How to use Reduce Interruptions on iPhone and what it does
The Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode aims to use Apple Intelligence to prioritize notifications to cut them down, yet not have you miss anything important. Here's how to use it.The Reduce Notifications Focus ModeA strength of Apple Intelligence is that rather than some separate ChatGPT-like app, its features are woven into all aspects of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. But that also makes it confusing when Apple promotes some feature but doesn't say where it fits."For example," said Craig Federighi at the WWDC 2024 launch, "your iPhone can prioritize your notifications to minimize unnecessary distractions while ensuring you don't miss something important." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

BenQ MA320UG review: Bigger, smoother, and a lot cheaper than Studio Display
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Great image quality Variable refresh rate; 120Hz max Tilt and height adjustable stand Built-in hub for device connectivity Cons No webcam May run into glare issues with environmental lighting Our Verdict If you need a bigger display with good looks and hub capabilities for your Mac, the MA320UG is a good choice. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$829.99 Best Prices Today: MA320UG Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I’ve been looking at several BenQ displays lately, including the MA270U, the PD2730S, the MA270UP, and most recently, the MA270S. The company is doing an excellent job with its displays specifically geared towards Mac users, and the ones I’ve reviewed are all fantastic options. They do have one thing in common: they’re all 27-inch displays, which is the sweet spot for most users, but I’ve heard from a few readers who won’t even consider a display unless it’s at least 30 inches. Well, for those who think bigger is better, BenQ has a new display for its Mac lineup, the MA320UG. It’s a 4K 32-inch display that offers the same good stuff found in the other displays in the company’s MA Series for MacBook Users, but it also has a higher 120Hz refresh rate, another feature that’s in high demand. BenQ MA320UG: Specifications Size32 inchesGlass frontNano Gloss PanelAspect ratio16:9Native resolution3840 by 2160Panel type/BacklightIPS/LED backlightResponse time5 msContrast ratio1300:1Refresh rateVariable; 120Hz maxColor depth10-bitBrightness600 nitsDimensions with stand (horizontal)Highest height: 24.0 by 28.1 by 8.7 inches (608.8 by 493.8 by 220.2mm) Lowest height: 19.4 by 28.1 by 8.7 inches (493.8 by 493.8 by 220.2mm)Weight with stand20.06 lbs (9.1 kg) BenQ MA320UG: Design and build The MA320UG follows the same look and design as the other displays in BenQ’s MA Series. The case is plastic with thin bezels surrounding the screen. A Visual Optimizer sensor is located in the lower left corner; it’s a light sensor that can adjust the brightness based on the lighting of the surroundings. It’s similar to the auto-brightness feature that’s in System Settings for the MacBook. The base of the stand has a rubber pad for helping items stay put, such as a MacBook in clamshell mode. Or, if you keep your MacBook Pro open while connected to the MA320UG as I did, you can put your iPhone or AirPods case on it. (Though keep in mind, it’s not a charging pad.) BenQ’s MA Series is designed with Mac connectivity in mindMacworld However, the stand does provide a wide range of adjustments. It offers 150 mm of height, -5 to 029 degrees of tilt, 15 degrees of swivel in two directions, and pivots 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise. It’s much more versatile than the stand included with the Apple Studio Display, which only tilts–a tilt and height-adjustable stand is an additional $400, increasing the Studio Display’s price to $1,999. That’s more than twice as much as the $830 MA320UG. The MA320UG has what BenQ calls a Nano Gloss Panel, which most people would refer to as glossy. The other displays in the MA Series have the same front, and my experiences with Nano Gloss Panels have always been positive. Any glossy front is going to have reflections, but I barely noticed them, and they never disrupted my view. As iMac and MacBook users can attest, the advantage of a glossy display is that it makes colors look rich and vibrant, and images on the MA320UG didn’t disappoint. However, unlike the smaller BenQ monitors, there’s no matte option for the MA320UG. The 27-inch MA27U is matte, and BenQ offers a line of matte displays for Mac photographers, but those displays are a bit more expensive, since they are built with higher-end color accuracy features. BenQ MA320UG: Ports The MA320UG has the following ports: Two HDMI 2.0 ports One 35W PowerDelivery USB-C port One 96W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port One 15W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port Two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 7.5W) One USB-C downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 15W) 3.5mm headphone jack This is the same port configuration as the other MA Series displays. This series is designed for MacBook users looking to connect a display when at an office desk, and the port configuration does well to not just cover the ports on a MacBook, but also provide other ports you might need, including USB-A. If you do want to take advantage of the display’s ports, you need to connect it to the MacBook through USB-C or Thunderbolt, since an HDMI connection with a MacBook is video only. The USB-C and Thunderbolt connections also charge the MacBook; another thing HDMI won’t do. Rear and bottom ports of the MA320UG. BenQ MA320UG: Image quality I’ve been using the MA320UG daily with a M5 Max MacBook Pro and a 2022 Apple Studio Display. My experience with the MA320UG has been extremely satisfying, with crisp, clean text, lively color with clarity, even brightness throughout the panel, and deep, rich black reproduction. The MA320UG offers a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, as well as an option for a variable refresh rate between 48Hz and 120Hz with most of the resolutions the display can perform. A few resolution settings have a maximum of 100 Hz and no variable rate. Like Apple’s ProMotion displays, the 120Hz refresh rate makes the MA320UG look smoother with video and animations, compared to 60Hz. If you do a lot of work with motion graphics, you’ll like the faster rate. It’s worth noting that Apple’s Studio Display doesn’t have 120Hz refresh, but the higher-end Studio Display XDR, which starts at $2,899 without a stand, does. BenQ MA320UG: Price The MA320UG is $830. You can find 32-inch 4K displays for a few hundred dollars less, but look at the specifications carefully. They won’t offer many of the features the BenQ display does, such as the 120Hz refresh rate, multiple ports, or a stand with height, tilt, or pivot adjustability. The MA320UG is a lot cheaper than Apple’s current 27-inch Studio Display, which starts at $1,599/£1,599. Add $400/£400 for a tilt- and height-adjustable stand, and the Studio Display is more expensive than two 32-inch MA320UGs. However, the Studio Display is a 5K display compared to the 4K MA320UG, which can make a big difference, especially for production use. But for most people, 4K will be plenty good. Should you buy the BenQ MA320UG? Apple doesn’t offer a 32-inch display, but the BenQ MA320UG fills in the gap, offering great image quality, a wide array of connectivity options, a solid design, and a versatile stand. It’s not a 5K display but it does offer 4K resolution at 120Hz–the faster refresh rate makes motion graphics look smooth. If you want a bigger display that looks good and has hub capabilities for your Mac, the MA320UG is a good choice. For other options from BenQ and other brands, read: Best Mac monitors: The Mac compatible displays we recommend

Read more »

AAPL stock slides, but is it a reaction to AI announcements?
There’s been an unusually large drop in the price of AAPL stock so far this week, losing roughly $25 per share in the two days since the WWDC keynote. While some are inevitably speculating that investors weren’t impressed by Apple’s AI announcements, there are other factors at play … more…

Read more »

AAPL stock slides, but is it a reaction to AI announcements?
There’s been an unusually large drop in the price of AAPL stock so far this week, losing roughly $25 per share in the two days since the WWDC keynote. While some are inevitably speculating that investors weren’t impressed by Apple’s AI announcements, there are other factors at play … more…

Read more »

AAPL stock slides, but is it a reaction to AI announcements?
There’s been an unusually large drop in the price of AAPL stock so far this week, losing roughly $25 per share in the two days since the WWDC keynote. While some are inevitably speculating that investors weren’t impressed by Apple’s AI announcements, there are other factors at play … more…

Read more »

Did Apple save the best parts of the OS 27 updates for September?
Macworld We’ve known for several months that OS 27 would largely revolve around performance gains, design tweaks, and the big Siri upgrade first previewed in 2024. To no one’s surprise, WWDC26’s main keynote turned out to be exactly that and, as such, was one of the most uneventful Apple events in a long time. While the forthcoming operating systems pack plenty of smaller quality-of-life updates, the conference lacked any sort of surprise factor: Headlining features had leaked in advance, and we didn’t get any “One More Thing” announcements.  That’s not the full story, however. Despite WWDC being Apple’s dedicated event for annual software announcements, the company tends to preserve a few tidbits for its fall hardware launch. So, while we may have a solid idea of what OS 27 will look like for existing phones, there’s still more to come. Specifically, we expect iOS 27 to be tuned for the upcoming iPhone Ultra with some new multitasking features, watchOS to pack a new face, and tvOS to get smarter. There’s Ultra in the air While Apple hasn’t publicly referenced its first folding smartphone, iOS 27 code all but confirms it’s being actively developed. Known as iPhone Ultra, the device is set to launch in September—alongside the stable iOS 27 build. According to the code, the system will identify its folding state and angle, presumably for app layouts to adapt accordingly. Apple has also been encouraging developers to design flexible apps that work reliably regardless of the screen size or aspect ratio. This seems like an indirect confirmation that a device with an atypical display could be coming soon. If the iPhone Ultra is indeed coming this fall as rumored, iOS 27 is hiding lots of new features.Foundry Beyond cryptic code snippets and developer recommendations, iOS 27 features concrete, user-facing changes that support this theory. The Apple Music, Fitness, and Health apps have all gained landscape orientation support after long being locked to portrait orientation. This shift suggests that the iPhone Ultra launch is imminent, potentially as soon as this fall. As such, by the time iOS 27 launches, Apple is certain to introduce some exclusive iPhone Ultra features like multitasking and potential app window resizing. While many of these perks probably won’t make it to all other iPhone models, Apple could announce other universal iOS features during the iPhone 18 event, such as multitasking with split-screen apps. Heading Home The full iOS 27 feature list isn’t the sole Dub Dub absentee. tvOS 27 was barely mentioned during the event for similar reasons. It’s long been rumored that the next Apple TV 4K and HomePod models are ready to ship but are awaiting the Siri 2.0 update. This suggests that these smart home devices could similarly launch in the fall with OS 27. Like the folding iPhone, Apple has likely held back some iOS 27 features until the next-gen HomePod and Apple TV arrive. It’s not clear whether any of them will support older models, but even if they do, it makes sense to hold off on any new features until the new devices arrive, especially if some of them are visual as well as audio features for the rumored HomePad.  While it’s not clear what AI features the new smart home devices will support, we can make some safe bets. The additions in tvOS 27 could realistically include AutoMix in Apple Music, the smarter Siri 2.0 with personal context and world knowledge support, and comprehension of more complex smart home commands.  Compatible Apple Watches will get a new dynamic app grid in watchOS 27—but is more coming this fall? Apple Watch this space The Apple Watch was notably absent from the WWDC keynote. While watchOS 27 brings some new features, including a new dynamic app grid, Siri AI support, Call Context, and other design refinements and general improvements, it didn’t get much stage time during the event.  Along with the lack of attention, Apple slashed support for watchOS 27, eliminating the Series 6, 7, and 8, 2nd-gen SE, and original Ultra from the compatibility list. Apple didn’t explain why it uncharacteristically removed so many models. It appears to be related to the S9 chip, which was the first system-in-package to have a Neural Engine, but the stringent requirements could mean bigger and better features are coming this fall, not just to the new watches but older models as well. As the Apple Watch has matured, Apple has begun running out of meaningful hardware upgrades to incorporate into its annual releases. For this reason, Apple often announces new watchOS apps and faces during the fall event, disguised as latest-generation exclusives, such as last year’s Sleep Score and hypertension notifications. Things like the rumored Modular watch face could still be coming to all smartwatches running watchOS 27 in September, as well as some new health and lifestyle features.

Read more »

iOS 27: Here’s all the new Apple Music features
Apple Music has a few new features with iOS 27, which Apple just announced today at its annual WWDC conference. Perhaps the most immediately visible change is a newly-redesigned artist page featuring prominent shuffle play button, new artist name display, and other smaller layout changes. more…

Read more »

Apple finally figured out how to make old iPhones faster
Macworld Every year at WWDC, Apple tries to impress users with major new features or a redesigned interface. And yes, iOS 27 comes with some cool new additions, like Siri AI and improved Liquid Glass. But what got me most excited about iOS 27 is something most users won’t see, but they’ll definitely notice. Apple spent a significant part of its keynote talking about performance. That’s because, according to the company, iOS 27 has many under-the-hood improvements that will make your iPhone or iPad run much faster and use less battery power. Performance is the upgrade Of course, we all love new features. But there’s no denying that iOS 26, announced last year, was a buggy release. As I recently wrote for Macworld, iOS 26 had serious performance issues and glitches. Instead of completely overhauling the operating system from scratch, Apple’s engineers focused on refining what already exists. For instance, Apple claims that system animations are much smoother in iOS 27. According to Apple’s data, apps now open 30 percent faster, and photos load 70 percent faster after being taken. Other parts of the system have also been improved, such as AirDrop, which is now allegedly 80 percent faster at transferring files. The search engine across the entire system has also been overhauled to be faster and more reliable. Older iPhones could get a serious boost when they install iOS 27.Apple Part of this was made possible by optimizations to the CPU scheduler, a system component that manages CPU resources as you use your iPhone throughout the day. But you don’t need to understand all of this. You just need to know that Apple tweaked the right things to make everything feel more fluid. And that’s especially good news not only for the latest iPhones, but also for older models, such as the iPhone 11. Thanks to all these improvements, iOS 27 runs on the same iPhone models supported by iOS 26, which also includes the 2nd-generation iPhone SE. That means iPhone users won’t have to buy a new device just to get better performance this year. And honestly, that’s way more exciting than some of the AI features shown at today’s event. People don’t just notice when their phone gains a new feature. They notice when it becomes slower and apps take too long to open. The reality is that speed itself has become a feature. And Apple seems to finally understand that again. Apple’s performance and usability enhancements extend to visual upgrades such as the Liquid Glass slider.Apple More refinements across the system Apple didn’t just make iOS 27 faster. The company also tweaked the Liquid Glass interface, which has been a major reason for complaints from a number of users since last year.  iOS 27 introduces a new slider that lets users adjust the intensity of the Liquid Glass effect exactly as they like, ranging from more transparent to more frosted. And even if you opt for a more transparent look, Apple has made changes to make everything easier to read. Many icons and buttons have also been slightly redesigned to highlight the depth effects of Liquid Glass. Apple has also added a subtle background to toolbars, aimed at improving readability. None of these changes sound revolutionary on their own. But together, they point toward something important: Apple is prioritizing usability again. And honestly, usability is what made the iPhone great in the first place. It’s the kind of thing I missed from the last several releases, and Apple seems to have gotten it right this time. Other than AI, you won’t find a ton of new features in iOS 27—and that’s a good thing.Apple Few actual new features For those looking for something new, iOS 27 includes features that Apple desperately needed to deliver this year. Apple Intelligence continues to expand throughout the system, and Siri AI is clearly the company’s biggest bet for this year. But I genuinely think the quieter improvements may end up mattering more in daily life. Most users won’t spend all day talking to Siri, but they’ll notice if their iPhone feels faster. Those are the kinds of improvements that make devices feel better over time. And that might just end up being the best part of iOS 27. iOS 27 is available now as a developer beta, with a public beta to arrive next month. The official release will land on iPhones this fall.

Read more »

Telegram returns to the Apple Watch with a native app
Telegram's native Apple Watch app is live again, years after it was discontinued, bringing full chat access and more to your Apple Watch. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more—Get them all for life for $104.97
Macworld TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for life for $104.97 until June 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Microsoft 365 is $99.99/year right now, and there’s no guarantee the price won’t go up. If you want a smarter way to get the apps you use every single day, you can switch to a Microsoft Office 2024 lifetime license. It’s a little more expensive on day 1, but that’s only time you’ll ever pay for it. It’s even on sale now for $104.97 (reg. $249.99). This license covers all five core apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Unlike the Home edition, Home & Business includes Outlook, so your email, calendar, and contacts live in one place instead of scattered across separate tools. Everything runs as a full desktop app on macOS, not a stripped-down browser version. That means you can work offline on a flight or anywhere without Wi-Fi, and your files sync once you reconnect. The apps support the three most recent versions of macOS, including Apple Silicon Macs. Office 2024 also brings newer AI tools. Smart Compose suggests text as you write in Word, Dynamic Arrays in Excel let a single formula spill results across multiple cells, and AI Data Insights flag trends and suggest charts so you spend less time formatting or figuring out what all the buttons do in Excel. Real-time co-authoring and Microsoft Teams integration keep shared documents moving when you work with others. No more sharing back and forth across other apps. One thing to know going in: this is not Microsoft 365, so it doesn’t include OneDrive storage or Copilot. But it also doesn’t charge you every month for the rest of your life. June 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the cutoff to get Microsoft Office 2024 for $104.97. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Instagram now lets you rearrange your Photos grid
Instagram is rolling out one of its most requested features: the ability to manually reorder posts on your profile grid. Here’s how to do it. more…

Read more »

Siri AI might display break reminders if conversations go on for too long
iOS 27 includes code references to break reminders that Siri may display after especially long conversations. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Siri AI might display break reminders if conversations go on for too long
iOS 27 includes code references to break reminders that Siri may display after especially long conversations. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Will your Apple TV run tvOS 27? Two models won’t get the new features.
Is Apple holding back new tvOS 27 features as it preps a new set-top box? Apple TV HD and the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) won't get tvOS 27. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Apple tightens App Review Guidelines against apps that ‘do not add value to the App Store’
Apple has updated its App Store Review Guidelines with new language targeting apps that it says “do not add value to the App Store.” Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Hands on with AirPods EQ settings in iOS 27
If you've ever wanted a native way to control how your AirPods sound across every device and app, Apple has finally provided it in iOS 27. Here's where to find the setting and what it can do.AirPods have a built-in EQ in SettingsApple's 2026 WWDC keynote was packed with tiny features and improvements. One of the long-awaited crowd pleasers was bringing an equalizer to AirPods settings.Owners of the AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 can now choose the level of playback for lows, mids, and highs manually. It's not the most complex equalizer I've seen, but it is certainly better than nothing. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Report: iPhone production grew 20% in Q1, countering global smartphone dip
A new TrendForce report shows Apple’s iPhone production growing sharply in Q1, even as rising memory costs put pressure on the broader smartphone market. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

B&H's best $899 MacBook Air deal has been extended, but supply is limited
B&H's popular $899 MacBook Air deal has been extended exclusively for AppleInsider readers, but supply is limited and this upgraded model may sell out at any time.Grab this M4 MacBook Air with a 10-core GPU for just $899 - Image credit: AppleTo grab the blowout $899* special on the 13-inch MacBook Air M4, simply shop through the exclusive pricing links in this post from a laptop or desktop computer. This configuration, which is available at the reduced price in the Midnight finish, has a 10-core GPU (a $200 upgrade at launch), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.Buy 13" MacBook Air M4 for $899 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

WWDC26: The Talk Show livestream returning to Theater for Apple Vision Pro
Missing out on this week’s WWDC fun in California? Apple Vision Pro users can virtually join tonight’s The Talk Show livestream with the Theater app. more…

Read more »

WWDC26: Watch Apple’s short recap of this year’s Platforms State of the Union
If you missed yesterday’s hour-long WWDC26: Platforms State of the Union, which followed the keynote, Apple has published a 5-minute recap of the most important announcements. Watch it below. more…

Read more »