MacRumors

In the fourth iOS 26.1 beta, Apple added a "Tinted" option that reduces the translucency of Liquid Glass for those who prefer a more opaque look. I saw some comments wondering whether the setting might preserve battery life, so I thought I'd do some testing.

Test Settings

I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the settings I used for each test:

1. Liquid Glass set to Clear.
2. Liquid Glass set to Tinted.
3. Liquid Glass set to Tinted with Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast on.
4. Liquid Glass with Reduce Transparency, Increase Contrast, and Reduce Motion turned on.

For every test, I used Light mode and not Dark mode, I turned off True Tone and Night Shift, and set my iPhone to 50% brightness. The display was also set not to turn off. My battery health is still 100%, and ambient temperature during testing was 68 to 72 degrees.

I left my notifications turned on because I get a fairly even distribution of notifications throughout the day and I wanted to mimic how I'd use my ‌iPhone‌. My Home Screen was set to the standard icons.

How I Tested

I did the exact same series of actions for each test, timed to the second.

• 30 minutes of scrolling TikTok.
• 30 minutes of YouTube videos.
• 30 minutes of scrolling Instagram/watching reels.
• 30 minutes of Safari on the MacRumors website. Scrolling and tapping to a handful of different pages.
• 30 minutes of the Maps app. I routed myself to the same location, but I didn't actually go. It was more of a test to have the Liquid Glass interface up for a solid 30 minute period.

During each of the five segments, I swiped to access notifications on the Lock Screen four times, and swiped to open Control Center four times. I opened up notifications and Control Center 20 times total for each test, then swiped back to close them. These were timed to roughly 3.5 minute intervals.

When I swapped from one app to another, I swiped up to close it and exit to the ‌Home Screen‌, swiped down to bring up search, typed in the app name, and tapped to open it.

Every test was 2.5 hours, with a few extra seconds between each segment to switch apps. Tests were split over two days, one at approximately 3:00 p.m., and one at 5:30 p.m.

I only charge my ‌iPhone‌ to 80%, so between each 2.5 hour period, I charged my ‌iPhone‌ back to 80% before starting the next test. The only wildcard factors were notifications and the content that was on TikTok and Instagram as I scrolled.

Test Results

The results weren't what I expected. I went into this test thinking that turning on Reduce Transparency and Reduce Motion would have an effect, but it didn't. I didn't find a selection of settings that changed the battery that my ‌iPhone‌ used.

• Round 1 - This was the "Clear" round, and my baseline. I started at 80% and ended right at 70%.
• Round 2 - Tinted mode. I started at 80% and ended at 69%.
• Round 3 - Tinted mode, Reduce Transparency, and Increase Contrast. I started at 80% and I ended at 69%.
• Round 4 - Tinted mode, Reduce Transparency, Increase Contrast, and Reduce Motion. I started at 80% and ended at 70%.

I did end up with 1% less battery with the two middle tests, but there wasn't enough of a deviation to draw any conclusion. I can't see fractions of a percent with battery measurements, so it's possible that the two 70% tests were close to 69% and I had minor differences because of the small variations in content between tests.

Test Results Expanded

I wanted to include the percent totals for each segment of testing because there were some minor differences.

• Round 1 - TikTok ended at 79%, YouTube ended at 77%, Instagram ended at 74%, Safari ended at 72%, Maps ended at 70%.
• Round 2 - TikTok ended at 78%, YouTube ended at 75%, Instagram ended at 72%, Safari ended at 70%, Maps ended at 69%.
• Round 3 - TikTok ended at 78%, YouTube ended at 76%, Instagram ended at 73%, Safari ended at 70%, Maps ended at 69%.
• Round 4 - TikTok ended at 79%, Instagram ended at 77%, YouTube ended at 74%, Safari ended at 72%, and Maps ended at 70%. In this round, I accidentally swapped Instagram and YouTube, but restarting would have changed the time of day of the test so I just did those two apps swapped.

Caveats

I wanted my test to mimic how I might regularly use my phone, but it was only a 2.5 hour period. It's possible that a full 16 hours of swiping in and out of apps and features that use Liquid Glass could have more of an aggregate battery saving effect. I'm guessing it would only be a tiny percent of overall battery usage though, and mostly inconsequential.

The apps that I used don't all have Liquid Glass-heavy interfaces. TikTok and Instagram, for example, barely use Liquid Glass at all. Heavy use of apps that have more Liquid Glass elements could change the results, but there aren't many apps that I spend a lot of time on that use Liquid Glass like that.

I use an ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. I am curious if there would be a difference in battery life on an older ‌iPhone‌ that might struggle more to render Liquid Glass effects.

If anyone with an older ‌iPhone‌ wants to do similar testing, I'd be happy to revisit this with another article that includes more testing from MacRumors readers. I am also able to do more testing if anyone has suggestions on what I might be able to change to actually reduce battery consumption.

Conclusion

On the iPhone 17 models, I don't think there are Liquid Glass-related settings to change that will make a meaningful difference in battery consumption.

There seems to be no reason to turn on something like Tinted mode or Reduce Transparency unless you want the opacity for visual preference reasons.

Low Power Mode, Adaptive Power Mode, Dark Mode, and turning down screen brightness seem to still be the most effective ways to eke out more battery life.

It's been over four years since Apple launched its Find My network accessory program, and unlike the AirTag, Find My-compatible devices have been evolving. Chipolo recently came out with a pair of new accessories that integrate with ‌Find My‌, the Loop and the Card.

Prior to this review, I saw some complaints that prior Chipolo products stopped working after a few months, so I wanted to do a longer review. I've had them for a little over two months, and so far they've been working as intended.

Chipolo Loop

The $39 Loop has a round shape, and it's bigger than the ‌AirTag‌, but lighter because it doesn't include a replaceable battery inside. It connects to the ‌Find My‌ app like an ‌AirTag‌, and it shows up inside the Items tab. You can attach the Chipolo Loop to anything and it works almost exactly like an ‌AirTag‌.

You need an accessory if you want to connect the ‌AirTag‌ to keys or similar objects, but Chipolo's Loop has a built-in flexible silicone loop at the top. The attachment point is thick and feels sturdy even though it's pliable.

The Loop is made entirely from plastic, and because it lacks a metal back and it's light, it doesn't feel as premium as the ‌AirTag‌ if that's something that you care about. Between the two, I prefer the design of the loop with the built-in attachment point.

I also like that the Loop comes in several different colors, including navy, mint, honey, coral, and charcoal. I have the coral color, and it's easier to find when it's tucked in a bag. The ‌AirTag‌ is fine, but it's nice to have options.

What I like best about Chipolo's Loop is the built-in battery. It recharges via USB-C, and that is just way more convenient for me than replacing an ‌AirTag‌ battery. My AirTags have been out of battery for months because it's annoying to have to order CR2032 batteries (which I don't have on hand), and then open it up to swap them out.

With the Loop, I just plug it in. The battery can last for up to six months, and I haven't had it long enough to test the full battery life. The downside with something like the Loop is lithium battery degradation over time. It might not last as long as an ‌AirTag‌, but it should hold up for several years to come.

It has IP67 water resistance so it can stand up to immersion in up to a meter of water, and dunking it in a bowl full of water didn't faze it.

There's a speaker in the Loop, so it can play a sound to help you find a lost item, plus the charging light can blink so you can find it in the dark.

Chipolo says the Loop has a Bluetooth range of 400 feet, and it seemed similar to the ‌AirTag‌ in range. It reliably delivered item left behind notifications, but it doesn't have Ultra Wideband with Precision Finding, so it can't track items indoors as reliably as the ‌AirTag‌ can.

Chipolo Card

The $39 Card is sized to fit in a wallet, like a credit card. Apple doesn't have an equivalent product, because the ‌AirTag‌ is too thick to fit comfortably inside most wallets. The Card is only available in black, and it is made from matte plastic. It has an unassuming look, and I'm not sure that someone who stole a wallet would immediately know what it is because it looks similar to a key card.

Chipolo's Card is 2.5mm thick. Standard credit cards are 0.76mm thick, so the Card is about three credit cards thick. It won't work well in a wallet that's designed to be super thin, like the iPhone variants that only hold a couple of cards, but it fits fine in my small wallet and doesn't add too much bulk. It's not the thinnest of the Find My-connected card-like trackers that I've used, but it's not too far off.

There isn't room for a USB-C port on the Card, so it uses Qi wireless charging. It's magnetic, so I can pop it right on a MagSafe charger.

Aside from the Qi charging the Card it has all of the same specifications as the Loop. The battery lasts for up to six months, it has the same sound level, the Bluetooth range, water resistance, and it supports all of the same ‌Find My‌ features.

Sound

The speakers in the Chipolo Card and Chipolo Loop are louder than the ‌AirTag‌ speaker, but I think the higher pitch of the ‌AirTag‌ sound stands out more to my ears. There is an option to change the ringtone on the Chipolo, and some of the alternate options do sound louder.

A decibel meter on my phone suggests the Chipolo devices are around 74db, and the ‌AirTag‌ is at about 67db. I can hear either one from a room away, but further than that is tough unless it's dead quiet. With a different sound setting, the Chipolo is closer to 82db.

On the Chipolo devices, there is an option to adjust the volume of the sound, so you can set a medium and low volume if desired. High is the default.

Find My

In the ‌Find My‌ app, Find My-compatible devices like the Loop and Card are listed right alongside the ‌AirTag‌ and are added in the same way. I opened up ‌Find My‌, tapped the "+" button to add an item, pressed the button on each device, and selected a name and emoji.

Unrelated to Chipolo, I'm not sure why Apple doesn't allow me to use Genmoji for an item icon. It's limited to standard emoji for both AirTags and third-party products.

The Loop and Card offer all available ‌Find My‌ functions:

• View a map with the item location
• Play a sound
• Get directions
• Share item with others
• Allow others to see owner info and get access item location (such as if you lose your luggage at the airport)
• Notify when found
• Notify when left behind (lets you know when your item isn't with you)
• Item left behind notification exceptions (so you can set "safe" locations like home)
• A link to the Chipolo app
• Options to change name and icon
• Battery status

The only thing I can't do in ‌Find My‌ with the Chipolo products that I can do with an ‌AirTag‌ is use the "Find Nearby" feature for precision locating. I do think this is an important option for items that you're likely to lose indoors, like your car keys or your Apple TV remote. I wouldn't use the Chipolo Loop for items like that because Precision Finding works better in those situations.

The most important part of the ‌Find My‌ network is the way that it links Apple devices owned by other people. AirTags and Find My-compatible products like the Loop and Card can ping any nearby Apple device, which helps you find your lost items even if you're nowhere near them.

Chipolo App

The Loop and Card are meant to work with the ‌Find My‌ app and Apple's ‌Find My‌ network, but they are also compatible with the Chipolo app that adds extra features. You just need to download the Chipolo app from the App Store and connect the Loop or Card to Bluetooth to get the extra features.

Here's what's available:

• Call Your Phone - You can set the Card or Loop to cause your phone to ring with a double press on either device. This requires full access to your location, though. I'm not using this feature, but I did test it and it works. It could be useful if you don't have an Apple Watch with the ‌iPhone‌ pinging feature.
• Change the Ringtone - There are a bunch of ringtones you can select. There are holiday themed options, and classic tunes like Frére Jacques, Oh Susanna, In the Hall of the Mountain King, and more. I set it to Frére Jacques, which is louder than the default ringing sound. Hall of the Mountain King is a nice video game-sounding theme, so it's fun to have options.
• Take a Selfie - You can use a double press on the Loop or Card to take a selfie with the Camera app, but you need to do it through the Chipolo app so it's not the most convenient feature.
• Ring and Blink - There's an option to have the Loop and Card blink when they ring to make them easier to find in the dark, which is potentially useful for locating an item in a dimly lit area or at night. Once turned on, this works when you activate the device with the Play Sound feature in the ‌Find My‌ app.

There are also settings for changing the volume of the Chipolo device, and options for sharing a referral code with friends to get a free Chipolo.

Bottom Line

Chipolo's Loop and Card are item trackers with a few useful features over the ‌AirTag‌, offering a better range of design options and changeable sounds. I like the bright colors of the Loop and the thin design of the Card, and being able to recharge them via USB-C and Qi, respectively, is a major plus.

On the downside, they do not have Precision Finding for indoor tracking purposes, so I might not use them if I specifically wanted to locate items very close by.

The one negative is the price. I think the Card and Loop are a little too expensive at $39 each. I can get an ‌AirTag‌ for $29 from Apple, and even cheaper from retailers like Amazon. If I want to attach the ‌AirTag‌ to something I do need an extra accessory, so that puts the price closer to Chipolo's options.

I think the integrated battery is worth an upcharge, and if you're like me and don't replace ‌AirTag‌ batteries as often as necessary, spending the extra money for simpler charging could be a good investment.

How to Buy

The Chipolo Card and Chipolo Loop are available from the Chipolo website for $39.

Repair site iFixit today did one of its device teardowns on Apple's new M5 MacBook Pro model, which Apple released on Wednesday.

Unsurprisingly, there are few changes to the device because the only new features are a new M5 chip and a faster SSD, but iFixit did find some subtle tweaks related to repairability.

The MacBook Pro's casing is still secured with P5 screws, and battery replacement is more difficult than it needs to be because Apple only sells the battery as part of the main chassis that also includes the keyboard. Getting to the fan, ports, and other components inside the ‌MacBook Pro‌ requires removing the logic board, and iFixit says that essentially every component in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has to come out to perform a battery replacement following Apple's official repair steps.

On the plus side, iFixit found that the trackpad no longer needs to be removed to access the pull tabs on the central battery cells, a small but useful update. There is a new 72.6 Wh battery in the ‌MacBook Pro‌, which is a little bit higher capacity than the 72.4 Wh battery in the prior-generation M4 MacBook Pro. The battery finding is a bit odd, since Apple's own specifications page still lists a 72.4 Wh battery.

Since little has changed with ‌MacBook Pro‌ repair, iFixit gave the device a repairability score of 4 out of 10.

This week Apple's AirTag 4-Pack hit an all-time low price at $34 off, and we're still tracking this great deal today, along with big discounts on AirPods, charging accessories on Amazon, and the 11th generation iPad.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $69 off AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The AirPods Pro 2 are at a solid $79 discount this week on Amazon, available for $169.99, down from $249.00. You can also get the AirPods Max for $479.99, down from $549.00.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Get $34 off AirTag 4-Pack
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has the AirTag 4-Pack for the all-time low price of $64.99, down from $99.00. You can also get a 1-Pack for $24.99, which is a second-best price.

Amazon Sale

• What's the deal? Save on popular brands like Anker, Jackery, and Ecovacs
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Satechi, Jackery, Anker, and Ecovacs. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible car chargers to portable power stations, Find My compatible wallets, and robot vacuums. You can find every deal in our original post.

• Nano USB-C 30W Foldable Charger - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank - $34.99, down from $49.99
• Soundcore V40i Open-Ear Headphones - $49.99, down from $79.99
• 10,000 mAh MagGo Qi2 Power Bank - $56.99, down from $89.99
• 140W 4-Port USB-C Charger - $79.99, down from $99.99
• Power Station with Lantern - $79.99, down from $149.99

iPad

• What's the deal? Get $50 off 11th gen iPad
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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In July, Apple sued well-known YouTuber Jon Prosser and his acquaintance Michael Ramacciotti over alleged theft of the company's trade secrets, after Prosser leaked some iOS 26 details in videos uploaded to his YouTube channel Front Page Tech. If you are not caught up on the lawsuit, read our initial coverage to learn more.

Earlier this week, Prosser told The Verge he has "been in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case," despite Apple's attorneys indicating he missed his deadline to formally respond to the complaint. The court entered a default judgment against Prosser last week, citing his failure to respond.

"The notion that I'm ignoring the case is incorrect," said Prosser. "That's all I am able to say."

In a court document filed on Thursday, Apple's attorneys said they are aware that Prosser has "publicly acknowledged" the complaint. However, they said he "has not indicated whether he will file a response to it or, if so, by when."

As for Ramacciotti, Apple said he has agreed to respond to the complaint by October 29.

In a statement filed with the court, Ramacciotti's attorneys said he is "not a professional leaker," but rather "a lifelong Apple fanboy who failed to fully appreciate the value and proprietary nature of the information that he learned about iOS 26."

Ramacciotti had "no intent to monetize this information" when he contacted Prosser, they said.

Apple is concerned that Ramacciotti "intentionally deleted relevant evidence," including "several hundreds of thousands of text messages," after the company advised him of the need to preserve evidence on July 23. His attorneys disputed this assertion.

Apple and Ramacciotti have informally discussed a potential settlement, and these talks were "ongoing," according to the court filing on Thursday.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest rumors about the iPhone Air not selling as well as Apple hoped.

There have been many recent reports suggesting the ‌iPhone Air‌ has failed to catch on with consumers, with Apple moving to cut production due to lower-than-expected sales. The first warning sign was the ready availability of the ‌iPhone Air‌ at launch, suggesting lower than expected demand.

Last week, Japan's Mizuho Securities said that Apple would reduce iPhone Air production by at least one million units because of underwhelming sales performance. Nikkei then reported that Apple planned to cut production significantly almost to "end-of-production levels."

KeyBanc Capital Markets said that there is "virtually no demand" for the ‌iPhone Air‌ and that Apple would "drastically" cut production as a result. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo then clarified that suppliers have been asked to reduce capacity by more than 80% between now and the first quarter of 2026, and some components with longer lead times will be discontinued by the end of 2025.

Samsung is apparently seeing a similar response to its super thin ‌iPhone Air‌ rival, the Galaxy S25 Edge. Reports indicate that Samsung canceled a next-generation model after disappointing sales.

According to Kuo, the ‌iPhone Air‌'s poor performance suggests that the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models already "cover the majority of high-end user demand," so there is little room for new market segments. All of the other new iPhones are all believed to be selling better than expected, with Apple increasing production of these models.

Apple apparently planned three more ‌iPhone Air‌ generations, but that could now change in light of real-world sales data. We could get yet another new iPhone form factor as soon as 2026, with rumors suggesting that Apple will debut a foldable model alongside the iPhone 18 lineup. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's all-new M5 chip and the three updated devices it announced containing it last week.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Apple this month updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but there's one rumored new Apple product in particular that many will still be hoping to see before the holidays.

Back in June, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is developing a "more affordable" 13-inch laptop to compete with Chromebooks and drive MacBook purchases. Kuo did not mention pricing, but he said that the new MacBook would use an A18 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year.

Using an iPhone chip would be a major divergence from Apple's usual strategy of using M-series chips in its Macs, but it makes sense from both a cost and performance perspective. The A18 Pro chip is around 40% slower than Apple's M4 chip, but its multi-core CPU performance is virtually identical to the M1 chip in the 2020 MacBook Air, and it even outperforms the M1 chip for graphics.

In August, DigiTimes reported that the low-cost MacBook will start between $599 and $699. The current 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 in the U.S., but Apple still sells the M1-powered 2020 MacBook Air for $649 through Walmart, so Apple could be eyeing the new machine as a like-for-like, budget-range replacement.

One thing to bear in mind is that the A18 Pro chip lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. But that's unlikely to be a deal-breaker for customers seeking the most affordable Mac they can get their hands on. It's also unclear how much RAM would be included in the rumored MacBook, since the A18 Pro chip only has 8GB of RAM, whereas all current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models have a minimum of 16GB of RAM.

Apart from the internal specs, Kuo said the device is expected to have an ultra-thin and lightweight design, and that it could come in silver, blue, pink, and yellow finishes.

The analyst said the new MacBook would enter mass production toward the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026. DigiTimes reported that final assembly would take place in the fourth quarter, with the laptop becoming commercially available in late 2025 or early 2026, similar to Kuo's launch estimation.

The timelines suggest the device could still be announced before the year's end. That said, it's not clear whether Apple has any more announcements planned for 2025, though it isn't unusual for the company to announce new products in late October and even into November.

At least some new iPhone models launching next year may support full 5G satellite internet, according to a report this week from The Information.

"Apple plans to add support in upcoming iPhones as early as next year for 5G networks that aren't tethered to Earth's surface, which includes satellites," the report said. "That would give the iPhone full internet access over satellite," it added.

If the earliest 2026 timeframe is met, that means the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone would likely be the first models to support full 5G satellite internet, followed by the standard iPhone 18 around March 2027.

Even if support is added, there is currently no service that delivers full 5G satellite internet directly to a smartphone. Apple's own satellite features on iPhone 14 models and newer are limited to the Emergency SOS feature, the Find My and Messages apps, and roadside assistance, while T-Mobile's Starlink service is also limited to select functions and apps. Both options require you to have a clear view of the sky.

iPhones can already achieve high-speed internet speeds over a satellite connection, when used in conjunction with a Starlink satellite dish, which creates a Wi-Fi network. In the U.S., Starlink charges $50 per month for 50GB of data and $165 per month for unlimited data, while the portable Starlink Mini dish is currently on sale for $299.

The long-term vision is that iPhones would eventually be able to achieve full 5G satellite internet directly, without Starlink hardware.

Apple partners with Globalstar for its iPhone satellite features, while Starlink is offered by SpaceX.

The report outlined four "hints" that suggest a deal between Apple and SpaceX could eventually "be back on the table," despite the fact that Apple and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk have had a rocky relationship over the years.

Those hints, according to the report:

• SpaceX recently added support for the same radio spectrum that Apple uses for its iPhone satellite features.
• Globalstar's executive chairman Jay Monroe has apparently discussed the idea of selling the company for more than $10 billion.
• Globalstar's most recent quarterly earnings report includes a new warning about how the loss of a major customer — believed to be Apple — would likely have a material adverse impact on its finances.
• Apple plans to add full 5G satellite internet support to iPhones as early as next year.

However, it remains to be seen if Apple and Musk can truly bury the bad blood between them.

Amazon today has a few discounts on Apple's just-released M5 iPad Pro, with up to $100 off these tablets. These deals are focused on the 13-inch models of the M5 iPad Pro, but there are also some $100 discounts on 11-inch models for anyone shopping for that version.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Deals include the 256GB Wi-Fi 13-inch iPad Pro for $1,249.00, down from $1,299.00, and the 2TB Wi-Fi Nano-Texture Glass 13-inch iPad Pro for $2,299.00, down from $2,399.00. Both of these discounts are the best prices we've tracked yet on the brand new M5 iPad Pro, and only Amazon has the deals.

The M5 iPad Pro launched this week, and features the new M5 chip, faster SSDs, N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and more. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Microsoft's Clippy has been resurrected for a cameo appearance in the company's latest Copilot update, which broadly aims to make its AI assistant more friendly, warm, and human-centered in its interactions.

Microsoft's Copilot Fall Release introduces Mico – an animated orb that serves as the voice mode's visual companion. Mico (its name a nod to Microsoft Copilot) listens, reacts, and changes colors based on the user's interactions, with the aim of giving the AI chatbot a cuter, more approachable presence.

That said, Microsoft's attempt to soften its AI offering could backfire if users tap Mico repeatedly – the action briefly turns Mico into Clippy (officially named Clippit), the animated paperclip assistant that first appeared in Office 97 and became a fixture on both Windows and Mac versions of Office throughout the late 90s and early 2000s.

As irritating as it was iconic, the polarizing helper was retired by Microsoft with Office 2007, but it clearly hasn't given up on the character-driven assistant approach, just now with better graphics and modern AI capabilities.

Note that Mico is optional, and users can interact with Copilot without the character.

Mico launches alongside several other Copilot features including Real Talk mode, which offers an AI that "challenges assumptions with care, adapts to your vibe, and helps conversations spark growth and connection." There's also a new group chat system supporting up to 30 participants and a Learn Live mode designed to guide students through concepts as a Socratic tutor. The Copilot Mode in Edge browser has also been expanded.

The new features are available now in the U.S. and "rolling out fast" across the UK and Canada, with a broader rollout happening in the next few weeks, according to the company. You can learn more about the latest Copilot announcements on Microsoft's website.

The Copilot app is available for iOS and Mac, and users also have the option of accessing the AI features by visiting copilot.microsoft.com in Edge or another browser.

Apple has begun shipping American-made artificial intelligence servers from a newly built factory in Houston, beating its 2026 target.

The servers designed for Apple's Private Cloud Compute system have started shipping from the 250,000-square-foot Houston site months earlier than planned. Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan confirmed the acceleration in a statement provided to Fox Business:

We are thrilled to be shipping American-made advanced servers from our Houston facility. As part of our $600 billion commitment to the United States, these servers will be installed in our data centers and play a key role in powering Apple Intelligence with Private Cloud Compute. Our teams have done an incredible job accelerating work to get the new Houston factory up and running ahead of schedule, and we plan to continue expanding the facility to increase production next year.

Private Cloud Compute is the architecture Apple uses to offload certain Apple Intelligence computations from devices to the cloud, while preserving the on-device privacy model that Apple says is core to its AI system. Apple CEO Tim Cook also posted on X about the news:

Apple is reportedly partnering with local contractors and recruiting from Houston City College to staff the facility. The Houston facility is part of a $600 billion U.S. investment commitment Apple made earlier this year, which includes capital for domestic manufacturing, silicon engineering, R&D, and workforce training initiatives.

Microsoft has launched new features for its AI "Copilot Mode" in Edge, following a raft of recent new offerings from competing browsers.

First announced in July, Copilot Mode brings a chat interface to each Edge tab where users can ask questions, search, or enter URLs directly. The mode can also analyze content across all open tabs simultaneously, meaning users are able to compare products or summarize information from multiple windows.

Two new preview features are rolling out to U.S. users. Copilot Actions adds agentic capabilities, letting the AI handle tasks like unsubscribing from emails or making reservations. Actions also includes voice capabilities, allowing users to speak to their browser to open web pages or ask Copilot to find specific topics within articles.

Meanwhile, the Journeys feature organizes browsing history by topic and suggests next steps, making it easier to resume research sessions. It can also group past browsing sessions thematically. So, for example, if a user was researching TVs the previous day, Journeys can organize that session and help pick up where they left off with suggestions for related content.

Copilot Mode can access the user's browsing history to provide better responses, but only with user permission. This is supposed to give the AI more context when answering questions or making suggestions based on past activity.

Companies are in a race to lace AI through every product, and browsers have not been spared, with similar announcements for Perplexity's Comet, Opera's Neon, Dia browser, and most recently, OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas.

Users can activate Copilot Mode by downloading the latest version of Edge and toggling it on through Microsoft's website. U.S.-based users can also opt into the Actions and Journeys preview.

OpenAI today said that it has acquired Software Applications Incorporated and its AI app, Sky. Software Applications Incorporated and Sky were created by a team of former Apple employees known for their work on Apple's Shortcuts feature and the Workflow app that preceded it.

Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer, two of the founders of Software Applications Incorporated, also founded Workflow. Workflow was a popular iOS automation app before Apple acquired it in 2017. Weinstein and Kramer joined Apple when Workflow was acquired, and the app ended up serving as the backbone for the Shortcuts feature that's available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Kramer left Apple in 2019 and Weinstein left in 2023, which is when the two teamed up to found their new company and start work on Sky. Sky didn't officially launch, but it is a Mac-based natural language AI assistant able to answer questions and complete tasks in any open Mac window.

OpenAI says that it plans to bring Sky's deep macOS integration into ChatGPT, with all members of the Sky team set to join OpenAI. That includes Weinstein, Kramer, and several other ex-Apple employees.

"We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." --Ari Weinstein, Co-Founder and CEO, Software Applications Incorporated

OpenAI's Sky acquisition comes just a day after OpenAI announced ChatGPT Atlas, a new browser that's designed to compete with Safari and Chrome. ChatGPT Atlas can perform tasks on the user's behalf with ChatGPT's existing AI Operator features, but Sky could further enhance that functionality in the future.

Anthropic today said it is updating the Claude chatbot with a new memory feature, which will put Claude on par with ChatGPT. With memory enabled, Claude will be able to recall past conversations.

Anthropic first added memory to Claude earlier this year, but with the initial implementation, Claude would only recall details when specifically asked. In August, Anthropic expanded the memory feature to allow Claude to automatically remember conversation details without a specific user request, and that functionality has been limited to Team and Enterprise subscribers.

Claude's memory functionality is now expanding to all paid users, so Pro and Max subscribers can use the feature. Max users can turn it on now, while Pro subscribers will get access "over the coming days."

Memory is an opt-in feature that can be turned on in Claude's settings. There are options for "search and reference chats" and "generate memory from chat history." Claude offers an editable memory summary that users can view to see what Claude remembers from conversations.

In the projects section of Claude, each project will have a separate memory. The division ensures that different discussions remain distinct, allowing for separation of work and personal chats.

Apple is one of several tech companies that will contribute to the construction of U.S. President Donald Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom, reports CNN.

Construction began on the ballroom this week, and the White House's east wing was torn down. Trump claims that the ballroom will cost $350 million, and that it will be privately funded through donations. The cost has already increased $150 million over the figures that Trump previously quoted.

Other tech companies that have donated to the ballroom construction include Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and HP.

There is no word on the specific amount that Apple donated toward the project.

Update: The total ballroom cost has been updated to $350 million, after Trump announced new pricing on Thursday evening.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Earlier this month, IKEA debuted a tiny NFC-enabled bed that's meant to help smartphone users cut down on nighttime usage. The small "Phone Sleep Collection" is modeled after an actual IKEA bed, and it uses the IKEA app to monitor scroll-free sleep time.

Users who hit seven hours of scroll-free time for a week straight are eligible for an IKEA voucher.

Every phone bed comes with built-in NFC tech, making sleep effortlessly rewarding. Here's how it works:
- Download the IKEA UAE app.
- (For iOS users) When prompted, allow Motion & Fitness tracking.
- Place your phone on its bed and tap the notification to open the app.
- That's it. Your sleep time will track in the background (no counter will appear).
- Complete seven nights of seven-hour sleep, and earn your voucher.

Unfortunately, the tiny bed is only available in the United Arab Emirates, and it is a promotional item that IKEA is giving out when customers spend AED 750 or more in-person in IKEA, as long as the purchase includes an item from the company's Complete Sleep Collection.

IKEA's promotion has garnered quite a bit of attention, so it's possible that the company will expand the promotion to additional countries.

AT&T today launched a new ad campaign that goes after T-Mobile, calling out the "litany of misleading and deceiving claims in T-Mobile's marketing."

AT&T's new ad features actor Luke Wilson, with Wilson calling T-Mobile the "master of breaking promises." AT&T points out that the BBB's National Advertising Review Board has recommended T-Mobile change its advertising 16 times over the past four years, though AT&T fails to mention that the NARB also found that some claims were accurate.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile often ask the National Advertising Review Board to investigate the advertising claims that their competitors are making, and all three carriers are regularly asked to make various changes as a result.

AT&T says that it covers 300,000 more square miles than T-Mobile, and that it had the fewest dropped calls in recent tests. AT&T claims that it is the first and only network to offer a guarantee for its wireless and fiber networks, providing "transparent communication" and proactive bill credits during outages.

Apple said today that it might be "forced" to disable a key anti-ad tracking feature in the European Union, reports DPA International.

"Intense lobbying efforts in Germany, Italy and other countries in Europe may force us to withdraw this feature to the detriment of European consumers," Apple said in a statement to DPA.

Apple is referring to App Tracking Transparency (ATT), a feature that lets iPhone and iPad users decide whether to allow apps to track their activity across other apps and websites for advertising purposes. Users can choose to allow apps to ask for permission, or turn off tracking entirely.

The anti-tracking features were implemented in Apple's iOS 14 updates. ATT prevents apps from accessing the advertising identifier of an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Apple TV without express permission, so apps can't track what users do on their devices and then use the information gleaned for ad targeting.

ATT has been unsurprisingly unpopular with advertisers and data brokers. Facebook rallied hard against App Tracking Transparency ahead of when it rolled out, positioning Apple as an enemy of small businesses and taking out multiple full-page newspaper ads.

Germany launched a probe into App Tracking Transparency back in 2022, and in February 2025, Germany's Federal Cartel Office preliminarily ruled that Apple abused its market power with ATT, giving itself preferential treatment, even though Apple says it does not collect data from third-party apps. The cartel said that Apple's restrictions made it "far more difficult" for app publishers to access user data relevant for advertising.

In March 2025, Apple was fined 150 million euros by France's Competition Authority. French regulators said that Apple complicated the process for users to opt out of tracking and unfairly disadvantaged third-party developers and ad providers. Apple is facing a similar investigation in Italy, with a ruling expected later this year.

Apple said that it has presented solutions to regulators in Europe, but it is facing complex solutions that would undermine App Tracking Transparency. Apple also said it will work to keep the feature available to Europeans. "We will continue to urge the relevant authorities in Germany, Italy and across Europe to allow Apple to continue providing this important privacy tool to our users."