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9to5Mac Daily: June 23, 2025 – Apple and Perplexity rumors, more

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. Sponsored by Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring a new Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence. New episodes of 9to5Mac D

The Xbox PC app will soon integrate your various game libraries into one place

Microsoft is getting ready to make the Xbox PC app your go-to gaming hub, regardless of where you buy your games. The company has announced that Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview will get early access to a new aggregated gaming library within the Xbox PC app for Windows 11 PCs as well as handheld devices. The new feature is coming to the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X this holiday season. Gamers' libraries are often split across different platforms like Steam, Xbox, Epic Games,

Topics: app gaming new pc xbox

Your Android phone just got a major Gemini upgrade for music fans - and it's free

NurPhoto/Contributor/Getty The next time you can't remember the name of that song that's stuck in your head, Gemini might be able to help you. One lesser-known feature of Google Assistant was the ability to identify a song, either by letting it listen to a track that was playing or by humming the tune. Pixel phones have a similar feature built in, but if you were on another Android device, you were just left wondering since Assistant switched to Gemini (or you resorted to the Google app or a t

This 15″ 1TB HP Laptop is Almost Free, Amazon Offers 76% Off in Early Prime Day Deal

HP typically retails their laptops between $1,000 to $3,000, unless you are able to snag an unbelievable sale such as the one Amazon is currently running ahead of Prime Day. You can get a 2025 HP (1TB SSD, 32GB GAM, Intel processor, Windows 11 Pro) laptop today for 76% off. Do some arithmetic: the HP laptop in question goes for as little as $479 which is a tremendous $1,500 off from its normal price of $1,999. With this pre-Prime Day discount (also available to non-Prime members), you’re gettin

Apple releases new beta builds of all its flashy new Liquid Glass-ified OS updates

As with any operating system that ushers in a major new look and feel, this year's Apple operating systems and their new Liquid Glass aesthetic will likely merit some extra attention from power users who want to see all the new stuff and developers who suddenly need to acclimate to a new design language. Apple put out one early beta build of all of its new operating systems after its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote a couple of weeks ago—these updates are the first to standardize on year-

Apple’s Liquid Glass interface improves with release of iOS 26 Beta 2

With Monday’s release of iOS 26 Beta 2, Apple has fixed one of the more glaring issues with Liquid Glass, its divisive new user interface design for the iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices, announced earlier this month at its WWDC 2025. The refreshed user interface modernizes the operating system’s look and feel with a design system inspired by the optical qualities of glass, including the way it refracts light and its translucency. However, early iOS 26 testers, somewhat unfairly, were quic

U.S. House tells staffers not to use Meta’s WhatsApp

Meta is pushing back against a ban on WhatsApp from government devices. The chief administrative officer, or CAO, of the U.S. House of Representatives told staffers on Monday that they are not allowed to use Meta's popular messaging app. The CAO cited a lack of transparency about WhatsApp's data privacy and security practices as the reason for the ban, according to a report by Axios that cited an internal email from the government office. The CAO told House staff members in the email that they

Apple tweaks Control Center visibility in iOS 26 beta 2

Apple was quick to address what was by far one of the biggest complaints from the first iOS 26 developer beta: Control Center contrast. With beta 2, released earlier today, Apple seems to have tweaked it for better visibility. When Apple introduced the new Control Center UI at WWDC25, the overall design direction looked promising, thanks to the broader Liquid Glass UI overhaul. But there was one glaring usability issue: contrast. In beta 1, many noted that opening Control Center would often le

F1 the Movie review: A shameless Apple ad that will blow your socks off

The first thing in F1 the Movie, before a single word of dialog is uttered, is a pair of AirPods Max. They're so comfortable, Brad Pitt's lovable loser protagonist Sonny Hayes is able to sleep with them all night, then hop up and begin his day of driving fancy race cars. If you paid $550 for the AirPods Max, you too could be like Brad Pitt! It's hard to ignore the blatant commercialism of F1 the Movie; you might as well call it a $300 million ad for Formula One everything Apple. The film is pro

This hidden Android feature lets me hit pause on distracting apps - how it works

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Every so often, an Android app decides it wants to distract me from what I'm doing. I might like that app, might even use it quite often, but in that moment, it's bothersome. I could mute my phone or even turn it off, but there might be other apps that I need to use. I could also uninstall the app, knowing I'd have to reinstall it later. Why go through all of that when you can temporarily disable that distracting Android app? Also: 6 hidden Android features that m

Topics: android app apps ll pixel

How to clear your iPhone cache (and why you should do it before upgrading to iOS 26)

What is cache? Cache -- or browser cache -- is the temporary storage of website files. So, things like images, scripts, and cookies that your browser saves on your phone to make pages load faster the next time you visit. Also: How to clear your Android phone's cache and make it feel like new Over time, though, those files can add up, taking a large bite out of your device storage and slowing things down. That's why it's smart to clear your browser cache regularly. In this article, I focused o

Apple releases iOS 26 beta 2

Apple has released iOS 26 beta 2. The update replaces iOS 26 beta 1 which arrived on June 9 (followed by an updated build for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 on June 13). The second version of the pre-release iPhone software update is available now for developer beta testers. Apple will expand iOS 26 beta testing in July when it adds the major new version to its public beta channel too. What’s coming in iOS 26 iOS 26 is the successor to iOS 18. This year, Apple is replacing the version number of each

Topics: 26 apple beta ios new

tvOS 26 beta 2 is now available with Apple TV app redesign, more

Apple has just released tvOS 26 developer beta 2, bringing the latest enhancements to the forthcoming Apple TV 4K software update. Here’s what to expect. New tvOS 26 beta rolling out for Apple TV 4K and HD tvOS 26 is coming this fall as the next major software update for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. The highlight of the new release is Apple’s ‘Liquid Glass’ redesign that impacts app icons, video playback controls, menus, and more. Apple’s TV app is getting a variety of design updates too, wi

Topics: 26 apple new tv tvos

Apple releases watchOS 26 beta 2

watchOS 26 is the next big software update coming to Apple Watch, and Apple has just released developer beta 2 for testing. watchOS 26 adds revamped Workout app, Liquid Glass, Apple Notes, more Apple Watch users will get a variety of new features this fall in watchOS 26, Apple’s next major software update. The Notes app is coming to your wrist in watchOS 26, plus a fresh ‘Liquid Glass’ design, the AI-powered Workout Buddy, and a variety of other changes. Apple released the first watchOS 26 b

Topics: 26 apple beta new watchos

The New ‘Weapons’ Trailer Promises ‘a Lot of People Die in a Lot of Really Weird Ways’

So far the marketing for Weapons is looking like 2025’s slightly more accessible answer to last year’s Longlegs: freaky and distressing, and promising exponentially more of the same from the feature itself. A first trailer gave a little more insight into the movie’s plot, and a retro-styled website plays up its true-crime angle. Now Weapons is back with a second clip to set the dread-filled mood even more. We see a bewildered teacher (Julia Garner) being blamed for a class of missing kids, with

Elon Musk’s Lawyers Claim He ‘Does Not Use a Computer’

Elon Musk’s lawyers claimed that he “does not use a computer” in a Sunday court filing related to his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI. However, Musk has posted pictures or referred to his laptop on X several times in recent months, and public evidence suggests that he owns and appears to use at least one computer. Musk and his artificial intelligence startup xAI sued OpenAI in February 2024, alleging the company committed breach of contract by abandoning its founding agreement to develop

House staffers can’t have WhatsApp on their devices

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. The House of Representatives has banned staff members from using WhatsApp on government devices, according to a report from Axios. In an email viewed by the outlet, the House’s chief administrative officer (CAO) tells staffers that the Office of Cybersecurity “has deemed WhatsApp a high-risk” because of a “lack of transparency in how it protects use

Microsoft’s Xbox UI update lets you pin games and customize your homescreen

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is rolling out a new update to its Xbox Home UI that allows Xbox owners to pin apps and games on the homescreen. It’s part of a number of customization changes to the Xbox Home UI, including the ability to hide system apps and reduce the number of apps and games listed in the most recently used section. You can pin up to three of your recently launched games or apps

Here are the best Apple Watch deals available right now

In September, Apple launched its latest smartwatch, introducing the Apple Watch Series 10 alongside a black rendition of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Each wearable has its own pros and cons, as does the second-gen Apple Watch SE, but the introduction of Apple’s newest wearables also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had. But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch

US House reportedly bans WhatsApp on government devices

US congressional staffers have reportedly been told that they're no longer allowed to use WhatsApp on government devices. The House of Representatives' chief administrative officer (CAO) is said to have informed workers on Monday that the app — including the mobile, desktop and web-based versions — is not permitted on House-managed devices. "The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data e

This simple Kindle accessory has seriously upgraded my reading experience - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways The Strapsicle silicone straps upgrade the grip options on your Kindle and provide a secure hold to prevent drops. At $21, Strapsicle is an easy and affordable Kindle accessory to make your reading experience even more comfortable. If you prefer more ergonomic grips or don't like the look of straps across the back of your Kindle, an alternative security option may be best. $20.9 at Amazon For a limited time save up to 50% on Strapsicle gear at Strapsicle's website in cel

How to turn on Android's Private DNS mode - and why it's an absolute must for security

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Nearly everything you do on your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet begins with a Domain Name System (DNS) query. Essentially, DNS turns domain names (such as ZDNET.com) into an IP address so web browsers and apps know where to get the information you want. Also: How to enable earthquake alerts on your Android phone (including these Samsung models) Without DNS, you'd have to type 34.149.132.124 every time you wanted to go to ZDNET.com or 74.125.21.10

Apple will give you a free pair of AirPods when you buy a MacBook or iPad for school - here's who's eligible

Jada Jones/ZDNET Back-to-school season is approaching, whether you want to admit it or not. For those starting college this fall, a good computer and noise-canceling headphones are the most excellent tools. Luckily, Apple has a convenient sale where you can get the best of both worlds, but without paying full price. Also: Get 50% off an Amazon Prime membership if you're age 18-24 - here's how Now through September 30, Apple is offering a deal just in time: you can get a free pair of AirPods o

How Apple's biggest potential acquisition ever could perplex AI rivals like Google

Bloomberg/Contributor/Getty Images Executives at Apple are weighing the possibility of buying buzzy AI start-up Perplexity, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Citing anonymous sources close to the matter, the report said that talks within Apple to bid for an acquisition of Perplexity were still in early stages. A spokesperson for Perplexity told Reuters that the company had no knowledge of any acquisition-related plans or discussions. Also: Apple vs. generative AI: Who needs who? If Apple were to

Meta is ruining WhatsApp with ads, but I still can’t leave it

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority When WhatsApp was acquired by Meta (then Facebook) over a decade ago, people immediately began to fairly speculate that ads would eventually seep into what had, until then, been a refreshingly ad-free messaging experience. And yet, quite surprisingly, WhatsApp managed to stay mostly unspoiled, even though bits of Instagram and Facebook (like Stories and Communities) kept sneaking in. That sunny stretch is starting to fade at last. If you’ve been following th

New iPhone roadmap reveals timing of three big design changes

We’re just a few months away from Apple’s launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. But an analyst with expertise in displays just shared a roadmap for three design changes coming with future iPhones, starting next year. The road to an all-screen iPhone may be longer than expected Apple has a lot of big changes coming to the iPhone in the next few years. But new expectations published by supply chain analyst Ross Young indicate some of the updates may not arrive on the timeline we’d previously expected

Apple Research just unearthed a forgotten AI technique and is using it to generate images

Today, most generative image models basically fall into two main categories: diffusion models, like Stable Diffusion, or autoregressive models, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o. But Apple just released two papers that show how there might be room for a third, forgotten technique: Normalizing Flows. And with a dash of Transformers on top, they might be more capable than previously thought. First things first: What are Normalizing Flows? Normalizing Flows (NFs) are a type of AI model that works by learning

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 review: Technically proficient but lacking soul

In previous years, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 probably would have been called an Inspiron. However, after the company revamped its naming scheme earlier this year, all of its consumer PCs now share its name, with a few extra identifiers that call out size, design and status (aka how fancy it is). While I still think Dell’s choice to ditch the iconic XPS tag is a mistake, streamlining its portfolio makes a lot of sense, especially for people simply looking to buy a new laptop. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in