Show Notes
Benjamin and Chance discuss the late-in-the-year public launch of iOS 26.2, and the beginning of the 26.3 beta cycle. The Information has some juicy new details about the forthcoming iPhone roadmap, ChatGPT adds a clever Apple Music integration, and Chance tried using the PSVR2 spatial controllers with his Vision Pro.
And in Happy Hour Plus, there’s more tantalizing evidence of a higher-end iMac in the works. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Sponsored by Udacity: Try risk-free for seven days at udacity.com/happyhour with code happyhour.
Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour.
Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 Free Meals with free Breakfast For Life at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm.
Hosts
Chance Miller
@ChanceHMiller on Twitter
@ChanceHMiller on Instagram
@ChanceHMiller on Threads
Benjamin Mayo
@bzamayo on Twitter
@bzamayo on Threads
Subscribe, Rate, and Review
Apple Podcasts
Overcast
Spotify
9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus
Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:
Ad-free versions of every episode
Pre- and post-show content
Bonus episodes
Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.
Feedback
Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads
Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]
Links
iOS 26.2 adds these new features to your iPhone
iOS 26.3: New features for your iPhone
Apple Music is coming to ChatGPT, OpenAI announces
Apple Music app now available on ChatGPT, here’s how to use it
Eight new iPhones in the works, here's what we know
New M5 iMac model aimed at pro users might be coming, per leak
More from 9to5Mac Happy Hour
Ahead of its official launch, Chance has spent a week with the iPhone Duo and he is here to tell us all about his experiences with Apple’s new foldable phone, including the various poses, state of the software, Touch ID versus Face ID, battery life and more. Also, Apple announces yet another product event, so we preview what the company is preparing to ‘Pro and tell’ us.
Benjamin and Chance react to Apple’s smart home event, with first impressions on the new Apple HomeView smart display, the insanely priced Apple TV 4K (fourth-generation), and the HomePod mini refresh. It remains to be seen whether these new initiatives in the Apple Home Collection can help move the needle on smart home uptake at large, but it’s a good start.
Benjamin and Chance talk about this week’s Apple news, ahead of a bevy of product announcements coming later this month. Apple is reportedly partnering with LG on a range of smart home accessories, and changes are coming to Full Disk Access permissions. Note: This episode was recorded before Apple officially announced its ‘Welcome home’ event.
Benjamin and Chance discuss the final Apple smart display rumors with a release for the ‘HomePad’ rumored for October 13, although the small square screen form factor remains puzzling. Also, leaked photos of the iPad mini and HomePod mini suggest those long-awaited updates are also imminent, John Ternus apparently wants to make Apple more nimble, and Chance has thoughts on the new Apple Watch Readiness feature.
Benjamin and Chance cover the week in Apple news, including hands-on with the new M6 Mac mini and AirPods 5, the first round of bug fixes for the new operating systems, Apple Music Hall, and more.