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Rivian launches new Apple Watch app with vehicle controls, digital key & more [Hands-on]

Just a few weeks after rolling out the Rivian Digital Key update, which helped tremendously with proximity-based features, Rivian has doubled down and is rolling out a new dedicated Apple Watch app. The Apple Watch update was designed as an extension of the Rivian iPhone app, giving you all the most used features right on your wrist. It has customizable quick controls, glanceable vehicle status, and support for digital key functionality (depending on your vehicle generation). I got some early access to the app, so here is what you should know.

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Apple TV partners with IMAX to show Formula 1 races live in theaters

You’ll need an Apple TV subscription if you want to watch Formula 1 at home this season in the United States. But, Apple is taking its new broadcasting rights beyond the living room. In a partnership announced today with IMAX, Apple TV will also show select races from this season live in theaters.

Five of the 2026 Grand Prix’s will be shown at IMAX screens across the country, including Silverstone, Miami, Monaco, Monza and Austin.

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Speculation that Apple’s March event could include immersive F1 on Vision Pro

Speculation that Apple's March event could include immersive F1 on Vision Pro | Apple promo graphic for its status as the official US broadcaster of Formula 1

Apple commenter John Gruber is spitballing again. After suggesting that the special event on March 4 may be preceded by a series of new product announcements through press releases, he now has another idea.

Based on a reader drawing his attention to the timing, he suggests that another announcement could be immersive F1 viewing on Vision Pro …

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Millions of passwords and Social Security numbers exposed as old hacks remain a threat

Millions of passwords and Social Security numbers exposed as old hacks remain a threat | Close-up photo of hard drive platters

An unsecured database that likely contains tens of millions of unique Social Security numbers, alongside email addresses and passwords, has been discovered by security researchers.

While the database appears to have been collated from a number of separate data breaches over approximately a decade, the researchers explain why even very old personal data remains a live threat …

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9to5Mac Daily: February 18, 2026 – iOS 27 expectations, AI products

9to5mac daily podcast

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

Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.

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Deals: Most affordable M5 iPad Pro nearly $200 off, Apple Watch Ultra 3 up to $155 off, Ocean Band, Trail Loop, more

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now ready to go, starting off with new Amazon all-time lows on the most affordable M5 iPad Pro models – you will now find nearly $200 off the most attainable 11-inch configurations. Alongside a chance to score the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $155 off, we also spotted new Amazon all-time low pricing on the Neon Green Ocean Band and the blue Apple Trail Loop at up to 41% off, joined by ongoing $300 price drops on 32GB M5 MacBook Pro models. Scope it all out down below. 

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iOS 26.4 beta 1: Notification Forwarding onboarding, allow search on iCloud․com, and more [Video]

In this new episode of iOS Decoded, we take a deep dive into what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1, with in-depth looks at dozens of new features and changes. For example, we get our first look at the Notification Forwarding setup for third-party smart watches and other hardware devices in the EU, along with new iCloud.com functionality that brings secure Photos and iCloud Drive search to the web.

In this post, we’ll consider five standout features included with the update, but watch the full video for a look at everything new, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more in-depth walkthroughs.

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Early demo reveals how CarPlay handles video in iOS 26.4, including Apple TV app

Starting with iOS 26, Apple will officially allow video playback through CarPlay. Released this week in beta, iOS 26.4 appears to be the first version with support, as long as two conditions are met. While CarPlay video playback isn’t ready for users yet, one developer has shown off how it will look as well as how Apple’s TV app looks in the car.

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Federal ban on TP-Link routers shelved, but Texas fights on

Federal ban on TP-Link routers (example shown) withdrawn, but Texas fights on

Badged versions of TP-Link routers are supplied to US customers by more than 300 ISPs, making them the most widely used Wi-Fi routers in the country, found in millions of US homes.

It therefore caused grave concern when security researchers at Microsoft found that a hacking group based in China was using vulnerabilities in the devices to carry out cyber attacks in the US. It had been widely expected that the routers would be banned from sale in the US, but politics seemingly intervened. However, the battle is not yet over …

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Apple is making it easier to customize how subtitles look on iPhone

The usage of subtitles and captions in TV shows and movies is ever increasing, both due to the popularity of foreign language content and Hollywood’s inability to produce an audio track where the person speaking is sufficiently intelligible.

With iOS 26.4, Apple is improving the subtitles experience in the native video player on iPhone and iPad, and a similar change is rolling out to Apple TV with tvOS 26.4 …

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The low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release

We have a good idea how capable the new MacBook will be | Renders of the new machine shown

Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March.

Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024

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