macOS 27 will have a "slight redesign" compared to macOS Tahoealong with an option to automatically group tabs in Safariaccording to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter todayGurman said the design changes will help to address some of the criticism surrounding macOS Tahoe's new Liquid Glass interface. In particularthe changes should improve overall readability.
"Apple aims to address the shadows and transparency quirks," he said.
In additionGurman said Apple is testing a new AI-powered Safari feature that can automatically organize browser tabs into groups. This featurepreviously revealed by MacRumorsis expected to be available across macOS 27iOS 27and iPadOS 27.
"I'm told that in test versions of iOS 27the center-top button that users can tap to move between their tab groups has a new option called 'Organize Tabs,'" he said. "You can choose whether you want the grouping to occur automatically or not."
Apple will unveil macOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on MondayJune 8.
The first developer beta of macOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynoteand a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testingthe software update should be released to all users in September.
Apple's new 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD is still available for an all-time low price this weekend on Amazon. It's available for $1,983.94down from $2,199.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchasewe may receive a small paymentwhich helps us keep the site running.
This beats the previous deal we tracked on this model by about $17and as of writing it's only available in Space Black. Amazon provides a free delivery estimate by around May 12with quicker delivery for Prime members.
You can also get up to $200 off the 16-inch MacBook Pro model right now on Amazonwith the 48GB RAM/1TB M5 Pro model hitting an all-time low price of $2,899.00down from $3,099.00.
If you're on the hunt for more discountsbe sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Apple's new AirPods Max 2 just launched last monthand you can get all five color options for $509.00 this weekend on Amazondown from $549.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchasewe may receive a small paymentwhich helps us keep the site running.
This is a match of the all-time low price on the brand new AirPods Max 2 headphones. Free delivery has the AirPods Max 2 arriving around May 11while Prime members may be able to find quicker options in select locations.
If you're on the hunt for more discountsbe sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
With Apple preparing to unveil iOS 27 and related updates at WWDC in just under a monthiOS 26.5 and friends are now right around the corner with some minor tweaks before we get our first look at the next major update.
This week also saw Apple making more changes to its Mac mini and Mac Studio offerings amid product shortageswhile the company is weighing how it can meet strong demand for the new MacBook Neoso read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Apple Says iOS 26.5 Adds Three New Features to Your iPhone
As discovered during beta testingiOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out.
The second new feature added in iOS 26.5 is "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps. This section of the app provides recommendations based on your location and recent searchesand it will start showing ads in the U.S. and Canada later this year.
Thirda new Pride Luminance wallpaper that "dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors" is available to download on iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5. Released alongside a new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch faceApple says the wallpaper celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
Why You Might Want to Wait to Buy a MacBook Pro
Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max models in March 2026but depending on your needs and interestsyou might want to skip this generation because there's something better in the works.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models have faster chipsbut the same design that Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and faster performance is coming in late 2026 or early 2027. Check out our overview of everything rumored for this upcoming "MacBook Ultra."
Apple Stops Selling Mac Mini With 256GB of StorageStarting Price Rises to $799
In the U.S.for examplethe Mac mini now starts at $799 with the M4 chip16GB of RAMand 512GB of storagewhereas it previously started at $599 with the M4 chip16GB of RAMand 256GB of storage.
Apple is also continuing to cut other configurations of the Mac mini and Mac Studio as the company has been hit by related issues of memory shortages throughout the industry amid strong demand from customers looking to use these machines for AI-related purposes.
Apple Was Caught Off Guard by MacBook Neo's 'Off the Charts' Demand
Apple's most affordable MacBook ever appears to be a resounding hit with customersbased on comments shared by CEO Tim Cook last week.
According to the Weibo leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital," surface chipping on the iPhone 17 Pro has become a common complaintand that users who have sought recourse from Apple have been told they cannot claim itwith the company classifying the issue as an inherent characteristic of the aluminum alloy material and normal wear and tear. Cruciallythey added that the iPhone 18 Pro will "continue to utilize this same design approach" despite its weaknesses.
In recent posts on WeiboFixed Focus Digital said that certain parts are interchangeable between the two modelsadding that the information originates from a reliable manufacturing source. The leaker described the component overlap as confirmation that the specification convergence between the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e is real and measurable at the supply chain level. "Take it from me: The standard iPhone 18 model has been downgraded and its launch delayed—this decision is final and will not change," they added.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each weekwe publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple storiesmaking it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple is developing a wearable AI device that's been described as a pin or pendantand that could compete with a similar AI product coming from OpenAI's Jony Ive. It wasn't clear if the wearable would actually make it to launch because Apple sometimes cancels projectsbut it is still in the works and could come as soon as next year.
1. It'll Look Like an AirTag
Apple's design plans could changebut rumors suggest the device is a pin or pendant that looks similar to an AirTag. It's been described as having a thinflatcircular disc shapewith an aluminum and glass shell. A physical control button is included on one edge.
Apple wants the final version of the device to be about the same size as an AirTagbut because of the hardware insideit could be thicker.
It sounds like the wearable will be versatile. It could have a clip to attach to clothing like a pinbut there's also supposedly a hole in the device so it can be worn as a necklace. Rumors have referred to it as both a pin and a pendant.
2. There Will Be Cameras
Apple's AI wearable is going to have at least one camerabut rumors are mixed on exactly what the camera will be used for.
Bloomberg says the pin will have a low-resolution camera that gives it info about its surroundings rather than a camera for capturing photos and videos. The camera will be always-on and processing visual databut users will not be able to use it for images.
The Information reports there will be two front camerasone with a standard lens and one with a wide-angle lens for capturing photos and videos.
Apple's AI device will rely heavily on Visual Intelligencewhich is currently an iPhone feature that uses the camera to provide users with more information about places and objects around them.
3. Siri is the Brain
Rumors have described Apple's wearable as an AI pin or pendantbecause it's going to be reliant on artificial intelligence. It's one of several AI-equipped devices that Apple is working onand it will give wearers a way to interface with Siri without having to use an iPhone.
The camera on the pin will give Siri insightand Siri will be able to answer questions about what the wearer is looking at or the wearer's surroundings.
Apple is planning to completely overhaul Siri in iOS 27turning the personal assistant into a much smarter chatbot on par with ClaudeGeminiand ChatGPT.
4. iPhone Required
While the AI wearable will have a chip insideit will be a smaller chip that's similar to the H2 in the AirPods. It won't use a high-powered chipand most processing will need to be done on the iPhone.
The pin is not meant to be a standalone deviceand it will instead be marketed as an iPhone accessory.
5. It'll ListenBut Might Not Talk Back
To listen for voice requests and to pick up sounds around the wearerthe AI pin will have a microphone. Apple has not yet decided whether to add a speaker for back-and-forth Siri conversations and audio playback.
If there's no speakerresponses might be directed to the wearer on the iPhoneApple Watchor AirPods.
With watchOS 26.5Apple is introducing a Pride Luminance faceand it's one of the most versatile and customizable watch faces. There are pre-configured color optionsbut the face also supports custom colors.
You can select 1 to 12 colors from a palette that has every color of the rainbowsome in-between shadesand blackwhitebrownand gray.
The colors you pick are distributed across the watch face in a gradientavailable in either radial or linear s. The first looks like a starburstwhile the second is a series of rectangular lines.
The dial can be set to Rectangle for edge-to-edge coloror Circle for a smaller dial that supports four complications.
As with most of Apple's facesthe Luminance face is animated. When the wrist is downit shrinks into slim lines of color on a black backgroundbut when the wrist is raisedthe full color palette is displayed. Colors will also shift slowly.
Apple's pre-selected colors represent different Pride flag colorsbut with the deep customization optionsthe Pride Luminance face can match clothingshow off support for sports teamsor just display your favorite colors.
iOS 26.5 also has a matching Pride Luminance Wallpaper option that can be customized in the same way. You can choose up to 12 colors for the Lock Screen and Home Screen. On the Lock Screenthe colors collapse onto a black background when the device is locked.
To get the new watch faceyou need iOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5. Apple has released RCsand the public versions of the updates are expected as soon as next week.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topicthe discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the threadbut posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch modelsthere are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in Septemberand we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this yearas that model was just updated last year and it typically goes two to three years between refreshes.
Apple will unveil watchOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on MondayJune 8and a developer beta will likely be available immediately afterwards. A public beta typically follows in Julyand the update should be widely released in September.
Touch ID would likely be built into the Apple Watch's side buttonenabling users to unlock the device with their fingerprint instead of a passcode.
Even though new Touch ID references were discovered within the codethere is no guarantee that Apple will move forward with this plan either this year or ever. In additioncredible sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have yet to mention Touch ID coming to the Apple Watch this year.
New Chips After One-Year Hiatus
While the Apple Watch Series 11Apple Watch Ultra 3and Apple Watch SE 3 all contain the same S10 chip as the previous year's modelsthe leaked Apple code indicated that the Series 12 and Ultra 4 will get a new chip. It is unclear if the chip will have S11 or S12 brandingbut performance improvements are expected either way.
On watchOS 26the following Apple Intelligence features are available on an Apple Watch when it is paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer:
Workout Buddy
Live Translation in Messages
Notification Summaries
When it announced the dates for WWDC 2026Apple promised to unveil "AI advancements" across its platformsand it can be reasonably assumed that watchOS 27 will include some additional Apple Intelligence features powered by the iPhone.
New Satellite Features
Apple Watch Ultra 3 has built-in satellite connectivityenabling Emergency SOSFind Myand Messages via satellite without any reliance on an iPhone.
Amazon last month announced plans to acquire Globalstarthe satellite company that powers Apple's satellite features on the iPhone 14 and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. In turnAmazon announced that it has signed an agreement with Apple to provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.
As of todayend-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages is no longer available. DMs that you send to people on Instagram will no longer feature full encryptionand your conversations are not protected from Meta.
Meta can potentially see what's in messages shared between users on Instagramand that information can be shared with law enforcement agencies worldwide.
End-to-end encryption has been an opt-in messaging feature on Instagram since 2023but Meta quietly removed it. Meta told The Guardian earlier this year that it is removing the encryption feature because not enough people adopted it. At the same timeMeta did not turn it on by defaultnor did the company alert users that it was an option. Sending an encrypted message required turning it on for each individual conversation by tapping into a buried per-conversation setting. Meta also never rolled the feature out to all Instagram users.
"Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMsso we're removing this option from Instagram in the coming months," Meta said. Meta suggests that people who want end-to-end encryption should use WhatsAppwhich is another messaging app that it owns. iMessage and other apps like Signal that are not Meta-owned also offer end-to-end encryption.
Law enforcement agencies and child safety advocates have long pushed for Meta to remove encryptionbut Meta could also be getting something out of the feature's removal. It's possible the company will be able to use direct messaging content for advertising algorithms or training chatbots. Meta says that content in DMs is not used for targeted ads right nowbut there is wording that allows for product improvement.
Meta's decision to remove Instagram's end-to-end encryption comes 11 days before the Take It Down Act takes effect. The actf will require platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery like deepfakes within 48 hours of a takedown noticebut with E2EE in placeMeta can't access the content needed to comply.
Instagram users who have end-to-end encrypted chats have been given instructions on how to download media or messages that they want to keep.
Last yearMeta started using private generative AI conversations to personalize content and customize ad recommendations for FacebookInstagramWhatsAppand Messenger usersso there seems to be little limit on the data that it will use to generate revenue. WhatsApp and Messenger continue to have end-to-end encryption for the time being.
After more than a year of discussionApple and Intel established a preliminary agreement that will see Intel manufacturing processors for Apple devicesreports The Wall Street Journal.
Intel would make chips based on Apple chip designsmuch like TSMC. Prior rumors on Intel's Apple talks have suggested Intel could make some of the lower-end processors used in Apple devicesincluding the lowest-end M-series chip used in select iPad and Mac models.
Before Apple adopted Apple siliconit used Intel-designed chips for its Macsbut had to deal with continual chip delays. Apple now designs its own Arm chips that are manufactured by TSMCallowing it to provide updates at a more regular cadence.
Intel makes its own chipsbut it also makes chips for other companies. Apple has not previously eyed Intel as a supplier because it has lagged behind other chip makers like TSMC and Samsungand because of the history between the two companies. Intel replaced CEO Pat Gelsinger with Lip-Bu Tan last yearand Tan has led an effort to revitalize Intel's chip manufacturing business.
Tan has been focusing on Intel's most advanced process node14Awhich will reach production in 2028. Intel has been seeking customers for its 14A 1.4nm node. Intel also makes 18A chips built on a 1.8nm nodealong with chips built on older process nodes.
Apple has been working to diversify its supply chainbecause Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is currently its sole Apple silicon manufacturer. During Apple's latest earnings callCEO Tim Cook said iPhone 17 models had been constrained during the quarter because Apple could not get enough A19 and A19 Pro chips from TSMC.
TSMC is one of the world's largest chip manufacturersand along with making chips for Appleit makes chips for other companies like Nvidia. With the AI boom and huge demand for AI serversTSMC has more limited capacity for chips made for consumer devicesand Apple has less leverage to convince TSMC to make its chips.
Apple today seeded new release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposeswith the software coming five days after the first RC. It's not clear what's changed in the second RCbut Apple typically sends out another candidate if there are bugs that need to be addressed.
Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.
iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilitiessuggesting any Siri updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searchesplus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app.
Apple is continuing to test end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users. Apple included the feature in the iOS 26.4 betabut removed it before the update launched to the public.
There is a new Pride wallpaper to go along with the Pride Apple Watch band for this year.
More detail on what's new in iOS 26.5 can be found in our iOS 26.5 beta features guide. iOS 26.5 is likely to see a launch next week.
Plugable makes a wide range of accessories for Apple devicesand it is perhaps best known for its hubs and docks. There are several dock and hub options that work well with Apple's new low-cost MacBook Neoand Plugable's solutions are affordable.
The UD–6950PDH USB-C 14-in–1 Dock is priced at $180and it adds multiple ports to the MacBook Neo or another Mac. There's a 5Gb/s USB-C port that also provides power for accessoriesfour 5Gb/s USB-A ports (one of which can power peripherals)microSD and SD card reader slotsa 100W USB-C port for charging a connected MacBooka 1Gb/s Ethernet porttwo HDMI portstwo DisplayPortsand a K-Lock for security.
The dock supports two 4K 60Hz displays connected via HDMI or DisplayPortand it uses DisplayLink software to get around display limitations on the MacBook Neo and other Macs. Even though the MacBook Neo only supports one external 4K display nativelywith the dockit can power two displays.
For those who only need a single displayPlugable has the $50 9-in–1 USB-C Hub. It connects to the MacBook Neo or another Mac via USB-Cadding several useful ports. Unlike the dockit does not need an external power source because it is bus-powered.
The hub has a 10Gb/s USB-C portan HDMI 2.0 portmicroSD and SD card slotsa USB 2.0 porttwo 10Gb/s USB-A ports (one offers 15W charging for accessories)a USB-C port for 125W passthrough charging to the connected Macand a Gigabit Ethernet port. Plugable currently has a 15% discount on the 9-in–1 Hub on Amazon.
Plugable's MacBook Neo accessory lineup is rounded out with a compact $24 USB-C Charger Blockwhich comes in either black or white. The power adapter provides 30W for the MacBook Neowhich is ideal. It uses GaN technology so it's small in sizeand it has collapsible prongsmaking it ideal for travel. Plugable is offering a 16% discount on the power adapter on Amazon this week.
We have a MacBook Neo and a Plugable accessory kit to go along with it for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to winuse the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newslettersubscribing to our YouTube channelfollowing us on Twitterfollowing us on Instagramfollowing us on Threadsor visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Showwe talk through how the global memory shortage is forcing Apple's hand across multiple key productskilling configurationsdelaying launchesand prompting spec decisions that would have seemed unlikely a year ago.
The pressure originates outside Apple's control. JPMorgan analysis cited by the Financial Times found that memory could account for as much as 45% of an iPhone's component costs by 2027up from around 10% today. Companies like Nvidia are reportedly outbidding consumer electronics makers for limited DRAM supply from SamsungSK Hynixand Micronwhile cloud firms are locking in capacity with multi-billion-dollar upfront commitments. Applewhich buys memory for roughly 250 million iPhones per yearhas shifted from a position where it could dictate terms to one where it must compete for supplyand component prices are being driven up as a result.
The MacBook Neo was sold out through April and Cook described demand on the earnings call as "off the charts." The MacBook Neo uses binned A18 Pro chipsadopting manufacturing rejects from the iPhone 16 lineup with one GPU core disabledrepurposed rather than discarded to keep costs low enough to hit the $599 price point.
Apple's initial production target is believed to be about five to six million unitsbut demand has since pushed the company to instruct suppliers to prepare for at least 10 million. TSMC's N3E production lineswhere the A18 Pro was madeare now running at maximum capacitywith AI-related orders consuming much of the available output. A fresh manufacturing run for the A18 Pro would yield fully functional chips rather than defective onesraising the per-unit cost before any expedited manufacturing premium is applied.
Apple is now said to be weighing up its options for the MacBook Neo. The company is purportedly considering cutting the 256GB entry-level modelwhich would push the effective starting price up by $100 without changing any existing configuration's pricethe same mechanism used with the Mac mini. SeparatelyApple may be considering new color options to soften any price increase.
Upcoming products are apparently being reshaped too. Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital" has claimed in a series of posts that the standard iPhone 18 is being downgraded as a cost-cutting measurewith both display and chip specifications affected. Most recentlythe leaker said certain parts are interchangeable between the iPhone 18 and the lower-cost iPhone 18e. For contextiPhone 17 and iPhone 17e differ meaningfully: the standard model has a larger ProMotion displayDynamic IslandUltra Wide camerafive-core GPUand significantly better battery lifebut it looks like there could be fewer differences with the next generation.
A follow-up post framed the new split launch strategyunder which the iPhone 18 ships in spring 2027 rather than alongside the Pro models in the fallas a deliberate commercial mechanism to smooth out demand. By extending the iPhone 17's flagship runApple is also said to be creating conditions under which a lower-specced successor will be more palatable. The split launch itself has been widely reported since last yearwith Ming-Chi Kuo and Nikkei among those to have corroborated it.
The launch of the rumored all-new high-end MacBook Pro or "MacBook Ultra" with an OLED display and touchscreen has also apparently slipped. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said early 2027 is now looking more likely than late 2026 due to Apple's constrained memory supply.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Showcatch up to hear our answers to your listener questions about the future of Apple's product lineupthe software and services shaping the ecosystemand our own personal histories with the company and its devices.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShowso be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at [email protected] or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcastand let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Mother's Day is just two days away nowand you can still find great discounts across multiple retailers like Anker and ZAGG. Additionallythis week we began tracking new record low prices on the AirPods Max 2M5 Pro MacBook Proand iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchasewe may receive a small paymentwhich helps us keep the site running.
Mother's Day Deals
What's the deal? Save on popular accessories and more
Mother's Day is this SundayMay 10and multiple popular accessory companies are hosting big discount events to mark the holiday. You'll find savings on Anker charging accessoriesOtterBox iPhone casesZAGG screen protectorsand much more in the list below.
Amazon this week introduced a new record low price on the AirPods Max 2now available for $509.00down from $549.00. This sale is available in all five colors of the headphones.
MacBook Pro
What's the deal? Take up to $216 off M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro
Following a few steep discounts on the iPhone Air last monthwe're now tracking a new all-time low price on the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery on Amazon. You can get the accessory for $59.99down from $99.00beating the previous low price by about $20.
Samsung Sale
What's the deal? Save on Samsung's best monitorsTVsand more
Samsung this week is offering big discounts across multiple product categoriesincluding its most popular monitors and TVs. This sale precedes the announcement of Samsung's newest line of 2026 monitorsand if you sign up with your e-mail and phone numberyou can lock in $50 savings on the upcoming monitors.
If you're on the hunt for more discountsbe sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
SpaceXAI has released Grok Voice mode for Apple CarPlayallowing CarPlay users to ask the chatbot questions and make requests directly from their vehicle dashboardhandsfree.
PreviouslyGrok for iPhone displayed a placeholder app in CarPlay saying the handsfree support would be coming soon. Grok comes built-in on Tesla vehiclesbut now almost any other car can access it.
Apple started permitting third-party voice-driven conversational apps to integrate with CarPlay in iOS 26.4but developers must add support for the feature and obtain a special entitlement from Apple.
Apple requires apps to use its voice control template for CarPlay. Whenever voice-based services are activeapps must display the voice control interface and can include up to four action buttons. HoweverApple says chatbot apps should not show text or imagery in response to queries.
Grok Voice mode joins ChatGPT and Perplexitywhich arrived on CarPlay in March and Aprilrespectively.
CarPlay has supported third-party apps for yearsbut Apple restricts the types of apps permitted on the platform to reduce driver distractions. Apple maintains a list of approved app categoriesincluding audiocommunicationEV chargingand navigation apps.
Apple and Meta have opposed a Canadian bill that the companies say could force them to create backdoor access to encrypted user datashould it pass through the country's parliament.
Proposed by Canada's ruling Liberal PartyBill C-22 contains provisions that could be similar to a UK data access provision order sent to Apple last yeardepending on how they are implemented.
Back in February 2025the British government demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud. Apple refusedand instead pulled its Advanced Data Protection iCloud feature from the United Kingdom.
U.S. officials later said Britain had dropped the request after the director of national intelligenceTulsi Gabbardraised concerns that it could violate a cloud data treaty and tap into US citizens' data.
Apple now finds itself in a similar standoff across the Atlantic. Canadian law enforcement officials say Bill C-22 would help them investigate security threats earlier and act more quickly. But Apple has pushed back against the proposed legislation. The company provided Reuters with the following statement:
"At a time of rising and pervasive threats from malicious actors seeking access to user informationBill C-22as draftedwould undermine our ability to offer the powerful privacy and security features users expect from Apple. This legislation could allow the Canadian government to force companies to break encryption by inserting backdoors into their products – something Apple will never do."
Meta also argued that the bill contained "sweeping powersminimal oversightand lack of clear safeguards" that could end up making Canadians less saferather than more.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has consistently insisted that providing back-door access past its encryption for authorities would open the door for "bad guys" to gain access to its users' data. Cyber security experts agree that it would only be a matter of time before bad actors discover such a point of entry. Apple's stance was enhanced in 2016 when it successfully fought a US order to unlock the iPhone of a shooter in San BernardinoCalifornia.
The Canadian bill is currently being debated in the House of Commons.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topicthe discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the threadbut posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Spotify has launched a new feature that lets users save AI-generated audio briefings called Personal Podcasts directly to their Spotify library. It uses a new command-line tool for desktop that works with AI coding agents like OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code.
After you install the Save to Spotify CLI from GitHub and sign into your Spotify accountyou can prompt the agent to generate a custom audio piecelike a daily news digesta study guide pulled from class notesor a weekly itinerary. Once generatedit appears alongside your music and regular podcasts in Your Library.
Here's how Spotify frames it. From the company's newsroom post:
People are already starting to use their agents to create personal audio that guides their day: from summaries of class notes before an exam to briefings of what's on their calendar. And they're asking for a way to listen to it on Spotifywhere they already listen to everything else.
Nowwe're making it possible to save and play Personal Podcasts on Spotify. Your agent can generate a daily briefingprivate to youand it's saved alongside everything else in Your Library. And as always with Spotifyit's seamlessly integrated across the devices you use.
Spotify offers a few use case examples to get you startedsuch as a morning briefing that flags upcoming meetingschecks the weatherand recommends a commute podcastor a progressively deeper audio series built from saved articles and personal notes for learning a new subject.
The feature remains in beta but is available worldwide to eligible Free and Premium subscribersthough Spotify cautions that there are usage limits during the testing period.
The CLI tool launch follows Spotify's release last month of a Claude integration that lets users connect their Spotify account to the chatbot and ask for personalized music and podcast recommendations directly in a conversation.
Starting todayApple will require customers in the U.S.Canadaand Chile to verify their status as a student or educator to get educational discounts. Apple is adopting the UNiDAYS verification system that it uses in other countrieswith a new process to accommodate homeschool families.
Apple is also adding the Apple Watch Series 11Apple Watch SEand Apple Watch Ultra 3 to its Education Storewhich means students and teachers are now eligible for up to a 10 percent discount on Apple's most popular wearable.
Students and educators in the three countries can use the UNiDAYS app or website to verify their academic status with an email address from an educational institutiona student or staff photo IDor another valid educational document.
Eligible customers who homeschool can also be verified by UNiDAYS. Verification requires an identity document like a driver's license or passportand a homeschool documentsuch as a Letter of Intent or Letter of Acknowledgement. Most customers will be verified instantlywith UNiDAYS providing a decision in under 24 hours when manual review is required.
Once confirmed through UNiDAYSstudents and educators in the U.S.Canadaand Chile will be able to purchase the Apple Watch and other Apple devices at Apple's discounted educational prices. Apple's Education Store offers special pricing on MacsiPadsand the Studio Displayalong with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil.
Apple did not previously have an established academic status verification system in the U.S. or Canadawhich meant that anyone could technically purchase from the Education Store. Apple's sales policies said that it routinely audited customer purchases to verify purchase conditions were followed. Apple briefly used UNiDAYS in the U.S. in 2022 to verify student statusbut it was removed after a few days following complaints about issues with the verification process.
Apple's Education Store discounts are available to employees of K–12 institutionsfaculty and staff of higher education institutionsstudents attending or accepted to higher education institutionsand parents purchasing on behalf of children attending or accepted to a higher education institution.
In addition to the U.S.Canadaand ChileApple has added the Apple Watch to the Education Store in AustraliaChinaHong KongJapanMalaysiaSingaporeSouth KoreaTaiwanThailandVietnamFranceGermanyIndiaItalySaudi ArabiaSpainTurkeyand the UK.
Apple also expanded UNiDAYS verification requirements to AustraliaHong Kongand Turkey yesterday.
OpenAI today launched Codex for Chromea Chrome extension that lets Codex work directly in the browser on Macs and PCs.
With the extensionCodex can use the browser to test web appsget context across multiple tabsuse web DevToolsand more without taking over the browser from the user.
OpenAI says that after it launched Computer Use in the desktop Codex appit saw that most common workflows happened in the browser. The Chrome extension should make it faster and easier for Codex to help with browser-based work that plugins or APIs can't handle.
According to OpenAICodex has more than 4 million weekly active usersan increase of 8x since the beginning of the year. The Chrome extension is part of OpenAI's broader effort to make Codex more useful for work people do dailywhile keeping it useful for developers.
The Chrome extension can be installed through the Codex Plugins menu.
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