Epic Games today said that the ‌Epic Games‌ Store can now be downloaded on iPhones in Brazil through the ‌Epic Games‌ website. In its announcement, ‌Epic Games‌ complained about the third-party store installation process, which requires nine steps and includes screens warning customers about downloading apps outside of the App Store.

Apple is imposing a 9-step install flow for alternative app stores in Brazil. The additional screens were designed to deter users from downloading alternative app stores and preventing competition. In the EU last year, Apple reduced their installation flow from 15 to 6 steps after facing regulatory pressure. After they made this change, Epic saw a 60% decrease in player drop-off during attempts to install the Epic Games Store. But Apple now has increased the steps in Brazil to thwart competition.

‌Epic Games‌ also took issue with the fees Apple is able to collect. Apple has a 5% Core Technology Commission on sales of digital goods and services in third-party app stores and apps installed from third-party app stores. Because of the fees, Epic says it is only offering its own games for now. Players can download Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe.

Brazilian customers who opt to purchase Fortnite through the ‌Epic Games‌ Store can get 20 percent back in Epic Rewards, an incentivizing bonus not available through the ‌App Store‌ version of Fortnite in Brazil.

‌Epic Games‌ says it has informed Brazilian regulators "how detrimental the requirements and restrictions are to creating a competitive mobile app ecosystem on iOS."

Apple changed its App Store rules in Brazil in June to comply with regulatory action requiring support for alternative app marketplaces.
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U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has teamed up with several of his Senate colleagues to demand Apple commit to not purchasing chips from Chinese companies ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) or Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC). [PDF]


With memory shortages causing Apple to raise the prices of Macs and iPads, the company has been talking with CXMT and YMTC about a chip deal. The two companies are on the Defense Department's list of Chinese companies that are suspected to have ties to the People's Liberation Army. Apple is not required to get U.S. approval before buying chips from CXMT, but YMTC is also on the Commerce Department's Entity List, which means Apple would need an export license before being able to work with the company.

Apple has been lobbying the Trump administration to greenlight its plan to buy Chinese chips, and Apple also wants to ensure the government won't add CXMT to the Entity List in the future.

Schumer wants Apple to pledge not to use chips from CXMT or YMTC in any Apple product sold anywhere in the world. He says Apple's plan would harm the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and set a dangerous precedent for other companies to follow.

Rumors have suggested Apple is already testing chips from CXMT, and Schumer has also asked Apple to answer questions about the reported testing and the company's efforts to lobby the Trump administration to prevent national security restrictions on Chinese semiconductor suppliers.

Fueled by investment from my Chips & Science Law, workers in Central New York and across the country are carrying out the largest domestic expansion of domestic memory chip production in a generation, and American companies, like Apple, should be buying chips stamped 'Made in America,' not from companies linked to the Chinese military. I wrote my CHIPS & Science Law, so we would make American microchips again, with American workers, and not be over-reliant on semiconductors from overseas. That's why I'm leading a bipartisan group of senators calling on Apple CEO Tim Cook to commit to not using memory chips produced by Chinese military-linked companies. I've long sounded the alarm on the grave national security and economic threats posed by YMTC, CXMT, and other companies backed by the Chinese Communist Party. Apple integrating these Chinese chips into its supply chain would send a dangerous message to other American companies that they, too, should turn to Chinese-made chips.

Apple has told lawmakers that it will use the chips in devices for the Chinese market, leaving more Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron chips available for products sold in countries like the U.S. Schumer claims the limitation "cannot be expected to hold" because Apple could extend the chips worldwide with a "single procurement decision." Schumer also said supplying chips to Apple would give CXMT "revenue and reputational gains" regardless of where the chips were used.

Back in 2022, Apple attempted to ink a deal to purchase chips from YMTC, but Schumer led an effort to stop the agreement and to add YMTC to the Entity List. Schumer has also been pushing for CXMT to be added to the list, which is the action Apple is aiming to stop. Schumer has asked Apple to respond to his letter by August 21, 2026.

Other senators who signed the letter are Jim Banks, Mike Crapo, Jeanne Shaheen, Andy Kim, James Risch, and Pete Ricketts.
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The FCC this week banned all new "foreign-produced advanced robotic devices" because of an "unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States." The government says networked robotic systems lead to vulnerabilities that allow bad actors to control the devices and collect surveillance data from Americans.


Advanced robotic devices are defined as software-controlled autonomous robots that can move, navigate obstacles, and have a sensor that can perceive the environment.

The ban isn't focused on just humanoid robots, and it includes robot vacuum cleaners too. Almost all robot vacuums are sold by companies located in China or are manufactured in China. Even Roomba maker iRobot, once a flagship American vacuum company, is now owned by a Chinese company after bankruptcy.

Companies are able to keep importing and selling robot vacuums already on the market, but new models will need to get approval from the government. As The Verge notes, getting approval requires a commitment to invest in U.S. manufacturing, but no investigation into security practices despite multiple mentions of national security concerns.

Future Matter-enabled smart vacuums that work with HomeKit from companies like Roborock and Ecovacs may not be able to be sold in the U.S., leaving few options for U.S. consumers unless the companies pledge to move manufacturing to the United States.

Along with robot vacuums, the FCC has banned new humanoid and quadruped robots, plus foreign-made power inverters.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook today said Apple would be making a donation to support earthquake relief efforts in Japan.


A magnitude 6.8 earthquake (per the USGS) hit the Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday, collapsing buildings and killing at least 34 people.


Aftershocks continued on Wednesday and Thursday. Kyushu is the third largest of Japan's four main islands, and it has the second-highest population.

Apple often donates to the Red Cross for relief efforts during natural disasters, but donation amounts are not shared. Last night, Cook said Apple was donating to wildfire relief efforts in France, Spain, and other countries.

Kumamoto was previously hit with a deadly earthquake in 2016, and Apple collected donations for Japan through iTunes.
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Qualcomm expects its Apple revenue to decline faster than it previously anticipated, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told Reuters in an interview following the company's earnings call for the third fiscal quarter of 2026.



Amon chalked up the loss to supply constraints, which will reduce the share of Qualcomm components used in the next iPhone launch well below its earlier 20 percent estimate. Qualcomm expects the drop in Apple revenue to start in the fourth quarter.

Qualcomm is raising its prices starting September 1 to improve its margin because of increasing costs across the supply chain. "We're just passing through big cost increases that we have," said Amon.

In fiscal 2027, Qualcomm is expecting most of its chip sales to come from categories other than smartphones, and growth in its data center business will replace the Apple-related revenue it collected in fiscal 2026.

Apple developed its own modem chips, which have been used in the iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air. Rumors suggest Apple could transition to using more of its own chips starting with the iPhone 18 lineup. Apple is working on a C2 modem chip rumored to deliver faster speeds and better power efficiency than Qualcomm modems.

Apple and Qualcomm have a patent licensing agreement that lasts through March 2027, and it is not clear if Apple will extend it again or move to using its own modem chips across its entire product lineup.
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Apple said new UK App Store rules would give regulators a "highly intrusive" role dictating how it runs its business, reports Reuters. Apple submitted feedback to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as it considers forcing Apple to change its ‌App Store‌ rules around steering.


The CMA wants Apple to let developers link to payment options outside of the ‌App Store‌, which the CMA says will cut fees and boost competition. Developers in the UK are not currently able to direct customers outside of the ‌App Store‌, even though that's allowed with the current U.S. ‌App Store‌ rules and the EU ‌App Store‌ rules.

UK regulators said Apple can charge developers a fee, but it must be fair and reasonable, and below existing ‌App Store‌ commissions, so developers can pass savings to customers or reinvest them in innovation.

According to Apple, the CMA's proposed rules would undermine innovation and investment, and would amount to price regulation because of the restriction on fees. Apple claims there is no evidence that allowing developers to direct users to purchase options outside the ‌App Store‌ would result in savings for customers. Apple said the ‌App Store‌ facilitated over £46.5 billion in UK billings and sales in 2025, and commissions accounted for less than 3.5 percent of the total.

The CMA denied that its proposal is price regulation. "Our consultation proposes principles to ensure that ​the fees Apple and Google charge for steering are fair and reasonable, not to directly set prices," a CMA spokesperson told Reuters.

The CMA is assessing feedback before making a final decision on the proposal. The changes are also applicable to Google, as both Apple and Google were designated with strategic market status (SMS) in the UK last year. Under the designation, the CMA can impose requirements meant to open up the platforms to greater competition.
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Tapbots recently launched Pastebot 3, the newest version of its popular clipboard management software.


Like prior versions of Pastebot, Pastebot 3 records everything you copy so that it's easy to find and paste when needed. You can store links and other content that you often paste, and organize the snippets by category in Custom Pastebins.

There are also rule-based Smart Pastebins for automatic organization, like every link or image copied from Safari. Smart Pastebins can be filtered by clipping size, type, file extension, creation date, text, text length, and more. Multiple parameters can be combined for detailed filtering, and custom notes can be added to clippings to make them easy to find via search.

You can create more powerful custom filters and apply them to text you've copied before pasting it. You can do things like convert to plaintext and remove smart punctuation, wrap what you're pasting in paragraph tags, convert to upper or lowercase, nix emojis, find and replace, extract URLs or phone numbers, remove empty lines, sort, and translate. Multiple filters can be combined and keyboard shortcuts can be assigned to the filters you use most often.

A quick paste menu can be activated with a Shift+Command+V keyboard shortcut for bringing up your most frequently used clippings in any app, and there's a Stack function for copying multiple items and pasting them one after another.

You can add apps to Pastebot's blacklist, and content copied from the apps on the list is never saved to Pastebot, which is useful for protecting passwords. All Pastebot content and filters sync across Macs with iCloud, and there are options for customizing how many clippings are saved. You can keep up to 1,500.

Tapbots says Pastebot 3 was built to work with Apple's Universal Clipboard feature, and when enabled and active, anything you copy on your iPhone is saved in Pastebot automatically. Clippings saved in Pastebot can also be pasted on iPhone. Pastebot 3 supports Apple Shortcuts and CLI access for automating clippings.

Pastebot 3 requires macOS Tahoe or later. It can be purchased directly from Tapbots for $39, with a year of updates included and the option to buy another year of updates for $19. There's also a Mac App Store purchase option with a $24.99 per year or $2.99 per month subscription. Pastebot customers who enter a Pastebot 2 license key can get a $12.99 upgrade discount on the direct purchase option. New customers can try the app for 14 days.
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Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.


‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 249 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, Animations, CSS, Editing, Forms, HTML, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, Spatial Web, Web API, Web Audio, Web Inspector, WebAssembly, WebDriver, and WebRTC.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Tahoe and macOS Golden Gate, the newest version of macOS.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple's website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
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OpenAI president Greg Brockman recently did an interview with Joanna Stern, where he commented on the lawsuit OpenAI is facing from Apple and talked about OpenAI's product plans.


Brockman reiterated what OpenAI has already said on the record, stating that the company is "plenty innovative" and uninterested in other companies' trade secrets.

I would say that we have no interest in other companies' trade secrets. We are plenty innovative. We are thinking about things from our own angle. And so that's how we operate and that's what we do.

He also said OpenAI is working on its own long-term product plans.

It's active litigation, so not something that I want to talk about, but all I can say is we're very committed to a long-term roadmap here and that we are focused on our own development and technology. That's what we're interested in.

Apple accused OpenAI of a months-long scheme to steal confidential Apple information from Apple employees interviewing with OpenAI. Apple said OpenAI has created a culture of hardware theft, and that its hardware business is "rotten to the core" because the hardware it's building relies on info stolen from Apple. OpenAI's products are being developed with former Apple designer Jony Ive, though Ive wasn't named in the lawsuit.

Brockman declined to say when OpenAI's first hardware devices will come out, but he said people should "expect them soon." Rumors suggest OpenAI's first product will be a mobile smart speaker without a display, and it has been described as a "humanlike AI companion" designed for home use. He further said OpenAI is working on a "family of devices" and is building its own chips. OpenAI wants to offer "value over time" and deliver on a device that's "built for the AI era" and "maximally useful."

He had ChatGPT answer a question about what OpenAI's first AI device would look like.

My take, something ambient and low friction, voice first but not voice only and with a clear privacy signal.

ChatGPT also answered whether the company's first device would need a screen, and it said "nope."

People haven't been thrilled with the recent merging of ChatGPT and Codex, and Brockman acknowledged that the app is "kind of a mess." He described the current app as "incremental progress towards the future," and said the separate Work tab should be gone by the end of the year, with everything molding into ChatGPT.

Brockman's full interview, which goes into more detail on ChatGPT's future, OpenAI's hardware work, and the company's ambitions, can be watched on YouTube.
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Samsung announced its latest foldable smartphones last week, and the lineup included the Galaxy Z Fold8, a device that's close to what we're expecting Apple's foldable "iPhone Ultra" to look like when it comes out later this year. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been testing Samsung's new foldable, and the wider 4:3 display bodes well for the ‌iPhone Ultra‌.


Unlike most of Samsung's Galaxy foldables, the Z Fold8 is wider with a tablet-like look and feel when it's unfolded. It's 5.5 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open, and those are just about the exact dimensions we've seen rumored for the ‌iPhone Ultra‌. It's not as tall or narrow as Samsung's other foldable smartphones, and it feels a lot more like using an iPad mini.

A wider unfolded display is better for using two apps side-by-side, and it's also a better screen size for watching videos. The 5.5-inch cover display is perfect for looking at notifications, responding to texts, and answering emails, and then the wider display is ideal for tasks that can use more screen real estate.

Samsung's foldable is our best look yet at what it will be like to use an ‌iPhone Ultra‌, and where the shortcomings might be. The book form factor isn't the best for vertical video, and some apps aren't designed for the screen size. Apple is working on automatic resizing for apps to match the iPad-like design, so it may be in a better position than Samsung on the software side.

Samsung's device only has two camera lenses and not the best camera tech the company has, and that's what we're expecting from the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ too. A telephoto lens is unlikely, and a step down in camera quality could be one of the main negatives of choosing the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ over the iPhone 18 Pro this fall. It's also going to be missing Face ID, and going back to Touch ID on a smartphone is a big change.

Apple's design is supposed to be nearly crease-free with a sturdy hinge, and Samsung used new hinge technology for the Z Fold8 too. Samsung says the new mechanism minimizes the crease and makes it harder to feel than with prior models, but it's still clearly visible in some lighting. It'll be interesting to see how Apple's foldable compares.

Samsung didn't come out with this wide-screen foldable smartphone until after rumors suggested it was the design Apple planned to use. Samsung and Apple both have a history of adopting features after the other company comes out with something new, but Samsung seems to follow Apple more often. It looks like Apple picked the shape and details came out through leaks, leading Samsung to make a similar device. Samsung was able to make it to market before Apple because Samsung has been making foldable smartphones for years.

Rumors about a book-style Apple foldable started around March 2018, and Samsung's first foldable came out in 2019. Samsung had seven years to pick a wider design like the one Apple is opting for, but didn't launch the form factor until a couple of months before Apple's foldable is rumored to be coming.

Samsung isn't likely to lure iPhone users away from choosing the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ when it comes out because most people tend to stick with a preferred operating system, but it could stop Galaxy users from swapping over to Apple's tablet-like design. The 4:3 iPad-like display works, and the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is going to sell well, even at a price around $2,000. Samsung priced the Z Fold8 at $1,900, but rumors suggest Apple could charge up to $2,500.

Apple knows the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is going to give people sticker shock, and that's probably one of the reasons it just launched Apple Upgrade. Apple Upgrade lets you lease a smartphone for a lower monthly price than you used to be able to get with the iPhone Upgrade Program, and it'll likely help Apple sell the new iPhone.

Dan went into testing expecting the rumored price would keep the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ niche, but after using the Galaxy Z Fold8 and showing other people the design, he's now convinced the ‌iPhone Ultra‌ will be a hit.
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Google today updated Gemini for Mac to add a new quick keyboard shortcut that activates voice mode. By long-pressing the Fn key, users can speak naturally to Gemini from any window on their desktop machine.


Gemini supports intelligent dictation, so users can speak to the chatbot using natural language and Gemini will transcribe their words to text. Ums, ahs, and other filler words are removed during the process, and it can catch mid-sentence corrections, dropping formatted text at the cursor.

There's an opt-in screen-aware reasoning mode. If enabled, Gemini can see what's on the Mac's screen to complete tasks. Users can highlight files, images, text, or documents and have Gemini edit, summarize, and compose content in the app they're working in. Gemini is also able to generate and edit images when the screen-aware mode is turned on.

A double press on the Fn key is one of the options for triggering the Mac's built-in dictation feature, so the Gemini replacement will be familiar to those who prefer Gemini.

Gemini's new Mac voice mode is rolling out globally to all Gemini for Mac users in English, with Google planning to add more languages in the future.
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The Phone and FaceTime apps didn't get as many new features as some of Apple's other apps, but there are a handful of capabilities that add utility and convenience.

Phone App

The Phone app has one major update, and that's Call Context. When you call a company, the Phone app can surface relevant information from the Mail app.

If you call an airline, it might show your confirmation code for an upcoming flight, or your reservation code if you're calling a hotel. It doesn't listen to what you're saying, but instead looks at the number you're calling and links it to details in the Mail app.

Call Context is an Apple Intelligence feature that runs entirely on-device, and it requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. It also works when you make a phone call from your iPad or Mac.

FaceTime

‌FaceTime‌ has a couple of new features, but the biggest is Dual Capture. On the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air, you can use the front and back cameras at the same time while on a ‌FaceTime‌ call.

The person you're calling is able to see your face and what's shown through the back camera.

You can turn on Dual Capture on a supported iPhone by tapping on the camera flip button. If you only want to show the back camera feed, you can tap to turn off the front camera view.

While streaming video with Dual Capture is limited to the ‌iPhone 17‌, iPhone 17 Pro, ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, ‌iPhone Air‌, and newer, anyone running iOS 27 can see a dual video stream on a ‌FaceTime‌ call because there are no hardware requirements for the receiving device.

There are a few other features worth knowing about:

• Connection Quality - When you have a bad connection, ‌FaceTime‌ calls will now have better quality than before.


• Wi-Fi/Cellular - In ‌iOS 27‌, iPhones are better at transitioning from a Wi-Fi to a cellular connection and vice versa, so you'll lose connection less often when moving between networks.


• Live Captions - Live Captions are now available in Traditional Chinese.


• Communication Safety - Communication Safety blocks gore and violence in ‌FaceTime‌ and Messages instead of just nudity.

iOS 27 Launch

‌iOS 27‌ is being beta tested right now, and can be downloaded by developers and public beta testers. It will launch this fall alongside new iPhone models.

Read More

For more on the new features in ‌iOS 27‌, we have a dedicated iOS 27 roundup.
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Apple retired the iPhone Upgrade Program in favor of a new Apple Upgrade leasing option made available in partnership with Klarna. Apple Upgrade gives customers an option to get iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches at cheaper prices than before, but there are some things worth knowing about it.


We've gathered up some smaller tidbits that you should be aware of before deciding to opt in.

• U.S. Only - Apple Upgrade is only available in the United States, and there's no word on whether it will expand to other countries.


• Unlocked iPhones - iPhones leased with Apple Upgrade are unlocked, but you are required to choose a carrier at checkout. Carrier options include AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Since the iPhone is unlocked, you can switch carriers after purchase or add a second eSIM.


• Postpaid Plans Only - You have to have a postpaid plan through a supported carrier to use Apple Upgrade. Prepaid plans aren't an option when leasing.


• Ownership - You don't own the iPhone you're leasing at the end of the lease term unless you pay off the final amount. Your final payment is the device's cost when it was leased minus what was paid during the lease. If you don't want to purchase the iPhone, or if you want to upgrade, you need to return the leased iPhone.


• No Lockout - Code in the iOS 27 beta suggested Apple could restrict apps and services if there are missed payments on a leased device, but it's not for Apple Upgrade. Missing a payment won't change how your iPhone works.


• Missed Payments - If you miss a payment, it's rolled into your next month's payment. There are no late fees.


• Three Strikes - If you miss three payments in a row, Klarna automatically terminates your lease and the full balance of the iPhone is due immediately. Klarna will subtract the value of the iPhone from the amount owed when you return it, cutting down on the payoff amount. If you don't return the iPhone or don't pay the balance, Klarna will send the account to collections.


• No Fees - There are no fees for missing a payment, but you are subject to the lease termination rules. Missing a payment can also impact your credit score.


• AppleCare+ - Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, AppleCare+ is not included with the Apple Upgrade leasing fee, and it needs to be purchased separately. ‌AppleCare‌+ for the iPhone is $9.99 to $13.99 per month, or you can get ‌AppleCare‌ One for $19.99 per month. ‌AppleCare‌ One covers three devices.


• Damage - Klarna will charge for any damage to an iPhone, and you'll need to pay for a repair when returning a device. If you have ‌AppleCare‌+, you'll only pay the ‌AppleCare‌+ service fee.


• iPhone Upgrade Program - The iPhone Upgrade Program is discontinued. Current members don't have to swap to Apple Upgrade or another purchase option right now, but will need to do so at their next upgrade.


• Apple Card Monthly Installments - Apple Card holders can still choose to finance an iPhone with zero interest using the ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installments option. An iPhone purchased with ‌Apple Card‌ is owned outright.


• Ineligible Products - Some Apple devices can't be purchased with Apple Upgrade, including the iPhone 16, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, Apple Watch SE, MacBook Neo, Mac mini, A16 iPad, and Studio Display.


• No EDU - You can't use Apple Upgrade for discounted education prices.


• No Refurbished Devices - You can't buy a refurbished Apple device with Apple Upgrade.


• Ending a Lease Early - You can end a lease early, but you need to pay off the remaining amount on the lease and then return the device.


• Buying Out a Lease - You can pay off a lease early with no penalty.


• Soft Credit Check - There's no hard credit check when initiating a lease, so getting approval for a lease won't affect your credit.


• Trade-Ins - When you initiate a lease, you can trade in an old iPhone. Trade-in value is split across your monthly payments instead of applied up front. You can't do a trade-in when sending a device back to upgrade to a new one.


• Payment Restrictions - Klarna doesn't accept some credit cards, like AMEX, Chase, and Capital One. Other credit cards like the ‌Apple Card‌ can be used for Apple Upgrade payments to Klarna.

More Details

We have more information on Apple Upgrade in our full article, along with details on pricing.
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Apple today launched Apple Upgrade, a new U.S. leasing program for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Apple partnered with Klarna for Apple Upgrade, and it replaces the current iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments.


Apple Upgrade has lower base prices than the iPhone Upgrade Program, with iPhones available starting at $17.99 per month and the Apple Watch available starting at $11.99 per month. Macs can be leased starting at $24.99 per month, and iPads start at $11.99 per month. AppleCare+ is optional and not included in the lease price, with customers also able to opt for ‌AppleCare‌ One.

There are 12-month and 24-month leasing options for the iPhone and Apple Watch, along with 24-month and 36-month leasing options for the Mac and ‌iPad‌. Lease cost varies based on device, and is lower with a device trade-in that's applied on a monthly basis. Apple has some sample pricing, minus taxes and trade-in credits:

• 256GB iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099) - Typical monthly payment is $31.99 with a 24-month lease or $45.99 with a 12-month lease.


• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 ($399) - Typical monthly payment for a 24-month lease term is $11.99 per month, or $21.99 for a 12-month lease term.


• 256GB iPad Pro ($1,199) - Typical monthly payment is $24.99 for a 36-month lease term, or $31.99 for a 24-month lease term.


• 16GB 14-inch MacBook Pro ($1,999) - Typical monthly payment is $38.99 for a 36-month lease, and $53.99 for a 24-month lease.

When leasing an iPhone, customers are required to choose a plan from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, and prepaid plans are not eligible. iPhones need to be leased with a carrier plan, but the iPhones are unlocked so customers can switch carriers if desired. MVNOs like Mint Mobile or Visible are not supported.

At the end of the leasing period, customers can choose to return the device and exit the program, pay off the remaining amount owed on the device with a one-time payment and keep it, or return it and upgrade to a new device with a new lease.

The payoff amount is the difference between what was paid during the leasing period and the retail price of the device, minus any remaining trade-in credits. Klarna is not charging a fee for the leasing program, so an iPhone that's $1,099 can be leased and then purchased for $1,099 with no extra cost beyond taxes.

As with trade-ins, Apple will send a pre-labeled and prepaid shipping box for device returns or upgrades.

If you don't opt to pay the purchase fee at the end of the leasing program, you will not own the device and must return it.

Apple is discontinuing the iPhone Upgrade Program, and iPhones can no longer be purchased with it. Current participants can continue to make payments until their existing iPhones are paid off, but at the next purchase, they will need to switch over to Apple Upgrade or another payment option. Apple Card users can continue to buy devices with the ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installments plan or choose Apple Upgrade and get 3% Daily Cash back on lease payments made with ‌Apple Card‌.

Apple Upgrade is available for online and in-store purchases. Customers can select their preferred leasing option, and after a soft credit check, get an instant approval from Klarna if eligible. Lease information like billing schedule, total price, and remaining payments can be managed in the Klarna app.

Most iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watch models are eligible for Apple Upgrade, but the program can't be used for iPhone 16, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, Apple Watch SE, MacBook Neo, Mac mini, ‌iPad‌ (A16), and Studio Display purchases. Apple Upgrade cannot be used with EDU discounts, and leases aren't available for refurbished devices. Apple also excludes purchases made with the Apple Employee Purchase Plan and business, government, veteran, and military purchase programs.

Fine Print

Lease participants can opt to end a lease early and return a device, but Apple says there may be "substantial fees" for terminating a lease before the end of the term. The fee is the remaining amount of the lease, so terminating a lease three months early means paying the remaining three months. There is no fee for paying off a lease early.

Customers must upgrade, end the lease, or purchase the device at the end of the lease term. If that doesn't happen, the lease converts to a month-to-month lease for up to six months. Month-to-month payments will remain the same, but if there was a trade-in credit being applied monthly, it ends when the lease does, so payments could go up. At the end of the month-to-month lease add-on, customers will be charged the purchase fee.

Damage to an iPhone, losing an iPhone, or having an iPhone stolen could incur fees. Klarna assesses damage at return and charges accordingly. With ‌AppleCare‌+, the cost is the applicable service fee, but without it, the full cost of the assessed damage has to be paid.

If a customer misses a payment, the payment is rolled into the next month's payment, but there are no late fees incurred. If there are three consecutive missed payments, the lease agreement ends and the customer has to pay the full outstanding balance minus the value of the device when returned. If Klarna is unable to collect payment, the case will be handed over to Klarna's debt collection agencies. Apple says Klarna support offers a one-month payment deferral and an early lease termination option with a repayment plan.

Leases are restricted to customers who are 18 or older (or legal age in their resident state) with a valid SSN or ITIN. Customers must be U.S. residents, and territories are excluded. An Apple Account in good standing is required, as is a Klarna account and a credit or debit card.

Availability

Apple devices can be leased with Apple Upgrade in stores or online starting today.
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A shortage of memory chips has impacted the entire computer market, affecting Macs and PCs alike. Apple and other companies have raised prices, but Apple is better positioned than its competitors. Machines like the Mac mini and the Mac Studio are in demand for on-device AI agent use, and Apple plans to take advantage by refreshing its Mac lineup across 2026 and 2027.


Apple already launched the MacBook Neo and refreshed the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with M5-series chips, but there are more updates coming before the end of the year.

Fall 2026 Launches

• 14-inch MacBook Pro - The entry-level 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is expected to get an M6 chip, and it'll be one of the first machines with Apple's 2-nanometer chip technology.


• iMac - The 24-inch iMac will get an update, and it'll also probably get the new M6 chip. No design or display changes are expected, so it'll continue to look like the current model from 2024.

Late 2026 to Early 2027

• OLED MacBook Pro - A ‌MacBook Pro‌ (or MacBook Ultra) with an OLED touchscreen display could launch in late 2026, but Apple might also hold it until early 2027. The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook models will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips because Apple isn't going to release M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. The ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ will have an updated design.


• Mac Studio - Apple is working on a refreshed version of the ‌Mac Studio‌ with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, but launch timing is unclear because of RAM shortages and costs.


• Mac mini - There are M5 Pro and M6 ‌Mac mini‌ models in development, but as with the ‌Mac Studio‌, launch timing is not known. We could get these two machines as soon as 2026, in early 2027, or they might even be held until later in 2027.

2027 Mac Plans

• MacBook Air - Refreshed 13-inch and 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ models are planned for early 2027. The new machines are likely to get the M6 chip Apple is working on.


• 14-inch MacBook Pro - An updated entry-level 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an M7 chip could come in as soon as early 2027. It will not have an ‌OLED‌ display like Apple's higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ machines coming in late 2026 or early 2027, but it is expected to get the same design overhaul.


• MacBook Neo - There's a new version of the low-cost ‌MacBook Neo‌ coming, but we don't know exactly when. It's expected to use a faster A19 Pro chip and it will come with more memory. New colors are also a possibility.

Late 2027 to Early 2028

• Second OLED MacBook Pro - A second-generation ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ will come approximately a year after Apple releases the first version. The late 2027 to early 2028 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will get Apple's M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, which are built for artificial intelligence workloads.

2028

• OLED MacBook Air - Apple plans to bring ‌OLED‌ displays to the ‌MacBook Air‌, but 2028 is the earliest we'll see an ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Air‌, and launch timing could even be pushed back.


• OLED iMac - Apple is also working on an ‌OLED‌ ‌iMac‌, but it's not known when exactly it will come out. It could be released sometime around the ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Air‌.

Chip Mixing

According to Bloomberg, Apple is moving up development of its M7 chips that are built for AI workloads, skipping some M6 chips. Apple won't come out with an M6 Pro or M6 Max chip, which is why the first ‌OLED‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead of newer technology. Apple's rough chip release schedule:

• M5 Ultra - Late 2026


• M6 - Late 2026


• M7 - First half of 2027


• M7 Pro - End of 2027


• M7 Max - End of 2027


• M7 Ultra - 2028

Memory Prices

Global memory shortages caused Apple to make major changes to its Mac and iPad pricing in June, and prior to that, Apple discontinued some ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ models that included higher RAM upgrade options. Limited memory availability could affect Apple's Mac launch plans, so timing could shift.

Buying Advice

If you're planning to pick up a ‌MacBook Pro‌ or an ‌iMac‌, it's probably worth waiting because of the refreshes coming as soon as late 2026. The ‌iMac‌ is two years old and got a price hike recently, so it's an especially bad deal.

‌OLED‌ touchscreen ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are likely to be even more expensive than the current models, so if you don't want to pay more for the new screen technology, it's an okay time to buy. It's probably best to hold off on an entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ until it's updated with the faster M6 chip.

‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ models have extended shipping times already, and if you don't need something imminently, it's probably better to wait for new chips. Other Macs aren't getting refreshed until 2027, so now is a good time to buy the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the ‌MacBook Air‌.

For more on Apple's product plans, we have an upcoming products guide that is regularly updated.
This article, "Apple's 2026 and 2027 Mac Roadmap: Every Model and When It Ships" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, and macOS Tahoe 26.6, all of which have a long list of security fixes.


iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 address almost 90 security vulnerabilities affecting everything from the App Store to the Neural Engine. Multiple kernel and WebKit vulnerabilities were fixed, along with problems affecting Wi-Fi, Siri, and the iPhone's image processing.

Details on all of the fixes can be found in Apple's security support document.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 has more than 130 vulnerability fixes, with many of those updates also available in macOS Sequoia 15.7.8 and macOS Sonoma 14.8.8. The latter two updates are available for Macs not running ‌macOS Tahoe‌.

Apple's other updates, tvOS 26.6, watchOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6, also have over 80 security fixes.

While Apple doesn't say that any of the vulnerabilities are known to have been actively exploited, now that the issues are public, devices that aren't updated could be vulnerable. It's a good idea to update all of your devices to the latest software that's available to keep yourself safe.
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Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.6, a small update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last year. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 comes a month after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.5.2.


Mac owners can download the software by opening the System Settings app and then navigating to the Software Updates section.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 includes security fixes for the Mac and it optimizes Spotlight for the release of macOS 27.
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Apple today released visionOS 26.6, the sixth update to the visionOS 26 operating system that launched in September. visionOS 26.6 comes over two months after Apple released visionOS 26.5.


‌visionOS 26‌.6 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the exterior EyeSight display.

Apple's release notes say that visionOS 26.6 includes bug fixes and security improvements in addition to optimizing the Spotlight index for the upcoming visionOS 27 launch.

visionOS 26.6 is recommended for all Vision Pro users.

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Apple today released iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, updates to the iOS and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. iOS 26.6 comes a month after the launch of iOS 26.5.2, a security update.


iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 include security fixes for the iPhone and iPad. The updates also optimize the Spotlight index in preparation for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.

iOS 26.6 will be one of the final updates to the iOS 26 operating system. Apple is beta testing ‌iOS 27‌, and the software is set to launch this September alongside new iPhone models.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 With iOS 27 Optimizations" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released watchOS 26.6, the sixth update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.6 comes over two months after Apple released watchOS 26.5.


watchOS 26.6 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.6 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 26.6 includes unspecified bug fixes and security updates.

More on the features in ‌watchOS 26‌ can be found in our watchOS 26 roundup.
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Apple today released tvOS 26.6, the sixth update to the tvOS operating system that came out last fall. tvOS 26.6 is available for the Apple TV 4K, and it comes two months after Apple released tvOS 26.5.


tvOS 26.6 can be downloaded using the Settings app on ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 26.6 automatically.

No new features were found in tvOS 26.6 during the beta testing period, so it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple shares tvOS release notes on its website.
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Amazon is planning to deploy up to 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites that will use Globalstar spectrum to provide voice, data, messaging, and emergency services to devices like the iPhone. Amazon's project is expected to improve existing iPhone satellite features and support new features.


Apple uses Globalstar for the satellite features on the iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Amazon is in the process of acquiring the company. Apple and Amazon have worked out a deal that will see Globalstar operating alongside Amazon's Leo satellite network, with Globalstar and Amazon Leo powering future satellite services for Apple.

Amazon's proposed 5,105-satellite constellation will allow devices to have satellite-based cellular service in areas where a cell tower is unavailable. Amazon says the system will give customers improved speed and throughput, and it will be able to reach any compatible mobile device with a satellite-capable chipset. Amazon specifically highlights its Apple partnership in its blog post announcing the satellite plan.

Amazon Leo already announced an agreement with Apple to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models—including Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite—and to collaborate with Apple on future satellite services using the expanded network.

Amazon plans to deploy five orbital shells meant to reach different parts of the planet. Three will cover heavily populated areas, while others will extend service toward polar areas. Amazon has filed an application with the FCC for the system, and is awaiting approval. Amazon expects to deploy satellites starting in 2028, with the Globalstar merger set to close in 2027 after it receives regulatory approval.
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iOS 27 includes new iCloud capabilities across several apps like Apple Home, Siri, Photos, and more. There are some direct ‌iCloud‌ improvements like upgrades to photo uploads and sharing, along with some indirect new features.

HomeKit Secure Video Cameras (iCloud+)

If you have HomeKit Secure Video cameras, the Home app in ‌iOS 27‌ has a couple of useful new Apple Intelligence features.

You can get text-based summaries of what's going on, sent as notifications. So when you get a notification for movement, it will say something like "Someone was seen," or "Animal seen."

The text descriptions are also shown in the video playback timeline, and you can search for specific events. Events that take place across two cameras, such as the same person walking from room to room, are paired together to give an overview of action across the home.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in the Home app require a 2TB or higher iCloud+ plan, which is priced starting at $9.99 in the United States. The 2TB plan is also the plan required for an unlimited number of ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ cameras.

‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ cameras have always required an ‌iCloud‌+ plan to store the camera footage in ‌iCloud‌. A single camera can be added with the 50GB plan, and five cameras can be added with the 200GB plan.

To use the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ Home app features, you need a home hub like a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K, as well as a device that supports ‌Apple Intelligence‌ (iPhone 15 Pro or newer).

‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ cameras can also record up to 4K footage in ‌iOS 27‌, but that feature does not use ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Apple Intelligence Limit Increase (iCloud+)

Apple said at WWDC that some ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like image generation with Image Playground will have limits on daily use.

Those limits can be increased with most ‌iCloud‌+ plans. Apple has not given a list of features that will have limits beyond ‌Image Playground‌, nor has it said what the limits will be without an ‌iCloud‌+ plan and with the tiered options.

Siri

‌Siri‌ conversations in the ‌Siri‌ app sync across devices using ‌iCloud‌. The ‌Siri‌ app lets you revisit previous conversations, start new conversations, pin important chats, and continue chats across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS.

Photos

There are several new ‌iCloud‌ features in the ‌Photos‌ app.

• Prioritize Syncing - There's a toggle to force all of your photos to upload to ‌iCloud‌ regardless of battery status. It turns on for 24 hours and then turns off.


• Shared Albums - Android and Windows users can upload photos to Shared Albums. Shared Albums also keep full-resolution photos and videos to support the cross-platform sharing feature.


• Upload Speed - iPhones will now start uploading to iCloud Photos more quickly to make images available across devices faster.

Collaboration

• Link Previews - ‌iCloud‌ collaboration links now show richer previews so you can more clearly see what you've been sent.


• Access Requests - Users can send access requests for items shared via ‌iCloud‌.


• Speed - Apple says users will get faster access to shared content on iCloud.com.


• Links - Creating links to ‌iCloud‌ content is easier with a more accessible share link.

Journal

You can now see the ‌iCloud‌ sync status for each journal entry.

Passwords

The Passwords app can use ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to automatically fix weak passwords in ‌iOS 27‌. It uses ‌iCloud‌ Keychain and Safari to operate.

An Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone is required to use the feature.

Read More

More information on the features in ‌iOS 27‌ can be found in our roundup.

Launch Date

‌iOS 27‌ is available to developers and public beta testers. It will launch in September alongside new iPhone models.
This article, "iOS 27: All the New iCloud Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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U.S. President Donald Trump today said on Truth Social that his administration plans to launch an investigation into fines the European Union has levied against tech companies like Apple, Google, and Meta for violating antitrust and Digital Markets Act rules.



Trump called the European Union's conduct "illegal and highly unethical," vowing to get the penalties reversed and planning to institute a "substantial tariff."

The European Union is at it again and, as usual, taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies! After having fined Apple, for no reason at all, 15 Billion Dollars, Meta, 3 Billion Dollars, Amazon 2.5 Billion Dollars, and many others, we have just been informed that Google, a truly advanced and amazing group, has been fined yet another 1 Billion Dollars, without explanation. This brings the Google total to over 18 Billion Dollars! This illegal and highly discriminatory practice started at these high levels during the first year of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration, but it's not going to continue during the Trump Administration. The United States of America is not a "PIGGYBANK" for Europe, nor will we allow it to be! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that we will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into the practice of "ROBBING" American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer. The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct, which I have consistently warned them about. The penalties will be entirely reversed and, we anticipate, a substantial TARIFF to be placed on them at the earliest possible moment.

Apple was fined $570 million in 2025, ‌Meta‌ was fined $840 million in 2024 and $200 million in 2025, and Google was fined $1 billion this week after a $4.5 billion Android fine was upheld earlier this month.

Trump previously threatened European tariffs if the EU did not stop targeting U.S. companies, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative has also threatened to implement fees and restrictions on European services and companies.

Trump has focused heavily on tariffs during his second term, affecting U.S. companies and consumers. A 10 percent blanket tariff Trump enacted earlier this year expired today. The Trump administration implemented new tariffs to replace them, accusing 60 countries of failing to "impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor." The tariffs will affect goods from the UK, China, and the European Union, among others.
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Anthropic today introduced Claude Opus 5, an upgrade to Opus 4.8. Anthropic says Opus 5 was built for daily use, and it offers near Fable 5 performance at half the price. Fable 5 is Anthropic's most capable publicly available model.


Opus 5 scores higher than Opus 4.8 on multiple benchmarked tasks, including agentic coding, novel problem solving, knowledge work, computer use, and multidisciplinary reasoning. It is a "meaningful improvement" over Opus 4.8 for scientific research, and it can produce better visual outputs.

Anthropic says the new model "provides greatly improved performance for the same cost" as Opus 4.8. Opus 5 is better at verifying its work and iterating until it completes a task. It is close to Mythos 5 at finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities, but it was not trained on cyber tasks and it remains "substantially behind" Mythos 5 on exploitation. Mythos 5 is Fable 5 with some safeguards removed. It is limited to a small number of organizations, mostly cyberdefenders and infrastructure providers because of its capability at finding and exploiting vulnerabilities.

Opus 5 is available on all platforms. It is the new default model on Claude Max and the strongest model available on Claude Pro. It is priced at $5 per million input tokens and $25 per million output tokens, which is the same as Opus 4.8. Fast mode is also available, running at 2.5x the default speed for twice the base price.
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With iOS 27, Apple focused on making improvements to iOS performance, optimizing everything from system animations to AirDrop transfer speeds. iPhone performance is smoother and faster on all iPhones able to run ‌iOS 27‌, which includes the iPhone 11 and newer.


There are over 80 ‌iOS 27‌ improvements Apple announced, with 10 of the most useful listed below.

App Launching

Apps launch up to 30 percent faster in ‌iOS 27‌, and that includes Apple's own apps and third-party apps. When you're opening apps dozens of times a day, less loading time adds up and makes the system feel faster.

Apple says it tested the app launching speed improvements using an iPhone 11 Pro Max running iOS 26.4.2 and ‌iOS 27‌.

Optimized CPU Scheduler

iOS includes a CPU scheduler that manages computational resources across workloads as you use your iPhone. Apple says it optimized the CPU scheduler in ‌iOS 27‌ to more efficiently handle performance-intensive tasks.

Apple extended CPU scheduler optimization all the way back to the iPhone 11, which is part of the reason even old iPhones feel faster with the update installed.

Apple is often accused of making old iPhones slower with new iOS updates, but there are noticeable speed improvements in ‌iOS 27‌ so we likely won't hear that complaint this year.

Better Wi-Fi to Cellular Transitions

iPhones are better at determining when to transition from Wi-Fi to a cellular connection, and from a cellular connection to Wi-Fi. When you're connected to your home Wi-Fi and walk out the door, you'll see less connectivity loss as your device changes networks.

Apple says the iPhone is better about choosing the best available Wi-Fi or cellular connection to help you stay connected.

Rebuilt Search Index

Apple rebuilt its search foundation in ‌iOS 27‌, giving Spotlight, Photos, Mail, and other apps a more comprehensive index of content that stays updated throughout the day.

In the Mail app, there's a new ranking system that surfaces more relevant emails for search queries instead of listing results by date. You'll see up to five ranked Top Results now.

Photo Load Time

When you take a photo and then open up the ‌Photos‌ app, your just-captured image appears more quickly so you can edit it or share it. Apple says photos and videos load up to 70 percent faster in the ‌Photos‌ library, which it tested with a ‌Photos‌ app that had a 50,000-asset library.

Waiting on a photo to unblur when you quickly swap over to the ‌Photos‌ app is a small annoyance, but cutting down on load time makes taking a photo feel much faster.

Recent camera captures are also added more quickly in the Messages app photo picker.

Automatic Message Resending

When a message, photo, or video fails to send in iMessage, your iPhone will automatically retry sending it instead of throwing up a red exclamation point and forcing you to manually try again.

Sending photos and videos when you have a poor connection also does not pause a Messages conversation while the content sends. Each photo or video has its own progress bar, and your texts will still go through while you wait for images and video to upload.

Faster Camera Launch in Low Power Mode

When you have Low Power Mode turned on, the Camera app can launch slowly. That's been fixed in ‌iOS 27‌, and it loads faster than before.

The Camera also draws less power in Low Power Mode.

Faster Keyboard Loading

The emoji and sticker keyboards load more quickly, so there's no longer an irritating pause when you want to use an emoji. The keyboard is something you use frequently, so this is a time-saving improvement.

Mail Badges

If you're tired of unread Mail badges popping up when you have read all your emails, ‌iOS 27‌ addresses the issue. The Mail app badge is now less likely to show an inaccurate number of unread emails.

Bluetooth

Apple says it improved Bluetooth power management in ‌iOS 27‌, an update relevant to AirPods, Apple Watch, CarPlay, speakers, and other Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth accessories should draw less power for some minor improvements to battery life.

Other Useful Improvements

• AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent faster, and AirDrop is faster to find nearby recipients


• Text recognition in images and documents is quicker


• Safari has enhanced power efficiency and web apps are faster


• Unlocking an iPhone, scrolling through Home Screen pages and App Library, and scrolling in Control Center are all smoother


• The Lock Screen no longer goes to sleep when you're scrolling through notifications


• Wireless ‌CarPlay‌ is more reliable

iOS 27 Launch

‌iOS 27‌ is being beta tested right now, and can be downloaded by developers and public beta testers. It will launch this fall alongside new iPhone models.

Read More

For more on the new features in ‌iOS 27‌, we have a dedicated iOS 27 roundup.
This article, "10 iOS 27 Performance Improvements You'll Actually Notice" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Driver's licenses and IDs may soon be available in Apple Wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch users who live in Utah. MacRumors discovered signs of a Utah ID in Apple's backend, suggesting Apple is moving forward on implementing support.


Utah already offers a mobile driver's license option through a standalone app, but there is no Apple Wallet integration. Utah's mobile driver's license FAQ page still says that it is still in the initial planning process of adding Utah IDs to Apple Wallet, but it may not be up to date.

The site also says that when Apple Wallet integration launches, iPhone users who already use the mobile app for their Utah ID will be able to download it to Apple Wallet.

Apple announced plans to add Utah driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app way back in 2021, but no integration has materialized. Utah was one of the first states Apple mentioned when rolling out the feature.

Other states planning to add support for driver's licenses in Apple Wallet include Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

Multiple states have already implemented support, as has Puerto Rico.

• Arkansas


• Arizona


• California


• Colorado


• Georgia


• Hawaii


• Illinois


• Iowa


• Maryland


• Montana


• New Mexico


• North Dakota


• Ohio


• West Virginia

Digital IDs and licenses are accepted at select TSA checkpoints across the United States. It can also be used at some business venues and in select apps that require ID verification for services or purchases.

In states that do not support licenses in the Wallet app, iPhone users can add their U.S. passport to the Apple Wallet app with the iOS 26 Digital ID feature.
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The Health in ChatGPT feature that integrates medical records and Apple Health data is rolling out to ChatGPT users in the United States as of today.


OpenAI announced plans for a health feature that used data from Apple Health and other sources back in January, but it was in beta and was not made widely available.

Health in ChatGPT can draw on health information connected by the user to compare lab test data, summarize changes since a prior appointment, track medications, and explore how sleep, activity, and workouts impact health.

With your permission, ChatGPT can consider relevant information you have connected, such as medications, lab results, recent visits, sleep, and activity, alongside the goals and context you share. This added context can make everyday conversations more useful. For example, ChatGPT can consider a dietary restriction when helping you choose a restaurant, or a recent injury when planning lower-impact weekend activities with your family. You can ask follow-up questions, add context, or correct information that is incomplete or out of date.

OpenAI says the feature is meant to help users understand their health information in context and keep track of what's changed over time. Users can get to the Health section from the ChatGPT sidebar.

Connected medical records and Apple Health information are not used to train OpenAI's models or target ads, nor are conversations that use health data. ChatGPT will ask for permission before using connected medical records and Apple Health information to personalize a response.

For users who would prefer not to connect health records, the Health section in ChatGPT works without them and can answer health-related questions.

Health is rolling out to logged-in ChatGPT users who are 18 years and older in the U.S. on web and iOS. The feature is available to Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans.
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Primate Labs today announced the launch of Geekbench 7, the newest version of the popular benchmarking suite for CPU and GPU performance.


There's a redesigned multi-core benchmark in Geekbench 7 that's meant to better represent how applications work in the real world. A workload only runs in multi-threaded mode if the task it models runs multi-threaded in real applications.

Primate Labs says users can expect a multi-core score that's a more relevant measure of how a device performs when doing actual work.

Along with updates to multi-core testing, a revamped GPU benchmark focuses on machine learning and content creation to reflect how GPUs are used today. The GPU benchmark has tests that track faces and apply real-time filter effects to video, upscale images with machine learning, and blur backgrounds in video conferencing streams. New GPU image editing and synthesis tests are available, like RAW image processing, LUT-based video color grading, path tracing, and fluid simulation.

Nvidia's CUDA is once again a supported API alongside OpenCL, Vulkan, and Metal.

The new version of Geekbench uses more challenging data sets to better reflect how people use their computers today. The File Compression and PDF Viewer workloads have more variation, and developer and image processing tests have more assets and different image formats.

Geekbench 7 adds media workloads for testing audio and video encoding, decoding, and processing. The Whisper speech recognition, AV1, and Opus tests mimic video conferencing, screen sharing, and content consumption workloads.

There's also a Game Physics workload that uses the Jolt Physics engine used by popular video games. Primate Labs added an expanded Photo Editor test with a richer set of real-world edits, and the Photo Library workload supports importing and processing image formats like JPEG XL and DNG.

Geekbench 7 is available for iOS, macOS, and other platforms. The app remains free for personal use, and the Pro version is 20 percent off the regular $99 price through August 6.
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Apple today sent out emails letting Apple Pay users know about the latest promotion, which offers $20 off purchases of $120 or more from sportswear company Columbia.


The $20 discount is valid when making a purchase from the Columbia website and using ‌Apple Pay‌ to check out. The discount is not available in Columbia retail locations, and products from the Amaze Puff Collection and the ROC Collection are excluded.

It also can't be combined with other discounts like the Columbia back to school sale for teachers and students.

‌Apple Pay‌ users can take advantage of the promotion through August 7.
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