August 2025
iOS & Apple news
David Pogue will release a new book: Apple: The First 50 Years in time for Apple's 50th anniversary. `The 600-page book features 360 full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate Apple’s subversive culture, and 150 fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.'
iOS 26 has been in public beta since June. One of the latest beta versions is reviewed by
Apple Q3 2025 results and charts: $95B revenue .
Tim Cook Said Apple is 'Making Good Progress' on Personalized Siri Features Ahead of 2026 Launch. "We're making good progress on a more personalized Siri, and as we've said before, we expect to release these features next year," said Cook.
Apple slams DOJ lawsuit: ’threatens the very principles that set iPhone apart’, reports 9to5Mac. `Apple has voiced its opposition to the case many times over the last year. Now, it has officially filed its answer to the DOJ’s antitrust complaint, pushing back forcefully against the allegations.'
iPhone Feature for Tracking Lost Baggage Expands to Saudia Airlines, joining many other airlines that already support it. `Users running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2 and later can generate a "Share Item Location" link in the Find My app. Recipients can view the item's location on a live-updating web map.'
First Native Thought-Based Control of an Apple Device via Brain Computer Interface: Synchron Debuts First Thought-Controlled iPad Experience Using Apple’s New BCI Human Interface Device Protocol. Synchron released the first-ever public demonstration of an individual using an iPad controlled entirely by thought, leveraging Apple’s built-in accessibility features and new Brain-Computer Interface Human Interface Device (BCI HID) protocol. `In this groundbreaking demo, Mark, who lives with ALS, navigates his iPad home screen, opens apps, and composes messages using only his mind. Synchron’s Kurt Haggstrom and Peter Yoo explain BCI HID and how the Stentrode™ system enables native, thought-driven control of Apple devices, powered by Apple's Accessibility features.' Take a look:
Apple Expected to Buy Another Silicon Valley Campus . `Apple is set to purchase another campus in Silicon Valley, California, amid almost $1 billion of property purchases this year.'
Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment to American rare earth magnets. `In the first-of-its-kind deal, Apple and MP Materials will launch an all-new recycling facility for processing recycled rare earth elements'
[ RUMOR ] iPhone 17 Air Battery Allegedly 2.49mm – Half the Thickness of 17 Pro's.
[ RUMOR ] iPhone 17 event scheduled for September 9, according to carrier documents, reports 9to5Mac.
[ RUMOR ] Next month, a new iPhone 17 family is expected. Macrumors talks about the expected/rumored iPone 17 with 12 new features.
iOS apps
Apple News+ introduces Emoji Game.
tips & tricks
As a reminder, if you pay for even the lowest tier of iCloud+, you get some excellent features, including Private Relay. Here is How to Enable iCloud Private Relay on Mac. And how to do it on iPhone or iPad:.
gadgets & accessories
These Sketchers shoes let you track your child's location with apple's AirTag.
Shane Whatley reviews the new Aqara doorbell:
AI
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, announced it's making some changes to help users. Including encouraging you to take breaks.
OpenAI released 2 new AI models, including one that runs well on Apple Silicon Macs.
Meta pirated and seeded porn for years to train AI, lawsuit says, as reported by ArsTechnica.
next iPUG
Our next iPUG meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 7 pm.