Chance Miller

Dan Riccio, Apple’s long-time hardware engineering executive, is retiring. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Riccio is leaving Apple this month after 26 years at the company. Most recently, Riccio led development of Apple Vision Pro.

The current-generation iPad mini was introduced back in September 2021 and hasn’t been updated since. What’s next for the iPad mini? Rumors suggest an update could come in just a few weeks, bringing an improved display, faster performance, and more.

Following the public release of iOS 18.0, Apple is now focused on iOS 18.1. With a release date set for sometime in October, iOS 18.1 includes new Apple Intelligence features plus a major change to the iPhone’s NFC chip. Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 18.1 so far.

Just a few hours ago, I wrote about H-E-B finally caving to the pressure and rolling out Apple Pay to all of its locations. As it turns out, H-E-B isn’t alone in this change. According to multiple 9to5Mac readers and reports across social media, Home Depot has also recently started rolling out Apple Pay support.

Update October 9, 2024: Home Depot spokesperson Beth Marlowe confirmed this news in a statement to 9to5Mac:

“We have begun rolling out contactless as a payment option in our U.S. stores. We anticipate the rollout will be completed to most of our stores and registers later this year.”

After kicking off a pilot program in July, H-E-B has announced that it will roll out support for tap-to-pay platforms like Apple Pay to all of its locations. H-E-B operates over 300 locations across Texas, making it one of the largest grocery store chains in the state.

With today’s release of macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 6, Apple is making another change to screen recording permissions. The company says that this should mean users see fewer permission dialog popups on their Macs…

A long-time Apple veteran is retiring, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Dan Rosckes has informed his team that he is “leaving the company soon” after 24 years, most recently serving as vice president of global sourcing and supply management.

Apple is rolling out a design refresh to iCloud.com today. The update includes support for Dark Mode, more customization options, changes to iCloud Photos, and more. Head below for the full details.

iOS 18.1 is reportedly set for a release on October 28, which means we have several more weeks of beta testing to go. Today, Apple released iOS 18.1 beta 6 for developers, and it includes a few notable changes for iPhone users.

iOS 18.1 will be released to everyone in just a few weeks. In the meantime, beta testing continues. iOS 18.1 beta 6 is now available to developer beta testers, coming two weeks after the release of beta 5.

Apple is expected to debut new M4 Macs later this month, with an expected launch on November 1. A new unboxing video on YouTube, however, claims to offer our first look the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M4 chip. There are a few interesting things worth pointing out here, including the first M4 Mac benchmark results…

In an age of more social networks than ever, managing your content across all of them can be pretty time-consuming. That’s where the incredibly cleverly named “Croissant” app enters the equation. Developed by Ben McCarthy and Aaron Vegh, Croissant lets you post to Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky with a beautifully designed interface.

In addition to a handful of notable bug fixes and performance improvements, today’s iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 updates also include a pair of important security fixes. Apple says that the updates include a fix for microphone access on the iPhone 16 as well as a fix for access to the Passwords app across all supported iPhone and iPad models.

macOS 15.0.1 is now rolling out with some key bug fixes for Mac users. The update addresses problems in the Messages app as well as compatibility issues that had affected third-party security software. Head below for the full release notes.

Alongside iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1, Apple is also rolling out a new update for Apple Watch users. watchOS 11.0.1 is now available with fixes for the Music app, battery life, and more. Head below for the full release notes.

As expected, Apple is now rolling out iOS 18.0.1 to iPhone users. This update comes three weeks after iOS 18 was released to the general public. The update includes key bug fixes for iPhone users affecting the camera, Messages, performance, and more.

Head below for the full release notes and details on what’s new.

Benjamin and Chance discuss the latest Apple leaks of the week, headlined by details about Apple’s upcoming smart home display product, expected to launch in 2025. The iPhone SE and iPad Air are also getting refreshes early next year, and component leaks perhaps give us insight into what Apple is planning for its cheaper Apple Vision Pro headset.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin struggles with the trials and tribulations of choosing a new Wi-Fi router to buy. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Following teardowns of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, our friends at iFixit are back with a look inside Apple’s latest entry-level AirPods 4 and AirPods Max updates. The teardowns reveal there are only a few internal changes for the AirPods 4, and a continued general lack of repairability across the board.

Over the years, Apple has vastly expanded the Health app on iPhone with ways to track weight, fitness, and much more. Earlier this year, we broke down the best smart scales for syncing weight with an iPhone. And with iPadOS 17 last year, the Health app is also now on iPad.

Another measurement that can integrate with Apple’s Health app is blood pressure. Here are some of the current options on the market for syncing blood pressure with the Health app on your iPhone.

Update October 2, 2024: The release of iOS 18.0.1 is imminent. The information was shared on social media by a private account with a strong track record. The account has previously shared details about upcoming iOS software updates on multiple different occasions. According to the account, iOS 18.0.1 will have the build number 22A3370.

Apple is now testing iOS 18.0.1, according to 9to5Mac analytics. This update will likely include fixes for a few different bugs that iPhone and iPad users have reported experiencing. It comes two and a half weeks after the release of iOS 18 for iPhone users.

In a new investor note seen by 9to5Mac today, analysts at Barclays report that Apple “may have just cut” iPhone 16 production by three million units. Based “recent supply channel checks,” the analysts say that these cuts were made at a “key semiconductor” partner for iPhone orders through the December quarter.

Barclays says that its “sell-through checks” suggest a 15% decline year-over-year for the iPhone 16 launch.