When Apple finishes developing the next generation of Siri, third-party apps will want to integrate with the new system.

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Apple is testing a revamped version of Siri with select third-party apps, including Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, and a few games, according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Apple also continues to test the new Siri with its own apps, he said. Apple's own example was an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps.

When it first announced the new-and-improved Siri at WWDC 2024, Apple said it would have better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls, with these features to be powered by Apple Intelligence and an upgraded App Intents system. The features will be available across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and Apple Intelligence has expanded to the Apple Vision Pro too.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new App Intents system will let you take action within apps entirely with Siri voice commands:

Here's what the new App Intents will mean: With nothing but your voice, you'll be able to tell Siri to find a specific photo, edit it and send it off. Or comment on an Instagram post. Or scroll a shopping app and add something to your cart. Or log in to a service without touching the screen. Essentially, Siri could operate your apps like you would — with precision, inside their own interfaces.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that his company was making "good progress" on a more personalized Siri, after it delayed the features earlier this year. He reiterated that the features are on track to launch next year, but he did not provide a more specific timeframe.

Gurman said the new Siri is on track to launch in the U.S. in spring 2026. If so, it will likely be released as part of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 next March or April. He said the new Siri won't be available universally on day one, so it might take time to roll out to some countries, just like Apple Intelligence overall.

Apple is considering limiting or disabling some new Siri abilities in banking and health apps, to ensure that Siri does not make the type of critical mistakes that have sometimes occurred during internal testing, according to Gurman.

If it works well, Gurman believes the revamped Siri would finally deliver the voice-powered reality that Apple envisioned nearly a decade and a half ago.


This article, "Report: Apple Testing Revamped Siri With Apps Like Uber and YouTube" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Tech’s favorite YouTuber MKBHD has reviewed CarPlay Ultra for the first time.

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Amazon this weekend has a pair of solid discounts on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, providing up to $80 off these headphones.

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 AirPods 4 for $99.00 (matched at Best Buy), down from $129.00, which is just $10 higher compared to the all-time low price we tracked during Prime Day. This is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation.



The AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169.00 (matched at Best Buy), down from $249.00. Compared to previous record low prices, this is just about $20 higher, and one of the best prices we've tracked since that low price was available during Prime Day.



Both models have an estimated August 15 delivery date for most residences in the United States. If you live in a select location, and have a Prime membership, you may have access to free same-day shipping as well.

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, "Get Apple's AirPods 4 for $99 and AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It was long rumored that Apple would release the first MacBook Pro models with OLED displays next year, but that timeframe is a little less certain now.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he expects the MacBook Pro to gain an OLED display "between the end of 2026 and early 2027."

Compared to current MacBook Pro models with LCD screens, benefits of OLED technology could include increased brightness (if the MacBook Pro gets an Ultra Retina XDR display with tandem OLED technology, like the latest iPad Pro), higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Gurman was previously more firm about a 2026 launch, which he still thinks might happen, but he now thinks early 2027 is a possibility too.

In a wide-ranging report about future Apple devices last month, Gurman said that Apple was considering pushing back the release of the next MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips until 2026, which is likely why he is now mentioning that the subsequent MacBook Pro models with OLED displays might be slightly pushed back too.

On the other hand, there is precedent for the MacBook Pro being updated twice in a year. Apple released models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, followed by models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips in October 2023. So maybe we get the M5 generation in January 2026, and the M6 generation in October 2026.

In any case, we recommend skipping the next-generation MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips if you can wait, as the subsequent models with the M6 series of chips are expected to feature more significant changes, including an OLED display, a thinner design, and a smaller notch. Just know that wait might stretch into early 2027.


This article, "MacBook Pro With OLED Display Might Launch a Bit Later Than Expected" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple hasn’t officially announced the iPhone 17 lineup, but we expect an event announcement later this month and the actual reveal in about four weeks. One highly anticipated change this year is the arrival of the iPhone 17 Air, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus with an ultra-thin model. Here’s how the iPhone 17 Air display size will compare to the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.

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Rumors have long pointed at a new with an OLED display launching towards the end of 2026 – alongside a general MacBook Pro overhaul. While that isn’t completely off the table, there’s an increasingly likely possibility of it launching in early 2027 instead.

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According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is aiming to ship its brand new App Intents feature, allowing Siri to take actions for you, next Spring – alongside its long-promised Siri overhaul. These features were initially on track to launch during the iOS 18 release cycle, though Apple faced engineering delays. Now, they should launch by ~iOS 26.4, according to current reporting.

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As we approach week’s end, we are starting to track a massive selection of Apple deals across its current-generation lineup. From the iPad Air, mini 7, and Pro, right through the the M4 MacBook Air, a series of accessories, and much more, we are looking at some of the best prices of the year and even some new all-time lows that undercut what we saw on Prime Day. Scope it all out down below. 

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iOS 26 introduces a new Liquid Glass design, but the update also includes some other new features that have not received as much attention.


Below, we recap three smaller iOS 26 features that you might have missed.

iOS 26 should be released in September, but anyone can sign up to test the public beta for free. Make sure to back up your iPhone first.

Adaptive Power Mode

iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.

Apple says that Adaptive Power Mode can make "small performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to "take a little longer."

The full description of Adaptive Power Mode, from the iOS 26 beta:

When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%.

Adaptive Power Mode is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer.

Adaptive Power Mode is turned off by default. The option can be turned on continuously in the Settings app under Battery → Power Mode.

Digital Passport

iOS 26 lets you create a digital version of your U.S. passport on your iPhone.

After creating a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app, based on your U.S. passport, you can present it in person at select TSA checkpoints for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

AirPlay for CarPlay

iOS 26 will let iPhone users wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.

Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out. It is unclear if a new vehicle is required.

From the CarPlay page on Apple's developer website:

Video in the car

AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren't driving. Integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature in your car.

There were already some unapproved ways to watch videos through CarPlay, with various jailbreak tweaks and TestFlight beta apps promising to unlock such functionality. Now, it is something that Apple will officially allow.
This article, "Here Are 3 New iOS 26 Features You Might Have Missed" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 17 models will "likely" be more expensive than iPhone 16 models in the U.S., according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at investment firm GF Securities.


In a research note this week, Pu attributed the potential iPhone 17 price increases to the U.S. imposing tariffs on products imported from countries where the iPhone is assembled, including China and India. Apple is currently paying a 20% tariff on iPhones imported from China, but none on iPhones imported from India, according to The Wall Street Journal. However, the Trump administration's tariff policies frequently change.

On an earnings call last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the majority of the iPhones sold in the U.S. are imported from India currently.

Wall Street analysts have estimated that iPhone 17 models could be $50 to $100 more expensive than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, but this is likely guesswork. Even if prices do increase, Apple could find clever ways to spin the situation, such as by raising the iPhone 17 Pro's minimum storage capacity from 128GB to 256GB. That would bring the Pro model in line with the Pro Max model, which has started at the 256GB mark for a few years now.

In the U.S., Apple has maintained a $999 starting price for the Pro model or equivalent since the iPhone X was released all the way back in 2017, despite rumors about potential price increases year after year. So, Apple has earned the benefit of the doubt on pricing until proven otherwise. On the other hand, nothing lasts forever.
This article, "iPhone 17 Models 'Likely' to Have Higher Prices, Another Analyst Says" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon has finally started rolling out Alexa+, its oft-delayed overhaul of the Alexa voice assistant built on large language model technology. However, Alexa+ shows how difficult it is to replace a mature voice assistant with generative AI, especially when users expect instant, consistent results for simple tasks. It’s a real reality check on the notion that Amazon has managed to release something Apple promised and hasn’t shipped.

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If your Apple CarPlay connection randomly drops out while driving, the cause might not be your iPhone, cable, or car.

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The fifth tvOS 26 beta changed several "HomeKit" references to "Apple Home" in the Settings app on all Apple TV models compatible with the update.


For example, Israeli website The Verifier reported that the "AirPlay and HomeKit" menu on the Apple TV is now labeled "AirPlay and Apple Home."

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris spotted other examples, such as the one below.

Before:

Your Apple TV won't connect with iCloud and HomeKit until you add a new default user.

After:

Your Apple TV won't connect with iCloud and Apple Home until you add a new default user.

As a refresher, Apple Home refers to Apple's overall smart home app and ecosystem, whereas HomeKit has been the name of the company's underlying smart home accessory framework since 2014. Of the two names, HomeKit sounds more technical.

Does this serve as evidence that Apple is slowly phasing out its HomeKit brand in favor of Apple Home, or did Apple simply realize that Apple Home was the better wording in these instances? It could be the latter, but it would not be surprising if Apple eventually did retire the HomeKit name in favor of the more generic Apple Home for both its smart home app and framework, especially as the company prepares to launch an all-new home hub.

For now, there are still plenty of references to both HomeKit and Apple Home across Apple's website and software platforms. One day, though, perhaps the HomeKit name could be folded into Apple Home entirely for streamlined branding.
This article, "tvOS 26 Changes 'HomeKit' References to 'Apple Home' in Settings App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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We’re possibly going to see yet another version of AirPods Pro next month, alongside the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. Despite the coming up on nearly three years old, I don’t think that those in the market to buy new AirPods should necessarily waste their time waiting for a potentially upcoming model.

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macOS Tahoe includes 15 new aerial screen savers for the Mac, each panning over natural landscapes around the world.


The new screen saver options were highlighted by Dylan McDonald, and we have provided still previews of all of them below.

The new screen savers can also be set as wallpapers.

To browse through all screen savers on macOS Tahoe, open the System Settings app, click Wallpaper, and click the "Screen Saver…" button.

How to Install macOS Tahoe Beta

macOS Tahoe will likely be released in September, but anyone can sign up to try the public beta now for free via beta.apple.com.

• How to Install macOS Tahoe Public Beta

New Screen Savers

Tahoe Day (Lake Tahoe, California) ↓



Tahoe Evening (Lake Tahoe, California) ↓



Tahoe Morning (Lake Tahoe, California) ↓



Tahoe Night (Lake Tahoe, California) ↓



Himalayan Peaks (Himalayas) ↓



Himalayas Day (Himalayas) ↓



Through Himalayas (Himalayas) ↓



Goa Beaches (Goa, India) ↓



Goa Coast (Goa, India) ↓



Reservoir Day (Kerala, India) ↓



Tea Gardens Day (Kerala, India) ↓



Tea Gardens Mist (Kerala, India) ↓



Tea Gardens from Above (Kerala, India) ↓



Ghansali from Above (Uttarakhand, India) ↓



The Ganges (Uttarakhand, India) ↓


This article, "macOS Tahoe Adds These 15 New Screen Savers to Your Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

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Last year, I checked out an indie app called Time2Pack – an all-in-one trip planner. Now, the developers have a new app called OnlyFlights – a simple yet robust flight tracker for iPhone users.

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The UFC is back in Las Vegas tonight for UFC Fight Night Dolidze vs Hernandez. Whether you’re watching on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or Apple Vision Pro, here’s how to stream the action live.

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With macOS Tahoe, Apple will be adding a bunch of new screen saver options, which you can also set as wallpapers. There are a couple new variants of the previously introduced Tahoe screen saver in beta 5, as well as around a dozen other options introduced in a previous beta that flew under the radar.

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Apple Card sign up offers used to be quite rare, but they’ve become quite regular occurrences. I’ve reported on numerous bonuses in the past year – and there’s yet another one now available for new users looking to get an Apple Card.

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Many popular Apple products received all-time low prices this week, including the M4 MacBook Air, M4 MacBook Pro, M3 iPad Air, and iPad mini 7. We're also tracking great discounts on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 right now.

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.

iPad Air

• What's the deal? Get $150 off M3 iPad Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week we began tracking new record low prices across the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, with discounts available at both Amazon and Best Buy. These massive $150 discounts beat the previous all-time lows tracked during Prime Day by about $30.

iPad Mini

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


• Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy

Amazon and Best Buy are both offering $100 off the iPad mini 7 this week, which is a solid second-best price on the tablet.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Get up to $80 off AirPods


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has solid second-best prices on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, and both deals are still available right now.

M4 MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Get $200 off M4 MacBook Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week introduced a new record low price across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and you can still get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for just $799.00, plus many other deals.

M4 MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Get up to $436 off M4 MacBook Pro


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Continuing this week's theme of steep MacBook-related discounts, Amazon also has great deals on the M4 MacBook Pro right now. You'll find up to $436 off these computers, starting at $1,299.00 for the entry-level 14-inch model.

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: Record Low Prices Hit iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Kuxiu continues to make some of the best iPad accessories in the game. They were the first to introduce “wireless” charging for the iPad by implementing the smart connector into their products, like the X33 Pro Max. It was the first magnetic iPad stand that also charged your iPad Pro with those smart connectors. They have doubled down on that and made it ultra compact. Today, they unveiled the M30 Magnetic Smart Connector Charger, and I’m so excited about it. Here is what you should know.

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Apple has released the fourth installment of its Wild Life immersive video series on Apple Vision Pro.

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The official unveiling of the iPhone 17 lineup and new Apple Watch models plus potentially a few more announcements is just a month away now, and the rumor cycle is in full swing for these final weeks.


iOS 26 is also well into its beta testing cycle, with Apple putting the final touches on things over the next few weeks to be able to install it on the new iPhones before they ship, so read on below for all the details!

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 5

Apple is continuing to make progress on refining iOS 26 and related major operating system updates that should see their official releases in September, pushing out the fifth developer betas and second public betas this week with some fresh changes in store.


The new Liquid Glass design seems to be firming up after several revisions in previous betas, while beta 5 introduces some new "bounciness" for transitions in places like Lock Screen passcode entry and switching between Control Center pages. There are other functional and visual tweaks for Camera, Mail, AirDrop, Wallet and more.

iOS 26 Beta Reveals Apple Watch Ultra 3 Display Size

It looks like the display on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 might be just a hint larger than on previous Ultra models, based on imagery discovered by MacRumors in the latest iOS 26 beta.


It's likely the slight increase in display size will be accommodated by shrinking the bezels around the display rather than increasing the casing size, but we'll have to see once the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra is unveiled. The first substantial upgrade for the model in two years is likely to come next month alongside the iPhone 17 lineup.

iPhone 17 Air Battery Allegedly 2.49mm – Half the Thickness of 17 Pro's

Over the weekend, photos surfaced of what was originally claimed to be the metal-encased battery for the upcoming ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air," although the original report was later corrected to note that the battery is for the iPhone 17 Pro.


It didn't take long for photos of the actual iPhone 17 Air battery to surface, however, and they reveal that it measures just 2.49 mm thick, roughly half as thick as the iPhone 17 Pro battery. The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly have a battery capacity of 3,000 mAh or less, which will hamper battery life compared to thicker models. But between software optimizations and a rumored battery case, the majority of users will hopefully still be able to get a full day's use out of a single charge.

AirPods Pro 3 Could Be Just Weeks Away – Here's What We Know

Apple's high-end AirPods Pro earbuds are due for an update, and it could be arriving as soon as September alongside the new iPhone and Apple Watch models.


We're expecting some design tweaks for the earbuds and the case, performance upgrades in audio processing and active noise cancellation, in-ear heart-rate tracking, and perhaps some other improvements.

New Apple TV Still Launching This Year

The current Apple TV 4K model is coming up on three years old, but Apple is apparently on track to release an updated model later this year, according to a source speaking to MacRumors.


We're expecting a chip upgrade from the A15 Bionic found in the current model, Wi-Fi 7 support via a new Apple-designed Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip, and additional enhancements.

Google Makes Fun of Apple Intelligence Siri Delay in Ad Promoting Pixel 10

Google this week used Apple's Siri failure to attempt to lure customers to the upcoming Pixel 10 series, sharing an ad that calls out the delayed Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ functionality.


"If you buy a new phone because of a feature that's coming soon, but it's been coming soon for a full year," the teaser video begins, "you could change your definition of soon. Or you could just change your phone."

In an all-hands meeting for Apple employees late last week, Tim Cook defended the company's AI efforts, noting that "we've rarely been first" to new technologies but that AI is "ours to grab" and the company "will make the investment to do it."

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: iOS 26 Beta 5, Apple Watch Ultra 3 Rumors, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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