GoKawiil
Tech News
John Ternus took over as Apple's chief executive on September 1, inheriting a fall lineup that includes a foldable iPhone, a new AI-enabled smart display, and an updated Siri platform. He steps into the role while Tim Cook stays on as executive chairman, and while Apple grapples with a memory chip shortage, App Store revenue pressure, staff departures, and an AI program still trailing competitors.
The piece is a fictional 'day one' briefing addressed to Apple's John Ternus, satirizing the company's ongoing struggles across hardware, services and AI. It jokes about delayed Siri upgrades, price hikes on new iPhones, rebranding an AirPods camera as a 'sensor,' low morale on the Vision Pro team, and new EU App Store commission rules taking effect in a month.
On his final day as Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook sent employees a memo praising incoming CEO John Ternus, the company's senior vice president of hardware engineering, calling him uniquely suited to build products that matter. Cook emphasized he isn't leaving Apple entirely, as he will stay on as executive chairman handling political relationships with figures like President Trump and Chinese officials.
Apple's upcoming September 9 event is expected to bring new iPhones, Apple Watches, and other devices, which will likely push more than ten current products out of the lineup. Items rumored for discontinuation include the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, AirPods 4 models, Apple TV 4K, and both HomePod versions.
Reports suggest Apple will unveil AirPods 5 at its September 9 event alongside new iPhones and Apple Watch models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the lineup will include two variants—one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without—continuing the standard earbuds line last updated in 2024. Camera-equipped AirPods, previously rumored for this cycle, are now expected to wait until 2027.
Apple's AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro allow users to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode by pressing and holding the earbud stem. This behavior can be customized in the Settings app under Press and Hold AirPods, where users can also add Adaptive mode or turn off noise control entirely, and set which modes cycle through when pressing the stem.
Amazon's 2026 Labor Day sale is bundling numerous Apple discounts, including $50 off AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2 at an all-time low of $20, and the first-ever price cuts on Apple's new M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models. Renewed Premium iPhone 17 Pro units are also seeing record lows of up to $290 off, alongside deals on Apple Pencil Pro, MagSafe battery packs, and certified refurbished Studio Display and Apple TV 4K units.
A wave of Labor Day weekend discounts is hitting Apple products, including a record-low price on the official MagSafe Battery Pack, $50 off AirPods Pro 3, and AirTag 2 down to $20 each. Amazon is also offering its best-ever prices on iPhone 17 Pro renewed units (up to $290 off) and the first-ever discounts on Apple's new M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models.
Soundcore's new Liberty 5 Pro earbuds carry a Guinness World Records certification for the highest speech quality score among wireless earbuds. A WIRED reviewer testing dozens of earbud models found the Liberty 5 Pro noticeably improved phone call clarity, particularly for conversations with elderly relatives, while also featuring a redesigned, larger pill-shaped body with multiple ear tip and wing options for comfort.
Amazon's 2026 Labor Day sale has begun offering the first small cash discounts on the base and mid-tier configurations of Apple's newly announced M6 Mac mini, ahead of its September 22 release. The sale also includes $50 off AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2 for as low as $20, the 44mm Apple Watch SE 3 at $200, and discounts from Anker and Bose.
Amazon has kicked off its 2026 Labor Day Sale with widespread discounts across Apple products, including $50 off AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2 units as low as $20, and Apple Watch SE 3 hitting a record $200 price point. Renewed Premium iPhone 17 Pro units are discounted up to $290, and even the newly released M6 Mac mini is seeing early price cuts on its two entry configurations.
The August 27, 2026 episode of 9to5Mac Daily rounded up recent reporting on rumored AirPods 5 features and Apple's plans to introduce advertising within Apple Maps. The podcast, sponsored by Backblaze, is distributed across major podcast platforms with a Plus subscription tier offering ad-free episodes and bonus content.