Even though Apple has already allowed apps to start linking out to external purchase options, the company has asked the U.S. District Court in Northern California to stay enforcement during the appeal.


Apple has found itself in hot water after a judge ruled that the company was willfully violating an injunction over anti-steering rules. Apple followed the judge's demands and filed an appeal, but now it is asking for one more thing.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, which discovered the filing, Apple is asking the U.S. District Court for a stay on enforcement of the new requirements set by the judge. Apple was told it must immediately allow apps to link out to websites and enable external purchase options, which it has, but Apple hopes to stop having to do this while it appeals.


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The Vtoman FlashSpeed 1000 Power Station is a portable battery that can keep off-grid campers happy for a weekend — and works great as a UPS for your Mac Studio too.


We get asked to review three main categories of products. Two of them make sense for an Apple-related publication: Thunderbolt docks and SSDs.

The third is giant batteries in portable power stations.


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The upgraded M4 Mac mini configuration, which is down to the best price seen in May, is equipped with 24GB of RAM.


With units in stock and ready to ship, the M4 Mac mini with a bump up to 24GB of unified memory is discounted to $894.83 at Amazon today. This retail spec also has 512GB of storage, double that of the standard 256GB found in the standard model.

Get M4 24GB for $894.83


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During court testimony over Apple's search deal with Google, Apple executive Eddy Cue threw in a curveball, basically saying we shouldn't assume there will be an iPhone 30 someday.


One strongly possible outcome of the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google is that it may be forced to stop paying Apple to be the default search engine on iOS. That would mean Apple losing out on around $20 billion a year, so naturally the firm's senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, is keen to keep the deal.

But in testimony that intended to reveal Apple is anyway looking into offering search via AI services, Cue also gave Apple's first-ever mention of a day when iPhones could be no more.


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Apple is thinking about making changes to Safari to work with AI-based search engines, as it considers what it can do if courts end the $20 billion default search deal with Google.


Google is facing the prospect of making changes to its business, as a court tries to work out the best remedies it can take to conclude an antitrust lawsuit. For Apple, one of these options is for the court to end its deal worth $20 billion per year to keep Google as the default search on iPhone and in Safari.

With the very real possibility of missing out in billions of dollars in revenue from Google, Apple is seemingly thinking about the next steps it can take with Safari and search. It apparently involves AI, the current popular concept in the tech industry.


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Relive the early 2000s and chat using a new Nintendo DS Pictochat-inspired iMessage app.


At some point in the last month, a new iMessage app has popped up, promising to recreate the feeling of "sitting on the bus and messaging your friends via your favorite two-screened handheld." The app, aptly called Picochat for iMessage, does just that.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I installed Picochat for iMessage. I mean, yes, I was a fervent user of Picochat in the early aughts, but I still was curious how well it would work on an iPhone.


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A series of updates heading to Netflix's iPhone and smart TV apps aims to simplify searching and content discovery, but the company also says it isn't yet planning to take advantage of App Store changes to add subscription links.


Developers such as Spotify have immediately taken advantage of Apple being forced to allow them to promote alternative payment options, Netflix chiefs say they are not rushing to follow suit.

We're monitoring that situation very closely, and we don't have anything more to share at this time," chief product officer Eunice Kim told reporters at The Verge. "But we'll just continue to abide by the App Store policies until we hear more about how to best implement any changes going forward."


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More iPhone owners upgraded their devices this spring, according to a new report that points to consumer behavior Tim Cook recently dismissed during Apple's earnings call.


More iPhone owners than usual traded in their older devices in the spring of 2025. The shift appears to be driven by concerns over rising prices, despite Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook telling investors he hasn't seen signs of tariff-related buying behavior.

According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), 39% of U.S. iPhone buyers in the first quarter of 2025 replaced phones that were at least three years old. That's up from 30% in the same period over the past few years.


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The latest update to the Matter specification is here, which will eventually deliver enhancements to the setup process for smart home devices, including Apple Home users.


The Connectivity Standards Alliance, the member-led organization that develops the Matter spec, has continued its promise to release biannual updates. The latest is version 1.4.1, following the major fall 2024 1.4 release.


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Epic Games' fight to change Apple's App Store rules has been an expensive activity for the game maker, with CEO Tim Sweeney believing it could ultimately cost the company more than $1 billion.


The big courtroom battle between Epic Games and Apple over the App Store commission, third-party app storefronts, and alternative mobile payments has taken years to progress. With accusations that Apple lied under oath and sanctions against Apple for violating an injunction in April, there's still some fight left in the battle.

However, such a high-stakes war over fundamental elements of the App Store has taken a toll, and not just on Apple. Epic Games has also lost out by picking the fight in the first place, and at a massive level.


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A lack of significant new features in the Apple Watch Series 10 and no updates to the Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Ultra, is claimed to be behind another year of declining sales.


First reports about Apple Watch sales in 2024 had already showed a significant drop, but now new figures from Counterpoint Research say the decline is tied to a lack of updates.

Counterpoint says that globally, Apple Watch sales declined 19% in 2024 year on year. That makes the second year that Apple Watch has seen a year on year decline, and Q4 2025 was the fifth consecutive quarter of decreasing sales.


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Wellness starts at home, and with HomeKit your living room can do more to help you feel your best. Here's what you need to truly make the most of Apple's smart home technology.


With Apple HomeKit, your living room doesn't just have to be a place to crash. It can become a space that actively restores you. Add smart lighting, clean air, soothing sounds, and aromatherapy to turn an ordinary room into a personalized wellness retreat.

Here's a look at the best HomeKit-compatible gear to help you build a living room that looks great, feels calm, and works smarter.


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Google's illegal monopoly control over the internet ad market may lead to it having to sell off AdX and DFP if the U.S. Department of Justice has its way.


U.S. regulators have been on a tear in recent years targeting what they believe are illegal monopolies. At the top of that list is Google, first for its search platform, and now for its ad platform.

According to a new filing by the U.S. Department of Justice, covered by Reuters, the AdX digital marketplace and DFP platform should be sold off. AdX is where companies bid for ad placement on websites, and DFP is the ad management platform.


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The Aiffro P30 3 in 1 Portable SSD is a drive designed for the iPhone that enables external ProRes recording, but the USB-C port allocation and locations are a little bit puzzling.


When Apple introduced the ability to capture 60fps 4K ProRes video from an iPhone to an external USB-C drive, it opened up the iPhone to be more useful for videography. The iPhone instantly became more viable as an all-in-one capture device for productions.

However, to get there, you have to connect not only storage to the iPhone, but also a way to capture audio using an external microphone, and something to power it all up. A USB-C hub can do the trick, but that becomes one more thing to connect to the entire assembly.


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A bill proposed in Florida may bring DMA-like provisions to the United States, forcing Apple to allow alternative app stores, third-party payments, and side loading on iPhones.


Apple has been wrestling for control over its platforms for years as regulators around the globe seek to open up the walled garden. The biggest effort to date, the EU Digital Markets Act, has inspired action in the United States before, but the latest bill may go full force.

Even though the United States government has stated it won't tolerate foreign entities regulating and fining Apple, that hasn't stopped it from pursuing similar legislation. According to a report from The Verge, Florida Representative Cammack has introduced the App Store Freedom Act to combat companies like Apple and Google.


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Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says Fortnite will return to the App Store in the United States later in the week, and he's reportedly spoken to Apple about it.


Fortnite was removed from the U.S. App Store back in 2020, as a result of a lengthy legal battle between Epic Games and Apple. Epic attempted to circumvent Apple's then-30% commission by giving users the option to purchase in-game V-bucks externally, which led to the app's removal.

After all this time, it seems there may be a path to Fortnite returning to the App Store as soon as Friday. However, Apple isn't talking about the moves publicly, and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is the only one sharing details.


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The Sonos and Ikea partnership produced great-sounding bookshelf, picture frame, and lamp speakers with AirPlay 2 support, but that partnership has come to an end.


Sonos has been pulling back significantly since a 2024 app update caused mayhem for users. The system wouldn't recognize speakers, fail to play music, or a number of other bugs that occurred due to a full app rebuild.

In the time since, Sonos has been scaling back to refocus on what it did best — home audio. According to a report from The Verge, it seems part of that scaling back includes ending the partnership with Ikea.


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The iOS 18.5 update is just around the corner, with new wallpaper, settings improvements, and ScreenTime security enhancements set to debut as soon as next week. Here's what you need to know.


On Tuesday, a week after the fourth developer beta, Apple deployed the Release Candidate (RC) build of iOS 18.5.

While the update itself is relatively light in terms of new features, it does offer a few noteworthy enhancements and quality-of-life improvements. Specifically, Apple has updated the built-in Mail and Settings app, and the company has introduced support for carrier-based satellite features on the iPhone 13.


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Apple is expanding its carrier-provided satellite features to more iPhone models, with it set to be used on all iPhone 13 models as part of iOS 18.5.


Apple issued its release candidate for iOS 18.5 on Tuesday, ahead of an imminent full public release of the update. As part of a relatively small number of updates to the operating system for this generation, the RC build includes a change that affects the iPhone 13 models.

According to the release notes, Apple writes "Support for carrier-provided satellite features is available on iPhone 13 (all models)."


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Apple has moved on to issuing RC builds of iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, and visionOS 2.5, as the updates get closer to release.


An RC or Release Candidate is a version of a piece of software that is practically ready for public release, but is being tested one last time before that moment.

The RC round of developer betas for iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, and visionOS 2.5 surface after the fourth, which Apple issued on April 28. The third was on April 21, the second was provided on April 14, while the first round for the generation was handed out on March 17.


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Amazon is the latest developer to take advantage of Apple's court-mandated App Store changes, and has finally made it possible to buy books directly in the iPhone Kindle app.


It's generally been Spotify that's thrown up its arms and claimed Apple won't let it on the App Store, when really it means Apple wouldn't let it on for free. Now that Apple has been forced to allow it and all US developers on for nothing, there has been a genuine improvement to one particular app.

As of now, or at least unless Apple loses its appeal against the ruling, the Kindle app on iPhone now works the way it always should have. You can browse the Amazon Kindle bookstore through it as ever, but now you are also offered a "Get Book" button.


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Discounts of up to $370 off are in effect at Amazon on Apple's current MacBook Pros, with prices starting at $1,399.


If you're in the market for a new MacBook Pro, Amazon and B&H Photo have issued steeper discounts on M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max models in an emerging price war ahead of possible price hikes.

Save up to $370 on Macs


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Apple Arcade is set to get five new games in June, including an "Uno" game, another new Lego game, and "What the Car" makes its debut on the Apple Vision Pro.


Like May, June will see a handful of new games released to Apple Arcade, including some entries into series we've seen before. Most of the new games are geared toward younger players and families, making it another great addition for households with elementary-aged kids.


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Even if developers discounted their prices by the whole 30% Apple would take for the first year of a subcription, a new report says it wouldn't be enough to get most users away from the App Store.


Apple being forced to comply with mandated anti-steering instructions is definitely an own goal after it had won everything else in its trial against Epic Games. But a new report claims that financially, the potential loss of App Store income for Apple is trivial.

According to an investor note seen by AppleInsider, investment firm Morgan Stanley says its conclusions start with what the US App Store means to Apple's bottom line. Its analysts say it the US version of the store brings in $11 billion, which is 3% of Apple's total revenue, around 7.% of the firm's total Earnings Per Share (EPS).


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The lowest price on record for the Asus ProArt 32-inch display is in effect at Amazon, with the USB-C monitor falling to $438.24.


The $160 discount brings the price down to $438.24, which is the lowest price ever at Amazon. And with features like USB-C connectivity with 96W power delivery, the ProArt PA329CRV pairs easily with modern Macs.

Save 27% on Asus ProArt


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On the latest episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, Dan Wroclawski from Consumer Reports joins to break down the week's news, as well as talk about AI smart fridges, how smart devices are tested, and more.


Dan Wrocawski is this week's guest host who serves as Senior Home & Appliances Writer at Consumer Reports. The nonprofit tests several types of smart home devices, including their security and privacy.

AppleInsider has a storied history with the publication, stemming from an observed anti-Apple bias with its MacBook Pro and HomePod recommendations in 2017.


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While Google is probably going to come out of its antitrust legal fight intact, it's very likely that its $20 billion Safari default search deal with Apple will undergo some big changes.


Google is midway in the current search monopoly trial, which will determine how the company should change its ways to minimize its monopoly in the search market. After being found to be a monopoly and violating antitrust law in the United States in August 2024, the court is now hearing ways to remedy the situation.

So far, it seems that the remedies won't be too damaging to Google, with Judge Amit Mehta seemingly supporting some of the less painful actions. Sharing search data with rival firms is one of the lesser acts that Google could be forced to undertake.


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Apple has been researching a new Magic Mouse for the Mac that would detect gestures — not on its surface, but on the table near it.


When Apple introduced its Magic Mouse back in 2009, it featured multi-touch gestures. Since then it's been redesigned, and there have been rumors of a further redesign.

Those rumors, though, have concentrated on the recurring issue that the USB-C charging port is on the bottom. There hadn't been any idea that Apple has been looking at anything else, certainly not at adding more gestures to it.


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Announced on May 6, the Backbone Pro represents everything the company has learned about making wrap-around controllers for iPhone, except maybe how much to charge customers.


I've always been a big fan of Backbone. They reinvigorated the wrap-around controller ecosystem with Backbone One, introduced a console-like experience on iPhone via their app, and iterated with fun design choices.

Now, approaching five years since the Backbone One launch, I'm holding the Backbone Pro and can't help but wonder what the strategy is here. The controller is perfectly designed as an excellent evolution of the original, but the price is too big to ignore.


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Amid slowing phone sales, Apple gained ground at the country's largest carriers by offering both premium and affordable iPhones.


U.S. smartphone sales fell 2% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, according to new data from Counterpoint Research. The drop was driven by weaker demand in the premium segment, where devices priced above $800 saw the sharpest slowdown.

The cooling high-end market reflects broader consumer caution amid inflation concerns and delayed upgrade cycles.


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Docker Desktop for macOS, the management tool for the app container system, has an authorization vulnerability that can be used for malicious purposes.


A security flaw has been discovered in Docker Desktop, registered under the CVE code CVE-2025-4095

Specifically, CVE-2025-4095 describes a security vulnerability in Docker Desktop that affects Registry Access Management (RAM). This refers to a security feature that lets administrators restrict the access for developers within their organization to only allowed registries.


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AirPods supplier Jabil is reportedly looking to expand production of casings with a new, second factory in India's Tamil Nadu region.


Apple's push to increase production of its devices in India instead of China, has previously been reported to include AirPods cases. US firm Jabil has long been manufacturing AirPods charging cases, and now a new report says it specifically wants to expand its production capacity.

According to India's Economic Times, Jabil wants to significantly boost production in India of what are described as being enclosures, plastic bodies, or casings. The new factory doesn't appear to be intended for full charging cases, only components of them.


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On May 6, 1998, Steve Jobs announced the iMac, and we wouldn't now have the iPhone, the Apple Store, or even Apple itself, if it hadn't been such a success.


If there's ever any doubt that the iMac is a phenomenal success, just try to think of any other computer — any other device — that is still being sold a quarter of a century after it was launched. The iMac of 2023 may be vastly different to the original one announced in 1998, but it's not just that it has kept the name.

Today's iMac is this slim, sleek design and 1998's was fat and bulbous, but they are recognizably the same at heart. The iMac has always been an all-in-one computer, where a single unit houses the display and the actual computer part.


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Tired of your iPad screen flipping every time you move? Locking its orientation takes just a few seconds and can make reading, gaming, or watching videos a lot more comfortable.


Apple's iPads have built-in screen rotation, which lets the display switch between portrait and landscape modes automatically based on how you're holding the device. It's useful in many situations but frustrating when you're lying down or switching positions often.

Luckily, stopping your iPad screen from rotating is simple.


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While Apple TV+ has a reputation for micromanagement, it seems that it's not as bad as it once was. At least, so long as you're not damaging Apple's brand image.


As a streaming service, Apple TV+ is far from a massive powerhouse like Netflix or Amazon Prime Instant Video. It's certainly a big play by Apple into the streaming arena, and to a point, it's worked.

In a wide-ranging discussion about Apple TV+, the Los Angeles Times writes about the service, Apple's ambitions, and how its fared so far. Overall, the article indicates that Apple TV+ is doing well in many areas, but it can do better.


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A developer is seeking a class action lawsuit for funds developers could have earned for the last fifteen months with links outside the App Store instead of mandatory in-app subscription purchases.


The only victory Epic Games claimed over Apple in its lengthy trial was a court's order to end anti-steering practices in the App Store. Enforcement of that order was delayed until January 2024, but the court found Apple's changes violated the injunction.

The violation was called deliberate by the judge, and could lead to criminal contempt charges relating to the decision. According to law firm Hagens Berman, a class action lawsuit has been filed by a developer as a result of the injunction violation.


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If you have a MacBook, you know it makes you superhuman. But for professionals and power users, the device you need can range anywhere from $1,600-$6,000. If you're looking for a smarter way to buy, Upgraded makes it easy and affordable with one low monthly subscription.

EA Sports FC Mobile players can stream MLS matches in-game and get a free month of Apple TV MLS Season Pass.


Electronic Arts (EA) Sports FC Mobile players can stream two upcoming Major League Soccer matches live inside the game in a new partnership with Apple. Starting May 10, fans can watch Los Angeles Galaxy face the New York Red Bulls at 23:30 UTC (7:30 p.m. ET).

Atlanta United takes on the Philadelphia Union on May 17 at the same time. Both matches will be broadcast via the in-game FC Mobile TV (FCM TV) feature, accessible through the Extra Time button in the main menu. Players must reach Account Level 4, which typically takes a few matches to unlock, in order to access Extra Time.


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While complying with the courts and their mandated changes to the App Store as fallout from the Epic vs. Apple suit, Apple has now also filed its appeal against the ruling.


On May 1, 2025, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to immediately make specific changes to its App Store practices, after ruling that it had failed to comply with its previous obligations. The judge specifically refused any delay, but did allow for Apple to appeal — and it has now done so.

As first spotted by The Verge, Apple has filed its notice of appeal to the United States District Court for the district of Northern California. The filing is a short document only listing which case is being appealed against — US District Court case 4:20-cv-05640-YGR — and the names of Apple's legal counsel.


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Before your iPhone ever reaches your hands, Apple puts it through desert storms, deep freezes, and drop tests inside a secretive Irish lab. Here's a look inside.


Apple's futuristic Cupertino headquarters receives most of the attention, but a key part of the company's product durability effort happens in an unassuming building in Ireland. The Cork campus, which opened in 1980, now employs 6,000 people and serves as Apple's European headquarters.

That facility houses Apple's Reliability Testing Lab. Beyond serving as a regional hub, Cork is home to one of Apple's most important product integrity operations.


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