Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay as a payment method for Coinbase Onramp, its tool for building onramps into existing apps for fiat-to-crypto purchases. This will make it easier for 60 million U.S. users of Apple Pay to onramp and access popular payment methods. Coinbase Onramp provides a solution for onboarding to crypto, which can take a long time and require users to go through a lengthy know-your-customer (KYC) process. With Apple Pay, getting onchain takes only seconds. Apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase. This is the latest addition to Coinbase’s offerings, following the acquisition of the Utopia Labs team to accelerate its onchain payments roadmap within Coinbase Wallet. In October, Coinbase announced a money movement partnership with Visa, connecting Coinbase to the Visa Direct network and allowing customers to deposit funds into their accounts via eligible Visa debit cards.
Apple Intelligence opened up to all developers with Foundation Models Framework
Apple has announced that developers will soon be able to access the on-device large language models that power Apple Intelligence in their own apps through the Foundation Models framework. This will allow third-party apps to use the features for image creation, text generation, and more. The on-device processing will allow for fast, powerful, privacy-focused AI features that are available without an internet connection. Apple has also announced plans to expand the number of languages its AI platform supports and make the generative models that power it more capable and efficient. The company’s move comes as the company continues to make its intelligence systems accessible to third-party apps.
Coinbase integrates Apple Pay into Crypto Onboarding Solution- apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase
Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay as a payment method for Coinbase Onramp, its tool for building onramps into existing apps for fiat-to-crypto purchases. This will make it easier for 60 million U.S. users of Apple Pay to onramp and access popular payment methods. Coinbase Onramp provides a solution for onboarding to crypto, which can take a long time and require users to go through a lengthy know-your-customer (KYC) process. With Apple Pay, getting onchain takes only seconds. Apps already using Coinbase Onramp will automatically see Apple Pay as an option when users make an eligible purchase. This is the latest addition to Coinbase’s offerings, following the acquisition of the Utopia Labs team to accelerate its onchain payments roadmap within Coinbase Wallet. In October, Coinbase announced a money movement partnership with Visa, connecting Coinbase to the Visa Direct network and allowing customers to deposit funds into their accounts via eligible Visa debit cards.
Apple Vision Pro ‘Spatial Widgets’ blend digital life into your real space allowing users to pin interactive elements like clocks, music controls, weather panels, and photo galleries directly into their physical space.
Apple has introduced spatial widgets in its Vision Pro headset, allowing users to pin interactive elements like clocks, music controls, weather panels, and photo galleries directly into their physical space. These widgets are customizable in size, color, depth, and layout, and are meant to be part of the user’s space. The Vision Pro update marks a clear step toward persistent spatial computing, with widgets like Photos, Clock, Weather, and Music playing the role of physical objects. However, the experience of using spatial widgets raises questions about how digital environments are changing the way we relate to physical ones. While Vision Pro is still shown in cozy, furnished homes, the integration of digital objects into physical spaces could lead to a different reality. The visionOS 26 update is currently available in developer beta, with a public release expected in fall 2025. As more developers build spatial widgets, the headset might feel useful in quiet, everyday ways. The end goal of AR/VR is to augmentation of reality, overlaying digital things on analog reality. However, Apple is not pushing this path for now, as it would be crucified if it did. The company has a decent track record for a corporation, despite the potential for a dystopian future where technology works against us.
Patreon’s app can now accept web payments circumventing Apple’s own in-app purchases method following the Apple-Epic court ruling
Creator platform Patreon has rolled out an updated version of its app that now allows users to make purchases via the web, in the wake of the Apple-Epic court ruling that forced Apple to allow app developers to include links to alternative forms of payment without being subject to Apple’s commission. Previously, on version 125.4.1 of Patreon’s iOS app, users who wanted to subscribe to a creator’s membership plan would have to do so using Apple’s in-app purchases. In the updated version (version 125.5.0), users now have the option of making a purchase via the web, where they can choose to pay with other payment methods, including credit cards, Venmo, and PayPal, as well as with Apple Pay. The option to use Apple’s own in-app purchases method, meanwhile, is shown only in very small text below the larger, bold “Join” button. This change will likely direct more customers to pay via Patreon’s website instead of through Apple’s in-app purchases. Users who update their app should see the new checkout experience within 24 hours. Patreon also noted creators would now be able to keep more of their money if they didn’t have to pay Apple its commission on purchases.
iOS 26 lets you know how long It’ll take your battery to charge
iOS 26 introduces a new feature that allows users to know the estimated time it takes for their battery to charge when plugged in or on a wireless charger. This allows users to optimize their charging practices and determine the speed of a charger. The estimated time remaining until a full charge can be found in the Battery section of the Settings app. Apple has not yet added a new widget for this feature, but it could be added in the future. The iPhone battery charging estimates are available to developers in iOS 26, with the update expected to be released to everyone this fall.
PlayStation 5 adds Apple Pay; players are presented with a unique code to scan with their iPhone or iPad, which will then prompt the native Apple Pay checkout
PlayStation 5 users can now use Apple Pay to complete purchases of games and content on their consoles. They will be presented with a unique code to scan with their iPhone or iPad, which will then prompt the native Apple Pay checkout sheet. Users can choose their card and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. Apple added support for this code-based system with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 last year. Apple Pay support is now available on PS5 and is expected to be available on PS4 with a future software update. While not as quick and easy as a one-click purchase, it is a nice improvement for those looking to earn 2% Daily Cash with their Apple Card.
iOS 26 upgrades CarPlay with new compact view for incoming phone calls
Apple announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes several new features and changes for CarPlay in vehicles. Liquid Glass Design: When you are using CarPlay with an iPhone running iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass design extends to the CarPlay interface. Like on the iPhone, the new look includes more shimmery app icons and translucent user interface elements. New Messages App Features: Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay. Plus, you can now view your pinned conversations in the Messages app on CarPlay. Compact View for Phone Calls: CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions. Live Activities: CarPlay’s Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight’s arrival time at a glance. Widgets: The regular version of CarPlay now has a customizable widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.
Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone to use an OLED driver display chip (DDI) and possibly eliminating the bezel completely
Apple’s 20th-anniversary model of iPhone is in development, with screen and battery changes expected for the milestone model. For its 2027 release, which marks the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, the company has started to make preparations for the special smartphone. One of the major updates Apple is planning is the use of an OLED driver display chip (DDI) based on the FinFET’s 3D structure. The chip, which issues instructions to the pixels of the display, is currently produced using a 28-nanometer planar process, with the FinFET switch using a 16-nanometer method instead. The change will help reduce the amount of power consumed by the display, alongside the use of high-luminous efficiency OLED elements. This all-new design will be more power-efficient. Supply chain talks with LG Display and Samsung Display, Apple’s chief screen supply chain partners, are expected soon to discuss the tech changes. This may not be the only display change, as a source says that four-sided bending display technologies are being developed as well as under-display cameras. If they can be commercialized, they can make a big change to how the displays are made, including eliminating the bezel completely. While the new display should reduce power consumption at a time when on-device AI processing such as Apple Intelligence needs even more, there can be more power changes as well. The use of a pure silicon battery is also a prospect. The idea is that the use of 100% silicon as a cathode instead of graphite could considerably increase the energy density, so it can hold more power in the cell. A secondary benefit is an improvement to battery endurance. A battery that is more hardy and deteriorates at a slower rate than current-gen versions, meaning users will have more usage of the entire capacity for longer.
Apple improves app discovery on App Store with new tags that will help surface information that’s often buried in app listings, like the app’s App Store description, category, metadata, or even in its screenshots
Apple is introduceing App Store Tags — labels that highlight specific features and functionalities found in an app. These tags will initially be generated by Apple’s LLMs using various sources, like the app’s metadata. They’ll then be human-reviewed before being applied to apps on the App Store. Apple customers will be able to use these tags when searching for apps on the App Store, where the tags appear alongside the categories on the search page and the apps that appear in the search results. Apple says the new tags will help surface information that’s often buried in app listings, like the app’s App Store description, category, metadata, or even in its screenshots. The tags will help users more easily find the apps that offer the functionality they’re looking for, while also giving developers a better idea about how their apps are being discovered. When App Store users tap on one of the new tags, they’ll be taken to a new page offering a curated collection of all the apps and games that offer similar features or functionality — an extension to the App Store’s existing feature that points users to apps they “might also like,” found at the bottom of individual listings. Developers will also be able to create custom product pages that appear when a user searches for apps using particular keywords.