AltStore today announced plans to make its iPhone app available in Australia, Brazil, and Japan later this year, followed by the UK next year.
AltStore is also gaining "Fediverse" support, via the ActivityPub protocol.
AltStore provides iPhone users with an alternative to Apple's built-in App Store, and it even offers some apps that would violate Apple's App Review Guidelines.
AltStore first launched on the iPhone in the EU last year, after the Digital Markets Act required Apple to allow alternative app stores. Australia, Brazil, Japan, and the UK are working to implement similar regulations, which would pave the way for AltStore to launch in those countries as well. However, the exact timing could shift.
Alternative app stores have been supported on the iPhone and iPad in the EU since iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 were released in April 2024. AltStore and other alternative app stores can be installed on these devices via Safari or another web browser.
Apple has yet to announce or implement support for alternative app stores in Australia, Brazil, Japan, and the UK, as regulations in those countries are still being finalized and/or have yet to be enforced. AltStore has simply announced its plans early.
In the U.S., the Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple last year, but the case is ongoing and alternative app stores on the iPhone remain unsupported there.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days began today, and as usual multiple retailers have introduced their own Prime Day-like sales to compete with Amazon. In this article we're tracking a few sitewide sales from Samsung, Sony, and Best Buy with big discounts on monitors, TVs, headphones, and more.
Sony
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.
Sony is hosting a big sale with up to 50 percent in savings on the company's best headphones, speakers, sound bars, TVs, photography equipment, and more. Buying select headphones and earbuds together during this sale will also net you extra bundle savings.
We've collected a few of the most notable products on sale in the lists below, but be sure to head to Sony's website for the full list of deals. Most devices have an option for free pickup if you live near a Best Buy location that offers local pickup.
You can get Sony's popular WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for $299.99 during this event, down from $399.99. There are also a few earbuds and soundbars on sale with notable discounts, all of which have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.
One of the best overall deals during this sale is on The Frame TVs, which are available for up to $500 off, depending on the size of the model you purchase. The popular 65-inch The Frame TV available for $1,199.99, down from $1,999.99.
Of course, there's a lot more on sale than just TVs. This sale also covers monitors, Galaxy S25 smartphones, and Samsung's line of home appliances, including refrigerators and washer/dryers. We've accumulated some of these deals in the lists below, but be sure to check out Samsung's website for the full sale.
One of the most notable offers during this event is on the AirPods Pro 3, which come with a $20 Best Buy credit with purchase if you're a My Best Buy Plus/Total member. While not a straight cash discount, this is still one of the best offers we've tracked for the new AirPods Pro 3.
Otherwise, some of the best deals in this sale are on TVs, including $50 in Best Buy credit when spending $499 or more on select TVs. Popular TVs on sale include brands like LG and Samsung, with multiple major discounts on Samsung's The Frame TVs.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
The Apple Watch Series 10 and Series 11 are available with both aluminum and titanium case options, so which should you choose?
The aluminum Apple Watch starts at $399. With the Series 11, finishes include Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, and Jet Black. It features Ion-X glass, which, while highly durable, is more susceptible to scratches than the crystal used on the titanium Apple Watch. The aluminum models are also lighter than the titanium ones.
On the other hand, the titanium Apple Watch starts at $699. Finishes include Natural, Space Black, and Gold, and there are designer Apple Watch Hermès options too. It features sapphire front glass, which is highly resistant to scratches. Titanium is a much harder, more durable material than aluminum. Over time, its finish tends to develop a uniform patina rather than obvious scratches, maintaining a premium appearance longer.
The Space Gray, Silver, and Rose Gold aluminum Apple Watches have a blasted, matte finish. The Jet Black aluminum and all three titanium Apple Watches have a high-gloss polished finish.
The aluminum Apple Watches pair well with rubber and woven bands for a less formal look, while the titanium models pair well with more premium bands such as Apple's Link Bracelet or Milanese Loop. As such, the aluminum Apple Watch leans into a casual, sporty look, while the titanium model is more akin to traditional watches and provides a more luxurious aesthetic.
The titanium model is more versatile and durable, but considerably more expensive. Internally, the titanium and aluminum versions of the Apple Watch Series 10 and Series 11 are the same. They share the same chips, sensors, displays, and battery life. Every health and fitness feature is present across both casing options.
Most customers will not be able to justify the extra $300 to get a titanium Apple Watch, but for a limited minority, it will be worth it for the added durability and more premium aesthetic.
The titanium models start at just $100 less than the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is worth bearing in mind if that device might be more appealing to you. That being said, most titanium Apple Watch customers will buy the device because of its premium aesthetic, rather than the more aggressive and functional look of the Apple Watch Ultra.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
These Prime Day discounts beat previous sales by as much as $5, and represent new record low prices across the board. Like most Prime Day deals, many of these are exclusive to Prime members.
Items on sale include Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. We're also tracking a few discounts on other accessories like the new MagSafe Charger and FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the fall? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple today announced that four additional games will be added to the Apple Arcade library in the first week of November.
Football Manager 26 Touch will be available on Apple Arcade starting Tuesday, November 4. The latest version of the soccer manager game features improved graphics, official Premier League licensing, and women's soccer.
Three more games will be added to Apple Arcade on Thursday, November 6, including two spinoffs of the iconic "The Sims" franchise:
Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is also bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.
Prime Big Deal Days has begun today on Amazon, and if you're shopping for iPads this season there are quite a few notable sales available for select tablets. This includes all-time low prices on iPad and iPad mini, plus massive savings on iPad Air.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the 11-inch iPad, you can get the 128GB Wi-Fi model for $279.00, down from $349.00, a $70 discount and best-ever price. We're also tracking the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $379.00, down from $499.00, which is a match for the lowest price we've ever seen on this model. Both of these iPads have big discounts on other storage configurations as well.
Amazon also has the M3 iPad Air on sale for Prime Day, with discounts reaching $150 off these tablets. You can check out our main post filled with all of the best Apple-related Prime Day discounts, including steep markdowns on AirPods, MacBooks, and more.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple appears to have implemented a server-side fix for an issue that prevented a limited number of iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max users from downloading on-device Apple Intelligence models.
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris and others who are impacted by this issue are now able to download the models and use Apple Intelligence features.
The server-side fix applies automatically. On the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, you can check if Apple Intelligence is enabled in Settings → Apple Intelligence.
Apple never publicly commented on the issue, so the underlying cause is unknown.
Apple has just rolled out a server-sided fix for iPhone 17 models that couldn’t download Apple Intelligence models. pic.twitter.com/QlpdhBmN0l
— Aaron (@aaronp613) October 7, 2025
Apple today announced that customers in Indonesia can pre-order the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max starting Friday, October 10. The devices will be available in select stores starting Friday, October 17.
All of the new iPhones already launched in the U.S. and more than 80 other countries and regions last month. However, the iPhone Air is still not available to order in China, as Apple is still waiting for eSIM-related regulatory approval there.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days kicked off today, and we're tracking great deals on a few AirPods models. The highlight of the sale is the AirPods 4 for $89.00, down from $129.00, which is a match of the all-time low price on this model.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
If you're searching for the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation, Amazon has this model on sale for $119.00, down from $179.00, which is another best-ever price. There are also solid discounts on both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max (USB-C) during Prime Day this season.
Our main post has even more Prime Day discounts, including great deals on iPads and MacBook Air. 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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple today shared a new "Blue Screen of Death" ad that appears to mock a major Windows computer outage that occurred last year, following a faulty CrowdStrike security update. Macs were unaffected, and they were unlikely to ever be, as Apple has gradually restricted low-level access to the macOS operating system.
The humorous ad stars "The Underdogs," a fictional team of workers who overcome obstacles by using Apple products and features.
"The Underdogs are ready for their first-ever trade show until a PC outage strikes and the Blue Screen of Death threatens their beloved Container Con," says Apple, in the video's description. "Thanks to the security of their Apple products, the Underdogs are unaffected and experience extraordinary success."
In the video's description, there is a link to the security section of Apple's enterprise page, which says "kernel-level protection is designed to safeguard your system against breaches, outages, and unauthorized access."
"There's no security like Mac security," the ad concludes.
Apple began its "The Underdogs" series of ads in 2019, with the humorous and dramatized videos promoting everything from AirDrop to FaceTime over the years.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days has entered its second day, offering shoppers the first chance to save on holiday shopping from a major retailer. Similar to last year's fall Prime Day, it will last for two days (October 7-8) and you can find a large selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For our coverage, we're focusing on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48-hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, iPad Air, iPad mini, and various accessories.
As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
Special for 2025, Amazon is also offering a free six month trial to Prime for Young Adults right now. Prime for Young Adults is a discounted Prime membership for anyone age 18-24 that offers all of the Prime benefits at $69.00 per year, half of the price of regular Prime.
AirPods
Numerous AirPods models have been discounted this week, with the most notable being the AirPods 4 for $89.00, down from $129.00. You'll also find a solid discount on the AirPods Pro 2 during this event.
Amazon has Apple's M3 iPad Air starting at $449.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M3 iPad Air, down from $599.00. Across the board these are all $150 discounts on the M3 iPad Air, with numerous all-time low prices.
Our list below focuses on Wi-Fi models, but you'll also find many cellular models on sale at $150 off right now. The 128GB cellular 11-inch iPad Air is available for $599.00 and the 128GB cellular 13-inch iPad Air is available for $799.00, both representing record low prices.
Amazon has record low prices on nearly every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7, starting at $379.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this Prime Day sale.
Amazon has all-time lows across every model of the M4 MacBook Air for Prime Day. In total, you'll find $200 off the M4 MacBook Air notebook right now, with both 13-inch and 15-inch models on sale.
Prices start at $799.00 for the 13-inch 256GB model, down from $999.00. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00, down from $1,199.00.
Accessories
There are a few accessories on sale for Prime Day, including a new all-time low price on the iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case, now available for $44.00, down from $59.00. You'll also find great deals on Apple Pencil Pro, MagSafe Charger, and the AirTag 4-Pack.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
If you make a call and are placed on hold, a new feature in iOS 26 will do the waiting for you so you can do other things. Hold Assist listens for hold music playing, and then alerts you when a person comes on the line so you can pick up the call.
Hold Assist is available on any iPhone that supports iOS 26 (i.e. it's not an Apple Intelligence feature). The feature works automatically on demand – there are no settings to toggle and no setup required. Still, there are a few things worth knowing. Here's what to expect when the time comes to use it.
Enabling Hold Assist on a Call
When you're placed on hold during a phone call, Hold Assist will launch automatically after 10 to 15 seconds. You'll know about it when a notification appears on your screen asking "Hold this Call?" Tap the Hold button to activate Hold Assist, or tap the X to dismiss the notification and stay on the line yourself.
While Hold Assist Is Active
Once you tap Hold, you'll return to your iPhone's Home screen. A notification will appear briefly, confirming that you're on hold and that you'll be alerted when it's time to pick up the call.
You can continue with whatever else you were doing on your iPhone, and the call will continue in the background. On iPhones with a Dynamic Island, you'll see this as a Live Activity. On other models, the time in the upper left corner appears in a green bubble, which is also what you see when you exit the Phone app during calls.
When Hold Assist detects that a live person has answered, you'll receive a notification. Simply tap it to return to the call.
Hold Assist displays on macOS Tahoe, too.
Note that Hold Assist works by detecting hold music, so it may struggle with voice-based automated messages or music with distinct lyrics. You'll see a transcript of any spoken words, so this should help you know when an actual person is on the line.
Manually Activating Hold Assist
If you initially dismissed the Hold Assist notification and now want to activate it, you can do so manually. During an active call where you're on hold, simply tap the More button (three dots), then tap Hold Assist from the menu.
ChatGPT users can now interact with a handful of third-party apps directly within their conversations, OpenAI has announced.
The new Apps SDK allows developers to build tools that blend naturally into chats, and initial partners include Spotify, Canva, Zillow, Expedia, Booking.com, Coursera, and Figma.
Users can summon apps by name. For example, you can ask "Spotify, make a playlist for my party this Friday." ChatGPT can also suggest relevant apps automatically. For instance, when discussing home purchases, ChatGPT might surface Zillow to browse listings on an interactive map.
The system uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which gives ChatGPT access to data sources, tools, and workflows in connected apps.
The Apps SDK is now available in preview to developers. OpenAI plans to launch a full developer directory and monetization support later this year, while additional apps from DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, and AllTrails are coming soon.
The feature is available to Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users outside the EU.
Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, introducing useful changes to alarms, multitasking on the iPad, and more. There are also subtle tweaks to some of the Liquid Glass design elements as Apple continues to refine iOS 26.
Alarms and Timers
Alarms set using the Clock app now have a slide to stop button rather than a tap to stop button on the Lock Screen. To snooze an alarm, you can tap, but to turn it off from the Lock Screen, you need to use a slide gesture.
The change makes it much harder to dismiss an alarm when you're trying to tap on the snooze button. Slide to Stop is also used for timers.
Background Security Improvements
The Privacy and Security section of the Settings app now has a toggle to automatically download and install security improvements. It's a revamp of the prior Rapid Security Responses feature.
Fitness App
You can now create custom workouts in the Fitness app on iPhone. There are options for selecting workout type, estimated Active Calories, effort, duration, and start time.
Settings App
Apple changed the alignment of icons and text in the Settings app. All settings with headers that feature text now have that text aligned to the left instead of center aligned.
This includes General, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, Personal Hotspot, Accessibility, and more.
Display Settings
The Display section of the Settings app now has iOS 26-themed wallpaper instead of iOS 18 wallpaper.
Home Screen Folders
When you tap into a folder on the Home Screen, the name of the folder at the top is left aligned instead of center aligned.
iPadOS 26.1 Slide Over
With iPadOS 26.1 beta 2, Apple reintroduced Slide Over. Slide Over works alongside the window-based iPadOS 26 multitasking functionality, so you can have multiple windows open and still swipe over to quickly access a Slide Over app.
You can only have one Slide Over app at a time in iPadOS 26.1, and you can use the feature by tapping on the green window resizing button and toggling on Enter Slide Over.
External Microphones on iPad
There's now an option to adjust input gain on the iPad when using an external microphone.
Liquid Glass
The light refraction effect around apps is now more subtle with darker icon colors and background colors.
Wallpaper
When setting a wallpaper on the Lock Screen, instructions like Pinch to Crop show up momentarily and then disappear, rather than being shown all the time.
Display Accessibility
Under the Display and Text Size section in the Accessibility settings, there is a new "Display Borders" toggle. It adds a border to all buttons, and replaces the prior "Button Shapes" setting.
Calendar
The Calendar app change that showed events with a full color background in iOS 26.1 beta 1 has been removed.
Photos App
The interface for managing multiple photos that you've selected has been tweaked slightly. Play as Slideshow, Favorite, and Hide are now at the top of the menu.
More Features
Know of something new in iOS 26.1 that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
Supplies of the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro model appear to be constrained amid rumors that an upgraded M5 model could launch as soon as this year.
As noted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, custom configurations of the M4 MacBook Pro model have a delayed shipping date and will not be delivered to customers until October 23 to 28. The restricted supply could be an indication that Apple is planning to launch a new M5 model at some point in October.
Custom configurations of 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips have more standard delivery dates ranging from October 15 to October 20 with express delivery available. Custom configurations of the 14-inch MacBook Pro have a notable delay in comparison, with no express shipping option.
It is possible that Apple is planning to refresh the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip, while waiting until early 2026 to introduce 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with higher-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Last week, the FCC leaked several upcoming devices, including a single MacBook Pro model. The leak was unusual because the FCC only included a single MacBook Pro model number, but usually there are multiple model numbers for different size and chip options.
The single model listed in the FCC's documents makes sense if Apple is splitting up the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max MacBook Pro launches.
Rumors about the M5 MacBook Pro have been confusing this year, which could be explained by a staggered launch. At the beginning of 2025, Gurman said that M5 MacBook Pro models would come out before the end of the year. In July 2025, Gurman said that Apple instead planned to launch new MacBook Pro models in early 2026, having decided to push back their debut. Just last weekend, Gurman changed his prediction and said that new MacBook Pro models would be released at some point between late 2025 and early 2026.
In August, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that high-end M5 chips would not be introduced in MacBook Pro models until 2026, but he didn't mention the base M5 chip.
If Apple introduces the M5 MacBook Pro in October and then waits until spring 2026 to introduce MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, it might not be good news for those 2026 OLED MacBook Pro rumors. For the last couple of years, rumors have suggested that Apple will introduce an upgraded OLED MacBook Pro in late 2026. It is unusual to have two MacBook Pro refreshes in a single year, but not unheard of. The MacBook Pro was updated with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, and then M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in October 2023.
An early 2026 launch for the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models could mean that the OLED MacBook Pro models aren't coming in 2026 after all, with Apple to hold them until 2027. Of course, it's also possible that the FCC's documents were incomplete, and Apple does have plans to introduce the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max all at the same time. Here are the scenarios we could see:
Apple launches the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in October. M5 Pro and M5 Max models come out in the spring. No OLED MacBook Pro launches in 2026.
Apple launches the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in October. M5 Pro and M5 Max models come out in the spring. OLED MacBook Pro models follow in the fall, with two MacBook launches in a single year.
Apple launches just the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in October. M5 Pro and M5 Max models are held until late 2026 and are used in the OLED MacBook Pro.
Apple launches the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max MacBook Pro models in October. M6 MacBook Pro models follow in late 2026 as rumored.
It's not unusual for Mac timing to be a little harder to pin down than iPhone timing because there are fewer machines being manufactured and less interest in design details from case makers and other parties. Apple also doesn't have a set time of the year for Mac refreshes, and there is variation from year to year.
At this point, it's unclear if we're going to get an October event. We're also expecting the M5 chip to come to the iPad Pro and the Vision Pro, plus rumors suggest Apple could update the Apple TV and the HomePod mini. If the M5 MacBook Pro launches, that's five new devices in the fall 2025 timeframe, but unfortunately, it's all just spec bumps. It doesn't look like any of the devices that are going to be refreshed in the coming months will have design changes, and in that situation, Apple often does launches with press releases.
The M5 chip confuses the situation. All of the next-number M-series chip upgrades have been announced at events, not through press releases. Apple unveiled the M1, M2, M3, and M4 at events. Some of the "upgrade" chips were introduced with a press release, like the M2 Pro and M2 Max, but never a main chip.
The M5 chip could be the first that Apple announces with a press release, or we could get a short October event like the 2023 "Scary Fast" Mac event. The October 2023 event included the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips in the MacBook Pro and iMac, and neither Mac got design updates.
Both apps now feature Liquid Glass interface elements, such as more rounded buttons, floating navigation bars, and translucency in some areas. They also feature Liquid Glass app icons that look like multiple layers of glass stacked on one another.
TestFlight got an icon overhaul, and the new design features simplified propellers that work better with the Liquid Glass look.
TestFlight is an app that allows iPhone users to download beta apps from developers for testing purposes. Apple says that TestFlight also includes Accessibility improvements, including VoiceOver, Voice Control, and Larger Text.
TestFlight also appears to include a new Tester Matching feature that helps users discover apps they might like to try based on their interest.
Apple Support is Apple's dedicated app for getting help with your devices.
With the second beta of iOS 26.1, Apple updated the design of alarms set on the iPhone, making them harder to dismiss than before.
Stopping an alarm in iOS 26.1 beta 2 requires a new Slide to Stop gesture rather than a simple tap. You can continue to tap to snooze an alarm, but if you want to turn it off entirely, you need to use a swipe.
Transitioning from a tap to a slide gesture to stop an alarm could potentially help people who sleepily dismiss an alarm without meaning to. It's easy to accidentally tap Stop instead of Snooze in the current version of iOS 26, but now if you blindly tap at your iPhone in the morning, you won't be able to disable your alarm entirely.
The new Slide to Stop button is still as large as the Snooze and Stop buttons, so Apple keeps its updated design, while solving the problem that it introduced. In iOS 18, the Snooze and Stop buttons were much smaller and had a significant degree of separation, so it was difficult to hit stop when you meant to hit snooze.
Slide to Stop is also used for timers in iOS 26.1 beta 2.
With the second beta of iPadOS 26.1, Apple tweaked multitasking on the iPad to reintroduce the Slide Over feature. Slide Over was removed in iPadOS 26 because Apple replaced it with a new windowed multitasking system, but some iPad users missed the feature.
The updated version of Slide Over works with all of the new iPadOS 26 multitasking features. You can have multiple app windows open, and then use Slide Over to quickly get to an app that overlays your windowed apps.
To use Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1, you'll need to tap on the green icon of an app's window to open up the window sizing controls. From there, you can tap on the "Enter Slide Over" button.
When an app has been put into Slide Over mode, it transitions into a Slide Over window that stays over your other open apps. You can swipe to hide the Slide Over app from view, and then swipe to bring it back again. The Slide Over window can be resized as needed, which is new in iPadOS 26.1.
Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 supports a single app, so it's not quite the same as the older version of Slide Over, but it should be a welcome addition to those who were missing the option.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
