Apple has raised prices on Macs and iPads by an average of 20%, blaming skyrocketing memory and storage costs driven by AI data center demand—Adam Engst analyzes the increases. On the security front, Apple has pushed out macOS 26.5.2, iOS 26.5.2, iPadOS 26.5.2, and Safari 26.5.2 with 29 fixes; we recommend updating promptly. Adam also shares his deep skepticism about autonomous AI agents, explaining why he wouldn’t trust one to respond to email, book travel, or spend money on his behalf. This week’s Do You Use It? poll explores whether anyone actually uses Clear or Tinted icon styles—Adam finds the monochromatic squircles nearly impossible to tell apart. We briefly share Bruce Schneier’s take on why deploying an AI agent should carry the same legal liability as hiring a human. Notable Mac app releases this week include Acorn 8.6, Fantastical 4.1.15, Lightroom Classic 15.4.1, Little Snitch 6.4.1, Modern CSV 2.4.2, and Timing 2026.4.
Apple has released macOS 26.5.2, iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2, and Safari 26.5.2, addressing 29 security vulnerabilities. Most fixes target WebKit, with additional patches for the kernel and other components. No exploits have been reported in the wild.
Apple finally pulled the trigger on the price increases Tim Cook telegraphed last week. The hikes average 20% across most of Apple’s lineup, with the Apple TV taking the biggest percentage hit and the iPhone and Apple Watch spared for now.
The Clear and Tinted icon options in macOS 26 and iOS 26 might look stylish, but they make identifying individual apps nearly impossible. Do you actually use these monochromatic modes? If so, we’d love to hear why.
AI agents are supposedly going to manage our calendars, reply to email, make reservations, and plan trips. Adam Engst has been thinking about why this fills him with dread rather than excitement, and whether he’s alone in his skepticism.
Watchlist
Brings new Cropping and Brush functionality, as well as new automation capabilities. ($29.99 new, free update, 36.9 MB, macOS 14+)
Improves the calendar app to help you avoid meeting conflicts. ($57 annual subscription, free update, 70.2 MB, macOS 12+)
Brings new auto-detection capabilities for finding duplicate images. ($9.99/$19.99/$59.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update, macOS 14+)
Brings a lengthy list of improvements and updates for menu icons for macOS 26 Tahoe. ($59 new, free update, 38.2 MB, macOS 14+)
Maintenance release for the CSV manipulation app. (Free/$39/$59 new, free update, 27 MB, macOS 11+)
Introduces an expanded view of projects in the time and productivity tracking app. ($108/$132/$192 new, free update, 33.8 MB, macOS 12+)
