We’ve seen two reports this week that Apple is aiming to launch an all-screen MacBook with a foldable display in 2026. While that might sound enticing, would you give up a physical keyboard and trackpad for the bigger display? Share what you think in our poll below.

more…

Apple’s most successful product of all time, the iPhone, was at one point going to look a lot more like an iPod than the device we ended up getting. The iPod was such a hit for Apple that the company naturally explored making an iPhone that looked and felt similar to its then-biggest moneymaker.

17 years after the iPhone’s launch, that idea of an iPod-inspired phone has not been forgotten. In fact, there’s a company teasing that it has created one…kind of.

Say hello to the tinyPod.

more…

Apple once designed a Tetris clone that has been found on a prototype version of the third-generation iPod, indicating the company was experimenting with releasing the game on the music player. From a report: It's called Stacker and, obviously, is controlled via the iPod's scroll wheel. The software was spotted by X user AppleDemoYT, who is known for finding rare prototype devices. The prototype iPod is a "DVT" device, meaning it was a mid-stage device that was still in "Design Validation Testing." It has a model number of A1023, which is not a known model number of any iPod version.

The device runs a prototype version of iPodOS 2.0, which is where Stacker comes from. The pieces are moved from left to right using the scroll wheel and they fall when the middle button is pressed. The goal is to clear lines and score points. You know the deal. It's Tetris. It's not the only game found on the prototype iPod. There's something called Block0, which is likely an early version of...

Apple has shed more light on the bizarre iOS 17.5 bug that caused long-deleted photos to mysteriously reappear on users' devices. In a statement to 9to5Mac, the iPhone maker clarified that the issue stemmed from a corrupted database on the device itself, not iCloud Photos. This means the photos were never fully erased from the device, but they also weren't synced to iCloud. Interestingly, these files could have hitched a ride to new devices through backups or direct transfers.

...

Apple’s new M4 iPad Pro is the most expensive iPad ever made, so as beautiful as its ultra-thin and light design is, there’s a good chance you don’t want to risk using it case-free.

Whether you’re looking for maximum or minimum protection, a Pencil-holding case, a third-party folio, or something else entirely, here are some of the best cases you can find for your M4 iPad Pro.

more…

Macworld

Way back in 2012, Apple began phasing out optical drives from its Macs, beginning with the MacBook Air in 2008 and ending with the Mac Pro in 2013 (though a legacy MacBook Pro remained available until October 2016). But if there are still times when you wish your Mac had an optical drive, you can get one for just $60 today.

Amazon’s Woot is selling Apple’s USB SuperDrive External Optical Drive for $60, a savings of $19 on the MSRP. It has a built-in USB-A cable, so you’ll need a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter to use it with a MacBook. Otherwise, it’s everything you need to play and burn CDs and DVDs on your Mac. A 5.47-inch square that’s...

Enlarge / iPadOS 17.5.1 ready to install on an iPad Pro. (credit: Samuel Axon)

On May 20, Apple released iOS 17.5.1 to fix a bug users had found a few days prior in iOS 17.5 that resurfaced old photos that had been previously deleted. So far, the update seems to have resolved the issue, but users were left wondering exactly what had happened. Now Apple has clarified the issue somewhat, describing the nature of the bug to 9to5Mac.

Apple told the publication that the photos were not regurgitated from iCloud Photos after being deleted on the local device; rather, they were local to the device. Apple says they were neither left in the cloud after deletion nor...

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the Apple deals keep coming with a new all-time low on the most affordable 13-inch M4 iPad Pro at $50 off – it’s now joining other configurations in the lineup. From there, we are now tracking the first deal of the holiday on both HomePod mini (all five colors) and HomePod 2 alongside Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the official Ocean Band (or not) and a slew of price drops on the atest Beats headphone and earbud releases. You’ll find all of that and more waiting below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals.

...

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.

Update 5/24: The ($705 discount) for a limited time – making it a tempting pick over Studio Display.

more…

The Mac’s position as an established, decades-old platform means that any time Apple makes changes to the way that platform works, some pushback is expected. In macOS Ventura, for example, the company redesigned the System Preferences app to look and feel more like the iPhone and iPad’s Settings app. The rebranded System Settings debuted to some notable backlash, especially during the beta cycle.

Now, ahead of WWDC in a few weeks, AppleInsider reports that Apple is planning some changes for System Settings in the forthcoming macOS 15. Will they be enough to win over the app’s critics?

...

A new supply-chain report suggests that we can expect Apple to release an OLED iPad mini in 2026, and that the iPad Air will also be upgraded to OLED within the same timeframe.

It says that Samsung has already started developing samples of displays intended to be used in what would be a significant upgrade to the most bijou of the iPad line-up …

...

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros

• Pre-installed on all Macs for free
• Automatically launches when viewing supported files
• Minimalistic user interface that won’t overwhelm
• Wide range of handy tools for image and document manipulation

Cons

• Exclusive to the Mac with no dedicated iOS and iPadOS apps
• Doesn’t support text editing in PDF files
• Image crop button requires an unintuitive workaround to surface

Our Verdict

While Apple Preview isn’t designed to replace your image or PDF editor, it still offers some power-user features including image export. We wonder why Apple hasn’t brought it to the iPad yet.

Price When Reviewed

Free

Best Prices Today: Preview

Retailer

Price

Free...

We reported last year on an intriguing patent for an ‘Apple pebble’ device, which appeared to be intended as some kind of Vision Pro accessory.

Now the company has applied for a new patent on what appears to be another take on the tiny mysterious device …

more…

Macworld

It’s typically Windows computers that get all the news headlines for attracting computer viruses, which can mean it’s all too easy to forget that Macs are vulnerable to malware, too. Our pick of the best Mac antivirus software will help keep you and your Mac or MacBook safe from whatever rogue software comes your way.

Macs have traditionally been a far less tempting target for malware writers, leading some to believe that Macs don’t even need antivirus, but their increasing popularity means they’re not immune from viruses and other types of malware – don’t find this out the hard way.

Get...

Following a spicy rumor from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo as to a foldable-display MacBook set for release in 2026, analyst Ross Young posted a report of his own on X, wherein Young shared that Apple has decided to go with a slightly smaller display size than originally planned. The MacBook’s foldable display is now expected […]

Source

Macworld

Some software is hard to go without, but paying every month for the programs you rely on isn’t easy on the budget. If you need apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can replace Microsoft 365 with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows for $49.97 during this Memorial Day sale.

This license comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access, and there are no recurring payments of any kind...

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...

How to Fix Can’t Text Android Phones on iOS 17/17.5.1

Some iPhone users noticed that they can’t text Android phones anymore after installing iOS 17.5.1. Essentially, only iMessage is available. This widespread problem seems to have caused a debate within Apple Community. One side argues that it stems from carrier provider issues, while another believes it’s caused by a software update bug. Personally, it sounds […]

This post How to Fix Can’t Text Android Phones on iOS 17/17.5.1 appeared first on The Mac Observer

Solved: AirPrint Not Working After iOS 17/17.5.1 Update

Anyone who has used tech long enough has undoubtedly dealt with a printer error, and most of the time they’re a complete hassle. However, while your AirPrint not working after updating to iOS 17/17.5.1 is quite annoying, there are a couple of methods that provide an effective solution. Let’s look at your options. Why Is […]

This post Solved: AirPrint Not Working After iOS 17/17.5.1 Update appeared first on The Mac Observer

iOS 17/17.5.1 Screen Distance Not Working? Here is the Fix

Numerous iPhone owners have expressed their frustration over iOS 17 screen distance not working as it should. This feature was designed to protect our eyes from strain and myopia, making it a crucial part of iOS 17. In a world where 50,000 people lose their eyesight annually, addressing digital screen-related issues is a top priority. […]

This post iOS 17/17.5.1 Screen Distance Not Working? Here is the Fix appeared first on The Mac Observer

How To Fix All iOS 17/17.5.1 iMessage Issues

If you need to fix iOS 17.5.1 iMessage issues, you’ve come to the right place. As an iPhone 15 Pro user, there are a few things I like more than being in the blue text club, but an additional update started giving me problems with iMessage. Fortunately, while it seems like a complex issue, most […]

This post How To Fix All iOS 17/17.5.1 iMessage Issues appeared first on The Mac Observer

How to Fix Battery Draining Fast After Sonoma 14/14.5 Update

If your battery is draining fast after making the upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14.5, then our solutions below may be as sweet as a songbird. How to Fix Battery Draining Fast After Sonoma 14.5 Update Users within the Apple Support Community are stating that they are having battery drain issues in both Sonoma 14.4.1 and […]

This post How to Fix Battery Draining Fast After Sonoma 14/14.5 Update appeared first on The Mac Observer

Fix Battery Draining Too Fast in iOS 17/17.5 in 2024

Is your battery draining fast after the iOS 17.5 update? I have faced the same since the update and all my battery drained out within 6-7 hours of full charging. Here are all the solutions I found to be helpful. How to Fix Battery Draining Fast After iOS 17.5 Update With every new update, battery […]

This post Fix Battery Draining Too Fast in iOS 17/17.5 in 2024 appeared first on The Mac Observer

Fixed: Can’t Send Photos to Non-iPhone Users With Messages

We’ve all been there: the internet is down, you want to share a hilarious meme or a touching image with your friend, but they use another smartphone brand. Since iMessage isn’t available, the only option is MMS. However, as luck would have it, Messages also acts up, and now you can’t send photos to non-iPhone […]

This post Fixed: Can’t Send Photos to Non-iPhone Users With Messages appeared first on The Mac Observer

Benjamin and Chance react to the surprise reports of a major form-factor change coming to the iPhone in 2025, with the addition of a new redesigned ‘Ultra’ model priced above the current Pro Max. The Plus is also expected to go away next year. iOS 17.5.1 includes a fix for the deleted photos bug but Apple yet again neglects to explain what happened. And, Apple Music causes a stir with their Best 100 albums list. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance discuss the appeal of the newly announced Peacock, Apple, and Netflix Comcast ‘StreamSaver’ bundle.

• Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.
• ...

Voicemails Disappeared After Update? Here Are 4 Quick Fixes

When a recent iOS update wiped the saved voicemails I had from my late grandmother, I found myself scrambling through files for hours on end. Losing messages that hold sentimental value is beyond heartbreaking. Surprisingly, this issue cropped up for many users. While not everyone has the same emotional connection to their voicemails, that doesn’t […]

This post Voicemails Disappeared After Update? Here Are 4 Quick Fixes appeared first on The Mac Observer

Macworld

With macOS 13 Ventura, Apple performed a major overhaul to the System Preferences interface and changed its name to System Settings. The change was an attempt to better unify it more with the design of Settings in iOS, but it ended up creating consternation with users due to the illogical placement of some settings. Two years after the change, Apple is going to tweak the System Settings interface even further with macOS 15–hopefully for the better.

According to a report by AppleInsider, Apple will tweak System Settings so the settings in the left column are...

Macworld

The next version of the Mac operating system, macOS 15, is expected to make its debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off with a keynote on June 10. After a beta period, the official release occurs in the fall.

Rumors of what macOS 15 will entail are scarce as usual–because software development doesn’t rely on third-party production and manufacturing like hardware does, rumors about macOS don’t happen often. But when rumors do leak, they will be tracked in this article. Here’s everything we know so far.

Updated 5/23/24: Apple may tweak the System Settings UI and rename “Apple ID” to “Apple Account.”

macOS 15 release date: When will macOS 15 arrive?...

Brings performance improvements and bug fixes to the spam-filtering utility. ($39.99 new, free update, 49.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Sonos launched a brand-new version of its app this month. And it received lots of critical feedback from users over missing features, broken VoiceOver for vision-impaired users, and more. Now the company has acknowledged some of the problems and launched its latest update with fixes.

more…

Apple executive Phil Schiller admitted in court on Wednesday that the company's court-mandated changes to its iPhone app store payment system have not significantly increased competition. The ongoing hearings in Oakland, California, are determining whether Apple is properly complying with an antitrust order to allow developers to display links to alternative payment options. Despite Apple's implementation of the changes in January, only a small number of apps have sought approval for external payment links.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has expressed frustration with Apple executives, questioning whether they understand the order's intent to increase competition. Schiller defended Apple's response as well-intentioned but acknowledged the need for further action to encourage more apps to utilize external payment options.

...

There is a trend emerging at Apple, and it’s one that could do serious damage to your Apple Card balance.

Apple has long held a reputation for making premium products—both in quality and price. The iPhone is more expensive than most Android phones, the Mac more than your average PC, and so on. Every single major product Apple sells is pricier than the bulk of its competitors. Yet the company is still wildly successful, regardless.

Now, based on recent trends and new reporting, it seems that Apple plans to test its customers’ loyalty by offering even higher cost, super-premium versions of nearly its entire product line.

Welcome to the Ultra era.

more…

was an immediate hit when released last year thanks to its low cost and support for Apple home key. Today, Aqara has just released the new Aqara U50 entry-level deadbolt lock, which also retains Apple home key and Matter support.

more…

Macworld

Apple’s location services are handy, with many useful functions such as Find My, maps, routes, and Emergency SOS calls. However, researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered a crucial vulnerability in the way Apple’s location services work, which could allow an unauthorized person to access data on millions of routers and potentially information on a person’s movements without much effort.

As reported by...

The early Memorial Day deals roll on, but today we spotted the stock maxed out 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB of memory and a 1TB SSD back down at the $1,799 low. From there, the green AirPods Max are now joining the rest of the colorways at $100 off, previous-generation Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 9 GPS + Cell models are seeing...

Apple is Rumored to be Working on a 20-inch Foldable ‘Crease-Free’ Screen

Picture a stunning 20-inch screen that folds in half- without any creases. This is what the future might be for MacBook loyalists. Apple and LG is reportedly readying to start mass production of these foldable display panels by Q4 2025. This new idea wants to reshape Mac screen. Wondering how much it would cost? With […]

This post Apple is Rumored to be Working on a 20-inch Foldable ‘Crease-Free’ Screen appeared first on The Mac Observer

Apple Inside Information Explains Why iPhone Photos Reappeared, No Spying Involved

Some iPhone users who updated to iOS 17.5 have reported encountering a situation where previously deleted photos reappear in the Photos app.  This can be concerning, but according to information from a Reddit user who happens to have inside information: I may or may not know somebody who is a Private Contractor @ Apple, and they […]

This post Apple Inside Information Explains Why iPhone Photos Reappeared, No Spying Involved appeared first on The Mac Observer

Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen more and more Mac users deal with serious lag and freezing in Microsoft Word. Now a Microsoft employee has confirmed a fix is in the works as well as recommending a workaround while we wait.

more…

Apple is working on all-screen foldable devices. Unlike its competitors, however, its focus seems less on foldable smartphones and tablets, and instead on an all-screen foldable laptop.

Ming-Chi Kuo has previously reported that Apple was developing a 20.3-inch MacBook device for 2027, but today the analyst has shared several key new details about the futuristic MacBook model. One such detail is that Apple is now eyeing an earlier 2026 launch for the product.

...

Facial Surgery Reportedly Causes Patient to Lose FaceID Access, Talks to Apple for a Solution

An iPhone user has reportedly lost access to their phone after a presumed facial surgery caused Face ID to stop recognizing them.

This post Facial Surgery Reportedly Causes Patient to Lose FaceID Access, Talks to Apple for a Solution appeared first on The Mac Observer

After European legislation forced Apple to allow third-party app stores across 27 countries, Japan is planning to introduce a similar legal requirement.

The antitrust legislation is currently being debated in the Japanese parliament, but is expected to be approved by the end of June …

more…

ChatGPT, DuckDuckGo, Copilot Search Down Due to Microsoft Outage

Earlier today, Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT search functions went down due to a major Microsoft outage. People in Asia and Europe who use these services for their searches or digital assistants woke up finding out that they could not get a response from them anymore. The issue began around 3:00 AM Eastern Time, causing […]

This post ChatGPT, DuckDuckGo, Copilot Search Down Due to Microsoft Outage appeared first on The Mac Observer

Macworld

In early April, Apple made a surprise decision to allow retro game emulators in the App Store. With them, you can now play old classic games from early game consoles and arcades, but the legalities around doing so are a little complicated.

Here’s what you need to know about retro game emulation on iPhone and iPad, including some of the top apps, how they work, and what to do about ROMs.

What is retro game emulation?

The processor in your iPhone (or laptop or home PC) is many times more powerful than the processors used in old classic arcade games or home consoles like the NES, SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, etc. That means today’s devices are capable of playing older games without breaking a sweat—which is where game emulators come in.

Game emulators have been around for a very long time on PCs...

Microsoft’s search engine Bing is down for many, with Copilot similarly unavailable for affected users. DuckDuckGo and ChatGPT search are also impacted, as they use the Bing API.

The issue appears to have started in the early hours of the morning ET, and was partially acknowledged by Microsoft a few hours later …

more…

One of the coolest bits of shareware just got a hefty update. Little Snitch, which monitors Mac network traffic for suspicious activity, has reached version 6.0, remains focused around the easy blacklisting and whitelisting of apps and services, and offers the following of new fixes and features: Little Snitch 6 retails for $59 as a […]

Source

Macworld

Technology is all about what’s coming next, and in this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we’re talking about what we can see from Apple in 2025

Technology is all about what’s coming next, and in this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we’re talking about what we can see from Apple in 2025! A super thin iPhone, a new Mac Studio, updated AirTags and more! Find out more on the show!

This is episode 885 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.

...

Downloads Are Not in Folder on iPhone? Here’s Where They Go

Despite the prevalence of streaming and cloud-based services, many still prefer downloading various media types. Having offline access to files is pretty convenient. A big issue with iPhone downloads, however, is they do not always reflect in the correct folder destination. You might see them appear in random locations. I know how easy it is […]

This post Downloads Are Not in Folder on iPhone? Here’s Where They Go appeared first on The Mac Observer

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Krebs On Security: Apple and the satellite-based broadband service Starlink each recently took steps to address new research into the potential security and privacy implications of how their services geo-locate devices. Researchers from the University of Maryland say they relied on publicly available data from Apple to track the location of billions of devices globally -- including non-Apple devices like Starlink systems -- and found they could use this data to monitor the destruction of Gaza, as well as the movements and in many cases identities of Russian and Ukrainian troops. At issue is the way that Apple collects and publicly shares information about the precise location of all Wi-Fi access points seen by its devices. Apple collects this location data to give Apple devices a crowdsourced, low-power alternative to constantly requesting global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

Both Apple and Google operate their own Wi-Fi-based...