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The latest Apple news, opinion and analysis posts from Cult of Mac writers.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on News:

Apple Invites app gets biggest update yet with 7 new features

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Four screenshots of Apple Invites app show event details like location, weather, directions, guest list and a shared photo album.
The Apple Invites app lets organizers and attendees share event details like location, weather, directions, guest list and a shared photo album.
Screenshots: Apple

Apple rolled out version 1.8 of its Apple Invites app Thursday, bringing seven new features that make planning and sharing events easier than ever. The update, available on the App Store, is the second recent upgrade for the iCloud+-exclusive digital invitation service.

Apple Maps brings Miami F1 Grand Prix to life with stunning 3D experience

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3D Apple Maps for Miami F1 Grand Prix
By race weekend, you'll be able to see lots of 3D details around the F1 Miami Grand Prix race course in Apple Maps.
Photo: Apple

Apple Maps rolled out an immersive new experience for the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix, giving fans a detailed, interactive look at the race circuit ahead of the May 3 event. And it’s part of a broader plan to cover races throughout the 2026 F1 season.

Here’s one thing John Ternus must not screw up as Apple CEO

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John Ternus must follow a rule that Tim Cook and Steve Jobs both knew.
John Ternus must follow a rule that previous Apple CEOs Tim Cook and Steve Jobs both knew.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

As the upcoming CEO of Apple, John Ternus is surely getting deluged with advice, and I do not have the hubris to tell him what he should do. But my decades of reporting on the tech business have shown me that there’s something he absolutely must not do … because it could ruin the company.

Do not ship anything before it’s finished. You’d think that would be obvious, but it’s a mistake companies make over and over. Even Apple has done it a time or two — and that includes with a product still in its lineup today.

Apple’s $599 Mac mini is no longer available

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Apple quietly removes its affordable Mac mini from sale
The Mac mini just got a lot harder to buy.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of mac

Apple’s $599 M4 Mac mini is the latest casualty of the ongoing DRAM shortage. The machine is no longer available for purchase on Apple’s website.

It’s possible this is a sign that a new model with a faster processor is imminent.  But for now, only the M4 Pro Mac mini is available, and with ridiculous wait times stretching into July.

Apple releases iOS 26.4.2, which ensures deleted messages actually disappear [Updated]

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Apple releases iOS 26.4.2 with focus on stability and security
Update your iPhone today to get rid of bugs.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple on Wednesday released iOS 26.4.2 to fix a bug that allowed messages deleted by a user to remain on the iPhone.

“Notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device,” Apple said in its security notes about the update. “A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction.”

Beyond that, it seems like a minor update that focuses on various bug fixes and incremental performance improvements rather than new features. Tablet users got iPadOS 26.4.2 at the same time.

Plus, those not yet willing to make the jump to iOS 26 got their own update — iOS 18.7.8 also appeared on Wednesday, along with iPadOS 18.7.8.

Anker’s new ‘Thus’ chip could shake up the world of AI audio — and pressure Apple

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Anker Thus chip for earbuds
Anker's new Thus chip should come first to earbuds in May 2026.
Photo: Anker

Anker just quietly did something no accessory maker has attempted before: It built its own AI chip from the ground up, specifically designed to run powerful neural networks inside tiny, battery-powered devices. It announced the chip, called “Thus,” on Wednesday and plans to release it on Anker Day (May 21) inside its earbuds.

If the chip delivers on its promises, it could fundamentally change what we expect from earbuds — possibly including Apple AirPods — and other devices.

“Every AI chip built to date stores the model on one side and performs the computation on the other,” said Steven Yang, Anker’s founder and CEO. “To ‘think,’ the device must shuttle these parameters back and forth many times per second for every single query. Thus brings the computing power to where the model already resides. The model never has to move again.”

Why did Apple suddenly remove a top fitness app?

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why App Store pulled Cal AI app
The popular Cal AI app violated a handful of App Store guidelines, according to Apple. It's still keeping a close eye, apparently.
Photo: Cal AI

Apple briefly removed the popular calorie-counting app Cal AI from the App Store last week. The episode offers a clear message to developers everywhere, according to a new report: The company is still very much in charge of how apps handle payments — even in the wake of a landmark court ruling that loosened some of its long-standing rules.

Apple gears up for major iPhone camera transformation

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Big camera overhaul coming to future iPhones.
Big camera overhaul coming to future iPhones.
AI image: ChatGPT

Apple reportedly plans to make major upgrades to the iPhone’s cameras in the coming years, starting with the introduction of a variable aperture lens on the iPhone 18 Pro this fall.

But that’s just the start. The company eventually plans to utilize a bigger 200MP sensor on its primary camera, with a periscope telephoto lens for better image quality.

John Ternus promises Apple will ‘change the world once again’

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A photo of future Apple CEO John Ternus taken from the iPhone Air unveiling in September 2025.
John Ternus says we we can expect big breakthroughs from Apple in the future.
Photo: Apple

John Ternus, the Apple exec slated to become CEO in September, said Tuesday that the company is “about to change the world once again.”

Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of 
hardware engineering, made the pledge to Apple employees during an all-hands meeting. During the talk, Ternus and retiring Apple CEO Tim Cook promised to work together to bring great new products and services to market.

Trump pays tribute to Tim Cook

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Apple CEO Tim Cook before announcing a $100 billion investment in the U.S., Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the Oval Office.
President Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook shake hands in the White House.
Photo: The White House/Wikimedia Commons

President Donald J. Trump paid tribute to outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday. In a post on Truth Social, the president’s social network, Trump praised Cook in his signature style, calling Cook “Tim Apple” and claiming he called to “kiss my ass.”

Trump applauded Cook’s leadership at Apple, saying he did a better job than Apple co-founder Steve Jobs himself would have. And, as is his way, Trump littered the post with capital letters, hyperbole and a fair amount of not-so-humble brags.

Watch Paul McCartney’s delightful behind-the-scenes video of Apple Park concert

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Paul McCartney video at Apple Park
Tim Cook shakes hands with Paul McCartney before the show at Apple Park.
Photo: Paul McCartney

If you’ve been green with envy watching those grainy fan clips of Paul McCartney lighting up Apple Park last month for the iPhone giant’s 50th anniversary, Sir Paul just gave the rest of us a proper consolation prize. McCartney posted a polished, three-minute, behind-the-scenes film to his YouTube channel Tuesday, offering an intimate look at his celebrated March 31 performance.

Is Tim Cook Apple’s best CEO ever?

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Apple silicon will power future Mac desktops and laptops
Tim Cook's had a remarkable run as Apple CEO, with perhaps only one single misstep in 15 years at the top.
Photo: Apple

Is Tim Cook Apple’s best CEO? No, that title belongs to Steve Jobs — but Cook definitely comes in a very close second.

In a remarkable 15 years at the helm of Apple, Cook oversaw extraordinary growth, released a string of innovative products, and instituted important internal changes.

He performed almost flawlessly, and, to my mind, has only done one thing wrong.

Read Tim Cook’s thank-you letter to the Apple community

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Apple execs Deirdre O'Brien and Tim Cook greet fans at the opening of Apple Ginza in 2025.
As Tim Cook steps down as CEO, he wrote a letter of thanks to Apple users.
Photo: Apple

Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to Apple users.

As Cook gets ready to step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, he expressed his gratitude to the Apple community for making his work meaningful.

It’s a nice, sincere note of appreciation — and typically humble. You can read the full text of Cook’s letter below.

Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, John Ternus steps in

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Apple names John Ternus CEO as Tim Cook becomes executive chairman
Apple just named John Ternus as its next CEO, with Tim Cook becoming executive chairman.
Photo: Apple

Apple announced a sweeping leadership transition on Monday, naming longtime executive John Ternus as its next chief executive officer in September. Current CEO Tim Cook will move into a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors at that time.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” said Cook in a statement. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

Apple might skimp on iPhone 18 features to cut costs

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Apple might skimp on iPhone 18 features
iPhone 18, unlike iPhone 17 (pictured), might hue closer in specs to the budget model, iPhone 18e.
Photo: Apple

If you were looking forward to iPhone 18 as a meaningful upgrade of last year’s model, new rumors out of China might give you pause. Apple reportedly plans to cut costs on the standard iPhone 18 by paring back several of its manufacturing processes.

That would bring the iPhone 18 significantly closer in specs to the budget-oriented iPhone 18e, according to a prominent Weibo leaker.

Folding iPhone could include feature many assumed was off the table

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The folding iPhone Ultra could include a feature many though it would lack
The folding iPhone Ultra could include a feature many though it would lack.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Potential folding iPhone buyers can breathe a sigh of relief. New images of cases for the device — supposedly dubbed the iPhone Ultra — show it including MagSafe. Previously, we saw no sign of this feature in leaks about the much-anticipated handset.

This could have been a deal-breaker for some buyers.

iOS 27 will finally fix a frustrating iPhone Home Screen problem

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AI-generated image of an iPhone with an iOS Home Screen with undo/redo buttons
Undo and redo buttons could simplify iPhone Home Screen edits.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple will bring a minor but important upgrade to the iPhone’s Home Screen customization experience in iOS 27. It will reportedly allow you to “undo” and “redo” changes to your Home Screen.

This small tweak should make rearranging apps and widgets far less frustrating, especially when you accidentally move or delete something.

Your wait for M5 Ultra Mac Studio just got longer

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M5 Max-Ultra Mac Studio launch
The next-gen Mac Studio reportedly won’t ship until this fall.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The wait for Apple’s much-anticipated M5 refresh of the Mac Studio just got longer. The company will reportedly delay the launch of the next big MacBook Pro refresh to 2027 as well.

The ongoing DRAM and NAND flash shortages are to blame for the delay, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Make your iPhone completely hacker-proof — with a huge downside

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iPhone Lockdown mode: Apple’s most powerful iPhone security tool
You can be confident that Lockdown Mode will keep your iPhone safe from spyware.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

There’s a setting called Lockdown Mode you can activate on your iPhone that will make it virtually impossible to hack. Just by flipping a switch, you can make your iPhone incredibly secure. So secure, in fact, that Apple says no phone using Lockdown Mode has ever been hacked.

Sure sounds great. Surprise — here’s why you don’t want to use it.

Apple’s smart glasses come into focus [Cult of Mac podcast No. 16]

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Drawing of a person wearing Apple smart glasses
The latest rumor gives us a better idea what to expect from Apple's smart glasses.
Illustration: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New details emerge about Apple’s smart glasses, including possible shapes, sizes and colors.

Now for the important question: Will we — or anybody else — actually want to wear a pair?

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • Apple reportedly plans a last-ditch effort to get its Siri team up to speed on AI-powered coding. Meanwhile, Siri’s worse than ever! Will Apple make the WWDC26 deadline for the Siri upgrade?
  • The tech behind the first folding iPhone’s (supposedly) crease-free screen sounds insane.
  • A MacBook Pro setup puts the weirdest hinged screens we’ve ever seen front and center.
  • And finally, Griffin shows us how to walk back one of macOS Tahoe’s most divisive design decisions.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

iPhone users are more loyal to Apple than ever

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iPhone loyalty hits a new high
Love your iPhone? You are not alone. Very few iPhone users have any interest in switching.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Phone users are sticking with Apple at unprecedented levels, according to a new nationwide survey, underscoring the growing strength of the company’s ecosystem and the challenges facing rivals trying to win them over.

And while Android users’ loyalty to their smartphone maker is noticeably weaker, that doesn’t mean huge numbers are switching to Apple.

Dark cherry in, cosmic orange out in iPhone 18 Pro color lineup

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iPhone 17 Pro edited to a dusty purple color, showing the camera plateau
This image shows what iPhone 18 Pro could look like in dark cherry red (Pantone 6076).
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

New supply chain information reveals the four iPhone 18 Pro colors Apple might release this September. The popular and vibrant cosmic orange is gone, with a dark, wine-colored cherry red in its place, according to a new report.