Apps

Kindles have long offered a recap feature intended to act like the “Previously …” feature often seen on TV shows. It’s intended to remind you of a book’s story and characters when restarting reading after a lengthy gap.

Amazon last year announced a far more sophisticated Story So Far version, and the feature is now finally rolling out to Kindles and the iPhone app in the US …

Pocket Casts for iOS has picked up a fresh visual overhaul this week. The latest version brings Apple’s Liquid Glass design language to one of the most popular podcast apps on the platform.

Signify, the firm behind Philips Hue, is launching a new Sports Live feature that connects lighting effects to real-time live sports data. The new feature arrives in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff.

Back in April, Anthropic unveiled its Claude Mythos AI model that it said was too powerful to publicly release. Instead, the company has shared access with software vendors, including Apple, in an effort to use the model for enhanced cybersecurity.

Now, as promised, Anthropic has released what it calls a Mythos-class model that customers can actually use. The new model is called Claude Fable.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

Habit tracking apps are a dime a dozen, but Grit Method sets itself apart by requiring you to be more thoughtful. With your input, the app clearly outlines four clear goals for you to work towards daily, and it’s about more than just being more productive.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nintendo has released a big update to its popular Nintendo Music app. The update adds three new features, including CarPlay support, Siri integration, and a dedicated iPad app.

OpenAI recently added a new feature to the ChatGPT app: a hidden gesture that lets you instantly set the effort level of a prompt. ChatGPT also introduced a new way to easily navigate longer conversations. Meanwhile, the default model used by ChatGPT has changed since arriving last month.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

Navigating across different cities and figuring out their public transportation can sometimes be a bit messy. Maps apps might not always have the best information, or the apps that do exist aren’t presenting data in a super readable manner.

NextThere aims to tackle that problem, and also packs loads of historical data for providing more informed information regarding delays, on-time performance, and so on. It’s great for tourists and frequent commuters alike.

Earlier this month, OpenAI updated ChatGPT’s mobile app to include remote access to Codex for Mac. Starting today, ChatGPT for iPhone and Android can also start work on Codex for Windows as well.

Plus Codex inside ChatGPT for iOS has some new features and improvements.

Musixmatch, a popular third-party lyrics app for iPhone, is out with a big update today. You can now use Musixmatch to follow along with lyrics via CarPlay when listening to Apple Music or Spotify.

As Spotify users around the world await the return of their good old fashioned app icon, the company is rolling out four improvements to the platform’s core music experience.

Heads up, baseball fans. MLB: The Show has officially launched on iPhone. If you want to play as your favorite MLB team on a gaming console, MLB: The Show is the name of the game. With the 20th anniversary of the game’s first release, MLB: The Show has arrived on iPhone for the first time.

Halide’s big 3.0 upgrade has been on our radar since late 2024. Today, the pro camera app has arrived in the form of Halide Mark III. It brings three key photography upgrades to the experience.

As Spotify users around the world await the return of their good old fashioned app icon, the company has announced new ways to stream more than just music.