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Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

In a statement shared with CNBC today, Apple confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year.


"After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement said.

The report explicitly mentioned that Google Gemini will power Siri, as was expected. Apple's decision to lean on Google's artificial intelligence technology should result in the revamped Siri being more capable and advanced than it otherwise would have been, as Gemini's large language model is significantly larger than Apple's own model.

The next-generation version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, which will likely be released to the general public in March or April.

Apple first announced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote, but last year it announced that they were delayed. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Tag: Siri
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon Takes Up to $129 Off M4 Mac Mini, Starting at $499.99

Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.99 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $129 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro 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.

In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.99, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $889.99, down from $999.00.






Apple last updated the Mac mini in late 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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Report: Rise of AI Is Corroding Apple's Influence Over TSMC

A detailed new report from SemiAnalysis argues that while Apple's partnership with TSMC created the modern leading-edge foundry model, the rapid rise of AI computing is changing who pays for new chip technologies and how much influence Apple holds over each new manufacturing node.


The report traces how Apple became the single most important customer in the global semiconductor industry by committing early and at scale to new manufacturing processes at TSMC, beginning with the A8 chip in 2014. It argues that Apple's willingness to absorb early costs, fund yield improvements, and align its annual product cycle with TSMC's roadmap allowed the foundry to outpace rivals and cement its dominance at the leading edge.

Apple's annual spending at TSMC grew from roughly $2 billion in 2014 to about $24 billion in 2025, while Apple's share of TSMC revenue rose from single digits to as much as 25% at its peak. For much of the past decade, Apple accounted for more than half of initial production at each new node, and in some cases nearly all of it, effectively underwriting the financing of advanced manufacturing when no other customer could do so at scale.

However, the rise of AI accelerators has created a second class of customers, such as NVIDIA, who are capable of consuming large amounts of advanced manufacturing capacity. TSMC's revenue mix has shifted significantly as a result.

Smartphones once represented nearly half of TSMC's revenue, but that share has fallen as high-performance computing demands, including AI, have grown to become the largest segment. This means Apple is no longer the only customer capable of funding new capacity, even though it remains the largest single customer by revenue.

This change is said to already be visible with upcoming manufacturing nodes. Apple's share of early production for TSMC's N2 and A16 nodes is expected to be lower than previous generations, the latter of which is designed for high-performance computing workloads rather than mobile devices.

Under SemiAnalysis's modeling, Apple's position strengthens again at later nodes such as A14, which are being designed from the start to support both mobile and high-performance products. In that scenario, Apple's share of early capacity rises again as its iPhone and Mac chips return to being the primary drivers of volume.

While Apple continues to rely on TSMC for its most advanced chips, SemiAnalysis says the company is exploring alternatives for lower-risk components and certain categories to diversify its supply chain. Intel's upcoming 18A-P process is a potential option for some Apple silicon without disrupting flagship products.

See SemiAnalysis's full report for more information.
Tag: TSMC

This article, "Report: Rise of AI Is Corroding Apple's Influence Over TSMC" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

In mid-December, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 26.3. So far, the upcoming software update includes a couple of new features for iPhones.


iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so thereby it is likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer.

Below, we recap what is new in the iOS 26.3 beta so far.

iPhone to Android Transfer Tool



iOS 26.3 makes it easier for iPhone users to switch to an Android device. A new tool allows you to place your iPhone next to an Android device to wirelessly transfer photos, messages, notes, apps, and more. You can also transfer your phone number.

In the iOS 26.3 beta, the new tool can be found in the Settings app, under General → Transfer or Reset ‌iPhone‌ → Transfer to Android. It is available worldwide.

Notification Forwarding in EU



In the EU, iOS 26.3 introduces both a Notification Forwarding feature and AirPods-like proximity pairing for third-party accessories like earbuds and smartwatches.

Apple was required to make these changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.

More



Starting with iOS 26.3, there is a dedicated section for Weather wallpapers, with three preset options available to choose from. To access them, tap and hold on the Lock Screen and tap on the plus sign in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

February is Black History Month, and iOS 26.3 will likely include the 2026 version of Apple's annual Black Unity wallpaper. Apple also typically releases a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch, and a matching Unity Rhythm watch face.

iOS 26.1 introduced a Background Security Improvement feature that is designed to provide security updates for Safari, WebKit, and some other system items between iOS software updates. Apple has been testing the feature with updates such as "iOS 26.3 (a)" and "iOS 26.3 (b)," but they do not actually contain any security fixes.

Additional new features and bug fixes may be added in later beta versions of iOS 26.3. Overall, though, it will likely be a relatively minor update.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Two countries block Grok app over AI-generated CSAM as we await Apple’s response

Two countries have blocked the Grok app after it was widely used to generate non-consensual near-nude deepfakes of women and children. A third country is currently carrying out an investigation.

Three US senators have asked Apple to temporarily remove both X and Grok from the US App Store due to “sickening content generation,” and we are still awaiting the company’s response …

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Google Chrome 150 Will Be Last Version to Support macOS Monterey

Google has confirmed that its Chrome 150 browser update coming later this year will be the last version to support macOS Monterey. Going forward, Chrome 151 and later versions will no longer support macOS 12, which Apple released in October 2021.


In a platform status update, Google says that on Macs running Monterey, Chrome 150 will continue to work, but the browser will display a warning infobar and will not update any further. For new installations of Chrome 151+, macOS 13 or newer will be required.

Google has not announced an exact release date for Chrome 150. But based on the current stable channel being at version 143 and that Google typically releases major new Chrome versions roughly every four weeks, Chrome 150 is likely to be rolled out sometime around mid-2026.

To stay up-to-date with the latest browsing standards and to maintain online security, users on Monterey should update their macOS version, or choose another third-party browser like Firefox that is still receiving updates for their version of macOS.
This article, "Google Chrome 150 Will Be Last Version to Support macOS Monterey" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Tops 2025 Smartphone Market With 20% Share, 10% Growth

Apple emerged as the global smartphone market leader in 2025, capturing a 20% market share with 10% year-over-year shipment growth – the highest among the top five brands, according to data released today by Counterpoint Research.


Global smartphone shipments grew 2% year-over-year in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of growth. Counterpoint said the market was driven by more consumers taking advantage of financing options to upgrade to premium devices, as well as increasing adoption of 5G devices in emerging markets.

Samsung ranked second behind Apple with a 19% market share and modest 5% shipment growth, while Xiaomi retained third place with 13% share.

"Apple's growth in 2025 was driven by its expanding presence and rising demand across emerging and mid-size markets, supported by a stronger product mix," said Counterpoint senior analyst Varun Mishra.

"The iPhone 17 series gained significant traction in Q4 following its successful launch, while the iPhone 16 continued to perform exceptionally well in Japan, India and Southeast Asia."

Apple's performance was said to have been amplified by the pandemic-era upgrade cycle reaching an inflection point, with millions of users due for device replacement. In Q4 2025, Apple accounted for one-quarter of global shipments, its highest-ever quarterly share, according to the report.

While U.S. tariff concerns prompted manufacturers to front-load shipments in the first half of the year, the impact actually proved milder than anticipated, and the effects on second-half volumes were limited.


However, Counterpoint's outlook for 2026 is more conservative. "The global smartphone market is set to soften in 2026 amid DRAM/NAND shortages and rising component costs, as chipmakers prioritize AI data centers over smartphones," said Counterpoint research director Tarun Pathak. The firm has subsequently revised its 2026 forecast downward by 3%, although Apple and Samsung are expected to remain resilient thanks to their stronger supply chain capabilities.
This article, "Apple Tops 2025 Smartphone Market With 20% Share, 10% Growth" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone market share now bigger than Samsung, not just due to iPhone 17

After two years of Apple and Samsung being neck and neck in the smartphone market share stakes, iPhone market share beat out the Korean company by the end of last year, according to a new market intelligence report.

Apple also enjoyed by far the largest year-on-year growth in smartphone shipments, and that wasn’t just due to the success of the iPhone 17 lineup …

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Apple TV comedy that mocked Golden Globes wins Golden Globe for best comedy

The story of the Apple TV comedy The Studio has come full circle, with the actual Golden Globes ceremony last night honoring the show with the Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy award, and star Seth Rogen for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. It follows major wins at the Emmys and other awards shows since the show premiered in spring 2025.

On a more serious note, Apple TV also picked up a Golden Globes win for Pluribus, with star Rhea Seehorn winning the award for best actress in a drama. This much-deserved recognition follows many years of her performances on Better Call Saul being overlooked by awards bodies.

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Apple Opposes India's Plan to Access iOS Source Code

Apple and other smartphone manufacturers are resisting an Indian government proposal that would require them to hand over source code for security review, reports Reuters.


The proposal is included in a package of 83 security standards that India is considering as legal requirements, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to boost security of user data following increases in online fraud and data breaches in the country.

Beyond routine measures like notifying the government of major updates and storing security audit logs, the standards would force manufacturers to hand over source code to government-designated labs to check for vulnerabilities.

Apple, Google, Samsung, Xiaomi, and industry group MAIT have all reportedly objected, citing a lack of global precedent and concerns about revealing proprietary details.

The standards were originally drafted in 2023 but are only now under government consideration. Tech company executives are expected to meet Tuesday to discuss the matter.

IT secretary S. Krishnan told Reuters the government will address legitimate concerns "with an open mind," adding it was "premature to read more" into the proposals.

The country's IT ministry also said it "refutes the statement" that it is considering seeking source code from smartphone makers, despite the requirement appearing in the government documents reviewed by Reuters.

A ministry spokesperson told the news organization it could not comment further due to ongoing consultation with tech companies on the proposals.

Apple in December resisted an Indian government directive that would require all iPhones sold in the country to ship with a preinstalled state-run security app. The government ultimately decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for manufacturers after protests from privacy advocates, political opposition, and industry pushback.
Tag: India

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Apple launching ‘revamped’ Health app later this year with these four upgrades

Over the past year or so, we’ve heard a plethora of Health app related rumors. Tim Cook has stated that one of Apple’s largest contributions to society will be in health, and this series of upgrades will be a key part of that vision. We’ll be recapping those upgrades, and you should be seeing them on your iPhone in just a few months.

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9to5Mac Overtime 054: How’s it better than AltaVista?

Jeff and Fernando are back with a chit chat about the best tech from the last year, and what they’re most looking forward to in 2026.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

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This new Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 26 might be one of my all-time favorites

It’s been half a year since iOS 26 debuted in beta, so I’ve had quite a bit of time to sit with it. In a release with such a massive redesign, it’s easy for some of the smaller additional features to fly under the radar – but after giving iOS 26 my fair shot, I’ve come to really like one underlying feature in particular, and it has to do with screenshots.

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Here are some of my favorite CES 2026 announcements for iPhone and Mac users

Every January, CES takes place in Las Vegas. Given the fact that Apple themselves never partakes in CES, it’s not necessarily a super important event for me to go to. That said, it’s always fun to see what’s going on in the tech world, and also see what Apple-adjacent products are coming to market.

I’ll be rounding up some of my favorite products that I got to see. Some of them aren’t coming to market imminently, though most of them are on the horizon.

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Indie App Spotlight: ‘Zephy’ makes plane spotting easy, with an AirTag-style interface

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


If you’ve ever found yourself looking into the sky and wondered “huh, that plane looks a little interesting’ – Zephy is a fun plane tracking tool that uses your iPhone’s gyroscope to show you what exactly is around you. It’s rather nifty.

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