MacStories Weekly: Issue 476
AppleCare One Unifies Device Coverage Into a Single Monthly Plan
Apple announced today that it is consolidating its AppleCare+ plans into one program dubbed AppleCare One that will be available starting tomorrow. The new program is $19.99/month which covers three products. Additional products can be added for $5.99/month for each device added.
Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, had this to say of the new plan:
At Apple, we’re focused on creating and delivering exceptional experiences. Built on the trusted foundation of AppleCare+, AppleCare One extends that same reliability and makes it easier than ever to protect the products you love and depend on like iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, combining simplicity and exceptional value.
Apple says that AppleCare One includes all of the features of AppleCare+ and expands the theft and loss protection from the iPhone to the iPad and Apple Watch. The company says that enrolling an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch under the new program will save users up to $11/month compared to buying AppleCare+ for each device separately. Customers can also add existing devices to the new program that are up to four years old (or one year for headphones) if they are in good condition. That’s a big change from the usual 60 days from the date of purchase that customers have had to purchase AppleCare in the past.
If you’re someone juggling multiple AppleCare accounts for a variety of devices, AppleCare one certainly sounds like a simpler, more flexible approach, as well as an opportunity to cover older devices.
Podcast Rewind: Secondary Devices and a Streaming Game Boy Camera
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John explain how they use their secondary systems, which for John is the iPad and for Federico, the Mac.
On AppStories+, Federico asks whether technologies like web-based MCP render Apple’s native App Intents irrelevant.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, John kicks off NPC with a return to 1998 before the crew digs into 8BitDo’s new Pro 3 controller, Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosures and docks, TrimUI’s ponderous Smart Pro Mini, and Federico and John’s first impressions of the MagicX Zero 40.
Then, Brendon, John, and Federico each bring a handheld they haven’t used in a while back to the show, and as you might expect, Federico’s choice is a bit of a surprise.
On NPC XL, Federico shows off the Lenovo G9 Gamepad.
Reuters Reports that Apple’s New EU Developer Terms May Avoid Further Penalties→
Reuters reports that Apple is on the brink of satisfying EU regulators with the changes the company has made to its developer program in the EU:
Apple’s changes to its App Store rules and fees will likely secure the green light from EU antitrust regulators, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, a move that would stave off potentially hefty daily fines for the iPhone maker.
Reuters estimates that those fines, which would be on top of the 500 million euro fine already levied against Apple, could be as much as 50 million euros per day.
No deal is finished until it’s formally announced, but if Reuters’ sources are correct, we should see an announcement from the European Commission in the coming weeks.
Hello Weather: The Exceptionally Useful Weather App for iOS, Totally Redesigned for 2025 [Sponsor]
One of the most beloved indie weather apps just got a massive overhaul, and it’s worth checking out as your new daily driver. The whole app has been modernized and rebuilt from the ground up, and it feels great.
Hello Weather has always been known for its simple, friendly, super readable design, but the new update pairs that simplicity with more depth, sophistication, and powerful new features.
There are beautiful new summaries and visualizations for over a dozen data points like Wind, Air Quality, UV Index, and Moon phases. That’s along with extended hourly forecasts, excellent forecasts for the week ahead, and tons of little options to tune the app’s icons, themes, and layouts however you like them.
The new update addresses some longstanding feature gaps, too: Hello Weather now has push notifications, a revamped radar, and an excellent refreshed Apple Watch app and complications.
It also supports a dozen different data providers. You can switch from Apple Weather’s forecasts to ultra-detailed info from AccuWeather, Foreca, The Weather Company, and lots more. Stick with the source that’s best for your area, or swap between them to compare forecasts.
Hello Weather respects your privacy, with one of the best data collection policies in the category. The app doesn’t track any user-identifiable data, sell ads, or anything like that. It’s a customer-focused app, thoughtfully designed, and made with care.
Download Hello Weather and start a 7-day free trial.
Some Early Tests and Notes on ChatGPT Agent
Earlier this week, OpenAI released ChatGPT agent, a new agentic model that combines the text-focused capabilities of Deep Research with the browser-based automation of Operator into a single, well, agent that can autonomously browse the web, read webpages, and interact with web apps. OpenAI describes the (lowercase) agent as ChatGPT having its own computer.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 475
Podcast Rewind: Shark Tank for Tech Accessories, the Best Shows and Films of 2025 So Far, and an Anti-Pick
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone
Chris has some cool new apps, Matt made some cool new apps, and Niléane challenges the dads to do their best Shark Tank impression.
MacStories Unwind
This week, Federico’s return to Apple system apps has ended, and new workflow experiments have begun. Plus, John shares a dark comedy, and Federico has an anti-pick.
Magic Rays of Light
Sigmund and Devon return to the world of Foundation for its third season and share their favorite films and shows from the first half of 2025. Then, they recap the first season on Apple Original sci-fi comedy series Murderbot.
New Emoji Announced for World Emoji Day→
Every year, the Unicode Consortium announces new emoji that will be added in the fall and incorporated in iOS and other OSes in the months that follow. The latest batch that were announced today to coincide with World Emoji Day will be part of Unicode 17 and include:
- Trombone
- Treasure Chest
- Distorted Face
- Apple Core
- Fight Cloud
- Ballet Dancers
- Hairy Creature
- Orca
As usual, it’s an eclectic mix that rounds out certain categories and includes other emoji that are just plain fun. I look forward to Federico trying to guess these on Connected. There’s an almost one-to-one overlap between the ones I know I’ll use the most and those that I think Federico will never guess.