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Blood Oxygen returns to Apple Watch, iOS 26 beta 6, Apple tabletop robots 

Benjamin and Chance react to the surprise announcement that the Apple Watch Blood Oxygen feature is coming back for US users, via a phone relay workaround. Also, Apple released the latest beta of iOS 26, featuring some fun new animations and even more Liquid Glass refinements. Plus, there’s more speculation about the low-cost MacBook and more details about Apple’s future ventures into home robotics. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, we catch up on some recent TV shows and movies we enjoyed this summer. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iPhone 17 case leaks, iOS 26 beta 5 changes, Tim Cook’s AI pep talk

Benjamin and Chance talk about the week’s Apple news including all the changes in iOS 26 beta 5, in which Apple inexplicably doubled down on the inverted scroll direction in the Camera app. Also, iPhone 17 case leaks suggest Apple will be adding lanyard holes to its silicon cases for the first time, and Tim Cook presents an AI strategy pep talk to employees and investors. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, they discuss the uncertain future of the default search deal between Apple and Google. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 icons, public beta feedback and iPhone 17 rumors

Benjamin and Chance analyze the new iOS 26 icon set, as well as respond to some public beta feedback Chance has received from his family. Also, a test iPhone 17 prototype was seemingly caught on camera on the streets of San Francisco. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance has finally updated to watchOS 26 beta, and the pair discuss the surprising utility of the new wrist flick gesture. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 beta 4 changes, AppleCare One, and an M5 iPad Pro surprise

Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 26 beta 4, the strangely good deal that is the new AppleCare One package, and a surprising rumored detail about the upcoming M5 iPad Pro. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo discuss the recent exodus from the AI group as motivation to work on Apple AI research wavers. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Apple’s upcoming hardware roadmap, AirPods marketshare, new Vision Pro strap

Benjamin and Chance react to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman report on what Apple is planning to ship over the course of the next twelve months, as well as the details of a near-term refresh for the Vision Pro including a more comfortable strap. Apple launches a new Emoji puzzle in News+, AirPods marketshare is revealed in a new study, and Apple sweeps the Emmy nominations.  

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance talk more about the recent controversies surrounding Liquid Glass. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 beta 3, controversial Liquid Glass changes, Jeff Williams retires

Benjamin and Chance discuss the Liquid Glass design changes that came as part of iOS 26 beta 3, debate whether it looks better, and whether it retains the spirit of what Apple presented in June. There’s also a handful of other interesting changes in these latest betas for iPad, Watch and Mac. Plus, Apple formally appeals the EU on anti-steering requirements, and Jeff Williams announces his retirement in the latest significant shakeup of the Apple leadership team.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin discusses the report that Apple has submitted an official bid in the rights negotiations for streaming F1 in the US. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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MacBook with iPhone CPU rumors, AI Siri partnerships, new EU App Store rules

Benjamin and Chance discuss the intriguing rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is readying a new cheaper MacBook Air powered by an A18 Pro CPU. Also, Apple befuddles everyone with a new byzantine set of App Store rules in the EU, and Apple seems open to powering AI Siri using third-party models.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance walks through some tech updates after another big move. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 beta 2 changes, Liquid Glass on Apple Watch, Apple feature availability

Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 26 beta 2 and macOS Tahoe beta 2, try out all the new features in watchOS 26 for the first time, and talk about why availability of Apple features and services can be so splintered. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin saw the F1 film in IMAX, and en route observed some horror stories of how people actually use their phones in the real world. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 tidbits, new Apple Music features, updated Vision Pro Personas, and more 

Benjamin and Chance catch up on all the stuff they didn’t get time to cover, still reeling in the haze of the WWDC hangover, discussing a bunch of cool new things across iOS, watchOS, and visionOS. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance go hands-on with all the new CarPlay changes in iOS 26. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 is official, Liquid Glass redesign, and our full WWDC 2025 reactions

Benjamin and Chance are back with another bumper WWDC installment, featuring our thoughts on everything Apple announced during its 2025 keynote. From new features in iOS 26 to the sweeping redesign of Liquid Glass, we give our first reactions of all the changes in the new operating systems. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance talks more about his experience on the ground at Apple Park. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 26 naming, new Gaming app, and more last-minute WWDC expectations 

Benjamin and Chance get hyped for WWDC 2025 with coverage of all the last-minute news, as well as the state of the rumor mill in the run-up to Apple’s big software show. There’s talk of a new Gaming app, a major change to Apple’s OS version numbering, and much more to discuss ahead of next week’s event. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin tries to convince Chance to use his Vision Pro on the plane. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Apple OS redesigns, Apple Watch sales decline, smart glasses plans advance

Benjamin and Chance talk about everything Apple in the run-up to WWDC, including news that watchOS and tvOS should also expect major design changes this cycle. Also, Chance used his phone as his ID at the airport, Apple’s smart glasses plans advance and Apple Watch sales are reportedly struggling. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance share their favorite spring TV picks. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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The truly bezel-less iPhone, rumored AirPods roadmap, WWDC invites go out

WWDC invites have gone out, and Chance will be there in person. The pair discuss the narrative of indifference that hangs over WWDC at the moment, as the tech industry is currently dominated by daily onslaught of AI news. And while the rumors about the AirPods roadmap are a little bleak, Apple is rumored to be shipping a truly all-screen bezel-less iPhone in a couple of years time — an exciting prospect indeed.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin has spilt tea on his Magic Keyboard, which leads into a bigger topic of the pair talking about what sits on their desk. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 19 accessibility announcements and more rumored features, CarPlay Ultra finally arrives

Benjamin and Chance react to all the new accessibility features Apple previewed for iOS 19, like Magnifier and vehicle motion cues for Mac. This week also saw the surprise debut of next-gen CarPlay, now called CarPlay Ultra, arriving first in partnership with Aston Martin. We’ve also got some more rumors about some software features to expect at WWDC. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, HBO corrects the Max branding mess. Should Apple follow suit? Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iPhone release schedule shakeup, iPhone 17 Air battery life, 2025 Pride band

Benjamin and Chance talk about all the big Apple news of the week, including Apple’s latest earnings report, the new 2025 Pride band and wallpaper, and several rumors about the upcoming iPhone roadmap. Apple is apparently going to shift some of its phone releases to the spring going forward, and the 17 Air might not have the battery life we originally hoped.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Eddy Cue makes provocative claims about the future of the iPhone in court testimony. We discuss what he meant. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Epic win against Apple, iPhone 17 Air dummy models, iOS 19 rumors

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Benjamin and Chance react to the huge developments in the Epic vs. Apple case, with Apple now compelled to allow free rein links out to the web, with no commission. Also this week, we get our best look yet at the super-slim iPhone 17 Air, there are intriguing rumors about iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, and Apple quietly launches a bizarre new microsite on its website. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, understandably, Chance gives up on Mac support for HomePod audio output. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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10 years of Apple Watch, Siri leadership shakeup, DMA fines 

Benjamin and Chance reflect on the history of the Apple Watch on its ten year anniversary. Also, the EU slaps Apple with its first ever fines under the DMA. Rockwell is said to already be making waves with big Siri leadership changes, and Chance appreciates the flexibility of modern Photographic Styles.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin dives into the bizarre UI world of the five-levels-deep iCloud+ settings screen. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iPadOS 19 rumors, Tim Cook prioritizes AR glasses, Earth Day Apple Store promo

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Benjamin and Chance talk about the news and rumors of the week, including a report that iPadOS 19 will gain Mac-like productivity and multitasking features, the claim that Tim Cook is laser focused on beating Meta to AR glasses, and there’s profiles about some of the internal management dysfunction in the AI groups. Also, Apple has kicked off a rare sales promo at its stores in celebration of Earth Day.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin used public EV charging for the first time this past weekend, and hit a rather unfortunate snag. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Latest iOS 19 leaks, ‘bold’ iPhone design changes, Apple tariffs response

Benjamin and Chance react to the unfolding trade tariffs and Apple’s uncharacteristically silent stance on matters. Also, there’s a bunch of new purported renders of iOS 19 design changes, and Apple is said to be working on bold new iPhone designs for next year’s 20th anniversary. Also, Chance comes away super impressed with the new Vision Pro Yankee Stadium tour.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin preps his iPad for an upcoming road trip, and bemoans Plex’s latest app update. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 18.4 features, AI Health service rumors, Apple Card drama

Benjamin and Chance start with a catch-up on changes to Friday Night Baseball, before diving into the software updates of the week, with the launch of iOS 18.4 and the first iOS 18.5 beta launching. Also, thoughts on Apple’s rumored AI Health service plans, and the latest on finding a new partner for the Apple Card.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin embarks on a mission to convert baby videos from old camcorder tapes, to digital files. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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WWDC 2025 announced, Siri leadership changes, surprise AirPods Max update 

Benjamin and Chance get excited for iOS 19, off the back of WWDC 2025 being officially announced this week. Also, Siri fallout continues with newly announced leadership changes, with Vision Pro lead Mike Rockwell taking over the voice assistant. We debate whether that’s a good thing. Also, AirPods Max gets a software update out-of-the-blue, and Bloomberg reports Apple is considering adding a camera to the Apple Watch.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin gets his first real experience with electric car ownership, and the quirks of the cables and charging apps that it entails. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Live translation on AirPods, encrypted RCS, EU enforces interoperability for iOS 19

Benjamin and Chance react to the biggest stories of the week, including Apple’s commitment to support encrypted RCS, the rumored launch of a new live translation feature for AirPods, and the ongoing fallout of the Siri feature delays. Apple is also forced to add a variety of APIs to let third-party devices access iOS notifications and other system features, thanks to the latest EU decree.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance rocks out to Metallica in the Vision Pro, and Apple finally announces Ted Lasso season four. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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AI Siri features delayed indefinitely, iOS 19 redesign rumors, foldable iPhone in 2026

Benjamin and Chance react to the disappointing news that Apple officially delayed the ambitious AI Siri features indefinitely, and what the ramifications are on Apple’s product line in the near term. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports Apple is preparing the biggest redesign to iOS since iOS 7, and Kuo has some details about Apple’s first foldable iPhone coming in 2026.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance experiments with Benjamin’s external monitor arrangement, and we discuss the popularity of Safari’s “Compact” tab layout option. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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New MacBook Air, iPad Air, and Mac Studio launches

Benjamin and Chance recap the newly announced lineup of iPads and Macs. The new iPad Air and base iPad offer even better value for money, while Apple pushes the performance edge with the surprising launch of the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio, and makes the best MacBook yet with the new M4 MacBook Air. Also, iOS 18.4 beta 2 brings even more new features to discuss.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Apple takes a swing at a home run with a trio of baseball content announcements. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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