Chinese smartphone market grows 6.5% in Q1; Apple iPhone declines 6.6%
China smartphone shipments grew 6.5% year over year (YoY) to 69.3 million units in 1Q24. Although the growth was supported by a low… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

What new features to expect in Apple Pencil 3
Get ready for Apple Pencil 3: new features like a squeeze gesture and Find My support make it a game changer for artists and note takers. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Spotify: Apple has ‘defied’ the EU by blocking latest update with pricing info
Yesterday we learned that Spotify decided to pass on Apple’s new EU terms that would allow it to use alternative payment methods due to the Core Technology Fee. Instead, it submitted an app update with pricing info and details on how to subscribe outside of the App Store without giving users a link. Now Spotify says Apple has unjustly blocked the update and again “defied the European Commission”. more…

Read more »

Blowout deals: grab a 24-inch iMac for $799 while supplies last
Apple resellers are clearing out iMac inventory this week, with staggering discounts on the M1 24-inch iMac that knock up to $700 off.Kicking off the sale, Amazon-owned Woot has the standard model with a 7-core GPU, 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD marked down to $799.99 in new condition. This blowout special is available with an English or Spanish keyboard, depending on the selected colorway. According to Woot, these models come with Apple's 1-year limited warranty and are eligible for AppleCare.M1 7-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $799.99 ($500 off) at Amazon-owned Woot Continue Reading on AppleInsider

Read more »

I switched from an iPhone 14 Pro to an iPhone 15 and haven’t looked back
Macworld I don’t need to have a new iPhone every year, just the procedure of changing over with various authentications is sometimes a bit annoying. What’s more, the iPhone has matured to such an extent that there are only evolutionary changes from year to year, rarely an innovation that really knocks my socks off. A new device every three to four years, possibly a replacement battery in between—that’s quite enough. After three to four years, a new iPhone really does feel revolutionary compared to the old one. But now I’m in the situation of having to change every year for professional reasons. Because even if the innovations from generation to generation are rather sparse, iI need to be familiar with each annual upgrade to make sure I give our valued readers the best possible information. But which model is best for me? Deciding on a downgrade In recent years, I have had a red iPhone 11, a green iPhone 12, a lilac-coloured iPhone 13 and a gold iPhone 14 Pro in constant use. I didn’t buy any of them myself, most of them were test models from Apple that we returned after a year, well-looked-after and undamaged. But what does a spoiled iPhone user buy when they’ve been using the iPhone 14 Pro for a whole year? Your mileage may vary, but I opted for an iPhone 15, without the “Pro.” All iPhone 15s come with USB-C instead of Lightning. All iPhone 15s come with USB-C instead of Lightning.Apple All iPhone 15s come with USB-C instead of Lightning.Apple Apple Why is that? Sure, the price plays a role. Would the features of the iPhone 15 Pro justify the extra cost? Six months after making the switch, I have an answer. Current best price: iPhone 15 Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The camera: Just as good, minus the zoom Most people now make their purchase decision based on the smartphone’s camera, so most smartphone tests are actually camera tests. I had always used the normal model with its wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lens until I got a telephoto lens with the iPhone 14 Pro. It made a difference compared to the previous iPhone 13, no question about it. On holiday, I was able to leave the other cameras at home for the first time (one a compact digital camera with 6x zoom, one a system camera with 3x zoom), especially as the iPhone simply takes better pictures. Okay, I like the computational processing of the real images better on the iPhone, but I can’t really judge whether the images are really better. 48 megapixels for full resolution – better for zooming 48 megapixels for full resolution – better for zoomingApple 48 megapixels for full resolution – better for zoomingApple Apple At the end of 2023, Apple also gave the standard iPhone a 2x zoom. The trick is that the scene photographed with the 48-megapixel sensor just uses the center 12 megapixels, which is a sort of crop-zoom. As a result, the 2x magnification works like an optical zoom without the resolution suffering and the photo becoming grainy. And even at 3x zoom, though digitally enlarged, was not a problem. When the Alps seem to start just behind Munich on a clear day, you can’t capture this adequately on a picture with a triple zoom, whereas the digital zoom shows the Zugspitze large, but quite blurred. The change has not taken away my enjoyment of the iPhone in terms of the camera, the 5x zoom (optical) of the iPhone 15 Pro Max would have been a good reason for a bigger investment, but the Pro Max is too large for me. Let’s see if the rumors are true and the iPhone 16 Pro also gets a 5x or even 6x zoom in a size that I can tolerate. Will I have to pass on the 15 after just one year in the family? My son with his iPhone 11 might be interested. The processor: I don’t notice any difference What will soon apply to the Mac chips of the M series has been the rule for the A-Bionics of the iPhones for a few years now: the improvements from year to year are measurable but incremental, but every few years a new chip causes a sensation thanks to the further shrinking of the manufacturing process. In 2023, this happened with the A17 Pro, the first chip manufactured using the 3 nm process. But that’s no reason for me to buy the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro, because I don’t really need hardware ray tracing; I’m a casual gamer at best, and then preferably chess. The best iPhone chip to date will no longer be good enough for some tasks in 2024. The best iPhone chip to date will no longer be good enough for some tasks in 2024.Apple The best iPhone chip to date will no longer be good enough for some tasks in 2024.Apple Apple So my switch from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 15 meant sticking with the same chip, the A16 Bionic with its 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neutral Engine: a wonderful piece of technology that is still way ahead of the pack and is completely sufficient for my everyday use. Things will probably not be much different with the next major leap, but if Apple uses more AI in iOS 18, its functions may not run on all older iPhones. You may get all the latest AI features with the A18 Pro, so even an iPhone 15 Pro wouldn’t help me much here. And I would hardly have noticed its better performance compared to the iPhone 15. So I don’t miss anything when it comes to the chip. Current best price: iPhone 15 Pro Retailer Price $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Color and shape: A matter of taste You can take the view that an iPhone is only an iPhone if the casing is black. I respect that, but I don’t follow it. My second iPhone, a 4S, was white. Then I favored gold, then red, light green, lilac, white gold and now: light blue. Sure, the titanium colors of the iPhone 15 Pro are very chic, let’s see what Apple comes up with for the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 15’s colors are a little pale, especially compared to the previous generations, but that doesn’t bother me. Green, yellow and even blue are rather white with a hint of the main color, only the black and the pink are a little bolder. To be honest, the iPhone 14 Pro in gold was rather unfortunate in terms of color. The gold was very pale, the back more milky-white than anything else. In real life, the colours are much paler than in Apple’s promotional image. In real life, the colours are much paler than in Apple’s promotional image.Apple In real life, the colours are much paler than in Apple’s promotional image.Apple Apple I would have been reluctant to say goodbye to the damn chic Deep Purple colour or the Sierra Blue of the iPhone 13 Pro, but I don’t miss anything. On the contrary: I like the colour so much that I don’t want to hide it and have bought a transparent case. But after six months, it’s already clearly yellowed. I’ve taken out Apple Care+, so maybe I should use the iPhone without the case? It feels really comfortable in my hand, far better than the iPhone 14 Pro without a case. Display: The main reason to go Pro Apple passes on some innovations from the Pro models to the regular iPhones in the next generation, such as the sensor shift image stabilisation, which was initially only built into the iPhone 12 Pro Max and a year later into all iPhones 13. Other features are reserved for the Pros for longer, or end up not being included in the second division at all. (Or should we rather talk about Champions League and Europa League? The regular iPhones are far better than second division!) So far, this includes ProMotion, the adaptive screen refresh rate that Apple has been including with the iPad Pro for years and has only been using with iPhone since the iPhone 14 Pro. Critics of the iPhone have complained that there is still no 120Hz display for the no-Pro models, but that is only one end of the spectrum. A higher refresh rate leads to a better experience in many games, which, as mentioned above, is not so important to me. And I don’t notice that it’s smoother to scroll through websites, for example. With a refresh rate of 1 Hz, the iPhone keeps you informed about current events even when locked, which used to be better anyway. With a refresh rate of 1 Hz, the iPhone keeps you informed about current events even when locked, which used to be better anyway.Zaawely Graphics / shutterstock.com With a refresh rate of 1 Hz, the iPhone keeps you informed about current events even when locked, which used to be better anyway.Zaawely Graphics / shutterstock.com Zaawely Graphics / shutterstock.com At the other end of the spectrum, however, there is something I miss about the iPhone 15, possibly the only feature of the iPhone 14 Pro: the always-on display, which uses a refresh rate of 1 Hz. This was a little unusual at the time and nothing new for Android users, and not every Apple user approved of the feature. However, I liked it and I wish Apple had at least passed this function from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 15. But that will happen at some point, and my iPhone 15 is certainly not my last iPhone. This article originally appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Jason Cross. iPhone

Read more »

Mac Virus Scan: How to protect your Mac from malware
Macworld You may have been led to believe that you don’t have to worry about computer viruses on your Mac. And, to some extent, there’s truth to that. While your Mac can definitely be infected with malware, Apple’s built-in malware detection and file quarantine capabilities should make it less likely that you’ll download and run malicious software. Apple introduced malware detection to the macOS back in 2009 with Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6). This system consists of the quarantine of any app downloaded from the Internet, the use of Code Signing certificates to verify that an app is coming from a legitimate source, and regular security updates that include databases of known malware targeting the macOS. If you want some tips to help you keep your Mac secure from any potential malware read: How to protect your Mac from malware. We also discuss How secure is a Mac and what to do if you think your Mac has a virus separately. Here we will discuss how you can check your Mac for viruses and how to run a Mac virus scan. Read on to find out more. How Apple scans your Mac for viruses and malware Apple includes antivirus software in macOS that monitors your Mac for malware, blocks malware and removes it if necessary. There are three elements to this: XProtect, Gatekeeper and Notarization. PROMOTIONAntivirus Deal: Intego Mac Premium Bundle Get Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 with antivirus, firewall, backup and system performance tools for just $29.99 (down from $84.99) for the first year. Intego is Macworld’s #1 choice of antivirus for Macs. Get Deal 1. Apps are checked before they can be installed Foundry Apple makes it hard to install an app that might not be safe on a Mac. Mac users can choose to only install apps from the Mac App Store, which is the safest option as it means that the app has been thoroughly checked by Apple before being distributed. Alternatively, there is an option to install apps from the App Store and identified developers. An identified developer is one whose software has been scanned by Apple to ensure it is safe. As long as the app has passed Apple’s tests it will have a Notarization ticket, which Gatekeeper looks for before telling macOS that it is safe to open. If you only install apps from the Mac App Store, or notarised apps from identified developers, you should be safe, but sticking to the Mac App Store is the safest option as apps on the Mac App Store can’t be tampered with. If you want to make sure your Mac can only install apps from the Mac App Store these are the steps to follow: On Ventura or later: Open System Settings. Click on Privacy & Security. Scroll down to Security and select App Store below Allow applications downloaded from. On Monterey or earlier: Open System Preferences. Click on Security & Privacy. Click on General. Under Allow applications downloaded from select App Store. If you prefer to allow installations from outside the Mac App Store follow the same steps but choose App Store and identified developers from the options. If you choose to allow installations from identified developers then Apple will look for evidence that the app is notarized and it will also verify that the app hasn’t been tampered with and no malware is present. Unfortunately in the past there have been apps that slipped through this process because a certificate was present, such as the case of the Shlayer malware, but Apple has ramped up security since and changes to notarized apps are pushed out as required. If Gatekeeper detects that the app has no notarization to prove the developer is certified by Apple, a message saying the app can’t be opened because of your settings will be displayed. If you know that the software is from a legitimate developer you can override this and open the app. See: How to open a Mac app from an unidentified developer. However, you should be aware that even legitimate software has been known to conceal malware. 2. App Management stops unauthorized apps from making modifications Foundry App Management is a privacy setting that arrived in macOS Ventura. It is intended to prevent malicious software modifications by watching for attempts by software to modify other apps. If this happens, App Management blocks the modification and alerts the user, who can allow it if applicable. This means that apps can only be updated by the developer of that app. A modification from anyone else will be blocked. In System Settings there is an option in Privacy & Security for App Management. Users see details of any activity that has been blocked here and can allow the applications to update or delete other applications if they feel that it isn’t malicious behavior. 3. XProtect blocks malware from running Even if the developer is recognized by Apple, the software will still be checked against a list of known malware in XProtect. XProtect will scan an app the first time it launches and it will scan the app every time there is an update issued for it. Updates to XProtect are pushed out frequently and macOS automatically checks for updates daily–a Mac user doesn’t even need to do anything as these updates are separate to macOS updates. This means that even the newest malware should be identified by XProtect, although Apple isn’t always as fast at getting this information updated as other antivirus solutions are. See our round-up of the Best Antivirus for Mac, which features Intego as our number one choice. If malware is identified the app will be blocked and a message will appear giving the option to delete the software. To take full advantage of XProtect you need to be running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later, but we would advise that, because Apple only supports the last three versions of macOS, you will be safest if you are running macOS Monterey, Ventura or Sonoma. You should make sure your Mac is set to receive these updates automatically by following these steps: In Ventura or later: Open System Settings. Go to General > Software Update. Click on the i beside Automatic updates and check that Install Security Responses and System Files is selected. In Monterey or older: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update. Click on Advanced. Make sure the box beside Install system data files and security updates is selected. 4. Malware is removed by XProtect Remediator Foundry When malware is identified on a Mac the user sees an alert suggesting that the affected app has been moved to the trash. The user is also asked to alert others to the malware, which they can do automatically. This doesn’t mean it is entirely down to the user to delete the app and remove the malware though. The removal used to involve a separate Malware Removal Tool (MRT) found in /Library/System, but it wasn’t an app users could run. However, since macOS Monterey MRT was replaced by an XProtect Remediator that scans for and removes malware. XProtect Remediator will scan your Mac at least once a day or more, and is updated much more frequently than MRT was–since MRT is no longer updated it is a good reason to make sure you are running macOS Catalina or later. XProtect Remediator will attempt to remedy or remove malware. 5. The developer loses certificate and app loses notarization If an app had been notorized by Apple but malware is identified that developer will lose the certificate that allows them to distribute apps and the app will lose its notarization. This change to the notarization is then pushed to other Mac users so that Gatekeeper knows not to allow that app to be opened. macOS checks for XProtect updates daily, but Notarization updates are issued even more frequently, so if malware is detected, or an app loses its Notarization, Mac users should quickly be protected. 6. Is Apple’s protection enough? Foundry If Mac users rely solely on XProtect and Apple’s other protections there are limitations in comparison to other anti-malware solutions, which are updated more regularly and have teams of specialists working on identifying malware. The protection offered by XProtect is also more basic than that of third-party anti-malware apps that can also protect you from phishing, social networking scams, and they can protect your Windows using friends. We make various recommendations in our test of the top Mac antivirus apps. XProtect is updated more frequently than it was–which was one of the main criticisms–but other malware apps check for malware constantly. XProtect only checks for malware when an app is downloaded for the first time, if the app is updated and if the status of the developer signature or app notarization changes. Apple’s protections should keep your Mac free from most malicious software, but they do not make it impossible for malicious software to be installed on your Mac. If new malware is released today and you download and run it today you will have done so before Apple’s databases could have been updated. So it’s always best to be wise when downloading software from unknown sources. As we argue in a separate article: Macs do need antivirus software despite Apple’s protections in macOS. How to run a Mac virus scan macOS will automatically scan your Mac for any malware definitions that features in XProtect, you can’t force it to do this. If you wish to enhance the protection to include other kinds of malware and scan for Windows viruses so there is no danger of passing them on, then you would be wise to install a third-party anti-malware app. There are lots of third-party apps that can to scan your Mac for viruses, including some free options and many that offer a free trial period. Before you can scan your Mac for viruses you may need to visit the Privacy & Security in System Settings or Security & Privacy in System Preferences to allow access. For example, in the case of Avira we had to click on Allow to let it scan our system. You will also need to allow Full Disk Access, which can also be done in Privacy & Security. Initiating a virus scan is an easy process that usually begins with the user clicking a Scan or Smart Scan button. Expect the scan to take a while if there is a lot of data on your Mac. These are the steps we went through to run a scan with Avira Free Security for Mac: Foundry Foundry Foundry Download Avira Avira Free Security for Mac here. Find the installer in your Downloads folder. Click on it. The installer window will open. Double-click on the Avira Security Installer. Click on Open. The installer will open. Click Accept & Install. Wait while it installs. Press Command and Spacebar and start typing Avira to find and open Avira Free Security. You need to allow the software to scan your Mac (this is the case with all antivirus apps), so click Open Full Disk Access. A System Settings window will open in Full Disk Access. You need to make sure that the slider beside both Avira Scan Service and Avira Security Helper is on. Enter your password to allow this. Now you can run a scan for viruses. Click on the Start Smart Scan button and wait. You can then choose to ‘Fix issues’ and the Scan will remove some cookies and free up some gigabytes of space without you needing to pay anything. When we ran Avira it didn’t find any viruses, but it did find 487 tracking cookies and indicated that we could free up 2.13 GB of space. If you do encounter any viruses there is a free 60-day trial, so you could take advantage of the trial and then cancel it before the 60 days are up and the subscription period starts. Foundry Foundry Foundry Best free Mac Antivirus Here is our pick of the best free Antivirus options if you don’t want to pay to scan your Mac for viruses. Avast Free Antivirus AVG Antivirus for the Mac. Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac. Avira Free Security for Mac Intego VirusBarrier Scanner Best apps to check a Mac for viruses The best antivirus protection is paid for though. We have lots of options in our round up of the best antivirus solutions for Mac, here are few: 1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, then $84.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link Best Prices Today: $39.99 at Intego (first year) Read our full Intego Mac Internet Security X9 review 2. AVG AntiVirus for Mac Price When Reviewed: Free download Best Prices Today: $0 at AVG Read our full AVG AntiVirus for Mac review 3. McAfee Total Protection Price When Reviewed: From $39.99 for first year, then $119.99 a year (5 devices) Best Prices Today: $39.99 at McAfee Total Protection Read our full McAfee Total Protection review 4. Sophos Home Premium for Mac Price When Reviewed: $45 for the first year Best Prices Today: $44.99 at Sophos Read our full Sophos Home Premium for Mac review Antivirus, Security Software and Services

Read more »

WhatsApp for iPhone gains passkey support
WhatsApp is adding passkey support to its iPhone app, seven months after the feature rolled out on Android. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Best VPN apps for Apple TV
Setting up a VPN on your Apple TV 4K allows you to avoid geographic region restrictions and access services not normally available to you. With tvOS 17, VPN apps can now be installed on the Apple TV directly. VPN apps available now for Apple TV include NordVPN, PureVPN, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and more. Here’s all the best VPN apps for Apple TV available now … more…

Read more »

Apple needs to become a software company again
Macworld I have an admission: Though I frequently review new Apple products, I don’t always buy them. Like many of you, I can’t afford to update every bit of Apple hardware every time the company revises one of its products. So I have to carefully measure when my stuff has now become too old and needs to be replaced with the shiny and new. Of course, Apple would love us all to buy new stuff all the time. But the company has to earn its sales the hard way. I might buy a new iPhone because of an upgraded camera or a new MacBook Air because of a new design and a faster processor. I might bypass the latest Apple Watch because the new features just don’t matter to me. As the heat from the iPhone’s huge acceleration of growth begins to cool down and iPad and Mac sales drop from their pandemic-driven heights, Apple is looking for reasons to sell new hardware. And now, it may have found a big one in a somewhat unexpected place: AI. AI models eat RAM Artificial Intelligence algorithms are software, of course. Theoretically, all current Apple hardware should be able to run AI stuff. Apple’s been building Neural Engines into its chips for years, for example. And yet the rumored addition of major AI features to Apple’s platforms starting this fall may fuel a new wave of upgrades. This is because when we discuss AI these days, we’re largely discussing Large Language Models (LLMs), things like OpenAI’s Chat GPT and Google’s Gemini. Apple is reportedly building its own LLM, intending it to run natively on Apple devices rather than being outsourced to the cloud. This could increase speed dramatically, as well as enhance privacy. But here’s the thing: LLMs really need memory. Google has barred Gemini Nano, a model likely quite similar to what Apple is planning for the iPhone, from all but the largest Google Pixel phone, seemingly because of memory limitations. The most RAM ever in an iPhone is the 8GB of memory in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. While iOS has proven generally to be better at managing memory usage than Android, that’s still a relatively small amount of RAM, and would seem to be the bare minimum capable of running an on-device LLM of the kind Apple and Google are working on. Given that Apple reportedly will unveil its AI efforts at WWDC in June, it can’t really show off iPhone features that don’t work on any current models. But it’s not unreasonable to assume that many of the iOS AI features might be limited to iPhone 15 Pro models–because they’re the only ones with 8GB of memory. (A new line of iPhones in the fall would presumably all ship with sufficient memory.) Neural Engines have been part of Apple silicon for a while, but is it enough to address the needs of generastive AI? Neural Engines have been part of Apple silicon for a while, but is it enough to address the needs of generastive AI?Apple Neural Engines have been part of Apple silicon for a while, but is it enough to address the needs of generastive AI?Apple Apple And just like that, Apple’s AI announcements may provide a huge set of features to motivate prospective buyers. Want to use Apple’s most awesome new AI features? Unless you’ve just bought the highest-end iPhone, you’ll need to upgrade. One step beyond On the Mac, things will probably be a little easier. Macs are beefier than iPhones, and it’s likely that most Apple silicon Macs will do well with an Apple-built LLM, though even there it may be the case that M1 Macs will lag a bit behind the M2 and M3 versions. Still, I’m starting to think that the most compelling reason that someone who owns an Apple silicon-based Mac might have to upgrade will be the slow processing of AI models, which can demand lots of memory and many GPU cores. I’m a big fan of M1 Macs, including the low-cost M1 MacBook Air, but Apple’s next-generation AI features may make the M1 feel old. Then there’s the Apple Watch. Its hardware just got upgraded to support on-device Siri for the first time, which suggests that it might be a while before it’s got enough oomph to support an on-device LLM. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I would upgrade my Apple Watch in a heartbeat if I could get access to a better, more responsive voice assistant. Apple sold a ton of M1 Macs, but it’s possible that it may not be powerful enough (or at least won’t have enough memory) to handle on-device AI processing. Apple sold a ton of M1 Macs, but it’s possible that it may not be powerful enough (or at least won’t have enough memory) to handle on-device AI processing.Quelle: Apple Apple sold a ton of M1 Macs, but it’s possible that it may not be powerful enough (or at least won’t have enough memory) to handle on-device AI processing.Quelle: Apple Quelle: Apple Of course, it’s still incumbent on Apple to ship AI features that people want. One of Apple’s most steadfast traits through the years is the company’s ability to take cutting-edge technology and build it into features that users actually value. Shipping an LLM and other AI features will not be a cure-all–they need to be built into functionality that people will want to actually use. But if Apple can manage to infuse AI into its operating systems in ways that make them more appealing, and by happy coincidence, it requires faster processors and more memory, that’s going to motivate a round of hardware upgrades. And that’s good for Apple, because while OS updates are free, new iPhones absolutely are not. I’m not thrilled about the idea of replacing my Apple hardware, but I’d rather do it because I’m motivated by an awesome AI-based feature than because I’m tired of the color of my laptop or the shape of my iPhone. Apple Inc

Read more »

Apple announces May 7 special event, hints at possible next-gen Apple Pencil
There may be some cool stuff en route for Apple’s special event on May 7, which was announced on Tuesday. The company may have also dropped some interesting hints into the invitation, including a pencil icon that could indicate a next-gen Apple Pencil within the works. In a post on X, Apple CEO Cook shared […] Source

Read more »

Congo demands that Apple prove iPhone doesn't use conflict materials
The Democratic Republic of Congo has told Apple it believes the iPhone maker's supply chain is using materials linked to militia groups.Apple has been asked to verify that it doesn't use "conflict minerals" in the iPhoneApple and at least most Big Tech manufacturers have long been accused of sourcing tin, tungsten, and tantalum — the 3T materials — from regions where that means funding violent groups. In 2020, Apple revealed that it had stopped using 18 smelters and refiners for flouting the rules over these conflict materials.Then in 2022, it ceased working with a further 12 suppliers over the issue. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Congo accuses Apple of using illegal conflict minerals in its supply chain
The Democratic Republic of Congo is accusing Apple of using illegally exploited minerals sourced in the eastern regions, involving violence, child labor and other human rights violations. This allegation disagrees with Apple’s published Conflict Minerals Report, that states it found no connection between its smelters and refiner partners, and the armed groups of the DRC, as of December 31, 2023. more…

Read more »

Apple begins selling refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 units
If you’re hoping to save some money on an Apple Watch Series 9, you’re going to like this. Apple on Wednesday began selling certified refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 models in the U.S. for the first time since the device was released in September. The refurbished units are discounted by approximately 15 percent compared to […] Source

Read more »

AdGuard is the data privacy tool every home needs. Now, it’s only $25.
Macworld Whether you’re streaming or browsing online, we can all agree that ads pose a serious annoyance to any digital experience. Fortunately, you can rid your browser of ads, protect yourself and your devices from malware, and more with AdGuard. AdGuard is a comprehensive security solution offering data privacy tools for life. Now, the Family Plan is less than $25 through April 30. Compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, AdGuard provides users with impressive ad-blocking support. It can eliminate ads of all types to guarantee you have a more enjoyable browsing experience. AdGuard additionally shields your device (up to 9 devices with the Family Plan!) from dangerous malware and phishing sites. AdGuard goes even further, stopping invasive trackers and activity analyzers from harvesting your personal data. By preventing your data from being exploited by advertisers, data miners, and other potentially malicious entities, users can have a more secure digital world. This ad blocker is also a beneficial resource for parents, offering easy-to-use parental controls to protect their children from inappropriate or restricted content. Secure your digital experience and banish ads with lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan, now just $24.97 until April 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific.   AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription Only $24.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Read more »

How to copy and paste on a MacBook or Mac
Macworld If you need to move text, an image or another object from one part of a document to another, or from one app to another, you need to use copy (or cut) and paste. On a Mac or MacBook, the keyboard shortcuts for this are different from other devices, so if you are coming from Windows you might be confused. We’ll explain the simple steps you need to take to cut, copy and paste on a Mac. Our tips will show you how to copy and paste on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini or any other Mac. We’ll also cover how to copy and paste using the keyboard on a Mac and copy and paste using a Mac mouse or a trackpad, how to paste without formatting, how to copy multiple items on Mac, and how to copy and paste between Macs and iPhones. The main difference between Windows and Macs is the key you need to press – on a Mac this is the Command key. Command has a ⌘ symbol on it and is located next to the space bar. Read: Where is the Command key? You may also require the Option key, which on some Mac keyboards is marked as the Alt key. Another issue may be if you are using a PC keyboard with your Mac, in which case you won’t have a Command key. In that case the Windows key tends to act as the Command key. SImilarly the Alt key on a Windows keyboards is the Option key if you use it with a Mac. To save yourself the confusion, take a look at our round up of the best Mac keyboards. At a glance These are the basic keyboard combinations you need to copy and paste on a MacBook (or Mac): Copy: Command + C Cut: Command + X Paste: Command + V How to copy on a MacBook or Mac Want to copy something on a Mac? Here’s what to do: Highlight the text/object you want to copy: If it’s a word double-click on it, if it’s a sentence or a paragraph click at the beginning and drag your cursor to the end of the section, or click at the top of a section, press shift, and then click at the bottom of the section. Copy the selection by pressing Command + C, or Cut with Command + X. Both save the selected text/object to the pasteboard, but Copy leaves it in place while Cut removes it. How to paste on a Mac or MacBook The process is similar if you want to know “how do I paste on a Mac”. As above, you need to first select the text or object you want to copy or cut.  Then press Command + C to copy, or Command + X to cut. Put the cursor where you want to place the text/object, and paste by pressing Command + V. Note that the target can be in a different document or even an entirely different application. Or even on a different device, for that matter – we’ll explain how you can copy and paste from your Mac to your iPhone or vice versa below. How to paste without formatting We find there is nothing more frustrating than copying and pasting from one document to another, or from one application to another, only to find that it also copies over the formatting (such as the font and text size). This is annoying if you have different formatting in the document you are working on and it makes things look mismatched.  To avoid this, you can use a command that makes sure the pasted text follows the formatting of the paragraph or document it’s joining, rather than the one it just left behind. In that case, you need to follow these steps: Select the text or object you want to copy or cut by pressing Command + C to copy, or Command + X to cut. Put the cursor where you want to place the text/object, and Paste by pressing Command + Option/Alt + Shift + V. It’s quite a key combo, but if you can manage it you will get text pasted in the format of your destination document or application. This keyboard shortcut works in Apple Pages, but it can vary between apps, so if Command + Option/Alt + Shift + V doesn’t work try Command + Shift + V. If you are using Microsoft Word you need to click on Paste in the menu and choose Keep Text Only. You can set this as the default paste if you want. Cut and paste with your mouse Most people use the Command shortcuts listed above, but there are alternatives. You could just use your mouse: Select the text you want to copy (either by double-clicking on a word, or clicking and dragging to select more). Right-click on the selection. Select Cut or Copy. Right-click where you want to paste the text and choose Paste. Unsure how to right-click? Read: How to right-click on a Mac. Cut and paste via the menus Alternatively, you can use the menus (app dependent): Select the text you want to copy. In the menu choose Edit. Select Cut or Copy. Right-click where you want to paste the text and choose Paste from the menu. In Pages there is an option to paste and match style which could be helpful if you want to lose any formatting. Other apps are likely to have a similar option. How to copy multiple items on Mac If you are coming to Mac from Windows you may be wondering if you can copy multiple items to your Clipboard on your Mac so that you can choose what you want to paste. Unfortunately, the Mac doesn’t offer this feature (although we’d love to see it!) On a PC you can copy up to 24 items from Office documents to the Office Clipboard and paste them into a document, choosing what you want to paste from the task pane.  Best clipboard managers for Mac There are some clipboard managers available for Mac including: Jérémy Marchand’s Clipboard Center ($6.99), Apprywhere’s Copy’em Paste ($14.99), FIPLAB’s CopyClip ($7.99/£7.59), maxbor’s CopyLess ($5), Plum Amazing’s CopyPaste ($30/£23.70) and Stairways Software’s $36 macro utility Keyboard Maestro. Clipboard histories are available in Butler ($20), LaunchBar ($35), and Quicksilver (with the optional, free Clipboard Plugin). We think that Alfred is a good option. Alfred is an award-winning productivity app, but among other features it offers a Clipboard History as part of the optional £34 Powerpack. With this tool everything you copy will be available in your searchable history. You can even save popular text snippets for easy access. You can choose for Alfred to remember your Clipbpard History for 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months. We run through the best clipboard managers for Mac in a separate article. Where is the Clipboard on a Mac? You will only be able to see the last thing you copied, but you can see the Clipboard on a Mac, here’s what you need to do: Open the Finder. Click on Edit in the menu. Choose Show Clipboard. Unfortunately, it won’t keep a record of everything you have copied. How to copy and paste between iPhone, iPad & Mac One more advanced tip before we leave this mostly simple topic behind. Since the launch of Universal Clipboard in macOS Sierra in 2016 it’s been possible to copy on your Mac and then Paste on to your iPhone, or vice versa. It is also possible to share a mouse and keyboard between multiple Macs and iPads. As long as the feature is enabled on your devices it’s exactly as simple as it sounds, here’s what you need to do:  Highlight the object on your iPhone and tap Copy. Now open a document on your Mac and hit Command + V. There might be delay of 3-5 seconds for text or 10 or more seconds for an image but soon enough the copied item will appear. But how do you make sure Universal Clipboard is available on your Mac, iPhone and iPad? It’s been available since the arrival of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra 2016, so chances are you are on a compatible version of Apple’s operating systems. It also requires a compatible device, which includes: iPhone 5 or newer Any iPad Pro 4th gen iPad or newer Any iPad Air iPad mini 2 or newer 6th generation iPod touch. On the Mac side this includes: 2015 MacBook or newer 2012 MacBook Pro or newer 2012 MacBook Air or newer 2012 Mac mini or newer 2012 iMac or newer 2013 Mac Pro or newer This bit is key: Both devices also need to be signed into the same iCloud account. You will also need to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi switched on. If you have all of the above, here’s what you need to do to get Universal Clipboard working on your Mac and iPhone/iPad: On the Mac, open System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff. (System Preferences on older Macs). Select ‘Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices’. On the iPhone/iPad, open Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff. Make sure that ‘Allow Handoff’ is selected. Laptop Accessories, Mac, MacOS

Read more »

Downgrading iCloud+ storage? Be sure to retrieve your files properly
Macworld Apple’s fees for iCloud+ storage tiers are a sore point among enough people that I’ve seen the question come up repeatedly: How can I be sure I have a local copy of all my files if I want to reduce my iCloud+ storage payment or stop paying for iCloud storage at all? (Apple includes a meager 5GB of storage for all iCloud accounts; iCloud+ starts at $0.99 monthly for 50GB of storage.) Time Machine isn’t the answer, nor are any volume-cloning or archive tools, local or internet-based. File and media stored only in iCloud, with a placeholder for them in macOS, cannot be backed up except by forcing downloads to a Mac across three places: Photos, Music, and iCloud Drive. (I dream of a future in which Apple would offer an option to force a monthly local backup of iCloud-only files.) I recently wrote “How to migrate away from iCloud+,” a short guide to finding alternatives to iCloud+ services and storage. But you may want to keep using iCloud or downgrade to a lower-tier iCloud+ plan for the basics and be sure you aren’t locking away or losing files that aren’t on your Mac and are stored in iCloud. Here’s how. 1. iCloud Photos Switch to “Download Originals to this Mac” to ensure a local copy of all media. Foundry The big issue for most people is media synced via iCloud Photos. If you have a large Photos library, you may have enabled optimization in Photos > Settings > iCloud. With Optimize Mac Storage chosen, macOS automatically purges locally stored images and videos that have been uploaded to iCloud if local storage is needed. You can’t be sure what’s stored locally or not, as there’s no criterion you can use with a smart folder to create a set of “iCloud only” images. The only way to be sure that you have a local copy of everything is to change from Optimize Mac Storage to “Download Originals to this Mac” in the Photos iCloud setting. It may take a while for your Mac to retrieve all media that it didn’t have locally cached. Apple doesn’t provide a tool that shows how much local storage you would need to hold your Photos Library, so you need to figure out ahead of time if you have enough room on your startup volume. If you believe you don’t, consider moving your Photos Library to an external drive with plenty of storage before disabling optimization. This article from 2021, “How to move your Mac’s Photos library to an SSD for better performance,” remains accurate (though Preferences has become Settings in menus). 2. Music A smart album in Music lets you create a list of all files you need to download.Foundry You may not even know you are syncing music files from your Music Library with iCloud. Go to Music > Settings > General to see if Sync Library is turned on. If so, you’re syncing–but some files may be on your Mac synced from other devices. You can also intentionally or accidentally delete the local copy of music files to free up space, but still be able to stream the files from your iCloud Music Library—it’s seamless as long as you have an Internet connection. To be sure that 100 percent of the music files you’ve purchased, ripped, or created are on the Mac on which you’re working, you need to follow a sequence: Choose File > New > New Smart Playlist. For the “Match for the following” criteria, select “Location,” “is not,” “on this computer.” (Or you could pick “is” and “iCloud.”) Name the playlist descriptively in the sidebar, like “Only in iCloud.” Select the playlist in the sidebar and then choose Edit > Select All (Command-A). Choose Song > Download or right-click/Control-click the selection and choose Download. When the downloads are complete, that smart album will be empty. This forces a download of all music files that aren’t locally stored. Note that there are a lot of fine points around iCloud Music Library substituting files depending on whether you have an iTunes Match subscription, an Apple Music subscription, or both. Some files won’t sync, too, if they’re below a minimum encoding quality, above a certain size (200MB), or you’ve exceeded 100,000 files. Apple has a short FAQ about what syncs. If you lack enough storage for all your music files, you can also move your Music Library to an external drive. However, the process is much less straightforward than with Photos. Apple offers some help in a support document. 3. iCloud Drive Disable Optimize Mac Storage to have all your iCloud Drive files downloaded to your Mac. The popover for Documents in the storage allocation bar shows an approximate number, though it includes items not counted towards your iCloud Drive total, too.Foundry iCloud Drive is a window to all your available storage at iCloud for most apps (not Music and Photos). It’s typical to have an optimized storage set for iCloud Drive in   > System Settings > Account Name > iCloud. Fortunately, simply disabling Optimize Mac Storage will start downloading iCloud-only files. You can’t move iCloud Drive to another volume, so you will have to ensure you have enough storage on your startup volume. That is, at least, easy to find. In the Finder, click iCloud Drive in any Finder window’s sidebar or choose Go > iCloud Drive. Choose File > Get Info (Command-I) to see the totals for the iCloud Drive “folder” (it’s not exactly a folder). It may take a moment for macOS to update the number. The Size label shows both the total storage for iCloud Drive files at iCloud.com and the amount locally downloaded (in parentheses as, for example, “14.68 GB on disk”). The Finder provides a more accurate total for the storage required for your iCloud Drive files on your startup volume. The Finder provides a more accurate total for the storage required for your iCloud Drive files on your startup volume.Foundry The Finder provides a more accurate total for the storage required for your iCloud Drive files on your startup volume.Foundry Foundry You can use the circular progress icon next to iCloud Drive in a Finder window sidebar to know when the process is finished. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Dave. 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, MacOS

Read more »

Why the iPad has no calculator
Macworld With news that iPadOS 18 might bring a calculator to the iPad we’ll refresh our memories as to why the iPad doesn’t have a calculator right now, and what the alternatives are if you want to do some math and it’s the only device you have handy. Ever since the iPad first arrived, there’s been a curious omission in the apps that come preinstalled by Apple. Whereas the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch and even the iPod touch feature a calculator as standard, there’s never been one on the iPad. Why is that? Of all the platforms, it’s probably the one most suited to the task, especially if it was one of the scientific variety with all the additional capabilities. We’re not ones to leave a stone unturned, so we set out to find why the iPad comes calculator-free. The Steve Jobs story In preparing this article, we reached out to Apple to see if there was an official reason why it withholds the calculator app from the iPad. At the time of writing, we hadn’t had a response, so we couldn’t ask if it was something to do with an Apple executive standing at a crossroads at midnight, playing on a prototype iPad until a shadowy figure arrived, promising to make it the king of all tablets, but at a terrible cost – that of the calculator app. Maybe this theory is why no one at Apple wanted to talk to us? Or is it something forbidden? Who knows? There is another theory, though, as reported by Luke Dormehl of Cult of Mac back in 2016: This story, that came from someone who was working at Apple at the time, says that in the run up to the launch of the original iPad release, Steve Jobs called Scott Forstall (who was leading the software development for the tablet) into his office. Jobs then asked where the new calculator app designed specifically for the iPad was. To which Forstall replied that there wasn’t one. They were planning on using the iPhone version instead. Jobs, who was known for his incredible attention to detail, wasn’t happy with this, as the app looked awful in his eyes. He subsequently pulled the app, much to Forstall’s chagrin, and it simply fell to the bottom of the pile of things that needed to be done for every update or upgrade to iOS and then iPadOS ever since. It’s entirely possible that this tale could be apocryphal, as it’s a little hard to believe that no one at Apple could rustle up a decent calculator app over the past decade, but the continued absence of said program does give some weight to the idea. We prefer the crossroads version, but maybe that’s just the fatalistic romantics in us, plus we suspect Craig Federighi may have made a similar exchange to ensure the magnificence of his luscious mane. How to use the Calculator on the iPad Whatever the reason why Apple doesn’t include its Calculator app on the iPad the really peculiar thing is that the Calculator is actually there, it’s just hidden from view. How can you access the Calculator on the iPad? Just ask Siri. We asked Siri on the iPad “What’s 10 x 12” and it gave us the answer 120. The big surprise, as you can see from the image below: It got that answer from the Calculator! You can therefore just use Siri to make simple calculations on your iPad. For example, ask: Hey Siri, what’s 10% of 100 Hey Siri, what’s 15-7 Hey Siri, what’s 28.96 divided by 5 Other more complicated questions may be routed via Wolfram Alpha. For example when we asked Siri for the square root of 16 the answer came from Wolfram. So the Calculator app on the iPad is useful for simple calculations, but it’s not going to give you all the answers. What are the best options for more complicated calculations. We’ll discuss that next. Best calculator apps for iPad If you don’t want to wait for Apple’s own mythical calculator app to arrive on the iPad, there is still a huge selection of decent alternatives available on the App Store. One of our favorites is the cheap and cheerful Calcbot 2, which does standard and scientific calculations, plus unit conversions. The free version includes adverts, but you can get rid of them for around $2/£2. Other options include PCalc, Calculator HD++, Calculator HD Pro Lite and a wealth of similarly powerful apps. There may be no Apple Calculator app for the iPad, but thankfully you’re not short of offerings in this department from other developers. iOS, iPad

Read more »

Enjoy ambient lighting and wireless charging with this all-in-one device, now only $40
Macworld It’s pretty universal at this point to keep a smartphone charger by your bed, usually so you can charge your phone while it rests on your nightstand. It’s also pretty standard to have a lamp on that same nightstand. Miraculously, 3PExperts put two and two together and combined these nightstand staples into one sleek package.  Meet the 15W Nightlight Wireless Charging Pad, which offers easy ambient lighting and an easy charging solution for only $39.99 (reg. $99). This versatile device blends well into almost any bedroom or home decor, and is compatible with all wireless chargeable devices including your iPhone, earbuds, and more. You’ll just need to ensure that whatever device you own supports wireless charging. As for the nightlight, this gadget offers gentle illumination and promotes relaxation with its three brightness levels. With its highly practical and multi-purpose design, you can promote a clutter-free bedside table and streamline your home. Grab the 15W Nightlight Wireless Charging Pad, now just $39.99, for a limited time.   15W Nightlight Wireless Charging Pad Only $39.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Read more »

Macworld Podcast: Apple to ‘Let Loose’ on May 7; touch-sensitive iPhone 16 buttons; is FineWoven finished? and more
Macworld Apple announces a May 7 event. Is FineWoven done for? Is there a big change in store for the Calculator app? We talk about the latest rumors and news bits in this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 881 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola. Listen to episode 881 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 881 on Spotify Get info  Click on the links below for more information on what was discussed on the show.  Surprise! Apple announces ‘Let Loose’ event on May 7  Apple kills off troubled FineWoven line, report claims  The iPhone 16 might switch to touch-sensitive buttons after all  Surprising report claims the iPhone 17 Plus will have a smaller screen  One of macOS 15’s big new features might be a superpowered Calculator  AirPlay hotel support is finally available–for only a handful of rooms  Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone. Apple Inc, iPad, iPhone

Read more »

New iPhone activations hit a six-year low in the US
iPhone activations in the US declined to 33% in Q1 2024, a new low for the Cupertino company in over six years. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »