Marko Zivkovic (via Ric Ford, Reddit):

Apple announced its plans for a new opt-in Apple Intelligence training program. In essence, users can let Apple use content from their iPhone to train AI models. The training itself happens entirely on-device, and it incorporates a privacy-preserving method known as Differential Privacy.

The opt out seems to be via the Share iPhone & Watch Analytics button, which is the iOS equivalent of the Mac button that Mysk demonstrated Apple doesn’t actually honor.

In a social media post, developer Joachim outlined a new section of Apple's privacy notice in the Feedback application. When uploading an attachment as part of a bug report, such as a sysdiagnose file, users now need to give Apple consent to use the uploaded content for AI training.

Joachim Kurz:

After a long time, I filed another bug report using Feedback Assistant because the bug was bad enough that it’s worth the effort of writing it all down.

When uploading a sysdiagnose (or probably any other attachments) you get the usual privacy notice that there is likely a lot of private and other sensitive info in those log files. It’s not a great feeling but it is what it is with diagnostic data and I mostly trust the folks at Apple to treat it with respect and I trust the Logging system to redact the most serious bits.

However, when filing a feedback today a noticed a new addition to the privacy notice:

“By submitting, you […] agree that Apple may use your submission to [train] Apple Intelligence models and other machine learning models.”

WTF? No! I don’t want that. It’s extremely shitty behavior to a) even ask me this in this context where I entrust you with my sensitive data to help you fix your shit to b) hide it in the other privacy messaging stuff and to c) not give me any way to opt out except for not filing a bug report.

I could understand if the plan were for Apple to train some kind of internal AI model to help them triage bugs. Some developers might still have a problem with this because they don’t want their private data leaking out of the context of their particular bug. But when Apple says Apple Intelligence models that sure sounds like training the general models that will be available to the general public.

They probably have something in the terms of service that allows them to retroactively do this for previously submitted bugs, going back decades. Really, the only solution for keeping your data private is not to share data—even for internal use by the Privacy Company—that you don’t want to be shared. That is, only submit sysdiagnoses from a clean test Mac.

Joachim Kurz:

Also, there is a lot of sensitive information in a sysdiagnose. Taking it and throwing it into a big pile of data and compute and hoping something useful comes out of it is not treating my data with the respect it deserves.

On the topic of Radar, also see this thread by Max Seelemann:

Apple’s disrespect for the time and energy going into developer bug reports is making me sad. 🙁

Reported a performance issue with a sample app a couple of months ago. Of course, no feedback.

And now, Beta 2, they just ask if it’s still present and a sysdiagnose. They could have just launched the sample themselves and would have seen that NOTHING has changed. My guess is that no single developer at Apple has ever seen the issue and they just randomly ask about this out of procedure? Depressing.

Der Teilweise:

My model of the radar world is that they tag reports like “Finder icon position” or “… performance” and the devs add tags to their commits. Whenever a release contains a commit where the tags match, you automatically get those “please verify” mails.

Like “if we touch a part of the code that is closely related to a report, just ask the reporter if we fixed it as a side effect.”

I doubt this is the case because I’ve had bugs that did get fixed but where I never got this e-mail, even though really rough tagging would have made my bugs match. Or maybe some percentage of bugs just never get tagged.

Peter Steinberger:

The best is when they personally reach out via DM and then you make them an example and you NEVER hear back.

My favorite is when they do write back once and say that you can ask for updates on the bug, and then each year you ask for an update and never ever hear anything again.

Previously:

• macOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta 2
• Apple Turnaround
• Soured
• Private GitHub Data Lingers in Copilot Training
• Martin Pilkington, RIP
• Feedback Feedback
• AI Companies Ignoring Robots.txt
• Apple Intelligence Training
• Updated Adobe Terms of Use
• Slack AI Privacy
• Tumblr and WordPress to Sell Users’ Data to Train AI Tools
• Reddit AI Training Data and IPO
• Zoom ToS Allowed Training AI on User Content With No Opt Out
• GrammarlyGO Training on User Content With Questionable Opt Out
• ChatGPT Is Ingesting Corporate Secrets
• Lawsuits Over Apple Analytics Switch

Introducing AudioKit Synth One J6, Your New Go-To Synth

Remember AudioKit Synth One? Millions of downloads, beloved by musicians and educators everywhere. The dedicated volunteers behind AudioKit have done it again. After nearly three years of hard work, we’re excited to share Synth One J6, a pro-quality synth app for iPhone and iPad with mobile AUv3 support. And yes, it’s totally free.

Synth One J6 is not just an app. It’s a creative instrument inspired by iconic analog synthesizers, built by people who believe music belongs to everyone.

Powered by ethical machine learning, Synth One J6 delivers lush pads, deep basses, classic keys, and vibrant leads that feel truly alive.

No ads. No subscriptions. No hidden fees. Just an exceptional instrument, freely given to inspire creativity everywhere.

We built Synth One J6 for people who are often left out. Many students and aspiring artists have mobile devices through schools or other programs, but those devices cannot install paid apps. We wanted to change that. With Synth One J6, anyone can explore, learn, and create music right away.

The interface is intuitive and welcoming. Each function has a dedicated slider or knob, making it simple for beginners and deep enough for pros. You’ll find arpeggiators, sequencers, lush reverbs, tape delays, warm choruses, and over 400 inspiring presets created by talented sound designers worldwide.

Built by volunteers who deeply value music education and accessibility, this app ensures everyone, from classrooms to community programs, can start creating music instantly.

In blind listening tests, Synth One J6 matched the sound quality of expensive desktop plugins, with many musicians even preferring its tone. But the real win is getting professional music tools into hands that have never had access before.

Please help us share it. Tell a teacher. Tell a student. Tell anyone who’s dreamed of experiencing a vintage synthesizer but lacked the opportunity.

Together, we can make sure that creativity is not limited by money, location, or background.

Because music belongs to everyone.

LEARN MORE:

Official Synth One J6 Webpage

Download:

Synth One J6 isn’t “freemium” or loaded with annoying in-app purchases. You download it. You play it. You create. End of story.

Ever wanted to dive into audio programming but didn’t know where to start?
Enter the newest NSScreencast series featuring our favorite audio framework: AudioKit!

Ben Scheirman has kicked off a new series that takes you from the very basics of audio all the way to building your own synths, ambient soundscapes, and even a multi-track audio engine. And the best part? You don’t need a PhD in coding, just a little curiosity and a working copy of Xcode (Free Download).

Here’s what’s covered so far:

Audio Fundamentals
Understand how sound works and what it means in code. No jargon, just the basics to get your brain in sync with your ears.

Getting Started with AudioKit
Learn how to install AudioKit and use it in your first project. A quick and painless start.

Build a Monophonic Synth
Create a simple synth using oscillators, mixers, faders, and reverb. A hands-on project you’ll actually want to show off.

Ambient Noise Designer
Blend pink, white, and brown noise. Add panning, reverb, and auto-sweep to create a chill audio space.

Multi Track Audio Engine
Build a basic engine with sync, mix, and mute features. It’s a great step toward more complex audio apps.

Each episode is short, clear, and packed with real code you can use.
Start watching at nsscreencast.com and bring your audio ideas to life.

See more AudioKit Tutorials here

Learn more about AudioKit code here: AudioKit.io

Xcode 26 introduces Coding Assistant, a new tool that helps you write code with the help of AI. It comes with built-in support for ChatGPT. But what's really nice is that Apple lets us add our own model providers, including Anthropic's Claude.

This means you can use Claude Sonnet 4 in Xcode, just like you would with the built-in ChatGPT, as shown in the video below.

Coding Assistant in Xcode 26 requires an M1 Mac running macOS 26 Tahoe.

Let's walk through how to add Claude as a model provider.

Step 1: Generate an Anthropic API Key

First, go to console.anthropic.com/settings/keys and generate an API key. Xcode will use this key to send requests to Claude. You can name the key anything. I chose "Xcode 26".

Copy the API key to your clipboard and store it somewhere if needed. You will need it in a couple of seconds.

Step 2: Add Anthropic as a Model Provider

Now we're ready to set things up in Xcode by following the steps below.

1. Open Xcode's Settings.
2. Go to Intelligence → Add a Model Provider.
3. Select Internet Hosted and enter the following:

URL: https://api.anthropic.com/
API key: Paste in the key you just generated in Anthropic's console.
API key header: x-api-key

It should look something like this:

You can now select Anthropic's models for use with Coding Assistant. You may need to restart Xcode before the model provider shows up.

That's it. Now you're ready to start using Claude to write Swift code directly inside Xcode.

Nowadays, Xcode Playgrounds seems to have deviated from its original purpose, and configuring VSCode can be overly complex for beginners. Against this backdrop, how can we easily set up an environment suitable for learning and testing Swift? Perhaps Notepad.exe, as introduced in this article, will provide a satisfying solution.

Those who have enjoyed Sculpture’s remarkable zoetrope records should immediately pre-order the second printing of this new 8″ square lathe cut from the one and only DJ Food recording as Locked Loop Group.  Not only will one be primed to dance, one will also – by means of a stroboscope app with frames set to 24 frames per second – have a wonder to behold. And of course the vinyl, designed by Openmind, is a work of art even without the strobe.

The genesis of these tracks – two club cuts each presented in mono and stereo versions – is just as fascinating.  DJ Food created a monster turntable called the Quadraphon, featuring four tonearms so that one can play four parts of a record at the same time, creating a mix from a single source.  “Acid Endless 1 & 2” reflect the wealth of the artist’s selection of locked grooves (thus the moniker).

As expected, this is a pair of acid bangers, a treat for those who lose the genre’s energized sound. “Acid Endless 1” gets right into it with deep electronic bass, joined by squelches and squiggle.  The music sounds like a spacecraft landing, with hi-hats adding to the adventure.  Every couple bars, the music morphs, a new theme emerging as late as 5:44, while the plot remains the same.  “Acid Endless 2” also starts strong out of the gate, and never loses steam.  A bit more distorted than the first track, the piece demonstrates “the grit and crunch you get after a needle had been ploughing the same groove for fifteen minutes plus.”  The most effective section arrives deep in the track as the piece seems to warp and unlock before snagging the groove again.  When played out, the piece is likely to exude a live feeling, even if the record isn’t mixed into another.  This aural illusion is a match for the physical illusion created by the zoetrope.  

It’s an honor to hear new music from this all-time sonic innovator, even more to have such music presented in a keepsake edition, worthy of display.  (Richard Allen)