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As we reported in August, Meta has confirmed that it will discontinue Spark, Instagram’s AR filters, in January 2025. At the time, the company didn’t give many details except to say that it would prioritize its efforts on other products. Now we know what’s coming next: realistic AI-based filters.

Over the past few months, two big waves of Apple Intelligence features have debuted via iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. While some have speculated Apple is planning paid AI services in the future, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook recently said that charging has never even been discussed. Here’s why.

As part of iOS 18, Apple unveiled the biggest-ever redesign to the Photos app. With a single-pane interface, the new Photos app highlights collections and curation while being fully customizable to your liking.

The rollout of the Photos app, however, proved to be polarizing. While I’ve been a fan of it since it first debuted, Apple has made several tweaks in subsequent iOS 18 updates to address some of the most common complaints. It has also added several notable new features.

It’s the holiday season, and many of us have more time on our hands than usual for TV watching. Apple TV+ started out with a small catalog, but it’s grown significantly over the years and now offers strong options for everyone. Here are the best reviewed shows available on Apple TV+, sorted by Rotten Tomatoes scores.

As expected, Apple is starting to wind down sales of the Lightning-equipped iPhone SE and iPhone 14 lineups from the European Union. This comes as the EU’s common charger mandate is set to go into effect on December 28, requiring smartphones to feature USB-C for charging.

Smart home products have come a long way, but one area often overlooked is water management. Aqara’s newly launched Valve Controller T1 is changing that by turning your existing water valves into smart components of your home. Originally announced at IFA 2024, this retrofit device pairs with water leak sensors and integrates seamlessly into HomeKit

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Holiday breaks are starting to kick off, when Apple and other companies tend to not make many new announcements. But there’s one big update we’re still expecting, according to Apple’s website: the arrival of the first next-gen CarPlay models.

Last week we received word that the MacBook Pro would be getting OLED and lose its notch starting in 2026. That same report also detailed the OLED timeline for Apple’s other products, and it doesn’t look great for the MacBook Air in two key ways.

Did you know that Apple, for years, has had a system and process for sending ‘threat notifications’ to users of suspected spyware attacks? Here’s what that means, and new details on the guidance Apple gives users with a compromised device.

I didn’t waste any time when AirTags first came out, immediately buying eight of them: for five bags, keys, a videography rig, and a bicycle. But I’ve also repurposed some of them during trips for some AirTag sharingwith friends, and iOS 18.2 makes this option even better.

I’ve confessed before to being something of a bagaholic, so the first thing I did was to slip an AirTag into each of my main bags, where they live almost permanently …

We learned earlier this week of a Bluesky extortion issue, emerging after the social network said that it would use domain name ownership as a way to verify the identity of public figures.

Bluesky hasn’t fully addressed the issue, but has taken one step toward reducing the problem of scammers impersonating well-known people on the platform …

AI video editing based on text prompts is coming to Instagram next year, with the company’s head showing off the ability to do things like change your clothing and video background, as well as some funkier stuff like adding animated characters.

The company had earlier shown a demo video (below) of completely AI-generated video, stating that it was just a research project, but it seems the first practical application of the tech is arriving sooner than expected …

Every year, MKBHD holds its Smartphone Awards, choosing the best smartphones in different categories. For 2024, the YouTuber chose phones for 10 categories, and surprisingly, iPhone 16 won an unexpected one – this year’s Best Small Phone.

Apple on Thursday stopped signing iOS 18.1.1, preventing users from downgrading to this version of the operating system if their iPhone or iPad is already running a newer version. The move comes a week after the release of iOS 18.2, which introduced significant new features and improvements.

OpenAI last month announced a major update to the macOS ChatGPT app, which gained the ability to read on-screen content in certain apps. The company is now rolling out an update that expands support for Apple Notes and even more third-party apps.

With iOS 18.2, Apple supercharged AirTags with a new feature called “Share Item Location.” This feature lets you share the location of a lost AirTag or Find My network accessory with a trusted third party.

As part of the launch of Share Item Location, Apple is teaming up with airlines worldwide. Here are all the airlines that support this new feature

This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: Apple’s foldable iPad and iPhone are coming, plus a fresh Magic Mouse approach, and AirTag 2. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

iOS 18.2 has brought with it a new wave of Apple Intelligence features. One of the most powerful additions is ChatGPT integration. You can now use ChatGPT directly through Siri and system-wide writing tools. Here’s everything new.

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Benjamin and Chance react to the recent controversy around AI notification summaries, and how Apple could improve the situation. Also, Benjamin is frustrated with the lack of Apple Music Radio improvements, and the pair discuss the latest rumors about the company’s foldable plans.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we debate what is Apple’s 9to5Mac product of the year for 2024. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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What do you get the iPhone user who has everything? CarPlay solutions and accessories are a great place to start! These are the best CarPlay related gifts for the holiday season.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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iOS 18.2 comes with a lot of new features that are hard to miss, like the Mail redesign, new Image Playground app, and Genmoji. But there are also two new tools hidden inside the Settings app in iOS 18.2: you can add volume controls back to your iPhone’s Lock Screen, and also set maximum volume limits.