Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Sunday March 22
- 03:50 pmWill Apple testers ever provide you with any red flags during an internal testing submission? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWill Apple testers ever provide you with any red flags during an internal testing submission?
For example, if I submit for internal testing review and it’s approved does that mean I won’t deal with issues for an actual role out? Maybe not full blown issues but ones like “app is the same as other apps on the market” etc etc. Will they flag these issues in advance? submitted by […]03:47 pmApple’s busy March continues with three notable arrivals this week
Apple has had a jam-packed March so far after launching seven new products and surprisingly announcing an eighth. Looking ahead, there’s even more to come from Apple before the month is over, including three things to watch for this week. more…03:41 pmHow 50 years of moving fast and breaking stuff led to MacBook Neo
Macworld What a funny coincidence that celebrations of Apple’s 50th anniversary would hit the same month that the company introduced the MacBook Neo, a $599 laptop that has the potential to take the Mac to new heights. The facts that Apple was founded in 1976 and the MacBook Neo exists in 2026 shouldn’t have anything in common but that they both involve a corporation called Apple. But that’s not right: Apple’s product philosophy is more continuous than you might imagine, and that string that starts with the Apple I ends, 50 years later, in a colorful new MacBook Neo. Apple was born in a chaotic world. Dozens of personal computer companies were building early devices, and each of them was its own island with its own software running on custom hardware. New chips and new hardware innovations like floppy disk drives (did you know that the earliest Apple computers could only read data from audio cassettes?!) meant that as a computer company, you evolved rapidly or you died. Most of them died, of course. But Apple didn’t, in part because it was always adopting the next big thing in order to survive. It was a mindset that I always connected to Steve Jobs, a man with absolutely zero sentimentality. Apple has always been a company that knows that it needs to move forward rapidly to survive. Steve Jobs believed in always moving forward and not getting sentimental about the past. That philosophy has served Apple well.Apple This has been a factor that has remained in the corporate culture, to varying degrees of strength, for 50 years. It’s not that Apple doesn’t care about taking care of its customers–it’s managed three chip transitions and one operating system transition on the Mac while providing solid support over a transitional period. One reason this culture got reinforced is that Apple has never been the dominant ecosystem player in any market it’s competed in. (The iPod was dominant, but not really much of an ecosystem.) When you’re dominant, like PCs driven by Microsoft’s DOS and Windows operating systems, the name of the game is compatibility. Once you’ve got the bulk of the market, it’s all about consolidation. Over time, stability and compatibility became a major reason why Microsoft was so successful. Old Windows apps just kept running. Microsoft built an entire culture about supporting its enormous base of customers, many of whom were using ancient hardware and software. The problem with that strategy is that it’s a really bad fit for times of great opportunity. As former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky wrote recently, Microsoft’s greatest strength suddenly became its greatest weakness. “The pull and push of forever compatibility was not just ‘Windows DNA,’ but it was the soul of what made Windows successful and was sacred.” Apple has the freedom to make game-changing moves to make better products.Apple The funny thing is that Sinofsky wrote that in the context of praising the MacBook Neo, of all things. Here’s why: Apple has constantly upgraded its operating system and ecosystem, from drivers to APIs to apps to the chips that run them. It’s been able to drag its technology forward in ways Microsoft never could. Part of that was embracing touch interfaces with the iPhone and iPad. It’s not that Microsoft didn’t have some great ideas about touch interfaces–some of the stuff it did was really cool!–but that in the end, its loyal customers pulled it backward into the abyss. The first touch-savvy version of Microsoft Office ran on the iPad. Microsoft’s own touch-friendly devices backslid to the old mouse-driven versions. The crowning achievement of all this was Apple’s embrace of its own, ARM-based chip architecture. Again, it’s not as if Microsoft and its chip partners didn’t see the strength that an Apple-style chip strategy might have. It’s that Microsoft’s customers just weren’t interested in losing compatibility with their enormous investment in Intel PCs, and Microsoft’s commitment to “run everything forever,” as Sinofsky calls it, hampered all attempts to see things differently. In the other corner: Apple, which for the last five-plus years has been shipping Macs running ARM processors, on top of a version of macOS that spent the years running up to that transition by killing off compatibility with a lot of old software that would’ve made that transition a challenge. Apple’s ability to advance its technology allows it to create a budget laptop that offers quality that its competitors can’t match.Eugen Wegmann This brings us to the MacBook Neo. It is the result of Apple being unafraid to break compatibility with 32-bit apps, with the old Carbon APIs, with Intel processors, the works. Part of the magic is that, as Mac users, we often don’t even notice when Apple does this, because it’s gotten pretty good at making it easy for us to migrate. (Software developers have had a harder time, often spending summers modifying their apps so that they still work when the new OS versions ship in the fall.) 50 years on, this is still Apple’s core approach: Don’t be afraid to change. Don’t be afraid to leave some old things behind. Not because change isn’t painful, because it often is. But because without change, without the ability to move forward, you’ll never be able to take advantage of new opportunities. And if you’re Apple, you’ll never be able to make a MacBook Neo.02:57 pmApple Card Offering New Walgreens Bonus
Now through May 20, you can get 5% Daily Cash when you use the Apple Card via Apple Pay for purchases at Walgreens and Duane Reade, both in stores and online. 5% Daily Cash is limited to $500 in combined Walgreens and Duane Reade purchases, meaning that the maximum cash back that you can receive from this offer is $25. Ordinarily, the Apple Card offers 3% Daily Cash for Walgreens and Duane Reade purchases. Apple's credit card is available in the U.S. only.Tags: Apple Card, WalgreensThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums02:39 pmGot rejected by the App Store 5 times before getting approved. Here is what I learned. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingGot rejected by the App Store 5 times before getting approved. Here is what I learned.
We built a social app from scratch. First time going through the App Store review process and honestly nobody prepares you for how opaque it is. Five rejections over a few weeks. Here is exactly what happened: Rejection 1: Guideline 4.3(b) — Spam This was the worst one. Apple said our app "duplicates the content […]02:30 pmUnwanted Communication Reporting Extension deletes messages always
I am implementing an Unwanted Communication Reporting Extension (IdentityLookupUI) to allow users to report spam messages to our backend. The extension works perfectly in terms of data collection and network reporting (using ILClassificationExtensionNetworkReportDestination). However, I’ve encountered an issue with the message lifecycle: whenever the user taps "Done" and I return a response, the system automatically moves the reported message to the Recently Deleted folder. I want to report the data but keep the message in its current folder (especially when the user classifies it as "Safe"). I have tried varying the ILClassificationAction, but it seems the system ignores the action in favor of "cleaning up" the thread. Example of my current implementation: override func classificationResponse(for request: ILClassificationRequest) - > ILClassificationResponse { // Even when returning .none or .reportNotJunk let action: ILClassificationAction = (self.type == "spam") ? .reportJunk : .none let response = ILClassificationResponse(action: action) response.userInfo = ["type": self.taggedType, "sender": self.sender] return response } My Questions: Is there a specific ILClassificationAction or userInfo key that tells iOS not to move the message? Is this movement a mandatory "post-report cleanup" behavior of the IdentityLookup framework that cannot be overridden? Does anyone know a workaround to report the communication while maintaining its original location in the Messages app?01:56 pmiPad 12 With A18 Chip for Apple Intelligence is 'Still Coming This Year'
Apple has updated a wide range of products and accessories this month, but there is still no entry-level iPad 12 with Apple Intelligence support. Fortunately, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said an iPad with an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence is "ready to go" and "still coming this year." An earlier report from Macworld claimed that the iPad 12 will actually have an A19 chip. No other major changes have been rumored so far for the iPad 12, so we expect the device to have the same overall design as the current model. Apple Intelligence is already available on all other current-generation iPad models, including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Apple released the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025, with U.S. pricing starting at $349. Related Roundup: iPadTags: Apple Intelligence, Bloomberg, Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:49 pmiPad with A18 chip on schedule for launch in early 2026
After updating its more powerful counterparts, Apple is still expected to update the base iPad with an A18 chip sometime in the first half of 2026.The entry-level iPad may finally get Apple Intelligence support soon. Apple's release schedule has been busy for the earliest months of the year. However, after having already moved iPad Pro to M5 and doing a similar M4 update to the iPad Air in March, Apple can now turn its attention to the lower end of the range.According to Mark Gurman in Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple is on track to refresh the entry-level iPad in the first half of 2026. Gurman doesn't say when exactly, but that it was originally to be released at around the same time as iOS 26.4. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:33 pmNew Apple TV and HomePod Mini Remain 'Ready' to Launch
Apple has unveiled nine new products this month, but the wait continues for the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready" since last year, but he reiterated that Apple has held off on releasing them until the more personalized version of Siri and other Apple Intelligence upgrades are released later this year. Inventory of the Apple TV, HomePod mini, and full-sized HomePod is once again "running low" at Apple's retail stores around the world, according to Gurman, but it is unclear if this means anything since the revamped Siri has yet to debut. Gurman previously reported that Apple was aiming to release the personalized Siri features in either iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. The first developer beta of iOS 26.5 could be available in late March or early April, so at least some of the Siri upgrades might be just a week or two away, unless they are entirely held back until iOS 27 debuts in June. Accordingly, if the new Apple TV and HomePod mini models remain tied to the Siri upgrades arriving in iOS 26.5 or iOS 27, then Apple should announce the devices at any point between late March and the end of September this year. Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is not entirely clear how that chip would be capable enough to support the revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other rumored features include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option. The current Apple TV 4K debuted in October 2022, and the HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020, so both devices are due for upgrades. Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod miniTags: Bloomberg, Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:14 pmApple Stores ‘running low’ on Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini inventory
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple Stores are currently facing inventory shortages for three key products: HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV. This isn’t necessarily a sign of an imminent update, though it is worth noting the latter two products are due for a refresh. more…01:08 pmApple raises external storage prices as AI consumes everything
Apple has raised the price of external hard drives in its stores, as its retail efforts feel the pinch of the increased cost of storage.External drives are now more expensive to buy from Apple. The tech industry is dealing with a crisis of supply and demand, with the needs of AI infrastructure buildouts consuming masses of memory and storage. While the main discussion has been about how Apple is faring on the supply chain side of things, it seems retail is being affected at a much faster rate.Writing in Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman was informed that Apple had updated the prices for a number of its external drives. These updates occurred on both the website and in retail outlets. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:04 pmWhat is an IP address, and how does it affect your privacy?
Every time you open a website, stream a video, send an email, or connect to Wi-Fi, your device relies on an IP address. You rarely see it, and most of the time you probably do not think about it. But it plays a quiet, important role in how the internet works. Your IP address helps […] The post appeared first on The Mac Security Blog.01:00 pmApple Has Released More Than 10 Products and Accessories This Month
It has been a busy March for Apple, which has unveiled more than 10 products and accessories this month. However, aside from the all-new MacBook Neo and Studio Display XDR, the devices received faster chips or new colors and little else. The new products include an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. The new accessories include iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the iPhone's Crossbody Strap in a range of fresh color options like Bright Guava, Vanilla, Soft Pink, Clementine, and/or Electric Lavender. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did. The new iPad Air's key upgrades include Apple's M4 chip, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and the C1X modem in cellular models. The MacBook Air received a faster M5 chip, and a doubled 512GB of base storage, but the starting price increased from $999 to $1,099 as a result of a 256GB configuration being dropped. With the N1 chip, the MacBook Air now has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and it now comes with Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max. The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models finally received M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus up to twice as fast SSD speeds and a doubled 1TB of base storage. Battery life has increased slightly across all of the models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro line now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. The regular Studio Display gained Thunderbolt 5 support and improved speakers, and the camera now supports Desk View. There is also an all-new, higher-end Studio Display XDR that gained all of those benefits, plus bigger improvements such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and more. The colorful new MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the United States, and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM. AirPods Max 2 have a handful of upgrades over the previous AirPods Max, including Apple's H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. Plus, the Digital Crown has a new Camera Remote function. The special-edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 are the same as the regular Powerbeats Pro 2, except they have a two-tone design consisting of black and Nike's signature Volt neon green-yellow color. The earbuds have both Nike and Beats logos. To learn more, read our coverage:Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More Apple Announces MacBook Air With M5 Chip and 512GB Base Storage Apple Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips Apple Updates Studio Display With Thunderbolt 5 and More Apple Introduces All-New Studio Display XDR: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and More Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip and More Apple's Special-Edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 Now Available Apple Releases iPhone Cases, Apple Watch Bands, and Crossbody Strap in New ColorsAll of the products and accessories listed above have been released, except for the AirPods Max 2, which are available to pre-order starting Wednesday, March 25.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums12:54 pmMade a checklist for getting iOS app approved on the first try
After shipping a few apps I noticed most rejections people complain about have nothing to do with the actual app. It's always a broken link, missing Restore Purchases button, or vague pricing text. Used this checklist on my own submissions and got approved first try every time. Decided to write it up properly so others […]12:31 pmReport: New iPad with A18 chip still on track to launch in first half of 2026
As part of Apple’s iPad Air, MacBook Neo, and the other MacBook refreshes. However, the whole week came and went – with no new base iPad. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has a launch update – and the product is still on track to launch relatively soon. more…11:10 amCrime blotter: Chinese national sentenced in Apple counterfeiting case
A New Yorker is arrested in California for iPhone thefts, Russian hackers targeted iPhones, and AirTag inspires a car-crash viral video, all in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.The Apple Store in Irvine The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:00 amYour Mac has hidden features—this $25 tool unlocks them
Macworld TL;DR: Get MacMagic with lifetime upgrades for just $25.49 (reg. $99) using code MARCH15. Apple does a great job designing Macs that work well. But anyone who uses macOS regularly knows there are still a few hidden tricks, system tools, and productivity shortcuts buried beneath the surface. And MacMagic gets you access. You can currently grab a MacMagic Lifetime Upgrades License for just $25.49 (reg. $99). It’s a toolbox for your Mac that pulls together a bunch of useful utilities into one clean interface. Need to show hidden files, force-delete a stubborn document, or clear out bloated cache files? MacMagic puts those tools front and center so you can handle them in seconds instead of digging through system menus. It also includes practical everyday tools that many Mac users end up downloading separately. You can batch rename files, combine and compress PDFs, convert images across dozens of formats, and even generate QR codes when you need them. Turn your Mac into a more powerful and flexible workstation. Get a MacMagic Lifetime Upgrades License for just $25.49 (reg. $99) through March 29 with code MARCH15. MacMagic: Lifetime Upgrades LicenseSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amGet smarter on your coffee break with this $51 app
Macworld TL;DR: Headway Premium delivers 15-minute summaries of bestselling nonfiction books, and the lifetime subscription is just $50.99. There’s always another nonfiction book everyone says you should read—about productivity, money, psychology, leadership, or health. The problem is finding the time to actually sit down and finish them. Instead of asking you to read hundreds of pages, Headway delivers 15-minute summaries of bestselling nonfiction titles, breaking down the biggest ideas into quick lessons you can read or listen to anytime. Inside the app, you’ll find 2,000+ summaries covering topics like business strategy, personal development, productivity, and wellness. Each one distills the key insights from popular titles into short, practical takeaways you can absorb during a commute, workout, or coffee break. Headway also adds a few smart learning tools to keep things interesting. You can follow personalized self-growth plans, test your knowledge with quick quizzes, and save highlights to review later. There are even audio versions of summaries so you can keep learning while walking, driving, or multitasking. Headway offers a simple shortcut to the biggest ideas. Right now, a Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription is just $50.99 (reg. $299.95) through March 29 with code MARCH15. Headway Premium: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.07:08 amWhat’s a piece of “overengineering” you’re now embarrassed you used in a small iOS app? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingWhat’s a piece of “overengineering” you’re now embarrassed you used in a small iOS app?
We’ve all been there—freshly inspired by a "Clean Architecture" blog post, applying VIPER or a 10-layer abstraction to a simple Todo app. For me, it was creating a generic network layer with 5 protocols for an app that had exactly two API endpoints. What’s something you used to swear by, but now realize was total […]Saturday March 2109:15 pmAirPods Max 2 surprise and disappoint, plus OpenClaw! [Cult of Mac podcast No. 12]
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The surprise release of AirPods Max 2 gives us plenty to talk about (including all the things Apple didn’t fix about the high-end headphones). Plus, special guest Christina Warren (developer advocate at GitHub and co-host of the MacBreak Weekly podcast) joins us for a deep dive into […] (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)08:01 pmSF Swift meetup on April 9!
submitted by /u/Austin_Aaron_Conlon [link] [comments]07:30 pmIndie App Spotlight: ‘Tasks’ adds 50+ app intents, refreshed interface in latest update | 9 to 5 MacIndie App Spotlight: ‘Tasks’ adds 50+ app intents, refreshed interface in latest update
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. Tasks, a very popular productivity app for the Apple ecosystem – just got a massive new update with support for loads of App Intents, an all new interface, as well as automations to help you manage your tasks. We covered Tasks when it initially launched back in 2020, and this week’s new update is a major one. more…07:18 pmTextExpander 8.4.2
Brings a few improvements and bug fixes for the text expansion utility. ($40 annual subscription, free update, 36 MB, macOS 11.1+)07:17 pmEagleFiler 1.9.20
Provides a workaround for a crash at launch when running the forthcoming macOS 26.4 Tahoe. ($49.99 new, free update, 34.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)07:15 pmMarsEdit 5.4.1
Maintenance update primarily focused on bug fixes for the blogging app. ($59.95 new, free update, 23.9 MB, macOS 10.15.4+)07:05 pmHow many apps can you keep in your portfolio as an indie dev?
It's impressive how many indie developers manage to have such a large portfolio of apps. How do they manage to work on so many apps? Because development is continuous, you need to be improving and evolving your apps. An app without updates will always lag behind the competition. So how do people see the analytics, […]05:15 pmThe iPad Mini 7 256GB is $100 Off
The iPad Mini is made for Apple Intelligence, the personal AI system that helps in making things organized and get things done easily while providing you with groundbreaking privacy protections ensuring that no one else but you has access to data stored in the device. The device features an A17 Pro chip for strong and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:14 pmApple Sports App Allows for Easy NCAA March Madness Tracking
The Apple Sports app received an update allowing fans to follow collegiate basketball and their favorite teams more easily during March Madness. Version 3.8.1 adds new brackets for fans to track NCAA D1 men’s basketball. Metrics such as play-by-play updates, detailed stats, and live scores will be provided along with a path visualized from the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:13 pmTim Cook In China
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, is in attendance during the 50th anniversary event in China at the temporarily closed Taikoo Li retail store situated in Chengdu. They have kicked off celebrations, starting with an impromptu concert at New York’s Grand Central Store featuring Alicia Keys. Tim Cook will be attending the Development Forum in Beijing, China, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:12 pmApple Headed To South Korea and China
After the impromptu concert featuring Alicia Keys in New York at the Grand Central Store, Apple is now going to Asia for more celebrations for their 50th anniversary, and as of now, events will be held in both South Korea and China. Apple features CORTIS, a South Korean boy band, at their Myeong-dong Store in […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:11 pmThe 11th-gen iPad 256GB Is $50 Off
The 11th-gen iPad is powered by the A16 chip for strong performance for games and for work. It has a battery life that lasts all day and features 256GB of storage, perfect for storing games, documents, photos, videos, movies, and more. Featuring an 11-inch Liquid Retina Display, the iPad allows for an immersive viewing experience […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:10 pmTim Cook Answers Rumors On Retirement
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, has responded to talks and rumors about his retirement during an interview with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, stating that the idea of wanting to step back from the company is just a rumor. The CEO did not deny or confirm explicitly that he will be retiring in the near […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:07 pmiPhone 17e Teardown Video Uploaded
iFixit has provided us with a teardown video for the iPhone 17e, the most recent budget-friendly iPhone Apple released last week. The device is similar to the design of the previous model but has a back panel for MagSafe. iFixit found the panel of the MagSafe is the same size as the panel found in […] The post appeared first on iLounge.05:06 pmBrian Lynch Leaves Apple
The senior director for the home hardware engineering team at Apple, Brian Lynch, has left the company to join Oura, where he has taken a role as vice president for hardware engineering. Oura has managed to grab some former employees from Apple over the past few years. The Home Hub is planned for release later […] The post appeared first on iLounge.04:58 pmMacBook Neo may be one of Apple’s most inspiring products in quite some time
As someone who bought my first Mac in 2019 as a young student without much money of my own, the MacBook Neo is incredibly inspiring. When the M4 Mac mini came out towards the end of 2024, I had already felt quite strongly about its potential for inspiring young creatives – and the MacBook Neo takes that much further. more…04:05 pmAmazon's $949 15-inch MacBook Air deal hits lowest price ever ahead of Big Spring Sale | AppleInsiderAmazon's $949 15-inch MacBook Air deal hits lowest price ever ahead of Big Spring Sale
Amazon's weekend deal drops the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air down to a record low of $949 ahead of next week's Big Spring Sale.Amazon's $949 15-inch MacBook Air deal matches the lowest price ever.The blowout $949 deal at Amazon reflects a $250 discount off the original MSRP on the M4 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage.Buy 15" MacBook Air M4 for $949 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:50 pmApple wanted to buy Halide, co-founder lawsuit reveals
A lawsuit has revealed Apple was close to acquiring Lux Optics, the developer of the Halide camera app for iOS, but the partnership between the cofounders later broke down over the alleged misuse of funds.Halide for iOSApple's acquisitions are big news, but discussions are typically held with utmost secrecy, as per Apple's usual way of operating. While confirmations of acquisitions often surface after they have been agreed upon by both sides, it's rare to find out about failed acquisition attempts.One such instance occurred to Lux Optics, makers of the third-party camera app Halide and video app Kino. The Information reports that Lux Optics was in talks with Apple for a potential acquisition during the summer of 2025. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:47 pmI pushed my MacBook Neo to the limit. It didn’t break
Macworld I noted in my MacBook Neo review that benchmarking the Neo as well as using it as a daily computer resulted in an experience that was quite satisfying. But that was only for a few days of very specific testing, and the Neo’s A18 Pro processor and 8GB of RAM, which can’t be upgraded at all, is certainly underpowered compared to the other M5 models. The chip and 8GB of RAM had not been a problem during my evaluation period. You can obviously see the difference in benchmarks, where the mobile chip and limited RAM affected performance, but by “problem,” I mean as a person using the Neo. They weren’t an issue. But the concern is real–after all, Apple only upgraded its base RAM configuration for its other Macs to 16GB nearly two years ago. So I decided to make it a problem–in other words, I used the MacBook Neo in ways to see if usability became problematic because of its low-end chip and 8GB of RAM. This meant I had to break my habits and purposefully push my Mac to its limit–and it left me a little frazzled at times. But what I found is that the Neo still feels capable under heavy loads and handled the “mess” better than I did. Here are some of the tasks I did to push the MacBook Neo as far as I could. Editing 1080p video in Adobe Premiere Pro As a reviewer of Macs, when people ask me for a recommendation, I ask them what kind of stuff they do on their computer, and then I try to fit what they do with a specific Mac. But as Sam Henri Gold points out, that’s a script reviewers like me use out of convenience. A lot of people want to do what they’ve been told not to do on a $599 computer like the MacBook Neo. I used the MacBook Neo to edit the Macworld Podcast in Adobe Premiere Pro.Foundry So I did one of those things you’re not supposed to do. I edited a few videos with Adobe Premiere Pro, a professional-level video editing tool. I edited episode 974 of the Macworld Podcast and a couple of video shorts with the MacBook Neo and its 8GB of RAM. The editing I did on the full podcast episode included basic trimming, adding lower thirds, a basic multi-camera setup, and some audio clean-up. The video shorts involved more editing, but nothing complex. I am by no means an experienced Premiere Pro user (in fact, I only recently started learning how to use it). But that’s exactly the use case a MacBook Neo user could have: they have a budget computer, and they’re just starting to learn higher-end software. They’re not going to go buy a more powerful computer just for this situation. And the whole experience went off without a hitch. I never had to wait for the Mac to catch up to what I was doing, nor did the MacBook Neo stall, hiccup, or churn. The only thing where I noticed a slowdown was in the export of the full podcast episode, where the 67-minute video at 1080p took 31 minutes to complete, about 10 minutes longer than it took on the M5 Max MacBook Pro. Below is a screenshot of Activity Monitor after I had finished the project and saved it, but did not quit the app. The only other apps that were open were Slack and Microsoft Edge (which I needed to access the online recording tool that we use for the podcast). Foundry I used up all of the available memory during these tasks, and macOS used the SSD as swap. When the Mac runs out of available RAM, it resorts to using the SSD. This is called swap memory, or just swap. A drawback of swap is that access speeds are slower than RAM, but Apple has a lot of confidence in its swap implementation. During this task, I ended up with 2.58GB in swap (which isn’t uncommon), but I never noticed a performance hit. Swap use brings up a concern about how swap affects an SSD’s lifespan. An SSD has a limited lifespan, and writing to an SSD causes wear and tear. However, research has found that most people will never write enough data to an SSD to adversely affect its lifespan. As for the MacBook Neo specifically, it’s very possible that an owner of the laptop would upgrade to a new one before any effect on SSD lifespan can be noticed. Editing 4K video in Adobe Premiere Pro My next attempt to stress out the MacBook Neo was to edit 4K video in Adobe Premiere Pro. I shot the video using an iPhone 17 Pro Max at 4K and 60 frames per second. I had 20 minutes of footage where I did some basic edits, titles, transitions, and color adjustments. The only other app that was open during editing was Safari. I kept expecting the MacBook Neo to stutter and lag, but it never did. Another experience without any issues. I wasn’t doing anything complicated, but I was working with a large file and doing the kind of stuff someone learning Premiere would do. I could’ve used iMovie, but as I said, I’m learning the software, and I feel like the tasks I did were more easily done in Premiere Pro. Plus, using an Apple app is basically cheating. Foundry When I finished that project, the MacBook Neo used 1.75GB in swap. Not a lot, and it would have been more had the project been more complicated and longer. What I learned from this experience is that as I continue to use Adobe Premiere Pro and develop my skills as an editor, I should be fine with the MacBook Neo for a while. I may never need to create a cinematic video, but I can progress towards that goal on the Neo. I think there are a lot of users who are in a similar situation. Even a pro who already knows what they can do and knows what Macs they want can use a Neo if the situation calls for it. Safari browser tabs This is the task that stressed me more than the MacBook Neo. I have a habit of closing any browser tabs I am not using. I’d rather not risk a hidden tab running in the background, affecting performance, even if that’s not supposed to happen. But I went against my nature and spent an afternoon working in Safari without closing a browser tab. During a four-hour session, I used Macworld’s web-based content tools, visited websites to research articles, and after I was done with work, I did some personal browsing. By the end, I had 41 tabs open in Safari (and just a little freaked out by it). Foundry A lot of users instinctively open new tabs when they start a new search, and many don’t close unused tabs. In case you didn’t know, browsers are RAM-hungry apps, which is why I developed a habit of closing unused tabs. In my experience, the MacBook Neo used over 4GB of swap, which will vary depending on how many Safari tabs you have open. The MacBook Neo handled it all without any issues I could notice. But if you’re using any Mac with 8GB of RAM and it’s starting to feel a littlle sliggish, close a few or those tabs. Google Chrome browser tabs I did the same thing with Google Chrome: a four-hour session without closing any tabs. After a couple of hours, I had 41 tabs open (though not the same sites as in the Safari test). I set Chrome’s Memory Saver to Maximum and did my best to fight the urge to close any tabs until the session was done. As I said, browsers are RAM hungry, and Google Chrome has a reputation as a particularly resource-hungry app. At the end of four hours, the MacBook Neo had a swap that was over 5GB. Again, I didn’t notice any performance hiccups. Foundry But once again, the MacBook Neo didn’t flinch. I could switch between tabs easily, and even when I used an app and kep Chrome open in the background, there was no noticeable performance hit. I wasn’t done, however. I pushed my browser until I had 59 tabs open, stopping only when it became way too difficult to navigate. The swap grew to nearly 8GB–the swap and the installed RAM were the same size. But still, the Neo powered through. Foundry Your milage may very This is all anecdotal. Your video editing project could be much more complex, and the websites you visit could be more or less demanding on your resources. If you’re the type of person who knows 8GB of RAM isn’t enough, then the MacBook Neo isn’t for you, but making a blanket statement that it’s not good for anyone isn’t correct. My experience with the MacBook Neo remains the same as it was during the review. It’s a great Mac for everyday tasks, and will even handle the occasional pro app. I’m sure there’s a ceiling to what you can do with it, but with so much headroom, there’s a good chance you’ll never get anywhere near it. Apple MacBook Neo Read our review Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $595 at Amazon | $597 at Walmart | $599 at Apple02:25 pmToday in Apple history: Apple TV makes its big-screen debut
On March 21, 2007, Apple launched the Apple TV, a set-top box for bringing iTunes media to the living room. Unfortunately, it flopped. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:50 pmiPhone 18 Pro camera hardware may come with pro software, Apple considered buying studio behind Halide | 9 to 5 MaciPhone 18 Pro camera hardware may come with pro software, Apple considered buying studio behind Halide
Two months ago, Halide cofounder and designer Sebastiaan de With made a surprise announcement that he was joining Apple’s design team. It turns out the move came after Apple initially expressed interest in buying Lux Optics, the app development studio behind the pro camera app. Apple reportedly wants to bring more pro camera features to its software as the iPhone 18 Pro camera hardware goes higher end this year. more…01:50 pmApple Wanted to Buy Halide to Boost iPhone 18 Pro's Camera App—Now There's a Lawsuit
Apple's plans to enhance the iPhone 18 Pro's Camera app led it to consider acquiring Halide, but the talks ultimately collapsed and were followed by a fierce legal dispute between the startup's co-founders, according to The Information reports. In the summer of 2025, Apple reportedly held discussions to acquire Lux Optics, the developer behind the popular iPhone camera apps Halide, Kino, and Spectre. The company concluded that it could get a better offer from Apple in the future following updates to the app. Two months after the talks concluded without a deal, Apple set about recruiting Lux's co-founder and designer Sebastian de With. Lux CEO and co-founder Ben Sandofsky is said to have fired de With in December over financial misconduct. de With announced that he had joined Apple's design team in January. Sandofsky has now filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz against de With, accusing him of improperly using more than $150,000 in Lux company funds to pay for personal expenses since 2022, as well as providing confidential material and source code from Lux to Apple. During the discussions to acquire Lux, Apple employees purportedly told the startup that its intellectual property was a major consideration in evaluating the company. Apple apparently wanted to acquire Lux to bolster the built-in Camera app, which is said to be "top priority for the company right now." The iPhone 18 Pro will "match professional-grade cameras in terms of certain advanced features," necessitating an upgrade of the built-in Camera app. Apple is not named as a defendant in the case and it is not accused of any wrongdoing. de With's legal representatives say that the lawsuit is meritless and deny that he "used, transferred, or disclosed any Lux intellectual property" as part of his new job at Apple. They added that the lawsuit was only filed after de With raised concerns with Sandofsky about financial irregularities at Lux and had requested access to its financial records and payments, suggesting that it was a "retaliatory response to those efforts and an attempt to avoid scrutiny of that conduct."Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 ProTags: Halide, Apple LawsuitsRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:30 pmThese are my favorite budget-friendly iPhone 17e accessories
Apple finally gave the iPhone 17e the meaningful updates it originally deserved. The 17e offers better performance with the A19 chip, stronger connectivity with the new C1X chip, and MagSafe (which also supports faster 15W wireless charging)! At just $599, it feels like an entry-level iPhone that isn’t full of compromises, and I think it will be the new default iPhone for most people. The most exciting addition has to be MagSafe, which unlocks thousands of new accessories for the 17e. Here are some of my favorites (most of these will work with any iPhone). more…01:14 pmApple TV Is Now Almost 20 Years Old
The Apple TV is now almost two decades old amid rumors of the announcement of a new model. Today marks 19 years Apple launched the original Apple TV. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the Apple TV at Macworld Expo in January 2007 alongside the original iPhone, but it didn't launch until March. The Apple TV was initially previewed as the "iTV." The device allowed users to wirelessly stream movies, TV shows, music, and photos from their Mac or PC directly to their TV. Unlike today, there was no App Store or third-party app support, and the experience was centered almost entirely around iTunes-purchased or synced media. The Apple TV was controlled with a simple Apple Remote and ran a Front Row-style interface designed for navigating iTunes libraries on a TV. It featured a 40GB hard drive for local content storage and supported 720p HD resolution, offering both HDMI and component video output, and was priced at $299. Apple famously described the Apple TV as a "hobby," reflecting its niche and experimental status within the company at the time. Over subsequent years, Apple slowly repositioned the device over time from a Mac accessory to a standalone streaming device. In 2010, it dropped the internal hard drive and shifted to a smaller, streaming-focused design. The introduction of tvOS and the App Store in 2015 marked a major turning point, enabling third-party apps and games. Apple later added 4K support in 2017 and continued to iterate with faster chips, culminating in the current model powered by the A15 Bionic chip. Unlike the original Apple TV, which was primarily designed to stream iTunes content from a Mac or PC, the device now serves as a hub for Apple's services, with integrations for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, AirPlay, and HomeKit. While competitors such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV devices still dominate the lower end of the market, Apple has continued to position the Apple TV as a premium option with tighter ecosystem integration and more powerful hardware. Today's Apple TV is the third-generation 4K model from November 2022. A new Apple TV is expected to be announced soon, featuring a faster chip and Apple's custom N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home TheaterThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:00 pmEverything new in iOS 26.4: Emoji, Apple Music features and more
iOS 26.4 brings a bunch of great new features to your iPhone: new emoji, Apple Music Concerts, Playlist Playground, video podcasts and more. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:00 pmApple @ Work: From rogue Dropbox folders to the File Provider framework
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. When we talk about the accelerated growth of the Mac in the enterprise, we usually bring up how Apple Business Manager enabled easy zero-touch deployment or the sheer power of Apple Silicon, creating an incredible user experience, but I firmly believe that one of the key trends paved the way for Apple to take over the corporate world was with with Dropbox shoehorning itself into macOS back in the late 2000s. more…01:00 pmTop Stories: AirPods Max 2, iOS 27 and iPhone Fold Rumors, and More
Just when you thought Apple was done with product announcements for a little while, this week saw one last drop with the AirPods Max 2 making their appearance. This week also saw fresh rumors about iOS 27 coming later this year while an iOS 26.4 release looks to be right around the corner, and Apple kicked off a series of events around the world in celebration of the company's upcoming 50th anniversary, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! Top Stories Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip and More In a surprise move, Apple this week unveiled AirPods Max 2, with key upgrades including the H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. The new AirPods Max have the same overall design as the previous generation, with most of the new features coming from the upgrade to the H2 chip, but they do bring a nice set of audio improvements and a new Camera Remote function for the Digital Crown. If you're a current AirPods Max owner and are considering an upgrade, be sure to check out our buyer's guide comparing the two generations. AirPods Max 2 will be available to order starting Wednesday, March 25, with a launch to follow sometime in early April. iOS 27 Will Reportedly Be Like Mac OS X Snow Leopard In his Power On newsletter this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that iOS 27 will be similar to 2009's Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that one of Apple's biggest priorities is bug fixes for improved performance and stability. That isn't to say, however, that the update will be completely devoid of new features, as we have already heard about a number of them that are in the works beyond the significant revamp to Siri that has been repeatedly pushed back. Perhaps most notable for those who dislike the Liquid Glass redesign that arrived in iOS 26, Apple is said to be aiming to include a system-wide slider to allow users to adjust the Liquid Glass effect. Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4 Apple this week seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.4 and related updates to developers and public beta testers, representing the final versions that will be provided to the public if no additional bugs are found. Apple shared full release notes for iOS 26.4 as part of the seeding, revealing a few previously unknown changes including a fix for a keyboard accuracy bug and a change to App Store Family Sharing that will allow adults in a group to use different payment methods. iOS 26.4 also includes support for AirPods Max 2, so the update will definitely be released by the time those arrive in early April, but the iOS 26.4 public release could come as soon as next week. iPhone Fold: 5 Things We've Learned About Apple's Foldable It's been a big couple of weeks for foldable iPhone rumors. In case you missed any of them, we've recapped five recent rumors that we previously covered. It sounds like display production for the device may be about to get underway as Apple looks toward a launch later this year, potentially as late as December. In other foldable smartphone news, Samsung is discontinuing its Galaxy Z TriFold after just three months on the market. The innovative device unfolds twice to reveal a massive 10-inch inner display. Apple Kicks Off 50th Anniversary With Surprise Alicia Keys Concert in New York As part of its upcoming 50th anniversary celebration, Apple is hosting gatherings "around the world" throughout the month of March to celebrate human creativity and ingenuity. The series kicked off with a surprise concert by Alicia Keysat Apple's retail store overlooking the main concourse at New York City's iconic Grand Central Terminal, with MacRumors in attendance for the event. Tim Cook then traveled to China for a performance by Li Yuchun at the company's Taikoo Li store in Chengdu, with events in additional countries planned for the next few weeks. Apple CEO Tim Cook Responds to Retirement Rumors After a flurry rumors late last year going back and forth about whether his retirement as Apple CEO might be imminent, Tim Cook addressed the rumors in an interview with Good Morning America's Michael Strahan earlier this week. While Cook referred to the idea as "a rumor," he did not explicitly confirm or deny that he will be stepping down as CEO any time soon, though he did say "I can't imagine life without Apple." In a separate brief interview with Nikias Molina at the Alicia Keys concert, Cook reiterated that Apple still sees a long life ahead for the iPhone, even as rumors have suggested the company is looking to integrate its technology into other personal devices like augmented-reality glasses and an AI-powered pendant that will be able to gather information from the world around you. "There's so much left that we can do with the iPhone," said Cook. "I think it's going to continue to be the center of people's digital lives." 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 forums12:54 pmApple Bucks China's Smartphone Slump With 23% Sales Jump
Apple saw a 23% year-over-year increase in iPhone sales in China during the first nine weeks of 2026, significantly outperforming a broader market decline driven by weak demand and rising component costs, according to Counterpoint Research. China smartphone sales apparently fell by 4% year-over-year in the first nine weeks of 2026. Within this environment, Apple emerged as the fastest-growing major vendor, with iPhone sales rising 23% compared to the same period in 2025. Counterpoint attributed Apple's impressive performance partly to a combination of e-commerce discounts and the inclusion of the standard iPhone 17 in government subsidy programs aimed at stimulating consumer electronics purchases. Counterpoint noted that the rising cost of memory components has been passed on to vendors, forcing several Android brands to adjust pricing strategies. Chinese smartphone makers OPPO and vivo have announced notable price increases for some existing models, with those changes set to take effect this month. In contrast, Apple has not announced any comparable price increases and is unlikely to follow competitors in raising prices, instead absorbing some of the margin pressure from higher component costs to maintain pricing stability. The firm added that Apple's control over its supply chain leaves it better positioned than rivals to withstand rising memory costs. Rising memory prices are expected to persist throughout 2026. The research firm expects China's smartphone market to remain under pressure in the coming months, with potential improvement in June driven by the country's mid-year "618" shopping festival. Counterpoint's findings are based on its China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker, which monitors retail sales across the market. Tags: China, CounterpointThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums11:30 amFender Studio Pro review: Powerful digital audio workstation
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Powerful, full-featured DAW Affordable with either perpetual and subscription licenses Clip launcher, live performance, and project mastering modules Excellent virtual instruments and effects Interfaces with Splice and other music-related services Cons Can be pricey over time Some minor bugs in this release. Our Verdict Presonus’s powerful Studio One DAW has been rebranded and significantly upgraded to Fender Studio Pro 8. Guitarists will be especially intrigued by the new amp sims, while program remains a more-than-worthy competitor to Logic Pro X and Mainstage for all musicians. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$200 perpetual license Best Prices Today: Fender Studio Pro Retailer Price Fender $199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We assumed that with the release of Fender Studio, a free basic audio recording app, somewhere down the line a pro version would appear and that it would also be based on Presonus’s flagship Studio One digital audio workstation. Presonus being the Louisiana company that Fender acquired for its highly-regarded software and audio interfaces. Well, said pro DAW is here and it’s monikered as Fender Studio Pro. While it’s rebranded, it remains true to the power of its forebearer, and has evolved significantly as of the just-released version 8. There’s also been a rebranding of Presonus’s other software as well as the Quantum LT/HD and AudioBox interfaces and controllers. Yup, basically it’s goodbye to the Presonus name, though the brand transition is not complete. What are Fender Pro Studio’s features? Studio Pro’s features are vast, varied, and in a couple of cases, unique. Primarily, it’s a DAW that lets you record and play back MIDI info and audio, then edit, process, assemble, and output both in myriad ways. These are saved as “sessions” (formerly “songs”). Why the change? Don’t know. But Studio Pro is also unusual in integrating a module which allows you to create live performance “shows” with sets of songs including backing/canned tracks. You can assign tracks to various players as well. It’s similar to Apple’s Mainstage, a $30 standalone application. Studio Pro’s live performance module. Completely unique to Studio Pro is a mastering module that lets you create “projects” where you apply the same effects and processing to multiple mixdowns so that all they have the same timbre, volume, etc. There are a host of features such as advanced metering, and output to various types of media, including online services. Fender Studio Pro’s project mastering section. Note the advanced metering options. Fender Studio Pro presents tracks in the traditional way, stacked vertically. Along with MIDI and audio tracks, there are time signature, lyric, marker, tempo, etc. tracks. There’s also an arranger track that allows you to divide sessions into regions and move/copy those regions about about the arranger timeline. Don’t like that bridge after the second chorus? Move to after the third. Additionally, there’s a clip/scene-based launcher of the kind that made Ableton Live famous. Basically you create independent clips (from arranger track material), play them independently or stack them in scenes so they can also be played in groups. It’s a boon for on-the-fly music creation, DJ’ing, and live performance. All DAWs these days support virtual instruments, i.e. software simulations of just about any instrument you can think of, and some you haven’t. A few that Fender includes with Studio Pro are a drum sampler (Impact), monophonic and polyphonic samplers (SampleOne and Presence), synthesizers (Mojito, Mai Tai), plus some cinematic soundscapes and a lot more. Studio Pro’s Mai Tai synthesizer. If you want even more loops, sounds, etc., Studio Pro interfaces with Splice.com, the online sound and loop service ($4.99 a month to start) as well as Fender’s own curated Studio Pro + collection (see the pricing section below). Fender also provides a license for the brand-new Tonalics, a guitar-focused loops and performance instrument that integrates into Studio Pro via ARA or as a standalone instrument–think of it as EZ Drummer on steroids for strummers. Tonalic, the guitar-oriented loop/performance instrument/service shown deeply integrated into Studio Pro via ARA. Personally, I have no need for someone to play guitar for me. However, I did have fun bouncing some of the Tonalic clips to audio, then extracting the MIDI and playing various games with the results, such as creating grooves from them. There are also numerous audio processing plug-ins (over 45 of them in Studio Pro) that simulate real life audio effects such as compressors, reverbs, delays, etc. They can even simulate various types of amplifiers and guitar FX. Just a few of Fender Studio Pro’s FX. Which brings us to the somewhat unique, and (by my ear) extremely authentic replications of Fender (and other popular) amplifiers, courtesy of plugin versions of the Fender’s Mustang (Guitar) and Rumble (Bass) modeling amps. Note that the majority of the virtual instruments and plug-ins found in Fender Pro Studio are proprietary and can’t be used in other DAWs. Same with grooves, etc. Bummer. The Fender Mustang modeling amp plug-in that ships with Fender Studio Pro. In case you’re reading this, but know nothing of the musical instrument industry, Fender was started way back in the 1950s by Leo Fender, who created both iconic guitars and guitar amplifiers. It’s no longer privately owned, but what is these days? Iconic? Look at any ancient Buddy Holly video and you’re likely to see him strumming a Fender classic, and mainstay of countless guit-fiddlers, the Stratocaster. Same with any recent Eric Clapton video. I have three. Most guitar players own at least one. Most country players also own another classic, the Telecaster. Other features include AI stem separation (pulling individual vocal and instrument tracks out of recorded songs.), inline notation (per track), and ARA integration for inline advanced audio editing (pitch and phoneme adjustment) using third-party programs such as Celemony Melodyne. A license for the essential version of the latter is included with Fender Studio Pro. The Fender Studio Pro Stem separation dialog. Other means pianos, guitars, etc. I’ve only scratched the feature surface here. Long-time users could list (and no doubt ask for…) a lot more, but I’ll just say that nearly everything I went looking for, I found. Below is the audio menu demonstrating just how many features you’ll find, as well as just how large and cumbersome Studio Pro’s menus have become. The audio menu demonstrating just how many features you’ll find in Studio Pro, and just how labyrinthine the programs menus have become. What’s new in Fender Studio Pro? Fender Studio Pro adds two new overviews to help you visualize your song/session: the arrangement/timeline overview that helps you better navigate your session (in the image below at the top of the window), and the channel plugin overview shown in the next image. The session overview panel at the top lets you quickly navigate the contents of a session. Also shown is the Melodyne via ARA and the various lyric, tempo, marker, etc. tracks. The channel overview pane shows control-focused versions of the plugins and instruments present on a track. This lets you adjust major parameters without having to open their child windows (mostly). It also lets you map controls from third-party plug-ins if they don’t show up automatically. This plugin overview pane (just above the transport in the image below) is common in other DAWs, but the Studio developers likely didn’t feel the need because you can switch between the virtual instruments and FX within one child window via a list of them at the top of said window. Few other DAWs allow this. Fender Studio Pro 8 with the new channel/plug-in overview and browser shown. Two things I don’t care for in the channel overview is its fixed size (most are), and the navigation tabs at the bottom which take up a lot of screen real estate. It does detach and float which somewhat mitigates those criticisms. Next up is Audio to Notes (converting audio to MIDI messages), something the program is also a bit tardy to the table with. For example, with audio to MIDI you can take a guitar recording, extract the notes and fatten up the mix using said MIDI notes to play a virtual guitar instrument. That’s just one example. Extract notes and drums are audio to MIDI conversions. If you find metronome click tracks boring, there’s a new and unique-among-DAWs musical metronome that plays drum beats. You can select from a wide range of styles and grooves if you want to spice things up or just swing along. Think of it as Logic Pro X’s Drummers (sans fills) linked to the metronome. You can also stick with a plain click, but replace the sound with any number of other percussive audio samples. The Fender Studio Pro metronome set to play ’60s Rock rather than a plain click. A feature I particularly appreciate is the Record Now option in the new file dialog. Selecting this opens a new project with a single audio track armed and ready to rumble (record), reducing the configuration overhead that might spoil that ephemeral inspiration you’re experiencing. Even better would be an option to immediately start recording without further user intervention (it’s only a single keystroke, but…) and a MIDI track set to record as well. Maybe in the next version. Record Now gets you up and running before that ephemeral inspiration disappears. There’s of course direct import from the free Fender Studio app. For those seeking creative stimulation, there are also a chord plug-in and chord track that will help you create and flesh out progressions (series of chords). Note that the Fender amp simulations are also a new feature in Studio Pro 8, though they first appeared in the app. How easy is Fender Pro Studio to use? Visit any DAW forum, you’ll soon realize that ease-of-use is in the eye of the beholder. Opinions (and emotions) vary wildly, and much depends on your habits, needs, and experience. However… Given the extremely complex and feature rich nature of modern DAWs (vendors have been piling on features for a good three decades now), Fender Studio Pro is easy to use and offers a decently short learning curve given some previous DAW experience. It utilizes a paned/sectioned interface, though you can detach some of the panes as floating windows. For some reason you can’t do this with the toolbar or transport bar which would be best-served by this in my book. Fender Studio Pro’s clip launcher. Generally speaking, the updated look of the interface is a bit less angular and harsh (my take on the original). It’s a little rounder in spots, and sections in the toolbar and transport are easier for the eye to delineate than before. I also appreciate that you’re now able (this was added previously) to customize the Inspector (Track info pane), Transport (play, record, etc. buttons) bar, the toolbar, and the file browsing pane to reduce clutter quite a bit. New for this version is customization of the track header. You’ll notice in some of the screen caps that the number of icons in the transport and toolbar were greatly reduced by yours truly. There is still more small text and monochromatic icons than I’d like, as well as those decidedly long-winded menus pictured above in the features section. But on the whole the program is far, far easier to navigate, less visually confusing, and easier to use than it once was. I’d say it was vying for the top spot in that category. Studio Pro also allows multiple songs, sessions, and mastering projects to be open without devolving into a crash fest or completely bogging down your system. That’s kind of rare and can make large ventures a lot easier. How does Fender Studio Pro sound and perform? There’s a continual, nonsensical debate among some concerning the overall sound of a DAW, which is often more about shape consciousness than the actual audio engine–all of which are basically flawless sonically at this point. If there ever were DAWs that didn’t sound as good as others, they’re long gone. Fender Studio Pro’s audio setup page. What’s really in play is not the DAW, but the quality of the instruments and FX, which are almost uniformly fantastic these days. All the Fender Studio Pro instruments and FX I played with (all of them at some point) are aurally excellent, as were all my recordings: guitar, bass, and really bad vocals. I found the stem separation as good, or in some cases better than any other program I’ve tried. Most DAWs feature stem separation these days, and big hint: You’ll get much better results from audio to MIDI algorithms if you first separate mixdowns into stems. When using separated stems, said audio to MIDI (Extract commands) for drums was nearly perfect note-wise, though velocities tended to miss subtleties. Bass notes were close, though some attacks didn’t make it through. To be fair, I play bass with my fingers and sharper attacks would likely register better. The guitar track was… Well the ideas were there. As with all the other audio to MIDI I’ve tried, success depends on the quality of the audio you’re processing and sounds involved. Distinct transients help. A lot of editing can be required to match the MIDI results to the source audio, or not. Again, this is all par for the course with the current state of the technology. The blue bar is actually audio performance, the MIDI plug only shows input as MIDI has little to now effect on overall performance. I found Studio Pro’s playback and audio recording performance more than adequate, with decently low resource consumption. Full disclosure: I worked on a very, very fast M4 Max Studio and never exceeded 24 tracks. I did, unfortunately run into an issue with MIDI which seems to have been a conflict with already installed Studio One 7.2. The MIDI monitor showed that messages were arriving from my keyboards, MIDI guitar controller, etc. However, they were not passed on to the track or the virtual instruments they contained, i.e., I could not record MIDI or play virtual instruments. Uninstalling Studio One 7.2, then uninstalling and reinstalling Fender Studio Pro with an app cleaner fixed the issue (just reinstalling did not fix things), but they should be able to co-exist. Regardless, I like Studio Pro 8 so much that I won’t miss 7.2 in the least. How much does Fender Studio Pro cost? There’s some pretty good news in the cost-of-ownership department. Fender Studio Pro is available with a perpetual license for $200, the same as Apple’s own Logic Pro X, and a lot cheaper than alternatives such as Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, Bitwig Studio, etc. The current pricing for Fender Studio Pro. A perpetual license is the best bet if you have your own FX and instrument plug-ins or can make do with Studio Pro’s very competent bundled stuff, though your $200 only covers updates for the subsequent 12 months. To be honest, the updates from Presonus were hardly what were promised when they first started offering the subscription so you’re likely going to have to rebuy if that “must have” feature appears more than a year later. Or… There’s also a subscription plan for $180 a year that includes the perpetual license plus 12 months access to the Pro + content: samples, loops, the Notion notation software, etc. You may also pay $20 monthly for the program and Pro + if you only need music production for a little while. It’s also a good way to scope out the program to see if you like it, and or use once in a while for the mastering section. There’s no trial or demo version available, so that’s pretty much your only way to kick the tires. Upgrades from 7.2 are $99. Should you opt for Fender Studio Pro? There’s absolutely no musical task that Studio Pro doesn’t cover or excel at, and mastering project section is worth the price of admission on its own for multi-song projects and publishing. Additionally, I think the amp simulations are top-notch. I really enjoyed playing through them. But as I said earlier, a DAW must fit your needs and habits, aka workflow. There’s no trial or demo, but $20 and you can kick the tires for a full month. Current users with perpetual licenses and no subscription will likely want to upgrade, and I think there’s enough new stuff to warrant it. That said, 7.2 is still plenty capable. You’re on your own with that decision.11:00 amTop stories: AirPods Max 2, iOS 26.4 RC, and more
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 launch of AirPods Max 2, new iPhone Fold rumors, and the MacBook Neo is a hit. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories. more…10:50 amApple highlights 13 enhancements coming to iPhone with iOS 26.4
Apple has released the first iOS 26.4 RC build, highlighting 13 enhancements coming to your iPhone, and that means three things. more…08:47 amAny help? Where exactly am I supposed to do this for my first in-app purchase | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingAny help? Where exactly am I supposed to do this for my first in-app purchase
https://preview.redd.it/06rnq9c72dqg1.png?width=2362&format=png&auto=webp&s=570549c068d6bae2b3e0c5bd7f94ff82b16ac8a0 I’ve already uploaded a new build and created a subscription group with three plans: weekly, monthly, and annual. However, I’m confused about where to find the ‘In-App Purchases and Subscriptions’ section on the app version page. Can someone please help? submitted by /u/Product_guy21 [link] [comments]08:00 amA MacBook Air for under $200? Check out this refurb on sale
Macworld TL;DR: Skip the four-figure laptop and grab this refurbished MacBook Air for basic browsing, work, and streaming, on sale for $199.97 (MSRP $999) for a limited time. Shopping for a new laptop lately can feel like sticker shock. Many modern models easily cross the $1,000 mark, even if all you really need is something reliable for browsing the web, answering emails, watching videos, or working on documents. That’s why refurbished laptops have become such a smart alternative. The Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ is currently available for $199.97 (originally $999) — giving you a dependable everyday computer for a fraction of what new laptops cost. This classic MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch display, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, which is plenty for storing documents, photos, and everyday files. Its lightweight design makes it easy to toss in a bag for work, school, or travel, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth keep you connected wherever you are. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of battery life, which means you can browse, stream, or work throughout the day without constantly reaching for a charger. Since it’s a Grade A/B refurbished model, it may show light cosmetic wear, but it’s been verified to be fully functional and includes a charger plus a 90-day warranty. Grab this 2017 refurbished Apple MacBook Air for $199.97 and enjoy a simple, reliable laptop without spending anywhere near what new models cost. Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amWhy ask one AI when you can ask twenty at the same time? This tool is 89% off
Macworld TL;DR: Compare outputs from 20+ AI models in one platform with a lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan for $67.15 with promo code MARCH15 through March 29 (MSRP $619). AI tools are everywhere right now — but figuring out which one gives the best answer can feel like a full-time job. ChatPlayground AI simplifies the process by putting dozens of top models into one powerful interface so you can compare their responses instantly. Right now, the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription is available for $67.15 with promo code MARCH15 until March 29 (MSRP $619). Instead of jumping between different AI platforms, you can enter a single prompt and see outputs from multiple models side by side. That includes heavy hitters like GPT models, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and others. It’s a huge time-saver for writers, developers, marketers, and anyone experimenting with AI tools. The platform also includes prompt engineering tools, AI image generation, and the ability to chat with images or PDFs for context-aware responses. You can save conversations, revisit ideas later, and continuously refine prompts for better results. Grab this ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription for $67.15 with promo code MARCH15 before March 29 and explore what happens when the world’s top AI models compete to answer your prompt. ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.05:52 amAustralia Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 26, 05:00 - 08:00 PDTMar 20, 22:47 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Australia is conducting a planned maintenance from 26 March 2026 at 05:00 PDT until 26 March 2026 at 08:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent call disconnects or call failures from and to Twilio Australia phone numbers.03:22 amScheduled maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 25, 00:00 - 01:00 UTCMar 21, 03:22 UTCScheduled - Dropbox will be performing routine maintenance on March 24, 2026 starting at 5:00 PM (Pacific). You may not be able to access Dropbox for a short period of time, but we’ll have things back up and running as soon as possible to minimize disruption to you.03:19 amUPDATE: **Summary** We are experiencing an issue with Google Keep where users may be unable to access keep.google.com via browser. **Description** The issue began on Friday, 2026-03-20 15:30 US/Pacific. Our engineering team is aware of the situation and is actively implementing mitigations. We do not have any ETA at the moment. We will provide the next update by Friday, 2026-03-20 21:00 US/Pacific. **Customer Symptoms** Impacted users may encounter connection timeouts or error pages (such as 502 Bad Gateway) when attempting to reach keep.google.com via a web browser. The Google Keep mobile applications are currently unaffected and remain operational. **Workaround** Users are able to use Google Keep via the Android or iOS mobile app. | Google AppsUPDATE: **Summary** We are experiencing an issue with Google Keep where users may be unable to access keep.google.com via browser. **Description** The issue began on Friday, 2026-03-20 15:30 US/Pacific. Our engineering team is aware of the situation and is actively implementing mitigations. We do not have any ETA at the moment. We will provide the next update by Friday, 2026-03-20 21:00 US/Pacific. **Customer Symptoms** Impacted users may encounter connection timeouts or error pages (such as 502 Bad Gateway) when attempting to reach keep.google.com via a web browser. The Google Keep mobile applications are currently unaffected and remain operational. **Workaround** Users are able to use Google Keep via the Android or iOS mobile app.
Incident began at 2026-03-20 22:30 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).Summary We are experiencing an issue with Google Keep where users may be unable to access keep.google.com via browser. Description The issue began on Friday, 2026-03-20 15:30 US/Pacific. Our engineering team is aware of the situation and is actively implementing mitigations. We do not have any ETA at the moment. We will provide the next update by Friday, 2026-03-20 21:00 US/Pacific. Customer Symptoms Impacted users may encounter connection timeouts or error pages (such as 502 Bad Gateway) when attempting to reach keep.google.com via a web browser. The Google Keep mobile applications are currently unaffected and remain operational. Workaround Users are able to use Google Keep via the Android or iOS mobile app. Affected products: Google Keep12:48 amApp crashing on TestFlight during Google/Apple Auth (Expo, Supabase, No Mac) – Need help debugging | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingApp crashing on TestFlight during Google/Apple Auth (Expo, Supabase, No Mac) – Need help debugging
Hi everyone, I'm facing a critical issue with my React Native app (managed workflow with Expo). The app is already live on the App Store, but I'm currently working on an update to integrate Google and Apple Authentication using Supabase as the backend. The Problem: The app works perfectly in Expo Go. However, when I […]12:00 amGetting Started with Android Generative AI [FREE]
Learn how to get started with generative AI in Android. This article explains Gemini models, on-device vs cloud AI, and how to choose the right AI approach for your Android app.Friday March 2010:48 pmJury finds Elon Musk guilty of defrauding Twitter investors
A jury in a San Francisco court concluded today that Elon Musk intentionally misled investors in an attempt to drive down the price of Twitter Inc. ahead of his purchase of the company. Here are the details. more…10:36 pmWhat do you use to monetize your apps through ads?
What's the best go-to solution for monetizing your apps through ads? Why would you recommend it above others? submitted by /u/LargeSinkholesInNYC [link] [comments]09:55 pmDo I need professional liability insurance to publish free app
Hi all – slightly unusual question. I’m a retired developer. I stopped coding at 60, but now at 67 I feel like building a few hobby apps again. As you know to get them onto my iPhone, I’ll need to publish them on the Apple App Store (even if distribution is limited). The apps won’t […]09:52 pmIreland SMS Carrier Maintenance – Three
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 30, 14:00 - 23:00 PDTMar 20, 14:51 PDTScheduled - The Three network in Ireland is conducting a planned maintenance from 30 March 2026 at 14:00 PDT until 30 March 2026 at 23:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to and from Three Ireland handsets when sending via long codes and short codes.09:48 pmMysterious Mac Login Failures? Check Your Input Source
A switched input source can make a Mac reject the correct login password. Here’s how an accidental keyboard layout change locked a user out—and the simple fix that got her back in.09:44 pmiOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or make up something entirely nonsensical and let the AI figure out what you mean. Ambient Music widget - Apple added a widget for the built-in Ambient Music feature in iOS, so it's quicker to play background sounds. You can choose Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing playlists curated by Apple. Emoji - There are eight new emoji characters including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca, landslide, and ballet dancer. Reduce Bright Effects - If you dislike Liquid Glass, there's a Reduce Bright Effects setting that cuts down on bright flashes when tapping buttons. Reduce Motion also limits Liquid Glass animations more than it did previously. Keyboard Fix - iOS 26.4 fixes an iOS 26 keyboard bug that caused typos when typing quickly. Purchase Sharing - Adults in Family Sharing groups no longer have to use the same payment method, and Apple now lets everyone add their own credit or debit card. CarPlay AI apps - CarPlay users can use third-party chatbots with CarPlay starting in iOS 26.4. Companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google will need to update their apps with CarPlay support, but the framework is in iOS 26.4. Video Podcasts - The Podcasts app has native video episode support with HLS streaming, along with options to swap between audio and video and offline video downloads. Average Bedtime - The Sleep feature in the Health app now records average bedtime for the past two weeks to give you a better idea of how your bedtime impacts sleep. Stolen Device Protection - Stolen Device Protection is now on by default. It thwarts physical theft and access of your iPhone by requiring biometric authentication for things like viewing passwords and turning off Lost Mode on the iPhone. Some features like changing an Apple ID password have a one-hour security delay. There are other new additions in iOS 26.4, like offline song recognition in Control Center, nearby concert suggestions and full-page album artwork in Apple Music, easier access to subtitle customization options in media apps, and Apple Creator Studio support for Freeform, with details available in our full iOS 26.4 notes article. Release Date The iOS 26.4 release candidate is available to developers and public beta testers, and it's likely the update will see an official launch on March 23 or March 24.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums09:32 pm‘Wonder Pets: In the City’ season 2 now available to stream on Apple TV
If you or your kids enjoyed the first season of Wonder Pets: In The City, all 13 episodes of season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV. Here are the details. more…09:32 pmCreating a UserDefaults-backed settings object gated by entitlement
I have a simple class that persists various user settings via UserDefaults using the "@AppStorage" macro in SwiftUI. enum SettingOption: Int { case one, two, three } final class UserSettings: ObservableObject { @AppStorage("userSetting1") var userSettings1: SettingOption = .one } Now I'd like to "gate" some of the settings based on the presence or absence of […]08:33 pmApple set to pocket $1 billion+ from rival AI apps in 2026 despite Siri issues
While tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta pour hundreds of billions into building massive AI infrastructure and frontier… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:32 pmApple’s rumored iPhone roadmap reveals major overhauls coming
The blueprint for Apple’s annual iPhone releases has stayed fairly consistent for years, but changes have already started, and rumors say even more iPhone overhauls are coming. more…08:32 pmStrange issue with Xcode rounding my App Icon Dock image
I'm working on a Safari Extension for macOS and iOS. I have a simple App Icon with the letter 'A' surrounded in a box (black with white background). When I build and run the macOS target, the resultant dock icon it creates doesn't just round the corners, but it adds another color tone (off-white) in […]08:29 pmWhatsApp for iPhone may soon offer automatic message translation across 21 languages
iPhone users may soon be able to use WhatsApp to communicate with people who don’t speak their language. Here are the details. more…08:28 pmiOS 26.4 will automatically turn on strict security feature for all iPhones
iOS 26.4 is coming very soon as the next big iPhone update, and Apple plans to enable a key security feature by default in the release. more…07:57 pm9to5Mac Daily: March 20, 2026 – iPhone Fold rumors, Apple Watch patents
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: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily. more…07:55 pmHow I got an AI coding agent to actually respect our iOS architecture (instead of just writing valid Swift) | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingHow I got an AI coding agent to actually respect our iOS architecture (instead of just writing valid Swift)
I've been using Claude Code on a modular iOS app and wanted to share what I found, since most of the AI-for-code content I see is web-focused. Without any project-specific guidance, the agent writes Swift that compiles but ignores everything about how the project is actually structured. It'll call xcodebuild raw with wrong flags, put […]07:55 pmApple's Special-Edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 Now Available
The special-edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 are now available to order on Apple.com in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., and a handful of other countries. These headphones are the same as the regular Powerbeats Pro 2, except they have a two-tone design consisting of black and Nike's signature Volt neon green-yellow color. Aside from the Nike-focused design, these are the same Powerbeats Pro 2 that were introduced last year, with the signature Powerbeats wraparound earhooks for stability, Active Noise Cancelling with Transparency mode, built-in heart rate monitoring, and up to 45 hours of battery life when tapping into the charging case to recharge. Powerbeats Pro 2 are essentially a fitness-focused alternative to the AirPods Pro 3. Nike showed off the headphones in an ad starring NBA superstar LeBron James. In the U.S., pricing is set at $249.99, in line with the regular Powerbeats Pro 2. Apple is currently showing a March 24 delivery date.Tags: Beats, Nike, Powerbeats ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums07:53 pmSIN (Singapore) on 2026-03-25
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 25, 19:00 - 23:00 UTCMar 20, 19:32 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in SIN (Singapore) datacenter on 2026-03-25 between 19:00 and 23:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.07:53 pmSIN (Singapore) on 2026-03-24
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 24, 19:00 - 23:00 UTCMar 20, 19:28 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in SIN (Singapore) datacenter on 2026-03-24 between 19:00 and 23:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.07:53 pmSIN (Singapore) on 2026-03-23
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 23, 19:00 - 23:00 UTCMar 20, 19:26 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in SIN (Singapore) datacenter on 2026-03-23 between 19:00 and 23:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.07:47 pmMicrosoft’s 7-point plan to fix Windows 11 makes macOS Tahoe look golden
macOS Tahoe may have its critics, but even Microsoft is struggling to find things to like about Windows 11. The company has announced plans to turn things around this year. The solution? Fewer ads in the operating system and a moveable version of their equivalent of the Dock to start. more…07:02 pmApple fends off renewed Apple Watch import ban attempt
In a significant development for Apple and its popular Apple Watch wearable lineup, a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:54 pmApple explains why M5 chips have three different core types in new interview
When Apple announced the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips this month, it also revealed a new breakdown of core types: efficiency, performance, and super. In a new interview this week, Apple is shedding more light on the motivation for these changes and what each core is designed to handle. more…06:52 pmLAX (Los Angeles) on 2026-03-27
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 27, 07:00 - 15:00 UTCMar 20, 18:32 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LAX (Los Angeles) datacenter on 2026-03-27 between 07:00 and 15:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.06:11 pmApple’s Gemini-powered Siri upgrade could still arrive this month
Apple has had a jam-packed March after just three weeks. The company announced eight new products, broke a Mac launch record, and highlighted 13 enhancements coming to iPhone. Next, one of the most overdue Apple releases in years could follow: Personal Intelligence for Siri and Apple Intelligence. more…05:53 pmZRH (Zurich) on 2026-03-24
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 24, 07:30 - 16:00 UTCMar 20, 17:30 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in ZRH (Zurich) datacenter on 2026-03-24 between 07:30 and 16:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.05:47 pmApple’s folding iPhone: design, display, and release rumors
Macworld We’ve been reporting on the supposedly imminent launch of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been strong and reliable rumors of a foldable iPhone being just two years away, dating as far back as 2018, at least. Back then, reliable reports from the likes of CNBC said Apple was going to have a folding iPhone on the market in 2020. That became 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it’s expected to land in 2026 at the earliest. So, while the rumors and reports from parts suppliers and analysts are heating up and seem to be more solid than ever, we would advise even more caution and skepticism than usual with Apple speculation. With that said, here’s what current rumors suggest about the release of a folding iPhone. Update March 20, 2026: According to MacRumors, Barclays analyst Tim Long says his supply chain informants say the iPhone Fold is being targeted for a December launch, a couple months after iPhone 18 Pro models. Foldable iPhone name: What will it be called? Many fans and pundits have got into the habit of referring to the rumored device as the iFold, which has at least the advantage of brevity. But there doesn’t seem to be any reason to believe this will be the official title. A more plausible theory, proposed by a UDN report in November 2025, is that it will be called the iPhone Fold. @macworld.com i-P-h-o-l-d #iphonefold ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld Expected iPhone Fold release date According to a series of reports, the major design and specs of Apple’s first folding phone were due to be finalized in the middle of 2025, with production targeted for late 2026. That would mean a launch in late 2026 or early 2027. So far, this timeline has been suggested by several sources in 2024 and 2025, including The Information, The Wall Street Journal, and analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman. A November 2025 report citing supply-chain sources also supported this timeline, claiming the iPhone Fold was about to enter mass production and was on track for a launch in 2026. The phone is expected to be complex and expensive to manufacture, so production volume will likely be very limited at first. A second model in late 2027 should see higher production numbers. Gurman reported in July 2025 that Apple will focus on features for the folding iPhone in iOS 27, which will be released in the fall of 2026. In a report by ChosunBiz in South Korea, Samsung Display president Lee Cheong announced that it is making “preparations for mass production of OLED for foldable phones to be supplied to a North American client.” Later on in the article, the reporter states that “Samsung Display is known to be the exclusive supplier of OLED to be installed in Apple’s foldable phone to be released next year.” According to MacRumors, Barclays analyst Tim Long said in a research note that the folding iPhone will likely ship in December, a couple months after the expected September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Foldable iPhone design In 2024, The Information reported that Apple had made a couple of prototype “clamshell” flip-phone designs, where the top and bottom of the phone fold to meet. More recent rumors in 2025 from Digital Chat Station on Weibo and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest a “book” style fold, with a vertical fold as the left and right sides come together. This is a similar style to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The folding iPhone could be a similar size to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.Luke Baker The hinge is expected to be one of its most unique features. Some reports have suggested it will be made of a titanium alloy, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in March 2025 that Apple is exploring the use of LiquidMetal for “durability, enhancing screen flatness, and minimizing crease marks” in the screen. Apple has received several patents for hinge designs, and it’s unclear which the company will use in the final design. On July 14, Kuo reported that Apple had figured out how to get rid of the fold crease by using metal plates to help “distribute and control bending stress.” A leak from Weibo account Instant Digital at the start of February says the volume buttons will be on the top edge, aligned right. On the back will be two cameras on a long thin “plateau” similar to the iPhone Air, only black rather than color-matched to the phone body. Folding iPhone display details Ming-Chi Kuo has also reported on the folding iPhone’s set of proposed design details. He says the book-style iPhone will have a 7.8-inch inside display when unfolded, and a 5.5-inch outer display. Kuo says Apple won’t be satisfied until the phone’s display is completely crease-free when opened. In July, TrendForce made the same prediction, reporting that the folding iPhone would feature a 7.8-inch internal and 5.5-inch external display. A later report from The Information put the screen sizes at 7.7 inches inside and 5.3 inches outside. The folding phone is said to be at most 9.5mm thick when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. For comparison, an iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.5mm thick, and the thinnest iPhone of all time is the iPhone Air at 5.6mm. Folding iPhone rumored specs: chip, cameras & features We don’t know what processor the folding iPhone will contain, but if it launches in 2026 as rumored, it will probably feature an A20 or A20 Pro—some variant of the processor found in the iPhone 18. We expect most iPhones to use Apple’s own cellular modem and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chips by that time as well. They may even be integrated into the main system-on-chip. The folding iPhone will reportedly have a Touch ID-enabled power button rather than Face ID.IDG Due to the very thin nature of the foldable iPhone, and the need for different front-facing cameras when folded up or unfolded, it will reportedly lack Face ID. Instead, Touch ID will be incorporated into the side button much as it is on the iPad Air’s power button. There will reportedly be two rear cameras (likely a standard wide and ultrawide) and two front-facing cameras, one for when the iPhone is closed and one for when it’s open. Folding iPhone: Price Expect the folding iPhone to be a very high-end, ultra-premium model. The very first release is said to cost $2,000 or more… maybe even as much as $2,399, more than twice the highest-end iPhone Pro Max. That’s the prediction from analyst Arthur Liao, who bases his eye-watering estimate on material costs (particularly the panel and hinge) and Apple’s high-margin business model.05:32 pmApple announces Martin Scorsese thriller ‘What Happens at Night’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence | Mac Daily NewsApple announces Martin Scorsese thriller ‘What Happens at Night’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence
Apple TV has officially announced "What Happens at Night," directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:21 pmApple TV’s new top three hits signal what the streamer does best
Apple TV’s most popular shows are never a secret—they’re featured prominently in the TV app’s ‘Top 10.’ And this week, the top three shows spotlight the three genres Apple does best. more…05:13 pmBest Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Pro 3 Hit $199.99 Lowest Price on Amazon
The highlights of this week in Apple deals include the return of an all-time low price on AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and ongoing launch discounts on all of Apple's new products. You'll also find a few early accessory deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. AirPods Pro 3 What's the deal? Take $49 off AirPods Pro 3 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $49 OFFAirPods Pro 3 for $199.99 Amazon has the AirPods Pro 3 available for $199.99 this week, down from $249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 3, which has been rare on Amazon in recent weeks. M4 iPad Air What's the deal? Take up to $80 off M4 iPad Air Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $40 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Air for $559.00 $50 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Air for $749.00 Last week was the launch week for all of Apple's new products, and Amazon is already offering good discounts on many models of the M4 iPad Air, although a few of the prices have risen a bit since we first covered the deals earlier this week. We're still seeing up to $80 off both the 11-inch and 13-inch models, however, which is solid for a brand-new product. MacBook Air and MacBook Pro What's the deal? Take $49 off M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $49 OFF13-inch M5 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,049.99 $49 OFF15-inch M5 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,249.99 $49 OFF16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB) for $2,649.99 $49 OFF16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/2TB) for $3,849.99 Similar to the M4 iPad Air, Amazon is offering multiple discounts across the new M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro this week. You'll find $49 off select models right now, without the need of a coupon code. Samsung Monitors What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $300 OFFSamsung Smart Monitor M9 on Amazon UP TO $1,000 OFFSamsung Monitor Sale This week, there were two sales on Samsung monitors, split between Amazon and Samsung's own website. On Amazon, there was a big accessory sale this week, and the highlights of the event included big savings on monitors from Samsung, LG, Dell, and more. Samsung's newest Smart Monitor M9 hit the all-time low price of $1,299.99 during the sale, and it's still available now. On Samsung, you can get a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem with the purchase of select monitors. You'll also find big discounts on TVs and Galaxy products this week. Apple Watch Series 11 What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11 Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00 Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models. 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 in 2026? 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 forums05:05 pmMactracker 8.1.2
Adds detailed information about recent hardware, including the MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e. (Free, 267.5 MB, macOS 11+)04:58 pmThe MacRumors Show: Surprise AirPods Max 2 Announcement
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's surprise announcement of the AirPods Max 2 this week. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The AirPods Max 2 introduce a range of improvements primarily driven by the addition of Apple's H2 chip, which replaces the H1 chip used in previous models. This new chip underpins most of the upgrades, enabling more advanced computational audio and significantly enhancing the overall listening experience. One of the most notable improvements is Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says is up to 1.5x more effective than before, making the headphones better suited to noisy environments such as travel. Transparency mode is also refined, with more natural-sounding ambient audio and improved clarity when hearing voices and surroundings. The H2 chip also facilitates a suite of new adaptive listening features. Adaptive Audio dynamically adjusts the balance between noise cancellation and environmental sound depending on your surroundings, while Conversation Awareness automatically lowers playback and enhances nearby voices when you begin speaking. Personalized Volume builds on this by learning your listening preferences over time and adjusting volume levels accordingly. In addition, Voice Isolation has been improved, helping to prioritize your voice during calls and reduce background noise more effectively. Audio quality is enhanced with a new high dynamic range amplifier and updated signal processing. These changes should result in more consistent bass, clearer midrange, more natural vocals, and improved separation of instruments. Spatial Audio has also been refined, offering more accurate sound placement and a more coherent soundstage. Wireless performance sees an upgrade with support for Bluetooth 5.3, which reduces latency compared to the previous generation. Alongside audio improvements, several new features have been added, including Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence, the ability to use the Digital Crown as a camera remote for taking photos or controlling video recording, and expanded Siri interactions, including hands-free activation without "Hey Siri" and gesture-based responses. Despite these updates, several core aspects remain unchanged. The design, materials, and overall form factor are identical to earlier versions, battery life remains at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled, and the headphones continue to use the same Smart Case. Pricing is also unchanged at $549. AirPods Max 2 will be available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting Wednesday, March 25 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, and they launch on an unspecified day in early April. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's concentrated week of announcements that saw the introduction of 10 new products. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Related Roundup: AirPods Max 2Tag: The MacRumors ShowBuyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:52 pmUnited States and Canada Twilio SMS Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 26, 20:00 PDT - Mar 27, 00:00 PDTMar 20, 09:26 PDTScheduled - Twilio is conducting a planned maintenance from 26 March 2026 at 20:00 PDT until 27 March 2026 at 00:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays or failures delivering SMS to and from United States and Canada handsets when sending via subset of long codes, long codes, short codes and toll free numbers.04:43 pmMac gaming is better than ever, and it still sucks
The state of Mac gaming does Apple's incredible chips and stunning displays a disservice. As it has always been, there's little to suggest Apple knows how, or even wants, to fix it.The M5 Max MacBook Pro should be the ultimate gaming laptop, but it isn'tThe new M5 Max MacBook Pro might be Apple's fastest-ever Mac. It's still a terrible buy for anyone serious about gaming.In truth, the 16-inch MacBook Pro should be a beast of a gaming laptop. It has a glorious, huge, bright, and colorful display and a massive battery. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:40 pmWhy am I getting a red save button after I add my build for review?
So I have everything filled out to submit my application for review. I have all of my screenshots, all of my sizes, app privacy is setup, data collection is all filled out, I go to add my build, it shows in the build section and I go to the right corner to hit save, it […]04:36 pmDuckDuckGo VPN review: Strong privacy, but missing key features
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Solid performance with minimal speed drop Good for geo-unblocking Cons Five device limit Relatively small server count Our Verdict DuckDuckGo VPN’s browser-based nature takes a little getting used to, and it lacks some of the power features of its rivals, but it’s ideal for privacy-Conscious users who are already in the company’s ecosystem. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$9.99 Best Prices Today: DuckDuckGo PrivacyPro Retailer Price DuckDuckGo (Monthly) $9.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Privacy is DuckDuckGo’s forte, and while the powerful browser that dodges trackers and digital snooping has become a go-to for many, you may not be aware of its VPN service. That’s partially because, despite DuckDuckGo offering a free browser alternative to Safari and Chrome, its VPN is a paid addition, and partially because its very existence is tied to the aforementioned browser – at least for now. If you’re already using the DuckDuckGo browser, the VPN might just be the easiest one to recommend for you, despite the fact that it’s missing some features of its rivals. On the other hand, as a standalone product, it’s a little less easy to recommend because of those missing features. Solid speeds and reliable geo-unblocking are one thing, but a lack of features like a kill switch is likely to be tough to swallow for experienced VPN users looking for alternatives. Should you use DuckDuckGo VPN? Who it’s best for: Privacy-focused users already using DuckDuckGo’s browser and people who want a simple, low-effort VPN. Who should avoid it: Power users who want full control, a large server network, and multiple device coverage Key trade-offs and limitations: Compared to other VPNs DuckDuckGO VPN lacks key tools like a kill switch, protocol choice, and deeper controls. It also lacks the large server network others offer. How to get DuckDuckGo VPN The DuckDuckGo VPN is available as part of a subscription to the DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro service that costs $9.99 a month/$99.99 a year and also includes personal information removal, and identity theft restoration. Download DuckDuckGo browser (Mac, iOS or other version). You can download it from the Mac App Store. Subscribe to DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro. Go to Settings > VPN in the DuckDuckGo browser. Features & Apps – What features does DuckDuckGo VPN actually offer? Right off the bat, DuckDuckGo VPN does things a little differently. The company’s excellent browser does a great job of blocking trackers, and it’s always been fun to check the ‘Protections Report’ about how many it’s stopped from pinching your data. It’s also now packing optional AI features, letting you engage with a chatbot with a little more privacy than a browser-based ChatGPT or Claude window. Foundry It’s into this ecosystem that the VPN service arrives, and you’ll need to use the browser to install it first and foremost. Once that’s done, you can access it from the menu bar as you would many rivals, but there’s no standalone interface, so you’ll need to rely on the browser or the menu bar – no big ‘button’ to click here. There are, as you might expect, versions for platforms like Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, but bear in mind there’s a relatively restrictive five-device limit. While some VPNs are offering unlimited connections, at this price, we’d have liked a few more from DuckDuckGo. Still, if you’re a solo user with a handful of devices, you’ll likely get by just fine. Foundry Perhaps the biggest downside right now is a lack of power features. A Kill Switch, which stops traffic when a VPN goes down, isn’t in effect, for example. You’ll get a notification, but there’s no option to automatically disconnect. Split Tunnelling is available, though, letting you route traffic from specific apps and sites through the VPN or outside of it, and you can set the VPN to connect automatically when you log in, but that’s about it for features. Don’t expect much else, though. There are no speed testing options, no alternative VPN protocols (it’s WireGuard or nothing), and no dedicated password manager or other accoutrements. Still, because DuckDuckGo VPN is part of the wider subscription service, you also get those AI models I mentioned earlier, regular data sweeps for your personal data, and even identity restoration if you’ve suffered at the hands of a bad actor. It’s the kind of service you hope you never need, but it’s there if you do. Performance: How fast is DuckDuckGo VPN in real use? DuckDuckGo’s server count is relatively low, with under 50 countries included. Some, like the UK, only have one location where rivals would have a few to choose from, making this a markedly smaller pool of servers to choose from compared to options like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. On the positive side, though, its speeds are pretty great. While there’s no built-in speed test, we found download speeds dropped by just 12% or so in general usage when using WireGuard. There’s no other protocol to test, sadly, but upload speeds do take more of a hit at around a 70% speed loss. For browsing, that’s doable, but you may struggle with video calls or gaming while using the VPN. While DuckDuckGo offers a great privacy-first VPN, it’s also a dab hand at geo-unblocking, small server list notwithstanding. I was able to easily gain access to alternative versions of Netflix, for example, with no real downsides to performance. Privacy & Security: Is DuckDuckGo VPN actually private and secure? As you might expect from DuckDuckGo, a company founded on the principles of privacy on the internet, there’s a lot to like about its approach to a VPN. For one, it keeps its VPN servers separate from its browser and AI servers, while using Smarter Encryption to keep data encrypted while in use. While the company is headquartered in the United States, it maintains a no-logs policy. Still, the US being part of the Five Eyes surveillance group is something to consider if you’re looking for additional privacy, while the last audit was completed in late 2024. Pricing and plans: Is DuckDuckGo VPN worth the price? At $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, DuckDuckGo’s VPN isn’t one of the cheapest around, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. Its private browser is free, and you’re not just paying for the VPN on its own – you’re also getting access to AI models, data removal tools, and identity restoration. Should you use DuckDuckGo VPN? Already locked in to DuckDuckGo’s excellent browser? The VPN might just be a no-brainer, offering a great experience that’s easy to use, at the cost of more granularity. Still, at this price, there are other options with more servers and features.04:28 pmHow to block ads (and other distracting things) on iPhone for free
Safari's Hide Distracting Items feature, added in iOS 18, lets you remove ads from your iPhone, along with other annoying web page elements (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:25 pmiOS 27: New features, release date, and more
We’re less than three months away from the debut of iOS 27 at WWDC, and rumors are waiting a clear picture of what to expect. The update will reportedly bring a focus on stability improvements and bug fixes, with some big new Apple Intelligence features sprinkled in. Here’s everything we know so far about new iOS 27 features, the update’s release date, and more. more…04:10 pmData Irregularities – US Region
Mar 20, 16:10 UTCResolved - We have resolved this service interruption and impacted services have returned to normal operation. Between 15:10 UTC and 16:08 UTC, some customers in the US region with Azure integrations may have experiencde errors when sending data to New Relic, issues in viewing data in real time, and delayed or missing alert notifications related to real time data. Impacted data may not be recoverable.Mar 20, 15:59 UTCUpdate - We are seeing recovery for Azure integrations at this time. Some customers in the US region with Azure integrations may experience errors when sending data to New Relic, issues in viewing data in real time, and delayed or missing alert notifications related to real time data. Impacted data may not be recoverable.Mar 20, 15:53 UTCUpdate - We are investigating a service interruption where some customers in the US region with Azure integrations may experience 5xx errors when sending data to New Relic, issues in viewing data in real time, and delayed or missing alert notifications related to real time data. Impacted data may not be recoverable.Mar 20, 15:52 UTCInvestigating - We are investigating a service interruption where some customers in the US region with Azure integrations may experience 5xx errors when sending data to New Relic, issues in viewing data in real time, and delayed or missing alert notifications related to real time data. Impacted data may not be recoverable.04:08 pmM5 MacBook Air vs. M5 MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide
Both the MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro now feature the M5 chip, so how do the latest models compare? While the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,099 and the 15-inch model at $1,299, moving to the 14-inch MacBook Pro requires spending at least $300 more. For some buyers, the extra cost is unnecessary; for others, the Pro's ability to sustain performance, along with its more advanced display and expanded I/O, meaningfully change the experience in ways the Air cannot match even with higher configurations. With the introduction of the MacBook Neo as a new entry-level option, the Mac lineup now spans three distinct tiers. As a result, the MacBook Air no longer represents the default choice for most buyers, but instead occupies a middle position between affordability and performance. If you've already ruled out the MacBook Neo, this guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of Apple's other two popular laptops is best for you. The key differences are as follows: MacBook Air MacBook Pro 13.6- or 15.3-inch display 14.2-inch display Slimmer borders around the display LCD Liquid Retina display Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display 60Hz refresh rate ProMotion for refresh rates up to 120Hz Up to 500 nits brightness Up to 1,000 nits brightness and 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness Nano-texture display option Passive cooling Active cooling Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports HDMI 2.1 port with support for multichannel audio output SDXC card slot 13-Inch: Four-speaker sound system 15-Inch: Six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers Three-mic array with directional beamforming Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage 13-Inch: 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 15-Inch: 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 14-Inch: 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 18-hour battery life 24-hour battery life 30W, 35W, or 70W USB-C Power Adapter 70W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter Silver, Sky Blue, Starlight, or Midnight color options Silver or Space Black color options 13-Inch: Starts at $1,099 15-Inch: Starts at $1,299 Starts at $1,599 Dimensions are also a key area of difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro is noticeably thicker and heavier than both MacBook Air models: MacBook Air (13-Inch) MacBook Air (15-Inch) MacBook Pro (14-Inch) Height 0.44 inches (1.13 cm) 0.45 inch (1.15 cm) 0.61 inches (1.55 cm) Width 11.97 inches (30.41 cm) 13.40 inches (34.04 cm) 12.31 inches (31.26 cm) Depth 8.46 inches (21.5 cm) 9.35 inches (23.76 cm) 8.71 inches (22.12 cm) Weight 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg) 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) Taken as a whole, the MacBook Air now occupies a more clearly defined middle position in Apple's laptop lineup. With the introduction of the MacBook Neo as a lower-cost entry point, the Air no longer represents the default choice for most buyers, but instead serves those who want a meaningful step up in performance, features, and long-term usability without moving into the MacBook Pro tier. The MacBook Air offers excellent performance with the M5 chip, capable memory and storage options, a good all-round display, and key features like a backlit keyboard, 18 hours of battery life, and a 12MP Center Stage camera. For everyday tasks, performance remains effectively indistinguishable from more expensive models, but the Air is far less likely to feel constrained after several years of use compared to the MacBook Neo. Its thinner chassis, lower weight, silent fanless design, and broader range of color options also remain important advantages. By contrast, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is differentiated less by baseline performance and more by its ability to sustain it, as well as by a collection of hardware features that materially change the experience. Active cooling allows the M5 chip to operate at higher levels for prolonged periods, avoiding the thermal limitations inherent to the Air's passive design. This becomes noticeable in extended workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, compiling large codebases, or running intensive AI-driven tasks. If your workload regularly involves sustained performance, such as long video exports, large code builds, or intensive multitasking, the MacBook Air's fanless design may become a limiting factor. Alongside this, MacBook Pro's mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion offers substantially higher brightness, contrast, and motion fluidity, while the inclusion of HDMI, SDXC, and an additional Thunderbolt port expands its versatility in professional environments. It also delivers consistently better speakers, higher-quality microphones, and longer battery life. For users planning to keep their machine for several years, this sustained performance headroom and broader feature set can make the MacBook Pro a more resilient long-term investment. The most consequential trade-off emerges at the upper end of the MacBook Air's pricing. At $1,299, the 15-inch MacBook Air sits close enough to the 14-inch MacBook Pro's $1,599 starting price that the decision becomes less about affordability and more about priorities. For an additional $300, the Pro offers a significantly more advanced display, active cooling for sustained performance, longer battery life, additional I/O, and overall greater versatility. Once you are already considering spending over $1,000 on a laptop, these advantages become disproportionately impactful, particularly for users intending to keep their machine for several years. As a result, the MacBook Air is best understood as the balanced option within the lineup: Meaningfully more capable and longer-lasting than the MacBook Neo, but somewhat constrained compared to the MacBook Pro. The right choice depends less on basic specifications and more on where your needs sit across three distinct tiers, with basic computing at the low end, sustained performance and advanced features at the high end, and the MacBook Air positioned squarely between them.Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now), MacBook Air (Buy Now)Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook AirThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:01 pmTim Cook to exit as Apple CEO this year? Here’s what prediction market is saying
Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday sidestepped questions about his retirement and reaffirmed that he will continue to lead the company… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:53 pmMacBook Neo Charging Test: Here's Which Apple Charger is the Fastest
While the MacBook Neo is not "fast-charge capable," according to Apple's tech specs, the laptop can still charge faster with certain Apple chargers. Apple includes its 20W USB-C Power Adapter with the MacBook Neo (except in the UK and the EU, where the laptop does not ship with a charger at all), but a new charging test has revealed that Apple's 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is a better choice if you want the fastest charging speeds at the lowest additional cost from Apple. In the video below, ChargerLAB shows that the MacBook Neo reaches a peak charging speed of 18W with the included 20W charger, but this rises to 30W with Apple's 35W adapter, which is available in two sizes for $59 on Apple's online store. ChargerLAB did not show exactly how much time you can save by using the 35W charger over the 20W charger, but it is probably up to 20-30 minutes for a full charge. Of course, a variety of 30W-and-higher chargers sold by Apple and other companies can charge the MacBook Neo at peak speeds of 28W to 30W, so look beyond Apple if you want to save money. If you stick with Apple, just know this: its 35W adapter is faster than the included 20W adapter, but its expensive 96W and 140W chargers do not charge the MacBook Neo any faster than the 35W adapter despite costing more. MacBook Neo launched last Wednesday, and Apple's CEO Tim Cook today revealed that the Mac just had its best launch week ever with first-time buyers.Related Roundup: MacBook NeoTag: ChargerLabBuyer's Guide: MacBook Neo (Buy Now)Related Forum: MacBook NeoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:48 pmOpenAI 'Superapp' to Merge ChatGPT, Codex, and Atlas Browser
OpenAI has a Mac "superapp" in development that unifies its ChatGPT app, Codex coding platform, and Atlas browser, reports The Wall Street Journal ($). The idea behind the all-in-one app is to simplify the user experience, following the launch of several standalone products, some of which haven't resonated with OpenAI's customers. The company is also trying to bounce back after the recent successes of its main rival, Anthropic. OpenAI executives are said to be looking at areas it can deprioritize while it focuses on creating agentic AI capabilities within the new superapp that can work autonomously on a user's computer to carry out various tasks like writing code and analyzing data. In an all-hands meeting last week, OpenAI's chief of applications Fidji Simo reportedly told employees they couldn't afford to be distracted by "side quests" given Anthropic's rapid success winning over enterprise and coding customers. From the report: An OpenAI spokeswoman said the new "superapp" will enable teams inside OpenAI to work more closely together, and help the research division focus its efforts around improving one central product. Over the coming months, the company expects to add new "agentic" capabilities within its Codex app so it can help with productivity-related tasks beyond coding before merging ChatGPT and the Atlas browser into the superapp as well. OpenAI unveiled a series of major initiatives last year, like its Sora video app and the acquisition of Jony Ive's AI hardware venture. Since then, however, Anthropic has gained strong momentum with the success of its Code Claude and Cowork offerings. The WSJ report gave no timeline for the launch of OpenAI's so-called superapp, but it said the company's mobile ChatGPT app will remain unchanged.Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAIThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forumsFirehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
No feed items found.