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Apple Arcade levels up with Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+
Whether gamers are looking for high-octane action or a laid-back afternoon, Apple Arcade has a little bit of everything for every player, and its puzzle catalog is getting a big upgrade. On September 3, two standout new titles join the mix: Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+. Block Blast!+ brings one of the most popular daily puzzle games to Arcade, while the 2025 App Store Award winner for Cultural Impact — Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ — combines soothing jigsaw-style gameplay with rich storytelling about the natural world.
There’s a reason Block Blast!+ has topped charts around the world: It’s simple to pick up and nearly impossible to put down. The game challenges players to slot blocks onto a grid to clear rows and columns, and chase that perfect combo. On Arcade, players can now enjoy the same blockbusting gameplay completely uninterrupted by ads.
With its calming, meditative gameplay and thoughtfully designed accessibility features, Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ invites players to piece together stunning nature-inspired artwork at their own pace, unlocking stories about wildlife and conservation along the way. Accessibility features make it as welcoming as it is beautiful, proof that a puzzle game can deliver both a fun challenge and a moment of calm.
Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ join an impressive lineup of puzzlers already keeping Arcade players endlessly entertained, including Grindstone, Flow Free+, Crossword Jam+, and recent arrivals Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+ and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+. Puzzle fans looking for their next obsession can find even more great picks curated on the Arcade tab.
Slash, dash, and strategize through dungeons and boss battles in Grindstone. Trace, connect, and untangle colorful pipes in Flow Free+. Chase an epic word journey across stunning landscapes in Crossword Jam+. Dive into a hub of logic puzzles, word games, and more in Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+. Players can sort, swap, and satisfy their inner completionist in Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+.
Later this month, updates are coming to other popular games beloved by players. On August 12, puffies. adds 28 new packs that include two collections with artwork for Oden Tomodachi and The Knights. Starting on August 20, Simon’s Cat – Blast Time unleashes 200 new levels, rolling out 50 a week for a month of fresh challenges. And on August 26, stitch. celebrates a huge milestone — 800 unique hoops — with a special commemorative hoop and achievement.
puffies. developed by Lykke Studios. Simon’s Cat – Blast Time developed by Tactile Games. stitch. developed by Lykke Studios.
This fall is shaping up to be exciting across the board for Arcade. On September 3, additional games joining the fun include NFL Retro Bowl ’27, which kicks off an epic new season with the high-stakes addition of Gauntlet Mode; Coloring Games for Families+, a magical world of creativity for players of all ages with over 3,000 engaging activities; and Let’s Play! Oink Games+, a digital collection of nine tabletop games — from cooperative missions to bluffing cards — playable solo, with friends, or online.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple Arcade is available for US$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.
Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
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Apple TV reteams with Alfonso Cuarón on new series ‘Ascension’
Apple TV has announced that it has picked up “Ascension,” a new drama from multi-Oscar Award winner Alfonso Cuarón (“Disclaimer,” “Roma,” “Gravity”) and starring and executive produced by BAFTA TV Award winner and five-time Golden Globe nominee Caitríona Balfe (“Outlander,” “Belfast”). The series will be co-showrun by Natalie Erika James (“Apartment 7A,” “Relic”) and Christian White (“Apartment 7A,” “Relic”), and is written by James, White, Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón. James will also serve as lead director. The project hails from Apple Studios and is executive produced by Alfonso Cuarón under an overall deal with Apple through his production company Esperanto Filmoj and produced by Anonymous Content.
Inspired by the novel “Last Days” by Adam Nevill, “Ascension” is a one-hour psychological horror thriller following Rose, a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother who is brilliant at uncovering others’ truths, but struggling to resolve her own. When Rose begins a project on a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension, she finds unexpected refuge in its teachings — until she discovers something far more insidious beneath. “Ascension” explores evil and innocence at the highest level, while asking how far we’ll go — and what we’ll sacrifice — to protect the ones we love, even when the greatest threat to them may be ourselves.
Apple Studios will serve as the studio, and Esperanto Filmoj’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz will executive produce alongside Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón. Steve Golin, David Levine and Zack Hayden will executive produce for Anonymous Content. Co-showrunners James and White also serve as executive producers.
“Ascension” marks the latest collaboration for Alfonso Cuarón, Anonymous Content, and Apple TV following acclaimed limited series “Disclaimer,” which landed Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and Critics Choice Award nominations for stars Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. It also marks the second project for Apple and star Balfe, who is next set to appear in Apple Original Films’ “Tenzing.” Anonymous Content also produces a number of Apple Originals, including the highly anticipated upcoming series “Neuromancer” and “12 12 12.”
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 857 wins and 3,816 award nominations and counting including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple TV series ‘Las Azules’ Season 2 blends fact and fiction for tale of corruption and growth – Reuters
Mexico’s pioneering all-female police force returns in the second season of the Apple TV series “Las Azules” (“Women in Blue”). Set in the patriarchal Mexico of the 1970s, the new season blends historical fact and fiction as the four officers confront corruption, personal growth, and the lingering shadows of the 1968 Tlatelolco and 1971 Halconazo student massacres.
“It’s a pretty intense season, just talking about it gives me goosebumps.”
The show’s co-creator, writer, director and executive producer Fernando Rovzar wanted to tell a gritty crime story with a touch of traditional Mexican melodrama that exposes wrong-doing in the establishment. A lot of research went into ensuring the events were portrayed with honesty, responsibility and respect, he said.
“One of the things I love about Mexico is that it’s one big grey area. I think this season was an opportunity to really test the moral compass of the four ‘Azules’,” said Rovzar. “Do they defend the system that they know is wrong or do they defend their own principles, even though they have to go against the system?”
The eight-episode season shows the foursome navigating new territory on and off duty, said Ximena Sariñana, who plays Ángeles, with “all going through transitions, trying to adapt to what the expectation is of a woman in their specific situation.”
Season two starts streaming on August 12, with one episode released weekly through September 30, and Rovzar is ready to carry on.
“There’s so many stories we can still tackle, issues from the past that are also relevant today that we can continue to take over,” he said. “The pen’s in my hand and I’m ready for another one.”
MacDailyNews Take: Here’s Apple TV’s official season two trailer:
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Apple agrees to $150,000 settlement over EEOC claims of antisemitic discrimination by retail store manager
Apple has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve claims by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that a manager at one of its retail stores made antisemitic remarks and denied a longtime Jewish employee’s requests for time off before terminating him.
The settlement was disclosed in a joint filing Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. It comes nearly a year after the EEOC sued the company.
According to the EEOC, the manager of the Apple store in Reston, Virginia, targeted Tyler Steele, an employee who began working there in 2007 as an “Apple Genius” providing technical support and advice to customers. Steele converted to Judaism in 2023. A new manager hired that year allegedly denied Steele’s requests to avoid working on Fridays and Saturdays in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
The commission further alleged that the manager told Steele he smelled of body odor, required him to work on the Sabbath, and instructed him not to discuss the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel with coworkers. Steele was fired in January 2024, a few days after he refused a request to work on a Friday, the EEOC said.
The lawsuit accused Apple of religious discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC sought unspecified back pay and other damages for Steele, including punitive damages for what it described as “malicious and reckless conduct.”
Apple denied any wrongdoing in its court filings. Neither the company nor the EEOC immediately responded to requests for comment.
The case is EEOC v. Apple, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, No. 1:25-cv-01637.
The EEOC routinely brings religious discrimination cases. Under Chair Andrea Lucas, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, the agency has placed renewed emphasis on the issue, securing more than $25 million in settlements since last year in a series of cases involving employers’ illegal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
MacDailyNews Take: Mazel tov!
Now, to clarify, hiring a Jewish person in the U.S. does not automatically mean they are exempt from working on Fridays or Saturdays.
Here’s how it actually works under federal law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964):
• Employers with 15 or more employees must provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs or practices (which, of course, is basically unprovable; if they say they have sincerely held religious beliefs or practices, they basically do), unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the business.
• For some observant Jews, that includes not working during the Sabbath (Shabbat), which runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The same rule applies to other Sabbath-observing religions (e.g., some Christians who observe Sunday, Seventh-day Adventists, etc.).
• The employee must actually request the accommodation based on their religious beliefs. Simply being Jewish does not create an automatic schedule exemption. Many Jewish people do not strictly observe the Sabbath and routinely work Fridays and Saturdays.
Key points after the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Groff v. DeJoy
• “Undue hardship” is no longer the old low bar of “more than a de minimis cost.”
• The employer must now show that the accommodation would cause substantial increased costs in the overall context of its particular business.
• Common accommodations include voluntary shift swaps, schedule changes, or other adjustments. Employers are expected to explore options.
In a nutshell: Observant employees who request time off for the Sabbath or other beliefs or practices have stronger protections than before 2023, and employers cannot casually deny those requests. However, there is no blanket rule that every Jewish hire is automatically off Fridays and Saturdays. It depends on the individual’s sincere religious practice and whether a reasonable accommodation is possible without substantial hardship to the employer.
For more information on religious discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination. For more information on retaliation, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.
See also:
• U.S. EEOC sues Apple alleging company fired Jewish employee over Sabbath observance – September 30, 2025
• Apple employee fired over antisemitic Instagram message – November 3, 2023
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Apple’s glass-centric Twentieth Anniversary iPhone remains on track for 2027, contradicting Jefferies report
Apple is still moving ahead with a major glass-focused redesign of the iPhone to mark the device’s 20th anniversary next year, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter. This direct counters a recent Jefferies report that claimed the project had been canceled based on “supply-chain checks.”
The company plans to introduce the new look on its iPhone Pro models in 2027, Gurman reports. Those devices, known internally as V73 and V74, will feature glass on both the front and back that curves into the sides, sandwiching a thin metal band in the middle. The result is a significantly glassier aesthetic than current iPhones.
Apple’s design team had explored an even more ambitious concept that relied on still more glass in place of metal. That version was abandoned early in development after engineers ran into difficulties joining the glass panels and determined the design could not be manufactured reliably at high volumes.
The confirmation comes after Jefferies analyst Edison Lee reported, based on supply-chain checks, that Apple had scrapped the all-glass plans. Bloomberg News’ sources said the overall product roadmap has not changed, and the glass-centric overhaul for the anniversary Pro models remains intact.
The redesign would represent one of the most significant visual updates to the iPhone since the iPhone X, aligning with long-standing rumors of a near “slab of glass” design for the milestone year.
MacDailyNews Take: You know how America runs on Dunkin’? Jefferies runs on bullshit.
See also: Jefferies downgrades Apple after company cancels plans for Twentieth Anniversary all-glass iPhone – August 10, 2026
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Apple Pay text scam warns of $8,250 charge – and another one in just 35 minutes
A Washington, D.C., resident recently received a startling text message that claimed Apple Pay had already charged him $8,250, with a second identical charge set to go through automatically in only 35 minutes, Fox News’ CyberGuy Kurt Knutsson reports. The message, which appeared to come from “Apple Pay Account Services,” instructed him to call a toll-free number immediately, reference a case ID, and “verbally kill” the pending transaction—or risk losing the money forever.
The recipient, identified as Paul C., wisely paused instead of dialing. He forwarded the message for review rather than engaging. The text is a classic example of a high-pressure callback scam designed to create panic and push people into contacting criminals posing as support agents.
Key Red Flags in the Message
Several details immediately signal fraud:
• The text arrived from a +44 number (United Kingdom country code), yet directed a U.S. recipient to an unrelated 855 callback line.
• Dramatic, unprofessional language such as the account having “hemorrhaged” money, a “catastrophic fraud event,” a contactless limit “crushed” to $0, and the need to “verbally kill” a charge. Legitimate financial alerts use clear, straightforward wording.
• Vague and nonsensical merchant descriptions, including an “agricultural processing surplus in Stockton, CA” and a “payday lending chain in Modesto.”
• Internal contradictions: the message claimed the contactless limit was already blocked at $0 while simultaneously warning that another large contactless charge would auto-approve shortly.
• Every instruction funneled the recipient toward calling the provided number. It never suggested checking the Wallet app, the bank’s official app, or the phone number printed on the physical card.
The 35-minute countdown is intentional. It creates just enough urgency to discourage careful verification while still giving the target time to place the call.
How the Scam Typically Unfolds
The text is only the bait. Once someone calls, the person on the other end may claim to see the account activity, request personal details, card numbers, Apple Account information, or one-time verification codes. In some cases, scammers push victims to install remote-access software so they can view the screen or guide transactions. Other variations involve claims of an oversized refund that must be “returned,” or instructions to move money into a supposedly safe account.
Similar Apple Pay-themed texts have previously put victims at risk of losses in the five-figure range.
How to Verify a Suspicious Charge Safely
Never call a number that appears in an unexpected text. Instead:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone, select the relevant card, and review the Transactions tab.
-
Check the full history in your bank or card issuer’s official app.
-
If anything looks wrong, call the customer-service number printed on the back of your physical card.
Apple has noted that Wallet does not always show complete transaction history for every card, so the bank remains the most reliable source.
Reporting and Next Steps
If you receive a similar message:
• Take a screenshot that includes the sender details.
• Report it as spam/junk in the Messages app, then block and delete the conversation.
• Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM).
• Email the screenshot to reportphishing@apple.com.
• File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you already called the number or shared information, hang up immediately. Contact your bank or card issuer through official channels to secure the account. Change any passwords that may have been compromised, enable or confirm two-factor authentication, and remove any remote-access software that was installed. Place credit freezes if sensitive personal data was shared.
Simple Habits That Reduce Risk
Slow down when any message imposes a tight deadline. Verify activity only through channels you already trust. Never read verification codes aloud or grant remote access to someone who contacts you first. Keep security software updated, limit the personal data available on people-search sites, and consider identity-monitoring tools if you have been targeted repeatedly.
MacDailyNews Take: This particular scam relies on fear and urgency rather than sophisticated technology. The best defense remains the same: pause, ignore the callback number, and check your accounts yourself through official apps or the number on your card.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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iPhone 18 Pro production costs set to jump nearly 40% as memory prices soar, forcing Apple to weigh margin cuts
Apple is bracing for a sharp rise in the cost of building its upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, with bill-of-materials (BOM) expenses for the 256 GB version projected to climb about 38% year-over-year, according to the latest smartphone industry research from TrendForce.
The primary driver is soaring memory prices due to RAMageddon. Memory’s share of total BOM cost for recent 256 GB iPhone Pro models has already jumped from roughly 10% a year ago to about 34% in the third quarter of 2026 and is expected to exceed 40% in the first half of 2027. This marks a major shift: the application processor and display, long the biggest cost components, are being overtaken by memory.
TrendForce estimates the BOM cost of the 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro, due in the third quarter of 2026, will be approximately 38% higher than its 2025 predecessor. If memory prices keep rising, the increase could grow even larger in 2027.
Faced with these higher costs, Apple is expected to absorb part of the increase by accepting lower gross margins rather than fully passing the burden to consumers. The company may follow a strategy similar to recent MacBook launches, softening retail price hikes to protect shipment volumes and market share. Apple could also raise prices on older iPhone models at the same time as the new launch to help offset the memory-driven cost pressure.
The research notes that if even Apple, with its industry-leading profitability, feels this squeeze, Android smartphone makers will face even tighter margins. Many will need to pass on a larger share of the cost increases, leading to steeper retail price rises than those anticipated for the iPhone. Entry-level and mid-range devices, where margins are already thin, will be hit hardest. With memory prices having risen five- to sevenfold since early 2025, some brands may have little choice but to implement substantial price increases or discontinue lines that have fallen into negative gross margins.
As a result, TrendForce expects global smartphone production to remain under downward pressure from the second half of 2026 through 2027 as elevated memory costs continue to weigh on demand.
MacDailyNews Take: RAMageddon won’t last forever — new capacity should ease pressures eventually — but it’s exposing fundamental differences in business models. In a world of rising component costs, customer loyalty isn’t just nice-to-have marketing fluff. It’s a competitive superpower.
Apple isn’t totally immune, but its customers are, by far, the least likely to blink.
See also: Apple customers won’t blink at RAMageddon price increases – but Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung’s will -June 25, 2026
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iPhone 18 Pro Max said to sport 10%-12% larger battery than predecessor
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is set to deliver a meaningful jump in battery capacity, according to a new leak reported by MacRumors
An alleged photo of a battery pack intended for the Chinese model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max lists a capacity of 5,391 mAh. That figure represents a nearly 12% increase over the 4,823 mAh battery found in the equivalent Chinese-market iPhone 17 Pro Max. The image, which shows a unit that includes a SIM card tray, was shared on the Korean platform Naver and is said to have originated on the Chinese social media site Weibo.
The same 5,391 mAh capacity previously appeared in a regulatory filing last month, lending additional weight to the claim.
For the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max — which lacks a physical SIM tray and therefore has more internal space — the leak points to an even higher capacity of 5,567 mAh. That would mark a nearly 10% year-over-year increase from the 5,088 mAh battery in the U.S. iPhone 17 Pro Max.
By contrast, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro is not expected to see significant battery gains. The U.S. model is reportedly set to use a 4,288 mAh battery, representing less than a 1% increase over the 4,252 mAh unit in the current iPhone 17 Pro. Earlier rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker than its Pro sibling may help explain the disparity in capacity increases.
Regional differences in battery size stem from Apple’s decision to retain physical SIM trays in certain markets while making U.S. (and some other) models eSIM-only. The extra space freed by removing the tray allows for slightly larger batteries in those configurations. Since the iPhone 17 generation, the list of eSIM-only markets has expanded beyond the United States to include Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries and territories.
If the leaked figures prove accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro Max should offer noticeably improved battery life when it arrives later this year. As always with unconfirmed rumors, official confirmation will have to wait until Apple’s formal announcement.
MacDailyNews Take: Sold! (Oh, wait, we have to see what the foldable offers first!)
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Apple quickly pulls support document saying Mac users in China could link to Alibaba’s Qwen AI service
Apple has published a (temporary, it turns out) guide showing eligible Mac users in mainland China how to connect Alibaba’s Qwen artificial intelligence service to Siri and the company’s Writing Tools feature.
The update, detailed in a Chinese-language support document, allows users who opt in to leverage Qwen — Alibaba’s family of generative AI models — for more detailed responses through Siri, including analysis of photos and documents. Writing Tools can also draw on the service to generate text or images based on user descriptions.
The feature is available on Macs running macOS 26.6 or later, subject to China-specific conditions. Users must activate the extension and sign in to a Qwen account. According to Apple’s guide, Alibaba is prohibited from using any materials processed through the integration to train or improve its models.
The Mac-focused arrangement comes as Apple seeks to strengthen its position in China’s competitive AI PC market. The company has been losing ground to domestic rivals such as Lenovo and Huawei, which have aggressively promoted locally developed AI capabilities. Mac shipments in mainland China fell 9% year-on-year in the first quarter to about 800,000 units, giving Apple a 9% share of the PC market, according to research firm Omdia. Lenovo held 31% and Huawei 16%.
By integrating Qwen, Apple gains a locally compliant way to deliver advanced document analysis, image handling, and content-creation tools while retaining control of the Mac interface. For Alibaba, the partnership expands Qwen’s reach beyond its own apps and cloud services.
Alibaba has previously stated that Qwen will power Apple Intelligence across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro devices in China. Apple’s now unpublished guide, however, currently covered only Macs. Alibaba this week also released Qwen3.8-Max, a 2.4-trillion-parameter model it describes as its most capable to date, though Apple’s documentation did not specify which Qwen version will be used in the Mac extension.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple briefly published a Chinese-language support guide on its website (around August 8, 2026) explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Alibaba’s Qwen AI to Siri and Writing Tools. The document was titled something along the lines of “在Mac上配合Apple智能使用千问” (“Use Qwen with Apple Intelligence on Mac”).
It was removed within about a day (by August 9th). Multiple reports have confirmed the takedown. Apple customer service in China stated that the feature integrating Apple Intelligence with Qwen has not yet been officially launched in mainland China, and they had not received notice of such a release.
In a nutshell, with a support guide clearly ready to go, CCP-sanctioned AI is coming soon to Macs in China.
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Apple tests China’s CXMT memory chips for Macs, iPhones, and iPads
Apple has been testing memory chips from China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for use across product lines that include iPhones and MacBooks, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter. The move comes as the company grapples with a severe memory-chip shortage intensified by surging demand from the artificial-intelligence boom.
The iPhone maker has held early talks with CXMT about potential supply of components, with the aim of incorporating them into some devices sold in China. Apple is seeking approval from the Trump administration to proceed with any business involving the Chinese chipmaker. Any such deal would be politically sensitive. Some U.S. policymakers worry that collaboration could give CXMT access to American intellectual property.
CXMT ranks as China’s largest chipmaker by market value. The testing reflects broader industry pressure: AI data-center demand has redirected substantial DRAM production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory used in AI accelerators, tightening supplies and driving up prices for the conventional memory chips needed in smartphones, PCs, and other consumer electronics.
Other device makers have already begun limited use of CXMT chips. Laptop producers HP and Acer have started incorporating the Chinese company’s memory into some devices sold outside the United States to ease shortages, the Journal reported.
Apple and CXMT did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. The development builds on earlier indications that Apple has been exploring options with Chinese memory suppliers and lobbying U.S. officials for flexibility amid the supply constraints. CXMT has faced scrutiny in Washington, including designation on a Pentagon list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military, adding layers of regulatory and political complexity to any potential partnership.
MacDailyNews Take: The situation underscores the tension between immediate commercial needs (securing enough memory to maintain production volumes and manage costs) and longer-term national-security and technology-transfer concerns. It’s a tightrope walk for sure.
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Apple explores radical Apple Watch overhaul: Screen-free trackers, round displays, and new tiers on the horizon
Apple is considering a sweeping redesign of its Apple Watch lineup to adapt to a wearables market shifting toward screen-free devices and alternative form factors, according to reporting in Bloomberg News’ Mark GurmanBloomberg News’ “Power On” newsletter by Mark Gurman.
The industrial design team has spent roughly the past year exploring a “broader rethink” of the product, evaluating multiple directions that could transform the smartwatch for a new era — potentially on a scale comparable to the iPhone’s shift from a traditional slab to foldable designs. Nothing has been finalized, and major changes are not expected in the near term.
Key concepts under consideration include:
• Screen-free devices: New wearables without displays, aimed at competing with popular fitness bands and trackers such as Whoop, Oura Rings, and Google’s Fitbit Air. These appeal to users seeking lighter, more discreet health and fitness monitoring without constant screen interactions.
• Varied screens and sizes: Different display types and sizes beyond the longstanding rounded-rectangle design that has defined every Apple Watch since 2015.
• Round displays: Circular displays have been explored, though Gurman indicates these are unlikely to reach the market.
• Expanded lineup tiers: Potential premium models positioned above the current Ultra and Hermès variants, alongside more affordable options that go beyond the existing SE model.
The motivation stems from slowing growth in Apple’s Wearables, Home and Accessories segment and intensifying competition in health-focused wearables. Industry trends favor simpler, screenless form factors that emphasize continuous tracking, AI coaching, and comfort over full smartwatch functionality. Internally, execs like Eddy Cue (involved in Health app efforts) have shown interest in devices like Whoop and Oura, aligning with broader pushes into AI-powered wellness.
This year’s models — expected to include the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, likely unveiled alongside new iPhones in September — will remain evolutionary. Anticipated updates include a new chip (the first significant performance refresh in several years), health and fitness enhancements (such as progress toward blood pressure monitoring), possible return of ceramic cases (absent for years and potentially available in 2026 or 2027), new colors, and band options. A full redesign is viewed as still a year or two away.
Apple has reportedly not committed to any specific path, and some ideas under evaluation may never ship. The exploration reflects an effort to reinvigorate the category as consumer preferences evolve and rivals innovate outside the traditional smartwatch mold. Details remain fluid, consistent with Apple’s typical multi-year development cycles for major product shifts.
The company continues preparing for its major September event focused primarily on new iPhones, with the Watch updates expected to play a supporting role this cycle.
MacDailyNews Take: Whoop’s success has not gone unnoticed by Cupertino. And, yes, Apple continually explores options – mundane to radical – in all of its products.
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Apple ramps up for September iPhone event as Ternus prepares CEO transition and scrapped upgrade feature surfaces
Apple is intensifying preparations for its annual September product launch event while incoming CEO John Ternus assembles his leadership team and new details emerge about a discarded element of the company’s recently launched device-leasing program called “Apple Upgrade.”
The company is readying for what is described as its biggest event of the year, expected in the first half of September. Retail employees in the U.S. are participating in a lottery for roles supporting the in-person media gathering at Apple Park, including organizing lines, checking in guests, providing directions, greeting attendees, and assisting security. The event is widely anticipated to feature the latest iPhone models, including Pro variants and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, among other hardware.
At the same time, John Ternus is preparing to assume the CEO role on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook, who will become executive chairman. As part of early management moves, Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman reports, Ternus has brought back Laura Legros, a former vice president of hardware engineering who retired in 2022. Legros previously worked under Ternus and will return as a vice president reporting directly to him. In the new role, she is expected to work cross-functionally, helping coordinate product delivery, development schedules, and alignment across engineering teams — serving as a bridge between different parts of the organization. The hire marks a rare instance of Apple recalling a retired executive and reflects Ternus beginning to put his stamp on the leadership ranks ahead of the transition.
Separately, fresh details have emerged about a scrapped “white-glove” concept for Apple Upgrade, the leasing program that launched in late July and replaced the prior iPhone Upgrade Program and standard financing options. Apple had considered shipping replacement devices already preloaded with a customer’s data and settings restored from an iCloud backup, so the new hardware would arrive ready to use. The technical challenges were not the primary barrier. Instead, privacy and security concerns — along with the optics of the company accessing and restoring personal backups onto devices in its facilities — led the company to abandon the idea. The launched version of Apple Upgrade does not include any such pre-setup feature.
These developments underscore Apple’s focus on a high-stakes product cycle and organizational shifts as Ternus prepares to lead the company into its next phase.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re glad that Apple Upgrade feature was scrapped! Now, we hope for Ternus’ sake that there are enough people left at Apple who remember how the company ran under Steve Jobs so that the company can quickly get back into that mindset. Churning out iterations of Jobs era products for fifteen years fueled a lot of brain drain and Cook era sclerotic thinking at the company over the last decade and a half. Fingers crossed!
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Jefferies downgrades Apple after company cancels plans for Twentieth Anniversary all-glass iPhone
Apple shares faced fresh pressure on Monday after Jefferies cut its rating on the tech giant to Underperform from Hold, citing worries about the company’s ability to sustain higher average selling prices for iPhones amid production setbacks and rising costs.
Analyst Edison Lee lowered the firm’s price target to $263.66 from $285.56, implying roughly 16% downside from recent levels. The move adds to a growing list of more cautious views on the world’s most valuable company.
Jefferies pointed to supply-chain checks indicating that Apple has canceled plans for a Twentieth anniversary all-glass iPhone model originally eyed for a September 2027 launch. The cancellation stemmed from poor production yields. The firm described the decision as “a major setback” to Apple’s efforts to introduce higher-priced devices at a time of soaring memory costs.
According to the note, Apple had intended to extend all-glass design features to future iPhone Pro and Pro Max models to further lift average selling prices and margins. With that path now in doubt, Jefferies reduced its estimated compound annual growth rate for iPhone ASPs between fiscal 2026 and 2031 and cut its fiscal 2028 and 2029 earnings-per-share estimates by about 2% and 3%, respectively.
Lee also flagged recent increases in trade-in values for iPhones in the U.S. and Europe. While those moves could pull forward demand for the current iPhone 17 cycle, they risk creating greater pressure on sales of the subsequent iPhone 18 generation.
The downgrade comes as analysts continue to debate Apple’s long-term smartphone growth trajectory, particularly its capacity to drive premium pricing and volume expansion in a competitive market. Sell-equivalent ratings remain relatively scarce among the broader analyst community, but the latest cut underscores mounting scrutiny of Apple’s hardware roadmap.
MacDailyNews Take: iCal’ed for future use.
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James Marsden to star in Apple TV comedy ‘Bad News Dads’ from Stephen Falk and Berlanti Productions
According to an exclusive report from Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, Apple TV is developing “Bad News Dads,” a half-hour comedy starring and executive produced by James Marsden. The project comes from “You’re the Worst” creator Stephen Falk, alongside Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, where Greg Berlanti holds an overall deal.
Based on the upcoming novel by Adam Frost, the series follows an inept men’s recreational baseball league. When one player’s wife dies in a suspicious accident, friendship-starved Ben (played by Marsden) rallies two teammates for an often-misguided investigation into what they increasingly believe was murder. While the title and baseball setting nod to “The Bad News Bears,” the story is an original concept with no direct connection to the classic sports film.
Falk, Marsden, and Frost executive produce with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, and Robbie Rogers for Berlanti Productions. Frost’s novel is scheduled for publication on April 6, 2027, by Simon & Schuster/Atria/Emily Bestler Books.
The project continues Apple TV’s interest in mystery-comedy fare, a genre boosted by series like “The Afterparty” and Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” It also extends Marsden’s recent work with the streamer: he recently appeared in “Your Friends & Neighbors” and stars in and executive produces the upcoming action thriller “Disavowed.” Marsden, known for alternating between drama and comedy (with Emmy nominations for both “Paradise” and “Jury Duty”), next reprises Cyclops in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Falk, whose other credits include Apple TV’s “Hello Tomorrow!,” Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” and Showtime’s “Weeds,” also has a “Hit Man” series inspired by the Glen Powell film in development at Netflix. Berlanti Productions has multiple projects advancing elsewhere, including series at Amazon MGM Studios and Disney+.
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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iOS 26.6.1 imminent: Apple internally testing quick follow-up update for iPhones
Apple is actively testing iOS 26.6.1, a point release that appears poised for release in the coming days, according to visitor logs tracked by sites including 9to5Mac and MacRumors.
The update comes less than two weeks after the public rollout of iOS 26.6 on July 27, 2026. That earlier release focused primarily on bug fixes, security patches, and optimizing the Spotlight index to prepare devices for the smoother transition to iOS 27 later this year.
What’s likely to be included in iOS 26.6.1
Specific release notes are not yet public, as the software remains in internal testing. However, these minor “.1” or “.x.1” updates typically prioritize stability and security rather than new user-facing features.
Likely contents include:
• Security patches: Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 (along with updates for Sequoia and Sonoma) this week to address a significant vulnerability in the Screen Sharing app. A parallel iOS update could include related or additional security fixes.
• Bug fixes: Reports have already surfaced of issues introduced or lingering after iOS 26.6, such as problems with Shortcuts automations. Other refinements to performance, battery behavior, or app stability are common in these rapid follow-ups.
• Continued preparation for iOS 27: While the heavy Spotlight indexing work happened in 26.6, further under-the-hood polish is possible as Apple works toward the fall release of its next major OS.
Apple has publicly stated it is accelerating the pace of iPhone software updates in response to the growing speed of AI-assisted hacking tools. This faster cadence means users should expect more frequent, targeted patches like 26.6.1 rather than waiting weeks or months between releases.
What This Means for iPhone Users
Compatible devices (generally iPhone 11 and later that support iOS 26) will receive the update over-the-air via Settings > General > Software Update once it ships. Installation is recommended for the latest security protections, especially given Apple’s emphasis on rapid response to emerging threats.
No major new features — such as design changes to Liquid Glass, expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, or significant app updates — are expected. Those are reserved for the iOS 27 cycle, which remains in beta and is anticipated for public release in September 2026.
Not every internal build reaches the public, but the appearance of iOS 26.6.1 in analytics logs so soon after 26.6, combined with parallel macOS security releases, strongly suggests a public rollout is imminent. Users who have not yet installed iOS 26.6 should do so first to stay current.
MacDailyNews Take: Stay tuned for the formal release announcement and detailed notes. In the meantime, keep your iPhone backed up and check for the update regularly in the coming days.
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Apple’s iPhone captures 65% of global premium smartphone market as segment hits record 29% share in H1 2026
Apple dominated the premium smartphone segment in the first half of 2026, holding a commanding 65% market share, according to Counterpoint Research. The Cupertino company outpaced the broader industry as devices priced at $600 and above (wholesale average selling price) accounted for a record 29% of overall global smartphone sales.
Premium smartphone unit sales grew 5% year-over-year in H1 2026, outperforming the overall market. This marked a rise from 25% share in H1 2025 and 20% in H1 2022. Counterpoint attributed much of the latest jump to rising memory and component costs, which hit low- and mid-tier devices harder. As prices for mid-range Android phones climbed, the gap with premium models—including older or discounted flagships—narrowed, making higher-end upgrades more attractive. Manufacturers also expanded financing, trade-in, and buyback programs to improve affordability.
Apple’s premium segment shipments rose 9% year-over-year, fueled by strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, particularly the base model. This reversed a prior-year slowdown linked to intensified competition in China, the world’s largest premium smartphone market. Apple’s share edged up from 63% in H1 2025 but remains below the 74% peak recorded in H1 2022.
Global Smartphone Premium Segment Brand Unit Sales Share H1 2022 to H1 2026
Source: Counterpoint Research Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, Jun 2026 (Prelim). Premium Segment includes smartphones with a wholesale price of $600 and above.
Samsung held steady at 19% of the premium market (up from 17% in 2022) and posted 3% year-over-year growth despite a later-than-usual launch of the Galaxy S26 series. Together, Apple and Samsung controlled 84% of global premium smartphone sales, up from 82% a year earlier.
Among other players, OPPO recorded the fastest growth at 69% year-over-year, driven by its Find X9 series, while Vivo grew 20%. The remaining 16% of the premium segment was shared among Chinese brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo.
“Rising memory and component costs are reshaping smartphone pricing and creating opportunities for OEMs to accelerate premiumization,” said Counterpoint Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi in a statement. “As mid-segment Android smartphone prices rise, the price gap with premium devices, especially older or discounted flagship models, is narrowing. This trend makes flagship smartphones a better upgrade option for consumers. To support this shift, OEMs are expanding financing, trade-in and buyback programs to improve affordability.”
MacDailyNews Take: The data underscores a continued shift toward higher-priced devices even as the broader smartphone market faces volume pressures. Premiumization is expected to persist, supported by better component access for leading brands, steady demand among higher-income consumers, and expanded financing options. In other words; More great news for Apple!
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MacBook Ultra rumors: Apple’s thinner OLED touchscreen flagship expected late 2026 or early 2027
Apple is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of its high-end laptop lineup, potentially under the new “MacBook Ultra” name. This would sit above the existing MacBook Pro as a premium tier, introducing the first OLED display and touchscreen on a Mac, along with a redesigned chassis and Dynamic Island-style camera cutout. All details remain unconfirmed rumors based primarily on reporting from Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, supply-chain analysts, and firms like Omdia, as of early August 2026.
Release Timing
The MacBook Ultra (internal codes K114 for 14-inch and K116 for 16-inch) is on track for a launch window between late 2026 and early 2027. Apple is testing the machines with macOS 27.1, which is scheduled for consumer release at the end of October 2026—aligning with Apple’s typical late-October Mac launches.
Samsung Display is expected to supply the OLED panels, with production ramping in mid-to-late 2026. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has pointed to mass production beginning late in the year. However, ongoing global memory chip shortages have caused shipping delays on other Apple products and could push the Ultra into early 2027. A concurrent base MacBook Pro with an M6 chip (existing design) is also rumored for fall 2026.
Design Overhaul
This would mark the first major industrial design change for Apple’s high-end laptops since the 2021 MacBook Pro. Reports describe a total redesign that is thinner and lighter than the current models, aided by the switch away from mini-LED backlighting. Screen sizes are expected to stay in the familiar 14- and 16-inch range, with some sources citing slightly larger 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch panels thanks to thinner bezels.
The controversial notch is expected to be replaced by a smaller pill-shaped or hole-punch camera cutout supporting a Dynamic Island experience (similar to the iPhone), which could display notifications, media controls, battery status, and other contextual info. A reinforced hinge is rumored to minimize screen wobble during touch use. Classic ports (MagSafe, HDMI, SD card slot, Thunderbolt) are expected to remain. The new design may later appear on lower-tier MacBook Pro models.
Display and Touch
The standout upgrades are the first OLED panel on a Mac and the first touchscreen. It is expected to use hybrid tandem OLED technology (oxide TFT + RGB tandem, similar to the iPad Pro), delivering deeper blacks, higher contrast, richer colors, better power efficiency, and improved viewing angles compared with current mini-LED LCDs.
Touch support is positioned as a secondary input method alongside the keyboard and trackpad, not a replacement. macOS is reportedly receiving touch-friendly optimizations (larger targets, adaptive menus) that will also benefit non-touch devices. This reverses long-standing Apple resistance to vertical touchscreens on Macs.
Performance and Other Specs
Contrary to earlier expectations of next-generation silicon, the first MacBook Ultra models are expected to use the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips already found in the current MacBook Pro lineup. Apple is reportedly skipping high-end M6 Pro and M6 Max variants to accelerate development of the M7 series (with stronger AI focus); M7 Pro/Max Ultra models are eyed for late 2027 or early 2028.
Built-in cellular connectivity via a next-generation C2 modem has been rumored as a possible option. Battery life could benefit from the more efficient OLED panels and thinner design, though specific figures are unavailable.
Pricing and Positioning
As a new top-tier product with OLED, touch, and a fresh design, the MacBook Ultra is expected to command a premium — potentially 20% or more above current high-end MacBook Pros. Starting prices could begin around or above $2,499 for a 14-inch configuration (higher for 16-inch), making it Apple’s most expensive MacBook to date amid rising memory costs. It is expected to coexist with or sit above the regular MacBook Pro line rather than fully replace it.
MacDailyNews Take: A second-generation MacBook Ultra with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips is already in early testing for a later 2027 timeframe. The “Ultra” branding fits Apple’s expansion of the name across products (alongside Watch Ultra and potential others). These reports could still shift due to supply issues, internal priorities, or testing outcomes. Apple has not officially confirmed any of these details. Expect clearer signals closer to a potential fall event or through further supply-chain updates.
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Apple expands retail footprint and financing options to capture surging iPhone demand in India
Apple is intensifying efforts to convert India’s growing appetite for premium smartphones into higher sales by opening more retail stores and offering expanded financing deals, while simultaneously scaling up local manufacturing.
The company has built a network of Apple Stores across key cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Noida, giving customers direct access to products and services in a market long dominated by multi-brand retailers and online platforms. These physical locations allow Apple to showcase the latest iPhone models and provide hands-on experiences that help drive upgrades and first-time purchases.
To address India’s price-sensitive consumers, Apple has broadened financing partnerships. Shoppers can access no-cost EMI options for several months through major banks, instant cashback offers of up to ₹15,000 on select cards, and trade-in programs that reduce the effective cost of new devices, Bloomberg News reports. These tools lower the barrier to entry for devices that often carry higher list prices in India than in the US due to taxes and other factors.
The push comes as Apple’s India business reaches new milestones. Annual sales surpassed $10 billion for the first time in the fiscal year ended March 2026, up from about $9 billion the prior year, with iPhones accounting for the majority of revenue. Market share has expanded significantly: iPhones now represent around 10% of smartphone shipments in some recent periods, a sharp rise from roughly 1.5% a decade earlier—and the company continues to post double-digit growth even amid broader industry softness.
Manufacturing growth underpins both supply reliability and the “Made in India” appeal. Apple now assembles about a quarter of its global iPhones in the country, producing roughly 55 million units in 2025. For the first time, the full iPhone 17 lineup (including base, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max variants, plus related models) was manufactured locally from launch. Contract manufacturers such as Foxconn and Tata Electronics operate large facilities near Chennai and Bengaluru, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and a deepening local supplier base of more than 40 companies making components ranging from batteries to enclosures.
This dual focus on demand-side accessibility and supply-side localization positions India as both a major growth market and a strategic hedge against reliance on China. CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly highlighted the country’s potential, noting strong uptake among first-time Apple customers across iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Analysts point to premiumization trends, improved inventory management, and these retail and financing initiatives as key drivers of the shift from niche status to mainstream relevance.
MacDailyNews Take: While challenges remain (including competition in the mid-premium segment, currency fluctuations, and the need for continued policy support after the original production-linked incentive scheme ended) Apple’s investments signal confidence that Indian consumer desire for iPhones will sustain long-term expansion.
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Siri AI compatibility check: The iPhones, iPads, Macs and Watches that make the cut
Apple’s long-awaited overhaul of its voice assistant, now branded Siri AI, is set to arrive this fall alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS updates, and related system software. The upgraded assistant promises deeper personal context awareness, on-screen understanding, more natural conversations, and the ability to take actions across apps. But there’s a clear hardware cutoff: only devices that already support Apple Intelligence will receive the full experience at launch.
iPhone Models That Make the Cut
Siri AI requires an A17 Pro chip or newer (with sufficient RAM for on-device processing). Supported iPhones include:
• iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 17 and 17e
• iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e
• iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Older models, including the standard iPhone 15 and anything earlier, will get the broader iOS 27 update (interface changes, security fixes, and non-AI features), but miss out on the new Siri capabilities.
A subset of these devices — primarily the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air — will also unlock Apple’s most powerful on-device AI model. That unlocks extras such as more expressive customizable voices, improved speech recognition, and higher-accuracy dictation.
iPads, Macs, Watches, and Vision Pro
Compatibility extends across the rest of the ecosystem with similar requirements:iPad: iPad Pro (M1 chip and later), iPad Air (M1 and later), and iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.
• Mac: All models with Apple silicon (M1 and later), including the MacBook Neo with its A18 Pro chip.
• Apple Watch (must be paired with a nearby supported iPhone): Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and SE (3rd generation).
• Apple Vision Pro: All models.
The highest-tier on-device model is further restricted on tablets and computers to those with newer chips (M4 or later on iPad, M3 or later on Mac) plus at least 12 GB of unified memory.
Timeline and Limitations
Developer betas began around the June 2026 WWDC announcements, with a public beta expected in the following months and a stable consumer release targeted for fall 2026 (September timeframe). Siri AI will initially roll out in English (with Spanish support also noted in some documentation), and regional restrictions apply: it will not launch at the outset on iOS or iPadOS in the European Union due to regulatory considerations around the Digital Markets Act, though macOS and visionOS users in the EU will be able to access it. Availability in China is also delayed pending regulatory clearance.
Those without supported hardware will keep the classic Siri experience for now while still receiving the rest of the 2026 software updates. Apple continues to emphasize on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for privacy, so the hardware bar reflects the computational demands of the more capable models.
MacDailyNews Note: More info about Apple Intelligence and Siri here.
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Return of Apple TV’s ‘Ted Lasso’ after three-year break feels pointless and cynical – The Independent
“Ted Lasso” is back for a fourth season on Apple TV after a three-year hiatus, but does the feel-good football comedy still have its magic?
The Independent’s review takes a critical look at the return, arguing that the new series—centered on Ted coaching AFC Richmond’s women’s team—feels largely unnecessary and commercially driven, recycling familiar beats while struggling to match the charm and heart of the series’ first two seasons.
Nick Hilton for The Independent:
Several much-loved characters have departed the series (Mohammed’s Nate, Phil Dunster’s Jamie Tartt, most of the men’s team players, and, of course, the late Anthony Head as Rebecca’s nemesis Rupert), which means an influx of new faces to replace them…
Despite all this upheaval, the show’s creator, Bill Lawrence, and key cast do a good job of making it still feel like Ted Lasso. But it also feels pointless. And cynical. “Last time I hired you for all the wrong reasons,” Rebecca tells Ted, and she approaches him for the new gig. “This time I absolutely want to hire you for all the right ones.” But even though there is an attempt at some broad feminist commentary and critique… it really feels like the show has wasted the earned conclusion of its arc in pursuit of more episodes, more revenue, more Emmys. Sudeikis continues to be charming, [Juno] Temple is a highlight as the mischievous Keeley, and [Tanya] Reynolds brings plenty of new deadpan charisma – yet the return, after three years, feels a bit flat…
The acting, while effective, is often hamstrung by sentimentalism, which pushes it into hammy (and a painfully stilted Jill Scott cameo makes Chris Powell look like Laurence Olivier). And while the show has always been gently amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny, this new series does feel acutely short of gags…
The show was about bringing some… touchy-feely shmaltz and exposing it to the rough winds of Premier League football. Can you be an eternal optimist on a cold, rainy night in Stoke? Having answered that question, the show has nowhere to go but limp on like an ageing striker whose powers are fading before their eyes.
MacDailyNews Take: Cue the sad trombone.
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