend sale is knocking up to 30% off everything sitewide (leather MacBook, iPhone, and iPad cases as well as Apple Watch bands). All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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If you love Apple and you love crypto, good news: cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is preparing to let users trade tokenized versions of popular stocks like Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia. Except if you’re in the U.S., that is.

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Amazon is offering numerous discounts on Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE, including both GPS and cellular models. These deals have been dwindling since they first kicked off a few weeks ago, so if you're interested be sure to place your order soon.

Apple Watch Series 10

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.

Amazon has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for $299.00, down from $399.00, as well as the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. Both of these are record low prices on the Apple Watch Series 10, and they're available in just a few case colors this time around.

Apple Watch SE

In addition to Series 10 deals, Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $189.00 today, down from $249.00. This is the second-best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight, Silver, and Midnight Aluminum color options.



Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $219.00 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is also available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.



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.

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This article, "Apple Watch Series 10 Hits Lowest-Ever Price of $299 on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design.


In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" than Humane's discontinued AI Pin. He said the device will look "as compact and elegant as an iPod Shuffle," which was Apple's lowest-priced, screen-less iPod. The design of the iPod shuffle varied over the years, going from a compact rectangle to a square.

Like the iPod shuffle, Kuo said OpenAI's device will not have a screen, but it would connect to smartphones and computers. The device will be equipped with microphones for voice control, and it will have cameras that can analyze the user's surroundings.

He said that users will be able to wear the device around their necks, like a necklace, whereas the AI Pin can be attached to clothing with a clip.

Kuo expects OpenAI's device to enter mass production in 2027, and the final design and specifications might change before then.

It remains to be seen if the device will be a success, or if it will go the way of the AI Pin and other attempts at going beyond the smartphone. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman is certainly confident, as he has tested the device at home and believes it will be "the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen." Quite the claim.
This article, "Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Chinese Apple competitor Xiaomi today announced the "Xring O1," a custom 3nm chip designed to rival Apple silicon (via Bloomberg).


The company plans to switch its devices to custom silicon chips, just like Apple. The Xring O1 chip will be included in three devices to begin with, including the Xiaomi Tablet 7 Ultra–a newly announced 14-inch tablet.

Like the latest-generation Apple silicon chips, the Xring O1 is made with a ‌3nm‌ fabrication process. The company explicitly said that it asked itself:

We also want to become one of the top chipmakers, with our phones targeting iPhones, can our chips also be compared against those of Apple's?

The Xring O1 will lag behind Apple's latest chips in some respects, such as processor clock speed, but the company still stressed its design achievement.

At a special event to announce the chip and tablet in Beijing, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said that the company plans to invest 200 billion yuan ($27.8 billion) in research and development over the next five years. At least $7 billion will be invested in developing and enhancing its own chip technology over the next decade.
This article, "Xiaomi Announces Custom Chip to Rival Apple Silicon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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