The latest version of Apple’s iPhone recycling robot no longer unscrews devices in order to access the innards; instead, it rips them apart.
The change is one of many that have seen the practicality of Apple’s recycling robots grow from something which took 12 minutes per phone – which the company admits was really just a research project – to 18 seconds …
| Read more »ChatGPT is down for many, with OpenAI acknowledging on its status page that the chatbot is “unavailable for some users.”
The partial outage appears to be global, though recovery does now appear to be in progress, with DownDetector showing a decline in the number of reports …
| Read more »Apple’s obsession with secrecy has struck again but this time in an unusual way. Yes, the company that is only able to sell devices by tricking people with that icky “marketing” that no other company does actually forgot to market a feature!
What is this feature? Well, according to developer Guilherme Rambo the M4 iPad Pro is:
…the first device to support and use Apple’s new Secure Indicator Light (SIL) mechanism. When using the microphone or camera, the corresponding indicator dot is effectively rendered in hardware (using the display), making it a lot less likely that any malware or user space app would be able to access those sensors without the user’s knowledge.
...
| Read more »Sonos has been a beloved brand for years, especially among Apple fans. It’s easy to see why: from the slick product design to the thoughtful eco-friendly packaging, Sonos offers a very Apple-like experience. Their home speakers and sound bars have a very “it just works” quality that may not satisfy the kind of audio nerds that demand extreme control via a big ‘ol receiver, but for everyone else simply looks and sounds great.
One audio area Sonos hasn’t even attempted, in almost 20 years on the market, is headphones. Sonos Ace changes all that. The first headphones from the Sonos brand, the Ace are direct competitors to the likes of AirPods Max, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM5, et al. In other words, they’re over-the-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancelling and a transparency mode and are priced on the “premium” end of the market at $449.
I’ve been using them for a couple of weeks now and if I’...
| Read more »When they already have the best phone on the planet, what do you buy an iPhone user? We’re going to help you select the best iPhone gifts available—perfect gifts for Fathers Day, Mothers Day, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and when you are just feeling generous.
If not a brand new iPhone (check out our iPhone Buying Guide if your budget stretches that far), then how about one of the many available iPhone accessories? Throughout the year we have tested and reviewed the best iPhone accessories from Apple and trusted companies, and we can recommend the best ones for the people on your list. We’d be delighted to receive any of these iPhone accessories as a gift.
If you want to splash out on another Apple product, take a look at our guides for...
| Read more »If you’re living in France, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get your hands on an Apple Vision Pro when it launches in the country on June 29. A series of leaked internal documents has indicated that the wearable device may launch within the country in late June. At present, there have yet […]
| Read more »Per a TrendForce report released in June, a foldable iPhone being released in 2026 seems “unlikely.” The company, which monitors and forecasts demand for components, says that 2027 is the earliest date Apple is likely to launch a folding iPhone … While reports of a foldable iPhone have dated back for many years, and the […]
| Read more »If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure, but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN.
Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the web–your data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another country. This latter reason is the key motive many people using a VPN have: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K or...
| Read more »At the heart of every Apple device is an Apple processor. Apple has been using its own chips in its iPhones and iPads for some time, while the Mac lineup has completed its transition away from Intel chips. Every product Apple makes is powered by a home-grown chip.
What’s remarkable about Apple silicon is its performance and power efficiency. But all chips aren’t created equally. Understanding the performance differences between each chip will help with your buying decisions, especially when you’re deciding between iPhone 14 or MacBook models. Knowing how each chip performs gives you a better idea of what products to buy and whether or not it’s worth your money to step up to a higher model.
Let’s take a look at how the new processors compare with the rest of the processors in the iPhone, iPad, and Mac lineup and see how each performs and what that means to you. For the sake of consistency, we’ve used ...
| Read more »There’s a bewildering number of places to find TV, movies, songs, and more, but what they have and where they have it can be frustratingly opaque. The BitMar app offers clarity with a unified search engine that crawls all the services for the content you’re looking for.
Built on the same search technology that drives Bing, and enjoying a 4.1- out of five-star rating on Google Play, BitMar is a carefully optimized search tool that brings a wide range of disparate services...
| Read more »iPhone Pro Models Bring Apple “Record High” Average Selling Price Despite Shipment Decline
The global smartphone market grew in the first quarter of 2024, with shipments reaching 296.9 million units, a 6% increase year-over-year. However, leadership changed as Samsung dethroned Apple to become the world’s leading smartphone vendor. Samsung captured a 20% market share with 59.4 million units shipped, while Apple’s shipments declined 13% YoY to 50.5 million […]
This post iPhone Pro Models Bring Apple “Record High” Average Selling Price Despite Shipment Decline appeared first on The Mac...
| Read more »Foldable iPhone Delayed Due to “Strict Requirements” for Crease Resistance, Waiting Till 2027
Apple fans hoping to see a foldable iPhone anytime soon might be disappointed. A new report from TrendForce, throws cold water on rumors of a 2026 launch, it reveals that Apple’s foldable phone debut is before 2027 is unlikely. TrendForce notes that Apple is still evaluating component specifications and performance, with strict requirements for crease […]
This post Foldable iPhone Delayed Due to “Strict Requirements” for Crease Resistance, Waiting Till 2027 appeared first on The Mac...
| Read more »It’s been two weeks since Apple released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 to fix a specific problem that caused deleted photos to reappear in the user’s photo library. For some reason, Apple on Monday released a revised build of iPadOS 17.5.1 for the .
| Read more »The Kini motion detectors can now alert you to motion using email instead of or in addition to SMS, making them usable by those outside North America and opening up automation options. Kinisium is also testing a Stasis Mode that alerts you when a Kini hasn’t moved as anticipated.
| Read more »Incident began at 2024-06-03 18:36 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).
Summary:
ChromeOS: Unable to log in from lock screen when ephemeral mode is enabled on managed devices on M-125.
Description:
Mitigation work is currently underway by our engineering team.
We do not have an ETA for mitigation at this point.
We will provide more information by Monday, 2024-06-03 17:00 US/Pacific.
Diagnosis:
Affected users may be unable to log back in from the lock screen on their ChromeOS device. This issue is affecting ChromeOS version M125 when the device policy DeviceEphemeralUsersEnabled is turned on.
Workaround:
None at this time...
Affected products: ChromeOS
| Read more »A TidBITS Talk user was unable to update macOS on an M2 16-inch MacBook Pro, receiving a “Failed to personalize” error each time. The problem turned out to be related to firmware, and the little-known solution required restoring with Apple Configurator.
| Read more »Over the weekend, we reported that Apple had updated its website to say the new iPad Air’s M2 chip features a 9-core GPU, despite originally advertising it as a 10-core GPU. An Apple spokesperson has now confirmed this change to 9to5Mac, while also saying that all performance claims remain accurate and were based on a 9-core GPU.
| Read more »Apple has a rich history of distinctive product designs. So much so that some of its classic product looks can inspire deep nostalgia and affection even decades later.
Here are some wonderfully nostalgia-inducing accessories for the iPhone and Apple Watch that will make your modern device look and feel a little more retro.
| Read more »There’s nothing better for productivity than a clean desk, so getting the Anker MagSafe Charger Stand for 25% off makes perfect sense. This gorgeous 3-in-1 cube will charge your phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time while looking super cool.
The Anker MagSafe Charger Stand is a 3-in-1 charging solution that was tailored specifically for Apple devices, which means you’re in luck because it’s not just functional, but also gorgeous. Designed specifically for MagSafe, this charger powers up the iPhone with up to 15W high-speed charging. The seamless magnetic alignment ensures that your device snaps into place effortlessly. Even better, it will keep your phone tilted at just the right 60° angle so you can still check out the notifications or...
| Read more »Apple just released iOS 17.5.1 (Build 21F91) for:
| Read more »It’s no secret that Meta’s biggest source of profit comes from advertising. However, it seems that the company is willing to make advertising a bit more intrusive, at least on Instagram. That’s because Instagram has been testing a new way of showing ads that users can’t skip.
| Read more »Modern Apple devices include important automatic emergency capabilities to get help in case of accident, injury, and more. Read along for 4 emergency iPhone and Apple Watch features you should make sure are set up, customized, and ready to go.
| Read more »Apple has updated the iPad Air for 2024 at an event which Apple CEO Tim Cook described as the “Biggest day for iPad”. The new iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 11 inch and 13 inch, features the M2 chip, and much more.
iPad Air M2 release date
Apple unveiled two new iPad Air models at an event on May 7, 2024. Pre-orders started immediately following the event and the new products will ship on Wednesday May 15.
Order the iPad Air from Apple here
iPad Air M2 latest software
The iPad Air ships with iPadOS 17.5, but there’s a newer build of iPadOS 17.5 available to download as soon as you take it out of the box. The build number is 21F84.
The release notes are identical to...
| Read more »I recently picked up , which deserved a complete write-up as I’ve spent some time with them. Although they lack MagSafe compatibility (which is the only flaw), they might be one of the best options for travelers looking to charge all of their devices (laptops included).
| Read more »Apple’s WWDC 2024 kicks off next week, and the company is expected to introduce new versions of its operating systems, including iOS 18 and visionOS 2. Ahead of the opening keynote on Monday, the company has now updated the Apple Developer app with some new features and enhancements.
| Read more »Apple is expected to have a lot of software announcements to share next week at WWDC, many of which will center around iOS 18 and AI. However, this year’s keynote will also introduce the first major software update for the Vision Pro: visionOS 2.
Here’s what to expect from visionOS 2 when it debuts next Monday.
| Read more »WWDC 2024 is just a week away, as Apple has set the conference’s opening event for Monday, June 10. Ahead of the event, the company has now confirmed that it will stream the WWDC 2024 opening keynote on YouTube alongside livestreams on its website and Apple TV app.
| Read more »WWDC may be just a week away, but that’s not going to stop the iPhone 16 rumors. Monday’s report sheds a little more light on the design, which could bring a record-breaking change.
According to Ice Universe on X (formerly Twitter), the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will “become the world’s narrowest bezel mobile phone,” beating out the Galaxy S24’s 1.52mm bezels. The current iPhone 15 Pro models have bezels that are 1.55mm thick, so we’re not talking about a dramatic difference. However, as Ice Universe points out, the slimmer bezels will bring...
| Read more »Apple is out with three new YouTube videos today, touting the Mac and the “power of Apple silicon.” The 30-second ads take a dramatic approach toward highlighting MacBook battery life and multitasking capabilities.
| Read more »Microsoft has a target on Apple’s back with its AI-centric Copilot Plus PC models. When the computers were announced, the company repeatedly claimed that they outperformed the latest M3 MacBook Airs. Today a new ad campaign sought to further entice switchers away from the Mac.
It turns out, not every aspect of the Copilot Plus PCs is ready for prime time. The hallmark AI feature Microsoft formerly demoed, Recall, has been exposed by an expert as being a security disaster.
| Read more »In a surprising twist a month after its release, Apple has changed the configuration of the GPU in the new iPad Air. As reported by 9to5Mac, the technical specifications for the iPad Air now say that its M2 chip has a 9-core GPU, instead of the 10 cores stated during the product’s release at the “Let Loose” event in May.
Apple’s iPad Air press release and the...
| Read more »While new AI features will steal the show at WWDC next week, Apple has a number of other changes planned for iOS 18. This includes new home screen customization options, design changes, and more. Head below for a roundup of some of the non-AI features rumored for iOS 18 this year.
| Read more »Taking a screenshot on your iPhone is probably second nature but what about a screenshot to capture everything on a website, PDF, email, note, or stitching together multiple screenshots? Read on for how to take a scrolling screenshot on iPhone.
| Read more »Monday morning was an eventful one in the Apple deal space. Joining $100 price drops on 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 models (including the Silver, Midnight, and Starlight colors), we also spotted a new all-time low on the Wi-Fi + Cellular 13-inch M2 iPad Air alongside ongoing deals on several other configurations. From there, Apple Pencil 2nd Gen is now once again 40% off to return to Amazon low pricing, while official Apple woven...
| Read more »Apple Users Mock Microsoft’s New “Ironical” Ad on Mac’s Notification Annoyance
Justin Long, the face from Apple’s “Get a Mac” commercials, is back in the spotlight, this time promoting Windows on ARM PCs for Qualcomm. The 30-second skit features Long being bombarded by macOS notifications and pop-up windows, leading him to search for a Snapdragon-powered PC for relief. This ad talks about Qualcomm’s entry into Windows […]
This post Apple Users Mock Microsoft’s New “Ironical” Ad on Mac’s Notification Annoyance appeared first on The Mac Observer
| Read more »Over the last few years, Apple has built a reputation for being strong on user privacy. Its marketing likes to emphasize this point often as a way of distinguishing the company from its competitors.
Interestingly though, a new discovery reveals that the just-released M4 iPad Pro includes a new security feature that Apple hasn’t told anyone about.
| Read more »How to get a bargain on a Mac
Tech buyers often complain about the high price of Macs and MacBooks. It’s true that they are premium devices with price tags to match, but you don’t have to break the bank if you know where to find a good deal. And one of the best options to consider is buying a Mac that’s been previously owned and then refurbished. You’ll get a much lower price, while retaining the peace of mind that comes with knowing the machine has been checked out by an expert. Buying new is expensive, and buying second-hand is a minefield; buying refurbished is the best of both worlds.
Of course, the next decision is choosing a reputable seller to buy your refurbished Mac from. It’s vital that you are able to rely on a quality service, or the entire point of refurbishment is lost. Here are several options, including the pros and cons of each.
Back Market
Back Market
... | Read more »Stashing your iPhone, iPad, and the Logitech K480 in your bag can be just enough for a full and productive workday away from your home office. And now that the Logitech K480 is on sale at Amazon for $29.98, a savings of nearly 50 percent off its usual $50 price, there’s no excuse to not add it to your setup.
The Logitech K480 is a multi-device keyboard with wide compatibility which includes your Mac, iPad, and iPhone, connecting to them via Bluetooth. Switching between them is done with the help of a dial on the left side of the keyboard, making for a seamless experience. The keyboard is pretty sturdy and weighs 1.8 pounds. That makes sense, however, because it has to be able to support your devices in the 10-inch cradle and balance them off when...
| Read more »WWDC 2024 is just one week away. We’re expecting major changes from iOS 18, especially AI-centric features, as well as the first major software update for Vision Pro, and new OS versions for all of Apple’s other platforms.
In what’s expected to be a jam-packed software event, is there room for Apple to debut new hardware too? According to one report, the answer is no.
| Read more »Sonos announced its new Sonos Ace Headphones in early May and, after much anticipation, are finally set to release on June 5th. I have been lucky enough to live with them for the last 10 days. I have used them in every scenario possible to see if these headphones are truly the new ‘Best in class’ and if I could recommend them at the $449 price point. In short, these headphones are awesome but there are some things you need to know. Let’s get into my full review!
| Read more »A TicketMaster hack has been confirmed by the company in an SEC security filing, stating that personal data of its users has been offered for sale on the dark web. The agency has not confirmed the scale of what appears to have been a massive breach …
| Read more »Apple fans looking forward to new Macs or iPads at WWDC 2024 should prepare themselves for disappointment. Despite the small number of releases out of Cupertino so far this year and the long list of products waiting for an update, a respected analyst has predicted that the event will not see any hardware announcements at all.
The prediction comes from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. Gurman told subscribers (via...
| Read more »A report last month suggested that we might see the first foldable iPhone in 2026, but market intelligence company TrendForce has described this as “unlikely.”
The company, which monitors and forecasts demand for components, says that 2027 is the earliest date Apple is likely to launch a folding iPhone …
| Read more »The judge in the Apple versus Epic Games case has told the Cupertino company that she wants to see all of the company’s documents relating to its revised App Store policies – and she has strongly emphasised that she means all of them.
It follows earlier remarks in which she strongly implied that Apple was guilty of bad-faith compliance with the antitrust ruling she made back in 2021 …
...
| Read more »Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.
Risky business
For a corporation that’s known for caution, Apple sure has been fond of gambling this year.
Vision Pro finally went on sale in January, as Cupertino got to grips with a product category that isn’t merely new to the company, but untested across the industry as a whole: nobody knows yet if augmented reality devices will displace the smartphone later this decade or remain a niche hobby. And at WWDC next week Apple will follow up with its first public steps into the world of AI, another heavily hyped tech category whose long-term profitability (not to mention its impact on society as a...
| Read more »An engineer with extensive experience of working with Bluetooth found himself bamboozled when told that he needed to enable a wireless connection to use a cheap pair of wired Lightning headphones – and that turned out to be correct …
| Read more »Kids love iPads. The simplicity of tapping on the screen when they want things to happen means they can learn to use them in seconds, but there’s plenty that Apple’s tablets can do. Whether it’s educational games, entertainment apps, using them to create art with an Apple Pencil or just something to stop them getting bored on car journeys, iPads can be a godsend.
Choosing the right one can feel a bit daunting. After all, don’t they all do the same things? What’s the difference between the normal iPad and the iPad Air? Well, we’re here to simplify things so you can be sure you’re buying the right one.
You can also read our best iPhone and iPad apps for kids guide to get them off to a good start. Plus, we have a roundup of the...
| Read more »It’s now 15 years since the last of Apple’s award-winning “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” ads, but rival companies still believe it’s clever to use the Mac actor to try to sell rival products.
After Huawei and Intel, Qualcomm is the latest company to make the attempt, with an incredibly cringeworthy ad in which the Mac guy – played by Justin Long – decides it’s time to get a PC …
...
| Read more »Spotify is once again raising the price of Spotify Premium in the United States. Although the ad-supported free tier remains available, the price of Spotify’s Premium tier is now more expensive than Apple Music. Spotify customers will be notified of the increases over the next month.
Spotify Premium Individual is now priced at $11.99 per month, compared to $10.99 per month for Apple Music. The Family plan price is also up and now costs $19.99, compared to $16.99 for Apple Music Family …
| Read more »If you were hoping for new hardware announcements at Apple’s WWDC keynote address on June 10, you might have to wait for another event. Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there’s no expectation that Apple will announce any new hardware during the speech. “There’s no hardware slated to be announced at WWDC, unless Apple unexpectedly previews a […]
| Read more »Here at Macworld we’re extremely fond of Apple’s
AirTag, which we consider by far the best Bluetooth tracker for an iPhone or Mac user. However, one complaint raised in our
AirTag review was that it doesn’t have a hole, which means you’re forced in most situations to buy an accessory to put it in.
Want to attach it to your keys? You need to buy a special key ring. Want to attach it to your luggage? Special luggage label. An ecosystem has quickly sprung up offering straps, loops, pet tags, cases and holders for AirTag owners.
But which ones are worth buying? We’ve been testing out all the AirTags accessories we can get our hands...
| Read more »Although the iPhone 16 Pro will mostly resemble the design of the , we are expecting some small changes. The screen sizes of both the Pro and Pro Max are increasingly slightly, and we may also see a dramatic further reduction in the black border that is visible around the screen.
That’s according to IceUniverse, who says that the iPhone 16 Pro may in fact feature the world’s thinnest smartphone bezels.
| Read more »Unlike the iPhone, Apple ships a USB-C power adapter with all its MacBooks: Air and Pro. Unless your laptop stays in the same place all of the time, having a spare or a specific travel MacBook charger is a useful addition. You can buy a second Apple charger or check out more versatile, cheaper and smaller MacBook chargers to suit your needs and budget.
It’s important to note that there are risks with buying a cheap charger and we don’t recommend you choose on price alone. That bargain MacBook charger might just fry your laptop or get dangerously hot. However, there are some great premium chargers from trusted brands that sell for less than Apple pricey chargers.
What to look for in a MacBook charger
PD charging
What you need is a Power Delivery (PD) charger that can connect to your MacBook via USB-C. PD chargers can support up to 240W of power, although the most common congregate...
| Read more »Finding ways to save money can be hard. But when you’re a BJ’s member, you can save every time you shop. Right now, you can get The Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for a year for just $20.
BJ’s Wholesale Club offers outstanding value on bulk items, from groceries and home goods to furniture and electronics. With a membership, you’ll have access to 244 clubs in several different states.
You can get BJ’s Gas, leverage ExpressPay® to pay as you shop and skip...
| Read more »Many people are not aware that there’s a clever buffer that exists before emails land in an inbox. It’s here that each piece of mail is scanned, ideally blocking anything malicious before it arrives. However, over the years, email providers (mainly Gmail) have instead put more focus on adding “warning labels” to mail containing links or attachments they suspect are up to no good. Akin to putting lipstick on a pig. Despite these efforts, a stagering 91% of all cyberattacks still originate from an inbox.
If you think Google, Apple, and Microsoft could be doing more, you’re right. So, why haven’t they?
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple...
| Read more »iOS 18 is expected to be a pretty significant release in terms of the number of changes and new features. While artificial intelligence capabilities will be the big theme of the update, we are also expecting other enhancements.
Today, Mark Gurman writes in his Power On newsletter that Apple is preparing to overhaul the iPhone Control Center as part of iOS 18. The new design will include updates to the ‘now playing’ music widget and the HomeKit smart home controls.
| Read more »We don’t have to stop learning our native language after grade school, nor should we. Sometimes, what we say isn’t half as important as the words we choose, which is where the Wordela Vocabulary Builder comes in.
For less than $10, new users can have lifetime access to an app that lets you build your vocabulary in a way that really helps those new words stick. That’s thanks to Wordela’s learning algorithm, an AI teacher that lets you tailor your speech to the kind of conversations you want to have, whether...
| Read more »Dads love getting stuff done, so sometimes the most practical Father’s Day gifts are the best. This year, surprise him by turning his home PC into a real workhorse with a lifetime license to both Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for $59.97.
Rated 5/5 stars by users, this deal is a solid way to bring used desktops up to date with the very latest Microsoft has to offer. That starts...
| Read more »Apple has made a quiet update to the tech specs of the M2 iPad Air, which first launched last month. Despite originally touting the iPad Air’s M2 chip as featuring a 10-core GPU, the company now says it features a 9-core GPU.
| Read more »Instagram as a company seems to have never heard of this little niche product called the iPad. There may never be an Instagram iPad app, which doesn’t bode well for Threads’ own chances of native iPad support either.
But did you know that you can get an app-like Threads experience on the iPad right now? Here’s how to unlock the best iPad experience for Threads.
| Read more »How will Apple protect user data while their requests are being processed by AI in applications like Siri?
Long-time Slashdot reader AmiMoJo shared this report from Apple Insider:
According to sources of The Information [four different former Apple employees who worked on the project], Apple intends to process data from AI applications inside a virtual black box.
The concept, known as "Apple Chips in Data Centers" internally, would involve only Apple's hardware being used to perform AI processing in the cloud. The idea is that it will control both the hardware and software on its servers, enabling it to design more secure systems. While on-device AI processing is highly private, the initiative could make cloud processing for Apple customers to be similarly secure... By taking control over how data is processed in the cloud, it would make it easier for Apple to implement processes to make a breach much harder to actually happen.
Furthermore, the black...
| Read more »An anonymous reader shared this report from the Washington Post:
Twice before, this Virginia carpenter had awoken in the predawn to start his work day only to find one of his vans broken into. Tools he depends on for a living had been stolen, and there was little hope of retrieving them. Determined to shut down thieves, he said, he bought a bunch of Apple AirTags and hid the locator devices in some of his larger tools that hadn't been pilfered. Next time, he figured, he would track them.
It worked.
On Jan. 22, after a third break-in and theft, the carpenter said, he drove around D.C.'s Maryland suburbs for hours, following an intermittent blip on his iPhone, until he arrived at a storage facility in Howard County. He called police, who got a search warrant, and what they found in the locker was far more than just one contractor's nail guns and miter saws.
The storage unit, stuffed with purloined power tools, led detectives to similar caches in other...
| Read more »By default, when you make a new note in the Notes app on your iPhone, you have to be bold. Well, the first line of the note is in bold as it begins writing in a heading style. The second line and beyond uses standard body font size.
Often, this is undesirable and you just want to jot stuff down without the formality of a page title. Here’s how to change your notes settings to do just that.
| Read more »We have seen these kind of scams before, but this particularly case is on a ginormous industry-like scale. Five people have been charged on counts of fraud for their involvement in a fake iPhone return scheme.
Essentially, people would take near-worthless fake lookalike iPhone models into the Apple Store, claiming they are faulty and asking for a replacement device. Apple would exchange the unit for a valuable replacement phone, which can then be sold. This procedure was allegedly carried out 16,000 times.
| Read more »Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
I’ve never been the type to want to travel with a portable router in my bag. Dealing with the complexity of connecting to various networks along with the fact that many hotels have moved away from ethernet to a Wi-Fi-only experience. That is until...
| Read more »Apple makes great computers, but they’re not cheap. Even if you are happy to pay the entry price for a new iMac or MacBook Pro, you may be painfully aware that for just a few hundred pounds or dollars more you could get a much more powerful model. But can you justify the extra spend?
Luckily you don’t have to, because often you can find a previous generation Mac and sometimes even the current generation model, on sale for less at Apple’s Certified Refurbished store.
It’s not only Apple that offers refurbished Macs though. There are other places you can buy used Macs that have been refurbished, but not all refurbished Macs are as good as the ones Apple sells, so you should beware of the pitfalls. Luckily we will be running through the things to avoid in this...
| Read more »Everybody learns in a different way, so if you’ve tried to teach yourself a new language with more traditional systems, Beelinguapp offers a fun approach that actually makes a lot of sense. You can now get a lifetime subscription for just $39.99 and passively learn your choice of 14 languages just by listening to a wide selection of audiobooks.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=...
| Read more »For those unfamiliar, DisplayBuddy is a tool that lets users adjust the brightness of third-party external displays directly from macOS. Earlier this year, the app was updated twice with a new interface, presets, and widgets. Now DisplayBuddy is getting another important update, this time with support for Samsung smart monitors.
| Read more »iPhones are powerful pocket computers with advanced chips, price tags largely exceeding $1,000, and they’re at the center of much of our lives. They also, since Apple debuted Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura, serve as pretty great alternatives to a dedicated webcam.
Unfortunately, as one writer discovered, the dream of keeping an iPhone charged while it serves as your webcam is just that: a dream only. Likely due to heat management features, iPhones tend not to charge when using Continuity Camera—and especially not if you’re using MagSafe.
| Read more »We’re all accustomed to receiving two-factor authentication codes via SMS, but if you ever get one that you didn’t request, don’t ignore it because it might indicate that the credentials to one of your accounts have been compromised.
| Read more »Logitech this week announced new products designed specifically for Mac users. The company is reintroducing some of its most popular accessories, including MX Keys S and Ergo Wave Keys, with exclusive layout and features for macOS and iOS.
| Read more »If you’re an avid Apple Pencil user, then you’re going to love hearing that the Apple Pencil Tips 4-pack is now on sale for just $12, down from the usual $19, the best price we’ve seen for this essential accessory.
Whether you use the Apple Pencil extensively for sketching intricate designs, jotting down notes, or editing photos, these pencil tips will definitely come in handy sooner rather than later. Compatible with the Apple Pencil 1st and 2nd gen, as well as the Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro, this 4-pack ensures you always have extra tips at the ready no matter which stylus you have.
While it’s true that Apple Pencil nibs don’t have a set lifespan, they do wear down if you use them daily for hours. Also, if you’re drawing, thus applying more pressure at times, they’ll wear...
| Read more »A few weeks ago, Aqara was in the news with the release of its . I am a big fan of motion sensors for smart homes as they allow for some pretty rad automations based on who’s in a certain room and when. They’re generally low-cost enough that you can put them in multiple rooms without breaking the budget. Let’s dive into the new motion sensor and see how it works.
| Read more »We’re not far from the first official look at iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 on June 10. Whether you’d like to test out the new OS as soon as the dev beta is available or you’ll wait for the public beta or public launch, follow along for when to expect the iOS 18 release date.
| Read more »Get ready to jazz up your iMessages. According to a MacRumors story citing “multiple sources familiar with the matter,” iOS 18 is going to take the fun text effects a step further by allowing you to add text effects to individual words within the message.
It is not clear if these will be the same text effects currently available to entire messages, entirely new ones (like bold or italics), or something else entirely. You can already add a handful of fun effects to your iMessages. There are full-screen effects like balloons, lasers, and confetti, or text effects like slam or invisible ink....
| Read more »Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 release is expected to be one of the iPhone’s biggest software updates ever. Today a new report highlights an enhancement set to be added to one of Apple’s most popular apps: Messages.
| Read more »Ensures that duration information is now always visible in the event info panel. ($49.99 new, free update, 67.8 MB, macOS 10.15+)
| Read more »Resolves an issue with conversation view failing to respond to clicks in macOS 14.4 Sonoma. ($49.99 annual subscription, free update, 12.3 MB, macOS 12+)
| Read more »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 05/31/24: The second season of children’s animated series...
| Read more »Last week, we heard about the tweaks that Apple will make to System Settings in macOS 15. In case you’re wondering if the changes are really going to happen, a quick X post late on Thursday by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman backed up the initial report by AppleInsider.
However, while AppleIsider’s report focused on macOS 15, Gurman’s post refers to the upcoming iOS 18, as well. Gurman states that Settings is “getting a new UI with a reorganized, cleaner layout that’s more simple to navigate. It also has much-improved search.” Gurman’s post makes it sound as if Apple is doing more to unify the look of Settings between macOS and iOS, which was the original idea when Apple introduced the changes from System Preferences...
| Read more »Results from the crowd-sourced Apple Hearing Study shed light on the prevalence, causes, and impact of tinnitus, with over 160,000 participants sharing their experiences.
| Read more »All of the hype around WWDC this year has centered around two letters: AI.
Even though a large portion of Apple’s keynote is expected to highlight AI-related features, there will certainly be a variety of other improvements on deck for iOS 18, visionOS 2, and Apple’s other software platforms.
Mark Gurman reports that one such change will be a redesigned Settings app across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
| Read more »Before we finish off the work week and head into the weekend, let’s scope out some big-time price drops on Apple gear and accessories. The 2024 M3 15-inch MacBook Air is now starting from $999 with elevated models seeing additional $50 price drops this morning. Those offers join up to $100 in savings on the latest Beats Studio Buds+ (transparent case model included) and a wildly low price tag on official Apple Milanese and...
| Read more »Days out from WWDC and the AI rumor mill is active as ever.
Yesterday Mark Gurman reported that many of iOS 18’s AI features will require using an iPhone 15 Pro or later. It’s rare for many major software features to be exclusive to the latest iPhone, especially the latest Pro phone. But that’s exactly what iOS 18 seems set to deliver.
Which got me thinking: Apple’s marketing pitch for this fall’s iPhone 16 may center primarily on software, not hardware.
AI features in iOS 18 may be the biggest selling point for the iPhone 16.
| Read more »When Apple TV+ launched in 2019, it arrived with a laughably small selection of content. But this was for a very specific reason: Apple sought to distinguish TV+ from its competitors by focusing on creating the best original content possible.
Five years in, TV+ has a fairly solid track record for content quality, even if it’s dropped off a little recently. And today, Apple announced that its best reviewed series ever on TV+ is getting a new season soon: Pachinko season 2 debuts on August 23.
| Read more »If you use Instagram or Facebook, Meta is using your data to train its AI models. The company uses posts as training material for its generative AI systems.
Privacy legislation in the UK and European Union means that the company is forced to offer an opt-out option – but it is doing so in a rather sketchy way …
...
| Read more »We’re a little over a week away from the WWDC keynote, in which Apple is expected to announce a slew of new AI features as part of iOS 18.
This is expected to be the point at which Siri gets generative AI smarts, thanks to a deal with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT tech …
...
| Read more »Apple Arcade launched with close to 100 titles and the service is seeing new games added almost every week with over 200 games now in the library. Follow along with our guide on all the available Apple Arcade games plus the latest releases.
| Read more »The TikTok algorithm could be split, claims a report, with a US-only version used for the hugely popular app to try to avoid a ban.
Developer Bytedance has tweeted that the report is not accurate, but its message appears to be more a repetition of its legal stance than a specific denial …
| Read more »June is a big month for Apple.
It all starts with the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where Apple talks about all the great features and improvements coming to its platforms later in the year. That’s followed immediately by the first round of developer betas, so devs can start testing their apps and making updates using the new frameworks and APIs. A public beta typically follows a few weeks later, often in early July.
Sometimes, Apple introduces new hardware at WWDC–Macs are a favorite, as that’s the core product for developers. Last year also saw the unveiling of the Vision Pro headset.
And let’s not forget the usual releases for Apple’s content services: Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Those will continue throughout June as usual. Here are all the things we expect from Apple this month.
WWDC 24 software: iOS 18, macOS 15, and AI, AI, AI
...
| Read more »Apple and OpenAI may have reached a deal to bring ChatGPT to iOS 18 and Apple’s forthcoming operating system updates in 2024. Per The Information, Apple has been looking to bring AI to its platforms, but in a way that opts for preserving privacy through an on-device method as opposed to the Large Language Models […]
| Read more »Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology launched in Italy on Thursday, allowing sellers to use the iPhone as a contactless payment terminal. As with other international launches, the feature allows retailers to use the NFC chip inside more recent iPhones to accept debit and credit card payments alongside Apple Pay and other digital payment […]
| Read more »David Snow reports via Cult of Mac: A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) shows Apple News+ growing its subscription rate about four times as fast as major news sites are. CIRP showed Apple increased its News+ subscriptions in the United States from 15% to 24% between 2020 to 2024, a 9% increase. In that same period, The New York Times and The Washington Post managed a 2% bump apiece and The Wall Street Journal managed a 3% increase. The results come from data measuring how many Apple product buyers say they subscribe to the News+ service.
CIRP also cited a report indicating that the Apple News+ partnership program is increasingly becoming a lifeline for news websites losing revenue, according to major publishers. And as far as the growth of Apple News+ subscription growth is concerned, it may keep growing as long as the user install base for devices keeps growing. "One-quarter of the U.S. base of Apple customers represents tens of millions of...
| Read more »When using macOS, you certainly know if you’ve opened a Pages file or are editing an email. But, below the surface are files that macOS uses that you don’t see–all the activity required for background processes, Time Machine backups, Spotlight indexing, and other system needs. When you want to eject a mounted volume, like a volume on an external SSD or hard drive, you can run afoul of macOS’s hidden needs.
You can try to eject a volume normally in these ways:
(If you don’t see the volume in the Finder, either choose Go > Computer or press Command-Shift-C, or choose Finder > Settings > General and check all the items under “Show these items on the desktop.”)
...
| Read more »PDFs are an incredibly common filetype, but for far too many of us they’re a necessary evil. PDF Expert is the tool that lets Mac users not only sidestep the most common PDF headaches but add new features that turn them into a real workhorse document — and now new users can get a lifetime subscription to this top-selling app’s Premium Plan for less than $80.
This Mac standby was a runner-up for Apple’s App of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. It has all the usual conversion tools front and center, allowing you to...
| Read more »In a little over a week’s time, Apple will unveil iOS 18 and its other new operating system versions, with a heavy focus on bringing AI features to its customers at a system level.
Apple is expected to use a combination of on-device and cloud for AI processing. But customers might need the latest and greatest to be able to use these new features. Mark Gurman writes that many of the upcoming on-device artificial intelligence will require the latest high-end, the .
| Read more »Laptops nowadays never seem to have enough ports for all the things we need to plug in, do they? Well, the Baseus 6-in-1 USB-C hub is only $30 right now, down from its usual $46, a significant discount for one of our favorite hubs.
This Baseus hub allows you to easily connect an extra monitor to your laptop. The HDMI port supports 4K monitors and up to 60Hz for mirroring or extending your display. Whether you’re working, holding a presentation, or streaming Supernatural again, the ultra-high-definition output ensures everything looks fantastic. In our ...
| Read more »Although Apple already provides its own Home app to let users control and manage their HomeKit devices, there are multiple third-party apps that extend such functionality – and one of them is Controller for HomeKit. This week, Controller for HomeKit got a major update that adds a new “Floor Plan” feature for mapping your home in 3D.
| Read more »We reported last month about an update to the YouTube app for tvOS that introduced its own screensavers, hijacking Apple TV’s default Aerial screensaver – which upset many users. After many complaints, YouTube seems to have rolled back this update.
| Read more »Benjamin and Zac discuss the curious rumors about a 20-inch foldable MacBook, and the latest Vision Pro content developments. iOS 18 may let users change the icons of the apps on their home screen, but how exactly? We also have more insight into Apple’s AI plans and its approach to handling user data privacy while remaining feature competitive.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Zac talk more about the genuine utility of ChatGPT in daily life.
