A new Bluetooth ID appeared in a database related to device syncing, and it may be a reference to the AirPods Pro 3 that are expected to launch in the fall.


A new generation of AirPods Pro could be on the way
Apple is fairly careful to avoid inadvertent leaks, but it isn't immune to mistakes. A couple of small flubs occurred in 2025 already, one referencing AirPods Pro 3 directly and another stating AirPods Pro 2 or later.

The latest tidbit was discovered by MacRumors in an undisclosed codebase. The codebase was updated and normally contains a list of Bluetooth IDs for accessories like AirPods and Beats headphones, but the...

Apple will allow developers in the European Union to distribute iOS apps outside its App Store, the company said Thursday in a bid to avoid escalating fines from Brussels regulators. The policy change came on the deadline for Apple to comply with EU rules or face new financial penalties that can reach up to 5% of average daily worldwide revenue.

The $3 trillion iPhone maker has been negotiating with the European Commission for two months after receiving a $585 million fine for breaching the EU's Digital Markets Act. The landmark legislation targets the power of Big Tech companies and requires Apple to open its mobile ecosystem to competitors.

The second change, set to go into effect in January 2026, would replace the current "core technology fee" model -- a separate charge imposed on developers -- with a commission-based structure.

...

Leaked images reveal a small shift in the iPhone 17 Air's front camera, which may hint at internal design compromises required by its ultra-thin build.


Apple is expected to debut an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim in 2025.
It's almost rumor season, which means we're getting a steady flow of new leaks that may give us some insight into the next iPhone lineup. And, right on cue, we've got yet another new leak related to the iPhone 17 Air.

This time the leak consists of a photograph of a series of screen protectors designed to work with Apple's iPhone 17 lineup. At first blush, the images aren't terribly noteworthy — that is, until you look at the one for the iPhone 17 Air.


Rumor Score:

Macworld

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 isn’t all that different than the original Apple Watch Ultra, but we love one thing: the new black titnium color. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go on sale as often as the natural titanium color, but today you can get a great deal on one: Amazon is seling the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a black titanium case and black ocean band for $730, a savings of $69 and the price we’ve ever seen for this colorway.

This is an amazing smartwatch with a ton of features, a super bright screen, and a super slick operating system. When we reviewed the Ultra 2, we gave it a four-star rating, finding it’s super great for tracking workouts, hiking trips, and so on. It comes with built-in GPS and cellular connectivity (for a monthly fee) so you always know where you are. Plus, it does a...

The T1 "Trump" Phone won't launch in time to fight the iPhone 17 release, and more than a week after debut, claims of the device being made in America have been scrubbed from the website.


Photoshop of what the T1 Phone might look like. Image source: Trump Mobile
The so-called "Trump Phone" was announced by the Trump Organization on the 10th anniversary of Donald Trump announcing he was running for president. It is being marketed alongside Trump Mobile, a T-Mobile-powered MVNO, and was originally called a smartphone that is "made in America."

It was quickly proven that the T1 Phone was not only not made in America, it was likely a re-skin of the REVVL 7 Pro 5G, a $169 smartphone that's made in China and that has...

Apple is marking two decades of podcasting, and is highlighting 20 standout shows across that time, that helped shape the medium.


Apple shares top 20 podcasts from the past 20 years
Podcasts first landed on iTunes in 2005. To celebrate 20 years of podcasts, Apple has launched a new page titled "Apple Podcasts 20 Years, 20 Podcasts We Love" promoting its favorite podcasts throughout the years.

"This list is a love letter to the podcasts that left a lasting impact on us and the ones we continue to recommend again and again," the page reads.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider |...

No one can say that Apple has taken a light touch in promoting, "F1: The Movie," but the film is being distributed theatrically by Warner Bros. — and Apple reportedly wants more power.


Brad Pitt in "F1"
It's perhaps a sign of confidence in how "F1" is going to fare at the box office, and it's definitely a turn around from when Apple said to be cutting back on both big-budget movies and theatrical releases of them. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple executives are now looking at moving into film distribution.

Apple does tend to prefer to own the whole stack in any field, and a lot of its iPhone success has been down to how it controls everything from the...

Macworld

Every year, when Apple rolls out betas of the new operating systems after WWDC, we advise readers to be cautious about installing them on their primary devices. Betas are, by their nature, unfinished and imperfect software, and they are likely to contain bugs. (Spotting the bugs is what the beta program is for!) So it should come as no surprise that the second developer beta of watchOS 26 contains a known bug… and it’s quite a serious one.

For one specific line of Apple Watches, the Hermès editions, simply installing the second beta is enough to cause continuous crashing. Apple acknowledges the issue in its watchOS 26 beta release notes. Under the section for beta 2, the company notes:

...

Macworld

At a GlanceExpert's Rating

Pros

• Free tier
• Streaming-focused servers included
• Advanced features

Cons

• Fewer servers than other options

Our Verdict

Hide Me is likely to be the ‘Goldilocks’ VPN for many users. It offers a free tier, has a whole host of power features (if you want them), and has a whole host of servers recommended for streaming services. It could do with a few more servers in general, but it’s a fantastic option.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Retailer

Price

Hide.Me (Monthly)

$2.69

...

Buying a MacBook used to mean two things: picking your model and draining your bank account. But in 2025, that equation is changing. Apple users want more control, less hassle, and more flexible cash flow.


MacBook upgrade program
With WWDC unveiling major updates to macOS, including features like Apple Intelligence, improved Continuity, and deeper ecosystem integrations, there's now even more incentive to upgrade, especially for users on older machines.

That's where Upgraded comes in: Now you can pay for your MacBook over 36 months and from 0% APR, with the option to upgrade every 2 years, hassle free.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider

The latest version of the watchOS 26 beta is reminding Hermes owners that elegance doesn't equal stability.


Apple Watch Hermes Edition
Apple's second developer beta of watchOS 26 is causing major problems for owners of the premium Hermes edition Apple Watch. These issues include crashes, overheating, and pairing problems.

The company has confirmed the bug in its official release notes and is advising Hermes users not to install the beta.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider |...

In a research study, some doctors will wear Apple Vision Pro during colonoscopies to explore how spatial computing can support real-time cancer detection.


Apple Vision Pro tested in colonoscopy procedures
We've been hearing about potential case uses for the Apple Vision Pro in a medical setting for a while now — probably longer than it has existed as a purchasable product.

We've seen medical professionals suggest the Apple Vision Pro could be an invaluable tool for anesthesiologists, nursing managers, and general practitioners. Surgeons are already using it for...

Beats earphones offer outstanding audio quality and are cheaper than a pair of Apple AirPods. Today, the Beats Flex Wireless Earphones is down to just $39.99 from its original price of $70 on Amazon. The Beats Flex has that Flex-form cable that fits around your neck and all-day comfort with the included four tip options. […]

The post The Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds is 43% Off appeared first on iLounge.

Apple’s next iPhone software update will allow iPhones to be restored without needing a PC or Mac. iOS 26 is slated to have Recovery Assistant, which is a new method to restore an iPhone to its original working state. The function was seen in the beta version of iOS 26 but it’s only now that […]

The post iOS 26 to Bring Standalone iPhone Recovery appeared first on iLounge.

It’s rare to see a blowout deal on an iPad Air, but today seems to be an exception. The M2 iPad Air 11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular 512GB is down to just $699 from its original price of $1,050 on Amazon. The M2 iPad Air is built for portability and efficiency, boasting the M2 chip and […]

The post The 11-inch M2 iPad Air WiFi+Cellular 512GB is $350 Off appeared first on iLounge.

The upcoming software update for the iPhone will extend Cinematic Mode video to third-party apps. Apple introduced an API that allows third-party camera app developers to integrate Cinematic video recording mode within their apps. Cinematic mode was first revealed in iOS 15 and runs on iPhone 13 and newer. It’s a video capture mode that […]

The post iOS 26 Cinematic Mode Recording Expands to Third Party Apps appeared first on iLounge.

Apple has released version 3.0 of the Sports app for iOS, with the new version introducing tennis for the first time, just in time for Wimbledon.


Tennis is now represented in the Sports app
The Sports app covers quite a few different sports types, including soccer, ice hockey, Formula 1, and others, providing the latest scores and results to its users. In a Wednesday update, the app now supports tennis.

There are two new listings under My Leagues, with Men's Tennis accompanied by Women's Tennis. Each offers users the tennis scores for major events, including the upcoming Wimbledon tournament in the UK.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider |...

Apple is doing even more to help you protect your battery life and overall health with iOS 26. Here's how.


The battery widget shows the battery life on all your connected devices
Batteries are not eternal. They are a physical and chemical process that deteriorate over time, and will inevitably need to be replaced if you keep your device long enough.

For years, Apple has prioritized battery health and longevity with features built into iOS. The upcoming iOS 26 takes things even further.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's CarPlay Ultra faces a long road to becoming a widely-used feature, as car makers are pushing back on supporting Apple's system in favor of their own solutions.


CarPlay Ultra on Aston Martin - Image credit Apple
The shift from CarPlay to CarPlay Ultra is a big one for car manufacturers to make. Instead of occupying just the main infotainment system's screen, CarPlay Ultra spreads out to other areas of the dashboard, as well as having more direct control over the vehicle's various features.

While Apple introduced CarPlay Ultra as a concept three years ago, and finally became a reality in Aston Martin cars in May, consumers have even more of a wait before using it in other vehicles. To blame are the car makers themselves, resisting because they prefer...

It may be about to become much easier to send photos and video along to first responders in the event of an emergency. While it’s technically possible to send photos and videos to 911 operators, this has historically been a convoluted process. Per AT&T, updates to AT&T’s services will allow subscribers to send picture and […]

Source

Apple's iCloud services were experiencing an outage, and impacted users are experiencing issues with iCloud Mail, Photos, and the iWork suite of apps.


Some users are experiencing issues with iCloud services due to an ongoing outage.
On Tuesday, users of iCloud Mail reported issues with this and other Apple Services. A number of people were unable to access iCloud Mail, with some experiencing difficulties even after gaining access.

According to Apple's System Status page, the company's iCloud services, including iCloud Mail, iCloud Web Apps, iCloud Storage Upgrades, Photos, and iWork integration, were all impacted by an outage that began at...

Apple Wallet has begun advertising Apple Pay promotions via notifications, and while iPhone users are losing their mind, they can toggle the feature off starting in iOS 26.


Apple Wallet tells people how to save money with notification and in-app promotion feature
Advertising has become a blunt instrument in surveillance capitalism largely as a result of Google's success. This shouldn't mean we reject the premise of advertising as a whole, given that for now, it remains the fuel for the content engine on the Internet.

Ads can run from silly and useless to invasive and annoyingly persistent. Somewhere in the middle is a genuinely useful tool for consumers.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider |...

An anonymous reader shares a report: Apple customers aren't thrilled they're getting an ad from the Apple Wallet app promoting the tech giant's Original Film, "F1 the Movie." Across social media, iPhone owners are complaining that their Wallet app sent out a push notification offering a $10 discount at Fandango for anyone buying two or more tickets to the film.

The feature film, starring Brad Pitt, explores the world of Formula 1 and was shot at actual Grand Prix races. It also showcases the use of Apple technology, from the custom-made cameras made of iPhone parts used to film inside the cars, to the AirPods Max that Pitt's character, F1 driver Sonny Hayes, sleeps in. However well-received the film may be, iPhone users don't necessarily want their built-in utilities, like their digital wallet, marketing to them.

...

The AirPods 4 has been redesigned with the consumer in mind, and you have a chance to snag it at a lower price. Today, the AirPods 4 with ANC is down to just $148.99 from its original price of $180 on Amazon. Upgrade to the AirPods 4 and you can enjoy the way it’s been […]

The post The AirPods 4 with ANC is $30 Off appeared first on iLounge.

The Elec recently reported that Apple is planning to use more efficient OLED components for the 2027 iPhones. Apple is thinking of upgrading the display technology for more efficient battery consumption. The current OLED components are low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, but it seems that the Cupertino-based company will use LTPO3 OLED in the 2027 iPhone lineup. […]

The post New OLED Component May Debut on 2027 iPhone appeared first on iLounge.

Compared to today's iPhone 16 Pro Max and what we know of the forthcoming iPhone 17 range, the very first iPhone that went on sale 18 years ago today was startlingly slow and incredibly limited — yet it changed the world.


Apple's iPhone has come a long way since the original version in 2007
It was on June 29, 2007, that the original iPhone went on sale in the US, and arguably that was the day that it truly began shaking up what users expected from a phone.

We and the phone industry had already known all about it for over five months. But it wasn't until you could buy it that the impact of this little device began to be felt — even inside Apple.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider...

Apple is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from shareholders who allege the company misled investors about the readiness of its AI-powered Siri upgrades, contributing to a $900 billion drop in market value. Reuters reports: Shareholders led by Eric Tucker said that at its June 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple led them to believe AI would be a key driver of iPhone 16 devices, when it launched Apple Intelligence to make Siri more powerful and user-friendly. But they said the Cupertino, California-based company lacked a functional prototype of AI-based Siri features, and could not reasonably believe the features would ever be ready for iPhone 16s.

Shareholders said the truth began to emerge on March 7 when Apple delayed some Siri upgrades to 2026, and continued through this year's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9 when Apple's assessment of its AI progress disappointed analysts. Apple shares have lost nearly one-fourth of their value since their December...

Macworld

Apple revealed its plans for the next version of macOS at the WWDC keynote on Monday June 9, 2025. The company also showed off new features for the next iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and more at the event. 

Like its counterparts on the other Apple devices, macOS is getting a brand new look for 2025-2026 along with a new name. Because Apple is aligning the names of all the operating systems this year, the new version of macOS be called macOS 26 rather than macOS 16. It will also take the name Tahoe, inspired by...

Macworld

It may be summer at Apple Park, but it’s winter in Australia, where the next Apple Store is opening. And to celebrate, Apple is bringing a little warmth from the United States.

Next Friday, Apple will open its latest flagship store in Perth City’s Forrest Place, just a little up the road from its former Hay Street store. The store will occupy the old Commonwealth Bank Building and intersect the Murray Street Mall shopping strip and Forrest Chase open area, according to PerthNow. 

In recent weeks, Apple has added dark green graphics to the store’s windows as it readies for its grand...

The Liquid Glass look of the new macOS Tahoe is the first thing a user sees, but the appearance isn't only aesthetic, it comes with new features and improves existing ones.


The optional translucent look for the Mac is pleasing, but macOS Tahoe brings much more than gloss
In previous years, Apple has sometimes dialled back its macOS changes between the first developer beta and its eventual public release. But even the earliest look at a new macOS brings most of what it will be like to use as official operating system of the Mac.

So while details may change, and there are clear areas where improvement is needed, it's already possible to say that macOS Tahoe is a step forward for the Mac. It may not be the enormous leap that Apple claims, or as big an improvement as has come to...

Apple has pushed its iPad platform further than ever with iPadOS 26, and it goes well beyond a redesign. Here are five features that could make an iPad your next computer replacement.


iPadOS 26 is a big productivity boost with new windowing and files management
There has been a lot of debate around iPad's place in Apple's lineup, especially since the iPad Pro first appeared in 2015. After a lot of updates tried to bring iPad closer to the Mac experience without replacing it with macOS entirely, iPadOS 26 takes the biggest step yet.

Here are five features that take iPad from a possible computer replacement to a definite option for many users.


...

Apple is pushing its "F1" movie hard, but we're discovering ever more about the company's first macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26 betas, all on this week's episode of the AppleInsider Podcast.


There's more to macOS Tahoe than its Liquid Glass redesign
Apple has never pushed a film as hard as it has "F1: The Movie," and just as this episode was recorded, that promotion included a new Apple Vision Pro experience. One of your hosts immediately took it for a ride, while the other got to listen to the sound of racing cars in the distance.

But both hosts are now up close with Apple's beta releases, particularly with macOS Tahoe. You only...

Macworld

Apple users can be a pretty loyal bunch, often sticking to Apple-branded hardware and apps while giving third-party alternatives the cold shoulder. But sometimes it’s worth looking outside the walled garden. For example, Google Chrome is immensely popular, taking the lion’s share of the global browser market and dominating the competition. That’s not without good reason, and if you’ve faithfully stuck with Safari over the years, you might be curious about what Chrome has to offer.

The answer, it turns out, is quite a lot. From an extensive arsenal of extensions to rapid security updates, there are plenty of reasons why Safari users should consider switching to Google’s browser:

Chrome has better extension support

Extensions are the lifeblood of a web browser, helping to enhance its capabilities in ways far beyond the usual capabilities. If there’s some sort of extra functionality you want to add to your...

Anker’s compact USB-C charger is compact but packs quite a bit of heft. Today, the Nano II 65W is down to just $29.99 from its original price of $56 on Amazon. Simply tick the on-page coupon box to see the discounted price at checkout. The Anker 735 Charger has the latest GaN II technology, which […]

The post The Anker Nano II 65W Compact Charger is $25 Off appeared first on iLounge.

This year’s Apple Camp for Kids has officially started with Apple opening registration for the program. Apple Camp for Kids is a yearly summer camp event, and it’s open for those interested. It starts on June 21 and ends on July 31 at Apple Stores globally. Participants can learn creative programming aimed at children aged […]

The post Apple Camp for Kids Program Starts in June appeared first on iLounge.

Macworld

At its WWDC25 event earlier this month, Apple was keen to highlight the many useful new features and design tweaks in iOS 26, its upcoming iPhone software update. But iOS 26 contains plenty of less heralded changes too, including a few that Apple would probably prefer to keep secret.

Eagle-eyed beta testers, for example, have noticed a new iPhone ringtone hidden within the code. The discovery was made independently by a Twitter/X user going by the handle @8810cfw and Macworld’s Filipe Esposito, and later confirmed by the MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris.

It’s referred to within the code as “ReflectionAlt1-EncoreRemix.” As the name suggests, it’s a new version of Reflection, which launched as the...

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating

Pros

• Super slim
• Super small
• Super colors
• 10K is 15W QI2

Cons

• 5K is 7.5W

Our Verdict

The compact PicoGo is somewhere in between its nearest competitors in quite a sweet spot of size and performance—the 5K model equals the record for lightest power bank we have tested.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Price When Reviewed

$35.99

Best Prices Today: Baseus PicoGo Ultra-Slim 5K Magnetic Power Bank

Retailer

Price

$35.99

...

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating

Pros

• 20 top-end ports, including three Thunderbolt 5
• 10Gb Ethernet
• Iconic case
• 330W Power Delivery

Cons

• Premium price

Our Verdict

Professionals and other power users demanding the very top-end will likely flock to this premium dock that will be at the top of its game for years to come.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Price When Reviewed

$499.99

Best Prices Today: CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 5 Plus (TS5 Plus)

Retailer

Price

Caldigit

$499.99

...

Seenda's colorful, quirky peripherals offer a fun and affordable alternative to typical monochrome accessories, including an iPad-compatible ergonomic mouse.


Seenda's CBD 2 peripheral set and MBD 5 ergonomic mouse are compatible with a variety of Apple devices.
In 2025, the market for Bluetooth and wireless peripherals is fairly saturated. There's something for just about everyone. Whether you're looking for a basic input device for your iPhone and iPad or something for an advanced gaming setup, the options are endless.

The Seenda CBD 2 (CTU-301) wireless keyboard and mouse set won't wow you with an endless array of customization options or expensive materials, but it will with its bright colors and...

President Trump has signed yet another executive order delaying enforcement of the TikTok ban by 90 days, so companies like Apple, Google, and ByteDance don't have to worry about fines.


TikTok will continue to operate in the US at least until September 17
TikTok was targeted as a potential security threat during the first Trump administration, where a ban was threatened but never carried out. A law was passed by the Biden administration in 2024 that would result in a TikTok ban, and in spite of it going into effect on January 19, 2025, Trump immediately...

The Files app on iPadOS 26 transfers data faster, and has other changes that all add up to a massive improvement over the version in iPadOS 18. It's actually usable now.

The Files app on has changes that all add up to a massive improvement over the version in iPadOS 18. It's actually usable now.


Files in iPadOS 18 [left], Files in iPadOS 26 [right]
Apple's refresh of iPadOS 26 made a lot of changes to the interface across multiple apps. As part of the update, many apps got a facelift, with Files one of the most important apps in that group.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider |...

Apple may miss the the European Union's looming App Store anti-steering compliance deadline enforced by the Digital Markets Act — but it won't face automatic fines if it does.


Apple won't face anti-steering EU fine if it misses deadline
It looks like both Apple and Meta are off the hook for Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance — for now. Both tech giants won't be required to pay their multi-million dollar fines to the European Union, even if they should miss their compliance requirement.

In April, the European Commission fined Apple 500 million euros, an amount that worked out to roughly $570 million at the time. While it eventually gave Apple a grace period to bring its practices in line with the Digital Markets Act, it threatened to tack on...

Apple software chief Craig Federighi has ruled out bringing macOS to the iPad, amusingly using a kitchen utensil analogy to explain the company's design philosophy. "We don't want to create a boat car or, you know, a spork," Federighi said in an interview. "Someone said, 'If a spoon's great, a fork's great, then let's combine them into a single utensil, right?' It turns out it's not a good spoon and it's not a good fork. It's a bad idea. And so we don't want to build sporks."

The new version of iPadOS, which will ship to consumers later this year, features dynamically resizable windows that users can drag by their corners and a menu bar that is accessible through swipe gestures or cursor movement.

Some observers might consider the iPad Pro itself a "convertible" product that blurs the line between tablet and laptop, he said. However, the Mac and iPad serve distinct purposes, he asserted. "The Mac lets the iPad be iPad," he said adding that Apple's objective "has not...

While getting an industry award, Apple Silicon chief Johny Srouji said that he wants generative AI to design chips, which has been blown out of proportion to mean that Apple hasn't ever used AI to do so. This is, of course, nonsense.


Apple's Johny Srouji during a hardware presentation - Image Credit: Apple
On Thursday, reports started to circulate about Apple and an intention to use generative AI to design the chips used in its products. Stemming from a speech at Imec in May, Apple Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji made comments about the use of machine learning to design chips.

A video of the speech, initially reported by Reuters has Srouji explaining Apple's design of custom chips, going back to the...

Apple's current Mac mini M4 is $130 off today, delivering better-than-Black Friday pricing now through June 21.


Grab the season's best M4 Mac mini price.
Update: Amazon has sold out of the popular deal, but B&H still has inventory available at $469.

The $469 M4 Mac mini deal can be found at Amazon and B&H Photo as the retailers engage in an early Prime Day price war.


Continue Reading on...

Apple's new Vision Pro short puts Brad Pitt behind the wheel — and viewers in the cockpit — for a roaring F1 thrill ride.


Brad Pitt in "F1"
A new immersive short video debuted Thursday on Apple Vision Pro. Titled "F1: The Movie Hot Lap," it takes viewers on a high-speed test drive with Brad Pitt.

In Formula 1, a "hot lap", also known as a fast lap or flying lap, is a full lap taken around a circuit in either practice or qualifying rounds. It's often the second lap done after the car has been warmed up with a slow lap.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums