↩ Accueil

Vue normale

Reçu aujourd’hui — 9 juillet 20252.3 🍏 Apple English

8 Ways iPadOS 26 Makes Your iPad More Like a Mac

9 juillet 2025 à 18:21
The lines between iPad and Mac have never been blurrier – and with iPadOS 26, currently in beta and coming this fall, Apple is leaning further into that overlap than ever before. The latest update brings a suite of powerful new features that elevate the iPad's utility, bridging the gap between touch-first tablet and full-fledged desktop machine.


From enhanced multitasking to advanced file management, iPadOS 26 pushes Apple's tablet deeper into Mac territory, without sacrificing the unique strengths that make the iPad so versatile. Here are eight ways iPadOS 26 makes the iPad feel more like a Mac than ever.

Menu Bar



Within any active app, swipe down from the top of the screen and you will see a new, fully functioning macOS-style menu bar. With the foremost dropdown menu being the app's name (where app settings are typically accessed), other standard menus can include File, Edit, Format, View, Window, and Help. As you'd expect, the menu bar is dynamic, and will display menus specific to the app. In Safari you get Bookmarks and History, for instance.

Windowed Apps



In Settings ➝ Multitasking & Gestures, there's a new Windowed Apps mode that essentially lets you arrange and resize multiple windows in a single space, just like on a Mac. The new mode can also be invoked from Control Center, thanks to a new button that with a long press lets you switch between Windowed Apps and Stage Manager.

You can move multiple app windows and stack them on top of each other by dragging each window from the top, and you can individually resize them by dragging the bottom-right corner. And if you quickly drag an app window to a corner of the screen, it will automatically expand to fill that half of the screen. Tapping a space on the Home Screen will also scatter all open windows to the sides of the screen, giving you space to open other apps.

Traffic Lights



In the top-left corner of every window you'll now see three familiar traffic lights, straight out of macOS. Tapping the symbol expands it into red, amber, and green buttons for closing, minimizing, and expanding the window to fullscreen.


Long-pressing the buttons also reveals the Mac-style Move & Resize and Fill & Arrange options, as well as an option to park the app off-screen to Add a New Window (if the app supports it).

App Exposé



In the new Windowed Apps mode, iPadOS 26 also includes an App Exposé-style view that's similar to the App Switcher. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to invoke the view, which shows all the open apps in the current space. You can also scroll the new interface to see your other open apps, whether they're sharing spaces or open in full-screen mode.

Preview



The iPad finally includes the Mac's long-standing Preview app, only now with Apple Pencil support, enabling you to easily open, edit, and mark up a range of images, documents, and file types. The Preview app's browsing menu is a lot like the Files interface, where you can browse your files and check out recent and shared items. You can also scan documents from right within the app.

Trackpad Pointer



If you have a Magic Keyboard trackpad or a Bluetooth mouse connected to your iPad, the cursor is now a Mac-like pointer rather than a circle. And if you shake it, the pointer will get bigger so that you can easily locate it on the screen.

Advanced File Management



In iPadOS 26, the iPad's Files app is enhanced with a new List view that features resizable columns and collapsible folders, and new filters, allowing users to see more document details at a glance and organize their files. To help you identify folders more easily, the app now supports folder customization with custom colors, icons, and emoji, all of which sync across devices.

In Files, iPadOS 26‌ also allows you to set a default app for opening specific files or file types, thanks to a new Open With... option in the contextual dropdown menu. You can also change the default app in the new Get Info panel.

Folders in Dock



In the Files app, long press on a folder and you'll see a new Add to Dock option in the contextual dropdown menu. So you can now park any folder in your Dock, and if you long press on its icon, you'll see Mac-style display options to view the content as a Grid or a Fan, as well as the typical sorting preferences.

In iPadOS 26, you can now fit up to 23 icons in the Dock, so there's nothing stopping you from adding multiple folders. In Settings ➝ Multitasking & Gestures, there's also a new option to Automatically Show and Hide the Dock, just like in macOS.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "8 Ways iPadOS 26 Makes Your iPad More Like a Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Free Perks

9 juillet 2025 à 18:20
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost?


Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:In the U.S., iCloud+ plans range from 50GB for $0.99 per month to 12TB for $59.99 per month.
Tag: iCloud

This article, "iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Free Perks" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Prime Day-2 Deals: Apple Watch Series 10 $279, Mac mini $499, M4 iMac $150 off, AirTag $16 ea., Powerbeats Pro 2, more

9 juillet 2025 à 17:45

We are now officially into day 2 of the and today we are highlighting the best prices ever on the most affordable Apple Watch Series 10 at $120 off with deals starting from $279. Next up are the deals on the most affordable Macs in the current-generation lineup – M4 MacBook Air at $849 or M4 Mac mini from $499 (Up to $150 off) – as well as the M4 iMac at $150 off, the best price ever on Powerbeats Pro 2, and a new all-time low on the latest Beats Solo 4 for Prime Day. But there’s a whole lot more waiting for you down below. 

more…

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

9 juillet 2025 à 17:08
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors.


The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account was seemingly first to reveal the name of the iPhone 16e before the device was announced, so their latest information has merit, but they do not have a lengthy track record yet.

The base model iPhone 17 will have 8GB of RAM, matching the amount included in all iPhone 16 models, according to the account.

Here is an overview of Fixed Focus Digital's RAM expectations:
  • iPhone 17: 8GB

  • iPhone 17 Air: 12GB

  • iPhone 17 Pro: 12GB

  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: 12GB
In April, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will each have 12GB of RAM. At the time, he was unsure if the base model iPhone 17 would have 8GB or 12GB of RAM, due to potential RAM supply constraints. He has not provided an update on that since then.

Here are the RAM amounts for iPhone 16 models:
  • iPhone 16: 8GB

  • iPhone 16 Plus: 8GB

  • iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8GB
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

MacBook Air Prime Day Deals Feature $150 Off Nearly Every M4 Model

9 juillet 2025 à 16:48
We're in the middle of Prime Day, and today we're tracking solid $150 discounts across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup. You can stay up-to-date on all of the best Apple Prime Day deals in our main post, as well as the find highlights for the best accessory deals of the week.

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.

Starting with the 13-inch models, Amazon has $150 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $849.00 for the 256GB model, then raise to $1,049.00 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,249.00 for the 24GB/512GB model. All of these are solid second-best prices on the M4 MacBook Air.





Moving to the larger display models, Amazon has both 512GB versions of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week, as well as the 256GB model. The 16GB/512GB model is available for $1,249.00 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,427.14. Across the board, these are all second-best prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.





If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "MacBook Air Prime Day Deals Feature $150 Off Nearly Every M4 Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Be Available in These Four Colors

9 juillet 2025 à 16:17
Apple plans to offer the iPhone 17 Air in at least four colors, including Black, Silver, Light Gold, and Light Blue, according to a leaker known as Majin Bu.


The new lighter blue color option for the device was first mentioned a day ago by Fixed Focus Digital, a Weibo account with more than two million followers, and Majin Bu said that he has confirmed this information with his own sources.

It is unclear if Light Gold and Light Blue will be Apple's actual marketing names for those colors, if this rumor proves to be accurate.

Majin Bu said that the Light Blue color will be similar to the Sky Blue finish offered for the latest MacBook Air, so perhaps Apple would opt to extend the Sky Blue name to the iPhone 17 Air. This is merely speculation on our part.

As a refresher, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever. However, the device is expected to have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including worse battery life, only a single rear camera, only a single speaker, and potentially either an A19 chip or a slightly limited version of the A19 Pro chip.

The device is also expected to have a 6.6-inch OLED display, MagSafe, and 12GB of RAM.

Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 Air in September.

Majin Bu has a mixed track record with Apple rumors. The account was recently accurate about iPadOS 26 introducing a Mac-like menu bar.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Air
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Be Available in These Four Colors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Nvidia beats Apple to a $4T valuation as it rides AI wave

9 juillet 2025 à 16:12

Nvidia, the US company specializing in high-performance GPU cards, has become the first ever company with a market capitalization of four trillion dollars. It is now the most valuable company in the world, ahead of Apple and Microsoft.

It’s a little over a year since the company overtook AAPL thanks to a spectacular rise in value that saw it go from being worth $2T to more than $3T in just four months …

more…

The Best Prime Day Deals on Monitors, Charging Accessories, and More

9 juillet 2025 à 16:09
Earlier today we highlighted some of the best Apple-related product discounts that you can find on Amazon during Prime Day, and now we're focusing on third-party accessory markdowns during the event. In this article you'll find all the best accessories for charging, smart homes, smartphones, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Shoppers should remember that Prime Day sales are typically time sensitive, so purchase quickly if you're interested. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime on Amazon if you're a new customer; afterwards the service runs for $14.99/month or $139/year.

Special for 2025, Amazon is also offering a free six month trial to Prime for Young Adults right now. Prime for Young Adults is a discounted Prime membership for anyone age 18-24 that offers all of the Prime benefits at $69.00 per year, half of the price of regular Prime.


Anker




Prime Day deals have hit Anker's most popular portable batteries, Bluetooth speakers, wall chargers, USB-C hubs, and portable power stations. We've collected some of the best Anker discounts in the list below, but be sure to browse Amazon for even more sales.

Audio



Portable Batteries



Wireless Chargers



Power Stations



Wall Chargers



Hubs




Jackery




Jackery's Prime Day deals include a large selection of portable power stations at big discounts.



Sonos





Beats




Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers, including an all-time low price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $179.95 in four colors, down from $249.99. This deal on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is being matched at Best Buy, along with a few other Beats deals.




Monitors




Samsung's popular 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (Model M80D) is down to the best price we've ever seen it on Amazon, available for $399.99, down from $699.99.




In addition to the Smart Monitor M8, Amazon has a wide array of monitors and PCs on sale from HP, Acer, Samsung, and more for Prime Day. One of the highlights is Samsung's 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor for $999.99, down from $1,599.99.



TVs





Amazon Devices




Of course, some of the best discounts can be found on Amazon's own line of products. This includes Kindle e-readers, Blink security cameras, Fire tablets, and more.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "The Best Prime Day Deals on Monitors, Charging Accessories, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Samsung Launches Super Thin Galaxy Z Fold7

9 juillet 2025 à 16:00
As Apple gears up to debut its first-generation foldable iPhone next year, Samsung is on its seventh generation. Samsung today introduced its latest foldable smartphones, debuting the ultra thin Galaxy Z Fold7, the Galaxy Z Flip7, and a new, lower cost Z Flip7 FE.


Positioned as Samsung's premium flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is thinner and larger than the foldable smartphones that came before it. When closed, the Fold7's AMOLED display is 6.5 inches, but when open, it's now 8 inches. It's noticeably thinner than the Fold6, measuring in at 8.9mm thick when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded. That's not too far off from rumors about Apple's foldable ‌iPhone‌, which could be 4.5mm when it's open and 9mm when closed.

Galaxy Z Fold7

Because of its slim size, the Z Fold7 weighs 215 grams, which makes it lighter than Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max. To get the display so thin, Samsung removed S-Pen integration, so this year's Z Fold7 does not work with Samsung's stylus.

Galaxy Z Fold7

Samsung is using a new "Armor FlexHinge" that it says is thinner and lighter. It's also meant to cut down on the visibility of the crease, but there's still a definitive crease when using the Z Fold7. The display is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which as the name suggests has ceramic infused in it, much like Apple's Ceramic Shield.

Galaxy Z Fold7

There's a 10-megapixel selfie camera that's on the cover, a 10-megapixel ultra-wide front camera with a 100-degree field of view, a 200-megapixel wide-angle front camera, and a rear camera setup with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens. The Galaxy Z Fold7 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip from Qualcomm. Samsung says it has 38 percent faster CPU performance and 26 percent faster GPU performance.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip7 is a smaller foldable that has a clamshell design. It too is slimmer, and it has a larger 4.1-inch front FlexWindow with an edge-to-edge display. When open, the Z Flip7 has a 6.9-inch display. The FlexWindow isn't a full app interface, but it supports Google Gemini and several other quick access features.

Galaxy Z Flip7

The Z Flip7 weighs 188 grams and is 13.7mm thick when it's folded, which makes it the thinnest version of the Z Flip to date. It uses the same thinner Armor FlexHinge as the Z Fold7. There's a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens at the rear, along with 10-megapixel front-facing selfie camera.

Samsung is also releasing a lower-cost version of the Galaxy Z Flip7, the Flip7 FE. It's not as thin as the Flip7, and is essentially equivalent to the Flip6. It features a 3.4-inch FlexWindow and a 6.7-inch main display when open.

Finally, Samsung is updating its smartwatch lineup with the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic, plus an updated Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Watch8 boasts a thinner and more comfortable design, a brighter display, and dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy. The Watch8 also delivers new health features through the Samsung Health app, including Bedtime Guidance to suggest the optimal time to go to sleep based on your circadian rhythm, Vascular Load to monitor stress levels on your vascular system during sleep, Antioxidant Index to keep track of your carotenoid levels, and more.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold7, the Galaxy Z Flip7, and Flip7 FE are available starting today. The Z Fold7 is priced starting at $1,999, while the Z Flip7 is priced starting at $1,099. The Cheaper Fold7 FE is priced starting at $899.

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.
This article, "Samsung Launches Super Thin Galaxy Z Fold7" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 17 Air Now Said to Feature A19 Pro Chip With One Limitation

9 juillet 2025 à 15:49
Apple's rumored "iPhone 17 Air" will be equipped with an A19 Pro chip instead of an A19 chip, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. However, there may be one limitation.


In a post this week, the leaker said the A19 Pro chip will have a 6-core GPU in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but only a 5-core GPU in the iPhone 17 Air. This means the iPhone 17 Air would have slightly slower graphics performance for gaming compared to the Pro models, but the average customer is unlikely to notice much of a difference.

In July 2024, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air would be equipped with an A19 chip instead of an A19 Pro chip, so there are now conflicting rumors about the device's chip. Kuo has a good track record with Apple rumors, while Fixed Focus Digital appears to have been the first source to reveal the iPhone 16e name of the device that succeeded the iPhone SE, so it is hard to say who is right here.

As for the base model iPhone 17, Fixed Focus Digital expects that device to have an A19 chip, which is another claim that conflicts with a previous rumor. A few months ago, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the device would have an A18 chip.

Here is an overview of Fixed Focus Digital's chip expectations:
  • iPhone 17: A19 chip

  • iPhone 17 Air: A19 Pro chip (5-core GPU)

  • iPhone 17 Pro: A19 Pro chip (6-core GPU)

  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: A19 Pro chip (6-core GPU)
Here were the previous expectations from Kuo and Pu:
  • iPhone 17: A18 chip

  • iPhone 17 Air: A19 chip

  • iPhone 17 Pro: A19 Pro chip

  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: A19 Pro chip
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, so we will find out what the company's actual plans are in a few more months.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Air
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone 17 Air Now Said to Feature A19 Pro Chip With One Limitation" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Prime Day Deals Still Going Strong on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

9 juillet 2025 à 15:22
Amazon Prime Day is currently in its second day, and this year the event will last for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront. With the event now underway, we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now.

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.

For our coverage, we're focusing on discounts for Apple and Apple-related products that can be purchased right now on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook Air, and more. We're also sharing deals being matched at retailers like Best Buy in some cases.



As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated over the next few days, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles next week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.

Special for 2025, Amazon is also offering a free six month trial to Prime for Young Adults right now. Prime for Young Adults is a discounted Prime membership for anyone age 18-24 that offers all of the Prime benefits at $69.00 per year, half of the price of regular Prime.

AirPods



Amazon has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $429.99, down from $549.00, and the AirPods Pro 2 for $149.00, down from $249.00. You'll also find an all-time low price on the AirPods 4 for Prime Day.





iPad



Amazon is taking up to $55 off Wi-Fi and cellular models of Apple's 11th generation iPad for Prime Day. Prices start at $279.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a new all-time low price on this model.




iPad Mini



Amazon has record low prices on every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7 this week, starting at $379.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.




iPad Air



Amazon this week has discounts across nearly the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, offering $100 off these tablets. Prices start at $479.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M3 iPad Air, down from $599.00. Best Buy is matching all of these deals on the iPad Air.



11-inch M3 iPad Air



13-inch M3 iPad Air




MacBook Air



Amazon today has low prices across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with up to $175 off both 13-inch and 15-inch models.

Starting with the 13-inch models, Amazon has $150 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $849.00 for the 256GB model, then raise to $1,049.00 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,249.00 for the 24GB/512GB model. All of these are solid second-best prices on the M4 MacBook Air.





Moving to the larger display models, Amazon has both 512GB versions of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week, as well as the 256GB model. The 16GB/512GB model is available for $1,249.00 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,427.14. Across the board, these are all second-best prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.





Apple Watch



Series 10


Amazon is offering numerous all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 10 devices during Prime Day, including both GPS and cellular models at $119 off original prices. Best Buy is matching these prices in many cases.




Amazon has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for $279.00, down from $399.00, as well as the 46mm GPS model for $309.00, down from $429.00. Both of these are record low prices on the Apple Watch Series 10, and they're available in numerous case colors and band styles.

SE


In addition to Series 10 deals, Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.00 today, down from $249.00. This is the 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 $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is also available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.



Apple Watch Ultra 2




Amazon has introduced a new all-time low price on the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, available for $649.99, down from $799.00. This is the first time in a few weeks that we've tracked any notable discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.



Models on sale at this price include the Black Titanium Case with Black Trail Loop (M/L), Black Titanium Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (L), and more. If you're shopping for the Natural color option, you can find the models with the Navy Ocean Band and Tan Alpine Loop (M) on sale for $649.00 as well.

Accessories








Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Prime Day Deals Still Going Strong on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Federal ‘click to cancel subscriptions’ rule struck down in court [U]

9 juillet 2025 à 14:54

A “click to cancel” law was last month passed in California, and now the FTC has ratified a federal rule designed to achieve the same goal. The idea of both is to force companies to make it as easy to cancel an online or app subscription as it is to sign up in the first place.

Update: Following a court challenge, the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the rule. See update at the end …

more…

IKEA Goes All-In on Matter for Apple HomeKit Compatibility

9 juillet 2025 à 14:23
IKEA plans to overhaul its smart home lineup with full Matter support, making its budget-friendly products compatible with Apple Home and other ecosystems without requiring the company's own hub, reports The Verge.


Starting in January 2026, the Swedish furniture giant will release more than 20 new Matter-over-Thread smart lights, sensors, and remotes. The products will work directly with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings through native Matter compatibility. Pricing will remain comparable to current products, which start under $10.

To recap, Thread is a low-power wireless mesh protocol that runs on the 2.4GHz band and is designed for devices such as sensors, bulbs, plugs, and shades. It's IP-based, so devices can talk directly to each other over the internet, and on other networks via a Thread Border Router (such as a HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K).

Meanwhile, Matter is an open-sourced, IP-based connectivity software layer for smart home devices that was co-developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and others. It works over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Thread.

IKEA also recently rolled out a beta update for its Dirigera smart home hub that activates its built-in Thread radio and adds support for Matter. With this update, Dirigera now works as both a Matter Controller and a Thread Border Router, so it can connect to and control any compatible Matter device – including those from other brands – as well as IKEA's upcoming Matter-based product line, which is set to replace its current Zigbee offerings.

"We want to remove barriers to complexity, we want it to be simple to use, and we just want it to work," David Granath of IKEA of Sweden told The Verge. "If you're an Apple user, take our bulb and onboard it to your Apple Home."

The news should be a welcome development for HomeKit users, who previously faced limited affordable options. IKEA's existing smart home products required workarounds or lengthy waits for HomeKit support. With Matter, any compatible device automatically works with Apple Home without additional certification.
This article, "IKEA Goes All-In on Matter for Apple HomeKit Compatibility" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Grok chatbot silenced as even Musk saw how awful it was

9 juillet 2025 à 14:05

X owner Elon Musk recently implemented changes to the platform’s AI chatbot Grok, explicitly telling it not to trust mainstream media and to be less politically correct. Obviously there was no way anyone could possibly predict how that would turn out, so it’s a complete shock that Musk has been forced to silence it …

more…

HomeKit-compatible smart homes becoming more affordable as Ikea Matters

9 juillet 2025 à 13:33

HomeKit compatibility used to attract a noticeable price premium when buying smart home products, but the Matter standard is changing that – and Ikea is now going all-in on this.

The company says that it has more than 20 new affordable Matter-compatible smart home devices in the works, with likely plans to expand into completely new product types too …

more…

HBO Max comes full circle, and this time your apps will auto-update

9 juillet 2025 à 12:56

The HBO streaming video app became HBO Max when the company added Warner Bros movies and Turner TV shows. In the worst rebrand since Twitter became X, the company later dropped the unique and valuable HBO part of the name and kept the generic and worthless Max part.

Two years later, the company is fixing that. It today becomes HBO Max once more – and this time around, your apps should automatically update …

more…
❌