South Korea’s DealSite reports that Apple will pay Samsung Display and LG Display around $68 for each OLED panel used in the iPhone 18 Pro Max, compared with roughly $110 to $120 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max panel.

The reported reduction means Apple is paying around $42 to $52 less per Pro Max display, giving the company room to offset some of the higher memory costs affecting the iPhone 18 lineup.

Apple is cutting other component costs as RAM gets expensive

Demand from AI data centers has pushed memory prices higher, including mobile memory used inside smartphones. Apple is now reportedly negotiating lower prices for components such as displays as it tries to control the overall manufacturing cost of the iPhone 18 series.

South Korea’s The Elec previously reported that Apple was negotiating lower OLED prices with its suppliers as memory costs continued to rise.

The negotiations come even as Apple reportedly plans to use more advanced LTPO Plus display technology for the iPhone 18 Pro models, which is expected to improve power efficiency while increasing manufacturing complexity.

Apple still faces the possibility of higher iPhone 18 Pro prices despite its cheaper displays. Current market estimates suggest U.S. starting prices could increase by $200 to $300, potentially putting the iPhone 18 Pro at up to $1,399 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at up to $1,499.

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside its first foldable iPhone in September, when the company will confirm final pricing.

9to5Mac reports that Apple Festival Place will continue operating normally until November, while employees will have the opportunity to transfer to Apple The Oracle in Reading or another Apple Store after the Basingstoke location shuts.

Apple Festival Place opened in August 2011, only two months after Apple The Oracle opened at the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading, which means both locations have served customers across South East England for more than 15 years.

Apple The Oracle will reopen with a new design

Apple plans to reopen Apple The Oracle in December 2026 with several features found in its latest retail stores, including an experience room, a dedicated Genius Bar, an Apple Pick Up area for online orders, and free Today at Apple sessions.

Apple said it is “excited to reopen the completely redesigned Apple The Oracle” and give customers new ways to shop for products and receive support.

Once Festival Place closes, Apple The Oracle will become the nearest Apple Store for Basingstoke customers at roughly 18 miles away, followed by Apple WestQuay in Southampton at around 30 miles.

The changes continue Apple’s wider retail expansion, which has included 11 new stores and 17 relocated locations worldwide during the past 18 months, alongside recent upgrades to several major UK stores.

Google built the Pixel Tag from stainless steel and gave it an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, while the replaceable battery lasts for up to one year. The oval-shaped tracker also includes a speaker for locating nearby items and a physical button that can ring a connected phone, giving users another way to find misplaced devices.

Pixel Tag uses Google’s Find Hub network

Pixel Tag works with Android 9 or newer and pairs through Fast Pair after users pull the battery tab and bring it close to their phone. Users can then name the tracker inside the Find Hub app, share it with up to 10 people, enable Left Behind alerts, and locate nearby items through Bluetooth or precision finding.

Google says Ultra-Wideband and Bluetooth Channel Sounding provide visual distance and directional guidance when a tagged item is nearby but hidden from view.

“If Pixel Tag is out of range, Find Hub taps into our massive network of over one billion Android devices to help you securely locate your missing belongings,” Google said.

The Find Hub network uses nearby Android devices to report the location of lost items, while Google says location information remains end-to-end encrypted.

Pixel Tag also supports unknown tracker alerts across Android and iPhone, while users can ring the tracker from a Pixel Watch or ask Gemini through Pixel Buds to help locate it.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has contacted publishers in recent months about multiyear agreements, with the company considering payments whenever Siri AI uses content from participating news organizations. Apple has discussed a possible nine-figure budget for these payments, according to people familiar with the talks.

The proposed model differs from many existing AI licensing agreements, where publishers receive guaranteed fees in exchange for broader access to their content. Apple has previously paid publishers through agreements that included AI training rights, while Apple News+ has also generated revenue for participating news and magazine companies since its launch in 2019.

Apple wants more reliable news inside Siri AI

The talks come as Apple prepares to make Siri far more capable across its operating systems, including better access to current information that users can request through natural conversations.

Accurate news information has become particularly important for Apple after its earlier AI notification summaries generated misleading headlines. Apple disabled news summaries after publishers raised concerns about incorrect information appearing under their names.

Apple now appears to be building direct publisher relationships before Siri AI launches this fall, giving the assistant access to licensed reporting while creating a payment system tied to actual content usage. The approach would also give publishers another way to earn revenue when Apple uses their reporting to answer Siri requests.

Justice Elena Kagan temporarily paused proceedings in the US District Court for the Northern District of California until 5:00 p.m. Washington time on Thursday, after Apple filed an emergency request asking the Supreme Court to stop the lower-court process while it reviews the company’s contempt ruling.

The dispute traces back to an injunction requiring Apple to let developers direct users to alternative payment methods outside the App Store. Apple later allowed external payment links but imposed a 27% commission on purchases completed through those links, which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found violated her earlier order.

Apple wants the lower-court fee proceedings paused

Judge Gonzalez Rogers rejected Apple’s request for a longer pause on Tuesday and ordered the company to submit its proposed commission and supporting evidence by Wednesday afternoon, although the Supreme Court’s temporary order has now pushed that deadline back by one day.

Bloomberg reported that Kagan issued the administrative stay so the Supreme Court has additional time to consider Apple’s broader request for a longer pause while the justices review the contempt case.

The Supreme Court agreed in June to review the contempt finding after the Ninth Circuit upheld it, while Apple argues that the original injunction never expressly prohibited the company from charging developers a commission on purchases made outside the App Store.

The Ninth Circuit also instructed Judge Gonzalez Rogers to determine what “appropriate” compensation Apple can receive from developers for use of its intellectual property, while making clear that the previous 27% commission cannot stand.

Apple now has until Thursday evening while the Supreme Court considers whether to extend the pause further, which would delay the lower-court proceedings until the justices resolve the company’s appeal in Apple v. Epic Games.

Anthropic says the updated side panel also supports the skills and connectors already linked to a Claude account, which means users do not need to configure them again inside Chrome. Claude can see the current webpage and work with websites where the user is already signed in, including clicking links, entering text, moving between pages, and filling out forms.

Claude browser tasks now follow users across apps

The biggest change is session continuity, because Claude in Chrome previously kept its side panel conversations separate from the main Claude apps. With Cowork support, the session now stays tied to the user’s account, allowing longer tasks to move between Chrome, desktop, web, and mobile.

Anthropic gives the example of collecting invoice details from several vendor portals, building a spreadsheet, then opening the same session in the desktop app to add local files or compare the results with an earlier budget. This setup also gives Claude access to websites and internal tools that do not have direct connectors but still work through the browser.

The Chrome extension uses the user’s existing browser logins, while Claude Code’s in-app browser runs through an isolated profile. Users still need the Claude desktop app when they want Claude to work with files stored locally or interact with other desktop applications.

Anthropic adds more checks for browser actions

Anthropic also warns that browser agents remain exposed to prompt injection, where hidden instructions inside webpages, emails, or documents try to redirect the AI into taking unintended actions.

The company says automatic approval now includes a separate check before consequential actions such as submitting forms, sending messages, or downloading files. Claude still asks for direct approval before purchases or sharing personal information.

The new Cowork side panel is available now for Max and Team users, while Pro access will roll out over the coming weeks. Enterprise administrators can enable the feature and restrict it to approved domains, while support for other Chromium browsers and mobile browsers is still unavailable.

The billboard appeared in Milan as part of Apple’s long-running “Relax, it’s iPhone” campaign and carries the Italian tagline “Tutto ok, è iPhone.” Other ads in the campaign show iPhones surviving heavy rain, falling from a table, or being carried in a dog’s mouth.

However, the toddler image has attracted more attention because it places a smartphone directly in the hands of a very young child, which critics say presents early device use as something normal and harmless.

Italian watchdog raises concerns over Apple ad

Italy’s Autorità Garante per l’Infanzia e l’Adolescenza, known as AGIA, said the advertisement was brought to its attention by a Milan resident who described the image as disturbing and questioned why advertising standards allowed such a message.

AGIA also criticised the timing of the campaign, pointing to wider debates over minimum ages for access to digital devices and the growing concern around young children spending long periods in front of screens.

The watchdog said the billboard risks normalising what it described as “electronic babysitting,” where parents give smartphones or tablets to very young children for entertainment or distraction.

AGIA has now referred the case to AGCOM, Italy’s communications regulator, AGCM, the Italian Competition Authority, and IAP, the country’s advertising self-regulatory body, so each organisation can review the campaign and decide whether further action is needed.

Apple has not publicly responded to the criticism so far, while the billboard remains part of a wider debate in Italy over how technology companies should portray children and smartphone use in advertising.

The change follows WhatsApp’s recent username reservation rollout and the first activation of usernames for select users. Once the feature reaches more accounts, users will be able to identify and contact people through usernames while keeping their phone numbers private in supported situations.

WhatsApp username field is rolling out now

WABetaInfo reports that the new username field appears between the name section and phone number field when users create a new contact. Users can find it by opening the Chats tab, tapping the “+” button, and selecting “New contact.”

Users who already have a WhatsApp username can share it with other people, who can then save the handle together with the contact’s name and phone number. When usernames become more widely available, WhatsApp also plans to fill this field automatically when users create a contact directly from a chat information screen.

The feature is currently appearing for some users on both beta and stable versions of WhatsApp for iPhone and Android. However, the rollout remains limited, so the username field will not appear for every account yet.

Saving a username also helps WhatsApp connect a person’s saved name with their handle, which should make username-based conversations easier to identify later. Username contacts can also work with status updates when both people have saved each other and their privacy settings allow sharing.

WhatsApp has not announced a date for the full username rollout, but the new contact field shows that the company is preparing the app for wider support. Users can check for the feature by installing the latest WhatsApp update and opening the new contact screen.

The unreleased system also points to a major change in how long Apple trade-in quotes remain valid, with code suggesting that saved offers could stay available for up to 90 days instead of the current 14-day window.

MacRumors found references to the feature inside Apple’s Guide app, which employees, authorized resellers, and other sales teams use when helping customers with products and purchases.

The code includes a message telling customers that they can add a trade-in offer to Apple Wallet and keep it valid for 90 days, while another message explains that customers can save the offer by scanning a QR code with their iPhone camera.

Apple Wallet trade-in offers could simplify store visits

The wider trade-in system appears to cover the full evaluation process, including device eligibility checks, serial number or IMEI entry, condition questions, Apple Diagnostics, pricing from trade-in partners, and Wallet pass generation.

Apple has also added references to a TradeInKit framework, along with server endpoints connected to diagnostics, device eligibility, pricing, and Wallet passes, although server-side controls suggest Apple has not activated the feature yet.

The 90-day period would give customers much more time than Apple currently allows for online trade-ins, where Apple generally needs to receive the device within 14 days to preserve the original estimate.

One possible use would involve customers visiting an Apple Store, getting their device evaluated, saving the offer in Wallet, and returning later when they are ready to buy a new product.

Apple’s code does not confirm whether the quoted value would remain guaranteed for the entire 90-day period, and Apple has not announced the feature publicly, so its final terms and availability can still change before release.

Stillwater follows siblings Karl, Addy and Michael and their next-door neighbor, Stillwater, a wise panda who helps them understand difficult feelings and everyday problems through stories, humor and mindfulness. Season 5 continues that familiar approach while bringing five new episodes based on the world of Jon J Muth’s Zen books.

• Season: 5
• Episodes: 5
• Genre: Kids & Family, Animation
• Premiere date: Friday, August 21, 2026
• Finale date: Friday, August 21, 2026
• Release schedule: All five episodes arrive together
• Starring: James Sie as Stillwater, Judah Mackey as Karl, Eva Ariel Binder as Addy and Tucker Chandler as Michael

The official trailer runs for around 30 seconds and previews the new stories and lessons coming when the series returns.

Stillwater season 5 plot

Season 5 brings Karl, Addy and Michael back together as they deal with more of the everyday situations that can feel difficult or overwhelming to children. Stillwater remains nearby to listen, share stories and help the siblings look at their problems from another perspective.

The trailer keeps the focus on the calm tone that has defined the series, with new adventures built around emotions, relationships and mindfulness. Stillwater uses breathing exercises, thoughtful conversations and simple lessons to help the children better understand what they are feeling and decide how to handle each situation.

There are no major story spoilers in the trailer, and the fifth season appears designed as another collection of self-contained family stories rather than one continuous storyline.

FAQs

When does Stillwater season 5 come out?

Stillwater season 5 premieres worldwide on Apple TV on Friday, August 21, 2026.

How many episodes are in Stillwater season 5?

Season 5 has five episodes, with all five scheduled to arrive on August 21.

Who voices Stillwater?

James Sie returns as the voice of Stillwater. Judah Mackey voices Karl, Eva Ariel Binder plays Addy and Tucker Chandler voices Michael.

What is Stillwater based on?

The series is based on Jon J Muth’s bestselling Zen book series and uses stories and everyday situations to introduce children to mindfulness and emotional awareness.

Can I watch the previous Stillwater seasons now?

Yes. The first four seasons are already available to stream on Apple TV before season 5 arrives.

Apple TV costs $12.99 per month in the US, with a seven-day free trial available to eligible new subscribers. Stillwater season 5 joins the service on August 21 with all five new episodes available on the same day.

Do you plan to watch Stillwater season 5 when it arrives? Let us know in the comments.

Apple is expected to delay the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 until early 2027, which would leave the fall lineup focused on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone Ultra. As a result, the iPhone 18 Pro would effectively become Apple’s default new model during the important holiday sales period.

iPhone 18 Pro could take the place of the regular iPhone

Apple has traditionally given buyers a standard iPhone alongside its more expensive Pro models, but this reported lineup change would remove that familiar option for several months. Buyers looking for a cheaper phone would still have access to older models such as the iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air.

However, Apple and its carrier partners would likely put most of their marketing focus on the iPhone 18 Pro because the iPhone Ultra is expected to sit at the highest end of the lineup. That would leave the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as the most practical choices for buyers who want the newest generation.

The strategy could help Apple sell more Pro models, especially if customers who normally buy the standard iPhone move up to the Pro version. Expected price increases also add some risk, since buyers who find the new lineup too expensive could keep their current iPhones longer and wait for the regular iPhone 18 in 2027.

The change does not mean Foxconn is making fewer iPhones, because the company is still Apple’s main assembly partner and continues to operate huge production facilities, including its well-known Zhengzhou plant in China. Instead, Foxconn is earning much more money from cloud and networking products, especially AI servers.

TNW reports that Foxconn’s cloud and networking division generated 51% of total revenue during the three months ending in June, marking the first time that business has contributed more than half of the company’s quarterly revenue.

AI servers are becoming Foxconn’s main growth engine

Foxconn expects this shift to continue rather than reverse over the coming quarters. Rotating chief executive Michael Chiang told analysts that cloud investment will become the company’s most important growth driver over the next few years.

The trend also extends to other major Apple suppliers, with TSMC seeing strong demand for advanced packaging used in AI chips. Market expectations suggest its CoWoS capacity will grow by more than 50% next year.

However, investors remain cautious because of concerns about excessive spending across the AI industry. Foxconn shares have gained about 17% this year, while Taiwanese stocks overall have risen roughly 57%, showing that investors are still weighing the risks behind the company’s growing dependence on AI infrastructure.

Gatten will officially take over the role on August 31 and report to Jennifer Newstead, Apple’s senior vice president and general counsel. He has led government affairs at American Airlines since 2017 and previously held positions at JPMorgan Chase and Fannie Mae, giving him years of experience working with policymakers and major corporations.

Bloomberg reports that Apple specifically wanted an executive who could “align with the Trump administration,” while also maintaining productive relationships with policymakers across party lines. Gatten is a Republican and is expected to work closely with Tim Cook as Apple deals with regulatory, trade, tax, and policy issues in Washington.

Apple reshapes its government affairs leadership

Lisa Jackson previously led Apple’s government affairs organization after joining the company in 2013 following her tenure as head of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration. Jackson also oversaw Apple’s environmental and social initiatives before announcing her retirement late last year.

As part of that transition, Apple said legal chief Katherine Adams would temporarily serve as senior vice president of government affairs until her planned retirement in late 2026. Gatten’s appointment now gives Apple a dedicated executive to oversee the company’s political and government relationships.

Bloomberg also reports that Apple values Gatten’s ability to work “constructively with policymakers on both sides of the aisle,” particularly as control of Congress remains politically competitive ahead of the November midterm elections.

Gatten also serves on the board of the Faith and Politics Institute, a Washington organization focused on civil political dialogue, while his previous real estate experience could support Apple as the company continues expanding its retail stores and other physical operations.

Tim Cook is set to step down as Apple CEO on September 1, one day after Gatten starts his new role, although Cook will continue engaging with policymakers worldwide as Apple’s executive chairman.

The company says Grok 4.6 can stay focused across longer tasks, work through unfamiliar codebases, research technical topics, and test more of its own output before moving forward. SpaceXAI also says the model produces stronger first attempts when users ask it to build interactive applications or visual projects.

Grok 4.6 Matches GPT-5.6 Sol on a Major Benchmark

SpaceXAI says Grok 4.6 scored 61 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, matching GPT-5.6 Sol at its maximum reasoning setting and finishing one point behind Anthropic’s Fable 5 Max, which scored 62.

Grok 4.6 also improved over Grok 4.5 across every benchmark listed by SpaceXAI, including CursorBench, FrontierCode, APEX-Agents, Terminal-Bench, and AA-Briefcase. The company credits the gains to a longer supplemental training run, higher-quality engineering data, improved optimization, and expanded reinforcement learning across coding and knowledge-work tasks.

SpaceXAI says Grok 4.6 is available through Cursor, Grok Build, its API, OpenRouter, Vercel, and Cloudflare. API pricing starts at $2 per million input tokens and $6 per million output tokens, while the faster version costs twice as much.

Cursor and Grok Build users also receive twice their included Grok 4.6 usage during the model’s first week, giving developers more room to test its agent and coding capabilities.

The update gives fans a clearer idea of where the Apple TV series stands after its successful first season, while the production schedule also points toward a possible late 2027 return if filming and post-production stay on track.

Deadline’s Crew Call podcast featured Gilligan alongside composer Dave Porter, and the conversation eventually turned to the progress of Pluribus season 2.

Gilligan said the team had finished breaking the season and was preparing to start shooting soon, adding that he was excited for viewers to see what comes next.

Pluribus season 2 could arrive in late 2027

The exact filming start date remains unclear because the podcast recording date was not confirmed, although Gilligan’s comments suggest production could begin as early as September or within the following months.

The interviewer also asked whether Gilligan still expected season 2 to premiere in late 2027, although Gilligan avoided confirming a specific date and joked that it would arrive sometime in the 21st century.

A late 2027 release still fits the expected production timeline, especially if filming lasts around six months and Apple follows a release window similar to the first season. That schedule makes November 2027 a reasonable target, although Apple has not announced an official premiere date.

Gilligan also said he currently sees Pluribus running for at least three seasons and possibly four, while acknowledging that those plans can change as the story develops.

The shortage has expanded noticeably since early August, when MacBook Air delivery estimates generally ranged from two to six weeks depending on memory and storage.

Models configured with more unified memory remain the hardest to get because those machines require larger quantities of components already under heavy industry-wide demand.

MacBook Air availability keeps getting tighter

Apple Store pickup availability has also weakened, with many locations showing pickup dates around the first week of September rather than immediate availability. A customized 13-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of unified memory can take more than a month to ship, while some higher-end Mac configurations face even longer delays.

Why are MacBook Air shortages getting worse?

The main pressure comes from the global memory shortage, as AI companies continue buying huge quantities of memory for data centers and AI servers, reducing supply available for consumer devices. Apple has already faced similar problems with Mac mini and Mac Studio production.

The shortage affects components including:

• Unified memory used across Apple silicon Macs
• NAND flash chips used for SSD storage
• Higher-capacity memory configurations that require additional chips

Apple has warned that supply constraints affecting its Mac, iPhone and iPad businesses will become more significant as the current quarter progresses, suggesting MacBook Air availability could remain tight rather than returning to normal quickly.

ScreenRant asked Cue about the possibility of another season during a red carpet interview, and he said he hopes the show continues because there are still “plenty of stories to go on.” His comments do not confirm a renewal, but they show that Apple remains interested in keeping one of its biggest comedy series running.

That also lines up with earlier reports that cast members signed deals covering three seasons, which would fit with talk of a new three-season story arc beginning with season 4. Jason Sudeikis has also spoken about returning to the writers’ room to work through ideas for what comes next.

Ted Lasso Season 5 Is Already Looking Possible

Season 4 moves the story in a fresh direction while bringing back familiar faces including Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift. New cast members include Tanya Reynolds, Abbie Hern, Faye Marsay, Jude Mack, Rex Hayes and Aisling Sharkey.

The current season is also fueling speculation that Apple and the creative team are planning another longer arc around AFC Richmond and its expanding storylines.

Apple has not confirmed Ted Lasso season 5 yet, so fans will still have to wait for an official announcement. However, Cue’s comments make it clear that Apple sees more life in the series beyond season 4, especially if viewers continue to return each week.

Ted Lasso season 4 streams new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV through October 7.

Reports earlier this week disagreed over whether Apple had delayed or cancelled the project because of technical challenges, but the latest leak suggests development is still moving forward and that Apple is working on a display designed to make the bezels look almost invisible.

iPhone 20 Pro display reportedly spotted in Apple’s supply chain

Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station says the display uses a four-curved surface with optical refraction and specially shaped glass to create what looks like a nearly borderless screen around the front of the device.

The description closely matches earlier reports that Apple wants to use light-guiding structures and optical effects to make the display appear as if it continues around the edges, while still keeping the screen comfortable to view from normal angles.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reported this week that Apple has not abandoned the 2027 redesign, despite a separate claim from a Jefferies analyst that the company had put the project on hold.

Apple has been linked to a near all-glass iPhone design for years, and former design chief Jony Ive regularly spoke about pushing the iPhone toward a single slab of glass.

The final name remains unclear, with reports mentioning iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 20 Pro, and even a separate anniversary-style name, but the latest supply chain claim adds more weight to expectations of a major visual change in 2027.

The new season has brought Ted back to Richmond for a very different coaching job. Instead of returning to AFC Richmond’s men’s side, Ted is now helping build and coach the club’s second-division women’s team, putting him alongside several familiar faces and a group of new players.

• Release date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
• Streaming service: Apple TV
• Season: 4
• Episode: 3
• Genre: Comedy, drama, sports
• Season 4 episodes: 10
• Season finale: October 7, 2026

What happens in Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 3?

Spoilers ahead for Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 2.

Episode 3 is expected to move deeper into the difficult process of turning Richmond’s new women’s side into a real team. The episode description points to problems away from the pitch as Richmond shareholders question the decision to form a women’s team, while Ted and the coaching staff conduct tryouts to find their players.

That gives Ted another familiar challenge. He has to build confidence inside the dressing room while convincing people outside it that his team deserves a serious chance.

Episode 2, titled “Curiouser and Curiouser,” showed some of the obstacles surrounding women’s football at Richmond, including weaker facilities, limited attention and questions about how the club supports its new side. Alice Chilton also became a major part of Ted’s coaching setup after initially struggling with the decision to give him the top job.

With tryouts coming next, Episode 3 should start giving the Lady Greyhounds a clearer identity.

Season 4 is building a new AFC Richmond story

Ted Lasso Season 4 follows the events of Season 3, which ended with Ted leaving England and returning to Kansas to spend more time with his son Henry.

The fourth season brings him back to London with another major project waiting. Rebecca, Keeley and Higgins help pull Ted back toward Richmond, while Coach Beard, Roy Kent and other familiar characters remain connected to the club.

There have already been changes around the old Richmond squad as well. Episode 2 confirms that Jamie Tartt has moved to FC Barcelona, allowing Season 4 to spend more time developing its new women’s team and characters.

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 3 arrives August 19 on Apple TV, with the Lady Greyhounds’ tryouts and resistance from Richmond shareholders set to push the new team story forward. What do you think Ted will do with Richmond’s new squad? Let us know in the comments.

Episode 7 is titled “All Good Things” and serves as the season finale. The story now has only one chapter left to resolve Lucky Armstrong’s fight for freedom, her complicated relationship with her father John, and the dangerous plan involving Priscilla and Wayne Whittaker.

Lucky Episode 7 release details

• Episode: Season 1, Episode 7
• Title: “All Good Things”
• Release date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
• Streaming service: Apple TV
• Season length: Seven episodes
• Genre: Action thriller / crime drama
• Lead: Anya Taylor-Joy as Lucky Armstrong
• Based on: Marissa Stapley’s novel Lucky

What is happening before Lucky Episode 7?

Spoilers for Episode 6 follow.

Episode 6, “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” released on August 12 and pushes Lucky toward her final attempt to escape the criminal world that has followed her throughout the season. Apple describes the episode as Lucky facing her past while planning for her future.

Lucky and John try to negotiate a deal with FBI Agent Billie Rand, offering to help bring down Priscilla and Wayne Whittaker. In return, Lucky wants immunity while John hopes for a reduced prison sentence. The plan eventually requires Lucky to arrange a direct meeting with Whittaker while carrying a wire.

The episode ends with Lucky heading toward the meeting while John remains at the hotel under FBI protection. That protection quickly falls apart when armed men kill the agent guarding John and enter his room, leaving his fate uncertain heading into the finale.

What to expect from Lucky Season 1, Episode 7

Episode 7 should pick up around Lucky’s meeting with Whittaker while also revealing what happens to John after the attack at the hotel. The season has gradually tied Lucky’s present problems back to the criminal life her father taught her, and the finale now has both stories moving toward the same confrontation.

Lucky started the series trying to leave crime behind after a multimillion-dollar heist went wrong. Since then, the FBI, Priscilla, Cary’s actions and her own family history have repeatedly pulled her back into the life she wanted to escape. Apple describes the series as the story of a woman forced to embrace her darker criminal side one final time while trying to outrun her past.

With “All Good Things” closing the seven-episode limited series on August 19, viewers should finally learn whether Lucky gets the clean exit she has been chasing or pays another price for the choices surrounding her.

What do you think happens to Lucky and John in the finale? Let us know in the comments.

Pegatron indirectly confirmed the change during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, where the Apple supplier indicated that one of its customers plans to change its usual smartphone shipment schedule.

Taiwan’s Economic Daily News reported that Apple plans to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra in September 2026, while the regular iPhone 18 will follow during the first quarter of 2027.

That would mark a major shift because Apple has launched every standard model from the iPhone 11 through the iPhone 17 alongside its Pro versions in September.

Apple’s iPhone 18 Launch Schedule

Apple is expected to release six new iPhone models across two separate launch windows:

• iPhone 18 Pro: September 2026
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: September 2026
• iPhone Ultra: September 2026
• iPhone 18: March 2027
• iPhone 18e: March 2027
• iPhone Air 2: March 2027

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and former The Information reporter Wayne Ma have previously reported similar plans, while supplier Largan Precision also hinted at the new schedule earlier this year.

The split launch would give Apple two major iPhone release periods, with premium models arriving in the fall before cheaper models expand the lineup around March 2027.

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra at its September event, while the standard iPhone 18 will reportedly arrive alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 in early 2027.

iPhone 18 could jump to 12GB of RAM

Analyst Jeff Pu says the iPhone 18 will include 12GB of RAM, increasing from the 8GB expected in the iPhone 17. The additional memory would give Apple more room for Apple Intelligence features, multitasking, and future software updates.

Pu also expects the cheaper iPhone 18e to ship with 9GB of RAM, even though both phones are expected to use Apple’s A20 chip.

Ming-Chi Kuo previously reported that the standard iPhone 18 would include 9GB of RAM, so analyst expectations remain divided ahead of production.

The iPhone 18 is also expected to adopt the smaller Dynamic Island design that Apple plans to introduce first with the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Apple previously waited one generation before bringing the original Dynamic Island from the iPhone 14 Pro to the standard iPhone 15, but the company reportedly plans to move faster this time.

If Pu’s information proves accurate, the base iPhone 18 will receive two meaningful hardware upgrades when it launches in early 2027, narrowing another part of the gap between Apple’s standard and Pro iPhones.

The leaked images also point to both Snapdragon and AMD versions, giving buyers a choice between ARM and x86 hardware.

Windows Latest obtained images of the unreleased Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe, showing the laptop in blush pink, bright yellow, terracotta, sage green, navy blue, silver, and mint teal. Lenovo places its logo in the center of the lid and matches its finish with each color, while the keyboard deck remains dark gray across the lineup.

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe gets more ports than the MacBook Neo

The IdeaPad Vibe uses thin display bezels, a centered webcam with a visible privacy shutter, speaker grilles beside the keyboard, and a large trackpad below it. Lenovo also gives the laptop a practical port selection that makes it easier to connect accessories without carrying extra adapters.

The right side includes two USB-A ports and a power button with a status light, while the left side includes HDMI, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. Apple’s MacBook Neo offers two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, giving Lenovo an immediate advantage for users who regularly connect displays, storage devices, or older accessories.

Windows Latest also found references to separate Snapdragon and AMD versions of the IdeaPad Vibe, although exact processors and specifications remain unknown. Lenovo therefore appears to be preparing the same colorful design for both ARM and traditional x86 buyers instead of restricting the new finishes to one configuration.

Lenovo has not announced pricing or a release date yet, but the IdeaPad Vibe already looks positioned as a direct MacBook Neo rival for buyers who want a colorful, affordable laptop with flexible hardware choices and more built-in connectivity.

Episode 6 follows directly after Lucky and John voluntarily surrender to Agent Billie Rand. Lucky has finally recovered access to nearly $10 million, but after Cary’s death, she wants a future where she no longer has to keep running.

• Episode: Season 1, Episode 6
• Title: “Wherever You Go, There You Are”
• Release date: August 12, 2026
• Runtime: 48 minutes
• Genre: Action, thriller
• Streaming: Apple TV
• Season length: Seven episodes
• Season finale: August 19, 2026

Lucky Season 1, Episode 6 Recap

Spoilers ahead for Lucky Season 1, Episode 6.

Rand makes Lucky and John an offer after their surrender. Lucky can earn immunity, while Rand will try to reduce John’s sentence, but they must help the FBI bring down both Priscilla and Wayne Whittaker.

Lucky agrees and approaches Priscilla with a tempting proposal. She says she will return the money, but she wants to hand it directly to Whittaker. Priscilla eventually agrees to arrange the meeting, although Whittaker insists on choosing the location himself. That immediately makes the FBI operation much harder to control.

Lucky and John Finally Confront Their Past

Much of Episode 6 focuses on Lucky’s relationship with her father.

John believes Lucky still plans to recover the money, but she tells him she wants to stop running. Their argument then exposes one of the biggest secrets of the season when Lucky admits that she previously worked with Rand and helped put John in prison.

The conversation also forces John to reconsider Lucky’s childhood. He believed he had given his daughter a good life, while Lucky remembers constantly feeling afraid. Later, John apologizes for failing to protect her after her mother died and admits that he should have found a way to keep her away from his criminal world. Lucky eventually embraces him.

Earlier episodes showed how deeply John shaped Lucky’s skills and her attitude toward crime. Episode 6 finally gives Lucky a chance to decide whether she wants to continue living the life he taught her.

Episode 6 Ending Explained

The FBI prepares Lucky for her meeting with Whittaker by hiding a microphone in her clothes and giving her a phone that Whittaker needs to use during the operation. John remains at the hotel with Agent Gates.

Then the operation suddenly falls apart.

Gates hears something outside the room and investigates. Two armed men attack him, and Gates is killed. Moments later, one of the attackers breaks into the room where John is waiting. The episode ends before revealing exactly what happens to him.

With Lucky already heading toward Whittaker and John under attack, the August 19 finale now has both sides of her plan moving toward a dangerous confrontation.

What do you think will happen when Lucky finally meets Whittaker, and can John survive the hotel attack? Let us know in the comments.

Ice Universe shared images and a hands-on video of the screen protectors, which show square corners near the hinge side and rounded corners along the opposite edge. The shape matches earlier reports describing a foldable iPhone with an asymmetric outer glass panel built around the hinge.

According to Ice Universe, the protector covers the entire front glass rather than matching the visible display area exactly, so the actual screen should still use symmetrical rounded corners and even bezels. The protector also supports previous claims that Apple plans a shorter and wider cover display compared with a standard iPhone.

iPhone Ultra could use a single punch-hole camera

The accessory includes one punch-hole cutout for the front-facing camera, positioned on the right side instead of the center. Earlier rumors disagreed on the camera position, making this leak another useful clue about Apple’s current design direction.

Apple is also expected to use Touch ID instead of Face ID on the iPhone Ultra, which would remove the need for the larger TrueDepth sensor system and allow Apple to use a single camera cutout for the first time on an iPhone.

Sonny Dickson recently shared protective covers for the phone’s rear camera module in silver and dark blue finishes.

Other rumors point to a 5.5-inch cover display, 7.8-inch inner display, A20 Pro chip, 5,000mAh battery, dual 48-megapixel rear cameras, and 18-megapixel selfie cameras. Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in mid-September, with pricing starting at around $2,000.

Titled “Curiouser and Curiouser!,” the episode shifts the season firmly into its new women’s football storyline after the premiere focused on bringing Ted back from Kansas City. Apple says Season 4 follows Ted as he takes charge of Richmond’s second-division women’s team.

• Episode: Season 4, Episode 2
• Title: “Curiouser and Curiouser!”
• Release date: August 12, 2026
• Runtime: 46 minutes
• Genre: Comedy, sport
• Streaming: Apple TV
• Season 4 episodes: 10
• Season finale: October 7, 2026

Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 2 recap

Spoilers ahead for Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 2.

Ted wakes up in Richmond again and quickly settles into familiar surroundings, including a new flat above the Crown & Anchor pub. However, his return creates a major problem inside AFC Richmond because Alice Chilton, who helped build the women’s team, expected a chance to become its head coach.

Alice tells Rebecca that she plans to leave after Ted gets the position. Rebecca then realizes that she never seriously considered a woman for the coaching job, which sends her into a series of increasingly awkward attempts to prove her commitment to the women’s team.

Ted soon sees why Alice matters. She understands the players, knows the women’s game and has the experience Richmond needs. After learning more about her playing career and the injuries that ended it, Ted convinces Alice to remain as his assistant coach.

The Lady Greyhounds themselves also start taking shape. The squad includes sisters, a couple playing on the same team and goalkeeper Boots, who refuses to wear gloves because she wants to feel the ball directly. Ted begins studying each player and trying to understand what motivates them, setting up several character stories for later episodes.

Richmond’s women’s team has a bigger problem

Episode 2 also makes it clear that Richmond cannot simply recreate the success of its men’s side.

The women initially receive a cramped changing area with only one bathroom, while journalists at Ted’s press conference remain more interested in asking questions about the men’s team. Ted pushes for better facilities, leading Keeley and Roy to help transform the visitors’ locker room into a proper space for the Lady Greyhounds.

Behind the scenes, Higgins discovers an even more serious issue. His financial report suggests the women’s team has poor long-term financial prospects, and a failed investment could eventually hurt Richmond’s men’s operation as well. Rebecca decides to continue backing the project despite those concerns.

Season 3 ended with Ted leaving Richmond and returning home, while Season 4 has now brought him back into the club with an almost completely different football challenge. Episode 2 establishes Alice as an important part of his coaching staff while giving the Lady Greyhounds their first real identity.

New episodes of Ted Lasso Season 4 arrive every Wednesday through October 7.

What did you think of Ted’s first proper day with the Lady Greyhounds, and where do you think the team’s story goes next? Let us know in the comments.

Major spoilers for Reacher Season 4, Episode 3 follow.

• Episode: Season 4, Episode 3
• Title: “One Small Step”
• Release date: August 12, 2026
• Runtime: 45 minutes
• Streaming: Prime Video
• Genre: Action, crime drama
• Season length: Eight episodes

Episode 3 arrived alongside the first two episodes on August 12. Prime Video will now release one episode every Wednesday through the Season 4 finale on September 16.

Reacher Season 4, Episode 3 Recap

The episode begins with Reacher, Tamara, Jacob, and journalist Russell Plum trying to understand Nolan Cahill’s connection to Anna. Their investigation quickly turns violent after Russell admits that he posted online about Anna’s missing flash drive.

CIA agents arrive at Russell’s building, but another armed group attacks them first. Reacher takes down the remaining gunmen and finds two addresses on one of them, including the location where Lila is staying.

Reacher later meets Lila at a bowling alley and confronts her over the holes in her story. Lila finally admits that she is a journalist and that Amisha is not her mother. She also says she does not really believe John Sampson is her father.

According to Lila, she has been investigating allegations that Sampson trained forces commanded by General Putra in Indonesia, where civilians were tortured and killed. Anna apparently discovered information connected to this operation and planned to get the missing flash drive to Lila.

Their meeting turns into another ambush, leading to a large fight inside the bowling alley. Reacher uses whatever he can find around him to fight back, while Lila eventually helps him survive the attack. The pair later return to Reacher’s hotel and grow considerably closer.

Anna Merrick Was Hiding Something Much Bigger

Meanwhile, Tamara, Jacob, and Russell find Anna’s abandoned car, which has already been searched. More importantly, they discover another work badge belonging to Anna.

Russell analyzes the badge and learns that Anna had Level 8 security clearance, raising an obvious question about why someone described as an ordinary HR employee had access to highly classified material.

Reacher then visits Sampson, who confirms that he knew General Putra but denies taking part in attacks against civilians. Reacher also reveals that he personally saw Cahill on the subway when Anna died.

The group eventually confronts Cahill, but he refuses to explain what happened. After apologizing to Sampson, Cahill jumps from the roof to his death, leaving Reacher with another dead witness and even more unanswered questions.

Where the Story Goes Next

Season 3 ended with Reacher defeating Paulie, killing Xavier Quinn, and closing his investigation into the Beck organization and its arms-trafficking operation. Season 4 gives him an entirely separate case based on Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow, beginning with Anna’s death on a Philadelphia subway and the disappearance of a flash drive powerful groups desperately want.

After Episode 3, Anna and Cahill are dead, Ben remains missing, Lila has admitted lying to Reacher, and two different armed groups are hunting the same drive. Episode 4, “Karambits and Pieces,” arrives on August 19.

What do you think Anna discovered, and can Reacher really trust Lila after everything she has hidden from him? Let us know in the comments.

Warning: Major spoilers for Reacher Season 4, Episode 2 follow.

• Episode: Season 4, Episode 2
• Title: “Cage Fight”
• Release date: August 12, 2026
• Streaming service: Prime Video
• Genre: Action, crime, drama, thriller
• Season length: Eight episodes
• Next episode: Episode 3, “One Small Step,” also released August 12

Reacher Season 4, Episode 2 Recap

“Cage Fight” begins with Reacher waking up shackled to a gurney inside a cage after being hit with two tranquilizer darts. Tamara Green and Jacob Merrick are being held nearby, and Reacher quickly concludes that the CIA has captured them while searching for the missing flash drive at the center of the investigation.

Reacher eventually gets free, takes down his interrogators and uses a car jack to bend the bars holding Tamara and Jacob. Their escape becomes more complicated when additional agents arrive, but freelance journalist Russell Plum unexpectedly helps them get away. Plum has already been investigating what he believes is a secret CIA facility.

The group then separates to chase different leads. Tamara and Jacob return to Anna’s house and find it ransacked, while Anna’s car has disappeared. They also discover that Ben has missed football practice, raising fears that he has become another target connected to Anna’s death.

The Search for Ben Leads to Another Murder

Reacher, Tamara and Jacob eventually follow Ben’s movements to his fraternity house, where they learn he recently left with an OnlyFans model. When investigators locate her apartment, they find her murdered after what appears to have been careful knife torture. Reacher suspects the same professional killers who previously attacked him and Lila.

The discovery widens the case because several groups now appear to be searching for the same flash drive, including government agents and trained killers. Episode 2 makes it increasingly clear that Anna’s subway death involved something much larger than the apparent political scandal introduced earlier in the season.

Season 4 adapts Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow and started with Reacher seeing Anna kill herself on a New York subway. That event pulled him into a conspiracy involving classified information, Congressman John Sampson, the missing flash drive and Lila, who has leukemia. Previous Reacher seasons followed separate cases, including the Margrave conspiracy in Season 1, the murder of members of Reacher’s former military unit in Season 2 and his undercover operation against Zachary Beck in Season 3.

Reacher Finds a Major New Lead

Reacher later confronts Sampson and becomes convinced that the congressman does not understand what Anna was really involved in. Sampson denies knowing her before her death and rejects the theory surrounding a secret child, even offering DNA evidence.

The bigger development comes outside the hotel when Reacher recognizes Sampson’s chief of staff, Nolan Cahill, as the missing witness from the night Anna died. That connection gives Reacher his strongest lead yet and points the investigation toward someone much closer to Sampson’s political operation.

Reacher Season 4 launched with its first three episodes on August 12, while Episode 4, “Karambits and Pieces,” arrives August 19. New episodes continue weekly through the September 16 finale.

What do you think Nolan Cahill knows about Anna and the missing flash drive, and where do you think Reacher’s investigation is heading next? Let us know in the comments.

The new Hearing Aid feature will work with the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Galaxy Buds4 Pro, while users will also need a newer Galaxy smartphone running One UI 8 or later. Samsung designed the feature for adults aged 18 and older who experience perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

Users can open the Galaxy Buds settings and complete a self-administered hearing test in about five minutes. The test checks each ear separately using pure-tone audiometry, then creates an audiogram that identifies the frequencies where the user has difficulty hearing.

How Samsung’s Hearing Aid Feature Works

Samsung then uses those test results to personalize sound amplification, including higher frequencies, quieter voices, whispers and other sounds that users struggle to hear clearly. Noise elimination and beamforming also help reduce background noise while focusing more closely on sounds coming from the front.

Samsung says the system uses the NAL-NL2 fitting formula, which hearing specialists also use when configuring prescription hearing aids. Hearing test results and noise exposure information will also appear inside Samsung Health.

Apple introduced FDA-cleared hearing aid functionality for AirPods Pro 2 in 2024, giving it an early lead in consumer hearing health features. Samsung is now offering a similar experience directly through compatible Galaxy Buds, including hearing testing, personalized amplification and background noise control.

Prime Video released the first three episodes of Season 4 on August 12, 2026. The season includes eight episodes in total, with the remaining installments arriving weekly through September 16.

• Episode: Season 4, Episode 1
• Title: “City of Brotherly Love”
• Release date: August 12, 2026
• Runtime: 46 minutes
• Genre: Action, drama
• Streaming: Prime Video
• Season length: Eight episodes

Reacher Season 4 Episode 1 recap

Spoilers ahead for Reacher Season 4, Episode 1.

The episode opens with Reacher noticing Anna Merrick behaving strangely on a subway car. Her sweating, clothing and nervous movements make him suspect that she could be carrying a bomb. He approaches her and claims he can help, but Anna pulls out a revolver and kills herself.

Philadelphia detectives Tamara Green and Shaun Docherty question Reacher afterward. Reacher soon realizes authorities are waiting for unidentified federal agents from Washington, who appear particularly interested in whether Anna gave him anything before she died. Two other men later approach Reacher and finally reveal what everyone wants: a missing flash drive.

Reacher then meets Anna’s brother, Jacob Merrick, who says his sister worked in Army human resources and insists she would never willingly take her own life. Anna’s son Ben has also disappeared, adding another troubling piece to the mystery.

What is on the missing flash drive?

Reacher eventually meets Lila Hoth and her mother, Amisha. Lila has leukemia and says she needs a bone marrow transplant. She believes her biological father is John Sampson, a North Carolina congressman and presidential hopeful who served in Delta Force years earlier. Anna had reportedly obtained documents connecting Sampson to Lila, which were stored on the missing drive.

That information immediately turns Reacher’s investigation into something much larger. While searching military records at a library, he is attacked by a knife-wielding assassin who also wants the drive. Reacher kills him after a brutal fight between the archive shelves.

Another assassin targets Lila at her hotel, forcing Reacher into a second fight before armed attackers open fire from outside. Reacher gets Lila and Jacob away safely, but the episode closes with another major problem. Men ambush Reacher while he is heading to meet Jacob, shooting him with two tranquilizer darts before finally knocking him unconscious.

Where Season 4 goes next

Season 3 ended Reacher’s undercover operation against Zachary Beck and Francis Xavier Quinn, allowing Season 4 to begin with a separate case and a mostly new group of characters. The new story adapts Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow and centers on the consequences of Anna’s death and the secrets connected to the missing flash drive.

Episode 1 leaves Reacher captured, while Jacob, Lila, Tamara and the missing Ben remain tied to a conspiracy that already reaches beyond Philadelphia. Prime Video has Episodes 1 through 3 available now, with Episode 4 scheduled for August 19.

What did you think about the subway opening and the mystery surrounding Anna’s flash drive? Let us know in the comments.

Episode 3, “Emigrants,” ended with Dillard revealing that he keeps a female walker named Titicaca chained inside his room. More importantly, viewers hear the walker apparently speaking to him, including words that Dillard seems to understand as part of a genuine conversation.

Here is what we know about the next episode:

• Episode: Season 3, Episode 4
• Title: “Found/Lost”
• Release date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
• Where to watch: AMC and AMC+
• Genre: Post-apocalyptic horror drama
• Season length: Eight episodes
• Episode 4 setup: Maggie and Luis search for valuable resources while Negan and Renata work to protect Manhattan.

Could Episode 4 Really Introduce a Talking Walker?

Spoilers for Dead City Season 3, Episode 3 follow.

Dillard’s relationship with the walkers has become increasingly unsettling. He talks to them as if they understand him, and Episode 3 finally allows viewers to experience one of those encounters from his perspective.

Titicaca appears to answer him and asks him to stay with her. Dillard also believes the walker has feelings for him, turning an already disturbing storyline into something that could have much bigger implications for The Walking Dead universe.

A genuine speech variant would represent a huge change to walker biology. The franchise has already introduced smarter and more dangerous variants, including walkers capable of climbing and manipulating objects, while Daryl Dixon introduced aggressive variants and Burners whose bodies contain a corrosive substance. AMC’s own history of walker variants has never established a naturally speaking walker.

That makes Dillard’s mental state the strongest explanation for what happened in “Emigrants.” The scene specifically lets us hear the encounter through his experience, and his isolation and unusual attachment to walkers have already shaped his Season 3 storyline. Other readings of the episode similarly point toward Dillard interpreting walker sounds as speech rather than Titicaca literally forming words.

Episode 4 Could Give Us the Answer

“Found/Lost” does not have an official synopsis that directly mentions Dillard or Titicaca, so there is currently no confirmation that Episode 4 will resolve the mystery. The storyline has become too significant to ignore for long, especially as Dillard grows closer to Negan.

Season 3 has Maggie and Negan attempting to build a functioning Manhattan community after the conflicts that dominated their earlier seasons, which gives Dillard’s increasingly unstable relationship with the dead plenty of room to cause trouble.

For now, a fully speaking walker still looks unlikely. Episode 4 could confirm exactly what Dillard is experiencing, and if Titicaca speaks while another character is present, the entire walker rulebook changes immediately.

Do you think Dillard is hearing voices, or has Dead City actually introduced a speech variant? Let us know in the comments.

The Open Championship is the oldest of golf’s four men’s majors, with the tournament first played in Scotland in 1860 and now run by the R&A. In the United States, some viewers still refer to it as the British Open to separate it from the US Open.

The Guardian reports that Apple has held preliminary discussions with the R&A about bidding for the next US media rights package, while Netflix and Amazon are also expected to show interest in the tournament.

NBC secured a 12-year agreement for The Open in 2017 after outbidding ESPN, while Versant also carries coverage through Golf Channel. The current rights setup means the R&A will first discuss its next media cycle with existing partners before considering other offers.

Apple continues to invest in live sports

The report says Apple remains interested in expanding its sports lineup and continues to look for rights that fit its broader streaming strategy. A deal for The Open would give Apple access to one of golf’s most established events and another major live sports property in the US.

Apple already has several important sports partnerships, including Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer matches through MLS Season Pass. The company also announced an exclusive US Formula 1 broadcast partnership last year.

The R&A said it values its relationship with NBC and Versant and plans to speak with both companies about the next rights cycle, while continuing to monitor interest from other broadcasters and streaming services.

The latest trailer arrived on August 11 and puts more focus on the disturbing relationship developing inside the Crawford home, where Lowen starts questioning what happened to Verity and how much of the story surrounding her can actually be trusted. The movie will open in theaters worldwide on October 2, 2026.

Here are the main details:

• Movie: Verity
• Genre: Psychological thriller
• Release date: October 2, 2026
• Release format: Theatrical release
• Runtime: Not officially announced
• Director: Michael Showalter
• Starring: Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford, Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford, Brady Wagner as Crew Crawford, Asel Swango as Frida, and Daniel Echevarria as Alex.

The official trailer shows Hathaway, Johnson, and Hartnett at the center of a story built around attraction, suspicion, hidden writing, and increasingly disturbing questions about the Crawford family.

Verity Plot

Minor spoilers based on the trailer and official plot description follow.

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer who receives an unusual opportunity to finish a successful book series written by Verity Crawford, a famous author who can no longer complete the work herself. Lowen moves into the remote Crawford estate, where Verity lives with her husband Jeremy and their family.

Her assignment soon becomes far more personal after she finds what appears to be Verity’s autobiographical writing. The material contains disturbing confessions involving Jeremy and the Crawford family, leaving Lowen unsure whether she has uncovered the truth, fiction written by Verity, or something deliberately designed to manipulate whoever reads it.

The trailer builds heavily around that uncertainty. Lowen also grows closer to Jeremy while Verity remains an unsettling presence inside the house, which makes every interaction harder to read. The footage suggests the movie will keep pushing Lowen deeper into Verity’s story while making both her discoveries and her own judgment increasingly difficult to trust.

Hathaway’s Verity appears particularly unpredictable, shifting between vulnerability and menace, while Johnson plays Lowen as someone who realizes that taking the writing job has placed her inside a mystery that reaches well beyond the unfinished novels.

FAQs

When does Verity come out?

Verity will open in theaters worldwide on October 2, 2026.

Who plays Verity Crawford?

Anne Hathaway stars as Verity Crawford, the bestselling author whose condition leaves her unable to finish her popular book series.

Who does Dakota Johnson play in Verity?

Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, the struggling writer hired to ghostwrite Verity Crawford’s remaining books.

Who plays Jeremy Crawford?

Josh Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, Verity’s husband and the man who brings Lowen into the family home to work on his wife’s books.

Is Verity based on a book?

Yes. The movie adapts Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller novel Verity.

Will Verity stream on Prime Video?

A streaming premiere date has not been announced. The confirmed release is currently a worldwide theatrical launch on October 2, 2026.

Verity arrives in theaters on October 2, with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett leading one of the year’s darker book adaptations. What did you think of the new trailer, and are you planning to watch Verity when it arrives? Let us know in the comments.

The new firmware does not install through a traditional Software Update screen, and once beta updates are enabled, AirPods firmware installs automatically when the required conditions are met.

How to update

1. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS 27 public beta.
2. Join the public beta program if you have not already enrolled.
3. Connect your supported AirPods to your iPhone.
4. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
5. Tap the i button next to your AirPods.
6. Open AirPods Beta Updates and enable beta firmware updates.
7. Keep your AirPods charging and within Bluetooth range of your Wi-Fi-connected iPhone so the firmware can install automatically.

You can check the installed version by opening Settings > Bluetooth, tapping the i button beside your AirPods, and scrolling down to the firmware information.

All changes in AirPods firmware 9A5336b

Apple has not published detailed release notes listing specific changes in build 9A5336b, so this beta appears focused on testing and preparing AirPods for features arriving with iOS 27.

• AirPods Custom EQ: iOS 27 adds controls for adjusting low, mid, and high frequencies directly from AirPods settings, giving users more control over how their AirPods sound.
• AirPods Pro 3 workout support: AirPods Pro 3 can provide heart-rate tracking while using GymKit with compatible cardio equipment through iPhone.
• Compatibility testing: The beta firmware works alongside iOS 27 as Apple continues testing upcoming AirPods features before the public software release later this year.

The 9A5336b public beta is available for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2.

If you’ve already installed the new AirPods beta firmware, let us know your experience in the comments.

Bloomberg reports that Apple services chief Eddy Cue announced Bailey’s retirement in an internal memo, while Apple plans to name her successor before she leaves. Bailey will also remain available in an advisory role during the transition.

Bailey joined Apple in the early 2000s and began leading the Apple Online Store team in 2003, before becoming vice president of Apple Pay when the payment service launched in 2014. She later oversaw Apple Wallet, Apple Card, fraud prevention, partner operations, Gift Cards, and Trust and Safety.

Jennifer Bailey helped build Apple Pay and Wallet

In his memo, Cue credited Bailey with changing how hundreds of millions of Apple customers make payments while expanding Wallet well beyond its original focus on storing payment cards.

“After more than 25 years at Apple, Jennifer Bailey has decided to retire in October. During her tenure, Jennifer has made extraordinary contributions from leading the Apple Store Online through a period of significant growth and global expansion to overseeing the launch of Apple Pay. Under Jennifer’s leadership, Apple Pay has changed the way hundreds of millions of our users pay, with a simpler, more secure, and private experience.”

Bailey became a familiar face at Apple events over the years as the company expanded Wallet to support identification cards and digital keys for cars, homes, and hotels. Apple Pay has also grown into a major part of Apple’s services business since its introduction more than a decade ago.

Bloomberg describes Bailey’s retirement as a “major loss within Apple,” with her departure arriving during a broader leadership transition at the company. Senior communications director Josh Rosenstock is also leaving Apple in an unrelated move.

Cue said Apple remains committed to its long-term goal of “replacing the physical wallet,” while the company will announce its succession plan for Bailey before her departure at the end of October.

Tags: featured

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:35:32 +0000 Rajat Saini tmo_wp_463067 iOS 27 beta 5 gives iPhone users more control over Apple’s Liquid Glass design, with the latest update making the most transparent setting even clearer than it was in earlier beta versions.

Apple introduced a Liquid Glass slider in iOS 27 that lets users adjust how transparent or tinted the interface appears, and beta 5 expands that range by pushing the clearest setting further toward a more transparent look.

iOS 27 beta 5 changes the Liquid Glass slider

You can find the Liquid Glass slider under Settings > Appearance > Liquid Glass, where Apple lets you move between a highly transparent appearance, a stronger tinted effect, or a level somewhere between the two.

With iOS 27 beta 5, Apple has adjusted the slider so the lowest tint setting now shows more of the content and colors behind interface elements, giving menus, controls, and other Liquid Glass surfaces a clearer appearance.

Beta Profiles shared a comparison on X showing the difference between the previous beta and beta 5, with the latest version producing a noticeably more transparent effect at the same end of the slider.

The change remains fairly small, although users who prefer the clearest possible Liquid Glass appearance will notice that Apple now gives them more room to reduce the tint across the interface.

Apple continues to refine Liquid Glass ahead of the public iOS 27 release next month, and the adjustable slider gives users more control over how strongly the design appears across their iPhone.

The Modular face remains one of the most useful options on Apple Watch because it combines several complication slots with a layout that keeps important information visible throughout the day, and the new colors will expand its existing customization options without changing the basic design.

Nine new Modular colors are coming in watchOS 27

Aaron Perris found references to nine new Modular watch face colors inside iOS 27 beta 5, although the current beta does not include visual previews showing how each option will look on Apple Watch.

The new colors listed in the beta code are Cool Slate Blue-Gray, Dusty Rose, Flat Sage Green, Muted Navy Blue, Pale Mint Green, Soft Periwinkle Blue, Soft Pink, Warm Cream, and Warm Taupe.

Several of these shades also line up with the type of seasonal colors Apple often introduces alongside new Apple Watch bands, so they could match accessories released with Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 later this year.

Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple is working on another Modular watch face for watchOS 27, with a design inspired by Modular Ultra, which suggests Apple plans to give the Modular family more attention in this year’s software update.

Apple has not shown the new Modular colors publicly yet, but the references inside beta 5 suggest users will get several fresh options when watchOS 27 launches in fall 2026.

The feature has appeared in recent Edge Canary builds and is also starting to reach some Edge Beta users through a controlled rollout.

The change adds Apple Account support directly to Edge profiles, which means users will eventually be able to connect their existing Apple credentials when setting up or signing in to the browser. Microsoft is also testing a dedicated Apple sign-in button inside the Edge profile menu, similar to the Google Account option already available in the browser.

Microsoft Edge adds Apple Account sign-in support

Tecnoblog reported that user Leopeva64 found two new experimental flags in the latest Edge Canary build, with one enabling Apple Account sign-in and another adding the Apple sign-in button to the profile menu.

The first flag, called “Sign in with Apple,” allows users to sign in to an Edge profile with an Apple Account on macOS and Windows. The second flag enables the Apple sign-in button inside the profile flyout, although the main Apple sign-in flag must also remain enabled for the option to work.

Microsoft has also listed Apple Account sign-in in the release notes for Edge Beta version 152, confirming that the feature is rolling out on both Windows and macOS. However, Microsoft is using a controlled rollout, so some Beta users may not see the option yet.

Once Microsoft completes the rollout, Apple users will have a simpler way to sign in to Edge while continuing to use the Apple Account they already rely on across their devices.

The promotion originally ran from July 16 through August 27, but Apple has now moved the closing date to September 24, 2026. Customers who place an eligible order during the promotion period will still qualify even when Apple ships the product after September 24.

Apple’s Back to School offer now ends September 24

The education discount also applies, reducing the upfront price of eligible devices for qualified buyers.

Apple explains that the promotion covers several groups across education:

“Those eligible for this promotion include faculty, staff, students, and parents” who meet Apple’s requirements, including employees of K-12 institutions, eligible higher education students and staff, and parents purchasing for an eligible higher education student.

Customers can claim the offer through physical Apple Store locations, the Apple Store for Education, or by ordering through 1-800-MY-APPLE, provided the purchase and delivery take place within the United States.

The promotion has also received an extension in Canada, Mexico, and several Asian markets, although Apple offers different promotional products depending on the country. In the US, the maximum benefit remains the $150 Apple Gift Card included with an eligible MacBook Pro purchase.

Apple excludes the MacBook Neo, iPad mini, entry-level iPad, desktop Macs, and iPhones from the 2026 Back to School promotion, while eligible customers need UNiDAYS verification to complete a qualifying education purchase.

With the new September 24 deadline, students and educators now have several extra weeks to use Apple’s education pricing and claim the promotional gift card before the 2026 offer ends.

• Episodes: 8
• Genre: Crime drama, thriller
• Season 2 premiere: August 12, 2026
• Release schedule: One new episode every Wednesday
• Season 2 finale: September 30, 2026
• Streaming: Apple TV

What is Women in Blue season 2 about?

Season 2 picks up with María, played by Bárbara Mori, now serving as a lieutenant. Her latest case begins after the body of a student activist is discovered, pulling the Azules into an investigation connected to the 1968 student massacre in Mexico City.

The investigation becomes more complicated when another body connected to that period is uncovered. María, Valentina, Gabina and Ángeles soon find themselves dealing with corruption inside the system while trying to identify a killer who appears to be settling old scores.

Bárbara Mori returns alongside Natalia Téllez as Valentina, Amorita Rasgado as Gabina and Ximena Sariñana as Ángeles. The cast also includes Miguel Rodarte, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Christian Tappan, Horacio García Rojas and Bruno Bichir.

FAQs

When does Women in Blue season 2 premiere?

Women in Blue season 2 premieres globally on Apple TV on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

How many episodes are in Women in Blue season 2?

The second season has eight episodes. Apple will release one episode each week through September 30, 2026.

When is the Women in Blue season 2 finale?

The season 2 finale arrives on Wednesday, September 30, after the eight-episode weekly run.

Do I need to watch Women in Blue season 1 first?

Watching season 1 first will help because season 2 continues the stories of María, Valentina, Gabina and Ángeles and follows their work inside Mexico’s first female police force.

Is Women in Blue based on a true story?

The series is inspired by true events surrounding Mexico’s first female police force, although its characters, cases and crime story include fictional elements.

Where can I watch Women in Blue season 2?

Women in Blue season 2 is available exclusively on Apple TV. The service costs $12.99 per month in the US and includes a seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers.

With a new investigation beginning today and fresh episodes arriving every Wednesday, Women in Blue now gives Apple TV viewers another weekly crime drama to follow through the end of September. Are you planning to watch season 2? Let us know in the comments.

The decision keeps the lower-court process moving and gives Apple 24 hours to submit the fee it wants to charge on purchases completed outside the App Store, along with calculations and evidence supporting that amount.

Apple gets 24 hours to propose its fee

The dispute follows an earlier ruling that found Apple in contempt after it introduced a 27% commission on purchases made through external payment links, even though the court had ordered Apple to let developers direct users to alternative payment methods.

Apple appealed the contempt finding to the Supreme Court and later asked Judge Gonzalez Rogers to pause the fee proceedings, arguing that the Supreme Court’s eventual decision could affect the work taking place in the lower court.

Epic Games opposed that request and argued that the proceedings should continue while the Supreme Court reviews the narrower contempt issue.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said on X that Judge Gonzalez Rogers denied Apple’s request, which means Apple must now submit its proposed fee and explain why the court should approve it.

In her publicly released ruling, Judge Gonzalez Rogers said the Supreme Court review does not substantially affect the factual questions surrounding Apple’s compliance with the injunction.

She also pointed to Apple’s agreement to file its evidence within 24 hours and said further delay was unwarranted as the case approaches the fifth anniversary of the court’s original decision.

Apple has not publicly commented on the latest ruling.

The device has often appeared in reports under the unofficial “iPhone Fold” name, but recent leaks have increasingly pointed to Apple using “iPhone Ultra” instead, which would place the foldable alongside other high-end products carrying the Ultra branding.

Mark Gurman said on X that “everyone calls it the Ultra internally,” suggesting the name has become common among Apple employees familiar with the upcoming foldable iPhone.

iPhone Ultra name is still not confirmed

However, internal terminology does not guarantee Apple will use the same branding when the phone reaches customers, since Apple keeps product names closely guarded until launch and many employees do not know final marketing decisions in advance.

The “iPhone Ultra” name could simply be an internal shorthand that became popular as outside reports started using it, while Apple’s marketing team could still choose another name before the September announcement.

There is also some debate over whether Ultra fits the foldable iPhone’s position in Apple’s lineup, especially because Apple usually reserves the name for products designed to sit above its existing premium models.

For now, iPhone Ultra appears to be the strongest rumored name for Apple’s foldable iPhone, although the final branding will only become clear when Apple officially introduces the device at its September event.

The launch comes as SpaceXAI and Cursor move toward becoming a single company, while Grok Bot enters beta for a limited group of paying subscribers across desktop and iOS.

Grok Bot works across apps on its own computer

SpaceXAI says each Grok Bot gets its own cloud computer, which allows the agent to sign into tools, continue working when the user steps away, and complete multi-step jobs without stopping after every action.

Users can message a Bot like a colleague, give it a task, and return later when the work is complete or when the agent needs approval for a decision.

The company says Bots remember past conversations, learn how users prefer tasks to be handled, and improve as they complete more work over time.

Grok Bot can also learn routines by watching users complete a workflow, then save those steps and repeat the process later without requiring the same instructions again.

SpaceXAI says its own teams have used Bots for sales outreach, marketing work, office operations, invoice processing, recruiting, bug reporting, and software fixes.

Users can run several Bots at the same time, while the agents can share context, coordinate through group chats, assign work between themselves, and involve the user when a decision needs human input.

Grok Bot is available in beta on macOS, iPhone, Windows, and Linux, while an Android version is listed as coming soon.

Access currently requires a SuperGrok Heavy, Cursor Ultra, or Cursor Teams Premium subscription, while enterprise customers can join a waitlist for future access.

The two games take very different approaches to puzzle gameplay, although both are designed around simple mechanics that players can understand quickly. Apple Arcade subscribers will get full access as part of the existing subscription.

Two new puzzle games coming September 3

• Block Blast!+ challenges players to place blocks on a grid and clear complete rows and columns while building higher scores and longer combos. The gameplay will feel familiar to players who enjoy classic block-based puzzle games, while the Apple Arcade version removes advertising interruptions.
• Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ uses jigsaw-style puzzles built around nature-inspired artwork, wildlife stories, and conservation themes. The game also includes accessibility features designed to make the slower puzzle experience easier for a wider range of players.

Apple Arcade will also add NFL Retro Bowl ’27, Coloring Games for Families+, and Let’s Play! Oink Games+ on September 3, expanding the monthly update beyond puzzle games.

Several existing titles will receive updates during August, including 28 new packs for puffies. on August 12, 200 additional levels for Simon’s Cat – Blast Time starting August 20, and a special 800th hoop update for stitch. on August 26.

Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month in the United States after a one-month free trial, while Apple One plans also include access to the service. A single Apple Arcade subscription supports Family Sharing for up to six people.

This release does not introduce any major new features, but Apple has made several visual changes while continuing to fix bugs and improve the overall experience.

How to update

If your Mac is already enrolled in the public beta program, follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Select General.
3. Click Software Update.
4. Click the information button next to Beta Updates if the beta is not already enabled.
5. Select macOS 27 Golden Gate Public Beta.
6. Click Done, then download and install the available update.

Users who have not joined the public beta program need to enroll their Apple Account in Apple’s public beta program before the update appears in Software Update.

All the changes in macOS 27 public beta 3

macOS 27 public beta 3 focuses mainly on interface refinements rather than adding major features. Here are the changes found so far:

• Updated Siri icon: Apple has refreshed the Siri icon as part of the latest round of visual changes.
• New Safari icon: Safari also gets an updated app icon in this release.
• Updated App Store icon: The App Store icon has received another design adjustment.
• Activity Monitor icon changes: Apple has refreshed the Activity Monitor icon to better match the current macOS 27 design.
• Chess gets a new icon: The built-in Chess app is another app receiving an updated icon.
• Consistent window corners: Apple has standardized the corner radius used across apps and windows. Windows now use a more consistent fixed radius instead of changing their corner shape depending on elements in the title bar.
• Bug fixes and refinements: The update also continues Apple’s work on stability and smaller system improvements as macOS 27 moves closer to its final release.

Apple has not added any other major user-facing features in public beta 3 so far. More minor changes may become apparent as testers spend additional time with the release.

If you’ve already installed macOS 27 public beta 3, let us know your experience in the comments.

The third public beta uses the same build as iPadOS 27 developer beta 5, so users are getting the latest changes that developers received earlier this week.

How to update

If your iPad is already enrolled in Apple’s public beta program, you can install the update directly from Settings.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Make sure iPadOS 27 Public Beta is selected under Beta Updates.
5. Tap Update Now when public beta 3 appears.
6. Keep your iPad connected to Wi-Fi and power while the update installs.

It is also a good idea to back up important files before installing beta software, since test builds can still contain bugs and battery or app compatibility issues.

All the changes in iPadOS 27 public beta 3

• Redesigned Siri icon: Apple has updated Siri’s app icon so it looks closer to the colorful glowing interface used when Siri AI is active.
• Updated Safari and Preview icons: Safari, Preview, and several other system icons have received additional Liquid Glass refinements as Apple continues polishing the iPadOS 27 design.
• More Siri AI voice options: Siri’s enhanced voice customization now includes additional options, including support for British English.
• New Search settings: A new Before Search section gives users more control over what appears before they start typing in system Search.
• Control app suggestions: Users can adjust the number of suggested apps that appear when opening Search.
• App shortcut suggestions: iPadOS 27 now provides a separate setting for controlling suggested app shortcuts in Search.
• Recent searches control: Users can choose whether previous searches appear before entering a new query.
• Siri AI improvements: iPadOS 27 continues testing Apple’s new Siri AI experience, which supports more natural conversations, personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper actions across supported apps and devices.
• iCloud+ AI information: Apple has added clearer information inside Settings about iCloud+ and limits related to some AI features.
• Performance improvements: iPadOS 27 includes broader system optimizations aimed at faster app launches, smoother animations, quicker keyboard response, and better overall responsiveness. These improvements are part of the same performance work Apple introduced across iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
• Bug fixes and stability: Public beta 3 also includes fixes and general stability improvements as Apple moves closer to the final iPadOS 27 release.

Some Siri AI features require an iPad that supports Apple Intelligence, while the availability of more advanced capabilities also depends on the hardware.

Apple is expected to continue refining iPadOS 27 through additional beta releases before the stable version arrives later this year.

If you’ve already installed iPadOS 27 public beta 3, let us know your experience in the comments.

The new public beta corresponds with the latest iOS 27 developer beta, which continues Apple’s work on making iPhones faster and improving Siri AI ahead of the final iOS 27 release.

How to install

If your iPhone is already enrolled in Apple’s public beta program, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Tap Beta Updates and make sure iOS 27 Public Beta is selected.
5. Return to the Software Update page.
6. Tap Download and Install when iOS 27 public beta 3 appears.

Back up important data before installing beta software, since test versions can still contain bugs, battery problems, and app compatibility issues.

All the changes in iOS 27 public beta 3

The latest beta focuses heavily on performance, Siri AI, and smaller improvements throughout iOS. Here are some of the notable changes:

• Faster iPhone performance: Apple continues to improve app launches, Lock Screen switching, system animations, Safari performance, AirDrop transfers, Camera launch times in Low Power Mode, and transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
• Siri AI improvements: Siri AI remains one of the biggest parts of iOS 27, with personal context, on-screen awareness, deeper actions inside apps, richer conversations, and a dedicated Siri app for continuing conversations.
• More Siri voice controls: Apple continues expanding customization for Siri’s new voices as it tests the redesigned assistant ahead of the final release.
• Better Spotlight suggestions: Spotlight now provides more relevant search suggestions, which should make apps, files, contacts, and other results easier to find.
• Faster AirPlay connections: Connecting an iPhone to an Apple TV or HomePod through AirPlay should now take less time.
• Safari improvements: Apple has improved Safari start page loading, web app performance, and power efficiency.
• Photos upgrades: The Photos app gains improvements for album organization, Shared Albums, slideshows, keywords, and other photo management features.
• Messages improvements: Messages syncing has been refined, failed messages can automatically retry, and recent camera captures load faster when attaching them to conversations.
• Smoother unlocking and scrolling: Apple has improved iPhone unlocking as well as scrolling in areas such as the App Library and widget gallery.
• Battery and efficiency work: The beta includes better battery insights and several power-efficiency improvements across Safari, Camera, networking, and other system functions.

iOS 27 remains in beta, so Apple will continue fixing bugs and refining performance before the software reaches all compatible iPhones.

If you’ve already installed iOS 27 public beta 3, let us know your experience in the comments.

Tags: featured

]]> Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:33:39 +0000 Rajat Saini tmo_wp_463027 Apple is facing a proposed class action lawsuit over iCloud Private Relay, with the complaint accusing the company of fraud, false advertising, and misleading customers about the privacy protection included with iCloud+ subscriptions.

9to5Mac reports that Clarkson Law Firm filed the lawsuit after security researchers identified WebKit flaws that can expose a user’s real IP address or DNS information despite Private Relay being enabled. The complaint alleges that Apple “knew, or should have known” that its claims about the service were false or misleading when it marketed and sold iCloud+ subscriptions.

Private Relay is designed to protect Safari browsing by separating information about a user’s identity and the websites they visit. Apple handles the first relay, while a third-party provider handles the second, preventing either party from seeing the complete browsing request.

Private Relay flaw can expose a user’s real IP address

The most serious reported flaw involves passkeys, as a website can trigger a passkey-related request that the operating system handles outside Safari and therefore outside Private Relay’s proxy servers. Researchers found that a website can potentially expose the real IP address without displaying a passkey prompt, including when the site only claims to support passkeys.

Researchers also identified issues involving DNS prefetching and WebTransport, which Apple added with iOS 26, that can expose real IP addresses or DNS servers under certain conditions. Because Apple requires browsers on iOS to use WebKit, the underlying exposure is not limited to Safari.

Clarkson partner Tim Giordano said customers paid Apple for privacy protection that failed to provide the protection they expected.

“For Apple’s iCloud users to now learn that for years they were paying Apple a premium for a protection that simply didn’t work… is an outrageous violation and betrayal of consumer trust and law.”

Clarkson previously represented plaintiffs in litigation over Apple’s delayed personalized Siri features, which ended with a $250 million settlement in December 2025. The new Private Relay lawsuit remains a proposed class action, and Apple has not provided a response in the supplied material.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit last September, alleging that Apple fired employee Tyler Steele after he converted to Judaism and requested changes to his work schedule so he could observe the Sabbath. According to the complaint, Steele had consistently received positive performance reviews before requesting that he not work on Fridays and Saturdays.

Apple denied the allegations in court documents and did not publicly comment on the lawsuit while the case was pending.

Reuters reported that Apple has now agreed to settle the claims for $150,000, bringing the legal dispute to a close under a consent decree.

Apple will pay $80,000 in back pay and $70,000 in damages

Under the settlement, Apple will pay Steele $80,000 in back pay, which will count as wages and remain subject to applicable taxes and withholdings. The company will separately pay another $70,000 covering compensatory damages and interest.

The consent decree explains how Apple will make the payments:

“One payment will be $80,000, which constitutes back pay. The second payment will be $70,000, which constitutes compensatory damages and interest.”

Apple also agreed to provide training covering religious discrimination and workplace accommodation requirements for certain employees in its Northern Virginia retail market. During the two-year consent decree, the company must also report denials of religious accommodation requests and complaints involving religious discrimination to the EEOC.

The agreement makes clear that settling the lawsuit does not amount to an admission that Apple violated employment law.

“Apple denied these allegations but agreed to resolve the lawsuit,” the consent decree states.

The settlement resolves the EEOC’s claims while requiring Apple to follow the additional training and reporting requirements for the next two years.

At the moment, iPhone users need to tap the contact or group name, open the chat info screen, select Search, and then return to the conversation with search mode enabled. The new button removes those extra steps and lets users start searching from the chat itself.

WhatsApp plans to show the search button while scrolling

WABetaInfo found references to the feature in WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.31.10.70, which is available through TestFlight, although the button itself has not yet been enabled for beta testers.

“The new search button does not sit permanently at the bottom of the screen. It only appears when users scroll up through the conversation. This is the same behavior as the button that lets users jump back to the latest message.”

The button will appear in the bottom-right corner while users move through older messages and disappear again when they return to the latest part of the conversation. It will activate the same search mode already available through the chat info screen, so WhatsApp is mainly changing how quickly users can reach it.

The feature remains under development, and WhatsApp has not announced when it will reach beta testers or the wider iOS app. Once available, the shortcut should make searching older messages much easier for users who regularly return to long conversations.