With the second beta of iOS 26.5, Apple is continuing to prepare for ads in the Apple Maps app. There's a new splash screen in the app that says it will display ads based on approximate location, current search terms, or a view of the map when searching. Ads will also be shown in the "Suggested Places" section that was added in the first beta.
Apple says that advertising information is not linked to an Apple Account to preserve user privacy, so ads viewed and interacted with will not be associated with an Apple Account. Data is not collected or stored by Apple and not shared with third parties, according to Apple.
Signs of ads in the Maps app were spotted in the first beta, but iOS 26.5 testers could start seeing ads with the second beta. It's not yet clear if Apple has just implemented the splash screen, or if ads are going to begin showing up in the near future.
Apple announced plans to introduce ads for the Maps app back in March, with ads set to roll out to the public "this summer." Apple plans to include ads in the Maps app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in the United States and Canada.
Ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, much like ads in the App Store.
Tuesday October 27, 2026 5:16 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Among the flurry of iOS 27.2 releases on Monday, Apple also pushed a wave of software updates for its older operating systems, including a fix for a CoreGraphics vulnerability that Apple says may have been exploited in targeted attacks.
The releases include iOS 26.7.2, iPadOS 26.7.2, iOS 18.7.11, iPadOS 18.7.11, macOS Tahoe 26.7.2, macOS Sequoia 15.8.2, and tvOS 26.6.1.
iOS 18.7.11 and...
Friday November 6, 2026 3:27 pm PST by Juli Clover
When the iPhone Duo launched, we shared a list of some of the fun apps developers created for the new form factor. Two weeks out, developers are continuing to come up with fresh ideas, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites.
Games
Marbles Unhinged ($2.99) - Marbles Unhinged is a marble maze designed for the Duo. When you fold it, the floor turns into a ramp. If you stand the top...
Thursday November 5, 2026 12:59 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is launching five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models.
The following new products will be available from today:
iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip
iMac with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen
16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
As much as Cook has been a good CEO for the most part, every now and then he falls back into COO mode and comes up with something that makes financial sense but that a good CEO should veto for the bigger picture of the brand and the customer experience.
Apple: "Everyone update to iOS 26.5!" Users: "Omg are we finally getting those AI features you promised 2 years ago?!" Apple: "Lol no. But you will be getting our awesome new ads in Maps!"
