The Notes app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 makes it easy to add an audio recording to a note, and create a written transcription of it if desired. Here's how to do it.


It has long been possible to add an audio recording to a note created in the Notes app, but in earlier iOS versions it was a little more cumbersome. Users would open the Voice Memos app, record the audio, and then attach that recording to a new note in the Notes app.

As of iOS 18, that functionality is directly available in Notes — though it is still somewhat hidden until you know how to find it. The big change compared to the previous Voice Memos app is that Notes can now also provide a written transcript of what was said, if you are using an iPhone 12 or later.


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Apple was in danger of having to show up in court on May 27 if it didn't respond satisfactorily to a show cause order by Wednesday, but neither is no longer necessary.


After two Fortnite App Store submissions were seemingly ghosted by Apple, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez ordered Apple to show cause by May 21. After that, Apple wasted little time in getting the game approved and back on the US App Store.

A joint filing shared with AppleInsider by Epic shows the two companies had resolved all issues related to the show cause order. The filing means Apple will no longer need to submit anything, nor will it have to appear in court on May 27.


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Over four years after Epic broke App Store rules and sparked a billion-dollar battle, "Fortnite" is finally back on iPhone and iPad.


For those who have missed playing Fortnite on iPhone and iPad, today's your lucky day: it's back on the App Store. After successfully passing its review in early May, the game has been cleared by Apple and made available to players once more.

It's been four years since Fortnite was last available on iOS. In the summer of 2020, Epic willingly violated Apple's App Store rules by allowing players the option to purchase Fortnite's in-game currency directly from Epic.


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Apple has released a new firmware update for the USB-C variant of the AirPods Max, although no information is available about the update's contents.


Tuesday's firmware update increases the build number to 7E108, up from the previous 7E101. Unlike most firmware updates, this software release is only compatible with the more recent version of the AirPods Max, equipped with a USB-C port.

Though the exact contents of the 7E108 firmware update are unclear, the software likely includes various bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements, possibly for new AirPods Max features introduced with the earlier 7E101 update.


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The Gemini app for iOS is being updated with extra AI smarts, including a better-performing Gemini 2.5 Flash and a new Gemini Live camera.


Google I/O is the search giant's annual gathering to show off the company's latest innovations. As usual, a lot of it is about artificial intelligence, and some of it applies to iOS.

The Gemini app for iOS is the beneficiary of some of the announcements, with updates to the app rolling out to users from Tuesday onwards.


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Third-party developers will allegedly be able to incorporate Apple Intelligence models into their apps in iOS 19, in an initiative that could significantly boost adoption of Apple's AI efforts.


Apple's existing AI-based offerings are under the banner of Apple Intelligence. While the rollout of features under the masthead has been slow, it may become even more useful in the near future.

According to a report on Tuesday from Bloomberg, Apple is working on ways to let external developers take advantage of its AI models. Third-party apps will be able to incorporate features that lean on models Apple has developed and implemented into its Apple Intelligence features.


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A slew of new Elgato Stream Decks have been announced, aimed at everyone from the usual individuals, through network users and DIY fans, and even on to other manufacturers.


Elgato's Stream Deck may have begun as an accessory for gamers and streamers, but it's become a whole series of devices for Mac productivity. Now Elgato has announced four new variants designed to expand the Stream Deck's use and widen its appeal.

The four new additions to the Stream Deck range are:


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Adobe's new "Creative Cloud Pro" plan now comes with a new name, a bigger bill, and not much else. Here's how the price tiers compare in May 2025.


Adobe has just announced that it will jump prices on its Creative Cloud All Apps plan — and gave it a bit of a rebrand in the process. At a time when everything is becoming more expensive, the move seems, at best, poorly timed.

Starting June 17, Adobe will jack up prices for access to its Creative Cloud subscription, and prices will go into effect upon a user's next renewal date. Here's what you can expect.


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Three weeks before the keynote, Apple has started to lay out what developers can expect from WWDC 2025, including the scheduling of key presentations and other sessions.


The initial announcement of WWDC in March gave a heads-up to developers to prepare for the June 9 to June 13 event. On Tuesday, Apple offered more of an insight of what to expect from the week-long developer-centric conference.

The main event in terms of updates will be the keynote, which will be held on the first day, June 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. The keynote, which will be streamed on Apple.com, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, will play host to Apple's key changes to its operating systems, including iOS 19 and macOS 16.


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Not only can the Bluetti Apex 300 keep your lights on and appliances running during an outage as a portable power station, it can also work as a 0ms UPS for your Apple gear.


Bluetti offers a range of portable power stations and home backup solutions, but the latest Apex 300 Solar Generator is a first-of-its-kind model. It combines portability with serious power and grid-tied integration.

Get an early bird discount


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A Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 dock is the absolute best way to charge and add ports and to your MacBook Pro with one cable. Here are AppleInsider's recommendations for the best Thunderbolt docks, updated on May 20, 2025.


One of the problems when buying a MacBook is that you'll feel like there aren't enough ports for all of your hardware. The answer to that is to acquire a dock, which immediately adds a variety of ports to your computing setup.

However, not all docks are created equal. We know, because we've tested about all of them.


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Tariffs, politics, and shifting priorities are unraveling the iPhone supply chain that once tied the US and China together.


In April 2025, China's smartphone shipments to the United States dropped 72% year over year to $688.5 million, their lowest monthly total since June 2011. That fall significantly outpaced the 21% drop in overall Chinese exports to the US, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs.

China exported $7.58 billion worth of mobile phones globally in April, meaning less than 10% of that went to the US. The sharp decline speaks to how fast trade policy can redraw long-established shipping routes and production plans.


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Users of iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 worldwide can now switch their default translation app from Apple's stock one to Google's. Here's how to do it.


Apple introduced the ability to change default email and browsers with iOS 14 back in 2020. It subsequently added more options until in iOS 18.2, it included Messages and others.

But from iOS 18.4 in March 2025 Apple added the option to change the default translation app. Now according to the app's release notes in the App Store, Google Translate users can take advantage of this.


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With 20 ports, plenty of power, and an accommodating design that is well-matched to any modern Mac the CalDigit TS5 Plus is an excellent dock in an already competitive landscape.


With every new Thunderbolt upgrade, we get a new wave of docks. CalDigit has provided be with the CalDigit TS5 Plus, which is the most premium dock that CalDigit now makes.

It's got a familiar design for fans of its previous incarnations but utilizes the latest Thunderbolt 5 spec. Here's how it holds up.


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Google has released an iOS app for NotebookLM, bringing its AI-based research tool for understanding large stretches of text to the small screen.


Google introduced NotebookLM in July 2023, pitching it as an experimental AI-powered notebook to help people with research. Previously available online, NotebookLM is now spreading to mobile, with the release of iOS, iPadOS, and Android apps.

The idea of NotebookLM is that it can offer the same sort of insights into content as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or other AI chatbot services. The difference is that it is limited to only accessing the documents and sources you specify, nothing else.


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The Cannes Film Festival has hosted the world premiere of "Bono: Stories of Surrender," the first Apple TV+ music documentary to have a feature-length Apple Vision Pro immersive video edition.


The new Apple TV+ documentary will be released in both 8K and 180-degree versions, marking the first time a feature-length special has been released in the Apple Immersive Video format. While it will have been the 8K edition that was shown at Cannes, the Apple Vision Pro version places the headset wearer onstage with Bono.

According to Apple, the documentary is a "bold and lyrical exploration of Bono's one man show," and is directed by Andrew Dominik. Australian director Dominik previously documented Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' recording of their sixteenth album, in a film called "One More Time With Feeling."


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Apple has been fined $131,000 by a Russian court that found it guilty of breaking the country's laws on what it describes as LGBT propaganda.


In 2023, a Russian kangaroo court fined Apple $42,000, or what was then two seconds of profit, over "spreading false information about the Ukraine conflict." Apple News had basically included news reports saying that there was such a conflict, which broke Russian laws against discussions siding with Ukraine.

Now a different Russian court has also fined Apple around two seconds' worth of profit. It's just that by 2025, that per-second profit was much higher.


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Some files in macOS may not be necessary and can be safely removed from your Mac. Here's how to delete them.


macOS is a UNIX-based system at its core, and as such, its filesystem arrangement is more complex than it first appears.

This is partly because macOS and the Finder hide parts of the filesystem on disk from users, mostly parts that only macOS needs and which most users never need to be concerned about.


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If you need good coffee and want ultimate control over your brew, the xBloom Studio home coffee maker is an iPhone app-connected way to do the job very well — if you're willing to pay the entry price.


Having freshly-brewed coffee whenever you want is a problem that has pretty much been solved, thanks to the introduction of coffee pods. But, while this does give you coffee that can't really be called good by any means at a touch of a button at home without too much effort, there's always room for improvement.

Much improvement. Those coffee pods can be pretty bad.


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Apple Filing Protocol is one of Apple's original file-sharing technologies. Its client software will soon be gone from macOS forever.


The year after Apple released the Macintosh in 1984, it introduced a proprietary networking standard called Apple Filing Protocol. Part of a suite of software which included AppleTalk, AppleShare, and Apple cabling hardware called LocalTalk, AFP allowed users to share files across Macs on local area networks.

This was a decade before the Internet and its open protocols became popular in the mid-1990s.


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Epic Games' "Fortnite" is still not approved on the US App Store, and a federal judge has ordered Apple to explain in very short order why it's defying the antisteering court order in the ongoing dispute.


In a new filing, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers called out Apple for not following an injunction issued earlier in the case. Epic claims Apple is dragging its feet in approving Fortnite on the US app store, and the judge seems to agree.

Epic's SEO, Tim Sweeney, posted a screenshot of the order on his personal X account on Monday.


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Apple has released an update for iPadOS 17.7.8, updating some older iPads to correct an issue from the previous patch.


Apple issued updates for older versions of iPadOS on May 12, bringing models that can't run iPadOS 18 up to iPadOS 17.7.7. One week later, and Apple's replaced the update.

The release of iPadOS 17.7.8 on Monday build number 21H440. It is intended to be installed on the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and the sixth-generation iPad.


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Save $1,100 instantly on a loaded 14-inch MacBook Pro thanks to an inventory clearance sale at OWC.


A discount of $1,100 is in effect on this blowout M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch at OWC, an Apple reseller and well-known manufacturer of docking stations and storage solutions for Apple users. With the substantial savings, readers can pick up the upgraded system in Space Black for just $2,499, delivering the lowest price we've seen on this configuration.

Save $1,100 at OWC


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Foxconn has made a $1.5 billion investment into its India arm, a move that will almost certainly fund its expansion of iPhone production in the country.


India is growing as a production base for iPhones, as Apple diversifies its supply chain away from a China-centric model. Expanding in India requires resources, and one supply chain member is contributing more.

Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, is investing $1.5 billion in its India business. In a stock exchange filing seen by Bloomberg on Monday, the investment is being made via the company's subsidiary in Singapore.


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A new examination of Apple partner TSMC's Arizona facility shines a spotlight on how the U.S. bet on domestic chipmaking is colliding with labor shortages, cost overruns, and global dependencies.


Just outside Phoenix, a sleek, high-security facility is taking shape. Known as Fab 21, the site is operated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and will soon be one of the most advanced chipmaking facilities in the world.

The microscopic transistors produced here will power Apple devices, artificial intelligence systems and critical infrastructure, representing a significant shift of advanced technology manufacturing to American soil.


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Apple invited a select group of student influencers to its one-day "Apple University" experience, highlighting how its tools support education and content creation.


In March, Apple held an Apple student experience, nicknamed "Apple University," for student influencers. The one-day, invite-only event was designed to help students better grasp how Apple's products can help with both school and content creation.

One student, Heaven Marley, was chosen to participate. She caught up with People after the event.


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Big tech's lawyers are doing an great deal of work to protect companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon, and there's a new trend of turning attorney-client privilege into a sketchy legal strategy.


Apple's constant legal wrangling has caused a lot of work for its lawyers, just like many other tech giants. However, big tech legal battles are now so massive and important to the company's bottom line that new legal tactics need to be employed.

In a profile of how the major courtroom fights have played out, The Wall Street Journal alleges that the legal teams of big tech outfits are enabling the companies to hide evidence. Or at the very least, delay handing over requested documents until the last possible moment.


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On the latest episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, Daniel Moneta, Chair of the Matter Marketing and Product Subgroup at the CSA, joins to talk about the future of Matter and more.


Daniel Moneta, Chair of the Matter Marketing and Product Subgroup at the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), guest hosts the podcast this week on the heels of the spring update to the Matter spec. The CSA is the overseeing organization behind Matter that develops the spec.

A man of many hats, Daniel has a deep understanding of the Matter spec as well as how it works with different ecosystems, including Samsung SmartThings and Apple Home.


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Changes to the iPhone keyboard and the Apple Pencil in iOS 19 at WWDC 25 could help boost Apple's sales in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, by improving how its tools work with Arabic.


Apple has included extensive language support in its operating systems, which it has worked to improve over time. In one set of alleged changes on the horizon, its next improvement could help people working in Arabic.

According to Monday's "Power On" newsletter from Bloomberg, Apple is planning on a few changes affecting iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, as well as the Apple Pencil. These are changes that could be introduced as part of Apple's operating system announcements at WWDC.


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OWC's latest Thunderbolt 5 Dock adds a lot of connectivity to Apple's M4 Pro and M4 Max Mac lineup, while also taking advantage of the massive amount of bandwidth.


In November, OWC introduced its Thunderbolt 5 Hub, which allowed users to gain more Thunderbolt 5 ports for their M4 Pro and M4 Max Mac. Six months later, it is bringing out another port-adding device that uses Thunderbolt 5.

The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock again connects to the host Mac using Thunderbolt 5. However, this time it offers a wider selection of ports, to maximize the 80Gbps of bandwidth available through the connection.


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On May 19, 2001, the very first Apple Stores were opened, changing not only how customers would buy Apple hardware and get service for purchases, but also alter brick-and-mortar retail forever.


"This is our store," Steve Jobs said simply, as he introduced the Apple Store for the first time. He did it in a video launch on May 15, 2001, just ahead of the first-ever Apple Stores opening the following Saturday.

The Apple Store, Apple's first foray into its own retail stores, opened its first two locations on May 19, 2001, in Glendale, Calif. and then in Tysons Corner, Virginia. One AppleInsider staffer was present for the opening of the latter store.


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Apple may have started late, and hit some speedbumps along the way, but Apple's Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, John Giannandrea, wants to beat Apple Intelligence into shape before handing over the reins to a successor.


Giannandrea is still in charge of AI and Large Language Model (LLM) research, AI analysts, and integrating those technologies into the larger OS infrastructures. A report from Bloomberg suggests that some Apple executives would like to see his role reduced further, ahead of a near-future departure.

Apple leadership reportedly wants to put Giannandrea on a path to retirement and the eventual naming of a successor. That said, the executive still attracts top engineers and researchers to Apple, so for now he's staying put.


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Apple's executives are pushing for Siri to become a proper AI chatbot that scours the web, potentially as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. It's just not clear when that's going to happen.


As part of the Apple Intelligence shift, Apple said it would overhaul Siri to be more context-aware, but that change has yet to arrive. However, if the urges of Apple's chiefs to change course work, Siri could become even more powerful down the road.

According to Apple employees speaking to Bloomberg on Sunday, Apple executives are keen to make Siri into a competitor to current top chat bot, ChatGPT. While former Siri chief John Giannandrea was apparently reluctant to go down that route, the company's leadership are leaning to go that way with Siri.


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Apple is reportedly preparing to allow iPhone users in the EU to select third-party voice assistants to be the default, instead of Siri.


Apple has tried hard to deal with the regulatory changes in the European Union, such as the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. It now seems that Siri could be the next major victim in the Apple ecosystem from those rule changes.

According to Bloomberg on Sunday, Apple is working to meet EU regulations that affect Siri. Specifically, Apple is working to enable other digital assistants to operate in Siri's place.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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A new report from a reliable leaker suggests that the AirPods line will see IR cameras added next year, with an update to the AirPods Max waiting until 2027.


Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reiterated a June prediction that Apple's AirPods line would gain cameras, potentially as an alternative to the development of smart glasses. In his latest report, the frequently-reliable Kuo says the cameras in AirPods would be infrared (IR) cameras.

These would enter production sometime in 2026 and could be used to help direct users to a destination. The computer vision information gathered from the IR-equipped AirPods could also be passed on to other devices.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Memorial Day deals at Amazon have started early, with savings of up to 43% off Apple products, including hundreds of dollars in savings across the MacBook range.


Amazon's Memorial Day Sale offers savings of up to $350 off dozens of Apple products, with prices starting at $14.99. You can also find hundreds of additional discounts on third-party products on Amazon's Memorial Day Sale page.


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The iPhone 17 Air's battery life could be very low compared to a normal iPhone, with a leaker claiming it will have a capacity of just 2,800mAh.


Rumors about the iPhone 17 Air have not only discussed how thin it will be, but also how it could have a limited battery capacity. In a Friday post from a serial leaker, it could be considerably smaller than usual.

Posting to Naver, leaker "yeux1122" makes some claims about the iPhone 17 Air. The information is said to be from a "mass production-confirmed sample."


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Apple products are stolen out of a moving truck on a highway, a woman is sentenced in an iPhone theft ring, and an iCloud search brings down a check fraud ring in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.

With specs that include 32GB of RAM and a 30-core GPU, this closeout Mac Studio is over $500 off exclusively for AppleInsider readers.


To snap up the blowout special, shop through this special pricing link and look for the reduced $1,487.07 price at Apple Premier Partner Expercom.

Buy for $1,487.07


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Apple's potential plan to partner with Alibaba to bring Apple Intelligence to its products in China is raising eyebrows in Washington.


Officials from both Congress and the White House have expressed concerns about plans Apple has to partner with Chinese commerce giant Alibaba to bring Apple Intelligence to China. The company sees such a deal as crucial to remaining competitive there.

A report from The New York Times notes that China accounts for about 20 percent of Apple's total sales. The company will require a partnership with an AI provider in China in order to compete against China's own smartphone companies.

Officials in the US are worried that such a deal would help China become even more competitive against US AI companies. Any agreement would likely obligate Apple to further follow Chinese laws that promote censorship and user data-sharing with the government there.


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