Elon Musk today expressed concern about Apple and Google partnering on a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google's generative AI platform Gemini.


"This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that [they] also have Android and Chrome," wrote Musk, in a post on X.

Musk serves as CEO of xAI, the company behind Gemini competitor Grok.

It is unlikely that Apple or Google will publicly respond to Musk's comment, but we will update this story if the companies have anything to say.

In case you missed it, Apple and Google today jointly announced that Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized version of Siri that is set to launch this year. Apple has yet to announce exactly when the revamped Siri will launch, but it is reportedly set to arrive as part of iOS 26.4 in March or April.

xAI filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI last year, accusing the two companies of conspiring to "ensure their continued dominance" in the AI market.


This article, "Elon Musk Reacts to Apple and Google Teaming on Gemini-Powered Siri" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The appeal of MagSafe is undeniable in the car. The magnetic snap that perfectly aligns the charging coils ensures you are getting the most efficient power transfer possible while also never worrying about a cable. Frankly, once you use MagSafe in the car, there is no going back. Even prior to MagSafe, people loved mounts, but they also needed to charge as well. MagSafe mounts combine both! Today, I am taking a look at the ESR OmniLock with Qi2.2.

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

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On iOS 18.2 and later, there is a Share Item Location 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 put an AirTag 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.

Apple today announced that the Share Item Location feature is now supported by 36 airlines around the world, and we expect more to follow in the future.

Below, we have listed all of the airlines that support the feature:

• AJet


• Aer Lingus


• Air Canada


• Air France


• Air India


• Air New Zealand


• American Airlines


• Austrian Airlines


• Breeze Airways


• British Airways


• Brussels Airlines


• Cathay Pacific


• Condor


• Copa Airlines


• China Airlines


• Delta


• Eurowings


• Finnair


• Flair Airlines


• Iberia


• JetBlue


• KLM


• LATAM Airlines


• Lufthansa


• Pegasus Airlines


• Porter Airlines


• Qantas


• Saudia


• Singapore Airlines


• SunExpress


• SWISS


• Turkish Airlines


• United


• Virgin Atlantic


• Vueling


• WestJet

This article, "These 36 Airlines Offer iPhone Feature That Helps Find Your Lost Bags" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After launching Voice Typing Dictation on the Mac last month, Speechify is continuing its push to become more than an AI text-to-speech platform. The company today released its Voice AI Assistant on iOS, after previously offering it only on Chrome and the web. Here are the details.

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Apple today announced that 2025 was a "record-breaking year" for many of its services, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts.


"Apple services had a banner year, rolling out game-changing features for customers while shattering records," said Apple's services chief Eddy Cue, in a press release. "The numbers reflect the incredible enthusiasm of our customers, whether it's downloading an exciting new app or game, watching the hottest new show with family and friends, listening to their favorite songs, or shopping with peace of mind."

Here are some of the 2025 statistics shared in Apple's announcement:

• App Store had over 850 million average weekly users across 175 countries and regions, and it set a new annual record for U.S. visitors.


• App Store had a record number of visitors between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.


• Apple TV set a new record for monthly engagement in December, with total hours of content viewed on the streaming service up 36% on a year-over-year basis. This increase was driven by hits such as F1: The Movie and Pluribus.


• Apple Music had its best year ever, breaking records for listenership and new subscribers.


• Shazam generated over 1 billion recognitions per month.


• Apple Pay is now available in 89 markets, and Apple says the payment service eliminated well over $1 billion in fraud globally.


• Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available in 50 markets.


• Apple Maps expanded its Detailed City Experience with 3D landmarks to new locations, like New Orleans, Singapore, and Monaco.


• Apple's Share Item Location feature in the Find My app is now offered by 36 airlines.


• Apple Arcade added more than 50 new games.


• Apple Fitness+ expanded to 28 more countries and regions, and it is launching in Japan early this year.


• Apple Podcasts set annual records for listeners, episode plays, and new subscribers.


• Apple News is the most popular news app in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and the second most popular news app in the U.K.

For more details about new features added to Apple's services in 2025, as well as various other records set, head to the Apple Newsroom website.
This article, "Here's How 2025 Was a 'Record-Breaking Year' Across Apple's Services" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has just released developer beta 2 for tvOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3, HomePod 26.3, and more.

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Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming four weeks after the release of the first betas.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update, although it appears over-the-air updates may still be rolling out. The downloads are already available from Apple's Developer site.

iOS 26.3 adds a new tool for transitioning from an ‌iPhone‌ to an Android device. Transfers can be initiated during the device setup process, and moving data from one device to another can now be done without having to download a specific app.

Apple's transfer process supports moving photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more.

The update also includes a Notification Forwarding setting for third-party wearables in the European Union, and there are some minor changes to the Weather wallpaper. More information on what's changed can be found in our iOS 26.3 beta 1 feature list.

Apple is expected to release the iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to the public at the end of January.
This article, "Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Kicking off the 2026 beta period, Apple is rolling out today macOS 26.3 beta 2 for developers, alongside beta 2 releases for iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and more. Here’s what’s new.

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iPadOS 26.3 is the next iPad software update, and Apple has just released developer beta 2 of the forthcoming release. Here’s what to expect.

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Apple today provided the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming four weeks after the launch of the first beta.


Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

There's no word yet on what's included in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3, and no new features were found in the first beta.

We'll likely see Apple release ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 at the end of January given past launch timelines.
This article, "Second macOS Tahoe 26.3 Beta Now Available for Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released the second iOS 26.3 beta for iPhone. The first beta introduced an easier way to switch between Android and iPhone, tweaks to the Astronomy and Weather wallpaper gallery, and more.

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Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 betas for testing purposes. The software comes four weeks after Apple provided the first betas.


The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and tvOS 26.3, and nothing new has been discovered so far. Apple doesn't typically provide release notes for betas, so we might not know what's new until the software updates see a public launch unless there are outward-facing changes.

The software updates will probably launch right around the end of January based on past release timelines.
This article, "Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today Apple published updates on a variety of services’ 2025 performance, and one of the most surprising details for me involved Apple Podcasts.

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Today Apple confirmed a new partnership with Google to power future AI features, including the upcoming Siri overhaul. But how will that impact user privacy? Here’s what Apple says.

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Apple and Google today announced that Google Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features.


"Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," the companies said, in a statement. "These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year."

Apple is "excited about the innovative new experiences" that the partnership will unlock, but the statement did not provide any details about specific features.

It is unclear if Gemini will help power any existing Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Notification Summaries.

Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, with Apple promising industry-leading privacy standards.

The more personalized version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4 in March or April, following a lengthy delay. 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.


This article, "Google Gemini Partnership With Apple Will Go Beyond Siri Revamp" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26.2 was released last month with a bunch of great features, and now it appears that a new iOS 26.2.1 update is coming soon for iPhone users.

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Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break features the ongoing $100 price drops on Apple Watch Series 11, but we also have some offers on Ultra as well. You’ll find the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the gorgeous matching Milanese Loop at $200 off or this Amazon “excellent” refurbished unit down at $439 (that’s $360 off). Those offers join Spigen’s Alpine Loop-style band down at $20 alongside the ongoing deals on the official Milanese Loops, just be sure to scope out the M4 Mac mini offers that landed today with up to $110 in savings. The new Best Buy Winter Sale is now in full swing and you’ll find even more down below. 

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iOS 26.3 will likely be released to the public later this month, but it appears that Apple is preparing to push out another software update in the interim.


Apple's software engineers have started testing iOS 26.2.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The update will likely be released at some point this week or next week.

iOS 26.2.1 should be a minor update with bug fixes and/or security patches.

iOS 26.3 is expected to follow in late January, with key new features in that update so far including a new iPhone-to-Android transfer tool, Notification Forwarding for third-party smartwatches in the EU, and more.
This article, "iOS 26.2.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Satechi announced a few products at CES last week, and to mark the launch it's providing a 20 percent discount on these devices for early adopters. You can use the code CES2026 at checkout to get 20 percent off all five of Satechi's newest products.

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

Satechi's new CES 2026 products include two wireless keyboards, a wireless mouse, Thunderbolt 5 cable, and Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure. All items in this sale are available to purchase and ship now, with the exception of the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock, which is up for pre-order with an estimated shipping date of late March.




Additionally, Satechi is hosting a "last chance" sale this week, with up to 30 percent off accessories with a limited supply remaining. In this sale you'll find discounts on MagSafe-compatible wireless charging pads, Thunderbolt docks, and more.

CES 2026 Sale

Use Code CES 2026 to see the below deals applied at checkout.

• Slim EX Wireless Mouse - $24.00, down from $29.99


• Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable - $32.00, down from $39.99


• Slim EX1 Wireless Keyboard - $40.00, down from $49.99


• Slim EX3 Wireless Keyboard - $56.00, down from $69.99


• Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock - $320.00 (pre-order), down from $399.99

Last Chance Sale

All deals have been applied automatically and do not require a coupon code.

• 30W Dual-Port Wall Charger - $45.99, down from $64.99


• 100W USB-C Wall Charger - $48.99, down from $69.99


• 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger - $55.99, down from $79.99


• USB-C Monitor Stand Hub XL - $69.99, down from $149.99


• Pro Hub Max - $69.99, down from $99.99


• Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand - $69.99, down from $99.99


• Trio Wireless Charger with Magnetic Pad - $83.99, down from $119.99


• Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub - $139.99, down from $199.99


• Thunderbolt 4 Dock - $199.99, down from $299.99

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This article, "Satechi Introduces 20% Discount on Brand-New CES 2026 Accessories" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It may sound morbid, but China’s new top paid App Store app—Are You Dead?—is spiking in popularity among iPhone users who live alone. Here are the details.

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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.

Update: Apple and Google today announced that Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features.
This article, "Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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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.

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This article, "Amazon Takes Up to $129 Off M4 Mac Mini, Starting at $499.99" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has confirmed that it is teaming up with Google to use Gemini models to power future Siri and Apple Intelligence features.

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