Apps

Photo: Joe Ravi (Shutterstock iStock Dreamstime) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Apple Invites emoji replies, confetti in latest update

Apple Invites received its second summer update (version 1.10) adding emoji reactions for hosts and guests and a confetti animation when replies are sent, along with routine bug fixes and performance improvements; this follows June’s update that introduced cohosting, public guest lists, and new backgrounds. The app remains targeted at iCloud+ subscribers and supports RSVP responses on iPhone and iPad.

5 sources

Apple Launches Klarna-backed Upgrade Leasing

Apple is launching the Apple Upgrade device-leasing program, backed by Klarna, set to debut in the U.S. on July 28 with 24-month leases for iPhone and Apple Watch and 36-month leases for Mac and iPad, allowing early upgrades, payoff, or returns as it phases out the current iPhone Upgrade Program. The move, aimed at expanding financing options and customer access to the latest devices, accompanies exclusions such as AppleCare and some devices, and signals Klarna’s growing role in Apple’s device-financing strategy.

23 sources

Photo: Azreey / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

AppleCare+ Price Increase Hits New Mac, iPad Plans

Apple has raised AppleCare+ prices for new Mac and iPad subscribers by 50 cents per month and $5 per year, while existing customers keep their current rates; the changes apply to Macs and iPads and come amid broader anticipated hardware price increases, with iPhone pricing expected later. The move follows ongoing adjustments in Apple’s service and product pricing strategy to offset rising costs.

9 sources

Photo: Apple Inc. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Apple plans Maps ads rollout in US, Canada

Apple is rolling out Maps ads with a selective, 'organic-looking' approach, banning broad home-services categories and certain high-risk industries while evaluating medical ads case-by-case, signaling a focus on trusted, physically visitable locations as it delays a formal launch to this summer in the U.S. and Canada with a policy effective July 14, 2026. The strategy contrasts with Google’s Local Services Ads by prioritizing ad quality and brand safety over rapid expansion, aiming to simplify verification and reduce friction for advertisers.

15 sources

Satechi launches color-matched MacBook Neo accessories

Satechi has unveiled a color-matched MacBook Neo accessory line—including the OntheGo 5-in-1 Multiport Adapter, USB-C Snap Hub, and Slim EX Wireless Mouse—designed to complement the Neo’s Citrus, Blush, Indigo, and Silver finishes. The hubs add HDMI 4K/60Hz output, SD/microSD readers, USB data ports, and USB-C passthrough charging, with the Snap Hub specifically built for the Neo’s asymmetric ports, while the trio expands Neo’s connectivity and appeal for this budget MacBook.

7 sources

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