Apple is set to discontinue support for the older version of its HomeKit architecture, meaning that users will be forced to upgrade with the release of iOS 18.4.


On Monday, Apple released the third developer beta of iOS 18.4. While the operating system itself doesn't include any surface-level changes, its code indicates that a significant change could soon affect users of the Apple Home app.

Back in November 2022, with the launch of iOS 16.2, Apple introduced an updated version of its HomeKit architecture, which delivered significant speed and performance upgrades for HomeKit accessories. The new and improved HomeKit architecture caused problems for some users, which is why it was withdrawn in December 2022 and re-introduced in February 2023 with the release of iOS 16.4.


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On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we dive into more Amazon hardware arriving this fall, a leaked sensor from Ikea, evidence of Apple's smart home display, and the delay of Apple's next-gen Siri.


As Apple's smart home plans remain in flux, code discovered in tvOS 18.4 reveal Apple has added support for ChatKit. This is a framework used for Messages, currently unused on Apple TV.

As the new smart display is rumored to run on tvOS, it makes sense this would be added to support messaging. We also talk about the next-gen Siri, and whether it is necessary for Apple's product to release.


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It's been a while since we've seen a dramatic overhaul on any of Apple's operating systems, but we could see the biggest ones in years as soon as WWDC.


Apple is gearing up to overhaul its operating systems in hopes of making its platforms more cohesive. The idea is that the change should make the platforms feel familiar to people coming from one device to another.

The new updates are expected to come later in 2025 according to Bloomberg. Apple will update its icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons.


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Once again, Apple will be facing fines from the European Union for breaking Digital Markets Act rules, but the fines will probably be "modest" and far from the maximum penalty.


Practically since the introduction of the Digital Markets Act, concerns have been raised that Apple and its App Store will face being fined under the law, following various probes into its activities. Now, it seems Apple may face its first actual penalty under the rules.

Apple and Meta are expected to be hit by fines for breaking DMA rules, a source of Reuters claims. The actual size of the fines have not been determined yet, but they are expected to be "modest" in size.


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Apple's third developer beta round for the current generatioh of updates is out, with new builds of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, tvOS 18.4, watchOS 11.4, and visionOS 2.4 set for testing.


The new third beta round follows after the second for iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, tvOS 18.4, watchOS 11.4, and visionOS 2.4, which Apple introduced on March 3. The first round appeared on February 21.

The third iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 developer betas share build number 22E5222f, replacing 22E5216h, while macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta three uses build number 24E5228e, up from 24E5222f. The third tvOS 18.4 build is 22L5240e, the third watchOS 11.4 build is 22T5234f, and the third visionOS 2.4 build is 22O5221d.


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Epic Games managed to force Apple into some App Store concessions with legal activity and campaigning, but it doesn't seem to have gone the way it planned. In a court filing Epic lays out how it believes Apple has gone wrong with its steering rule changes.


The excruciatingly lengthy legal battles between Epic Games and Apple over In-App Purchasing and the App Store prompted a lot of outcry over how Apple conducts business with developers. With orders over anti-steering rules in an injunction, it seemed that Epic had gotten its way over some of its complaints to the court.

According to a Post Hearing Findings of Fact filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Epic seemingly did not. The filing is effectively a 41-page complaint from Epic to the court, insisting that Apple has to comply more with injunctions set out in its main U.S. lawsuit.


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"Severance" executive producer Ben Stiller and Apple TV+'s Eddy Cue spoke at SXSW about making the show and just how much Apple plays a part in the series.


"Severance" is the most-watched show on Apple TV+ since the streaming service launched in 2019 and is such a talked-about series that it's even been parodied on network TV. Apple's senior vice president of Services, Eddy Cue, and "Severance" executive producer Ben Stiller have now interviewed each other at the SXSW festival.

"I can't wait for every episode. Even though I have access to all of 'em, I tend to wait," revealed Cue. "This reminds me of shows back in the days when television, you'd tune in on a particular night and everybody was so excited all week to get to the next episode."


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The first reviews for the new iPad Air are out, and to no one's surprise, it's still a capable device, if a little boring.


Reviews of Apple's newest iPad Air are rolling in, and the consensus across most of the reviews we've seen is surprisingly similar, even if the scores seem to vary quite a bit.

Pretty much everyone agrees that the M3 iPad Air offers a slight jump in specs over the M2 iPad Air — and only a moderate increase over the M1 iPad Air.


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Apple's new camera bump designs for the iPhone 17 have surfaced once again, this time in the form of 3D-printed models showcased in a video that offers a hint of what the fall 2025 flagship may feel like in the hand.


Since the start of 2025, leakers have been claiming that Apple will be making major changes to the camera bump for the iPhone 17 generation. Over the space of a few weeks, leakers have shared renders of supposed designs for the inbound models, with radical alterations made to the backs of the models.

Inevitably, someone has used these leaks to create physical 3D representations of the claims. In a video by iDeviceHelp on YouTube, the new iPhone 17 lineup's rumored designs have been 3D printed and checked out.


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The best AirPods 4 price has returned, with Apple's latest earbuds falling to $99.99 at Amazon. You can also pick up AirPods Pro 2 for $169.99, a discount of $80 off MSRP.


This week's AirPods sale at Amazon marks the return of the lowest price on record for AirPods 4, which have dipped to $99.99. You can also pick up the higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for $148.99.

View the deals


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Despite Health Canada approving AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids, Canadians are still unable to use feature because of still further regulatory hurdles which look unlikely to be cleared.


Apple updated AirPods Pro 2 to act as both a hearing test and hearing aids for US users in October 2024, and it's been rolling out to other countries since. But despite approval by Health Canada, the country's federal department for health services, the feature is still not available.

According to local CTV News, Canadians are complaining that they have specifically bought AirPods Pro 2 because of the Health Canada approval and feel cheated without it.


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The latest rumor about Apple's folding iPad suggests that the device has a Face ID dot projector underneath the display, instead of in the display bezel like on the currently shipping iPad Pro


One of Apple's early prototypes for the folding iPad Pro reportedly has a new feature. The device is said to have a "metal superstructure lens," which leaker "Digital Chat Station" believes incorporates the Face ID infrared projectors, underneath the screen.

As it stands now, the projector is under the glass of the iPad Pro, but not under the usable area of the screen.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Apple Crocker Park looks to become the latest Apple Store to be relocated, although Apple has so far only confirmed that the current store is undergoing development.


Following the relocation of stores such as the UK's Apple Trafford Center, and the closure of Apple Northbrook in Chicago, a further store has been announced as being redeveloped. Apple Crocker Park, in the Westlake, Ohio, shopping village looks to be about to relocate and perhaps expand.

Apple Crocker Park's website has been updated with a headline that says, "Get ready. Great things are in store. A brand-new Apple Store is coming soon." There are no further details, either as to what may be done to the store, or when.


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Apple is working on bolstering future Apple Intelligence efforts by working on AirPods with built-in cameras.


One of the many ways Apple has moved forward with Apple Intelligence is the introduction of Visual Intelligence, a feature that is used to acquire information and to get details of real-world items using an iPhone 16. However, Apple is also considering making a version that doesn't involve you pointing an iPhone camera at things in the first place.

According to Mark Gurman in Sunday's newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple is "actively developing" a product that can combine AirPods with cameras.


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Federal prosecutors charged more than a dozen people for their alleged roles in a sophisticated theft ring, while an executive in Japan was arrested over MacBook-related fraud in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.


The latest in an occasional AppleInsider feature, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.


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Apple's long-rumored Home Hub peripheral is now rumored to be debuting in the second half of 2025, and is allegedly being taken home by select Apple employees for real-world testing.


Various rumors have suggested that Apple will be making a big push into smart home accessories across the second half of 2025, including the existing Home Key feature for a future smart doorbell. Apple is also working with other manufacturers of smart home accessories to ensure HomeKit compatibility.

A new report from Bloomberg reiterates earlier claims that Apple intends to tie the rise of HomeKit accessories into a smart Home Hub, now with a device code name: J490.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Apple is still working out how it can press forward with wearable devices, with it considering a possible switch away from bulky Apple Vision Pro headset instead creating the fabled Apple Glass by 2030.


The wearable device ambitions of Apple are somewhat troubled, with the Apple Vision Pro considered a commercial flop in its first release. While it has other ways it can progress forward on the concept, it's still taking time to work out the best way forward.

In Sunday's Bloomberg newsletter, Mark Gurman writes that Apple is at least looking into different form factors. After axing its project to create AR glasses as an external Mac display earlier in 2025, Apple is now thinking about standalone AR glasses once again.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Following a court ruling that Google has abused its monopoly in search and online advertising, the judge in the case will consider proposed remedies from both the US Department of Justice as well as Google.


The DOJ originally brought an antitrust action against Google in late 2023 over its deals with Apple and others to make Google Search the default search engine in other browsers and platforms.

Judge Amit Mehta of the DC United States District Court ruled in August 2024 that Google is a monopolist. While it is not illegal for an entity to become a monopoly in its field, it is unlawful for a monopoly to limit consumer choice by creating barriers to fair competition.


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Apple is offering an alternative to its existing $75 welcome bonus for new Apple Card users, it can provide up to $200 in cash back over ten months, but you'll have to act fast.


Apple has posted a second current bonus offer for its Apple Card, giving up to $200 cash back for users who apply for a new Apple Card and make 10 purchases per month on it. While the windows for the sign-up closes on March 21, cardholders will get credit for purchases made between receiving the card and December 31, 2025.

The intention of the promotion appears to be to encourage new Apple Card holders to make using the card a routine choice, rather than for occasional use. There is no minimum spend on the qualifying purchases.


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A federal court has ruled in Apple's favor in the years-long fight against AliveCor, preventing a potential total import ban on the Apple Watch.


The ruling came in on Friday. In that ruling, a federal court of appeals invalidated AliveCor's claims that Apple had infringed on its patented information.

Apple is understandably pleased. It provided AppleInsider with a statement.


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Amazon's M3 iPad Air deals deliver the steepest preorder savings across Apple resellers.


Despite being announced on March 4, Apple's new M3 iPad Air is already on sale at Amazon, with the e-commerce giant knocking up to $70 off select models. Prices start at $559 for the 128GB 11-inch spec, while the 13-inch 128GB model is on sale for $749 in select colorways.

Save on M3 iPad Air


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Apple's update to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could bring more than just a camera bump change. Here's what the rumor mill has said could be on the way for the premium models.


Apple is expected, as usual, to introduce a new line of iPhones in September, forming part of its usual fall product catalog refresh. For 2025, that will mean the introduction of the iPhone 17 generation.

Just like in previous years, expectations are for Apple to bring out multiple models, including a premium Pro tier, consisting of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.


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While Apple scheduled and pushed out plenty of artificial intelligence-powered features in the last several months, the next batch of improvements to Siri aren't going to arrive on time.


Like most other Big Tech companies, Apple has been making some pretty big strides in the AI space as of late. We've seen features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence roll out over the past few months.

However, one feature that we were promised hasn't materialized yet — the new, more personalized Siri. Siri was allegedly supposed to adopt a set of new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.4, but it looks like that won't be the case.


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Unsurprisingly, the performance of the new Mac Studio with M3 Ultra appears to be markedly faster than its predecessor, at least according to initial benchmarks.


Following the first benchmarks of the M4 Max in the new Mac Studio, initial figures are starting to appear for the M3 Ultra version. Compared to the previous Mac Studio's M2 Ultra, Geekbench shows improvements that will be significantly noticeable in the most demanding uses.

There will be more sets of figures for the Mac Studio's M3 Ultra once the machine is users' hands. However for now, the headline is that it is between 16% and 30% faster than its predecessor.


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B&H's world-class creative expo returns to New York City — and best of all, it's free to attend.


B&H has been committed to supporting audio and visual artists since 1973. In 2023, it held its first Bild Expo to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Now, Bild Expo returns for its second year, inviting creatives to connect across both skill levels and industries.


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Apple released so many new devices this week that there's barely time for any rumors as we figure out the Mac Studio's specifications and the MacBook Air's new color, on the AppleInsider Podcast.


By sheer volume, this must have been one of the very busiest weeks for new Apple releases, and yet the company practically downplayed them all. Apart from Tim Cook's teasing tweet, there was no event, no introductory video, and not even any new adverts. Yet for the people who need these devices, the new MacBook Air, iPad Air, and Mac Studio are strong updates.

You just have to wonder what's going on with the Mac Pro, which hasn't seen a refresh, and the base iPad, which has — but without Apple Intelligence.


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A known and generally reliable leaker has weighed in on iPhone 17 rumors, and believes that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be a bit thicker, perhaps to accommodate a larger battery.


The new leak on Friday morning claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has increased in depth to 8.725 millimeters, versus 8.25 millimeters on the iPhone Pro Max. For scale, this is most commonly the thickness of lead in a mechanical pencil, or about the thickness of a fine grain of sand.

Not discussed in the leak is why the device may be thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The most likely reason is to increase the battery volume.


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Apple's Photos holds every image you make with your phone. Here's everything you need to know to get started using the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.


Arguably one of the most highly-used apps on an iPhone or iPad, the Photos app is where all of your photographs and videos get stored. A treasure trove of memories, it is also made to help you manage your visual history, as well as to edit it to perfection.

Due to the number of features available, not many people will use the app to its full potential. It can handle everything from adjusting photographs how you want them, to managing collections, and even the synchronization of your content across multiple devices.


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The UK's Court of Appeal has rejected Apple's request to dismiss a $1 billion lawsuit over cutting the performance of an iPhone 6 and other models with chemically depleted batteries.


Consumer rights activist Justin Gutmann filed his case in 2022, through the UK's equivalent of a US class action lawsuit. According to a statement to AppleInsider from Gutmann's legal team, Apple's attempts to get the case dismissed on appeal have now failed.

"[The UK] Court of Appeal has given the go-ahead for the so-called 'Batterygate' lawsuit — a collective action brought on behalf of millions of UK users, which accuses Apple of intentionally 'throttling' iPhone batteries," says the statement. "Apple will now be forced to defend itself in court, after it tried but failed to get the 853 million pounds [$1.1 billion] claim thrown out."


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A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that claimed the Apple TV+ movie "Tetris" ripped off a book about the game's history.


The drama-documentary film "Tetris" had reportedly struggled to find financing for years, before Apple TV+ bought it in 2020. It then went into production and was streamed on Apple TV+ from March 2023 — and was followed by a lawsuit.

Author Dan Ackerman alleged that Apple, The Tetris Company, and others, adapted his book about the game without payment or permission. According to Reuters, however, the case has now been dismissed.


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Indonesia's government has now granted Apple most of the certificates needed for the iPhone 16 ban to be lifted, but Apple still can't resume sales just yet.


As reported at the end of February 2025, Indonesia has now settled its dispute with Apple. The iPhone 16 will not, however, go back on sale immediately.

According to Reuters, that's because what has happened is that Apple has been granted the local content certificates that were Indonesia's main barrier to selling the iPhone 16. It's to do with the local content quota, which requires between 35% and 40% of the device's components to be made in Indonesia.


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While Activity Rings are a staple for fitness enthusiasts, there might be times when you need to pause them. Here's how you can do it in watchOS 11.


The Activity Rings on the Apple Watch are a great way to keep track of your daily movement, exercise, and standing goals. However, there are situations where keeping them active isn't practical.

For instance, maintaining your usual activity level could interfere with the recovery process if you're recovering from an illness or injury. Pausing the rings allows you to prioritize healing without feeling pressured to meet daily goals.


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Join King Charles III on Commonwealth Day to celebrate his love of music on Apple Music 1 as he plays hits from Bob Marley and RAYE.


The live internet radio stations on Apple Music are filled with all kinds of musicians and celebrities hosting shows on a rotating schedule. The next guest host is bringing royalty to the roster.

Apple shared that King Charles III will be on Apple Music 1 for a special even show called The King's Music Room for March 10, Commonwealth Day. He will be sharing stories about music and playing selections across genres like Afrobeats, disco, reggae, and 1930s ballads.


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Apple has been forced to enable sideloading for iPhone users in Brazil within the next three months or face daily fines for non-compliance.


On Wednesday, Judge Pablo Zuniga of the Brazilian federal court ordered Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces in the country within the next 90 days. If the company fails to adhere to the court's order, it could face a fine of more than $40,000 per day.

The judge said the iPhone maker "has already complied with similar obligations in other countries, without demonstrating a significant impact or irreparable damage to its business model."


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The ChatGPT app for macOS has been updated with the ability to write code directly into Xcode, which means it competes with Apple's Swift Assist and GitHub Copilot.


Third-party artificial intelligence tools have been available for a while to help with coding on macOS, but OpenAI is throwing its hat in the ring with the latest ChatGPT app update. Users can communicate with ChatGPT and share what's within Xcode and other IDEs thanks to the "work with apps" capability.

TechCrunch reports that the update comes with an "auto-apply" mode so ChatGPT can edit code without additional permission prompts every time. The function is shown in a video posted to social media by OpenAI team member Alexander Embiricos.


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With every generation, Apple's Max-series chips have pushed the boundaries of performance, and M4 Max in the new Mac Studio delivers the most significant leap yet in performance.


Apple's custom silicon has evolved dramatically, with each new generation improving performance, efficiency, and capability. The M1 Max, M2 Max, and M4 Max represent three iterations of Apple's most powerful chips for MacBook Pro, each refining the balance between speed and power consumption.

While the M1 Max was a game-changer when it launched in 2021, the M2 Max built on its foundation with modest but meaningful improvements in 2023. The latest M4 Max delivers the biggest leap yet, expanding memory support, adding AI-driven optimizations, and enhancing graphics performance.


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An exclusive discount drops the price on every Mac Studio configuration, from the standard M4 Max model to the M3 Ultra spec with 512GB of RAM.


Prices start at $1,859.07 after the 7% discount at Expercom through the link-activated deal. Every configuration is reduced, so if you're looking for additional RAM or the top-of-the-line M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU, you can grab the discount.

Save on the Mac Studio


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Even as Apple has released a new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, the company has also revealed that is has been researching a more Microsoft Surface-like traditional keyboard arrangement.


It feels as if we've always had the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and the iPad Air, but it was only launched in 2020. Well after it was released, though, Apple was continuing to research this Surface-like alternative.

"Hinged keyboard accessory having multiple installation modes for a tablet computing device," is a newly-revealed patent application, which follows on from a previous version applied for in July 2020. Despite being filed well after the Magic Keyboard would have been in development, though, this patent references over 40 other filings, dating back to 1993.


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Apple's Game Porting Toolkit is helpful for developers, former Apple software engineer Nat Brown explains, but it still has a lot of work to do to encourage more games to get made for macOS.


Nat Brown, formerly of a game technology team at Apple and previously of Microsoft and Valve, was deeply involved in producing the Game Porting Toolkit. A suite of tools to help developers bring games over from Windows and other platforms to run on a Mac.

Brown joined Apple in 2019, a time when Apple Silicon didn't exist, but he felt it was to be coming due to the development of iPhone hardware. "I was like, you know, if they're not doing this for the Mac, then somebody's broken," he tells the MacGameCast podcast.


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For eight years, Apple has sold iPhones starting at 64GB to hit a price point, but Apple Intelligence has made it accept what we all knew already — 128GB is the real minimum.


Back in 2017, the iPhone X brought us features that we wouldn't be without today, like Face ID and an edge-to-edge screen. None of this may ever go away, and certainly the thousand bucks price tag isn't going to shrink, but one thing has changed.

The iPhone X, along with the same year's iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, introduced 64GB as the starting storage capacity. There had been 64GB configurations before, starting with the iPhone 4S, but it was that 2011 model's maximum capacity.


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