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MacRumors · 24 min ago

First macOS Golden Gate Public Beta Now Available

Apple today released the first public beta of macOS Golden Gate , expanding the macOS 27 beta test to non-developers. You can sign up to test the update on Apple's beta website , and then download it by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggling on the macOS 27 beta. ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ includes the same Siri AI features as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 , but you get to ‌Siri‌ through Spotlight with a Command + Space keyboard shortcut. ‌Siri‌ can search the web to answer questions, look through your personal data like photos, emails, and messages to help you find what you're searching for, and complete actions in and between apps. There is a dedicated ‌Siri‌ app, and you can hold ongoing conversations with ‌Siri‌. Apple brought Visual Intelligence to the Mac, so ‌Siri‌ can look at what's on your screen and answer questions about it. The Liquid Glass design introduced last year has been updated, and Apple added a slider for controlling overall system transparency. Liquid Glass opacity has been changed so it better diffuses complex content, and other design changes bring more depth and separation to the UI so it's easier to tell which window is active. Apps now feature uniform toolbars with headings and controls that are easier to read, and windows no longer have such dramatically rounded corners. Sidebars are no longer floating and extend edge-to-edge, plus window positioning is more consistent across ex

MacRumors · 27 min ago

iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Now Available to Public Beta Testers

Apple today released the first public betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 , allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. 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. Today's public beta is identical to the third developer beta, and there's also a newly revised ‌iPadOS 27‌ third beta available for developers. ‌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

MacRumors · 28 min ago

tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 Now Available to Public Beta Testers

Apple today released the first public betas of tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 , giving Apple TV and Apple Watch users a chance to try the new software ahead of its fall launch. There's also a new HomePod Software 27 beta for the ‌HomePod‌ and HomePod mini . You can sign up for Apple's public beta testing program on the beta website , and then download the updates through the Settings app on each device. Today's public betas are the same as the third developer betas released last week. ‌watchOS 27‌ adopts Siri AI, and you can use ‌Siri‌ from your wrist as long as you have an iPhone that supports it. ‌Siri‌ AI can access your personal information, answer all kinds of questions, and complete tasks for you. There is a dedicated ‌Siri‌ app that's front and center on the watch in the new dynamic app grid that comes up when pressing the Digital Crown. There's a new gesture for selecting a widget in the Smart Stack, plus Apple added Smart Stack suggestions for finding a parked car, accessing a transit card, and getting a birthday reminder. Workout Buddy works without your iPhone nearby, treadmill run and walk distances are tracked more accurately, and Apple added a unified Find My app that also supports Precision Finding. tvOS 27 has a redesigned Podcasts app, Hi-Res Lossless audio and AutoMix song transitions in Apple Music , and easier profile switching. With performance improvements, apps launch faster, animations are speedier, and devices

MacRumors · 3 hr ago

Apple Seeds Fifth iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 Betas to Developers

Apple today seeded the fifth betas of upcoming iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple seeded the fourth betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. With iOS 27 set to launch in September, Apple is wrapping up work on iOS 26 . We are not expecting any major new features in the iOS 26.6 update, and it will primarily focus on bug fixes and performance improvements. The update adds new wording around blocked contact limits, letting users know when they have exceeded the maximum number of blocked contacts . The update might also include a new anti-snatching feature that locks your iPhone if it's grabbed from your hand. Related Roundups: iOS 26 , iPadOS 26 Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, " Apple Seeds Fifth iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 Betas to Developers " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 3 hr ago

Fifth macOS Tahoe 26.6 Beta Now Available for Developers

Apple today provided the fifth beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the fourth beta. Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required. With macOS Golden Gate launching in just a couple months, Apple is likely focusing most of its attention on the new software. We are not expecting any major new features in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6. Related Roundup: macOS Tahoe Related Forum: macOS Tahoe This article, " Fifth macOS Tahoe 26.6 Beta Now Available for Developers " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 3 hr ago

Apple Releases Fifth watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Betas

Apple today provided developers with the fifth betas of upcoming watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple seeded the fourth betas. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on what's in the software as of yet. watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS often get few features in each new beta, with updates primarily focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements. Related Roundups: Apple TV , Apple Vision Pro , watchOS 26 , watchOS 27 Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy) , Vision Pro (Neutral) Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater , Apple Vision Pro , Apple Watch This article, " Apple Releases Fifth watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Betas " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 4 hr ago

Report: Apple's OpenAI Lawsuit Threatens iPhone Rival Plans

OpenAI's ambitions to build a hardware rival to the iPhone are already running into trouble because of Apple's trade secret lawsuit, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman , who argues the damage is showing up well before any court ruling. Apple sued OpenAI last week , accusing the company of pushing former employees, and even people it was trying to recruit, to hand over details on unreleased products. The suit also claims OpenAI coached new hires on how to dodge Apple's exit-interview security checks using a document tied to former iPhone design chief Tang Tan. Apple is asking the court to order OpenAI to stop the alleged conduct, destroy any proprietary material it obtained, and pay damages. A courtroom resolution could take years, Gurman says, but he argues the suit is doing damage now, squeezing OpenAI's ability to recruit and creating drag on its device work long before a judge weighs in. OpenAI has declined to discuss its hardware roadmap directly, though in response to the suit the company said it has "no interest in other companies' trade secrets" and remains focused on its own technology. The scale of the talent drain is a major part of why this matters to Apple. More than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, including former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and Gurman says the company poached so heavily from Apple's iPhone product design group specifically that Apple had to rebuild parts of the team. Apple has responded with bigger retention bonuses and execut

MacRumors · 6 hr ago

Apple's Steady iPhone Pricing Pays Off as Rivals Scramble

Apple captured a record 20% share of the global smartphone market in the second quarter of 2026, even as worldwide shipments fell 4% year-over-year amid an ongoing memory chip shortage, according to a new report from Omdia . It is Apple's best second-quarter showing on record, landing in what is normally its slowest stretch of the year. Omdia credits this to a strong iPhone 17 upgrade cycle, as well as Apple keeping prices flat across the lineup while rivals were forced to raise theirs. The firm still flagged that Apple raised prices on other products late in the quarter, which raises the question of whether iPhone pricing will follow suit later this year. The wider industry slump traces back to a memory chip shortage that has pushed component costs sharply higher, with some vendors reportedly paying several times more for memory than a year ago. Samsung was the only other major vendor to grow, holding the top overall spot at 22% share as Chinese competitors pulled back their lineups and raised prices to cope. Omdia expects the squeeze to worsen over the next two quarters as peak shopping season collides with tight supply, pushing vendors further upmarket to protect margins. That is expected to leave fewer affordable options for budget buyers, and adds another data point to observe as Apple heads into an iPhone 18 cycle already facing rising component costs of its own. Tag: Omdia This article, " Apple's Steady iPhone Pricing Pays Off as Rivals Scramble " first appeared on Mac

MacRumors · 7 hr ago

Apple Acquiring SigScalr

In March, Apple informed the EU that it had agreed to acquire certain assets and hire employees from SigScalr, according to a notice published today on the European Commission's website . SigScalr created the open-source observability platform SigLens, which companies can use to aggregate and analyze logs, metrics, and traces at massive scales for monitoring and debugging purposes. SigLens was known for being a cost-effective and fast solution compared to many competing platforms. Tag: Apple Acquisition This article, " Apple Acquiring SigScalr " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 7 hr ago

Missed the Last Apple Watch Sale? Series 11 Now $100 Off on Amazon

Amazon this week has 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 Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? 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 Deals This article, " Missed the Last Apple Watch Sale? Series 11 Now $100 Off on Amazon " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 7 hr ago

Apple Plans AirPods-Like Pairing for Meta's Glasses and Quest

Apple is developing a new API that will let third-party accessories, including Meta 's Ray-Ban ‌Meta‌ glasses and Quest headsets, automatically pair across a user's Apple devices the same way AirPods and the Apple Watch do today, according to Apple's EU Interoperability Request page . The plan responds to a request ‌Meta‌ filed in October 2025 under the EU's Digital Markets Act, asking Apple to let a ‌Meta‌ device, once paired with one iPhone or iPad , automatically become available on a user's other Apple devices without extra prompts. Third-party accessories have never been able to tap into that ability, meaning owning non-Apple hardware alongside an iPhone has always involved more friction. If Apple builds this out, that gap will close, at least for whichever manufacturers get access to the new API. Apple told ‌Meta‌ on February 4 that it plans to let third-party apps access cryptographic materials that make a pairing completed on one Apple device usable on another, secured by a session key and a one-time, per-accessory user consent. Apple expects to finish development by spring 2027 and ship it "shortly thereafter," which points toward an iOS 27.x update, possibly iOS 27.4, though Apple has not yet confirmed a version. The feature runs on AccessorySetupKit and Proximity Pairing, infrastructure Apple built to comply with a March 2025 European Commission ruling and which only works in the EU today, the same infrastructure behind the p

MacRumors · 9 hr ago

Apple Stock Hits Record Territory as Traders Sour on AI Spending

Apple shares have rallied 15 percent since their worst day on the stock market in more than a year, adding almost $600 billion in value since June 25 and returning the stock to record territory (via Bloomberg ). The rebound comes as investors grow uneasy about the mind-boggling sums of cash continually being poured into the AI data center buildout, despite there being no obvious indicator for when investors will get a return on their investment. Apple's decision to sit out the data center spending spree and instead pay Google for access to its frontier AI models is being increasingly seen by traders as an asset rather than a liability. Apple is using Google's Gemini to underpin the revamped version of Siri and new Apple Intelligence features across its platforms. Apple's WWDC presentation last month of upcoming AI features in iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate initially sent the stock lower, but it has since rebounded in impressive fashion. The rally has occurred in spit of the fact that Apple is facing pressure from soaring memory chip costs, which was what prompted the company to raise prices on Macs, iPads, and its Home devices on June 25. That was the move that triggered the company's worst single-day stock drop since April 2025, with shares closing at $275.15. Apple's iPhone models were spared similar price hikes, but the company has hinted that further increases could follow. Investors are also viewing Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, expected in September, as a potential ca

MacRumors · 9 hr ago

Meta Pulls AI Image Feature From Instagram Days After Launch

Remember that new feature Meta announced last week that let people use public Instagram posts and reels to generate AI content? It didn't last long. Meta pulled the feature from Instagram late on Friday, following widespread criticism over privacy concerns. "Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public ​content could be referenced in this way," Meta said in a statement . "We've ​heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so ⁠it's no longer available," the company added. Tag: Meta This article, " Meta Pulls AI Image Feature From Instagram Days After Launch " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors · 10 hr ago

5 New Waze Features Rolling Out Now: Here Are All the Details

Google today announced that Waze is getting a handful of new features, including some Gemini-powered personalization enhancements for Conversational Reporting. Conversational Reporting already uses Gemini when users report traffic incidents like slowdowns, but now you can use it to suggest map updates like road closures or outdated addresses. Saying something like "The road is closed here" will prompt Waze to send the information to local map editors, who then verify the suggestion and update the map for everyone. Google says reporting road updates conversationally is rolling out now globally on iOS and Android. Elsewhere, Gemini is being recruited in Waze to help users who know what they need to get, but don't know where to get it. Before navigating somewhere, you can tap the search voice icon to ask questions like "Find me a coffee shop that's open right now," "Find me parking close to Grand Mall" or something more specific like "Find me a gas station nearby with the lowest prices." Google says Waze will respond with a list of options that you can navigate using your voice. The feature is also rolling out worldwide now on all platforms. In addition, Waze is getting an option to adjust to a "less chatty" mode for voice prompts, so that interacting with the app's driving directions doesn't intrude as much on a driver's music or podcast listening. Waze is also getting a new Motorcycle Mode that includes two-wheeled shortcuts and more accurate ETAs for more optimal routing. Las

MacRumors · 11 hr ago

Report: Apple Agreed to Intel Chips Amid White House Tariff Talks

Apple faced pressure from the White House to use Intel's chipmaking plants while it was negotiating relief from semiconductor tariffs last summer, reports The Wall Street Journal ($). In August 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook was in Washington to lobby the Trump administration to drop its proposed 100 percent tariff on semiconductor imports – a levy that would have raised costs across Apple's product line. Apple reportedly secured an exemption after pledging to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S., although many of those investments were already planned. During the meetings, president Trump and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick are said to have urged Cook to use Intel's fabrication plants to make some of Apple's chips. The link between the tariff talks and the Apple-Intel deal had not been previously reported. Almost a year later, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that Apple would begin using Intel-made chips in some products. "We need to design and build our Chips right here in America," the president posted. The news sent Intel shares to record highs. According to a person familiar with the negotiations cited by the WSJ , Apple plans to have Intel make chips for both Mac laptops and iPhones. The report doesn't say which chips or in what volume, and Apple is expected to remain reliant on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, for the majority of its custom silicon. Apple hasn't looked to Intel as a supplier before, both because the chipmaker