Apple is gearing up for a busy early March, with a “special Apple Experience” planned for media in New York, London, and Shanghai on . While the event isn’t framed as a traditional keynote, it appears Apple intends to provide hands-on access to a range of newly announced products, potentially spread across several days of press releases leading up to the media event.
New Products on the Horizon
The company hasn’t detailed exactly what will be unveiled, but a host of new products are anticipated in the near future. These include the iPhone 17e, updated MacBook Pro models powered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and new iPad iterations. The timing suggests these announcements, or at least previews, are likely to coincide with the March 4th timeframe.
iOS 26.4 Beta Reveals New Features
Alongside hardware announcements, Apple is actively refining its software. The first beta of iOS 26.4 has been released, bringing with it a suite of new features and enhancements. While a more personalized Siri experience – a feature long anticipated – isn’t yet included in this beta, the update introduces several notable changes.
One significant addition is support for video podcasts within the Apple Podcasts app. Users will now be able to seamlessly switch between audio and video playback for podcasts that offer both formats. Apple Music also receives several updates, including a new “Playlist Playground” feature leveraging AI to generate playlists, full-page album and playlist artwork, and concert listings for nearby events.
Building on the Ambient Music feature introduced in iOS 26.3, iOS 26.4 expands functionality by allowing users to add an Ambient Music widget directly to their iPhone’s Home Screen. The update also enhances security with Stolen Device Protection now enabled by default, adding an extra layer of authentication – requiring Face ID or Touch ID – for sensitive actions if a device is compromised.
Apple is also testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, though full implementation is expected in a later iOS release. For users of the Freeform app, those with Apple Creator Studio subscriptions will gain access to a new Content Hub. Smaller additions include an Urgent section within the Reminders app for alarms, and a new Audio Zoom setting in the Camera app, which focuses audio recording on the subject when zoomed in.
iPhone 18 Pro Details Emerge
Looking further ahead, details are beginning to surface regarding the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, expected later this year. While the overall design is anticipated to remain similar to previous models, several upgrades are planned. Analyst Jeff Pu recently outlined five key improvements expected in the new iPhones, though specific details remain under wraps.
iOS 26 Adoption Rates
Apple recently shared data regarding the adoption rate of iOS 26. The data suggests that adoption is tracking similarly to iOS 18 a year prior, despite the introduction of the controversial Liquid Glass design. This indicates that while some users may have initially hesitated to upgrade, the impact on overall adoption hasn’t been substantial.
Toyota Integrates Apple Wallet Car Keys
On the automotive front, Toyota is finally rolling out support for Apple’s digital car key feature. This allows iPhone and Apple Watch users to lock, unlock, and start compatible Toyota vehicles directly from the Wallet app. Support was initially discovered in December and is now appearing in vehicles, including the 2026 RAV4.
New ‘Sales Coach’ App for Apple Employees
Internally, Apple is preparing to launch a rebranded “Sales Coach” app, an update to the existing “SEED” app. This app will continue to provide sales tips and training resources to Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller employees, covering topics such as upgrade benefits and key iPad features.
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