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  • What new Apple gadgets to look forward to this summer

    What new Apple gadgets to look forward to this summer

    Apple recently shared news about its budget-friendly iPhone 16e, along with fresh MacBook Air and Mac Studio models powered by M4 and M3 Ultra chips. With those out of the way, let’s take a peek at what else might pop up from Apple this summer.

    Apple’s Summer 2025 Highlights

    We’re crossing our fingers for updates in at least three product areas before summer ends. Nothing’s set in stone, but here’s what’s on our radar.

    Smart Home Hub

    Apple’s cooking up a new gadget to control your smart home, kind of like a central command station. Picture an iPad-style device that could hit shelves as early as 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. That said, he’s hinted that delays might push it later into the year, tied to updates in iOS 18.4 or iOS 19. Another expert, Kuo, predicts a release between April and September 2025. Gurman added in February that it’s still a few months off.

    Mac Pro

    The Mac Pro is due for a summer 2025 refresh, per Gurman. Originally, folks thought it’d get the shiny new M4 Ultra chip, but the recent M3 Ultra launch in the Mac Studio has people second-guessing. Apple’s M4 Max chip doesn’t support a beefier Ultra version down the road, so the next Mac Pro might stick with the M3 Ultra—Apple’s fastest chip yet, they say.

    AirTag 2

    Apple’s planning a new AirTag for mid-2025, Gurman reports, though another source bets on May or June. This upgraded tracker will boast a better chip for pinpointing locations, possibly the second-gen Ultra Wideband chip from the iPhone 15. To tackle stalking concerns, the speaker will be harder to yank out. The look won’t change much, but its range might stretch further for sharper tracking.

    iOS 19

    Apple will show off iOS 19 at its June 2025 developer event, with a full rollout in September alongside the iPhone 17. The word is that iOS 18 work is slowing iOS 19 down, so new features might trickle out like they did this year. One rumor hints at a Camera app redo with a visionOS-inspired style—think see-through buttons and a focus on content. A smarter Siri is in the works, too, but it might not arrive until iOS 20, says Gurman.

  • Apple’s new MacBook Air fixes a tiny but annoying keyboard flaw

    Apple’s new MacBook Air fixes a tiny but annoying keyboard flaw

    Apple has made a small change to its latest MacBook Air that might not grab big attention but will make picky Mac fans happy. After 26 years, the company has finally fixed a little keyboard mix-up that’s been around since 1999.

    The Mute key, which first showed up on the PowerBook G3 ‘Lombard,’ has been updated on the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip. According to iCulture, it now has a simple speaker icon with a line through it. This matches the symbol you see on your screen when you press it in macOS, making things clearer.

    For years, the old Mute key just showed a plain speaker symbol. It didn’t hint that it turns off your sound. Then, when you pressed it, a different image—a speaker with a slash—popped up on the screen. Sure, the key could mute and un-mute, but the new design makes its job obvious, kind of like the mute button on an Apple TV Remote.

    This tiny tweak ends a weird design mismatch that stuck around through tons of Mac keyboards over the years. The updated Mute key isn’t just for the MacBook Air. The new iPad Air’s Magic Keyboard has it, too. For iPad fans, this feels extra nice since older Magic Keyboards didn’t even have function keys.

    This change shows how Apple pays attention to the little things, even if it took the company over 25 years to get it right. Looking ahead, it’s a safe bet that all new Macs will use this improved Mute key. The next big release, likely a MacBook Pro with an M5 chip coming around October, will probably have it, too. It’s a small fix, but it’s one more way Apple keeps making their stuff better.

  • ChatGPT now works right inside Xcode and VS Code on Mac

    ChatGPT now works right inside Xcode and VS Code on Mac

    OpenAI has made its ChatGPT app for macOS even better by letting it edit code straight in popular tools like Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains software. With this update, you don’t need to copy and paste code anymore. ChatGPT can now look at your code in these programs and change it right there. It’s simple and saves time.

    There’s also an “auto-apply” option. When turned on, ChatGPT makes the edits for you without extra steps. Alexander Embiricos, who works on OpenAI’s product team, showed how it works on social media. He said Windows users will get this feature soon, too.

    Right now, only people with ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Team plans can use this if they update their macOS app. OpenAI says everyone else—Enterprise, Education, and free users—will get it next week.
    This new trick builds on something ChatGPT started testing last November.

    Back then, it could read code from these apps but couldn’t change it. Now, it can do both. This update puts ChatGPT up against other AI coding helpers like GitHub Copilot and Apple’s Swift Assist, which already let you edit code directly in similar ways.

  • Apple wins case over claims it copied a journalist’s book for “Tetris” film

    Apple wins case over claims it copied a journalist’s book for “Tetris” film

    Apple recently won a lawsuit that claimed its Apple TV+ movie Tetris copied a book by tech writer Dan Ackerman. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Katherine Failla ruled that the book and the film weren’t close enough to back up Ackerman’s accusations.

    Ackerman, who used to lead Gizmodo and now runs Micro Center, started the lawsuit in 2023. He said the “Tetris” film was very similar to his 2016 book, “The Tetris Effect.” He took legal action against Apple, the film’s writer, Noah Pink, Marv Studios, the Tetris Company, and others.

    Here’s what happened: Ackerman shared an early copy of his book with the Tetris Company in July 2016. But the company’s CEO, Maya Rogers, reportedly told her team not to let Ackerman use the Tetris name or image for any TV or movie projects. Later, the Tetris Company sent a warning letter to Ackerman’s agent, saying they’d sue if he kept trying to sell his book for a show or film.

    The lawsuit claimed the Tetris Company then began working on its movie, using Ackerman’s book as the foundation for the script. When the “Tetris” trailer came out in March 2023, Ackerman spotted big similarities to his work. He sent a letter demanding the movie be stopped until legal matters were cleared up. Even though Apple knew about the letter, they released the film on Apple TV+ a week later.

    Judge Failla, however, said Ackerman’s book was non-fiction, so the filmmakers could use its facts as long as they didn’t copy his way of telling the story. She ruled in Apple’s favor.
    You can read Judge Failla’s full decision online. The “Tetris” movie, out since 2023, has been a hit on Apple TV+, earning an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Check it out on Apple TV+ if you haven’t already!

  • iPhone 17 Pro Max to get thicker for a bgger battery

    iPhone 17 Pro Max to get thicker for a bgger battery

    Apple is making the iPhone 17 Pro Max a bit thicker than the current iPhone 16 Pro Max, according to a Chinese tipster named Ice Universe. The new iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to measure 8.725mm thick, compared to 8.25mm for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That’s a small jump of 0.475mm. The leaker believes this extra space is “definitely” for a larger battery. Other than the thickness, the phone’s body is expected to stay the same as the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

    So far, there haven’t been any whispers about better battery life or size changes for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If Ice Universe is right, this could be fresh news for Apple fans. The iPhone 17 Pro models are also rumored to sport a big rectangular camera bump with rounded edges. However, Apple seems to be keeping the triangle setup for the back camera lenses.

    For its high-end phones, Apple might switch to an aluminum frame instead of the titanium one used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro. The back of these devices could also feature a new look, blending aluminum and glass. Ice Universe added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the super-slim iPhone 17 Air will have the same size, except for their thickness, which will differ. This tweak in design could mean longer battery life for users, something many iPhone lovers would welcome. We’ll have to wait and see if these rumors hold true when Apple reveals the iPhone 17 lineup!

  • iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro Max: Same size, different thickness

    iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro Max: Same size, different thickness

    Apple’s upcoming super-slim iPhone 17 Air is said to match the iPhone 17 Pro Max in size, except for how thick each phone is, according to a tip from leaker Ice Universe.

    Comparing iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Air

    On their Weibo page, the Chinese leaker shared that the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max have the same length, width, screen size, and edges. “The only thing that’s different is the thickness,” they explained. “The iPhone 17 Air is just 5.5mm thick, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 8.725mm thick.”

    If this is true, it also means the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be quite a bit thicker than the current iPhone 16 Pro Max. We’ve heard about the iPhone 17 Air’s slim 5.5mm body before, but Ice Universe’s info shakes things up compared to older rumors. Last year, screen expert Ross Young said the iPhone 17 Air would have a 6.55-inch display, or about 6.6 inches when rounded up.

    However, YouTube creator Jon Prosser disagreed last month, saying the iPhone 17 Air will come with a bigger 6.7-inch screen. (Young later stuck to his 6.55-inch prediction.) If Prosser’s right, that still doesn’t match the 6.9-inch screen expected for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple bumped up the screen sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max last year, and they’re likely staying the same for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Ice Universe added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s frame is unchanged, “just like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.”

    iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Air

    • Thickness: 8.73mm vs. 5.55mm
    • Height: 163mm vs. 163mm
    • Width: 77.6mm vs. 77.6mm
    • Screen: 6.9″ (174mm) vs. 6.9″ (174mm)
    • Edge: 1.15mm vs. 1.15mm

    Ice Universe has a good track record, correctly leaking iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max sizes in the past. Still, we’re keeping a cautious eye on this rumor until more people back it up. Apple should reveal the iPhone 17 family around mid-September, as usual.

  • M3 Ultra chip shows small speed edge over M4 Max in early test

    M3 Ultra chip shows small speed edge over M4 Max in early test

    The first supposed test score for Apple’s new M3 Ultra chip popped up in the Geekbench 6 database tonight. This gives us a peek at how it stacks up against other chips. You can find this powerful chip in the new Mac Studio, which Apple unveiled earlier this week.

    M4 Max vs. M3 Ultra

    Apple called the M3 Ultra its “most powerful chip ever,” and this early test seems to back that up. The 32-core M3 Ultra scored 27,749 in multi-core CPU performance. That’s about 8% quicker than the 16-core M4 Max, which used to be the speed champ. The test also shows that the M3 Ultra is up to 30% faster than the 24-core M2 Ultra.

    On the flip side, the M4 Max beats the M3 Ultra by nearly 20% in single-core CPU performance, which isn’t a big surprise. We’re waiting for more test results to see if these numbers hold. They seem a bit low compared to what people expected. For instance, Apple claimed the M3 Ultra could be up to 1.5 times faster than the M2 Ultra.

    That 30% boost we saw should probably be closer to 50%. Apple didn’t say much about how the M3 Ultra compares to the M4 Max, though. Real-life speed can differ from these tests, but tools like Geekbench 6 give us a solid starting point to compare chips. Keep an eye out—more Geekbench 6 scores for the M3 Ultra might show up soon, and we wouldn’t be shocked if they turn out higher than this first result.

  • New MacBook Air boasts huge speed boost over Intel model, but check the details

    New MacBook Air boasts huge speed boost over Intel model, but check the details

    Apple is making a bold statement about its latest MacBook Air, powered by the M4 chip. They claim it’s up to 23 times faster than the older Intel-based version. Sounds amazing, right? But there’s more to the story, so let’s break it down.

    First, Apple tested a 2025 MacBook Air with a 10-core M4 chip and 32GB of memory against a 2020 model with a 4-core Intel Core i7 and 16GB of memory. Both had top-notch 2TB storage. This means they compared the new laptop to the best Intel MacBook Air ever made, which makes sense for a fair test.

    Next, the huge 23x speed jump comes from one specific task: using a feature called Super Resolution in Pixelmator Pro, an app Apple now owns. This tool uses smart tech to make a 4.4MB image sharper and clearer. So, that impressive speed claim is tied to this one job, not everything you might do on a laptop.

    Apple’s detailed note says they ran this test in January 2025 on pre-release 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs with the M4 chip, comparing them to the Intel model. The results show how the new MacBook Air performs in this unique situation.

    What about everyday tasks? Apple shared more examples:

    • Crunching numbers in Excel is up to 4.7x faster than the top Intel model and 1.6x faster than the M1 MacBook Air.
    • Editing videos in iMovie is up to 8x quicker than the Intel version and 2x faster than the M1.
    • Fixing photos in Photoshop is up to 3.6x speedier than Intel and 2x faster than M1.
    • Browsing the web is up to 60% quicker than a similar Intel PC, with tougher tasks up to 2x faster.

    These numbers feel more practical for most people. While the 23x claim might sound like a stretch, it’s clear that any MacBook Air with an M1 chip or newer leaves Intel models in the dust. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, this could be your moment. You can order the new MacBook Air now on Apple’s website, with deliveries starting March 12.

  • Brazil gives Apple 90 days to open iOS to outside apps

    Brazil gives Apple 90 days to open iOS to outside apps

    After the European Union pushed Apple to make big changes to iOS and the App Store for users in Europe, other nations started looking into Apple’s rules too. Now, a court in Brazil has decided that Apple has just 90 days to let iPhone users in Brazil download apps from places other than the App Store, a process called sideloading.

    Apple Faces New Rules in Brazil

    According to the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico (mentioned by O Globo), a judge in Brazil said on Wednesday that Apple must allow apps from outside its store, just like it did in Europe. The judge believes Apple’s strict rules stop new companies from joining the market and competing fairly.

    Back in November 2024, Brazil’s competition watchdog, called Cade, told Apple it could no longer block app makers from selling digital items or sharing apps outside the App Store. Apple was given 20 days to follow the rules or face a fine of over $40,000 per day. Apple fought back, asking for more time, and a judge agreed, saying the changes weren’t urgent. Apple argued that quick changes could hurt its business. Last month, the company attended a public meeting in Brazil about this issue.

    Court Sets a Deadline

    Now, Judge Pablo Zuniga has made it clear: Apple has three months to update iOS in Brazil. He pointed out that Apple already follows similar rules in other countries without major problems, so it shouldn’t be a big deal here, either.

    The trouble started when Mercado Libre, a huge online shopping company in Latin America, complained that Apple forces app makers to use its payment system. Other businesses, like Match (which runs Tinder) and Epic Games, also told Brazil’s regulators they weren’t happy with Apple’s rules.

    An Apple spokesperson told Valor Econômico that the company loves “lively and fair markets” and competes hard everywhere it works. But Apple warns that these changes might make iOS less safe and private for users. The company plans to fight the decision in court.

  • New iPhone ‘Fold’ idea feels smarter after latest news

    New iPhone ‘Fold’ idea feels smarter after latest news

    We’re still more than a year away from Apple’s first foldable iPhone hitting the shelves. Rumors have been swirling for a while, but a fresh report from an expert suggests we’ve been picturing it wrong. This new twist makes the iPhone ‘Fold’ sound way more exciting and practical than before.

    The Foldable iPhone Is Finally Taking Shape

    Talk about a foldable iPhone used to feel like a far-off dream, kind of like the Apple Car that never happened. For years, people guessed Apple would jump into the foldable game soon, but those claims didn’t hold up. Now, in the last year or so, things have changed. Trusted names like Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Ming-Chi Kuo, and The Information say it’s real—and Apple’s aiming for a fall 2026 release.

    From Flip Phone to Book-Style Design

    Last summer, the buzz was all about a flip-phone-style iPhone—one that folds top to bottom. It’d be tiny when closed and stretch into a taller screen when opened. But the latest news flips that idea completely. Ming-Chi Kuo, who’s great at digging up supply chain secrets, says the foldable iPhone will open like a book. Picture this: a smooth 7.8-inch screen inside and a 5.5-inch display outside. That’s a big shift from what we thought before, and it’s got me feeling relieved and curious. Why? Because this book-style setup just clicks better.

    A Handy Mix of iPhone and iPad Mini

    I’ve always loved the iPad Mini—it’s small but mighty. These days, I stick to my 13-inch iPad Pro for work, and juggling another device alongside my iPhone feels like too much of a hassle. But this foldable iPhone could be the best of both worlds. With a screen that unfolds to nearly 7.9 inches—super close to the iPad Mini’s size—it’d be a phone when I need it and a mini tablet when I want more.

    Why This Feels Like a Win

    A top-down fold seemed odd and not very useful to me. But a book-style iPhone? That’s a fresh take—combining pocket-friendly size with a bigger screen for real tasks. It’s not just Apple chasing a trend; it’s a smart new option. I’m already looking forward to hearing more about this 2026 surprise!