There appears to be an increasingly widespread Apple ID outage of some sort impacting Apple users tonight. A number of people across social media say that they were logged out of their Apple ID across multiple devices on Friday evening and forced to reset their password before logging back in…

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Apple has been soliciting Vision Pro feedback since the device launched, but this week, the company has picked up on sending out surveys. We've had several reports from Vision Pro customers who have been asked to share their thoughts about the device.

Apple asks about Vision Pro satisfaction, environment usage, favorite features, what it's being used for, how often it's used, and how long usage sessions last. Apple also asks about guest mode and who else uses the Vision Pro, which is a curious question because it's not at all set up for multi-person usage. Some of the questions:

• Overall, how satisfied are you with your Vision Pro?
• What is your favorite feature or aspect of Apple Vision Pro so far?
• How often do you use your ‌Apple Vision Pro‌?
• For how long do you typically wear your ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ before you decide to take it off?...

Apple is once again talking with OpenAI about using OpenAI technology to power artificial intelligence features in iOS 18, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple held talks with OpenAI earlier in the year, but nothing had come of the discussion. Apple and OpenAI are now said to be speaking about the terms of a possible agreement and how Apple might utilize OpenAI features.

Along with OpenAI, Apple is still having discussions with Google about licensing Google's Gemini AI. Apple has not come to a final decision, and Gurman suggests that the company could partner with both Google and OpenAI or pick another provider entirely.

Rumors suggest that ‌iOS 18‌ will...

Losing Charles Edge recently caused Adam Engst to think morbid thoughts that turned into advice about how planning for the unexpected can make life a little easier for those left behind.

Did you know that iOS makes it very, very easy to instantly remove the background from any image? This feature was first introduced with iOS 16, and I’ve found it to be one of the best and most useful capabilities over the last 18 months. Here’s how it works.

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One of the big changes for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is that both models will feature larger displays. This will mark the first time iPhone screens have gotten bigger since the iPhone 12 was introduced in 2020. Is this a good thing, though?

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Roborock: Get a special deal on the S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vac & S8 Max Ultra with free gifts for a limited time.

...

The iPhone is the best-selling smartphone on the planet and, in the US especially, it’s clearly a dominant force. I’m an Android person by choice, but once in a while, I spend time with the latest iPhone to take a peek inside of Apple’s garden, trying not to get trapped within its walls. Over the past several months, I’ve been using the iPhone 15 Pro off and on and, well, I’ve got thoughts.

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Since its initial introduction, Apple’s CarPlay platform has become ubiquitous. It’s available in the vast majority of new cars on the market today, and for good reason: it’s one of the top things people look for when buying a new car.

At WWDC in June 2022, Apple announced what it calls the “next generation of CarPlay.” This new CarPlay interface is set to debut in new cars this year, and it’s going to be a big change.

The first automakers signed on to support next-gen CarPlay? Porsche and Aston Martin. Here’s everything we know.

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In a new promotion, Apple has announced that you can get Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes” bonus bundle with an Apple Gift Card at Target.

The offer is valid for gift card purchases of US$25 or more. You can ge the bonus instantly upon the gift card redemption. You have to purchase the card by May 18 and redeem the gift card by May 25.

“Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes” is a mobile RPG where you can collect Star Wars characters and ships to do battle #ontheholotable. You can use your crystals to build your dream squad by upgrading gear, unlocking characters, and more.

The post Get ‘Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes’ bonus bundle With Apple Gift Card at Target appeared first on MacTech.com.

Macworld

If you’re looking for a new laptop, the newest 13-inch MacBook Air is a perfect option for most people, especially when it’s on sale: Amazon is selling the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of storage for $989, a savings of $110 and the best price we’ve ever seen.

The 13-inch MacBook Air has the same thin and light design as the M2 model with a new M3 processor and the ability to...

Back in January, a fully intact iPhone was discovered along the side of the road after plummeting 16,000 feet when a door blew off an Alaska Airlines flight. At the time, we pointed out that it was pretty incredible the iPhone 14 Pro Max survived such a dramatic fall.

The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern, however, was determined to get more answers.

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the announcement of Apple's upcoming "Let loose" event, where the company is widely expected to announce new iPad models and accessories.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos

Apple's event invite shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also...

Apple introduced the third-generation AirPods nearly three years ago and an all new model is now slated to launch later this year with a range of improvements and new features.

Many of the changes and improvements introduced with the third-generation AirPods originated on the first-generation AirPods Pro. As such, it seems likely that many of the upgrades coming to the fourth-generation AirPods will be shaped by the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌. Our best indications so far about what to expect come from a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Two Models

Apple is rumored to be working on two versions of the fourth-generation AirPods targeting different price points. The company is apparently aiming to replace both the third-generation AirPods...

iPhone Sales Slump in China Despite a Significant Uptick in Smartphone Shipments

Canalys’ latest research shows that the smartphone market in China has rebounded after two years. The smartphone shipment had a drop of 18% in 2022. The bad news is that Apple has lost its sheen in the Chinese market. The company has literally plunged from first place to fifth place despite the significant growth in […]

This post iPhone Sales Slump in China Despite a Significant Uptick in Smartphone Shipments appeared first on The Mac Observer

404 Media: Apple has removed a number of AI image generation apps from the App Store after 404 Media found these apps advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images, a sign that app store operators are starting to take more action against these types of apps.

Overall, Apple removed three apps from the App Store, but only after we provided the company with links to the specific apps and their related ads, indicating the company was not able to find the apps that violated its policy itself.

Apple's action comes after we reported on Monday that Instagram advertises nonconsensual AI nude apps. By browsing Meta's Ad Library, which archives ads on its platform, when they ran, on what platforms, and who paid for them, we were able to find ads for five different apps, each with dozens of ads. Two of the ads were for web-based services, and three were for apps on the Apple App Store. Meta deleted the ads when we flagged them. Apple did not initially respond to a...

Apple is cracking down on a category of AI image generation apps that “advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images.” According to a new report from 404 Media, Apple has removed multiple AI apps from the App Store that claimed they could “create nonconsensual nude images.”

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Canadian indie drama “A Hundred Lies” will premiere on June 7th on Apple TV+ with limited theatrical releases in Toronto, Hamilton, and Los Angeles preceding the digital release date, reports Deadline.

Directed by Rouzbeh Heydari (“Neon Lights”), the suspense film features an ensemble cast, including  Rob Raco (“Riverdale”), Dana Abraham (“Neon Lights”), Humberly Gonzalez (“Ginny and Georgia”), Brandon McKnight (“The Flash”), Stephen Tracey (“Good Sam”), Jessica Amlee (“Heartland”), and Michael Xavier (“Northern Rescue”). 

Heres how the film is described: A Hundred Lies is set in the backdrop of the Toronto music scene and will follow Rob Raco’s Ricky, a faded star aiming for a career resurgence with the aid of underground producer Terrence (McKnight) and aspiring manager Damien (Abraham). Lead Raco also wrote lyrics featured in...

The latest Canalys research shows the Mainland China smartphone market has finally seen a rebound after two years, with a quarter one (Q1) 2024 shipment of 67.7 million units.

That’s the good news. The bad: Apple declined the most among the top five, with 10.0 million units in sales, a year-on-year decrease of 25%.

Huawei returned to the top spot in China’s smartphone market after 13 quarters, shipping 11.7 million smartphones and capturing a 17% market share. OPPO rose to second place, driven by its Reno 11 series’ strong performance, shipping 10.9 million units. Conversely, following a strong Q4 last year, HONOR, vivo and Apple slowed their sell-ins this quarter, and ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively. HONOR was third with 10.6 million units, with a year-on-year increase of 9%. vivo ranked fourth with 10.3 million units and saw a year-on-year decrease of 9%.

The iPhone now has 15% of China’s smartphone market. That compares to 20% in the first...

The latest Canalys research shows the Mainland China smartphone market has finally seen a rebound after two years, with a quarter one (Q1) 2024 shipment of 67.7 million units.

That’s the good news. The bad: Apple declined the most among the top five, with 10.0 million units in sales, a year-on-year decrease of 25%.

Huawei returned to the top spot in China’s smartphone market after 13 quarters, shipping 11.7 million smartphones and capturing a 17% market share. OPPO rose to second place, driven by its Reno 11 series’ strong performance, shipping 10.9 million units. Conversely, following a strong Q4 last year, HONOR, vivo and Apple slowed their sell-ins this quarter, and ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively. HONOR was third with 10.6 million units, with a year-on-year increase of 9%. vivo ranked fourth with 10.3 million units and saw a year-on-year decrease of 9%.

The iPhone now has 15% of China’s smartphone market. That compares to 20% in the first...

Macworld

If you are running out of space on your iPhone you may be looking at the huge amount of space being attributed to Photos and thinking that deleting all the photos from your iPhone would be an easy way to increase your storage.

You may have heard of iCloud Photos and wondered if that would be a way to back up your photos so you can delete them from the iPhone. Or you may already be using iCloud Photos and think they are all backed up in iCloud and can be deleted from your iPhone. But you’d be very wrong!

iCloud can be a little confusing: it’s not a backup it’s more of a sync. So rather than being a way to free up space on your iPhone, it’s more of a way to make everything available on all your devices. That’s not to say you can’t use iCloud to make more space on your iPhone, you can, but probably not in the way you think.

So, in this article, we will explain how you can reduce the amount of space photos...

Apple wants its devices to do a better job of alerting users when the devices need charging. The tech giant has been granted a patent (number US 11966315 B2) for “Smart Advice to Charge Notification.”

About the patent

The patent involves determining that an electronic device needs to be charged. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that advise a user to charge the electronic device.

In the patent Apple notes that a modern battery-powered electronic device can monitor the charge level of one or more batteries in the electronic device. Typically, when the battery level falls below a predetermined threshold value of remaining charge, then the electronic device notifies the user with a message such as “battery low” or other visual and/or audible indicator of the remaining charge level.

However, Apple notes that, often, a “battery low” indication that is based on a fixed threshold of charge remaining is not received in time for the...

Apple wants its devices to do a better job of alerting users when the devices need charging. The tech giant has been granted a patent (number US 11966315 B2) for “Smart Advice to Charge Notification.”

About the patent

The patent involves determining that an electronic device needs to be charged. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that advise a user to charge the electronic device.

In the patent Apple notes that a modern battery-powered electronic device can monitor the charge level of one or more batteries in the electronic device. Typically, when the battery level falls below a predetermined threshold value of remaining charge, then the electronic device notifies the user with a message such as “battery low” or other visual and/or audible indicator of the remaining charge level.

However, Apple notes that, often, a “battery low” indication that is based on a fixed threshold of charge remaining is not received in time for the...

Apple has removed a number of artificial intelligence (AI) image generation apps from the App Store after 404 Media found these apps advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images.

Apple’s decision to remove the apps, and Google’s recent removal from the Play store of a face swapping app that advertised its ability to generate non consensual deepfakes on porn sites, indicates that the app store operators are more willing to take action against these apps than they were in the past, according to 404 Media.

Removing the ads for these apps, and the apps themselves, is significant because much of the worst harms we’ve seen as a result of generative AI don’t take place on the dark corners of the internet, but on these giant, mainstream platforms, the article adds.

The post...

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Apple and Skydance have welcomed four to the cast of their action adventure pic “Mayday” from writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley: Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”), Marcin Dorocinski (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”), Lovell Adams-Gray (“Power Book II: Ghost”), and Clark Johnson (“The Wire”), reports Deadline.

Details as to the film’s plot and their roles are under wraps. However, Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh have previously been announced as starring in the film. “MayDay” reunites Apple with Reynolds who starred in the hit Christmas musical “Spirited.”

About Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony,...

A new Apple Card promo gives you cash back when you make a purchase with the Nike app using Apple Pay. Every purchase with the Apple Card earns Daily Cash, which can be deposited to the Apple Cash debit card or an Apple Savings account.

For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

From April 25 through May 2, ‌Apple Card‌ owners will get 10% Daily Cash back on Nike purchases made using ‌Apple Pay‌. The deal is available on the Nike website, the Nike app, and at U.S. Nike Stores. Customers can earn up to $50 back, which means the extra cash is available for up to $500 in purchases.

The post...

A new Apple Card promo gives you cash back when you make a purchase with the Nike app using Apple Pay. Every purchase with the Apple Card earns Daily Cash, which can be deposited to the Apple Cash debit card or an Apple Savings account.

For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

From April 25 through May 2, ‌Apple Card‌ owners will get 10% Daily Cash back on Nike purchases made using ‌Apple Pay‌. The deal is available on the Nike website, the Nike app, and at U.S. Nike Stores. Customers can earn up to $50 back, which means the extra cash is available for up to $500 in purchases.

The post...

Apple has revealed the trailer for the documentary series “Hollywood Con Queen,” which explores the story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams. The three-part docuseries will premiere on May 8, 2024, globally on Apple TV+.

Here’s how the docu-series is described: A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The ‘Con Queen’s’ marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break, while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe. The scam eventually draws the attention of veteran investigative journalist Scott Johnson of The Hollywood Reporter, and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, who set out to find the truth only to discover a story more strange...

Macworld

Earlier this week we got some surprising news out of Cupertino. After weeks of reported delays, Apple announced that it will be holding an event on May 7 with the tagline Let Loose that will presumably feature new iPads. That would make a whopping 559 days since the announcement of the 10th-gen iPad and...

It never hurts to have insurance for all your devices and Verizon may have just upped its game in this department. The wireless carrier announced an update for its Home Device Protect plan that repairs or replaces an unlimited number of devices from computers, game consoles, smart home devices, TVs, and now robot vacuums, healthcare […]

Source

Macworld

While travel costs continue to rise steadily, that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your vacation dreams. With OneAir, a members-only travel app, you can save on your travel planning by letting this platform’s AI find the best airfare deals.

Through April 30, you can grab lifetime access to the OneAir Elite Plan for only $79.97 (reg. $790).

By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, ...

Macworld

Apple made its popular Apple Thunderbolt Display from 2011 to 2016–we still get questions about using the display eight years after it was discontinued. Even though the Thunderbolt Display used an older Thunderbolt standard, it remained compatible with Thunderbolt 3 when that newer standard was released, as well as with the even fresher Thunderbolt 4.

The Apple Thunderbolt Display offered a Thunderbolt 2 data connection via a jack that is identical in appearance to Mini DisplayPort. Thunderbolt 3 requires USB-C, a standard that can connect devices and computers using Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 3.1 and later, and USB4. USB-C is a specification for ports, jacks, and cables; Thunderbolt and USB’s numbered standards define what flows over those connections. (There were some tweaky elements of using Mini...

Verizon has another price increase on the way. In an email to customers on Thursday, the company revealed a $5 per month price increase affecting plans tied to Apple Watch and other connected smartwatches.

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Apple last updated the Mac Pro in June 2023, adding an M2 Ultra chip and officially completing the transition away from Intel chips. The ‌Mac Pro‌ uses the same ‌M2‌ Ultra chip that's in the Mac Studio, leading to criticism about its lack of power.

Apple has now gone back to the drawing board and is working on an updated version of the ‌Mac Pro‌ that's set to come out next year. This guide highlights everything we know about Apple's ‌Mac Pro‌ progress.

M4 Chip

The next ‌Mac Pro‌ will have a chip that's in the M4 family, as Apple is working to update its entire Mac lineup to the M4 series across 2024 and 2025.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple wants to establish a more regular Apple silicon chip upgrade...

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Roborock: Get a special deal on the S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vac & S8 Max Ultra with free gifts for a limited time.

...

Satechi, today, is launching its first-ever Qi2 chargers for iPhone 15. I’ve been using them over the past few days and am already in love with the premium folding designs, 15W charging speeds, and the option to add in Apple Watch fast-charging for less than the competition.

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The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that it’s continuing collaboration with Big Tech concerning the use of biometric surveillance technology and the development of digital IDs for airplane passengers.

On its site, the TSA revealed that its officials traveled to California recently where they met with representatives of Apple and Google to talk about continuing work on implementing digital ID on people’s phones.

The TSA delegation to Silicon Valley, led by Administrator David Pekoske, referred to Apple and Google as their “innovation partners.” The team visited those two tech companies, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), In-Q-Tel (IQT) and met with Stanford University Professor Dr. Hayagreeva “Huggy” Rao, an expert in innovation and organizational behavior. Pekoske also engaged with TSA employees at California’s Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International...

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that it’s continuing collaboration with Big Tech concerning the use of biometric surveillance technology and the development of digital IDs for airplane passengers.

On its site, the TSA revealed that its officials traveled to California recently where they met with representatives of Apple and Google to talk about continuing work on implementing digital ID on people’s phones.

The TSA delegation to Silicon Valley, led by Administrator David Pekoske, referred to Apple and Google as their “innovation partners.” The team visited those two tech companies, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), In-Q-Tel (IQT) and met with Stanford University Professor Dr. Hayagreeva “Huggy” Rao, an expert in innovation and organizational behavior. Pekoske also engaged with TSA employees at California’s Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International...

Satechi today announced the availability of its two new Qi2 charging stands, the 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand and the 2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand. Qi2 is the latest version of the Qi standard, and it is comparable to MagSafe.

Qi2 uses magnets to ensure that smartphones are aligned properly with charging coils, and it is able to charge compatible iPhones at up to 15W. The faster Qi2 charging speeds are available on the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and all iPhone 15 models. Future iPhones, such as the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, will also work with Qi2....

I was recently lucky enough to go on a great vacation where we spent eight days traveling across Europe. One of the things I noticed was just how helpful my iPhone was throughout this experience. Yes, we all know that we can use maps to help us navigate new cities and geographies. But did you know that you could convert currencies directly in the Notes or iMessage apps? Or that you could create a shared library so everyone on the trip can see all the pictures you took. I found over 25 iOS features that are specifically built into iOS to enhance and make your travels easier.

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Apple Card users can get extra Daily Cash back this week for Nike purchases thanks to a special Apple Pay promotion Apple is running with Nike.

From April 25 through May 2, ‌Apple Card‌ owners will get 10 percent Daily Cash back on Nike purchases made using ‌Apple Pay‌. The deal is available on the Nike website, the Nike app, and at U.S. Nike Stores.

Customers can earn up to $50 back, which means the extra cash is available for up to $500 in purchases.

Daily Cash is a benefit available to ‌Apple Card‌ owners. With each purchase, immediate cash back rewards are available. Apple typically provides two percent cash back for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases, three percent for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases at Apple locations, and one percent for everything else. Some retailers, such as Nike, have special deals with Apple where users...

An anonymous reader shares a report: Consumer Intelligence Research Partners is out with a report on how iPhone activations compare to Android in the US. The latest data shows a notable drop over the last year bringing Apple's US smartphone market share of new activations back in time six years. CIRP shared its new iPhone report on its Substack this morning. The firm notes that while it believes Apple's installed smartphone base is higher than the recent share of US smartphone activations, the latter has taken a dive.

As shown below, the metric peaked at 40% for Q1 and Q2 in 2023 with Apple seeing a decline to 33% of new smartphone activations in the US as of Q1 2024, says CIRP. That means 2 out of 3 new smartphone activations in the US are Android devices. Per CIRP's data, Apple hasn't seen numbers that low since 2017.

...

A new all-time low on Apple’s 16-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro is giving you another excuse to ditch the newer M3 model now that it’s $500 off. You can also save on some of our favorite iPhone 15 accessories, including Anker’s GaNPrime PowerCore 65W at $63 and the just-released ESR 15W Qi2 MagSafe Car Mount at $24 – both of which are new all-time lows. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

...

A curious email from Apple is making its way to iPhone Upgrade Program customers. The message is telling many who upgraded to an iPhone 15 last fall that their completed trade-in has been “canceled” and the paid-off loan will “resume.”

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Apple has rejected Spotify's new version of its iOS app with in-app pricing information for users in the European Union, the audio streaming firm said on Thursday. Reuters: The Swedish company submitted a new version of its app to Apple with basic pricing and website information, which is a minimum requirement under the European Commission's ruling in its music streaming case, it said in a post on X on Wednesday. Spotify said the Cupertino, California based-Apple rejected its update in a response directly sent to the company.

"Apple has once again defied the European Commission's decision, rejecting our update for attempting to communicate with customers about our prices unless we pay Apple a new tax. Their disregard for consumers and developers is matched only by their disdain for the law," a spokesperson for Spotify said in a statement. In March, Brussels fined Apple with 1.84 billion euros ($1.97 billion) for thwarting competition from music streaming rivals via...

Google Chrome for macOS Now Masks Media Control Details in Incognito Mode

Google’s Chrome’s media control option on macOS lets you control audio and video playback without opening the tab. For instance, you can control YouTube video or audio while working on other Chrome tabs. Google has added a new feature directed at improving privacy. It will hide the details of media being played in incognito mode.  Previously, Chrome had labelled the feature experimental. […]

This post Google Chrome for macOS Now Masks Media Control Details in Incognito Mode appeared first on The Mac Observer

Macworld

The iPhone 15 is lots of things, but it isn’t indestructible. Drop it, knock it, or scratch it, and it will suffer damage that no one would wish on their expensive new purchase. The most obvious way to protect your iPhone 15, 15 Pro, 15 Plus, or 15 Pro Max—aside from leaving it in the box—is to buy a case that will take the hard knocks and scrapes, leaving your iPhone as Apple intended.

A case is more than just a pretty backplate, so we have some expert tips for you to start. We have tested a wide range of iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max cases. Here you can jump straight to the cases that most appeal to you.

We have tested plain cases, wallet cases, cases that support bike and car mounts, pouches, sleeves and cases with belt-clips.

• Best clear cases
• ...

CNBC’s Jim Cramer tells investors he’s confident in the success of the Apple Vision Pro and sees uses for the product outside the consumer space.

Yesterday analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple is slashing its shipment forecast for the virtual reality headsets due to declining demand. The tech giant now only expects to sell 400,000 to 450,000 units in 2024 compared to 700,000 to 800,000, the “market consensus” estimate, he added.

Cramer says Apple could pivot and market the Vision Pro as an enterprise product. At Nvidia’s conference last month, he was impressed by how the company’s technology worked with the Vision Pro. Cramer described the way he was able to look at the dashboard and under the hood of a sports car through the headset. And with digital twin technology, he suggested the Vision Pro could be a boon for the industrial sector.

“The construction of factories is the...

CNBC’s Jim Cramer tells investors he’s confident in the success of the Apple Vision Pro and sees uses for the product outside the consumer space.

Yesterday analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple is slashing its shipment forecast for the virtual reality headsets due to declining demand. The tech giant now only expects to sell 400,000 to 450,000 units in 2024 compared to 700,000 to 800,000, the “market consensus” estimate, he added.

Cramer says Apple could pivot and market the Vision Pro as an enterprise product. At Nvidia’s conference last month, he was impressed by how the company’s technology worked with the Vision Pro. Cramer described the way he was able to look at the dashboard and under the hood of a sports car through the headset. And with digital twin technology, he suggested the Vision Pro could be a boon for the industrial sector.

“The construction of factories is the...

Two veteran security experts are launching a startup that aims to help other makers of cybersecurity products to up their game in protecting Apple devices, reports TechCrunch.

Their startup is called DoubleYou, the name taken from the initials of its co-founder, Patrick Wardle, who worked at the U.S. National Security Agency between 2006 and 2008. Wardle then worked as an offensive security researcher for years before switching to independently researching Apple macOS defensive security. 

Wardle is the CEO and co-founder of DoubleYou, the founder of the non-profit Objective-See Foundation, and the author of “The Art of Mac Malware” book series. Having worked at NASA and the NSA, as well as presented at countless security conferences, he is intimately familiar with aliens, spies, and talking nerdy. Passionate about macOS security, Patrick spends...

Two veteran security experts are launching a startup that aims to help other makers of cybersecurity products to up their game in protecting Apple devices, reports TechCrunch.

Their startup is called DoubleYou, the name taken from the initials of its co-founder, Patrick Wardle, who worked at the U.S. National Security Agency between 2006 and 2008. Wardle then worked as an offensive security researcher for years before switching to independently researching Apple macOS defensive security. 

Wardle is the CEO and co-founder of DoubleYou, the founder of the non-profit Objective-See Foundation, and the author of “The Art of Mac Malware” book series. Having worked at NASA and the NSA, as well as presented at countless security conferences, he is intimately familiar with aliens, spies, and talking nerdy. Passionate about macOS security, Patrick spends...

Yesterday we learned that Spotify decided to pass on Apple’s new EU terms that would allow it to use alternative payment methods due to the Core Technology Fee. Instead, it submitted an app update with pricing info and details on how to subscribe outside of the App Store without giving users a link. Now Spotify says Apple has unjustly blocked the update and again “defied the European Commission”.

more…

Apple wants to make it easier for you to set up accessories with its various devices. The company has filed for three patents for just that. 

Patent filing number US 20240134956 A1 is for “Accessory Setup Using a Setup Code.” In the patent filing Apple says that current techniques for setting up electronic devices (e.g., controllers, accessories, user devices, and/or computer systems) are “generally ineffective and/or inefficient.”

The patent filing involves techniques for a setup component of a controller to add accessories to a new ecosystem (e.g., a grouping of one or more accessories and one or more controllers and/or a grouping of one or more accessories to an application). Such techniques include the setup component receiving a setup code for an accessory to be added to the new ecosystem. 

Patent number US 20240137352 A1 its for “Initial Accessory Setup.” It involves techniques for initially setting up an accessory with a...

Apple wants to make it easier for you to set up accessories with its various devices. The company has filed for three patents for just that. 

Patent filing number US 20240134956 A1 is for “Accessory Setup Using a Setup Code.” In the patent filing Apple says that current techniques for setting up electronic devices (e.g., controllers, accessories, user devices, and/or computer systems) are “generally ineffective and/or inefficient.”

The patent filing involves techniques for a setup component of a controller to add accessories to a new ecosystem (e.g., a grouping of one or more accessories and one or more controllers and/or a grouping of one or more accessories to an application). Such techniques include the setup component receiving a setup code for an accessory to be added to the new ecosystem. 

Patent number US 20240137352 A1 its for “Initial Accessory Setup.” It involves techniques for initially setting up an accessory with a...

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government notified Apple over concerns that the tech giant’s supply chain may be tainted by conflict minerals sourced from the central African nation, reports Bloomberg.

A group of international lawyers engaged on behalf of the Congolese state sent a list of questions to Apple on April 22 and demanded answers within three weeks, according to a statement published on the website of lawyer Robert Amsterdam on Thursday. The statement coincided with the release by the law firm of a report accusing neighboring Rwanda of laundering tin, tungsten, tantalum — known as 3T minerals — and gold from Congo.

“[Year] after year, Apple has sold technology made with minerals sourced from a region whose population is being devastated by grave violations of human rights,” wrote lawyer Amsterdam says...

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government notified Apple over concerns that the tech giant’s supply chain may be tainted by conflict minerals sourced from the central African nation, reports Bloomberg.

A group of international lawyers engaged on behalf of the Congolese state sent a list of questions to Apple on April 22 and demanded answers within three weeks, according to a statement published on the website of lawyer Robert Amsterdam on Thursday. The statement coincided with the release by the law firm of a report accusing neighboring Rwanda of laundering tin, tungsten, tantalum — known as 3T minerals — and gold from Congo.

“[Year] after year, Apple has sold technology made with minerals sourced from a region whose population is being devastated by grave violations of human rights,” wrote lawyer Amsterdam says...

New iPhone activations are down to a low not seen in the U.S. smartphone market for the last six years, according to a new Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report.

While CIRP notes that Apple's installed smartphone base is higher than recorded activations, the figures show its share of new iPhone activations fell from 40% to 33% over the past year, suggesting a shift away from the higher market shares Apple enjoyed in previous years.

Historically, around the time when competitors like Blackberry and Windows phones were more prevalent, iPhone's activation share hovered around one-third. This increased steadily until the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic when various factors contributed to a spike in activations. However, Apple's iPhone share appears to have reverted to its long-term average, with two out of three new smartphone activations now from Android devices.

CIRP suggests the decline is due...

Apple manufacturing partners TSMC has announced its newest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies “for powering the next generation of AI innovations with silicon leadership at the Company’s 2024 North America Technology Symposium. 

For example, it debuted A16, which will combine the company’s Super Power Rail architecture with its nanosheet transistors for planned production in 2026. According to TSMC CEO C. C. Wei it improves logic density and performance by dedicating front-side routing resources to signals.

Compared to TSMC’s N2P process, A16 will provide 8-10% speed improvement, 15-20% power reduction at the same speed, and up to 1.10X chip density improvement for data center products. You can almost certainly expect to see it in future Apple Silicon products.

The post...

Apple manufacturing partners TSMC has announced its newest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies “for powering the next generation of AI innovations with silicon leadership at the Company’s 2024 North America Technology Symposium. 

For example, it debuted A16, which will combine the company’s Super Power Rail architecture with its nanosheet transistors for planned production in 2026. According to TSMC CEO C. C. Wei it improves logic density and performance by dedicating front-side routing resources to signals.

Compared to TSMC’s N2P process, A16 will provide 8-10% speed improvement, 15-20% power reduction at the same speed, and up to 1.10X chip density improvement for data center products. You can almost certainly expect to see it in future Apple Silicon products.

The post...

The world of e-commerce has dramatically changed the way people shop. In today’s fast-paced society, convenience and personalized products are in high demand. 

Busy parents often struggle to find the time to shop for unique items that reflect their individual style. That is where Shopify print-on-demand products come in. This innovative platform allows parents to create custom products from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for endless hours spent at malls or searching through crowded stores.

1. What is Shopify Print-on-Demand?

Shopify print on demand is a service that enables sellers to create personalized products on demand. The platform seamlessly integrates with online stores powered by Shopify and offers a wide variety of customizable options. From t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and wall art, parents have the freedom to design unique items that match their personal style....

The world of e-commerce has dramatically changed the way people shop. In today’s fast-paced society, convenience and personalized products are in high demand. 

Busy parents often struggle to find the time to shop for unique items that reflect their individual style. That is where Shopify print-on-demand products come in. This innovative platform allows parents to create custom products from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for endless hours spent at malls or searching through crowded stores.

1. What is Shopify Print-on-Demand?

Shopify print on demand is a service that enables sellers to create personalized products on demand. The platform seamlessly integrates with online stores powered by Shopify and offers a wide variety of customizable options. From t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and wall art, parents have the freedom to design unique items that match their personal style....

Apple has released Safari Technology Preview 193. The update includes fixes and updates for Authentication, CSS, Editing, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, Web API, and Web Extensions.

Safari Technology Preview offers a sneak peek at upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS. You can experiment with these technologies in your websites and extensions.

Safari Technology Preview is a standalone app that works side-by-side with the current version of Safari, so you can continue to use and reference the current release.

The post Apple releases Safari Technology Preview 193 appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has released Safari Technology Preview 193. The update includes fixes and updates for Authentication, CSS, Editing, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, Web API, and Web Extensions.

Safari Technology Preview offers a sneak peek at upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS. You can experiment with these technologies in your websites and extensions.

Safari Technology Preview is a standalone app that works side-by-side with the current version of Safari, so you can continue to use and reference the current release.

The post Apple releases Safari Technology Preview 193 appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has released the third public betas of macOS Sonoma 14.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5. Public betas are available on Apple’s Beta Software Program website. 

Just remember that beta software is unfinished software, so proceed with care. Apple does public betas in order to increase the size of the pool of testers. The tech giant recommends keeping back-ups of your files before installing a public beta. 

The post Apple releases third public betas of macOS Sonoma 14.5, iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5 appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple has released the third public betas of macOS Sonoma 14.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5. Public betas are available on Apple’s Beta Software Program website. 

Just remember that beta software is unfinished software, so proceed with care. Apple does public betas in order to increase the size of the pool of testers. The tech giant recommends keeping back-ups of your files before installing a public beta. 

The post Apple releases third public betas of macOS Sonoma 14.5, iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5 appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple TV+ has revealed the trailer for “The Big Cigar,” the upcoming limited series led by André Holland, who stars alongside Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P. J. Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie and Glynn Turman. “The Big Cigar” makes its global debut on May 17 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through June 14.

Here’s how the series is described: Based on the magazine article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman (“Argo”), who also serves as executive producer, “The Big Cigar” tells the incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution. It’s a wild caper about Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton escaping from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed...

Apple TV+ has revealed the trailer for “The Big Cigar,” the upcoming limited series led by André Holland, who stars alongside Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P. J. Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie and Glynn Turman. “The Big Cigar” makes its global debut on May 17 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through June 14.

Here’s how the series is described: Based on the magazine article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman (“Argo”), who also serves as executive producer, “The Big Cigar” tells the incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution. It’s a wild caper about Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton escaping from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed...

Since I can’t cover everything, here are some recommended articles you should check out:

° From AppleInsider: Apple has publicly shared four open-source models boasting of enhanced accuracy for queries, which could help the development of future AI models.

° From MacRumors: The European Commission has waved through new “right to repair”legislation that aims to make it easier for consumers to get their broken devices fixed, even if products are out of warranty.

° From VentureBeat: Spotify submits a new update to Apple with pricing information for EU users.

° From...

Macworld

I don’t need to have a new iPhone every year, just the procedure of changing over with various authentications is sometimes a bit annoying. What’s more, the iPhone has matured to such an extent that there are only evolutionary changes from year to year, rarely an innovation that really knocks my socks off.

A new device every three to four years, possibly a replacement battery in between—that’s quite enough. After three to four years, a new iPhone really does feel revolutionary compared to the old one.

But now I’m in the situation of having to change every year for professional reasons. Because even if the innovations from generation to generation are rather sparse, iI need to be familiar with each annual upgrade to make sure I give our valued readers the best possible information. But which model is best for me?

Deciding on a downgrade

In recent years, I have had a red...

Most of us stare at our iPhones for far too long, and this constant exposure to a bright screen can strain our eyes, especially in low-light conditions or during the twilight hours. That's where the ability to dim your iPhone screen beyond the standard brightness settings becomes a game-changer.

If the screen of your iPhone or iPad is too bright for comfort, the usual solution is to go to Settings ➝ Display & Brightness and drag the Brightness slider to the left, or open Control Center and adjust the corresponding setting from there. However, if the lowest setting offered by the Brightness level just isn't dim enough for you, there's another way to make your screen even darker.

This feature is particularly useful if you find yourself needing to use your device in dark environments, such as in a bedroom where a partner is sleeping, or in a dimly lit theater. It's also a boon for anyone with light sensitivity, providing a more comfortable viewing experience that...

Macworld

I have an admission: Though I frequently review new Apple products, I don’t always buy them. Like many of you, I can’t afford to update every bit of Apple hardware every time the company revises one of its products. So I have to carefully measure when my stuff has now become too old and needs to be replaced with the shiny and new.

Of course, Apple would love us all to buy new stuff all the time. But the company has to earn its sales the hard way. I might buy a new iPhone because of an upgraded camera or a new MacBook Air because of a new design and a faster processor. I might bypass the latest Apple Watch because the new features just don’t matter to me.

As the heat from the iPhone’s huge acceleration of growth begins to cool down and iPad and Mac sales drop from their pandemic-driven heights, Apple is looking for reasons to sell new hardware. And now, it may have found a big one in a somewhat unexpected...

There may be some cool stuff en route for Apple’s special event on May 7, which was announced on Tuesday. The company may have also dropped some interesting hints into the invitation, including a pencil icon that could indicate a next-gen Apple Pencil within the works. In a post on X, Apple CEO Cook shared […]

Source

Macworld

Whether you’re streaming or browsing online, we can all agree that ads pose a serious annoyance to any digital experience. Fortunately, you can rid your browser of ads, protect yourself and your devices from malware, and more with AdGuard.

AdGuard is a comprehensive security solution offering data privacy tools for life. Now, the Family Plan is less than $25 through April 30.

Compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, AdGuard provides users with impressive ad-blocking support. It can ...

Macworld

If you need to move text, an image or another object from one part of a document to another, or from one app to another, you need to use copy (or cut) and paste. On a Mac or MacBook, the keyboard shortcuts for this are different from other devices, so if you are coming from Windows you might be confused.

We’ll explain the simple steps you need to take to cut, copy and paste on a Mac. Our tips will show you how to copy and paste on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini or any other Mac.

We’ll also cover how to copy and paste using the keyboard on a Mac and copy and paste using a Mac mouse or a trackpad, how to paste without formatting, how to copy multiple items on Mac, and...

Macworld

With news that iPadOS 18 might bring a calculator to the iPad we’ll refresh our memories as to why the iPad doesn’t have a calculator right now, and what the alternatives are if you want to do some math and it’s the only device you have handy.

Ever since the iPad first arrived, there’s been a curious omission in the apps that come preinstalled by Apple. Whereas the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch and even the iPod touch feature a calculator as standard, there’s never been one on the iPad.

Why is that? Of all the platforms, it’s probably the one most suited to the task, especially if it was one of the scientific variety with all the additional capabilities.

We’re not ones to leave a stone unturned, so we set out to find why the iPad comes calculator-free.

The Steve Jobs story

In preparing this article...

Macworld

It’s pretty universal at this point to keep a smartphone charger by your bed, usually so you can charge your phone while it rests on your nightstand. It’s also pretty standard to have a lamp on that same nightstand. Miraculously, 3PExperts put two and two together and combined these nightstand staples into one sleek package. 

Meet the 15W Nightlight Wireless Charging Pad, which offers easy ambient lighting and an easy charging solution for only $39.99 (reg. $99).

This versatile device blends well into almost any bedroom or home decor, and is compatible with all wireless chargeable devices including your iPhone, earbuds, and more. You’ll just need to ensure that whatever device you own supports wireless charging.

As for the nightlight, this gadget offers gentle illumination and promotes relaxation with its three brightness levels. With its highly practical and multi-purpose design, you can promote a clutter-...

Boom3D Review: Is It a Good Audio Enhancement App for Mac?

Whether you listen to music, watch movies, or play games on your computer, optimal sound quality is essential for a good listening experience. You can change numerous settings in streaming apps and on your Mac, but for advanced configuration, consider tools like Boom3D. In this review, I’ll outline whether you really need an equalizer tool […]

This post Boom3D Review: Is It a Good Audio Enhancement App for Mac? appeared first on The Mac Observer

Hartley Charlton reports via MacRumors: Apple is said to be developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process, targeting mass production by the second half of 2025. According to a post by the Weibo user known as "Phone Chip Expert," Apple has ambitious plans to design its own artificial intelligence server processor. The user, who claims to have 25 years of experience in the integrated circuit industry, including work on Intel's Pentium processors, suggests this processor will be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm node.

Apple's purported move toward developing a specialist AI server processor is reflective of the company's ongoing strategy to vertically integrate its supply chain. By designing its own server chips, Apple can tailor hardware specifically to its software needs, potentially leading to more powerful and efficient technologies. Apple could use its own AI processors to enhance the performance of its data centers and future AI tools that rely on the cloud...

Frank Casanova, a senior director leading product-marketing efforts for the Apple Vision Pro, has retired, reports Bloomberg.

After 36 years in various roles at the tech giant, including helping to lead the expansion of the iPhone to new carriers, he departed last week, according to his LinkedIn page. In April 2019, Apple named him “Senior Director, Worldwide Product Marketing.”

From 2007 to April 2024 he was “Senior Director, iPhone Product marketing.” Casanova tarted at Apple in May of 1988, left for 15 months when he joined MetaCreations, and then rejoined Apple in 1998 as “Product Manager – Director.” No word on what he’s planning to do after retiring from Apple.

The post Frank Casanova,...

Frank Casanova, a senior director leading product-marketing efforts for the Apple Vision Pro, has retired, reports Bloomberg.

After 36 years in various roles at the tech giant, including helping to lead the expansion of the iPhone to new carriers, he departed last week, according to his LinkedIn page. In April 2019, Apple named him “Senior Director, Worldwide Product Marketing.”

From 2007 to April 2024 he was “Senior Director, iPhone Product marketing.” Casanova tarted at Apple in May of 1988, left for 15 months when he joined MetaCreations, and then rejoined Apple in 1998 as “Product Manager – Director.” No word on what he’s planning to do after retiring from Apple.

The post Frank Casanova,...

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 193 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, Forms, JavaScript, Rendering, Web API, and Web Inspector.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma, the latest version of macOS that Apple released in September 2023.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System...

Meta has been experimenting with a lot of new features for Threads, its microblogging platform. Now Instagram boss Adam Mosseri revealed on Wednesday that the platform has started testing an option that will let users automatically hide old posts from Threads after a certain period of time.

more…

Apple today released several open source large language models (LLMs) that are designed to run on-device rather than through cloud servers. Called OpenELM (Open-source Efficient Language Models), the LLMs are available on the Hugging Face Hub, a community for sharing AI code.

As outlined in a white paper [PDF], there are eight total OpenELM models, four of which were pre-trained using the CoreNet library, and four instruction tuned models. Apple uses a layer-wise scaling strategy that is aimed at improving accuracy and efficiency.

Apple provided code, training logs, and multiple versions rather than just the final trained model, and the researchers behind the project hope that it will lead to faster progress and "more trustworthy results" in the natural language AI field.

OpenELM, a state-of-the-art open language model. OpenELM uses a layer-wise scaling...

Spotify has not been able to get Apple to approve an EU app update that added information on subscription pricing and links to the Spotify website, and it turns out that's because Spotify has not agreed to the terms of Apple's Music Streaming Services Entitlement.

A recent antitrust ruling from the European Commission fined Apple nearly $2 billion and mandated that Apple "remove anti-steering provisions" for music apps in the European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, Apple updated its App Store rules with a Music Streaming Services Entitlement that allows music apps in the EEA to inform users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services and to add website links for purchasing digital music...

NAB, a camera and production-focused trade show, is one of the events I look forward to annually – this year was no different. NAB 2024 was chock full of new hardware and software releases that will affect large productions with pro cameras all the way down to small at-home productions with an iPhone serving as an A-cam.

In this hands-on video, I traverse the showroom floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center in search of some of the best of NAB 2024 from an Apple user’s perspective. I cover some exciting new updates to the amazing LumaFusion mobile video editing app, an exciting newcomer in Prismatic that promises to enhance production workflows, an update to the Blackmagic Camera app, Promise’s upcoming Thunderbolt 5 RAID enclosure, the Atomos Ninja Phone, and lots of new iPhone and iPad-centric hardware as well. Watch our hands-on, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos.

...

Over the years, Apple has drastically improved its AutoFill feature for autofilling passwords, addresses, credit card information, and more. With iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, Apple has made another significant enhancement: the ability to use AutoFill anywhere in the operating systems.

more…

Meta this week announced some big news when it comes to its mixed reality ecosystem. The company confirmed that it is opening up the operating system for Meta Quest devices, known as Horizon OS, to third-party hardware manufacturers. This will allow devices other than those designed by Meta to run the same system, apps, and games.

more…

Apple Arcade games Crossy Road Castle and Solitaire Stories are set to launch on the Vision Pro tomorrow.

Here’ how Crossy Road Castle is described: Enter a castle as teammates, leave as family. With the new multiplayer mode, you can battle common enemies, collect all the gold, and take on the newest tower—the Construction tower.

Here’s how Solitaire Stores is described: Solitaire with a story? Weird. Solitaire Stories are a progressive journey through increasingly difficult levels. Each story is a completely new theme with it’s own unique deck design, gameplay environment, level map, soundtrack, and storyline! Whether you’re looking to get better at Solitaire and work through new challenges, or if you’re an experienced player looking for increasing difficulty, this mode is for you! New stories / decks are added monthly.

Apple Arcade isApple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service. It’s available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple...

Apple Arcade games Crossy Road Castle and Solitaire Stories are set to launch on the Vision Pro tomorrow.

Here’ how Crossy Road Castle is described: Enter a castle as teammates, leave as family. With the new multiplayer mode, you can battle common enemies, collect all the gold, and take on the newest tower—the Construction tower.

Here’s how Solitaire Stores is described: Solitaire with a story? Weird. Solitaire Stories are a progressive journey through increasingly difficult levels. Each story is a completely new theme with it’s own unique deck design, gameplay environment, level map, soundtrack, and storyline! Whether you’re looking to get better at Solitaire and work through new challenges, or if you’re an experienced player looking for increasing difficulty, this mode is for you! New stories / decks are added monthly.

Apple Arcade isApple’s US$4.99/month or $49.99/year game streaming service. It’s available for the the iPhone, iPad, Apple...

iPhone Activation Market Share Dips To Lowest in Six Years, per Report

iPhone’s activation market share has dipped to the lowest in the last six years in the U.S., which is a concerning sign, as per a recent report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). It also means that if the iPhone is losing, its rival Android might be enjoying its piece of the pie with nearly two-thirds […]

This post iPhone Activation Market Share Dips To Lowest in Six Years, per Report appeared first on The Mac Observer

WhatsApp has been internally testing passkey support in its iPhone app for some time. However, the option was still unavailable to most users. But that seems to be changing now, as Meta is slowly rolling out the passkey option to WhatsApp users on the iPhone with the latest version of the app.

more…

Just as Google, Samsung and Microsoft continue to push their efforts with generative AI on PCs and mobile devices, Apple is moving to join the party with OpenELM, a new family of open source large language models (LLMs) that can run entirely on a single device rather than having to connect to cloud servers. From a report: Released a few hours ago on AI code community Hugging Face, OpenELM consists of small models designed to perform efficiently at text generation tasks. There are eight OpenELM models in total -- four pre-trained and four instruction-tuned -- covering different parameter sizes between 270 million and 3 billion parameters (referring to the connections between artificial neurons in an LLM, and more parameters typically denote greater performance and more capabilities, though not always).

[...] Apple is offering the weights of its OpenELM models under what it deems a "sample code license," along with different checkpoints from training, stats on how the models...

According to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), iPhone smartphone sales share in the U.S. continues to decline.

According to the research group, over the past four quarters, iPhone share of activations fell from 40% to 33%. CIRP estimates 12-month periods ending each quarter, using it quarterly survey of mobile phone customers. 

“This allows us to capture all phone activations, rather than just Apple iPhone, and looking at trailing 12-month periods eliminates seasonality caused by new phone launches, gift giving, etc.,” according to the research group.

The post CIRP: iPhone U.S. smartphone sales share continues to decline appeared first on MacTech.com.

According to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), iPhone smartphone sales share in the U.S. continues to decline.

According to the research group, over the past four quarters, iPhone share of activations fell from 40% to 33%. CIRP estimates 12-month periods ending each quarter, using it quarterly survey of mobile phone customers. 

“This allows us to capture all phone activations, rather than just Apple iPhone, and looking at trailing 12-month periods eliminates seasonality caused by new phone launches, gift giving, etc.,” according to the research group.

The post CIRP: iPhone U.S. smartphone sales share continues to decline appeared first on MacTech.com.

Apple was hit with a $2 billion fine in the European Union last month for “abusive” App Store rules for music streaming services. In addition to the fine, the European Commission also said Apple must relax its anti-steering rules.

As reported by TechCrunch, Spotify has submitted a new update to its app that includes pricing information for users in the EU. Spotify also says that it is not planning to opt into Apple’s new business terms in the European Union offered in response to the Digital Markets Act.

more…