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Apple releases new beta builds of all its operating systems
Following its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote a few weeks ago, Apple released an initial beta version of its new operating systems, marking the debut of its year-based versioning with all systems designated as version 26. On Monday, June 23, 2025, the company officially rolled out the second developer betas for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and most of its other software updates, continuing the development cycle for these unified, year-aligned platforms.
Andrew Cunningham for Ars Technica:
For those who don’t normally dabble in Apple’s beta programs, the company offers two tracks: a developer beta and a public beta. The developer beta builds are offered earlier but tend to be buggier and less stable, and they change more from release to release. The public betas, which typically hit in mid- to late-July, are usually roughly the same code as the third or fourth developer beta and represent a nearer-to-final, more stable experience. Once the public betas begin, both developer and public beta builds are usually updated more or less in lockstep, though the developer betas are still usually available slightly earlier.
The new iOS and iPadOS betas will run on just about any hardware that can currently install and run iOS and iPadOS 18, with a couple of older exceptions. The macOS beta will run on any Apple Silicon Mac and on a handful of Intel Macs released in 2019 and 2020. The other betas will generally run on anything that supports the current versions, with some caveats (Liquid Glass effects only show up on newer Apple TV 4K boxes, for example, while the first-gen Apple TV 4K and the old 1080p Apple TV will run the update but without Liquid Glass).
If you don’t have spare devices you can dedicate to testing, we’d recommend waiting until the public beta in July before you even think about running any of these betas, and only after you’ve backed up all the important data on those devices.
MacDailyNews Note: Ahead of the public betas, find out more about the Apple Beta Software Program here.
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N.J. electronics store owner charged with selling more than 100 fake Apple products
On Monday, Essex County authorities announced that the owner of an electronics store in the New Jersey City of Orange faces charges for allegedly selling over 100 counterfeit Apple products. The accusations center on the sale of fraudulent items misrepresented as genuine Apple merchandise, prompting an investigation and legal action by local officials.
Anthony G. Attrino for NJ.com:
The 63-year-old Woodland Park man was arrested June 5 and charged with third-degree counterfeiting, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
Stephens said the business owner sold fake AirPods, iPhones and accessories out of his store on Main Street.
[The] Essex County’s Intellectual Property Enforcement Program… targets the sale of goods that violate copyright, trademark and other protected intellectual property laws, and often uncovers ties to gangs and organized crime, prosecutors said.
MacDailyNews Take: Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
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JetBlue adds AirTag and Find My network support to track luggage
JetBlue today announced two major enhancements to its baggage experience: a new mobile app feature that provides customers with real-time updates on the status of their checked bags, and a new option that allows customers to securely share the location of an Apple AirTag or Find My network accessory placed inside their checked luggage.
“We are constantly looking for ways to offer our customers a more convenient travel experience,” said Carol Clements, JetBlue’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, in a staement. “As part of our JetForward strategy, we’re focused on delivering the products and perks our customers want. This new in-app bag tracking feature, along with AirTag location sharing for baggage recovery, are designed to bring customers peace of mind when checking their bags with JetBlue.”
These new capabilities will give customers greater visibility into their bags’ journey and help expedite recovery in the rare event of a delay or mishandling. JetBlue consistently ranks among the top U.S. carriers for baggage handling, with fewer than 1% of customers experiencing a delay, according to U.S. Department of Transportation data. The airline continues to invest in innovative, customer-focused technology to deliver a more seamless travel experience.
New Baggage Tracking in the JetBlue Mobile App
Building on the baggage status updates JetBlue already provides via email, the airline has introduced enhanced tracking in its mobile app, making it easier than ever for customers to stay informed. Travelers flying across JetBlue’s network can now access real-time updates on their checked bags directly within the app, putting everything in one convenient place. This added visibility not only streamlines the travel experience but also offers greater peace of mind by helping customers feel confident their bags are on the right track.
Apple’s Find My Integration Enhances JetBlue’s Baggage Support
JetBlue is also adding support in the rare event a checked bag is delayed or misplaced. Customers who place an Apple AirTag or Find My network accessory in their bag can now choose to securely share its location with JetBlue’s Baggage Service team, helping the airline reunite customers with their belongings more quickly.
To share an item’s location, customers can generate a Share Item Location link in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This link can be provided to JetBlue by scanning a QR code in the baggage claim area or by working with a crewmember at the airport’s Baggage Service Office. JetBlue crewmembers will use the temporary link to help locate and retrieve bags found within JetBlue stations or other contracted facilities. Customers remain in full control of their location-sharing settings, and access automatically ends once they are reunited with their bags.
By combining in-app bag tracking with the ability to share the location of a Find My-enabled item, JetBlue is giving customers more ways to stay informed and feel confident throughout their journey. These enhancements reflect JetBlue’s continued investment in innovative, customer-friendly technology designed to offer greater peace of mind and a more seamless travel experience.
MacDailyNews Note: More info about Apple’s Find My network here. Apple AirTags are currently 14% off at $24.99 (single) and 24% off at $74.99 (four-pack) via Amazon.
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What the rumor mill says about Apple Watch Ultra 3
As anticipation builds for Apple’s next-generation wearables, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is generating significant buzz. Expected to launch in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 series, the Ultra 3 is poised to refine the rugged, premium smartwatch line introduced in 2022. While Apple keeps details under wraps, leaks and insider reports offer tantalizing clues about what’s in store. Here’s a roundup of the most credible rumors circulating about the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Release Date and Pricing
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is widely expected to debut at Apple’s annual fall event, with a likely release date around September 19, 2025. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman have both corroborated a 2025 launch, following Apple’s decision to skip an Ultra update in 2024. Pricing is expected to remain consistent with the Ultra 2’s $799 starting point, though potential U.S. tariffs could nudge costs higher.
Design and Display
Don’t expect a radical redesign versus Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Ultra 3 is rumored to retain the 49mm titanium case, sapphire crystal display, and signature features like the orange-ringed Digital Crown and customizable Action Button. However, a December 2023 TrendForce report suggested a larger 2.12-inch display, a 10% increase over the Ultra 2’s 1.93-inch screen. This could be achieved by shrinking bezels to retain a similar overall sized case to previous models.
Display upgrades are also on the table. While early rumors hinted at a microLED panel for brighter visuals and better battery efficiency, recent reports indicate Apple has delayed this technology until 2026 or 2027. Instead, the Ultra 3 is likely to adopt the Series 10’s LTPO3 OLED display, offering a faster refresh rate and up to 40% brighter viewing angles at 3,000 nits.
Health and Connectivity Features
Health monitoring is a major focus. The Ultra 3 is expected to introduce blood pressure monitoring, alerting users to potential hypertension without providing exact systolic or diastolic readings. This feature, delayed from 2024 due to testing issues, could be a game-changer for early detection. Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring remains years away, but sleep apnea detection may also debut.
Connectivity upgrades are another highlight. The Ultra 3 is rumored to support satellite texting, akin to the iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature, allowing users to send messages in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Additionally, 5G RedCap support via a MediaTek modem could enhance data speeds for navigation and streaming, tailored for wearables.
Performance and Software
The Ultra 3 will likely feature the S10 or S11 chip, boosting performance and enabling Apple Intelligence features like an AI-powered fitness coach codenamed “Quartz.” Running watchOS 12 (possibly watchOS 26), the Ultra 3 may sport a visionOS-inspired interface with glass-like UI elements. Battery life is expected to remain at 36 hours, though a more efficient display could stretch this slightly.
MacDailyNews Take: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 shapes up as an iterative update, focusing on health, connectivity, and display enhancements rather than a bold redesign. For Ultra 2 owners, the upgrade may feel incremental, but for those with older Ultra, and certainly non-Ultra, Apple Watches or anyone seeking cutting-edge health features, we expect Apple Watch Ultra 3 to be a compelling choice.
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To catch up in AI, Apple may need to make its biggest acquisition ever
“Apple will need to make the biggest acquisition in its history to put an end to its artificial intelligence debacle,” Mark Gurman writes for Bloomberg News. The next generation of products — from smart glasses to robotics to new wearables — will rely heavily on AI, which will be crucial to their functionality. Apple’s internal AI efforts leave much to be desired. Siri is still a joke. An acquisition of a startup like Perplexity AI could allow the company to not only catch up, but to lead the way.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Apple’s in-house artificial intelligence work has floundered… [T]he truth is clear. Apple has missed the AI moment — and it should accept that instead of making excuses.
If Apple had built something as groundbreaking as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, it would be celebrating it from every rooftop. Instead, the company is downplaying the competition and branding its offering as “AI for the rest of us” — because that’s really all it can say…
The good news is, Apple has a cash hoard of more than $130 billion and a way out: It can buy its way into the future. The right acquisition could bring in the talent and technology Apple has clearly lacked — as evidenced by the struggles of its Siri voice assistant and its underwhelming generative AI work. This time, transformational M&A is exactly what the company needs.
But first, let’s rule out some possibilities. OpenAI and Anthropic PBC, two of the leading AI developers, are not likely targets. OpenAI has a $300 billion valuation, as well as a relationship with Microsoft. Its convoluted corporate structure also makes it an impractical acquisition. Anthropic isn’t much more attainable. It’s valued at around $60 billion and has deep backing from Amazon.com Inc. and Google. Both deals would invite serious regulatory scrutiny.
The most likely acquisition target in the multibillion-dollar range is Perplexity AI. While the company lacks its own cutting-edge foundation models — like those of OpenAI or Anthropic — it has several advantages that make it a logical fit for Apple…
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s going make its biggest acquisition ever, by far, while handicapped by a risk-averse milquetoast caretaker CEO who missed GenAI, who put into place the executives who also missed GenAI, and who failed to buy the likes of Netflix and Tesla for pennies on the dollar when he had the chance?
See also: Time to Think Different: Tim Cook’s leadership has run its course at Apple – June 20, 2025
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Apple TV+ inks first look feature film deal with media mogul Peter Chernin
Apple TV+ has signed a new multi-year, first-look feature film deal with The North Road Company’s Chernin Entertainment, the flagship scripted film label behind titles such as “Hidden Figures,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Greatest Showman,” and “Planet of the Apes.”
On the television side, Chernin Entertainment is already a partner of the streaming platform, producing the upcoming historical miniseries “Chief of War,” starring Jason Momoa, about the unification and colonization of Hawaii at the turn of the 18th century, set to premiere Aug. 1. It is also behind the Emmy-nominated “See,” also featuring Momoa, and the NAACP Image Award-winning “Truth Be Told,” with Octavia Spencer and Gabrielle Union.
Natalie Oganesyan for Deadline:
“We’ve had a great experience working with Apple on the series side, where they’ve been smart, daring, and always supportive — we’re excited to build on that success by making movies together,” said The North Road Company chairman Peter Chernin.
Founded three years ago by Chernin, the global content studio has established itself as a production powerhouse spanning scripted, unscripted and documentary content. Its labels include Chernin Entertainment (film, television and indie), North Road Television, Kinetic Content, Words + Pictures and others.
Momentum around the Apple Original Films slate continues to grow since the debut of Apple TV+ five years ago, with highly anticipated features including “F1,” starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris and from director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, premiering in theaters June 27. There’s also “Highest 2 Lowest,” the latest feature reuniting Spike Lee with Denzel Washington for the fifth time, releasing in theaters Aug. 22 and on the streamer September 5.
Apple also made history as the first streaming service to land the Academy Award for Best Picture with “CODA.”
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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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