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Anurag Chawake - page 2

iOS 27’s iPhone Handoff lets two phones share one number

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iPhone Handoff in iOS 27
iOS 27’s iPhone Handoff feature could let you move your phone number between a main and companion iPhone.
Screenshot: pdfu

iOS 27 will let one phone number work across two iPhones. A new iPhone Handoff feature will soon allow you to swap your cellular line between a main and a companion device, with no SIM swap required.

The feature got the barest mention at WWDC 2026 in June, with zero explanation from Apple. Now, a leaked demo video finally shows how the setup could actually work.

iPhone Ultra reportedly won’t ditch MagSafe after all

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A concept image of the iPhone Ultra used in a story about MagSafe support in the first folding iPhone
The first folding iPhone apparently won't skip the popular MagSafe feature.
Image: Majin Bu

The first folding iPhone will support MagSafe, according to a new report that may finally settle one of the last open questions about the rumored device.

Apple reportedly found some space for MagSafe’s magnetic array despite the thin design of the foldable, likely called the iPhone Ultra. New details also surfaced about pricing, launch timing and where Apple’s folding phone is expected to excel.

Perplexity Hybrid Compute splits AI tasks between your Mac and the cloud

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A picture shared by Perplexity with a Mac mini used in a story about Perplexity Hybrid Compute feature.
Perplexity Hybrid Compute routes sensitive files to a local model that never leaves your Mac.
Photo: Perplexity

Perplexity Hybrid Compute is now live on Mac. The feature splits a single AI task between the cloud and the local model, so all your sensitive files stay on the machine.

“In the newest release of the Perplexity for Mac app, users can now add a compact local model post-trained for Perplexity Computer and choose to run tasks on device on their Mac,” said Perplexity in a press release Tuesday.

Cloud models handle the research and heavy reasoning, while a compact, local AI model on your Mac handles any step that touches private data.

Apple marks three more MacBook models as obsolete

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A photo of the MacBook Pro used in a story about the product now officially labeled as obsolete by Apple.
The 2018 Retina MacBook Air is one of the three newly obsolete MacBook models, ending its run of standard Apple repairs.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple added three more MacBook models to its official obsolete device list. That means the laptops no longer qualify for standard hardware service, so owners hoping for an easy trip to the Genius Bar will mostly be out of luck.

The three laptops had spent the last few years on Apple’s vintage list, and now they’ve crossed into obsolete territory for good. Apple confirmed the change in an updated support document published on Monday.

Finally, your car can see the storm coming — just not from Apple Weather

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The Weather Channel’s Storm Radar app is now on CarPlay.
The Weather Channel’s Storm Radar app isn't just for iPhone and iPad any more.
Image: The Weather Channel

Your iPhone has known for years that it’s about to rain. Your car’s dashboard, running Apple’s own CarPlay software, has had no idea — because Apple Weather never made the jump to CarPlay. But starting today, you won’t have to wait on Apple to fix that.

The Weather Channel’s Storm Radar app version 4.0.19 just rolled out. The centerpiece is a dedicated CarPlay experience that finally puts live weather where you’re already looking while driving. If your commute was ever ambushed by a storm your map app couldn’t see coming, this is the update you’ve wanted.

OLED iPad mini: Everything we know so far

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OLED iPad mini rumors: Coming soon
The long-anticipated OLED iPad mini is almost here!
Concept: Cult of Mac

Apple’s OLED iPad mini is closing in on release. A fresh report says the redesigned tablet would reach store shelves by the end of October.

Expect a sharper, brighter screen as well as a faster chip built for Apple Intelligence. Apple is also said to be reworking the tablet’s shell for better water resistance.

Read on for everything to expect in the OLED iPad mini.

How to protect yourself from identity theft: A complete safety guide

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Top five online heists: A shady cybercrime hacker.
You can protect yourself from identity theft by taking some simple precautions.
Photo: Richard Patterson/Flickr CC

One data breach could be all it takes for someone to steal your identity. If you want to know how to protect yourself from identity theft, a handful of habits go a long way.

Identity theft strikes when someone steals your personal details to commit fraud in your name. Think Social Security numbers, credit card details, that kind of thing. The fallout can drain your bank accounts and wreck your credit. And you could spend months untangling the mess. 

This guide breaks down the practical steps that actually reduce your risk of identity theft.

M6 Mac mini vs. M4 Mac mini: Everything that changed

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M4 Mac mini replaced by more powerful M6 model
The M4 Mac mini just got replaced by a more powerful M6 model.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s just-launched Mac mini looks exactly the same on the outside as the previous model. But an M6 Mac mini versus M4 Mac mini comparison reveals a very different machine inside.

The all-new M6 chip is one option for the tiny desktop, and it’s the one designed for students and casual users. The Mac can also be configured with an M5 Pro processor, but that is for professionals and was discussed in a separate article. This one focuses on the benefits the M6 brings to consumers. 

Apple Maps ads go live on iPhone, and some users aren’t happy

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Apple labels advertisements with a small blue “Ad” badge in Maps search results.
Apple labels advertisements with a small blue “Ad” badge in Maps search results.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps ads finally started showing up for iPhone and iPad owners in the United States and Canada this week, and some users are angry — and even threatening to switch to Google Maps.

Sponsored listings now appear inside the Maps app’s search experience, front and center, tagged with a discreet label. But some iPhone owners feel disappointed and even betrayed, saying Apple is prioritizing ad dollars over a pristine user experience. 

Why an M5 Ultra Mac Studio won’t replace your AI subscription anytime soon

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Mac Studio with M5 Ultra
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio starts at $5,499 and targets developers running AI coding models locally.
Photo: Apple

Apple pitches its new M5 Ultra Mac Studio as a way to end your AI subscription bill for good. But the math tells a different story.

“Mac Studio lets users run massive models entirely on device with complete privacy — without counting tokens or worrying about rising cloud costs,” Apple said in a press release announcing the computer’s surprise launch Tuesday.

While Apple’s marketing frames the Mac Studio as a way to run AI coding models locally instead of paying for an AI subscription every month, a pricing breakdown shows the payback stretching into years, not months.

Running macOS on iPhone 14 Pro Max is possible, with a catch

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A picture showing an iPhone running macOS used in a story about the same.
A jailbreak workaround brings macOS on iPhone 14 Pro Max to life inside a virtual machine.
Photo: @onejailbreak_/X

Jailbreak developers have found a way to run macOS on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But it works as a virtual machine, not a full swap of iOS. The trick piggybacks on an existing iPad project that was never built with phones in mind.

The update comes from Virtual Mac, an open-source tool that lets some iPads run full macOS. Version 1.2.1 of the project extends the package to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. And, as expected, support is thin, and the trade-offs are real.

Leaked photos purportedly show Apple’s custom AI servers

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A picture allegedly showing Apple's servers used for Private Cloud Compute used in a story about the same.
Leaked photos of Apple’s AI servers show rows of custom silicon inside a compact rack chassis.
Photo: Ronald Mannak/X

Leaked photos purportedly showing Apple’s AI servers reveal a chassis packed tight with custom silicon.

The unverified photos were posted Sunday by X user @hsuchingpo, an account with a good track record of Apple hardware leaks. The leaker said the Apple servers “most likely” power Private Cloud Compute, Apple’s privacy-first answer to cloud AI.

iPhone price increase looks certain, but how high will Apple go?

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A photo showing an iPhone in a person's hand used in a story about iPhone price increase.
An iPhone price increase could hit the iPhone 18 Pro lineup next month.
Photo: Pixabay

Apple could be preparing an iPhone price increase for this fall. The move would follow Google and Samsung, both of which raised prices on their flagship phones this year.

The iPhone faces the same memory and chip shortages that pushed Apple to jack up Mac and iPad prices back in June. And while an iPhone price increase now looks all but certain, Apple appears to be trying to keep the hike modest.

Apple home hub sparks major Apple Store shake-up

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The Apple Home Hub is rumored for a possible fall launch
The Apple Home Hub could get its own dedicated display area in Apple Stores this fall.
Photo: Ed Hardy/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is clearing shelf space for a new era of smart home gear. The company is reportedly preparing a significant overhaul of its retail stores this fall. The changes point to more than a routine refresh. And at the center of it all sits the rumored Apple home hub — its first smart display built for the home.

The retail work targets the “Avenues,” the perimeter walls in Apple’s newer stores. These walls showcase HomePod, Apple TV, AirPods, and Beats gear. Store-layout teams are reportedly rearranging these sections and adding new accessory bays. The scale of the project suggests Apple needs room for something significant.

Apple Watch Series 12: Everything we know so far

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A picture of the Apple Watch used in a story about Apple Watch rumor roundup.
Apple Watch Series 12 is rumored to bring a faster chip and a returning ceramic case option this September.
Photo: Pixabay

After years of small updates, Apple Watch Series 12 looks ready to kick things up a notch. Rumors point to a faster chip, a returning ceramic option and new AI-powered features.

The launch of the new smartwatch is mere weeks away.  Here’s everything reported so far.

Leaked Apple code reveals how AirPods cameras will actually work

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A picture of AirPods Pro 3 used in a story about AirPods with cameras.
Apple's AirPods with cameras use twin sensors to capture synced images, according to newly uncovered code.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AirPods with cameras just got a lot less mysterious. Buried in the macOS 26.7 release candidate’s code is a hidden framework that reveals exactly how the earbuds will perceive and process the world around you.

The discovery goes far beyond the recently leaked demo video spotted in the same code. It details resolution numbers, capture modes, calibration systems and a built-in privacy light. This gives us the clearest picture yet of the long-rumored AirPods upgrade.

Apple urges judge not to dismiss its trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI

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A photo with Apple and OpenAI logo used in a story about Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI.
Apple’s new filing in the Apple OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit accuses OpenAI of relying on distortion and speculation.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple asked a federal judge to keep its trade secrets lawsuit alive Wednesday, saying OpenAI’s motion to dismiss relied “on distortion, speculation, and improper extrinsic evidence.”

Apple’s 32-page opposition brief, filed Wednesday, doubles down on Apple’s original accusations against two former Apple employees now working for OpenAI. It also sets up a key court hearing scheduled for October.

Apple’s camera AirPods leak early — but they’re many months away

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A picture of AirPods used in a story about AirPods with camera coming in 2027.
A leaked macOS 26.7 RC build revealed Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods in action, but the product may not launch until 2027.
Photo: Cult of Mac

That video of AirPods with cameras built in? Cool. But don’t expect to buy them anytime soon. Despite a leak that made AirPods with cameras look imminent, Apple is still holding the product for 2027. This year’s iPhone event won’t be the moment they show up.

If you were hoping to buy AI-powered earbuds alongside your next iPhone, you’ll have to wait. And that’s actually the more interesting story here: what almost shipped this year, and why it didn’t.

Apple might bring iPhone’s Camera Control to iPad

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Image of the iPad's camera app used in a story about Apple filing a patent for bringing the Camera Control button to the tablet.
Apple might add the controversial Camera Control to the iPad.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple may be planning to port the iPhone’s Camera Control button to a future version of the iPad. A newly granted patent shows a pressure-sensitive iPhone control mapped onto a tablet-shaped devices. This could hint at where Apple’s photography ambitions are headed next.

Obviously, a patent filing does not mention a release date or even confirm an upcoming product. But it does indicate that Apple already invested time engineering how the button could work on a much bigger device.

Apple’s smart display widget gallery detailed in leaked macOS code

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A concept picture of Apple's home hub used in a story about the same.
Apple’s home hub gallery widget could let users customize their smart display’s home screen, similar to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Vivint/Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly developing a smart display that would act as a smart home hub, and details of the upcoming product’s widget gallery appear in code buried in the latest macOS beta. 

The discovery paints a clearer picture of how Apple’s first true smart display might work. It also gives us an idea of how the widget gallery might pull content straight from your iPhone, mixing Apple’s own apps with third-party widgets.

iPhone 18 Pro Max might get big camera upgrades that regular Pro lacks

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A picture of the iPhone Pro model used in a story about the iPhone 18 Pro Max getting variable aperture.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max variable aperture camera is rumored to be exclusive to Apple’s largest phone this year.
Photo: Pixabay

A new leak says the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored variable-aperture camera won’t make it to the smaller iPhone 18 Pro.

The claim comes from a Weibo leaker with a strong track record on Apple hardware. The leaker also suggests Apple might limit a rumored upgrade to the Pro Max’s telephoto lens to the bigger phone, further widening the gap between this year’s Pro models.

iPhone 18 Pro could get a major performance boost from A20 chip

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A picture with the text A20 alongside an Apple logo used in a story about the A20 Pro chip.
The A20 Pro chip is rumored to power the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the much-rumored iPhone Ultra this fall.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s A20 Pro chip is shaping up to be a big leap forward. A new leak points to a significant jump in speed with a considerable cut in power use. This is the best look yet at the performance of a processor that will be critical to the success of Apple new flagship smartphones.

Built on TSMC’s 2-nm process, the chip is expected to make its debut in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall. The upgrade should mean serious performance and battery gains, but it likely won’t come cheap.

Hackers exploit macOS Screen Sharing vulnerability — update your Mac ASAP

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An image of macOS Screen Sharing feature used in a story about an exploit being actively used in the wild.
The macOS Screen Sharing vulnerability lets attackers bypass login credentials entirely.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A macOS Screen Sharing vulnerability that Apple patched earlier this month is now being actively exploited by hackers. Attackers use the flaw to seize control of Macs and install cryptocurrency miners.

The bug allows attackers to bypass Screen Sharing’s login screen without needing any valid credentials. Once inside, attackers escalate to full root access and install Monero mining software on compromised machines. If you didn’t already update your Mac’s operating system, you should do it as soon as possible.

WhatsApp custom emoji reactions spotted in iOS beta

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A picture showing WhatsApp logo used in a story about new features coming to the app's iPhone version.
WhatsApp custom emoji reactions would let users replace the app’s six default icons with emojis of their choice.
Photo: Pixabay

WhatsApp is reportedly working on custom emoji reactions for iPhone. The feature would let users change the app’s six default reactions to emojis they like.

Right now, every iPhone owner sees the same six icons when they long-press a message. But the upcoming tool would let people build a reaction tray that actually matches how they text.

Apple is finally bringing its own AI model to China — with Alibaba’s help

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An Apple logo alongside the Qwen logo used in a story about Apple's AI deal with China.
Apple’s China AI deal leans heavily on Alibaba’s Qwen for its Chinese Siri experience.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple’s deal to bring its AI tools to China finally cleared Beijing’s regulatory hurdles, paving the way for Apple Intelligence to launch in the country. Apple trained its own large language model specifically for Chinese devices, but leaned on Alibaba’s support to pull it off.