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Tim Cook has ended his 15-year tenure as Apple's chief executive, handing the role to hardware chief John Ternus. Cook took over from Steve Jobs in 2011 and oversaw major shifts including the expansion of Apple's services division and the move from Intel processors to Apple's own custom silicon in Macs.
John Ternus has officially become Apple's CEO, marking the company's first leadership change since 2011. Tim Cook shifts to executive chairman on Apple's board, while longtime marketing chief Phil Schiller steps back from running the App Store and events to become an Apple Fellow. Several other leadership roles have also shifted, including government affairs duties moving to Jennifer Newstead and Cook himself.
Google is rolling out a refreshed Android Auto app icon, replacing the familiar blue design with a green one featuring rounder corners, spotted in version 17.6.663424. The change appears tied to a broader Android Auto redesign expected in the coming months that will bring widget support, video playback, and a more fluid visual style.
The August 31, 2026 episode of 9to5Mac Daily summarized the day's top Apple stories, including a reported price hike for the Apple TV app or hardware. The podcast, produced by 9to5Mac and hosted across platforms like Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn and Google Play, is sponsored by the task-management app Stuff.
Apple has filed fresh court evidence, including a forensic review of former engineer Chang Liu's old work laptop, alleging he used a confidential Apple circuit schematic and an internally named engineering tool while working at OpenAI. Apple also claims Liu enlisted OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence once he learned of the investigation, and that he exploited an authentication flaw to retain system access after leaving.
Apple has filed new court documents alleging forensic analysis of a laptop used by former engineer Chang Liu after he joined OpenAI shows he downloaded dozens of confidential Apple files, including a circuit schematic, and used proprietary internal tools. Apple also claims Liu asked a coworker to wipe Apple-issued devices once he learned he was under internal investigation, which Apple frames as an attempt to destroy evidence.
Apple reportedly pushed up the release of its new Mac mini and Mac Studio models this week, months earlier than its usual autumn schedule, after enterprise demand for AI-capable desktop Macs exceeded expectations. The Information reports Apple emphasized the ability to cluster multiple Mac Studios together to run large AI models, a feature targeted at business and developer customers rather than consumers.
9to5Mac's report details four months of using OpenAI's Codex agent on the Mac, highlighting its April addition of a Computer Use plugin that lets the AI see, click, and type within apps using its own cursor. The feature traces back to Sky, an AI assistant previewed by former Apple Shortcuts creator Ari Weinstein's startup, which OpenAI acquired before folding its tech into Codex.
In its trade-secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple filed new court documents claiming an initial forensic review of former engineer Chang Liu's MacBook found he used a confidential Apple circuit schematic in his OpenAI work and ran simulations with it. Apple also alleges Liu knew about his unauthorized cloud access, that OpenAI colleagues were aware of it, and that Liu instructed a colleague to destroy evidence once he learned of Apple's internal probe, with the colleague agreeing to comply.
Phil Schiller, who has led Apple's App Store since 2015 and joined the company in 1987, has stepped down from that role, according to Bloomberg. He'll remain at Apple as a Fellow working on unspecified projects, a title insiders view as a precursor to full retirement. Carson Oliver, a 14-year App Store veteran, will take over daily operations, and the App Store is shifting from marketing to Eddy Cue's services division.
Phil Schiller has reportedly stepped down from running Apple's App Store and product launch events, according to Bloomberg, though Apple has not made a formal announcement. He will remain at the company as an Apple Fellow working on unspecified projects, while App Store oversight returns to Eddy Cue, who led it before Schiller took over in 2015.
Satechi has released the OntheGo Foldable Stand Hub, an $80 accessory that doubles as a tablet, phone, or laptop stand and a USB-C dock. A ZDNET reviewer tested the device and found it solved long-standing ergonomic and connectivity problems that had left previous tablets gathering dust.