A couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 26.4 to iPhone users, the company is now making iOS 26.4.1 available. With this version, Apple is fixing an annoying bug that was preventing users from syncing iCloud data, including apps like Apple Passwords.

While Apple has been vague about this software update, 9to5Mac discovered a thread on the Apple Developer Forums that reveals iOS 26.4.1 fixes the iCloud Sync issue.

This thread was created after iOS 26.4 was released. One developer said that making changes to a document on a Mac didn't trigger the same file on the iPhone to be updated. After this complaint, one Apple Worldwide Developer Relations suggested fixing the issue through macOS, as the app might have failed to export data to CloudKit. However, as more users reported the same issue, Apple started taking the reports very seriously, which led to this update.

With iOS 26.4.1, the same Apple employee posted in the threads asking whether these users could update to iOS 26.4.1 to see if the problem was resolved. Replies from users report that everything works perfectly now.

If you're running iOS 26.5 beta 1, you don't need to worry about this iCloud Sync bug as long as you've installed the latest revised version. While Apple is still in the early days of the new iOS 26.5 beta cycle, it has seeded a new version of the first beta to address the iCloud app sync issue.

While we wait for Apple to announce the new Siri powered by a Google Gemini model, iOS 26.5 looks like a small update. So far, it's adding end-to-end encryption for RCS and setting up ads on Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada, allowing businesses to place ads in search results and a new "Suggested Places" section in the app.

Last but not least, Apple is working to offer forward notifications on third-party smartwatches in Europe in accordance with the Digital Markets Act legislation. With this update, Apple will also expand answering notifications, Live Activities, and AirPods-like pairing to third-party smartwatches and headphones.

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Tech giant Apple is planning to close the doors on three retail locations in June, including the first store to win a unionized staff.

The employees of the Apple store in Towson, Maryland, north of Baltimore, voted to unionize with the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 2022. The union is organized with the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE).

A second Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize shortly after Townson's historic action. Despite the forward momentum, other Apple unionization efforts have petered out under mounting pressure from the company, CNBC reports.

Towson employees were notified of the closure in a recent staff call. The group ratified its first contract with Apple in 2024, set to expire in 2027. According to union representatives, Apple has said they are prevented from relocating employees under the union's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but encouraged them to apply for other open positions. Apple employees at the two other locations set to close — Apple North County, in Escondido, California, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut — will be moved to nearby stores.

IAM said Apple's claims about its inability to relocate employees at the Maryland store are false, and alleges the closure is "a cynical attempt to bust the union."

Apple says "declining conditions" in local shopping corridors, including the departure of retailers from the Townson Town Center mall, and a shift away from mall locations, prompted the closures.

In a statement following the announcement, IAM representatives wrote: "The IAM Union is outraged by Apple's decision to close its Towson, Md., store — the first unionized U.S. Apple retail location — and abandon both its workers and a community that relies on it for critical services and its unique access to public transit."

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Apple was able to do something remarkable with the iPhone 17 prices last year. Despite increases in manufacturing costs and overall inflation, Apple didn't raise iPhone prices.

The standard iPhone 17 starts at US$ 799, the same price as its predecessors, while featuring double the storage for the price point and specifications comparable to the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 17 Pro Max also launched at the same price as its predecessor, US$ 1,199.

Apple made some changes to the iPhone price structure, though. The US$ 999 iPhone Air replaced the US$ 899 iPhone 16 Plus, although the ultra-thin handset also featured double the storage.

The iPhone 17 Pro started at US$ 1,099 instead of US$ 999, but that was the same price as the 256 GB iPhone 16 Pro. That said, the iPhone is still an expensive device in the U.S. That's why carriers like T-Mobile run promotions that offer subscribers free iPhone 17 models, of course, with its terms and conditions.

But the iPhone is even more expensive abroad, with India being one of the countries where the iPhone 17 series is significantly more expensive than in the U.S.

For instance, iPhone 17 is priced at 82,900 INR (US$ 876) vs. $799. iPhone Air is quoted at 119,900 INR (US$ 1,267) vs. $999. iPhone 17 Pro is priced at 134,900 INR (US$ 1,426) vs. $1,099, while iPhone 17 Pro Max is being sold at 149,900 INR (US$ 1,584) vs. $1,199.

There is one pricing caveat for the base iPhone. Apple applies a US$ 30 connectivity discount to the regular iPhone 17 price in the U.S. That's been the case for years for non-Pro devices. Apple used the same US$ 799 price in previous years with this distinction. Buying an unlocked iPhone 17 from Apple without connecting it to a carrier costs $829 instead of $799.

The more premium the iPhone model, the more expensive it is to purchase in India compared to the U.S. Buyers will pay over US$ 300 more for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in India, even though Apple manufactures many iPhone models in the country. However, that's not because Apple chooses to set higher prices in specific markets. Other factors impact international prices, including the currency exchange rate, local taxes, and import costs.

First, it's important to note that the iPhone prices that Apple advertises in India include tax, whereas the U.S. prices do not. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate for mobile devices is 18 percent, which partly explains the higher price tag. Also, some smartphone parts used in iPhone assembly in India may be subject to import tariffs, though last year, the Indian government removed some duties. Finally, there's Apple's need to protect iPhone pricing against foreign exchange fluctuations. A weaker rupee may lead to higher iPhone prices in the region.

India has been assembling iPhones for years, with Apple steadily increasing the number of models made in the country and the production volume. The most recent data shows that India assembles all iPhone 17 variants and the iPhone 16 models Apple still sells.

Volume increased from 36 million in 2024 to 55 million in 2025, as Apple has tried to reduce its reliance on China. That's about 25 percent of the number of iPhones Apple manufactures each year. However, not all iPhone components are manufactured in India, and some may be subject to import duties that could impact the manufacturing cost. Also, Apple isn't likely to offer preferential pricing to India just because it manufactured the handset in the region.

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For more than a 10 years, rumors have swirled around a potential foldable iPhone, and a new rumor suggests that it's finally a reality.

Apple is finally expected to launch the iPhone Fold this fall, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, or potentially in early winter. According to tipster Instant Digital (translated via Weibo), the long-time Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn just started production of the iPhone Fold.

Specifically, they said the Fold has begun trial production. This step in the manufacturing process is an initial test in which a batch of devices is developed under real or near-real conditions.

This means that most, if not all, of the specifications for the Fold have been finalized, and Apple employees should begin receiving test units for marketing and testing.

Looking ahead, why is this important?

Those of you tracking the iPhone Fold should expect to see more leaks and photos of working iPhone Folds start appearing in the next few weeks. Traditionally, trial production runs often lead to all kinds of device leaks as phones make their way into employees' hands.

It also means that we should start getting more specific information about the Fold and what Apple is including with the phone. Apple runs a tighter ship than most companies, but even the biggest phone maker is plagued by internal leaks.

The iPhone Fold was rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, but recent rumors suggest Apple will hold a separate launch event in December.

Analysts have suggested that the iPhone Fold could debut at around US$ 2,000, the same price Samsung charges for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. With reports that the Apple foldable will upend the folding phone market.

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Despite owning its own mobile operating system, Google occasionally releases new apps on iPhone before Android.

The latest one is called Google AI Edge Eloquent, which is available as a free download on iPhone. The "AI" in the name makes Google's decision somewhat puzzling, considering that Google currently has an advantage over Apple when it comes to AI tools available to users on mobile devices.

Gemini outperforms Siri, and Google's Pixel phones often offer exclusive AI features before other Android phones. But rather than pushing Google AI Edge Eloquent to Pixel 10 phones before other Android devices, Google quietly launched the app in Apple's App Store.

Google AI Edge Eloquent turns dictation into polished text, and it's an app that might change how people write. Google positions it as a "premium AI voice dictation without subscription" app. Eloquent lets you dictate your thoughts to your iPhone, just like other dictation apps available on the device.

However, rather than just printing the raw text, complete with your speech patterns, including pauses and the "uhms" and "ahs" that are part of regular speech, Eloquent uses on-device AI to process the text into various formats, cleaning up your dictations and turning it into "clean, accurate prose," as Google explains in Eloquent's App Store listing.

Eloquent can be used to turn voice memos into copy, whether it's messages, emails, or longer text. The AI doesn't generate text following a prompt; it just transforms your raw output into the text you may have written with a keyboard. The process can be faster than writing on the iPhone or editing voice notes taken with other apps. Eloquent could also be a solution for taking notes in a meeting or class, though Google doesn't mention these uses.

While Google uses AI to process the text, Google AI Edge Eloquent doesn't process data in the cloud via Gemini, unless you want more advanced text generation features. Instead, Google uses its Gemma AI architecture, which processes data on the device. That means all your voice notes recorded with Eloquent will stay private. Google says in the App Store description that Google AI Edge Eloquent is designed to offer "uncompromising privacy," adding that "your audio, confidential conversations, and personal data never leave your device." For added peace of mind, the app lets users turn off cloud mode, the feature that would allow more advanced text editing.

Eloquent also lets users add their own vocabulary to the app to personalize the text output. Google explains on the app's website that Eloquent can connect to Workspace data like Gmail to extract more unique words, but that feature is optional. The App Store description also notes that the app has been optimized to work on older iPhones rather than requiring the newest hardware. You'll need iOS 16 or later to use Google AI Edge Eloquent.

Other than the absence of an Android version, which Google teases on its website, Eloquent doesn't have many limitations. It only supports English, though the model may transcribe words in other languages. It's not available in select European markets, including the U.K., Switzerland, and the European Union, as Google is dealing with regulatory approval issues in those countries.

Also, the app lacks keyboard support, but you can copy the text and edit it in other apps. That said, Google doesn't impose any usage limits on Eloquent, meaning users won't have to pay attention to how much text they've created with Eloquent within a given period.

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With last month’s launch of the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max, Apple has completed the transition of its macOS laptops to the latest Apple Silicon chipsets, which began in October 2025. And as the M5 Pro and M5 Max models reach the Apple Store shelves, another Apple Store space opens up for the vanilla M5 model.

The MacBook Pro M5 is now available in Apple’s Refurbished store.

Keen Cupertino watchers will have been expecting this move at the six-month mark in the MacBook Pro's life cycle. Tim Cook has not disappointed them, and with a regularity that matches the annual iPhone release date, the MacBook Pro M5 listings have appeared.

While not "new in box", these refurbished MacBook Pro models have been put through a full service by Apple and come with the same warranty as you would with a brand new laptop. They are also eligible for the same level of AppleCare+ as those new laptops.

It’s worth noting that, as a refurbished product line, availability cannot be guaranteed. With laptops available in various colours and different memory and storage configurations, you may need to wait for a specific model, and be prepared to buy as quickly as possible when stock is available.

Apple’s typical discount for refurbished hardware is fifteen percent, and that remains the case with the various M5 models. The base model with 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage is US$ 1,359, a $240 discount over an equivalent-specced new model.

The MacBook Pro that ships with the vanilla M-series remains a curate’s egg of a laptop. Those looking for power and performance will gravitate towards the recently released M5 Pro and M5 Max variants, while consumers will find the MacBook Air can meet the vast majority of their needs.

Yet there remains a pull of the "Pro" name, and Apple has ensured there is a specification gap that can bring consumers to this base model, such as a brighter screen, an SD card reader, and more I/O ports. Now add the discount on top of this, and the MacBook Pro M5 becomes a tempting purchase.

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