iOS 27 includes a small new Phone app detail for birthdays: a fireworks animation can appear when you call someone whose birthday is saved in Contacts. To see the reported effect, a contact needs a birthday entered in its card and the call needs to take place on that date. The demonstration does not establish […]

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Apple has published a detailed explanation of how Apple Reference Image works on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The opt-in camera mode is designed to make a photo verifiable as a capture from an iPhone sensor at a specific time. Apple says Reference Image starts with the supported Main camera sensor, not […]

The post Apple Explains How iPhone 18 Pro Reference Image Verifies a Photo’s Origin appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple TV finished the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with 29 wins, and HBO chief Casey Bloys responded with praise for the competition while noting Apple’s financial scale. Apple’s tally covers both the Creative Arts Emmys and the Primetime ceremony. The company said Widow’s Bay took Outstanding Comedy Series along with its other wins, while Slow […]

The post HBO Chief Responds to Apple TV’s 29 Emmy Awards appeared first on The Mac Observer.

An unverified Geekbench 7 result attributed to Apple’s M6 chip has appeared ahead of the new Mac mini’s September 22 release, offering an early and incomplete look at potential CPU gains. Geekbench is a synthetic benchmark designed to compare processor performance through a defined workload. Its result can be useful as a point of comparison, […]

The post M6 Mac mini Scores 22,783 in Early Geekbench Result Ahead of Launch appeared first on The Mac Observer.

India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority has escalated an inquiry into complaints that an iOS 18 update caused display and microphone problems that led some iPhone owners to pay for repairs, according to Reuters. The reported escalation follows an earlier stage in which the regulator sought Apple’s response to the complaints. Reuters said the investigation is […]

The post India Escalates Inquiry Into Apple Over Reported iOS 18 Repair Costs appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple has updated its U.S. trade-in values, cutting the maximum credit for every older eligible iPhone while raising maximum estimates across the iPad and Mac lineups. The changes apply to Apple’s U.S. estimates and should not be used as official pricing in another country. Apple Trade In values vary by market, accepted device list and […]

The post Apple Cuts iPhone Trade-In Values While Raising Mac and iPad Credit appeared first on The Mac Observer.

The first episode of Slow Horses season six is now streaming on Apple TV. The six-episode season will continue with one episode each Wednesday through October 21. Apple released a trailer for the season in August, confirming the September 16 premiere and the weekly schedule. Its season-six material also confirms Olivia Cooke’s return as Sidonie […]

The post Slow Horses Season 6 Is Now Streaming on Apple TV appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini orders are showing extended delivery estimates in the U.S., while the orange HomePod mini is currently unavailable to order from Apple’s online store. The reported estimates apply to the U.S. online store at the time of the check and can change without an announcement. A color being unavailable online […]

The post Apple TV Shipping Delays Continue as Orange HomePod mini Goes Unavailable appeared first on The Mac Observer.

The first unverified Geekbench 7 result for Apple’s M5 Ultra suggests a substantial CPU gain over M3 Ultra, but the single database entry is not a substitute for independent testing. The listed result is for the highest-end M5 Ultra with a 36-core CPU. It should not be assumed to represent every Mac Studio configuration or […]

The post M5 Ultra Scores 52,516 in Its First Geekbench Result appeared first on The Mac Observer.

iPhone Duo could be harder to get at launch than Apple’s usual new iPhones, according to an analyst estimate that points to production limits around the foldable phone’s hinge. Apple has announced the iPhone Duo’s October timetable and its starting price, but it does not publish a production forecast or a configuration-by-configuration inventory chart. That […]

The post iPhone Duo Supply Could Be Tight at Launch as Hinge Constraints Reportedly Slow Production appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Slow Horses has returned to Apple TV with its sixth season, and Apple has now confirmed that the spy drama will continue through season eight. The extra renewal means viewers know the series has more stories ahead even as the new run begins. Apple has not given release dates for seasons seven or eight in […]

The post Apple Renews Slow Horses Through Season 8 as Season 6 Arrives appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple’s Mac Edge Light feature could expand to the iPhone, according to an unconfirmed code finding shared by researcher pdfu on X. The post points to iOS 27 release-candidate code and a device subtype that appears to reference iPhone Duo. This is not an Apple announcement, and it does not prove that Edge Light will […]

The post iOS 27 May Get Mac’s Edge Light Feature: Here is How It Would Work appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple says Live Rewind on Apple Watch cannot be used secretly because activation requires a deliberate double press of the Digital Crown, plays a chime, and shows a full-screen animation with a microphone indicator. The chime plays even when the watch is muted or headphones are connected. After activation, Live Rewind shows only a text […]

The post Apple Says Apple Watch Live Rewind Can’t Be Used Secretly appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple says Siri Recap can listen for conversations on Apple Watch, process the audio, and create a short high-level summary without keeping an audio recording for replay. The feature is opt-in, and users can control it by time, location, or a manual switch. Apple’s Audio Intelligence support document says raw audio is not recorded or […]

The post Siri Recap Privacy Explained: What Apple Does With Your Conversations appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple’s Apple Watch Ultra 4 technical specifications list precision dual-frequency GPS with GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou, but GLONASS is missing. The older Apple Watch Ultra specification page lists GLONASS alongside those systems. That makes the omission a real change in Apple’s published wording, although Apple does not explain whether it reflects hardware, software, regional […]

The post Apple Watch Ultra 4 Drops GLONASS: What the GPS Change Means appeared first on The Mac Observer.

T-Mobile says iPhone Handoff will cost $5 per month, giving compatible customers a way to use one T-Mobile number across two iPhones. The feature arrives with iOS 27 and is aimed at people who regularly switch between a primary and secondary phone. Apple’s iPhone Handoff support guide says two phones need iOS 27 or later, […]

The post T-Mobile’s $5 iPhone Handoff Fee: What iOS 27 Users Need to Know appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple has extended free access to iPhone satellite features for another year for eligible iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 users. The change lets qualifying owners continue using supported safety and messaging tools when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are unavailable. What the published information says Apple says the extension applies to eligible devices activated […]

The post Apple Extends Free iPhone Satellite Access: Eligible Models and Features Explained appeared first on The Mac Observer.

The iPhone Duo gives Apple a new hardware category, but its long-term appeal will depend on the apps that arrive after launch. A foldable 7.6-inch display has room for more information, but only thoughtful layouts can turn that room into a real advantage. What the published information says Apple has published developer guidance for iPhone […]

The post iPhone Duo Apps Could Make or Break Apple’s Foldable iPhone appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone may quickly become one of the category’s biggest products. A new analyst forecast says iPhone Duo shipments could give Apple almost one-quarter of global foldable smartphone shipments in 2026, despite the phone arriving late in the year. What the published information says TrendForce expects Apple to ship about five million iPhone […]

The post Apple’s iPhone Duo Could Capture 25% of Foldable Phones in 2026, Report Says appeared first on The Mac Observer.

The iPhone Duo has prompted comparisons with Apple Vision Pro because both are expensive first-generation products that need developer support. The comparison misses an important point, because iPhone Duo remains an iPhone when it is folded and becomes a larger screen when it is opened. What the published information says Apple says the device opens […]

The post iPhone Duo vs Apple Vision Pro: Why Apple’s Foldable Has a Clearer Purpose appeared first on The Mac Observer.