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For the latest from the Apple world, check back here for recent news, product announcements, software updates and other information from MacWizardry.

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October 2026

Welcome to October!

Another month down, and we’re into October already. This is where things start to get a little busier, as we all start looking towards the end of the year - and trying to get everything done before then. Plus, those “last minute lists” start to appear!

We’re also starting to see some warmer weather, which always seems to make the days go by a little better.

On the Apple front, there are a few quiet rumours that we may see some hardware updates this month. We also have the release of the iPhone Duo, so that will be interesting to see once it starts getting into people’s hands! And I’m still hanging out for that new Apple TV, which will hopefully finally make an appearance - still waiting for that one to be announced.

We also had all the new operating systems released following Apple’s September announcements. While they bring plenty of new features, I’m still recommending waiting a little longer before installing them, as there have already been a few “hiccups” reported by some users. I’ll keep an eye on things and update the News page as the month goes on.

I hope everyone has a great October - and that things don’t get too spooky towards the end of the month! 🎃

New HomePod mini 2 colours, Apple HomeView and fourth-generation Apple TV 4K

Apple's 13th October “Welcome Home” Event - What's New

Apple's “Welcome Home” event on 13th October unveiled three new products for the connected home - the all-new HomeView, Apple TV 4K (4th Generation) and HomePod mini 2. Together, they bring new options for home entertainment, smart home control and staying connected around the house.

The biggest newcomer is HomeView ($449), Apple's new 7-inch smart home display, bringing home controls, music, FaceTime calls and useful everyday information together in one convenient device, with Siri AI built in. The updated Apple TV 4K (4th Generation) ($449) adds faster performance, hands-free Siri AI and the option of surround sound when paired with four compatible HomePod speakers.

Rounding out the announcements is the HomePod mini 2 ($229), with enhanced sound and five colours - white, blue, green, pink and midnight. Siri AI will arrive on the HomePod mini 2 in a future software update. The HomePod mini 2 will be available from 30th October, with HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K following on 13th November. All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST.

For more details, read Apple’s official Newsroom announcements for the HomeView, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2.

Illustration of a 24-inch iMac, MacBook Pro and iPad mini on a pale blue background

More New Macs and an iPad mini Later This Month?

Following Apple's 13th October "Welcome Home" announcements, it looks like there could be even more new hardware arriving before the end of the month. Recent reports suggest Apple may be planning another product showcase around 27th-28th October, with updated MacBook Pro models, a refreshed 24-inch iMac and a new iPad mini among the products expected.

Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, so this remains in the rumour category for now. Still, October is certainly shaping up to be a busy month for Apple, and I'll keep an eye on what appears next.

Illustration of AI media checking and content verification on a laptop

Google's New AI Detector - Can You Tell What's Real?

Google has made its SynthID Detector available to everyone, allowing users to upload images, videos and audio recordings to check whether they contain invisible digital watermarks identifying AI-generated content.

With AI-created material becoming increasingly realistic, this could be a useful extra tool when checking what you're seeing online. It's worth remembering that it only detects compatible SynthID watermarks, so a negative result doesn't automatically mean something is genuine.

Concept illustration of a possible Apple Home Hub

What Could Apple’s New Home Hub Look Like?

Interested in what Apple’s rumoured new Home Hub might be? MacRumors has put together a useful guide covering what the device may look like, how it could work and some of the features we might see - including smart home controls, Siri AI, FaceTime, music, calendars and more. With the Home Hub rumoured to be one of the products Apple could unveil on 13th October, it could be a very interesting addition to Apple’s range.

Read the full article: Apple’s Smart Home Hub - Everything We Know So Far - MacRumors

Apple Mail and Microsoft 365 syncing warning illustration

Do You Use Microsoft 365/Exchange in Apple Mail? Be Aware It Could Stop Working

Microsoft has recently started rolling out a change that disables Exchange Web Services (EWS) - the protocol Apple’s Mail app on Mac currently uses to connect to Microsoft 365 work accounts. Unfortunately, this means some users may find that their Microsoft 365 email suddenly stops syncing correctly in Apple Mail.

Microsoft isn’t permanently shutting down EWS until 1st April 2027 (and no, unfortunately that’s not an early April Fools’ joke), but the current phased rollout has already started disabling it for some organisations.

If your email stops working, whoever manages your Microsoft 365 account can temporarily re-enable EWS to get Apple Mail working again. Apple is working with Microsoft to move Mail and its other Mac apps to the newer Microsoft Graph API, although that update hasn’t arrived yet.

In the meantime, another option is to use Microsoft Outlook for that particular email account. This change doesn’t affect iPhones or iPads, as they use a different protocol to connect to Microsoft 365.