watchOS 27 removes three features that Apple Watch users might miss after updating

9to5mac.com Sep 4, 2026

watchOS 27 removes three features that Apple Watch users might miss after updating

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 4, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple’s upcoming watchOS 27 update will eliminate three features that some users may miss. The Walkie‑Talkie app, which enabled real‑time voice chats between Apple Watches, will be removed. The Digital Crown’s double‑click multitasking gesture will now perform the same action as a single click, and the single‑click launch of the full app grid will be replaced by a dynamic grid showing five suggested apps, Siri, and a grid icon. These changes reflect Apple’s shift toward a streamlined, Siri‑centric interface.

💡 Why It Matters

· By dropping Walkie‑Talkie, Apple limits exclusive watch‑only communication, potentially pushing users toward third‑party solutions.
· The new dynamic app grid and altered Crown gestures signal a broader move to simplify navigation, prioritizing Siri and curated app suggestions over traditional multitasking shortcuts.

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HomeKit Weekly: ULTRALOQ’s Bolt Fingerprint has everything you’d want except Home Key

ULTRALOQ released the Bolt Fingerprint, its first smart lock fully integrated with Apple Home. The lock offers fingerprint, PIN, and app unlock, auto‑unlock, voice control via Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, and supports up to 50 fingerprints and passcodes. It operates on 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi, eliminating the need for a bridge, and works with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and IFTTT. Physical keys, a Lockout Mode, and easy installation make it a versatile choice, though Home Key support is absent.

💡 The Bolt Fingerprint’s seamless HomeKit integration expands Apple’s smart‑home ecosystem, giving users a high‑security, multi‑auth lock without a separate hub. Its broad compatibility and flexible access options position it as a strong competitor in the growing smart‑lock market.

9to5mac.com · Sep 4

New profile of John Ternus offers insight into life and reputation of…

Apple announced that John Ternus has become CEO, succeeding Tim Cook who moved to Executive Chair. The Financial Times profile details Ternus’s background, noting his education, early career, and reputation among Apple staff and partners. Inside Apple, he is described as highly competent, unshowy, and calm, with a racing‑car hobby that reflects his dedication. Corning’s CEO praised his talent, while a former Apple executive said he is relatively unknown outside hardware. Apple celebrated the transition with a party at Apple Park.

💡 The smooth handover signals Apple’s confidence in Ternus’s leadership style, potentially shaping the company’s future product strategy.

appleinsider.com · Sep 4

This is the folding iPhone, if case manufacturers are right

Case makers have produced dummy units of the rumored iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a folding iPhone model to test fit and design. The Pro variants appear nearly identical in size to the iPhone 17 Pro, suggesting backward‑compatible cases, though minor camera bump differences may arise. The folding prototype features working hinges, a camera plateau, and a USB‑C port, with a fold‑down screen and stereo speakers positioned on opposite corners. The dummy units provide visual insight but no internal details.

💡 The near‑identical dimensions of the new Pro models reassure accessory makers that existing case lines can remain viable, reducing production risk. The folding prototype’s design hints at how Apple might address audio and camera integration challenges in a new form factor.

techcrunch.com · Sep 4

What will Apple’s John Ternus era look like?

Tim Cook stepped down as Apple CEO, appointing former hardware chief John Ternus to lead the company. Ternus’s first memo hinted at a major launch next week, positioning Apple’s upcoming iPhone event under his direction before he fully assumes duties. Cook remains Executive Chairman, focusing on policy relationships that recently amplified a small map‑label dispute into a public balancing act. TechCrunch’s Equity podcast discusses Ternus’s potential strengths in software amid the AI era and shareholder expectations.

💡 The leadership shift signals Apple’s pivot toward software‑driven innovation, potentially reshaping its competitive stance in the AI‑integrated market.

appleinsider.com · Sep 4

Apple still on track for a revolutionary iPhone 20 in 2027

Apple is on schedule to unveil a landmark iPhone 20 in 2027, marking the device’s 20th anniversary with the most extensive redesign since the iPhone X. Bloomberg reports that the upcoming model will feature a curved glass chassis and ultra‑thin bezels, continuing Apple’s long‑term pursuit of an all‑glass form factor first hinted at in a 2020 patent. The company may skip the iPhone 19 designation, positioning the iPhone 20 as the sole flagship for that year. Analysts note that the iPhone X set a new interaction paradigm that later spread across Android, and Apple hopes the iPhone 20 will repeat that impact. The design shift raises questions about durability, case compatibility, and the practicality of side‑and‑back displays described in the patent.

💡 A successful all‑glass iPhone could redefine user interaction and force the entire smartphone market to rethink hardware ergonomics.

9to5mac.com · Sep 4

CarPlay now works with five major chatbot apps

Apple’s CarPlay platform now supports Anthropic’s Claude, marking the fifth major AI chatbot integrated into the system. The update arrives after Meta AI, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Grok were added earlier this month, and follows Apple’s iOS 26.4 rollout that first enabled conversational apps on CarPlay. Claude’s iPhone app, updated in beta for the upcoming iOS 27 release, displays recent chats and allows users to start new voice conversations using Claude’s built‑in voice feature. Siri’s own AI will join the lineup when iOS 27 launches later this month. The expansion reflects Apple’s push to make hands‑free AI interactions safer for drivers while broadening the ecosystem of third‑party services available through CarPlay. The move encourages developers to tailor AI experiences for environments.

💡 By bringing Claude onto CarPlay, Apple proves its platform can host rival AI voices, forcing manufacturers to consider native AI integration as a standard safety feature.