XChat, the standalone messaging app from X, is now available. X’s new iPhone and iPad app has officially arrived on the App Store.
Expand Expanding CloseXChat, X’s standalone messaging app, now available for iPhone and iPad with these features
Author
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
Spotify isn’t the only service now integrated with Anthropic’s Claude
This week, Spotify released new AI features that work inside Anthropic’s Claude app. Spotify isn’t the only service with newly launched Claude integration, though.
Meanwhile, Anthropic has upgraded two existing features this week, including a recently introduced Claude Code tool.
Expand Expanding CloseWatch Apple reveal how it made the delightful MacBook Neo intro video
The all-new $599 MacBook Neo has been a hit for Apple since the delightful introductory video in March. Now Apple has shared a behind-the-scenes look at how it made the magic.
Expand Expanding CloseThis free iPhone app from Cornell answers nature’s greatest springtime mystery
As I’m spending more time outside this spring, I keep having the same thought: “I wonder what kind of bird I’m hearing sing?” Birdsong is the sound of the season for me, and a free iPhone app is adding more color to the mystery.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s the next Apple Watch face coming in watchOS 26.5
There’s a new Apple Watch face that will be included in the upcoming watchOS 26.5 software update.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Invites for iPhone adds 7 new features, including an iMessage app
Apple Invites has its second new version in as many months, adding seven new features. One key highlight is an iMessage app for sharing invitations without leaving the Messages app.
Expand Expanding CloseOpenAI upgrades ChatGPT and Codex with GPT-5.5: ‘a new class of intelligence for real work’
OpenAI is capping off a busy week of announcements with the release of GPT-5.5, its latest model upgrade for ChatGPT and Codex. The company calls its new model “a new class of intelligence for real work.”
Expand Expanding CloseClaude just gained Spotify music and podcast integration, here’s what it can do
Spotify is celebrating its 20th birthday today, and one new gift for users is Claude integration. Spotify’s music and podcast streaming service now integrates with Anthropic’s AI. Here’s how it works.
Expand Expanding CloseApple shares fun new ‘Health with iPhone + Apple Watch’ ad with wonderful tagline
Apple has released a new video ad that highlights how the Health app works with iPhone and Apple Watch. The commercial centers around someone receiving lots of unsolicited health advice from strangers in public.
Expand Expanding Close
OpenAI teases GPT-5.5 model upgrade for ChatGPT in cryptic message
OpenAI is expected to be nearing an announcement around GPT-5.5, its next model upgrade to ChatGPT. A cryptic post on X includes a hidden teaser, suggesting the news is coming soon.
Expand Expanding CloseNew MacWhisper CLI lets users automate AI transcriptions from the Terminal
Command-line interfaces are having a moment, and the great MacWhisper transcription app is here for it. MacWhisper CLI has arrived, giving Mac users a new way to run AI transcription workflows from the Terminal.
Expand Expanding CloseiPhone 18 Pro Max camera thicker, iPhone Ultra dummy unit compared to iPad mini
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max due to increased depth around the camera plateau. YouTuber Vadir Yuryev behind the Max Tech channel shared numbers based on iPhone 18 Pro Max dummy units. Yuryev also compares an iPhone Ultra dummy unit to iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Expand Expanding ClosePioneer Sphera brings a premium CarPlay feature to existing cars, now available
Pioneer was first to bring Apple CarPlay to existing cars in 2014, and now the company is pulling off another CarPlay first. The new Pioneer Sphera is the first system with aftermarket Dolby Atmos support, and it’s now shipping.
Expand Expanding CloseOpenAI updates ChatGPT with Codex-powered ‘workspace agents’ for teams
OpenAI launch week continues today with the introduction of workspace agents in ChatGPT.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases GarageBand update, here’s what’s new
Apple has released a new version of GarageBand for Mac. The new version finally includes an app icon optimized for macOS Tahoe.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle teases Gemini-powered Siri upgrade during Cloud Next keynote
Apple’s upcoming Siri overhaul got a moment of stage time during Google’s Cloud Next ’26 opening keynote today.
Expand Expanding CloseOpenAI unveils ChatGPT Images 2 image-gen model capable of magazine design
OpenAI is announcing its upgraded ChatGPT image generation model with ChatGPT Images 2. The company is also scaling up Codex for enterprise with a new Codex Labs initiative.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases iOS 26.5 public beta 3
Apple has released the third iOS 26.5 public beta. The previous public beta introduced a new splash screen that signaled the upcoming arrival of ads in Apple Maps.
Expand Expanding CloseReflecting on when Steve Jobs passed the Apple CEO torch to Tim Cook
Apple CEO Tim Cook is giving up the title and passing the torch to John Ternus on September 1.
Unsurprisingly, Cook is taking on the role of board executive chairman, a position in which Cook is expected to remain very active as Apple’s chief global diplomat. Retiring as CEO? Yes. But retiring into the sunset? Hardly. You can take Tim at his word when he says he can’t imagine life without Apple.
As Apple’s CEO transition shifts into the public-facing phase, I couldn’t help but revisit some of the official press material from the previous changing of the guard.
That happened under very different circumstances, of course, with Steve Jobs at the end of his life. It’s incredibly touching to revisit now. There are also echoes of Steve’s endorsement of Tim Cook in Tim’s endorsement of the next Apple CEO, John Ternus.
Expand Expanding Close
OpenAI teases next AI announcement coming today, here’s what to expect
OpenAI has teased its next AI software product announcement happening later today. The teaser gives us a good idea of what to expect.
Expand Expanding CloseTim Cook stepping down this year, John Ternus confirmed as next Apple CEO
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down, and John Ternus is taking over. The CEO transition has quietly been underway for some time now. Starting today, the transition is happening publicly and will be complete this fall.
Expand Expanding CloseOpenAI releases Codex ‘Chronicle’ feature for enhancing context, here’s how it works
Last week, OpenAI released an all-new version of Codex for Mac that includes the best example of AI-driven computer use yet.
Today, Codex for Mac is taking its recently gained memory feature further with a feature OpenAI calls Chronicle.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases iOS 26.5 beta 3 for iPhone
Apple has released the third iOS 26.5 beta for developers. The previous beta introduced a new splash screen that signaled the upcoming arrival of ads in Apple Maps.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Sports now works with CarPlay, here’s how to set up
Good news for sports fans: Apple has updated its Sports app for iPhone, adding new support for CarPlay alongside more F1 race-tracking features.
Expand Expanding Close