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Apple’s iPhone 17 unveiling is only days away, and rumors for the iPhone 17 Pro Max indicate it could deliver in nearly every way that recently surveyed users say they want most.

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Astropad today announced the launch of Fresh Coat, a new anti-reflective screen protector that's designed to make the iPhone easier to see outdoors and under bright lights.


Fresh Coat is a glass screen protector that cuts down on up to 75 percent of reflections while preserving color accuracy.

We were able to try out Fresh Coat ahead of launch, and can confirm that it does indeed cut down on reflections without impacting the ‌iPhone‌'s color or display visibility, with no sign of haze. Astropad includes a tray that ensures a precise alignment and makes applying the screen protector foolproof, and it comes with an app clip that walks you through the installation process.

Astropad uses a five-layer system for Fresh Coat, including a flexible bonding layer to cushion drops, a dust barrier to protect from debris, "armorine" tempered glass for screen protection, an oleophobic and hydrophobic coating, and finally, the anti-reflective coating. The entire package is 0.6mm thick.


The same type of anti-reflective technology is rumored to be coming to the iPhone 17 Pro models, and now the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro can get it too. Fresh Coat will also benefit the iPhone 17 models, providing extra reflection reduction. In fact, Astropad says that standard screen protectors will cancel out Apple's antireflective coating, but Fresh Coat will preserve it.

Fresh Coat is priced at $27.99, which includes a 20 percent launch discount. The screen protector is available now from the Astropad website for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max. An ‌iPhone 17‌ version is also available for pre-order.
This article, "Astropad's 'Fresh Coat' Screen Protector Cuts iPhone Reflections by 75% Without Color Loss" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Ecobee this week announced that its Smart Security home monitoring system now works with Apple's Home app, across devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.


This integration allows you to view and change modes (Stay, Away, and Disarm) directly from an Ecobee smart thermostat's tile in the Home app, or by using Siri voice commands on an iPhone or iPad. You can also create HomeKit automations (such as "arm at 10 PM, disarm at 7 AM"), and receive push notifications for mode changes.

Ecobee's Smart Thermostat Premium can act as a security hub, eliminating the need to buy a standalone home security device. The thermostat can be paired with Ecobee's cameras and sensors, providing you with alerts for unexpected motion and entry, reminders to arm your home, smoke alarm detection, and more. In the U.S., Ecobee's Smart Security plan costs $5 per month, or $10 per month with 24/7 professional monitoring.

Ecobee's smart thermostats already worked with Apple's Home app for non-security features.
This article, "Ecobee's Smart Security System Now Works With Home App and Siri" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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My biggest complaint about over the years hasn’t been the steep price or which chip Apple put inside. It’s been the lack of wireless charging. Fortunately, an elegant solution to solve this problem has arrived.

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The dream of an edge-to-edge iPhone display with no cutout could come true sooner than we thought. Per a new analyst report, next year’s iPhone Fold might be the first iPhone to move camera components under the display, thus offering a truly all-screen design.

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Eero has a new Eero Signal product that it says will let you “say goodbye to internet outages.”

“Eero Signal delivers cellular backup whenever your wired internet connection goes down,” the company explains. It’s available in both 4G LTE and 5G RedCap versions.

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Less than a week ahead of when Apple plans to unveil the Apple Watch Ultra with satellite capabilities, Garmin introduced its own smartwatch with satellite connectivity.


The Fenix 8 Pro is Garmin's first smartwatch to feature its inReach satellite and cellular connectivity. InReach is the technology that Garmin uses for its handheld navigation devices. With inReach, the Fenix 8 Pro can send location check-ins and text messages over satellite using the Garmin Messenger app.

There is also included cellular connectivity, so the smartwatch can make phone calls, send 30-second voice messages, and provide LiveTrack links and weather forecasts when an LTE connection is available.

LiveTrack is a feature that allows the wearer's family and friends to keep track of their location during an activity or adventure.

For emergencies, there is an SOS feature that will send a message to the Garmin Response center over a satellite or cellular connection. Garmin Response will then communicate with the user, their emergency contacts, and search and rescue organizations to provide help. Garmin says that its Response team has supported over 17,000 inReach incident responses across over 150 countries.

Along with satellite connectivity, the Fenix 8 Pro has a high-resolution microLED display with 4,500 nits of brightness, making it the "brightest smartwatch ever," according to Garmin. Other features include dive-rated and leakproof metal buttons, a metal sensor guard cover, and an LED flash light. It can track health metrics and provide an endurance score, hill score, daily suggested workouts, sleeping advice, ECG functionality, and more.

There are two Fenix 8 Pro sizes, including 47mm and 51mm, and two different display options. The AMOLED model is priced starting at $1,200 and it gets up to 27 days of battery in smartwatch mode. The microLED model, which is available only in a 51mm size, is priced at $2,000 and it gets up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. Garmin's new smartwatch models will be available for purchase on September 8, one day before Apple's September 9 event that will see the unveiling of the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to include integrated satellite connectivity, allowing Apple Watch wearers to send text messages and get help when a cellular or Wi-Fi connection is unavailable.

Apple does not charge for satellite service at this time, while Garmin does. Garmin's inReach plans start at $7.99 per month, with additional fees for some of the satellite-based features based on which plan is selected.
This article, "Garmin Beats Apple to Market with Satellite-Connected Smartwatch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The Instagram app is expanding to the iPad at long last, with Instagram releasing a dedicated iPad app as of today.


Instagram for ‌iPad‌ focuses on Reels, and when opening the app, it will go directly to the Reels page. Stories will be available at the top of the interface, with support for messaging as well.

There is a dedicated Following tab that provides different filtering options. "All" will display recommended posts and reels from accounts you follow, while "Friends" will show recommended posts from accounts you follow and that follow you back. The "Latest" option will show chronological posts and reels from accounts that you follow.


Instagram for ‌iPad‌ was designed to take advantage of a larger display area, providing access to more features with fewer taps. Instagram says that people can catch up on messages and notifications using layouts that display both tabs at the same time, and when you watch reels, you can expand the comments while the reel stays at full size.

The Instagram app for the ‌iPad‌ is rolling out now, and it is available on iPads that support iPadOS 15.1 and later.
This article, "Instagram Finally Comes to iPad" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Mophie today announced the launch of the Max Charging Stand, a two-in-one charger that's designed for the USB-C AirPods Max and the AirPods or AirPods Pro.


The Max Charging Stand holds the ‌AirPods Max‌ upright, with a magnetic USB-C charging dongle that connects to the USB-C port in the headphones. Mophie created the stand with the magnetic dongle to ensure that the ‌AirPods Max‌ are aligned perfectly for charging without the user having to fuss with positioning.

There are also included magnets to ensure that the ‌AirPods Max‌ are put into low power mode while they're on the charger, increasing charger speed.

Along with the upright charger for the ‌AirPods Max‌, there is a smaller Qi-based charging platform that can be used for AirPods or ‌AirPods Pro‌ that support wireless charging.

The stand is made from aluminum so it matches well with the aluminum ‌AirPods Max‌, and it comes in black. There is a soft silicone cradle that keeps the ‌AirPods Max‌ from being scratched, and an integrated LED that lets you know when charging has started.

The Max Charging Stand can be purchased from the Mophie website for $150.
This article, "Mophie Launches Max Charging Stand for Charging Multiple AirPods" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The day has finally arrived: Instagram for iPad is here. Though it seemed like it might never happen, the popular social media app now offers an official iPadOS version. Here are the details.

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Google has confirmed that Gemini for Home, its generative AI-powered replacement for Google Assistant, will begin rolling out on October 1 through an early access program, marking a major upgrade to its smart home platform and highlighting Apple's slower progress in deploying similar AI technology for Siri.


At the Made by Google 2025 event, the company announced that Gemini for Home will be available on all existing Nest smart speakers and displays, in addition to powering upcoming devices. The platform uses Google's latest AI models to facilitate more natural conversations, contextual reasoning, and multi-step commands. Google said the update maintains the familiar "Hey Google" activation phrase but eliminates the need for rigid phrasing, allowing users to speak more naturally.

Demonstrations highlighted Gemini for Home's ability to execute chained instructions, such as "Dim the lights and set the temp to 72 degrees," as well as interpret exceptions in commands like "Turn off the lights everywhere except my bedroom."

The platform also expands the remit of voice assistant functionality beyond smart home controls alone to include grocery list planning, recipe suggestions, troubleshooting help, and travel advice. In addition, users can engage in open-ended conversations through Gemini Live, a feature that removes the need to repeat the hotword during back-and-forth discussions.


The announcement of the October 1 rollout puts pressure on Apple, which is preparing to introduce its major but delayed update to ‌Siri‌ in 2026. ‌Siri‌ has not yet gained comparable capabilities such as chained commands, advanced reasoning, or contextual automation. Apple's HomeKit platform remains focused on preconfigured automations and single-action commands, and the company has not announced any AI enhancements for the HomePod or Apple TV.

Gemini for Home will begin replacing Google Assistant across Nest Hubs, Nest Minis, and Nest Audio devices in supported regions starting October 1, with a wider rollout to follow.
This article, "Google's Gemini for Home Starts Rolling Out on October 1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside ongoing $150 price drops on the M3 iPad Air lineup as well as Apple’s 24GB M4 Mac mini with the 1TB upgrade at $200 off, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are starting with an exclusive sitewide sale event at Nomad. We have secured readers a chance to score 20% off everything Nomad sells, from its Find My Tracking Card and new new Tempo Apple Watch bands to MagSafe stands, and everything in between. We also spotted 512GB iPhone 16 Pro units at $340 off as well as Apple’s 16-Core M4 Max Mac Studio with 64GB of RAM at $300 off alongside everything else you’ll find below. 

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AirPods Pro 3 are almost here, with a launch at Apple’s September 9 event widely expected. Here’s every rumored new feature coming to AirPods Pro 3.

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Today, reMarkable larger reMarkable Paper Pro. It’s designed for work on the go, and can easily be slipped in a jacket pocket, bag, or purse.

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Apple today previewed its fourth retail store in India, ahead of the location's grand opening on Thursday, September 4, at 1 p.m. local time.


Apple Koregaon Park is the company's first store in Pune, and its second new location opening in India this week, after Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru.

Apple Koregaon Park looks similar to Apple Hebbal. Both stores feature a combined Genius Bar and Apple Pickup area for technical support and in-store pickup of online orders. This two-in-one counter has been rolling out at a handful of Apple's new and recently-renovated stores in the U.S., Canada, U.K., China, and elsewhere over the past year.

Overall, the interior of Apple Koregaon Park is quite familiar and unremarkable by now, as this general design debuted a few years ago. The store will be staffed by 68 team members from 11 Indian states, according to Apple. Customers can participate in free Today at Apple sessions, which are designed to inspire learning and creativity.

To celebrate the new stores in India, Apple shared a peacock-themed wallpaper for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The wallpaper can be downloaded on the store's page for a limited time, or you can use the direct links provided in the previous sentence.

The store page also features an Apple Music playlist with Indian dance hits.

The two new stores in India are opening just ahead of Apple's annual iPhone event, on Tuesday, September 9. India should be a first-wave launch country for the iPhone 17 series, with the devices likely to be available in stores starting Friday, September 19.

As we previously reported, Apple is also planning to open a new store at the DLF Mall of India in Noida, but that location has yet to be officially announced.

India is an increasingly important market for Apple for both sales and manufacturing, with the company reportedly boosting iPhone production in the country, as part of its supply chain diversification efforts. In late July, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the majority of the iPhones sold in the U.S. last quarter were imported from India.
This article, "Two Apple Stores Open in India This Week Ahead of iPhone 17 Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s “Awe dropping” event on Tuesday will finally solve the biggest mystery around the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The fact that there’s any mystery at all less than a week before the iPhone event is exciting on its own.

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reMarkable today unveiled the Paper Pro Move, a compact color E Ink tablet that brings its minimalist writing experience to a more portable form factor aimed at those seeking a focused alternative to full-featured tablets like the iPad mini.


The Paper Pro Move features a 7.3-inch Canvas Color display based on E Ink Gallery 3 technology, offering improved color reproduction and a paper-like texture optimized for handwriting. The tablet measures 7.7 inches tall, 4.24 inches wide, and 6.5 millimeters thick, weighing 235 grams, making it significantly smaller and lighter than the 11.8-inch Paper Pro introduced in 2024. The ‌iPad mini‌, on the other hand, measures 7.69 inches tall, 5.3 inches wide, and 7.2 millimeters thick, weighing 293 grams.

Despite its reduced size, the Paper Pro Move maintains the same 64GB of internal storage and a two-week battery life target as its larger sibling, supported by a 2,334 mAh battery. It is powered by a dual-core 1.7 GHz ARM Cortex-A55 processor and 2GB of LPDDR4 memory, compared to the quad-core chipset in the larger model. Optimizations for the smaller screen include a movable toolbar, improved gesture navigation, handwriting search, and integration with Slack and Quick Share.

The Paper Pro Move enters a category dominated by multipurpose tablets such as the ‌iPad mini‌, which offers an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the A17 Pro processor, Apple Pencil support, and iPadOS. While the ‌iPad mini‌ has a catch-all customer base seeking an multi-purpose device with apps, browsing, cameras, and performance for creative workflows, the Paper Pro Move caters to those prioritizing a distraction-free e-paper writing environment with lower eye strain and much longer battery life. The Paper Pro Move supports PDFs and ePub documents but does not provide access to digital bookstores or third-party apps.

Pricing begins at $449 with the standard Marker stylus, while a $499 configuration includes the Marker Plus with an integrated eraser. Accessories include folio cases in polymer weave and leather options, priced from $69 to $139, and discounted when bundled. The Paper Pro Move complements rather than replaces the Paper Pro and reMarkable 2, which remain available. It is available to order from the company's website starting today.
This article, "reMarkable's New 'Paper Pro Move' Takes on iPad Mini" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s big September 9 launch event is just days away. We’re expecting the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3. But beyond these near-locks, what other new products might Apple launch? Here are the five biggest wildcards that could make an appearance based on rumors.

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Amazon is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers this week, including a low price on the Beats Pill and discounts on Beats Solo Buds, Studio Buds+, Solo 4, and Studio Pro.

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.

During this sale, you can get the Beats Pill for $99.00 on Amazon, down from $149.95. This discount is available in five colors of the Bluetooth speaker.



Additionally, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds+ for $99.95, down from $169.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $199.95, down from $349.99. Many of these deals are solid second-best prices on each pair of headphones.

• Beats Solo Buds - $59.00, down from $79.99


• Beats Studio Buds+ - $99.95, down from $169.95


• Beats Solo 4 - $129.95, down from $199.95


• Beats Pill - $99.00, down from $149.95


• Beats Studio Pro - $199.95, down from $349.99

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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This article, "Amazon Discounts Beats Pill, Solo Buds, Studio Pro, and More in New Sale" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Netflix today announced an update to its Moments feature that lets users save and share favorite scenes as standalone clips, available now in the streaming service's iOS app.


The enhanced feature replaces the bookmark-style system and instead allows you to set both the start and end point when saving scenes, giving more precise control over which portions of a scene you want to preserve. Previously, users could only mark a beginning timestamp, which was basically like creating a viewing reminder rather than a shareable segment.

You can access the updated feature by tapping the "Clip" button while watching on mobile devices. The interface now displays drag handle controls over the filmstrip for customizing the clip length, while tapping Save takes you to the usual options for sharing a moment.

Netflix has launched the update alongside "Wednesday" season 2, part 2, so fans have a new way to capture and replay their favorite moments from the new series.


Netflix says the original Moments feature has been used across thousands of Netflix titles since it debuted last year. The company revealed that the most saved scene globally features the Saja Boys performing "Soda Pop" in KPop Demon Hunters. Two other musical performances from the same movie, "Your Idol" and "How It's Done," claimed the second and third spots respectively.
This article, "Netflix Moments Feature Gets Major Update for Scene Sharing on iOS" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has been granted a patent for a shock-resistant haptic engine design that aims to significantly improve the durability of future iPhones, Apple Watches, and other devices.


The patent is titled "Electronic device having a shock-resistant haptic engine" and was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this week (via Patently Apple). The proposed system introduces a haptic engine that uses a system of non-linear cantilevered springs to protect delicate internal components from damage caused by drops or collisions. The design incorporates springs with varying thickness and chamfered edges, enabling them to respond softly to minor impacts while stiffening under heavy loads to absorb and distribute force more effectively.

The haptic engine described in the filing consists of a movable mass suspended on flexures within an enclosure. During standard operation, this mass vibrates to produce tactile feedback, but during an impact event, the mass is redirected toward spring assemblies built into the enclosure lid rather than striking rigid surfaces. The springs create a controlled, non-linear stiffness profile that lengthens the time over which force is distributed, reducing the risk of component failure.

The design focuses on minimizing size and weight while improving resilience. Figures accompanying the patent show both a smartphone and a watch implementation, with multiple spring assemblies integrated into the enclosure lid.

Patent filings cannot be taken as evidence of Apple's immediate plans, but they do indicate areas of active research and interest for the company, as well as what it is considering developing for future devices. As a mechanical component, the Taptic Engine is a vulnerable point of failure in iPhones and Apple Watches, so a more durable version arriving in the future seems plausible.
This article, "Apple Patents Next-Generation Taptic Engine" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For more than a year now, there have been debates about whether Google’s payment to Apple to be the default search engine in Safari would be outlawed.

While it had seemed likely this would be the case, what we got was a compromise ruling. It turned out that the difference between Apple earning $20 billion a year and $0 hinged on a single word …

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In iOS 26, currently in beta, Apple Notes has gained new Markdown support, letting you seamlessly import and export files in the popular plain-text formatting language. Whether you're a developer, writer, or content creator, this long-awaited feature should bridge the gap between your existing Markdown workflow and Apple's native note-taking app.


For those unfamiliar with Markdown, it's a simple way of writing that uses plain text symbols (like ** for bold or # for headings) to format documents without complicated menus. It's popular because the same text works both as easy-to-read notes and as polished, styled content when exported.

In Apple's Notes app, the new functionality works both ways: you can bring existing Markdown files into Notes while preserving formatting like headings, links, and lists, or export your Notes content as Markdown for use in other apps. The following steps show you how to do both.

Bear in mind that Notes doesn't display Markdown syntax while you're writing – it continues to show rich text formatting as usual. The Markdown conversion happens during the import and export process, so you'll see the plain text formatting only when viewing the file outside of Notes.

Import Markdown Files into Notes

1. Locate your Markdown (.md) file on your iPhone (e.g., in Files or your writing app).


2. Open the file, tap Share, then choose Notes.


3. Tap Import at the prompt to save the file to an Imported Notes folder.

If you're working in the Notes app on an iPad running iPadOS 26, you can also choose File ➝ Import to Notes… from the Notes menu bar (accessed with a swipe down from the top of the screen). Select your Markdown file from the files interface, then tap Import to confirm the import.

Once the note is imported, look for the Imported Notes folder where your note will be saved. Then you can verify that key formatting has been preserved in the note. When you import a Markdown file, Notes automatically converts the plain text formatting into rich text, preserving headings, links, bulleted lists, and text styling like bold and italics.

Export Notes in Markdown Format

1. In Notes, open the note you want to export.


2. Tap the Share icon in the top-right corner.


3. Select Export as Markdown.


4. Choose where to share or save the markdown file from the share sheet options.

The exported file retains the note's structure and formatting as standard Markdown syntax, making it compatible with text editors, documentation tools, and publishing platforms that support the format.

Apple is expected to officially release iOS 26 in September.
This article, "iOS 26: Import and Export Markdown Files in Apple Notes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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