Apple News
Apple Vision Pro finally gets native YouTube app
Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube has launched a dedicated native app for Apple’s Vision Pro headset on Thursday, addressing a long-standing absence in the device’s entertainment ecosystem more than two years after the Vision Pro first debuted in February 2024.
The official app, now available as a free download in the visionOS App Store, enables users to enjoy YouTube content—including standard videos, Shorts, subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and immersive formats like spatial, 360-degree, 3D, and VR180 videos—directly within a theater-like virtual environment. On newer Vision Pro models equipped with the M5 chip, the app even supports 8K playback for compatible content.
Chris Welch for Bloomberg News:
Before now, YouTube was only accessible via the built-in Safari web browser on Apple’s $3,499 mixed-reality headset. The lack of an official app left users without the ability to download videos for offline viewing and take advantage of other features as they’ve long been able to do on mobile devices.
The fact that YouTube waited two years to deliver a Vision Pro app is another reminder of the niche status that surrounds Apple’s headset. Though the device is impressive from a technical standpoint — especially for viewing immersive videos — it lacks the vibrant app ecosystem of Apple’s iPhone, iPad and other hardware.
Netflix Inc. remains a holdout, with no dedicated Vision Pro app available from the streaming service.
MacDailyNews Take: All three users will be overjoyed.
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T-Mobile releases free real-time call translation in limited beta
T-Mobile has unveiled a groundbreaking feature called Live Translation, positioning itself as the first wireless carrier to embed real-time AI translation directly into its network. Announced in early 2026, this innovation allows T-Mobile customers to conduct phone calls in over 50 languages with near-instantaneous translations — all without downloading any apps, updating software, or requiring special hardware.
Breaking Down Language Barriers the Simple Way
Imagine calling a family member abroad, a business contact in another country, or even a neighbor who speaks a different language, and having the conversation flow naturally as if everyone were speaking the same tongue. That’s the promise of T-Mobile Live Translation. The service uses advanced AI integrated at the network level to listen to spoken words and translate them in real time. Each participant hears the conversation in their preferred language, making cross-language communication seamless and interruption-free.
Unlike traditional translation apps or device-specific features (such as those on certain Samsung or Google Pixel phones), T-Mobile’s approach doesn’t rely on the phone itself. It’s built right into the carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G infrastructure. This means it works on virtually any phone connected to the T-Mobile network—from the latest smartphones to basic flip phones or even older “dumb” phones.
How It Works: As Easy as Dialing a Code
To activate Live Translation during a call:
- Start a standard voice call from a phone on the T-Mobile network (in the U.S. or while roaming in supported countries).
- Dial 87 on the keypad (star-eight-seven-star).
- The AI kicks in automatically, translating speech in near real-time.
Only one person on the call needs to be a T-Mobile customer to enable the feature — the other party can be on any carrier or even a landline. The system adapts quickly to voices and languages, allowing natural back-and-forth dialogue without constant pauses or manual interventions.
The feature supports more than 50 languages, covering a wide range from common ones like English, Spanish, Mandarin, and French to less widespread ones. T-Mobile notes that translations are AI-generated and near real-time, though accuracy isn’t guaranteed in every scenario (as with any AI tool).
Who Can Use It and Where?
Live Translation is exclusively available to T-Mobile postpaid members (those on eligible plans like Essentials, Magenta, or higher tiers). It’s currently in a limited beta phase, with registration open on T-Mobile’s website for interested customers. Spots are limited, and signing up doesn’t guarantee immediate access — selected users receive notifications via text and email when they’re invited to try it, with beta testing slated to begin in spring 2026.
Once the beta concludes, T-Mobile plans to offer the feature more broadly, potentially as an add-on or included perk for members.
It functions anywhere with T-Mobile voice coverage, including international roaming in over 100 countries.
Why This Matters: More Than Just Connectivity
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan emphasized the human element: “Some of the biggest barriers wireless customers face are the simplest ones—like being able to understand each other. By bringing real-time AI directly into our network, we’re delivering more than connectivity—turning conversations into community.”
This feature targets everyday scenarios where language differences create hurdles:
• Multilingual families staying connected.
• Travelers handling local calls.
• Small business owners communicating with international partners or customers.
• Immigrants or non-native speakers navigating daily life.
By embedding the AI in the network rather than on devices, T-Mobile eliminates common pain points like app compatibility, battery drain, or the need for both parties to use the same tool.
A Glimpse into the Future of Wireless
T-Mobile describes Live Translation as the first output from its new “agentic AI platform” built directly into the network. This approach could pave the way for additional intelligent features down the line, all delivered without extra apps or subscriptions.
For now, the beta represents an exciting step toward a more connected, inclusive world—one where a simple phone call transcends language barriers effortlessly. T-Mobile members interested in being among the first to try it can head to the official page to register: T-Mobile Live Translation Beta Sign-Up.
MacDailyNews Take: Everything is going to change very rapidly from here on out. Buckle up!
Get ready (as best you can): "I am no longer needed for the actual technical work of my job. I describe what I want built, in plain English, and it just… appears. Not a rough draft I need to fix. The finished thing. I tell the AI what I want, walk away from my computer for four…
— MacDailyNews (@MacDailyNews) February 12, 2026
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Apple acquires ‘Severance’ series, sees 4-season run, at least, and universe expansion
Apple has acquired the intellectual property and all rights to the Emmy-winning series “Severance” from Fifth Season in a deal finalized late last year, Deadline has learned.
Sources tell Deadline that the agreement is valued at just under $70 million. Under the terms, Apple’s in-house production arm, Apple Studios, will serve as the primary studio for the series moving forward, while indie producer Fifth Season will take on an executive producer role. The transaction mirrors the earlier handover of another high-concept drama, “Silo,” from AMC Studios to Apple Studios following its first season.
Nellie Andreeva for Deadline:
Severance, a high-end drama said to cost as much as $20M an episode for its 10-episode second season, will become a marquee title in the Apple Studios portfolio, joining popular series such as Your Friends and Neighbors, Stick, Sugar, and Palm Royale and movies such as last year’s tentpole F1.
Like Netflix did 15 years ago with its first crop of original series such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, Apple TV started off by leasing series from outside studios as it needed to scale up quickly after its 2019 launch. That remains part of the streamer’s strategy, with some of Apple’s biggest hits, including Ted Lasso and recent entries The Studio and Pluribus, coming from outside studios… More than six years later, Apple Studios produces about half of Apple TV’s slate…
Taking a longer-term view, which is that Severance will run for at least four seasons, Apple TV brass concluded they would be able to make better decisions about the health of the show — including potentially expanding the franchise — and approached Fifth Season about a buyout, I hear.
As of now, Severance has been renewed for Season 3. A fourth season is a lock and factored into Apple Studios’ plans for the show. Stiller and Erickson have spoken publicly about envisioning the series to run for 3-4 seasons; I hear four seasons is the target, and Apple is fully on board.
MacDailyNews Take: Smart. Also, spin offs could help fill the looong gaps between Severance seasons. Especially as shooting for season three isn’t expectd to even start until this summer if all goes well.
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Apple acquires graph database maker Kuzu
As noted in the European Union’s list of significant company acquisitions, Apple has acquired graph database maker Kuzu, Inc. The EU classifies an acquisition as “significant” not based on the company’s size, but on whether it involves providing core platform services.
Kuzu was founded in Ontario in 2023 and had approximately ten employees at the time of the acquisition. The company’s website has since been taken offline, and its GitHub software repository was archived on October 10, 2025.
William Gallagher for AppleInsider:
According to the company’s LinkedIn profile, Kuzu was “an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of use.”
A graph database differs from the more common relational database, such as that used by FileMaker.
With a relational database, data is held in connected tables that are set up at the start. These databases are analogous to office filing cabinets with different drawers for different types of information.
So in a relational database, looking up someone in a table of customers can link you to a table of their previous orders. Then with another table you can see who else has ordered the same items.
In comparison, a graph database is more like a mind map. With a graph database, the customer is connected to their orders, and also to any other customers.
Both approaches have their benefits, and the ones for the graph database is that it can be faster…
Based on the Github archive data and also a Twitter post from an ex-Kuzu engineer, Apple appears to have acquired the company in October 2025.
MacDailyNews Take:
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U.S. FTC sends letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook about amplifying left-leaning media outlets in Apple News app
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent a letter to Apple regarding allegations of political bias in its Apple News curation.
A study released this month by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group, has found that Apple News featured a significant number of articles from left-leaning outlets in its top stories during January 2026, while including zero from right-leaning sources.
The group examined 620 stories that appeared in high-traffic morning slots on Apple News from January 1 to January 31st. 440 of those stories came from outlets rated as left-leaning (such as The Washington Post, Associated Press, NBC News, The Guardian, The New York Times, NPR, and others), while the remaining 180 came from centrist outlets (including The Wall Street Journal and Reuters). No stories from right-leaning publications, such as The New York Post or Washington Examiner were included.
In a letter addressed to CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson cautioned that Apple News may violate Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bans unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn for Fox News:
“The First Amendment protects the speech of Big Tech firms. But the First Amendment has never extended its protection to material misrepresentations made to consumers, nor does it immunize speakers from conduct that Congress has deemed unfair under the FTC Act, even if that conduct involves speech,” Ferguson told Cook.
“Accordingly, Big Tech companies that suppress or promote news articles in their news aggregators or feeds based on the perceived ideological or political viewpoint of the article or publication may violate the FTC Act if that suppression or promotion (1) is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of service; (2) is contrary to consumers’ reasonable expectations such that failure to disclose the ideological favoritism is a material omission; or (3) when those practices cause substantial injury that is neither reasonably avoidable nor outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or competition.”
“The FTC is not the speech police; we do not have authority to require Apple or any other firm to take affirmative positions on any political issue, nor to curate news offerings consistent with one ideology or another. But Congress has mandated that we protect consumers from material misrepresentations and omissions, including when the product or service offered to consumers is a speech-related product,” Ferguson wrote.
Ferguson closed his letter by urging Cook to “conduct a comprehensive review” of Apple’s terms of service to make sure its curation practices aren’t in violation and to “take corrective action swiftly” if they are.
MacDailyNews Take: Lauren Kern is the Editor-in-Chief of Apple News at Apple, the role that directly leads the curation team. Kern has held this position since joining Apple in 2017 as the first person in the role. Apple emphasizes human editors over pure algorithms for key curation decisions. Kern reports up through Apple’s services organization, ultimately to Eddy Cue (Senior Vice President of Services), who oversees Apple News.
Kern was previously Executive Editor at New York magazine and ,m prior to that, the Deputy Editor of The New York Times Magazine (from 2010 to 2014). Which ought to tell you all you need to know about why Apple News, out of the box, leans left.
On the day Lauren Kern was named first Editor-in-Chief of Apple News, we wrote, “Interesting choice that could open Apple News up for some additional criticism.”
Our crystal ball’s record remains sacrosanct.
Who determines what’s “real” news and what’s “fake?” Cook seems to want “technology companies'” idea of what’s “real” to be “ingrained in the schools” and “ingrained in the public.” Technology companies, again, who donated 99% of their political dollars to one party in the last U.S. Presidential election.
If this is really what Cook desires then… Wow. Just wow. – MacDailyNews, February 11, 2017
So, if TIME Canada puts the next-gen iPhone on their cover a day before Apple’s unveiling or some website criticizes Apple’s software quality, where do those stories go in Apple’s News app? Do they even show up at all?
Or how about positive news articles involving politicians with whom Tim Cook & Co. do not agree/actively oppose? – MacDailyNews, June 15, 2015
As always, readers of “news” need to consider the sources and interpret what they are are being told accordingly. The more disparate sources you can find, the better. And we don’t mean different newspaper, network, website brands that are all owned by the same conglomerate. Determining the actual ownership of your “news” sources is an investment that requires a bit of time, but it is very enlightening. – MacDailyNews, June 17, 2015
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Apple’s ‘new architecture’ for Home app now mandatory
In 2022, Apple announced a “new Home architecture” for its smart home ecosystem, designed to boost performance, reliability, and compatibility with a wider range of accessories. While the update was largely seamless for most when it functioned correctly, early adopters who tried switching during the initial rollout in iOS 16.2 encountered issues like slow or unresponsive devices, leading Apple to halt the transition and later reintroduce it with iOS 16.4. Now, if you delayed adopting the new architecture due to those initial problems or any other reason, Apple is making the switch mandatory starting today.
Andrew Cunningham for Ars Technica:
You’ll need to update to the new Home architecture if you want to continue using the Home app, and older iOS and macOS versions that don’t support the new architecture will no longer be able to control your smart home devices. The old version of the Home app and the old Home/HomeKit architecture are no longer supported.
If you’re like me, you hit an “upgrade” button in your Home app years ago and then mostly forgot about it — if you open the Home app on a modern iPhone, iPad, or Mac and don’t see an update prompt, it means you’re already using the updated architecture and don’t need to worry about it.
For those who haven’t upgraded, Apple’s support document outlines what you need to do: Make sure every device you plan to use the Home app on is running a supported operating system (“iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 or later”), open the Home app, and tap the update prompt. Apple says that some users “may be automatically upgraded to the latest version of Apple Home,” but it didn’t specify under what circumstances an automatic switch will happen.
MacDailyNews Note: You can set up a home hub to control your smart home accessories while you’re away from home, share control of your accessories with others, and automate your accessories to do what you want, when you want. You must set up a home hub to add Matter accessories to the Home app. Thread-enabled Matter accessories require a Thread-enabled home hub, such as HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, or a supported third-party border router. More info here.
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Apple’s latest attempt to launch its new Siri hits roadblocks
Apple’s long-awaited, oft-delayed overhaul of its beleaguered Siri virtual assistant has encountered significant issues during recent testing, which could delay the rollout of several key new features that many users have been eagerly anticipating.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
After planning to include the new capabilities in iOS 26.4 — an operating system update slated for March — Apple is now working to spread them out over future versions, according to people familiar with the matter. That would mean possibly postponing at least some features until at least iOS 26.5, due in May, and iOS 27, which comes out in September.
The latest hitches are part of a long and trying saga for Apple, which first announced plans for the revamped Siri in June 2024.
In the spring of last year, Apple delayed the rollout, saying the new Siri would instead arrive in 2026. It never announced more specific timing. Internally, though, Apple settled on the March 2026 target — tying it to iOS 26.4 — a goal that remained in place as recently as last month.
But testing uncovered fresh problems with the software, prompting the latest postponements, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Siri doesn’t always properly process queries or can take too long to handle requests, they said…
[I]t’s been a complex undertaking. The revamped Siri is built on an entirely new architecture dubbed Linwood. Its software will rely on the company’s large language model platform — known as Apple Foundations Models — which is now incorporating technology from Alphabet Inc.’s Google Gemini team.
Beyond those upgrades, Apple is also developing a major new AI initiative for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27: a fully overhauled Siri that operates more like a chatbot. It will be powered by Google servers and a more advanced custom Gemini model.
MacDailyNews Take: At this point, it’s better to get it right than to force out an “Apple Maps.” Even when it’s shippable, Apple should tag everything with “beta,” to sooth the inevitable teething pains.
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Ana de Armas and Jennifer Connelly are in negotiations to star in Apple TV spy series ‘Safe Houses’
Apple’s upcoming spy series “Safe Houses” has attracted some major talent, with Jennifer Connelly and Ana de Armas currently in negotiations to star. The project comes from Homeland creator and writer Gideon Raff, who is attached as executive producer and showrunner.
Deadline first reported the series’ development and Raff’s involvement.
Apple had no comment on the casting. For de Armas, the film marks her first major TV series after recently signing with WME last month.
The eight-episode series is based on the Dan Fesperman novel an international espionage thriller set in the aftermath of the killing of a high-ranking CIA officer in Madrid. The show is centered on Sofia Jiménez (de Armas), a fugitive agent accused of the crime, and Ambassador Elizabeth Winthrop (Connelly), his widow, as they each investigate the murder from opposite sides, unraveling a vast conspiracy that could upend the balance of global power.
Connelly makes her return to Apple TV after recently starring opposite Joel Edgerton in the TV series Dark Matter. On the film side, she was recently seen in Top Gun: Maverick.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, de Armas also stars in Apple Original Films’ “Ghosted” which is currently streaming on Apple TV.
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Apple releases watchOS 26.3
Apple on Wednesday released watchOS 26.3, the latest update to the watchOS version that originally launched in September.
This release arrives two months after watchOS 26.2.
watchOS 26.3 is a free download and includes bug fixes and important security updates, with no new user-facing features identified during the beta period, according to Apple’s release notes.
To install watchOS 26.3, use one of these methods:
• On your paired iPhone running iOS 26.3, open the Apple Watch app, go to General > Software Update, and follow the prompts.
• Or, on the Apple Watch itself, open the Settings > General > Software Update.
MacDailyNews Note: For the installation to proceed, the Apple Watch must have at least 50% battery and be placed on its charger.
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Apple releases tvOS 26.3
Apple on Wednesday released tvOS 26.3, the third update to the tvOS version that launched last fall.
This update is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models, arriving two months after the release of tvOS 26.2.
MacDailyNews Note: To download tvOS 26.3, go to the Settings app on your Apple TV, then navigate to System > Software Update. If automatic software updates are enabled on your device, it will upgrade to tvOS 26.3 on its own.
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Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.3
Apple on Wednesday released macOS Tahoe 26.3 which provides important bug fixes and security updates.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100
Some features may not be available for all regions. For more information, please visit: https://www.apple.com/os/macos/
Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: https://support.apple.com/125039
MacDailyNews Take: It’s snappy!
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Apple releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that was released in September. The new operating system versions comes nearly two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
This update provides important bug fixes and security updates.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100
Some features may not be available for all regions. For more information, please visit:
https://www.apple.com/os/IOs
Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039
MacDailyNews Note: The new operating system versions can be downloaded on compatible iPhones and iPads over-the-air via Settings > General > Software Update.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Nearly 1 in 4 active smartphones is an Apple iPhone
Each of the world’s eight leading smartphone OEMs had an active installed base exceeding 200 million devices in 2025 and nearly one in four active smartphones is an Apple iPhone.
Global installed base of active smartphones grew 2% in 2025, driven by replacement cycles for new devices increasing to nearly four years and a growing share of second-life devices in use, according to Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone Installed Base Tracker. Active smartphone installed base is a key measure of long-term competitive strength in mature markets. Unlike shipments, active installed base captures device longevity, user retention and ecosystem loyalty, representing the cumulative impact of years of sales combined with extended replacement cycles.
Commenting on the market trends, Research Director Tarun Pathak said in a statement, “Each of the eight leading smartphone OEMs had an active installed base exceeding 200 million devices in 2025, together accounting for over 80% of the global active installed base. Only Apple and Samsung have surpassed the one-billion active devices milestone, showing their ability to keep users engaged over time.”
Global Active Smartphone Installed Base by Brand Share, 2025
Source: Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone Installed Base Tracker
Notes: OPPO includes OnePlus. Transsion includes TECNO, itel and Infinix
Pathak added, “Within the 200 million+ active installed base club, three clear segments emerge. The first is the 1 billion+ club, led by Apple and Samsung. They reached this scale through premium positioning and strong ecosystems that drive long-term user loyalty. The second segment includes Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo. These brands built large installed bases by targeting the mid- and mid-to-high segments with competitive portfolios. They are also steadily strengthening their ecosystems. The third segment is Transsion Group. It has grown through affordable devices tailored to price-sensitive markets like the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Southeast Asia. HONOR is the latest entrant to the 200 million+ club, while Motorola and realme are close to reaching this milestone.”
Commenting on brand performance, Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said in a statement, “Apple leads the global active installed base, with about one in four active smartphones being an iPhone. This is driven by strong user loyalty, a deep iOS ecosystem and tightly integrated services. In 2025, Apple added more net new smartphone devices than the next seven leading OEMs combined. This highlights its ability to attract and retain users in a mature market. Samsung ranks second with around one-fifth of the global active installed base. This is supported by its long-standing market presence, a broad portfolio spanning entry-level to premium segments, and extensive geographic reach across key regions.”
Chauhan added, “Together, Apple and Samsung held 44% of the global active installed base in 2025. This advantage comes from longer replacement cycles as consumers keep devices longer due to incremental hardware innovations. Their premium smartphones benefit from durable builds, extended software support, strong resale values, deeply integrated ecosystems and powerful global brand loyalty. These factors extend active device lifespans, encourage multi-owner usage and further widen their lead in user retention.”
Smartphone OEMs need to focus on long-term user retention over shipment volumes to grow their installed base. Premium phones are key as users hold these devices longer. Brands can expand their presence by delivering durable, feature-rich devices with advanced displays, larger batteries and high-end cameras. These encourage longer ownership and repeat purchases.
However, the premium segment remains challenging. In 2025, six OEMs outside Apple and Samsung held only a single-digit sales share in the premium segment priced above $600 wholesale. This highlights the difficulty of competing in this space. Further, while users are gradually moving to higher price bands, ongoing memory shortages are raising component costs and limiting the availability of higher-specification models. This could delay upgrades, extend replacement cycles and slow the premiumization trend.
In the AI era, differentiation is shifting to software and ecosystem layers. On-device AI, camera intelligence, productivity features and seamless cross-device integration are becoming key value drivers. These help build loyalty and increase usage. Growing the active installed base and extending device lifespans strengthen software revenue potential, turning each smartphone into a long-term monetization platform. Apple remains the only brand consistently generating high-margin revenues from its installed base, with services revenue continuing double-digit growth.
Longer software support and stronger ecosystem lock-in increase user lifetime value. As hardware growth slows and cost pressures rise, software and services offer OEMs a stable, recurring revenue stream less dependent on replacement cycles.
MacDailyNews Take: And, 4 in 4 active smartphones are either iPhones or iPhone derivatives.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show sees 39% household viewership drop vs. last year, Samba TV data shows
According to Samba TV, Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performance drew 26.5 million U.S. households, marking a sharp 39% decline from the 43.4 million households that watched Kendrick Lamar’s show in 2025.
Samba TV measures household-level viewing directly from opted-in smart TVs using Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which detects on-screen content in real time. This approach focuses on connected TV households and excludes individual viewers, phones, tablets, laptops, out-of-home viewing, or non-smart-TV sources. Samba TV’s methodology has remained consistent year-over-year without major changes in technique, making its data apples-to-apples for tracking trends in household engagement over time.
In contrast, Nielsen reported that Bad Bunny’s halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers in the U.S. from 8:15–8:30 p.m. ET on February 8, 2026. Nielsen uses its Big Data + Panel methodology, combining large-scale data from set-top boxes, smart TVs, and other sources with a representative household panel to estimate total individual viewers across broadcast, streaming, and platforms, including adjustments for co-viewing and cross-device behavior.
Nielsen quarter-hour data showed a dip during the halftime slot: viewership fell to 128.2 million, representing about a 4% decline from Kendrick Lamar’s prior-year halftime average and roughly a 5.7% drop from the immediately preceding quarter-hour (and a 7% decline from the game’s second-quarter peak of 137.8–137.9 million viewers).
The overall Super Bowl LX telecast, featuring the Seattle Seahawks’ less-than-scintillating 29-13 win over the New England Patriots, averaged 124.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, and other platforms per Nielsen — down slightly (about 2%) from last year’s record, but still the second-most-watched in U.S. history. The game peaked at 137.8 million viewers during the second quarter.
Bad Bunny’s set, performed largely in Spanish with a focus on Puerto Rican culture, choreography, and a live on-air wedding segment was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime in Spanish-language history on Telemundo (averaging 4.8 million viewers).
The Super Bowl halftime slot also featured counter-programming from Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which streamed its “All-American Halftime Show” on YouTube (featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Gabby Barrett, and others) as an alternative during the official halftime slot. The TPUSA stream peaked at around 6.1 million concurrent viewers on YouTube, with live viewership in the 5–6 million range during the head-to-head window and total views climbing to over 19–21 million in the following days (including on-demand replays). It was also available on the Christian network TBN, though specific linear TV ratings for that broadcast were not widely reported.
The selection of Bad Bunny as Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show headliner was ultimately decided by Jay-Z through his entertainment company, Roc Nation. Since 2019, the NFL has partnered with Roc Nation, designating it as the league’s live music entertainment strategist. This arrangement gives Roc Nation oversight of halftime show production and the lead role in selecting the artist each year.
Multiple sources confirm Jay-Z’s decisive influence. Executive producer Jesse Collins has stated plainly that “it’s a decision that Jay makes” and has done so every year since the partnership began. Apple Music’s Zane Lowe described Jay-Z as the one person who makes that decision, while co-head Rachel Newman called him the “ultimate curator,” noting that even senior leadership at Apple remains unaware of the pick until close to the announcement due to tight secrecy.
The NFL, Apple Music (title sponsor since 2023), and Roc Nation collaborate on the process, which typically begins shortly after the previous Super Bowl and finalizes the artist by late summer or early fall. The league provides input to ensure alignment with the event’s audience and moment, but Roc Nation drives the choice.
MacDailyNews Note: According to Apple, immediately after the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, Bad Bunny listens on Apple Music rose 7x. Bad Bunny’s “DtMF,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” and “Tití Me Preguntó” were the most streamed songs immediately after the show.
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Apple News boosts left-leaning news outlets, shuts out conservative media – watchdog
A study by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group, has found that Apple News featured a significant number of articles from left-leaning outlets in its top stories during January 2026, while including zero from right-leaning sources.
The group examined 620 stories that appeared in high-traffic morning slots on Apple News from January 1 to January 31. According to the analysis, 440 of those stories came from outlets rated as left-leaning (such as The Washington Post, Associated Press, NBC News, The Guardian, The New York Times, NPR, and others), while the remaining 180 came from centrist outlets (including The Wall Street Journal and Reuters). No stories from right-leaning publications, such as The New York Post or Washington Examiner were included.
The Media Research Center based its outlet classifications on AllSides media bias ratings, which draw from multi-partisan panels and public surveys.
Apple News features a mix of stories selected by in-house editors and some determined algorithmically, though the company describes the top stories as editor-curated.
Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com
Thomas Barrabi for The New York Post:
Of the 620 stories, a whopping 440 came from outlets that are rated as left-leaning, while the remaining 180 were published by centrist outlets. Meanwhile, outlets which are considered right-leaning – including The Post – were shut out entirely.
In January, Apple News featured a total of 72 articles by The Washington Post, 54 articles by The Associated Press, 50 by NBC News, 34 by The Guardian and 25 by NPR, according to MRC’s data. It published 54 Wall Street Journal articles. The numbers for The Post and Fox News were zero and zero, respectively.
Julie Mastrine, who serves as director of AllSides’ media bias rating system, said she was “not surprised at all” by the results.
“The bottom line is that Americans that are relying on these Big Tech companies to provide them with news are not getting a balanced view and they’re not getting the full scope of perspectives available,” Mastrine said in an interview…
As of Monday, Apple News had gone 96 consecutive days without showcasing a story from a conservative publication in its top stories.
“Almost half of voting-age Americans own an Apple iPhone,” MRC’s Dan Schneider told The Post. “Of course, all its phones come pre-installed with Apple News. Swipe right and you’re inundated with Apple’s cherry-picked news stories. Most people don’t even know they are being fed a steady stream of leftist narratives…”
“It is a subliminal form of propaganda, paid for with corporate dollars but without campaign finance disclosures,” Schneider added. “It could be illegal.”
MacDailyNews Take: Shocker.
Look for MacDailyNews on Apple News. We used to be included. No longer, likely due to being critical of Apple’s myopic, charisma-free, placeholder CEO who missed GenAI and has reacted to it like a deer in the headlights ever since.
Who determines what’s “real” news and what’s “fake?” Cook seems to want “technology companies'” idea of what’s “real” to be “ingrained in the schools” and “ingrained in the public.” Technology companies, again, who donated 99% of their political dollars to one party in the last U.S. Presidential election.
If this is really what Cook desires then… Wow. Just wow. – MacDailyNews, February 11, 2017
So, if TIME Canada puts the next-gen iPhone on their cover a day before Apple’s unveiling or some website criticizes Apple’s software quality, where do those stories go in Apple’s News app? Do they even show up at all?
Or how about positive news articles involving politicians with whom Tim Cook & Co. do not agree/actively oppose? – MacDailyNews, June 15, 2015
As always, readers of “news” need to consider the sources and interpret what they are are being told accordingly. The more disparate sources you can find, the better. And we don’t mean different newspaper, network, website brands that are all owned by the same conglomerate. Determining the actual ownership of your “news” sources is an investment that requires a bit of time, but it is very enlightening. – MacDailyNews, June 17, 2015
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U.S. labor market beats expectations with strong 130,000 job gains in January, unemployment falls to 4.3%
The U.S. labor market showed signs of resilience in January 2026, with non-farm payrolls increasing by 130,000 — well above economists’ muted expectations — as the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.3%, according to the latest Employment Situation report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 11.
The job gains marked a notable improvement from December’s revised increase of just 48,000 and came despite ongoing headwinds including policy shifts on immigration, tariff uncertainties, and federal government workforce reductions. Economists had forecasted a much weaker reading, with the Dow Jones consensus estimating only 55,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.4%.
“This stronger-than-expected start to 2026 provides some relief to concerns about the state of the U.S. labor market,” the report highlighted, noting that hiring remains in a “low-growth mode” with scattered signs of increasing layoffs in recent months.
Key sectors driving the gains included:
• Health care, which added 82,000 positions
• Social assistance, up by 42,000
• Construction, gaining 33,000 jobs
These increases were partially offset by losses elsewhere, notably in federal government employment, which fell by 34,000, reflecting the impact of layoffs and deferred resignations tied to the Department of Government Efficiency initiatives, down 22,000.
A broader measure of labor underutilization, which includes discouraged workers and those employed part-time for economic reasons, improved to 8% in January, down 0.4 percentage points from December.
The release of the report was delayed by nearly a week due to a partial government shutdown that ended on February 3.
MacDailyNews Take: U.S. financial markets reacted positively to the data, with stock futures ticking higher – Apple is up slightly in pre-market trading – and Treasury yields posting gains.
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iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max starting prices expected to remain unchanged – analysts
“For DRAM, we believe Apple has been negotiating with Samsung Memory and SK Hynix to reach favorable deals, considering Apple’s support in the past memory downcycle and the likely capital investments,” GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu explained in a recent note to clients seen by MacDailyNews. “For NAND, we estimate the cost to be up ~70% QoQ in F2Q and suppliers are asking for 50-60% QoQ in F3Q. Overall, we expect the BOM cost of memory to increase from 9-10% in F1Q to 12-13% in F3Q. To partially offset the cost of memory price and 2nm A20 Pro, we expect efforts on other big items such as display, cameras, etc.”
Ryan Christoffel for 9to5Mac:
Many investors assume Apple will have to raise prices on the iPhone 18 line as a result [of increasing DRAM prices]. But increasingly, analysts who follow the company closely have another take.
Recently, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple plans to keep pricing steady for its new iPhone 18 flagships. At a minimum, he expects the base storage options to stay the same cost as the iPhone 17 line.
Now today, analyst Jeff Pu has published a research note where he corroborates this view.
He said that following Apple’s recent earnings call, his firm performed fresh supply chain research that indicates Apple has several cost management efforts in place for this fall’s iPhones.
Apple’s goal, Pu says, is to keep starting selling prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max “unchanged or at a similar level” to their predecessors.
MacDailyNews Take: It seems increasingly likely that Apple will keep starting prices at $1,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which will certainly help keep sales high.
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GF Securities: Apple supply chain survey suggests ‘solid outlook’
Apple remains in focus on Tuesday after GF Securities reported that a recent survey of the company’s supply chain points to a “solid outlook.”
Chris Ciaccia for Seeking Alpha:
“Following the earnings call on Jan. 29, 2026, we did a supply chain research which indicates strong iPhone build momentum (incl. 2H26’s models) as well as cost management aiming to keep the starting selling prices of iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max unchanged or at [a] similar level of iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max,” analyst Jeff Pu wrote in a note to clients. “Additionally, [the] Gemini partnership is to work on the Apple foundational model to power the Apple Intelligence, including the personalized Siri, which is the next key to watch in WWDC 2026.”
Delving deeper, Pu said the upcoming fiscal third-quarter should see another “strong” iPhone build, with around 54M units, which would suggest a year-over-year acceleration.
“For 2H26, we note that Apple is expected to launch 3 new iPhone 18 models (Pro, Pro Max, Fold), compared to 4 iPhone 17 models a year ago,” Pu added. “Yet, we expect a solid iPhone 18 build plan in 2H26 of 82m, compared to 89m of iPhone 17 in 2H25, despite [a] much higher [average] selling price. We attribute the key drivers to the new foldable model and Apple’s strategy of keeping iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max pricing largely the same as that of iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max by managing memory/display cost. That said, we expect a significant iPhone ASP increase in CY2H26 driven by mix.”
MacDailyNews Note: Pu reiterated his “Buy” rating on Apple and raised his target price on AAPL to $233 based on higher 2026 and 2027 estimates. Broader Wall Street analysts’ consensus averages around $290–$306 across dozens of analysts, with highs up to $350.
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‘Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea’ launches March 5th on Apple Arcade
“Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea,” the highly anticipated new chapter in the popular action-RPG-adventure franchise, is launching exclusively on Apple Arcade on March 5th. Taking place nearly a thousand years after the events of Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, Oceanhorn 3 invites fans and newcomers to explore lost islands, battle titans, and unlock the secrets of a world on the brink of rebirth.
“The upcoming release of Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea on Apple Arcade represents the culmination of five years of passionate work, bringing a brand-new adventure to life for players of all ages,” said Heikki Repo, creator of the Oceanhorn series and creative director at Cornfox & Brothers, in a statement. “With the support of our friends at Apple, we’ve crafted something truly special. We’re excited for both longtime fans and new adventurers to explore a rich new world filled with compelling characters and an unforgettable story.”
Oceanhorn 3 is a beautiful 3D gaming experience that is playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Featuring stunning console-quality visuals and deep lore, the game offers a meaningful continuation of the epic story for fans of the series, and RPG aficionados will appreciate the blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. With innovative traversal and combat mechanics, Oceanhorn 3 also delivers players a battle system that feels rewarding, intuitive, and fun to master at their own pace.
In Oceanhorn 3, set sail on a beautifully crafted techno-fantasy adventure that’s rich with lore and intrigue.
On March 5, three great games from the App Store also join the service’s family-friendly catalog — all with no ads or in-app purchases. Players can move into a cute new home with their partner and favorite pet in wholesome life simulator Pocket Love!+, connect matching colors with pipes in popular puzzle game Flow Free+, and run a sweetshop with beloved manga character Doraemon in Doraemon Dorayaki Shop Story+.
Apple Arcade players always have something to look forward to, from new releases to exciting updates to games they already love. On February 19, Disney SpellStruck is expanding to a galaxy far, far away with a special Star Wars update, introducing levels inspired by Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope with Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca as playable characters. This upcoming crossover follows Crayola Create and Play+’s limited-time Snowy Day event, featuring globally beloved children’s character Paddington, and available only on Apple Arcade until February 18.
And for football fans looking to relive this past weekend’s Super Bowl LX, they can check NFL Retro Bowl ’26’s latest challenge, which lets them invite friends to play as the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots and compete for the best leaderboard score. Players can start a challenge from the new option on the save select screen, or from the Apple Games app.
Relive Super Bowl LX and challenge friends to post the best leaderboard score in NFL Retro Bowl ’26’s latest challenge.
For more details on new games and updates, players can visit the App Store or check out the Apple Games app — the best place to experience Apple Arcade and instantly jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free. Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95), Family ($25.95), and Premier ($37.95 plans, with a one-month free trial. Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
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Rivian rolls out dedicated Apple Watch app: wrist-based controls and gen 1 digital key support incoming
Rivian is gearing up to deliver a major convenience boost to R1T and R1S owners with the launch of its first official Apple Watch companion app. Tied to the upcoming software update 2026.03 and Rivian mobile app version 3.9, the new watch app brings full remote vehicle controls directly to users’ wrists — along with expanded digital key functionality for older Gen 1 models.
Key features include the ability to lock/unlock doors, vent windows, trigger the alarm, adjust cabin climate, and set charging targets, all accessible via quick taps or the Digital Crown. Owners can customize up to four favorite commands for one-tap access to their most-used functions.
A standout addition is support for using the Apple Watch as a standalone digital key on Gen 1 vehicles (2021–2024 models). Previously limited to Gen 2 Rivians (2025+), this extends proximity-based unlocking and starting to earlier vehicles, though Gen 1 users may need the app actively open for key functions (no passive ultra-wideband entry like on newer models). Gen 2 owners retain full passive entry perks when digital key is enabled in Apple Wallet.
The app builds on Rivian’s December 2025 rollout of digital key support via Apple Wallet, leveraging secure Car Connectivity Consortium standards for offline operation and low-power reserve access.
While not yet live in the App Store, the feature awaits the pending app and software updates. Rivian owners with compatible hardware (Apple Watch Series 6 or later) should monitor for the release soon.
This wrist-controlled integration highlights Rivian’s push toward seamless, ecosystem-native experiences — offering Gen 1 owners especially welcome upgrades in convenience and security as EV software continues to evolve. More details are expected from Rivian as rollout nears.
MacDailyNews Note: How to add your car key to Apple Wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch via Apple Support here.
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