Earlier this week, Meta officially flipped the switch on in-app advertising for WhatsApp users worldwide, marking the first time ads have appeared inside the messaging platform. But if you’re in the European Union, there’s now an important update: the rollout won’t be happening for you… yet.

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Apple’s famous “Shot on iPhone” ad series has just earned one of the advertising industry’s highest honors: the Grand Prix in the Creative Effectiveness Lions category at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Not bad for a campaign that started a decade ago.

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Spotify appears to be gearing up to launch its long-awaited lossless music tier.


Chris Messina (via TechCrunch) and Spicetify (via The Verge) spotted new lossless references within the code for Spotify's desktop app and web player.

With assistance from Aaron Perris, MacRumors has confirmed that the latest beta of the Spotify app for the iPhone also contains new lossless-related code.

Lossless songs retain all of the audio data from the original recording.

One line of code says Spotify's lossless audio will be 24-bit at 44.1 kHz.

"Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz."

Lossless audio will be available to stream or download in the Spotify app on the iPhone, reads another line of code for the beta app.

In February, Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw reported that Spotify was planning to launch a Music Pro subscription tier that offers higher-quality audio, remixing tools, and access to concert tickets. The report said Spotify was considering charging as much as $5.99 per month for this perk, on top of the standard price of Spotify Premium.

It is unclear when Spotify will finally roll out lossless audio, but the report said that it aimed to make Music Pro available later this year.

Spotify first announced plans for a "Hi-Fi" tier with lossless audio in 2021.

2021 is the same year that most songs in the Apple Music catalog became available in lossless audio, at up to 24-bit/192 kHz. This perk is offered to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost, so Spotify's offering is both late and will seemingly cost extra.
This article, "Spotify Preparing to Launch Long-Awaited Lossless Audio Tier on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For photography enthusiasts, the prosumer camera app market has had no shortage of great options, with longtime favorites like Halide from Lux leading the pack. Now, Adobe has decided to enter the picture (get it?) with a free experimental app from the same team behind the original Google Pixel camera.

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After years of there being few alternatives to the Apple-approved LG UltraFine 5K and later the Apple Studio Display in the 27-inch 5K display market, a number of new entrants have recently appeared to offer more options for consumers.


In just the past few months, we've taken a look at the ASUS ProArt Display 5K, the BenQ PD2730S, and the Alogic Clarity 5K Touch with its unique touchscreen capabilities, and most recently I've been testing out another new option, the $950 ViewSonic VP2788-5K, to see how it stacks up.

As background, I have been driving a pair of LG UltraFine 5K displays in my desk setup since 2016, and aside from some image retention issues that I've learned to live with, they work fantastically for my needs, so much so that I haven't seen the need to upgrade to the Apple Studio Display. Content looks great on the UltraFines, they work reliably, and they integrate with macOS to support convenient features such as volume and brightness keyboard shortcuts.

With those as my benchmark, I've been testing the ViewSonic VP2788-5K in daily use alongside one of my LG UltraFines, and I've found both positives and negatives with ViewSonic's offering.


The VP2788-5K arrives in a fairly compact box, and as with most displays it requires a little bit of simple assembly. The hefty metal foot attaches to the display neck with a secure thumbscrew that is recessed slightly into the bottom of the foot to protect against scratching surfaces, and there is a click-in cover attachment for the rear of the display that simply slides into the top of the stand neck. If you prefer a VESA mounting solution, just leave that cover off and you can secure the display to any 100x100 VESA mount.


My first impressions of the general design of the VP2788-5K were relatively favorable, though aside from the sturdy metal stand base the construction is almost entirely black and dark gray plastic. Still, I find the design unobtrusive overall, which is mainly what I'm looking for as the content on the screen is what I'm most interested in. Bezels on the top and sides are fairly slim, with a bit thicker bezel on the bottom including some subtle ViewSonic branding. There's a bit of additional gray ViewSonic branding on the stand base.


The VP2788-5K excels in positional flexibility, supporting not just height (120 mm range) and tilt (5º forward to 22º back) adjustments but also up to 30º of swivel right or left and 90º of pivot right or left if you prefer to use the display in portrait mode. While the ‌Apple Studio Display‌ supports tilt adjustment on the base model, height adjustment is a $400 stand upgrade, and swivel and pivot are not supported at all.


For cable management, the VP2788-5K includes a hole in the stand neck, and it's high enough that it's well hidden behind the display to keep those cables out of sight as much as possible. Only if you push the display toward its highest position will the cables and hole become visible.


Whereas Apple and LG kept connectivity simple on their displays with only a single Thunderbolt 3 input, ViewSonic has included several options to support not just Macs but Windows PCs and other devices. There's an upstream Thunderbolt 4 port for easy Mac connectivity, plus an HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, and an upstream USB-C port. On the downstream side, there's a second Thunderbolt 4 port, a 15-watt USB-C port, and a pair of 10-watt USB-A ports, with the extra Thunderbolt port allowing for daisy-chained displays via a single connection on supported computers. Cables for the various connector types are included in the box.


All of the ports are located on the rear of the display in a downward-facing orientation, with some located near the bottom of the display and others sitting up a bit higher on the back. While the downward-facing ports can allow the display to be placed flatter against walls or other surfaces when on a VESA mount and perhaps result in less stress on cables with gravity pulling in line with the cable rather than perpendicularly, they do make cables attached to some of the ports visible from in front of the display.


For example, the main Thunderbolt port used for connecting to my MacBook Pro is flush with the bottom of the display, so the cable connector sticks straight down out of the display. That results in some visual clutter, and the connector can be easily bumped if you're trying to move items around under the display. Most of the ports are a bit higher on the back of the display, keeping any connectors hidden away from view, and I'm not entirely sure why all of the ports weren't designed in this way for a cleaner look.

That upstream Thunderbolt 4 port can supply up to 100 watts of charging power to a connected computer, so you won't need an additional power source to keep your MacBook charged up. That's a competitive amount of power output, as many other options offer more like 90 watts or even less. The display does use an external power brick of its own, so keep in mind you will need to hide that away somewhere on the floor or your desk.

Turning to the actual display, the VP2788-5K offers up to 500 nits of brightness, which has proven to be plenty bright in my work environment and easily matched to my UltraFine 5K and my ‌MacBook Pro‌'s internal display. Apple's Studio Display does go up to 600 nits, however, so it offers a bit more in this department. The IPS panel supports refresh rates up to 75Hz, but this is achieved via scalar processing that ViewSonic says may not perform consistently, so it's probably best to use the native 60Hz refresh rate. That's not going to offer top-of-the-line performance for gaming and other demanding environments, but for general computing I've found it to be just fine.

As for color, the VP2788-5K supports 100% of the sRGB spectrum, 99% of DCI-P3 colors, and HDR400, and I found colors to look natural and well-matched to my other displays, with calibration options available if you need to tweak things. Content looks sharp on the 5K screen, delivering solid Retina quality running in 2560×1440 HiDPI mode.

The VP2788-5K includes an "Anti-Glare Low Reflection (AGLR) coating" that looks great in my opinion. Display quality and colors don't seem to be hampered much at all by the coating (though I don't do intense color work like grading) and I don't notice any glare from the display in my daily use, with only a tiny bit of diffuse light showing up when a bright source is reflected in the display. That's a definite improvement over the glossy finish of my LG UltraFine displays. Apple offers a low-reflectivity standard glass on the Studio Display, with a nano-texture glass option to further minimize glare available as a $300 upgrade.

One area where the ViewSonic VP2788-5K seems to be lacking compared to the ‌Apple Studio Display‌ and LG UltraFine is integration with macOS, as it does not appear to support features like brightness or volume adjustments from the keyboard, requiring adjustment via a somewhat finicky joystick button underneath the bottom edge of the display that controls all of the on-screen display menu options. It's not a dealbreaker for me because I don't frequently adjust display brightness at my desk, but it may be an issue for some. ViewSonic tells me it is aware of the missing feature and is working to add it to the Display Portal software that can be used to update the display's firmware, but they do not have firm timeline for it yet.


The VP2788-5K includes a pair of 5-watt speakers, but as with most built-in display speakers, they leave something to be desired and deliver a very hollow sound. The speakers in my LG UltraFine displays are considerably better, and you're better off using the speakers in your Mac or a separate speaker solution if you want to listen to much more than system sounds with this display.

It's important to note that the VP2788-5K does not include a webcam or microphone, so you will need another solution for video calls, whether it be the built-in camera and mics on a connected Mac, a separate webcam, or an iPhone via Continuity Camera.

The ViewSonic VP2788-5K is priced at $949.99, so considerably cheaper than the ‌Apple Studio Display‌ and most other 27-inch 5K options on the market. It's also available from third-party retailers like Best Buy and B&H.

Its lower price compared to Apple's Studio Display certainly makes it worthy of consideration, with its multiple input options and flexible positioning offering some nice advantages for certain users. It does fall a bit short on the seamless Mac integration and webcam you get from Apple and the Studio Display offers more in the design and build quality departments, but the ViewSonic VP2788-5K is a solid value if those aspects are lower on your priority list.

Note: ViewSonic provided MacRumors with the VP2788-5K display for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of vendors mentioned in this article. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Review: ViewSonic's VP2788-5K Display Offers a Cheaper Alternative to Apple's Studio Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's long-running "Shot on iPhone" campaign by advertising agency TBWA\Media Arts Lab won a Grand Prix award for Creative Effectiveness at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France this week.


Launched in early 2015 to promote the iPhone 6's camera capabilities, the iconic "Shot on iPhone" campaign is now a decade old. The simple yet highly effective series of ads showcase real photos shot by iPhone users across billboards, transit posters, and more. Apple has also shared a series of "Shot on iPhone" videos on YouTube that have promoted the video recording capabilities of several iPhone models over the years.

The Creative Effectiveness award celebrates the "measurable impact of creative work," and the Shot on iPhone campaign has helped to boost iPhone sales for 10 years.

"'Shot on iPhone' was awarded the Grand Prix for its groundbreaking ability to democratize creativity, transforming everyday moments into art," said Andrea Diquez, CEO of the advertising agency GUT. "The campaign stood out as a masterclass in elevating user-generated content to build a long-term platform with stunning execution."
This article, "Apple's Shot on iPhone Campaign Turns 10 and Wins Advertising Award" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After years (and years, and years) of waiting and speculation, Spotify’s long-promised lossless audio feature appears to be inching closer to reality. The latest desktop app builds now show multiple references to “Lossless” streaming, giving users the loudest sign yet that higher-fidelity streaming could soon roll out. Here’s what to expect.

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Benjamin and Chance catch up on all the stuff they didn’t get time to cover, still reeling in the haze of the WWDC hangover, discussing a bunch of cool new things across iOS, watchOS, and visionOS. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance go hands-on with all the new CarPlay changes in iOS 26. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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If you were hoping Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models would shake up their physical screen sizes, you can extra-officially temper your expectations. But that doesn’t mean the 2026 lineup won’t bring significant shifts in how the front of the iPhone looks. Here’s what may be coming.

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In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.


Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states and Puerto Rico offering it so far.

During its WWDC 2025 keynote last week, Apple reiterated that more states plan to offer the feature in the future, but it did not provide a timeframe.

Supported States

The following states offer driver's licenses in the Wallet app:

• Arizona (since March 2022)


• Maryland (since May 2022)


• Colorado (since November 2022)


• Georgia (since May 2023)


• Ohio (since July 2024)


• Hawaii (since August 2024)


• California (since September 2024)


• Iowa (since October 2024)


• New Mexico (since December 2024)

The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.

Future States

Apple previously announced that the following states have signed on to adopt the feature:

• Montana


• West Virginia


• Connecticut


• Kentucky


• Mississippi


• Oklahoma


• Utah


• Illinois

Participating Airports

Apple Wallet app IDs can be used at select TSA checkpoints within select U.S. airports:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)


• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)


• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)


• Denver International Airport (DEN)


• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)


• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)


• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)


• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)


• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)


• Los Angeles International (LAX)


• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)


• Des Moines International Airport (DSM)


• Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)


• Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)


• Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)


• Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Apple says travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the feature, and the TSA's website offers more details.

Apple Wallet IDs can also be used to show proof of age or identity at select businesses and venues in the U.S., but there is no list of locations.

Digital ID

In addition to driver's licenses and state IDs, iOS 26 introduces a new Digital ID, which can be created based on a U.S. passport. Apple says iPhone users can present this Digital ID in person at select TSA checkpoints for identity verification purposes during domestic travel within the U.S., but it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing in lieu of a U.S. passport.
This article, "iPhone Driver's Licenses: These 17 U.S. States Offer Them or Will Later" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Besides the new navigation drawer and 2.5 Pro going stable, the Gemini app is rolling out video upload and analysis. This lets you add a clip to your prompt.

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If you’re still rocking a first-generation iPod or, like me, are holding on to an old FireWire external drive for dear life, this one might hit hard: the first developer beta of macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have dropped support for the FireWire 400 and 800 standards.

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Now through August 13, the hit Apple Arcade game Fruit Ninja Classic+ has been updated with Bluey-themed wands, powers, dojos, and many other easter eggs for fans of the Australian kids show, which revolves around puppies Bluey and Bingo.


There will be four in-game events during this limited-time crossover, starting today:

Featherwand Event

June 19 - August 13

Win the Featherwand and Bluey's House Dojo!

Sticky Gecko Event

July 3 - August 13

Win the Sticky Gecko and Bluey and Bingo's Bedroom Dojo!

Asparagus Event

July 17 - August 13

Win the Asparagus Wand!

Fruit Salad Event

July 31 - August 13

Win Bluey's Kitchen Dojo and Bluey's Backyard Dojo!

"Whether you're playing with Bingo and her Featherwand or helping Bluey catch Sticky Gecko off the ceiling, each event brings plenty of adventures and exclusive rewards for players of all ages to enjoy," said Apple, in an email.

Watch the Fruit Ninja × Bluey trailer below.


If you prefer, you can go to the dojo and equip a blade to revert to the classic Fruit Ninja experience, while the crossover is going on.

Bluey's creator Joe Brumm and Fruit Ninja's developer Halfbrick Studios both hail from Brisbane, so this is an all-Australian collaboration.

Accessible through the App Store and the Apple Games app, Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, all free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.
This article, "Fruit Ninja Gets Bluey Takeover on Apple Arcade" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With the first big enforcement deadline under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) just days away, the European Commission is signaling a more measured approach toward two of the law’s highest-profile targets: Apple and Meta. Here’s what today’s news means in context.

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tvOS 26 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models, but some of the new features are only available on newer models.


The new Liquid Glass design with shimmery app icons and see-through elements is only visible on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).


tvOS 26 takes Apple Music Sing a step further by allowing you to use your iPhone as a wireless microphone, with your voice amplified through the TV's speakers. However, this functionality is limited to the latest Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).



tvOS 26 is currently available as a developer beta. The update will be released later this year.
This article, "These tvOS 26 Features Are Only Available on Newer Apple TV Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside hundreds in savings on iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 units, today’s best deals are all about the Mac. Joining some relatively rare deals on the latest M4 Max Mac Studio models at $200 off, the most affordable M4 Mac mini has now hit a new all-time low at $469 shipped – that’s $130 off the going rate. We also have an even lower price on the base model 13-inch M4 MacBook Air at $829 shipped from the usual $999 list price, a series of charging gear, ecobee smart thermostats, portable SSDs, and more. 

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In iOS 17 and later, Apple includes an accessibility setting that makes the haptic feedback feature activate faster than in previous versions of its mobile operating system. If you fondly hearken back for the days of 3D Touch, you might just prefer it.


As many iPhone users might remember, ‌3D Touch‌ was an interactive haptic feature that Apple introduced in 2015 with the ‌iPhone‌ 6s. When the iPhone XR was released in 2018, Apple kiboshed 3D Touch‌ to the dismay of some users, and instead implemented the simplified ‌Haptic Touch, which offers less functionality‌.

‌3D Touch‌ supported multiple levels of pressure for different interactions depending on how hard you pressed, with Apple implementing "Peek and Pop" gestures. In contrast, ‌Haptic Touch‌ supports just a single level of pressure for the long press gesture.

‌Haptic Touch‌ has always worked slower than ‌3D Touch‌ because of the two levels of pressure that ‌3D Touch‌ allowed for. The first ‌3D Touch‌ pressure level activated quickly when pressing on the display, so those who became used to ‌3D Touch‌ may have found the ‌Haptic Touch‌ replacement to be too sluggish.

The good news is that setting ‌Haptic Touch‌ to the Fast option makes a noticeable difference in how quick haptic menus pop up under the finger when an icon or on-screen element is long pressed. The speed brings ‌Haptic Touch‌ interactions closer to 3D Touch interactions. Here's how to enable it on iPhones running iOS 17 and newer.

1. Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility.


2. Under "Physical and Motor," tap Touch.


3. Tap Haptic Touch.


4. Select from Fast, Default, and Slow. Note that when you select a speed, you can test it using the flower image on the same screen.

It's still not entirely clear why Apple got rid of ‌3D Touch. Some have argued that it suffered from a lack of discoverability, similar to the Apple Watch's Force Touch functionality, which suffered the same fate. Others have speculated that Apple eliminated it in order to bring gesture parity to the ‌iPhone‌ and the iPad. Either way, the change allowed Apple to remove the capacitive layer that used to be integrated into every ‌‌iPhone‌‌ display.
This article, "iPhone Long Press Too Slow? Speed Up Haptic Touch in Seconds" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As more users start relying on AI for writing tasks like email drafts and document summaries, one common frustration remains: the output often sounds way too generic. Even when models like ChatGPT or Gemini are given detailed prompts, they rarely nail a user’s individual tone or voice without plenty of manual tweaking. Apple is now proposing a solution.

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Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at record low prices, starting at $469.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $150 off in these sales, and this time around there isn't a discount on the M4 Pro model.

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.

In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a new record low price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.00, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $849.00, down from $999.00.





Apple updated the Mac mini back in October 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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 Up to $150 Off M4 Mac Mini With New All-Time Low Prices" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A bit of sad news for old iPods: Macs might be losing FireWire support.


The first macOS Tahoe developer beta does not support the legacy FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 data-transfer standards, according to @NekoMichi on X, and a Reddit post. As a result, the first few iPod models and old external storage drives that rely on FireWire cannot be synced with or mounted on a Mac running the macOS Tahoe beta.

Unlike on macOS Sequoia and earlier versions, the first macOS Tahoe beta does not include a FireWire section in the System Settings app.

Of course, this could all end up being a false alarm. It is still early in the macOS Tahoe beta testing cycle, and FireWire support could return in a later beta version, or in time for the final release. We reached out to Apple for comment about the matter shortly before publishing this story, and we will update this story if we hear back.

FireWire was primarily developed by Apple, but it was later standardized as IEEE 1394 and licensed for use in non-Apple devices.

iPods started to transition from FireWire to USB for data transfer in 2003, so the standard is very outdated, but it would still be the end of an era if macOS Tahoe drops it. The last Mac with a FireWire port was released in 2012, so connecting older iPods and FireWire drives to newer Macs has long required the use of adapters.
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You know it’s a day that ends in “y” when there’s a new App Store lawsuit. This time, the issue isn’t antitrust or developer rejection complaints, but rather a class action accusing Apple of facilitating the spread of cryptocurrency scams by allowing a fake trading app onto the App Store. Here’s what happened.

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This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: Siri’s AI upgrade timing, iPhone Fold updates, AirPods Pro 3 delays, and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

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Johny Srouji, Apple’s top chip executive revealed recently in a private event that the company is exploring the use of generative AI to help speed up the design process for its custom silicon. Here’s what he said, as reported by Reuters.

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As expected, Apple lowered its iPhone trade-in values in the U.S. and select other countries today, following the end of a limited-time promotion that ran through June 18.


In the U.S., the maximum estimated trade-in values decreased by $5 to $30, with the full changes in that country outlined below.

iPhone Model	New Values	Old Values
iPhone 15 Pro Max	Up to $630	Up to $650
iPhone 15 Pro	Up to $500	Up to $520
iPhone 15 Plus	Up to $440	Up to $450
iPhone 15	Up to $400	Up to $410
iPhone 14 Pro Max	Up to $455	Up to $460
iPhone 14 Pro	Up to $380	Up to $400
iPhone 14 Plus	Up to $300	Up to $310
iPhone 14	Up to $290	Up to $300
iPhone SE (3rd generation)	Up to $100	Up to $120
iPhone 13 Pro Max	Up to $370	Up to $380
iPhone 13 Pro	Up to $300	Up to $310
iPhone 13	Up to $250	Up to $270
iPhone 13 mini	Up to $200	Up to $210
iPhone 12 Pro Max	Up to $280	Up to $300
iPhone 12 Pro	Up to $220	Up to $250
iPhone 12	Up to $170	Up to $200
iPhone 12 mini	Up to $120	Up to $130
iPhone SE (2nd generation)	Up to $50	Up to $60
iPhone 11 Pro Max	Up to $180	Up to $200
iPhone 11 Pro	Up to $150	Up to $160
iPhone 11	Up to $130	Up to $150
iPhone XS Max	Up to $120	Up to $130
iPhone XS	Up to $90	Up to $95
iPhone XR	Up to $100	Up to $105
iPhone X	Up to $60	Up to $65
iPhone 8 Plus	Up to $60	Up to $65
iPhone 8	Up to $45	Up to $50

iPhone trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. Visit the trade-in page on Apple's website to learn more.
This article, "Apple Lowers iPhone Trade-In Values as Limited-Time Promotion Ends" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The privacy-focused web browser DuckDuckGo has boosted its anti-scam features. It can now detect and block fake ecommerce stores, crypto sites, virus alerts, and more.

The new security feature is completely free for all users on both Mac and iOS browsers, with no Privacy Pro subscription needed …

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Apple developed a custom camera system using iPhone components to capture high-speed footage from Formula 1 cars for its upcoming feature film "F1: The Movie," WIRED reports. The project involved the replacement of standard F1 broadcast cameras with a bespoke module engineered around an ‌iPhone‌ camera sensor and powered by an A-series chip.



Filmmakers reportedly insisted on capturing authentic driver-perspective racing footage using real Formula 1 vehicles, but the constraints of F1 car design, such as aerodynamics, weight, and safety, made it impossible to mount a traditional Hollywood cinema camera. While standard onboard cameras used in live F1 race broadcasts are suitable for television, they are not designed to meet the visual standards required for film production.

As a result, Apple's engineering team was tasked with designing a new camera system that could meet the technical requirements of Formula 1 and the modern filmmaking needs. The ultimate module does not resemble an ‌iPhone‌ in any way, was engineered to fit into the exact same space as the official F1 broadcast camera modules, and designed to match their weight in order to comply with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regulations. The unit was also tested for resistance to shock, heat, and vibration, exceeding the durability specifications of standard F1 broadcast equipment.

The module uses the 48-megapixel image sensor from the iPhone 15 Pro, paired with an Apple A-series processor believed to be the A17 Pro. It is able to capture high-resolution video in ProRes Log format, providing the production team with significantly more control over dynamic range and color grading. Apple also integrated a physical neutral density (ND) filter into the lens system, enabling better exposure control in the variable and high-intensity lighting conditions typical of daytime races.

It runs a custom version of iOS with firmware built specifically for this use-case. Apple says that this firmware directly informed new features introduced in the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, including the addition of Log encoding and support for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflow.

Because F1 regulations prohibit onboard radio transmitters or wireless systems, Apple also developed an iPad app to serve as a wired control interface for the camera. Filmmakers were able to connect the ‌iPad‌ to the module via USB-C and adjust recording parameters such as ISO, shutter angle, white balance, frame rate, and start/stop functions as required. The footage was recorded locally on the module and later extracted.

Apple's "F1: The Movie" opens internationally on June 25 and in U.S. theaters and IMAX on June 27.
This article, "Apple Built a Custom Camera With iPhone Parts for 'F1: The Movie'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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YouTube is deliberately slowing video loading for users with ad blockers enabled, in what appears to be an escalation in Google's campaign against ad-blocking extensions.


Multiple users across Reddit and the Brave browser forum report videos displaying black screens for the typical duration of pre-roll ads before content begins playing. The video player simultaneously shows a pop-up ("Experiencing interruptions? Find out why") with a link directing users to a Google support page about disabling ad-blocking extensions, suggesting the slowdowns are intentional.

The recent crackdown is a shift from YouTube's previous tactics of simply displaying warning messages or blocking video playback entirely. The new approach inserts artificial delays that mirror the time you would spend watching advertisements, basically forcing the same annoying time investment, whether ads are blocked or not.

It looks like specific user accounts previously flagged for ad-blocking behavior are being targeted, potentially bypassing detection methods that extension developers typically use to counter YouTube's measures. PCWorld confirmed the behavior using uBlock Origin Lite, while Brave browser users report similar experiences despite the browser's built-in ad-blocking capabilities.


This latest move suggests YouTube is prepared to significantly degrade the user experience for non-paying users who refuse to view advertisements or subscribe to the $13.99 monthly YouTube Premium service, which offers an ad-free experience, offline downloads, and background playback.

For what it's worth, YouTube recently introduced a Premium Lite plan for $7.99/month that removes ads for most videos, excluding music content, Shorts, and when you search or browse.
This article, "YouTube's Latest Move Against Ad Blockers: Video Delays" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anker and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a product recall for a popular power bank due to a fire safety risk …

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As spotted by Sigmund Judge, Apple is continuing its marketing blitz for F1: The Movie, which lands at the box office on June 27 and will stream on Apple TV+ later in the year.

Apple is certainly going out of its way to push awareness of the film. We’ve already seen Apple release a special haptic trailer, kickoff WWDC with a F1 sketch, Tim Cook and Brad Pitt made a surprise appearance at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store at the weekend, among many other media interviews. And today, it has expanded the pool of Apple Immersive content with a new Hot Lap Immersive instalment, available now in the TV app on Apple Vision Pro.

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Security researchers have discovered what they describe as “one of the largest data breaches in history,” comprising a staggering 16 billion logins, which include Apple accounts (formerly known as Apple IDs).

The researchers said that the stolen data gives cybercriminals “unprecedented access to personal credentials that can be used for account takeover, identity theft, and highly targeted phishing” …

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Apple is investigating generative AI to accelerate its custom chip design, according to remarks by hardware chief Johny Srouji last month.


Srouji outlined the company's interest in AI-assisted chip design during a speech in Belgium, where he received an award from semiconductor research group Imec. Reuters was able to review a recording of his remarks.

"Generative AI techniques have a high potential in getting more design work in less time, and it can be a huge productivity boost," Srouji said. He also talked about the role of electronic design automation companies like Cadence and Synopsys, which he said are "critical in supporting our chip design complexities." Both companies are said to be racing to integrate AI into their chip design software.

The news comes as Apple faces scrutiny over its perceived lag in consumer-facing AI. While competitors like Google and OpenAI have dominated headlines, Apple Intelligence has struggled to match rival offerings. Srouji's comments suggest Apple may be taking a more holistic approach – leveraging AI behind the scenes for chip development rather than focusing solely on user-facing features.

During his speech, Srouji traced Apple's silicon journey from the first A4 chip in 2010 to today's processors, and took time to underline Apple's bold decision-making during the 2020 Mac transition from Intel to Apple Silicon.

"Moving the Mac to Apple Silicon was a huge bet for us," he explained. "There was no backup plan, no split-the lineup plan, so we went all in, including a monumental software effort."

By all accounts, the transition was an unqualified success, bringing dramatic gains in performance-per-watt, battery life, thermal efficiency, and software compatibility achieved by Apple's M-series chips.

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Apple won't change the display size of next year's iPhone 18 Pro models, but they'll still look pretty different to what we've generally become accustomed to, rumors are increasingly suggesting.


Weibo-based Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station today said that Apple will stick with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays (rounded up) for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, respectively. For context, those are the display sizes of the current iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and Apple is not expected to change the dimensions for this year's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro devices either.

Despite the unchanged sizes, the leaker corroborated two major revisions to the screens: Apple will move the scanning technology for Face ID under the display, and leave just a pinhole for the front-facing camera as the only obstruction to the on-screen content.

The leaker is corroborating what has previously been reported by display industry analyst Ross Young and The Information. One additional detail the latter publication has revealed is worth noting: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will position the pinhole to accommodate the front-facing camera in the top-left corner of the screen.

The same report said the devices will no longer have a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen, but it is unclear if the Dynamic Island will be discontinued.

In terms of other rumored features, the 48 MP primary rear camera may gain a variable aperture, allowing users manual control over aperture size – enhancing depth-of-field flexibility beyond the fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture used today. This rumor is attributed to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple could also introduce Samsung's advanced three-layer stacked sensor for improved responsiveness, lower noise, and better dynamic range, marking a possible shift away from Apple's use of Sony-only sensors, claims DigiTimes. The technology is called "PD-TR-Logic," according to a leaker known as "Jukanlosreve", and it refers to a camera sensor with three layers of circuitry affixed to it.

According to Kuo, a jump from 8GB to 12GB RAM is additionally expected, which aligns with rumors that both iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air will adopt 12GB. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four current iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.

It is also said that the next-gen C2 modem – Apple's follow-up to the C1 – will debut in the iPhone 18 Pro, according to analyst Jeff Pu. This will likely offering mmWave support in the US and improved speed and efficiency.

Lastly, per Kuo, Apple's A20 Pro chip will be built on TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm process (N2), providing around 15% performance boost and 30% better power efficiency over the 3nm A19 series that is expected to be used in the iPhone 17 series.

All in all, the upgrades reflect pretty significant camera, display, performance, and connectivity enhancements coming in 2026. Still, if you're a stickler for the current iPhone 16 Pro screen dimensions, then today's rumor should provide some gentle relief.
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Jeff and Fernando share their 1-week impressions with new Apple software, with a special focus on iPadOS 26.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring an Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

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Every year between 2015 and 2024, at least one Apple executive agreed to be interviewed by Daring Fireball's John Gruber for a special WWDC episode of his podcast, The Talk Show. Last year, for example, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, and top AI researcher John Giannandrea joined Gruber on stage at the California Theatre in San Jose to discuss Apple Intelligence and more.


That decade-long tradition abruptly came to an end last month, when Apple declined Gruber's invitation to speak for this year's special episode.

A few months prior to that, Gruber published a blog post that was heavily critical of Apple. In that piece, the well-known Apple pundit said that the company "pitched a story that wasn't true" at WWDC 2024, when it previewed a more personalized Siri that was not close to being ready and is now delayed. He said that the situation damaged Apple's credibility, and he expressed concern that it could be a sign of bigger problems inside the company.

Unsurprisingly, Apple did not like the commentary.

In the latest episode of the Channels podcast, Gruber told Business Insider's Peter Kafka that Apple was "not happy" about the blog post and felt it was unfair.

However, Gruber said Apple's absence was actually a net positive for him.

"I'm not trying to lack humility here — but I feel them deciding not to do my show this year is a total win for me and was a huge loss for them," he said.

Why does he believe that?

"I think it asserts my independence," he argued. "And I think more than making me look good, I think it makes them look bad."

For his WWDC 2025 episode, Gruber ended up interviewing The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and The Verge's Nilay Patel.


This article, "John Gruber Reacts to Apple Declining His Interview After His Criticism" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In its continued “Best Phones Forever” series, Google pokes a bit of fun at how many iOS 26 features are “inspired” by Pixel, while also teasing the Pixel 10.

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Fortnite returned to the U.S. App Store last month after a five year hiatus over litigation between Epic Games and Apple. As of today, however, Fortnite is as good as gone on iPhones and iPads running the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 beta.

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Apple's year-old iPhone Mirroring feature is still unavailable in the European Union, and it appears that will remain the case on macOS Tahoe.


During its WWDC 2025 developer conference last week, Apple told French tech website Numerama that iPhone Mirroring will remain unavailable in the European Union for now due to continued regulatory uncertainty there.

Apple did not elaborate, but it might be worried about the European Commission eventually forcing it to expand iPhone Mirroring to Windows, or requiring it to offer Android Mirroring on the Mac. In addition, Apple offering iPhone Mirroring on the Mac might contribute to the European Commission designating macOS as a "gatekeeper" platform like iOS and iPadOS, and that would subject the platform to stricter rules in the European Union.

Introduced on macOS Sequoia last year, iPhone Mirroring lets you interact with your iPhone in a window on your Mac's desktop, over a wireless connection. You can use your iPhone apps, receive your iPhone notifications, and more, right on your Mac.
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While more than 3.5 million people have spent the last couple of weeks glued to a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2, X user PatRyk (@Patrosi73) decided to invest their time elsewhere: trying to run iOS on the original Nintendo Switch. And they did it! Sort of.

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Meta today announced that passkey support has been added to Facebook, making it easier to sign in securely without a password. Passkeys are compatible with all Apple devices, so iPhones and iPads can use passkeys for Facebook logins instead of passwords.


Passkeys will be available on iOS devices "soon," with Meta rolling out support to Messenger in the coming months. The same passkey that's set up for Facebook will also work for Messenger when Messenger passkey support launches. Meta says that passkeys are only available on mobile devices for the time being, so logging in on a computer will still require a username and password.

Apple devices have supported passkeys as an alternative to traditional passwords since 2022, and websites have increasingly added support over the last several years. Passkeys use on-device authentication like Face ID or Touch ID for account verification instead of a password.

Passkeys are more secure than passwords, and protect users from phishing, malware, and other attacks that are aimed at getting access to online accounts. Passkeys work as a two-key authentication system where an on-device key must match an account key, and as the second key is on-device, there is no login information that can be stolen by a malicious person.

On Apple devices, passkeys are securely stored in the Passwords app, and they sync across all of your Apple products.

Meta says that users can set up a Facebook passkey by going to Accounts Center in the Settings menu and choosing the Passkey option under Password and Security. Users may also see a prompt to upgrade to a passkey when logging into Facebook.
This article, "Facebook Now Supports Passkeys for Passwordless Login on iPhone and iPad" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you’ve recently been experiencing YouTube crashes on your smartphone, Google has a fix in store — though iOS users might need to do a little more than update.

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Apple’s relationship with gaming on the Mac has always been… interesting. While the company has spent a fortune trying to frame the Mac as a proper gaming machine, gamers have yet to embrace it like Apple had hoped. But with Metal 4, announced at WWDC25, Apple is introducing two practical moves that could help more AAA games run even better on the Mac. Here’s what they are.

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Apple is teaming up with Fandango to offer Apple Pay users a special discount on upcoming Apple TV+ movie F1. When purchasing two or more tickets to F1 through Fandango using ‌Apple Pay‌, movie goers can get a $10 discount.


To get the deal, just enter promo code APPLEPAYTEN when checking out with ‌Apple Pay‌ on the Fandango website or the Fandango app. Discounted tickets are available today through June 29, but there are a limited number of tickets available at the lower price and it is first come, first served.

F1 is set to be released on June 27, and it is based on the Formula One World Championship. The movie stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a Formula One driver who is in a terrible crash that forces him to retire. He returns to racing as a mentor for hotshot rookie Joshua "Noah" Pearce, played by Damson Idris.

The film will also feature the 10 Formula One teams in the 2023 season and their drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Charles Leclerc.

Apple and distribution partner Warner Bros. Pictures have been heavily promoting F1, and it has seen more promotion than any other ‌Apple TV‌+ movie. Apple has been running ads on YouTube and on social media, and Apple CEO Tim Cook and Brad Pitt were at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue Store in New York to highlight the movie. Apple also added a guide to the Maps app that features well-known F1 racetracks, and Craig Federighi promoted the movie by driving a race car around Apple Park in Apple's WWDC opening video.

Formula One offered a unique advanced screening event, and some theaters are offering special F1 helmet popcorn buckets and themed drinks. Mercedes plans to sell a limited-edition AMG GT63 APXGP Edition road car from the film, with colors to match the fictional movie team's colors. EA Sports is adding movie-inspired gameplay chapters to its F1 25 video game, and luxury watch company IWC has released a $7,000 Pilot's Watch Chronograph APXGP (the team from the movie) inspired by the movie. Shark/Ninja released a whole line of appliances using the black and gold color scheme from the movie.

At the Met Gala, Tommy Hilfiger dressed F1 star Damson Idris in a tear-away fire suit featuring the APXGP team, which he ripped off to debut a Tommy Hilfiger Tuxedo. The reveal was popular on social media. Marriott is sending members offers for a premiere event in New York City, and Heineken is an official partner of the movie and is running ads promoting it.

Apple has also detailed how the movie was filmed using the iPhone. Apple's engineering team created a custom camera module using ‌iPhone‌ components that was meant to be mounted on Formula 1 cars during actual races. The special camera was designed to withstand extreme speeds and conditions while capturing racing footage for the film.

Part of the reason why F1: The Movie is seeing such heavy promotion is because it features significant brand placement because F1 is a sponsor-heavy sport. Some of the companies that are appearing in the film include KFC, EA Sports, IWC, Mercedes, Geico, Marriott, Expensify, MSC Cruises, Tommy Hilfiger, Shark/Ninja, and Heineken.
This article, "Apple Partners With Fandango For 'F1: The Movie' Ticket Discount" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple and Taylor Swift are each bigger successes today than ever before. 10 years ago though, they found themselves on opposite sides of a major issue that could have unraveled the successful launch of Apple Music. Here’s what happened.

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Applying for an Apple Card can score you some bonus money for a limited time.


Now through July 7, customers who apply for an Apple Card will receive $100 in extra Daily Cash when they spend $500 or more within the first 60 days of opening the account. You must apply for the Apple Card via the offer page to be eligible for the bonus.

The bonus is provided in addition to any regular Daily Cash that is earned. When paying with the Apple Card via Apple Pay, you can receive 3% back on purchases from Apple, Nike, Uber, Walgreens, and select other merchants in the U.S., and 2% back on all other purchases. When paying with the physical Apple Card, Daily Cash is limited to 1%.

It is common for credit cards to offer sign-up bonuses tied to minimum spending requirements, and there have been several Apple Card offers over the years.

Launched in 2019, Apple's credit card remains available in the U.S. only. The card can be managed in the Wallet app on the iPhone, with key benefits including color-coded spending summaries, no fees, and Daily Cash cash back paid out daily. Apple Card holders can also open a high-yield savings account, which currently offers a 3.65% APY.
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Apple’s free summer workshops for kids are back. Starting today, parents and guardians can register for this year’s edition of Apple Camp, which will run from June 21 through July 31 at Apple Store locations worldwide. See how to register and take home an exclusive T-shirt.

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Apple’s latest release in its long-running “Shot on iPhone” campaign is here, and this time it stars UK rapper and musician Stormzy in a cool new short film called Big Man. Watch it below, alongside an interesting behind-the-scenes video.

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Apple today shared a new short film in its ongoing Shot on iPhone series, this time using the latest iPhone 16 Pro model for filming purposes. The video, called "Big Man," stars British rapper Michael "Stormzy" Omari.


The mini movie features Stormzy as Tenzman, a washed-up, world-weary musician who runs into two joyful kids. The three embark on a journey that ultimately inspires Tenzman to make new music. The film was directed by Aneil Karia, known for Surge and The Long Goodbye.


An ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ site accompanying the film highlights features like Camera Control, the option to shoot in 4K at 120 frames per second, playback speed adjustments, Audio Mix, and more.
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MacStories' Federico Vittici, who is known for his focus on the iPad as a main computing device, recently did an interview with Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi. Federighi and Vittici did a deep dive into the ‌iPad‌ and the changes that are coming to iPadOS this fall.


Federighi said that figuring out multitasking on the ‌iPad‌ has been a multi-year task that's required experimentation.

"Figuring out what the right multitasking experience is for this device, and in all the ways that make it unique, has been something that I think deserved careful exploration", Federighi begins, after telling me that he's "on an iPad every day, all the time".

Apple wanted to ensure that users didn't have to worry about managing apps, and that led to the first implementation of Slide Over and Split View multitasking, which was limited. Federighi said ensuring that the ‌iPad‌'s simplicity and interactivity stays intact has always been "job one." Touch first experiences are "the non-negotiable in the whole thing," according to Federighi.

When Stage Manager came around as the next major multitasking change in 2022, Federighi said that the ‌iPad‌ and its OS were well-established and developers had a solid understanding that the ‌iPad‌ was distinct from the Mac, so Apple "felt a little more flexibility" to add multitasking options for those who wanted them.

Apple's long path toward more Mac-like multitasking features seems to reflect a fear that adding Mac capabilities to ‌iPad‌ would limit what developers might do on the ‌iPad‌. Federighi suggested that if the ‌iPad‌ had app menu bars to begin with, developers might have tucked functionality away, and Apple wanted to encourage a simpler experience.

"If iPad had had a menu bar from the beginning, like Mac did, app developers would naturally say, "Well, I think a lot of my functionality probably is only accessible via menu bar, right?", Federighi says. "Those affordances provide the set of constraints under which developers operate and dictate, to some degree, the nature of what gets created. And with iPad, by creating an environment that had very simplicity at its core, it meant the entire app ecosystem had all kinds of incredible design work done by so many developers to preserve the simplicity of that experience", he continues.

It has taken time for Apple to establish how people are using iPads, and the decision to update ‌iPad‌ multitasking in iPadOS 26 was made to meet the needs of different kinds of ‌iPad‌ users. There are some users who want a simple iPhone-like interface with a fully immersive, single window, but there are also ‌iPad‌ users who want more control and more functionality beyond the tablet interface. "We came to the point of saying, 'Let's recognize that audience,'" Federighi said. "I think we've been on a journey of finding the right interface for ‌iPad‌, along with our users," he said. "And I think it actually has been important that it's been considered a journey."

Federighi explained that with a new device and a different kind of user in mind, Apple needed to guard against the urge to "pull the old thing off the shelf and put it here because maybe that feels right." Instead, it was important to discover the "essence of ‌iPad‌," and what windowing might be like on a touch-first device if the Mac had never existed. Apple is now trying to strike a balance.

Apple has long been resistant to merging iPadOS and macOS, and Federighi used a spork analogy to explain why. Apple's aim is not to displace the Mac, and each device has a different purpose.

Someone said, "If a spoon's great, a fork's great, then let's combine them into a single utensil, right?" It turns out it's not a good spoon and it's not a good fork. It's a bad idea. And so we don't want to build sporks".

Federighi went on to say that while the ‌iPad‌ can be "inspired" by Mac elements, he does not believe that the ‌iPad‌ should run macOS.

Vittici's full interview with Federighi goes into much more detail, and it is well worth a read over at MacStories.
This article, "Craig Federighi Explains Why Apple Won't Merge iPad and Mac: 'We Don't Want to Build Sporks'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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macOS Tahoe 26, Apple's newest operating system for the Mac, is getting many of the same changes that are coming to iOS. That includes the Liquid Glass redesign, and the changes to apps like Messages, Safari, and Phone, an app that's new to the Mac this year. There's also a whole new Spotlight system that's pretty neat, so we thought we'd do a quick overview so you can see it in action.


Liquid Glass on the Mac looks a lot like it does on the iPhone, which was Apple's goal. Apple wanted more design and navigation parity between operating systems, so mission accomplished?

The menu bar is now invisible so there's more available display space at the top of your Mac, and the icons use the same stacked glass look. You can also turn on an all-glass design for the icons, or use iPhone-style tints for the first time. Control Center has the Liquid Glass design, plus it's more customizable, along with the menu bar.

Toolbars, sidebars, and buttons have a more rounded look and a Liquid Glass aesthetic. Folders can be customized with colors and emoji, which makes them stand out more.

Spotlight got a major overhaul, and you can now use it to do just about anything on your Mac. It supports actions, so you can send emails and messages without ever opening up an app. Spotlight also incorporates a list of all of your apps plus a clipboard manager that keeps track of what you've copied and pasted. You can get to Spotlight's features with the Command Key and 1, 2, 3, or 4, and you can launch actions with short little phrases like SE for send email.

Several ‌iPhone‌ apps are now available on the Mac, including Phone and Journal. You can make calls with the Phone app through your ‌iPhone‌, and it even supports the new Hold Assist and Call Screening features. There's an all-new Games app that houses all your Mac games and helps you find new content, and a Magnifier app that lets you use your ‌iPhone‌ to zoom in on text so you can view it on your Mac.

macOS Tahoe is in beta right now, so some of these features could change, and Apple could add new capabilities. The beta is currently limited to developers, but a public beta is set to come in July. macOS Tahoe will launch in September.
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iPadOS 26 is in many ways the major update that iPad power users have been asking for. And in a new interview at MacStories, software chief Craig Federighi explains why the iPad shouldn’t run macOS, how iPadOS 26 came to fruition, and more.

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Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a few days after Apple provided the betas to developers.


Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update.

When the developer betas came out earlier this week, we didn't find any notable new features. Apple initially planned to release Apple Intelligence in China in the iOS 18.6 beta, but that plan may have been delayed due to ongoing regulatory issues.

We don't know what's in iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, but the updates seem to focus on smaller changes and bug fixes.

Apple is also beta testing iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, and while betas are limited to developers right now, a public beta will be coming in July.
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Apple’s Wallet app is getting one step closer to actually replacing your physical wallet, thanks to a new iOS 26 feature that’s available for all saved credit and debit cards.

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Apple supplier Foxconn is expected to officially start producing Apple's foldable iPhone late in the third quarter of 2025 (late September), or early in the fourth quarter (October), Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Apple plans to launch the device in the fall of 2026 as part of the iPhone 18 lineup.


Though the September/October 2025 timeline is fast approaching, Kuo says that many component specifications have not yet been finalized. What is finished, though, is the foldable display, which will be produced by Samsung Display.

Rumors suggest that the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will feature a display that's around 5.5 inches when closed, and 7.8 inches when opened up. It will fold in half like a book, similar to the Galaxy Fold devices, rather than the Galaxy Flip.

The foldable ‌iPhone‌ could be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded, and 9 to 9.5mm when it's closed, which would make it incredibly thin when used in its full-screen mode. Apple put considerable effort into hinge design, and the device is expected to have almost no visible crease. It will use under-display cameras, though it may feature some kind of Touch ID authentication feature rather than Face ID due to space constraints. It will, of course, be expensive. In the past, Kuo has said he expects Apple to price the foldable ‌iPhone‌ at $2,000 to $2,500, and that was before Apple was facing steep tariffs in China.

Kuo expects that Samsung Display will produce around seven to eight million foldable panels for the foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, with Apple placing an order for 15 to 20 million total foldable iPhones. Kuo suspects that the 15 to 20 million foldable devices will last Apple two to three years, with demand somewhat limited due to the cost of the smartphone.

Right now, rumors suggest that Apple is aiming for a fall 2026 launch, but Kuo warns that Apple's plans "remain subject to change" prior to when the project officially reaches the production stage.
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Ming-Chi Kuo is out with an update today on Apple’s highly-anticipated foldable iPhone. According to the analyst, Foxconn is set to “kick off the project” later this year in late Q3 or early Q4. At this time, however, many of the component specifications for the foldable iPhone “have yet to be finalized.”

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Back in December, OpenAI launched its ChatGPT WhatsApp contact as part of its “12 Days of OpenAI” holiday announcements. And while this version of the chatbot is still more limited than what you get on the web or desktop, it is rolling out a useful new trick: image generation.

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Apple today announced that registration for its annual summer camp for kids will open today.


Apple Camp will run from June 21 through July 31 this year at Apple Store locations around the world. A part of the broader Today at Apple program, the camp offers free creative programming to children ages 6-10, with parent or guardian attendance required. This year, families can learn how to make movies on an iPad using the iMovie app.

Apple's description of the Direct Your Own Friendship Film on iPad session:

In this 90-minute experience, kids and their families are invited to explore the magic of filmmaking on iPad with iMovie. Kids will collaborate as they direct, film, edit and more to make a friendship film that celebrates how we're better when we come together. This year, campers will be split into two groups and will learn how to record video and use iMovie on iPad to create a story together inspired by friendship. The groups will use the iPad to film scenes to create a movie. They will then use the iMovie app to edit their movies and learn how to add fun sound effects, transitions, slow motion, and more.

All children will take home an Apple Camp shirt, which has been redesigned this year and is now made from 100% recycled materials, according to Apple.

The 90-minute sessions are entirely free of charge, and Apple will provide children with an iPad to use during the sessions.
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Once again, Apple has launched a new Apple Card sign up bonus for a limited time. Apple Card typically doesn’t come with a sign up bonus, but from time to time – Apple will launch these special offers through social media campaigns and targeted emails.

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Hold that train! The latest Apple Arcade ad shared today features SpongeBob SquarePants, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, and many other popular characters, who are all quickly trying to board a departing train at a station.


The idea behind the ad is that Apple Arcade provides you with access to hundreds of games on the go, right on your iPhone, with a single subscription.

"Bring hundreds of games with you," says Apple. "Fun for all. All on iPhone."

Accessible through the App Store, Apple Arcade is a subscription-based service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, all free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.

Apple Arcade is also prominently featured in Apple's new Games app.
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Apple has teamed up with a handful of accessory makers to offer chargers, stands, cases, power banks, cables, and more in fun new color options, like Teal, Coral, and Deep Purple. The splash of color arrives just in time for summer in many countries.


The new color options are available exclusively from Apple, both online and for in-store pickup.

Participating brands include Anker, Belkin, Herschel, Mophie, Nimble, PopSockets, SanDisk, Satechi, Scosche, Tech21, and Twelve South.

Here are some examples:

• Nimble Wally Stretch 65W Wall Charger — Teal


• Twelve South Curve Mini Stand — Multicolor


• Anker MagGo Power Bank (5K, Slim) — Coral


• Satechi Magnetic Wallet Stand — Deep Purple/Teal


• Scosche WatchIt Keychain Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger — Coral

This article, "Apple Begins Selling Wide Range of Accessories in Fun Summer Colors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While we have some hangover offers on iPads and AirPods, today’s best deals are all about the Mac. The Mac mini deals roll on at up to $150 off, but today we are focused on a new all-time low hitting the 24GB 15-inch M4 MacBook Air at $200 off and a series of MacBook Pro offers. Amazon has now dropped the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro down to $1,399, or $200 off the list price, to join some ongoing offers on higher-end configurations. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple doesn’t report sales numbers anymore, but analysts estimate the company sells hundreds of millions of new iPhones every year. While many 9to5Mac readers may buy new models for features like camera upgrades or Apple Intelligence, new data reveals very different motivations for the vast majority of buyers.

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tvOS 26 is the next big update coming to Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. But while the update isn’t officially dropping support for any older Apple TV hardware, two of the biggest new features will have limited availability, requiring newer models.

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When Apple finished its iPadOS 26 section of WWDC, I was in awe. It felt as if my child was all grown up. They added nearly every feature I ever wanted to the iPad and iPadOS. They made the iPad feel brand new with a simple OS update and finally made it feel like a Mac! Here are some of the best features that truly make the iPad feel more like a Mac.

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A recent WWDC session might be yet another hint Apple slipped in plain sight for its long-rumored smart home display. While it obviously doesn’t mention the upcoming device, it’s hard to watch and not think about how these elements might behave on something like the so-called HomePad.

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One of the key changes to Safari on iOS 26 is a redesigned Liquid Glass address bar, with three layouts available to choose from. Beyond that, the upcoming software update includes a few smaller changes for the web browser.

Web Apps For All Websites

Starting with iOS 26, every website added to the Home Screen via Safari opens as a web app, even if it is not configured to be. On earlier iOS versions, websites that were not configured to open as a web app would open in Safari, meaning that the Home Screen app icons for those websites were effectively just bookmarks.


Users can turn off "Open as Web App" while adding a website to the Home Screen if they prefer the app icons to still function as simple bookmarks.

This change also applies to iPadOS 26.

HDR Images

Safari now supports HDR images, five years after the browser gained support for HDR video.

HDR images have wider dynamic range and increased color gamut, making bright areas of the image appear brighter and dark areas appear darker.

This change applies across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and visionOS 26.

SVG Icons

Safari now supports the SVG file format for icons anywhere that they are shown in the browser, including in the bookmark bar and on the start page.

SVG icons have smaller file sizes than PNG icons, and they offer infinite vector scaling, meaning they can be resized without any loss in image quality.

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Even more changes coming to Safari across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and visionOS 26 were outlined in a WebKit blog post last week.

iOS 26 and the other software updates are currently in beta.
This article, "Safari Changes on iOS 26 Go Beyond the Address Bar" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The new Spotlight is easily my favorite macOS announcement from WWDC25. It may even be my favorite update across all of Apple’s platforms this year. Still, I don’t plan on abandoning my current clipboard manager. Here’s why.

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Apple has made the first macOS Tahoe developer beta available for testing before its official release in the fall, but don't be fooled into thinking only developers can download it. Keep reading to learn whether you should install it on your Mac, and if so, how to go about it.


Getting access to the macOS Tahoe developer beta is simple, and can be done by registering your Apple Account with the Apple Developer program. The extra steps you need to complete to install the software on your Mac are provided towards the end of this article, but before you jump ahead, here are a few things worth considering.

Should I Install the macOS Tahoe Developer Beta?

With macOS Tahoe, Apple introduces a major redesign for the platform with the all-new Liquid Glass interface, along with a host of new features. These include the Phone app on Mac, powerful new Spotlight actions, further Apple Intelligence integration, a dedicated Games app, and customizable backgrounds in Messages. Live Activities from iPhone also make their way to your Mac's menu bar, which now has a fully customizable Control Center. With so many additions and a striking visual update, it's no surprise that macOS Tahoe is generating a lot of interest among Mac users.

But before you commit, bear in mind that Apple does not recommend installing macOS developer beta updates on your main Mac. Remember, this is beta software, which means there are almost certainly bugs and issues that can prevent software from working properly or cause other problems with the system. Indeed, one of the reasons that Apple releases the beta to developers early is so that they can feed back problems and help Apple debug them. If you have a spare Mac hanging around, by all means use that, but we would be the first to advise holding off until at least July, when the macOS Tahoe public beta is expected to drop.

Is My Mac Supported?

macOS Tahoe is compatible with the following Mac models, according to Apple:

• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)


• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)


• MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)


• MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)


• iMac (2020 and later)


• Mac mini (2020 and later)


• Mac Studio (2022 and later)


• Mac Pro (2019 and later)

macOS Tahoe officially drops support for the following Macs (earlier models than those shown are also not supported):

• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)


• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)


• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)


• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)


• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)


• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)


• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)


• iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019)


• iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019)


• iMac Pro (2017)


• Mac mini (2018)

Don't Forget to Back Up Your Mac

Be sure to back up your Mac using Time Machine before installing the software using the method, otherwise you won't be able to revert back to the previous version of macOS if things go wrong.

How to Install macOS Tahoe Developer Beta

1. If you haven't already, register your Apple Account with the Apple Developer Program (it's free) over at developer.apple.com.


2. Open System Settings on your Mac and select General ➝ Software Update.


3. Look for "Beta Updates" and click the info (i) symbol next to it.
   
   
4. Choose macOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta from the dropdown list.
   
   
5. Click Upgrade Now to begin the update process to macOS 26.
   

That's all you need to do. The installation process will complete just like a standard macOS update, so sit back and let the installation finish, after which your Mac will boot directly into the macOS Tahoe beta.
This article, "How to Install the macOS Tahoe Developer Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you’ve recently been experiencing YouTube crashes on your smartphone, Google has a fix in store — though iOS users might need to do a little more than update.

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Today we're tracking a collection of discounts on Apple's M4 MacBook Pro at Amazon, including as much as $400 off select models of the computer. Most of these deals represent solid second-best prices on each model.

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.

Deals include both 14-inch and 16-inch models, and the biggest savings will be found on the latter group. The steepest discount is on the 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max 48GB RAM/1TB), available for $3,599.00, down from $3,999.00. Most of the computers in this sale have estimated delivery dates before the end of June.



For the 14-inch models, you'll find up to $320 off these computers on Amazon this week. You can get the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/512GB) for $1,399.00, down from $1,599.00, available in both Silver and Space Black.

14-inch MacBook Pro

• M4 10-Core/16GB RAM/512GB - $1,399.00 ($200 off)


• M4 10-Core/24GB RAM/1TB - $1,759.00 ($240 off)


• M4 Pro 12-Core/24GB RAM/512GB - $1,749.00 ($250 off)


• M4 Pro 14-Core/24GB RAM/1TB - $2,149.00 ($250 off)


• M4 Max 14-Core/36GB RAM/1TB - $2,879.00 ($320 off)

16-inch MacBook Pro

• M4 Pro 14-Core/24GB RAM/512GB - $2,229.00 ($270 off)


• M4 Pro 14-Core/48GB RAM/512GB - $2,599.00 ($300 off)


• M4 Max 14-Core/36GB RAM/1TB - $3,149.00 ($350 off)


• M4 Max 16-Core/48GB RAM/1TB - $3,599.00 ($400 off)

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

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This article, "Get Up to $400 Off M4 MacBook Pro on Amazon, Starting at $1,399" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It’s turning out to be a huge year for CarPlay, surprising many of us after years of middling updates. Among the host of new CarPlay features coming in iOS 26, there’s a key fix for what’s long been the most annoying Messages issue for me: the lack of tapbacks support.

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If you’re a fan of retro Sega games – or just think you might be – you’ll want to download nine of them to your iPhone before they are discontinued …

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Satechi’s latest SSD enclosure, the USB4 Slim NVMe SSD Enclosure, lets you add up to 8TB of SSD storage to any Mac – though it is specifically styled to make the perfect addition to an M4 Mac mini. You can currently save $20 to pick one up for $99.

The company says the design is inspired by a now-elderly form of storage: the Apple USB SuperDrive, a now-discontinued external CD and DVD drive …

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Apple will face a proposed class action lawsuit in California federal court over allegations that iCloud unlawfully monopolizes iPhone users' access to core device backups, following a judge's decision to deny the company's motion to dismiss the case (via Reuters).


Earlier this week, the Northern District of California ruled that plaintiffs had sufficiently amended their complaint to move forward with antitrust claims in light of "substantial new allegations." The lawsuit was originally filed in March 2024 and alleges that Apple effectively forces consumers to use ‌iCloud‌ for backing up ‌iPhone‌ data while restricting third-party cloud services from providing comparable functionality, with wired backups being the only other option.

While Apple permits third-party services to back up user data such as photos, videos, and documents, the company does not allow them to access certain system-level items, including device settings, app configurations, and encrypted keychains. The plaintiffs seek to certify a nationwide class of potentially tens of millions of ‌iCloud‌ subscribers, arguing that Apple's system effectively coerces users into subscribing to its paid storage tiers.

Apple provides all users with 5GB of free ‌iCloud‌ storage. For many users, this allocation is insufficient for full-device backups. Paid plans begin at $0.99 per month for 50GB in the United States. Attorneys for the plaintiffs claim that the restricted access to full backup functionality compels users to purchase ‌iCloud‌ subscriptions, resulting in overcharges that violate U.S. competition law.

In its motion to dismiss, Apple argued that the need to use ‌iCloud‌ for backups was shaped by privacy and security considerations. The company said that the restrictions on access to sensitive files were intentional and rooted in the need to protect users' personal information. Apple also contended that the case was time-barred, as plaintiffs must generally bring federal antitrust claims within four years of the alleged violation.

Apple is required to file a formal response to the complaint by July 7, 2025. See the full court order for more information.
This article, "Apple Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over iCloud Backups" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Talk about “shot on iPhone”. For its upcoming F1 movie, Apple tasked its engineers with building a custom camera module, using iPhone parts, to replace the onboard cameras that are used for F1 live race broadcasts. Here’s a closer look at the rig.

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At its big software event last week, Apple officially announced that support for was coming to the Apple Vision Pro headset, along with other six-degrees-of-freedom spatial controller accessories. This is in addition to the Vision Pro’s primary input methods of eye and hand tracking.

While interest in support for PSVR2 will no doubt center on gaming possibilities, Nathie on YouTube has given us a great first look at how interacting with visionOS works with PSVR2 controllers in hand …

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One of the likely challenges of the upcoming iPhone 17 Air is battery life. Indeed, Apple’s own tests reportedly show that a lot of us wouldn’t make it through the day with the ultra-slim model.

The company may have a fix for that in the works, in the form of a new power-efficient display upgrade. But Apple isn’t expected to incorporate the new tech before 2027 at the earliest …

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Google has announced four Maps updates across Europe designed to reduce reliance on driving and promote sustainable transportation choices.


Google says it's expanding its AI-powered alternative transport suggestions to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, and additional cities in the coming months. The feature predicts when walking or transit will match driving times, which aims to help users avoid car trips entirely.

Meanwhile, cyclists this summer are getting enhanced route details in 17 new European cities, including Hamburg, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, and Brussels. The updates show dedicated bike lanes alongside existing warnings about traffic and steep hills, covering 125,000 kilometers of cycling infrastructure globally.

For necessary car journeys, Google says its fuel-efficient routing is now live worldwide. The company estimates this feature alone prevented 2.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, which is equivalent to removing over 630,000 cars from roads for a year.

The final update tackles low-emission zones and low-traffic zones. Over the coming months, Google says it will expand alerts for restricted areas to over 1,000 zones across Europe, including Italy, Sweden, and Austria. The notifications mean it's possible for drivers to check vehicle eligibility and find alternative routes when needed.

• Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?

Since the end of March when Apple released iOS 18.4, iPhone users in the EU have been able to set Google Maps as their default navigation app, completely replacing Apple Maps. If you count yourself among them, perhaps the upcoming updates will improve your travels on the continent this summer.
This article, "Google Maps Unveils 4 Major Updates for European Commuters" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you ever need to transcribe audio or video to text, most current apps are powered by OpenAI’s Whisper model. You’re probably using this model if you use apps like MacWhisper to transcribe meetings or lectures, or to generate subtitles for YouTube videos.

But iOS 26 and Apple’s other developer betas include the company’s own transcription frameworks – and a test suggests that they match Whisper’s accuracy while running at more than twice the speed …

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