AllYouCanTech

Apple Home Update Timeline Prolonged to February 2026

Users still utilizing the legacy HomeKit framework have gained a few additional months to transition to the new Apple Home architecture. Here’s what you should be aware of.

A couple of years back, Apple unveiled an upgraded, more dependable version of the architecture that drives HomeKit. At that moment, the company communicated that support for the earlier version of Apple Home would “conclude in the fall of 2025.”

Currently, as noted by MacRumors, Apple has updated the Update Apple Home support page with a revised deadline:

Support for the prior version of Apple Home will conclude on February 10, 2026.

In reality, this indicates that Apple will maintain support for both architectures until that date, but following it, users who do not upgrade to the new architecture might encounter issues when attempting to manage their connected devices.

### Updating the Home app

Prior to updating, ensure your devices are equipped with the latest software, as the new Home architecture is solely compatible with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 or later.

Then, here’s what you need to do:

1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Tap or click the More button.
3. Choose Home Settings. If you have multiple homes, select one, then choose Home Settings.
4. Click on Software Update.
5. Tap or click Update Now, and follow the instructions.

It’s important to highlight that, according to Apple’s disclaimer, “all of the homes that you own are updated simultaneously.”

For a more detailed overview of what this update entails, refer to our earlier coverage, along with Apple’s Update Apple Home support article.

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Dia Browser Incorporates Well-liked Arc Functions to Win Back Users

### The Browser Company Aims to Reclaim Arc Users

The Browser Company has recently rolled out an update to its AI-driven browser, Dia, adding numerous features that users found favorable in its earlier version, Arc. This enhancement is designed to lure back former Arc users to the platform.

A few weeks prior, The Browser Company declared the general release of Dia for macOS, showcasing new capabilities such as Focus Mode, which was first seen in Arc. CEO Josh Miller pointed out that the company intends to integrate more of Arc’s cherished features into Dia, boosting its attractiveness.

The recent update has brought forth additional functionalities reminiscent of Arc, including a sidebar mode. When asked whether Dia is simply a rebranded version of Arc, Miller clarified that Dia’s framework is structured to be more effective for AI, speed, and security, while still incorporating features loved in Arc.

User reactions imply that the approach might yield positive results. Several former Arc users have mentioned a favorable experience with Dia, highlighting features like Focus Mode, vertical tabs, pinned tabs in grid layout, and Google Meet Picture-in-Picture (PIP). One user conveyed their contentment, indicating they were nearly fully transitioning from Arc to Dia.

As competition in the AI-infused browser space escalates, The Browser Company, now under Atlassian’s management, must strive to restore the confidence of users who had previously shifted away from their old browsers. The reintroduction of favored features may assist in rebuilding rapport with users contemplating a second look at Dia.

Apple Anticipates Unprecedented Holiday Quarter in Its Corporate History

Apple has recently disclosed its quarterly earnings for Q4 2025, showcasing a record revenue of $102.47 billion, representing an 8% increase from the same timeframe last year. The company has also indicated an even greater milestone anticipated in the forthcoming holiday quarter.

### Apple Forecasting 10-12% Growth During Holidays for Record Quarter

The iPhone 17 series has demonstrated strong demand, contributing to positive projections for the next quarter ending in December. Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked, “We anticipate total company revenue to increase by 10 to 12% year over year, we project iPhone revenue to rise by double digits, year over year, and we foresee that making the December quarter the best in the company’s history.” This growth outlook is considerably more optimistic than analysts’ predictions, which had earlier estimated revenue of $132.31 billion for the holiday quarter.

Should Apple attain an 11% growth, it could result in around $136.73 billion in revenue, exceeding previous forecasts. Last year, the holiday quarter set a benchmark for Apple with $124.30 billion in total revenue, and with the iPhone 17 series outperforming its predecessor, the iPhone 16, anticipations for ongoing success remain elevated.

The strong reception of the new iPhone models, launched in September, has strengthened Apple’s confidence in its guidance for the upcoming quarter. The projections suggest that Apple is prepared to not only meet but possibly surpass its previous financial records.

### Conclusion

Apple’s recent earnings report and positive forecasts for the holiday quarter underscore the company’s strong performance and the appeal of its products. As the iPhone 17 continues to attract attention, analysts and investors will be keenly observing to determine if Apple can reach its ambitious growth goals.

9to5Mac Daily: October 30, 2025 – Update on AirPods Pro Litigation and Other Updates

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Tim Cook Announces Greater-than-Projected Demand for iPhone 17

During the recent quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared perspectives on the initial phases of iPhone 17 release, suggesting robust interest in both the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro variants. While Cook purposely refrained from addressing specific model performance, he signaled that supply limitations imply demand has surpassed Apple’s forecasts.

The earnings call occurred after Apple’s Q4 2025 financial report, which disclosed a revenue of $102.47 billion, marking an 8% rise compared to the same quarter from the previous year. Cook pointed out that the supply of the iPhone 17 remains limited, consistent with analyst insights indicating a strong early reception and heightened production requests for the iPhone 17 series.

In contrast, the iPhone Air garnered little focus during the call and has reportedly been shifted to an “end-of-cycle” production level, indicating it might not be performing as well as expected. Cook stated that Apple does not release sales figures by individual device but recognized constraints affecting both the premium and entry-level models, further suggesting potential underperformance of the iPhone Air.

Moreover, Cook reaffirmed that Apple encountered limitations with the iPhone 16 during the quarter, signifying ongoing demand even prior to the launch of the iPhone 17. He mentioned that Apple “could have sold more” units of the iPhone 16 during that timeframe.

The quarter in question concluded on September 27, encompassing just the early days of iPhone 17 availability, which may have played a role in the supply constraints highlighted by Cook.

Tim Cook Unveils Broadened AI Integrations for Apple Expanding Beyond OpenAI

### Apple’s Standing in the AI Sphere: Insights from Tim Cook

Alongside Apple’s Q4 earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook discussed the company’s current position and future ambitions in the artificial intelligence (AI) realm during an interview with CNBC. His statements illuminated Apple’s persistent endeavors and hurdles in embedding AI technologies within its ecosystem.

#### Expansion Aspirations on the Agenda

Apple’s recent collaboration with OpenAI marks a key advancement in its AI strategy, as emphasized by Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software. Federighi pointed out that Apple plans to incorporate various AI models, including Google’s Gemini, into its offerings. This announcement surfaced in the context of Google’s antitrust challenges, implying that both entities might be anticipating judicial outcomes before solidifying partnerships.

Even with the favorable resolution of Google’s antitrust matters, Apple has yet to verify any new alliances with AI providers. Nonetheless, the company is eagerly gearing up for the rollout of Model Context Protocol (MCP) across its platforms, such as iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. MCP, crafted by Anthropic, aims to promote interoperability between diverse AI models and user applications.

Moreover, Apple is broadening its Image Playground feature to accommodate additional third-party AI models beyond just ChatGPT. However, definitive plans for further collaborations have yet to be revealed. When asked by CNBC, Cook mentioned that Apple aspires to work with more partners over time, although he refrained from providing specific information.

#### 9to5Mac’s Perspective

Cook’s comments arise amid Apple’s efforts to tackle its perceived deficiencies in the AI sector. While the company has successfully launched machine learning features—such as car crash detection, real-time translation through AirPods, and high blood pressure alerts on the Apple Watch—there is an increasing public demand for more sophisticated, interactive AI offerings. These offerings, often leveraging large language models (LLMs), are anticipated to carry out tasks on behalf of users.

Apple has encountered setbacks in meeting timelines for new AI functionalities and has witnessed a significant talent drain, with essential AI staff departing for rivals such as Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Cook’s ambiguous promise of collaborating with additional partners does little to ease worries surrounding Apple’s immediate AI strategy. It serves as a reminder that tangible advancements and short-term initiatives remain undisclosed, particularly following a company-wide meeting designed to reassure employees about Apple’s dedication to AI progress.

As the sector advances, a pressing question lingers: Is Apple poised to announce a novel AI partnership? The excitement persists as stakeholders await greater insights into Apple’s AI strategy.

Sales Catalysts in Apple’s Q4 2025: Examining Upgraders Versus Newcomers by Product Segment

On the earnings conference call today, Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh provided insights into the sales performance of the company’s key product categories for Q4 2025. Below is a comprehensive summary of the insights shared.

### iPad

While discussing iPad revenue, Parekh pointed out that sales remained unchanged compared to the previous year, indicating a tough comparison with the same quarter last year when the release of new iPad Air and iPad Pro models significantly drove up sales. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the performance was better than anticipated.

Parekh remarked, “The install base hit an all-time record with a September quarter high for upgraders, and over half of the customers who bought an iPad in the quarter were new to the product.” This shows that despite record upgrades, a significant portion of iPad sales went to first-time buyers.

### Apple Watch

Apple does not report Apple Watch revenue as a separate figure, choosing instead to categorize it under “Wearables, Home, and Accessories.” Still, Parekh reiterated a familiar point: most sales of the Apple Watch were to newcomers. He commented, “Both the Apple Watch and AirPods install bases attained new all-time highs. More than half of the customers acquiring an Apple Watch in the quarter were new to the product. Additionally, we set a September record for upgrades on the Apple Watch.” This indicates that the Apple Watch is continuing to broaden its user base, signifying strong demand from new users.

### Mac

The Mac category saw a 13% year-over-year rise in revenue, although Parekh did not go into great detail about this segment. He noted, “the Mac install base achieved another all-time high, with nearly half of those who bought a Mac being first-time purchasers.” This suggests that, unlike the iPad and Apple Watch, the majority of Mac customers were existing users choosing to upgrade instead of new customers transitioning from different platforms.

### iPhone

For the quarter that concluded on September 27, the iPhone brought in $49 billion in revenue, which marks a 6% rise from the same quarter last year. Parekh mentioned that this represented a slight 1% increase from Q4 2024, which indicates stable sales as the new iPhone season approaches. He stated, “the iPhone active install base surged to an all-time high, and we established a September quarter record for upgraders.” Similar to the Mac, this suggests that the majority of iPhone sales were driven by existing users upgrading their devices rather than new customers moving from Android.

### Summary

In summary, although every product category witnessed unprecedented highs in their install user bases, the sales dynamics differed. Most sales of iPhones and Macs stemmed from upgrades, while a significant portion of iPad and Apple Watch sales were credited to first-time buyers. This trend underscores Apple’s capability to draw in new users while also retaining and upgrading their current customer base.

Did you upgrade or acquire an Apple product for the first time last quarter? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Anticipated Modifications to App Store Pricing in Poland, Switzerland, and Türkiye Taking Effect on November 17

**Apple Modifies App and In-App Purchase Prices in Poland, Switzerland, and Türkiye**

Apple has revealed that beginning November 17, developers will experience modifications to app and In-App Purchase prices in Poland, Switzerland, and Türkiye. This adjustment is part of Apple’s continuous efforts to synchronize pricing with local market circumstances, including variations in exchange rates and tax regulations.

### Updated Pricing Structure

The App Store employs an automated pricing tier system that enables developers to establish prices without the need for manual adjustments for each of the 175 storefronts worldwide. This system aims to streamline the pricing procedure for developers, ensuring that their apps stay competitively priced across various regions.

With the forthcoming changes, developers who have not chosen one of the affected nations as the base storefront for their app or In-App Purchase will observe new prices represented in their offerings. However, it is crucial to recognize that apps utilizing manual pricing or subscription-based pricing frameworks will not be impacted by these modifications.

### Developer Resources

To aid developers in managing these updates, Apple has updated the Pricing and Availability section in App Store Connect. Developers can find comprehensive information regarding the pricing changes and their potential effects on their apps on the official Apple Developer website.

### Conclusion

This pricing adjustment is a tactical strategy by Apple to guarantee that app prices remain pertinent and competitive amid evolving economic conditions in Poland, Switzerland, and Türkiye. Developers are advised to examine the new pricing tiers and make any necessary modifications to their app offerings prior to the November 17 implementation date.

WhatsApp Starts Testing Companion Application for Apple Watch

**WhatsApp Updates: Passkey Feature and Apple Watch Application**

Today was a noteworthy day for WhatsApp users as the firm revealed two key enhancements: the launch of passkey support for chat backups and the debut of a new Apple Watch application through TestFlight.

### Passkey Feature for Backups

Meta has announced that WhatsApp will soon roll out passkey-encrypted backups for every user. This capability will enable users to protect their chat backups using biometric verification methods such as fingerprints, face recognition, or lock codes, removing the need to memorize complicated passwords or lengthy encryption keys. The implementation of this feature will take place gradually over the next several weeks and months.

As stated on the official WhatsApp blog, this update is designed to offer users the same degree of security for their backups as is presently available for personal chats and calls. Users can enable this functionality by going to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup within the application.

### Launch of an Apple Watch Application

Alongside the passkey feature, WhatsApp has also launched a new application for Apple Watch users, according to WABetaInfo. This update resolves the previous limitations that Apple Watch users faced when handling WhatsApp notifications.

Although the new application is not standalone and still necessitates an iPhone for full operational capacity, it provides crucial messaging functionalities right on the wrist. Users can explore chats, send quick replies, and respond with emojis without the constant need to check their iPhones. The link between the iPhone and Apple Watch is automatic, negating the requirement for QR code scanning, assuming the devices are linked.

WABetaInfo pointed out that the application features an indicator to keep users informed about the syncing status and connection to the iPhone, ensuring an effortless messaging experience directly from the Apple Watch.

### Conclusion

While there is currently no official timeline for the broader release of the Apple Watch application or standalone support, these updates represent WhatsApp’s dedication to improving user experience across devices. Users can anticipate these features as they are rolled out in future versions.

Security Alert: Warning Recommended About Unreliable ChatGPT Imitations Reemerging in App Store Rankings

### The Surge of AI Chatbot Applications and Privacy Issues

In recent times, the surge of AI-driven applications, especially those leveraging the GPT-4 API from OpenAI, has reshaped the realm of mobile and desktop programs. With the increasing popularity of these applications, they have garnered millions of downloads, resulting in a rise of both creative and opportunistic products in the App Store. Nevertheless, this swift growth has also sparked considerable privacy issues, particularly concerning deceptive apps that mimic genuine services.

#### The Present Landscape of AI Chatbot Applications

Currently, the Mac App Store showcases a variety of AI chatbot applications, with one leading contender being the “AI Chat Bot.” This application has come under scrutiny for closely resembling OpenAI’s branding, from its logo to its interface design. Investigations indicate that it shares a developer with another analogous app, both of which feature the same characteristics and support pages. This situation raises doubts about the authenticity of app ratings and the efficacy of Apple’s review process.

Despite Apple’s attempts to eliminate numerous imitator applications, some have successfully evaded detection, achieving top rankings in the Business category. This scenario serves as a warning for users to be cautious when interacting with these applications, particularly concerning the disclosure of personal data.

#### Privacy Threats Linked to AI Chatbots

A recent study from Private Internet Access revealed troubling instances of poor transparency among personal productivity applications, including those that use AI technology. One specific AI assistant, which claimed to gather minimal user data, was discovered to collect extensive information, including names, email addresses, and usage statistics. Such data can be misused by data brokers or for malicious intentions, presenting significant threats to user privacy.

The serious risks associated with AI chatbot applications that harvest personal data are considerable. If a chatbot application associates user conversations with identifiable information, it establishes a vulnerable database that might be exploited. This situation raises concerns, particularly given the lack of accountability from developers who might misrepresent their data collection policies.

#### The Function of App Store Privacy Labels

Apple implemented privacy labels to educate users about the data collection practices of applications. However, these labels are based on self-disclosure by developers, which means there is no independent verification of the statements made. This dependence on developer integrity can result in contradictions between what users think they are agreeing to and the actual data collection practices being followed.

#### Conclusion

As the popularity of AI chatbot applications escalates, so do the related privacy risks. Users need to stay alert and knowledgeable about the potential threats associated with sharing personal data with these applications. The existence of deceptive applications in the App Store highlights the necessity of examining app permissions and comprehending the consequences of data collection. Remaining informed and cautious can help reduce the risks posed by these emerging technologies.