In a few hours, we’ll learn what Apple has in mind for an AI-infused version of iPhone software. We expect AI to deliver quality-of-life improvements to iOS over the next year. In recent history is any indication, AI will advance such that iOS 19 and iOS 20 are as influenced by AI as iOS 18. We’ll see.
In the meantime, I want to set a marker for how generative AI is working for me prior to Apple’s anticipated contribution.
| Read more »Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino kicks off tomorrow, and for a select group of Swift Student Challenge winners, the surprises have already begun.
This year Apple invited 50 Distinguished Swift Student Challenge winners to WWDC, and Tim Cook gave a surprise welcome to this special group of developers.
For an even smaller number of students, there was a once-in-a-lifetime experience unknowingly awaiting them: showing off their work to the CEO of Apple.
| Read more »Kaspersky, the renowned Russian cybersecurity firm, made headlines at this time last year after uncovering an attack chain using four iOS zero-day vulnerabilities to create a zero-click exploit. Kaspersky was able to identify and report one of the vulnerabilities to Apple. However, in a bizarre update, Apple reportedly refuses to pay the security bounty for the firm’s contribution.
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally...
| Read more »App Review has rejected a submission from the developers of UTM, a generic PC system emulator for iPhone and iPad.
The open source app was submitted to the store, given the recent rule change that allows retro game console emulators, like Delta or Folium. App Review rejected UTM, deciding that a “PC is not a console”. What is more surprising, is the fact that UTM says that Apple is also blocking the app from being listed in third-party app stores in the EU.
| Read more »On the day before WWDC, we have a couple more reports about some non AI-related iPhone software, which Apple will officially announce tomorrow as part of iOS 18.
MacRumors reports that app icons will change color in Dark Mode for the first time, with a dark tint to match the darkened system chrome. The site also reports that the system will gain the ability to lock access to apps behind Face ID or Touch ID biometrics, on every app launch.
| Read more »Projects are about as Dad-core as the world gets. Sure, not every dad is a planner or an organizational beast, but c’mon – don’t most dads appreciate tools that give them an overwhelming amount of control over every aspect of ever increasingly sprawling projects?
You can score Dad the means for running work projects like a Fortune 500 CEO with Microsoft Project 2021 Professional for PC. Right now, it’s at the Father’s Day Sale price of only $19.97 for a limited time.
If you aren’t familiar, Microsoft Project is an...
| Read more »Maybe your Dad works in IT, creating network diagrams, IT architecture, and system configurations. Or maybe he’s in business management, responsible for mapping out company processes, creating organizational charts, or designing workflow diagrams. Or maybe your dad just loves trying to see complex processes laid out graphically to better understand how things work.
For anyone needing to create precise and professional diagrams, Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows is now on sale at an attention-grabbing $...
| Read more »A worker at a retail store in an airport has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars in electronics and clothing, reports the Washington Post. But what's more interesting is what led to his arrest...
A woman showed up at his home looking for the missing luggage that she'd tracked with her Apple Watch. CNN reports:
Paola Garcia told CNN affiliate WPLG in Miami that she usually takes her suitcase onboard, but this time, she was told she had to check it. Garcia waited at least two hours for her pink roller bag, which contained an Apple MacBook, Apple iPad, Apple Watch, jewelry, high-end woman's clothing and toiletries. It never came out on the luggage belt. In her WPLG interview, Garcia said that Spirit Airlines told her that her luggage had been sent to her house. The luggage never came.
But Garcia explored another avenue with her own electronic tracker. Garcia, not named in the affidavit, later pinged the electronic items inside the bag to try and...
| Read more »iOS 18 will be fully unveiled this Monday at the WWDC keynote. According to one of the late breaking rumors, the iPhone update will introduce a redesigned Control Center.
One core feature of the new Control Center is the ability to place controls on multiple separate pages, rather than the single-page view currently available. Here’s what that means for you.
| Read more »Over the last two years, I have become obsessed with the miles and points credit card game. I am always looking for the best way to get the most value out of all the signup bonuses and points I receive through spending with my credit card. I have recently been trying to find ways to leverage these points to, perhaps, get Apple products like an iPhone or iPad. I think I finally figured it out!
| Read more »This might seem like a good time to buy a new iPhone. Apple’s got boosted trade-in values for the next couple of weeks, and there are plenty of spring carrier deals still going on. Plus rumors about the iPhone 16 coming this fall make it sound like a relatively minor upgrade, while the iPhone 17 late in 2025 seems more like the big overhaul we’ve been waiting for—perhaps even a seismic shift, iPhone X-style.
But if you want our advice, we think you should still wait. WWDC is Monday and it’s almost certain to provide critical...
| Read more »In this episode, Fernando and Jeff discuss WWDC iOS 18 leaks, exploring how much more information we’re getting about the software side of things compared to previous years. We also discuss the challenges and joys of establishing a workflow on iPadOS. From setting up shortcuts (not just the app) to managing files and timelines in Final Cut, we share our experiences and tips. Plus, we marvel at the power of ChatGPT for generating quirky podcast titles and enhancing productivity.
9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts. You can also watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more.
...
| Read more »Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
Big part up front: Software update fatigue is real for consumers and business users. New features, security updates, and regular maintenance means something is updated almost daily. Browsers are seeing rapid enhancement, and security...
| Read more »As of 2020, there were an estimated 2.5 trillion PDFs out there in the world. And that number continues to explode daily. And as anyone with any PDF experience can attest, working with any single one of them can still be a serious chore.
If you think PDFs should be as simple to edit or convert as a Word doc, then a lifetime subscription to a PDF Expert premium plan for Mac should be in the cards for you.
With PDF Expert, users can effortlessly...
| Read more »Coding can be its own reward. If there’s a dad in your life who loves to build his own programs, this instant download of Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 can give him a full coding suite at a special price, through the end of June 10th.
Compatible with Windows 10 and up, Windows Server Core 2016 and later, and Windows Server 2016 (Datacenter and Standard) and above,...
| Read more »Apple on Friday began selling refurbished models of the in the US, following the launch of these new Macs in March. This means that customers can now buy the latest MacBook Air at a discount from the Apple Refurbished Store.
| Read more »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.
Supported by Setapp: Get access to 240+ apps on your Mac for just $9.99. Sign up today for a free 7-day trial.
...
| Read more »Apple is rumored to announce many new AI features for its devices next week at WWDC 2024, and some of the rumors say that the company will use generative AI to make Siri better. With this in mind, designer João Bortolotti created a concept imagining what it would be like if Siri could read and interact with what’s on the screen.
| Read more »We’re starting the process of moving TidBITS servers to the Cloudways managed hosting service, so don’t worry if you see occasional hiccups in the next few weeks.
| Read more »I’ve been using as my security system for over four years at this point. Even when I built a new house in 2022, I decided to choose Abode once again despite being able to pick from anything. It strikes a really nice balance between ease of use, strong technology, and reliability. The products are affordable, and the monitoring plan works great. Because the company has a UL-certified monitoring station. Abode recently released a new Abode Lock & Keypad smart lock, and I’ve had a little time to integrate it into the Abode ecosystem to see how it works.
| Read more »There are a lot of workout company apps available on the App Store, but a new app called “Push” has been getting a lot of attention recently. That’s because the app helps users count push-ups during a workout using the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera.
| Read more »One of the tentpole Apple TV+ releases this summer also happens to be Natalie Portman’s first ever starring TV role. Lady in the Lake, which was first announced over three years ago, will finally hit TV+ next month on July 19.
Today new details for this seven-part limited series murder mystery have been shared, highlighting what’s expected to be one of Apple’s most compelling shows this year.
...
| Read more »Readdle has announced that its popular Calendars 5 app has reached the end of the road. After more than a decade of the legacy calendar app, the developer’s free/subscription-based Calendars: Planner & Organizer will take the spotlight.
| Read more »It’s pretty annoying these days that when you pay so much money for tech, they don’t even give you a power adapter to plug that cable in. This makes this particular Apple deal much more attractive since the 35W dual USB-C port compact power adapter is down to $40, its best price yet.
With an MSRP of $59, the Apple 35W Dual USB-C port compact power adapter is perfect for anyone who wants to charge multiple devices simultaneously, whether at home or at the office. It’ll fast-charge an iPhone or Apple Watch and even has enough juice to fill up a MacBook Air.
As the name suggests, the gadget has two USB-C ports so you can plug in both your iPhone and MacBook for instance without relying on pass-through or separate plugs. The adapter is pretty compact and...
| Read more »iOS 18 will mark Apple’s annual iPhone software update for 2024 and will be full of changes, and we’re just days away from it being announced. The update has been described as one of the biggest ever for the iPhone. There will be major new AI features and design changes, plus new customization options. Read on for a recap of everything we know about iOS 18’s new features so far.
| Read more »Enlarge (credit: Apple)
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on Monday, and per usual, the company is expected to detail most of the big new features in this year's updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and all of Apple's other operating systems.
The general consensus is that Apple plans to use this year's updates to integrate generative AI into its products for the first time. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has a few implementation details that show how Apple's approach will differ somewhat from Microsoft's or Google's.
Gurman says that the "Apple Intelligence" features will include an OpenAI-powered chatbot, but it will otherwise focus on "features with broad appeal" rather than "whiz-bang technology like image and video generation." These include summaries for webpages...
| Read more »It’s only a few days until Apple unveils its own AI features at WWDC with an emphasize on privacy. The time is right for one of the company’s chief competitors, Microsoft, to address the ‘security disaster’ that its hallmark AI feature, Recall, is said to be.
Today Microsoft has done just that. They aren’t apologizing for Recall’s security holes, but they are making changes that are meant to alleviate users’ concerns.
...
| Read more »Introduces support for device Focus Filters and a new Favorite Perspective shortcut. ($74.99 new, free update, 31.5 MB, macOS 13+)
| Read more »Adds the Library of Congress as a source in Google Books for ISBN searches. ($74.99 new, free update, 116.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)
| Read more »Adds inline linking and full history navigation. ($5.99/$39.99 monthly/yearly subscription, free update, 40.5 MB, macOS 12+)
| Read more »What can you do when you want the world’s most advanced display, the M4 iPad Pro, to serve as a portable TV for your go-to streaming device, the Apple TV 4K?
You could start by learning from someone who has done just that, modding his devices to create the ‘Apple TV Go’—complete with a custom Magic Keyboard that matches the Siri Remote.
| Read more »Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isn’t quite like PlayStation Plus, EA Play, or Xbox Game Pass. So if you’ve got questions about it, we’ve got plenty of answers.
Updated 06/07/24: Four new games were added to Apple Arcade on June 6: Fabulous – Wedding Disaster+, Rabbids Multiverse, Return to...
| Read more »The second-biggest day in Apple’s calendar is almost here. On Monday, thee annual WWDC event kicks off with a keynote presentation, where all the major changes to the company’s software platforms will be announced to watching app developers… and the world’s media. There could be a few hardware surprises too.
Most people will have to wait until Monday to find out what Apple has in store for us. But Macworld readers can get that information right now, thanks to sterling detective work from the people we pay to rifle through the trashcans at Apple Park. Once again, they’ve come up with a complete, albeit rather coffee-stained draft of the script for the event, which we’re pleased to publish here.
From iOS 18 and macOS 15 Golden Gate to the future of AI, we’ve got all the WWDC 2024 spoilers you could possibly want. In...
| Read more »An anonymous reader shares a report: Apple is expected to announce major artificial intelligence updates to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac next week during its Worldwide Developers Conference. Except Apple won't call its system artificial intelligence, like everyone else, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Friday. The system will reportedly be called "Apple Intelligence," and allegedly will be made available to new versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. Apple Intelligence, which is shortened to just AI, is reportedly separate from the ChatGPT-like chatbot Apple is expected to release in partnership with OpenAI. Apple's in-house AI tools are reported to include assistance in message writing, photo editing, and summarizing texts. Bloomberg reports that some of these AI features will run on the device while others will be processed through cloud-based computing, depending on the complexity of the task. The name feels a little too obvious. While this is the first we'...
| Read more »The future of Apple technology will be revealed at WWDC24, and according to reports, the future requires some hefty hardware. Apple is expected to introduce Apple Intelligence, its feature set in its operating systems that implement AI technology. Apple Intelligence is designed to do as much as it can on your device and will rely on cloud computing only when it needs to. And because AI tech is processor intensive, it means that the latest features will run only on certain devices.
Here are the hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence, as...
| Read more »Every year, Apple announces the new version of iOS at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. It then enters a beta-testing period (first for developers only, then for the public) before being released in September, around the time the new iPhones go on sale.
We don’t expect the process or timeline to change this year, but that’s about the only thing we can count on being the same as years past. When it comes to iOS 18 itself—its features and changes—the rumors and leaks point to what might be one of the most consequential iPhone software updates in years.
What follows is a summary of rumors and leaks, but bear in mind that the final product may not quite resemble what you read here. Information about upcoming Apple products is often unreliable, and even when it’s accurate, plans change. That said, this is what...
| Read more »Your Friday edition of the best Apple deals is now live, and it’s a big one. Alongside up to $300 off various MacBook M3/Pro configurations starting from $1,399, we are also now tracking some of the best prices ever on the new M3 MacBook Air kicking off from $899 with some of the 16GB models at the lowest we have tracked. That’s all on top of $100 in savings on AirPods Max, a super rare deal from $479 on the M2 Mac mini, the...
| Read more »Veronica de Souza shares the texts she receives from the thieves who stole her iPhone and then tried to convince her to unlock it.
| Read more »Over the past year, artificial intelligence is what every tech company is talking about. But Apple hasn’t said anything all that specific about AI, except that it has big plans for WWDC and makes the “World’s Best Consumer Laptop for AI” in the M3 MacBook Air. And it will remind you that it’s been shipping AI features for years, just calling it machine learning.
However, while Apple will clearly embrace the term AI at this year’s keynote, it sounds as if the company sees a bigger marketing opportunity. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is going to refer to its AI feature set as “Apple Intelligence,” which is the most Apple thing ever...
| Read more »Overshadowed by the hype over AI features coming to the iPhone in iOS 18, one core component of the iOS 18 experience not being discussed much is enhancements to AirPods.
Last year iOS 17 introduced several powerful new AirPods features, so what’s on deck for iOS 18? Here’s what we know.
| Read more »Apple just published a new Press Release:
| Read more »We’re just a few days away from WWDC 2024 and Basic Apple Guy is out with a beautiful new design. Get pumped for the event download this sharp WWDC wallpaper for iPhone, iPad, and Mac below.
| Read more »Next week’s WWDC is going to be all about software. iOS 18 will introduce a host of new AI capabilities dubbed ‘Apple Intelligence’ that are sure to be the star of the show.
Per a new report, however, watchOS 11 is surprisingly set to offer its own highly transformative feature for users. The catch? That feature will require this fall’s new Apple Watch to use it.
...
| Read more »Apple will introduce a new app called Passwords next week, aiming to simplify website and software logins for users, according to Bloomberg. The app -- offered as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 -- will be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10. Powered by iCloud Keychain, Passwords will generate and manage passwords, allowing imports from rival services, and support Vision Pro headset and Windows computers.
...
| Read more »Hidden Bar is a free Bartender alternative which might find itself seeing quite an uptake in demand, following the surprise takeover of the popular Mac utility.
While Bartender’s creator did later chip in with some comforting words, Bartender has a fairly frightening list of permissions – including the ability to take screengrabs of our Macs – so it’s not surprising that a number of us have opted to err on the side of caution …
...
| Read more »The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch on the market for many, offering a high-quality smartwatch experience, but it’s not cheap—starting at $399/£3999 for the Apple Watch Series 9. However, you don’t have to pay full price for an Apple Watch. Right now resellers are offering some fantastic deals on the Apple Watch.
The deals are likely to get even better as resellers start to clear out stock of older Apple Watch models that Apple has stopped selling since introducing the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 at its September iPhone event. If it doesn’t have to be the newest Apple Watch, you could see some good savings. Another way to save money is to find a deal that bundles an Apple Watch with another device.
In this article, we share the best...
| Read more »One of the things we’re expecting to be announced next week is a ‘new’ Apple Passwords app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac – a move we’ve suggested on more than one occasion.
For 9to5Mac readers, this will bring one small but worthwhile benefit. The really big impact, though, will be with non-techies …
| Read more »With WWDC fast approaching, Apple has highlighted some of the resources and support options available to developers.
These include the YouTube channel first announced back in March, and the Pathways resource launched last month …
...
| Read more »Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is a hugely important event, second in significance only to the company’s iPhone launch each fall. WWDC is important because, at the opening keynote presentation, we get to hear what Apple has in store for its various operating systems, and therefore for the devices that run them. If you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, WWDC will be relevant to you, and we strongly recommend that you watch the keynote.
Fortunately, you don’t need an invite. The keynote will be streamed online for everyone to watch live. We have embedded the live stream below, so you can watch it here once the event starts. There are other options too, and we outline these below.
If you’re interested in watching the keynote, here’s everything you need to know. You can read more about ...
| Read more »If you’re a fan of retro iPhone and Mac wallpapers, Apple has a few surprises in store for you this year. Bloomberg reports today that iOS 18 and macOS 15 will include new wallpaper packs that harken back to old school icons, slogans, and artwork.
| Read more »iPhone voice transcription is already included in iMessage, and is available in some other chat apps – but not always for free. In Telegram, for example, you have to pay for a premium membership to get the feature.
The latest Bloomberg piece says that Apple is finally bringing audio transcription to the Voice Memo app, and this seems a perfect opportunity to make it a system-wide feature …
...
| Read more »If you’re looking for an iPhone but don’t want to spend a fortune, the third-gen iPhone SE, Apple’s cheapest current handset, is the phone for you. It features a powerful processor (the A15, which also appeared in the flagship iPhone 13 Pro from 2021) at an affordable price, starting at $429 in the U.S. or £429 in the U.K.
For a phone that’s even cheaper, however, you may want to consider the second-gen...
| Read more »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...
| Read more »It’s been a long time since you could only get an iPhone directly from Apple or from AT&T. Today, they are offered by all major carriers and big retailers, and many of them want to entice you to buy with them by offering special deals. Of course, you can still buy from Apple directly, either in-store or online, but you can probably find a lower price elsewhere.
That’s particularly relevant if you’re looking at devices that Apple itself no longer sells. The company still sells the iPhone 13, but it discontinued the iPhone 13 Pro when the 14-series handsets came out in fall 2022, and dropped the 13 mini in fall 2023. If...
| Read more »Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today reports that Apple will launch its upcoming AI initiatives in iOS 18 and other operating systems under the brand name ‘Apple Intelligence’, which is obviously a convenient twist on the ‘AI’ acronym. The company will official announce the new plans at its WWDC keynote on Monday.
Rather than focus on writing poetry or making up images, the Apple Intelligence suite of features will use large language models to offer functionality that helps users throughout their daily life, with abilities like summarization and rich auto-reply suggestions.
| Read more »The Worldwide Developers Conference is just days away, and we expect to hear all about Apple’s new operating systems. With a heavy focus on AI and a lot of other features, we expect iOS 18 to be one of the biggest iOS releases in years.
If you want to try it out before its release this fall, you’ll need to install the beta. We expect the developer beta to be available immediately after the keynote on June 10, while the first public beta release will come a few weeks later in July. If you want to grab it ASAP, here’s what you should do to prepare.
Back up your iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC
The first iOS betas are always full of bugs. New features are broken or missing, and even some of the stuff that didn’t change may stop working. Important applications may become unresponsive or crash a lot....
| Read more »Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today reported on a few additional features to expect from the Messages app in iOS 18.
One of the perhaps most requested messaging changes will be an upgrade to the Tapbacks system, allowing users to respond to any message using an emoji of their choice. Apple will also another long-standing feature request, adding the ability to schedule messages to be sent at a later time.
| Read more »A change to Adobe terms set the internet alight yesterday, after a number of pro users of the company’s apps reacted with anger and confusion to the scary-looking wording.
The company initially issued a rather dismissive statement that its terms have been in place for years and it was merely clarifying them, but subsequently wrote a blog post which tackled the issue in more detail …
| Read more »Way back in 2014, there were rumors that Apple had produced one of its trademark WWDC intro skits that never aired. It involved Larry David, app approval, a “Spicy Godfather” sandwich, racial humor, and Evan Spiegel—and Apple apparently got cold feet and showed a fairly standard video about what developers look like instead.
it’s kind of amazing Apple even considered showing it to the world considering Larry tells JB Smoove, “No smacks for Blacks,” and there’s a running joke about how indiscriminate the App Store approval process is.
That’s not to say it’s not funny—it’s actually very funny. It’s just not the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a WWDC...
| Read more »Netflix’s user interface is about to get a bit different on your set top box. On Thursday, the streaming company announced that a major redesign is coming for the Netflix app across TV devices like the Apple TV 4K, Chromecast, and smart TVs. Select users will start seeing it in their Netflix app soon. Per […]
| Read more »What appear to be the exact size specifications of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max smartphone have been leaked, and the device could have the thinnest borders on a smartphone to date. The leak was published Wednesday via a tweet from serial leaker Ice Universe, who stated that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will measure […]
| Read more »...
| Read more »I find the Finder window’s sidebar immensely useful. By default, it shows a number of useful folders and locations you might need quick access to, and you can drag in folders, servers, smart folders, and more. But what do you do when the sidebar disappears, and the View menu’s Show Sidebar item is grayed out?
This happened to me recently, and I was baffled. Restarting my Mac didn’t solve it, nor did some advice on resetting a Finder preference file, which I don’t want to repeat here, as it wipes out your Finder settings and didn’t solve my problem.
It turned out that the answer wasn’t staring me in the face because of how Apple has linked the sidebar and toolbar in the Finder: if you have the toolbar hidden in a Finder window, you cannot display the sidebar, either.
You can test this to see how it works. Open a new window in the Finder with File > New Finder Window. Choose View > Hide...
| Read more »Qi2 versus MagSafe
You’re welcome to charge your iPhone with a wire and pretend it’s 2007, but most of us these days prefer to charge wirelessly. It’s quicker and easier, you don’t have to carry around the correct cable, and it keeps your desk or bedside table looking neat and tidy. The problem, however, is that there’s a wide range of wireless iPhone chargers out there. Which one is right for your needs and budget?
The first question to ask is whether you should go for a Qi2 or MagSafe charger. While these are two separate charging standards, the former open and the latter proprietary to Apple, there’s a lot of overlap between them. It’s important when buying a charger to check which standard(s) it supports so you know that it’s compatible with your phone, as well as the specs and features you can expect.
Most recent iPhones are compatible with both Qi2 and MagSafe. The 15-series iPhones support both out...
| Read more »The charging situation for the and iPhone 15 Pro this year has changed. Apple’s proprietary Lightning port has been replaced with USB-C, so now you can charge your phone with almost any and USB-C power adapter that you can find online. But what exactly do you need to make sure you can charge your iPhone battery as fast as possible?
| Read more »We’ve been extensively covering the release of many retro game emulators for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as Apple recently updated the App Store guidelines to allow game emulators for the first time. Now there’s Folium, a Nintendo 3DS emulator for iOS.
| Read more »In a challenge to password manager software like LastPass and 1Password, Apple is said to be creating a standalone Passwords app. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the new Passwords app will debut at WWDC next week, and will be available across Apple devices including Vision Pro and even on Windows.
For years, Apple fans have wanted the company to take its password management out of the Settings app. Storing passwords in iCloud Keychain is convenient, but it’s cumbersome the moment you step out of Safari...
| Read more »It’s been a while since Apple discontinued its leather sleeve for Macs and iPads. Luckily, – a company that specializes in making premium leather products – has some great sleeves and backpacks for you to carry your Apple devices around in ease. I’ve been trying out some of these products, so read on as I share my thoughts on them.
| Read more »Apple is set to unveil a host of AI-centric updates in iOS 18 and its other software platforms this Monday at WWDC.
Much of what the company will announce is playing catch-up to its competitors, though at a scale and accessibility that’s hard to match. However, where the company is especially poised to make an AI splash is in its differentiated approach.
Unlike its competitors, Apple has strengths in two areas that are currently PR headaches for AI: privacy and the environment.
Here’s what that means for its AI reveals at WWDC.
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| Read more »When buying a new smartphone, it's important to consider the duration of software updates, as it impacts security and longevity. In a rare public commitment on Monday, thanks to the UK's new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations, Apple said it guarantees a minimum of five years of security updates for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. "In other words, the iPhone 15 is officially guaranteed to receive security updates until September 22, 2028," reports Android Authority. From the report: This, as VP of Engineering for Android Security & Privacy at Google Dave Kleidermacher points out, means that Apple is no longer offering the best security update policy in the industry. Both Samsung and Google guarantee seven years of not just security updates but also Android OS updates for their respective flagship devices, which is two years longer than what Apple guarantees.
To Apple's credit, though, it has long provided more than five years of security...
| Read more »iOS 18, macOS 15, and iPadOS 18 will include a dedicated Passwords app for the first time, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The new app will make it “easier for customers to log in to websites and software” and comes after years of Apple showing users their passwords via the Settings app instead of a dedicated app.
| Read more »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.
Supported by Setapp: Get access to 240+ apps on your Mac for just $9.99. Sign up today for a free 7-day trial.
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| Read more »Rivian today unveiled its second-generation R1S and R1T vehicles, which our friends over at Electrek have covered in-depth. For Apple users, however, there are two new features worth calling out. While Rivian still doesn’t support CarPlay, it has added support for Apple’s car key platform as well as Apple Music with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.
| Read more »Benjamin and Chance run down the WWDC expectations, and debate whether reality will match the hype. There’s certainly a lot expected, with major new features for the iOS 18 home screen, Control Center, and a veritable AI infusion across Apple’s platforms. We give our thoughts on what we are most excited to see announced. Plus, Apple accidentally miscounted the number of GPU cores in the M2 iPad Air, and the Apple TV app may finally be coming to Android.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance embarked on a 3,500-mile road EV trip to his new house, and loves CarPlay more than ever before. He also updates us on how good the Vision Pro is as a travel holiday computer, and his smart home plans. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
| Read more »Netflix isn’t afraid to change your experience with its app. The streaming giant revealed today that a major redesign is coming for the Netflix app across TV devices like the Apple TV 4K, Chromecast, and smart TVs. Select users will start seeing it in their Netflix app soon.
| Read more »Enlarge / The logo for WWDC24. (credit: Apple)
Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, kicks off in Cupertino, California, next week. As always, it will start with a livestream keynote on Monday morning at 10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern. We'll be in attendance reporting on the event, so let's take a moment to take stock of what we expect to see next week.
But first, let's note something we don't think we'll see: Due to some peculiarities about Apple's upgrade cycles, as well as a push toward the M4, we're not actually expecting any major hardware announcements at WWDC this year.
That's OK, though, because it looks like it's going to be a big one for software news. iOS has seen relatively modest updates in the past couple of years, but that's about to change...
| Read more »AppleInsider has a scoop on “Project Blackpearl,” which it claims is the code name for the enhancements coming to Apple’s Mail app in iOS 18 and macOS 15. According to the site’s information provided by “people familiar with the matter,” the Mail app is going to get some big new AI features in Apple’s operating systems this fall.
Much of AppleInsider’s information jibes with previous rumors while adding a little more detail.
The most significant new feature is said to be “smart replies,” which will generate email replies for you. It goes along with a system-wide writing tools framework that developers can tap into. AppleInsider says “the...
| Read more »DuckDuckGo is out today with the news that its built-in AI Chat is available for all users. The free functionality offers the choice between four different AI models while protecting user anonymity. Here are all the details.
| Read more »Apple just published a new Press Release:
| Read more »Enlarge (credit: Apple)
Apple has taken a rare step and publicly committed to a software support timeline for one of its products, as pointed out by MacRumors. A public regulatory filing for the iPhone 15 Pro (PDF) confirms that Apple will support the device with new software updates for at least five years from its "first supply date" of September 22, 2023, which would guarantee support until at least 2028.
Apple published the filing to comply with new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations from the UK...
| Read more »Picture this – you’re on your way to your summer vacation spot and your kids won’t stop asking the dreaded question, “Are we there yet?” Handing them a tablet would solve one issue and raise another: who’s going to hold it? Well, this $18 car headrest tablet holder from Lamicall will solve all problems since no one will be technically holding the tablet.
Usually available for $25, this tablet holder can be set in three different positions thanks to the extendable arm. Twisting the arm at different angles makes it easy to change the view distance or to place the tablet between seats so everyone can watch. Since it has a 360-degree rotating ball, you can find the best view angle in a jiffy.
The tablet holder will fit just about any model, from tiny 4.7...
| Read more »On the heels of adding a second tier to its 5G Home Internet in April, T-Mobile has launched another option for those who want a reliable internet backup at an affordable price. T-Mobile Home Internet Backup goes from as low as $20/month for 130GB of 5G data.
| Read more »As much as we enjoy using our Apple devices and software, there are many instances where it feels like Apple just doesn’t care about a particular app or feature. Take Screen Time, Apple’s set of parental controls that was introduced six years ago in iOS 12. Apple has made minor tweaks to it over the years, but it has a ton of issues–Macworld columnist Dan Moren recently pointed out several problems he has with Screen Time.
Moren’s not alone. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal‘s Joanna Stern reported on the frustrations she and...
| Read more »Apple just published a new Press Release:
| Read more »Today’s Apple deals are now ready to go with a headliner all-time low on Apple’s 11-inch M4 iPad Pro 512GB at $75 off. From there, we move over to the return of the best prices of the year on Apple Studio Display, including both the Tilt-Adjustable Stand model and the VESA Mount Adapter variant. Die-hard AirPods 2 fans are in luck with pricing from $60 for today only and you’ll find even more waiting in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break below.
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| Read more »Apple’s most recent push for multi-platform gaming support is continuing to show signs of life. Thanks in large part to Apple silicon’s Mac debut, more developers are finding it worthwhile to bring their games not only to the iPhone, and its massive install base, but also the iPad and Mac as well.
The latest such title is Sniper Elite 4 from Rebellion, which the company announced is debuting this holiday season across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
| Read more »WWDC is only a few days away, and typically the conference is the place Apple announces the winning apps of its Apple Design Awards. This year, however, the full list of 2024 winners has been announced today and will be recognized formally next week during WWDC.
Here are the apps of the year, according to Apple.
| Read more »One of the major upgrades for the iPhone 15 camera system is the main lens being increased to 48MP which matches the iPhone 15 Pro. However, both cameras default to taking 24MP images to save your storage space. Follow along for how to use 48MP iPhone 15 camera to capture the most detail.
| Read more »The A17 Pro chip has enabled the first AAA console games to arrive on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Now the latest addition has been announced to arrive this summer – Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Here are all the details.
| Read more »Apple has been into a monthly release cycle for Apple Arcade launches recently and it has just announced what’s on the horizon. At the end of May and into June, we’ll see Where Cards Fall come to Vision Pro, plus Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse, Return to Monkey Island+, and more arrive on the platform.
| Read more »Earlier this week, users of the popular Menu Bar utility, Bartender, were surprised to learn that the app had been sold months ago with no formal announcement. Users on Reddit expressed concerns about whether the app was safe to use anymore.
Now, the app’s original developer and owner has released a formal statement. He confirms the app’s acquisition by new owners, and seeks to bring assurance that Bartender’s future is bright.
...
| Read more »We’re just three months away from the unveiling of the iPhone 16, and as usual, we already know a lot about it thanks to a steady stream of rumors. The latest concerns the iPhone 16 Pro Max and we can’t wait to see it.
According to Ice Universe on X (formerly Twitter), the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have similar dimensions to the iPhone 15 Pro Max despite sporting a larger screen for the first time since the iPhone 12 (6.9 inches vs 6.7 inches):
Fernando and Jeff discuss using iPad Pro exclusively over Mac, favorite iPad Pro features, and the one must have sleeper accessory for Apple’s new tablet.
9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts. You can also watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more.
| Read more »A new report suggests Apple may announce a number of iOS 18 Mail app AI features during WWDC.
These include the option to automatically create Smart Replies to emails, as well as the ability to draft a reply yourself and then ask Siri to change the tone – for example, ‘make this sound more professional’ …
...
| Read more »It’s not unusual in pieces around Apple’s move to OLED for iPads (now) and MacBooks (in future) to have someone ask in the comments why the company doesn’t just skip ahead to micro-LED. The latest Samsung’s micro-LED TVs point to two very good reasons …
| Read more »eBay is dropping Amex card support, emailing users to advise that it will no longer accept American Express cards for payments from mid-August …
| Read more »A change to Adobe terms & conditions for apps like Photoshop has outraged many professional users, concerned that the company is claiming the right to access their content, use it freely, and even sub-licence it to others.
The company is requiring users to agree to the new terms in order to continue using their Adobe apps, locking them out until they do so …
| Read more »At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Belkin Auto Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit follows you wherever you go (at least as long as you’re in the same room)–it keeps your face in focus. It works perfectly, from the smooth installation to the actual use.
Price When Reviewed
$179.99
Best Prices Today: Belkin Auto Tracking Stand Pro With DockKit
Retailer
Price
$179.99
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| Read more »Nvidia has overtaken AAPL in the market cap stakes, as its valuation exceeded $3T. The company’s rise in value has been truly spectacular, increasing from $2T back in February to more than $3T just four months later.
The company is now challenging Microsoft for the title of most valuable company in the world, and for the same reason …
| Read more »
