Benjamin and Chance react to all the new accessibility features Apple previewed for iOS 19, like Magnifier and vehicle motion cues for Mac. This week also saw the surprise debut of next-gen CarPlay, now called CarPlay Ultra, arriving first in partnership with Aston Martin. We’ve also got some more rumors about some software features to expect at WWDC. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, HBO corrects the Max branding mess. Should Apple follow suit? Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Apple today officially announced CarPlay Ultra, the next generation version of CarPlay that it first teased way back at WWDC 2022.

CarPlay Ultra is rolling out starting today to Aston Martin owners in the United States and Canada. Apple today also revealed that three new automakers have signed on to support CarPlay Ultra in the future: Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Apple today previewed a wide array of new accessibility features launching as part of iOS 19 this fall. As part of this broader announcement, Apple also detailed a pair of changes coming to CarPlay.

In a press release this morning, Apple announced its suite of new accessibility features coming to the iPhone later this year. This includes Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, a new Magnifier app for Mac, and more.

A new report from The Wall Street Journal (Apple News+ link) today dives deeper into another accessibility breakthrough Apple is developing: the ability to control your iPhone with your brain.

Ahead of WWDC kicking off in June, Apple today has officially unveiled this year’s new accessibility features for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. The features come as Apple celebrates 40 years of accessibility innovation, with the company originally opening its office of disability in 1985.

“At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

These features are destined for Apple’s forthcoming iOS 19 and macOS 16 updates, which will be announced at WWDC next month. Apple, however, does not specifically refer to “iOS 19’ prematurely. This year’s new accessibility features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, a new Magnifier app for Mac, major updates to Apple’s Personal Voice feature, and more.

Apple is launching a limited-time promotion in partnership with Nike. In an email today, the company revealed that Apple Card users can store 6% Daily Cash rewards on purchases at Nike through June 15.

Apple just released iOS 18.5 for iPhone users with several new features and changes. The company has now updated its security website to reveal that iOS 18.5 also fixes over 30 security vulnerabilities affecting things like Bluetooth, FaceTime, and more.

There’s also a fix exclusively for the iPhone 16e for a vulnerability impacting the device’s baseband…

iOS 18.5 for iPhone is now available for everyone. The update brings multiple new features to iPhone users, including a new wallpaper, an upgrade to Screen Time, changes to the Mail app, and more. Head below for the full details on everything new in iOS 18.5…

PlayStation 5 users now have an additional way to complete purchases of games and other content on their consoles: Apple Pay. Here’s how it works.

Benjamin and Chance talk about all the big Apple news of the week, including Apple’s latest earnings report, the new 2025 Pride band and wallpaper, and several rumors about the upcoming iPhone roadmap. Apple is apparently going to shift some of its phone releases to the spring going forward, and the 17 Air might not have the battery life we originally hoped.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Eddy Cue makes provocative claims about the future of the iPhone in court testimony. We discuss what he meant. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Spotify has announced a handful of updates rolling out to its music streaming service starting this week. Among the changes are improvements to queuing songs, customizing playlists, and more.

There’s one feature, however, that stands out most to me: Snooze.

While some companies, including Spotify, Amazon, and Patreon, have been quick to jump at the opportunity to add external payment links to their apps, Netflix is taking a slower approach.

Back in 2019, Apple announced a trio of new research studies, including the Apple Women’s Health Study in partnership with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Researchers have shared several updates in the years since the study began, including one this week.

The hits keep coming for Apple and its App Store policies. A new class-action lawsuit filed today alleges that Apple “penalized developers who sought to use linked payments with fees that rendered it economically non-viable.

The lawsuit follows an injunction handed down last week, in which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred Apple from charging commission or otherwise interfering with developers’ ability to direct customers to payment methods outside of the App Store.

While some of the most anticipated Apple Intelligence features have yet to ship, Apple is ramping up its marketing of the ones that have. In a new video posted on YouTube, Apple goes in-depth on features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Clean Up in Photos, and more.

“Get to know Apple Intelligence, a powerful set of features built into your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, to help you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly,” Apple says.

Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared virtually at a gathering of business executives this week to celebrate President Trump’s first 100 days in office. “I wanna take a moment to recognize President Trump’s focus on domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and we will continue to work with the administration as we invest in these areas,” Cook said during his pre-recorded comments.

Apple has officially approved the first app with links to external payment options in the United States. After submitting its update to Apple yesterday afternoon, Spotify says that Apple has approved a new version of the app that takes advantage of the latest changes to the App Store Guidelines.

Apple has officially updated the App Store Guidelines to comply with the injunction handed down yesterday in its legal case with Epic Games. According to the new App Store rules, “there is no prohibition on an app including buttons, external links, or other calls to action” in the United States.

During today’s earnings call with analysts, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the company’s delay of its more personal Siri features that were announced as part of Apple Intelligence last year. Cook assured analysts that the company is “making progress” on shipping these features to consumers…

Benjamin and Chance react to the huge developments in the Epic vs. Apple case, with Apple now compelled to allow free rein links out to the web, with no commission. Also this week, we get our best look yet at the super-slim iPhone 17 Air, there are intriguing rumors about iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, and Apple quietly launches a bizarre new microsite on its website. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, understandably, Chance gives up on Mac support for HomePod audio output. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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