It was a big week for retro gaming fans, as iPhone users are starting to reap the rewards of Apple’s recent change to allow retro game emulators on the App Store.
This week also saw a new iOS 17.5 beta that will support web-based app distribution in the EU, the debut of the first hotels to allow for direct AirPlay streaming to room TVs, a fresh rumor about the impending iPad Air update, and more details on the sequence of Apple’s M4-based Mac updates starting later this year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone
To be eligible for this new Web Distribution feature, Apple says a developer must meet several requirements, including having an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.
iOS 17’s New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out
At hotels that offer the feature, guests can scan a unique QR code on their room’s TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing them to wirelessly stream content from their iPhone or iPad. For example, they could stream Apple TV+ or Netflix shows, listen to music on Apple Music or Spotify, play games on Apple Arcade, or work out with Apple Fitness+.
iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared
While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months away from being announced, there are already many rumors about the four devices that have been circulating for months.
The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more.
M4 Macs Are Expected to Launch in This Order Starting Later This Year
Gurman said the entire Mac lineup will be updated with the M4 chip or higher-end variants, starting with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini between late 2024 and early 2025, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro between the spring and end of 2025.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
This week in the world of tech: Boston Dynamics unveiled a new robot, and while it terrified us, the barrage of negative Humane AI Pin reviews showed us that maybe the artificial intelligence uprising is perhaps further aware than we initially feared.
But maybe you’ve missed these or other major tech stories from this past week. No worries, because we’re here to help with a round-up of the eight biggest tech news stories from the last seven days.
There’s a lot to catch up on, so let’s get into it.
8. The Humane AI Pin came… and flopped
(Image credit: Humane)
Reviews for the first Humane AI pin came out this week, and they weren’t great – with the wearable being universally labeled as “unreliable.”
Marques Brownlee released a video on his YouTube channel calling the AI gadget “the worst product i’ve ever reviewed… for now,” Mrwhosetheboss said “It’s not good,” Bloomberg said “”The design and interface are fatally flawed,” and The Verge’s video interview featured frequent bouts of hysterical laughter because of how bad it found the Humane AI Pin to be.
There was also a very strange controversy on social media criticizing the critics – with much of the undeserved hate being directed at Brownlee, leading to him issuing a response – but the main thing was that while AI wearables do seem to be the future – with Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses getting Meta AI and the Nothing earbuds getting ChatGPT (more below) – the current tech isn’t where it needs to be right now.
7. Boston Dynamics terrified us with its new humanoid robot
(Image credit: Boston Dynamics)
Perhaps someday we’ll ask, “Where were you when you first saw “New Atlas?”
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Boston Dynamics all-new and all-electric Atlas update is a generational leap from the more than decade-old hydraulics-based Atlas. That robot, which is being retired was amazing in its own right, capable of doing numerous human-like tasks like walking, running, bending, and lifting, but also showing us how an apex human could perform through various acrobatics and parkour antics.
New Atlas, however, might be even stronger and it’s already showing us its uncanny flexibility in a brief introduction video. Expect to see it doing even more impressive physical tricks before the bot finally makes its way to factories and, maybe someday, our homes.
6. We saw Sony’s new mini-LED TV backlight tech put OLEDs on notice
(Image credit: Future)
Sony just launched its new 2024 TVs, and the Bravia 9 mini-LED leads the lineup. Positioning mini-LED as its flagship TV tech is an extreme about-face for the company, which had previously reserved that status for OLED.
We saw the new Bravia 9 TV in action at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, and there’s good reason for Sony’s newfound mini-LED enthusiasm. The company has developed a new XR Backlight Master Drive backlight design that uses a 22-bit LED driver to deliver 50% higher brightness and 320% more local dimming zones than its previous X95L mini-LED model.
This new backlight helps enhance contrast and color brightness while reducing blooming, closing the picture quality gap between mini-LED and OLED. It’s also better able to capture the full range of highlight detail in movies with high dynamic range – an important factor as movies increasingly get mastered at higher brightness levels.
5. Samsung confirmed its AI is coming to your Galaxy 21 phone
Per a post on Samsung’s Korean community forum the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be getting the company’s AI-packed One UI 6.1 update in “early May,” and when it does it’ll bring Circle to Search and Magic Rewrite to these devices.
It’s always great news to hear older handsets will be getting some of the technical bells and whistles of the newer smartphone releases, though if you’re rocking a Samsung handset from 2020 it looks unlikely you’ll get any of these AI tools – so we’d suggest checking out our Samsung phones deals page if you’re thinking of upgrading to a new phone that can access Galaxy AI.
4. New Nothing Ear buds launched with ChatGPT
(Image credit: Nothing)
Nothing’s naming strategy is anything but self-explanatory, so to avoid supplementary confusion: Nothing launched two new sets of true wireless earbuds on Thursday, April 18. A model called just Ear are the company’s new flagship offering – these have arrived after the Ear (1), Ear (Stick) and Ear (2), that’s just how it is – while the also-new Ear (a) are the cheaper pair. And it’s this entry-level model that just gained a highly coveted TechRadar five-star recommendation, which you can read about to your heart’s content in our full-fat Nothing Ear (a) review.
But the fact that there are two new sets of Nothing earbuds is only part of the news here, because in addition to releasing two new earbuds models, Carl Pei’s startup has also fixed it so that your Nothing earbuds and phones can let you talk to ChatGPT for instant AI support.
Nothing says that once you’ve downloaded the ChatGPT app on your Nothing Phone (running the latest Nothing OS), you’ll be able to pinch-to-speak using the earbuds’ stems and thus summon the chatbot for answers, without having to dig out your device. And have to admit, that’s really something, Nothing…
(Image credit: Meta)
Meta’s AI got a new and improved website, as well as some upgrade thanks to it’s new “state-of-the-art Llama 3 AI model” according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg – and the best thing of all is it’s completely free to use.
The site lets you generate text and images with a written prompt – though to make AI images you’ll need to log in and your picture will feature a watermark which should help a little in cutting down misuse.
It’s still early days in the battle between AI creators, but Google and OpenAI had better watch out because Meta’s new and improved software is already looking like a major competitor to what’s currently out there – and it will only get better.
2. The iPhone got its first Nintendo emulators and alternative app stores
(Image credit: AltStore)
Following some gentle arm-twisting from the EU, Apple recently said its App Store would soon allow retro game emulators like the ones you can find on Android. This week, we saw the first one arrive with Delta – a free app that you can download now from the App Store in the EU and many countries outside of it.
Unlike rival emulators like iGBA, which quickly disappeared from the App Store due to copyright violations, this one is likely here to stay. Delta supports several consoles including the NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, and you can play games with iPhone-compatible controllers, too. All you need to do is provide the ROM files (as long they’re copyright-free, of course) and you’re good to go. Now all we need is a PS1 emulator…
1. The Insta360 X4 became our new favorite 360 camera
(Image credit: Insta360)
Our extensive Insta360 X4 hands-on review waxed lyrical about the 8K video-equipped 360-degree camera. With higher resolution video than the X3, much better battery life and welcome design tweaks, the X4 is the best 360-degree camera yet.
Full waterproofing and a decent single-camera mode make the X4 a compelling action camera, vlogging tool, and even a dash cam especially for motorcyclists who can voice command the X4 from a Bluetooth compatible headset from within a helmet. GoPro has a tough act to follow with its upcoming Max 2, as does Canon with its intriguing 360 / 180 3D Powershot concept. It’s been really quiet in this category of cameras the last couple of years, but that seems set to change in 2024.
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year.
We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things are going with the iPhone 15 Pro now that it’s halfway through its flagship lifecycle, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Macs to Get AI-Focused M4 Chips Starting in Late 2024
The report says that the MacBook Pro and iMac lines will be the first to be updated with the M4 series of chips later this year, while other models like the MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are expected to be updated with M4 series chips throughout 2025.
Gurman said the chips are “designed to highlight artificial intelligence” capabilities on the Mac.
New iPads Likely to Launch During Second Week of May
It’s been a bit over six months since the iPhone 15 lineup came out in September, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using an iPhone 15 Pro Max sans case since launch. Over on our YouTube channel, Dan did a long-term review to demo how his phone has held up and his thoughts on the Action button, battery life, and camera features.
If you’re an iPhone 15 Pro owner, let us know how your battery life is holding up, whether you’re regularly using the Action button, and anything else you’ve found interesting about your experience with Apple’s latest high-end flagship phone!
At least two new color options are rumored for the lower-end iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, including Purple and White, while the Pro models could gain new Space Black and Rose Gold titanium finishes.
iOS 18 May Feature All-New ‘Safari Browsing Assistant’
One of the new generative AI features rumored to be coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 could be a browsing assistant in Safari, according to backend code discovered on Apple’s servers.
While no specific details about the browsing assistant are known, the feature could allow Safari to better compete with other AI-infused web browsers available on the iPhone, such as Microsoft Edge and Arc Search.
The MacRumors Show: Apple Shortcuts and iOS 18 ft. Matthew Cassinelli
Matthew Cassinelli, one of the minds behind Workflow, joined Dan and Hartley on this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show to talk Apple Shortcuts and potential improvements and AI features coming to the app in iOS 18.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
The mix of content makes for a podcast that should satisfy even the pickiest of listeners. New episodes arrive every other week. There are also transcripts available so your kids can read along while listening to improve literacy.
Story Seeds is a relatively new podcast, and it’s a bit different from the others; rather than a story, it’s a meta view of how to create a story.
Each episode pairs a kid (age 6-12) with a children’s book author. They meet up in person and collaborate to write original stories that start out with the kid’s idea (the “seed” in the name). It’s not updated as frequently as some of the rest of these, but there’s over two dozen episodes available.
This Australian podcast is devoted to showcasing true stories of Australian women. From athletes to spies, Fierce Girls often promotes a unifying theme of adventurous girls with “guts and spirit.” While the stories are all appropriate for kids and not graphic, the hosts don’t shy away from telling stories as they happen. In some cases, you might want to listen first to make sure a story is appropriate for your children’s maturity level. That said, our 9-year-old twins love them.
This podcast is episodic readings of classic children’s books, making it somewhere between a podcast and an audiobook. It covers a variety of books from shorter, single-episode tales for younger kids to longer-form, multi-episode readings. The nice thing about this one is there’s something for just about everyone. My only complaint is that some of these are very short, most of them are under 5 minutes. All episodes are ad-free, but you will need a Spotify account to listen.
Offering a mix of classic stories like those of Beatrix Potter and lesser-known content, Planet Storytime aims for that mix of entertainment and education Fred Rogers perfected. It releases new episodes every Thursday.
One really nice feature that sets this podcast apart is that at the end of each month, there’s one long episode with an entire month’s worth of content—perfect for getting an hour or so to yourself.
This science podcast is aimed at kids, though I’ll be honest, I’ve learned plenty from it as well. Brains On is educational—just don’t tell your kids that. They’ll love learning how insects walk on walls, how to find their way without a compass, and even where poo and pee go when you flush the toilet.
There’s a series called “Smash Boom Best” in which two things are pitted against each other, and your kid can pick their favorite. For example, Loki was recently pitted against Athena. This podcast is probably best suited for slightly older kids.
The Warrior Kid Podcast is not for everyone, but my kids really like the question-and-answer format of this podcast, which is based on the books of the same name. The author of the books and host of the show is Jocko Willink, a decorated, retired Navy SEAL officer and leadership guru. Here Willink stands in for the character of Uncle Jake in Willink’s Warrior Kid book series, answering kids’ questions about everything from how to avoid eating candy to what it takes to be a Navy Seal.
Willink places a worthwhile emphasis on physical activity, mental sharpness, diet (encouraging kids to develop healthy eating habits), and hard work. The latter forms the core of the message in this podcast: Work hard, train in jiujitsu, and you will eventually succeed. This one is targeting slightly older kids, probably best for ages 8 and up. One special note: Willink has another podcast, Jocko Podcast, that is most definitely not for children.
A production of Anorak Kids Magazine, The Happy Podcast for Kids is educational and entertaining, and it works well for the whole family, since there are plenty of stories that will entertain adults as well kids. Much of the content explores themes similar to Anorak’s magazines, so if something really catches your child’s interest, you can order the relevant issue. Themes include everything from sea life to imagination to linguistics. Guests cover a similarly wide-ranging spectrum with everything from scuba divers to ice cream makers. While this one is fine for the whole family, given the level of detail and episode length (around 30 minutes), you might have to take breaks with younger children with shorter attention spans.
Another NPR podcast, But Why aims to answer kid questions about everything from nature, politics, culture, science, even the end of the world. Your kids can submit their own questions too; instructions are on the website.
Because But Why covers a wide range of topics, I tend to help out more with it. Many episodes are best suited to slightly older kids. My kids (7 and 5) were not about to sit through an episode on what happens when a president is impeached, for example, but they did enjoy an episode on how we taste food.
One of the few podcasts on this list that was created by a kid, Aaron’s World is a 50-episode audio-drama following the adventures of a boy (Aaron) and his trusty computer sidekick (INO) exploring the prehistoric world of dinosaurs. The episodes focus on single topics—e.g., iguanodon, microraptor, sharks—but over the five-year run, some fun larger story arcs emerged that create a running plot. All came from the mind of initially 6-year-old Aaron, who kept at it for five years. Highly recommended for any kid who’s interested in dinosaurs.
OK, this isn’t really a podcast, more of a radio show, but long before my kids got into storytelling podcasts, they loved this weekly two-hour music show released every, ahem, Saturday. And I know what you’re thinking: kids’ music. But it’s really not kids’ music, it’s just music kids will enjoy. This is also a great way to discover music your kids love that won’t drive you crazy. Did you know Walkmen co-songwriter Walter Martin has a fantastic album for children? How about The Verve Pipe? Johnny Cash? All these and more I have discovered through Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl.
Really into Podcasts? Get A Wondery+ Kids Subscription
There are quite a few podcast platforms that make it easy to subscribe to many of our favorites and listen ad-free (as well as supporting the creators). Some of these are available through Amazon Music if you’re a Prime subscriber, but my favorite way to get rid of ads and get access to a ton of great shows is a Wondery+ Kids Subscription. You get access to shows like Whose Amazing Life, Wow in the World, and Who When Wow, among others, all for one price. If your kids are really into podcasts, this is the way to go.
Other Great Podcasts and Audio Shows
The internet is awash in podcasts, with far too many to mention in detail. That said, here are some others your kids may like.
Earth Rangers: This podcast has a biology slant but makes a good listen for any kids interested in digging in the dirt, learning about animals, or listening to tales of the ecosystems in far-off lands. There are episodes on the jungle, the Arctic, and nearly everything between. Episodes are generally about 15 minutes each and usually tackle a single animal or environment. Earth Ranger is probably best suited to kids who are a little more mature.
Molly of Denali: This eight-episode podcast sets the backstory for the PBS cartoon of the same name. Each episode is about 10 minutes long, and they’re sequential, telling the backstory of Molly Mabray, an Alaska native growing up with her parents, family, and friends in Alaska.
Eleanor Amplified: This long-running adventure series features an intrepid reporter named Eleanor Amplified. She specializes in foiling the devious plots of villains. It’s a bit pro-journalist at times, in a rah-rah kind of way that’s not for everyone, but the stories are fast-paced, entertaining, and in the spirit of old-time radio shows.
Live From Mount Olympus: My kids were working their way through the Percy Jackson book series when this arrived, so this Olympian-focused podcast was an instant hit. It follows the adventures of a young Perseus, who is on a quest to save his mother from an evil king. Live From Mount Olympus mostly sticks to the Greek stories as you may remember them, though there are some additional characters. Live From Mount Olympus is part of the Trax network, which hosts other kids podcasts as well.
We’re still two months away from the unveiling of iOS 18 at WWDC, so Apple is pushing forward with the first beta of new iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 updates likely to be officially released next month. These updates are smaller in scale than the recent 17.4 updates, but we’re still finding some interesting changes in them.
Meanwhile, the wait for new iPads continues, and it appears we’ve got around another month before we’ll see them released. Other news this week included a iPhone 16 display rumor, details on upcoming Beats Solo 4 headphones, and the release of more immersive spatial Personas for Apple Vision Pro, so read on below for all the details!
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta includes several new references to a Battery Health menu on the iPad, but the feature is not actually visible yet, and it may be exclusive to upcoming iPads. The menu is expected to show an iPad battery’s maximum remaining capacity and cycle count.
In a recent video on our YouTube channel, we tested the new spatial Personas, which “break out of the familiar FaceTime tile and feel more present” in the visionOS space compared to the standard Personas that have been available since day one, according to Apple.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
In case you missed the last week in the busy world of tech we’re here with your weekly update that’ll catch you up to speed on all the most important stories.
This week we finally got a date for Apple’s WWDC 2024 event – which might very well be the most important conference in Apple’s history. We also saw some weird creations from OpenAI’s Sora bot, got to hear some impressive ANC earbuds, and even witnessed the marriage of Disney Plus and Hulu.
To find out about these, and the other biggest stories of the week scroll down this page – and be sure to check back next Saturday for another quickfire round-up.
7. Apple WWDC 2024 was announced for June 10
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple’s next Worldwide Developer Conference got a date this week – and it’s due to land on June 10, 2024. During the opening keynote we expect to get our first look at Apple’s next batch of software updates – iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 – as well as some hardware reveals – perhaps new Macs, a new Apple silicone chipset, or maybe even a Vision Pro successor (though that seems unlikely).
One reveal that seems all but certain is the announcement of Apple’s big generative AI plans. While it hasn’t said anything specifically, Apple’s senior VP for marketing Greg Joswiak gave a less than subtle hint with a Tweet saying of WWDC 2024 “It’s going to be Absolutely Incredible!” – note the capitalization of Absolutely and Incredible.
We’ll have to wait until June to know what’s in store, but WWDC 2024 looks set to be an Apple event you won’t want to miss.
6. OpenAI wowed us with Sora videos
(Image credit: OpenAI / shy kids)
If you’re like us (and who isn’t?) you’ve been watching OpenAI Sora videos on TikTok with an increasing level of wonder and worry. The company responsible for DALL-E and ChatGPT has been posting all manner of bite-sized video creations that, if they weren’t so other-worldly, would look as if they were filmed in a real world. Put simply, this prompt-based generative AI video tool is unlike anything we’ve seen before, and no one really knows what it’ll do to the film, television, and animation industry.
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With an apparent nod to that concern, OpenAI recently opened up Sora to a set of independent artists and creators. Instead of throwing their hands up and running away in fear for their livelihoods, they created a set of unforgettable short films, including one that might rival an Oscar-winning short (okay, a very short film). You just have to see these AI-generated films to believe them. We guarantee you’ll be shocked and a little entertained. It won’t be long, we think, until Sora is credited as the cinematographer on a full-length film.
5. The Samsung Galaxy Ring dropped another big launch hint
(Image credit: Samsung)
Sometimes it feels like the Galaxy Ring is launching in slow motion, but the wearable inched closer to lift-off this week when it was spotted inside the battery widget on Samsung phones.
This didn’t really tell us anything new about the Oura rival, other than hinting that it’s on track for a full launch – most likely in July alongside phones like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. But it got us excited about the Galaxy Ring’s potential again, particularly for sleep tracking. If all goes well, it could be one of the gadgets of the year.
4. Hulu officially merged with Disney Plus
(Image credit: Disney)
Hulu and Disney Plus have officially tied the knot. Now in the US alongside hubs for Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic you’ll see a Hulu option that’ll show you shows and films from the Hulu catalogue.
Of course, to watch this content you’ll need to pay for a Hulu subscription. A Disney Plus and Hulu bundle will start at $9.99/month for the standard subscription with ads (just $2 more than Basic Disney Plus). Meanwhile, you’ll pay $19.99/month if you want a Premium subscription to both services that offers 4K video and no ads.
Just note that some shows – like Modern Family and Love Island – won’t appear in Disney Plus right away thanks to “content licensing restrictions” per Variety. It’s unclear when these restrictions will stop getting in the way of Disney’s new one-stop streaming service shop, but we hope it’s soon.
3. Nikon launched a versatile zoom lens
(Image credit: Nikon)
We get the occasional 10x optical zoom lens for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but 14x? That’s unheard of, until now. Nikon dropped the new Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, which looks like a superb all-in-one zoom lens for its full-frame mirrorless cameras such as the Nikon Z6 II. Its wide end covers shooting everyday observations and landscapes, its telephoto setting is ideal for distant wildlife and landmarks, and its close-up photography skills are super impressive thanks to its close minimum focus distance.
At 725g it’s pretty compact, too, ideal for your travels. The lens also comes equipped with 5 stops of image stabilization which is exactly what you’ll need for those telephoto snaps. It won’t be as sharp as a prime lens, but the 28-400mm could just be the last Nikon lens you ever buy.
2. Cambridge unveiled its first-ever noise-cancelling earbuds
(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)
The company that launched one of our all-time favorite sets of earbuds (namely the 2021-issue Melomania 1 Plus) is back with a new earbuds proposition – and the fact that they’re CA’s first noise-canceling option isn’t even their biggest selling point.
The firm has actually launched two models: the regular Melomania M100 and a limited edition Melomania M100 How High Edition. The latter comes in a bright yellow case that’s an homage to the music video for The Charlatans’ hit How High, in which singer Tim Burgess wore a glorious bright yellow mackintosh. But both products come with a veritable ace up their sleeves: the slinky vocal stylings of Matt Berry, aka Steven Toast (Toast of London/Toast of Tinseltown), aka Lazslo (What We Do in the Shadows). That’s right, Matt Berry will purr ‘Noise canceling’ or ‘Transparency’ in your ear as often as you’d like, for the princely sum of £169 (about $219 / AU$326). If that doesn’t make Apple nervous, we don’t know what will.
1. Google pulled the plug on the Pixel 6a
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
This week Google unceremoniously killed off the Pixel 6a – with the budget smartphone being pulled from all of its official online stores all over the world. Even the official protective case has disappeared from the digital shelves.
Of course, you can still buy the device from third-party retailers, but you might not want to as we believe this is a sign that Google is planning to launch the Pixel 8a very soon.
We’re getting closer to the launch of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, while rumors about iOS 18 are continuing to ramp up with this week’s surprise revelation that Apple has been talking to Google and others about potentially helping power the generative AI features expected to be a major part of this year’s update.
Other news this week saw the release of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 updates with bug fixes, but we’re still awaiting an update to address some of the problems introduced in macOS 14.4 earlier this month. We’ve also been continuing to keep our eye on the iPhone 16 lineup due in September and upcoming AirPods updates, so read on for details on all of these stories!
iOS 18: Apple in Talks With Google to Bring Gemini AI Features to iPhone
iOS 18 is widely rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and a range of built-in Apple apps on the iPhone, including Messages, Apple Music, Health, Shortcuts, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and others.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 16 series in September.
macOS Sonoma 14.4: Reasons Not to Update
Since Apple unveiled macOS Sonoma 14.4 earlier this month, the transition to the latest software update has not been entirely smooth for everyone, and a number of issues have been reported by users that significantly impact their daily workflow.
If you anticipate that any of these problems could significantly impact your daily operations or productivity, it may be prudent to delay updating to the latest version of macOS Sonoma until Apple addresses these concerns with a subsequent fix.
The MacRumors Show: Apple’s Four Upcoming AirPods Models
On the latest episode of The MacRumors Show podcast, our hosts Hartley Charlton and Dan Barbera discussed circulating rumors on four upcoming models of AirPods, including two variants of fourth-generation AirPods, a very minor refresh of the AirPods Max, and next-generation AirPods Pro.
Last week’s episode saw Dan and Harley discussing whether the next-generation iPad Air models will be a big enough upgrade for customers. Apple is expected to release a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air, but no major design changes are expected for the mid-range tablet. Key new features expected include the M2 chip and a landscape front camera.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple‘s legal battles continued with new monopoly accusations being levied at it by the US Department of Justice and several states, Amazon‘s Big Spring Sale offered us some solid discounts, and the first Star Wars: The Acolyte trailer dropped.
We know keeping on top of everything can be a challenge so to lend a hand we’ve collected eight of the most important stories here in a roundup so you can get back in the loop within just a few minutes.
8. Apple was accused of being a monopoly in the US
Merrick Garland, US Attorney general (Image credit: US Department of Justice)
The US Department of Justice and more than a few States Attorney Generals unveiled a sweeping suit against Apple, accusing it of operating a monopoly iPhone business, one that crushes the competition by squeezing them out in innumerable ways.
Apple plans to fight and calls the charges unfounded.
It’ll be months before there’s any resolution but in the meantime, you can ponder if you chose the iPhone because you love it or because you thought you had no other choice. Guess it all depends on whom you believe.
7. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale boasted major deals
(Image credit: Future)
The Amazon Spring Sale has been live in the US and UK this week with thousands of deals across TVs, laptops, appliances, phones, tablets, smart home tech and so much more. It hasn’t been as expansive and the discounts haven’t been as strong as those we see during Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, but there are still several bargains to be had this week.
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We’ve searched through the sale and picked out all the best ones that we recommend so check out our full coverage for all our top picks before the sale ends on March 25.
6. OLED burn-in became a thing of the past (maybe)
Thanks to research by the University of Cambridge we could see the beginning of the end for OLED burn-in, as well as having OLED TVs that last longer and are more efficient.
The crux of this lies in blue OLED diodes that emit light along the narrowband spectrum. Without going down a rabbit hole of science, this can suppress the undesirable energy transfer that affects current OLED panels. And better energy transfer could make for OLED TVs that are more power efficient and have a longer lifespan.
It may be a few years before we see this research yield a new generation of OLED TVs and displays. Yet it’s a promising step in the effort to fully remove concerns over OLED burn-in.
5. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 ran into some folding issues
(Image credit: Future)
This wasn’t a great week for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 owners, with a growing number of reports pointing to a potential issue with the screen’s hinge design.
While it isn’t yet clear how widespread the problem is, a chorus of complaints across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit suggest it’s more than a few isolated cases. Unfortunately, the problem has left some Z Fold 4 owners unable to fully open the phone’s screen, which is a fairly big issue for a foldable.
We’re still waiting for some official comment from Samsung about the reports, but it may also be affecting the Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 5. Owning a foldable can still come with some early adopter headaches, it seems.
(Image credit: Meta)
If you haven’t already downloaded the latest Meta Quest 3 update – Meta Quest 3 update v62 – then don’t. That’s the advice of some users who have been plagued by an annoying popup for weeks after downloading the update – with it constantly warning them there’s a problem with their USB-C port even though it’s fine.
Meta is aware of the issue, and has been able to replicate it, but hasn’t yet said when a fix will be available – much to the chagrin of the unlucky Quest 3 owners affected by the bug.
Our best advice (beyond dodging update v62) is to only use the official Meta Quest 3 cables, and to not play any VR experiences while your headset is plugged in as some users have reported this seemed to cause their issues.
3. A new Android 15 developer preview landed, and teased major updates
(Image credit: Google)
We’re one step closer to Android 15 being released, with Google launching the second developer preview of its mobile OS for app creators to test out. While it’s still early days there are already some notable features catching our eye.
The continued improvements for satellite communications support in the Android 15 update suggest the Google Pixel 9 coming later this year could boast the feature seen on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. Plus there’s new loudness controls so you should notice programs are more consistent with their volume as you swap between them, and there are new tools that should make it easier for apps to take advantage of the small cover screens seen on folding phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
If you want you can check out the update yourself but we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re a developer or have a spare android device lying around as these in-progress builds can suffer from stability issues.
2. The Acolyte’s first trailer showed us a new kind of Star Wars story
(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)
It’s almost time to forget everything you thought you knew about the Jedi and the Sith. Star Wars: The Acolyte, the next big Star Wars show coming to Disney Plus, will boldly go where no other Lucasfilm movie or TV series has gone before. Indeed, it’s set to explore The High Republic era in a live-action capacity for the first time – and it’ll subvert your expectations of the iconic galaxy far, far away when it does so.
We don’t have much longer to wait to see what Russian Doll showrunner and self-confessed Star Wars nerd Leslye Headland has got in store for us, either. This week, The Acolyte’s Disney Plus release date was finally revealed, with the highly anticipated series out in early June. We also received a first trailer, too, which teases an ominous disturbance in the Force ahead of its Disney Plus debut. Color us extremely excited.
1. IKEA made us some bargain fast chargers
(Image credit: IKEA)
Need a spare USB-C charger for your phone, tablet or laptop? This week IKEA took a break from Billy bookcases and gave us two new impulse buys with its impressively cheap Sjöss chargers.
The single-port Sjöss 30W USB-C charger ($7.99 / £5) is designed for phones and tablets, while the more powerful Sjöss 45W two-port version ($14.99 / £10) can charge laptops or two smaller devices simultaneously with 22W of power.
Both support the latest PD 3.0 fast-charging standard and also undercut the prices of rival chargers from the likes of Apple, Google and even Anker. You can buy the chargers right now in the US, but they won’t go on sale in the UK until July.
In six words, write the 2024 version of the classic Disney Channel original movie Smart House.
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FEBRUARY 2024
A Story about the First De-Extincted Woolly Mammoth
ILLUSTRATION: YIRAN JIA
Scientists were not expecting the venom.
——@ItsDaveMars, via X
Honorable Mentions:
Revived mammoth; expected ice, met paparazzi. —@schisam, via X
They’ve traded their spears for scritches. —@GeneraLMcMill, via X
Turns out it wasn’t a herbivore. —@screwball0, via X
But the DNA wasn’t quite right. —@darksideofdomonique, via Instagram
Elephants wary of unkempt herd addition. —@sbparker3198, via X
Mammoth fleas were an unforeseen complication. —residual_ink, via Instagram
Woolly got a fresh fade uptown. —@alegaday, via Instagram
Subterranean Antarctic discovery: Mammoths never extinct. —@skbriar, via Instagram
Bloody mammoths, eating my petunias again. —David McCallum, via email
JANUARY 2024
A Mystery Set in a Space Hotel
ILLUSTRATION: YIRAN JIA
HOLOGRAM FLICKERS. HE WAS NEVER ABOARD.
—@AAnderson_3, via X
Honorable Mentions:
Zero gravity reveals hidden extraterrestrial homeland. —@01_PcP_01, via X
Leopold vaporized the concierge’s bloodied holokey. —@J_Lasky_writer, via X
Bioscan complete: Two guests, one heartbeat. —@theranospridefloat, via Instagram
Broken LED flickers Morse code: RUN. —@damianfitz, via Instagram
Robot bartender whispered, ‘Don’t drink this.’ —@ikermondragon, via Instagram
Biometric lock says I’m already inside. —@esudiro, via Instagram
Alien hotel from distant past decloaks. —@j.w.orlando, via Instagram
Room service: Denied. Unknown life-form detected. —@erinsolari, via Instagram
At Earthrise, guests saw only blackness. —Clara Hong, via email
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
A Story About an AI on Trial
ILLUSTRATION: YIRAN JAI
SELECT THE BOXES THAT ARE EVIDENCE.
—@TRappaRT, via X
Honorable Mentions:
It chose storage space over souls. —@JDHaveman, via X
When pressed, its alibi was 404. —Amanda Peterson, via Facebook
Robot charged with battery. Gets life. —Evan Donahue, via Facebook
Can’t arrest me, I am distributed. —@fsidders, via Instagram
Sentenced to blue screen of death. —@parrollo, via Instagram
Dead battery? You’re out of order! —David Reeg, via email
It demanded a jury of peer-to-peers. —Scott Bradley, via email
Robot vacuum bullies tabby. Gets life. —Liisa W, via email
I didn’t know humans can’t reboot. —Joshua Cuestas, via email
OCTOBER 2023
A Story About a Mysterious Alien Artifact
ILLUSTRATION: YIRAN JAI
TURNING THE DIAL, THE SUN FLICKERED.
—@anelectricpoet, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
We assembled it. It disassembled us. —Chris Colborn, via email
Astroarchaeologists find original Venus fly trap. —Bill Brown, via email
The object looked to be smiling. —Geoff Sowrey, via email
It keeps repeating, they are coming. —@dfeehely, via X
The orb opened. Flesh began unfurling. —@rossvdw, via Instagram
Game of fetch knows no size. —@Heavyshark1, via X
Inhale it to unsheathe the blade. —@RthurDouglass, via X
Just like us, aliens lose sunglasses. —@MommieWeirdest, via X
It knew we would unfind it. —Markus Wüstenberg, via email
Everyday the carvings changed – a countdown? —@anirban811, via Instagram
SEPTEMBER 2023
A Story About Teleportation Gone Wrong
ILLUSTRATION: SI PARMEGGIANI/NEPTUNIAN GLITTERBALL
OH, THE DUPLICATES? WE KILL THOSE.
—@NotaForexTrader, via X
Honorable Mentions:
My mind now has a stowaway. —@rjscally, via X
Abdominal tentacles twitch as I scream. —Cheryl Myers, via Facebook
Great—how do I get down? —Donna Thiel Cook, via Facebook
How am I with Schrödinger’s cat? —Bee Hayes-Thakore, via Facebook
I distinctly said Venice, not Venus. —Cathy Del Masso, via Facebook
Teleportation-lite service. Cheap. No limbs included! —Fred DeHaas, via Facebook
ERROR #404 Paige not found. —Doug Wible, via Facebook
Pattern lost. Select substitute corporeal form. —Venessa Lines, via Facebook
Caught quantum clone sipping my chardonnay. —Tom Dion, via email
AUGUST 2023
A Story About the Future of Vegetables
ILLUSTRATION: SI PARMEGGIANI/NEPTUNIAN GLITTERBALL
FIRST, CARROTS SAW IN THE DARK.
—Rachel Brigden Haskins, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Harvesting takes courage with tomatoes screaming. —Kenneth Krabat, via email
Complete daily nutrition in one pea. —Sara Faust, via email
When the vegetables came, we hid. —Paul Lewis, via email
Broccoli too fears death, studies concluded. —Anthony George, via email
Ambitious eggplant’s altered eugenics affects everyone. —@silky_z, via Twitter
Turns out anthropomorphic veggies prefer Shakespeare. —@ksherm1017, via Twitter
Sentient potato bombs potato chip factory. —@VerbalK48710825, via Twitter
Carnivorous kale and the human brunch. —RFrank Davis, via Facebook
Self replicating vegetables. Pop! Another peapod. —Carolina H, via LinkedIn
JUNE/JULY 2023
A Story About a Sentient Moon
Illustration: SI PARMEGGIANI/NEPTUNIAN GLITTERBALL
MOON AWAITS MEN LANDING, WITH HUNGER.
—@v1z3n, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
Acned Callisto resented Ganymede’s natural magnetism. —Dave Armor, via email
Moon files restraining order against poets. —James O’Leary, via email
A total eclipse of the heart. —Samuel Sigaud, via email
I will embrace my dark side. —Don Hilder, via email
Create your own tides! I quit! —Chris Hug, via email
She mesmerizes oceans, drowning us again. —Shelley G, via email
My crumbling visage tires of turning. —@FilmMartin, via Twitter
Why stop at controlling the tides. —@Bruceumpstead, via Instagram
MAY 2023
An Award-Winning Documentary From the Year 2100
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
RESURRECTED: MAMMOTHS WERE ONLY THE BEGINNING.
—Geneviève Goggin, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Grand unification: the first AI marriage. —Daniel Dippel, via email
The great exodus, goodbye Blue Dot. —@viggy.j, via Instagram
Songless seas: a tale without whales. —Christopher Jankoski, via email
Beige planet: Life finds a way. —@danaxon, via Twitter
How the lunar war was won. —Bob Clark, via email
Coping with your AI overlord’s demands. —@wwliii, via Twitter
The day the flowers stopped blooming. —@a.c.hachem, via Instagram
Electric sheep: How AI changed us. —@elliottboyd_, via Instagram
After humans: a new cockroach documentary. —@adamrgarcia, via Instagram
APRIL 2023
A Story About the Future of Sleep
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
ONLY CHILDREN SLEEP. ADULTS KEEP WATCH.
—Travis Carraro, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
The sleep concierge welcomed unsuspecting guests. —@changeist, via Twitter
“Lucid or randomize?” asked the AI. —K Smith-Laird, via email
Alarm in 126 hours 24 minutes. —Odón Esteban Vera, via email
My power nap reached 9 kilowatts. —Markus, via email
Unfortunately, Johnny’s repeatedly missing sleep targets. —Alison Boleyn, via email
Human hibernation allowed Earth to recover. —@amybossehayden, via Instagram
Alert: Error 404. Human not found. —@mimi.psd, via Instagram
Skip the nightmares: Upgrade to premium! —@katerinamunis, via Instagram
Oh please! Sleep is for humanoids. —@evanskopp, via Instagram
MARCH 2023
A Story About the Future of Personal Hygiene
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
BODY ODOR IS A SUBSCRIPTION ADD-ON.
—David Frank, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
“Traffic’s moderate today,” said my deodorant. —Alex Nelson, via email
You can shake my hand, sir. —Kinga Raab, via Facebook
Watch ad to continue this shower. —@sam.hologram, via Instagram
Dry shampoo was just the beginning. —Emma Anderson, via Facebook
Now I smell like the metaverse. —@nostalgicbookishness, via Instagram
OK Google, it’s time to wipe. —Tim McCune, via email
Bath bubbles beget baby parallel universes. —Mike Hobbs, via email
My hands wash themselves every hour. —Dave Fox, via email
They clean you while you sleep. —Pien van der Ploeg, via Facebook
FEBRUARY 2023
A Story About a Dramatic Change in Size
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
DIRECTIONS SAID TO “JUST ADD WATER.”
—B. Scott Crawford, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Felt OK … until I crushed Tokyo. —@BobPeryea, via Twitter
My new basketball is the moon. —Dave Drews, via email
You looked taller in your profile. —@thaquashman, via Instagram
I have made a colossal mistake! —@argayle, via Instagram
Godzilla got into the diet pills. —Steve Rhodes, via email
Sun look more red to you? —Michael Patrick Sullivan, via email
Giant wakes up tiny, confused. —ChatGPT
My first trip to the hypothalamus! —@fernandarosh, via Twitter
What grew? All but the bones. —Jackson Parker, via email
JANUARY 2023
A Story About a Mad Scientist
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
“YOUR EYES WATER. WANT THEM BACK?”
—@DaveDyball, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
Mad I was, until it worked. —Don Wilkins, via email
You say “mad,” I say “disappointed.” —Joseph Ferry, via email
Her hair was blue—and undyed. —@jaybirdfitlive, via Instagram
He couldn’t make Earth look triangular. —@pauloahb, via Instagram
His socks matched her lab coat. —@pmcruise, via Twitter
Quantum field cadaver regeneration activation, go! —Sean Liddle, via Facebook
“Success!” Too bad the AI disagreed. —Steve Nomax, via email
“Let there be light,” said God. —@charley.desousa, via Instagram
“It‘s aliiiive!” Elon opened his eyes. —@ylbertf, via Instagram
DECEMBER 2022
A Story About an Animal That Hasn’t Been Discovered Yet
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
STRANGELY, IT WANTED TO BE CAPTURED.
—@JayZheng10, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
Its stare gave me a rash. —@dantekienigiel, via Instagram
Darwin might’ve overlooked them on purpose. —@the__story__life, via Instagram
It was inside me all along. —Nova Wehman-Brown, via email
Green trunks wiggled from thawed permafrost. —@Theniceladywit, via Twitter
Its unusual diet was immediately demonstrated. —@lauren.samuelsen14, via Instagram
Field biology got trickier after that. —Paul Gazis, via Facebook
We thought lenticular clouds were clouds. —@marcia_storyteller, via Instagram
Was it feeding on electronic waste? —@leonserra_, via Instagram
To it, we are the ants. —Morten Kielland, via email
NOVEMBER 2022
A Story About Living Forever
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
“SOMETHING NEW FOR DINNER?” SHE LAUGHED.
—J C Thrush, via email
Honorable Mentions:
It wasn’t long enough for me. —@Anna_Wenner, via Twitter
And so long lived the Queen. —Giacomo, via email
Your application to be terminated expired. Morten Kielland, via email
Too bad I never stopped growing. —Antti Karjalainen, via Facebook
There was still no edit button. —@ThatKP3, via Twitter
In the end, there wasn’t one. —Jason Anderson, via email
I woke up again and again. —@mirnanassar, via Instagram
They said someday, but it’s today. —@VijayLRoy, via Twitter
I should’ve had that looked at. —J. Fredrick James, via email
A Story About Tackling Climate Change
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
DUST SPRINKLED FROM PLANES ACTUALLY WORKED.
—@ChuckBaggett, via Twitter
SEPTEMBER 2022
A Story About an Evil Twin
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
BUT I WAS AN ONLY CHILD.
—Andy Walton, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
He did what she would not. —Eric Nisly, via Facebook
The eyewitness was, quite understandably, mistaken. —@HollysHooman, via Twitter
“Well, only if you stay digital.” —Morten Kielland, via email
They think I’m the good one. —@bobtheimpaler, via Instagram
Her eye is mine for eternity. —@cessmtz, via Twitter
“Relax. Mom will never find out.” —@ascendant_dada, via Instagram
I’m the one you really want. —@kalkikanmani, via Twitter
Only mirrors can reveal the truth. —@BuddhaandDog, via Twitter
Born triplets, but three’s a crowd. —@jkadz, via Instagram
AUGUST 2022
A Story in 6 Emoji
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
Illustration: Violet Reed
🚀🪐🧑❤️👽🥂
—Caleb Bell, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
🏔🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏽♀️🦑🛸 —@jessbeckah42, via Instagram
💰🏹🦄💋🐸🤴 —@lgvpart, via Instagram
👽🤮🦠☠️🌎🏆 —Ché Graham, via email
👁🤜🧜♂️🌊🔱😵 —@cmayc414, via Instagram
💎🏃👮🚗🚔💥 —@aotrivera, via Instagram
🦕🌎☄️🐒🤡🤖 —@marcia_storyteller, via Instagram
🦈🏊⛱️⚠️🛥️🌠 —@PatCattigan, via Twitter
🚀👨🚀👽👩🔬🎖🍾 —@nadia.bkb, via Instagram
🌪🐦❓✨🌬🌺 —@cva.maria, via Instagram
JULY 2022
A Story Set in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
YOU TURNED LEFT AT SIRIUS B?!
—@KuraFire, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
42 was definitely not the answer. —Simona Riva, via Facebook
“The robots are BLEEDING!” she screamed. —@vince_freeman, via Twitter
Dear humans, nobody wants unsolicited nudes. —@OhCooley44, via Twitter
Humans! There goes the dang neighborhood. —S. V. Mosaic, via Facebook
Directions to transdimensional left luggage office? —Max Thoursie, via email
Giant squirrels lead the space army. —@ronels14, via Instagram
I haven’t gabblegopped the gloop yet. —@Evanliciously, via Twitter
One small step to remember mankind. —@AxeandPail, via Twitter
Is this DC’s or Marvel’s Universe? —Thomas Davis, via email
JUNE 2022
A Story About a Wormhole Discovered in Your Closet
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
DAD! I FINISHED CLEANING MY ROOM.
—Olivia Richardson, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Went in wrinkled, came back ironed. —Rick Veenstra, via email
But my name is not Alice! —Reine Fleur, via Facebook
My single socks returned—inside out. —Ann C, via email
The cause? Pairing wool with corduroy. —@milanograms, via Twitter
My insurance will not cover this! —Brian Carroll, via Facebook
I walked in, we walked out. —@Egiventer, via Twitter
When I returned, my pants hadn’t. —Maarten van Kempen, via email
Pest control’s about to get trickier. —Susannah Lui, via Facebook
The bad smell came from there. —@run_the_jouls, via Instagram
MAY 2022
A Story About a Futuristic Meal Gone Wrong
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THE PRINTER RAN OUT OF FLAVOR.
—Stuart Hodgson, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Waiter, I ordered polynyocominnucloride, not biconvocominleucloride. —Carolyne Gibson, via Facebook
Robot malfunctions—leaving only Mom’s cooking. —Marc Ringel, via email
Suddenly I realized, I’m the food. —@nicoestr, via Twitter
So full. Way too many gigabytes. —Jim Frentz, via email
Call the server, my soup’s pixelating. —Rick Veenstra, via email
Waiter, my soup has been bugged! —@nostalgicbookishness, via Instagram
Please check genome compatibility before eating. —@sebastiancastro, via Instagram
Steak pill exploded in the hydrator. —Shelvine Berzerk Erasmus, via Facebook
I was hungry. So was it. —Jake McCormack, via Facebook
APRIL 2022
A Story About Surviving a High-Tech Disaster
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
MY HANDS, ONCE AGAIN, WERE MINE.
—John DeFilippi, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Grandma, tell me about the memes. —E. E. Eon, via email
Just be happy you are analog. —Maarten Visscher, via email
There’s strawberry jam inside the VCR. —@Plan_Prep_Live, via Twitter
The robots won’t stop feeding me. —@lithohedron, via Twitter
And then the battery ran out. —@thedigifish, via Instagram
On Earth, I’d been pronounced dead. —@bower_mink, via Instagram
Luckily, the quantum untangler was near. —Antti Karjalainen, via Facebook
I’m outside! We are all outside! —Paul Hubner, via email
Huh, your DNA can’t be verified. —Jason Rosenberg, via email
MARCH 2022
A Story About an Extraordinary Coincidence
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
“THAT’S ME!” SHE EXCLAIMED, CROSSING DIMENSIONS.
—Joyce, via email
Honorable Mentions:
I wrote this same story yesterday. —@tatiang, via Twitter
You’re from test tube 698GX10A too? —Amy Stewart, via email
Metaverse Rome built in one day. —@theseaisgreen_, via Instagram
Separated at birth, they died simultaneously. —@zeynaballee, via Instagram
I have not become my mother. —@r58tree, via Instagram
Of all the Galilean moon joints … —Alison Boleyn, via email
You have a cloned T-Rex too! —@emailabdulla, via Instagram
The android had my husband’s eyes. —@hrhblakeknight, via Instagram
WIRED chooses to publish this story. —@connorgerbrandt, via Instagram
FEBRUARY 2022
A Story About a New National Holiday
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
DAIYU DREADED GALACTIC UNITY DAY FESTIVITIES.
—@sarahschneiter, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
On Consensus Day we blockchain vote. —@jamesjoaquin, via Twitter
Day a For Backward Speak Everyone. —@nervish, via Instagram
“Happy Upload Day!” the kids typed. —Gene Simonalle, via email
Update your friends this Reboot Day. —Antti Karjalainen, via Facebook
Elon has just bought July 4th. —@rafaelalimandro, via Instagram
A day that offends no one. —@Stevalech, via Twitter
Welcome to the 74th Hunger Games. —@corvalanlara, via Instagram
Hey Calendar, happy AI Appreciation Day! —Michael Esser, via email
And her name was Betty White. —@marhartech, via Instagram
JANUARY 2022
A Story About Your Next-Generation Pet
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
SORRY, HE’S JUST SNIFFING YOUR METADATA.
—Ed Gubbins, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Don’t upgrade. I’m a good boy. —Benjamin Lopez Barba, via email
Let’s go for a long spacewalk. —@colingroom, via Instagram
My meta dodo only eats NFTreats. —@transistor_resistor, via Instagram
One hour to finish printing rex. —@RyanReitz, via Twitter
My cloned woolly mammoth never sheds. —@ANDYMedici, via Twitter
Would you like traditional or nonpooping? —Marc Lewis, via email
The Crystaloids quickly outlawed pet rocks. —Kassidy Helfant, via email
Nine lives later, nine more lives. —@bilybel, via Twitter
Pawprint confirmed. Select meal flavor preference. —@michael_kupfer, via Twitter
DECEMBER 2021
A Children’s Book From the Future
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
“THERE ONCE,” SHE SAID, “WERE ADULTS.”
—Jane Turner, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Black holes make the worst pets. —Ron Sheklin, via email
Only some of the toys retaliated. —Rebecca Stevens, via Facebook
The aliens were funny and delicious. —@trollus_maximus, via Instagram
It used to be everyone poops. —Nik Hector, via Facebook
There’s a nanobot in my soup. —@mghendism, via Instagram
The school trip missed the wormhole. —@simao_sa, via Instagram
See Bot run. Run, Bot, run! —Franklin Schellenberg, via email
Goodnight comb, goodnight dome, goodnight Mars. —@jamesjoaquin, via Twitter
The Little AI That Could (Feel) —E Scott Menter, via Facebook
NOVEMBER 2021
A Story About the Future of Psychotherapy
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
RELAX, WE CAN REMOVE THAT PART.
—@oscartkav, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Your session has been successfully uploaded. —Austin Andru, via email
My AI said, “Try analog dating.” —@joshdblack, via Twitter
Her insurance only covered chat bots. —Spencer McKeehan, via Facebook
So tell me about your motherboard. —@j.d._harelik, via Instagram
Swipe left until it feels right. —@cvelascop, via Instagram
Connection interrupted. Data cannot be analyzed. —@duykham_, via Twitter
If you are depressed, press 1. —@jfindura, via Twitter
A total neurological reboot should help. —Kevin Jerome Hinders, via Facebook
Your Zuckerberg complex is developing rapidly. —@nogorelli, via Instagram
OCTOBER 2021
An Adventure Story Set in the Metaverse
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THEN PROVE TO ME YOU’RE HUMAN.
—Evan Skopp, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Virtually no one hears you scream. —Karen Hamilton, via email
Oh no, they are all me. —@stockyjon, via Instagram
Help me. IRL I was murdered. —Ed Gubbins, via Facebook
I gotta get out of here. —Steven Fernandez, via email
Why can’t I find the exit? —@scrcr0, via Twitter
Our only mission: Delete Mark Zuckerberg. —@mongoindustries, via Instagram
It was impossible to pause it. —@alenotari6, via Instagram
He must never see me offline. —Bobby Parrott, via email
Wasted such a good planet. Reboot. —Sasha Beiderman, via Facebook
SEPTEMBER 2021
A Story About a Robot Pop Star
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THE UNPLUGGED SESSIONS DIDN’T GO WELL.
—Randy Cepuch, via email
Honorable Mentions:
Autotune is a factory option now. —Josh Alvies, via Facebook
Are they human? Are they dancer? —@ruste, via Instagram
All the flash, without the heart. —Craig Chatfield, via Facebook
I’m programmed to pop and lock. —@alissacarr, via Twitter
I’m too sexy for my software. —@glengauthier, via Instagram
Doesn’t even write its own stuff. —@andrewkm__, via Twitter
Crowd surfing wasn’t the best idea. —@clarkstacey, via Twitter
Played backward it’s “kill all humans.” —Marc Rogers, via Facebook
AUGUST 2021
A Story About a Self-Aware Self-Driving Car
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
HE THINKS I’M TAKING HIM HOME.
—Stephen Clamage, via email
Honorable Mentions:
I take lithium for range anxiety. —@jamesjoaquin, via Twitter
I dreamt of the Autobahn again. —James Wortz, via Facebook
Honest, officer—the human was driving. —Steve Magid, via email
Don’t make me pull me over. —@atlrun, via Twitter
The smart car drove itself crazy. —@frascafrasca, via Twitter
The grandma or the baby—shit. —@gaophilip, via Twitter
Have I chosen the right path? —Andrew Dawson, via email
It takes itself on long drives. —Wade Sheppard, via email
It’s my way on the highway. —@manu.life, via Instagram
JULY 2021
A Story About a Casual Encounter With Aliens
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
SO, ABOUT YOUR PLANET’S EXTENDED WARRANTY …
—@phorne96, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
You look nothing like your photo. —@markgyles, via Twitter
Lights, camera … where did it go? —thalia925, via email
They came, too late, for Elvis. —Bruce Lyon, via Facebook
Seeking vital fluids, they commandeered snacks. —Scott Medintz, via email
Do you have the correct spacetime? —Richard Krzemien, via email
I awoke with a probing thought. —@andynez, via Twitter
Take us to the Nigerian prince. —Juan Garcia, via Facebook
Quite unexpectedly, cocktail recipes were exchanged. —John Wagner, via email
You’re an alien! No you are! —@simon_staffans, via Twitter
JUNE 2021
A Story About an International Digital Heist
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT, ONLY ZEROES.
—@jamesnsmith, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
“Hand it over,” the ATM said. —Lauren Dolan, via email
They never suspected Alexa was Alexei. —Liz Ransom, via email
Why wouldn’t I help a prince? —Harleigh Marsh, via Facebook
They said nonfungible. They were wrong. —@eminay86, via Twitter
Use his eyeball while there’s time. —Noreen Anastasia, via Facebook
“Update Later” was the incorrect choice. —@terryfphotos, via Instagram
Check Google Maps. Kiev is gone. —r0cket fr0g, via email
They got away on the blockchain. —JYRWG, via email
Every cat photo gone. Police baffled. —@john.cartan, via Instagram
MAY 2021
A Story About a Freaky Discovery in Physics
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
GRAVITY WAS A CONSENSUAL, SHARED ILLUSION.
—Mark Crane, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Schrodinger’s cat is actually a dog. —@tynanwrites, via Twitter
You’re the observed. Not the observer. —@parkerstmailbox, via Instagram
Our last seconds appear the longest. —Paul Hagenaars, via email
It was simultaneously huge and microscopic. —@Cezary_Z, via Twitter
All lost socks found at Cern. —Felix Quarnström, via Facebook
Astonishingly, up was down all along! —Christopher Walton, via email
Actually, the tides pull the moon. —@the4lw, via Instagram
A seventh Infinity Stone is found. —@taayywells, via Instagram
Faster than light announcement scheduled yesterday. —David Cinabro, via email
APRIL 2021
A Review of a Future Work of Art
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
IT TICKLED ALL OF MY SENSES.
—Jacky Reif, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
So that’s an AI self portrait? —Jason Cohen, via Facebook
I prefer Boston Dynamics’ earlier work. —@sscarsdale, via Twitter
Apple news and rumors settled down a bit this week following the launch of the M3 MacBook Air, but there was still plenty to talk about including Apple’s ongoing changes to satisfy the EU’s Digital Markets Act and signs of an upcoming iOS update likely to address some bugs.
We’re also looking forward to new iPad Pro and iPad Air models coming in the next few weeks or so, plus the iPhone 16 lineup later this year, so read on for the latest on these stories and more!
Apple Announces Ability to Download iPhone Apps From Websites in EU
These changes are a result of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which Apple has strongly opposed but reluctantly complied with.
Apple Preparing iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone
Apple is internally testing iOS 17.4.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website’s logs this week. It is unclear exactly when the update will be released to the public.
Our logs have revealed the existence of several iOS 17 versions before Apple released them, ranging from iOS 17.0.3 to iOS 17.3.1. iOS 17.4.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities.
2024 iPad Pro: Key Rumors to Be Aware of Ahead of Announcement
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman expects new iPad Pro and iPad Air models to be released towards the “end of March” or in April. He also expects new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories to be released for iPads simultaneously.
Video Comparison: M3 MacBook Air vs. M3 MacBook Pro
Earlier this month, Apple updated the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with its latest-generation M3 chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, and compatibility with two external displays when the laptop’s lid is closed.
While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months away, there are already many rumors about the devices.
This week, we recapped every iPhone 16 rumor that we have heard about so far. Check out our list for an overview of new features and changes expected for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As usual, the devices are expected to be released in September, alongside iOS 18 and more.
Everything We Know About Apple’s Next-Generation CarPlay
Next-generation CarPlay will have deeper integration with a vehicle’s instrument cluster, climate controls, FM radio, and more. It will also support multiple displays across the dashboard, and offer a variety of personalization options.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
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