In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
Five New Apple Products in 2026? Yes, Please.
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Hi Gang, If the rumors are true, 2026 is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most interesting hardware years in recent memory. According to the rumor mill, Apple has five all-new products in the pipeline: a foldable iPhone, augmented reality glasses, a HomePod with a touchscreen, home security cameras and a video doorbell, and a more affordable MacBook. That’s a lot of new territory for our favorite fruit company. I’m genuinely optimistic about all of it. Let me tell you why. The iPhone Fold It’s time. I have several friends who love their Android folding phones, and I’ve watched them unfold those big screens with some envy. Apple’s late to this party, but that’s never stopped them before. The interesting thing is that this likely creates a new kind of trade-off at the top of the iPhone lineup. I expect the iPhone Pro will still have the better camera and longer battery life. So for the first time, there won’t be a single “best” iPhone. You’ll have to choose: big folding screen or superior camera and battery. That’s a healthy problem to have. Either way, I’m curious to see Apple’s take on a folding phone. Augmented Reality Glasses I expect Apple’s first steps here will be tentative. The Meta Ray-Bans have proven there’s a market for smart glasses that don’t look ridiculous. Apple has a history of entering existing product categories and making something genuinely great. The Vision Pro showed they’re serious about spatial computing. Lightweight AR glasses feel like the natural next step. Let’s hope they can pull it off. HomePod with Touchscreen This one has been rumored for years, and I’ll admit I’m strangely invested in it. I love the idea of dedicated home control centers. If Apple takes it in that direction, a HomePod with a screen could finally make the smart home feel cohesive instead of cobbled together. The current HomePod is a good speaker with Siri bolted on. A touchscreen version could be something much more useful. Home Security Cameras and Video Doorbell This one is overdue. I’d love to see Apple get serious about HomeKit hardware. Right now, finding home security products you can truly trust with your data is harder than it should be. Apple’s privacy-first approach could be a real differentiator here. I’m not expecting them to out-feature Ring or Nest on day one, but if they nail the basics with solid Apple integration and strong privacy protections, I’m interested. Affordable MacBook Finally. Apple Silicon is so good that even a basic entry-level chip would make for a genuinely capable computer. There are a lot of people who need a Mac for school, for basic work, for browsing the web. They don’t need an M4 Pro. An affordable MacBook with an efficient Apple Silicon chip would serve them well and bring more people into the Mac ecosystem. I sincerely hope this one comes to life. Will They Actually Ship? Five new product categories in a single year is ambitious. Will Apple actually ship all of them in 2026? Maybe not. But even if we get three or four, it’s going to be a fun year to be an Apple nerd. Your pal, David P.S. Do you want to help me out? Why not recommend this newsletter to a friend? Read this post on macsparky.com Sponsored by iPhone Life Your iPhone has become an irreplaceable part of your day. You use it to keep in touch with your family, share photos, and keep track of appointments. If that's you, sign up for the iPhone Life Tip of the Day and you'll be shocked at what you discover. As much as you thought you knew - there's still had more to learn! Now, every morning you can look forward to reading my Tip of the Day to see what new secrets you iPhone has in store for you. You can subscribe for free and get your first iPhone tip today The free iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter shows one simple, useful thing you can do with your iPhone. It takes about a minute, and there’s always something practical you can use right away. Each tip includes clear screenshots and easy step-by-step instructions written by friendly experts, so you can follow along with confidence, even if you don’t consider yourself “techy.” You’ll learn how to:
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David Sparks (MacSparky)
In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
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A note from MacSparky Hi Friend, For several years now, I've been getting back into woodworking. It's a hobby I love, but through 2024, I kept running into the same problem: I never felt like I was getting enough time in the shop to actually make things. During my regular reviews, I'd look at my role as a creative person and feel disappointed. I was talking about woodworking more than I was doing it. By the end of 2024, the gap between intention and action had grown so wide that I genuinely...
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