Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 8:37 AM ET

AI & Automation Advances

OpenAI’s Codex desktop app for mac OS now operates even when a Mac is locked, a shift that raises new security considerations for unattended machines. The same update introduced “Appshots,” which instantly provides chat context by capturing active windows, and turn-completion alerts to improve user control. Separately, a third-party tool called Shortcuts Playground—created by Mac Stories—is already delivering AI-driven shortcut generation via natural language, potentially previewing iOS 27’s rumored feature. Meanwhile, OpenAI has also enhanced the Codex experience on iOS with new commands and completion notifications.

Platform & Store Challenges

A mysterious outage has made the Sonos app unavailable on both the iOS and Mac App Stores for roughly two hours, disrupting setup and control for users. This comes as Apple escalates its legal fight with Epic Games, petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review both the contempt finding against it and the scope of the injunction forcing App Store linking rule changes. The company argues the lower court’s decisions represent an overreach, setting up a potential landmark decision on app marketplace governance.

Hardware Launches & Deals

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro is making history as the first smartphone to shoot a major live televised sporting event, with Apple TV’s MLS coverage this weekend sourced entirely from the device. The company is also highlighting iPhone Crash Detection after it automatically called emergency services when a driver’s car plummeted 330 feet down a mountain, crediting the feature with saving her life. On the Mac front, Amazon has slashed the price of the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air to a record low $1,099, a $200 discount that undercuts previous deals. The M5 Air’s release coincides with BBEdit 16’s update, which adds in-image text search and deeper Shortcuts integration for power users.

Health & Fitness Ecosystem

Apple Watch and Air Pods health capabilities are receiving significant global expansions, broadening the reach of features like heart rate notifications and hearing health monitoring to more regions. Complementary to this, Oura smart rings can now detect sleep apnea patterns and refer users to specialists, while Strava is overhauling strength training logs with automatic muscle mapping and detailed set tracking. These moves deepen Apple’s health ecosystem play, even as third-party wearables add diagnostic functionality.

Market Performance & Expansions

New data shows iPhone shipments in Latin America surged 31% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with Mexico leading the charge via an 80% spike, fueled by strong iPhone 17 series sales. This regional growth contrasts with ongoing App Store turbulence but underscores Apple’s brand resilience. Separately, the company is preparing for age rating system updates in Australia and Vietnam next month, requiring developer attention to comply with local classification standards.

Security & Privacy Notes

A new Security Bite guide details how to automatically deny app tracking pop-ups, offering a streamlined way to enforce privacy preferences across iOS and mac OS. The advice comes as users face increasing frequency of tracking consent requests under global privacy regulations.