Apple may silently have discontinued the HomePod mini. The mini smart speaker is out of stock across several retailers in the US. 

Apple’s own store lists the speaker for next-day delivery or pickup across most pin codes, though. 

HomePod mini 2 to debut soon?

Apple launched the HomePod mini on November 16, 2020. As its fifth anniversary approaches, the company appears to have quietly discontinued it while preparing for its successor.

Some rumors suggested the HomePod mini 2 could go official alongside the iPhone 17 series at Apple’s “Awe Dropping event. While that didn’t happen, the rumor mill believes the speaker could drop this year itself — ahead of the important holiday shopping season.

MacRumors spotted B&H listing the HomePod mini as “No longer available.” While this could have been an error on B&H’s part, other retailers like Adorama, Target and Walmart also have limited or no stocks.

This indicates that a HomePod mini 2 refresh might just be around the corner. It may even go official as soon as this week. 

HomePod mini 2 could fail to impress without smarter Siri

The rumor mill hasn’t revealed much about the HomePod mini 2. But it’s safe to assume it will come with audio upgrades. Apple may even equip the speaker with its in-house N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Thread support.

A faster chip is also a given, especially since the current HomePod mini uses an ancient S5 SoC from 2019.

Don’t expect the HomePod mini 2 to bring a radically smarter experience, though. That will only arrive with iOS 26.4 and the new AI-powered Siri that should arrive in Q1 or early Q2 next year.

It will be odd for Apple to launch the HomePod mini 2 without smarter Siri out of the box since it forms an integral part of the experience. 

Despite all the upgrades, the HomePod mini 2 should retain the same $99 price as the current model.

The Mophie Juice Pack wraps your iPhone in a protective case that’s also a battery that adds hours of use. On Monday, it launched versions specifically for iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone Air.

Mophie did more than make the battery cases closely fit Apple’s latest. The updated versions deliver longer battery life, stronger protection, better ergonomics and more.

Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 17: Battery and case in one

Mophie Juice Pack adds hours of extra life to your phone without the hassle of cables, external packs or juggling accessories while you’re on the move. Because the power bank is built right into the case, you get charging that’s always available throughout the day.

Wrap-around cases must be form-fitted to the handset, and that’s what Mophie’s new models do. There are variants for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Note that there is not one for the base model iPhone 17.

The built-in power bank adds up to 60% to the battery life of the handset, depending on the model. That’s especially important for the iPhone Air.

In addition, the battery case completely surrounds the handset to help shield it from everyday drops and bumps. Raised edges help guard against scratched or cracked screens. There’s an integrated lanyard loop port, too.

The Juice Pack takes up the handset’s USB-C port, but offers its own. With the newest models, this includes passthrough USB-C audio.

“Mophie’s mission has always been to give users freedom from the wall outlet,” said Ekshita Kumar, vice president of strategy and growth for Mophie. “With the iPhone 17 Juice Pack lineup, we’re pushing that even further — delivering more power, smarter design, and better protection, all in a more sustainable product.”

Mophie Juice Pack is case and power bank in one.
Photo: Mophie

Price and availability

Mophie Juice Pack variants for iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max launched Monday, November 10. It costs $99.95, no matter the variant.

Battery and case in one!

Mophie Juice Pack battery case for iPhone 17 Pro Max

$79.99

Get up to more power for your iPhone with the Mophie Juice Pack’s rechargeable battery, so you can text, stream, and navigate without worrying about running out of charge.  It’s also a pocket-friendly charging case that guards against drops, scratches and screen damage.

Pros:

• Protective case that adds hours of use to an iPhone
• Less hassle than an external battery

Buy from Amazon

05/25/2026 03:15 pm GMT

Those with an iPhone 16 should not feel left out. There are also Juice Pack versions for Apple’s 2024 handsets, too.

The second-generation iPhone Air won’t launch next fall, according to an unconfirmed report published Monday. The super-slim new smartphone is apparently such a dud with customers that Apple put the follow-up on hold.

Reports that the iPhone Air hasn’t found an audience have circulated almost since the handset premiered in September.

iPhone Air struggles to find an audience

The iPhone Air launched as part of the iPhone 17 series. Analysts quickly reported that the base-model iPhone 17 was an immediate hit, and iPhone revenue set a new record the quarter the series launched, and the current quarter is predicted to be a gangbuster.

But the iPhone Air is a standout… and not in a good way. Analysts’ talk of weak demand has dogged the device. And Monday brought a serious blow.

“Apple is delaying the release of next year’s version of the iPhone Air, its thinnest smartphone, after the first model sold below expectations,” reported The Information.

Cupertino had been planning to introduce an iPhone Air 2 in fall 2026. It still might put an updated version out in spring 2027, according to the report. But, in the mean time, it has “already sharply scaled back production of the first version.”

Simply not enough iPhone

Many potential buyers feel the iPhone Air doesn’t offer enough for its price. Reviews point out that while its ultra-slim design is visually appealing, key compromises — such as only a single rear camera, weaker battery life compared with other models, and lower-end audio/speaker performance — make it less compelling.

Another strike against it is price. At $999, it costs as much as more capable models, but the feature set is closer to a mid-tier device. It’s clear a slim chassis isn’t enough to overcome that perception.

Another challenge is that Apple makes four other compelling iOS handsets, and a new folding version is expected in autumn 2026. The Air didn’t stand out enough.

Still, the follow-up might be more enticing to buyers. It’ll offer more battery capacity than the original, according to The Information, while actually getting lighter. A separate report pointed to an additional camera.

But at this point, the fate of the iPhone Air 2 is, well, up in the air.

The Mac isn’t carrying its weight. In fact, it’s Apple’s lowest-selling product line, sitting behind even the Apple Watch. And despite macOS being a standout platform, it lags far behind Windows where it matters: worldwide adoption.

Apple needs a fresh angle, and the rumored budget MacBook might be the first real chance to rewrite the Mac’s trajectory.

Mac is Apple’s weakest product category

The Mac used to define Apple. Today, it’s a distant also-ran. The iPhone is Apple’s biggest offering by a wide margin, with about 230 million units sold in 2024. Next is AirPods, with about 66 million of these wireless earbuds going out last year. Roughly 57 million iPads sold in 2024, followed by around 40 million Apple Watches.

Well after all of those comes the Mac, with approximately 23 million units heading to customers last year.

The situation is somewhat different when revenue gets factored in — Mac jumps up to second place. But low unit sales make it clear that Mac isn’t performing nearly as well as it could.

A comparison with Windows PC sales makes that weakness even more obvious. At approximately 23 million units sold in 2024, Mac made up only about 9% of the global personal computing market (by shipments) in 2024.

That low figure might be acceptable if it were part of a strong growth thread, but it’s not. True, Mac sales have increased slightly. A decade ago, macOS made up 7% or 8% of the market, and a decade before that, the figure stood at about 5%. But even the launch of Macs powered by Apple’s powerful M-series processors in 2020 has been insufficient to move the needle much.

iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods are all winning their respective product categories (or close to it). Mac isn’t even close. Change is required.

Apple needs a budget MacBook

The rumored low-cost MacBook would offer performance suited to students.
Concept: Google Gemini

Apple computers do as well or better than their Windows rivals in the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index. It’s clear macOS itself isn’t flawed. But Apple’s product strategy for selling the Mac to consumers needs a serious fix.

The majority of computers (laptops and desktops) going to average consumers for everyday use — education and standard home office tasks — are priced at less than $1,000.

The only Mac in this product category is the Mac mini at $599. The problem with that is, notebooks outsell desktops by two to one, and about 90% of all Macs sold are MacBooks. But there’s no budget macOS notebook. The most affordable is the MacBook Air, which starts at $999.

Historically, Apple concentrated on the premium price segment. And in one sense, that’s worked. There are millions of happy MacBook users, and Apple has raked in lots of cash. But there are plenty more potential customers who simply cannot afford a macOS notebook. They are losing out, and so is Apple.

Rumored low-cost MacBook will mark new approach for Apple

That’s about to change. Hopefully. Apple is working on its first low-cost MacBook, according to Bloomberg. The new Mac, code-named J700, is reportedly in testing and early production, with the goal of launching in the first half of 2026.

To keep costs down, the computer will supposedly use an Apple A-series chip — the same type currently going into iPhones. Don’t scoff, as that chip will make it more powerful than high-end Macs sold a few years ago. That’s fast enough for the budget MacBook to “browse the web, work on documents or conduct light media editing,” reports Bloomberg — exactly what consumers need for home use. It’ll have an LCD screen around 13 inches in size and sell for about $600.

The affordable offering will undoubtedly bring in a rush of fresh customers. Anyone currently forced to buy a Windows laptop because they need something cheap can soon get a MacBook instead.

While there’s no exact figure, it’s safe to assume that millions of iPhone users rely on Windows PCs rather than Macs. iPhone holds roughly 60% of the U.S. smartphone market, and Windows still dominates the PC world, so statistically, an iPhone user is far more likely to own a Windows laptop than a Mac. That’s a massive pool of potential customers for a lower-cost MacBook.

Schools and businesses will be interested, as well.

One computer won’t rocket Mac sales into the stratosphere. But it’s going to give Apple a sizable bump in the global market for PCs. The Mac-maker sat perpetually behind HP, Lenovo and Dell while mostly offering computers priced above what most consumers were willing to pay. A competitively priced notebook will change that. And follow-up budget MacBook models will surely keep the momentum going for years to come.

Apple reportedly plans to expand the iPhone‘s satellite connectivity capabilities beyond emergency calling and texting. It is working on a framework to enable third-party apps to use satellite connectivity.

Additionally, the company plans to bring satellite connectivity to Apple Maps to enable navigation in areas without cellular coverage.

More apps could use your iPhone’s satellite connectivity feature

Satellite-powered Emergency SOS connectivity debuted on the iPhone 14 in 2022. Initially, Apple limited the feature to emergency calling in areas with no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage. But since then, the company has added satellite connectivity to the Messages app and a Roadside Assistance feature. And this year, it expanded satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported Sunday that Apple has more satellite-related features under development.

In his latest Power On newsletter, he said Apple will allow certain types of third-party apps to use satellite connectivity. The company is reportedly developing the necessary APIs to make this possible.

In addition to adding satellite connectivity to Apple Maps, the company reportedly plans to expand options in other apps as well.

Right now, Apple’s Messages app only allows sending basic text messages via satellite. However, the company wants to change this and allow users to send photos as well.

Another planned major usability upgrade: the ability to use satellite connectivity without a clear view of the sky. Currently, iPhones need open skies to establish a strong satellite link. Apple wants to remove this limitation and make satellite connectivity work reliably even in challenging conditions.

“The company aims to let users stay connected while their iPhone is in a pocket, car or even indoors — eliminating the need to physically point the device toward the sky,” Gurman wrote. He said the industry calls this approach “natural usage.”

To further improve the satellite experience, Apple reportedly will add 5G NTN support to 2026 iPhones. This would enable network towers to use satellites to bolster connectivity.

Apple’s current satellite partner is a big bottleneck in these upgrade plans

Apple has big plans to improve satellite connectivity on iPhones. But this will require a major upgrade from Globalstar, the company Apple partnered with to offer satellite connectivity on its devices.

Apple will supposedly finance some of these infrastructure upgrades.

However, as Gurman wrote, Globalstar is looking to put itself up for sale. Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which owns satellite provider Starlink, could be a potentially interested party. A sale could accelerate the rollout of new features.

When Apple needs to install a security patch onto an iPhone, iPad or Mac, it now does so without requiring the user to do anything — or even be aware of the update. The new Background Security Improvements feature delivers “additional security protections between software updates,” according to Apple.

It’s a feature of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1, but users have the option to deactivate it.

Background Security Improvements protect your Mac, iPhone and iPad

Hackers would love to steal the credit card numbers and other financial information stored on your computer. Fortunately, Apple is very good at keeping them out. But that requires Mac, iPhone and iPad users to install software updates — that’s how security holes get closed.

Too many users don’t update their devices. Either they don’t want to learn to use the new features in fresh OS updates, or they believe the ridiculous conspiracy theories that Apple uses these updates to deliberately muck up and slow down older devices so users are forced to buy new ones.

Apple’s answer to the problem is Background Security Improvements for iOS, iPadOS and macOS. The new feature “delivers lightweight security releases for components such as the Safari browser, WebKit framework stack, and other system libraries that benefit from smaller, ongoing security patches between software updates,” Apple says.

These are installed automatically in the background … hence the name.

“As many iPhones are often running out-of-date iOS versions, automatically installing security patches should help address this issue by placing less responsibility on the user,” said Adam Boynton, senior security strategy manager at computer-management company Jamf.

You can deactivate the security feature

You can disable Background Security Improvements in iOS 26.1 if you absolutely must.
Screenshots: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

By default, iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1 are set to automatically install Background Security Improvements. However, users have the option to deactivate them. Just understand that by doing so, you make your computer more open to hackers.

To disable the security feature on iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and look for Background Security Improvements. Tap on it, then toggle off Automatically Install.

On Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Privacy & Security.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple reportedly plans to pay a cool $1 billion a year to use Google Gemini to make Siri smarter. How do we feel about that? Honestly, anything that fixes Siri sooner rather than later would be a big win.

Anybody creeped out about iPhones and Macs with Google inside should rest easy, though. Apple plans to keep everything safe and secure. And Cupertino’s still scrambling to get its own AI up to speed.

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple plans to build a low-priced laptop that will bring Macs to the masses. We discuss why that has PC makers quaking in their boots.
• The iPhone Air is reportedly a bust. One big reason is that people love their iPhone cameras — and the Air skimped out on that. The next iPhone Air model might add a second lens, but really fix the problem?
• Some automakers plan to pull the plug on CarPlay. We’re already plotting our revolt!
• Griffin runs down the top five features in iOS 26.1 that you should try immediately, including one important toggle that will keep your iPhone from photographing the luxurious insides of your pocket.
• And finally, we wrap up with a new game — Apple Mad Libs!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

The CultCast No. 724: Google Gemini + Siri = AI love

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This week’s top Apple news

On the show this week: Your host, Cult of Mac Publisher and Editor in Chief Leander Kahney (@lkahney), Cult of Mac managing editor Lewis Wallace (@lewiswallace) and Cult of Mac writer D. Griffin Jones (@dgriffinjones).

Here are the headlines we’re talking about on this week’s show:

• Apple’s upcoming budget laptop has PC makers ‘freaking out’
• Upgrading Siri with Google Gemini will be $1 billion quick fix
• Next iPhone Air could fix its camera problem
• How a battle for your dashboard threatens CarPlay’s future
• 5 new features in iOS 26.1 you don’t want to miss
• Apple quietly added this awesome feature in iOS 26.1

Apple’s 2026 iPhone 18 lineup appears set to receive a significant camera upgrade, with all models including the first foldable iPhone expected to feature 24-megapixel front-facing cameras, according to a new report. The rumor of a better selfie camera came up with the iPhone 17 lineup, too, but didn’t materialize.

iPhone 18 lineup 24MP selfie camera: A gradual progression in selfie camera quality

The rumored 24MP upgrade would represent a notable step forward from the 18MP front cameras introduced with the iPhone 17 lineup. Interestingly, multiple sources previously predicted that iPhone 17 models would feature 24MP selfie cameras, but that upgrade never materialized. Now a JPMorgan equity report says the same for the next iPhone series, according to a detailed specs list covering several iPhone series that analyst Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) posted on X.com.

The increase to 24MP would affect the entire flagship range, including the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Air 2, and Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Users could expect sharper selfies, more detailed images and improved portrait mode accuracy across these devices.

Apple’s iPhone 17 models currently feature a Center Stage front camera, which includes the first square camera sensor ever used in an iPhone. This square sensor design provides a wider field of view and captures more detail, allowing users to take portrait or landscape selfies while holding their phone vertically.

JP Morgan believes the iPhone Air 2 is very much planned

JP Morgan and most bank analysts are VERY good at getting information like this from supply chain https://t.co/JoZfrhG1tr pic.twitter.com/5YHLHQL5jF

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) November 5, 2025

Foldable iPhone gets special treatment

Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone will reportedly feature an industry-first 24MP under-screen camera integrated into the device’s inner display, representing a significant technological advancement.

But not all iPhone models will receive the camera upgrade, however. Both the second-generation iPhone 17e and third-generation iPhone 18e will reportedly continue using 12MP front-facing cameras, maintaining the resolution found on older iPhone models.

Staggered release schedule planned

Starting in 2026, Apple reportedly plans to split its iPhone lineup between fall and spring launches. The second-generation iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone will launch in the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e won’t arrive until spring 2027.

Apple updated its device trade-in values Thursday, marking a significant shift in what consumers can expect when exchanging older devices for credit toward new purchases. The changes affect iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches, with the majority of products seeing reduced valuations compared to previous rates.

Check out the new rates below. Luckily, many of the decreases are minimal. 

Apple decreases trade-in values across its product lines

Apple briefly boosted trade-in values a few months ago, but now they’re declining. Reductions in trade-in values tend to reflect the natural depreciation of electronic devices and changing market conditions for used Apple products.

The latest adjustments come as Apple continues to refine its trade-in program. The company allows customers to exchange eligible devices either through the Apple website or at physical Apple Store locations. The credit received can be applied toward new Apple product purchases or placed on an Apple gift card for future use.

Alternatively, you could turn to the Cult of Mac Buyback Program to trade-in your old gear for cash. 

iPhone values drop significantly for older models

The iPhone category experienced the most substantial changes, with some models seeing reductions of up to $160 in maximum trade-in value. The iPhone 15 Pro Max saw its trade-in value drop from $630 to $470, while the iPhone 15 Pro decreased from $500 to $400. Current-generation devices were not spared either, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max declining from $700 to $670.

iPad values show mixed results

The iPad category presented a mixed picture, with the iPad Air being one of the few products to gain value, increasing from $400 to $415. However, other iPad models saw decreases, with the standard iPad dropping from $190 to $175 and the iPad mini falling from $275 to $255. The iPad Pro maintained its $695 maximum value.

Mac trade-in values decline, 12-inch MacBook discontinued

The Mac lineup saw modest decreases across most models, with Apple discontinuing trade-ins for the 12-inch MacBook entirely. The Mac Studio experienced the largest reduction, dropping from $1,140 to $1,030, while the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air saw smaller $10 decreases each.

One notable anomaly in the data is the Mac Pro, which shows a dramatic increase from $550 to $2,520. Industry observers suggest this may be an error on Apple’s part that could be corrected soon.

*Mac Pro value increase might be an error

Apple Watch adjustments remain minimal

Apple Watch trade-in values saw the smallest changes overall, with most models decreasing by just $5 to $15. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 maintained its $335 value, while the Apple Watch Series 10 dropped from $175 to $160.

What the changes mean for consumers

Customers considering trading in their Apple devices should act sooner rather than later, as values tend to decrease over time, particularly as newer models are released.

Apple continues to accept trade-ins through its website and retail stores, with the credit applicable toward any new Apple product purchase. The company also updated its trade-in values for select Android smartphones, though specific details on those adjustments were not immediately available.

For consumers looking to maximize the value of their old devices, comparing Apple’s trade-in program with third-party resellers and marketplace platforms could yield better returns. That’s particularly likely for higher-end devices that have retained their value well.

How would it feel to be the last unhappy person on Earth, and the world’s resources are trained on making you happy? You can get progressively bigger tastes of such a world through trailers, below — or you can start tuning in Friday when Apple TV streams Pluribus, from Breaking Bad and X-Files creator Vince Gilligan,

As I said when the official trailer dropped, for my money, the rampant happiness the world’s population apparently feels — aside from the story’s main character — is actually some sort of contagion with dire consequences. And she has immunity. 

Reviews so far are positive. The Guardian calls the “audacity” of the “intrepid” and “blackly comic” show “incredible,” while also revealing a cause of the worldwide happiness that jibes with my theory above. Variety says Rhea Seehorn is “magnificent” on the show. The BBC describes it as “George Orwell meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” And lots of reviews invoke Gilligan’s X-Files while some prefer references to The Twilight Zone. 

New full trailer for Pluribus season 1 brings you deeper into its weird world

October 22, 2025: Watch the first full trailer for Pluribus below and enjoy a few laughs amid the overall creepy feeling. The last line made me LOL. 

Pluribus season 1: Unsettling new teaser trailer is LOL funny

October 10, 2025: I consider it a very good sign when a one-minute trailer for a new show makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, even as I laugh out loud. And that’s exactly what I got from Apple TV+’s new teaser trailer for Pluribus, the upcoming sci-fi show from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.

Just get a load of this tagline for what looks like both a comedy and a drama: “The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.”

The first teaser trailer for Pluribus amounted to little more than a visual joke. You can watch it below. The second one, however, brings us into the story a little more, giving a strong sense that we’re in for something weird — and possibly wonderfully weird.

In it, the main character Carol (played by Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn) takes a call from the White House. She is extremely uncomfortable. It seems the president (or whoever that breezy, blow-dried guy is) leads a burgeoning national effort to cure the unhappiness she alone suffers from. As she says when the president asks if she has any questions, “I guess to start with, what … the … f –”

Catch an odd glimpse of Breaking Bad creator’s new sci-fi, Pluribus

July 26, 2025: It’s hard to tell from the weird little teaser trailer Apple TV+ dropped Friday, but subscribers may get their next must-watch series when Pluribus — the highly anticipated sci-fi drama from Breaking Bad creator Gilligan — debuts on the streaming platform November 7.

The nine-episode series stars Emmy-nominated actress Rhea Seehorn, best known for her critically acclaimed role as Kim Wexler in Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.

Pluribus presents an intriguing high-concept storyline where “the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness,” according to Apple TV+. This genre-bending, sci-fi-meets-drama approach represents another creative departure for Gilligan. He consistently pushed boundaries throughout his career, from The X-Files to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

The series has already been renewed for a second season before its premiere, demonstrating Apple TV+’s confidence in the project. This early renewal follows Apple’s strategy of backing prestige content from proven creators, similar to their approach with other original series.

Brief but intriguing look

Rhea Seehorn stars in Pluribus, coming to Apple TV+ in November.
Photo: Apple TV+

And all this despite a teaser trailer about 20 seconds in length that tells us almost nothing about the show. In it we see a bored-looking woman in an empty, dark workplace licking the bottom of each donut before putting them back in a box. The camera pans from her down to a hand-written sign that says “Help yourself!” with a smiley face. And that’s it, aside from the somewhat ominous music.

The accompanying dark and red-hued photograph is a bit more helpful. It shows a fraught-looking Seehorn on the phone.

And make what you will of the show title, as well. “Pluribus” is Latin for “many” or “more.” It’s well-known in the U.S. motto “E pluribus unum” (“out of many, one”) that appears on the country’s seal and coins.

Star-studded cast and creative team

Seehorn leads the show’s cast alongside Karolina Wydra (Sneaky Pete) and Carlos Manuel Vesga (The Hijacking of Flight 601). Guest stars include Miriam Shor (American Fiction) and Samba Schutte (Our Flag Means Death), adding depth to the supporting roster.

Behind the camera, Emmy winner Gilligan serves as executive producer alongside WGA Award winner Gordon Smith, with additional executive producers Alison Tatlock, Diane Mercer, Allyce Ozarski and Jeff Frost. Sony Pictures Television produces the series.

Watch the teaser trailer for Pluribus

Watch sci-fi on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ will release the first two episodes of Pluribus on Friday, November 7, 2025, followed by new episodes every Friday through December 26. In the meantime, the streamer offers plenty of other sci-fi to watch. Get Apple TV+ by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Customers who buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.

After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 580 wins and 2,787 award nominations and counting,” the service said.

More than 200 exclusive movies and TV shows call Apple TV+ home (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso). The service also offers documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.

This post published on July 26, 2025, and republished with updates on October 10, October 22 and November 7, 2025. 

Apple used a giant glass Apple TV logo, colorfully lit and filmed in a studio, to create the new visual branding that will run before the streaming service’s shows.

The translucent logo seems to flip like the pages of a book, with colors changing all the while, in the mesmerizing video snippets.

“Many might assume the visual effects were made digitally, but in fact, it was all done practically using glass and captured in-camera,” Ad Age reported Wednesday.

A short behind-the-scenes video shows the extraordinary lengths the streamer and its storied ad agency went to create the striking visuals.

A new Apple TV logo and branding do away with the ‘+’

At a time when filmmakers often favor CGI to old-school practical effects, and AI can generate elaborate images and videos based on a few words, Apple’s decision to produce the new Apple TV branding using practical effects is earning the company plaudits from creative types.

“Apple recorded the new Apple TV logo with real glass materials,” wrote designer-turned-developer Michal Malewicz on X Thursday. “No CGI. No AI. This is how it should be done.”

A behind-the-scenes video offers a glimpse of how the advertising artists created the mesmerizing effect:

Made by hand. pic.twitter.com/3coAaxbfaJ

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) November 7, 2025

Apple worked with longtime partner TBWA\Media Arts Lab on the Apple TV rebranding. The advertising agency’s previous work with Apple includes some of the most iconic tech marketing of all time, from the 1984 Mac ad to the “Think different” campaign.

For this project, the team created three versions of the new Apple TV logo — a five-second one for Apple TV shows, a one-second “sting” for trailers, and a 12-second clip that will play before Apple Original movies, according to Ad Age.

Apple TV has a new audio logo, too

The new visual branding is the latest in a string of revelations as Apple TV overhauls its marketing materials after simplifying its name.

The rebranding of subscription service Apple TV+ to just plain “Apple TV” began quietly last month. A press release announcing the streaming debut of F1: The Movie mentioned the name change and a switch to a “vibrant new identity.”

Then a cryptic post from Apple TV on X arrived Monday, revealing new audio branding and saying, “This is just the beginning.”

That post identified Finneas as the musician behind the new audio logos. Finneas called the audio snippets “mnemonics” — he produced three, of varying lengths, to coincide with the video versions — in an interview with Variety.

He said the idea was to create a memorable and timeless audio logo that would become instantly recognizable over time.

“The things that I think of as real classic mnemonics are NBC — you can hear that in your head — or HBO has its static,” he said.

This is just the beginning.

Music composed by FINNEAS. pic.twitter.com/DV8d2eK0B3

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) November 3, 2025

The company also updated the Apple TV app icon in iOS 26.1, released Monday, replacing the old monochrome look with a much more colorful one.

What are your thoughts on the new Apple TV logo.

Do you like? pic.twitter.com/Ll7o2cxosB

— Jay’s Tech  (@jaydenstech) October 22, 2025

Soon, Apple TV subscribers will see and hear the new visual and audio branding every time they watch something.

“The new identity will ripple across Apple TV’s ecosystem in the coming months, from app interfaces to marketing campaigns,” wrote Ad Age. “It’s the first phase of a broader Apple TV brand refresh that promises to lean into cinematic design while maintaining the minimalist DNA that’s long defined Apple’s visual world.”

Pebblebee Clip 5 marks a new generation of the Bluetooth tracker tag that’s now louder and brighter. That should help it compete with Apple’s AirTag, as both use the same Find My network.

There’s also an updated wallet-friendly version of the tracker, Pebblebee Card 5.

Pebblebee Clip 5: Louder, brighter and thinner

Bluetooth tracker tags make it easy to keep track of everyday items by creating a simple, low-power link between your phone and your belongings. They can alert you when you leave something behind, help you locate misplaced items on a map, and even guide you with sound or lights when you’re close.

The Pebblebee Clip 5 that launched Thursday brings a louder buzzer and brighter LEDs to the line of trackers. It’s thinner but more durable than its predecessor. It is water-resistant and runs up to twelve months on a rechargeable battery.

The tag capitalizes on limitations in Apple’s rival AirTag. That tracker doesn’t have LEDs and uses removable batteries instead of a rechargeable one. It also lacks a built-in loop.

Both Clip 5 and AirTag use Bluetooth to connect with the Find My application on the user’s iPhone. All you need to locate the tracker is to open the app, and you’ll see the device on a map. If it’s nearby, press a button to set off an audible and visible alarm on the remote device.

“After five generations of Clip & Card and more than a decade of making item finders in every form factor, we’ve learned what people truly want,” said Daniel Daoura, Founder and CEO of Pebblebee. “Our goal for this launch was to ensure our products continue to be engineered for trust and, going forward, designed to shine.”

The standard model comes in a graphite color, but Pebblebee just started Evercolor, a limited edition color program that drops two fresh shades every twelve weeks. The first two are Emerald Storm and Amethyst Purple.

Plus there’s Card 5, a slimmer tracker for wallets, with wireless charging and up to eighteen months of battery life per charge.

Pebblebee Clip 5 and Card 5 are $34.99 each.

Buy it from: Pebblebee

The previous Clip Universal version is still on Amazon for $22.99. Don’t confuse its for the new model.

Apple might address one of the biggest criticisms of its ultra-thin iPhone Air by adding a second camera to the next-generation model, according to a new leak Thursday from a reliable source with knowledge of the company’s supply chain. Unfortunately, it looks like the new addition to the iPhone Air will be a wide-angle camera, not the popular telephoto found in iPhone Pro models.

However, if the dual-camera system materializes, it would make the iPhone Air a more compelling option for users seeking an ultra-thin device without sacrificing essential photography features.

iPhone Air wide-angle camera could come in next generation

The super-slender iPhone Air drew a lot of attention when it launched in September due to its irresistibly sleek design. But sales haven’t lived up to the hype.

In one possible improvement, Apple is “considering adding a new camera lens” to what Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station refers to as the iPhone 18 Air.

The upgraded model would pair a 48MP main camera with a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, the leaker said in a Weibo post, noting that “a telephoto lens would be even better,” though current plans apparently don’t include one. Certainly, many users would love to see a telephoto lens, and many would prefer it to a wide-angle lens.

Design and display features remain unchanged

According to the leak, the second-generation iPhone Air will retain the core design elements that define the current model. The new device will probably keep the 6.5-inch high-refresh rate display and Face ID system. And it would also retain the distinctive horizontal “runway” camera plateau that houses multiple technologies to maximize battery space in the device’s ultra-thin chassis.

The post indicates the device is “currently in a normal iteration phase.” That suggests development is proceeding on schedule for a potential 2026 release alongside other iPhone 18 models.

Single camera remains a sticking point

The iPhone Air’s single rear camera helps make the device ultra-portable, but obviously limited its photographic capabilities compared to Pro models. For many users, particularly those who regularly use ultra-wide or telephoto lenses, the single-camera setup has been a dealbreaker despite the appealing form factor.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously reported that the first-generation iPhone Air hasn’t performed as well as expected in markets outside China. That could explain why Apple is reconsidering the camera configuration for the second generation.

Track record suggests credibility iPhone Air wide-angle camera leak

Digital Chat Station has established a respectable track record for Apple leaks. For example, the leaker accurately predicted camera sensor details for the iPhone 15 lineup and display panel designs for the iPhone 12 well ahead of the devices’ unveilings.

However, as with all early-stage development leaks, Apple’s final plans could change before launch.

Google Chrome is getting a dedicated AI Mode button on iOS and Android. AI Mode is an AI-powered search solution from Google; think of it like the company’s take on ChatGPT.

Google rolled out AI Mode in Chrome for Windows and Mac earlier this year. 

Chrome for iOS gets a smarter AI search shortcut

With AI Mode, Google provides an AI-powered response. This ensures you don’t have to go through several websites to find the information you’re looking for. You can even ask follow-up questions to get more insights into the topic.

AI Mode builds on AI Overviews, which already appear at the top of most Google Search results. 

AI Mode in Chrome will speed up how you search.
Photo: Google

So far, you could only access AI Mode in Chrome on PC. Google is now changing that by adding a dedicated AI Mode button to Chrome’s new tab page on iOS and Android. Powered by Gemini, AI Mode search will help you get answers to complex queries faster.

The new AI Mode button in Chrome will start appearing for Android and iOS users in the US from today. Google will also expand AI Mode to 160 new countries and add support for more languages, including Hindi, Korean, and Portuguese. 

AI Mode is Google’s ChatGPT alternative

AI Mode in Search features a chat-style interface where you can ask questions and easily follow up for more details. Think of Search’s AI Mode as Google’s take on ChatGPT. Instead of manually browsing the web to find answers to your queries, AI Mode in Google Search will use Gemini to synthesize the results. 

Google will integrate AI into Google Maps to make navigation even better. With Gemini integration in Google Maps, you’ll gain access to a smart co-passenger on your phone that can help you reach your destination easily.

Thanks to Gemini’s AI prowess, Google Maps can now proactively notify you of traffic disruptions. Or help find a fuel stop — all hands-free and through a natural conversation.

Gemini in Google Maps makes multi-step tasks faster

Google is deeply integrating Gemini into Google Maps to make multi-step tasks faster and easier. When driving, if you see an accident or flooding on the road, you can simply tell Google that you “see an accident” or “flooding,” and it will automatically report the disruption. 

Even better, you can ask Gemini with Google Maps open to finalize a place for dinner and add the relevant entry to your calendar.

Google explains this feature with the following example: “Is there a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route, something within a couple miles? … What’s parking like there?” Followed by, “OK, let’s go there.” You can even ask, “Oh, by the way, can you also add a calendar event for soccer practice tomorrow for 5 p.m.?”

Gemini-powered navigation experience in Google Maps will roll out on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.

Google previously rolled out a handy Gemini-powered feature in Maps that can scan your screenshots and extract location details.

Landmark-assisted navigation directions

Using Gemini, Google Maps will ditch the vague “turn right in 500 feet” instructions with something more useful. It will use traffic lights, stop signs and landmarks like gas stations and buildings as reference. So, expect to hear more useful instructions like “turn right after the Thai Siam Restaurant.”

Google Maps achieves this by enabling Gemini to analyze Street View images and detailed information of about 250 million places. 

Landmark-based navigation in Google Maps is rolling out now on iOS and Android in the US.

Another useful upgrade coming to Google Maps with Gemini integration: proactive traffic alerts. Instead of finding yourself stuck in a terrible jam, Google Maps will automatically give you a heads up about road disruptions ahead.

Google is also bringing Gemini-powered Lens integration to Maps. Tap the camera icon in the Google Maps search bar and point it to a restaurant or bakery. You can then ask Gemini for more information about the place or the popular dishes available, etc.

Lens-powered Gemini integration in Google Maps starts rolling out later this month in the US on Android and iOS. 

The brains behind the upcoming AI-enhanced version of Siri will reportedly be provided by Google, not Apple’s own tech. For a hefty price.

Google’s software will supposedly run on Apple servers, so user data isn’t being handed over to Google.

Apple forced to turn to Google for AI-enhanced Siri

In 2024, Apple promised “the start of a new era for Siri” thanks to a sizable infusion of artificial intelligence. The company laid out a glowing future for the voice assistant, but early this year was forced to admit that the technology wasn’t ready to launch on schedule.

Apple set a new deadline of spring 2026, but even after giving itself another year, it’s reportedly had no choice but to turn to its frenemy, Google. The development process supposedly isn’t going quickly enough to meet the self-imposed deadline to get the much-hyped new version of the Siri voice assistant to customers.

“Apple Inc. is planning to use a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet Inc.’s Google to help power its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant,” Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

This is a possibility Apple has been investigating for months. With the spring 2026 deadline looming, a deal has now allegedly been signed.  

Siri user data will be kept private, away from Google

Apple emphasizes that its implementation of artificial intelligence protects user privacy. That supposedly won’t change with the new Siri, even with an AI model developed by Google providing some of the underlying technology.

“The model will run on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring that user data remains walled off from Google’s infrastructure,” reports Bloomberg.

That’s important because Google’s business is gathering user data and selling it to advertisers. If Siri integrated with the standard version of Gemini, every Siri query could be used by Google to track users.

Likely because it’s not getting access to user data, Google is charging a hefty price for its tech: about $1 billion a year. Of course, that can simply be subtracted from the approximately $20 billion Google pays each year to stay Safari’s default search engine.

A temporary arrangement

Apple reportedly has not given up on developing its own artificial intelligence technology.

“Apple still doesn’t want to use Gemini as a long-term solution,” said Bloomberg. “Despite the company bleeding AI talent — including the head of its models team — management intends to keep developing new AI technology and hopes to eventually replace Gemini with an in-house solution.”

Even in the mean time, some Siri functions will be handled by Apple’s own AI. 

But Google’s is supposedly well ahead in artificial intelligence. Compare the 1.2 trillion parameter AI model it’s licensing to Apple to the 150 billion parameter model currently used by Apple Intelligence.

The new AI-empowered Siri will allegedly launch as part of iOS 26.4. For reference, Apple is currently beta testing iOS 26.2.

For millions of iPhone users, Apple’s CarPlay marries basic transportation with a satisfying technology experience for navigation, entertainment and more.

But an expert’s new report points to troubling reasons why CarPlay’s days may be numbered, thanks to a growing automotive industry profit motive. Yes, of course, it’s all about money. 

How the battle for your dashboard threatens CarPlay’s future

CarPlay, which Apple recently updated in iOS 26, transforms driving from a frustrating tech nightmare into something seamless. Since its debut in 2014, CarPlay has become one of Apple’s most beloved features, as it projects your familiar iPhone interface onto your car’s screen, enabling hands-free calls, navigation (with Apple Maps or competing apps) and streaming audio without needing to rely on a car’s clunky built-in system. 

But the golden age of CarPlay may be ending. In a troubling sign for Apple enthusiasts, General Motors recently announced that new vehicles from the automotive giant will no longer support CarPlay or Android Auto.

As Patrick George, editor-in-chief of InsideEVs, wrote in The Atlantic, this isn’t just GM making an odd choice to kill a popular feature. It signals a fundamental shift in how automakers view the relationship between your car and your phone.

The money behind the decision

Why would GM eliminate a feature that about one-third of car buyers consider a requirement for their next vehicle? The answer is straightforward: revenue.

George explained that by cutting out Apple as a middleman, GM creates opportunities to charge for services that CarPlay currently provides for free. GM’s replacement system requires its own data plan — starting at $10 per month — to access the full software suite.

While the company promises eight years of free service for new buyers of electric vehicles, the long-term strategy is clear. Your car’s features will become another subscription on your credit card statement.

“It’s a turf war, and the car is real estate,” as George put it. In other words, automakers realized they can profit from in-car technology beyond the initial sale — whether through subscription fees for features like hands-free cruise control, apps that control your car remotely, or selling data your navigation system collects about your driving habits.

What you’ll lose

GM’s replacement software is admittedly impressive, according to George. It features apps like Spotify and HBO Max, plus Google’s Gemini voice assistant. But it’s not CarPlay. Popular services like Apple Podcasts and Apple Music are missing. More fundamentally, you’ll need to learn an entirely new system rather than using the iPhone interface you already know.

The broader picture should concern Apple fans, too. While overall vehicle satisfaction improved in 2024, infotainment systems remain one of the lowest-scoring categories industry-wide, with satisfaction averaging 805 points. While that’s lower than the 840 points achieved by CarPlay users, automakers seem hell-bent on bringing it up with much-improved systems of their own.

GM isn’t alone in this battle. Tesla and Rivian have never offered CarPlay, betting on their proprietary systems.

Meanwhile, other manufacturers are locking previously standard features behind paywalls. Toyota now charges subscriptions for navigation tools that CarPlay provides free, for instance, and some newer vehicles require subscriptions of up to $200 annually for remote start, a feature that used to work with a simple key fob button press.

CarPlay’s counteroffensive

Apple isn’t surrendering without a fight. It developed CarPlay Ultra, a next-generation system that extends across multiple vehicle displays and controls more car functions — including climate control through Siri. Aston Martin already made CarPlay Ultra available in new U.S. and Canadian models, with Hyundai, Kia and Genesis expected to follow. Other automakers, like Ford, have hesitated due to how invasive the system is. And BMW flatly rejected it. 

Yet some automakers recognize CarPlay’s value. Toyota’s EVs share battery range information with Apple Maps, enabling intelligent charging stop recommendations during road trips. But this cooperative approach represents exactly what concerns automakers. If Apple controls more vehicle functions, car companies risk becoming mere “makers of rolling shells for tech companies,” as George described it.

What Apple users should know about the future of CarPlay

Research shows that only 28% of U.S. consumers would switch to native systems if smartphone integration were unavailable. That shows the challenge automakers face in winning over drivers. Yet the financial incentives driving this shift seem too significant to ignore.

If you’re shopping for a new vehicle and CarPlay matters to you, research carefully. While more than 800 vehicle models currently support CarPlay in the United States, that number may not grow as expected. GM continues offering CarPlay in 34 of its 40 models — primarily its higher-volume, gas-powered vehicles — but the direction is clear.

The uncomfortable truth is that the glory days of seamless, free smartphone integration in your car might be numbered. As George concludes, prepare for a future where your vehicle’s technology expenses become another recurring charge, sitting right alongside your Netflix and Apple Music subscriptions.

For now, if CarPlay is non-negotiable for you, make sure it’s a confirmed feature before you sign that car purchase agreement. Or consider buying an aftermarket rig to add CarPlay to your car.

Nomad launched updated versions of its Stand One and Stand One Max wireless chargers Tuesday, bringing support for the new Qi2.2 standard. It enables 25W fast charging for compatible iPhones. The upgrade matches the charging speeds of Apple’s latest MagSafe chargers and represents a significant improvement over the 15W charging supported by previous Qi2 models.

Nomad Stand One Qi2.2 chargers launched

Along with iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands and other accessories, Nomad makes the sleek and popular device chargers Stand One (2-in-1) and Stand One Max (3-in-1), both now brought up to the speedy Qi2.2 charging standard. Both chargers feature Nomad’s premium construction with solid metal blocks and glass tops, finished with a full rubberized base pad for a sturdy grip. And their approximately 20-degree charging angle works well across various settings, from bedside tables to office desks, Nomad said. 

2-in-1 Stand One charges iPhone and AirPods

Nomad Stand One brings 25W charging to compatible iPhones, plus juice for AirPods.
Photo: Nomad

So the fourth-generation Stand One, priced at $119, features Nomad’s signature design combining CNC-machined aluminum with glass. At 575 grams (1.2 pounds), the charger provides a stable base that stays firmly in place. The new model adds a second wireless charging pad tucked behind the angled phone support. That lets users charge AirPods or other Qi-compatible wireless earbuds at 5W while simultaneously fast-charging an iPhone at 25W.

Both iPhone charging orientations are supported — portrait and landscape — with landscape mode enabling StandBy functionality. The charger includes a 2-meter braided USB-C cable. But users need to supply their own 40W or higher USB-C power adapter.

3-in-1 Stand One Max powers up iPhone, Airpods and Apple Watch

The Stand One Max, priced at $159, builds on the Stand One’s features by adding an Apple Watch fast charger. This creates a complete three-in-one charging solution for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.

Weighing 875 grams, the Stand One Max continues the design improvements introduced in the third generation. It relocated the Apple Watch charger to the base. The change resolved previous limitations that prevented simultaneous horizontal iPhone charging and Apple Watch charging.

The wireless earbud charging pad sits in an indent behind the vertically-mounted Apple Watch charger, supporting 5W charging for most Qi-compatible cases.

Design and availability

Fast iPhone charging

Nomad Stand One

The fourth generation of Nomad's popular stand one remains sleek -- but adds 25W Qi2.2 charging for compatible iPhones, plus Airpods charging.

Pros:

• Sleek design and premium build quality
• Fast Qi2.2 iPhone charging (25W)
• Firm-gripping base
• Also charges AirPods

Cons:

• No Apple Watch charging

Buy from Nomad

According to Nomad’s FAQ, the company excludes power adapters to reduce waste, noting that many customers already own compatible chargers. Both stands require a 40W+ adapter. 

Both models are available now through Nomad’s website in silver or carbide color options. The chargers work with iPhone 16 and 17 series devices that support the Qi2.2 standard’s faster charging rates.

3-in-1 with fast iPhone charging

Nomad Stand One Max

Nomad's sleek fourth-generation 3-in-1 charging stand not only juices up compatible iPhones at 25W, it also powers up AirPods and Apple Watch.

Pros:

• Sleek design and premium build quality
• Fast Qi2.2 iPhone charging (25W)
• Firm-gripping base
• Also charges AirPods and Apple Watch

Cons:

• Somewhat pricey

Buy from Nomad

Apple makes some of the best tech products in the world — beautifully designed, powerful and reliable. But even the best stumble sometimes.

Over the years, I’ve used plenty of Apple devices that looked great on paper but turned out to be frustrating in practice. Here are the ones that made me question Apple’s “it just works” mantra.

These are the worst Apple products I’ve ever used

Apple’s reputation for quality and attention to detail is well-earned. There’s a reason several of the best devices I have used over the years come from Apple. But no company is perfect. Over the years, Apple has released several products that felt rushed or poorly thought out.

Some were buggy and ahead of their time, while others simply made compromises that didn’t make sense. None of them stood the test of time, aging worse than expected within just a few months or years.

1) 2019 MacBook Pro: Hot, loud and out of breath

The 2019 MacBook Pro: A buggy beauty!
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple went all out with the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019. It equipped the machine with a beefier cooling system, a Magic Keyboard and faster Intel CPUs. While the machine looked impressive on paper, it aged poorly.

I got the 2019 MacBook Pro soon after its launch in late November. Initially, the machine impressed me with its performance and battery life. But as my workload ramped up, the honeymoon phase ended quickly. Like other Intel Macs before it, the laptop struggled under heavy loads. (Thank goodness the M-series Apple silicon processors came along to fix that.)

When rendering videos or exporting large files, the laptop would get scorching hot, with fans roaring to keep up. Thermal throttling became a regular annoyance, and the performance boost I expected from a “Pro” machine was lacking. More frustratingly, the weak integrated Intel GPU could not drive the laptop’s Retina display smoothly. And that led to a small delay between pressing a key and seeing the text appear on screen.

For someone who writes thousands of words daily for a living, this proved infuriating. It constantly made me feel like I was using a low-end laptop. The experience was nowhere close to using a high-end Apple device. 

Reliability also seemed like an problem with the machine, with Apple replacing the laptop twice for me within a span of 2 to 2.5 years. In both cases, the motherboard developed problems, leading to graphical glitches. I can only assume this happened because I used the laptop extensively for video editing back then. 

Of all the Apple products I’ve owned and used, I kept the 2019 MacBook Pro for the shortest time. I sold it within 2.5 years, upgrading to the M1 Pro MacBook Pro. 

Ironically, that switch turned out to be one of the best tech decisions I ever made. The M1 Pro has been everything the Intel MacBook promised to be but never was — powerful, efficient, whisper-quiet and genuinely “Pro.”

2) Siri and Apple Intelligence: Still dumb after all these years

Will we ever get a smarter Siri?
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Siri and Apple Intelligence are not products but services, making them outliers on this list. Both these services are among the worst in their respective segments.

Apple was the first to market with a digital voice assistant with Siri, unveiling it way back in October 2011. Now, some 14 years later, Siri remains in pretty much the same state. It never works reliably, and it continues to fumble on basic commands, even something as simple as calling my dad.

It’s the same with Apple Intelligence. It debuted with iOS 18.1 in October 2024. More than a year later, it remains in the same sorry state. The long delays surrounding the promised AI-powered Siri don’t help.

Even Apple knows how far behind it is in the AI race. No wonder it has considered using third-party AI models from Anthropic or Google to power Siri and future versions of Apple Intelligence.

3) HomePod: Sounds great, does little else

HomePod is one of the most promising yet disappointing Apple products I’ve used. 
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The original HomePod is simultaneously the worst and best Apple product I’ve ever used. It’s a terrible — probably the worst — smart speaker I’ve ever used. Its amazing sound quality is the only saving grace.

Even so many years after launch, Siri on the HomePod fails to understand and execute my commands reliably. On numerous occasions, I’ve asked Siri to play a specific song, and it would end up doing something else altogether. 

The upcoming AI-powered Siri might fix this — assuming the speaker gets access to it and Apple’s voice assistant actually lives up to the hype. That’s a lot of ifs, especially for a product that has been around for more than six years.

If anything, the HomePod experience has convinced me never to buy another Apple smart speaker.

4) iPad (3rd generation): Too many pixels, not enough power

Apple’s third iPad launched in March 2012 and stood out for its Retina display. It was the first tablet back then to feature such a high-resolution LCD panel. When I first got the third-gen iPad, I was stunned by its display clarity. But soon, the honeymoon period wore off, and its shortcomings started to surface.

The A5X chip inside simply wasn’t powerful enough to drive all those pixels efficiently, resulting in sluggish performance and frequent overheating. The tablet also became heavier and thicker to accommodate a larger battery, which still couldn’t deliver great battery life under load.

Coming from the original iPad, the device felt like a downgrade in almost every sense except for the display. 

Even Apple knew the third-gen iPad wasn’t up to par. The company discontinued it just six months after launch, replacing it with the faster, sleeker and far more capable iPad 4.

5) 2016 MacBook Pro: When form killed function

The Touch Bar sounded like cool tech on paper. But that’s about it.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The 2016 MacBook Pro marked a major design shift, debuting a sleek and futuristic design. But in the process, Apple traded functionality for form, ditching all useful ports like HDMI and the SD card slot. It even eliminated MagSafe. 

While Apple’s move to USB-C was a bold one, it arrived a few years too early. If anything, buying the 2016 MacBook Pro forced me to adopt the USB-C life.

Then there was the Touch Bar. On paper, it seemed like a useful addition, replacing the function keys with a small, adaptable touchscreen. In reality, it was slow, buggy and rarely useful beyond adjusting brightness or volume.

The poor reliability of the infamous butterfly keyboard only added insult to injury. A single speck of dust could render keys unusable. I had to get the keyboard on my unit replaced three times within a span of three years. 

Apple might never publicly admit it, but it knows it messed up big-time with the 2016 to 2019 MacBook Pro lineup. No wonder that when the Apple silicon transition began in 2020, it quietly ditched all the problematic elements — the unreliable butterfly keyboard, the buggy Touch Bar and the frustrating all-USB-C port setup — effectively admitting defeat without saying a word.

A day after releasing iOS 26.1 to the public, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 26.2 to developers on Tuesday. The next major point update to iOS 26 packs several big changes and expands the availability of some features to the European Union. 

Below is everything new in iOS 26.2 beta 1.

iOS 26.2 beta 1: What’s new and changed

After iOS 26 brought the sweeping Liquid Glass user interface overhaul in September, subsequent updates to the new iPhone operating system added tools to customize the glossy, translucent look. Some people love the shiny new look of Liquid Glass, but others find it makes words on the screen difficult to read. Or they just think it looks tacky.

iOS 26.1 and the first iOS 26.2 beta make it possible for users to find their Liquid Glass happy zone.

And, aside from new Liquid Glass customization options, iOS 26.2 beta 1 packs several other minor but useful changes aimed at improving the overall usability of the iPhone operating system.

Changes in Sleep Score

Sleep score ranking gets tweaked in iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 26.2 beta 1 tweaks how the Sleep Score is calculated on the Apple Watch and Health app. The feature debuted as part of watchOS 26 in September. 

The company is increasing the threshold for each sleep level. It also renamed the “Excellent” Sleep Score to “Very High” to fall in line with other labels. 

The new Sleep Score ratings in watchOS 26.2 and iOS 26.2 are as follows:

• Very low: 0 to 40 points
• Low: 41 to 60 points
• OK: 61 to 80 points
• High: 81 to 95 points
• Very high: 96 to 100 points

AirPods Live Translation expands to the EU

With iOS 26.2, Apple will roll out Live Translation for compatible AirPods models to the European Union. The feature allows AirPods to provide a real-time translation of what the other person is saying in your preferred language.

Live Translation debuted with iOS 26 and works on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It supports Chinese, English, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish languages.

Design tweak for Apple News app

Apple made a minor but useful design change to the Apple News app in iOS 26.2. It now displays important categories like Sports, Puzzles, Politics, Business and Food at the top for quick and easy access to relevant topics. 

Trigger alarms for Reminders

Mark reminders as urgent to trigger an alarm.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

iOS 26.2 will make the Reminders app better by allowing you to add alarms or timers as triggers for a reminder. You switch on the Urgent toggle when creating a reminder to use the new feature. 

Any such reminder notification will get a higher notification priority and can even bypass Focus modes to grab your attention.

Enhanced Emergency Alerts

iOS 26.2 beta 1 adds a new Enhanced Alerts section. Located under Settings > Notifications, it will provide more detailed alerts for earthquakes and other imminent threats. There’s also an Improve Alert Delivery toggle, which uses your location to improve the timeliness and reliability of safety alerts.

Liquid Glass Lock Screen slider

iOS 26.2 beta 1 lets you tweak the Lock Screen Liquid Glass intensity.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

Building on the Liquid Glass customization option introduced in iOS 26.1, Apple added a Liquid Glass slider for the iPhone’s Lock Screen in iOS 26.2 beta 1.  

The slider is available for all the Lock Screen font options. You can drag the slider to the right to make the font more tinted to improve readability. Alternatively, you can give the clock an even more glassy look. Compared to the system-wide Liquid Glass toggle in iOS 26.1, which only offers Clear and Tinted options, the new slider provides greater flexibility.

Longer AirDrop duration

While not live, the first iOS 26.2 beta reportedly contains references to a new AirDrop feature for sharing files with other iPhone users. It will supposedly allow you to send a PIN to another contact. This will enable AirDrop sharing with them for the next 30 days — up from the current limit of 10 minutes. 

Enhanced Podcasts app

The first iOS 26.2 beta adds three new features to the Podcasts app. Firstly, it can now automatically create chapters, enabling you to jump to a relevant section easily. Second, you can see and follow other podcasts mentioned in an episode right from the transcript and player itself. 

Lastly, all links shared in a podcast will now be visible on the episode page.

Noticed any other changes in iOS 26.2 beta 1? Drop a comment and let us know!

The M3 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio is among the most powerful Macs you can currently buy. Despite featuring faster cores, Apple indirectly confirmed it will not launch an M4 Ultra chip. 

This won’t be the case with the M5, as the company reportedly plans to launch an M5 Ultra-powered Mac Studio in 2026.

M5 Ultra Mac Studio coming next year

Apple unveiled the M5-powered MacBook Pro and iPad Pro in mid-October. It features the world’s fastest CPU core, beating even the high-end M1 Ultra chip from a few years ago in benchmarks.

Based on Apple’s typical release timeline, the more powerful Pro and Max variants of the M5 chip should debut early next year. They will debut on the MacBook Pro lineup and feature more CPU and GPU cores to deliver even better performance.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reiterates in his latest report that the M5 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio is on track for a 2026 launch. It will supposedly feature 32 or more CPU cores and 80+ GPU cores.

The M3 Ultra is 1.8x faster than the M1 Ultra. The M5 Ultra, with its newer CPU architecture and other underlying changes, shall deliver an even bigger performance leap.

With the M3 Max delivering 800GB/s of memory bandwidth, the M5 Ultra will likely breach the 1TB/s mark. It should also be configurable with up to 768GB of system memory and 16TB of space.

Will UltraFusion make a comeback on M5 Ultra?

Apple’s current Ultra chips fuse two Max SoCs using UltraFusion. The tech allows them to talk to each other at ultra-low latency and with a bandwidth of over 2.5TB/s. 

The absence of UltraFusion in the M4 Max is also why Apple never released an M4 Ultra chip. 

Alongside the M5 Ultra, Apple will also launch an M5 Max-powered variant of the machine.

Apple’s nifty new feature that lets AirPods translate speech in real time will reportedly become available to EU residents while they’re in Europe next month.

That will put an end to an odd situation: Currently, non-Europeans can use the AirPods Live Translation feature while in Europe, and EU residents can use it when traveling outside the European Union but not within the EU.

EU residents can soon use Live Translation with AirPods

Live Translation with AirPods is a signature feature of the new AirPods Pro 3 (and also works with some earlier Apple earbuds). It enables the user to hear a real-time translation of spoken communication.

However, Europeans are currently blocked from using the translation feature at home. A note on Apple’s website says, “Live Translation with AirPods is not available for EU residents whose device is in the EU and whose Apple Account country or region is also in the EU.”

Fortunately, the limitation looks temporary. On Tuesday, German-language news site Macerkopf wrote, “Apple has officially confirmed a few moments ago that Live Translation with AirPods will come to the EU and thus to Germany next month,” according to a machine translation.

Why the EU-only delay

Apple delayed making the feature available in the European Union due to the region’s Digital Markets Act, sweeping legislation intended to put curbs on Big Tech.

“Apple once again confirms that Live Translation with AirPods for users in the EU has been delayed due to the significant additional development effort required to meet the requirements of the Digital Markets Act,” reports Macerkopf.

This situation mostly concerns Europeans. As the iPhone maker notes, “Apple Intelligence users based in other regions can continue to use Live Translation with AirPods anywhere they travel.”

Still, the change means that an American traveling to the European Union will soon be able to speak English to an EU resident, and the resident can use their AirPods and iPhone as a translator.

iOS 26.1 arrived on Monday, but Apple always keeps pushing ahead. As a result, iOS 26.2 beta 1 reached developers Tuesday.

The same goes for iPadOS 26.2 beta 1, watchOS 26.2 beta 1, tvOS 26.2 beta 1 and visionOS 26.2 beta 1. However, macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 1 did not arrive with the rest.

iOS 26.2 beta 1 treads on the heels of iOS 26.1

Apple is very forward-thinking. Even before a new operating system ships, development begins on its successor. That’s why iOS 26.1 can launch on Monday, and then iOS 26.2 beta 1 can show up the next day.

iOS 26.1 is packed with features for iPhone users, as well as loads of bug fixes. Read our guide to all the changes in iOS 26.1. In addition, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1 and visionOS 26.1 also went out Monday with tweaks and bug fixes galore. And iPad users have an extra reason to celebrate: the return of Slide Over.

Then, the very next day, Apple seeded the next round of betas to developers, giving them their first look at the next OS updates for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and more.

What to expect in iOS 26.2, etc.

iOS 26.2 beta 1 is so new there’s been no time yet to see what has changed. Apple doesn’t make it as easy as it should to identify modifications and enhancements.  Some years, Cupertino lays out a roadmap of features coming to its devices in OS upgrades. This is not one of those years. No juicy details have leaked out yet, either.

“I’m not expecting major new features in that initial seed,” is all Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman could say about it, and he has some of the best sources inside Apple.

Which doesn’t mean Apple isn’t busy. It’s very hard at work finishing up work on the AI-enhanced version of Siri that is still scheduled to launch in spring 2026.

Also, the upcoming iOS version needs to be ready for the iPhone 17e when it arrives. And that’s true for macOS Tahoe 26.2 and the M5 MacBook Air as well. Further ahead, future MacBook variants with the Apple M5 Pro and Max processors are supposed to debut with macOS 26.3.

Just for developers

iOS 26.2 beta 1, iPadOS 26.2 beta 1, watchOS 26.2 beta 1, tvOS 26.2 beta 1 and visionOS 26.2 beta 1 can be downloaded starting Tuesday by registered members of Apple’s developer program. The next round of betas isn’t expected for two weeks.

Non-developers in the Apple Beta Software Program have to wait before they can test these prerelease versions. Based on Apple’s previous habits, the wait will also be two weeks.

Apple is working on its first low-cost laptop, a strategic departure from its traditional premium approach that could shake up the education and entry-level PC markets, according to a new report. And some responses on social media suggest the PC industry is, indeed, “freaking out” over it.

Apple develops a low-cost laptop to rival Chromebooks and PC laptops

The new Mac, code-named J700, is currently in testing and early production, with the goal of launching in the first half of next year, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported Tuesday. Apple plans to price it well under $1,000 by using cost-saving components while maintaining the design quality and ecosystem integration Mac users expect.

Delivering an Apple design at a budget price could shake up things in laptop land, as noted by Ben Bajarin, CEO and principal analyst at Creative Strategies. After all, Windows PCs dominate the budget laptop space.

“The share of Windows in MSRP <$800 is 100%,” Bajarin wrote Tuesday on X in response to the Bloomberg report. “This is why the entire PC ecosystem is freaking out over what’s coming from Apple next year.”

A new approach to affordable computing

Apple’s budget laptop will target students, businesses and casual users “primarily browse the web, work on documents or conduct light media editing,” according to Bloomberg‘s anonymous sources. It’s also aimed at iPad customers who might prefer a traditional laptop form factor with an integrated keyboard.

To keep costs down, Apple is making some notable hardware choices. The device will feature an iPhone processor rather than a Mac-specific chip, marking the first time Apple has used a smartphone processor in a Mac. However, internal testing shows this chip can outperform the M1 processor used in recent MacBooks.

The laptop will also use a lower-end LCD display that’s slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch screen on the MacBook Air, making it the smallest display on any current Mac.

Taking on Chromebooks and Windows PCs

The move positions Apple to directly compete with Chromebooks, which dominate the education market at price points as low as a few hundred dollars, and entry-level Windows laptops. Apple currently holds just 9% of the global PC market, ranking fourth behind Lenovo, HP and Dell.

For schools, the new Mac would offer an alternative to Apple’s current entry-level option: an iPad paired with the Magic Keyboard Folio, which costs around $600 combined. The laptop would fall in a similar price range but provide better battery life and the full capabilities of macOS.

Part of a broader Mac refresh

The budget laptop is just one piece of Apple’s extensive Mac roadmap for the coming years. The company has completed work on an M5 MacBook Air for early 2026, along with M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros. New Mac mini and Mac Studio models are also planned, as well as a redesigned MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and OLED touchscreen for late 2026 or early 2027.

Apple’s Mac business has been performing strongly, growing 13% to $8.73 billion last quarter — the fastest growth rate among the company’s hardware categories.

A decade after Apple Watch launched, WhatsApp finally launched a dedicated app for the smartwatch Tuesday — ending years of frustration for users who could only respond to notifications from their wrist. The messaging service brings full chat functionality to your wrist with support for messages, voice notes and calls, Meta said. 

At long last, here’s the Whatsapp Apple Watch messaging app

The new WhatsApp for Apple Watch app transforms how users interact with the world’s most popular messaging platform, known for its end-to-end encryption, Meta said in a blog post Tuesday. With over a billion daily active users globally and more than 100 million monthly users in the United States alone, the absence of a proper Apple Watch app had been a notable gap in WhatsApp’s ecosystem. Now, after news broke Friday of testing in progress, it’s finally here. 

What you can do with WhatsApp on Apple Watch

The new app brings comprehensive functionality that goes far beyond the limited notification responses previously available. Users can now read entire conversations directly on their watch, including long messages that previously required pulling out an iPhone.

Key features include the ability to write and send new messages using voice dictation or the watch’s input methods. You can also record and send voice messages and send emoji reactions. In addition, the app can displays call notifications. That lets users see who’s calling without checking their phone.

Media viewing has been enhanced as well. That will make clearer images and stickers visible on the watch’s display. Users can also access more of their chat history directly on screen when browsing conversations.

Privacy and compatibility

WhatsApp on Apple Watch is finally happening
Mockup: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

WhatsApp emphasized that all messages and calls remain protected with end-to-end encryption, maintaining the same privacy standards users expect from the platform.

The app works with any Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 10 or above. The watch must be paired with an iPhone.

Whatsapp for Apple Watch: Better late than never

The launch marks a significant catch-up moment for WhatsApp. It already offers a dedicated app for WearOS devices, of course. And the company acknowledged this is just the beginning, promising continued improvements based on user feedback.

For the millions of WhatsApp users limited to basic notification responses on their Apple Watches, the new app represents a major upgrade in functionality and convenience. It brings the full messaging experience to their wrists.

The SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive packs up to a terabyte of storage, but is tiny enough that you can leave it plugged into your MacBook. SanDisk touts it as “the world’s smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive.”

Outgrown the storage capacity of your older MacBook? This drive could be just the boost you’re looking for.

The mini SSD can even be used with an iPhone, as well as an iPad.

Add a terabyte of stay-in MacBook storage with SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive

A typical way to add storage capacity to a computer is with SD cards, but Apple avoids putting built-in readers for these into most of its products. The SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive is an alternative that works with every Mac desktop, MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. Simply plug the SSD into the device’s USB-C port.

SanDisk calls it a plug-and-stay accessory. The drive is small enough that it can remain connected to your MacBook even when you are carrying it around. That makes your photos, videos, documents, etc., always accessible.

Expand your iPhone storage by 1TB without a bulky SSD

Any USB-C drive can plug into an iPhone, but most are too bulky for this to be very practical. In contrast, the SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive is tiny enough to really serve as an SSD for a handset.

iPhone users should note, however, that the drive offers USB 3.2 Gen 1 for up to 400 MBps speeds in the 128GB to 1TB variants. That’s not fast enough for 4K120 ProRes video recording.

Still, wide compatibility means the same drive can be used to store and easily share files meant to be used on a desktop, tablet and handset. Or a group of such computers.

This SanDisk SSD is small and works with all your Apple computers.
Graphic: SanDisk

Price and availability

The SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive launched Tuesday. Capacities range from 64GB to 1TB, while prices go from $19.99 to $119.99.

World’s smallest

SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive (1TB)

$219.99

The SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive is the world’s smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive. Designed for professionals, students, and everyday users, this new drive is perfect for high-capacity storage without compromising mobility.

Pros:

• “Plug-and-stay” storage
• Compatible with Mac desktop, MacBook, iPad and iPhone

Buy from Amazon

05/24/2026 02:15 pm GMT

The older Apple Home architecture will live for a few more months. Apple previously planned on phasing out the architecture in late 2025. 

Instead, the HomeKit architecture will stop functioning on February 10, 2026.

Apple’s old HomeKit setup gets an extended lease

After unveiling HomeKit at WWDC 2014 and pitching the new framework as a way to bring cohesiveness to the fragmented home-automation landscape, Apple failed to dominate the smart home scene.

Initially, some third-party accessory makers balked at HomeKit’s requirement to add a bespoke chip to their devices. Apple later relaxed that requirement, hoping to boost the number of smart home devices compatible with HomeKit.

More recently, the company’s rumored plans to release its own new home security devices as well as an iPad-like home hub got put on the back burner. Those setbacks reportedly came due to the delayed rollout of a smarter, AI-enhanced Siri. The smarter Siri — and possibly new Apple smart-home devices — should come next year.

Before Apple’s renewed push into smart home products, the company will force users to upgrade to the latest version of HomeKit.

Apple initially rolled out the new HomeKit architecture with iOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 in late 2022. But it quickly pulled the change after user complaints.

The company reintroduced the upgraded Home architecture with iOS 16.4 in March 2023.

Users were greeted with the opt-in upgrade when they opened the Home app after installing iOS 16.4. Since then, Apple has supported both architectures simultaneously. 

As noted in an Apple Support document updated Monday, that will change in February 2026, when the company will stop supporting the older architecture. 

Support for the previous version of Apple Home will end on February 10, 2026.

Apple has not extensively detailed what’s included in the upgrade. It only mentions that the new architecture promises improved performance and reliability for controlling your HomeKit-compatible devices. Plus, it adds support for more features and smart home devices, such as robot vacuum cleaners, guest support, etc.

It also removes the ability to use an iPad as a home hub. Only an Apple TV or HomePod will work as a home hub in the new version.

Upgrade to the new Home architecture

 If you haven’t already, you can upgrade to the new Home architecture from the Home app. Just tap the More button → Home Settings → select your Home → Software Update → and then tap Update Now.

Even if you don’t use HomeKit, you should upgrade to the new version as Apple will drop support for the older version by February 2026. If you have devices linked to your Home app, you must upgrade. Otherwise, those devices will stop working.

 The new Home architecture is only compatible with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 macOS 13.1 and later.

iOS 26.1, which Apple released Monday, brings five features you should check out immediately after you install the update.

The biggest change gives you a way to customize the legibility of Liquid Glass, the major user interface overhaul Apple delivered to all its software platforms this year. But there’s plenty of other cool stuff you don’t want to miss.

Other key upgrades come to Apple Music and the iPhone’s alarm clock interface. Plus, there’s a setting that can keep your iPhone battery from draining in your pocket. And for iPad owners, there’s the celebrated return of Slide Over on iPad.

5 new features in iOS 26.1 you don’t want to miss

The first “point update” of a major software release is often filled with much-needed bug fixes. This year is no exception. iOS 26 proved particularly buggy during its summer-long beta testing period.

While Apple releases its new iOS updates in September and ships them on that year’s new iPhones, the company (wisely) doesn’t push the masses to update on day one. The company makes the new versions available for people who are plugged into the news to install if they want. Only after the .1 or .2 updates in the next few months does Apple start pushing everyone to install.

After a major update like iOS 26, which gave the iPhone a whole new Liquid Glass look, the first update typically brings extra design changes or new features. If you’ve been rocking iOS 26 for the last month, read our post to see all the new features in iOS 26.1 (there’s a video version as well).

Anyone with an iPhone 11 or newer can install the update now from Settings > General > Software Update.

Table of contents: 5 new features in the iOS 26.1 update you don’t want to miss

1. Customize the look of Liquid Glass
2. New gestures to skip and rewind music
3. New iPhone alarm interface
4. Disable the Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera feature
5. Learn how to use the new Slide Over on iPad

1. Customize the look of Liquid Glass

The Clear style (left) may be hard to read. The Tinted style (right) adds more contrast, but is still a glassy material.
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In iOS 26.1, Apple introduces a new translucency setting for Liquid Glass. The option is in Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass. You can choose between a Clear and Tinted appearance.

This setting affects all the Liquid Glass user interface elements — floating buttons, toolbars, context menus, sheets and more. Tinted adds contrast and legibility. In Light mode, all the UI gets whiter; in Dark mode, all the UI gets blacker.

The Tinted appearance doesn’t totally remove the translucent effects. You can still see the background warping through the interface if it’s colorful enough. However, the increased opacity makes sure the toolbars are never hard to read.

This setting also differs from the Reduce Transparency setting, which you can find in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. This setting takes it to the extreme. There’s no Liquid Glass to speak of; the user interface is completely opaque.

2. New gestures to skip and rewind music

In the iOS 26.1 update, a new gesture in Apple Music makes it easy to skip and rewind tracks.

When your phone is unlocked, you can swipe your finger on the track title to skip or rewind. This works on the mini player at the bottom of the screen, and on the song title from the fullscreen Now Playing view. Swipe left to skip forward; swipe right to rewind.

This can be handy if you’re jumping through a playlist in Apple Music while driving if you don’t have CarPlay. You no longer have to precisely tap the skip-forward or rewind buttons; you can quickly swipe on the title.

3. New iPhone alarm interface

Two great tweaks in iOS 26.1.
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You’ll want to get ready for this feature before it catches you off guard tomorrow morning: There’s a new interface on the iPhone’s Lock Screen when an alarm or timer goes off.

In iOS 26.1, the Snooze button looks big and orange; the Stop button is a slider that you must swipe to turn off.

In previous versions of iOS, the Snooze button was really big and orange and the Stop button was really tiny. This design made sure you had to be a bit more conscious to be able to turn off an alarm.

iOS 26.0 made both buttons the same size, raising concerns that turning off the alarm was too easy to do accidentally. The updated design in iOS 26.1 adds friction. It once again ensures you must be properly awake to turn off your alarm.

4. Disable the Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera in the iOS 26.1 update

If you ever pull your phone out of your front pants pocket to find the Camera has been running accidentally, this new feature in iOS 26.1 is for you.

In Settings > Camera, scroll to the bottom and disable Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera. This disables the feature where you swipe left on your Lock Screen to open the Camera app.

Of course, there are always loads of other ways to open the camera. The fastest is if you have an iPhone 16 or 17 with a Camera Control. You can click it twice to open the camera as you’re taking it out of your pocket. You can also use the Camera button on the Lock Screen in the lower right (although you can swap that out, too). And, of course, you can add a Camera icon to your Home Screen.

All of these other methods are far less likely to be triggered from inside your front pocket. I turned this setting off right away in the iOS 26.1 update, and I hope to never again pull out my phone, burning hot and battery-drained, with an hour-long video of my pants.

5. Learn how to use the new Slide Over on iPad

Find Slide Over from the green button.
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In the iOS 26.1 update, Apple reimagined the iPad’s Slide Over multitasking feature, fitting in with iOS 26’s new Mac-style freeform app windowing.

To use the new Slide Over, just tap on the three window controls, tap and hold on the green button, and tap Enter Slide Over. The window will move to the side and float on top of everything else. It’s like picture-in-picture for your apps. The Liquid Glass bubble around it is a visual cue that the window is in Slide Over.

Just like the old system, you can flick it offscreen to hide it for a moment, and swipe in from the edge to bring it back.

But now, the Slide Over window isn’t limited to being all tall and skinny. You can resize it as big or as small as you want. Maybe you only want it in the top corner; maybe you want it to fill most of the screen.

Unlike the old system, you can only have one app in Slide Over. The new Slide Over feature in iOS 26.1 doesn’t have its own weird, separate app switcher.

This is perfectly in tune with the overall philosophy of the iPad’s new windowing mode. Apple simplified the rules of the game in order to make something easier to understand — and created something more versatile and empowering as a result.

More new iOS 26 features

For a complete list of changes, check out the 15 other tweaks in the iOS 26.1 update. And if you’re a bit behind, read up on the 70-plus changes iOS 26 brings from iOS 18.

The iPhone App Store is now accessible on a Mac. And iPad users can research what macOS applications are available. Anyone can see what Apple Watch apps are available. All of these are possible now that Apple finally put the App Store on the web Monday.

It’s long overdue, and still missing a feature many users would like.

Finding iPhone apps gets easier with App Store jumping onto the web

The iPhone App Store launched way back in 2008, and immediately changed the way consumers shopped for software. And for all the years since then, it’s been accessible only via an app running on the iPhone. The same held true for the iPad version (and later the Mac App Store).

At long last, that changed Monday when Apple opened a slick new web version of the App Store. It’s accessible via apps.apple.com.

Take note: On a Mac or iPad, clicking on that link in the Safari browser automatically opens the App Store application installed on the computer. Cut and paste “apps.apple.com” into the browser to open the website version. Or use Chrome.

In the upper-left corner of the new App Store website is a drop-down box letting users choose whether to look at iPhone software, iPad Software, Apple Watch software, etc.

Logically enough, the website is organized the same way Apple’s App Store app is, including a Today screen. The left column includes a list of application categories, like Productivity and Health & Fitness.

It’s about damn time!

“[FILL IN THE BLANK] is now accessible on the web!” was a common headline decades ago. Whether it was pizza delivery or banking or whatever, moving services onto the web was a huge deal. But that sort of news dried up long ago because everything was already on the web.  Well, not everything.  There were some holdouts — we’re looking at you, Apple.

It’s ridiculous that Apple held off putting the App Store on the web until 2025. Absolutely ridiculous. Apple has been shooting itself in the foot for decades.

Suppose you’re an Android user considering switching to iPhone. Naturally, you’d like to do some research on whether your favorite applications are also available for iOS. Too bad, because you couldn’t see what’s in the App Store without an iPhone.

Easily the biggest advantage iPad has over rivals is the enormous selection of software for Apple’s tablet compared to the relative pittance of Android apps that can take full advantage of a large screen. But you couldn’t see that unless you already owned an iPad.

Windows users also couldn’t research what‘s available in the Mac App Store, though many popular Mac apps aren’t listed there anyway.

Basic functionality still missing

A feature still absent from the new web version of the App Store is the ability to use a Mac to install software on an iPhone. Users should be able to sign into the website with their Apple account, then use the large screen of a Mac to find interesting/fun new iPhone applications, then press a button to have the app sent to their handset.

Maybe in the next version. Hopefully, Apple will get around to it before 2035.

Apple’s long-delayed Siri upgrade will reportedly “lean on Google’s Gemini” model to power many of its features. It will also include an AI-powered web search.

However, this Gemini integration will supposedly function differently from how Apple currently integrates ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence.

Using Gemini for Siri makes the most business sense for Apple

While Apple’s Siri voice assistant was a prime mover when it launched on the iPhone 4s in 2011, it’s an also-ran now that the tech world’s embraced artificial intelligence. Increasingly capable chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini run circles around Siri.

As a result, Apple’s scrambling to release the AI-powered Siri upgrade it promised in 2024. (See also: 7 exciting features to expect from Siri’s 2026 AI upgrade.)

If everything goes as planned, Apple’s next big Siri update should land in spring 2026. The company’s struggles with developing its own large language models have delayed the release of the next-gen voice assistant. And recently, Apple’s AI division has been hit with many high-profile exits. 

The search for a better LLM

Besides developing its own LLMs, Apple also held talks with Anthropic and Google to power the next big Siri upgrade. The company reportedly created two versions of Siri — one built on its in-house models, and another powered by third-party LLMs.

As part of this process, Apple tested models from both Anthropic and Google, even requesting the latter to develop a custom training model that could run on Apple’s servers.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, in the November 2 edition of his Power On newsletter, says Apple will use Google’s Gemini model to power Siri. Despite Anthropic having a better model, the company went with Google as it “made more sense financially.” The already strong search relationship between the two companies further helped. (Google pays Apple $26 billion a year for prime placement as the default search on iPhones, iPads and Macs.)

Siri’s Gemini upgrade won’t work the way ChatGPT does

There will be one major difference between Gemini’s integration and Siri’s current ChatGPT setup. Right now, Apple clearly hands off complex queries to ChatGPT; you can tell when the switch happens.

That won’t be the case with Gemini. Instead of passing queries off, Apple will use Gemini as the underlying model powering Siri itself, according to Gurman. Think of it as Apple quietly tapping into Google’s AI smarts to make its assistant more capable. However, this also means that you should not expect next-gen Siri to mirror Gemini’s feature set on Android.