Apple News
tvOS 26.4 adds a trio of new tricks to Apple TV 4K
Apple this week rolled out the tvOS 26.4 update for the Apple TV 4K, delivering a trio of clever new features designed to enhance everyday viewing and audio experiences. At the heart of the update is Genius Browse, a smart recommendation row in the Apple TV app that intelligently suggests shows and movies across streaming services to help users discover fresh content with ease. The update also introduces improved subtitle customization options for quicker and more accessible adjustments, alongside a refined audio settings menu that includes a Continuous Audio Connection toggle to smooth out playback transitions between different formats.
Arriving as part of the tvOS 26.4 consumer release, your Apple TV 4K box now has access to Genius Browse.
This is a new feature for the Apple TV app which helps you discover new shows and movies to watch across multiple streaming services. It adds a new rail that you’ll find on the app’s homescreen with a selection of different categories, such as “binge-worthy shows” and “a rush of adrenaline”.
Inside the category placeholders, you are greated by recommendations taken from across your linked services, such as Apple TV itself, Disney+ and Prime Video. Sadly, Netflix is still not fully integrated with Apple’s system as yet.
The new “continuous audio connection” option is now enabled in the TV 4K’s settings. This has mainly been added to offer a fix for users operating Sonos speakers with AV receivers and amplifiers, but it’s switched on by default.
And finally, we have new customisation options for subtitles. You can change the subtitles to different styles – classic, large, text, outline text and transparent background.
MacDailyNews Take: The Apple TV 4K gets an even more polished and user-friendly entertainment hub without requiring any new hardware or any additional cost!
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Deal Alert: $100 off Apple Watch Series 11; hits all-time low of $299
Select colors of the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) are currently back down to their record-low price of $299 at Amazon — a full 25% off the regular $399, saving you $100.
Apple Watch Series 11 offers standout features like hypertension notifications, improved battery life, sleep score tracking, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence.
If you’ve been holding out for the perfect gift (for yourself or someone else), this Amazon deal is a timely one.
The $100 discount applies to a limited selection of colorways, including Jet Black Aluminum Case w/ Black Sport Band, Rose Gold Aluminum Case w/ Light Blush Sport Band, Silver Aluminum Case w/ Purple Fog Sport Band, and the Space Gray Aluminum Case w/ Black Sport Band.
This is an excellent opportunity to snag the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) at its best price yet!
MacDailyNews Take: Get ’em while they last here.
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Apple TV lands 15 2026 BAFTA Television Award nominations
Apple TV thsi week was recognized with 15 nominations across nine programs for the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, with top category nods including International for “Severance,” “Pluribus” and “The Studio,” alongside Factual Entertainment for “Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars” and Specialist Factual for “Vietnam: The War That Changed America.” “Smoke,” “Down Cemetery Road,” “Slow Horses” and “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” were also recognized.
“Severance” scored three BAFTA Television Award nominations, including International; Director: Fiction, Sam Donovan; and Photography & Lighting Fiction, Suzie Lavelle. “Pluribus” and “The Studio” both landed International nominations, while “Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars” earned a nod for Factual Entertainment. “Vietnam: The War That Changed America” scored nominations for Specialist Factual and Director: Factual, Rob Coldstream. Taron Egerton landed a Leading Actor nomination for “Smoke,” while Fehinti Balogun earned a Supporting Actor nod for “Down Cemetery Road.” “Slow Horses” scored four nominations, including Writer: Drama, Will Smith; Editing: Fiction, Fiona Brands; Make Up & Hair Design, Lucy Sibbick and Victoria Money; and Sound: Fiction for Andrew Sissons, Martin Jensen, Ben Tisdall, Joe Beal, Duncan Price and Conor Thompson. “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” also landed a nod for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects for Russell Dodgson, Framestore, Andy Jones, Simon Bland, Francois Dumoulin and Gavin McKenzie.
These nominations mark the latest recognition from the BAFTA Television Awards for Apple, following four wins in 2025, including Editing: Fiction and Sound: Fiction for “Slow Horses,” Original Music: Fiction for “Bad Sisters” and Children’s Craft Team for “The Velveteen Rabbit”; four wins in 2024, including Editing: Fiction and Sound: Fiction for “Slow Horses,” as well as Production Design and Original Music: Fiction for world-building hit “Silo.” “Bad Sisters” earned a Titles & Graphic Identity win in 2023, as well a Drama Series win and a Supporting Actress win for series star Anne-Marie Duff. The celebrated limited series “The Essex Serpent” landed a Costume Design win for first-time BAFTA winner Jane Petrie in 2023, and in 2022, “9/11: Inside the President’s War Room” won Editing: Factual, and “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything” won Sound: Factual.
The BAFTA Television Awards recognize the best British programs, performances and productions each year. The winners will be revealed in two ceremonies: the BAFTA Television Craft Awards on Sunday, April 26 and the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday, May 10 in London.
Additionally, Apple landed three Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Award nominations for “Slow Horses,” including Drama Series, Supporting Actor — Male for Christopher Chung and Supporting Actor — Female for Saskia Reeves. “Down Cemetery Road” also earned three RTS West of England Award nominations for Production (Scripted), On Screen Talent (Performance) Emma Thompson and Sound. The winners will be revealed in two ceremonies: the RTS Programme Awards on Tuesday, March 24 and the RTS West of England Awards on Sunday, April 26.
To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 773 wins and 3,366 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,” Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
Apple landed 15 nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, including:
“Severance”
International
Director: Fiction — Sam Donovan
Photography & Lighting: Fiction — Suzie Lavelle
“Pluribus”
International
“The Studio”
International
“Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars”
Factual Entertainment
“Vietnam: The War That Changed America”
Specialist Factual
Director: Factual — Rob Coldstream
“Smoke”
Leading Actor — Taron Egerton
“Down Cemetery Road”
Supporting Actor — Fehinti Balogun
“Slow Horses”
Writer: Drama — Will Smith
Editing: Fiction — Fiona Brands
Make Up & Hair Design — Lucy Sibbick, Victoria Money
Sound: Fiction — Andrew Sissons, Martin Jensen, Ben Tisdall, Joe Beal, Duncan Price, Conor Thompson
“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age”
Special, Visual & Graphic Effects — Russell Dodgson, Framestore, Andy Jones, Simon Bland, Francois Dumoulin, Gavin McKenzie
Apple landed three nominations for the Royal Television Society Programme Awards, including:
“Slow Horses”
Drama Series
Supporting Actor — Male — Christopher Chung
Supporting Actor — Female — Saskia Reeves
And three nominations for the Royal Television Society West of England Awards, including:
“Down Cemetery Road”
Production (Scripted)
On Screen Talent (Performance) — Emma Thompson
Sound
All titles are now streaming globally on Apple TV.
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 renews award-winning space drama ‘For All Mankind’ for sixth and final season
Apple TV this week announced that its award-winning and celebrated space drama series, “For All Mankind,” has been renewed for a sixth and final season, marking the show’s final mission ahead of its highly anticipated season five debut. From creators Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, the 10-episode fifth season lifts off on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29, and an exciting new spinoff, “Star City,” is set to make its global debut on May 29.
“Getting to explore the ‘For All Mankind’ universe over six seasons has been an amazing privilege, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to finish the story the way we’ve always hoped,” said Wolpert and Nedivi in a statement. “We’re incredibly proud of what this series has become, and grateful to Apple TV and Sony Pictures Television for helping us see it through to its final chapter.”
“From being one of the first Apple Originals to launch on Apple TV in 2019, ‘For All Mankind’ has remained an innovative, epic sci-fi series that has enthralled fans season after season,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV, in a statement. “As one of Apple TV’s most enduring and celebrated series, it has delivered time and again because of the extraordinary artistry of visionary storytellers Ron, Matt and Ben, along with our partners at Sony, and we can’t wait for people to experience how this story comes to its exhilarating conclusion when the final season debuts next year.”
Since its global debut as part of the launch of Apple TV in 2019, “For All Mankind” has been widely and consistently celebrated as “superior sci-fi” and “one of the best shows on television.” The series has earned recognition from the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Producers Guild of America Awards, along with nominations from the Critics Choice Awards and other leading industry honors. The drama continues to receive global acclaim from critics and fans alike. The sixth and final season of “For All Mankind” is about to go into production and the first four seasons are streaming globally on Apple TV.
In the upcoming season five of “For All Mankind,” the generation-spanning series picks up in the 2010s, years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions that will take us even further into the solar system. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home. The ensemble cast returning for season five includes Joel Kinnaman, Toby Kebbell, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña and Wrenn Schmidt, alongside new series regulars Mireille Enos (“The Killing,” “Hanna”), Costa Ronin (“The Americans,” “Homeland”), Sean Kaufman (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Ruby Cruz (“Bottoms”) and Ines Asserson (“Royalteen”).
“For All Mankind” is created by Emmy Award winner Moore, and Emmy Award nominees Wolpert and Nedivi. Wolpert and Nedivi serve as showrunners and executive produce alongside Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions, as well as Kira Snyder, David Weddle, Bradley Thompson and Seth Edelstein. “For All Mankind” is produced for Apple TV by Sony Pictures Television.
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 773 wins and 3,347 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 launches Apple Business. a new all‑in‑one platform for businesses of all sizes
Apple on Tuesday announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that includes key services companies need to effortlessly manage devices, reach more customers, equip team members with essential apps and tools, and get support from experts to run and grow efficiently and securely. Apple Business features built-in mobile device management, helping businesses easily configure employee groups, device settings, security, and apps with Blueprints to quickly get started. In addition, customers can now set up business email, calendar, and directory services with their own domain name for seamless and elevated communication and collaboration. And Apple Business can help millions of companies grow their reach and connect with local customers across Apple Maps, Mail, Wallet, Siri, and more, including a new option coming this summer that will enable businesses in the U.S. and Canada to place local ads in Maps during key search and discovery moments. Apple Business will be available starting Tuesday, April 14, in more than 200 countries and regions.
“Apple Business is a significant leap forward in our decades-long commitment to helping companies of all sizes leverage the power of Apple products and services to run and grow,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Enterprise and Education Marketing. “We’ve unified Apple’s strongest business offerings into one simple, secure platform, delivering key features for organizations in every stage and sector, including built-in device management, collaboration tools, and additional ways to reach new customers. We can’t wait to see how Apple Business helps companies spend more time focusing on what they love and connecting deeply with their communities.”
Built-In Mobile Device Management
Apple Business offers built-in mobile device management (MDM), facilitating a comprehensive view of an organization’s Apple devices, settings, and more from a single interface. Previously available as a subscription within Apple Business Essentials in the U.S., Apple Business is designed to make IT easy — including for small businesses without dedicated IT resources. Apple Business includes new Blueprints to easily set up devices with preconfigured settings and apps, ensuring consistency and security and enabling zero-touch deployment for employees, so that new Apple products are ready to go out of the box.
Apple Business includes options to purchase upgraded iCloud storage and support with AppleCare+ for Business, and a companion Apple Business app will allow employees to install apps for work, view colleague contact information, and request support while on the go.
Apple Business expands the availability of Apple Business Manager to more than 200 countries and regions, and supports additional device management features, including:
• Managed Apple Accounts: Company data remains secure while employee data remains private, with cryptographic separation of work and personal data on devices. Apple Business enables automated Managed Apple Account creation for new employees through integration with an identity service provider, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, and more.
• Employee management: Create user groups by function or team to assign apps and roles. Organizations can also create custom roles to manage access exactly the way they want.
• App distribution: Easily acquire and distribute apps to employees and teams through the App Store.
• Admin API: Simplify large deployments with API access to device, user, audit, and MDM service data.
Blueprints allow users to easily set up devices with preconfigured settings and apps, ensuring consistency and security and enabling zero-touch deployment for employees. Mobile device management is built in to Apple Business, facilitating a comprehensive view of an organization’s Apple devices, settings, and more from a single interface.
New Ways to Manage Productivity and Collaboration
Apple Business introduces fully integrated email, calendar, and directory services that are designed to make it seamless to start a new business with a professional identity. Businesses can bring their own custom domain name or purchase a new one through Apple Business, helping founders elevate communication and collaboration. These services streamline operations, with scheduling tools like calendar delegation and a built-in company directory to make it easy for employees to connect with user groups and personalized contact cards.
Enhanced Discoverability in Apple Maps
Every day, users choose Apple Maps to discover and explore places and businesses around them. Beginning this summer in the U.S. and Canada, businesses will have a new way to be discovered by using Apple Business to create ads on Maps. Ads on Maps will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of a user’s search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will display recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more. Ads will be clearly marked to ensure transparency for Maps users.
Ads on Maps builds on Apple’s broader privacy-first approach to advertising, and maintains the same privacy protections Maps users enjoy today. A user’s location and the ads they see and interact with in Maps are not associated with a user’s Apple Account. Personal data stays on a user’s device, is not collected or stored by Apple, and is not shared with third parties. When Apple Business is available in April, businesses will need to first claim their location on Maps. Once ads on Maps is available, businesses will be able to access a fully automated experience of creating ads through Apple Business in a few simple steps. Current Apple Ads advertisers and agencies will also have the option to book ads through their existing Apple Ads experience, which will offer additional customization options for their ad campaigns.
Beginning this summer in the U.S. and Canada, companies will have a new way to be discovered by using Apple Business to create ads on Maps, which will appear when users search in Maps.
Brand and Location Features in One Convenient Place
Brand management tools previously available in Apple Business Connect will now be available through Apple Business, making it easier than ever for businesses to set up and manage how their brand and locations appear across Apple services and apps.
• Brand profiles: Manage brand name, logo, and key details consistently across Apple Maps, Wallet, and other features and apps.
• Rich place cards: Customize with photos, detailed location information, hours, and other useful details that display across Apple Maps, Safari, Spotlight, and more.
• Showcases and custom actions: Highlight deals, special offers, new products, or seasonal items on place cards in Maps. Add custom actions like order or reserve to direct customers to a preferred website or app.
• Location insights: Gain valuable insights into how customers discover and interact with businesses on Maps, including search, views, and taps on actions.
• Branded communications: Display branding prominently in the Mail app and on iCloud Mail to increase awareness. Branding will display with tracked orders in Wallet for a more recognizable customer experience.
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: Build trust by displaying a brand logo and name on the payment screen when accepting payments directly on iPhone.
With Apple Business, companies can manage their brand name, logo, and key details consistently across Apple Maps, Wallet, and other features and apps.
Apple Business offers valuable insights into how customers discover and interact with locations on Maps, including search, views, and taps on actions.
MacDailyNews Note: Starting April 14, Apple Business will be available as a free service in the U.S. and 200+ countries and regions to new and existing users of Apple Business Connect, Apple Business Essentials, and Apple Business Manager. For more information, visit business.apple.com/preview.
Ads on Apple Maps will be available to businesses starting this summer in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit ads.apple.com/maps.
Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect will no longer be available once Apple Business launches. Business Essentials customers will no longer be charged their monthly service fee for device management after April 14. Existing Business Connect data — including claimed locations, place card information, photos, organization information, account details, and more — will automatically migrate to Apple Business at launch.
The Apple Business companion app, along with email, calendar, and directory features, will require iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26.
Customers in the U.S. can purchase additional iCloud storage up to 2TB per user, starting at $0.99 per user per month. AppleCare+ for Business coverage is available per device or per user, starting at $6.99 per month, or $13.99 per month per user for up to three devices.
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Apple Music delivers concert listings with new Bandsintown and Ticketmaster Integrations
This week, the Apple Music streaming service announced deals with both Ticketmaster and Bandsintown. The integrations will make it significantly easier for Apple Music users to discover upcoming concerts and purchase tickets directly while browsing the app.
Ariel King and Chris Eggertsen for Billboard:
The former agreement will see Ticketmaster power Apple Music’s new concert discovery feature, designed to help users find nearby Ticketmaster-ticketed events based on their listening profiles. Ticketmaster concert listings will be integrated directly into the app and be visible in the homepage carousel, a dedicated concerts “tab & browse” section, and on artist pages. Users will also receive push notifications alerting them when their favorite artists are playing in their area. Each concert listing will link to Ticketmaster, allowing users to easily purchase tickets.
Meanwhile, the Bandsintown integration will see concert listings from the live event discovery platform appearing on Apple Music artist pages and in a new Concerts tab within the search feature.
Artists who publish their events via Bandsintown and connect their Apple Music profiles to the platform will have their upcoming concerts appear directly on the streaming service. Venues, festivals and promoters utilizing Bandsintown Pro will also see their events featured on the platform.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Music keeps getting better and better!
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Apple’s iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS 26.4 updates are packed with practical improvements and security fixes
Apple on Tuesday released version 26.4 of its major operating systems, delivering a substantial collection of refinements, new capabilities, and important security patches across iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and supporting platforms including watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
Unlike the relatively quiet 26.3 update last month, the new 26.4 releases introduce a broad array of medium-sized tweaks that users are likely to notice in daily use. The updates were previously available in beta testing and are now rolling out to compatible devices worldwide.
Key New Features and Enhancements
Among the highlights available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are:
• Battery health improvements for MacBooks: New charging limits that allow users to prevent batteries from charging to full capacity, helping extend long-term battery life.
• Safari’s compact tab view returns: The streamlined tab interface returns for Safari on both macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26.
• Stolen Device Protection now enabled by default: Apple’s security feature designed to make it much harder for thieves to access or reset a stolen iPhone or iPad is now active out of the box.
• Fresh emoji additions: A selection of new characters from the Unicode 17.0 standard.
• AI-powered Apple Music playlists: Users can now generate playlists using Apple’s intelligence features.
• Enhanced Freeform app tools: New Creator Studio capabilities for the built-in collaborative whiteboard app.
• More flexible Family Sharing: Adults in a family group can now use separate payment methods for App Store and other purchases.
Platform-Specific Notes
On the messaging front, Apple confirmed that end-to-end encrypted RCS (version 3.0) remains in public testing and was not included in the final 26.4 release. iPhone users will continue to use the standard unencrypted RCS when texting Android devices, or fall back to SMS where necessary.
For users on older hardware, Apple also issued iOS/iPadOS 18.7.7 for iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and the 7th-generation iPad — devices that cannot run iOS 26. Similarly, Macs not yet upgraded to macOS Tahoe can receive macOS Sequoia 15.7.5 or macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, which include their own security updates.
Strong Emphasis on Security
As is typical with Apple’s point releases, security forms a major part of the update. Apple has published detailed lists of fixes for iOS/iPadOS and macOS, addressing a wide range of vulnerabilities. Users are strongly encouraged to install the updates promptly, especially given the volume of security patches.
MacDailyNews Note: Notable features still on the horizon include a significantly more intelligent Siri (expected to leverage Google’s Gemini models) and the final implementation of encrypted RCS messaging. Apple is expected to provide further details on future OS plans at WWDC 2026 on June 8th.
The 26.4 updates are available now via Settings > General > Software Update on iPhone and iPad, and through System Settings on Mac. As always, it’s recommended to back up devices before installing major updates.
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Watch Steve Jobs delivers enthusiastic internal pep talk at Apple Campus in 1999, outlining path to greatness
In a newly surfaced 15-minute video from an internal Apple company meeting on July 27, 1999, Steve Jobs addresses employees at the Apple campus in a relaxed, ripped jeans-clad appearance, celebrating the recent launch of the iBook and outlining the company’s turnaround and ambitious future plans.
The video, uploaded on March 17, 2026, by YouTube user Akira Nonaka (a former Apple engineer), shows Jobs in high spirits, opening with casual remarks and applause from the audience. He highlights the massive success of the iBook launch at Macworld New York, which drew nearly 50,000 attendees and earned widespread positive press coverage. Jobs praises the cross-functional teams — engineering, operations, marketing, and finance — for delivering a stylish, affordable, consumer-friendly laptop featuring innovative elements like the Airport wireless networking system (developed in partnership with Lucent).
Jobs emphasizes Apple’s refreshed product lineup, including the colorful iMac, Power Mac G3, PowerBook G3, and the new iBook. He stresses the importance of rapid iteration, noting that Apple plans to refresh products frequently to stay ahead of competitors. The company had achieved seven consecutive profitable quarters, including a $200 million profit in the most recent one, but Jobs makes clear that the goal extends far beyond financial recovery: “We’re not just turning Apple around. We’re making Apple great again.”
Key strategic themes in the speech include:
• Innovation in connectivity: Spotlighting Airport wireless technology and FireWire as differentiators.
• Targeted market focus: Prioritizing creative professionals, the education sector (where Apple aims to regain lost share), and consumers, rather than chasing enterprise sales like rivals such as Dell or Compaq.
• Integrated advantage: Apple’s control over both hardware and software, combined with strong evangelism, allows it to bring innovations to market faster than fragmented competitors (including Microsoft).
• Operational excellence and growth ambitions: Jobs expresses pride in the team’s execution and forecasts “explosive growth,” with expectations of shipping 4–5 million computers per year and more groundbreaking products lined up for the holiday season.
In the speech, Jobs is rallying the troops around a shared vision of building world-changing computers. Audience reactions include cheers and applause throughout.
This never-before-seen footage (or at least rarely seen) provides a candid snapshot of Apple’s culture during its late-1990s resurgence under Jobs’ second stint as CEO. It captures the energy and clarity of purpose that helped transform the company from near-bankruptcy into the innovation powerhouse it later became. The video has quickly gained traction online since its upload, with viewers noting the nostalgic feel and Jobs’ charismatic leadership style.
MacDailyNews Take: We miss you every day, Steve!
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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is ‘not a fan’ of AI
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is raising concerns about artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more embedded in everyday life, warning that it may not yet deliver the reliability and human understanding people expect. Wozniak joined FOX Business’ Liz Claman on “The Claman Countdown” to discuss how AI is evolving and where he believes it falls short despite rapid advancements across the tech industry.
Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com
Arabella Bennett for FOXBusiness:
Wozniak, who helped build Apple’s earliest computers and shape the personal computing revolution, framed his skepticism around the importance of human thinking and emotional awareness, arguing that technology should reflect genuine understanding rather than just well-written responses.
“I want to know some human being like myself is thinking, knowing what I might feel, and understanding emotions and all that,” Wozniak said.
Drawing from his own experience testing AI tools, Wozniak said the systems often fail to answer questions directly, instead offering broad or unrelated information that misses the user’s true need.
“I want such reliable content every time. I am not a fan of AI,” Wozniak said.
His remarks also touched on the broader impact of technology on human behavior, suggesting that growing dependence on automated systems could change how people process information and solve problems.
“You become dependent on it,” Wozniak said.
MacDailyNews Take: The AI dependency issue is a real concern.
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Apple teases major AI push with iOS 27 and macOS 27
Apple as officially announced that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2026) will take place from June 8 to June 12, with the in-person keynote kicking off on Monday, June 8, at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The event, which is expected to be primarily online and free for all developers, will spotlight significant software updates across Apple’s platforms — including the anticipated reveals of iOS 27, macOS 27, and other OS versions — with a strong emphasis on AI advancements.
“WWDC26 will spotlight incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools,” the company said in a statement.
Bloomberg News reports that the conference is seen as a pivotal moment for Apple to ramp up its artificial intelligence efforts, described by the outlet as the start of the company’s “AI comeback bid.” The keynote will likely preview new AI features for iPhone, Mac, and other devices, building on previous Apple Intelligence initiatives.
In addition to the main keynote, developers can look forward to sessions on new tools, frameworks, and platform enhancements throughout the week. As is tradition, the first betas of iOS 27, macOS 27, and related operating systems are expected to drop shortly after the keynote for developers.
Apple’s WWDC has historically been the stage for major software announcements that shape the ecosystem for the year ahead. This year’s focus on AI comes as the company seeks to deliver more substantial intelligence features following earlier rollouts.
MacDailyNews Take: Fingers crossed!
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Apple to roll out search ads in Maps app as services revenue push accelerates
Apple is preparing to introduce search-based advertising in its Apple Maps app, marking a significant expansion of its services business and bringing the navigation tool closer to the monetization model long used by rival Google Maps, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News.
The company plans to allow retailers and brands to bid for prominent ad slots that appear in response to user search queries, such as for restaurants, bars or stores. The ads will show up as top results in the Maps app, Gurman reports citing people familiar with the matter. An official announcement could come as soon as this month, with the feature potentially rolling out to users this summer.
The move is part of Apple’s ongoing effort to grow its high-margin services revenue, which includes the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud and advertising. Services have become an increasingly important part of the company’s business as iPhone sales growth slows in mature markets.
Apple Maps has historically avoided ads to differentiate itself from Google Maps, emphasizing privacy and a cleaner user experience. However, the company has gradually expanded its advertising footprint in recent years, including search ads in the App Store and other placements across iOS.
MacDailyNews Take: The new feature will operate similarly to Google’s system, where businesses compete in auctions for visibility tied to specific search terms. While the change could boost Apple’s services income, it risks drawing criticism from users who have come to expect an ad-light experience from the company’s apps.
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Samsung Galaxy phones can now use Apple’s AirDrop to send files straight to iPhones, iPads, and Macs
Samsung Electronics Co. has rolled out a major cross-platform update: Galaxy S26 series owners can now share photos, videos, and files directly with iPhones, iPads, and Macs using Apple’s AirDrop protocol — all through the built-in Quick Share app, Bloomberg News reports.
The new “Share with Apple devices” toggle appears in Settings > Connected devices > Quick Share. Once enabled, users can select visibility options like “Everyone for 10 minutes” for quick, secure transfers without cables or extra apps.
The rollout starts today in South Korea and expands globally this week to North America, Europe, and other major markets. Samsung says support will come to more Galaxy devices in the future.
This move follows Google’s similar integration on Pixel phones last year.
MacDailyNews Note: Yes, both Google and Samsung effectively relied on reverse-engineering Apple’s AirDrop protocol (specifically its underlying proprietary AWDL — Apple Wireless Direct Link — technology) to enable this cross-platform compatibility. There was no official collaboration or API access provided by Apple.
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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 8th
Apple today announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 8-12, bringing developers together from around the world for a week of connection, exploration, and innovation. In addition to the online experience, developers and students will also have the opportunity to celebrate in person during a special event at Apple Park on June 8th.
WWDC26 will spotlight incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting developers, WWDC will also provide unique access to Apple engineers and designers, and insight into new tools, frameworks, and features.
WWDC kicks off with the Keynote and Platforms State of the Union on Monday, June 8th. The conference continues online all week with over 100 video sessions and interactive group labs and appointments, where developers can connect directly with Apple engineers and designers to explore the latest announcements. The conference will take place on the Apple Developer app, website, and YouTube channel; and on the Apple Developer bilibili channel in China.
“WWDC is one of the most exciting times for us at Apple because it’s a chance for our incredible global developer community to come together for an electrifying week that celebrates technology, innovation, and collaboration,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, in a statement. “We can’t wait to see many of you online and in person for what is sure to be one of our best WWDC events yet.”
The special in-person event at Apple Park on June 8 will offer developers and students the opportunity to watch the Keynote and the Platforms State of the Union, meet with Apple engineers and designers, take part in special labs and activities, and connect with the worldwide developer community. Space will be limited; details on how to submit a request to attend can be found on the Apple Developer website.
Apple is proud to support student developers through the Swift Student Challenge, one of many Apple programs that uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs, coders, and designers. This year’s winning students will be notified on Thursday, March 26, and will be eligible to request to attend the special event at Apple Park. In addition, 50 Distinguished Winners will be recognized for their outstanding submissions and invited to Cupertino for a three-day experience.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple will share additional conference information in advance of WWDC through the Apple Developer app, Developer website, and Apple Developer YouTube channel. Developers can also follow the conference worldwide on LinkedIn and WeChat, and on bilibili in China.
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Apple TV’s ‘For All Mankind’ sees streaming surge ahead of season 5
The hit Apple TV sci-fi series “For All Mankind” has surged in popularity, breaking into the top 10 most-watched titles on Apple TV. The climb in viewership arrives just in time for the show’s highly anticipated return with its upcoming fifth season.
As of now, per FlixPatrol, “For All Mankind” is ranked at No. 9, cracking Apple TV’s list of the top 10 TV shows available on the platform. It is sitting just under “Pluribus,” the new sci-fi drama series created by Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”). “For All Mankind” might continue to rise in the coming days as more fans catch up or revisit past episodes leading into the Season 5 premiere, which is scheduled to arrive on Mar. 27.
The concept of “For All Mankind” is that it reimagines the space race, set in a world where the Soviet Union landed on the moon first. That leads to a decades-long escalation of competition between the United States and USSR. Each season jumps forward in time to further explore how this alternate reality reshapes global power dynamics, serving as a grounded drama series with sci-fi elements. Season 4, which took the story to the 2000s, focused heavily on the commercialization of space with Mars serving as a semi-established outpost.
Season 5 takes place several years after the Goldilocks asteroid heist. The official logline for the new season reads, “Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions that will take us even further into the solar system. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home.”
MacDailyNews Note: Here’s the official trailer for “For All Mankind” season 5:
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New Apple TV set-top box and HomePod mini speaker are ready launch
Apple retail stores worldwide are seeing low stock levels for the full-sized HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV set-top box. Low inventory often signals that refreshed models are incoming, though we shouldn’t rush to assumptions just yet.
Reports indicate Apple has had updated versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini prepared since last year, but the company has delayed their release to align with the rollout of an enhanced Siri and other Apple Intelligence features.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Those features are still nowhere near ready, so if the new hardware is indeed coming soon, it probably means Apple just got tired of waiting. (Though the AI features are essential to a separate long-awaited home hub, they’re just a nice add-on for the HomePods and Apple TV.)
The full-sized HomePod, updated more recently than the HomePod mini, has seen inventory decline at some physical stores but is still widely available from Apple’s website. The Apple TV appears to have the best stock of all three products based on checks of the company’s website. The HomePod mini, on the other hand, is hard to find right now at brick-and-mortar locations. And customers trying to order from Apple’s website are seeing shipping delays until early next month — a notable development.
MacDailyNews Take: Siri hasn’t ever worked very well, so just release them anyway.
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The biggest surprise of Apple’s MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo caught many people off guard with its stunning price-to-performance ratio, impressive overall quality, and surprising affordability, coupled with strong distribution potential. Plenty of reviews are already calling it a true market “disruptor,” with some claiming Windows PCs are no longer competitive at all.
So the real question is: Will the MacBook Neo actually move the needle in a meaningful way? Is it positioned to take meaningful market share from Windows laptops, and perhaps even pull users away from Chromebooks or iPads?
Apple’s sales of about 24 million Macs for a base of 260 million users implies a life span for Macs of nearly 11 years. However, all the other PCs sold add up to 238 million for a user base of 1.2 billion. That means the life span for the non-Mac PC is only 5 years.
This is, of course, reflected in the price difference but with the MacBook Neo, the potential for a 10 year old life for a $500 laptop puts the Neo price at $50/yr or 14c/day. Based on data for 2025, the average selling price of a new Windows PC is estimated to be $600 to $900 for consumer models. At $700 for a life span of 5 years makes the PC cost $140/yr or 38c/day.
This means that the average PC is more than twice the cost of the MacBook Neo. Now that is a surprise.
MacDailyNews Take: Yup. As we wrote a few years ago:
Total Cost of Ownership should be of more concern to the world’s personal computer buyers than initial sticker price. You get what you pay for, so get a Mac. – MacDailyNews, June 25, 2004
Why are so many people so afraid to imagine an end to the dark ages of personal computing? Too many MSFT shares in the mutual fund? We have no such problem. Apple Mac will embrace, then extinguish – whether analysts grasp what’s happening or not. — MacDailyNews, March 23, 2007
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Apple’s MacBook Neo is the perfect AI computer
Apple’s MacBook Neo is exceptionally well-equipped for the very thing tech companies obsess over these days: AI. With its powerful Neural Engine and optimized on-device processing, it delivers fast, efficient Apple Intelligence features that outperform many higher-priced competitors in real-world AI workloads.
It’s not that other Macs are less capable. There is, however, something magical about the idea that a $600 entry-level Mac is as capable as a $4000 MacBook Pro, or $6000 Mac Studio, when it comes to the most intensive computing that any of us do today.
That, of course, is because most AI computing happens in the cloud, not on your computer. That means that the limiting factor isn’t memory, storage, or how fast your processor is. No, the limiting factor is how well you’re able to get your AI tool of choice to understand what you want. Oh, and I guess the speed of your internet connection.
That means that a MacBook Neo, with an A18 Pro, 8GB of memory, and a 256 GB or 512 GB SSD, will be just fine to run the Mac ChatGPT app or run Gemini in Safari. And that changes what your laptop actually needs to be.
With the MacBook Neo, a high school student, freelancer, or small business owner can now own hardware that gives them full access to the best AI tools in the world.
MacDailyNews Note: More info about Apple’s rather amazing MacBook Neo can be found here.
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Broadcasters urge EU to tighten rules for Apple, other Big Tech firms in smart TV standoff
Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung’s smart TVs and virtual assistants should fall under the EU’s toughest tech rules because of their growing market power, the world’s largest broadcasters told EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera on Monday, Reuters reports.
The call by the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) — whose members include Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sky, and TF1 Groupe — underscores the intensifying battle between broadcasters and Big Tech for market share in a lucrative industry.
Reuters:
Android TV, which increased its market share from 16% to 23% from 2019 to 2024, Amazon Fire OS whose market share rose from 5% to 12% in the same period and Samsung’s Tizen OS with its 24% market share should be designated as gatekeepers under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the broadcasters said, citing data from a 2025 market study.
“A limited number of operators are therefore gaining growing ability to shape outcomes for millions of users and businesses by controlling access to audiences and content distribution,” ACT said in a letter to Ribera seen by Reuters, the first public broadside from broadcasters against Big Tech.
The broadcasters also voiced concerns about virtual assistants, the most well known of which are Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, while OpenAI entered the field last year with a beta feature called Tasks for its AI chatbot ChatGPT.
The European Commission has yet to label any virtual assistants as gatekeepers under the DMA.
“The lack of designation of virtual assistants creates a regulatory void, allowing powerful AI assistants to become de facto gatekeepers for media content through mobile phones, smart speakers and in-car radio infotainment services, without being subject to DMA obligations,” the broadcasters said.
They urged Ribera to subject smart TVs and virtual assistants to the DMA on the basis of qualitative criteria even if they do not meet the quantitative benchmarks which are more than 45 million monthly active users and 75 billion euros ($87 billion) in market capitalisation.
MacDailyNews Take: Can’t compete? Litigate and or over regulate.
The European Union is an over-regulated, slow-motion train wreck. The single biggest reason why the EU doesn’t innovate because of onerous, stifling EU red tape.
The European Union arose because the Europeans couldn’t compete on their own with the rest of the world, so they each lined up to surrender their national sovereignty, unique cultures, and dignity for an undemocratic, opaque, wasteful, bloated, bureaucratic quasi-governmental blob – and, even with the EU’s thumbs all over the scale, they still can’t compete. — MacDailyNews, March 4, 2024
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