This week’s top stories: M1X and M2 MacBook rumors, Apple Music upgrades, more

In this week’s top stories: M1X and M2 MacBook rumors, Apple’s forthcoming Beats Studio Buds headphones, Apple Music adds lossless and Spatial Audio support, and more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories and more.

Apple Music expansion

After several weeks of rumors, Apple this week officially announced that Apple Music is adding lossless music support as well as Spatial Audio. These features will roll out to Apple Music subscribers in June at no extra cost. Be sure to check out our full coverage for all of the latest details.

M1X and M2 MacBook rumors

A monster report from Bloomberg this week shed new light on what to expect from the Apple Silicon transition for the rest of Apple’s Mac lineup. First and foremost, the report indicated that Apple could announce its new M1X MacBook Pro lineup as soon as sometime this summer.

The report also indicated that Apple is developing a redesigned MacBook Air that will feature a “direct successor” to the M1 chip as soon as later this year. The company also continues work on a more powerful Mac mini, as well as an upgraded Mac Pro with Apple Silicon inside.

Beats Studio Buds

Apple this week released iOS 14.6 RC to developers and public beta users. In it, 9to5Mac was able to find references and images of new Beats Studio Buds earbuds coming soon from Apple. These are truly wireless Beats earbuds that will feature Noise Cancellation support, Hey Siri, and more.

Check out more in our full coverage here.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.

iOS |

• Apple expanding ‘Air Quality’ Weather app feature to more countries with iOS 14.7
• Apple releases first iOS 14.7 beta to developers, more
• Apple releases iOS 14.6 RC to developers with Apple Card Family and more, here are the full release notes
• Apple releases second iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 RC to developers
• Built-in Shazam music recognition is now an App Clip in iOS 14.6
• Apple reveals new Accessibility features: AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch, eye-tracking on iPad, more
• Do Apple’s new accessibility features hint at UI changes for iOS 15? It’s possible
• Apple seems to be finally fixing grayed-out App Tracking Transparency toggle in iOS 14
• iOS 14.7 beta lets you set timers on HomePod using the Home app

iPhone |

• Apple debuts humorous new ‘Tracked’ ad promoting iPhone privacy [Video]

Apple Watch |

• Rumor: Apple Watch Series 7 will feature flat-edged design, new green color option
• Apple unveils two new Apple Watch Pride bands and watch face

Apple TV |

• New Apple TV adds ARC support for universal TV audio passthrough to HomePod speakers
• Apple TV 4K reviews: New Siri Remote is a ‘must buy,’ but Apple TV price still prohibitive
• Apple VP talks Apple TV 4K price in new interview: ‘There’s a tremendous amount of value in this $179’
• Apple VP says company is committed to home audio products, ‘little need’ for Find My Remote feature

Mac and iPad |

• Claim that 2021 MacBook Pro models will have M1X chip; drop front logo
• Apple shares why 11-inch iPad Pro didn’t get the Liquid Retina XDR display and more in new interview
• Photographer Austin Mann puts the M1 12.9-inch iPad Pro to the test, compares it to Pro Display XDR
• Bloomberg: Redesigned MacBook Pro coming as soon as this summer, up to 64GB RAM and 10-core chip
• Bloomberg: 40-core Mac Pro with Apple Silicon, high-end Mac mini in development
• Apple launches new webpage with an elevator pitch on why you should buy a Mac
• Bloomberg: Apple paused development of larger Apple Silicon iMac to focus on 24-inch model
• Craig Federighi says the Mac has an ‘unacceptable’ malware problem
• M1 iPad Pro reviews: Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, but iPadOS limitations persist
• Apple releases macOS 11.5 beta to developers ahead of 11.4 public release [U: Public beta]
• Video details compatibility between 2020 Magic Keyboard and 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro
• Redesigned iMac reviews: A beautiful and colorful design with stellar M1 performance

Apple Stores |

• iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV 4K arrive in stores with vibrant window displays
• Revisit the world’s first Apple Store as it appeared 20 years ago with augmented reality
• Piazza Liberty Apple Store amphitheater transforms into public art installation
• Before the Genius Bar: Behind the retail designs that paved the way for 20 years of Apple Stores
• Apple SignTime service will connect Apple Store and Apple Support customers with interpreters
• 20 years of Apple Stores in 20 quotes
• 20 years of Apple Stores: The enduring art of celebration
• COVID-19: Which Apple Stores have reopened?

Apps |

• Huge Eufy privacy breach shows live and recorded cam feeds to strangers
• Spotify HiFi launch could be imminent as user spots icon in iOS app

Apple Music |

• Apple Music adding lossless streaming to entire catalog at no extra cost, Spatial Audio support with Dolby Atmos
• Apple Music Lossless requires wired headphones, AirPods will only get Spatial Audio
• Comment: Will you be able to hear the difference with Apple Music Lossless Audio? [U]
• HomePod and HomePod mini to support Apple Music Lossless in a future software update

AAPL Company |

• Exclusive: These are Apple’s new truly wireless in-ear Beats Studio earbuds
• Phil Schiller reveals $50M cost for WWDC, App Store Small Business Program details, more
• Live blog: Apple CEO Tim Cook testifies in Epic legal battle

Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.

This week’s top videos |

• What’s new in iOS 14.6 RC? A look at forthcoming Apple Music settings [Video]

9to5Mac Daily |

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Apple’s recent acquisitions – 9to5Mac Daily

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year. New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories discussed in this episode: iPhone battery life test shows just how much power 5G drains compared to WiFi Kuzu database company joins Apple's list of recent acquisitions iPhone 18 Pro 5G via satellite rumor gets new support iPhone 18 Pro pricing rumors offer surprisingly good news Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Spotify TuneIn Google Podcasts Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: Ad-free versions of every episode Bonus content Catch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes! Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

1. Apple’s recent acquisitions 08:00
2. App Store changes, MacBook rumors 06:54
3. New CarPlay feature coming soon, iOS 26.4 rumors 07:20
4. Tim Cook’s all-hands meeting, more 07:47
5. The latest iPhone Fold specs and rumors 07:21

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iPhone 17 leads Apple earnings record, new MacBooks near, and a mysterious $2B acquisition  – 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance speculate on Apple’s mysterious acquisition of Q.ai, the company’s second biggest acquisition ever. The iPhone 17 is a veritable smash hit, leading to an all-time quarterly earnings record. And Apple redesigns the order flow for buying a new Mac, with new MacBooks just around the corner.  And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin realizes he has some overdue spring-cleaning to do on his Desktop folder.  Sponsored by Gusto: The online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/happyhour. Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour. Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. Hosts Chance Miller @ChanceHMiller on Twitter @ChanceHMiller on Instagram @ChanceHMiller on Threads Benjamin Mayo @bzamayo on Twitter @bzamayo@mastodon.social @bzamayo on Threads Subscribe, Rate, and Review Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:  Ad-free versions of every episode  Pre- and post-show content Bonus episodes Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.  Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads Email us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com Links Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion Apple reports record-breaking Q1 2026 earnings Apple revamps how you buy a Mac online New MacBook Pro release date: Here's when M5 Pro and M5 Max might debut Latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new Macs are imminent Will the Studio Display 2 have this key upgrade? Studio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades Apple announces agentic coding in Xcode with Claude Agent and Codex integration CarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report Tesla still working on CarPlay support, here's what we know

1. iPhone 17 leads Apple earnings record, new MacBooks near, and a mysterious $2B acquisition  01:01:45
2. Creator Studio bundle, AirTag 2, new Siri features coming soon 01:10:05
3. iOS 27 chatbot, Apple AI pin, iPhone 18 Dynamic Island rumors  57:00
4. Gemini Siri deal official, Apple Creator Studio, Vision Pro basketball  01:15:31
5. Apple Card Chase transition is official, NBA on Vision Pro, Fitness+ in 2026 01:01:37

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Stacktrace has moved! – Stacktrace

As we've mentioned in the last episode, the Stacktrace podcast is no longer a part of the 9to5Mac network. If you're seeing this entry in your podcast player, then you probably need to unfollow Stacktrace and follow the podcast again. Start by unfollowing the show in your podcast player, then just search for "Stacktrace" and follow the show again. You'll notice that the updated show has a new artwork and that episode 179 has already been released there. To learn more about how to listen to Stacktrace, check out our new website. Thanks for listening!

1. Stacktrace has moved! 01:00
2. 178: “Let’s try something new” 01:03:25
3. 177: “The stand is included!” 01:09:24
4. 176: “Extra Keynote Poker” 01:19:00
5. 175: “A Bluetooth fanboy” 54:35

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Zero Trust is really a little trust – Apple @ Work

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1. Apple @ Work Podcast: Zero Trust is really a little trust 21:06
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5. Assesing the most exciting features for IT with Apple's recent software ugprades 27:02

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