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 launches. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, an analytics report claims baseball games drive more subscribers to Apple TV than its original series. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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After announcing the finalists last month, Apple today officially announced the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards. This year, the App Store Awards recognize 17 apps and games for their “technical ingenuity and lasting cultural impact.”

The winners were selected by App Store Editors for “demonstrating exceptional innovation, user experience, and design.”

Yesterday, Bloomberg broke the surprise news that Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design since 2015, is departing the company to lead a new design studio at Meta. Apple confirmed the departure in a statement attributed to Tim Cook, adding that 26-year Apple design veteran Steve Lemay will take over Dye’s role.

In a new post on Daring Fireball, John Gruber has some inside info on the reaction inside Apple to this news.

Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design since 2015, is departing the company. Bloomberg reports that Meta has poached Dye as part of its push “into AI-equipped consumer devices.”

Stephen Lemay, a 26-year Apple design veteran, will take over the role from Dye, who officially joins Meta on December 31.

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 some thoughts to share.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman delivers the first details about what to expect from iOS 27. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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Apple’s annual Black Friday Shopping Event kicked off on Friday, and time is running out to take advantage. The deals officially end tonight at midnight.

You can score an up to $250 gift card with purchase of an eligible product, including select iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches, AirPods, and more. Head below for the full details.

As always, however, you can save far more in cash by shopping at other retailers. Our friends over at 9to5Toys are meticulously rounding up all of the best Cyber Monday deals.

The first rumors about what to expect from next year’s iOS 27 update are here. The update will reportedly bring a focus on stability improvements and bug fixes, with some big new Apple Intelligence features sprinkled in. Here’s everything we know so far about new iOS 27 features, the update’s release date, and more.

Apple updated its entire lineup of Apple Watch models this year, introducing the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Ultra 3. If you’re shopping for someone or buying for yourself this holiday season, here’s what you need to know about Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11.

Apple’s AirPods lineup is stronger than it’s ever been, with compelling options at multiple different price points. If you’re exploring which AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro to buy this holiday season, whether for yourself or someone else, here’s what you need to know.

Analyst Jeff Pu is out with a new investor note today with details on Apple’s timeline for new product launches over the next year.

In the investor note, seen by 9to5Mac, Pu says that Apple will kick off 2026 with the launch of three new low-cost products: the iPhone 17e, a low-cost MacBook, and an updated base model iPad. These devices will launch sometime in mid-Q1 2026, Pu reports.

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, they discuss the future of the Mac Pro and why Apple should stop selling it. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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With iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple is removing a key Wi-Fi sharing feature from iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union due to interoperability requirements under the Digital Markets Act.

This news was first reported last month by French publication Numerama. The report explained that starting with iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, iPhone won’t be able to sync Wi-Fi history to a newly-paired Apple Watch like it can now.

Here are more details on how exactly this will work and why Apple is making the change.

Update November 19: This feature is now live. Illinois residents can now head to the Wallet app to add their licenses. Original story below.

Apple Wallet support for digital driver’s licenses and state IDs continues to expand. Now, Illinois has officially announced that starting tomorrow, iPhone users will be able to add their driver’s license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app for digital access.

With the addition of Illinois, support for this feature is available in 13 states, along with Puerto Rico.

As we approach the end of 2025, Apple is gearing up to unveil the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards.

As part of that process, Apple today announced the 45 finalists for the App Store Awards. The nominations span a wide range of categories. Head below for the full list.

One of the more useful changes to recent Apple Watch models is support for fast charging. This allows you to quickly top off your Apple Watch battery at much faster speeds than before. Plus, with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, charging is even faster than before.

There are a few things to remember, and you don’t get everything you need in the box…

Apple offers a broad range of services nowadays, ranging from Apple TV to Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, and more.

In addition to those individual services, Apple offers an a compelling Apple One bundle where you get access to different subscription offerings at a discount.

Is Apple One worth it? Here’s what you need to know.

Three years ago, the Steve Jobs Archive debuted as “the authoritative home for Steve’s story and a resource for new generations eager to make their own mark.”

The initiative has steadily released fascinating tidbits about Jobs — including a hardback book called Make Something Wonderful.

Now, the Steve Jobs Archive has shared a never-before-seen interview with Jobs from 1999 to mark Toy Story’s 30th anniversary.

For years, John Hancock has offered Vitality Plus life insurance program members a way to earn an Apple Watch for (almost) free with regular exercise.

Now, the Vitality Program has been expanded to include the newest Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Here’s how it works.

In a new press release, Apple goes in-depth on how it has leveraged 3D printing in the manufacturing process of this year’s Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

For the first time, both models are made with 100 percent recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder, something Apple says was “not previously considered possible at scale.”

The manufacturing breakthrough has led to significant improvements in the environmental impact of Apple Watch production.

iPadOS 26 brought an all-new multitasking experience to the iPad, but it came at the cost of Slide Over, an omission that proved controversial among iPad users. It also removed key Split View features as well.

With iPadOS 26.1, Apple responded to some of that feedback and added a new version of Slide Over back to the iPad.

Now, Apple has released iPadOS 26.2 beta 3 and it gives Slide Over and Split View on iPad another improvement.