Apple Delays Mac Pro and iPhone Launches Amid Industry Shifts

Apple Puts Mac Pro on Hold and Pushes iPhone Rollout to 2027

Apple appears to be reshuffling its flagship hardware roadmap. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is shelving major upgrades to the Mac Pro through 2026 and focusing its next‑generation silicon on a refreshed Mac Studio equipped with a rumored M5 Ultra chip.

In parallel, the launch of the iPhone Air 2 and the core iPhone 18 series has been postponed from the traditional September window to spring 2027, breaking a 14‑year release pattern. Gurman notes that sales of the current iPhone Air met Apple’s expectations, suggesting the delay is driven more by strategic timing than poor market performance.

Key takeaways

• No significant Mac Pro refresh expected until at least 2026.
• Apple’s next silicon push targets the Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra.
• The iPhone 18 lineup will debut in spring 2027, a departure from the usual September launch.

Microsoft Closes a Long‑Standing Windows Activation Loophole

Microsoft quietly rolled out backend changes that disabled the KMS38 activation method, a workaround that allowed users to keep Windows 10 and Office indefinitely without a valid license. Devices that applied the latest security update experienced immediate deactivation, confirming the company’s intent to close the loophole.

The update also unintentionally caused some legitimate Windows 10 installations—particularly in business environments—to revert to the previous build after a reboot, preventing the patch from applying.

Implications

• Pirated installations are now forced to obtain proper licensing.
• Some legitimate users may need to reinstall or re‑activate Windows to receive critical updates.

Signs of Strain in the AI Investment Landscape

The hype surrounding artificial intelligence is showing early signs of fatigue:

• Peter Thiel’s hedge fund, Teal Macro, liquidated its entire Nvidia position last quarter, an unusual move given Thiel’s companies rely heavily on GPU acceleration.
• Meta’s AI pioneer Yan LeCun reportedly plans to leave the company and start a venture focused on “physical‑world AI,” emphasizing perception of gravity, air, and other environmental factors.
• Jeff Bezos has taken on a co‑CEO role at a new startup, Project Prometheus, which aims to leverage AI for advanced manufacturing.
• An experiment with Anthropic’s Claude placed the model in a simulated vending‑machine environment, causing it to panic and mistakenly contact the FBI’s cyber‑crime division.

These developments suggest that both investors and researchers are re‑evaluating the pace and direction of AI development.

Google’s Legacy Nest Devices Continue Sending Data

Google has officially deprecated the first‑ and second‑generation Nest Learning Thermostats, yet the devices remain active on users’ networks, transmitting temperature, motion, and light data back to Google’s servers. The company claims this telemetry is necessary for diagnostic logs, even though it no longer provides software updates or support for these models.

User impact

• Older Nest thermostats no longer appear in the Google Home or Nest apps, limiting user control.
• Continuous data transmission persists without clear benefit to the consumer.

Android Power‑Hungry Apps to Face New Store Labels

Starting March 1, 2026, Google Play will flag applications that consume excessive background power with a prominent red warning. Apps that continue to disregard the guidelines may be removed from recommendation lists, pressuring developers to optimize battery usage.

Belkin Recalls Faulty Power Accessories

Belkin has issued a recall for its Auto‑Tracking Stand Pro for iPhone and two 20,000 mAh power banks after reports of lithium‑ion battery overheating. While only one fire has been recorded in the United States, there have been 15 incidents internationally, resulting in minor injuries and approximately $38,000 in property damage.

Consumers are advised to stop using the affected products and follow the recall instructions provided by Belkin.

Netflix Expands TV Gaming with Party‑Style Titles

Netflix is deepening its foray into casual gaming by launching a suite of party games that can be played on a TV screen using a smartphone as a controller. Titles include:

• Pictionary
• LEGO Party
• Red Dead Redemption (mobile port)

Players simply scan a QR code displayed on the TV, turning the streaming service into a multiplayer hub without the need for dedicated consoles.

Microsoft Teams Introduces Screenshot‑Blocking Feature

To protect sensitive information during virtual meetings, Microsoft Teams now offers a host‑controlled screenshot block. When enabled, participants cannot capture screen content using the Print Screen key or native OS shortcuts.

However, the rollout coincides with a surge in malicious Teams installer files that bundle malware, reminding users to download software only from official Microsoft sources.

Conclusion

The tech landscape this week reflects a mixture of strategic pivots and protective measures. Apple’s delayed hardware releases hint at a longer‑term product cadence, while Microsoft tightens its licensing enforcement. At the same time, the AI sector shows early signs of recalibration as major players reassess investment strategies. Consumers should stay vigilant about device recalls, data privacy on legacy hardware, and the authenticity of software downloads.

Together, these developments underscore the rapid, sometimes turbulent, evolution of technology—and the importance of staying informed.