Apple is planning to introduce new products on Tuesday, October 13, Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak announced today. It won't be a traditional Apple event, but Apple has invited some members of the media to New York City to get some hands-on time with whatever's introduced.


Those of us not invited to the New York Experience are likely to be introduced to the new devices via press releases that'll come out on launch day. Since the NYC visits begin at 9:00 a.m. on the 13th, that may be when the product announcements will happen.

The video Joswiak shared gives us a major hint at what's coming, and as expected, it's home-related. We're expecting at least three new devices, including one all-new product.

Home Hub

We've been hearing rumors about Apple's home hub for months because it's been ready to ship and waiting on Siri AI. It's got a 6-inch display, and there are two varieties. One is meant to be mounted on the wall, and one is meant to be used with a half-dome speaker base.

‌Siri‌ AI is a central part of the hub, and they'll basically give users a way to get information and answers from ‌Siri‌. The hub will run a version of tvOS that could be called homeOS, with familiar Apple apps and widgets. It'll be a central home device, showing members of the family upcoming calendar events and other personalized information, along with offering an easy way to control connected smart home devices.

It will display the time when not in use, and it will be customizable so you can choose the widgets and apps you want to see. It has a camera so it can be used to make video calls, and it'll play videos too so you can put it in the kitchen and follow along with a recipe. Presence sensors and the camera will be able to tell the hub which member of the family is nearby, and it will show a custom interface for each person. It will use facial recognition for identification.

Pricing on the hub could start at around $350, and Apple envisions users putting several of the hubs in their homes.

HomePod mini

The HomePod mini is getting a refresh with new color options and a faster processor, plus an N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. We're expecting the ‌HomePod mini‌ to offer new ‌Siri‌ AI features.

Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K is also getting an upgraded chip and more RAM. It could have the A19 or A19 Pro and either 8GB or 12GB RAM. It too will get the N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, and it is also expected to offer a full ‌Siri‌ AI experience.

Other Possibilities

There are more devices we're expecting Apple to launch before the end of the year, but Apple is going to hold another product launch on October 27 to introduce new Macs and the OLED iPad mini.

• iPad mini - The ‌iPad mini‌ is getting a major upgrade with an ‌OLED‌ display, improved waterproofing, and a faster chip. Expect it to be more expensive.


• OLED MacBook - Apple is planning to launch an ‌OLED‌ touchscreen MacBook, which could be a MacBook Pro or a new MacBook "Ultra." It's going to have the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as the current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, but it will have an all-new display and a thinner, lighter design. It's going to be a premium product that will likely cost more than the current 14-inch and 16-inch high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.


• iMac - Apple is working on an M6 iMac.


• 14-inch MacBook Pro - We could get a 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an M6 chip before the year ends.

We'll have full coverage of all of Apple's announcements on the 13th, plus we'll be sharing last-minute rumors ahead of the launch so make sure to stay tuned.
This article, "Apple's October 13 Launch: What's Coming" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anthropic today updated its usage policy (via The Verge) to bar users from subjecting Claude to "sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior."


Anthropic says the abuse rule is meant to apply only in extreme cases, where users "repeatedly act cruelly" toward the AI models with "no discernible purpose." The rule does not apply to ordinary user frustration, pushback, dark creative themes, or model testing and research.

Claude models are already able to end such conversations with persistently abusive users, and ending the conversation will continue to be the main enforcement tool. When Claude ends a chat, no further messages can be sent in that conversation, but other chats are not affected.

Anthropic initially gave Claude the option to end a conversation in August 2025 while researching AI welfare. At the time, Anthropic said it was unsure whether Claude has moral status, but the company wanted low-cost ways to reduce risks to Claude. Anthropic found that Claude Opus 4 had a "robust and consistent aversion to harm." The model demonstrated a preference against dealing with dangerous tasks, apparent distress when speaking with users seeking abusive conversations, and a tendency to end harmful conversations when allowed to do so.

Anthropic's usage policy has been reorganized to bring together related clauses, and several other rules have changed.

• Deceptive campaigns - A new section on deceptive campaigns aggregates rules against political and commercial fraud and disinformation, prohibiting fake reviews, astroturfing, fake sites, and bots acting as humans.


• Elections - A narrower elections section prohibits deceiving voters and interfering with voting.


• Weapons - Claude can't be used to develop weapons software or components, and a new rule bans modifying biological or chemical agents to increase lethality or transmissibility. Users are also prohibited from using Claude to arm drones and unmanned systems.


• Law enforcement - Law enforcement rules have been rewritten. Claude can't decide or suggest who to investigate, arrest, charge, or prosecute. Tracking people without consent is not allowed, and there is a new ban on building surveillance tools. Doxxing is also prohibited.


• Physical actions - A new section on physical actions says that if Claude is controlling hardware that could harm someone, a qualified person has to watch the work and be ready to stop it if needed.


• Harmful content - There is a new rule that bans creating, sharing, or threatening to share non-consensual intimate imagery and the tools used to make it.

Most of the changes clarify Anthropic's existing rules and are targeted at misuse Anthropic has tracked. Anthropic says it found state media outlets, government propaganda offices, and commercial firms were using Claude to run networks of fake accounts and fabricated news sites, leading to the new deceptive campaigns section.

The new policy takes effect on November 12. More information on the changes can be found on Anthropic's website, as can the full usage policy.
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Apple will introduce new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models and an ‌OLED‌ iPad mini "on or around" Tuesday, October 27, reports Bloomberg. The launch will also include an M6 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ and an M6 iMac.


The October 27 follows Apple's October 13 debut of a new smart home hub, a revamped Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini. Earlier this month, MacRumors reported that Apple would do two rounds of product launches during October.

Bloomberg says both the October 13 and October 27 product launches will include "an online video presentation" as well as a hands-on experience for members of the media.

Apple has been working on an ‌OLED‌ MacBook for several years now, and while some rumors indicated it could be named the MacBook Ultra, Bloomberg suggests the 14-inch and 16-inch notebooks will be in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ family. The devices will be thinner and lighter than current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models and they will have ‌OLED‌ displays, touchscreen capabilities, and a Dynamic Island.

The ‌iPad mini‌ will have a landscape camera for video calls, a redesigned speaker system, and a new ‌OLED‌ display.
This article, "Apple to Launch Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro and OLED iPad mini on October 27" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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CEO John Ternus is making changes to Apple's leadership, reports Bloomberg. Apple veteran Steve Smith will take over mergers and acquisitions and corporate development, which was previously led by Adrian Perica. M&A is an important team at Apple, handling acquisitions and arrangements like the deal Apple had with OpenAI to add ChatGPT to Siri.


Perica will stay at Apple to oversee iCloud, Fitness+, and Apple News, which he has done since 2023, and will now report to App Store and services lead Eddy Cue. While Perica reported to Tim Cook in his M&A role, Smith will report to Apple CFO Kevan Parekh as M&A moves back to the finance division.

Carson Oliver is being promoted to vice president of the ‌App Store‌, and he has been in charge of the ‌App Store‌ since Phil Schiller stepped down from his role as ‌App Store‌ chief in late August. Oliver is reporting to Cue, who is now overseeing the ‌App Store‌ and other services.

According to Bloomberg, Cue is assessing potential successors, and Perica is a lead candidate. Apple Music lead Oliver Schusser is also in the running.
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Apple today announced an upcoming product launch that will take place on Tuesday, October 13. We are expecting Apple's announcement to focus on new smart home products, including the long-rumored smart home hub, a new Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini.


The home hub is an all-new device that's like a cross between an iPad and a HomePod. It's rumored to have a 6-inch square display, and it's designed as a multi-person device to control smart home products, place FaceTime calls, watch videos, get news and weather information, stay up to date on calendar events, and more. It will integrate with Siri AI, and voice will be the main method of interaction.

Apple envisions people installing a hub in multiple rooms in the house. There will be a version meant to be mounted on the wall and a version with a half-dome speaker base, similar in design to the iMac G4. A camera and a presence sensor will detect when a person is in the room, and the device will be able to tell who it is to show a customized interface with widgets and apps. Pricing could be around $350.


The ‌HomePod mini‌ is going to get new colors, an N1 networking chip for improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a faster S-series processor that will support ‌Siri‌ AI. The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is going to get an A19 or A19 Pro chip, a RAM upgrade, the same N1 chip as the ‌HomePod mini‌, and an upgraded ‌Siri‌ Remote.

There is an OLED iPad mini in development, and it could come during the home event. The ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to be more water-resistant with a faster chip and the first ‌OLED‌ display in a smaller tablet size.

Timing on the October 13 product launch is unknown, and it is also unclear if there will be an event component or if the devices will debut via press release. Some members of the media have been invited to an "Apple Experience" set to take place in Tribeca, New York on October 13 at 9:00 a.m. Attendees will likely get hands-on time with the new products Apple introduces.

Rumors suggest Apple has several Macs coming before the end of the year, but those could be introduced at later in the year instead of during the home product launch.

This article, "Apple Product Launch Announced for October 13: 'Welcome Home'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Since 2023, Apple's newer iPhones have had an 80 percent charge limit for those who want to extend battery lifespan. Charging to 80 percent instead of 100 percent is supposed to put less stress on the battery, improving longevity.


For the last three years, I've used that setting on my iPhone. I started with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, then did the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and most recently, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

After 12 months at an 80 percent maximum charge, my iPhone 17 Pro Max is at 97 percent maximum capacity with a cycle count of 277.


Last year, my iPhone 16 Pro Max was at 94 percent capacity after 12 months, and in 2024, my iPhone 15 Pro Max was also at 94 percent capacity.

During the year I tested the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max, I tried not to let the battery dip below 20 percent. This year, I did the same thing, but I also tried to do more charging over USB-C than Qi2 or MagSafe. I'm not sure if that helped, but 97 percent capacity is the best result I've had yet with the charge limit turned on.

I don't know how my battery result compares to others, but if you've kept yours at 100 percent, you can compare your capacity to mine to see if there's any real difference.

Apple transitioned to aluminum and added vapor chamber cooling with the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max, and I did think my iPhone spent less time uncomfortably warm than the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max. It may be that the vapor chamber cooling made the biggest difference and limiting wireless charging didn't matter.

I don't use the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max as my main iPhones anymore, but I do use them daily as test devices. They still have the 80 percent limit turned on, so I can share some longer-term battery results.

• iPhone 15 Pro Max (36 months) - 88%, 369 cycles


• ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max (24 months) - 93%, 343 cycles


• ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max (12 months) - 97%, 277 cycles

Last year, my ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max hit 299 cycles by September 24. This year, I'm only at 277 cycles. It's nearly two weeks later than I usually report results too, so the larger battery meant less charging.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max has a bigger battery and faster charging than the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max, so an 80 percent charge limit wasn't as difficult to live with as it was in the past. I rarely ran out of battery, though I did still bring a battery pack with me most places. My favorite battery packs right now are the ones with built-in USB-C cables, especially those that can attach to my iPhone magnetically but charge it over USB-C. It's faster charging that's still convenient. I also continue to be a fan of the super-slim battery packs that add little bulk and weight to an iPhone.

For the iPhone 15 Pro Max and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max, I didn't think sacrificing a fifth of my battery was worth the capacity I ended up with, and that's still mostly the case. I'm guessing my 97 percent capacity isn't too far off from the battery health readings on iPhones that didn't have the charge limit turned on.

As for older devices, my two-year-old ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max only lost 1 percent capacity from 2025 to 2026, and my iPhone 15 Pro Max didn't lose any capacity at all during the year. Both phones had fewer battery cycles (44 and 17, respectively), but they're holding capacity even after sitting dead for short periods of time throughout the year.

The most hands-off way to manage battery health is to use Optimized Battery Charging, since it minimizes time spent at 100 percent battery while still charging to full. Setting an 80 percent limit and then turning it off on days you need 100 percent is also a good compromise that could save you battery capacity over time. Apple has 90 and 95 percent options too, which might be a better choice.

My iPhone 18 Pro Max is already set to 80 percent, so I'll check in again in September 2027. I'm going to stick with USB-C charging when I can, and I'm curious how the even bigger battery will affect longevity and what the 80 percent limit is like day to day.

What's your iPhone battery capacity and cycle count? Share it in the comments below and weigh in on whether you think battery charge limits are worthwhile.
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Apple today seeded the second betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2. The software comes a day after Apple provided the third betas to developers.


To get the new betas, you can sign up on Apple's beta testing website. After you're signed up, the betas can be installed through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device.

iOS 27.2 includes the redesigned Health app that Apple introduced at its September iPhone event. It features new Insights and Longevity tabs with more insight into health and fitness data. There's also a Health Age feature that uses your metrics to determine your fitness age vs. your actual age.

In the Apple TV app, there are new profile options, and Siri AI is now available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

There are a few other features in the updates, which are listed in our iOS 27.2 guide.
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Apple is working on a new smart home accessory that will serve as a hub for interacting with Siri AI, controlling HomeKit devices, watching videos, checking the calendar and the weather, and generally offering up useful information to everyone in the household.


This guide aggregates everything that we know about Apple's smart home hub.

Design

Apple's smart home device will somewhat resemble an iPad, and it will have a display-focused design. It is expected to be square rather than rectangular, and it will measure in at 6 inches with quarter-inch black bezels around the edges.

In terms of size, it will look similar to two iPhones that are side-by-side, and it will be about as thick as an iPhone. Apple imagines people having multiples of the hub in different rooms of the house. The device will support touch input for opening apps and controlling connected devices.


Apple is making two versions of the home hub. One will have a 6-inch display and is meant to be mounted on the wall, and the second version has the same 6-inch display and a hemispherical speaker base that looks similar to the iMac G4. The display attaches to the base with a polished metal arm that holds the small screen and allows it to be tilted forward or backward. The base features speaker hole perforations and a rubber bottom for stability.


The wall-mounted version will have a thin square base for the speakers and the mics, and it will sit flush against the wall. Both models will have a 1080p camera on the front for FaceTime calls, authenticating users, and recognizing different people in the home. Apple is planning to release the hub in a gray aluminum finish.

The device has no internal battery and is instead meant to be used while connected to power via USB-C.

Sensors

The smart home hub will be able to determine how close a person is standing to it, adjusting features from there. When no one is nearby, for example, it might show the temperature, but as someone approaches, it could shift to an interface for adjusting the thermostat.

Person detection will likely allow it to be used in smart home automations for doing things like turning on the lights when someone enters a room. The sensor will be able to tell one person from another, and it could recognize hand gestures for longer-range control.

Facial recognition

The home hub will use a Face ID-like feature along with voice for authentication and to identify who is in a room. With the recognition features, the home hub will be able to switch to the profile for the person in the home who is interacting with the device. Each user will have a customizable profile and interface with options to change profiles through the Control Center.

The camera won't be as accurate as Face ID, so voice is an alternative. Apple's HomePod also uses voice recognition for some personalized features. Users will be able to set up secondary authentication with an iPhone for more security, and a visitor mode will hide personal information.

Rumors suggest there is a Mac-style edge light around the screen to offer lighting so the device can identify people in the dark.

Chip

Apple's smart home accessory is expected to use an A18 chip or better for Apple Intelligence support. Given that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ requires 8GB RAM minimum, it will have at least 8GB RAM.

Operating System

Apple's home hub will run an operating system that Apple refers to as "Charismatic" internally, though it could be called homeOS when it launches. It's going to use elements from tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, and it will sync with the iPhone for setup purposes.

Interface

Apple does not plan to create a dedicated App Store for the home hub, but it will come with several apps pre-installed. The main view will be a customizable home screen with widgets that can show the weather, important home controls, photo slideshows, upcoming events, and more. A built-in camera will scan the face of each user, bringing up different apps and a Home Screen for each person.

The interface is something like a cross between watchOS and the iPhone's StandBy mode, with a heavy focus on clock faces and photo slideshows when the device is idle. The ‌Home Screen‌ will feature Apple Watch-like icons, but the apps will have an iPad-like design with a two-panel layout. There will be familiar customization options like pressing and holding to rearrange icons and swiping up to get to the app launcher.

There will be a Widget Gallery that suggests widgets from a linked iPhone. Widgets shown on the device from an iPhone that's connected will only display widget content when the primary user is in the home. A Smart Stack will be available to intelligently rotate through different widget options throughout the day, and the clock will be customizable with a Face Gallery.

The hub will adopt the visual aesthetic of ‌Siri‌ AI, with darker design elements. A software-based dock will be available for launching apps, and the hub will be built around ‌Siri‌ AI.

Apps

Several Apple apps will be installed even though there won't be a dedicated ‌App Store‌. Apps that are rumored:

• Safari


• Apple News


• Apple Music


• Apple Podcasts


• Notes


• Calendar


• Photos


• Home


• Messages


• Reminders


• ‌FaceTime‌

The hub will support integration into ‌HomeKit‌ scenes alongside other smart home products, and it will play videos, so it can be used for things like following along with a recipe when in the kitchen.

Intercom

More than one of the devices can be used throughout the home, and two or more can serve as room-to-room intercoms.

AirPlay

With its built-in speakers, the device will support music playback and it will be able to work as an AirPlay receiver.

homeOS Trademark

Apple appears to be using a shell company to trademark "homeOS" in several countries around the world, with the trademarking kicking off in October 2024. Apple has secured the homeOS trademark in Liechtenstein, and trademarks are pending in the U.S., Argentina, Peru, and more.

Future Smart Home Accessories

Apple is creating an indoor security camera that will connect to the home hub, and it's rumored for 2027. Privacy would be a focus, providing an alternative to cameras from companies like Ring and Nest.

Pricing

Apple's home hub could be priced somewhere around $350, which would make it more expensive than competing products like the Amazon Echo Show.

Launch Date

Apple's smart home hub is rumored to be debuting on October 13 alongside a new Apple TV 4K and a new HomePod mini.

This article, "Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's rumored smart home hub will have different faces users can choose from, some of which are similar to StandBy screens planned for the iPhone Duo. Leaker pdfu shared setup screens of the Photo Face said to be for Apple's upcoming home product.


Based on the images, users can select from different photo collections, memories, or shared albums for the Photo Face, and those photos will be shown on the device's display. Photos are pulled from iCloud, so iCloud Photos needs to be turned on for it to work. Users will be prompted to set up the Photo Face when activating the device.

Pdfu says the Photo Face for the hub is the same as the Photo Face coming to the ‌iPhone Duo‌, and that could explain why Apple hasn't made the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s StandBy mode available in the Xcode simulator yet.

This is the first visual of a home hub face we've seen. The hub is expected to have a 6-inch screen, and it will look similar to an iPad except for the square shape and the base. The hub is rumored to have an iMac G4-like half-dome metal base that connects to the display with an arm.

Prior rumors have said the home hub won't have a full App Store, but it will support apps and widgets like Calendar, Weather, Music, Messages, Reminders, and more. The device will be able to tell when someone is approaching it, and can distinguish between people in the home to show different widgets for each user. It makes sense for the hub to display a StandBy-like interface when it is not in active use.

There will be multiple idle display options to choose from, just like there are now when using the iPhone in StandBy mode. Earlier today, Bloomberg said the home hub interface is "built heavily" around clock displays and photo slideshows, so the Photo Face will likely be an integral part of the device's software.

The home hub is rumored to be debuting on October 13.
This article, "Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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An antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple of blocking tap-to-pay competition is moving forward and will see banks and credit unions able to band together to sue Apple.


U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White this week certified a class in the lawsuit. It will include any U.S. entities that issued any payment card enabled for Apple Pay and paid Apple a fee for ‌Apple Pay‌ transactions on that payment card. He also denied a motion from Apple to exclude expert testimony that plaintiff attorneys allege offers proof Apple has monopoly power over the mobile wallet market.

First filed in 2022, the suit claims Apple illegally collects up to $1 billion annually in fees by preventing rivals from accessing the iPhone's NFC chip to build mobile wallets that would compete with ‌Apple Pay‌. When an iPhone user buys something with a card linked to ‌Apple Pay‌, the card issuer has to pay Apple a 0.15 percent fee for credit cards and half a cent for debit cards, according to the lawsuit. If you make a $1,000 purchase via ‌Apple Pay‌, Apple collects $1.50 from the card issuer.

The complaint alleges that Apple forces card issuers to pay fees by making ‌Apple Pay‌ the only tap-to-pay option. It points to Google's Android, which supports multiple wallets and does not collect a fee from card issuers for contactless payments. It suggests Apple would not be able to continue to charge "substantial fees" if it were forced to support other mobile wallets on Apple devices.

Apple has changed its policies since the lawsuit was filed. As of iOS 18.1, developers are able to offer NFC contactless payments in their apps. Developers have access to the NFC chip in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, the European Economic Area, and many other countries.

Attorneys are seeking repayment of the fees card issuers have paid and injunctive relief to "put an end to Apple's policies."
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The next low-cost iPad will be equipped with an A19 chip, C1X modem, N1 networking chip, and 8GB RAM, according to details found in Apple's code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.


We've heard some of these same specifications in prior rumors, so this is more of a confirmation than a new leak. The ‌iPad‌ 11 has an A16 chip, so the upgrade to the A19 in the 12th-generation ‌iPad‌ will bring a noticeable improvement in performance. More importantly, the A19 supports Apple Intelligence, so the ‌iPad‌ 12 will have all the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and Siri AI features missing from the ‌iPad‌ 11.

The ‌iPad‌ 11 has 6GB RAM, but 8GB RAM is the minimum for ‌Apple Intelligence‌, and the RAM boost will also speed things up.

Apple's C1X modem supports sub–6GHz 5G networks, and it is more efficient than the Qualcomm modem used in the existing ‌iPad‌. The addition of the N1 networking chip will bring support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Though not included in the code, it's possible the ‌iPad‌ 12 will be available in new colors.

There is no word on when Apple will release the new ‌iPad‌, and at this point, we're not expecting it until spring 2027. The current ‌iPad‌ is priced starting at $449 after a June 2026 price hike, and the new model will likely have the same starting price.

There's no low-cost ‌iPad‌ coming this year, but Apple is expected to refresh the iPad mini before the end of October. We discovered new details about the ‌iPad mini‌ just this morning. It will have an A20 Pro chip, a new speaker system, and a landscape front-facing camera. Prior rumors say it will feature an OLED display as the main upgrade.

We also found official images of the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, including its colors. The ‌HomePod mini‌ will come in green, pink, blue, white, and black.
This article, "Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a new Apple Watch Ultra 4. Lululook makes all kinds of accessories for Apple devices, including the Apple Watch. The company has a selection of Apple Watch bands that work well with the new Series 12 and the Ultra 4 models.


Lululook's $129.99 Strata Milanese Band matches the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌. It is made from 99 percent woven grade 5 titanium, and it has a coating that protects it from scratches. The Strata band comes in black and natural finishes, and the titanium is about 40 percent lighter than stainless steel.


The band has a spring-loaded titanium locking mechanism with a side-press button to open it. Lululook says the band will stay in place during workouts and activities from running to swimming. While made for the Ultra, the band works with the larger 44mm to 49mm Apple Watch models, and it comes in medium and large size options to fit wrists from 155mm to 210mm.


For a more casual look, Lululook sells the $36.99 MagDuo Reversible Apple Watch Band. As the name suggests, the band has a dual color scheme, and users can flip between two color options. The exterior of the band features pebble-textured silicone, while the interior is made of soft silicone so it is comfortable to wear all day.


The MagDuo band has a breathable hollow design to keep the wrist cool, and it uses a double-sided magnetic closure. Lululook says the magnet was tested to 1.3kg of pull, and there are extra loops for security.


Colors include Graphite Gray/Driftwood, Cobalt Blue/Mist Blue, Pink/Purple, Black/Orange, Desert Dune/Cream, and Onyx Black/Beige. The MagDuo is compatible with all Apple Watch models, and there are two size options: one for the Apple Watch Ultra and larger-sized Apple Watch models, and one for the smaller Apple Watch models.


Lululook is offering MacRumors readers a discount code on the Apple Watch bands. Just use promo code Macrumors for 10 percent off at checkout.


We have an ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.


Lululook Giveaway
The contest will run from today (September 25) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 2. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after October 2 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
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With macOS Golden Gate, Apple phased out several legacy features and services, cutting support for older devices and accessories. More cuts are coming in macOS 28 as Apple continues to root out lingering Intel features.


Here's everything that's been dropped.

• Support for Intel Macs - ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ is the first version of macOS that runs only on Apple silicon Macs. Intel Macs can't run it and are limited to macOS Tahoe. Apple still plans to offer security updates through fall 2028.


• Boot Camp Assistant - Since ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ doesn't run on Intel Macs, it doesn't support Boot Camp. Apple silicon Macs require virtualization software like Parallels or VMware Fusion to run Windows.


• Rosetta 2 (Temporarily) - Upgrading to ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ removes Rosetta, but if you have an app installed that requires it, you can reinstall it. ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ is the last version of macOS that will have full Rosetta support.


• Apple Filing Protocol - Apple deprecated AFP back in macOS Sequoia 15.5, and there is no AFP client at all in ‌macOS Golden Gate‌.


• Time Capsule Backups - With no support for AFP, Time Capsule no longer works with Macs running ‌macOS Golden Gate‌. Time Capsule requires AFP or SMBv1, but Time Machine backups now use the SMBv2 or SMBv3 protocol.


• AirPort Utility - AirPort Utility is no longer included when you install ‌macOS Golden Gate‌. If you had the app before updating, you can still use it, but Apple makes no guarantee that it still works. AirPort Utility lets users manage AirPort base stations like the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express.

macOS 28, which is expected in fall 2027, will largely drop support for Rosetta 2. Most apps that rely on Rosetta will not open on Macs running macOS 28, though Apple is making an exception for some legacy games that are unmaintained.

In ‌macOS Golden Gate‌, you'll see a warning when using any app that relies on Rosetta, so you're aware that the app won't continue to work in the future without a developer update. You can also see which apps are affected by going to Settings > General > About > Intel-Based Apps and then clicking on Details.
This article, "What's Gone in macOS Golden Gate and What's Next in macOS 28" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today updated its TestFlight app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS to version 4.4.0, adding support for features introduced in the latest software updates and products.


TestFlight for iPhone supports landscape orientation ahead of the iPhone Duo's October launch, though the option is available on all iPhones. TestFlight can now be resized when using iPhone Mirroring on a Mac running macOS 27 with an iPhone running iOS 27.

Apple says the update also includes unspecified stability improvements and bug fixes.

This article, "TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Google today said its digital wardrobe option is available in the Google Photos iOS app in the U.S., India, and Brazil.


Google first announced the feature back in April, but it was limited to Android users until now. The wardrobe option uses AI to pull images of clothing from the Google ‌Photos‌ library, organizing them into a digital closet.


Users can put items together to create outfits and virtually try them on.

The app shows clothing items in a new Wardrobe section in the Collections tab. Clothing can also be viewed in specific categories like tops or bottoms. Items of clothing can be mixed and matched, and the results can be shared with friends or saved to a moodboard.

Google ‌Photos‌ is also getting 15 new templates for Remix, a feature that uses AI to transform images.
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Apple Music is teaming up with Goldenvoice to livestream the Head Trip music festival that's taking place in Indio, California, on October 10 and 11.


Head Trip will feature Calvin Harris, Fisher with Chris Lake, Peggy Gou with Four Tet, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Dom Dolla with Kettama, and more. Tickets to the in-person event started at $499 but have sold out, and only passes starting at $589 are available now.


Music fans who don't want to pay that much or travel to the California desert can instead watch the livestream for free through ‌Apple Music‌.

"Head Trip brings together an extraordinary lineup of artists who are shaping dance and electronic music culture right now," says Stephen Campbell, Global Head of Dance, Electronic Music & DJ Mixes at Apple Music. "Our goal at Apple Music has always been to bring fans closer to the artists, scenes, and dance floors driving this culture forward. Teaming up with Goldenvoice on Head Trip gives us an incredible opportunity to take the energy of this one-of-a-kind festival beyond Indio, giving fans around the world the chance to experience these performances on Apple Music."

Sets from the main stage of the event will be livestreamed across both days of the festival, according to Digital Music News. More information about Head Trip can be found on the festival website.
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watchOS 27.2 could introduce a feature that lets Apple Watch screenshots be previewed with options to share or delete, similar to how screenshots work on the iPhone.


Signs of the feature were found in watchOS 27.2 by code explorer pdfu. The option is hidden behind a feature flag that's not enabled, but it could be introduced in a later watchOS 27.2 beta.


Right now, taking a screenshot on the Apple Watch sends it directly to the iPhone Photos app with no confirmation screen. It's easy to accidentally take a screenshot since it only requires pressing the Digital Crown and side button at the same time.

On the iPhone, taking a screenshot shows either a full-screen preview or a thumbnail preview depending on your settings, but both options let you save, share, or delete the screenshot with a couple taps.

Screenshots on Apple Watch are disabled by default but can be turned on through the Settings app on the watch or the Apple Watch app on iPhone. An option to save or delete screenshots would add more control than a simple on or off toggle.
This article, "watchOS 27.2 Code Hints at iPhone-Style Screenshot Previews" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The new Beats 360 headphones are available for purchase at many Apple Stores around the world as of today. Retailers like Best Buy and Target also have some stock available in stores.


Apple's Beats brand announced the headphones earlier this week after teasing them for several months. The Beats 360 are over-ear headphones with a design similar to the AirPods Max and interchangeable ear cushions so you can swap colors.

Compared with the Beats Studio Pro, the Beats 360 have up to 1.75x more noise cancellation and improved sound quality. Features like Personalized Spatial Audio, Transparency mode, and Adaptive EQ are supported, as are fast pairing and automatic device switching. They have IPX4 sweat and water resistance, making them suitable for the gym.

The Beats 360 work with two kinds of cushions. The Performance Knit memory foam cushions are breathable and meant for working out, while the UltraPlush cushions have a softer, more pillowy feel. The Beats 360 ship with the Performance Knit cushions, and the UltraPlush can be purchased separately.

Beats 360 are priced at $349.99, and for a limited time, Apple is selling add-on ear cushions for a discounted $9.99 price through October 31. Headphone colors include Black, Cloud, Pink, and Sky. The Performance Knit cushions come in Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy, and Volt, while the UltraPlush come in Black and Cloud.
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Apple today shared a video promoting the new parental control features it added in iOS 27.


Apple says Child Accounts are easier to set up in ‌iOS 27‌ and more intuitive to use. Improved controls allow parents to choose the types of apps children have access to, while Ask to Buy lets kids request new apps and games.

Ask to Browse gives parents a way to block or allow the websites children visit in Safari, plus parents can decide who kids can call and message. Communication Safety in Messages and FaceTime detects and blocks both violence and nudity in images and videos.

Time Allowances and Schedules let parents customize what children can access by the day, hour, and activity, with options to limit apps during school hours. There are one-tap controls to pause access entirely during family events like dinnertime or allow unlimited screen time.

Apple's updated parental controls come as the company deals with regulatory pressure over child safety in countries like the UK, U.S., and Australia. The UK has called for device-level controls that keep kids from viewing and sharing inappropriate images, while the U.S. Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act is now in the Senate. Australia has already prohibited children under 16 from creating accounts on certain social media apps.

Apple's new child safety features became available on September 14 with the launch of ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Every device in a Family Sharing group needs to be running the latest software for the Screen Time update to work.
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OpenAI saw disappointing results working with Apple to integrate ChatGPT in Siri, according to court documents filed [PDF] in its ongoing legal fight with Elon Musk's company SpaceXAI (xAI at the time the lawsuit was filed).


Apple added ChatGPT to ‌Siri‌ in December 2024, but users had to go through a multistep opt-in process, which added a layer of friction. By January 2025, OpenAI said the integration was "off to a slow start" and the company cut its forecast for the number of incremental logged-in weekly active users that it expected to get from the partnership.

Much of the filing is redacted, but OpenAI said that by the time Musk's companies filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, "it was clear that Apple's integration of ChatGPT was dramatically underperforming." In a later section of the filing, OpenAI said again that the Apple integration was "persistently underperforming," leading to a March 2026 conversation between Apple and OpenAI that is redacted.

OpenAI asked Apple for a two-year exclusivity period, but Apple refused. The agreement between the two companies explicitly said the deal was non-exclusive and Apple had the right to "integrate products or services that provide the same or similar functionality as [ChatGPT]." Apple told OpenAI that it planned to integrate one provider and then add more, and it made similar statements publicly when announcing the feature. Apple also signed a deal with Google, and Apple's newest models are based on Gemini.

OpenAI's filing disputes many of the claims in the xAI lawsuit. Musk alleged OpenAI and Apple had an exclusive deal and that the agreement harmed xAI's growth and customer acquisition. OpenAI says the contract proves there was no exclusive deal, and even if there were, xAI can't prove harm because the ChatGPT ‌Siri‌ integration just didn't draw many new ChatGPT users.

Even if the Court assumes that Apple users who elect to use ChatGPT through Apple Intelligence are foreclosed from OpenAI's rivals (which they are not), the amount of foreclosure caused by the Agreement is indisputably de minimis. While Plaintiffs' experts declined to calculate foreclosure shares, OpenAI's expert, Dr. Catherine Tucker, calculated the share of GenAI consumers who accessed ChatGPT through Apple Intelligence across multiple metrics using the same data and market definition relied upon by Plaintiffs' experts. On these assumptions, Dr. Tucker found foreclosure shares of [REDACTED] across all metrics, consistent with OpenAI's internal view that Apple Intelligence saw minimal usage.

Musk's companies dropped their claims against Apple earlier this month, leaving OpenAI as the sole defendant in the lawsuit. OpenAI's filing asks the court to toss out xAI's claims prior to the trial planned for January 2027.
This article, "ChatGPT in Siri 'Persistently Underperforming,' Says OpenAI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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