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Tech News
AppleCare has evolved from a simple flat-fee warranty into a tiered subscription system covering nearly every Apple product, including accessories like AirPods and Beats. Pricing varies by device, with theft and loss protection available only for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and a new AppleCare One plan bundling three devices for $19.99 monthly, with $5.99 for each additional device.
Polyarc, the Seattle developer behind the Moss and Moss: Book II virtual reality games, has announced its closure via a LinkedIn post. At least 29 former staff members are now searching for new jobs, according to a shared recruiting sheet. The studio said its work was 'now finished' after nearly 12 years of operation.
A tech commentary piece pushes back on comparisons between Apple's rumored foldable iPhone Duo and the Apple Vision Pro, arguing the two products face very different market conditions. The Duo starts at $1,999, well under the Vision Pro's now $3,699 price tag, and functions as a pocketable phone-tablet hybrid rather than a stationary headset with limited daily utility.
Apple confirmed during its 'Surprise and shine' hardware event that visionOS 27, the next major software update for Vision Pro, will launch on Monday, September 14. The release coincides with other major OS updates including iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate.
Medical device maker Stryker announced its SportSuite Vision app for Apple Vision Pro was used for the first time in a live procedure, a hip arthroscopy performed at Duke Health. The app received FDA De Novo authorization on July 17, and surgeon Dr. Chad Mather III used it to view orthopedic planning tools and imaging directly within his sterile field during the operation.
Stryker completed the first surgical procedure using SportSuite Vision, an Apple Vision Pro app that overlays arthroscopic video, HipCheck, HipMap and CT imaging directly into a surgeon's field of view. The hip arthroscopy took place at Duke Health, performed by orthopedic surgeon Chad Mather III, after the app received FDA De Novo authorization on July 17.
John Ternus, formerly Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, officially took over as CEO on Tuesday after Tim Cook stepped down following 15 years leading the company. Cook, who guided Apple to a $4 trillion valuation, will remain involved as executive chair, and insiders say the leadership shift is expected to bring continuity rather than dramatic change. The transition arrives just over a week before Apple's iPhone launch event on September 9.
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.
Apple and Major League Baseball launched a four-game immersive VR series on Vision Pro, beginning with the Red Sox versus Yankees. A reviewer donned the headset for the full broadcast and found the up-close, 3D visuals striking, but the experience awkward for a sport built around long stretches, breaks, and communal viewing habits.
Apple streamed a live MLB game between the Red Sox and Yankees as an Apple Immersive experience on Vision Pro, using 3D 8K footage with a 180-degree field of view for Friday Night Baseball. Reviewers from Macworld, Daring Fireball, and Six Colors all praised the broadcast, comparing it favorably to actually sitting in the stadium. Commentators also noted Apple's choice to stick with a single fixed camera per half-inning, rather than cutting between many angles, made the experience feel more natural and immersive.
A recent Apple Vision Pro adopter shares that the headset's standout use case is watching movies and TV shows while lying down, echoing comments Tim Cook has made about his own viewing habits. The writer notes that while Vision Pro's broader software experience—like multitasking and typing—remains clunky, its content consumption strength, particularly for reclined viewing, is what keeps the device relevant despite its bulk.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will raise prices by at least $100 on the iPhone 18 Pro and other devices unveiled at its September event, pushing the Pro model to roughly $1,200. The increase is linked to an AI-driven RAM shortage squeezing supply across phones, laptops and consoles, and follows earlier price hikes this summer on select MacBooks, iPads and HomePods.