TicketMaster hack sees personal data of 560M customers offered for sale
A TicketMaster hack has been confirmed by the company in an SEC security filing, stating that personal data of its users has been offered for sale on the dark web. The agency has not confirmed the scale of what appears to have been a massive breach … more…

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Intel In Slide: Arm aims to capture 50% of PC market in five years, CEO says
Intel, schmintel. Arm Holdings aims to gain more than 50% of the Windows PC market in five years, the chip designer's CEO said, as Microsoft… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple set to disappoint fans with hardware-free WWDC
Macworld Apple fans looking forward to new Macs or iPads at WWDC 2024 should prepare themselves for disappointment. Despite the small number of releases out of Cupertino so far this year and the long list of products waiting for an update, a respected analyst has predicted that the event will not see any hardware announcements at all. The prediction comes from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. Gurman told subscribers (via MacRumors) that “there’s no hardware slated to be announced at WWDC, unless Apple unexpectedly previews a new device launching later (to be clear: I don’t expect that).” To be clear, the idea that Apple would hold a WWDC with no hardware is not in itself a massive surprise; of the past 10 WWDCs, precisely half have focused on software only. It’s more that Apple’s 2024 has been light on product announcements so far: just the two new iPads (Air and Pro) in May, and the M3 MacBook Air back in March. We’re still expecting updates this year to the Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iMac or iMac Pro, iPad and iPad mini, AirPods, HomePod (possibly with a screen), and Apple TV–and that’s leaving aside the iPhone and Apple Watch updates that are nailed on for the fall. There had been hopes, not least among followers of Gurman’s bulletins, that a new Apple TV would be announced this month: he previously said Apple hoped to refresh the Apple TV in the first half of 2024. But the same writer now says that a launch “isn’t imminent.” Neither would it appear that Apple has immediate plans to release new models of the standard iPad or iPad mini, both of which are sorely in need of an update. The most likely hardware launch for WWDC 2024, however, is a new Mac. The event is nominally focused on software updates, but Apple will frequently take the opportunity to announce a new desktop or laptop, with high-end pro models particularly of interest. At WWDC 2023 the company announced the M2 Max/Ultra Mac Studio and the M2 Ultra Mac Pro, along with the 15-inch MacBook Air. (Not to mention Vision Pro.) The summer before we got the two Macs based on the then-new M2 chip, as well as a redesigned MacBook Air and a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. Of those 10 WWDCs, the other half all featured Mac announcements of one kind or another. Still, even without hardware news, this month’s WWDC is set to be a big one. Indeed it’s possible that Apple is holding back on product launches so that viewers can really concentrate on its first steps into the world of AI, with Project Greymatter bringing new functions to iOS and macOS, and AI making its big entrance into Apple’s ecosystem. For all the latest news and rumors, check out our regularly updated WWDC superguide. Apple Inc, Mac

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Foldable iPhone unlikely before 2027, says TrendForce; crease issue is key
A report last month suggested that we might see the first foldable iPhone in 2026, but market intelligence company TrendForce has described this as “unlikely.” The company, which monitors and forecasts demand for components, says that 2027 is the earliest date Apple is likely to launch a folding iPhone … more…

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How to buy the best mechanical keyboard for your needs
Your fingers deserve better than a $30 generic keyboard. Here's what you need to know when you start thinking about upgrading your typing experience with a mechanical keyboard.How to buy a mechanical keyboard: A partially disassembled mechanical keyboardIt makes sense to work out whether you can improve your computing life by changing your keyboard, and if you should pay heftily for upgrades. While people think about spending tons on their Mac, monitors, desk, and chair, they don't think that much about the keyboard.And they should. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Epic Games judge tells Apple she wants all of its decision-making documents
The judge in the Apple versus Epic Games case has told the Cupertino company that she wants to see all of the company’s documents relating to its revised App Store policies – and she has strongly emphasised that she means all of them. It follows earlier remarks in which she strongly implied that Apple was guilty of bad-faith compliance with the antitrust ruling she made back in 2021 … more…

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Our Entire Approach to AI Is Flawed
When we talk about AI, we typically focus on productivity, but our real problem is poor decision support, not the lack of productivity or performance. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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WWDC brings another huge gamble for Apple
Macworld Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Risky business For a corporation that’s known for caution, Apple sure has been fond of gambling this year. Vision Pro finally went on sale in January, as Cupertino got to grips with a product category that isn’t merely new to the company, but untested across the industry as a whole: nobody knows yet if augmented reality devices will displace the smartphone later this decade or remain a niche hobby. And at WWDC next week Apple will follow up with its first public steps into the world of AI, another heavily hyped tech category whose long-term profitability (not to mention its impact on society as a whole) has yet to be truly understood. This is a very big year for Apple, but we won’t know for a while if that’s a good or bad thing. This is all thoroughly out of character for Apple, which under Tim Cook’s governance has been all about safe bets and safe hands. Since the Apple Watch (the last significant project of the Jobs era) came out in 2015, the company has iterated smartly and cautiously, avoided major missteps, cut costs, watched its profit margins, and consolidated its dominance of the market. When entering a new category, such as when launching its HomePod smart speaker, it’s been something peripheral and relatively low-risk—and a category shown to be profitable by other companies. Hail Mary plays have been few and far between. But you can’t play it safe forever, and at some point, Apple was always going to face a choice: gradually subside into irrelevance, or bet the farm on something big. I’m glad it’s going for the second option. At WWDC we expect Apple to talk about the AI features it’s bringing to the iPhone and Mac via iOS and macOS updates. Project Greymatter, which sounds like a sinister brainwashing scheme from a Jason Bourne movie, will use AI to bring “practical benefits” to Apple users, such as enabling Siri to summarize recent notifications. Goodness knows Siri needs to get smarter, and I’ll be the last to complain if the assistant becomes less easily confused by song titles or basic English, but make no mistake: this is a big step. AI isn’t a safe subject—it’s controversial and divisive. On a grand scale, it may well remodel society as we know it, eliminating or drastically reducing human roles in numerous administrative and creative industries. But on a smaller one, it represents two factors that go against the Apple ethos: wide-scale data collection, and potentially chaotic outcomes. If it wants to develop large language models at the same pace as its rivals, Apple is going to have to persuade users to contribute their data to the common store. And if it wants to use AI to a significant degree, it’s going to have to accept that it won’t have complete control over the user experience all of the time. AI models sometimes do things their creators don’t expect. I’m not saying an AI-powered Siri is going to hurl racial epithets at iPhone owners, but it might not always behave in completely predictable ways. It’s possible, indeed, that Apple isn’t prepared to make these compromises, and that it will continue to cling to its previous safe path: declining to collect data (an admirable position, in my view), and refusing to allow its AI features to do anything that isn’t predictable and thoroughly explored by other companies. But if that’s the case, Apple will risk something worse, which is falling further behind the bleeding edge of tech development. Getting left behind while the industry moves on. Whichever path it takes, this will be a risky year for Apple, and the outcome of its experiments with augmented reality and AI could go a long way to determining its long-term success… or failure. I can’t imagine Tim Cook is enjoying the uncertainty. But it’s a lot more fun than just releasing slightly different versions of existing products. Foundry Foundry Foundry Trending: Top stories The Macalope reckons a thinner iPhone is the right step in the wrong direction. Thinking about buying an iPhone? Don’t. Apple’s invisible breakthroughs are just as beautiful as the ones you can see. Podcast of the week We’ve heard rumors and reports about what Apple may do at its Worldwide Developers Conference, and we were wondering… what do you, the readers of Macworld and the listeners of this podcast, think is on its way? You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Logitech Wave Keys review: A nod to vintage Apple keyboards with a modern twist. Dell UltraSharp U2723QE review: Monitor plus dock goes well with your Mac. The rumor mill We spill the beans on iOS 18, macOS 15 and everything else coming from Apple in June. We could be less than two years away from the first large-screen folding MacBook. Apple is ‘thinking about’ changing the iPad’s most unique design characteristic. OLED displays may be coming to the MacBook Pro sooner rather than later. Apple is working on an AI iMessage feature that will forever change our chats. Report: An iOS 18 update will enable Siri to control any app. Based on a new job listing, Apple may finally let Android users watch TV+ shows in an app. Software updates, bugs, and problems Relax, that iOS 17.5 Photos bug doesn’t mean Apple keeps your deleted photos. There’s a new AirPods Pro firmware update that’s probably important. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley. Apple Inc

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Embarrassing Qualcomm ad claims 'I'm a Mac' actor is switching to Windows ARM over notifications
Actor Justin Long now stars in a painful Qualcomm ad that requires you to remember "I'm a Mac," care about it, and fathom what his coffee mug means.Good luck figuring out the significance of the mugApple's "I'm a Mac" ads were effective and funny. They were so effective that AppleInsider readers will remember them — but surely no one outside of technology will.Apple's ads wound down 15 years ago. Qualcomm is trading on consumers remembering this, for an utterly wincingly bad dad-joke kind of ad. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Embarrassing Qualcomm ad claims 'I'm a Mac' actor is switching to Windows ARM over notifications
Actor Justin Long now stars in a painful Qualcomm ad that requires you to remember "I'm a Mac," care about it, and fathom what his coffee mug means.Good luck figuring out the significance of the mugApple's "I'm a Mac" ads were effective and funny. They were so effective that AppleInsider readers will remember them — but surely no one outside of technology will.Apple's ads wound down 15 years ago. Qualcomm is trading on consumers remembering this, for an utterly wincingly bad dad-joke kind of ad. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Some Chinese brand Lightning headphones require Bluetooth, for a truly wild reason
An engineer with extensive experience of working with Bluetooth found himself bamboozled when told that he needed to enable a wireless connection to use a cheap pair of wired Lightning headphones – and that turned out to be correct … more…

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Best iPad for kids: iPad, mini and Air duke it out
Macworld Kids love iPads. The simplicity of tapping on the screen when they want things to happen means they can learn to use them in seconds, but there’s plenty that Apple’s tablets can do. Whether it’s educational games, entertainment apps, using them to create art with an Apple Pencil or just something to stop them getting bored on car journeys, iPads can be a godsend. Choosing the right one can feel a bit daunting. After all, don’t they all do the same things? What’s the difference between the normal iPad and the iPad Air? Well, we’re here to simplify things so you can be sure you’re buying the right one. You can also read our best iPhone and iPad apps for kids guide to get them off to a good start. Plus, we have a roundup of the best iPhones for kids if you want to immerse them fully in the Apple world as they grow up. Should I get an iPad for my child? There’s been lots of research published about how much screen time our kids should be allowed. Some parents might argue that kids shouldn’t be exposed to screens at such a young age, but frankly, in a world where everything is dominated by technology we think that we owe it to our kids to make sure they are comfortable in that environment, hence the introduction of an iPad is good for their education. That said, just sticking them in front of an iPad rather than interacting with them probably isn’t great: Disney+ shouldn’t really be babysitting your kids for hours on end, but if it allows you a few minutes of peace to make dinner then fair enough. With that out of the way, there are many reasons why you should be confident about getting an iPad for your kids to use. There are, after all, many other tablets on the market, most of which are cheaper than the iPad. So, if you are looking for some reassurance on is whether the iPad is the best option for your child, here are a few compelling reasons: The App Store is full of great apps designed specifically for kids. Many of those apps will be ideal for school children of various ages, or even toddlers. There is an ecosystem of great accessories designed to work with the iPad. iPadOS is easy to use, especially if your child has used your iPhone. The bonus is your iPhone apps will be available on your iPad too and vice versa. If you have older children, then take a look at our guide to the best iPads for students. What iPads are there to choose from? At the time of writing, Apple offers four categories of iPad, which are as follows. iPad iPad mini iPad Air iPad Pro In all honesty, we wouldn’t recommend the iPad Pros or the new Airs for children, as you’d just be paying quite sizeable amounts for performance and compatibility features that they just won’t need. The standard iPad and mini range already offers plenty of scope and power for younger users, so our advice is to stick with those and ignore the Pros and Airs for now. When it comes to students though, it’s a potentially different argument, but the good news is you can put that off for a few years and save up for the more expensive iPad in the meantime.  Speaking of savings, check out our round-up of the best iPad deals you can get on the whole range of iPads here: The best iPad deals. Is 64GB enough? This depends on how you want to use the iPad. For long trips, you might want to download lots of movies, TV shows, or games to entertain the kids in the car or on the plane. In that case, more storage is better. Otherwise, any apps you purchase can always be deleted and then downloaded again, plus public Wi-Fi can often be available as an easy solution for the little ones streaming a few episodes of their favorite shows. If you are buying a refurbished or used iPad, then we’d advise against a 32GB or even 16GB model (although these are much rarer now as it’s been several years since Apple sold any iPads with less than 64GB storage). 64GB should really be the lowest you go in terms of storage, as this gives you enough space to store a good amount of downloaded content. For more advice regarding buying a used or refurbished iPad read: Why a refurbished iPad could be the best tablet for you. Do I need cellular? Probably not. If you want to add cellular capabilities to your kids’ iPad, we recommend that when you are outside the house you hotspot from your own iPhone rather than spend money on a contract for your child. We most apps will work offline and you can download movies to the device when heading on a long trip. Best iPad for kids and toddlers Here’s our advice on which iPad to choose when buying for a child. 10th-gen iPad (2022) – Best overall Pros Modern buttonless design 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display A14 Bionic processor USB-C for charging Various colors Cons 64GB might be too small Only supports Apple Pencil (Gen 1) Price When Reviewed: From $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $329 at Amazon$349 at Apple$349 at Apple United States Apple gave its standard iPad a makeover when it launched this 10th-generation model, replacing the classic Home button design with the mini/Air approach of gesture-based controls. There is still Touch ID available, but now you’ll find the sensor embedded in the power button on the top edge. This means there’s more space for the display, which increases from the 10.2-inch panel in the 9th generation iPad to 10.9-inch in this 10th generation model. As with the previous standard iPad models, the display isn’t laminated, meaning there is a slight air gap between the glass and the display beneath. This is a minor thing and probably won’t even be something you notice, unless you use an Apple Pencil often, in which case you’ll probably experience a slight lag as you write. It’s all good though, and after no time at all, you’ll be able to incorporate that into your technique and scribble away with the best of them. One thing to note (pardon the pun), is that this model only supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil and requires a $9/£9 adapter to recharge it unless you buy a brand new one (as Apple includes the adapter in the box). Apple fits the new iPad with an A14 Bionic processor, which is the same tech that powers the iPhone 12 range (including the Pros), so there’s plenty of performance on tap for playing games, streaming content, and running educational apps. Another notable feature is the inclusion of a USB-C port rather than Lightning. This opens up a world of peripherals that you can use with the iPad, and you can even connect it to a compatible monitor if your child needs a desktop-style experience. Of course, you can always pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to create the perfect, compact laptop for homework and any creative endeavors your child wants to try. One of the best features Apple included with the 10th generation iPad is a recent price drop. So, you can now pick them up for the following prices: iPad (10th gen) 64GB – $349/£349 iPad (10th gen) 256GB – $499/£499 iPad (10th gen, cellular) 64GB – $499/£499 iPad (10th gen, cellular) 256GB – $649/£649 As with the other iPads on this list, you might want to consider opting for the 256GB storage variants, as 64GB can fill up pretty quickly if you’re downloading games, large apps, or TV/movie content. Apple also offers a bespoke two-part keyboard case called the Magic Keyboard Folio, which is nice but costs a whopping $249/£279, so we’d advise looking for cheaper (and often just as good) third-party products instead. The iPad comes in four lovely colors (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver), so your child can pick one that reflects their personality or just the one with the hues they like the most. Check our guide to the best iPad 10th-gen deals to see if you can get one for a lower price.  Read our full 10th-gen 10.9-inch iPad (2022) review iPad mini (2021) – Best for small hands Pros Lightweight Powerful Apple Pencil support (2nd Gen) Cons More expensive than the previous iPad Mini No Smart Keyboard Support Price When Reviewed: From $499 (64GB) | $649 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Amazon$499 at Adorama$499 at Apple While the iPad mini (2021) might be the smallest member of the family, don’t let that fool you, there’s plenty of power and features packed into the diminutive frame. In fact, the previous generation mini used to top this list, but when Apple gave its little tablet a serious makeover in 2021, not only did the specs and capabilities increase but also the price. It’s still brilliant, but not quite as much of a bargain for kids as its bigger brother.  The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is gorgeous and the surrounding bezels are now quite small as Apple has removed the Home button and instead put a Touch ID  sensor in the Power button on the side.  Under the hood, there’s an A15 Bionic driving things, so there’s no lack of power in this smaller iPad, ensuring the latest games and apps will absolutely fly on this device. It also has support for the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, meaning your child can use if for doodling, creating art or note-taking at school when they get a bit older.  The compact dimensions of 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm at 297g make it small and lightweight, which can be easier for little ones to hold. There are also four different colors to choose from, including Purple and Pink.  Oh, and there are 5G versions if you want to add a fast data connection for streaming and messaging on the go.  Just keep in mind that Apple may soon update the range of iPads with the next generation of processors, which means we could see a new iPad mini at some point in the next year. The iPad mini (2021) is available in these configurations: iPad mini (2021) 64GB – $499/£499 iPad mini (2021) 256GB: – $649/£649 iPad mini (2021, cellular) 64GB – $649/£649 iPad mini (2021, cellular) 256GB – $799/£799 Check our guide to the best iPad mini deals to see if you can get one for a lower price.  Read our full Apple iPad mini (6th gen, A15, 2021) review 9th-gen iPad (2021) – Best refurbished/second-hand Pros Inexpensive Apple Pencil Support (1st Gen) A13 Bionic Processor, Headphone Jack Cons Lower quality screen than other models Older design. No longer in production Price When Reviewed: $329 (64GB) | $479 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $249 at Amazon$249.99 at Best Buy$279 at Walmart While it’s no longer in production, the 9th generation iPad is one that’s worth seeking out in the refurb or second-hand market, as it offered plenty of bang for the buck even when it was new. It most recently sold for $329 and is often on sale for $249 or less. It came with a powerful A13 Bionic chip (the same as in the iPhone 11 range), and a front-facing camera that supports cool features such as Center Stage, which keeps you in the middle of the screen on video calls even if you move around. It’s still got plenty of power for games, streaming, capturing photos and videos, not to mention pretty much any app you want to throw at it. The 9th-gen iPad’s older design has useful bezels that make it easy for small hands to hold onto without accidentally triggering things on the screen, plus the 10.2in size also makes it an ideal screen for watching on long car journeys. Support for Apple Pencil (1st Gen) means your junior Picasso can create their masterpieces without leaving smudges on the furniture.   Yes, you don’t get the fancier Liquid Retina Displays like on the iPad mini or the 10th-gen iPad, but we can’t see many kids complaining about the panel in the iPad as it’s bright, colorful, and pleasant to use. One thing to note is that it features a headphone jack. So, if you don’t want to be driven insane by the high-pitched noises that often explode from child-focused content, this alone might make it worth hunting down.  Read our roundup of the best 9th-gen iPad deals. Read our full Apple iPad 10.2in (2021) review iPad

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Qualcomm uses ‘I’m a Mac’ actor Justin Long to promote ARM PC
It’s now 15 years since the last of Apple’s award-winning “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” ads, but rival companies still believe it’s clever to use the Mac actor to try to sell rival products. After Huawei and Intel, Qualcomm is the latest company to make the attempt, with an incredibly cringeworthy ad in which the Mac guy – played by Justin Long – decides it’s time to get a PC … more…

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Spotify raising prices again, Family plan now $3/mo more expensive than Apple Music
Spotify is once again raising the price of Spotify Premium in the United States. Although the ad-supported free tier remains available, the price of Spotify’s Premium tier is now more expensive than Apple Music. Spotify customers will be notified of the increases over the next month. Spotify Premium Individual is now priced at $11.99 per month, compared to $10.99 per month for Apple Music. The Family plan price is also up and now costs $19.99, compared to $16.99 for Apple Music Family … more…

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Apple's iPhone 16 Pro could have world's thinnest bezels
A new leak about the iPhone 16 Pro goes further than previous claims about the bezels and says they will be the thinnest of any smartphone ever made.The bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro may be even slimmerIt's not a surprise that Apple may be aiming for thinner and thinner bezels on the iPhone, since it has repeatedly worked to achieve that before. Nor is it new that the iPhone 16 range in particular will feature yet thinner bezels.According to leaker "Ice Universe," though, the iPhone 16 Pro will break records. He or she does not mention the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it's likely that will see the same reduction. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Rumor: No hardware announcements expected during Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote speech
If you were hoping for new hardware announcements at Apple’s WWDC keynote address on June 10, you might have to wait for another event. Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there’s no expectation that Apple will announce any new hardware during the speech. “There’s no hardware slated to be announced at WWDC, unless Apple unexpectedly previews a […] Source

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Best AirTag key rings, bag tags, holders & accessories
Macworld Here at Macworld we’re extremely fond of Apple’s AirTag, which we consider by far the best Bluetooth tracker for an iPhone or Mac user. However, one complaint raised in our AirTag review was that it doesn’t have a hole, which means you’re forced in most situations to buy an accessory to put it in. Want to attach it to your keys? You need to buy a special key ring. Want to attach it to your luggage? Special luggage label. An ecosystem has quickly sprung up offering straps, loops, pet tags, cases and holders for AirTag owners. But which ones are worth buying? We’ve been testing out all the AirTags accessories we can get our hands on, so we can help you find the best AirTag holder for your needs. Best AirTag Key Rings Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring Pros Made by Apple Cons Fabric can scuff Price When Reviewed: $35 Best Prices Today: $31.99 at Amazon$35 at Apple$35 at Best Buy There are cheaper alternatives, but this is the classic AirTag key ring—replacing the previous Apple Leather Key Ring, now that Apple has gone fully vegan in honor of its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs. It’s light, attractive and reassuringly well-made. It’s easy to put the AirTag inside, but the metal popper won’t let it escape. And we love the large, chunky (but quite flat) ring, although we’d recommend testing it out in a shop if you’re planning on attaching car keys with a small aperture. This reviewer’s Nissan and Skoda keys were both a tight fit. The fabric covering protects the AirTag’s edge from drop damage but leaves most of its chassis, both front and back, open to the elements and liable to scuff a little—a complaint publicly made about Apple’s FineWoven iPhone cases. We think this is worth it for the pleasing look, and scuffing is both inevitable and minor, but if you want total protection you’ll need to look elsewhere. It’s available in five colors: Black, Coral, Taupe, Mulberry and Pacific Blue–David Price Belkin Secure Holder with Wire Cable for AirTag Pros Feels more secure than Apple ring Cons Plastic feel Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $19.95 at Apple$19.99 at Amazon Belkin’s Secure Holder is made of hard plastic, which gives it more of a budget feel, but it’s reassuringly robust, and looks tough with its wire cable that includes a hex key to lock the AirTag in place. As with Apple’s key ring, both faces of the AirTag are left exposed, but the plastic surround sticks out more and thus provides more drop protection. It’s available in white or black.–David Price OtterBox Rugged Case for AirTag Pros Super protective Cons Larger than most Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $12.99 at Amazon$19.95 at Apple$19.95 at Apple United States OtterBox is a company known for its ultra-protective phone cases, and its Rugged Case for AirTag continues this tradition, as its name suggests. The protective perimeter is increased to allow for larger bumps and mishaps than most AirTag key rings. OtterBox also has a Rugged Passport Series of the Rugged Case that is styled with the coordinates of iconic cities, such as New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, as well as a large range of other AirTag cases and key rings.–Simon Jary Nomad AirTag Keyrings Pros Range of AirTag keychain options Price When Reviewed: From $15 Best Prices Today: $15 at Nomad$69.95 at Amazon Available in black and white, the Nomad Rugged Keychain is built with a polycarbonate frame and TPU overmold, and ships with two enclosure options: a closed back option and an open speaker option. It is rated IP66 for water and dust resistance. With a Rustic Brown option, the Nomad Leather Keychain carries your AirTag in a good-looking, thermoformed, American Horween Leather holder. Over time, the raw, vegetable-tanned leather will patina to create a unique lived-in look. Adding a third available Natural (tan) color, the Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag is a Horween leather loop that attaches to your AirTag with a powerful 3M adhesive. The AirTag battery, however, remains easily accessible for replacement.–Simon Jary OtterBox Core Series Case for AirTag Pros Sustainable materials Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $22.36 at Amazon The OtterBox Core Series Case is the most sustainable AirTag key ring—made from a FSC-certified recycled and recyclable material. Its speckled looks shows off an authentic recycled appearance.–Simon Jary Orbitkey Leather Holder for AirTag Pros Leather Cons Covers one side Slight wobble Price When Reviewed: $39.90 Best Prices Today: $39.90 at Orbitkey Orbitkey‘s leather offering is well worth your consideration. It costs roughly the same as Apple’s non-leather key ring but it has a nice-looking design and a couple of advantages up its sleeve. One is the slenderness of the ring itself. Whereas Apple’s broad, flat ring can be awkward for attaching car keys with a narrow aperture, this will fit into holes of the smallest dimensions. The second advantage lies in the innovative way keys are attached: an initially baffling locking system that, once mastered, is far quicker and easier (and far less painful) than prising apart the traditional two-layer ring with your fingernails. The only real quibble is that the leather fob is quite a lot bigger than the AirTag itself. It has more space than it needs and wobbles around slightly inside the pocket. The key ring thus takes up more room in your pocket than it needs to. This does also give the AirTag far more protection than Apple’s version. It’s less likely to get scuffed than with the other key rings we tried out. If the price tag puts you off, Orbitkey also makes a much cheaper Slim Case with a similar locking system.–David Price Olixar Silicone Protective Skin For Apple AirTags Pros Cheaper than most Cons Covers one side Price When Reviewed: $11.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Mobile Fun$12.99 at Amazon Olixar’s simple offering costs less than the Belkin key ring, and less than a third of the Apple option—very handy if you want to equip a couple of young teenagers with AirTags and keep an eye on their movements. Wrestling the AirTag into the silicone cover is mildly tricky—there’s no clasp of any kind, you just stretch the edges and jam it in there–but it’s secure once inside and admirably protective. In fact you could say it provides twice the protection of Apple’s key ring since it covers the back completely: only the front face is exposed. The karabiner-style opening on the ring makes it easier to use and more fun than a conventional ring (although slightly less secure, since it doesn’t have the lock feature of a full mountaineering karabiner). But this is essentially a basic option; if you’re prepared to spend a little more, consider Olixar’s ‘leather style’ version instead, or even its top-of-the-line genuine leather case.–David Price ElevationLab TagVault: Keychain Pros Waterproof Cons Reduces volume of AirTag sounds Price When Reviewed: $12.95 (single); $39.95 (4 pack) Best Prices Today: $12.95 at ElevationLab$37.95 at Amazon Elevation Lab’s TagVault: Keychain claims that it is fully waterproof. This rugged case has a gasket that prevents water intrusion while passing through ultra-wideband and Bluetooth signals and allowing about two-thirds of the AirTag’s sound volume. It has an integral loop for a keychain ring and comes with a simple but robust one.–Glenn Fleishman Read our full TagVault: Keychain review Caseology Vault Pros Rugged Karabiner attachment Cons Larger than most Price When Reviewed: $13.99 Best Prices Today: $13.99 at Amazon$14.99 at Walmart How about a properly rugged key ring accessory for your AirTag? The Caseology Vault is made from military-grade thermoplastic polyurethane, with a nicely grippy sandstone finish that makes it less prone to drops. Like the Olixar Silicone it features a karabiner attachment. This is removable, which makes the Vault a versatile accessory. It’s just as happy tracking rucksacks as keys.–David Price Best AirTag luggage tags Apple AirTag Loop Pros Made by Apple Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Amazon$29 at Apple$29 at Best Buy Apple’s AirTag Loop is made of polyurethane and feels and looks smart, with two of the color options (Electric Orange and Sunflower) particularly bright and cheerful. This will also help you to spot your suitcase on the conveyor belt. The AirTag clips in using a metal clasp that’s easy to use and secure; you then put the strap around your luggage’s handle and loop the head part back through the slit in the tail. It looks slightly delicate at first glance–the strap gets quite thin at a certain point–but proved resistant to moderate tugging and should be fine under non-military usage conditions. Like Apple’s key ring, it protects the edges of the AirTag but not the center of its two faces, so expect some scuffing.–David Price Olixar Soft Silicone Luggage Loop For AirTags Pros Cheaper than most Cons Cheaper feel Price When Reviewed: $11.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Mobile Fun$14.99 at Amazon Olixar’s silicone AirTag strap has a very similar design to Apple’s Loop, but as you’d expect (given how much cheaper it is) the materials and quality of manufacture are slightly less luxurious. It’s a bit floppier, for one thing, and doesn’t feel quite as nice. It’s a perfectly decent, functional and much more affordable substitute, however, and there’s always the option of the leather version if you’re prepared to splash out a bit more for a taste of the finer things in life.–David Price Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag Pros Robust Price When Reviewed: $12.95 Best Prices Today: $10.99 at Amazon$12.95 at Apple$12.95 at B&H Belkin’s Secure Holder is also available with a robust string for attaching it to the handle of a suitcase or bag. Like the strap-style loops provided by other manufacturers this threads back through itself to easily attach to your luggage. It’s available in white, black, blue, and pink with a matching string. Since the front and back sections, string and key ring are all detachable, you could create a multicolor accessory by mixing and matching more than one holder.–David Price Casetify Customisable AirTag Holder Pros Colorful design options Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: $29 at Casetify The principal appeal of Casetify’s AirTag holder is the sheer range of designs and colors you can choose from. The ones pictured are, from left, Colorful Floral in Turquoise and Pink (with Peach background); Flowers for you by Matthew Langille (with Licorice); and Egg Tart with Mice (with Avocado). That last one is our favorite, but there are hundreds of options.–David Price Best AirTag wallet and card holders It’s not just keys and luggage that’e easy to lose. Misplacing your wallet or card holder is a common occurance, and as long as you also haven’t lost your iPhone, finding one with an AirTag pocket is an easy solution. Artpaxy Wallet with AirTag Holder Pros Full bifold wallet with AirTag pocket Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon This traditional-looking bifold wallet includes a front-mounted pocket for an Apple AirTag, and then does the usual wallet business with 13 card slots, two cash pockets and two ID windows. It also claims to include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking to stop device scanning. Bazza AirTag Card Wallet Pros Colorful, fun AirTag card wallet Cons Feels a little plasticky Price When Reviewed: $22.99 Best Prices Today: $22.99 at Bazza This super-lightweight card wallet from Italy nicely nestles an AirTag in a selection of attractive and fun colors. It feels a little plasticky but is in fact made from sustainable, recyclable plant-based materials—there’s not even any glue introduced into the manufacturing process. You can buy with the AirTag preinstalled, or fit in your own. The Bazza AirTag Card Wallet is available in pink, yellow, red, dark blue, light blue, white, black and green. Best AirTag pet collars ElevationLab TagVault: Pet Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $17.95 ($17.95 / Count) at Amazon$19.95 at Elevation Lab$25.35 at Walmart The TagVault: Pet uses screws with the small Torx T6 star-shaped drive for the portion that contains the AirTag and maintains the waterproof seal. These screws are piercing, self-tapping screws with a T10 slot. They’re used to hold a hard plastic anchor to provide further stability when attached to a pet collar that you provide–though the case may be too big for smaller collars. The kit includes a steel Torx T6 L-shaped wrench with screw tips on both ends.–Glenn Fleishman Read our full Elevation Lab TagVault: Pet review Best AirTag wallet holders ElevationLab TagVault: Wallet – card holds AirTag Pros Securely holds AirTag Best Prices Today: $9.95 at Amazon$9.95 at ElevationLab Designed to hold an AirTag firmly in place in a wallet, it comes in two form factors: standard, 3.25 by 1.5 inches (83 by 38 mm), and compact, 2 by 1.5 inches (51 by 38 mm). Both are 0.05 inches (1.3 mm) thick. The more rectangular style works well in billfold slots; the squarer design in other parts of a wallet. With the AirTag exposed front and back, there’s no additional blocking beyond your wallet to block wireless signals for tracking and Precision Finding.–Glenn Fleishman Read our full TagVault: Wallet review Nomad Card for AirTag Pros Securely holds AirTag Price When Reviewed: $20 Best Prices Today: $20 at Nomad Though it tapers to the edges, the Card for AirTag is 3.2 by 2.1 by 0.2 inches (54 by 82 by 5 mm) at its largest. The AirTag sits like a gem in its center, bulging slightly outwards to 0.3 inches (8 mm). A combination of soft and hard materials–polycarbonate and TPU rubber–provides both a nice outside feel and the rigidity and flexibility to insert an AirTag into the Card’s opening with a satisfying click.–Glenn Fleishman Read our full Nomad Card for AirTag review Best AirTag mounts Olixar AirTags Adhesive Silicone Pocket Price When Reviewed: $11.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Mobile Fun$12.99 at Amazon If the thing you want to track hasn’t got a handle you can loop the AirTags to, or a pocket you can slip one inside, then the next option is stickiness. These neat silicone pockets (which come in a pack of four) both protect the tracker from external damage, and give it a strong and reliable adhesive surface to cling to a jewel box, schoolbag or games console. Despite the unobtrusive look of the pocket the AirTag is still fairly obvious and easily slipped out, so this solution isn’t ideal for tracking down stolen property (unless there’s a more discreet internal surface you can stick it to). But for locating TV remotes–and for sheer versatility of application–they’re indispensable.–David Price Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices Pros Strong adhesive connection Cons No built-in water resistance Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $17 at Amazon$19.99 at Pelican Outdoor$19.99 at Walmart If you’re looking for an AirTag mount that can stick to almost any surface and allows for easy AirTag removal, the Pelican Protector fits the bill. It’s not discreet, it’s not rugged, and it doesn’t offer additional water protection, but as a mount, it works well. Pelican relies on 3M VHB adhesive for attachment, which creates a near-permanent mount that becomes stronger over time.—Glenn Fleishman Read our full Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices review Other types of AirTag cases and holders Olixar Apple AirTags Anti-Scratch Protector Pros Protects from scuffs Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $11.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Mobile Fun The AirTag is a little prone to picking up scuff marks, and many of the holders in this roundup leave at least one of its surfaces uncovered and vulnerable to damage. If this is something you’re concerned about, consider buying a “screen” protector for your tracker–it hasn’t actually got a screen, of course, but the same principle applies. Olixar includes two TPU film covers in the pack, along with ethanol wipes and a cleaning cloth for preparing the AirTag, and an application card for smoothing out air bubbles.–David Price ElevationLab TagVault: Bike Pros Built for bikes Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $19.95 at Amazon$19.95 at Elevation Lab The TagVault: Bike is a lozenged-shaped plastic shell that houses the AirTag AirTag nestles inside its waterproof seal. It attaches to a bike via the bike’s water bottle mount, using longer screws to attach the bottle cage, or shorter screws if you don’t attach the cage. The case is a matte black, rendering it unobtrusive. Screwed in between a cage and the frame, a thief would first have to recognize it and then work hard to remove it quickly.–Glenn Fleishman Read our full Elevation Lab TagVault: Bike review Nomad Hydro Flask AirTag Tracker Pros Easily track your Hydro Flask Cons For specific models only Requires Medium Flex Boot Price When Reviewed: $15 Best Prices Today: $15 at Nomad Hydro Flask water bottles are popular but also surprisingly easy to leave behind after a run, bike ride, or visit to the park. The Nomad Hydro Flask Tracker is a hidden inner AirTag compartment in a slim TPU body that fits between your Hydro Flask and the Medium Flex Boot (accessory sold separately) and features It works with 32oz or 40oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flasks. What you can expect in an AirTag case Because the AirTag comes in a single variety, you don’t need to choose which kind to acquire. Apple sells them singly ($29) and in a four-pack ($99). Engraving is free. An AirTag regularly broadcasts 2.4GHz Bluetooth signals with an encrypted device ID for other Apple devices to pick up and relay along with those devices’ locations. The 2.4GHz band penetrates solid objects well, but case designers need to be mindful of materials that have the potential to block the signal. In our survey of AirTag cases, we didn’t find a case so far that had that design problem. AirTags also use ultrawideband (USB) technology for Precision Finding, exclusive to Apple’s own Find My items. Precision Finding lets an iPhone with UWB identify the direction and distance within inches when it’s within about 15 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 m). Consider to what use you may put an AirTag to determine the features you want: Purpose: Cases exist in enough variety that you can find one designed as a luggage tag, another as a stylish keyring, and another to resist enormous amounts of damage. Figure out where you want to put the AirTag and match the case to it. Water resistance: Many cases feature some degree of water resistance, some using the IP rating that defines precisely how much. If you’re using an AirTag outside or on a pet’s collar, you may want one with a high degree of resistance. When attaching to a bag or keyring, it may seem less important or not important at all. Ring, clip, loop, or carabiner: Case makers offer many variants on attachments. Some include a simple hole to attach a keychain, while others incorporate a keychain as part of the product and may include a keyring. You can purchase multiple cases built into a carabiner, including one with a three-digit combination lock. You can also get a string or similar loop design, in which the case passes through a loop and pulls tight on a handle without a knot. Removable or adhesive: You might want an AirTag case that’s easy to move about or attach and reattach. Other cases include adhesive for semi-permanent fixed attachment. Hidden for theft recovery: Some cases are designed to hide an AirTag, making its presence less apparent and thus less likely to be discovered if stolen; others are obvious, such as in a keychain or luggage tag. Temper hideability with the knowledge that Apple’s anti-stalking features built into AirTag tech makes them discoverable to criminals with a smartphone.Shows the front: Conversely, some cases show off an AirTag, revealing its front where you might have had added custom engraving from Apple with an emoji or text. You might want to see that engraving to differentiate among AirTags you own. Cost: Cases generally cost from about $20 to $35—around the price of a single AirTag. However, there are outliers below $10 and above $40. It’s all about the function, ruggedness, and complexity of purpose. Some charge extra for style. How we test AirTag case features For each kind of case, we rated them based on specific features around which they were designed. These include: Easy to insert the AirTag for secure retention: Every case has a slightly different approach to getting an AirTag inside. Some cases have an elaborate locking procedure or require removing and restoring four tiny screws to preserve a waterproof seal. Others are simple as sliding the tag into a holding or popping it into a rubber ring. Attaches securely for attachable cases: We tested cases that market themselves as attachable at how well they succeed at that task. Cases may come with or be part of a keyring, carabiner, wrist strip, or pet collar, or may have an adhesive to stick on to objects, like the inside of luggage. Access for battery replacement: Apple expects an AirTag battery to last for about a year in everyday usage, which it defines as one case of Precision Finding and four tones played per day. A case should allow access that isn’t maddening for replacing the battery every several months to a year. Robust against bumps and bangs: Only a few kinds of cases can avoid the wear and tear of bumping against other objects. Most need to be constructed with that in mind. For cases exposed to other surfaces, we look at whether the materials and build quality give confidence in them provide lasting value. Blocks access to remove: A handful of cases provide a security element intended to prevent access to an AirTag without excessive force—the AirTag would have to be destroyed to remove it. We rate these cases on whether they seem able to prevent or deter everything but destruction. Apple AirTag Price When Reviewed: 1 pack $29 | 4 pack $99 Best Prices Today: $24.99 at B&H$27 at Walmart$29 at Apple$78.99 at Amazon Read our full Apple AirTag review Apple AirTag 4 pack Price When Reviewed: $99 Best Prices Today: $78.99 at Amazon$79.99 at Best Buy$84.95 at B&H Accessories, Mobile Phone Cases and Covers

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Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to feature world’s thinnest smartphone bezel
Although the iPhone 16 Pro will mostly resemble the design of the , we are expecting some small changes. The screen sizes of both the Pro and Pro Max are increasingly slightly, and we may also see a dramatic further reduction in the black border that is visible around the screen. That’s according to IceUniverse, who says that the iPhone 16 Pro may in fact feature the world’s thinnest smartphone bezels. more…

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