Apple set to deliver AI assistant for transcribing, summarizing meetings and lectures
Apple later this year hopes to make real-time audio transcription and summarization available system-wide on many of its devices, as the iPhone maker looks to harness the power of AI in delivering efficiency boosts to several of its core applications, AppleInsider has learned.Voice Memo Transcription in iOS 18People familiar with the matter have told us that Apple has been working on AI-powered summarization and greatly enhanced audio transcription for several of its next-gen operating systems. The new features are expected to enable significant improvements in efficiency for users of its staple Notes, Voice Memos, and other apps.Apple is currently testing the capabilities as feature additions to several app updates scheduled to arrive with the release of iOS 18 later in 2024. They're also expected to make their way to the corresponding apps in macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 as well. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Trying Ray-Ban Meta glasses reinforces my belief in future Apple Glasses
I’m on record as saying that I think Vision Pro is mostly a stepping-stone toward an eventual Apple Glasses product, and that I think those are still years away yet. I feel like current glasses tech is giving us these partial peeks into that future. Viture One XR glasses provide one potential take, and the Ray-Ban Meta glasses another – and perhaps suggesting the future may be closer than I thought … more…

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Wait for M4 iPad Pro stretches into June
Getting your hands on the new M4 iPad Pro might require waiting on a late May or early June delivery. But there are other options. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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M4 already? Here’s why Apple is abandoning the M3 chip line so fast
One of the biggest surprises from Apple’s ‘Let loose’ event was the arrival of a new M4 chip in the iPad Pro. It may not have been quite as surprising as Apple originally hoped, but heading into the event there was still a lot of doubt and no real consensus on what chip would power the new iPad Pro. Yet Apple made the bold move of shipping the very first M4 chip in the iPad. Leaving us all to wonder: why? And what exactly is wrong with the M3 line? more…

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Apple Arcade Guide: What’s new and everything available [U]
Apple Arcade launched with close to 100 titles and the service is seeing new games added almost every week with over 200 games now in the library. Follow along with our guide on all the available Apple Arcade games plus the latest releases. more…

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‘Dark Matter’ is easily the best Apple TV+ sci-fi series of 2024 (so far)
In mid-April, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for its new sci-fi thriller “Dark Matter,” starring Joel Edgerton alongside Jennifer Connelly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Final Cut Pro for Mac and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 have grossly different features
Alongside the launch of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro lineups, Apple showed off updates to Final Cut Pro for iPad and macOS — but they do not have the same feature set. Here are the key differences, and things to watch out for.Apple's new Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 and Final Cut Pro 10.8.Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 is a major shift in the use of the iPad editing tool, while Final Cut Pro 10.8 is a modest upgrade. The result is two different tools with different tools, sharing the same name.While competitors have added many AI and workflow improvement tools, such as transcript-based editing, advanced subject tracking and masking, and more, to their desktop versions, Apple seems to focus most of its effort on the iPad version. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Skip the M2 and grab this M1 iPad Air for just $449 today
Macworld The new M2 iPad Air has arrived, but unless you’re planning on buying the 13-inch model, it’s not very different than the M1. And today you can save a bundle on an old one: Amazon is slashing prices of the M1 iPad Air to $449 (64GB) and $599 (256GB) in all colors, a savings of $150 and the best price we’ve ever seen. The iPad Air is a fantastic tablet, with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, a super-powerful M1 chip, a 12MP front camera with Center Stage, Apple Pencil 2 support, USB-C, and Touch ID. The new model brings a few upgrades along with the newer chip, most notably a landscape front camera and Wi-Fi 6E, but otherwise, the two tablets are identical. They even have the same size screen despite Apple saying the new model has an 11-inch screen versus the M1 model’s 10.9-inch display. So if you’ve had your eye on the 11-inch M2 iPad Air, save yourself $150 and grab a 10.9-inch M1 before they’re gone forever. And with the savings you can buy yourself an Apple Pencil 2 for $79 ($50 off) and still have some money for AppleCare+. iPad

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Take this rugged, waterproof speaker to the beach or your campsite for only $59.99
Take your audio anywhere with the Treblab HD77, a waterproof, shock-resistant, outdoor Bluetooth speaker with up to 20 hours of battery life. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple supplier TSMC’s sales jumped 60% in April on AI chip demand
Major Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) saw April sales jump 60% to NT$236 billion (US$7.3 billion) as… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air comparison: Do you really need the Pro?
Unsure which shiny new Apple tablet to buy? Discover the right choice in our M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air buying guide. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 review
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsInternal batteryProtective caseMore efficient than a wireless power bankSlimmer than rival battery casesConsBattery offers less power than rivalsMore expensive than rivalsOur VerdictThe Mophie Juice Pack battery case provides 50% back-up power and protection for the iPhone 15. The internal 2,400mAh battery is one of the lowest-capacity options but the benefit of this is a much-reduced hump at the back of the slim case, in comparison to bulkier 5000mAh capacity battery cases. Price When Reviewed$99.95 Best Prices Today: Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 Retailer Price Zagg $99.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Battery cases—phone cases that host a small battery so you can recharge a fading phone on the move—used to be a must-have option for iPhone users but are now quite rare. Apple made a great battery case, the Apple Smart Battery Case, that was initially laughed at for its humped back but was a cherished phone-power savior for many of us. Apple stopped making them when it released the iPhone 12. Back in those days, the most well-known and trusted battery case brand was Mophie, now owned by accessory maker Zagg, with its ultra-popular Juice Pack range. However, the last Mophie Juice Pack release was in 2019, for the iPhone 11 series. Owners of the iPhone 12, 13 and 14 had no Apple or Mophie battery cases to choose from. Battery cases still existed for these phones, but mostly from little-known Chinese makers. We tested a lot of these and our favorite iPhone battery case maker has been long-running Newdery (also Chinese), which we have trusted for power, safety and protection. But there was no real competition from better-known brands. It was therefore with excitement that we heard that Mophie was back in the game with a new Juice Pack battery case, with models for each of the iPhone 15 family except the 15 Plus. Power The main point of a battery case is to provide backup power when your iPhone needs it most—usually when you are on the move, away from a handy wall charger. The Juice Packs for iPhone 15 and 15 Pro each contain a 2,400mAh internal battery, while the more needy iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Juice Pack gets a meatier 3,000mAh battery. We tested the Mophie Juice Pack with an iPhone 15 Pro, and it gave us an average of 56% extra battery life, which should be enough to get you through the day until you can charge the iPhone up again via a cable and wall charger or a dedicated MagSafe iPhone charger. Check out our roundups of the best iPhone chargers and best MagSafe chargers. The competition comes from battery case stalwart Newdery, which makes battery cases for the iPhone 15, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max in two much larger capacities: 5000mAh and 10000mAh. Our test iPhone 15 Pro was charged close to full (95%) using the Newdery 5000mAh battery case and 168% using the bulkier 10000mAh case. Read our Newdery Battery Case for iPhone 15 review. That’s a significant difference in charging power compared to the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 Pro, and there are compromises on both sides, mainly based around the battery case design. The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 Pro (right) is a two-part case, compared to the one-part Newdery battery case (left). The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 Pro (right) is a two-part case, compared to the one-part Newdery battery case (left).Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 Pro (right) is a two-part case, compared to the one-part Newdery battery case (left).Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Design A battery case should offer robust protection like any phone case, with bumpers on all four sides and a tough back. The phone’s front should be protected from drops by a raised bezel that means the screen doesn’t contact the floor when it lands, inevitably, face down. The Mophie Juice Pack fulfils these criteria, and we feel confident that it protects the phone from everyday knocks, drops and scrapes. Mophie claims that it offers 6 feet of drop protection. Its tough external plastic case is made of sustainable PCR materials—with up to 50% post-consumer recycled plastics. It’s a classic Mophie two-part design that is different from one-piece designs where you flex back the top part of the case before sliding in the phone. With the Juice Pack, the top quarter of the case needs to be pulled off before putting the phone inside or taking it out. This makes phone insertion less prone to potential breaks as the phone is more nimbly fed on to the USB-C connector at the base. However, having two parts does introduce more points of failure if you are frequently taking the case part. As users keep their phone inside the vase most of the time, this shouldn’t be a problem. The USB-C connector feels solid and is less bendable than the flimsier Lightning connector that older iPhones used. There are physical buttons on the sides and front cut-outs for the iPhone’s bottom speakers and microphone. When you need the extra power from the case’s internal battery you just push the button at the back and charging commences. Four LEDs indicate the current battery level and charge status of the case. You’ll still need to check the iPhone itself for its remaining battery power. You can give your iPhone a quick burst or just flood the iPhone’s battery with everything the case can offer. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Battery case vs power bank A battery case is more convenient than a separate power bank as it should always be with you, where it is easy to forget to pack a charged power bank. It also offers protection for your phone, which a power bank is not able to do. We always recommend you always protect your phone in a case—we have tested the best iPhone 15 cases—and having the back-up power in a battery case is a great bonus function. Being charged via the case’s USB-C connector, they charge faster than via a wireless power bank. A power bank, on the other hand, is a more flexible solution. You get a wider choice of battery capacities—up to 27000mAh—and they aren’t obsolete when you change your phone for a newer model. Power banks are used only when you need them, so don’t add permanent bulk to your phone during the day. Read our roundup of the best iPhone power banks. The choice depends on whether you don’t mind a little extra bulk on your phone. The Mophie Juice Pack is noticeably slimmer than most rival battery cases, but it is chunkier than your average phone case. The Mophie Juice Pack, bottom, is noticeably slimmer than the Newdery battery case for iPhone 15 on top. The Mophie Juice Pack, bottom, is noticeably slimmer than the Newdery battery case for iPhone 15 on top.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry The Mophie Juice Pack, bottom, is noticeably slimmer than the Newdery battery case for iPhone 15 on top.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Price The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is priced at $99.95 / £99.95. While high, that’s a reasonable price for the functionality and protection on offer. The Apple Smart Battery Case used to cost $129 / £129. That said, the 5000mAh Newdery Battery Case for iPhone 15/15 Pro and for iPhone 15 Plus/Pro Max cost $29.99 / £26.99. The 10000mAh Newdery Battery Case costs $49.99 / £52.99. The Mophie Juice Pack is a better build and didn’t once turn off its charge while sitting in my pocket, as the Newdery battery case did on occasion. It is slimmer and lighter (98g) than the Newdery alternative (132g). I recommend the Mophie Juice Pack over the Newdery Battery Case, but a lot of people will be swayed by that price difference. Verdict The Mophie Juice Pack battery case provides 50% backup power and protection for the iPhone 15. The internal 2,400mAh battery is one of the lowest-capacity options but the benefit of this is a much-reduced hump at the back of the slim case, in comparison to larger 5000mAh capacity battery cases that offer a full recharge but are bulkier and heavier. It is undeniably more expensive than the Chinese competition, but it has a superior build, and even at the higher price is a great solution for people who find their phone fading during the day or who need to use their phone for long periods away from their wall charger. Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Phone Cases and Covers, Mobile Phone Chargers, Power

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Nano textured OLED iPad Pros, crushing pianos, and Apple's AI push on the AppleInsider Podcast
On this week's episode of the AppleInsider Podcast, you hosts discuss the "Let Loose" event where Apple revealed a new iPad lineup, the M4 processor, and new accessories.iPad Pro with M4 announced during Apple's 'Let Loose' eventApple surprised us all with an M4 processor in a set of iPad Pros, but it seems people were more surprised about an ad crushing various instruments into an iPad. There are new iPad Air models, including a 13-inch option, upgraded iPad Pros, an aluminum Magic Keyboard, and Apple Pencil Pro.The tandem OLED display and optional nano texture option has seen a lot of discussion since the announcement. People are concerned about the display's durability and feel, but hands-on experiences suggest it feels like normal glass. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro buyer's guide May 2024: which iPad to buy for any budget
Apple's iPad lineup is now radically different than it was at this time in 2023. Here's how to choose the best tablet to buy for your budget.Apple has an iPad for many different budgets.Across all of Apple's product ranges it offers products over a very wide selection of price points. If you have a particular budget in mind, there's an iPad to match.However, unlike its other product categories, the iPad range was stagnant in 2023. There were no updates at all that year, and the drought continued until May 2024. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Stanford tech may help the transition from Vision Pro to Apple Glasses
While an expensive, bulky Vision Pro headset undoubtedly has its place for some, Apple’s longer-term goal is believed to be a product dubbed Apple Glasses: bringing AR capabilities into something with a similar form-factor and weight to conventional eyeglasses or sunglasses. Squeezing that much tech into a much smaller device is, of course, a huge challenge – but researchers at Stanford’s Computational Imaging Lab may have come up with at least part of the solution … more…

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Convert YouTube videos to MP4 on Mac free (app & online)
Macworld After a long process of YouTube video downloading, it will be quite annoying to see a warning that the downloaded file format is not compatible with your Mac computer. When encountering this situation, you always need to download YouTube videos directly in a supported format. When you download videos from YouTube, you will find that the suffix of the video file is not the common MOV, MKV, or MP4, which is quite annoying if you want to open it on a new Mac computer. That’s because YouTube will recode the video file to avoid users downloading the original MP4 file out of copyright consideration. But it’s legal for you to try a converter and convert YouTube videos to MP4 on Mac computers. MP4 format is always the best choice as it is compatible with all devices and platforms. The following content will guide you on how to save YouTube videos in MP4 and watch them offline on Mac computers, including the newest version with M2. Download YouTube Videos in MP4 Directly with EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac The most recommended way is to use a free YouTube video downloader for Mac and save the YouTube video directly in the target format. One such product is the EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac. You may have heard of the brand EaseUS, as it has gained a good reputation in data recovery and backup since 2004. To keep up with users’ various needs, it released EaseUS Video Downloader to help download videos from more than 1,000 streaming sites. Compatibility: Mac OS 10.0.4 to macOS 14.4.1 (newest) Customer Service: 24*7 customer service Price: Free trial/$49.99 for lifetime use with a 30-day refund policy More reasons to choose: download videos with subtitles and thumbnails, equipped with a built-in converter to convert YouTube videos to MP3 format as well, save the live stream to your Mac as long as you get the URL, and download video with quality up to 4K/HD/8K. Here are the specific steps on how to use it to transfer YouTube videos to MP4: Step 1. Download and install EaseUS Video Downloader on your Mac computer. Step 2. Use its built-in browser to find the target YouTube video you’d like to convert. You can also try to copy the video’s link and paste it to the software. Step 3. Both methods above will lead you to the download interface. Now, click the blue “Download” button, and you can choose the target format and quality. You can choose to download the video file in MP3/MP4/MOV/WMV etc. Don’t forget to choose the file location as well. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Step 4. After all settings are down, click “Download” again to start downloading. This download tool is also equipped with the function of a converter. You can use it to convert audio to MP3 on a Mac as well. But there are other options. Save YouTube Videos in MP4 VLC Media Player for Mac Another YouTube video downloader for Mac you can try is VLC Media Player, an open-source media player that downloads and converts videos. This tool can also download YouTube videos in MP4. One of its useful features is that there are no pop-up ads so you have no need to worry about security. Follow the steps below to see how to convert YouTube videos into MP4: Step 1. Open the YouTube video and copy the video’s URL. Then, open VLC Media Player on your Macbook Air/Macbook Pro. Step 2. You can press command + N to “Open Network Stream”. Then, click the “Open” button. Step 3. Double-click the video to play it. Go to “Windows” > “Media Information” from the top bar. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Step 4. A window will pop out to show you the video’s location. Copy that and open it in a new browser tab. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Step 5. Right-click the video and choose “Download Video As…”. Now, you can change the video’s name and file location to save a YouTube video in MP4 format. Convert YouTube Videos to MP4 on Mac with a Safari Extension For your information, if you don’t want to take up too much space on your Mac computer, you can consider using a browser extension to convert or download YouTube videos. This is also a good choice. You can choose to download YouTube videos on a Mac with a Safari video download extension.  To save your time and effort, the following steps will be described in detail with a well-known extension, Airy Video Downloader. Now, follow these steps to transfer online videos from YouTube to MP4 with a Safari extension:  Step 1. Open the YouTube Video page you’d like to download on Safari and copy the video’s link.  Step 2. Install Airy Video Downloader Extension on your Mac Safari, and open it. Paste the video link to the bar. Step 3. Then, choose the video format, such as MP4, and the quality from 144p to Ultra HD.  Step 4. After all settings are done, click the red button to start downloading YouTube videos in MP4 format. You can find the downloaded files in Finder on your Mac.  Convert YouTube Videos to MP4 on Mac Free Online If you don’t want to download extra software, an online YouTube video converter will be more suitable for you. The steps of using any online video converter resemble each other. Before guiding you on how to manage this goal, you should know that there is no security guarantee for using websites. It’s better for you to try the desktop version if you are not in an emergency situation. This part will use YTconverter as an example to show you the detailed steps to managing this goal. You can also search for other URL-to-MP4 Converter websites on Google Chrome. The specific steps of how to convert videos from YouTube to MP4 with an online converter are listed below: Step 1. Open the official site of the online converter. Then, open the target video page you’d like to convert with. Step 2. Copy and paste the video’s URL to the blank sheet of the online converter, as the pic below shows. Step 3. Click “Convert”, and a window of the format will show up for you to choose from. You can choose to convert the video to MP4 up to 1080p. The quality may differ according to the original video. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Step 4. Then, click “Convert”, and the website will download the video in the format and quality. You can find the downloaded files in the browser’s download file. Wrap-Up MP4 is always the best video format as it is compatible with all devices and platforms, while the default video format for Mac computers is MOV. That’s why most users seek ways how to convert videos from YouTube to MP4 on Mac. This post has provided 4 proven ways to help you manage this goal. To sum up, the easiest and most convenient way is to download videos from YouTube directly in MP4 format with EaseUS Video Downloader. Just install this great YouTube video converter and downloader on your iMac/Macbook, and you won’t regret its installation. Personal Software

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Beats Solo 4 review: A long overdue upgrade that goes just far enough
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsExcellent Apple & Android supportGreat battery lifeUSB-C and 3.5mm audio supportConsNo ANCDesign is datedNo on-ear detectionOur VerdictIt’s been too long since Beats updated its more affordable on-ear Solo headphones, and while there are lots of improvements in this version it feels like a missed opportunity to really push the category forward. A dated design and “just okay” sound make this a good buy on sale, but not at full price. Price When Reviewed$199 Best Prices Today: Beats Solo 4 Retailer Price Beats $199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Beats Solo 3 were released in late 2016, and 7.5 years is definitely too long to wait for a refresh of the “affordable” on-ear model of one of the world’s most popular headphone brands. As you would expect, a lot has changed. Gone is the ancient Apple W1 chip in favor of a proprietary technology platform that supports lots of modern features for both Apple and Android devices. Sound quality is improved and the battery lasts 25 percent longer. But they still look like Beats, and sound like Beats, and do very little to move the brand or category forward. There’s nothing wrong with the Solo 4 headphones—they’re good. But with such a long gap from the prior model, they only just meet expectations rather than surpass or redefine them. Same old Beats look and feel Beats headphones have a certain look. The vibrant plastic, lowercase “b” logo on each side, and the general shape of the earpieces. When you see someone wearing Beats, you know it. Having said that, the new Solo 4 look and feel just a little too familiar. Outside of the new Slate Blue and Cloud Pink colors, you’d be hard-pressed to recognize this model from the one designed almost 8 years ago, without taking a close look at the ports. As with most Beats headphones, the Solo 4 fold up for storage. As with most Beats headphones, the Solo 4 fold up for storage.Foundry As with most Beats headphones, the Solo 4 fold up for storage.Foundry Foundry I don’t expect Beats to abandon its design entirely, but it’s time for a refresh, and the thought that we might be stuck with this same look and feel for the next seven years makes me cringe. As with the Solo 3, I find the headphones don’t quite contract small enough for my small head, and just a couple of millimeters less headband on each side would be more comfortable. The earpads are soft enough but the spring tension makes the pressure a little uncomfortable after long listening periods when I wear my glasses. That’s a common problem with on-ear headphones and another reason why I prefer over-the-ear cans. Its nice that these come with a carry case, basic though it may be. Its nice that these come with a carry case, basic though it may be.Foundry Its nice that these come with a carry case, basic though it may be.Foundry Foundry As before, the Beats Solo 4 fold up to fit into a little carry bag. In fact, the bag is nearly identical to that of the Beats Studio Pro. I had to do a close side-by-side comparison to confirm that the Solo 4’s bag is just a tiny bit smaller. They come with a USB-C cable and 3.5mm audio cable, but no power adapter. New features Of course, we would expect the Solo 4 to have a big update to their feature set after almost 8 years, and they do. This is true for Apple users, who get personalized spatial audio with head tracking and hands-free “Hey Siri” support in addition to all the older stuff (one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, and Find My support). The move away from Apple’s W1 chip to Beats’ much newer electronics now supports Google Fast Pair, cloud pairing with your Google account, Find My Device and multi-point pairing for seamless audio switching. Beats hasn’t changed the way you control the Solo 4, though. There’s a power button on the bottom of the right earpiece (no on-ear detection means you have to power them on and off by hand), and the left earpiece has a big button where the “b” logo is that is used for play/pause/forward/reverse and to trigger the voice assistant. Pressing above or below that button changes the volume. Gone is the annoying micro-USB plug in favor of USB-C. You’ll be glad to know it’s not just for charging, too. The Solo 4 supports USB-C audio output and input, and can even charge and play USB-C audio at the same time. Over USB-C or 3.5mm you can listen to lossless audio, even (not that the sound reproduction of these headphones is anywhere close to good enough to tell). USB-C and 3.5mm audio input are great options. USB-C and 3.5mm audio input are great options.Foundry USB-C and 3.5mm audio input are great options.Foundry Foundry All this and better battery life, too. Beats claims 50 hours of battery life, up 25% from the Solo 3. I certainly haven’t had long enough listening sessions to verify that, but modest drop in battery life over several days of testing makes me think it’s a reasonable claim. It’s just fantastic battery life, enough to take you through an entire weekend trip without plugging in. Of course, that’s partly because the Solo 4 offers no active noise cancellation, and ANC is what really stresses battery life in modern headphones and earbuds. Mid-tier sound for a mid-tier product That’s right, there’s no ANC, which is just barely on the cusp of acceptable for $200 wireless headphones these days. It’s a feature that is rapidly becoming expected on all but the cheapest earbuds and headphones, and the price of the Solo 4 is right about where you might start to expect it. Any more and they’d have to have ANC. Beats says they’ve done a lot to improve the acoustics, lowering distortion, tuning output, and improving voice call quality with better microphones. It’s definitely a step up from the Beats Solo 3, but it’s 2024 and we expect more. Beats Solo 4 are a good buy on sale, but not at full price. Beats Solo 4 are a good buy on sale, but not at full price.Foundry Beats Solo 4 are a good buy on sale, but not at full price.Foundry Foundry But the sound quality is what I would only consider good for this price range, not great. Nothing is way out of balance or anything like that, there’s just a general lack of crispness and punch to it all. To some degree that can be expected from on-ear headphones, which don’t have the larger diaphragms of over-the-ear models or the tight in-ear fit of earbuds. In a song like OK Go’s “This Too Shall Pass,” they just can’t keep up with the booming bass, which instead sounds a little mushy. The bright mids on Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Tin Pan Alley” are crisp and clean, but a “crank it all to 11” metal song like “Kickstart My Heart” starts to lose clarity in some of the instruments. Should you buy Beats Solo 4? None of these things are dealbreakers, not in a $200 pair of wireless headphones. But it’s not impressive, either. It’s just…fine. Good, even. But not great. That’s not very much fun to write about, but some things are just good, and the Beats Solo 4 fits the bill. At the $200 price, they’re only a good buy if you’re in love with your aging Solo 3 headphones and have been dying to update them. For everyone else, wait for a sale. The Beats Solo 4 are inoffensive at the list price, but a steal at $150 or less. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you’ll get a lot more out of the Beats Studio Pro. If you’re willing to wait, the Beats Solo 4 will be a great buy by Black Friday. Accessories, Headphones

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Microsoft iOS app store launches in July; website rather than app
We learned late last year that a Microsoft iOS app store was in the works, and the company has now announced that this will launch in July. Initially, it will be limited to Microsoft’s own games, but will later open up to other iPhone game developers, giving them an alternative outlet to Apple’s official App Store … more…

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Smartphone addiction is real, and we all probably need to do something about it
If you feel like you're being controlled by your smartphone, don't feel alone — smartphone addiction is a real thing. So, let's talk about it, and how to deal with it.How to dial back your screen timeWe've all done it — we've lost entire days to the siren call of social media or mobile gaming, or even just binge-watching our favorite TV shows. While it's not bad if it happens occasionally, there's a good chance it probably happens more than you'd care to admit.And unfortunately, that's pretty normal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Apple’s iPad ad isn’t heartbreaking destruction, it’s just harmless fun
Macworld Even the biggest companies have been caught up in social-media backlashes, from Adobe’s “tone-deaf” software smile correction to Google’s “embarrassing and wrong” AI tool. But I didn’t think much of a potential controversy when I watched Apple’s ad for the new iPad Pro at its Let Loose event this week. Boy, was I wrong about that. The “Crush!” advert tries to get across the perennial Apple concept that the iPad Pro is such a capable and versatile creative tool that you can do almost anything with it. It does this in an amusingly literal way: By showing the physical embodiments of numerous creative activities–musical instruments, books, cameras, art supplies, sculptures, games machines, and characters–being physically crushed down by a hydraulic press until only the iPad is left. (This has the happy side-effect of also referencing the M4 Pro being preposterously flat.) It’s a cute bit of work: Sadly a number of members of the creative community did not find “Crush!” cute, and are in fact up in arms about it, having as is traditional “taken to Twitter” to vent their feelings. AppleInsider reported on the first wave of complaints, which included claims it is “extremely distasteful” and “lacks any respect for creative equipment and mocks the creators.” One especially delicate viewer described the ad as “heartbreaking, uncomfortable, and egotistic.” That’s just Twitter, you might protest. (To which I would of course reply, I think you mean X.) But serious people think this too. Mashable reckons the ad “essentially flips AI-weary creatives the bird”–goodness me, the word “essentially” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that headline–and TechCrunch did an op-ed describing “Crush!” with an apparently straight face as “disgusting.” “Does your child like music? They don’t need a harp; throw it in the dump. An iPad is good enough,” writes TC’s Devin Coldewey, tangibly growing angrier as he types. “Do they like to paint? Here, Apple Pencil, just as good as pens, watercolors, oils! Books? Don’t make us laugh! Destroy them. Paper is worthless. Use another screen.” And if those aren’t big enough names, the bad guy from Paddington 2 is all in as well. Beloved actor Hugh Grant called the advert “The destruction of the human experience,” and I know actors are prone to extreme reactions but come on. The destruction of the human experience. Courtesy of Silicon Valley. https://t.co/273XB3CfnF— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) May 8, 2024 It was all enough for Apple to issue a rare apology, succinctly admitting that it had “missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”  Take a deep breath First up, we can be pretty sure that Apple didn’t destroy any priceless Stradivarii for the advert: It hasn’t been officially announced but it looks a lot like a lot of it was done with CGI, and any bits that aren’t CGI will be cheaply produced props. This isn’t like that time Kurt Russell smashed a 145-year-old acoustic guitar on the set of a movie. Also, nobody is being mocked, except possibly people who look like that bulging-eye emoji. The ad is very obviously about claiming to empower creative people through technology. It would be insane to mock the product’s intended market. (If Apple did want to mock creatives it would have shown a bearded hipster being squashed in a machine while drinking an expensive coffee and claiming he liked hydraulic presses before they were cool.) More importantly, the symbolism of the advert is absolutely not that physical objects and analog creative pursuits have no value and should be replaced by an iPad. Apple is telling us the iPad Pro is a versatile and capable digital device that can do lots of things, likely alongside analog creative tools, and also by the way it’s really thin. It isn’t that complicated. Think about it. Does Apple feel like the sort of bleakly amoral disruptor startup that would happily throw the creative industries into an AI-powered shredder? Or does it feel like a nearly half-century-old corporation run by baby boomers with a thing for beautiful physical objects and an embarrassing obsession with pop groups? Musicians, filmmakers, photographers, designers… Apple loves to hold up the creative professions as its platonic customer and the template for a fulfilling career–and when it portrays those professions, it does so with Apple products integrated with exactly those physical objects that got chucked in the crushing machine. Look, Apple has plenty of faults, but those faults do not include wanting to mock, destroy, or mechanize the creative professions. It doesn’t want you to throw your harp in the dump. It just wants to sell some iPads. iPad

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