The Robert Downey Jr. produced and starring The Sympathizer came and went last year with a lot less fanfare than many expected due to the talent involved and the fact the miniseries was based on Viet Thanh Nguyen‘s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. However, some unexpected fallout from the Emmy-nominated Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar created and written high-profile project emerged today from the Writers Guild of America West, and it really ain’t pretty.
The acclaimed Oldboy director and the multiple Genie Award winner have both been expelled from the WGA West.
The ejection is result of Park and McKellar crossing a pretty big line. In contradiction of all the rules of Hollywood labor best practices, the duo worked and wrote on the HBO miniseries during the 2023 strike that saw the scribes’ guild and SAG-AFTRA bring Hollywood to a halt for almost six months. The consequences that Park and McKellar have now suffered, as was revealed by the WGAW in a missive to members today, is the harshest the Guild can bring down on members, and in this case, some very high-profile members.
“Three other members were disciplined for violating the strike rules during the 2023 MBA strike, and those members did not appeal,” the WGAW said Friday of Park and McKellar, as well as Anthony Cipriano (who is suspended until May 1, 2026). “In each of these cases, the boards decided these disciplines should be made public.”
Neither the WGAW, HBO, nor reps for the recently Gersh signed McKellar or Park responded to Deadline’s request for comment tonight on the just announced expulsions.
With pencils quickly down, the WGA and its just over 25,000 membership went on strike two years ago from May 2 to September 27 before approving a deal with the studios and streamers. With some overlap with the WGA, the 160,00 member strong SAG-ACTRA went on strike from July 14 to November 9, 2023 before coming to an agreement with AMPTP.
(L-R) Moderator: Viet Thanh Nguyen, Park Chan-wook [and translator], Don McKellar, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Niv Fichman, Hoa Xuande, Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, & Duy Nguyen appear onstage during HBO’s The Sympathizer FYC Event in LA on April 10, 2024 (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBO)
Delayed to some degree like pretty much everything during those hard weeks and months, the seven-episode The Sympathizer debuted on the premium cabler on April 14, 2024, with showrunners Park and McKellar receiving writing credits for the whole Vietnam War centered show. Playing five different roles, sometimes on screen together, Oscar winner Downey was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 76th Primetime Emmys, with the win going to Lamorne Morris for Fargo.
Since The Sympathizer, Park and McKellar have also worked together on the script for the Park helmed upcoming black comedy No Other Choice, which is set to debut in Venice later this month.
Recommended to the WGA Board by the Strike Rules Compliance Committee, the expulsions for far from newbie members Park and McKellar will have little to no effect with No Other Choice. Yet, what this means for the careers of McKellar and Park in Tinseltown going forward doesn’t look good. Sure, the South Korean-born director and the Canadian-born McKellar have the ability to work in the global market, but now they’ve lost the ability to work for Disney, HBO, Netflix and other companies that are signatories to the WGA’s collective bargaining agreement.
Today’s announcement on the hammer coming down on Park and McKellar, who are clearly not appealing or hence disputing the allegations of writing while their fellow members were out of work and/or on the picket lines, comes just over a few months after the WGA made public some other expulsions and disciplinary measures against others. Back in early April and naming names, the Guild announced disciplinary action against six members for alleged unauthorized work during the union’s 2023 strike, as well as one additional member for an alleged violation of the guild’s constitution.
With today’s expulsion of McKellar and Park, plus the action against Cipriano, the WGA says “there are no further strike related disciplines and all Article X proceedings arising from the 2023 strike have concluded.”
To that, according to the WGA constitution, “no suspended or expelled member may be readmitted to membership in the Guild except by action of the Board, which may assess a fine and/or other conditions before readmission.”
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Apple pulled back the curtain on its latest product lineup during its “Awe Dropping” keynote in Cupertino this week. The hour-long event revealed a host of new products, including the iPhone 17 series, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3.
ZDNET was on-site to cover the announcements, and we’ve compiled a summary of the biggest news from the event. We’ll continue to provide updates as we get them.
iPhone 17 series: Apple kicked things off with the standard iPhone 17 for $799, which now features a 120Hz ProMotion display, an enhanced front-facing camera for flexible recording, and an A19 chipset.
The showstealer, however, was arguably the new $999 iPhone Air model, Apple’s thinnest and lightest phone to date. According to Apple, it runs on a more powerful A19 Pro chip, has only one camera sensor due to its limited size, and is durably built.
Also: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: How to choose
The Pro and Pro Max models — which start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively — also got a redesigned back cover, with a larger camera visor that houses an enhanced telephoto sensor. A new vapor chamber cooling system keeps the phones running at peak performance for longer, while prolonging the battery life.
Apple Watch Series 11: Apple highlighted how the $399 Apple Watch is an essential piece of personal health and safety technology by sharing real-world, life-saving testimonials. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 11 will be the thinnest and most comfortable watch yet, featuring 5G connectivity, new watch faces, and an extremely scratch-resistant ceramic design.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 features a brighter, wider-angle OLED display with thinner bezels, allowing for a larger screen. It will be the first Apple Watch to offer satellite connectivity for emergency messaging and location syncing, along with 5G support. The Ultra 3 is also rated for the longest battery life of any Apple Watch, lasting up to 42 hours on a single charge.
Also: Excited about Apple Watch 11’s hypertension feature? It’s coming to older models too
Apple Watch SE 3: The third-generation $249 Apple Watch SE runs on an S10 chip and now includes a new always-on display. This model also introduces fast charging for the first time, giving users up to eight hours of battery life with just a 15-minute charge. It maintains an 18-hour overall battery life and is compatible with iOS 26, which unlocks advanced features.
AirPods Pro 3: The event began with the launch of the $249 AirPods Pro 3, which feature a multi-port acoustic architecture for improved sound quality on both music and calls.
The new earbuds have twice the active noise cancellation of previous models and a battery life of up to eight hours with ANC on, a four-hour increase. They will also support Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence and come with new ear tips in five sizes for a better fit.
Also: You can preorder Apple’s new devices this week: iPhone 17, Watch 11, AirPods Pro 3 and more
For more on-site coverage of Apple’s iPhone 17 event, check out our sibling sites’ live blogs at CNET, PCMag, Mashable, and Lifehacker.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 11 at 12:30 p.m. ET
If you preordered cases and accessories for your new iPhone 17 — and you happen to reside near a local distribution center — there’s a high chance they’ll be delivered as early as today.
My colleague Jason Hiner received his order of TechWoven cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max just this morning!
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 7:19 p.m. ET
One of the best new camera features on the iPhone 17 series lets you capture with the rear and front cameras simultaneously. It’s a vlogging feature I’ve seen on competing Android phones, and I can see a lot of people using it when recording live performances and concerts. After all, the reactions to those moments are just as valuable as what’s in front of the camera.
Check out Jason Hiner’s test footage below.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 2:40 p.m. ET
According to Apple’s technical specs page for the new AirPods Pro 3, the wireless earbuds will ship without a charging cable in the box. This means users will have to use an existing USB-C cable or wireless charging dock to power the accessories.
At this point in time, are we more forgiving of these omissions? I personally stash away most of my new USB-C cables, as one or two are enough to power my primary devices. But if you’re upgrading from the original AirPods Pro, expect to have to buy a charger to go with it.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 1:29 p.m. ET
Ahead of Friday’s preorder window, I’m seeing several carrier promotions starting to surface, including this latest one from Verizon. It slashes off $1,100 — equal to the cost of an iPhone 17 Pro at retail price — when you trade in an eligible smartphone and are on an Unlimited data plan.
This is par for the course when it comes to carrier deals, as AT&T and T-Mobile are running similar packages. As always, you should read the fine print when accepting carrier deals, as the smallest of errors can accrue fees and other expenses.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 11:05 a.m. ET
We officially live in a world where you can buy an iPhone from the Apple store for $2,000. The configuration is an iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of internal storage. That’s not including Apple Care and any accessories.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 9:42 a.m. ET
We’ve been speculating all year whether or not Apple would increase the prices of iPhones, and it did! But also, not really.
The $999 iPhone Air has replaced the $899 iPhone 16 Plus, but I wouldn’t consider the Air a direct successor to the latter — it’s a totally different concept of a phone, with an innovation tax to go with.
The $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro costs $100 more than its predecessor but now comes with 256GB of base storage instead of 128GB. Apple has essentially removed the 128GB configuration this year. That’s all.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 10 at 6:46 a.m. ET
If you’re split between the latest iPhones and competing Android models, we’ve covered the biggest differences below. More stories to come!
By Nina Raemont, Wearables Editor at Sept. 9, 9:34 p.m. ET
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the underdog that few expected Apple to announce at its annual hardware launch. It doesn’t have the advanced hardware that its siblings boast – Apple includes the S10 chip it developed for 2024’s Series 10 smartwatch lineup.
It lacks some of the hotter features the Apple Watch Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3 pack, like Hypertension Detection or Satellite Connectivity. But it’s shaping up to be a good value for smartwatch curious consumers. I look forward to testing the watch out to find out for myself.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET
Every year, when a new iPhone launches, I get asked, “Should I upgrade from my current phone?” And every year, I answer by asking if the latest features make a dramatic difference to how they use their phone.
Here are the biggest new features you’ll get by upgrading to the iPhone 17 series compared to previous generations.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 3:42 p.m. ET
The hands-on photos I’ve seen so far of the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange are giving me immense FOMO. It’s so refreshing to see Apple branch out of the standard black, white, and grayish hues and be more experimental. But as always, if consumers want more of this, they’ll have to vote with their wallets.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 4:31 p.m. ET
While I am not an orange person and own not one ounce of orange in my wardrobe or accessories, the Cosmic Orange color is absolutely stunning. As we discussed in the office, the hands-on footage makes it evident that the color is much less of a traffic cone orange and more of a copper-like shade.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Apple CEO Tim Cook is on the floor and taking photos with members of the press. Clearly, the ultraportability of the iPhone Air makes it quite easy to lift up and take group selfies.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 2:16 p.m. ET
That’s a wrap for the Apple launch livestream and event. Now, our ZDNET crew on the ground is heading to the devices to get hands-on footage and insights. We will continue to update this live blog as those photos, videos, and articles come in; plus, stay tuned for our event day analysis.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 2:15 p.m. ET
Here are the iPhone 17 starting prices, all of which come with a base storage of 256GB now:
You can preorder starting this Friday, Sept. 12, at 5:00 am PT, and all phones will be available for sale starting on Friday, Sept. 19.
By Nina Raemont, Editor / Sept. 9 at 2:09 p.m. ET
I’ve been wishing for sleep scores on the Apple Watch for a long time, and I look forward to testing out the feature on the Series 11. The feature brings a common health tracking feature to Apple’s latest lineup of devices, and keeps the tech giant in competition with its wearable rivals that have already implemented the feature into their devices.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 2:07 p.m. ET
All three iPhone 17 Pro cameras are now 48MP and Fusion cameras, meaning they have multiple effective lengths. So the zoom camera is now 4x with an 8x “optical-quality” zoom. That means Apple has actually downgraded the optical zoom from 5x to 4x. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’ll withhold judgement until I try it.
That said, Apple noted it used the iPhone 17 Pro to film the launch event, due to its advanced video capabilities. The iPhone 17 Pro supports the highly anticipated ProRes RAW capture and Genlock.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro is here. This time, it’s made with aluminum instead of titanium for a lighter yet more durable build. The phone features “the biggest battery in an iPhone,” Apple says, runs on the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone Air, and features an improved thermal cooling system that spreads throughout the phone body.
Water is sealed within the vapor chamber to dissipate heat and sustain performance (a 40% improvement from the iPhone 16 Pro). In other words, the iPhone will run at peak levels for longer while retaining more battery life over time.
On the front, a new anti-reflective coating should improve the screen’s viewing angles, especially when outdoors. All three cameras are 48MP fusion sensors, meaning they can flex between various zoom ranges. The telephoto sensor, in particular, can capture at 8X optical quality, thanks in part to the tetraprism design.
iPhone 17 Pro models will also feature the same Center Stage Front Camera as the iPhone 17. The anodized aluminum appears to be a unibody design, with curves that blend into every little corner of the iPhone. On the back is a Ceramic Shield layering that’s more durable than previous generations.
The iPhone 17 Pro will launch in only three colors: Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue.
Apple used Ceramic Shield on the back of the 17 Pro, just like the Air. It’s 4x more resistant to cracks while being thinner overall, offering more room for the battery, which is the best (and biggest) in any iPhone.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:57 p.m. ET
I always loved the bumper cases on the iPhones — minimal, light, and great protection — and I was seriously bummed when Apple stopped making them. No third-party case maker ever picked up the gauntlet, which was a shame. Those bumper cases also allowed the back of the phone to show through and display Apple’s design. I’m thrilled that Apple is bringing back the bumper case for the iPhone Air — perfect choice! Let’s see if they bring it to the Pro models as well.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:54 p.m. ET
Apple is making a big deal about the iPhone Air’s support for eSIM. In fact, it’ll be the first iPhone to launch with eSIM only globally. Previously, only the US versions launched with eSIM, while other countries’ iPhones supported physical SIM cards. By reducing the components within the phone, Apple says it was able to squeeze in a larger battery.
Apple’s decision to make the iPhone Air eSIM-only is partly logistical — there’s simply not enough room in the device to fit in a traditional SIM card next to the battery.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:51 p.m. ET
iPhone Air has a 48MP fusion camera system that is meant to function like multiple cameras in one, including a 12MP 2X telephoto. Some other camera features include focus control, photographic styles, and custom 28MM and 52MM lenses, which add four lenses to your camera. The front features the aforementioned center stage camera at 12MP.
The battery life on the iPhone Air, supported by iOS 26 features and a thoughtful under-the-hood design, supports all-day battery life, according to Apple. This includes 40 hours of video playback when using the Air’s specially designed MagSafe battery pack.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:48 p.m. ET
The iPhone Air will feature a new N1 chip, Apple’s in-house silicon that supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. This comes just six months after Apple released the C1 modem with the iPhone 16e. The iPhone Air will also feature an upgraded C1X variant, which the company says is much more power efficient, but just as strong in network connectivity.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:48 p.m. ET
Integrating Apple’s N1 and C1X chips into the iPhone Air and calling it the most efficient iPhone ever definitely gives this product the feeling of being the futuristic iPhone, reminiscent of the iPhone X back in 2017.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:45 p.m. ET
The announcement of the iPhone Air got, by far, the biggest reaction out of the crowd inside Steve Jobs Theater for the Apple Event. There’s genuine enthusiasm for this product. The crowd especially hollered — and there were even some audible gasps — when the video came up with the iPhone Air balancing on top of a finger. I’m not sure people are going to be as excited when they learn the camera and battery life compromises, but the design itself generated plenty of strong reactions.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:45 p.m. ET
Sabrina Ortiz, sitting next to me, cannot get over how thin the iPhone Air is — 5.6mm and with a 6.5″ always-on display — and I’m expecting many consumers to feel similarly. For the first time, the phone is covered with ceramic for improved durability, making it up to five times more resistant. Impressively, the camera module is sculpted into the back cover, so it melts into the rest of the glass, reducing the size and bulk of the device. It’s “a paradox you have to hold to believe,” says Apple.
The frame is made out of titanium for a thin design. These materials make the iPhone Air more durable than any other model. The iPhone Air features the just-announced A19 Pro chip.
Apple said the phone contains “MacBook Pro-levels of compute” and that it’s “the most power efficient iPhone we’ve ever made.”
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:38 p.m. ET
Apple using AI and Center Stage to automatically frame your selfies got a huge reaction from the live audience inside the Steve Theater. There are clearly a lot of creators in this crowd.
This is the first big AI feature Apple announced at the event. It’s more like machine learning and not generative AI, but it’s good to see Apple integrating quality-of-life features in smart ways.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:46 p.m. ET
The iPhone 17 will run on an A19 chip with a 16-core Neural Engine, 5-core GPU, and improved on-device computing. The improvements to how the iPhone computes lend themselves to more gaming workloads, faster on-device AI tasks, and more. A more efficient processor also extends the iPhone 17 battery by 8 hours of video playback.
Apple says the next-gen 5-core GPU is designed to support better gaming, especially paired with the display’s upgraded 120Hz refresh rate.
Then there’s the new A19 Pro chip, which features a 6-core CPU. Apple claims it is the fastest CPU in any iPhone. It is supposed to enable battery efficiency for more everyday tasks. The 5-core GPU also got a performance boost, which makes it best for AI compute. There is a neural accelerator built into each GPU core, ideal for GPU-intensive AI workloads.
The A19 Pro generates heat, Apple admits — requiring an all-new cooling system to account for it.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:42 p.m. ET
The iPhone 17 will feature a 48MP main camera (that captures at 24MP binned, by default). It’s still a 2x optical zoom — nothing more — but I’ve always found the base iPhone camera good enough for zoom shots.
Apple has also upgraded the selfie camera, calling it the “Center Stage Front Camera,” with a wider field of view and a larger sensor than last year. Capturing a wider area allows users to reframe their shots, such as swapping from landscape and portrait mode without needing to rotate the phone. Allowing you to hold the phone vertically keeps your eyes more naturally focused on the lens.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:38 p.m. ET
Apple using AI and Center Stage to automatically frame your selfies got a huge reaction from the live audience inside the Steve Theater. There are clearly a lot of creators in this crowd. This is the first big AI feature Apple announced at the event. It’s more like machine learning and not generative AI, but it’s good to see Apple integrating quality-of-life features in smart ways.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 9 at 1:40 p.m. ET
The introduction of a 120Hz ProMotion display in the iPhone 17 got a big reaction from the live audience inside Steve Jobs Theater. This has been long overdue. Far cheaper competitive phones have featured 90Hz and 120Hz screens for years while the standard iPhone has been stuck on 60Hz, which was just not as nice to look at every day. The 120Hz screen makes the base-level iPhone 17 a lot more competitive.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:37 p.m. ET
Apple Launches its iPhone 17 in five colors: Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White, and Sage. The new phone features:
Apple said that if you are upgrading from an older iPhone, you should see incredible speeds. The company also recapped iOS 26 upgrades, including Live Translation and Visual Intelligence upgrades.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor /Sept. 9 at 1:36 p.m. ET
Apple wraps up its Apple Watch announcements:
You can pre-order all versions of the watch starting today, and they’ll be available on Sept. 19.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:35 p.m. ET
It’s Apple Watch Ultra 3 time. This year, the wearable features a new display that uses a wide-angle OLED and LTPO 3, making it brighter to view. Apple says the bezels are thinner, too, allowing the watch to have a larger screen within the same body as last year.
Like the Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 supports 5G connectivity. But it goes a step further by using satellites for emergency messages, pings. and Find My syncing. The Watch Ultra 3 can last up to 42 hours, the longest rating of any Apple Watch.
ZDNET Editor in Chief Jason Hiner says he’s “been wearing Apple Watch Ultra every day for the past two years, and I’ll definitely be upgrading to Apple Watch Ultra 3 for the bigger screen, the stronger 5G and satellite connectivity, and the black color.”
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:33 p.m. ET
The Apple Watch Series 11 can last up to 24 hours, comes in Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, and is made with 100% aluminum. We’re seeing some classic watch bands available, including Nike and Hermes-branded accessories.
The lineup has a host of updated watch bands, including some from popular brands like Nike, and a Hermes band with a unique branded animated wallpaper.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:32 p.m. ET
Apple launched its third-generation Apple Watch SE. It features the S10 chip that supports a new always-on display. You can play music directly through the speaker.
The Apple Watch SE also features an 18-hour battery life and fast charging for the first time — in 15 minutes of fast charging, users can get up to eight hours of normal use. It is compatible with iOS 26, which opens it up to advanced features on par with the rest of the lineup too.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Apple Watch Series 11 now has Sleep Scores, which analyzes how you sleep using complex algorithms. You can see a detailed analysis of how the score was concluded.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:24 p.m. ET
The Apple Watch Series 11 uses the optical blood sensor to track and review data over a 30-day period to find signs of hypertension. Apple says it’s expecting FDA clearance “soon.”
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:20 p.m. ET
Apple highlights how the Apple Watch offers life-saving features, ahead of unveiling its new smartwatch lineup.
The company’s marketing for the Apple Watch is powerfully effective, moving beyond technical specs to share real-world testimonials of how the device has literally transformed lives. This approach transforms the watch from a gadget into an essential piece of personal health and safety technology.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will be the first of the wearable line to support 5G connectivity. It also features several new watch faces, including Flow (based on Liquid Glass, the design aesthetic used across iOS 26) and “Exactograph,” a unique design that separates hours, minutes, and seconds.
The new release is Apple’s thinnest and most comfortable watch yet, with a custom ceramic design coating applied at the atomic level that’s twice as scratch-resistant.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief and Nina Raemont, Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:17 p.m. ET
Apple is adding heart rate sensing to the AirPods Pro 3, which was already in the Powerbeats Pro 2.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 did not get the rumored temperature tracking, which is a bummer since temperature can be taken very accurately from the ear. The wrist temperature tracking on Apple Watch is not easy to access and can be inaccurate. Adding temperature to AirPods Pro 3 would have given Apple’s health ecosystem a better opportunity to compete with smart rings like Oura on this metric, so it’s a missed opportunity.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:10 p.m. ET
Impressively, Live Translation works between multiple AirPods Pro users, with the translated audio broadcasting in their desired language. The feature runs on the iPhone’s existing AI models.
Live translation on the AirPods Pro will lower the volume of the speaker and provide a contextual translation, not just individual words. When paired with the iPhone, you can speak naturally and get a translation to display on the screen to the speaker.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:07 p.m. ET
The event kicked off with the AirPods Pro 3 launch. The earbuds were designed with a multi-port acoustic architecture which better controls air flow, producing better overall sound across music and calls alike.
The AirPods Pro 3 also have double the active noise cancellation (ANC) from previous models, and the feature is four times more effective than the original AirPods Pro. Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence is also coming to the new AirPods Pro.
Apple says AirPods Pro 3 will last up to 8 hours with ANC on and 10 hours with Transparency mode on. That’s four more hours than the previous generation. They’ll be available starting Sept. 19.
The new AirPods Pro will have a better in-ear for users. This includes new ear tips in five sizes.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 1:03 p.m. ET
Apple CEO Tim Cook kicks off the live event with his signature “Good morning.” He hints that today’s announcements will include the AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables Editor / Sept. 9 at 12:45 p.m. ET
We’ve made it to Steve Jobs Theater, where Apple will unveil its latest hardware lineup in just minutes. The theater is buzzing with excitement as media and industry leaders fill in.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 12:22 p.m. ET
While the official sales dates remain unconfirmed, Apple has traditionally opened up preorders on the second Friday of Sept. (or Sept. 12 this year). The official launch, meaning when the phones can be demoed and purchased in stores, happens the following Friday (or Sept. 19 this year).
Note that Apple may adjust these dates and times based on product availability and inventory.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 11:34 a.m. ET
Leaker Instant Digital on Weibo recently posted an image depicting every new iPhone 17 color, from the Air to the Pro Max, and it coincides with other renders and case listings we’ve seen. If true, we may be looking at the first orange-colored iPhone Pro, a sky blue finish for the Air, and some pastel options for the standard model.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 9 at 10:54 a.m. ET
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicted that there won’t be a lot of new AI launched at Apple’s event. Specifically, he said the company did not “have a lot up its sleeve in terms of AI — at least not in the near future.”
If you’re waiting for significant new AI features and upgrades, you may have to do so until the launch of the highly anticipated Siri 2.0 — which isn’t slated to occur until spring of next year. In the meantime, there are also the iOS 26 AI features announced at WWDC to look forward to (more on that in previous entries below).
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 10:32 a.m. ET
The successor to the world’s most popular Bluetooth tracker is expected to launch at today’s Apple event. Notable upgrades include a new Ultra Wideband chip for more precise tracking, enhanced privacy features, and a longer-lasting battery. Hopefully, Apple keeps the price in the same ballpark.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 9:47 a.m. ET
A Reddit user has discovered a Best Buy promotion that suggests that new AirPods are, in fact, coming. The offer, valid from Sept. 9 to Oct. 5, gives My Best Buy members a $20 discount on the AirPods Pro 3, which are expected to be unveiled during the Apple keynote today.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 8:55 a.m. ET
The biggest question mark going into today’s event is iPhone pricing; whether or not we’ll see the first increase to Apple’s handsets since the iPhone 15 Pro Max (though it was justified with a storage upgrade).
This weekend, leaked training documents from a South Korean carrier company suggested that iPhone 17 prices will stay mostly the same as last year’s models. Here’s the breakdown after conversions:
Notably, the Pro Max variant costs $50 more, though these prices may be specific to certain countries and regions, like South Korea.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 8:37 a.m. ET
While I no longer expect Apple to make major shifts to the iPhone Pro’s camera system — it’s a law of diminishing returns kind of thing — the rumored 48MP telephoto sensor does put a smile on my face.
The improved optics should greatly benefit photographers and videographers wanting to capture at farther distances, with the potential of 8x optical zoom (versus digital) paving the way for crisper and more realistic shots.
If Apple nails the telephoto camera, the iPhone 17 Pro may compete well with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 10 Pro, both of which have proven to be reliable long-distance shooters.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 9 at 8:27 a.m. ET
In Apple tradition, the web store is down temporarily in preparation for today’s product releases. You can expect the store to be down — as in you won’t be able to buy and check out anything — until the end of the keynote. Consider it as protection for impulse purchasing habits!
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 8 at 9:21 p.m. ET
ZDNET’s Nina Raemont and I have landed in Cupertino and are ready for this week’s big event. Stay tuned for more live coverage, including hands-on photos and videos.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 8 at 5:01 p.m. ET
Someone has apparently discovered an unofficial iPhone 17 accessory, and it’s one you’d least expect. X user Sonny Dickson recently posted images of what looks to be a crossbody strap for the iPhone 17 series, with a loop that likely attaches to the bottom of a phone case. It’s orange, it’s fashionable, and it will unquestionably be expensive.
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 8 at 3:17 p.m. ET
While the exact details on the new Apple hardware remain a mystery until the event begins tomorrow, we already got the scoop on all of the iOS 26 Apple Intelligence updates at WWDC back in June. The AI features may not be the flashiest, but many of them will be sure to improve how you interact with your phone. A quick round-up of the features I am looking forward to the most can be found below:
The best part about the new features is that they aren’t just limited to iPhone 17 users; iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series devices are supported too. You can read more about what each feature does, and some additional ones to look forward to here: 7 helpful AI features launching in iOS 26 next week.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables Editor / Sept. 8 at 11:18 a.m. ET
Could Apple add heart rate monitoring to its newest AirPods lineup? The Apple-owned Powerbeats Pro 2 unveiled earlier this year with the feature, and the exercise earbuds share the AirPods Pro 2’s H2 chipset. It’s not unreasonable to predict the feature’s arrival in Apple’s latest earbuds.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables Editor / Sept. 8 at 10:32 AM ET
Apple is releasing its new watch lineup amid a competitive landscape of health wearables. Its smartwatch launch tomorrow, which reportedly includes the release of the Series 11, Ultra 3, and possibly an SE 3, could keep its revenue momentum, which surpassed $100 billion in Q2, going, according to Counterpoint Research.
Counterpoint credits the “continuous evolution” of the brand’s health and health-monitoring features for its revenue achievements. Apple could unveil more health advancements at tomorrow’s event, as rumors about a new hypertension monitoring feature or AI-infused health coaches swirl.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 8 at 9:21 a.m. ET
Okay, so we’re doing this. Lots of Apple event coverage incoming on ZDNET this week. What are you anticipating the most from Apple, or what do you want to know coming out of tomorrow’s iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods launch? Sound off in the comments below.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables Editor / Sept. 6 at 5:18 p.m. ET
Apple’s latest smartwatch software, WatchOS 26, has given us a few glimpses at what the Series 11 is capable of. Outside of those software updates, I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for rumors, murmurs, and whispers on Apple’s next wearable. Here are seven features we’re currently looking at.
By Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief / Sept. 6 at 4:32 p.m. ET
While the iPhone has virtually all of the smartest AI apps available from the latest AI trailblazers, it lacks the kind of deep integration of AI features that are only available at the intersection of the operating system and the latest hardware.
Here are 7 competing services and features I’d like to see Apple adopt with the iPhone 17:
While the delay in rolling out Apple Intelligence features may not have seemed to hurt the iPhone during the past year, Apple will need to close the gap to avoid the iPhone 17 feeling like a device that’s a step behind. As of right now, Google can make a pretty strong case that it offers the smartest phone money can buy.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 6 at 4:02 p.m. ET
Leaks and rumors have suggested that the upcoming series of Pro iPhones will feature a redesigned camera bar, with the same arrangement of cameras in the upper-left corner as previous models, flanked by additional sensors on the right side — all upheld by a protruding module. For phone enthusiasts, think Poco M4 Pro design.
There will also be a two-toned portion of the back panel that functions as a wireless charging area. If we get lucky, Apple may even give us reverse wireless charging, a feature prevalent on Android flagships that allows you to charge other Qi-supported devices when set on the back of the phone.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 6 at 3:27 p.m. ET
An ultra-thin and light iPhone would be refreshing to see from Apple, as its current four-iPhone lineup has remained in place since the iPhone 12 series in 2020.
The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly feature a large display size, a titanium frame, and a revamped camera bar with only a single sensor.
Also: If these iPhone 17 Air rumors are real, my old phone is about to be retired
Apple is also expected to replace the iPhone 17 Plus with the iPhone 17 Air, as consumers have shown the least interest in the former model. This potentially positions the Air model as both the best big iPhone that doesn’t cost as much as the Pro Max and the most portable for those who want that.
Zoom out a bit, and you might even be looking at the beginnings of what an iPhone Fold experience could be like in a year or two.
By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Sept. 6 at 3:02 p.m. ET
While rumors of the upcoming products have been swirling over the past year, no preview is more official than Apple’s event invitation graphic, filled with enough Easter eggs to keep fans excited and journalists engaged.
This year, we’re seeing an Apple logo shimmering in blue, orange, red, and yellow, followed by the words “Awe dropping.” My three theories for what the design implies are…
By Sabrina Ortiz, Senior Editor / Sept. 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Apple has confirmed via social media that this year’s fall event will take place on Sept. 9 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Select members of the press, including ZDNET’s Jason Hiner and Nina Raemont, will attend in person, but the public will be invited to join virtually via livestream.
While Apple’s September event was open to a live audience, consisting of members of the media, industry analysts, employees, and partners, the company also held a livestream so that the public could tune in and watch its newest products launch in real time.
The livestream was hosted on Apple’s main website and YouTube, opening up to viewers several minutes before start time. This year, the event kicked off at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, with replays being broadcasted at this point.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, some conservatives are pointing fingers at South Park for mocking the conservative thought leader in a recent episode, while Comedy Central pulled the episode from a scheduled repeat Wednesday night.
The second episode of the current season of Comedy Central’s satirical hit — titled “Got a Nut” — had Eric Cartman becoming a right-wing podcaster and spouting tropes used by Kirk, who tours college campuses debating progressive students. “Who wants to debate the master debater?” demanded Cartman, who also took on Kirk’s hairstyle and later attended a ceremony giving out “The Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters.”
The mockery was pretty tame by South Park standards (certainly kinder than its treatment of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem in the same episode). After the episode aired, Kirk seemed thrilled by the episode and posted a TikTok (below) reacting by calling the episode “hilarious” and noted “South Park gets this right.” The Turning Point USA founder added, “We have a good spirit about being made fun of. This is all a win. We as conservatives have thick skin, not thin skin, and you can make fun of us and it doesn’t matter.”
But after Kirk’s tragic murder at Utah Valley University while engaged in the same sort of college campus debate the episode poked fun of, some MAGA conservatives are blasting the show.
According to the New York Post, one Turning Point USA staffer posted on Telegram, “Comedy has consequences. Charlie was targeted in the culture before he was targeted in real life” and right-wing radio host Jesse Kelly told his listeners: “South Park thought it was funny to turn Charlie into a cartoon joke. Now his wife is planning a funeral.”
The Daily Beast spotted some other comments on social media: “Let’s blame South Park. Blame the media. Blame leftist rhetoric. These people hate you and want to see you dead.” And: “South Park certainly fomented the hatred necessary to get Kirk assassinated.” And: “[South Park creators] Trey Parker and Matt Stone are responsible for this.” While a popular account called Johnny MAGA dubbed South Park “monsters” for the episode.
That said, many others on the right — perhaps even the majority — were quick to note they do not blame the series. One “MAGA” labeled X account wrote, “I don’t blame South Park. They aren’t our leaders, representatives, mentors, pastors, example setters or societal caretakers. They are satire!”
Comedy Central had no immediate comment on yesterday’s scrapped repeat, and the episode was still available on Paramount+ as of Thursday morning. Pulling episodes that unintentionally intersect with a violent real-life tragedy is a common practice as a respectful effort to not to inflame or take advantage of the situation.
Given South Park has been on a tear going after President Trump and MAGA this season, and frequently pivots at the last minute to tackle current events in their episodes, it will be interesting to see what creators Parker and Stone focus on when the show returns next week amid its new biweekly rollout schedule this season.
On a Reddit thread about the episode being pulled, fans agreed not airing the episode was “the polite thing to do” while also concurring that South Park doesn’t deserve blame for the real-life violence. “Probably a smart decision, no matter your feeling on him; don’t give either side reason to exploit this,” wrote one. While another opined, “You really can’t fault them for not predicting this; I don’t think anyone could have predicted this series of events with him literally talking about gun violence as he was being shot.”
The 31-year-old Kirk built a small conservative student group into America First — one of the most influential forces in Republican politics. Kirk was speaking at a debate Wednesday hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions for an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence. A single shot rang out and Kirk could be seen reaching for his neck with his right hand. The gunman is still at large.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!
Paramount has taken down a recent episode of South Park that mocked Charlie Kirk in the aftermath of the MAGA activist’s assassination on Wednesday – sort of.
While the “Got a Nut” episode is still available on Paramount+, it can no longer be seen in the swath of South Park reruns on Comedy Central.
As the manhunt for 31-year-old Kirk’s killer continues, despite FBI Director Kash Patel at one point yesterday saying online that a “subject” was in custody and then released, some MAGA supporters have partial pointed the finger at South Park for the tragic shooting. Paramount had no comment on the episode being pulled, but sources close to the situation say it likely is “only temporary” until the political temperature comes down.
The show, the second episode of the Trey Parker and Matt Stone created satire’s current 27th Season, was removed from being shown on the cable channel in the hours following the fatal shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. Originally airing on August 6, “Got a Nut,” which parodied Kirk’s Prove Me Wrong debate approach as well as ICE’s masked raids and JD Vance‘s relationship with Donald Trump, was replaced with the Season 27th opener of “Sermon on the Mount.”
RELATED: Stephen Colbert Reacts To “Abhorrent” Charlie Kirk Shooting & Condemns Political Violence
Of note, when “Got a Nut” premiered early last month, Kirk told Fox News on August 7 the episode was a “badge of honor.” That was a very similar reaction to Vice President JD Vance, who said “I finally made it” after he was slammed as leering sycophant to wannabe dictator Trump. Unlike Vance, Kirk even changed his profile pic briefly on his much watched YouTube page to that of South Park’s Eric Cartman as an homage. Kirk also gave South Park a shout out on X on August 6 with a “Not bad Cartman.”
While most of “Got a Nut” deals with fired South Park counselor Mr. Mackey joining ICE to make his monthly bills after talking to his bank manager and a student Clyde Donovan adopting the role of a provocative right-wing podcaster to make a few bucks. As South Park’s Cartman and Donovan fight it out for who truly is the real podcasting deal, the latter receives the “Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters.”
South Park returns with a new episode on September 23 on Comedy Central, and then Paramount+ the next day.
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