Top Stories: Apple Creator Studio, Google Gemini-Powered Siri, and More

We person our archetypal Apple merchandise announcement of 2026, and it's a bundle subscription known arsenic Apple Creator Studio featuring Apple's video, audio, and representation editing apps, arsenic good arsenic immoderate AI-powered features and premium contented for iWork apps and Freeform.


In different quality this week, Apple made it authoritative that next-generation Siri volition leverage Google Gemini, portion we got the 2nd circular of betas for iOS 26.3 and different updates, truthful work connected beneath for each the details connected these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Apple this week introduced a caller Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers entree to six originative apps, arsenic good arsenic exclusive AI features and content, arsenic portion of a azygous subscription. In the U.S., pricing is acceptable astatine $12.99 per period oregon $129 per year.


Apps successful the bundle see Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro for some Mac and iPad, positive Motion, Compressor, and MainStage connected Mac. It besides includes immoderate premium contented and features for Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Freeform.

As noted, Pixelmator Pro for iPad is included successful Apple Creator Studio, and that's a caller app making its mode from the Mac to a tablet-optimized experience. The existing basal Pixelmator app for iPhone and iPad will, however, no longer beryllium updated.

Apple volition proceed to connection standalone versions of its pro apps alongside the Creator Studio subscription option, but immoderate contented and possibly immoderate caller features may not travel to the standalone versions, though they will proceed to beryllium updated and person astatine slightest immoderate caller features.

Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

Apple and Google this week confirmed that Google Gemini volition powerfulness the next-generation mentation of Siri that is slated to motorboat aboriginal this year. "After cautious evaluation, we determined that Google's exertion provides the astir susceptible instauration for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited astir the innovative caller experiences it volition unlock for our users," the connection said.


It appears the partnership, which is reportedly worthy billions of dollars, volition widen beyond next-generation Siri, with the companies noting the models volition "help powerfulness aboriginal Apple Intelligence features" including Siri.

Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks successful 2026

2026 could beryllium a bumper twelvemonth for Apple's Mac lineup, with the institution expected to announce arsenic galore arsenic 4 abstracted MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple volition tribunal some ends of the user spectrum, with much affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that question the highest specifications from a laptop.


Check retired our overview of everything we mightiness see successful the MacBook lineup this year, with immoderate speculating we could spot the archetypal of the releases earlier the extremity of this month.

Here's What's New successful iOS 26.3 So Far

Following a vacation break, Apple this week seeded a 2nd circular of betas for iOS 26.3 and related operating strategy updates. Among the astir notable changes successful the latest iOS 26.3 is new references to end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages.


Support for E2EE connected RCS would seemingly beryllium portion of a larger upgrade to RCS messaging connected Apple platforms that would bring the texting acquisition person to that of iMessage with respective caller features.

Beyond imaginable RCS changes, beryllium definite to check retired our afloat database of everything caller successful iOS 26.3 truthful far. We're expecting a nationalist merchandise astir the extremity of this month.

Verizon Goes Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage

Verizon experienced a large outage crossed the U.S. connected Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the web connected the website Downdetector. There were besides galore complaints crossed Reddit and different societal media platforms.


The outage lasted for galore hours, with Verizon issuing an apology arsenic work started to travel backmost online. Affected customers can redeem a $20 credit arsenic portion of the apology.

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

While the iPhone 18 Pro models are inactive astir 8 months away, a leaker has shared immoderate alleged details astir the devices.


In a station connected Chinese societal media level Weibo this week, the relationship Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max volition person the aforesaid 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch show sizes arsenic the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with erstwhile rumors, the leaker claimed that some of the models volition person a breakthrough caller feature: under-screen Face ID.

As for the modular iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2, the leaker expects those devices to person a Dynamic Island, and the aforesaid 6.3-inch and 6.5-inch show sizes arsenic the equivalent previous-generation models, respectively.

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