Apple News 3d Briefing
×Apple TV & Streaming
Apple Maps 9to5mac.com now offers a detailed Formula 1 experience ahead of the sport's new season, integrating live timing and circuit maps as Apple prepares for its first year of exclusive U.S. streaming rights. Apple Vision Pro appleinsider.com users will soon be able to watch Disney's "Muppet*Vision 3D" in immersive 3D, reviving the classic attraction. Apple TV 9to5mac.com continues to build its movie slate with three new additions, while a new trailer revealed the time-jump return of "For All Mankind." The streamer also set a world record with a drone light show promoting "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," which premieres this week.
Hardware & Deals
A month-end price war appleinsider.com has pushed the price of a 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro down to $1,449, saving shoppers $150. Similar discounts hit the M3 iPad Air, now $250 off, and the Apple Watch Ultra, with savings up to $159. Air Pods and Beats appleinsider.com deals offer up to $150 off, with prices starting at $69.95. Amazon also slashed the price of the USB-C Air Pods Max by $99 and is offering the Apple Watch Series 11 from $299. The M4 MacBook Air appleinsider.com dipped to $849 during the same sale event.
Software Updates
The second beta of iOS 26.4 macrumors.com arrived, bringing expanded RCS encryption testing and two app design changes that revert to iOS 18-era interfaces. Developers also received second betas for watch OS 26.4 macrumors.com, tv OS 26.4, and vision OS 26.4. A key new feature in iOS 26.4 is a system for age verification appleinsider.com, initially rolling out in the UK. The update also blocks macrumors.com downloads of 18+ apps in several countries without age assurance. Meanwhile, Apple released the second public beta of mac OS Tahoe 26.4 macrumors.com.
Security & Policy
U.S. lawmakers have requested a briefing on the UK government's continued efforts to gain access to iCloud appleinsider.com user data through encryption backdoors. Apple has also been fined 9to5mac.com in Brazil again for selling i Phones without chargers, this time for approximately $20,000. Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of the Trump-era tariffs, a move that could impact Apple 9to5mac.com and trigger new trade actions.
Rumors & Future Products
Apple is expected to unveil a lower-cost MacBook next week, but rising memory and battery costs appleinsider.com complicate initial pricing estimates around $500. The device is rumored to have eight key limitations macrumors.com to hit its target price. A touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro macrumors.com with a Dynamic Island is also in development for 2026. On the phone front, the iPhone 18 Pro macrumors.com is expected to feature a smaller Dynamic Island and a 24MP front camera, while a foldable iPhone macrumors.com has reportedly entered production. The iPhone 17e macrumors.com is slated for announcement during the week of Apple's March 4 event.
Enterprise & Manufacturing
Apple's push to expand semiconductor manufacturing in Arizona and Texas is mainly aimed at reducing geopolitical risk, but advanced Apple Silicon appleinsider.com remains tied to Taiwan. A separate report detailed the slow progress in bringing Mac mini assembly appleinsider.com and chip fabrication to the United States. App Store macrumors.com gaming revenue hit $52.5 billion in 2025, surpassing Google Play and Steam combined.
Other Notable News
The Steve Jobs Archive published "Letters to a Young Creator" featuring Tim Cook and Jony Ive on what would have been Jobs's 71st birthday. Apple appleinsider.com shareholders re-elected the board at the annual meeting. A new Sales Coach macrumors.com app launched for iPhone and iPad. Finally, a report claims Apple CEO Tim Cook was among tech execs briefed by the CIA about a potential Chinese move on Taiwan by 2027.