The iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and macOS Sequoia 15.6 updates that Apple released yesterday address a major zero-day attack that targeted Chrome users, according to Bleeping Computer.


Apple says that CVE-2025-6558 was a vulnerability in open source code that also affected Apple software. The flaw could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code using HTML pages created for that purpose, escaping Chrome's sandboxing. Google patched the issue on July 15, and said that it had been actively exploited.

In Safari, Apple said that the issue could cause unexpected crashing, but it wasn't known to have been used in attacks against Safari users.

Google hasn't offered up technical details on how the exploit worked, and the company said that additional information would be restricted until the majority of users have updated their devices. Chrome users who have not installed the latest version of Chrome should do so.
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Apple added Thunderbolt 5 connectivity to its latest M4 Pro and M4 Max machines, and companies are starting to launch Thunderbolt 5 docks compatible with Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Macs. Earlier this year, Anker came out with the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, a 14-port dock with a unique design and a high-end feature set.


Docks are useful because they expand the available number of ports that you can use at one time, and add legacy ports like USB-A that Apple has discontinued. Thunderbolt 5 provides 80Gb/s symmetric data, which is double that of Thunderbolt 4, plus there is a bandwidth boost option up to 120Gb/s when displays are connected. You're able to connect more without running into bandwidth limits.

Design

The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is probably my favorite dock I've used to date thanks to the design. It's surprisingly compact for a 14-port dock, with a square shape that spreads the ports across three of the sides.


The best part about the Anker Prime is the lack of a bulky external power supply. The 232W power supply is in the cube, so there's just a slim cable that needs to be plugged into an outlet, and then a cable to connect the dock to a Mac. The dock comes with both of the cables, and I do have a minor cable complaint. At $400, I wish the cables that came along with the dock were nicer, perhaps with a braided design.

I like the square form factor because it doesn't take up much space on my desk, and it's nice not to have to deal with positioning a bulky power supply. I tuck my cables inside boxes that keep them out of sight and out of my cat's mouth, and it's always a hassle trying to get a power supply and multiple cables to fit.

The Anker Prime has a power button on the front, a couple of easy access USB-C and USB-A ports for charging devices, and a headphone jack. Other ports are on the back and the sides, and I think the port layout is well designed. The ports I need to access often are at the front or the side, while things I don't need as frequently, like Ethernet or HDMI, are at the back. I do wish at least one of the downstream TB5 ports was at the front though.

The enclosure includes a fan, and it's made from aluminum for heat dissipation. I can hear the fan, but it's a subtle sound that I'm not sure would register with other noises in the room. I'm sound sensitive and it does bother me because the dock is right by my displays, but I can't hear it listening to music, wearing AirPods, watching TV, or when the AC is on. A decibel measuring app suggests that it is around 32 decibels, which would be around whisper level.

Size-wise, the Anker Prime is 4.6 by 4.6, and it's three inches tall. If you have a Mac mini, it's around that size, but not quite as wide, and it's about an inch taller. The color is a gray aluminum. It's not as dark as the Space Black aluminum of the M4 MacBook Pro models, nor is it as light as the silver aluminum, so it's kind of an in-between shade.

There's blue LED lighting around the top of the dock when it's powered on and in use. The light isn't bright enough to be bothersome, and it can be turned off by pressing the power button.


With the fan, the enclosure doesn't get hot. It barely feels warm at all, which is a departure from docks that rely on heat dissipation without active fan cooling. I'd be surprised if the Anker Prime could overheat, given how cool it runs with multiple peripherals plugged in. Compared to other docks like the CalDigit TS5 Plus, it's significantly cooler.

Ports

At the front of the dock, there's a headphone jack, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The USB-C ports offer a combined 45W of power for charging other devices. 45W is enough to charge a MacBook Air, or an iPad and an iPhone at full speed. One port will get the full 45W when just one device is plugged in. With two ports in use, the split is 30W to the first port and 15W to the second port.


The two front USB-C ports also support data transfer, but displays need to be connected at the back. The front ports offer power to accessories even when a Mac isn't plugged in, which is convenient.

There are no ports on the right side, but there is a "Prime" logo. The left side has an SD card slot and a microSD card slot (labeled TF). The card slots are UHS-1 and limited to 104MB/s, so photographers won't get UHS-II transfer speeds.


The majority of the ports are at the back. There's an AC-in for the plug, an upstream Thunderbolt 5 port for connecting the Anker Prime to a Mac (with up to 140W charging), and two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15W bus power for SSDs and other Thunderbolt/USB-C accessories. Earlier Macs were limited to 100W charging unless MagSafe was used, but that is not a limitation on Thunderbolt 5 Macs.

There are two additional 10Gb/s USB-A ports, a 2.5Gb/s Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DisplayPort 2.1 port. With the HDMI and DisplayPort, only one can be used at a time, so keep that in mind when you're dock shopping.

I don't use an Ethernet port, but it is disappointing that the Anker Prime doesn't have a 10Gb Ethernet port for those who need or want that connectivity.

Displays

Anker says that the Anker Prime supports up to two 6K displays at 60Hz, so you can run two Pro Display XDR displays, two Studio Displays, or any other combination of 6K/5K/4K displays, depending on the resolution (only one 4K display at 240Hz is supported on the Mac). On PCs, the Anker Prime supports three total displays, but Macs have a two display limit over a single Thunderbolt 5 port.


The M4 Max chip supports up to two 8K displays at 60Hz, according to Apple, while the M4 Pro supports one 8K display at 60Hz. Anker does not list 8K display support for the Mac and I don't have 8K displays to test, but it should work.

Anker says that the HDMI and DisplayPort ports can't be used together, which means two displays can be connected through the Thunderbolt 5 ports, or one can be connected using TB5 and the other can be connected via HDMI or DisplayPort, leaving a Thunderbolt port free for an SSD or other accessory.

I used an M4 Pro MacBook Pro with the Anker Prime, and I tested it with the 5K Studio Display over Thunderbolt and a 4K 144Hz display from Samsung that I connected via DisplayPort. I had no problems with connectivity over several days of testing and with various combinations of accessories plugged in. The displays and the ports worked as intended.

Though this is a Thunderbolt 5 dock, it is backwards compatible with earlier versions of Thunderbolt, which means it is compatible with older Macs. M1, M2, and M3 Pro and Max machines and all standard M4 machines with Thunderbolt 4 chips support dual 6K 60Hz displays when paired with the Anker Prime.

The aforementioned two display setup also ran fine on an M1 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌. Compared to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5 has more total bandwidth for displays and accessories, so you'll need a Thunderbolt 5 machine for the best performance and to max out the capabilities of the dock.

There is some fine print with the Anker Prime, which you're going to want to read if you have a 5K Thunderbolt 3 display. Dual 5K Thunderbolt 3 displays or a combination of a 5K display and Thunderbolt 4 display won't work with screen mirroring mode.

SSD Speed Tests

I used a Thunderbolt 5 SSD from OWC with the M4 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌ and the Anker Prime. The SSD promises 6,000MB/s speeds, but I didn't quite hit that. Write speeds with the Anker Prime maxed out at about 4,675MB/s, while read speeds were around 5,140MB/s. When plugged directly into the Thunderbolt 5 port of the M4 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌, the SSD's write speeds were up to 5,250MB/s and read speeds were at 5,350MB/s. Real world speeds can vary based on the load a Mac is under, so actual transfer speeds vary.

Write speeds were consistently slightly lower, but Thunderbolt 5 transfer speeds are quick enough that it didn't bother me in day-to-day use. Transferring 50GB of photos took around 20 seconds, which is quick enough for my use.

Software

Anker has Dock Manager software that can be used to deliver firmware updates to the Anker Prime, or to tweak dock settings like disabling the light.

Bottom Line

The Anker Prime is one of the more affordable Thunderbolt 5 docks on the market, and its compact design, port array, and features make it ideal for the average user. If you have a Thunderbolt 5 Mac and want to get a dock that'll let you run displays, plug in SSDs, and use other peripherals, I don't think you'll regret the Anker Prime.

If you don't have a Thunderbolt 5 Mac, it might still be worth picking up. It's compatible with Thunderbolt 4, and it operates the same way a Thunderbolt 4 dock would, but you also have the future proofing for Thunderbolt 5 when it's time to upgrade.

While I think the dock has the right ports for most people, this isn't the dock I'd recommend for professional use or for those who want the best performance and connectivity. It's limited to 2.5GbE, there isn't UHS-II support, and there are only two USB-C ports in addition to the two Thunderbolt ports, which might not be enough for some users.

How to Buy

The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station can be purchased from the Anker website or from Amazon for $400.

Note: Anker provided MacRumors with an Anker Prime for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Review: Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock Pairs Compact Design With 14 Ports" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has a new 'Shot on iPhone' billboard design that combines ‌iPhone‌ photography with iPad sketches, but as one Reddit user noticed, the result is decidedly phallic.


The billboard was shared on the Miami subreddit earlier this month, and highlighted by the Miami New Times earlier today. The design features a photo of a shark along with a cartoon scuba diver that has an oversized finger because of the perspective, leading the Miami New Times to wonder "Did Apple Put a Giant Phallic Symbol on I-95?"

The billboard is above Miami's I-95 freeway, and it is around 15 feet in length, so it hasn't escaped the notice of motorists. The cartoon is part of Apple's Shot on iPhone, Drawn on iPad series that features creations from eight artists. Up close, the shark, scuba diver, and octopus combo are clear, but it's a little hard to tell what's going on from further away.

Apple's billboard has been up for over a week, plus the design has been shared on Instagram, so Apple may be planning to ignore those who see more than a simple scuba diver in the drawing.
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Apple today announced that its store at The Forum Shops in the Las Vegas area will be temporarily closed between August 9 and August 31.


Apple's website does not provide a reason for the closure. We do not expect any major changes.

The Forum Shops is a shopping mall inside Caesars Palace, the famous luxury hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.

While its store at The Forum Shops is closed, Apple says customers can visit its Fashion Show store, which is located just one mile further north on the Las Vegas Strip.

August 9 is shaping up to be an eventful day for Apple Stores. In addition to Apple The Forum Shops temporarily closing, Apple Bristol in England and Apple Parkland in China will be permanently closing on that day. It is also the same day that Apple Shadyside in Pittsburgh will be opening in a new location on Walnut Street.
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iOS 18.2 was released in December with a new feature in the Find My app that allows you to temporarily share the location of an AirTag-equipped item with others, including employees at participating airlines. This way, if you have put AirTags inside your bags, the airline can better help you find them in the event they are lost or delayed at the airport.


The feature also works with other item trackers that support Apple's Find My network, such as those sold by Chipolo and Pebblebee.

iPhone, iPad, and Mac users running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later can generate a "Share Item Location" link in the Find My app. Anyone they share the link with can then view a web page with a location of the item on a map. The page will automatically update with the item's latest known location.


The item's location stops being shared "as soon as a user is reunited with their item," or automatically expires after seven days.

Below, we have listed airlines that support the feature as part of their customer service processes, with the latest one being Saudia.

• AJet


• Aer Lingus


• Air Canada


• Air France


• Air India


• Air New Zealand


• American Airlines


• Austrian Airlines


• Breeze Airways


• British Airways


• Brussels Airlines


• Cathay Pacific


• China Airlines


• Delta


• Eurowings


• Finnair


• Iberia


• JetBlue


• KLM


• Lufthansa


• Porter Airlines


• Qantas


• Saudia


• Singapore Airlines


• SunExpress


• SWISS


• Turkish Airlines


• United


• Virgin Atlantic


• Vueling

These are only the ones we know about, so there may be others.
This article, "These 30 Airlines Offer iPhone Feature That Helps Find Your Lost Bags" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is set to purchase another campus in Silicon Valley, California, amid almost $1 billion of property purchases this year.


According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Apple is purchasing the four-building Mathilda Campus, located at 505–599 North Mathilda Avenue and 605 West Maude Avenue, from Kilroy Realty Corporation. The site comprises approximately 663,000 square feet of office space, of which Apple already leases over 580,000 square feet, which is roughly 88% of the complex. The sale is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025 at a rate of $550 per square foot.

Kilroy disclosed in its second-quarter earnings report that it is under contract to sell a "four building campus in Silicon Valley" but did not specify the buyer. Two individuals with direct knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The San Francisco Chronicle that the buyer is Apple and that the property in question is the Mathilda Campus.

The Mathilda Campus purchase follows two other significant acquisitions by Apple in recent months. In June, Apple finalized the $166.9 million purchase of Cupertino Gateway, a three-building complex at 10200 North Tantau Avenue, adjacent to its Apple Park headquarters. Then, in July, the company acquired two neighboring office properties at 615 and 625 North Mathilda Avenue, directly adjacent to the Mathilda Campus, for $350 million. Like the Mathilda Campus, Apple had previously leased and occupied the majority of those properties.

Combined, these three transactions amount to a total outlay of approximately $882 million within a span of several weeks. All three sites are located within a few miles of ‌Apple Park‌.
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If you've ever found yourself scrolling endlessly through your iPhone's music library to find that one album you play every morning or the workout playlist that gets you pumped, then you should find iOS 26's new Music pins feature a welcome addition to the app.


Basically, Apple Music lets you pin your most frequently accessed songs, playlists, albums, and artists directly to the top of your Library tab, making them readily accessible with a single tap.

Pinning keeps your musical essentials within easy reach, and it couldn't be easier to use. In the Music app, simply navigate to the song, album, artist, or playlist that you want to pin, then long press on the item and choose the Pin option from the popup menu.


To unpin an item from the top of your Library tab, it's pretty much the same action – long press it and choose the Unpin option from the popup menu.

Download Pinned Items?

The first time you use Music pins, iOS 26 will ask if you want to download pinned items automatically for offline listening. You can adjust this setting anytime by navigating to Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Music and toggling Download Pins.


Music pins aren't the only new Music addition in iOS 26. The app now has an AutoMix feature to create seamless DJ-style transitions between songs, plus there's also lyrics translation and lyrics pronunciation, making it easier to appreciate music from all over the world. Note that iOS 26 is currently in beta and will be released in the fall.
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Amazon today is taking up to $52 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.

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, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $598.50 ($52 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around August 4 for these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.





The 11th generation iPad is mainly a spec bump for the tablet line, now featuring the A16 chip and more storage, with the same design as the 10th generation iPad. The new ‌iPad‌ starts with 128GB of storage, and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB configuration. The previous model was only available in 64GB and 256GB configurations.

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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Skechers recently started selling a line of kids shoes that have a hidden compartment under the insole for inserting Apple's AirTag item tracker.


The idea here is that parents can put an AirTag in the shoes, and then track the location of those shoes (and the child wearing them) in the Find My app, which is available across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and on the web at iCloud.com.

The shoes can provide parents with peace of mind by allowing them to keep track of their child's location in public. If a child gets lost in a busy shopping mall, for example, the parent could view their location in the Find My app. Or, a parent could double check that their child is where they are supposed to be at a certain time, such as school.

In a YouTube ad shared this week, Skechers said that kids cannot feel the AirTag under their feet while wearing the shoes, making it a discreet solution.


These shoes could also prove invaluable if a child is kidnapped, but one caveat is that the kidnapper would receive an alert on their iPhone or Android smartphone if an unknown AirTag has been following them for a little while. If the kidnapper is unable to find the AirTag, it will eventually start playing a sound. This is a safety feature that is designed to prevent people from using the AirTag for stalking purposes.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if the child does not have a device on them, the AirTag will rely exclusively on the Find My network to send its latest location to iCloud. In other words, the child will need to be around other people with Apple, Android, or other Find My network devices, in an area where there is cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. If the child is somehow alone in an area without any internet connectivity, the AirTag's location would not update.

On its website, Apple says the AirTag should not be used to track people, but a parent using the accessory to track a young child is justifiable.

Alternatively, parents can give their child a cellular Apple Watch for location tracking purposes. The child does not need to have an iPhone.

The shoes are available for boys and girls in the U.S., Canada, and select other countries. In the U.S., prices start at $52 as of writing (an AirTag is not included). They come in a variety of styles, and they are machine washable, according to Skechers.
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Saudia, the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, now supports Apple's iPhone feature that makes it easier to share the location of AirTag-equipped baggage at airports, according to local media.


With iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a new Find My feature that lets you temporarily share the location of an AirTag-equipped item – such as a bag – with others, including participating airline staff, to help track it if it's lost or delayed.

Users running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2 and later can generate a "Share Item Location" link in the Find My app. Recipients can view the item's location on a live-updating web map.

Apple says it collaborated with airlines to enable private and secure access to these links. Only a small number of people can view each link, and airline staff must authenticate using an Apple ID or a verified partner email to gain access.

As soon as customers find their item, location sharing is disabled. The owner can also stop sharing their location at any time, and the sharing link automatically expires after 7 days to ensure the privacy of passengers.

American Airlines rolled out support for the feature in February. Other airlines that also offer the feature include Delta, United, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Lufthansa, and more.
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Apple has announced that customers in India can now connect with an Apple Specialist over a live video session while shopping for Apple products on its regional online store. It's the first expansion of the service outside of the U.S., where it debuted in March 2023.


The service connects customers with an Apple Store team member via a secure, one-way video call to browse the latest Apple products, discover new features, and learn about Apple's trade-in program, financing options, and more.

The Specialist appears on video, while customers remain on audio only. During the session, customers can get tailored, personalised advice, enabling them to compare iPhone models, for example. The service is offered in English, and customers on both iOS and non-iOS devices can use it.

Shop with a Specialist over Video is available to customers in India from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. India Standard Time from Monday to Friday on the Apple Store online. The move follows Apple's launch of the Apple Store app in India earlier this year.
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Apple is expected to implement a $50 price increase across its iPhone 17 lineup when the new models launch in September as a way to offset rising component costs and China tariffs, according to a new investor note by Jefferies analyst Edison Lee.


The price hike is expected across all iPhone 17 models, including the regular iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air (replacing the Plus model), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Current iPhone models range from the base iPhone 16 starting at $799 to the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,199.

The analyst's prediction came as it gave AAPL stock a Hold rating, citing strong iPhone sales in the second quarter of 2025. U.S. telecommunications companies reported a 22% year-on-year equipment growth, their highest in six quarters, according to the analyst's note.

The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Apple was considering raising prices for its upcoming iPhone 17 models. The company reportedly aims to pair the potential price hikes with new features and design changes to justify the increased cost to consumers, rather than attributing them to U.S. tariffs on goods from China.
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Update 9:31 a.m.: The error was apparently not a mistake by Apple and was instead reportedly caused by an issue on the Weibo client side that displayed the wrong video alongside Apple's post.

In a statement, an Apple spokesperson said the following: "Apple Support has only posted Apple content. We are working with Weibo to understand how this happened."

Our original article follows below.

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Apple's official Support account on China's Weibo had a serious case of mistaken identity on Tuesday after it accidentally posted a slick promotional trailer for Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip7.


In the embarrassing mix-up, the uploaded video clearly promoted Samsung's latest flip-style clamshell device rather than any Apple-affiliated product. Video capturing the blunder circulated across social media before the post was quickly deleted.

As for who is responsible for the error, the going theory is that it is an outsourced agency that handles marketing assets for both Apple and Samsung in the region. In other words, someone probably grabbed the wrong video file and hit publish without double-checking the content.

Apart from being humorous, the timing is notable given Samsung's strong position in the foldable market as anticipation grows for Apple's rumored first foldable iPhone.

• 2026 Foldable iPhone: All the Leaks So Far

Apple's ‌will be a book-style foldable with a crease-free 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, a titanium chassis, dual rear cameras, and Touch ID instead of Face ID. Apple is expected to launch the device in September 2026 as part of the iPhone 18 lineup.
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A fourth Apple artificial intelligence expert has left the company to join Meta, reports Bloomberg. Bowen Zhang, who was on Apple's foundation models team, is the latest employee to abandon Apple for Meta.


The leader of Apple's foundation models group, Ruoming Pang, was one of the first Apple AI researchers to join Meta. Since then, several employees who worked under him have also left for Meta. Meta is aggressively hiring for its Superintelligence Labs, an AI division that's building advanced AI systems capable of performing at or beyond human-level intelligence.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been offering AI engineers massive compensation packages to lure them from other companies, and Pang reportedly received over $200 million. Pay from Meta reportedly includes a high base salary, a signing bonus, and stock awards, and the money offered to Pang exceeds the compensation of almost all Apple employees except for executives. Presumably, the other AI engineers that left Apple have also received offers that Apple isn't willing to match.

Last month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that Meta had been offering signing bonuses as high as $100 million. Meta has hired engineers and AI experts from Apple, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Bloomberg says Apple is "marginally increasing" the pay of its foundation models team, but is not paying at the level that Meta is.

With Apple losing key employees to Meta, it could continue to struggle to catch up in the AI race. Competitors like Google and Samsung have much more advanced AI features already, and this year, Apple was forced to delay promised Apple Intelligence Siri features until 2026.

Apple has been restructuring its AI teams, with AI efforts now overseen by Apple software chief Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell, who led Apple Vision Pro development. Rumors suggest that Apple is considering using technology from Anthropic or OpenAI for future AI features, including an LLM version of ‌Siri‌, rather than its own models.

Apple's discussions to rely on third-party AI technology have reportedly led to falling morale on the foundation models team that is now losing employees to Meta. Multiple engineers are reportedly actively interviewing for jobs at other AI companies, while Apple executives are aiming to reassure team members that it remains committed to in-house AI development.
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Apple today filed a response to the antitrust lawsuit it is facing from the United States Department of Justice, sharing rebuttals to the DoJ's claims and pointing out perceived flaws in the accusations outlined in the complaint.


According to Apple, the DoJ's lawsuit has the potential to "set a dangerous precedent" that would allow the government to dictate the design and function of technology, plus it threatens "the very principles that set the iPhone apart" from competing devices.

As a recap, the DoJ filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple in March 2024, accusing Apple of an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market. To back up its accusation, the DOJ provided five examples of instances where Apple's decisions stifled competition and locked consumers into the ‌iPhone‌ ecosystem.

• Super apps - The DoJ claims that Apple blocks apps that offer "broad functionality," like WeChat or apps that offer mini games and other multi-app features.


• Cloud streaming - Apple has been accused of suppressing cloud streaming games by preventing them from being available on the App Store.


• Messaging apps - The DoJ took issue with the lack of an iMessage app for Android, the green bubble vs. blue bubble separation, and Apple's delayed support for RCS. The DoJ also believes that third-party apps should be able to send and receive SMS messages in lieu of the Messages app.


• Smartwatches - Apple is accused of restricting key functions from third-party smartwatches, preventing ‌iPhone‌ users from getting Apple Watch-like functionality from watches with "better user interfaces and services." The DoJ has also complained about the Apple Watch not being compatible with Android devices.


• Digital Wallets - The DoJ took issue with Apple's refusal to allow banking apps and other digital payment providers to access the NFC chip in the ‌iPhone‌ for payment purposes.

Many of the DoJ's claims have been weakened or are no longer relevant, because Apple has addressed them. With iOS 17.4, for example, Apple eliminated restrictions on cloud streaming apps and apps offering mini games on iOS, and super apps are and have been supported.

Apple adopted ‌RCS‌ since the DoJ's filing, improving messaging interoperability between Android and ‌iPhone‌ devices, though messaging apps cannot receive SMS or ‌RCS‌ messages instead of the Messages app. Apple opened up access to NFC in iOS 18.1, adding support for contactless NFC payments through third-party payment apps.

Apple does not believe that the DoJ fairly portrayed Apple's market position. The DoJ uses revenue as its metric for calculating market share instead of unit sales, which Apple says is "unreasonable." The DoJ also suggested that "performance smartphones" are a separate category from standard smartphones, even though that is not a recognized device category. Apple also argues that the U.S. numbers are not an accurate reflection of the global competition that it faces.

Apple points out that the complaints that led to the Department of Justice's lawsuit did not come from ‌iPhone‌ customers, but rather from a small number of developers that happen to include "some of Apple's largest and best-funded competitors." Apple claims that meeting the DoJ's demands would degrade the ‌iPhone‌ experience for consumers.

The antitrust laws do not impose upon Apple a duty to design its own product in a way that would better suit its rivals at the expense of consumers whose devices might be less secure, less private, and less intuitive as a result.

Ultimately this case is not about the millions of satisfied iPhone users or even the hundreds of thousands of iOS developers that enjoy economic success, it's predominantly about a few large companies free-riding on Apple's technology and innovation. The complaint is a misguided plea for a judicial redesign of one of the most popular and innovative consumer products of all time, under the guise of an antitrust case.

Much of Apple's response features Apple denying the DoJ's claims, one by one, which is standard for this type of filing. The legal dispute will now enter the discovery phase, with Apple aiming to prove that the DoJ's allegations are inaccurate. From there, a summary judgment will be handed down, which could lead to a trial and appeals. The entire process will span years.

The ‌App Store‌ ecosystem is changing rapidly enough that the DoJ's claims may not be applicable at all in the future. In the last year, Apple changed multiple ‌App Store‌ rules, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Apple's legal dispute with Epic Games, for example, resulted in Apple permitting developers to direct customers to third-party purchase options on the web with in-app links and no associated fees. Similar changes could further nullify the DoJ's allegations, so it should be interesting to see how the dispute plays out.
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We're just six weeks away from the launch of new iPhone models, and rumors are ramping up as September creeps closer. We've heard plenty of details about the prospective colors for the iPhone 17 lineup, but leaker Sonny Dickson today shared ‌iPhone 17‌ dummy models that supposedly feature the shades that Apple has picked.


Dickson's images feature the iPhone 17 Pro models in black, white, dark blue, and orange. The orange shade is particularly bright and not typically in line with what Apple chooses for the Pro models. Apple's colors are often more muted, but it could be an issue of angle or lighting. Prior leaks suggested that the orange could be more of a copper color than a true orange, so we'll have to wait to see how closely the dummy model matches with the final color.


The dark blue shade is more of what we'd expect for an ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, though even it isn't quite as subdued as what Apple usually chooses. It's worth noting that rumors have suggested the 17 Pro models could also be available in a gray color, which is missing here. There were also rumors of a color shifting shade that appears white but changes color with light, which also doesn't seem to be depicted.

As for the iPhone 17 Air, the dummy models are depicted in black, white, gold, and a light blue, similar to the light blue of the MacBook Air. Those are all four colors that we've seen rumored for the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ models are shown in black, white, blue, and a purple that looks more like a pink. Rumors have suggested the ‌iPhone 17‌ could come in black, white, steel gray, purple, and light blue. The blues for the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ are similar, but not identical.

Dummy model designs are often accurate, but the colors the dummy models come in don't always provide the clearest picture of what an ‌iPhone‌ will actually look like. Differences in lighting, sheen, and material often mean that the final version of the ‌iPhone‌ looks a lot better than what leaks.
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Could Come in Surprising Orange Color, Dummy Models Suggest" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Adobe today announced several new and enhanced AI tools for Photoshop, with the additions aimed at making it easier for creators to tweak and clean up their images.


With Harmonize, Photoshop users can add a new object into an image or composition, and the app will analyze the surrounding content to automatically adjust color, lighting, shadows, and visual tone so that the object seamlessly fits in. Adobe says that the feature streamlines the creation of composite images and reduces the time needed for manual adjustments. Harmonize is available across Photoshop for desktop, the web, and mobile devices.

Generative Upscale provides resolution enhancements up to eight megapixels without impacting image clarity. The feature is able to improve image quality for print, or to boost the resolution of older files. Generative Upscale can be used on desktop and the web.

Adobe improved the Remove tool in Photoshop, and it now uses the latest Adobe Firefly Image Model. The updated Remove tool is able to more precisely erase unwanted objects from images, filling the gaps with realistic content. Edits will have fewer artifacts for a cleaner end result. The improved Remove tool is available for desktop and the web.

In Photoshop for the desktop, there's a new Projects option for managing and organizing creative work. Assets are aggregated into a shared, organized space, eliminating issues with collaboration and communication. Projects is designed to allow Photoshop users to share entire collections at once to cut down on versioning issues.

More information on the new features can be found on Adobe's website.
This article, "Photoshop Gets New AI Editing Tools" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released the Safari 26 beta, allowing macOS Sequoia and macOS Sonoma users to download the browser and get the new Safari 26 features.


Safari 26 adds support for HDR images, SVG icon support, additional tracking protection, and more, with some of the most interesting new features listed below.

• HDR image support


• SVG icon support


• Support for reporting a website compatibility issue


• Option for preventing fingerprinting for known tracking scripts


• Filters out tracking parameters for links in regular browsing mode


• Option for showing extension keyboard shortcuts in Settings and support for customization


• WebGPU support

More on everything that's new in Safari 26 can be found on Apple's website.

If you are beta testing iOS 26, iPadOS 26, visionOS 26, or macOS Tahoe, you already have Safari 26 as it is included with the updates.
This article, "Safari 26 Beta Now Available for macOS Sequoia and macOS Sonoma" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is running a Summer Deal of the Day promotion in its Apple TV app, offering discounts on movie bundles through the Apple TV Store.


Today is the first day of the promotion, and Apple is selling The Hangover trilogy for $9.99. The movies are normally priced between $12.99 and $14.99 each.

The initial Deal of the Day is number 1 of 14, so Apple will presumably be offering a different discounted bundle every day for the next two weeks. The Summer Deal of the Day packages can be purchased from the Store section of the Apple TV app on any platform where the app is available.

Apple regularly offers discounted movie purchases and bundled deals that are more affordable than buying movies individually, but specific themed promotions are atypical.
This article, "Apple Offering 'Deal of the Day' Discounts in TV App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A few months ago, we reported that select scenes in the post-apocalyptic film "28 Years Later" were shot with a rig of up to 20 iPhones. Now, the film's director Danny Boyle has discussed this feat in a YouTube video uploaded to the Apple TV channel today.


Boyle said that using iPhones provided "the ability to work in remote places, very quickly, and very lightly, leaving a light footprint."

"We wanted our landscape to look like it hadn't been touched for 28 years by any human, so it was very advantageous for that," he added.

"Director Danny Boyle pushed the power of iPhone to new cinematic heights in select scenes of 28 Years Later," says Apple. "In fact, the portable and powerful form factor of iPhone enabled the production team to build a custom rig using a unique 20 camera setup. Discover how his crew's camerawork innovations immerse audiences into shocking scenes."


"28 Years Later" was released in June, with the film building upon the events of "28 Days Later" (2002) and "28 Weeks Later" (2007).

The film grossed an estimated $150 million worldwide.
This article, "Apple Shares Video About '28 Years Later' Being Filmed With 20 iPhones" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today provided beta testers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers and public beta testers at the current time, and a device running ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. The firmware has a build number of 8A5324b, up from 8A5308b.


The firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

With ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates the beta testing.
This article, "Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and macOS Sequoia 15.6 updates that Apple released today address dozens of vulnerabilities, according to Apple's security support documents. None of the vulnerabilities are known to have been actively exploited in the wild, but it's still a good idea to install the new updates right away.


There are over 20 vulnerability fixes in iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6. An issue with Accessibility could let a Passcode be read aloud by VoiceOver, and parsing maliciously crafted audio could lead to memory corruption.

The update includes eight WebKit-related fixes that could disclose sensitive user information, cause Safari to crash, and result in memory corruption. For iPad users unable to update to iPadOS 18.6, Apple released iPadOS 17.7.9 with a number of security fixes.

macOS Sequoia 15.6 patches over 80 vulnerabilities that could lead to crashes, leak sensitive user data, and more. There are fixes for the Dock, Find My, Notes, Safari, Spotlight, System Settings, and other apps and features.

There are also macOS Sonoma 14.7.7 and macOS Ventura 13.7.7 updates for those who have older Macs that can't run ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.6.

Apple's other updates released today, including visionOS 2.6, tvOS 18.6, and watchOS 11.6, include fixes for between 17 and 19 vulnerabilities.

Apple recommends keeping your devices up to date with the latest software to avoid issues caused by any of these security vulnerabilities. Apple says that updating software is one of the most important things that a user can do to maintain the security of Apple products.
This article, "iOS 18.6 Includes Over 20 Security Fixes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.6, the sixth major update to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ operating system that launched last September. ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.6 comes a over two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.5.


Mac users can download the ‌‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.6 update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.6 is light on new features. According to Apple's release notes, the update provides important bug fixes and security updates.

More information on the features in ‌macOS Sequoia‌ can be found in our macOS Sequoia roundup. Apple will soon replace ‌macOS Sequoia‌ with macOS Tahoe, an update that is being beta tested ahead of a fall launch.
This article, "Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.6" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, the sixth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems. iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 come more than two months after the release of iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5.


The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

iOS 18.6 addresses a Photos-related bug that could prevent users from being able to share memory movies in the Photos app. Apple's release notes are below.

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates, and fixes an issue in Photos that could prevent memory movies from being shared.

The iOS and iPadOS 18.6 updates also bring changes to the App Store rules in the European Union. EU iPhone and iPad users will see a new interface for installing alternative app marketplaces or apps from a developer's website.

Apple's work on ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌ is winding down, and the company is already beta testing iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. The updates are set to come out in September alongside new ‌iPhone‌ models.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18.6 With Photos Bug Fix" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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