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Apple bans home services from its upcoming Maps ads

15 July 2026 at 22:21
Apple has published the policies governing its upcoming Maps advertising business, revealing a strategy that differs from Google’s. The new rules prohibit home services businesses like plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, and roofers from advertising on Apple Maps, along with several other sensitive categories, suggesting Apple is taking a more curated approach to these ads.

If Apple Were Really Serious About Acquiring PrismML, Its CEO Wouldn’t Be Broadcasting It To The World

15 July 2026 at 21:15

The image features the Apple logo on the left and the 'Prism ML' logo with stylized text on the right.

You would have to be wholly fatuous to leak the details of an ongoing negotiation with a company as private as Apple, and from the mouth of the CEO no less, as PrismML appears to have done recently, indicating that the tidbit about its impending acquisition by Apple was nothing more than a glorified PR campaign. You don't leak details of an ongoing negotiation, especially when a company as sensitive as Apple is involved, if those talks have even a snowball's chance in hell of succeeding While speaking with CNBC earlier this week, PrismML's CEO casually lobbed a bombshell: Apple […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/if-apple-were-really-serious-about-acquiring-prismml-its-ceo-wouldnt-be-broadcasting-it-to-the-world/

Apple Intelligence Turns To Alibaba’s Qwen In China Even As Apple Is Likely To Reserve Its Private Compute ‘Secret Sauce’ For Itself

15 July 2026 at 19:18

The Apple logo with a design of the Chinese flag is superimposed over a building's glass facade.

In a development that comes on the proverbial heels of China's formal approval of Apple Intelligence features for the country's consumers, Alibaba has notified that its Qwen family of AI models will be integrated into Apple Intelligence, bringing AI-powered experiences for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS users. Users in China will now be able to access Qwen’s entire range of AI capabilities, including text, image, and content generation, directly on Apple devices Alibaba has now officially confirmed that users in China will be able to access its Qwen AI models via Apple devices, going on to note in a statement: […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-intelligence-turns-to-alibabas-qwen-in-china-even-as-apple-is-likely-to-reserve-its-private-compute-secret-sauce-for-itself/

A18 Pro Supply Constraints Have Become An Impenetrable Obstacle, As Analyst Says MacBook Neo Shipments Will Drop By 40%, AI Testing TSMC’s Fortitude

15 July 2026 at 16:30

A18 Pro chip supply is hammering MacBook Neo shipments

The MacBook Neo has turned into an instant hit, and even with the price bumps that Apple introduced that made the company’s most affordable notebook $100 more expensive for both configurations, the bigger figure isn’t what’s derailing the portable Mac’s momentum. It’s the lack of chip supply for the A18 Pro, and according to an analyst, Apple’s MacBook Neo shipments are expected to suffer considerably, with up to a whopping 40 percent drop. It appears that AI firms gobbling up the entire supply have made the situation quite uncomfortable for both TSMC and Apple. Updated shipment forecast states the MacBook Neo will […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/a18-pro-supply-constraints-can-lead-to-a-40-percent-drop-in-macbook-neo-shipments/

Best Smartwatches with Longest Battery Life in July 2026

15 July 2026 at 04:48

As we head into the second half of 2026, getting a smartwatch to last through a long weekend is no longer a challenge. The combination of high-density silicon-carbon batteries and more efficient processors means that multi-day battery life has simply become the baseline for most new devices.

For this list, we are focusing entirely on full-fledged smartwatches. While there are specialized, rugged watches built specifically for hikers and endurance runners that offer significantly longer battery life, they usually achieve that by stripping away everyday smart features and apps. If you are looking for a device that offers a complete wearable experience without needing a daily charge, here is a look at the most reliable options currently on the market.

Xiaomi Watch 5

Xiaomi Watch 5

This watch runs Wear OS 6, an operating system that typically drains batteries quickly due to its heavy app integration and background syncing. However, the Xiaomi Watch 5 manages to provide up to six days of battery life in standard smart mode, and up to 18 days if you switch to power-saving mode.

It achieves this by utilizing a 930mAh silicon-carbon battery, a newer battery technology that allows for higher energy density without increasing the physical size or weight of the watch.

Additionally, it uses a dual-chip setup, pairing a main Snapdragon processor with a low-power co-processor. The co-processor handles basic background tasks like step counting and notifications, which prevents the main chip from waking up unnecessarily and draining power.

This makes it a highly practical choice if you want access to the full suite of Google apps, such as Maps and Wallet, without having to charge your watch every night.

OnePlus Watch 4

Oneplus Watch 4

Another strong Wear OS 6 option, the OnePlus Watch 4 offers about five days of battery life in its standard smart mode. If you use it heavily, meaning frequent GPS tracking for outdoor runs, continuous heart rate monitoring, and streaming music offline, that battery life drops to roughly three days.

However, if you need to stretch the battery further, the watch includes a dedicated power-save mode. By disabling the main processor and full Wear OS functions, it relies on a low-power co-processor to handle basic timekeeping, step tracking, and essential notifications, which can extend the battery life up to 16 days.

It is equipped with a 646mAh battery that supports fast charging, allowing you to fully recharge the device from zero to 100% in about 75 minutes.

The watch features a titanium alloy case and a bright LTPO OLED display. The LTPO technology is particularly helpful for battery conservation, as it allows the screen’s refresh rate to drop significantly when you are not actively interacting with it.

It functions well as an everyday watch that provides premium materials and can comfortably last through a long weekend trip without needing a charger.

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2

If you primarily want a smartwatch for tracking workouts and do not need access to third-party apps, the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 (full review) is a very efficient option.

It runs proprietary HarmonyOS rather than a resource-heavy platform like Wear OS, it provides up to 14 days of battery life with light use, or about seven days under typical daily conditions.

For runners and hikers, the most relevant specification is its continuous GPS tracking capability. The watch can record up to 32 hours of continuous dual-band GPS tracking on a single charge, making it useful for marathons, ultramarathons, or multi-day hiking trips.

It also features a lightweight build at just 34.5 grams and a breathable strap, focusing entirely on comfort and detailed fitness metrics rather than smartwatch app ecosystems.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Apple-Watch-Ultra-3

For iPhone users wanting to stay within the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours of normal use on a single charge. If you need to extend that, turning on Low Power Mode will give you up to 72 hours by limiting background heart rate measurements and delaying some notifications.

While it does not last as long as the dedicated fitness watches, the S10 chip and watchOS 26 optimizations make it efficient enough to prevent the need for daily charging, even with an always-on display and cellular connectivity active.

When the battery does run low, the fast-charging capability is quite useful, a 15-minute charge provides about 12 hours of standard use, which makes it relatively easy to keep the watch topped up while you take a shower or get ready for the day.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

The current Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra provides up to 100 hours of battery life in Power Saving mode, or 48 hours in Exercise Power Saving mode, drawing from its 590mAh battery. It runs Wear OS 6 layered with Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch interface, providing deep integration with Android smartphones.

For people already using Samsung devices, a practical detail is how the watch works alongside the Galaxy Ring. If you wear them both, they split the health-tracking workload. The ring can handle background tasks like monitoring your sleep and continuous heart rate, which lets the watch turn off those specific sensors to save battery.

This distribution of work can reduce the watch’s power consumption and extend its overall battery life by about 30%, depending on your daily usage patterns.

It is also worth noting that Samsung is expected to release the next-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 later this month. According to recent hardware leaks, this upcoming model will be equipped with a larger battery capacity, which should further improve its overall longevity and reduce the frequency of required charging.

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The post Best Smartwatches with Longest Battery Life in July 2026 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple Will Now Carrier-Lock iPhones That You Purchase From T-Mobile Or Verizon On Installments

15 July 2026 at 06:02

A composite logo featuring Apple's logo in black and overlaid with T-Mobile's 'T' logo against a bright pink background.

In a move that is likely aimed at curbing the rampant abuse of what was until now a fairly generous policy, Apple will no longer sell you unlocked iPhones that have been financed either by T-Mobile or Verizon. Apple has just updated its FAQ related to carrier-financed iPhone 17 Pro purchase, disclosing that your "iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full" As first spotted by a Reddit user and delineated in a dedicated post, Apple has just updated its FAQ for buying a carrier-financed iPhone 17 Pro, disclosing the following policy change: "If you choose to […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-will-now-carrier-lock-iphones-that-you-purchase-from-t-mobile-or-verizon-on-installments/

OpenAI Bets On An AI Speaker That Physically Moves Around Your House, Chasing A Gap Apple Left Wide Open

15 July 2026 at 01:55

A group of people seated at desks, one person writing on a piece of paper, another holding a pen thoughtfully; the setting resembles a classroom or seminar.

Apple's damning lawsuit against OpenAI appears to have had a profound impact on the latter's product launch cadence, with the latest report indicating that the maker of ChatGPT is now prioritizing a screen-free, mobile smart speaker, which is something that Apple currently does not have. OpenAI's planned smart speaker will have "mechanical elements" to help it move, and it will be able to connect with users on a human-like level As we detailed recently, Apple filed a damning lawsuit against OpenAI last week, accusing it of stealing its proprietary technology, circuit designs, and component architecture for a slew of upcoming consumer-geared AI […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/openai-bets-on-an-ai-speaker-that-physically-moves-around-your-house-chasing-a-gap-apple-left-wide-open/

Apple opens its new Siri AI to everyone with the iOS 27 public beta

14 July 2026 at 23:42
If you’ve been waiting to try Apple’s revamped Siri without installing a developer beta, you now can. The company on Tuesday released the iOS 27 public beta, giving iPhone owners early access to its AI-powered assistant and other new features before the software’s official launch this fall.

Apple Just Hit A 20% Global Smartphone Share, Yet A New Report Warns Slowing iPhone Builds Amid Price Increases And Weak US Upgrades Threaten 2027

14 July 2026 at 18:59

Apple

Apple's sales cadence benefited enormously from its relatively attractive pricing regime that it chose to maintain until the tail-end of Q2, when the Cupertino-based tech giant finally gave in to the oncoming margin-related pressures by hiking prices of its Mac and iPad offerings. Now, however, with the hype around the iPhone 17 series fizzling out, and the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series expected to debut with material price hikes, a new research report has just found worrying evidence of Apple's slowing sales momentum. A KeyBanc analyst now believes the consensus estimate for Apple's iPhone growth of 8 percent in 2027 […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-just-hit-a-20-global-smartphone-share-yet-a-new-report-warns-slowing-iphone-builds-amid-price-increases-and-weak-us-upgrades-threaten-2027/

Apple says former employee exploited ‘rare’ bug to download confidential files after leaving for OpenAI

14 July 2026 at 00:00
Apple would not comment on the "security breach," which allegedly allowed a former employee to download sensitive files from Apple's network long after he departed the company for rival OpenAI.

The Cutthroat Smartphone Industry And DRAM Crisis Force A Player Out Of The U.S. Market, Giving Apple & Samsung Additional Room To Reap Profits

14 July 2026 at 00:15

One smartphone player bows out of the U.S. smartphone market, giving Apple and Samsung plenty of room to grow

The U.S. smartphone market is currently dominated by Apple, with a small but important chunk occupied by Samsung. The remaining brands have been offered breadcrumbs in terms of market share, refusing to let any other manufacturer grow out of their shadow. Unfortunately, the AI boom had to arrive at an inopportune time, because the aforementioned reason and rising memory prices have forced one company out of the U.S., plus one other market. OnePlus is preparing to bid farewell to the U.S. and European markets, with an announcement expected in the coming days The writing was practically on the wall, and […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/one-smartphone-player-to-bow-out-of-us-market-letting-apple-and-samsung-grow/

The wildest allegations in Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI

13 July 2026 at 22:22
Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI contains allegations that range from employees joking about unauthorized access to Apple’s systems to claims that job candidates were asked to bring Apple hardware to interviews. Here are the complaint’s most eye-catching claims.

Apple And OpenAI Trade Lawsuits Over AI Device Tech Theft, But China’s StepX Neo Quietly Beats Both To A Working AI Phone

13 July 2026 at 20:41

A presenter stands in front of a large display that reads 'STEPX Neo' with the tagline 'ONE STEP AHEAD,' featuring an image of a smartphone with dual rear cameras.

Sometimes, as rabbits waste their time on petty feuds and habitual sloth, the tortoise can win the sprint. This is exactly what appears to have happened with StepX and its just-teased Neo AI phone, as Apple and OpenAI remain locked in a high-stakes battle over alleged technology theft related to their upcoming consumer-facing AI devices. StepX Neo clinches the first-mover advantage on the AI phone as Apple and OpenAI remain mired in a technology theft feud As we detailed recently, Apple filed a damning lawsuit against OpenAI last week, accusing it of stealing its proprietary technology, circuit designs, and component […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-and-openai-trade-lawsuits-over-ai-device-tech-theft-but-chinas-stepx-neo-quietly-beats-both-to-a-working-ai-phone/

iPhone 20 To Bid Farewell To The Aluminum Chassis Next Year, With Apple Planning A New Build That’ll Be As Futuristic As It’ll Be Fragile

13 July 2026 at 15:31

iPhone 20 to ditch aluminum next year

As advantageous as aluminum is, Apple probably believes that the material won’t sit well with its vision of what its 20th-anniversary iPhone launch should be, which is why the latest rumor claims that the iPhone 20 will ditch the current chassis and go with something that screams ‘next generation.’ However, you’ll have to be extra careful with it. The rear glass back could make a return to the iPhone 20, making it extra brittle, but offering a more premium feel After Weibo’s Fixed-focus digital cameras claimed that the iPhone 20 won’t move away from aluminum, he arrives with a fresh […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/iphone-20-to-ditch-aluminum-and-go-for-futuristic-but-fragile-chassis/

Apple Finalized The M7 Chip Design Just Six Months After The M6, As AI Pressures Company To Bring Neural Processing Upgrades Into Overdrive Mode

13 July 2026 at 02:10

Apple moved forward with the M7's chip design just six months after the M6 due to AI

The proliferation of AI has certainly caused a long-term crisis in the computing landscape, but if there’s one positive to gain from all of this, it’s that companies are aggressively pushing towards designing chips of superior capabilities to tackle the competition at a fiercer pace. Unsurprisingly, one of those companies is Apple, which reportedly taped out the M7 just six months after the same process was completed for the M6. This would explain why the M6 Pro and M6 Max won’t arrive at all, as they will instead be replaced by the M7 Pro and M7 Max. The M7 will […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-m7-chip-design-finalized-six-months-after-m6-due-to-ai/

Apple’s M6 iPad Pro To Get An Early 2027 Launch Alongside A Revamped Apple Pencil, Which Gets A Readily Replaceable Battery Amid Pressure From The EU

12 July 2026 at 19:56

A hand uses a stylus pen on a tablet displaying digital art of a woman's face, with three additional stylus tips shown above.

Apple has tossed its heretofore predictable M-series chip launch cadence into the air, adding a hefty dose of unpredictability into the proverbial mix. Now, however, the legendary tipster Mark Gurman is out with yet another scoop, disclosing an early 2027 launch window for the M6 iPad Pro and a redesigned Apple Pencil. Apple's early 2027 launch window is already becoming crowded with a growing array of products We reported recently that Apple has significantly revamped its silicon-related plans, settling on the launch of the M5 Ultra and the base M6 later this year, and then jumping straight to the base M7, […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apples-m6-ipad-pro-to-get-an-early-2027-launch-alongside-a-revamped-apple-pencil-which-gets-a-readily-replaceable-battery-amid-pressure-from-the-eu/

M7 Ultra To Offer Double The Maximum Unified Memory As The M5 Ultra, Potentially Opening Doors To Run 1 Trillion-Parameter Models Locally

12 July 2026 at 19:33

M7 Ultra to offer double the unified memory as the M5 Ultra

Apple is planning to skip the M6 Ultra launch, instead choosing to launch the M5 Ultra later this year, followed by the M7 Ultra after it unveils the M7 Pro and M7 Max sometime in 2027. Fortunately, the new workstation-class silicon will be worth the wait, especially for those who aspire to run multi-billion-parameter AI models on their systems but are limited by memory constraints. This is because a new report states that the M7 Ultra will feature double the unified memory of the M5 Ultra, and you’ll want to know how much RAM you can pack for the top-end […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/m7-ultra-to-offer-double-unified-memory-as-m5-ultra/

Apple’s Chipset Development Is Unparalleled As Company Is Already Working On The M8, Flaunting Superior AI Capabilities Not To Mention Enhanced Efficiency

12 July 2026 at 18:51

Apple is already developing the M8

In the AI race, Apple isn’t the first name that you’d expect to be ahead of its rivals, but when it comes to chipsets that are tailor-made to tackle the aforementioned workloads, we doubt other names come to mind. While we have reported that the M7 is being designed to bring even better on-device AI performance to the table, the M8 is expected to surpass its predecessor in this aspect, while also being one of the company’s first silicon ranges to leverage a new manufacturing process. M8 could be Apple’s first 1.4nm SoC designed for powerful computing, bringing superior efficiency […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-working-on-m8-with-superior-ai-and-efficiency-features/

Elon Musk Accuses Sam Altman Of Stealing A Charity And Apple’s Technology, While Vowing That SpaceX’s AI1 Satellites Will Fly Next Year But That Altman Will Be In Jail By Then

12 July 2026 at 05:02

Two men in a discussion, both wearing microphones against a red background.

Elon Musk was never the gracious sort to let an opportunity to take a jab against his fiercest opponent pass him by. And now that Apple has lobbed a figurative thermonuclear warhead on OpenAI in the form of a damning lawsuit, Musk is using the ensuing social media buzz to land a few choice punches on his nemesis number one, OpenAI's Sam Altman. Elon Musk now believes SpaceX will start deploying AI1 satellites by next year, but wonders if Sam Altman would be able to see the launch, strongly implying that OpenAI's CEO would be in jail by then While […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/elon-musk-accuses-sam-altman-of-stealing-a-charity-and-apples-technology-while-vowing-that-spacexs-ai1-satellites-will-fly-next-year-but-that-altman-will-be-in-jail-by-then/

Analyst Calls Apple’s And OpenAI’s Relationship “Increasingly Fragile,” Says The Lawsuit Can Delay The AI Firm’s Hardware Ambitions “Even If The Allegations Are Not Proven”

11 July 2026 at 15:25

Analyst calls Apple's and OpenAI's relationship fragile

A lawsuit from Apple’s end has unraveled, claiming that OpenAI not only poached 400 employees, but also obtained hardware samples that would be used to fulfill the AI firm’s consumer hardware goals. As the relationship between the two companies begins to sour over this legal skirmish, an analyst believes that the lawsuit will become a thorn in OpenAI’s path as it tries to leapfrog the iPhone and attempt to construct a direct relationship with customers. OpenAI has said that it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets,” with Apple alleging that a former employee had access to confidential hardware […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/openai-hardware-ambitions-could-be-delayed-due-to-apple-lawsuit/

OpenAI Poached Over 400 Apple Employees And Told Recruits To Bring Hardware Samples For ‘Show And Tell’ Sessions, Apple’s Lawsuit Alleges

11 July 2026 at 01:28

Apple logo in fiery orange and OpenAI logo in metallic blue appear side by side in dramatic background.

OpenAI has been relentlessly poaching talent from Apple, including from its core design team, ever since the maker of ChatGPT acquired Jony Ive's startup, called io. Now, however, it seems Apple has had enough, and has lobbed its own volley via a high-profile lawsuit, accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets related to a slew of its upcoming AI devices. Apple: "Recently, significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple's secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products" As per the information that is just trickling in, Apple has filed a civil lawsuit against […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/openai-poached-over-400-apple-employees-and-told-recruits-to-bring-hardware-samples-for-show-and-tell-sessions-apples-lawsuit-alleges/

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