iPhone, Mac, software and everything from Cupertino.
Apple's M5 MacBook Air is on sale at Amazon for $1,149, the lowest price seen this month for the standard configuration. The sale includes the 13-inch model with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The discount is available for the Midnight, Sky Blue, and Starlight colors.
Why it matters: This sale provides a cost-effective option for those looking to purchase a MacBook Air with a standard configuration.
Perplexity's Computer app now has a local-first mode that allows it to run entirely on a Mac, including tasks that don't require an internet connection. This mode is available to Perplexity Pro, Max, and Enterprise subscribers. The app can work with local files and supported Mac apps, such as Notes and Mail, without needing cloud access.
Why it matters: This update provides users with more control over their data and allows them to work offline with their Perplexity Computer app.
Apple has unveiled the 2026 Designers of Tomorrow exhibition, featuring four emerging designers who created original works that explore the theme of presence. The exhibition, curated by Rodman Primack, showcases the designers' use of Apple products in their creative processes. The designers' works highlight Apple's role in empowering creatives to capture, refine, and share their ideas.
Why it matters: The exhibition demonstrates how Apple's products and tools are being used by emerging designers to create innovative and thought-provoking works.
The new Apple TV 4K can connect to up to four HomePods for an all-Apple surround sound system. The device also features a new Whole Room Audio feature that spreads sound evenly across four HomePods in a room. Users can choose between Surround Sound and Whole Room Audio in the tvOS 27.2 audio settings.
Why it matters: This feature allows users to create a more immersive audio experience in their home theater setups.
Apple's HomeView was delayed due to Siri AI capabilities, which were not ready until now. The device relies on Siri AI to provide personalized features. HomeView will launch on November 13, 2026, after years of delays.
Why it matters: The delay highlights the importance of AI capabilities in Apple's product development process.
Apple's Self Service Repair program now offers repair parts for the iPhone 18 Pro, M5 Mac Studio, and M6 Mac mini. The program allows users to purchase genuine Apple parts and tools for self-repair. The addition of new devices to the program was seen as a step towards broader repair accessibility.
Why it matters: This development may be relevant to users who want to repair their Apple devices independently and have the necessary skills and tools.
Loop Capital downgraded Apple's stock rating to Hold and cut its price target to $330 due to reduced iPhone shipments in 2026. The firm expects Apple to ship 79 million iPhones in the December quarter, lower than the 85 million estimated by Wall Street. Loop also lowered its average iPhone selling price forecast for 2026 and 2027.
Why it matters: This news may impact investors' expectations for Apple's revenue and earnings in the coming years.
tvOS 27.2 is coming next week with new features for Apple TV 4K users, including a 'Shuffle' option for screen savers, sign language options in the Apple TV app, and manual selection of Photos content for screen savers. The new tvOS version also brings a new way to curate Photos screen savers. tvOS 27.2 is available in RC and expected to ship next week to all users.
Why it matters: These new features improve the overall user experience and accessibility of the Apple TV 4K.
Apple has expanded its Self Service Repair program to include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Mac Studio (M5 Max and M5 Ultra), and Mac mini (M6 and M5 Pro) models. The program allows users to purchase replacement parts and tools for various components. The prices for replacement parts vary, with the iPhone 18 Pro camera replacement costing $249.
Why it matters: This expansion of the Self Service Repair program gives users more control over their device repairs and potentially saves them money by allowing them to purchase replacement parts at a lower cost than visiting an authorized repair center.
Apple has partnered with two US companies, Perryman and Qnity Electronics, to produce components for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro. The partnerships will see Perryman produce titanium for iPhone Duo enclosures and Qnity Electronics produce advanced films for the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture camera system. Apple has committed up to $100 million to the partnerships over three years.
Why it matters: This move is significant for readers interested in the growing presence of US-based manufacturing in the tech industry.
Amazon is offering a $299 discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, bringing the price down to $599.97. This is a significant price drop from the original $899.00. The deal is available for the Black Milanese Loop model, with other color options also discounted.
Why it matters: This price drop makes the Apple Watch Ultra 3 a more affordable option for those considering purchasing an Apple Watch.
Amazon has reinstated a $9 discount on the HomeView, a smart home hub, for a pre-order price of $289.99. The discount is available for the Rose Pink color. Amazon is also offering a $9 discount on the Apple TV 4K for a pre-order price of $289.99.
Why it matters: This deal allows customers to save $9 on the HomeView and Apple TV 4K, which may be beneficial for those looking to purchase these devices before their launch date.
Apple has reaffirmed plans to start assembling Mac Mini computers in the US later this year, with Foxconn building the units at a facility in Houston, Texas. The US-made Mac Minis will primarily serve the US market. Production will continue in Asia for international orders.
Why it matters: This move is significant for US-based consumers who may see faster shipping times and reduced customs delays for their Mac Mini purchases.
Plugable has introduced two USB-C hubs, the USBC-6IN1 and USBC-8IN1E, that support 4K 144Hz HDMI output for compatible Macs. The hubs start at $39.99 and offer USB-C pass-through charging and multiple USB ports. The USBC-8IN1E adds Gigabit Ethernet and separate SD and microSD card readers.
Why it matters: These hubs provide a more affordable option for Mac users to achieve high-refresh-rate monitor support without a larger docking station.
Apple has announced new partnerships with US firms to manufacture titanium for iPhone enclosures and variable aperture technology for the iPhone 18 Pro. The company will invest up to $100 million in the partnership with the Perryman Company over three years. Apple's American Manufacturing Program now works with suppliers across all 50 states, supporting over 450,000 American jobs.
Why it matters: This expansion of Apple's manufacturing partnerships in the US may lead to increased job creation and economic growth in the country.
Apple announced partnerships with American companies to supply components for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, including titanium for the iPhone Duo and technology for the variable aperture camera in the iPhone 18 Pro. The partnerships are part of Apple's American Manufacturing Program. Apple is committing up to $100 million to assist one of the suppliers.
Why it matters: This development highlights Apple's efforts to increase its use of American suppliers and reduce its reliance on international supply chains.
Apple has implemented new cross-site tracking blocks in Safari to protect user identity by preventing advertising firms from collecting email addresses and using them to build online profiles. This is done by blocking connections to identity resolution infrastructure, which creates cross-site identity graphs. The new feature is available in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27.
Why it matters: This feature helps protect users' online anonymity and prevents data brokers from building detailed profiles of their online activities.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking easier access to Apple's NFC technology for UK developers, citing high fees, strict terms, and technical restrictions as barriers to entry. The CMA argues that this will help UK businesses develop new products and services, such as payment apps and digital IDs. Apple has disagreed with the CMA's proposals, citing concerns over privacy and security.
Why it matters: The outcome of this dispute could impact the development of third-party digital wallets and other services in the UK.
Apple has announced new partnerships with American companies Perryman Company and Qnity Electronics to supply critical components for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro. The partnerships are part of Apple's American Manufacturing Program, which aims to bring advanced manufacturing and component production to the US. The program supports over 450,000 American jobs and is part of Apple's $600 billion, four-year commitment to US manufacturing and innovation.
Why it matters: These partnerships highlight Apple's growing commitment to American manufacturing and its efforts to support domestic jobs and innovation.
Samsung plans to launch six foldable phones next year in response to the iPhone Duo's success, reportedly bringing forward the launch of the Galaxy Z Trifold 2 and emphasizing its own folding phones' lightness. The move is seen as a 'spray-and-pray' approach to competing with Apple. The exact models and release dates have not been confirmed.
Why it matters: This move could lead to more innovation in the foldable phone market, pushing Apple to improve its own offerings.
The UK's antitrust watchdog, the CMA, claims Apple's terms for accessing the NFC chip in iPhones are still too restrictive for third-party developers to create competitors to Apple Pay. The CMA has opened a public consultation on loosening Apple's grip on the contactless payment chip. Apple has rejected the proposal, citing concerns about privacy and security.
Why it matters: This development could impact the ability of third-party developers to create alternative mobile payment solutions for iPhone users.
Google services, including DNS, cloud, and ad serving, are experiencing outages in the EU and UK, but not in the US. The outages are affecting users' internet access. Google's status page is tracking the issue.
Why it matters: The outage may impact users' ability to access online services and information.
Apple has limited iPhone Duo orders to two per customer in the US, UK, and other countries to combat scalping. The move comes after shipping dates slipped into January due to high demand. The limit applies to all configurations and is in place across Apple's online stores.
Why it matters: This limit aims to prevent resellers from buying large quantities of iPhone Duos to sell at inflated prices on platforms like eBay.
Adam Boynton from Jamf discussed Apple's recent security updates on the Apple @ Work podcast, focusing on the importance of patching older devices. The podcast highlighted the need for organizations to keep their Apple devices up to date to prevent security vulnerabilities. Boynton emphasized the role of Jamf in helping organizations manage and secure their Apple devices.
Why it matters: The discussion highlights the importance of keeping Apple devices up to date to prevent security vulnerabilities and protect sensitive information.
Taction has asked a federal judge for additional damages and prejudgment interest from Apple, citing that the $5.7 billion verdict only covers sales from 2021 to March 2026 and should also include the previous six months. Apple plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that the jury's award was made without sufficient evidence. Taction argues that the size of the award is not a reason to withhold interest.
Why it matters: This case may have implications for future patent infringement cases and the calculation of damages.
Apple's App Store Worldwide head, Carson Oliver, discussed the company's gaming efforts in an interview, highlighting the iPhone's graphical capabilities and the growth of premium games on the platform. However, the interview also revealed Apple's struggles to understand what gamers want, with a focus on indie titles and a lack of support for more advanced emulators. The company's gaming efforts have been marked by a history of 'almosts' and 'maybes'.
Why it matters: This highlights the ongoing challenges Apple faces in catering to the gaming community, despite the iPhone being a profitable gaming platform.
Barack Obama wrote an essay criticizing the Trump Administration's alleged intimidation campaign against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, stating it undermines American democracy. The essay argues that targeting individuals for their political beliefs is a threat to democratic principles. The essay was posted on X, a social media platform.
Why it matters: This development highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump Administration and Congresswoman Omar, and the potential for future presidents to engage in similar behavior.
WhatsApp is working on expanding its in-app browser feature to allow users to open any link in a chat directly within the app, rather than in their default browser. The feature is currently being tested and is not yet available to beta testers or the general public. The in-app browser will have its own settings, including the ability to clear cookies and cache.
Why it matters: This feature could improve user experience by allowing them to access links without leaving the WhatsApp app.
Apple will announce new products, including updated MacBook Pro and iPad mini models, on October 28. The new MacBook Pro models will feature OLED displays and touchscreens, while the iPad mini 8 will get an OLED display and a design refresh. The new devices will be available for pre-order on October 28, with a possible launch on November 6.
Why it matters: The new products may offer improved performance and features, but will likely come with higher price tags.
Apple is limiting US customers to buying a maximum of two iPhone Duos per order. The limit is not explicitly stated on the US website, but is enforced when attempting to purchase more than two. Some customers have reported being able to purchase four Duos, while others were limited to two.
Why it matters: This limit may impact customers who want to buy multiple iPhone Duos for family members or as gifts.
