Pioneer today announced a new in-dash receiver that supports Dolby Atmos audio playback within Apple CarPlay, extending the feature into the aftermarket category for the first time.


Apple has supported Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio across much of its ecosystem since 2021, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods, HomePod, and Apple Music. In vehicles, however, Dolby Atmos playback through Apple ‌CarPlay‌ has depended on automakers integrating compatible audio hardware, resulting in availability being restricted to a relatively small number of high-end models. Pioneer's new SPHERA in-dash receiver makes Atmos-capable ‌CarPlay‌ available to a much broader base of drivers through aftermarket installation.

The system uses a vehicle's existing speaker setup rather than requiring specialized or factory-installed Atmos hardware. The company says the receiver uses an optimized four-channel configuration that works with standard front and rear speakers, allowing spatial audio playback without additional height or ceiling-mounted speakers.

Pioneer's proprietary Pure Autotuning technology is designed to address the acoustic variability of vehicle interiors, accounting for different sizes, shapes, materials, and speaker placements. It automatically adjusts time alignment, frequency response, and channel levels to place the listener at what Pioneer calls the acoustic center position.

The receiver itself features a 10.1-inch HD capacitive touchscreen and supports wireless ‌CarPlay‌, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The interface includes a split-screen mode that allows navigation to remain visible while drivers access audio controls or system functions.

SPHERA is designed for universal aftermarket installation and can be fitted to a wide variety of vehicles with minimal modification. Pioneer announced it at CES 2026 and said the receiver will be available starting in the spring, with pricing starting at $1,300.
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iPadOS 26 is a major update for productivity, but it also introduces several new iPad apps for users, my favorite of which is Apple’s Journal app.

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Apple has designed a limited edition version of the AirPods Pro 3 to celebrate Lunar New Year, and customers in select countries can purchase them starting today. The Year of the Horse Special Edition ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ feature a unique horse emoji character that's otherwise unavailable.


Customers in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore are able to buy the AirPods, and they'll be available as long as supplies last. Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17 in 2026.

Apple designs special edition AirPods with a custom engraving each year. There have been limited edition AirPods to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Year of the Ox, Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rabbit, and Year of the Snake.

The special edition ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are identical to the standard ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ and the pricing is the same. The only thing that's different is the engraving. Apple released the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ in 2025, introducing improved sound, better Active Noise Cancellation, an updated fit, and heart rate sensing. Orders placed today will begin shipping out to customers on January 8.

Along with special edition ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, Apple is also selling a selection of Year of the Horse-themed accessories, such as iPhone cases, power banks, AirTag covers, organizers, and travel chargers.
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LISEN has been one of my favorite recent brands that I’ve been watching. The company’s new 3-in-1 charger is a really nice addition to its lineup. One of the things I love most about it is the foldable design, which is somewhat unique for most MagSafe charging setups. It can charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch, and also includes Qi2 support. I have a new office setup, this is the one I am using next to my laptop.

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The annual CES tech event kicks off this week, with all kinds of companies showing off new products that are going to launch throughout 2026. Unsurprisingly, AI is the theme of this year's show, and almost everything you can think of is getting an artificial intelligence upgrade.


We sent MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera to CES to check out what's new, and our first video covers the CES Unveiled preview event that happens before the show begins, along with some new Samsung products.

Samsung is showing off its latest smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold. Instead of just folding in two like a book, it has three folds, so it goes from 6.5 inches when closed to 10 inches when opened up. With the extra fold, it looks and feels much more like a tablet, and there's a lot of screen real estate for multitasking, playing games, and watching content. When it's closed up, it's thick, but still pocketable.

Most of Samsung's other devices like TVs are getting iterative updates and AI support with the new Vision AI Companion. The AI can answer questions about content on the screen, provide recommendations on what to watch or listen to, suggest what to eat, and give recipes from food you see on TV. There are also intuitive AI modes to personalize the viewing experience, tweaking picture and sound controls.

Samsung debuted a 130-inch microRGB TV with its most impressive color spectrum to date, updated OLED Frame TVs with realistic art, a record player with an animated display, and Movingstyle displays that are meant to detach from a base so they can be taken around the home.

Samsung's smart home integration is getting an AI update that allows smart home products to be activated based on sleeping metrics collected by the Galaxy Watch. If the watch detects that the wearer is too hot, it can turn on the AC. Or if the room is dry, it's able to turn on a connected humidifier. For gamers, Samsung showed off new Odyssey gaming displays, including the 6K Odyssey G9.

There were multiple fun and unusual products at CES Unveiled, like the $8,500 4D Falcon Massage Chair from Bodyfriend. It looks like a mech suit chair hybrid device, and it offers custom massage profiles with built-in leg and arm stretching functionality. It includes zero gravity recline, hand acupressure pads, and 36 airbags.

The $120 Ostation from Olight is able to recharge up to 32 AA batteries at one time, testing to ensure they're functional. There's also a version for AAA batteries, and both are handy if you use a lot of these battery types.

LiberNovo was showing off the $930 Omni desk chair, a dynamic ergonomic chair that senses the curve of your back and adapts automatically to offer support. It includes an adaptive neckrest and movable armrests that shift when the user leans back.

Belkin has some useful new charging products, including a $65 Qi2.2 3-in-1 charging dock and a Qi2.2 power bank that has an extra magnet so you can still use wallets, grips, or stands. Qi2.2 charges devices at up to 25W, just like MagSafe.

The $500 HoverAir Drone is a compact drone with a built-in high-resolution camera and stabilization, so it's like having a tiny film crew for video recording. It has covered rotors, so it's safe to use indoors.

Withings debuted a next-generation $600 Body Scan scale that's able to measure more than 60 biomarkers. It monitors heart pumping efficiency, cellular health, and metabolic function with eight EKG-capable electrodes on the scale surface and four in a retractable handle.

CES Unveiled also included a bunch of AI companion robots like the Tombot, a lifelike robotic dog with interactive sensors, real puppy sounds, and voice control. It's meant to offer emotional support without the need for traditional pet care, but it's not available for purchase yet.

We'll be covering more CES highlights throughout the week, so make sure to stay tuned, and check out our CES 2026 hub for all of our coverage.
This article, "CES 2026 Day 1: AI for Everything" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s long-delayed AI upgrades for Siri are set to finally launch this year. Here’s the expected release date for the new and improved Siri.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by 9to5Mac Daily Plus: Get ad-free versions of every episode by visiting 9to5mac.com/join. 

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Anker announced a new series of products at CES this week, and most of them will begin rolling out to customers later in January. A few of these devices, including the Nano Docking Station and 45W Nano Charger, have pre-order discounts on Anker's website, and we're also tracking big discounts in Anker's New Year's sale.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Normally $39.99, early adopters of the 45W Nano Charger can get it for $29.99 this week with Anker's automatically applied coupon code. As of writing, all colors are in stock except for the orange option.



The new 45W Nano Charger features a Smart Display and a 180-degree foldable plug to ensure the display always faces where you want it to regardless of plug orientation. The accessory can also identify an iPhone model and provide the appropriate amount of power for fast charging while protecting battery health.



You can also get the new Nano Docking Station for the discounted price of $109.69 when pre-ordering, down from $149.99. This accessory includes a built-in removable hub so some features are available on-the-go. It supports three displays with up to a 4K resolution over DisplayPort and HDMI, and it offers 100W charging and 10Gb/s data transfer.


Lastly, Anker is hosting a big New Year's sale this week, with up to 38 percent off popular charging accessories. In addition to the automatically applied discounts on each item, Anker is providing $10 off orders over $99, $15 off orders over $139, and $20 off orders over $179.

Anker Chargers

• Nano II 65W Charger - $25.99, down from $39.99


• Nano Wireless Car Charger - $39.99, down from $59.99


• 6-Port 200W Prime Charging Station - $59.99, down from $79.99


• 3-Port 67W Wall Charger (2-Pack) - $74.79, down from $99.98


• 13-in-1 Nano Docking Station - $109.69, down from $149.99


• 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Station - $129.71, down from $199.99


• 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station - $145.98, down from $229.99

Anker SOLIX

• Anker 521 PowerHouse (300W) - $129.99, down from $249.99


• Anker 535 PowerHouse (500W) - $249.00, down from $649.99


• SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $469.99, down from $799.00


• SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 + Solar Panel - $619.99, down from $1,298.00


• SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $719.99, down from $1,498.00


• SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station - $1,199.00, down from $2,599.00


• SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station - $2,199.99, down from $3,999.00


• SOLIX F3000 + Expansion Battery + Solar Panel - $2,199.00, down from $5,397.00


• SOLIX F3800 Plus Smart Home Power Kit - $5,798.00, down from $8,897.00

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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Apple is moving its store in Downtown Montréal, with the new location set to open on Friday, January 16, at 10 a.m. local time, according to iPhone in Canada.


The new store will be in a historic building at the northeast corner of Rue Saint-Catherine and Rue de la Montagne in Montréal, the most populous city in the Canadian province of Québec. Apple renovated the building over the past few years.

To celebrate the new store, Apple has made a custom wallpaper for the Mac and iPhone available on the store page for a limited time.

As another way of celebrating, Apple collaborated with Montréal-based artist Catherine Potvin, who created the special artwork that will be visible on the store's facade until the grand opening. At the store, customers who make a purchase can receive a complimentary Apple Store bag illustrated by Potvin at the following times:

• Friday, January 16 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.


• Saturday, January 17 between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Apple's existing Sainte-Catherine store opened in 2008, and the new location is very close by.


As spotted by designer Filip Chudzinski, Apple has announced that its Baybrook store in Friendswood, Texas, a suburb of Houston, will also be reopening in its original location on Friday, January 16, at 10 a.m. local time. Apple operated a temporary store inside the shopping mall while it renovated the original location.
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Apple Vision Pro owners will be able to watch live basketball games in the Apple Immersive format starting on Friday, January 9, Apple said today.


Apple is partnering with Spectrum to air Los Angeles Lakers games in 3D in the Spectrum SportsNet and NBA apps. The Apple Immersive basketball games will be available to Vision Pro users in the Lakers' regional broadcast territory, which includes Southern California, Hawaii, and parts of southern Nevada. Viewers will need Spectrum internet or a provider with a package that includes Spectrum SportsNet.

For ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ users in other areas, Apple Immersive replays and highlights will be available nationwide and in select international markets where the Vision Pro is available (Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will not have access). The first game replay will be available on Sunday, January 11. Replays are watchable by any ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ user with a free NBA ID.

Apple says that the Spectrum Front Row Apple Immersive experience features a feed of up to 150Mb/s with seven unique viewing angles. Views include the scorer's table, the area beneath each basket, a high-and-wide view of the arena, the player tunnel, the broadcast booth, and a roaming courtside perspective for interviews and commentary from Mark Rogondino and former Lakers forward Danny Green.

Viewers will be able to watch each pass, shot, and block up close, with in-game graphics like player rosters, shot clocks, and scores in 3D as if they're floating right in front of the viewer. Spatial Audio will make viewers feel as if they're watching right from the court.

Apple Immersive Lakers games will air on January 9, February 5, February 20, March 5, March 10, and March 30, with times and a full schedule available on Apple's website.
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Back in October, Apple announced that select Lakers NBA games would stream in Apple Immersive video on Apple Vision Pro in 2026. Today, Apple and Spectrum have published the full schedule of Apple Immersive games.

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Pioneer was first to bring Apple CarPlay to existing cars in 2014, and now the company is pulling off another CarPlay first.

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Alongside an influx of new product releases and reveals courtesy of CES 2026, we are ready to kick off the new year with our first 9to5Toys Lunch Break of 2026. We have $100 off iPad mini 7 and $100 off Apple Watch Series 11 models alongside the return of he best price to date on the official Anchor Blue Apple Watch Sport Loop at the $34 low. We also spotted a chance to secure Apple Pencil Pro at up to 37% off, Apple’s latest 25W Qi2.2 MagSafe Charger sitting down at $30, and the Anker New Year sale with up to 55% off Prime and Nano chargers, bundle offers, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

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2026 could finally be the year that the Apple Card receives a new financial partner, and this could lead to some changes for cardholders.


As a refresher, the Apple Card launched in 2019, and it remains available in the U.S. only. The credit card can be managed in the iPhone's Wallet app, with key benefits including color-coded spending summaries, no fees, and Daily Cash cash back paid out daily. Apple Card holders can also open a high-yield savings account.

In July, The Wall Street Journal reported that Chase Bank parent company JPMorgan was in "advanced talks" with Apple about replacing Goldman Sachs as the Apple Card's partner bank. Goldman Sachs has been gradually winding down its consumer lending business, following billions of dollars in losses, and Apple is reportedly willing to let them out of a contract that is otherwise supposed to run until 2030.

Barclays and Synchrony were also reportedly in talks to become the Apple Card's new financial partner, but it is unclear if those companies are still in the running. As for the Apple Card's payment network, it had been reported that Visa and American Express had expressed interest in taking over for Mastercard.

If the Apple Card does get a new financial partner, there could be updates to the card's features, policies, interest rates, customer service processes, and more.

Chase Bank does not currently offer a high-yield savings account, so it is unclear what would happen to the Apple Card's savings account if they take over the credit card. Apple Card holders are currently being offered a 3.65% APY.

You can apply for an Apple Card on Apple's website.
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Twelve South is one of my favorite Apple accessory makers, and as CES 2026 kicks off this week, it has announced an addition to its product line: the Twelve South Valet.

The Valet is described as a “wireless charging station and personal essentials tray.” Think of it as a place to drop your phone, keys, wallet, and other essentials — and charge your phone at the same time.

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Anker today announced several new charging options that are set to start rolling out to customers in January. There are three products in the Nano family, along with a new Anker multi-device charging station designed for the iPhone and Apple Watch.


The $150 Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station offers 25W Qi2 fast charging for supported ‌iPhone‌ models, matching the speeds delivered through MagSafe. It can charge an iPhone 17 to 80 percent in 55 minutes. There is an included airflow cooling system that's meant to keep temperatures low to make charging more efficient, and the charger has a foldable design for travel. It is able to charge an ‌iPhone‌, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

Anker says its new $40 45W Nano Charger is able to identify an ‌iPhone‌ model and then provide the appropriate amount of power for fast charging while protecting battery health. The special charging reduces phone battery temperature by nine degrees compared to other 45W chargers. It has a built-in smart display and a 180-degree foldable plug for travel and to ensure the screen always faces you regardless of plug orientation.


The $70 Anker Nano Power Strip features six AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports, with 70W max available from either of the USB-C ports. Anker says that the power strip is meant to keep desks clutter-free thanks to the hidden AC outlets that tuck under a desk.


Anker's $150 Nano Docking Station has a built-in removable hub so some of the functionality is available while on the go. It supports three displays with up to a 4K resolution over DisplayPort and HDMI, and it offers 100W charging and 10Gb/s data transfer.


There are two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, a DisplayPort, an SD card slot, a microSD card slot, an audio jack, and two HDMI ports.

The Nano Docking Station is available now from the Anker website. The 45W Nano Charger and Nano Power Strip will launch in late January, while the Prime Wireless Charging Station will launch in the first quarter of 2026.
This article, "CES 2026: Anker Unveils New Qi2 Charger, Nano Power Strip, and Docking Station" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anker is showing off a long list of new products under its Eufy and Soundcore brands at CES 2026, ranging from new camera options to new sleep buds.


The $300 Matter-enabled Smart Lock E40 is able to integrate with Apple Home, and it offers 3D face recognition for unlocking a door with a facial scan. It includes a 2K HD camera so it doubles as a security camera complete with night vision and wide-angle coverage. There is a 15,000 mAh main battery in the E40, and an 800 mAh backup battery.

The $280 Video Doorbell S4 is equipped with OmniTrack technology to detect and track people, adjusting the zoom to keep visitors in frame as they approach the door. It features a 180-degree horizontal and vertical field-of-view for panoramic surveillance, and the 3K camera allows for monitoring from up to 26 feet away.


Eufy's $200 Solar Wall Light Cam S4 offers 4K color night vision and an f/1.6 lens for clear images even in low light. The camera can be adjusted vertically by up to 45 degrees to eliminate blind spots, and it can be charged with a 2W solar panel or a 10,000 mAh battery. Multiple lighting modes are available, including daily lighting, security lighting, and festive lighting.


Under the Soundcore brand, Anker is debuting the $180 AeroFit 2 Pro, which it describes as dual-form earbuds that allow for open-ear listening and Active Noise Cancellation in one product. The earbuds are designed to cut down on noise in loud environments while still allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings.


The $200 Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds feature a triple noise reduction system that blends Active Noise Cancellation, passive isolation, and adaptive snore masking to cut down on sleep interruptions. Anker is partnering with Calm to make Calm Sleep Stories available through the Soundcore app.


Anker's AeroFit 2 Pro and Sleep A30 Special earbuds are available from the Soundcore website starting today.

The Smart Lock E40 is launching in the first quarter of 2026 at Home Depot, while the Video Doorbell S4 and the Solar Wall Light Cam S4 will be available from the Eufy website in the first quarter.
This article, "CES 2026: Anker Unveils Soundcore Sleep Earbuds, Eufy HomeKit Smart Lock and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards were hosted this weekend, and Apple TV had its best year ever for wins, with three series and one movie earning awards. Here’s everything that won.

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Apple has been roundly criticized for falling behind in AI, and for its rather disastrous Apple Intelligence launch in which it was forced to admit it had promised things it couldn’t deliver.

The second criticism is valid, the first only partly so. But a new report suggests that Apple’s path to delivering on its AI promises may be a radical one: abandoning work on its own model. I do now think that’s absolutely the right thing to do …

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Amazon and Best Buy have a few discounts on the iPad mini 7 for the New Year, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Additionally, you can get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.00, both $100 discounts and available in multiple colors. These sales are all solid second-best prices on the iPad mini 7.





Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with one color of the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $549.00 and a few colors of the 256GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $649.00, both $100 off. Best Buy has more options for cellular models, with nearly every device on sale at $100 off this week.

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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Apple has a big year of 20+ product launches ahead, including six new products that are rumored to arrive in the next few months. Here’s what’s coming.

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Amazon today discounted the Apple Pencil Pro to $92.97, down from $129.00. This is a new record low price on the Apple Pencil Pro that beats the previous low by about $2.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the M4 and M5 iPad Pro, M2 and M3 iPad Air, and the A17 Pro iPad mini. Right now, only Amazon is providing this best-ever price on the stylus accessory, and it could disappear fast so be sure to check it out if you didn't pick one up over the holidays.



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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January often brings fresh goals, with health and fitness at the forefront for many. Apple Fitness+ just launched new programs designed to help build exercise habits, and there are several ways you can access Fitness+ entirely free.

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As Apple itself recently noted, most new year’s resolutions don’t last very long. When it comes to daily gym visits and diets, so many people have given up by the second Friday in January that it has come to be known as Quitter’s Day.

But there are some steps you can take with your Apple devices that make it extremely easy to keep up new habits once you’ve done the simple prep …

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