From 9to5Mac · 40 stories
LISEN Releases Qi2.2 MagSafe Battery with 25W Wireless Charging and Integrated Cable Lanyard
LISEN has introduced a new Qi2.2 MagSafe battery that supports up to 25 watts of wireless power, addressing common issues like slow charging and heat generation with an active thermal control system. The battery also features a unique lanyard system that stores the charging cable, providing a portable charging solution for Apple devices.
T-Mobile Offers Bill Credits Up to $80 Following July 27 Outage
T-Mobile is providing bill credits ranging from $10 to $80 to customers affected by a seven-hour nationwide outage on July 27. The outage impacted nearly 500,000 users, preventing calls, texts, and cellular data, and customers must contact T-Mobile customer service to receive compensation.
ESPN streaming subscription and Disney Plus bundles to increase prices on September 17th
ESPN is raising the prices for its standalone streaming subscriptions and some Disney Plus bundles starting September 17th. This marks the first price increase for ESPN's standalone streaming service since its launch last August, affecting both monthly and annual plans.
Apple TV announces August content, including new seasons of Ted Lasso and Dark Matter
Apple TV will release new seasons of several shows in August, including "Ted Lasso" (season 4), "Women in Blue" (season 2), "Stillwater" (season 5), and "Dark Matter" (season 2). A new sports docuseries, "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies," will also debut. This content update provides subscribers with new viewing options across comedy, drama, sci-fi, and sports genres.
Spotify Introduces Playlist Notes for Songs, Podcasts, and Audiobooks
Spotify has launched "Playlist Notes," allowing users to add contextual notes to individual songs, podcast episodes, and audiobooks within their playlists. This feature expands on the previously released "User Notes" and is also being adopted by Spotify's editorial teams to explain their content selections on major playlists.
Robot Lawn Mowers Show Improved Navigation and User-Friendly Features
Recent robot lawn mower models demonstrate advancements in navigation and maneuverability, addressing previous issues with getting stuck. The TerraMow V1000 uses a camera-based TerraVision 2.0 system for automatic mapping, while other models show improvements in RTK and NetRTK navigation, making them more reliable for yard maintenance.
Overcast Creator Marco Arment Releases Unforgetful, a New Task Management App
Marco Arment, developer of the Overcast podcast app, launched Unforgetful, a new task management application for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The app integrates with Apple Reminders data to provide persistent notifications and flexible snoozing options, addressing limitations in the native Reminders app.
Matic Robot Vacuum Adds Voice and Gesture Control with Matic Cues Update
The Matic robot vacuum has received a software update called Matic Cues, introducing voice and gesture control capabilities. Users can now direct the vacuum to clean specific areas by pointing or using voice commands in over 70 languages, without needing a smartphone app. This update, available from August 13, 2024, precedes a price increase for the Matic robot from $1,245 to $1,495 on September 9, 2024.
Apple TV+ Adds Classic Movies to Streaming Catalog
Apple TV+ has added approximately 20 classic movies to its streaming service, available to subscribers at no additional cost. Films such as "The Martian," "E.T.," and "Zodiac" are now streamable, a departure from the service's usual focus on original content. This expansion provides more content options for existing subscribers and is accessible in regions including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Apple Vision Pro to Stream Live MLB Friday Night Baseball in Immersive Video
Apple will stream four MLB Friday Night Baseball games in immersive video on Apple Vision Pro, starting August 28th with the Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees. These broadcasts will feature dedicated commentary and live graphics, expanding the Vision Pro's immersive content library which previously included NBA games and other experiences. This initiative aims to attract more users to the platform by offering unique sports viewing experiences.
Apple Arcade Adds Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ on September 3
Apple Arcade is expanding its game catalog with the addition of two new puzzle games, Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, both launching on September 3. Block Blast!+, an ad-free version of the popular mobile game with over 725 million lifetime installs, and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, a 2025 App Store Award winner, will be available to subscribers.
Apple Increases Trade-In Values for Most Devices, Adds New Android Models
Apple has updated its trade-in program, increasing values for most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with some increases reaching nearly 30%. The company also expanded its accepted Android devices to include additional Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and OnePlus models, while lowering values for some older Android phones.
Placing Overheating Phones in Refrigerators Causes Device Damage, Repair Shops Report
A social media trend advising users to cool overheating phones by placing them in refrigerators is leading to device damage, including condensation and thermal shock. Repair shops in Europe and the UK have observed an increase in phones damaged by this method, which contradicts manufacturer recommendations to cool devices naturally.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Coming to MasterCraft Pontoon Boats
MasterCraft Boat Holdings will integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into select pontoon boat models from its Crest and Balise brands, starting next month. This integration will be standard on new Balise models and Crest Conquest and Caribbean models from the 2027 model year, providing marine navigation and other smartphone features directly on the helm display.
TV Time Co-Founder Launches Bingers App to Replace Shut Down TV Tracking Service
Antonio Pinto, a co-founder of the defunct TV Time app, has launched Bingers, a new application for tracking TV shows and movies. Bingers aims to fill the void left by TV Time's closure, which occurred when its owner, Whip Media, shifted focus to AI efforts, and emphasizes community features, allowing former TV Time users to import their data.
Runna App Introduces "Adapt for Heat" Feature to Adjust Workouts Based on Local Weather
The running app Runna has launched a new "Adapt for Heat" feature that automatically modifies workout sessions by reducing running speeds to account for local heat and humidity. This update allows users to plan workouts knowing the system will adapt to environmental conditions, addressing a common reason for skipped or modified runs.
Support for Full School Day Cellphone Bans Reaches New High in US
A new Pew Research Center survey indicates that 48% of US adults now support banning cellphones for the entire school day in middle and high schools, marking the first time support for such bans outweighs opposition. This represents an increase from 36% two years ago. Additionally, 77% of US adults support banning cellphones in middle and high school classes.
Snapchat Introduces "Now Playing" Feature for Real-Time Music Sharing on Snap Map
Snapchat has launched a new feature called "Now Playing" within Snap Map, allowing users to share the music they are currently listening to from streaming services, starting with Spotify. This integration enables friends to see each other's real-time listening activity and interact with the music directly within the app, expanding music discovery on the platform.
Meta Tests StoryKit AI App for Creating Personalized Children's Stories in Mexico
Meta is testing a new AI-powered iPhone app named StoryKit that generates personalized children's stories. Available only in Mexico, the app allows users to customize characters, settings, and lessons, and outputs stories as picture books, audiobooks, and PDFs. This regional test reflects Meta's growing exploration into AI-driven storytelling applications.
Suno Integrates AI Song Generation into iPhone's iMessage App
Suno now allows iPhone users to generate AI-generated 30-second songs directly within iMessage using text or voice prompts. Both users involved in a conversation need the Suno app installed to generate and share these songs without leaving the chat. This integration provides a new way for Suno's large user base to interact via iMessage by incorporating musical elements into everyday communication.
WhatCable App for Mac Helps Identify USB-C Cable Capabilities
The free Mac app WhatCable enables Apple Silicon users to discover the performance of their USB-C cables, revealing data such as speed, power delivery, and video bandwidth. The app uses macOS data to assess cable capabilities, addressing confusion around USB-C cable specifications. WhatCable provides users a way to optimize their connections and identify faulty cables.
Luxshare Faces 5% Stock Drop on Hong Kong Debut After Record IPO
Luxshare Precision Industry's shares dropped over 5% after its Hong Kong IPO debut, priced at 63.28 HKD per share, raising around $3.1 billion. Investor concerns center on Luxshare's strong revenue dependency on Apple, despite efforts to diversify into automotive and consumer electronics. The listing marks the largest in Hong Kong this year, expanding its existing Shenzhen listing to attract more overseas investors.
Apple TV+ releases 'The Last First: Winter K2' documentary
Apple TV+ has released "The Last First: Winter K2," a documentary about a 2021 expedition to summit K2 in winter. The film focuses on the challenges faced by mountaineers and the changing culture of extreme climbing.
Apple Arcade adds five new games, including Terraria+ and Pusheen's Place
Apple Arcade expanded its game catalog with five new titles, including Terraria+ and Pusheen's Place. These additions bring the total library to over 200 games, offering subscribers more ad-free and in-app-purchase-free options.
Apple TV Adds 13 Classic Movies to its Free Subscriber Content Library
Apple TV has added 13 classic movies to its streaming service, available for free to subscribers. This continues a recent trend of monthly additions of popular films, expanding the platform's content beyond original productions.
Apple TV announces new movies and TV series for September, including 'Mayday' and 'Brothers'
Apple TV will release several new movies and TV series in September, including the action-comedy film "Mayday" starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, and the comedy series "Brothers" with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The streaming service will also launch the sixth season of "Slow Horses" and the new thriller series "Last Seen." This content update provides new viewing options for Apple TV subscribers.
Apple Design Eliminates Need for Webcam Covers, Avoids Damage to Screens
Apple's 2008 MacBook webcam design, with an indicator light, negates the need for webcam covers, as these covers risk damaging screens. This design aims to assure users of privacy without additional accessories, impacting how users approach device security.
Apple Music expands to Albania, Brunei, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan
Apple Music is now available in Albania, Brunei, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan, increasing its global reach to 172 countries and regions. This expansion is part of Apple's ongoing effort to grow its Services business in new markets.
Apple Invites for iPhone updated with full-resolution photo sharing and Image Playground features
Apple updated its Apple Invites app for iPhone, adding full-resolution photo sharing in Shared Albums and new photorealistic background creation in Image Playground. These changes allow for higher quality visual content within event invitations and shared memories.
Apple Music for Android 7.0 Beta Introduces Liquid Glass Redesign
Apple Music for Android is receiving a significant visual update with the 7.0 beta, incorporating the Liquid Glass design language previously seen on Apple platforms. This redesign modernizes the app's interface, affecting navigation, artist pages, and settings, bringing its appearance closer to the iOS version.
Apple TV+ to debut British comedy "Small Prophets" globally on October 7
Apple TV+ will release the British comedy "Small Prophets" globally starting October 7, with the first two episodes available at launch. The series, which previously aired on the BBC and holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, will then release new episodes weekly.
Some iPhone 18 Pro users report speaker 'pops' or 'clicks'
A small number of iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max users are reporting a speaker issue where a faint "pop" or "click" sound occurs, particularly when switching applications. The cause is currently unknown, with speculation pointing to either a software or hardware problem.
iFixit Teardown Reveals First Repairability Improvement in New AirPods
iFixit's teardown of the new AirPods 5 shows that the earbud batteries can be removed and replaced without destroying the device, resulting in a 2/10 repairability score. This marks the first time AirPods have scored above zero for repairability, indicating a minor design change for battery servicing.
iOS 27.2 Adds Dual Capture Support to Group FaceTime Calls
Apple's iOS 27.2 update expands the Dual Capture feature in FaceTime to include Group FaceTime calls. This allows users to simultaneously share views from both their front and rear cameras during multi-person video calls, a capability previously limited to one-on-one calls in iOS 27.
Apple releases video detailing new and existing child safety features for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27
Apple released an animated video showcasing new and existing child safety features available across its devices with the release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The video highlights parental controls for app access, website approval, contact approval, and screen time management, which matters for parents using Apple's ecosystem to manage their children's device usage.
Apple updates Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Pixelmator Pro, and Freeform with new features
Apple released updates for its iWork suite (Pages, Keynote, Numbers), Pixelmator Pro, and Freeform, introducing new functionalities for productivity and creative tasks. These updates include Siri integration for iWork apps, enhanced collaboration features, and new tools for image editing and digital whiteboarding.
iOS 27 introduces a new one-tap paste shortcut above the keyboard
iOS 27 includes a new feature that displays a paste shortcut above the keyboard when a text field is opened after copying content to the clipboard. This addition simplifies the pasting process by offering one-tap access and a preview of the clipboard content, improving user convenience for frequent copy-paste actions.
Apple Calendar in iOS 27 adds natural language input, design updates, and new widget sizes
Apple's Calendar app in iOS 27 introduces several new features, including natural language input for events and reminders, updated design elements, and an option to mark iCloud calendar events as busy/free. These changes aim to improve usability and feature parity with other calendar services.
iOS 27 Updates Find My App with Enhanced Sharing, UI Refresh, and Apple Watch Integration
Apple's Find My app in iOS 27 introduces more flexible location sharing options, allowing users to hide their location from specific individuals without notification. The update also includes a Liquid Glass interface redesign and improved Apple Watch integration for cellular models.
Duo-Man App Recreates Sony Walkman Experience for iPhone Users
Developer Vidit Bhargava created the Duo-Man app, which simulates the experience of using a 1980s Sony Walkman on an iPhone, including Apple Music integration. The app, initially a hackathon demo, will be released to the public, allowing users to interact with their digital music library through a retro interface.