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Apple raises Mac, iPad prices — over a shortage it may have caused

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Micron exec hints Apple helped create the chip shortage
There's a global shortage of memory chips. But whose fault is that?
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Macs and iPads just got a lot more expensive overnight, with prices jumping 15% to 20%. Apple says a global memory chip shortage forced its hand, but a top executive at one of its own memory chip suppliers hinted Apple may have helped create that shortage in the first place.

What makes this interesting is the timing: a Micron executive’s pushback on memory prices lands right as Apple blames the memory shortage for its price hikes. So who is really to blame? Here’s what’s going on.

Today in Apple history: The App Store gold rush begins

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Image of a hand holding an iPhone with app icons in the background, used to illustrate a story about App Store reaching 15 billion downloads
Apple started accepting App Store submissions on this day in 2008.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

June 26: Today in Apple history: The App Store gold rush begins June 26, 2008: A year after the first iPhone was released, Apple sends an email to developers calling for smartphone software to be distributed in the forthcoming App Store.

Coders around the world greet the news with excitement. They hurry to submit their iPhone apps and get in on the looming App Store gold rush. Many rake in small fortunes when the App Store goes live less than a month later.

Travel for less: This AI app sets you up with cheap flights, hotels and rental cars for life

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Take $30 off this AI travel app to get cheap flights and more for life.
Save on all your travel needs with a lifetime sub to OneAir.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Airfare is getting more expensive, and those prices won’t improve during peak travel times. With one of the best AI flight scanners on the market, and exclusive prenegotiated travel deals, OneAir’s Elite plan stands apart from the pack. It’s an AI travel app that can help you save on flights, hotels and rental cars for life.

And thanks to a limited-time sale, you can get a lifetime membership to OneAir Elite for just $99.99. That’s an 87% discount off the regular price of $790.

What does Siri AI mean for your old HomePod?

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Why HomePod and HomePod mini miss out on Siri AI
Will the conversational Siri AI come to your current HomePod?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation version of its voice assistant, might push everyone’s HomePods toward obsolescence. Technology is moving on, apparently leaving these smart speakers behind.

Still, the devices aren’t about to become rubbish. They’ll just miss out on some of the new Apple Intelligence features. Here’s what’s going on.

Most beautiful Mac setups: Symmetry, style and serious desk envy

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Most beautiful Mac setups - symmetrical setup with Mac Studio
A user joked that this setup is so clean it looks like artificial intelligence generated the image.
Photo: [email protected]

Among the thousands of Mac setups posted to social media each year, a small subset earns a reaction that’s different from the usual approving nod or dismissive scowl. These are the ones that make commenters stop mid-scroll and type something. “Peak coziness.” “Oozes good taste.” “This looks AI-generated.” Cult of Mac has featured hundreds of genuinely attractive workstations over several years, but the ones below stand apart as the most beautiful Mac setups.

Apple’s refurbished M5 Pro MacBook Pros soften the blow of price hike

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Refurbished M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are now available from Apple.
Buy a refurbished M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro to save money.
AI image: ChatGPT

Just a day after Apple raised Mac prices across the board, the company started selling refurbished M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models through its Certified Refurbished online store. Select configurations are already available to purchase.

Depending on the model, buying refurbished can save you up to $480 compared to the higher new retail price.

Expect to pay a whole lot more for a next-gen iPhone

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Analyst predicts iPhone price increases are coming
An analyst predicts the iPhone 18 Pro Max will cost much more than previously expected.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple hiked prices on Mac, iPad and more on Thursday, but not handsets — all iPhone models still cost what they did before. But an analyst warns that we should expect the iPhone models coming in the fall to cost significantly more than the current ones. That’s especially true for the iPhone Ultra.

Even so, the analyst anticipates strong iPhone sales this fall. Here’s why.

Leaker claims health-tracking Apple ‘iRing’ now in development

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Apple 'iRing' is in development
Here's an Apple Ring concept image.
Photo: Concept: Victor Soto/BluePoly

Apple may soon enter the smart ring market, if a new leak is to be believed. Prolific Apple leaker Kosutami dropped a brief but striking post to that effect Wednesday, saying a health-tracking Apple ‘iRing’ is in development.

The disclosure marks the first credible insider signal that Apple actively builds a smart ring — rather than merely exploring the idea on paper, as it started doing years ago.

Apple price hikes on Mac and iPad make Amazon Prime Day deals even better

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Apple price increases versus Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day takes some of the sting out of Apple price increases.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple substantially increased prices on Macs and iPads on Thursday, but those hikes haven’t affected the Amazon Prime Day deals. So if you might buy a Mac anytime soon, you really need to consider shopping on Amazon now.

Wait and you could end up paying a lot more later.

macOS security flaw lets hackers disable Mac protection tools without a password

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A photo showing macOS used in a story about a newly discovered macOS security flaw.
The flaw exploits how macOS apps establish trust with background services.
Photo: XM Cyber

Security researchers have disclosed a new macOS flaw that lets attackers shut down your security software after getting onto your machine — no admin password, no kernel exploit, and almost no trace left behind.

The attack takes advantage of how macOS apps earn each other’s trust, and if you use a Mac at work, it is exactly the type of thing your IT needs to know about.

Apple plans for iPhone Ultra 2, plays wait and see on iPhone Air 3

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Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2
This foldable iPhone concept gives at least some idea about what subsequent generations could look like in fully open form.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple has already approved development of its second-generation foldable iPhone — before the first one even hits store shelves — while the future of the ultra-thin iPhone Air line stays up in the air, a prominent leaker said Thursday. So while Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2, sales worries may delay or even kill off iPhone Air 3.

Today in Apple history: Bill Gates urges Apple to license Mac OS

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Bill-Gates_Ideas-into-Money
Bill Gates took this strategy and made himself a multibillionaire.
Photo: Fulvio Obregon

June 25: Today in Apple history: Bill Gates urges Apple to license Mac OS June 25, 1985: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates sends a memo to Apple execs suggesting that Cupertino should license its Mac operating system and additional technology to other companies.

Apple CEO John Sculley and Macintosh boss Jean Louis Gassée ignore the advice of the 30-year-old Gates, who at the time is best known as a Mac developer. Five months later, Microsoft releases Windows 1.0.

Score 20TB of cloud storage for life

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Photo of person accessing Internxt cloud storage on an iPhone.
Get 20TB of cloud storage for life with this hugely discounted subscription!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This sale drops the price of a massive 20TB of Internxt cloud storage to less than $500 — for life! Just pay once, and you’ll never need to worry about juggling files between devices.

It’s a simple solution to a modern problem, without the usual monthly fee. Jump on this deal now to secure a 20TB lifetime subscription, which usually costs $4,900, for just $499.99.

Ouch: Apple’s Mac and iPad price hikes are brutal

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CEO Tim Cook said price increases were coming — now Apple is making them
CEO Tim Cook said price increases were coming — now Apple is making them
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

As CEO Tim Cook warned a few days ago, Apple raised prices of Mac, iPad, HomePod and Apple TV 4K on Thursday. The changes take effect immediately, with most devices now costing $50 to $100 more. But other hikes are even higher.

That said, Apple left iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods prices unchanged. For now, anyway.

Apple bets its 2026 lineup on just two display makers

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A photo of the iPhone 17 Pro used in a story about Apple's 2026 OLED products.
Every OLED screen in Apple's fall lineup is reportedly coming from just two companies.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first foldable iPhone could be about to get off the assembly line, and so is the much rumored OLED iPad mini and OLED MacBook Pro. And every single panel inside them might come from just two South Korean companies, which presents a major supply-chain risk for Apple.

If you are planning to buy any of these products, that’s worth knowing. Reportedly, Samsung Display and LG Display are said to be supplying 100% of the OLED panels for Apple’s upcoming 2026 lineup, with China’s BOE — a display giant that reportedly fumbled production of previous iPhone screens — shut out completely.

Foldable iPhone hinge woes appear resolved ahead of likely September debut

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Photo of a folding Android device, used to illustrate a story about a rumored liquid metal hinge for the first folding iPhone
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone.
Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License

After months of swirling concern over hinge reliability, Apple’s long-anticipated foldable iPhone, aka iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, now looks to be on solid footing for a fall launch, according to a new supply chain report Wednesday.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 arrives with glorious Retina display

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iPhone4
The iPhone 4 marked the culmination of Steve Jobs' career at Apple.
Photo: Apple

June 24: Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 arrives with glorious Retina display June 24, 2010:. The iPhone 4 release date finally arrives, bringing a sleeker design, a new video telephony service called FaceTime and a gorgeous Retina display. Simply put, it’s a stunning smartphone.

While history may remember the device for the “Antennagate” scandal caused by that new design, it is otherwise a fantastic upgrade over the iPhone 3GS. In its first weekend, Apple will sell 1.7 million iPhone 4 handsets. That’s a major triumph for Cupertino.

How you might be able to skip the waitlist and get the new Siri AI early

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Get The New Siri AI
It’s about damn time.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can get the new Siri AI right now on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. All you have to do is update to the iOS 27 developer beta release.

You’ll get access to the smarter, conversational and agentic Siri. It really does seem to be everything Apple promised.

You’ll also get the other Apple Intelligence features: generating Shortcuts and Safari extensions, extensive photo editing tools, realistic generation in Image Playground, systemwide proofreading and much more.

Be warned — to get the hottest feature, Siri AI, there’s another waitlist. You should hop on as early as you can. You might even be able to skip the long wait time — there’s an unconfirmed method people are trying out. Here’s how.

How to file Apple bug reports (and why you should do it ASAP)

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Apple Bug Report graphic
There are unspoken rules and tricks to getting your bug reports fixed.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

June is the best time of year to give feedback to Apple on betas for iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch. Just after the company releases the initial betas of its upcoming software updates, this is when Apple engineers have the most time to address bugs and make changes. And that makes this the optimal time to file an Apple bug report.

It won’t be long before Apple engineers’ task lists fill up through the fall, when the new software will be released. After that, teams are rearranged to make the sprint toward the next year’s updates. So if you have any input, you’d best make yourself heard now.

How do you file a bug report or send in feedback to Apple? Apple made a tool called Feedback Assistant that will guide you through the process. It’s available if you’re running a developer or a public beta of iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS. Here’s how.

AirPort Utility is leaving the App Store — here’s what it means for your old router

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A photo of Apple's AirPort Utility app used in a story about the app's removal from the App Store with iOS 27.
AirPort Utility, first released more than a decade ago, hasn't been updated since years.
Photo: Apple

The AirPort Utility app, which has been available for Apple devices since the mid-2000s, is going away. Buried in iOS 27 and macOS 27 beta 2 release notes, Apple says it is removing the app that lets anyone configure an AirPort router from the App Store.

If you are still using an AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express or Time Capsule with your home Wi-Fi, this is your warning. Once the app disappears, new users won’t be able to download it again from the App Store. Even if it’s already on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, Apple says it will stop working the moment you update to iOS 27 or macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Google makes joining Meet calls easier on iPhone

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Join Meet calls without installing any additional apps.
Join Meet calls without installing any additional apps.
AI image: ChatGPT

iPhone users can now join Google Meet calls directly from Safari without installing any additional apps. While it’s a small change, it makes joining Meet calls easier and more convenient.

You don’t even need a Google account to join a Meet call. Simply enter your name and request access to join the meeting.

iOS 27 adds two painfully missing features to RCS messaging

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A photo of iMessage used in a story about iOS 27 bringing two RCS fixes for the iPhone.
iOS 27 RCS improvements are bringing Android texts a lot closer to iMessage.
Photo: Apple

Your iPhone just stopped being the awkward one in the group chat. Buried deep inside iOS 27 beta 2 are two small RCS fixes that solve some of the biggest quirks that made “green-bubble” chats between iPhone and Android users feel half-baked for years.

If you have ever tapped a heart on a photo your Android friend sent, your iPhone has likely announced to the entire thread that you “loved an image” instead of simply showing a heart. But with iOS 27 beta 2, your reactions show up as they should.

Eddy Cue wins 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year award

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Eddy Cue wins 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year
Cannes Lions CEO Simon Cook presented Cue with the award.
Photo: Apple

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services and health, walked away from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France on Saturday with one of the industry’s most coveted individual honors: the 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year award. It’s a big win for the person in charge of Apple TV.