TECH ROUNDUP

Apple has released the first public betas of its entire OS 27 lineup, including iOS, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS, tvOS, and iPadOS. The updates bring significant AI improvements through Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, alongside performance enhancements and interface refinements like the redesigned Liquid Glass. Anyone can now test these major updates before their autumn release without needing a developer account.

Apple captured 20% of the global smartphone market in Q2 2026, achieving record shipments even as the overall market contracted by 4%. The company's consistent pricing strategy and strong iPhone 17 demand proved resilient against industry headwinds caused by memory chip shortages that pushed manufacturing costs higher across the sector. This demonstrates Apple's ability to gain market share during downturns when competitors struggle.

Apple filed a major lawsuit against OpenAI alleging theft of trade secrets, with allegations that over 400 former Apple employees now work at the company and were coached to extract confidential information. The legal action is already hampering OpenAI's ability to recruit talent and develop its hardware ambitions, with former Apple design chief Jony Ive potentially being drawn into the dispute. This represents one of the tech industry's most significant intellectual property battles in recent years.

Microsoft announced a significant redesign of the Windows 11 search experience aimed at prioritising local results, removing promotional content, and providing clearer information hierarchy. The update represents a major effort to address long-standing complaints about cluttered and ad-laden search results that have frustrated users for years. This is part of Microsoft's broader push to improve the core Windows experience with AI-powered tools and streamlined interfaces.

Apple is adding a new security feature to iOS 26.6 that warns users when they receive potentially harmful messages attempting to exploit their devices. The pop-up notifications will alert users to suspicious iMessages before they can cause damage, representing an important step forward in built-in mobile security. This proactive protection complements existing security measures and demonstrates Apple's focus on defending users from emerging message-based threats.

Security researchers have identified a new Mac-focused malware called CrashStealer that disguises itself as a legitimate system utility to steal passwords, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallet credentials from users. The threat exploits user trust in legitimate-looking prompts and system dialogs, making it particularly insidious for less technical users. Users should remain vigilant about unexpected system prompts and verify the legitimacy of any tools requesting access credentials.

The surge in demand for memory chips by AI data centres is creating shortages and driving up prices for consumer devices including tablets, gaming consoles, and other electronics. This supply chain squeeze means consumers shopping for upgrades should expect higher costs across multiple product categories as manufacturers compete for limited inventory. The trend highlights how AI infrastructure investments are indirectly affecting consumer technology accessibility and pricing.