Apple today released a firmware update (version 1.4.90) for its 140W USB-C Power Adapter.

It is unclear what is included in the latest firmware, as Apple does not publish release notes for this. The update will be installed automatically over time when the power adapter is plugged in and connected to a Mac or other device. There is no way to manually apply the update.
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Apple today released a firmware update (4A203) for its upcoming Beats 360 headphones, suggesting that a launch is approaching. With the firmware now available, it seems likely that Apple will announce the Beats 360 at some point in September.


Beats 360 have already leaked across multiple regulatory databases and retail listings over the past several months, and soccer stars like Lamine Yamal and Antonee Robinson were spotted wearing them around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

MacRumors was first to report on the Beats 360 name last month after the headphones appeared in various retail listings on Amazon and other reseller websites, some of which have since been removed. The listings revealed that the headphones will be available in Black, Cloud, Sky, and Pink, at a minimum. There will also be interchangeable Performance Knit and UltraPlush ear cushions and headbands that come in those same four colors, plus extra options like Volt and Navy, allowing you to create your own personalized look.

Beats 360 have a unique design with some similarities to the AirPods Max, including telescoping headband arms that smoothly extend and stay in place to maintain the desired fit. One of the product listings said the over-ear headphones offer up to 1.75× more noise cancellation than the Beats Studio Pro that came out in 2023.


The listing also said that the Beats 360 are Apple's first-ever sweat-resistant and water-resistant over-ear headphones, with an IPX4 rating.

Other features and specs mentioned in the listing included all-day battery life, a fold-flat design, and a high-fidelity acoustic platform. According to code uncovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, the Beats 360 will support hands-free Siri, meaning that you can say "Hey Siri" or simply "Siri" to activate the assistant.

Beats 360 will come with a set of interchangeable Performance Knit cushions and a woven ripstop fabric carrying case, but customers will need to supply their own USB-C charging cable and power adapter. One listing said the headphones will be priced at $299.99 in the U.S., but we cannot confirm if that information is accurate.

Beats Studio Pro are regularly priced at $349.99.

It is unclear exactly when Apple plans to officially unveil the Beats 360, but with all of these leaks across regulatory databases, athlete teasers, retail listings, and firmware updates, an announcement this month seems likely.
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Apple today released iOS 26.6.2 with a fix for "an issue that prevents downloading a software update over a cellular connection."


The minor software update is rolling out now for the iPhone 11 series and newer. To update your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. It might take a few minutes for the update to be visible to everyone.

iOS 26.6.2 arrives approximately three weeks after iOS 26.6.1, which delivered security fixes.

Apple is expected to release iOS 27 later this month, with the company likely to announce a release date during its event this Wednesday.

iPadOS 26.6.2 is also out with the same fix.
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The next Apple TV 4K will be equipped with an A19 or A19 Pro chip, according to evidence in Apple's code uncovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. In particular, the device's model identifier points towards the A19 generation of chips.

Accordingly, the next Apple TV would have 8GB or 12GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the current 2022 model with the A15 Bionic chip. Other rumored upgrades for the next model include Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 wireless networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and a revised Siri Remote.
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Nearly all configurations of the Apple Watch SE 3 are suddenly "unavailable" on Apple's online store in the U.S. and other countries we checked, for reasons unknown.


Apple is holding an event this Wednesday to announce new iPhones and Apple Watches, but an Apple Watch SE 4 was not expected tomorrow, as new generations of the Apple Watch SE have never been released in back-to-back years. The original Apple Watch SE debuted in September 2020, the Apple Watch SE 2 arrived in September 2022, and the Apple Watch SE 3 was announced in September 2025.

Is this a sign that an Apple Watch SE 4 will be announced tomorrow after all, or is this simply a temporary issue that will be resolved soon? We shall see.

Thanks, Logan!
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Apple unveiled the first AirPods on September 7, 2016, meaning the iconic wireless headphones are now 10 years old. However, the AirPods did not launch until December that year.

On the same day, Apple ignited controversy when it introduced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus without a headphone jack. Apple still sells EarPods for customers who want wired headphones, with 3.5mm headphone jack, Lightning, and USB-C versions available for use with a wide variety of devices.
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Apple plans to announce an all-new "Readiness" app during its "Surprise and Shine" event this Wednesday, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In a social media post today, Gurman said the "Readiness" app will be a "variant" of the existing Vitals app on the Apple Watch. "The idea is to better compete with software from Whoop and Oura," he said. For example, Oura's smart rings offer a daily "Readiness Score" from 0 to 100 that shows how prepared your body is for the day.

Introduced on watchOS 11, the Vitals app consolidates your key health metrics, including your average heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, wrist temperature, and sleep duration from the previous night. Based on many of the same metrics, the Readiness app would likely show you how recovered your body is for activity.


Evidence of the "Readiness" app in watchOS 27 beta code was already discovered a few days ago by a MacRumors forum member known as "pdfu."

The app will be unveiled alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Gurman previously reported that both of these new models will feature continuous heart rate sensing, regardless of whether you are actively exercising.
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Earlier this year, Apple acquired California-based startup Sonera, according to a notice published today on the European Commission's website.


Sonera previously announced that it had developed "breakthrough sensing technology" that "non-invasively measures magnetic fields" generated by the brain and body. The company said its technology can analyze neural data without direct skin contact, giving it an advantage over traditional electrical sensing techniques.

"This proprietary technology holds the key to making brain activity as easy to measure as heart rate, temperature, and other physiological signals," said Sonera, in a 2023 press release. The company said its technology was "poised to enable an entirely new class of consumer wearables and experiences based on muscle activity."

Sonera said it had developed a biomagnetic chip that would enable use cases such as "advanced prosthetics control, continuous monitoring of neuromuscular conditions, discovery of disease biomarkers, and sport performance tracking," so this acquisition could pave the way for future Apple Watch health and accessibility features.
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While the long-awaited foldable iPhone has often been referred to as the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Fold in rumors, another name making the rounds is iPhone Duo.


There is no actual evidence that Apple will use the iPhone Duo name, but it is certainly a possibility. Apple has used Duo branding in the past, for its PowerBook Duo line of laptops in the 1990s and for its MagSafe Duo Charger in the early 2020s.

In this case, Duo would refer to the foldable iPhone's dual screens.

Microsoft released a dual-screen Android smartphone called the Surface Duo in 2020 that has since been discontinued, and Intel had its popular lines of Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors in the 2000s, so perhaps Apple will want to avoid using Duo branding due to that history. However, competing companies have devices with Ultra and Fold branding too, such as Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8.

In April, former Macworld reporter Filipe Espósito cited a source familiar with Apple's plans who said the foldable iPhone will be named iPhone Ultra. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said many Apple employees refer to the device as the iPhone Ultra within the company, but he has never firmly reported that it will be the official name.

Apple has used Ultra branding for the Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and its M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra, M3 Ultra, and M5 Ultra chips.

Apple is expected to unveil its foldable iPhone during its event next week, so we will soon find out whether the device is named iPhone Ultra, iPhone Fold, iPhone Duo, or something else. Share your own guesses in the comments section.
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As noted by MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci, TestFlight now shows recent betas by default again for all users.

In July, Apple updated TestFlight with a search field for quickly finding apps that you are beta testing, but some users started to see their apps presented in alphabetical order. It is not entirely clear if this was a bug or an intentional change, but many users did not like it, and TestFlight version 4.3.1 reverses course. The update with the fix is available in the App Store now. The search field remains.
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Apple has been testing a new full-sized HomePod with Siri AI support, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Unfortunately, in his report outlining upcoming Apple products today, Gurman said the new full-sized HomePod "doesn't appear to be imminent," so do not expect the speaker to be updated soon. The current HomePod was unveiled in January 2023.
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Apple plans to release a special 20th-anniversary iPhone next year with the biggest design changes since the iPhone X, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Unveiled by Steve Jobs in 2007, the iPhone turns 20 next year. To mark the occasion, the report said Apple plans to release a 20th-anniversary iPhone with "curved glass around all corners and edges" and thinner bezels around the screen.

"It will be the biggest overhaul to what is now the iPhone Pro line since the iPhone X," the report said, but no further details were provided.

Released in 2017, the iPhone X was the first iPhone with Face ID. The removal of the Touch ID button allowed for the iPhone X's screen to extend more towards the edges of the device compared to previous models. It seems like the 20th-anniversary iPhone would go a step further than this by truly having the screen wrap around the corners and edges of the device, for a seemingly all-glass appearance.

Rumors about the 20th-anniversary iPhone have gone back and forth, but based on Gurman's latest reporting today, the device seems to be in the works still. However, it remains to be seen if Apple can fully achieve the ambitious design changes that are apparently in development, or if plans for the device will ultimately be scaled back.
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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Apple plans to release a second-generation MacBook Neo in 2027 with three updates: an A19 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, and new color options.

Released in March 2026, the current MacBook Neo has an A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM, and it is available in Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo. In the U.S., the laptop initially started at $599, but Apple raised the price to $699 in June. Apple continues to offer a $100 discount to college students and educational staff.
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Apple will be holding its next event on Wednesday, September 9 to unveil its latest iPhones and Apple Watches, but that is not all, according to a new report.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared a long list of products that he expects Apple to unveil between next week and early 2027.

Our list below summarizes Gurman's reporting and mixes in some other rumors.

iPhones

• iPhone 18 Pro: A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control button, new Dark Cherry and Light Blue color options, improved vapor chambers to prevent overheating, and more.


• iPhone 18 Pro Max: The same features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro, but the Pro Max model may be slightly thicker due to a larger battery and a variable aperture camera, which might be exclusive to the Pro Max model this year.


• iPhone Ultra: A foldable so-called "iPhone Ultra" with a 7.7-inch inner display and 5.3-inch outer display, two rear 48-megapixel Wide and Ultra Wide cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, an A20 Pro chip, and more. The device's crease is expected to be less noticeable compared to many previous foldables. iOS 27 will have more landscape apps, side-by-side apps, and other multitasking features on the device. Expect to spend $2,000 or more.

Apple Watches

• Apple Watch Series 12: A faster S11 chip or newer, longer battery life, and a ceramic case option. Fitness tracking improvements may include a continuous heart-rate sensor that can run the whole day, even outside of workouts.


• Apple Watch Ultra 4: A faster S11 chip or newer, fitness tracking improvements such as the continuous heart-rate sensor, and additional satellite features for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and newer, such as Apple Maps via satellite and the ability to send and receive photos with Messages via satellite.

Touch ID was initially rumored for the next Apple Watches but has seemingly been ruled out.

iPads

• iPad mini: A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system, and a water-resistant design.

Macs

• iMac: M6 chip and new color options. Apple announced the M6 chip last week.


• MacBook Pro: A new 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M6 chip.


• MacBook Ultra: A major MacBook Pro redesign in late 2026 or early 2027, with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design. On this laptop, which will reportedly be named MacBook Ultra, macOS 27 is expected to offer a touch-friendly interface. While this rumor is far less certain, it has also been said that it might be possible to configure the MacBook Ultra with the M5 Ultra chip that debuted last week.

Home

• Apple TV: At least five new features, including an A17 Pro chip or newer, an increased 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence, Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote. The new Apple TV will apparently look similar to the existing model, so do not expect any major design changes.


• HomePod mini: Newer chip with Siri AI support, improved sound quality, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and potentially new color options like red. The new HomePod mini will apparently look similar to the existing model, so do not expect any major design changes.


• Home Hub: An all-new smart home hub featuring Siri AI, a 6-inch to 7-inch square display, an A18 chip or newer for Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and more. A new operating system will feature clock faces, widgets, and more. There will a tabletop version with a speaker base and a wall-mounted version.

Headphones

• AirPods 5: Two new AirPods 5 models with and without active noise cancellation.


• Beats 360: New over-ear Beats 360 headphones with an AirPods Max-like design, interchangeable ear cushions and headbands, up to 1.75× more noise cancellation than the Beats Studio Pro, IPX4-rated water resistance, and more.

This article, "Apple Reportedly Plans to Release These 14 Products by Early Next Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Ahead of Apple's event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today outlined the device's estimated price range, features, and some other key details.


In the U.S., TrendForce estimated that the foldable iPhone will have a starting price of $2,099 to $2,299 and said the highest-end configurations could surpass the $3,000 mark. In other words, the foldable iPhone would easily be the most expensive iPhone ever, coming in well above the iPhone 17 Pro Max's starting price of $1,199.

The foldable iPhone will be named iPhone Ultra, according to a previous report from Macworld's Filipe Espósito, who now writes for Engadget.

TrendForce expects the foldable iPhone to have the following specs:

• 5.5-inch outer OLED display


• 7.8-inch inner OLED display with ProMotion for up to a 120Hz refresh rate


• Touch ID


• A20 Pro chip manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process


• 12GB of RAM


• 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities


• 24-megapixel front camera


• 48-megapixel rear Wide camera


• 48-megapixel rear Ultra Wide camera

With just six more days until Apple's event, the foldable iPhone will finally be revealed soon.
This article, "iPhone Ultra's Very High Price and Features Revealed in New Report" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It is apparently not a good day for AI chatbots, as ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok are all down or experiencing issues for many users.


OpenAI's status page acknowledges issues across ChatGPT and Codex, while Grok's website notes that it is currently experiencing issues as well. Likewise, Anthropic's status page indicates Claude is experiencing elevated errors.

All of the companies are investigating the outages.

Update: The chatbots are in the process of coming back online.
This article, "Claude, ChatGPT, and Grok Are Down on iPhone and Web" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple reportedly plans to release MacBook Pro models with OLED displays by early 2027, and Omdia analyst David Hsieh has predicted that the laptops will have an M5 Ultra chip option.

Given that these MacBook Pro models might actually be branded as "MacBook Ultra" models, it would be fitting if there were configurations with the M5 Ultra chip available. But keep your expectations low, as there has never been a MacBook with an Ultra chip, and a previous report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman only mentioned M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for these laptops.
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Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device.


This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time.

MacRumors forum member pdfu today shared a video that demonstrates how the feature will work, using two simulated iPhones running in Xcode 27's Device Hub.

"iPhone Handoff" can be set up from the Settings app, under the Cellular menu. During the setup process, you can choose which iPhone you want to be the main device that you use most often and which one you want to be the companion device.

Apple says a user's main eSIM will remain on the main iPhone, while the companion iPhone will receive a companion eSIM, and this will enable you to switch between the devices back and forth while using the same phone number.

All cellular settings are managed on the main iPhone, and location sharing is based on whichever iPhone is actively using the phone number.

In addition to needing two iPhones running iOS 27, "iPhone Handoff" will seemingly require carrier support. The forum post mentions that T-Mobile in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom in Germany might be among the first carriers to offer the feature.

Following three months of beta testing, iOS 27 is expected to be released later this month, so we will likely hear more about this feature soon.
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Starting today, Oklahoma residents can add a digital version of their driver's license to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. The digital ID can be used to display proof of identity or age at TSA checkpoints in select airports, at select businesses, and in select apps, but the number of places where it is accepted is still quite limited.


Oklahoma is the 16th state to implement support for Apple Wallet IDs in the U.S., joining Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The feature is also available in Puerto Rico and works with Japan's My Number Card.

Apple has also been preparing for the feature to go live in North Carolina and Utah in the coming months, and years ago it announced that Connecticut, Kentucky, and Mississippi were committed to launching the feature at some point.

To set up the feature, open the Wallet app on the iPhone and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, tap on Driver's License and ID Cards, select Oklahoma from the list, and follow the on-screen steps to complete the process. Then, you can present your digital ID where it is accepted without handing over your device.


You can present an Apple Wallet ID where accepted by simply tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch on an identity reader. Then, you will be able to view the specific information being requested by the TSA or business. Only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from your device.

As mentioned, you do not need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to present an Apple Wallet ID in person, ensuring user privacy.

Apple Wallet IDs are generally not accepted by law enforcement, so carrying a physical ID is still legally required for traffic stops. In addition, the number of businesses that accept Apple Wallet IDs is still quite small. At least for now, Apple Wallet IDs are designed to be a convenient alternative where they are accepted.

Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports across the U.S. for domestic travel, according to Apple.
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As noted by Broadcasts developer Steven Troughton-Smith, many Liquid Glass interface elements on the macOS Golden Gate beta have an even glassier appearance on certain high-end OLED displays with HDR support than they do on ordinary displays.

Apple reportedly plans to release new MacBook Pro or "MacBook Ultra" models with an OLED display by early 2027, so it is likely that macOS Golden Gate has these Liquid Glass enhancements in preparation for those laptops.
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In his first memo to Apple employees as CEO today, John Ternus teased a "huge launch next week that's going to be phenomenal."


In a social media post today, Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak teased that Apple has "more to say" on Wednesday, September 9, which is when the company will be holding its next special event, starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.


During the event, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, its first-ever foldable iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, and potentially AirPods 5. Of course, there could be other announcements and surprises too. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event from Steve Jobs Theater.
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Apple's new CEO John Ternus now has an X account, and he has already shared his first post saying hello to the world.

Ternus did not have a public social media presence prior to today.

Tim Cook is now Apple's executive chairman, and his own X account's description has been updated to reflect that change.
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Apple's former hardware engineering chief John Ternus officially became CEO of the company today, with the change now reflected on Apple's leadership page.


Ternus joined Apple in 2001, became a vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, and became senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. He is 51, so he could serve as CEO for 10 to 15 years before reaching typical retirement age.

Tim Cook is now executive chairman of Apple's board of directors, after a 15-year run as CEO. In this role, Apple said Cook "will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."


During his final day as CEO on Monday, Cook stopped by the Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino, California to meet some of Apple's retail employees from various stores, with photos and a video of the visit available on Instagram.

In case you missed it, Cook shared a letter to the Apple community in April.
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Apple's press release for the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips last week initially stated that the computer had "next-generation SSD architecture built on PCIe Gen 6." However, as spotted by the French blog MacGeneration, Apple removed the PCIe 6.0 mention from the announcement shortly after it was published.


The press release still mentions that the new Mac Studio has a "next-generation SSD architecture" that delivers up to twice as fast storage speeds compared to the previous generation, but it no longer mentions PCIe 6.0. Apple has yet to respond to our request for comment, but it seems like the company simply made a mistake in the press release, as it is much more likely that the new Mac Studio supports the PCIe 5.0 standard.

First, we already know that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the same M5 Max chip available in the new Mac Studio have SSDs with PCIe 5.0, and Apple likewise advertised up to twice as fast SSD speeds for those laptops. Second, there are no consumer PCs on the market yet that have SSDs with PCIe 6.0 support.

The M5 Ultra chip is all new, but it probably supports PCIe 5.0 as well, or else Apple would not have needed to edit its Mac Studio press release.

All in all, the new Mac Studio appears to support PCIe 5.0, not PCIe 6.0.
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Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO on September 1, with the company's hardware engineering John Ternus set to take over. With the transition set to take place tomorrow, there have been quite a few headlines about Cook lately.


The latest story comes from 9to5Mac, which said it has obtained Cook's full memo to Apple employees on his final day as CEO of the company.

We have pasted the memo as they shared it below:

Team,

Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn't let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you've sent my way, for the way you've shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.

The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.

There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that's the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our "dent in the universe," as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.

As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.

I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.

I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.

With all I have and all I am, I am always

Yours,

Tim

Cook also shared a message to customers today.

"Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO," said Cook, in a social media post. "My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration. My gratitude is endless, and I'm excited for the next chapter!"


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman published an in-depth story about Cook and Ternus on Sunday evening. While unrelated to the CEO transition, the story revealed a previously-unreported detail: Vision Pro layoffs apparently extended to employees working on the device's security, audio engineering, Siri integration, testing, and visionOS.

Gurman also revealed that Apple is seeking an executive bodyguard who must be capable of "hiking/backpacking for several miles at a time in austere environments." Cook is a big fan of hiking and U.S. national parks, leading Gurman to suspect that the job listing relates to Cook, who will probably have more time to spend outdoors.

Cook will remain at Apple as the company's executive chairman.
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MapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday morning, the MapQuest app is the top free iPhone app on Apple's App Store charts in Canada and fourth on the equivalent U.S. chart.


For our younger readers, MapQuest was once a popular service back in the days when printing out directions on a sheet of paper was common for road trips, before the arrival of smartphones with apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps.

MapQuest does offer its own iOS and Android apps, but the brand is nowhere near as popular as it once was. Until now, at least. MapQuest today announced that hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded its apps since Thursday, and it said it was seeing roughly a 50× increase in usage of its map as of August 30.


"We took the same approach we did with the Gulf of Mexico: be part of the conversation, and give people an app that keeps the names they're familiar with," said MapQuest general manager Doug Berger, in a press release. "Hundreds of thousands of people signaled to us this weekend that we got it right, by downloading our app."

Google Maps is now showing the "Lake America" name to U.S. users, but Apple has yet to follow.


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The One Club for Creativity, a U.S. non-profit organization that promotes excellence in advertising and design, today announced that Apple has been selected as the first brand to be inducted into its newly established "Brand Hall of Fame."

Apple's most famous ads include its iconic "1984" Super Bowl commercial for the original Macintosh, the "Think Different" campaign from the late 1990s, the "iPod silhouette" commercials from the early 2000s, the "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" commercials from the late 2000s, and the "Shot on iPhone" campaign.
This article, "Apple Inducted Into 'Brand Hall of Fame' for Iconic Ads" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Google Maps users in the U.S. will now see the name "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario" for the Great Lake that straddles the New York—Ontario border.


Google said it made this change in response to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updating the name for "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America," following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week.


Google Maps users in Canada will still see the "Lake Ontario" name only, while users outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names.

• In the U.S.: Lake America


• In Canada: Lake Ontario


• Outside of the U.S. and Canada: Lake Ontario (Lake America)

Apple Maps has yet to be updated, so it still shows the "Lake Ontario" name worldwide. When the GNIS updated the name for "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" last year, Apple Maps began rolling out the change one day after Google Maps, so it might not be long before Apple follows suit with this "Lake America" change.
This article, "Google Maps Showing 'Lake America' in U.S., Apple Maps Yet to Follow" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The end of an era is upon us, as Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO on September 1, after 15 years of leading the company.


Tomorrow, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO. Cook will remain at Apple as the executive chairman of the company's board of directors. In this new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company, including "engaging with policymakers around the world."

Cook became Apple's CEO in August 2011, after Steve Jobs stepped down due to health problems. Under his leadership, Apple became the world's most valuable company on multiple occasions, and it launched products and services such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Vision Pro, Apple Music, Apple TV, and much more.


Apple has set all-time quarterly revenue records over its past few quarters, so the company is in a strong financial position as Cook hands the reins to Ternus.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," said Cook. "I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world."


"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor," said Cook. "He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future."

"I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us," said Ternus.
This article, "Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO Tomorrow" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9.


While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models.

Gurman does expect a ceramic case option to return for the Apple Watch Series 12. Today, he revealed that Apple has tested both white and dark gray ceramic case options, like those offered for the highest-end Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017.

Another sketchy rumor claimed that the Series 12 would have a band with an embedded health sensor, but Gurman did not mention that.

Instead, he expects more ordinary changes, including faster performance and improvements to health and fitness tracking. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 both have the same S10 chip that was used in the Series 10 and Ultra 2, so the S11 chip or newer should provide the first Apple Watch performance improvements in multiple years.

One new feature in testing allows the heart-rate sensor on the Apple Watch to continuously collect data throughout the day, he said. In his newsletter, he added that Apple is also working on revamping its Health and Fitness apps to show more wellness-related metrics "in a similar fashion to increasingly popular app offerings from Whoop and Oura."

An Apple Watch SE 4 is not expected this year.

A "big redesign" is in the works for the Apple Watch, but he said they are unlikely to arrive for another year or two. Even further ahead, he previously said that Apple continues to develop a blood sugar detection feature with a goal of releasing it by 2030.
This article, "New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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