Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Offering New Apple Perk With $250 Value
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will be automatically suspended and superseded by Chase's complimentary subscriptions during the offer period. The complimentary subscriptions run through June 22, 2027. Unfortunately, the perk does not extend to Apple One subscription bundles. If you currently pay for Apple One, you will continue to be charged on a monthly basis while your complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions from Chase are active, so make sure to cancel that if you plan on taking advantage of the credit card perk. Alongside the new perks, Chase has raised the annual fee of the Sapphire Reserve from $550 to $795, which effectively offsets the $250 value of the complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions. However, there is a long list of additional perks, and Chase says the card now offers more than $2,700 in annual value. Chase is offering new Sapphire Reserve cardholders a welcome bonus of 100,000 points (which can exceed $1,000 in value), as well as a $500 travel credit, after they spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first three months. Via: The Points GuyTags: Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, ChaseThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

AirPods Max 2: When to Expect Apple's Next Over-Ear Headphones
AirPods Max were first released in December 2020, and the over-ear headphones have received minimal hardware changes since then. Below, we recap when AirPods Max 2 are rumored to launch. According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new AirPods Max will be lighter than the current ones, but he did not mention a specific weight. The current AirPods Max weigh 0.85 pounds, excluding the charging case, according to Apple. Kuo expects the AirPods Max 2 to enter mass production at some point in 2027, but he did not provide any other details about the headphones. By the time the AirPods Max 2 launch in 2027, it will have been a seven-year wait for them. It is unclear what other changes they might have, beyond weighing less. Last year, Apple updated the AirPods Max with a USB-C charging port and new color options, but they are still considered first-generation AirPods Max. The headphones did not receive Apple's H2 chip that debuted in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, so they continue to miss out on Adaptive Audio features, and there were no other changes. AirPods Max still have the outdated H1 chip that Apple introduced in 2019, and yet the headphones continue to cost $549 in the United States. AirPods Max with USB-C did gain support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio in a firmware update released earlier this year. Related Roundup: AirPods MaxBuyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

iPadOS 26 Adds These Four Apple Apps to Your iPad
The upcoming iPadOS 26 update adds four pre-installed Apple apps to all compatible iPad models: Phone, Preview, Journal, and Games. Below, we provide an overview of each of these apps. iPadOS 26 is currently available as a developer beta, and the update will likely be released to the general public in September. Phone Apple has expanded the Phone app to the iPad, complete with new features coming with iOS 26, such as Hold Assist, Call Screening, and Live Translation. The app syncs with your iPhone, allowing you to make and receive phone calls over Wi-Fi, view recent phone calls, listen to voicemail messages, and more directly on your iPad. Preview A staple on the Mac, the Preview app is now available on the iPad too, providing you with a built-in app to edit and mark up PDFs and images. You can also create an empty page, and use an Apple Pencil to draw and write on it. Journal Apple introduced a Journal app on the iPhone with iOS 17, and it is now available on the iPad too. You can use this app to type out your daily thoughts, and you can include drawings, handwriting, photos, videos, audio recordings, and more. Games The all-new Games app on iPad, iPhone, and Mac is an all-in-one app for discovering App Store and Apple Arcade games, and in-game events. There are also new single-player game challenges for competing with family and friends.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Warning: watchOS 26 Beta 2 Crashes Apple's Expensive Hermès Watches
If you have an Hermès Apple Watch model, you're going to want to avoid installing watchOS 26 beta 2. According to Apple's release notes for the update, the beta causes the Apple Watch Hermès to crash continually. Apple says that Hermès Apple Watch owners should not update to beta 2 at this time. Installing ‌watchOS 26‌ on a Hermès Apple Watch causes the watch to overheat, crash continually, and fail to charge, based on reports. It appears to be the Hermès Apple Watch face that is an issue. Additionally, reports from MacRumors readers suggest that updating to iOS 26 beta 2 causes problems with the Hermès Apple Watches. Users have found that the Apple Watch app on iPhone will not open after installing ‌iOS 26‌ beta 2 if there is a Hermès watch associated with the ‌iPhone‌. Unpairing a Hermès Apple Watch from an ‌iOS 26‌ beta 2 device allows the Apple Watch app to open again, but attempting to re-pair the watch does not work. Apple will likely address the issue in the next ‌watchOS 26‌ and ‌iOS 26‌ updates, but for now, if you have a Hermès Apple Watch and have not installed the latest developer betas, make sure not to do so.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Porsche Remains Committed to Offering CarPlay Ultra in Future Vehicles
Porsche's chief designer Michael Mauer told the Financial Times that the luxury car maker remains committed to offering CarPlay Ultra in future vehicle models, but he did not share a timeframe for availability or disclose any other details. Porsche was on Apple's list of automakers committed to offering the next generation of CarPlay, now known as CarPlay Ultra, when it was first announced in June 2022. Porsche went on to preview what CarPlay Ultra would look like in its vehicles in December 2023, but it had not provided a further update on its plans until now. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to luxury Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Apple said that many other automakers around the world are working to offer it over the next year and beyond, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Launched last month, CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust the color scheme. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides driving data like current speed, and other info like tire pressure. The report also listed some automakers that said they have no plans to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volvo, Polestar, and Renault. Earlier this month, a spokesperson for Polestar had told MacRumors that it looked forward to "bringing the next generation of CarPlay to cars in the future," but the Financial Times report said otherwise, so they might not be planning to offer it after all.Related Roundup: CarPlayTags: CarPlay Ultra, Financial Times, PorscheRelated Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

iOS 26 Brings New Functionality to HomePod
With the launch of iOS 26 and HomePod Software 26, Apple is adding support for Crossfade, an Apple Music feature that improves transitions between songs. Beta testers who have the second ‌HomePod‌ Software 26 and ‌iOS 26‌ betas now have an option to enable Crossfade. The toggle is a little bit hidden, but it can be found by opening up the Home app, going to Settings, tapping on a person's name, and choosing ‌Apple Music‌. Crossfade timing can be set anywhere from one second to 12 seconds, so users can adjust the fade in and fade out period for song transitions. When Crossfade is toggled on, the volume of the song that's ending will lower gradually, while the volume of the song that's coming on will increase. It is designed to prevent silence gaps between songs. Crossfade is an ‌Apple Music‌ feature, so an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription is required to use it. It has been an option on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac for some time now, but Apple didn't bring it to the ‌HomePod‌ until now. ‌Apple Music‌ in ‌iOS 26‌ and iPadOS 26 has a new AutoMix feature that replaces Crossfade. AutoMix goes beyond simple crossfading, and it uses time stretching and beat matching for a DJ-like song transition experience. The ‌HomePod‌ 26 software also includes a new feature that allows you to select a Wi-Fi network to connect to, something that wasn't an option before. (Thanks, Hidde!)Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod miniBuyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral), HomePod Mini (Caution)Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Charge AirPods (or Even an iPhone) With Your iPhone
If you own an iPhone or iPad with a USB-C port, the port can be used to charge AirPods, an Apple Watch, or even another iPhone, which is handy for times when you don't have a spare charger or power outlet available. Here's how it works. If your AirPods or Apple Watch run out of battery while you don't have access to a charger, you can use the battery in your iPhone or iPad for a little extra juice rather than carrying around an additional battery pack. Additionally, if you plug an ‌iPhone 15‌ or newer into another ‌iPhone 15‌ or newer, the two devices will communicate with one another, determine which ‌iPhone‌ has the lower battery, and transfer power in the direction that needs it most. So if your iPhone has a very low battery and a friend's iPad/iPhone has a full battery, you can plug your ‌iPhone‌ into your friend's device and they can provide you with some juice to hold you over until a more practical charging solution arrives in your midst. If your friend has a USB-C Android phone, if the device has USB Power Delivery support and you connect your ‌power-hungry iPhone‌ to it, the Android device will also be able to provide battery power. However, if the Android phone does not have USB PD, the results are likely to be inconsistent, and there's no way to predict which phone will be the charger and which will get the charge. What You Need You'll need an appropriate cable for the job, depending on what you want to charge. You'll need a Lightning to USB-C cable for older-generation AirPods with a Lightning port, or a USB-C to USB-C cable for AirPods with a USB-C Charging Case. For Apple Watch, you'll need a dedicated USB-C charging puck. Unfortunately, when charging another device with an ‌iPhone 15‌ or newer, the charge is limited to 4.5W. That's appropriate for small devices like the Apple Watch, but not so much for another ‌iPhone‌. In other words, expect slow charging speeds when using ‌iPhone‌ to ‌iPhone‌ charging functionality. One more thing – despite persistent rumors, you still can't charge your AirPods by placing them on the back of a MagSafe-enabled iPhone. Apple is said to have been developing this kind of reverse wireless charging for years, but the feature hasn't made it to market. For now, using a USB-C connection remains the most practical and reliable way to top up your AirPods or other accessories on the go.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Samsung's Headset to Offer Better Displays Than Apple Vision Pro
Samsung's upcoming AR/VR headset will feature more advanced displays than Apple's Vision Pro, according to a new supply chain report from The Elec that reveals key specifications and sourcing strategies. Samsung is preparing to launch its first extended reality (XR) headset later in 2025, and it will reportedly contain displays that surpass the resolution of Apple's Vision Pro. The Elec claims that the device will use 1.3-inch OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) microdisplays with a pixel density of approximately 3,800 pixels per inch (PPI). In comparison, the Vision Pro uses 1.42-inch OLEDoS panels from Sony with a pixel density of 3,391 PPI. The increase in pixel density will likely represent a significant improvement in visual clarity over the Vision Pro. Despite having a slightly smaller panel, which could reduce the field of view, Samsung's headset should be able to deliver sharper visuals. The Vision Pro was the first mainstream consumer device to adopt OLEDoS microdisplays. OLEDoS technology allows for extremely high resolution in compact form factors, making it particularly suitable for immersive virtual reality applications. Samsung is apparently reviewing plans to source OLEDoS panels from both Sony and Samsung Display, with Sony currently acting as the main supplier. While Sony is recognized for its expertise in microdisplay manufacturing, it has limited its production capacity and previously declined Apple's request to expand output for the Vision Pro. Sony's focus remains centered on its entertainment business, and it is reportedly cautious about committing additional resources to its display operations.Tags: Samsung, The ElecThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Best Buy Kicks Off Member-Exclusive Event With Big Discounts on TVs, Monitors, and More
Best Buy this week kicked off a new sale called "Member Deals Days," which is full of deals that are exclusive to those who have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. The sale will run through Sunday, and new deals are set to appear every day of the event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. If you don't have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, you can sign up for one directly from Best Buy's website. Prices start at $49.99 per year and include perks like free two-day shipping, exclusive access to select deals, and more. SITEWIDE SALEBest Buy Member Deal Days Categories with major discounts in this sale include home theater, computers, tablets, video games, headphones, smart home, wearables, smartphones, and more. There aren't many big Apple discounts this time around, but you can find steep discounts on big ticket items like TVs and gaming monitors, which we've rounded up below. TVs 75-inch Samsung 4K Smart TV - $449.99 with membership ($150 off) 43-inch Samsung The Frame QLED 4K TV - $699.99 with membership ($300 off) 55-inch LG OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,796.99 with membership ($403 off) 77-inch LG OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,996.99 with membership ($503 off) Monitors 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 Monitor - $299.99 ($50 off) 27-inch HP OMEN Gaming Monitor - $329.99 ($150 off) 27-inch ASUS Pro Gaming Monitor - $729.99 ($30 off) 45-inch LG OLED UltraGear Smart Gaming Monitor - $1,199.99 with membership ($500 off) 32-inch LG OLED UltraGear Gaming Monitor - $1,119.99 ($280 off) If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

AirTag 2 Now Rumored to Launch in September or Later This Year With New Battery Feature
According to a 9to5Mac report this week, citing reliable sources, Apple is now planning to release the AirTag 2 in September or later this year. If so, the updated accessory could be announced at the iPhone 17 event in less than three months from now. The report also said that iOS 18.6 beta code hints at the upcoming software update being compatible with the AirTag 2, when it is released. Finally, the report said that the AirTag 2 will provide alerts for both low and very low battery levels. You can already see if the current AirTag's battery level is low in the Find My app, but it sounds like there will now be two tiers of alerts. 9to5Mac speculated that this change could hint at the AirTag 2 featuring a rechargeable battery. However, in a November 2024 edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next AirTag would "certainly not" be equipped with a rechargeable battery, suggesting that Apple will stick with a replaceable battery. In that same newsletter, Gurman said that Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025, which sounded more like June or July. So, if 9to5Mac is accurate about the accessory's launch timeframe now being September or later this year, then customers will have to wait a little longer for it than expected. Whenever it launches, the AirTag 2 is rumored to feature up to 3× longer item tracking range compared to the current AirTag. Gurman expects the AirTag 2 to look similar to the current model, but he said the built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, which would make it harder to covertly stalk people with the accessory. Apple released the current AirTag in April 2021, so it is now more than four years old. It debuted at an event alongside the iMac with the M1 chip, the iPad Pro with the M1 chip, a new Apple TV, and a purple color for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.Tags: 9to5Mac, AirTagThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Sports App Updated With Three Improvements
Version 3.0 of the Apple Sports app is here, and there are three key improvements. First, the updated app introduces a "Home" section that lets you "see all your leagues in one place and line them up your way." Second, the app now supports professional men's tennis (ATP) and women's tennis (WTA). "From Grand Slam glory to 1000-level showdowns, follow the best in Men's and Women's tennis all year long," the release notes say. Third, you can now view pitcher and batter matchups at the top of every scoreboard. Launched in February 2024, the Apple Sports app shows scores, stats, standings, upcoming games, and more for a variety of leagues. The free app is currently available on the iPhone only, in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada.Tag: Apple SportsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Xiaomi Trademarks Indicate Plan to Build Apple Silicon-Like Family of Custom Chips
Xiaomi has filed a trademark for a second-generation custom chip called the "XRING 02," signaling that the company is proceeding with its in-house silicon roadmap mirroring Apple's transition to its own custom chips. Xiaomi's new filing, first reported by Wccftech and verified via China's TianYanCha trademark database, suggests that development of the XRING 02 system-on-a-chip (SoC) is now underway. The move follows the company's announcement earlier this year of the XRING O1, its first custom processor built with a 3-nanometer process, which debuted in the Xiaomi Tablet 7 Ultra. Xiaomi openly said that it had looked to Apple as a benchmark for its hardware ambitions and vertical integration across its ecosystem. The company said it had asked itself: We also want to become one of the top chipmakers, with our phones targeting iPhones, can our chips also be compared against those of Apple's? The new XRING 02 trademark is one of several filings made by the company in recent weeks. Others include the XRING T1 and XRING 0. Xiaomi likely seeks to build a family of custom processors for use across device categories, similar to Apple's use of the A-series, M-series, and S-series chips in iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watches.Tag: XiaomiThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

These Apple CarPlay Ultra Partners Now Say They Won't Support It
Apple is facing mounting resistance from automakers over CarPlay Ultra, the next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles that was announced last month. A new Financial Times report claims several major brands are walking back their earlier commitments to support the upgraded dashboard software. German luxury manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Audi have both distanced themselves from the system, along with Volvo, Polestar, and Renault. It's a major retreat from Apple's 2022 announcement, which originally named 14 automakers as future CarPlay Ultra partners, including all of those mentioned above. CarPlay Ultra goes far beyond traditional CarPlay by taking control of the entire dashboard experience. The system displays vehicle information like temperature, speed, and fuel levels alongside iPhone apps, creating what Apple calls "a unified and consistent experience across all the driver's screens." Mercedes-Benz had previously expressed reluctance to cede dashboard control to Apple. Now other premium brands are following suit, citing concerns about maintaining their own software experiences and revenue streams from in-car services. From the report: Some companies have found Apple's foray into driver screens as over-reach. One executive at Renault, which is developing a vehicle mainly controlled by software with Google and Qualcomm, said the French carmaker told Apple: "Don't try to invade our own systems."As for other car brands that were included in Apple's original 2022 list, Jaguar Land Rover said it was still evaluating the system, while Ford and Nissan along with its Infiniti brand said they had no information to share about future implementation. BMW – which was not named in Apple's original list of partners – said it would integrate the existing Apple CarPlay with its new design, but not CarPlay Ultra, according to FT. Meanwhile, Audi said its focus was to offer drivers "a customized and seamless digital experience," so it would not use CarPlay Ultra, though the standard version was available on its vehicles. The pushback comes despite standard CarPlay's overwhelming popularity – Apple claims 98% of new US cars include standard CarPlay, with drivers using it over 600 million times daily. Currently, only Aston Martin offers CarPlay Ultra in production vehicles. Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis cars remain committed partners, while Porsche plans future support. Other originally announced brands like Ford and Nissan have provided no updates on their CarPlay Ultra plans. Despite the walk-backs, Apple told FT that more carmakers using CarPlay Ultra are on the way. "We're collaborating closely with automakers to provide the best of iPhone and the best of the car and this work takes time," Apple said.Tag: CarPlay UltraThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

M5 iPad Pro OLED Displays Enter Mass Production for October Launch
Apple is expected to release new iPad Pro models powered by its latest M5 chip later this year, and both Samsung Display and LG Display have reportedly begun mass production of the devices' OLED panels in preparation. For last year's iPad Pro models which debuted OLED displays, Samsung handled supply for the 11-inch panels, while LG dealt with the 13-inch panels. This year, ZDNet Korea reports that the two manufacturers will share supply for both panel sizes, likely as a result of Apple's efforts to diversify its supply chain. The change is also likely related to Apple's need to deepen OLED adoption across its suppliers. Reports suggest plans to introduce OLED panels for the iPad mini in 2026 and the iPad Air in 2027. Aside from OLED displays, last year's M4 iPad Pro models adopted a thinner and lighter design, support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, and more. This year, the iPad Pro will likely receive a much smaller update, with no major upgrades rumored beyond the M5 chip, which will be manufactured on TSMC's more advanced 3-nanometer process technology for performance and efficiency improvements. The only other potential change that's been rumored is for the Apple logo on the back to switch to a landscape orientation rather than a portrait orientation. That would make the Apple logo upright when the iPad is in landscape mode, such as when it is used with a keyboard. Back in March, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new iPad Pro models could launch around October this year. For reference, the M4 iPad Pro models launched in May of 2024. (Via DigiTimes.)Related Roundup: iPad ProBuyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Here's What Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro Display Could Look Like
If you've been following iPhone 18 Pro reports recently, you'll know that there are two competing rumors from usually reliable sources about how Apple plans to integrate Face ID into the display, and both of them likely affect the fate of the Dynamic Island – and in turn the overall look of the display itself. Last month, The Information's Wayne Ma said that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would have "only a small hole cutout in the top-left corner to accommodate the front-facing camera." Unless Apple opts to still periodically display the familiar pill-shaped interface element in its iOS 27 software, Ma's wording suggests that the devices might not have a Dynamic Island at all. Taking Ma's report as a cue, developer Filip Vabroušek has helpfully attempted to visualize what such an iPhone 18 Pro model could look like (see below – and ignore the iOS version shown). Concept render of iPhone 18 Pro with top-left cutout (credit: Filip Vabroušek) All well and good, you might think. However, Counterpoint Research VP Ross Young this week lobbed a grenade into Ma's settled territory by claiming that the iPhone 18 Pro will still have some visible Face ID elements. For this reason, Young believes that the devices will still have a Dynamic Island, albeit a "smaller" version compared to the one on the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 16 models. Vabroušek has again stepped in to give us a peek at this alternative implementation. Concept render of iPhone 18 Pro with smaller Dynamic Island (credit: Filip Vabroušek) Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also said that Apple will shrink the size of the Dynamic Island on at least some iPhone models launching next year, so there are now multiple sources who believe that iPhone 18 models will still have a smaller Dynamic Island rather than only a front camera hole. So there you have it: two rival interpretations of what the iPhone 18 Pro's display could look like. It's quite a big deal for anyone who plans to upgrade their iPhone next year, considering how much time we spend staring at the screen. As for the 20th anniversary iPhone, due in 2027, Young's roadmap also threw a spanner in the works by refuting claims by the likes of Gurman that it will be the first iPhone with a truly uninterrupted display with no cutouts. Young now believes that the first iPhone with both under-screen Face ID and an under-screen front camera will be released all the way in 2030, suggesting that a truly all-screen iPhone remains a full five years away.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

iOS 26 Brings Major Improvements to Image Playground
Image Playground is Apple's image generation app that launched last year. Most people may not have a lot of use for the cartoonish images that it produces in iOS 18, but you're going to want to take another look at it in iOS 26 because Apple has improved its algorithms. People look more natural in the images generated by the app, with more realistic eyes and more variation in hair that better matches sample photos. As a quick recap, ‌Image Playground‌ lets you type in any phrase to generate an image in one of three non-realistic styles. You can also select pre-determined scenes and props that Apple suggests, and generate images featuring your friends and family. It's these images where you will see the biggest difference in ‌iOS 26‌, because the content generated based on images of people has changed quite a bit. Animation In ‌iOS 18‌, photos generated using the Animation style have blunt hair with little variation, lots of contrast, and unnatural looking faces, but in ‌iOS 26‌, features are softer, hair is more varied, and it has more flow. Clothes also look more natural, though ‌Image Playground‌ doesn't often bother matching outfits. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right ‌Image Playground‌'s Animation style in ‌iOS 26‌ seems to take more liberty with image backgrounds, pose, and body shape, and it's better at small details like specific eyebrow shape. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right Sketch With the Sketch style, ‌Image Playground‌ is again better at matching facial expression, features, and hair style. The image on the right looks more like MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera than the middle image. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right Illustration Illustration has some of the same characteristics as Sketch, better capturing colors and inventing better backgrounds. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right Animals and Landscapes The changes to ‌Image Playground‌ can also be seen in images of animals, food, places, and more, in all three built-in styles. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right Emotions ‌Image Playground‌ seems to be better at reflecting emotion, too. For this image, the modifier "sobbing" was added to the image. It didn't quite show tears, but there is more emotion in the ‌iOS 26‌ face on the right. There's even a dedicated "Expressions" menu, with options that include laugh, happy, mad, sad, shocked, thinking, thumbs up, and thumbs down. iOS 18.6 image in middle, ‌iOS 26‌ image on right ChatGPT Integration ChatGPT image generation capabilities are included in ‌Image Playground‌ in ‌iOS 26‌, so there are an expanded range of styles to choose from. There are a few suggested options, including anime, oil painting, vector, print, and water color styles, all of which use ChatGPT rather than Apple's capabilities to create the image. Anime, oil painting, and water color styles in ‌Image Playground‌ The output is similar to what you get if you use ChatGPT 4o for image generation, and you can make those cute anime-style images that have been floating around the internet. ChatGPT's anime-style output in ‌Image Playground‌ There's also an open-ended "Any Style" option to create images with ChatGPT, and that adds more range to what's possible with ‌Image Playground‌. ChatGPT can essentially mimic any style that you ask it to, and it can generate realistic images, which is not something that Apple's image generation technology does. A "realistic" image of a bird on top of a cat's head. As with standard ‌Image Playground‌ image generation, you can make a text-based request or upload an image to ChatGPT and ask it to use that as the basis for an image. Images that you upload and text requests can be combined. Creating images with ChatGPT uses up tokens, and if you have a free account, you probably won't be able to create more than one or two images. Taking advantage of ChatGPT image creation features in ‌Image Playground‌ beyond that requires a paid account. Genmoji ‌Image Playground‌ in ‌iOS 18‌ does not support creating Genmoji, and that's a separate feature located in the Messages app. In ‌iOS 26‌, you can use ‌Image Playground‌ for ‌Genmoji‌. ‌Genmoji‌ is a style that you can select, and choosing it opens up an interface where you can choose an emoji or multiple emoji to customize. One of the new ‌Genmoji‌ features in ‌iOS 26‌ is the option to combine emoji to make new emoji rather than starting from scratch with a character, and this capability is available in ‌Image Playground‌ in addition to the Messages app. You can tap multiple emoji to create a new one, or choose an emoji and then add text-based descriptions to make tweaks. There is no option to use photos for ‌Genmoji‌. The ‌Genmoji‌ that you make are added to your emoji keyboard and they can be used in Messages. Labeling When you send someone an image generated with ‌Image Playground‌ in ‌iOS 26‌, like over AirDrop, it is labeled as a generated image in the file name.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: Image PlaygroundRelated Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Nomad Launches iPhone Wallet With Find My Integration
Nomad today announced the launch of the Leather Mag Wallet for iPhone, which includes an integrated Tracking Card that works with Apple's Find My app. The Leather Mag Wallet attaches to the back of a MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ using a magnetic connection, and it serves as an alternative to Apple's own Leather Wallet with ‌MagSafe‌. Nomad made the wallet from vegetable-tanned Horween leather that will develop a unique patina over time. Nomad's Mag Wallet is able to hold up to four standard credit cards, and it connects to ‌Find My‌ so if it comes off of the ‌iPhone‌ and is lost, it can be found with the ‌Find My‌ app. ‌Find My‌ network integration is included, so if you are out of range, it will be able to connect to Apple products owned by others to relay its location. ‌Find My‌ also includes features for playing a sound and getting a notification when the wallet is left behind. There is a rechargeable battery inside and the Mag Wallet can be charged using any Qi or ‌MagSafe‌ charger. The battery lasts for up to five months. The wallet can be attached to any ‌MagSafe‌ ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPhone‌ in a ‌MagSafe‌ case, and it comes in black and brown colors. The Leather Mag Wallet can be purchased from the Nomad website for $79.Tag: NomadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Says Some iCloud Services Experiencing Issues
Several of Apple's iCloud services are experiencing issues at the current time, with the System Status page reflecting problems with ‌iCloud‌ Mail, ‌iCloud‌ Storage Upgrades, ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps, iWork for ‌iCloud‌, and Photos. ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps and iWork for ‌iCloud‌ are both listed as having an outage at the current time, and Apple says that some users may be experiencing problems. The other services are shown with a yellow "Issue" warning, but they have the same note about some users experiencing problems with the service. The outages have been ongoing since 2:36 p.m. Eastern Time.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple's Invites App Gets More Backgrounds
Apple today updated its Invites app, adding a new event background options for customizing the look of event invitations that are sent out. Apple says that the added background options are ideal for planning a pool day, drinks with friends, or a watch party for the big game. There are several new backgrounds in the "Photographic" section, including clouds, a lime slice in soda water, lemon slices in punch, a frosty beer, watermelon slices, a pool inner tube, a disco ball, orchid flowers, bamboo shoots, a zoomed in shot of a chrysanthemum, a colorful set of pickleballs, tennis balls, footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, golf balls, a beach with clear water, a green bokeh background, brocade fabric, grass, colorful flowers, rainbow sparkles, a multi-colored light pattern, and champagne glasses. Apple launched the Invites app back in February, and this is the second update the app has received. In May, Apple added the option to include links in event invitations. Invites is an event planning app that supports creating custom invitations with unique background images, fonts, and relevant information like directions and the weather. It also has easy-to-use event managing and RSVP tools. While Invites is free, it is an iCloud+ service, so an ‌iCloud‌+ subscription is required to create an event. ‌iCloud‌+ plans are priced starting at $0.99 per month, and they include additional ‌iCloud‌ storage and features like Private Relay. Though an ‌iCloud‌+ subscription is needed for creating an event, anyone can RSVP to an invitation, including those without iPhones. The Invites app can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]Tag: Apple InvitesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Seeds Updated Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
Apple today provided developers with new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, with an 8A293c version number. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. This is the second beta so far. The new firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe. The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording. With the latest updates, Apple added a firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

iPhone Users Upset About Apple Promoting F1 Movie With Wallet App Notification
Apple today sent out an ad to some iPhone users in the form of a Wallet app push notification, and not everyone is happy about it. An unknown number of iPhone users in the U.S. today received the push notification, which promotes a limited-time $10 discount that movie ticket company Fandango is offering on a pair of tickets to Apple's new film "F1: The Movie." Some of the iPhone users who received the push notification have complained about it across the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, X, and other online discussion platforms. "As far as I can tell, Apple is now just sending me ads to my screen now as push notifications, something I hate with an absolute passion and disable across the board in every app that tries this," said one person who received the notification. Some people are especially upset about receiving a push notification ad through the Wallet app because it is a very important app for personal finances, so simply turning off notifications for the entire app is not a feasible solution. Worse, Apple seems to be ignoring the guidelines that apply to App Store apps. The company says push notifications should not be used for promotions or direct marketing purposes unless users have explicitly opted in to receive them for said purposes. The full text of Apple's guideline:Push Notifications should not be used for promotions or direct marketing purposes unless customers have explicitly opted in to receive them via consent language displayed in your app's UI, and you provide a method in your app for a user to opt out from receiving such messages.Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment. Apple has been heavily promoting F1: The Movie, which debuts in theaters on June 25 in Europe and on June 27 in the U.S. and Canada. However, the company may have gone a step too far here based on online reaction from some iPhone users. One silver lining is that the iOS 26 beta adds an "Offers & Promotions" toggle to the Wallet app, allowing users to opt in or out of receiving special offers and discounts available from Apple and its unspecified partners. However, Apple sent out to the push notification ad to iPhone users on iOS 18 too, and those users seemingly did not explicitly opt in to receive such an ad. For that reason, some people are disappointed in Apple.Tag: Apple WalletThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple Joins China Subsidy Program in Effort to Counter Declining Sales
Apple has joined China's national digital product subsidy program through its own direct sales channels for the first time, enabling eligible customers in Beijing and Shanghai to receive government-backed discounts on select iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs (via South China Morning Post). Apple customers in Shanghai can access the subsidies by purchasing qualifying devices in one of the city's eight Apple retail stores, while Beijing residents can receive the discount through Apple's online store, provided they use a Beijing shipping address. The program offers subsidies of up to 2,000 yuan (approximately $278) on certain Apple products, with eligibility criteria determined by product type and price. Devices priced below 6,000 yuan (roughly $835) receive a 15% discount, capped at 500 yuan, while some higher-value items such as Macs are eligible for a bigger discount. Previously, Apple products were available under the subsidy program only through authorized third-party platforms such as JD.com and Alibaba's Taobao marketplace. This therefore marks the first time Apple's own online and retail stores have participated directly in the scheme. Data from market analytics companies have painted a consistent picture of Apple's smartphone shipments in mainland China falling in 2025, making Apple the only one among the country's top five smartphone vendors to record a decline this year. By contrast, Xiaomi and Huawei have grown dramatically.Tags: China, South China Morning PostThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Here's Everything New in macOS Tahoe Beta 2
The second developer beta of macOS Tahoe is now available for testing, and it includes a handful of smaller new features and changes on the Mac. Below, we recap everything new that has been found in macOS Tahoe beta 2 so far. Redesigned Finder App Icon Crisis averted: Apple has restored the Finder icon's design to its former glory on the second beta. On the first macOS Tahoe developer beta, the app icon's colors were inverted, with blue appearing on the right side and white appearing on the left side. That change disappointed some people, and Apple has evidently listened to that feedback. Redesigned Migration Assistant App Icon The second beta also gives a fresh coat of paint to the Migration Assistant app icon. Menu Bar Background Option Apple removed the frosted background from the menu bar by default on macOS Tahoe, as part of the Liquid Glass redesign. If you miss it, though, the second beta adds a "Show menu bar background" option to the System Settings app under Menu Bar. AirPods Beta Firmware As spotted by Federico Trevisani, the second macOS Tahoe beta lets you enroll in beta testing of AirPods firmware updates directly on a Mac. First, connect your AirPods to your Mac. Next, open the System Settings app and click on the Bluetooth menu. Then, select the (i) symbol next to your AirPods. On the ensuing page, scroll down to the bottom and click on "AirPods Beta Updates. Finally, there is a toggle to enable beta firmware updates on your AirPods. Firmware updates will be installed when your AirPods are in their charging case and near the Мас. Apple currently offers AirPods beta firmware updates to developers only. However, that will soon change. Apple plans to start offering public betas of AirPods firmware updates in July for the first time, beginning with the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. The latest firmware beta for the ‌AirPods 4‌ and AirPods Pro 2 adds support for improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There is also an option to use AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording, and these AirPods models can automatically pause audio if it is detected that you fell asleep. Other ChangesApple's release notes for the second macOS Tahoe developer beta mention the same new Recovery Assistant feature that was added to iOS 26. Apple: "Recovery Assistant is a new way to recover your device if it doesn't start up normally. It can look for problems and attempt to resolve them if found." We have not independently confirmed this yet, but a Reddit user claims that you can now use Apple Intelligence when booting macOS Tahoe from an external drive, by default. On the first beta, and macOS Sequoia, this was only possible through a manual process that involved the use of Terminal. There is a new "Your Mac has been updated" notification.The first macOS Tahoe public beta will be available in July, and the update will likely be released to the general public in September.Related Roundup: macOS Tahoe 26Related Forum: macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

Apple's New Alarm Design in iOS 26 Might Make You Oversleep
In the iOS 26 beta, Apple has redesigned the alarm screen in the Clock app, giving it a cleaner look with a larger time display and significantly bigger buttons. When the alarm goes off, you'll now see two large, equal-sized buttons for Stop and Snooze placed side by side at the bottom of the screen. Alarm screen in iOS 18 (left) versus iOS 26 beta 2 While the redesign fits with Apple's broader visual refresh in iOS 26, it also seems to address a problem the company had already solved: reducing the chances of you hitting Stop instead of Snooze when you're half-awake and fumbling for your phone. Ironically, internal testing once showed that making both buttons the same size actually made that mistake more likely. According to Jack Fields, a former Apple engineer and head writer at Kernel Extension, the new layout contradicts internal research he was involved in during his time at the company. That testing included a version of the Clock app that logged user interactions to a heat map, tracking exactly where people tapped the screen upon waking. "It was recording where our sleepy hands were smacking around on the screen in order to see how accurate we were in turning off the alarms," says Fields. What they found was perhaps counterintuitive: when Stop and Snooze were made the same size and placed close together, users were 30% more likely to hit Stop by accident. In other words, it actually increased the chances of oversleeping. That's why recent versions of iOS feature a prominent, centered Snooze button and a much smaller Stop button tucked further down the screen. "By making the Stop button such a small hit target, it ensures you're awake enough to actually stop it," Fields explains. "This new design is... interesting," he adds. "It goes against any studies I was a part of, so I'm curious what data they have to support the change. It's terrifyingly large now." It's worth remembering this is beta software, and Apple could tweak the layout before the final release. But for now, the update makes you wonder whether a more symmetrical, simplified UI is always better, or (at least in this case) is it more likely to make you tap the wrong thing, just faster? In a related change you may have missed, Apple also now allows users to customize snooze length, choosing a length of time between 1 minute and 15 minutes. (Previously, tapping snooze always snoozed an alarm for nine minutes.) Now that's a change we can certainly get behind.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Read more »

What’s new in Copilot Studio: May 2025 
In this edition of our monthly roundup, we're recapping the biggest news from Microsoft Build 2025 and announcing new resources for Copilot Studio adoption and training.  The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

Researcher and Analyst are now generally available in Microsoft 365 Copilot
We’re excited to announce the general availability of Researcher and Analyst, two first-of-their-kind reasoning agents designed specifically for work. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

Multi-agent orchestration, maker controls, and more: Microsoft Copilot Studio announcements at Microsoft Build 2025
Explore powerful features in Microsoft Copilot Studio announced at Microsoft Build 2025, including multi-agent orchestration and more developer tools. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning, multi-agent orchestration, and more from Microsoft Build 2025
Today at Microsoft Build 2025, we announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning—a new, low-code capability in Microsoft Copilot Studio for every organization to tune AI models using their own company data, workflows, and processes—all without needing a team of data scientists or weeks of work. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

College students can get Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps free for three months
United States-based college students can now sign up for a free trial of our Microsoft 365 Personal subscription which comes with Copilot. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

Empowering multi-agent apps with the open Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol
We’re announcing support for Agent2Agent (A2A) interoperability in Azure AI Foundry and Microsoft Copilot Studio. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

What’s new in Copilot Studio: April 2025
Computer use, connectors, customer managed keys, and more. The post appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Read more »

Today's Best Mobile Game Discounts (Updated)
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links below to further vet these discounted games before you decide to buy: Games marked with an asterisk(*) denote that the entire developer/publisher’s catalog is discounted, despite the fact that all of their games may not be listed here Don't Starve: Pocket Edition ($0.99)* Click here to read our Don't Starve: Pocket Edition review Titan Quest: Legendary Edition ($9.99) ... [MORE]

Read more »

Warframe reveals more details for the Isleweaver update coming later this month
If you hate spiders, then boy howdy are you going to loathe this article, because the arachnid-themed Oraxia is landing in Warframe on June 25th. The 61st Warframe will join us in the Isleweaver update, as well as a fresh Clan Operation, and a player-friendly revamp of the game's introduction. Let’s kick off with the fun bit: Oraxia, and fair warning, it gets a bit spider-graphic. As the dubbed Mistress of Fear, Oraxia can poison her enemies and imbibe marked enemies for buffs. Her most nightmarish skill, however, is the summoning of spider swarms from the corpses of her slain foes. Enjoy that image. She brings the barb cluster Scyotid throwing weapon and poisonous Spinnerex whip with her. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Goddess of Victory: Nikke soon releases the Stellar Blade collaboration they announced many moons ago
Do you remember back in December when Goddess of Victory: Nikke announced a future collab with Stellar Blade? Of course, you don’t, because we have all hopefully slept multiple times since then, and they had the big crossover with Evangelion in the middle. Well, remember or not, it is almost upon us! Starting June 12th, multiple characters from the hit action-adventure will make their way over to help tackle the Raptures and protect what’s left of Earth. Protagonist Eve and her helpful mechanic, Lily, will make the jump, but so too is antagonist Raven, so expect a little bit of tension when you put them on a team together. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Monster Hunter Now reveals details of Season 6, including new weapon and Style Customisation
Monster Hunter Now Season 5 brought us a lot of fun times, such as the tricksyChameleos Elder Dragon, but sadly, it is time to bid adieu. Fret not, though, as Season 6 is coming out of the gates swinging with a new weapon type, skills, and fresh ways to swing your weapons. Fans of the standard Support Classes can soon celebrate as the Hunting Horn will release this season. When you attack, musical notes will start to accumulate. Order them correctly and you will trigger melody effects to increase your team's stats, impart Special Gauge acceleration, and even heal. Each weapon has its own effect, so start collecting early. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26
Apple today previewed iOS 26, a major update that brings a beautiful new design, intelligent experiences, and improvements to the apps users rely on every day.

Read more »

watchOS 26 delivers more personalized ways to stay active and connected
Apple today previewed watchOS 26, offering a beautiful new look and even more intelligence for a more personalized experience.

Read more »

Apple TV brings a beautiful redesign and enhanced home entertainment experience
Apple today previewed tvOS 26, making Apple TV even more immersive, enjoyable, and convenient.

Read more »

macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever
Apple today previewed macOS Tahoe 26, which introduces a stunning new design and powerful capabilities that enable users to get even more done.

Read more »

Apple introduces a delightful and elegant new software design
Apple previewed a new software design, crafted with Liquid Glass, that makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful.

Read more »

visionOS 26 introduces powerful new spatial experiences for Apple Vision Pro
Apple today previewed visionOS 26, an expansive update packed with groundbreaking spatial experiences and new features for Apple Vision Pro.

Read more »

Apple Intelligence gets even more powerful with new capabilities across Apple devices
Apple today announced new Apple Intelligence features that elevate the user experience across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Read more »

iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that push iPad even further
Apple today previewed iPadOS 26, the biggest iPadOS release ever, taking a huge leap forward and pushing the unique capabilities and versatility of iPad even further.

Read more »

AirPods now more versatile with studio-quality audio recording and camera remote
Apple today previewed software updates for AirPods that improve how users communicate and add new ways to capture content.

Read more »

Apple supercharges its tools and technologies for developers
Apple announced new technologies and enhancements to its developer tools to help developers create more beautiful, intelligent, and engaging apps.

Read more »

Hitman: World of Assassination is coming to Apple devices this year
The amount of console and PC games that have seamlessly popped over to iOS is frankly impressive, such as many Resident Evils, and my beloved Warframe. IO Interactive has clearly seen this and has finally said, “Hold my local Danish beverage”, because the outstanding Hitman World of Assassination is coming to iOS in Summer 2025. If you don’t know World of Assassination, then stop reading this and go buy it now! It is the rebranded collection of Hitman 1, 2, and 3. The trilogy that started in 2016, when they gave up with fancy monikers like Absolution and Silent Assassin. Anyway, some smart cookie in IO thought, “These are three of the greatest games ever, let's just make them into one”, and thus a legend was born. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Play Together embraces the eldritch with massive deep sea fish
Normally, when you think of massive underwater fish, you would think of Dredge or perhaps Jaws, real end is nigh stuff basically. It is precisely because of this that I think Haegin is going for a bit of a genre shift, as cute social game Play Together welcomes the Sea Monster update. More proof of this is how the story begins. The great sea beast sinks the Majesty, a ship that is supposed to protect Kaia Island, but is clearly bad at it. You must then head over to the Resort and take on missions such as rescuing the crew and rebuilding the Majesty. Last month was photo booths. This is a huge swing. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Warframe unveils a plethora of giveaways for its tenth TennoCon
Warframe fans have a lot to celebrate right now, as this year marks TennoCon's tenth celebration. Taking place from July 18th to19th, players who attend in-game and virtually are in for more than a few treats. There will be a derelict lyceum floating through the in-game stars to serve as this year's TennoCon Relay. You can kick back with the community and discuss the year's reveals, or go on an easter egg hunt to discover all the fun hidden goodies. It will be accessible between July 19th and August 2nd, so don’t miss out. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Ark: Ultimate Mobile Edition welcomes the forth expansion for the dinosaur survival sim
Back in the days of the Winter War, when holiday songs assaulted our senses and we all froze to popsicles, Ark: Ultimate Mobile Edition solved all our problems with that universal of solutions, dinosaurs. This week marks ten years since the original Survival Evolved launched, and to mark the occasion, Genesis Part 1 makes its way to mobile. Now, personally, I dislike it when technology gets involved in a good fantasy or prehistoric setting. Final Fantasy XIV is ruining their world doing it, and when you start getting turrets and grenade launches in Ark, I am kind of done. Now to fake enthusiasm for a tech-heavy expansion! ... [MORE]

Read more »

Monster Hunter Go can’t make its mind up as it pushes the Charge Blade this week
Are you a fan of the Charge Blade in Monster Hunter Now? Of course you aren’t, because it isn’t the Dual Blades. However, if you do like to waste an offensive arm during battle, then until June 8th, you can enjoy a boosted performance for all Charge Blades. To give it its due, changing from Axe to Sword mode is pretty cool, so it can get a pass. By equipping this weapon and certain armour, you can complete limited-time quests to gain rewards, such as slaying Bazelgeuse and Zinogre. Clearing these will net you the likes of Earth crystals, Volvidon Bones, Nergigante Horn+, and Zenny. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Prince of Persia, Kumome, and more; The Games I've Been Playing – May 2025
Each month, I want to share some less formal thoughts about the games I've been playing and my impressions of them. These might be game's that got reviewed for the site or not. As an individual person covering a storefront that is shoveling titles onto its store each day, I have time to dip my toes into a lot of it, but I can't always spend the time needed for a review. With recaps like this, I can give some games their due, even if I can't get a full review of them. I can also add additional thoughts to things I did decide to write about or even honor older games I just decided to back to for some reason or another. See below for what I played this past month. Scratch Inc. (Free) This idle game took over my Memorial Day weekend. InScratch Inc., you scratch off virtual scratch cards to earn points, and—like all good clicker-type games—you can use those points on things that let you earn more points. There’s something oddly satisfying but also deviously compelling about mindlessly scratching and pumping up numbers to jump through this game’s various hoops, and a lot of that ties back to the fact that when you do this the numbers just keep going up. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Holo Hunt lets you scour your neighbourhood for AR eggs to win IRL goodies, now in early access
ABIU Ltd has kicked off early access for Holo Hunt, inviting you to start your collection of Aether Eggs from the future across an Augmented Reality game. Now free to play on iOS and Android, the AR adventure tasks you with unlocking rare technologies and powerful artifacts from the year 2087 via AR eggs, turning your local neighbourhood into a parallel universe brought on by the Nexus Convergence. Top that off with real-world prizes you can score simply by collecting those eggs, and it might just be worth turning your regular Sunday walk into an actual egg hunt. If you can manage to earn enough points with every Aether Egg you collect, you can enter the Exodus Hunt - a global challenge where only the best of the best can compete for the ultimate prize. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Snowbreak: Containment Zone introduces its strongest support yet in latest update
This past weekend was the Destiny: Rising beta test over in the US and Canada, and I think everyone can join me in being jealous of those lucky people who got to try it. Happily, though, another shooter is stepping in to ease the pain, with Snowbreak: Containment Zone dropping its Fragments of Truth update. Let’s dive straight into the new character, as Amazing Seasun describes her as the strongest support yet. Vidya - Celestial Swan is a Chaos sniper wielder who can reduce enemy resistance and defence for bigger damage. You can pick up her Starlit Truth weapon, which enhances her energy regen. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Asphalt Legends Unite clashes with the king of video game speed as Sonic enters the race
It has sadly been quite a while since we heard anything about Sonic Rumble, the last piece of news being the postponed launch back at the end of April. So, we are left waiting. And how will we tide ourselves over? Perhaps with the Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration with Asphalt Legends Unite? Sonic and friends will be joining the race, and god bless the little blue rodent, he’s making it fair and also jumping in a car instead of running literal rings around his opponents. During this event, slated to last until June 26th, you can tackle the Boss Mode, a one-on-one race against a weekly revolving challenger, each with a Sonic-inspired car aesthetic. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Mr Lone Hero is a physics-based arcade shooter that's out now on iOS and Android
Unit102 Games has officially launched Mr Lone Hero on iOS and Android, inviting you to put your shooting skills to the test across the Wild West. The studio's new arcade shooter will have you rescuing hostages and taking down bandits through 11 different locations, with each mission getting progressively more difficult as you go along. In Mr Lone Hero, you can look forward to clearing stages with a variety of physics-based challenges. How you get rid of the baddies in the way depends on how you shoot - how can you angle your trajectory so that your bullets hit the sweet spot? There's also that hapless hostage to look out for too, of course - not to mention the best weapon you need to equip to breeze through the levels as efficiently (and with more stars!) as possible. ... [MORE]

Read more »

Mirren: Star Legends joins the Crunchyroll vault as Ani-May draws to a close
We are in the death throes of Ani-May, and Crunchyroll isn’t done with the game releases just yet. A stunning number of them have been added to the vault, including thatgenuine gold mine from the beginning of the month, and we can now add Mirren: Star Legends to that list. Since being born into existence 120,000 years ago, Mirren has played host to a huge number of races, including angels, humans, elves, demons, and dragons. Chaos was inevitable and constant, somewhat obviously when one of the races is big, scaly beasts that could easily swallow the rest of them whole. ... [MORE]

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays to H3G in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Jun 25, 06:53 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to H3G in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Failures to Al Madar in Libya
Jun 25, 05:12 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery failures when sending to Al Madar in Libya. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We expect to provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays and Failures to T-Mobile in the Netherlands
Jun 25, 04:10 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays and failures when sending messages to T-Mobile in the Netherlands. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

Delays to live runs showing in the Zap run history page.
Jun 25, 01:11 PDTInvestigating - We're currently investigating an issue causing delays in the Zap run history page populating live runs. Our team is actively working to identify and resolve the error. We will provide updates as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays and Failures to DigiMobil (Movistar) in Spain
Jun 25, 01:03 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays and failures when sending messages to DigiMobil (Movistar) in Spain. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

United States SMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
Jun 24, 22:07 PDTIn progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.Jun 24, 22:04 PDTScheduled - Our SMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting an emergency maintenance from 24 June 2025 at 21:50 PDT until 25 June 2025 at 01:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to and from AT&T United States handsets via United States short codes.We are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.

Read more »

Twilio Voice Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Jun 25, 06:00 - 08:00 PDTJun 24, 19:53 PDTScheduled - Twilio will conduct a planned maintenance on our circuits in the Australia Twilio network from 25 July 2025 at 06:00 PDT until 25 July 2025 at 08:00 PDT. During the maintenance window there could be intermittent impact on calls via the Twilio’s network in Australia.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays to Altan Redes in Mexico
Jun 24, 11:39 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Altan Redes in Mexico. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

Users Unable to Verify Phone Number on Newly-Created Twilio Accounts
Jun 24, 11:02 PDTInvestigating - We have identified an issue that is preventing some users from verifying their phone number when creating a new Twilio account. Our engineering team is looking into the issue. We expect to provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

Issue with Webhook steps processing actions unexpecting, causing errors.
Jun 24, 10:18 PDTInvestigating - We've identified an reoccurance of an issue where POST requests sent via WebHooks with Form payload type are returning unexpected content (e.g. ), resulting in missing output and causing dependent steps in Zaps to fail. Separtely, some users have also reported Post requests are sending two responses for a single POST action. Our engineering team is actively working on a fix. Once deployed, we will automatically replay all affected runs and errored steps.

Read more »

Emerging Service Issue – DNS
Jun 24, 16:08 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating an emerging service issue affecting DNS resolution through our nameservers. We will share additional updates as we have more information.

Read more »

Elevated HTTP 504 Errors Affecting Programmable Messaging API
Jun 24, 07:16 PDTResolved - Twilio's Programmable Messaging API was degraded for 30 seconds between 6:05:30 a.m. to 6:06:00 a.m. Pacific Time on 6/24/2025. During this period of time customers may have experienced problems or symptoms:- HTTP 5xx errors when attempting to send outbound messages across all ChannelsThe issue has now been resolved.

Read more »

Delay in emission of Conference Insights Summaries
Jun 24, 00:51 PDTIdentified - Conference Insights summaries are being delayed since 16:00 UTC Jun 23rd. Customers using Conference insights console or conference insights API will not be able to receive the latest update. We have identified the issue and working to mitigate it.

Read more »

On Call Engineers are Investigating an issue
Jun 23, 23:50 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue in messaging app dequeue function. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays to Bandwidth Network in US Over a Subset of Shortcodes
Jun 23, 19:51 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays to Bandwidth network in US for a subset of short codes. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We expect to provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

Read more »

Webhooks Steps with Form Data Causing Step Errors
Jun 23, 17:46 PDTIdentified - On Monday, June 23, 2025, 03:06 UTC, we've identified an issue where POST requests sent via Webhooks with Form payload type are returning unexpected content (e.g. ), resulting in missing output and causing dependent steps in Zaps to fail.Our engineering team is actively working on a fix. Once deployed, we will automatically replay all affected runs and errored steps.There are currently no signs of data loss. We'll continue monitoring closely.

Read more »

SMS Delivery Delays To Claro Network in Chile
Jun 23, 17:13 PDTUpdate - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Claro Network in Chile. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.Jun 23, 17:02 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue SMS delivery delays To Claro network in Chile. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

Read more »

On Call Engineers are Investigating an issue with Call Failures From Subscribers To Cayman Islands Twilio Phone Numbers
Jun 23, 14:35 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue call failures from subscribers To Cayman Islands Twilio Phone Numbers. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

Read more »

On Call Engineers are Investigating an issue with Call Failures From Subscribers To Cayman Islands Twilio Phone Numbers
Jun 23, 14:35 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue call failures from subscribers To Cayman Islands Twilio Phone Numbers. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU – Yellow – G19G0LL/A – $1,409.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU - Yellow – G19G0LL/A $1,409.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 8GB unified memory 1TB SSD¹ Magic Keyboard with Touch ID⁵ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Two USB 3 ports (up to 10Gb/s) Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1974LL/A – $1,359.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1974LL/A $1,359.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 16GB unified memory 1TB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1973LL/A – $1,209.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1973LL/A $1,209.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 16GB unified memory 512GB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Green – G1962LL/A – $1,069.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Green – G1962LL/A $1,069.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K35LL/A – $1,949.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K35LL/A $1,949.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 32GB unified memory 1TB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1976LL/A – $1,359.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1976LL/A $1,359.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 24GB unified memory 512GB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1E51LL/A – $1,269.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1E51LL/A $1,269.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 16GB unified memory 512GB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU – Blue – G19K1LL/A – $1,389.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU - Blue – G19K1LL/A $1,389.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 24GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ Magic Keyboard with Touch ID⁵ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Two USB 3 ports (up to 10Gb/s) Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K34LL/A – $1,779.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K34LL/A $1,779.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 32GB unified memory 512GB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Green – G1E43LL/A – $1,269.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Green – G1E43LL/A $1,269.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 24GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet – Yellow – G1E30LL/A – $1,129.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet - Yellow – G1E30LL/A $1,129.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 16GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1EM0LL/A – $1,439.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1EM0LL/A $1,439.00 Originally released October 2024 24-inch 4.5K Retina display² 24GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View Four Thunderbolt 4 ports Gigabit Ethernet Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU – Yellow – G19F1LL/A – $1,389.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU - Yellow – G19F1LL/A $1,389.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 24GB unified memory 256GB SSD¹ Magic Keyboard with Touch ID⁵ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Two USB 3 ports (up to 10Gb/s) Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1970LL/A – $1,069.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1970LL/A $1,069.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 8GB unified memory 512GB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »

Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Blue – G1971LL/A – $1,209.00
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M3 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Blue – G1971LL/A $1,209.00 Originally released October 2023 24-inch 4.5K Retina display;² 4480-by-2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors 8GB unified memory 1TB SSD¹ 1080p FaceTime HD camera Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Product page on the Apple Store…

Read more »