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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.

Today in Apple history: Apple Card launches as most consumer-friendly credit card ever

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Photo of an Apple Card on a desk, five years after the card's launch
Apple Card debuted in 2019 and is still going strong.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Aug 20: Today in Apple history: Apple Card launches as most consumer-friendly credit card ever August 20, 2019: The Apple Card launch brings the titanium credit card to U.S. consumers for the first time. It gives them a new option for payments when Apple Pay isn’t available.

The iPhone’s Wallet app handles statements and payments. And the innovative card is “designed to help customers lead a healthier financial life,” according to Apple. Surveys show the card soon becomes beloved.

“We’re thrilled with the overwhelming interest in Apple Card and its positive reception,” says Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay, in a press release. “Customers have told us they love Apple Card’s simplicity and how it gives them a better view of their spending.”

Secure 10TB of cloud storage for life with one-time payment

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Illustration of 10TB cloud storage plan used by devices including a MacBook
Pay one low price for a lifetime of secure cloud storage.
Image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

If you want a reliable place to keep your photos, videos and other files, try Internxt Cloud Storage’s 10TB cloud storage plan. Instead of paying Apple or Google every month for a little extra space, you can get 10TB of secure cloud storage for life for a one-time payment of $269.97.

Yeah, it costs more than any single month of Google Drive or iCloud+, but you only pay once. Take a look at what makes this cloud storage a solid investment.

Best GPS dog collar gets better with Precision+ tracking ★★★★★

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Halo Collar 5 with Precision+ review★★★★★
The Halo Collar 5 GPS dog collar added Precision+ for even more accurate tracking.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

When I first reviewed Halo Collar 5 in fall 2025, I called it “simply the best GPS dog tracker.” Imagine my surprise that it got better. Since the product launch, Halo added Precision+, which makes tracking your pet even more exact.

It’s also a real benefit with Holo’s virtual fence feature.

I tested Halo Collar 5 with Precision+ added, and came away even more impressed.

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.

Leaks reveal basically everything about Beats 360 headphones

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Image that purports to show Beats 360 over-ear headphones, as leaked on Amazon UK and other shopping sites
Is this the next pair of Beats headphones?
Image: Reddit

Fresh leaks apparently revealed practically everything there is to know about Beats 360 headphones. The as-yet-unannounced headphones feature a fresh new look, with rounder ear cups than previous Beats models and a customization option that sounds both colorful and cool.

The noise-canceling headphones — which Apple looks set to pitch as great for workouts, thanks to sweat- and water-resistance — appeared briefly on various online retailers’ sites Wednesday. Multiple Reddit users spotted them before they disappeared.

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.

Today in Apple history: Apple frenemy Google goes public

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An image of the Google beta logo with the rainbow Apple logo in place of the first O
Relations between Apple and Google started strong, but quickly deteriorated.
Image: Cult of Mac

August 19: Today in Apple history: With Google IPO, an Apple frenemy goes public August 19, 2004: Google floats its initial public offering on the stock market. The Google IPO cements the company’s status as a tech giant, as founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin turn into instant billionaires.

Relations between Google and Apple are good at the time, with Apple CEO Steve Jobs serving as a mentor to the search company’s two young founders. Google’s Eric Schmidt will soon join Apple’s board of directors. However, the peace won’t last long.

How I turned my iPhone into a TV remote for my iPad

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How to make your iPhone into a TV remote for your iPad
Don't get off the couch! Your iPhone can be a TV remote for your iPad.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone can become a remote control for your iPad. It’s a convenient way to control a film or TV show playing on the tablet without having to get up off the couch.

And this doesn’t require a third-party application. All you need is Control Nearby Devices, a feature built into iOS and iPadOS.

Here’s how to do it.

Get lifetime access to this AI writing powerhouse for just $79

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Photo of UmanWrite AI writing platform running on a laptop screen beside a yellow mug and notebook, all placed on a bed
Get your own all-in-one AI writing assistant for a discounted price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

UmanWrite is an AI writing platform that generates unlimited copy, learns your writing style for personalized results and even humanizes AI drafts. 

It checks your grammar and packs AI-detection tools that make sure your final text sounds both professional and human. And you can secure lifetime access for a one-time payment of just $79 (regularly $1,799).

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.

Today in Apple history: iJustine’s 300-page iPhone bill shocks the internet

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Screenshot showing iJustine's reaction to her massive 300-page iPhone bill fueled one of the first iPhone
iJustine's reaction to her massive 300-page iPhone bill fueled one of the first iPhone "scandals."
Photo: iJustine

Aug 18: Today in Apple history: Apple's Christmas-themed 'Misunderstood' iPhone ad wins Emmy August 18, 2007: A video goes viral on YouTube when 23-year-old internet personality Justine Ezarik, aka iJustine, posts a 300-page iPhone bill mailed to her in a box by AT&T.

The video of her reaction to the outrageous bill — which lists every single action that consumed cellular data on Ezarik’s brand-new iPhone — quickly racks up 3 million views and receives extensive media coverage. (You can watch it below.)

The Ultimate AI Learning Bundle goes from ChatGPT basics to AI certification prep

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A person accessing online AI courses on a laptop while at a cafe
This comprehensive AI learning bundle is now available at a huge discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

To get the most out of artificial intelligence, you must master the fundamentals with some serious AI learning sessions. You need to know how to write a better prompt, guide an AI coding agent and more.

The Ultimate AI Learning Bundle teaches you everything you need to know to take advantage of the AI revolution. It packs five courses and 11 hours of training. And for a limited time, it costs just $24.99, down from $145.

Oops: Apple accidentally leaks 10+ unreleased devices

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Apple Store
A macOS 26.7 slipup from Apple reveals what's coming next.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple rarely lets details about unreleased products slip out ahead of schedule. But every once in a while, the company accidentally spoils its own surprises.

That’s exactly what happened with the macOS 26.7 Release Candidate, which contains references to several unreleased Apple devices, including upcoming iPhones, Macs and smart home products.

AirPods with cameras are real, and Apple just showed how they’ll work

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AirPods with cameras are real! Hello AirPods Ultra?
Apple accidentally revealed AirPods with cameras in macOS 26.7 RC.
Screenshot: Apple

A video file found in the new macOS 26.7 release candidate code gives us our first look at Apple’s upcoming AirPods with built-in infrared cameras. The video shows the AirPods Pro working in tandem with Visual Intelligence to let you save information about objects you see in the real world.

In the short demo, a man holds up a book so the AirPods’ cameras can identify its title. He then asks Siri to save it for later, showing how the IR cameras could give Apple’s earbuds a better understanding of the world around you.

Save 46% on LifeLock’s credit, dark web and breach monitoring

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A man with a dog uses a laptop, with text overlay about LifeLock Core features
GIve yourself an edge in the fight against identity theft with LifeLock Core.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

This heavily discounted LifeLock Core deal provides identity alerts, credit and dark web monitoring, recovery support and up to $1.05 million in identity theft coverage.

And right now, you can score 15 months of this trusted identity-protection service for just $99.99 (regularly $187.35).

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.

Today in Apple history: PowerBook 165 becomes Apple’s most affordable laptop

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Photo of Apple PowerBook 165, Apple's affordable laptop released in 1993.
The PowerBook 165 isn't one of Apple's most memorable laptops, but it was important nevertheless.
Photo: Mass Made Soul/CC BY-NC 4.0/Modified by Cult of Mac

August 16: Today in Apple history: PowerBook 165 becomes Apple's most affordable laptop August 16, 1993: Apple ships the PowerBook 165, a lower-cost, grayscale version of the PowerBook 165c, which was the company’s first laptop to offer a color display.

The new model lacks the most attention-grabbing feature of the 165c, but it also brings its own claim to fame. The PowerBook 165 is Apple’s most affordable laptop yet.

I love my Logitech mouse, but I finally deleted its bloated Mac app

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Logitech mouse on a wooden desk.
BetterMouse delivers powerful Logitech mouse customization without the bloat.
Photo: Unsplash

I love my Logitech MX Master 3S and MX Keys S keyboard. They are my go-to devices for my Mac. However, I don’t feel the same way about Logi Options+, Logitech’s companion app for its mice and keyboards.

The software feels unnecessarily bloated for what I need it to do. So, I replaced it with a third-party alternative called BetterMouse that’s lighter and even more feature-rich.