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Apple to Make Mac minis in the U.S.

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple announced today that it is expanding its manufacturing operations in Houston, Texas where it will make Mac minis. The company also said it will expand its AI server production and training in Houston later this year. The announcement is unsurprising given the Trump administration’s plan to impose a new 10% global tariff on non-exempt imports to the U.S. in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that prior tariffs were unconstitutional.

In Apple’s press release, CEO Tim Cook was quoted as saying:

Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we’re proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of Mac mini starting later this year. We began shipping advanced AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and we’re excited to accelerate that work even further.

If you’re curious about what Apple and its suppliers are building in the U.S., The Wall Street Journal has a behind-the-scenes look at the supply chain taking shape in Texas and Arizona. It’s a massive undertaking that will cost billions of dollars and years to build, but it’s a tangible sign of progress that’s part of the $600 billion previously pledged to be spent on U.S. manufacturing.

Podcast Rewind: A Handheld Heavyweight, a Creative Studio Challenge, and Foveated F1

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Brendon, Federico, and John cover a raft of new budget handhelds, a new OLED tablet from Lenovo, TrimUI leaks, and more.

On NPC XL, John and Brendon share their experiments with the MagicX Zero 40 and Anbernic RG DS.

Comfort Zone

Chris wants to know what the heck is going on with Discord. Niléane has a massive backlog of things to talk about now that she’s back. And everybody does their best with Apple’s Creator Studio.

On Cozy Zone, the gang discusses what they’d do if they couldn’t use Apple products anymore. We are releasing this just days after ATP did the exact same thing, but we swear we recorded this a couple weeks ago!

MacStories Unwind

This week, John has an F1 racing theory about the Vision Pro and shares a vampire movie, while Federico has been binging a popular Netflix series.

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Apple Podcasts Will Combine Video with Audio in Shows

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple announced today that beginning with the betas of iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS 26.4, which were released earlier today, the Apple Podcasts app will add video streaming. The feature is based on HTTP Live Streaming, known as HLS, that will allow listeners to switch between an audio-only version of a show and the video version. At launch, the feature will be available via Acast, ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM, which includes SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast, with more to come in the future.

Apple’s HLS implementation will also support dynamic ad insertion. Advertisers will be charged an impression fee by Apple to include their ads. Podcast hosting companies and producers will not be charged to distribute HLS versions of shows through Apple Podcasts. It will be interesting to see if hosting companies charge podcasters a premium to deliver video versions of shows.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, said of the new feature:

By bringing a category-leading video experience to Apple Podcasts, we’re putting creators in full control of their content and how they build their businesses, while making it easier than ever for audiences to listen to or watch podcasts.

I’ve been wondering for a while whether Apple would do more with video podcasts. This is an interesting move, but the launch is limited, applying to a handful of podcast hosting companies. That means the lineup of shows that support the feature will be limited at first, but with time, it could become standard across most podcasts. The move is clearly designed to counter YouTube, which has rapidly grabbed audience share from Apple and others, with its video-centric approach to podcasts.

Podcast Rewind: Handheld Gaming Truths, Just a Little Formula 1, and a Hulu Hack

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, a quick tour of Nintendo’s latest Direct, more details emerge about the Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory, the Steam Machine and other hardware is delayed, Anbernic goes out on a limb, AYANEO steps on a rake, and the Odin 2 rides off into the sunset.

On NPC XL, Federico is choosing between Switch 2 controllers, and Brendon receives an unexpected gift.

Comfort Zone

Matt wants to do an AI check-in, Chris serves a master class on getting started with 3D printing, and Niléane is away, so the dads talk a little Formula 1… just a little.

On Cozy Zone, Chris gets a brand glow up!

MacStories Unwind

This week, Super Bowl traditions, Federico’s very hungry plumber, some High Potential follow-up, and the latest season of Shrinking.

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Google Releases YouTube App for Apple Vision Pro

Today, Google released the official YouTube app for visionOS. The app allows users to sign in to view their subscriptions, watch later queues, and playlists, and it supports native playback of regular videos, shorts, and spatial formats including 3D, 180-degree, and 360-degree. On the M5 Vision Pro, the app supports playback of 8K videos as well.

The Vision Pro launched two years ago without an official way to watch YouTube. Third-party options like Tubular Pro and the now-defunct Juno filled the gap well, and users have always been able to watch YouTube in a browser on visionOS. (Apple even made improvements to web video playback in visionOS 2 to make using sites like YouTube and Netflix more seamless.) But the lack of a native app from Google has been seen as a mark against visionOS up to this point.

Whether you’re a Vision Pro user who spends a lot of time watching YouTube or just someone who wants to see the platform thrive, having an official solution is a win. One of the device’s most compelling use cases is watching video, and now, there’s a great way to do so directly from Google. It’s always seemed inevitable to me that YouTube would come to the platform at some point, and as visionOS continues its slow burn toward maturity while awaiting hardware that can run it with more mass market appeal, it’s good to have YouTube onboard.

Now, it’s Netflix’s turn.

Submissions Open for the 2026 Swift Student Challenge

Today, Apple opened up applications for the Swift Student Challenge. Students have until the end of February to submit an app playground built with Xcode or Swift Playground. According to Apple’s developer website:

  • No prior experience is needed. The Challenge is open to students of all levels who meet the eligibility requirements.
  • The Challenge is free to enter — all you need is access to a Mac or iPad with Xcode or Swift Playground.
  • Your app playground can be on any topic of your choice. The best app ideas come from subjects or experiences that you’re passionate about. 
  • Your app playground should be experienced within 3 minutes or less.
  • The Swift Student Challenge is a great opportunity for students to build their skills and create something great.

Apple also released a video explaining the Challenge, and additional resources are available for both students and educators.

After the submission period closes, Apple will pick 350 winners, who will receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program and a gift. Of those winners, 50 will be selected as Distinguished Winners who will be invited to visit Apple Park in Cupertino for a three-day visit, which in past years was held during WWDC.

for me, the kickoff of the Swift Student Challenge is the beginning of the build-up to WWDC, which is likely just four months away. It’s a great program that I know has inspired a lot of students to become the developers whose apps we cover at MacStories. Federico and I have also had the pleasure of interviewing many of the winners in the past and have always come away impressed and inspired what they create as part of the Challenge. I’m sure this year will be no different.

Podcast Rewind: Weird Nintendo Nostalgia, Reviving Old Tech, and Parking in Rome

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Federico, Brendon, and John tackle a load of weird news from playing Game Boy games on e-readers and ordering pizza from a Wii in 2026 to the upcoming Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory.

On NPC XL, the guys chat about whether we’re approaching the endgame for handheld consoles and wonder why no one has made much of a move to adapt their handhelds for the living room.

Comfort Zone

Matt wants to talk about his (quick) notes, Niléane brings 3(!) topics, and everyone brings old(?) tech back from the dead.

On Cozy Zone, we tier listed Star Wars. All of it. Yes, even that one. If there was ever a time to give Cozy Zone a shot, it’s now.

MacStories Unwind

This week, John survived a bomb cyclone, Federico explains the fine art of parking in Rome, and John rounds out the episode with a reality TV show from Korea along with an Unwind deal you’ll find in the show notes.

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MacStories One Week Later: An Update and a Look Ahead

It's good to have everything in one place. Finally.

It’s good to have everything in one place. Finally.

A week ago, we merged Club MacStories and AppStories into MacStories.net. It was the culmination of months of work, which, along with a new tech stack we implemented last summer, allows us to iterate on MacStories faster.

As with any large project, there were a few bumps along the way. However, we’ve been able to address them quickly thanks to the site’s new architecture. In fact, since last week, we’ve:

  • significantly improved the load times of the Club MacStories landing page;
  • restored Discord access for Club members who have joined since the launch;
  • added a MacStories-only feed for Club members who want to separate free content from Club content;
  • reimplemented JSON feed support;
  • enhanced the AppStories+ RSS feed to better differentiate it from the free, ad-supported version of the show;
  • updated the Club RSS feeds to work with Readwise Reader;
  • added new category pages for Club members where they can access Federico’s Automation Academy column and my Mac Hacks column;
  • removed ads from Club-only content;
  • updated FAQs, author pages, and other pages across MacStories;
  • eliminated visual glitches, restored missing content, and fixed broken links across the site;
  • improved the layout of Club newsletters published on MacStories;
  • resolved caching and URL redirect issues; and
  • fixed various other smaller bugs and issues.
Club members' special RSS feeds.

Club members’ special RSS feeds.

A big thanks from all of us here at MacStories to everyone who has visited the site to check out the changes and share your feedback and bug reports. Your feedback and support have been terrific. As always, if you see something or have an idea you’d like to share with us, the best place to submit it is this Notion form, which goes directly to Federico, our developer, and me. Also, for any Club members who have not yet logged in on MacStories, resubscribed to AppStories+, and browsed where all your perks now live, Federico’s announcement post and my follow-up article have all the details to guide you.

One week later, the dust has finally settled, and we’re beginning to take the next steps towards redesigning MacStories. So far, most of the work we’ve done has been behind the scenes, but it sets the stage for ideas we’ve tossed around for years. Soon, we’ll settle on a path forward that’s designed to accomplish two things:

  • Create an experience for readers and listeners that will make MacStories their favorite place to visit on the web; and
  • Do it in a way that is sustainable and reflects the values that guide us.

Our ambitions are big, but our love for MacStories and the community surrounding it is even bigger, so while we can move faster than ever, we’ll also be taking the care needed to preserve what makes MacStories special even as it changes. We can’t wait to share more with you soon.

Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in February 2026

Apple has some great entertainment lined up for February on Apple TV and Apple Arcade subscribers. There’s a highly anticipated monster-sized series return, one of the most beloved PC gaming franchises of all time making its way to Apple’s gaming service, and more. Here’s everything coming your way this month.

Apple Arcade Games (February 5)

On Thursday, February 5th, Apple Arcade is getting a major addition with the arrival of the legendary strategy franchise Civilization, along with three other new games:

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition:

Sid Meier’s legendary strategy series makes the jump to Apple Arcade, letting you build empires on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Play as historic figures like Cleopatra or Genghis Khan as your civilization evolves across eras, where you need to balance diplomacy, warfare, and wonder-building.

I played the beta of this game on the iPhone using the MCON controller for the iPhone that we’ve talked about at length on NPC: Next Portable Console, and it’s been a fantastic experience.

Retrocade:

This is another title that I can’t wait to try. I love idea of playing classic video arcade games, especially using the Vision Pro. Resolution Games has built a virtual arcade, complete with classic cabinets, running Asteroids, Bubble Bobble, Centipede, Galaga, and more. It’s a nostalgia trip that recreates the look and feel of an ’80s arcade for the Vision Pro, iPhone, and iPad.

Felicity’s Door: Area 35’s rhythm game follows twins Tom and Felicity, plus their bear companion Mi-chan, through dreamlike landscapes, all set to music.

I Love Hue Too+: This zen puzzle game from Zut Games, already popular on the App Store, asks you to sort jumbled color gradients back into smooth spectrums. It’s simple in concept but surprisingly meditative and challenging, with hundreds of levels to solve.

Visit Apple Arcade to add them to your queue for Thursday’s release.

Eternity (February 13)

Elizabeth Olsen plays the lead in this romantic fantasy set in an afterlife waiting room of sorts, where the departed have seven days to choose their eternal companion. Olsen’s character Joan must decide between her late husband (Miles Teller) and her college sweetheart (Callum Turner), who died years earlier. John Early and Da’Vine Joy Randolph round out the cast in David Freyne’s story of love and regret just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Add to your Calendar:

The Last Thing He Told Me, Season 2 (February 20)

Jennifer Garner and Angourie Rice return as Hannah and Bailey for season two of this thriller. Five years have passed since Hannah’s husband Owen vanished, and just when they’ve started to settle back into a normal life, he returns, and they try to rebuild their lives in the shadow of Owen’s past.

Add to your Calendar:

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Season 2 (February 27)

The Monsterverse returns to Apple TV with Kong and Godzilla facing off against Titan X. This 10-episode season brings back fan-favorite characters for a globe-trotting adventure that moves from Skull Island to a remote coastal town hiding a mysterious ancient secret.

Add to your Calendar:

That’s everything coming in February. For more media picks from Apple TV, Arcade, and everywhere else be sure to listen to MacStories Unwind, give it a try. I’m sure you’ll hear more about many of these shows and games from me and Federico in the coming weeks as they become available.