Apple News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 9:06 AM ET

Retail

Apple has confirmed plans to close its Basingstoke store at Festival Place permanently in November 2026, while a nearby Reading location in the Oracle Shopping Centre will undergo a major expansion and reopen in December with a completely new design. The UK is losing one Apple Store after 15 years but gaining a significantly larger Oracle store nearby.

Apple TV+

Apple’s Eddy Cue has hinted at more seasons of “Ted Lasso,” strongly suggesting a fifth season is on the way. Separately, Apple TV+ has added a series of famous films to its library for subscribers at no added cost, including a selection of classic movies available to stream for free. Another report confirms that Apple has added a batch of free classic movies to its streaming service, expanding the catalog beyond originals.

App Store

Developer Jeff Johnson of Stop The Madness claims that “obvious” App Store ratings fraud is going undetected by Apple, calling into question the integrity of the review system.

Hardware

A new rumor suggests the base iPhone 18 will receive two pro-level upgrades: 12GB of RAM and a Dynamic Island display, expected to launch by March 2027.

Software

WhatsApp now lets users save a contact’s username when adding them, following the broader rollout of its username feature.

Promotions

Apple’s annual Back to School promotion is now live in the UK and 18 other European countries, offering discounts on Macs and iPads for students and educators.