MacRumors

Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon.

Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week.

iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted eight new features in particular.

Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen

A new slider in the Lock Screen customization menu lets you adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass for the clock, allowing you to decide how clear or frosted it appears.

This comes after iOS 26.1 added "Clear" and "Tinted" options for Liquid Glass overall.

Offline Lyrics in Apple Music

iOS 26.2 adds offline lyric support to Apple Music, allowing you to view a song's lyrics even when you are not connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Sleep Score Revisions

iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 have revised Sleep Score ranges:

• Very Low: 0-40 (previously 0-29)
• Low: 41-60 (previously 30-49)
• OK: 61-80 (previously 50-69)
• High: 81-95 (previously 70-89)
• Very High: 96-100 (previously 90-100)

Apple says sleep scores are calculated based on how long you slept, the consistency of when you fell asleep, and the frequency and duration of waking up during the night. The feature is available in the Health app on all iPhone models compatible with iOS 26, and in the Sleep app on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.

Alarms for Reminders

iOS 26.2 lets you set alarms for reminders in Apple's Reminders app.

When adding a reminder, selecting a time and then toggling on the "Urgent" option will cause an alarm to go off at the designated time.

Apple Podcasts Enhancements

Apple's Podcasts app has three new features on iOS 26.2, including automatic chapters for episodes, timed links on the screen, and the ability to view other podcasts that a podcast mentions right from the audio player and the transcript.

Apple News Revamp

In the Apple News app, there is now a dedicated "Following" tab, and buttons for quick access to topics like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food.

iPhone Screen Flash for Notifications

Starting with iOS 26.2, your iPhone's screen can flash when you receive a notification. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED camera flash on the back of the iPhone.

In the Settings app, under Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Flash for Alerts, there are now options for LED Flash, Screen, and Both. Or, you can keep the setting turned off.

AirPods Live Translation in EU

iOS 26.2 makes Live Translation on AirPods available in the EU.

Live Translation allows you to understand someone who is speaking a different language than you. For example, if you speak English, and someone is speaking to you in French, Siri can tell you what they are saying in English through your AirPods.

The feature works best when both participants in a conversation are using Live Translation on AirPods. If you are talking with someone who is not wearing AirPods, you can display a live transcription in the other person's language on your iPhone.

Live Translation is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The feature launched in the U.S. and select other countries with iOS 26, but it was not available in the EU until iOS 26.2, as Apple said it needed additional time to ensure compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.

• iOS 26: Use Live Translation With AirPods

In addition to compatible AirPods, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence turned on and Apple's Translate app installed.

As of iOS 26.1, Live Translation on AirPods supports the following languages:

• English (U.S.)
• English (U.K.)
• French (France)
• German (Germany)
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Spanish (Spain)
• Chinese — Simplified (China)
• Chinese — Traditional (China)
• Japanese
• Korean
• Italian

iOS 26 also has a built-in Live Translation feature in the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps, with no AirPods required.

Shazam today announced it is rolling out a new Popular Segments feature that reveals exactly which part of a song is most popular with listeners.

For example, the image above shows that the given song was most discovered around 30 to 35 seconds into the track during the preceding week. This was the moment in the song when the most people asked Shazam to identify the song.

More details about the feature:

Popular Segments spotlights the key moments within a track that drove the most Shazam activity within the past week. Available for top tracks ranking on Shazam's charts and based on Shazam tag volume, this interactive feature displays relative segment popularity throughout a song, allowing users to hover over the graph and reveal precise time markers and corresponding segments.

Shazam says Popular Segments will provide both listeners and artists with helpful insights into what makes songs resonate.

The feature will begin rolling out today on the Shazam.com website across desktop and mobile platforms, according to Apple. The announcement did not indicate if the feature will be coming to the Shazam app on the iPhone and iPad.

Shazam is a popular music identification service that Apple acquired back in 2018, and it has Apple Music integration. In addition to being available on the web and as an app, Shazam powers a Recognize Music control in Control Center on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can also use Shazam via Siri voice commands.

Last month, the Shazam app for iPhone was updated with a Liquid Glass design.

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 have hit a new record low price of $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This deal beats the Black Friday price we saw last month by about $20.

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.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ have 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

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.

Update: This deal has been fluctuating today, sometimes disappearing and reappearing in the span of a few minutes. If you don't see it when you visit Amazon, it may be worth trying again later in the day.

---

Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers, including a low price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $199.95 in four colors, down from $249.99. This deal on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is being matched at Best Buy, along with a few other Beats deals.

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.

This sale also includes discounts on products like the Beats Pill, which has hit $109.99 on Amazon, down from $149.95. This is a second-best price on the speaker.

Additionally, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds+ for $149.95, down from $169.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $179.95, down from $349.99, and some markdowns on Beats iPhone 17 cases.

• Beats Studio Buds+ - $149.95, down from $169.95
• Beats Pill - $109.99, down from $149.95
• Beats Solo 4 - $149.95, down from $199.95
• Beats Studio Pro - $179.95, down from $349.99
• Powerbeats Pro 2 - $199.95, down from $249.99
• Beats USB-A to USB-C Woven Cable - $9.89, down from $18.99
• Beats iPhone 17 Case - $18.80 with on-page coupon, down from $45.00
• Beats iPhone 17 Pro Case - $22.45, down from $45.00
• Beats iPhone 17 Pro Max Case - $28.17, down from $45.00

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.

---

Samsung is hosting a new holiday event this week, and you can find great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances. Many of these deals are the exact same all-time low prices we tracked during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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

A new highlight of this event is Samsung's 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield for $349.99 ($115 off). Samsung is also discounting the 2TB model to $229.99 ($20 off), and both are great portable storage options for Mac computers, with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance and read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s.

Regarding TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including a new all-time low price on The Frame Pro models. You can get the 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,299.99 ($700 off), as well as The Frame Pro for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off).

Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset also has a few notable offers during this event, including up to $1,140 in savings with the Explorer Pack. This features various content at no extra cost with the purchase of the Galaxy XR, like one year of YouTube Premium, one year of Google AI Pro, and more.

For even more potential savings, eligible shoppers have the chance to get additional discounts through Samsung offer programs. These programs provide extra discounts for students, military, and employees of select businesses, and they provide up to 30 percent extra savings on Samsung's website, so be sure to check whether you're eligible for any of these programs.

TVs

• 55-inch Neo QLED TV - $649.99, down from $1,299.99
• 75-inch Vision AI Smart TV - $679.99, down from $1,199.99
• 65-inch The Frame - $1,299.99, down from $1,999.99 (extra $100 off available through offer programs)
• 75-inch The Frame Pro - $1,999.99, down from $3,199.99
• 85-inch The Frame Pro - $3,299.99, down from $4,299.99 (extra $660 off available through offer programs)
• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99
• 65-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,799.99, down from $2,699.99
• 77-inch OLED S90F TV - $1,999.99, down from $3,499.99
• 75-inch Neo QLED QN90D TV - $1,499.99, down from $3,299.99

Storage

• 2TB Portable SSD T9 - $199.99, down from $239.99
• 4TB Portable SSD T9 - $329.99, down from $439.99
• 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield - $349.99, down from $464.99
• 8TB Portable SSD T5 EVO - $629.99, down from $689.99

Monitors

• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $389.99, down from $699.99
• 40-inch Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Monitor - $749.99, down from $1,199.99
• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor - $777.99, down from $1,299.99
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,799.99

Appliances

• Bespoke Smart Dishwasher - $899.99, down from $1,299.00
• Large Capacity Side-by-Side Fridge - $999.00, down from $1,666.00
• 4-Door French Door Fridge - $1,799.00, down from $2,999.00
• Bespoke All-in-One Combo Washer/Dryer - $2,099.00, down from $3,299.00
• Mega Capacity 3-Door French Door Fridge - $2,499.00, down from $3,499.00
• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $2,050.00, down from $4,099.00
• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $3,399.99, down from $4,999.00

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack
• Galaxy S25 Ultra - Save up to $700 in instant trade-in credit
• Galaxy Ring - Get up to $150 trade-in credit
• Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $250
• Galaxy Watch 8 - Save up to $200

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.

---

Apple is opening a new store tomorrow at The Shops at Blackstone Valley, an open-air shopping center in Millbury, Massachusetts, near Worcester.

The store is set to open this Friday, December 12, at 12 p.m. local time. Apple is located next to fashion retailer Coach at the shopping center.

The new store is a replacement for Apple's previous location at Solomon Pond Mall, in nearby Marlborough, Massachusetts. That location permanently closed on Wednesday, after more than 10 years of operations. When it relocates a store, Apple typically gives all employees the opportunity to transfer to the new location.

Apple has yet to reveal the new store, but the photo below from local resident Steve Stearns provides a sneak peek at the facade.

Apple's newer stores typically feature a dedicated counter for customers to pick up orders they placed online, and the Genius Bar has become a prominent element again in recent years. There will also be free "Today at Apple" creative sessions.

Google is rolling out Gemini integration for its Chrome browser on iPhone and iPad, a move that brings AI feature parity with its web and desktop versions.

The company teased built-in Gemini in Chrome for iOS in September, and the feature is now rolling out gradually across the United States. For Gemini to work in Chrome, you'll need version 143. When you've updated, make sure you're signed into your account, the browser language is set to English, and the app isn't in Incognito mode.

If all the above conditions are met, the Google Lens logo on the left-hand side of the address bar will change to a Gemini icon. Tapping the icon shows options for two "Page tools" that let Gemini search your screen or for you to ask the chatbot a question.

The Gemini interface also includes shortcuts to do things like summarize the current webpage or create a FAQ about a topic. Other sample queries include asking Gemini to reframe complex topics in alternative ways, quiz you on material you're learning, adapt recipes to specific dietary requirements, or contrast options and offer tailored recommendations based on your preferences. Gemini's responses to queries appear in an overlay that floats on top of the webpage.

Chrome 143 for iOS also adds biometric checkout support, new Chrome tips on the New Tab Page, and general stability improvements.

(Via 9to5Google.)

Porsche is preparing to bring full support for Apple's Digital Key to its new all-electric Cayenne and Macan models.

The feature enables unlocking, locking, and starting the vehicle using an iPhone or Apple Watch via NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Ultra Wideband. Digital Keys stored in Apple Wallet will continue to function even when an ‌iPhone‌ has run out of charge. Owners will be able to share access with up to seven additional users.

Porsche was highlighted as an upcoming partner when Apple outlined next-generation Car Key support at WWDC. Porsche Digital Key support will be available on 2026 model year versions of the electric Cayenne and Macan as part of the Comfort Access option.

MacRumors today discovered that Apple has now enabled the required infrastructure on its backend, meaning that Porsche simply needs to roll the feature out, suggesting that this will take place relatively soon. Earlier this week, Samsung announced that its Samsung Wallet service now supports Porsche Digital Key access for select models beginning with the 2026 Macan, using similar standards.

Opera today opened access to its agentic Neon browser, allowing anyone to subscribe to the app for AI power users. Opera Neon has been available in a closed "Founders" phase since it launched on October 2, but the waitlist has now been removed.

Costing $19.90 per month, Neon aims to go beyond traditional browsing by using AI to execute tasks directly within the browser. Neon can open and close tabs, compare information across multiple sources, and complete transactions on a user's behalf.

The service grants immediate access to top-tier models such as Gemini 3 Pro, GPT-5.1, Veo 3.1, and Nano Banana Pro. Complementing these models are the Neon Chat, Do, and Make agents, which are designed to autonomously handle complex tasks ranging from booking full travel itineraries to building websites, generating videos, and editing documents.

A new addition, the ODRA deep research agent, is designed for sustained, in-depth investigation. Its rapid "1-minute research" mode can gather and synthesize information on complex subjects while providing clear sourcing, offering a faster path to structured insight.

The browser competes with similar AI offerings from the likes of Perplexity (Comet Browser) and The Browser Company (Dia Browser). Opera Neon can be downloaded from the Opera website.

Apple's next-generation Studio Display is expected to arrive early next year, and a new report allegedly provides a couple more details on the external monitor's capabilities.

According to internal Apple code seen by Macworld, the new external display will feature a variable refresh rate capable of up to 120Hz – aka ProMotion – as well as support for HDR content. The current Studio Display is limited to 60Hz and supports SDR, but not HDR.

Macworld's Filipe Espósito suggests new HDR support points to Apple's use of improved panel technology that can achieve higher brightness. Indeed, analyst Ross Young believes Apple's next Studio Display could use a mini-LED panel similar to the MacBook Pro, which features superior brightness, contrast, and color accuracy compared to the existing LCD panel.

Elsewhere, the code references a "J527" identifier for the monitor, and suggests the model is powered by the A19 chip – two details that have also been previously discovered in code reviewed by MacRumors. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also referenced "J527" as the internal codename for one of the displays that Apple is developing.

Apple launched the 27-inch Studio Display in March 2022 alongside the Mac Studio. It features a 5K resolution, 600 nits of brightness, built-in webcam and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. Pricing in the U.S. starts at $1,599. The new version Apple is developing could arrive as early as this spring alongside new Macs with M5 chips.

Back in September, Algoriddim's djay apps for Mac and Windows regained Spotify integration, allowing Spotify Premium subscribers to access the service's full music catalog and their own libraries and playlists, and today that support is expanding to iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

Spotify integration across desktop and mobile is available in 56 markets around the world, and it works with djay's AI-powered Automix feature to deliver DJ-quality transitions to your Spotify playlists. Intelligent beat-matching and a full set of DJ tools, loops, and effects enhance the experience.

"Integrating Spotify across djay's entire mobile and desktop lineup marks an exciting new chapter for our users and anyone aspiring to DJ," said Karim Morsy, CEO of Algoriddim. "Whether you're using your phone, tablet, or laptop, you can now tap into Spotify's massive catalog and mix the music you love across all your devices, anywhere you go.

The djay apps already support Apple Music integration, and now Spotify offers the same type of support across platforms.

Algoriddim's djay app is a free download from the App Store and Mac App Store, as well as the Google Play Store and the Microsoft Store, with an optional Pro subscription priced at $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year to unlock all features.

YouTube TV will be updated with more than 10 genre-specific television packages in 2026, YouTube announced today. The upcoming YouTube TV Plans will be more affordable than the current version of YouTube TV, which is priced at $82.99 per month.

There will be packages for sports, news, family, entertainment, and more. A YouTube Sports Plan will include top broadcast networks along with all ESPN networks and sports networks like FS1 and NBC Sports networks.

YouTube has not provided information on the pricing for each of the YouTube TV Plans, nor what specific channels will be included. YouTube TV Plans will have most of the same features as the standard YouTube TV subscription, like unlimited DVR, key plays, fantasy view, and multiview.

YouTube TV has more than 100 channels, and YouTube subscriptions VP Christian Oestlien said that the company's goal is to provide users with more control over what they want to watch. The current plan will remain available, with the added plans included as a lower-priced option.

Mophie today announced the launch of a new line of Speedport wall chargers that are powered by Gallium Nitride (GaN) for faster, more efficient power delivery.

There are several charger options with single, dual, and triple ports for powering laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more. Prices range from $15 to $100.

• Speedport 20 ($14.95) - 20W with one USB-C port.
• Speedport 35 ($24.95) - 35W with one USB-C port.
• Speedport 45 ($39.95) - 45W with two USB-C ports.
• Speedport Plus 67 ($59.95) - 67W with two USB-C ports and a built-in retractable 60W USB-C cable for charging up to three devices at once.
• Speedport 70 ($49.95) - 70W with two USB-C ports.
• Speedport 100 ($79.95) - 100W with two USB-C ports. 
• Speedport 140 ($99.95) - 140W with three USB-C ports.

All of the Speedport chargers feature a similar design, adopting plastics made from 75 percent post-consumer recycled materials and foldable prongs for travel.

With the exception of the Speedport 67 with integrated cable, all of the new chargers are available for purchase from the Mophie website as of today.

Apple Music and Apple TV are experiencing an outage that could be causing issues for some users, according to Apple's System Status page.

The outage started at 2:53 p.m. Eastern Time, and it is impacting ‌Apple Music‌, ‌Apple TV‌, and ‌Apple TV‌ Channels. Apple says that some users may run into intermittent problems, though specifics have not been provided. There don't appear to be a large number of complaints about the services on social media at this time.

We'll update this article when Apple's services are back up and running.

Update: Game Center has also been added to the list of services affected by an outage.

Update 2: As of 4:57 p.m Eastern Time, Apple says the outages have been fixed.

The next-generation low-cost iPad will use Apple's A19 chip, according to a report from Macworld. Macworld claims to have seen an "internal Apple code document" with information about the 2026 ‌iPad‌ lineup.

Prior documentation discovered by MacRumors suggested that the ‌iPad‌ 12 would be equipped with an A18 chip, not an A19 chip. The A19 chip was just released this year in the iPhone 17, and it would be unusual for Apple to use a current-generation chip in the low-cost ‌iPad‌ due to cost.

Apple's most affordable ‌iPad‌ has not had a current-generation chip since the ‌iPad‌ 4, which is back when Apple was still designing AX chips for its tablet lineup. The ‌iPad‌ 5 that came out in 2017 used the A9 chip that was originally introduced in the 2015 iPhone 6s, and since then, the ‌iPad‌ has been equipped with an A-series chip that's a generation or two behind the chip in the most recently released ‌iPhone‌.

The current ‌iPad‌ 11 that was released in March 2025 uses the A16 chip that first debuted in the ‌iPhone‌ 14 in 2022, for example. The ‌iPad‌ 10 (October 2022) used the A14 (September 2020), the ‌iPad‌ 9 (September 2021) used the A13 (September 2019), and the ‌iPad‌ 8 (September 2020) used the A12 (September 2018). A 2024 A18 chip for the 2026 ‌iPad‌ would be in line with prior launches.

The model numbers listed in Macworld's report are also unusual. It says that J581 and J588 are the codenames for the upcoming 12th-generation ‌iPad‌, but codenames are typically sequential. Codenames are how Apple references unreleased devices in its software. In prior code leaks, J581 and J582 appeared to reference the low-cost ‌iPad‌ 12.

Prior leaks have suggested that the iPad mini will use the A19 chip, but the ‌iPad mini‌ was previously referenced in Apple code as J510 and J511. Apple sometimes changes its plans and makes updates to unreleased devices, so the A19 chip for the ‌iPad‌ can't be ruled out entirely.

It is not yet clear if Macworld is correct about the A19 chip for the ‌iPad‌ given previous information, but other parts of the report seem more in line with expectations. Macworld suggests the next-generation iPad Air will use an M4 chip, and that both the upcoming ‌iPad‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ will be equipped with Apple's N1 networking chip.

The ‌iPad Air‌ typically gets an M-series chip that's a generation behind the chip in the iPad Pro, and since it's been updated to the M5, the M4 makes sense for the next ‌iPad Air‌. Apple has also been adding the new N1 networking chip to newly released devices, starting with this year's iPhones. The N1 chip is an Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip that's more energy efficient than chips designed by third-party companies.

Apple is expected to release the new ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad‌ models early in 2026.

Apple today shared a list of the most downloaded U.S. App Store apps and games in 2025, highlighting the top free and paid iPhone and iPad titles.

ChatGPT was the number one free app that ‌iPhone‌ users downloaded in 2025, followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Google Gemini was the only other chatbot app to make the list, coming in at number 10. Top paid ‌iPhone‌ apps included HotSchedules, Shadowrocket, and Procreate Pocket.

Top free iPhone games included Block Blast, Fortnite, and Roblox, while Minecraft, Balatro, and Heads Up were among the top paid ‌iPhone‌ games.

YouTube was the number one free ‌iPad‌ app downloaded in 2025, followed by ChatGPT, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Procreate, Procreate Dreams, forScore, ToonSquid, and Nomad Sculpt were the top paid ‌iPad‌ apps.

Roblox, Block Blast, and Fortnite were the top free ‌iPad‌ games, with Minecraft, Geometry Dash, and Stardew Valley taking the top three spots on the paid ‌iPad‌ game list.

Apple also included the most downloaded Apple Arcade games. NFL Retro Bowl '26, NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, and Balatro+ were at the top of the list.

Apple's full list of top downloaded apps and games across 2025 can be found in the ‌App Store‌.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was in Washington, D.C. today to meet with the House Energy and Commerce Committee about the upcoming App Store Accountability Act, reports Bloomberg. The App Store Accountability Act would require Apple to verify a person's age when an Apple Account is created using a "commercially available method or process," and get parental consent for each app that a child under 16 downloads.

Cook conveyed to lawmakers that device-level age assurance proposals should not require the collection of sensitive data like birth certificate or social security number, and that parents should be trusted to provide the age of a child when creating a child's account. Any data used for determining age should not be kept by app stores or developers, according to Apple.

Cook also emphasized that age assurance efforts should focus on ensuring parents creating an account are adults, plus he suggested that parents should decide whether a child's age range is shared with developers.

Prior to Cook's meeting with the committee, Apple's global head of privacy, Hilary Ware sent a letter expressing Apple's concerns over the legislation. The letter said that the act "could threaten the privacy of all users by forcing millions of adults to surrender their private information for the simple act of downloading an app." Ware told lawmakers that There are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information," touting Apple's age assurance feature that "allows a parent to share their child’s age range with an app developer, without having to share sensitive, specific information like a birthdate or government ID."

Apple has been fighting the ‌App Store‌ Accountability Act because of its privacy concerns, and because it does not want to be legally responsible for verifying user age, obtaining parental consent, or ensuring that developers follow the rules, nor does it want to collect the required documentation.

To head off legislation, Apple has introduced new age assurance features, such as simpler tools for parents to oversee children's Apple accounts, new age categories for app content, and the Declared Age Range API that provides developers with a privacy-forward way to ensure kids aren't exposed to in-app content meant for adults.

Apple has argued that it already has extensive parental controls with Screen Time, and that the legislation would require it to collect excessive amounts of information from all users just to verify the age of children. Apple says that it could be required to collect data like a driver's license, passport, or Social Security number, which is "not in the interest of user safety or privacy."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider the bill on Thursday morning.

Texas recently passed a similar bill, SB2420. Starting on January 1, 2026, Apple users located in Texas will need to confirm whether they are 18 years or older when creating an Apple Account. Apple will need to verify age and parental identity, and the ‌App Store‌ will need to provide additional information to parents.

Update: This article was updated with additional information from Apple on Cook's remarks.

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.

Apple has teamed up with Mattel for a 30 percent discount on Mattel toys when using Apple Pay to check out on the Mattel website. The discount is available for Barbie, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, and other Mattel branded toys.

The ‌Apple Pay‌ deal is available from December 8 to December 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. To get the discount, users will need to use ‌Apple Pay‌ for their purchase on the Mattel website, and enter the promo code APPLEPAY at checkout.

The deal excludes shipping and handling, gift cards, taxes, and Mattel Creations Memberships. There are no minimum or maximum purchase limits listed, so the deal should apply to all purchases made on the website through December 14.