Zac Hall is a Senior Editor, covering Apple, AI, and the modern technology landscape.
He joined 9to5Mac in April 2013, originally as a writer and copy editor.
He later served as Lead Editor from May 2016 through December 2020, before shifting focus to 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 created and hosted multiple seasons of the 9to5Mac Watch Time podcast, a health and fitness-focused interview series.
Zac currently focuses on writing for 9to5Mac. He is based in the lovely Gulf Coast town of Ocean Springs, MS, where he lives with his brilliant kids and Nova, his adventurous Cavachon rescue pup.
Contact: zac@9to5mac.com
While watchOS 27 didn’t get much stage time during WWDC 2026, the next Apple Watch software update still packs some great new features. Here’s everything new coming to Apple Watch this fall so far.
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Google Gemini for macOS was recently flagged for not being a very good app citizen on the Mac. Apple’s new macOS 27 Golden Gate seems to make an example out of apps like Gemini that sneakily run in the background after a user quits the software.
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iPhone and iPad can easily control an Apple TV when you don’t feel like reaching for the physical remote. Starting with iOS 27, the virtual Apple TV remote can once again be added to your Home screen, not just Control Center.
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Apple previewed iOS 27 and the new Siri AI system today. Now it’s time for developers and eager early adopters to start testing the new software. The first iOS 27 developer beta is now available.
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At WWDC 2026, Apple is detailing its Apple Intelligence improvements, starting with its Google Gemini collaboration. The company is also announcing the new Siri experience, and improvements to apps through AI.
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Apple has unveiled watchOS 27, the next Apple Watch software update, and it will include a number of new features and improvements.
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Apple has officially announced iOS 27. Here’s what’s included in the next major iPhone update.
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There’s now a physical Apple pin for Lil Finder Guy, the adorable Finder-based Mac mascot who originated from MacBook Neo’s marketing campaign.
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Apple Watch performs favorably in The Wall Street Journal’s health and fitness tracker showdown today. Here’s how Apple Watch Series 11 stacks up against the Oura smart ring and fitness bands from Fitbit and Whoop.
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Do wireless CarPlay adapters actually work? Several years ago, I bought a new car that came with wired Apple CarPlay. I really wanted wireless CarPlay, but replacing the whole entertainment system didn’t make sense. Fortunately, there are popular solutions for turning standard CarPlay into wireless CarPlay, and they work with iOS 26 and Apple’s newest iPhones.
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Back in April, Google joined OpenAI and Anthropic in offering a dedicated Mac app for its AI chatbot software. Two months later, it’s clear that Gemini for Mac isn’t as good as it could be.
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At the start of May, OpenAI released a playful feature inside its Codex desktop app for creating a virtual pet.
This silly little addition solved my biggest challenge with Codex: what should I do with it? My first real task with Codex was putting together a virtual Lil Finder Guy for fun.
A month later, I’m using two Mac apps that Codex built at my direction. Toying around with Codex Pets was the gateway for me to better understand its capabilities.
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Update: The app appears to have been removed two hours after our story was published.
The third most popular free iPhone app in the U.S. App Store today is a mysterious productivity app that’s only available in Russian. That’s a pretty obvious red flag that something isn’t quite what it seems.
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ChatGPT’s memory feature allows it to learn about you and remember your preferences over time. Memory gives ChatGPT useful context for natural interactions that don’t need start from scratch each time. OpenAI has released new details on how ChatGPT’s memory feature is getting smarter and coming to free users for the first time.
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No, it’s not an April Fools’ Day gag in June as far as we can tell. Cash App has launched a tap-and-pay magic wand keychain accessory for contactless payments.
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CarPlay is a beloved Apple feature that brings communication and entertainment apps from your iPhone to the built-in screen in your car.
Install supported apps on your iPhone, then they automatically appear on your CarPlay display when you’re connected.
Over the last decade, we’ve tracked every CarPlay app release. Below is our list of more than 80 CarPlay apps across a dozen categories.
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In April, The Weather Channel released a new version of its Storm Radar app, introducing a customizable AI weather presenter and much more. More recently, Storm Radar has arrived on Apple Watch.
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“The Pill People have entered the villa,” according to Apple’s latest Beats Pill video ad. The new clip, seen below, promotes 24-hour battery life as part of the current Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker.
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Ever want to do more with your health data that Apple Watch gathers? CardioBot has long been a great way to unlock new insight into your heart health. The latest version integrates one of my favorite Apple Health metrics using Apple Watch.
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There’s just something special about Apple Vision Pro and airplanes. From turning in-flight entertainment into a cinematic experience to supporting the world’s most advanced flight simulator, Apple Vision Pro has earned its wings.
Now there’s a new native app that’s free to download and experience that takes Apple Vision Pro users on an immersive private flight from the comfort of your living room.
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June is here, and with the new month comes the next Apple Watch activity challenge. Meanwhile, Apple Fitness+ has added a new treadmill workout for subscribers.
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Perplexity has announced a major new feature coming soon to Perplexity Computer: the ability to split tasks between local and cloud models.
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OpenAI continues to push Codex beyond an agentic coding desktop app to a general productivity tool for everyone. As part of that effort, the company shared three enterprise-focused Codex updates today. Additionally, OpenAI says it will soon put Codex functionality inside the ChatGPT app everywhere.
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Anthropic unveiled its Claude Mythos AI model in April, only sharing access with select partners like Apple. The controlled release is part of Anthropic’s Project Glasswing cybersecurity initiative.
Now Anthropic says it’s sharing Claude Mythos access with more partners in more countries. Meanwhile, the company says Mythos-class models will be available to all customers in a matter of weeks.
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