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
The top three wireless service providers in the US are teaming up to eliminate coverage dead zones. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are forming a joint venture that will involve satellites, though the announcement is light on specifics.
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Spotify is making two video podcast announcements today, including one related to Apple’s big video podcast enhancement.
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I’ve been using a robot vacuum and mop from Matic Robots for several months now. It’s a solid product with Apple-level build quality that’s built on privacy and intelligence. While Apple Home integration wasn’t always a feature, I was pleased to see support arrive recently.
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Smart scales that sync with iPhone and iPad offer a convenient way to monitor personal health metrics. Prices span from under $30 for basic features to around $500 for models with clinical grade body scans and easy-to-recommend solutions in between. For anyone who wants weight and related data to appear in the Health app, the key requirement is choosing a scale that supports Apple Health.
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Starting today, Strava users can now log workouts and tap into the latest AirPods Pro 3 workout feature. Strava says it works as a standalone AirPods experience or alongside Apple Watch.
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If you run a small business from your Mac, you’ll want to pay attention to Anthropic’s latest Claude release.
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Meta just launched a brand new iPhone app called Instants. Built around ephemeral photo sharing, the new social media app is also the latest Instagram feature. Here’s what it does.
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Back in March, OpenAI abruptly pulled the plug on its Sora video app. Two months later, a pair of AI video generation apps is competing for the top of the App Store.
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iRacing on Apple Vision Pro brings a “level of immersion and fidelity never before seen in sim racing,” says iRacing president Tony Gardner. The new app landed on the App Store this week after first being announced in March.
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Last month, Meta relaunched its AI efforts with Muse Spark, replacing its Llama models. As of today, Muse Spark is powering new experiences inside the Meta AI app.
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MacBook Neo shipping estimates are starting to improve for the first time since Apple’s $599 laptop launched. The shorter wait times line up with a recent report claiming Apple ordered more A18 Pro chips due to higher-than-expected demand.
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Apple Journal is a wonderful solution for writing and reflecting in a private environment on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Day One is the go-to pick for users looking for richer features than what the built-in, free app offers. Now there’s an easier way to upgrade without starting over.
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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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There’s a new version of the multi-platform Apple Developer app out today ahead of WWDC 2026. Apple Developer version 11.0 introduces a Liquid Glass design ahead of iOS 27.
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Apple has released iOS 26.5, bringing three key enhancements to your iPhone. The new software update also includes a colorful new wallpaper option and much more.
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Want to use your favorite AI chatbot app in the car? iOS 26.4 and later supports voice-based conversational apps, and we’ve already seen several popular iPhone apps update for CarPlay.
While not every AI chatbot has a dedicated CarPlay app just yet, widget support can get you pretty close for some of the holdouts.
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CarPlay continues to give drivers more choice than ever when it comes to which services to use on the road. For example, CarPlay now works with three top AI chatbot apps. This extends the iPhone experience into the car without requiring special integration between automakers and services.
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Update May 8: Anthbot M9 is currently 20% off on Amazon for the next few days, offering a big $180 discount off the regular price.
I haven’t mowed my lawn in over a month, but it’s manicured like a golf course. That’s because I switched from a push mower to a robot lawn mower that I manage from my iPhone. It’s the Anthbot M9, and it’s by far my favorite new piece of technology I’ve tried this year.
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Perplexity has released a brand new version of its macOS app that is replacing the company’s previous Mac software.
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OpenAI has just released three new realtime voice models that it says will “unlock a new class of voice apps for developers.” Each new voice intelligence model has a unique speciality for different purposes.
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Signify, the firm behind Philips Hue and Philips Smart Lighting (formerly known as WiZ), is launching a new Sports Live feature that connects lighting effects to real-time live sports data. The new feature will arrive in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff in June.
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Anthropic launched Claude Managed Agents last month, greatly simplifying the work required to build and deploy cloud-hosted AI agents. This week, Claude Managed Agents are becoming more capable with three new features.
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WWDC 2026 is just around the corner, and Apple has highlighted four Swift Student Challenge app winners. This year, Apple points out AI tools Swift Student Challenge winners are using to help bring their ideas to life.
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Apple Arcade’s May lineup introduces four new titles today on the subscription gaming platform. Apple Arcade games have no ads and no in-app purchases.
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