Apple today released watchOS 27.0.1, a minor update to the watchOS 27 operating system that came out last week. The update is limited to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.


watchOS 27.0.1 can be downloaded through the Settings app on the watch or the Apple Watch app on a connected iPhone. Software can only be installed when the Apple Watch is on the charger and has over 50 percent battery.

Apple's release notes say the update fixes bugs, including an issue that could cause the Apple Watch to restart unexpectedly.
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Disney today increased the prices on several of its Disney+ and Hulu streaming plans, with the increase coming exactly one year after Disney's last price hike.


Premium ad-free plans are $2 to $2.50 more expensive per month, while Disney's ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu plans are $0.50 higher per month. The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle has not changed in price, and that's what Disney is steering customers toward.

• Disney+ (Ads) - $12.49, up from $11.99


• Disney+ (No Ads) - $21.49, up from $18.99


• Hulu (Ads) - $12.49, up from $11.99


• Hulu (No Ads) - $21.49, up from $18.99


• Disney+, Hulu Bundle (Ads) - $12.99, no change


• Disney+, Hulu Bundle (No Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+, ESPN, Hulu Bundle (Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads), ESPN Select (Ads) - $32.99, up from $29.99


• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Basic (Ads) - $21.99, up from $19.99


• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Basic (No Ads) - $34.99, up from $32.99

Bundles with ESPN or HBO Max are also $2 to $3 more expensive. Buying a standalone Disney+ or Hulu plan is just $0.50 cheaper per month than getting a bundle, both with ads and without. Disney is pushing bundles because it has been merging Hulu content into the Disney+ app to create an all-in-one experience.

When Disney+ launched in November 2019, it was priced at $6.99 per month. It did not have ads at the time, with Disney introducing its first ad-supported plan in 2022. Pricing for the no-ad option has increased more than 200% in nearly seven years.

Apple's streaming TV service launched right around the same time as Disney+ for $4.99 per month. Today, the Apple TV service is $14.99 per month, also a 200% increase. Other streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max raise prices regularly too.

Disney's higher prices go into effect for new subscribers today, and for existing subscribers on their next monthly bill.
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Apple's smarter, more capable version of Siri is expanding to the HomePod, according to details found by code sleuth pdfu. According to pdfu, ‌HomePod‌ Software 27 includes the system behind ‌Siri‌ AI, called "Linwood," along with new status lights in the ‌Siri‌ AI colors.


Since ‌HomePod‌ Software 27 is out and ‌Siri‌ AI isn't available on existing HomePods, it's possible support will be limited to new ‌HomePod‌ models.


Rumors suggest Apple is working on an updated HomePod mini, and the main upgrade will be a faster processor. Apple is expected to equip it with an S9 chip or newer, and it's possible the ‌HomePod mini‌ could even get the latest S11 chip that's in the Apple Watch Series 12.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and later support ‌Siri‌ AI, though a connected iPhone with Apple Intelligence is required for the ‌Siri‌ functionality. The next ‌HomePod mini‌ models are expected to work in the same way, offering some ‌Siri‌ AI and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features when used with a compatible iPhone.

The ‌HomePod mini‌ isn't expected to get a redesign, but along with an updated processor, Apple could add its N1 networking chip, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and updated colors.

The Apple TV 4K is also expected to get a processor capable of supporting ‌Siri‌ AI, and Apple is working on a dedicated home hub with ‌Siri‌ AI integration. All of the new products, ‌HomePod mini‌ included, could launch as soon as October. Apple is also working on an updated full-size ‌HomePod‌, but it isn't clear when it will launch.
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Apple today seeded the first betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2. The software comes a day after Apple provided the second betas to developers.


To get the new betas, you can sign up on Apple's beta testing website. After you're signed up, the betas can be installed through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 27.2 includes the redesigned Health app that Apple introduced at its September iPhone event. It features new Insights and Longevity tabs with more insight into health and fitness data. There's also a Health Age feature that uses your metrics to determine your fitness age vs. your actual age.

In the Apple TV app, there are new profile options, and Siri AI is now available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

There are a few other features in the updates, which are listed in our iOS 27.2 guide.
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OpenAI today launched GPT–6 Sol and GPT–6 Luna, two new models that follow GPT–6 Astra. OpenAI says the new models were developed using methods similar to Astra's for improvements in professional work, factuality, coding, computer use, and alignment.


GPT–6 Sol is for everyday work, and it costs less than Astra. GPT–6 Luna is an even cheaper model. Luna is optimized for fast responses and higher volume, while Sol has more reasoning capability.

The new models outperform their predecessors on OpenAI's benchmark tests, and GPT–6 Sol makes "about half as many mistakes" as GPT–5.6 Sol. GPT–6 Sol shows improvements in coding and computer use compared to GPT–5.6 Sol, and it matches or beats Claude Fable 5.1 scores on some benchmarks.

OpenAI compared GPT–6 Sol to Opus 5 on several tests, but Anthropic released a new Opus 5.5 model today that outperforms Astra on some coding and knowledge work benchmarks.

GPT–6 Sol and Luna are adopting the improved communication style OpenAI introduced with Astra for simplified conversations with less jargon and fewer low-value details. Answers should be slightly shorter without losing substance, and the new models have lower rates of misleading claims about their coding work in OpenAI's alignment testing.

OpenAI is lowering token prices for Sol and Luna compared to their 5.6 counterparts, and prompt caching has been improved. OpenAI says agents will reuse more context, respond faster, and get 90 percent discounts on cached input-token reads.

GPT–6 Sol is priced at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens, down by half. GPT–6 Luna costs $0.10 per million input tokens and $0.50 per million output tokens, down from $0.20 and $1.20, respectively. GPT–6 Sol costs half as much per token as Opus 5.5, but Anthropic says Opus 5.5 uses fewer tokens per task than Opus 5, so it's not a straight comparison.

GPT–6 Sol and GPT–6 Luna are rolling out in ChatGPT Work and Codex starting today for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu users. GPT–6 Luna is available to Free and Go users in the desktop app. GPT–6 Sol and Luna are not yet available in Chat mode.
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Anthropic today launched Claude Opus 5.5, which it says is the first model in a new 5.5 model family. Opus 5.5 performs at the level of Claude Fable 5.1 on most work, but costs 40 percent less to run than Opus 5.


According to Anthropic, Opus 5.5 is a "major step up" from Opus 5 with improvements in performance and safety. Opus 5.5 is comparable to Mythos 5.1 in biology and cybersecurity, so Anthropic is launching it with safeguards similar to those on Fable 5.1. Opus 5.5 also generates output over 30 percent faster than Opus 5.

On benchmarks shared by Anthropic, Opus 5.5 surpassed Fable 5.1 on agentic coding, knowledge work, computer use, visual chart recognition, and multidisciplinary reasoning. Anthropic says the model communicates more naturally than prior models, putting important information at the front of a response so it's easier to understand at a glance. It is less likely to use jargon or idiosyncratic phrases, and it follows the writing rules it's given.

Claude Opus 5.5 is available on all platforms as of today. With the launch of Opus 5.5, Anthropic is raising the five-hour usage limits on Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans. Subscribers have also received a rate limit reset that can be used anytime between now and October 22.
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Apple today released a firmware update for the Beats 360 over-ear headphones, so customers ordering the headphones will have new software available when they arrive. The firmware has a 4A262 version number, up from the prior 4A260 firmware.


We don't know what's included in the firmware update, but Apple may share details on its support site.

Announced this morning, the Beats 360 feature an all-new over-ear headphone design with a focus on comfort, active noise cancellation, and sound quality. Beats 360 come in multiple colors and can be customized with removable ear cups and headband cushions in different colors. The headphones are priced at $349.99 and can be ordered from Apple's website and from Amazon.com.

Firmware updates for Beats are delivered over the air. Firmware will be installed when the Beats 360 headphones are fully charged and connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple says the headphones should be turned off and kept in Bluetooth range of your Apple device.

On Android devices, the headphones can be updated using the dedicated Beats app.
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Apple has paused development on a camera-equipped AI wearable, reports Bloomberg. The device was described as a pin or pendant that could be attached to clothing or worn around the neck.


A camera would relay information about the wearer's surroundings to Siri, like the rumored AirPods with cameras that could come as soon as 2027. The AI pin would have Visual Intelligence features, with ‌Siri‌ AI able to answer questions about where the wearer is located or what the wearer is looking at.

The prototype Apple worked on was described as similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, circular disc shape. It was made from aluminum and glass, with a physical control button on the side.

Rumors suggested Apple could introduce the AI wearable as soon as 2027, but with development postponed, that seems unlikely. Apple is working on several other wearables, including a screen-free fitness band, AI smart glasses, and AirPods with cameras.
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Apple is working on an activity tracker that doesn't have a screen, reports Bloomberg. The screen-free health and fitness device is said to be similar to Whoop's line of bands. Whoop makes wrist-worn trackers with 24/7 monitoring, but without a display.


Apple has apparently been "exploring" the category for months and has developed prototypes, but hasn't decided whether the project will move forward. Apple chair Tim Cook and services chief Eddy Cue are interested in the product, notable because Cue now leads Apple's health teams. Cue is said to be pushing for wearables with simpler interfaces, like the screen-free Whoop and Oura Ring.

Prototypes have a fabric band attached to a computing module that rests on the wrist. Sensors track heart rate and other metrics, similar to the Apple Watch.

The latest Apple Watch models adopt features similar to those offered by Whoop and Oura products, including an overall readiness score and an estimate of biological age. A new version of the Health app is being tested in iOS 27.2, and it has a more user-friendly interface with clearer guidance than before.

If Apple moves forward with the screen-free tracker, it likely would not launch until at least 2028. Apple is expected to debut wearable AI smart glasses and AirPods with cameras before then.
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Apple CEO John Ternus did an interview with Canal+ talk show Clique following Apple's September event. He discussed the iPhone Duo's design, difficulties Apple ran into when developing it, his plans for Apple, and more.


On the design of the ‌iPhone Duo‌, Ternus explained why Apple went with an iPad-like shape when the device is unfolded.

I think it's something new and unique, right? But I think we didn't want to just do what we'd seen other people do, which is sort of take two phone shapes and stick them together and then you get this weird square thing. We came at it from we want to build a large screen experience that feels right to us. And obviously we've been doing that for a long time with iPad. And so we knew kind of the shape, you know, we came up with this new aspect ratio.

Ternus said that when developing the ‌iPhone Duo‌, there were "so many problems" to solve, but a foldable was an opportunity for Apple employees to "be really clever" and "come up with entirely new things." He said some of the hardware engineering problems Apple had to address involved the design of the hinge and the display, and making them reliable.

When asked to share his favorite ‌iPhone Duo‌ trick, Ternus showed off the device's opening animation. "I mean, this is really fun, you know, the animation that you get as you open it across from one side to the other. It's just sort of whimsical and fun. And it brings a smile to your face."

Ternus reiterated Apple's stance on AI companions, saying that Siri AI is "not designed to be your friend," which is something we heard earlier this year from Craig Federighi. Ternus said Apple doesn't want to replace human relationships. "They're how we learn, they're how we grow, they're how we find joy and happiness," he said.

Then-CEO Tim Cook and Apple's board asked Ternus if he wanted to be the next Apple CEO. Ternus didn't say when he was approached, but he said the question came as a surprise. "When Tim asked me if it was something I would consider, I would say the good news is I was sitting down, because I never in a million years would have imagined that happening," said Ternus.

As Apple's CEO, Ternus said he doesn't have plans for a radical change. He was asked if Apple was going back to its roots under his leadership, with more of a focus on engineering products.

I don't think anything's really changed. Sure, I'm new in this job, but the focus on innovation, the focus on products, the focus most importantly on our customers, that has never changed. That's been here from the beginning.

I am super passionate about products. I love building things. That's why I've been here so long. That's why I love what I do. And so I'm excited to continue doing that. But I don't think of it as some radical change.

Ternus said it was "amazing" to be able to say "one more thing" on stage at Apple's September event. "I've seen Steve say it, and I've seen Tim say it," he said. "And so having the opportunity for me to say it was pretty magical. Kind of goosebumps."

The full interview includes Ternus' thoughts on ‌Tim Cook‌, the AI race, Apple's environmental goals, the Vision Pro, the new parental controls added in iOS 27, and more.
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Apple is no longer signing iOS 26.6.2, so if you've upgraded to iOS 27, there is no option to downgrade to a version of iOS 26. ‌iOS 27‌ came out a week ago.


Software that is "signed" can pass a server-side verification check that Apple performs when a new version of iOS is downloaded. If an update fails the verification check, it can't be installed.

By unsigning software, Apple prevents customers from installing outdated, less secure versions of iOS.

If you haven't installed ‌iOS 27‌ yet, you can still keep using ‌iOS 26‌, but once you've upgraded, there's no going back. You also can't downgrade from ‌iOS 27‌ to iOS 26.7 (which was released alongside ‌iOS 27‌) because iOS 26.7 is an over-the-air update with no restore file available.
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With the second beta of macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple updated the look of the volume and brightness sliders when you adjust them with the keyboard.


The new sliders have a segmented bar instead of a plain line, making it clearer how much each key press adjusts volume or brightness. Apple used a similar design in macOS Sequoia before Liquid Glass, and the new look is a cross between the old slider and the Liquid Glass slider.

There are no longer two icons at the beginning and end of the slider, and Apple now uses a single larger icon on the left. The sliders appear where a matching menu bar icon is located, so if you have a dedicated sound icon, the slider shows up below it.


The design of the Control Center sliders did not change, and the updated look can only be seen when you change volume or brightness with the keyboard.

Apple seeded the ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 beta to developers earlier today. We're expecting the software to launch toward the end of October.
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Apple is testing the next macOS Golden Gate update, and developers can download the second ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 beta. The second beta comes a week after Apple released the first beta.


Registered developers can download ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 by opening up the System Settings app, clicking on General, selecting Software Update, and opting into ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ betas.

‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 introduces Siri AI in new languages. We're expecting a launch toward the end of October.
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Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 27.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the first iOS 27.2 beta. Apple also seeded an iPadOS 27.2 beta.


Registered developers can download the beta updates by opting in under Settings > General > Software Update and selecting the iOS 27 developer beta.

iOS 27.2 includes Apple's redesigned Health app with new Insight and Longevity tabs. It also brings Siri AI in new languages. There are several other new features, with details available in our features guide.

Apple releasing an iOS 27.2 beta ahead of a iOS 27.1 beta was surprise, especially because the company plans to ship the iPhone Duo with iOS 27.1. Apple is likely holding iOS 27.1 until the Duo comes out, just to keep the features under wraps. iOS 27.1 will add updated app layouts and features built for the iPhone Duo's two displays. The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will have a vertical dock, vertical Dynamic Island, new dual-screen app layouts, side-by-side app multitasking, and exclusive Camera app capabilities.

Since the ‌iPhone Duo‌ will launch on Friday, October 23 and will ship with iOS 27.1, Apple will need to release the iOS 27.1 update before then. Since iOS 27.2 includes new ‌Siri‌ AI languages, it too will launch sometime during the month of October.
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Alongside new betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple has released the second betas of watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2. The betas come week after Apple released the first betas.


Registered developers can download the betas through the Settings app on each device.

With iOS 27.2 and watchOS 27.2, Apple is testing the new Health app that it showed off during its September iPhone event. The updated Health app has new Insights and Longevity tabs with a readiness score that uses information from the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models.

There's no word on what's being added in visionOS 27.2 and tvOS 27.2, but Apple is expected to introduce a new version of the Apple TV 4K with Siri AI support sometime before the end of the year.
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Apple hardware engineering VP Tom Marieb spoke with TechRadar and shared some candid thoughts about Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo.


The ‌iPhone Duo‌ uses a matte nano-texture display, which is meant to cut down on glare and minimize the visibility of the crease. When asked if the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s crease would be more visible over time, as that's what tends to happen on other foldables, Marieb said the nano-texture display would help. He asked people to hold the company "accountable" on crease visibility.

Hold us accountable to that, please. The choice of a matte finish — apart from it being beautiful — is part of that equation. When you look at glossy displays, their specularity makes it very easy to pick up topology differences. That's part of the reason we picked the matte finish — it's not only beautiful in terms of preventing glare, but it's also more forgiving of [hinge] changes over time.

Marieb said the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s hinge was something he was "especially proud of" because it took a long time to get the right design. Apple wanted a durable hinge that felt solid to open and close.

We really worked on the torque profile very heavily, and that means changing a lot of the mechanical properties of the hinge to have it feel solid, like a high-end automobile's car door, when you shut it. That was design intent, so people would have a feeling like, 'Oh, it's okay. This is well crafted, and it's safe for me to use and not worry about it.'

Apple didn't want the hinge to be "floppy," so torque had to be perfected for different use cases. The hinge Apple came up with lets the ‌iPhone Duo‌ be used in partially folded seated and standing modes, as well as open and closed. Marieb said "a lot of blood, sweat, and tears" went into the hinge design.

Marieb also spoke about Ceramic Shield 2, his dislike of screen protectors, and more, with the full interview available on TechRadar.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will be available for pre-order on October 16 and will launch on October 23. Pricing starts at $1,999.
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The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a battery capacity over 20 watt-hours, which means there are additional shipping requirements. If an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max needs to be shipped somewhere, its maximum battery capacity has to be limited through firmware.


According to Apple, the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max uses an "innovative battery-firmware solution" that limits battery capacity to below 20Wh between when the iPhone is manufactured and its delivery to a customer. Activating the iPhone removes the limit to make the battery's full charging capacity available. iPhones that are not yet activated or still in the box will not need Prepare to Ship because they are already limited to under 20Wh.

Customers who need to ship the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max for repair, trade-in, or other purposes have to use a new Prepare to Ship feature. Prepare to Ship discharges the battery to below 20Wh and sets a charge limit so the iPhone stays below the threshold during the shipping process.

The Prepare to Ship option can be accessed by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Prepare to Ship. Apple warns that the iPhone can become "warmer than usual" during Prepare to Ship if the battery needs to be discharged. When finished, the iPhone shows a "Ready to Ship" status in Settings.

If Prepare to Ship needs to be undone, there is an option in the same section of the Settings app to undo the shipping preparation. Depending on the reason the user selected for the Prepare to Ship feature, there could be a 14-day waiting period before it can be disabled.

Apple emphasizes that the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max is safe for shipping and air travel, and the limit has been added to meet shipping requirements. Since no other iPhones have a single-cell battery over 20Wh, this procedure isn't needed for other models.
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The Apple Watch Series 12 came out today, and we picked one up to get a look at the new feature set. There are no major external changes, but Apple updated the device's internals and health sensors.


The Apple Watch Series 12 has the same design as the Series 11, but it does come in different colors. The aluminum models are available in a light gold shade that's distinct from the rose gold Apple used last year, as well as dark bronze, black, and space gray. There are also ceramic models in pearl white and night blue, and polished titanium models in radiant gold and natural. On the aluminum models, Apple is now using Ceramic Shield 2 instead of Ion-X glass, and the new material is 60 percent tougher.

You might not be able to tell a Series 11 apart from a Series 12 when looking at the front, but the back has been updated. Apple says the upgraded sensors make the Apple Watch Series 12 the most accurate wearable for heart rate sensing.

The Series 12 has a Health Sensing System that pairs the new sensors with an S11 chip that's faster than the S10 in the prior-generation model. It takes heart rate readings every five seconds now and measures heart rate variability as often as every five minutes.

It's early, but so far we haven't seen the higher sampling rates cause excessive battery drain. The Apple Watch Series 12 is still rated for all-day battery life, and charging is faster this year. You can get up to 12 hours of normal usage from a 15-minute charge, but you need to use the Apple Watch charger that comes with the Series 12. Older chargers won't give you the faster charging rate.

The Health Sensing System powers a readiness score that lets you know whether to go all-out on activity or take a rest day. It's based on metrics such as recent activity, vitals, and sleep, and will adjust as the day continues. It takes about a week of data collection from the Series 12 before you start getting a readiness score.

The S11 chip will power Live Rewind and Siri Recap features, but those won't be available until later this year.

Even though the Apple Watch hasn't seen a design refresh, the health features make this a decent update. You may not want to upgrade if you have the Series 10 or Series 11, but anything older is worth upgrading from.

The Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm size options with pricing starting at $399.
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For this week's giveaway we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone Duo and a copy of the iMazing software to go along with it.


If you're unfamiliar with iMazing, it's Mac and PC software that offers a speedy, simple way to manage all of the data on your iPhone. You can make backups, add and delete photos, videos, and music, save content like messages, and much more.

While Apple has the built-in Finder on Mac for managing an iPhone, iMazing has a ton of features Apple doesn't offer. You can set up automatic backups with snapshots that make it easy to find what you're looking for and selective restore for bringing back just what you need. A useful search tool lets you find files on your devices and in your backups.


There's a Device Overview with detailed information about your iPhone in one spot, and dedicated tools for browsing, exporting, and archiving content. You can transfer photos, music, books, movies, and other media files from your computer to your iPhone and vice versa. You can even create an entire archive of your messages from the Messages app or WhatsApp.

iMazing can be used for screen recording on macOS, and there are diagnostic and device-info export tools. A Spyware Analyzer lets you know if any of your devices have been compromised.


The software isn't limited to the iPhone. It works with the iPad and Vision Pro, along with older devices like the iPod. If you have an old iPod with music on it, you can use iMazing to get it off. It also supports song transfers from non-iOS music players.

iMazing was entirely overhauled in 2024, and since then, the software has continued to get regular updates to add new features. The user interface has been updated with a collapsible sidebar and customizable device and backup list views, and data export has been improved. You can export all of your data with advanced filters, and use the same filters on the Unified Logs browser. Business features have improved too, with streamlined MDM enrollment, a Command Line Interface for advanced interaction with iOS devices and backups, and the iMazing Profile Editor 2 for configuring macOS app, notification, and login permissions.


You'll never have to worry about a device being unsupported with iMazing. It's updated with ongoing support for new models as they come out. In the near future, iMazing plans to add Android support, which will make it even more useful. iMazing can be downloaded from the iMazing website at prices starting at $30. iMazing has personal subscriptions, family subscriptions, and enterprise subscriptions, with free trials available. Some functions are free without a purchase.


We have a 256GB ‌iPhone Duo‌ and a copy of iMazing to give away to one MacRumors reader. 10 other readers will win a copy of iMazing. Since the ‌iPhone Duo‌ has not been released yet, this is a prize that will be delivered after the device launches on October 23.

To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (September 18) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 25. The winners will be chosen randomly on or shortly after September 25 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
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Apple is promoting the iPhone 18 Pro with a new Shot on iPhone ad featuring Blackpink member ROSÉ's latest music video. The video for the song "new trick" was filmed using the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌.


Apple's video shows some of the footage as well as a behind-the-scenes look at some of the filming equipment. Many of Apple's Shot on iPhone videos pair the iPhone with high-end filming rigs for stability and cinematic effects. Apple has worked with several other musicians in the past for Shot on iPhone music videos, including The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Apple says the variable lens aperture on the 48MP Main camera improved low-light footage and "added impressive depth of field to bring the music video to life."

The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models launched today with an upgraded Main camera and new features like updated Photographic Styles, auto subject tracking, and Pro Controls for manual adjustments of aperture and shutter speed. Pricing on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ starts at $1,199.
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It's Friday, September 18 in Australia and New Zealand, which means customers who pre-ordered are beginning to receive their new devices. The iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 are launching today.


Apple fans who ordered an iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods will soon be sharing first impressions on Instagram, Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and other social networks. If you've received one of Apple's latest devices, let us know in the comments below and feel free to share photos and first impressions.

Since there are no Apple Stores in New Zealand, customers in Australia are the first that can pick up their new devices or make a purchase in an Apple Store. In-store stock in Australia will give us insight into what we can expect worldwide, but we are anticipating ample supply of most ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max models.

If you missed pre-ordering, you can likely get a new iPhone from an Apple retail location, a carrier, or another big box retailer like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy.

After Australia and New Zealand, sales and deliveries of the new iPhone 18 models and the other devices will begin in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America. Some Apple Stores worldwide are opening early at 8:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.


We shared our first unboxing video of the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ today, but we'll have the new Apple Watch models tomorrow, and an in-depth ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ camera video next week.
This article, "First iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 Orders Arriving to Customers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Customers receiving an iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, an Apple Watch Series 12, or an Apple Watch Ultra 4 tomorrow will need to install a software update right away.


The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max ship with iOS 27 variants with a 24A427 or 24A8428 version number. The launch version of ‌iOS 27‌ is version 24A437, so if you're getting an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, expect a software update during the setup process.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ have watchOS 27 with a version number of 24R359, but the launch version of ‌watchOS 27‌ is 24R364.

We're also expecting the AirPods 5 to have a day one firmware update, though that will happen over the air. Apple recently released 9A350 AirPods firmware to add support for ‌iOS 27‌ features.

All of the new products are set to launch on Friday, September 18.
This article, "New iPhone 18 Pro Models Will Have Day One Update" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are launching tomorrow, but we were able to get one early to share some initial impressions.


Both the 18 Pro and Pro Max are heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models they replace, and it's most noticeable when you pick up the Pro Max. It was a heavy phone to begin with, and now there's more weight (249 grams vs. 233 grams).

If you hated last year's two-tone design with the contrast between the aluminum frame and the glass back, there's good news. Apple is now matching the glass to the frame for a more uniform look.

Our review unit is Apple's new glacier color, which is a light blue that's slightly different from the other light blue shades Apple has used in the past. Unlike some of those blues, the glacier color actually looks blue and not silver. Apple is also offering the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models in burgundy, silver, and black. We have a burgundy model on the way and will share that in the future.

There's a fancy new 2nm A20 Pro chip inside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max, but depending on what you're upgrading from, you might not notice much in the way of performance. iPhones have used wildly fast chips for the last several years, and you're not stressing the processor when browsing the web and scrolling social media sites. What you might notice is the new vapor chamber cooling system. It takes up three times more surface area, so the iPhone stays cooler when you are doing something that takes a little more processing power like playing a game. Battery life has improved, but that's not something we've had time to test yet. Apple says you'll get up to 36 hours of video playback with the 18 Pro and 45 hours with the 18 Pro Max.

If you're in the U.S. and buying an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, it will have Apple's new C2 modem, but if you get the 18 Pro Max, it's going to have a Qualcomm modem. Both models use the C2 outside of the U.S. The C2 modem has mmWave 5G for the first time, plus it's more efficient than Qualcomm modems, so it will be interesting to see some speed tests comparing the two.

Apple slimmed down the Dynamic Island by putting the infrared camera under the display, and that's the most noticeable change on the front of the device. It takes up less space, and Apple also updated it so it can show three Live Activities at once or two in more detail.

There's a new variable aperture Main camera that also has a new sensor, plus Apple tweaked its computational imaging pipeline. With a variable aperture lens, there's more control over lighting and depth of field. If it's super bright outside, the iPhone can automatically adjust the aperture to let in less light. If it's dark, a wider aperture will let in more light. There are four aperture settings in total, and it works behind the scenes so you can just snap photos as usual. You'll probably notice it most in low lighting.

If you want to control the aperture yourself, you can do so with new Pro Controls that also give you the option to adjust shutter speed and white balance. There's a histogram too so you can check exposure levels.

We'll have a full video on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ camera system coming next week.

Pricing on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ starts at $1,199, while the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max is priced starting at $1,299. Both new iPhones launch on September 18.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Unboxing: New Colors, Better Photos, and Smaller Dynamic Island" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple surprised us with the first beta of iOS 27.2 today instead of releasing an iOS 27.1 beta. Apple likely went straight to iOS 27.2 to keep iPhone Duo code under wraps for now, since we already know the ‌iPhone Duo‌ will ship with iOS 27.1 when it comes out in October.


This beta includes Apple's revamped Health app, new languages for Siri AI, and a handful of other useful tweaks.

Revamped Health App

The iOS 27.2 beta includes the redesigned Health app Apple showed off at its September iPhone event. The new app is organized into three main tabs: Insights, Longevity, and Browse.


Insights includes your most recent and relevant health info, such as vitals, sleep score, heart rate, and Activity Rings. Longevity shows your health data over time, offering up a Health Age calculated from activity level, VO2 max, sleep time, and other metrics.


The Health Age feature uses in-app assessments that take advantage of the iPhone's camera. You can measure flexibility, strength, balance, and VO2 max. The revamped Health app is only available in U.S. English.

The Health app also has a new icon.

Call Context

Apple added anniversary alerts to the Apple Intelligence Call Context feature. If you make a phone call to someone and you have an anniversary for them set in the Contacts app, you'll see a reminder in the Phone app.

CarPlay

There are themes for CarPlay Ultra that include options for wallpaper, gauge style, and color. Code suggests ambient lighting in supported vehicles will also match the color of the selected theme.

Siri AI Languages

‌Siri‌ AI is available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish in the iOS 27.2 beta.

Apple TV App

Apple extended Apple TV app profiles to the iPhone and iPad in iOS 27.2. ‌Apple TV‌ app users can create profiles in the account settings section, and then swap between those profiles. Profiles only require a name, profile rating, and information about whether the user is a child.


Creating an account for a child limits content to a PG rating by default, but there is a customize option for more granular control. Users can select age ratings for TV shows and movies that are appropriate for the child based on their age. Profiles are useful for parents that want to hand over an iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to a child to watch TV content while also restricting content that's not age-appropriate.

There's also a new option to turn on sign language interpretation when available. It can be toggled on in the TV app settings.

ASL FaceTime API

Back in May, Apple said it would add a new API to FaceTime allowing developers who make sign language interpretation apps to add a human interpreter to an ongoing video call.

That feature appears to be live in iOS 27.2.

Clock

Apple tweaked how alarms appear in the Clock app. The a.m. and p.m. readouts are now smaller than the time.

Music

In the Music app, some of the red accents have been removed. The Play and Shuffle buttons in Library are black instead of red, as are all of the icons next to the Library sections.

Siri

App Access in the ‌Siri‌ section of the Settings app is now named "Excluded Apps." Tapping on "Add Apps" brings up a list so multiple apps can be excluded at once. Apps previously had to be excluded one by one.


Adding an app to the Exclude list prevents it from showing up in ‌Siri‌, Search, and suggestions.

Podcasts

Apple renamed Up Next to New Episodes, with a Continue Playing option directly below it.

App Tracking Transparency

According to Apple's release notes for the update, App Tracking Transparency supports an alternative expanded prompt for EU users along with re-prompting on an annual basis. The alternative prompt is required for users in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Romania.
This article, "Everything New in iOS 27.2 Beta 1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple executive chairman Tim Cook is expected to attend a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, reports Bloomberg.


Cook stepped down as Apple CEO and transitioned to executive chairman on September 1, with John Ternus taking over. Part of Cook's new role includes engaging with policymakers around the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump invited Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, among others. The dinner will be held next week during Xi's visit to Washington.

Cook has attended multiple state dinners with Xi. Earlier this year, Xi held a state dinner for Trump in Beijing where Cook was present, and in 2015, Cook was seated next to Xi at a state dinner then-President Barack Obama hosted.
This article, "Tim Cook to Attend White House State Dinner for Xi Jinping" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With the iOS 27.2 beta, Apple is testing the new Health app that it previewed at its September iPhone event. The app has been entirely overhauled, with new Insights and Longevity tabs that give you more information on your health and fitness metrics.


The Insights tab shows your most recent health data, such as Activity Rings, heart rate, sleep score, and vitals. It'll eventually show personalized guidance, but that feature hasn't been added yet.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners will see a readiness score calculated from recent activity, vitals, and sleep score to help them decide whether to take a recovery day or push harder.

The Longevity tab looks at your health data over time to calculate your Health Age based on activity level, VO2 max, sleep time, and other metrics. It also uses fitness assessments you can do right on your iPhone to check flexibility, balance, and VO2 max.

Apple plans to offer a $119 laboratory panel from Quest Diagnostics, which will also contribute to the Health Age score. For now, you can upload your recent lab results.

Getting the most out of the Health app requires an Apple Watch or another fitness device that integrates with it.

While the Health app is being tested in the iOS 27.2 beta, it won't be part of the iOS 27.2 release. It will instead launch later this year.
This article, "Hands-On With the Redesigned Health App in the iOS 27.2 Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iOS 27.2 beta that Apple released today adds a feature that reminds you it's your anniversary when you call someone, as long as you've added the date in the Contacts app.


On the date of your anniversary, when you go to call the person, you'll see a reminder that it's an important day so you don't forget to say something. The anniversary alert uses Call Context, a feature Apple added in iOS 27.

Call Context brings up information from emails and other sources when you place a phone call. If you place a call to an airline and you have an email with a flight confirmation number for that airline in the Mail app, it surfaces that confirmation number so you don't have to go digging for it.

In ‌iOS 27‌, Call Context works with birthdays, and it shows a fireworks animation when you're placing a call. iOS 27.2 adds anniversaries, but unfortunately, it doesn't come with a new animation.

The Call Context anniversary option draws from your Contacts app. To add an anniversary to a contact, open the Contacts app and select their name. Tap "Edit" in the corner, then tap "add date," and the first suggestion under date is anniversary.

You can also ask Siri AI to add the anniversary date to the person's contact card if you have a device that supports Apple Intelligence.

iOS 27.2 is in beta right now, and it is expected to launch in October.
This article, "iOS 27.2 Could Save Your Marriage" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, Apple extended Apple TV app profiles to the iOS version of the app.


Apple brought ‌Apple TV‌ profiles to tvOS with tvOS 26.2, but the feature has been limited to the ‌Apple TV‌ until now.

‌Apple TV‌ app users can create new profiles in the account settings section, which can also be used to swap between profiles. Profiles only require a name, profile rating, and information about whether the user is a child.

Creating an account for a child limits content to a PG rating by default, but there is a customize option for more granular control. Users can select age ratings for TV shows and movies that are appropriate for the child based on their age

Profiles are a useful feature for a parent that wants to hand over an iPhone or iPad to a child to watch TV or movie content because it restricts what's available without impacting what the parent sees when signed into their own account.
This article, "iOS 27.2 Adds Profiles to Apple TV App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In the iOS 27.2 beta, Apple Siri AI is available in new languages, including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.



In the launch version of iOS 27, ‌Siri‌ AI is limited to English.

Apple previously said that new ‌Siri‌ AI languages would be coming in October, so that likely means iOS 27.2 will see an October launch.


This article, "iOS 27.2 Adds Siri AI in New Languages" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The first beta of iOS 27.2 includes Apple's redesigned Health app, giving developers a chance to try out the features ahead of launch later this year.


Apple's developer notes for the feature say the Health app is being tested in this beta, but it won't be in the launch version of iOS 27.2. It will instead come later in the year.

The Health app will incorporate Apple Intelligence to turn data and metrics collected by the Apple Watch into personalized guidance. Here are the new features we can expect:

• Insights - The Insights tab offers an Apple Intelligence-generated summary of timely information like your latest sleep metrics or a new peak in VO2 max. There are options to get custom advice on readiness, fitness, heart health, and more in the For You section.


• Personal Guidance - Personal guidance is part of the Insights tab. It knows what's important to you, and will make relevant suggestions. Apple says if you're working on your cardio, you might see a suggestion to incorporate intervals into your morning run. Recommendations adapt to each user and their data.


• Readiness - The new Apple Watch models calculate a readiness score that takes into account recent activity, vitals, and sleep score. It gives a 0–10 score with recommendations on activity level. Readouts include Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. Info is shown on the watch, in the Fitness app, and in the Health app's Insights tab.


• Fitness - Insights incorporates your daily activity and it updates throughout the day.


• Vitals - The Vitals option in the Health app has new overnight views and daytime views. HRV is incorporated as a metric, offering a better look at your ability to recover from stress. It measures overall HRV and recovery HRV.


• Longevity - There is a new Longevity tab in the Health app. It uses metrics from your iPhone and Apple Watch to assess overall health across heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. The section shows you how well you're doing in each category, and how each metric is classified against the latest clinical guidance.


• Health Age - Health Age is part of the Longevity tab. It uses metrics like VO2 max, resting heart rate, HRV, sleep, and biomarkers from blood work to determine how your health metrics compare to your actual age. It will help you figure out what habits make the biggest impact on your health, and how you can improve.

At-home health assessments like a VO2 max test will be coming to the Health app, taking advantage of the iPhone's camera to track your movements as you follow instructions from a trainer. There will be in-depth physical assessments for measuring flexibility, strength, balance, and movement mechanics in addition to VO2 max.

Apple also plans to eventually offer U.S. users the option to buy a bloodwork panel from Quest that covers more than 50 biomarkers. The test is priced at $119, and users will be able to order it right in the Health app.

Not all of the new features are going to be available in the beta. CNET says ordering labs, personalized health info in the Insights tab, and personalized recommendations will not be available until later in the year. Features are going to roll out progressively.

This article, "iOS 27.2 Beta Previews New Apple Intelligence Health App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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