Apple Health data can now move between the Health app and Google Health on an iPhone. The connection lets Google Health import supported information recorded by an iPhone, Apple Watch, and compatible apps. The latest Google Health update can also send supported Fitbit information to Apple Health.

This two-way connection is useful for people who wear a Fitbit but prefer Apple’s Health app as the central place for viewing activity, sleep, steps, and other wellness information. It also reduces the need for third-party synchronization apps.

The feature requires a recent version of Google Health. Google began introducing support for sending data back to Apple Health with Google Health version 5.05. Because app updates can roll out gradually, the new sharing options may not appear until the latest version reaches your account.

Update Google Health Before Starting

The Fitbit app became Google Health in 2026. Existing Fitbit users should find that the installed app has changed its name and design after updating. Fitbit accounts must also be moved to an adult Google Account to use the redesigned service.

Google says the Apple Health connection requires iOS 16.4 or later. The iPhone must have internet access while the connection is being created.

To check the iOS version installed on your iPhone:

Settings > General > About > iOS Version

Install the latest compatible iOS update if the phone is running an older release.

To look for an available iPhone software update:

Settings > General > Software Update

Next, confirm that Google Health is current. Version 5.05 or later is required for the newer option that sends supported Google Health and Fitbit information to Apple Health.

To update Google Health from the App Store:

App Store > Profile Picture > Available Updates > Google Health > Update

If Google Health does not appear under Available Updates, search for the app manually. The App Store page may show an Update button if a newer release is available.

To find the app directly:

App Store > Search > Enter Google Health > Google Health (Fitbit)

People who previously used Fitbit should sign in with the Google Account connected to their Fitbit information. Creating a different account may produce an empty Google Health profile.

Connect Apple Health Data to Google Health

Connecting the apps allows Google Health to read supported information from Apple Health. This can include data collected by the iPhone, Apple Watch, and other apps that already share information with Apple Health.

To start the Apple Health connection:

Google Health > Connections > Apps and Services > Apple Health > Get Started

Depending on the Google Health version and interface shown on the iPhone, Connections may appear behind the profile icon.

To find Apple Health through the alternative menu:

Google Health > Profile Icon > Partner Apps > Apple Health

Google Health will display a consent screen explaining the connection. Read the information before continuing.

To approve the initial connection:

Sync Google Health With Apple Health > Agree

The iPhone will then display Apple’s health permission screen. This screen lets you decide which information Google Health can read.

To give Google Health access to every supported category:

Apple Health Permission Screen > Turn All Categories On > Allow

You do not have to share every available category. Selecting individual permissions provides more control over sensitive health information.

To share only selected categories:

Apple Health Permission Screen > Select Each Health Category > Allow

Google Health can import supported information such as steps, distance, active energy, exercise records, routes, sleep sessions, sleep stages, heart rate, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, body temperature, weight, body fat percentage, water, nutrition information, and some cycle-tracking data.

Available categories depend on the devices and apps connected to Apple Health. An iPhone may provide steps and walking information, while an Apple Watch can contribute heart rate, workouts, sleep, and other measurements supported by the model.

After the permissions are approved, Google Health should confirm that the connection is complete.

To finish the connection:

Google Health Confirmation Screen > Done

New Apple Health information should begin appearing automatically in Google Health. Google has said that imported data can be used across relevant Google Health metrics, although not every external data type is used for every calculation.

To find imported health information:

Google Health > Health > Select a Metric

Google Health may display information from several connected sources together. Its value for a metric can differ slightly from the number shown by Apple Health because the apps may process available data differently.

Send Fitbit Data to Apple Health

Google Health version 5.05 adds the reverse direction that many iPhone and Fitbit users previously lacked. Supported information recorded through Fitbit can now be written into Apple Health.

Before enabling this option, make sure the Fitbit is properly connected to Google Health. Fitbit devices normally synchronize automatically throughout the day when Bluetooth is available and the wearable is near the iPhone.

To check the connected Fitbit:

Google Health > Profile Icon > Devices > Select Your Fitbit

The device page should show the wearable, its battery level, and its most recent synchronization time. Opening Google Health can also prompt a nearby Fitbit to transfer recently collected information.

Once the wearable is updating Google Health correctly, open the Apple Health connection settings.

To open the sharing controls for Apple Health:

Google Health > Profile Icon > Partner Apps > Apple Health

The interface may use Apps and Services instead of Partner Apps on some versions.

To reach the same connection through Apps and Services:

Google Health > Connections > Apps and Services > Apple Health

Follow the prompts for sharing Google Health information with Apple Health. The iPhone may display separate permissions for data that Google Health can read and data that it can write.

To allow supported Fitbit information to appear in Apple Health:

Apple Health Permission Screen > Allow Google Health to Write > Select Health Categories > Allow

Google says supported information can include exercise records, steps, sleep, vitals, and other health data. The exact selection can vary according to the Fitbit model, region, Google Health version, and information stored in the account.

Selecting every category is convenient, but it can create overlapping sources when an iPhone, Apple Watch, and Fitbit record the same type of activity. Choose only the categories you want Google Health to add.

A person who uses a Fitbit mainly for sleep, for example, can allow sleep information while leaving steps disabled. Someone who wears a Fitbit instead of an Apple Watch may prefer to enable steps, workouts, heart rate, sleep, and other supported categories.

Check Google Health Permissions

Apple Health keeps permission controls on the iPhone. You can change them after the first connection without deleting either app.

To review Google Health access from Apple Health:

Health > Profile Picture > Privacy > Apps > Google Health

The page shows the categories Google Health is permitted to read or update. Turn off any category you no longer want to share.

Some iOS versions provide the same controls through the Sharing tab.

To find Google Health through the Sharing tab:

Health > Sharing > Apps and Services > Google Health

Turning off a permission stops future sharing for that category. It does not necessarily remove information that has already been written to Google Health or Apple Health.

The Google Health app also provides controls for the connection.

To review Apple Health inside Google Health:

Google Health > Connections > Apps and Services > Connected > Apple Health

If Google Health displays a message that new data types are available, open the connection and approve the additional categories you want to use. Newly supported information is not automatically shared without permission.

Manage Duplicate Health Information

An iPhone, Apple Watch, and Fitbit can record similar information at the same time. Apple Health keeps each source attached to its data and uses a priority order when presenting combined measurements.

You can inspect the sources contributing to a category and choose which one Apple Health should prefer.

To review the sources used for step information:

Health > Search > Activity > Steps > Data Sources and Access

The screen shows the apps and devices that provide step records. If Google Health, an Apple Watch, and the iPhone all appear, you can adjust their priority.

To change the order of step sources:

Health > Search > Activity > Steps > Data Sources and Access > Edit > Drag Sources Into the Preferred Order > Done

Move the source you trust most toward the top. Apple Health generally gives higher priority to sources placed above others when similar records overlap.

Repeat the same process for other categories if their totals do not look right. Exercise, sleep, active energy, and distance can each have their own sources and permissions.

Fix Missing or Delayed Data

Synchronization is not always immediate. A Fitbit first sends its information to Google Health, and Google Health then writes supported records to Apple Health. Bluetooth availability, Background App Refresh, internet access, and battery-saving behavior can affect this process.

Begin by opening Google Health with the Fitbit close to the iPhone. Wait for the device to complete its normal synchronization before checking Apple Health.

If Apple Health information is missing from Google Health, confirm that the connection remains active.

To check the connection status:

Google Health > Connections > Apps and Services > Apple Health

If Google Health displays an error or a request for new permissions, follow the message shown on the screen.

Background App Refresh can help Google Health update when the app is not open.

To allow Google Health to refresh in the background:

Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Google Health > On

Bluetooth must remain available for a Fitbit to communicate with the iPhone.

To confirm that Bluetooth is enabled:

Settings > Bluetooth > Bluetooth On

If the connection continues to fail, disconnecting and reconnecting Apple Health may restore the permission request.

To disconnect Apple Health from Google Health:

Google Health > Connections > Apps and Services > Apple Health > Disconnect > Confirm Disconnect

Disconnecting the service does not automatically remove every permission already stored by Apple Health. Review the Google Health entry in the Health app if you want to remove those permissions as well.

To remove the remaining Apple Health permissions:

Health > Profile Picture > Privacy > Apps > Google Health > Turn Off All

After reconnecting the apps, allow time for new records to appear. Previously stored information may not transfer in exactly the same way as activity recorded after the connection was enabled.

You can inspect an individual entry to confirm whether it came from Google Health, a Fitbit, an Apple Watch, or the iPhone.

To check the source and time of a synced record:

Health > Search > Select a Health Category > Show All Data > Select the Latest Entry

The post How to Sync Apple Health Data With Google Health on Your iPhone appeared first on AppleMagazine.

You can show hidden files on Mac with a simple keyboard shortcut. You do not need Terminal, an administrator password, or advanced technical knowledge for the most common method.

macOS hides some files because they contain settings, app information, or system resources that people do not normally need to open. These items remain on the Mac, but Finder does not display them during regular use.

You may need to see them when following troubleshooting instructions, opening the hidden Library folder, managing website files, checking app settings, or finding data left behind by an uninstalled application. Once the files are visible, you should avoid deleting anything unless you understand its purpose.

Show Hidden Files Without Terminal

Finder has a built-in shortcut that reveals hidden files and folders instantly. It is the fastest method when you only need temporary access.

To show hidden files in the current Finder folder:

Finder > Open Any Folder > Command + Shift + Period (.)

The period is the regular full-stop key on the keyboard. You must press Command, Shift, and Period at the same time.

The folder will update immediately. Hidden items normally appear lighter or more transparent than regular files. This visual difference helps you recognize files that macOS does not usually display.

The shortcut works in most Finder locations, including the user’s Home folder and some folders on external drives. It can also work inside the Open and Save windows presented by Mac applications.

If you do not see any changes, try the shortcut inside your Home folder. The available hidden items depend on the apps and services used on the Mac.

To open your Home folder:

Finder > Go > Home

After the Home folder opens, use the hidden-file shortcut again. You may see items with names that begin with a period, including configuration folders created by applications.

Files beginning with a period are commonly called dot files. macOS and Unix-based applications use them to store settings and other information without filling normal folders with technical data.

The Finder shortcut acts as a visibility switch. Using it a second time conceals the files again.

To hide the files after you finish:

Finder > Open Any Folder > Command + Shift + Period (.)

Hiding the files does not delete them. Finder simply returns to its normal view.

Open the Hidden Library Folder

The user Library is one of the most frequently accessed hidden folders on a Mac. It stores app preferences, browser information, caches, containers, saved states, Mail resources, and other data connected to the signed-in account.

You can open the Library directly without making every hidden file visible.

To open your personal Library folder:

Finder > Go > Press and Hold Option > Library

The Library option appears in the Go menu while you hold the Option key. Select Library before releasing the key.

This method opens the Library belonging to the current user. Its path is ~/Library, where the tilde represents the user’s Home folder.

The user Library is different from the Library folder located at the top level of the startup disk. The top-level folder contains resources that can be shared by different accounts, while ~/Library primarily contains information for the current account.

Deleting content from the Library can reset an app or remove locally stored information. If troubleshooting instructions tell you to remove a file, confirm its name and location before making any changes.

Open a Specific Hidden Folder

Finder includes a Go to Folder feature for opening locations that are difficult to find manually. It is useful when you know the folder’s exact path and do not want to reveal every hidden item.

To open the Go to Folder field:

Finder > Go > Go to Folder

You can also reach the same field with a keyboard shortcut.

To open Go to Folder from the keyboard:

Finder > Shift + Command + G

A small field will appear. Type or paste the path of the location you want to open, then press Return.

To open your personal Library:

Go to Folder > Enter ~/Library > Press Return

To open the hidden SSH folder in your Home folder:

Go to Folder > Enter ~/.ssh > Press Return

The .ssh folder stores information used by Secure Shell tools. It may not exist if SSH software has never created it on the Mac. Finder displaying an error for this path does not necessarily indicate a problem.

To open the Library shared by all users:

Go to Folder > Enter /Library > Press Return

Pay attention to the beginning of each path. ~/Library opens the Library inside the current user’s Home folder. /Library opens the shared Library at the top level of the startup disk.

You can also paste a longer path supplied by an app developer or support technician. Check the spelling carefully because similarly named folders may contain completely different data.

Show Hidden Files With Terminal

Terminal can change Finder’s hidden-file preference so concealed items remain visible until you change the setting again. This option is helpful during longer troubleshooting or development sessions.

Terminal is included with macOS and can be opened from the Utilities folder.

To open Terminal:

Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal

A Terminal window will appear with a text prompt. Enter the command exactly as presented and press Return.

To keep hidden files visible in Finder:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true && killall Finder

Finder will close briefly and reopen. This restart allows the new visibility preference to take effect.

The command does not change the files themselves. It tells Finder to display items that macOS normally conceals.

You can reverse the change at any time.

To hide the files in Finder again:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool false && killall Finder

Finder will restart once more and return to its regular view.

If Finder does not behave as expected after changing the preference, you can remove the custom value. macOS will then use its default behavior.

To remove the custom hidden-file preference:

defaults delete com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles && killall Finder

Terminal may say that the preference does not exist if no custom value is stored. That message simply means there is no setting to remove.

See Hidden Files Only in Terminal

Terminal can list hidden files without making them appear in Finder. This can be helpful when checking whether a file exists while leaving Finder unchanged.

The ls command displays the contents of a folder. Adding -a includes hidden items, while -l displays details such as permissions, ownership, file size, and modification date.

To list visible and hidden items in your Home folder:

ls -la ~

The results appear inside Terminal. Names beginning with a period are hidden during normal Finder use.

To list the contents of the folder currently open in Terminal:

ls -la

These commands only display information. They do not delete or modify the files shown in the results.

Work Safely With Hidden Mac Files

A hidden file is not automatically unnecessary, suspicious, or safe to delete. macOS and installed applications conceal many items to protect settings and reduce clutter.

The .DS_Store file, for example, can store Finder display information for a folder. External drives may include folders such as .Trashes and .Spotlight-V100, which macOS uses for Trash and Spotlight features.

Removing the wrong item can reset an application, delete local information, interrupt syncing, or cause macOS to rebuild a database. Copy an item to a safe location before changing it when troubleshooting instructions require manual file work.

Some system folders remain protected even when Finder displays them. Showing hidden files does not bypass administrator permissions or System Integrity Protection. There is no need to disable Mac security features simply to view a hidden folder.

Applications can also contain internal resources. These files are stored inside an app bundle and are different from standard hidden files.

To view the internal contents of an application:

Finder > Applications > Control-click the App > Show Package Contents

Changing files inside an app bundle can prevent the application from opening. If you need one of its resources, copy that file elsewhere instead of editing the original.

When you finish working, return Finder to its regular view to reduce the chance of accidentally moving or deleting a configuration file.

To hide all revealed files with the Finder shortcut:

Finder > Open Any Folder > Command + Shift + Period (.)

 

The post How to Show Hidden Files on Mac With or Without Terminal appeared first on AppleMagazine.

FaceTime Dual Capture is bringing simultaneous front-and-rear camera streaming to video calls in iOS 27, allowing compatible iPhones to show the caller and their surroundings without repeatedly switching between cameras.

The feature expands technology Apple introduced with the iPhone 17 family. Dual Capture already allows the Camera app to record through the Center Stage front camera and a rear camera at the same time. iOS 27 brings a similar capability directly into live FaceTime calls.

During a call, the front camera can continue showing the speaker while the rear camera displays whatever the iPhone is pointing toward. Someone attending a concert can share the performance and remain visible. A parent can show a child playing without disappearing from the conversation. A person asking for technical assistance can remain on screen while directing the rear camera toward the equipment causing the problem.

Dual Capture removes the awkward sequence of switching to the rear camera, showing something, and switching back to continue speaking face to face. Both perspectives remain available inside the same call.

FaceTime Dual Capture Changes Camera Switching

The normal FaceTime camera control changes from a simple front-or-rear choice on supported iPhones. When the caller activates the rear camera, iOS 27 keeps the front camera visible by default.

The main view displays the rear camera feed while a smaller window contains the front camera image. This picture-in-picture arrangement gives the other participant a continuous view of the caller’s reaction, commentary, or explanation.

To activate both cameras during a supported FaceTime call:

FaceTime > Start a video call > Tap the Flip button

Tapping the Flip button turns on the rear camera without immediately removing the front view. The other participant begins receiving both perspectives as part of the FaceTime stream.

The caller can disable the front view when it is no longer needed. This provides a conventional rear-camera presentation for situations where the surroundings should occupy the complete image.

To return to a single camera view:

FaceTime > Tap the camera view > Disable the front camera

The exact labels and placement may change before the public release of iOS 27 because the feature is still being tested in beta software. Its basic behavior is already established: the Flip control activates the rear camera while retaining the front camera feed.

Dual Capture does not create two independent FaceTime calls. Both images belong to one video stream, so the caller does not need a second account, device, or invitation.

The feature also differs from screen sharing. FaceTime screen sharing transmits applications and interface activity from the iPhone display. Dual Capture transmits live video from two physical cameras.

Which iPhones Support Dual Capture

Apple has limited FaceTime Dual Capture transmission to the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. Each model includes Apple’s 18MP Center Stage front camera and the Dual Capture capability introduced in the Camera app.

An older iPhone that supports iOS 27 cannot originate a Dual Capture stream. It continues to use the normal option of selecting either the front camera or a rear camera during a call.

Older models can still receive and display a Dual Capture feed when they are running iOS 27. This allows an iPhone 16 or another supported device to see both views transmitted from an iPhone 17, even though it cannot send the same presentation back.

Both participants need iOS 27 for the new FaceTime layout to work as intended. The transmitting device must also be one of the supported iPhone 17-generation models.

This limitation is based on Apple’s official feature support rather than the simple presence of front and rear cameras. Earlier iPhones have camera hardware capable of operating in several multi-camera applications, but Apple has not extended its native Dual Capture implementation to them.

Third-party applications have offered forms of simultaneous multi-camera recording for years through Apple’s developer frameworks. The difference is that iOS 27 integrates the experience into FaceTime, where users can activate it through the familiar camera-switching control.

iPhone 17 Owners Receive a Second Dual Capture Feature

Describing FaceTime Dual Capture as retro-compatible with the iPhone 17 does not fully explain its relationship with the hardware. The iPhone 17 family introduced Apple’s native Dual Capture recording in 2025, and iOS 27 now gives that existing camera system another purpose.

Inside the Camera app, Dual Capture produces a saved video containing front and rear views. Apple lists support for recording at up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 frames per second on the iPhone 17.

FaceTime uses the camera pairing for live communication instead. Network quality, bandwidth, device temperature, and FaceTime processing can affect the transmitted resolution, so users should not assume that a call will preserve the Camera app’s maximum 4K recording specification.

The Center Stage front camera also contributes more than resolution. Its square sensor gives the iPhone greater freedom to adjust framing without requiring the device to be physically rotated. Center Stage can help keep the caller positioned inside the smaller front-camera view while the rear camera follows the subject being shared.

That combination makes Dual Capture more useful than placing two untreated camera feeds beside each other. FaceTime can preserve the speaker’s presence while directing most of the screen toward the event, object, or location being discussed.

The feature may require more processing power and energy than an ordinary single-camera call. Running two camera sensors while encoding and transmitting live video can increase battery consumption and device temperature, especially during long calls over cellular data.

Apple has not published separate battery estimates for Dual Capture FaceTime calls. Users planning extended sessions may want access to power and a stable Wi-Fi connection.

iOS 27 Prepares FaceTime for iPhone 18

FaceTime Dual Capture arrives shortly before Apple’s expected iPhone 18 generation, making it likely to become part of how the company demonstrates the new phones’ camera and communication abilities.

Apple has not announced the iPhone 18 lineup or confirmed its final camera specifications. Compatibility with FaceTime Dual Capture is therefore expected from the software’s “iPhone 17 and newer” positioning, but individual iPhone 18 models should not be treated as confirmed until Apple presents them.

The software release gives existing iPhone 17 owners access without requiring another hardware purchase. That approach also provides Apple with a working FaceTime feature before the next iPhone launch rather than introducing the camera mode and communication interface at the same moment.

Future hardware could improve the experience through faster processors, stronger image stabilization, upgraded sensors, or more efficient video encoding. None of those additions is required for the supported iPhone 17 family, which already contains the camera system needed to transmit both views.

Dual Capture is only one part of the FaceTime update. Apple is also improving video-call quality when the network connection is weak, addressing a problem that becomes especially relevant when two live camera views require transmission. Traditional Chinese support is joining FaceTime Live Captions as well.

The weak-connection improvement may determine how dependable Dual Capture becomes away from Wi-Fi. A feature designed for travel, events, repairs, and outdoor calls needs to tolerate changes in cellular bandwidth without freezing both views or forcing the session to end.

FaceTime Dual Capture remains part of the iOS 27 beta as Apple prepares the public update for September. Apple can still adjust the interface, performance, device requirements, and picture-in-picture behavior before the completed software reaches iPhone 17 owners.

The post FaceTime Dual Capture: iOS 27’s Biggest Video Call Upgrade appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Bonfire series planned for Apple is no longer proceeding at the streaming service, ending the latest attempt to transform Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities into an episodic television drama.

The project had assembled a notable creative team. David E. Kelley was attached to write and executive produce, while The Batman director Matt Reeves was expected to direct the eight-episode adaptation and serve as an executive producer through his 6th & Idaho Productions company.

Warner Bros. Television was producing the series, with Sarah Geismer representing 6th & Idaho and Matthew Tinker participating through David E. Kelley Productions.

According to industry reports, Apple and the creative team were not aligned on the direction of the adaptation. Kelley was also reportedly dissatisfied with how the development process had been handled. The exact source of the disagreement has not been disclosed.

Apple has not announced the project as a formal cancellation, and it never received a public premiere date or cast. Its departure from Apple instead ends one stage of development while leaving Warner Bros. Television with the possibility of taking the adaptation elsewhere.

Apple Ends the Project After Four Months

News of the Bonfire series first emerged in April 2026. Kelley was expected to write the adaptation after working with Apple on Presumed Innocent and Margo’s Got Money Troubles, while Reeves would direct after completing his existing film commitments.

The partnership appeared well suited to a complicated literary adaptation. Kelley has extensive experience turning novels into television dramas, including Big Little Lies, The Lincoln Lawyer, Nine Perfect Strangers, Presumed Innocent, and Wolfe’s A Man in Full.

Reeves brought a different set of strengths. His work on The Batman, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes, and Cloverfield demonstrated his ability to handle large casts, morally compromised characters, and cities presented as active elements of the story.

The arrangement also connected Warner Bros. Television with Apple’s preference for recognizable creators and established literary properties. Wolfe’s novel offered a prestigious title, a large ensemble, and a view of New York society that could support a limited-series structure.

The development reportedly lasted only a few months before the creative relationship broke down. No actors had been announced, and there was no indication that cameras were close to rolling.

The absence of production activity makes the development easier to stop than a commissioned series with actors, sets, and crews already under contract. It also means Apple can leave the project without abandoning completed episodes or disrupting a release calendar.

Development Never Reached Production

A television project entering development is not the same as a series receiving a complete production order. Writers can prepare scripts, directors can become attached, and studios can negotiate with a streaming service before a final budget or filming commitment is approved.

The Bonfire of the Vanities was widely discussed as an eight-episode Apple adaptation, but Apple never unveiled it through its official press service. The project did not appear with a cast, production date, first-look image, or planned release window.

That distinction makes “stalled” more accurate than suggesting that Apple canceled a finished series. The adaptation remains intellectual property controlled through its rights and production arrangements, but the version developed for Apple has stopped advancing.

Creative alignment can cover several areas, including tone, period setting, episode structure, budget, casting, and how closely a project follows its source. None of those issues has been identified publicly as the specific cause of the disagreement.

The source material presents difficult choices. Wolfe wrote the novel as a detailed portrait of 1980s New York, with Wall Street, tabloid journalism, city politics, race, class, and personal ambition colliding around a single incident.

An adaptation could preserve that period or move the story into a contemporary financial and media environment. Keeping the 1980s setting would retain the social ecosystem Wolfe observed, while modernization would require substantial changes to technology, journalism, policing, politics, and the financial industry.

Reports of creative differences do not establish which approach Apple, Kelley, Reeves, or Warner Bros. preferred. Until one of the parties discusses the project, the disagreement remains undefined.

A Difficult Novel to Translate

Published in 1987 after being serialized in Rolling Stone, The Bonfire of the Vanities follows Sherman McCoy, a wealthy bond trader who considers himself a “Master of the Universe.”

McCoy’s protected life begins collapsing after he and his mistress take a wrong turn into the Bronx. Their encounter with two young Black men ends in a hit-and-run, creating an opportunity for journalists, attorneys, politicians, activists, and social climbers to exploit the case.

The novel spreads its attention across several communities and institutions. Its satire depends on the reader observing how each group manipulates the incident while claiming moral authority. That scope gives television more room than a feature film, but it also requires precise control of perspective and tone.

Brian De Palma directed the previous film adaptation, released by Warner Bros. in 1990. Tom Hanks played Sherman McCoy alongside Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Kim Cattrall, and F. Murray Abraham.

Despite the cast and an estimated production budget of approximately $47 million, the film earned about $15.6 million domestically. Critics objected to its casting, tonal decisions, and changes to Wolfe’s characters.

The difficult production later became the subject of Julie Salamon’s The Devil’s Candy, a detailed account of how an expensive adaptation made by accomplished filmmakers deteriorated through compromises and conflicting decisions.

The film’s reputation has followed every subsequent effort to revisit Wolfe’s novel. A television version has frequently been proposed as a better format because it can preserve more characters, institutional detail, and social context.

Amazon began developing an eight-episode adaptation in 2016 with Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros. Television. That version was intended to update the story while approaching it through themes of race, class, politics, and media. It never entered production.

Apple’s attempt therefore becomes another chapter in a long development history rather than the first revival since De Palma’s film.

The Kelley Relationship May Continue

The collapse of this project does not necessarily end David E. Kelley’s relationship with Apple. His adaptation of Presumed Innocent became a major drama for the service, while Margo’s Got Money Troubles expanded his work with the company into comedy-drama.

Large producers and streaming services regularly continue working together after deciding against an individual project. Each adaptation has its own creative, financial, and scheduling demands.

The reported dissatisfaction does introduce uncertainty around whether Kelley would remain involved if Warner Bros. Television places the series with another distributor. Reeves’ position is similarly unknown, particularly because directing all eight episodes would require a substantial scheduling commitment.

Apple can continue expanding its collection of literary adaptations without Bonfire. Its existing slate includes projects derived from novels, nonfiction books, short stories, podcasts, and magazine reporting, often with established filmmakers receiving considerable creative control.

The decision also illustrates how selective Apple can be before production. Projects in development may attract prominent writers and directors without ever becoming Apple Originals available to subscribers.

Warner Bros. Television remains attached as the studio behind the adaptation, giving it a potential route to another streaming service or network. No new buyer, revised creative team, or timetable has been reported for The Bonfire of the Vanities.

The post Bonfire Series Stalls at Apple After Creative Split appeared first on AppleMagazine.

RAM production capacity at Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron Technology is reportedly committed through the end of 2027, leaving consumer electronics manufacturers with little room to secure additional memory outside existing supply agreements.

Industry reports indicate that the three dominant manufacturers have allocated their available DRAM and high-bandwidth memory production for next year. Long-term contracts with cloud companies, AI chip developers, automakers, and device manufacturers have effectively reserved the output those suppliers expect to produce.

The claim does not mean every RAM module that will be sold in 2027 has already been manufactured or purchased by a consumer. It refers to future production capacity being assigned to customers before the chips leave the factory.

It also does not cover every memory producer worldwide. Chinese manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies, known as CXMT, and several smaller suppliers continue to produce DRAM. However, Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron control most of the advanced global DRAM market, making their available capacity the primary constraint for companies such as Apple.

RAM Production Is Already Committed

Selling out a year of production capacity means manufacturers have received enough contractual commitments to allocate the output they expect from their factories. Customers may have reserved specific volumes, product types, or manufacturing capacity under agreements that include minimum purchases and pricing protections.

Micron has been shifting toward this model through strategic customer agreements. The company disclosed 16 multiyear deals covering customers across data centers, consumer devices, automotive products, and industrial equipment.

Those agreements typically run for several years and include binding volume commitments. Some use fixed prices, while others establish price floors and ceilings. Micron has said that its signed contracts represent approximately $100 billion in expected revenue over their remaining terms.

Such agreements give memory manufacturers more predictable revenue than the traditional DRAM cycle, in which aggressive expansion frequently created excess supply and collapsing prices. They also give large buyers assurance that chips will be available for planned products.

The disadvantage falls on customers that did not reserve enough capacity early. A company needing more memory than its contract provides may have to pay higher prices, accept a different specification, delay production, or find another qualified supplier.

SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung has described 2027 as potentially the worst year in the memory industry’s history from a supply perspective. He expects customer demand to remain above the company’s production capacity beyond 2030, despite major investments in new factories.

Samsung has issued a similar warning, expecting the constraints to become more severe in 2027 and continue into 2028. Analysts at UBS have projected that the DRAM market could remain undersupplied until at least the second quarter of 2028.

AI Memory Consumes More Factory Capacity

The shortage originates primarily from the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. AI accelerators require high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, to move large amounts of data between memory and processors at extremely high speeds.

HBM and the LPDDR memory used in Apple devices are different products. An iPhone or Mac is not competing directly for the same finished memory package installed beside an Nvidia AI accelerator.

They still depend on overlapping manufacturing resources. HBM begins with advanced DRAM dies, and producing a given capacity of stacked HBM consumes considerably more wafer output and packaging resources than conventional memory. Suppliers have also concentrated spending, equipment, and engineering work on the more profitable AI segment.

Every production line converted or optimized for HBM can reduce the industry’s flexibility to make standard server DRAM, PC memory, or mobile LPDDR. New investment may increase total memory output while doing little to relieve the parts of the market serving phones and personal computers.

Cloud companies are willing to enter multiyear agreements and make large financial commitments because a shortage of memory can leave costly AI processors unused. Memory manufacturers therefore have a powerful incentive to prioritize these customers over consumer device companies seeking lower component prices.

The pressure is also moving beyond HBM. AI servers need large quantities of conventional DDR5 memory, while storage systems supporting model training and inference consume enterprise NAND flash. This spreads the shortage across several categories that were previously less exposed to AI infrastructure spending.

Apple Faces Expensive Supply Decisions

Apple purchases enormous volumes of LPDDR memory for the iPhone and iPad, along with memory used across the Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, Apple TV, and HomePod product families. Its size gives it substantial negotiating power, but it cannot purchase capacity that suppliers have already assigned to other customers.

The company has acknowledged that memory prices are continuing to rise. Tim Cook recently characterized the pricing environment as a “hundred-year flood” and said Apple expects to pay more for memory during the September quarter.

Apple has already raised prices across several Mac and iPad models while reducing or removing some high-memory Mac configurations. Although memory availability is not the sole influence on every product decision, eliminating configurations can help a manufacturer concentrate limited components around the models expected to sell in larger volumes.

The design of Apple silicon makes memory allocation especially sensitive. Unified memory is integrated closely with the processor package and cannot be upgraded after purchase. Apple must decide how many chips to secure for each configuration long before customers begin ordering those machines.

A shortage can therefore affect more than the cost of an individual RAM component. It can influence base memory capacities, upgrade pricing, the number of configurations offered, production volume, and the timing of product introductions.

Apple can absorb part of the increase through its margins, negotiate longer agreements, adjust retail pricing, or redesign its product mix. Each option carries a cost. Absorbing higher prices reduces profit per device, while passing them to customers could weaken demand. Restricting configurations risks pushing professional users away from Macs that no longer offer enough unified memory.

The company is reportedly evaluating DRAM from CXMT for products sold in China. Adding a fourth major source could improve access to conventional memory, but qualification takes time because Apple must confirm performance, reliability, manufacturing consistency, and compatibility with its hardware.

The political environment creates another obstacle. US lawmakers have raised national security concerns about American companies purchasing memory from Chinese semiconductor manufacturers. Apple could consequently find that a supplier is technically suitable for China-market products but difficult to introduce across its international supply chain.

Sold Out Does Not Mean Stores Will Be Empty

The reported capacity commitments do not guarantee a universal shortage of finished devices. Apple and other major manufacturers will still receive memory under agreements they have already negotiated.

Products can also continue reaching stores while component prices rise. Manufacturers may reduce discounts, increase retail prices, limit premium configurations, or give priority to their most profitable devices before allowing a shortage to stop production completely.

Contracted capacity can change if customers reduce orders or if AI infrastructure investment slows. Memory makers could redirect production between customers and product categories, although converting lines and qualifying different chips cannot happen immediately.

CXMT could also expand faster than expected, particularly in mainstream DRAM. Its products have reportedly attracted interest from HP, Asus, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Apple as established suppliers devote more resources to AI memory. CXMT is unlikely to replace the combined output of Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron during 2027, but it may provide an alternative for products sold outside the United States.

New production facilities offer little immediate relief. Semiconductor factories require construction, equipment installation, process development, yield improvement, and customer qualification before reaching dependable volume.

Micron expects the first wafer output from its initial new Idaho facility around the middle of 2027, with a second facility following in late 2028. Those first wafers will still need to pass through the production ramp and customer qualification process, leaving much of their effect on available device memory for 2028 and later.

The post RAM Production Capacity Is Reportedly Sold Out Through 2027 appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Apple lawsuit against OpenAI has reached its first major procedural challenge, with the ChatGPT developer asking a US federal judge to dismiss allegations that it acquired or used trade secrets taken by former Apple employees.

OpenAI submitted its 31-page dismissal motion on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The filing argues that Apple has not adequately identified protectable trade secrets or alleged facts showing that OpenAI misappropriated confidential information.

Apple filed the case on July 10 against OpenAI, its io Products hardware operation, former Apple Vice President Tang Yew Tan, and former electrical engineer Chang Liu. The complaint accuses the defendants of obtaining information connected to Apple’s product development, manufacturing, components, testing, and supply chain operations.

The allegations have not been proven, and OpenAI denies possessing or seeking Apple’s trade secrets. US District Judge Edward Davila must now decide whether Apple’s complaint contains enough factual detail for the litigation to continue.

OpenAI Challenges the Apple Lawsuit

OpenAI’s motion focuses initially on how Apple described the information it claims was stolen. According to OpenAI, the complaint relies on generalized product-development categories without identifying the protected information with enough precision.

Trade secret plaintiffs face a difficult balance at the beginning of litigation. Apple must describe the protected material sufficiently to establish a plausible legal claim, but revealing the material publicly could expose the same information it is trying to protect.

Sensitive details can later be handled under seal or through a protective order. At the dismissal stage, however, Apple must still provide enough information for the court to distinguish genuine trade secrets from general engineering knowledge, employee experience, or skills acquired through years of work.

OpenAI argues that Apple has not crossed that threshold. Its motion says the complaint fails to establish ownership of a protectable trade secret and does not plausibly allege that OpenAI acquired, disclosed, or used such information.

The filing also disputes the commercial premise behind Apple’s accusations. OpenAI says it is developing products that are different from Apple’s hardware and has no need or desire to use the iPhone maker’s confidential material.

That position does not settle whether information was taken. A company can potentially misappropriate trade secrets even when its eventual product has a different design. The court’s immediate task is narrower: determining whether Apple has alleged facts that could support its claims if those facts are later proven.

Disputed Access to Apple Information

Apple’s complaint centers partly on Chang Liu, who spent eight years working as a senior system electrical engineer at the company before joining OpenAI in January 2026.

Apple alleges that Liu retained an Apple-issued computer and accessed confidential technical information after leaving. It claims he exploited residual authentication access on multiple occasions to obtain internal documents while already working for OpenAI.

OpenAI presents a different explanation. It says Apple employees contacted Liu after his departure and asked him to help locate files needed for ongoing Apple work. The company published redacted messages that it says support this account.

OpenAI argues that Apple’s systems and policies allowed personal and corporate information to become intermingled through iCloud accounts. Former employees, it says, could retain access to Apple files without requesting it or realizing that access remained active.

The motion maintains that Apple cannot treat the foreseeable effects of its own access-management practices as proof that former employees intentionally stole data. Apple, in contrast, alleges that its records document repeated access to restricted information rather than an accidental discovery of lingering permissions.

These competing accounts are likely to become central if the case enters discovery. Authentication logs, downloaded files, device records, internal communications, and employment timelines could establish whether access was deliberate, what information was obtained, and whether it reached anyone working on OpenAI products.

A dismissal motion normally tests whether the complaint states a legally sufficient claim. It is not a trial, and the judge is not expected to resolve every factual disagreement using competing evidence at this point.

Tang Tan and OpenAI’s Hardware Team

Apple separately accuses Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, of seeking confidential information from Apple employees during recruiting conversations.

Tan spent more than 24 years at Apple and worked on products including the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPod. He later helped establish io Products with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and other collaborators. OpenAI acquired the hardware company as part of its effort to create a family of devices built around artificial intelligence.

Apple alleges that Tan used confidential project names, retained internal materials, and encouraged job candidates to discuss unreleased components or bring physical parts to interviews. OpenAI rejects the claim that these interactions formed a coordinated effort to collect Apple secrets.

OpenAI says Tan repeatedly instructed employees that confidential information from previous employers could not be brought into its organization. It also offers an alternative explanation for an Apple offboarding document found in his possession, arguing that Tan retained it to help incoming employees comply with Apple’s departure procedures.

Apple’s position is that the document and recruiting communications must be examined alongside the other alleged conduct. It describes the events as part of a connected campaign rather than isolated employment or administrative issues.

The dispute comes during intense competition for engineers capable of developing consumer AI hardware. Apple alleges that more than 400 former employees have moved to OpenAI, although hiring people from a competitor does not by itself establish trade secret misappropriation.

A company must generally connect recruitment to the acquisition, disclosure, or use of protected information. OpenAI is relying heavily on that distinction, presenting Apple’s lawsuit as an attempt to respond to employee departures and its difficulties competing for AI talent.

Apple Seeks Immediate Restrictions

OpenAI’s dismissal request arrives shortly after Apple asked the court for a preliminary injunction. Apple wants restrictions imposed while the lawsuit proceeds, arguing that it could suffer harm if its confidential information is used during OpenAI’s hardware development.

The requested relief would prevent OpenAI and the individual defendants from acquiring, accessing, using, or disclosing the alleged trade secrets. Apple has also requested expedited discovery and forensic examination of relevant devices and accounts.

OpenAI says those restrictions are unnecessary because it does not possess or want Apple’s protected information. It has described Apple’s request as based on false information and has offered to cooperate in addressing specific concerns.

The two companies also disagree over their communications before the lawsuit. Apple initially said its concerns had been raised with OpenAI months earlier. OpenAI responded that Apple’s outside lawyers contacted the wrong person after confusing names and incorrectly described a conversation with OpenAI’s general counsel.

OpenAI says Apple did not present the specific accusations before filing the case and that the companies had previously discussed resolving any access issues. Apple has since provided additional information in support of its injunction request, including allegations involving other former employees.

These disputes have moved beyond ordinary court filings. OpenAI published messages and emails on its website to support its version of events, calling Apple’s lawsuit aggressive and poorly investigated. Apple has primarily presented its account through formal legal submissions.

Judge Davila could dismiss some or all of Apple’s claims, deny the motion, or allow Apple to amend its complaint with more specific allegations. Even a dismissal would not necessarily end the case if permission to revise the complaint is granted.

The next scheduled public test is an October 1 hearing covering Apple’s preliminary injunction and request for early discovery. That proceeding may determine whether OpenAI faces immediate limits on its hardware work before the underlying trade secret claims receive a full evidentiary review.

The post Apple Lawsuit: OpenAI Seeks Dismissal of Trade Secrets Case appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Apple has increased its estimated trade-in values for most current iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the United States. The adjustments give customers slightly more credit toward a new device, although some older Apple hardware and several Android phones have moved in the opposite direction.

The updated values are maximum estimates rather than guaranteed payments. Apple calculates the final credit after confirming the model and inspecting its condition. A damaged display, enclosure problems, missing functionality, or an inaccurate description can reduce the amount offered.

Most of the increases are modest, but they arrive across several of Apple’s largest product categories at the same time. Recent iPhones receive between $10 and $25 more, every iPad category listed in Apple’s summary gains value, and several popular Macs receive larger increases.

The revisions also reinforce the role of trade-ins within Apple’s retail operation. Credit can reduce the cost of a regular purchase, be delivered through an Apple Gift Card, or lower payments at the beginning of an eligible Apple Upgrade lease.

Trade-In Values Rise Across iPhone and iPad

Every iPhone 16 model included in the update receives a higher maximum estimate. The iPhone 16 Pro Max moves from $685 to $695, retaining the highest listed value among the affected iPhones.

The iPhone 16 Pro increases from $550 to $560, while the iPhone 16 Plus moves from $455 to $465. The standard iPhone 16 receives the largest increase within the family, rising by $25 from $435 to $460.

These changes narrow the difference between the standard iPhone 16 and the larger Plus model. The Pro models retain substantially higher estimates, reflecting their higher original prices and stronger position in the used-device market.

An additional $10 or $25 will not transform the cost of an upgrade, but it can offset part of a case, charger, AppleCare plan, or storage upgrade. The difference also becomes more relevant for customers comparing Apple’s direct program with a third-party reseller offering a similar amount.

Apple’s iPad adjustments are more consistent. The maximum estimate for an iPad Pro rises from $670 to $690, an increase of $20. The iPad Air moves from $445 to $460, while the standard iPad rises from $220 to $235.

The iPad mini also gains $15, moving from a maximum of $250 to $265. That means every current iPad category displayed in Apple’s trade-in summary receives a higher estimate.

Apple’s direct trade-in values are generally lower than the prices an owner might obtain through a private sale. The program instead emphasizes convenience: the device can be returned at an Apple Store or sent using Apple’s online process, with the credit connected directly to a new purchase.

A private sale can produce a better return, especially for a recent device in excellent condition. It also requires the owner to set a price, find a buyer, manage payment, and handle the transfer independently. Apple’s program trades some resale value for a simpler exchange.

Mac and Apple Watch Changes Are Less Consistent

Mac trade-in values receive some of the largest increases, but the category also includes notable reductions.

The MacBook Air rises from a maximum of $485 to $520, adding $35. The Mac mini receives the same increase, moving from $340 to $375. The MacBook Pro changes only slightly, increasing from $685 to $690.

Apple leaves the current iMac estimate unchanged at $355. The Mac Studio receives a larger increase from $975 to $1,045, reflecting the higher value retained by recent desktop configurations.

Older professional desktops move in the other direction. The iMac Pro falls from $325 to $315, while the top Mac Pro estimate declines from $2,090 to $2,045.

That $45 reduction at the top of the Mac range means Apple’s maximum Mac trade-in offer decreases even though several mainstream models receive more credit. The changes appear more closely connected to the resale position of individual product families than to a uniform increase across every computer.

Mac estimates can vary considerably because one model name can cover different years, processors, memory configurations, storage capacities, and physical designs. Apple asks for a serial number before producing a more specific estimate for a Mac.

The Apple Watch adjustments are similarly mixed. Apple Watch Ultra 2 rises from $295 to $305, while Apple Watch Series 9 increases from $120 to $130.

Apple Watch Series 10 remains unchanged at a maximum of $150. The original Apple Watch Ultra falls from $215 to $205, losing $10.

Wearable trade-in values can decline quickly because watches receive frequent updates and are exposed to greater physical wear than many computers or tablets. Battery condition, display damage, case wear, and working buttons can influence whether the device receives the estimated credit.

Apple also accepts devices that no longer qualify for monetary value. Those products can be returned for recycling, including older hardware and accessories that would otherwise remain unused.

Android Offers Face Several Reductions

Apple accepts selected smartphones from Samsung, Google, and other manufacturers when customers move to an iPhone. The latest revisions are less favorable to several Android devices.

The maximum Android estimate across Apple’s displayed range decreases from $370 to $360. Individual changes vary by model.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra drops from $230 to $200, a $30 reduction. Google’s Pixel 8 Pro declines from $170 to $165.

Other devices remain unchanged. The standard Galaxy S23 continues to carry an estimated value of up to $125, while the OnePlus 12 remains at up to $200.

Apple’s Android offers are primarily designed to remove friction for people moving to the iPhone. They do not necessarily match the amount available from the manufacturer, a carrier promotion, or a private buyer.

Carrier promotions can advertise considerably higher trade-in credits than Apple, particularly around a new iPhone launch. Those offers commonly require an eligible unlimited plan, a new line, monthly bill credits, or a commitment lasting two or three years.

Apple’s direct credit is easier to understand because it is tied to the assessed value of the device rather than a long carrier agreement. The best choice depends on whether the customer values flexibility, immediate credit, or the largest possible promotional discount.

A Higher Estimate Is Not the Final Offer

Apple’s published figures represent the maximum available for qualifying devices in suitable condition. The online estimate is based on the answers supplied before the product is inspected.

After receiving the device, Apple or its trade-in partner verifies its identity and checks whether it powers on, functions properly, and matches the reported condition. A difference can produce a revised offer.

Customers can accept or reject a lower revised value. Rejecting it cancels the trade-in and returns the device, although the payment arrangement for the accompanying purchase may also be adjusted. If the inspected value is higher than the original estimate, Apple says it automatically increases the credit.

The way the credit is delivered depends on the purchase. When a customer pays in full for a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, the confirmed value can be returned to the original payment method up to the price of the new product. Any remaining amount can be issued through an Apple Gift Card.

With an eligible monthly payment arrangement, the estimated credit can be applied directly to the new device’s purchase price. Under Apple Upgrade, a qualifying trade-in owned by the customer can reduce payments across the initial lease term. Another device cannot be traded in each time the customer exercises the lease’s upgrade option.

Values also differ between countries and can change without a product announcement. The revised dollar amounts apply to Apple’s United States program, while local market prices, available models, currencies, and trade-in partners determine estimates elsewhere.

Anyone considering an exchange should obtain a fresh estimate shortly before purchasing. Apple requires the trade-in device to arrive within the specified return period and says an online estimate is generally protected for 14 days after the customer receives the new product.

The post Apple Raises Trade-In Values for Most iPhone, iPad, Mac, & Watch Models appeared first on AppleMagazine.

You can delete stickers on iPhone without removing your entire collection, but the correct procedure depends on whether you want to erase a custom sticker, remove a Genmoji, hide keyboard stickers, or detach a sticker from a conversation.

For custom photo stickers and Live Stickers, iOS provides an individual Remove command. This lets you clean the sticker drawer while leaving every other saved sticker untouched.

Apple does not provide a protected Favorites folder inside the system sticker drawer. The Frequently Used section is created automatically from your activity and should not be treated as a permanent collection. If you have stickers you cannot afford to lose, save recoverable copies before beginning the cleanup.

Save Your Favorite Stickers First

The safest backup is to send your favorite stickers to a conversation with yourself. The sent copies remain inside the conversation even if you later remove the reusable versions from your sticker collection.

Adding Stickers:

Messages > New Message > Your Contact > Add > Stickers

Select each favorite sticker and send it as a separate message. You can also create a private conversation with a trusted contact, but messaging yourself keeps the backup separate from ordinary conversations.

If you accidentally delete one of these stickers from the drawer, return to the self-conversation and restore it.

Messages > Your Self-Conversation > Touch and Hold Sticker > Save to Stickers

For a sticker attached to the corner of a message bubble, open its details before saving it.

Messages > Your Self-Conversation > Touch and Hold Sticker > Sticker Details > Save

This procedure is especially useful for stickers received from other people. A photo sticker you created yourself can usually be recreated from the original image, but a saved sticker from another person may be difficult to replace if the original conversation is deleted.

How to Delete Stickers on iPhone

The easiest way to remove an individual custom sticker is through the Messages app. You can open any existing conversation because you do not need to send a message.

Removing individual stickers:

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Live Stickers

The Live Stickers tab uses an icon resembling a sticker being peeled from a surface. It contains stickers created from your photos, animated Live Stickers, and compatible stickers saved from conversations.

Touch and hold the unwanted sticker until the contextual menu appears, then release your finger and select Remove. Do not drag the sticker toward the conversation because that action may attach it to a message instead of opening the menu.

Touch and Hold Sticker > Remove

Only the selected sticker is deleted. Other photo stickers, saved designs, and favorite items remain in the collection.

Some iOS versions also display a Rearrange command after you touch and hold a sticker. This mode allows you to move the stickers you use most often toward the beginning of the collection.

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Live Stickers > Touch and Hold > Rearrange

Drag the stickers you want to preserve toward the first positions. You may also see a removal control beside each sticker while rearranging. Use it carefully because iOS may remove the sticker immediately without presenting a second confirmation.

A selective cleanup is safer than trying to reset the complete keyboard or sticker database. Removing and reinstalling the Emoji keyboard is unnecessary and may alter frequently used emoji without providing better sticker controls.

Delete Stickers Through the Emoji Keyboard

The same sticker collection is accessible from the system keyboard in Messages, Notes, Mail, and other supported apps.

Using system keyboard in Messages:

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Stickers > Live Stickers

Touch and hold the sticker you want to erase, then tap Remove. If the menu does not appear, confirm that you are viewing the Live Stickers collection rather than Frequently Used.

Frequently Used combines recently selected emoji, Memoji, Genmoji, and stickers. Items shown there are shortcuts to content stored in another section. Opening the Live Stickers tab gives iOS the correct context for managing your custom collection.

If the keyboard is compressed or several categories are hidden, swipe across the sticker controls until the Live Stickers icon becomes visible. The exact position can change as Apple adjusts the keyboard, but the touch-and-hold removal gesture remains the same.

Use Photos When the Sticker Menu Does Not Respond

You can also access the system sticker drawer through the Markup tools in Photos. This is useful when Messages tries to drag a sticker rather than displaying its menu.

Photos > Open Photo > Edit > Markup > Add > Add Sticker

Touch and hold the unwanted sticker, then tap Remove. You are managing the same synchronized collection, so a sticker deleted through Photos also disappears from Messages and the system keyboard.

Removing a sticker does not delete the source photograph. If you created the sticker by lifting a person, pet, or object from an image, the original photo remains in your library unless you delete it separately.

To recreate the sticker later, open the original image and lift its subject again.

Photos > Open Photo > Touch and Hold Subject > Add Sticker

You can then apply an effect such as Outline, Comic, Puffy, or Shiny. Live Photos can produce animated Live Stickers when the isolated subject contains usable motion.

Delete a Genmoji Without Removing Other Stickers

Genmoji created with Apple Intelligence are stored with the stickers accessible through the emoji keyboard. They can be removed individually without affecting your photo stickers or other generated designs.

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Stickers > Genmoji

Touch and hold the Genmoji you no longer want, then tap Remove. You can perform the same procedure from Messages.

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Genmoji > Touch and Hold > Remove

Removing one Genmoji does not disable Apple Intelligence or erase the other Genmoji you created. If you later want a similar design, open the Genmoji creator and enter the description again, although the generated image may not be identical.

Be More Careful With Memoji Stickers

Memoji stickers operate differently because iOS automatically creates a complete sticker pack from each custom Memoji character. You cannot normally delete one expression while keeping the remaining expressions from the same character.

Deleting the underlying Memoji removes its generated sticker pack. Before selecting Delete, confirm that you do not want any of that character’s poses or expressions.

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Memoji > More > Delete

If you only want Memoji and other stickers to stop appearing in the keyboard, use the keyboard setting instead of deleting the character.

Settings > General > Keyboard > Stickers

Turning off Stickers hides sticker content from the emoji keyboard. It does not provide a selective cleanup and should not be used as a substitute for removing individual items. Your saved stickers remain available when the setting is enabled again.

Remove a Sticker From a Message Without Deleting It

A sticker attached to a message bubble is separate from the reusable copy stored in your collection. Deleting it from the conversation does not erase the sticker from your drawer.

Messages > Conversation > Touch and Hold Message Bubble > Sticker Details

Find the sticker you want to detach, swipe left across it, and tap Delete. This removes that placement from the conversation on your iPhone.

Use this procedure when a sticker covers text, was attached accidentally, or no longer belongs in the conversation. If you instead open the sticker drawer and select Remove, you erase the reusable sticker while leaving previously sent copies in their conversations.

Understand What Happens Through iCloud

Custom stickers sync through iCloud to supported Apple devices using the same Apple Account. Removing a sticker from the iPhone can therefore remove it from the sticker drawers on an iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.

There is no Recently Deleted album for the system sticker collection. Keep the original source photo or send valuable stickers to yourself before removing anything.

After a deletion, another Apple device may continue displaying the sticker briefly while synchronization completes. Closing and reopening the sticker drawer usually refreshes the collection. A favorite preserved in your self-conversation can be restored at any time through Touch and Hold Sticker > Save to Stickers.

The post How to Delete Stickers on iPhone Without Losing Favorites appeared first on AppleMagazine.

The iPhone Ultra price could establish an entirely new tier within Apple’s smartphone range. Current estimates place the company’s first foldable iPhone above $2,000, with some industry forecasts suggesting an average selling price near $2,500 and higher-storage configurations approaching $3,000.

Apple has not confirmed the device, its name, or its retail price. The iPhone Ultra branding also remains unofficial, although it has appeared repeatedly in reports concerning Apple’s planned expansion beyond the Pro and Pro Max levels.

The foldable is expected to join the iPhone 18 Pro family during Apple’s fall hardware cycle. Rather than replacing the iPhone Pro Max, it would sit above it as a separate model built around a book-style design and a display that expands to approximately the size of a small tablet.

A price beyond $2,000 would make it the most expensive iPhone Apple has released. The current iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 in the United States, leaving a difference of at least $800 between Apple’s established flagship and the lowest estimates for the foldable.

Recent projections have pushed that gap even wider. Reports citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have discussed a possible range between $2,300 and $2,500, while an IDC estimate cited in supply-chain coverage placed the average selling price at approximately $2,500. Storage upgrades could take selected configurations closer to $3,000.

iPhone Ultra Price Creates a New Flagship Tier

Apple has spent years arranging the iPhone range around a price ladder. Standard models serve the center of the market, while Air and Pro devices address different preferences involving weight, cameras, materials, performance, and display size.

A foldable iPhone would require another level. Its internal display, hinge, structural materials, battery arrangement, and manufacturing tolerances introduce costs that do not exist in a conventional iPhone.

The rumored hardware points to a device intended to combine phone and tablet functions. Reports describe an outer screen measuring about 5.5 inches and an internal display of approximately 7.8 inches. When closed, the product would operate as a compact iPhone. Opening it would provide enough space for larger applications, side-by-side content, expanded video, and an iPad-style software interface.

Apple is reportedly developing interface changes that would let applications take greater advantage of the internal display instead of simply enlarging an iPhone layout. That software work may become one of the main distinctions between the device and existing foldables, particularly if Apple can connect it closely with iPad multitasking conventions.

The hinge is expected to use liquid metal, an amorphous alloy chosen for strength and resistance to deformation. Apple has also reportedly focused on reducing the visible display crease, one of the most recognizable compromises found on current folding phones.

Those elements help explain a premium price without guaranteeing that customers will accept it. A $2,000-plus phone would compete for spending that could otherwise purchase an iPhone and an iPad, a high-end Mac, or several years of conventional smartphone upgrades.

The device would therefore need to offer more than the novelty of a folding screen. Durability, battery life, camera performance, application behavior, repair costs, and long-term display reliability will influence whether buyers view the iPhone Ultra as a versatile computer or an unusually expensive phone.

Costly Engineering Behind the Fold

Rumors suggest Apple may use Touch ID in the side button instead of Face ID. The change would not necessarily represent a retreat from facial authentication across the rest of the iPhone range. A foldable chassis has limited internal space, and eliminating the TrueDepth camera hardware could help Apple manage thickness around the outer and inner displays.

The reported design includes two rear cameras and front-facing cameras accessible in both folded and unfolded positions. That arrangement may leave the iPhone 18 Pro Max with the more extensive photography system, despite the foldable carrying a much higher price.

Such a decision would position the iPhone Ultra around form factor and productivity rather than making it the automatic leader in every specification. Apple has used similar distinctions elsewhere, allowing one product to command a premium for its design while another retains advantages in cameras, battery endurance, or sustained performance.

Display production is another source of expense. Folding OLED panels require flexible materials, protective layers, specialized hinges, and tighter assembly controls. Apple’s reported pursuit of a nearly crease-free screen may increase component costs and reduce early manufacturing yields.

The company is also entering the category after competitors have spent several generations addressing hinge failures, screen damage, dust protection, and application scaling. Arriving later gives Apple access to a more mature supply chain, but its design standards may create additional production challenges.

Industry estimates suggest Apple’s arrival could help raise the average selling price of book-style foldables throughout 2026. Competitors already sell premium folding phones, yet a model priced near $2,500 would push the category further away from mainstream flagship pricing.

Apple Upgrade Softens the Monthly Number

Apple Upgrade could make the iPhone Ultra price appear less intimidating at checkout. The Klarna-backed program lets eligible US customers lease selected Apple devices through fixed monthly payments rather than covering the entire retail price upfront.

Current iPhones can be leased for 12 or 24 months. At the end of the term, customers may return the device, move into another eligible Apple product, or pay the remaining amount required to keep it.

That structure can produce lower monthly payments than traditional financing because the customer is not necessarily paying the entire purchase price during the lease. Part of the product’s value remains in the device at the end of the agreement.

A future iPhone Ultra could fit naturally into this model. Its high retail price and expected resale value would give Apple and Klarna room to separate the cost of using the phone for two years from the cost of owning it permanently.

No monthly figure has been announced for the foldable. Apple cannot price an Apple Upgrade lease until it establishes the phone’s retail cost, residual value, eligible term, and trade-in conditions. A simple calculation that divides $2,000 or $2,500 by 24 months would therefore be misleading.

The monthly charge may be considerably lower than a standard purchase installment, but the customer does not automatically own the iPhone after making the scheduled lease payments. Keeping it requires an additional payment based on the remaining value specified by the agreement.

AppleCare+ is also separate from the current Apple Upgrade lease price. That differs from the former iPhone Upgrade Program, which bundled AppleCare+ coverage into its monthly payments. Protection could be particularly relevant for an expensive first-generation foldable containing a flexible display and complex hinge.

Trade-in credit may reduce the monthly charge, while storage selection would push it higher. Sales tax, cellular service, accessories, and optional protection would remain additional costs. Apple Upgrade changes when and how customers pay, but it does not turn a $2,000-plus product into a lower-priced iPhone.

Limited Supply Could Intensify Early Demand

Apple is reportedly preparing millions of foldable units, but production may be heavily weighted toward the final months of 2026 and 2027. Supply-chain estimates have ranged from 7 million to 10 million devices, with different reports using different production periods and assumptions.

The foldable may be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max but reach customers later. That would resemble the 2017 launch of the iPhone X, which was introduced with the iPhone 8 family in September and released in November.

A delayed retail date would give Apple more time to accumulate inventory while preserving the device’s place in its fall presentation. It could also place the iPhone Ultra into the holiday quarter with considerable demand concentrated around a relatively small supply.

High pricing does not necessarily prevent shortages during the first weeks of an Apple product launch. Early adopters, developers, collectors, and customers waiting specifically for an Apple foldable represent a smaller audience than the conventional iPhone market, but they may still outnumber the units available at release.

Apple Upgrade could add another source of demand by replacing the full retail figure with a monthly lease price inside the Apple Store. That presentation may make the phone accessible to customers who would reject a $2,500 purchase while accepting a recurring payment and returning the device later.

Kuo expects only 500,000 to 1 million foldable iPhones to ship during the third quarter, a supply level that could push some deliveries four to six weeks beyond the opening preorder window.

The post iPhone Ultra Price Could Take Apple’s Foldable Beyond $2,000 appeared first on AppleMagazine.