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Last year, Apple completely reinvented multitasking on the iPad, with the introduction of windowing in iPadOS 26. At first, this meant the removal of the simpler version of multitasking, Split View and Slide Over. Those features did eventually return, but at a cost – they required you to use the clunky new windowing system. I was hoping iPadOS 27 would improve this, but it didn’t.

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 apps make it easy to track your Pokémon card collection. Route 25 takes that a step further by bringing a social experience into the mix, so you can talk to other collectors about your cards, pulls, and so on.

Each time we buy a phone, we have to decide which storage tier to go for, and that requires a judgment call – not just about how much storage we need today, but how much we are likely to need for however long we end up keeping the phone. 

There are times when we’ll get this wrong, but fortunately there’s a simple solution to your storage woes: the SANDISK® Phone Drive for iPhone. 

We are touching down today with the weekend edition of 9to5Toys Lunch Break to uncover all of the best deals on Apple gear, accessories, and more.

Alongside the ongoing Amazon Anker summer sale loaded with notable deals on power banks, 25W MagSafe charging stations, and more from $8, we also have some ongoing deals on Apple Watch Ultra 3, nearly 25% off AirPods 4, and even some notable discounts on iPhone 17 Pro/Max units at up to $449 off. Those deals join the rare price drops on Magic Keyboard and the black Magic Mouse, as well as Beats cables from $18, and more. Check it all out down below. 

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I have a very standard plan when a batch of Apple laptops reaches the end of its lease or deployment lifecycle. I want them gone ASAP. Typically, by the time a MacBook Air or Pro hits that four-year mark, it is old, unusable, and ready to be recycled. I don’t want to see them in my office, and I certainly don’t want to support them. I want them recycled, but the M1 MacBook Air has completely broken that rule, and in a world where Macs are going up in price, it matters.

OpenAI has issued a formal statement in response to Apple’s lawsuit accusing the company of trade secret theft. Read it below.

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI today, accusing the company of trade secret theft. Specifically, Apple alleges that its former employees have stolen trade secrets “for the benefit of OpenAI.”

“This case is about Apple’s former employees stealing Apple’s trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI. Apple brings this suit to put a stop to it,” the lawsuit says.

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Apple is among eight U.S. companies now able to bring covered advanced-computing chips, servers, and other controlled technology into the UAE without applying for individual export licenses. Here’s what that means.

My top feature for a smart lock for any Apple smart home person is Apple Home Key support. The ability to tap your iPhone or Apple Watch against your front door and walk right inside is incredibly convenient. The problem is that most locks that support this feature are expensive, often costing $ 200 or more. That is where the LNDU HK01W comes in at a nice spot. It brings native Apple Home Key support to a door for right around $100.

Speaking of AI-powered browser capabilities on the Mac, Anthropic is highlighting Claude Code’s in-app browser on the desktop today.

Spotify announced today a series of updates to Release Radar, giving listeners more control over the music recommendations they receive every Friday. Here are the details.

Letterboxd, the popular hybrid movie tracking and social media app, is exploring a sale. A new report this week from Matt Belloni at Puck outlines the many companies that have shown interest in acquiring the service, including Netflix, Sony Pictures, and more.

Apple Watch is losing its Walkie-Talkie app in this fall’s watchOS 27 software update. Will you miss the Apple Watch push-to-talk functionality?

I think if we are honest with ourselves, most of us would admit that smart home tech falls into one of two categories. First, there is the genuinely useful. Second, there’s the stuff we do just because we can, and it is to some degree cool.

I think I’ve now discovered a third category: things that really aren’t worth all of the time and effort they take …

If you were to just look at the Messages app in iOS 27, you might not think much has changed, but that is far from the truth. Under the hood, Apple has completely revamped the Messages experience, making it faster, smarter, and much less frustrating. From simple little setting toggles for dictation or voice memos to the amazing Siri integrations, the Messages app has gotten much more capable in every way. I wanted to share some of my favorite features that are both quality-of-life features and features I am still wowed by. Here are four of the best features that iOS 27 brought to the Messages app.

OpenAI is pulling the plug on its dedicated web browser, ChatGPT Atlas. Instead of investing in an AI browser with a small user base, the company is improving agentic web use features inside the new ChatGPT desktop app.

While ChatGPT Atlas may not have gained much traction, AI browsers can be useful for automating tasks like research, browser tidiness, and more. Here are options available on the Mac.

As we approach the official announcement of Apple’s iPhone Ultra in September, more specs continue to leak. A new rumor today claims to reveal exactly how big the foldable iPhone’s battery will be.

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For years, bullish supporters have heralded passkeys as the future of sign-on, while traditional passwords are seen as the way of the past. It’s praised as a frictionless, far more secure alternative. But this week, I used normal passwords to authenticate more times than I can count.

Don’t get me wrong, the adoption of passkeys has been impressive. More on that soon. However, I can’t help but reflect on the current state of sign-on and how lesser is still largely dominant in the wake of far better technology.

GymKit has been one of Apple Watch’s smartest fitness features since it launched in 2017. Tap your watch to compatible gym equipment, and Apple Watch shares your heart rate while the machine sends back metrics like distance, incline, pace, and calories.

With iOS 27, Apple is expanding that idea beyond Apple Watch. I tested the new GymKit on iPhone and AirPods Pro 3 experience with a GymKit-compatible treadmill. It basically gives you the Apple Watch GymKit workout tracking experience, just without the watch. This could be useful in a lot of scenarios.