Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

iOS 27 and mac OS Golden Gate Betas Arrive

Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 27 to developers, continuing its refinement of the upcoming operating system ahead of its September launch. This beta includes a new "Automatic Downloads" feature within the Apple TV app. Concurrently, Apple seeded the fourth developer betas for iOS, mac OS 27 Golden Gate, tv OS, watch OS, vision OS, and iPad OS 27. The mac OS 27 Golden Gate beta 4 is now available, with the system featuring a hidden popover interface for Siri AI that surfaces Writing Tools and contextual actions when text is selected. Users who wish to revert from the mac OS Golden Gate beta must erase their startup disk and reinstall. Public betas for iOS 27 and mac OS Golden Gate have also been released.

App Store Growth and Developer Tools

The App Store saw nearly as many new app releases in the first half of 2026 as it did in all of 2025. This surge in new applications, a doubling in the first half of 2026, occurred while downloads only increased by 2%. In other developer news, Apple is continuing to test major Siri AI upgrades within iOS, with the fourth beta providing a preview of these enhancements.

Hardware and Service Updates

Rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro's new A20 chip is poised to bring two. Code within the fourth developer beta of iOS 27 even an iPhone model equipped with two batteries. Meanwhile, Volvo is integrating Apple Music into over two million vehicles via an over-the-air update, offering up to three months free. Apple Music itself is set to receive new features in iOS, alongside enhancements for Apple Wallet and Calendar. However, recent price increases on Macs and iPads, and other Apple products and services, are expected to slow.

Apple Services and Retail

Apple TV+ is set to premiere a new film from the director of "CODA," focusing on disability activist Judy Heumann. The Apple Sports app has been updated to include additional soccer leagues from Asia and Europe, alongside the ability to view formations. On the retail front, four Apple Stores in the U.S. are relocating this month, with one in Michigan moving to a new space at Briarwood Mall.

Security and Software Maintenance

A new Mac threat named Click Lock Stealer has been identified, which manipulates system behavior to coerce victims into revealing passwords. Apple has also released release candidates for mac OS 26.6 and iOS 26.6 and iPad OS.. Additionally, Apple is rolling out a sixth round of release candidates for mac OS Sonoma 14.8.8 and mac OS Sequoia 15.7.. Reports indicate that some users are experiencing Mac beach balls and unresponsive trackpads when running mac OS 26.5, a problem that a specific fix reportedly addresses.

Apple's Real Estate and AI Initiatives

Apple is expanding its physical presence in Sunnyvale with the lease of a. Internally, Apple is testing a new AI-powered "Live Notes" feature at Genius Bar locations, which transcribes and summarizes customer interactions. This initiative has raised concerns among employees regarding potential. Apple's work on model-shrinking AI could have significant benefits and potentially lead to a billion-dollar venture, with a focus on on-device AI processing.

Deals and Third-Party Integrations

Several deals are currently available on Apple products, including Air Pods Pro 3 for $199.99, Air Pods Max 2 at $100 off ($449.00 on , and Air Tag 2 at an all-time low of $89 for a 4-pack. Discounts of up to $400 are also available on M5 MacBook. Samsung has launched its own credit card, the Samsung Galaxy Card, which mirrors the Apple Card but offers. WhatsApp is rolling out its Liquid Glass redesign to its Mac app, aligning it with its iPhone and iPad counterparts. Adobe's Project Indigo camera app is testing experimental AI photo-editing tools for select users. YouTube's picture-in-picture mode is currently experiencing issues on both iPhone and Android devices. An indie app called "Passable" facilitates easy contact sharing through.