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
Earlier this week, it was reported that the next-gen Apple Vision Pro will come with the upcoming M5 chip and not the current M4. Not so fast, however, says the source of the M4-powered Apple Vision Pro.
Expand Expanding Close
With the release of watchOS 11.6.1 and companion iOS 18.6.1, Apple managed to restore blood oxygen readings for U.S. owners of Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.
The method is slightly less convenient, as it shifts processing data and displaying results to the iPhone, but it restores a capability that had been entirely removed since late 2023. The timing works in Apple’s favor.
Expand Expanding Close
Following iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 beta 6, Apple has released the third iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 public betas.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has released watchOS 11.6.1 for Apple Watch, reintroducing the Blood Oxygen app for certain customers in the United States. The update works in tandem with iOS 18.6.1, also released today, and marks the first time the feature has been available on new watch hardware since late 2023.
Expand Expanding Close
The most likely iPhone 17 event date is now the rumored iPhone 17 event date. No surprises there. But when should we expect Apple to actually confirm the date of its next big product reveal, and what should you make of event invite “leaks” on social media?
Expand Expanding Close
After two years of titanium iPhone Pro models and many more years of stainless steel, Apple is rumored to be switching to aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro. Titanium, instead, will be used on the ultra thin iPhone 17 Air.
That may seem like a step away from premium materials for the Pro model. For anyone bored by variations of gray for Apple’s best iPhones, however, it appears to be good news.
Expand Expanding Close
LA is populated with marketing materials for all sorts of entertainment, but this giant painted Severance mural is one-of-a-kind.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple Vision Pro will be two years old in February. For those holding out for a second-gen version, it sounds like the Apple Vision Pro 2 may have a better chip than expected.
Expand Expanding Close
Good things really do come to those who wait, and Pebble fans have been waiting years. The beloved e-paper smartwatch brand, which predated and out-charmed the Apple Watch for many, is about to make a proper comeback. Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky has finalized the design for the new Pebble Time 2.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has taken aim at Apple Cinemas in a new trademark lawsuit, and the dispute is starting to feel like it belongs on the big screen.
Expand Expanding Close
Expectations are now firmly set: iPhone 17 Pro will come with a higher starting price and one less storage option.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple’s next iPhone lineup is getting closer to launch, and color may be one of the most exciting changes this year. Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 series will not only bring back some fan favorites but also introduce bold new shades, including one of the brightest colors ever offered for a Pro model.
Expand Expanding Close
My former colleague Parker Ortolani has been experimenting with “vibe coding” for months, building native and web apps by steering large language models with carefully crafted prompts. GPT-4o and Claude helped him get functional prototypes running, but GPT-5 is the first model that delivers the complete experience he’s been waiting for. Here’s how GPT-5 improves on earlier models:
Expand Expanding Close
Following OpenAI’s big week filled with open models and GPT-5, Anthropic is on a streak of its own with AI announcements.
Expand Expanding Close
Hearing health is incredibly important, and gentle reminders from Apple to keep that in mind can be helpful. However, if you’re just tired of seeing headphone volume limit warnings, there’s actually a way to turn those off.
Expand Expanding Close
We’ve covered the new CarPlay experience in iOS 26 a lot over the summer. There’s a lot of excitement for a lot of the changes, but it turns out not everyone loves the complete experience.
Expand Expanding Close
Thunderbolt 5 is starting to arrive on some Macs, but most of us are still living in the Thunderbolt 4 era. For those users, Plugable is introducing a new docking station designed specifically for Macs. The TBT-UDM pairs Mac-friendly styling with pro-grade connectivity at a more competitive price than most premium Thunderbolt docks.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple Arcade is kicking off September with several new games and big updates, including an NFL tie-in just in time for football season.
Expand Expanding Close
Beats is rolling out a fresh limited-edition version of its recently relaunched Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker, teaming up with Bulgarian-born fashion designer Kiko Kostadinov.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple includes a new onboarding experience for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26. An eagle-eyed X user pointed out something interesting about the macOS Tahoe video.
Expand Expanding Close
Anthropic has introduced a helpful new feature for Claude that solves a problem similar to one ChatGPT already addressed.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has delighted many iOS 26 beta users while also potentially frustrating a few others by introducing a modification to the revamped Camera app.
Expand Expanding Close
iOS 26 beta 6 is out now for iPhones on the developer beta release cycle. Below we’re collecting all of the iOS 26 beta 6 changes compared to the previous version.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has released the sixth developer beta version of iOS 26. We expect the redesigned version of the iPhone software to officially launch next month.
Expand Expanding Close