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iOS 26: Eight New Features in Apple Music

2025-08-23 07:08:00

Apple has made several updates to the Apple Music app in iOS 26, and it has AutoMix, which has become one of the most popular additions. ‌Apple Music‌ also features the Liquid Glass redesign like the rest of Apple's apps, along with new translation features and other quality of life improvements.


AutoMix


AutoMix is an upgrade to the crossfade feature in ‌Apple Music‌, and it is designed to provide more seamless song transitions. It transitions from one song to another as the song that's playing ends, using time stretching and beat matching for an undetectable shift.


Apple says that AutoMix is meant to work like a DJ, with songs transitioning at the "perfect moment" based on an on-device analysis of the key and tempo of the music.

AutoMix can be enabled when opening up the ‌Apple Music‌ app for the first time after installing ‌iOS 26‌.

The feature isn't perfect and it works better with some genres than others, but it is a work in progress that Apple is improving over time. AutoMix is not an Apple Intelligence feature, but it does require an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription.

Lyric Translation


If you're listening to a song in a different language, you can now open up the lyrics and get a real-time translation so you know what it's about. The translated lyrics are displayed alongside the original lyrics.


Lyric Pronunciation


For songs in another language, you can also get a phonetic pronunciation guide for singing them aloud, which is useful when taking advantage of the ‌Apple Music‌ Sing karaoke feature.


Pinned Favorites


There's now an option to pin up to six playlists, albums, artists, or songs to the top of the ‌Apple Music‌ library.


Playlist Folders


Playlists can be organized into folders in the iOS ‌Apple Music‌ app, a feature that has previously been limited to the Mac.


Home Screen Widgets


There are new Home Screen widgets that show your pinned ‌Apple Music‌ content. There's a medium-sized widget and a larger widget for pins, along with a new large Live Radio widget.


Animated Lock Screen Artwork


The Lock Screen now features full-screen animated art for the Now Playing widget while music is playing.


Karaoke Microphone


tvOS 26 and ‌iOS 26‌ turn the iPhone into a wireless microphone for karaoke on the Apple TV. When using ‌Apple Music‌ Sing, each participant can sing through their ‌iPhone‌, queue songs up, and send emoji reactions.


Read More


More on the features that are available in ‌iOS 26‌ can be found in our iOS 26 roundup. ‌iOS 26‌ will launch in September.
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

This article, "iOS 26: Eight New Features in Apple Music" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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What’s Next for Apple’s iPad Lineup

2025-08-23 06:11:21

Apple refreshed a few of its iPad models earlier this year, but we aren't done yet. There are still new iPads rumored to be coming later in 2025, plus we're already hearing details on 2026 ‌iPad‌ launches.


iPad Pro


Rumors suggest that Apple will update the iPad Pro models before the end of the year, introducing the faster M5 chip in the device. No notable design changes are coming because last year's update brought an overhauled look, but there are a couple new features planned.

The ‌iPad Pro‌ looks like it will be the first to get the M5 chip, which is built on an updated 3-nanometer process. We can expect modest performance and efficiency improvements.

There will be 11-inch and 13-inch size options, and the 2025 models will use OLED display technology much like the M4 models. Apple is rumored to be planning for two front-facing cameras, with one located at the top of the device and one located at the side. With this change, the ‌iPad‌ will be in the correct orientation for video calls regardless of whether it is positioned in landscape or portrait mode.

The M5 ‌iPad‌ could debut in either October or November, coming about a month after Apple releases new iPhone 17 models.

iPad Air


There's a new iPad Air in the works, and it could come in 2026, but there's no guarantee. We don't know much about the next-generation ‌iPad Air‌, but there's a possibility that it will feature a display with a 90Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz.

With the 2026 refresh, the ‌iPad Air‌ could be updated with an OLED display, but it's not yet clear if that's something Apple plans to debut next year or if we will be waiting until 2027.

The M3 ‌iPad Air‌ came out in March 2025, so we are unlikely to see a new model before March 2026.

Low-Cost iPad


There's a new low-cost ‌iPad‌ in development, and it will have an updated A18 chip. With the A18, the ‌iPad‌ will support Apple Intelligence features that are not available on the current model.

Rumors suggest the low-cost ‌iPad‌ will debut in early 2026, perhaps at a spring event.

iPad mini


Apple is working on an iPad mini 8 that could come out as soon as 2026. Leaked Apple code suggests that it will use the same A19 Pro chip that Apple plans to use in the iPhone 17 Pro models.

The A19 Pro will be built on an updated 3-nanometer process, so it will feature performance and efficiency improvements.

Apple is developing an ‌iPad mini‌ that uses OLED display technology, but it is not clear if the OLED display will be in the ‌iPad mini‌ 8 or a future ‌iPad mini‌ that's not coming until 2027. When the ‌iPad mini‌ does get an OLED display, it could feature an upgraded 8.7 inch display size instead of an 8.3 inch display.
This article, "What’s Next for Apple’s iPad Lineup" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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LLM Siri: The Complete Guide to Apple's AI Assistant Overhaul Coming in 2026

2025-08-23 04:23:00

Apple is developing a new version of Siri that's supposed to be better than the existing ‌Siri‌ in every way. It will be smarter and able to do more, functioning like ChatGPT or Claude instead of a barely competent 2012-era smartphone assistant.


Upgrading ‌Siri‌ hasn't been without hiccups, and it's been delayed once. We've rounded up everything we know about Apple's work on a more capable ‌Siri‌ that uses large language models.

LLM Siri


The next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ will use advanced large language models, similar to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI chatbots.

LLM ‌Siri‌ would be able to hold continuous conversations and provide human-like responses to questions, plus the assistant would be capable of completing more complex tasks.

Apple Intelligence Siri Delays


In what became an infamous move, Apple went all-in showing off a smarter, Apple Intelligence-powered version of ‌Siri‌ when it showed off iOS 18 at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple also highlighted advanced Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ features when the iPhone 16 models launched, but after months of customers waiting for the new feature set, Apple said that it wouldn't be coming.

In March 2025, Apple said that the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features that it expected to introduce in ‌iOS 18‌ would not be coming in iOS 18 at all. Apple said that ‌Siri‌ would not be ready until 2026.

The Siri Features That Got Pushed Back


The ‌Siri‌ functionality that was delayed wasn't even the LLM version of ‌Siri‌ that had been rumored. It was an in-between model that was smarter, but without full chatbot capabilities. Here's what we're waiting on:

Personal Context


With personal context, ‌Siri‌ will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.

  • Show me the files Eric sent me last week.

  • Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.

  • Find the books that Eric recommended to me.

  • Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?

  • What's my passport number?


Onscreen Awareness


Onscreen awareness will let ‌Siri‌ see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell ‌Siri‌ to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask ‌Siri‌ to do it for you.

Deeper App Integration


Deeper app integration means that ‌Siri‌ will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what ‌Siri‌ will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.

  • Moving files from one app to another.

  • Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.

  • Get directions home and share the ETA with Eric.

  • Send the email I drafted to Eric.


Siri Redesign


We got more context on what went wrong with ‌Siri‌ when Apple introduced iOS 26 and Apple executives did a series of interviews to explain the situation.

Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that the first-generation architecture that Apple was developing for the personalized ‌Siri‌ features ended up being too limited. ‌Siri‌ was not able to match Apple's high standards, and by spring 2025, Apple realized that it needed to transition ‌Siri‌ to the second-generation architecture (aka the LLM version of ‌Siri‌) that it had been planning.

With Apple abandoning the first-generation ‌Siri‌ architecture it had been working on, the new ‌Siri‌ features had to be delayed until the second-generation architecture was ready.

In an all-hands meeting in August, Federighi told employees that Apple had attempted to merge two separate systems, and it didn't work out. Apple had one system for handling current commands and another based on large language models. Federighi said Apple realized that the hybrid approach was not going to work.

Federighi said that Apple has successfully revamped ‌Siri‌, and it's going to be a bigger update than expected. "The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of ‌Siri‌ has given us the results we needed," Federighi told employees. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned."

Internal Restructuring


The misstep with ‌Siri‌'s debut and the failure of the hybrid architecture led Apple to restructure its entire AI team. Apple AI chief John Giannandrea was removed from the ‌Siri‌ leadership team, with Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell taking over instead.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was no longer confident in Giannandrea's ability to oversee product development. Rockwell reports to Federighi, and Federighi told employees that the new leadership has "supercharged" ‌Siri‌ development.

Apple has also struggled with retaining AI employees amid the ‌Siri‌ issue and recruitment strategies from companies like Meta. Meta poached several key AI engineers from Apple, offering pay packages as high as $200 million. At Apple's August all-hands meeting, Cook and Federighi aimed to reassure employees that AI is of the utmost importance to the company. "There is no project people are taking more seriously," Federighi said of ‌Siri‌.

Cook said that Apple will "make the investment" to be a leader in AI.

Apple's LLM or a Partnership?


Part of the reason that Apple is seeing low morale among its AI employees is rumors that an Apple-designed large language model that's in development might be sidelined.

Apple is rumored to be considering a partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI or Claude creator Anthropic to power the smarter version of ‌Siri‌. Both companies are reportedly training versions of their models that would work with Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, and Apple is running tests with both its own models and models from outside companies. No final decision on ‌Siri‌ has been made as of yet.

Partnering with a company like Anthropic or OpenAI would allow Apple to deliver the exact ‌Siri‌ feature set that it is aiming for, while also giving it time to continue work on its own LLM behind the scenes.

Launch Date


Apple executives have confirmed that the new version of ‌Siri‌ will launch in 2026, and rumors suggest it will come as soon as spring 2026. If it is indeed planned for spring, Apple could roll out the features in iOS 26.4, because the .4 software updates are often reserved for significant feature improvements.
This article, "LLM Siri: The Complete Guide to Apple's AI Assistant Overhaul Coming in 2026" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Sues Ex-Employee Who Allegedly Stole Apple Watch Secrets for Chinese Rival Oppo

2025-08-23 02:14:34

Apple today filed a lawsuit in Northern California against Chen Shi, a former employee who left Apple and took a job at Chinese smartphone maker Oppo. According to Apple, Shi stole trade secrets relating to Apple Watch development and provided the information to Oppo.


Shi was a "highly compensated Sensor System Architect" at Apple from January 2020 to June 2025, which meant he had access to "valuable trade secret information," including the Apple Watch design, development documentation, internal specifications, and product roadmap.

Apple says that Shi told the company he was returning to China to care for his elderly parents, with no mention that he had accepted a position at Oppo. While in the process of leaving Apple, Shi allegedly collected sensitive Apple Watch documents and attended "dozens" of one-on-one meetings with Apple Watch technical team members to "learn about their ongoing research and development efforts."

Three days before leaving Apple, Shi downloaded 63 files from Apple's protected Box folder and transferred them to a USB drive. After downloading the files, he searched for information on how to wipe a MacBook and whether someone could see if he'd opened a file on a shared drive. Further, Shi sent a message to his Oppo employers letting them know that he would "collect as much information as possible" to share with them, specifically sourcing data on heart rate sensing methods. At Oppo, Shi is now leading a team that is developing sensing technology.

Apple is asking for an injunction prohibiting Oppo and Shi from using or disclosing Apple's trade secrets, restitution, damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.


This article, "Apple Sues Ex-Employee Who Allegedly Stole Apple Watch Secrets for Chinese Rival Oppo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop Our Exclusive Discounts at Satechi and Anker, Plus All-Time Lows on MacBook Air

2025-08-23 01:50:07

Some of this week's best deals include our exclusive sitewide sales at Satechi and Anker, plus ongoing steep discounts on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

MacRumors Exclusives



  • What's the deal? Find exclusive sitewide sales at Satechi and Anker

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This week we partnered with Satechi and Anker to offer our readers two exclusive sitewide discounts at each retailer. At Satechi you can get 25 percent off sitewide with code MR25, and at Anker you can get 20 percent off sitewide with code Ankermacrumors2025 through the end of the month.

M4 MacBook Air



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Amazon this week introduced a new record low price across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and you can still get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for just $799.00, plus many other deals.

M4 MacBook Pro



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Continuing this week's theme of steep Mac-related discounts, Amazon also has great deals on the M4 MacBook Pro right now. You'll find up to $436 off these computers, starting at $1,299.00 for the entry-level 14-inch model.

M4 Mac Mini



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Amazon is taking up to $144 off M4 Mac mini models this week, starting at $499.00 for the 256GB model.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop Our Exclusive Discounts at Satechi and Anker, Plus All-Time Lows on MacBook Air" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple in Talks With Google to Power Next-Gen Siri With Gemini AI

2025-08-23 01:32:03

Apple is in talks with Google about using Google's Gemini AI as the backbone for the upcoming smarter version of Siri, reports Bloomberg. The discussions are in the early stages, but Apple reportedly approached Google to ask the company to create a custom AI model that would be used for ‌Siri‌.


Google has started training a model that would run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers in response. Apple previously held talks with OpenAI and Anthropic, and both of those companies have been working on versions of their models for Apple's servers.

While Apple is exploring partnerships with different AI companies to power an improved version of ‌Siri‌, Apple still has not made a decision on whether it will use a third-party AI solution or go with the LLM models it has been developing in-house.

Apple is testing multiple LLMs, including its own, to determine which will provide the best results to customers. There are two versions of the new ‌Siri‌ in development, including one that is powered by Apple's own models and one that runs on third-party models.

Apple has been developing a more advanced version of ‌Siri‌ that overhauls the entire ‌Siri‌ architecture. Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi called this the "second-generation" ‌Siri‌ architecture earlier this month, and he said that the "end-to-end revamp" of ‌Siri‌ brought the results that Apple needed for more advanced AI features, such as the personalization that it promised as part of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.

"This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned," Federighi said.

Apple was leaning toward partnering with Anthropic, but Anthropic's fees prompted Apple to consider other AI companies as well. No deal has been inked with Google, OpenAI, or Anthropic as of yet. Rumors suggest that LLM ‌Siri‌ will launch in spring 2026.
This article, "Apple in Talks With Google to Power Next-Gen Siri With Gemini AI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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