9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance are back, with a news-packed episode just before an exciting week of Apple hardware launches. But first, iOS 26.4 beta is here, a deep red color is rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro, and Bloomberg details some of the software affordances coming to macOS to support the touch screen MacBook Pro. Also, Samsung surprises with a clever dynamic privacy display on their new flagship phones.

And in Happy Hour Plus, the creators of Dark Sky have left Apple to form a new weather app for enthusiasts, Acme Weather. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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Hosts

Chance Miller

@ChanceHMiller on Twitter

@ChanceHMiller on Instagram

@ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

@bzamayo on Twitter

@[email protected]

@bzamayo on Threads

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9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

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Pre- and post-show content

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New Apple product launch starts Monday, Tim Cook confirms

Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display is the best new feature in years

iOS 26.4 beta 2: Here's what's new

iOS 26.4 beta 2 adds support for testing encrypted RCS between iPhone and Android

Apple testing 'deep red' color for iPhone 18 Pro, but iPhone Fold may skip the fun: report

iPhone 18 Pro design could include an exciting first

New M6 MacBook Pro details revealed, including Dynamic Island, touch, more

Apple announces plans to manufacture some new Macs in the United States this year

Apple shares more details, photos, and video of US Mac mini plant

Apple’s low-cost MacBook might lack these features

Apple battling rising component costs in low-cost MacBook production

New ‘Acme Weather’ app from Dark Sky creators wants to fix weather apps’ biggest problem

Benjamin and Chance discuss all the new features in iOS 26.4, which turned out to be a pretty packed release, even with the Siri features missing in action. Also, Apple confirms a product event for March 4, with rumors of new Macs and more in the air. Finally, Bloomberg reports Apple is advancing work on a suite of new AI devices, including glasses and a clip-on pendant. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin plans his tech packing for his trip to Japan. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Sponsored by Shopify: See less carts go abandoned and more sales. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.

Sponsored by Quince: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Visit quince.com/happyhour for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Sponsored by Framer: The only free design tool that brings your ideas to the web. Visit framer.com/HAPPYHOUR for 30% off a Framer Pro annual plan.

Hosts

Chance Miller

@ChanceHMiller on Twitter

@ChanceHMiller on Instagram

@ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

@bzamayo on Twitter

@[email protected]

@bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

Apple Podcasts

Overcast

Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

Ad-free versions of every episode 

Pre- and post-show content

Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads

Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

Apple’s March 4 launch event: New products and what to expect

Apple special event announced for March 4

Apple’s March launch may include multiple days of press releases with no keynote, per rumor

Report: Apple's upcoming low-cost MacBook will come in 'fun colors,' launch next month

Are people updating to iOS 26? Here's Apple's official data

Tesla is still working on CarPlay support, but here’s why it hasn’t launched yet

iOS 26.4 beta 1: Here are the new iPhone features

Apple Podcasts app gaining 'enhanced video podcast experience' in iOS 26.4

iOS 26.4 beta adds support for testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging

iOS 26.4 beta adds new 'Playlist Playground' AI feature for Apple Music

iOS 26.4 adds support for a new category of CarPlay apps

Apple accelerating work on three new AI wearables, per report

The new F1 channel has appeared in the Apple TV app ahead of first race

Benjamin and Chance react to the disappointing news shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that the new Siri features are facing even more delays, but in happier news, a bunch of iPhones, iPads and Macs are due for an imminent refresh. Meanwhile, Tim Cook reminisces ahead of Apple’s 50th birthday.  

And in Happy Hour Plus, thoughts on the design of the Ferrari Luce and Jony Ive’s sniping comments about his former employer.

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Hosts

Chance Miller

@ChanceHMiller on Twitter

@ChanceHMiller on Instagram

@ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

@bzamayo on Twitter

@[email protected]

@bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

Apple Podcasts

Overcast

Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

Ad-free versions of every episode 

Pre- and post-show content

Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads

Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

iOS 26.3: Here's what's new for your iPhone

Apple releases iOS 26.3 for iPhone, here's what's new

iOS 26.4: Here's when Apple will release the first beta

Report: M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro could launch 'as early as' March 2nd

New iPhone launching this month with four key changes: report

iPhone 17e 'due imminently' with three key upgrades, no price change: report

New MacBook Air coming soon: Here's what we know

Apple's cheapest iPad to get Apple Intelligence support at just the right time

Apple reportedly pushing back Gemini-powered Siri features beyond iOS 26.4

Apple’s iOS 26.4 Siri Update Runs Into Snags in Internal Testing; iOS 26.5, 27

Tim Cook promises Apple will celebrate its upcoming 50th anniversary

Latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new Macs are imminent

Leak suggests Apple's M5 Pro and M5 Max may be the same chip

Apple reportedly bringing third-party AI chatbots to CarPlay

Apple Plans to Allow Outside Voice-Controlled AI Chatbots in CarPlay

Apple removing 'iTunes Wish List' feature, here's how to migrate selections

New iPad and iPad Air models should be launching soon, but don't get too excited

iTunes might be more popular than you think, per report

Ferrari reveals name and interior of its first electric car | Electrek

Jony Ive Ferrari interior might be a glimpse of the Apple Car

Wired Interview with Jony Ive

Benjamin and Chance speculate on Apple’s mysterious acquisition of Q.ai, the company’s second biggest acquisition ever. The iPhone 17 is a veritable smash hit, leading to an all-time quarterly earnings record. And Apple redesigns the order flow for buying a new Mac, with new MacBooks just around the corner. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin realizes he has some overdue spring-cleaning to do on his Desktop folder. 

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Hosts

Chance Miller

@ChanceHMiller on Twitter

@ChanceHMiller on Instagram

@ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

@bzamayo on Twitter

@[email protected]

@bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

Apple Podcasts

Overcast

Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

Ad-free versions of every episode 

Pre- and post-show content

Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads

Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion

Apple reports record-breaking Q1 2026 earnings

Apple revamps how you buy a Mac online

New MacBook Pro release date: Here's when M5 Pro and M5 Max might debut

Latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new Macs are imminent

Will the Studio Display 2 have this key upgrade?

Studio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades

Apple announces agentic coding in Xcode with Claude Agent and Codex integration

CarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report

Tesla still working on CarPlay support, here's what we know

Benjamin and Chance review the proposition of the Creator Studio bundle now it is finally available, as well as some weirdness in the choices made of the apps in it. Also, Benjamin has been using his new AirTags for the past couple days, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that the new Gemini Siri features may be announced in February, sooner than we previously expected.

And in Happy Hour Plus, there’s more talk about Creator Studio, specifically regarding which other kinds of creative apps we could see get added to the offering in the future. Join now and save 26% on annual plans with code HAPPY26. Last call!

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Sponsored by Shopify: In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.

Sponsored by Copilot Money: Get two months free with code 9TO5Mac at try.copilot.money/9to5mac.

Hosts

Chance Miller

@ChanceHMiller on Twitter

@ChanceHMiller on Instagram

@ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

@bzamayo on Twitter

@[email protected]

@bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

Apple Podcasts

Overcast

Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

Ad-free versions of every episode 

Pre- and post-show content

Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads

Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

Apple Creator Studio launches today, and it's an incredible value

Stephen Robles: Apple Creator Studio

Pages, Keynote, Numbers get iOS 26 updates, here’s everything new

AirTag 2 vs AirTag: Here’s everything new

AirTag 2 teardown reveals the speaker is now harder to remove

AirTag 2 hands-on review: Apple’s clever item tracker finds even more utility with longer range and louder sound

How to tell the difference between AirTag 2 and the original AirTag

AirTag 2: Three tidbits you might have missed

Apple to 'unveil' results of Google Gemini partnership as soon as next month: report

Apple announces new Black Unity Braided Solo Loop for Apple Watch

iOS 26.3 adds new feature to limit location data shared with your carrier