Search
Articles · 30
Apple tests AI for Genius Bar, sends letters to ex-staff at OpenAI
A July 21, 2026 recap highlights Apple's testing of an AI note-taking system for Genius Bar use, scrapped Intel Mac Pro plans, legal letters to ex-employees at OpenAI, and up to 11% iPhone price hikes in Japan. These stories reflect ongoing AI development, hardware strategy shifts, talent retention efforts, and market pricing dynamics.
Apple to launch Upgrade leasing program on July 28
Apple will launch a new Apple Upgrade leasing program on July 28 according to a Bloomberg report, in partnership with Klarna, offering lower monthly payments on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch purchases with 24- or 36-month terms. The move ends new signups for the existing iPhone Upgrade Program and arrives as the company has raised hardware prices.
iOS 27 public beta lands with Siri AI
Apple released iOS 27 and macOS 27 public betas this week alongside a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of trade secret theft. The moves give early access to Siri AI features while escalating legal tensions between the two companies.
Samsung reveals tougher Flex Titanium foldable screen
Samsung has introduced Flex Titanium, a thinner and mechanically stiffer foldable display that reduces visible creases and power consumption. The panel, built on experience from seven prior generations, will launch in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and may supply Apple’s expected folding iPhone.
Apple Intelligence Secures Chinese Regulatory Clearance
Chinese regulators have cleared Apple Intelligence for local deployment, allowing the on-device AI service to reach iPhones in the country for the first time. The rollout will draw on models from Alibaba and Baidu and follows a 24.4 percent year-over-year rise in iPhone shipments during the second quarter.
Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing secrets for AI hardware
Apple has filed a 41-page lawsuit accusing OpenAI and three former employees of stealing confidential documents and trade secrets to aid development of the startup's first AI hardware device. The claims include retaining company computers, exploiting network vulnerabilities, and coaching staff on evading security to obtain unreleased product details.
Apple Adds Child Safety Features to iOS 27
Apple announced new child safety features for iOS 27 during its June WWDC keynote, following years of advocacy and lawsuits over CSAM and app store practices. The updates represent a shift for the company, though advocates like Sarah Gardner of the Heat Initiative see them as positive but not transformative.
Foldable iPhone Ultra Faces Delayed Pre-Orders, iOS 27 Beta 3 Arrives
Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra faces production constraints that could push pre-orders into Q4 2026 after its September unveiling, while iOS 27 beta 3 delivers new Siri and Home features that require a 2TB iCloud+ plan. The updates also surface larger battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and a 2026 Apple TV 4K refresh tied to Siri AI.
Apple accuses OpenAI of trade secret theft in new lawsuit
Apple filed suit against OpenAI on Thursday, claiming the AI firm benefited from stolen proprietary information. The complaint identifies former executives Chang Liu and Tang Tan among the defendants and states the company received no response after raising concerns in February.
Chip Industry Roundup: Micron, Apple, Quantum Deals
Micron, Apple and quantum startups drove major capital commitments this week while global chip sales set a new record. Persistent workforce shortages and construction bottlenecks continue to challenge industry expansion.
Apple earns record 89 Emmy nominations
Apple secured a historic 89 nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards across 15 programs, leading all networks in major drama and comedy categories. The haul underscores the growing impact of its original programming following last year’s sweep of the top awards.
Apple commits over $30 billion to Broadcom in major US chip pact
Apple has disclosed a more than $30 billion agreement with Broadcom as its largest single pledge under the American Manufacturing Program. The partnership will generate over 15 billion domestically produced chips through an expanded Colorado plant while backing hundreds of U.S. positions.
EU Court Rejects Apple's Bid to Overturn Gatekeeper Label
The General Court dismissed Apple's 2024 challenge to the European Commission's gatekeeper designation for its App Stores and iOS under the DMA. Obligations on self-preferencing, data combining, alternative app stores, and interoperability remain in force while the iMessage claim was ruled inadmissible.
Apple asks California court to freeze Epic Games case during Supreme Court review
Apple has asked the Northern District of California to suspend remand proceedings in its antitrust dispute with Epic Games while the Supreme Court weighs the civil contempt finding. The filing contends that letting the lower court move forward now would waste resources if the justices overturn the Ninth Circuit’s decision on the commission Apple may charge for external purchases.
Supreme Court denies Apple's pause on Texas age verification law
The US Supreme Court denied a request to pause Texas's age verification law, so Apple must keep verifying iPhone users' ages in the state. The one-sentence ruling keeps enforcement in place while the broader constitutional challenge moves forward.
Broadcom and Apple Extend Custom Chip Partnership Through 2031
Broadcom will develop and supply custom chips for Apple through 2031 under an expanded partnership that covers wireless components and accounts for about 20 percent of the chipmaker's revenue.
iPhone Ultra faces severe supply limits at September launch
Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple's first foldable iPhone Ultra will have only 0.5-1 million units available in Q3 2026, making a September ship date improbable and initial supply extremely tight. The constraints echo the iPhone X launch and are expected to drive long wait times and significant resale premiums until early 2027.
Russia threatens Apple with fine over alleged app discrimination
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has given Apple until July 15 to fix alleged discriminatory practices against local search engines and software or face a fine of approximately $52 million. The demand revives a preinstallation rule for the state-backed MAX messaging app that Apple had sidestepped after halting sales in the country in March 2022.
Cloudflare to block mixed-purpose bots from ad-supported sites by default
Cloudflare will block mixed-use crawlers from ad-supported pages by default beginning September 15, 2026, aiming to protect publisher revenue from unpermitted AI training scrapes while still allowing search indexing. The policy affects bots from Apple, Google, and Microsoft that combine indexing with data harvesting and encourages clearer separation of those activities.
Apple Emerges as Biggest Winner From Memory Price Surge
Apple has raised MacBook and iPad prices amid a memory cost surge driven by AI demand, yet DIGITIMES analysis positions the company as the biggest winner rather than a victim of the trend. The distinction highlights Apple's supply chain advantages over peers forced to hike prices under margin pressure.
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Apple's Epic App Store Appeal
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple's appeal of a contempt ruling over its App Store linking fees for alternative payments. The case could determine whether injunctions must follow exact wording or their broader spirit and whether they can apply universally to all developers.
Apple asks Supreme Court to slash $502M Optis patent license bill
Apple is urging the UK Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that raised its patent licensing obligation to Optis Wireless from $56 million to $502 million, arguing the appellate methodology was flawed and arbitrary.
Tata Electronics leak is mostly Apple data
Tata Electronics confirmed a cybersecurity incident after extortion group World Leaks published more than 630 GB of data that is overwhelmingly Apple-related according to a file index. The breach affects an Indian contract manufacturer that assembles iPhones and supplies other global tech companies.
Apple Vision Pro and Smart Glasses Chief Paul Meade Departs for OpenAI
Paul Meade, Apple’s VP in charge of Vision Pro and smart glasses development, is leaving for OpenAI’s hardware unit by next week to work on its AI-powered devices. The departure, reported June 26, 2026, continues a pattern of executives exiting Apple for AI rivals and follows a 2025 restructuring of the company’s spatial computing teams.
Apple lifts prices on MacBook and iPad models as component costs climb
Apple announced price increases on several MacBook and iPad models after CEO Tim Cook warned last week that surging memory and storage costs driven by AI demand could no longer be fully absorbed by the company. The moves represent the first formal transfer of those expenses to customers and signal that further adjustments may follow.
Apple's Online Store Goes Offline
Apple's online store is currently down displaying the message "We'll be right back" with no official explanation provided. The outage comes as the company's Back to School promotion is overdue and price increases have been signaled as imminent by CEO Tim Cook.
App Store Connect experiences performance problems for certain developers
Apple’s System Status page reports performance problems with App Store Connect that began at 9:00 a.m. ET and are affecting some users. The outage has been independently confirmed by multiple developers on X who report errors while managing their apps.
Meta Debuts First $299 Own-Brand Smart Glasses
Meta introduced its first own-brand smart glasses with the $299 Adventurer and Fury plus a $399 Starfire model created with Kylie Jenner. The release targets expansion of the company's camera-equipped lineup before Apple's anticipated 2027 debut.
Confidential Apple Files Surface on Dark Web Following Supplier Breach
More than 200,000 files linked to Apple and Tesla reached the dark web after World Leaks targeted supplier Tata Electronics in India. The cache allegedly holds iPhone design specifications along with employee records, as Apple's security team conducts an internal review.
Samsung Display Wins Module Production Approval for Apple's Foldable iPhone OLED Panels
Samsung Display has secured Apple's approval to begin module production of OLED panels for the first foldable iPhone and activated Vietnamese lines for an initial run of approximately three million units. The panels will use CoE technology and the M16 material set under an exclusive three-year supply pact.
From the feed · 57
Apple Invites received its second update this summer, adding two new features for hosts and guests.
Apple updated TestFlight to simplify management for users running many beta apps at once. The change targets a common friction point in pre-release testing.
Apple may launch a device subscription service as soon as next week, reportedly in partnership with Klarna.
Apple fixed the iCloud+ Hide My Email vulnerability that exposed users' real email addresses to anyone with the alias. The company confirmed the issue is now resolved.
Apple is pushing device leasing programs after raising prices on Macs, iPads, and other hardware. The shift aims to spread costs over time rather than require full upfront payment.
In Amy v. Apple, a judge dismissed claims seeking to hold the company liable for not scanning iCloud for CSAM. The ruling noted the judge's dissatisfaction with the result.
Apple posted a short video of a mountain biker whose Watch detected a crash, called emergency services, and alerted his wife after he broke his collarbone and seven ribs.
Apple's program excludes all entry-level devices, ruling out the MacBook Neo, base iPad, Watch SE, and iPhone 16.
A leak indicates Apple is trialing a display larger than any prior iPhone screen for a 2026 model.
TSMC is increasing chipmaking prices, compounding Apple's recent memory-driven product increases and expected iPhone hikes this September.
Five new features are coming to Apple Music in iOS 27. The update also brings changes to Wallet, Calendar, Notes, and Maps.
Apple seeded the fourth beta of watchOS 27 to developers two weeks after the third. The update is available for all compatible models except the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple released iOS 27 beta 4 to developers today. The update advances Siri AI features, Apple Intelligence tools, and Liquid Glass refinements ahead of the full release.
Apple seeded the macOS Tahoe 26.6 release candidate to developers a week after the fifth beta. The build is the final candidate before public release if no major issues surface.
Apple has seeded macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta 4, following the revised beta 3 and the start of public testing just days earlier.
Apple released developer beta 4 for iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and several other forthcoming updates.
Four Apple stores in the U.S. are moving this month, each to a new spot only a short distance from the current location. Queens Center in Elmhurst, NY shifted to a temporary mall spot on July 17.
Being Heumann, the next film from CODA director Sian Heder, has been dated for Apple TV+. The project follows the 2022 Best Picture winner.
Apple Sports added seven soccer leagues today, including Eredivisie, J1 League, and Scottish Premiership, plus formation views across most leagues.
Apple expanded soccer features in its Sports app after the 2026 World Cup. The update adds broader league support and tracking options worldwide.
Amazon has ended support for Apple Wallet order tracking on its purchases, removing the AI enhancement added last year. The change affects notification delivery for Amazon customers using the feature.
10 fake editions of one book appeared on Apple Books days after publication, each produced in hours, with replacements surfacing as quickly as the originals were removed.
Apple had reportedly been developing a new Intel-based Mac Pro before canceling the entire product line in March. The plans were part of a broader refresh that never reached production.
Dozens of OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple have received subpoenas in the iPhone maker's hardware lawsuit. The move targets former staff to block development of a new home AI device.
Apple's Briarwood Mall store in Ann Arbor opens its new space on July 31 at 10 a.m. local time, including the mall's new outdoor Lawn area.
Apple Music now costs $11.99 after the company raised subscription prices worldwide. iCloud+ plans increased in eight countries and iPhone models rose in Japan.
Apple once built but abandoned M2 Extreme and M3 Extreme chips for the Mac Pro. Each would have doubled the CPU and GPU cores of the Ultra models.
Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI over device designs makes no mention of Jony Ive. The company is also testing AI recording for Genius Bar appointments.
Apple is reportedly piloting an AI system at retail stores that live-transcribes Genius Bar conversations to auto-fill staff notes.
SwitchBot released its RGBICWW ceiling light with native Matter support for direct integration into Apple Home. The fixture targets overhead hardwired installs rather than bulbs or adapters.
Apple banned home service content from its upcoming Maps ad placements. The move appears aimed at reserving inventory for local businesses.
$19.99 per month still covers up to three devices under AppleCare One, after AppleCare+ prices for Macs and iPads increased this week. Additional devices add $5.99 each.
Apple is reportedly raising Apple Music prices in Israel after licensing costs surged, eliminating its previous edge over competitors.
Apple Watch SE 3 is now listed below 220 euros on Amazon, with the cut applied only after the sales period ended.
NextBSD is back under new maintenance, layering Darwin components onto FreeBSD with Gershwin and Claude Code. The revived project aims to blend Apple-derived elements into the BSD base.
Apple is citing a newly paused securities fraud lawsuit to support its request to halt lower-court proceedings in the Epic Games case while the Supreme Court reviews part of the dispute.
8 AI undressing apps are the target of cease-and-desist letters sent by San Francisco city attorney David Chiu to Apple and Google. The demands cover nonconsensual "nudify" tools in both app stores.
Up to 3 euros more per month: Apple Music and Apple One plans in France are increasing across the board.
Apple Music prices rose in the US to $11.99 for individuals, $19.99 for families, and $6.99 for students. The increases of $1 to $3 per month follow rising licensing costs.
Apple is said to be in early but active settlement talks with the Justice Department over the 2024 antitrust suit alleging iPhone market violations.
Apple Car Key support is reportedly coming to future GWM Tank SUVs. Code changes in the Wallet app point to NFC-based digital keys for the Chinese off-road brand.
Around 40 former Apple employees now at OpenAI have received legal preservation letters as part of the company's trade secret lawsuit. The letters instruct recipients to retain relevant documents and communications.
13 AI face-swap apps drew cease-and-desist letters from San Francisco's city attorney this week, ordering Apple and Google to remove them from their stores over documented targeting of women and girls.
Apple is said to launch the M6 chip later this year. The generation is described as unprecedented for Apple Silicon.
Apple TV and Apple Music for Android are adding homescreen widgets in updates rolling out today. Apple Music also gains WhatsApp sharing.
iOS 27 upgrades AutoMix in Apple Music with noticeably smoother track transitions.
Apple was sued in a proposed class action over a reported flaw in its Hide My Email feature that could expose users' real addresses. The suit alleges violations of California's false advertising law.
Apple TV announced that Stillwater’s fifth season returns next month. The Peabody and Emmy-winning mindfulness series gets a new run on the platform.
Apple added the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip to its refurbished store in the US and Canada. The 128GB Wi-Fi model starts at $509.
Apple raised AppleCare+ prices for Mac and iPad. The move increases the relative value of its AppleCare One bundle.
Apple plans to release a new iPad mini with an OLED display by October this year. The device follows the iPad Pro's May 2024 update to the technology, which improves image quality through richer colors and true blacks, though higher component costs will likely increase its price along with a new processor and water re…
Apple has reportedly increased orders for vapor chambers ahead of a foldable iPhone launch. The cooling parts could see wider use across future devices.
Signal Ring measures actual blood pressure without calibration. A trial of thousands backs the claim, unlike Apple Watch models that only flag possible hypertension.
Jamf Threat Labs identified CrashStealer, macOS malware that impersonates Apple's crash reporting framework to steal browser data, passwords, keychain items, and crypto wallets.
Apple released the first public beta of macOS 27 Golden Gate. Users can enroll in the free Apple Beta Software Program to install it.
Apple launched its 2026 Back to School promotion, offering up to $150 gift cards with MacBook Pro purchases and $100 with MacBook Air, iPad Pro, or iPad Air.
Apple's Back to School promotion is now live in select Asian countries including China, India, and Singapore. Students and educators receive a free item such as AirPods 4 or an Apple Pencil Pro with eligible Mac or iPad purchases.