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Apple’s next-gen Siri could rely heavily on local AI

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Upgrading Siri with Google Gemini will be $1 billion quick fix
Apple is betting big on local AI processing.
Graphic: Apple/Google

Apple will reportedly play up the on-device AI prowess of its devices next month during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The company will supposedly highlight how its A-series and M-series chips allow AI models to run locally for better efficiency and privacy.

With Apple’s competitors aggressively pushing cloud-based AI features, the company will likely position on-device AI as a key advantage of its ecosystem throughout WWDC26.

Convert PDFs easily on your Mac with this pro tool

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Photo of a person using PDF Converter Pro on a laptop
Try out this Mac-compatible PDF editor and converter instead of the pricey Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ever been annoyed when someone sends you a PDF instead of a file you can edit? An all-in-one PDF editor like AcePDF Converter & Editor can help, and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Lifetime licenses for the Mac PDF app are on sale for $24 with code PDF20 (regularly $99.99).

When will your state let you add your ID to Apple Wallet?

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Graphic showing an Ohio digital ID over a map of the United States
Does your state support digital IDs?
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

When will you be able to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on your iPhone? In the United States, it varies by where you live. It’s not up to Apple: Each state and territory maintains a completely independent registry of drivers and identification cards, so each one must independently pass legislation and implement digital IDs.

If you live in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico or West Virginia, you can do it today. (Our guide will show you how to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet.) Otherwise, check our map and lists below to see how likely your state is to let you add your ID to Apple Wallet, and when it might happen.

How to add your ID to Apple Wallet

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Get a gorgeous ID in Apple Wallet.
Get a gorgeous ID in Apple Wallet.
Image:

In several states, Apple’s state ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watches to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets. And across the United States, you can create an Apple Digital ID based on your passport that can get you through some airport security checks. 

The day when an iPhone can completely take the place of an old-fashioned wallet remains years away, but it’s a goal Apple is working toward. Apple Pay is making progress on replacing credit cards, you can put airline tickets in the Wallet app, and the same goes for loyalty cards.

But no wallet is complete unless it can hold an ID. And that’s where Apple’s digital ID initiative comes in. Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license, state ID or federal passport to your Apple Wallet.

Detailed iOS 27 renders show Siri’s big makeover

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Apple Siri logo under construction
Apple is hard at work creating the new Siri.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple WWDC26:As Apple prepares what could be its most consequential software release in years with iOS 27 at WWDC26, we get our first real glimpse at what an overhauled Siri and other Apple Intelligence features may look like, courtesy of Bloomberg. It mocked up a bunch of illustrations in a new report Thursday.

iPhone users can now store their Arkansas driver’s license in Apple Wallet [Updated]

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Arkansas launches digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet
Your Arkansas driver’s license can go into Apple Wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Image: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration

Arkansas residents can now add their driver’s licenses and state identification cards directly to Apple Wallet, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch users to present a digital version of their ID at supported locations across the United States.

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced the rollout on Wednesday, expanding the state’s Mobile ID program that first launched in 2025. The move makes Arkansas the fifteenth U.S. state or territory to support Apple’s digital ID program.

Update: In a related note, Virginia is reportedly close to rolling out support for digital driver’s licenses and IDs.

Today in Apple history: First-gen iPad rolls out around the world

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An early iPad ad showing the tablet in portrait and landscape mode, with the words,
The iPad finally went international on this day in 2010.
Image: Apple

May 28: Today in Apple history May 28, 2010: Customers across Europe and Asia queue up to buy the iPad when the international launch date for Apple’s original tablet finally arrives.

The reason for the gap between the iPad’s U.S. launch in early April and its international debut more than a month later? Unexpectedly strong demand for the groundbreaking device.

How iPad and Mac help revitalize Cherokee language and culture

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iPad and Mac revitalize Cherokee language
Students use iPad to study the Cherokee language. They write out words and phrases in Notes and record themselves speaking them aloud to practice good pronunciation.
Photo: Apple

In the hallways of the Cherokee Immersion School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a quiet revolution is underway. Students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are learning to speak a language that fewer than 1,500 people in the world still speak fluently — and Apple technology is helping make it happen as iPad and Mac revitalize Cherokee language, the iPhone giant reported in a new feature story Thursday.

“The technology that we utilize with Apple has allowed us to take everything that we really are trying to achieve here, which is the perpetuation and the revitalization of Cherokee language and culture, and use that same technology to make it relevant to the young people that are learning here,” said Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation’s principal chief.

New Logitech mouse does its best to be comfortable to use [Review] ★★★★

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Logitech Signature Comfort Plus M850 L and MK880 Combo review★★★★
The Logitech Signature Comfort Plus M850 L mouse is also available with a keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The new Logitech Signature Comfort Plus M850 L is the company’s first-ever mouse with a palm cushion. It’s all part of making the mouse comfortable to use over the long haul. And it includes silent switches, SmartWheel scrolling and more.

It can be paired with the Signature Comfort Plus MK880 keyboard, which has its own cushion.

I tested both in my home office for this hands-on review.

Best Thunderbolt 5 docks for Macs

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Image of a MacBook connected to a dock, used to illustrate a roundup of the best Thunderbolt 5 docks for Macs. Brands listed in the image include CalDigit, iVanky, Ugreen, Anker, OWC and Wavlink.
Turn your MacBook into the ultimate one-cable desktop setup with a Thunderbolt 5 dock.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Thunderbolt 5 docks turn your humble MacBook into a full-fledged desktop workstation. They allow for a clean, one-cable setup, with support for multiple monitors, external drives and other USB-C accessories.

There are plenty of Thunderbolt docks on the market, but not all of them are created equal. If you want the fastest speeds, the right mix of ports and seamless compatibility with your Mac, these are the best Thunderbolt 5 docking stations you can buy right now.

6 ways to personalize your Mac and make it your own

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A MacBook Pro with a black and orange wallpaper and orange icons
Go all-in on a beautiful theme for your Mac.
Photo: Apple

If you learn how to personalize your Mac, you can make your computer feel like home. Every MacBook might look like a boring aluminum rectangle out of the box, but you can match any aesthetic with a few tips and tricks.

For starters, you could cover the backside with stickers or a colorful plastic case. But your work doesn’t end there. You can easily give your Mac’s desktop, app icons, desktop folders and theme colors a coordinated look.

Here’s how to customize your Mac to give it that personal touch.

Price drop: Unlock 20 top AIs for life for less than $60

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ChatPlayground AI promotional image with text
Access multiple AI apps with a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

ChatPlayground AI gives you easy access to more than 20 of the top AI models, all in one place — and all for one low price. It includes big names like ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity and Gemini, and it lets you send one prompt to multiple AIs simultaneously.

That means you can compare results to find the right AI tool for the job at hand, without jumping from one AI app to another. If you’re a heavy AI user, it will save you time as well as money. Normally $619, a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited plan is on sale now for only $59.97.

WhatsApp will soon make it easy for iPhone users to share documents with Meta AI

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A picture of WhatsApp used in a story about Meta AI now supporting document uploads in WhatsApp.
iPhone users will soon be able to summarize documents using Meta AI in WhatsApp.
Photo: WhatsApp/Cult Of Mac

WhatsApp wants to make Meta AI a lot more useful on the iPhone. To that end, Meta is working on a new feature that allows users to upload documents and get AI-powered summaries and answers right in WhatsApp.

For iPhone users, this sounds like a meaningful upgrade. Instead of switching between apps to analyze PDFs, notes, presentations or spreadsheets, users will be able to hand files directly to Meta AI without relying on another chatbot.

Apple’s handy guide explains how to ID Creator Studio apps

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An image of Apple Creator Studio app icons
Apple wants users to know how to distinguish Creator Studio apps on the Mac.
Image: Apple

An Apple support document published Tuesday helps Mac users figure out which versions of its Creator Studio apps are running on their computers. It’s something no one expected in 2026, but here we are.

Currently, Apple ships two separate versions of Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, MainStage, Motion, Compressor and Pixelmator Pro. If you happen to be a Mac owner subscribed to Apple’s Creator Studio who also uses the standalone versions of the apps in the bundle, the support document is for you.

iPhone Ultra foldable starts to come into focus

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Folding iPhone Ultra with iFun case
When folded, the iPhone Ultra may be smaller than some people expect.
Image: iFun

New images claiming to show Apple’s long-rumored “iPhone Ultra” give Apple fans what may be their best look yet at the company’s first folding iPhone. They come from a company ready with a case for the handset, even though it has yet to be announced.

If the images prove to be accurate, there’s a lot to look forward to this fall.

3 reasons to watch Widow’s Bay on Apple TV

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3 reasons to watch Widow's Bay on Apple TV
Every New England fisherman dreads the Sea Hag's embrace. And so will you.
Photo: Apple

There’s a moment in the second episode of Widow’s Bay on Apple TV when Mayor Tom Loftis, played by Emmy winner Matthew Rhys, sits in the lobby of a deeply haunted New England island inn and shares drinks and a board game with a stranger. They chat about his upbringing, his dreams for the town, his failures as a father. It sounds cozy. But it isn’t.

Something is very, very wrong with his companion — and with the room itself — and the horror creeps in so gradually and so quietly that by the time it fully lands, you realize you’ve been holding your breath. That scene, in miniature, is what Widow’s Bay is: a show that disarms you with warmth and wit before the floor drops out.

As a born-and-bred New Englander who inexplicably returned to this accursed place after 30 years away, I found the show got me pretty good. 

Add multiple high-res screens to your Mac with these new Thunderbolt 5 docks

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Kensington SD5010T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station
Kensington launched a Thunderbolt 5 docking station that supports up to three 4K monitors.
Photo: Kensington

Both Kensington and Plugable just introduced Thunderbolt 5 docks for professionals who need to add multiple high-resolution displays as well as a range of other high-speed ports.

Both the Kensington SD5010T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station and the Plugable TBT-UDH2 offer 80Gbps/120Gbps of data bandwidth. This is the kind of connectivity that consumers don’t really need but pros must have.

Apple brings back After the Whistle podcast for World Cup

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After the Whistle podcast returns for World Cup
Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe ride the World Cup roller coaster together.
Photo: Apple

Popular podcast After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe will return for a third season on June 7, Apple said Wednesday. The show, which stars Ted Lasso alum Hunt and Premier League soccer commentator Lowe, will arrive in time to cover the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We are thrilled to bring After the Whistle back for a third season,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services and health, in a press release. “Brendan and Rebecca have an incredible ability to capture the energy and passion of the World Cup. Their unique dynamic and deep love for soccer make this show an absolute can’t-miss for fans everywhere.”

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs blasts Apple as ‘caretakers’ in full-page ad

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A still from the classic Apple
Steve Jobs thought ditching ad agency Chiat/Day proved Apple had lost its creative mojo.
Photo: Apple and Chiat/Day

May 27: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs says Apple is being run by caretakers May 27, 1986: An exiled Steve Jobs takes a shot at Apple after the company ditches Chiat/Day, the ad agency that created the iconic “1984” Macintosh ad.

In a full-page ad published in The Wall Street Journal, Jobs says the move to competing ad agency BBDO shows that “caretakers,” rather than “builders,” now run Apple.

From his perspective, it confirms that the company he co-founded has lost its revolutionary spirit.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max: Great earbuds, extraordinary case [Review] ★★★★★

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Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds review★★★★★
You can tweak lots of settings on the big AMOLED screen, and also access AI Note Taker.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

There’s a well-worn law of consumer electronics: the further you push into “Pro Max” territory, the more you’re paying for marginal improvements that most people don’t need. This Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds review finds the new buds challenge that rule in an interesting way.

The earbuds inside the case are identical to those in the $169.99 Liberty 5 Pro I reviewed yesterday — same drivers, same ANC, same battery life, same call quality. What you’re paying an extra $60 for, almost entirely, is the case. But it’s a truly remarkable case.

They say Vision Pro is doomed, but I just bought one anyway

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Photo of Cult of Mac writer Graham Bower wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset with his left hand in the air performing a gesture.
If Vision Pro is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Is it weird that I just bought an Apple Vision Pro when everyone says the platform is dead? Maybe. But I have zero regrets.

I’ve always supported the underdog. I guess that’s why I became an Apple fan in the first place. Back in the ’90s, using a Mac really did feel like being part of a “cult.” We believed in the platform when no one else did. And so it is with Vision Pro. It’s actually nice to see Apple as the underdog again, because that’s how Cupertino does its best work.

Apple could finally let your iPhone play nice with Google Cast

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An AI-generated drawing of an iPhone using Google Cast to play content on a smart TV.
With iOS 27, casting from your iPhone to standard smart TVs could become as easy as using AirPlay.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

The iPhone could get a lot better at casting videos to the big screen, as Apple is reportedly working on native support for Google Cast in iOS 27. That means you could soon beam video, photos and audio to almost all smart TVs on the planet.

Apple’s AirPlay is great if you are into the Apple ecosystem, but Google Cast is almost everywhere. It’s built into nearly all smart TVs sold today, including the hotel TVs you may have struggled with during vacations. Right now, your iPhone can’t natively talk to these devices, but iOS 27 could change that.