This is the place to catch up on all the biggest product announcements, hardware, apps, synths, Logic/GarageBand instruments and so much more in the world of iOS/Mac music production. more…

As it continues to expand its own ecosystem, Amazon may have a new messaging app on the horizon. According to a new report from AFTVnews, Amazon is working a messaging app called Anytime that carries a strong focus on group communication.

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In this week’s top stories: New iOS11, tvOS 11, watchOS 4, and macOS High Sierra betas, iPhone 8 reports, Apple’s Back to School deal, new apps and updates, and much more.

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Apple has seemingly recently shifted its policy regarding adblock apps on the App Store. The company, according to the developer of several major adblock apps that reached out to 9to5Mac after its app updates were rejected, has reversed its policy on VPN-based adblock applications, which install certificates on the device itself to block advertisements both in Safari and in other third-party applications.

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When not using Apple’s built-in default option, Fantastical has long been my go to Calendar app on macOS. The app was just recently updated to version 2.4, a major feature upgrade encompassing things like attachment support, advanced undo/redo, travel time, and more.

But it’s not just the latest upgrades that make this app a worthy default Calendar app replacement. Have a look at five of my favorite Fantastical 2 features in this week’s edition of Friday 5 for more details. more…

Before I had even moved into my new apartment a few months ago, I was already dreaming of ways to integrate HomeKit throughout the space. The number one priority being how to turn it into a not-so-obvious smart home. I didn’t want blinking LEDs littering my apartment, and I didn’t want guests having to question how exactly to turn on a light switch. It needed to appear like a regular apartment, but be HomeKit compatible.

The area I struggled with the most was the light switch. Through weeks of hunting I came across ones that required hubs, had obnoxious LEDs, or looked like alien light switches. Then came Leviton with its HomeKit compatible Decora Smart Switch and Dimmer. At first glance, they don’t even appear to be “smart,” which couldn’t be more perfect for my setup.

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According to a new report out of The Korea Herald, Apple is taking matters into its own hands to ensure that key iPhone 8 parts are ready in time for the device’s release. The report says that Apple has recently purchased production equipment that allows it to produce a key component of the iPhone 8 due to one supplier backing out of its agreement…

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This week’s 9to5Rewards partner is CalDigit, makers of high-quality storage products for Mac and other devices. The company has two of its new Thunderbolt Station 3 docks for Mac to give away to readers this week…

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This week Benjamin and Zac discuss iPhone 8 ‘panic’ stories including wireless charging shipping late, new color rumors including a mirror finish, Apple’s new HomeKit displays, and changes and improvements in the latest iOS 11 betas.

9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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As this summer marks the one-year anniversary of Pokémon GO, we’ve seen lots of updates running up to the first official live event taking place in Chicago on July 22. Now, a new accessory for the Pokémon GO Plus will reportedly arrive tomorrow… more…