Apple’s foldable iPhone said to sport ‘liquid metal’ hinge 2.5x harder than titanium
Apple has opted for metallic glass, also known as amorphous metal, in the hinge design of the iPhone Fold. Noted industry analyst… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

New xMEMS tweeter promises great sound from next-gen earbuds
The new xMEMS Labs Lassen tweeter could play a big role in next-gen wireless earbuds, bringing great sound at low cost. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Vivo Vision is the closest Vision Pro clone yet
The design of Samsung’s Android VR headset was clearly ‘inspired’ by Vision Pro, but Vivo has taken things to a whole new level with its Vivo Vision. While there are differences, it could certainly pass for the real thing at first glance … more…

Read more »

Turkey launches probe into Apple's alleged price fixing
Turkish authorities are investigating an accusation that Apple and local resellers set prices in contravention of anti-competition laws.Apple Zorlu Center in Istanbul — image credit: AppleApple has previously been accused of similar price fixing with Amazon in the UK, although a resulting lawsuit was dismissed. Now according to Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News, the country's competition regulator has announced a full investigation following initial research into suspected collusion over prices and promotion deals."The preliminary inquiry into Apple's influence on the pricing of resold computers, tablets, smartphones, headphones and accessories has been completed," said the Turkey Competition Board in a statement. "Based on the findings, a formal investigation has been initiated into Apple and its business partners." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Liquid metal hinge in iPhone Fold to be twice as strong as titanium
Revived rumors of Apple using liquid metal for the iPhone Fold's hinge have been assisted by a leaker claiming that it will be more than twice as strong as a titanium-alloy version.A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderOn March 21, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecast that the iPhone Fold would employ liquid metal hinges for a crease-free screen. Less than a week later, a leaker's post adds fuel to the rumored usage of the material.In a Thursday post to Weibo, serial leaker Setsuna Digital, also known as Instant Digital, offers more information about the potential use of liquid metal. Used in the hinge, it is described as an "amorphous alloy" or "metallic glass." Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

The Expanding Role of Red Teaming in Defending AI Systems
By adopting a proactive approach to AI security with red teaming, businesses can uncover hidden vulnerabilities, reduce risks, and build resilient systems. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Read more »

Apple chips will be made in US at faster pace, says TSMC
TSMC’s first US chip plant took significantly longer to build and begin production than was forecast, but the company says that future plants will proceed at a significantly faster pace. This will enable US-made chips for somewhat newer Apple devices. But former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is dismissive of the initiative, suggesting that it will be of little help in enabling the US to be a global player in the chip business … more…

Read more »

How to watch MLB ‘Friday Night Baseball’ for the 2025 season on Apple TV+
Macworld Opening Day is Thursday, March 27, and Apple TV+’s Friday Night Baseball weekly of Major League Baseball doubleheaders has returned. As with last season, an Apple TV+ subscription is required to watch the games, but there are lots of ways to get Apple TV+ for free. Updated March 26, 2025: The fourth season of Friday Night Baseball will begin Friday, March 28, 2025. Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: Schedule Apple has posted the Friday Night Baseball schedule through June. The two games will air on separate streams, so if games overlap, you’ll be able to watch both at the same time using the multiview feature on Apple TV 4K devices. These are the upcoming games on the schedule: Friday, March 28Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays7:00 p.m. ET New York Mets at Houston Astros8:00 p.m. ET Friday, April 4Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies6:30 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers8:00 p.m. ET Friday, April 11Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds6:30 p.m. ET Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins8:00 p.m. ET Friday, April 18Minnesota Twins at Atlanta Braves7:00 p.m. ET Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays7:00 p.m. ET Friday, April 25Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Guardians7:00 p.m. ET Texas Rangers at San Francisco Giants10:00 p.m. ET Friday, May 2San Diego Padres at Pittsburgh Pirates6:30 p.m. ET Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers8:00 p.m. ET Friday, May 9St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals6:30 p.m. ET San Francisco Giants at Minnesota Twins8:00 p.m. ET Friday, May 16Houston Astros at Texas Rangers8:00 p.m. ET Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres9:30 p.m. ET Friday, May 23Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets7:00 p.m. ET Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals8:00 p.m. ET Friday, May 30Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves7:00 p.m. ET New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers10:00 p.m. ET Friday, June 6Arizona Diamondbacks at Cincinnati Reds7:00 p.m. ET Chicago Cubs at Detroit Tigers7:00 p.m. ET Friday, June 13Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles7:00 p.m. ET San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks9:30 p.m. ET Friday, June 20New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies7:00 p.m. ET Kansas City Royals at San Diego Padres9:30 pm. ET Friday, June 27Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles7:00 p.m. ET St. Louis Cardinals at Cleveland Guardians7:00 p.m. ET Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: How to watch Friday Night Baseball requires an Apple TV+ subscription. An Apple TV+ subscription costs $9.99/£9.99 per month, and there are numerous ways to get Apple TV+ for free for a few months. You can also sign up for Apple One, which is a package of Apple services that includes Apple TV+. The prices for Apple One range from $19.95/£19.95 per month for an individual plan to $37.95/£37.95 per month for family plans. Once you have an Apple TV+ subscription, here’s how to watch Friday Night Baseball. On Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro: Friday Night Baseball will be available through the TV app. Click on the Originals tab and then scroll down to Major League Baseball. On Apple TV 4K and HD: Go to the Sports tab and scroll down to Major League Baseball. From there, you can see the schedule and add games to your Up Next queue. On the web: Apple TV+ is available through a browser at tv.apple.com. If Friday Night Baseball isn’t appearing in the marquee spot at the top of the page, scroll down and look for the Major League Baseball section. On a smart TV or set-top box: Many smart TVs and set-top boxes come with the Apple TV app installed. If not, you can search for it through the App Store on your device (Amazon, Google, Roku, etc.). If you can’t find the Apple TV app, check your device for a software update. If you have a business in the U.S., Friday Night Baseball will be available on DirectTV for Business, which caters to bars, restaurants, and other venues. In Canada, Friday Night Baseball will be available through several different providers. Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: Where to watch Friday Night Baseball games are available in 60 countries and regions, including: Australia Brazil Canada Columbia Dominican Republic Germany Italy Japan Mexico Puerto Rico South Korea United Kingdom United States Besides the games, Apple offers baseball shows that are available only in the U.S. and Canada. Those shows include “MLB Big Inning,” “Countdown to First Pitch,” “MLB Daily Recap,” and “MLB This Week.” Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: Streaming quality While games will not be shown in 4K, Apple announced that game broadcasts will employ “state-of-the-art cameras, including high-speed Phantoms, the high-resolution Megalodon, and more throughout the season to present vivid, live-action shots.” Additionally, audio will be presented in 5.1 with spatial audio enabled. “Friday Night Baseball” will also use “new on-screen graphics that include innovative new probabilities-based forecasts of different situational outcomes, plus highlights and live look-ins from around the league integrated right into the broadcast,” according to Apple. Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: Vision Pro Immersive Video While baseball fans subscribing to MLB.TV can enjoy a “fully immersive, three-dimensional viewing environment within a digitally rendered MLB ballpark with interactive statistics, play-by-play and other features that can be fully controlled by the user, including enhanced data visualizations powered by Statcast,” Apple has yet to implement any Immersive Video for watching Friday Night Baseball on Vision Pro. Apple previewed MLB games during its demos of VIsion Pro, however, so they may be coming later this season. ‘Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series’ Also on March 28, Apple TV+ will debut Fight For Glory: 2024 World Series, “the first all-access docuseries exploring the dramatic, high-stakes world of the World Series where the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers battle to capture the most storied trophy in American sports.” The three-part documentary was directed by R.J. Cutler and produced in partnership with MLB. Apple TV+: How to listen to home team audio After getting a lot of criticism for its broadcasters last season, Apple switched up its broadcasters this year with a new team including Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), Heidi Watney (sideline reporter), Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter). But fans in the U.S. and Canada (only Blue Jays games) also have the option to listen to the audio of the home and away teams’ local radio broadcasts during “Friday Night Baseball” games. To find it, click, the three-dot button on iPhone and iPad or the sound icon on Mac and Apple TV, then select audio and change to the home or away broadcast. Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball: Expanded coverage Apple announced that the games will include pre- and post-game coverage hosted by Lauren Gardner with a rotating group of analysts and former players, including Carlos Peña, Cliff Floyd, and Yonder Alonso. For the third straight season, “Friday Night Baseball” games will be called by three-member broadcast teams” Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter)l and Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter). The broadcast teams are all MLB Network personalities, and Apple is relying on the MLB Network for its telecast production. In a press release, Apple stated that the production involves high-speed Phantom and high-resolution Megalodon cameras, immersive sound in 5.1 with spatial audio enabled, new on-screen graphics that include probabilities-based forecasts, and highlights and live look-ins from around the league integrated right into the broadcast. Games also display on-screen callouts about batters’ walk-up songs from Apple Music, Siri-based baseball trivia, and more.  Apple will also offer shows with more baseball coverage. On Thursdays, “Countdown to First Pitch” previews the week’s upcoming games. Every morning, “MLB Daily Recap” shows highlights from the previous night. Every weeknight, “MLB Big Inning,” features highlights and coverage of the games in progress. In the U.S. and Canada, viewers can watch a live stream of highlights, analysis, classic games and shows, and more, in addition to on-demand programming. However, access to this content will require an Apple TV+ subscription. MLB in Apple News and Apple Music On Fridays, Apple News will have curated highlights and stories from around MLB, and you can get personalized MLB highlights in the News app. Apple Music has playlists of batters’ walk-up songs from teams featured on Friday Night Baseball. There are also collections of songs with the theme of baseball.

Read more »

There’s a small problem with changing app icons from squircles to circles in iOS 19
While there may be debate about whether iOS 19 will be a UI revolution or evolution, there does seem to be a consensus view on app icons. Namely, that they are likely to switch from squircles – squares with rounded corners – to circles. Whether one looks better than the other is of course a matter of subjective judgement. But there is a small problem with circular icons … more…

Read more »

How secure is a Mac and are Macs really more secure than Windows?
Macworld While it’s true that Macs are less likely to be attacked on the basis that there are fewer Macs than PCs, Mac users can be a very lucrative target and hence considered worth the effort. As a result Macs can get targeted by malware and viruses. Indeed, even Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi said (in the 2021 trial between Apple and Epic) that: “Today, we have a level of malware on the Mac that we don’t find acceptable.” While his motive was to point out that there is a benefit to forcing iPhone and iPad users to only install apps via the iOS App Store, the point is that even Apple staff admit there are Mac viruses. (Here’s What to do if you think your Mac has a virus.) Macs are generally safer than PCs though. This is partly because the Mac operating system is Unix-based and therefore more difficult to exploit, it’s also because Apple has such tight control over the hardware and software, and Macs are safer due to the various protections and security measures built into the Mac and the Mac operating system that makes Macs more difficult to exploit. But that doesn’t mean you should believe your Mac impenetrable. Macs have been targeted by hackers and viruses and over the years Apple has had to get serious about the measures included in macOS to keep its users safe. In this article we will run through the various ways Apple keeps your Mac secure, and the things you can do to stay safe. For more advice about how to keep your Mac secure read our Mac security tips. Another thing to note is that the M-series chips that Apple started using in November 2020 are considered more secure than Intel processors. However, malware known as Silver Sparrow was found on the M1 Mac shortly after launch. How Apple protects your Mac There are various ways that Apple protects your Mac from malware and viruses as you will see if you read on. There are, of course, other things you can do to supplement these measures, such as running an antivirus software or using a VPN to encrypt your traffic. We have separate advice about the best antivirus for Mac and best VPN. You must also be cautious and not open mysterious emails or click on questionable links–you might be sure you wouldn’t do that, but could you be so sure that your parents wouldn’t? Luckily there are protections baked into a Mac that should mean that even the least tech-savvy people are protected. We’ll outline them below. Apple antivirus Gatekeeper and XProtect are one of the barriers that malware has to cross to get onto your Mac On the software side, macOS includes its own antivirus software built in. XProtect detects and blocks any known malware. Apple monitors for new malware infections and updates XProtect regularly. XProtect will check for malware when an app is first launched and if it has been changed. If XProtect detects malware it will block the software and remove it. In addition to the protection offered by XProtect is Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is a feature of macOS that is designed to stop users from installing malware in the first place. Gatekeeper checks that any app you download from the internet has been verified by Apple and checked for malicious code. If the app is considered a risk Gatekeeper will stop you from installing it. For more advice about downloading and installing apps read: How to install apps on the Mac Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Intego Gatekeeper isn’t infallible, it has been bypassed in the past, and XProtect isn’t always right up to date, so malware has slipped through. But both offer a level of protection that should give you peace of mind. If you want an extra layer of protection our top recommendation in our best antivirus for Mac round-up is Intego Mac Internet Security. Software and security updates Apple ensures that security updates are pushed out to Macs regularly – so it is important to keep your Mac software up to date. However, only the past three versions of macOS are supported with security updates. In spring 2025, Apple only supports macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma and macOS Ventura with security updates. this will change in September, when the launch of the next version of macOS will mean that Ventura loses it’s support. This means that the oldest Macs supported right now are from 2017, and in some cases, 2018–and come September 2025, when Apple updates macOS, those Macs will no longer be supported. This means that if your Mac dates from 2018 it may not be safe to use in the near future. Apple makes this easy by making it possible for your Mac to update automatically, so you don’t need to do anything. To set your Mac to check for updates and update software automatically follow these steps: Open System Settings. Click General. Click Software Update. Make sure that Automatic Updates are On. To ensure that background updates are applied as soon as they are issued by Apple Install Security Responses and System Files should also be selected (click on the i to see these options). Your Mac can automatically check for updates and even install security updates without you needing to do anythingFoundry This should mean that the software is downloaded to your Mac when issued by Apple. You will still need to restart your Mac to install a normal software update update, however, some security updates can be pushed to your Mac by Apple and installed as background updates without requiring you to restart. Rapid Security Responses take this a step further and will speed up the delivery of security fixes on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple introduced this feature in macOS Ventura 13.2 (and iOS 16.3). Now, when you restart a Mac, any Rapid Security Responses will be instantly applied. Approaching security updates in this way means Apple can issue them faster without them being part of a wider update. App protections If you want to be confident that every app you install is safe, it is wise to stick to apps on the Mac App Store. Every Mac App Store app has been reviewed by Apple, so you can be confident that it will not pose a risk. In fact, Apple goes a step further by ensuring that apps are upfront about how they are using your data, so you can be sure that there is no risk that any of your information will be shared with anyone without your knowledge. But even apps that you don’t install from the Mac App Store will be checked by Apple before you can install them – that’s the purpose of Gatekeeper, which we mentioned above. Gatekeeper checks the developer is verified by Apple and checks the file for malware and malicious code. There may be times when you want to open a Mac app from an unidentified developer, you should exercise caution if this is the case. Another reason to choose App Store apps over others is that all apps sold via the Mac App Store must work with sandboxing. The sandbox restricts the access apps have to a Mac’s resources and data. Since macOS 10.15 Catalina launched in 2019 all Mac apps need to be notarized by Apple to launch, in addition, it is now a requirement for all Mac apps to get your permission to access your files – whether they are on your Mac, in iCloud Drive or on an external volume. The macOS will also ask for your permission before an app is able to access the camera or microphone, or log what you type, for example. Safe surfing The above is designed to protect you from rogue apps, but the biggest threats can be from phishing emails, websites and services you might use online. Apple’s web browser, Safari also offers various ways of protecting you online. Safari will warn you if a website is suspicious and will prevent it from opening. Every web page is loaded as a separate process in a separate tab – so if there is a problem it will be possible to close that tab without Safari itself crashing. Another way Apple protects Mac users is by keeping Flash off Macs. Flash is one of the most common means of malware getting onto computers. Apple stopped preinstalling Flash with Safari back in 2010. Following that the only way of adding Flash was for users to install it themselves – which meant that people got used to living without it. In early 2020 Apple stopped supporting Flash and in 31 December 2020 even Flash developer Adobe stopped supporting Flash. JavaScript also brings a number of vulnerabilities. It is easy to disable JavaScript in Safari. Just click on Safari > Preferences > Security > and deselect the box beside Enable JavaScript. Note that if you do this some visuals on the internet may stop displaying, if that becomes an issue reapply it. As well as protecting your security online Apple also protects your privacy. For example, Apple uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention to stop advertisers tracking users around the web. Users can see a Privacy Report, including details of all the cross-site trackers Apple has stopped from profiling you. Lockdown Mode This is a new layer of security that arrived in macOS Ventura that helps when confronted with a cyber attack. You can use it to increase your Mac’s defenses and apply strict limits so that the attacker can’t exploit you. Read about how to turn on Lockdown Mode on your Mac or iPhone. To turn it on follow these steps: Go to System Settings. Choose Privacy & Security. Click Turn On next to the Lockdown Mode label. Enter your administrator password. Click Turn On & Restart. When you believe the danger has passed, you can disable Lockdown Mode and restart again. Password protections Apple also monitors your passwords, helping you change them to a more secure option, suggesting strong passwords, and you’ll even see an alert if Apple believes your password is involved in a data breach. On that note, Apple also offers iCloud Keychain, a password management system that works across all your Apple devices so that you can log into software and services on any of your devices without having to remember individual passwords and login details. The benefit of this is that you can have strong rather than memorable passwords (which Apple can generate on your behalf). All your passwords are locked away behind your main password, which is protected by two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security. Another way Apple helps to protect you is with Passkeys, which arrived in macOS Ventura and iOS 16 as an easier and safer way to sign in. Passkeys are safer because there is no password that could be leaked and everything is end-to-end encrypted. A specific passkey is generated for any site or service, and then stored on your device and in your iCloud Keychain so you have access on your other Apple devices. You just use your Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate. Read: How to use the new Passkeys on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In macOS Sequoia Apple gave passwords even more attention with the arrival of the Passwords app. This is an evolution of iCloud Keychain, where all passwords are currently stored and unlocked with a master password. The new Password app will just make the management of these passwords a bit easier. There are other Password Managers that you might also want to consider, such as 1Password. 1Password Read our review Price When Reviewed: 14 day trial. From $2.99 per month, $36 a year Best Prices Today: $36 at 1Password (annually) Built-in hardware protections “For software to be secure, it must rest on hardware that has security built in” says Apple. This highlights the main benefit of Macs: Apple makes the software and the hardware and therefore controls every aspect of the machine. This is a key reason why Macs are more secure than PCs. Apple builds protection into the Mac hardware. This is particularly true of the Macs with Apple’s M-series of chips. The M1 system on chip, introduced in November 2020, and all other M-series chips since, have a built-in Secure Enclave that protects your login password and automatically encrypts your data. But even Intel-powered Macs with the T1 or T2 security chip can encrypt storage and offer secure boot, for example. The Secure Enclave is dedicated to security functions and, because it’s separate silicon to the main chip, it minimizes the attack surface so any malware can’t do as much damage. Within this separate silicon is the Boot ROM (so your Mac can boot securely) and AES hardware that encrypts files as they are written. Your face and fingerprint data from Face ID and Touch ID are also kept in this Secure Enclave. Apple iCloud Private Relay (almost a VPN) iCloud Private Relay isn’t available to all, it’s part of an iCloud+ subscription, but it can protect your privacy when you browse the web in Safari. It arrived in iOS 15. We cover iCloud Private Relay in detail in our iCloud Private Relay Q&A, but in summary, with Private Relay enabled, all of your browsing activity in Safari is routed through Apple’s proxy server and encrypted so your ISP can’t see your web browsing. It’s a little like a VPN, but not quite. There are a lot of reasons why a VPN is a better option. Apple’s solution only works in Safari and it can’t hide the region you are connecting from (a key reason why people use VPNs). If you would like to use a VPN on your Mac take a look at our best VPN round-up, our top choice is NordVPN. NordVPN Read our review Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.09 a month for two years. Usually $12.99. Best Prices Today: $3.09 at NordVPN (Monthly) macOS Firewall A firewall can add an extra layer of security, protecting you when connected to the internet or an untrusted network. Luckily your Mac has one that you can turn on. Here’s how to turn on the Firewall on a Mac Open System Settings Click Network Click Firewall Click on the slider to turn it on. If you want to specify additional security settings click on Options. You can set up a Firewall to protect your dataFoundry Pre Ventura (note Macs not running Ventura will not be getting security updates). Click the Firewall tab in the System Preferences > Security & Privacy pane. Click the padlock icon at the bottom left to unlock system settings (you’ll need to type your login password when prompted). Click the Turn On Firewall button. Then click the Firewall Options button and, in the dialog box that appears, click the Enable Stealth Mode box. This last step means your computer will be largely invisible on public networks, such as shared Wi-Fi in a cafe. In the Firewall tab, click Firewall Options to make changes. Here, you’ll see a list of apps and services which are able to receive inbound connections. To add one to the list, if, say you try to run an app and it displays an error telling you it has been prevented from accepting an inbound connection, click the ‘+’ beneath the list.  It’s important to note that macOS’s Firewall, while useful, offers only limited protection from malware. That’s because it shields you from inbound traffic only. Its job is to limit which apps and services can accept incoming connections. It doesn’t provide any control over outbound connections i.e. apps and services that initiate connections. So, for example, if you download a piece of malware, macOS’s Firewall won’t stop it from connecting to the internet. Some people choose to block outgoing network connections too so that certain apps can’t “phone home” without their knowledge. This also means accidentally installed malware is unable to leak your data without you being made aware. However, macOS offers no built-in way of blocking outgoing connections. Luckily third-party apps like Little Snitch, or an outbound firewall found in anti-malware tools from the likes of Intego, Sophos and Norton, will do the job with aplomb. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Intego There may be times when you need to allow some apps and services access through the firewall, more on how to do that here: How to open specific ports in Mac firewall. FileVault Apple offers FileVault as a way to encrypt your data (and keep it safe if your Mac is taken or someone gains access to it). If your Mac has an M-series chip this encryption goes a step further and uses specific hardware to protect your login details. We explain How to encrypt your Mac with FileVault 2 in a separate article, but you’ll find the settings over in System Settings > Privacy & Security in Ventura. Just remember that you will need to use your login password or a recovery key to gain access to your data, so there is a risk you will lose your data without one of these. Find My & Activation Lock Apple also has other technologies to assist you if your Mac is stolen, from Find My which enables you to track, and potentially locate your lost Mac, and wipe it so that your data can’t fall into the wrong hands. The Macs with the T2 chip and M1 Macs also offer Activation Lock, a feature of Find My, to remotely lock your Mac so that only you are able to use it. The Touch ID fingerprint scanner available on some Macs also adds another layer of security. It can be used to unlock your Mac, to log onto software and services, and for Apple Pay. Thus Apple protects your Mac if it is stolen, or if someone with malicious intent gains access to it. Apple also protects you from malicious software, and gives you a say over whether you data is accessible and control over how it is used. If your Mac has an M-series chip, or the T2 security chip which is found in some Intel Macs, you can use Activation Lock so that if you lose your Mac, or it is stollen, only you can erase and reactivate it. All of these measures help to make the Mac much safer than a PC, but there are other things you can do to protect yourself further and we will run through these here: 10 ways to protect your Mac from malware and viruses.

Read more »

Will Apple repent–or repeat–its mistakes at WWDC 2025?
Macworld Now we know that June 9 is the day Apple will kick off WWDC 2025. I’ve been covering WWDC since before Steve Jobs came back to Apple, and this year is shaping up to potentially be the most interesting and certainly most dramatic version of Apple’s most important event of the year. If you didn’t know already, WWDC (which stands for Worldwide Developers Conference) is important for more than just developers. It’s literally Apple’s New Year’s Day, the day that the company rolls out its plans for all of its platforms for the next year. With the impending release of iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, and the rest, we are at the tail end of last year’s cycle. Work at Apple is now shifting even more to the stuff we’ll be using over the next year, beginning with the announcement of new features and new decisions on June 9. Last year’s event, which featured the rollout of Apple Intelligence–including, yes, some features that never ended up shipping–was certainly dramatic. But at the same time, we all pretty much knew what was coming: Apple was desperate to be seen as a player in the AI game, and so it was going to blow that horn as loud as it could. This year’s fascination is more subtle: What now? Doubling down on Apple Intelligence? Apologizing for last year’s, er, overexuberant promises? Changing direction? Staying the course? The last year has flipped the table on Apple’s usually conservative and careful platform-building plans. This year’s possibilities are wide open. The elephant in the room Last year’s rollout of Apple Intelligence wasn’t subtle, and by most accounts, it was a rush job after the company realized it was behind in the LLM game. This last year has been bumpy, with some features working okay, others embarrassing Apple, and of course, some not showing up at all. It’s never been more evident that Apple is not a company that is capable of rushing operating-system features into production in a matter of a few months. (Maybe it should be, but that’s a different topic.) Apple felt the pressure to jump on the AI bandwagon and it’s been a bumpy ride ever since.Apple But it’s been more than a year since that fateful decision was made, nearly ten months since WWDC 2024, and five months since Apple Intelligence began shipping to customers. So, what has Apple learned from this entire experience? This is the key question, and while the company won’t tell us the answer directly, we should all watch closely to see how it alters its approach. My guess is that Apple will consider its primary goal of WWDC 2024–to create broad knowledge of “Apple Intelligence” as a brand name that makes Apple vaguely seem in the AI game–to have been achieved. Those who are knowledgeable about the current state of AI will roll their eyes and cite dozens of ways in which Apple is nowhere near the cutting edge of AI, and they’re not wrong. But I think that in the broadest perception of Apple as a company, consumers are vaguely aware that Apple says it has AI. And even people closer to the tech industry have to admit that Apple seems to have a huge desire to get into the AI game, even if it’s stumbled out of the blocks. That’s why this coming year, Apple Intelligence will probably shift to more of a clean-up and consolidation phase. The last year was messy. Bits of Apple Intelligence were jammed into places where they didn’t quite fit or make sense. I hope that Apple will refine the existing tools, ship updated (and hopefully much improved!) versions of its own models, and also focus on shipping the stuff it promised last year that it couldn’t deliver this year–if it can. If it can’t, if those features prove to be elusive, that will continue to be a black eye for Apple–but it needs to own it and move on. As a result, I expect that Apple will only announce a small number of new Apple Intelligence-derived features, not the fusillade of features we got last time. After a year, I hope that the company will understand better what it’s capable of accomplishing in a single year. WWDC 2025 needs to prioritize the needs of developers. Apple What about developers? Lost in all the Apple Intelligence hype last year was the somewhat astonishing fact that at its developer conference, Apple unveiled a load of AI features that offered almost no way for app developers to get in the game. The biggest story for developers at WWDC 2024 was App Intents, which would allow apps to better integrate with all the features that Apple has now admitted it can’t ship. So in hindsight, WWDC 2024 had almost nothing for developers at all. This needs to change, and WWDC 2025 is the place for it to happen. App developers should view Apple platforms as the best places to build AI-enhanced apps. That’s good for Apple. The company has invested a lot in creating hardware that’s pretty solid for running AI applications (thanks, Neural Engine). The next step should be offering developers access to Apple-blessed ML models on its devices, and easy systemwide integration with external models from Apple and third parties. Apple built Apple Intelligence for itself; it’s time to turn the tables and let the app developers start innovating. Speaking of external models, Apple has spent a year with a single integration–to ChatGPT. It’s a great model that’s very useful for lots of stuff, but it’s not without serious competition. Apple should announce that it’s integrating many more models, letting users choose their favorite or allowing the operating system to pick the right tool for various jobs. The company also needs to get over its overwhelming fear of users using these tools–the current implementation of ChatGPT integration requires multiple warning steps unless you dig into settings and shut them all off. By all means, Apple needs to give users the ability to opt out of all AI queries and content. But given how broken Siri is these days, it might also want to make it much easier to opt in and kick most queries to remote sources. Until Apple has a chance to beef up Siri, the Siri agent should only offer to perform the most basic functions and kick everything else out to an LLM. It’s a quick fix, even if it will require Apple to swallow a little pride. Apple needs to allow the integration of other AI models besides ChatGPT.Foundry And then there’s Siri Apple just rearranged the executive ranks and put Mike Rockwell in charge of Siri. If you’re hoping for major Siri announcements at WWDC 2025, though, I have a stern warning. We all want Siri to be fixed. But if Rockwell is just now being put in charge, it means that any announcements for Siri fixes in the next year would probably be just as rushed as the Apple Intelligence features were last year! As a result, I expect that Apple will be a little less aggressive on Siri, while still making some promises for early in 2026. As I detailed a few paragraphs ago, perhaps the best solution is to turn more Siri queries over to other LLMs in the meantime just to stop the bleeding. I realize the temptation to make big claims about changes to Siri will be great. But… we were just here last year. I hope Rockwell rights the ship, and Siri gets in gear, but I want to see Apple show that it’s learned its lesson about overpromising and underdelivering. A new design? Sure! There have been lots of recent reports that this year’s OS updates will feature a new design language. It sounds good to me. Here’s how the cycle goes: A company releases a major new redesign. It pushes things a bit too far in the interest of making change. Over the course of a few years, the most extreme stuff gets sanded off, and everyone settles in. Then many years pass, and new doodads get added here and there as one-off additions until a decade passes and your clean new design is now a monstrosity. It’s time for a new, consistent design. While a lot of people are reporting that the new design language is “based on visionOS,” I don’t think that’s the case. My guess is that Apple has been spending years working on this design, and it’s been built from the ground up to work across all of its devices… including, logically, the new Vision Pro. But Vision Pro shipped before the new design was ready to roll out elsewhere, so it became a testbed for some of the ideas of the new design. As a result, I expect aspects of this design to be reminiscent of visionOS–but they’re all from a common source, not just being copied from visionOS. I do think that it’s time for a fresh design, and for Apple to extend its design philosophy across all of its operating systems. While a lot of Mac users might cringe at the idea that the Mac is going to just end up looking like an iPad, I actually think that this process should be a good thing for Mac users. A good, thoughtful design system should take into account the things that make all of Apple’s devices unique–while bearing a family resemblance and working similarly, like they’re all from the same company. I would argue that a lot of the most glaring design sins in macOS in the past few years have come from iOS designs just getting sprayed into macOS without a whole lot of thought. If Apple’s designers have done their jobs, this time around, the Mac will be considered along with iOS, and they’ll make the right decisions for each of Apple’s platforms. It’s been said that the new OS design language is taking cues from visionOS, but that isn’t entirely accurate.Apple Another thing to keep in mind: Apple is really good at playing the long game. Over the last few years, I’ve had several conversations with Apple executives who have explained that when Apple designs a new processor, it knows exactly what devices will be using that processor. This is one of the advantages of the Apple silicon approach. Well, Apple’s new design language presumably has been designed with some understanding about where the company is going with its product designs in the future, not just in 2025. If Apple is planning a folding iPhone, this design should have factored that in. If there are touchscreen Macs on the horizon, this would be the time for the design to take that into account. Finally, a lot of pundits will say that Apple’s new design, when it’s revealed in June, is a smokescreen designed to distract people from Apple’s rough time with Apple Intelligence. This argument is about as convincing as saying that Apple changed the iPhone’s design a month before shipping, or altered the design of a chip six months before it arrived. So much of what Apple does takes years of pre-planning to accomplish, and that includes this new design. But that said, if the new design gets people talking about something other than the broken promises of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s not going to complain one bit.

Read more »

Apple opens website to allow people to apply for in-person passes to WWDC 2025
If you’re looking to apply to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in person, there are some steps to follow. As usual, developers will have to apply to take part in the in-person elements of the conference, complete with getting to attend the Keynote and Platforms State of the Union, meet with Apple experts one-on-one and […] Source

Read more »

Waze to remove Google Assistant feature for iOS version of its app
Sometimes a feature doesn’t work out for an app that’s not on its native platform. As handy as the Waze app is on iOS, a company representative has confirmed that the Google Assistant feature is officially being removed from the app after more than a year of the feature being broken. It’s thought that Waze’s […] Source

Read more »

Are you bored of Duolingo? Study a new language with Babbel’s short and sweet lessons
Macworld About 45% of respondents in one survey said they put learning a new language on their New Year’s resolution list—did you do the same this year? If so, we’re checking to see how those Duolingo lessons have been going. Tired of learning random words and phrases? You’ll want to check out this language-learning app.  Meet Babbel, the app that makes language learning both fun and functional. You can grab lifetime access to this App Store favorite for only $124.99 (reg. $599) through March 31 with our code LEARN. That’s the lowest price online. Unlike the boring, long language lessons you took in high school, Babbel makes the process so much more manageable. How? You only need 10-15 minutes of your day to keep up with your language learning since Babbel’s lessons are short, engaging, and practical. Just begin by choosing one of its 14 lessons. Imagine being able to ask for restaurant recommendations in French or ask the locals what the best surfing spots are in Indonesian—that could be in your future after studying your new language with Babbel. You can even perfect your accent with Babbel’s speech recognition technology, whether you’re learning French, Danish, Indonesian, or Spanish. You only have until March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT to use code LEARN at checkout to grab this Babbel lifetime subscription at the unbeatable price of $124.99.   Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) Only $124.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

It’s an Apple Watch charger. It’s $15. And it’s a what?
Macworld The Apple Watch does it all…until the battery taps out before you even get home for the day. Instead of committing to a life of carrying around your charging block and cable, many people are grabbing these Apple Watch keychain chargers — now $35 off for a limited time. You charge it up, attach the carabiner to your keyring, and throw your watch on whenever it dies at the most inconvenient time possible. Its strong magnetic attachment holds onto any series of the Apple Watch tightly, so you can go about your business without the stress of it popping off. The portable Apple Watch charger has a 950mAh battery capacity, meaning it can charge your smartwatch about two times, depending on the exact model you have. Check the charging status using the four LED lights. You can also charge your watch while the gadget charges if the need arises. You only have a few days left to get this Apple Watch travel charger on a keychain for $14.97 (reg. $49.95), so don’t wait. No coupon is needed to get this price.   Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain – $14.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

iPhone 17 Pro’s upgraded cameras could enable 8K video recording
iPhone 17 Pro may finally catch up to Android flagships and offer 8K video recording, leading to a 4x jump in the video resolution. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Flash deal: Grab an M4 Pro Mac mini for $1,199, record low price
Amazon's Big Spring Sale is in full swing, and the latest Apple device to receive a steep discount is the M4 Pro Mac mini. Snag the lowest price ever thanks to a price war between Amazon and B&H.Get the lowest price ever on an M4 Pro Mac mini.Equipped with Apple's M4 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, this configuration also has 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of storage, making it a solid option at the discounted price of $1,199. This markdown, which is $200 off MSRP, is available at both Amazon and B&H as the retailers compete for your business at the end of Q1 2025. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Apple to create new vice president of stores and retail operations, name Vanessa Trigub to role
Senior vice president of retail and people Deirdre O'Brien is about to get some help thanks to a new role Apple will introduce soon called the vice president of stores and retail operations.Apple Park. Image source: AppleThere has been some back and forth regarding Apple's leadership around HR and retail in recent years. Deirdre O'Brien took over as vice president of people in 2017, that role expanded to retail and people in 2019, collapsed down to just retail again in 2023, then back to retail and people in 2024.This time, according to a report from Bloomberg, O'Brien is getting help on the retail side, but sticking with the SVP of retail and people role. Instead, a new vice president of stores and retail operations will be created with Vanessa Trigub in the role. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Apple names Vanessa Trigub to new role as VP of retail stores
Apple seems to be making some changes to its executive team. This time, the company is naming a global VP who will be in charge of Apple’s retail stores around the world. more…

Read more »

Baseus Nomos MagSafe Battery review: A great 'just in case' daily carry battery
Baseus' new power bank combines the convenience of MagSafe and the power of fast charging with a built-in USB-C cable.Baseus Nomos MagSafe Battery reviewA MagSafe charger can be a lifesaver when it comes to bringing your phone from the brink of 0% without being tethered to a cable or outlet. Still, there are times when fast charging might be crucial to help your devices get through the day.The Nomos combines both of these ideas in a portable, yet high-milliamp package. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

HomePod mini scores a fat 15% discount
Apple's compact but impressive-sounding smart speaker is now available at a discount with this HomePod mini deal. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

The Website Hacker News Is Afraid to Discuss (You’re Reading It)
What bothers me isn’t so much that Daring Fireball is shitlisted at Hacker News. What bothers me is that it’s unexplained.

Read more »

BLUETTI’s new portable power products are a game-changer for outdoor adventures
BLUETTI has long been an innovator in portable energy storage, and has long been committed to clean and sustainable energy. Its focus on compact, durable, and affordable power solutions has made BLUETTI a market leader. With BLUETTI’s spring sale, you can get up to 54% off of products across their lineup, including an all time low on its Elite 200 V2 portable power station. You can also use our exclusive discount code, 9TO5MAC5OFF, to save an additional 5% on all purchases made through the official BLUETTI store and . These products are great for van life, road trips, camping, and more. more…

Read more »

Utah's new law forces tech companies to add age verification, but Apple is already prepared
Utah's new App Store Accountability Act will force companies like Apple and Google to verify the ages of new App Store users in the state.Utah's new App Store Accountability Act will force tech companies to implement age verification measures.The law, signed by Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Wednesday, was created to protect children and prevent them from accessing age-inappropriate content. Under the App Store Accountability Act, Apple will be required to implement age-verification measures, and the company is already well prepared.In February 2025, Apple published a whitepaper detailing the age assurance features it would be implementing. Through a new developer API, Apple will make it easier for parents to set up App Store accounts for their children. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Try out this iOS 19 mockup on your iPhone with an interactive App Clip
We’ve been talking a lot about iOS 19 over the last few days, as rumors suggest that the next version of the iPhone’s operating system will receive a new interface inspired by visionOS. Although we don’t know exactly what it will look like, someone has created a live mockup of iOS 19 and made it interactive via an App Clip. more…

Read more »

Utah governor signs online child safety law requiring Apple, Google to verify user ages
Utah’s App Store Accountability Act marks a groundbreaking shift as the nation’s first law of its kind, redefining online age verification… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

Another limited time Apple Card offer is now available: earn up to $300
Apple Card doesn’t typically offer a sign up bonus, but Apple will run special promos from time to time. From now until March 31st, targeted users can receive up to $300 for signing up for a new Apple Card. more…

Read more »

Apple launches ‘new’ Lumon Terminal Pro Mac to promote ‘Severance’
Macworld Severance, the Apple TV+ show that’s being hailed as one of the best TV shows around, wrapped up its second season last week. But Apple isn’t content with just letting the season end and leaving us waiting for a third season. Apple seemingly wants to prolong its time in the spotlight by releasing a Behind the Scenes–err, I mean, Behind the Mac video about the production of the show, specifically, editing. Apple really wants you to see this video, so much so that they’re promoting it in the Mac section of Apple.com. Click on that link, and you’ll see a “New” Lumen Terminal Pro, the computers that sit on the desks of the Lumon offices in the show. Below the computer is a blue button that opens the video. The Lumen Terminal Pro is also listed alongside the MacBook Air as a “New” Mac but sadly you can’t preorder one. The 12-minute video offers an interesting insight into the editing process for 83 terabytes of footage” and how particular screens were handled for the show–the whole video is a spoiler for season two if you haven’t watched it yet. The editors worked on the Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro, but they did not use Apple’s Final Cut Pro, they used Avid Pro Tools, which is considered the standard in Hollywood video production. The video is on Apple’s website and on YouTube below.

Read more »

Get 1TB of cloud storage, just $120 for life
Koofr lifetime cloud storage plan gives you 1TB of space, accessible from any device. Pay just $119.97 for the cheapest cloud storage around. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

This sneaky new music feature in iOS 18.4 is actually a hidden gem
In iOS 18.4, Apple added a new ambient music feature to Control Center. It does exactly what it sounds like, and provides a variety of options to play some ambient background music with the tap of a button. It’s a great start, and I’d love to see Apple expand this feature in the future. iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, but Apple just released the RC earlier this week – so it’ll likely release to the public in the very near future. more…

Read more »