Apple today stopped signing iOS 26.2, which means that iPhone users who have updated to iOS 26.2.1 are no longer able to downgrade to the earlier version of iOS. Apple released iOS 26.2.1 last week with support for the AirTags 2.
Software "signing" means that it has passed the server-side verification check that Apple performs when a user downloads a new version of iOS on an iPhone. An update can't be installed unless it passes the verification check.
Apple does not show users earlier versions of iOS once an upgrade has come out, but when software is still signed, it is possible to downgrade using the macOS Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC. Until today, users would have been able to downgrade from iOS 26.2.1 to iOS 26.2 if desired for some reason.
Unsigning software prevents Apple customers from installing outdated, less secure versions of iOS, and Apple typically stops signing an update a week or so after new software comes out.
Apple has also stopped signing several older versions of iOS provided for devices unable to update to iOS 26, including iOS 12.5.7, iOS 15.8.5, iOS 16.7.12, and iOS 18.7.3. iOS 12.5.8, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 18.7.4 were released last week, while an updated version of iOS 16 came out today. This article, "Apple Stops Signing iOS 26.2, Blocking Downgrades From iOS 26.2.1" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Apple today released macOS 11.7.11, watchOS 10.6.2, and watchOS 9.6.4 for older Macs and Apple Watches that are not able to run the current watchOS and macOS 26.
According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime use. The certificate update ensures that these functions will continue to work after January 2027.
On the Mac, the update can be installed through the Settings app, while on the Apple Watch, the updates can be installed through the Apple Watch app on iPhone.
watchOS 9.6.4 and the update that preceded it are the final versions of watchOS that support devices like the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, which are limited to iOS 16 and cannot be updated to iOS 17. watchOS 10.6.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and the original Apple Watch SE.
Update: Apple has also released macOS Catalina Security Update 2026-001 and watchOS 6.3.1 for older devices.
Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature relocated volume buttons, an all-black camera plateau, a smaller Dynamic Island, and more, according to design leaks from a known Weibo leaker.
The user known as "Instant Digital" today claimed to share several key details about the design of the foldable iPhone:
The volume buttons will be located on the top edge of the device, aligned to the right, similar to the iPad mini.
The Touch ID power button and Camera Control continue to be located on the right edge of the device, just like other recent iPhones.
The left side of the device is smooth and does not have any buttons.
The front-facing cameras feature a single punch-hole design, resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island.
The back left of the device features an iPhone Air-style camera plateau, containing two horizontally arranged cameras, the microphone, and the flash. Unlike the iPhone Air, the camera plateau appears to be completely black and not match the color of the device's body.
The only "confirmed" color option is said to be white, but a single additional color is expected to be available upon launch, giving customers just two choices.
The motherboard is apparently located on the right side of the device. As to not run cables across the screen to the left side for the volume buttons (where they are located on all other iPhone models), Apple is said to have decided to run them directly upwards, which maximizes internal space.
The internal structure purportedly features an innovative stacked design, with the space being almost entirely dedicated to the display and battery. It is also said to feature the biggest battery ever used in an iPhone.
Other rumors suggest that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, Touch ID, two rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the "C2" modem. It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max later this year.
Apple's first foldable could feature the biggest ever iPhone battery and eclipse rival devices, according to a known leaker.
In a new post, the Weibo user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" says that the foldable's battery could be over 5,500 mAh in size, which would make it the largest capacity of any current or previous iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the biggest iPhone battery to date at 5,088 mAh.
Competing foldables already on the market feature a noticeably smaller battery than the rumored size. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a battery capacity of 5,015 mAh, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh battery. As a result, any foldable smartphone from Apple with a battery over 5,500 mAh in size would be class-leading.
Last year, the leaker known as "yeux1122" said that Apple was testing a battery for the device in the 5,400–5,800 mAh range, citing supply chain sources. A March report from the same Korean account claimed that Apple has placed a heavy focus on improving power efficiency while slimming down key components of its foldable iPhone, with battery life said to be a key priority for the company. Separately, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device will use high-density cells to deliver superior battery life.
Apple's first foldable iPhone is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, Touch ID, two rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the "C2" modem. It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max later this year.
Image Capture has long been a preferred method of getting photos from an iPhone to a computer or external drive, but something I have run into fairly often over the last several years is that Image Capture occasionally randomly disconnects the iPhone during an image transfer. This obviously ends the image transfer in a failure, ... Read More
You are not hallucinating, and you did not step into a time machine; yes, this is really an article about iOS 12 updates on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus! If you or a loved one have an older model iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus, or original iPad Air, ... Read More
Apple has released iOS 26.2.1 and iPadOS 26.2.1 for iPhone and iPad, respectively. These are relatively small system software updates that include support for the freshly released AirTags 2nd generation, along with unspecified bug fixes. Separately, Apple has also released minor updates to watchOS 26.2.1 for Apple Watch, along with iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS ... Read More
Canadian cell phone plans have historically been very expensive compared to other countries, so we want to highlight a really good deal that has popped up.
In Canada, the carrier Public Mobile has launched a limited-time flash sale that offers 50% off its 5G Canada — U.S. — Mexico plans for a two-year period.
Here are the discounted plans available to new customers through January 26, with each also including unlimited calling and text messaging:
60GB of 5G data for $20 per month (regularly $40 per month)
80GB of 5G data for $25 per month (regularly $50 per month)
100GB of 5G data for $30 per month (regularly $60 per month)
Public Mobile says these discounted plans are available for new activations only, and the promotion will expire 24 months after it is applied. Existing customers were briefly able to switch to a 100GB plan for just $20 per month (down from $40 per month) in the Public Mobile app, but this is no longer possible as of writing.
You can use your allotted data while roaming in the U.S. and Mexico at no additional cost, but note that Public Mobile limits 5G speeds to up to 250 Mbps. And after the allotted amount, data speeds are reduced to a maximum of just 512 Kbps.
Public Mobile is a prepaid carrier, meaning that you pay upfront for your monthly plan, with no credit check required. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
As a Telus subsidiary, Public Mobile uses the Telus network in Canada. However, Public Mobile customers may be deprioritized in busy areas if necessary, and cellular coverage can vary based on your location. All in all, service might not always be comparable to a major carrier like Bell or Rogers, but your mileage may vary.
Update: Existing customers were briefly able to switch to a 100GB plan for just $20 per month (down from $40 per month), but this is no longer possible. Still, the 60GB for $20 per month offer for new customers is a great deal by Canadian standards. This article, "Public Mobile Offering 60GB of 5G Data for $20/Month in Canada" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Apple has sent out invites to select creators for an "Apple Experience" in Los Angeles, California, scheduled for January 27 to 29. The event has sparked speculation that Apple will also announce new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Creator Petr Mara shared an image of his invite on Instagram on January 7, but it appears to have only now gained significant traction on social media platforms. Mara was also invited to an Apple event in September to test out the latest iPhone 17 Pro models.
Apple's new Creator Studio bundle of creative apps, announced last week, launches on Wednesday, January 28, so this event is surely related. Given the bundle includes several professional Mac apps, such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro, there's a good chance that Apple will use the coinciding event as an opportunity to release new MacBook Pro models too.
Also, Apple's next quarterly earnings call is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, and the company has introduced new products shortly before these calls on several occasions.
Apple in October updated the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip, so the higher-end models are due an upgrade. Beyond the processor, the only other notable change to the base model was PCIe 5.0 storage. According to Apple, this delivers up to twice the SSD read and write speeds of the previous generation. This article, "Apple Hosting LA Event for Creators on January 27-29 That Could Coincide With MacBook Pro Announcement" first appeared on MacRumors.com
One of the big complaints about the Liquid Glass interface of iPadOS 26 and iOS 26 is that the user interface can be challenging to use, read, differentiate elements, and interact with. There are various toggles and settings that Apple has placed under the “Accessibility” category that can significantly improve the legibility and experience of ... Read More
Apple's 2026 shareholders meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, according to an SEC filing that was released today.
Apple shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026, can attend, vote, and submit questions during the meeting by logging in to Apple's virtual meeting website 15 minutes before it kicks off. A control number included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that's provided to shareholders is required to join.
At the meeting, shareholders will vote to re-elect the company's board of directors, approve executive compensation, and ratify Ernst & Young LLP as Apple's public accounting firm. There will also be votes on shareholder proposals.
Notably, both board chairman Art Levinson (age 75) and board member Ron Sugar (age 77) are up for re-election, despite a company guideline stating that directors may generally not stand for re-election once they have reached the age of 75. Apple provided the following justification in its proxy statement:
Over the past four years, the Board has added three new members, representing over one-third of its membership, and two other, long-serving members retired. In the context of this year’s Annual Meeting nominations, the Board determined that it would be in the best interests of Apple and its shareholders to ask Art Levinson, the Chair of the Board, and Ron Sugar, the Chair of the Audit Committee, to stand for re-election, and to waive for each of them its guideline under which directors generally may not stand for re-election after attaining age 75. In making this determination, the Board considered several factors, including the significant experience and expertise that each of Dr. Levinson and Dr. Sugar brings to the Board, their deep insight into the Company’s business and operations, and their individual contributions as highly engaged members of the Board. The Board also considered the benefits of continuity among the Board’s leadership positions.
Levinson's re-nomination as chairman is notable due to recent speculation around Tim Cook's potential retirement as Apple CEO, a move that would likely see him shift into the board chairman position. It is possible that Levinson's continuation in the role beyond age 75 is intended to also serve as bridge to such time that Cook is ready to assume the chairman role, rather than selecting a new chairman for only a relatively brief time until Cook steps down as CEO. This article, "Apple's Annual Shareholders Meeting Will Take Place on February 24" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Apple is once again testing its new Background Security Improvement feature that first rolled out in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Following a previous test earlier this week, developers and public beta testers who are running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or macOS Tahoe 26.3 can now install a second Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes.
Apple says Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries.
Background Security Improvements can be installed by going to the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app, scrolling down to Background Security Improvements, and selecting the "Install" option. If "Automatically Install" is toggled on, Background Security Improvements will be automatically installed when they come out with no need to manually install them.
Apple says that users who opt not to install the Background Security Improvements will receive the updates in a standard software update.
Apple previously had a Rapid Security Response update feature for delivering security improvements, but it wasn't used often after it was introduced in iOS 16, and was ultimately phased out in favor of Background Security Improvements. At one point in 2023, there was a Rapid Security Response bug that prevented some websites from displaying properly.
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines.
According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option.
Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that the feature cannot be used to display ads or promotions. From Apple's developer website:
Don't use a Live Activity to display ads or promotions. Live Activities help people stay informed about ongoing events and tasks, so it's important to display only information that's related to those events and tasks.
Apps that violate Apple's interface guidelines can be pulled from the App Store.
The Liquid Glass interface continues to be polarizing for iPhone users with iOS 26 and newer, but with iOS 26.2 onwards you can now make some adjustments to the intensity of the Liquid Glass look… but only for the clock on the Lock Screen of iPhone. If you’d like to fine-tune the appearance of the ... Read More
Many services use two-factor authentication nowadays, where your phone or email address gets sent a code that you must enter as part of the login process into an online service. These codes are one time use only and therefore don’t make a lot of sense to keep around forever, but manually going through and deleting ... Read More
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