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If you live in Georgia, there's a new exhibit you can visit celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary
Two museums in the United States are hosting exhibits to celebrate Apple's 50th anniversary. The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art in Georgia features over 2,000 artifacts, including every model of iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The Computer History Museum in California is also holding an "Apple@50" exhibit with interactive demonstrations.
Evening Tech Bits
Intel has confirmed the cancellation of the rumored Core Ultra 9 290K Plus processor, with a potential Core Ultra 9 285KS Special Edition also reportedly scrapped. Separately, Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro after a 20-year run.
Apple discontinues the Mac Pro
Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro desktop computer, which was last updated in 2023. The Mac Studio is now positioned as Apple's top-tier professional computer. The Mac Pro, originally updated in 2019 with an Intel chip, was later updated with an M2 Ultra chip but has now been retired.
Analyst says Epic Games layoffs send a clear signal: 'This will not get any easier'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced over 1,000 layoffs due to a decline in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. Analysts suggest this signals a challenging period for the entire industry, exacerbated by inflation and increased competition from platforms like Roblox. The company is also shutting down several Fortnite game modes, including Rocket Racing and Festival Battle Stage.
Global PC sales forecast to dip by 5% in 2026 due to spiralling memory prices
Counterpoint Research forecasts a 5% contraction in global PC shipments for 2026, primarily due to spiraling memory prices impacting mainstream sales. While major brands like Dell, HP, and Lenovo are expected to see milder declines, Apple is predicted to increase sales due to its new MacBook Neo. The gaming PC market is considered more resilient to these price increases.
How to use Apple's Playlist Playground to make AI-generated mixes
Apple Music has introduced Playlist Playground, an AI-powered feature that allows users to generate custom playlists based on mood or style prompts. This feature is available to US subscribers with English language settings on iOS 26.4 or later, and notably does not require an Apple Intelligence-capable device. Playlist Playground also functions on Android devices and integrates with existing playlist creation tools.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Are $50 Off Right Now
Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are currently available for $200, a $50 discount from their usual $250 price, as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. These headphones feature active noise cancellation, an "acoustic architecture" for clearer audio, heart rate monitoring, and up to eight hours of battery life. They are also integrated with Apple's "Find My" app for easy location.
Evening Mobilization
Apple is implementing a new age verification update for iPhone users in the UK. This change requires users to verify their age as part of the update process.
Hololive Vtuber Calliope Perform at Apple 50th Anniversary in Japan
Hololive Vtuber Calliope Mori is set to perform at the Apple Omotesando store in Tokyo, Japan, as part of Apple's 50th-anniversary celebration on March 27, 2026. The event, which also features Mino from Tokyo Highway Radio, has reached its maximum capacity. Mori, whose albums are available on Apple Music, expressed her excitement about participating in the celebration, highlighting the role music has played in her life.
Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang and Sergey Brin join Trump's tech advisory panel
Leaders from major tech companies including Meta, NVIDIA, Dell, Oracle, Google, and AMD have joined an advisory council for former President Donald Trump, focusing on technology and science policy. The council, known as the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), will address emerging technologies and their impact on the American workforce. Several executives expressed honor in joining the council to help ensure US leadership in AI.
Apple introduces age verification for iCloud accounts in the UK
Apple has implemented an age verification system for iCloud accounts in the UK, requiring users to prove they are 18 or older to access certain services. Users can verify their age by linking a credit card or scanning an ID. The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, praised the move, noting it goes beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act.
Evening Tech Bits
Apple has released a dozen security updates. The article also briefly mentions Arm designing its own chips and a tip about disabling a Windows 11 service.
Apple could give Siri a standalone app and an 'Ask Siri' button in iOS 27
Apple is reportedly planning a significant overhaul for its AI assistant Siri, potentially including a standalone app and an "Ask Siri" feature for more conversational interactions. Siri is expected to leverage personal data from messages, emails, and notes to complete requests and execute tasks within apps. These improvements are slated for iOS 27 and macOS 27, with an official announcement anticipated at WWDC 2026, powered by Google Gemini.
Apple confirms ads are coming to Apple Maps
Apple has confirmed that advertisements will be integrated into Apple Maps through its new Apple Business platform. Businesses will be able to create ads that appear at the top of search results and in a new 'Suggested Places' section, starting this summer in the US and Canada. These ads will be clearly marked and designed to maintain user privacy, with data not being shared with third parties or collected by Apple.
iOS 26.4 is here, with Playlist Playground and new emoji
Apple has released iOS and iPadOS 26.4, introducing a new AI playlist generator called Playlist Playground that creates song lists based on user prompts. The update also includes an ambient music widget, Bandsintown integration for concert dates, and new emoji characters like Bigfoot and a fight cloud. Several bug fixes are also addressed, including a setting to reduce bright effects and a keyboard typing issue.
Bandsintown integration for concerts is coming to Apple Music
Bandsintown's concert listings are being integrated into Apple Music with the release of iOS 26.4. Users can now discover upcoming shows by their favorite artists or new discoveries directly within the Apple Music app. Artists can connect their Bandsintown dashboard to their Apple Music artist page to automatically display tour dates.
With rumors pointing to Meta's next VR headset using pricey Micro-OLED displays, Valve's Steam Frame could…
Rumors suggest Meta's next VR headset, codenamed 'Phoenix', may feature expensive Micro-OLED displays, positioning it as a premium device similar to the Apple Vision Pro and potentially costing over $1,000. This shift in strategy could open opportunities for Valve's Steam Frame, which is confirmed to use LCD displays and may offer a more gamer-focused alternative if pricing remains competitive.
Epic Games lays off 1000 devs thanks to Fortnite’s slump and Epic Games Store overspending
Epic Games has laid off over 1000 employees due to a downturn in Fortnite engagement and overspending on the Epic Games Store. CEO Tim Sweeney cited industry-wide challenges and internal issues, while confirming severance packages for affected staff. Several Fortnite modes are also being discontinued.
Epic confirms layoffs of over 1,000 employees as Fortnite engagement slides
Epic Games has confirmed layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the cuts are necessary for financial stability and are not related to AI, but rather increased competition for player attention and past legal battles with Apple. Affected employees will receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and accelerated stock options.
The Morning After: WWDC 2026 is happening June 8th
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place from June 8-12, 2026, with CEO Tim Cook expected to keynote on June 8. The event will focus on upcoming operating systems like iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, with potential upgrades to Apple Intelligence and Siri. The article also touches on other tech news including Samsung's Galaxy S26 Series gaining AirDrop-like functionality and a review of the Nothing Phone 4a Pro.