I finally figured out the perfect set of controls to assign to the iPhone’s Action button. I created a shortcut that cleverly combines the two controls I want to use it for.

The Action button can toggle the flashlight, mute audio, toggle an accessibility feature, open the camera, start translation, run any shortcut of your choosing and more. It’s so open-ended that figuring out what to use it for can trigger decision fatigue. 

Don’t panic — I discovered what you should use the iPhone’s action button for. And I’m sharing the shortcut, which combines two actions into one elegant system, so you can use it, too. 

When Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler gave ChatGPT access to a decade of his Apple Watch data, he expected useful insights. Instead, the AI delivered wildly inconsistent health assessments that left him questioning the readiness of AI-powered health tools.

Apple will introduce a new privacy feature in iOS 26.3 exclusive to iPhones with its C1x or C1 modems. The feature will prevent cellular carriers from seeing iPhone owners’ precise location data.

“With the limit precise location setting, you can limit some information that cellular networks may use to determine your location,” says Apple in its support document.

Apple made the third betas of iOS 26.3 and macOS 26.3 available to developers on Monday. This comes two weeks after the second round, double the usual time between new versions. 

The same goes for iPadOS 26.3 beta 3, watchOS 26.3 beta 3, tvOS 26.3 beta 3 and visionOS 26.3 beta 3.

On the latest Cult of Mac podcast: Details emerge about Apple’s work on an AI pin, and we’re all wondering the same thing. What the heck will it do?

The AirTag-size device that Apple’s testing reportedly packs multiple cameras and microphones. And it will work with the new, chatbot-style Siri that’s also in the works.

We all saw how miserably Humane’s Ai Pin failed. What could possibly go wrong with Apple’s AI pin?

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

• We might get our first look at (and first earful of) the new, super-chatty Siri at WWDC26 in June. Please, for the love of all that’s holy, let’s hope it works (and that it ships in a timely fashion).
• Uh-oh. It looks like price hikes for iPhones and Macs might be in the works. Who can you blame? AI, of course.
• Griffin walks us through the benefits of using Hot Corners on your Mac, including some masterful techniques that simplify his workflow.
• And we wrap up the show with a look at some cool setups that show the importance of lighting.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

There’s a fresh round of system software updates for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch on Monday. Apple released iOS 26.2.1, iPadOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 to support AirTag 2, a tracker tag also introduced on Monday.

Note that Mac users didn’t get an equivalent macOS 26.2.1 update — likely because Macs and AirTags aren’t truly intended to be used together.

If you want to install a beta version of macOS, either for software development or for simply poking around, the smartest way to do it is to partition your Mac’s hard drive. That will create a new storage area just for the different installation, with entirely separate data, so none of your precious documents are at risk.

You also might want to have different versions of macOS on hand for testing old versions of the operating system, too. It’s easier than keeping a pile of aging Macs around (my go-to strategy).

Luckily, the Mac comes with a very handy tool to partition your hard drive for free. Read on to find out how to partition your Mac’s hard drive with Disk Utility.

January 26, 2016: After nine years of spectacular growth, iPhone sales flatline for the first time. Some observers say the sales plateau means that “peak iPhone” has finally arrived.

Numbers posted by Apple show that during the final three months of 2015, iPhone sales grew by only 0.4%. The crucial holiday season sales compare quite unfavorably with the 46% jump recorded during the same period a year earlier.

While the AirTag is a handy tool to keep track of things like your car keys or luggage, there are things that Apple’s tracking tag isn’t designed to keep tabs on, such as a wallet or your office card key. That’s precisely why the KeySmart SmartCard wallet tracker makes a terrific addition to your tech arsenal.

Like the AirTag, the SmartCard works seamlessly with Apple’s Find My app. Unlike the bulkier AirTag, the SmartCard’s discreet form factor ensures it can be tucked away easily. The tracker’s ultra-slim, credit-card-like design makes it incredibly easy to fit into tight wallet slots, small compartments or the narrowest of pockets. Plus, it’s rechargeable!

For a limited time, you can get a KeySmart SmartCard for just $29.97.

The new Apple Watch Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop honors Black History Month, coming up in February, while celebrating themes of human connection and community bonds, Apple said Monday.

Apple launched the second-generation AirTag on Monday, upgrading the tracking tag with a new Ultra Wideband chip and improved Bluetooth connectivity so it can be located from much farther away. Apple also built in a louder speaker.

Like its predecessor, you can use AirTag 2 to find lost items — and get reminders if you inadvertently leave items behind.

Apple’s M5-powered Macs might have a short shelf life, with the M6 chip possibly debuting “in the near future,” according to a new report. 

But first, Apple will unveil MacBook Pros, Mac Studio and MacBook Air equipped with the M5 chip in the first half of 2026.

Apple’s attempt to keep online advertisers from tracking Safari users had the unintended effect of completely throwing off reporting on iOS 26 adoption.

Rather than only a small percentage of iPhone users installing some version of Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 26 adoption is only a bit below average.

January 25, 1996: Rumors circulate that Sun Microsystems is in talks to acquire Apple.

With Sun at the peak of its power, and Cupertino struggling, the rumored $3.89 billion deal would see Apple snapped up for between $5 and $6 a share.

Finding good AI tools isn’t the problem. Even the free version of ChatGPT can do a lot. The real frustration is that if you want good results for generating copy, creating images, transcribing text and doing a myriad of other AI tasks, you often need a whole pile of subscriptions, and those costs add up. The alternative is to get an all-in-one tool that brings top AI models together in one interface. Enter 1minAI.

The major benefits of 1minAI are organizational and financial. It gives you access to ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, Llama, Mistral AI and more. So you get all your AI tools in one place, and you don’t need to pay for a subscription to each one separately. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime sub to 1minAI for just $24.97.

Apple could take the wraps off the Google Gemini-powered Siri update as early as the second half of February. It’s unclear if Apple will hold a major event or a small media briefing to unveil the next-gen assistant.

The public release likely will happen in late March or early April with iOS 26.4.

If you want to make your iPhone easier to use, you can customize its Control Center to gain faster access to the buttons and toggles you rely upon to perform frequent tasks.

Plus, you can remove all the junk you never touch from the iPhone Contol Center, putting the vital controls you actually use front and center.

Keep reading to find out how and why you should customize the iPhone Control Center to make the device your own.

January 24, 1984: Apple ships its first Mac, the mighty Macintosh 128K.

Bringing a mouse and graphical user interface to the masses, and heralded by an acclaimed Super Bowl commercial that’s still talked about today, the first-gen Mac will quickly become one of the most important personal computers ever released.

MacPaw’s CleanMy®Phone app frees up storage space on your iPhone by scanning for duplicate photos, massive videos, screenshots you forgot about and other silent space-eaters.

CleanMy®Phone offers a smarter, more Apple-like way to take control of your storage on your iPhone or iPad. And one year of access is on sale for just $19.99 (MSRP $44.99) for a limited time. (Alternatively, you can grab a lifetime sub for just $59.99.)

Apple Cash’s updated fee structure will make instant transfer pricier for users who want quick access to their money. The change goes into effect in less than a month from now, on February 18, 2026. 

From that day, Apple will charge a 1.7% fee for an Instant Transfer.

The Headway app serves up daily 15-minute book summaries that deliver a wealth of insights from nonfiction bestsellers. It’s a fast, easy and fun way to learn from thought leaders.

And now, you can save on this excellent service that will turbocharge your brain. Get a lifetime subscription to the premium version of the Headway app for just $39.99 with discount code SUMMARY20.

Nothing illustrates the power of Apple’s ecosystem like the Continuity features that help your Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch work seamlessly together.

Thanks to Continuity, your iPhone can serve as your Mac’s webcam — and you can remotely control your iPhone from your Mac. You can start an email on one device and instantly pick it up on another. You can use the same keyboard and mouse with a Mac and iPad, copy and paste across devices and more. 

These features flex the power of Apple’s hardware and software — and they would never be possible on a PC.

In this post (and the accompanying video), I will show you some of the time-saving, annoyance-busting Continuity features you can enjoy when you go all-in on the Apple ecosystem.

After Apple invited a select group of content creators to an “Apple Experience” in Los Angeles, speculation arose Friday that the company will use the event to launch an upgraded MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors.

Appel scheduled its mysterious event for January 27 through January 29 — exactly the time many expect the refreshed Mac laptop to arrive.

January 23, 1985: Apple introduces The Macintosh Office, a combination of hardware and software that represents the company’s first real attempt at cracking the business market dominated by IBM.

Macintosh Office allows Macs to talk to one another. And Apple introduces amazing new devices like the LaserWriter printer that work with the business-oriented platform. Sadly, things won’t work out quite as Apple hopes.

As a major winter storm barrels across the United States this weekend, iPhone users have once again noticed something peculiar. Well ahead of the actual precipitation, Apple’s Weather app seems to predict wildly different snowfall totals from day to day. It might forecast 18 inches of snow one day, then drop that to 8 inches the next. What’s up with how weather apps mislead users? A new report sheds some light.