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Received β€” 18 February 2026 ⏭ MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

Rumor: Apple to Announce Multiple New Products in First Week of March

Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. And now, rumors are surfacing about Apple's broader plans for that week.


Daring Fireball's John Gruber today guessed that Apple will announce new products on a day-by-day basis from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4:
What strikes me is that March 4 — the "experience" day — is a Wednesday. So my spitball guess is that they announce all these products via Newsroom press releases, day-by-day. Like, say, the iPhone 17e on Monday, new iPad(s) on Tuesday, and new MacBooks on Wednesday. And then the "experience" will be a hands-on thing with in-person demos.
In response to Gruber's post, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said product announcements on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of that week is indeed "exactly" what he is expecting, based on what he has heard from his sources.

Gurman does not expect a typical Apple Event live stream for the new products, with the announcements likely to occur in the form of press releases on the Apple Newsroom website instead. However, there could still be a short video prepared for each new product, and the media would get hands-on time with the new products.

Apple has announced new products on a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday basis multiple times in the past, including in March 2019 (new iPad mini and iPad Air, iMac, and AirPods models) and in October 2024 (new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models).

The following Apple products are rumored to be coming soon:In addition, rumors about new Apple TV and HomePod mini models have been circulating for more than a year, but there is still no sign of them.

In the end, we might only get three of these new products in the first week of March, with the most likely possibilities being the lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, the iPhone 17e, and perhaps either an updated iPad Air or entry-level iPad.

The invite graphic for the upcoming "Apple Experience" includes a colorful Apple logo with yellow, green, and blue discs, and Gurman previously reported that Apple has tested those three colors plus pink for the MacBook with an iPhone chip.

MacRumors will be attending the "Apple Experience," so stay tuned for our coverage.
This article, "Rumor: Apple to Announce Multiple New Products in First Week of March" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Received β€” 17 February 2026 ⏭ MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

Toyota Rolling Out Apple Wallet Car Keys on iPhone

In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, such as Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, and Toyota is now rolling out support as well.


According to a Reddit post, select trims of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 support the Apple Wallet car key feature in the United States, at a minimum. We have yet to confirm if the feature is rolling out to any of Toyota's other 2026 model year vehicles.

Toyota's implementation of the feature utilizes Ultra Wideband technology, allowing you to simply approach the vehicle, open the door, and start the vehicle, all with your iPhone in your pocket or your Apple Watch on your wrist. This passive entry functionality requires an iPhone 11 or newer* or an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer.

A few months ago, MacRumors was first to report that Toyota was planning to offer Apple Wallet car keys, so this rollout was expected. It appears that the feature requires a Toyota Remote Connect subscription, which starts at $15 per month. A free one-year Remote Connect trial is included with the purchase of a new Toyota vehicle.

Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that support iPhone car keys, but it is updated infrequently, so it is currently missing some newer additions.

* Excluding the iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE 3, and iPhone 16e.
This article, "Toyota Rolling Out Apple Wallet Car Keys on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Event on March 4: Here's What to Expect

Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai.


At an Apple Experience, attendees are typically given the opportunity to try out Apple's latest hardware or software. Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio last month, for example, some content creators attended an Apple Experience in Los Angeles to go hands on with the new subscription-based bundle of apps and features.

The upcoming Apple Experience will likely not be as significant as a traditional Apple Event, but there is a good chance that new hardware will be announced, as well-known journalists such as Joanna Stern were invited this time around.

It seems likely that Apple will show off a new lower-cost MacBook at these gatherings. The invite graphic for the upcoming Apple Experience includes a colorful Apple logo with yellow, green, and blue discs, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple has tested those three colors and pink for the MacBook with an iPhone chip.

In our view, the second-most likely possibility is an iPhone 17e. The spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e is expected to have four key upgrades, including MagSafe, an A19 chip, a C1X modem for faster 5G, and an N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7.

Other fitting possibilities include an iPad Air with an M4 chip, an iPad 12 with an A18 chip, and a MacBook Air with an M5 chip.

We are also still waiting for quite a few smart home products, including an updated Apple TV, an updated HomePod mini, and an all-new Apple home hub, but it is unclear if any of those devices will be unveiled alongside this Apple Experience, especially given that there is still no sign of the more personalized version of Siri.

Finally, the wait continues for high-end products, like MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an updated Mac Studio, and a new Studio Display. While nothing has been ruled out at this point, the colorful nature of this Apple Experience graphic suggests that Apple will be focused on some more colorful, lower-end products with mass appeal.

In New York, the Apple Experience begins on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The gatherings in London and Shanghai will kick off simultaneously, although it will be later in the day in those cities due to time zone differences. Given it is not a traditional Apple Event, we do not expect Apple to provide a YouTube live stream.

Instead, we expect a new product or two to be announced in a press release or two on the Apple Newsroom website, and those who attend the Apple Experience in one of the three cities will be able to share hands-on photos and impressions.
Tag: Event

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Received β€” 14 February 2026 ⏭ MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

Apple Launching New 'Sales Coach' App

Apple plans to launch a rebranded "Sales Coach" app on the iPhone and iPad later this month, according to a source familiar with the matter.


"Sales Coach" will arrive as an update to Apple's existing "SEED" app, and it will continue to provide sales tips and training resources to Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller employees around the world. For example, there are articles and videos highlighting everything from reasons to upgrade to a newer iPhone to popular iPad features.

Apple is aiming to release the "Sales Coach" app on Monday, February 23, our source said. It will have two major changes compared to the "SEED" app, including an all-new Liquid Glass design, and later an AI chatbot that can provide Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller employees with sales tips and product information.

When it arrives in a later update, the chatbot will be accessible from the "Ask" tab in the app, and employees will be able to ask it various Apple product knowledge questions. For example, they could ask about the iPhone Air's key features, or inquire about how the Instant Hotspot feature on the Mac works. We have not confirmed if the chatbot uses Apple's own large language model, or if it relies on a third-party platform.

"Sales Coach" is also rolling out on the web at salescoach.apple.com. It is an internal tool for Apple sales partners, so it is not publicly accessible.


A similar public-facing chatbot has been rolling out in the Apple Support app.
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Apple Reveals How Many iPhones Are Running iOS 26

Apple has shared updated iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 adoption figures, revealing how many iPhones and iPads are running those software versions.


These adoption numbers are based on iPhones and iPads that transacted on the App Store on February 12, 2026, according to Apple.

The statistics are as follows:
  • 74% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years are running iOS 26.

  • 66% of all iPhones are running iOS 26.

  • 66% of all iPads introduced in the last four years are running iPadOS 26.

  • 57% of all iPads are running iPadOS 26.
Here is how that compares to the iOS 18 adoption figures that Apple shared based on iPhones and iPads that transacted on the App Store on January 21, 2025:
  • 76% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years were running iOS 18.

  • 68% of all iPhones were running iOS 18.

  • 63% of all iPads introduced in the last four years were running iPadOS 18.

  • 53% of all iPads were running iPadOS 18.
At first glance, the iOS 26 and iOS 18 adoption figures appear to be similar, but this is only because Apple released the iOS 26 statistics later than usual. iOS 26's statistics are based on devices that transacted with the App Store approximately 150 days after the update was released to the public, compared to 127 days for iOS 18. In other words, iOS 26 was available for around three weeks longer by comparison.

As was suspected, this means that iOS 26 adoption has officially been slower than iOS 18 adoption, but not to the extent that some earlier, unofficial estimates had claimed. There is no way of knowing exactly why iOS 26 adoption has been slower, but some users have opted to avoid the new Liquid Glass design for now.

iPadOS 26 adoption figures are technically higher than iPadOS 18, but again, note that iPadOS 26 benefitted from three extra weeks of availability.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Five iPhone 18 Pro Features Revealed in New Report

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still seven months away, an analyst has revealed five new features the devices will allegedly have.

Rumored color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models

In a research note with investment firm GF Securities on Thursday, analyst Jeff Pu outlined the following upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro models:

  • Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that Face ID's flood illuminator will be moved under the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro models, paving the way for a smaller Dynamic Island on the devices.

  • Variable Aperture: The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to have a variable aperture, which would allow users to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. This would provide greater control over depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to smartphone size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.

  • A20 Pro Chip: Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip is expected to use TSMC's first-generation 2nm process, whereas the A19 Pro chip is 3nm. With a 2nm architecture and a new packaging design, the A20 Pro chip should deliver solid year-over-year performance and power efficiency gains.

  • N2 Chip: All of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models are equipped with an Apple-designed N1 chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the N1 chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to have Apple's next-generation N2 chip, but is not yet known what improvements would come with this upgrade.

  • C2 Modem: Apple's custom C1 cellular modem for 5G and LTE debuted in the iPhone 16e last year, and that was followed by a C1X chip in the iPhone Air. Apple says the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem, and the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone ever. The improvements should continue with Apple's third-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models.

These are only some of the new features and changes planned for the iPhone 18 Pro models, with additional ones outlined in our iPhone 18 roundup.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.
Related Roundup: iPhone 18
Tag: Jeff Pu
Related Forum: iPhone

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YouTube Launches on Apple Vision Pro

Starting today, an official YouTube app is available on the Apple Vision Pro, allowing you to watch videos on a theater-sized screen with immersive visionOS Environments.


Every video on YouTube is available in the new, standalone visionOS app, including standard videos, 180Β° videos, 360Β° videos, and YouTube Shorts. And on the newer Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip, you can even watch YouTube videos in 8K.

Apple Vision Pro users can access their YouTube subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and more.


It was already possible to watch YouTube videos via the Safari browser on the Apple Vision Pro, but there was no official YouTube app on the device until now. A third-party YouTube app called "Juno" was available on visionOS in 2024, but it was quickly removed from the App Store because it was deemed to be violating YouTube's Terms of Service.

The official YouTube app is available in the visionOS App Store. The app is compatible with Apple Vision Pro models with the M2 chip and the M5 chip.
Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Tag: YouTube
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

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Received β€” 9 February 2026 ⏭ MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

Studio Display 2: The Latest Rumors About Apple's Next Monitor

Apple reportedly plans to release a new Studio Display in the first half of 2026, and there have been plenty of rumors about the monitor lately.


Below, we recap the latest Studio Display 2 rumors:The current Studio Display launched in March 2022, alongside the first Mac Studio. It has a 27-inch LCD screen with 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and a trio of USB-C ports. In the U.S., pricing starts at $1,599.

If the next Studio Display receives mini-LED backlighting and HDR support, its maximum brightness and contrast ratio would be higher than the current model. And a newer A19 or A19 Pro chip β€” up from the A13 Bionic currently β€” should contribute to performance improvements, camera-related enhancements, and more.

Based on the rumored first half of 2026 timeframe, Apple should unveil the Studio Display 2 at any point between now and the end of June.
Related Forum: Mac Accessories

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Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.


The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.

To set up the feature, open the Wallet app and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, select Driver's License and ID Cards and follow the steps.

Supported States


The following 13 states offer driver's licenses in the Wallet app:The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.

Future States


Apple and local DMV offices have announced that the following U.S. states have signed on to adopt the feature, but no timeframes were disclosed:
  • Connecticut

  • Kentucky

  • Mississippi

  • Oklahoma

  • Utah

  • Arkansas

  • Virginia

Participating Airports


Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports in the U.S., for domestic travel. Given that Apple Wallet IDs are not accepted by law enforcement, and lack many other use cases, carrying a physical ID is still necessary.

Here are just some of the airports that offer the feature β€”Β there are hundreds of others:
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

  • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

  • Denver International Airport (DEN)

  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)

  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

  • Los Angeles International (LAX)

  • Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)

  • Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

  • Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)

  • Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

  • Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

  • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

  • Great Falls International Airport (GTF)

  • Missoula International Airport (MSO)

  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

  • Richmond International Airport (RIC)

  • Norfolk International Airport (ORF)

  • Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)

  • Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport (PHF)
Travelers should refer to TSA signage to confirm availability of the feature.

Digital Passport



If you live in a state that does not yet offer Apple Wallet IDs, you can now create a Digital ID based on your U.S. passport, and present it at the same participating TSA checkpoints, for age and identity verification purposes during domestic travel. It is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel.

This feature requires iOS 26.1 or watchOS 26.1 and later.
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How to Watch Super Bowl For Free Today: iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

Super Bowl LX is today, and there is a way for U.S. viewers to watch for free. Our instructions below are focused on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, but this method will of course work across a variety of devices.


2026's Super Bowl has the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the kickoff time scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. These two teams already met in the 2015 Super Bowl, which ended in a Patriots championship.

The big game is airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock Premium today.

One way to stream the 2026 Super Bowl for free on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV in the U.S. is to sign up for a free 30-day trial to Walmart+, which includes free access to Peacock Premium's ad-supported tier.

You can sign up for a Walmart+ trial online.

Next, here is how to activate free, ad-supported Peacock Premium via Walmart+:

  • Sign into your Walmart account.

  • Go to your Account page.

  • Select Walmart+.

  • Find Peacock Premium in the Benefits Hub.

  • Select Get Peacock.

  • Log in or create your streaming service account.

  • Follow the on-screen steps to finish setting up your account.

  • Build your profile and start streaming.
Then, you can sign in to your Peacock account tied to Walmart+ in the Peacock app on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. On the Mac, you can sign in on the Peacock website. As mentioned, these are Apple-focused instructions, but they apply to many other devices too.

In addition to the Super Bowl itself, you can watch the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, featuring Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny.

Do not forget that a Walmart+ subscription automatically renews after the 30-day free trial.
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The Future of Apple Fitness+ Remains 'Under Review'

The future of Apple Fitness+ remains "under review," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. However, he did not share any specific details.


"If I were to guess, Apple will ultimately meld its Health app with Fitness+ in some fashion β€” perhaps offering it as a combined subscription," said Gurman.

Gurman recently reported that Apple has scaled back plans for a separate Apple Health+ subscription service, which would have provided AI-powered health recommendations. However, he said some of the features that would have been part of Apple Health+ will be repurposed and rolled out individually.

Launched in 2020, Apple Fitness+ offers a library of trainer-led workout and meditation videos in Apple's Fitness app, across the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. In the U.S., the service costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Apple Fitness+ is also included in the Apple One Premier bundle for $37.95 per month.


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Here Are Tim Cook's Full Remarks About Apple's 50th Anniversary Plans

In a recent all-hands meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees to "stay tuned" about the company's plans for its upcoming 50th anniversary. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will turn 50 in a few more months.


Following a snippet last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since shared Cook's full remarks:
I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment β€” 50 years. It's an extraordinary accomplishment. We've been going back through old archives, old photographs. We've been going back through the products, the services, the people, and I am struck by how much Apple has changed things, how much Apple has changed the world, how much Apple has given to the world. Are we going to celebrate it? You better believe it. We're not ready to say exactly how yet, so stay tuned. Yes. We're not a culture that looks back. So the group of people working on this have had to kind of build a different muscle for this, as our muscle is always about what's next. We've really had to work hard on this to get in a reflective state, but when you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart sing. It really does. I promise some celebration.
While it is likely that Cook was referring to a celebration for Apple employees, the company will almost certainly honor the occasion in a big way publicly too.

Apple went from flirting with bankruptcy in the late 1990s to becoming the world's most valuable public company in the early 2010s. It has introduced many iconic products, including the Macintosh in 1984, the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, and the Apple Watch in 2015. The company reported an all-time revenue record last quarter, driven by all-time high iPhone sales, so the company is still peaking financially.


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Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.


"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air have the same Center Stage front camera with this functionality.

Apple provided more details in its iPhone 17 press releases last year:
Users no longer have to rotate their iPhone to take a landscape selfie β€” they can now take photos and videos in portrait or landscape while holding their iPhone vertically, enabling a more comfortable, secure grip and centred gaze. For group shots, Center Stage for photos uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame.
All four of the latest iPhone models are equipped with an 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera with a square image sensor.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

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NASA Now Allowing Astronauts to Bring Their iPhones on Space Missions

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Wednesday announced that NASA astronauts will soon be permitted to fly with "the latest smartphones," beginning with the SpaceX Crew-12 and Artemis II missions over the next few months.


In an email, an Apple spokesperson said this will mark the first time the iPhone has been fully qualified for extended use in orbit and beyond.

NASA astronauts were previously not allowed to carry their own personal smartphones on space flights, but they did allow some approved DSLR cameras and other equipment. With smartphones, Isaacman said astronauts will be able to "capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world."

It is unclear exactly which iPhone models have been qualified.
Tag: NASA

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Received β€” 6 February 2026 ⏭ MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories

Apple Reportedly Scaling Back This Long-Rumored iOS 27 Feature

iOS 27 will no longer include a long-rumored feature known as Apple Health+ inside Apple, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Apple Health+ was supposed to be a virtual health coach that could give users AI-powered health recommendations in the Apple Health app, based on their personal health data, the report said. The feature would have provided users with detailed health reports, videos that explained medical conditions and offered wellness tips, and more.

"The major new service would have combined new surveys and health assessments with data from Apple Watches and external lab reports," the report added.

It is unclear if Apple Health+ would have been a paid subscription service.

The feature is being scaled back instead of outright canceled. The report said some of the components of Apple Health+, such as suggestions based on existing Health app data, will be "repurposed and introduced as early as this year."

Apple Health+ was initially rumored to be an iOS 26 feature, so it was seemingly in development for a long time. But now, only bits and pieces of it will launch.

Apple's services chief Eddy Cue is apparently "considering changes" to Apple Fitness+ as well, but the report did not provide any specific details.
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Apple Releases watchOS 11.6.2 With an Important Fix

Apple today released watchOS 11.6.2 for the Apple Watch Series 6 through Series 10, Apple Watch SE 2, and Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2.


"This update provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all users," says Apple.

watchOS 11.6.2 will only appear on Apple Watch models that have not already been updated to watchOS 26 or later. There are no specific details available yet beyond Apple's vague release notes, so it is unclear what exactly the update includes.

Update: Apple says watchOS 11.6.2 "addresses a cellular network issue for Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Series 10, SE 2, Ultra, and Ultra 2 when establishing a connection to emergency services in Australia."
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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EU Spares Apple Maps and Apple Ads

The European Commission today said it found that Apple Maps and Apple Ads should not be designated as "gateways" under the EU's Digital Markets Act.


In a press release, the European Commission said that Apple Maps and Apple Ads are not big enough individually to qualify as "important gateways between business users and end users," and therefore the platforms will not be subject to stricter regulations. This follows an investigation that began in late November.

"This assessment is based on a number of considerations, including that Apple Maps has a relatively low overall usage rate in the EU, and that Apple Ads has very limited scale in the online advertising sector in the EU," the European Commission said.

Apple as a whole is still considered a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act.

Apple Ads and Apple Maps will have more in common soon, as Apple reportedly plans to start showing ads within Apple Maps search results as soon as this year.
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Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.


"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart sing. It really does. I promise some celebration."

Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary in a little less than two months from now.

From near-bankruptcy in the late 1990s to becoming the world's most valuable public company in the early 2010s, Apple has been through a series of highs and lows over the past half century. The company just reported an all-time revenue record last quarter, driven by all-time high iPhone sales, so the company has come a long way.

We will be sure to have in-depth coverage of whatever Apple has in store for its 50th.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook Promises to Lobby U.S. Government on Immigration

In an all-hands meeting with employees today, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised to lobby the U.S. government on immigration, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Cook said he is "deeply distraught" with the U.S. government's current approach to immigration, and he promised to make his voice heard on the matter, the report said.

"For as long as I can remember, we have been a smarter, wiser, more innovative company because we've attracted the best and brightest from all corners of the world," Cook told employees, according to the report. Cook ensured that he would "continue to lobby lawmakers on this issue" going forward, per the report.

Cook said immigration is especially important to Apple because the company has "team members across the U.S. on some form of visa," the report said.

Cook also reiterated his support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.

In a memo last month, Cook said he was "heartbroken" about recent events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two people were killed by U.S. federal immigration agents there. The killings stoked public outcry in the country.

"This is a time for deescalation," said Cook, in the memo. "I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they're from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for."
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iPhone 17e and iPad 12 Features and Release Date Rumors Surface in Two New Reports

Japanese blog Mac Otakara today shared some alleged details about the iPhone 17e and iPad 12, which are both expected to be released within the next few months.


In February 2025, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE and released a new entry-level iPhone 16e. The device features a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip, Apple Intelligence, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, an Action button, a USB-C port, and more. The iPhone 17e would be the follow-up, spec-bumped model.

According to the report, which cites "reliable sources," the iPhone 17e will have a similar overall design as the iPhone 16e. While some previous rumors indicated that the iPhone 17e would have a Dynamic Island, the report said this information is not true and that the device will continue to have a notch like the iPhone 16e.

The publication expects three key upgrades for the iPhone 17e:
  • A19 chip: This one is no big surprise, but the iPhone 17e is expected to be powered by Apple's A19 chip, up from the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e. This upgrade will result in faster performance and power efficiency improvements.

  • C1X modem: Apple says its second-generation C1X modem for 5G and LTE is up to twice as fast as its first-generation C1 modem in the iPhone 16e. Apple also says the C1X is the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone to date.

  • N1 chip: Like the iPhone Air, the report said the iPhone 17e will be equipped with Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread. In the iPhone Air, the N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and Apple says the chip improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
As for the iPad 12, the report said that device will likely have a similar design as the iPad 11, but with a newer A18 chip that supports Apple Intelligence. That means the iPad 12 would have 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPad 11.


A separate report from Macwelt, available in English on Macworld, cites a source who said that Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e with a press release on an unusual date: Thursday, February 19. The publication agreed that the iPhone 17e will not have a Dynamic Island, but they do expect the device to feature MagSafe, as previously rumored.

  • MagSafe: Unlike the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17e will reportedly feature MagSafe for up to 20W-25W magnetic wireless charging. The iPhone 16e is limited to Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W speeds. You would also be able to magnetically attach accessories like Apple's MagSafe Wallet to the back of the iPhone 17e.
Macwelt added that the iPhone 17e will still have a single rear camera.

Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil new products on a Thursday, but anything is possible.

No other major changes have been rumored so far, so the iPhone 17e's overall design and other specs should be similar to the iPhone 16e. In the U.S., the iPhone 16e starts at $599, but there is no word yet on how much the iPhone 17e will cost.
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This article, "iPhone 17e and iPad 12 Features and Release Date Rumors Surface in Two New Reports" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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