Anker is taking another stab at the hybrid power bank that turns into a USB-C charger when plugged into the wall. Its new 30W Power Bank Fusion goes one step further by pairing thewith a built-in USB-C cable.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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Enlarge (credit: Thomas Trutschel / Contributor | Photothek)

Smaller web browsers are gaining traction in the European Union after the Digital Markets Act (DMA) started requiring designated gatekeepers like Google and Apple to make it easier to switch default web browsers on devices.

Previously, tech giants were able to lock users into setting their own browsers as defaults—or at least make it complicated to update the defaults—offering the majority of users their own browsing services for free while collecting data used for ad-targeting. This, the EU feared, kept users from switching to defaults that...

Like macOS Ventura, Sonoma comes with System Settings as the replacement for System Preferences. With that, the Mac System Report isn’t where it used to be. Here’s how to find it to get all the fine details of your Mac.

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Macworld

According to a report by DigiTimes (subscription required), chip maker TSMC is on schedule with its 2nm manufacturing process, which could mean that Apple will start using 2nm chips as soon as next year.

TSMC may be able to start trial runs of 2nm later this year, with small production runs following that, and larger production starting later in 2025. The timing seems to indicate that the A19 processor in the 2025 iPhone Pro would be the first 2nm chip. That could be followed by a 2nm M4 chip in the MacBook Pro and iMac, and maybe any other Mac if it did not get an M3 upgrade (the Mac mini, in particular).

DigiTimes also reports that TSMC is already working on the production process after 2nm, which...

Dramatically rising streaming prices have lead to an increase in video piracy, and major Hollywood studios are now asking Congress to pass a new law to address it.

The exact same law, in fact, that it tried and failed to get passed in 2012, after major websites went dark in protest …

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Apple chipmaker TSMC appears to be on track with its work on a 2nm chip destined for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in 2025 – as well as for the 1.4nm chips beyond that.

A new supply-chain report said TSMC has faced two challenges, but indications are that neither of them will significantly impact on its production schedule …

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One of the changes Apple had to make to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) was to present customers with a list of iPhone web browsers during setup, and to choose the one they want. Browsers must be listed in random order, so that Safari isn’t highlighted.

We’d previously seen some indication that the new antitrust law was proving effective, and a new report today says this is true for six leading browser companies …

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A new report says that one in seven iPhones are now made in India – pointing to a significant acceleration in Apple’s work to reduce its dependence on China.

Apple’s reliance on China as its key manufacturing hub has been placing the company in an increasingly vulnerable position …

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Macworld

Lumafield, a company that makes industrial CT and X-ray scanning software and equipment for designers, has a fascinating blog post and YouTube video comparing the internal structures of the Apple Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3 and Quest Pro. The catch is that these aren’t your everyday “took them all apart” teardowns, but rather comparisons of high-resolution industrial CT scans. You get a good sense, especially in the YouTube video, of how these products were arranged and designed differently....

A change to Apple’s App Store rules has reversed an old rule that has historically prohibited emulators on the iPhone and iPad. The rule has altered a prohibition on apps that run external code, which has led to a de facto ban on console and classic game emulators. Specifically, Apple is now allowing “software that […]

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I was recently chatting with someone about what it was like in the early days of Apple’s second act with the iPod, and I mentioned that Mac users had the ultimate flex against PC users: no viruses and no malware. This was when PC users could get a virus from simply breathing in the wrong direction. The general argument from the mainstream at the time was that once Macs became popular, they’d be filled with viruses as well. The Mac became popular (especially at work), and the mass virus attacks never arrived. So that begs the question of 2024: Do you need malware protection on macOS...

Macworld

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...

Meta confirmed last month that it plans to launch the official Threads API for developers in June. With the API, developers will be able to create apps and other tools that integrate with the social networking platform. Now the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg has shared more details about what to expect from the Threads API.

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The AR/VR device market has always been considered a niche. Even with the launch of the Apple Vision Pro earlier this year, there was no expectation of major changes due to the high price tag of $3,500. However, a new survey by Piper Sandler has revealed that teenagers are using more VR headsets, at least in the US.

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This year’s Apple Watch Series 10 could offer a notable improvement in battery life. A new supply chain report this week says that the Apple Watch Series 10 will use a new display technology that lowers power consumption and improves efficiency. In turn, this could improve battery life across the board.

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Upgrading your HomeKit lifestyle with a smart garage door is one of the best changes you can make. For a long time, MyQ was an easy recommendation for people looking to easily turn their existing garage door into a HomeKit garage door. Chamberlin, the company behind the MyQ platform, discontinued its HomeKit accessory last year and recently even further cracked down on access to the MyQ platform.

Thankfully, there are other ways to bring HomeKit capability to your garage door without too much work. Here are some of my favorites…

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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.

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A new iPad Pro is coming, and it’s been described as the biggest refresh since 2018. With these improvements, however, will reportedly come a price increase. How much more expensive will the new iPad Pro models be, and how much of an increase would be too much? Here’s everything we know.

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Sennheiser is finally shipping its . These new and even more unique true wireless earbuds were first revealed at CES 2024 back in January, and now just in time for spring, are actually available for purchase for $329.95 at both and B&H.

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Apple has officially started beta testing iOS 17.5 with developers and public beta users. The update brings a handful of new features and changes, and is expected to be released sometime next month. Head below for everything we know right now.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Learn more and get started today for free. 

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Want to go further with your Apple Watch health features or revisit important metrics you haven’t tracked in a while? Follow along for a look at 7 valuable ways you can check and improve heart health with Apple Watch.

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Macworld

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. Virus researchers at AV-Test reported 1968 new Mac malware versions for October 2023, which is a drop in the ocean compared to the 3,957,566 new pests on the Windows platform, but evidence nonetheless that viruses can be a threat to Mac users.

Not everyone is a security expert, or...

Macworld

When Samsung released its first Galaxy Fold back in 2019, there was a ton of excitement, which was quickly tempered when people got a chance to try it out. Even after the early wrinkles were ironed out, one major flaw was still evident: the crease. Samsung has worked to lessen it over the years, but it’s still something of an eyesore–and a new report claims Apple is facing the same issue with its folding iPad.

The difference is Apple won’t ship its folding iPad until it can remove the crease entirely. According to...

Macworld

Apple released the M3 MacBook Air about a month ago, and it’s a great laptop. But so was the laptop it replaced, the M2 MacBook Air, and we thought that it wasn’t going to be long before deals for the M2 laptop popped up. That time has finally come.

Amazon is offering a couple of great prices on the 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air:

• $849: 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air with 8GB of unified memory, 256GB SSD (Silver only)
• $1,049: 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air with 8GB of unified...

Today, during a live-stream event, Jamf delivered some new product announcements designed to meet the news of IT teams looking for help with security and compliance concerns as they manage their Apple fleet of Macs, iPads, iPhones, and more.

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Today, Apple has published a new Newsroom post looking at the benefits of its Vision Pro in the workplace. Last weekend, I published my thoughts on the impact of Apple Vision Pro in the short and long term in the workplace. Apple’s Newsroom post looks at how different companies are creating new enterprise experiences that leverage spatial computing to customize workspaces, collaborate on designs, deliver specialized training, and guide fieldwork in some exciting ways.

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An Apple research paper describes how the company has been developing Ferret-UI, a generative AI system specifically designed to be able to make sense of app screens.

The paper is somewhat vague about the potential applications of this – likely deliberately so – but the most exciting possibility would be to power a much more advanced Siri …

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Macworld

If you’re a professional photographer or designer you need editing software that provides precision and control over your images, as well as support for editing RAW files and multi-layer editing tools.

The popularity of selfies and smartphone photography in recent years has given rise to dozens of affordable photo-editing programs aimed at amateur photographers. While these free (or low-cost) apps are great for people who simply want to smarten up their selfies or holiday snaps, they may not offer the features pro photographers need to edit photos.

If you want to edit your photos like a pro – or you are a pro photographer, designer, web developer, graphic artist or other creative professional, then you may wish to consider one of these pro photo editors.

If you don’t quite consider yourself a pro, or you are just looking for a free or really cheap Photoshop alternative then check out our round up of...

Subscription creep – the term given to increases in subscription fees after someone has signed up – hit a full two-thirds of US consumers in the past year.

Some of the increases were steep ones, and others imposed with little notice …

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Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros

• Easy to create a whitelist of safe/protected files and folders within the macOS.
• Robust Total Defense Shield and Safe Files features allow for an impressive level of protection against malware and ransomware efforts.
• Good user interface and layout.

Cons

• Left chunks of known malware in place during testing. 
• TrafficLight anti-phishing add-ons seem almost ineffective for Safari users, allowing access to highly questionable websites.
• Excessively long initial scan time.

Our Verdict

Unfortunately, Total Defense has a few issues, including long initial scan and the failure to remove some malware. With some bug fixes it could be better.

Price When Reviewed

$39.99 for 3 Macs, 1 year

Best Prices...

It was a long pandemic, but Apple and the larger industry have gotten back to pre-pandemic levels, complete with substantial year-over-year growth. According to 9to5Mac, an IDC report released yesterday on global shipments for Q1 2024 showed that while Apple still doesn’t lead for volume, it did come in number one for YoY growth. IDC […]

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Sponsored by Kolide: If a device isn’t secure, it can’t access your apps. It’s device trust for Okta. Visit kolide.com/appleatwork...

The social network X (formerly Twitter) introduced support for passkeys earlier this year. However, the new option was only available to iOS users based in the US. As of today, X is making passkey login available globally.

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Jony Ive, the former Apple designer. (credit: Gary Cohen)

Former Apple design lead Jony Ive and current OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are seeking funding for a new company that will produce an "artificial intelligence-powered personal device," according to The Information's sources, who are said to be familiar with the plans.

The exact nature of the device is unknown, but it will not look anything like a smartphone, according to the sources. We first heard tell of this venture in the fall of 2023, but The Information's story reveals that talks are moving forward to get the company off the ground.

Ive and Altman hope to raise at least $1 billion for the new company. The complete list of potential...

Macworld

The current iPad range is one of the most populated we’ve seen. It includes two iterations of the standard iPad, the iPad mini, the iPad Air, and the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, so there’s plenty to choose from. It seems Apple isn’t stopping there, though; rumors suggest it could be adding an even larger iPad Pro to the line-up. Here’s everything we know about the next-generation iPad Pro.

Update April 8: The latest intel says the iPad Pro will probably ship the week of May 6.

2024 iPad Pro release date: When will the M3 iPad Pro arrive?

Following no iPad updates at all in 2023, it looks like there will be a new iPad Pro in 2024. With the last update to the range being in October 2022, and iPad Pro launches tending to happen every 18 months, a spring 2024 update is nearly a certainty.

For some clues as to when Apple could launch the new iPad Pro, we normally look...

Macworld

For about as long as anyone can remember, people have been trying to use the impressive power and always-in-your-pocket traits of iPhones to play games for old consoles like GameBoy. Emulating the functions of the chips in old consoles is perfectly legal, but distributing the games themselves (usually called “ROMs”) is often not as they are protected by copyright.

Apple has never allowed these apps in the App Store, though. So those making retro console emulators for iPhone have had to make their apps available via sideloading on jailbroken iPhones (a big security risk, and increasingly difficult besides) or sometimes even by hiding their emulator within an innocuous app like a calculator.

New changes to the ...

Macworld

At a GlanceExpert's Rating
Pros

• Incredibly easy to use
• Great downloadable apps
• Plenty of server options

Cons

• Pricing heavily weighted toward two-year plans

Our Verdict

NordVPN is a fully featured VPN option that’s secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. Our only concern is its pricing structure, and while two-year contracts aren’t the worst thing in the world, there’s potential for it to rise after that time. Other than that, NordVPN is an easy VPN to recommend, particularly to newcomers.

Price When Reviewed

From $3.09 per month (basic 2-year plan with three months free); Monthly plans range from $12.99 to £15.99, depending on which features you opt for.

Best Prices Today: NordVPN for Mac

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Now’s the time to upgrade to AirPods Pro 2 and its refreshed USB-C charging case. A $60 price cut lands at $189 to join these discounted Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen styles from $189. Plus, Belkin’s 15W BoostCharge Pro MagSafe pad now comes in two new colors at $60. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple Vision Pro has a number of robust privacy protections in place, including limitations on how third-party developers can access camera data. A new report from The Information today explores how Apple’s fear of Vision Pro having a Google Glass-level privacy outcry have impacted third-party developers.

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Macworld

Apple fans may be excited about the idea of an Apple robot following every step you take in your home. However, it seems like a pie in the sky and there’s another idea that is a lot more realistic.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is looking into ways to expand its presence in the smart home market, and one way it could do it is to make a new Apple TV with a built-in FaceTime camera. The device would also introduce new gesture controls the user can perform.

While you might be muttering to yourself, “finally!” hold on–Gurman doesn’t say it’s in development or prototypes are in the works. Gurman...

Macworld

The long-awaited iPad refresh is now expected to happen in the second week of May, with a trusted leaker predicting that the launch will “probably” take place in the week of May 6.

In the April 7 edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reiterates his earlier prediction that we can “circle early May” for the eagerly awaited unveiling of new iPad models. (Near the end of March Gurman cited “people with knowledge of the matter” in predicting that the devices would ship in that part of the year.) But he...

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.

Sponsored by Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Learn more and get started today for free. 

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Apple Watch is an essential runner’s companion, and takes it to the next level with longer battery life and more. That’s why participants of this year’s The Speed Project call it an “instant lifeline” during a grueling relay race from Santa Monica to Las Vegas.

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Apple chipmaker TSMC has announced plans to open a third Arizona chip plant, in addition to the two already under construction. This will be the most advanced of the three plants, making 2nm chips.

The expansion plan appears to have been part of a deal for the company to receive a total of $11.6B in US grants and loans …

more…

Macworld

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.

macOS 15 release date: When will macOS 15 arrive?

Since 2013, Apple has released macOS during the fall season in the U.S. The company has established a pattern of releasing iOS...

Apple may be looking to launch its new iPad Pro and iPad Air models during the second week of May. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated “For those looking for more specific timing, I’m told the launch will probably happen the week of May 6,” said Gurman, in his Power On newsletter on Sunday. “Another data point […]

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