AppleInsider News

Anker makes Matter smarthome bid with MindBase hub and NAS

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:41:56 +0000

Best known for batteries and chargers, Anker is launching a local AI hub for the home that supports Matter, controls cameras and video doorbells, and includes file sharing.

The Anker MindBase is a smart home hub with Matter support and a built-in NAS - image credit: Anker.

Following a revision of its lineup in January 2026, Anker has now announced a further series of cameras and sensors, plus the Anker MindBase smart home hub to control them all. It's the company's first home hub and is the most significant of its more than 20 new product launches at the IFA show in Germany.

The MindBase hub is Matter-enabled and so can bring together smart home devices from multiple manufacturers under one system. It comes with a 64GB SSD plus two bays that the company says can provide up to 48TB of network attached storage.

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iPhone Air review one year later: More than the sum of its flaws

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:38:46 +0000

A year ago, people were hand-wringing over the iPhone Air's failings, but 12 months later, it's clear its detractors dropped the ball on an iconic iPhone.

iPhone Air one-year review: iPhone Air is a great iPhone

The word "iconic" is thrown around all too easily these days. But it's still one that fits the iPhone Air.

In a sea of all-too-familiar iPhones, the Air easily stands out from the crowd. It's every bit as distinctive as the iPhone 4 or iPhone 6, devices that ushered in new design languages for Apple.

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Apple sued over App Tracking Transparency in $2.7 billion class action

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:14:17 +0000

A former UK antitrust director has filed a $2.7 billion class action suit claiming that Apple launched its App Tracking Transparency privacy feature to disadvantage developers and benefit itself.

App Tracking Transparency

The new suit has been filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), which is already investigating Apple over a $4.1 billion iCloud suit. The new suit over App Tracking Transparency (ATT) has been put in front of CAT by Ann Pope, a former senior director at the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.

"Privacy is an important protection for consumers, but it should be applied fairly and in a way that ensures businesses of all sizes can compete on a level playing field," said Pope in a statement to AppleInsider. "It cannot become a reason for digital platforms to play by one set of rules while forcing app developers to play by another."

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There is a way to run Wallpaper Engine files on Mac, with caveats

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:00:33 +0000

Mac users can finally run their favorite Wallpaper Engine animated backgrounds natively without booting up Windows. Here's how to get it done, and what the limitations are today.

Vivid Walls has an aurora wallpaper. Image credit: v2osk

Wallpaper Engine lets people create animated desktop backgrounds, including scenes that respond to music or the mouse pointer. Users share their creations through Steam Workshop, Steam's service for distributing user-created content.

Developer James Goodnight says Vivid Walls is designed to render those scene files directly on a Mac using its own graphics engine. The app isn't affiliated with Wallpaper Engine, and Goodnight says it doesn't require Windows to display imported scenes.

Our hands-on testing covered Vivid Walls' bundled videos, playback controls, library features, and importing a 4K video wallpaper through its Wallpaper Engine importer. We didn't test interactive scene files, so these results don't establish how accurately the app reproduces their effects or behavior.

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Xreal One Pro review: Fancy smart glasses you can use with your iPhone

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:59 +0000

The Xreal One Pro isn't the full smart glasses experience you want, but it does still give you a decent spatial computing experience — assuming you're fine with a cable snaking down to your pocket.

Xreal One Pro review

There have been rumors about Apple introducing its smart eyewear for years, but it still seems like a long time away from becoming a reality. While Apple is taking it's time — as it always does — on perfecting the form, others have hit the market.

The latest installment from Xreal has arrived, in the form of the Xreal One Pro. Following on from the Xreal One from earlier in 2025, the Xreal One Pro goes a few steps further by upping the game on the display.

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US government worried that AI companies can't innovate without legal theft

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:11:46 +0000

If you're developing an LLM in the United States and need loads of data, the government has made a legal filing that claims copyright violations by AI companies are fine, as long as it means moving faster than perceived adversaries.

The US government has put its finger on the scales in deciding the results of the AI race

I don't like to start my pieces off with a quote, but I feel like this colors everything:

"Rules of law that make it significantly more difficult to develop a robust AI industry in the United States therefore threaten national security and give a competitive advantage to foreign adversaries who are not so encumbered," is the quote that made me break my editor's rules.

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Hobby Lobby stealthily adds support for Apple Pay

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:52:38 +0000

After years of avoiding it, Hobby Lobby has begun rolling out Apple Pay at its checkouts, much to the delight of its increasingly frustrated customers, though it isn't available everywhere just yet.

Hobby Lobby now accepts Apple Pay at checkout | Image credit: Hobby Lobby

You may be able to pick up your assorted crafting bits and bobs at Hobby Lobby sans wallet if you so choose. Customers have discovered that, at least at certain locations, the retail arts and crafts giant has added support for Apple Pay.

Reports have come in across social media, including Facebook, X, and Instagram over the past week. Dmiyah Johnson posted to Facebook that her local Hobby Lobby currently supports tap-to-pay.

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Apple's smart home display could be coming soon, sounds amazing

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:16:02 +0000

Apple's new smart home display, designed to power Apple Home, could be launching soon. Here's what the rumors say will be coming, and when.

An expertly made mockup of Apple's smart home display, taping an iPad mini to a HomePod

A lot of what we've been hearing about this new home hub isn't exactly new. Rumors say that this device was expected to launch in the spring of 2025, before the state of Apple Intelligence forced Apple to delay it.

But that was all in 2025, and 2026 is poised to be more promising, with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI on track and looking great in the recent iOS 27 betas. As the launch nears, we've been getting more rumors as well.

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Judge rejects DOJ bid to split advertising business from Google

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:26:38 +0000

Google has yet again dodged a potentially business-splitting antitrust ruling, and gets to keep its ad-tech business intact after escaping the Department of Justice's push for a court-ordered breakup.

Google does not need to sell off its advertising business, court finds

A federal judge has rejected the Justice Department's attempt to force Google to sell off major pieces of its advertising technology business. This spares the company from the most severe remedies suggested after it was found guilty of holding an illegal monopoly on the digital advertising market.

That doesn't mean there won't be corrective measures. The court announced that it has accepted most of the proposed behavioral remedies intended to curb the anticompetitive conduct.

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153 million stolen driver's license scans expose a growing ID problem

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:17:08 +0000

More than 150 million driver's license scans were up for purchase on the dark web, highlighting the risk you take every time you hand over your physical ID.

Digital IDs could potentially limit some data breaches, but not until adoption becomes near universal

Recently, a dark web platform known as Nexus claimed to be selling more than 153 million driver's license scans. In addition to the driver's licenses, there were more than 10 million ID cards, 3 million travel documents and international IDs, and over 579,000 medical cards.

KrebsOnSecurity was alerted to the existence of the dark web site on August 31. Upon visiting the site, KrebsOnSecurity found the 153 million figure plausible; a blank search in Nexus returned 11.5 million pages of results, with 15 results per page.

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Save $200 on Apple's M5 MacBook Air with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:15:55 +0000

B&H is having a flash sale that delivers a steep $200 price drop on Apple's loaded M5 MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.

Save $200 on Apple's M5 MacBook Air with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD - Image credit: Apple

B&H's $200 discount on Apple's loaded 13-inch MacBook Air is the steepest available across the line, according to our M5 13-inch MacBook Air Price Guide.

Save $200 on M5 MacBook Air 32GB, 2TB

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Adobe for Slack brings more generative AI to your digital workspace

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:37:38 +0000

Adobe has come up with another way to make generative AI unavoidable, with its new Slack integration allowing workers to create prompts from the communications tool.

Adobe is now usable in Slack. - Image Credit: Adobe

As a productivity suite, Adobe has been hard at work making sure that everyone knows you can use it with AI. In its bid to make it as impossible to ignore as possible, it's now infiltrated Slack.

Launched on Wednesday, Adobe for Slack is an integration for the business communications app. As you would expect, it's a way for Slack users to start making images and documents directly from the messaging tool.

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How to use digital IDs in Apple Wallet & where they are supported

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:00:22 +0000

In a growing number of states, now including Oklahoma, you can add your ID to Apple Wallet. Here's how to add them, how they work, where they are, what the limitations are, and what they can do.

A digital driver's license in the Apple Wallet app

We're moving closer and closer to a world where you can ditch your physical wallet. You can already add your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, tickets and boarding passes, and most recently — your driver's license to Apple Wallet.

But the license rollout is not everywhere. This has increased the uncertainty on whether or not your ID can be added and if it can be, where it can be accepted.

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This working Apple I expected to fetch $500K will go on tour, before the auction

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:07:51 +0000

The very few Apple I computers in existence do seem to keep being auctioned, but now the "Hatfield" unit signed by Steve Wozniak, accompanied with a letter from Steve Jobs, will tour the US before sale.

This Apple I's motherboard is signed by Steve Wozniak - image credit: Bonhams.

In July 2026, a working Apple I was sold at auction for $499,363, beating its predicted $300,000. Now Bonhams' auction house is estimating $500,000 to $800,000 for its working model, known as the Hatfield Apple I.

It's called the Hatfield one because it was originally bought from Apple in 1976 by enthusiast Fred Hatfield. Bonhams' estimate is based on that recent sale of another working Apple I, plus two extra elements.

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Trust fall: TSMC's relationship with Apple is something Intel struggles to match

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:12:18 +0000

Intel's loss of Apple's chip custom during the Apple Silicon era was due to Apple trusting TSMC more. Years later, it's a lesson that Intel hasn't taken to heart.

An Intel worker holding a chip - Image Credit: Intel

Apple's transition from Intel chips to those of its own design in 2020 was a big blow to the U.S. chip maker. It was a move that was not only hugely beneficial to Apple but also to TSMC, which handled the manufacturing of Apple Silicon.

While President Donald Trump announced in June that Apple has agreed to work with Intel to produce some of its chips on U.S. soil, it isn't really a homecoming for Apple.

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How organized crime steals millions through an Apple gift card scam

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:38:02 +0000

A scam draining Apple gift cards is spreading worldwide. While some perpetrators are being caught, you need to protect yourself.

Apple gift cards are being targeted by organized crime worldwide - image credit: Apple.

Gift card scams have existed for as long as there have been gift cards, but usually it's bad actors tricking users into paying huge sums with them. A New South Wales investigation has brought to light a different scam that is used for money laundering, and even funds human trafficking.

According to ABC News Australia, the scam works first by Apple and other gift cards being stolen from supermarket shelves. The codes from those cards are then taken and the cards put back on the shelves.

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M6 Mac mini vs M1 Mac mini: original Apple Silicon versus the new

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:48:16 +0000

Apple's new M6 Mac mini is shipping soon, and a giant leap over Apple's first Apple Silicon Mac mini. Here's how much has changed.

M6 Mac mini [left], M1 Mac mini [right]

After the introduction of the M5 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, it was inevitable for Apple to bring the upgrade over to the desktop versions. That means the Mac mini has been given the spec-bump treatment once again.

However, it's not just bringing the Mac mini to the M5 level. Apple instead took the opportunity to bring it to the M6 level.

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Developers can stop supporting Intel Macs, says Apple

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:06:30 +0000

Apple has notified developers that they will no longer be required to make their apps compatible with Intel Macs, while also confirming that Intel-only apps will not run after macOS 27.

The much-missed Mac Pro was the last Mac to switch from Intel to Apple Silicon

The forthcoming macOS Tahoe is the last release that will run on Intel-based Macs, and that will run Intel-only apps. It's not a surprise, as Apple has been clear about this transition since it began the move to Apple Silicon back in 2020.

Now, though, it has released an updated support document about the transition, and also emailed developers directly. Headed "Upcoming changes to Rosetta support for Intel-based macOS apps," the support document says "we're now concluding this transition" from Intel to Apple Silicon.

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Leaker battle: will iPhone 18 Pro come in silver or not?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:28:23 +0000

Following a claim that Apple is dropping silver as an iPhone 18 Pro color, another leaker has shown a silver component. And suggests that it's another popular color that will be dropped instead.

Purported iPhone 18 Pro components including (top) one in silver - image credit: Sonny Dickson.

Whether you call it silver or consider it a kind of light grey, Fixed Focus Digital claims Apple won't use it for the iPhone 18 Pro. The leaker also insists that there will be just three colors, and now a rival leaker may have backed up that part.

Generally reliable leaker Sonny Dickson has shown an image with three of the same iPhone 18 Pro components, just in different colors. Dickson has made no further comment, but he didn't need to since one of the colors is indeed silver.

Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible

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Inside Apple Maps - How to get the most out of your iPhone's navigation app

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:04:44 +0000

After an incredibly rough start, Apple Maps is one of the most frequently used apps on the iPhone. Here's all you need to know about using it in iOS 26, and how it all got started.

Apple Maps

Navigation apps are a common feature of modern operating systems and the mobile device experience. Getting users from A to B is an important task, and one that has been perfected by a few navigation apps, such as Apple Maps and Google Maps.

Apple Maps is built into iOS and does what you would expect from an app of its type. Opening it up presents a view of your immediate local area, and you can quickly look up things to travel to, and then be guided to them.

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Tilta Khronos iPhone 17 Pro Max photography kit review: keeping the future-proofed promise

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:27 +0000

If you're an avid iPhone photographer or videographer, you know that the right gear can transform a shot. Tilta Khronos is the answer for long-term use, even across iPhone generations.

Tilta Khronos iPhone 17 Pro Max photography kit review

I previously reviewed the Tilta Khronos iPhone camera system while connected to an iPhone 16 Pro Max. It was a fascinating system with a price aimed at pros, but one problem stood out — future proofing.

I'll say it here at the top so I'm not beating around the bush too much. Tilta Khronos has solved the future-proofing problems presented when buying expensive iPhone camera gear.

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Apple Maps updates 'Lake Ontario' to 'Lake America' for US users

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:37:24 +0000

Following pressure from President Donald Trump and a change to the GNIS, Apple Maps has been updated, renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America.

Lake Ontario is now shown as Lake America for Apple Maps users in the United States

Apple Maps was drawn into the middle of a trade disagreement between the United States and Canada, by President Trump changing the name of one of the Great Lakes. After being contacted by Trump and nudged to do so, Apple has now updated Maps to update the name of Lake Ontario.

Users searching for Lake Ontario will now be greeted by a sight of "Lake America." There was a short in-between where searches for "Lake America" would show Lake Ontario on the map but Lake America in the search results.

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Apple CEO John Ternus gets a big pay raise through fiscal 2027

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 21:38:07 +0000

Tim Cook was paid approximately $74.3 million through 2025 with his salary and stock grants and bonuses, while new CEO John Ternus will make about $58 million across fiscal 2027 before bonuses are even calculated.

John Ternus isn't making quite as much as Tim Cook in the new CEO role

The Apple CEO transition has finally occurred with Tim Cook stepping into the Executive Chairman position and John Ternus taking over. While their respective pays have very little to do with the day-to-day business, they are still interesting to note.

According to a report from Bloomberg, John Ternus will be paid a $3 million annual salary with a stock grant targeting a $55 million value in 2027. Cook, on the other hand, will be taking a slight pay cut at a $2 million salary and a $45 million stock package.

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Apple Maps bring up Lake Ontario if you search for 'Lake America'

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:58:03 +0000

Apple has started to make changes to the Lake Ontario listing in Apple Maps, with searches for "Lake America" coming up with the Great Lake.

Lake America searches come up with Lake Ontario in Apple Maps in the US

The ongoing political tiff between the United States and Canada over the identity of a body of water is starting to affect Apple Maps. While Lake Ontario hasn't yet been updated to have the name of "Lake America," as mandated by U.S. President Donald Trump, there are signs of it starting to happen.

Searches on iPhones in the U.S for "Lake America" come up with the listing for Lake Ontario. The details show it as having the address Lake America, NY, United States.

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Surgeons keep finding reasons to use the Apple Vision Pro

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:34:48 +0000

The first surgery using Stryker's SportSuite Vision app on Apple Vision Pro has been completed at Duke Health, demonstrating its potential in the operating room.

What surgeons see while using the Apple Vision Pro with SportSuite Vision | Image credit: Stryker

On Tuesday, medical technology company Stryker announced that a hip arthroscopy had been performed at Duke Health using its SportSuite Vision app on Apple Vision Pro. SportSuite Vision allows surgeons to view the operating room while placing digital tools, including arthroscopic and CT imaging, within their field of view.

Typically, arthroscopic procedures require surgeons to reference multiple displays positioned around the operating room. SportSuite Vision displays that information through the Apple Vision Pro, reducing awkward bending and twisting and streamlining the surgical process.

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New Beam Ultra & Ace Ultra arrive with AI-powered Sonos 27

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:55:04 +0000

Sonos has introduced the Beam Ultra soundbar and Ace Ultra headphones alongside Sonos 27, a rebranding of its audio platform that adds AI assistants and ChatGPT music control.

New Sonos Ace Ultra headphones

The $699 Beam Ultra and $449 Ace Ultra launch alongside the rebranded Sonos 27 audio platform. Optional AI controls include Sonos 27voice and support for outside assistants such as ChatGPT through Sonos 27mcp.

Updated app navigation and Sonos 27mcp Early Access begin rolling out September 8. Ace Ultra's headphone linking feature follows as an opt-in Early Access feature on September 29.

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John Ternus addresses staff as he takes over as Apple CEO

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:43:03 +0000

New Apple CEO John Ternus has emailed all staff with a memo thanking them for making the company what it is today, and giving a first hint at his plans for the future.

John Ternus has been addressing Apple staff as he starts his tenure as CEO - image credit: Apple.

Following Tim Cook's farewell email to staff, his successor John Ternus has begun his tenure as CEO by emailing all Apple staff worldwide. Unsurprisingly, he thanks Tim Cook and welcomes how his predecessor is remaining with the company in a new role.

Team,
Today, on my first day as CEO, I just wanted to send a quick note to thank everyone for the warm wishes. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to Tim for sharing so much of his knowledge and experience during this transition, and more importantly, for everything he contributed to Apple over the years. We're so lucky to have had a CEO who led with his values and with such decency and humanity. We are all better for it, and I'm so grateful he'll be our executive chairman.
I'm honored to be stepping into this role at what is truly the greatest company in the world, and I am so excited about everything we have in store. We have a huge launch next week that's going to be phenomenal. Thanks for everything you've all done to make it possible.
I'm just as excited about what lies beyond that, including the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven't even imagined yet that we'll dream up and create together. There's no team in the world I'd rather build the future with.
More to come. In the meantime, thanks for your excellent work!
John

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Luca Maestri isn't running Apple's Corporate Services anymore

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:50:29 +0000

More executive changes are happening at Apple as Ternus takes over, with former CFO Luca Maestri moving on from managing the company's Corporate Services.

Luca Maestri - Image Credit: Apple

Luca Maestri was the chief financial officer at Apple under Tim Cook, but switched roles at the end of 2024 to become Vice President of Corporate Services. With Cook out, Maestri has also taken the opportunity to change his portfolio of work.

According to sources of Bloomberg, Maestri left his Corporate Services position in the last few weeks. He has not left the company, however, as he is still on the payroll.

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It might be trivial to make custom-fit AirPods in the future

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:06:41 +0000

Apple has been continuing to research AirPod design in the hunt for the best fit for most users, but now it may have a way to personalize the earbuds for every individual wearer. The question is how to get precise ear measurements for millions of users.

Detail from the patent showing that fabric AirPods would still retain the basic shape of the current models - image credit: Apple.

As AirPods and AirPods Pro have continued to improve their sound quality, Apple has also attempted to make them fit better in users' ears. Now a newly-granted patent called "Fabric-based earbuds" proposes the novel solution of customizing every pair for every buyer.

"An electronic device with a three-dimensional sensor may be used to capture three-dimensional images of one or both of the user's ears," says the patent. "The three-dimensional ear images may be provided to computing equipment that analyzes the images to determine the dimensions of the ear such as tragus and antitragus dimensions and concha dimensions."

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John Ternus says 'hello' in his X account's first post

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:34:59 +0000

Apple CEO John Ternus has joined X, with his first tweet of "hello" inevitably becoming a very popular post as he makes a rare social move.

@JohnTernus on X.

The CEOs of Apple tend to be social people, and in modern times that means having social media accounts. As such, that means new CEO John Ternus has to get one too.

The X account for @johnternus is now live and visible, coinciding with his first official day in the Apple driving seat.

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Perplexity claims to protect privacy by splitting AI tasks between local and cloud models.

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:21:44 +0000

Perplexity has launched what it calls hybrid compute for its Mac app, meaning that it should automatically detect sensitive information and processes it locally while the rest of a user's task benefits from cloud computing.

When Perplexity detects personal information such as names and phone numbers in a file it's processing, it should stop to tell the user - image credit: Perplexity.

Following the company's March 2026 announcement that its app can control other Mac apps, Perplexity has launched an update that it says gives users privacy and performance. Hybrid Compute sees the Perplexity Mac app determine for itself what constitutes personal information, and it automatically routes that to on-device AI processing.

Introducing hybrid compute in Perplexity Computer.

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Apple still hasn't started building its North Carolina campus

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:06:24 +0000

Apple promised a billion dollars of investment and ultimately 3,000 new jobs for North Carolina in 2021. But the company does not appear to have hired one person, nor even broken ground for its proposed campus.

Raleigh, North Carolina, where Apple's campus is still due to be built.

Apple officially announced that it would be building a campus in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park back in 2021, but it was planned even earlier than that. As early as 2018, Apple was believed to be negotiating to build.

According to Business Journal, however, the land remains completely undeveloped. It's claimed that inspectors from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality recently found no construction activity at all.

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Lightest color at risk of removal from iPhone 18 Pro's roster

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:25:48 +0000

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may ship in only three colors once again, as a questionable leaker believes one of four colors may not make it to launch.

If a leaker is right, the lightest color of iPhone will disappear for the iPhone 18 Pro generation.

Apple's announcement of the "Surprise and Shine" event on September 9 means the launch of new models is not far away. Even as time counts down to that event, the rumor mill is still coming up with ways to spoil the launch ahead of time.

In the newest claim from Weibo on Tuesday, serial leaker Fixed Focus Digital has declared that the selection of colors Apple will use for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may be slimmer than previously rumored. Rather than four, the account says there may only be three.

Rumor Score: 🙄 Unlikely

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Amazon's M5 Pro Mac mini preorder discount extends into September

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:04:16 +0000

Apple's M5 Pro Mac mini is eligible for a $30 preorder discount at Amazon leading up to its official Sept. 22 release.

Grab a preorder discount on Apple's new M5 Pro Mac mini.

Apple's 2026 Mac mini is the number one new release in Amazon's Mini Computer category, and the Apple reseller's preorder discount makes it even more enticing.

Secure your spot in line by picking up the M5 Pro model for $1,669.99, a $30 discount off MSRP.

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It's not our fault if you can't keep trade secrets, OpenAI tells Apple

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:39:41 +0000

We talked to an attorney about OpenAI's claims that Apple didn't protect trade secrets sufficiently, so they were fair game. That probably won't work out that well for OpenAI.

The lawsuit between Apple and OpenAI continues with another rebuttal filing from the ChatGPT maker.

OpenAI has responded to Apple's latest filing about the theft of confidential information, by filing its own rebuttal which again accuses the company of trying to stop employees leaving. According to Reuters, OpenAI is now also calling out Apple for being behind on AI.

"[Employees] can leave a company like Apple that has struggled to adopt AI and move to an exciting startup that builds innovative products," says OpenAI in its new filing. "Apple may not like those choices. But it cannot claim those choices are unlawful, and it cannot use its own sloppy procedures to blame others for its own mess."

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Apple updates its leadership page as John Ternus becomes CEO

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:05:51 +0000

Apple's website listing its executives has had its biggest change in years, as John Ternus and Tim Cook both get new roles, but their biographies have been expanded and certain chiefs get new responsibilities.

Apple's leadership page has been updated with the company's new CEO - image credit: Apple.

The most obviously required change to the leadership page is the move of John Ternus up to the top spot, now that he is Apple's CEO. Unsurprisingly, Tim Cook's job title has also changed, with him appearing as Executive Chair in the Board of Directors section at the bottom of the page.

But then that Board of Directors section has now added head shot photographs of all nine people involved. That also means that John Ternus gets a second photo.

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Apple pulls PCIe 6.0 claims from new Mac Studio's spec sheets

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:56:42 +0000

Apple has quietly tried to correct the specifications of its new Mac Studio, removing references to PCIe 6.0 from its promotional material.

Mac Studio

During the launch of its new products, Apple typically includes references to bleeding-edge technologies and the device's bleeding-edge specifications. For the new Mac Studio, it's correcting a mistaken spec.

Spotted by MacGeneration, references to PCIe Gen 6 have been removed from press releases relating to the new M5 Ultra Mac Studio. While it previously mentioned the use of PCIe 6.0 powering its fast storage, the releases now say it has a "next-generation SSD architecture."

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Intel to Apple Silicon, Cook to Ternus - Apple is pulling off another major transition

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:01:52 +0000

While Tim Cook's legacy and John Ternus's effectiveness will be studied for years, right now Apple is making a change of CEO seem effortless. But never doubt that this will be a sea change for the company, eventually.

Tim Cook (right) and his successor John Ternus - images credit: Apple.

No question, John Ternus really became Apple's CEO long before his official start date of September 1, 2026. It's not as if Tim Cook went on gardening leave but this is not a job with a simple cutoff date.

Instead, it's parallel running for a time, then it mixes from all Tim Cook to all John Ternus over at least many months. There is no possibility, for instance, that it was Tim Cook's decision to lay off Apple Vision Pro staff.

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How to view translated lyrics in Apple Music

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:04:29 +0000

Apple's iOS 26 brought some new features to Apple Music. Here's how to view both Lyric Translations and Lyric Pronunciation.

How to view Lyrics Pronunciation in Apple Music

In iOS 26, Apple Music has gained a couple of pretty neat new features. While you've been able to view lyrics in Apple Music for a while now, the company has expanded the feature to offer Lyrics Pronunciation and Lyrics Translation.

If you've always wanted to sing along with your favorite foreign songs, Apple Music has got your back. Lyrics Pronunciation will offer phonetic guides to make it easier to sing without needing to know a foreign language.

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uGreen NASync DXP4800 Pro review: Sweet spot of price & performance

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:53:04 +0000

At $679.99, the four-bay uGreen NASync DXP4800 Pro NAS is a capable mid-range NAS for creators and small teams in the Apple ecosystem, with an excellent value proposition.

uGreen NASync DXP4800 Pro

uGreen has built out its NAS range quickly since entering the category. AppleInsider has covered uGreen NAS hardware before, including the DXP4800 GT.

The DXP4800 Pro sits above the GT and Plus in the four-bay lineup. It pairs a six-core Intel chip with generous memory headroom.

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Apple ends hardware support for three Intel MacBook models

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:30:28 +0000

Apple has ended official hardware support for three Intel MacBook models from 2017 and 2018, leaving owners to turn to third-party repair options.

Apple's MacBook lineup continues to evolve, and some are aging out as Apple Silicon takes over

The first is the 13-inch 2017 MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The most recent compatible OS is macOS Ventura, which was released in 2022.

Second is Apple's 2018 Retina MacBook Air. It can only be updated to macOS Sonoma, putting it two macOS releases behind at the time of publication.

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New evidence shows OpenAI's trade secret theft & destruction of evidence, says Apple

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:24:54 +0000

Apple has been urging the court to require expedited discovery, and information discovered on Chang Liu's work MacBook suggests OpenAI is actively destroying evidence.

Apple has sued OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft

OpenAI poached over 400 employees from Apple to work on AI projects, and two were called out in a trade secret theft lawsuit in July. Apple has suggested the case needs urgent attention, and that every delay causes more harm.

According to a new filing from Apple on Monday, the MacBook used by Chang Liu has a lot of evidence that has allegedly been ignored by defendants so far. OpenAI has been pushing back on Apple's attempts for expedited discovery, which Apple now asserts could be due to an active attempt to destroy evidence.

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AI needs more Macs, but not for the reason you might assume

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:39:42 +0000

The Mac isn't selling as fast as Apple can make them because of artificial intelligence needs as some would have you believe, but AI is giving businesses plenty of reasons to buy more of them.

Why AI is increasing, not driving, demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio

You may have noticed that the lead times on both the Mac mini and the Mac Studio have been a bit much over the last year or so. In fact, right now, if you wanted to buy a fully maxed-out Mac Studio, there's a 10- to 12-week wait.

There's also an $18,299 price tag before taxes. Just saying.

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Eighth iOS 27, macOS 27 developer betas arrive for testing

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:20:55 +0000

Apple has moved on to its eighth round of developer betas for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and macOS 27, as the September special event gets ever closer.

An earlier iOS 27 beta screen

The eighth round of the Apple Developer Beta program has arrived for the upcoming iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 releases, expected to ship in September.

The eighth builds come after the seventh, which arrived on August 24. The sixth was Apple brought out on August 17, and the fifth round took place on August 10.

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Apple Fellow Phil Schiller no longer working on App Store or events

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:07:34 +0000

Apple Fellow Phil Schiller is reducing his workload at Apple, with the long-time executive no longer in charge of the App Store and managing product events.

Apple Fellow Phil Schiller

Phil Schiller became an "Apple Fellow" in 2020 but still led Apple's App Store and Apple Events in the specially-created role. Six years later, things are changing.

The 66-year-old executive, who was formerly Apple's SVP of marketing, made the decision in the last few days of the Tim Cook premiership. Bloomberg reports people familiar with the matter found out about his choice, which has yet to be officially announced by Apple.

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Tim Cook signs off as CEO with thanks to staff and a tribute to John Ternus

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:02:59 +0000

On his last day as CEO of Apple, Tim Cook has sent a memo to every employee thanking them for what the company has achieved. Here's what he said.

Tim Cook - image credit: Apple.

Tim Cook had his going away party back on August 24, 2026, and in truth he's been steadily stepping back from his CEO role since at least April when his successor was announced. But now in his last hours leading the company, Cook has sent a heartfelt and optimistic memo to all staff.

Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn't let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you've sent my way, for the way you've shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here.
It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that's the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our "dent in the universe," as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim

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Save $500 on Apple's M5 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro during early Labor Day Sale

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:49:34 +0000

Amazon's early Labor Day sales are heating up on MacBook Pros, with a variety of configurations, including M5 Max models, up to $500 off.

Save $500 on Apple's M5 Max MacBook Pro - Image credit: Apple

Amazon's MacBook Pro sale includes discounts on a number of configurations from Apple's current lineup, but we're following this $500 markdown on the M5 Max 16-inch spec. Pick up the laptop in your choice of Space Black or Silver for $3,899 after the markdown, with delivery as soon as tomorrow for Prime members.

Save $500 on M5 Max 16" MacBook Pro

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White House really wants Apple to change 'Lake Ontario' to 'Lake America' now

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:41:08 +0000

The Trump administration has reached out to Apple directly to get Apple Maps changed now from Lake Ontario to "Lake America." It's going to happen, just on Apple's schedule.

Apple Maps showing Lake Ontario, before the name changed.

The battle for Lake Ontario has taken another step in President Trump's favor. In an international spat over trade with Canada, U.S. President Trump declared that the name of Lake Ontario should instead be Lake America.

So far, this has resulted in overt gestures such as Canada putting up a new sign near the lake, insisting it is Lake Ontario "Now and Always." Somehow, the online change has taken longer, but Apple is about to catch up, reports Reuters.

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M5 Max vs. M1 Max Mac Studio: Apple's workhorse is better than ever

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:56:17 +0000

Apple's M5 Max chip has finally made its way to the Mac Studio. Here's how the updated model compares to the original M1 Max variant.

M5 Max Mac Studio vs. M1 Max Mac Studio: A lot has changed in four years.

Back in 2022, the Mac Studio debuted as a versatile desktop, geared toward creative professionals. Apple took the M1 Max chip from the MacBook Pro, put it in an oversized Mac mini enclosure, and we got the Mac Studio.

Four years later, little has changed, at least design-wise. The M5 Max Mac Studio effectively uses the same aluminum casing, with more or less the same assortment of ports.

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Both Tim Cook & John Ternus are the right guys in the right place, at the right time

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:29:54 +0000

For one more day, Tim Cook is still the CEO of Apple. Despite foibles, he was the right man in the right place to make Apple the financial and cultural juggernaut it is today. John Ternus is too.

Tim Cook, and Apple Park. He's not leaving, but he won't be CEO anymore

Since my first Apple II in 1979, there have been many Apple CEOs, many philosophies behind Apple. Jobs' was apparent in the 80s, and then again in his iCEO/CEO days.

And then he got sick. He made his last, best decision for Apple before he did.

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