9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance discuss the implications for Siri and the wider Apple ecosystem now that the Gemini deal is officially signed, and guess when we’ll start seeing the first new features ship. Also, they weigh up the appeal of the new Apple Creator Studio bundle, and Chance got to watch basketball courtside through his Vision Pro. And in Happy Hour Plus , the duo discuss the dependability of iClo...

Benjamin and Chance cover this week in Apple news, including the long-awaited announcement that the Apple Card will be switching from Goldman Sachs to Chase, in about . Also, Fitness+ doesn’t quite live up to its own new year marketing hype, NBA live-streaming kicks off on Vision Pro, and Apple makes App Store changes to satisfy Japan regulators. And in Happy Hour Plus , the pair make their annual...

Benjamin and Chance return from the holiday break with some classic stories of tech support from the trenches. Also, iOS 26 Hold Assist proves better in theory than in reality based on listener feedback, and we do some Ask9to5Mac to close out 2025.  And in Happy Hour Plus , Benjamin and Chance debate what should be 9to5Mac’s Product of the Year. Subscribe at  9to5mac.com/join .  Sponsored by Hello...

Benjamin and Chance reflect on another year in Apple news. We cover all the big headlines from across the months, including the fallout of the Siri delays, the early iOS 26 redesign leaks, and the launch of all the new 2025 hardware like the iPhone 17 series. And in Happy Hour Plus , the pair check in on who won their annual prediction picks. Subscribe at  9to5mac.com/join . Sponsored by Copilot M...

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...

Benjamin and Chance talk about two more Apple executive departures since last week’s episode, and a rumored third that appears to be staying for now. There’s also exciting details about the next Apple Studio Display, Apple might be able to enlist Intel to manufacture Apple Silicon chips, Fitness+ is using AI for language dubbing, and more.  And in Happy Hour Plus , the duo talk about Netflix’s att...

Benjamin and Chance react to the departure of not one, but two, key Apple executives this week with the news that John Giannandrea is retiring as SVP of AI, and design VP Alan Dye is leaving for a new job at Meta. Also, Apple finally agrees a deal with Tencent over commission for mini apps in WeChat, India tries to pre-install a state security app on iPhones, and the new Apple Music Replay launche...

Benjamin and Chance give their opinion on the 2025 Apple holiday ad ‘A Critter Carol’, and talk about some of the Apple tech deals they’ve found this Black Friday. Also, there’s more clarity on the Apple Watch WiFi sync changes coming to the EU next month, and Google pulls off an impressive stunt to make AirDrop work on Android. Finally, Benjamin installed macOS Tahoe for the first time and has so...

Benjamin and Chance discuss the week in Apple news, including the suggestion that Tim Cook’s retirement announced could come early in 2026. Also, Apple responds to user feedback on the multitasking changes with the latest iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, Tesla is rumored to be adding CarPlay to its vehicles, and MLS becomes part of the base Apple TV subscription starting next season. And in Happy Hour Plus , t...

Benjamin and Chance discuss all the new features in the 26.2 betas, including a clever new Edge Light mode and even more Liquid Glass throughout the system. Apple launches Digital IDs in Wallet, and there are questions about the future of the iPhone Air.   And in Happy Hour Plus , we consider if Apple is done for the year, as far as new product launches go. Subscribe at  9to5mac.com/join .  Sponso...

Benjamin and Chance discuss all the new features in iOS 26.2, including some fancy Podcast AI updates and a puzzling decision to remove Apple Watch Wi-Fi syncing in the EU. Also, Apple launches a browsable App Store on the web, and is set to pay $1bn annually to Google to use Gemini models as the underpinning of new Siri.  And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair react to the new Apple TV intro, and get h...

Benjamin and Chance react to a bevy of Bloomberg reports about Apple’s future plans, from touchscreen Macs to ads in Apple Maps and a future OLED iPad mini. And in Happy Hour Plus , the 1X NEO robot makes waves with a launch that demonstrated perhaps the biggest divide between the hype and the reality of the product. Subscribe at  9to5mac.com/join . Sponsored by Framer : The only free design tool...

Benjamin and Chance react to the inclusion of a new Liquid Glass toggle in Settings in iOS 26.1 beta 4, and whether it reflects Apple’s lack of confidence in software design. The Apple TV F1 deal is now official, and Chance goes hands-on with the M5 Vision Pro. And in Happy Hour Plus , the pair discuss the news that the iPhone Air is reportedly not selling well, and check in with their experiences...

Benjamin and Chance react to the new M5 iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro launches. Apple also kills off Clips app and teases live immersive NBA content, and announces a controversial name change for the Apple TV streaming service.  And in Happy Hour Plus , Benjamin gets more excited about the upcoming Apple smart display based off some details from Mark Gurman. Subscribe at  9to5mac.com/join...

Benjamin and Chance cover all the new changes in beta 2 of iOS 26.1, as Apple tidies up some loose ends in the new Liquid Glass design, and (kinda) brings back Slide Over on iPad. Also, Meta’s launch of smart glasses with displays apparently prompted a change to the Vision Pro roadmap, and the F1 streaming deal is apparently nearly done. And in Happy Hour Plus , the duo compares MagSafe power bank...

Benjamin and Chance talk about the week’s Apple news, including the bonkers leak of the so-far-unannounced M5 iPad Pro, and then the FCC chipped in with showing off the new MacBook Pro and Vision Pro too. Also, Benjamin’s robot vacuum got a dramatically better Matter update, Apple uses iPhone cameras to shoot Friday Night Baseball, and Beats unveils the Powerbeats Fit.  And in Happy Hour Plus , we...

Benjamin and Chance reflect on how Apple describes the unibody in iPhone history. Then, Benjamin shares his experiences with his first week of having the iPhone Air, meanwhile online durability and battery tests show impressive results across the new iPhone lineup. Nevertheless, Apple is forced to comment on 17 Pro ‘ScratchGate’, and the first iOS 26.1 beta adds some new swipe gestures in the Musi...

Chance got review units of all the new phones, so we take the opportunity to talk about his hands-on experiences with iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and the new AirPods Pro 3. Just how good is Apple’s new lineup? Also, Benjamin has eSIM woes in preparation of his iPhone Air delivery.  And in Happy Hour Plus , we react to the initial impressions of iOS 26 now that the redesigned OS is available to a wid...

Benjamin and Chance react to the September Apple event, with opinions in keynote order. Chance was there in person, so that includes some early hands-on thoughts of these new devices. That includes Apple’s unveiling of the new AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, iPhone 17, iPhone Air and the unmistakably orange iPhone 17 Pro series.  And in Happy Hour Plus , the pair talk about what products the...

Benjamin and Chance get hyped for next week’s awe-dropping event with a breakdown of what we expect, and some intriguing hanging questions. In other news, the Google search deal escapes the jaws of antitrust unscathed, and we have more details about the upcoming Siri revamp.  And in Happy Hour Plus , they discuss the Google Pixel’s 100x zoom features and debate the merits of AI usage in cameras. S...

Benjamin and Chance prepare to have their jaw dropped in the run up to the September 9 Apple event where we expect to see iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11 and maybe AirPods Pro 3. There’s an interesting report on Apple’s strategic calculus when it comes to acquiring other companies, and Gemini might become the brain of Siri. Also, Apple TV+ ups its monthly price by a hefty 30%.  And in Happy Hour...

Benjamin and Chance discuss the supposed new ‘TechWoven’ cases coming from Apple for the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple reportedly exits the MLB streaming partnership, and iOS 26 beta 7 shows we are close to launch on Apple’s next bumper product cycle. Also, they tackle some listener questions in another installment of Ask9to5Mac. And in Happy Hour Plus , after Chance already beat Benjamin on the annual...

Benjamin and Chance react to the surprise announcement that the Apple Watch Blood Oxygen feature is coming back for US users, via a phone relay workaround. Also, Apple released the latest beta of iOS 26, featuring some fun new animations and even more Liquid Glass refinements. Plus, there’s more speculation about the low-cost MacBook and more details about Apple’s future ventures into home robotic...

Benjamin and Chance talk about the week’s Apple news including all the changes in iOS 26 beta 5, in which Apple inexplicably doubled down on the inverted scroll direction in the Camera app. Also, iPhone 17 case leaks suggest Apple will be adding lanyard holes to its silicon cases for the first time, and Tim Cook presents an AI strategy pep talk to employees and investors.  And in Happy Hour Plus ,...

Benjamin and Chance analyze the new iOS 26 icon set, as well as respond to some public beta feedback Chance has received from his family. Also, a test iPhone 17 prototype was seemingly caught on camera on the streets of San Francisco.  And in Happy Hour Plus , Chance has finally updated to watchOS 26 beta, and the pair discuss the surprising utility of the new wrist flick gesture. Subscribe at  9t...