Zac Hall is a Senior Editor, covering Apple, apps, and AI. His work is regularly featured by Techmeme.
He joined 9to5Mac in 2013. He later served as Lead Editor from 2016 through 2020, before creating the Space Explored website.
In 2015, Zac began co-hosting 9to5Mac Happy Hour, establishing the format of the site’s premier podcast, which he hosted for eight years.
In 2018, he created 9to5Mac Daily, providing audio recaps of Apple and technology news each weekday. He also hosted multiple seasons of the 9to5Mac Watch Time podcast, a health and fitness-focused interview series.
Zac is based in the lovely Gulf Coast town of Ocean Springs, MS, where he lives with his brilliant kids and Nova, his loyal Cavachon rescue.
Contact: zac@9to5mac.com
Last month, OpenAI announced it was shutting down its Sora app after reports that leadership wanted to eliminate side quests. Now the company behind ChatGPT is buying a tech and business podcast.
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Here’s something that hasn’t gotten much attention. The 140W power adapter that comes with Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro has a subtle design change. As a result, some accessories are no longer compatible. However, not everyone has the new design.
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There’s a moment in yesterday’s WSJ video piece with Tim Cook that’s really delightful. Cook is asked about Apple’s plans for smart glasses, and his reply is a subtle callback to a classic Steve Jobs moment.
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Update: Three more titles are now available on the service. Details below.
Apple Arcade’s April lineup will introduce three new titles to the subscription gaming platform. These include a couple of the most acclaimed indie games of the last few years.
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Amazon is reportedly “in talks” to acquire Globalstar, the company that connects Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch satellite features. Apple’s 20% stake in the company is a key factor in negotiations.
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Apple has released a new version of App Store Connect for iPhone and iPad. The new version includes accessibility improvements, support for 11 new languages, and more.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook has shared a memo with the company to mark its 50th anniversary. Naturally, Mark Gurman is first to share the company-wide communication outside of Apple.
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This story is part of 9to5mac’s series celebrating Apple’s 50th anniversary.
April 1, 1976: 50 years ago, Apple was founded. 40 years later, to the date, I was a 25-year-old embarking on a health and fitness journey, and Apple was right at the core.
April 1, 2016: I started an Apple Watch workout streak that helped guide me to running. I’d never run in my life at 25, but I started closing rings on my watch with a used elliptical at home. By fall, I was running, and by New Year’s Day, I had lost 50 pounds.
April 1, 2017: I ran my first-ever 5K race. It was the “2017 Superintendent’s 5K Challenge: A Race for Education” in Miami, Florida. My 3.1-mile run time clocked in at 26 minutes 46 seconds with an 8-minute, 36-seconds pace per mile. I ranked 151 out of 2231 participants.
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Update: Clips from Cue’s appearance below.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services and Health, will make a video podcast appearance this afternoon as part of Apple’s 50th anniversary.
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Apple issued a rare price drop on an existing product with the VESA mount adapter version of the Studio Display XDR. It turns out customers who already spent the full original price will receive a refund.
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Apple’s 50th birthday is also the official release date for one new Apple product: AirPods Max 2. Apple announced the new headphones in March before opening pre-orders and quoting deliveries on April 1. AirPods Max 2 can be purchased at Apple Store locations starting today as well.
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Update 3/31: The Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL are now available.
Remember that leaked Sonos speaker from just over a week ago? It’s now official, and there’s a second new Sonos product announced today too.
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Siri may not be any better in iOS 26.5 beta, but we’re continuing to learn a lot more about iOS 27’s version. Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg that Apple is developing an upgrade to Siri that will dramatically improve its multitasking abilities.
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Apple introduced a new developer tool in iOS 26 called AlarmKit. The latest version of Fantastical for iPhone and iPad adopts it.
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Seven years ago, Samsung announced plans to bring blood pressure monitoring to smartwatches. This week, the feature has been cleared for users in the United States for the first time. Apple Watch has since added its own blood pressure monitoring capabilities, but the two approaches differ in scope.
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Apple introduced a ton of new hardware this month. New iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more made for a March to remember. Apple also discontinued a lot of products this month — and not just to make room for new hardware.
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It’s safe to say that the Gemini-powered Siri and Apple Intelligence features won’t arrive in beta this month. iOS 26.5 beta 1 was released right on schedule. However, the upgraded AI features are not included.
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Meta revealed in January that it plans to test paid versions of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Now, in select markets, the first of those premium services is available.
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Apple has released the first iOS 26.5 beta for developers. iOS 26.5 beta 1 arrives after the official release of iOS 26.4 for iPhone.
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On Tuesday, OpenAI announced that the company is shutting down Sora, its AI-generated video app. The iPhone app only arrived in September, making its six-month existence brief and fun, much like using the app itself. It turns out Sora isn’t the only thing the makers of ChatGPT are nixing this month.
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Apple has had a jam-packed March so far after launching seven new products and surprisingly announcing an eighth. This week, even more came from Apple before the month wraps up and Apple’s 50th anniversary arrives on April 1.
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Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro is a big improvement over the more fussy iPhone 16 Pro. The vapor chamber and switching to aluminum from titanium both make a noticeable difference in sustained performance and improved thermal management. However, my favorite hardware improvement in years isn’t limited to the Pro series.
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iPhone security has been in the news this month as Apple patches known exploits. As promised, the company has alerted customers using iPhones on older software to update this week. Meanwhile, Apple states on-the-record that its Lockdown Mode has proven effective against hack attempts so far.
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Apple will unveil iOS 27 on June 8 at WWDC, and we’re learning new details about what to expect in the next big iPhone software release. In a new report, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has more information about changes coming to Siri, specifically.
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