The iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 betas that were released to developers today add a new "Matter Accessories" section to the Settings app as Apple begins preparing for the launch of the new Matter smart home standard.
Tapping into the Matter Accessories section suggests that it will display all Matter accessories that have been added to a connected service. "These can also be added to additional services with an app that supports Matter," reads the text.
Apple has not yet implemented official support for Matter, but has said that it will be introduced sometime this fall. Matter is a new interoperable, secure connectivity standard that is designed for smart home devices.
Created by the Connectivity Standards Alliance that includes tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google, Matter ensures interoperability between smart home devices from different companies. HomeKit, Google Assistant, Alexa, SmartThings, and other smart home devices that support Matter will be able to work together.
Some accessory makers are set to support Matter as soon as the new standard is released and supported by Apple.
Sunday February 22, 2026 9:48 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple will have a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4. In total, he expects Apple to introduce "at least five products."
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A week ago, Apple invited selected journalists and content creators to an "Apple Experience" in...
Sunday February 22, 2026 5:29 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple's software engineers are testing iOS 26.3.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.
iOS 26.3.1 should be a minor update that fixes bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, and it will likely be released within the next two weeks.
Last month, Apple released iOS 26.2.1 with bug fixes and support for the second-generation...
Friday February 20, 2026 3:21 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone this year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that Apple will release its first foldable device in 2026.
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Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about ...
Sunday February 22, 2026 8:41 am PST by Joe Rossignol
The special new color that Apple is considering for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this year is red, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Specifically, he said that Apple is testing a "deep red" finish for the two devices.
If this rumor materializes, it would be the first time that the Pro and Pro Max models ever come in red, and the iPhone 18 Pro models would be the first...
Tuesday February 24, 2026 4:03 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple CEO Tim Cook was among a handful of top tech executives who attended a classified CIA briefing warning that China could attack Taiwan by 2027, according to a sweeping investigative report by The New York Times ($).
The previously unreported briefing was apparently held in a secure room in Silicon Valley in July 2023. The meeting is said to have been arranged at the request of the...
Created by the Connectivity Standards Alliance that includes tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google,
Yeah, the generic looking, artifact-of-its-time logo and typeface design tips off companies other than Apple are involved. I wonder if Meta's insanely lacking in taste emperor insisted on picking his favorite option.
