The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today announced the launch of Privacy Badger for Safari on macOS.


The free browser extension allows Safari users to block ad trackers to prevent companies from spying on your web browsing and tracking you across the web.

Privacy Badger has been available on other platforms like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, but it is new to Safari. It requires Safari 26.5 or later.

The EFF says Privacy Browser can automatically learn to block hidden trackers on the web. It uses algorithmic methods to determine what is and isn't tracking, and it doesn't block ads unless those ads are also trackers.

Safari already limits the amount of information that trackers can access, but it lets trackers load. Privacy Badger blocks the trackers from loading and techniques that bypass Safari's protections don't work.

The extension is also able to block cookies and remove link click tracking from outgoing links on Facebook and Google.
This article, "EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's latest software update for the HomePod brings a new Sound Glow feature to the ‌HomePod‌, ‌HomePod‌ mini, and HomePod mini 2. Apple introduced Sound Glow as a ‌HomePod mini 2‌ feature, but it's available for the second-generation ‌HomePod‌ and the original ‌HomePod‌ mini too.


‌HomePod‌ Software 27.2 is available as a release candidate update for developers and public beta testers, but it should launch next week. Once you've updated your ‌HomePod‌ or ‌HomePod‌ mini to the new software, you can go to the ‌HomePod‌ settings to turn on Sound Glow. If your HomePods are paired with an Apple TV, you can also use the ‌Apple TV‌ Control Center to turn Sound Glow on or off.

With Sound Glow, the top of a ‌HomePod‌ or ‌HomePod‌ mini lights up with color that pulses in sync with the music or audio that's playing. The feature draws colors from album artwork, and it works with songs, podcasts, Apple's ambient music feature, and more.

Sound Glow is not available on the original ‌HomePod‌.

‌HomePod‌ Software 27.2 also adds support for using HomePods as the default speaker for a Mac, support for using for HomePods or ‌HomePod‌ mini 2s as surround sound for an ‌Apple TV‌, and it adds a Lock Controls feature for disabling touch interactions with the top of the ‌HomePod‌.
This article, "HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and HomePod Software 27.2 updates that Apple seeded today add support for four-speaker surround sound on the new Apple TV 4K ahead of its launch.


Setting up a ‌HomePod‌ home theater is done directly on the ‌Apple TV‌, but there is an option to start the process with the ‌Apple TV‌ remote app on iPhone.

With the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, you can use four HomePod mini 2 speakers, four second-generation HomePods, or two HomePods and two ‌HomePod mini 2‌ speakers for surround sound (as long as each pair matches).

The original ‌HomePod‌ and the original ‌HomePod‌ mini can't be used for surround sound, and older ‌Apple TV‌ models don't support the feature.

Combining ‌HomePod‌ speakers with an ‌Apple TV‌ creates a home theater grouping, and the speakers are treated as a single accessory instead of separate audio devices. The speakers can detect their position in the room for calibrating timing and levels.

The ‌HomePod mini 2‌ launches on October 30, while the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K comes out on November 13. Both new devices can be pre-ordered from Apple. We're expecting iOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and ‌HomePod‌ Software 27.2 updates to come out next week.
This article, "tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is testing the next macOS Golden Gate update, and developers can download the ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 release candidate. The RC comes a week after Apple released the fourth 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 and includes new brightness and volume sliders.

We're expecting ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ 27.2 to launch toward the end of October.

This article, "Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the release candidate of an upcoming iOS 27.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the fourth iOS 27.2 beta. Apple also seeded the iPadOS 27.2 RC.


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

The beta was used to test the new ‌iOS 27‌ Health app, but the features have since been removed and will be coming in a later update. It expands Siri AI to new languages including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

There are now profiles for the Apple TV app, Call Context supports anniversary alerts, and Apple Music has a new icon. The update also supports an alternative expanded prompt for App Tracking Transparency in the European Union.

Apple previously said the new ‌Siri‌ AI languages in iOS 27.2 would be available in October, so we are expecting iOS 27.2 to see a public launch before the end of the month. With the RC out, the update could come next week.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside new betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple has seeded the release candidate versions of watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2. The RCs come a week after Apple released the fourth betas.


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

There's no word on what's being added in visionOS 27.2 and tvOS 27.2, but Apple is bringing Siri AI to the Apple TV, so the update could include new ‌Siri‌ features. Apple has also released HomePod Software 27.2, including for the new HomePod mini 2.
This article, "Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week."


Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an ‌OLED‌ display.

Can't wait to pro and tell next week. https://t.co/3wUkxwq35i

— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 19, 2026

Apple is expected to announce the new devices on Wednesday, October 28. Members of the media have been invited to an in-person "experience" in Los Angeles, California that starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, so we could see press releases for the new products at that time. As with the HomeView, HomePod, and Apple TV, we are not expecting a standard event, but media will get hands-on time with the Macs and the ‌iPad mini‌ and will be able to share their first impressions.

Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ and other devices could launch on Friday, November 6.
This article, "Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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