MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://www.macrumors.com Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:01:36 PDT en hourly 1 https://www.macrumors.com 10 iOS 27 Performance Improvements You'll Actually Notice https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-performance-improvements/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/10-ios-27-performance-improvements-youll-actually-notice.2485833/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:02:58 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-performance-improvements&post_date=1784854968/ Juli Clover iOS 27 iOS 27, Apple focused on making improvements to iOS performance, optimizing everything from system animations to AirDrop transfer speeds. iPhone performance is smoother and faster on all iPhones able to run ‌iOS 27‌, which includes the iPhone 11 and newer.


There are over 80 ‌iOS 27‌ improvements Apple announced, with 10 of the most useful listed below.

App Launching


Apps launch up to 30 percent faster in ‌iOS 27‌, and that includes Apple's own apps and third-party apps. When you're opening apps dozens of times a day, less loading time adds up and makes the system feel faster.

Apple says it tested the app launching speed improvements using an iPhone 11 Pro Max running iOS 26.4.2 and ‌iOS 27‌.

Optimized CPU Scheduler


iOS includes a CPU scheduler that manages computational resources across workloads as you use your iPhone. Apple says it optimized the CPU scheduler in ‌iOS 27‌ to more efficiently handle performance-intensive tasks.

Apple extended CPU scheduler optimization all the way back to the iPhone 11, which is part of the reason even old iPhones feel faster with the update installed.

Apple is often accused of making old iPhones slower with new iOS updates, but there are noticeable speed improvements in ‌iOS 27‌ so we likely won't hear that complaint this year.

Better Wi-Fi to Cellular Transitions


iPhones are better at determining when to transition from Wi-Fi to a cellular connection, and from a cellular connection to Wi-Fi. When you're connected to your home Wi-Fi and walk out the door, you'll see less connectivity loss as your device changes networks.

Apple says the iPhone is better about choosing the best available Wi-Fi or cellular connection to help you stay connected.

Rebuilt Search Index


Apple rebuilt its search foundation in ‌iOS 27‌, giving Spotlight, Photos, Mail, and other apps a more comprehensive index of content that stays updated throughout the day.

In the Mail app, there's a new ranking system that surfaces more relevant emails for search queries instead of listing results by date. You'll see up to five ranked Top Results now.

Photo Load Time


When you take a photo and then open up the ‌Photos‌ app, your just-captured image appears more quickly so you can edit it or share it. Apple says photos and videos load up to 70 percent faster in the ‌Photos‌ library, which it tested with a ‌Photos‌ app that had a 50,000-asset library.

Waiting on a photo to unblur when you quickly swap over to the ‌Photos‌ app is a small annoyance, but cutting down on load time makes taking a photo feel much faster.

Recent camera captures are also added more quickly in the Messages app photo picker.

Automatic Message Resending


When a message, photo, or video fails to send in iMessage, your iPhone will automatically retry sending it instead of throwing up a red exclamation point and forcing you to manually try again.

Sending photos and videos when you have a poor connection also does not pause a Messages conversation while the content sends. Each photo or video has its own progress bar, and your texts will still go through while you wait for images and video to upload.

Faster Camera Launch in Low Power Mode


When you have Low Power Mode turned on, the Camera app can launch slowly. That's been fixed in ‌iOS 27‌, and it loads faster than before.

The Camera also draws less power in Low Power Mode.

Faster Keyboard Loading


The emoji and sticker keyboards load more quickly, so there's no longer an irritating pause when you want to use an emoji. The keyboard is something you use frequently, so this is a time-saving improvement.

Mail Badges


If you're tired of unread Mail badges popping up when you have read all your emails, ‌iOS 27‌ addresses the issue. The Mail app badge is now less likely to show an inaccurate number of unread emails.

Bluetooth


Apple says it improved Bluetooth power management in ‌iOS 27‌, an update relevant to AirPods, Apple Watch, CarPlay, speakers, and other Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth accessories should draw less power for some minor improvements to battery life.

Other Useful Improvements



  • AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent faster, and AirDrop is faster to find nearby recipients

  • Text recognition in images and documents is quicker

  • Safari has enhanced power efficiency and web apps are faster

  • Unlocking an iPhone, scrolling through Home Screen pages and App Library, and scrolling in Control Center are all smoother

  • The Lock Screen no longer goes to sleep when you're scrolling through notifications

  • Wireless ‌CarPlay‌ is more reliable


iOS 27 Launch


‌iOS 27‌ is being beta tested right now, and can be downloaded by developers and public beta testers. It will launch this fall alongside new iPhone models.

Read More


For more on the new features in ‌iOS 27‌, we have a dedicated iOS 27 roundup.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27

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]]> iPhone Driver's Licenses May Soon Expand to New State https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/iphone-drivers-licenses-utah/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-drivers-licenses-may-soon-expand-to-new-state.2485832/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:58:38 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/iphone-drivers-licenses-utah/ Juli Clover Apple Wallet MacRumors discovered signs of a Utah ID in Apple's backend, suggesting Apple is moving forward on implementing support.


Utah already offers a mobile driver's license option through a standalone app, but there is no Apple Wallet integration. Utah's mobile driver's license FAQ page still says that it is still in the initial planning process of adding Utah IDs to Apple Wallet, but it may not be up to date.

The site also says that when Apple Wallet integration launches, iPhone users who already use the mobile app for their Utah ID will be able to download it to Apple Wallet.

Apple announced plans to add Utah driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app way back in 2021, but no integration has materialized. Utah was one of the first states Apple mentioned when rolling out the feature.

Other states planning to add support for driver's licenses in Apple Wallet include Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

Multiple states have already implemented support, as has Puerto Rico.

  • Arkansas

  • Arizona

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Georgia

  • Hawaii

  • Illinois

  • Iowa

  • Maryland

  • Montana

  • New Mexico

  • North Dakota

  • Ohio

  • West Virginia


Digital IDs and licenses are accepted at select TSA checkpoints across the United States. It can also be used at some business venues and in select apps that require ID verification for services or purchases.

In states that do not support licenses in the Wallet app, iPhone users can add their U.S. passport to the Apple Wallet app with the iOS 26 Digital ID feature.
Tag: Apple Wallet

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]]> ChatGPT's Apple Health Integration Now Rolling Out to U.S. Users https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/chatgpt-apple-health-integration/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/chatgpts-apple-health-integration-now-rolling-out-to-u-s-users.2485827/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:54:05 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/chatgpt-apple-health-integration/ Juli Clover Apple Health ChatGPT OpenAI Health in ChatGPT feature that integrates medical records and Apple Health data is rolling out to ChatGPT users in the United States as of today.


OpenAI announced plans for a health feature that used data from Apple Health and other sources back in January, but it was in beta and was not made widely available.

Health in ChatGPT can draw on health information connected by the user to compare lab test data, summarize changes since a prior appointment, track medications, and explore how sleep, activity, and workouts impact health.
With your permission, ChatGPT can consider relevant information you have connected, such as medications, lab results, recent visits, sleep, and activity, alongside the goals and context you share. This added context can make everyday conversations more useful. For example, ChatGPT can consider a dietary restriction when helping you choose a restaurant, or a recent injury when planning lower-impact weekend activities with your family. You can ask follow-up questions, add context, or correct information that is incomplete or out of date.

OpenAI says the feature is meant to help users understand their health information in context and keep track of what's changed over time. Users can get to the Health section from the ChatGPT sidebar.

Connected medical records and Apple Health information are not used to train OpenAI's models or target ads, nor are conversations that use health data. ChatGPT will ask for permission before using connected medical records and Apple Health information to personalize a response.

For users who would prefer not to connect health records, the Health section in ChatGPT works without them and can answer health-related questions.

Health is rolling out to logged-in ChatGPT users who are 18 years and older in the U.S. on web and iOS. The feature is available to Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans.
Tags: Apple Health, ChatGPT, OpenAI

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]]> Emergency SOS via Satellite Expands to Two More Countries https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/emergency-sos-via-satellite-two-more-countries/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/emergency-sos-via-satellite-expands-to-two-more-countries.2485828/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:50:00 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/emergency-sos-via-satellite-two-more-countries/ Joe Rossignol Emergency SOS via Satellite iPhone Satellite Features Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Andorra and Iceland, according to an updated Apple support document.

Available on the iPhone 14 and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Emergency SOS via satellite allows you to text emergency services when you are in a supported area without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. The feature requires iOS 26.4 and watchOS 26.4 or later in Andorra and Iceland.
Tags: Emergency SOS via Satellite, iPhone Satellite Features

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]]> Geekbench 7 Launches With Redesigned Multi-Core and GPU Benchmarks https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/geekbench-7-launch/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/geekbench-7-launches-with-redesigned-multi-core-and-gpu-benchmarks.2485824/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:00 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/geekbench-7-launch/ Juli Clover Geekbench Primate Labs launch of Geekbench 7, the newest version of the popular benchmarking suite for CPU and GPU performance.


There's a redesigned multi-core benchmark in Geekbench 7 that's meant to better represent how applications work in the real world. A workload only runs in multi-threaded mode if the task it models runs multi-threaded in real applications.

Primate Labs says users can expect a multi-core score that's a more relevant measure of how a device performs when doing actual work.

Along with updates to multi-core testing, a revamped GPU benchmark focuses on machine learning and content creation to reflect how GPUs are used today. The GPU benchmark has tests that track faces and apply real-time filter effects to video, upscale images with machine learning, and blur backgrounds in video conferencing streams. New GPU image editing and synthesis tests are available, like RAW image processing, LUT-based video color grading, path tracing, and fluid simulation.

Nvidia's CUDA is once again a supported API alongside OpenCL, Vulkan, and Metal.

The new version of Geekbench uses more challenging data sets to better reflect how people use their computers today. The File Compression and PDF Viewer workloads have more variation, and developer and image processing tests have more assets and different image formats.

Geekbench 7 adds media workloads for testing audio and video encoding, decoding, and processing. The Whisper speech recognition, AV1, and Opus tests mimic video conferencing, screen sharing, and content consumption workloads.

There's also a Game Physics workload that uses the Jolt Physics engine used by popular video games. Primate Labs added an expanded Photo Editor test with a richer set of real-world edits, and the Photo Library workload supports importing and processing image formats like JPEG XL and DNG.

Geekbench 7 is available for iOS, macOS, and other platforms. The app remains free for personal use, and the Pro version is 20 percent off the regular $99 price through August 6.
Tags: Geekbench, Primate Labs

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]]> Apple Pay Promo Offers Discount on Columbia Gear https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-pay-columbia-promo/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-pay-promo-offers-discount-on-columbia-gear.2485823/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:38:05 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-pay-columbia-promo/ Juli Clover Apple Pay Apple Pay Promo Apple Pay users know about the latest promotion, which offers $20 off purchases of $120 or more from sportswear company Columbia.


The $20 discount is valid when making a purchase from the Columbia website and using ‌Apple Pay‌ to check out. The discount is not available in Columbia retail locations, and products from the Amaze Puff Collection and the ROC Collection are excluded.

It also can't be combined with other discounts like the Columbia back to school sale for teachers and students.

‌Apple Pay‌ users can take advantage of the promotion through August 7.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Apple Pay Promo
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

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]]> 'The Morning Show' Returning to Apple TV for a Final Season Next Year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-tv-the-morning-show-final-season/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-morning-show-returning-to-apple-tv-for-a-final-season-next-year.2485822/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:32:19 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-tv-the-morning-show-final-season/ Joe Rossignol Apple TV Service Apple today announced that "The Morning Show" will return to Apple TV for a fifth and final season at some point in 2027.

"The Morning Show" was one of the first shows available on Apple TV when the streaming service launched in 2019, with an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Duplass, and others set to return for the final season of the workplace-oriented drama.
Tag: Apple TV Service

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]]> Opera One Browser Adds Vertical Tabs - Should Safari Follow? https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/opera-one-adds-vertical-tabs-chrome-firefox/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/opera-one-browser-adds-vertical-tabs-should-safari-follow.2485820/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:52:03 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/opera-one-adds-vertical-tabs-chrome-firefox/ Tim Hardwick Opera Browser Opera One browser just pushed an update adding a Vertical Tabs option that moves the tab bar from the top of the window to a resizable panel down the left-hand side.


The feature aims to solve the perennial horizontal tab problem where too many open tabs makes each one shrink to an unreadable sliver of the webpage's favicon.

By contrast, in the vertical layout, page titles always stay legible. Opera's existing Tab Islands feature – where tabs that came from the same page or browsing session are grouped into a collapsible section in the tab strip – carries over from the standard view, and the panel collapses when screen space is tight.

Opera has also built Google Lens directly into the start page search bar with this update, so now an image search can be started by uploading a file, dragging and dropping, pasting from the clipboard, or entering a URL. Both features are live now in Opera One.

Opera is a late arrival to the vertical phenomenon that has slowly been making inroads across the wider browser landscape. Microsoft made vertical tabs generally available in Edge back in May 2021, and the feature has been popular with users on both Windows and macOS.

Mozilla followed in March 2025 with Firefox 136, which introduced vertical tabs as part of a redesigned sidebar. Firefox also allows the strip to be moved to the right edge of the window, if that's your preferred style.

Google was the last of the big names to make the same move. Chrome began rolling out vertical tabs in April, making full page titles readable and tab groups easier to manage, even at double-digit tab counts.

Apple's Safari browser features Tab Groups, which can be navigated from the sidebar and do give a vertical list of sorts, but there's never been a dedicated vertical tabs mode. Do Safari users want one, or are Tab Groups enough? Let us know in the comments.
Tag: Opera Browser

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]]> 5 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Now Instead of Waiting for iPhone 18 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/5-reasons-buy-iphone-17-not-waiting-iphone-18/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/5-reasons-to-buy-the-iphone-17-now-instead-of-waiting-for-iphone-18.2485819/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:26:53 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/5-reasons-buy-iphone-17-not-waiting-iphone-18/ Tim Hardwick Featured iPhone 17 iPhone 18

1. iPhone Price Hikes Almost Certain


Analysts suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could start at $1,299 and $1,399, respectively. That would represent a $200 jump over their predecessors, with rising memory and storage costs (i.e. the AI buildout) largely to blame. Meanwhile, the foldable iPhone price could start at north of $2,000. Apple has already increased the price of all of its iPhone models in Japan. The iPhone 17, by contrast, is still selling in the U.S. and other regions at the price Apple set last September (from $799). At this point, upcoming price hikes for the next-generation models seem inevitable, and there's no guarantee that the iPhone 17 series will be spared.

2. Some iPhone 18 Models Still a While Away


Under Apple's expected new split-launch strategy, only the iPhone 18 Pro models and the foldable arrive this September. The regular iPhone 18, lower-cost iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 aren't expected until spring 2027, so anyone holding out for the regular iPhone 17's direct successor will be sat waiting for several months longer than usual.

3. The Base iPhone 18 Could Be a "Downgrade"


One leaker has repeatedly claimed that Apple will reduce the standard iPhone 18's display and chip specifications to control costs, which could see it potentially sharing more components with the cheaper iPhone 18e. And even with a rumored bump to 9GB of RAM, the lower-end models reportedly still won't support two new iOS 27 features. Nothing is certain yet, but if Apple is cutting corners for its next more affordable and base models, then the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17e could be the better-specced option, especially given the expected price difference.

4. Some iPhone 18 Upgrades Remain Uncertain


Several of the more eye-catching iPhone 18 Pro rumors may not play out at launch. An early report claiming that the iPhone 18 Pro would ditch the Dynamic Island for a hole-punch camera has completely lost steam, while the foldable iPhone's rumored 24-megapixel under-display camera may not be ready this year, and a truly crease-free folding screen looks more like "nearly crease-free" in practice. In other words, waiting doesn't guarantee that you'll get everything the rumor mill is predicting.

5. Your Trade-In Is Worth More Today


Trade-in and resale values on older iPhones typically slide once a new generation is announced, which means the iPhone in your pocket is likely at its peak value right now. Waiting until September to upgrade would mean paying more for the new, pricier model and getting less for the old one, which would be a double hit on your wallet.

None of this means Apple's iPhone 18 lineup won't be worth the money. But if you're upgrading from a pre-2025 iPhone and the foldable isn't something you're considering, then an iPhone 17 series model might still be the smarter option.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 18
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

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]]> Apple Watch Series 11 GPS Models Now $100 Off on Amazon https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-watch-100-off-amazon/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-series-11-gps-models-now-100-off-on-amazon.2485811/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:51:42 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-watch-100-off-amazon/ Mitchel Broussard Deals Featured low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This sale includes a handful of 42mm and 46mm GPS aluminum models, but cellular devices are a bit more rare this time around.

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.

You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models and three of the 46mm GPS models on sale at these all-time low prices.

$100 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00

$100 OFF
Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00


Compared to past sales, these are both solid second-best prices on the Apple Watch Series 11 and come within $20-$30 of those previous all-time low prices. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.



Deals Newsletter


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Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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]]> Apple Maps to Help Power Autonomous Driving in Ford's 2027 EV https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-maps-power-driving-in-ford-ev/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-maps-to-help-power-autonomous-driving-in-fords-2027-ev.2485808/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:27:55 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/apple-maps-power-driving-in-ford-ev/ Hartley Charlton Apple Maps Ford announced announced that Apple Maps will power the navigation system in Ford's upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform, launching in 2027 at a price point around $30,000.



The integration leverages Apple's new MapKit for Automotive SDK, allowing Ford to embed ‌Apple Maps‌ directly into the vehicle's displays while maintaining the ability to customize the experience to match Ford's design language. Drivers will get turn-by-turn directions using natural language search, real-time traffic and incident information, and intelligent EV routing that includes battery preconditioning. The mapping data will also support Ford's development of an enhanced version of BlueCruise, the automaker's hands-free highway driving capability. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services and Health, said:

Apple Maps delivers the best map experience in the world, and we're excited to bring the power of Maps' navigation technology to Ford's innovative Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. With our new MapKit for Automotive SDK, we're bringing Maps further into drivers' daily lives, giving them an incredibly accurate and easy-to-use navigation system that is seamlessly integrated into Ford vehicles.


The MapKit for Automotive SDK represents one of Apple's biggest automotive pushes to date beyond CarPlay and ‌CarPlay‌ Ultra. The SDK gives automakers access to Apple's mapping data and allows them to integrate navigation as a native vehicle feature rather than simply mirroring an iPhone app. Apple maintains privacy protections in automotive use, with the company not collecting users' location data or activity tied to individual identities through the vehicle's mapping system. Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company's CEO, said:

Our new midsize electric vehicle will be priced around $30,000 and redefines what advanced technology can be — simple, useful, and truly attainable for more customers. We're proud to embed Apple Maps' navigation and mapping technology directly into our Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, giving customers the ultimate navigation experience alongside our Ford app, a full suite of software, and next-generation BlueCruise, all enabled by a new zonal architecture. Apple Maps has delivered a world-class product, and we're honored to be among the first to embed it directly into a vehicle, helping define intuitive, capable driving.


Ford is among the first automakers to directly embed Apple's navigation engine rather than relying on ‌CarPlay‌. ‌CarPlay‌ will still be available on Ford vehicles, Apple said, providing an additional input method for drivers who prefer iPhone integration.

The UEV Platform will roll out beginning in 2027, with the $30,000 pricing targeting mainstream buyers seeking affordable electric vehicle options from a major U.S. automaker.
Tags: Apple Maps, Ford

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]]> Google Fined $1 Billion by EU for Search Bias and App Store Restrictions https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/google-fined-1-billion-by-eu/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/google-fined-1-billion-by-eu-for-search-bias-and-app-store-restrictions.2485806/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:39:17 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/google-fined-1-billion-by-eu/ Tim Hardwick App Store European Commission European Union Google

The European Commission found that Google had broken the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by using its dominant position in the search market to favour its own services, like shopping and hotel deals, over those of rivals.

The Commission also said that the company had abused its position by preventing developers from directing users to cheaper ways to buy apps and app subscriptions on websites and alternative app stores.

Google has been fined €460 million over its search practices and €430 million for its app store rules. Going forward, the Commission ordered the company to treat third-party services in search results "fairly and without discrimination" and to allow developers to offer users alternatives outside Google's app store. From the EU press release:


As part of today's two decisions, the Commission has ordered Google to bring the non-compliance to an end.

In particular, Google must implement measures to:
  • Treat third-party services that feature on Google's search results in a fair and non-discriminatory manner by reference to its own services, and

  • Allow app developers distributing their apps via Google Play Store, both technically and contractually, to freely communicate, promote offers and conclude contracts with users not only within but also outside the Google Play app store.


The Commission said that changes already made by Google to rectify the situation represented "substantial progress towards compliance." Google has also reportedly proposed and started testing changes to how it presents shopping ads and content related services, such as sports.

Google is required to comply with the Commission's decisions within 60 days, otherwise it risks periodic penalty payments of up to 5 percent of its total worldwide turnover. Google made revenues of just over $400 billion last year. It could still decide to appeal the decisions.

Apple is fighting a similar battle with the bloc's regulators. The company was fined €500 million ($573 million) last year for restricting App Store developers from directing users to alternative offers, and earlier this month the EU's General Court separately rejected its challenges to its designation as a gatekeeper for the App Store and iOS.
Tags: App Store, European Commission, European Union, Google

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]]> Foldable iPhone Still Faces Production Hurdles, Report Says https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/foldable-iphone-still-faces-production-hurdles/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/foldable-iphone-still-faces-production-hurdles-report-says.2485804/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:18:17 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/foldable-iphone-still-faces-production-hurdles/ Hartley Charlton iPhone Fold DigiTimes Foldable iPhone Foxconn DigiTimes, even as Foxconn carries out what supply chain sources describe as "final mass-production adjustments."


The report says Apple has assigned Foxconn to lead the device from new product introduction (NPI) through to mass production, citing the assembler's experience with precision structural components and large-scale production tuning. One industry source claimed Foxconn is the only Apple partner with a realistic chance of meeting the expected production target.

The framing sits somewhat against recent reporting. Foxconn began trial production in April, Apple subsequently raised its order to around 10 million units on the back of resolved hinge and circuit board problems, and just two weeks ago a China Securities Journal report aggregated by DigiTimes said the device was already in mass production with no delay envisaged. Today's report instead says the engineering validation phase may have caused a delay of one to two months, with the hinge structure and display durability testing remaining the principal bottlenecks.

The foldable iPhone is still, at the very least, expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with a book-style design, an inner display of around 7.7 to 7.8 inches, a 5.5-inch cover screen, a thickness of roughly 4.5mm, and a starting price above $2,000.
Related Roundup: iPhone Fold
Tags: DigiTimes, Foldable iPhone, Foxconn

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]]> macOS 27 Beta Hides Trippy Siri 'Voice Pad' Interface With 13 Voices https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/macos-27-beta-hidden-siri-voice-ui/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-27-beta-hides-trippy-siri-voice-pad-interface-with-13-voices.2485803/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 03:53:38 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/macos-27-beta-hidden-siri-voice-ui/ Tim Hardwick Siri

MacRumors forum member "mactracker" has shared what they call a hidden "voice pad" in the macOS 27 beta 4, which was released on Monday. When enabled, the interface replaces the System Settings menu for Siri's voice options with a nearly black canvas, with the currently selected voice marked by a colored dot.

Pressing, holding, and moving around the pad with your pointer brings the interface to life, causing various colors to transition across the view as more dots appear and the voice modulates through different characteristics. Each dot emerges from the ether like a revealed star in a hidden constellation.

The visuals are even responsive to cursor movement via spatial audio, so that when the pointer approaches a new voice on the pad, it sounds clearer and more present, while voices further away become distant and ambient. Meanwhile, a spatial mixer tracks the pointer's distance, angle, and velocity, which adjusts volume, reverb, occlusion, and filtering across the voice and background audio layers as you move.

The pad lays out 13 voice slots in a loose grid, suggesting Apple may be preparing to support up to 13 custom voices for Siri AI. You can see the UI in action in the video embedded below.

Currently, the latest macOS 27 beta doesn't include the required voice models, so it falls back to the two custom voices available. However, a related file found in the beta describes the 13 expected American English voices by gender, age, and character, spanning everything from a soft-spoken young female voice to a deep adult male voice and two older-sounding voices.

If the interface makes the final macOS 27 cut, it would be a big jump from where things stand today. As of the current betas, American is the only voice option for Siri AI, whose expressiveness and pace can only be adjusted via sliders.

In this context, the interface likely serves as an onboarding experience for picking Siri's underlying voice, with the existing picker and its Pace and Expressivity controls used to further adjust the voice after selection. While the interface remains unfinished, it is already said to be localized for 44 languages. It also shares the same Siri setup framework with iOS 27, so we could see it on iPhone and iPad, too.


Unlike the hidden Siri popover we covered earlier this week, there's no easy way for beta testers to switch on this feature flag, as it requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) and overriding internal code with a debugger.

The new, more advanced Siri AI, which is backed by large language models, will arrive in supported regions with the release of iOS 27, macOS 27, and Apple's other software updates this September.
Tag: Siri

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]]> You Can Now Recover Your Google Account With a Selfie Video https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/google-account-selfie-video/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/you-can-now-recover-your-google-account-with-a-selfie-video.2485800/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 03:00:10 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/google-account-selfie-video/ Juli Clover Google selfie sign-in option for Google Account recovery. It offers an alternative way for Google users to access their accounts alongside passkeys, recovery contacts, and other entry methods.


To create a selfie video, you look at your device's camera and then follow Google's instructions to complete a series of head movements to capture multiple angles. The video is saved to your account and can be used later if you need access.

Google recommends users have multiple sign-in methods set up to avoid losing access to an account. With selfie video, you can take a selfie to get access to your account if you don't have access to your email address or a trusted device. Google compares your new selfie video to the one saved to the account to grant access. Multiple layers of security are meant to prevent impersonation attempts like AI-generated photos and videos.

Google says selfie videos are encrypted and stored securely, and are only used for helping you sign in to your account, unless you opt to "share it for additional purposes." Videos can be deleted anytime.

Selfie videos were previously tested in Brazil. The feature is designed for Google Accounts only, and does not work for Workspace accounts, children's accounts, or accounts enrolled in the Advanced Protection Program.
Tag: Google

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]]> 12th-Generation iPad: Everything We Know About Apple's Next Budget Tablet https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/12th-generation-ipad-rumor-recap/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/12th-generation-ipad-everything-we-know-about-apples-next-budget-tablet.2485782/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:38:44 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/12th-generation-ipad-rumor-recap/ Juli Clover Featured iPad (low cost) iPad, and plans to update the most affordable tablet in the ‌iPad‌ in 2027. It's not going to be a major update, but if you're planning a purchase, you might want to wait for the newest model.


Design


There are no rumors of an updated design for the 12th-generation ‌iPad‌, so it will likely have the same 11-inch edge-to-edge display with Touch ID Side Button and thick bezels.

Apple last updated the ‌iPad‌'s design with the 10th-generation model, giving the device a more modern look to better match the designs of the iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

The low-cost ‌iPad‌ is only available in a single screen size, and it is Apple's thickest tablet at 7mm. It features a Retina LED display with no ProMotion support, no P3 wide color, and no lamination (display technology that allows for improved visuals) compared to Apple's other tablets.

Apple makes the low-cost ‌iPad‌ in several fun colors, and we could see some new shades in 2026. Current colors include blue, pink, silver, and yellow.

No changes are expected for the rear camera, front camera, USB-C port, or compatibility with accessories like the Apple Pencil.

A-Series Processor


Rumors suggest the low-cost ‌iPad‌ will use Apple's A18 or A19 chip, both of which are built on a 3-nanometer process to bring speed and efficiency improvements over the A16 chip that's in the current model.

The A16 chip that Apple used in 2025 does not support Apple Intelligence, but the A18 and A19 do, so that will mark a major update for Apple's affordable tablet. The 2026 model should be able to support ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that are unavailable with the 2025 model.

The updated chips also offer hardware-accelerated ray tracing and similar features for improved gameplay. The 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ has 6GB RAM, but Apple will need to bump that up to 8GB for ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

N1 Chip


Apple debuted its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, called the N1, in the iPhone 17 models. The N1 was added to the ‌iPad Pro‌, and it's possible that Apple plans to add the chip to all future devices coming in 2026 and beyond.

The N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking technology for smart home devices.

The 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ is limited to Wi-Fi 6, so if the 12th-generation version does indeed get Wi-Fi 7, it will be able to connect to faster 6GHz networks for the first time. Bluetooth 6 would also be an improvement over Bluetooth 5.3. There is a chance that Apple is reserving the N1 chip for its more premium devices, based on leaked internal code. If that's the case, the ‌iPad‌ won't include the N1 chip.

Apple Modem


Apple has designed C1 and C1X modem chips that it has used in iPhones and iPads in 2025, and the next-generation version of the ‌iPad‌ could also get an Apple-designed modem chip for cellular models.

Apple's modem chips are more power efficient than Qualcomm chips while providing similar performance.

Pricing


With Apple's June price increase, the 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ is priced starting at $449 for 128GB of storage, which is up $100 from the previous price. Apple raised prices because of increasing RAM costs, and there are no indications that component costs are coming down before the 12th-generation model is set to launch.

It's likely it will have the same $449 starting price.

Launch Date


Bloomberg initially suggested Apple would refresh the ‌iPad‌ sometime in 2026, but now it looks like it's not going to get an update until the first quarter of 2027 at the earliest.
Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

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]]> Apple Store App Getting AI Shopping Assistant https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-store-app-shopping-assistant/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-store-app-getting-ai-shopping-assistant.2485776/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:25:51 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-store-app-shopping-assistant/ Juli Clover Apple Store privacy policy for the Apple Store app suggests it will soon get a virtual shopping assistant to help users decide what to purchase.


The app will have a chat interface where users can ask questions about Apple products, with Apple using data like account information, device identifiers, chat information, carrier information, and location data to offer a personalized experience. Transcripts of chats are saved for later reference.

Apple says that information is sent to its "partners" to help Apple provide a conversational response, which suggests Apple might be using a third-party AI model for the virtual assistant.
Where the Apple Store app virtual shopping assistant is available, Apple collects and stores your account information, device identifiers, carrier information, chat information, and where enabled, location data to personalize the chat experience, provide relevant responses, and if you opt in, to improve the virtual shopping assistant. Before sharing the chat with our partners, Apple scrubs personal identifiers from it. These partners will use this information only to help Apple to provide a conversational response. Apple will save these transcripts to make them available when you return to the Apple Store app, for our business analytics, and if you opt in, to improve the virtual shopping assistant.

The virtual shopping assistant interface is not live in the ‌Apple Store‌ app yet, though it is possible Apple is testing the feature with some users. Apple also added a virtual assistant to its Apple Support app, but that feature still hasn't rolled out to everyone.
Tag: Apple Store

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]]> Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 248 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-releases-safari-technology-preview-248/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-safari-technology-preview-248-with-bug-fixes-and-performance-improvements.2485772/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:25:56 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-releases-safari-technology-preview-248/ Juli Clover Blurb Safari Technology Preview released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.


‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 248 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, Editing, Forms, Images, JavaScript, Media, Navigation, Networking, Rendering, SVG, Scrolling, Security, Storage, Web API, Web Inspector, WebDriver, and WebRTC.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Tahoe and macOS Golden Gate, the newest version of macOS.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple's website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
Tag: Safari Technology Preview

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]]> Second iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Public Betas Now Available https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-seeds-ios-27-public-beta-2/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/second-ios-27-and-ipados-27-public-betas-now-available.2485770/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:19:44 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/apple-seeds-ios-27-public-beta-2/ Juli Clover Featured iOS 27 iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The second betas come a week after Apple seeded the first betas.


You can get started by signing up on Apple's beta website and then opting in to the public beta by going to Settings > General > Software Update and choosing the ‌iOS 27‌ or ‌iPadOS 27‌ Public Beta option.

‌iOS 27‌ introduces Siri AI, a more capable version of ‌Siri‌ that can search the web, access your personal information, see what's on your screen, and take actions in and across apps. ‌Siri‌ in ‌iOS 27‌ is more similar to Claude or ChatGPT than the prior version of ‌Siri‌, with a dedicated ‌Siri‌ app for back-and-forth conversations. You can use ‌Siri‌ AI if you have a device that supports Apple Intelligence.

Apple updated the Liquid Glass design that debuted last year, adding a slider to adjust the transparency level and refining its look. There are new AI features in many of Apple's apps. Visual Intelligence moved to the Camera app and supports new features like getting the nutritional information for a meal or splitting a bill, and ‌Siri‌ is able to generate text for you or help you refine your writing with Write with ‌Siri‌.

There are new AI photo editing tools in the Photos app, Safari can organize your tabs automatically, and you can create Shortcuts and Safari extensions using natural language commands. AirPods have custom EQ, the Home app supports 4K video cameras, and there are new child safety controls for parents.

Apple made dozens of improvements to device performance, and everything feels faster, even on older iPhones. Apps launch quicker, AirDrop transfers are faster, the keyboard loads quicker, and more.

Additional information on the new features in ‌iOS 27‌ can be found in our dedicated iOS 27 roundup, with info on ‌iPadOS 27‌ available in our separate iPadOS 27 roundup.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27

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]]> Switching From iPhone to Android Just Got Easier With Android 17 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/iphone-android-17-switching-simpler/ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/switching-from-iphone-to-android-just-got-easier-with-android-17.2485765/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:05:33 PDT https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/22/iphone-android-17-switching-simpler/ Juli Clover Android Google

Google says the upgraded method allows Google Accounts, passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, and eSIMs to be transferred. It also supports photos, videos, contacts, messages, and calendars, like the prior version of the switching tool. Data transfers require an iPhone with iOS 26.3 or later.

Both Apple and Google had to implement iPhone and Android transfer tools that work without an app to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act. When you set up a new Android smartphone or iPhone, there are now simple built-in options to transfer data from a competing platform. Before the on-device transfer options, Google and Apple offered apps for moving data.

The Digital Markets Act requires services to offer data portability to prevent lock-in to an operating system. It also forced Apple and Google to implement a simplified eSIM transfer process.

Android 17 with the new data transfer method has been rolling out to select Pixel devices since June and will also come to Samsung's newly announced Galaxy Z Flip8 and Z Fold8 smartphones.
Tags: Android, Google

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