It’s official—WWDC will kick off on June 10 with Apple’s biggest keynote of the year. As always we’ll get a preview of what to expect from Apple’s OS updates coming this fall. That’s iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS—and likely some surprises along the way. With less than three months to go before the big event, it’ll be here before we know it.
iOS 18: Siri
It’s hard not to be excited when you hear that this is going to be the most ambitious iOS update in a very long time. Apple’s big AI push seems great and has me wishing for all kinds of neat features in lots of apps.
But if I had to narrow it down to one feature, I would have to say: Siri. Siri may be part of every Apple product, but it’s inexorably tied to the iPhone. After becoming the poster child for digital assistants with the iPhone 4s and sort of entering the collective consciousness as “AI” before “AI” was all the rage, it has become something of a blemish for Apple. Despite some real significant improvements in the last couple years, it is often ridiculed online for misunderstanding users and giving weird results.
For Apple, Siri is AI and AI is Siri. It is, in a very literal sense, AI personified. Siri has to make people say “wow” again, like it did when it was new. It needs to be something above and beyond the current state of the art in phone assistants. It’s going to take a lot to change the minds of the many millions of people who have “given up” on Siri after years of underperformance, but more than anything else, that’s what I want out of iOS 18. —Jason Cross
iPadOS 18: Multiple users
I’ve wanted this one for as long as Apple’s been making iPads—please please please let us have more than one user account on our tablets. Like Macs, iPads are communal devices and we’d love to be able to share ours with our spouses and kids without having half of the apps tied to our Apple ID.
Ever since Apple split iOS and iPadOS, multiple users seemed to be a no-brainer for the iPad, but each passing update has arrived with a lock screen instead of an iPhone instead of a Mac login screen. I’m hoping this year is when things change. —Michael Simon
macOS 15: Dynamic Notch
OK, I’m pretty sure this one isn’t going to happen, but I’d really really like it to. On our iPhones, the Dynamic Island is a great way to quickly see things happening in the background—on our MacBooks, a Dynamic Notch would be an awesome way to multitask on our MacBooks.
It would work largely the same way—apps that are doing something in the background would populate the notch, with small interactive screens descending when clicked. It would take some getting used to and obviously need tremendous developer support, but hey if someone at Apple thought Stage Manager was a good idea, surely this could work. —Michael Simon
tvOS 18: Customizable TV app
Some of what I want most on my Apple TV has nothing to do with new OS features and more to do with company policies. Like Netflix supporting the TV app so it’s in my “Up Next” queue, or game streaming apps such as Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now (Apple allows these now but the company’s policies around how games are sold still draw ire from developers).
I think the TV app itself has gotten worse over the last couple of years, though. With auto-playing trailers and a heavy preference for pushing Apple TV+ content. I have to scroll past many categories of Apple-only content before I get to the “New Shows and Movies” section where stuff from other services is mixed in. As a platform, tvOS pushes Apple’s own services so hard that I’m surprised it wasn’t specifically mentioned in the Department of Justice’s recent antitrust lawsuit. —Jason Cross
My ideal tvOS change is simply to let users customize the TV app home screen, choosing which sections to show or hide and in which order. —Michael Simon
watchOS 11: Notes app
watchOS has undergone numerous changes over the years, culminating with its largest overhaul yet in watchOS 10. So we don’t expect many major changes this year, but we are hoping for one—a Notes app. We don’t know why Apple didn’t include a companion Notes app in watchOS 1 or why it hasn’t added one since, but the ability to speak and store notes on the go is sorely needed. —Michael Simon
visionOS 2: User-anchored windows
The second release of visionOS needs to be a big change from the first. A real customizable home view, lasting widgets, way more tools for developers, faster/better hand tracking, shared spaces and virtual objects, and lots more.
But if I have to pick just one thing, it would be for the ability to anchor windows to the user rather than to the space. Let me “lock” a window to me and have it follow me around, floating in the same relative position around me as I move. —Michael Simon
Apple Inc, iOS, MacOS
]]>Apple TV+ offers exclusive Apple original TV shows and movies in 4K HDR quality. You can watch across all of your screens and pick up where you left off on any device. Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month. Here’s every Apple original television show and movie available now on Apple TV+, as well as the latest trailers …
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]]>Crunching numbers is one thing, but when your data is more complex, you need more than just charts and graphs to visualize solutions. That’s where a tool like Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 comes in. Fortunately, this leading diagramming tool is on sale for only $24.97 (reg. $249) through April 2.
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Accessories
]]>Earlier this month Apple released the new M3 MacBook Air with a surprise press release on Monday, March 4. That was notable for a couple of reasons: One, we expected Apple to hold a spring event this year, and two, they weren’t accompanied by new iPads.
With no event, we thought new iPads would launch the next day or the following week, but more than two weeks later, that hasn’t happened. Then there was a rumor earlier this week that Apple would unveil the new iPads on Tuesday, March 26, but this week has come and gone without an announcement, so it appears new iPads will officially be launching in April now. Or based on the latest report, maybe even May.
So what gives? When exactly will the new iPads arrive? Let’s look at what we know.
Several reports have claimed that the new iPads won’t ship until April. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that a new version of iOS 17.4 for the new iPads “won’t be complete until the end of March or even sometime in April,” a process that “could last a couple weeks, probably taking us deeper into next month.”
Separately, Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants says that while the new OLED panels for the iPad Pro began shipping in February, production and price issues caused some delays, particularly with the 11-inch model.
Now that we’re officially looking at April, we’re hearing reports that Apple won’t launch new iPads until May, which is a very rare month for new Apple products. Here’s a list of Apple’s announcements via press release since 2019:
M3 MacBook Air: Monday, March 4, 2024
M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Tuesday, January 17, 2023
2nd-gen HomePod: Wednesday, January 18, 2023
10th-gen iPad/6th-gen iPad Pro: Tuesday, October 18, 2022
2nd-gen iPhone SE: Wednesday, April 15, 2020
4th-gen iPad Pro: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
7th-gen iPod touch: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
5th-gen iPad mini: Monday, March 18, 2019
3rd-gen iPad Air: Monday, March 18, 2019
iMac (Intel 9th-generation): Tuesday, March 19, 2019
The only new recent Apple product that arrived in May was the iPod touch way back in 2019, a product that isn’t nearly as important to Apple’s lineup as an iPad. It’s probably more likely that Apple will announce the new iPads later in April and begin shipping them in May, like it did with the new M1 iPad Pro in 2020.
Apple has announced iPads on Mondays and Tuesdays and once on a Wednesday due to Covid shakeups. However, major announcements (10th-gen iPad, M2 MacBook Pro) generally happen on a Tuesday, while Mondays are relegated to smaller updates, like the recent M3 MacBook Air.
So what does it all mean? Put all of the clues together and our best guess for an iPad release is either Tuesday, April 16 or April 23. We’re leaning toward April 23, which gives Apple plenty of time to gather stock, finish the new build of iPadOS 17.4, and generate a bit more buzz. So plan accordingly.
While you wait, check out our iPad Air and iPad Pro rumor roundups so you know what to expect from the releases when they arrive.
iPad
]]>In a world with ever-rising costs, some readers want to trim their budgets. iCloud+ pricing for 50GB ($0.99/ £0.99 per month) to 12TB ($59.99/£54.99 per month) of storage plus other bonuses might not seem terrible compared to, say, streaming services or a fancy latte, but it’s not nothing. If you have a family using Apple devices and you’re using Family Sharing with an Apple One plan ($25.95/£24.95 per month for 200GB or $37.95/£36.95 a month for 2TB) the cost is more than trivial.
The real question is, can you get what you need without relying on iCloud?
For the purposes of this column, I’m using the sweet spot of 2TB as the basis, since it’s high enough to consider cutting. Signing up for iCloud+ at 2TB is $9.99/£8.99 per month, which can be shared with members of a Family Sharing group; the Apple One Premier plan ($37.95/£36.95 per month) can be used by an individual or Family Sharing group, but it’s the only bundled plan with 2TB. (Family Sharing group members can only access their own storage, but their storage and yours all count towards the total in the iCloud+ storage pool.)
Consider which services you get with iCloud+ that you would lose if you reverted to the free basic 5GB iCloud plan. A full list of associated services can be found on Apple’s site.
iCloud Photos
One of iCloud’s big selling points is the ability to sync your photos and videos across all devices, backing them up and copying them as soon as you capture them on a mobile device or import them on a desktop Mac, as well as holding optimized versions of the library to reduce storage on devices. It’s hard to replicate this. You’ll need to regularly import media from mobile devices to a Mac or Windows system to prevent the potential of losing them and ensure you have excellent computer backups so you can restore media later.
One alternative is Google Photos, which can sync mobile photos to its cloud up to the limits of storage paid for via your Google One account. Google offers 2TB for $99.99/£79.99 a year ($8.33/£6.67 per month when divided out), which can be shared with up to five other people. Not a huge savings.
To stop using iCloud Photos:
In iOS or iPadOS, go to Settings > account name > iCloud > Photos and disable Sync this iPhone/iPad or iCloud Photos.
In macOS, go to Photos > Settings/Preferences > iCloud and uncheck iCloud Photos.
In both cases, you’ll be prompted about how to manage cloud- and locally-stored images. You’ll be limited by the storage available on your device.
iCloud Drive
If you never need to share files or only share relatively small ones that would all fit within 5GB, you can use the free iCloud tier’s storage, the free Dropbox tier (5GB), or Google Drive (15GB). iCloud Drive effectively provides an extra backup for files stored there, as well.
It’s possible to use computer-based software or network-attached storage to create your own private internet-accessible file servers for sync and remote access, as well as sharing with others, but the cost and complexity involved seemingly outstrips the desire to save money on an iCloud+ subscription.
To stop using iCloud Drive, go to Settings (iOS/iPadOS) or System Settings (macOS), and then account name > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Disable Sync this iPhone/iPad/Mac. You’ll be prompted about how to handle files, just as you were with photos.
Other services
Other services you should consider how to manage without iCloud+ tiers of storage:
Messages in the Cloud: If you enable iCloud for Messages you can sync your message history for your iCloud account and associated SMS/MMS messages across all your devices. This can add up to gigabytes over time due to multimedia attachments, like movies. There’s no direct way to duplicate this, although performing local backups using macOS will keep a copy of Messages data on an iPhone or iPad. You might also use Signal, WhatsApp, or other messaging services, but make sure you understand the security tradeoffs for each, particularly with WhatsApp and cloud-based archiving of messages you exchange with it.
iCloud email: Apple offers an email service like many other firms, and you could switch to another provider. If you fill up available iCloud storage space with email and attachments, you can use the Mail app in macOS or third-party mail apps to download email and store it locally on your computer. Locally stored email is subject to the same concerns about keeping reliable, multiple backups of data.
Contacts, calendar, reminders: These three categories of synced data don’t require much storage unless you add big attachments to entries, like PDFs or movies. You should be able to continue using the free tier of iCloud storage for all these needs.
Lots of miscellaneous things: Apple uses iCloud to sync iCloud Keychain entries, as a conduit and backup for end-to-end encrypted information used by devices, to store in escrow a macOS FileVault Recovery Key, and much more. These all add up to very little actual storage consumed.
After you’re sure everything is in place, you can use iOS, iPadOS, or macOS to downgrade storage in Settings/System Settings > account name > iCloud > Manage/Manage Account Storage.
Backup, backup, backup
Whatever data you stop syncing or stop having an extra central backup with iCloud, you should make doubly sure is archived in ways you can reach later. While saving money is the intent, don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish, losing a lifetime’s worth of photos in the process. Get an inexpensive, high-capacity external hard disk drive that you use for networked Time Machine backups; make it a routine to back up your iPhones and iPads to a Mac nightly, if possible; and consider an affordable, secure online backup service, like Backblaze, which has unlimited storage per computer for a flat yearly fee.
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Chris.
Ask Mac 911
We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.
iCloud
]]>Whether you’re traveling abroad as warmer weather arrives or simply want to broaden your communication horizons, learning a new language is a smart idea. Now is an even better time to learn, as lifetime access to Babbel is discounted to under $140 through April 2.
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Accessories
]]>One of the big changes in iOS 17 for CarPlay users is the addition of SharePlay support for Apple Music. This feature allows anyone in the car to control and contribute to what’s playing via Apple Music, rather than just one person.
I took SharePlay for Apple Music in iOS 17 for a recent drive. My takeaway? This is a very, very fun feature.
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]]>If your car has factory-installed CarPlay or Android, then the wireless vehicle entertainment experts at Ottocast want to turbocharge your in-car entertainment.
For a limited time, 9to5Mac readers can take advantage of an exclusive 30% discount on some of Ottocast’s best CarPlay products by using code “TM30” at checkout.
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]]>Apple filed a lawsuit earlier this month against former software engineer Andrew Aude, alleging he leaked info about products he hated to a journalist saved in his phone as “Homeboy.”
Apple has demanded a jury trial and seeks damages in excess of $25,000.
Joe Rossignol for MacRumors:
Aude joined Apple as an iOS software engineer in 2016, shortly after graduating college… The lawsuit alleges that over a five-year period, Aude used his Apple-issued work iPhone to leak information about more than a half-dozen Apple products and policies, including its then-unannounced Journal app and Vision Pro headset, product development policies, strategies for regulatory compliance, employee headcounts, and more.
In April 2023, for example, Apple alleges that Aude leaked a list of finalized features for the iPhone’s Journal app to a journalist at The Wall Street Journal on a phone call. That same month, The Wall Street Journal‘s Aaron Tilley published a report titled “Apple Plans iPhone Journaling App in Expansion of Health Initiatives.”
Using the encrypted messaging app Signal, Aude is said to have sent “over 1,400” messages to the same journalist, who Aude referred to as “Homeboy.” He is also accused of sending “over 10,000 text messages” to another journalist at the website The Information, and he allegedly traveled “across the continent” to meet with her…
Apple believes that Aude’s actions were “extensive and purposeful,” with Aude allegedly admitting that he leaked information so he could “kill” products and features with which he took issue.
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MacDailyNews Take: Word to the wise: Using your Apple-issued work iPhone to leak Apple secrets is asking for it.
The Apple Inc. v. Andrew Aude complaint (MacRumors via Scribd) is here.
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The post Apple sues former engineer for leaking products he hated appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>As reported on Tuesday, Apple today notified the winners of the 2024 Swift Student Challenge. For those unfamiliar, the competition encourages developers to show off their coding skills by creating playground projects. This year, some of the winners will attend an in-person WWDC 2024 event at Apple Park.
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]]>In this episode of Visioneers, Zac Hall of 9to5Mac sits down with Geert Bevin, the Director of Software Development at Moog Music, for an insightful conversation. Together, they delve into the fascinating world of music technology, focusing on Moog Music’s latest creation, Animoog Galaxy for Apple Vision Pro. Additionally, Bevin sheds light on his innovative app, MIDI Widgets; his history with computers and music creation; and how Apple Vision Pro is meshing with work life and leisure so far.
Sponsored by Things 3: Zac’s all-time favorite task manager for iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro! Try it today!
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]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>It’s not really possible to “delay” a product that has never been announced, but it’s hard to see the latest report of iPad shipping dates as anything else. Originally expected in March, then sliding into April, the new iPad Pro and iPad Air are now expected to ship in early May, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
According to “people with knowledge of the matter,” Apple’s suppliers have ramped up production of the new iPad Pro and iPad Air with a target launch in May, held back from its original March/April launch date due to new software and more complicated manufacturing techniques. Apple doesn’t usually launch new products in May, with the most recent release coming in 2019 with the 7th generation iPod touch. More recently, it began shipping the new M1 iMac and iPad Pro in May 2021 after an April announcement.
The iPad Pro is said to be getting a new OLED display, the M3 processor, and compatibility with an updated Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. The iPad Air, meanwhile, will allegedly get an upgrade to the M2 processor and be available in a new 12.9-inch size.
Sales of iPads have been flagging lately, and the lineup hasn’t had an update in a year and a half—a longer stretch than any time since the iPad was first introduced. A release in May would be uncommon, as it is within a month of WWDC in June, where the product launch could be given a bigger spotlight.
iPad
]]>Apple’s assemblers have ramped up production of the company’s all-new iPad Air and iPad Pro models and a launch is planned for early May, Bloomberg News reports citing “people with knowledge of the matter.”
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The release will center on revamped versions of the iPad Pro and iPad Air, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. As Bloomberg News has previously reported, the Pro models will get crisper new OLED displays — short for organic light-emitting diode — while the iPad Air will get a 12.9-inch screen option for the first time.
The move marks an end to the longest stretch without new models in the history of the iPad, which was first introduced by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2010. It’s been about 18 months since the last updates — a drought that’s contributed to already-sluggish demand for tablets. Apple is betting that the new models, with faster chips and revamped accessories, can help spur a renaissance for the category.
The iPad Pro models — codenamed J717, J718, J720 and J721 — will run the new M3 chip and work with redesigned versions of the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. The update represents the first overhaul to that lineup since 2018.
The iPad Air, meanwhile, was last updated in 2022 with the M1 chip. It will get a new processor, and the 12.9-screen size means consumers can get a large iPad for less money than the more upscale Pro.
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MacDailyNews Take: Depending on Apple’s pricing, of course, the 12.9-inch iPad Air could be a hot-seller!
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The post Apple ramps up production for all-new iPad Air, iPad Pro ahead of May launch appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
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]]>Benjamin and Chance go deep on the Department of Justice vs. Apple suit, in which the DOJ alleges Apple’s iPhone monopoly is illegally maintained. In happier news, Apple announced the dates for WWDC 2024 where we expect to see major AI announcements as part of iOS 18, and much more.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we rank our favorite WWDC invite artwork from the last decade. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
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]]>The M3 MacBook Pro is a fine laptop but for $1,599, we wish we were getting a little more for our money in the memory department. Today you can: B&H Photo is selling the 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for $1,599, a savings of $400 and the lowest price we’ve ever seen.
Compared to the M3 processor, the 10-core CPU/16-core GPU M2 Pro is actually a little faster in some tasks, and you’ll get twice as much RAM. Otherwise, the machines are identical, with the same excellent ProMotion displays and ports as the M3 model (three Thunderbolt ports, an SD card reader, and HDMI 2.1), as well as the same colors options (silver and space gray).
So if you’re looking for more than 8GB of RAM, save a couple hundred bucks and grab this deal before it’s gone.
MacBook
]]>Every time we think the iPhone SE is dead, a new rumor comes out to remind us it’s not. This time it’s about the display—and reportedly Samsung won’t make them.
According to ZDNet Korea (via ITHome), Samsung has declined the opportunity to supply Apple with iPhone SE 4 displays due to price issues. The report claims Apple wants to pay around $25 per display while Samsung is looking to get $30. While early reports claimed Apple would stick with an LCD screen for the iPhone SE 4 (like the iPhone 11), recent rumors claim it will have an OLED screen, which can be significantly more expensive.
Samsung has been supplying OLED panels to Apple since the first iPhone with an OLED display: iPhone X.
Apple released the iPhone SE 3 in March 2022 with 5G and a slightly higher price tag of $429. It also includes the A15 Bionic processor and “advanced” camera features including Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, and Deep Fusion, though Apple stuck with a single rear camera. The latest iPhone SE rumors claim the next model will be a dramatic redesign that dumps the Home button and adopts an all-screen design. It’s also expected to get Face ID and a newer processor, but most reports claim it will still have a single camera.
With Samsung out of the picture, Chinese company BOE is the front-runner as the display supplier for the iPhone SE. Apple has worked with BOE in the past but has had some reported issues with quality and reliability.
iPhone
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>The Android website has added a new landing page for Google Messages that talks about the first-party messaging experience, while also noting that RCS on the iPhone is coming in fall 2024.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Apple is planning to release its new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in “early May,” according to a new report from Bloomberg. The news comes as Apple’s “overseas suppliers have ramped up production” of the new devices.
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]]>Apple has filed a lawsuit against Andrew Aude, a former iOS Software Engineer, accusing him of leaking “information about more than a half-dozen different Apple policies and products.” The leaks included details about Apple’s then-unreleased Journal app, Apple’s “development of products within the spatial computing space,” and more.
“Mr. Aude often took and saved screenshots of his communications on his Apple-issued work iPhone to preserve them for posterity,” the lawsuit alleges.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Apple is in the midst of what is basically a rotten, no-good year so far. The company is contending with a high-profile antitrust battle with the Department of Justice, plummeting iPhone sales in China, and another EU regulatory investigation.
Daniel Howley for Yahoo Finance:
The company is also still facing a shortfall when it comes to generative AI capabilities. And while it’s widely expected to debut some kind of generative AI offering during its WWDC developer event on June 10, it’ll need to have quite an impressive showing if it’s going to catch up to its Big Tech rivals including Microsoft and Google.
All of that is hurting Apple’s stock price. Shares of the iPhone maker have fallen more than 7% since the start of the year and are up just 6.25% over the last 12 months. Shares of Microsoft, meanwhile, are up 14% year to date and 49% over the last 12 months. Google? Shares of the search giant are up 9% year to date and 43% in the last 12 months.
Apple’s latest headache came Tuesday, when Bloomberg, citing Chinese government data, reported that iPhone shipments fell 33% year over year in the country in February…
While Apple is certainly facing a slew of challenges, it’s far from down and out. It’s still the second-richest company in the world by market capitalization — behind Microsoft — and it’s sure to continue to sell millions of devices and services subscriptions throughout the year ahead.
Still, for the foreseeable future, Apple could be in for a bumpy ride.
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MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote back in February:
Apple’s time a having a caretaker CEO to milk products and services conceived and created under Steve Jobs will, hopefully, draw to a close sooner than later.
Apple is clearly not as innovative as it was under Steve Jobs who even started the company’s work on Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, but the company — thanks to Jobs and Cook’s subsequent management of iterations of products and services conceived during Jobs’ tenure — now has more than enough money to make up for Cook’s lack of vision.
Tim’s not a product person, per se. – Steve Jobs
If Apple can manage to train its generative AI in an unbiased way – a big IF – Apple will be just fine in generative AI soon enough. The company has an install base of more than 2.2 billion active devices in the hands of the highest quality customers; even “good enough” generative AI will be just fine. Anything above and beyond that will just be icing on the cake!
Until it gets another visionary leader (fingers crossed; Apple’s history has shown – cough, Sculley, Spindler, cough – that the next CEO could be far, far worse than the very competent caretaker Cook), Apple can afford to miss things like generative AI – which they clearly did – and then use its huge war chest to catch up – which they’re doing right now (fun times and 80-hour weeks inside Apple Park!) – and, hopefully, surpass rivals (or at least be as good). Apple will very likely unveil their catch-up work within months (this June at WWDC 2024)… – MacDailyNews, February 14, 2024
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The post Apple’s rotten, no-good first quarter appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Today, Apple is releasing its first ever sports film shot in Immersive Video format, which gives Apple Vision Pro users an engrossing 8K 3D video experience with Spatial Audio.
The short film features highlights from the 2023 Major League Soccer Cup playoffs. Apple Vision Pro owners can watch the film for free in the TV app, beginning at 6 PM Pacific Time today.
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]]>Spawned by the U.S. DOJ’s antitrust action against Apple, the compan is facing multiple class-action lawsuits that could affect millions of consumers.
Keerthi Vedantam for Kiplinger:
[A]t least three class-action suits in California and New Jersey were filed on March 22, a day after the DOJ and 16 other state and district attorneys general slapped the iPhone maker with an antitrust suit, charging that it illegally monopolizes the smartphone market and stifles competition. According to the report, the class-action suits bring charges similar to what the government alleges.
One of the class-action complaints filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California charges that Apple’s smartphones have technological, psychological and expense barriers that make it difficult for users to leave its platform and buy other non-Apple devices.
“By trapping consumers in its ecosystem, Apple has severely restricted competition from other smartphone manufacturers to unlawfully maintain a durable monopoly over the market,” the complaint charges. “As a monopolist, Apple has overcharged hundreds of millions of consumers on smartphones while generating historic returns.”
While these suits are still in the early stages, they are expected to eventually consist of millions of Apple users, experts say.
In general, class actions can take years to litigate, and that is if they are litigated. Some cases result in settlements, and the payout for each class member may not always be significant.
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MacDailyNews Take: The U.S. DOJ’s Apple case is wrong on the facts and law and should never have been brought, but that won’t stop ambulance chasing vermin; nothing ever does.
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The post U.S. DOJ antitrust action against Apple spawns class-action lawsuits against tech giant appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>Thursday’s best deals have AirTags down to just $19 each when you score a 4-pack at an all-time low. The very first chance to save on Apple Vision Pro has also arrived alongside a $400 off clearance offer on the 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>One of the latest attacks on iPhone sees malicious parties abuse the Apple ID password reset system to inundate users with iOS prompts to take over their accounts. Here’s how you can protect against iPhone password reset attacks (often called “MFA bombing”).
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Apple Original Films this month unveiled the trailer for the highly anticipated film “STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces,” starring Steve Martin, Finn Wittrock, Martin Short, Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld, Eric Idle, Diane Keaton, and Selena Gomez, and directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville.
Steve Martin is one of the most beloved and enigmatic figures in entertainment. “STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces” dives into his extraordinary story from two distinct points of view, with companion documentaries that feature never-before-seen footage and raw insights into Martin’s personal and professional trials and triumphs. “Then” chronicles Martin’s early struggles and meteoric rise to revolutionize stand-up before walking away at 35. “Now” focuses on the present day, with Martin in the golden years of his career, retracing the transformation that led to happiness in his art and personal life.
Daniel Fienberg for The Hollywood Reporter:
Neville’s approach, in the annoyingly titled documentary that I will henceforth only call STEVE!, is to bifurcate Martin’s life.
The 98-minute “Then” looks at the origins of Martin’s comic style — a pastiche of classic vaudevillian traditions with a ’70s-specific deconstructive approach — and traces the circuitous road to unprecedented success on-stage. Then, Martin walked away from stand-up.
The 95-minute “Now” looks at Martin’s life, well, now. It follows his post-stand-up career and his personal maturation, examining Martin as a movie star, husband and father, as a humorist and an art collector, plus his return to the stage as part of a beloved comic duo with Martin Short.
Together, the two films in STEVE! handle that task of image reconciliation in a way that sometimes validates Neville’s approach, but in their separateness comes the great frustration of this ambitious project. “Then” isn’t very good and “Now” feels mostly like a very sweet and generally appealing denouement and not a story in and of itself. So “Now” doesn’t work to its fullest without “Then,” and “Then” probably doesn’t work at all without “Now.”
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MacDailyNews Take: If you’re even remotely a fan of Steve Martin, this is a must-watch documentary regardless of the dichotomy angle (which, after all, you might like, as opposed to Fienberg, obviously). Watch STEVE! for the archival footage, Martin Short et al., and all of the little tidbits revealed within.
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The post Apple TV+’s Steve Martin documentary premieres March 29th appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Following the company’s successful IPO, and a deal with Google to allow Reddit posts to be used as training data, the expansion of another Reddit data-sharing agreement has been signed – this time with Cision.
The data is likely to be used to help companies understand consumer perceptions of their brands, and insights into comments on their products …
more…
]]>The post The Apple Watch SE 2 is $60 Off appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post iOS 18 may have Apple Maps Custom Routes appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post Apple reveals special In-Person event during WWDC 2024 appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post WWDC event for 2024 announced appeared first on iLounge.
]]>Apple is reportedly planning a few notable updates to Apple Maps as part of iOS 18. New rumors say iOS 18 will add two notable upgrades to Apple Maps: support for “custom route creation” in the United States and the expansion of topographic maps (currently available on Apple Watch) to the iPhone.
Chance Miller for 9to5Mac:
Custom route creation would allow iPhone users to plan their own specific routes for a trip, instead of using one of the routes suggested by Apple Maps. Right now, Apple Maps will suggest multiple routes to your destination, but this feature in iOS 18 would give you full control over the exact details of your route.
Meanwhile, the addition of topographic maps for Apple Maps on the iPhone comes after the Apple Watch added the feature was part of watchOS 10 last year. Here’s how Apple described the feature for watchOS 10: Apple Maps displays a new topographic map featuring contour lines, hill shading, elevation details, and points of interest. Users can also search for nearby trails and trailheads, with place cards that include detailed information, like trail length, type, and difficulty.
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MacDailyNews Take: Topographic maps are nice, but custom route creation (think drag to change route in Google Maps) is the feature we’ve been waiting for since Apple Maps made its debut on September 19, 2012.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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The post Apple Maps said to get two significant upgrades in iOS 18 appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>There was a surprise upgrade for some in iOS 17.4: tests reveal that it enabled iPhone 12 Qi2 charging, at the full 15W speed.
Support for 15W Qi2 charging was first announced for the iPhone 15, and then extended to the iPhone 13 and 14 through the iOS 17.2 update back in December of last year – and is now available for the iPhone 12 too …
more…
]]>The Major League Soccer season began February 21, and for members of adiClub, you can now enjoy a free 1-month trial of Major League Season Pass on Apple TV. Keep reading below to learn more.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Adding a hot song to your video content usually makes your videos seem livelier and will help you get more fans. Converting YouTube videos into MP3 format improves your listening experience and saves your computer storage as well.
However, you may feel confused about how to do so or find the conversion process too difficult. Plus, if you are using a Mac computer, the whole process will be more difficult due to the format’s compatibility.
Luckily for you, this post is written to help you solve the problem above and provide the easiest steps for saving YouTube songs in MP3 directly. You will learn 3 methods in total about how to download MP3 from YouTube on Mac computers.
Method 1. Directly Download YouTube Video to Audio with YouTube to MP3 Converter for Mac
Difficulty: Super Easy
Best for: Users who want secure conversion and no extra ads
The first method you can try is to use a free YouTube downloader for Mac and save music directly on MacOS. Here are two good video downloaders that you can try on the market.
Option 1. EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac
EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac is an all-in-one video downloader developed by a trustworthy brand, EaseUS. This video downloader provides YouTube users with a safe and legal way to download YouTube videos and save them in MP3 format. It saves you time from downloading videos first and finding another software to convert.
Other reasons to help you choose EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac:
It helps you get access to multiple streaming sites easily with its built-in browser
It supports multiple file formats, including MP3, MP4, WAV, WMV, etc.
You can extract audio from video links or from local videos
Its 24*7 customer service provided by EaseUS solves any problems you meet
Option 2. VLC Media Player for Mac
Another video downloader for Mac you can try is VLC Media Player for Mac. However, as an open-source media player, it will be difficult to operate if you know little about MacOS. If you are already a pro in computer science, then VLC Media Player is a great choice to extract audio from YouTube videos free of charge.
To take care of more novice users, here is how you can convert video to audio from YouTube with EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac:
Step 1. Download the dmg file and install EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac on Macbook from its official site.
Step 2. Find the video that you’d like to convert and open its webpage. Press “Command + C” to copy its link.
Step 3. You can click the “add URL” button on the main interface and then paste the video’s URL on the pop-up window using “Command + V”.
Step 4. Click “Download,” and the software will begin to analyze the video. You will see a window where you can choose file formats like MP4, MP3, WAV, etc. Go to “Audio” and click “MP3”. Then, set the audio quality you like.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 5. After setting, click “Download” to begin. You can move the music file to the local file location for a better listening experience.
Method 2. Save YouTube Audio to an MP3 Format with Online Converter
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Users who seldom download MP3 files from YouTube and don’t mind pop-up ads
Don’t want another software installation on your computer? It’s OK. You can save YouTube audio files with an online YouTube to MP3 converter or a browser extension. Using an online conversion site is so convenient because you don’t need to worry about compatibility, and you can save audio files with the format you want.
However, everything is a double-edged sword. Be careful with those pop-up ads to avoid malware when using a free online converter. Some online websites may require registration before saving audio files, which may cause privacy leakage.
Here are two online conversion sites with fewer ads you can try:
Option 1. YTMP3
YTMP3 is a YouTube video-audio converter website. You can easily take songs from YouTube with the video’s URL. It is the most efficient way to save YouTube videos and audio if you don’t have many files to save.
Option 2. Y2mate
Y2mate is a website that can help you save videos and audio to Mac computers from not only YouTube but also other streaming sites as long as you have the video’s link. Another good thing about Y2mate is that this site requires no registration.
The following steps are how to use an online website to convert video to audio on Mac, taking YTMP3 as an example:
Step 1. Open the video page and copy its URL.
Step 2. Search for “YTMP3” on Google and go to its official site. Then, paste the video’s URL to the blank sheet.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 3. Click the “Convert” button. The website will automatically begin to analyze the video and prepare for conversion. Then, click “Download,” and the website will begin to download the MP3 files.
Method 3. Convert YouTube Video to MP3 Music with a Browser Extension
Difficulty: Medium
Best for: Users who usually save videos and audio and don’t want an extra installation
Using a browser extension to download YouTube audio on a Mac is more compatible with streaming sites, and you don’t need to find the website repeatedly. However, if you decide to change the browser you’re using, you need to find the download extension for that specific browser and add it again. There are some browser extensions of YouTube to MP3 converters on the market. Once you have added it to your browser, you can take any video/audio on your browser directly.
Option 1. Easy Video Downloader
Easy Video Downloader is a well-known extension for Chrome. It gets 3.2 out of 5 on the Google Extension Store. After adding it to Google Chrome, you can get any audio file from streaming sites with easy clicks, but it doesn’t support bulk downloads.
Option 2. Addoncrop Video Downloader
Addoncrop Video Downloader is a download extension specifically designed for Firefox. If you use Firefox as the default browser, this is a great choice for you. If you want to use it on Google Chrome, an extra extension for Firefox is also required.
The following content are steps of using a browser extension to convert YouTube videos into audio format taking Easy Video Downloader as an example.
Step 1. First, decide which browser you are going to use. Then, search for the Easy Video Downloader extension on Google Chrome and install it.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 2. Click “Add to Chrome” to install it on your browser.
Step 3. Open the video page you’d like to save in MP3 format. Enable Easy Video Downloader from the top right corner.
Step 4. A window will pop out then. You can choose file formats including MP3 and MP4. Click “Download” to save video files in MP3 format directly.
Tips for YouTube Video to Audio Conversion on Mac
After guiding you on how to convert YouTube videos to audio files, there still are some things that you should keep in mind. The most important one is that all methods provided above are to help you convert songs for personal use only. You cannot use the downloaded music for other reasons as it is against copyright protection.
To create a better experience for you, here are some tips you should take care of when saving MP3 files from YouTube:
Copyright consideration: Downloading audio or video without authorization may violate the content creator’s copyright. Better download content that you are authorized to.
Convert speed and file quality: When choosing a YouTube video converter, faster download speed and higher quality are things you should care about most for a better experience of music listening.
Format compatibility: The best audio format better be WAV as it is the unzipped format for the Mac system, and you will enjoy the music better.
To Sum Up
In this post, you have learned 3 methods about how to convert YouTube videos to MP3 on your Mac computer. You can choose to use third-party software like EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac, convert with an online converter website, or install a browser extension.
As you can see, converting videos to MP3 with a third-party tool will bear less risk of privacy leakage and enjoy higher conversion speed. Feel free to give EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac a try!
To learn more, visit us here.
Personal Software
]]>Global smartphone shipments in 2024 are expected to record a modest rebound of 3% YoY to reach 1.2 billion units, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smartphone Shipment Forecast. The budget-economy segment ($150-$249), which shrank YoY in 2023 due to macroeconomic headwinds, especially in emerging markets, and the premium segment ($600-$799) are expected to drive this rebound.
Unlike 2023, emerging markets such as India and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are expected to drive the global smartphone market’s growth in 2024, supported by the budget-economy segment. The robust inventory levels in Q4 2023 are also expected to help.
Global Smartphone Market Shipments by Price Band, 2023 vs. 2024
The budget-economy segment ($150-$249), which experienced a noticeable decline in 2023, is expected to rebound 11% YoY in 2024, primarily driven by India, MEA and CALA (Caribbean And Latin American) markets. As inflationary pressures have eased considerably across Africa, and local currencies have stabilized in many countries, the consumer purchasing power has recovered, benefiting the $150-$249 segment.
Steady investments into the MEA and CALA markets by Chinese OEMs like OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi and Transsion Group have intensified the competition, stimulating the demand for budget-economy smartphones. Alongside the recovery of demand for IT devices in emerging markets, the intensified competition between Chinese OEMs will be the main growth driver in the segment.
The premium segment ($600-$799) is expected to maintain steady growth in 2024, rising 17% YoY. In particular, the introduction of GenAI smartphones and the popularity of foldables will stimulate consistent demand for premium smartphones.
Apple and Huawei are likely to lead the premium segment’s growth. The steady demand for iPhones, particularly in emerging markets such as India and MEA, will drive Apple’s growth. Huawei is expected to retain its strong presence in China’s smartphone market in 2024. With the release of its 5G Kirin chipset, the brand will continue to see a sturdy demand in China.
MacDailyNews Take: For the longer term, Counterpoint Research expects “low-single-digit YoY increases for global smartphone shipments as the market seems to have bottomed out.”
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The post Global smartphone shipments to see rebound in 2024; steady iPhone demand to drive Apple’s growth – Counterpoint appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>As 2024 looks like the year that Apple makes its big push into generative AI, the federal government is also encouraging the use of AI by its own agencies …
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>The practice of parts pairing – which can prevent third-party repair shops from cannibalising broken devices for parts – has been outlawed by Oregon, taking effect for any product made after January 1, 2025.
The legislature just passed the toughest right to repair law seen to date, and it now requires only the governor’s signature to pass into law. Update: Governor Tina Kotek has now signed, and the bill is now law.
more…
]]>A new supply-chain report reiterates earlier reports that some engineers previously working on Vision Pro have been moved to working a folding iPhone or iPad project.
It also claims that the planned launch of a foldable iPhone has been delayed from 2026 to 2027, but that suppliers have been told to stick to their existing schedules …
more…
]]>Apple last week released iOS/iPad 17.4.1 with a couple of important bug fixes and security updates that you’ve probably already installed on your iPhones and iPads. But if you haven’t you’ll be getting a new version when you do, and it’s not clear why.
According to multiple sources on X (formerly Twitter), Apple has pushed out a new 21E237 build of iOS/iPadOS 17.4.1, one number higher than the previous version (21E236). It doesn’t appear to have been delivered over the air, but you can download the IPSW files on a Mac and install them using the Finder.
The fact that Apple didn’t deliver it to users means it’s unlikely to have any fixes of note. The original update fixed a bug when scanning QR codes on some iPad models and included security updates for CoreMedia and Web RTC. The new build may include specific updates for the new iPad Air and iPad Pro that will reportedly arrive in early April, though Aaron on X dug into the code and found no mention of new iPads anywhere in the update.
Apple has yet to release the iOS 17.5 beta, which was expected to arrive several weeks ago.
To install an IPSW file on your iPhone or iPad, connect the device to your Mac using a USB-C cable and select “Trust this Computer” if prompted. Then select your device in the Finder sidebar, hold down the Option key, and click on the Check for Update button. Open the IPSW file on your computer and follow the prompts.
iOS, iPhone
]]>An antitrust lawsuit against Apple brought by Venmo has been dismissed, the judge finding that there was no evidence of anticompetitive behavior.
The Paypal-owned app company has, however, been given one final chance to make its case – though the judge made it very clear this would be a long-shot …
more…
]]>Although it hasn’t officially been announced by Apple, iOS 17.4 appears to have unlocked Qi2 support for the iPhone 12. A series of tests and feedback from Macworld readers prove that the iPhone 12 now works at full 15W wireless charging speed when magnetically connected to a non-MagSafe Qi2 charger.
Last December Apple ushered in Qi2 wireless charging support for the iPhone 13 and 14 with iOS 17.2, joining the iPhone 15’s support for the new MagSafe-based fast-charge technology. Apple-certified MagSafe wireless charging is rated at 15W maximum. Non-certified but compatible magnetic Qi wireless charging is limited by Apple to a maximum of 7.5 watts.
Qi2 is the next evolution of Qi wireless charging, with better efficiency and magnetic alignment features, inspired by Apple’s MagSafe technology. Apple gave the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) its own MagSafe specifications to use as the basis for Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile that defines how the new-generation Qi works. Apple is a WPC “steering member” and chair of the WPC board of directors.
Qi2, like MagSafe, supports 15W wireless charging. For more details read our Is Qi2 as fast as MagSafe feature. Although Qi2 is based on Apple’s MagSafe, the iPhone 12, the first iPhone to include MagSafe wireless charging, was left off all reports of backdated support.
iOS 17.4 adds unofficial Qi2 support for iPhone 12
Since iOS 17.4, Macworld tests have shown that clamped on to Qi2 chargers the iPhone 12 matches the charging speed of fully Apple-certified MagSafe chargers and even shows up the 15W-only charging animation—yet Apple makes no mention of this support in the iOS 17.4 release notes.
In our tests, we first used an Apple MagSafe Charger, which was able to power up an empty iPhone 12 Pro Max to 30 percent in 38 minutes and to 50 percent in 70 minutes. Using the Anker Qi2 MagGo Wireless Charger, we powered up an iPhone 12 Pro Max to 30 percent in 33 minutes and to 50 percent in 64 minutes.
Anker’s MagGo charger fills up an iPhone 12 as fast as a MagSage charger with iOS 17.4.
Anker’s MagGo charger fills up an iPhone 12 as fast as a MagSage charger with iOS 17.4.
Foundry
Anker’s MagGo charger fills up an iPhone 12 as fast as a MagSage charger with iOS 17.4.
Foundry
Foundry
While Qi2 narrowly beat MagSafe, in other tests using an iPhone 12 with a smaller battery than the 12 Pro Max, charging times were remarkably close between MagSafe and Qi2 (around 20 minutes to 30 percent and 45-50 to 50 percent).
A Macworld reader first alerted us to the change after his Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 filled up his phone faster and displayed the MagSafe/Qi2 animation.
Belkin, a long-time official Apple charging accessory partner, includes the iPhone 12 in its compatibility notes for its Qi2 chargers: “Universal compatibility supports fast charging of Qi2 compatible devices including iPhone 15, 15 Pro, 15 Plus, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Plus, 14 Pro Max, iPhone 12/ Pro/ Pro Max/Mini, iPhone 13/ Pro/ Pro Max/Mini”. Macworld is awaiting an official statement from Belkin on Qi2 and iPhone 12 compatibility.
Anker’s iPhone 12 Qi2 compatibility stance is a little more confusing. The specs for its MagGo Power Bank include the iPhone 12 as a compatible device. And yet for its 3-in-1 Qi2 MagGo Wireless Charging Station, above, it omits the iPhone 12 from its list of Qi2 compatible devices but includes “MagSafe-compatible iPhone 15/14/13 Series” phones.
Elsewhere, Anker states: “The iPhone 12 Pro supports the Qi wireless charging standard, but it does not natively support the newer Qi2 wireless charging standard. While the iPhone 12 Pro is equipped with MagSafe, which offers a similar alignment and efficiency improvement over traditional Qi charging, it was designed before the Qi2 standard was finalized and introduced. Therefore, the iPhone 12 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities are built around the original Qi standard and the proprietary MagSafe technology, rather than Qi2.”
Note that the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini charge up to only 12W, but with standard Qi. However, Anker points out that, as Qi2 is fully backward compatible, you can charge an older Qi-compatible or MagSafe iPhone on a Qi2 charger, but at a maximum of 7.5 watts rather than 15W.
Read our test results and reviews of the best MagSafe chargers for iPhone and best MagSafe power banks.
Accessories, Mobile Phone Accessories, Power
]]>We all recognize the benefit of investing in personal development and trying to learn new things, but it’s hard to find the time. Making learning a habit, however, is much easier with Headway Premium. This daily learning app can banish your doomscrolling habit, making self-growth more feasible for only $59.99 (reg. $299).
Named App Store App of the Day four times and winner of the Apple Editors’ Choice in 2023, Headway helps you gain knowledge in short summaries. In 15 minutes or less, you can absorb the ideas and insights of popular nonfiction titles, whether through reading, watching, or listening. There are over 1,500 summaries currently, with 30-50 new ones added monthly, and you can find summaries on topics like business, health, science, and more.
The more you learn, the more Headway gets to know your interests to provide more personalized learning materials. Plus, the app gamifies your learning by offering progress tracking, streaks, and achievements to keep you motivated to learn something new every day.
Make self-improvement sustainable with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just $59.99.
Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription – $59.99
See Deal
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Accessories
]]>Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent all-smiles charm offensive in China is the latest in a long parade of Western business leaders in recent decades seeking to shore up access to the Chinese market and consumer. It’s an outdated playbook, writes China policy expert Dewardric McNeal.
Dewardric L. McNeal for CNBC:
There’s been a recent uptick in U.S. CEOs making treks to China in search of favor and foothold. This ritual, epitomized by high-profile engagements — such as Apple CEO Tim Cook’s effusive overtures and statements of commitments to China — signals that American corporate titans think the strategy can still work. It won’t. It’s a strategic play drawn from an antiquated playbook.
Tim Cook’s recent sojourn in China, including pledges of increased investment and the expansion of research and development facilities, exemplify this tried and tested strategy. Tim Cook’s narrative of China as “critical” to Apple, coupled with his admiration for the country’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, embodies the ethos of this engagement playbook.
But the approach has run its course. It is no longer fit for purpose in an era of intense bilateral economic competition, geopolitical tensions, technological rivalries, and a profound reshaping of the global economic landscape. CEOs who continue to bet on this strategy should expect diminishing marginal returns, particularly under Xi Jinping’s leadership.
Despite Cook’s efforts, Apple faces declining sales in China, a testament to the growing domestic competition, security concerns about foreign hardware and software, and an increasingly nationalistic and patriotic Chinese consumers.
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MacDailyNews Take: As Steve Jobs said, “Throughout my years in business… I would always ask why you do things. The answers that I would invariably get are: ‘Oh, that’s just the way things are done around here.’”
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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The post Tim Cook’s outdated China playbook may bite Apple appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>It’s been five years since Apple TV+ was announced. Although its content library is not as vast as that of its competitors, Apple TV+ movies and shows have won multiple awards since then. Interestingly, a study by Self Financial found that Apple TV+ is the streaming platform with the highest rated content on IMDb.
more…
]]>Apple has big plans for the Apple Watch, ranging from new health features to a completely new design. Read on as we recap three things to expect from the upcoming Apple Watch – potentially called the “Apple Watch X.”
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by FastMinder: Simple, easy to use fasting tracker for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Get started today for free.
Introducing 9to5Mac Daily Plus! Support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:
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Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.
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]]>Startup Databricks just released DBRX, the most powerful open source large language model yet — eclipsing Meta’s Llama 2.
DBRX is an open, general-purpose LLM. Across a range of standard benchmarks, DBRX sets a new state-of-the-art for established open LLMs. Moreover, it provides the open community and enterprises building their own LLMs with capabilities that were previously limited to closed model APIs; according to our measurements, it surpasses GPT-3.5, and it is competitive with Gemini 1.0 Pro. It is an especially capable code model, surpassing specialized models like CodeLLaMA-70B on programming, in addition to its strength as a general-purpose LLM.
Will Knight for Wired:
Databricks will release DBRX under an open source license, allowing others to build on top of its work. Frankle shared data showing that across about a dozen or so benchmarks measuring the AI model’s ability to answer general knowledge questions, perform reading comprehension, solve vexing logical puzzles, and generate high-quality code, DBRX was better than every other open source model available.
It outshined Meta’s Llama 2 and Mistral’s Mixtral, two of the most popular open source AI models available today. “Yes!” shouted Ali Ghodsi, CEO of Databricks, when the scores appeared. “Wait, did we beat Elon’s thing?” Frankle replied that they had indeed surpassed the Grok AI model recently open-sourced by Musk’s xAI, adding, “I will consider it a success if we get a mean tweet from him.”
To the team’s surprise, on several scores DBRX was also shockingly close to GPT-4, OpenAI’s closed model that powers ChatGPT and is widely considered the pinnacle of machine intelligence. “We’ve set a new state of the art for open source LLMs,” Frankle said with a super-sized grin.
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MacDailyNews Take: Congratulations to the Databricks team!
“OpenAI’s closed model.” Heh.
More info about DBRX here.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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The post DBRX: Inside the creation of the world’s most powerful open source AI model appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>As Apple continues to face App Store battles around the world, it’s leaning heavily on Phil Schiller, its former Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. A new report from The Wall Street Journal gives an interesting look at how Schiller, who now holds the title of Apple Fellow, is still working 80-hour weeks to defend the App Store against antitrust allegations and developer criticism.
more…
]]>There are many known phishing attacks that target users of Apple devices to gain access to their Apple ID. However, a new “elaborate” attack uses a bug in the Apple ID password reset feature with “push bombing” or “MFA fatigue” techniques to flood Apple devices with password reset requests.
more…
]]>We learned more about the second generation of the Qi wireless charging standard last year and it’s ended up as compatible with iPhone 13 through 15. Now mophie is one of the first accessory makers to unveil its Qi2 devices.
more…
]]>Apple TV+ announced today that it will expand its award-winning drama slate with “Imperfect Women,” a new limited series based on Araminta Hall’s gripping, immersive novel of the same name that will star and be executive produced by Emmy Award-winners Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Shining Girls,” “Mad Men”) and Kerry Washington (“Scandal,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” “UnPrisoned”).
The new series will be adapted for television, written and executive produced by Annie Weisman, marking her latest collaboration with Apple TV+ following the critically acclaimed dramedy “Physical,” and will be produced for Apple TV+ by 20th Television and Apple Studios.
“From the moment I received Araminta’s novel, I couldn’t put it down. It was such an electrifying read; I fell in love with it immediately,” said Moss in a statement. “I’ve admired Kerry and her work as an actor and producer for many years, and have been looking for something to work with her on and was so thrilled that she responded to the material when we sent it to her and Pilar at Simpson Street. They were the first and only people we thought of. We are so happy that Apple and 20th Television agreed to partner with us on this, as well. It’s all an absolute match made in heaven.”
“I could not have been more thrilled to get this call from Elisabeth,” said Washington in a statement. “I have been an immense fan of hers — both as a brilliant actor and groundbreaking producer — for years. Elisabeth and Lindsey have impeccable taste, as evidenced by the way they have championed Araminta’s gripping novel, and I can’t think of a better person to bring this project to life on screen than the amazing Annie Weisman. ‘Imperfect Women’ is exactly the type of exciting, complex, raw storytelling we strive to create at Simpson Street. Pilar and I are tremendously inspired by the opportunity to team up with Love & Squalor Pictures, and we are thankful to everyone at Apple Studios and the team at 20th Television for believing in this project as much as we do.”
“I’m honored that Apple is once again trusting me to help bring complex, layered female characters to the screen,” said Weisman in a statement. “Elisabeth, Kerry and Araminta are the perfect collaborators to bring these ‘Imperfect Women’ to life.”
“I couldn’t be happier that my book has found a home at Apple, home of some of my favorite programs,” said Hall in a statement. “And to be working with Elisabeth and Lindsey is a dream. They have an incredible talent for story telling and immediately understood my book in exactly the way I meant it to be read. And then to have Kerry Washington on board is like a bonus on top of a bonus. My book couldn’t be in better hands.”
An unconventional psychological thriller examining a crime that shatters the lives of a decades-long friendship of three women, “Imperfect Women” is a mystery complicated by perspective that explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that alter our lives irrevocably. As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest relationships can change over time.
“Imperfect Women” is a co-production between 20th Television and Apple Studios. The limited series will be executive produced by Moss and Lindsey McManus, who initially optioned the book, via their production company Love & Squalor Pictures. Washington will executive produce for Simpson Street alongside Pilar Savone. Hall will also serve as executive producer.
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 479 wins and 2,135 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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]]>The most recent smart scale from Withings is so advanced the company calls it a “health station.” I’ve been testing the Withings Body Scan and its features like segmental body composition measurements, nerve activity, 6-lead ECG, and more, which all come with Apple Health integration. Is it worth the premium price? I think so if these features are valuable to you.
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]]>A federal judge in San Francisco has dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit accusing Apple of driving up fees at platforms such as Venmo and Cash App by prohibiting payment apps from implementing cryptocurrency transactions.
Mike Scarcella for Reuters:
In a ruling, opens new tab on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria called the proposed class action “speculative” and said it “suffers from several fatal problems.” He gave the plaintiffs 21 days to amend their complaint.
The November 2023 lawsuit alleged Apple was imposing restrictions on cryptocurrency technology in its popular App Store, harming competition for peer-to-peer payments and pushing up fees for cash and credit card transactions at PayPal’s Venmo and Block’s Cash App. It said Apple has excluded at least two Bitcoin wallet apps.
Cupertino, California-based Apple in February asked Chhabria to throw out the lawsuit, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to show any unlawful app rules or business agreements.
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MacDailyNews Take: We expect these esteemed legal scholars will be amending their complaint and coming back to take another crack at the Golden Apple.
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The post Judge tosses class action crypto-payment antitrust case against Apple appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>Apple is reportedly planning a few notable updates to Apple Maps as part of iOS 18. New rumors say iOS 18 will add support for “custom route creation” in the United States, and expand topographic maps to the iPhone for the first.
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