News - page 11

Apple Arcade subscribers can now enjoy special SpongeBob SquarePants content across multiple games on the platform — if they’re into that fishy sort of thing. The gaming service continues its strategy of bringing beloved characters to its exclusive titles. The latest crossover events feature the iconic Nickelodeon character in Snake.io+, Crossy Road Castle and an updated SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit game.

Said Phil Schiller, Apple fellow and former SVP for worldwide product marketing, in a post on Mastodon Social: “Jumping Jellyfish!”

Apple gave its News+ subscribers an unexpected treat Thursday. It rolled out the new Emoji Game on Apple News+ ahead of schedule to celebrate World Emoji Day. Originally slated to debut with iOS 26 this September, the puzzle game is now available for users running iOS 18.4 and later versions.

“Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News.

World Emoji Day happens on July 17 every year — but why? The holiday’s story takes a circuitous path through Apple history, tying together Mac OS X Jaguar, calendar software, Japanese cellphone carriers, Macworld Expo and Emojipedia creator Jeremy Burge.

ChatGPT for Mac can now record and transcribe your meetings. The feature, which went live in early June, is now rolling out to the Mac app.

Besides meetings, you can use ChatGPT’s record mode for transcribing voice notes and brainstorming sessions.

Contrary to previous rumors, a new report says Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Pro with a new antireflective display. The coating will help cut down on glare and unwanted reflections, making the device easier to use — especially outside on sunny days.

Apple suppliers seemingly improved their yields enough to allow mass production of the antireflective displays for use in the upcoming iPhones.

The new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma promises to transform how Mac users connect their devices while delivering blazing-fast data speeds, support for massive SSD storage expansion, expanded display capabilities and RGB lighting, the gaming peripherals giant said Wednesday. Priced at $399.99, the dock stands in the first wave of major accessories to fully embrace Intel’s latest Thunderbolt 5 standard.

“The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock is designed to meet the growing need for faster data transfer and robust multi-display support,” said Travis Furst, notebooks and accessories chief at Razer.

Multiple iPhone models might be blocked from import into the United States. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that one of the companies that makes displays for iOS handsets infringes on the patents of another, and products that use the infringing displays face an import ban.

President Donald Trump has the option to veto the ban, however.

Apple’s complete — and surprisingly broad — iPhone 17 color palette got confirmation through internal Apple documents, according to a new report. Expanding on recent leaks, the new information reveals the most diverse selection in years across all four models expected to launch in September.

The confirmation comes as Apple prepares to refresh its entire smartphone lineup with new features including the A19 chip, 12GB of RAM for Pro models, and the introduction of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air to replace the iPhone 16 Plus.

The Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable makes carrying around an iPhone easy, and charging it, too. That’s because it’s both a lanyard and a USB-C charging cable in one accessory.

In addition, the accessory maker also just launched the Satechi OntheGo 67W Slim Wall Charger to power up an iPhone or MacBook when and where needed.

Apple might exclusively use a titanium frame on the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. Other members of the iPhone 17 family will seemingly feature an aluminum chassis.

The prediction comes from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu.

Part of the innovative technology going into the upcoming folding iPhone is supposedly an internal hinge that will play an important role in ensuring that the flexible display won’t be marred by an unsightly crease.

An analyst who’s a respected source of Apple information reported Tuesday that the component will begin shipping to Apple at the beginning of 2026.

Apple TV+ secured a commanding position in the 2025 Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, with two of its flagship series earning the most nominations in their respective categories. The streaming service’s dystopian workplace drama Severance topped all shows with 27 nominations. And Hollywood satire The Studio led comedy series with 23 nominations, breaking Ted Lasso‘s record for a first-year comedy series.

Notably, Apple TV+’s hit spy thriller Slow Horses and comedy Shrinking also drew top nominations.

An analyst said back in May that Apple may reuse the iPhone 16‘s A18 chip on the base iPhone 17 model this year and could ship both it and iPhone 17 Air with 8GB of RAM. But now he’s changed his tune.

All other members of the iPhone 17 family will reportedly use a newer A19 chip and sport 50% more RAM.

Update: As noted in the post below, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu predicted in May that the base iPhone 17 would stick with iPhone 16’s A18 chip. But now he cites in a note seen by outlets like 9to5Mac that supply chain reporting indicates the base model will use the A19 chip expected in the Pro models. And only the base iPhone 17 may offer just 8GB of RAM, while the Air and Pro models will start at 12GB.

Apple announced a new commitment Tuesday to buy $500 million worth of American-made rare earth magnets from Texas-based MP Materials. The raw material will go into iPhones, MacBooks and more.

In addition, the two companies are working together to build a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in California.

Two new HDMI adapters from Other World Computing (OWC) solve the external display limitations that have frustrated Apple Silicon Mac users since the M1 chip’s introduction, the company said Monday. The new OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter and redesigned OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Adapter offer Mac owners a way to connect multiple external monitors without juggling multiple dongles.

“Whether you’re working with spreadsheets, streaming data, editing video or just need more screen real estate to stay productive, we believe your gear shouldn’t hold you back,” said Larry O’Connor, OWC’s founder and CEO. “With our new Quad and enhanced Dual HDMI adapters, we’re giving users the power to easily expand their visual workspace, without the complexity or cost of juggling multiple adapters or sacrificing performance.”

After last week’s iPhone 17 color revelations, fresh component leaks suggest Apple might introduce its boldest iPhone Pro color yet, come September. This time, camera lens covers reveal a potential brand-new copper-orange finish that would mark a significant departure from the company’s traditional Pro palette. The other possible colors are black, gray, silver and a dark blue that harkens back to iPhone 15 Pro’s most striking hue.

Apple’s beautiful, high-resolution Studio Display is notoriously expensive, starting at about $1,600 — so dual Studio Display computer setups are pretty rare. I also see Studios Displays paired with other options for external displays, as in today’s great-looking Mac Studio setup. And it turns out there are reasons beyond identical resolution to choose the LG 5K UltraFine display the users selected and loves.

And another cool item in the setup hides behind the displays. Bower & Wilkins’ aged-yet-still-awesome MM1 computer speakers make a rare appearance.

Apple came up with a “significant evolution” for the Dynamic Island that’s part of the display in most iPhone models, according to a noted tipster. Rather than phasing out the dynamic interface, rumors indicate Apple will lean into the feature.

It’s something to look forward to in the iPhone 17 and beyond.

Apple may hold the upcoming iPhone 17 launch event in the week beginning September 8. If not on Monday, the company could opt for September 9 (Tuesday) or 10 (Wednesday).

Apple typically unveils new iPhones in the second week of September.

Apple already has the iPhone 17e on its drawing board, according to rumors. Surveys indicate the company has a new strategy that’ll bring much more frequent updates to its most affordable iOS handsets.

Here’s when to expect the replacement for the iPhone 16e, and what hardware changes are coming.

Smoke is getting into plenty of people’s eyes. The new true-crime drama on Apple TV+ that stars Taron Egerton made it into the top 10 most popular streaming series, according to two companies that track ratings.

Plus, the Apple TV+ sci-fi action comedy series Murderbot stayed strong in the run-up to its season finale, and the sports comedy Stick still draws a large audience, too.

The iconic 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro took its first step towards official retirement, as Apple added it to its vintage product list.

Apple also added several iPads launched in 2018 and the 2019 13-inch MacBook Air to its vintage products list.

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 should offer a fresh take on color options, with new leaks suggesting five colors for the base iPhone 17 and four for the iPhone 17 Air model. The latest information comes from leaked images of third-party camera lens protector rings. They’re designed to match Apple’s official iPhone color offerings.

Rejoice, fans of deliciously complicated and marvelously cinematic sci-fi! Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s iconic Foundation stories finally returns for a new season Friday. So now you can stream Foundation season three’s first episode, “A Song for the End of Everything,” in which intergalactic supervillain The Mule wreaks havoc.

Murderbot season 1 did well enough in the ratings that Apple TV+ committed to season 2 on Thursday.

The news comes as the season 1 finale of the sci-fi comedy thriller becomes available to stream. A renewal isn’t surprising, given that t series stayed one of the top 10 most-watched shows every week during its entire run.