Apple News
Siri AI is REALLY good — WSJ’s Joanna Stern’s week-long test proves it (with video)
After more than a decade of memes, frustration, and unfulfilled promises, Siri is good. Like really good.
That’s not just our take — it’s the verdict from respected WSJ tech journalist Joanna Stern after she spent an entire week living with the new Siri AI in the iOS 27 beta. Her detailed testing (captured in a must-watch YouTube video below) shows that Apple has finally delivered on the vision it teased for years: a conversational, context-aware, privacy-first digital assistant that actually understands you.
The Game-Changer: Personal Context + On-Device Intelligence
What sets the new Siri AI apart is its deep integration with your personal data — all processed with strong privacy protections. Unlike cloud-heavy competitors that often feel generic, Siri can pull relevant information from your Messages, Calendar, Voicemail, Photos, and more, right on your device.
Stern’s real-world examples are compelling:
• On a beach trip, she asked Siri for souvenir ideas for her kids “based on what you know about them.” Siri recommended reptile-themed toys — information drawn directly from her Messages. When she followed up (“How did you know that?”), Siri transparently explained the source.
• Siri AI synthesized data from her calendar, messages, and voicemail to suggest relevant work tasks for the day.
This is the kind of personalized assistance that actually feels useful in daily life, not just flashy demos.
Siri also demonstrated strong on-screen awareness, correctly identifying locations in photos (with quick corrections when needed) and offering helpful follow-ups like directions or nearby recommendations.
Real-World Testing Across Everyday Scenarios
Stern didn’t just ask scripted questions. She took Siri on a road trip to the beach, used it for shopping, meal analysis (via camera for nutritional insights), bill-splitting, and even tested its boundaries with personal/medical queries and lighthearted attempts to make it her “girlfriend.”
Key takeaways from her testing:
• Helpful and conversational — It handles natural back-and-forth dialogue far better than old Siri.
• Responsible guardrails — It politely refuses medical advice or romantic advances (“I’ve always thought of you as my friend”) and directs users to human professionals when appropriate.
• Privacy-first design — Queries use on-device processing where possible, with Private Cloud Compute for more complex tasks. Relevant personal data is sent only when needed and deleted afterward. No long-term storage by Apple.
• Beta realities — Some delays, occasional errors, and slower responses are still present (as expected in early testing), but the core foundation is solid.
Stern’s bottom line, shared on X and in her video: “Siri is good. Like good-good. After years of broken promises, Apple’s rebuilt the foundation it needs for the future.”
She was even impressed enough to consider switching to Apple Mail because of how well Siri leverages the data within Apple’s ecosystem.
Official Backing from Apple
This isn’t just beta hype. At WWDC 2026, Apple officially introduced Siri AI as a profoundly more capable and personal assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. It features natural conversations, personal context understanding, onscreen awareness, broad world knowledge, and the ability to take actions across apps. A dedicated Siri app lets you revisit conversations (synced via iCloud).
It’s currently in developer beta on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27, with a public beta expected later this year on supported devices.
Why This Matters
For years, Siri lagged behind Google Assistant, Alexa, and newer AI chatbots. The new Siri AI doesn’t just catch up — it leverages Apple’s unique strengths: deep ecosystem integration, on-device processing, and industry-leading privacy. By keeping sensitive personal data largely on-device while still delivering smart, contextual help, Apple is positioning Siri as the trustworthy choice for everyday assistance.
MacDailyNews Take: Stern’s week-long experiment proves that Siri AI no longer just marketing. The rebuilt architecture works in real life — helping with souvenirs for the kids, prepping for your day, or analyzing your breakfast — while staying firmly within responsible boundaries.
The old Siri is gone. The new Siri AI has arrived in a very promising way – and it’s still just in beta. Our little birdies — who’ve been telling for months that the new Siri not only works, but is actually pretty great — knew what they were talking about!
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Apple Watch dominates Q1 2026 smartwatch market with 21% shipment surge
The Apple Watch continues to set the pace in the global wearables race. According to Counterpoint Research’s latest data, Apple powered much of the smartwatch industry’s modest recovery in the first quarter of 2026, delivering standout results that underscore its enduring appeal.
Market Snapshot: Steady Growth, Led by Apple
• Global smartwatch shipments grew a solid 4% year-over-year in Q1 2026. While that figure might seem measured, Apple’s performance stood out dramatically:Apple shipments +21% YoY — the fastest growth among the top 10 brands.
• Apple Watch’s market share: 23% (up from roughly 20% in Q1 2025).
• North America still accounts for over half of Apple’s shipments, but China and Europe delivered the brand’s fastest regional growth.
counterpointresearch.com
This marks another quarter where Apple not only leads the category but accelerates ahead of it.
What’s Driving Apple’s Momentum?
Counterpoint Principal Analyst Anshika Jain highlighted several key factors:
• Refreshed lineup success — The latest Apple Watch models with meaningful health upgrades continue to resonate.
• Apple Watch SE 3 — The more affordable option is successfully bringing new buyers into the ecosystem.
• Premium health focus — Advanced sensors and features keep the flagship models attractive for users seeking deeper wellness insights.
The broader market is also benefiting from rising average selling prices (+6% YoY), driven by better sensors, AI capabilities, and consumers upgrading from basic to advanced devices. Apple sits perfectly at the intersection of these trends.
China’s Recovery Helps Everyone — But Apple Gains Too
While Huawei dominates China with ~40% share and benefits from government electronics subsidies, Apple still posted impressive growth in the region. The combination of premium demand and local market recovery created a rising tide that Apple rode effectively alongside its strong North American base.
Looking Ahead
Despite potential headwinds like rising memory prices, smartwatches are expected to weather them better than other consumer electronics thanks to higher margins in the premium segment. Counterpoint projects the overall market to grow at a 3% CAGR through 2030, with Apple well-positioned to maintain or even expand its leadership.
Why Apple Watch Still Wins
In a fragmented market full of Android-based alternatives, Apple’s seamless ecosystem, consistent software updates, privacy focus, and proven health-tracking reliability keep it in a league of its own. Whether you’re a first-time buyer grabbing an SE 3 or a long-time user upgrading for the latest health sensors, the Apple Watch remains the default choice for millions.
MacDailyNews Take: The Apple Watch isn’t just holding the crown, it’s polishing it! Q1 2026 proves that even in a slower-growth environment, Apple Watch’s combination of innovation, accessibility, and brand power continues to deliver results others can only envy.
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Drake tops Apple Music’s all-time most streamed artists list; Taylor Swift close behind at No.2
Apple Music just dropped its official ranking of the Top 20 Most Streamed Artists of All Time, and the results are sparking major conversations across the internet. Shared by X account @chartdata and confirmed by Apple Music, the list reflects the massive shift in how we consume music in the streaming era.
Apple Music’s Top 20 Most Streamed Artists of All Time
• Drake
• Taylor Swift
• Future
• YoungBoy Never Broke Again
• Bad Bunny
• Lil Baby
• The Weeknd
• Morgan Wallen
• Kanye West
• Post Malone
• Travis Scott
• Ariana Grande
• Chris Brown
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Durk
• Gunna
• Rod Wave
• Ed Sheeran
• Justin Bieber
• Eminem
Key Highlights from the Ranking
Drake claims the crown. The Toronto superstar sits comfortably at #1, a testament to his decades-long consistency, massive catalog, and cultural dominance.
Taylor Swift proves she’s untouchable. Coming in at a very close #2, Taylor remains the highest-ranking female artist — and one of only two women in the entire Top 20 (Ariana Grande slots in at #12). Rap and hip-hop dominate. The top 6 is stacked with rap heavyweights. Future at #3 and YoungBoy Never Broke Again at #4 are particularly notable — YoungBoy, at just 26 years old, is the youngest artist on the list and has built an incredibly loyal fanbase through relentless output.
Other standouts:
• Bad Bunny (#5) is the only Latin artist in the Top 20.
• Morgan Wallen (#8) represents a strong country crossover.
• Kendrick Lamar (#14) and Eminem (#20) show the enduring power of both new-era and legacy rap icons.
• Kanye West (#9) and The Weeknd (#7) continue their strong streaming legacies.
MacDailyNews Take: This ranking highlights how volume + consistency wins in the streaming age. Artists who drop frequently and maintain dedicated core audiences (think Future, YoungBoy, Lil Baby, Gunna) rack up billions of streams over time.
It also underscores platform differences. While Taylor Swift often leads Spotify’s all-time lists, Drake edges her out here — likely reflecting Apple Music’s strong U.S. user base where hip-hop and rap have massive reach.
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Apple Original Films to bring beloved children’s book ‘Little Santa’ to the screen
Apple Original Films today announced it has landed “Little Santa,” a new animated feature based on the popular and beloved children’s book from award-winning author and illustrator Jon Agee. The project will reunite Apple Original Films with Academy Award and Annie Award-winning director Peter Baynton, who recently landed the Academy Award for Apple’s animated short “The Boy the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.” Julia Pistor (“Nacho Libre,” “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” “The Magician’s Elephant”) will serve as producer.
How did Santa become Santa? The answer is in the evergreen musical comedy adventure, “Little Santa.” Featuring original songs that will hail from Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, comedian, actor and writer Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords), and a script from Martin Hynes, who co-wrote the Academy Award-winning “Toy Story 4,” the story will follow young Santa Claus on an Oz-like trek through the North Pole, meeting and inspiring the offbeat friends who will create Christmas and remind the world to believe.
“Little Santa” will be animated by WildBrain, including pre-production by WildBrain’s House of Cool. The film will be directed by Baynton and produced by Pistor. Hynes will also serve as executive producer alongside McKenzie.
Apple Original Films’ expanding offering of animated original films for kids and families also includes “Snoopy Unleashed,” its first original Peanuts feature film coming soon, as well as the Academy Award-winning animated short “The Boy the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” Academy Award nominee and Annie Award-winning “Wolfwalkers,” both now streaming on Apple TV.
Momentum around the Apple Original Films slate continues to grow since the launch of Apple TV six years ago. Following its debut last year, “F1 The Movie,” set records as the highest grossing sports feature of all time and landed an Academy Award for Best Sound, as well as a nomination for Best Picture. Apple Original Films also recently released “The Lost Bus,” an Academy Award nominated emotional, action-packed rescue drama directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Greengrass and starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera; “Highest 2 Lowest,” the latest feature reuniting Spike Lee with Denzel Washington for the fifth time; and Emmy Award-nominated feature “The Gorge,” starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. Soon-to-premiere Apple Original Films include “The Dink,” “Mayday,” “Matchbox the Movie,” “Way of the Warrior Kid” and “Being Heumann.”
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 843 wins and 3,608 award nominations and counting including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple TV’s new comedy series ‘Brothers,’ starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, debuts September 23rd
Today, Apple TV announced that its new eight-episode comedy, “Brothers,” will make its global debut on Wednesday, September 23 with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through November 4, 2026. Starring and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson, and produced by Paramount Television Studios, “Brothers” is showrun and executive produced by multi-Emmy Award nominee and Peabody Award winner Lee Eisenberg.
“Brothers” follows McConaughey and Harrelson, who play fictionalized versions of themselves, and whose lifelong friendship is thrown into chaos when they uncover a decades-old secret: they might actually be brothers. After Woody’s daughter’s wedding falls apart, he loads up the family and heads to Austin for an extended stay at Matthew’s ranch. But what begins as a healing getaway quickly spirals when Matthew’s mother, Ma Mac (played by Holland Taylor), accidentally lets slip a long-buried secret that the two friends might actually be brothers. As Woody turns the ranch upside down in pursuit of the truth, Matthew finds himself juggling an entirely different identity crisis: a potential run for Governor of Texas. The result is a heartfelt, chaotic and wildly funny story about friendship, family, fame and the messy line between myth and reality.
The ensemble cast starring alongside Harrelson and McConaughey includes Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, Noah Carganilla, Highdee Kuan, Oona Yaffe, and Holland Taylor.
“Brothers” is produced for Apple TV by Paramount Television Studios. Eisenberg, McConaughey and Harrelson executive produce alongside Natalie Sandy, David West Read, Trish Hofmann, Bill Bost, Jason Winer, David Finkel, Brett Baer, and Jeremy Plager. Trent O’Donnell directs multiple episodes, including the pilot.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 843 wins and 3,608 award nominations and counting including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Take: Could be a big one!
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple announces changes to iOS in Brazil
Apple today announced changes impacting iOS apps in Brazil that reflect a recent agreement with Brazil’s competition regulator, the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE). These updates create new options for developers to distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces and to process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple In-App Purchase. Across these changes, Apple has worked to reduce the new privacy and security risks they create to provide users in Brazil the best and safest experience possible.
The new options for alternative app marketplaces and app payments open new avenues for malware, fraud, scams, and privacy and security risks. Apple has worked with the Brazilian regulator to introduce protections from these new threats — including important safeguards for younger users. These protections include Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and requirements that help protect children from inappropriate content and scams.
While these safeguards do not eliminate the new risks, they are essential to Apple’s work to ensure iOS remains the best, most secure mobile platform available in Brazil. Apple will continue to engage with regulators on strengthening protections for iOS users.
Developers can learn about the new capabilities on the Apple Developer Support page and can integrate them into their apps beginning today as part of iOS 26.5.
New Options for Developers to Distribute Apps on iOS in Brazil
The App Store — where every app is reviewed to meet a high bar for privacy and security — remains the best place for iOS users in Brazil to discover and download the apps they love. This includes App Store features that protect users against fraud and scams and empower parents to help ensure their kids have age-appropriate experiences.
Under the agreement with CADE, developers will also have the option to distribute iOS apps in Brazil using alternative app marketplaces other than the App Store. Alternative app marketplaces will have to be authorized by Apple and will need to meet ongoing requirements to serve developers and users. However, apps downloaded outside the App Store will not benefit from the same protections Apple provides through App Review, creating new risks of apps that contain scams, fraud, and abuse, or that expose users to illicit, objectionable, or harmful content not allowed on the App Store.
To reduce some of these new risks, Apple will conduct a baseline review — called Notarization — that applies to all iOS apps and focuses on basic functionality and protecting users from serious threats. This Notarization process involves a combination of automated checks and human review, and helps ensure apps function as promised and are free of known malware, viruses, or other security threats. However, Notarization is less comprehensive than the App Review process that applies to all apps on the App Store.
Developers can learn more about operating or distributing from alternative app marketplaces in Brazil on the new Apple Developer Support page.
New Options for Payments in App Store Apps on iOS
On the App Store, users in Brazil can continue to use Apple In-App Purchase to buy digital goods and services, manage subscriptions, request refunds, and view their payment history.
As part of the agreement with CADE, Apple is sharing tools that enable developers to offer more ways for users to purchase digital goods and services in apps on the App Store. For their iOS apps distributed on the App Store in Brazil, developers will be able to include an alternative payment processing method in their app and/or link users to a website to complete a transaction.
These alternative payment options will always be presented alongside Apple In-App Purchase, so that users in Brazil are clear on when they are transacting through Apple. When users choose to pay with Apple In-App Purchase, they’ll continue to receive familiar protections and tools like refund support, subscription management, and Report a Problem. App Store users’ purchase history and subscription management will only reflect transactions made using Apple In-App Purchase.
For apps that use alternative payment processing or link users to the web for transactions, Apple will not be able to issue refunds and will have less ability to support customers encountering issues, scams, or fraud. Users may need to share their payment information with additional parties, which can introduce new privacy and security risks.
Updated Business Terms for iOS Apps in Brazil
To reflect these options for app distribution and payment processing, Apple is also sharing updated business terms for developers’ iOS apps in Brazil. These business terms reflect the many ways Apple creates value for developers’ apps, whether or not they use the App Store and/or Apple In-App Purchase.
Under the business terms for iOS apps in Brazil, Apple will continue to only charge a commission on the sale of digital goods and services. The new terms include:
• App Store commission: Developers with iOS apps on the App Store in Brazil will pay a reduced commission of either 10 percent for the vast majority of developers — including members of the Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and for subscriptions following their first year — or 21 percent on transactions for digital goods and services. The App Store commission reflects the value of the tools, technology, and services that enable developers to create apps, in addition to App Store distribution, discovery, and ongoing services.
• Apple payment processing fee: In their iOS apps on the App Store, developers can process payments using Apple In-App Purchase for an additional 5 percent fee.
• Store services commission: Developers with iOS apps on the App Store in Brazil will pay a commission of 15 percent on transactions for digital goods and services made on a website linked to by the developer’s app. Developers in the programs mentioned above, and subscriptions following their first year, will pay a reduced rate of 10 percent.
• Core Technology Commission: iOS apps distributed outside of the App Store in Brazil will pay a 5 percent commission on the sale of digital goods and services, including paid apps. The Core Technology Commission compensates Apple for the tools, technologies, and services that enable developers to build and share their apps with iOS users.
Under these new business terms, developers that sell digital goods and services in Brazil will pay Apple the same or less than they do today. Developers that do not sell digital goods and services will continue not to pay Apple any commissions or fees.
Impacts to Kids’ Online Safety
The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for everyone, including children. It offers a variety of features to help parents determine which apps, games, and content are appropriate for their kids, while providing a safe, fun, and enriching experience. Parents can expect that apps and games in the Kids category are age-appropriate, protect children’s data, and use parental gates to limit certain actions. For additional control, parents can enable Ask to Buy to approve purchases and turn off purchases via Screen Time.
With the changes introduced under the CADE agreement, the new options for alternative distribution and payment methods may expose children to new risks. For instance, apps downloaded from outside the App Store may include illicit and objectionable content, and they will not undergo the same rigorous review process Apple employs to evaluate apps made for children on the App Store. Similar regulatory changes in Europe and Japan have enabled types of apps that were previously unavailable on iOS, including pornography apps.
In an effort to reduce new risks of fraud or scams targeting children, Apple has worked with regulators in Brazil to preserve some guardrails, including:
• Apps in the Kids category on the App Store will not include links to websites to complete transactions, to reduce the risk of fraud or scams targeting children.
• For users under 18 years old, all apps from the App Store that use alternative payment processing must include a parental gate that requires younger users to involve their parent or guardian before making a purchase.
• For users under 18 years old, apps from the App Store cannot link to websites for transactions to protect against the risk of scams that target kids.
Apple is also working to provide developers using alternative payments with a new API so they can enable parents to monitor and approve purchases made outside of Apple In-App Purchase.
Developers must also continue to provide age ratings for their apps, whether their app is distributed on the App Store or an alternative app marketplace.
Apple will continue innovating to meet the evolving risks to kids’ safety online by building on the powerful tools and features it makes available today — like child accounts, web content filters, app restrictions, monitoring tools like Screen Time and Family Sharing, Communication Safety, and Communication Limits — that help parents shape who their children communicate with and shield them from inappropriate content.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple is providing detailed resources to help developers understand the options now available for their apps in Brazil, which they can access from the Apple Developer Support page.
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What to Expect from Apple Watch Ultra 4
Apple’s rugged flagship smartwatch is gearing up for its next iteration. With the Apple Watch Ultra 3 having launched in September 2025, rumors and supply chain reports point to the Ultra 4 arriving in fall 2026 — likely announced alongside the iPhone 18 series in September.
Here’s a breakdown of the most credible expectations.
Design: A Thinner, Redesigned Body
One of the biggest anticipated changes is a major redesign. Reports suggest a thinner titanium case (potentially reduced by around 15% in thickness compared to predecessors) for improved wearability while maintaining the Ultra’s adventure-ready durability.
Expect refinements like slimmer bezels, a potentially larger or brighter LTPO3 OLED display (rumored up to 3200 nits), new material finishes, and redesigned buttons or action button. The overall aesthetic should remain premium and tough — suitable for extreme sports, diving, and outdoor use — but feel more refined and less bulky for everyday wear.
This evolutionary-yet-notable update aligns with the line’s relatively young history (original Ultra in 2022), focusing on iteration rather than a complete overhaul.
Health and Sensors: Doubling Down on Monitoring
The Ultra 4 is expected to significantly upgrade its health-tracking capabilities. Key rumors include:
• Blood Pressure Monitoring: A new feature using the optical heart rate sensor (and possibly additional tech) to detect abnormal patterns and provide notifications. This is reportedly under FDA review and could represent a more advanced or clinically oriented implementation.
• Doubled or Redesigned Sensors: Supply chain info points to a ring of up to eight sensors on the back, doubling the sensor count for better accuracy across metrics like heart health, sleep, fitness, and more. A revised sensor layout is frequently mentioned.
Other potential enhancements include improved sleep tracking, advanced sports metrics (powered by future watchOS versions), and better overall data precision for athletes and health-conscious users.
Performance, Battery, and Features
• New S11 Chip: Expected to bring better efficiency, faster performance, and improved responsiveness without draining the battery faster.
• Battery Life: Rumors point to strong endurance, potentially up to 72 hours in low-power mode, making it ideal for multi-day adventures.
• Connectivity and Other Upgrades: Enhanced cellular (possibly dual antennas), better satellite SOS, improved GPS, and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence features. Touch ID has been rumored in the past (possibly via the action button), but it’s considered less certain now.
• Durability: Continued or enhanced water/dive resistance, with possible new modes for low-visibility conditions.
Pricing is likely to stay in the $799–$899 range, consistent with prior Ultra models.
MacDailyNews Take: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 remains an excellent choice today — it’s Apple’s most capable smartwatch with premium build and features, often available at a discount. If you need a rugged watch immediately, it’s hard to beat.
However, if you’re excited about the rumored thinner design, blood pressure insights, and sensor leaps, holding out for a few months could be worthwhile. The Ultra 4 shapes up as potentially the most significant update to the lineup yet.
Apple hasn’t officially confirmed any details, so treat the above as educated speculation from credible supply chain and analyst reports. We’ll know more as we get closer to the expected fall event. In the meantime, the current Ultra models continue to set a high bar for what a premium adventure smartwatch can be.
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The Virtual OS Museum: A time machine for Mac fans
If you ever owned a Mac that greeted you with that iconic boot chime, the Virtual OS Museum is the perfect rabbit hole. Andrew Warkentin has built a massive single emulation project featuring more than 1,700 pre-installed operating systems and applications spanning 250 different platforms — from Classic Mac OS and A/UX to NeXTSTEP, and everything from System 1.0 all the way through Mac OS 9.
MacSparky:
It ships two ways. A 121GB full bundle that runs offline, and a lighter 14GB starter that pulls each VM image down on first launch. Either one drops you into a desktop you probably haven’t seen in twenty years.
The fun of a project like this is that it is not trying to be polished. It is a labor of love by one person who wanted every operating system in one place and decided to make it happen. The full list runs 1948 to today, and stepping through it is like flipping through a textbook of computing history.
If you want to see where Apple’s modern OS came from, fire up NeXTSTEP. Most of the ideas that landed in Mac OS X a decade later are sitting right there.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s definitely not fast on an Apple Silicon Mac, as it runs as an x86 Linux VM, but it is fun! Check out the Virtual OS Museum here.
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Grace Gummer joins Dakota Fanning in Apple TV thriller series
Grace Gummer (“Love Story”), daughter of Meryl Streep, has signed on to join Dakota Fanning in Apple TV’s new thriller series from Alex Cary (“A Spy Among Friends,” “Homeland”) and Sony Pictures Television.
In the as-yet-untitled project, Fanning stars as an undercover Treasury agent embedded in a multi-billion-dollar international conglomerate with vast political and criminal reach. She soon finds herself torn between her mission and a deepening conviction that the heir apparent to the corrupt empire is, at his core, a good man worthy of her love.
Gummer will play the series regular role of Juliana, the oldest child of Stellan Skarsgård’s Brant, who heads up the conglomerate. As previously announced, Daryl McCormack is also set to star.
Apple’s thriller series is exec produced by Cary, who also serves as creator and showrunner under his overall deal with Sony Pictures Television and his FLW Productions banner. Julie Gardner (“Lady in the Lake,” “Doctor Who”) executive produces for Bad Wolf America, alongside and Dakota and Elle Fanning, Brittany Kahan Ward of Lewellen Pictures (“Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” “The Great”), and Kari Skogland (“Smoke,” “The Handmaid’s Tale”), who also directs.
Gummer recently garnered praise for her turn as Caroline Kennedy in FX’s hit limited series “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Hines and Ryan Murphy. She and her co-stars were honored with the Ensemble Tribute at the third annual Gotham TV Awards on June 1st.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Higher Apple prices are sending Micron stock to a record high
Micron shares hit fresh record highs after outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook signaled higher iPhone prices, underscoring robust demand for premium memory chips and reinforcing the ongoing boom in the memory sector.
This surge marks Micron’s 34th record close of the year, as investors bet on sustained strength in AI-driven and consumer electronics memory sales.
Futures tracking the S&P 500 were 0.8% higher after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the Iran war.
The gains put the stock on track to surpass the all-time closing high of $1,087.99 it hit on Monday.
The artificial-intelligence craze has driven up demand for memory in data centers, which has led to investors rethinking the low forward price-to-earnings ratio that Micron shares normally fetch.
Barron’s argued earlier this month that the stock remains undervalued, because the company’s hardware is crucial for AI servers.
MacDailyNews Note: Micron stock was up 267% for the year through Wednesday’s close.
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President Trump reveals Apple-Intel domestic partnership, boosting American chip stocks
U.S. semiconductor stocks surged in premarket trading on Thursday, June 18, 2026, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that “Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America.” The news highlights the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshore critical semiconductor production and strengthen America’s technological independence.
President Trump via Truth Social:
The Technology the World relies on was invented in America. We all remember “Intel Inside.” Stupid Presidents took our Economy for granted, and let Taiwan and others steal our Semiconductor Factories. They forgot to protect our Industries with TARIFFS. When I won my Second Term (Third, actually!), it was clear America needed its Semiconductor Industry to come back to the U.S.A. We design everything, but we need to BUILD it here, NOW! So I decided to help Intel because we need to design and build our Chips right here in America. First, we helped bring in Nvidia, and they agreed to build their first level Chips with Intel. Next, Elon agreed to build his TerraFab, the largest Chip Factory in the World, designed together with Intel’s Technology team. And, finally, Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America. We decided to help Intel in exchange for 10% of their shares. Is that too much or, too little? They were worth around 100 Billion Dollars when we made our offer. Now they are worth over 600 BILLION DOLLARS! Nine months, and they’ve increased in value over HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS. America’s stake is now over 60 Billion Dollars. When was the last time a President made America money?? Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Market Reaction
• Intel (INTC) shares jumped approximately 8.9% in premarket trading.
• Nvidia rose 1.2%, while AMD and Broadcom each climbed about 3%.
• Other notable gainers included ARM Holdings, Microchip, Applied Materials, Micron, Marvell Technology (up 5.8%), and Qualcomm (up 2.9%).
• Semiconductor ETFs also rallied: iShares Semiconductor ETF +3.9%, VanEck Semiconductor ETF +3.3%, and Roundhill Memory ETF +6.2%.
This positive momentum reflects investor optimism about reduced reliance on foreign foundries like TSMC and potential growth for US-based chip design and fabrication under initiatives emphasizing domestic production.
The announcement builds on earlier reports from May about preliminary discussions between Apple and Intel. Intel has been advancing its manufacturing roadmap, recently moving its 18A-P process into risk production with claims of improved performance and power efficiency. CEO Lip-Bu Tan has signaled openness to external customers, marking a shift in strategy.
Trump’s post emphasized economic wins: “We decided to help Intel in exchange for 10% of their shares… When was the last time a President made America money?” He positioned the move as a victory for American innovation and jobs.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple and Intel have not yet issued detailed public comments on the specifics of the partnership, such as timelines or scope, but the development could help Apple diversify away from heavy dependence on overseas suppliers amid global supply chain concerns alongside lowering Apple Silicon pricing thanks to competition.
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Apple to raise prices due to memory chip crunch, says outgoing CEO Tim Cook
In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s outgoing CEO Tim Cook confirmed that price hikes across Apple’s product lineup are now “unavoidable” due to skyrocketing costs and tightening supply of memory and storage chips.
“We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable,” Cook told the WSJ.
The root cause is explosive demand for DRAM (memory) and NAND (storage) chips from AI data centers. Major cloud providers like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have dramatically increased their capital spending, causing prices for these components to quadruple since last year. TechInsights estimates that simply passing on the higher costs while preserving margins could add roughly $270 to the price of the next iPhone 18 Pro model.
Cook highlighted the DRAM market in particular, noting that suppliers are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory for AI servers, leaving less capacity for consumer devices. “There’s less supply at a time when consumers want devices and the memory guys are passing along huge price increases,” he said. He described the situation as a “hundred-year flood” unlike anything he’s seen in over 40 years in the supply chain.
What This Means for Upcoming Products
• Apple’s next major launch is expected in September 2026 with the iPhone 18 series, including a new foldable model.
• Price increases could arrive even sooner for Macs and iPads (Apple already raised the starting price of the Mac Mini recently).
• The company also needs more DRAM to support advanced on-device AI features, including the newly announced Siri upgrades.
Apple spends tens of billions annually on memory and storage and has historically used its buying power to secure favorable pricing. Now, even Apple finds itself waiting in line behind deep-pocketed AI buyers who are locking up supply with multi-year contracts and large prepayments.
Cook said Apple is willing to use its strong balance sheet to help increase supply, but ruled out building its own memory factories. He also suggested that loosening certain national-security restrictions on dealing with Chinese memory suppliers “needs to be on the table.”
Of course, other consumer electronics makers (HP, Dell, Nintendo) have already raised prices or adjusted specs. Analysts from Morgan Stanley warn of potential 15% price increases for smartphones and PCs in the U.S. this year, with consumer-grade memory supply possibly falling 15% short of demand by 2027 even as total production capacity grows.
MacDailyNews Take: The era of relatively stable pricing from Apple may be ending — at least until memory markets stabilize. As Cook put it, the company has tried to absorb the pain as long as possible, but that strategy has now reached its limit.
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iPhone 18 to sport 12GB of unified memory to support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features
The standard iPhone 18 launching next year will include 12GB of unified memory to power Apple’s most advanced on-device AI model and its new Siri AI features, according to South Korea’s KB Securities (via DigiTimes).
During its Siri AI announcement at WWDC 2026, Apple confirmed that the most powerful model enables more expressive Siri voices and major improvements in systemwide dictation accuracy. Both features require 12GB of unified memory.
Among current iPhones, that limits the more powerful model to the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 misses out because it only has 8GB of RAM, but the same limitation isn’t expected for the iPhone 18. Apple will boost memory for the base model to 12GB while keeping the iPhone’s price unchanged, according to today’s report.
Apple has apparently asked its RAM suppliers to increase its supply of LPDDR5X chips for the next iPhone lineup. KB Securities also noted that Apple will continue buying mobile DRAM from the world’s three largest memory makers – Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron – at prices above market levels, and suggested the company will absorb the costs rather than pass them on to the consumer. If so, the existing $799 starting price should remain in place.
MacDailyNews Note: A reminder that the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone are expected to launch in fall 2026, followed by the standard iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e in the first half of 2027.
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Apple is poised to ruin ‘Hide My Email’ aliases
Later this summer, Apple has announced it will unify the email domains used by “Sign in with Apple” and iCloud+ “Hide My Email” under a single, shared domain: private.icloud.com.
New addresses generated for both features will be issued on the new domain. For example:
• Sign in with Apple addresses, previously issued on privaterelay.appleid.com, will be issued on private.icloud.com.
• iCloud+ Hide My Email addresses, previously issued on icloud.com, will be issued on private.icloud.com.
Existing addresses on the legacy domains will continue to work and forward mail to users without interruption.
What developers need to do:
• Developers with apps or websites that use Sign in with Apple should ensure that their account systems, email validation logic, and allowlists accept addresses on the new private.icloud.com domain in addition to existing domains: privaterelay.appleid.com and icloud.com.
• Email service providers should update any domain-based filtering, suppression lists, or routing rules that explicitly enumerate relay domains so that the new private.icloud.com domain is included.
Learn more about Sign in with Apple here and communicating using Private Email Relay Service here.
MacDailyNews Note: Ugh! Both “Sign in with Apple” and Hide My Email aliases will now be issued on the @private.icloud.com subdomain instead of the regular @icloud.com addresses.
This will allow services and spammers easily block every single Hide My Email alias in one shot without touching users’ actual iCloud mailboxes.
For privacy-conscious iCloud+ subscribers, this is a real step backward. One of the quiet strengths of Hide My Email has been that many services hesitated to outright ban iCloud addresses because doing so risked blocking legitimate users. That protection is now evaporating. Once @private.icloud.com addresses start getting widely blocked, Hide My Email risks turning into just another disposable alias service that serious sites simply refuse to accept — no different from the free 10-minute mail services.
It’s disappointing to see Apple undermine one of its own privacy tools in this way. The company has spent years positioning iCloud+ as a premium privacy offering. This move feels like it prioritizes spam-fighting convenience over user privacy and long-term trust.
We sincerely hope someone at Apple reconsiders before this change fully rolls out. There’s still real value in keeping Hide My Email aliases under the main iCloud domain.
Practical note for users: If you rely on iCloud+ Hide My Email, act quickly. You can still generate aliases on the regular @icloud.com domain for now. The change hasn’t landed yet, and Apple’s current rate limit is at least 30 aliases per hour. Create what you need while you still can!
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Apple rolls out new firmware updates for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and Beats Studio Buds
Apple this week released fresh firmware updates for its latest wireless earbuds lineup, bringing the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and Beats Studio Buds to the latest versions. The updates focus primarily on bug fixes, performance improvements, and overall stability, with no major new features announced.
What’s New in the Updates
• AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2: Both models now run firmware version 8B41. This follows the previous 8B40 build on the Pro 3 (from April) and earlier versions on the Pro 2.
• Beats Studio Buds: Updated to firmware version 1B211 (up from 1B204).
Apple’s official support documentation provides limited details, as is typical for these incremental audio firmware releases. Most changes remain under the hood to enhance reliability, connectivity, and audio performance.
These updates come shortly after Apple previewed expanded AirPods capabilities at WWDC 2026, suggesting the company continues refining its audio ecosystem in preparation for deeper integration with upcoming iOS features.
How to Install the Firmware Updates
Firmware updates for AirPods and Beats products install automatically. To trigger the process:
- Place your earbuds in their charging case.
- Connect the case to power (or ensure it’s near a paired device).
- Keep your iPhone, iPad, or Mac nearby with Bluetooth enabled and an active internet connection.
The update typically completes within a few minutes. To check the current firmware version:
• On iOS/iPadOS: Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info (i) icon next to your AirPods/Beats device, and scroll to the “Firmware Version” field.
If the new version (8B41 for Pro models or 1B211 for Studio Buds) appears, you’re up to date.
MacDailyNews Take: While not flashy, regular firmware updates like this help maintain optimal battery life, noise cancellation performance, microphone quality, and seamless pairing across Apple’s ecosystem. Users with AirPods Pro 3 will especially benefit from ongoing refinements to features like advanced Active Noise Cancellation and health-related capabilities (such as heart rate sensing during workouts).
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Apple sets new iPhone sales records in China; while beleaguered Huawei faces empty stores
Following the conclusion of college entrance exams, millions of Chinese students are engaging in “revenge spending,” driving record activations of over 32 million iPhone 17 units and propelling Apple back to the top of the smartphone market. Many buyers are prioritizing Apple’s superior resale value, reliability, and long-term performance over domestic brand loyalty.
Meanwhile, Huawei grapples with sluggish sales, questionable profitability, talent exodus, and intensifying international pressure, raising questions about whether pragmatic value is outweighing patriotism among younger shoppers.
Apple has successfully reclaimed the top spot in the fiercely competitive Chinese smartphone market. Recent data gathered by industry researchers shows a massive surge in device activations across the country. In just a few weeks, the iPhone 17 series reached an activation volume of 32.33 million units.
This impressive milestone sets a brand-new record for any iPhone generation in China. By the 21st week of the year, Apple officially overtook Huawei as the undisputed sales leader. For a premium international brand, this rapid market dominance is highly unusual.
Market research indicates that Apple already held a strong advantage in the high-end price segment. Following recent discounts, many shoppers who initially wanted domestic phones quickly switched to Apple.
When comparing smartphones, the secondhand market reveals a startling truth about device longevity. A prominent technology vlogger recently shared a striking comparison between two popular flagship phones. He placed a well-maintained Huawei Mate 60 Pro next to an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Both premium devices were originally released to the public back in 2023. Despite launching at similar price points, their current resale values are drastically different today:
• A well-maintained Huawei Mate 60 Pro now sells for less than 2,000 yuan.
• The iPhone 15 Pro Max still commands around 5,000 yuan on the secondhand market.
Consumers are quickly noticing that Apple devices retain more than double the value of their Huawei counterparts.
MacDailyNews Take: iPhones have always retained their value far better than Android knockoffs. Anyone who’s only noticing it now simply hasn’t been paying attention.
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Intel launches production of advanced 18A-P chip node, moves closer to potential Apple foundry deal
Intel has officially begun production of its most advanced chip process technology yet — the 18A-P node — marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to revitalize its foundry business and compete with industry leader TSMC.
Announced at the VLSI Symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii, the move brings Intel one step closer to securing high-profile external customers, including a potential deal to manufacture chips for Apple devices.
Key Highlights from Intel’s Announcement- Intel has entered “risk production” for 18A-P, an early manufacturing stage that validates the technology will meet customer requirements upon final qualification.
- The new node delivers 9% higher performance or 18% lower power consumption compared to the standard 18A process.
- 18A-P offers at least 20% better heat resistance and full compatibility with existing 18A infrastructure.
- Volume production of the base 18A node is already underway at Intel’s Arizona fab.
After years of manufacturing challenges and delayed process nodes, Intel is positioning 18A-P as a key proving ground for external customers. While the company has begun shipping PC chips built on 18A, analysts believe the enhanced 18A-P version could be more attractive to major clients like Apple.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has expressed optimism about securing multiple foundry commitments in the second half of 2026. Shares of Intel have already surged more than 200% year-to-date amid hopes of a business turnaround, boosted by U.S. government investment and a major stake from Nvidia.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead- Yield rates remain critical — analysts emphasize that consistent high yields (above 90%) will be necessary to win major contracts.
- A significant hurdle is Intel’s limited experience with Arm-based architectures, which dominate custom chips from Apple, Google, and Amazon. TSMC currently leads in this area.
- Advanced packaging could provide a faster path to revenue, with Intel’s EMIB technology positioned as a strong alternative to TSMC’s CoWoS amid ongoing capacity bottlenecks.
Chip analyst Ben Bajarin noted that Apple is likely waiting for the 18A-P process before moving forward with any manufacturing partnership.
MacDailyNews Take: Intel 18A is a strong technical contender — often rated higher on performance/efficiency thanks to aggressive innovations like PowerVia — and gives Intel a credible shot at foundry resurgence. However, TSMC N2 leads on density and manufacturing scale, maintaining its dominance for most high-volume customers.
The real winner, as always, will depend on yields, cost, and specific design needs. For Apple-style mobile/custom silicon, TSMC’s density edge is powerful. For certain HPC/AI chips where efficiency and power delivery matter most, Intel 18A (especially -P) could be of value.
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Apple AirPods Pro 3 lose their premium price tag – now 32% off for Amazon Prime Day
If you’ve been holding out for a solid deal on Apple’s latest flagship earbuds, your wait is over. The AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to an all-time low of $169 on Amazon during early Prime Day promotions — that’s a hefty $80 savings from their regular $249 price tag!
This is one of the best discounts we’ve seen on Apple’s newest Pro earbuds since their September 2025 launch, making premium features more accessible than ever.
Why the AirPods Pro 3 Stand Out
Apple packed serious upgrades into the third-generation AirPods Pro:
• Superior Noise Cancellation: Up to 2x better than the Pro 2 (and 4x the original Pro) thanks to redesigned foam-infused ear tips, ultra-low-noise microphones, and the powerful H2 chip. Five ear tip sizes — including a new XXS for smaller ears — ensure a perfect, comfortable fit.
• Live Translation: A game-changing Apple Intelligence feature that translates conversations in real time right in your ear. It supports English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish at launch, with more languages coming soon. Transcription appears on your iPhone for the other person. (Requires a compatible iPhone.)
• Heart Rate Sensing: Built-in infrared sensors track your heart rate during workouts, syncing data directly to the iPhone Fitness app. No Apple Watch needed for over 50 workout types — from running and cycling to yoga and HIIT.
• Battery Life & Case Upgrades: 8 hours of listening with ANC on (up from 6 hours on the Pro 2), plus 24 hours total with the case. The MagSafe Charging Case now includes a speaker for Find My alerts, USB-C + Qi wireless charging, and improved Precision Finding.
• Sound & Extras: A new multiport acoustic architecture delivers richer, more personalized audio with Adaptive EQ. They also support studio-quality recording in iOS 26 and boast IP57 sweat and water resistance.
Who Should Buy Them Now?
• Apple ecosystem users who want seamless integration, Spatial Audio, and the latest AI features.
• Frequent travelers or commuters seeking top-tier noise cancellation.
• Fitness enthusiasts looking for convenient workout tracking without extra wearables.
• Anyone who simply wants excellent all-around wireless earbuds at a more reasonable price.
At $169, the AirPods Pro 3 no longer feel like a luxury splurge — they’re a smart investment in daily audio quality, convenience, and health tracking.
MacDailyNews Take: Prime Day 2026 is shaping up to be a great time for Apple accessory upgrades. Whether you’re replacing older AirPods or diving into the Pro lineup for the first time, this discount makes the Pro 3 hard to beat. Grab the AirPods Pro 3 for $169 on Amazon (prices can change quickly during Prime Day events, so act fast).
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Apple TV celebrates the upcoming season three premiere of ‘Silo,’ starring Rebecca Ferguson
On Monday, June 15, Apple TV hosted a photo call for the upcoming third season of “Silo,” its hit, world-building drama created by Emmy Award winner Graham Yost, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer, and starring and executive produced by Rebecca Ferguson. Attendees included Ferguson, Yost and series stars Common, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick and Alexandria Riley. The 10-episode third season of “Silo” will premiere on Apple TV with the first episode on July 3, followed by one new episode every Friday through September 4, 2026.
Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Rebecca Ferguson, Common and Alexandria Riley attend the official photo call for season three of the Apple TV series “Silo” in Los Angeles. The acclaimed world-building drama returns globally on Apple TV with the first episode on Friday, July 3, 2026, followed by one new episode every Friday through September 4, 2026.
Based on Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy, season three of “Silo” reveals an origin story set centuries earlier, while continuing the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances. In the present, Juliette Nichols (Ferguson) survives her forced “cleaning” but returns with memory loss as the silo recovers from rebellion and faces a dangerous new threat. Meanwhile, in the “Before Times,” journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) uncover a conspiracy that pulls them into a chain of events with catastrophic, irreversible consequences.
The ensemble cast returning alongside Ferguson includes Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite and Clare Perkins. Joining the cast for season three are Zukerman and Henwick, who appeared in the season two finale, along with Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney and Matt Craven, with Colin Hanks set to recur, and Steve Zahn also set to return.
Already renewed for a fourth and final season, “Silo” continues to captivate audiences worldwide, earning praise as “genuinely brilliant,” “immensely satisfying” and “one of the best sci-fi TV shows today.” Catch up on the complete first and second seasons of “Silo,” now streaming globally on Apple TV.
“Silo” is produced by Apple Studios. The series is executive produced by Yost, Michael Dinner, Nina Jack, Joanna Thapa, Ferguson, Morten Tyldum, Howey, Amber Templemore, Fred Golan, Rémi Aubuchon and AMC Studios.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 843 wins and 3,585 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Take: “Silo” is one of the best series ever on Apple TV, and that’s saying a lot!
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple TV drops to just $5.99/month for Amazon Prime members – 50% off limited-time deal
Apple is teaming up with Amazon to make its premium streaming service more accessible than ever. Prime members can now subscribe to Apple TV for only $5.99 per month — a full 50% discount off the regular $12.99 price — for up to two months.
This timely promotion arrives just as Apple TV gears up for one of its strongest summers yet, with major returning hits like Ted Lasso Season 4 and Silo Season 3 on the horizon. Whether you’re a longtime fan or thinking about giving the service a try, this deal offers an affordable way to dive into Apple’s lineup of critically acclaimed originals, movies, and live sports.
How to Get the Deal
• The offer is exclusive to Amazon Prime members.
• Subscribe directly through the Prime Video app or website for seamless integration.
• You’ll be able to watch Apple TV content right inside the Prime Video interface alongside Amazon’s own shows and movies.
• The promo is available through June 26, 2026, so act fast if you want to lock in the savings.
Link to claim the deal: Subscribe to Apple TV via Prime Video (must be logged into your Amazon account).
Why Subscribe Through Prime Video?
Prime Video has become a convenient one-stop hub for multiple streaming services. Adding Apple TV through Prime lets you manage subscriptions in one place and enjoy content without switching between separate apps. It’s a smart way for Prime households to expand their entertainment options without extra hassle.
What You Get with Apple TV
Apple TV+ stands out for its high-quality, ad-free original programming. Highlights include:
• Award-winning series like Ted Lasso, Severance, Silo, For All Mankind, Foundation, Star City, The Morning Show, and many more
• Hit movies, including Best Picture CODA, and documentaries
• Live sports coverage (MLS Season Pass, MLB Friday Night Baseball, and more)
After the two-month promotional period, the subscription will renew at the standard rate unless canceled. You can always subscribe directly through Apple at full price or bundle it with other services via Apple One for additional savings.
MacDailyNews Take: This is one of the best short-term deals we’ve seen on Apple TV+ recently. If you’ve been waiting to catch up on Apple’s summer slate or sample the service risk-free at half price, now’s the perfect time. Just remember the cutoff rapidly approaches (June 26th)!
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