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Last week, Jamf Threat Labs published research on yet another variant of the increasingly popular MacSync Stealer family calling attention to a growing problem in macOS security: malware that’s sneaking around Apple’s most significant third party app protections. This new variant was distributed inside a malicious app that was both code-signed with a valid Developer ID and notarized by Apple, meaning Gatekeeper had no reason to block it from launching.

Apple’s had a remarkable 2025, with the introduction of Liquid Glass, the iPhone Air, radical new iPhone 17 Pros, and large leaps in Apple Silicon. There weren’t a lot of surprising product launches per se, but everything felt pretty new. Heading into 2026 though, Apple has a lot of innovative new products coming to market – across every category.

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.

In iOS 26.2, Apple introduced the ability for you to attach full screen alarms to your reminders. Cannot Ignore is a new app that takes that a step further, allowing you to sync calendar events and have full screen alarms for them, ensuring you can’t forget anything important.

Earlier this week, Apple leaker Kosutami shared new images of prototype AirPods in two very bright colors: pink and yellow. These ultimately didn’t make it to release, but they’re cool to see nonetheless.

If you just unwrapped a new iPhone, it’s time to explore the world of accessories. In particular, I’m a huge fan of MagSafe, which lets you magnetically attach accessories to the back of your iPhone. There’s a robust ecosystem of MagSafe accessories for iPhone on the market, and these are some of my favorites.

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Dashlane’s new Passkey Power Report makes something very clear for consumers and businesses alike. Passkeys are no longer a future project for IT departments. They are becoming part of daily life for end-users, and the adoption curve will rapidly accelerate from here. According to the report, 40% of Dashlane customers now store at least one passkey, which is double what the report showed last year. One likely huge reason for this growth is that Google made passkeys the default for personal Google accounts, pushing its own usage up more than 350%. Even SaaS apps like HubSpot and Okta are experiencing rapid growth as they roll out support.

Welcome to 9to5Mac’s top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, we have tips and tricks for your new Apple gear, updates on iOS 26 features, and the latest on iPhone Fold. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.

Aqara is introducing a new presence sensor that is a natural addition for HomeKit users who want reliable automations without the need for a camera. The new Aqara FP300 combines mmWave presence sensing with a traditional PIR sensor and also adds on light, temperature, and humidity readings. For Apple users, the big story is Thread and Matter support, allowing it to easily integrate with the Home app for fast, room-aware automations.

If you’re an Apple fan, chances are you unwrapped at least one Apple Gift Card this holiday season. These gift cards can be used for App Store purchases, Apple Store purchases, and Apple services like Apple Music and Apple TV.

Did you just unwrap new AirPods Pro? If so, it’s key that you know there is a lot more to the experience than just listening to music and podcasts. Here are some of my recommendations for new AirPods Pro users.

Apple Wallet got a bunch of new features in iOS 26, including the recently released Digital ID that, along with AI order tracking, fix key shortcomings in previously launched Wallet features.

Whether you just got your first Mac or upgraded to a brand-new machine, it’s always helpful to get started on the right set of tools. Here are the very first apps I usually install as soon as I get a new Mac.

There’s been no shortage of conflicting reports about the future of the iPhone Air 2. Between talk of indefinite delays and shifting schedules, leaks have been all over the map. Now, a fresh rumor is reviving speculation that the second-generation model may not be as far off as previously thought.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who’s been on Nike’s board for 20 years, just doubled his stake in the company. The news helped ease a 13% drop after the company’s disappointing quarterly results last week.

Apple TV has published an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the making of Pluribus season one, including short roundtable discussions about the show’s concept. Watch it below.

At least some of the camera sensors for the iPhone 18 Pro look set to be made in the USA, at a Samsung plant in Austin, Texas.

Production of advanced image sensors for Apple is expected to begin sometime around March, suggesting that they will be destined for the iPhone 18 Pro …

Now that WhatsApp is finally available as a proper app for the Apple Watch, Meta is working on a way to inform users when their account is paired with the accessory. The company is also working on a better chat, attachment, and storage management interface. Here are the details.

The effectiveness of the Apple Developer Academy training provided in Detroit has been called into question, alongside the value for money it offers.

A previously unreported funding breakdown shows that although Apple made the largest contribution to the program, more than half as much comes from Michigan taxpayers …

The version of Apple Intelligence released in China must pass a test to ensure that it does nothing to challenge official government propaganda.

It will be tested with 2,000 questions designed to elicit information censored within the country, and it must refuse to answer at least 95% of them …

Photos and video footage of a simple printed mock-up of an iPhone Fold gave us a decent sense of how the device might look if the most recent rumour about the aspect ratios is accurate. While the exterior display shape would be a radical departure, more 9to5Mac readers liked it than disliked it.

If you want to get an even better sense of how the device might feel, and have access to a 3D printer, you can create a physical mock-up using files provided online …

Over the years, Apple TV has built up a surprisingly strong catalog for music lovers. From movies and documentaries to full series, here are some of the most interesting music-related titles on the service.

Update, 8:27 p.m. ET: In a post on its Developer blog, Apple has confirmed that it will “pause previously announced implementation plans and monitor the ongoing legal process”. See the full post below.

The decision comes just a few days before the Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) was set to take effect. Here are the details.

Google One is running a “limited time” discount for 2026 where new subscribers can get 50% off 2 TB and AI Pro annual plans.

Apple TV has a big lineup of new and returning shows in early 2026, but many viewers’ most anticipated premiere will come a little later in the year. Here’s the latest release timing update for Ted Lasso season 4.