At its WWDC 2024 keynote last year, Apple previewed a more personalized version of Siri that has since been delayed until next year. Subsequently, Apple was hit with class action lawsuits that accuse the company of false advertising, and well-known Apple commentator John Gruber strongly criticized the company over the situation.


Apple also missed its promised 2024 timeframe for launching next-generation CarPlay, which it first announced all the way back at WWDC 2022. The company finally announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra last month, with the software system rolling out in high-end Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to start.

It appears that Apple learned a valuable lesson.

During its WWDC 2025 keynote, there was a noticeable lack of new software features that Apple promised as coming later this year. The company did say that Apple Intelligence will be gaining support for additional languages later this year, but most of those languages had already been announced months ago. Over the past several years, on the other hand, there were typically quite a few "later this year" labels on Apple's software pages.

Still, not every new feature announced at WWDC 2025 is available in the first betas of Apple's latest software releases. The lack of "later this year" phrasing suggests that those features will be ready by time iOS 26 and the other updates are released in September, however, as opposed to subsequent versions like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.

Overall, it is clear that Apple is being more cautious, as was expected. In a report last month about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett cited sources who said that Apple planned to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch. Based on the WWDC 2025 keynote, that does appear to be the company's approach for now.
This article, "WWDC 2025 Proved That Apple Learned a Valuable Lesson" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Long considered the standard for local device backups and data transfer between Apple’s mobile device ecosystem and a Mac or Windows PC, iMazing continues to provide innovative solutions for managing Apple mobile devices individually or at scale.

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Last Monday, towards the end of the WWDC25 keynote, Craig Federighi said that Apple had “expanded” its vision for Swift Assist, and it would now allow developers to bring their Large Language Model of choice directly to Xcode.

Now, we know more about how this is going to work.

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If you've seen the anime-style Studio Ghibli images that people have been making with ChatGPT, you might be interested to know that Apple has integrated this feature into Image Playground in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe.


‌Image Playground‌ doesn't add new art styles designed by Apple, but it does support several ChatGPT Styles. Options include oil painting, watercolor, vector, anime, and print, which complement the existing Apple-created Animation, Illustration, and Sketch styles.


The ChatGPT options are similar to what you can get if you use ChatGPT 4o for image creation, and the anime style in particular is one that's been popular on social media. In ChatGPT, you can type in any style you want, and Apple has a similar feature with the "Any Style" option. You can select "Any Style" and then add the descriptors that you want, even asking for a realistic image.


You can create images based on text descriptions, or you can upload a photo to have it converted into the style of your choice. When using the ChatGPT option, you will need to give the okay for your iPhone to send the image to ChatGPT.


As with standard ‌Image Playground‌ image generation, you can add in additional phrases to tweak the result that you get from ChatGPT. ChatGPT is fairly slow compared to Apple's own on-device image generation capabilities in ‌Image Playground‌, so expect to wait for the end result.


Unlike Apple's ‌Image Playground‌ default styles, ChatGPT has no problem with copyrighted content. It will make an image that uses the Studio Ghibli style, or that features Elmo. You're also welcome to include violence, so Elmo can be bloody and hold a knife. Technically, ChatGPT isn't supposed to make violent images featuring children's characters either, but there are simple wording tricks to get around that. Apple does warn before sending any images to ChatGPT, and it is made clear that it's ChatGPT creating the images. ChatGPT has far fewer guardrails than Apple's standard ‌Image Playground‌ tools, which is something to be aware of.


It is worth noting that creating images with ChatGPT uses up tokens, and if you have a free account, you won't be able to create more than one or two. You'll need a paid account to use the feature more frequently.


There is no limit on the number of images that you can generate using the built-in ‌Image Playground‌ options, and it is worth noting that Apple has one other new feature you can use, and that's the "Genmoji" option. You can combine multiple emoji into a single ‌Genmoji‌, a feature that's new in ‌iOS 26‌, or describe an emoji character to create something new. ‌Genmoji‌ does not work with photos, and it is a description-only setting. The ‌Genmoji‌ that you create can be added to your emoji keyboard so you can use them in Messages.


‌iOS 26‌ is available for developers right now, but Apple plans to release a public beta in July. The software will see a public launch in September alongside new ‌iPhone‌ models.
This article, "Image Playground in iOS 26 Gets ChatGPT Integration for Anime-Style Images" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple held its WWDC25 keynote yesterday, where it announced a new suite of software updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS – all under the new version numbering umbrella of ’26’. A new suite of OS releases comes with a new version of Xcode, which also falls under the new 26 naming umbrella.

In the first beta of Xcode 26, the developer tool used to build apps for these new operating systems, Apple now includes a new ‘Vision Pro 4K’ simulator.

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In a WWDC interview with Tom's Guide editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer, and TechRadar editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi explained why the more personalized version of Siri has still yet to launch.


Federighi admitted that the first-generation architecture that Apple was developing for the personalized Siri features was too limited, which prevented the features from reaching the company's high quality standards. By spring 2025, Apple decided that it needed to fully shift Siri to a second-generation architecture that it had been planning, in order for the personalized features to reach a quality level that meets customer expectations. That decision led Apple to delay the features for up to another year.

Even with the second-generation architecture, Federighi said that Apple is still working to perfect the Siri features. In the interview, Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak confirmed that the "coming year" refers to 2026, so it is likely that the company is currently planning to launch the features as part of iOS 26.4 next spring.


Multiple class action lawsuits were filed against Apple in the U.S. and Canada over the delayed Siri features, which were heavily advertised by the company last year.

Apple first announced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote. Specifically, Apple said that Siri would gain improved understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps. At the time, Apple said that the capabilities would be available within a year, but evidently it was overconfident and had to return to the drawing board.
This article, "Apple Explains Why Personalized Siri Features Have Still Yet to Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you’ve been singing into the TV remote while using Apple Music Sing on your Apple TV, it’s time for an upgrade. As announced yesterday, you will soon get to use your iPhone as a wireless mic, with your voice coming straight through the Apple TV’s speakers. Here’s what it looks like.

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With iPadOS 26, Apple is introducing major changes to the way that multitasking works, and part of that update will see the removal of Split View and Slide Over, two multitasking interface options that have long existed on the iPad.


iPadOS 26 allows for multiple app windows, each of which can be resized freely on the display. The feature works on all ‌iPad‌ models able to run iPadOS 26, though there are limitations on how many apps can be open at once. On older iPads, for example, you're limited to four apps. Newer iPads can have more open app windows.

You can change the size of ‌iPad‌ app windows, move them on top of each other, and rearrange them as desired, much like on the Mac. There are also tiling options so that you can see two to four apps side-by-side, a feature that's similar to Split View.

Windows retain their positions even when you shut off your ‌iPad‌ or close an app, and you can see all of your open apps with a swipe up gesture that activates an Exposé-style view.

‌iPad‌ app windows feature the Mac traffic-light controls, and these can be used for resizing and closing apps. ‌iPad‌ apps also have Mac-style menu bars for tweaking settings, and there's a feature for running system-intensive tasks in the background.

The new multitasking feature that replaces Slide Over and Split View is much more robust, so it is unlikely that most ‌iPad‌ users are going to miss these options.
This article, "iPadOS 26 Multitasking Update Gets Rid of Split View and Slide Over" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has removed several Apple Watch faces that are options in watchOS 11, nixing the Fire/Water, Gradient, Liquid Metal, Vapor, and Toy Story watch faces, according to a post on Reddit.


Apple tends to quietly remove some watch face options when it launches a new version of iOS, so it is not a huge surprise to see these go missing. It is not clear why Apple picked these watch faces in particular, but it could be because they were used less often.

Apple didn't add new watch faces with watchOS 26, but some watch faces have new Liquid Glass-inspired design options.
This article, "watchOS 26 Removes These Apple Watch Faces" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Using boarding passes on your iPhone has become common practice. But after years with no changes to the feature, iOS 26 is about to upgrade your Apple Wallet boarding passes in several key ways.

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Apple Watch has nearly 60 faces, and watchOS 26 optimizes way more than before for . It’s not all good news with watchOS 26, however, as Apple continues to discontinue watch faces through software updates.

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Following yesterday’s WWDC25 keynote announcements, Apple confirmed that it will continue to lean into the daily puzzle trend with the launch of Emoji Game: a lighthearted challenge that tasks players with completing three phrases using emoji. Here’s how it’ll work.

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Apple is expanding the Weather app in iOS 26 with a new feature: Severe Weather Alerts and Widgets for Predicted Travel Destinations. This enhancement offers proactive notifications for locations you may soon visit, leveraging Apple's "Proactive Intelligence" to keep you informed before you arrive.


The new feature builds on the existing severe weather notification system, which currently supports alerts for a user's current location. ‌iOS 26‌ uses on-device processing to estimate where you might be traveling soon if the Significant Locations & Routes permission setting is turned on.

This will be particularly useful for travelers, commuters, or anyone planning a day trip or overnight stay, ensuring users are not caught off guard by incoming extreme weather events at their destinations.

To enable this feature, users will need to:

• Enable Significant Locations & Routes in Location Services.


• Set Weather app location access to “Always”.


• Turn on Severe Weather notifications in the Weather app settings.

If these conditions are met, the Weather app can access predicted destinations and deliver timely alerts relevant to those areas. Importantly, Apple states that it may associate the region of your possible travel destinations with your Apple ID, similar to how it handles alerts for your current location.

This feature also integrates with Smart Stacks in watchOS 26 and Widget Suggestions. When enabled, the Weather app can automatically display a destination-specific widget in your Smart Stack, providing at-a-glance weather updates for places you're likely to visit.

Finally, it appears ‌iOS 26‌ will extend the satellite connectivity for Emergency SOS and Messages introduced in earlier releases to Weather data. This ensures users without Wi-Fi or cellular access can still receive critical weather warnings even when out of range of terrestrial networks.
This article, "iOS 26 to Bring Severe Weather Alerts and Widgets for Predicted Travel Destinations" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It took long enough, but Meta has finally admitted what Threads users have been saying from day one: the platform needs its own direct messaging system. Not something tied to Instagram, not a redirect, just DMs, right where the conversations are happening.

And now, that’s exactly what they’re finally getting.

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The first iOS 26 beta arrived yesterday, and already it’s been found to hold confirmation of a new product in the works: a reference to ‘AirPods Pro 3’ was discovered in Apple’s code, the second such recent leak.

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If you’ve already refreshed your setup with the official iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 wallpapers, here’s your chance to complete the set. You can now download the brand-new iPadOS 26 light and dark wallpapers.

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Apple has announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes a long list of new features and changes for iPhones.


The first iOS 26 developer beta is now available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released later this year.

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer.

Below, we have provided a high-level overview of 100 new features and changes that are coming with iOS 26, in no particular order:

1. A new Liquid Glass design with shimmery app icons and a translucent interface that reflects and refracts the surrounding colors


2. There is a redesigned tab bar in apps


3. A new "Clear" option for Home Screen app icons and widgets, alongside the existing "Light" and "Dark" options


4. On the Lock Screen, the clock dynamically adapts to fill empty space


5. On the Lock Screen, there is an option to view full-screen album artwork


6. Polls in group chats in the Messages app


7. Add a custom background to any conversation in the Messages app


8. You can now send and receive Apple Cash in group chats in the Messages app


9. Typing indicators are now visible in group chats in the Messages app


10. There is a new "Add Contact" button in group chats in the Messages app


11. A new "Select" option in the Messages app lets you select a portion of text within a message bubble


12. Messages app can screen messages from unknown senders, placing them into an Unknown Senders folder


13. Messages app has gained natural language search


14. Hold Assist can wait on hold for you during a phone call, and notify you when the live agent is ready for you


15. Call Screening automatically answers unknown callers, and asks for their name and the reason for their call, before your iPhone rings


16. Live Translation for calls and texts across the Phone, FaceTime, and Messages apps


17. A preinstalled Apple Games app lets you discover games, in-game events, and compete with friends with new challenges


18. A preinstalled Preview app lets you create, edit, annotate, markup, and export PDFs, plus crop, flip, rotate, and resize images


19. Photos app is now split into Library and Collections tabs


20. Relevant video thumbnails are now shown in search results in the Photos app


21. In the Photos app, you can create 3D spatial versions of photos, which was previously only possible using the Apple Vision Pro


22. Camera app has a simpler design with Video and Photo tabs


23. In the Camera app, you will receive an alert if a camera lens needs to be cleaned, so long as "Lens Cleaning Hints" is toggled on in the Settings app


24. The screenshot editing interface has been slightly redesigned


25. In the Settings app, you can now turn off CarPlay screenshots under General → Screen Capture, so that taking a screenshot on your iPhone does not also generate a CarPlay screenshot while the device is connected to CarPlay


26. In the Settings app, can now turn off iCloud Drive syncing via cellular data


27. Phone app now has an optional all-in-one layout that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails


28. Phone app now supports screen sharing and SharePlay during phone calls


29. Phone app offers new Monogram styles for contacts


30. A new Focus mode lets you silence an individual SIM


31. Journal app now lets you create multiple journals


32. Journal app entries can now be viewed on a map


33. Journal app now lets images be added inline with text


34. Passwords app now shows password history


35. Safari now has three layouts: Compact, Bottom, and Top


36. Safari now offers advanced fingerprinting protection for all browsing by default


37. Tips app now offers step-by-step guides for troubleshooting common iPhone issues


38. You can now test AirPods beta firmware directly via the Settings app


39. You can start recording video in the Camera app by pressing and holding on the stem of AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2


40. AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 now offer studio-quality audio recording


41. AirPods can now detect when you fall asleep and automatically pause audio


42. You are now notified when your AirPods are fully charged


43. You can be reminded to charge your AirPods when their battery life is low


44. AirPods audio can now automatically switch to CarPlay as necessary


45. You can now set a custom snooze duration of 1 to 15 minutes in the Clock app


46. Visual Intelligence now works with on-screen content, so you can ask ChatGPT questions about what you are looking at


47. Visual Intelligence can now read aloud and summarize screenshots with text


48. Genmoji can now combine two standard emoji into one custom one


49. Image Playground offers new ChatGPT image styles, including Oil Painting, Watercolor, Vector, Anime, and Print


50. In the Shortcuts app, there is a new set of shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence


51. Apple Music lets you pin playlists, albums, and artists at the top of the Library tab


52. Apple Music lets you create playlist folders


53. Lyrics translation for Apple Music songs


54. AutoMix for Apple Music can seamlessly mix from one song to the next like a DJ


55. Live Activities support for boarding passes in the Apple Wallet app


56. Wallet app now displays relevant information below the boarding pass, such as Apple Maps directions to the appropriate airport terminal, and a shortcut to the Find My app's baggage tracking feature


57. Create a digital ID in the Wallet app using your U.S. passport, for age and identity verification in supported apps, and at select stores and TSA checkpoints


58. In participating U.S. states, "Verify with Wallet on the Web" enables you to present your driver's license or state ID in the Wallet app to websites for age and identity verification, starting with Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank, as well as the Arizona MVD, Georgia DDS, and Maryland MVA


59. You can now manage AutoFill credit cards in the Wallet app


60. When toggled on, a new Adaptive Power mode can make small adjustments to extend battery life, such as by slightly lowering display brightness or allowing certain background activities to take longer


61. In the Settings app, you can see how long it will take for your iPhone's battery to achieve a full charge when the device is charging


62. The entire Battery section of the Settings app was overhauled


63. A new "Keep Audio in Headphones" setting prevents audio from automatically switching to newly connected devices, like car speakers or Bluetooth speakers, when you are already listening through AirPods or other headphones
    
64. You can now access a list of blocked contacts via the Settings app


65. Safety Check is now an option when blocking a contact


66. Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada can play a new Emoji Game


67. A new set of Background Sounds include Babble, Steam, Airplane, Boat, Bus, Train, Rain on Roof, and Quiet Night


68. The so-called Home bar at the bottom of the screen is now hidden more often


69. Weather via satellite will allow you to receive the latest forecast information while outside of Wi-Fi or cellular range


70. In the Notes app, notes can be exported as a Markdown file


71. With Apple Intelligence, the Reminders app can suggest tasks, grocery items, and follow-ups based on emails or other text on your device


72. Apple Intelligence can automatically categorize reminders in the Reminders app


73. You can now create reminders in the Reminders app via the Action button


74. Apple Maps can now learn your commute between home and work, and notify you if there are any significant delays along your typical route, and offer alternate routes if available


75. Apple Maps can intelligently detect and save the places that you frequently visit and spend time in, such as restaurants or stores


76. Apple Maps now lets you choose from additional types of incidents on the "Report an Incident" screen


77. You can use an iPhone as a wireless microphone for the Apple Music Sing feature on the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)


78. In the Apple Podcasts app, there are now a wider range of playback speed options, from 0.5x to 3x


79. In the Apple Podcasts app, an Enhance Dialogue option lets you hear speech more clearly over background sounds


80. In the Apple Wallet app, Apple Intelligence can now automatically identify, summarize, and display order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery carriers


81. Apple Pay now lets you use rewards and installments for in-store purchases


82. Custom Plans in Apple Fitness+ now automatically create a personalized schedule based on users' workout and meditation preferences


83. New accessibility features, such as Accessibility Reader and Braille Access


84. Personal Voice can now create a smoother, more natural-sounding replication of your voice in less than a minute, using only 10 recorded phrases


85. Vehicle Motion Cues has gained new options to further help reduce motion sickness


86. Parents can now create or move kids into Child Accounts even more easily


87. Parents can grant an exception for their child to download an app with an age rating that exceeds the app content restriction they set


88. Enhancements across Communication Limits, Communication Safety, and the App Store include parental approvals for contact requests from kids, and blurring out sensitive content in FaceTime calls and photos in Shared Albums


89. There is a new "Transfer From Android" option during eSIM setup


90. Wi-Fi Aware is now supported


91. You can now sync captive Wi-Fi portal login information across Apple devices


92. Arabic calculator


93. Multiscript keyboard for Arabic/English


94. You can now specify spelling while using the Dictation feature


95. Liquid Glass design extends to CarPlay when using an iPhone running iOS 26


96. CarPlay now can now show Live Activities on the Dashboard screen


97. CarPlay can now display widgets for things like calendar appointments and Home app accessory controls (previously CarPlay Ultra only)


98. CarPlay now has a compact view for incoming phone calls


99. CarPlay now shows pinned conversations in the Messages app


100. CarPlay now lets you respond to messages with the standard set of Tapbacks in the Messages app

This article, "iOS 26 Includes These 100 New Features and Changes for Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last summer, Presumed Innocent become a big hit for Apple TV+, and what was intended as a limited series got a season 2 pickup. Now, Apple has announced its plan for replacing Jake Gyllenhaal in the new season.

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Yesterday Apple announced a ton of upgrades coming to its various software platforms. While tvOS 26 may not pack as many changes as iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, it does include a new screen saver feature that I’ve always wanted on the Apple TV 4K.

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Apple’s TestFlight app for distributing pre-release software has been updated with new features and performance gains.

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iOS 26 suggests that Apple is indeed working on a new version of the AirPods Pro that could be coming in the not too distant future. Code in ‌iOS 26‌ discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser references the "AirPods Pro 3" alongside the "‌AirPods Pro‌" and the "‌AirPods Pro‌ 2."


There is no ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ at the current time, but rumors suggest that Apple plans to introduce a new model this fall. The reference is buried in a headphone-related UI framework, so Apple appears to be preparing for the upcoming product launch behind the scenes.

This isn't actually the first time Apple has hinted at ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. Last month, Apple changed a reference to the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ to the "‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 or later," even though there is no "later" right now.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ will have a new look for the earbuds and the case, with Apple perhaps slimming down the case like it did for the AirPods 4. We're also counting on a faster audio chip that brings improved Active Noise Cancellation and audio quality, plus the updated earbuds might offer heart rate monitoring functionality and temperature sensing.

For more on what's expected for the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, we have a dedicated guide that's updated with new rumors regularly.
This article, "'AirPods Pro 3' Referenced in iOS 26 Code" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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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 iMazing: iMazing 3 is a comprehensive platform for Apple device management with complete device control for backup management, data transfer capabilities, and much more. Try it now.

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The best part of Apple’s keynote yesterday, for me, was the introduction of iPadOS 26. Apple finally opened up the floodgates and gave iPad users everything they wanted. We have an actual multitasking window manager, new menu toolbars, better background tasks, and a revamped files app. All this has transformed how people will view iPads moving forward. But the fantastic thing is that this is not just reserved for the $1300+ iPad Pro; this now works on the $299 entry-level iPad. Apple just made the entry-level iPad the best value in computers. Let me explain.

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Apple is adding a "Verify with Wallet on the Web" option in iOS 26 that can use a state-issued license or Digital ID to verify age and identity in a private and secure way. This is already an option in apps, but Apple is expanding it to the web through support for the W3C Digital Credentials API and the FIDO CTAP protocol.


Right now, purchasing alcohol, renting a car, or similar activities online can require users to upload a picture of their ID, but Apple's new system will replace that. Websites will be able to request digital credentials like name and date of birth without receiving unnecessary information. End users will be informed of how the data will be used, and whether it will be stored by the website asking for identity verification.

Apple's new web-based ID verification feature will work seamlessly in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but it will also work with other browser apps and other operating systems that implement support. You can use your ‌iPhone‌ to scan a QR code in any browser on any system to share digital ID information with a website using Face ID authentication.

Verify with Wallet on the web works with state-issued IDs and licenses, and passports added through the new ‌iOS 26‌ Digital ID feature could support online verification. Apple is also adding support for third-party apps that store licenses. Some states have digital ID systems that do not integrate with Apple Wallet, but licenses stored in these apps will still be able to be used for identity and age verification on the web. When initiating the verification process on a website, ‌iPhone‌ users will be able to select the Wallet app or a third-party app.

The process is end-to-end encrypted, so other parties are not able to read identity data, including browsers and operating systems. IDs are cryptographically signed, preventing the use of fake IDs.

Apple says that the first websites that will support the Verify with Wallet on the Web feature include Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank. The Arizona MVD, Georgia DDS, and Maryland MVA will add support for their digital ID apps.

The web verification process for IDs will launch this fall when ‌iOS 26‌ debuts.
This article, "Apple Expands Digital ID Support to Web Browsers in iOS 26" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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At Augmented World Expo 2025, Snapchat announced a next-generation version of Snap Spectacles. These new spectacles should have a more lightweight and immersive design, and will be launching to the public next year.

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Today, Apple announced Spatial Scenes, a new iOS 26 feature that turns 2D photos into immersive 3D effects. And here’s the good news: even if you don’t have an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence, you’ll still get access to it. Here’s how it works.

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During its WWDC keynote, Apple addressed one big elephant in the room: Siri’s delayed features that were announced last year but never shipped. And now in a new interview, Siri’s recently-appointed boss Craig Federighi has explained more of the reasoning behind the delay, and teased even more new features are coming.

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In iOS 26, Apple is implementing a new Digital ID feature that builds on integration for Driver's Licenses in the Wallet app. Starting this fall, Apple Wallet will allow iPhone users to add a U.S. passport that can be used in lieu of a physical passport for domestic travel.


The Digital ID can be stored on the ‌iPhone‌ or the Apple Watch, and it can be used at select TSA checkpoints throughout the United States. It is Real ID compliant, as a passport can be presented instead of a Real ID when traveling.

Digital IDs do not replace physical passports, and Apple warns that they cannot be used for international travel or border crossings. In these situations, a physical passport will be required, but for domestic travel, ‌iPhone‌ users won't need to pull out a passport and can instead pass through TSA checkpoints quicker.

As with state driver's licenses and IDs, Digital IDs will work for age and identity verification in apps, retail store locations, and new in ‌iOS 26‌, websites. The option to add a passport to Wallet for use as an ID option will expand digital identification features to many more ‌iPhone‌ users.

U.S. states and territories have been slowly rolling out support for IDs in the Wallet app, but it is still limited to Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Puerto Rico.

Apple is adding other travel-friendly features to the Wallet app. There's an overhauled boarding pass experience that provides users with a Live Activity overview of their flight and real-time updates. Boarding passes also offer options to go to Maps for an airport overview, and Find My for tracking luggage.

Apple is partnering with airlines to implement the updated boarding passes, and these airlines will be the first to support the feature: Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Jetstar, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Australia.
This article, "iOS 26 Will Let You Add Your U.S. Passport to Wallet for Identity Verification" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After years of incremental tweaks, Spotlight is taking center stage in macOS Tahoe 26, in what Apple calls its biggest update ever. Here’s everything that’s new.

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Apple disbanded its router hardware team in 2016 and officially exited the business in 2018. Now in 2025, Apple is signaling that one of the last remaining benefits of its networking hardware will be disabled next year.

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During yesterday’s WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple premiered a new sizzle reel promoting the summer lineup on Apple TV+. And now, that same teaser is available to watch on YouTube.

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watchOS 26 is the next major software update coming for Apple Watch, and among its host of new features, the popular Apple Notes app is coming to the wrist.

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Alongside ongoing price drops delivering the best deals of the year on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, not to mention an ongoing $180 price drop on the 24GB M4 MacBook Air, we have a fresh batch of deals to scope out today as well. Alongside iPad mini 7 models at $100 off, we spotted a big-time $269 price drop on black Apple Watch Ultra 2 units in refurbished condition – this deal might not last for much longer. Those offers join a $400 price drop on the black titanium 1TB iPhone 16 Pro, the very first deal on Anker’s new 14-in-1 Prime Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station, and much more. Scope it all out down below. 

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Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Apple offered a line of Wi-Fi routers that it referred to as AirPort base stations. There was a standard AirPort Express, a higher-end AirPort Extreme with more advanced networking features, and an AirPort Time Capsule that doubled as an external storage drive for backing up a Mac with Time Machine.


Apple discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, and this week it shared more sad news that will impact the AirPort Time Capsule specifically.

As noticed by @StellaFudge, and by other users who have installed the first macOS Tahoe beta, the Time Machine page in the System Settings app now indicates that the next major version of macOS — aka macOS 27 — will no longer support the AirPort Time Capsule or any other storage drives that use the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).

Apple already announced that its AFP client had been deprecated, in its enterprise release notes for macOS Sequoia 15.5 last month.

Starting with macOS 27, Time Capsule backups will require a storage drive that supports more current file-sharing protocols like SMBv2 and SMBv3.

macOS 27 will be released next year.
This article, "Warning: Apple Says macOS 27 Won't Support AirPort Time Capsule Backups" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple had several exciting car-related announcements to make at WWDC yesterday. In addition to showing off some great new CarPlay features, the company announced that car keys will soon be supported by 13 new vehicle brands inside the Apple Wallet app. Here’s what’s coming.

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Following its WWDC keynote on Monday, Apple updated a developer document to indicate that Rosetta 2 will remain available through macOS 27.


Rosetta 2 enables Macs with Apple silicon (Arm architecture) to run apps that were built for Macs with an Intel processor (x86 architecture), by translating code.

Starting with macOS 28, Apple said that only a limited version of Rosetta 2 will remain available for older games that rely on Intel-based frameworks:

Rosetta was designed to make the transition to Apple silicon easier, and we plan to make it available for the next two major macOS releases – through macOS 27 – as a general-purpose tool for Intel apps to help developers complete the migration of their apps. Beyond this timeframe, we will keep a subset of Rosetta functionality aimed at supporting older unmaintained gaming titles, that rely on Intel-based frameworks.

The document also reiterates that macOS Tahoe will be the final macOS release that supports Intel-based Macs. However, Apple said that Intel-based Macs will continue to receive security updates for an additional three years.

macOS Tahoe is compatible with only a handful of Intel-based Macs, including the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019), 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports), 27-inch iMac (2020), and Mac Pro (2019).

macOS 28 will be released in 2027.
This article, "Apple to Phase Out Rosetta 2 Starting With macOS 28 as Intel Era Ends" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released the first iOS 26 beta to developers, but even non-developers have the opportunity to download beta software updates on their iPhones for free. Keep reading to learn how it's done.


Traditionally, when Apple announced a major new operating system update, the first wave of betas would only be available to download by paying subscribers to Apple's Developer Program, which costs $99 a year. Public betas would then become available to users enrolled in Apple's Public Beta Software Program after a delay of a few days or weeks after the developer beta has been released. That all changed in 2023, and these days iPhone users no longer have to wait for a publicly released beta to test what's new.

Indeed, anyone who signs in to Apple's developer account website with their Apple Account credentials gets access to developer beta releases as well, even if they are not a paying member of Apple's Developer Program. This means anyone with an Apple Account can download and install the new iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe betas without waiting for the public betas to launch.

Is My iPhone Compatible With iOS 26?

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. In other words, the following models are supported:

• iPhone 16e


• iPhone 16


• iPhone 16 Plus


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max


• iPhone 15


• iPhone 15 Plus


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 14


• iPhone 14 Plus


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 13


• iPhone 13 mini


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 12


• iPhone 12 mini


• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 11


• iPhone 11 Pro


• iPhone 11 Pro Max


• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

Should I Install iOS 26 Developer Beta?

Great question! Before downloading the update, it's worth noting that Apple does not recommend installing iOS 26 beta updates on your main iPhone, so if you have a secondary device, use that. This is beta software, which means there are often bugs and issues that pop up that can prevent software from working properly or cause other problems. Apple undoubtedly has plenty of fixes to make before the final release.

Make an Archived Backup of Your Device First

Before installing the beta, make sure to back up your iOS device before installing the software using the following method, otherwise you won't be able to revert back to iOS 18 if things go wrong.

1. Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.


2. Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.


3. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.


4. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
   
   
5. If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
   
   
6. Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.


7. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.


8. If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.


9. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
   
   

When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button. Remember that this backup will not be overwritten when you manually or automatically back up your iPhone in the future, so you can restore it at any time by using the Restore Backup... option in the same Finder screen.

How to Download iOS 26 Developer Betas

The option to download and install the iOS 26 Developer Beta is immediately available for users who have previously enrolled on Apple's Beta Software Program. If you're currently enrolled to receive Public Betas, you can skip to step 6, otherwise follow these steps.

1. Open Safari on your iPhone and visit developer.apple.com.


2. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner of the page, then tap Account.


3. Under "Sign in to Apple Developer," enter and submit your Apple Account credentials using the arrow buttons, then enter the two-factor authentication code sent to your devices.
   
   
4. Tap the top-left menu icon again, then tap Account.


5. Accept the legal terms of the Apple Developer Agreement by scrolling down the page, checking the box, and tapping I Agree. You'll then be directed to a payment screen, but you can quit out of your browser from here – you don't need to pay anything.
   
   
6. Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 16.4 or later by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If it is, and you have just completed steps 1-5 to register a developer account, restart your iPhone. If it isn't, download and install the latest update to your device, then wait for it to restart.


7. Now go back to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.


8. Tap Beta Updates. If you don't see the option, try switching off Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), then tap Back and it should appear.


9. Select iOS 26 Developer Beta in the list, then tap Back.


10. Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple's servers. When the iOS 26 Developer Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for installation to complete.
    

iOS 26 Features

iOS 26 introduces a striking system-wide redesign built around Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts ambient content and dynamically responds to user input. The new aesthetic applies across the Lock Screen, Home Screen, toolbar controls, navigation elements, app icons, and widgets.

The update also brings new Apple Intelligence features. With Live Translation available in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, conversations across languages are now seamless and entirely on-device to ensure privacy. New Visual Intelligence capabilities mean you can ask questions about screen content. There are also smarter Shortcuts with intelligent actions to make automation easier.

Communication apps gain smart upgrades too. The revamped Phone app now combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails in one view, adds Call Screening, and includes a clever Hold Assist feature. Messages gains filtered inboxes for unknown senders, typing indicators in group chats, custom backgrounds and polls, and Apple Cash transfers.

CarPlay gets a visual refresh aligned with the Liquid Glass design and now includes compact call notifications, tappable Message reactions, pinned conversations, widgets, and Live Activities support.

Apple has also updated some of its key apps: Apple Music adds Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation plus AutoMix DJ-style transitions; Maps introduces privacy-protected "Visited Places" and smarter route preferences; Wallet supports installment/rewards payments, refreshed boarding passes with Live Activities, and deeper integrations with Maps and Find My. Lastly, a new Games app debuts as a central hub for mobile gaming, featuring a unified library, Apple Arcade support, event tracking, and friend status updates.

For a full breakdown of what's new, be sure to check out our dedicated iOS 26 roundup.
This article, "How to Get the iOS 26 Developer Beta on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week has discounts across nearly the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, offering $100 off these tablets. Prices start at $499.00 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.

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.

Every deal has been automatically applied and does not require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final sale price. We've rounded up every discount available on Amazon in the lists below, and they include both 11-inch and 13-inch models.




Our list below focuses on Wi-Fi models, but you'll also find many cellular models on sale at $100 off right now. The 128GB cellular 11-inch iPad Air is available for $649.00 and the 128GB cellular 13-inch iPad Air is available for $849.00, both $100 discounts.

11-inch M3 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $499.00, down from $599.00


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $599.00, down from $699.00


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $799.00, down from $899.00


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $999.00, down from $1,099.00

13-inch M3 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $699.00, down from $799.00


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $799.00, down from $899.00


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $999.00, down from $1,099.00


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00

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

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This article, "Amazon Takes $100 Off Nearly Every M3 iPad Air, Starting at $499" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With iOS 26, Apple is making Apple Music a lot more fun to sing along with, especially for fans of international music. The update will introduce two features designed for listeners who enjoy songs in languages they don’t necessarily speak fluently. Here’s how it’ll work.

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Apple has released new beta firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, introducing the new iOS 26 features plus a much easier installation process than ever before.

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