Alongside Apple’s iOS 15.4 update for the iPhone, which brought new emoji, anti-stalking features for AirTags and a gender-neutral Siri voice (plus a fix for a battery drain issue in the subsequent iOS 15.4.1 release), the company also released a software update for its Apple Watch. The software, which wasn’t highlighted during the company’s “Peek Performance” …

Apple said it will begin accepting signups for its Apple Business Essentials service, a program it began testing last year that’s designed to help small businesses with up to 500 employees manage their iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.  The new program starts at $3 per month per device or $7 per month per user with up to three devices, and …

Apple gained support in its argument for control of its App Store Thursday. In a series of filings related to Apple’s ongoing court case with Fortnite maker Epic Games, a group of former national security officials, developers and business advocacy groups largely said that the courts should not hamper Apple’s approach to managing apps on its iPhones and iPads. The …

Apple on Wednesday told developers they can now apply to allow “external link account entitlement,” a new designation that allows some apps to include signup links that point outside the App Store. The move, which was announced last year as part of a settlement with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, will allow “reader” apps like streaming services more leeway in how …

Apple argued in court papers Thursday that appeals filings by Epic Games don’t point to legal errors by a US District Court judge who ruled last year that the iPhone maker hadn’t violated antitrust laws with its App Store. Instead, Apple cited the many times the judge said Epic had “failed to demonstrate,” “failed to show” and “failed to prove” the …

Apple on Wednesday inched a step closer to replacing real-world wallets with the one on its iPhone, opening up its digital driver’s license and state ID program in Arizona. The initiative, built into Apple’s iOS 15 software that powers modern iPhones, was announced last summer and will expand to Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio and Puerto Rico “soon.” “We’re thrilled to …

This story is part of Making the Metaverse, CNET’s exploration of the next stage in the internet’s evolution. To get a sense of the promise of the metaverse, take a look at 3D Charades. The video game has a simple premise. Players gather in a cafe-like room and divide into teams. One player sketches an image while team members guess …

The game maker Valve has had a pretty strong start to the year. Its first Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, starting at $399, was met with positive reviews around its launch last month. Now its popular Steam online gaming store is arriving for new devices too — namely, Chromebook laptops powered by Google’s Chrome OS.  Valve Google announced that a …

What’s happening Apple’s expected to announce its newest smartphone Tuesday, the budget-minded iPhone SE. Why it matters While the device doesn’t typically include surprising new technology, it does offer a modern iPhone for much less than the $699 entry price of a standard iPhone 13. What’s next The key this year will be 5G wireless. With cellular carriers around the …

What’s happening The world’s most valuable tech company is about to hold a big product announcement event. Why it matters Apple’s first major event of the year doesn’t grab attention the same way its September iPhone events do, but it’s an opportunity for the company to highlight everything else it offers. What’s next Apple’s expected to hold a major event …