↩ Accueil

Vue normale

Reçu aujourd’hui — 9 juillet 2025MacRumors

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

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

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

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

HBO Max Name Returns After Two Years as Max

9 juillet 2025 à 12:27
Warner Bros. Discovery has completed its reversal from Max back to HBO Max today, marking the end of a widely criticized two-year experiment.


The streaming service's website and mobile apps now display the HBO Max branding once again. Max.com redirects to hbomax.com, while both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have updated their listings. Users won't need to download a new app, as existing installations will automatically update to show the HBO Max name.

The App Store update includes a cheeky note: "Same app. New-ish name. The plot twist everyone has been waiting for: Max is now HBO Max."

This change reverses the 2023 rebrand that dropped the HBO name in favor of the generic "Max" moniker. The original decision aimed to incorporate Discovery content following the companies' merger, but the move faced immediate backlash from subscribers and industry observers.

Warner Bros. Discovery acknowledged the misstep in May, citing consumer feedback and the strength of the HBO brand's reputation for quality content. The company said it wanted to focus on "something distinct and great" rather than trying to be "everything for everyone."

The streaming service has now cycled through HBO Go, HBO Now, HBO, HBO Max, Max, and back to HBO Max again.
Tag: HBO Max

This article, "HBO Max Name Returns After Two Years as Max" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far

9 juillet 2025 à 12:09
Latest Update: July 8 – iPhone 17 Air to come in new light blue finish


This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an ‌iPhone‌ "Air," so-called because of its ultra-thin profile.


Below is a compilation of every rumor and leak we have registered from reputable sources thus far about Apple's new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.

‌iPhone 17‌ "Air"?

About the Name

There has been some uncertainty about Apple's strategy for the new slimmer ‌iPhone‌ model and its position in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "‌‌iPhone‌‌ Air." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since come out in agreement about the naming, which Apple could use to boost sales.

Replacing the ‌iPhone‌ "Plus," which, like the "mini" models before it, has not sold well, the ‌‌iPhone 17‌‌ Air will represent a new approach in Apple's ‌iPhone‌ lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the ‌‌iPhone 17‌‌ and ‌‌iPhone 17‌‌ Pro.

Gurman believes that the design of the ‌‌iPhone 17‌‌ Air will "just be a step toward something better" since Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design." However, he does not expect this to occur before 2027 at the earliest.

Device Thickness Rumors

Thinner Than ‌iPhone‌ 6

According to The Information, Apple's all-new ‌iPhone 17‌ model will have a "significantly thinner" design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like Apple's Pro models.

There have been mixed rumors on just how thin Apple will be able to make it. Rumors have hovered around 6mm, however in a recent report, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ to measure in at about 5.5mm at its thinnest point. At 5.5mm, the ‌‌iPhone 17‌‌ Air would be the thinnest ‌‌iPhone‌‌ to date – thinner than the 6.9mm ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 6 that came out in 2014. 5.5mm would be approximately 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are 8.25mm thick.


The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge. The Information also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic Island, though this specific claim has since been contested. Internally code-named D23, the device's redesign has been described as a major one equivalent to the ‌iPhone‌ X.

Display Size

Smaller Than Plus Model

The first details about the size of the device's display arrived courtesy of Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌ has since corroborated Pu's claim.

Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young says the device will feature a 6.55-inch display, which could be rounded up to 6.6 inches. Complicating matters, YouTuber ‌Jon Prosser‌ more recently claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a 6.7-inch display, rather than a 6.6-inch display as previously rumored. For context, the existing ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus has a 6.7-inch display. However, in response to Prosser's prediction, Young reiterated his 6.55-inch display size claim for the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌.

In mid-March 2025, we reported on a rumor out of China claiming that the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ shares the same dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the only difference being in the thickness of the devices. Days later, Bloomberg reported that Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending. It's quite possible the China-originating rumor had its origins in Apple's canned prototype.

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ could have ultra-thin bezels as could the entire ‌iPhone 17‌ series, according to one leaker. Apple says the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max feature the thinnest bezels around the screen of any product it has ever released, so perhaps we can expect a similar sized bezel for the Air.

Always-On Display

ProMotion Support

Apple intends to expand ProMotion to the entire lineup in 2025, including the iPhone 17 "Air," allowing all ‌iPhone 17‌ models to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary. This will be enabled by Apple's use of Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel.


Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's ‌iPhone‌ lineup used the M1 OLED panel, which is why they have exclusively supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the ‌iPhone 17‌ "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.

Camera Redesign

Relocated Lens

The Information claimed that the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will have cameras in locations we haven't seen before on an ‌iPhone‌. According to a May report, the rear cameras could be moved to the "top center" of the device. Some Android phones like Google's Pixel 9 Pro have rear cameras in a top-center position, or in a runway-style horizontal bar, but Apple's ‌iPhone‌ camera system has occupied the top-left corner ever since the 2007 model.

Adding to the intrigue, Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌ has claimed that the device will have only one camera, as opposed to two or three.


Since then, YouTube channel Front Page Tech has revealed the alleged design of the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌. The renders show an all-new camera bar across the top of the device's rear shell. On the left side of the bar is a single rear camera, and on the right side there is a microphone and an LED camera flash.

Most recently, a CAD render of all the devices in Apple's upcoming ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup has been shared online by leaker Majin Bu, specifically showing the allegedly different rear camera system designs of the standard ‌iPhone 17‌, including the all-new ultra-thin ‌iPhone 17 Air‌. The CAD shows the described horizontal camera bar design accommodating the single camera lens.

Alleged ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ shown on far left

Weibo-based leakers Fixed Focus Digital, Ice Universe, and Digital Chat Station have all backed the accuracy of the CAD image, based on their own information from Apple's supply chain in China. "The appearance is basically like this," commented Digital Chat Station in reference to the image.

More Durable Screen

Anti-Reflective Coating

All ‌iPhone 17‌ models will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital.

The outer glass on the ‌iPhone 17‌ series is said to have a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" that is "more scratch-resistant." It's not clear whether Apple is planning to adopt the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning's latest technology matches the rumor.

Improved Front Camera

Better Selfies

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the entire ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The ‌iPhone‌ 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements, and the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup features the same hardware.

The upgraded resolution on the ‌iPhone 17‌ will allow photos to maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, while the larger number of pixels will capture finer details. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly enhance image quality.

More RAM

Apple Intelligence

Haitong analyst Jeff Pu has claimed the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will feature 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB of RAM on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus. However, more recently, ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌ has said that all ‌iPhone 17‌ models will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, including the Air.


It's worth noting that all ‌iPhone 16‌ models (including the new iPhone 16e) are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a hardware requirement of on-device ‌Apple Intelligence‌ – so it's almost a surety that the slim device will also have at least this amount of memory.

Next-Gen Processor

Better Performance

According to The Information and Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, the device will be equipped with Apple's A19 chip, which is likely to be based on an optimized version of TSMC's 3nm process, possibly N3P or N3X.


In contrast, the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max are expected to include an A19 Pro chip. Compared to earlier versions of ‌3nm‌ chips, the N3P chips offer increased performance efficiency and increased transistor density.

Battery Life

Questions Remain

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and industry analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌, the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will utilize the same C1 modem that recently debuted in the iPhone 16e. The C1 is Apple's first custom-designed modem chip, and should bring significant advantages to the upcoming ‌iPhone 17 Air‌.


The C1 is the most power-efficient modem ever featured in an ‌iPhone‌, and promises very good battery life even within the frame of the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌'s ultra-thin design. According to Apple's tech specs, the ‌iPhone 16e‌ offers up to 26 hours of battery life for video playback, compared to up to 22 hours for the standard ‌iPhone 16‌. This efficiency comes from Apple's complete control over the modem's design and integration with its custom silicon. The only minor drawback to the C1 is that it does not support mmWave.

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. One leaker has claimed the device's battery capacity is 2,800mAh, which wouldn't be far off the ‌iPhone‌ 12, which has a 2,815mAh battery.

Bloomberg reporter ‌Mark Gurman‌ has said the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will provide battery life that is "on par with current iPhones." However, according to a report by The Information, the device will have "worse" battery life compared to previous ‌iPhone‌ models, which could influence Apple's decision to release a battery case as an optional accessory for the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌.

Camera Control

Photography Button

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will feature the same Camera Control button that ‌iPhone 16‌ models have on the right-side of the device, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The button provides quick access to the camera and related settings, but some people find the button's touch sensitivity finicky, and many users disable it.

Wi-Fi 7 Support

For Enhanced Connectivity

Apple will use its own custom-designed Wi-Fi chip in all upcoming ‌iPhone 17‌ models, including the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo said the switch to in-house Wi-Fi chips will "enhance connectivity across Apple devices" while also giving Apple a cost reduction.


Apple's custom wireless chip will support Wi-Fi 7 specification, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain. All current ‌iPhone‌ models are equipped with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supplied by Broadcom.

MagSafe

For Wireless Charging

Despite the thinness of the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌, the device will support ‌MagSafe‌, according to a reliable Chinese leaker. The leaker said that all four ‌iPhone 17‌ models this year will support ‌MagSafe‌ for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories. Apple dropped ‌MagSafe‌ from the low-end ‌iPhone 16e‌, which left some uncertainty that the technology would feature in the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌.

Notably, Apple appears to be moving to the next-generation Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard, according to regulatory filings, which increases the likelihood that the upcoming ‌iPhone 17‌ models will support the new charging standard. Qi 2.2 is technically capable of up to 50W charging output – but that doesn't guarantee Apple's iPhones will charge at the maximum 50W. In addition to faster charging, Qi 2.2 offers improved magnetic alignment and charging efficiency compared to its predecessor. The standard also features backward compatibility with older Qi chargers.

eSIM Worldwide

No SIM Card Slot

The slim device will lack a physical SIM card slot, and instead rely entirely on digital eSIM technology, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. In the U.S., all ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone 15‌, and ‌iPhone 16‌ models lack a physical SIM card tray already, but all iPhones sold in other countries still have one for now.

The lack of a SIM card slot in all forthcoming ‌iPhone 17‌ models worldwide has been previously reported, but it is not clear how the devices would be sold in the Chinese market, where the use of eSIMs in smartphones is not currently authorized.

Color Options

Unique Blue Finish

A new light blue finish is rumored to be the signature color of the all-new ultra-thin ‌iPhone 17 Air‌, according to a leak from Asia. The tip, shared by Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," suggests that this blue shade will be central to Apple's marketing for the new device, which will replace the Plus model in Apple's ‌iPhone‌ lineup. Described as significantly lighter than any previous blue Apple has released, the color may appear almost white in low-light conditions.

The ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro's "Sierra Blue" finish (2021).

The finish is said to echo Apple's past use of lighter tones, particularly the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro's "Sierra Blue." That color marked a shift toward more subtle, pastel-like shades – metallic and icy, it shifted between blue and light gray depending on the lighting. Apple continued this trend with the softer, pastel finishes introduced in the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup.

Pricing Rumors

Premium or Affordable?

The Information reported that the slimmer ‌iPhone 17‌ could have a higher price tag than the Pro Max model, which currently starts at $1,199, despite suggestions that it will not be as feature-rich as Apple's top-tier Max.



However, Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu believes the device will be a mid-tier ‌iPhone‌ that replaces the Plus model. Additionally, a report out of China has claimed that the ultra-thin ‌iPhone 17‌'s price will be similar to that of the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, which starts at $899 in the United States. More recently, Bloomberg's ‌Mark Gurman‌ said he was told that the device may start at roughly $899 in the US, while a newer report by The Wall Street Journal has suggested that all ‌iPhone 17‌ models may have higher prices than usual because of the impact of U.S. import tariffs on foreign goods.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Air
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

IDC: Mac Shipments Continue to Soar

9 juillet 2025 à 10:11
Apple experienced the strongest year-over-year growth in global PC shipments during the second quarter of 2025 among the top five vendors, according to new preliminary data released by IDC, despite flat performance in the United States.


Apple shipped 6.2 million Macs globally in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 21.4% increase from the 5.1 million units it shipped during the same period last year. This outpaced all other top PC manufacturers. Apple's global market share rose from 8.0% in the second quarter of 2024 to 9.1% in the latest quarter, although it maintained its fourth-place position behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell in terms of total volume.

The broader PC market grew 6.5% year-over-year to 68.4 million units, rebounding for another quarter of positive growth after a period of pandemic-related volatility and supply chain disruptions. Lenovo led the market with 17 million shipments, a 15.2% increase from the year prior, followed by HP with 14.1 million units and Dell with 9.8 million. Dell was the only one of the top five vendors to see a decline, falling 3.0% from the same quarter in 2024.

IDC attributed much of Apple's growth to strong performance outside the United States, where shipments rose 9% year-over-year. In contrast, the U.S. PC market posted zero percent growth during the quarter. IDC believes that the flat U.S. performance likely reflects inventory buildup and anticipation of upcoming tariff increases. As a result, shipments recorded in the second quarter could reflect efforts by Apple and its retail partners to front-load deliveries to the U.S. before potential cost increases take effect.

Apple's 21.4% shipment growth in the second quarter followed a similarly strong performance in the first quarter 2025, when Mac shipments rose 14.1% year-over-year. That trend stands in contrast to the slower growth reported by other major vendors this year.
Tag: IDC

This article, "IDC: Mac Shipments Continue to Soar" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Next-Gen Apple Pencil Could Work on Any Surface

9 juillet 2025 à 09:12
Apple has been granted a patent for a next-generation Apple Pencil that uses optical sensors to work across a wide range of surfaces, including devices such as the iPhone, MacBook Pro, and Apple Watch.


The United States Patent and Trademark Office this week granted Apple the filing (via Patently Apple), which is titled "Input Device With Optical Sensors." The patent describes a stylus equipped with advanced optical tracking systems capable of detecting movement, tilt, rotation, and position in three-dimensional space.

Unlike current models, the proposed ‌Apple Pencil‌ would not rely on interaction with a capacitive touchscreen. Instead, it would utilize sensors embedded in the Pencil itself to capture motion and translate it into digital input.

In one configuration, the tip of the ‌Apple Pencil‌ is described as being formed from a partially or fully transparent material, such as cover glass. This would allow light to pass through the tip to the target surface and back to the internal sensor system.

The Pencil would then analyze the light data to determine characteristics of the movement, including direction, speed, tilt angle, and rotational orientation, without requiring direct contact with a touch-sensitive display. The patent also outlines an alternative implementation using a trackball mechanism.

Beyond drawing, the patent envisions broader use cases. In addition to supporting sketching, writing, and gesture input, the ‌Apple Pencil‌ could act as a spatial controller for system-level actions. These include cursor manipulation, file navigation, audio controls, or initiating phone calls. The patent's illustrations depict the stylus in use with a variety of Apple products, including the iPad, ‌MacBook Pro‌, ‌iPhone‌, and Apple Watch.

At WWDC 2025, Apple showcased the Logitech Muse, a third-party spatial stylus developed for the Apple Vision Pro headset. The Muse allows users to draw in mid-air with precision, relying on spatial tracking rather than contact with a physical surface.

The ‌Apple Pencil‌ patent echoes similar design goals, hinting at potential in-house development of new input devices that extend beyond the ‌iPad‌. 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.
Related Forum: iPad Accessories

This article, "Next-Gen Apple Pencil Could Work on Any Surface" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

WhatsApp Testing Threaded Replies for iOS

9 juillet 2025 à 08:53
WhatsApp has begun testing support for threaded message replies on iOS, expanding a feature previously only available on Android.


As spotted by WABetaInfo, the feature is now under active development in the WhatsApp for iOS beta, which is available to users through TestFlight. While the feature is not yet functional for end users, its appearance in the latest beta indicates that a public release could be approaching.

Threaded message replies will allow users to respond to specific messages in a structured format, separate from the main chat feed. This is different from inline replies, which still show in the main feed. The feature should enable clearer conversation tracking when multiple discussions occur simultaneously in the same chat.

The feature works by displaying a small reply counter on any message that has received responses. Tapping this indicator opens a separate screen containing the full thread. In this view, users can read all replies tied to the original message in sequence, as well as send additional replies in the same thread.

WhatsApp typically conducts staggered rollouts for major features, and further beta releases are likely before full public availability.
This article, "WhatsApp Testing Threaded Replies for iOS" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Now Wants to Buy Streaming Rights for Formula 1 Racing

9 juillet 2025 à 07:50
Following the success of "F1: The Movie," Apple now wants to buy the streaming rights to the Formula One World Championship itself, according to The Financial Times.


The company is now apparently in active talks to acquire the rights to stream Formula 1 in the United States. The move comes amid the success of "F1: The Movie," which is Apple's first major box office hit, earning over $300 million globally already.

The move puts Apple in competition with Disney, which is Formula 1's current American broadcaster, via its subsidiary ESPN. ESPN had exclusivity to negotiate a renewal deal without competition from other bidders until last year, and the process is now open to rivals.

Disney pays $85 million per year for the rights, and Formula 1 also charges fans directly for its own streaming service. Liberty Media, Formula 1's U.S. owners, hope that the Apple Original Film and Netflix's "Drive to Survive" documentary has increased the value of Formula 1.

Formula 1 viewership doubled from 554,000 to around 1.1 million in 2024, rising further to 1.3 million in the first 10 events tis year. The next U.S. Formula 1 streaming deal could now be worth in excess of $121 million a year—a considerable increase.

Apple moved into live sports streaming in 2022, and now streams Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer on Apple TV+, so adding Formula 1 to its portfolio is highly plausible. Following its run in theaters, "F1: the Movie" is expected to become available on ‌Apple TV‌+ later in 2025.
This article, "Apple Now Wants to Buy Streaming Rights for Formula 1 Racing" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

9 juillet 2025 à 04:34
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes.


With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID.

If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also visible in the ‌App Store‌ and ‌Apple Store‌ apps, as well as a new card in the Wallet app.

To add the card, open the Wallet app and under "Available Cards," tap on "Add Apple Account." As long as you have an Apple Account balance, you'll be able to add the card.

Once added, you can view your Apple Account balance right from the Wallet app and use it to purchase Apple products, apps, games, and music. It works in the same way as any other card in the Wallet app when at an ‌‌Apple Store‌‌. The Apple Account Card replaced the iTunes Pass that used to be available quite some time ago.

Now, backend changes to ‌Apple Pay‌ spotted by MacRumors suggest the feature is expanding to additional countries in Europe: Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal.
This article, "Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's Design Team Will Soon Report Directly to Tim Cook

9 juillet 2025 à 03:09
When Jeff Williams leaves his position as Apple's Chief Operating Officer later this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook will apparently be taking over the design team leadership.


Right now, Williams oversees Apple's design efforts, but when he departs, Apple says that the design team will "transition to reporting directly to Cook."

Williams is in charge of several departments at Apple, and he has been overseeing Apple's design team since 2023. After Apple designer Jony Ive left Apple in 2019, Evans Hankey took over as Apple's design lead. Hankey left Apple in 2022, but Apple opted not to replace Hankey. Instead, the design team began reporting to Williams, and now it will report to Cook. Apple's design team includes software designers and hardware designers,

Williams is stepping down as Apple's Chief Operating Officer later this month, but he will continue to lead the design team, Apple's health initiatives, and the Apple Watch development until he leaves the company at the end of the year.

Apple's longtime senior vice president of Operations Sabih Khan will take over as Chief Operating Officer to continue overseeing Apple supply chains.
This article, "Apple's Design Team Will Soon Report Directly to Tim Cook" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Drama: Beta 2 vs. Beta 3 Changes in Every App

9 juillet 2025 à 01:01
Apple has been refining Liquid Glass during the developer beta testing process, and both beta two and beta three have introduced some major tweaks. There was little outcry over the updates that Apple made in the second beta, but the third beta's design updates have frustrated some users who feel that Apple is removing too much of the Liquid Glass aesthetic.


For context, Apple made navigation bars more opaque across many apps in iOS 26 beta 3, and we've got a series of side-by-side comparisons that demonstrate what's different. In all of the comparison images, beta 2 is on the left and beta 3 is on the right.

Apple Music


Apple Music's bottom navigation bar is more opaque, and it has the frosted glass look that Apple is now favoring. The change is most noticeable when scrolling over a background that has color. In beta 2, the navigation bar was almost translucent, allowing much of the background color to shine through. That effect is significantly reduced in beta 3.




Safari


The changes in Safari vary depending on what you're doing, the background color of the website, and which Tab View design you're using. In general, the URL bar is more opaque and less prone to notable shifts in color. Less of the background comes through.


The URL bar will still change from light to dark if the content you're scrolling over is predominantly dark, but there's a higher threshold for that to kick on.


It's easiest to see the difference with the Compact View, because it was the most translucent view to begin with.

App Store


The App Store's navigation bar has one of the most noticeable changes, and it's almost entirely opaque now.

Light Mode




Podcasts


As with ‌Apple Music‌, translucency has been almost entirely eliminated in the Podcasts navigation bar. The change is easiest to see with backgrounds that have color.



Apple TV


The Apple TV app has a darker background and the change is more subtle. The overlaying navigation bar is a darker glass color, but transparency appears to be similar.


Photos


For the Photos app, Apple tweaked the design in a similar way to the ‌Apple TV‌ app. The navigation bar is darker, but there's been little change to transparency.


Calendar


Calendar's navigation buttons are more opaque, both in Light Mode and ‌Dark Mode‌.



Keyboard


The Spotlight Search keyboard is both more and less translucent. The keyboard itself has slightly more background visible, but the search bar is darker.



Dark Mode


‌Dark Mode‌ has retained more transparency than Light Mode for the most part, so you may see less of a difference if you have ‌Dark Mode‌ enabled permanently. Some menu bar elements are darker than before, but white text on a dark background is more readable so Apple had to increase the opaqueness less.


This isn't true for all apps, though, and there are areas with dark navigation bars that also have less translucency.

Color Dependency


The difference that you see between beta 2 and beta 3 can vary quite a bit depending on the color in the background. With some white backgrounds, it's hard to tell that the Liquid Glass has a more frosted appearance, and the updates are mostly noticeable with light colors.


Over content that is are darker, navigation bars will often transition to their ‌Dark Mode‌ view that appears more translucent, as can be seen in the Safari screenshot below. This is the same effect you'll see with ‌Dark Mode‌ enabled.



Notifications, Lock Screen, and Home Screen


On the Lock Screen, the time is ever so slightly more opaque than it was before. With some background colors, notifications also have a darker background than before, but this isn't always noticeable. Home Screen and Control Center haven't changed much if at all.



For App Library, the search bar doesn't have blurred edges when scrolling, which makes it easier to see. Apple hasn't changed translucency.


Other App Changes


Most of Apple's built-in apps have tweaked buttons and navigation bars in ‌iOS 26‌ beta 3, with repeats of the design changes listed above.

  • Weather - The buttons at the bottom of the app are much darker than before, and the search button is no longer translucent.

  • Camera - No noticeable change.

  • FaceTime - No noticeable change.

  • Messages - The search bar isn't as translucent, nor is the message compose bar. Popover buttons haven't changed.

  • Maps - Maps is actually more translucent, because it's using Liquid Glass for the turn-by-turn directions that are shown at the top of the app.

  • Mail - Buttons have less translucency.

  • Notes - The buttons and navigation bar in the Notes app already had little translucency, but it's been reduced further and is almost non-existent.

  • Reminders - When you're composing a Reminder, the toolbar has less translucency. The search bar and popover menus are the same.

  • Clock - No change.

  • Health - The Health app's navigation bar and search bar are a little less transparent, but it was already fairly opaque.

  • Wallet - Buttons aren't as transparent, so if you scroll over something with bright colors, it's no longer visible behind the button.

  • Settings - The Search bar is more opaque.

  • Find My - No change.

  • Stocks - The translucency of Top Stories is unchanged, but the search bar has increased opacity.

  • Home - Less opacity overall for navigation bar and home control buttons.

  • Books - Navigation menus and search have less translucency.

  • Fitness - Little change because the app uses a darker background, but the buttons are a touch darker than before.

  • Contacts - Less translucency for search.

  • Files - Less translucency for navigation bar and search.

  • Translate - No change.

  • Shortcuts - Less translucency for navigation bar. Keyboard translucency remains the same.

  • Calculator - History interface is more opaque.

  • Voice Memos - No change.

  • Compass - No change.

  • Passwords - Navigation bar and search interface lost translucency.

  • Games - Navigation bar is darker and less translucent.

  • Preview - No change.


What do you think of the changes that Apple made in ‌iOS 26‌ beta 3? Are you hoping for some of the Liquid Glass design to be reimplemented, or do you prefer the more opaque look? Let us know in the comments below.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Drama: Beta 2 vs. Beta 3 Changes in Every App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Working on ChatGPT-Style AI Assistant for Customer Support

9 juillet 2025 à 00:05
Apple appears to be developing an AI-based "Support Assistant" for the Apple Support app. Signs of the feature were found in Apple code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, but the Support Assistant doesn't appear to be live in the app as of yet.


Apple users will interact with Support Assistant through chats. The Apple Support app already has a chat feature that relies on Messages, but it is used for communicating with Apple's live support agents. Support Assistant would likely allow customers to open the Apple Support app, type in a problem that they're having, and get generative AI-based solutions as a step before contacting a live person. Apple's code says that users will have the option to consult with an Apple advisor for help after using the Support Assistant feature.

The code states that the Support Assistant "uses generative models," and that it will provide answers "related to certain Apple products and services." Apple warns that generative models can sometimes provide "incorrect, misleading, incomplete, offensive, or harmful outputs," and that customers should not rely on information from Support Assistant as a substitute for professional advice.

There is a reference to uploading content, which suggests Support Assistant could allow users to upload images, PDFs, or documents related to support requests. Apple also says that it works with partners to provide Support Assistant, so it's possible that this will be a ChatGPT-powered feature.

There isn't any indication of when the Support Assistant feature might launch, but Apple is already testing a ChatGPT-style generative AI tool for AppleCare support advisors.

That tool, called "Ask," is designed to generate responses to technical questions that advisors receive from customers. Ask brings up information from Apple's internal knowledge base, and advisors are able to ask follow-up questions.
This article, "Apple Working on ChatGPT-Style AI Assistant for Customer Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Reçu hier — 8 juillet 2025MacRumors

Apple Announces Jeff Williams Stepping Down as COO Later This Month

8 juillet 2025 à 22:38
Apple today announced a major executive shakeup: Jeff Williams will be stepping down as COO of the company later this month, and he will be succeeded by Sabih Khan, who has served as Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations since 2019.


Since being promoted to COO in 2015, Williams has overseen Apple's entire worldwide operations, as well as customer service and support. He has also led Apple Watch engineering and health initiatives, and he took over Apple's design team in 2023.

Williams will remain at Apple in a transitionary role until he fully retires from the company towards the end of this year. He will continue reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook and overseeing Apple's design team and Apple Watch engineering until he retires, at which point the design team will report directly to Cook.

Cook shared a heartfelt message about Williams, who has worked at Apple since 1998:
Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember, and Apple wouldn't be what it is without him. He's helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development; architected Apple's health strategy; and led our world class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication. I am and will always be beyond grateful for his numerous contributions to Apple over the years and his loyal friendship. Jeff's true legacy can be seen in the amazing team he's created and, while he'll be greatly missed, he leaves the work of the future in incredible hands.
Williams shared his own heartfelt farewell message:
I have a deep love for Apple. Working with all of the amazing people at this company has been a privilege of a lifetime, and I can't thank Tim enough for the opportunity, his inspirational leadership, and our friendship over the years. June marked my 27th anniversary with Apple, and my 40th in the industry. Beginning next year, I plan to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting. I've had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and I think he's the most talented operations executive on the planet. I have tremendous confidence in Apple's future under his leadership in this role.
Apple said Khan will gradually transition into the role of COO starting later this month, as part of a "long-planned succession." For the past six years, he has been in charge of Apple's global supply chain, overseeing everything from manufacturing to logistics.

Cook expressed confidence in Khan, who has worked at Apple for more than 30 years:
Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple's supply chain. While overseeing Apple's supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple's manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges. He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple's carbon footprint by more than 60 percent. Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.
We wish Williams all the best in retirement.
This article, "Apple Announces Jeff Williams Stepping Down as COO Later This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 26 Allows Cellular Calls and SMS/RCS in Third-Party Apps in EU

8 juillet 2025 à 22:23
iOS 26 was announced nearly a month ago, but there is one change related to phone calls and messages that flew under our radar until now.


As reported by German tech news website Heise last month, Apple has introduced new APIs that allow for developers to implement support for making cellular phone calls and sending and receiving SMS/MMS/RCS messages in third-party apps, but only iPhone users in the EU will be able to take advantage of this functionality.

These carrier-based capabilities have always been limited to Apple's Phone and Messages apps, so this is a big change. Apple likely expanded these features in response to current or anticipated regulations under the EU's Digital Markets Act.

Third-party apps could already offer Wi-Fi calling and messaging.

Apple says iPhone users in the EU will only be able to make cellular phone calls and/or send and receive SMS/MMS/RCS messages in a supported third-party app when they have selected the app as their default dialing app and/or default carrier messaging app on iOS 26. Otherwise, the functionality is not enabled.

These capabilities will not be available in third-party iPad apps, or in iPhone apps running on macOS or visionOS, according to Apple.

For the cellular phone call functionality in particular, even the developer of an app requires an Apple Developer account registered in the EU. Given how locked down these capabilities are, do not expect them to expand to the U.S. or elsewhere any time soon.

iOS 26 is currently in beta. The update should be released to the general public in September.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "iOS 26 Allows Cellular Calls and SMS/RCS in Third-Party Apps in EU" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The 10 Best Apple Deals Under $100 for Prime Day

8 juillet 2025 à 19:56
As Prime Day continues today, we're highlighting all of the best Apple deals you can get for under $100 on Amazon. This includes AirPods, Apple Pencil Pro, AirTags, iPhone cases, USB-C chargers, and more.

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 find every Apple deal available during Prime Day in our dedicated post. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals, and you can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

$30 Or Under




In the cheapest category, you can get Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter for $13.00, down from $19.00 and the AirTag 1 Pack for $19.99, down from $29.00.




$50 Or Under




For accessories priced between $30 and $50, there are a few sales on Amazon for Prime Day. You can get the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter for $49.98, down from $59.00, as well as discounts on iPhone 16 cases.



$100 Or Under




Lastly, we're tracking a few deals on Apple products that are just under $100 for Prime Day. You can get an AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99 ($34 off), an Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 ($30 off), and AirPods 4 for $89.00 ($40 off).





If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event.




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 10 Best Apple Deals Under $100 for Prime Day" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Seeds Third tvOS 26 Developer Beta

8 juillet 2025 à 19:25
Apple today provided developers with the third beta of tvOS 26 for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after the second beta was released.


The software updates can be downloaded through the Settings app on the Apple TV.

tvOS 26 adopts new Liquid Glass design changes inspired by visionOS, much like iOS 26 and macOS 26. The update also includes support for karaoke using an iPhone as a microphone, improvements for using AirPlay speakers with a TV, new Aerial screen savers, and quicker logins to apps at setup thanks to Apple Account syncing.

The beta is limited to developers right now, but tvOS 26 will be available to public beta testers in the near future ahead of its fall launch.

Apple released ‌iOS 26‌, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 yesterday, but tvOS 26 was held until today.
This article, "Apple Seeds Third tvOS 26 Developer Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

❌