A new report from Ooka — which describes itself as “a global leader in connectivity intelligence that provides consumers, businesses, and other organizations with data-driven insights to improve networks and connected experiences” — says that Samsung’s new smartphones had faster median 5G performance than the iPhone 15 series in most of the countries it tested. 

According to Ookla — as noted by The Mac Observer —  “the Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven out of 15 countries in this study.” And “that speed differences between Galaxy S24 devices and iPhone 15’s were relatively minor in some of the countries analyzed.” 

Here are the key takeaways from the report: 

° The Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven...

A new report from Ooka — which describes itself as “a global leader in connectivity intelligence that provides consumers, businesses, and other organizations with data-driven insights to improve networks and connected experiences” — says that Samsung’s new smartphones had faster median 5G performance than the iPhone 15 series in most of the countries it tested. 

According to Ookla — as noted by The Mac Observer —  “the Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven out of 15 countries in this study.” And “that speed differences between Galaxy S24 devices and iPhone 15’s were relatively minor in some of the countries analyzed.” 

Here are the key takeaways from the report: 

° The Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven...

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) will soon begin charging new users "a small fee" for posting content and liking, replying, and bookmarking tweets, according to CEO Elon Musk.

X Daily News, a feed that posts X updates, today noticed that text strings on the website have been updated to mention a small annual fee that new users will need to pay in order to access the social network.

Musk said in response that the fee for new users is "the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots."

The fee has previously been tested in New Zealand and the Philippines, and Musk says that it is applicable only to those who are new to Twitter. When a new user signs up, the user will need to pay the fee, or wait for three months to be able to engage on the network. The updated language on the Twitter site:

New...

Dock accessory company iVANKY recently launched its most powerful Thunderbolt dock yet, the FusionDock Max 1, which takes advantage of dual Thunderbolt chips and connections to offer the greatest amount of versatility I've seen in a Mac-focused dock. I've spent some time testing out the FusionDock Max 1 in my daily workflow, and I think I've found my new daily driver.

What sets the FusionDock Max 1 apart from other Thunderbolt docks on the market is the inclusion of dual Thunderbolt 4 chips in the dock, which essentially doubles the capacity of the dock, allowing you to run all sorts of displays and other peripherals at maximum speed. We'll dig into what that means for connectivity in just a minute, but let's start with an overview of the design and setup. Note that the FusionDock Max 1 is only compatible with Apple silicon Macs, so...

Maintenance release for the recently upgraded reference management tool. ($74.99 new, $49.99 upgrade, free update for version 15 users, 113.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Trying to stand out among all the MagSafe accessories on the market can often be challenging. What makes one battery pack better than the others? What makes one stand better than the others? It can often come down to minor features, pricing, and form factor. That’s precisely what the aims to deliver: a robust battery pack at a fair price that can charge up to three devices at the same time.

more…

It’s our 34th anniversary today, and Adam Engst marks the occasion by sharing some thoughts and stats about where TidBITS is now, along with new discounts on apps from the Ukrainian companies Belight Software and MacPaw.

Apple TV+ has announced a series order for a new three-part documentary series “Hollywood Con Queen,” from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith (“Tiger King,” “Fyre,” “100 Foot Wave”). The series is set to debut globally on Apple TV+ on May 8, 2024.

Here’s how the docu-sereis described: Based on the original reporting of investigative journalist Scott Johnson, and his book published by Harper Collins, “Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt for an Evil Genius,” “Hollywood Con Queen” explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams. 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...

Apple TV+ has announced a series order for a new three-part documentary series “Hollywood Con Queen,” from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith (“Tiger King,” “Fyre,” “100 Foot Wave”). The series is set to debut globally on Apple TV+ on May 8, 2024.

Here’s how the docu-sereis described: Based on the original reporting of investigative journalist Scott Johnson, and his book published by Harper Collins, “Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt for an Evil Genius,” “Hollywood Con Queen” explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams. 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...

Over the weekend, a Game Boy emulator named iGBA appeared in the iPhone's App Store, but Apple quickly removed the app due to violations of the company's App Review Guidelines related to spam and copyright. Apple has since shared additional details about why it removed iGBA from the App Store, and it also clarified its guidelines for emulators.

iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut's open-source GBA4iOS app, with the addition of ads on top. While it did not explicitly name GBA4iOS, Apple told us it removed iGBA from the App Store after learning that it was a knockoff app that copied another developer's work and attempted to pass it off as its own.

Notably, Apple...

Monday’s best deals have a new all-time low on Apple’s just-released 15-inch M3 MacBook Air landing at $1,150 – a savings of $149. There’s also a chance to score the Sonos Era 300 smart speaker as it drops to $359 alongside Apple Pencil with USB-C returning to its all-time low of $69. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

...

An anonymous reader shares a report: Over the weekend, developer Mattia La Spina launched iGBA as one of the first retro game emulators legitimately available on the iOS App Store following Apple's rules change regarding such emulators earlier this month. As of Monday morning, though, iGBA has been pulled from the App Store following controversy over the unauthorized reuse of source code from a different emulator project.

iOS 8.1 plugs security hole that made it easy to install emulators
Shortly after iGBA's launch, some people on social media began noticing that the project appeared to be based on the code for GBA4iOS, a nearly decade-old emulator that developer Riley Testut and a partner developed as high-schoolers (and distributed via a temporary security hole in the iOS App store). Testut took to social media Sunday morning to call iGBA a "knock-off" of GBA4iOS. "I did not give anyone permission to do this, yet it's now sitting at the top of the charts (despite...

Ookla is out with its latest report on 5G smartphone performance with the latest data including the new Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup. As it turns out, Samsung’s new smartphones saw faster median 5G performance than the iPhone 15 lineup in the majority of countries tested.

more…

I’m sure it’s been said countless times before, but—now that would be a good name for a column!—iMessage could use a send quietly option that’s always available. Send quietly is a feature today, but it’s only available when the recipient is in a Focus mode.

more…

Apple is using titanium on iPhone for the first time, but what’s safe or best to use for cleaning iPhone 15 Pro? Whether you just got your new phone or it’s been dirty for a while, let’s look at how to clean iPhone with step-by-step do’s and don’ts.

more…

Apple's recently-launched Sports app for the iPhone was updated today ahead of the NBA and NHL playoffs, which both begin this weekend.

Apple says fans will be able to "follow every matchup with added details on each series and more," but we have not noticed any immediate changes in the app after updating to the new version. The first NBA and NHL playoff series begin on Saturday, April 20, so the extra details will presumably become visible then. Some info like playoff matchups and conference standings was already available in the previous version of the app.

Released in February, the Apple Sports app shows scores, schedules, stats, and more for a variety of leagues, such as the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and Premier League. The app also displays real-time play-by-play information for ongoing games.

Apple Sports is available for free...

Apple CEO Tim Cook is in Vietnam, and said today that the company is “committed to continuing to strengthen connections” in the country as it seeks to reduce dependence on China.

In addition to investing more in the Vietnamese supply chain, Apple is also supporting a scheme intended to bring clean water to more than 42,000 children by the end of this month …

more…

The GenAI smartphone share of overall smartphone shipments will reach 11% by 2024 and 43% by 2027 to pass 550 million units in 2027 with 4X growth, according to an upcoming report, “GenAI Smartphone Shipments and Insights,” from Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone 360 Service. 

The research groups expects the GenAI smartphone installed base to cross one billion by 2027. Against the backdrop of Apple’s anticipated entry into the segment later this year, these estimates are higher than Counterpoint’s earlier forecast of December 2023, according to the research group.

Counterpoint Research defines the GenAI smartphone as a mobile device that leverages large-scale, pre-trained generative AI models to create original content or perform contextually-aware tasks. The research group expect ssuch devices to have multimodal capabilities, allowing them to process text, image, voice and other inputs to generate a variety of output...

The GenAI smartphone share of overall smartphone shipments will reach 11% by 2024 and 43% by 2027 to pass 550 million units in 2027 with 4X growth, according to an upcoming report, “GenAI Smartphone Shipments and Insights,” from Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone 360 Service. 

The research groups expects the GenAI smartphone installed base to cross one billion by 2027. Against the backdrop of Apple’s anticipated entry into the segment later this year, these estimates are higher than Counterpoint’s earlier forecast of December 2023, according to the research group.

Counterpoint Research defines the GenAI smartphone as a mobile device that leverages large-scale, pre-trained generative AI models to create original content or perform contextually-aware tasks. The research group expect ssuch devices to have multimodal capabilities, allowing them to process text, image, voice and other inputs to generate a variety of output...

According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Samsung has recaptured the top spot in global smartphone sales from Apple after losing it the previous year. 

IDC says global smartphone shipments increased 7.8% year over year to 289.4 million units in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24). The research group says Samsung sold 60.1 million smartphones in 1Q24 for 20.8% market share. That compares to 60.5 million units and 22.5% market share in 1Q23.

IDC says Apple should 50.1 million iPhones for 17.3% market share in 1Q24. That compares to sales of 55.4 million units and 20.7% market share in 1Q23. Samsung sales were down .7% annually, while iPhone sales dipped 9.6% year-over-year .

The post...

According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Samsung has recaptured the top spot in global smartphone sales from Apple after losing it the previous year. 

IDC says global smartphone shipments increased 7.8% year over year to 289.4 million units in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24). The research group says Samsung sold 60.1 million smartphones in 1Q24 for 20.8% market share. That compares to 60.5 million units and 22.5% market share in 1Q23.

IDC says Apple should 50.1 million iPhones for 17.3% market share in 1Q24. That compares to sales of 55.4 million units and 20.7% market share in 1Q23. Samsung sales were down .7% annually, while iPhone sales dipped 9.6% year-over-year .

The post...

BlackMagic has long offered powerful hardware add-ons for video editors, but the four-figure pricing has been a barrier to many, with even the Micro Panel coming in at $895.

The latest DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel comes close to halving the cost, but also adds an iPad Pro slot and internal battery for portable editing …

...

Apple's iPhone shipments decreased by nearly 10% globally in the first quarter of 2024, hit by rapid growth in shipments by rival Chinese vendors, based on data provided by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

According to the IDC report, Apple's shipments fell 9.6% to 50.1 million units in the first quarter, down from 55.4 million units in the same quarter the previous year. Apple experienced the most significant annual decline among the top five smartphone brands covered in the report.

Samsung reclaimed its position as the market leader, which it had lost to Apple the previous year, by capturing a 20.8% market share with shipments of about 60.1 million units, roughly the same as last year. In 2023, its market share was 22.5% during the same...

Apple wants to enhance the meditation features of its Fitness+ app. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number US 20240115831 A1) for “Enhanced Meditation Experience Based on Bio-Feedback.”

About the patent filing

The patent filing generally relates to presenting content via electronic devices, and in particular, to systems, methods, and devices that determine a respiratory state and attention state during and/or based on the presentation of electronic content.

In the patent filing, Apple notes that electronic devices may be used to help users engage in various experiences in which particular user states are desired. For example, an electronic device may be used to present content that guides a user through a meditation experience in which the user desires to relax and/or focus on something such as his or her breathing. 

Apple says that such content is generally not responsive or adaptive to the user’s actual state and thus may not be as effective or...

Apple wants to enhance the meditation features of its Fitness+ app. The tech giant has filed for a patent (number US 20240115831 A1) for “Enhanced Meditation Experience Based on Bio-Feedback.”

About the patent filing

The patent filing generally relates to presenting content via electronic devices, and in particular, to systems, methods, and devices that determine a respiratory state and attention state during and/or based on the presentation of electronic content.

In the patent filing, Apple notes that electronic devices may be used to help users engage in various experiences in which particular user states are desired. For example, an electronic device may be used to present content that guides a user through a meditation experience in which the user desires to relax and/or focus on something such as his or her breathing. 

Apple says that such content is generally not responsive or adaptive to the user’s actual state and thus may not be as effective or...

Apple has updated its Sports app ahead of this weekend’s NBA and NHL playoffs.

With the update, Apple says fans will be able to “follow every matchup with added details on each series and more,” but we have not noticed any immediate changes in the app after updating to the new version. The first NBA and NHL playoff series begin on Saturday, April 20.

Sports is a free app for the iPhone that gives sports fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more. Designed for speed and simplicity, the app’s personalized experience puts users’ favorite leagues and teams front and center, featuring an easy-to-use interface designed by Apple, according to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. Apple Sports is available to download now in the App Store in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.

Apple Sports keeps fans up to date on the following leagues currently in season:

• MLS
• NBA
• NCAA basketball...

Apple has updated its Sports app ahead of this weekend’s NBA and NHL playoffs.

With the update, Apple says fans will be able to “follow every matchup with added details on each series and more,” but we have not noticed any immediate changes in the app after updating to the new version. The first NBA and NHL playoff series begin on Saturday, April 20.

Sports is a free app for the iPhone that gives sports fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more. Designed for speed and simplicity, the app’s personalized experience puts users’ favorite leagues and teams front and center, featuring an easy-to-use interface designed by Apple, according to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. Apple Sports is available to download now in the App Store in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.

Apple Sports keeps fans up to date on the following leagues currently in season:

• MLS
• NBA
• NCAA basketball...

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Apple has removed the Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but the company didn’t provide any specific details, according to MacRumors.

Last week it was announced that Apple had updated its App Store guidelines to make it much easier to access game emulators through its digital storefront. An amendment to the App Store guidelines page opens the doors to video game emulators that allow for game downloads. However, developers are “responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.”

However, as noted by AppleInsider,...

Apple has removed the Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but the company didn’t provide any specific details, according to MacRumors.

Last week it was announced that Apple had updated its App Store guidelines to make it much easier to access game emulators through its digital storefront. An amendment to the App Store guidelines page opens the doors to video game emulators that allow for game downloads. However, developers are “responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.”

However, as noted by AppleInsider,...

Apple Studios and MACRO Television Studios have added three new actors to “Government Cheese,” the upcoming Apple TV+ dramedy with David Oyelowo starring in the lead role as well as serving as executive producer through his company Yoruba Saxon, reports Deadline. 

Joining the cast are Bokeem Woodbine (“Old Dads”), Adam Beach (}The Power of the Dog”), and Sunita Mani (Servant). 

“Government Cheese” is based on the short film of the same name made by Paul Hunter. Hunter serves as co-creator on the series version with Aeysha Carr (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Carmichael Show”).

“Government Cheese” follows Hampton Chambers (Oyelowo), a man recently released from prison who struggles to keep his criminal past at bay and win back his family, all while processing moments of divine intervention that seem to happen with...

Apple Studios and MACRO Television Studios have added three new actors to “Government Cheese,” the upcoming Apple TV+ dramedy with David Oyelowo starring in the lead role as well as serving as executive producer through his company Yoruba Saxon, reports Deadline. 

Joining the cast are Bokeem Woodbine (“Old Dads”), Adam Beach (}The Power of the Dog”), and Sunita Mani (Servant). 

“Government Cheese” is based on the short film of the same name made by Paul Hunter. Hunter serves as co-creator on the series version with Aeysha Carr (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Carmichael Show”).

“Government Cheese” follows Hampton Chambers (Oyelowo), a man recently released from prison who struggles to keep his criminal past at bay and win back his family, all while processing moments of divine intervention that seem to happen with...

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

° From MacRumors: Several third-party browser companies have experienced a spike in iPhone installs since Apple made major changes to iOS in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but many are not happy with Apple’s implementation of its default browser choice screen.

° From 9to5Mac: New Apple Watch data shows the average person takes 334 days to walk/run a marathon.

° From Eurogamer: Epic Games: mobile “gatekeeping” is “at the heart of why the industry is in a rut.”

° From AppleInsider...

DownDetector shows Microsoft 365 down for some, with issues first showing up in the early hours eastern time, with reports running around ten times higher than normal …

more…

Macworld

Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.

Big news

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the iPhone SE since the glory days of the second-gen model from 2020, with rather more downs than ups. But now, based on a series of unexpectedly promising leaks, it looks like we might be headed for an uphill segment.

Earlier this month a Weibo account dropped some alluring details about the iPhone SE 4 that made it sound like the best $499 smartphone ever. Boasting a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, and an A16 processor, the new phone would represent a huge...

The M4-based Macs are due out later this year and will feature improvements in artificial intelligence features. Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it’s possible that the M4 lineup could arrive around October, as the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all debuted in October 2023. Given this time frame, Gurman has stated that the entire […]

Source

Over the weekend, the first handheld console game emulator hit the App Store, following a relaxation in App Store Review Guidelines the week prior.

Fast forward 24 hours and the app is gone, pulled from the App Store. However, we aren’t sure why. It might be that ROM-loading emulators are actually not allowed, and this one slipped through. Or, it may be that iGBA was simply a clone of the open-source project GBA4iOS, and was pushed to the store without permission or appropriate licensing.

more…

Macworld

With the release of the M3 MacBook Air about a month ago, Apple’s laptop lineup became up-to-date, with each MacBook sporting some version of the M3 chip, the latest in Apple silicon. So, now it should be time for the other shoe to drop: the updates to the desktop Mac lineup.

But of the four models in Apple’s desktop Mac lineup, only one has an M3 chip, the iMac. That update came five months ago after a two-year wait, and we don’t even know if the rest of the lines are going to get an update before the M4 arrives. So, what’s going on with Apple’s desktop Macs? Only Apple knows for sure. But we can look at the state of the desktop Mac lineup based on each model and try to come to some understanding as to what Apple is thinking.

Mac mini

...

Apple's first set of new AI features planned for iOS 18 will not rely on cloud servers at all, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

"As the world awaits Apple's big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on device," said Gurman, in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today. "That means there's no cloud processing component to the company's large language model, the software that powers the new capabilities."

Apple will probably still offer some cloud-based AI features powered by Google's Gemini or another provider, according...

Samsung this weekend has the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor at a steep discount, available for $899.99, down from $1,599.99. In addition to this $700 discount, you'll find deals on 4K and 5K Samsung monitors, including the Smart Monitor M8, as well as storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and home appliances.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Overall, the ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor is at a very solid second-best price this weekend, just $50 higher compared to the previous record low price. This monitor has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.

$700 OFF27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $899.99

Samsung's 27-inch Smart Monitor M8 is also being...

Apple says it’s not violating a court order governing its App Store and urged a California federal judge to reject a request by “Fortnite” developer Epic Games to hold it in contempt, reports Reuters.

The tech giant made the arguments in a filing to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, who presided over Epic’s lawsuit in 2020 accusing Apple of violating antitrust law with its tight controls over how consumers download apps and pay for transactions within them.

On March 13, Epic asked a federal judge to hold Apple in contempt of court over its failure to properly comply with a court order to open its App Store to outside payment options. In response, an Apple spokesperson sent AppleInsider extracts from its formal Statement of Compliance. It begins with a claim that “As of January 16, 2024, Apple...

Apple says it’s not violating a court order governing its App Store and urged a California federal judge to reject a request by “Fortnite” developer Epic Games to hold it in contempt, reports Reuters.

The tech giant made the arguments in a filing to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, who presided over Epic’s lawsuit in 2020 accusing Apple of violating antitrust law with its tight controls over how consumers download apps and pay for transactions within them.

On March 13, Epic asked a federal judge to hold Apple in contempt of court over its failure to properly comply with a court order to open its App Store to outside payment options. In response, an Apple spokesperson sent AppleInsider extracts from its formal Statement of Compliance. It begins with a claim that “As of January 16, 2024, Apple...

Apple changed the App Store rules last week to seemingly permit game emulators on the iPhone for the first time.

Following that policy change, the first emulator apps are now appearing on the store. iGBA is a free Game Boy game emulator for iPhone and iPad, which can indeed load and play ROMs downloaded to the device — a category of application that Apple would have unequivocally rejected a fortnight ago.

more…

Introduces new custom perspective rules for Pro edition users. ($74.99 new, free update, 31.6 MB, macOS 13+)

Improves support for vector PDFs, including those created using Apple apps like Safari, Keynote, and Pages. ($49.99 new, free update, 644.3 MB, macOS 12+)

In this hands-on video, we review everything new in the initial iOS 17.5 developer beta. We also discuss how iOS 17.5 beta 1 reveals new details about the 2024 iPad Pro, scheduled to launch next month. Watch our in-depth walkthrough, and subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more.

more…

Apple's hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year.

We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things are going with the iPhone 15 Pro now that it's halfway through its flagship lifecycle, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Macs to Get AI-Focused M4 Chips Starting in Late 2024

Apple plans to release its first Macs with the M4 series of chips in late 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The report says that the MacBook Pro and iMac...

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

° From MacRumors: Several third-party browser companies have experienced a spike in iPhone installs since Apple made major changes to iOS in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but many are not happy with Apple’s implementation of its default browser choice screen.

° From Eurogamer: Epic Games: mobile “gatekeeping” is “at the heart of why the industry is in a rut.”

° From AppleInsider: Google is shutting down its subscription-based VPN by Google One service later in 2024, with the feature heading to the Google Graveyard due to being underused by its customers.

Top Apple-...

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

° From MacRumors: Several third-party browser companies have experienced a spike in iPhone installs since Apple made major changes to iOS in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but many are not happy with Apple’s implementation of its default browser choice screen.

° From Eurogamer: Epic Games: mobile “gatekeeping” is “at the heart of why the industry is in a rut.”

° From AppleInsider: Google is shutting down its subscription-based VPN by Google One service later in 2024, with the feature heading to the Google Graveyard due to being underused by its customers.

Top Apple-...

Macworld

How do you get someplace you’ve never been? No trick question here — you need a map. It’s the same answer for if you’re trying to reach a goal or deal with complex data sets, but in that case, you need a diagram. Fortunately, Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 is the necessary tool for creating crisp, easy-to-understand visuals, and lifetime access is only $23.99 (reg. $249) with code ENJOY20 through April 16.

Whether you’re an architect or analyst, you can use Visio’s over 250,000 shapes and access...

Managing PDFs efficiently in today’s work and tech landscape is non-negotiable. Whether for work, study, or personal use, we rely heavily on PDFs to store, sign, annotate and share our most important information. That’s where UPDF comes into play. UPDF has been a proud partner of 9to5Mac for over a year and for good reason. It’s an indispensable tool on my Mac, iPad, and iPhone, UPDF isn’t just another PDF editor—it’s a cutting-edge AI powerhouse. And now, with a sale offering up to 63% off, it’s the perfect time to discover why UPDF is the ultimate PDF solution for everyone. Let me show you a few reasons why you need to consider this tool.

more…

Apple has reached a US$490 million tentative settlement to resolve allegations that in late 2018, the company misrepresented the state of the business in Greater China, its most important growth market at the time, reports ISS Insights.

Last month agreed to pay US$490 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that claims CEO Tim Cook defrauded shareholders by concealing falling demand for iPhones in China. The lawsuit claimed that Apple was  misleading in its generally rosy predictions for upcoming financial results due to slowing iPhone sales and other issues. 

It claims that the misrepresentations alleged would tend to induce a reasonable investor to misjudge the value of Apple common stock. The lawsuit was filed after Apple’s unexpected announcement on Jan. 2, 2019, that the iPhone maker would slash its quarterly revenue forecast by up to $9 billion,...

Apple has reached a US$490 million tentative settlement to resolve allegations that in late 2018, the company misrepresented the state of the business in Greater China, its most important growth market at the time, reports ISS Insights.

Last month agreed to pay US$490 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that claims CEO Tim Cook defrauded shareholders by concealing falling demand for iPhones in China. The lawsuit claimed that Apple was  misleading in its generally rosy predictions for upcoming financial results due to slowing iPhone sales and other issues. 

It claims that the misrepresentations alleged would tend to induce a reasonable investor to misjudge the value of Apple common stock. The lawsuit was filed after Apple’s unexpected announcement on Jan. 2, 2019, that the iPhone maker would slash its quarterly revenue forecast by up to $9 billion,...

Macworld

Apple’s M3-series MacBook Pro was released in the fall of 2023, but Apple has seemingly put the laptop on a more frequent update cycle, with reports of an M4 MacBook Pro hitting the rumor mill.

We’ll see more rumors between now and the M4 MacBook Pro release. This article will keep track of what’s being reported, as well as offer a perspective based on Apple’s current lineup.

MacBook Pro M4: Release date

Apple has yet to make a big impression in the AI market, which is sizzling hot right now. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple wants to make a big splash with the M4 chip, which will have big AI enhancements and Apple wants to release the M4 as soon as possible. Gurman states that Apple plans to release M4 MacBook Pro models later this year.

Apple could ship...

Apple on Friday lost a bid to throw out a mass lawsuit valued at just under $1 billion, brought in London on behalf of more than 1,500 app developers over its App Store fees. Reuters: The case, worth up to 785 million pounds ($979 million) and one of several faced by the U.S. tech giant in the United Kingdom, alleges Apple charged third-party developers unfair commissions of up to 30% on purchases of apps or other content.

Sean Ennis, a competition law professor and economist, is spearheading the case which was filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) last year. His lawyers say Apple has abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of apps on iPhones and other Apple devices and are seeking damages for UK-based developers. Apple, however, says 85% of developers on its App Store do not pay any commission at all.

...

The Pixelmator Team has released Pixelmator Pro 3.5.8, an update of its image editor for the Mac. The new version adds the ability to edit text in PDF.

It also includes 12 new templates for web, social media, and more. Pixelmator Pro 3.1 also sports faster document opening experience, a new smooth corner style, and more. Plus, it offers bug fixes and performance tweaks.

Pixelmator Pro 3.5.8 is available at the Mac App Store. It’s a free update for registered users; for new users the cost is US$49.99. Pixelmator Pro 2.4.3 requires macOS 10.15 or later. A demo is available on the Pixelmator website.

The post Pixelmator Pro for macOS gets the ability to edit text in PDF appeared first on MacTech.com.

The Pixelmator Team has released Pixelmator Pro 3.5.8, an update of its image editor for the Mac. The new version adds the ability to edit text in PDF.

It also includes 12 new templates for web, social media, and more. Pixelmator Pro 3.1 also sports faster document opening experience, a new smooth corner style, and more. Plus, it offers bug fixes and performance tweaks.

Pixelmator Pro 3.5.8 is available at the Mac App Store. It’s a free update for registered users; for new users the cost is US$49.99. Pixelmator Pro 2.4.3 requires macOS 10.15 or later. A demo is available on the Pixelmator website.

The post Pixelmator Pro for macOS gets the ability to edit text in PDF appeared first on MacTech.com.

A recent video uploaded to the Apple Support channel on YouTube offers five helpful tips and tricks for AirPods that you may not have known about.

AirPods features highlighted in the video include Audio Sharing, Live Listen, Background Sounds, Announce Notifications with Siri, and the ability to rename AirPods in the Settings app on the iPhone. Most of these functions are available on all AirPods models, but Announce Notifications with Siri does not work with first-generation AirPods.

If you own AirPods Pro, also check out our...

Macworld

Mac security software adds another layer of protection to what Apple already provides, with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords, and financial details. These are the things that criminals are after, and they’ll often use cunning ways to extract them rather than spending time trying to break past Apple’s defenses in macOS.

Although some of the packages here are solely focused on macOS, others will also protect Android and Windows devices you might also own, and that makes the price of protection much cheaper per computer.

Good security software should warn you before you click on a dangerous website, or open a ‘phishing’ email with a dodgy attachment, which could trick you into handing over your bank details, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Apple does include some...

Friday has a fresh batch of Apple deals on tap as we head into the weekend. Today’s best offers come headlined by the second HomePod mini deal in 2024, which drops down to $80 in all five colorways. It comes with the second-best prices on the Apple Watch Series 9, starting from $295, and a new all-time low that drops Anker’s 30W Nano 3 USB-C charger to...

Whether you’re just curious how your iPhone battery health is holding up or you’re having issues with battery life or unexpected shutdowns, it’s easy to check in iOS Settings. Below we’ll cover how to see iPhone battery health, tips on when to get a replacement, charge cycle expectations, and more.

more…

Macworld

Following a report earlier this week about the next iPhone SE, a new one has appeared giving customers a clearer idea of what to expect from the overall package. And by the looks of it, the new iPhone SE will be a similar size to the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro.

According to a post on X by @negstiveonehero (who has no track record as a leaker so we can’t vouch for their credibility), the iPhone SE 4 will be bigger than the current iPhone SE 3. The front will be similar to the iPhone 13, and the back will have a one-lens camera....

People have been complaining about Siri for years now, arguing that it’s fallen behind the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant. With clear evidence that 2024 is going to see dramatic improvements in Apple’s AI features, will iOS 18 Siri finally turn things around?

I’m very much hoping the answer is yes, and think there are three clues which provide some reason for optimism …

more…

Macworld

Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, exceptional convenience, and strong audio quality. They come with a premium price tag, however, so it’s important to shop around for a good deal… or find a bunch of tech experts who’ll do this for you. That’s where we come in.

In this article, we round up the best AirPods discounts and bundle deals to help you save money. We’ve got the best prices on the 3rd-gen AirPods that were released in October 2021, the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that launched in September 2022 as well as the updated 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C that launched in September 2023, and the premium...

Several third-party browser companies have experienced a spike in iPhone installs since Apple made major changes to iOS in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but many are not happy with Apple's implementation of its default browser choice screen.

In iOS 17.4, released last month, Apple no longer limits EU users to the handful of browser options that iOS currently offers as alternatives in other parts of the world. Instead, users in the EU who open Safari for the first time are presented with a choice screen that allows them to opt for a new default browser from a list of popular alternatives in their country.

The change has led to a sharp increase in third-party browser usage, based on several reports. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that users of...

Macworld

If you’re looking to buy an iPhone 12 (or 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max), make sure you get a terrific deal. Following the iPhone 15 launch, retailers will be looking to clear out any remaining stock; until they do, you can expect great deals on the iPhone 12 range, whether SIM-free or on contract. There are some great discounts on refurbished models too.

In this article we look at every major retailer and contract provider to find the best deals for the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. In a separate article we round up the best iPhone deals overall; we also look at the best Apple deals in an even broader article.

iPhone 12 range prices

The...

An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Mac: Following moves of other tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, Apple is reportedly set to open a new office space in a Miami suburb. This won't be the first corporate space for Apple in the city, but it will be larger than the existing office. Reported by Bloomberg, anonymous sources close to the matter say that Apple's new Miami office will be 45,000 square feet in the affluent Coral Gables suburb of Miami. It's not clear yet what part of Apple's business the new office will focus on but it will be larger than its existing small Miami office that handles Latin America and advertising operations. The specific property of the new Apple offices will be at The Plaza Coral Gables.

...

Macworld

Google this week announced that its suite of AI-based photo-editing tools will imminently be available to all Google Photos users without a subscription.

In the past, many of these features were restricted to Google’s own hardware; Magic Editor, for example, initially launched on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, while Magic Eraser started out as a Pixel 6 exclusive. But this development means iPhone owners can enjoy access to the same tools without having to switch to an Android handset.

And without having to pay, too. In the past the company required users to have a Google One subscription in order to access its AI editing features. That won’t be the case any longer.

In...

Taylor Swift songs have returned to TikTok, after a ten-week gap resulting from a dispute between the short video app and Universal Music. That dispute hasn’t ended, but it appears that Swift has reached an individual agreement with TikTok.

Separately, TikTok has announced plans to use AI to create virtual influencers who will compete with real ones for brand deals …

more…

Apple has lost a bid to throw out a mass lawsuit valued at just under $1 billion, brought in London on behalf of more than 1,500 app developers over its App Store fees, reports Reuters.

The case, worth up to 785 million pounds (about US$979 million) and one of several faced by the tech giant in the United Kingdom, alleges Apple charged third-party developers unfair commissions of up to 30% on purchases of apps or other content. UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal denied the company’s request to throw out the lawsuit.

In July the lawsuit was filed against Apple giant by more than 1,500 app developers in the UK. The lawsuit claims that Apple’s 15% to 30% fees for its app stores’ in-app payment system is unfair. 

The UK lawsuit at the Competition Appeal Tribunal was brought by Sean Ennis, a professor at the Centre for Competition Policy at the...

Apple has lost a bid to throw out a mass lawsuit valued at just under $1 billion, brought in London on behalf of more than 1,500 app developers over its App Store fees, reports Reuters.

The case, worth up to 785 million pounds (about US$979 million) and one of several faced by the tech giant in the United Kingdom, alleges Apple charged third-party developers unfair commissions of up to 30% on purchases of apps or other content. UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal denied the company’s request to throw out the lawsuit.

In July the lawsuit was filed against Apple giant by more than 1,500 app developers in the UK. The lawsuit claims that Apple’s 15% to 30% fees for its app stores’ in-app payment system is unfair. 

The UK lawsuit at the Competition Appeal Tribunal was brought by Sean Ennis, a professor at the Centre for Competition Policy at the...

Actor-comedian Marc Maron (“GLOW”) has been tapped as a lead opposite Owen Wilson and Peter Dager in Apple TV+’s upcoming 10-episode comedy created, written by and executive produced by Jason Keller. 

The untitled comedy stars Wilson as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After he gets fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store and his wife walks out on him, Pryce hedges his bets entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom, played by Peter Dager (“Insidious: The Red Door”). Maron will play Mitts, Pryce’s best friend and former caddy.

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, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and...

Actor-comedian Marc Maron (“GLOW”) has been tapped as a lead opposite Owen Wilson and Peter Dager in Apple TV+’s upcoming 10-episode comedy created, written by and executive produced by Jason Keller. 

The untitled comedy stars Wilson as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After he gets fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store and his wife walks out on him, Pryce hedges his bets entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom, played by Peter Dager (“Insidious: The Red Door”). Maron will play Mitts, Pryce’s best friend and former caddy.

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, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and...

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Apple Original Films’ action-comedy romance feature film “Argylle” — which bombed at the box office — makes its global streaming debut on Apple TV+ today.

About ‘Aryglle’

Here’s how “Argylle” is described: Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, is the reclusive cat-loving author of a series of bestselling espionage novels about the impossibly glamorous secret agent Argylle (Henry Cavill), who’s on a mission to unravel a nefarious spy syndicate. When Elly, with the help of feline-hating real-life spy Aidan (Sam Rockwell), discovers that her story mirrors the actions of an actual spy organization, a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues. In order to stay one step ahead of the syndicate’s assassins while also working to prevent a global crisis, these two unlikely conspirators — accompanied by Alfie the cat — find themselves in an adventure story of their own.

“Argylle” is directed by Matthew Vaughn from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs and features an...

Apple Original Films’ action-comedy romance feature film “Argylle” — which bombed at the box office — makes its global streaming debut on Apple TV+ today.

About ‘Aryglle’

Here’s how “Argylle” is described: Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, is the reclusive cat-loving author of a series of bestselling espionage novels about the impossibly glamorous secret agent Argylle (Henry Cavill), who’s on a mission to unravel a nefarious spy syndicate. When Elly, with the help of feline-hating real-life spy Aidan (Sam Rockwell), discovers that her story mirrors the actions of an actual spy organization, a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues. In order to stay one step ahead of the syndicate’s assassins while also working to prevent a global crisis, these two unlikely conspirators — accompanied by Alfie the cat — find themselves in an adventure story of their own.

“Argylle” is directed by Matthew Vaughn from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs and features an...

“Franklin,” an eight-part limited series starring and executive produced by Academy, Emmy and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas, debuts today on Apple TV+.

Here’s how the series is described: Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” “Franklin” explores the story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when — as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance — he embarks on a secret mission to France.

At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace...

“Franklin,” an eight-part limited series starring and executive produced by Academy, Emmy and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas, debuts today on Apple TV+.

Here’s how the series is described: Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” “Franklin” explores the story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when — as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance — he embarks on a secret mission to France.

At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace...

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

° From The MacObserver: Apple engineers have managed to make Safari 60% faster in the last 6 months, and that’s only the beginning of a revolution.

° From AppleInsider: Investment firm JP Morgan predicts that Apple will introduce AI with the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro, and has dropped its current price target to $210 partly as a result.

° From 9to5Mac: DuckDuckGo PrivacyPro is bundling VPN into its first paid subscription

° From MacRumors: Next month Google will make its latest AI-powered photo editing feature...

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

° From The MacObserver: Apple engineers have managed to make Safari 60% faster in the last 6 months, and that’s only the beginning of a revolution.

° From AppleInsider: Investment firm JP Morgan predicts that Apple will introduce AI with the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro, and has dropped its current price target to $210 partly as a result.

° From 9to5Mac: DuckDuckGo PrivacyPro is bundling VPN into its first paid subscription

° From MacRumors: Next month Google will make its latest AI-powered photo editing feature...

Apple is once again expanding its self-repair program procedures and has expanded the ability for consumers to use parts pairing to fully activate used parts in repairs, provided the parts haven’t been harvested from stolen units. Beginning this fall, the parts-pairing process will maintain an iPhone user’s privacy, security, and safety, while offering consumers more […]

Source

Google One VPN will be discontinued later this year, according to a customer email seen by Android Authority. The service was rolled out for Android in October 2020, before coming to iOS devices and Macs in 2022.

When it originally launched it was part of Google One's Premium 2TB storage plan, priced at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Last year, availability was expanded to all Google One plans, including the cheapest offering for $1.99 per month, making it significantly more affordable.

The company told 9to5Google that it is killing the service because "people simply weren't using it." Existing users will be directed to third-party VPN alternatives instead.

Google will continue to offer VPN functionality through its...

Macworld

Most credit-card and debit-card numbers are a sequence of 16 digits, with the final number in the sequence being a “checksum,” or a calculated number that was once useful in checking that a card number provided was legitimate. Card numbers can easily be stolen in a lot of ways, including thieves obtaining lists of numbers that were issued through people working in the industry, subverting databases, or even hijacking websites and intercepting data.

One technique to reduce the misuse of card numbers entered into websites was developed a number of years ago. “Virtual cards” were intended to bring the advantages of the internet to card numbers, allowing you to use an app or website associated with your credit card to generate a unique card number on the fly. Each number would have its own expiration date and security code, and in many cases you could define how many times it could be used or set a maximum monthly or all-...

Meta’s Facebook Messenger received an important update this week with a great addition for its users. From now on, users can upload HD photos, as well as other larger files. Read on as we detail what’s new in Facebook Messenger.

more…

Apple Original Films has landed global rights to the feature documentary “Bread & Roses,” the acclaimed 2023 Cannes Film Festival selection revealing the powerful resistance of Afghan women against the Taliban, reports Deadline.

The film, directed by Sahra Mani (“A Thousand Girls Like Me)”, is produced by Excellent Cadaver’s Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi, alongside Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights advocate and executive producer Malala Yousafzai’s Extracurricular and Mani. The doc is set to premiere globally on Apple TV+ on June 21.

Here’s how the documentary is described: Bread & Roses offers a window into the seismic impact on women’s rights and livelihoods after Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021. The film follows three women, in real time, as they fight to recover their autonomy. Mani captures the spirit and resilience of Afghan women through a...

Apple Original Films has landed global rights to the feature documentary “Bread & Roses,” the acclaimed 2023 Cannes Film Festival selection revealing the powerful resistance of Afghan women against the Taliban, reports Deadline.

The film, directed by Sahra Mani (“A Thousand Girls Like Me)”, is produced by Excellent Cadaver’s Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi, alongside Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights advocate and executive producer Malala Yousafzai’s Extracurricular and Mani. The doc is set to premiere globally on Apple TV+ on June 21.

Here’s how the documentary is described: Bread & Roses offers a window into the seismic impact on women’s rights and livelihoods after Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021. The film follows three women, in real time, as they fight to recover their autonomy. Mani captures the spirit and resilience of Afghan women through a...

Macworld

Your iPhone 15 finally comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable that can charge all of your devices, but you still need a power adapter—something small, portable, reliable, and fast. We’ve got the perfect one for you: Amazon is selling Apple’s 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter for $40, a savings of $19 (when you click the coupon on the page) and the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

This power adapter is a little pricey at $59, but for $40 it checks all the boxes: a compact design, downward-facing ports for easy cable management, and folding prongs for extra portability. Either port can deliver 35 watts of juice to your device for charging a MacBook Air or iPad alone...

Apple TV+ has announced that its hit Monsterverse series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” from Legendary Entertainment, has been renewed for a second season. 

What’s more, Apple TV+ has also struck a new multi-series deal with Legendary Entertainment, which includes a second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and multiple spinoff series based on the franchise. 

Here’s how the series is described: Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down...

Apple TV+ has announced that its hit Monsterverse series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” from Legendary Entertainment, has been renewed for a second season. 

What’s more, Apple TV+ has also struck a new multi-series deal with Legendary Entertainment, which includes a second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and multiple spinoff series based on the franchise. 

Here’s how the series is described: Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down...

DuckDuckGo today announced the launch of Privacy Pro, a new subscription service that bundles three privacy-focused features together.

Privacy Pro includes a VPN for anonymous browsing and secure connections regardless of location, personal information removal for removing personal data from data broker sites, and identity theft restoration should any DuckDuckGo subscriber suffer from an identity theft situation.

The VPN works on up to five devices simultaneously, so it can be installed and used on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, and other devices at the same time. It is turned on through the DuckDuckGo browser so a second app is not required, and it does filter traffic through all apps and browsers.

DuckDuckGo's personal information removal tool regularly scans 50 sites that sell information, such as Spokeo....

(credit: Getty Images)

Apple has always had a strong preference that only its own parts be used in repairs, but only if they're brand-new. Now, soon after Oregon passed a repair bill forbidding devices from rejecting parts with software locks, or "parts pairing," Apple says it will allow for used Apple parts in future iPhone repairs.

While noting that "pairing" is "critical to preserving the privacy, security, and safety of an iPhone,"...

Macworld

A month ago, we told you about the release of Speedometer 3.0, a new web performance testing benchmark that aims to provide a more fair and representative measure of how a web browser performs at modern web tasks. Unlike earlier versions of Speedometer, which were made more or less by Apple’s WebKit team, version 3.0 is made in a collaboration between Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla with a new governance model to agree upon what tests are important representations of the modern web.

In other words, it’s probably the most “fair” and up-to-date measurement of web browser performance we have right now.

WebKit is the rendering engine used by Safari and provided to Apple developers who wish to use web rendering within their apps. It’s required to be used by every browser on iOS or...