Today we're tracking a pair of solid discounts on the AirPods Pro 2 and AirTag 4-Pack on Amazon, including an all-time low price on the Bluetooth trackers.

AirTag

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Amazon this week has Apple's AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99, down from $99.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the accessory.



Amazon also has the AirTag 1-Pack for $24.99, down from $29.00. We've seen a steeper $19.00 price tag on the 1-Pack recently, so if you're in the market for the AirTag, it's likely best to go for the 4-Pack for the best value.

AirPods Pro 2

Secondly, Amazon has Apple's AirPods Pro 2 for $169.99, down from $249.00. Delivery on this one is delayed slightly to the end of October and early November.



This is a solid second-best price on the AirPods Pro 2, coming in about $19 higher compared to the previous record low price, which we haven't seen in a couple of months.

Apple just released the AirPods Pro 3 last month, but we haven't seen particularly steep discounts on the new model yet, so anyone in the market for a Pro model should still find good value in Amazon's discount on the AirPods Pro 2.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Get Low Prices on AirPods Pro 2 and AirTag 4-Pack on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s Sports app has quickly become my favorite way to keep up with live sports scores, and a new update should make the app even better for NFL and college sports fans.

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For a very long time, I urged patience with Apple’s efforts to turn Siri into a truly intelligent assistant. Back in 2023, I argued that the stakes were higher for Siri than for primarily text-based AI systems like ChatGPT.

I’ve also said that Apple’s commitment to privacy poses a far greater challenge for the company’s AI efforts, and that the payoff would be worth it. But it’s gotten harder and harder to maintain this position, and the latest report certainly doesn’t help …

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The next big iPhone update, iOS 26.1, is coming soon. It’s currently in beta testing, but a public launch isn’t far off. Here’s the expected iOS 26.1 release date.

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Apple has published a new video today promoting the Mac, and it features the voice of the late Jane Goodall. Here are the details.

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Apple today shared a new "Great ideas start on Mac" ad, voiced by the late Dr. Jane Goodall, the well-known British ethologist and conservationist.


Here is what Goodall says in the ad:

Every story you love, every invention that moves you, every idea you wished was yours, all began as nothing. Just a flicker on a screen, asking a simple question: What do you see?

Apple's video description on YouTube:

From groundbreaking discoveries to award-winning films — all of it starts from nothing. Endless possibility is waiting, what will you make with it? Great ideas start on Mac.

Ad Age shared a quote from Tor Myhren, Apple's Vice President of Marketing Communications:

This campaign celebrates the hardest and most mysterious part of a great idea—its origin: how something is created out of nothing, from a blank canvas. It's remarkable how many of the world's great ideas started on a Mac. This work salutes these ideas, and everyone who tries to make more of them.

Goodall passed away earlier this month, at the age of 91.

Apple CEO Tim Cook paid tribute to her remarkable life:

Jane Goodall was a groundbreaking scientist and leader who taught us all so much about the beauty and wonder of our world. She never stopped advocating for nature, people, and the planet we share. May she rest in peace.

This article, "Apple Says 'Great Ideas Start on Mac' in Ad Voiced by Dr. Jane Goodall" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As announced last week, there is a new bundle offer which combines Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) and Peacock streaming services, offering substantial savings to US customers. You can get Apple TV with Peacock Premium for $14.99, or upgrade to the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus tier for $19.99 per month. This represents savings of about 35% compared to buying each service separately.

You can sign up straight from the Apple TV app, or through Peacock’s app or website. If you are an existing Apple One bundle subscriber, there’s also a special discount offer on Peacock Premium Plus available …

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The iPhone 17 lineup outsold the iPhone 16 models by 14% during the first 10 days of availability in the United States and China, according to new sell-through data from Counterpoint Research.


Counterpoint said the figures represent the earliest measurable signal of demand for the new generation in Apple's two most commercially important markets. The firm said the overall uplift is being led by stronger upgrades to the standard ‌iPhone 17‌, particularly in China, and by higher uptake of the iPhone 17 Pro Max among U.S. carrier customers on enhanced subsidy plans.

In China, Counterpoint said sell-through of the $799 base ‌iPhone 17‌ nearly doubled compared to the ‌iPhone 16‌ during the equivalent initial window. The firm attributed the shift to a changes-for-price ratio that has remained favorable year-on-year. Senior Analyst Mengmeng Zhang said in Counterpoint's report that the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ is "very compelling to consumers, offering great value for money." He cited a new chip, improved display, increased base storage, and an upgraded front camera at an unchanged list price as key factors. Counterpoint said discounts and coupons layered on top of that positioning have amplified conversion in retail and operator channels.

In the United States, Counterpoint Research said sales of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max are ramping up faster than the equivalent ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max, with the big three carriers increasing maximum subsidies by roughly $100. Senior Analyst Maurice Klaehne said carriers are using richer headline subsidies to lock in higher lifetime value under 24- to 36-month financing. Counterpoint said this is driving a mix shift toward the top end of the lineup and reinforcing Apple's premium-tier retention in the subsidized segment of the market.

The iPhone Air is apparently performing slightly ahead of last year's ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus on a comparable calendar basis. China's operator approval process delayed local availability until October 17. Senior Analyst Ivan Lam said that while the China launch is a milestone for eSIM adoption, the short pre-order window and the price-to-spec gap relative to the base ‌iPhone 17‌ will likely limit near-term volume, characterizing early demand as "niche."

Counterpoint said momentum for the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ in China and for the Pro Max in the U.S. continued into early October beyond the 10-day measurement window, providing the first structured indication that the ‌iPhone 17‌ cycle is tracking ahead of the ‌iPhone 16‌ cycle at launch in Apple's two most important iPhone markets.
This article, "iPhone 17 Lineup Sales Outperforming Last Year's Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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There’s been something of a debate going on recently over what some term “the non-pro MacBook Pro,” with what John Gruber refers to as “the no-adjective M-series chip.”

The debate centers on whether it makes sense to buy the base model MacBook Pro rather than the significantly cheaper but similarly-specced MacBook Air …

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Both the cheapest and the most expensive iPhone 17 models are reportedly seeing strong demand. A new market intelligence report says that the base iPhone 17 is proving especially popular.

The report says that in the first 10 days of availability, sales of the entry-level iPhone 17 were almost a third higher than those of the iPhone 16 a year earlier …

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A major Amazon Web Services outage resulted in many different platforms and services being taken down for many users in the US. This includes Amazon, Alexa, Snapchat, Fortnite, ChatGPT, and more.

The problem first occurred shortly after midnight PDT. The company identified the cause a couple of hours later and says that it is now “continuing to observe recovery” across most services …

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All MLS playoff matches will stream at no additional charge for Apple TV subscribers, without requiring the separate MLS Season Pass add-on (via Sports Business Journal).


Apple and MLS are likely using the expanded access window to convert casual viewers into paying Season Pass customers for the 2026 regular season. Apple adjusted Season Pass pricing in September; for ‌Apple TV‌ subscribers, the price for a full season was cut from $79 to $25 and for non-subscribers, from $99 to $29. During the regular season and the Leagues Cup, only a subset of matches were made available to non-Season Pass viewers.

The announcement arrives days after Apple secured rights to stream Formula 1 in the United States beginning in 2026. Under that deal, ‌Apple TV‌ subscribers will receive F1 TV Premium content at no additional charge. F1 TV Premium has typically cost U.S. subscribers about $16.99 per month. Since 2023, U.S. viewers have been required to pay an additional fee for MLS Season Pass even if they already subscribe to ‌Apple TV‌.
This article, "Apple Opens MLS Playoff Matches to All Apple TV Subscribers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Update: The Apple system status now says Apple TV, Apple Music and App Store issues are now resolved.

Apple online services are currently experience a big outage that has lasted a couple hours already. Some customers are noticing they are unable to stream on Apple TV, listen to their library on Apple Music, or download new apps from the App Store.

Apple’s official system status page says these services have been experiencing issues since around midnight Eastern Time. We currently don’t know when the problem will be fixed.

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When AirPods Pro 3 initially debuted, I was a little bit hesitant about upgrading. I felt that AirPods Pro 2 were still excellent. On top of that, one of the key features of AirPods Pro 3, Live Translation, was also coming to AirPods Pro 2. However, now that I’ve actually given them a shot – I can genuinely say I was wrong about my pessimism.

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As first reported by Sports Business Journal, all of the Major League Soccer playoff matches will be watchable with an Apple TV subscription (formerly Apple TV+), meaning fans don’t need the add-on MLS Season Pass subscription to tune in.

The playoff schedule begins on Wednesday. In light of the news that F1 will stream on Apple TV in the United States as part of the base subscription, there has been some speculation that the separate MLS Season Pass product could be going away …

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iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings.

iOS 26.4 will likely be released in March or April, so Apple still has around five to six months to improve any lingering issues with the voice assistant.

When it first previewed the new Siri at WWDC 2024, Apple said it would have three main capabilities: on-screen awareness, personal context, and in-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans, based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

The new Siri was initially expected to debut with iOS 18.4 last year, but Apple delayed it. In July, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company was making "good progress" on the more personalized Siri, and he said the features were on track to launch next year. However, if issues persist, then even an iOS 26.4 launch might not be guaranteed.


This article, "Some Apple Employees Have 'Concerns' About iOS 26.4's Revamped Siri" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Early next year, Apple is set to debut its new AI-infused Siri as part of iOS 26.4 – after well over a year of delays. However, despite all of the additional time the company had to rethink its approach, some Apple engineers testing the software reportedly have concerns as it stands today.

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In the Apple Silicon era, MacBooks have become more affordable than ever – with brand new models starting as low as $599. With looming global tariffs, these great deals could potentially be coming to an end soon – so if you’re in the market for a new MacBook for any reason, now may be one of the best ever times to purchase.

Apple’s latest macOS Tahoe update also dropped support for practically all Intel Macs (with some small exceptions). If you’d like to stay on the latest and greatest Apple software, nows a fitting time to upgrade.

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Earlier this week, Apple unveiled three new products with the M5 chip, built on the third generation 3nm process. While it’s only in one Mac at the moment – the 14-inch MacBook Pro – early benchmark results look incredibly promising.

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Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

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Auvio is a neat audio engine for your iPhone. It offers everything you’d need to create your own immersive and personal soundscapes, whether you want them to fall asleep to, for focusing, or for studying.

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Apple may be planning to release an updated Developer Strap for the Vision Pro next week, according to a hint on its website.


On its visionOS resources page for developers, Apple says the Developer Strap will be available to order again starting Wednesday, October 22, which is the same day that the Vision Pro with the M5 chip will be released. Accordingly, it seems likely that Apple plans to release an updated version of the accessory next week.

Apple first released the Developer Strap in February 2024, when the original Vision Pro with the M2 chip launched in the United States. The optional accessory provides a USB-C connection between the Vision Pro and a Mac, for app development and diagnostic purposes. It can only be purchased by Apple Developer Program members.


It is unclear what new features or changes the updated Developer Strap would have, or if it will remain priced at $299 in the United States. It also remains to be seen if the new version of the accessory is compatible with the original Vision Pro.

As noted on Reddit, the current Developer Strap is limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps, even though it technically could support Thunderbolt.
This article, "Apple's Vision Pro Developer Strap May Receive an Upgrade Next Week" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps.


More features and changes will follow in future versions, ranging from later iOS 26.1 beta versions through to iOS 26.4. These are only the features that are known so far, and there will surely be many others added over the next year or so.

Digital Passport

iOS 26 will eventually let you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app.

The feature will be available later this year, according to fine print on Apple's website. Apple initially said a software update would be required, but it no longer mentions that, so perhaps the feature can be enabled with a server-side update.

After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

It will also be possible to use the Digital ID feature for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

RCS Upgrades

Earlier this year, Apple said it planned to add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to the Messages app in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS software updates, and we are still waiting for that to happen. However, the upgrade has yet to be implemented on iPhones on iOS 26, or in the iOS 26.1 beta versions released so far.

End-to-end encryption for RCS was announced in March, as part of version 3.0 of the RCS Universal Profile, a global standard for RCS features and specifications. This means that Apple has indirectly confirmed that it will support RCS Universal Profile 3.0, which includes not only end-to-end encryption for RCS, but several other iMessage-like enhancements for RCS that were originally introduced in RCS‌ Universal Profile 2.7.

Apple has to wait on carriers to implement RCS Universal Profile 3.0 too, so it is understandable why the process is taking time.

Here are five new capabilities to expect for RCS conversations on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, once Apple rolls out support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0:

• End-to-end encryption, which will prevent Apple and any other third party from being able to read messages and attachments while they are being sent between devices, as has always been the case with iMessage


• In-line replies


• Edit messages


• Unsend messages


• Full-fledged Tapback support for RCS messages, with no special workarounds

RCS support as a whole was added to the iPhone with iOS 18, which supports ‌RCS‌ Universal Profile 2.4. It is effectively a modernized version of the SMS standard, which remains available as a fallback option for text messages over a cellular network.

RCS will be playing catch up with iMessage in many ways. iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have already supported end-to-end encryption by default since iOS 5. In addition, iMessage has supported in-line replies since iOS 14, while the options to edit and unsend iMessages were introduced with iOS 16.

It seems likely that Apple will roll out these RCS upgrades at some point during the iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 software cycle.

Personalized Siri

In late July, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company was making "good progress" on a more personalized version of Siri, and he reiterated the features were on track to launch next year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the new Siri to launch in the U.S. in spring 2026, so Apple is likely aiming for an iOS 26.4 launch.

Apple first announced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote, but in March it announced that they were delayed. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

Weather via Satellite

Earlier this year, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to an unreleased "Weather via satellite" feature in the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta. However, the feature has yet to be released or even announced by Apple, so it is unclear if it is still coming or if it was scrapped. It might still launch eventually.

The feature would let you view the forecast and other weather information in the Weather app, in supported areas without Wi-Fi and cellular range. Apple's other satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country.

Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. Last month, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.

New Emoji

iOS 26.4 will likely add new built-in emoji to the iPhone.

In celebration of World Emoji Day on July 17, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are part of Unicode 17.0.

Here are some of the new emoji:

• Trombone


• Treasure Chest


• Distorted Face


• Hairy Creature (Bigfoot/Sasquatch)


• Fight Cloud


• Apple Core


• Orca


• Ballet Dancers


• Landslide

Notably, Distorted Face is a popular emoji in Discord servers. It is essentially a distorted version of the embarassed face emoji, also known as Flushed Face.


It typically takes Apple several months to design new emoji in its own style, so the emoji listed above will likely be added to the iPhone in iOS 26.4.

Apple most recently added new emoji to the iPhone with iOS 18.4, an update that came out in late March. iOS 17.4, iOS 16.4, and iOS 15.4 also introduced new emoji over the years, so the timing has become predictable by this point if it holds up.
This article, "iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With iOS 26, Apple introduced a new app on iPhone and iPad: Preview. This app has been on the Mac for a long time, and as the name suggests, it serves as a system-wide file preview of sorts, that way you don’t need an app to view every file.

While this app may be intuitive on the iPad, I’ve found it rather cumbersome on the iPhone. Luckily, there’s a rather simple fix for it.

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With iPhone Air, Apple reintroduced the MagSafe battery pack. It’s $99, and optimized specifically for iPhone Air. It’s rather slim, though it’s rather weak in capacity – making Qi2 alternatives all the more interesting. We’ll be delving into the top options on the market, just in case you want a MagSafe battery for your iPhone without spending $99, or aren’t buying the iPhone Air.

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