[React Native] Managing State-Driven Animations and Game Logic in a Grid-Based Memory App I've just released Pocket Memory, a sequence-recall game in React Native, and faced challenges syncing animations with game logic on iOS. I wanted to share my architecture for handling sequence playback and input validation without bloated components. 1. Decoupling Logic with a State Machine and Hooks To manage phases like "flashing" sequences and "input" collection, […]
We hit 2500 users on web but realized our app was made for iOS Busy Professionals. Hi everyone! I’m Robin, building KarlaFinance. Three months ago, KarlaFinance was a web experiment I shipped to answer a simple question: can an AI-first money app actually help people stay on top of their finances without turning it into a second job? About 2,500 people signed up. And then something important happened that forced a […]
SMS Delivery Delays to Entel in Peru Dec 20, 17:38 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Entel in Peru. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.
Is SwiftData CKShare Possible Hi All! I am working on an app where I am trying to share SwiftData between users, much like how the notes app works. I am successfully sending SwiftData to a shared database, but the recipient device is never able to fetch it. After doing some deeper googling, it seems it may not be possible […]
Axiom 2: A more effective, far more efficient iOS coding partner Axiom is a [free and open source! – cw] battle-tested Claude Code plug-in that includes a suite of agents, skills, and commands for modern Apple platform development. As Axiom grew more and more capable, it was eating more and context. Axiom v1.5 used about 10% of available tokens in a fresh Claude Code session. Axiom […]
Cueboard – The Shot List App For Creators I wanted to share my first indie project as a creator, for creators. It just launched in the App Store on Dec. 19, 2025. Cueboard is a focused planning app built for creators who think visually. It helps video creators and small teams turn scattered ideas into clear, structured shot lists using color, icons, hierarchy, […]
Apple Announces Changes to iOS in Japan for Compliance With the Mobile Software Competition Act It’s the practical results of legislation and regulation that matter, not the intentions. The Japanese government seemingly gets that, and acts accordingly.
How I make $150,000 a month as an indie dev Hey everyone, I own an app studio and we currently are sitting at 150K MRR. For everybody who’s going to ask, we spend 35K a month give or take. I’ve been posting a bunch on https://x.com/BusDownBonnor, but I thought that I might as well share some of the sauce to Reddit as well. Here are […]
Indie App Spotlight: ‘AnywAIr’ lets you play with local AI models on your iPhone Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.
AnywAIr, which is a play on the word “anywhere”, is a nifty little iOS app that lets you play with AI models – regardless of if you have an internet connection. It offers custom themes, a plethora of tools and games, and all of the local AI models you could want to mess with.
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These Mac mini deals start at $479, with delivery by Christmas Finish up your holiday shopping with triple-digit discounts on Apple's M4 Mac mini, which starts at just $479, with delivery by Christmas to many locations.Grab last-minute deals on Apple's latest Mac mini.If you're looking for a last-minute holiday gift for someone special, Amazon and B&H Photo have discounts on Apple's latest Mac mini, with free next day delivery on orders shipped within the contiguous U.S. on dozens of SKUs at B&H.Amazon also has several models available for delivery by Christmas to select locations. Because inventory is fluctuating, be sure to check estimated arrival dates for your specific address. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
I built an iOS app that locks distracting apps until you do push-ups Hello guys! I wanted to share my first app as an indie, I recently launched called Push to Unlock. I built it because Screen Time limits were too easy for me to ignore. Instead of time-based limits, this app adds physical friction by tying app access to movement. How it works: Choose which apps you […]
My First IOS launched this week – MyLiftingCoach – “AI” fitness coach for powerlifting/strongman/bodybuilding competitors and everyone else Hey guys, so this app I actually wrote it in python twice before doing it on iOS, and scrapped it, so I learned a lot from those projects and I am happy to present my first ever iOS app! MyLiftingCoach. I am a competitive powerlifter with 19 state records in open and age divisions, Ive […]
I finally understood Swift localization with Localizable.xcstrings — here’s what I learned Hey everyone 👋 I recently spent some time properly learning Swift localization using Localizable.xcstrings, and I ended up writing a beginner-friendly guide based on what actually worked (and what confused me). I used a small app as an example, but everything applies to real projects. What the post covers: – adding Localizable.xcstrings to an app […]
Fixed my own problem and went the distance to build an app Moving from apartment to apartment and then finally buying a home, I always had to struggle figuring out how to maintain and fix appliances. Washing machine unbalanced. Change the fridge water filter? Descale my espresso machine. I hated paging through manuals or googling the error but never having the model # on hand. I made […]
Incogni can scrub your SSN and other sensitive data from the web Would it surprise you to know that in all likelihood your Social Security number is freely available for sale to anyone who wants to buy it? The same is true of your phone number, address, date of birth, and much more.
That’s because there are companies known as data brokers whose business is to buy personal data from websites, app developers, and other sources in order to offer it for resale. Fortunately, Incogni is here to help – 9to5Mac readers can get a massive 55% discount.
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SMS Delivery Delays to Twilio Phone Numbers in Mexico via Subset of Shortcodes Dec 20, 10:35 PSTUpdate - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Twilio phone numbers in Mexico via subset of shortcodes. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.Dec 20, 10:25 PSTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue SMS delivery delays to Twilio phone numbers in Mexico. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.
Camera M – Pro Manual Camera for iPhone Updated I recently updated Camera M to version 9 with the new iOS 26 Liquid Design language. Also introduced other features that made it more up-to-date, such as Camera Control and Lock Screen Capture, etc. What is Camera M? Camera M is a professional and modern camera app designed to help you capture beautiful photos in […]
What’s the easiest route/template to make a haircut scheduling app? Also, any suggestions on payment providers? I am looking to make a simple scheduling app for my barbershop to manage appointments I want to also potentially take recurring payments on it for clients that want a discount for having a set monthly payment. My clients heavily prefer an app vs a website. I was thinking maybe an app that has the […]
Open sourced my app’s SwiftUI architecture, free starter template I'm releasing the core architecture extracted from my app MyBodyWatch. It's a slightly opinionated framework for rapid iOS app development with common expected features and third party dependencies that I've come to favor, including TelemetryDeck, RevenueCat, Firebase Auth, and GitHub as a lightweight CMS. Would love to hear your comments, feel free to clone, fork, […]
Clever Apple Watch charger swings both ways With both wireless and wired capabilities, this 1200mAh portable Apple Watch charger is super-convenient. Great gift for Apple Watch owners.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Adding in-app purchases as “pre-orders”, is this even legit (for app store reviews)? https://preview.redd.it/5mzpzqzjxd8g1.jpg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2200a23a83e101672a24ecef4f5c03803d038ece submitted by /u/Stv_L [link] [comments]
Is the iMac Pro ready for a comeback? [The CultCast] This week on Cult of Mac's podcast: Leaked code indicates Apple is working on a new iMac Pro, years after the all-in-one disappeared.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Testing Storekit for Release Hi All, I recently submitted my first IOS app for review, and it got rejected due to my paywall products not displaying as they should. I believe I've fixed everything both in Xcode as well as App Store Connect, but i'm having trouble testing things in TestFlight or otherwise to ensure proper functionality. I have […]
Is Expo always this slow for testing, or am I doing something wrong? Hey guys, I’m working on an app with React Native and Expo, but the testing process is driving me crazy. Every time I want to see a change on my actual iPhone, it feels like a total "suffering flow." I have to wait for the bundle, wait for the QR code to pop up, and […]
Today in Apple history: NeXT buyout brings Steve Jobs back to Cupertino On December 20, 1996, Apple Computer officially bought NeXT, the computer company Steve Jobs founded after leaving Apple a decade earlier.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
FuzeLabs 1.0.6 IS OUT – NEW FEATURS & BETA TESTERS NEEDED Hey there folks, It's been a busy couple of months for FuzeLabs. Lots of feedback, bug fixing and, of course, new features. As always, give FuzeLabs a try. Also join us at our Discord server. Beta testers are needed. If you are interested and […]
Apple's AirTag 4-Pack Drops to $64.98 on Amazon Apple's AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $64.98 this weekend on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Prime members can get the accessory delivered today in many locations, but otherwise free shipping options have moved past December 25.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack that's within $2 of the Amazon all-time low price, which we last tracked during Black Friday. If you're shopping for a single AirTag, Amazon has the AirTag 1-Pack for $24.00, down from $29.00.
$34 OFFAirTag 4-Pack for $64.98
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
AI calculations on Mac cluster gets a big boost from new RDMA support on Thunderbolt 5 Real-world test of Apple's latest implementation of Mac cluster computing proves it can help AI researchers work using massive models, thanks to pooling memory resources over Thunderbolt 5.An M3 Ultra Mac Studio quartet set up for clustering over Thunderbolt 5 - Image Credit: Jeff GeerlingIn November, Apple teased inbound features in macOS Tahoe 26.2 that stands to considerably change how AI researchers perform machine learning processing. At the time, the headline improvement made to MLX, Apple's machine learning framework, was to support GPU-based neural accelerators, but Thunderbolt 5 clustering support was also a big change.One month later, and the benefits of Thunderbolt 5 for clustering are finally being seen in a real-world environment. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Bullet Invoices: Wife asked for an invoicing app. I shipped one. Hello, I recently launched my new app called Bullet Invoices. The idea came from a simple, real problem. My wife needed a quick and easy way to send invoices to her students, and most invoicing apps felt slow and overcomplicated for what she needed. So I built Bullet Invoices to do one thing really well. […]
[iOS] We built an app which animates your drawings & unleashes your imagination: Kids Art Studio — fully on-device, 10 free creations, no subscriptions, no tracking Hi everyone, We built Kids Art Studio, a drawing app built for children, but fun for adults as well. You draw freely on the canvas, and the app brings your imagination to life. You can try the app with 10 free successful creations before unlocking anything (4.99$ unlimited creations). The process was as following. We […]
[iOS] I built an AI Keyboard to end the “ChatGPT copy-paste” struggle. Holiday Launch: Big Discount + 20 FREE lifetime licenses giveaway! https://preview.redd.it/r14u0i9x8d8g1.png?width=2608&format=png&auto=webp&s=ebc6b05c17d7d25d3740cd4c7307fc622de9983d Hey everyone! I’m an indie dev, and I just shipped an update to my project, AnyWrite. I built this to kill the "context-switching" tax. Instead of copying text, opening ChatGPT, and pasting it back, I put the AI directly into the iOS keyboard. What it does: Fix while you type: One tap to fix […]
miSales App Store Connect Sales Dashboard Launches Side project turned fully shipping app—miSales Developer Sales Charts is now available for iOS, macOS, & visionOS. Think of it as App Store Connect sales reports minus the friction, with all the privacy. Built by indie developer for indie developers with privacy and convenience as the main objectives. Download on the App Store today. 🔒 […]
2025 was huge for Apple — here’s why In this end-of-year roundup, we’ve gathered the most ground-breaking rumors, consequential news and biggest surprises of 2025.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Apple @ Work: ABM Warranty shows why Apple’s new Business Manager APIs matter for IT teams Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
The new Apple Business Manager API enables third-party tools to access device data directly from Apple in a secure, predictable, and really helpful manner for IT teams managing large fleets of Apple devices. It is the kind of work that Apple does behind the scenes that ultimately has a huge impact as people build around it. When Apple exposes more of its device information and management capabilities through official APIs, the entire ecosystem benefits, and a new app is a prime example.
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Top Stories: iOS 26.3 Beta, Major Apple Leaks, and More You'd think things would be slowing down heading into the holidays, but this week saw a whirlwind of Apple leaks and rumors while Apple started its next cycle of betas following last week's release of iOS 26.2 and related updates.
This week also saw the release of a new Apple Music integration with ChatGPT, so read on below for all the details on this week's biggest stories!
Top Stories
iOS 26.3 Beta 1 Features: What's New So Far
With iOS 26.2 and other 26.2 updates now available to the general public, Apple has started beta testing on the next round of 26.3 updates. With work on this round of updates typically spanning the holidays, they tend to be smaller in scale, but there are still a few notable changes.
iOS 26.3 brings changes that make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android, with corresponding changes to Android making the reverse process simpler as well. Users in the European Union will also be gaining a setting that allows iPhone notifications to be forwarded to third-party devices, increasing interoperability.
iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak
Macworld's Filipe Espósito last week revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28.
As always, Apple's plans could change, so there is no guarantee that any or all of these features will end up being released to the general public, but some of the leaked features include:
iOS 26.4: Revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence
iOS 26.4: Redesigned Health app, potentially involving a previously rumored Apple Health+ subscription service
iOS 26.4: Credit card AutoFill improvements for third-party apps
iOS 27: Improvements to collections in the Photos app and AirPods pairing
iOS 28: New metrics for Apple Watch sleep tracking
Apple Leak Confirms Work on Foldable iPhone, AirTag 2, and Dozens More Devices
More information on the sourcing of that software leak has subsequently surfaced, and it apparently comes from an early build of iOS 26 (then still known as iOS 19) that was on a leaked prototype iPhone.
In addition to numerous features planned for future software updates, which we've outlined in more detail, the leak also reveals dozens of devices in Apple's product pipeline, including many of the expected evolutionary updates to existing products but also some new products that have either been previously rumored or newly revealed.
Notable additions include the first foldable iPhone, Apple's upcoming smart home products, the rumored low-cost MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip, an iMac with a high-powered M5 Max chip, and more.
Apple Aims to Boost Popularity of iPhone Air 2 in Two Ways
A new report this week from The Information outlined some details on Apple's iPhone product roadmap, including word that Apple is looking at two key improvements for the second-generation iPhone Air: a second rear camera and a lower price tag.
The current iPhone Air has reportedly not sold well due to compromises related to camera capabilities, battery life, and perceived value for the price, with suppliers reportedly already winding down production due to the number of already-produced units still available for distribution.
The same report claimed that next year's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will include under-screen Face ID with the front camera becoming a punch hole at the top-left corner of the screen. Apple is reportedly also adding a mechanical iris to one of the device's rear cameras, which will allow for variable aperture to control the amount of light reaching the sensor.
Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details
We've already heard a lot about Apple's first foldable iPhone that's expected next year, but a new report from a frequent leaker on Chinese blogging site Weibo has added a few new details to the existing rumors.
The foldable iPhone will reportedly use a Touch ID power button on the side of the device rather than Face ID in order to save internal space, and it will include a 7.58-inch internal display with an under-screen camera. When folded, the outside will feature a 5.25-inch display with a punch-hole camera.
ChatGPT's Apple Music Integration Is Now Live
There's now a dedicated Apple Music app for ChatGPT, which allows ChatGPT to make music recommendations and build playlists.
ChatGPT can be used to search through the Apple Music catalog for songs, artists, albums, and playlists, even without an Apple Music subscription. OpenAI says that all users are able to discover music, generate playlists, and listen to preview clips in ChatGPT. Apple Music subscribers can add songs, albums, and playlists to their Apple Music Library using ChatGPT.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!Tag: Top StoriesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Amazon has the AirTag 4 Pack Marked $29 off Amazon has the AirTag 4-pack marked $29 off. Keep track of your items with Key Finder and Locator for your things like wallet, backpack, computer, phone, and more. You can find missing items faster, reduce the time spent, and eliminate the unnecessary stress of looking for them. The disc-shaped AirTag has a built-in speaker so […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
The AirPods Max Is 5 Years Old Five years ago, the AirPods Max was released by Apple, which marked Apple’s first charge into the market of over-ear headphones leaning toward the higher end. Apple was reportedly working on headphones called the AirPods Studio around that time, and the device was abruptly announced in December 2020. The AirPods Max came with a lot […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Kindle App Integrates AI Assistant A new feature has been added to the Kindle app for iOS, which integrates AI to answer queries you may have while you’re reading a book. The feature was introduced by Amazon and is currently available in the United States. The Assistant is called ‘Ask This Book’ lets users highlight any text in the book […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Apple Car Key Support Rumored to Come to Toyota A digital key feature was introduced by Toyota a few years back in the package called Remote Connect, letting drivers of Toyota vehicles use a smartphone as their key to drive and unlock their car. Support for Apple’s Car Keys feature may soon be added. Car Keys were introduced around three years ago, which enabled […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
9to5Mac Top Stories: iOS 26.3 beta, App Store changes, Apple Music features Welcome to 9to5Mac’s top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, we have the first beta of iOS 26.3, new details on the iPhone 18 and iPhone Fold, and more changes to the App Store. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.
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Developed an app to get your loved ones best frames back from videos automatically and privately Step 1: Choose a video Step 2: Choose a picture with clear face Step 3: ???? Step 4: Profit. Print out, upscale, hang on wall or put in album. Launch in few days. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moments-vault/id6756465301 I had tons of videos of my daughter but no way to get the best moments from them fast or cheap […]
My first ever app in 2025 just crossed 19k users! I can’t believe it! It all started with having this iOS dev dream of having own app in AppStore. This is the app i've been building with no AI, and it took the most time. But so far it's been the most successful app of mine. Many people doubted why this app, there are tons of alternatives, etc. Anyhow, […]
Review: SwitchBot Wallet Finder is an incredibly useful accessory to track your wallet with iPhone Find My I have an AirTag on my keychain to keep track of my keys, but obviously an AirTag is too big and bulky to fit inside a wallet. That’s what the SwitchBot Wallet Finder is for.
Disguised inside a thin, credit-card form factor, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder connects to the Find My app on your iPhone, so you can follow its location, and it even houses a speaker so you can make it beep to help you find your wallet when it inevitably gets lost somewhere in your home. Read on for my review …
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2025 tech gift guide for Apple users — personally tested and recommended It’s officially time to start checking gifts off your list before it’s too late. For my 2025 tech gift guide, I’m recommending technology products that I’ve actually used all year. Each of these products has been especially useful this year, and they’ll make great gifts for the Apple users in your life.
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I’ve created a better sitting reminder for Apple Watch. If you find Apple Watch’s stand reminders too easy to miss, try Relaxo.Relaxo just launched on the App Store, and in its first month, it’s already been downloaded 1,500 times! Key features: Automatic Sitting Tracking & Reminders – Relaxo automatically starts tracking your sitting time as soon as you sit and reminds you when it’s […]
Best AirPlay speakers for iPhones and Apple Music Macworld
Apple sells two speakers–the HomePod and HomePod mini–but there are lots of different types of speakers that work with iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV out there to choose from that could offer better value for money.
There’s a lot of choice with the speakers in this round up offering a wide variety of features, specs, designs and price tags. But we’re here to guide you through the complexity and help you find the best speaker for optimal performance with your Mac and iOS devices whether you are playing music from your library or from Apple Music or another music streaming service.
We look at a variety of speakers including multi-room speaker systems, which are more popular than ever–especially as mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad allow us to carry our entire music library from room to room, or connect to music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Prime Music with a quick tap.
Apple users are best off getting a speaker with AirPlay support, and all the speakers in this test offer AirPlay 2 support. AirPlay is useful if you want to stream music from your iPhone to a speaker. We explain what AirPlay is and the features it brings later on in this article.
Best speakers for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 2026
We’ve tested the best speakers you can buy to use with your Apple products below, so read on to find out which AirPlay speakers are best.
HomePod mini – Best speaker for Apple Music
Price When Reviewed:
$99
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Apple HomePod mini Bluetooth speakers – Space gray
$80
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We’re putting the HomePod mini in the top spot on the basis of its low price tag, excellent sound quality and deep integration with Apple’s software ecosystem – as long as you don’t mind being tied to Siri.
The HomePod mini can’t match the bass punch of the full-size HomePod, but the output is still far better than we have any right to expect at this size and price. (Just to reiterate, it’s a third of the price and a seventh of the weight of its larger sibling.)
For jazz, rock and classical we were blown away by its clear, rich sound. And while it’s not quite got the welly to deafen your neighbors with house music at 3 am, and you won’t fill a village hall with sound, but it does fill a room beautifully – especially when teamed with a second model as a stereo pair.
Read our full
Apple HomePod mini review
Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) – Best Apple speaker
Price When Reviewed:
$299
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If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and you appreciate quality audio, this is the smart speaker for you: it will play your music beautifully and make TV watching a delight.
As with the HomePod mini, ease of setup is one of its strongest features–plug in the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its direction and an onscreen popup (on the phone) will invite you to set it up. If there’s another HomePod of the same model in the selected room, you’ll be given the option to join them as a stereo pair.
It sounds great whether used as a single unit, or as a stereo pair, and it’s a great accompaniment to your Apple TV as it supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To find out more, about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini.
The main disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the high price (three times that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations associated with being reliant on Siri to control it. We really want a HomePod with a screen.
Read our full
Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) review
Audio Pro C10 MKII W – Best speaker for sound quality
Price When Reviewed:
$480
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The Audio Pro C10 MKII W has a minimalist design, consisting of a simple rectangular box measuring 166mm high, 320mm wide, and 180mm deep. Despite its small size, it’s sturdy, weighing over 4kg.
The front panel features a smart fabric grille that can be removed for a retro look with exposed drivers. Removing the grille reveals a large woofer in the centre for deep, full sound, with smaller tweeters on either side for higher frequencies.
The C10 MKII W has a total output of 80W, making it suitable as a main speaker system in the living room. However, it requires mains power and is likely to be used in one room at home due to its weight.
The C10 MKII W supports Bluetooth, Apple’s AAC codec, and dual-band Wi-Fi. The updated Audio Pro app works with various streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. It also supports AirPlay 2, allowing audio streaming from Apple devices and integration with multi-room music systems. Android users may be disappointed that there’s no aptX support with Bluetooth, but the C10 MKII W supports Google Cast.
The speaker has RCA connectors for wired connections, but no audio cables are included.
The C10 MKII W delivers good sound quality. The lossless version of Madonna’s Frozen on Apple Music via AirPlay revealed delicate string touches and gentle electronic chimes, followed by a sharp percussion crack that led into the chorus.
The C10 MKII W handles harder rock sounds well. Sing Along by Sturgill Simpson, captured the thick, fuzzy guitar sound and the wailing keyboards, creating a lively atmosphere. The deep bass could be firmer, but an extra RCA connector allows for an external sub-woofer for enhanced bass.
While it’s more expensive than Apple’s HomePod, the C10 MKII W excels in clarity and precision, especially with high-res music on Apple Music and other streaming services. It also offers better connectivity.
Audio Pro’s model numbers are inconsistent, with some older models still on sale, so make sure to buy the correct model.
Read our full
Audio Pro C10 MKII W review
Audio Pro A28 W – Best dual speaker set up
Price When Reviewed:
$720
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If you prefer proper stereo speakers the A28 W is a great option.
The speaker cabinets are made of MDF, which feels very sturdy and also helps to reduce vibrations that might affect the sound quality. The A28 W is available in black or white, or with a walnut wood finish. There are removable fabric grilles provided with each speaker.
Inside each cabinet you’ll find a 4.5-inch woofer for handling the mid-range and lower frequencies, along with a 1-inch tweeter for the higher frequencies. Each speaker provides 75W output – 150W total.
The ‘W’ refers to the speakers’ emphasis on wireless connectivity. There’s support for Apple’s AAC codec (but no aptX for Android users). There’s dual-band Wi-Fi for connecting to your home network (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz). And there’s support for AirPlay 2 and Google Cast.
Wired inputs include stereo RCA inputs, one digital optical input for use with other Hi-Fi equipment, and an HDMI-ARC interface for a TV. There’s also one more RCA connector that allows you to connect to an external sub-woofer as well. No standard 3.5mm or USB-C connector for wired audio though.
There’s a 10-band equaliser, but what really impresses about the A28 W is its ability to create an expansive stereo sound that is far more immersive and atmospheric than one-piece speakers such as Apple’s HomePod. It’s fairly expensive, but the sound quality is excellent.
Read our full
Audio Pro A28 W review
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition – Best speaker for home
Price When Reviewed:
$799
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$830.04
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$899
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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin range of speakers first appeared back in 2007. The Zeppelin Pro Edition launched at the end of 2024 and looks almost identical to the Zeppelin introduced, so be careful to check which model you are considering buying.
At $799/£699, it’s one of the more expensive AirPlay speakers currently available, but it really does deliver the goods in terms of sound quality.
The Zeppelin Pro Edition measures 210 x 650 x 194mm and weighs 6.6kg. It’s available in a dark ‘space grey’ or ‘solar gold’.
Unlike many one-piece speaker systems – including Apple’s HomePod – the Zeppelin Pro Edition provides a full stereo system, with separate left and right audio channels, as well as a dedicated sub-woofer for handling lower frequencies. That’s a similar set-up to previous Zeppelin models, but Bowers & Wilkins says the woofers and tweeters have been redesigned for the Zeppelin Pro Edition for even better sound quality.
Like previous models, the Zeppelin Pro Edition supports Bluetooth with AAC for Apple devices, and aptX Adaptive for Android. There’s also Wi-Fi with support for AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream wireless audio (and Apple Music) over your home network from your Apple device. Using AirPlay with Apple devices provides more bandwidth for high-quality audio files. The Zeppelin Pro also supports Spotify Connect, and Tidal and Amazon Music via an app.
Our only complaint is that the Zeppelin Pro doesn’t offer wired inputs, so you can’t connect it to a CD player or Hi-Fi.
The Zeppelin Pro Edition is one of the larger and more expensive AirPlay speakers. If you want a powerful, high-quality stereo speaker that supports AirPlay 2 this is a great option.
Read our full
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition review
Roku Streambar – Best speaker for TV
Price When Reviewed:
$129.99
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Roku is well-known for its range of streaming media devices, which offer an affordable alternative to Apple’s own Apple TV box. However, the Roku Streambar goes a step further by combining streaming features with a compact soundbar speaker and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 – and all for a highly competitive $129.99/£129.99.
The AirPlay support and built-in dual-band Wi-Fi mean that you can simply use the Streambar as a conventional AirPlay speaker, using AirPlay to stream music via Wi-Fi from any Apple device. It’s surprisingly powerful for such a compact speaker, and more than loud enough for playing music at home or watching a few Hollywood blockbusters. It even provides pretty good bass too, landing the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Big Sky with real impact (and Roku has recently announced a new range of wireless speakers that also support AirPlay 2, although we’ve not had the chance to test these yet).
Going beyond basic speaker mode, you can also use the HDMI port on the back of the Streambar to connect it to a TV or computer display, and this allows you to stream video at up to 4K resolution from your Apple devices as well. You can even get rid of your Apple devices altogether, and just use the Streambar’s built-in streaming features to connect your TV or computer monitor to a wide range of video services–including Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so on. It also supports a number of music streaming services too, such as Apple Music and Spotify.
Admittedly, the low cost of the Streambar means that it does lack a few advanced features, such as support for Dolby Atmos, which you can get from Apple’s HomePod and also the Apple TV 4K. But, of course, the Apple TV box doesn’t include a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost combination of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming features makes it an absolute bargain at this price.
In 2024 Roku introduced the Streambar SE, which is a cheaper version of the Streambar reviewed here. The larger Streambar Pro has been discontinued, but for now Roku seems to be continuing to sell the Streambar.
Sonos Era 100 – Best multiroom speaker
Price When Reviewed:
$249.00
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When Sonos first introduced the Era 100 it was positioned as a mid-range option that sat between the entry-level Sonos One and the imposing Era 300 with Dolby Atmos at the top of the range. However, the veteran Sonos One quietly faded away a few months ago and the Era 100 has taken over as the new entry point for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with a $249/£249 price tag that makes it a good alternative to the Apple HomePod at £299/$299.
At first glance, the Era 100 does look very similar to the original Sonos One, with an upright cylindrical design that is available in black or white. It’s slightly larger than the Sonos One, though, standing 182.5mm high, 120mm wide and 130mm deep. This allows the Era 100 to squeeze in an additional high-frequency tweeter, so that it now houses two tweeters that are angled out to the right and left to spread sound more widely than the Sonos One. It also includes a larger woofer than the Sonos One, to handle the mid-range and bass and add a little extra power as well.
This new design works a treat and the Era 100 provides very good sound quality for a relatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Flow have a light, shimmering sound, but the compact speaker has got some muscle too, and is easily able to fill the room around me with Enya’s swirling cloud of sound. The twin tweeters provide a crisp, clear sound for the electronic loops that fly through the air, but that larger woofer can also reach down and embrace the slow bass pulse and rumbling drums that enter as Enya’s multi-tracked vocals chant – “turn it up, turn it up”.
The only minor disappointment is that the Era 100 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio. If you’re a home cinema fan who really wants Atmos then you’ll need to pay a little more for alternatives such as the Apple HomePod or the high-end Era 300. But, if you’re just looking for a compact, high-quality speaker with wi-fi and support for AirPlay, then the Era 100 delivers the goods at a lower price than most of its AirPlay rivals.
Sonos Roam 2 – Best portable speaker
Price When Reviewed:
$179 (reduced to $143)
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Sonos’ Roam has to be the smallest and most portable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen so far.
Sonos’s original Roam smart speaker was released back in 2021, and it was one of the best portable speakers we’ve ever seen, providing very good sound quality in a highly compact design that also managed to squeeze in useful features such as wireless charging and even support for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple devices. The Roam 2 fine-tunes a number of features such as its set-up and tuning process, and provides more straightforward controls.
Available in a variety of colors–including red, green, blue and plain old black and white–the Roam 2 looks identical to its predecessor. It is 168mm tall, 62mm wide and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, but it will fit into a backpack. It has a IP67 rating water and dust resistance, so it’s suited to the outdoors.
There’s no room for a large battery in the compact design, but it should last for up to 10 hours with music at 50% volume. It needs to stand upright for wireless charging and the volume, playback and microphone controls sit on the top, but you can turn the speaker onto its side and lay it flat. A USB-C port on the back can be used for charging too.
Roam 2 supports Bluetooth 5.2 and now has separate buttons for Power and Bluetooth pairing, which are easier to use than the fiddly multi-function button on the original Roam. You can press the Bluetooth button to pair via Bluetooth, but you need to download the Sonos app for iOS in order to set the speaker up properly. We encountered problems getting the speaker connected to our Wi-Fi network and had to spend time changing the Wi-Fi settings. But, once that was done, the Roam 2 worked really well. Lucky its support for AirPlay made connecting it to additional Apple devices straightforward.
The Roam 2 offers great sound quality for such a compact speaker, especially over a Wi-Fi connection. It did a good job with Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Along, laying down the grinding, fuzzy guitars that form the bedrock of the sound. On Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy it achieved a pretty respectable bass beat for such a small speaker.
Switching to Bluetooth caused the sound to lose a little clarity–but that’s a limitation of Bluetooth rather than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any portable speaker of this size and weight. The Roam 2 really punches above its weight when it comes to sound quality and its sturdy and lightweight design is great for outdoor use.
Read our full
Sonos Roam 2 review
Sonos Era 300
Price When Reviewed:
$449.00 each
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Apple has been banging the drum for spatial audio for a few years now, but Sonos really took a step forward with that technology when it launched the Era 300 in 2023. Appropriately enough, it also marked a new era for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with an entirely new design that was at least eye-catching even if it wasn’t perhaps as elegant as Sonos claimed.
Available in black or white, the bulky, hourglass design of the Era 300 is very much designed for spatial audio, housing no less than six separate speaker drivers, with support for Dolby Atmos when watching films and video, or listening to spatial audio on Apple Music. There’s one woofer and one tweeter on each side of the unit, which provide a wide stereo soundstage, while another tweeter on the front highlights vocals and dialogue, or lead instruments. There’s one more tweeter on the top, which is designed to fire sound off the ceiling to help create a sense of height and space when listening to music or video that uses Atmos.
Like most Sonos speakers, the Era 300 uses dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz) to connect to your home network, and also supports AirPlay 2 for use with Apple devices and other AirPlay-compatible speakers. But, unlike previous Sonos speakers, the Era now supports Bluetooth as well, so that it can provide a quick and easy wireless connection for mobile devices and computers when required. You can also buy an adaptor that provides a wired connection (although it’s annoying that this costs an extra $19/£19, given the speaker’s hefty $449/£449 price tag).
The Era 300 can earn its keep, though. The Dolby Atmos support works really well on the opening scene of Blade Runner, creating a real sense of movement as the hovercar flies over the Los Angeles skyline, and there’s a satisfying bass rumble to the bursts of steam and flame that erupts into the air.
It does a good job with spatial audio on Apple Music too, especially with Ringo’s deft percussion on the Atmos mix of Come Together by the Beatles. The bongos skip lightly through the air and the bass guitar glides forward with a swaying, sinuous rhythm. There’s real weight behind the guitar riff that leads into the chorus, but the Era 300 can still pick out gentler details such as the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of the more expensive AirPlay speakers currently available, but the powerful and atmospheric sound of the Era 300, and support for Dolby Atmos, make it a good alternative to more expensive soundbar systems for music and watching video.
Beats Pill
Price When Reviewed:
$149.99
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It sounds better than most portable speakers this size, but still sounds clipped at high volumes and some controls are a little opaque.
The Beats Pill is much improved over previous versions, but it has a few faults that we’d love to see addressed in the next revision.
Beats’ iconic “pill” shape is handy to carry around, fits anywhere a water bottle would go, and sits well on a table or similarly flat surface. You can get one in classic Beats colors—black, red, or champagne.
When at rest the speakers are tilted 20 degrees upward, which is a great way to project the sound more directly at you.
The Pill is IP67-rated, so is should be safe on the beach, beside a pool, or in the rain. A silicone outer wrap helps prevent bumps and dings, while adding weatherproofing.
Along the top, you’ll find volume buttons, a center multi-function button, and a power button. They’re far enough apart and labeled clearly enough that it’s easy to hit the right one without paying close attention.
In the back is a single USB-C port that can be used for charging or as an audio input, with support for lossless audio (not that the Pill has the sound quality to do it justice). It even reverse-charges with a triple-tap of the power button so it can be a sort of power bank for your phone.
Beats says the battery will last 24 hours. We can confirm it can easily run all day without recharging.
With a single woofer capable of 90 percent more air displacement than the woofer in the Beats Pill+ and a paired tweeter, the new Beats Pill sounds OK. Like all portable speakers with a cylindrical design it lacks low-end oomph. There’s more bass than you’d expect, but still less than you need. It does get pretty loud, but at high volumes, there’s a clipped or limited feel.
There’s a microphone to enable speakerphone or voice assistants, but it doesn’t have much in the way of noise reduction to protect from strong wind or nearby highway noise.
The weatherproofing, relatively loud volume, and fantastic battery life all make this a really great affordable speaker for hanging out by the pool. The $149.99/£149.99price is reasonable, too. You just need to manage your expectations for getting great sound quality out of a little portable speaker like this.
Read our full
Beats Pill review
JBL Authentics 300
Price When Reviewed:
$449.99
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We’ve looked at the JBL Flip 7, which launched in spring 2025, and they are good, but they lack AirPlay. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the JBL website the company has a range of smart speakers, called Authentics, which include both Wi-Fi and support for Apple’s AirPlay.
There are three speakers in the range, starting at $349.99/£238.99 for the entry-level Authentics 200, going up to $699.99/£529.99 for the top-of-the-range Authentics 500. However, the sweet spot for us is the mid-range Authentics 300, which has the most versatile design and costs $449.99/£249.99, although you can find them cheaper.
The Authentics 300 is attractively designed, with a sturdy wooden cabinet and a big, chunky grille on the front that gives it an intentionally retro look. It’s fairly large, standing 195mm high, 342mm wide and 180mm deep, and it weighs in at a hefty 4.9kg. Even so, it’s still intended to be a portable speaker and – unlike the other Authentics speakers – it includes a rechargeable battery that lasts for around eight hours. There’s also a sturdy metal carrying handle, so it’s easy to pick the speaker up and carry it from room to room at home, or out into the garden when the summer eventually arrives.
Inside the speaker are two 25mm tweeters, and a beefy 133mm woofer, along with a large passive bass radiator on the underside of the speaker to help give the bass a bit of a boost. There’s a volume dial on the top panel, along with separate controls for adjusting Treble and Bass, but the inclusion of wi-fi and support for AirPlay means that you can also easily control the speaker from any Apple devices, and the JBL One app also includes an eight-band Equalizer that provides more precise control over the sound.
Getting started is a piece of cake, as the JBL One app initially uses Bluetooth to connect to the speaker and then guides you through the process of connecting to your home network, using either wi-fi or the Ethernet port located on the back of the speaker. There are two microphones built into the speaker, although these only work with Alexa and the Google Assistant, but there’s a Mute button that lets you turn the mics off if you prefer to keep things private.
Sound quality is great, and the Authentics 300 lets the bass guitar on Blondie’s Rapture bounce along with a relaxed, infectious energy. There’s a bright, clear tone on the chopping rhythm guitar, and the drums and percussion of the late, great Clem Burke are as taut and precise as ever. And, with 100W output, the speaker has more than enough power to get things going at a BBQ or house-party. Our only minor complaint is that the USB-C port on the back of the speaker doesn’t provide a wired audio input – although there is a 3.5mm connector on the back of the speaker if you need a wired connection.
How to choose an AirPlay speaker
There’s a lot to think about when buying an AirPlay speaker so make sure you read this buying advice before splashing the cash.
Music streaming & compatibility
Having your favorite music follow you around your home is great, but conventional multi-room speakers often have significant limitations. Many, for example, will only work with a limited number of streaming services that are built into the apps provided by each manufacturer.
As you might expect, most will work with Spotify, while Tidal and Deezer also get a lot of support. But for some reason, Sonos is one of the few manufacturers of multi-room speakers that also supports Apple Music. In fact, some speakers only provide apps for iOS or Android mobile devices, which means that you can’t even play music from a Mac.
The other big problem with conventional speakers in the past was that you have generally had to buy them all from one manufacturer when assembling a multi-room setup because rival speakers were incompatible and wouldn’t work together.
AirPlay vs AirPlay 2
The speaker market changed dramatically in 2018 with the release of Apple’s updated AirPlay 2 software. Released to coincide with the original HomePod launch, AirPlay 2 has also been licensed to a number of well-known manufacturers, which means there’s now a wide range of compatible speakers available. In fact, every model in our top 10 works with AirPlay 2.
The first version of AirPlay, released back in 2010, was like a souped-up version of Bluetooth, allowing you to stream audio from any app on your Mac or iOS devices to any AirPlay-compatible speaker and freeing you from reliance on the manufacturer’s apps. AirPlay also uses a Wi-Fi connection, which means a higher bandwidth than Bluetooth and better sound quality – not to mention longer range.
The simplicity and versatility of AirPlay is great, but – like Bluetooth – its original version was only designed to work with one speaker at a time. AirPlay 2 takes Apple into the multi-room market, with the ability to stream music to several speakers in different rooms. (Alternatively, you can
create a HomePods stereo pair in the same room.)
But the real game-changer with AirPlay 2 was interoperability, the ability to link together speakers from different manufacturers for the very first time. This means you can mix and match speakers around your home – picking, for instance, a HomePod as your main living-room speaker, a Sonos in the bedroom, and a portable speaker for drinks in the garden – and have them all linked up to play music simultaneously.
Which version of AirPlay is supported?
The important thing to remember is that there are now two types of AirPlay speaker. Some older models will use the original version of AirPlay – which is limited to streaming music to one speaker at a time – but new speakers (and certainly all the speakers in this article) focus on AirPlay 2. Some will have the AirPlay logo on the packaging, but this doesn’t specify whether it’s AirPlay or AirPlay 2. It’s therefore important to check which version is supported by any speaker before buying.
Given that AirPlay 2 has been around for three years, it would be surprising to see a manufacturer release an AirPlay 1 speaker right now, but it doesn’t hurt to check. You don’t want to get caught out.
It’s also worth mentioning that some older AirPlay speakers can be upgraded to work with AirPlay 2 as well. Libratone’s new Zipp 2 uses AirPlay 2, but it’s possible to download a software update for the older first-generation Zipp speakers that adds support for AirPlay 2. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with all AirPlay speakers, and some models are stuck with basic AirPlay.
Sound Quality vs Price
The fact that Apple licenses both AirPlay and AirPlay 2 to other manufacturers has other advantages too. Namely, the option to choose from a wide range of (often lower-cost) third-party speakers from companies like Sonos and Ikea.
At the other extreme, some really expensive hi-fi systems in the pipeline offer AirPlay 2 support for audiophiles and home cinema buffs. These options give you flexibility: you can spend heavily on a really high-quality speaker for your living room, for example, while opting for a less expensive model in the kitchen.
Indoors vs Outdoors
Some manufacturers provide more specialised speakers too, such as soundbars that you can use with your TV, or sub-woofers that can provide a bass boost for parties, or for sound effects when watching films.
Some even include rechargeable batteries and lightweight, portable designs so you can pick them up and carry them from room to room – which is certainly cheaper than buying a new speaker for each room – or take them out into the garden for a barbecue.
Connectivity
Connectivity is another key issue. The HomePod has been criticised for relying on Wi-Fi for streaming, with no option for quick and easy Bluetooth streaming for Android and other non-Apple devices. It doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio connector either, which would allow you to use it with a CD player or other audio devices.
Fortunately, many AirPlay and AirPlay 2 speakers provide a greater range of connectivity, allowing you to play music from a wider range of devices than the HomePod. Sonos has even announced it will be releasing an AirPlay 2 amplifier soon that can form the centrepiece of a serious home entertainment system.
In other words, AirPlay 2 is here to stay.
Bluetooth only options
We’ve reviewed a few Bluetooth only speakers that don’t offer AirPlay, but are still good options these include the following:
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (3rd Gen)
Read our review
Price When Reviewed:
$399
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Marketing is far more difficult than development. Whether it's a free app or a commercial application, every developer certainly hopes that their product can have a large number of users. So how do people usually market their products? submitted by /u/chrisakring [link] [comments]
MMS Delivery Delays and Failures To and From a Subset of Longcodes in Australia Dec 20, 01:33 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing MMS delivery delays and failures affecting a subset of Australian longcodes, for both inbound and outbound messages. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 2 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.
Block ads for life on 9 devices for just $19 (was $169.99) Macworld
TL;DR: Block ads on nine devices for life with an AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription on sale for $19.
Ads are one of the most frustrating parts of being online, but you aren’t stuck with them. AdGuard is a comprehensive ad blocker tool that can get rid of pop-ups, banners, and so many other frustrating ads. Right now, a lifetime family plan is also on sale for $18.97 (reg. $169.99).
AdGuard works across your devices to clean up your browsing so pages load cleaner and faster. Once it is installed, it filters out a wide range of ads and prevents tracking tools from collecting your data. If you spend a lot of time online for work or school, the difference can be noticeable right away, since pages feel less cluttered and more readable.
The Family Plan supports up to nine devices, which makes it easy to cover everyone in the household. You can install it on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and each device gets the same protections.
The parental control settings also let you block adult content and other categories you don’t want kids to access, and it works quietly in the background without requiring constant adjustments.
AdGuard also checks the websites you visit so you avoid known phishing links and malware pages. It is not a VPN, but it adds another level of protection by keeping your information private from trackers that follow your activity across sites.
Until December 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get an AdGuard Lifetime Family Plan for $18.97 when you use code FAMPLAN.
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This refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro is 80% off right now Macworld
TL;DR: Get a Grade A refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro with Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for just $299.97, down from $1,499.
Looking for a reliable MacBook without the premium price tag? This refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro delivers pro-level performance at a fraction of the original cost. Right now, you can snag the 13-inch model with a 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor for just $299.97, a massive 80% discount off the $1,499 retail price.
This isn’t some beaten-up hand-me-down. The Grade A refurbished MacBook Pro arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing. Under the hood, you get 8GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and a speedy 512GB SSD for quick app launches and ample storage. The Intel Core i5 can turbo boost up to 3.5GHz, making it more than capable of handling demanding tasks like video editing, coding, and creative work.
The 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology adjusts screen color automatically for better visibility and reduced eye strain, perfect for long work sessions. You also get the Touch Bar, Touch ID for secure login, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports for maximum connectivity. Battery life clocks in at up to 10 hours, so you can stay productive without constantly hunting for an outlet.
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Quick feedback on a Screen Time app UI concept I'm developing a Screen Time management app in SwiftUI and would appreciate some quick feedback on this UI concept. Instead of using charts, the app features a timeline showcasing short reactions to phone usage. A small mascot named ScrollKitty provides brief notes based on users' usage patterns. s. Looking for feedback on: • Is the […]
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Explain me this NEW rule “Recordings” app must display indicator. Can anyone explain if ADDITIONAL indicator is necessary or it's assumed that system indicator is sufficient. How do you explain this rule? 3.3.3 Data and Privacy A. Recordings If Your Application captures or makes any video, microphone, screen recordings, or camera recordings, whether saved on the device or sent to a server (e.g., an image, […]
NetworkExtension App Store Review There is not much documentation about NetworkExtension and I'm not sure what I'm allowed by Apple to do or not as a NetworkExtension. In particular, I would like to know: * Am I allowed to use any APIs, as long it compiles with no issues? * What exactly is a "VPN service"? Is every `NEPacketTunnelProvider` […]
Game Center achievements? How to push them from xcode to App Connect? I have a lot of achievements inside of Xcode that I put together inside Game Center resources, but they do not sync to App Connect. On the official documentation, it says once I upload a build, it should do it. But I don't know if I'm missing a step. Do I actually need to push […]
App Store vs Play Store… pros, cons, and any duel publishers out there? If you had to pick one, which would it be (and why)? Can you give a sentence or two about why I should (or shouldn't) also focus on Play Store (vs just App Store)? I saw the post about double ads in App Store and feel like I'm questioning Apple's entire ecosystem. Might it be […]
ChatGPT has a Sora-powered Holiday easter egg As Sam Altman teaser on X, you can prompt ChatGPT with a single emoji, and get a personalized Christmas-themed video made by Sora in return. Here’s how to do it.
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SMS Delivery Delays to XPhone Network in Israel Dec 19, 15:43 PSTUpdate - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays to XPhone Network in Israel. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.Dec 19, 15:23 PSTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue with SMS delivery delays to XPhone Network in Israel. Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.
Apple TV’s newest nature docuseries is now available ‘Born to be Wild’ is narrated by Hugh Bonneville (Notting Hill, Paddington), and adds to Apple TV’s ever-increasing catalogue of natural world content. Watch the trailer below.
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Apple study shows how an AI-powered ISP could dramatically improve low-light iPhone photos Apple researchers have developed an AI model that dramatically improves extremely dark photos by integrating a diffusion-based image model directly into the camera’s image processing pipeline, allowing it to recover detail from raw sensor data that would normally be lost. Here’s how they did it.
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How can I pass the privacy policy guidelines? Hello! I am working on my first iOS application but I've been denied 3 times in a row for the same guideline violation. For context, my application gathers players into public/private "leagues" where players compete in round-based games revolving around music taste. So once you join a league, other people in that league can see […]
resetting ratings Does researching your ratings on iOS make you lose your rank? Does it affect it immediately? And is it advisable or not? A bug in my app made me get lots of one star reviews so I'm trying to fix it and wondering if I should go reset the ratings now that I've fixed it […]
New Powerbeats Fit ad starring Travis Scott features a new unreleased track and an old tweet Beats’ new campaign, “Dare to Dream,” recreates Travis Scott’s childhood bedroom and the moment he manifested his path to becoming a global superstar. Watch it below.
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ESET Home Security Premium Review: Excellent protection, but there are bugs Macworld
At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Excellent antiviral and malware protection, that caught everything
Spam/phishing protection that caught 100% of the questionable websites during testing
Simple, reliable VPN client
Cons
Installation and setup issue
The Settings pane feels buried
Assorted bugs, including the Scheduler function failing during testing
Our Verdict
ESET Home Security Premium offers genuinely excellent core protection features that caught nearly everything that was thrown at it, along with the most impressive spam and phishing filters we’ve seen to date on macOS, which is also accompanied by a reliable VPN client.
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ESET (first year, 1 device)
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Price When ReviewedEssential: $49.99 a year for one device; Premium: $79.99 a year for one device
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1 year, 1 Mac (Premium) $79.991 year, 1 Mac (Essential)$49.99
There’s intent, and there’s execution, and sometimes the two don’t always mesh perfectly, but still yield an impressive result. This is the case with ESET Home Security Premium, the latest offering from Slovakian security firm ESET.
ESET, which is continuing its foray into the Mac marketplace, has subtly updated its offerings for 2025. The new version, which retails for $39.99/£27.99 and up for one device for one year at an introductory price point, requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later to install and run, and a free 30-day trial period is in place that doesn’t require a credit or debit card to be entered, albeit you’ll have to set up an ESET account.
The software is centered on its antiviral/anti-malware core and also features a VPN client that’s designed to get you up and running quickly without battling with the settings VPN users sometimes find themselves tied up with.
If there’s a poignant obstacle to ESET Home Security Premium, it came early, and while it was easy enough to download the software from the ESET website, installation turned into a struggle. (And it was confusing that the software name switched to ESET Cyber Security).
The software installs a number of extensions, proxies, and modules into macOS, which have to be granted permission, making the setup a bit more manual than might be expected, as opposed to a typical software installation. Once permission was granted for everything involved, the software hit a strange bug in installing its SSL certificate, which required troubleshooting, a Terminal command workaround, and reinstallation to allow the certificate to pass through and for normal web traffic to resume.
This took some finagling, and perhaps it’s a unique case or something more widespread; it’s something for the developers to take a look at should it surface again.
Where its core elements are concerned, ESET Home Security Premium knocks it out of the park. The antiviral/anti-malware function offers a typical scan mode, a custom scan mode, and allows you to submit viral samples to ESET to help identify viruses and offer updates to protect against them. [Find out how ESET compares to the best Mac Antivirus apps in our group test].
Scanning the computerFoundry
The scanning module is capable of multiple simultaneous scans (such as a typical scan and a custom scan on a specific folder or external volume), and the feature offers both .zip and .dmg file format scan support, but has to be configured within a deeper scan.
As for the scan results themselves, these are impressive, and next to nothing out of an extensive sample library was in a position to get through outside of a few instances where you’d have to go through multiple warning screens and bypass macOS-level system protections to execute virus and malware samples.
The software itself meshes well with the macOS’ Gatekeeper and Xprotect functions, pinning down just about everything before it has a chance to install itself and upend your system functionality.
In addition to this, the scan essentially nukes the vast majority of the sample malware after it was decompressed, offering little to work with in the way of potential viral and malware infections, which proved impressive.
Foundry
ESET seems to have heard the clarion call where its Protections module was concerned, and amidst the multitude of extensions the software installs, the software offers Computer, Network Access, and Web and Email protections, which, for the first time I’ve ever seen, were able to bat 1,000 on spam and phishing emails from my Gmail’s Spam folder.
Here, the software provided adequate warnings as to links from questionable spam and phishing websites, but still allowed you to travel to the site if you wanted to. The sites offering free power tools that I’d won? There was a warning about this. The sites telling me I had a $17,000 Cash App payment that I didn’t know about? There was a warning. Websites offering questionable medical and casino access? The warning was there, and this proved genuinely impressive.
ESET’s VPN client may be somewhat bare-bones compared to a dedicated client, but it excels in terms of reliability and ease of use. The proxy settings are useful; there’s an overall internet kill switch if needed, as well as easy geolocation options to choose the country and region you’re logging in from. This may not appease the hardcore VPN user who needs more extensive options, but it’s impressive for everyday use.
VPN functionFoundry
ESET’s settings feel a bit tucked away, but what’s there is actually remarkably impressive and gives you a huge amount of control over the modules, their performance, how strict the blocking and filters are, firewall settings, what kind of exception/whitelist can be built, and how external volumes are recognized and handled on your Mac.
The settings are well-categorized, and there’s a remarkable amount of control to be had here should you decide to take a few minutes and play with things. This is coupled with a readily accessible Help and Support module, which adds quick access to ESET’s help page, technical support, and Knowledgebase, and acts as a useful jumping-off point to get to the section of the ESET website that you need.
Outside of the installation foibles and the issue of sorting out the SSL certificate, ESET Home Security Premium installed easily and performed well, albeit there are a few things that could use some attention. The .dmg and .zip scanning and removal feel a little strange, as the scan located these, but seemed to vary in how it handled them, which can arguably be adjusted in the settings.
The settings themselves are a powerful chunk of the program, but feel buried, and a quick introduction/tutorial could readily point them out and encourage the user to adjust them as needed. A Scheduler function buried within the settings supposedly allows for scans and other functions to be programmed in and executed, but failed to activate after two tests, which raises an eyebrow and could stand some debugging.
If there’s a motif with ESET Home Security Premium, it’s that this is a powerful set of tools, but without quite the polish that it requires to be a must-buy utility.
The settings felt buried under layers with little drawing attention to them and what they were capable of, the installer offered a semi-battle royale to get the SSL certificate up and running, the application’s Scheduler feature felt tucked away and didn’t execute during testing, and despite an incredibly powerful element of protection where viruses, malware, spam, and phishing efforts were concerned, the application needs some debugging while ESET itself needs to decide which tools to present to the user instead of opting for minimal simplicity in its home screen interface.
In the end, ESET Home Security Premium is impressive and worth trying out, and some of its features are as impressive as I’ve ever seen, but it needs some debugging and polishing to get it over the final hurdle. Still, with a free 30-day trial in place and no credit or debit card needing to be entered, this may be worth trying out to see how it fits into your everyday Mac lifestyle.
Should you buy ESET Home Security Premium
Some bugs and rough edges aside, ESET Home Security Premium offers an impressive value via its raw protection features. Elements such as antivirus and malware detection, email filtering, and commendable integration with macOS’ own security frameworks offer excellent performance, and the simple but powerful VPN client offers what’s needed for day-to-day users. This, combined with a 30-day trial, allows for a good evaluation period without having to surrender payment information.
FuzeLabs Gym Tracker 1.0.6 IS OUT – NEW FEATURES & BETA TESTERS NEEDED Hey there folks, It's been a busy couple of months for FuzeLabs. Lots of feedback, bug fixing and, of course, new features. As always, give FuzeLabs a try. Also join us at our Discord server. Beta testers are needed. If you are interested and willing to use FuzeLabs as your daily driver, DM me. Version […]
The Tim Cook era at Apple looks to be winding down As we step into 2026, a historic leadership transition is unfolding at three of America's most pivotal corporate giants. We're talking…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
This smartpen automatically digitizes anything you write Enjoy the timeless feel of writing by hand with the perks of modern technology with the SyncPen 4 smartpen set.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Beats Launches Travis Scott Partnership Featuring New 'DARE TO DREAM' Ad Campaign Apple's Beats brand is launching a new celebrity ad campaign today featuring rapper Travis Scott and entitled "DARE TO DREAM." The campaign is inspired by a 2011 tweet from Scott when he was just starting his career, in which he claimed, "One day Travis Scott will be somebody."
The campaign short film is a "testament to how belief in oneself can manifest into reality" and features a re-creation of his actual childhood bedroom and an appearance by his real mother, Wanda Webster.
The film depicts a young Scott working on music projects using his iMac and the original Beats Studio headphones, with the scene transforming from his bedroom to a dream of sold-out shows on his just-completed "Circus Maximus" tour spanning multiple legs over the past two years.
The dream is short-lived, however, with his mother calling him back to reality and sending him off to school. Inspired by the dream, Scott composes his prophetic tweet, and on his way out of the house he discovers a pair of Powerbeats Fit in his pocket, a symbol linking past and present.
While the partnership with Scott is currently focused on the campaign film, Beats Chief Marketing Officer Chris Thorne hints that we can expect to see more in the future.“This campaign captures something deeply personal — the belief that greatness starts with a single idea and the courage to chase it,” said Chris Thorne, Beats CMO. “It’s the same belief that connects Beats and Travis — and this is only the beginning of what we’ll build together.”Whether this means we'll see any product partnerships between Beats and Scott down the road remains to be seen.Tags: Beats, Travis ScottThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 234 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed Safari Technology Preview to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.
Safari Technology Preview 234 includes fixes and updates for Animations, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, MathML, Media, SVG, Web API, Web Authentication, Web Inspector, and WebRTC.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.Tag: Safari Technology PreviewThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple stops signing iOS 26.1, here’s what that means If you’re running iOS 26.2 and had been thinking about downgrading, you missed your chance. Here are the details.
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You’ll soon lose access to ChatGPT’s Voice feature on macOS If you rely heavily on ChatGPT’s Voice feature on the Mac app, be warned: the feature is going away early next year. Here are the details.
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24-72 hours to process device for development/debug/ad-hoc? Since when? I used to do a lot of iOS dev from around 2014-2022 or 2023, so i've been out of the iOS dev game for a couple of years. In the past, adding a new physical device into developer.apple.com so I could use it for debugging or ad-hoc deployment was pretty much instantaneous. Now, it seems […]
When did adding a device to developer (for debug or ad-hoc) start taking 24-72 hours? So, I did a lot of iOS dev from 2014 about 2022-2023 or so, so I've been out of the iOS dev game for a couple of years . In the past, when we needed to add a new device (e.g. someone's iPhone) for debugging or to do ad-hoc deployments, we would get the UDID […]
iPhone 18 Pro rumors: Under-display Face ID, variable aperture cameras, more The iPhone 18 Pro is nowhere near release, but plenty of claims have already been made about Apple's next flagship. Here's what the rumor mill thinks is coming.The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to deliver a multitude of improvements.With its 2025 iPhone lineup, Apple's high-end models underwent significant changes, both visually and functionally. Titanium was replaced with aluminum as the case material, and the familiar rear camera bump expanded into a rectangular camera plateau.Its planned successor, the iPhone 18 Pro, more than likely won't deliver significant design alterations. In many ways, we expect an iterative upgrade, but that doesn't mean it won't include major performance enhancements. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple TV drops ‘Pluribus’ season finale early: Stream the epic conclusion on Christmas Eve! Fans of "Pluribus" get a holiday treat: no agonizing seven-day wait for the season one finale. Apple TV typically rolls out fresh episodes…
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What did the lawsuit for in-app payments accomplish? How can I charge in-app for a barbershop membership without having a loss? I would like to make a simple scheduling app for my shop for clients to make and manage appointments. But, I would also like to include the ability for them to pay me monthly for a subscription that provides them with weekly haircuts for those that need it coming out cheaper than paying one by […]
Feedback on App Store Screenshots, Thoughts on Preview Video Hello all, I am in the middle of doing some updates and changes to my app and I wanted to get a little feedback on my apps screenshots. I try to keep things to the point and show what the app can do with a quick glance. Also how does everyone feel about the preview […]
You can now watch Stanford’s 2025 SwiftUI development lectures for free All 16 videos and supporting material from the Spring 2025 version of Stanford’s CS193p (Developing Applications for iOS using SwiftUI) course are now online, for free.
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9to5Mac Daily: December 19, 2025 – iPhone Fold, Apple Music news Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by Backblaze: Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. Till the end of the month, 9to5Mac listeners get 30% off with code 9to5Xmas.
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Offline-first + iCloud sync sounded simple. It wasn’t. Hi! Solo iOS dev here. I just shipped my first iOS game and made the decision early on to go offline first, while syncing user progress via iCloud. A few lessons from the trenches: Conflict resolution matters more than “preventing” conflicts Instead of trying to block double-plays or race conditions, I ended up defining a […]
REQUEST: App Store Connect, New App Menu Hey, just a thought for Apple developers working on App Store Connect. For this section, where you add a new app to your library: App Store Connect, Add New App Please add the ability to register a new Bundle ID without having to click into Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles. It doesn't make any sense to […]
This Mac superpower lets you copy text from any PDF [Pro Tip] Trying to copy text from a PDF can be a nightmare. But the Mac has Live Text, a secret trick up its sleeve to make it dead simple.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
HomeKit Weekly: Aqara Hub M200 brings Matter support and new automation options to HomeKit The smart home world is continually moving toward Matter, and Aqara is one of the companies driving this transition forward at a steady pace with its new products this year. Their latest hub, the Aqara Hub M200, replaces their older hubs and features a cleaner design, along with support for Matter. For HomeKit users, this means another step toward a future where more Aqara accessories can integrate seamlessly with the Home app, while still leveraging the benefits of Zigbee behind the scenes.
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A Request Regarding ‘Magic Link’ Sign-Ins and Apple’s Passwords App I despise this design pattern, because it’s inherently slower than signing in using an email/password combination that was saved to my passwords app (which is Apple Passwords) and autofilled by my web browser. It’s not just a little slower but *a lot* slower.
Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's How to Stay on iOS 18 (For Now) Since the beginning of December, Apple has been pushing iPhone users who opted to stay on iOS 18 to install iOS 26 instead. Apple started by making the iOS 18 upgrades less visible, and has now transitioned to making new iOS 18 updates unavailable on any device capable of running iOS 26.
If you have an iPhone 11 or later, Apple is no longer offering new versions of iOS 18, even though there was a security update that came out alongside iOS 26.2. Apple stopped showing new iOS 18 updates when iOS 26.2 launched, forcing iOS 18 users to upgrade to iOS 26.2 if they want to keep their devices secure.
For now, there's a way to stay on iOS 18 and continue to get security updates. On a device running iOS 18, you can turn on iOS 18 public beta updates to force new versions of iOS 18 to show up. This may not remain an option for long, but it works at the current time.
Apple's move to push users to iOS 26 is timed with a long list of security updates introduced in iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3, including a WebKit vulnerability known to be actively exploited. Both updates addressed the problem, so there is no technical need for the iOS 26.2 requirement.
Jason Snell wrote an article yesterday on Apple's decision not to offer iOS 18 users further iOS 18 upgrades and speculated that it might be a bug or an error, but the reality is that Apple does this every year.
The iOS 14 to iOS 15 transition in 2021 was the first time that Apple allowed users to remain on an older version of iOS. At the time, Apple said that iOS offered "a choice between two software update versions." Users would be able to update to iOS 15 at release, or opt to continue on iOS 14 and "still get important security updates."
As promised, Apple did allow users to stay on iOS 14 and avoid the iOS 15 update, but only temporarily. Apple started pushing people to iOS 15 in January 2022 by making the iOS 15 software update option more prominent and no longer offering iOS 14 security updates for devices capable of running iOS 15.
In fact, iOS 14 updates stopped being available when Apple launched iOS 15.2, which might sound familiar because it is the exact same path that it followed with the iOS 18 to iOS 26 transition. Apple did the same thing with the iOS 16 to iOS 17 transition, and the iOS 17 to iOS 18 transition.
For a clear answer why iOS 18 security updates are no longer available on devices capable of running iOS 26, we can look to what Apple had to say in 2022 after people complained about being forced to upgrade to iOS 15. According to Apple, the option for users to stay on iOS 14 and avoid iOS 15 was always meant to be temporary. Apple provided a grace period for people to remain on iOS 14 while iOS 15 bugs were worked out, but Apple ultimately wanted users on the latest version of iOS.
In a support document published in 2021, Apple clarified that users would be able to stay on the old version of iOS "for a period of time," but not forever.
If you're using iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later, you might now see the option to choose between two software update versions. This option allows you to choose between updating to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS 15 as soon as it's released, or continuing on iOS or iPadOS 14 while still getting important security updates for a period of time.
Apple has continued with the same update policy since iOS 15, but the company's move to wean users off of iOS 18 is more visible this year due to the design changes introduced with iOS 26. Liquid Glass is a major user interface overhaul that's polarizing, and some users are unsurprisingly reluctant to update for that reason.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Gift guide: Last-minute HomeKit recommendations Crafting a smart home ecosystem can be tricky. There are a lot of product categories, and it can be hard to know which ones to prioritize. Here are some of my go-to smart home recommendations for outfitting a smart home — and they all make great gifts this holiday season.
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Missing Safari’s full Toolbar? Here’s how to bring it back to your iPhone. Hate the compact Safari browser controls in iOS 26? You can easily switch the iPhone Safari toolbar back to the full-featured design.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Holiday Deal Alert: $100 off Apple Watch Series 11; hits all-time low of $299 As of December 19th, select colors of the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) are back down to their record-low price of $299, or $100 off…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
iMessage is full of features you’re probably not using (but should) [Video] It feels like every year, Apple quietly adds dozens of small features and improvements to the Messages app, but most of them fly under the radar. These aren’t flashy or eye-grabbing features, but they are the type of features that really help the quality of life and experience of the Messages app. If you are like most people, then you have probably been using the Messages app the same way for years, meaning you are barely scratching the surface of what the app can do. Here are some of the best Messages features that you need to know.
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New Duo Trial Signup Failures Dec 19, 12:59 ESTInvestigating - We are currently investigating an issue causing new Duo Trial signups to fail.We are working to restore this capability as soon as possible and will provide additional updates here as progress is made.Please check back here or subscribe to updates for any changes.
Last call for Christmas: These $199 AirPods Pro 3 are the perfect gift Macworld
If you’re still doing some last-minute gift shopping and have no idea what to get, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3, especially since you can get them for $199, a $50 discount, and still get them in time to wrap and put under the tree.
The AirPods Pro 3 are easily one of our favorite earbuds of the year. When we reviewed them, we gave them a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, and loved the sound quality and long battery life. And the new foam-infused tips solved one of the main issues we had with the AirPods Pro 2.
These earbuds deliver better noise cancellation and a much-improved Transparency mode that will make having conversations while wearing them so much better. The Live Translation feature is also pretty awesome when you’re traveling. One really cool thing with these earbuds, however, is the fact that they come with heart rate monitoring, so they can keep track of your health while you’re exercising./
So there you go: The AirPods Pro 3 are under $200 — a pleasant surprise just in time for last-minute holiday shopping, so grab a pair before Santa shows up.
The AirPods Pro 3 are down to $199 againBuy now at Amazon
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone 17 and Fresh Coat Screen Protector From Astropad For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Astropad to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone 17 and one of Astropad's Fresh Coat anti-reflective screen protectors to go along with it.
Fresh Coat is a new kind of screen protector that Astropad designed with an optical-grade anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and provide a more pleasant iPhone viewing experience. The technology that Astropad is using cuts reflections by 75 percent, while improving contrast and keeping colors vibrant. Unlike other anti-reflective screen protectors, there's no haze or distortion.
Priced at $30, Fresh Coat is made from a scratch-proof tempered glass that also provides protection for the iPhone's display in addition to cutting down on glare and reflections. It's slim and won't add any bulk to the iPhone even though it has a five-layer design. From the top down, there's an anti-reflective coating, an oleophobic and hydrophobic coating, a layer of tempered glass, a dust barrier, and an impact-resistant "airbag" bonding.
If you have an iPhone 17, it comes with a new anti-reflective coating added by Apple. What you might not know, though, is that you can't use just any screen protector with the iPhone 17. If you put a regular screen protector without an anti-reflective coating on, it entirely nullifies the anti-reflective properties of that added coating.
Since Fresh Coat has its own anti-reflective coating, it actually improves upon Apple's included anti-reflective layer, reducing glare even further. With Fresh Coat, the iPhone's screen is easy to see in any lighting conditions, there's less eye strain, and if you use Dark Mode, it looks even darker.
If you don't have an iPhone 17, Fresh Coat can provide an iPhone 17-style display upgrade, mirroring Apple's own reflection-reducing display coating. Fresh Coat is available for all iPhone 17 models, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
Astropad even designed an installation process that's impossible to mess up, so you get perfect alignment on your iPhone without hassle.
We have an iPhone 17 in white and a Fresh Coat screen protector for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
Astropad Giveaway
The contest will run from today (December 19) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 26. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after December 26 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.Tag: GiveawayThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Black Friday: M4 Mac minis on sale for up to $200 off Apple’s MSRP, prices start at $479 Apple retailers are offering Black Friday discounts ranging up to $200 off MSRP on M4 Mac minis. These are the lowest prices currently available:
(1): Amazon has M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis on Black Friday sale starting at only $479 and ranging up to $200 off MSRP. Shipping is free:
- Mac mini M4 (16GB/256GB): $479, $120 off MSRP
- Mac mini M4 (16GB/512GB): $669, $130 off MSRP
- Mac mini M4 (24GB/512GB): $869, $130 off MSRP
- Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1199.99, $200 off MSRP
(2): B&H Photo has M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis on Black Friday sale for up to $150 off Apple's MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses:
- M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $479, $120 off MSRP
- M4 Mac mini (16GB/512GB): $669, $130 off MSRP
- M4 Mac mini (24GB/512GB): $869, $130 off MSRP
- M4 Pro Mac mini (24GB/512GB): $1249, $150 off MSRP
These are the lowest Black Friday prices currently available on Mac minis.
For the latest prices and sales, keep an eye on our Mac mini Price Tracker, updated daily.
Best Black Friday MacBook Deal: Take $150 off all M4 MacBook Airs, prices start at only $749 Amazon has all 13" M4 MacBook Airs and 15" M4 MacBook Airs on Black Friday sale for $250 off Apple's MSRP, starting at only $749. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party:
- 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $749, $250 off
- 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $949, $250 off
- 13" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB): $1149, $250 off
- 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $949, $250 off
- 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $1149, $250 off
- 15" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB/): $1349, $250 off
Their prices are the lowest available for new M4 MacBook Airs anywhere and represent one of the best Black Friday deal on Apple products so far this Holiday shopping season.
For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker and 15" MacBook Air Price Tracker, both updated daily.
Black Friday: Take $250 off Apple’s new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pros, prices start at only $1349 Amazon is now offering $250 discounts on new 14" M5 MacBook Pros as part of their Black Friday sales, each including free shipping.
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Black): $1349, MSRP $1599
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Silver): $1349, MSRP $1599
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Black): $1549, MSRP $1799
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Silver): $1599.99, MSRP $1799
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Black): $1749, MSRP $1999
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Silver): $1749, MSRP $1999
These are the lowest prices available for new M5 MacBook Pros this Black Friday.
For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.
Black Friday: 14-inch M4 Pro/M4 Max MacBook Pros for up to $500 off Apple’s MSRP Apple retailers are offering Black Friday sale prices on 14" M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros ranging up to $500 off Apple's MSRP. Here at the lowest prices currently available:
(1): Amazon has Apple's 14-inch M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on Black Friday sale for up to $500 off MSRP. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party seller:
- 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB): $1749, $250 off MSRP
- 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB): $2099, $300 off MSRP
- 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB): $2699, $500 off MSRP
(2): B&H Photo is offering 14-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro or M4 Max CPUs for up to $500 off Apple's MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses:
- 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB): $1749, $250 off MSRP
- 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB): $2099, $300 off MSRP
- 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB): $2699, $500 off MSRP
These are the lowest Black Friday prices currently available on these models.
For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.
Black Friday: Take $500 off 16-inch M4 Pro/M4 Max MacBook Pros Apple retailers have 16-inch M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros on Black Friday sale this weekend for up to $500 off Apple's MSRP. Here are the lowest prices currently available:
(1): Amazon has 16-inch MacBook Pros Black Friday sale for up to $500 off Apple's MSRP. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party seller:
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Black): $2189, $310 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Silver): $2189, $310 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Black): $2535.07, $364 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Silver): $2535.07, $364 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Black): $3059, $440 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Silver): $3059.76, $440 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Black): $3499, $500 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Silver): $3499, $500 off MSRP
(2): B&H Photo has 16-inch MacBook Pros on Black Friday sale for up to $500 off Apple's MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses:
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Black): $2199, $300 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Silver): $2189, $310 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Black): $2539, $370 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Silver): $2539, $370 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Black): $3059, $440 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Silver): $3099, $400 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Black): $3499, $500 off MSRP
- 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Silver): $3499, $500 off MSRP
These are the lowest Black Friday prices available for new 16" MacBook Pros among the Apple retailers we track.
For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.
Apple Black Friday Sale: Up to $250 gift card w/ purchase + free shipping Get an Apple gift card ranging from $25 to $250 with select purchases in Apple's Black Friday sale. We've listed the top deals below, although there are more to browse on the sale page. The deals:$250 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or Max chip)$200 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Air 15"$175 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Air 13"$150 Apple gift card w/ iMac$100 Apple gift card w/ Mac mini$100 Apple gift card w/ iPad Air$75 Apple gift card w/ iPhone 16$75 Apple gift card w/ AirPods Max$50 Apple gift card w/ AirPods Pro 3$50 Apple gift card w/ Apple Watch Series 11 or SE 3$50 Apple gift card w/ iPhone 16e$50 Apple gift card w/ iPad A16 or iPad mini$25 Apple gift card w/ AirPods 4 Shop Now at Apple
Apple Black Friday Sale: Up to $250 gift card w/ purchase + free shipping Get an Apple gift card ranging from $25 to $250 with select purchases in Apple's Black Friday sale. We've listed the top deals below, although there are more to browse on the sale page. The deals:$250 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or Max chip)$200 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Air 15"$175 Apple gift card w/ MacBook Air 13"$150 Apple gift card w/ iMac$100 Apple gift card w/ Mac mini$100 Apple gift card w/ iPad Air$75 Apple gift card w/ iPhone 16$75 Apple gift card w/ AirPods Max$50 Apple gift card w/ AirPods Pro 3$50 Apple gift card w/ Apple Watch Series 11 or SE 3$50 Apple gift card w/ iPhone 16e$50 Apple gift card w/ iPad A16 or iPad mini$25 Apple gift card w/ AirPods 4 Shop Now at Apple
Apple 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Laptop w/ 16GB RAM (Late 2025) for $1,350 + free shipping As one of its Black Friday Doorbusters, Best Buy drops this M5 MacBook Pro to $50 under Amazon's price. (It's a $250 savings in total.) Also, if you're a Best Buy Plus or Total member, you'll get a $25 Best Buy gift card with this purchase. Buy Now at Best Buy
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU – Silver – FWUC3LL/A – $1,099.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU - Silver
– FWUC3LL/A
$1,099.00
$1,299.00 −15%
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
256GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
Product page on the Apple Store…
Black Friday Deal at Verizon: iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, or 17 Pro Max all for free, no trade-in required Verizon has rolled out their Black Friday iPhone deals running through at least December 1, 2025, featuring major offers on the iPhone 17 lineup. Customers who switch to Verizon can get a base-model iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, or 17 Pro Max, no trade-in required.
Free means $0/month for a 36 month term through which Verizon will credit your account the normal monthly price of the phone. Should you leave early, you would be responsible for paying off the balance of the phone.
Verizon will also include a free Apple Watch 11 and 11th-generation A16 iPad for the same 36 month term, should you so desire.
Details at Verizon here. For the latest prices and deals, see our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Blue – G1K53LL/A – $2,119.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Blue
– G1K53LL/A
$2,119.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Black Friday Deal: AirPods Max headphones on sale for $150 off Apple’s MSRP, only $399 Amazon has Apple AirPods Max headphones in stock and on Black Friday sale for $150 off MSRP (27%) on their online store. Shipping is free:
- AirPods Max: $399.99, $150 off
Their price is the lowest Black Friday price currently available for Apple AirPods Max.
Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.
Apple 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Laptop w/ 24GB RAM (Late 2025) for $1,569 + free shipping This recently-released model is $230 off. Buy Now at B&H Photo Video
Black Friday Deal: $60 off Apple Watch Series 11 models, prices start at $339 Sams Club has Apple Watch Series 11 models on Black Friday sale for $60 off Apple's MSRP through December 2, 2025. Sams Club Membership required. Note that sale prices are for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available):
- 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular: $439 $60 off MSRP
- 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular: $469 $60 off MSRP
- 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $339 $60 off MSRP
- 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $369 $60 off MSRP
Sams' prices are currently among the lowest for Series 11 Watches anywhere.
For the latest prices and sales, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.
Amazon is now offering a $200 Black Friday discount on Apple’s new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pros, prices start at $1399 Amazon is now offering $200 discounts on new 14" M5 MacBook Pros as part of their Black Friday sales, each including free shipping:
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Black): $1399.99, MSRP $1599
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Silver): $1399.99, MSRP $1599
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Black): $1599.99, MSRP $1799
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Silver): $1599.99, MSRP $1799
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Black): $1799, MSRP $1999
- 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Silver): $1869, MSRP $1999
These are the lowest prices available for new M5 MacBook Pros this Black Friday.
For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.
Black Friday Deal: Woot has 27-inch 5K Studio Displays on sale for up to $500 off MSRP Woot has Apple Studio Displays on sale for up to $500 off MSRP as part of their Black Friday sales event. Shipping is free:
- Studio Display (Standard glass Tilt Adjustable): $1399 $200 off MSRP
- Studio Display (Nano glass Tilt Adjustable): $1499 $400 off MSRP
- Studio Display (Standard glass Tilt & Height Adjustable): $1699 $300 off MSRP
- Studio Display (Nano glass Tilt & Height Adjustable): $1799 $500 off MSRP
Prices valid through December 10th or until stock sells out.
Their prices are the lowest available for Studio Displays among the retailers we track. For the latest prices and sales, see our Studio Display Price Tracker, updated daily.
Black Friday Deal: HomePod minis for $84 at Verizon, $15 off MSRP Buy an Apple HomePod mini today at Verizon for $15 off Apple's MSRP ($84.99). This is the lowest Black Friday price currently available for HomePod minis.
Their sale price applies to all mini colors and represents a rare HomePod sale price. Verizon service is not required for purchase. Buy online and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). Sale price for online orders only, in-store price may vary.
See our HomePod Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals from Apple and its retailers.
Walmart has Apple Watch SE 3 models on Black Friday sale for $50 off MSRP, prices start at $199 Walmart has Apple Watch SE 3 models on Black Friday sale for $50 off MSRP. Sale prices for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Order online and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). These are the lowest Black Friday prices on Apple Watch models among Apple's retailers:
- 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $199.99, $50 off MSRP
- 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $229.99, $50 off MSRP
- 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS + 5G: $249.99, $50 off MSRP
- 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS + 5G: $279.99, $50 off MSRP
For the latest prices & deals, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.
Black Friday Deal: Apple AirPods 4 for only $69, normally $129 Walmart has Apple AirPods 4 now on Black Friday sale on their online store for $60 off MSRP, only $69. Order online and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). This is the lowest price currently available for new AirPods among Apple's retailers:
- AirPods 4: $69, $60 off
Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.
Black Friday Deal: Walmart has clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs on sale for only $549 Walmart has clearance, but new, Apple 13" M1 MacBook Airs (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) available online for $549, $450 off original MSRP, in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold colors. These are new MacBooks for sale by Walmart directly, not a third-party seller. It's the cheapest new MacBook available this Back Friday shopping period!
These sale prices are available for online orders only. Order online, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available).
Note that stock status may vary, check Walmart's site for availability. For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.