Incident began at 2024-05-24 11:20 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).
For more service information please follow
https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/qPG3UXdDaYVhcA9DT8zG
Affected products: Google Docs
| Read more »Incident began at 2024-05-24 11:20 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).
For more service information please follow
https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/qPG3UXdDaYVhcA9DT8zG
Affected products: Google Docs
| Read more »Incident began at 2024-05-24 11:20 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).
For more service information please follow
https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/qPG3UXdDaYVhcA9DT8zG
Affected products: Google Sheets
| Read more »Background App Refresh Grayed Out On WhatsApp? Top 3 Fixes
Is the Background App Refresh button grayed out on your WhatsApp settings? This is a tricky issue that stops the app from running and updating in the background, leading to missed messages and delayed notifications. It generally stems from misconfigured settings, content restrictions, and software glitches. Thankfully, they’re all pretty easy to resolve—these troubleshooting steps […]
This post Background App Refresh Grayed Out On WhatsApp? Top 3 Fixes appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »Incident began at 2024-05-24 11:20 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).
Summary:
Google Drive users are unable to load Apps Script UI.
Description:
We are experiencing an issue with Google Drive beginning on Friday, 2024-05-24 16:20 US/Pacific.
Our engineering team has identified a mitigation strategy and is currently rolling it out for all impacted users.
We will provide an update by Friday, 2024-05-24 21:00 US/Pacific with current details.
We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption.
Customer Symptoms:
Customers may not be able to load Drive UI, they would encounter error messages while trying to do so.
.
This issue may also impact users trying to access Apps Script UI.
Workaround:
None at this time.
Affected products: Google Drive
| Read more »As TikTok increasingly invests in tools for creators, the social network announced on Friday a new TikTok Studio platform, which aims to help creators manage many aspects of their account in one place, whether on their smartphone or computer.
| Read more »Following a brief outage that affected most of Meta’s services last week, Instagram is down again for some users. While some people can still access parts of the app, others are reporting that the platform is entirely down this Friday.
| Read more »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.
| Read more »The popular Affinity suite of image editing and design apps has just received another major update with new features such as a QR Code Tool. This is the first update to Affinity apps since Serif was acquired by Canva in a multi-million dollar deal.
| Read 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.
| Read more »Today Apple has updated its online refurbished store to feature a newly added product. For the first time, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are now available from Apple as certified refurbished devices. This means you can get one of the more recent iPhone models at a discount and with a handful of guarantees from Apple.
| Read 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...
| Read more »[Fix] iPhone Keeps Saying Water in Charging Port iOS 17/17.5.1
Does your iPhone keep saying that there is water in your charging port? Does this continue to happen even after updating to iOS 17.5.1? While an iPhone is pretty good at being water-resistant, moisture can still manage to find its way into your device. Of course, you may also be receiving the liquid-detection alert due […]
This post [Fix] iPhone Keeps Saying Water in Charging Port iOS 17/17.5.1 appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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.
...
| Read more »iFixit’s Teardown Video Offers an Inside Peek at the New 13-Inch iPad Air
The good folks from iFixit, have released a detailed teardown video for the 13-inch iPad Air. This fresh tablet has some interesting features, but it remains similar to its earlier version on the inside. For example, the battery still uses adhesive pull tabs, making it easier to remove. Furthermore, the battery is heavier than the […]
This post iFixit’s Teardown Video Offers an Inside Peek at the New 13-Inch iPad Air appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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.
| Read more »Unable to Fix Blurred Videos on LinkedIn
Pre-Ventura versions of macOS are prone to glitches, and one of those is being unable to fix blurred videos on LinkedIn. Because it’s not entirely an issue on your end, solving this problem is quite troublesome. That said, you don’t necessarily have to call for repairs yet (or even invest in an expensive webcam). There […]
This post Unable to Fix Blurred Videos on LinkedIn appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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...
| Read more »OpenAI launched its native ChatGPT Mac app this month alongside GPT-4o. But while anyone can install the Mac app, your account will need to be invited to early access – unless you use this workaround. Here’s how it works.
| Read more »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...
| Read more »Apple released the iOS 17.5.1 update earlier this week, fixing a bug–a potentially embarrassing one–that would suddenly recover photos that were deleted long ago. The fix comes as a relief to many, but users who put more thought into are left wondering, was the bug within iOS on the iPhone, or was it an iCloud issue? And if it was iCloud, what the heck Apple–why are you holding on to photos deleted long after the 30-day waiting period? Is Apple secretly keeping our photos for nefarious reasons (dun dun duuun!)?
According...
| Read more »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.
...
| Read more »We’ve been hearing for years that Apple is working on a large-screen folding device that’s more likely to be an iPad than an iPhone. And now a new report sheds some new light on the project–which could arrive in 2026.
According to a Medium post by Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is looking to ship a large-screen folding MacBook by 2026. That’s a slightly more...
| Read more »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.
| Read more »The price you’ll pay Apple for MacBook Pro leather cases has varied widely over the years, but with its anti-leather kick, the closest you’ll get to a leather case on apple.com is a “vegan leather” one from von Holzhausen.
On the plus side, that has brought the price down well below Apple’s leather years. For the 16-inch MacBook Pro, for example, the case costs a comparatively affordable $99.95. But while I respect Apple’s stance on the topic, for me there’s no substitute for real leather …
...
| Read 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?
...
| Read more »Apple is Reportedly Working on OLED Display for iPad mini and iPad Air
Rumor mills predict that Apple is working on an OLED iPad Mini slated to launch in 2026. he information comes from people close to Apple’s supply chain, who say Apple has asked for OLED display panels from its suppliers, which are expected to be used on forthcoming iPad Mini versions. Samsung Display, a company that […]
This post Apple is Reportedly Working on OLED Display for iPad mini and iPad Air appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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 …
...
| Read more »Apple has been teasing the comeback of its Beats Pill speaker with sports stars like Lebron James and more carrying it around. Now after FCC approval earlier this week, another regulator has approved the new portable speaker ahead of a potentially imminent launch.
| Read more »At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Cons
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...
| Read more »Apple Explains Why Old Deleted Photos Started Resurfacing on iOS 17.5
Apple addressed the weird bug in iOS 17.5 that caused deleted photos to resurface leaving users confused and worried about privacy. The bug was resolved in the iOS 17.5.1 update, Apple went on record and said it happened because of a damaged database entry on the devices and wasn’t related to iCloud Photos. So when you […]
This post Apple Explains Why Old Deleted Photos Started Resurfacing on iOS 17.5 appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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 …
| Read more »Security researchers report that a key element of Apple Location Services contains what they call “a really serious privacy vulnerability” that allowed troop movements to be tracked.
The issue could also allow an attacker to work out the location of anyone using a mobile wifi router, such as those in RVs, and travel routers sometimes used by business travellers …
| Read more »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.
| Read more »Apple’s M3 MacBook Air finally got settled into the Mac lineup, but Apple is already looking ahead with the M4 MacBook Air. Reports on the future laptop are starting to appear, though it’s not expected to ship until next year.
We’ll see more rumors between now and the M4 MacBook Air release. This article will keep track of what’s being reported, as well as offer a perspective based on Apple’s current lineup.
M4 MacBook Air: Release date
In an April 2024 report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that the Mac’s version of the M4 chip will be introduced in the MacBook Pro and iMacs later this year, with an M4 MacBook Air release likely coming in spring 2025, which would be about a year after the ...
| Read more »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 […]
| Read more »If you’re en route to Canada, this could come in handy. Apple announced on Thursday that its “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature is now available beginning yesterday via select payment platforms in the country. The technology allows businesses to accept contactless payments on an iPhone, with no additional point-of-sale hardware like a Square Terminal […]
| Read more »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...
| Read more »Email started as a way to send a file between early internetworked computers with little checking about who was sending what. Despite the 60-odd years that have passed, that’s more or less what happens between modern mail servers when you send and receive messages. Email is, at its heart, a text file that is transmitted by your email app telling a mail server in plain text who the message is from and to whom it’s going.
The recipient has to be valid for the message to be received, but not so for the sender. Even after decades of work fighting the root causes of spam and impersonation, there’s no centralized and fully supported way to validate that the purported sending email account was actually used to send a message with a given email address. Spammers can forge “From” addresses, and email hosts do what they can do stop that–and that can trip you up.
How sending an email works
When you set up a mail...
| Read more »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...
| Read more »How to Fix iPad Not Charging After iPadOS 17/17.5.1 Update
Is your iPad not charging after updating to iPadOS 17.5.1? Well, this can be highly frustrating, and you are not alone. Here are all the solutions that worked for me and other users on the Apple forum. Let’s check them out. How To Fix iPad Not Charging After iPadOS 17.5.1 Update Charging issues on the […]
This post How to Fix iPad Not Charging After iPadOS 17/17.5.1 Update appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »How To Fix an iPhone That Keeps Restarting iOS 17/17.5.1
After updating to iOS 17.5.1, my iPhone started randomly restarting. What was initially a mild annoyance quickly made my phone nearly unusable. Although unexpected and alarming, it’s worth noting that this iOS update had its fair share of issues, from wonky features to poor battery performance. There’s a good chance this is a software problem […]
This post How To Fix an iPhone That Keeps Restarting iOS 17/17.5.1 appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »iOS 17/17.5.1 Wi-Fi Not Connecting/Working? How to Fix All Issues
Users are facing WiFi issues since updating to iOS 17. In this guide, we'll help you learn how to fix WiFi issues on your iPhone.
This post iOS 17/17.5.1 Wi-Fi Not Connecting/Working? How to Fix All Issues appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »Notifications Not Working on iOS 17/17.5.1? Here is the Fix
iPhone users are complaining about notification issues after updating to iOS 17.5.1. More particularly it seems that some of them stopped receiving notifications from installed apps on their device. If you are one of them, a quick fix would be to check Notification Settings and make sure that “Allow Notifications” for the app that you […]
This post Notifications Not Working on iOS 17/17.5.1? Here is the Fix appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »If you have a WordPress website, ChatGPT can provide a powerful boost, helping you with SEO and adding new front-end features that could greatly help site visitors.
Fortunately, you can easily upgrade your site’s functionality and visitors’ experience with a lifetime license for Mind2Matter’s ChatGPT plugin. Ahead of Memorial Day, this ChatGPT plugin is price-dropped to $49.97 (reg. $299) through May 31.
Developed by one of Upwork’s top-rated software development resources, this ChatGPT plugin for WordPress websites taps into your...
| Read more »Can’t Install macOS Sonoma 14/14.5? Here is the Fix
Many users have reported being stuck in a loop while installing the latest macOS Sonoma version on their MacBooks. Even after following the installation process by the book, the system still says that macOS Update 14.5 can’t be installed. If you are facing this issue, try the fixes mentioned below. What To Do If You […]
This post Can’t Install macOS Sonoma 14/14.5? Here is the Fix appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »Fix: iPhone Lagging and Freezing iOS 17/17.5
Has your iPhone started lagging after the iOS 17 update? Learn how to fix all the iPhone lagging issues after the iOS 17 update.
This post Fix: iPhone Lagging and Freezing iOS 17/17.5 appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen Review: Still Worth It After 2 Years?
Today, I’m taking a look at the second-generation Apple Watch SE. I’ve owned this device for around two years now, and overall I’m really happy with it. However, is this a device that’s worth buying in 2024? Considering the rumors about the third-generation SE arriving this year, I think there are certain users who can […]
This post Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen Review: Still Worth It After 2 Years? appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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
| Read more »Earlier this week, Apple released iOS 17.5.1 to address a rare problem where deleted photos would reappear on a user’s device after installing iOS 17.5. In the release notes, Apple said this was caused by “database corruption.” The company has now provided a few additional details to further clarify the situation.
| Read more »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.
OpenAI recently launched their official ChatGPT app for the Mac (before Windows). The macOS app brings most of the functionality from the iPhone version to the desktop — no web browser needed.
| Read more »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
| Read more »Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:
...
| Read more »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...
| Read more »Erase unwanted objects and imperfections in photos using the Generative Remove tool. ($9.99/$19.99/$59.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update, macOS 12+)
| Read more »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?...
| Read more »Collects a number of macOS-specific improvements for the open-source video conversion program. (Free, 41.4 MB, macOS 10.13+)
| Read more »Brings performance improvements and bug fixes to the spam-filtering utility. ($39.99 new, free update, 49.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)
| Read more »Maintenance release with improvements and bug fixes for the Open/Save dialog utility. ($39.95 new, free update, 17.4 MB, macOS 10.13+)
| Read more »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.
| Read more »At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Alogic Elite Power Laptop Stand is a well-built and stable stand for your MacBook with a built-in wireless charger that can be used with an iPhone or AirPods.
Price When Reviewed
$69.99
Best Prices Today: Elite Power Laptop Stand with Wireless Charger
Retailer
Price
Alogic
$70
...
| Read 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.
...
| Read more »15 Topics to Make Your FaceTime Calls Anything But Boring
FaceTime is a great way to keep up with friends and family, but sometimes, it can be difficult to know what to talk about. If you’re struggling to start a conversation or keep it going, keep reading to discover what to talk about on FaceTime. From making plans to discussing how things are going in […]
This post 15 Topics to Make Your FaceTime Calls Anything But Boring appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »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.
| Read more »If you want headphones that are comfortable to wear for long hours, while also offering great sound, Apple’s Beats Solo 4 are an excellent choice. And today they’re on sale for 25 percent off: Amazon is selling the Beats Solo 4 in black, pink, or blue for $150, the best price we’ve ever seen for a product that’s barely been on shelves for a month.
While they don’t have active noise-cancellation, the Beats Solo 4 come with personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. That’s pretty awesome because it will definitely enhance your listening experience by making it more immersive when you’re watching movies late at night, for instance.
The headphones are light and have an ergonomic design, with a flexible headband and adjustable...
| Read 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.
| Read more »Spotify has just announced that Car Thing, its discontinued car display, is dying. As in, the company will be killing any remaining units later this year.
| Read more »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...
| Read more »An anonymous reader shares a report: 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.
Here are some of the key features Kuo expects to see in the all-screen MacBook:
1. Multiple foldable screen options are still possible, with the rumored 20.3-inch display potentially replaced by an 18.8-inch panel. The former would, when folded, resemble a current 14-15-inch MacBook, while the latter would correspond better to a modern day 13-14-inch model like the smaller MacBook Air.
2. A 2026 debut is now expected for the device, one year earlier than previously...
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...
| Read more »Tap to Pay on iPhone is continuing its rollout to more countries. Less than a week after the service debuted in Japan, Apple is bringing seamless, iPhone-centric contactless payments to Canada.
| Read more »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
| Read more »Today hot on the heels of a Ming-Chi Kuo report about the rumored foldable-display MacBook set for 2026, analyst Ross Young has followed up with a report of his own.
In a post on X for subscribers, 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 to measure 18.76 inches, down from the original 20.25-inch model.
| Read more »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
| Read more »At a GlanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN is fast and simple to get to grips with, offering a great way to get around geoblocking at a reasonable price. While the Mac app is a little basic, that’s arguably part of its charm – you open it, click, and go, but you will miss out on additional features like antivirus tools offered by some rivals.
Price When Reviewed
From $8.32 a month for one year + 3 free months. Usually $12.95 a month..
Best Prices Today: ExpressVPN
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ExpressVPN
$8.32
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| Read more »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.
| Read more »Today in the latest update to Arc Search for iPhone, search is becoming more conversational. The new ‘Arc Search’ feature aims to replicate the dynamics of talking on the phone, providing Arc users with a more voice assistant-like experience.
| Read 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.
...
| Read more »A handy health and fitness feature with watchOS and iOS is the ability to see your heart rate zones on Apple Watch and iPhone. Read on for what they mean, how to see your max heart rate, manually edit your zones, and more.
| Read more »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
| Read more »Uber surge pricing is supposed to be applied to especially busy times and places, when riders may prefer paying a substantial premium to not being able to get a ride at all. But drivers are claiming that Uber now effectively applies this pricing model all the time – and keeps most of the difference …
| Read more »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 …
| Read more »International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have said that Apple’s supply chain could include “conflict minerals” or “blood minerals.”
The terms are used to refer to minerals sourced from conflict zones, in which armed groups use forced labor, and the proceeds are used to buy weapons for armed conflict …
| Read 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
| Read more »Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds 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 May 2024 with Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless review.
Best headphones and...
| Read more »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...
| Read more »The social network formerly known as Twitter has confirmed that X Likes are to be made private, so only the author of the post can see who has liked it. The company says that this is to protect people who are afraid to publicly Like “edgy” content, though users have mixed views …
| Read more »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 …
| Read more »Apple did an interesting thing when it revealed its new M4 iPad Pro: of the four storage options available, the 1TB and 2TB models come with an M4 chip with 10 CPU cores. The lower-priced 256GB and 512GB iPad Pros have a CPU with nine processing cores, one fewer than the higher-storage models. It’s the first time Apple has offered an M-series CPU with an odd number of cores.
Tying the additional CPU core to higher storage tiers is something of an up-sell. Someone who might not not want to pay Apple’s high storage prices might be swayed by the more powerful chip. It’s an intriguing tactic, but the question is, how much improvement does that single additional core provide?
Well, that’s what benchmark tools are for. Using Geekbench 6, we gathered numbers for the 9- and 10-core M4 and compared the...
| Read 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 […]
| Read more »Whether you want to improve your cybersecurity or change how your user interface looks, upgrading your operating system is a great way to change how you use your computer. Normally, getting Windows 11 Pro can cost up to $199, but this Memorial Day sale is a chance to get it for just $24.97.
The 11 Pro version comes with upgrades to basic operations, security, and more. Between the snap layouts, desktops, seamless redocking, and improved voice typing, you can fully customize how you use your computer.
When it comes to security...
| Read more »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.
| Read more »The right development platform can make a world of difference on any project, and now programmers can be working with one of the best by Memorial Day. Through May 31, Macworld readers can get an extra $5 off the already low sale price on the Windows edition of Visual Studio Pro 2022 at just $39.97.
This time-tested dev environment isn’t just a place to type and test. You can use features like CodeLens to keep up with changes over time, collaborate through Live Share without leaving the platform, or code...
| Read more »Shazam App Gets Live Activities for Easy Background Music Detection
Apple updated Shazam, with a new feature called Live Activities. This addition will be essential for people who often do many things at once or multitask and like using different applications. It lets users search for music even when they are using other apps. Imagine you are watching a Netflix video and want to identify […]
This post Shazam App Gets Live Activities for Easy Background Music Detection appeared first on The Mac Observer
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