Apple has released the first iOS 26.4 RC build, highlighting 13 enhancements coming to your iPhone, and that means three things.
Expand Expanding CloseApple highlights 13 enhancements coming to iPhone with iOS 26.4
Author
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
Microsoft’s 7-point plan to fix Windows 11 makes macOS Tahoe look golden
macOS Tahoe may have its critics, but even Microsoft is struggling to find things to like about Windows 11. The company has announced plans to turn things around this year. The solution? Fewer ads in the operating system and a moveable version of their equivalent of the Dock to start.
Expand Expanding CloseApple’s Gemini-powered Siri upgrade could still arrive this month
Apple has had a jam-packed March after just three weeks. The company announced eight new products, broke a Mac launch record, and highlighted 13 enhancements coming to iPhone. Next, one of the most overdue Apple releases in years could follow: Personal Intelligence for Siri and Apple Intelligence.
Expand Expanding CloseApple hasn’t caught up to MacBook Neo demand yet
It looks like Apple is selling MacBook Neo laptops faster than it can make them. Meanwhile, the Mac is breaking records because of it.
Expand Expanding CloseAmazon developing Fire Phone successor to take on iPhone with Alexa AI focus
After getting burned by the Fire Phone in 2014, Amazon is reportedly developing a new iPhone competitor for the current decade. The company’s revitalized hardware division is taking inspiration from Alexa instead of 3D this time around.
Expand Expanding CloseWant your Apple Watch to stop opening apps and just show the face? Here’s how
Wish your Apple Watch would always show your watch face when you glance at it? Be default, Apple Watch will launch certain apps or show the Smart Stack based on your activity. If you prefer to always see your watch face, however, there are a few things to tweak.
Expand Expanding CloseRumor: iPhone Fold may launch months after iPhone 18 Pro
Apple is widely expected to unveil its first iPhone with a foldable display this year. However, the rumored iPhone Fold could actually launch months after the iPhone 18 Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseApple says customers should ‘update iOS to protect your iPhone from web attacks’
Apple has published a new support document that encourages customers to update to the latest iOS versions in order to “protect your iPhone from web attacks.”
Expand Expanding CloseApple Vision Pro gains smoother gameplay with Nvidia’s top GeForce Now streaming plan
Nvidia’s most expensive game streaming plan now supports 90 frames per second gameplay on Apple Vision Pro. GeForce Now also streams at higher resolution for Vision Pro compared to other headsets.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Health integrates with newly announced ‘Perplexity Health’ AI feature
Following yesterday’s Comet iOS browser release, Perplexity is back with another AI announcement: Perplexity Health. The new “suite of connectors” includes integration with Apple Health, Perplexity says.
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Meta reconsiders shutting down its unpopular metaverse game world
Meta has pulled the plug on its plan to, well, pull the plug on a big but unpopular part of its metaverse.
Expand Expanding CloseMarch Madness unseats ChatGPT for top of the App Store
Sports has defeated AI for the top of the App Store. March Madness is in full swing, and that’s knocked ChatGPT out of the top downloaded apps spot for today.
In fact, it’s not just one March Madness-related app pushing around the top AI apps.
Expand Expanding CloseHermès made a $5K leather MagSafe Duo charging case for iPhone and Apple Watch
Apple may be out of the leather business for environmental reasons, but its partner Hermès is far from it. The company’s Spring 2026 collection includes a striking adaptation of Apple’s old MagSafe Duo charging pad, wrapped in “Gold Swift calfskin.”
Expand Expanding CloseApple Sports enhanced with March Madness brackets and league expansion
Last month, Apple upgraded its Apple Sports app with new NCAA tournament tracking features, a huge soccer expansion, and the ability to track leagues and teams in more markets. Now that March Madness is here, we have a look at how the feature appears in the app.
Expand Expanding CloseOvercast is gaining transcripts, and it will have an edge over Apple Podcasts
Overcast, the third-party podcast player for iOS, will soon include transcripts for podcast episodes. When the feature arrives, it will have an edge over the version in Apple’s Podcasts app.
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Apple named in AI lawsuit over data set it says doesn’t power Apple Intelligence
Apple is named in a new AI lawsuit by publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul, reports Reuters. However, the lawsuit points to a data set that Apple has already said doesn’t power Apple Intelligence.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases iOS 26.4 RC for iPhone with upcoming features
The first iOS 26.4 release candidate is now available. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including new emoji and AI-powered Apple Music updates.
Expand Expanding ClosePerplexity AI ‘Comet’ browser for iPhone now available
Last summer, Perplexity launched one of the first AI-focused web browsers with Comet on the Mac. Now, the long promised iOS counterpart to Comet is available.
Expand Expanding CloseSiri and Apple Home can now control Matic Robots vacuum/mop, here’s how it works
I’ve been testing a robot vacuum and mop from Matic Robots for several months now. It’s a solid product built on privacy and intelligence. I’ll share more about my overall experience with Matic in the future. For now, I want to quickly highlight an exciting update that rolled out overnight: Apple Home integration.
Expand Expanding CloseApple pushing back on ‘vibe coding’ iPhone apps, developers say [U]
Updated with Apple’s statement to 9to5Mac after the story.
AI is making app development easier than ever. However, a new report claims Apple’s App Store isn’t fully embracing these new tools. Companies behind two “vibe coding” apps that let you create tools by entering text prompts into an AI system say Apple is pushing back on the category.
Expand Expanding CloseMeta’s Manus launches ‘My Computer’ to turn your Mac into an AI agent
AI startup Manus has released its answer to OpenClaw and Perplexity’s Personal Computer. The similarly dubbed “My Computer” system runs on your Mac or PC, turning your machine into a personal AI agent.
Manus originally started as an independent AI firm before being acquired by Meta at the end of last year. (Meta also recently acquired another OpenClaw-adjacent project: MoltBook, the social media site for AI.)
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases Background Security Improvement for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Apple has released the first public Background Security Improvement for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. There are four versions of the release.
Expand Expanding CloseOpenAI releases GPT-5.4 mini and nano, its ‘most capable small models yet’
OpenAI continues to ship new models with the release of GPT-5.4 mini and nano, its “most capable small models yet.” ChatGPT users can start using GPT-5.4 mini today.
Expand Expanding CloseNvidia details CloudXR for visionOS 26.4, enabling ‘Immersive for Autodesk VRED’ app
Last week, we learned that visionOS 26.4 enables Nvidia’s CloudXR 6.0 technology on Apple Vision Pro. Now Nvidia is officially announcing its work with Apple, which enables a new “Immersive for Autodesk VRED” app and more.
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