O'Grady's PowerPage

  • Apple releases iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5 release candidate builds to developer community

    Apple releases iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5 release candidate builds to developer community

    Along with the distribution of the macOS Tahoe 26.5 release candidate build, Apple on Monday also seeded release candidate versions of its iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 mobile operating systems.

    Per Macworld, the updates are expected to bring the following fixes, changes, and new features:

    • End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) in Messages is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time. For more information visit: https://support.apple.com/109526
    • Pride Luminance wallpaper that dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors, is available for download
    • Suggested Places in Maps displays recommendations based on what’s trending nearby and your recent searches

    If you’re interested in testing the builds but aren’t a registered developer, you can use the following steps:

    • Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
    • Log in to the Beta Software Program.
    • Click Enroll your iOS device.
    • Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
    • In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.
    • It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

    You can also snag a free developer account via Xcode or by using the following steps with the Apple Developer app:

    • Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store.
    • Open the app.
    • Tap on Account.
    • Sign in using your usual Apple ID.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5 release candidate builds, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via Macworld and developer.apple.com

  • Apple releases first macOS Tahoe 26.5 release candidate build to developer community

    Apple releases first macOS Tahoe 26.5 release candidate build to developer community

    Apple is that much closer to releasing its macOS Tahoe 26.5 update.

    The company seeded its release candidate version to the developer community for testing on Monday, the update coming a week after Apple seeded the fourth beta.

    Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.5 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

    No new features were noted in the first four macOS Tahoe 26.5 beta releases, and it’s thought that the update will largely focus on bug fixes and performance improvements.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the beta, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors and developer.apple.com

  • Apple to offer macOS 27 details at WWDC keynote in June

    Apple to offer macOS 27 details at WWDC keynote in June

    Apple is expected to unveil its macOS 27 operating system during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8. Following this event, the first developer beta will likely be available, with a public beta typically following in July, and a public release occurring in Septemer.

    Per MacRumors, here’s what’s currently known and thought to be expected from macOS 27:

    No Name Yet:

    While macOS 26 is known as “Tahoe,” the name of macOS 27 has yet to leak.

    Siri Upgrades:

    macOS 27 will reportedly include a dedicated Siri app with conversation history. This would make Siri more like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

    It’s thought that macOS 27 will include a personalized Siri feature that Apple first previewed at WWDC 2024.

    More Apple Intelligence Features:

    Apple has contracted with Google to power Apple Intelligence through Google Gemini, which currently extends far beyond the more personalized version of Siri. However, exactly which features arrive remains to be seen.

    Touch Interface:

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is currently prepping a touch-optimized version of macOS for its rumored MacBook Pro, or “MacBook Ultra,” that’s been equipped with a touchscreen. The notebook is thought to offer subsequent commands if a user touches a button or control on the screen. And if a user taps on an item in the menu bar at the top of the screen, the report said the controls will enlarge so they are easier to select with a finger.

    Gurman has noted that the notebook is expected to arrive by early 2027, so these touch optimizations will presumably arrive in macOS 27. The changes might be hidden until the laptop launches.

    Improved Stability:

    Similar to the Mac OS X Snow Leopard release from 2009, it’s been rumored that macOS 27 will focus more on stability than on a large number of new features. Apple is thought to be highlighting bug fixes and stability improvements, as well as possibly much-needed Liquid Glass design enhancements.

    No Intel Macs:

    It’s time to make the leap to an Apple Silicon-based Mac. In 2025, Apple announced that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final macOS release to be compatible with certain Intel-based Macs. This year, macOS 27 will only be compatible with Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip or newer. However, Apple will likely continue to release security fixes for some Intel-based Macs for at least a few more years.

    No AirPort Time Capsule Support:

    Beginning with macOS 27, Macs will not support the AirPort Time Capsule or any other storage drives that use the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), according to a warning shown by Apple on macOS Tahoe. Time Capsule backups will require a storage drive that supports more current file-sharing protocols like SMBv2 and SMBv3.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Netflix begins UI overhaul of its iPhone app, highlights new vertical “Clips” feature

    Netflix begins UI overhaul of its iPhone app, highlights new vertical “Clips” feature

    Video streaming company Netflix began an overhaul of its iPhone app on Thursday, beginning with a redesign centered around its vertical video feed entitled “Clips.”

    According to the press release, the Clips feature functions as “a personalized highlight reel that helps you decide what to watch or play next, without endless scrolling.”

    The company also described its new Clips-based functions as follows:

    • Add to ‘My List’: See something you like? Add movies and shows straight to your list from the feed. 
    • Share: Want to relive that long-awaited kiss, look for clues behind that OMG twist, or turn a friend onto your favorite comfort watch? Use the arrow at the bottom to share recommendations to your friends and followers via text or social media directly from the feed.
    • Explore: Planning a family movie night? Or just need a good laugh? Browse a world of entertainment personalized to help you decide what to press play on next.

    The company said this is just the beginning of its vertical video ambitions, and that Clips will later be expanded to include “podcasts, live programming and collections based on genres, like romance or specific interests.”

    The updated iPhone app rolled out yesterday in several countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Africa. It will launch everywhere else in the months ahead.

    The Netflix app is available for free and requires iOS 18.0 or later to install and run.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and the App Store

  • Rumor: Apple developing “Ultra” product line, including a folding iPhone, to be released later this year

    Rumor: Apple developing “Ultra” product line, including a folding iPhone, to be released later this year

    Apple may be introducing an entire “Ultra” product line this year, complete with what’s been dubbed the “iPhone Fold.”

    Per Macworld, sources close to the story have stated that Apple seems set on its “Ultra” branding for its new flagship iPhone this fall.

    The source has stated that Apple is planning to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year. Rather than replacing the Pro models, which are also set to receive an upgrade this fall, the foldable iPhone will be marketed as a higher-end model of Apple’s smartphone line.

    As such, Apple is expected to dub the handset the “iPhone Ultra.”

    This wouldn’t be the first time Apple has gone with the “Ultra” moniker, as Apple has dubbed both its high-end Apple Watch models and its M1 chip the “Ultra” as of 2022.

    The sources have stated that the iPhone Ultra won’t technically be part of Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup, which implies that it might not have the number 18 in its name, as seen with last year’s iPhone Air. Still, the iPhone Ultra is thought to tbe the marquee announcement at the iPhone 18 Pro event in September. Apple is also said to be working hard to ship the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models this fall without major delays. However, the Ultra models may still hit stores a few weeks later and in smaller quantities.

    Unlike previous years, Apple won’t upgrade the base iPhone and iPhone Air this fall, shifting those models to the first half of 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e.

    In addition to the iPhone Ultra, a MacBook Ultra is also said to be in the works. This would represent a MacBook with an OLED touchscreen that would stand apart from the rest of the MacBook Pro notebook line. The notebook would retail for significantly more than the current MacBook Pro models and offer a new feature set as well.

    As for the launch, Apple had been planning to release the MacBook Ultra later this year, but the launch is likely to be pushed back to the first half of 2027 due to the recent RAM supply shortage.

    The “Ultra” branding could extend to a rumored high-end version of the AirPods, complete with built-in cameras, along with an M5 Ultra Mac Studio desktop.

    Finally, an iPad Ultra might be possible, as noted by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The tablet would be more expensive and a more expensive device as opposed to conventional iPads, and specific details have yet to surface.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld and Bloomberg