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.

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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.

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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.

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Macworld

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...

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...

Introduces support for device Focus Filters and a new Favorite Perspective shortcut. ($74.99 new, free update, 31.5 MB, macOS 13+)

Adds inline linking and full history navigation. ($5.99/$39.99 monthly/yearly subscription, free update, 40.5 MB, macOS 12+)

Macworld

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...

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'...

Macworld

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...

Veronica de Souza shares the texts she receives from the thieves who stole her iPhone and then tried to convince her to unlock it.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Macworld

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...

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 …

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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.

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Macworld

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...

Macworld

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...

Macworld

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....

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 …

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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 […]

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Macworld

• The latest operating system from Windows 11 Pro is normally $199, but you can get it for just $24.97 through 6/9 for Father’s Day.
• Enjoy enhanced productivity features like snap layouts, seamless redocking, and improved voice typing.
• Work safer with biometrics login, TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and more leading security features.
• Tap into Microsoft’s Copilot AI to save time and streamline workflows.
• Access unique professional features like Azure AD, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker device encryption, and more.

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Macworld

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...

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.

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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...

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.

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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.

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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...

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.

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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...

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.

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Apple just published a new Press Release:

• Seven new games launch on Apple Arcade, including Outlanders 2: Second Nature
  

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.

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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.

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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.

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Macworld

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):

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163 × 77.6 × 8.26mm
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: 160 x 76....

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’ …

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eBay is dropping Amex card support, emailing users to advise that it will no longer accept American Express cards for payments from mid-August …

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Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros

• Easy to install
• Built-in battery
• MagSafe charging

Cons

• Pricey

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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Macworld

Apple’s most important event each year is its Worldwide Developers Conference–the fall iPhone event might be the most significant annual event for Apple’s bottom line, but WWDC is more important. It’s where Apple unveils the new operating systems, the heart of the major hardware devices the company makes, and developers get to find out how to take advantage of the new OS features.

Apple hardware isn’t really the main focus of WWDC. But at recent WWDCs, Mac hardware has been a major part of the event. The transition to Apple silicon was announced at WWDC, and after that, the event was used to provide progress reports and reveal new M-series Macs.

But this year, it’s different. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in a recent...

If you were eager to play Assassin’s Creed Mirage on your iPhone 15 Pro or iPad Air or iPad Pro tablets with an M1 chip or newer, now’s your change. The marquee game has arrived at the App Store, and will be available starting today. Due to time zones, it is already available in countries […]

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Macworld

• Unlimited access to over 4,400 games: Everything from adventure blockbusters like BioShock to classic favorites like Solitaire and Match 3 are available, and they’re all playable with absolutely no ads.
• Apple and Android compatibility: iPlay can be accessed on virtually any device, whether that’s your iPhone or PC, and there’s even a popular 100 top games list available for each device. 
• Exclusive members-only deals: As an iPlay member, you’ll receive regular offers that allow you to score premium games at exceptional prices.
• One-time...

As we await Apple’s tantalizing iOS 18 and other announcements at its WWDC conference next week, the Wall Street Journal has an interesting profile about changing attitudes towards AI inside Apple, and how the company became more comfortable with taking risk.

In particular, it pinpoints the moment when Apple’s approach on AI shifted. The report says SVP Craig Federighi was testing Github’s Copilot code completion features in late 2022, during his Christmas holiday break, and came away impressed. This swiftly led to an internal mandate in the software engineering group to explore and productize as much artificial intelligence functionality as possible.

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Parallels Desktop is certainly one of the most popular tools for running virtual machines on macOS, and also one of the easiest for running Windows on a Mac. The software has recently been updated with many improvements to make the experience of running Windows 11 virtual machines more seamless, plus some new features.

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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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