For the first time in a long time, I can say that iPhone cases are fun again! The introduction of the iPhone Duo has brought us a new era of cases in all shapes, sizes, functions, and form factors. We are still in the infancy of this new ecosystem of iPhone Duo-compatible cases, so manufacturers are experimenting with different designs, materials, and features to figure out what works best for Apple’s first foldable. From ultra-thin cases and hinge protection to built-in wallets, kickstands, and origami-style folios. I have tested several new iPhone Duo cases, and these have been my favorite so far. more…
Next spring, Apple will take the stage to unveil the second-generation iPhone Air to the world, after taking a bit more time to go back to the drawing board and incorporate a second camera into the design. That said, iPhone Air is no longer the flashy cool phone, now iPhone Duo is. With that being the case, it seems obvious to me that iPhone Air 2 will need to appeal to a wider audience, beyond just the enthusiast crowd. more…
Apple is still rocking and rolling a week into November, with five new products having launched this week and two more still on tap for next week. Things are also moving forward on the software side with Apple releasing the first betas of iOS 27.3 and related updates, bringing a number of tweaks and new features. We're also looking ahead to new products coming in the first half of 2027, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more! Top Stories Apple Launched Five New Products This Week Apple released five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models . The following new products are now available: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen Apple's HomeView smart home hub and updated Apple TV 4K box will follow next week on Friday, November 13 . Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta Apple this week started testing iOS 27.3 , the biggest update to iOS 27 since it launched in September. iOS 27.3 includes some features Apple showed off earlier this year, and it adds all-new capabilities. Among the changes in the update are Safari tweaks with a new Vertical Tabs layout option plus an Adaptive Dark Mode feature for websites that don't offer their own dark mode option, Siri AI improvements, an expansion of new iPhone Duo StandBy features to other iPhone models, and more. The revamped Health app that was in the 27.2 beta for testing but removed prior to the public release has returned in 27.3 and will be seeing a public launch before the end of the year. Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers last week, and later obtained by MacRumors , Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue . If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures. While the instructions themselves are straightforward, the fact that Apple issued an internal memo suggests the issue is widespread enough to warrant official guidance. Meanwhile, Apple CEO John Ternus this week said Apple is not able to predict when it will be able to meet demand for the foldable iPhone, with Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman saying that Apple's change from its original plan to launch the device in November in just two countries has contributed to the difficulties in meeting demand. Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027 The revamped iPad mini launching this week is one piece of Apple's tablet lineup, and Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman says the rest of the lineup should be receiving updates in the first half of next year . The iPad Air will reportedly be getting an upgrade to OLED displays, while iPad Pro and base iPad updates should be more modest. Before those 2027 updates, there's still some time left in 2026, and while we're not expecting any more major product announcements before the end of the year, plenty of previously announced hardware and software updates are still on their way . Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software App developer Steve Troughton-Smith over the weekend shared a tour of the software on Apple's upcoming HomeView smart home hub . Apple has already demoed the HomeView to selected tech reporters and content creators, but Troughton-Smith offered a closer look at several features, interfaces, and apps. CarPlay-enabled audio and video apps from third-party developers will also be supported on HomeView, and Troughton-Smith shared a look at what Spotify will look like on the HomeView as well. We've known for quite some time that HomeView was ready to be released for quite some time while Apple waited for Siri AI to be launched as the primary interaction mechanism for it. That certainly appears to be the case as it seems the units will initially ship with six-month-old software version 26.5 and will have to be updated to HomeView software version 27.2 during setup. Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge' The Wall Street Journal 's Rolfe Winkler last week reported that flash storage suppliers once "bullied" by Apple have been "getting their revenge" on the company over the past year due to a severe memory chip shortage, which stems from AI companies building out massive data centers that utilize significant amounts of flash storage and RAM. As the iPhone took off, Apple became the world's largest buyer of flash storage, and naturally that gave the company a lot of leverage in negotiations. The report goes into detail about some of the hardball tactics that were employed by Apple and its former head of procurement, Tony Blevins. Flash suppliers now have the upper hand, however, and high demand for their chips has resulted in shortages that are expected to persist through 2030 with high prices continuing as a result. 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. So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter ! Tag: Top Stories This article, " Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
AI has been used to find out how to access motion tracking data from AirPods , enabling one Linux user to use head tracking data to produce a software mouse. AirPods 3 AirPods and AirPods Pro have head tracking capabilities thanks to some built-in motion-detecting sensors. While it is currently used for things like Spatial Audio and Siri Interactions , one enterprising user has taken steps to widen their use on Linux. Apple does allow AirPods and other earphones to work on Linux and other platforms by functioning as standard Bluetooth headphones. They can be used for normal listening, but things like head tracking are not available once you leave Apple's ecosystem. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
