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In this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we dive into the new features unveiled in the second developer beta of iOS 26. Apple has made several refinements to enhance visual clarity and usability throughout the interface. For instance, the buttons in the Control Center now display more distinctly due to increased background blur. Meanwhile, the Accessibility option for Reduce Transparency has been improved to minimize the see-through effect across the UI.

Safari has also seen changes; the new tab button has been relocated to the bottom left corner of the tab management view, returning to a layout reminiscent of iOS 18. Additionally, the navigation buttons for back and forward are now available while using the Compact tab bar layout. Apple Music introduces a Live Radio widget, allowing quicker access to real-time radio streams from the Home Screen. Users will also notice a new ringtone option—“Alt 1” under the Reflection category—available in the Sounds and Haptics settings.

Low Power Mode’s description has been clarified, underscoring its role in reducing background activities, processing speed, display refresh rates, brightness, and features like 5G and iCloud syncing. The default wallpaper in iOS 26 has been updated to animate with the system’s spatial photos feature, adding a dynamic touch to the home screen. In addition to discussing these updates, we explore Apple’s potential bid for AI search startup Perplexity and rumors regarding new color options for the iPhone 17. Be sure to subscribe to The MacRumors Show for weekly discussions on trending topics and special guests from the tech community.

Your feedback is always appreciated, so let us know which topics and guests you’d like to hear about in future episodes.

Apple has not updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, leading to expectations for a refreshed model this year. Recent insights from Apple’s code suggest that new AirPods may be on the horizon, featuring several exciting enhancements that could encourage upgrades.

One anticipated feature is health monitoring capabilities. Following the release of the Powerbeats Pro 2 with heart rate monitoring earlier this year, there are rumors that the AirPods Pro 3 might incorporate similar functionalities.

Additionally, in-ear temperature sensing is being considered, which could provide more accurate health data compared to traditional methods. Another significant improvement could be in audio quality.

Apple plans to upgrade the H-series chip within the AirPods, which may enhance audio performance. With the current AirPods Pro 2 supporting Lossless Audio when paired with Vision Pro, the next generation might extend this feature to other devices.

Adoption of Bluetooth 5.4 is also expected, promising reductions in audio latency. In terms of noise cancellation, the H3 chip would allow for rapid on-device processing, enhancing Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Audio capabilities.

The H2 chip already performs admirably, but the next iteration is set to outperform its predecessor significantly. A refreshed design is also likely for the AirPods Pro 3.

With the redesign of the AirPods 4—including a slimmer case and new button placements—similar changes may be anticipated for the Pro model. Possible updates could involve a compact in-ear piece and a shorter stem.

Finally, improved tracking is on the way, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to include Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wide Band (UWB) chip, which would allow for more precise location tracking through the Find My app. While previous rumors hinted at a Live Translation feature, this functionality is now available across all AirPods models connected to compatible devices.

The unveiling of the AirPods Pro 3 might coincide with Apple’s September event, where the company typically reveals its latest iPhone models.

Apple has not updated the AirTags since their introduction in 2021, even though they have gained immense popularity as item trackers. However, changes are on the horizon, with the anticipated release of AirTags 2 expected in the upcoming months, possibly in 2025. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg initially suggested that the next-generation AirTags would arrive in the middle of this year.

However, current reports from 9to5Mac indicate that the debut may actually take place in September, coinciding with Apple’s iPhone launch event. If Apple were aiming for a mid-year release, it’s likely that they would have been announced during the WWDC in June, which did not happen. Gurman mentioned that the updated AirTags are “nearly ready” for launch, but there’s still uncertainty surrounding how they will be introduced, with speculation that it could be via a press release.

While rumors suggest that AirTags 2 are imminent—likely between July and September—there’s no indication of a new design, which means they may closely resemble the original AirTag. The anticipated refresh also does not include a rechargeable battery, which is somewhat disappointing for fans. Nevertheless, AirTags 2 are expected to feature a second-generation UWB chip that significantly enhances tracking range.

This new technology would allow users to track an AirTag with Precision Finding from up to three times farther than before. Additionally, Apple plans to make the speaker more secure to deter misuse and increase its volume to make it easier to locate. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculated that AirTags could integrate with Apple’s Vision Pro for enhanced spatial computing, although the exact utility of this integration remains unclear.

Pricing and battery specifications are expected to remain consistent with the original model. What new features would you like to see in AirTags 2? Your thoughts are welcome in the comments.

I completely agree with the points made about budget films. When discussing poor-quality movies, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” often comes to mind as one of the most disappointing mega-budget films. Similarly, Bruce Willis’s “Hudson Hawk” falls short on all fronts and is widely regarded as dreadful.

For those seeking films so bad they’re almost entertaining, I recommend “The Battle of Los Angeles” from 2011 – not to be confused with “Battle Los Angeles.” It’s a painfully tedious experience, and I doubt anyone could endure watching it from start to finish. It’s noteworthy that the IMDb reviews for this film provide some hilariously scathing commentary.

Being produced by Asylum Studios, it’s no surprise that the movie is terrible, which is often the appeal of their productions. Asylum is infamous for creating “Mockbusters,” delivering low-budget films that parody popular titles. Among their offerings, the worst movie I’ve ever seen remains “Manos: The Hands of Fate.”

I can’t quite disagree with the opinion on Asylum’s work; their films are primarily comedic in nature, but “Battle of Los Angeles” completely misses the mark in that regard. If you find it on Netflix, check it out; it’s hailed as one of the worst ever made. On the anime front, my previous contender for the title of worst movie was “M.D.

Geist,” known for its superb animation but lackluster storyline. That was until I encountered the dubbed version of “Macross: Do You Remember Love.” While the original and fan-subbed versions are fantastic, the dubbed one is so awful it could deter anyone from watching anime again.

I had to rewatch the original “Macross” series and its spin-offs just to erase that horrible dubbing from my memory. If you ever come across a dubbed version of “Macross: DYRL,” I highly recommend you destroy it immediately!

Recently, I had a nostalgic moment reminiscing about some old Mac websites, particularly MacNN. This site was a significant hub for news and discussion among Mac enthusiasts back in its prime. The main news site seemed to vanish around 2015 or 2016, although I’m not quite sure of the exact date.

Despite the closure of the main site, the forums remained active for a considerable amount of time. It was surprising to see that the forums continued to operate for nearly ten years after the main site’s closure. However, a search using the Wayback Machine revealed that the forums eventually shut down around the beginning of April.

It was disheartening to see this online community come to an end after so many years, as it served as a space for sharing knowledge and connecting with fellow Mac users. The longevity of the forums was unexpectedly impressive, and their closure marked the end of an era for many of us who followed the Mac scene closely. While the tide of time has washed away many once-familiar digital spaces, the memories and connections forged within those forums remain.

It is always a little bittersweet to witness the decline of beloved communities, but they leave us with remnants of camaraderie and shared interests that define a significant part of our online history.

Hello everyone,

I am reaching out for some assistance regarding a laptop that could accommodate my medical needs. I am looking for a laptop that features true “touch sensitive” keys, meaning that the keys should not have any physical movement at all.

This is quite important for me due to my health condition. In addition to the touch sensitive keys, I would also appreciate a touchscreen, but the priority remains on having those completely motionless keys.

If anyone has recommendations or knows of any models that meet these criteria, I would greatly appreciate your input. Thank you for your help!

Best,
Bob