AI-powered browsing features have become a battleground among browser makers in recent months. OpenAI launched its Atlas browser in October, while Microsoft Edge and Opera have also introduced AI assistants and automated browsing capabilities. And now Google is upping the ante. The company has announced a slew of new AI features fro Chrome, including a persistent sidebar for the Gemini chatbot and "auto browse" capabilities that can perform web tasks on your behalf.


The update moves Gemini from its previous floating window into an always-available side panel on the right side of the browser, which inevitably shrinks the browsing window. Google, however, says the redesign allows you to multitask more easily, since you can keep your main tab open while using the AI assistant for separate tasks, such as comparing products across multiple tabs or summarizing reviews from different websites.

Chrome is also gaining Nano Banana integration, Google's AI image generator. You can now transform images directly in the browser window using text prompts, without needing to download files or switch tabs.

The headline feature though is "auto browse," which is currently rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. According to Google, the agentic tool can handle multi-step tasks like researching hotel and flight prices, filling out online forms, scheduling appointments, and managing subscriptions. Google says it can even identify items in a photo, search for similar products, add them to a shopping cart, and apply discount codes. The company says it even does all this while staying within a specified budget.

Auto browse can use Chrome's built-in password manager (with user permission) for tasks requiring login credentials. The feature is designed to pause and ask you for confirmation for sensitive actions like purchases or social media posts, according to the company.


Lastly, Google plans to add "Personal Intelligence" to Chrome in the coming months. The feature lets the browser remember context from past conversations you've had with it and provide more personalized assistance.

Google hasn't specified a Chrome version that will include all of these features, but the company said the Gemini sidebar support and Nano Banana integration are rolling out now as a server-side service update.

This article, "Google Chrome Gets Gemini Side Panel and Agentic Browsing Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.

more…

Planning your 2026 travel? Whether you’re mapping out international work trips, family vacations, or long overdue personal getaways, your iPhone already has the technology needed for fast, flexible, and global connectivity. The missing piece is knowing how to use it effectively.

Nomad eSIM turns your iPhone into a truly global device, offering reliable data coverage in more than 200+ countries. Plan your travel this year with Nomad eSIM bundles that make global iPhone connectivity simple, flexible, and predictable.

Plus, you can use promo code MAC26 to save 26% for a limited time only for one or more eSIMs (valid until March 31st at 23:59 PT, terms and conditions apply).

more…

Apple has signed a deal with popular fantasy author Brandon Sanderson for film and TV rights to Sanderson's "Cosmere" universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.


Sanderson has a large body of work, but some of his most popular fantasy books could be adapted first. Mistborn could be turned into a movie series, while The Stormlight Archive is being considered for television. Mistborn is a book series that's split into two eras, with the first three books featuring a group of magic-using metal manipulators or "Allomancers" overthrowing a dystopian empire. The second set of books follows the exploits of Wax and Wayne, two lawmen with magical abilities in a more modern setting.

There are two additional eras planned for the same Mistborn series, so Apple has access to content that could result in a dozen movies.

The Stormlight Archive currently features five epic fantasy books, each of which could easily be used for multiple seasons of a TV show. The Stormlight Archive is a classic good vs. evil tale, featuring the Knights Radiant against Voidbringers who want to conquer the world.

Sanderson has 10 total books planned for The Stormlight Archive, but the "Cosmere" universe also includes many other standalone novels, all of which are linked together. Sanderson is one of the most well-known current fantasy authors, and in addition to his own books, he finished Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time after Jordan passed away.

A TV show based on the Stormlight Archive is already in the early stages of planning. Blue Marble, a film studio run by Pachinko producer Theresa Kang-Lowe, is set to produce. Kang-Lowe has an exclusive content production deal with Apple.

Apple won the deal after Sanderson met with multiple potential partners. Apple agreed to give Sanderson unprecedented control over screen translations, so he will write, produce, and consult on any TV shows or movies that Apple makes about the Cosmere universe. Sanderson is known for having some of the most popular Kickstarter campaigns to date, raising close to $100 million by selling his books.
This article, "Apple Signs Deal for Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' Universe Movies and TV Shows" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Described as “unprecedented,” the deal spans film and series adaptations and could mark Apple’s first true fantasy franchise. Here are the details.

more…

Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the popular iPhone camera app Halide, today announced that he has joined the Human Interface Design team at Apple.


"So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," he said.

This marks a return to Apple for de With, who previously worked on things such as iCloud, MobileMe, and the Find My app. He has also completed design work for other companies, such as Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, HP, and EA, in the past.

de With is a well-known figure in the online Apple and photography communities.

Apple's design team is undergoing many changes. Last year, the company's former software design chief Alan Dye left for Meta, and Apple's hardware engineering chief and leading CEO candidate John Ternus was reportedly tapped to oversee the company's entire hardware and software design teams towards the end of last year.

Over the past several years, some Apple designers have left to work with Jony Ive, the legendary former Apple design chief. Ive left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm LoveFrom, and he has been working with OpenAI on a new AI device.

In related news, Halide's parent company Lux today launched a public preview of Halide Mark III, the next-generation version of its flagship camera app.
This article, "'Halide' Co-Founder Sebastiaan de With Joins Apple's Design Team" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Stephen Pollard writes about how a high heart rate alert from his Apple Watch helped diagnose a potentially serious drug interaction issue. Here’s what happened.

more…

The new generation of Apple AirTag finally landed this week, almost five years after the convenient item tracker accessory first debuted in 2021. 

You’d be hard pressed to tell the AirTag 2 — technically the ‘AirTag (second-generation)’ — apart from the first version, by eye. But inside, it packs in some meaningful upgrades that make this tracker even better at finding your misplaced items … 

more…

Halide and Lux co-founder and designer Sebastiaan de With announced today that he is joining Apple’s human interface design team.

This marks a return to Apple for de With, who previously worked as a freelancer for the company on projects including Find My, MobileMe, and iCloud.

more…

Users of Apple's latest iPhone and iPad Pro models who have been beta testing iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 may want to hold off on updating to the third betas released earlier this week, as several Continuity-related features are currently broken on these devices.


Apple has updated its developer release notes for the third betas of iOS and iPadOS 26.3 to outline the devices and features that are affected:

The following Continuity features do not work on iPhone 17, Phone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPad Pro (M5) with iOS / iPadOS 26.3 Beta 3:

• iPhone Mirroring


• AirPlay mirroring to Apple TV 4K


• Using Continuity Camera wirelessly with Mac or Apple TV 4K


• Sidecar from Mac to iPad Pro (M5)

Apple has not provided any details on why these features are not working on the latest betas, but the issue will presumably be fixed in the next round of betas.

We're expecting a public release of iOS 26.3 and related updates fairly soon, as the x.3 updates typically drop in late January each year. With just a few days left in the month, it appears the release schedule may slip into early February for this cycle, but we should be seeing release candidate versions seeded to developers and beta testers relatively soon ahead of the public releases.
This article, "Warning: These Continuity Features Are Broken on Latest iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s Messages app got a bunch of new features in iOS 26, including a ‘Screen Unknown Senders’ option meant to eliminate spam texts. My initial experience with the feature wasn’t great, but tweaking one key setting has changed that.

more…

With iOS 26.3, Apple is rolling out a new feature that lets you limit the information that cellular networks can use to determine your location. The twist, however, is that the feature is only supported on devices powered by Apple’s in-house modem.

I think what’s more interesting than this specific feature itself is what it represents for the future.

more…

If you’re an Apple Watch user who likes leaving your iPhone behind on outdoor adventures, recent updates from Strava and Komoot apps should make that easier than ever.

more…

Apple today announced that its hit comedy-drama series "Ted Lasso" is returning for a fourth season in "summer 2026," but it did not share a specific date.


"Ted Lasso" is one of the most popular shows ever released on the Apple TV streaming service. The eponymous character Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, starts off as a small-time football coach from Kansas who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer.

In the fourth season, Apple says Lasso returns to England to take on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women's soccer team.

"Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would," said Apple.


The fourth season is currently in production, according to Apple, and fan favorites such as Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift are all set to return in the upcoming episodes.

The third season of "Ted Lasso" was released in 2023, so there has been a long wait for a fourth season. The series has won several major awards since it debuted in 2020, with its overall positive tone making it a popular comfort show.
This article, "'Ted Lasso' is Returning to Apple TV, Here's When" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple says Patreon now has until November 2026 to move all remaining creators to the App Store’s in-app purchase system, or risk removal from the App Store. Patreon disagrees, but says it will comply. Here are the details.

more…

Publicly available information reveals that Apple was fined a total of $851 million last year for privacy and antitrust violations, down from $2.1B in 2024.

The data was collated by Proton, which reports that it would have taken the iPhone maker just three days, three hours and 28 minutes to pay off the total …

more…

A new trial suggests Apple Watch could make a meaningful difference in what happens after atrial fibrillation ablation, not by changing the procedure itself, but by changing what patients and doctors catch afterward.

Researchers found that a simple routine of patient-led ECG check-ins surfaced more recurrences and was linked to fewer unplanned hospitalizations over the follow-up period.

more…

Apple has set a new deadline of November 1, 2026 for all Patreon creators to switch from Patreon's legacy billing system to the App Store's in-app purchase system in the Patreon app on the iPhone and iPad, as reported by TechCrunch.


Patreon is a platform where creators such as YouTubers can receive payments from fans, which can be a valuable revenue stream alongside ads and sponsorships.

Apple initially told Patreon that its creators must move to the App Store's in-app purchase system by November 2025, or else Patreon would risk removal from the App Store, but the deadline was pushed back. Apple considers payments from supporters to creators on Patreon to be digital goods that it is entitled to receive a commission on.

Apple receives a 30% commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions, but this drops to 15% for a subscription that has been ongoing for more than a year.

Patreon gives creators the option to either increase their prices in the iOS app only, or absorb the fee themselves, keeping prices the same across platforms.

On the iPhone and iPad, Patreon users who wish to support a creator can sidestep the App Store's commission by completing their payment via Patreon's website.

Patreon said it is disappointed with how Apple has navigated this policy.

According to TechCrunch, only 4% of Patreon creators are still using the platform's legacy billing system, with the rest having already switched over.

Patreon has shared a FAQ with more details for creators.
This article, "Apple to Soon Take Up to 30% Cut From All Patreon Creators in iOS App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's latest Apple Pay promotion is offering Apple users in the U.S. a discount on flowers ahead of Valentine's Day. Customers can get $20 off of a 1-800-Flowers purchase of $49.99 or more when using ‌Apple Pay‌.


The discount is available from now until February 12, and it is available when ordering flowers from the 1-800-Flowers website or app. To get the deal, use ‌Apple Pay‌ when checking out, and enter the promo code APPLEPAY.

1-800-Flowers is able to provide flower deliveries across the United States, with bouquet options varying by location.
This article, "Apple Pay Promo Offers Discount on Valentine's Day Flowers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Today Pixelmator Pro has launched on iPad for the first time, exclusive to Apple Creator Studio. Here’s what the long-awaited iPad version of Pixelmator Pro can do.

more…

Apple today launched its latest subscription service, a software bundle called Creator Studio. Creator Studio provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage for one $12.99 per month fee, with a $129 per year purchase option also available.


We checked out the Creator Studio bundle to see if it's worth what Apple is charging.

Creator Studio includes Apple's pro image, audio, and video editing apps that were previously only available for one-time purchase. If you don't currently own Apple's apps and you have need for a range of creative tools, the bundle has the potential to be a good deal.

Many of Apple's apps are hundreds of dollars if you purchase them on a standalone basis. Here are the individual costs:

• Final Cut Pro - $299.99


• Logic Pro - $199.99


• Pixelmator Pro - $49.99


• Compressor - $49.99


• Motion - $49.99


• MainStage - $29.99

Together, the apps cost just about $680, so there is potentially money to be saved by paying $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Creator Studio provides full access to the apps, along with exclusive AI features that are not available in the standalone versions. Apple is even including Creator Studio-exclusive features in its free apps like Freeform, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.

You can use Freeform, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers for free and purchase Apple's apps without opting for Creator Studio, but a Creator Studio subscription is the only way to get the new AI features that Apple has developed.

Unfortunately, there is no option to purchase access to just one or two apps at a lower subscription price. Creator Studio is all or nothing, so if you just want access to image editing capabilities with Pixelmator Pro and also the AI tools for Apple's iWork app, you have no option to pay less just for those. You have to pay the full $12.99 per month price even if you don't need some of the apps.

Apple envisions Creative Studio as a tool for creatives who need to do all their content creation and management on their own, from filming videos to creating audio for those videos to making graphics. It is a highly useful option for people who can take advantage of most of the apps, but it isn't going to make as much sense for those who just need one or two.

Creator Studio is best for people who have shied away from Apple's professional video and audio editing apps because of their high cost, or those who need tools for video creation, music making, and image editing. It would be nice if Apple could offer more specialized, affordable bundles in the future, much like Adobe does for its Creative Cloud apps.

Apple is offering a one-month free trial for those who want to try out Creator Studio, or a three-month trial with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad. Up to six family members can share a single Creative Studio subscription.

Do you plan to subscribe to Creative Studio? Let us know in the comments below.
This article, "Apple Creator Studio Hands-On: What You Get for $12.99 Per Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Google today announced “Chrome auto browse” as a “powerful agentic experience that handles multi-step chores on your behalf.”

more…

Apple today released Pixelmator Pro for the iPad, complete with a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version.


Pixelmator Pro is a popular image editing app that was acquired by Apple last year. There is already a more basic Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone, but Apple says that app is "no longer being updated." To receive new features going forward, iPad users will need to move to the full-fledged Pixelmator Pro app.

Apple says Pixelmator Pro for iPad is compatible with iPad models equipped with the A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later on iPadOS 26 or later.

Here are some of the Pixelmator Pro for iPad features highlighted by Apple:

• A full-featured Layers sidebar allows creators to use images, shapes, text, and video


• Smart selection tools for isolating and editing specific parts of images


• Advanced bitmap and vector masks


• Super Resolution for intelligently upscaling photos


• Deband for removing compression artifacts


• Auto Crop with automatic composition suggestions


• Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive brushing, plus hover, squeeze, and double tap

Pixelmator Pro for both iPad and Mac is available through the new Apple Creator Studio subscription bundle, which in the U.S. costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A one-time $49.99 purchase option remains available for the Mac app.

Some new "intelligent features" and "premium content" in Pixelmator Pro will only be available with an Apple Creator Studio subscription. For example, in both the iPad and Mac apps, Apple Creator Studio subscribers have access to a new Warp tool for twisting and shaping image layers. The one-time-purchase Mac app did not receive this feature.
This article, "Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad With Apple Pencil Support and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Creator Studio is officially here, and by all appearances a great value for many. Apple offers a 1-month trial for all users, but it turns out there are surprise offers for 3 free months being given too—even if you haven’t bought a new device.

more…