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Apple’s 2026 AirPods Pro said to feature tiny built-in cameras
According to Apple leaker and prototype collector Kosutami, Apple’s upcoming next-generation AirPods Pro will include cameras enabling them to “see around” the wearer — likely via tiny sensors built into each earbud.
This aligns with prior reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has indicated that the 2026 AirPods Pro upgrade will feature infrared cameras to support advanced features like hand gesture recognition, improved spatial audio (especially with Vision Pro), and enhanced environmental awareness for Apple Intelligence capabilities.
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
Kosutami added that the new AirPods Pro will be available at the same $249 price as the current model. This contrasts with previous rumors suggesting that the next AirPods Pro would be a secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model.
The Chinese leaker known as “Instant Digital” corroborated the rumors about new AirPods Pro featuring infrared cameras for gesture controls, with some additional details and clarifications. Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, these hand gestures will work while running, as controlling volume via swipes of the AirPods Pro’s tiny stems is hit-or-miss.
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iOS 27: Apple to focus on squashing bugs, boosting performance, and tweaking design
Apple’s upcoming software updates, set to be previewed at the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), are expected to be relatively low-key, according to Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman.In his latest “Power On” newsletter, Gurman reports that iOS 27 will debut at this year’s WWDC. While the update will include additional enhancements to Apple Intelligence, he describes the overall event as likely to be “a fairly muted affair this year.” The focus for iOS 27 and related platforms appears to center on refinements such as bug fixes, performance optimizations, and interface polishing, with a notable highlight being advancements in Siri toward a more personalized, chatbot-style experience.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Apple is preparing to announce iOS 26.4 in the coming weeks, which (barring more delays) is slated to include some components of the long-awaited Siri update.
We’ll get a closer look at new software at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it will be a fairly muted affair this year. Beyond introducing a more personalized Siri with a chatbot interface, Apple will be focused on improving the nuts-and-bolts performance of the software with iOS 27. That means eliminating bugs, removing old code and fine-tuning the interface.
As for the specific timing of releases: Apple expects to deliver the first beta version of iOS 26.4 to developers the week of Feb. 23. The new MacBook Pros, meanwhile, are tied to the macOS 26.3 cycle that runs through March. The M4 versions of the high-end laptops remain in short supply, a telltale sign that new models are coming. A product launch is currently slated for as early as the week of March 2.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re more than fine with the idea of a rock solid iOS 27.0 release.
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YouTube TV offers customizable, lower-priced subscription plans
YouTube TV is shaking up the live TV streaming landscape by introducing a suite of customizable, lower-priced subscription options that let viewers pay only for the content they actually want. Announced via the official YouTube Blog, more than 10 new “YouTube TV Plans” are rolling out starting this week, focusing on popular categories like sports, news, entertainment, and family programming. These genre-specific bundles come in significantly cheaper than the traditional main plan, giving subscribers greater control and flexibility without sacrificing core YouTube TV features.The longstanding main YouTube TV Base Plan remains available at $82.99 per month, delivering over 100 networks spanning all genres for those who want the full experience. However, the new plans address a common cord-cutter complaint: why pay for dozens of channels you’ll never watch?
Josh Yang, Director of Product Management at YouTube, emphasized the shift toward personalization: “TV should be easy, and with YouTube TV Plans launching this week, we’re giving customers more control over their subscriptions… customers now have the choice and flexibility to watch the channels they love, all in one place.”
Here are the key new plans highlighted in the announcement:
• Sports Plan — $64.99/month (or $54.99/month for new users during the first year)
This $18 savings compared to the main plan targets sports enthusiasts. It includes major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) plus dedicated sports channels like FS1, NBC Sports Network, all ESPN networks, and access to the upcoming ESPN Unlimited streaming service this fall. Perfect for fans who prioritize live games and analysis.
• Sports + News Plan — $71.99/month (or $56.99/month for new users for the first three months)
Building on the Sports Plan, this tier adds national news networks such as CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Bloomberg, and Fox Business—offering $11 less than the full base plan. Ideal for viewers who follow both sports and current events.
• Entertainment Plan — $54.99/month (or $44.99/month for new users for the first three months)
Add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone with Sports Plus, HBO Max, and 4K Plus can also be purchased to create a truly customized viewing experience.
The most affordable standalone option saves $28 versus the main plan. It features major broadcasters alongside popular entertainment channels like FX (dramas), Hallmark classics, Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount Network, Food Network, HGTV, and more. Aimed at cinephiles, comedy lovers, and reality TV fans.
News + Entertainment + Family Plan — $69.99/month (or $59.99/month for new users for the first three months)
For $13 below the base price, this bundle combines news, entertainment, and family-oriented content—including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, PBS Kids, and similar networks. Great for households with diverse viewing needs.
All these plans preserve YouTube TV’s signature perks, including unlimited cloud DVR storage, support for up to six household accounts, multiview for watching multiple games or shows simultaneously, key plays highlights, and more. Subscribers can further customize with popular add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone (via Sports Plus), Max (formerly HBO Max), 4K Plus, and others.
The rollout begins immediately and will expand to all U.S. YouTube TV users over the coming weeks. New subscribers can take advantage of generous introductory discounts, and existing members have the option to downgrade to a more tailored plan if desired.
This move comes after YouTube teased the genre-specific packages in late 2025 and reflects broader industry trends toward “skinny bundles” that combat cord-cutting fatigue and rising costs. By offering more choice at lower entry points — starting as low as around $45–$55 for new users in promotional periods — YouTube TV aims to attract budget-conscious viewers while retaining its edge in user-friendly features and live TV streaming.
MacDailyNews Note: Check the YouTube TV app or website in the coming days to see which options become available to you.
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Apple Original Films lands global rights to Sundance Film Festival selection ‘The Last First: Winter K2’
Apple Original Films has announced it will expand its documentary feature slate with “The Last First: Winter K2,” the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival selection from director Amir Bar-Lev (“My Kid Could Paint That,” “The Tillman Story,” “Happy Valley”); Propagate Content, the award-winning production and talent powerhouse founded by Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens; West Buttermilk; and producers Sean Richard of Object Studios, and Sarah Thomson and John Battsek of Ventureland. Following its premiere at Sundance, the film has been hailed as a “gripping,” “engrossing,” “absolutely stunning” and “perfect, surprisingly complicated documentary.”
In “The Last First: Winter K2,” Bar-Lev tells a complex, harrowing and moving story that unpacks the industry of extreme mountain climbing and its changing culture. Focusing on a 2021 expedition, mountaineers John Snorri Sigurjónsson, an Icelander, and Pakistani father-son team Ali and Sajid Sadpara set out to be the first to summit K2 in the winter, when the mountain’s conditions are the cruelest. The men soon find themselves sharing the treacherous ascent with influencer climbers and their film crews, commercial expedition clients, and Nims, a Nepalese celebrity mountaineer, and his team of Sherpas.
“The Last First: Winter K2” takes us to the icy heights and unpredictable weather of K2 and reveals a surprising and layered story — one of strategy and determination, class and caste, money and power — all under life-or-death circumstances.
“At its core, this is a profoundly human story about the cost of ambition and the people left searching for answers,” said Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens of Propagate Content. “Amir approaches the film with empathy and precision, and we’re honored to see it reach a worldwide audience through Apple TV after such a powerful Sundance debut.”
“The Last First: Winter K2” is directed by Bar-Lev and produced by Owens, Silverman, Richard, Thomson and Battsek. Executive producers include Drew Buckley, James Packer, Will Kane, Bar-Lev, Taylor Levin, Kerstin Emhoff and Ali Brown. The film is edited by Joe Carey; Will Pugh is the director of photography, and Tom Hodge composed the music.
The film will join Apple’s award-winning slate of documentary features, including last year’s Sundance Film Festival Favorite Award “Come See Me in the Good Light,” which just landed an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film; “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” the Emmy and Critics Choice Award-winning feature that premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival; and Emmy Award-winning “Boys State,” which won the 2020 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 692 wins and 3,256 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple’s ‘The Studio’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’ score at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards
Apple on Saturday landed three wins at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards, including Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series “The Studio” for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Series “Mr. Scorsese” for Rebecca Miller, as well as Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for Kim Gehrig’s “I’m Not Remarkable.”
“The Studio” recently became the most Emmy-winning freshman comedy in history with 13 wins, including Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Lead Actor Seth Rogen. The series has also been recognized with Golden Globe Award wins for Best Comedy and Best Actor in a Comedy Seth Rogen; Critics Choice Award wins for Best Comedy, Best Actor in a Comedy Seth Rogen and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Ike Barinholtz; and is one of the few series to land the Golden Globe, Emmy and Critics Choice Awards for Best Comedy. Honors for “The Studio” also include an American Film Institute Award for TV Program of the Year; Actor Award nominations including Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Male Actors Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz, and Outstanding Female Actors Catherine O’Hara and Kathryn Hahn; as well as nominations from the Producers Guild, Casting Society Artios Awards, Art Directors Guild, Costume Designers Guild, American Society of Cinematographers, Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild and Film Independent Spirit Awards, among many others.
This win is the most recent accolade for “Mr. Scorsese,” after landing wins at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards for Best Biographical Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series, and nominations for the PGA Awards, the American Cinema Editors Awards and the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.
These wins are the latest recognition for Apple at the DGA Awards, following a Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series win in 2024 for “Lessons in Chemistry.” To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 695 wins and 3,257 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning, history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
Apple landed three wins at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards, including:
“The Studio”
• Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series — Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg: “The Oner”
“Mr. Scorsese”
• Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Series — Rebecca Miller: “All This Filming Isn’t Healthy”
“I’m Not Remarkable” — Apple
• Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials — Kim Gehrig
“The Studio” and “Mr. Scorsese” are currently streaming on Apple TV.
“The Studio”
In “The Studio,” Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.
“Mr. Scorsese”
“Mr. Scorsese” is a film portrait of a man through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a visionary who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends. From acclaimed director Rebecca Miller, “Mr. Scorsese” examines how his own colorful life experiences informed his artistic vision as each film he made stunned the world with originality. Starting with his New York University student films and continuing to the present day, this documentary explores the themes that have fascinated Scorsese and informed his work, including the place of good and evil in the fundamental nature of humankind.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats to all of the casts and crews of the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards winners!
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple’s iPhone 17e expected to deliver faster performance and improved efficiency
Apple’s 2026 product offensive is kicking off with the iPhone 17e, an eagerly awaited refresh to its entry-level smartphone lineup that promises meaningful upgrades without a price hike. According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, the device — succeeding last year’s iPhone 16e — is slated to arrive imminently, potentially within days or weeks, positioning it as one of the earliest major hardware releases of the year.
The iPhone 17e retains its predecessor’s $599 starting price, allowing Apple to market it with a straightforward pitch: “more features for the same cost.” Key enhancements include the powerful A19 chip, borrowed directly from the standard iPhone 17 released last year. This upgrade delivers faster performance, improved efficiency, and better support for demanding tasks compared to the A18 in the iPhone 16e.
Additionally, the iPhone 17e finally introduces MagSafe support for magnetic wireless charging and accessories — a feature long absent from Apple’s budget models but standard on higher-end iPhones. It also transitions to Apple’s latest in-house wireless silicon, including the advanced C1X cellular modem (offering significantly faster 5G and LTE speeds) and the N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread connectivity. These changes modernize the device’s connectivity stack and bring it closer in line with flagship capabilities.
As Apple’s current entry-level offering (having effectively replaced the discontinued iPhone SE series), the iPhone 17e targets price-conscious consumers, students, and first-time buyers while serving as a strong gateway into the Apple ecosystem. Apple plans to push it aggressively in emerging economies and enterprise markets, where it can capitalize on softer competition from rivals like Google’s Pixel 10a (expected to see minimal upgrades) and Samsung’s premium-focused strategy.
While details on design, display, camera, or other external changes remain sparse—suggesting an incremental rather than revolutionary update—the internal boosts make the iPhone 17e a compelling value proposition. It arrives amid a broader early-2026 refresh wave, including updated entry-level iPads with Apple Intelligence support, refreshed iPad Air models, and new M5-powered Macs. This positions the iPhone 17e as a foundational piece in Apple’s push to expand accessibility and adoption worldwide before bigger reveals like a potential foldable iPhone later in the year.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The new iPhone 17e, which replaces the 16e from a year ago, is due imminently. The big changes include the device getting the A19 chip from the iPhone 17 and MagSafe charging. And it’s shifting to Apple’s newest in-house cellular and wireless chips, I can confirm. I’ve also been told that the company is planning to keep pricing the same, at $599, setting up a simple advertising pitch: You’ll get more features for the same cost.
Apple will market the 17e heavily to users in emerging economies and enterprises — two areas the company plans to target aggressively this year with both devices and software.
MacDailyNews Take: Given its target buyer, keeping the price at $599 will be this new iPhone’s most compelling feature.
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Apple’s groundbreaking low-cost MacBook is coming soon
Apple’s low-cost MacBook is coming soon. This all-new MacBook is the company’s highly anticipated entry-level laptop poised to shake up the budget segment. Sporting a display slightly under 13 inches and powered by an efficient iPhone-class chip — likely the A18 Pro — this device is engineered to directly challenge affordable Windows laptops and Chromebooks with a starting price expected well under $1,000, potentially around $699. As a more accessible gateway into the macOS ecosystem, it’s expected to offer an appealing option for first-time Mac switchers, students, and casual users, while mirroring the strategic appeal of the upcoming iPhone 17e and refreshed iPads in capturing enterprise adoption and growth in emerging markets.
The centerpiece computer launch in the first half of the year is Apple’s groundbreaking low-cost MacBook. Featuring a screen under 13 inches and powered by an iPhone-class chip, it’s designed to compete with less expensive Windows laptops and Chromebooks. This device is poised to be a compelling entry point for switchers to the Mac ecosystem and — like the new iPad and iPhone 17e — should serve as an enticing product in both enterprise and emerging markets.
Mark Gurman for Bloombegr News last November:
Apple plans to sell the new machine for well under $1,000 by using less-advanced components. The laptop will rely on an iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD display. The screen will also be the smallest of any current Mac, coming in at slightly below the 13.6-inch one used in the MacBook Air.
This would mark the first time that Apple has used an iPhone processor in a Mac, rather than a chip designed specifically for a computer. But internal tests have shown that the smartphone chip can perform better than the Mac-optimized M1 used in laptops as recently as a few years ago.
Apple has long used iPhone chips to power the iPad but shifted those devices to its M-series processors for higher-end models a few years ago…
[T]he upcoming model will be an entirely new design…
A much cheaper Mac that maintains Apple’s design and works smoothly with the company’s other products could spur a new wave of Mac adoption — particularly in the US, where the iPhone dominates.
MacDailyNews Take: This may prove to be the perfect road Mac with crazy battery life extending over multiple days!
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Apple CEO Cook: We’re making huge investments in AI. We are all in.
This past Thursday, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook held a companywide meeting where he discussed, among other things, artificial intelligence. He largely reiterated remarks he made during an all-hands meeting last year — “without giving a grand vision for how the company will compete in this space,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News. As part of the discussion, Cook touted the recent acquisition of Q.ai, an Israel startup with technology for interpreting facial movements.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
[Cook’s remarks]: AI is one of the most profound opportunities of our entire lifetime. I truly believe there is no company better positioned to let our customers use AI in profound and meaningful ways than Apple. We are embedding it across all our products and services. We have the best silicon, best software and best products. And with over 2.5 billion active devices, we unquestionably have a huge advantage in the space. We are excited more and more people are using the power of Apple Intelligence. One of the most popular features is Visual Intelligence. We are launching a more personalized Siri this year. Our software teams have been working incredibly hard on that, and I’m very excited about the progress they’re making. We’re making huge investments in the space. We are all in. We are excited to welcome Q.ai to Apple.
MacDailyNews Take: Cook’s empty CYA attempts are fruitless.
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New 14- and 16-inch M5 Pro and M5 Pro Max MacBook Pro models and M5 MacBook Air coming soon
Apple has several new Macs on the horizon soon, including refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros equipped with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, along with an updated MacBook Air featuring the standard M5 processor.
Upgraded Mac Studio desktops with M5-series chips are expected as well, likely arriving not long after the spring Mac updates.
There’s also the highly anticipated refresh for the Studio Display, which sources indicate will retain a very similar design to the current model while gaining enhancements like higher refresh rates and HDR support.
The new MacBook Pros, meanwhile, are tied to the macOS 26.3 cycle that runs through March. The M4 versions of the high-end laptops remain in short supply, a telltale sign that new models are coming. A product launch is currently slated for as early as the week of March 2…
Looking toward the back half of the year… For Mac fans, the most significant new computer in years is coming: a MacBook Pro featuring an OLED screen and touch support. This marks a major shift for Apple, requiring user interface changes and representing a dramatic reversal for a company that long dismissed the idea of touch-controlled Macs.
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll not be smearing our fingers all over our Mac displays when a perfectly usable trackpad, not to mention a mouse, is available.
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Apple said to allow outside voice-controlled AI chatbots in CarPlay
Apple is gearing up to support voice-controlled AI apps from third-party developers in CarPlay for the first time, allowing users to interact with AI chatbots directly through the car’s interface, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News.
The company plans to roll out this capability in the coming months, enabling providers to launch dedicated CarPlay versions of their apps featuring voice-control functionality. However, Apple will not permit these third-party apps to replace the Siri button or override the wake word for invoking the assistant; users will instead have to manually open the desired app to engage its voice mode.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The change marks a strategic shift for Apple, which until now has only allowed its own Siri assistant as a voice-control option within its popular vehicle infotainment software. With the move, AI providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic PBC, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google will be able to release CarPlay versions of their apps that include a voice-control mode.
That means a driver could, say, ask ChatGPT for restaurant recommendations without taking their hands off the wheel. Apple customers have been clamoring for such an option for months, but there’s no guarantee that outside developers will follow through and take advantage of the capability.
There will still be limits. Apple won’t let users replace the Siri button on CarPlay or the wake word that summons the service. Instead, users will need to open the app to activate the third-party voice control, the people said.
Developers will be able to design their apps so voice mode launches automatically when the app is opened, which should help make it more convenient to use.
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll replace Siri with Grok on Day One. Currently, you can use the Grok app on your iPhone while it is connected to CarPlay, it does not appear as a native app on the CarPlay screen, nor does it currently support voice commands through the native vehicle steering wheel button in a typical CarPlay setup.
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Apple scales back plans for new AI-based health coach service
Apple is scaling back its ambitions for an AI-powered virtual health coach, internally code-named Mulberry, as it re-evaluates its strategy in the growing wellness services market, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News.
Instead of launching the full service, the company intends to incorporate select planned features gradually into its existing Health app over time. This shift comes amid intensifying competition in health tracking, where companies like Oura Health and Whoop are delivering more engaging and effective capabilities—especially via their iPhone apps.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The decision followed a leadership shift at Apple’s health organization, with services chief Eddy Cue taking over the division after longtime executive Jeff Williams retired at the end of last year.
Cue has told colleagues that Apple needs to move faster and be more competitive in health, the people said. He added that newer rivals — including Oura Health Oy and Whoop Inc. — offer more compelling and useful features, particularly through their iPhone apps.
The longtime Apple executive didn’t think that the company’s existing plan for a new health service met that bar. He’s also considering changes to Apple Fitness+, a $9.99-per-month competitor to Peloton Interactive Inc.’s app that offers guided workouts…
Apple, which spent years developing the artificial intelligence-powered service, referred to it internally as Health+. The company had previously aimed to introduce it with the iOS 26 operating system last year, before delaying the launch until spring. It then postponed the debut again until the release of iOS 27, scheduled for September, before the change in plans.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Fitness+ is great, but we’re unsure how many people actually take advantage of it.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to continue lobbying lawmakers on immigration
Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees on Thursday that he’s “deeply distraught” with U.S. immigration policy and will continue lobbying lawmakers over the issue.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
“I’ve heard from some of you that don’t feel comfortable leaving your homes,” Cook said during an all-hands meeting with staff on Thursday. “No one should feel this way. No one.”
The CEO added that immigration is especially important to Apple, which has “team members across the US on some form of Visa… I am going to continue to lobby lawmakers on this issue. You have my word on that.”
Cook said, “I love you if you’re on DACA,” referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows people who came to the US as a child to remain in the country on a work permit. He said that Apple has hundreds of DACA workers. “I will personally advocate for you,” he said. “I am a huge believer in the program.”
The remarks expanded on a memo that Cook released last week, when he said he was “heartbroken” by events in Minneapolis, where US immigration agents have killed two people in recent weeks.
Federal agents, primarily from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, are in Minnesota (including Minneapolis) as part of the Trump administration’s intensified effort to enforce immigration laws to address the significant influx of illegal aliens inherited from the prior administration.
President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) into law on September 30, 1996. This major legislation amended the Immigration and Nationality Act by strengthening border enforcement, expanding grounds for deportation (including for certain criminal convictions), introducing expedited removal procedures, imposing bars on reentry for those unlawfully present (e.g., 3- and 10-year bars), increasing penalties for illegal entry/reentry, and enhancing interior enforcement mechanisms — many of which form the backbone of current federal immigration enforcement authority used by ICE and other agencies.
Clinton also signed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) in 1996, which further expanded deportable offenses and limited judicial review in immigration cases.
The Trump administration’s effort involves having federal officers conduct arrests, deportations, and related operations targeting illegal aliens, amid broader efforts to execute mass deportations promised during the 2024 campaign.
These enforcement actions stem from longstanding federal immigration statutes, such as those in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952 (as amended over decades), which President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law in its foundational modern form, though subsequent presidents (including Clinton as outlined above) have invoked and expanded executive authority under these laws to prioritize enforcement.
Similar aggressive operations are ongoing in dozens of other U.S. states and cities without major incidents or fatalities because those jurisdictions cooperate with federal authorities, sharing information, honoring detainers, or otherwise facilitating ICE efforts rather than limiting or barring local law enforcement cooperation. In contrast, Minnesota — along with cities like Minneapolis — have “sanctuary” policies that restrict such cooperation, leading to heightened federal presence, direct confrontations during enforcement actions, protests, and tensions.
In dozens of states beyond Minnesota, the Trump administration has significantly expanded Section 287(g) agreements (which allow local law enforcement to assist ICE), covering over 1,350 agreements across 40 U.S. states (see map here) — cooperation that facilitates smoother enforcement.
The unfortunate deaths in Minneapolis (including those of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026 and Renée Nicole Good on January 7, 2026) occurred during encounters where individuals interfered with federal officers carrying out immigration enforcement duties, resisted commands, or posed threats, resulting in the use of force by agents according to official accounts.
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Gene Munster: AI messaging, not fundamentals, is holding back Apple stock
“Apple AI expectations peaked following the June 2024 announcement of Apple Intelligence, which positioned AI as having a quick impact on growth. In the end, the most important AI features never shipped, leaving Apple with a black eye and resetting how the company communicates upcoming AI features,” longtime Apple analysts Gene Munster writes for GeneMunster.com. “Since last summer, Apple’s AI communication strategy has been say less and show more. While consistent with Cook’s execution first philosophy, this approach has left investors wanting more, especially as other Mega Cap Tech peers aggressively detail how AI is reshaping their businesses.”
Gene Munster for GeneMunster.com:
On the [company’s Q126 conference] call, Cook reiterated that a new Siri, effectively shorthand for next generation Apple Intelligence, is coming this year, but provided no additional details. References to collaboration with Google’s Gemini were positive but lacked substance. Apple also made no mention of its recently reported $2B acquisition of an Israeli AI audio company, which could have served as a tangible signal of progress across AirPods, iPhone, or future wearables.
The result is a widening gap between thrilled customers and frustrated investors. Customers are more than satisfied, as evidenced by device growth, margins, and revenue momentum into March and June. Investors, however, remain in wait and see mode on AI. Until Apple provides clearer substance or demonstrates its capabilities in market, I expect this tension to persist, even as fundamentals continue to perform.
MacDailyNews Take: Based on results and, more importantly, very strong guidance, Apple stock should be well above $300 by now. It’s held back, as it’s always been held back, by an underwhelming caretaker CEO who’s long past his sell-by date, who lacks charisma, who totally missed the generative AI revolution, and who fails to generate even a modicum of excitement about the company’s future.
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Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Cosmere’ plan for Apple TV: I’m making sure it’s done right’
Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into his major deal with Apple TV+ to bring his bestselling Cosmere universe to the screen.
On Tuesday, Sanderson addressed fans’ top questions in a new YouTube video, following The Hollywood Reporter’s exclusive report last week that the streamer had secured adaptation rights to both the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive.
James Hibberd for The Hollywood Reporter :
First, Sanderson explained why he went with Apple TV and revealed that the streamer beat out multiple rival offers. Sanderson’s deal is rather enviable — he will write, produce, consult and have cast approvals. This is a greater degree of control than fellow fantasy authors like George R.R. Martin and J.K. Rowling have over their Warner Bros. Discovery shows.
“This is what I’ve been trying [to do] for years,” he said. “Back in May, I flew out to Hollywood and did pitches to all the major streamers and studios. I had a lot of great experiences. Things were different this time around. I was with studio heads. I was meeting really exciting people. Basically, everybody tried to bid on Mistborn and Stormlight. I ended up picking Apple. There were a lot of reasons for this. I really liked the vibe with a lot of these meetings. There weren’t any bad meetings in the group. [But] part of it was the amount of control that Apple was willing to offer. But it’s less about control and more about the partnership and the partnership felt right with Apple. I really like how they’ve been doing Apple TV and their very careful rollout of specific films.”
Then, in comments that will chill fantasy fans waiting for Martin’s long-delayed The Winds of Winter, Sanderson warned, “This will impact my writing schedule — not to the point that I think you need to worry. Mistborn Ghostbloods is going to be on time in 2028 … and it won’t impact Stormlight … I’m gonna be doing a lot of stuff with Hollywood. I’m going to be making sure these things come out right.”
MacDailyNews Take: If any stream can be trusted to do things right, it’s Apple TV with its already proven track record of producing compelling high quality series and films.
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Apple Silicon supplier TSMC expands AI chip production to Japan
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Apple Silicon supplier and the world’s leading chipmaker, is expanding production of advanced AI semiconductors to Japan in a major step toward geographic diversification. The initiative aims to meet rapidly growing demand for cutting-edge chips while mitigating geopolitical risks associated with its primary manufacturing base in Taiwan.
Joel South for 24/7 Wall St.:
The expansion directly benefits TSMC’s largest customers. NVIDIA, which relies on TSMC for AI GPU production, posted quarterly earnings growth of 66.7% year-over-year and maintains a $4.24 trillion market cap. Despite recent volatility, with shares down 6.6% year-to-date, the stock has gained 46.85% over the past year.
Apple, another major TSMC customer for iPhone and Mac chips, showed resilience with shares up 7.82% over the past week. The company’s $435.6 billion in trailing revenue and 18.3% year-over-year earnings growth reflect sustained demand for advanced semiconductors.
MacDailyNews Take: The more geographic diversification for Taiwan-based TSMC, the better.
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EU: Apple Ads and Apple Maps should not be designated under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission announced on Thursday that Apple’s Maps and Ads services will not be designated as gatekeepers under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, pointing to their relatively low usage and limited market impact in Europe.
“The Commission has concluded that Apple does not qualify as a gatekeeper in relation to Apple Ads and Apple Maps, as neither of these platform services constitute an important gateway for business users to reach end users,” it said in a statement.
Charlotte Van Campenhout for Reuters:
Apple said it welcomed the decision.
“These services face significant competition in Europe, and we’re pleased the Commission recognized they do not meet the criteria for designation under the Digital Markets Act,” it said in a statement.
MacDailyNews Take: The European Commission turned down an opportunity to steal more money from an American corporation? Miracles do happen!
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Formula 1 CEO teases ‘F1’ sequel at Apple TV Press Day
The blockbuster success of “F1,” the Joseph Kosinski-directed film starring Brad Pitt that became the highest-grossing sports movie of all time with over $631 million worldwide and earned four Academy Award nominations, has sparked widespread excitement for what comes next. During Apple TV’s 2026 press day, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali teased the possibility of a sequel to “F1,” responding to fan questions with a coy “Stay tuned” and promising more details in the future while stressing the need to fully digest the first film’s unprecedented impact. As Apple deepens its partnership with Formula 1—now streaming races exclusively in the U.S.—the high-octane world of the sport appears ready to accelerate back onto the big screen if the next chapter can match the original’s thrill.
Anthony D’Alessandro for The Hollywood Reporter:
Taking a question from the audience, Apple’s SVP of Services, Eddie Cue, read it to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali who responded, “Stay tuned.”
“We’re going to tell you something more in the future,” said Domenicali who was on the stage at the Santa Monica Barker Hanger in the final session today with Cue “We need to digest the success of this movie. If you want to think of a new one, it has to be very good.”
F1 wasn’t just the biggest sports movie of all-time at the global box office with north of $631M, but it was also Brad Pitt’s highest grossing movie and Apple Original Films top grossing theatrical release to date. The pic was distributed and co-marketed by Warner Bros.
Beamed Domenicali about the success of the film and what it meant to the sport, “that FI would be able to be talked about in another dimension like Hollywood, we didn’t think was possible.”
MacDailyNews Take: Bring it on!
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Latest macOS 26.3 beta code hints that new M5 MacBook Pro models are coming soon
According to MacRumors, the macOS 26.3 Release Candidate build released this week contains references that almost certainly point to two new M5 chips destined for the next MacBook Pro models.
More specifically, macOS 26.3 RC includes internal references to two new SoC IDs, T6051 and T6052, which are tagged with platform codes H17C and H17D.
Based on this standard, it is likely that the T6051/H17C IDs refer to the upcoming M5 Max chip, while the T6052/H17D IDs refer to the M5 Ultra.
Interestingly, there seem to be no references to the M5 Pro chip (which should carry the T6050/H17S identifiers) yet, even though, at least in theory, the RC should be the exact same build that will roll out publicly when the release candidate becomes the final release.
MacDailyNews Note: n his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman provided an updated release timeline for the new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max. According to Gurman, a new MacBook Pro is planned to launch alongside macOS 26.3.
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Apple’s iPad dominates global tablet market with 45 percent market share
Apple’s iPad dominates the global tablet market as it continued its recovery in 2025, with shipments rising 9.8% year on year to 162 million units according to the latest research from Omdia. Momentum was strongest in the holiday quarter, with Q4 2025 shipments reaching 44 million units, up 9.8% year on year.
Central & Eastern Europe emerged as the fastest-growing region in 2025, followed closely by Asia Pacific. All regions recorded double-digit growth during the year, except for North America, although a healthy holiday season supported by vendor and retail discounting helped moderate the annual decline.
“In 2025, the tablet market delivered its highest annual shipment volume since the pandemic-driven demand boom of 2020,” said Himani Mukka, Research Manager at Omdia, in a statement. “Seasonal holiday demand, combined with vendor pre-build activity ahead of anticipated memory constraints, provided a meaningful uplift to shipments in the final quarter. However, tablet demand will come under increasing pressure in 2026.”
Mukka added, “Vendors will need to carefully balance competitiveness with profitability as further disruption in the memory market threatens supply availability and drives up prices. Growth opportunities will be more selective, concentrated around premium and flagship model replacement cycles in developed markets alongside public-sector supported education demand in emerging markets.
On the product side, we expect a shift in how tablets are positioned and marketed, with vendors framing them as ecosystem-centric devices in a more controlled demand environment. This includes the introduction of cross-OS functionality and a focus on AI-driven experiences. Recent examples include Lenovo’s Qira, which operates across Windows and Android to deliver a more seamless user experience and reduce friction between AI assistants. In addition, the collaboration between Apple and Google to use Gemini for future Apple Intelligence features represents a positive step forward for the generative AI ecosystem across its device portfolio, including iPads.”
The global tablet market grew 10% year on year in Q4 2025. Apple had robust demand and grew their lead as the top tablet vendor, delivering 19.6 million iPads, representing a 16.5% increase, driven by strong demand for the iPad 11th Generation and the M5-powered iPad Pro lineup. Samsung ranked second but faced broader market slowdown pressures, with shipments declining 9.2% year on year to 6.4 million units. Lenovo led growth among major vendors, shipping 3.9 million units, up 36% year on year, supported by proactive shipment pull-in ahead of expected price increases. Huawei placed fourth with shipments of 3 million units and 14.8% growth, while Xiaomi completed the top five, shipping 2.8 million units, reflecting a 10.1% year-on-year increase in Q4 2025 while its full year shipments grew 25% compared to 2024. Vendor rankings remained unchanged in the full-year results.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s iPad domination grows, as it should, since all modern tablets are iPad knockoffs.
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U.S. files appeal in Google search antitrust case
The U.S. Department of Justice and a majority of U.S. states filed notices on Tuesday to appeal the remedies in a landmark antitrust case against Alphabet’s Google, according to court filings.
In 2024, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in the online search market, but declined to impose the most aggressive remedies sought by the government, such as forcing a divestiture of Chrome or banning key default search deals.
Reuters:
The Department of Justice and state attorneys general did not provide details in court documents about their appeal. Their challenge will likely focus on the judge’s decision not to make Google sell off its Chrome browser or end its lucrative arrangement with Apple to provide the default search engine on new devices.
Google is already appealing U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling that it broke the law to stave off competition in online search and related advertising. Google has asked the judge to pause his order that would require the company to share data with rivals during the appeal process, which could last many months.
Mehta rejected tougher remedies, such as making Google sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system, or banning the company from paying tens of billions of dollars to Apple to be the default search engine on new devices.
MacDailyNews Take: The odds of something substantive happening to reign in Google remain low.
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