After initially dismissing a proposed class action lawsuit over Apple's allegedly forcing users to use iCloud, a judge has now accepted further evidence and ruled that the case must continue.


iCloud logo
Originally filed in March 2024, the class action complaint accused Apple of violations the Sherman Act and the Clayton act. The allegation is that Apple has established "an illegal monopoly" because of its requiring Apple device users to use its iCloud backup.

A year later in March 2025, US District Judge Eumi Lee in San Jose, California, dismissed the case. However, she allowed that the plaintiffs could file an amended case,...

Macworld

Somehow, it’s already June and that means this year’s first Prime Day event is quickly approaching on July 8-11. There may be no better time to get your hands on Apple gear, plus accessories for Macs and iPhones, as well as other tech of interest to Apple diehards. Read on for all the details.

When is Prime Day 2025?

Amazon has announced that Prime Day will run between July 8 and July 11, which is along the lines with our original guesstimate. Since there are four days between the 8th and the 11th, Amazon is doubling the event this year, which is in line with the rumors we’ve been hearing about Prime Day lasting for more than its typical two days.

This is the first time we’ll be seeing the event last for so long.

When was Prime Day in previous years?

In previous years, Amazon’s Prime Day event lasted for 48 hours, and always started on a Tuesday. Let’s check out the exact dates:

A Today at Apple session with the makers of Apple TV+ hit "Severance" was capped by a surprise visit from Tim Cook and Brad Pitt, as Apple's "F1" promotion tour continues to ramp up.


Brad Pitt (left) and Tim Cook promoting "F1" at Apple Fifth Avenue — image credit: Apple
Despite spending a billion on films every year, Apple has been criticized for letting movies flop through a lack of marketing. There's no possibility of that criticism being repeated now, as the new Apple Original movie "F1" is practically being pushed as hard as a new iPhone.

The latest promotion was a special edition of the company's Today at Apple in-store workshops, this time at the New...

The easiest way to type the squared symbol (²) on a Mac is by selecting it from the character viewer. Just press Command+Control+Space to open the character viewer and search for “superscript”. Select the “2” and it will appear as the squared symbol. Alternatively, you can type a regular 2, then select it and press […]

The post How to Type the Squared Symbol (²) on Mac Keyboard appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Macworld

We’re of the opinion that a new year means a new you, and the new you shouldn’t be paying subscription fees for cloud storage. Instead of giving Dropbox a chunk of change every month, why not own 10TB of cloud storage after just one payment?

Yup, lifetime access to Internxt cloud storage is now only $279.99 (reg. $2,900) with coupon code STORAGE20. It’s a big figure upfront, but consider this—a similar Dropbox plan takes $15 away from you monthly. If you do the math, this Internxt offer pays for itself after 18 months.

Just like Dropbox, ...

Apple’s low-cost iPads, once ideal for casual use and kids’ games, are now falling short. Popular titles like Fortnite and Roblox are exposing the limitations of older models with 3GB of RAM. These devices can no longer handle the demands of modern mobile gaming, and that’s forcing users to consider upgrades sooner than expected. Apple […]

The post Apple’s Budget iPads Struggle to Keep Up With Modern Mobile Games appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple Intelligence is one step closer to debuting in China. On Monday, Alibaba unveiled a new version of its Qwen3 AI model that supports Apple’s MLX architecture. This update brings compatibility with the Neural Engine in Apple Silicon Macs and AI-ready iPhones and iPads. The move signals Apple’s growing readiness to roll out its generative […]

The post Apple Intelligence Nears China Launch as Alibaba Adapts Qwen3 for Apple Devices appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple fans visiting the company’s iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York were treated to an unexpected moment this week: following a panel on Apple TV+ hit series Severance, Apple CEO Tim Cook and actor Brad Pitt took the stage to promote the upcoming Apple Original Film F1 The Movie.

more…

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last week left one product conspicuously absent from the keynote: homeOS 26, the long-rumoured software expected to power a new generation of HomePod-style devices. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the story says Apple originally planned to launch homeOS alongside new smart-home hardware at a March event but pushed everything back […]

The post homeOS 26 Is Alive, and Could Headline a Smart-Display Launch This Fall appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Bargain hunters looking for extra ports without spending a fortune can pick up the Belkin 12-port Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro for just $69.99 today only.


Snag Belkin's Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro for just $69.99 - Image credit: Belkin
The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro is equipped with 12 ports, offering Mac users an easy way to connect a keyboard, mouse, and even up to two external displays (to compatible devices) with ease. And today only, while supplies last, the docking station is marked down to $69.99 at Amazon-owned Woot, reflecting a 61% discount off retail.

...

After releasing iOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, and its other operating system updates, as well as starting developer betas for iOS 26 and others, Apple has also introduced developer betas for iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, and visionOS 2.6.


Examples of Apple Intelligence at work.
On May 12, Apple released its updates for iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, and visionOS 2.5. Now, Apple is trialling the follow-up operating system updates.

The first iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 developer betas share build number 22G5054d, with macOS Sequoia 15.6 on build number 24G5054d The first tvOS 18.6 build is 22M5054b, the first watchOS 11.6 build is 22U5054b,...

Apple executives insist they aren’t building a public-facing chatbot, yet the iOS 26 developer beta all but proves otherwise. A new Shortcuts action called Use Model pipes any prompt straight into Apple Intelligence and answers in conversational prose, giving users a do-it-yourself chat interface with just a few taps. To use the supposed chatbot, open […]

The post Apple Says “No Chatbot,” but iOS 26 Shortcuts Let You Build One Anyway appeared first on The Mac Observer.

A Dutch court on Monday confirmed a 2021 consumer watchdog's ruling saying that Apple had abused its dominant position by imposing unfair conditions on providers of dating apps in the App Store. From a report: The Rotterdam District Court ruled that the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) was therefore right to impose an order subject to a penalty for non-compliance. The court ruled that ACM was right in finding that dating app providers had to use Apple's own payment system, were not allowed to refer to payment options outside the App Store, and had to pay a 30% commission (15% for small providers) to Apple.

...

Apple should finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 along with the Apple Watch Series 11 sometime this year.

The post Apple Watch Ultra 3 rumored to arrive later this year along with the Apple Watch Series 11 appeared first on Apple World Today.

Apple’s premium headphones is currently at a steal in today’s deal. The AirPods Pro 2 is down to just $169 from its original price of $250 on Amazon. The AirPods Pro 2 is a step above the base AirPods, offering a higher level of sound and several nifty features such as improved ANC, Transparency mode, […]

The post The AirPods Pro 2 is $80 Off appeared first on iLounge.

Apple will be bringing back tabs in the Photos app when iOS 26 debuts. The Photos app will get a much-needed cleanup with the introduction of iOS 26. With Liquid Glass, the app will have two tabs for Collections and Library. Library will show a grid section of all the user’s images, and there will […]

The post Photos Tabs to Make a Comeback in iOS 26 appeared first on iLounge.

Macworld

Apple has started a service program to specifically address a problem that owners of the M2 Mac mini may be having. According to Apple, “a very small percentage” of these Mac minis have an issue where they will no longer power on. Eligible devices can have service done to fix the issue by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

The affected Mac minis were manufactured between June 16, 2024 and November 23, 2024. To see if your Mac mini qualifies, Apple has a website where you provide your Mac mini’s serial number: check if your Mac mini is qualified for service.

Qualified devices can be brought in for service at an Apple Store or an...

Apple’s upcoming macOS Tahoe will add an iPhone app, and it just might hint at cellular Macs. I certainly hope so.

The post 2026 might be the year when Apple might offer a Mac with optional cellular capabilities appeared first on Apple World Today.

Macworld

Ever since I’ve been using an iPhone to make calls, I’ve been accidentally calling people. Sometimes my fingers just fumble on the call list, sometimes I’m trying to view someone’s contact card and miss, other times it’s because I tap to hang up a split second after the other person has already ended the call, and I call someone at the bottom of my Recents tab.

Whatever the reason, I need to either quickly hang up or sheepishly explain to the person on the other end that I didn’t mean to call them. Not anymore. In iOS 26, there’s a new toggle that eliminates the possibility of ever tapping a recent call to dial someone by mistake.

As spotted by Aaronp613 on X, the new Phone app in iOS 26 comes with a new setting to “Tap Recents to Call” when using the updated...

Apple has seeded the first developer betas of macOS Sequoia 15.6, iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, , tvOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, and visionOS 2.6. 

The post Apple posts first round of developer betas for upcoming operating systems appeared first on Apple World Today.

Macworld

It wouldn’t be WWDC if Apple didn’t do a little stealing. In fact, Apple has such a longtime habit of introducing new software features that overlap and eventually overtake third-party Mac apps there’s even a term for it. Sherlocking comes from Apple’s Sherlock app, one of the first to usurp a popular third-party alternative called Watson back in the 1990s.

This practice was on display again at WWDC 2025, where Apple introduced several new features in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe that looked eerily similar to...

With approximately three months until the release of the devices, the rumors surrounding Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max handsets have been collected. Here’s what’s rumored as to the upcoming units, according to MacRumors: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro […]

Source

Global smartphone manufacturing output is expected to slip 1% year-over-year (YoY) in 2025 due to tariff impacts and a broader industry slowdown.

The post Counterpoint Research: Global Smartphone Manufacturing to Weaken in 2025, India to Buck Trend appeared first on Apple World Today.

Need a loud Bluetooth speaker that doesn’t compromise on bass and audio quality? We have just the thing for you. Today, the Beats Pill is down to just $99 from its original price of $150 on Amazon. The Beats Pill is a portable pill-shaped Bluetooth speaker with impressive loudness. It’s great for when you need […]

The post The Beats Pill is $50 Off appeared first on iLounge.

Steam on Mac has received native Apple Silicon support through a beta client. Valve has released a Steam client that will run the gaming platform on the Silicon chip, thus foregoing the need to have a Rosetta 2 layer. Mac users can be free from the performance hit of having to run Rosetta 2 and […]

The post Apple Silicon Support Added to Steam Client Beta appeared first on iLounge.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 is a great choice if you want zero distractions in your workouts. Today, it’s down to just $199.95 from its original price of $250 on Amazon. Billed as the most advanced headphone in the Beats lineup, the Powerbeats Pro 2 has secure-fit earhooks that are in a league of their […]

The post The Powerbeats Pro 2 is $50 Off appeared first on iLounge.

Apple announced that iOS 26 will have an option to reserve storage space for software updates. In the iOS 26 developer beta, the Cupertino-based company notes that the system might ‘dynamically reserve update space’ for software updates. Doing this eliminates the problem of having to delete apps, games, or content just to have enough space […]

The post iOS 26 Users Will Have Storage Reserve Option for Software Updates appeared first on iLounge.

Macworld

If you’re looking to make your PC feel like new without breaking the bank, this bundle featuring Microsoft Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro is a deal you won’t want to miss. Priced at just $54.97 (reg. $418.99), it might just be the most affordable way to update your device without purchasing a brand-new one.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 includes essential applications like ...

Recorded in front of a live audience at The California Theatre in San Jose Tuesday evening, special guests Joanna Stern and Nilay Patel join me to discuss Apple’s announcements at WWDC 2025.

3D video with spatial audio: Coming soon, exclusively in Sandwich Vision’s Theater on Vision Pro, available on the App Store. This year’s on-demand version of the show in Theater isn’t ready yet, but it looks really good. Better than last year’s by a long shot, and also significantly better than the bandwidth-constrained livestream Tuesday night. The livestream Tuesday night looked good; the on-demand version coming in a few days looks pretty amazing.

Sponsored by:

• iMazing: The world’s most trusted software to transfer and save your messages, music, files...

Macworld

If you have a Mac but still need to run Windows apps, Parallels Pro makes it surprisingly easy. Instead of switching computers or rebooting into a different system, Parallels lets you run Windows, Linux, or other operating systems right alongside macOS. Whether you are moving from PC to Mac or just need access to certain programs that do not have Mac versions, this tool creates a virtual machine that works like a second computer within your Mac. It’s usually $119.99 for a 1-year Parallels Desktop Subscription for Macs, but right now it’s only $74.99.

What can Parallels do?

Parallels Pro lets you run Windows...

Apple's macOS 26 "Tahoe" introduces a new disk image format called ASIF, designed to dramatically improve performance over previous formats like UDRW and sparse bundles -- achieving near-native read/write speeds for virtual machines and general disk image use. The Eclectic Light Company reports: Apple provides few technical details, other than stating that the intrinsic structure of ASIF disk images doesn't depend on the host file system's capabilities, and their size on the host depends on the size of the data stored in the disk. In other words, they're a sparse file in APFS, and are flagged as such. [...]

Conclusions:
- Where possible, in macOS 26 Tahoe in particular, VMs should use ASIF disk images rather than RAW/UDRW.
- Unless a sparse bundle is required (for example when it's hosted on a different file system such as that in a NAS), ASIF should be first choice for general purpose disk images in Tahoe.
- It would be preferable for virtualizers to be...

At WWDC 2024, Apple showed off a dramatically improved Siri that could handle complex contextual queries like "when is my mom's flight landing?" The demo was heavily edited due to latency issues and couldn't be shown in a single take. Multiple Apple engineers reportedly learned about the feature by watching the keynote alongside everyone else. Those features never shipped.

Now, nearly a year later, Apple executives Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak are conducting press interviews claiming the 2024 demonstration wasn't "vaporware" because working code existed internally at the time. The company says the features will arrive "in the coming year" -- which Apple confirmed means sometime in 2026.

Apple is essentially arguing that internal development milestones matter more than actual product delivery. The executives have also been setting up strawman arguments, claiming critics expected Apple to build a ChatGPT competitor rather than addressing the core issue: announcing...

Macworld

Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+, its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies.

This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. There’s also a ton of new content in the works for Apple’s $9.99-a-month service. If you want to know what’s on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple TV+ shows and movies.

Updated June 13, 2025: Echo Valley, a thriller film, and...

Macworld

At its WWDC event on 9 June 2025, Apple showed off the next version of macOS that will be making its way to desktops near you later in 2025. macOS Tahoe comes with some impressive new features, with productivity and personalisation at the heart of the upgrade. So, how does it compare to macOS Sequoia that it replaces, and should you rush to make the transition?

Features in macOS Sequoia

Before we dig into the shiny new toys Apple is bringing with macOS Tahoe, we will quickly recap on what was introduced with macOS Sequoia. Here are the highlights:

Apple...

Macworld

Last month, I revealed that Google I/O’s AI announcements made me question my loyalty towards the iPhone. Android users are getting all sorts of next-level, sci-fi-like features, while Apple Intelligence on iOS has generally been underwhelming. That kind of changed this week.

WWDC25’s main keynote, as expected, didn’t really focus on AI advancements; I can’t remember Siri being mentioned once outside of the opening mea culpa. Nevertheless, Apple previewed over a dozen AI features—some subtle, others less so—coming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26. What stood out to me is that, while not as jaw-dropping as those we’ve seen elsewhere, these handy tools will fit into most users’...

CUPERTINO, Calif.—When Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi introduced the new multitasking UI in iPadOS 26 at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference this week, he did it the same way he introduced the Calculator app for the iPad last year or timers in the iPad's Clock app the year before—with a hint of sarcasm.

"Wow," Federighi enthuses in a lightly exaggerated tone about an hour and 19 minutes into a 90-minute presentation. "More windows, a pointier pointer, and a menu bar? Who would've thought? We've truly pulled off a mind-blowing release!"

This elicits a sensible chuckle from...

The support list for macOS Tahoe still includes Intel Macs, but it has been whittled down to just four models, all released in 2019 or 2020. We speculated that this meant that the end was near for Intel Macs, and now we can confirm just how near it is: macOS Tahoe will be the last new macOS release to support any Intel Macs. All new releases starting with macOS 27 will require an Apple Silicon Mac.

Apple will provide additional security updates for Tahoe until fall 2028, two years after it is replaced with macOS 27. That's a typical schedule for older macOS versions, which all get one year of major point updates that include security fixes and new features, followed by two years of security-only updates to keep them patched but without adding significant new features.

Apple is also planning changes to Rosetta 2, the Intel-to-Arm app translation technology created to ease the transition between the Intel and Apple Silicon eras. Rosetta will continue to work as...

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Apple is launching what it calls the Foundation Models framework, which the company says will let developers tap into its AI models in an offline, on-device fashion. Onstage at WWDC 2025 on Monday, Apple VP of software engineering Craig Federighi said that the Foundation Models framework will let apps use on-device AI models created by Apple to drive experiences. These models ship as a part of Apple Intelligence, Apple's family of models that power a number of iOS features and capabilities.

"For example, if you're getting ready for an exam, an app like Kahoot can create a personalized quiz from your notes to make studying more engaging," Federighi said. "And because it happens using on-device models, this happens without cloud API costs [] We couldn't be more excited about how developers can build on Apple intelligence to bring you new experiences that are smart, available when you're offline, and that protect your privacy...

Every year, Apple releases new versions of iOS and iPadOS, and most years those updates also end support for a handful of devices that are too old or too slow or otherwise incapable of running the new software.

Though this year's macOS 26 Tahoe release was unkind to Intel Macs, the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 releases are more generous, dropping support for just two iPhone models and a single iPad. The iOS 26 update won't run on 2018's iPhone XR or XS, and iPadOS 26 won't run on 2019's 7th-generation iPad. Any other device that can currently run iOS or iPadOS 18 will be able to upgrade to the new versions and pick up the new Liquid Glass look, among other features.

Everything that runs iOS 26.

Credit:

Apple

Everything that runs iPadOS 26.

Credit:

Apple

Apple never provides explicit reasoning for why it drops the devices it drops, though they can usually be explained by some...

Apple's new macOS Tahoe release isn't the end of the road for Intel Macs, but it sends Apple's clearest signal yet that it's nearly finished with the Intel Mac era. The macOS 26 update will support just four Intel Macs, all released in 2019 or 2020, and it entirely drops support for all Intel versions of the MacBook Air and Mac mini.

Other models that run the current macOS 15 Sequoia release that won't support macOS Tahoe include all 15-inch MacBook Pros, all 13-inch MacBook Pros with two Thunderbolt ports, and the 4K and 5K versions of the 2019 iMac.

The compatibility list for macOS 26 Tahoe.
Credit:
Apple

Apple has generally been pulling support for new...

Apple unveiled the next version of macOS today during the Worldwide Developers Conference. Codenamed Tahoe, macOS 26 gets a visual refresh with the same "Liquid Glass" look that Apple is introducing across all of its operating systems this year. Apple has also changed the version number, jumping directly from version 14 to version 26 as it shifts to unified year-based version numbering across all of its operating systems.

Liquid Glass goes all-in on translucency and transparency, changing the look of icons and windows across the operating system. Most significantly, the macOS menu bar has become entirely invisible, and the Control Center has adopted a new, glassy, translucent appearance. The same color-tinting customization features available on iOS and iPadOS are coming to the Mac this year, giving users multiple customization options on top of the standard light and dark modes and accent colors.

The invisible menu bar and glassy Control Center in macOS Tahoe....

Apple today introduced Liquid Glass, a new design language that brings transparency and glass shine effects across macOS, iPadOS, iOS, and its other software platforms. Alan Dye, Apple's VP of human interface, described the update as the company's "broadest design update, ever" and "the first time we're introducing a universal design across our platforms."

The design overhaul adds glass-like elements throughout iOS 26, including glass edges that appear when users swipe up on the lock screen and similar transparent effects across system interfaces. The changes represent Apple's most significant departure from the iOS 7 design philosophy that has shaped the mobile operating system for over a decade since 2013, when Apple moved away from skeuomorphism. App developers will need to adjust their applications to accommodate the new visual language.

...

Apple researchers have found that state-of-the-art "reasoning" AI models like OpenAI's o3-mini, Gemini (with thinking mode-enabled), Claude 3.7, DeepSeek-R1 face complete performance collapse [PDF] beyond certain complexity thresholds when tested on controllable puzzle environments. The finding raises questions about the true reasoning capabilities of large language models.

The study, which examined models using Tower of Hanoi, checker jumping, river crossing, and blocks world puzzles rather than standard mathematical benchmarks, found three distinct performance regimes that contradict conventional assumptions about AI reasoning progress.

At low complexity levels, standard language models surprisingly outperformed their reasoning-enhanced counterparts while using fewer computational resources. At medium complexity, reasoning models demonstrated advantages, but both model types experienced complete accuracy collapse at high complexity levels. Most striking was the...