Apple has two new Apple Watch activity challenges coming up, celebrating Earth Day and International Dance Day. The Earth Day activity challenge will launch on Wednesday, April 22, while the Dance Day challenge will take place a week later on Wednesday, April 29.
To complete the Earth Day challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer.
This Earth Day, April 22, record any 30 minute workout with the Workout app or any app that records workouts to Health to earn this award. The earth will think the world of you.
The International Dance Day award can be earned by completing a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more.
Show off your dance moves for International Dance Day. Earn this award by recording a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more on April 29. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.
Apple Watch owners who earn the Earth Day award will unlock a badge in the Fitness app, along with animated stickers.
The Dance Day challenge will also unlock a special Fitness app badge and accompanying stickers.
Earth Day and International Dance Day are two events that are always part of Apple's ongoing Apple Watch activity challenge schedule. They follow the February Heart Month activity challenge and the January New Year challenge.
A fake Mac app designed to look like the real thing snuck past Apple's app review team, costing users $9.5 million in cryptocurrency.
According to CoinDesk, a fake macOS version of the Ledger Live crypto wallet app scammed people into handing over access to their cryptocurrency wallets. More than 50 people fell victim to the fake app between April 7 and April 13.
Ledger has an official Mac app, but it is distributed via the Ledger website and not through the Mac App Store. The real app does not ask users to enter their seed phrases like the fake app did, nor do other legitimate cryptocurrency apps. The stolen money was routed through the KuCoin crypto exchange, and hackers used a mixing service known as AudiA6, which charges high fees to launder cryptocurrency.
Three of the victims lost seven-figure sums, which is an unusually high amount of money to lose in a fake app scam. ZachXBT, who investigated the scam and shared the info on Telegram, suggested Apple could be subject to a class-action lawsuit in the future due to the amount of money lost.
Apple removed the fake Ledger Live app from the Mac App Store, but it was live for approximately two weeks. It is not known how it passed Apple's app review process, and Apple hasn't commented.
Apple today launched its new all-in-one Apple Business platform, debuting the refreshed Apple Business web portal and accompanying app.
Apple Business aggregates several of Apple's prior business-focused products, like Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. The service offers organizations a unified platform for managing devices, employees, communications, and customer engagement across the Apple ecosystem.
Companies can take advantage of built-in mobile device management tools (MDM) for configuring device settings, security policies, available apps, and user groups from one location. With a simplified "Blueprints" option, employers can preconfigure devices purchased from Apple or authorized retailers with settings and apps for zero-touch deployment. Employees can use Apple Business to install work-related apps, request support from employers, and contact colleagues through a company directory.
Managed Apple Accounts provide "cryptographic separation" between personal and work data, so employees don't need to deal with multiple devices. Provisioning can be automated with providers like Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID.
Apple Business includes integrated email, calendar, and directory services linked to custom domains, plus customer engagement tools. Businesses can manage how their brand and locations show up across Apple services using brand profiles in Safari, Siri, and Spotlight, branded communication in Apple Mail, order tracking in Wallet, customizable place cards in Apple Maps, Tap to Pay branding, and more.
Apple is gearing up to introduce ads in Apple Maps this summer, and ads can be purchased through Apple Business. Businesses can create ads that show up at the top of search results in Maps and in a Suggested Places feature coming in iOS 26.5. Ads will be limited to the U.S. and Canada at launch.
Apple Business is available in over 200 countries and regions. It is a free service for new and existing users, with optional paid add-ons for more iCloud storage and AppleCare+ and no monthly fees for device management. Apple is discontinuing Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect now that its unified Apple Business platform is available.
The Apple Business companion app and email, calendar, and directory features require iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26.
Apple today provided public beta testers with the second releases of upcoming iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5, and tvOS 26.5 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the betas 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 of the Settings app on each device.
iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 include a new Suggested Places feature for recommending nearby locations to visit, and Apple is also gearing up to start showing ads in Maps.
Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users again, and there are proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables in the EU.
Chrome has been updated today with a Skills library that's designed to let Chrome users turn AI tasks into repeatable skills that can be used on any website.
Useful prompts you create for Gemini in Chrome can be saved as a Skill that can be accessed later with a single click. If you're shopping for skincare and ask Gemini about the ingredients in a product, for example, you can save the question as a Skill and then use it again later without needing to re-type the prompt.
Google provided the following examples of how testers have used the feature across different categories.
Health & Wellness: quickly calculating protein macros for any recipe
Shopping: generating side-by-side spec comparisons across multiple tabs
Productivity: scanning lengthy documents for important information
Skills can be saved directly from the chat history in Chrome (located in the side panel when Gemini is enabled), and recalled by typing a forward slash and the Skill name or clicking on the plus sign. The selected Skill will run on the page that's being viewed, along with other selected tabs.
Google is debuting the feature with a library of pre-written Skills for common tasks and workflows like viewing ingredients, finding a gift for someone, or making substitutions in a recipe. Pre-prepared Skills can be customized as needed.
When using a Skills prompt, Gemini will confirm before taking actions like adding an event to the calendar or sending an email, similar to other Gemini actions in Chrome. Skills are rolling out for Gemini in the desktop version of Chrome when the browser's language is set to U.S. English.
Blackmagic Design has announced a major update to its professional video editing and color correction software, DaVinci Resolve, including a new Photo page that aims to streamline image reframing and cropping.
DaVinci Resolve 21 extends the application's color grading toolset to still photography for the first time, meaning photographers can now apply primary color correction, curves, qualifiers, power windows, and node-based edits to stills, with changes held at the original source resolution. An additional LightBox view displays whole albums with grades applied, and Sony or Canon cameras can be tethered for direct capture into albums.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, much of this update centers on AI. A tool called IntelliSearch indexes media so editors can search for objects, spoken keywords, or specific faces. Meanwhile, CineFocus lets users shift a shot's focal point after recording and add bokeh, while a set of facial tools can age or de-age subjects, reshape features, and remove blemishes.
Two further additions, UltraSharpen and Motion Deblur, are aimed at salvaging soft or blurry footage.
Elsewhere in the app, keyframing gains four-point Bezier easing and the ability to adjust multiple clips at once, and Fusion effects can now be tweaked directly from the Cut and Edit pages. Text handling also picks up multi-language spell check, a font browser, emoji support, and character-level styling. The Cut page now has smart bins, while a new MultiMaster trim manager lets colorists generate multiple HDR and SDR deliverables from a single timeline.
Resolve 21 also introduces native support for OGraf HTML graphics and Lottie animations, so users can now drag .json and .lottie files directly into the media pool, where they will be treated like fully rendered animation clips. There's also a Picture in Picture effect, and expanded IntelliScript support for Final Draft and plain text screenplays. See the press release for further details on all the improvements and changes.
DaVinci Resolve 21 public beta is available now to download for free from the Blackmagic Design website, but we're still waiting for a general release date to be confirmed.
Expercom has introduced new record low prices across the entire 2026 Studio Display XDR lineup this week, with up to $200 off these monitors. Expercom is a reliable Apple partner that sells both brand new and pre-owned Apple products at discounted prices.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Expercom. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to the 2026 Studio Display XDR, these are all new models with deals that beat the current Amazon discounts by over $100 in some cases. Prices start at $2,749.00 for the Studio Display XDR with Standard Glass and VESA Mount Adapter, down from $2,899.00.
All models are in stock and ready to ship with the exception of the Nano-Texture Glass Studio Display XDR with tilt- and height-adjustable stand, which has a slight 7-14 day shipping delay. If you're shopping for the regular Apple Studio Display, Amazon currently has a few models at best-ever prices.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
A joint status report filed yesterday in Apple's trade secrets lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti shows Prosser is still failing to comply with discovery, prompting Apple to seek a court order to compel him.
The latest filing, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California yesterday, covers developments since the parties' last update in February 2026. It notes that Apple served Prosser with document and deposition subpoenas on February 3, and that while he has provided some responsive materials, he has failed to fully respond to certain requests and has not responded at all to others. Apple has extended his deadline multiple times and says it has still not received the limited discovery it needs to understand the full scope of what confidential information Prosser and Ramacciotti obtained and how they got it. Apple says it now intends to file a Motion for an Order to Show Cause in the Northern District of Ohio to force his compliance.
The filing also reveals that Prosser has indicated he is retaining counsel and intends to move to set aside the default judgment entered against him in October 2025, after he missed the court deadline to respond to Apple's complaint. At the time, Prosser told The Verge he had "been in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case," a claim Apple subsequently disputed in court documents.
Apple filed the lawsuit in July 2025, accusing Prosser and Ramacciotti of misappropriating trade secrets by gaining unauthorized access to a development iPhone belonging to former Apple software engineer Ethan Lipnik. According to Apple's complaint, Ramacciotti accessed the device while Lipnik was away and showed Prosser the contents over FaceTime, revealing details about what was then called iOS 19 and later unveiled at WWDC 2025 as iOS 26. Prosser published videos on his YouTube channel showing recreated renderings of the software's Liquid Glass design months before Apple's announcement. Lipnik was terminated for failing to follow Apple's policies for securing development devices.
Ramacciotti's posture in the case stands in contrast to Prosser's. According to the filing, he has allowed Apple to forensically review an additional device, agreed to supplement his interrogatory responses, and offered to sit for a follow-up deposition once Apple completes its third-party discovery, including any deposition of Prosser. Apple and Ramacciotti have been informally discussing a potential settlement since at least October. Apple is seeking monetary damages and an injunction barring both defendants from further disclosing any of the company's confidential information.
The parties have scheduled a further status update with the court for June 10, 2026.
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.
Specifically, Amazon has up to $83 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership.
The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
A building permit filed in Zurich confirms Apple is planning a new retail store at Lintheschergasse 7, near the city's famous Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, with construction set to run through early 2027.
The permit, submitted to the city of Zurich in February and reviewed by Swiss Apple publication macprime, explicitly describes the project as a "Bahnhofstrasse Relocation" and includes Apple's internal designation "R159" for its Zurich store. The planned location sits at the corner of Lintheschergasse and Usteristrasse, adjacent to the Globus department store.
According to a person with knowledge of Apple's retail planning, the company's current Rennweg store was never intended as a permanent home. "The Rennweg store was planned as a temporary location, since the entrance has stairs and an elevator," the person told MacRumors. They said it was already an open secret when Apple left Bahnhofstrasse that the company was seeking a significantly larger space, and that a dedicated team was tasked with identifying possible buildings before the construction and planning department took over.
According to the permit documents, the ground floor, labeled "Sales," spans around 454 square meters, comparable to Apple's current Rennweg store. A first-floor space labeled "Backstage," likely office use, adds a further 521 square meters. Whether that upper floor will ultimately serve as retail space remains unclear. If both floors are used for sales, the total retail footprint would rank the store among the largest Apple locations in Europe, with Tagesanzeiger reporting an overall area of around 2,000 square meters. Estimated rent is around 1,500 Swiss francs per square meter per month.
The building at Lintheschergasse 7 is a listed municipal heritage structure, which limits how extensively the exterior can be altered. The permit describes a facade renovation covering the ground and first floors, including new metal panels in "Aluminium Champagne" between the shop windows and updated window frames, while the concrete pillar cladding matching the upper floors will remain unchanged. The works also involve a slight expansion of the ground-floor entrance area, eliminating a recessed corner entry in favor of a flush facade, adding 11 square meters and bringing the total building footprint to 965 square meters. A basement level will likely provide storage.
The construction timeline runs from early November 2026 to early May 2027, suggesting an opening sometime in summer 2027. Apple opened its first Zurich store on Bahnhofstrasse in May 2009, then relocated to Rennweg 43 in 2019. The planned Lintheschergasse location would mark the company's third Zurich address.
Separately, Apple is also planning a new Geneva store, with building permits there showing a dramatic glass facade design. Apple currently operates four retail stores in Switzerland, two in Zurich and one each in Basel and Geneva.
Amazon and Globalstar have announced a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire the satellite operator. News of the deal puts to bed questions about the fate of Apple's exclusive satellite connectivity partner, and reveals how Apple will still benefit.
Alongside the acquisition, Amazon and Apple have signed a separate agreement for Amazon's Leo satellite network to power existing iPhone and Apple Watch satellite features, including Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite.
Amazon said it will continue supporting iPhone and Apple Watch models that use Globalstar's existing and upcoming low Earth orbit constellation, which is being built by MDA Space. Amazon also said it will work with Apple on future satellite services running on the expanded Leo network.
"Apple and Amazon have a long and proven track record of working together through Amazon's core infrastructure services, and we look forward to building on that collaboration with Amazon Leo," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.
"This ensures our users will continue to have access to the vital satellite features they have come to rely on, including Emergency SOS, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, so they can stay safe and connected while off the grid."
Amazon's acquisition deal, said to be worth $11.57 billion, is expected to close in 2027, subject to the usual regulatory approvals and the achievement of specific satellite deployment milestones by Globalstar.
Bloomberg had reported in October that Globalstar was exploring a sale and had held early talks with SpaceX before the Amazon discussions emerged. As we reported earlier this month, Apple's 20 percent stake in Globalstar was said to be a sticking point in Amazon's bid to acquire the company.
Apple is working on a series of new satellite connectivity features for the iPhone which will apparently require upgrades to Globalstar's infrastructure. They include Apple Maps via satellite, photos in Messages via satellite, connectivity in indoors environments, satellite over 5G, and a satellite API for third-party apps.
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a two-phase rollout starting with the iPhone 18 series. That means the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold will be released in September 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027.
Overall Design
iPhone 17 Pro Style
Rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will largely retain the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro models. The rear camera system will look identical to the current generation, featuring a raised "plateau" with three lenses arranged in a triangle. Display sizes are also expected to remain unchanged, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max continuing to use 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch panels, respectively – the same dimensions introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro series. iPhone 18 Pro models could drop the current two-tone look of the rear casing found on the iPhone 17 Pro in favor of a more seamless aesthetic. For the next-generation models, Apple has apparently updated the back-glass "replacement process" to minimize the color difference between the Ceramic Shield 2 glass and the aluminum frame, resulting in a more unified appearance.
Next-Level Battery Life
Thicker Chassis
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, claims a Chinese leaker. The Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. (The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the biggest iPhone battery to date at 5,088 mAh. Apple says it has a battery life of up to 39 hours.) According to another rumor, the body of the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, raising the device's weight to around 243 grams. That would make the iPhone 18 Pro Max approximately 3 grams more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is currently the heaviest model Apple has produced. A larger battery is the most likely cause.
Smaller Dynamic Island
Under-Screen Face ID?
Rumors continue to circulate about whether the iPhone 18 Pro models will introduce under-display Face ID, but reports remain divided on when the technology will actually arrive. The feature would move the TrueDepth camera system beneath the display, eliminating the need for the current Dynamic Island cutout.
According to Wayne Ma of The Information, Apple is targeting a design without a Dynamic Island, replacing it with a single pinhole camera in the upper-left corner of the screen. However, other sources dispute that claim. Display analyst Ross Young believes under-display Face ID is possible for the iPhone 18 Pro, but says a smaller Dynamic Island will still be present. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has echoed this view, reporting that the new models will feature a slimmed-down Dynamic Island rather than removing it entirely. Apple is also said to be testing new camera miniaturization technology to reduce the size of the front-facing camera currently located within the Dynamic Island.
The Weibo leaker "Ice Universe" has claimed the Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro models will be approximately 35% narrower than it is on the iPhone 17 Pro models. Specifically, they said it will have a width of around 13.5mm, down from around 20.7mm
Meanwhile, Chinese leaker Instant Digital has offered yet another version of events, saying the Dynamic Island will shrink in size, but that under-display Face ID and camera technology won't debut this year. The latest word on the subject is that Apple is weighing two options for the iPhone 18 Pro's Dynamic Island, and a final decision has yet to be made. One option apparently retains the existing screen mold from the iPhone 17 Pro, while the other introduces a significantly smaller "Mini Dynamic Island" enabled by moving the Face ID receiver and transmitter components beneath the display.
A20 Pro Chip
2nm Process
The iPhone 18 Pro models will use Apple's A20 chip, based on TSMC's 2nm process for power and efficiency improvements. A move to 2nm fabrication increases transistor density, which will enable higher performance. The A20 series is expected to deliver roughly a 15 percent speed gain and about 30 percent better efficiency compared with the A19 series used in Apple's iPhone 17 models.
Apple's A20 chip will be packaged with TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, suggesting at least some A20 chips will have RAM integrated directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than sitting adjacent to the chip and connected via a silicon interposer. This could contribute to faster performance for both overall tasks and Apple Intelligence, and longer battery life from improved power efficiency.
C2 Modem
Replacing Qualcomm
Apple plans to include its next-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models, according to supply chain analyst Jeff Pu. The chip will succeed the C1 modem, which debuted in the lower-cost iPhone 16e as Apple's first in-house cellular modem, and the C1X modem chip in the iPhone Air, which Apple says is up to 2× faster than the C1. The C2 is expected to bring faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and support for mmWave 5G in the United States – a feature missing from the C1 and C1X.
Apple's modem roadmap is part of a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, which currently supplies 5G modems for the rest of the iPhone lineup. The company has been working on developing its own cellular chips for years, aiming for deeper integration and greater control over power management and performance.
New Camera Sensor
Samsung-Made
Samsung is working on a new three-layer stacked image sensor, reportedly intended for the iPhone 18. The sensor, referred to as PD-TR-Logic, integrates three layers of circuitry, which would improve camera responsiveness, reduce noise, and increase dynamic range. The leak comes from a source known as "Jukanlosreve," who claims the sensor is being developed specifically for Apple's 2026 iPhone lineup. Sony has long been Apple's sole image sensor supplier, so Samsung's entry would be a big shift in the iPhone's camera supply chain.
Variable Aperture
DSLR-Style
Apple intends to equip this year's iPhone 18 Pro models with a variable aperture lens, according to reports. Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims the main rear camera – what Apple calls the 48-megapixel Fusion camera – on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. A variable-aperture system physically adjusts the lens opening, letting more light in for low-light shots or narrowing the opening for brighter scenes and deeper depth of field.
The main cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and 17 Pro all use a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, where the lens is permanently set to its widest setting. With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro would allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. This would mean more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in November 2024 that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will get the feature.
5G Satellite Internet
Non-Terrestrial Data
According to a report by The Information, Apple plans to add support for 5G networks that operate via satellites rather than Earth-based towers as early as next year. This advancement would allow future iPhones to gain full internet connectivity through satellite, not just limited emergency features.
If Apple meets the 2026 target, the first devices to feature 5G satellite internet would likely be the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone. Apple partners with Globalstar for its iPhone satellite features, but there is currently no service that delivers full 5G satellite internet directly to a smartphone, and the report did not specify who would supply it.
Simplified Camera Control
New Design
Apple is reportedly working to simplify the Camera Control button's design on iPhone 18 models in order to reduce costs. The current Camera Control button on iPhone 17 models uses both capacitive and pressure sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface. The capacitive layer detects touch gestures, while the force sensor recognizes different pressure levels for taps, presses, and swipes.
However, according to the Weibo-based account Instant Digital, Apple will remove the capacitive sensing layer and retain only pressure sensing recognition in the second iteration to achieve all Camera Control functions on the iPhone 18. The simplified version is not about reducing functionality in the button, but about saving money. The current solution is said to be very expensive for Apple and is generating costly after-sales repairs.
New Colors
Three in Testing
In February 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is testing a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Rumors of purple and brown finishes have also circulated, but Gurman believes those are just variants of the same red idea. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were previously available in Deep Purple, and Apple has never released an iPhone in a genuinely brown color. According to a Chinese leaker, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models won't come in black this year. If the rumor is true, it will be the second consecutive year Apple has ditched what was arguably its most classic color option for the Pro lineup.
Blackmagic has announced a new version of its URSA Cine Immersive camera, the first commercial camera system designed to capture 3D content for the Vision Pro.
The URSA Cine Immersive 100G adds 100G Ethernet to the original camera to deliver the bandwidth needed to output live immersive video for the first time.
Blackmagic Design also announced the Blackmagic URSA Cine Live Encoder, a live processor module ($1,645) that compresses live immersive video into Apple ProRes for output as SMPTE-2110-22 IP video, allowing users to combine the stereo, high frame rate image streams into a single 100G Ethernet connection.
However, the capability is costly – Blackmagic is asking $29,145 for the device, which will be available in Q3 2026. The original Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive remains available on the Blackmagic website for $27,495, down from the $30,000 price tag it carried when it was first unveiled in 2024.
Both cameras have a custom stereoscopic 3D lens system with dual 8K sensors, and can capture a 180-degree field of view with spatial audio support at up to 90 frames per second. Captured content features an 8,160 x 7,200 resolution per eye, and there are 16 stops of dynamic range for detail and color accuracy in every frame.
Dual 5-inch HDR touchscreens are also included, along with an external color status LCD screen. There are several other connectivity options aside from Ethernet, including 12G-SDI out, USB-C, and XLR audio ports, plus an 8-pin Lemo connector for power.
Blackmagic says URSA Cine Immersive has been used on a number of high-profile immersive productions, including MotoGP: Tour De Force, Debut at the BBC Proms, an upcoming documentary featuring Real Madrid, and NASA's recent Artemis II launch.
Production on the iPhone Fold is behind schedule, but the device is still slated to launch in fall 2026, reports DigiTimes. The site says that production has been pushed back by "roughly one to two months," but Apple has not communicated any launch delays to suppliers. Apple is still planning for a 2026 launch, which suggests a tighter production schedule.
Apple planned to begin iPhone Fold mass production in June 2026, but mass production has now slipped to early August. Some rumors have suggested that Apple is having more manufacturing problems than expected with the Engineering Validation Test phase that the iPhone Fold is in right now, but other rumors suggest that won't lead to delays.
Last week, Japanese site Nikkei said that the engineering delays could cause Apple to delay the launch of the iPhone Fold until 2027, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone Fold remains on track to launch "around the same time" or "soon after" the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.
DigiTimes' report reconciles the two separate launch timing rumors, indicating that there is indeed a delay in the test phase, but Apple may be able to make up ground during the mass production phase. Prior to mass production, the iPhone Fold will still need to go through Design Validation Testing and Production Validation Testing.
A delay in the mass production timeline could cause serious supply chain shortages, and iPhone Fold availability is likely to be constrained. When we hear rumors about launch issues this early in an iPhone cycle, it typically leads to severe launch shortages and a device that sells out in minutes during pre-orders.
The iPhone Fold is expected to cost between $2,000 and $2,500. It will be Apple's first foldable device, with a 5.5-inch display when closed and a 7.8-inch display when open. More about the device can be found in our iPhone Fold roundup.
American Airlines is now supporting the enhanced boarding pass feature that Apple added in iOS 26. The app's latest update says boarding passes in the Wallet app feature an updated look with Apple Maps integration, destination guides, and luggage tracking capabilities.
Apple revamped boarding passes in iOS 26 to make them more useful to passengers who are using their iPhones for flights in lieu of a paper boarding pass. Boarding passes have maps for navigating through airports, an option to tap into Find My to track items equipped with AirTags, and tools for reporting missing bags to airlines. From American Airlines:
Your boarding pass has a new look with more at your fingertips, like Apple Maps, destination guides, and quick shortcuts to the app. You can also track your luggage and open Find My right from your pass.
Airlines need to opt in to the new boarding passes and update their apps with support. United Airlines, Air Canada, and Southwest already have the enhanced boarding passes. Delta briefly added support, but removed it shortly after.
Apple also implemented Live Activities support for airlines so users can get real-time updates on a flight in iOS 26, but it is not clear if American Airlines is supporting that feature based on the app's release notes.
Back in June 2025, Apple said American Airlines was one of the airlines that would add support for the refreshed boarding passes. Other airlines listed included Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Jetstar, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Australia.
American Airlines has also supported the Find My lost luggage tracking feature since February 2025. In iOS 18, Apple worked with airlines to make it easier for airline employees to locate lost baggage using AirTags.
With the second beta of iOS 26.5, Apple is continuing to prepare for ads in the Apple Maps app. There's a new splash screen in the app that says it will display ads based on approximate location, current search terms, or a view of the map when searching. Ads will also be shown in the "Suggested Places" section that was added in the first beta.
Apple says that advertising information is not linked to an Apple Account to preserve user privacy, so ads viewed and interacted with will not be associated with an Apple Account. Data is not collected or stored by Apple and not shared with third parties, according to Apple.
Signs of ads in the Maps app were spotted in the first beta, but iOS 26.5 testers could start seeing ads with the second beta. It's not yet clear if Apple has just implemented the splash screen, or if ads are going to begin showing up in the near future.
Apple announced plans to introduce ads for the Maps app back in March, with ads set to roll out to the public "this summer." Apple plans to include ads in the Maps app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in the United States and Canada.
Ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, much like ads in the App Store.
Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This sale includes nearly every aluminum model of the Series 11 on sale at a record low price.
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.
You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of both the 42mm and 46mm GPS models on sale at these all-time low prices.
If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after Apple released updated first betas.
Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.
iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any Siri updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searches, plus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app.
Apple is continuing to test end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users. Apple included the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but removed it before the update launched to the public.
In the European Union, Apple is testing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables like earbuds and smartwatches. The functionality will allow third-party wearables to have many of the same features as the Apple Watch and AirPods.
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.
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.
