Apple

Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV.


tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software.

Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS 26.4.

tvOS 26.4: New Features

Genius Browse

Apple added a new "Genius Browse" section to the ‌Apple TV‌ app on tvOS 26.4. Genius Browse is a content discovery feature that provides recommendations for TV shows and movies across multiple suggested categories. Suggestions vary based on content preferences, and the options are updated regularly.

Examples of categories include "Bittersweet Family Dramas" and "Good for a Pick-Me-Up."

Continuous Audio Connection

Apple says tvOS 26.4 fixes an issue with audio playback on Apple TV 4K that can occur when sound transitions between programs with different formats.

Specifically, there is a new "Continuous Audio Connection" setting in the Settings app, under Video and Audio → Audio Format → HDMI Output.

"Apple TV uses a Dolby MAT connection for glitch-free playback across formats," reads Apple's description of the setting. "Older receivers may indicate an Atmos connection, but original mixes will not be modified."

Subtitle Styling

You can now change the style of subtitles/captions while you are watching content in the Apple TV app and other apps that use the Apple TV's default video player, without needing to open the Settings app. You can adjust the size and appearance of the subtitles, opt for subtitles to have a transparent background, and so forth.

To turn on subtitles from the video player, look for the speech bubble button.

No More iTunes TV Shows and Movies Apps

tvOS 26.4 finally removes the preinstalled iTunes TV Shows and iTunes Movies apps from the Apple TV, with all content now found in the Apple TV app.

Performance Improvements

Apple says tvOS 26.4 includes performance and stability improvements.

tvOS 26.4: Release Notes

Here are Apple's release notes for tvOS 26.4:

This update fixes an issue with audio playback on Apple TV 4K that can occur when sound transitions between programs with different formats, like Dolby Atmos and stereo. iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps removed with all content and playback consolidated into Apple TV app. This update also includes performance and stability improvements.

Some tvOS features are limited to newer Apple TV models.
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Apple is working on an AI wearable device that's been described as a pin or a pendant. Apple is experimenting with the device right now, but if development moves forward, it could launch as soon as 2027.


We've rounded up everything we know about the AI pin so far.

Design

The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It features an aluminum and glass shell, and there's a physical control button on one edge. Apple apparently wants the final version of the device to be about the same size as an ‌AirTag‌, but with the hardware inside, it will be slightly thicker.

Apple will let users attach it to clothing or a bag with a clip, or wear it as a necklace using a hole at the top of the accessory.

The AI pin wirelessly charges like an Apple Watch.

Camera

Apple plans to add a camera to the AI pin, but rumors are mixed on what the camera will do.

Bloomberg says the pin will have a low-resolution camera that gives it info about its surroundings rather than a camera for capturing photos and videos. The camera will be always-on and always recording, but users will not be able to use it for images.

The Information believes there will be two front cameras, one with a standard lens and one with a wide-angle lens for capturing photos and videos.

Apple's AI device will rely heavily on Visual Intelligence, which is currently an iPhone feature that uses the camera to provide users with more information about places and objects around them.

Speaker and Microphone

The AI pin has at least one microphone for speaking to Siri and picking up sounds around the wearer, but Apple has not decided whether to add a speaker for back-and-forth ‌Siri‌ conversations and audio playback.

Siri

The AI pin will run the updated version of ‌Siri‌ that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27. Apple is working on a chatbot upgrade for ‌Siri‌, putting it on par with Claude, Gemini, and OpenAI.

‌Siri‌ will be powered by a version of Gemini thanks to Apple's partnership with Google. All of the intelligence features promised in iOS 18 are expected in iOS 27, plus more.

iPhone Reliance

The AI pin will have a dedicated chip inside, but it will be similar to the H2 chip in the AirPods. It's not going to be a high-powered chip, and most processing will be done on the iPhone.

Apple is not designing the AI pin to be a standalone device, and it will instead be marketed as an iPhone accessory. Bloomberg said some Apple employees see it as the "eyes and ears" of the iPhone.

Competition

OpenAI is also rumored to be working on an AI device through its collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive. OpenAI's device will be powered by ChatGPT, and it could launch in 2027. Rumors suggest that it's a small, pocket-sized non-wearable, but it would still compete with a similar AI wearable from Apple.

Other wearable AI devices like the $700 Humane AI Pin have failed, but the Humane pin was developed as a standalone device rather than an accessory to an existing product like the iPhone.

Apple's Other AI Wearable Work

Apple is working on AirPods that have a built-in infrared camera that's meant to gather information about the wearer's surroundings, similar to the pin. Development on the AirPods is further along, and rumors suggest we could see a camera-equipped version of the AirPods Pro as soon as this year.

Apple is also developing smart glasses that will compete with the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will have a high-resolution camera system able to capture photos and videos, plus a second camera that feeds visual data to ‌Siri‌ for environmental context. The glasses won't have an embedded display in the lens, and are reliant on the upcoming smarter version of ‌Siri‌.

Launch Date

Development on the AI pin is in the early stages, and it could still be canceled. If Apple moves forward with plans for the pin, it's possible that it could launch as soon as 2027.
This article, "Apple's AirTag-Sized AI Pin: Everything We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple continues to celebrate its upcoming 50th anniversary by hosting events around the world, with the latest two held in the UK and Australia today.


Outside of its UK headquarters at the former Battersea Power Station in London, Apple hosted British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons for an under-the-radar performance that was open to the public. Apple invited MacRumors reporter Hartley Charlton to the event, which included a private reception for media personnel.


Over in Australia, Apple showcased digital artwork on the Sydney Opera House's eastern sails. The artwork was created in the Procreate app on the iPad by a group of 10 emerging Australian artists. Through free Today at Apple sessions, the public also had the opportunity to create and submit artwork for potential illumination.


If you missed tonight's exhibition, Apple said additional artwork from both commissioned artists and public submissions will be curated and projected onto the Opera House's eastern sails on March 26 and March 27 at 8 p.m. local time.

Apple has hosted celebrations in many other countries, including the United States, France, China, South Korea, and Thailand, with more to follow this week in Canada, Japan, India, and Mexico. Apple turns 50 on April 1.
This article, "Apple's 50th: Mumford & Sons in London, Illuminated Artwork in Sydney" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Select colors of the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) are currently back down to their record-low price of $299 at Amazon — a full 25% off…

The post Deal Alert: $100 off Apple Watch Series 11; hits all-time low of $299 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

macOS Tahoe 26.4 introduces a new security feature that warns Mac users if they paste certain commands in the Terminal app that may be harmful.


For those unaware, the Terminal app allows you to enter text commands to perform tasks on your Mac. Terminal is primarily intended for advanced users and developers, but unfortunately casual users can be tricked into entering harmful commands that can permanently delete files, change user permissions, and cause other problems.

Here is what the warning says when it appears:

Possible malware, Paste blocked

Your Mac has not been harmed.

Scammers often encourage pasting text into Terminal to try and harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.

These instructions are commonly offered via websites, chat agents, apps, files, or a phone call.

There is a "Paste Anyway" option if you wish to proceed.

The warning was spotted by users across Reddit and X over the past week.


We have yet to determine exactly which commands trigger the warning, which does not always appear. For this reason, always be careful. If you are unfamiliar with how Terminal works, it is probably best to avoid using it entirely.

macOS 26.4 was released earlier this week.
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Apple TV thsi week was recognized with 15 nominations across nine programs for the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, with top category nods…

The post Apple TV lands 15 2026 BAFTA Television Award nominations appeared first on MacDailyNews.

“For All Mankind,” has been renewed for a sixth and final season, marking the show’s final mission ahead of its highly anticipated season…

The post Apple TV renews award-winning space drama ‘For All Mankind’ for sixth and final season appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Google today said that Android has set a new record for mobile web performance, making it the fastest mobile platform for web browsing.


The newest Android devices have set new records on web performance benchmarks like Speedometer and LoadLine, which Google attributes to "deep vertical integration across hardware, the Android OS, and the Chrome engine."

Speedometer simulates real-world user actions to measure interaction latency when using a web browser, and it's a metric that major browser engine developers use to determine responsiveness. According to Google, a high Speedometer score correlates to a "more fluid, snappy feeling when you tap, scroll, or type on a website."

In charts published by Google, three unnamed Android devices earned higher Speedometer 3.1 scores than an unnamed "competing mobile phone platform," which is likely iOS.


LoadLine is an emerging benchmark test developed by the Chrome and Android teams that simulates the complete process of loading a website to determine how fast a webpage appears after a link is clicked. Android phones score up to 47 percent higher on the LoadLine test than non-Android competitors, according to Google.

Google says that it collaborated with select SoC and OEM partners to optimize Chrome and kernel scheduler policies to get the faster web browsing speeds. With the improvements, some Android flagship phones have improved their Speedometer and LoadLine scores by 20 to 60 percent year-over-year. For users, the change translates to four to six percent faster page loads and six to nine percent faster high-percentile interactions.
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Apple has full access to Gemini to customize the model for Siri and other AI features, reports The Information. Google gave Apple "complete access" to the Gemini model in its own data centers, and Apple can use the access for distillation, or creating smaller models for specific tasks. Apple is able to design models that are built to run on Apple devices without the need to connect to the internet.


The Information explains that Apple can ask the main Gemini model to perform a series of tasks that provide high-quality results, with a rundown of the reasoning process. Apple can feed the answers and reasoning information that it gets from Gemini to train smaller, cheaper models. With this process, the smaller models are able to learn the internal computations used by Gemini, producing efficient models that have Gemini-like performance but require less computing power.

Apple is also able to edit Gemini as needed to make sure that it responds to queries in a way that Apple wants, but Apple has been running into some issues because Gemini has been tuned for chatbot and coding applications, which doesn't always meet Apple's needs.

Apple is relying on Google's Gemini models for the smarter, chatbot version of Siri that's planned for iOS 27, but the Apple Foundation Models team is still working on Apple AI models that are distinct from the Gemini models.

‌Siri‌ will be able to do many of the same things that Gemini and other chatbots are able to do, such as answering questions, summarizing information, scanning and understanding uploaded documents, telling stories, providing emotional support, and completing tasks like booking travel.
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Apple on Tuesday announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that includes key services companies need to effortlessly manage…

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Poland's government has announced plans to begin drafting legislation to impose a tax of up to 3% on revenues from certain digital services, a move that could affect Apple and other major U.S. tech companies operating in the country.


Reuters reports that Deputy Prime Minister and Digitalization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski announced the decision on Tuesday, describing it as an effort to ensure fair competition between domestic businesses and large foreign digital platforms.

Today, competition in the digital market in Poland is distorted. Companies that pay taxes on their activities in Poland are in a worse position than those that provide digital services within our country from abroad. This reduces the competitiveness of domestic entities, limits our digital sovereignty, and significantly reduces state budget revenues that could be reinvested in building our country's technological potential.

The bill would tax companies that earn money from targeted online ads, platforms where users connect or buy and sell, and selling user data. It would only affect companies making over €1 billion globally and more than $6.79 million in Poland per year.

Based on that language, Apple services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, and its growing advertising business could fall within scope. At the same time, the draft includes broad exemptions, such as digital interfaces whose "sole or main purpose" is delivering content owned by the provider or for which it holds distribution rights, as well as online stores where the seller is not acting as an intermediary. Apple could potentially argue that some of its services qualify for those carve-outs, though the draft's language leaves considerable room for interpretation.

Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon would also likely be subject to the tax if the bill passes as written. Poland's digital tax push comes just months after the European Commission reversed its own plans for a similar digital levy.
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This week, the Apple Music streaming service announced deals with both Ticketmaster and Bandsintown. The integrations will make…

The post Apple Music delivers concert listings with new Bandsintown and Ticketmaster Integrations appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Amazon today has the AirPods Pro 3 available for $199.00 during its Big Spring Sale, down from $249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 3, and one of the best all-around deals you can get during the Amazon's springtime Prime Day.

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.

This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.



You can also get the AirPods 4 for $99.99 in the Big Spring Sale, down from $129.00, which is a solid second-best price. You can find all of the best discounts going on during this event in our dedicated post, which highlights discounts on AirTag, iPads, MacBooks, and more.

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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App Store Connect is a tool that allows app developers to view App Store metrics such as total downloads, and today it is receiving a major update.


"Analytics in App Store Connect receives its biggest update since its launch," said Apple, in a post on its developer news portal.

Apple says App Store Connect has a refreshed user experience that makes it easier to measure the performance of apps and games. There are more than 100 new metrics available, including new in-app purchase and subscription data.

Here is what is new, according to Apple:

• More than 100 new metrics. Now you can access monetization and subscription data in Analytics to better understand the performance of your In-App Purchases and offers.

• New cohort capabilities. Analyze user behavior based on common attributes — such as download date, download source, offer start date, and more — to measure how a particular group of users performs over time. For example, if you’ve expanded your app to a new region, you can monitor how long it takes users in that region to make a purchase compared to other more established regions. Cohort data is aggregated to ensure user privacy.

• New peer group benchmarks. Discover how you stack up to peers with two new monetization benchmarks: download-to-paid conversion and proceeds per download. Benchmarks incorporate differential privacy techniques to protect individual developer performance while also providing meaningful and actionable insights.

• Two new subscription reports. Export these via the Analytics Reports API to perform offline analysis and integrate Analytics into your own data systems.

• Additional filters. Apply up to seven filters to your selected metrics at once allowing you to drill down further and uncover additional insights.

• App Store Analytics Guide. This new guide in App Store Connect Help enables you to develop a data-driven strategy and understand App Store tools and features you can use to grow your business.

Apple has an App Store Connect app for the iPhone and iPad. App Store Connect is also available on the web at appstoreconnect.apple.com.
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Apple is accepting pre-orders for the AirPods Max 2 headphones that were introduced on March 16, with a purchase option now available on the Apple.com website.


In the U.S., Apple's online store lists a delivery timeframe of April 1 to April 3.

Priced at $549, the ‌AirPods Max 2‌ feature the same design as the original AirPods Max, but Apple updated the over-ear headphones with an H2 chip that adds new capabilities already offered by other AirPods models.


The H2 chip delivers up to 1.5x better Active Noise Cancellation with computational audio algorithms that are better able to detect and mitigate outside sound. Real-time Live Translation is supported, and features like Adaptive Audio, Voice Isolation, Conversation Awareness, Loud Sound Reduction, and Personalized Volume are available.

Audio quality has improved with a new high dynamic range amplifier that offers more consistent bass, more natural-sounding mids and highs, and improved localization of instruments. Transparency Mode sounds more natural than before, and the Digital Crown on the AirPods Max can now be used as a camera shutter for the iPhone or iPad. Bluetooth has been upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3.

The ‌AirPods Max 2‌ charge using USB-C and last for up to 20 hours in ANC mode before needing to be recharged. Like the prior-generation USB-C model, the ‌AirPods Max 2‌ support 24-bit 48kHz lossless audio over USB-C, and ship with a Smart Case. Color options continue to include midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.
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Apple on Tuesday released version 26.4 of its major operating systems, delivering a substantial collection of refinements, new capabilities…

The post Apple’s iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS 26.4 updates are packed with practical improvements and security fixes appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Amazon this week is hosting a "Big Spring Sale," which includes deals and offers on everything from Apple devices to clothes, kitchen electronics, furniture, and much more. The new event is set to run through March 31, so you'll have a few days of discounts to shop, with new markdowns appearing every day.

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.

This Prime Day-like event has record low prices and great deals on a huge variety of Apple products and related accessories, and in this article we're focusing mainly on Apple devices. Below you'll find big discounts on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and more. Similar to Prime Day, some deals will require a Prime membership.

AirPods

Amazon today has the AirPods Pro 3 available for $199.00, down from $249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 3, which has been rare on Amazon in recent weeks.




This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

AirTag

Amazon has the first generation AirTag 4-Pack on sale for $59.99 during the Big Spring Sale, down from $99.00. This is a new record low price on the first generation accessory.

Apple Watch Series 11

Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.




You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well.




If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.

M4 iPad Air

Amazon is taking up to $100 off the brand new M4 iPad Air during its Big Spring Sale this week. Specifically, Amazon has up to $80 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership.




The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis.

11-inch M4 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $559.00 ($40 off)


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $649.00 ($50 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $839.00 ($60 off)


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,017.34 ($82 off)

13-inch M4 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $749.00 ($50 off)


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $836.50 ($63 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,044.00 ($55 off)

iPad

Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad, as well as $100 off the iPad mini 7. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, which is a solid second-best price on this model.





We saw a few of these iPad models around $20 cheaper over the holiday season last year, but those all-time low prices never reappeared. As of now, Amazon's discounts are the best prices we've tracked so far in 2026.

iPad mini 7

There are also quite a few $100 discounts on the iPad mini 7 this week on Amazon, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. It's been a few weeks since we last tracked prices this low on the iPad mini 7.

M5 MacBook Air

Apple's new M5 MacBook Air just launched, and now Amazon has the first cash discounts on these models. You'll find $50 off nearly every new MacBook model on Amazon, without the need of a membership or clipping a coupon.




Although only $50 markdowns, these are the first and most notable discounts on the new M5 MacBook Air.

M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro

Similar to the MacBook Air, Amazon is also taking $49 off the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro for its Big Spring Sale.

Apple Studio Display

Apple just launched the new line of Studio Displays this month, and now Amazon has introduced the first discount on the Standard Glass model with Tilt-Adjustable Stand. You can get this Studio Display for $1,499.00, down from $1,599.00, a new all-time low price.






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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OpenAI is overhauling the shopping experience in its ChatGPT app by shifting the focus from in-app purchases to product discovery, after the company's Instant Checkout feature apparently failed to gain traction.


Launched in September, Instant Checkout let users buy items from retailers like Etsy, Walmart, and Shopify directly within ChatGPT. In a new product post, OpenAI now says it is deprioritizing the feature as a standalone offering, because it "did not offer the level of flexibility that we aspire to provide."

In place of it, ChatGPT is getting richer visual shopping tools, including side-by-side product comparisons, image-based search for finding similar items, and conversational result filtering.

OpenAI says the updates are powered by an expansion of its Agentic Commerce Protocol, which lets merchants feed product catalogs and promotions directly into ChatGPT. Retailers including Target, Sephora, Nordstrom, Best Buy, and The Home Depot are already on board.

Meanwhile, Walmart is launching a dedicated in-app ChatGPT experience that supports account linking, loyalty programs, and its own payment system. The updates are rolling out this week to all ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users.

In related news, OpenAI yesterday said that it is ending support for its Sora AI video app just six months after it initially launched.
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macOS Tahoe 26.4 includes a new slow charger indicator that tells MacBook users when their charging setup isn't delivering full power.


As described in an updated Apple support document, a "Slow Charger" label now appears in orange text in the battery status menu and above the Battery Level graph in Battery settings. The indicator is accompanied by an info button for more details.

Apple says that to charge more quickly, users should use a power adapter and cable that deliver at least the minimum wattage recommended for their MacBook model.

The feature is similar to one Apple added to iPhone with iOS 18, where periods of slow charging appear as an orange bar in the Battery section of the Settings app.

The slow charger indicator is one of two battery-related changes in macOS 26.4. The update also adds a Charge Limit feature that lets MacBook users set a maximum charge level anywhere from 80 to 100 percent, with the aim of preserving long-term battery health.

macOS Tahoe 26.4 is available now via System Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.
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The latest version of iOS 26, iOS 26.4, is now available for download. The update doesn't have the Siri feature set we were hoping for, but there are quite a few new additions like new emoji and an AI music feature.

Playlist Playground

Apple Music has a new Playlist Playground feature that lets users create a playlist with a text-based prompt.


In the ‌Apple Music‌ app, there's an option to type in an idea and get automatic song suggestions for a playlist. Apple has some pre-set suggestions that include "morning coffee music," "hip-hop party songs," and "disco songs that defined the 1970s," but you can type in any idea, mood, or feeling.

From there, the Playlist Playground feature will automatically generate a list of 25 songs, along with a custom title. Playlists that you create can be customized further with additional text prompts, and you can select a cover and a description.

Playlist Playground is limited to the United States.

New Emoji

iOS 26.4 adds eight new emoji characters, including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature (Sasquatch), fight cloud, orca, landslide, and ballet dancer.


There are also new skin tone modifiers for people wrestling and dancers with bunny ears.

Apple Music

‌Apple Music‌ features a "Concerts Near You" feature that helps you find shows in your area and tour dates for artists that you're a fan of. Apple is partnering with companies like Ticketmaster to provide local concert info.


Apple has redesigned albums and playlists, adding full-page artwork.

A song can be added to multiple playlists at the same time in the ‌Apple Music‌ app. In the add to playlist interface, there is a list button, and tapping it allows you to select multiple playlists at the same time.

Offline Music Recognition

In Control Center, the song recognition feature is now able to identify songs without an internet connection, providing results when you're back online.

Purchase Sharing Changes

Adult members in a Family Sharing group can now use separate payment methods for purchases, rather than having to share a single payment method.

Apple Podcasts

With iOS 26.4, Apple added video podcast capabilities to the Apple Podcasts app. The feature uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) to provide podcast creators with "unprecedented control and monetization opportunities" while also providing a high-quality viewing experience.


The iOS 26.4 Podcasts app will let users switch between watching and listening to shows, with videos able to be downloaded for offline viewing. HLS ensures smooth playback regardless of network connection, so videos will work on Wi-Fi or cellular. Apple says that the new video episodes will integrate with existing ‌Apple Podcasts‌ features, including personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions in the New and Category sections.

Stolen Device Protection

Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default for all iPhone users, rather than being an opt-in feature.


Apple implemented Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 after reports about a new iPhone theft method. Thieves would spy on an intended victim to learn their passcode, then steal the target's iPhone. With the passcode, criminals were able to empty bank accounts, access passwords, and turn off Find My.

Stolen Device Protection requires additional authentication through Face ID or Touch ID to access certain iPhone features like the Passwords app, Lost mode in ‌Find My‌, Safari purchases, and more. Some features are disabled entirely without authentication, while others have a one-hour security delay.

Messages App

There are new animations in the Messages app for actions like launching a new conversation.

Apple Account Unified Design

In the App Store, ‌Apple Music‌, and other apps that have user settings, there is a new unified Apple Account hub that replaces the existing profile feature.


It offers largely the same functionality as the prior profile settings for each app, but there is a new unified design.

The ‌App Store‌ merges apps and purchase history, and has a dedicated section for app updates. It now takes two taps to get to app updates rather than having them available at the bottom of the profile page.

The ‌App Store‌'s navigation bar also no longer features Search as a separate button, and the search bar itself is at the top when tapped rather than the bottom.

Ambient Music Widget

There is a new Ambient Music widget for the Home and Lock Screen. It supports playing different built-in ambient music options for sleep, productivity, wellbeing, and more.

Wallpaper and Watch Face Gallery

The Wallpaper Gallery has an updated design that allows Wallpapers from each category like Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, Colors and More to be downloaded to the iPhone.


The Watch Face Gallery in the Apple Watch app also features the same design change.

Captions

Subtitle and caption customization settings are available from the captions icon when viewing media, which makes them easier to access and change.

Freeform Creator Studio

Freeform Creator Studio is live in iOS 26.4, allowing Creator Studio subscribers to access new Freeform features. Creator Studio for Freeform adds a dedicated Content Hub that houses the Freeform shape options.


Creator Studio users will be able to access free, high-quality content like graphics, photos, and illustrations that are not available to non-subscribers, plus there are AI capabilities for creating and editing images.

When Creator Studio launched, Apple said the premium content and features in Freeform would be coming to the Apple Creator Studio subscription later this year.

Freeform also has a new icon.

Reminders

The Reminders app has a new "Urgent" section. Reminders that have Urgent toggled on during creation will show up here. Urgent ensures that reminders have an accompanying alarm so you get a clear warning when a reminder is due.


Reminders can also be marked as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by touching and holding.

iCloud Web Settings

In the iCloud section of the Settings app, there's now an "iCloud.com" option if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the interface. It replaces the simple "Access ‌iCloud‌ Data on the Web" toggle that was previously available.


The setting includes a new "Allow Search" toggle that lets trusted Apple devices provide search results to iCloud.com.

Health App

iOS 26.4 includes a new Average Bedtime metric for the sleep section of the Health app, providing a better idea of how bedtime can impact sleep quality.



Apple also updated the Vitals section of the Health app in the U.S., and now includes blood oxygen level on the line graph overview that's available each day. In iOS 26.3 and earlier versions of ‌iOS 26‌, there was a section for the blood oxygen level, but the graph did not include a blood oxygen measurement.

Reduce Motion and Bright Effects

There's a new Reduce Bright Effects option that minimizes bright flashes when tapping on interface elements like buttons. The Reduce Motion setting also more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for those who prefer less movement.

Camera

In the Settings section of the Camera app, there is a new "Audio Zoom" option. The feature causes recorded audio to focus on the subject when the camera is zoomed while recording a video. It can be turned on or off, depending on the audio settings you prefer.

CarPlay

With iOS 26.4, AI services like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT are accessible through the CarPlay system for the first time.

The new integration lets ‌CarPlay‌ users access voice-based apps like ChatGPT to ask questions hands-free, but the apps will not be able to control vehicle or iPhone functions. There also won't be a wake word option to activate a third-party app, so users will still need to open the app to use the chatbot. After an app is launched, the customizable voice control screen will give users vehicle-optimized chatbot experiences.

Third-party apps need to implement support for the feature, so it may take some time for the functionality to be available.

We also found mentions of Apple TV support for CarPlay during the beta period, indicating that Apple will eventually allow users to watch Apple TV content through their car's dashboard when the vehicle is not in motion.



At WWDC 2025, Apple said that it would add support for AirPlaying video content to a ‌CarPlay‌ display.

Hotspot Data

Apple moved the location of hotspot data usage. Rather than having data usage metrics tucked away under Cellular, you'll see how much data you've used right in the Personal Hotspot section.

Live Captions

Chinese (Taiwan) is a new language option for Live Captions in the Accessibility section.

Passcode Settings

In the ‌Face ID‌ and Passcode section of the Settings app, when you enter a passcode to access your options, the text is now center aligned instead of left aligned.

Shortcuts

Apple added a Set Charge Limit action to the Shortcuts app. It sets a battery charge limit for the iPhone.

Keyboard Bug Fix

iOS 26.4 offers improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly, addressing a bug in iOS that caused some characters to be missed when a user was typing rapidly. The missed characters could impact how autocorrect worked, causing the feature to be unable to predict what the user meant to type.

Carrier Updates

The iOS 26.4 beta has a Voice Over New Radio (VoNR) feature for Telus iPhone users. The feature lets compatible devices remain on the 5G Standalone network during voice calls instead of 4G LTE.

Security Updates

iOS 26.4 fixes more than 35 security vulnerabilities impacting everything from Safari to Messages, and multiple underlying services.

There were no actively exploited vulnerabilities that Apple encountered, but it is still a good idea to update to iOS 26.4 to get the latest patches.

Now that Apple has publicized the vulnerabilities, they might be taken advantage of by bad actors.

How to Get iOS 26.4

You can install iOS 26.4 by opening up the Settings app, tapping into the General section, and navigating to Software Update.

Compatibility

iOS 26.4 runs on all iPhones that support ‌iOS 26‌, which includes the iPhone 11 and later.

What's Coming Next

We could get the first beta of iOS 26.5 as soon as this week now that iOS 26.4 is publicly available.
This article, "iOS 26.4 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released watchOS 5.3.10 and watchOS 8.8.2 for older Apple Watch models that are not able to run the current watchOS 26 update. watchOS 5.3.10 is available for the Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE.


According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime need to function. The certificate update ensures that these apps and features will continue to work after January 2027, which is when the existing certificate was set to expire.

watchOS 8 is the final version of watchOS that's supported on the Apple Watch Series 3.

watchOS 5 is the final version of watchOS able to be installed on an Apple Watch Series 1 or Series 2 using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus. The Series 1 and Series 2 do support watchOS 6, but installing watchOS 6 requires an iPhone 6s or later.
This article, "Apple Releases watchOS 5 and watchOS 8 Updates to Keep FaceTime and iMessage Running on Older Apple Watches" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In a newly surfaced 15-minute video from an internal Apple company meeting on July 27, 1999, Steve Jobs addresses employees at the…

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OpenAI today said that it is ending support for its Sora AI video app just six months after it initially launched.

We're saying goodbye to Sora. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing.

OpenAI did not provide more detail into why Sora is being discontinued, but the company said that it plans to share more soon, including specific information on when the app and API will be shut down. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees that ending Sora will free up resources for OpenAI's next-generation AI models, according to The Information.

Sora generates AI videos of real people, with each user uploading a "cameo" or short video of themselves that's used as the basis for AI prompts. Users are able to share their cameos with others, allowing anyone on the app to generate AI video with their likeness.

When it launched at the end of September 2025, Sora gained viral popularity. It was downloaded more than a million times just a week and a half after launch, reaching the milestone faster than ChatGPT, and for a period of time, it was the top free app on the App Store.

OpenAI received criticism for deepfake videos featuring celebrities both dead and alive, and the company stopped allowing users to create videos featuring celebrity likenesses or voices without express consent. The guardrails that OpenAI put in place killed some of the interest in the app, and its popularity died down.
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iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps.


To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later.

Below, we have outlined the two new CarPlay features.

Ambient Music Widget

CarPlay gained support for widgets on iOS 26. To view them, swipe right on CarPlay's interface until you reach the Dashboard screen, shown below.


Starting with iOS 26.4, both the iPhone and CarPlay now have an Ambient Music widget option.

Apple introduced the Ambient Music feature on iOS 18.4 last year. It offers curated playlists based on themes such as Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing, with no Apple Music subscription required to listen to the songs.

To add the Ambient Music widget to a CarPlay widget stack, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General → CarPlay → [Your Vehicle] → Widgets → Add Widget, select the Ambient Music option, and tap on the Add Widget button.

Chatbot Apps

Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based conversational apps, according to Apple's CarPlay Developer Guide. This means that chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude will be able to extend their iPhone apps to CarPlay for voice-based conversations, should any of them choose to do so.


Of course, Apple's own assistant Siri remains available on CarPlay, without needing to open an app. It was recently reported that Apple is testing a new Siri app for iOS 27 with chatbot-like functionality and conversation history, so it will be interesting to see if that Siri app is available on CarPlay in a voice-only state later this year.
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Smart lock company Nuki today launched the Keypad 2 NFC, which is the first keypad that includes support for Aliro. Aliro is a smart lock standard that supports interoperability between mobile devices and platforms, allowing smart locks to work with any smartphone or wearable device without the need for a dedicated app.


Aliro was designed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which includes Apple, and the Aliro 1.0 specification was released at the end of February. Nuki has one of the first Aliro-supported devices, and the Keypad 2 NFC allows a paired Nuki smart lock to be unlocked with Apple Home Key.

To use the Home Key functionality, you need the Nuki Smart Lock and the new Keypad 2 NFC, and I was able to test the setup prior to launch. The Nuki Smart Lock has Matter integration so it works with HomeKit and can be added to Apple Home without the keypad, but the Keypad 2 NFC adds Home Key for automatic unlocking with a digital key stored in the Apple Wallet app.

The Nuki Smart Lock has a clever design. It's meant to work with a standard deadbolt, and it uses the framework of the existing lock. I had a smart lock already, so I needed to install a regular deadbolt to test the Nuki. It's not a smart lock to smart lock upgrade, but it's a good hassle-free lock for adding digital unlocking to a lock you already have.


Nuki's Smart Lock reminds me of a doorknob, because it's a similar size and shape, plus you turn it like a doorknob to unlock the door. You keep your standard deadbolt outside, and the Nuki lock mechanism is on the inside. It's smaller than locks from some competing companies, and there's no big box on the door. I like the design because it looks like a normal lock on the exterior, and it's minimally distracting on the inside. I recently swapped all of my bulkier smart locks with the minimal Level Locks because I got tired of looking at boxes, and while Nuki's lock adds a little more bulk to a door than a Level Lock, it's not bad at all.

The only Nuki lock downside is the charging method. It uses a proprietary cable that attaches magnetically to the lock, and it seems easy to misplace. I even prefer Nuki's unlocking method to other smart locks, because I just turn the handle.

The Smart Lock has been around for a while, but the Keypad 2 NFC that adds Home Key is new. On its own, the Nuki Lock supports ‌HomeKit‌, but not Home Key. The Keypad is a candy bar-shaped device that attaches to the outside of your door with adhesive. It has a touchpad that you can use to enter a code, plus a fingerprint sensor. It can be opened with NFC using Home Key, the code, or the fingerprint sensor, so it adds multiple access methods to the Nuki Smart Lock.

I didn't find the process of setting up the Keypad 2 NFC with Home Key to be the most intuitive process. I added it to the Nuki app first, then tapped on the option to associate it with a smart home platform. The app instructed me to open up Apple Home, but there were no further instructions because an associated support document was unavailable (it could be up post launch).

It turned out I was able to set up Home Key by tapping my iPhone to the keypad, which added it to my existing Home Key setup. I have Level Locks that support Home Key, so the Home Key card in my Wallet app can now control multiple locks in my home.

With Home Key, I'm able to tap my iPhone or Apple Watch on the keypad without having to unlock the iPhone or open up the Nuki app.

There are already smart locks that support Home Key, but Aliro is a standard like Matter that makes it easier for lock companies to implement one unlocking feature that works across a variety of platforms. Locks that have Aliro support going forward will be compatible with Home Key and other smart home platforms. Aliro does have Ultra Wideband support for unlocking the door as you approach, but Nuki's product doesn't include UWB.


The lock can be used with geofencing and automations in the Home app or the Nuki app for automatic unlocking, and there are settings to automatically lock the door after it's opened as well.

Using Home Key with the Keypad does require a Matter-enabled Apple hub, which includes the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini. There are also hardware requirements, and it works with the iPhone XS or later with iOS 18.6 or later or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 11.6 or later.

Nuki's Keypad 2 NFC supports up to 20 fingerprints so multiple people in the family can unlock the door via biometric authentication, plus users can have 200 access codes and 35 tap-to-unlock keys.

The Keypad 2 has IP54 water and dust resistance, so it can hold up to poor weather outside, but it's best to keep it in a covered location. It uses AAA batteries that are supposed to last for up to a year, and the Nuki app will provide a notification when the battery is low. There isn't a backlight, but if you're using NFC, you don't need that for the tap unlock functionality.

Nuki's Keypad 2 NFC is available from the Nuki website for $179, while the Smart Lock is priced at $199. Nuki products are also available from Amazon.

Note: Nuki provided MacRumors a Nuki Lock and Keypad 2 NFC for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Nuki Keypad 2 NFC Brings Aliro-Powered Tap-to-Unlock Home Key Support to Nuki Smart Locks" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Wall Street analyst Amit Daryanani of Evercore ISI is doubling down on his bullish stance on Apple, declaring that the company's powerful…

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Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the ‌AirPods 4‌.



There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance improvements.

To get the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and are connected via Bluetooth. From there, connect your Apple device to Wi-Fi, put your AirPods in the Charging Case, and connect the Charging Case to power. Keep the case closed and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware update to install.
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Apple is testing a standalone Siri chatbot app for iOS 27, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple plans to debut a chatbot version of ‌Siri‌ that will compete with Claude and ChatGPT, and the new ‌Siri‌ could be accessible through a dedicated app.


Gurman previously said that Apple was not going to develop a standalone ‌Siri‌ app, but it appears plans have changed. It was not clear how the rumored chatbot version of ‌Siri‌ was going to work without an app, because people often have multiple back-and-forth text-based conversations with chatbots, and not having a dedicated space would have been confusing.

Like ChatGPT and Claude, ‌Siri‌ will support both text and voice-based conversations. The app will display either a list or grid of past conversations, with options to favorite chats, search through chats, initiate new chats, and save chats. Conversations with ‌Siri‌ will resemble iMessage conversations, with Apple using chat bubbles. New conversations will start with suggested prompts on what to ask.

‌Siri‌ will be able to do much of what current chatbots can do, such as searching the web with visually rich results, providing summaries, and evaluating uploaded documents, and the personal assistant will still be integrated into Apple devices. Pressing the side button on an iPhone or using the ‌Siri‌ wake word will activate ‌Siri‌. ‌Siri‌ integration will replace the current Spotlight search functionality, but Apple plans to keep and expand on ‌Siri‌ Suggestions. ‌Siri‌ Suggestions will have more access to user data to provide more relevant prompts.

Chatbot ‌Siri‌ will have an updated look to go along with the dedicated app. Activating ‌Siri‌ will have a new animation that prompts the user to search or ask a question, and Gurman says Apple is testing a version of ‌Siri‌ integrated into the Dynamic Island. Apple's test interface includes a glowing ‌Siri‌ icon and a "searching" label in the ‌Dynamic Island‌ while ‌Siri‌ is processing a request, and once done, ‌Siri‌ expands into a larger translucent panel with the results. Pulling down on the menu initiates an interface for a conversation.

It's also possible Apple will integrate an "Ask ‌Siri‌" button into the menus of other apps, giving users a way to send content directly to ‌Siri‌ alongside a request. The iOS keyboard could get a Write with ‌Siri‌ option that surfaces Writing Tools.

Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ features that were originally planned for iOS 18 will be introduced in ‌iOS 27‌, with ‌Siri‌ able to use personal data and context to answer queries. ‌Siri‌ will also be able to do more in and between apps, and will be able to see what's on the user's screen. Apple promised that those features would appear before the end of 2026.

Apple is planning to introduce the new version of ‌Siri‌ at the June WWDC keynote. Dates for WWDC were announced yesterday, and the keynote event is set to take place on Monday, June 8.
This article, "iOS 27 Siri Overhaul: Standalone App, New Design, Dynamic Island Integration and Ask Siri Button" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is raising concerns about artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more embedded in everyday life…

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