The new HomePod mini 2 can be used as a default speaker on all Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E or later, according to Apple. You can use a single HomePod, or a pair for stereo sound.

The previous-generation HomePod mini can also be used as a Mac's speaker via AirPlay, but it cannot be set as the default audio output. AirPlay can also introduce audio latency.
This article, "HomePod Mini 2 Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors was first to reveal the name "HomeView" last week, after discovering a trademark filing from a secretive shell company that we correctly suspected was linked to Apple.

Apple was likely behind a "homeOS" trademark filing as well, but the company ultimately decided to stick with generic "HomeView software" naming, just like it refers to the HomePod's operating system as "HomePod software." For example, the device will ship with "HomeView software version 27.2."
This article, "RIP, homeOS" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Siri AI support on the new HomePod mini 2 will be "available later" as part of a "future software update," according to Apple. In other words, do not expect Siri AI to be available on the speaker when it launches on Friday, October 30.

Siri AI on the HomePod mini 2 will require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad for requests involving personal context.
This article, "Apple Says HomePod Mini 2 Won't Support Siri AI Right Away" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today said that second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will gain Siri AI in beta with tvOS 27.2.

‌Siri‌ AI on the ‌Apple TV‌ adds conversational entertainment searches, follow-up questions, and personal context through a paired compatible device. Setup requires the Home app's home owner to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with ‌Siri‌ AI enabled and set to a supported language. At launch, ‌Siri‌ AI will support English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
This article, "Older Apple TV 4K Models to Gain Apple Intelligence and Siri AI Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The new Apple TV 4K announced today is even more expensive than the previous model, with U.S. pricing set at $299.

The new Apple TV 4K only has a single configuration available with 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7, and an Ethernet port. The previous model had two separate configurations that were most recently priced at $199 and $249 in the U.S. following an earlier price increase. All in all, the Apple TV 4K's starting price has now gone from $129 to $299 this year.
This article, "Apple TV 4K is Now Even More Expensive, 128GB Model Priced at $299" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's new HomeView smart home hub will not be available in the European Union because Siri AI is currently unavailable on iOS in the region, the company said today. Apple said it is "working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward," but provided no timeline for EU availability. It costs $299 in the U.S. and launches on November 13 in eight countries around the world.
This article, "Apple HomeView Won't Be Available in the European Union" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today announced it is Indie Games Week on the App Store, in celebration of the "incredible catalog of imaginative games made by independent teams with big dreams."

Apple said seven acclaimed indie games are debuting on the App Store. No Man's Sky will be making its mobile debut on iPhone and iPad on October 28, and the six other games are Sifu, Vampire Crawlers, Little Kitty, Big City, 9 Kings, Dome Keeper, and Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall.
This article, "Apple Announces 'Indie Games Week' on App Store" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's upcoming OLED iPad mini will be "considerably more expensive" than the current $599 model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman referenced his own sources indicating a price hike, while saying his guess is that the new device will cost "something closer to $799."

Aside from a new OLED display, the new iPad mini is expected to feature an A20 Pro chip, a landscape FaceTime camera, a redesigned speaker setup, and a water-resistant design. Apple will likely unveil the device alongside new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models "on or around" Tuesday, October 27, Gurman previously reported. See our rumor roundup for all the details.
This article, "OLED iPad Mini Could Be $200 More Expensive Than Current Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models will be unveiled on Tuesday, October 13 and launch on Friday, October 30.

In a follow-up video, Gurman said he was told that both devices should be available to pre-order starting this week.
This article, "New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini 2 Pre-Orders Expected to Begin This Week" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's next entry-level iPad models, codenamed J581 and J582, will not arrive until early 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

He added that Apple plans a major iPad Air refresh to add an OLED display and a new iPad Pro in 2027. The latter could gain a vapor chamber to improve thermals and performance. A new iPad mini is still expected to arrive at the end of October this year.
This article, "New Entry-Level iPad Not Expected Until Early 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's new Apple TV 4K will be powered by a standard A19 chip, up from the A15 in the current 2022 model, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his Power On newsletter, Gurman also said Apple has tested a refreshed Siri Remote with a speaker to make it easier to find between couch cushions.

Apple has also tested built-in microphones for the Apple TV 4K to let users query Siri without the remote or a paired HomePod, though whether this feature and the new Siri Remote will come with the shipping device appears unconfirmed. The new Apple TV 4K arrives in stores on October 30 alongside the new HomePod mini. Apple is expected to unveil both at Tuesday's "Welcome home" event.
This article, "Apple TV 4K Getting A19 Chip and a Potentially Easier-to-Find Siri Remote" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The new upcoming Apple TV 4K with A19 chip and new HomePod mini with S10 chip will launch on Friday, October 30, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the devices will ship to customers and arrive in stores on that day.

Apple is expected to announce the new devices at its October 13 "Welcome home" event, which will also debut "HomeView" – the company's new smart home hub, whose name was first spotted by MacRumors in a trademark filing. The HomeView will ship – "at least as of now" – around mid-November, according to Gurman's sources.
This article, "New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini to Ship on October 30" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

In his new role as the executive chairman of Apple's board of directors, Tim Cook told The Independent's David Phelan that he is "not meddling" with Apple's new CEO John Ternus.

"First of all, John and I have an incredible level of trust in each other," said Cook. "The relationship must be based on trust, and the communication must be frequent and significant. But other than that, what I'm focused on right now is worldwide policy. And the interface with governments around the world matters because there are lots of things where we're trying to advance or advocate for change. There's a significant amount of work in that, and I'm doing that and helping John in any way he sees fit. I'm not meddling. I'm not a meddler."
This article, "Tim Cook Says He's 'Not Meddling' With Apple's New CEO John Ternus" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

On his Power On podcast today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman insisted that Apple plans to hold an "online home event" on Tuesday, October 13 to introduce an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K, all with Siri AI.

It is not clear if Gurman is referring to a feature-length, live-streamed event video, or if he considers a series of Apple Newsroom press releases and per-product YouTube videos to be an "event." Either way, selected reporters and content creators would likely receive hands-on time with the devices later on Tuesday.
This article, "Apple Still Expected to Announce Three New Products on October 13" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's iPhone Air 2 will be approximately 0.4mm thinner than the current model despite having a higher-capacity battery, claims the account "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog. Apple lists the original iPhone Air at 5.6mm thick, so a 0.4mm reduction would put its successor at approximately 5.2mm, around 7% thinner. Interestingly, that would match the thickness of the new iPhone Duo when unfolded.

A previous rumor claimed the iPhone Air 2 will feature a 3,500mAh battery. That's up from the 3,149mAh battery in the current iPhone Air, indicating around an 11% increase in raw capacity. The next-generation device is expected to launch early next year alongside the iPhone 18e and the regular iPhone 18.
This article, "iPhone Air 2 Could Be as Thin as an Unfolded iPhone Duo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today announced that the all-new "Crossy Road" spinoff game "Crossy Road Rush" will be launching exclusively on Apple Arcade on Thursday, November 5.

Crossy Road Rush has players "swerve, jump, and smash their way across an island obstacle course packed with quick-fire challenges and hazards at every turn," according to Apple. Also coming to Apple Arcade on November 5 are existing App Store games KAMI 2 and Food Stylist.
This article, "'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Yesterday we reported that Apple tripled the number of iCloud Mail aliases users can create, from three to nine. But it turns out that's not the only email-related limit Apple has raised. The company has also bumped the number of iCloud Custom Domains users can set up with iCloud+, from three to 10.

If you subscribe to iCloud+, you can use a domain name you already own for your iCloud Mail address. So instead of name@icloud.com, your address can be anything@yourdomain.com. You can also buy a new domain when setting up the feature. The increased number of custom domains allowed was spotted in Apple's support documentation by X account pdfu.
This article, "Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today announced that apps optimized for the iPhone Duo can now be submitted for App Store approval, ahead of the foldable device launching on Friday, October 23.

While existing App Store apps will automatically run on the iPhone Duo, only apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later can dynamically resize to fill the entire space of the inner display, whereas unoptimized apps will have black borders. Developers can get their apps ready for the iPhone Duo using Xcode 27.1, and Apple shared some tips on its website.

This article, "Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

On his new Power On podcast, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple's smart home camera will have "no video recording."

Instead, he described the rumored product as a sensor that will be capable of "analyzing your environment in your home" using AI. "This is going to be the first mainstream video camera that's a home video security camera that doesn't give you any footage," he said.
This article, "Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Square today announced a new Apple Business integration that makes it easier for businesses to ensure they have up-to-date information across Apple Maps, Apple Wallet, and Siri AI.

Apple Business is connected to Square's Dashboard: "Rather than managing multiple channels separately, sellers can now maintain their Apple presence alongside the rest of their business in Square."
This article, "Square Announces Apple Business Integration" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums