Apple has made a series of notable internal changes with the second-generation AirTag, according to a teardown video by Joseph Taylor.
Externally, the second-generation AirTag itself is effectively indistinguishable from the original and continues to use a standard CR2032 coin cell. The only visual differences are slight changes to the text on the back, which is now all in capital letters and lists IP67 water and dust resistance, as well as NFC and Find My support.
The main PCB inside the second-generation AirTag is visibly thinner than that of the original model. The battery connectors are positioned at a different angle and the new board includes additional test pads that are likely related to manufacturing or diagnostics. Taylor also noted new markings inside the battery compartment, including a QR-code-like graphic.
The speaker assembly also sees changes. The speaker coil embedded in the plastic shell appears slightly larger than in the first-generation AirTag, while the speaker magnet is more firmly secured. In the original AirTag, the magnet could be removed relatively easily, which enabled relatively easy modifications. In the second-generation model, the magnet is more firmly secure and requires noticeably more effort to remove.
Taylor speculated that the increased use of adhesive could be related to anti-tampering efforts. Despite the removal of the speaker coil and magnet, the device was still able to connect to his iPhone, indicating that Apple has not introduced a firmware-level lockout or alert triggered by physical modifications.
After pairing the device to an iPhone, the sound the AirTag emits is a "slightly higher pitch" compared to the original. A user on X has noted that the chime has changed from the note "F" to the note "G."
Apple has also updated the AirTag's packaging, using a redesigned box with a narrower overall shape and updated front artwork. The printed text on the new box appears slightly raised via UV printing, and it now features paper adhesive pull tabs. Inside the box, the cardboard insert containing the AirTags is now simpler, with a single paper latch holding a lid over the tray of AirTags, which now sit as a row of four. In the original packaging, the AirTags sat in a doubled over folio in rows of two.
Apple Creator Studio is a subscription bundle that provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps on Mac and/or iPad, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.
A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium content" in apps like Pixelmator Pro, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and later Freeform.
On the iPhone and iPad, existing Keynote, Numbers, and Pages users will see updates to the apps in the App Store that contain both the free new features for everyone and paid new features for Apple Creator Studio subscribers.
On the Mac, the existing Keynote, Numbers, and Pages apps were updated (to version 14.5), but only to inform users that those existing apps will no longer be receiving new features of any kind. To receive new features, including free ones, you must install the new, separate Apple Creator Studio editions (version 15.1) of the apps.
Apple also updated the Keynote app on watchOS and visionOS.
Here is what is new in the Keynote app for all users:
• Experience a new, more fluid way to work on your presentations with Liquid Glass • Access the full set of advanced options and controls right from the new menu bar in iPadOS 26 • Make text and other objects pop with extra brightness and vibrant color using HDR on supported displays • Add personality to your work with new editable shapes
Here is what is new in the Keynote app for Apple Creator Studio subscribers:
• Make your work stand out with an exclusive new collection of professionally-designed themes • Explore high-quality photos, graphics, and illustrations for your presentation in the all-new Content Hub • Find inspiration faster with collections of new Apple-curated content in the Content Hub • Create stunning images and graphics right in your document, apply quick edits, or adjust the style using AI • Increase the clarity and detail of existing images and graphics using Super Resolution • Use Auto Crop to generate suggestions for how to frame your image • Transform a text outline into a first draft of slides for a new or existing presentation (beta) • Automatically generate presenter notes based on context from your presentation (beta) • Quickly clean up your slide’s layout, spacing, alignment, and typography (beta) • Collaborate on larger files shared via iCloud–now up to 4GB
Here is what is new in the Numbers app for all users:
• Experience a new, more fluid way to work on your spreadsheets with Liquid Glass • Access the full set of advanced options and controls right from the new menu bar in iPadOS 26 • Add personality to your work with new editable shapes
Here is what is new in the Numbers app for Apple Creator Studio subscribers:
• Make your work stand out with an exclusive new collection of professionally-designed templates • Explore high-quality photos, graphics, and illustrations for your document in the all-new Content Hub • Find inspiration faster with collections of new Apple-curated content in the Content Hub • Create stunning images and graphics right in your document, apply quick edits, or adjust the style using AI • Increase the clarity and detail of existing images and graphics using Super Resolution • Use Auto Crop to generate suggestions for how to frame your image • Use Magic Fill to suggest data or generate formulas based on pattern recognition • Collaborate on larger files shared via iCloud–now up to 4GB
Here is what is new in the Pages app for all users:
• Experience a new, more fluid way to work on your documents with Liquid Glass • Access the full set of advanced options and controls right from the new menu bar in iPadOS 26 • Add personality to your work with new editable shapes
Here is what is new in the Pages app for Apple Creator Studio subscribers:
• Make your work stand out with an exclusive new collection of professionally-designed templates • Explore high-quality photos, graphics, and illustrations for your document in the all-new Content Hub • Find inspiration faster with collections of new Apple-curated content in the Content Hub • Create stunning images and graphics right in your document, apply quick edits, or adjust the style using AI • Increase the clarity and detail of existing images and graphics using Super Resolution • Use Auto Crop to generate suggestions for how to frame your image • Collaborate on larger files shared via iCloud–now up to 4GB
Amazon is continuing to discount a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini this week, starting at $499.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $130 off in these sales, and there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.00, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $889.99, down from $999.00.
Apple last updated the Mac mini in late 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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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WhatsApp is rolling out a new optional security feature called Strict account settings, which is designed to protect users who may be targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks.
Similar in spirit to Apple's Lockdown Mode for iPhone, the feature is aimed primarily at journalists, activists, and public-facing figures. Once enabled, the setting locks various account options to their most restrictive settings.
For example, WhatsApp will automatically block attachments and media from senders who aren't in your contacts, reducing potential vectors for spyware or malicious files. Here's WhatsApp's support explanation about other settings that are impacted:
Account security: Two-step verification is turned on. Security notifications are turned on and locked. End-to-end encrypted backups are encouraged for users with backups enabled.
Messaging and media: Link previews are turned off. Blocking high volumes of unknown account messages is turned on.
Profile and presence: Your Last seen and online, Profile photo, About details, and links on your profile are locked to contacts only or to your pre-established, more-selective list of people.
Groups: Only known contacts or a pre-established, more-selective list of people can add you to groups.
Strict account settings can be found in Settings ➝ Privacy ➝ Advanced. When it shows up for you could depend on your location, as WhatsApp says the rollout is happening gradually over the coming weeks. Bear in mind that you can't control Strict account settings from WhatsApp Web – it can only be accessed from your primary device.
WhatsApp also noted that it has transitioned parts of its codebase to Rust, a programming language known for its memory safety features. The company says this change helps protect photos, videos, and messages from spyware. More technical details are available on Meta's engineering blog.
Apple today launched the new Creator Studio that was initially unveiled two weeks ago, providing content creators with access to six Apple apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year.
Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro on Mac and iPad, along with Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac. Final Cut Pro is Apple's video editing software, Logic Pro is for audio editing and creation, and Pixelmator Pro is an image editing app that Apple purchased in 2024.
Apple is still rolling out the full bundle, but links for the individual Creator Studio versions of the apps are now live and you can subscribe to Creator Studio from within them.
All of the apps with the exception of Pixelmator Pro for iPad were available prior to today, and they continue to be available for individual, standalone purchase. The Creator Studio bundle unlocks AI features that are not otherwise accessible in these apps, plus it adds new features to free apps like Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, with Freeform coming later. Creator Studio versions of those apps include:
Accessing the full functionality of Apple's video editing, photo editing, audio editing, and iWork apps will require a Creator Studio subscription going forward, though Apple will continue to offer updates for the standalone versions of the apps. Some of the tools exclusive to Creator Studio:
Final Cut Pro - Transcript search that uses AI to search for the soundbite you're looking for, visual search for finding specific parts of a video, and beat detection improvements that make it easier to match a video to the rhythm of the music. There are also new dynamic titles, transitions, and graphic elements to improve visuals.
Logic Pro - There's an option to add a Session Player to a song that plays synth keyboard and synth bass parts in a variety of styles. AI can be used to analyze any audio or MIDI region to extract harmonic and chord information. Logic Pro's iPad sound packs and producer packs are also now available on Mac. Users have access to royalty-free loops, samples, and instruments.
Pixelmator Pro - The Creator Studio version of Pixelmator Pro features a Liquid Glass design, a new warp tool for reshaping layers, and warp-powered mockups for apparel and products. Pixelmator Pro for iPad is also entirely new.
iWork - Includes a new content hub with Apple-curated royalty-free photos, premium templates, and themes. There are also options to generate and remix image creations right in documents, with a Super Resolution tool for upscaling images. In Keynote, you can generate slides and presenter notes using AI, while Magic Fill in Numbers runs a pattern analysis model across your data and suggests table contents for missing data.
There is no way to subscribe to just a single Creator Studio app at a lower price, as Apple only offers an all-in-one subscription.
Creator Studio can be downloaded from the iOS and Mac App Stores starting today. All new subscribers are eligible for a one-month free trial, and customers who purchase a new Mac or qualifying iPad model with an A16, A17 Pro, or M-series chip can get an extended three-month free trial.
The Creator Studio membership can be shared with up to five family members on a linked Apple Account. Students and educators are able to subscribe to Creator Studio for $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
Creator Studio's full functionality is available with iOS 26 and later, iPadOS 26 and later, and macOS 26 and later. Most of the apps require macOS 15.6 at a minimum and an M1 chip or newer for Mac use, though Pixelmator Pro requires a Mac with macOS 26.
As for the iPad, Final Cut Pro requires an A16 chip or later, Logic Pro requires an A12 Bionic Chip or later, and Pixelmator Pro requires an A16 chip or later.
Apple has lost its long-held position as TSMC's largest customer in 2026 amid surging demand for AI chips, CNBC reports.
Nvidia is expected to overtake Apple as the single largest source of revenue for TSMC. Analyst estimates suggest Nvidia will generate approximately $33 billion in revenue for TSMC during 2026, representing roughly 22% of the foundry's total revenue, compared with an estimated $27 billion, or about 18%, attributable to Apple. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang reportedly confirmed on a recent podcast that the transition has already occurred, saying that Nvidia is now TSMC's largest customer.
Apple has been widely regarded as TSMC's anchor customer for more than a decade. Apple relies on the Taiwanese company to manufacture its custom-designed A-series processors used in the iPhone and iPad, as well as its M-series chips for the Mac and iPad. That relationship has historically given Apple early access to TSMC's most advanced manufacturing technologies and allowed TSMC to justify the enormous capital investments required to develop each new generation of semiconductor process nodes.
The change reflects a rapid expansion in Nvidia's demand, driven by the global build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure, where its graphics processing units are widely used as accelerators in data centers operated by major cloud service providers.
One key factor behind Nvidia's rising share of TSMC revenue is the nature of the chips it needs. AI accelerators are significantly larger, more complex, and more expensive to manufacture than Apple's A- or M-series chips. They often require leading-edge process nodes, advanced packaging techniques, and higher wafer costs, all of which translate into higher revenue per chip for TSMC. While Apple ships far higher volumes of processors overall, it requires smaller system-on-a-chip designs optimized for power efficiency and consumer devices, resulting in lower manufacturing costs per unit.
TSMC's growing reliance on AI customers could have direct implications for Apple. While it remains one of the foundry's most important customers, it is no longer the primary driver of TSMC's capacity expansion or capital expenditure decisions. Analysts say that Nvidia has effectively taken Apple's place as the scale customer that helps guide development and justify increased investment in each new leading-edge process node.
In an age of digital ubiquity, knowing how to easily keep track of your online transactions is crucial, especially as an Apple user who frequently downloads apps, music, movies, and more from various Apple services.
Your Apple Account purchase history is a comprehensive log of all the content you've bought using your account, not just on your iPhone, but across all your Apple devices. Knowing how to access this information on your device can give you valuable insights into your digital spending habits, help you manage your subscriptions, or even assist in troubleshooting or disputing unauthorized purchases.
So whether you're trying to keep a budget, ensure that your family's purchases are appropriate, or simply curious about when you bought that app or movie, here's how to view your Apple Account purchase history on an iPhone or iPad logged into your account.
View Purchase History in Settings
Open the Settings app and tap your Apple Account banner at the top.
Tap Media & Purchases.
Tap View Account in the popup and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
Scroll down and tap Purchase History.
You are now viewing the purchase history for this Apple Account across all the devices tied to the account. If you are looking for a specific purchase, you can use the search field at the top to enter a name, price, or order ID.
If you tap the blue text next to "Showing:" you can also filter the history by date range, price, and purchase type.
View Purchase History in App Store
In iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 or later, you can access the same purchase history a little bit faster via the App Store app on iPhone and iPad.
Simply tap your account profile in the top-right corner, then tap Purchase History and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID when prompted.
Apple has stopped signing several iOS updates released earlier this week, preventing users from installing them even if they still appear in Software Update. The affected versions include iOS 12, iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 18.
On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhone models, along with iPadOS 15.8.6, iPadOS 16.7.3, and iPadOS 18.7.4 for iPad models.
The updates were intended to keep core system services functioning on devices that no longer receive major iOS releases, as well as fix an issue preventing some devices from being able to make emergency calls. Affected iPhone models include the following:
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone 5s
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
The following iPad models are also affected:
iPad mini 2
iPad mini 3
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
iPad mini 4
iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (1st generation)
iPad (5th generation)
iPad (7th generation)
iPad (8th generation)
None of the updates address security vulnerabilities or introduce new features. According to Apple's release notes for the iOS 12 and iOS 15 updates, the main purpose is to replace an expiring security certificate. Without that replacement, services such as iMessage, FaceTime, and Apple Account sign-in would stop working after January 2027, when the original certificate expires.
Apple has not explained why it stopped signing the updates. In the past, however, the company has prevented installations of newly released iOS versions after discovering bugs or other issues, and then typically re-enabled updates once revised builds become available. iOS 26.2.1 remains available to download, suggesting it has not been affected by the issue. We'll update this article when we learn more.
Update: In a support document, spotted by 9to5Mac, Australia telecommunications company Telstra says that it is "currently investigating an issue preventing some older Apple devices from connecting to our network, including calls to 000. We're working on this as a priority with Apple and will share updates as we have them. We recommend customers using these devices delay updating the software on their device until we confirm the issue is resolved."
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker.
Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.
A variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro could improve exposure control, particularly for video. By reducing light optically, it could help maintain natural motion blur and smoother exposure in bright conditions.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in December 2024 that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. A more recent report from October 2025 said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers.
Today's teleconverter claim, meanwhile, is a new and unusual one. In typical DSLR cameras, teleconverters are optical elements that can be added to lenses to increase effective focal length and improve zoom reach, though at the cost of light intake. It's unclear how this would apply to a smartphone, but if Apple were to introduce a teleconverter-style optical system, it would likely end up reducing the amount of light reaching the sensor. In that sense, a variable aperture could theoretically give Apple more flexibility in managing exposure alongside its computational photography.
Apple's overall iPhone 18 Pro design will already be locked in at this stage in the development cycle. What Apple tends to continue doing at this point is evaluate specific features like camera modules. Apple may well be running parallel tests without committing any one feature to mass production, so there's still leeway for things to change.
In this case, Apple is likely using the late-stage engineering samples to check the optical performance and reliability, as well as to gauge how easy the camera system is to mass produce, so it could always still drop the feature if it fails to meet Apple's quality standards. Variable aperture was in fact rumored for at least one iPhone 17 model, but it failed to materialize.
Smart Pikachu is known for providing accurate details about Android products in advance of launch, but in terms of Apple rumors, they are a relative newcomer on the Chinese supply chain rumor scene, so these claims warrant caution. The leaker recently claimed that the upcoming iPhone 17e will feature a Dynamic Island and a downclocked A19 chip.
Note: article updated to clarify possible variable aperture benefits.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two people were shot and killed by U.S. federal immigration agents this month.
In an internal memo to Apple employees, obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Cook said he is "heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis."
"This is a time for deescalation," added Cook. "I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they're from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for."
Cook said he had a "good conversation" with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, in which he shared his views, but he did not elaborate.
Here is Cook's full memo to Apple employees, per Bloomberg:
Team,
I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.
This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.
I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.
Thank you for all that you do.
Tim
Cook was not specific, but he appears to be responding to the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Pretti was fatally shot by U.S. federal immigration agents following an encounter in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident has stoked public outcry in the country.
37-year-old poet Renée Good was also shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis on January 7.
Cook was criticized by some for attending a private screening of the upcoming documentary film "Melania" at the White House on Saturday, just hours after Pretti was killed. Critics said that it was poor timing for Cook to attend the VIP gathering, given the events that had transpired in Minneapolis earlier in the day.
Cook has maintained a working relationship with President Trump, and last year he gave him a gift containing a 24-karat pure gold bar.
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 today announced that it has renewed "Shrinking" for a fourth season, just ahead of the beloved comedy-drama series returning for a third season tonight.
"Shrinking" follows a grieving therapist (Jason Segel) who starts to be unconventionally candid with his clients. Harrison Ford plays Segel's mentor, Dr. Paul Rhoades, and other cast members include Christa Miller and Jessica Williams.
Guest stars in the third season will include Cobie Smulders, Michael J. Fox, Jeff Daniels, Brett Goldstein, and others, according to Apple.
The first episode of "Shrinking" season three will be out tonight, and one new episode will follow every Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time through April 7.
The fourth season does not have a release date yet.
"Shrinking" is one of the most popular shows on the Apple TV streaming service, and it has received multiple Emmy Award nominations.
Introduced last September, the hypertension detection feature uses the health sensors on the Apple Watch and custom-designed algorithms to determine if a user seems to be regularly experiencing high blood pressure. If hypertension is detected over a 30-day period, the Apple Watch is able to send an alert suggesting that the user opt in to more frequent blood pressure monitoring with the guidance of a doctor.
According to Apple, hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, impacting 1.4 billion adults globally. Hypertension does not have visible symptoms in most cases, so it can go undiagnosed.
Apple Watch owners in the countries where Apple has added support can set up hypertension alerts in the Health app.
Hypertension alerts are available with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.
DRAM shortages are set to impact smartphone manufacturers like Apple in 2026, but the company is going to try to keep iPhone 18 prices steady despite having to pay more for components, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo says that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, so price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. The upcoming price hike will be similar to the first quarter increase that has already seen Apple paying more for memory. Estimates suggest that prices are up 10 to 25 percent compared to last year.
The higher memory cost will impact the iPhone's gross margins, but Apple is in a position to establish deals to get a steady supply, and it is able to absorb some of the increased cost. From Kuo:
For most non-AI brands, even if you're willing to pay up, there's no guarantee you'll get the supply. The fact that Apple can lock in a deal like this shows just how much leverage they have.
Higher memory costs will hit iPhone gross margins. But Apple's playbook is clear: use the market chaos to their advantage--secure the chips, absorb the costs, and grab more market share. They'll make it back later on the services side.
Apple may need to address memory price increases during the January 30 earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2026 (October to December 2025). Kuo expects that Apple will avoid raising prices "as much as possible," and that at least the starting price of the iPhone 18 models will be flat.
Apple has previously absorbed component costs, and was able to keep iPhone 17 pricing relatively steady. The base iPhone 17 model did not go up in price and still starts at $799, though Apple did start charging $100 more for the iPhone 17 Pro because of the new 256GB minimum storage.
Components other than memory could also be in short supply in the coming months, leading to further supply chain issues that could force price increases. LPDDR and NAND are currently facing shortages and higher prices because of demand from the AI industry. Chip manufacturers are prioritizing advanced memory for AI servers over the memory used in smartphones, and there has been speculation that the memory price increase will cause smartphone costs to rise across multiple brands.
Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates to public beta testers, with the updates coming a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers.
Anyone can download and install public betas, and all that's required is to sign up on Apple's beta site. Once you've opted in, the software can be downloaded through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. The latest iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates add support for the new second-generation AirTag, including Precision Finding on Apple Watch.
iOS 26.3 also adds a new tool for transitioning from an iPhone to an Android device. Transfers can be initiated during the device setup process, and moving data from one device to another can now be done without having to download a specific app.
The update includes changes to third-party wearables in the European Union, with more information available in our iOS 26.3 beta 2 feature list following yesterday's release to developers.
Apple is expected to release iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to the public at the end of January.
Apple today provided public beta testers with the third release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers.
After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app.
We don't know about any new features in macOS Tahoe 26.3 as of yet, but Apple might introduce new capabilities in later beta releases.
The beta is limited to developers and public beta testers at the current time, but we are expecting Apple to release the update at the end of January.
Google today announced that it is expanding its more affordable Google AI Plus subscription plan to 35 countries and territories, including the United States.
In the U.S., Google AI Plus is priced at $7.99, giving Google Gemini users a more affordable option for accessing upgraded AI services. Prior to now, Google AI Pro was the most affordable AI subscription plan at $19.99 per month.
Google AI Plus includes Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, as well as AI filmmaking tools in Flow, and access to research and writing assistance in NotebookLM. It also includes 200GB of storage, with benefits able to be shared with up to five other family members.
For a limited time, Google is offering new AI Plus subscribers a 50 percent discount for the first two months of the subscription, dropping the price to $3.99. Customers will pay $3.99 for access for two months, before being charged the full $7.99 per month price.
Google One Premium 2TB customers who pay $9.99 per month will automatically get access to the benefits of Google AI Plus in the coming days.
Google AI Plus includes 200 monthly AI credits for video generation, which is 100 more credits than the free Google AI option. The free tier has limited access to Gemini 3 Pro, but subscribers will be able to use 3 Pro with fewer limitations, while also accessing Deep Research. The plan also offers limited access to Veo 3.1 Fast and Gemini in Chrome.
The more expensive $19.99 per month Google AI Pro plan has even more benefits than the $7.99 plan. It offers a higher number of AI credits, more access to Flow and Whisk, Gemini 3 Pro in Google Search, higher daily limits for Gemini Code assist, Gemini in Google apps like Gmail and Docs, access to Google Home Premium, and 2TB storage.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPad 16 years ago today, marking over one and a half decades of the company's "revolutionary" tablet.
Jobs unveiled the first-generation iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on January 27, 2010. Designed to fill the gap between smartphones and laptops, the original iPad featured a 9.7-inch LED-backlit multitouch display, Apple's first custom designed chip, a 30-pin dock connector, and up to 64GB storage. With a starting price of $499, it offered users a new way to browse the web, read eBooks, watch videos, and interact with Apple's growing app ecosystem. Jobs described it as "a magical and revolutionary device."
iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price. iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.
The iPad used a version of iOS tailored for its larger display, bringing a big-screen experience to familiar mobile apps like Safari, Mail, and Photos. It introduced the iBooks app and iBookstore as part of an effort to compete in the e-reading space dominated by Amazon's Kindle. Its design was characterized by thick black bezels, a physical home button, and a convex aluminum back. It weighed 1.5 pounds and offered 10 hours of battery life.
The initial reception to the iPad was mixed. While many praised its lightweight computing and media consumption experience, others questioned its necessity and potential to replace laptops.
Nevertheless, the iPad sold over 300,000 units on its launch day in April 2010 and one million within its first month. It catalyzed the creation of a new product category, sparking competition from rivals such as Samsung, Microsoft, and Amazon. By the end of 2010, Apple had sold over 15 million iPads, generating $9.5 billion in revenue and solidifying the device as a key pillar of the company's product lineup.
The iPad has since become a tentpole device for Apple, expanding into product lines including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro and accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Subsequent models introduced cameras, multitasking, different display size options, USB-C connectivity, and more. See Apple's original press release from 2010 for more information.
Samsung aims to produce around 1 million units of its upcoming "Wide Fold" device, in an attempt to directly rival Apple's rumored foldable iPhone expected later this year.
According to Korea's ETNews, the Wide Fold will see Samsung's largest initial production run for a special model in the past three years. The device is said to feature a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, and a 5.4-inch cover screen.
Apple is expected to introduce a foldable iPhone this fall with a similar 4:3 inner display ratio. When folded, users will interact with a 5.3-inch outer display that is shorter and wider than a typical iPhone screen, while unfolding it will reveal a larger 7.7-inch iPad-style screen, according to The Information.
Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to sell somewhere between 8 and 10 million units by the end of the year, assuming it launches in 2026 and isn't pushed back into early next year. Either way, it appears that by matching the device's aspect ratio, Samsung is wasting no time going after Apple in a space that the Korean tech giant has so far dominated.
A source quoted in the report says the Wide Fold "is not considered dramatically harder to build than [the] TriFold," and Samsung may increase output depending on the market response. The upcoming Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to have only a limited run of around 200,000 units, compared to the Wide Fold's projected 1 million units. Samsung is expected to launch the TriFold device on January 30, starting at $2,899.
ETNews reports that the Wide Fold will debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 at Samsung's Q3 Unpacked event in July. If so, that's a change from previous years, when Samsung staggered its special models to avoid cannibalizing sales from its main lineup.
Samsung's overall foldable shipments reportedly exceeded 6 million last year, and the company expects that figure to climb with the Wide Fold joining its portfolio. Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.
