Apps

Apple’s digital event planning app, Invites, is out with three changes today, including a new cohosting feature.

No sign of Claude Fable 5’s return yet, though Anthropic does have a new Claude feature launching today. Claude Tag is “a new way for teams to work with Claude,” per Anthropic.

Fantastical from Flexibits is so much more than natural language event creation for your calendar. The app has been solving everyday calendar problems with common-sense solutions for 15 years now.

The latest version of Fantastical is no exception. It tackles the age-old problem of accidentally double-booking yourself for events. One calendar shows you’re free while the other has something scheduled.

Fantastical’s fix is fitting for the app because it gives you granular control. Here’s how it works.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

If you’re looking to level up your podcast experience, check out Brink. It’s a well made iOS podcast app with rich features, including a news tab, podcast summaries, trending podcasts, AI playlists, and much more. It’s also well made for iOS 26 and Liquid Glass, and feels right at home on the iPhone.

OpenAI is updating ChatGPT with a new scheduled tasks feature. The new ability is rolling out starting today.

iA Writer, the lightweight text editor for Apple devices, is out with a new Liquid Glass design-focused update for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Microsoft Outlook should now look more at home on the Mac with today’s “app-wide” Liquid Glass update.

Fox has announced that it is buying video streaming company Roku for a total of around $22 billion, including taking on debt. It follows the acquisition of Tubi back in 2020.

The move will make the combined company the third largest player in US television, measured by share of viewing …

A growing number of countries around the world are enacting bans or restrictions on the use of social media apps by children.

The UK has just announced its own plan to join the list, with a comprehensive ban set to be introduced early next year …

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

Many people want to spend less time on their iPhones, whether that be for productivity, socializing more, or something else. Screen time tools prove useful here, providing users with an idea of how much time they’re spending on their iPhones. For many people, though, they end up being too lenient to be effective.

With ‘oh my hours’ – the app flips the script, and instead makes you aware of how many hours you’ve wasted in an undesired app, rather than simply telling you you’ve hit your screen time limit.

macOS is designed to put your Mac to sleep when it is not being used. That is usually exactly what you want. Sleep saves power, protects battery life, and keeps a MacBook from running when it is closed and stuffed in a bag.

Sometimes tasks like downloads, backups, remote sessions, and AI coding need a temporary exception. Fortunately, there are some great Mac apps for giving you this control.

Apple Journal has been one of my most-used apps since it came to the Mac last summer. iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate introduce a few welcome changes to the Journal app that make it even better.

Kindles have long offered a recap feature intended to act like the “Previously …” feature often seen on TV shows. It’s intended to remind you of a book’s story and characters when restarting reading after a lengthy gap.

Amazon last year announced a far more sophisticated Story So Far version, and the feature is now finally rolling out to Kindles and the iPhone app in the US …

Pocket Casts for iOS has picked up a fresh visual overhaul this week. The latest version brings Apple’s Liquid Glass design language to one of the most popular podcast apps on the platform.

Signify, the firm behind Philips Hue, is launching a new Sports Live feature that connects lighting effects to real-time live sports data. The new feature arrives in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff.

Back in April, Anthropic unveiled its Claude Mythos AI model that it said was too powerful to publicly release. Instead, the company has shared access with software vendors, including Apple, in an effort to use the model for enhanced cybersecurity.

Now, as promised, Anthropic has released what it calls a Mythos-class model that customers can actually use. The new model is called Claude Fable.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

Habit tracking apps are a dime a dozen, but Grit Method sets itself apart by requiring you to be more thoughtful. With your input, the app clearly outlines four clear goals for you to work towards daily, and it’s about more than just being more productive.