Apple

Apple TV was recognized with five nominations for the 86th Annual Peabody Awards, with category nods for “Pluribus,” “Mr. Scorsese,” “Vietnam…

The post Apple’s acclaimed titles land nominations for the 86th Annual Peabody Awards appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple on Thursday announced that it will be permanently closing three of its retail stores in the U.S. in June, and one of them was unionized.


Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland is one of the three stores being shuttered, with no replacement store planned. The staff at this location became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024.

The other two locations that are permanently closing are Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut and Apple North County in Escondido, California.

Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will "continue their roles" at the company's nearby stores in each area, so transfer eligibility is guaranteed. Meanwhile, Apple said employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, and it is unclear if everyone who applies will successfully secure a new position at the company.

In a statement, Apple said it made the "difficult decision" to close all three stores due to "declining conditions" at the shopping malls in which they are located:

At Apple, we are constantly striving to deliver exceptional service and great experiences for our customers. As we continue investing to expand and enhance our retail stores and offerings worldwide, we remain deliberate about evaluating our existing locations to ensure that we can meet our customers' needs in the best way. Following the departure of several retailers and declining conditions at Trumbull Mall, the Shops at North County, and Towson Town Center, we've made the difficult decision to close our stores at these locations.

Our team members at Trumbull and North County will continue their roles at nearby Apple Retail stores. Towson employees will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. We look forward to continuing to serve customers at nearby stores and on Apple.com, the Apple Store app, and at Apple Authorized Resellers and Service Providers throughout the states.

Towson Town Center is indeed a struggling shopping mall that has lost many major retailers. Earlier this year, for example, Banana Republic, Madewell, and Tommy Bahama announced they were leaving the mall. In addition, local news outlets have reported that the area surrounding the mall is facing a rising crime rate in recent years.

In a statement, the IAM Union said it is "outraged" by Apple's decision to close the Towson store and raised "serious concerns" of potential union busting:

The IAM Union is outraged by Apple's decision to close its Towson, Md., store—the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States—and abandon both its workers and a community that relies on it for critical services and its unique access to public transit. Apple's claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union. We are exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable. We stand with our IAM Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) members and the community that depends on this store for essential access and support.

IAM added that it is exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable for this decision.

Apple has yet to respond to our follow-up questions regarding IAM's statement and the accusations of potential union busting.

Apple Towson Town Center closes June 20, according to a source familiar with the matter.
This article, "Apple is Closing a Unionized Store in the U.S. and the Union is 'Outraged'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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This week we began tracking one of the best deals of the year so far, with $150 off nearly every model of Apple's new M5 MacBook Air. You'll find these sales below, plus great discounts on the 2026 MacBook Pro, AirPods Max 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a few Samsung markdowns to celebrate the launch of the new Frame Pro.

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.

M5 MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take $150 off M5 MacBook Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has a few record low prices on the new M5 MacBook Air this week, with $150 off nearly every model of the brand new notebook. Prices start at $949.00 for the 512GB 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, down from $1,099.00.

M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Take up to $199 off M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

In addition to the M5 MacBook Air deals, Amazon this week introduced record low prices on Apple's M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro. You can get up to $199 off select models without the need of a membership or clipping a coupon, with prices starting at $2,049.99 for the 14-inch model.

AirPods Max 2

• What's the deal? Take $19 off AirPods Max 2


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's new AirPods Max 2 launched last week, and Amazon is one of the only retailers offering a discount on the headphones. You can get the Midnight and Starlight color options for $529.99 on Amazon, down from $549.00.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

• What's the deal? Take $99 off Apple Watch Ultra 3


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week brought back deals on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, providing $99 discounts on select models. It's been months since we last tracked any discounts on the Ultra 3, and these are solid second-best prices on the 2025 smartwatch.

Samsung

• What's the deal? Save on Samsung's new The Frame Pro TV and more


• Where can I get it? Samsung


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Samsung this week announced its newest lineup of The Frame TVs with the 2026 The Frame and The Frame Pro, and you can get a bundle deal of up to $850 in savings when purchasing the new models.

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

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This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: M5 MacBook Air Hits New Record Low Prices at $150 Off, Plus MacBook Pro Deals" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has announced it will permanently shutter three of its U.S. retail locations this June, citing deteriorating conditions at the malls…

The post Apple to permanently close three U.S. retail stores in June amid declining mall conditions appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Google has expanded Gmail's end-to-end encryption for Workspace users to iOS and Android, allowing mobile users to compose and read encrypted messages natively within the Gmail app for the first time.


The feature is part of Gmail's client-side encryption (CSE) offering, which until now was limited to desktop. According to Google's Workspace update, users no longer need to download additional apps or use separate mail portals to handle encrypted email on mobile, and the experience is now built directly into the existing Gmail app on both platforms.

Google says encrypted messages can be sent to any recipient regardless of their email provider. If the recipient uses Gmail, the message arrives as a standard email thread. If they use a different provider, they can read and reply via a secure browser interface without needing to install anything.

The feature is available now for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. Access requires an Enterprise Plus plan with either the Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on, which is Google's compliance-oriented tier aimed at enterprise and public sector customers. Admins must first enable Android and iOS clients through the CSE admin interface in the Admin Console before users can access the feature.

To encrypt an individual message, users tap the lock icon within a compose window and select "additional encryption" before writing.
This article, "Gmail End-to-End Encryption Comes to iOS for Workspace Users" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Evidence suggests Apple is preparing to bring Car Key support to Lexus vehicles, MacRumors has discovered.


Code references to Lexus were found in Apple's backend code, indicating the Toyota-owned luxury brand is being added to Apple's Car Key backend. The discovery mirrors how Toyota's own Car Key support was first uncovered, before the feature went live for the 2026 RAV4 in February. It is unclear when the feature will roll out to customers.

Lexus already offers its own app-based Digital Key system, but unlike Apple Car Key, it requires an active connection to Toyota's servers to function and has not historically worked via Apple Wallet. Apple Car Key stores a digital key directly in the Wallet app and uses NFC for unlocking, with an Express Mode that allows access without authentication. On compatible devices, it continues to work for up to five hours after a phone's battery has died.

Toyota confirmed to Carscoops in February that the 2026 Lexus ES will be the first Lexus model to receive the enhanced Digital Key functionality as part of a new-generation infotainment system, with the vehicle expected later this year. It is likely that the code references relate to that upcoming rollout.

Car Key support has been expanding steadily across the industry. Vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Kia, Hyundai, Lotus, Mercedes, Volvo, and more already offer the feature, and a full list is available on MacRumors.
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If you own a MacBook and work from home, it's easy to have your laptop plugged in for hours on end without thinking about the long-term battery life implications. Fortunately, Apple recently added a setting that lets you cap how high your Mac's battery charges, and if you own an iPhone that was released in the last few years, you may already be familiar with it.


Lithium-ion batteries generally degrade fastest when held at a high state of charge, which means keeping your iPhone or your Mac's battery at 100 percent accelerates the chemical wear that permanently reduces its actual capacity over time.

To mitigate this on iPhone 15 and newer models, Apple lets you set a Charge Limit that prevents your device from charging beyond 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 percent. And in macOS Tahoe 26.4, Apple has brought over the same Charge Limit feature to Macs for the first time.

This option differs from Optimized Battery Charging, which learns your daily routine and delays charging past 80 percent until you're likely to need a full battery. Depending on your usage, however, your Mac may still regularly reach 100 percent.

Setting a charge limit prevents that. Obviously a lower charge cap means less time you'll be able to work away from a power outlet. But if you mostly sit at a desk with your MacBook plugged in, the trade-off is worth the long-term battery gains. That said, if you regularly rely on your Mac away from power, then you may want to opt for a higher cap, which should hopefully still curb battery wear without leaving you completely stranded. Either way, here's how to set the feature:

Set a MacBook Battery Charge Limit in macOS

1. Click the Apple symbol () in your Mac's menu bar and open System Settings....


2. Click Battery in the sidebar.


3. Click the i button next to Charging.


4. Drag the Charge Limit slider to your preferred level: 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%, then click Done.

That's all there is to it. Your Mac will now stop charging once it hits the level you chose, and Optimized Battery Charging will continue to work in the background unless you switch it off in the same panel.

Note that even with Optimized Battery Charging set to a limit below 100%, your Mac will occasionally charge to 100% so that macOS can maintain accurate battery level estimates, but for the most part it will stick to the specified maximum level.
This article, "Make Your MacBook Battery Last Longer With This Setting" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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OpenAI today added a new subscription tier, which the company says is meant to support increasing Codex use. Codex is OpenAI's AI coding agent that's integrated into ChatGPT, and it competes with Anthropic's Claude Code.


The new $100/month Pro tier provides 5x more Codex usage than the $20/month ChatGPT Plus plan. OpenAI says that it is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions. ChatGPT also has a $200 Pro tier with a 20x higher usage allowance, and the $100/month plan is a new middle-tier option. Both the $100 and $200 plans share the "Pro" name.

Pro subscribers will have access to all Pro features, including the Pro model and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models.

To celebrate the launch of the new plan, OpenAI is increasing Codex usage for a limited time. Through May 31, customers who subscribe to the $100/month Pro plan will get up to 10x usage of ChatGPT Plus on Codex.

In addition to introducing the new plan, OpenAI is "rebalancing" Codex usage in Plus to support more sessions throughout the week, instead of longer sessions in a single day. OpenAI says the ChatGPT Plus plan is the best offer for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, while the more expensive $100/month plan is a "more accessible" upgrade path for heavier daily use.

With the $100 plan, OpenAI has pricing tiers similar to Anthropic. Anthropic has a $20/month Pro plan, a Max 5x plan for $100/month, and a Max 20x plan for $200/month.
This article, "OpenAI Adds New $100/Month ChatGPT Subscription Tier for Heavier Codex Use" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Developer Bryan Keller was curious whether an old version of Apple's Mac operating system was capable of running on the Nintendo Wii after seeing Windows NT ported to the gaming device, so he decided to give it a try. He was able to get Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah to operate on the Nintendo Wii, and he shared a blog post walking through the project.


The Wii uses a PowerPC 750CL processor, which is a newer version of the PowerPC 750CXe that Apple used in the G3 iBook and iMac, which is why Keller had a hunch that the process would be successful. Keller wrote a custom bootloader and eventually managed to load OS X, with the multi-step process detailed on his website.

He had to patch the OS X kernel source code and compile a modified kernel binary, then write custom drivers so the kernel was able to read from the Wii SD card slot to boot into the file system. He also had to write a framebuffer driver for the OS X interface, bridge a color incompatibility between the Wii video hardware and OS X graphics code, and seek out decade-old OS X Cheetah USBFamily source code on IRC to get peripherals working.

Keller was able to get the Mac OS X Cheetah installer running with a functional keyboard and mouse, turning the Wii into a usable system running OS X.

Keller was invested enough in the project that he took the Wii with him on vacation to Hawaii so he could work on it. For those curious about how he solved the myriad problems required to get OS X running on a Wii, his website is worth checking out. Anyone who wants to try setting up OS X on a Wii can get the project source code on GitHub.
This article, "Mac OS X Cheetah Successfully Ported to Nintendo Wii" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's Mac shipments grew 9 percent during the first quarter of 2026, according to estimated shipment data shared this week by IDC.


Apple's growth outpaced overall PC market growth of 2.5 percent thanks to the M5 MacBook Pro that was released late last year. Apple also refreshed the MacBook Air and the higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, but those were just recently updated and wouldn't have impacted the Q1 2026 numbers much.

Apple was the number four PC vendor in the world with 6.2 million Macs shipped, up from 5.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Lenovo, HP, and Dell were the top three PC vendors with 16.5, 12.1, and 10.3 million PCs shipped, respectively. Most vendors saw an increase in shipments during the quarter according to IDC, with the exception of HP.

Apple had a 9.5 percent share of the global PC market during the quarter, up from 8.9 percent in the first quarter of 2025.

According to IDC, growth during the quarter was fueled by concerns over rising component costs and new product introductions. Vendors that are able to secure access to memory will fare the best as PC shipments start to decline.

IDC counts traditional PCs like desktops, notebooks, and workstations in its numbers, but it does not include tablets like the iPad. IDC's information is only an estimate, and Apple no longer provides details on the specific number of devices that it sells each quarter.

Apple's next earnings report is set to take place on April 30.
This article, "Apple Mac Shipments Grew 9% in Q1 2026, Outpacing Overall PC Market" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Europe's largest Apple museum to date opened in early April, coinciding with Apple's 50th anniversary. The Apple Museum spans 2,000 square meters and is located at the Wall Utrecht in the Netherlands.


The museum's creator, Ed Bindels, claims that the space features one of the largest Apple collections in the world, and it has several rooms dedicated to Apple's design. There is an eye-catching rainbow wall of iMac G3 machines, a recreation of the garage Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak worked in, an iPod display, and more.


Everything from classic Macs to modern iPhones is included in the museum, and it showcases almost all of the devices that Apple has released from 1976 to 2026. Bindels says the museum tells a story, featuring different stages in Apple's development timeline.

"For example, there is a space that shows what happened after Steve Jobs left Apple and the company went through a difficult period. Visitors then walk through a 'Think Different' corridor into a circular room filled with colorful iMacs. This room symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter for Apple. Throughout the museum, we tell different stories through the products."

Bindels teamed up with a group of volunteers to collect and restore devices, accessories, prototypes, manuals, and brand materials. Some of the devices in the museum are functional and are available for guests to use.


Tickets to the Apple Museum are priced at €21.50 for adults, with discounts available for students and children.
This article, "Europe's Largest Apple Museum Opens in the Netherlands With 50 Years of Products on Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Instagram today implemented a small but useful change, allowing Instagram users to edit their comments for up to 15 minutes after writing the initial comment.


The Meta-owned social media site has long supported editing an Instagram post, but comments have never been able to be updated to correct typos. Editing a comment can be done by tapping on the new "Edit" option that is displayed after a comment is posted.

Comments on Instagram that have been edited will be marked with a gray edited tag, but Instagram does not allow users to see the original comment.
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Last June, Apple announced that 13 vehicle brands had committed to supporting Car Keys in the Wallet app. The companies…

The post More major vehicle brands deliver Car Keys in Apple Wallet appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple TV on Thursday debuted the trailer for “My Brother the Minotaur,” an all-new animated kids and family adventure series set to premiere…

The post Apple TV debuts trailer for ‘My Brother the Minotaur,’ premiering April 24th appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple today updated Pixelmator Pro, the popular image editing app that it purchased in 2024. Pixelmator Pro includes RAW image support for more cameras, new templates, improved support for SVG file exports, new keyboard shortcuts, and more. Some of the features like the keyboard shortcuts are limited to the Creator Studio version of Pixelmator Pro.


Pixelmator Pro has a template and mockup section, which includes new app screenshot options and devices to use for app mockups on Apple devices. Apple has added support for the latest iPhone 17 models.

SVG files exported from Pixelmator Pro will have fewer issues when opened in Adobe Illustrator, and there is an option to touch and hold an image on the canvas to see before and after edits from Color Adjustments and Effects tools.

The sidebar is customizable using the toolbar setting options, and there are keyboard shortcuts for changing layer opacity, selecting layers when using Select Subject, cycling through blend modes, and swapping between layers. Apple's release notes for the Creator Studio version of Pixelmator Pro are below.

• Enjoy full support for compressed RAW images from Sony Alpha ILCE-7M5, FUJIFILM GFX 100S II, and FUJIFILM GFX 100RF cameras


• Work with High Efficiency (HE) and High Efficiency Star (HE*) RAW images from Nikon Z5II and Nikon Z50II cameras


• Open and edit RAW images from Panasonic LUMIX DC-S1RM2 cameras captured in High Resolution mode


• Discover the updated template and mockup categories, including App Screenshot, Bento Grid, and Devices, now featuring new iPhone 17 mockups


• Open SVG files exported from Pixelmator Pro in Adobe Illustrator with improved compatibility


• Touch and hold an image on the canvas to instantly compare before and after edits from Color Adjustments and Effects tools


• You can now customize the Pixelmator Pro Tools sidebar from the menu bar by choosing View > Customize Tools

The iPad app was also updated with some of the keyboard shortcuts that were previously available in the Mac version of the app.

New Keyboard Shortcuts

• Press and hold the Option key when choosing Select Subject to base the selection on all layers in a document


• Easily change layer opacity using number keys 1 through 9 in all supported tools


• Cycle through layer blend modes using the Shift-Plus and Shift-Minus keyboard shortcuts in all supported tools


• Use the Command-J keyboard shortcut to duplicate and Command-Shift-J to cut and paste the selected area


• Use the Option-Comma and Option-Period keyboard shortcuts to quickly switch between selecting topmost and bottommost layers in a document


• Use the Space bar to play or pause video playback in documents containing video layers

The non-Creator Studio version of the app includes the same RAW image support and the new templates, but it lacks the other options that Apple added.

Photomator, a photo editing sister app to Pixelmator Pro, was updated with the new RAW image support.

Apple introduced Creator Studio earlier this year, and it incorporates apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Because many of these apps existed before Creator Studio was developed, Apple offers a Creator Studio version and a standard version, which can be confusing. Unlocking Creator Studio features requires a Creator Studio subscription, priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.

For Pixelmator Pro, Creator Studio-exclusive features include a warp tool, apparel mockups, and a dedicated ‌iPad‌ app.
This article, "Apple's Pixelmator Pro Update Brings iPhone 17 Mockups, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Expanded Camera Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple on Thursday released macOS 26.4.1 which provides bug fixes for your Mac (including a fix for an iCloud syncing issue in…

The post Apple releases macOS 26.4.1 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple today updated several apps designed for creators, including Logic Pro, Compressor, MainStage, Motion, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Camera, Numbers, Keynote, and Pages. Apple has pushed updates for the iOS, iPadOS and macOS versions of the apps where applicable.


Logic Pro includes a Step Reflex: Modern Garage Pack, featuring two-step beats, deep basslines, synths, and more. The update also includes an option to export a shareable file to preview how a spatial audio mix will sound when streamed on Apple Music.

Preview of Dolby Atmos Mix
Export a lightweight, shareable file to preview your spatial audio mix as it will sound when streamed on Apple Music -- playable on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Step Reflex Pack
Get ready to bounce! Step Reflex: Modern Garage adds pristine polish to the iconic sound of '90s/early 2000s UK garage with gritty bass-heavy energy, immersive ambient atmospheres, and a sprinkle of EDM magic

Whether you're crafting a dancefloor anthem or an introspective groove, this comprehensive collection is filled with punchy, two-step beats, rave-ready synths, deep basslines, and infectious vocal chops that will make your tracks pop

Compressor, Motion, Final Cut Camera, Final Cut Pro, MainStage, Numbers, Keynote, and Pages have no new features, and the release notes only mention stability improvements and bug fixes.

Apple's apps are included as part of the Creator Studio subscription that's priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year, but apps like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro can also be purchased standalone. Numbers, Pages, and other apps are free to use, but some features are limited to those who subscribe to Creator Studio.
This article, "Logic Pro Updated With Step Reflex Sound Pack, Apple's Other Creator Apps Get Bug Fixes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.4.1, a minor update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last September. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4.1 comes two weeks after Apple launched macOS Tahoe 26.4.


Mac users can download the new software by opening up the System Settings app and navigating to the Software Update section.

According to Apple, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4.1 addresses an issue that could cause the M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models to fail to join 802.1X Wi-Fi networks when using content filter extensions.

Update: According to several readers, the update also fixes an issue experienced by Intel-based Mac users on macOS 26.4 that resulted in broken customized folder icons.
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Apple TV hosted the star-studded premiere for its upcoming comedic family drama “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” at Regal Union Square theater…

The post Apple TV celebrates the premiere of ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple today announced it will be permanently closing three retail stores in the U.S. in June, including Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut, Apple North County in Escondido, California, and Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland.


Apple issued the following statement to MacRumors:

At Apple, we are constantly striving to deliver exceptional service and great experiences for our customers. As we continue investing to expand and enhance our retail stores and offerings worldwide, we remain deliberate about evaluating our existing locations to ensure that we can meet our customers' needs in the best way. Following the departure of several retailers and declining conditions at Trumbull Mall, the Shops at North County, and Towson Town Center, we've made the difficult decision to close our stores at these locations.

Our team members at Trumbull and North County will continue their roles at nearby Apple Retail stores. Towson employees will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. We look forward to continuing to serve customers at nearby stores and on Apple.com, the Apple Store app, and at Apple Authorized Resellers and Service Providers throughout the states.

All three of the stores are located in struggling shopping malls that have lost dozens of major retailers combined. Earlier this year, for example, Banana Republic, Madewell, and Tommy Bahama announced they were leaving Towson Town Center. Last month, the owner of Trumbull Mall defaulted on a $150 million dollar loan and the property is now for sale. The mall now known as Mershops North County was also sold a few years ago amid declining conditions.

Notably, staff at Apple Towson Town Center became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE).

Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will continue their roles at nearby Apple Store locations, while employees at the Towson Town Center store will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement that they signed with Apple as part of their unionization.

All three of the stores are temporarily closed today and re-open tomorrow.

On the other hand, Apple has opened 11 new stores around the world since the start of 2025, including in the U.S. cities of Miami and Detroit. Apple has also remodeled or replaced dozens of stores over the past few years in cities such as Dallas, Pittsburgh, Montréal, and Tokyo, and it plans to open its first stores in Saudi Arabia.

Apple achieved an all-time revenue record last quarter, so these store closures are not indicative of the company's overall performance.

Update: In a statement to MacRumors, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union said that it is "outraged" by Apple's decision to close the Towson store, and will be exploring legal options to hold Apple accountable.

The IAM Union is outraged by Apple's decision to close its Towson, Md., store--the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States--and abandon both its workers and a community that relies on it for critical services and its unique access to public transit. Apple's claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union. We are exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable. We stand with our IAM Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) members and the community that depends on this store for essential access and support.

This article, "Apple is Permanently Closing Three U.S. Stores in June" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Europe’s biggest Apple museum has officially opened its doors in Utrecht, Netherlands, just in time for Apple’s 50th anniversary…

The post Europe’s largest Apple museum opens in Utrecht, showcasing 50 years of innovation appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple is weighing two options for the iPhone 18 Pro's Dynamic Island, and a final decision has yet to be made, according to the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station.



In a new post today, the leaker says that current supply chain feedback points to an A/B scenario: one option retains the existing screen mold from the iPhone 17 Pro, while the other introduces a significantly smaller "Mini ‌Dynamic Island‌" enabled by moving the Face ID receiver and transmitter components beneath the display.

Current feedback from the supply chain suggests an A/B testing scenario: one option retains the existing screen mold, while the other features a 'Mini Dynamic Island' with the Face ID receiver/transmitter (RX) components positioned beneath the display. If they opt for the latter, it feels like sales figures will once again be a non-issue.

The update is a slight shift from the leaker's previous position. Earlier this year, Digital Chat Station claimed Apple was leaning toward reusing last year's design, which would have left the ‌Dynamic Island‌ largely unchanged.

The report was a dissenting voice against a body of reporting, including from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, DSCC's Ross Young, and multiple other Weibo leakers, suggesting the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ would feature a ‌Dynamic Island‌ roughly 35% smaller than on the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌.


In a follow-up post, the leaker also addressed the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌'s rear design. He said that the rectangular plateau design introduced with the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ will carry over unchanged, but the back will see "minor adjustments to the body materials and design details.” This is likely a reference to previously rumored changes aimed at achieving a more uniform look between the aluminum unibody frame and glass cutout for wireless charging.

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to be announced this fall alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone.
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Apple has asked a U.S. court to formally request internal Samsung documents from South Korea as part of the discovery process…

The post Apple subpoenas Samsung in South Korea in U.S. DOJ antitrust action appeared first on MacDailyNews.

In late March, Apple notified the winners of the 2026 Swift Student Challenge, who each received a complimentary one-year Apple Developer Program membership, AirPods Max 2, and a special certificate. A smaller group of Distinguished Winners were also invited to a three-day experience at Apple Park during WWDC 2026 in June.


The annual Swift Student Challenge gives eligible student developers around the world the opportunity to showcase their coding capabilities by using the Swift Playground or Xcode apps to create an interactive "app playground."

Despite receiving many incredible submissions, Apple can only select a limited number of winners due to WWDC space constraints. Below, we have highlighted three young developers who did not quite win, but still deserve attention for their efforts.

Teddy

For the 2026 Swift Student Challenge, UC Santa Cruz student Morris Richman submitted Teddy, a voice-controlled camera app that uses Apple Foundation Models to help those with touch-related accessibility issues take photos.

"There is a strong overlap between those who have touch issues and those who have difficulty learning accessibility focused features such as VoiceOver," said Morris. "Teddy addresses this issue through Apple's Foundation Models and SpeechAnalyzer APIs to take action on behalf of the user through natural language processing and tool calling."

Morris created the app after being inspired by his grandfather, Larry.

Teddy is available in beta via TestFlight and as an open-source project on GitHub.

ActivTimer

MacRumors reader Kate's first-ever Swift Student Challenge submission was ActivTimer, an iPhone app designed to help reduce your screen time and increase your activity. The app was built with SwiftUI and other modern Apple technologies.

Kate describes the app as a "screen time tracker and workout app all in one."

"It keeps track of how long you're on your screen and alerts you with a sound to get up and move, or to do some mindfulness," said Kate.

ActivTimer is not available in the App Store, but the project's source code is available on GitHub.

Write: A Literary Journey

Victoria Ali is a young developer from Argentina who created Write: A Literary Journey, an iPhone app that she describes as a narrative puzzle experience.

The app tasks you with solving puzzles to reconstruct the portraits and legacies of history's most influential female authors.

Victoria said the app both demonstrates her coding skills and serves as a tribute to her late grandmother and writer, Rosa.

When you first open the app, you are presented with a 3D onboarding experience that allows you to explore Rosa's desk.

"Through an immersive 3D onboarding I designed in SceneKit with models I built in Blender—like her vintage Remington typewriter and her yellow tulips—I wanted to create a bridge to feel her close again," she said.
This article, "2026 Swift Student Challenge: Three Apps Created by Young Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's MacBook Neo is an all-new laptop that delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price, making it even more accessible…

The post Apple’s MacBook Neo is the best laptop you can get for $599 – New York Magazine appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple's new AirPods Max 2 launched last week, and Amazon is still one of the only retailers offering a discount on the headphones. You can get the Midnight and Starlight color options for $529.99 on Amazon, down from $549.00.

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.

Although this is only a $19 discount on the AirPods Max 2, it's the best markdown you'll find online if you're looking to order the new headphones. Free delivery has the AirPods Max 2 arriving around April 14, but they can be delivered as soon as tomorrow with Prime shipping.



In other new product discounts, Amazon has the M5 MacBook Air for $150 off across nearly every model this week. 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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On Tuesday, April 7th, PaleyFest LA hosted a screening and conversation for the season three finale of Apple’s hit comedy “Shrinking” at…

The post Apple TV celebrates ‘Shrinking’ season three at PaleyFest LA with Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, and many more appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple has asked a U.S. court to formally request internal Samsung documents from South Korea as part of discovery in the DOJ's ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the company.


The DOJ filed suit against Apple in March 2024, alongside a number of governments, alleging the company used App Store rules, developer restrictions, and control over key iPhone features to stifle competition. After Apple's bid to have the case dismissed failed, the litigation moved into discovery.

Samsung is central to the case. All four complaints identify Samsung as Apple's "closest smartphone competitor," and plaintiffs allege that Apple's conduct caused Samsung to stop making smartwatches that connect to iPhone in 2021. Apple subpoenaed Samsung's U.S. subsidiary, Samsung Electronics America, for documents, but the subsidiary declined to produce any records, arguing the materials are held solely by its South Korean parent. Apple says Samsung America lodged that objection 65 times across its responses.

In a memorandum filed on April 7, Apple asked the court to issue a formal letter of request under the Hague Evidence Convention, an international mechanism that allows civil proceedings to seek documents from foreign entities. The request targets market research, sales data, financial statements, and consumer switching analyses from Samsung's smartphone and wearables divisions, as well as Galaxy Store developer agreements and documents relating to Samsung Pay, messaging apps, and super apps.

Apple pointed specifically to Smart Switch, Samsung's tool for transferring content from iPhone to a Samsung device, as evidence that the company holds directly relevant data on consumer switching behavior. The filing also seeks Samsung's own documents on its digital wallet fees, after plaintiffs alleged Apple charges banks 0.15% per Apple Pay transaction while Samsung charges nothing comparable.

Even if the court grants the motion, South Korean authorities would independently decide whether to comply, and Samsung Electronics could raise objections under Korean law.
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Apple today released a minor iOS 26.4.1 update for the iPhone 11 and newer. While the release notes for the update only mention unspecified "bug fixes," we have since learned about two specific changes that are included in it.


First, 9to5Mac spotted an Apple Developer Forums thread suggesting that iOS 26.4.1 fixes an iOS 26.4 bug that affected iCloud syncing in some apps.

Second, an enterprise-focused Apple support document indicates that Stolen Device Protection will be automatically enabled on iPhones that update from iOS 26.4 to iOS 26.4.1. This likely applies to devices that are managed by a workplace/organization, as iOS 26.4 already turned on the feature by default for regular users.

Introduced in iOS 17.3, Stolen Device Protection adds an additional layer of security in the event someone has stolen your iPhone and also knows the device's passcode. The feature is designed to reduce instances of thieves spying on an iPhone user's passcode before stealing the device, often in public places like bars.

When the feature is turned on, Face ID or Touch ID authentication is required for more actions than usual on an iPhone, including viewing passwords or passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain, applying for a new Apple Card, turning off Lost Mode, erasing all content and settings, using payment methods saved in Safari, and more. No passcode fallback is available in the event that the user is unable to complete Face ID or Touch ID authentication.

For especially sensitive actions, including changing the password of the Apple ID account associated with the iPhone, the feature adds a security delay on top of biometric authentication. In these cases, the user must authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, wait one hour, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID again. However, there is no delay when the iPhone is in familiar locations, such as at home or work.

Prior to iOS 26.4, Stolen Device Protection was turned off by default on all iPhones. It can be turned on in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode.
This article, "iOS 26.4.1 Includes These Two Changes for iPhones" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones, iPads, Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices."


Apple today started selling parts and tools for seven new devices through its self-service repair store in the U.S., Canada, and many European countries.

As reported by 9to5Mac, genuine Apple parts are now available for these devices:

• iPhone 17e


• iPad Air with M4 chip


• MacBook Neo


• MacBook Air with M5 chip


• MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips


• Studio Display (2026)


• Studio Display XDR

After ordering parts and tools, you can follow the steps in Apple's repair manuals for each device.

There is a notable piece of news related to this. As we reported last month, the MacBook Neo's keyboard can be replaced individually.


For years, replacing the keyboard in other MacBooks has required replacing the entire Top Case, which refers to the top half of the aluminum shell surrounding the keyboard. For example, the latest MacBook Air has a "Top Case with Keyboard" part, and the latest MacBook Pro models have a "Top Case with Battery and Keyboard" part.

For the MacBook Neo, there are separate Keyboard, Keyboard with Touch ID, and Top Case parts, and Apple shows how to replace the keyboard individually. While there are still more than 40 screws involved to replace the keyboard on its own, the process is much easier than replacing an entire Top Case, which requires lots of disassembly.

Best of all, the MacBook Neo's individual keyboard part starts at just $140 on Apple's self-service repair store in the U.S., whereas the Top Case with Keyboard for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models costs around $400 to $600.
This article, "Apple Now Selling Parts for Seven New Devices Unveiled Last Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple shares climbed more than 2% on Wednesday, boosted by optimistic commentary from Wedbush Securities regarding strong Mac demand…

The post Apple shares rise on strong Mac demand, bullish Wedbush commentary appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple’s foldable iPhone remains on track for a fall launch, according to Wall Street analysts, including those at Morgan Stanley, who pushed…

The post Morgan Stanley, Evercore: Apple’s foldable iPhone on track for September launch appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple has reportedly signed drivers for both AMD and Nvidia eGPUs, finally enabling them to work on Apple Silicon Macs…

The post Apple approves third-party drivers for AMD and Nvidia eGPUs on Apple Silicon Macs appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple TV on Wednesday debuted the pulse-pounding trailer for the upcoming second season of the gripping crime thriller “Criminal Record.”

The post Apple TV unveils trailer for the second season of ‘Criminal Record’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple's sleek and powerful 2026 M5 MacBook Air has barely been out for a month, but it's already seeing impressive discounts…

The post M5 MacBook Air drops to record low $949 on Amazon appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone remains on track for a September launch this year, according to Bloomberg News' Mark Gurman…

The post Apple’s first foldable iPhone still on track for September launch – Gurman appeared first on MacDailyNews.

In Apple TV's dark comedy film “Outcome,” Keanu Reeves stars as Reef Hawk, a beloved Hollywood movie star whose meticulously…

The post Apple TV film ‘Outcome’ captures Keanu Reeves’ character at center of image crisis appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple is widely expected to unveil its long-rumored first foldable iPhone later this year, and a fresh leak suggests the device may carry…

The post Apple said to name its first foldable smartphone ‘iPhone Ultra’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

For more than four decades the Macintosh has been Apple’s quiet cash machine, but also its most stubborn limitation. Priced as a premium…

The post Apple’s MacBook Neo cannot be allowed to fail appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple is in discussions with its suppliers over a welcome dilemma: surging demand for the MacBook Neo has far exceeded expectations…

The post Apple faces ‘massive dilemma’ with hot-selling hit MacBook Neo appeared first on MacDailyNews.