iOS provides developers with an API to lock apps with Face ID or Touch ID. However, not every app has this option, and there’s no way to completely hide apps from your device. Luckily, “App Lock” is a simple but powerful app that helps users protect and even hide any apps on their iPhone and iPad. Read on as we detail how the app works.
more…
]]>As WWDC 2024 approaches, Apple this week launched a new webpage with tutorials for developers learning the first steps on how to develop using Xcode, Swift, and Swift UI. Named “Develop in Swift Tutorials,” the webpage is now live with guides showing new developers how to install Xcode and start their first Swift project.
more…
]]>Apple Vision Pro is currently only available in the US, but there have been a lot of rumors recently about the international expansion of the new headset. Now a report from WatchGeneration claims that Apple has been inviting employees from its retail stores in France for Vision Pro training this summer.
more…
]]>Apple’s M3 Ultra chip may be designed as a unique standalone chip, rather than two M3 Max chips joined together via Apple’s groundbreaking UltraFusion connection technology as in the M1 Ultra and M2 Ultra.
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
The theory comes from Max Tech’s Vadim Yuryev, who outlined his thinking in a post on X earlier today. Citing a post from @techanalye1 which suggests the M3 Max chip no longer features the UltraFusion interconnect, Yuryev postulated that the as-yet-unreleased “M3 Ultra” chip will not be able to comprise two Max chips in a single package. This means that the M3 Ultra is likely to be a standalone chip for the first time.
This would enable Apple to make specific customizations to the M3 Ultra to make it more suitable for intense workflows. For example, the company could omit efficiency cores entirely in favor of an all-performance core design, as well as add even more GPU cores. At minimum, a single M3 Ultra chip designed in this way would be almost certain to offer better performance scaling than the M2 Ultra did compared to the M2 Max, since there would no longer be efficiency losses over the UltraFusion interconnect.
Furthermore, Yuryev speculated that the M3 Ultra could feature its own UltraFusion interconnect, allowing two M3 Ultra dies to be combined in a single package for double the performance in a hypothetical “M3 Extreme” chip.
配線層あり(配線層剥離はXには載せないけど) pic.twitter.com/saSXMYGXSw
— テカナリエ清水 (@techanalye1) December 27, 2023
Apple's in the process of restructuring their Apple Silicon lineup. M3 Max no longer comes with the UltraFusion interconnect (see image)
This means that the M3 Ultra chip will be redesigned as its own standalone chip, no longer being made up of 2x Max dies.
What this means:
1.… pic.twitter.com/o4J2hpEGaI
— Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev) March 27, 2024
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MacDailyNews Take: WWDC 2024. June 10th.
MacDailyNews Note: Markets are closed today in observance of Good Friday.
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The post Apple’s M3 Ultra chip may be a unique design, not just two M3 Max chips bolted together appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>The post Grab the M3 MacBook Air for Only $999 appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post More Apple Arcade titles coming to Vision Pro appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post iPhone may have Topographic Maps soon appeared first on iLounge.
]]>The post Google Maps integrates new AI tools appeared first on iLounge.
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>makes some really fantastic smart home (that are usually HomeKit compatible) accessories at really incredible prices. Last year, they launched the Aqara Smart Lock U100 with Home Key support. They’ve long supported HomeKit and, more recently, Matter. This week, Aqara introduced a new HomeKit/Matter-compatible Smart Ceiling Light.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>The current-generation iPad mini was introduced back in September 2021 and hasn’t been updated since. What’s next for the iPad mini? Rumors suggest an update could come later this year with an improved display, faster performance, and more.
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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 FastMinder: Simple, easy to use fasting tracker for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Get started today for free.
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]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>The iPhone 16 is widely expected to feature vertically-aligned cameras on the back, likely in order to enable spatial video recording. Newly-leaked images today give another look at this design, showing one of the first iPhone 16 cases.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Google is just as excited about RCS on the iPhone as we are—so much so that it can’t wait to tell Android users about it. In a new website promoting the benefits of Google Messages, Google accidentally teased the arrival of RCS on iOS “in the fall of 2024.”
The since-deleted reference (first spotted by 9to5Google) is a thinly veiled reference to iOS 18, which will arrive in September alongside the new iPhones. When Apple announced in November that RCS was coming to the iPhone “later next year,” we all assumed that meant it would arrive as an iOS 18 feature and now we have some confirmation of that.
The main question that remains is whether Apple will allow it on all iOS 18 phones or just the iPhone 16 models. When it announced RCS, Apple merely said RCS would “work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.” That doesn’t necessarily mean it will work with all older phones, though there should be no technical reason why it would be limited only to new devices, and it would be unusual for Apple to announce any feature exclusive to a new iPhone far ahead of its unveiling.
Google didn’t supply any details about specific RCS features in iOS other than it will bring “a better messaging experience for everyone.” Google is one of the largest providers of RCS through its messaging app on Android, so it makes sense that Google would be involved in the process.
Google notes on the page that RCS conversations between Google Messages users are “protected by end-to-end encryption,” which hasn’t been promised for iOS. While Google offers encryption within its own app, it does so with its own proprietary extension to RCS; Apple is working with the RCS consortium to build end-to-end encryption into standard, which will protect all messages send from the Messages app on an iPhone.
iOS, iPhone
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Friday is here, and with it we are tracking some notable price drops on Apple gear as we head into the weekend. Joining a new Amazon all-time low on Apple’s 2024 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 starting from just over $1,200, we also have even lower prices on the latest M3 iMac. You can now score the 24-inch Apple desktop machine at $150 off the going rate, and be sure to scope out our exclusive discount down below on the new Burton Goods leather iPhone 15 case. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
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]]>Alphabet subsidiary Google’s Android website has added a new landing page for Google Messages which touts that Rich Communication Services (RCS) on Apple’s iPhone is coming in fall 2024.
Abner Li for 9to5Google:
A section describing the benefits of RCS — high-res photo/videos, typing indicators, and a better group chat experience — talks about how it’s “Coming soon on iOS.”
Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone.
When Apple made the RCS announcement in November of 2023, it provided a “later next year” timeline. Most people have assumed that to mean iOS 18 rather than iOS 17. Google’s mention today more or less confirms that.
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MacDailyNews Take: Good news for those green bubbleheads who settle for pretend iPhones: Google Messages will be slightly less shitty this fall, thanks to Apple.
See also: Apple will support RCS, but keeps green bubbles for Android messages – November 17, 2023
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Google touts RCS on the iPhone is coming in fall 2024 appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Authorities in Vermont are warning residents to check for hidden AirTags after traveling to Canada. According to law enforcement, there have been multiple cases of people in the northeast finding hidden AirTags on the car after road tripping it to Canada, a scheme that is believed to play a role in criminals eventually stealing those cars.
more…
]]>A recent report suggested we might be seeing some form of Apple Pencil for Vision Pro, and that idea appears to be supported by an Apple patent application published this week.
The lack of a physical surface to press against means that things like drawing and handwriting can be tougher in a virtual environment, and Apple describes a couple of interesting solutions to this …
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are Apple’s latest high-end smartphones that come with a range of new capabilities. But are they worth the upgrade if you already have an iPhone 13 Pro? Read along for an in-depth look at the iPhone 13 Pro vs 15 Pro for everything new and different.
more…
]]>(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
]]>Sunshine, a startup that helps users automate mundane tasks, is launching a new AI product, Shine. The product offers a photo-sharing app and an events website that can be used together or individually. Marissa Mayer, CEO and co-founder of Sunshine and former Yahoo CEO, speaks with Ed Ludlow on Bloomberg Technology about the new product and her outlook on AI.
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
MacDailyNews Note: Markets are closed today in observance of Good Friday.
Also, of course, here ya go:
Sunshine CEO Marissa Mayer during her Google days (photo by Brigitte Lacombe)
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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The post Marissa Mayer’s startup Sunshine launches new ‘Shine’ AI product appeared first on MacDailyNews.
]]>A new supply-chain report suggests that Apple is seeking to be an early player in what some believe will be the next big thing in chip development: printed circuit boards (PCBs) made from glass substrates.
While that might not sound exciting, it offers the prospect of an entirely new way of mounting and packaging chips, which could offer much better thermal performance, allowing processors to run at maximum power for longer periods …
more…
]]>Redditors who took advantage of their privileged access to stock ahead of the IPO have seen Reddit share value rocket from $34 to $59.80 by yesterday’s close – an 86% increase.
Update: Subsequent share sales by the company’s CEO and COO – coupled to a report describing the stock as “grossly overvalued” – saw the price fall to $49.32, below the closing price on the day of the IPO …
more…
]]>If you’re shooting spatial video on your iPhone 15 Pro – and there can be good reasons for doing so, even if you don’t own a Vision Pro – then you may want to invest in a $3 iPhone app.
While Apple’s native camera app only shoots spatial video in 1080p at 30fps, Spatialify lets you record in 4K at the same frame rate …
more…
]]>Now streaming on Apple TV+, the life and career of Steve Martin is profiled in a new documentary, which is unusually split into two feature-length parts …
more…
]]>Portable power banks that charge your phone are popular, but wireless battery packs using Apple’s MagSafe technology offer a simpler and smarter cable-free solution for iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 users.
Phone batteries are prone to run dry just when you’re heading away from a power source, so having a portable charging source is one of today’s necessities. Annoyingly, most power banks require you to carry around a cable, too.
Wireless power banks do away with cables but come with their own major limitation–the inefficiency of wireless charging means you need a high-capacity power bank to fully charge a drained iPhone.
I use one as a quick bedside iPhone charger so I can charge and use the phone at the same time without having to worry about cable length. And of course I carry one around with me in my bag for on-the-move recharging.
MagSafe is a technology that’s compatible with all iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models, from the mini to the Pro Max. It allows accessories to connect magnetically to the back of the iPhone. For more information read our Complete guide to Apple MagSafe: What is MagSafe?
The MagSafe connection is precise enough to make wireless charging more efficient as around 20% of Qi power loss is from poor placement of a phone and the wireless charging pad. Standard Qi wireless charging can lose as much as 50% of the portable battery’s power, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging loses ‘just’ 30%.
While it’s not as efficient as using a cable to charge a phone, MagSafe is a tech that brings true wireless charging a step closer to doing away with cables altogether.
If a power bank is rated as MagSafe Certified it will wirelessly charge at 15W. Uncertified magnetic chargers are limited to 7.5W, so will power-up at a slower pace. New Qi2 chargers and power banks that are now appearing on the market that match MagSafe at 15W. See Is Qi2as fast as MagSafe?.
We have tested the best MagSafe chargers to find which is the right one for you and your iPhone. Here we have tested the best MagSafe battery packs.
Also check out our tests of the best iPhone chargers for wired charging solutions, and of course to refill your iPhone power bank.
Certified MagSafe or MagSafe compatible
Chargers officially certified MagSafe by Apple can wirelessly charge at 15W, as can Qi2 chargers. MagSafe-compatible battery packs work as efficiently but are limited by Apple to 7.5W so will charge an iPhone more slowly.
We have listed the speeds at which each portable power bank can be charged itself (Input charger) and charge the iPhone (Output charger). Some power banks can charge a phone faster if you connect a cable, and we have highlighted those below.
We’ve also included a few alternative non-magnetic options, including standard power banks and battery cases. MagSafe is cool but it isn’t always the best option.
After the list of our favorites, you’ll find more details on how MagSafe works and why you should be looking at a power bank’s capacity in Watt Hours rather than the mostly quoted Milliamp Hours.
Baseus Magnetic Power Bank – Best MagSafe battery pack
Pros
Huge battery capacity
Built-in USB-C cable
7.5W wireless or 30W wired
Color choices
Best for iPhone 15 but great for all
Cons
Bulkier than 5K power banks
U.S. only
Price When Reviewed:
$45.99
Best Prices Today:
$45.99 at Amazon
Capacity: 38.5Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W) & USB-C (30W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 187%
Weight: 7.3oz (206g)
Dimensions: 4.3-x-2.7-x-0.8 inches (10.9-x-6.9-x-2cm)
Colors: White, Black, Green, Yellow
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
This iPhone power bank has a huge capacity, refilling a faded iPhone 15 Pro twice over in our tests—the best we’ve seen, although the Anker MagGo Power Bank performed extremely closely. We run the iPhone down to 10%, recharge using the power bank, and keep doing this until the power bank is empty.
It is MagSafe compatible and can wirelessly charge an iPhone at 7.5W, or a super speedy 30W when connected via USB-C—again, the best we’ve yet seen. What makes this power bank even more special is its short built-in USB-C cable that can be used for fast-charging an iPhone 15 or refilling the power bank itself. The 5.5-inch cable can be neatly hooked into the battery pack’s USB-C port for easy carrying.
Wirelessly it will work with any MagSafe iPhone (12/13/14/15). iPhone 15 users can connect via the integrated USB-C cable or a separate longer cable if required, for the fastest charging. Owners of earlier iPhones can use a USB-C to Lightning cable instead for fast 30W wired charging from the power bank.
While its wired charging is fastest, the Qi2 Anker MagGo Power Bank, reviewed below, is twice as fast when clamped on for wireless charging.
It’s reasonably chunky—twice as thick as the old Apple Battery Pack—but around the same as any other 10000mAh MagSafe power banks we’ve tested. It just fits in a trouser pocket while connected but if you want a slimmer battery pack, look for a smaller 5000mAh option.
This power bank is clearly built for the iPhone 15 family—with its neat integrated USB-C cable—but it works as well as any other wireless power bank tested here with the other MagSafe iPhones, and that built-in cable can be used to charge the power bank itself.
At present it’s available in the U.S. only.
Read our full
Baseus Magnetic Power Bank with built-in USB-C cable review
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) – Fastest MagSafe (Qi2) battery pack
Pros
Huge battery capacity
15W wireless or 27W wired
LED charge percentage
Cons
Bulkier than 5K power banks
Price When Reviewed:
$89.99
Best Prices Today:
$89.99 at Amazon$89.99 at Anker
Capacity: 38.5Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (20W)
Output charger: Wireless (15W) & USB-C (27W)
MagSafe: Qi2
On test charged iPhone to: 170%
Weight: 8.8oz (250g)
Dimensions: 4.2-x-2.7-x-0.8 inches (10.7-x-6.9-x-2cm)
Colors: White, Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
Around the same size as the Baseus Magnetic Power Bank, reviewed above, the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) didn’t quite match that battery pack in terms of recharging but was still impressive.
Where it beats the Baseus is in wireless charging speed. MagSafe compatible, the Baseus is limited to 7.5W wireless charging, while the Anker is certified for the new Qi2 standard and so supports 15W wireless charging. This works with all MagSafe-supporting devices: from the iPhone 12 to 15. (Note that the iPhone 12 doesn’t officially support Qi2 but Macworld iPhone 12 Qi2 tests suggest that it does.)
The Baseus power bank has a slightly more powerful cabled charging spec (30W vs Anker’s 27W) but the difference is negligible. We like the integrated USB-C cable included with the Baseus, but any decent USB-C charging cable can be used with the Anker to fast-wired-charge an iPhone.
Aside from faster wireless charging, the Anker boasts two handy features missing from the Baseus: an LED display that shows you exactly how much charge is left in the battery pack, and a solid pull-out stand at the back.
If you want speedy wireless charging, the Qi2 Anker MagGo Power Bank is as fast as you’ll get with a portable battery pack.
Read our full
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) review
Raycon Magic Power Bank 5-in-1 – Best multi-device MagSafe battery pack
Pros
Huge battery capacity
Integrated U.S. plug prongs
Built-in USB-C and Lightning cables
2x USB ports
7.5W wireless or 22.5W wired
Cons
Big and bulky
Price When Reviewed:
$79.99
Best Prices Today:
$79.99 at Raycon
Capacity: 37Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), USB-C (22.5W), Lightning (12W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 186%
Weight: 9.5oz (269g)
Dimensions: 3.4-x-3.4-x-1.4 inches (8.6-x-8.6-x-3.6cm)
Colors: Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
Bigger and meaner than the Baseus Magnetic Power Bank, the Raycon 5-in-1 Power Bank can charge five devices simultaneously: two through the USB-C and USB-A ports, one wirelessly through MagSafe, and two through the built-in cables.
In our tests, it was very close in battery charging power to the Baseus—charging an iPhone 15 Pro nearly twice over.
It claims to offer 15W of wireless power but isn’t officially certified by Apple. However, it does show the MagSafe charging logo at the beginning of a charge and so may have circumvented certification and yet still boast a fast wireless charge.
It features built-in U.S. plug prongs so can be connected straight into a power socket rather than requiring a separate USB-C charger. This is fine for users based in the U.S. or Canada, but international users will have to use the USB-C port with a wall charger.
Also integrated are two output cables: one USB-C for iPhone 15 and one Lightning for older iPhones and Apple devices. If you don’t have any Lightning-based devices then this will be superfluous, although friends in need of power may thank you if their iPhones are older. Most people’s AirPods are still Lightning based, so you may well find a use for it.
The power bank even features a handy pull-out phone clip that holds your phone upright, although the placement of the cables means the battery pack can’t charge your phone while it’s in the mini stand.
Unlike some of the more svelte power banks reviewed here—even the Baseus Power Bank—the Raycon 5-in-1 Power Bank is too big and bulky to let you slip the iPhone plus battery pack into your pocket—even a slim coat pocket might strain to hold both. As a portable power bank you might carry in a bag, it could keep as many as five devices charged up long enough for you to reach the next fixed power source.
Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 5K + Stand – Best 5K MagSafe battery pack with stand
Pros
Battery capacity
Built-in stand
7.5W wireless or 10W wired
Colors
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
Best Prices Today:
$35 at Amazon$59.99 at Belkin
Capacity: 18Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W) & USB-C (10W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 90%
Weight: 5.4oz (152g)
Dimensions: 3.7-x-2.5-x-0.55 inches (9.4-x-6.4-x-1.4cm)
Colors: Black, White, Lavender Purple (US), Blush Pink (US)
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
While 10000mAh power banks boast larger re-charging capacity, if you want a slightly smaller and lighter battery pack with a stand, we recommend you choose between the Belkin BoostCharge and the Anker MagGo 622. Both have 5000mAh batteries but the Belkin won in our head-to-head tests, recharging a faded iPhone 13 Pro by 90%, compared to Anker’s 80%.
The Belkin’s kickstand is easier to use and feels more robust, and the battery pack itself is marginally smaller. We still love the Anker 622, reviewed below, but the Belkin wins the battle of the MagSafe kickstand power banks.
It features 7.5W wireless charging when clamped to the back of an iPhone, and can be charged with a cable at a chippy 10W.
The Pink and Purple colors are available in the U.S. only. Everyone else gets either Black or White models to choose from.
Benks MagClap StandGo Power Bank 10000mAh – Best budget 10K MagSafe battery pack with stand
Pros
Huge battery capacity
Built-in kickstand
7.5W wireless or 20W wired
2x USB ports
Colors
Cons
Bulkier than 5K power banks
Price When Reviewed:
$49.99
Best Prices Today:
$45.99 at Amazon$49.99 at Benks
Capacity: 38.5Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (20W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), USB-C (20W), USB-A (18W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 160%
Weight: 7.5oz (212g)
Dimensions: 4.1-x-2.7-x-0.75 inches (10.5-x-6.9-x-1.9cm)
Colors: Black, Blue, White
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
While a little bigger and 25% heavier than the Belkin BoostCharge and Anker MagGo 622, the the oddly named Benks MagClap StandGo Power Bank’s battery capacity is twice that of its rivals—and beat the fellow 10K Alogic Lift and OneAdaptr OneGo battery packs in our recharging tests. Where the 5K Belkin recharged a faded iPhone 13 Pro by 90%, the 10K Benks boosted it by a whopping 160%.
It also boasts two USB ports. You recharge the battery pack itself via the USB-C port at 20W, and you can also use this port for faster-than-wireless cable charging, also at 20W when you’re in a hurry for power. The bonus USB-A port can charge at 18W, so you could charge three devices simultaneously at decent speeds.
At the time of writing, the choice of colors is quite arbitrary. U.S. buyers can choose from all three, while the U.K. gets black only, and some other countries, just blue.
Casely Power Pod – Most colorful, lightweight MagSafe power packs
Pros
Lightweight magnetic battery pack
Smallest, lightest magnetic battery pack
7.5W wireless
Best variety of colors
Cons
Battery not quite as powerful as rivals
U.S. only
Price When Reviewed:
From $60
Best Prices Today:
$60 at Casely
Capacity: 19Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (20W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 78%
Weight: 3.2oz (91g)
Dimensions: 3-x-2-x-0.24 inches (7.6-x-5.1-x-0.6cm)
Colors: Multiple colors and patterns
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The Power Pod from phone-case supremo Casely builds on the company’s bright and patterned phone cases range to make this the MagSafe-compatible battery pack the most varied in range.
It is also the lightest and smallest magnetic battery pack, which is a big plus in portability.
The Power Pod might not have charged as some of the other 5000mAh portable magnetic power banks here. The 78% battery boost we got should be enough to keep your phone going until you reach a charging station.
It comes with a separate magnetic adhesive ring that you can attach to a non-magnetic phone and enjoy the benefits of a battery pack.
At present, this product is available in the U.S. only.
OneAdaptr OneGo – Best 10K MagSafe battery pack with Watch and AirPods chargers
Pros
Huge battery capacity
Apple Watch and AirPods chargers
7.5W wireless or 18W wired
Built-in kickstand
Cons
No Apple Watch fast charge
Price When Reviewed:
$89
Best Prices Today:
$89 at OneAdaptr
Capacity: 38.5Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W iPhone, 2W Watch, 5W AirPods) & USB-C (18W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 147%
Weight: Power bank: 7.7oz (219g); Base/Stand: 4.1oz (116g)
Dimensions: Folded: 6.1-x-3.3-x-1.6 inches (15.5-x-8.3-x-4cm); Power bank: 4.7-x-3.1-x-1.1 inches (12-x-7.8-x-2.9cm)
Colors: White or Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
We have tested a lot of great portable MagSafe wireless chargers but this is the smallest iPhone and Apple Watch charger that doubles up as a power bank. The Alogic Lift 4-in-1 MagSafe Power Bank is very similar but lacks the vertical charging stand and AirPods-charging facility. The OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe is a faster-charging but larger alternative. Both are reviewed below.
Yes, it’s a little larger and certainly heavier than most of the wireless power banks reviewed here, but it’s a neat solution if you are away from a power source when either—or both—your Apple devices pings you that terrifying Low Power Mode suggestion.
The Apple Watch charging module flips up from the back of the power bank’s pull-out stand and feels robust enough to survive in-bag travel. It charges at 2W rather than 5W so doesn’t support Apple Watch Fast Charge but it will inject the juice that your Watch requires when you need it—no Move calorie counting or Exercise minutes need be missed.
There is one USB port (the Alogic Lift has two) for input or faster wired iPhone charging (18W).
In our tests, using an iPhone 15 Pro, the power bank wirelessly charged close to 150%. There are 10K battery packs that offer greater charging power: the Baseus Magnetic Power Bank (187%) and Benks MagClap StandGo (160%) both offer better performance but lack the extra USB port, Apple Watch charger and AirPods charging base stand.
Read our full
OneAdaptr OneGo review
Alogic Lift 4-in-1 MagSafe Power Bank – Compact 10K MagSafe battery pack with Watch charger
Pros
Huge battery capacity
2x USB so can charge 4 devices at once
Apple Watch charger
7.5W wireless or 18W wired
Built-in kickstand
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
Best Prices Today:
$99.99 at Alogic
Capacity: 38Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W iPhone and 3W Watch) & USB-C (18W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 148%
Weight: 8oz (228g)
Dimensions: 4.25-x-2.7-x-0.95 inches (10.8-x-6.8-x-2.4cm)
Colors: White
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The Alogic Lift MagSafe and Apple Watch power bank is a little fatter but shorter than the OneAdaptr OneGo, reviewed above. While very similar, it lacks the OneGo’s base with AirPods charging pad but it does boast two USB ports to the OneGo’s single input/output port.
One USB-C port is for input or faster wired iPhone charging (18W); and the USB-A port is there for older charging cables. You could use either port to charge your AirPods or another iPhone. While you can use both at the same time, simultaneous USB charging does drop power pace to just 5W.
The robust-when-folded Apple Watch charging module charges at 3W rather than 5W so doesn’t support Apple Watch Fast Charge but it is a little faster than the 2W OneGo Watch charger.
If you don’t need the AirPods charging pad, the Alogic Lift is as able and expert as the OneGo.
UAG Lucent Wireless Portable Charger with Kickstand – Best small magnetic power bank
Pros
Compact
Built-in kickstand
7.5W wireless
Colors
Cons
Underpowered compared to rivals
Price When Reviewed:
$59.95
Best Prices Today:
$49.95 at Amazon$59.95 at Urban Armor Gear
Capacity: 15.4Wh (4000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 62%
Weight: 4.55oz (129g)
Dimensions: 4.1-x-2.6-x-0.5 inches (10.5-x-6.6-x-1.3cm)
Colors: Black, Deep Ocean, Marshmallow, Orchid
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
Urban Armor Gear’s Lucent Wireless Portable Charger is not the highest capacity battery on test here, but it is dinky and very pocketable.
This UAG portable magnetic charger has a handy built-in kickstand and a choice of colors.
It ships with a 1m USB-C cable, although it’s old-school USB-A on the wall-plug end.
Anker MagGo 622 Magnetic Battery – MagSafe battery pack with stand
Pros
Battery capacity
Built-in stand
7.5W wireless
Colors
Cons
No simultaneous cable charging
Incompatible with iPhone mini
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
Best Prices Today:
$47.50 at Amazon$59.99 at Anker
Capacity: 19.13Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (12W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 80%
Weight: 5.15oz (146g)
Dimensions: 4.1-x-2.6-x-0.5 inches (10.5-x-6.6-x-1.3cm)
Colors: White, Gray, Purple, Green, Blue
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, except mini
The Anker MagGo 622 Magnetic Battery is available in multiple muted colors: white, purple, green, blue and gray.
It works with all MagSafe iPhones, but sits a little over the smaller iPhone mini when magnetically attached.
We love that the Anker 622 comes with its own built-in fold-out stand, which with MagSafe’s pulling power will hold your iPhone securely in either portrait/vertical or landscape/horizontal mode. The Belkin BoostCharge 5K, reviewed above, has a tougher metal pull-out stand, and also offer another 10% of charge on the better-looking Anker 622.
if you want ultra-charging power, consider the Benks MagClap StandGo Power Bank (also reviewed above) with its powerful 10000mAh battery. Other 10K MagSafe power banks include the OneAdaptr OneGo and Alogic Lift, both reviewed below.
The stand folds away so that it can be popped in a pocket to be magnetically clamped to the phone when you need it most.
In our battery tests, the 622 managed to charge a drained iPhone to 80% of full power, which is a decent power-up while you journey to the nearest fixed power socket.
The Anker battery is rated at 19.13Wh (5000mAh) but, like all the other wireless chargers loses a decent chunk of that power to environmental factors.
It ships with a 60cm USB-C cable.
Read our full
Anker MagGo 622 Magnetic Battery review
Moft Snap Stand Power Set – Best wallet/stand magnetic battery pack
Pros
Compact
Detachable kickstand and wallet
7.5W wireless
Colors
Cons
Underpowered compared to rivals
Price When Reviewed:
$79.99
Best Prices Today:
$78.99 at Amazon$79.98 at Moft
Capacity: 13.1Wh (3400mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (10W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 50%
Weight: 4.2oz (120g)
Dimensions: 3.9-x-2.6-x-0.47 inches (9.9-x-6.6-x-1.2cm)
Colors: Black, Blue, Brown, Purple
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The Moft Snap Stand Power Set is a clever combination of magnetic battery pack with a detachable stand that also holds up to three travel or credit cards.
The faux leather stand took me a few goes to work out how it works, but once you’ve mastered it, it’s easy. Previously, I haven’t seen a stand that can hold cards at the same time, so this is smarter than most MagSafe stands.
The supplied USB-C cable also links magnetically to the battery pack, which will charge a connected iPhone first before the power bank itself. While the battery pack offers only a 50% charge, that will likely be enough for most trips away from a fixed power source. If you need more portable battery capacity, look at one of the other MagSafe power banks reviewed here, although none boast the dual wallet/stand function.
It is MagSafe-compatible but curiously boasts a usually only-MagSafe-certified feature, where there’s a visual representation of available charge on the iPhone itself.
Anker MagGo Power Bank (6.6K) – Fast Qi2 magnetic battery pack stand
Pros
15W wireless
Solid built-in stand
Cons
Chunky
Price When Reviewed:
$69.99
Best Prices Today:
$69.99 at Amazon$69.99 at Anker
Capacity: 25.4Wh (6600mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (20W)
Output charger: Wireless (15W) & USB-C (20W)
MagSafe: Qi2
On test charged iPhone to: 92%
Weight: 8.8oz (250g)
Dimensions: 4.3-x-2.4-x-1 inches (10.9-x-6.2-x-2.5cm)
Colors: White, Black, Pink, Blue, Green
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
This power bank features a solid built-in stand that looks like it might also charge an AirPods case but it’s a single-device wireless charger.
Based on the Qi2 standard it can charge at 15W, much faster than the majority MagSafe-compatible power banks reviewed here.
While fast and solidly built, it is quite chunky compared to other sub-10K power banks. It is more a 15W wireless charging stand that can be taken with you as a power bank rather than a battery pack that you keep clamped on your phone as you might with a slim 5K power bank.
Anker MagGo 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger – Best 2-in-1 MagSafe and AirPods charger
Pros
Battery capacity
Includes AirPods charger
7.5W wireless
Colors
Cons
No simultaneous cable charging
Price When Reviewed:
$119.99
Best Prices Today:
$86 at Amazon$119.99 at Anker
Capacity: 19.13Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (25W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 84%
Weight: 4.66oz (132g)
Dimensions: 4.2-x-2.6-x-0.47 inches (10.6-x-6.6-x-1.2cm)
Colors: White, Blue, Gray
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15, except mini
The Anker MacGo 633 Wireless Charger is more than just a MagSafe charger. It’s also an adjustable stand that charges the iPhone when in place, and also keeps the 633 battery charged for when you need to slip it out of its holster for portable use.
And the base of the stand is also Qi-enabled so can wirelessly charge an AirPods case or similarly sized Qi-ready device.
As a portable battery charger that magnetically attaches to the iPhone it is similar to its non-charge-stand sibling, the Anker MagGo 622. And it has the same 19.13Wh (5000mAh) battery that offers a greater charge potential than Apple’s own (now discontinued) MagSafe Battery Pack.
In our tests, it charged an empty iPhone 13 Pro up to 84%, beating the 622’s 80% and Apple’s 60%.
It charges the iPhone at a decent 7.5W and comes with a 25W wall charger and 1.5m USB-C cable.
The Anker MagGo 633 is great value as it offers so many functions: desktop charger, portable power bank, AirPods charger, and adjustable viewing stand, and is doesn’t compromise on any of those roles.
An alternative is the OneAdaptr OneGo, reviewed above, which is also a combo charging stand and magnetic power bank that goes one further with a charger for the Apple Watch, and is a more portable total package.
Read our full
Anker MagGo 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger review
ESR HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Power Bank
Pros
Massive capacity
7.5W wireless or 20W wired
Kickstand
2x USB ports
Cons
Chunky
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
Best Prices Today:
$39.99 at Amazon$59.99 at ESR
Capacity: 37Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), Wired (20W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 149%
Weight: 7.7oz (219g)
Dimensions: 4.1-x-2.7-x-0.79 inches (10.4-x-6.9-x-2cm)
Colors: White, Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The ESR Halolock Kickstand Wireless Power Bank is MagSafe compatible rather than certified, so charges at 7.5W instead of 15W, but its 10000mAh battery capacity is significantly greater.
It also boasts a robust metal kickstand that can be used in both portrait and landscape modes.
Passthrough charging lets you charge your phone and power bank at the same time.
OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe – Best MagSafe battery with iPhone and Watch fast charge
Pros
2-in-1 charging power bank
Massive capacity
15W wireless or 20W wired
Watch fast charging
Cons
Very chunky
Price When Reviewed:
$149.95
Best Prices Today:
$149.95 at OtterBox
Capacity: 37.08Wh (10000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (15W iPhone and 5W Watch) & USB-C (20W)
MagSafe: Certified
On test charged iPhone to: 185%
Weight: 12oz (339g)
Dimensions: 6-x-3.15-x-1.3 inches (15.3-x-8-x-3.4cm)
Colors: White & Silver
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
This is the largest and heaviest MagSafe power bank we’ve tested. It measures 6-x-3.2-x-1.3 inches (15.3-x-8-x-3.4cm), and weighs a hefty (12oz (340g).
It’s certainly not one to slip easily into a pocket, although it can do if you take everything else out!
It’s great, though, if you use it as a standard wireless charging stand for most of the time but need it occasionally to take away and charge your phone on the go, and it will also charge your Apple Watch when it’s laid flat.
For alternatives look to the Alogic Lift and OneAdaptr OneGo, both reviewed above.
Fully Apple certified, it wirelessly charges an iPhone at 15W and fast-charges an Apple Watch. It’s big but it recharges more iPhone than any other battery pack tested here.
iWalk Magnetic Wireless Power Bank – Best budget MagSafe battery with LED display
Pros
Battery capacity
7.5W wireless or 18W wired
LED battery display
Built-in stand
Cons
Magnetic grip not quite as strong
Bulky
Price When Reviewed:
$34.99
Best Prices Today:
$35.99 at Amazon
Capacity: 22.2Wh (6000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), USB-C (18W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 105%
Weight: 5.6oz (158g)
Dimensions: 4.1-x-2.56-x-0.71 inches (10.3-x-6.5-x-1.8cm)
Colors: Black, White, Pink
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The iWalk Magnetic Wireless Power Bank has a couple of features not found on other magnetic battery packs.
The most obvious is the finger ring, which is meant to mean safer holding but we prefer to grip our phone using a whole hand. But it does double-up as a kickstand for the iPhone so you can place it in a horizontal/landscape viewing position–horizontal feels more stable.
Even more useful is the LED battery-charge indicator that shows you exactly how much charge is in the power bank. This is way more helpful than the usual array of four tiny LEDs that most battery packs come with and especially more informative than Apple’s single Orange (not full) or Green (full) LED that lights up only when cable- connected to a power source.
The iWalk power bank also boasts a sizeable battery, with 2.2Wh (6000mAh) capacity. It recharged our test iPhone 13 Pro to 100% and then another 5% above that, so, in reality, a full charge with a little over for expected battery drain if left sitting in your bag for a few days. And it will charge a non-Pro 12, 13, 14 or 15 even further.
As such, it’s heavier and fatter (including the pull-out ring) than most other magnetic power banks tested here.
It can charge while magnetically clamped to the iPhone and also (but not simultaneously) by USB cable at an impressive 18W, although you’ll need a USB-C-to-Lightning cable for wired charging.
it comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable for charging the pack itself, and also a Magsticker to attach to non-MagSafe phones for the same battery-pack functionality.
Baseus Magnetic Power Bank – Wireless and wired charging
Pros
20W wired charging
7.5W wireless or 20W wired
Price When Reviewed:
$49.99
Best Prices Today:
$49.99 at Baseus
Capacity: 23.1Wh (6000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (18W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), Wired (20W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 92%
Weight: 4.9oz (139g)
Dimensions: 3.8-x-2.5-x-0.6 inches (9.7-x-6.4-x-1.5cm)
Colors: White, Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
This 6000mAh magnetic wireless power bank performed well in our tests, recharging a fading iPhone 13 Pro battery by over 90%.
It’s average sized and pretty light, and its greatest feature is the ability to fast-charge the iPhone by 20W when wired, although, of course, the whole point of MagSafe here is wireless charging. So fast-charge when you can with a cable but take it on the road as a standard 7.5W magnetic power bank.
Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus – Highest capacity MagSafe battery power bank
Pros
Massive battery capacity
7.5W charging
Wired ports
Cons
Very bulky
Portable but not attachable
Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
$319
Best Prices Today:
$319 at Chargeasap
Capacity: 92.5Wh (25000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (100W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W)
MagSafe: Compatible
Weight: 20.6oz (584g)
Dimensions: 6.3-x-3.4-x-1.14 inches (15.9-x-8.7-x-2.9cm)
Colors: Silver
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
Too bulky to attach to your iPhone and stay on while the phone is carried about, the Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus is not a proper battery pack like the others we have tested but is still portable and MagSafe compatible.
What it does offer is a massive battery capacity of 92.5Wh (25,000mAh), which should be enough to get you through a weekend festival.
It also can be recharged to go again, incredibly quickly. This power bank has graphene-composite technology inside, and so can be charged at much lower temperatures than lithium-polymer, which means it can also charge significantly faster.
Instead of taking three or four hours to recharge, with its 100W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 inputs, in our tests this got from zero to 100% in 50 minutes, or to 80% in 45 mins.
Boasting five lithium-polymer graphene-composite battery cells that have been designed in partnership with Tesla and Panasonic, the Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus is priced accordingly, which isn’t surprising for gadgets based on the latest technologies. Graphene-composite batteries have a lifespan four times longer than lithium-polymer, rated for 2,000 cycles, which means they could keep going at full-pelt for five years or more.
It can charge a MagSafe iPhone at 7.5W and an Apple Watch at 5W, and has a large array of OLED percentage displays. With an array of outputs, it can charge up to six devices at the same time.
Read our full
Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus review
RapidX Boosta Magnetic Wireless Charger – Colorful options
Pros
Good choice of colors
7.5W wireless or 10W wired
Cons
No simultaneous cable charging
Price When Reviewed:
$49.99
Best Prices Today:
$29.99 at Amazon$49.99 at RapidX
Capacity: 18.5Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (10W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), Wired (10W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 85%
Weight: 1.4oz (140g)
Dimensions: 3.7-x-2.5-x-0.55 inches (9.4-x-6.4-x-1.4cm)
Colors: Red, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, White, Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15, except mini
The RapidX Boosta Magnetic Wireless Charger scores around the same recharge power as other 5,000mAh magnetic battery packs, and is similar in most other respects, too.
Wireless charging speed is 7.5W, or you can connect with a USB-C to Lightning cable (not included) for 10W wired charging. The Boosta comes with a white USB-C cable for charging the power pack itself, and, being USB-C, will work with an iPhone 15.
While you can’t charge a phone simultaneously with a wired and the wireless connections, it does charge the phone and power bank together while plugged to power.
It’s available in seven shades. None exactly matches the iPhone but it’s a better than just black or white.
RapidX also sells a compatible charging stand for the Boosta battery pack, although in black and for the US only. This can charge the battery and the phone at the same time, and also features a side USB-A port that can be used via cable to charge another device. It ships with a 30W USB-C charger and cable.
HyperJuice Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack
Pros
Fast to charge battery pack
7.5W wireless or 12W wired
Cons
Low iPhone recharge score
No simultaneous cable charging
Price When Reviewed:
$49.99
Best Prices Today:
$49.99 at Hyper
Capacity: 18Wh (5000mAh)
Input charger: USB-C (12W)
Output charger: Wireless (7.5W), Wired (12W)
MagSafe: Compatible
On test charged iPhone to: 74%
Weight: 4.8oz (136g)
Dimensions: 3.8-x-2.5-x-0.63 inches (9.7-x-6.3-x-1.6cm)
Colors: Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
The HyperJuice Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack comes from one of our favorite Apple accessory makers, Hyper.
It looks smart and charges up quickly, with a 12W input.
However, it underperformed in our charging tests, scoring just 74%.
Wireless and USB-C connectivity allows you to quick-charge two devices at the same time, but not the same device at a faster speed.
It’s decent value in the US but Hyper’s high shipping charges make it an expensive product internationally.
Newdery Battery Case – Best iPhone battery case
Pros
Protective case
Near 100% battery charge
Cons
Not MagSafe
Bulky
Price When Reviewed:
$29.99
Best Prices Today:
$29.99 at Amazon
Capacity: 17.78Wh (4800mAh)
Input charger: Lightning and Qi (7.5W)
Output charger: Lightning or USB-C for iPhone (5W)
MagSafe: No
Colors: Black
Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 models
A battery case offers both robust protection and the opportunity to recharge a fading iPhone battery on the go. We loved the old Apple Smart Battery Case for iPhone but there isn’t a version for any iPhone after version 11, with Apple going down the MagSafe-only route—although Apple has now discontinued even its Smart Battery Case (see review above).
The Newdery Battery Case offers full protection and nearly a full battery recharge, and this dual function makes it a cheaper alternative to a MagSafe case and MagSafe battery pack. However, some may find the bulky design too chunky, although the case itself weighs just 134g.
The 5000mAh Newdery Battery Cases scored around 95% in our tests, with the 10K battery cases reaching an amazing 168%.
Those test results are from the iPhone 15 Pro models, but Newdery has battery cases for all the recent iPhones. Newdery iPhone Battery Cases on Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA.
It charges like an iPhone via a Lightning or USB-C cable (not included), but it is also wireless compatible so can be charged itself on most Qi charging pads.
If you desire protection as well as longer battery life, the Newdery Battery Case offers both in an affordable package.
Read our full
Newdery Battery Case for iPhone 15 and 15 Pro review
How we tested
MagSafe charger testing was conducted using an iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, subscribed to a 5G network and WiFi, with screen off and all default settings.
Our test is a simple battery recharge shootout. We let our test-unit iPhone Pro (3,095mAh battery capacity) drain to just 10% and then set the Battery Pack to work recharging the phone.
We then assigned the charger a score of whatever percentage it managed to charge the iPhone to and subtract the 10%; we test each model at least twice.
It’s not a real-world test of day-to-day use where you’ll likely be using your phone for various tasks (of varying battery usage) and in different environmental conditions and network configurations.
But it does give us a common score format that we can use to compare different battery-pack models.
Why comparing Watt Hours are better than Milliamp Hours
Phone batteries are generally rated in Milliamp Hours (mAh) but this is a measure of electrical charge, while a Watt Hour is equal to one watt of energy consumed for one hour of time.
When comparing battery capacities and how much a power pack will boost a phone’s internal battery, energy is more important than electrical charge.
And mAh ignores a battery voltage, which determines the wattage (power) of a battery.
If the mAh is the same, the higher the voltage, the greater the actual stored power.
For example, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack is rated at just 1,460mAh but it has a higher voltage potential (7.62V) than the iPhone (3.81V) or other battery packs, meaning that it can provide more power to an iPhone than its mAh suggests; in fact, it is actually 2,920mAh.
To go into further depth about this read our feature iPhone battery capacities compared that also lists all iPhones battery life in mAh and Wh.
Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Phone Chargers, Power
]]>A new report claims that Apple has developed a new finish for the titanium frame of the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the brushed look of the iPhone 15 Pro replaced by “a more polished material.”
The switch from stainless steel to titanium frame in the iPhone 15 Pro brought three benefits, but not everyone is a fan of the rather dull-looking finish, and that’s something Apple may have addressed …
more…
]]>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 …
more…
]]>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.
Microsoft Visio (4.9-star rated by verified buyers!) can help you simplify technical, complex data sets with a series of premade templates, starter diagrams, stencils, and more than 250,000 shapes to help visualize information. Whether you need to make a flowchart, org chart, floor plan, or something else, Visio makes it easy to create intuitive visuals.
Business leaders and managers can also problem-solve with Visio’s brainstorming visualization. You can produce helpful solutions by creating fishbone diagrams, SWOT analyses, and more.
You can also automatically generate charts from sources like Excel, Exchange, or Microsoft Entra ID. Visio even allows users with touch-enabled devices to draw diagrams with their fingers or styluses.
Streamline your diagramming needs with lifetime access to Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 for Windows, now just $24.97 through April 2 at 11:59 PM Pacific. No coupon required!
Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 for Windows
Only $24.97 at Macworld
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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.
Developed by more than 100 expert linguists, Babbel is designed to offer users a more intuitive language learning experience. Just choose from one of Babbel’s 14 different languages to begin.
You’ll learn practical vocabulary through bite-sized classes (just 10-15 minutes long!) that fit into your daily schedule. Babbel focuses on developing students’ conversational skills, and you can learn how to order food, hail cabs, and more.
Babbel also offers speech recognition technology to ensure students’ pronunciation is accurate and personalized review sessions so that what you learn really sticks with you. There’s even an offline mode, allowing you to download Babbel’s lessons to your device before traveling so you can learn anywhere.
Find out why Fast Company called Babbel one of its “most innovative companies in education.”
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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.
more…
]]>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.
more…
]]>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.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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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.
more…
]]>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!
more…
]]>(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!
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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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.
Sponsored by FastMinder: Simple, easy to use fasting tracker for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Get started today for free.
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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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Sponsored by Fast Growing Trees: Fast Growing Trees makes it easy to order online, and your plants are shipped directly to your door in 1-2 days. Get an additional 15% off with code HAPPYHOUR at checkout.
more…
]]>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.
more…
]]>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.
more…
]]>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.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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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.
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
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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 …
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]]>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)
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