The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has won a temporary pause on an order requiring it to respond to Apple’s requests for documents from 14 federal agencies, reports 9to5Mac.

In July the DoJ asked a federal court to reconsider a recent ruling that would allow the tech giant to to seek documents from 14 separate government agencies in the antitrust case against the company. Earlier that month it was reported that Apple had won a discovery fight in their ongoing 2024 Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit, successfully blocking subpoenas they issued to 14 federal agencies—including the CIA, FBI, and NASA—that sought internal documents on how these agencies evaluate and purchase smartphones.

The subpoenas served to federal agencies were ruled overbroad and too burdensome, particularly because many requested documents involve classified or privileged material. 

Then the DOJ, backed by declarations from officials at several federal agencies and offices, asked Judge Jose Linares to reconsider that decision. Notably, neither the Commerce Department nor the FTC submitted a declaration.

In its motion, the DOJ argued that Linares applied the wrong legal standard by treating the agencies as parties to the case rather than non-parties entitled to greater protection from discovery.

n a decision issued earlier today, Linares granted the DOJ’s bid to pause the discovery order while District Judge Julien Neals considers the government’s appeal over whether it can be required to respond to Apple’s discovery requests for documents, notes 9to5Mac.

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Apple has announced that developers can now download the Xcode 27 Release Candidate and submit apps and games built with the latest SDKs [software development kits] for approval for apps for the upcoming operating system updates. 

macOS 27 Golden Gate, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 will launch on Monday, September 14. Apple says that starting April 2027, apps and games uploaded to App Store Connect need to meet the following minimum requirements:

• iOS and iPadOS apps must be built with the iOS 27 & iPadOS 27 SDK or later
• tvOS apps must be built with the tvOS 27 SDK or later
• visionOS apps must be built with the visionOS 27 SDK or later
• watchOS apps must be built with the watchOS 27 SDK or later

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“Last Seen,” a new Australian thriller starring Gotham Award winner Patrick Brammall, is now streaming on Apple TV.

Produced by 60Forty Films, the drama is adapted by writer and executive producer Kris Mrksa from CWA John Creasey Dagger Award-winning author Ryan David Jahn’s book, “The Dispatcher.” 

Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Christian Schwochow directs and executive produces the series, which is entirely set and filmed in Victoria, Australia. “Last Seen” has debuted with two episodes, followed by a new episode every Wednesday until October 7.

Here’s how the series is described: Police detective Ian Ridley’s (Brammall) life fell apart 11 years ago when his young daughter, Maggie, disappeared without a trace. Now working as a police dispatcher, the only thing that has kept him going is his implacable refusal to accept that she might be gone forever. When he receives a distress call from a teenage girl he is certain is Maggie, he will stop at nothing to find her and reunite his broken family, whatever the cost.

In addition to Brammall (“Colin from Accounts,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Evil”), the series also stars Maxine Peake (“Say Nothing,” “Black Mirror”), Brendan Cowell (“Dune: Prophecy,” “Plum”), Daniel Henshall (“Mickey 17,” “How to Make Gravy”), Zahra Newman (“Thirteen Lives,” “Addition”), Jessica Wren (“Mr Inbetween,” “Devil’s Playground”), Tobias Muhafidin (“Bali 2002”) and newcomer Chloe Jean Lourdes.

About Apple TV

Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $14.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. 

For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

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According to NoteBookCheck, though Apple stopped short of specifying the exact node, Apple’s A20 Pro — introduced at yesterday’s “Surprise and Shine” event — has long been rumored to use TSMC’s base N2 process, while competing offerings such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro are expected to adopt the more advanced N2P node.

As noted by TrendForce, Tom’s Hardware further explains that Apple’s first 2nm chip overall is the M6, unveiled in August. Sharing some of the M6’s architecture, the A20 Pro reportedly features dual neural engines as well as new CPU and GPU cores.

The report adds that A20 Pro packs a six-core CPU with two performance cores that are 20% faster than the previous generation, plus four efficiency cores with neural accelerators, as Apple calls it a “desktop-class” processor and the fastest smartphone CPU.

According to Tom’s Hardware, its seven-core GPU delivers a 40% generational performance boost, with higher bandwidth and new neural accelerators that enable up to 2x faster FP8 compute. The two neural engines pack 32 cores in total, while memory bandwidth reportedly jumps 50% to what Apple calls the widest memory interface in an iPhone.

Beyond the chip itself, Apple has also revamped the A20 Pro’s packaging. The new approach places the silicon and memory dies side by side, keeping memory out of the SoC’s thermal path and allowing the dies to connect directly to the vapor chamber.

The redesigned chamber has three times the surface area of the iPhone 17 Pro, helping Apple achieve up to 40% higher sustained performance than the 17 Pro and twice that of the 16 Pro, according to MacRumors.

On the other hand, while Apple has unveiled its C2 modem to reduce the company’s reliance on Qualcomm, MacRumors points out that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may use different modems, at least in the U.S.

Apple’s technical specifications page lists its C2 modem for the iPhone 18 Pro, but does not specify a modem for the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the report notes, adding that pre-launch reports suggested that some iPhones could continue to use Qualcomm modems. With the C2 also powering the iPhone Duo, supply constraints could be one possible explanation, according to the report.

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There will be a daily usage limit for Siri AI — coming on Monday with iOS 27 — with expanded access available for a fee in the future.

In Apple’s announcement of the Health Sensing features of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, the company notes there will be usage limits on ‌Siri‌ AI, intelligent photo editing tools, Image Playground, and Apple Foundation Cloud models in the Shortcuts app.

From the announcement: Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, intelligent photo editing tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future.

Apple hasn’t provided details on what the fee will be or how it will be charged. However, at June’s Worldwide Developer Conference, the company said that higher iCloud+ tiers will include expanded access to the limited Apple Intelligence features.

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Apple has announced the  AppleCare One Family for U.S. customers. It extends ‌AppleCare‌ coverage to every eligible device across an Apple Family Sharing group of up to six people for a monthly price.

“AppleCare One Family covers every eligible device for up to six people,” Apple says. “After you sign up, easily add devices straight from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, including most devices less than four years old and in good working condition.” Apple also mentions that “new devices are automatically added, and the price stays the same.”

AppleCare One is available now for $49.99 per month. This includes:

• All AppleCare+ benefits, with theft and loss coverage for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
• Covers devices for up to six people in your Family Sharing group, including yourself.
• Six total claims per year with Family.

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Since I can’t cover everything, here are some recommended articles from some other neat sites:

° From AppleInsider: Apple has produced a series of videos for developers showing how their apps will look on the iPhone Duo, and without modification, they could look really ugly.

° From 9to5Mac: Apple has updated its trade-in values. Ironically, it lowers the values for iPhones while increasing them for iPads and most Macs. 

° From Macworld: We weren’t expecting much. But Apple managed to spring a few pleasant surprises when announcing its new watches.

° From Inc.: India’s Reliance Jio has introduced a new pricing structure for rich communication services (RCS) business messaging, allowing brands to send marketing, transactional and one-time password (OTP) messages to iPhone users on its network.

° From MacRumors: Despite rumors of an increase in thickness, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the same physical dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It is 163.4mm x 78mm x 8.75mm, but it did get 16 grams heavier.

° From MacVoices Live!: On the new episode, the MacVoices Live! examines Apple’s transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus, weighing Cook’s legacy, Apple’s dramatic financial growth, Vision Pro, and criticism of his tenure. 

The post News items you should check out: September 10 appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 Golden Gate will arrive on September 14 with iOS 27 — and likely iPadOS 17. tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27.

macOS Golden Gate was formally announced at WWDC on June 8, 2026. Apple said that the operating system update focuses on refining features introduced in the previous release based on user feedback.You can read all about macOS Golden Gate here. 

There’s still time for some last minute tweaking, apparently. Apple has rolled out release candidates for those operating systems. A release candidate (RC), also known as gamma testing or “going silver,” is a beta version with the potential to be a stable product, which is ready to release unless significant bugs emerge.

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As expected, Apple debuted the first foldable iPhone today. But it’s not an “iPhone Fold” or an “iPhone Ultra.” It’s the “iPhone Duo.”

Opened, it’s the thinnest iPhone ever, with a 7.6-inch inner display that’s the largest ever screen on an Apple smartphone. It packs a special nano-texture finish that minimizes glare. Closed, the 5.4-inch outer display delivers 90% of the screen area of iPhone 18 Pro in a “pocketable” design. Both displays share the same aspect ratio, so content scales proportionally; Apple says this ensures visual continuity. 

Apple CEO John Ternus says the iPhone Duo has an innovative hardware design and a precision hinge “that offers a smooth, satisfying feel with every use.” Powered by the new A20 Pro, iPhone Duo features an advanced thermal management system with a custom-designed vapor chamber and a dual-battery architecture.

Beneath the inner display, a new FaceTime camera stays hidden when not in use to keep the screen uninterrupted. The displays also feature ProMotion, Always On, and 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Later this year, iPhone Duo will support Apple Pencil with USB-C, allowing users to take notes, sketch, or mark up documents on either display.

Touch ID is integrated into the side button for authentication whether the smartphone is open or closed. Users can also unlock the iPhone Duo using their Apple Watch. The design also features Camera Control to quickly launch the camera, including the brand-new Siri Camera mode, which lets Siri see what the user sees to answer questions and take action.

The iPhone Duo is crafted from grade 5 titanium with an enclosure that has a mirror-polished finish and a 3D-printed hinge cover with a contrasting micro-blasted finish. Ceramic Shield protects the back of iPhone Duo, and Ceramic Shield 2 on the front has 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation, according to Apple.

The iPhone Duo is also splash-, water-, and dust-resistant with an IP68 rating. The hinge is engineered from more than 100 components to control opening and closing and support the center of the display. Internally, support ribs reinforce the structure for added stiffness, while antenna splits with ceramic fiber inserts.

The inner display is designed with a scratch-resistant coating and a nano-textured cover layer that’s made from a custom polymer that purportedly has up to 40% higher stiffness than other materials used in the industry. High-strength glass sits above and below the folding display panel, with custom adhesives that allow the layers to glide past one another like the pages of a book relieving bend stress, and a titanium plate at the bottom further enhances durability, according to Apple.

With the iPhone Duo’s 48MP Fusion Main camera, users can shoot sharp photos at up to 48MP resolution, capture in the 24MP default, and get closer to the subject with an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto. 

The 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera — the same as on iPhone 18 Pro models — captures wider fields of view and enables macro photography, while the Center Stage front camera can automatically take photos and videos in any orientation, so users don’t have to rotate iPhone for landscape selfies. Under the inner display, a new FaceTime camera helps users connect with friends and family whether the iPhone Duo is held open or propped on a surface for hands-free calls.

Apple says the foldable design with dual displays unlocks camera experiences that are not possible on any other iPhone. To wit:

• With Smart Take, users no longer miss out on being in the photo because they are behind the shutter or racing to beat a timer. On-device AI models running on A20 Pro analyze the scene in real time and automatically capture photos when subjects are posing.
• Users can take a selfie with the higher-resolution rear cameras and preview their shot on the outer display.
• Duo Preview shows the live preview on the outer display, helping subjects pose, check their framing, and guide the shot.
• Kid Cue plays animations from Peanuts on the outer display to grab the attention of children so they look at the camera.
• Duo FaceTime lets people who are with the user join a video call on the outer display, so everyone can share the moment without crowding around one screen.

The iPhone Duo supports 4K120 fps recording in Dolby Vision on the 48MP Fusion Main camera. Users can now apply Cinematic effects after capture at up to 60 fps, and Audio Mix introduces new algorithms that deliver higher-quality voices and can now isolate music. Time-lapse supports 4K in Dolby Vision HDR, and users can prop iPhone Duo up without needing a tripod to easily capture longer-duration videos.

The foldable iPhone has apps especially designed for it. Developers can adapt their apps using new application programming interfaces in the latest software developer kits and upcoming support for iPhone Duo in Device Hub in Xcode.

Pricing and Availability

• The iPhone Duo is available in star white and night sky, and starts at US$1,999, or $83.29 per month for 24 months, in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities.
• Apple Upgrade, a leasing program provided by Klarna and available in the U.S., gives eligible customers monthly payment options for iPhone Duo, with 12- and 24-month leasing terms starting as low as $57.99per month for 24 months. For more information, visit apple.com/shop/apple-upgrade.14
• Customers in more than 70 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, the U.S., and Vietnam, will be able to pre-order iPhone Duo beginning at 5 a.m. PT on Friday, October 16, with availability beginning Friday, October 23. The iPhone Duo will be available in 28 other countries and regions beginning Friday, October 30.
• The iPhone Duo Case will be available for $79 in navy blue and sand, and the iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand will be available for $129 in navy blue and taupe. iPhone Duo Case and iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand will be available to order beginning Friday, October 16.
• The iPhone Duo will be available with iOS 27.1. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
• Apple Intelligence will be available with iOS 27 on Monday, September 14, for users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language. Apple Intelligence is available with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see apple.com/apple-intelligence.
• Siri AI is rolling out with iOS 27 as a beta on Monday, September 14, for users with a supported device set to English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages.

I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Almost all our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support. 

The post Apple’s first foldable iPhone isn’t the ‘iPhone Fold’ or ‘iPhone Ultra’; it’s the ‘iPhone Duo’ appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has introduced the Apple Watch Series 12, engineered with advanced health sensors and new Apple silicon to deliver what the company says is the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, and advanced health and fitness features.

With the new Health Sensing System and S11 chip, Apple Watch Series 12 delivers higher-frequency heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements, which power an enhanced suite of health and fitness features including a new readiness score. A redesigned Health app on iPhone arrives later this year, including a new Longevity tab with a Health Age feature showing how metrics are tracking relative to a user’s age. 

In addition to powering the Health Sensing System, the S11 chip — Apple’s most powerful wearable chip — also enables new Audio Intelligence features arriving later this year, to help users remember key moments from their conversations and stay alert to important sounds, built with privacy, security, and accessibility innovations at the core, said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Apple Watch Product Marketing. With watchOS 27, Apple Intelligence powers Siri AI on the Apple Watch.

You can read more here. 

Pricing and availability 

• Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, the U.S., and more than 50 other countries and regions can pre-order Apple Watch Series 12 today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18.
• Apple Watch Series 12 starts at US$399.
• New Apple Watch bands will be available to order today from apple.com/store and on the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18.
• watchOS 27 will be available for Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later on Monday, September 14, and requires iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) with iOS 27 or later. Not all features are available on all devices or in all regions. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
• Apple Intelligence will be available with watchOS 27 on Monday, September 14, for users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language. Apple Intelligence is available with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see apple.com/apple-intelligence.
• Siri AI is rolling out with watchOS 27 as a beta on Monday, September 14, for users with a supported device set to English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages.
• New subscribers may get three months of Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music with the purchase of Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch SE 3, or Apple Watch Ultra 4. Offer and service availability varies by region. See apple.com/promo for details.23

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The post The Apple Watch Series 12 has new health sensors and new Apple silicon appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which boasts new, advanced health and fitness features, and longer battery life.

Engineered with the new Health Sensing System and S11 chip, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 delivers the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, higher-frequency heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements, and a new readiness score to support athletes of all kinds, said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Apple Watch Product Marketing. It also offers extended battery life to track outdoor workouts for up to 45 hours and “the most accurate on-device GPS in a sports watch,” Apple says. 

A redesigned Health app on iPhone arrives later this year, including a new Longevity tab with a Health Age feature showing how metrics are tracking relative to a user’s age. In addition to powering the Health Sensing System, the S11 chip — Apple’s most powerful wearable chip — enables new Audio Intelligence features arriving later this year, to help users remember key moments from their conversations and stay alert to important sounds, built with privacy, security, and accessibility innovations at the core.

With watchOS 27, Apple Intelligence powers Siri AI on Apple Watch, bringing personal context understanding and broad world knowledge to the wrist, Drance says. These features add to the ways the Apple Watch Ultra already supports users with advanced workout tracking across activities, sleep tracking, powerful health features like heart health notifications and the ECG app, and safety capabilities like satellite communications.

Apple says that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 also offers the most accurate step tracking of any smartwatch. Charging is now faster than ever; just 15 minutes adds up to 18 hours of additional battery life.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 also supports Audio Intelligence with these features:

• Sound Recognition, which comes to Apple Watch to alert users who are deaf or hard of hearing of important sounds, even when their iPhone isn’t with them. This feature listens for sounds like sirens, alarms, doorbells, or a baby crying, and uses on-device intelligence to notify users when they’re detected.
• Live Rewind, which can help users recall what was just said in conversation. A double press of the Digital Crown shows the previous 15 seconds of a conversation as a text snippet, so users can catch something they may have missed or are less familiar with. Users can ask Siri about the content of the text or save it to the Siri app to revisit later.
• Siri Recap, which can create high-level summaries of conversations that users can review later to jog their memory. When Siri Recap is turned on, after a conversation, Apple Intelligence automatically generates a title and key points in the new Siri app, allowing users to be more present and engaged in the moment.
• Shazam, which instantly detects the music playing around the user and automatically displays the song title and artist’s name on the Music Recognition widget in the Smart Stack, easily glanceable on the wrist.

Privacy by Design

Audio Intelligence features are private by design, combining hardware, software, and services to protect user privacy in a way that only Apple can. Apple says these features don’t create or store audio recordings, and raw audio used for processing is completely inaccessible to the operating systems, apps, the user, or Apple. This is because the S11 chip on Apple Watch Ultra 4 includes Secure Exclave, a dedicated hardware-isolated compartment that processes audio in complete isolation from the rest of the system, then immediately deletes it.

Users are in control and can choose whether to opt in to each Audio Intelligence feature. They can decide exactly where and when Siri Recap takes notes, and can turn Siri Recap on or off at any time, right from Control Center.

By design, Audio Intelligence features don’t identify and attribute speakers, to protect the privacy of both the user and those around them, according to Apple. Siri Recap produces a brief, high-level summary of conversations — not a transcript — and is designed to exclude sensitive information like financial information or government-assigned identifiers. 

Live Rewind plays an audible chime when it is being used, even if Apple Watch is on silent, and shows a full-display animation and microphone indicator so people nearby can hear and see that the feature has been activated. Live Rewind text snippets and Siri Recap summaries are end-to-end encrypted in the Siri app with iCloud syncing, and are not accessible even by Apple. 

Pricing and Availability

• Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, the U.S., and more than 50 other countries and regions can pre-order Apple Watch Ultra 4, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at US$799.
• New Apple Watch bands will be available to order today from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18.
• watchOS 27 will be available for Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later on Monday, September 14, and requires iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) with iOS 27. Not all features are available on all devices or in all regions. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
• Apple Intelligence will be available with watchOS 27 on Monday, September 14, for users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language. Apple Intelligence is available with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see apple.com/apple-intelligence.
• Siri AI is rolling out with watchOS 27 as a beta on Monday, September 14, for users with a supported device set to English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages.
• New subscribers may get three months of Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music with the purchase of Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch SE 3, or Apple Watch Ultra 4. Offer and service availability varies by region. See apple.com/promo for details.

I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Almost all our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support. 

The post New Apple Watch Ultra 4 boasts advanced health and fitness features and longer battery life appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has announced what it says is its most advanced health and fitness experience yet, expanding what Apple Watch and iPhone can do as intelligent, science-driven tools for users’ personal wellbeing. 

Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduce the new Health Sensing System, enabling what’s described as the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, as well as a new readiness experience to give users insight into their body’s capacity to take on their day

They pair with a redesigned Health app coming later this year to the iPhone, which offers a holistic view of long-term health alongside new  health and longevity insights powered by Apple Intelligence. Together, these updates will give users a more complete picture of their health and fitness while keeping their personal health data private, secure, and under their control, said Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health and Fitness. 

The new Health Sensing System on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 features new optical and electrical heart sensors, enabling higher-frequency heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements, a new readiness score, a more comprehensive Vitals overview with the addition of HRV, and an updated Heart Rate app.

Accuracy of health data is critical to providing meaningful insights. A scientifically rigorous study on a population of over 1,000 participants with representation across demographic groups compared the new heart rate sensing accuracy on Apple Watch against leading wearables, and resulted in Apple Watch showing the highest heart rate accuracy across devices.

With larger, power-efficient green LEDs on the optical heart sensor, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 now measure heart rate every five seconds, all day long. 

This continuous, passive measurement delivers deeper insight into a user’s fitness and physiological state while making Exercise and Move Activity rings even more accurate, according to Desai. Users can view their real-time heart rate at a glance throughout their day — whether they’re recovering from a workout or dashing for the train — using the updated Heart Rate app and new watch face complications.

HRV, a key indicator of stress and recovery, is now measured as often as every five minutes — 24x more frequently — and available to view in a new section of the Heart Rate app. Apple Watch provides two separate variants of HRV for better understanding of a user’s health status. Recovery HRV is best to identify daily signals of stress and recovery, while overall HRV is best for insights on a user’s broader health, including cardiovascular health. Higher variability is generally associated with better overall recovery.

Overnight vitals now includes Recovery HRV analyzed against a user’s personal baseline, providing a more complete view of their health status. A new daytime vitals view lets users toggle between overnight and daytime metrics, and can potentially spot shifts in their metrics before they show up overnight.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduce readiness — a new feature that analyzes a user’s recent activity, vitals, and sleep score, and then provides a single 0-10 score each day with a clear, actionable recommendation: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. This helps a user decide how to take on their workday or tackle their training plan, Desai said.

Readiness updates throughout the day as new data comes in, reflecting, for example, an intense workout or a shift in daytime vitals. It highlights the factors that are driving the score and allows users to tap into more details. The scoring algorithm was developed using data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, in collaboration with exercise scientists and physicians at Apple.

A Redesigned Health App with Apple Intelligence at Its Core

The Health app on iPhone is a central and secure location for a user’s health and fitness information, and can uniquely provide a better understanding of their overall health, Desai said. Apple Intelligence brings AI capabilities into the apps and experiences users rely on every day, making them more personal and helpful than ever, and with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, Apple Intelligence extends to the Health app, she adds. 

Redesigned to dynamically adapt to a user’s personal health and fitness metrics, the Health app now offers iPhone and iPad users a view of their long-term health alongside insights, providing personalized guidance.

The new Insights tab surfaces timely health information with a summary that updates throughout the day across heart, sleep, readiness, fitness, vitals, and cycle tracking data. A new For You section delivers personalized recommendations and relevant articles based on a user’s data — like a suggestion to improve a wind-down routine after a stretch of late nights.

A new Longevity tab analyzes a user’s longitudinal health data for deeper insights into heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. The tab includes Health Age, a new feature that uses Apple Watch data to show users how their metrics are tracking relative to their chronological age, informed by the best available science. The algorithm can factor in metrics from Apple Watch like VO2 max, resting heart rate, sleep, and HRV, and users can also add lab data, including A1c and LDL, to enrich the analysis.

Within the Longevity tab, users can see what’s shaping their long-term health based on data from iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and clinical health records, as well as third-party apps and devices. An informative visualization fills in each category, helping users understand their status in different areas of health. Users can further build out their health picture through new evaluations, at-home movement assessments, and the ability to add lab tests.

Users can now take in-depth physical assessments — measuring flexibility, strength, balance, movement mechanics, and VO2 max — right at home using their iPhone camera and Apple Watch. This experience runs entirely on the device; no video is ever recorded, stored, or shared, according to Apple. Using vision-based AI models, these assessments provide real-time audio and visual feedback, and were developed using clinician input.

Lab results from routine testing can provide important insights into a user’s overall wellbeing. Health app users can already import existing labs and see their results and trends over time. Users will soon be able to schedule and purchase new labs that feature over 50 key biomarkers for $119 directly through the Health app at approximately 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations in the U.S.

Users will be able to see videos and articles across each area of health that overlays their data with insights from Apple Health clinical experts explaining why it’s important. For example, after a user receives their annual lab results, the Health app will present a video from an expert explaining their LDL levels, what the data means, and how they can take steps to improve, if needed. 

Or if a user learns from their movement assessment that they need to work on their balance, the Health app will present a video from an expert explaining what they can do. They will also receive an exercise plan to help them improve their balance, with moves selected for their ability and needs.

With iOS 27, the Health app adds support for perimenopause and menopause, as well as notifications about cycle deviations inclusive of perimenopause, to Cycle Tracking.

With iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27, Apple introduces additional ways to stay healthy:

• Workout Buddy works on Apple Watch even when users don’t have their iPhone nearby. The feature also now incorporates even more fitness data when delivering motivational insights, and is available in both English and Spanish.5
• Expanded GymKit functionality enables users with AirPods Pro 3 to sync their heart rate data through iPhone with compatible gym equipment, including treadmills and indoor bikes.
• More accurate treadmill readings, powered by new machine learning models, improve distance calculations from the very first step of a walk or run.

Availability

• watchOS 27 will be available for Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later beginning Monday, September 14, and requires iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE 3 with iOS 27. Not all features are available on all devices or in all regions. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
• The redesigned Health app will be available on Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and iPad models with the latest software, with select features available only on iPhone. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Health Age requires Apple Watch. The test to estimate VO2 max requires Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3, or a third-party heart rate sensing device. Some features require users to be 18 or older. For information on Apple Intelligence availability, visit support.apple.com/en-us/121115.

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Apple has announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, delivering what it says is “the most advanced pro camera system in an iPhone, and huge leaps in battery life and performance.

The new 48MP Fusion Main camera, now with variable aperture, purportedly brings creative control that wasn’t possible before, and new Pro controls let users customize their experience in the Camera app. 

Both models feature a smaller Dynamic Island, as well as A20 Pro and a next-generation vapor chamber. The iPhone 18 Pro Max also delivers the largest increase in battery life ever on iPhone, thanks to advancements in Apple silicon and a larger battery.

Featuring iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, iPhone 18 Pro models bring AI capabilities together with personal context to become an intelligent personal hub with privacy and security at its core, according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are available in four finishes: black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy. Pre-orders begin Saturday, September 12, with availability beginning Friday, September 18. You can find more details here. 

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Apple has announced the AirPods 5, which it says delivers “the industry’s best Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in an open-ear design and even better sound quality.”

The updated earbuds sport a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ for even more immersive sound. Their open-ear ANC purportedly removes up to 50% more external noise compared to the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, alongside a more natural Transparency mode. 

Combined with Siri AI and iPhone®, AirPods enable users to draw on their personal context and get answers with broad world knowledge, entirely hands-free, says said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering. Users can also respond to Siri using head gestures, or use Live Translation to help connect across languages.

Pakula says the AirPods 5 offer the most affordable way to experience some of the most powerful AirPods features — along with greater durability with improved dust, sweat, and water resistance — at US$129. For users who want even more, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add longer battery life and on-stem volume control for $149.3 Customers can pre-order starting today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18. You can find more details here. 

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MBLM has released its annual study of brand intimacy, and Apple has dropped to number seven on the list.

Brand Intimacy is defined as “the emotional science that measures the bonds we form with the brands we use and love.” The Brand Intimacy Report compared over 600 brands across 19 industries.

MBLM measures “brand intimacy” by examining users’ emotional connections to a brand, including the characteristics of their bond across categories such as nostalgia, indulgence, and identity. It also measures the intensity of a user’s connection with the brand.

Apple scored a 55.5 in the report. Ahead of it are: Disney (62.1), Costco (60.3), Samsung (59.5), Netflix (57.7), Target (57.2), and Amazon (55.6). 

In 2018, Apple ranked first in the Brand Intimacy Report. It’s score has been declining since.

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Apple’s iPhone 17 series generated over US$170 billion in wholesale revenue in its first year of sales, the highest ever for an iPhone series, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. 

This is an 11% increase over the iPhone 16 series’ wholesale revenue in its first year. Strong demand across the lineup, especially for the base and Pro Max variants, supported by a stronger replacement cycle, contributed to this record revenue.

“The iPhone 17 series stands out as Apple’s strongest lineup in years, with the base model inheriting features once reserved for Pro variants and the 17 Pro series delivering powerful Apple silicon, a standout camera system, impressive design and greater choice in color, material and finish,” said Counterpoint Research Director Tarun Pathak. “The iPhone 17 series has resonated with a remarkably broad user base, from first-time upgraders drawn to Pro-level features at the base tier to loyal Pro users pushing for the latest Apple silicon and camera performance. The iPhone 17 base model’s revenue grew 1.3x over its predecessor during the first year. It was also the No. 1 best-selling smartphone model globally in H1 2026 in terms of units, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17e, the most affordable model of the line-up, also saw a powerful performance.”

In terms of regional markets, China was the biggest driver of revenue growth for the iPhone 17 series, with wholesale revenue up 35% compared with the iPhone 16 series and accounting for nearly 24% of global iPhone 17 series revenue, largely due to base-variant upgrades. Japan, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and the Asia-Pacific markets posted healthy gains. Strong demand in these markets helped offset moderate growth in mature markets like North America and Europe and contributed to the overall revenue increase.

“The iPhone 17 series also benefited from a narrower price gap with Android flagship smartphones,” said Counterpoint Senior Research Analyst Shilpi Jain. “While rising memory and component costs led many Android manufacturers to raise prices for existing and new models and adjust specifications, Apple kept iPhone prices relatively stable. This was particularly notable given that memory prices have quadrupled since Q4 2025. Installment plans and promotional offers in key markets further lowered the affordability barrier, supporting demand for higher-end iPhone models.”

The next iPhone cycle is expected to further boost Apple’s smartphone business. The company is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max alongside its first foldable iPhone today, with the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models expected to follow in 2027. 

Counterpoint says that adding an ultra-premium foldable could raise Apple’s overall iPhone ASP (average selling price), while the later launch of lower-priced models could broaden the portfolio and sustain sales momentum into the following cycle. Apple is likely to be one of the key catalysts for the foldable smartphone market, adds the research group.

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New Omdia research shows that U.S. personal computer (PC) shipments (excluding tablets) grew 1.0% year-over-year (YoY) in the second quarter of 2026 to 18.8 million units, returning to growth following a 7.0% decline in the first quarter of the year. 

However, it’s great news for the Mac.

Apple outpaces U.S. PC market in 2Q26

Apple moved into third place ahead of Lenovo, with US PC shipments growing 32.1% YoY, supported by a full quarter of MacBook Neo availability. This lifted Apple’s share of the US consumer PC segment to 29.4%. Apple also continued to expand in the business segment, where shipment grew 50.6%.

Apple sold approximately 3.5 million Macs in the second quarter of 2025. That compared to sales of 3.4 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Dell recorded the largest decline among the major PC vendors, with shipments falling 8.8% as component allocation shifted away from entry-level systems; its U.S. Chromebook shipments fell 47.0%, against a 10.0% decline for the overall US Chromebooks market. HP shipments fell 3.7%, although both HP and Dell recorded revenue growth as higher ASPs offset lower shipment volumes. Lenovo shipments increased 2.0%, slightly outperforming the overall market, supported by consumer demand.

Omdia says the overall PC growth was driven by demand being brought forward as retailers and channel partners secured inventory ahead of price increases resulting from memory and storage supply constraints. Average PC sell-in prices in the U.S> exceeded $1,000 for the first time, up 12.0% YoY. However, the return to growth is expected to be short-lived, with Omdia forecasting U.S. PC shipments to decline 10.7% for the full year and 18.4% in the second half of 2026.

“The US PC market in the second quarter of 2026 benefited from rising average selling prices (ASPs) driven by organic premiumization and supply-driven cost inflation,” said Scott Braverman, Senior Analyst at Omdia. “While shipment growth was muted at 1.0%, U.S. PC market revenue increased by 13.1% as manufacturers prioritized production of higher-margin, higher-cost PCs amid component constraints. The impact was most pronounced in the business segment, where ASPs rose 19.0% as enterprises sought to secure pricing amid uncertainty over future costs. Consumer average selling prices (ASPs) also increased 9.7%, as higher costs were passed on to end users.”

The same trend was visible across the U.S. channel, with Best Buy, CDW, and Insight Enterprises each reporting that higher computing selling prices helped offset softer unit volumes in their most recent quarters. 

Rising component cost had the greatest impact on entry-level systems, notes Omdia. Shipments of PCs priced below $699 dropped 6.5%, while shipments of PCs priced above $1,500 increased 36.8%, reflecting a shift toward premium products. Growth in AI PCs also contributed to higher ASPs, with AI PCs accounting for 48.3% of US PC shipments during the quarter and forecast to exceed 50% for the first time in 3Q26. 

“The shipment volume observed in the second quarter represents borrowed volume from 2027,” added Braverman. “Combined with persistent supply constraints and elevated prices, we anticipate continued pressure on buyer demand, and subsequently shipment volumes, throughout 2027.”

ASPs are forecast to continue rising in early 2027. However, higher prices are not expected to offset declining shipment volumes, with total US PC market revenue projected to decline 6.0% in 2027.

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Apple is deepening its technology footprint in India, with recent hiring focused on artificial intelligence (AI), data platforms, software engineering, cloud infrastructure, automation, Apple Ads, Siri language capabilities, and manufacturing intelligence. The recruitment activity indicates Apple’s focus on India for advanced engineering and operational technology capabilities, according to the Job Analytics Database of GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

“Apple’s hiring in India reflects a clear, technology-capabilities focused expansion, with roles across AI and data platforms, software engineering, infrastructure automation, manufacturing intelligence, and localized language capabilities,” says Sherla Sriprada, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments. “This suggests that India is playing a larger role in supporting Apple’s global engineering ecosystem, while also helping the company strengthen market-specific capabilities.”

The Cupertino-based technology company posted India-based roles during July and August 2026. AI and data-platform hiring stands out as a key area of focus. Apple posted “Software Site Reliability Engineer – AI & Data Platforms” roles in India, focused on developing and operating large-scale data platforms that support analytics, reporting, and AI/ML applications. 

The company also sought a “Senior Software Engineering Manager – Manufacturing Intelligence, Agentic Systems & Physical AI,” a role covering intelligent manufacturing systems, AI-powered applications, agentic workflows, robotics, machine learning, and factory-edge systems.

Apple’s recruitment also points to a broader strengthening of software and platform engineering capabilities. Roles such as “Senior Software Engineer (Java, Spring Boot, and Microservices), Customer Systems”; “Software Engineer – Distributed Systems”; “Software Engineer (Data) – Ads”; and “Software Engineer (Data) – Ad Delivery” indicate a focus on scalablbackend systems, distributed architecture, ad delivery infrastructure, and customer technology platforms.

The company has also posted roles in cloud, data, and automation capabilities in India. Roles including “Data Engineer – Ads”; “Database Engineer – Ads”; “Snowflake Data Engineer – Ads”; and “Infrastructure Automation Engineer” highlight Apple’s emphasis on cloud-native platforms, database reliability, data pipelines, infrastructure automation, CI/CD, observability, and developer productivity.

Beyond engineering, Apple is also strengthening operational and market support functions in India. The company posted roles such as “Supply Demand Management Planner”; “PR Manager, iPhone”; “People Business Partner”; and “Executive Assistant”, pointing to continued investment in India operations, communications, workforce planning, and organizational support.

“Apple’s India hiring mix shows how the company is building a stronger base of AI, engineering, data, and operational capabilities in the country,” Sriprada says. “The roles suggest that India is becoming more central to Apple’s global technology ecosystem, from software platforms and AI-led innovation to manufacturing intelligence and localized user experiences.”

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Apple TV has renewed “Small Prophets” for a second season even though season one hasn’t debuted on the streaming service, according to Deadline. Last week it was announced that Apple had acquired the worldwide rights to the show’s first season.

The series will debut on the streaming service on October 7, excluding UK, where it will be made available next year. The show debuted on the BBC iPlayer and BBC television earlier this year to acclaim and the best 28-day launch ratings for a comedy on BBC Two since 2022, according to Deadline.

The article adds that Crook (“The Detectorists”) wrote, created and directed the show, also appearing in a small role opposite lead Pearce Quigley (“The Detectorists”), Lauren Patel (“Alma’s Not Normal”), Michael Palin (“Monty Python”), Jon Pointing (“Big Boys”), and Paul Kay (“Game of Thrones”).

Here’s how Deadline describes the series: “Small Prophets” follows Quigley as the eccentric Michael Sleep (Quigley), an ordinary man who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has worked in a DIY store, while visiting his elderly dad Brian (Palin) and hoping for Clea to return. One day, Brian shares an old recipe for a potion so a skeptical Michael can create homunculi – magical spirits that can predict the future – to learn if he will see Clea again.

Michael gets help from his young DIY store co-worker Kacey (Patel) and their unlikely friendship blossoms through a dislike of store manager Gordon (Crook), while his nosy neighbors (Willan, Pointing) obssess about what Michael is doing in the garden shed.

Crook is an English actor, director, comedian, and writer, best known for his roles in television and film. He gained widespread recognition for portraying Gareth Keenan in the British sitcom “The Office” (2001–2003) and for his role as Ragetti in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series (2003–2007). 

About Apple TV

Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $14.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. 

For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

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