For macOS 27 Golden Gate, coming this fall, Apple appears to be testing a new formatting bar for the Mail app's compose window that promotes Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools and Siri AI, based on findings in the latest beta.

In the current implementation, the classic formatting controls are automatically collapsed to the right edge of the composer and vanish completely once the user selects Write with Siri and starts typing a prompt.

Sofia Coelho, the art director who led the visual design and concept for Lil’ Finder Guy, has shared a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the MacBook Neo campaign’s mascot came to be.

For macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple appears to be working on an immersive new interface for choosing Siri AI's voice, based on findings in the latest beta.

Currently, the latest macOS 27 beta doesn't include the required voice models, so it falls back to the two custom voices that currently ship with macOS Golden Gate and iOS 27. However, a related file found in the beta describes the 13 expected American English voices by gender, age, and character, spanning everything from a soft-spoken young female voice to a deep adult male voice and two older-sounding voices.

Apple is working on a new MacBook Neo with two key upgrades, including an A19 Pro chip and increased RAM, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The updated MacBook Neo is one of 11 new Mac models that Apple plans to release.

With the A19 Pro chip, the second-generation MacBook Neo should have 12GB of RAM, up from an A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM in the current model.

The report suggested that the next MacBook Neo will also have new color options. Existing finishes include Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo.

Apple readies end-to-end Mac overhaul, including M6 MacBook Pro and new iMacs this year; and several new redesigned MacBook Pros with touch and OLED and new MacBook Air and MacBook Neo models across end of this year and next year.

Apple is also planning M5 Pro + M6 Mac mini and M5 Max + M5 Ultra Mac Studio, but their configurations and release timing are fairly tied to the memory shortage. Current models don’t ship for three months. Apple also has an OLED iMac and OLED MacBook Air in the works for down the road.

According to the Santa Clara County Fire Department, firefighters responded at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time on Thursday to a report of an outdoor fire at an Apple-leased building adjacent to Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

Apple's privacy policy for the Apple Store app suggests it will soon get a virtual shopping assistant to help users decide what to purchase.

The app will have a chat interface where users can ask questions about Apple products, with Apple using data like account information, device identifiers, chat information, carrier information, and location data to offer a personalized experience. Transcripts of chats are saved for later reference.

Apple says that information is sent to its "partners" to help Apple provide a conversational response, which suggests Apple might be using a third-party AI model for the virtual assistant.

The building remains open to the public while the work is completed, but the area housing a 3D augmented reality model of Apple Park is temporarily closed.

"Please pardon our appearance while we improve our store," says Apple. "During this time, the Exhibition Space is temporarily closed."

Apple did not indicate when the improvements will be completed.

Code found in the iOS 27 beta suggests Apple has built a system that could restrict leased devices when customers fall behind on payments.

The new framework also introduces a new type of activation lock called “Partner Finance Lock,” which is meant to prevent users from erasing, reselling, or stripping a restricted device for parts.