The rollout of the Apple Developer Academy continues, with the company announcing the latest one in Bali, Indonesia. However, you don’t have to be based in the country to participate – it welcomes applications from anyone in the world.

The academy program has now been operating for more than a decade, and Apple says that 90% of graduates go on to “find meaningful employment” …

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Here we go again. LeaksApplePro is back, this time with a claim that iPhone 16 Pro storage tiers could start at 256GB, up from the 128GB starting point of last year’s model.

As we’ve noted before, the supposed source is an account with a history of just making stuff up, and we’re mentioning it at all simply because coverage elsewhere means readers might be misled into giving it credence …

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Macworld

Son, your mother and I want to talk to you about AI.

No, don’t get up.

Look, we don’t want you to learn about it on the streets. Because it’s an ugly business.

The Macalope probably doesn’t have to detail the many problems with AI. First of all, it’s a misnomer. Calling today’s large language models “artificial intelligence” is like calling the first combustion engine a warp drive. Second, much like a coal furnace, all these various constructs have to be fed a corpus of content in order to be able to generate anything at all. Where does all the come from? Uh, blurgle frangle blooble hammer, we, uh, just found it lying around! No, actually, you didn’t, you used a whole bunch of other people’s work and you didn’t pay a damn thing for it.

Then, of course, the results you’ll get from your model will vary based on the inputs. If you only 4chan comments, I wouldn’t go asking it for any medical advice. Part...

You’re about to get additional sports data with your Sports app for iOS. Apple on Monday updated the app on Monday to include data from the NBA and NHL playoffs, which both began this weekend. Apple says users will be able to “follow every matchup with added details on each series and more.” The first […]

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Macworld

Microsoft 365 puts all the most useful apps you and your family need in the cloud, so you can tap into them anywhere. This Microsoft 365 Family subscription gives you 15 months of access for six people, with an extra 20% off with code ENJOY20 through April 21.

Microsoft 365 gives you access to the full-featured versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PowerPoint, and more, offering...

A recent report revealed that Spotify is planning to raise the price of its subscription soon, at least in some countries. And for those who think that paying $10.99 a month for a music streaming platform is already too much, the company may soon introduce an even more expensive “Music Pro” subscription that will enable lossless audio and some other extra features.

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When WWDC kicks off on June 10, there will be a lot of attention on Apple’s plans for new artificial intelligence features. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reiterates that one of Apple’s primary focuses will be on privacy and on-device intelligence.

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Maintenance release for the recently upgraded reference management tool. ($74.99 new, $49.99 upgrade, free update for version 15 users, 113.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Trying to stand out among all the MagSafe accessories on the market can often be challenging. What makes one battery pack better than the others? What makes one stand better than the others? It can often come down to minor features, pricing, and form factor. That’s precisely what the aims to deliver: a robust battery pack at a fair price that can charge up to three devices at the same time.

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It’s our 34th anniversary today, and Adam Engst marks the occasion by sharing some thoughts and stats about where TidBITS is now, along with new discounts on apps from the Ukrainian companies Belight Software and MacPaw.

Earlier this month, Apple revised its App Store Guidelines to permit game emulator apps for the first time. On Saturday, one of the first such apps was approved: iGBA. This app allowed users to import and play ROMs download from the internet. On Sunday, however, the app was pulled from the App Store without full explanation.

Apple has now provided more clarity on why iGBA was removed from the App Store after initially being approved.

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An anonymous reader shares a report: Over the weekend, developer Mattia La Spina launched iGBA as one of the first retro game emulators legitimately available on the iOS App Store following Apple's rules change regarding such emulators earlier this month. As of Monday morning, though, iGBA has been pulled from the App Store following controversy over the unauthorized reuse of source code from a different emulator project.

iOS 8.1 plugs security hole that made it easy to install emulators
Shortly after iGBA's launch, some people on social media began noticing that the project appeared to be based on the code for GBA4iOS, a nearly decade-old emulator that developer Riley Testut and a partner developed as high-schoolers (and distributed via a temporary security hole in the iOS App store). Testut took to social media Sunday morning to call iGBA a "knock-off" of GBA4iOS. "I did not give anyone permission to do this, yet it's now sitting at the top of the charts (despite...

Ookla is out with its latest report on 5G smartphone performance with the latest data including the new Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup. As it turns out, Samsung’s new smartphones saw faster median 5G performance than the iPhone 15 lineup in the majority of countries tested.

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Apple has lost its spot as the world's biggest mobile phone seller after a steep sales drop as South Korean rival Samsung retook the lead in the global market share. From a report: Samsung had been the biggest seller of mobile phones for 12 years until the end of 2023, when sales of Apple's iPhone models overtook it. Global smartphone shipments increased by 8% to 289.4m units during January-March, according to research firm IDC. Samsung won a 20.8% market share, beating Apple's 17.3% share, which has been dented by slowing sales in China.

IDC said that Apple shipped 50.1m iPhones in the first quarter, down from the 55.4m units it shipped in the same period last year. It was the biggest drop in iPhone sales since Covid-19 lockdowns caused global supply chain chaos in 2022. The drop in Apple sales, despite a growing global market, was partly ascribed to difficulties in China. Local rivals including Xiaomi and Huawei have put pressure on Apple and Samsung. At the same time,...

Global iPhone market share dropped 9.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of the year, enabling Samsung to retake the smartphone lead despite failing to increase its own shipments.

Apple saw the biggest slump of any brand, at a time when the global smartphone market as a whole continues to grow …

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Apple CEO Tim Cook is in Vietnam, and said today that the company is “committed to continuing to strengthen connections” in the country as it seeks to reduce dependence on China.

In addition to investing more in the Vietnamese supply chain, Apple is also supporting a scheme intended to bring clean water to more than 42,000 children by the end of this month …

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BlackMagic has long offered powerful hardware add-ons for video editors, but the four-figure pricing has been a barrier to many, with even the Micro Panel coming in at $895.

The latest DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel comes close to halving the cost, but also adds an iPad Pro slot and internal battery for portable editing …

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While the Supreme Court denied appeal requests from both Apple and Epic Games in the App Store case, that didn’t put an end to legal wrangling between the two companies.

In January, Epic Games headed back to court to accuse Apple of failing to comply with the original antitrust ruling, and now the Cupertino company has asked a judge to dismiss the...

Macworld

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.

Big news

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the iPhone SE since the glory days of the second-gen model from 2020, with rather more downs than ups. But now, based on a series of unexpectedly promising leaks, it looks like we might be headed for an uphill segment.

Earlier this month a Weibo account dropped some alluring details about the iPhone SE 4 that made it sound like the best $499 smartphone ever. Boasting a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, and an A16 processor, the new phone would represent a huge...

The M4-based Macs are due out later this year and will feature improvements in artificial intelligence features. Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it’s possible that the M4 lineup could arrive around October, as the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all debuted in October 2023. Given this time frame, Gurman has stated that the entire […]

Source

Over the weekend, the first handheld console game emulator hit the App Store, following a relaxation in App Store Review Guidelines the week prior.

Fast forward 24 hours and the app is gone, pulled from the App Store. However, we aren’t sure why. It might be that ROM-loading emulators are actually not allowed, and this one slipped through. Or, it may be that iGBA was simply a clone of the open-source project GBA4iOS, and was pushed to the store without permission or appropriate licensing.

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Macworld

With the release of the M3 MacBook Air about a month ago, Apple’s laptop lineup became up-to-date, with each MacBook sporting some version of the M3 chip, the latest in Apple silicon. So, now it should be time for the other shoe to drop: the updates to the desktop Mac lineup.

But of the four models in Apple’s desktop Mac lineup, only one has an M3 chip, the iMac. That update came five months ago after a two-year wait, and we don’t even know if the rest of the lines are going to get an update before the M4 arrives. So, what’s going on with Apple’s desktop Macs? Only Apple knows for sure. But we can look at the state of the desktop Mac lineup based on each model and try to come to some understanding as to what Apple is thinking.

Mac mini

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Apple changed the App Store rules last week to seemingly permit game emulators on the iPhone for the first time.

Following that policy change, the first emulator apps are now appearing on the store. iGBA is a free Game Boy game emulator for iPhone and iPad, which can indeed load and play ROMs downloaded to the device — a category of application that Apple would have unequivocally rejected a fortnight ago.

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Apple first introduced iCloud at WWDC 2011, with Steve Jobs touting it as the best way to store documents, mail, backups, and more in the cloud. One thing that has infamously stayed the same since that 2011 launch: Apple gives you just 5GB of iCloud storage for free.

Nearly 13 years later, how does iCloud’s free storage offer – and paid upgrade plans – compare to the competition?

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Adds support for selecting multiple noncontiguous portions of text to all three iWork apps. (Free, various sizes, macOS 13+)

Annoyed by several of his credit cards not showing up in 1Password’s autofill pop-up, Adam Engst spelunked through the card metadata and found the offending field.

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.

When Apple released macOS 14.4 back in March, they pulled the plug on support for several commands, including the important launchctl kickstart. This change broke support for Addigy’s MDM Watchdog, a tool designed to keep MDM and software...

With the launch of the M3 MacBook Pro last year, many reviewers and customers criticized the company for still selling premium computers with 8GB of RAM. At the time, Apple said that 8GB in a Mac is equivalent to having 16GB of RAM in a Windows PC. Now the company is again arguing in favor of selling Macs with 8GB of RAM in 2024.

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While the iPhone 16 garners most of the attention, Apple also has another new iPhone model in the works. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be a dramatic update to Apple’s most affordable iPhone, with an all-new design, USB-C for charging, and more.

Here are four things to expect from the iPhone SE 4.

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Google is going ahead with a redesign that changes how you access the Bookmarks, Reading List, and History columns that appear to the right of your browser. The side panel button is now gone from desktop Chrome.

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After announcing its Matter LED Outdoor String Lights at CES, smart light pioneer Nanoleaf has officially launched the product. Here are all the details on these slick outdoor lights that offer IP65 weather resistance, color control, support across smart home platforms, and more.

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Macworld

Mac security software adds another layer of protection to what Apple already provides, with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords, and financial details. These are the things that criminals are after, and they’ll often use cunning ways to extract them rather than spending time trying to break past Apple’s defenses in macOS.

Although some of the packages here are solely focused on macOS, others will also protect Android and Windows devices you might also own, and that makes the price of protection much cheaper per computer.

Good security software should warn you before you click on a dangerous website, or open a ‘phishing’ email with a dodgy attachment, which could trick you into handing over your bank details, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Apple does include some...

Friday has a fresh batch of Apple deals on tap as we head into the weekend. Today’s best offers come headlined by the second HomePod mini deal in 2024, which drops down to $80 in all five colorways. It comes with the second-best prices on the Apple Watch Series 9, starting from $295, and a new all-time low that drops Anker’s 30W Nano 3 USB-C charger to...

Macworld

Following a report earlier this week about the next iPhone SE, a new one has appeared giving customers a clearer idea of what to expect from the overall package. And by the looks of it, the new iPhone SE will be a similar size to the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro.

According to a post on X by @negstiveonehero (who has no track record as a leaker so we can’t vouch for their credibility), the iPhone SE 4 will be bigger than the current iPhone SE 3. The front will be similar to the iPhone 13, and the back will have a one-lens camera....

Sony is taking the wraps off its today with the reveal of the new ULT collection. The new ULT Wear headphones do far more than just simplify the naming scheme, with some booming bass, reliable ANC, and other frills like wear detection and Spatial Audio – all at $199.

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I can’t run a marathon (and I don’t plan on trying), but new data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study offers some insight into the training habits of people who do.

Published by Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Friday, the data reveals that more than 1,500 participants of the Apple Heart and Movement Study ran an estimated 2,623 marathons over the course of the study period (November 2019 – January 2024).

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Macworld

It’s been a long time since you could only buy an iPhone directly from Apple or from AT&T. Today, they are offered by all major carriers and big retailers, many of which try to entice you with special deals. Of course, you can still buy from Apple directly, either in-store or online, but the lowest prices can generally be found elsewhere.

If you haven’t yet put in your order for an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro, this article will help you to spend as little money as possible. We provide a summary of the best deals and promotions offered by popular retailers, plus automatically updated price-comparison tables covering the wider market, all of which will help you find the very best deal on your new iPhone. 

If you’re looking for other models, check out our...

Macworld

If you’re looking to buy an iPhone 12 (or 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max), make sure you get a terrific deal. Following the iPhone 15 launch, retailers will be looking to clear out any remaining stock; until they do, you can expect great deals on the iPhone 12 range, whether SIM-free or on contract. There are some great discounts on refurbished models too.

In this article we look at every major retailer and contract provider to find the best deals for the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. In a separate article we round up the best iPhone deals overall; we also look at the best Apple deals in an even broader article.

iPhone 12 range prices

The...

An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Mac: Following moves of other tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, Apple is reportedly set to open a new office space in a Miami suburb. This won't be the first corporate space for Apple in the city, but it will be larger than the existing office. Reported by Bloomberg, anonymous sources close to the matter say that Apple's new Miami office will be 45,000 square feet in the affluent Coral Gables suburb of Miami. It's not clear yet what part of Apple's business the new office will focus on but it will be larger than its existing small Miami office that handles Latin America and advertising operations. The specific property of the new Apple offices will be at The Plaza Coral Gables.

...

Macworld

Google this week announced that its suite of AI-based photo-editing tools will imminently be available to all Google Photos users without a subscription.

In the past, many of these features were restricted to Google’s own hardware; Magic Editor, for example, initially launched on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, while Magic Eraser started out as a Pixel 6 exclusive. But this development means iPhone owners can enjoy access to the same tools without having to switch to an Android handset.

And without having to pay, too. In the past the company required users to have a Google One subscription in order to access its AI editing features. That won’t be the case any longer.

In...

Taylor Swift songs have returned to TikTok, after a ten-week gap resulting from a dispute between the short video app and Universal Music. That dispute hasn’t ended, but it appears that Swift has reached an individual agreement with TikTok.

Separately, TikTok has announced plans to use AI to create virtual influencers who will compete with real ones for brand deals …

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Apple is once again expanding its self-repair program procedures and has expanded the ability for consumers to use parts pairing to fully activate used parts in repairs, provided the parts haven’t been harvested from stolen units. Beginning this fall, the parts-pairing process will maintain an iPhone user’s privacy, security, and safety, while offering consumers more […]

Source

From directory Matthew Vaughn, the new spy thriller movie Argylle is now streaming on Apple TV+, Apple’s streaming service for original TV shows and movies.

The film features a star-studded cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa and more. It’s a twisty action spy narrative which sees author Elly Conway (played by Howard) wrapped up in espionage plot of her own design.

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Meta’s Facebook Messenger received an important update this week with a great addition for its users. From now on, users can upload HD photos, as well as other larger files. Read on as we detail what’s new in Facebook Messenger.

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Macworld

Your iPhone 15 finally comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable that can charge all of your devices, but you still need a power adapter—something small, portable, reliable, and fast. We’ve got the perfect one for you: Amazon is selling Apple’s 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter for $40, a savings of $19 (when you click the coupon on the page) and the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

This power adapter is a little pricey at $59, but for $40 it checks all the boxes: a compact design, downward-facing ports for easy cable management, and folding prongs for extra portability. Either port can deliver 35 watts of juice to your device for charging a MacBook Air or iPad alone...

(credit: Getty Images)

Apple has always had a strong preference that only its own parts be used in repairs, but only if they're brand-new. Now, soon after Oregon passed a repair bill forbidding devices from rejecting parts with software locks, or "parts pairing," Apple says it will allow for used Apple parts in future iPhone repairs.

While noting that "pairing" is "critical to preserving the privacy, security, and safety of an iPhone,"...