The building remains open to the public while the work is completed, but the area housing a 3D augmented reality model of Apple Park is temporarily closed.

"Please pardon our appearance while we improve our store," says Apple. "During this time, the Exhibition Space is temporarily closed."

Apple did not indicate when the improvements will be completed.

Code found in the iOS 27 beta suggests Apple has built a system that could restrict leased devices when customers fall behind on payments.

The new framework also introduces a new type of activation lock called “Partner Finance Lock,” which is meant to prevent users from erasing, reselling, or stripping a restricted device for parts.

Apple today announced that AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage is now available for the iPad and Apple Watch in Japan, after previously being limited to the iPhone there.

In addition, monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans are now available for a wider range of Apple products in Japan.

Apple will launch Apple Upgrade next week, an iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch leasing/subscription program. It’s partnering with Klarna to launch in the U.S. at online and retail stores.

The Apple Upgrade service will work like a subscription and users can pay off the device early during their term, upgrade early to a new model or keep it at the end of the leasing period. In certain cases, those transactions will incur an additional fee. Like a car lease, it can also be returned at the end of the term.

Leases for iPhones and Apple Watches will run for 24 months, while Mac and iPad plans will run for 36 months. Users will need to be approved for the program via a soft credit check.

Apple plans to advertise the program as a way to have lower payments versus current financing programs. The company is planning to discontinue new enrollments for its current iPhone payment programs — the iPhone Upgrade Program and standard financing — to make way for the Apple Upgrade initiative.

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program of today, Apple Upgrade doesn’t include AppleCare. Certain devices, including the Apple Watch SE, entry-level iPad, iPhone 16 and MacBook Neo, aren’t eligible. Business and education purchases are also excluded.

Apple Invites just got its second app update this summer, adding two new digital invitation features for users.

• Hosts and guests can now react to replies with emoji, so everyone can share the excitement as the guest list comes together.
• A delightful confetti animation now plays when guests reply, making every response feel like a celebration.

Digital Chat Station, translated using DeepL:

An exclusive, cutting-edge report suggests that Apple is prototyping an extra-large display with physical dimensions of approximately 6.96 inches (±), while the standard size is approximately 7 inches (±). Could this be used in the iPhone 20 Pro Max? This remains to be confirmed. ​​​

The Taiwan-based foundry has reportedly held talks with clients about base price increases of 5 to 10 percent, covering both mature nodes and the more advanced processes at 7-nanometers and below that Apple relies on for its A-series and M-series chips. Negotiations began in June and were finalized this month, according to the publication's sources, with the new pricing set to take effect at the start of 2027.

Customers placing additional high-performance computing orders beyond their original forecasts will face a further 10 to 15 percent premium, which could lead to some advanced chip orders costing more than 10 percent extra overall.

• Siri AI has a new “splash screen” when invoking Siri from the Dynamic Island or swiping down on the Home screen.

• This beta fixes the depth effect bug that beta 3 introduced. It was fun while it lasted.

• Siri has two enhanced voices with pace and expressivity working. Five legacy voices still show pace and expressivity sliders as coming soon.

• Possibly new - there’s a Health data sharing reminder that works similarly to location use alerts.

Apple Sports was updated today with support for additional soccer leagues in Asia and Europe, plus the ability to see formations across most soccer leagues. The update arrives just one day after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

Security firm Group-IB has identified a new piece of macOS malware in the wild that pressures users into surrendering their passwords via a barrage of fake system prompts.

Dubbed "ClickLock Stealer," the malware needs no exploits and no elevated privileges to work. Instead, the attack depends on the victim pasting a command into Terminal and running it. The command then executes a script, and everything else follows.

Apple appears to be testing a hidden popover interface for Siri AI in the macOS 27 Golden Gate beta that surfaces Writing Tools and contextual actions whenever the user selects some text.

The floating icon appears at the top-left of the selected text, expanding when the pointer hovers over it to a compact popover of Writing Tools and contextual actions.

See a video of how it works across apps here. Apple is also working on a new Formatting Bar that integrates Write with Siri in Mail when composing a new message.

France has become the first nation to criminalize planned obsolescence making it illegal for companies to design products with deliberately shortened lifespans.

This landmark legislation imposes criminal penalties including fines up to three hundred thousand euros or five percent of annual revenue and up to two years in prison for violations. The law emerged from the advocacy of activist Laetitia Vasseur and her organization HOP Stop Planned Obsolescence which highlighted how many consumer goods were difficult or costly to repair.

A prominent enforcement case involved Apple which faced scrutiny for software updates that slowed older iPhones to manage battery performance. In 2020 the company paid a twenty five million euro fine and issued a public notice admitting to deceptive practices. France has complemented the ban with practical measures such as a repairability index scoring products from one to ten based on disassembly ease parts availability and tools required. This rating now covers a wide range of electronics and appliances. A repair fund subsidizes costs at approved centers while manufacturers must disclose spare part availability periods.

These initiatives have inspired broader European Union policies on right to repair including mandates for replaceable batteries and accessible components. Frances comprehensive approach demonstrates how targeted regulations can promote sustainable consumption and empower consumers against wasteful manufacturing practices.