Swift Student Challenge winners reveal what it’s like to present to Tim Cook [Interview]
This week, Tim Cook surprised 14 Swift Student Challenge winners with a rare opportunity: present their work to the CEO of Apple. After having the chance to witness this special event on Sunday, I had the opportunity after the WWDC keynote to sit down with four of the student developers and ask what the experience meant for each of them. Here’s my chat with Elana Galluzzo (Care Capsule), Shinwon Lee (Melody), AJ Nettles (CryptOh?), and Desmond Blair (MTB-XTREME). more…

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Canon's RF-S dual fisheye lens will help produce Apple Vision Pro video
Camera maker Canon has brought out another dual fisheye lens for its RF-S cameras, which could be used to make 3D video for the Apple Vision Pro.Canon's new RF-S dual fisheye lensContent creators have a few ways to produce new video for the Apple Vision Pro and other mixed-reality headsets. While they can use an iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Apple Vision Pro itself, Canon's offering a way to do it with their cameras.Tuesday's launch of the RF-S 3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye is a new lens designed for producing video content for headsets. It uses two separate lenses positioned side-by-side to simulate human binocular vision. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18 HomeKit features: guest user access, hands-free door unlock, robot vacuum support
While we still waiting for new smart home hardware products from Apple, iOS 18 does bring some new advancements to the Apple smart home software experience, with upgrades to HomeKit and the Home app. The hero new feature this year is the addition of guest user access, allowing you to let visitors control your smart accessories temporarily, without adding them as a full permanent member of your Home. Also, there is new support for smart robot vacuum cleaners and door locks with Ultra-Wide Band connectivity … more…

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Tim Cook: Apple Intelligence may hallucinate, but has guardrails
CEO Tim Cook has admitted in an interview that Apple Intelligence may hallucinate, but says that its responses will be “very high quality.” He also said that the company has not been willing to compromise on its values to move into AI, and that there are guardrails in place for its upcoming artificial intelligence features … more…

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Activists rally at Apple Park for reinstatement of child safety features
Protesters at Apple Park are demanding that the company reinstate its recently abandoned child safety measures.Image credit: Heat Initiative (via X)Nearly three dozen protesters gathered around Apple Park on Monday morning, carrying signs that read, "Why Won't you Delete Child Abuse?" and "Build a future without abuse."The group, known as Heat Initiative, is demanding that the iPhone developer bring back its child sexual abuse material (CSAM) detection tool. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Music in iOS 18 gets two new features that are flying under the radar
Apple Music didn’t receive any attention during yesterday’s WWDC keynote, but that doesn’t mean iOS 18 leaves the app unchanged. The Music app may not have received any design updates in iOS 18, but there are two key new features that are flying under the radar. more…

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Here’s a first look at the upcoming Blackmagic camera for Vision Pro immersive video
Apple briefly showed us a glimpse of an upcoming Blackmagic camera designed specifically for shooting Vision Pro immersive video during yesterday’s keynote. The company has now shared a few images of the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive, which appears to be based on the URSA Cine 12K … more…

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Apple highlights 18 top features from WWDC in 3 minutes [Video]
Apple’s upcoming software releases include hundreds of new features and changes and following the WWDC keynote, the company has recapped 18 of the biggest ones. Check out the 3-minute “18 Things” video along with the official recap of “Apple Intelligence in 5 minutes”. more…

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Apple ID is getting a rebrand starting with the release of iOS 18
Starting in the fall of 2024 with iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and more, Apple is rebranding Apple ID to "Apple Account" across all of its services.The familiar Apple ID is getting rebranded"Apple ID" as a term has been around for more than two decades. The company didn't make the change at the WWDC keynote, but instead dropped it in the tail-end of a press release on Thursday discussing feature changes to services coming in the fall."With the releases of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11, Apple ID is renamed to Apple Account for a consistent sign-in experience across Apple services and devices, and relies on a user's existing credentials," the company said. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Charge your iPhone from 0% to 55% percent in 30 minutes with this 50,000mAh power bank
Staying powered up is non-negotiable these days. This affordable 50,000mAh power bank can charge up iPhone, Mac and iPad anywhere. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Tiled window management comes to macOS Sequoia, but it's hidden
Apple has introduced yet another way to help manage overlapping windows on the Mac, but you have to know where it is on macOS Sequoia — and it doesn't seem to be complete.Example of tiling windows into four corners (Source: Apple)It was Steve Jobs who in 2007 proclaimed that our Mac screens are wildly out of control and that we needed Apple's then-new Spaces feature to help. Spaces is still with us and still useful, but to solve the same problem, Apple introduced Stage Manager.Now with macOS Sequoia, it's having a third go — and this time it's mimicking third-party window management apps. There are very many of these, including perhaps the most popular, Moom. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to adjust the flashlight's focus and beam shape in iOS 18
Apple's iOS 18 update provides more control over how the flashlight functions on an iPhone, Here's how to adjust how it produces and focuses light.The flashlight feature on an iPhoneThe flashlight function in iOS turns on the rear flash, illuminating the path ahead for you. Previously, you had fairly limited control over the brightness of the flashlight, and that was fairly utilitarian.However, in iOS 18, there's a lot more control available for what is a relatively small operating system feature. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Celebrate SpaceX’s fourth Starship flight with these amazing iPhone wallpapers
There’s nothing more photogenic than the world’s most powerful rocket. While conditions made photographing last week’s Starship Flight 4 difficult for the press, to SpaceX’s cameras, it was glorious. Here are five Starship wallpapers taken by SpaceX’s cameras, both on the ground and on the rocket. more…

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Apple Intelligence reportedly still very finicky in internal testing
Apple on Monday introduced Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Elon Musk threatens to ban Apple devices if OpenAI is integrated at the OS level
Elon Musk said he would ban Apple devices from his companies' networks if OpenAI’s artificial intelligence software is integrated at the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple Intelligence: The features I can’t wait to try
The bad news from yesterday’s keynote is that Apple has never listed so many new features as “coming later.” This includes all of the Apple Intelligence ones. The other bad news is that AI features will initially be limited to US English, although Apple’s wording here does suggest that those of us in other countries will still be able to try it … more…

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What's new with macOS Sequoia's System Settings
Apple has refreshed the System Settings app of macOS Sequoia, with tweaks to how it looks and performs. Here's what to expect.System Settings has changed in macOS SequoiaApple used its WWDC 2024 keynote to introduce macOS Sequoia, alongside its other operating system upgrades. Shortly after the keynote, Apple made betas available for all of the operating systems.While features like Apple Intelligence will claim the most column inches, there are still some smaller changes to the way macOS functions. That includes alterations to the System Settings app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18 Passwords app can't import passwords, but macOS can
Apple's new Passwords app comes with every password ever saved in Safari, but only macOS Sequoia's version can import new ones from a third-party app.Only the macOS Sequoia Passwords app can import passwords, for nowApple made a point of saying that it has spent 25 years working on securing passwords for users, but still users of its new Passwords app may be surprised at the result. For Passwords does not open without any passwords, it instead has everything ever saved via Safari — which can be hundreds of login passwords.It also contains Wi-Fi login passwords, which can go back years to old and long-forgotten routers. The new Passwords app also automatically includes any Passkeys. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Intelligence Headlines WWDC24 Kickoff Event
Apple's answer to the likes of Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, didn't exhibit many tricks not already seen on those other platforms, but it did excel in two areas: integration and privacy. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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iOS 18 beta 1: First impressions, and is it worth it?
Aka I installed the iOS 18 beta 1 so you don’t have to … I normally steer clear of the first developer beta of a new iOS release. This year I thought I wouldn’t be able to resist, as I was keen to play with the new AI features, but of course yesterday’s keynote quickly killed all hope of that. Every single one of them was billed as coming later. Still, there were a few things I did want to try, so I took a deep breath and pressed the button … more…

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As always, Apple does its best work inside its walled garden
Macworld Apple on Monday took the wraps off a ton of new features coming to our devices this fall. The headline feature, of course, is Apple Intelligence, which brings the world of generative AI to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with writing tools, image and emoji creation, and a new era for Siri. But once again, the features that will delight us the most when they arrive this fall are the ones that take advantage of how everything in the Apple ecosystem works together. The coolest feature by far is iPhone Mirroring, part of macOS 15 Sequoia. It’s another fantastic Continuity feature—like Universal Control and Sidecar—and it allows you to view what’s on your iPhone and control it too, without having to reach for it. The demo was like watching one of Steve Jobs’s  “Boom!: moments, where something just works because, well, it’s Apple. You can literally access your iPhone wirelessly on your Mac and use it as if it was in your hand. Drag and drop photos and files between the two devices, launch iPhone apps on your Mac, and respond to notifications all while your iPhone stays locked in another room. It’s the perfect Apple feature and the reason why people willingly enter into the walled garden. No other company can deliver a feature so seamlessly—not Google, not Samsung, not Microsoft. Or take the iPad’s new Calculator. Yes, it’s ridiculous that it took 14 years to get a Calculator app on the tablet, but there’s a lot more to it than just digital buttons. Using the power of the Apple Pencil, iPad users can jot down numbers and symbols in their own handwriting and Calculator will still recognize equations as if they were plugged in the old-fashioned way. Again, magic. Where other tablets’ styluses are good, even great for writing and drawing, only Apple understands the relationship between its devices and how the relationship between them can be augmented through software. The iPad and Apple Pencil are already great, but Calculator and Math Notes take it to a new level only Apple can achieve. Take either out of the Apple ecosystem and the experience just isn’t the same. It’s a different form of Apple Intelligence, one that’s at its smartest when every device is in sync. As Apple’s family of devices has evolved and matured, features like Math Notes and iPhone Mirroring haven’t just become possible, they become commonplace. Apple’s devices complement each other in a way that makes users want to stay in the garden, no matter how high the walls may get.  iPad, MacOS

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iOS 18 gives iPhone 15 more charging limit tiers to protect the battery
Apple has updated its battery health settings in iOS 18 in iPhone 15 by giving more control to users over charging limits.The new iOS 18 adds more options for a hard charging limitAs introduced in 2023 with iOS 17, the Charging section of Settings on iPhone let users turn on a limit to how much a battery will be charged. The optional limit was 80%, and it meant that in order to extend the lifetime of the battery, it would never charge beyond that limit.Now in iOS 18, the same setting comes with a range of optional limits. Specifically, users can now set a charge limit of 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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WWDC: Apple announces messages via satellite protocol with iOS 18 update
Among the arguably cool and handy things announced during the WWDC keynote, Apple has stated that it will be adding Emergency SOS via Satellite features via messaging with the launch of its iOS 18 operating system. The introduction of Emergency SOS via Satellite provided users with a way to get assistance when they’re out of […] Source

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WWDC: Apple announces macOS Sequoia operating system
It wouldn’t be a WWDC keynote speech without mention of Apple’s forthcoming desktop operating system, and over in Cupertino, Tim Cook and company announced macOS Sequoia, the next version of the Mac operating system. Version 15 of macOS has AI features, many of which are also in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Sequoia is expected […] Source

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WWDC: Apple releases short recap video of WWDC keynote speech announcements
This year’s WWDC keynote speech was impressive but at more than two and a half hours, it was also a bit of a slog. Apple, in turn, has released the following short video containing the highlights, such as details about its forthcoming iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia operating systems and its forthcoming Apple Intelligence AI […] Source

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Apple’s smartest new features leave the Intelligence behind
Macworld The Macalope regrets to inform you that we’re still talking about AI and probably are going to be for the rest of time if current trends continue. But at least it now stands for something else: Apple Intelligence. True fact: if you ask an LLM to show you a video of a “mixed bag on AI” it returns a video of yesterday’s keynote. True. Fact. (Hilariously, if an AI scans this article, it actually will subsequently be listed as a true fact.) Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and those ugly generative images you can get. Apple says its AI will bring a host of features to the company’s devices ranging from editing people out of the backgrounds of photos (finally) to a Siri that has object permanence. Yes, Apple says you will no longer have to very precisely tell Siri what you’re talking about, it will be able to parse verbal stumbles as well as remember what you were just talking to it about. It will also be able to provide any number of suggestions based on the things that are on your device, without having to send it all to the cloud, and when it does need to send things to the cloud it will do so securely using Private Cloud Compute, a model that never stores your requests or gives Apple access to them and is verified by independent experts. In those instances where Apple Intelligence can’t (or would rather not try) to provide answers, Apple has partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT integration to its platforms. Personally, the Macalope would prefer Apple partner with a more responsible AI company, but [looks around] he guesses that’s not an option. Which really is kind of the problem. AI has been crowned the “next big thing” and all companies must get aboard or be punished by the market, whether it’s responsible or ethical. To top it off, Apple indicated it is also hoping to bring Google Gemini and other AI models to iOS 18 for those who only have glue and rocks in their house and need a great recipe. No, no, everything is going great, why do you ask? Apple continues to try to jazz up messages. Emoji reactions are a welcome addition and probably all that most of us really wanted. But what about people who live in the Uncanny Valley? Well, they’re in luck. Enter Image Playground. Image Playground will create images based on photos in your library and prompt you to provide such as “my mom in a cape and costume but remove her soul” or “my friend in front of a birthday cake but remove her soul.” Anything as long as the soul is removed from a person. IDG IDG IDG All of Apple’s intelligence announcements will, of course, be considered too little, too late by many. This is to be expected. The company has, at least, implemented them with its usual eye for privacy even when using third-party solutions. Apple says privacy protections are put in place when using ChatGPT via Siri and Writing Tools, its new text suggestion system. Requests are not stored and IP addresses are obscured. While AI will, unfortunately, garner the lion’s share of the headlines, other than just a better Siri, it’s the non-AI announcements that have the Macalope more excited. A dedicated Passwords app, more home screen customization, being able to mirror your iPhone from your Mac, Mail improvements, and, heck, even inSights on TV+ shows are all going to provide the Macalope more long-term value than being able to get incorrect answers from a copyright-infringing tool with the real purpose of acting as a high carbon-footprint middleman. Not that the Macalope is cynical about AI. Apple Inc, iOS

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WWDC: Apple demonstrates the integration between Siri and ChatGPT
During the WWDC keynote, Apple dove hard into its plans for its new Apple Intelligence features for iOS 18, complete with its integration with ChatGPT. Through this method, Apple will allow users to sign into their OpenAI account and use ChatGPT models as needed. Once connected, users can select ChatGPT as their model to use […] Source

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iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro: Where to get the best deals
Macworld It’s been a long time since you could only buy an iPhone directly from Apple or from AT&T. Today, they are offered by all major carriers and big retailers, many of which try to entice you with special deals. Of course, you can still buy from Apple directly, either in-store or online, but the lowest prices can generally be found elsewhere. If you haven’t yet put in your order for an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro, this article will help you to spend as little money as possible. We provide a summary of the best deals and promotions offered by popular retailers, plus automatically updated price-comparison tables covering the wider market, all of which will help you find the very best deal on your new iPhone.  If you’re looking for other models, check out our overall Best iPhone deals roundup. And if you can’t decide which iPhone to buy, read our reviews and take a look at our Best iPhone chart. iPhone 14 review iPhone 14 Plus review iPhone 14 Pro review iPhone 14 Pro Max review Where to get the best iPhone deals Buying direct from Apple is one option if you’re looking for an unlocked, SIM-free iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus, and it’s the go-to place to join the iPhone Upgrade Program. Apple will also let you trade in your old iPhone and get up to $650 in credit toward a new purchase. Find an unlocked or SIM-free iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus at Apple. Since the arrival of the 15-series iPhones in fall 2023, Apple has stopped selling the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but they are still available from other retailers, as you will see below. In the U.K. we frequently see Amazon discount iPhones–although the biggest discounts tend to be on the older models, such as the iPhone 13 or iPhone SE. Best unlocked iPhone 14 series deals U.K. It’s possible to find deals on handsets bought unlocked in the UK, including the 14-series iPhones. We’ve spotted the following savings: John Lewis, iPhone 14: £599 (£100 off; RRP £699) Amazon, iPhone 14: £599 (£100 off; RRP £699) Amazon, iPhone 14 Plus: £599 (£200 off; RRP £799) Amazon, iPhone 14 Pro (256GB): £999 (£210 off last year’s price of £1,209, but note it has since been discontinued and would have seen a price cut anyway) Best iPhone 14 series carrier deals If you want to buy a recent iPhone for less than the full retail price, you’re probably going to need to get it from a carrier or mobile provider, and there will often be significant strings attached. These deals can be complicated, so be sure to read the fine print. In the U.S., Apple partners with carriers to offer discounts on the 2022 iPhones. You get a $30 discount if you buy a phone activated on AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile/Sprint, however, if you shop around there are some good deals to be found. U.S. AT&T: Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile: Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy an iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone when you add a new line. Verizon: Get up to $1,000 in bill credits toward an iPhone 14 Pro with trade-in and select Unlimited plans. U.K. Contract offers vary quite widely in price, but you’ll need to check the fine print and the perks and extras that are thrown in. You can browse the best current deals using the tool below; click ‘Choose Smartphone’ to filter by model. Readers who would like to do their own research should try the following U.K. carriers: EE O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone Best iPhone 14 deals The 14 got a nice price cut when the iPhone 15 came out. At launch, the iPhone 14 started at $829 / £849 / AUD$1,399, but you’ll pay rather less now: 128GB: $699 / £699 / AUD$1,299 256GB: $799 / £799 / AUD$1,499 512GB: $999 / £999 / AUD$1,849 You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 by using our automated table below: New Refurbished Retailer Price $729 View Deal $829 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 128GB – Blue – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $477.65 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Midnight – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $486.26 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $489.39 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Starlight – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $495 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 14 Plus deals The iPhone 14 Plus has also seen a price drop since the launch of the iPhone 15. It started at $929 / £949 / AUD$1,579 at launch, but now costs less: 128GB: $799 / £799 / AUD$1,499 256GB: $899 / £899 / AUD$1,699 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AUD$2,049 You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 Plus by using our automated table below: Best iPhone 14 Pro deals The iPhone 14 Pro has been discontinued by Apple, so it no longer has an official MSRP/RRP. The best we can do is look at the prices when it launched in fall 2022, and knock off a little to account for the price cut it would have received in fall 2023. iPhone 14 Pro prices (fall 2022): 128GB: $999 / £1,099 / AUD$1,699 256GB: $1,099 / £1,209 / AUD$1,869 512GB: $1,299 / £1,429 / AUD$2,219 1TB: $1,499 / £1,649 / AUD$2,569 You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 Pro by using our automated table below: New Refurbished Retailer Price $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $655.23 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $680.91 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Gold – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $701.48 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $706.26 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $782 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $786.76 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Gold – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $802 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $829 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Best iPhone 14 Pro Max deals The 14 Pro Max has also been discontinued. If Apple had kept it around, we can assume it would probably have received a price cut in fall 2023. iPhone 14 Pro Max prices (fall 2022): 128GB: $1,099 / £1,199 / AUD$1,899 256GB: $1,199 / £1,309 / AUD$2,099 512GB: $1,399 / £1,529 / AUD$2,419 1TB: $1,599 / £1,749 / AUD$2,769 You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 Pro Max by using our automated table below: New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $786.76 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to get refurbished iPhone 14 deals If you haven’t already, you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone 14 to save money (and the environment). Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. It’s almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide to buying refurbished or second-hand iPhones for more. The first place to shop for a refurbished iPhone is on the Apple Refurbished Store. At time of writing, Apple does not yet offer refurbished iPhone 14 models for sale, but that could change at any time. Rest assured, the Apple Refurbished Store is where you can get the highest quality of refurbished iPhones. You may want to shop at the following refurbished resellers instead: U.S. BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed U.K. Music Magpie Envirofone Reboxed 4Gadgets Smartfone Store iPhone

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Apple releases visionOS 1.2 update for Vision Pro headset
Prior to all the WWDC keynote news and announcements, Apple released visionOS 1.2, the second major update for its Vision Pro wearable headset. The hefty update adds the following fixes and change: ‌‌The update can be found, downloaded, and installed by going to the Settings app on the Vision Pro, selecting the General section, and […] Source

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‘Operation Endgame’ Hits Malware Delivery Platforms
Law enforcement agencies in the United States and Europe today announced Operation Endgame, a coordinated action against some of the most popular cybercrime platforms for delivering ransomware and data-stealing malware. Dubbed "the largest ever operation against botnets," the international effort is being billed as the opening salvo in an ongoing campaign targeting advanced malware "droppers" or "loaders" like IcedID, Smokeloader and Trickbot.

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Is Your Computer Part of ‘The Largest Botnet Ever?’
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today said they arrested the alleged operator of 911 S5, a ten-year-old online anonymity service that was powered by what the director of the FBI called "likely the world's largest botnet ever." The arrest coincided with the seizure of the 911 S5 website and supporting infrastructure, which the government says turned computers running various "free VPN" products into Internet traffic relays that facilitated billions of dollars in online fraud and cybercrime.

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Treasury Sanctions Creators of 911 S5 Proxy Botnet
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today unveiled sanctions against three Chinese nationals for allegedly operating 911 S5, an online anonymity service that for many years was the easiest and cheapest way to route one's Web traffic through malware-infected computers around the globe. KrebsOnSecurity identified one of the three men in a July 2022 investigation into 911 S5, which was massively hacked and then closed ten days later.

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Stark Industries Solutions: An Iron Hammer in the Cloud
Two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, a large, mysterious new Internet hosting firm called Stark Industries Solutions materialized and quickly became the epicenter of massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on government and commercial targets in Ukraine and Europe. An investigation into Stark Industries reveals it is being used as a global proxy network that conceals the true source of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns against enemies of Russia.

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Why Your Wi-Fi Router Doubles as an Apple AirTag
Apple and the satellite-based broadband service Starlink each recently took steps to address new research into the potential security and privacy implications of how their services geo-locate devices. Researchers from the University of Maryland say they relied on publicly available data from Apple to track the location of billions of devices globally -- including non-Apple devices like Starlink systems -- and found they could use this data to monitor the destruction of Gaza, as well as the movements and in many cases identities of Russian and Ukrainian troops.

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Patch Tuesday, May 2024 Edition
Microsoft today released updates to fix more than 60 security holes in Windows computers and supported software, including two "zero-day" vulnerabilities in Windows that are already being exploited in active attacks. There are also important security patches available for macOS and Adobe users, and for the Chrome Web browser, which just patched its own zero-day flaw.

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How Did Authorities Identify the Alleged Lockbit Boss?
Last week, the United States joined the U.K. and Australia in sanctioning and charging a Russian man named Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev as the leader of the infamous LockBit ransomware group. LockBit's leader "LockBitSupp" claims the feds named the wrong guy, saying the charges don't explain how they connected him to Khoroshev. This post examines the activities of Khoroshev's many alter egos on the cybercrime forums, and tracks the career of a gifted malware author who has written and sold malicious code for the past 14 years.

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Back to School savings: Take $50-$100 off new M2 iPad Airs at Apple
Apple will take $50-$100 off new 11" and 13" M2 iPad Airs for all teachers, students, and staff of any educational institution with a .edu email address as part of their Apple Education discount, including parents of students. Stock varies depending on model and configuration, but shipping is free. Check out their range of discounts available on these new Airs: - 11" M2 iPad Air 128GB WiFi: $549, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 256GB WiFi: $649, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 512GB WiFi: $849, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 1TB WiFi: $999, $100 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 128GB WiFi + Cell: $699, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 256GB WiFi + Cell: $799, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 512GB WiFi + Cell: $999, $50 off - 11" M2 iPad Air 1TB WiFi + Cell: $1140, $100 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 128GB WiFi: $749, $50 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 256GB WiFi: $849, $50 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 512GB WiFi: $999, $100 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 1TB WiFi: $1199, $100 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 128GB WiFi + Cell: $899, $50 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 256GB WiFi + Cell: $999, $50 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 512GB WiFi + Cell: $1149, $100 off - 13" M2 iPad Air 1TB WiFi + Cell: $1349, $100 off Details at Apple Education. Not in the US? Click for the Canada or the UK stores. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Could A Smarter Siri Infused With AI (‘Apple Intelligence’) Turn Apple’s Smartphones Into Intelliphones?
AI — short for artificial intelligence — is widely expected to be the main topic of discussion at this year’s WWDC (Apple Worldwide Developerrs Conference). According to a report from Bloomberg, the Cupertino, California-based company will be introducing its own version of this technology (dubbed, “Apple Intelligence“) at the event. However, while Apple’s implementation of this new AI system will be a revolutionary step forward for all of its products, it will be evolutionary for one product category in particular… its smartphones. At this year’s WWDC, Apple, per a report from Business Insider, is expected to unveil a slew of new features powered by AI designed specifically for the iPhone (via an update to the company’s mobile operating system, iOS). Key among these is Apple’s personal digital assistant, Siri, a feature that reportedly will be receiving a major overhaul at the event and seeing it enhanced with artificial intelligence. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Update: For WWDC, Amazon has lowered prices on MacBook Airs even more, up to $210 off MSRP!
Amazon has every configuration and color of Apple's M3 MacBook Airs now on sale for $170-$210 off MSRP, starting at only $899 shipped, as Apple holds their annual WWDC conference this week. Their prices are the lowest available for these Airs among Apple's retailers. Amazon has lowered prices on some configurations up to $210 off MSRP since our last post: - 13" M3 MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD): $899 $200 off MSRP - 13" M3 MacBook Air (8GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1129 $170 off MSRP - 13" M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1329 $170 off MSRP - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/256GB: $1129, $170 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/512GB: $1329, $170 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/512GB: $1489, $210 off For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Update: For WWDC, Amazon has lowered prices on MacBook Airs even more, up to $210 off MSRP!
Amazon has every configuration and color of Apple's M3 MacBook Airs now on sale for $170-$210 off MSRP, starting at only $899 shipped, as Apple holds their annual WWDC conference this week. Their prices are the lowest available for these Airs among Apple's retailers. Amazon has lowered prices on some configurations up to $210 off MSRP since our last post: - 13" M3 MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD): $899 $200 off MSRP - 13" M3 MacBook Air (8GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1129 $170 off MSRP - 13" M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1329 $170 off MSRP - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/256GB: $1129, $170 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/512GB: $1329, $170 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/512GB: $1489, $210 off For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Deal Alert! 2nd-generation Apple AirPods on sale for $79, $50 off MSRP!
Amazon has 2nd generation Apple AirPods on sale right now for only $79.99 shipped. That's $50 (38%) off Apple's MSRP. Their price is the lowest currently available for a new set of AirPods from any Apple retailer: - AirPods 2nd-gen with Charging Case: $79.99 $50 off MSRP Act now if you're interested! See our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals from Apple and its resellers. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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13-inch M3 MacBook Airs on sale for $150-$200 off MSRP ahead of Apple’s WWDC conference
Amazon has every configuration and color of Apple's 13" M3 MacBook Air on sale for $150-$200 off MSRP, now starting at only $899 shipped. Their prices are the lowest available for these Airs among Apple's retailers: - 13" MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD): $899 $200 off MSRP - 13" MacBook Air (8GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1149.99 $150 off MSRP - 13" MacBook Air (16GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1329 $170 off MSRP For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Apple is now selling 13-inch M3 MacBook Airs for $170-$230 off MSRP, Certified Refurbished
Apple has Certified Refurbished 13" M3 MacBook Airs now in stock for $170-$230 off MSRP, Certified Refurbished. Prices start at $929. These are the cheapest M3-powered MacBooks for sale at Apple and also one of the best deals on MacBooks available anywhere. Apple's one-year warranty is included, shipping is free, and each MacBook has a new outer shell: - 13" M2 MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 8-Core GPU/8GB RAM/256GB SSD: $929, $170 off MSRP - 13" M2 MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 10-Core GPU/8GB RAM/512GB SSD: $1099, $200 off MSRP - 13" M2 MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 10-Core GPU/16GB RAM/512GB SSD: $1269, $230 off MSRP According the Apple, “You will receive a 'like new' device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems. All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.” Note that stock status may vary, check Apple's site for availability. For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Amazon is offering $150-$200 discounts on 15-inch M3 MacBook Airs ahead of Apple’s WWDC conference
Amazon is offering a $150-$200 discount on every configuration and color of Apple's M3-powered 15" MacBook Airs. Prices start at $1149 for models with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage: - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/256GB: $1149.99, $150 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/8GB/512GB: $1349.99, $150 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/512GB: $1499, $200 off Their prices are the lowest prices available for new 15" M3 MacBook Airs among Apple's retailers. For the latest sales and deals, see our 15" MacBook Price Tracker, updated daily. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Apple is now selling 15-inch M3 MacBook Airs for $200-$260 off MSRP, Certified Refurbished
Apple has Certified Refurbished 15" M3 MacBook Airs in stock today starting at only $1099 and ranging up to $260 off MSRP. These are the cheapest M3-powered 15" MacBook Airs for sale today at Apple. Apple's one-year warranty is included, shipping is free, and each MacBook has a new outer shell. The following standard-configurations are available: - 15" MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 8-Core GPU/8GB RAM/256GB SSD: $1099, $200 off MSRP - 15" MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 10-Core GPU/8GB RAM/512GB SSD: $1269, $230 off MSRP - 15" MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 10-Core GPU/16GB RAM/512GB SSD: $1439, $260 off MSRP According the Apple, “You will receive a 'like new' device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems. All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.” Note that stock status may vary, check Apple's site for availability. For the latest sales & prices, see our 15" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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13-inch M3 MacBook Air prices drop to record lows, only $899, ahead of Apple’s WWDC
B&H Photo is offering discounts on new 13-inch M3 MacBook Airs ranging up to $200 off MSRP ahead of Apple's WWDC conference next week. Prices start at only $899! These are the lowest prices currently available for new 13" M3 MacBook Airs and a great deal: - 13" M3 MacBook Air Midnight (8GB RAM/256GB SSD): $899 ($200 off MSRP) - 13" M3 MacBook Air Midnight (8GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1199 ($100 off MSRP) - 13" M3 MacBook Air Midnight (16GB RAM/512GB SSD): $1329 ($170 off MSRP) B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses. For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Apple HomePods on rare sale for $20-$30 off MSRP this weekend with free store pickup
Best Buy is offering a $20-$30 discount on Apple HomePods this weekend on their online store. The HomePod mini is on sale for $79.99, $20 off MSRP, while Best Buy has the full-size HomePod on sale for $269.99, $30 off MSRP. Sale prices are valid for all colors. Sale price is for online orders only, in-store price may vary. Order online and choose free shipping or free local store pickup, if available. For the latest prices & sales, see our HomePod Price Tracker, updated daily. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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Base 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro on sale for $1399, $200 off Apple’s MSRP
Amazon and B&H Photo both have the base 14" M3 MacBook Pro on sale for $200 off Apple's MSRP, only $1399. Shipping is free at both retailers (free 1-2 day shipping at B&H): - 14" M3 MacBook Pro (8GB RAM/512GB SSD/Gray or Silver): $1399, $200 off MSRP at B&H Photo - 14" M3 MacBook Pro (8GB RAM/512GB SSD/Gray): $1399, $200 off MSRP at Amazon These are the lowest prices available for a new 14" MacBook Pro from any Apple retailer. For the latest prices and sales, see our 14" MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily. The post first appeared on MacPrices.net.

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