Macworld

On Tuesday, Apple sent out invitations to a special press event next month. Taglined ‘Let Loose,’ the event takes place on May 7 and begins at 7am PT. It seems to be an online-only event, with recipients invited to tune in at apple.com rather than attending in person.

This is a major surprise. The company frequently holds events in the spring, either in March or in April, and always holds an event (WWDC) in June. But there hasn’t been an Apple event in May this century. The timing is also strange, as Apple typically holds its events at 10am PT, three hours later than this event.

The most likely explanation is that Apple was planning to have a spring event this year (they’re pretty common; they happened in 2021...

Macworld

We’d given up hope for a Spring event this year, but Apple has just issued invites to an event on May 7, 2024. So it turns out that big things are brewing at Apple Park after all, and we will find out what they are very soon.

In this article, we explain what you need to know about Apple’s Spring Event in 2024, how to watch it live, and what products you can expect to be unveiled.

Apple’s spring event is one of the three or four big events in Apple’s yearly cycle of announcements. We get the big software announcements at WWDC in the summer, the iPhone launch in September, sometimes we see Apple make Mac and iPad announcements in October or November, and (most years) we get some hardware reveals at a spring event in March or April. Apple executives will hit the stage–whether real or virtual–and boast about some recent successes, before revealing what new products are about to launch. For more detail on Apple’s...

When released a few years ago, the Dream Machine Pro became a popular device for small and medium-sized businesses. I’ve deployed and managed a handful of them in various environments and found them to be a great device. It’s a really easy and affordable way to get started, especially when you want to use various UniFi apps (camera, network, etc). Today, Ubiquiti is releasing the new Dream Machine Pro Max, bringing that same all-in-one approach to larger deployments with more demanding needs.

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Apple’s FineWoven Accessories Might Continue to Live On

It has been a year since Apple launched a new lineup of FineWoven cases. The cases have taken a flak from users right from the beginning. Apple’s FineWoven case is plagued with complaints about durability. Recent rumours claimed that Apple will ditch the FineWoven cases. Now, the same source claims that the company will launch […]

This post Apple’s FineWoven Accessories Might Continue to Live On appeared first on The Mac Observer

Sonos has revealed what it’s calling its “most extensive app redesign ever.” The new iOS and Android experience (plus web) does away with tabs and puts everything on a single Home screen that’s faster, customizable, has one search bar for all of your streaming services, features improved system control, and more.

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After Losing the Top Spot Internationally, iPhone Sales Drop by 1/5th in China, Worst Since COVID

Apple saw a huge decline in iPhone sales in China during the first quarter of 2024. According to Counterpoint Research, sales fell 19% compared to the same period in 2023, which makes the company’s weakest performance in the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine if COVID had not been hit; I believe […]

This post After Losing the Top Spot Internationally, iPhone Sales Drop by 1/5th in China, Worst Since COVID appeared first on The Mac Observer

Macworld

If you want to stretch your budget further, a membership to Sam’s Club could help. For a limited time, you can get a 1-year Sam’s Club membership for just $14. That’s the lowest price ever for a year-long membership, and it comes with auto-renew for the ease of uninterrupted access.

As a member, you get access to all that the Sam’s Club warehouses have to offer. You’ll be able to peruse the aisles and find savings on a variety of items, from groceries and household essentials to seasonal products and...

As is sometimes the custom, Apple may have snagged yet another company that specializes in artificial intelligence to help move it closer to its technological milestones. Apple is reported to have acquired Datakalab, a Paris, France-based startup specializing in both AI compression as well as computer vision technology. Per French business magazine Challenges, the acquisition […]

Source

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Apple @ Work is brought to you by Kolide by 1Password, the device trust solution that ensures that if a device isn’t secure, it can’t access your apps. Close the Zero Trust access gap for Okta....

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Most pet owners may agree with this statement. We love our dogs and are constantly looking to care for them as best we can. Now, you can gain insights into how to look after them more lovingly and learn about their genetic history with a simple test.

With the DNA My Dog test, you can delve into your dog’s genetic makeup to uncover valuable insights. Now, it’s only $67.99 (reg. $79).

Thankfully, running a DNA My Dog test is as straightforward as conducting a human genetic test. Just use the sterile applicator to...

Emulation on iOS: What to Know About Retro Gaming on iPhone

What a time to be alive: emulation has officially arrived on iOS. This means iPad and iPhone owners can enjoy a variety of virtual game consoles directly on their device and Apple is totally cool with it. As exciting as this may be, there is a lot to know about this subject and what exactly […]

This post Emulation on iOS: What to Know About Retro Gaming on iPhone appeared first on The Mac Observer

One of the best features of the Apple TV is its robust collection of Aerial screen savers. When your Apple TV sits idle for a few minutes, tvOS switches to these soothing Aerial videos while it awaits your return.

YouTube, however, thinks you’d rather see random slideshows of images and video thumbnails instead…

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According to French business magazine Challenges, Apple has acquired Datakalab -- a Paris-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence compression and computer vision technology. 9to5Mac reports: Datakalab described itself as "experts in low power, runtime efficient, and deep learning algorithms" that work on device. On its LinkedIn page, Datakalab highlights "industry leading compression and adaptation to deploy embedded computer vision that is fast, cost-effective and precise." Prior to the Apple acquisition had between 10 and 20 employees.

From Datakalab's now-defunct website: "Datakalab is a French technology company that develops computer image analysis algorithms to measure flows in public space. The images are instantly transformed into anonymized statistical data processed locally in 100ms. Datakalab does not store any images or personal data and only keeps statistical data. Datakalab products are built according to the principle of 'Privacy by Design.'"...

Macworld

Now that the iPhone 15 lineup is on shelves, and now we can officially start thinking about the iPhone 16. Naturally, any rumors or leaks you see this early are going to be fluid at best–even if they are accurate now, plans can and do change and there’s still plenty of time to do so before the iPhone 16 enters production.

With all that said, here’s what the most prolific leakers and tipsters say we can expect about the iPhones coming in the fall of 2024.

Update April 22: A new report claims that Apple will switch to solid-state capacitive buttons for the volume and power button of the iPhone 16 line.

When is the newest iPhone coming out?

The iPhone lineup is...

Our friends at GRID Studio are running an Earth Day sale this week with some impressive discounts on their iconic deconstructed wall art. The Grid 4, for example, showcases a deconstructed iPhone 4 and is available for just $99 (down from $170).

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Proton is out with the latest upgrade for its users on a paid tier. Dark web monitoring is here to help you keep your online credentials as safe as possible with alerts when you need to update passwords due to data breaches and more. Here’s how it works.

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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Charles Edge, a prolific author, blogger, and podcaster who was one of the best-known figures in the Mac admin community. 

Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to reliable Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami." From a report: In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Apple introduced FineWoven, a soft fabric material, last year. The company claimed that the material is made of 68 percent post-consumer content and is overall more environmentally friendly compared to the company's previous line of leather accessories. As part of the introduction of FineWoven case, Apple also discontinued the use of leather for new Apple accessories. Reviewers didn't like FineWoven, calling it "bad. Like, really bad."

...

Enlarge / The M2 Pro Mac mini. (credit: Andrew Cunningham)

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman thinks that Apple's M4 chips for Macs are coming sooner rather than later—possibly as early as "late this year," per a report from earlier this month. Now Gurman says Apple could completely skip the M3 generation for some Macs, most notably the Mac mini.

To be clear, Gurman doesn't have specific insider information confirming that Apple is planning to skip the M3 mini. But based on Apple's alleged late-2024-into-early-2025 timeline for the M4 mini, he believes that it's "...

Like the modern MacBook Pro laptops, Apple’s latest MacBook Air models support fast charging which can give up to 50% battery in as little as 30 minutes. However, by default, both sizes of the Air ship with a charger that doesn’t support the feature. Here are the requirements and details for how to fast charge MacBook Air.

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Ecosia Launches a Cross-Platform Browser on Earth Day

Ecosia, the search engine that uses a percentage of its search ad revenue to support tree-planting projects, has released a new cross-platform browser on Earth Day.  In an effort to provide users with a more environmentally friendly option than Google Chrome or Apple Safari, the company describes its browser as the “greenest browser on Earth.” […]

This post Ecosia Launches a Cross-Platform Browser on Earth Day appeared first on The Mac Observer

Monday’s best deals kick off with Apple’s latest Mac mini starting from $499. The perfect companion discounts are also live, dropping Satechi’s Stand and Hub for Mac mini which was just updated with an NVME SSD slot to $90 alongside Samsung’s 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Thunderbolt Monitor at $700 off. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

...

Maintenance update for the Swiss Army knife of graphics programs. ($39.95 new, free update, 261 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Maintenance release for the Open/Save dialog utility. ($39.95 new, free update, 17.4 MB, macOS 10.13+)

If you organize events that require significant numbers of volunteers, you know how much work it is to track everything manually in a spreadsheet. A better option is a volunteer management system like Helper Helper, which Adam Engst has used for over a year.

Apple has reportedly acquired Datakalab, a Paris, France-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence compression and computer vision technology. According to French business magazine Challenges, the acquisition was finalized in December.

Datakalab described itself as “experts in low power, runtime efficient, and deep learning algorithms” that work on device.

more…

Macworld

Apple doesn’t participate in big industry-wide events such as CES or E3. The most valuable company in the world holds its own events, thank you very much. Several times a year, Apple invites the press and industry professionals to Apple Park to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these ‘events,’ and streams them live online to millions of watchers.

In 2023 there were three such events: WWDC in June, the Wonderlust iPhone event in September and Apple’s second fall event on October 30 (or October 31 if you weren’t in the U.S.). Similarly, in 2022 Apple held three events: a spring event on March 8, WWDC on June 6, and the iPhone 14 launch on September 7. In other years Apple has held four events though. Will Apple hold four events in 2024?

Read on to find out what events and new Apple product launches the...

Macworld

Apple’s MacBooks are great, but—as with all laptops—using one isn’t that great for your back or neck.

Continual bowing of the head to see a screen can lead to a stiff neck and what doctors call spinal stenosis, which can compress blood vessels and displace nerves—cutting off blood supply to the brain. That’s not a good thing.

Your screen should be at a comfortable height that doesn’t make you bend your neck down to see it. Try to make sure your eyes are in line with the screen while sitting with a straight back. This also helps when making video calls, so the other people aren’t staring up your nostrils.

Using a laptop stand also makes using a separate keyboard and mouse much easier. See our roundups of the best Mac keyboards and...

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros

• Universal use
• Large selection of colors
• Very good workmanship
• Recycled material
• Very light and can be folded flat
• Robust, dirt-resistant base

Cons

• Hook on the lid slips out easily
• No padding in the laptop compartment

Our Verdict

We really liked the High Coast Foldsack 24 as an everyday backpack. Fresh colors, slim, light, and flexible to use. The workmanship is excellent and the price is reasonable.

Best Prices Today: Fjällräven High Coast Foldsack 24

Retailer

Price

Fjällräven High Coast Foldsack 24

€109.99

...

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 morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.

Air quality

Interesting developments in the iPad rumorsphere, where the theory emerged last week that the next iPad Air, already expected to get a massive 12.9-inch display, will also enjoy an upgrade from LED to mini-LED screen technology. That’s what you currently get from the iPad Pro, and should deliver excellent power efficiency and improved image quality. Good news, right?

Wrong.

It’s always been understood that the Pro models are where you go to get the very best hardware Apple can offer....

Macworld

Wireless headphones are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles ‘know’).

The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds we’ve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired headphones and a comparison of over-ear headphones read our comparison of AirPods Max vs other over-ear headphones.

Updated April 2024 with Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review.

Best headphones and earbuds for iPhone

1. Bose...

Google Chrome’s Quick Delete Feature Will Soon Be Available on iOS

Google Chrome seems to be working on expanding the “quick delete” feature for iOS users. The quick delete feature is already available on Android, allowing you to delete all browsing data from the last 15 minutes. A flag named “Quick Delete for iOS” is being added, which suggests the development of this feature for iPhones, […]

This post Google Chrome’s Quick Delete Feature Will Soon Be Available on iOS appeared first on The Mac Observer

At this year’s annual hacking conference, Black Hat Asia, a team of security researchers revealed how cybercriminals are sneakily using stolen credit cards and Apple Store Online’s ‘Someone else will pick it up’ option in a scheme that has stolen over $400,000 in just two years.

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 automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over...

Apple Halts Production of FineWoven Accessories Amid Criticism Over Poor Durability

When Apple launched the iPhone 15 in September last year, they introduced a new material for their accessories: FineWoven. Apple decided not to use leather in their products, so they replaced it with this synthetic material made of “durable micro-twill”.  The issue is that many users have complained about the poor condition of their products […]

This post Apple Halts Production of FineWoven Accessories Amid Criticism Over Poor Durability appeared first on The Mac Observer

LeBron James Leaks New Beats Pill Speaker

In 2014, Apple acquired the audio company Beats for 3 billion dollars. It is to date the largest amount of money ever spent by Apple on an acquisition of this kind. Since then, the company has launched several products, the latest being the Beats Studio Pro. Now, LeBron James has been spotted with a Beats […]

This post LeBron James Leaks New Beats Pill Speaker appeared first on The Mac Observer

As indicated by much of the research material Apple has been publishing in recent months, the company is investing heavily in all sorts of artificial intelligence technologies. Apple will announce its AI strategy in June at WWDC, as part of iOS 18 and its other new OS versions.

In the latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman says to expect the new iPhone AI features to be powered entirely by an offline, on-device, large language model developed by Apple. You can expect Apple will tout the privacy and speed benefits of this approach.

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Macworld

Whether your profession is in the creative industry or you’re a DIY-er working on a passion project or repainting your walls, you’ve likely needed a reliable method of matching colors. Fortunately, you can get precise color matches for upholstery, paint colors, and more with this color-matching sensor.

The Nix Mini 2 is a fantastic tool for anyone who works with color, allowing users to color match accurately and on the go. It’s now only $59.97 (reg. $99) through April 21. 

This device has a highly calibrated sensor that can...

Jeff and Fernando talk about AltStore launching in the EU, the Delta Nintendo Emulator officially arriving in the App Store, iOS 17.5 beta changes and features, the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air with mini LED display, iPad Magic Keyboard conjecture, flying with Apple Vision Pro, and NAB 2024. It’s a jam-packed, fun-filled show, don’t miss it!

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Apple Vision Pro Used During Surgery to Assist Doctor in Brazil

Apple announced Vision Pro during WWDC23, and later launched it in the U.S. in February 2024. Furthermore, Tim Cook recently confirmed their arrival in China, and rumors suggest a launch in other countries such as Canada, France or the UK by the end of 2024. Since then, we’ve seen different approaches to the Vision Pro […]

This post Apple Vision Pro Used During Surgery to Assist Doctor in Brazil appeared first on The Mac Observer

M4 MacBook Pro Lineup: Here’s What We Know

Since Apple announced in 2020 its transition to in-house computer chips, the company has already launched three generations. This year we expect to see the fourth: the M4 series. According to some reports, Apple will unveil the first Macs with this new processor by the end of 2024, including new M4 MacBook Pro models. Last […]

This post M4 MacBook Pro Lineup: Here’s What We Know appeared first on The Mac Observer

Macworld

There’s nothing like having the convenience of hands-free use of your iPad. Whether you’re in the kitchen, streaming a film, or working at your desk, a stand becomes an essential tablet accessory.

Of course, those using their iPad for work may also want to pair the iPad with a keyboard—we have tested the best iPad keyboards for you).

An iPad stand will help your posture and viewing comfort, or make typing or using a stylus much easier.

We’ve rounded up some of the best iPad stands out there for every budget–from the lightweight and portable, to the adjustable, to the ones that just look great, and one that will turn your iPad into a desktop workstation.

Some are basic, some are stylish or super-bendy, one comes with an array of handy ports, and one looks like a cuddly toy.

...

Since the launch of Apple Vision Pro, we’ve seen some examples of surgeons using the headset to assist them during procedures. Now an orthopedic doctor in Brazil has used a Vision Pro to successfully operate on a patient with a rotator cuff tear.

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Incident began at 2024-04-19 14:12 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).

Our Engineering team has identified the root cause of the issue and rolled back a recent change.

Our engineers are taking additional repair actions for the rollback to take effect for the impacted customers.

We do not have an ETA for mitigation at this point.

We will provide more information by Friday, 2024-04-19 14:00 US/Pacific.

Affected products: Google Chat

A year and a half after Apple launched its Studio Display, Samsung released a direct competitor with its ViewFinity S9 5K monitor. With many of the same features as Studio Display plus some beyond, it’s an interesting alternative. Follow along for how Studio Display vs Samsung ViewFinity S9 stack up.

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Macworld

Following a report that the Notes app will offer new math-based features, AppleInsider reports that the Calculator app will get a major overhaul in macOS 15. Apple is expected to debit macOS 15 at its Worldwide Developers Conference 2024 in June.

The changes to the macOS Calculator include:

• A redesign that resembles the iOS Calculator app. While the macOS Calculator app has a similar layour and color scheme as the iOS Calculator...

Incident began at 2024-04-19 14:12 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).

Engineering team potentially identified the root cause and working on mitigation.

We do not have an ETA for mitigation at this point.

Affected products: Gmail