Apple has announced its annual iPhone event for 9 September 2025, with rumors indicating a thinner iPhone 17 Air model replacing the Plus version, along with updates to the Apple Watch lineup. In a significant antitrust ruling, Google secured the right to keep ownership of Chrome and continue paying Apple $20 billion annually for search placement, though the company still plans to appeal its monopoly status. The Browser Company has been acquired by Atlassian for $610 million, with promises to maintain Arc while focusing on Dia. On the AI front, Adam Engst explores AI chatbot privacy options and the sustainability of subscription models. Finally, we share Kevin Kelly’s comprehensive guide to modern publishing. Notable Mac app releases this week include Airfoil 5.12.6, Audio Hijack 4.5.3, and Piezo 1.9.6, BusyCal 2025.3.1 and BusyContacts 2025.3.1, Camo Studio 2.3, Carbon Copy Cloner 7.1.3, Coherence X 5.0.1, Mellel 6.5, OmniFocus 4.7.1, Parallels Desktop 26, Quicken Classic 8.3, Retrobatch 2.3, and SoundSource 5.8.6.
Apple has announced an event for 9 September 2025, teasing it to the press with the phrase “Awe Dropping.” We expect new iPhones and Apple Watches, likely along with release dates for iOS 26 and watchOS 26 at a minimum, and probably the rest of Apple’s operating systems as well.
A federal court’s remedies ruling allows Google to retain its Chrome browser and continue paying Apple billions for Safari search placement while recognizing the growing influence of generative AI on the search landscape.
In an all-cash deal, Atlassian adds The Browser Company’s Arc and Dia to its suite of workplace tools. Hopefully, Atlassian will recognize the value in connecting Arc’s productivity features with Dia’s AI capabilities.
Anthropic is prompting Claude users to opt into having their conversations used for training future models. While the immediate privacy risks seem low, the long-term implications of AI training data remain unclear, suggesting a cautious approach.
The AI industry is standardizing around $20 monthly subscriptions for premium features. However, with multiple services requiring separate subscriptions and third-party apps dependent on model providers, will this approach ultimately prove practical for both consumers and developers?
Watchlist
Three Rogue Amoeba audio apps add initial support for macOS 26 Tahoe. ($35/69/29 new, free update, various sizes, macOS 14.4+)
Brings new features and improvements to the personal information management apps. ($49.99 new for each, free update, various sizes, macOS 11.5+)
Brings new and improved Scenes to the virtual camera system. ($49.99 annual subscription, free update, 77 MB, macOS 12.3+)
Addresses handling of iCloud placeholder file remnants from before macOS 14 Sonoma. ($49.99 new, free update, 28.3 MB, macOS 13+)
Major upgrade for the site-specific browser that lets you turn websites into Chromium-based native apps. ($39.99 new, $29.99 upgrade, 26.4 MB, macOS 13.5+)
Brings improved navigation history and user interface enhancements to the word processor. ($69.99 new, free update, 107.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)
Introduces three powerful enhancements to the task management app. ($74.99 new for Standard, $149.99 for Pro, or $9.99 monthly subscription, free update, 35.6 MB, macOS 14+)
Upgrades the virtualization software with support for macOS 26 Tahoe and many under-the-hood enhancements. ($99.99 Standard Edition new, upgrades available, 5.4 MB, macOS 13+)
Defaults to Detailed Tracking when adding supported accounts at financial institutions. ($71.88/$95.88/$131.88 annual subscription, free update, 3.2 MB, macOS 12+)
Adds the capability to compare a modified image against the original image using new toolbar modes. ($29.99/$49.99 new, free update, 58.7 MB, macOS 12+)
Updates the audio control utility with workarounds for a couple of known issues and initial support for macOS 26 Tahoe. ($45 new, free update, 37.8 MB, macOS 14.5+)
