In a support document published on Friday, Apple said that a "technical failure" in Australia prevented some older mobile phones from being able to make emergency calls by dialing 000, and it said there is a low chance that it could happen again.


"In the rare event that these exceptional circumstances affecting mobile operators' networks were to happen again, some older mobile phones may still encounter the same issue reaching emergency services through an alternate available network," said Apple. The document does not provide many specific details, but there are some recent news reports about what sounds like a related issue affecting Samsung phones.

Apple said the issue "impacted some Australians in regional areas who attempted to make an emergency call when their primary mobile network was unavailable, even though an alternate network was available and should have connected the call." Apple said "mobile operators are taking steps to mitigate future issues."

For iPhone 12 users specifically, Apple vaguely stated that the iOS 26.2 update released last week "provides support for this scenario."

"iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and all iPhone models from iPhone 13 and newer are not affected," said Apple. "For iPhone 12 users, iOS 26.2 provides support for this scenario. If it is determined that any earlier iPhone models are impacted, customers will receive additional information and guidance directly from their mobile operator."

To update your iPhone, open the Settings app on the device and tap General → Software Update.
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iOS 26.2 is here, packing a ton of new features for iPhone users, and also introducing several expansions of Liquid Glass. Here’s what’s new.

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The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station.


According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display. The device is said to prioritize thinness, with several major design decisions reportedly made to reduce the overall thickness of the chassis.

Chief among these is the use of a side-mounted Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The leaker claims Apple has chosen not to include 3D Face ID hardware or a 3D ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor, as both systems would add internal volume and complicate efforts to slim down the device.

The post further claims that the foldable's hinge has been engineered to a particularly high standard, describing the hinge design as "very strong." While no deeper technical details are provided, this aligns with long-standing industry expectations that Apple is placing heavy emphasis on hinge durability and crease reduction, areas where foldable devices have historically faced criticism.

The leaker states that the current engineering prototype features a 7.58-inch internal display equipped with an under-panel front-facing camera, often abbreviated as UPC. Under-panel camera technology allows the camera to sit beneath the display layer, eliminating visible cutouts when the camera is not in use.

For the external display, the leaker claims Apple is using a 5.25-inch panel with a punch-hole camera implemented via a HIAA (Hole-In-Active-Area) design, a technique that minimizes inactive screen space around the cutout. It is unclear what will happen to the Dynamic Island in both instances.

The post also claims the device will feature a dual 48-megapixel rear camera system described as having a "large base," which suggests a physically larger sensor size than pixel count alone indicates.

Digital Chat Station adds that the foldable smartphone segment will be "reinvigorated" next year, implying that there will be renewed momentum after a period of slower growth and incremental updates. The leaker reiterated an earlier claim that Samsung is also evaluating a new wide-format foldable device.

Digital Chat Station has a relatively good track record for Apple rumors. They accurately revealed the overall design of the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, the triple 48-megapixel rear camera system of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, the iPhone 17's slimmer bezels and a larger display with ProMotion, ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus's slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor, and display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12.
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Apple Fitness+ today expanded to 28 new markets in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre.


The service today became available in Norway, Poland, the Philippines, Sweden, Vietnam, Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year. The expansion increases total availability to 49 countries, with a full list available at the bottom of Apple's press release.

Hundreds of sessions are initially available with digitally generated voice dubbing in Spanish and German, with Japanese set to be added when the service launches in Japan. New dubbed episodes will be released weekly across all supported regions.

The new dubbing system uses a generated voice modeled on each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers' real voices. Users will be able to switch audio tracks after starting a session or set a preferred language in the Fitness app, which will automatically default to the dubbed version when available. Apple has not previously offered dubbed workout content on Fitness+, instead relying on subtitles for non-English markets since the service launched in 2020.

Apple is also adding a new K-Pop music genre to the service, which will be available across workout types. The new category joins existing genres such as Upbeat Anthems, Latest Hits, Hip-Hop/R&B, and Latin Grooves.

Prior to today, Fitness+ was already available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S.
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It is starting to come down to the wire for holiday shipping and pricing on Apple gear, so today’s 9to5Toys Lunch is bringing some of the best offers still live to the forefront. Firstly, you can still land Apple Watch Series 11 at $100 off with Christmas delivery joined by just about every Apple Watch Ultra 2 at $250 off as part of Best Buy’s 24-hour Tech the Halls sale. Those offers join the ongoing Black Friday pricing on M4 Mac mini from $479 as well as iPhone 16 Pro Max models at over $600 off the original list prices and what might be your last chance at holiday AirPods offers (Apple EarPods are $10 right now if there’s anybody out there that still wants those). Check it all out below. 

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The free Apple Sports app shows scores, stats, standings, and more for a variety of sports and leagues, and it should eventually gain support for one more.


The latest version of the Apple Sports app includes images for the men's PGA Tour and the women's LPGA hidden within the app's code, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. While users cannot yet follow the PGA Tour or LPGA in the app, the addition of the images suggests that support is coming soon.

The app already supports the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, NASCAR, F1, Premier League, and more, and golf will further expand the selection.

Launched in 2024, the Apple Sports app is available on the iPhone only in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and select other European countries.
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Apple will launch a lot of new products next year, including updated iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more. But there are two brand new 2026 products coming that have the chance to prove Apple’s “not first, but best” mantra once again.

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Christmas is just over a week away, and it's getting more and more difficult to guarantee delivery for the holiday with each passing day. In order to aid in any last minute holiday shopping, we've put together a list of the best Apple and Apple accessory discounts you can still get with delivery in time for December 25th, available from retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.

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.

AirPods

There aren't many AirPods deals left with guaranteed holiday delivery at this point, but Best Buy does have some options for the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max. Starting with the AirPods 4, Best Buy has the base model without ANC for $84.99, down from $129.99, which is about $15 higher compared to the record low price, but still a solid last-minute deal.

You can get the USB-C AirPods Max for $449.99 this week on Best Buy, down from $549.99, with next-day delivery or same-day pickup. This isn't an all-time low price, but if you need it for Christmas it'll be your best option.

Anker

Anker has quite a few accessories on sale with guaranteed holiday delivery, ranging from USB-C wall chargers to MagSafe compatible portable batteries and much more. A highlight of the new sale is the 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99.

Wall Chargers

• Nano USB-C 30W Foldable Charger - $12.19, down from $19.99


• 70W 3-Port USB-C Charger Block - $34.49, down from $49.99


• 160W 3-Port GaN Charger Block - $107.49, down from $149.99

Wireless Chargers

• 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank - $39.99, down from $49.99


• MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger - $61.99, down from $89.99


• 3-in-1 Prime Qi2 Charging Station - $160.99, down from $229.99

Portable Chargers

• 5,000 mAh Ultra Slim Magnetic Power Bank - $41.24, down from $54.99


• 10,000 mAh MagGo Qi2 Power Bank - $59.49, down from $89.99


• 20,000 mAh 3-Port Power Bank - $128.99, down from $179.99

Docks

• 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock - $339.99, down from $399.99

Apple Watch

Series 11

Amazon and Best Buy this week have all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. These discounts beat the Black Friday prices we saw last month by about $30, and both retailers have delivery options that provide guaranteed arrival dates before Christmas.

SE 3

For the Apple Watch SE 3, you'll find $50 discounts on a few models on Amazon, with prices starting at $199.00 for the 40mm GPS model. Both sizes of the GPS model have guaranteed delivery dates before Christmas as of writing, with some same-day delivery in select locations as well.

HomePod

Last month, Best Buy introduced one of the first discounts on the HomePod that we've seen in years, and the retailer has brought back this sale in time for Christmas. You can get the 2nd Gen HomePod for $269.99, down from $299.99, in both Midnight and White color options.

Apple Pencil Pro

Amazon has the Apple Pencil Pro available for $94.99, down from $129.00, which is a match for the all-time low price.

iPhone 17 Cases

Amazon this week brought back big discounts across Apple's Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air lineup. Items on sale include Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.


iPhone Air

• Clear Case - $37.99, down from $49.00

iPhone 17

• Clear Case - $22.09 with on-page coupon, down from $49.00


• Silicone Case - $37.99, down from $49.00

iPhone 17 Pro

• Clear Case - $37.99, down from $49.00


• Silicone Case - $37.99, down from $49.00


• TechWoven Case - $44.00, down from $59.00

iPhone 17 Pro Max

• Clear Case - $37.99, down from $49.00


• Silicone Case - $37.99, down from $49.00


• TechWoven Case - $44.00, down from $59.00

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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X (Twitter) has rolled out a set of widgets for its iOS app, enabling users to add feeds to their Home screen as well as a real-time notification count to their Lock Screen.


The Home screen widget offers only one kind, called "X News Highlights," which displays headlines of what's trending on the social media platform. The widget is available in three sizes.

There's more to be said for the Lock Screen widgets, which all come in larger and smaller kinds. "X Notifications" shows the user's notification count, while "X Messages" displays the number of unread messages in X Chat (encrypted DMs). There are also two Grok AI widgets, one for jumping straight into chat and one for voice conversations.

Apple actually teased Twitter Home screen widgets at WWDC 2020 during its iOS 14 preview, but they never came to anything, until now.

X/Twitter used to be the go-to place for breaking news and real-time information, but changes to the platform brought about by owner Elon Musk have been criticised for causing feeds to be increasingly awash with fake accounts, AI slop, and misinformation.
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Apple released the AirPods Max on December 15, 2020, meaning the over-ear headphones launched five years ago today. While the AirPods Max were updated with a USB-C port and new color options last year, followed by support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio this year, the headphones lack some of the features that have been introduced for newer generations of the regular AirPods and the AirPods Pro.


Fortunately, it has been rumored that Apple plans to update the AirPods Max within the next few years, and they will likely receive the following 10 changes.

Earlier this year, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected lighter AirPods Max to enter mass production in 2027. However, he did not outline any other planned upgrades beyond the headphones apparently weighing less.

The current AirPods Max weigh 0.85 pounds, excluding the charging case, according to Apple.

AirPods Max still have Apple's H1 chip from 2019, so it is very likely that a second-generation pair would be equipped with the H2 chip or newer. That should unlock at least seven upgrades, including improved sound quality, increased active noise cancellation, longer battery life, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness, and the ability to use "Siri" instead of "Hey Siri."

Adaptive Audio adjusts Active Noise Cancellation based on your environment — you can customize the setting to allow more or less ambient noise. Personalized Volume is a similar feature that adjusts your AirPods volume based on both your surroundings and your volume preferences. Conversation Awareness temporarily lowers your volume and enhances voices in front of you while you are talking with someone.

Other likely changes include new color options for the ear cushions and headband, as well as a redesigned carrying case. Hopefully the case gains an Ultra Wideband chip, which would unlock Precision Finding in the Find My app.

In the U.S., AirPods Max remain priced at $549, but they are frequently on sale for less at Amazon and other resellers. Unless you really want AirPods Max now, we are now at a point where waiting for the 2027 model is worthwhile.
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Last week Apple released feature-packed updates like iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and more. New features for visionOS 26.2 appeared minimal during the beta process, but it turns out, the update actually brought a big upgrade for using Apple Vision Pro on the go.

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Amazon has added a new feature to its Kindle app on iOS that uses artificial intelligence to answer questions about the book you're reading, the company has announced.


Available in the U.S. only, "Ask This Book" is described as an "expert reading assistant" that allows users to highlight any passage in what they are reading and ask questions about plot details, character relationships, and thematic elements. The feature's answers are spoiler-free, revealing information only up to the current reading position. The in-book chatbot is available in books by default, and authors cannot opt out.

"The feature uses technology, including AI, to provide instant, spoiler-free answers to customers' questions about what they're reading," Amazon told PubLunch. "Ask this Book provides short answers based on factual information about the book which are accessible only to readers who have purchased or borrowed the book and are non-shareable and non-copyable."

With the latest Kindle app update installed, readers in the U.S. can find the feature in the in-book menu, or simply highlight any passage and tap "Ask" in the contextual pop-up menu.

Ask This Book is currently limited to English-language books. Amazon plans to add the feature to Kindle devices and Android OS next year.
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Update December 15, 2025 10:35am ET: Spotify says the outage is fixed.

If Spotify is down for you this morning, you’re not alone. The streaming music service has a bit of the Monday blues. Spotify has confirmed that it is aware of problem affecting the service today and is investigating.

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Apple's AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $69.99 today on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Prime members can get the accessory delivered today in many locations, while free shipping options put it arriving in time for Christmas, around Saturday, December 20.

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.

If you prefer shopping at Best Buy, you'll find a matching deal on the AirTag 4-pack this week. Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack, and the first notable deal we've seen on the Bluetooth tracker since Black Friday.



If you're shopping for a single AirTag, Amazon has the AirTag 1-Pack for $24.00, down from $29.00. 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 rumored to launch five new Home products in the year ahead, and ahead of that renewed smart home push, iOS 26.2 has just added a key enhancement to make adding new accessories easier.

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Apple's AirPods Max launched five years ago today, marking the company's first push into the high-end over-ear headphones market under its own brand name.


Rumors about Apple's work on a pair of high-end headphones, at the time believed to be called the "AirPods Studio," heated up throughout 2020. They were announced abruptly via a somewhat unexpected press release on December 8, 2020 and went on sale the same day. Orders started arriving to customers one week later on Tuesday, December 15.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ offer many popular AirPods features such as the H1 chip, easy pairing, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, automatic switching, and Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, but in a premium over-ear design for the first time. They also offer a headband made of a flexible mesh canopy, replaceable magnetic earcups, a Digital Crown for physical volume controls, a button for switching between ANC and Transparency, and a Smart Case for storage and to put the headphones into a low power state.

Demand for the ‌AirPods Max‌ was high immediately after launch, with shipping estimates that stretched out several months. Initial reviews of AirPods Max were favorable, applauding the headphones for being "more than enough to compete with other high-end headphones" in terms of design and sound quality. While the recommended retail price remains at $549, the ‌AirPods Max‌ are often available with discounts of over $100.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ have also been subject to criticism since their launch, including for their price relative to rival sets of high-end over-ear headphones, the design of the Smart Case, condensation inside the earcups, poor battery life (something that was later fixed via a software update), ANC strength seemingly being reduced over time, the over-head canopy's poor durability, and the long period in which the device has been left without meaningful hardware update.

Last year, Apple refreshed the AirPods Max's selection of color options and swapped the Lightning port for USB-C, but there were no other changes. Since the changes were so minor, Apple does not seem to consider the "new" model a second-generation.
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One of the world’s largest automakers is preparing support for Apple’s car key platform. A new report today says that Apple’s “backend has been updated to include Toyota in the list of companies that support Apple car key.”

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If you’ve ever resumed reading a book after a break and can’t remember who one of the characters is or what happened in the last section you read, or you simply don’t understand the significance of one of the plot developments, a new Kindle Ask This Book feature is here to help …

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Apple is preparing to bring support for its Car Keys feature to Toyota vehicles, evidence uncovered by MacRumors suggests.


Toyota introduced its own Digital Key feature as part of the available Remote Connect package several years ago, which allows drivers to use their smartphone as a key to access and drive the vehicle. Now, the company appears to be adding support for Apple ‌Car Keys‌, with the feature going live as of today on Apple's back end.

Introduced in 2022, ‌Car Keys‌ allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock a vehicle via the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in the Wallet, and unlocking can be completed by holding an Apple Watch or ‌‌iPhone‌‌ near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader.

Tapping on the door handle is enough to initiate an unlock, and while Face ID authentication is a security option, Apple offers an Express Mode that eliminates the need to authenticate for an even faster unlocking process.

It is unclear when Toyota will roll out support for ‌Car Keys‌ to its vehicles, and the company has not yet made any announcements related to the feature, but it is likely to be relatively soon since the feature is now live on Apple's back end.

At WWDC 2025, Apple confirmed that 13 vehicle brands would "soon" add support for digital car keys, including Audi, Acura, Porsche, GMC, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Rivian, Smart, Lucid Motors, Tata Motors, Hongqi, WEY, Chery, and Voyah.

Vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Kia, Hyundai, Lotus, Mercedes, Volvo, and more already offer car keys support, with a list available on MacRumors.
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Apple and Google will soon be "encouraged" to build nudity-detection algorithms into their software by default, as part of the UK government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, reports the Financial Times.


According to the report, Home Office officials want device operating systems to prevent any nudity from being displayed unless users can verify that they're adults through biometric checks or official ID.

The proposal is said to target mobile devices initially, but it could extend to desktops. The government reportedly explored making the controls mandatory for devices sold in the UK, but it has apparently decided against that approach for now.

Apple currently offers Communication Safety tools that parents can activate and which detect nude photos and videos in apps like Messages, AirDrop, and FaceTime. However, teenagers can still view flagged images after dismissing an alert, while under-13s must enter a passcode.

Google also provides parental controls through its Family Link feature and includes "sensitive content warnings" in Google Messages. But neither company offers system-wide nudity blocking that extends to third-party apps like WhatsApp.

The proposal is sure to face objections from privacy and civil liberties groups, as well as questions about how effective any such measures would be. When the UK instituted age checks for porn websites earlier this year as part of the Online Safety Act, users got around restrictions using fake photos and VPN services.

The proposals are expected to be officially unveiled in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to FT.
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Competition between mobile carriers is now so intense that they are not only trying hard to poach customers from each other, but even fighting legal battles over their tactics.

AT&T has sued T-Mobile over its EasySwitch tool, intended to allow customers to compare rates and receive a personalized deal from the self-proclaimed “uncarrier” …

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iRobot, the company which invented robot vacuum cleaners, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy some 23 years after it first launched the Roomba range.

While such company failures can often be extremely bad news for owners of smart home technology, there is reason for optimism in this case …

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A new report says that the British government will be asking Apple and Google to block the taking and sharing of nude photographs unless the user has been verified to be an adult.

Additionally, the report says that the government wants iOS and Android to prevent nude images even being displayed on the device unless the user has been verified as an adult …

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If you’ve been looking to upgrade your car’s tech without breaking the bank on a new vehicle, Ottocast just dropped two products worth checking out.

The OttoAibox P3 Pro brings AI voice control and Android apps to your existing CarPlay setup, while the Cabin Care adapter adds wireless CarPlay plus a rear-seat camera for keeping an eye on the little ones. Both are designed to work with what you’ve already got installed, which is pretty much the whole point.

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