Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple has spent over a year building its own gamepads for iPhone, following code found in a macOS 26.7 release candidate. Two versions are in development, differing in motion sensors and haptics, both featuring a standard layout with D-pad, dual sticks, shoulder buttons and triggers. Beats executives are reportedly leading the project, hinting the controllers may launch as Beats accessories rather than Apple-branded products.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-14
WIRED refreshed its noise-canceling earbuds recommendations for September 2026, updating specs, prices and links across brands including Bose, Apple, Samsung, Anker and Beats. After testing in real-world noisy settings like subways and cafes, the reviewer named the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as the top overall performer for active noise cancellation and sound quality.
wired.com
· 2026-09-14
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is considering repositioning Beats as a label for less refined, lifestyle-driven products, with gaming controllers as a starting point. The idea reflects Apple's interest in tapping into gaming culture without attaching its flagship brand to hardware that may not meet its usual design polish.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-13
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has spent over a year developing gaming controllers for iPhone, but plans to release them under its Beats brand rather than the Apple label. Code referencing two devices, codenamed T6502 and T1057, was recently found in a macOS release candidate, showing components like dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons and D-pads. Beats executives are reportedly leading the design and engineering of these controllers.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is building two game controllers for the iPhone, likely to be sold under its Beats subsidiary rather than the Apple brand itself. The report follows earlier findings by MacRumors of references to two first-party controller devices buried in macOS 26.7 code, even though the products are apparently intended for iOS.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-13
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed earlier code discoveries suggesting Apple is building its own gamepad accessories for iPhone, identified internally by model numbers T6502 and T1057. The devices reportedly include a D-pad, thumbsticks, haptic motors, and possibly motion-sensing hardware, though their final design remains unknown. Gurman suggests the controllers may ultimately launch under the Beats label, with Beats executives leading the project.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-13
Ian Rogers, who previously built Beats Music, helped launch Apple Music, and later worked at LVMH, has taken on the role of chief human agency officer at Ledger, a crypto security startup valued at $1.5 billion. Ledger uses secure hardware chips, similar to those found in credit cards, to protect digital assets like Bitcoin from theft or loss. Rogers is now working remotely from rural Italy, shaping the company's security and AI strategy.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-10
CERT/CC disclosed that Skullcandy Dime 3 earbuds running firmware 1.0.0.28 accept Bluetooth pairing from nearby devices without any user approval, due to a flaw in the Airoha Bluetooth Audio SDK tracked as CVE-2025-20701. Skullcandy has released firmware 1.0.0.30 to fix the bug, but there is no way for users to update their earbuds manually or through the companion app.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-09
Anker has unveiled SleepLab, a bedside speaker that uses 60GHz millimeter-wave radar to monitor heart rate and breathing without requiring a wearable device. Over roughly a month of use, it learns which combinations of binaural beats and ambient lighting help the user relax and stay asleep, operating standalone without a phone or subscription. The device can be reserved for $1, with the radar-equipped Pro model priced at $269.99 and a non-radar version at $169.99.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-03
New reports indicate Apple will release updated AirPods 5 open earbuds alongside Beats-branded over-ear headphones in the coming weeks, rather than the long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods Pro. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the IR camera version, aimed at powering Siri visual intelligence and gesture recognition, won't arrive until next year, despite recent leaked video evidence found in a MacOS 26.7 release candidate. The AirPods 5 are expected to come in two versions priced similarly to the current AirPods 4, at $130 and $180.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Dr. Dre and Interscope co-founder Jimmy Iovine discussed AI's growing role in music production in a New York Times interview, with Dre confirming he uses AI as a tool to experiment with tracks he's already working on. Dre dismissed critics of AI music tools, comparing their resistance to earlier backlash against drum machines and synthesizers. Iovine claimed many producers, including Timbaland, secretly use AI but are reluctant to admit it publicly.
entertainment.slashdot.org
· 2026-08-24
Multiple leaks have surfaced detailing Apple's upcoming Beats 360 wireless headphones, suggesting the product line is set for a notable overhaul. Reports indicate the new model will feature substantially improved active noise cancellation compared to previous Beats headphones.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-08-24