Apple news

• Apple stock is Big Tech’s ‘safe haven’

  18-02-2026 23:00 via macdailynews.com
  Apple’s shares outperformed every other Magnificent Seven stock on Tuesday, underscoring investors’ growing preference for the company amid a shift away from tech firms pouring massive funds into artificial intelligence.
  Investor enthusiasm for Big Tech’s huge AI spending announcements has cooled considerably. Wall Street is now prioritizing actual returns as these expenditures continue to climb. Meanwhile, software stocks are under heavy pressure, with attention turning to th
  
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• 9to5Mac Daily: February 18, 2026 – iOS 27 expectations, AI products

  18-02-2026 22:54 via 9to5mac.com
  Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.more…
  
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• Apple’s March 4 launch event: New products and what to expect

  18-02-2026 22:52 via 9to5mac.com
  Apple is holding a special event for press on Wednesday, March 4 in three locations around the world, and rumors indicate there are lots of new products that could launch. Here’s everything to expect, including hardware launches, format, and more.more…
  
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• Apple Music tests new AI ‘Playlist Playground’ feature

  18-02-2026 21:21 via macdailynews.com
  Apple has introduced a new AI-powered feature to Apple Music with the beta release of iOS 26.4: “Playlist Playground.” This tool allows users to generate custom playlists instantly using simple text prompts, marking a significant step forward in how subscribers discover and curate music on Apple’s streaming service.
  Playlist Playground leverages Apple Intelligence to interpret natural language descriptions and automatically build tailored playlists. Instead of manually searchi
  
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• Apple Mail has a hidden feature that solved my biggest inbox problem

  18-02-2026 20:20 via 9to5mac.com
  I’ve used Apple’s Mail app for years across my iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but the recently added inbox categories were a mixed bag for me until I started regularly using one hidden feature.more…
  
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• iOS 26.4 adds a new category of CarPlay apps

  18-02-2026 20:13 via 9to5mac.com
  Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple was preparing to update CarPlay with support for voice-based interactions in AI apps like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. As of this week’s release of iOS 26.4 beta 1, that support has officially arrived.Here’s how it works.more…
  
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• End of an era: Apple’s tvOS 26.4 removes standalone iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps from Apple TV

  18-02-2026 20:02 via macdailynews.com
  In Apple’s upcoming tvOS 26.4 update the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps will be fully removed from Apple TV devices, marking the final chapter in the long phase-out of legacy iTunes branding for video content.
  The change, first spotted in the tvOS 26.4 developer beta released on February 16, 2026, consolidates all movie and TV show purchasing, renting, and viewing exclusively within the unified Apple TV app. Apple has been gradually migrating users to this single hub sin
  
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• iOS 26.4 Brings CarPlay Support for ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini

  18-02-2026 19:35 via macrumors.com
  With iOS 26.4, CarPlay users will be able to use third-party chatbots with ‌CarPlay‌. AI services like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT will be accessible through the ‌CarPlay‌ system for the first time.
  Apple's ‌CarPlay‌ Developer Guide [PDF] lists voice-based conversational apps as a supported app type starting with iOS 26.4. Apple is implementing a new voice control screen that will let apps provide visual feedback for voice-based conversational apps.AI apps that inte
  
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• Samsung Expands Monitor Sale With Up to 58% Off on Amazon

  18-02-2026 19:22 via macrumors.com
  Last week, we started tracking a big Samsung sale on Amazon, including the return of the all-time low price on the newest Smart Monitor. This week, Samsung has expanded this sale to include even more monitors at all-time low prices,and it still includes the 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 for $1,299.99, down from $1,599.99.Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.This model of the
  
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• Toyota rolls out digital car keys on Apple iPhone

  18-02-2026 19:00 via macdailynews.com
  Apple’s Car Key feature with a BMW (Image: BMW)
  Toyota is rolling out support for Apple Wallet car keys, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch users to lock, unlock, and start select vehicles without a traditional key fob. The feature, first introduced by Apple in 2020, is now available on certain trims of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 in the United States, marking Toyota’s entry into Apple’s digital car key ecosystem.
  The rollout was initially spotted by owners on social media platforms like
  
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• New MacBook with ‘fun colors’ sounds like the best Mac for most people

  18-02-2026 18:48 via 9to5mac.com
  For years now, the best Mac for most people has been the MacBook Air. But that may be about to change, with a revival of the suffix-free ‘MacBook’ coming soon.more…
  
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• Amazon adds ‘read and listen’ mode to Audible app for immersion reading feature

  18-02-2026 18:34 via 9to5mac.com
  Torn between reading an ebook and listening to the narrated version? Amazon’s Audible is introducing a clever solution that it calls immersion reading.
  more…
  
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• iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

  18-02-2026 18:29 via macrumors.com
  Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability.
  There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but software developer Thomas Dye managed to get it working to some extent in Xcode's CarPlay simulator on the Ma
  
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• Apple TV debuts trailer for psychological thriller ‘Imperfect Women,’ limited series premiering March 18th

  18-02-2026 18:22 via macdailynews.com
  Joel Kinnaman and Kate Mara in “Imperfect Women,” premiering March 18th on Apple TV.
  Apple TV on Wednesday released the trailer for “Imperfect Women,” a new psychological thriller starring and executive produced by Kerry Washington and Elisabeth Moss, and created for television by Annie Weisman, who also serves as showrunner. The eight-episode series will make its global debut on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Wednesday, March 18th, followed by new episodes every
  
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• iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

  18-02-2026 18:13 via macrumors.com
  New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone.
  According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell internal trade-in data and secondary market pricing trends gathered from 40 independent ‌iPhone‌ b
  
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• Kill iPhone spam with these 10 tips

  18-02-2026 17:59 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  The iPhone has become an all-in-one device for communication, entertainment, productivity, and more. Naturally, as we install more apps, the number of unwanted notifications keeps growing. Spam is no longer limited to occasional emails, texts, and calls; many apps now use push notifications to deliver ads, irrelevant recommendations, and other distracting alerts. Fortunately, iOS includes a comprehensive set of tools that help you reduce all sorts of spam types and focus on what actuall
  
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• Deals: Most affordable M5 iPad Pro nearly $200 off, Apple Watch Ultra 3 up to $155 off, Ocean Band, Trail Loop, more

  18-02-2026 17:44 via 9to5mac.com
  Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now ready to go, starting off with new Amazon all-time lows on the most affordable M5 iPad Pro models – you will now find nearly $200 off the most attainable 11-inch configurations. Alongside a chance to score the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $155 off, we also spotted new Amazon all-time low pricing on the Neon Green Ocean Band and the blue Apple Trail Loop at up to 41% off, joined by ongoing $300 price drops on 32GB M5 MacBook Pro models. Scope it al
  
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• Apple TV unveils new psychological crime thriller coming soon

  18-02-2026 17:36 via 9to5mac.com
  Apple TV just released the trailer for Imperfect Women, a new psychological thriller series revolving around the fallout from a shocking crime.more…
  
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• Berkshire Hathaway reduces Apple stake as Warren Buffett officially retires

  18-02-2026 17:11 via 9to5mac.com
  In new SEC disclosures filed this week, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed that it has once again trimmed its stake in Apple. At the same time, the firm disclosed a new $350 million investment in the New York Times.more…
  
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• One of our favorite MagSafe power banks is nearly half-off ($38)

  18-02-2026 17:07 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  Keys, wallet, phone, power bank—they should all be part of your daily routine. Missing out on a power bank? Then today’s deal is for you: Amazon is selling the Baseus Picogo Magsafe power bank on sale for $38 right now, a massive 46 percent off and matching its all-time low.With a 10,000mAh capacity, this tiny power bank is more than enough to recharge your phone about twice over, which is great when you go about town or when you travel, as well as for concerts. The Baseus P
  
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• Apple’s March event might bring several days of surprises

  18-02-2026 16:23 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  We now know the date of Apple’s next event-type thing: March 4. But as ever, we won’t know the precise details or the products the company plans to announce until it chooses to make that information public.Unusually, however, there’s a good chance that Apple will tell us about the new products first and host the event (or, to use the company’s preferred terminology, the “experience”) after. Because one respected pundit has put forward the theory that
  
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• Apple Music in iOS 26.4: Five new features coming to iPhone

  18-02-2026 16:19 via 9to5mac.com
  iOS 26.4 is packed with new features and changes, including five updates for the Music app. Here’s everything new for Apple Music in iOS 26.4.more…
  
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• iOS 26.4 beta 1: Notification Forwarding onboarding, allow search on iCloud․com, and more [Video]

  18-02-2026 16:15 via 9to5mac.com
  In this new episode of iOS Decoded, we take a deep dive into what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1, with in-depth looks at dozens of new features and changes. For example, we get our first look at the Notification Forwarding setup for third-party smart watches and other hardware devices in the EU, along with new iCloud.com functionality that brings secure Photos and iCloud Drive search to the web.
  In this post, we’ll consider five standout features included with the update, but wat
  
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• Producer Dana Eden dies unexpectedly at 52 during filming of Apple TV series ‘Tehran’

  18-02-2026 16:02 via macdailynews.com
  Apple TV series “Tehran” creator Dana Eden attended the season two premiere screening at the Robin Williams Center on May 5, 2022. (Photo: Apple TV)
  Dana Eden, the acclaimed Israeli producer and co-creator of the Apple TV+ spy thriller series “Tehran,” has died at age 52 during production of the show’s fourth season.
  She was found unresponsive in her hotel room in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, February 15, 2026 (or late Sunday, per some reports), where she had been ove
  
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• Early demo reveals how CarPlay handles video in iOS 26.4, including Apple TV app

  18-02-2026 15:57 via 9to5mac.com
  Starting with iOS 26, Apple will officially allow video playback through CarPlay. Released this week in beta, iOS 26.4 appears to be the first version with support, as long as two conditions are met. While CarPlay video playback isn’t ready for users yet, one developer has shown off how it will look as well as how Apple’s TV app looks in the car.more…
  
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• M5 iPad Pro Hits New Record Low Prices on Amazon, Starting at $799.99 [Updated]

  18-02-2026 15:56 via macrumors.com
  Apple's 11-inch M5 iPad Pro has hit new all-time low prices today on Amazon, starting at $799.99 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro, down from $999.00. As of writing, we're only tracking low prices on the 11-inch model of the M5 iPad Pro.Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.Amazon also has the 512GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro for $999.99, down from $1,199.00, and the 1TB
  
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• Federal ban on TP-Link routers shelved, but Texas fights on

  18-02-2026 15:06 via 9to5mac.com
  Badged versions of TP-Link routers are supplied to US customers by more than 300 ISPs, making them the most widely used Wi-Fi routers in the country, found in millions of US homes.It therefore caused grave concern when security researchers at Microsoft found that a hacking group based in China was using vulnerabilities in the devices to carry out cyber attacks in the US. It had been widely expected that the routers would be banned from sale in the US, but politics seemingly intervened. However,
  
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• Berkshire trims 4% of its Apple stake in Q4; Apple remains its largest equity holding at $62 billion

  18-02-2026 15:03 via macdailynews.com
  Berkshire Hathaway revealed on Tuesday a new stake in The New York Times, signaling a return to the media sector that Warren Buffett exited in 2020 after divesting the conglomerate’s newspaper holdings.
  In its latest 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkshire disclosed ownership of approximately 5.07 million New York Times shares, valued at $351.7 million as of December 31, 2025. The filing details the Omaha, Nebraska-based company’s U.S.-listed equity ho
  
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• Apple is making it easier to customize how subtitles look on iPhone

  18-02-2026 14:47 via 9to5mac.com
  The usage of subtitles and captions in TV shows and movies is ever increasing, both due to the popularity of foreign language content and Hollywood’s inability to produce an audio track where the person speaking is sufficiently intelligible.With iOS 26.4, Apple is improving the subtitles experience in the native video player on iPhone and iPad, and a similar change is rolling out to Apple TV with tvOS 26.4 …more…
  
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• Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

  18-02-2026 14:42 via macrumors.com
  Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker.
  Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET.Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the color scheme of the Apple logo graphic used for the upcoming "Apple Experience" should match the colors of the
  
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• 10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

  18-02-2026 14:12 via macrumors.com
  Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
  One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting
  
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• You might soon be able to watch Apple TV in your car

  18-02-2026 13:54 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  Code references in the latest version of iOS point to what might sound like a surprising new feature in CarPlay: the ability to play movies and TV shows in your car.iOS 26.4, which has just launched in beta form, contains two giveaway strings, both of which mention an important safety measure. “When you’re not driving,” reads the first, “open Apple TV on iPhone and review the privacy information.” While the second reads: “When you’re not driving
  
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• The low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release

  18-02-2026 13:40 via 9to5mac.com
  Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March.Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024 …more…
  
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• The final countdown for Intel Mac apps has begun

  18-02-2026 13:15 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  Apple has made a major announcement this week that could affect the software you use, especially if it’s an older app. In a support document, Apple wrote that it will start to phase out Rosetta functionality with macOS 28. That means in two years, apps that were written for Intel-based Macs will no longer run on M-series Macs, except for “certain older, unmaintained games.”When Apple began its switch from Intel chips to its own M-series chips in 2020, it changed the ar
  
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• ‘Double-dipping’ dispute over Qualcomm iPhone chips finally ends

  18-02-2026 12:54 via 9to5mac.com
  Apple previously accused Qualcomm of “double-dipping” as a result of the company’s policies over selling radio chips for use in iPhones. The Cupertino company had also objected to Qualcomm charging a percentage of the price of an iPhone rather than a fixed fee per chip.Apple withdrew its claims back in 2024, but an independent class-action lawsuit was still being pursued on behalf of iPhone owners. This lawsuit has now been abandoned …more…
  
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• Perplexity Abandons AI Advertising Strategy Over Trust Worries

  18-02-2026 12:40 via macrumors.com
  AI company Perplexity is stepping away from advertising over concerns that it will erode user trust, despite moves by rivals to introduce ads as an alternative money-making strategy.
  Perplexity was one of the first AI services to embrace ads in 2024, after it ran tests where sponsored answers appeared under the chatbot's answers. That approach however was phased out last year, and executives at the company now say they don't plan to revisit it, according to the Financial Times."A user needs to b
  
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• Free your iPhone from spam with these 10 tips and tricks

  18-02-2026 12:30 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  The iPhone has become an all-in-one device for communication, entertainment, productivity, and more. Naturally, as we install more apps, the number of unwanted notifications keeps growing. Spam is no longer limited to occasional emails, texts, and calls; many apps now use push notifications to deliver ads, irrelevant recommendations, and other distracting alerts. Fortunately, iOS includes a comprehensive set of tools that help you reduce all sorts of spam types and focus on what actuall
  
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• Can Eddy Cue break Apple’s slump?

  18-02-2026 12:30 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  Earlier this month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple had scaled back its plans to launch a new Health+ service and was revisiting its entire health and fitness strategy.While this could be seen as being another sign of trouble at Apple, as the company is currently mired in an ongoing narrative about its inability to ship AI features it promised nearly two years ago, I choose to see this as the opposite: a promising early sign that Apple’s executives are recognizin
  
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• Apple Music Connect Launches as Promotional Resource for Labels and Distributors

  18-02-2026 10:59 via macrumors.com
  Apple has launched Apple Music Connect, a new resource for labels, distributors, and partners to manage promotional assets, upload press photos, and help coordinate how artists' music and marketing materials are presented across the streaming service.The new online hub includes a range of tools and services for music labels, including: Promote: Creates promotional artwork and visual assets to support releases across Apple Music surfaces and external channels.Apple Music Pitch: A way to submit de
  
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• Turn your Mac into a PDF editor for $40

  18-02-2026 09:00 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  TL;DR: Pay once and actually control your PDFs forever — edit, sign, and organize for $39.99.PDFs are great — until you need to change literally anything. Need to fix a typo? Add a signature? Swap an image? Suddenly, you’re exporting, screenshotting, re-saving, and negotiating with your computer like it’s 2006.That’s why tools like PDF Reader Pro Premium for Mac exist — and right now it’s $39.99 (MSRP $79.99) for a
  
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• Stop settling — Office for Mac drops 77% for lifetime access

  18-02-2026 09:00 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  TL;DR: Get real Microsoft Office apps on your Mac for $49.97, forever — no monthly payments.We’ve all done it: opened a free productivity app and said, “This is basically the same as Word.” Until formatting explodes. Or the spreadsheet formulas revolt. Or the file looks completely different when someone else opens it.That’s why this deal exists. Right now, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac is $49.97 (MSRP $219) and it’s
  
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• 118 hours of ethical hacking training is just $28

  18-02-2026 09:00 via macworld.com
  
  Macworld
  TL;DR: If you’ve ever wanted real cybersecurity skills, the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle is a low-risk way to start for under $30.Cybersecurity sounds intimidating — right up until you realize most breaches don’t happen because hackers are geniuses. They happen because someone didn’t know what to look for.That’s the idea behind the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle, now $27.99 (MSRP $854). Instead of vague theory,
  
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• Rumor: Apple to Announce Multiple New Products in First Week of March

  18-02-2026 03:35 via macrumors.com
  Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. And now, rumors are surfacing about Apple's broader plans for that week.
  Daring Fireball's John Gruber today guessed that Apple will announce new products on a day-by-day basis from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4:What strikes me is that March 4 — the "experience" day — is a Wednesday. So my s
  
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• Apple’s March launch may include multiple days of press releases with no keynote, per rumor

  18-02-2026 02:51 via 9to5mac.com
  Yesterday, Apple announced a “special experience” for March 4 at 9 a.m. ET, inviting members of the press to New York, London, and Shanghai.The question right now is what format this “special experience” and the associated product announcements will take.more…
  
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• PSA: YouTube confirms ongoing widespread outage [Update: Fixed]

  18-02-2026 02:29 via 9to5mac.com
  Update 9:21pm ET: YouTube appears to be coming back online now for most users. If you’re still having problems, let us know down in the comments.
  If you’re having problems accessing YouTube this evening, you’re not alone. YouTube is experiencing a widespread outage, and there’s no estimate on when it will be fixed.
  more…
  
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• Claude Sonnet 4.6 Brings Improved Coding, Computer Use, and Office Tasks

  18-02-2026 00:44 via macrumors.com
  Anthropic today updated its Sonnet model to version 4.6, and the company says it is the most capable Sonnet model to date with upgrades across coding, computer use, long-context reasoning, agent planning, knowledge work, and design.
  Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the default for users who have Free and Pro plans, and it has an updated 1M token context window.Sonnet 4.6 improves consistency and instruction following for coding, it's better at computer use tasks, and it can complete office tasks that previo
  
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