iOS 26.2 beta 1 arrived yesterday with a bunch of exciting new features, but hidden in the release’s code, there’s also reference to a new ‘Apple Creator Studio’ in the works.

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There are official ways to play Fortnite on a Mac, using one of three cloud gaming services. But you can also visit GitHub to install the real native mobile Fortnite on any Apple Silicon Mac …

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Apple's AirTag is seeing a big discount as we head into Black Friday later this month, with both Amazon and Best Buy providing an all-time low price on the 4-Pack accessory.

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.

You can get the AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99 from Amazon and Best Buy, down from $99.00. This is a match for the best price we've ever seen on the AirTag 4-Pack.



Amazon currently has the AirTag 1-Pack for $24.00, down from $29.00. This is not the best price we've ever seen on this version of the accessory, so we recommend looking toward the 4-Pack option to maximize your savings.

You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.

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Apple is rolling out a Liquid Glass redesign to another one of its apps. A new version of Shazam is now available on the App Store with a “sleek, new Liquid Glass look.”

The update also makes it easier to quickly glance at the recent songs you’ve identified with Shazam right on the Home tab.

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Apple’s monopoly on the sale of iPhone apps is set to be further eroded according to a new tweet showing third-party app stores in the iOS 26.2 beta in Japan. This follows a ruling by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission in August that both Apple and Google must allow alternative app stores.

This will make Japan the 29th country to get third-party app stores for the iPhone, with others set to follow as courts and antitrust regulators continue to issue rulings …

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Apple today updated its Shazam app with a new Liquid Glass design, for iPhone users who are running iOS 26 and later.


The app has a new navigation bar that provides quick access to Home, Library, and Concerts tabs, as well as a search button. In addition, recently-identified songs now appear directly on the Home screen, without needing to swipe up.

These changes require the latest version of the Shazam app, which is rolling out now.

Shazam is a popular music identification service that Apple acquired back in 2018. In addition to being available as an app, Shazam powers a Recognize Music control in Control Center on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and you can use Shazam via Siri.
This article, "Shazam App for iPhone Updated With Liquid Glass Design on iOS 26" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPhone Air managed to beat the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to become the slimmest smartphone on the market, though we noted at the time that it’s not the slimmest smartphone we’ve ever seen.

The latest contender on the Android front is the shiny new Motorola Edge 70, which is very slightly thicker than the iPhone Air, but has a much thinner camera bump and compares well in several other ways …

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Apple on Tuesday released the first beta of iOS 26.2 to developers, and it appears that the software will allow users in Japan to install alternative app marketplaces on their devices when it is released to the public in December.


According to a post shared on X by @Tzzlala, iPhones running the beta in Japan are able to install alternative app stores like AltStore PAL and Epic Games, and download apps from them, though Fortnite in-app purchases are currently region-blocked by Epic.

Apple only lets iPhone and iPad users based in the EU to install apps using alternative app marketplaces in addition to the App Store. The ability was introduced in iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 18 in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act, and Apple does not currently allow it in any regions outside the 27-member bloc. However, that's set to change.

In June 2024, the Japanese parliament approved and enacted legislation that requires Apple to allow third-party app stores and payment providers on the iPhone. The law seeks to curb the dominance of major tech firms like Apple in the smartphone market.

More recently, in August 2025, the Japan Fair Trade Commission established the Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines. Under the new guidelines, platform operators like Apple and Google are banned from blocking or restricting the availability of alternative app stores and payment systems on their mobile operating systems.


The guidelines are set to come into effect by December 18, 2025, while Apple is expected to release iOS 26.2 in December, sometime between December 9 and December 16. Epic Games has already announced plans to bring Fortnite and its game store platform to iOS in Japan by late 2025.
This article, "iOS 26.2 to Allow Third-Party App Stores in Japan Ahead of Regulatory Deadline" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Most people upgrade their MacBook Pro no more frequently than once every five years, and some leave it considerably longer than that. But Apple always makes it sound like even last year’s model is now hopelessly outdated, something it did again with the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro.

There’s no doubt that the company is achieving incredibly impressive year-on-year increases in Apple Silicon performance, but real-life tests show that upgrading from one generation to the next doesn’t make sense for the vast majority of MacBook owners …

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The new sci-fi drama Pluribus lands on Apple TV this Friday. The highly anticipated series from Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a woman in a world that needs saving from a contagion of happiness. Apple has been ramping up the marketing for this show significantly, clearly expecting it to be a big hit. And part of that is the announcement of a new official Apple TV companion podcast …

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Apple has released new APIs and sandbox tools to help developers comply with the new requirements for apps available in Texas. Here are the details.

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Apple doesn't release an "Ultra" variant for every Apple silicon chip, but the company is planning to debut an M5 Ultra chip in 2026, reports Bloomberg.


The M5 Ultra is slated for the Mac Studio, and it's also likely that Apple will use it in a Mac Pro update. There's no word on when the M5 Ultra might come out, but historically, Ultra chips have followed the Pro and Max chip variants.

Apple already debuted the M5 chip in the MacBook Pro, but we'll be waiting until early 2026 for the M5 Pro and the M5 Max. The M5 Ultra will likely come after that, perhaps in June or even September 2026.

Earlier this year, Apple decided to launch an updated ‌Mac Studio‌ with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip options, making it clear there was no M4 Ultra. Ultra chips are two Max chips fused together with "UltraFusion" technology, but the M4 Max chip does not have the UltraFusion connector needed for an M4 Ultra chip.

Apple also made it clear that it did not plan to create a high-end Ultra chip for every M-series generation.

There are no other rumors of new features for the ‌Mac Studio‌, so the M5 Ultra update might be focused on internal improvements. Apple is rumored to be developing a pair of new displays, and at least one of those could launch alongside the ‌Mac Studio‌ in 2026.
This article, "M5 Ultra Chip Coming to Mac Studio in 2026" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today detailed the tools it is providing developers for compliance with the App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) that goes into effect in Texas in 2026.


Starting on January 1, 2026, Apple users in Texas will need to confirm whether they are 18 years or older when creating an Apple account, and parents will need to provide consent for their children's ‌App Store‌ downloads and in-app transactions. Apple will share user age ranges for developers, and developers will need to have systems for notifying parents about significant app changes and allowing parents to revoke child access to an app at any time.

To help developers meet these requirements, Apple is adding several new APIs in iOS 26.2, and sandbox testing is now available for them.

Declared Age Range

Declared Age Range provides an app with a user's age category rather than a specific age. Categories include under 13, 13-15, 16-17, and over 18. Apple says that the API will also provide developers with a signal from the user's device about the method of age assurance, such as a credit card or government ID.

Significant Change

The Significant Change API prompts parents or guardians to provide consent for a child or teen to continue using an app after a "significant change" is made. Apple says that developers will need to determine when there's a significant change in their apps to comply with the law.

The API will prompt the child or teen to request parental consent, and developers can restrict app access until consent is given.

Changing the age rating of an app is one example of a significant change that would require developers to re-obtain consent.

Consent Revocation

Texas parents and guardians can withdraw consent for any app, which blocks the launch of the app on a child or teen's device. Apple says that the ‌App Store‌ will provide a server notification that developers can configure to receive notifications that consent has been withdrawn from an app.

More information about the changes can be found on Apple's developer site.
This article, "iOS 26.2 Adds APIs for Texas App Store Parental Consent Law" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It's been almost two months since Apple released the AirPods Pro 3, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using them since they came out. He has some new thoughts to share on longer-term ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ use, so check out our video if you're thinking of picking up a pair for the holidays.


There have been recent reports from some people who are experiencing an ongoing static issue with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, so that's something to be aware of. Apple does seem to be replacing affected units for customers who are bothered by the noise, which appears to be audible when ANC is active but no sound is playing.

Other users have been hearing a high-pitched whine when on airplanes, which could be related to pressure. Not all ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ units are experiencing the issue, but it sounds like Apple is looking into it.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer excellent sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities, and for some people, the fit is much better than the AirPods Pro 2. Battery life has held up well in our testing, and the heart rate sensor offers readings almost identical to the Apple Watch.

What do you think of the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ if you've been using them since launch? Let us know in the comments below.
This article, "Review: Two Months With the AirPods Pro 3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Just hours after Apple launched a revamped web interface for the App Store, a GitHub project was released with the site’s entire front-end source code. Here’s how that happened.

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Apple Card purchases made in the Hertz app or through Hertz.com are now eligible for 3% Daily Cash back, according to an updated Apple Support document.


The Daily Cash bonus is available when booking a rental car at U.S. Hertz corporate locations through the app or the website. Hertz is also offering ‌Apple Card‌ users free emergency roadside service, a discounted loss damage waiver ($16.95 per day), one free additional driver, and at least 5% off Pay Later base rates.

To get these benefits, ‌Apple Card‌ holders will need to visit the Rewards and Offers Hub in the Wallet app. 3% Daily Cash back is not available through Hertz franchise locations, and other limitations are listed in the fine print on Apple's website.

Hertz is one of several companies that Apple has partnered with to offer special cash back rates for ‌Apple Card‌ users when using Apple Pay and the ‌Apple Card‌ for a purchase.

Other merchants that offer 3% Daily Cash back include Ace Hardware, Booking.com, ChargePoint, Duane Reade, Exxon and Mobil gas stations, Nike, Uber, Uber Eats, and Walgreens. ‌Apple Card‌ holders can also get 3% Daily Cash from Apple purchases.

‌Apple Pay‌ purchases earn ‌Apple Card‌ holders 2% cash back by default, with 1% cash back available for non-Apple Pay purchases.
This article, "Apple Card Now Offers 3% Daily Cash Back on Hertz Rental Cars" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Nomad today updated its popular Stand One and Stand One Max chargers to add Qi2 support. Qi2 allows compatible iPhones to charge at up to 25W, matching the 25W charging speed of Apple's newest MagSafe chargers.


The $119 Stand One can charge an iPhone at up to 25W using the ‌iPhone‌ charging surface, and it can also charge the AirPods at the base of the device. It comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but you'll need to supply your own 40W+ power adapter.

The $159 Stand One Max has a design similar to the Stand One, but it also includes an Apple Watch charging puck. It can charge an ‌iPhone‌, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time. As with the Stand One, a USB-C cable is included, but a power adapter is not.

Both chargers are available in either silver or carbide, and they support charging an ‌iPhone‌ in portrait or landscape orientation. In landscape mode, StandBy is supported.

The Qi2 Stand One and Stand One Max are available from the Nomad website as of today.
This article, "Nomad Stand One Gets Qi2 Update With 25W iPhone Charging" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today launched a winter-themed Apple Pay promotion, offering users a $25 discount on a purchase of $150 or more from Columbia.


If you spend $150+ on the Columbia website and then use ‌Apple Pay‌ when checking out, you can get $25 off your purchase. No promo code is required. Apple says that products from the Amaze Puff Collection and the ROC collection are excluded from the offer, but it is valid on other items from the website.

The discount is not available at Columbia retail stores or outlet stores, and it cannot be combined with other offers.

The ‌Apple Pay‌ promotion will be available until November 16, 2025.
This article, "Apple Pay Promo: Save $25 on Columbia Orders Over $150" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Just a day after launching iOS 26.1, Apple is ready to test the next update, iOS 26.2. iOS 26.2 brings AirPods Live Translation to the EU, introduces changes to Reminders, adds a Lock Screen Liquid Glass slider, and more.


We've rounded up all of the new iOS 26.2 features that we've found so far.

Lock Screen

There is a Liquid Glass slider on the Lock Screen that lets you customize the appearance of the clock. When using the "Glass" option, you can use the slider to make the time look almost entirely clear, or give it a more frosted look.


There continues to be a separate Solid toggle that turns off the Liquid Glass appearance for the clock entirely if you want to opt for a much more opaque design, and you can also still use the color options for the clock.

Sleep Score

With iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple has adjusted the ranges for the Sleep Score feature that it introduced earlier this year. The new Sleep Score numbers better match how people might be feeling after a night of sleep.


These are the new scores:

• Very Low - 0-40 (previously 0-29)


• Low - 41-60 (previously 30-49)


• OK - 61-80 (previously 50-69)


• High - 81-95 (previously 70-89)


• Very High - 96-100 (previously 90-100)

The "Very High" rank used to be "Excellent," but Apple changed the name to be more in line with the other labels.

Sleep Scores are available on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.2 and can be found in the Health app on the iPhone. Apple designed Sleep Score to provide an overall sense of sleep patterns, so users can identify habits that might impact their sleep.

Sleep Score takes into account sleep duration, bedtime, and interruptions to assign a nightly score that represents sleep quality. Duration is worth 50 points, bedtime is worth 30, and interruptions (times woken up in the night) are worth 20, for a total of 100 possible points each night.

Passwords

In the Settings section of the Passwords app, there's now an option to manage websites where passwords are not saved when signing in.

AirPods Live Translation for EU

iOS 26.2 expands AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. Apple had to delay the feature in the EU to complete the engineering work needed to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act.


AirPods Live Translation works with the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean at the current time.

Freeform

The Freeform app now supports Tables.

Reminders

In the Reminders app, there's a new option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due. Setting up an alarm can be done by toggling on the "Urgent" option when creating a reminder.



When a Reminder alarm activates, it displays a snooze option or a slide to stop option. If you snooze it, it will show a countdown on the Lock Screen that includes an option to complete the reminder or reschedule it. Apple distinguishes Reminders alarms from standard alarms with a new blue color.

Podcasts

The Podcasts app adds support for three new features, including automatically created chapters, options to see mentions of other podcasts from the transcript and the player, and access to links mentioned in a podcast on the episode page.

AirDrop

Though not live, iOS 26.2 includes multiple references to a new AirDrop feature. It will allow two people to send a PIN to one another, and the special code will enable AirDrop for the next 30 days.

AirDrop is limited to 10 minutes for people who are not in your contacts, so this setting could extend that period.

Weather

There is also code suggesting that the Weather app now supports relative time for alerts like "next Friday," or "next Tuesday" in reference to upcoming rain or weather conditions.

Apple News

Apple updated the design of Apple News, adding quick access top buttons for categories like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food.


There's also a dedicated tab for Following, which has been decoupled from the search interface.

Flash for Alerts

The Flash for Alerts option in the Accessibility section of the Settings app now allows users to have the screen flash. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED on the back of the ‌iPhone‌.


Users can swap to the screen flash or have both flash at the same time when notifications come in.

Enhanced Safety Alerts

In the Notifications section of the Settings app, there's an Enhanced Safety Alerts section for managing earthquake alerts, imminent threat alerts, and activating improved alert delivery, a feature that uses location to improve the reliability of alerts.

Download iOS 26.2

iOS 26.2 is available for developers right now, but a public beta is likely coming later this week. You can sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website.

Compatibility

iOS 26.2 is available on all iPhones that support iOS 26.

Release Date

We're expecting Apple to release iOS 26.2 in December, sometime between December 9 and December 16.
This article, "Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Card has a new perk for cardholders. Apple announced today that Apple Card now offers 3% Daily Cash back for car rentals with Hertz. In addition to that boosted Daily Cash, you’ll also get lower rates, free emergency service, and more.

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Apple is working to introduce a new Enhanced Safety Alerts setting on iOS 26.2. Here are the details.

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iOS 26.2 beta 1 arrived earlier today, and it gives Apple’s Freeform app support for tables for the first time.

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Apple is working on a new feature that will allow users to keep AirDrop pairing active between devices for up to 30 days. Here are the details.

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As part of iOS 26, Apple launched a redesigned boarding pass experience for flights in the Wallet app. The new design features Live Activities, quicker access to key flight details, and more.

Last month, United became the first US airline to roll out support for the new set of Wallet features. Air Canada also recently launched support for the features.

Now, Delta is following suit …

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