The release of iOS 18 brought a number of new features to Apple's Journal app, including the new ability to search and sort entries.
Some of the many new features that came to the Journal app in iOS 18. Image credit: Apple
Apple's Journal app was originally introduced in December 2023 alongside iOS 17. In October 2024, it received its first major update, as part of the iOS 18 upgrade.
There's new support for noting one's state of mind, if desired, along with the ability to print individual entries, and more. The biggest new addition to Journal in iOS 18, though, is the arrival of search and sort functionality.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed Safari Technology Preview to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.
Safari Technology Preview 222 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, Media, Rendering, Scrolling, and Web API.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS that's set to launch this later this year.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
AT&T today said that customers can activate Wireless Account Lock, a new feature that will prevent unauthorized changes to a wireless account. With Account Lock turned on, account changes like billing updates and wireless number transfers are disabled.
Account Lock will protect AT&T users from SIM swapping, a technique that scammers employ to gain control of a smartphone user's phone number, and by extension, two-factor verification codes sent to that number. With SIM swapping, an attacker calls the carrier's support staff, pretends to be the smartphone user, and asks for a number transfer.
Postpaid AT&T customers can activate Wireless Account Lock from the myAT&T app. Locked features will not be accessible until the Wireless Account Lock is disabled in the app, requiring physical control for access. Here's what Account Lock prevents:
Upgrading a device
Changing a SIM card or eSIM
Initiating a phone number transfer
Adding a new line
Changing billing information
Changing authorized users
Changing phone numbers
There are also account locking features for enterprise customers and prepaid AT&T users.
Apple's satellite texting features saved an injured climber over the weekend, according to Colorado news reports. The man was stuck above 10,000 feet on Snowmass Mountain, which is one of many snowy mountains in Colorado. It can be a dangerous hike due to the potential for rockfall and because of ice.
On the trip, the unnamed 53-year-old man summited the mountain and was using a technique called glissading to slide down the mountain. Sliding down a snow-covered mountain can result in injury, and the man suffered damage to his wrist that prevented him from continuing.
There was no cellular signal where he was located, but he was able to use the iPhone's satellite texting functionality to contact a family member. The family member got in touch with the sheriff's office and Mountain Rescue Aspen.
He was located at Snowmass Lake, which is approximately eight miles from the mountain's parking area. Responders said the man was not able to walk out on his own, and it took 17 rescuers to get him to safety. Rescuers arrived to the mountain at approximately 8:25 a.m., and the climber was safely out of the area by 5:30 p.m.
Texting via satellite is just one of several satellite-based features that are offered on the iPhone 14 and newer. There is also an Emergency SOS via satellite feature that allows iPhone users to get in touch with emergency services when no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is available.
In a press release, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office suggested that climbers learn how to use satellite texting. "Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office remind adventurers that carrying an emergency communication device and knowing how to use Apple Satellite texting can significantly speed up the rescue process. If you are asking for help, don't hesitate to press the SOS button--it allows MRA to establish direct communication and coordinate a timely response," reads the release. This article, "iPhone Satellite Functionality Saves Denver Mountaineer" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Popular social network TikTok is still operating in the United States under a ban that has been paused by U.S. President Donald Trump, but it's possible that a deal for the sale of company is closer to being completed.
Trump this week said that he identified a buyer to purchase TikTok from ByteDance, and according to Bloomberg, Trump's pick is an investor consortium that includes Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz. The consortium was previously the top choice to buy TikTok back in April, but negotiations stalled due to trade tensions.
Any deal for TikTok has to be approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has previously declined to allow negotiations to move forward. "We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way," said Trump. "I think I'll need China approval, and I think President Xi will probably do it." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that China has "reiterated its principled position," and there was nothing to add, suggesting that China plans to continue to resist a deal for TikTok.
TikTok has been banned in the U.S. since January 19, and the law requires the social network to be sold to a non-Chinese company. Under the terms of the law, app stores are supposed to stop distributing the TikTok app or face consequences, but Trump has paused the enforcement of the mandate three times now.
The original deal with the investor consortium would have seen 50 percent of TikTok's U.S. business transferred to a new unit that would be owned by outside investors. Existing U.S. investors would continue to own 30 percent of TikTok's U.S. operations, and ByteDance would still have just under 20 percent ownership.
Meta-owned social network Threads was today updated with support for direct messages, a feature that Meta has been testing during June. This is the first time the two-year-old social network has offered a direct messaging option.
Direct messages on Threads are limited to a person's Threads followers or mutual followers from Instagram users who are 18 and older. Meta says that as it expands messaging features, it plans to prioritize safety and positive interactions.
Additional messaging features will be coming in the future, including support for message controls, group messaging, and inbox filters.
Along with direct messaging, Threads is also getting a a highlighter feature that's meant to elevate and emphasize "unique perspectives that lead to thoughtful conversations." Highlighter will show up in content discovery, and will eventually mark trending topics.
Apple has to pay $110.7 million for infringing on wireless patents owned by Spanish company TOT Power Control, reports Reuters. A jury found that transceivers used in Apple devices rely on 3G wireless technology owned by TOT.
TOT was formed by engineer Alvaro Lopez-Medrano, who patented a technology that manages "how power is used to respond to decreases and increases in the ratio of radio signal to interference." TOT does not manufacture any products, and it has also sued LG, Samsung, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
In the original filing in 2021, TOT said that it had approached Apple "and its suppliers of wireless baseband processors" to license TOT technology, but Apple and other companies "refused."
Apple claimed that the TOT patents it was accused of infringing were invalid, but it was unable to prove that in court. TOT was seeking damages and ongoing royalties.
Apple told Reuters that it is disappointed with the ruling and that it will appeal.
Jennifer Aniston will star and produce a 10-episode Apple TV+ series based on the bestselling "I'm Glad My Mom Died," where she plays the narcissistic mother of "iCarly" actress Jennette McCurdy.
'I'm Glad My Mom Died' by Jennette McCurdy
Apple TV+ is packed with star-studded dramas and comedies, and it continues to roll out new projects at a regular pace. The latest dramedy will likely fit in well with fans of Bad Sisters.
I'm Glad My Mom Died will star Jennifer Aniston, who is also the executive producer for the series via Echo Films. She's playing the titular mother that relishes her identity as "a starlet's mother."
Apple has failed to convince a jury that it didn't infringe on 3G wireless patents with cellular chips in its iPhone, with it now having to pay TOT Power Control over $110 million.
The iPhone's 3G capability has cost Apple in a patent lawsuit
The jury decision, made on June 30 and made public by a Delaware federal court on Tuesday, didn't go Apple's way. In a long-running patent lawsuit against TOT Power Control, it has been decided that Apple's wireless chips violated the company's patents.
This includes cellular chips used in the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
An injured climber stranded above 10,000 feet on Snowmass Mountain in Colorado was rescued after using Apple's satellite texting feature on his iPhone to call for help.
Emergency SOS via Satellite is on iPhone 14 and later
According to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, the 53-year-old man reached the summit on Sunday. During his descent, he injured his wrist and was unable to continue alone, according toKDVR.
Without cell service or Wi-Fi in the remote area, he used Apple's satellite texting capability to contact a family member. That relative alerted the sheriff's office and Mountain Rescue Aspen.
If you listen to audio using Beats or AirPods when going to bed, iOS 26 has a useful new feature for you. The update adds a "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" option that is designed to shut off your earbuds when you're no longer awake to listen.
Apple mentioned the feature during its Worldwide Developers Conference, but it was highlighted as an AirPods feature. Code discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser suggests that the option is also available for Beats headphones.
The option to pause audio when asleep will save your spot in an audiobook or a podcast, but it should also preserve battery life by preventing your earbuds from staying on all night.
Pausing audio should be on by default when you install iOS 26, but it can be enabled by connecting your headphones to your iPhone and then tapping on them in the Settings app. Apple has not explained how the Beats or AirPods detect that you've fallen asleep.
Photos in iOS 26 has reworked the iOS 18 version for the better. Here's how the new version of Photos expected in the fall compares to the old one.
Photos iOS 18 vs iOS 26
One of the most-used first-party apps on an iPhone, Photos is the home for all of the photographs and videos you take with the onboard cameras. With built-in editing tools and search capabilities, you can quickly find memories of yesteryear and make them look good too.
It is an essential app, and therefore any changes made to it will be significant. Even if they don't seem that way from the outset.
Smartphone maker Nothing today introduced the Headphone (1), the company's first set of over-ear headphones. The new audio accessory was created in partnership with high-end speaker company KEF.
Like most of the Nothing products, the Headphone (1) features a transparent design that lets you see the internal components inside. The see-through look does not work quite as well as it does for a smartphone, and the Headphone (1) will definitely draw attention.
The earpieces are rectangular, with PU-covered memory foam ear cups and an adjustable headband, with the shell made from a mix of plastic and aluminum. There are no distracting glyph lights like there are on the Nothing smartphones.
The Headphone (1) ear cups aren't as large as the ear cups on some other over-ear headphones, and there is a good amount of pressure on the ears that can get uncomfortable over time. The ear cups are where weight is concentrated and they are tight on the head, so you may feel them after a couple hours. The AirPods Max also have a lot of weight in the ear cups, so the fit of the Headphone (1) is similar to the fit of the AirPods Max.
Sound quality is good for a set of headphones priced at $299, and it's not too far off what you'll get with over-ear headphones from companies like Sony, Bose, and Apple. Out of the box, the headphones are heavy on the bass, but the Nothing X app allows for EQ adjustments. Bumping up the mids and highs makes for a much more balanced listening experience.
The Headphone (1) supports Apple-esque features like spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, though you're going to be missing the iCloud-based functionality like automatic pairing and device switching. Active Noise Cancellation is included, and the Headphone (1) fits tightly on the head to minimize sound leakage, so the overall result is a solid sound dampening experience. The headphones are able to scan every 600ms to adapt to external noise.
There are physical control buttons on the Headphone (1), and they can be customized to the functions that you find most useful. There's a paddle button that can be used for audio playback, and a roller for adjusting volume. There's a 3.5mm audio jack along with support for LDAC and USB-C audio. As for battery life, the Headphone (1) lasts for 35 hours with ANC and 80 hours without it.
What do you think of the Headphone (1)? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6.
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.
No notable features have been found in the developer betas so far, but the iOS 18.6 update will bring additional changes to the App Store in the European Union. Aside from that, the updates likely focus on smaller changes and bug fixes. No new features were found in macOS Sequoia 15.6 either.
New shipment estimates by supply chain analysts suggest that Apple may have gained computing marketshare in the first quarter of 2025, but the report ignores that shipments aren't sales, and Apple stuffed the channel with hardware ahead of tariff impacts.
Mac shipments jumped in 2025
Apple entered 2025 with faster shipment growth than rivals, with Mac shipments jumping 28.7%. Rivals HP, Dell and Lenovo managed only single-digit growth, according to Canalys data released on July 1.
Apple shipped roughly 2.7 million desktops and notebooks, raising its share of the U.S. PC shipment market to about 16%, up from just over 14% a year earlier in 2024. These figures measure what Apple sent into retail channels, not how many Macs were actually bought by end users.
Amazon's $849 MacBook Air deal is back, with the M4-equipped laptop available at a $150 discount ahead of Prime Day.
Grab early Prime Day MacBook Air deals.
The $150 markdown at Amazon marks a return of the popular $849 price on the standard M4 MacBook Air 13-inch model, and every colorway is eligible for the savings.
Apple and Major League Baseball this week announced the August schedule for Friday Night Baseball, a weekly doubleheader of MLB games streamed on Apple TV+ throughout the 2025 regular game season.
Friday Night Baseball is included with an Apple TV+ subscription, at no additional cost. In the U.S., Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year, and it is also included in all Apple One subscription bundles with other Apple services.
The full July schedule is as follows:
Friday, 8/1
Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals
6:45 p.m. ET
Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox
7:10 p.m. ET
Friday, 8/8
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
6:40 p.m. ET
Houston Astros at New York Yankees
7:05 p.m. ET
Friday, 8/15
Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds
6:40 p.m. ET
Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays
7:07 p.m. ET
Friday, 8/22
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers
7:10 p.m. ET
New York Mets at Atlanta Braves
7:15 p.m. ET
Friday, 8/29
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
6:45 p.m. ET
Baltimore Orioles at San Francisco Giants
10:15 p.m. ET
Available in 60 countries, Apple says Friday Night Baseball provides enhanced production quality, expert commentary, no local broadcast restrictions, and more.
Following its recall of one US-only Power Bank, Anker has now issued a worldwide recall and replace notice for five more similar batteries. Here's what's impacted and how to get a refund.
The Anker Power Banks that are subject to the new recall — image credit: Anker
In June 2025, Anker issued its recall of the PowerCore 10000 batteries because of a potential fire risk, although solely to devices sold in the US. As of July 1, 2025, though, the company is recalling five more Power Banks:
Apple is facing renewed antitrust scrutiny in Brazil, where the country's competition regulator has formally recommended sanctions against the company over its App Store rules and restrictions on third-party access to iPhone features, including near-field communication (NFC) technology.
The recommendation was issued by the General Superintendence of Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (SG/CADE), the technical body of the federal antitrust authority. In a public statement translated from Portuguese, SG/CADE determined that Apple's conduct with iOS constitutes a violation of Brazilian competition law and urged CADE's internal tribunal to impose penalties, including financial fines and mandatory changes to Apple's policies.
The investigation started in 2022 after formal complaints were submitted by Latin American e-commerce platform MercadoLibre and other digital service providers. The companies alleged that Apple engaged in anti-competitive practices by requiring in-app purchases to be made exclusively through its own payment system and by restricting developers from informing users about alternative purchasing options — a practice known as anti-steering.
MercadoLibre further argued that Apple abused its control over the iOS platform by denying third-party access to critical technologies such as the iPhone's NFC chip, effectively limiting mobile payment competition in Brazil. In a statement to the Brazilian technology publication Tecnoblog, Apple said:
For more than 16 years, the App Store has provided our users in Brazil with a safe and trusted marketplace to discover new apps and has helped Brazilian developers build successful businesses. We are concerned that CADE's proposed measures would harm the experience our users love and trust, while also introducing new risks to their privacy and security. We will continue to engage with CADE to defend the rights of users and developers on our platform.
According to Reuters, CADE's technical body has now concluded that Apple's enforcement of these restrictions creates artificial barriers to entry for competitors and harms both developers and consumers. In its ruling, CADE wrote that Apple's practices "artificially preserve its dominant position" in iOS-related markets and reduce the availability of competing digital payment solutions.
CADE's internal tribunal must now decide whether to accept the recommendation and proceed with formal sanctions. If CADE's tribunal upholds the recommendation, Apple could be required to open its NFC technology to third-party payment providers, following similar mandates already imposed in the European Union.
Apple is researching how to make software for the Apple Vision Pro to help prevent motion sickness from perceived motion, as well as caused by the motion of a vehicle.
We won't now see an Apple Car, but some of the technology invented for it may be coming to the Apple Vision Pro — image credit: Apple
Probably all Apple Vision Pro users say that wearing your headset during a flight is more embarrassing — or at least prone to getting knocked in the overhead storage compartment. But some say that depending on what you're watching, they can get motion sickness because of how the headset's sensors are sometimes thrown by the movement of the aircraft.
It's like an exaggerated version of the motion sickness that some users feel when, say, reading their iPhone in a moving bus. Apple addressed that specific issue with its Vehicle Motion Cues in iOS 18.
Amazon is discounting numerous models of Apple's M4 iPad Pro this week, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models this time around. Simultaneously, Amazon has the Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 right now, and it's compatible with these iPad Pro models.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In this sale, the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro has hit $899.00, down from $999.00. There are multiple record low prices on 11-inch iPad Pros right now on Amazon, including a steep $380 discount on the high-end 2TB Wi-Fi model with Nano-Texture Glass, now available for $1,719.00.
These iPad Pro models feature Apple's M4 chip, OLED displays, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. Don't forget that you can get the Apple Pencil Pro for a match of its all-time low price of $99.00 today on Amazon, down from $129.00.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Google just pulled its note-taking app Keep from Apple Watch, extending a long and storied history of Google killing off products.
Google just pulled its note-taking app Keep
Alphabet Inc.'s Google pulled its Keep note-taking app from Apple Watch with an update on June 30, 2025. The move leaves users without a Google-backed way to take notes on the wrist.
Keep launched for watchOS in 2019 but never got much attention. It lacked watch face complications and other core features. Over time, it fell behind.
Apple today shared a new ad titled "Snap-a-Mole" in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to highlight the iPhone 16 Pro's Camera Control feature.
The ad shows a photographer quickly grabbing photos with the Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Pro, using gestures to zoom in and change Photographic Styles rapidly. As a key feature of the iPhone 16 lineup, the Camera Control has been the subject of Apple ads in the past. From the latest video's description:
Never miss a shot with Camera Control. An easier way to access your camera, adjust functions like zoom, exposure, or depth of field, and toggle between Photographic Styles.
Apple recorded the highest year-over-year growth among major computer vendors in the United States during the first quarter of 2025, with Mac shipments increasing 28.7% and market share rising from 14.2% to 16.0%, according to newly published data from Canalys.
Shipments of desktops and notebooks to the United States reached 16.9 million units in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. Apple shipped 2.705 million units, up from 2.102 million in the first quarter of 2024. This gain was the highest among the top five vendors, outpacing Lenovo's 19.9% growth and significantly exceeding Dell's 8.3% and HP's 13.1%. Apple was the only top-five vendor to grow its U.S. market share by more than 1.5 percentage points during the quarter.
The first quarter surge in computer shipments is primarily attributed to vendor efforts to front-load inventory ahead of anticipated U.S. tariff changes. Canalys analysts noted that this proactive sell-in activity resulted in elevated inventory levels across the board. This inventory overhang, combined with increasing economic pressures on consumers, will likely continue to suppress further shipment growth for the remainder of the year.
Canalys projects total U.S. PC shipments to grow by only 2% for full-year 2025, with a more pronounced 4% growth forecast in 2026. According to Canalys, the total number of desktop and notebook shipments in the U.S. in 2024 was approximately 69.2 million units. That figure is expected to rise to 70.4 million units in 2025 and to 73.0 million units in 2026.
Brazil has tried fining Apple over the App Store before and backed down, but its technology council is now urging it since other nations are.
The App Store continues to be under first in Brazil
In late 2022, early 2023, Brazil's Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica (CADE) regulator opened an investigation following complaints from firms including MercadoLibre, a Latin American ecommerce platform. Now that regulator's technology advisors have concluded that Apple is guilty of the accusations.
The General Superintendence of the Administrative Council of Economic Defense (SG/CADE) said in announcement (in translation), that "Apple's conduct constitutes an infringement of the economic order." The specific accusation concerns restrictive practices over third-party marketing, the same anti-steering issue that Apple has been fined over by the EU.
Apple is accusing one of its former engineers of stealing confidential design and development information related to the Apple Vision Pro headset and taking it to Snap, according to a lawsuit filed in California.
Apple filed the complaint against Di Liu on June 24, 2025, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, alleging that Liu misappropriated trade secrets during his final days of employment at the company (via SiliconValley.com). Liu had worked at Apple for seven years and was most recently a senior product design engineer. He is accused of downloading thousands of internal files to his personal cloud storage account shortly before his resignation.
According to the lawsuit, Liu informed Apple that he was leaving his position to focus on his health and spend more time with his family. However, Apple alleges that Liu had already accepted a job offer from Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat and maker of the "Spectacles" smart glasses. The complaint states that Liu failed to disclose his future employment at Snap, which is ostensibly competing with Apple in the wearable augmented reality space, and thereby avoided triggering Apple's standard protocol of revoking access to internal systems immediately upon notice of employment with a competitor.
During that time, Apple alleges that Liu accessed and copied a "massive volume" of internal documents from his company-issued MacBook, including files related to product design, testing, supply chain strategy, and unreleased features of the Vision Pro. Apple discovered Liu's alleged actions through forensic analysis of his company-issued laptop. Log data from Liu's device apparently shows he manually selected specific folders, renamed them, and uploaded them to his personal cloud account. Apple further claims that Liu deleted files from the same machine in an apparent attempt to conceal the scope of the transfer.
While Snap is not named as a defendant in the suit and is not accused of any misconduct, Apple argues that there is significant overlap between the materials Liu allegedly retained and the nature of his new role. Snap issued a statement in response to press inquiries, denying any connection between the lawsuit and Liu's current responsibilities.
Apple is seeking a court order requiring Liu to return the allegedly stolen materials and allow inspection of his devices and accounts to verify that no Apple confidential information remains. The company is also pursuing unspecified financial damages for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Just as Google Calendar makes it debut on the Apple Watch, the Google Keep app for Apple Watch has been discontinued.
Google Keep is a free note-taking service offered by Google. Version 2.2025.26200 of Google Keep removes the watchOS app, with no other noticeable changes to the app on the iPhone or iPad. Google Keep for Wear OS continues to be available.
Google Keep for Apple Watch had not been updated meaningfully for many years, with no support for many basic platform features such as complications. Meanwhile, with watchOS 26, Apple is bringing its own native Notes app to the Apple Watch for the first time.
The Google Keep app for Apple Watch as it was upon release in 2019.
Yesterday, Google released a Calendar app for the Apple Watch, bringing its native calendar and task functionality to watchOS for the first time. Now, only Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Google Calendar have dedicated watchOS apps.
Apple is suing a design engineer who allegedly copied Apple Vision Pro research and is using it in his new role at Snap, maker of Snapchat and smart glasses.
The current Apple Vision Pro
There's probably now a standard pro forma lawsuit that Apple gets out every year, as this latest example of alleged trade secret theft is far from the first. In 2022, an employee leaked confidential information to the press, while in 2023, three ex-Apple engineers were accused of stealing Apple Car.
And in 2024, Apple finally settled with Rivos, a startup firm accused of taking both trade secrets and poaching engineers from Apple.
The Stream Deck is great for running macros on your Mac, but there are ways to do it significantly cheaper. Sometimes, all it takes is a spare keyboard or a secondary numpad.
Epomaker EK21 works with Via for macros
In the pursuit of productivity, users can turn to macros as a way to get things done on their Mac. By hitting specific keys or key combinations on their keyboard, using configuration software supplied by the manufacturer, tasks can be sped up.
These are different from keyboard shortcuts, in that you often just have one action performed with keyboard shortcuts. Macros, however, can be complex enough to trigger multiple functions.
Apple today sent out surveys to some Vision Pro users, asking them a series of questions about the utility of various features, owned accessories, and most interestingly, competing devices.
Much of the survey asked for feedback on screen resolution, fit, and other factors, but there are some highlights. Apple asked about Guest Mode, whether the Vision Pro iPhone app is useful, and what accessories, if any, are used with the headset.
There were specific questions about competing mixed reality and virtual reality headsets, along with a question about smart glasses. Users were asked if they owned the following: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Other Meta Quest headset, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, or ByteDance Pro. As for smart glasses, Apple asked about the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, the Amazon Echo Frames, and the Snapchat Spectacles.
The PlayStation VR and Meta Quest devices are Vision Pro competitors, but Apple does not have a product that is the equivalent of the Meta Ray-Bans or Amazon Echo Frames as of now. Apple wants to compete with those products, though, and rumors suggest that it is developing smart glasses that will be similar in function and form to the Meta Ray-Bans.
Kuo says the smart glasses will have multiple frame and temple material options for a custom look, along with support for voice control, gesture recognition, and audio playback. Integrated cameras will allow users to capture photos and videos, with the cameras also feeding information to a built-in AI assistant that will have environmental awareness. The 2027 smart glasses will be followed by "XR Glasses" with an integrated display for augmented reality features.
As for the Vision Pro, a revised model could come as soon as this year, with Apple adding an M5 chip but no other features. In 2027, Kuo claims Apple will release the "Apple Vision Air," a new Vision Pro model that's "substantially lighter" and less expensive, incorporating an iPhone chip instead of a Mac chip. In 2028, Apple is planning for the second-generation Vision Pro with an overhauled design, Mac-grade processor, and lower price.
Apple is facing fresh legal heat from privacy company Proton, which wants to break open the iPhone's closed App Store.
Proton lawsuit targets Apple
Swiss privacy technology company Proton has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Apple in California, claiming Apple maintains an unlawful monopoly over app distribution and payment processing. It cites harm to developers and consumers.
The proposed class action, filed in Oakland, alleges Apple forces developers to distribute apps only through its App Store. It also claims Apple imposes mandatory payment processing and extracts commissions of up to 30%.
Apple's motion to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit has been rejected, which means a trial that could result in upending more of Apple's businesses will soon begin.
The US DOJ antitrust suit is moving forward
An antitrust investigation brought on by a case with Spotify in 2019 opened Apple up to a lot of scrutiny. In 2024, after years of vague threats, the Department of Justice finally filed a wide-sweeping and vague antitrust lawsuit against Apple.
The lawsuit got off to a messy start with the judge recusing himself and being replaced by US District Judge Julien Neals. Apple wrote a letter to the judge and requested an immediate dismissal, and now, more than a year later, Apple's request has finally been addressed.
Cybercriminals and fraudsters are using fake texts, this time from UPS, to gain access to iPhone users' personal information. Here's how to stay safe and keep your data from falling into the wrong hands.
Scammers are impersonating UPS and trying to steal iPhone users' information.
Text messages claiming to be from the package delivery service UPS have been popping up as part of a new phishing scam. Much like the fake DMV texts our staffers receiver earlier in June 2025, which scared people with claims of unpaid traffic tickets and threats of legal action, the fraudulent UPS texts inform users of a supposed failed package delivery.
The message even instructions about how to reschedule delivery, and claims that failing to do so will cause the unspecified package to be returned to its sender. The scammers behind the message put in a considerable amount of effort, and it may appear legitimate at first glance, given the lack of any obvious grammatical errors.
Swiss company Proton today filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing Apple of violating U.S. antitrust law. Proton is technically joining an existing May 23 class-action lawsuit against Apple that includes several Korean developers, but it has filed its own legal complaint. Proton is known for Proton Mail, an email service that uses client-side encryption for security.
In a blog post explaining the decision to file against Apple, Proton said it wants to make sure that a future settlement or ruling in the class-action suit affects "real changes" to Apple's App Store policies rather than just "cosmetic changes." The lawsuit Proton is joining is seeking monetary damages for developers, but Proton said that any funds it receives will be donated.
Proton claims Apple's App Store fees encourage the "surveillance capitalism business model" used by companies like Meta and Google, while harming smaller privacy-focused companies that don't monetize data. Free apps that exploit data don't pay Apple's fees, but apps that offer services in exchange for money do have to give a cut to Apple.
Proton believes that Apple's control over the App Store gives it too much power over app distribution, which Proton says is an issue when Apple has to comply with government app removal requests in different countries.
Finally, Proton suggests Apple's policies disadvantage end users by controlling the information that developers can provide to customers and by increasing prices that consumers pay. Proton says that it has been unable to link to FAQs and customer support pages from its apps because of Apple's restrictions on links, which is a worse experience for consumers. Proton also argues that it is unable to offer lower prices to customers because it has to pay Apple's fees.
The remedies we are seeking would address many of the social ills mentioned above, ensuring that the internet of the future can continue to protect privacy and democracy. Mobile apps are now the dominant platform of the internet and the way the bulk of the world interacts with one another and with the web. Even if app stores started out as niche markets, today they are a critical component of the internet and fundamental to democracy. It is more essential than ever that we fight to create mobile ecosystems that are truly free, competitive, and not beholden to whichever dictator corporate leaders are currently bowing down to.
Proton's filing includes a long list of requested App Store changes that it asks the court to put in place, including support for distributing apps through alternative app marketplaces and websites, and using alternative payment methods.
A senior researcher's exit and a near-mutiny among Apple Intelligence engineers expose Apple's struggle to stay competitive in the AI arms race.
Senior Siri researcher leaves Apple
Apple is facing mounting internal fractures over its AI strategy, losing one of its top researchers while scrambling to keep key teams on board. It increasingly looks like a crisis of confidence in Cupertino.
Tom Gunter, one of Apple's most senior large language model researchers, has left the company after eight years. Colleagues say his deep expertise is tough to replace, especially as rivals like Meta and OpenAI throw around multimillion-dollar pay packages to poach talent.
A rumor around Apple's AI initiatives suggests the company could turn to third parties instead of relying on its own Apple Intelligence for an upgraded Siri, but there's likely a different story.
Apple could bring ChatGPT to Siri in a more integrated way
Apple has been in some hot water optically since it announced Apple Intelligence upgrades that never shipped. More zealous customers and shareholders feel betrayed by the company, and lawsuits have even sprung up because of it.
However, according to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is exploring several options around how it can bring more powerful AI tools to its platforms. Specifically, it seems Apple could be looking to Anthropic or OpenAI to run the backend of an AI-powered Siri.
Apple failed in its attempt to get the antitrust lawsuit that the U.S. Department of Justice filed against it dismissed, reports Reuters. U.S. District Judge Julien Neals, who is overseeing the case, today denied Apple's motion for dismissal.
Apple asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit in August of last year, arguing that the DOJ's complaint failed to demonstrate anticompetitive conduct, harm to consumers, or that Apple has a monopoly over the U.S. smartphone market.
The government's antitrust case against Apple will take years to play out, but it will now move forward. It is not unusual for a case to fail to be dismissed, because when filing for a dismissal, there are limits on the information that can be provided and cases often go in favor of the plaintiff.
The DOJ accused Apple of a smartphone monopoly in the United States, citing Apple's restriction of third-party access to Apple services and features and claiming that consumers are "locked" into Apple's ecosystem. Apple argues that the DOJ is attempting to force it to spend money on enriching its competitors, and that it is not a monopolist because it faces competition from companies like Samsung and Google.
Apple will now file an answer to the DOJ's initial complaint, and a discovery period will begin where Apple and the DOJ provide documents, expert testimony, and depositions. After that, there will be a summary judgment with additional arguments, and finally, a trial. The case is unlikely to make it to trial until 2028 or even later.
For a reminder about the DOJ's antitrust claims against Apple, we have a dedicated guide that explains the details in the U.S. vs. Apple legal fight.
Apple may fix its Siri failings by partnering with ChatGPT creator OpenAI or Claude creator Anthropic, reports Bloomberg. Apple has been meeting with OpenAI and Anthropic to discuss a potential deal that would see a third-party large language model used as the backbone for Siri.
Both companies are training versions of their models that would work with Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, and Apple is running tests, but hasn't made a final decision on whether to abandon Siri. So far, Apple has found that Anthropic's AI models are the best fit for Siri, and Apple and Anthropic have already discussed some preliminary financial terms. Bloomberg says that Anthropic is asking for a multibillion-dollar annual fee that increases over time, which is why Apple is also considering partnering with other companies like OpenAI.
Apple has been training a large language model for a future version of Siri, but it is no secret that Apple has been struggling with AI. Apple previewed several new Siri capabilities at the June 2024 WWDC keynote and advertised the iPhone 16 models with the functionality, but ultimately wasn't able to develop the technology in time.
Apple's work on an LLM version of Siri is separate from the personalized Siri features that are coming in iOS 26. LLM Siri is planned as a follow up to the new features coming in iOS 26, and it will presumably debut in iOS 27 in the fall of 2026.
Partnering with Anthropic or OpenAI would give Apple time to work on its own AI models while still delivering modern AI features that customers have come to expect. Apple already partners with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri, and iOS 18 users are able to have Siri pass requests on to ChatGPT for more detailed answers. This article, "Apple Could Use ChatGPT or Claude to Power Siri" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Apple shouldn't have to change the App Store rules to meet a court order in the long-running lawsuit with Epic, a trade group insists, as it would violate Apple's First Amendment rights.
A still from an Epic Games video instigating the lawsuit against Apple - Image Credit: Epic Games
In April, the ever-persisting Epic vs Apple trial saw the court sanction Apple for deliberately violating a 2021 injunction to remove anti-steering barriers for third-party businesses. As part of the sanction, Apple was ordered to make quite a few changes.
The list of requirements ranged from not charging a fee on purchases made outside of an app, to stop limiting how developers promote alternative payment options within their apps, to allowing developers to more freely use links in apps, among other measures.
Apple is now on its second round of betas for its current-gen testing track, with new builds of iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6 now available for testing.
Examples of Apple Intelligence at work.
The second iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 developer betas have build number 22G5064d, replacing the first, 22G5054d. The second macOS Sequoia 15.6 build is 24G5065c, up from 24G5054d.
The second tvOS 18.6 build is 22M5065b and replaces 22M5054b, the second watchOS 11.6 build is 22U5065c taking over from 22U5054b, and the second visionOS 2.6 build is 22O5764b, up from 22O5754c.