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A ZDNET piece revisits how Apple built its tightly controlled App Store ecosystem after CEO Tim Cook's 2014 jab at Android as a 'toxic hellstew of vulnerabilities.' The article argues that a decade later, the competitive and regulatory battles have shifted from app-store control to AI, with Apple's new Siri raising fresh concerns.
Apple has set a launch event for Sept. 9 at its Cupertino campus, inviting media with the tagline 'Surprise and shine.' The event is expected to unveil new iPhones and Apple Watches, including Apple's first foldable phone, alongside a fresh version of Siri built on large language model technology.
Apple confirmed it will hold its fall hardware event on September 9 at 1PM ET, streamed live on its website and YouTube. The event is expected to showcase the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and possibly a foldable device, rumored as the iPhone Ultra, while other models like the iPhone Air 2 and base iPhone 18 may not arrive until 2027.
A new beta of iOS 27 quietly adds an 'Apple Intelligence Report' toggle inside the Home app for Apple TV and HomePod devices, according to a post from Apple Home Authority on X. The option only appears when the TV or speaker is running the paired tvOS 27 or HomePod 27 beta, suggesting Apple is laying groundwork for AI features on these products rather than just iPhones. Apple notably left tvOS and HomePod out of its WWDC messaging about a unified Siri experience, fueling speculation about unreleased hardware.
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.
Apple has carried its beta-only Siri AI waitlist system into the release builds of iOS 27 and macOS 27, meaning users won't get instant access to the new Siri features once they update. Code found in Beta 7 shows Apple now sends a personalized, server-generated wait-time estimate after someone joins the queue, with a push notification once access is granted.
Apple used its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil iOS 27, which will bring new Siri-powered AI capabilities to compatible iPhones this fall, likely around mid-September based on past release patterns. The announcement comes as Apple continues rolling out updates to iOS 26, released in September 2025, which introduced the Liquid Glass redesign and call screening tools.
Apple has pushed out the seventh developer beta of iOS 27, available now via Settings for those enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. This build is expected to correspond to public beta 5, with the finished software rolling out to all users next month. The update centers on Siri AI, a rebuilt assistant using new Apple Foundation Models and expanded Apple Intelligence features across the system.
Apple is preparing a wave of over ten new products, including its first foldable iPhone, dubbed iPhone Ultra, a long-rumored smart home hub called HomePad, and a refreshed Apple TV 4K. The HomePad, first detailed by Mark Gurman in late 2024, was delayed by Siri AI setbacks but now appears close to release alongside other Home products.
WIRED's Reece Rogers tested iOS 27's rebuilt Shortcuts app, which now includes an Apple Intelligence feature called 'Describe a Short' that lets users create automations by typing plain-language requests instead of manual scripting. Rogers, a longtime Shortcuts skeptic, says the tool successfully generated useful daily automations, including a habit-breaking shortcut that questions him whenever he opens Instagram, though some glitches occurred during beta testing.