2026-04-01 03:34:20
OpenAI has updated ChatGPT with support for CarPlay, which means CarPlay users can now ask ChatGPT questions and make requests directly from their vehicle dashboard.
Apple began allowing third-party voice-based conversational apps to interface with CarPlay in iOS 26.4, but apps need to implement the feature and get a special entitlement from Apple.
For the ChatGPT app and other apps that implement CarPlay support, voice has to be the primary method of interaction. Apple says that chatbot apps should not show text or imagery in response to queries.
Apple has a voice control template that apps are required to use. Apps have to display the voice control screen while voice-based services are active, and apps are able to have up to four action buttons. To use ChatGPT with CarPlay, an iPhone running iOS 26.4 or later is required.
CarPlay has supported third-party apps for years, but Apple limits the types of apps that are available to cut down on driver distractions. Apple has a list of allowed app categories, which includes audio apps, communication apps, EV charging apps, and navigation apps.
ChatGPT integration will let users ask questions hands-free, but the chatbot is not able to control vehicle or iPhone functions. There is no wake word, so users will need to open the ChatGPT app to use it.
2026-04-01 02:54:30
Apple is providing employees with a special gift in honor of its 50th anniversary, which takes place on Wednesday, April 1. Employees will receive a commemorative t-shirt, enamel pin, and limited-edition poster, all of which have the scribble-style rainbow Apple logo that Apple has been using for its 50th anniversary artwork.
An Apple Park sign says that products are "crafted by hand" and are available for employees to pick up until April 30.
50 Years of Thinking Different pic.twitter.com/jxx9gkzkE4
— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) March 31, 2026
Apple 50th Anniversary employee gifts!
— Mr. Macintosh (@ClassicII_MrMac) March 31, 2026
Each employee gets a 50th T-shirt, limited edition poster and enamel pin! pic.twitter.com/EpvT9no3Yh
2026-04-01 02:33:36
Just ahead of the launch of the AirPods Max 2, Apple has released new firmware for the headphones. The updated firmware is version number 8E251.
The AirPods Max 2 include the H2 chip, an upgrade over the H1. The H2 brings several new features like Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Voice Isolation, and more. The new firmware likely optimizes some of these new features.
Customers who buy the AirPods Max 2 can follow Apple's steps to get the new firmware.
To get the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and are connected via Bluetooth. From there, connect the Apple device to Wi-Fi, then connect the AirPods Max to power with a USB-C cable. Keep the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of the Apple device, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
From there, reconnect the AirPods to the Apple device, and check the firmware version to see if it's updated. Apple says if the firmware doesn't install, to restart the AirPods Max and try again.
2026-04-01 01:44:02
Apple's first-generation AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $59.99 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Overall, this is an all-time low price on the AirTag 4-pack. This model has been fluctuating in and out of stock on Amazon for the past few days, so be sure to grab it soon if you're interested.
2026-04-01 01:36:34
Apple today added the MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) to its "vintage" products list, meaning the device is now only eligible for repairs at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers if parts remain available.
The MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) was the final MacBook Air model released before Apple redesigned the laptop and gave it a Retina display in 2018.
Apple also added all iPad mini 4 and Apple TV HD (32GB) configurations to its "obsolete" products list, meaning those devices are no longer eligible for service whatsoever.
iPad mini 4 launched in 2015, and it was discontinued in 2019.
Apple TV HD was first released in 2015 and discontinued in October 2022, when the third-generation Apple TV 4K launched. However, only Apple TV HD units with 32GB of storage are considered obsolete for now.
A "vintage" device was last distributed by Apple for sale more than five years ago, while for "obsolete" that timeframe rises to seven years.
2026-04-01 00:43:51
The updated version of Siri that Apple plans to release in iOS 27 may be able to handle multiple commands in a single query, reports Bloomberg. With the feature, users would be able to make multi-step requests that Siri would carry out, such as getting directions to a location and then sending those directions to someone in a message.
Siri has long been limited to a single command for most requests, and the personal assistant is not able to parse queries with multiple components. Siri can answer follow-up questions without being activated via wake word, but the requests still need to be separate.
The ability to handle multiple requests will be part of the Apple Intelligence update that Apple has been working on since June 2024. Siri will have more personal context than before, will understand what's on the user's screen, and will be able to do more in and between apps. Siri will be able to access the web to summarize information, a feature that Apple could call World Knowledge Answers, and it may gain image generation capabilities with Image Playground integration.
Apple is also testing an updated version of the keyboard that would integrate AI. The keyboard could suggest grammar fixes and alternative words in addition to fixing typos, but Apple hasn't decided on whether to include it in iOS 27.
Apple plans to turn Siri into a chatbot that can compete with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Chatbots have no problem parsing natural language requests with multiple variables and actions that need to be completed. Apple is designing a standalone Siri app for chatbot interactions, but the personal assistant will be deeply integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
The updated version of Siri will be part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, software updates that Apple plans to preview at WWDC. WWDC 2026 begins on June 8 with a keynote event.
There's no word on whether the Siri features will be immediately available when Apple provides the first beta of iOS 27 to developers, or if it will take some time for the updates to roll out. Apple is planning to introduce the smarter version of Siri by September, but that doesn't mean that some features can't be held until an iOS 27 update next spring. As with some of the initial Apple Intelligence features, the new Siri capabilities will likely have a "Preview" label, indicating they are not finished.
