Apple has removed a "vibe coding" app from its App Store, reports The Information. AI app building app "Anything" was pulled from the App Store, and Anything co-founder Dhruv Amin was told that his app violated Guideline 2.5.2.
"Vibe coding" is a term used for code generated using AI based on natural language with no coding experience necessary. Anything and other apps like it let users create apps, websites, and tools with text-based prompts.
Apple started removing vibe coding apps from the App Store earlier in March, and the company said that certain features in the apps that were pulled violate code execution rules. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that there are no specific rules against vibe coding, but the apps have to adhere to longstanding guidelines. Apple specifically mentioned Guideline 2.5.2, which is the rule Anything apparently violated.
Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user.
"Anything" launched on iOS back in November with no issue, and Amin says the tool has been used to publish thousands of apps in the App Store. The app let users create and preview vibe code apps on the iPhone, and it raised $11 million at a valuation of $100 million back in September.
While Anything was removed from the App Store on March 26, Apple has been blocking updates to the app since December. Amin submitted an update that would allow vibe coded apps to be previewed in a web browser instead of in the app to attempt to comply with the 2.5.2 rule, but Apple blocked the update and pulled the app.
Apple previously blocked iOS updates to Vibecode and Replit, vibe coding apps used to generate other apps.Tag: App Store
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Apple accidentally started rolling out Apple Intelligence features in China before receiving regulatory approval, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Some Chinese users began seeing Apple Intelligence features listed as available and active in the Settings app on their iPhones, but Apple made no formal announcement. Gurman says that Apple is not planning to launch the feature imminently, and that its availability was a mistake. Apple has since removed the Apple Intelligence features.
Gurman claims that Apple would not launch AI features in China without an announcement, nor would it launch AI in China in the middle of the night local time. The feature also currently uses Google reverse image search, and Google is banned in China.
Apple has not been able to launch Apple Intelligence features in China because the country restricts foreign AI technology. Apple is partnering with Alibaba to power Apple Intelligence capabilities, but Apple needs regulatory approval from China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC). The CAC has to test and approve all AI models before AI services are able to launch in China, and there have been ongoing delays with that process.
It is unclear when Apple Intelligence features will come to China, but Apple is eager to launch in the country. Chinese smartphone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi have a variety of AI features available to customers, which puts Apple far behind in the AI race.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Apple Intelligence, ChinaRelated Forum: iOS 26
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iOS 26.5 is now available for developers, and while it doesn't include any new Siri capabilities, there are some major changes for the European Union, and smaller tweaks for features available worldwide.
Suggested Places
In the Maps app, there's a new "Suggested Places" feature that recommends locations to visit based on trending places nearby and recent searches. When Apple launches ads in Maps, it will also show ads.
Ads in Maps
iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for ads in the Maps app. Apple plans to implement ads this summer, with businesses able to purchase ads that are shown in search results and Suggested Places.
Code in iOS 26.5 says the following: "Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search." Ads will have a clear "ad" label.
RCS End-to-End Encryption
Apple re-enabled end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users in iOS 26.5. Apple tested the feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but not include E2EE in the final version.
There is a toggle for End-to-End Encryption in the Messages section of the Settings app, and the feature is enabled by default. E2EE for RCS means that conversations between iPhone and Android users are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by a third party.
European Union Third-Party Wearable Changes
Apple is working on new interoperability features in the EU to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has tested these features in prior betas, but the Live Activity sharing feature is new.
* Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps.
* Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch. Notifications from select apps can be forwarded, or from all apps.
* Live Activities - Live Activities are able to sync to a third-party wearable, similar to other notifications. This is a feature that appears to be new to iOS 26.5.
There's no word on when the EU third-party wearable features will launch, and Apple also tested them in the iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 betas before removing them when the software was released to the public.
Magic Accessories
When you connect an accessory like a Magic Keyboard to an iPhone over USB-C, the iPhone will automatically establish a Bluetooth connection with the accessory.
iPhone to Android Transfer
When switching from an iPhone to an Android device, there appears to be a new setting for selecting which message attachments to transfer over. There are options for All, 1 year, or 30 days.
Apple Books
There are mentions of new awards in the Apple Books app, which are likely for year-end wrap-ups.
Keyboard Layout
iOS 26.5 has an Inuktitut keyboard layout option.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26
This article, "Everything New in iOS 26.5 Beta 1" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple is planning to introduce ads to the Apple Maps app in the near future, and the iOS 26.5 beta lays the groundwork for the feature.
Code in the update says the following: "Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search."
Apple also says that a user's location and ads interacted with in Apple Maps are not linked to an Apple account to protect user privacy. Apple does not plan to collect or store Maps app data, or share it with third parties.
Last week, Apple said that ads are coming to the Apple Maps app for iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada "this summer."
Businesses in the U.S. and Canada will be able to show ads in search results and at the top of a "Suggested Places" section in the app, which is new in iOS 26.5. Suggested Places displays recommendations for locations to visit based on trending places nearby, recent searches, and more.
Ads in the Maps app will have a clear "Ad" label, much like the ads shown in the App Store search results.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: Apple MapsRelated Forum: iOS 26
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Apple tested end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users in the iOS 26.4 beta, but Apple made it clear the functionality was not going to launch in the iOS 26.4 update.
E2EE for RCS was removed before iOS 26.4 was released, but the feature is back in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple continues testing it.
In the Messages section of the Settings app, the End-to-End Encryption toggle is back in the RCS options, and like before, it is turned on by default.
End-to-end encryption ensures that messages sent between devices cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. Right now, RCS messages sent between Android and iPhone users do not have E2EE, but RCS messages between Android users do. iMessages exchanged between iPhone users have always had end-to-end encryption.
E2EE is in beta and is not available to all devices or carriers in iOS 26.5. Conversations that are encrypted have a lock symbol.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Android, RCSRelated Forum: iOS 26
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Today marks the 10th anniversary of Safari Technology Preview, a version of Safari that's aimed at testing new web technologies.
Apple first announced Safari Technology Preview for Mac on March 30, 2016, and rolled it out that same day. At the time, Apple said that it wanted to get feedback from developers on browser development using a method more easily accessible than WebKit. "Get a sneak peek at upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS with Safari Technology Preview and experiment with these technologies in your websites and extensions," reads the description on Apple's developer website.
Safari Technology Preview can be used side-by-side with the main Safari browser, and it can be set as the default if users prefer it. Though it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use. Safari Technology Preview has a purple icon to distinguish it from the standard version of Safari.
STP is compatible with macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe right now, and when macOS 27 launches, it will work with macOS 27 and macOS Tahoe.
Apple regularly releases updates for Safari Technology Preview, and over the last decade, we've had 240 versions. Apple provides detailed release notes for each update, highlighting new additions and bug fixes in STP that will later come to the primary version of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview can be downloaded from Apple's developer website.Tag: Safari Technology Preview
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For the last several months, Apple has been working on interoperability changes that are set to be implemented in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is developing AirPods-like pairing and notification forwarding for third-party wearables.
Testing on these features started back in iOS 26.3 and continued in iOS 26.4, but the options have not yet launched. Apple is still testing them in iOS 26.5, and both notification forwarding and proximity pairing for wearables are included in the iOS 26.5 beta. Today's update also appears to include a new feature forwarding Live Activities to a third-party wearable device, so Live Activities will be included under the notification forwarding umbrella.
Third-party wearables like earbuds will be able to use proximity pairing, similar to AirPods. Bringing a set of earbuds close to an iPhone or iPad will initiate an AirPods-like one-tap pairing process, so pairing third-party earbuds and other wearables will no longer require multiple steps.
Apple is also planning to allow third-party accessories like smartwatches to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability currently limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications are only able to be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications on an Apple Watch.
Apple has not provided details on when these features will launch in the European Union, but the European Commission said that Apple will roll them out in Europe in 2026. Developers can test third-party TVs, smartwatches, and headphones with the new options.
The notification forwarding and proximity pairing features are only going to be available to device makers and users in the EU.Related Roundups: AirPods 4, iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tag: European UnionBuyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 26
This article, "Apple Testing AirPods-Like Pairing, Live Activities and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in EU With iOS 26.5" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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When promoting the MacBook Neo, Apple found a surprise hit with a tiny anthropomorphized version of the Mac Finder icon, which people have taken to calling Little Finder Guy. Little Finder Guy starred in some of Apple's early March TikTok videos, and Apple is now targeting Finder fans with a trio of new videos.
Three tutorials on Apple's TikTok account star Little Finder Guy. Videos feature Stacks on the Mac desktop, ring light for video apps, and dictation. The tutorials are all shown on the MacBook Neo, and each one includes Little Finder Guy.
Most of the comments on the videos are about Apple's new Finder mascot. Stephen Hackett of 512 Pixels has created a .3mf file for 3D printing a Little Finder Guy for those that have a printer available.
Android has long had a 3D mascot that's a hybrid between a bug and a droid, which Google calls The Bot, so now there is an Apple equivalent.Tags: Apple Ads, TikTok
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The iOS 26.5 beta that Apple released today includes no new Apple Intelligence Siri functionality, which suggests we're going to be waiting until iOS 27 to see any of the promised Siri features.
Apple was initially targeting iOS 26.4 for new Siri capabilities, but in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the company wasn't going to make that goal due to ongoing accuracy issues. He said that Apple could postpone some or all of the new Siri features until iOS 26.5 and iOS 27.
At the time, Apple engineers were apparently using iOS 26.5 for internal Siri testing, and the employees said the update included all of the Apple Intelligence Siri features that Apple promised back at WWDC 2024, but there are no signs of those additions to Siri now that the beta is available to developers.
It's possible that Siri features could come in a later beta of iOS 26.5, but that's looking less and less likely as we get closer to June and the iOS 27 WWDC debut.
Last week, Gurman said that iOS 27 would include a standalone Siri chatbot app and all of the Apple Intelligence Siri features, indicating members of the public won't get a smarter Siri until iOS 27 launches in September 2026.
When Apple introduced Apple Intelligence Siri in June 2024, it said the feature set would launch in an update to iOS 26 coming in 2025. When spring 2025 rolled around, Apple announced a delay and said that Siri was not ready and needed more time. After that setback, Apple made no promise other than saying the revamped version of Siri would launch in 2026.
Behind-the-scenes rumors suggested Apple was targeting iOS 26.4 and development was further delayed, but Apple never publicly mentioned the iOS 26.4 update. As long as Apple launches the new Siri features before December 2026, it will be on track to deliver what it promised.
The version of Siri that Apple has planned for iOS 27 will go above and beyond what was demonstrated at WWDC 2024. Siri is turning into a full chatbot, with a standalone Siri app and feature set that will put the personal assistant on par with Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI chatbots.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, iOS 27Tag: SiriRelated Forum: iOS 26
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Amazon's Big Spring Sale is set to end tomorrow, March 31, so you still have a little while to shop some of the best prices of the year so far on AirPods, MacBooks, and much more. In this article we're recapping all of the best deals you can still get before the event ends, including a few accessory sales.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirPods
The best current AirPods deal during the Big Spring Sale is the AirPods Pro 3 for $199.00, down from $249.00. You can also get a pre-order discount on the brand new AirPods Max 2.
$50 OFFAirPods Pro 3 for $199.00
$19 OFFAirPods Max 2 for $529.99
Apple Watch Series 11
Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.
$100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00
$100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00
You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well.
$100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm Cell) for $399.00
$100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm Cell) for $429.00
M4 iPad Air
Amazon is taking up to $100 off the brand new M4 iPad Air during its Big Spring Sale this week. Specifically, Amazon has up to $80 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership.
$40 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air for $559.00
$50 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air for $749.00
The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis.
M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro
Amazon is offering new all-time low prices on Apple's M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro, with up to $149 off select models without the need of a membership or clipping a coupon.
$149 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,049.99
$149 OFF14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/2TB) for $2,449.99
We're also tracking similar steep discounts on the 16-inch models, including a few M5 Max options. These discounts reach up to $199 off original prices, and as of writing we're only tracking these deals on Amazon.
$149 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,549.99
$199 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB) for $2,899.99
Anker
Anker's new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station has been marked down to $104.99 during the Big Spring Sale, down from $149.99, with no need for a coupon. This accessory just launched last month, and Amazon's sale today represents a new all-time low price.
$45 OFFAnker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $104.99
The Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station features Qi2.2 support, which lets a compatible MagSafe iPhone charge at up to 25W. It's the same speed as Apple's MagSafe charger, and it is 10W faster than the standard Qi2 MagSafe chargers. You can also simultaneously charge an Apple Watch and AirPods with the device.
There are plenty of other Anker discounts happening on Amazon this week, including the Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock back at its all-time low price of $339.99, down from $399.99. Anker's popular 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube is also down to a new all-time low price of $79.03, down from $129.99.
$60 OFFAnker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99
Wall Chargers
* Nano USB-C Wall Charger - $27.99, down from $39.99
* 6-in-1 USB-C Power Strip - $59.99, down from $109.99
* 140W 4-Port GaN USB-C Charger - $89.99, down from $99.99
* 14-in-1 Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock - $339.99, down from $399.99
Wireless Chargers
* 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible UFO Charger - $69.99, down from $89.99
* 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Foldable Charging Station - $79.99, down from $109.99
* 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $79.03, down from $129.99
* 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station - $104.99, down from $149.99
* Prime MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Charging Station - $149.99, down from $229.99
Portable Chargers
* SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $169.99, down from $249.00
* Prime Power Bank 26,250 mAh - $199.99, down from $229.99
* SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $428.99, down from $799.00
* SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $749.00, down from $1,499.00
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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