Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 24, 2026, 11:24 PM ET

Apple's Big Transition

Apple is in the midst of its most significant leadership transition in over a decade. With Tim Cook set to step down as CEO on September 1, the company recently hosted a farewell party for him, honoring a tenure that began 15 years ago. The event is covered in detail as John Ternus prepares to take the helm. The timing is notable, as the anniversary of Jobs's resignation serves as a reminder of how Tim Cook replaced him on that day in 2011. The transition comes as Apple eyes an aggressive product roadmap and potential price increases for its upcoming handsets, reportedly following similar moves by Samsung and Google.

Betas Galore

Apple has been busy this week seeding new betas across its platform ecosystem. The seventh developer betas for iOS, iPad OS, tv OS, and watch OS 27 have landed, along with mac OS Golden Gate beta. The updates come a week after the sixth beta releases, and Apple is also now rolling out the fifth public betas for these systems. The corresponding public versions are now available as well. Earlier, Apple released mac OS Tahoe 26.7 and mac OS Sequoia 15.8 second release candidates, a week after the first RC contained leaks about upcoming products. For developers, specifically, Apple provided the macOS Golden Gate beta for testing, along with the iOS and iPadOS 27 betas. The watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 betas have also been released. A guide on installing macOS 27 beta 7 explains how to get it. The iPadOS beta 7 is out, with the iOS beta 7 being a major focus for testing.

iOS 27 Features

iOS 27 is becoming much more practical, as one reviewer highlights their three favorite new iPhone features. This release is also important for fixing three of the most annoying Messages bugs. Building on this foundation, Siri AI will come with a waitlist at launch as Apple tests the major upgrade. OpenAI is restoring the limits for Chat GPT Plus users, and Chat GPT has also added a feature for custom iMessage and WhatsApp stickers.

Hardware Roadmap and Rumors

Rumors about upcoming hardware are accelerating, with the iPhone Ultra expected to arrive without some key features. The 20th-anniversary iPhone will reportedly use the same glass manufacturing process as the iPhone Air, and next year's Pro models are getting a fresh glass design. Meanwhile, the upcoming iPhone event, which will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro alongside the Ultra, has no official date yet. The Apple Watch Series 12 is also expected to be more of a incremental update, and a list of five new products launching could be coming soon.

Servers, Smart Home, and Software

The first look at the inside of Apple's AI servers reveals the design of its Private Cloud Compute hardware. In the software world, the long-standing Terminal command hdiutil is being deprecated in mac OS Golden Gate, while Hide My Email will remain on iCloud.com after community pushback. For home automation, code hints detect face-based profiles on the forthcoming Apple home hub, with "ambient sensing" for identity. A Sonos soundbar leak is also covered on the Smart Home Insider podcast. Apple somehow leaked itself via references inside its own mac OS Tahoe release candidate.

Services and Retail

Apple is taking its e-commerce up a notch, with an AI shopping assistant now rolling out to the App Store app. Some users are seeing an "early preview" of a new virtual shopping assistant. For those looking to save, the Certified Refurbished store has top picks with an up to $500 off discount. On the accessories front, reviewers have profiled the Nuki Smart Lock with Apple Home Key support. The TUCCH Mag wallet is part of the Mag Safe Monday feature. Walmart is apparently rolling out Apple Pay, as covered on the 9to5Mac Daily podcast. Deals include the AirTag 2 at a new best price of $20 each, and the M5 MacBook Air is up to $150 off at Amazon. A focus on affordable CarPlay accessories is also available.

Entertainment and Streaming

On the content front, Tom Selleck will be joining an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series against Elizabeth Banks. Apple TV+ is also buffing up its September slate with a Ryan Reynolds film and the new series "Mayday." For fans, Ted Lasso season 5 is slated to start filming in January 2027. Over in sports, the viewership data for Apple TV and F1 racing paints a dire picture, but the story may not be complete.

Legal and Global

In a new partnership with the local services, Emergency SOS Live Video is rolling out in Brazil. A report on Apple's request to buy Chinese CXMT memory could be used as a diplomatic tool. And on the legal front, Epic has fought against Apple's bid to seal data tied to proposed fees. ESPN also announced streaming price increases for its select and unlimited tiers.