This digest compiles the latest from Apple Insider.
Today’s Apple Insider Roundup
Apple cuts Night mode Portraits on iPhone 17 Pro as users look for answers
Apple removed Night mode Portraits from the iPhone 17 Pro, and while a vocal minority of users are frustrated, others never noticed the feature was gone.
Curiosity around the camera change has grown because the update landed without an explanation from Apple. Owners trying the new phones are only learning about the limitation through testing, comparisons, and scattered reports rather than official guidance.
Many users remain unaffected because their shooting habits never relied on the old workflow. For years, LiDAR-equipped iPhones let people blend Night mode and Portrait mode to brighten dark scenes while still blurring the background.
Tiimo, Dredge, Cyberpunk 2077 win big at the 2025 App Store Awards
Apple has recognized 17 developers in its annual App Store Awards, celebrating apps for their technical ingenuity and cultural impact, with the winners including productivity app Focus Friend and Lovecraftian fishing game Dredge.
At the end of November, Apple announced the finalists for the 2025 App Store Awards, its annual celebration of the best software from the year. On December 4, Apple announced who won the awards in their various categories.
A total of 17 games are awarded, with six App of the Year winners alongside five Game of the Year awards. Another six are selected by App Store editors as Cultural Impact winners for driving meaningful change, with inclusivity and a positive impact.
Dye's departure doesn't mean Liquid Glass is going anywhere
Apple’s VP of Human Interface Design is leaving Apple for Meta, but Liquid Glass is here to stay. Expect Stephen Lemay could perfect the controversial design choice.
Alan Dye was a controversial choice as VP of Human Interface Design when he was placed in that slot by Jony Ive. His background in fashion made everyone in the Apple space cringe with worry, and the time since 2015 has shown they had only a little to worry about.
Apple’s design didn’t stray far from the iOS 7 foundation that introduced flat minimalism all the way until Liquid Glass was introduced with iOS 26. That change was presented as the way forward for Apple’s operating systems, and isn’t something the company will easily back off from, regardless of who leaves.
California Governor sees Apple CEO's dealings with Trump as part of his job
Gavin Newsom says Apple’s dealings with President Trump are crony capitalism that results from what the administration requires of companies, and he doesn’t begrudge Cook’s position.
Those watching Apple’s dealings with the United States government under Trump have had a sour taste in their mouths. Many wish Apple would push back against the administration, if not outright fight them, but Apple CEO Tim Cook has been working a different angle.
In an interview with The New York Times, California Governor Gavin Newsom discussed how he feels about how Silicon Valley, and specifically Apple, have dealt with President Trump and his expectations. Primarily, he says it “breaks my heart” knowing that small businesses and farmers don’t have the same opportunity to make a phone call to get a tariff exemption.
End of today’s Apple Insider roundup.
